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AppWizard
July 27, 2025
Abiotic Factor, a Half-Life-inspired survival game, launched its 1.0 version and received an 'Overwhelmingly Positive' rating on Steam, along with a score of 92 from a reviewer who praised it as one of the greatest survival crafting games. The game features intricate survival systems and an expansive tech tree. Art director Connor Moran acknowledged a fan, Hoider, for creating reload animations that enhance the game's firearm mechanics. Hoider's animations reflect the character's progression from a cautious scientist to a skilled survivor. Moran expressed admiration for Hoider's work, highlighting the positive interaction between developers and fans in the gaming community.
AppWizard
July 24, 2025
Itch.io has decided to remove all adult NSFW titles in response to pressure from payment providers and a campaign by the anti-porn group Collective Shout. The platform is conducting a comprehensive content audit to ensure compliance with payment provider requirements. Founder Leaf Corcoran emphasized the importance of maintaining a robust payment processing system for creators and acknowledged the abrupt nature of the changes, apologizing for the lack of advance notice. Similarly, Valve has introduced new guidelines regarding content on Steam, influenced by the same campaign.
AppWizard
July 23, 2025
Netflix has added a selection of films to its library, including classics like “Anchorman,” “Born on the Fourth of July,” and “Donnie Darko,” as well as crowd-pleasers such as “Happy Gilmore” and thrillers like “Jaws.” Action films include “Mad Max: Fury Road” and “Mission: Impossible,” while romantic dramas feature “A Star is Born” and “V For Vendetta.” The film “Wanted” is also included. New Blu-ray and VOD releases include “All We Imagine as Light,” directed by Payal Kapadia, which features an interview with the director. Stanley Kubrick’s “Barry Lyndon” has received a 4K restoration for its 50th anniversary, along with special features. Fritz Lang’s “The Big Heat” has been restored in 4K, featuring new audio commentary and a video essay. Mike Nichols’ “Carnal Knowledge” makes its Criterion debut in 4K with new commentary and discussions on Nichols’ impact. “Death of a Unicorn,” starring Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega, has been released on Blu-ray with commentary and deleted scenes. “Eephus,” a film about baseball, includes multiple audio commentaries and behind-the-scenes content in its Blu-ray release. The horror film “Final Destination Bloodlines” features insightful commentaries and behind-the-scenes features on Blu-ray. Studio Ghibli's “Grave of the Fireflies” has a special edition with interviews and storyboards. “The Legend of Ochi” stands out for its craftsmanship, with filmmaker commentary included in its Blu-ray release. “A Minecraft Movie” has been successful at the box office, and its Blu-ray release hints at future editions. Marvel's “Thunderbolts” and Alex Garland’s “Warfare” are also available on Blu-ray with special features.
Tech Optimizer
July 22, 2025
Remote access trojans (RATs) are malware that allow hackers to control devices remotely, enabling them to steal passwords, monitor screens, log keystrokes, activate webcams or microphones, install additional malware, and use the computer for further cyber attacks. RATs typically enter systems through phishing, malicious downloads, fake updates, or compromised websites. Signs of a RAT infection include sluggish performance, unusual network activity, mysterious programs, unexpected pop-ups, and unexpected activation of camera or microphone lights. Preventive measures include being cautious with communications, downloading from reputable sources, using antivirus software, keeping software updated, and implementing a firewall. If a RAT is suspected, it is advised to disconnect from the internet, run a full antivirus scan, check installed programs, change passwords, and consider a factory reset. Smartphones can also be vulnerable to RATs, which may manifest as rapid battery drain, overheating, strange pop-ups, excessive data usage, and unfamiliar apps. Immediate actions for compromised phones include enabling airplane mode, deleting suspicious apps, and updating the operating system.
AppWizard
July 20, 2025
The Wandering Village has launched its 1.0 release, featuring an animated trailer that showcases life in a toxic world. The game, developed by Stray Fawn, has been in development for five years and entered early access in 2022. Players build their village on the back of a six-legged creature named Onbu, with options to befriend, worship, or exploit it, raising ethical questions. Stray Fawn plans to release a 1.1 "Quality of Life/UX" update and a 1.2 "Onbu Update" to enhance player interactions. The game is available on Steam and at thewanderingvillage.com.
AppWizard
July 17, 2025
SEGA and Atlus have announced the Steam store page for the remake of the RPG, Persona 4 Revival, which will include Denuvo anti-piracy technology for the PC version. The game features a narrative about mysterious murders in Inaba, blending detective work with self-discovery and personal relationships. It includes improved graphics, sound, and gameplay mechanics, allowing players to attend Yasogami High School, engage in various activities, and take on part-time jobs. Combat utilizes a turn-based system against Shadows, focusing on exploiting enemy weaknesses and using unique Personas. An official release date and PC system requirements have not yet been announced.
AppWizard
July 17, 2025
Powerhoof's upcoming title, The Drifter, is set for release on July 18, 2025. It features point-and-click mechanics and a narrative rooted in urban noir. The game presents a world inspired by traditional noir settings, with locations that contribute to an evolving narrative. Players engage with puzzles that require lateral thinking, using an intuitive user interface. The visual artistry enhances the storytelling, while the narrative explores themes of regret and the desire to forget. The protagonist, Carter, experiences a journey focused on erasure rather than redemption. The supporting cast includes characters with varying degrees of complexity, though some inconsistencies affect narrative cohesion.
AppWizard
July 15, 2025
Handheld gaming devices have gained popularity, allowing players to enjoy games comfortably. However, not all games are suitable for these platforms. Notable games that perform well on handhelds include: - Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom: A Metroidvania game where players control Jin, who must reverse a spell that transformed people into animals. It features charming animations and engaging combat with low graphical demands. - Blue Prince: A 3D puzzle adventure where players inherit an estate and must solve puzzles in various rooms using a roguelike mechanic involving card drawing. - Immortals Fenyx Rising: An open-world RPG set in Greek mythology, where players save the gods from Typhon. It combines exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving, though it can drain battery life. - Stardew Valley: A farming and life simulation game where players inherit a farm and engage in farming, raising animals, and building relationships. Its pixelated graphics ensure smooth performance on handhelds. - Baldur's Gate 3: A turn-based RPG set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, known for its immersive storytelling and character interactions. It performs well on handhelds but may drain the battery. - Fallout 4: Game of the Year Edition: An open-world RPG set in a post-apocalyptic world, manageable for handheld devices due to its age. - Age of Empires: A real-time strategy game with a 4K Definitive Edition, suitable for handheld play with optimized controls for solo and multiplayer experiences. Handheld gaming PCs support a variety of genres, particularly those with simpler 2D graphics, which enhance battery life and gameplay smoothness.
AppWizard
July 10, 2025
Game-based learning through Minecraft Education effectively engages students across various subjects, promoting critical thinking, teamwork, and creativity while equipping them with essential digital skills. The platform offers ready-to-use, standards-aligned resources in subjects like coding, AI, science, history, and math, transforming education into an enjoyable experience. Minecraft Education prepares students for a digital world by providing hands-on experiences that enhance digital citizenship, responsible AI usage, and coding fluency. Specific programs include "CyberSafe AI," which focuses on digital citizenship and AI literacy; "Hour of Code," which involves solving coding puzzles in a theater setting; and "GameCode," where students create their own mini-games. The platform also addresses core subjects and STEM education through immersive experiences like "Ocean Heroes," which teaches marine conservation; "Data Explorers," which emphasizes data collection and analysis; "Ratio Riddles," which engages students with foundational math concepts; "Peter is Here: AI for Cultural Heritage," which explores architectural history; and the "James Webb Space Telescope Challenge," which invites students to explore the universe. Minecraft Education fosters creative classroom environments through activities like "Wheel of Steve," which enhances collaboration and critical thinking, and "Renewtopia," which teaches about renewable energy sources. The platform supports educators with resources and a community to integrate game-based learning effectively.
Tech Optimizer
July 9, 2025
Amazon Bedrock Knowledge Bases has introduced a fully managed Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) feature that connects large language models (LLMs) with internal data sources, enhancing the relevance and accuracy of responses by integrating contextual information from private datasets. During AWS re:Invent 2024, it was announced that this feature now supports natural language querying for structured data retrieval from Amazon Redshift and Amazon SageMaker Lakehouse, allowing generative AI applications to access both structured and unstructured data sources. The system converts user queries into SQL queries using natural language processing, enabling data retrieval without requiring users to know SQL syntax. Amazon Bedrock Knowledge Bases currently supports structured data retrieval from Amazon Redshift and SageMaker Lakehouse. Although direct support for Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible is not available, users can utilize zero-ETL integration between Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible and Amazon Redshift to make their data accessible. This integration replicates Aurora PostgreSQL tables to Amazon Redshift in near real-time, simplifying data management. To enable natural language querying of structured application data stored in Aurora, organizations can set up an Aurora PostgreSQL database, create a schema with interconnected tables (products, customers, and orders), and populate these tables with sample data while maintaining referential integrity. Subsequently, they can establish zero-ETL integration with Amazon Redshift, which involves creating a Redshift Serverless workgroup and mapping the database for synchronization. Once the zero-ETL integration is verified, organizations can create an Amazon Bedrock knowledge base for natural language querying. This requires granting appropriate permissions to the Amazon Bedrock Knowledge Bases AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) role and ensuring the knowledge base is synchronized with Amazon Redshift. After setting up the knowledge base, users can execute natural language queries, which are translated into SQL and processed to generate human-readable responses. Examples of queries include counting unique customers and identifying customers who have purchased the most products. Finally, it is recommended to clean up resources after use to avoid ongoing charges.
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