island Archives

AppWizard

July 28, 2025

This week in PC games: Hobbits, gigahorses, internet fixers, ninjas, hellships, junkbots and window cleaners

Graham is departing from RPS, marking a significant transition for the publication. New PC gaming releases this week include: - Fumes: A Mad Max-inspired open-world vehicular combat game. - Primal Planet: A side-scrolling metroidvania adventure featuring primordial humans. - Grounded 2: A sequel where tiny protagonists build homes and engage in turf wars. - Tales of the Shire: A game where players craft homes and impress neighbors with cooking. - Day Of The Shell: A turn-based tactical game set in a flooded world. - Sky The Scraper: A quirky window-cleaning simulator with life simulation elements. - Morgan: Metal Detective: A treasure-hunting game on a Cornish island. - Gold Gold Adventure Gold: A colony-building game with dungeon-diving heroes. - Tower Networking Inc: A management simulation for internet services in a tower. - Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound: A pixel-art reinterpretation of the classic series. - Mashina: A mining narrative set in a junkyard. - Hell Galaxy: An open-world space shooter with body horror elements. - Heartworm: A survival horror homage to 90's classics. - Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz: A curious addition. - Ikarus Parkour: A 3D tower-climbing game in vibrant environments. The RPS team is engaged in various personal projects, including interviews and other pursuits.

AppWizard

July 27, 2025

Crytek says the most important difference between Far Cry and Crysis had nothing to do with technology: ‘In Crysis, we mimicked nature as closely as possible’

Crysis continues to impress with its visual fidelity years after its release, showcasing a significant leap in graphical prowess compared to its predecessor, Far Cry. The development team traveled to Haiti to gather reference data for the game's environment design, emphasizing the importance of firsthand experience in creating an authentic representation of the tropical setting. This innovative approach allowed them to mimic natural behaviors, such as sunlight interaction and water refraction, contributing to the game's lasting realism. The techniques used in Crysis align with contemporary practices in game development, including physically-based rendering. However, the future of the franchise is uncertain, as Crysis 4 has been placed "on hold" following a 15% workforce reduction at Crytek.

AppWizard

July 21, 2025

Today’s Android app deals and freebies: Down in Bermuda, INC The Beginning, more

This afternoon, Google Play is offering enticing deals on Android games and apps, including significant discounts on the Galaxy Tab S10 FE/+ and JBL's 2025 white/gold Authentics Google Home speakers. Samsung's latest M9 and M8 Smart Monitors are also available with cash discounts. Featured apps include "Down in Bermuda," "Dungeon Village 2," and "INC: The Beginning," all available at reduced prices.

AppWizard

July 21, 2025

The dairy industry would like Gen Z to drink more milk, so they made a Fortnite diner tycoon game

Dairy MAX, representing around 700 dairy farmers, has launched a custom game mode called Diner Tycoon in collaboration with Fortnite to encourage children to drink more milk. The game allows players to collect ingredients, cook recipes, and create meals while promoting the nutritional benefits of dairy. Diner Tycoon is accessible on a dedicated Fortnite Creative island, targeting younger audiences through engaging gaming experiences.

BetaBeacon

July 19, 2025

My apologies, Samsung, I was unfamiliar with your Fold game

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a significant improvement over previous models in terms of design, features, and performance. Samsung's slow and steady innovation in its foldable series has made minor upgrades more meaningful and has led to a more impressive overall product.

AppWizard

July 16, 2025

Guild Wars 2’s sixth expansion is taking players to an island paradise this October, with beachside player housing and a major addition to buildcrafting

ArenaNet has announced the sixth expansion for Guild Wars 2, titled Visions of Eternity, set to launch on October 28. The expansion will introduce a fourth elite specialization for each of the nine classes, enhancing buildcrafting. Players will explore the island of Castora, facing the Inquest faction and enjoying new features such as a beachside Homestead plot, a reworked Skimmer mount, and a legendary aquabreather. A beta for the new elite specs is scheduled for August 20, and subsequent updates will include another raid and additional legendary items. The expansion aims to improve quality of life based on player feedback from the previous expansion.

AppWizard

July 10, 2025

The power of game-based learning with Minecraft Education

Game-based learning through Minecraft Education effectively engages students across various subjects, promoting critical thinking, teamwork, and creativity while equipping them with essential digital skills. The platform offers ready-to-use, standards-aligned resources in subjects like coding, AI, science, history, and math, transforming education into an enjoyable experience. Minecraft Education prepares students for a digital world by providing hands-on experiences that enhance digital citizenship, responsible AI usage, and coding fluency. Specific programs include "CyberSafe AI," which focuses on digital citizenship and AI literacy; "Hour of Code," which involves solving coding puzzles in a theater setting; and "GameCode," where students create their own mini-games. The platform also addresses core subjects and STEM education through immersive experiences like "Ocean Heroes," which teaches marine conservation; "Data Explorers," which emphasizes data collection and analysis; "Ratio Riddles," which engages students with foundational math concepts; "Peter is Here: AI for Cultural Heritage," which explores architectural history; and the "James Webb Space Telescope Challenge," which invites students to explore the universe. Minecraft Education fosters creative classroom environments through activities like "Wheel of Steve," which enhances collaboration and critical thinking, and "Renewtopia," which teaches about renewable energy sources. The platform supports educators with resources and a community to integrate game-based learning effectively.

BetaBeacon

July 4, 2025

Blocky Survival Lands on Android with a Bunch of Minecraft-Like Mini Games

Blocky Survival Mini Games offers a variety of mini-games including TNT Run, Hide and Seek, Battle Royale Hunger Games, Sky Wars One Block, and Spleef. Each game has unique gameplay mechanics and objectives, making it a must-try for players who enjoy Minecraft-style games. The game supports multiplayer, allowing players to invite friends or join matches with people worldwide. Playlabs is currently offering the game for free for a limited time on the Google Play Store.

AppWizard

July 2, 2025

Deus Ex devs say they honestly weren’t thinking about politics when they made one of the most political games of all time: ‘What I think is the right future for humanity is irrelevant. It’s all about what each player thinks’

Deus Ex is recognized as a significant video game that explores complex themes beyond entertainment. A conversation between two NSF troopers highlights the reduction of individuals to functionality, which impacted a young gamer named Josh. The game's allies, the NSF and Silhouette, reflect real-world political dynamics, with billionaires acting in self-interest. Developers admitted that political considerations were not a primary focus during the game's creation. Designer Ricardo Bare expressed that he was more excited about the gameplay than political agendas, while project director Warren Spector aimed to keep his personal views out of the game, believing players should interpret the narrative based on their choices. The game features multiple endings, allowing players to make impactful decisions. Despite the radical elements within the game, it may embody a fundamentally liberal ethos, as suggested by protagonist JC Denton's line about due process and terror.

AppWizard

July 1, 2025

Fruit exploration action adventure game Fruitimo! announced for PC

PLANETA, a Tokyo-based game developer, has announced its latest project, Fruitimo!, an action-adventure game featuring a young boy named Vimita and his backpack android, Grandpa. The game is set to release on PC via Steam in September and takes place in a whimsical theme park called Kajune Land, which includes attractions like Juice River, Sherbet Hill, drones, robots, and exciting slides. Players will collect hidden giant fruits using abilities such as throwing jelly and vacuuming fruits, while completing quests to uncover treats.