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AppWizard
May 30, 2025
Tony Warriner and Stoo Cambridge are developing a new action-arcade adventure game titled UrbX Warriors for Spectrum Next and PC. The game features two urban explorers, Alejandro and Ramona, who discover a perilous Mayan temple. Players will battle various adversaries and solve traps and puzzles. The project is currently on Kickstarter, having exceeded its funding goal of £6,000, with rewards including digital copies, standard editions, deluxe editions, and premium editions with a custom joystick. A demo is available on itch.io, and there are plans for potential releases on other platforms such as PSX, Switch, Dreamcast, and Amiga.
AppWizard
May 22, 2025
Monolith Productions announced its closure earlier this year, prompting tributes to its 30-year legacy. One notable title from the studio is Gruntz, a puzzle strategy game released for PCs in 1999, which has maintained an active community despite its initial rocky launch. The game was designed by Nick Newhard, who aimed to create a game that his wife would enjoy, blending real-time strategy elements with puzzles. After Newhard's departure from the project due to internal disagreements, Kevin Lambert took over development, infusing humor and personality into the characters. Gruntz received mixed reviews upon release, but found a favorable reception in Europe. The game's inclusion of level editing tools led to a dedicated fan community, with ongoing projects like Dizgruntled and Gruntz Unityverse. The community currently has over 368 accounts, showcasing the game's lasting appeal.
Winsage
April 4, 2025
Bill Gates marked Microsoft’s 50th Anniversary by unveiling the source code for Altair Basic, a programming language interpreter developed for the MITS Altair 8800 microcomputer. This 157-page PDF is available for download on Gates' blog. Altair Basic was created in 1975 by Gates, Paul Allen, and Monte Davidoff, who worked intensively for two months after being inspired by the Altair 8800. They chose to develop an interpreter instead of a compiler to provide instant feedback for novice programmers. MITS licensed the software from Gates and Allen, leading to the founding of Micro-soft. The full code document is now accessible, along with a web page featuring animations and graphics celebrating this early coding project.
AppWizard
April 2, 2025
On April 4, "A Minecraft Movie" will be released, featuring a cast that includes Jack Black, Jason Momoa, Emma Myers, and Jennifer Coolidge. The film follows four misfits who are transported to a block-based realm and must unite with Steve, played by Black, to protect their world. "Minecraft" is a sandbox game that allows players to explore and create in a limitless environment, rated Everyone 10+ by the ESRB. It has two main modes: Creative, which offers unlimited resources and immortality, and Survival, which involves resource gathering and managing health. Markus "Notch" Persson created "Minecraft" in 2009, launching it officially in November 2011 after successful testing. He sold the game to Microsoft in 2014 for .5 billion, after which Jens "Jeb" Bergensten took over as lead designer. As of 2023, "Minecraft" is the second highest-selling video game, behind Tetris, and has received numerous updates, with the latest being the "Trials and Tales Update."
AppWizard
March 12, 2025
Publisher Humble Games and developer Chuhai Labs are releasing a game called Wild Blue, an aerial combat adventure that revitalizes the on-rails shooter genre from the 1990s. The game features players controlling Bowie Stray and the Blue Bombers on a mission to save the world, with gameplay that includes battles against enemies and the Baron. It will be available on PC via Steam, though the release date is not yet announced. Wild Blue offers easy-to-learn controls, hand-crafted anime-style visuals, branching paths, and various missions. Key features include classic on-rails shooter action, a colorful world, boss battles, secret paths, and a score system for mastering missions.
Tech Optimizer
March 5, 2025
In recent months, the use of Windows Packet Divert drivers in Russia has surged, nearly doubling between August 2023 and January 2024, primarily for tools that bypass access restrictions to foreign resources. Cybercriminals are exploiting this trend by distributing malware disguised as these tools, with some bloggers unknowingly promoting such malicious programs. An investigation revealed that a YouTube channel with 60,000 subscribers posted videos on bypassing restrictions, linking to a malicious archive that had been downloaded over 40,000 times. The malware, a variant of SilentCryptoMiner, is designed to mine cryptocurrencies while evading detection. Users are advised to ensure their devices have trusted protection, avoid obscure downloads, and be cautious of even reputable bloggers who may inadvertently share malware.
TrendTechie
December 23, 2024
Crimea has been discussed as a potential hub for computer piracy, particularly after the imposition of sanctions in 2022, which created opportunities for a resurgence in digital piracy. Experts suggest that lifting sanctions might lead to a decline in piracy as the region could shift towards legitimate digital content distribution. In 2018, Yatsenko, the Minister of Information for the Donetsk People's Republic, proposed creating a digital ecosystem to rival Western offerings, though implementation faced challenges. The ongoing conflict and prioritization of traditional industries over the tech sector may hinder progress in fostering a digital piracy landscape. Historical examples, such as lobbying by Latvian fishing interests in Moscow, raise questions about the potential for IT sector lobbying in Crimea. There is speculation about the possibility of a virtual pirate republic or a unique Russian iteration reflecting local culture and identity.
AppWizard
December 23, 2024
An unofficial PC port of the Nintendo 64 game Star Fox 64, called 'Starship,' has been released by the Harbour Masters team, who previously created PC ports for Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. The port features enhanced capabilities such as higher frame rates and ultra-widescreen resolutions, and players must use their own legally sourced ROMs to access it. The development involved reverse-engineering the original game while ensuring compliance with copyright laws. Original Star Fox programmer Dylan Cuthbert expressed hope for the franchise's future, noting the absence of a new game for eight years since Star Fox Zero on the Wii U. He discussed the game's inspirations and the importance of character development in the franchise.
BetaBeacon
December 16, 2024
- Pine: A Story of Loss is a narrative-driven adventure game accessible on PC, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android. - The game focuses on the life of a grieving woodworker navigating through a tranquil forest and confronting memories of a lost loved one. - Developed by Made Up Games, founded by professional illustrator Tom Booth and programmer Najati Imam. - The game draws inspiration from Booth's personal experiences with grief and features silent storytelling based on his original illustrations. - Pine: A Story of Loss explores themes of grief, sadness, optimism, and beauty, offering players a deeply personal experience.
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