map Archives

AppWizard

February 21, 2025

“If we can do it… This will be something groundbreaking”: PUBG creator Brendan Greene is five years into making a 10,000km “realistic Minecraft” – but there’s still a decade to go

Brendan Greene, known for creating PUBG, is working on a new project called Prologue, which tests innovative terrain generation technology for his larger vision, Project Artemis. Prologue aims to refine machine learning algorithms that can produce over 4 billion unique map configurations. Greene acknowledges past leadership challenges but credits CTO Laurent Gorga for fostering a collaborative development approach. He estimates that achieving Project Artemis could take up to a decade and emphasizes the importance of Prologue's commercial success for securing resources. Greene envisions Project Artemis as a vast, player-driven universe, inspired by games like Minecraft and No Man's Sky, with a world measuring 10,000 square kilometers. He aims to create an environment where players can craft diverse experiences and distances himself from commercial interpretations of the Metaverse, focusing instead on genuine user-generated experiences.

AppWizard

February 21, 2025

Faster loading times and more are coming to GTA V on PC, as we slowly wait for news of GTA 6

Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive, highlighted the increasing importance of the PC gaming market as anticipation grows for Grand Theft Auto 6's release this autumn. A substantial update for Grand Theft Auto 5 will be available on March 4th, introducing new vehicles, performance upgrades, ambient animal encounters, GTA+ Membership for PC players, a Career Progress feature, and a revamped Landing Page. The update aims to enhance the player experience and includes improvements such as anti-cheat protections and voice chat moderation. Additionally, there are discussions about allowing players to modify the map in GTA 6 using mechanics similar to those in Roblox and Fortnite.

Winsage

February 20, 2025

5 most useful SysInternals tools for optimizing your Windows PC

SysInternals is a suite of 74 utilities from Microsoft designed to enhance the performance and reliability of Windows PCs. Users can download the entire suite or select individual tools from the Microsoft SysInternals Learn page. 1. AutoRuns: Identifies unnecessary background processes and obsolete registry entries, providing detailed information about each entry. It allows users to review installed drivers and spot potentially harmful entries. Launched via Start menu or by typing Autoruns.exe in the Run dialog. 2. TCPView: Monitors all TCP and UDP connections in real-time, categorizing them by version and displaying ports and connection timestamps. It helps identify bandwidth-hogging processes. Launched via Start menu or by typing tcpview.exe in the Run dialog. 3. RamMap: Provides an in-depth analysis of memory consumption across processes, helping identify memory-hogging applications and diagnose memory leaks. It offers options to clear memory, including emptying working sets, standby lists, and modified lists. Launched via Start menu or by typing rammap.exe in the Run dialog. 4. DiskView: Offers detailed insights into hard drive usage with a color-coded map of disk sectors, helping users identify fragmentation and unused space. Launched via Start menu or by typing diskview.exe in the Run dialog. 5. CacheSet: Optimizes the Windows file system cache by allowing users to adjust cached data management settings and clear the cache with a single click. Launched by typing cacheset.exe in the Run dialog. The SysInternals Suite is cost-free, effective, and compatible with Windows Recovery mode, making it a practical choice for users looking to enhance their PC's performance.

AppWizard

February 20, 2025

The best uniques in Avowed that you can grab early in the game

Avowed features unique weapons and armor that enhance gameplay and simplify gear upgrading. Unique items have distinctive names and special effects, providing bonus skills or elemental enhancements. They can scale in quality based on the player's gear tier, making early-game unique items valuable investments. Notable unique items include: - Beothel's Grimoire: Found at a magical merchant in Paradis, it offers a loop of spells for 450 currency. - Drawn in Winter: A one-handed axe found in ice at Watcher’s Mirror, it deals area-of-effect ice damage. - Stelgaer’s Pride: A medium armor set obtained from the Intimidating Feline Codpiece treasure map, providing stamina regeneration and damage reduction. - Steel Garrote Gauntlets: Located in Ondra’s Reach, these gauntlets enhance parry efficiency for shield users. - Last Light of Day: A flaming sword obtained during the Dawntreader quest, offering fire damage and a heal-on-kill effect. - Caeroc's Pride: A lightning pistol from Tempestuous Luandi's bounty, known for its bonus lightning damage. - The Disappointer: A weapon from a shady merchant in Paradis Hightown, which can be enhanced to turn its negative attributes into advantages.

Winsage

February 19, 2025

7 ancient apps you can still use in Windows 11

Disk Cleanup, introduced in Windows 98, helps users reclaim disk space by removing system restore points, temporary files, and remnants from outdated Windows Updates. Windows Media Player, which debuted with Windows 3.0, remains available in Windows 11 and is used for playing DVDs and organizing music collections. The Control Panel has been part of Windows since 1985 and provides access to legacy tools, although Microsoft encourages users to use the modern Settings app. Character Map, introduced in Windows 3.1 in 1992, allows users to access every glyph in installed fonts and is useful for inserting specialized characters. Notepad, a staple since 1983, has received updates including spell check and rich formatting options in Windows 11. The Snipping Tool, first introduced in Windows Vista in 2007, has evolved to include features like screen recording and OCR-powered text extraction. WinZip, a third-party compression tool that debuted in 1991, remains popular for managing ZIP files and continues to function on Windows 11.

AppWizard

February 19, 2025

You know the drill: Avowed’s default waypoint and UI settings are way too handholdy, so you should change them ASAP

Avowed allows players to customize their gameplay experience through an extensive settings and accessibility menu. Key modifications made include switching the quest tracker mode to "Show on Update," turning off objective markers, and disabling interaction icons. These changes enhanced immersion by reducing intrusive prompts and allowing for more organic exploration. The game includes a compass for active quest objectives, which can also be disabled for a more challenging experience. The UI and navigation options in Avowed blend old-school challenge with modern convenience, catering to different player preferences.

BetaBeacon

February 19, 2025

15 best free Android games with no in app purchases

- AI Factory Limited offers a variety of simple free Android games with no in-app purchases - Alto's Odyssey and Alto's Adventure are free mobile games with in-app purchases that are purely cosmetic - Antiyoy is a turn-based strategy game with simple graphics and rules, featuring multiplayer and no ads or in-app purchases - Crossy Road is a popular free game with in-app purchases that are purely cosmetic - Papers, Please is a simulation game with no in-app purchases available for .99 - Doom and Destiny Advanced is a free JRPG with ads and some limitations, but contains the entire base game - OpenTTD is an open-source version of Transport Tycoon with no in-app purchases - Pathos is a retro roguelike adventure game with no in-app purchases - Pocket City is a city-building simulation game available for .99 with a premium version - Resonance of the Ocean is a short game with no complexity and no in-app purchases - Stardew Valley is a must-play RPG available for .99 without ads or microtransactions - The Spike is a volleyball game sim with optional in-app purchases - Vampire Survivors is a survival RPG with minimal gameplay and optional in-app purchases - Into the Breach is a challenging puzzle/roguelike game available on Netflix Games with no ads or in-app purchases - Vodobanka is a puzzle game where you command a SWAT team with no microtransactions, but a purchase is required after the demo version

AppWizard

February 18, 2025

Relic Entertainment announces turn-based strategy game Earth vs Mars for PC

Relic Entertainment has announced a new turn-based strategy game titled Earth vs Mars, set for release in summer 2025 on PC via Steam. The game features a narrative where Martians abduct Earth's inhabitants and aim to conquer the planet. Players will lead a group of commanders in battles against Martian forces using unique mechanics like the "Splice-O-Tron," which allows the creation of hybrid supersoldiers. Key features include a single-player campaign with over 30 missions, online multiplayer, a VS mode against AI, a map editor, unique unit abilities, and multiple commanders with distinct abilities. The game will initially launch on Steam, with potential future platform expansions. Pricing and language support details are yet to be finalized, and compatibility with Steam Deck is not planned at launch. Regular updates will be provided leading up to the release.

AppWizard

February 16, 2025

Best Minecraft Biomes to Build the Castle of Your Dreams | Esports News – The Times of India

Minecraft features various biomes suitable for castle construction, each with distinct terrain, resources, and challenges: 1. Plains Biome: Flat terrain simplifies building; rich in food resources but may be exposed to mob attacks. 2. Mountain Biome: Offers natural defense and panoramic views; stone is accessible, but uneven surfaces can complicate construction. 3. Forest Biome: Provides concealment and abundant wood; dense foliage can hinder space clearing for construction. 4. Taiga Biome: Features towering spruce trees for a medieval atmosphere; wolves provide security, but snowy terrain can impede movement. 5. Savanna Biome: Flat land with gentle hills aids construction; unique orange acacia wood enhances decor, and villages offer trading opportunities. 6. Desert Biome: Ideal for Egyptian or Arabian-style castles; limited trees reduce hiding spots for mobs but require longer resource collection journeys. 7. Snowy Biome: Creates a winter landscape with polar bears; challenges include freezing water and slow movement through snow. Choosing the best biome depends on personal style and survival needs, as each offers unique aesthetics and challenges.

Tech Optimizer

February 15, 2025

Simplify database authentication management with the Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL pg_ad_mapping extension

Authentication is essential for security in enterprise environments, protecting sensitive data and resources from unauthorized access. Kerberos authentication is utilized for Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition with AWS Directory Service for Microsoft Active Directory, particularly through the pg_ad_mapping extension, which enhances access control management. Aurora PostgreSQL supports multiple authentication methods, including password authentication, AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) database authentication, and Kerberos authentication. By default, password authentication is enabled, while IAM and Kerberos can be used independently. Users are assigned specific roles based on the authentication method: rds_iam for IAM, rds_ad for Kerberos, and no specific roles for password authentication. Kerberos authentication integrates with Microsoft Active Directory, allowing centralized authentication and single sign-on (SSO) capabilities. With versions 14.10 and 15.5, Aurora PostgreSQL introduced the pg_ad_mapping extension, which allows administrators to manage access through Active Directory (AD) security groups instead of provisioning individual users. This extension checks AD group memberships upon user login and assigns corresponding database roles, prioritizing roles based on assigned weights. The pg_ad_mapping extension includes functions such as pgadmap_set_mapping to add mappings between AD security groups and database roles, pgadmap_read_mapping to list existing mappings, and pgadmap_reset_mapping to delete or reset mappings. To deploy the solution, a CloudFormation stack is used to create necessary resources, including an AWS Managed Microsoft AD server, an Aurora PostgreSQL database cluster, and a Windows EC2 instance. Users can be added to AD groups, and roles can be mapped to facilitate access management. Security best practices for Aurora PostgreSQL include using IAM policies for resource management, implementing security groups for database access control, utilizing encryption for data protection, and employing Transport Layer Security (TLS) for secure connections. For auditing, the pg_stat_gssapi view can be used to identify authenticated users, and enabling the log_connections parameter will log session establishments, including AD user identities.