New York City

AppWizard
June 12, 2025
Netflix showcased a variety of animated projects at Annecy’s Imperial Palace, including adaptations from franchises like “Minecraft,” “Clash of Clans,” “Magic the Gathering,” and “Ghostbusters,” as well as the return of “Blue Eye Samurai.” Highlights included three new preschool shows based on Dr. Seuss, an adaptation of the French comic “Samuel,” and several adult-oriented series such as “Long Story Short,” “Haunted Hotel,” and “Mating Season.” “Samuel” is an acclaimed French animated series set for a wider audience release later this year. The Dr. Seuss adaptations consist of “Red Fish Blue Fish,” “Horton!,” and “The Sneetches,” with “Red Fish Blue Fish” aimed at children aged four to seven. “Long Story Short” is a family comedy from Raphael Bob-Waksberg, while “Haunted Hotel” is a horror-comedy produced by Dan Harmon. “Mating Season” is an adult animated comedy about dating in the animal kingdom. “Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85” aims to create animated series with cinematic quality, while “Splinter Cell: Deathwatch” is the first animated adaptation of the Ubisoft game. “Magic the Gathering” is described as an ambitious epic fantasy saga, and “Blue Eye Samurai” promises intense storytelling in its new season. A new “Ghostbusters” series is being developed with Sony Pictures Animation, and the “Minecraft” series is being crafted in collaboration with Mojang Studios. The “Clash of Clans” series will transform the mobile game's fantasy world into a workplace comedy.
AppWizard
June 12, 2025
A team of students from World Journalism Preparatory in Queens, named ‘Diamond Sword Bustamoney,’ won the inaugural NYC Video Games Festival in the high school division of the Minecraft Education “Battle of the Boroughs” competition. Their victory followed a three-stage tournament that included preliminary digital submissions, borough-level championships, and a final showdown on May 31. This is the first time a Queens school has won the title since the competition began in 2021. The event was organized by the New York City Department of Education in collaboration with Microsoft and the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, originally conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic. The team defeated the defending champions from Staten Island’s Tottenville High School. The winning team consists of five 11th-grade students.
AppWizard
June 5, 2025
Sonic Racing Crossworlds is the latest installment in Sega's kart racing franchise, featuring characters such as Sonic, Tails, and Dr. Robotnik, along with SpongeBob SquarePants as a crossover addition. Leaks suggest the inclusion of characters from Minecraft and Avatar: The Last Airbender through downloadable content (DLC), with tracks inspired by franchises like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and SpongeBob SquarePants. The game is set to launch later this year on multiple platforms, including PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.
AppWizard
June 4, 2025
A leak regarding Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds has revealed crossover content featuring franchises such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT), Avatar: The Last Airbender, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Minecraft. The TMNT content includes a "Pizza Van" in four color variants and a themed race track set in New York City. Avatar content features Aang on a hoverboard and a "Bending Gates" mechanic for elemental powers. Minecraft is represented with a character selection menu hinting at a Minecraft-style character and themed vehicles. SpongeBob SquarePants will also be a playable racer with a unique vehicle and track. The leaks confirm the presence of TMNT, Avatar, and Minecraft, with potential for more franchises to be announced. Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is expected to launch later this year.
AppWizard
May 31, 2025
The all-girl team from P.S. 86 participated in the Minecraft Education Challenge for the second year, focusing on designing a sustainable and inclusive space at Orchard Beach. The challenge, part of the Battle of the Boroughs, had 3,259 applicants, with 175 students in the semi-finals. The team, consisting of sixth graders Yoselin, Zeynabou, Pearl, Emily, and Sadika, was guided by their teacher Kim Judin. They proposed features like solar panels, wheelchair accessibility, and bilingual signage. Although they did not advance to the finals, the experience was valuable for team bonding. The Mayor’s Cup Finals are scheduled for May 31.
AppWizard
May 22, 2025
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown is a strategy game that features the Turtles in a unique narrative where they are without their mentor, Splinter, or their nemesis, Shredder, as the Foot Clan invades New York City. The game lasts approximately six hours and is divided into four chapters, allowing players to control one Turtle at a time, which enhances character exploration. Each Turtle has a distinct moveset, and gameplay involves optimizing moves and managing action points in evolving battle stages. The game combines strategic elements with a narrative that highlights the Turtles' growth and brotherhood. Tactical Takedown is available on PC.
AppWizard
May 22, 2025
On May 5, over 270 students from Queens participated in the semi-finals of the 2025 Minecraft Education Battle of the Boroughs at Thomas Edison High School. The event was organized by the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, NYC Public Schools, and the National Esports Association. This year's competition saw 3,295 students submit 659 entries, a 37% increase from last year and more than double the participation from 2023. Participants used Minecraft Education to create models of a sustainable New York City. The winning teams from Queens are: - Elementary Division: Team Sigma from PS 24 Andrew Jackson, led by Kerry McGarvey and Principal Bani Singh. - Middle School Division: Neo NYC from J.H.S. 185 Edward Bleeker, coached by Ana Silva-Collins under Principal Michael Leung. - High School Division: Diamond Sword Bustamoney from World Journalism Preparatory School, guided by Ernest Lai and Principal Michael Roberts Bacchus. These teams will represent Queens in the Mayor’s Cup Minecraft Education finals during the NYC Video Game Festival at Convene Brookfield Place in Manhattan. The festival will feature esports competitions, virtual reality experiences, indie game demonstrations, cosplay contests, and a career expo focused on the digital games industry. Deputy Mayor Adolfo Carrión Jr. highlighted the event's role in promoting career-connected learning and the city's digital economy. The final round will take place on May 31.
AppWizard
April 23, 2025
Wadjet Eye Games will release the adventure game Old Skies on April 23, 2024. The game is set in a futuristic New York City in the 2060s and follows Fia Quinn, a ChronoZen agent who guides wealthy tourists through time manipulation. Fia is chronolocked, remaining unchanged by the timeline's fluctuations, which contrasts with her clients' evolving lives. The gameplay features accessible puzzles that encourage logical thinking, including a scenario where Fia must create a life-saving drug from non-existent ingredients. The game departs from Wadjet Eye's traditional pixel art style, using bold colors and comic book-inspired designs. It features a jazzy score by Thomas Regin and explores themes of love, loss, and human emotion. Fia's character development highlights her struggle for agency in her role, with her experiences portrayed through Sally Beaumont's performance.
AppWizard
April 8, 2025
Various unfinished iterations of Half-Life 2 have emerged over the years, showcasing the evolution of Valve's vision for the game. A recent video by YouTuber CMDR RileySV explores the 2003 beta, focusing on the "City 17 river," which was originally intended to play a significant role in the gameplay. In the beta, players would navigate through canals leading to the Citadel, promising a striking visual reveal. Although remnants of these elements exist in the final version, the canal section was repurposed, leading to mixed player reactions. A comment from user @FlintExp highlights that the city layout of City 17 draws inspiration from New York City, with specific coordinates matching real locations. The river was once a crucial aspect of the journey through City 17, guiding players toward the Citadel. The 2003 beta closely resembles the retail version, with notable differences reflecting Valve's editing process before release.
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