quirks Archives

Winsage

May 1, 2025

Turns out that the earliest versions of Windows 7 took longer to load depending on your choice of desktop wallpaper

The mauve desktop background in Windows 7 may have caused slow boot times, with users experiencing delays of up to 30 seconds at the welcome screen when using a solid color background. This issue was attributed to a programming error and was addressed by Microsoft in November 2009, five months after the launch of Windows 7.

Winsage

April 27, 2025

Legendary Voodoo4 GPU modded into laptop, benchmarks work with Windows XP

Daniel Simionescu, known as sdz, has been working on porting the Voodoo graphics from 3dfx to mobile platforms, resulting in a design that integrates a Voodoo4 GPU into a Dell Precision M4800 laptop via a custom MXM card. YouTuber Omores tested this setup with Windows 98 and XP, facing initial compatibility issues but ultimately achieving partial functionality. The Voodoo brand was significant in the late 90s for making 3D acceleration accessible. sdz created a PCB with the Voodoo4 GPU using the VSA-100 core and 64MB of SDR memory. During testing, various VBE drivers were explored, with Windows XP showing better compatibility for running 3DMark 2001 and Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed. Games using the Glide API may require wrappers, and the community plans to compile a list of supported titles. sdz intends to keep the design open-source for collaboration.

AppWizard

April 26, 2025

My favourite Elder Scrolls YouTuber returned after 2 years, and it’s made me fall in love with ridiculous challenge runs all over again

The author has numerous friends on Steam who have been absent for extended periods, with one missing for a year and another for 3,646 days. Micky D, a YouTuber known for his humorous takes on Bethesda games, disappeared for two years after uploading a video about Fallout but recently resurfaced to celebrate the remaster of Oblivion and released a new video titled "Can You Play Daggerfall Without Leaving Daggerfall?". In this video, he explores unconventional gaming challenges, such as navigating Morrowind without sight and defeating a god at level one, highlighting the adaptability and quirks of classic Elder Scrolls titles. The introduction of mods allows players to create unique challenges, showcasing the charm and creativity within the gaming community.

AppWizard

April 25, 2025

Despite CGI “A Minecraft Movie” is pretty good

“A Minecraft Movie” is directed by Jared Hess and is a fantasy adventure comedy inspired by the 2011 video game. The plot follows four misfits who are transported to the Overworld, guided by the character Steve, voiced by Jack Black. Key characters include Garret “The Garbage Man” Garrison, played by Jason Momoa, and Henry, portrayed by Sebastian Eugene Hansen, along with Natalie (Emma Myers) and Dawn (Danielle Brooks). The film features comedic chemistry between Black and Momoa, with humor stemming from their dynamic. The CGI production is polished, though some viewers may find the lifelike appearance of monsters unsettling. The movie has inspired memes and quotes among audiences, enhancing the communal viewing experience. It received a rating of 4 out of 5 mustangs.

AppWizard

April 22, 2025

Hot damn: The Oblivion Remaster is 125 GB, 2600% heavier than the original game from 2006

Bethesda has remastered The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion using Unreal Engine 5, available for £50, including horse armor but not the deluxe edition. The remaster requires 125 GB of storage, with a download size of 115 GB due to Steam's compression, marking a 2600% increase from the original game's 4.6 GB. The remaster combines Unreal Engine 5's graphics with Gamebryo's logic, maintaining Bethesda's signature quirks.

Winsage

April 21, 2025

5 amazing Linux distros that are better than Windows, but you should avoid them as a beginner

Linux distributions have evolved to be more accessible for users transitioning from Windows and macOS, with Debian-based distributions being relatively easy to navigate. DietPi is an ultra-lightweight OS that requires manual configuration of essential packages, making it more suitable for experienced users. Tails prioritizes user privacy by using the Tor network and operates from a USB drive, but is not ideal for casual users. Qubes OS enhances security through virtualization but has a steep learning curve and challenges with GPU passthrough. Talos Linux is optimized for Kubernetes projects but may be difficult for newcomers due to its lack of SSH support and immutable design. Bazzite, a gaming-focused distribution based on Fedora, offers a user-friendly setup but may not support multiplayer games with kernel-level anti-cheat technology, making it less suitable for competitive gamers.

AppWizard

April 20, 2025

Stop Watching and Start Memeing at ‘A Minecraft Movie’

A Minecraft Movie has been released, blending gaming and cinema, and appeals to both nostalgic fans of the game and new audiences. The film features a classic narrative with a villainous duo, Malgosha and Chungus, and includes humor and clever dialogue. Jennifer Coolidge plays Vice Principal Marlene, while Jack Black and Jason Momoa portray Steve and Garrett, respectively. The film includes comedic scenes, such as a product placement moment with Coolidge's character hitting a villager with her Jeep Cherokee. The audience, including fans and families, reacted positively, and the film is seen as a potential cultural touchstone for Gen Alpha.

AppWizard

April 18, 2025

I just spent $6 on this Steam app that compresses PC games — and it’s already saved me 100GB

The acquisition of the Steam application CompressorX allows gamers to compress game files, maximizing existing storage without needing hardware upgrades. Modern games like The Last of Us Part II Remastered (150GB), Monster Hunter Wilds (75GB), and Cyberpunk 2077 with its Phantom Liberty expansion (100GB) contribute to high storage demands. External SSDs and hard drives provide additional space, but CompressorX offers a quick solution for optimizing current storage. While it has some quirks, such as a confusing automation feature and variable compression times, it helps gamers maintain their game libraries without deleting titles.

AppWizard

April 14, 2025

My biggest pleasant surprise of 2025 so far has been the free prequel to one of my favorite indie RPGs, made with FromSoft’s 25-year-old game making toolset

Lunacid, a first-person RPG inspired by the King's Field series, was released in 2023 by Kira LLC. A prequel titled Lunacid: Tears of the Moon is set thousands of years before the original game and was developed using the Sword of Moonlight toolset. The game features user-generated dungeon crawlers and has drawn comparisons to atmospheric exploration titles like Thief and System Shock. Players engage in melee combat without blocking or dodging options, and character progression occurs automatically upon leveling up. Mana regenerates through successful melee attacks, and health is fully restored at the home base. The game lacks a tutorial, prompting players to refer to a classic-style manual. Players must locate five shards of a legendary sword while navigating a world filled with secrets, including hidden doors and challenging enemies.

AppWizard

April 14, 2025

After Jack Black Dropped A Minecraft Movie’s Lava Chicken Scene, Fans Shared Their Theater Experiences

A Minecraft Movie has become a box office hit, featuring a memorable scene where Jack Black's character, Steve, sings a whimsical song titled “Steve’s Lava Chicken.” The song humorously suggests that chickens in the film's universe are tastier when cooked with molten rock. Audience reactions have been enthusiastic, with many sharing positive comments on social media about their theater experiences. Some fans have reacted so exuberantly that they were ejected from screenings, and one patron even brought a live chicken to a showing. A representative from Fareham’s Reel Cinema cautioned fans about a TikTok trend called “Chicken Jockey,” urging moderation during screenings. The film's soundtrack is available for purchase, and while a sequel has not been confirmed, the popularity of the film and its music suggests potential for more content in the future.