retro

AppWizard
May 3, 2025
The gaming community has revived underperforming hardware, successfully running Minecraft on a 20-year-old GPU, the 3D Phantom XP-2800, with only 8MB of VRAM. A video from Budget-Builds Official details this achievement using an antiquated desktop with Windows XP. Initially, Minecraft Alpha 1.2.6 faced OpenGL compatibility issues, which were resolved by using Microsoft-provided SiS drivers for the card, allowing it to display the game on a CRT monitor. After updates, the game ran, but attempts to run Minecraft 1.6.4 resulted in it loading at one frame per second before crashing. The team optimized performance by removing visual effects, lowering the resolution, and hosting the world server on a nearby laptop, along with using an 8x8 texture pack to stabilize the game.
BetaBeacon
May 1, 2025
The author's family primarily played Nintendo and Microsoft games, with limited exposure to Sony consoles. They missed out on playing some Nintendo consoles and games, but now they can easily access a variety of games on their phone. The author has recently become a father and their child is not interested in gaming controllers, only in how they feel or make noise.
AppWizard
May 1, 2025
A video game series, Leisure Suit Larry, is set to be delisted from Steam soon, with seven specific titles no longer available for purchase. These titles include: - Leisure Suit Larry – Magna Cum Laude Uncut and Uncensored - Leisure Suit Larry 1 – In the Land of the Lounge Lizards - Leisure Suit Larry 2 – Looking For Love (In Several Wrong Places) - Leisure Suit Larry 3 – Passionate Patti in Pursuit of the Pulsating Pectorals - Leisure Suit Larry 5 – Passionate Patti Does a Little Undercover Work - Leisure Suit Larry 6 – Shape Up Or Slip Out - Leisure Suit Larry 7 – Love for Sail Users who have already purchased these games will retain access. The more recent titles, Leisure Suit Larry – Wet Dreams Don’t Dry and Leisure Suit Larry – Wet Dreams Dry Twice, will remain available on Steam. The Leisure Suit Larry series, known for its adult-themed comedy, began in 1987 and the delisted titles represent its classic era from 1987 to 2004.
Winsage
April 29, 2025
Microsoft's Windows operating system has approximately 1.5 billion users globally, but faces stagnation as many users find Windows 10 satisfactory and are reluctant to upgrade to Windows 11. Microsoft is pushing Windows 11 aggressively, incorporating AI features and nudging users toward paid services, which raises concerns about user experience. The company is uncertain about its future direction, with Project Hudson Valley fading away and the potential for a subscription-based licensing model. In corporate environments, IT departments often prioritize compliance over user needs, leaving employees with limited choices. Some users are exploring alternatives like macOS or Linux, seeking better alignment with their values. Resources are available to help users transition gradually from Windows 10 to alternatives, and maintaining a dual-system approach can ease this process.
Winsage
April 27, 2025
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
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered utilizes an Unreal Engine 5 wrapper to enhance the original game, but it carries over some of the original's issues and suffers from significant performance challenges, including frequent stuttering. Digital Foundry analyzed the remaster against the original 2006 version, highlighting advancements in graphics but also noting that the remaster struggles with limited polygon budgets and basic effects. The remaster's performance is inconsistent, especially on mid-range CPUs, leading to poor experiences even on high-end hardware. Disabling hardware RT-based Lumen global illumination can improve performance by about 35%, but at the cost of visual quality. Lowering settings yields only marginal performance improvements, and the game fails to deliver an attractive experience compared to the original. A recent patch did not resolve the stuttering issues, indicating that fundamental CPU-related problems remain unaddressed.
Winsage
April 24, 2025
Developer Ruben Retro has launched GBS WINDOWS for Game Boy, a unique homage to Windows 3.1, available for the Game Boy Color. The software, developed in GB Studio, is priced at €40 but is currently sold out on Etsy. Customers can sign up for notifications when new stock becomes available. GBS WINDOWS is encased in a physical Game Boy cartridge, providing a tangible connection to the past.
Winsage
April 23, 2025
The GBS Windows cartridge, created by Rubenretro using GB Studio, allows users to experience a faux version of Windows 3.1 on the Game Boy. It includes applications like Minesweeper, a media player, and Paint, enabling creative expression with features such as printing via a Game Boy printer. The cartridges have sold out due to high demand, but customers can sign up on Etsy for restock notifications.
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