museum Archives

Winsage

June 16, 2026

Munch Museum Windows display gives visitors something to scream about

At the Munch Museum in Oslo, Edvard Munch's painting "The Scream" is displayed alongside a Microsoft account recovery screen, creating an ironic contrast between art and technology. The museum rotates three versions of "The Scream" to prevent deterioration, and the painting continues to resonate with modern audiences as it symbolizes anxiety in today's technology-driven world. The frustrations of dealing with digital barriers, such as forgotten passwords, evoke emotions similar to those depicted in "The Scream."

AppWizard

June 14, 2026

Frontier is making a Planet game that isn’t about zoos or rollercoasters, and has just filed trademarks for Planet Resort and Planet Festival

Frontier has announced a new management simulation game that will not focus on zoos or rollercoasters, generating speculation among fans about potential titles. Popular suggestions include Planet Resort, Planet Festival, and Planet City. Frontier has filed nine new trademarks, including Planet Resort and Planet Festival, while Planet City is not among them. Other trademarks include Planet Farm, Planet Vacation, Planet Dinosaur, Planet Prehistoric, Planet Fantasy, Planet Mythical Creatures, and Planet Dragon. The new game is expected to be released around 2028, following the launch of Planet Zoo 2 later this year.

AppWizard

May 30, 2026

Sheffield recreated in Minecraft by artist and residents

Sheffield is being transformed in the virtual world of Minecraft through an initiative called "Sheffield of Stories: The Big Sheffield Build," led by digital artist Adam Clarke. Residents are invited to recreate their favorite landmarks from Sheffield's past, present, or future. The National Video Game Museum in Sheffield is hosting drop-in "build" events for community members to contribute to the virtual map. Participants, including children like eight-year-old Jackson and ten-year-old Otis, are creating various structures, such as community buildings and a virtual bank. The project aims to engage the local community and allows contributors to share their stories and memories of Sheffield, which will be animated as Minecraft characters for an exhibition.

Winsage

May 27, 2026

When Microsoft was developing Windows 95, developers discovered that SimCity had a severe memory bug that caused it to crash on the new operating system—but instead of forcing the game studio to fix it, Microsoft engineers actually rewrote the core Windows 95 source code to detect if SimCity was running and safely allocate memory for it.

Windows 95 contains a block of code that checks if the user is playing SimCity and adjusts memory management to address a bug from the game's programming. This bug, a "use-after-free" error introduced by SimCity's developer Jon Ross, went unnoticed in Windows 3.x but caused crashes in Windows 95 due to its different memory management. Instead of asking Maxis to fix the bug, Microsoft engineers modified Windows 95 to mimic the older memory behavior, ensuring SimCity would run smoothly. This approach reflects Microsoft's broader strategy of maintaining compatibility with older software through various "shims," allowing legacy programs to function on modern systems.

AppWizard

May 27, 2026

Paralives charmed me on day one, but the roadmap outlines the real life sim of my dreams

Paralives is currently in early access and offers a variety of features aimed at enhancing the life simulation gaming experience. Paramaker Features: - Voice pitch sliders for character voices - Enhanced search and filter options for clothing and accessories - Improved skin tone color wheel - Ability to create pets (dogs, cats, horses) - Wider selection of clothing, items, hairstyles, and accessories - Adjustable character heights - Body and facial sliders for customization - Options for heterochromia and intricate hair color wheels - Layering clothing and outfit saving - Tattoo options with recolor and placement tools - Genetics system for creating new characters Build Mode Features: - Broader range of objects and decorative items - Support for doors and windows on curved walls - Customizable pools and related tools - Basement creation and enhanced stair functionalities - Advanced terrain tools for lakes and ponds - Improved town design capabilities - Options to create vehicles, boathouses, and roads - Effortless room management - Flexible object placement with grid snapping - Basic terrain editing tools Live Mode Features: - Dynamic weather and seasonal changes - Comprehensive gardening system - Objects influencing character lives - System for defining sexual orientation and preferences - New characters moving into the player's town - Story progression for nearby characters - Unique story cards for storytellers - Expanded gameplay and difficulty options - New shops and town activities - Communication options for characters - Calendar menu for managing schedules - Ownership and use of vehicles General Features: - Photo mode for character movement and pose adjustments - Access to mods via Steam Workshop - In-game mod management tools - Cheat options for money, character editing, and item manipulation

AppWizard

May 25, 2026

9 cool things about Paralives you won’t find in The Sims

Paralives has entered early access and offers several innovative features that distinguish it from The Sims 4. Key features include: - The ability to resize objects, allowing for customization in design. - A snap-free decorating system that enables free placement of items. - A color wheel for customizing clothing, hair, and furniture colors, with the option to save swatches. - Height sliders for creating characters of varying heights, enhancing realism and diversity. - A vegetarian toggle that does not consume a trait slot, simplifying character traits. - A needs-dependent skill progression system that requires characters' needs to be met for leveling up. - Special mood meters that provide unique emotional states based on characters' actions. - Townie requests inspired by farming simulators, offering daily tasks for rewards. - A museum feature for donating found items, encouraging exploration and collection.

AppWizard

May 5, 2026

Microsoft ended MS-DOS support 20 years ago, but the latest update for the best roguelike ever made still supports it anyway

On September 14, 2000, Microsoft released the Windows Millennium Edition, marking the end of MS-DOS. In 2006, Microsoft ended long-term support for Windows 98 and Me. Recently, a new update for NetHack was released, which continues to support MS-DOS. NetHack has been consistently updated since its launch in 1987. The game has an open-source philosophy and features various iterations, including a modern 3D version that offers a visually appealing interface while retaining the classic ASCII format. The latest update provides an accessible entry point for new players, with options for both 2D tilesets and ASCII mode. NetHack is recognized for its intricate gameplay and has influenced many other titles, earning a place in the Museum of Modern Art.

AppWizard

May 3, 2026

Nearly 40 years after launch, NetHack just got a 5.0.0 release with over 3,000 patch notes

NetHack, an iconic roguelike game first released in 1987, has been added to the Museum of Modern Art alongside other notable titles. As of yesterday, it has been updated to version 5.0.0, which includes 3,100 fixes and changes. The game is still an active open-source project supported by the DevTeam. Players should be aware that old saves and "bones files" will not be compatible with this new version. The main menu of the NetHack website now provides download links for various platforms, including Windows, DOS, and Amiga. The game's GitHub page contains detailed updates, including gameplay notes. Resources like PC Gamer's "NetHack from aaaa to Zruty," a let's play series, are available to assist players in navigating the game.

AppWizard

May 1, 2026

007 First Light perfectly balances cinematic Bond action with Hitman’s signature sandbox freedom

The game "007 First Light" features a balance between open-world exploration and linear action, successfully merging Bond-style storytelling with gameplay mechanics. Players experience three distinct levels, including a narrative introduction, an MI6 training arena, and a museum setting that encourages strategic gameplay. The museum level allows for various approaches to objectives, such as stealth and impersonation. Combat mechanics differ from the Hitman series, with Bond engaging in stylish confrontations rather than relying solely on stealth. Players can utilize gadgets, including a laser watch, which require resource management. The game boasts impressive visuals and character portrayal, with a focus on realism and immersion. The developers aim to appeal to a broad audience of Bond fans, ensuring an engaging experience.

AppWizard

April 25, 2026

Shuhei Yoshida Says PS5 Games Coming To PC On Day One Isn’t ‘A Good Strategy For A Platform Holder Like…

Shuhei Yoshida, former head of PlayStation's indie division, expressed skepticism about launching PS5 titles on PC simultaneously with console releases during the Powerhouse Museum ALT. Games Festival. He noted that Sony typically releases first-party PS5 games on PC after a delay, which has included titles like Horizon Zero Dawn and Ghost of Tsushima. Yoshida believes this staggered approach helps recover investments in high-budget projects. He indicated that releasing games on PC after a couple of years allows for reinvestment in future projects and raised concerns about the implications of day-one releases for triple-A titles on other platforms. Recent reports suggest that Sony may be reconsidering its strategy, with major titles like Ghost of Yotei and Saros remaining exclusive to the console. Yoshida also revealed he was dismissed from his position at SIE Worldwide Studios for not following directives from Jim Ryan.