selling

Winsage
December 28, 2024
The author has been using Arm-based computers, specifically an M1 Mac Mini and a Qualcomm Snapdragon-powered Windows two-in-one PC, and has found Apple's silicon consistently impressive while Microsoft's offerings have lagged. In April 2024, Microsoft introduced the Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus chipsets, enhancing the compatibility layer for applications on Windows on Arm through a new emulator called Prism, which matches the efficiency of Apple's Rosetta 2. Testing the Honor MagicBook 14 Art, powered by the Snapdragon X Elite, revealed significant improvements, including native support for previously struggling applications like Google Drive and ExpressVPN. The MagicBook features a 12-core Snapdragon X Elite, offering seamless application launch and multitasking without the random freezes seen in earlier models. Its thermal performance is commendable, achieving around ten hours of usage in "Balanced" mode. The device also includes a Neural Processing Unit for enhanced AI capabilities. Compatibility advancements allow mainstream applications to run natively, and upcoming Windows updates promise to expand this further. The MagicBook 14 Art is priced at approximately ,750, featuring 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a detachable webcam for privacy. Despite the progress, the market for Snapdragon X computers remains niche, and Qualcomm's disputes with Arm could impact future sales.
AppWizard
December 26, 2024
On December 25, 2024, Katsura Hashino, the creator of Metaphor: ReFantazio, stated in an interview that there are currently no plans for a sequel, but he is hopeful for the franchise's future. He hinted at the possibility of a sequel set during Japan's Sengoku period. Metaphor: ReFantazio has been well-received, recognized for its combat, exploration, character design, and narrative, winning "Best Story Direction" at the Windows Central Game Awards 2024. The game sold over one million copies within 24 hours of its release on October 11, 2024, making it Atlus' fastest-selling title, surpassing Persona 3: Reload.
AppWizard
December 24, 2024
Steam's annual Best of The Year feature for 2024 showcases top-selling games organized into categories: Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. The Platinum category includes standout releases such as Space Marine 2, Helldivers 2, Black Myth: Wukong, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Elden Ring, and Baldur's Gate 3. Free-to-play titles like Counter-Strike 2, Apex Legends, and Destiny 2 also contribute to this group. Cyberpunk 2077 has made a comeback in the Gold category with a Very Positive rating. The Silver group features Dragon's Dogma 2, Diablo IV, and Stalker 2, which sold a million units within two days of its launch. The Bronze category includes budget-friendly titles like Balatro, Silent Hill 2, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and No Man's Sky. Every game from last year's Platinum category is present in 2024, except for Starfield. Steam tracks peak concurrent players, with titles like Black Myth, Elden Ring, and Path of Exile 2 reaching 450,000 or more players. Popular Steam Deck games include Balatro, Dave the Diver, and Hades, while new releases like Manor Lords and Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero are in the Platinum section.
AppWizard
December 12, 2024
It Takes Two, developed by Hazelight Studios, has sold over 20 million copies and is a major success for EA's Originals label. Hazelight is collaborating with EA again for a new project, with creative lead Josef Fares hinting at an upcoming reveal. Fares mentioned a significant feature involving a "big boss" in the game and that the main characters are inspired by his daughters, Mio and Zoe, portrayed by actresses Kaja Chan and Elsie Bennett. Speculation suggests the title may be Split Fiction, with a potential release early next year, though this remains unconfirmed.
Winsage
December 12, 2024
Microsoft is discontinuing the Suggested Actions feature in Windows 11, which provided prompts for copying phone numbers and future dates. This decision is part of a strategy to streamline the user experience, although the reasons for the removal are unclear. The feature allowed users to easily add dates to calendars or initiate calls. Microsoft previously removed the Windows Subsystem for Android from Windows 11, indicating a trend of refining its software based on user feedback and market demands.
AppWizard
December 11, 2024
Sony expressed confidence in the enduring appeal of the PlayStation 5 during a recent shareholders' Q&A, despite a price adjustment for the PS5 in Japan and the introduction of the pricier PS5 Pro. They noted that the PS5 is in the latter half of its console cycle, with an increasing library of exclusive titles. There was a reported dip in PS5 sales following a price hike, which coincided with a rise in Xbox sales. However, Sony remains optimistic about player loyalty, as evidenced by reports of scalpers selling limited-edition bundles for high prices. The company is focused on enhancing the PlayStation experience with exclusive games and features.
Winsage
December 9, 2024
Microsoft will end free security updates for Windows 10 in October, prompting concerns among users about the need to purchase new devices, especially as the company promotes Windows 11. Users have expressed frustration over "programmed obsolescence," which forces consumers to buy new models more frequently. The financial impact of planned obsolescence can reach approximately ,000 over a consumer's lifetime, contributing to significant environmental issues, including the generation of over 68 million tons of e-waste in 2022, with only 22% recycled properly. Some users are considering alternatives like Linux to avoid the costs of new computers. Companies like Staples and Redwood Materials offer recycling programs for e-waste.
AppWizard
December 7, 2024
Minecraft is set to launch a Dungeons & Dragons-inspired Table Top Role-Playing Game (TTRPG) titled "Minecraft: Roll for Adventure: The Temple of the Charged Creeper," crafted by Matt Forbeck, in July 2025. Players will embark on a solo adventure to battle illagers and rescue a village. The game will include four dice, an adventure book with a bestiary and locations, a removable character sheet, and a quick reference guide. Pre-orders are available now. Minecraft has over 170 million monthly active users and has expanded into various merchandise, including a movie set to debut in 2025.
AppWizard
December 5, 2024
Safety Stoat Studios, known for creating games for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, discovered that their title Mythdragon was being sold on eBay for [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: In a landscape where the gaming industry often grapples with piracy, the small yet spirited Safety Stoat Studios has found itself in an unexpected spotlight. Known for its innovative creations designed to run on retro hardware, the studio has recently encountered a rather unusual situation that highlights both the challenges and the quirks of the gaming world. Unexpected Recognition in the Gaming Community Safety Stoat Studios, which specializes in crafting games for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, discovered that one of its titles, Mythdragon, was being sold on eBay for an astonishing 0. This unauthorized reproduction, packaged in what appeared to be authentic Japanese Sega artwork, caught the studio's attention not just for the price tag, but for the sheer audacity of the endeavor. “After 12 games, 2 albums, and a lot of elbow grease, prayers, tears, adrenaline, and cortisol, we have arrived in the space traditionally occupied by industry giants,” the studio remarked, humorously acknowledging the irony of having their intellectual property misrepresented in Asia. While the team is understandably concerned about the implications of such piracy, they also see a silver lining in the situation. “We could not, in a million years, convince somebody that our game had a rare, Japan-only cartridge release and was somehow worth 0. But, here it is! Free marketing!” they quipped, emphasizing their hope that potential buyers would seek out the genuine article online. While the studio expresses concern over anyone paying for a game that is freely available, they can't help but appreciate the creativity behind the counterfeit. The packaging, which borrows heavily from the box art of the classic game Dragonfire, showcases the effort put into creating a convincing product. “The title does look badass, and we like the hiragana below, although we have no idea what it says,” the team noted, with a touch of admiration for the counterfeiters' work. In a delightful twist, a community member pointed out that the katakana used in the packaging is a transliteration of Mythdragon: “ミmi スsu ドdo ラra ゴgo ンn.” This revelation only added to the studio's excitement, as they celebrated their newfound status as a recognized developer in the gaming community. “Boo-ya! We win! We're a real developer now!” they exclaimed, alluding to their recent rejection from a homebrew games convention. Yet, amidst the celebration, they reiterated their core mission: “When we release games for free, it's because the games are supposed to be for everybody. Download our games! Enjoy them! Share them! We hope they make your life a little bit brighter!” This charming perspective from Safety Stoat Studios invites gamers to engage with their work authentically, while also serving as a reminder of the vibrant and sometimes unpredictable nature of the gaming industry. With a spirit of creativity and community at its heart, the studio continues to encourage players to experience their games as intended—without the price tag." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"] as an unauthorized reproduction. The studio humorously acknowledged the irony of their intellectual property being misrepresented and viewed the situation as free marketing. They expressed concern over piracy but appreciated the creativity behind the counterfeit packaging, which borrowed from classic game art. A community member pointed out that the katakana on the packaging transliterated Mythdragon, which excited the studio and reinforced their status as a recognized developer. They reiterated their mission to provide free games for everyone to enjoy and share.
AppWizard
December 3, 2024
Developers of Stalker 2 released patch 1.0.3, a 20GB update addressing mission-related bugs and enhancing gameplay. Key improvements include: - Fixes for crashes and memory leaks, including ACCESSVIOLATIONERROR and LowLevelFatalError. - Adjustments to controls, disabling mouse smoothing and acceleration by default, and updating default mouse sensitivity settings (camera sensitivity to 25%, aim sensitivity to 15%). - Resolved issues in main and side missions, including enemy chase boundaries, NPC deaths, monster despawning, potential lockouts, hostile NPC behavior, and despawning after dialogues. - AI improvements addressing mutant body glitches and NPC blockage in doorways. - Balance adjustments for vendor ammo sales. - Fixes for missing player saves after hard reboots on PC or Xbox.
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