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AppWizard

April 30, 2025

Stardew Valley creator Eric Barone hasn’t ‘really’ played a lot of other farming and life sims, but he appreciates the impact the game has had on the genre—’it seems to have inspired a lot more people to consider this kind of game’

Stardew Valley, released in 2016, has significantly influenced the farming simulator genre, leading to comparisons with new titles. Eric Barone, the creator of Stardew Valley, noted that he hasn't played many other farming games but mentioned Sun Haven and Graveyard Keeper as titles of interest. He expressed curiosity about Disney Dreamlight Valley due to its name, stating it resembles Animal Crossing more than Stardew Valley. Barone acknowledged that Stardew Valley has inspired many developers to create similar games, reflecting on his own gaming influences from titles like Harvest Moon, Rune Factory, and The Sims. He appreciates the resurgence of farming simulators and the creative wave it has generated in the industry.

Winsage

April 30, 2025

Windows Insider Program: What is it and why you should consider joining it (and few reasons you shouldn’t)

The Windows Insider Program allows users to explore unreleased features of Microsoft's Windows operating system by enrolling in various channels. To join, Windows 11 users can go to Settings >> Windows Update and select Windows Insider Program, enabling optional diagnostic data sharing with Microsoft. There are four channels to choose from: 1. Canary Channel: For technical users wanting to preview early-stage features, often unstable. 2. Dev Channel: More stable than Canary, includes features under consideration for future releases. 3. Beta Channel: Recommended for most users, offers a balance of stability and innovation with features likely to be rolled out to all users. 4. Release Preview Channel: The most stable option, providing a preview of the next major release with tested functionalities. Reasons to join include early access to new features, the ability to provide feedback to Microsoft, professional advantages for IT administrators, community engagement, and skill improvement. However, drawbacks include potential system instability and bugs, as well as privacy concerns related to sharing diagnostic data.

AppWizard

April 29, 2025

A Minecraft Movie gets special “Block Party” screenings that’ll encourage you to “sing (and meme) along” as Jack Black burns a defenceless animal alive in front of some kids

The creators of A Minecraft Movie are hosting special sing-along screenings called "The Block Party" at AMC Theaters starting May 2. These events encourage audience participation, allowing attendees to sing along to memorable moments from the film, including the "lava chicken" song. The initiative aims to engage younger viewers and teens, creating a lively atmosphere for families to bond over shared experiences. The promotional material invites fans to prepare for a fun and interactive movie night.

Winsage

April 29, 2025

Why CEO of $40 billion company that caused biggest-ever Windows outage wishes he had joined Microsoft before going to law school

Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince reflected on his career decisions, expressing regret for not gaining experience at a larger company before pursuing graduate studies. He received job offers from companies like Yahoo, Microsoft, and Netscape but declined them to attend the University of Chicago Law School, aiming to become a cybersecurity lawyer. In an interview, he noted that working at a mid-sized company during the dot-com boom could have provided valuable experience and networking opportunities. Despite not regretting his later job rejections, he acknowledged that his law degree has been crucial for navigating legal challenges in his company. Prince believes that experiencing a dynamic work environment could have accelerated his career.

AppWizard

April 28, 2025

Five new Steam games you probably missed (April 28, 2025)

Steam releases approximately a dozen new games daily, creating a diverse gaming landscape. Navicula Meatus - Release Date: April 25 - Developer: Torgomind - Description: A game focused on immersive discomfort, lacking traditional fun but featuring dark humor. Replicube - Release Date: April 24 - Developers: Walaber Entertainment LLC - Description: A programming game where players replicate voxel-based objects using code, featuring a 3D voxel editor and a 2D image editor. GeckoShop - Release Date: April 25 - Developer: Reptoid - Description: A retail simulator where players sell geckos in an open world filled with quirky NPCs and quests. Dishventory - Release Date: April 25 - Developer: Final Offer - Description: A strategy card game centered on doing dishes, where players use cards to manage dishwashing tasks; it is free to play.

Winsage

April 28, 2025

Search Bar Not Working in Windows 11? Follow these Fixes

Numerous users have reported issues with the search bar functionality in Windows 11. A guide has been compiled to offer effective solutions, including: 1. Restarting File Explorer by opening Task Manager, finding "Windows Explorer," right-clicking it, and selecting "Restart." 2. Rebuilding the search index by accessing Windows Settings, navigating to Privacy & Security, selecting "Searching Windows," clicking on "Advanced indexing options," and choosing "Rebuild." 3. Starting the Windows Search service by opening the Run dialog, typing services.msc, locating "Windows Search," stopping the service, starting it again, setting the Startup type to "Automatic," and restarting the PC. 4. Ending the SearchHost.exe task in Task Manager by finding "Search," right-clicking it, and selecting "End task." 5. Using the Recovery tool via Windows Update by accessing Windows Settings, navigating to System -> Recovery, and clicking "Reinstall now" next to "Fix problems using Windows Update." Rebooting after these steps should restore the search bar's functionality. Rebuilding the search index can enhance local search speed, and users may also consider removing Bing search results from the Start menu.

Winsage

April 27, 2025

5 hidden Windows features I wish I’d been using all along

Windows 11 includes several features that enhance productivity: 1. Clipboard History: Allows users to copy and paste multiple items. To enable, go to Settings -> System -> Clipboard and toggle on Clipboard history and Clipboard history across devices. 2. Scroll Inactive Windows: Enables scrolling through inactive windows by hovering over them. To activate, go to Settings -> Bluetooth & devices -> Mouse and toggle on "Scroll inactive windows when hovering over them." 3. Ctrl+Shift+Enter in Run Dialog Box: Launches applications with administrative privileges using the Ctrl+Shift+Enter shortcut in the Run dialog box. 4. Enable Enhanced Search: Expands search capabilities to include the entire drive. To enable, go to Settings -> Privacy & security -> Searching Windows and select the Enhanced option. 5. Enable God Mode: Provides access to numerous system settings in one location. To activate, create a new folder and rename it to a specific string that grants access to these settings.

AppWizard

April 27, 2025

‘Andor,’ ‘You,’ ‘Havoc,’ ‘Babygirl,’ and the best to stream this weekend — plus ‘A Minecraft Movie’ surprise

Andor, the prequel to Rogue One, returns for its second and final season, featuring Diego Luna as Cassian Andor. The 12-episode season will be released in three-episode segments over four weeks. Étoile, a series by Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino, follows two ballet companies struggling financially and is streaming on Prime Video. The Netflix series You returns for its fifth season, with all 10 episodes available for streaming. Brett Goldstein's stand-up special, The Second Best Night of Your Life, airs Saturday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and Max. A24’s film Babygirl, starring Nicole Kidman, is now streaming on Max. Other films available include Havoc on Netflix, Freaky Tales on VOD, Ash on VOD, and Azrael on Hulu. Tombstone, originally released in 1993, has a new 4K Ultra HD version available digitally. A book titled A Minecraft Movie: From Block to Big Screen chronicles the making of the Minecraft movie, available at Amazon and other booksellers.

AppWizard

April 26, 2025

‘I, am Steve’: ‘A Minecraft Movie’ review

“A Minecraft Movie” is a live-action adaptation of the popular video game that has finally been released after a decade of anticipation. The film features performances by Jack Black as Steve and Jason Momoa, and it combines humor with adventure, appealing to both young and old audiences. Since its release, it has exceeded box office expectations and generated significant social media buzz.

AppWizard

April 26, 2025

Key To Success? Minecraft Study Reveals Adaptability Beats All

A study published in Nature Communications explored human decision-making using the game Minecraft, involving 128 participants who navigated a virtual world to find hidden rewards. The research found that individuals adapt their strategies based on personal success rates; they rely on their instincts when thriving but observe and emulate successful peers when struggling. In clustered reward environments, successful players attracted followers, while in random settings, individuals distanced themselves to minimize competition. The study highlighted the importance of adaptability in decision-making and noted that participants sometimes copied others even when it was unbeneficial. The research was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, with no reported competing interests. The paper was published on April 25, 2025.