resilience Archives

AppWizard

August 10, 2025

One of the first ever American videogame magazines is now available online for free

The Video Game History Foundation has digitized the magazine Computer Entertainer, originally published from 1982 to 1990, and made it accessible to the public under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution license. Computer Entertainer is notable for surviving the 1983-84 video game industry crash, providing reviews and insights during that period. It features American reviews of iconic games such as The Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy, and Super Mario Bros. The entire collection can be accessed at gamehistory.org/computerentertainer.

AppWizard

August 9, 2025

Blizzard’s ex-CEO says Battlefield 6 will “boot stomp” Call of Duty this year because the franchise has “gone downhill” — calls it a victory for players as COD “won’t be lazy” anymore

Mike Ybarra, former president of Blizzard Entertainment, expressed on social media that he believes "Battlefield will boot stomp CoD this year," suggesting that the competition will push Call of Duty to improve. Battlefield 6 is taking a back-to-basics approach and has shown strong interest with over 250,000 players in its open beta. Critics have noted Ybarra's bias against Call of Duty, which is now owned by Microsoft, and pointed out that despite criticisms, Call of Duty has outsold Battlefield 1. Ybarra described Call of Duty as "a mess," citing issues like cheating and large installation sizes. Battlefield 6 is set to release on October 6 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with modest hardware requirements and a default 60 FPS mode on Series S consoles.

AppWizard

August 9, 2025

Sekiro-likes are in a golden age, Batman games are in a drought, which makes the ground fertile for the Dark Knight soulslike I’ve always dreamed about

A gamer proposes the idea of a Batman game that incorporates soulslike mechanics, inspired by successful titles like Lies of P and Nioh 3. This concept emphasizes Batman's vulnerability and mastery through repeated attempts, contrasting with his traditional portrayal as an invincible hero. The game could feature gameplay mechanics such as parry systems and strategic combat, enhancing player engagement with Batman's character depth and psychological complexity. Additionally, it could explore themes of sacrifice and resilience, offering an immersive narrative experience. The demand for a soulslike Batman game is growing within the gaming community.

AppWizard

August 8, 2025

Warner Bros. Discovery Adds 3.4 Million Streaming Subscribers, But “Minecraft” and “Sinners” Power Q2

Warner Bros. Discovery reported second-quarter earnings with a revenue of .8 billion, a slight increase from the previous year. Net income rose to .6 billion, a recovery from last year's loss, while adjusted EBITDA increased by 9% to billion. The studio segment generated .8 billion in revenue, a 55% year-over-year increase, driven by successful films like Minecraft and Sinners. The company plans to release 12 to 14 new films annually, including major tentpole films and titles from DC Studios and New Line. Streaming growth included the addition of 3.4 million subscribers, leading to an 8% revenue increase to .8 billion. The linear TV segment faced challenges, with revenue down 9% to .8 billion and adjusted EBITDA declining by 24% to .5 billion. WBD completed six major carriage renewals and is preparing for a strategic split, creating a new entity for its studios and HBO, while linear networks will become a separate company named Discovery. CEO David Zaslav emphasized limiting library content licensing to enhance HBO Max's appeal and highlighted ongoing efforts to revive franchises like Superman and Lord of the Rings. The company is also expanding into gaming and theme parks, with Bruce Campbell leading these initiatives. Zaslav discussed plans for bundling streaming services to improve consumer experience and noted the resilience of the TV advertising market despite economic pressures.

AppWizard

August 7, 2025

Epic Games Store Updated With $45 Worth of Free Games

The Epic Games Store is offering two free PC games until August 14: Road Redemption and 112 Operator. Road Redemption, an action-packed racing game released in 2019, has an 82% approval rating on Steam and is typically priced at .99. It allows players to lead a motorcycle gang on a cross-country journey with intense driving combat. 112 Operator, a simulation and strategy game released in 2020, has an 89% approval rating on Steam and is usually priced at .99. In this game, players manage emergency services in various cities, responding to calls and navigating different scenarios.

AppWizard

August 6, 2025

McDonald’s says its focus on value — and a must-have Minecraft meal — boosted second-quarter sales

McDonald’s has increased its sales in the second quarter by focusing on value and innovative offerings, particularly through the introduction of the McValue menu in January, which has revitalized customer traffic in U.S. locations. The McValue menu allows customers to purchase one item for when they buy a full-priced item, attracting a diverse clientele. Despite this success, the company faces challenges from declining traffic among lower-income consumers, particularly those with household incomes of ,000 or less, with double-digit declines noted during the April to June period. In April, McDonald’s launched a meal tied to “A Minecraft Movie” in 100 countries, marking its largest global campaign, and the associated collectible figures sold out in less than two weeks. The introduction of new chicken products has also increased chicken market share across McDonald’s ten largest markets. In contrast to competitors like Yum Brands and Chipotle, McDonald’s reported a 5% revenue increase to .8 billion for the April to June period, with same-store sales rising nearly 4%. Net income for the second quarter increased 11% to .9 billion, with adjusted earnings of .69 per share meeting Wall Street expectations.

AppWizard

August 6, 2025

McDonald’s posts better-that-expected sales as chicken strips, Minecraft meal drive traffic

McDonald’s reported a 5% increase in revenue for the second quarter, reaching .5 billion, surpassing Wall Street's expectations of .3 billion. Same-store sales surged nearly 4%, exceeding predictions of a 1% decline. McDonald’s shares rose 3% in premarket trading. The company faced challenges in the first quarter with declines in same-store sales but saw a turnaround with the launch of a “Minecraft”-themed meal in April, which sold out collectible figures in less than two weeks. The introduction of McCrispy chicken strips in May also drove customer traffic. McDonald’s net income rose by 11% to .25 billion, with adjusted earnings of .14 per share, meeting Wall Street forecasts.

Winsage

August 6, 2025

Security leadership in the age of constant disruption

The business landscape is evolving rapidly due to technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and intelligent agents, which are reshaping operations and increasing security risks. Security is now a strategic imperative, requiring executives to anticipate and mitigate risks through investment in evolving technologies and best practices. Key trends defining the next decade include: 1. AI agents will enhance productivity but also introduce new security risks, necessitating parallel security structures. 2. Cyber-physical agents will expand security perimeters, requiring integration of physical and cybersecurity strategies. 3. Quantum computing poses retroactive threats to current cryptographic standards, prompting the need for quantum-safe encryption. 4. AI-enabled workforces will reshape talent dynamics and risk profiles, requiring collaboration between HR and IT for security programs. 5. Hardware-level security models will enhance protection and necessitate system upgrades. Organizations should adopt strategies such as securing supply chains, prioritizing attack prevention, leveraging AI for threat countermeasures, ensuring source integrity, maintaining security hygiene, and moving towards resilience with proven frameworks. Microsoft is enhancing security through initiatives like the Secure Future Initiative, Windows Resiliency Initiative, Microsoft Virus Initiative, and Zero Trust strategy.

AppWizard

August 2, 2025

Cinemark 2nd Quarter Revenue Surges 28% to $941 Million Off of ‘Minecraft’ and ‘Lilo & Stitch’

In the second quarter of 2025, Cinemark reported a 28% year-over-year revenue increase, totaling million, driven by strong audience turnout for films like “A Minecraft Movie,” “Sinners,” and “Lilo & Stitch.” The revenue growth followed a challenging second quarter in 2024, which was impacted by strikes and poor box office performances of films such as “Deadpool & Wolverine,” “The Fall Guy,” and “Furiosa.” “A Minecraft Movie” grossed million domestically, contributing to matching the .6 billion total from the same period in 2023. Cinemark sold 58 million tickets during the quarter, a 16% increase from the previous year, resulting in admissions revenue of .4 million. Concessions sales generated million, with an average spend of .34 per patron. Despite the positive performance, Cinemark's stock declined 7.7% over the past five trading days, closing at .87 per share. The company also expanded its partnership with CJ 4DPlex to add 20 more ScreenX auditoriums.

Winsage

August 2, 2025

8 new features arriving with the August 2025 Security Update for Windows 11

On August 12, 2025, Microsoft will roll out the August 2025 Security Update for Windows 11, which includes significant security enhancements and new features. Key improvements in version 24H2 include: - A complete reset feature for Windows Recall. - Enhanced AI actions for Click to Do. - A redesigned Search settings page. - A new gamepad keyboard layout with PIN sign-in support. - The Reading Coach app available through the Microsoft Store, allowing users to utilize Click to Do while on a snapshot. - A new action for Microsoft 365 Copilot subscribers called "Draft with Copilot in Word." - A new AI agent in the Settings app that improves the search experience using natural language. - Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) feature to minimize downtime from boot failures, enabled by default for Windows 11 Home users. - Upgraded Snap Layouts feature with inline descriptions. - Consolidation of "Search permissions" and "Searching Windows" into a single "Search" page. - Enhanced gamepad touch keyboard layout for quicker PIN sign-ins. - Replacement of the Blue Screen of Death with a new black error page that presents essential information. The update will be automatically downloaded and installed, with options for manual checks via Settings > Windows Update.