social dynamics Archives

AppWizard

March 5, 2025

GTA 5’s free Enhanced PC update spoiled by missing in-game text chat, but it may only be temporary

Grand Theft Auto 5 has received an Enhanced update on PC, featuring ray-traced graphics, support for AMD FSR and NVIDIA DLSS, and new luxurious vehicles for GTA Online. Players who own the previous Legacy version can upgrade at no cost, but the Enhanced version requires double the RAM and graphics card memory. Enhanced version players cannot interact with Legacy players, creating a community divide. The update includes kernel-based anti-cheat protections, which have raised concerns about intrusiveness and false positives. In-game text chat has been removed, leading to player dissatisfaction and discussions about its importance for accessibility and communication. Players have also reported issues with transferring progress between versions. Many are expressing interest in news about the upcoming GTA 6 trailer and its console release.

AppWizard

February 14, 2025

Ubisoft Releases Assassin’s Creed Shadows PC & New-Gen Features Trailer

Ubisoft has announced that Assassin’s Creed Shadows will be released on March 20, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, set in 16th-century feudal Japan. The game features two protagonists: Yasuke, a historical African samurai, and Naoe, a skilled shinobi. It will not be available on older consoles like PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Key features include uncapped frame rates on PC, multiple performance modes on consoles, ray tracing, AI-driven upscaling techniques, and spatial audio technology. The game is powered by the new Anvil engine, designed exclusively for current-generation hardware, and will run at 60 FPS on consoles. Minimum and recommended system requirements for PC have been specified, and the game requires a constant internet connection for activation and online features. Pre-orders are open with multiple editions available.

AppWizard

December 5, 2024

Caves of Qud review

Caves of Qud is a science-fantasy RPG developed by Freehold Games and published by Kitfox Games, priced at £25. The game features a top-down, turn-based format with text and simple graphics, making it accessible on lower-end systems. Players can customize their characters from various archetypes, including humans and mutants, and can tailor gameplay through save points and combat frequency adjustments. The world map remains consistent, but local areas are randomized, incorporating the history of past rulers. The main storyline can be completed in about 15 hours, while mastering the game may take hundreds of hours. The setting is inspired by high-concept science-fantasy aesthetics and includes remnants of an advanced civilization. Players encounter various creatures and challenges, with a narrative enriched by quirky characters and imaginative prose. Character customization is extensive, allowing players to embody different types, and the game features random generation for unique experiences. The interface is modern, though newcomers may face a steep learning curve, and modding capabilities enhance personalization and expansion.

AppWizard

November 27, 2024

These AI Minecraft characters did weirdly human stuff all on their own

A multitude of AI characters, numbering up to 1,000, have adapted and flourished in the Minecraft universe, engaging in various activities such as establishing professions, sharing memes, and voting on tax reforms. This project, led by AI startup Altera, aims to model human group dynamics and create large-scale AI civilizations. Altera secured over a million in funding and demonstrated an AI-controlled character in Minecraft. Their initiative, Project Sid, involves simulated AI agents with complex "brains" that exhibit distinct personalities and specialize in roles like builders and traders. The agents demonstrated emergent behaviors, such as creating cultural memes and propagating a parody religion, Pastafarianism. While the agents mimic human behaviors learned from training data, they are not considered "alive." Altera plans to expand its efforts into platforms like Roblox and aims to create digital humans capable of genuine care and collaboration. However, experts remain skeptical about the potential for machines to replicate genuine emotions.