Visual Effects Archives

AppWizard

December 28, 2024

5 unimplemented Minecraft features Mojang should add to the game in the future

- Shaders are a highly desired unimplemented feature that could enhance the game's visuals, with partial integration in versions 1.16 and 1.17, but ultimately abandoned. - Fallen trees have been requested since 2012, potentially adding complexity to gameplay by serving as obstacles and hiding spots. - The fletching table lacks purpose and was initially teased for enhancement before the 1.15 release; upgrading it could introduce new gameplay mechanics related to hunting and gathering. - The concept of seasons, mentioned during Minecon 2013, remains unimplemented and could lead to visual transformations and changes in mob behaviors. - The Birch Forest biome was set to receive enhancements during the Wild Update announced at Minecraft Live 2021, but the anticipated features did not make it into the final version.

AppWizard

December 25, 2024

Minecraft player showcases an entertaining way to delete terrain

Minecraft features intricate mechanics, including commands that allow players to manipulate the game world. A player named u/kamekaptain shared a video on Reddit demonstrating the use of commands to flatten terrain while gliding through a biome with an elytra. The video sparked varied reactions, with some users speculating on the visual effects and practicality of the technique. Commands such as /fill, /setblock, and /give enable players to modify the environment, acquire items, and change game modes, though using commands disables achievements for that session.

Winsage

December 19, 2024

Two new bugs discovered in Windows 11 24H2 release

Microsoft has acknowledged two new bugs in the Windows 11 24H2 release. 1. An audio output issue affects integrated speakers, Bluetooth devices, and headsets, particularly in systems using Dirac Audio. Microsoft has temporarily suspended the update for certain devices from an undisclosed manufacturer, and no workaround is currently available. 2. The Auto HDR feature, which converts SDR content to HDR for gaming, is causing incorrect color displays and game freezes. Microsoft has advised gamers to disable this feature, and the update has been blocked for devices with Auto HDR enabled until a solution is found.

Winsage

December 12, 2024

7 settings to change on your Windows 11 PC to maximize battery life

Windows PCs, particularly newer laptop models, have improved battery performance, but users often experience reduced battery life over time. A three-year-old Windows laptop may drop from six to seven hours of screen time to struggling to reach three hours. Software adjustments can help maximize battery life. 1. Lowering screen brightness to around 30-40% can extend battery life. 2. The Battery Saver option in Windows 11 can be manually enabled to disable power-hungry activities. 3. Reducing display and sleep timeout settings can conserve energy. 4. Disabling unnecessary startup applications can save battery resources. 5. Turning off animation effects can improve battery life, especially on older devices. 6. Shutting down the laptop instead of just closing the lid can prevent unexpected battery drain. 7. Changing the power mode from Balanced to Best power efficiency can significantly extend battery life.

AppWizard

December 10, 2024

Cyberpunk 2077’s surprise new update lets Keanu ride shotgun through the streets of Night City and makes some PC-specific improvements—and it’s out now

CD Projekt has released the Cyberpunk 2077 2.2 update, which includes new features for vehicle customization and photo mode enhancements. The update introduces a color-changing CrystalCoat system for various vehicles, allowing players to customize their cars. The TwinTone system enables players to scan and save vehicle color schemes. Photo mode improvements include a free drone camera, increased camera range, full collision options, a lock camera feature, precise camera control, custom aspect ratios for PC screenshots, a characters tab for spawning NPCs, adjustable lighting, a depth of field fix, and an effect intensity slider. New character customization options are available, and players are encouraged to explore Night City for hidden secrets. The update also includes quest adjustments, bug fixes, and gameplay tweaks, such as fixes for katana animations and HUD visibility issues. Phantom Liberty-specific updates address various quest-related bugs. Miscellaneous fixes include sound adjustments, voiceover corrections, and ray-traced shadow improvements. PC-specific enhancements allow for key rebinding and performance optimizations.

AppWizard

December 10, 2024

Use This Trick To Optimize Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on Your PC

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has been released, developed by MachineGames. The game has high system requirements, particularly for ray tracing. Troy Baker voices Indiana Jones. Performance testing on a high-end rig with a Geforce RTX 4080 indicates that VRAM significantly affects performance. For optimal settings at various resolutions, 8GB, 10GB, and 12GB of VRAM are recommended for different quality settings. Using DLSS frame generation requires additional VRAM. The game utilizes path tracing for lighting calculations, impacting visual effects like sun shadows and reflections. Benchmarks show performance results at 1440p and 4K with various settings. Players may experience pop-in issues, which can be temporarily mitigated by entering a command. The game is available on PC and Xbox Series X|S, with a PS5 release planned for spring 2025 and accessible via Xbox Game Pass.

TrendTechie

November 23, 2024

Overclockers.ru: Хакерская группа Razor1911 взломала ПК-версию Red Dead Redemption в день релиза

The PC version of Red Dead Redemption was leaked on torrent trackers shortly after its official release, with the hacking group Razor 1911 claiming responsibility. The game, originally released in 2010 for PS3 and Xbox 360, received a Metacritic score of 98/100, while the remastered version for Nintendo Switch scored 84/100. The PC version includes graphical enhancements such as improved lighting, shadows, color correction, draw distance, and visual effects, but retains the same texture quality as previous versions. The remastered version is not available for purchase in Russia, although it includes Russian localization, which was not present in the original release.

AppWizard

November 20, 2024

Minecraft Movie Director Reacts To Backlash Over Weird First Trailer

The initial trailer for the Minecraft Movie has received mixed reactions, particularly due to its live-action approach and tonal inconsistencies, despite high anticipation among younger audiences. Director Jared Hess and producer Torfi Frans Olafsson acknowledged the strong emotional connections fans have with the franchise and the varied expectations surrounding the film. The decision to create a live-action film instead of a fully CGI-animated format has been a point of contention, with a fan-made trailer gaining traction online. The film has been in development since 2014, with a release date set for April 4, 2025. Early test screenings have reportedly yielded positive responses, and a second trailer has been released to address concerns from the first.

AppWizard

November 17, 2024

Fan-Made VR Mod for PC Version of ‘Silent Hill 2’ Remake Now Available [Video]

Half-Life 2 has reached its 20th anniversary, and Valve has released a two-hour documentary about the game's development. The original Half-Life 2 and its expansions are available for free on Steam until November 18 at 10 AM PT. Existing owners will receive an update that includes commentary from the original development team, Steam Workshop support, gameplay recording capabilities, bug fixes, performance enhancements, improved lighting and visual effects, and updated controller and Steam Deck support. Additionally, a reprint of the book "Raising the Bar," which chronicles the making of Half-Life 2, will be released in 2025, featuring insights into the Half-Life 2 Episodes and concept art.

Winsage

November 15, 2024

How to disable File Explorer thumbnails on Windows 11

Windows 11 features a modern File Explorer that displays thumbnails for quick previews of files, folders, documents, images, and videos, which can speed up file location but may slow browsing speeds due to the need to scan and render previews. To manage thumbnail previews in File Explorer: 1. Open File Explorer. 2. Click "See more" and choose Options. 3. Click the View tab. - To disable: Check "Always show icons, never thumbnails." - To enable: Clear "Always show icons, never thumbnails." 4. Click Apply, then OK. To manage thumbnail previews through Settings: 1. Open Settings. 2. Click on System, then the About page. 3. Click Advanced system settings. 4. Click the Advanced tab, then Settings under "Performance." 5. Click the Visual Effects tab. - To disable: Clear "Show thumbnails instead of icons." - To enable: Check "Show thumbnails instead of icons." 6. Click Apply, then OK. To control thumbnail previews via Group Policy: 1. Open Start, search for gpedit, and open the Group Policy Editor. 2. Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer. 3. Right-click "Turn off the display of thumbnails and only display icons" and select Edit. - To disable: Choose Enabled. - To enable: Choose Not configured. 4. Click Apply, then OK. To use the Registry to disable or re-enable thumbnail previews: 1. Open Start, search for regedit, and open the Registry Editor. 2. Navigate to HKEYCURRENTUSERSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesExplorer. 3. Right-click the Explorer key, select New, and choose DWORD (32-bit) Value. 4. Name it DisableThumbnails and press Enter. 5. Right-click the DWORD, select Modify, and change the value from 0 to 1. 6. Repeat for HKEYLOCALMACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesExplorer. 7. Restart the computer for changes to take effect. To revert, change the DWORD value back to 0.