National Park Archives

AppWizard

August 8, 2025

Ranger’s Path: National Park Simulator Announced For PC

Indie game developer To-Go Games, in collaboration with publisher Astragon Entertainment, has announced Ranger’s Path: National Park Simulator, set in Faremont National Park. Players will manage daily tasks such as clearing trails, assisting lost hikers, and responding to wildlife emergencies. They will use tools like an axe, hammer, and litter picker while exploring diverse biomes, including forests, meadows, and rivers. The game features a ranger camera to document wildlife encounters, with over ten animal species and multiple subspecies. Players can drive a ranger pickup, engage with visitors, and experience dynamic day-night cycles and changing weather. Ranger’s Path is set to launch in Early Access on Steam and the Epic Games Store later this year.

AppWizard

August 3, 2025

Tourism New Zealand Pioneers Future of Travel with AI-Powered Minecraft Destination – What You Need to Know – Travel And Tour World

Tourism New Zealand has created a fully playable version of the country within Minecraft, making it the first nation to do so. They have partnered with GuideGeek to develop an AI-driven travel assistant on their website, newzealand.com, which helps users plan their trips by providing personalized recommendations and answers to common travel questions. The AI system utilizes a comprehensive database of tourism information to enhance user experience. The introduction of the Aotearoa New Zealand DLC in Minecraft allows players to explore landmarks like the Waitomo Caves and Abel Tasman National Park virtually. Since launching the AI trip planner, it has attracted over 200,000 unique visitors, with users showing a 600% higher engagement rate. Additionally, over 50,000 active users are exploring the Minecraft digital destination, highlighting the effectiveness of combining gaming with tourism marketing.

AppWizard

July 14, 2025

Google stocks ‘featured notebooks’ on NotebookLM shelves for curated topics

Google is introducing "featured notebooks" in NotebookLM for desktop users, in partnership with publications like the Atlantic and the Economist. These notebooks provide in-depth advice and analysis, including contributions from Eric Topol and Yellowstone National Park. They are publicly accessible, allowing users to read or generate Audio Overviews. The update, announced on July 14, enhances the app's ability to curate high-quality sources for complex topics. Notable collaborations include public notebooks such as "How to Build a Life" and "The World Ahead 2025." Users can engage with AI for clarification and access AI-generated summaries. The rollout also includes various publicly available notebooks, such as longevity advice from Eric Topol and a science enthusiast’s guide to Yellowstone National Park. The feature builds on the "Public Notebooks" introduced in June, allowing users to compile and share notebooks for collaborative interaction. Discover Sources helps users find credible references by autonomously gathering pertinent information based on user-described topics.

AppWizard

March 20, 2025

Minecraft Just Dropped a New Free A Minecraft Movie DLC

The Aotearoa New Zealand DLC for Minecraft is set to launch on March 18th and will be available for free across multiple platforms, including Xbox, PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices. The DLC features six real-life locations from New Zealand: 1. Waitomo Caves (Waikato) - A parkour adventure through a cave network with digital glowworms. 2. Te Puia, Rotorua (Bay of Plenty) - A fast-paced challenge to capture photos of geothermal features. 3. Kapiti Island (Wellington) - A birding challenge to photograph different bird species. 4. Abel Tasman (Nelson/Tasman) - Exploration of a coastal region aboard a waka taua boat with rhythm games. 5. Tekapo (Mackenzie) - An outdoor activity hub where players traverse the landscape on 4-wheelers. 6. Patea Doubtful Sound (Fiordland) - Navigation on a skipper boat while avoiding obstacles and observing wildlife. The DLC allows players to experience New Zealand's landscapes virtually.

AppWizard

March 19, 2025

Minecraft recreates NZ’s most popular tourism destinations

Gamers will be able to explore six iconic New Zealand locations, including Abel Tasman National Park and Lake Tekapo, in Minecraft, thanks to a collaboration with Tourism New Zealand. This initiative aims to introduce New Zealand and Te Ao Māori to millions of players worldwide and inspire them to visit in real life. The six locations—Waitomo Caves, Rotorua, Kāpiti Island, Abel Tasman National Park, Lake Tekapo, and Doubtful Sound—were selected for their cultural significance and representation of New Zealand's landscapes. Minecraft, created by Mojang Studios and acquired by Microsoft, has sold over 300 million copies and has more than 100 million active users monthly. The collaboration includes input from local iwi to ensure respectful representation of Māori culture.

AppWizard

October 31, 2024

Visit the (virtual) Minecraft National Park

Mojang has launched the Minecraft National Park, available for purchase on the Minecraft Marketplace, with net proceeds benefiting The Nature Conservancy until January 30. The experience was created by over 50 creators and aims to educate players about conservation while showcasing various biomes. Features include ranger stations, visitor centers, and wildlife crossings. Mojang previously donated 0,000 to The Nature Conservancy during Minecraft’s 15-year anniversary, reinforcing their commitment to environmental stewardship. Players contribute to sustainability efforts through their purchases, supporting The Nature Conservancy's mission.