whimsical Archives

AppWizard

September 28, 2026

Super Mario Galaxy Is Getting an Unofficial PC Native Port

PC gamers have been playing Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 through a Nintendo Wii emulator since 2016. An unofficial native PC port of Super Mario Galaxy 1, codenamed AstroCore, is being developed by Luma’s Workshop, with a trailer showcasing the game running at 60 frames per second. The team plans to focus on Super Mario Galaxy 2 after completing necessary cleanup work. The projects will not include any in-game assets from the original games to avoid takedown requests from Nintendo. Various unofficial PC ports are already available, including Super Mario 64, Mario Kart 64, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. In September 2026, several unofficial PC ports were released, including Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link and Super Mario Strikers. The PC gaming community has a growing library of unofficial ports to look forward to.

AppWizard

September 28, 2026

This week in PC games: new Ace Combat, Transport Fever 3, and a System Shock-alike set on a disco space station

The world of video game journalism is thriving, with a variety of new PC game releases showcasing creativity and innovation. Notable new titles include: - Camp Whittlewood: A pixel-art horror RPG featuring cub scouts on a camping adventure without typical horror tropes. - HR: Human Remains: Players navigate Hell as an office clerk managing a to-do list amidst a war between humans and demons. - Yots: A co-op extraction game set in a procedurally generated city reminiscent of the PS1 era and Silent Hill. - Drop Command: Combines cockpit combat with 90s Mechwarrior and 4X gameplay elements. - Nivalis Nights: A cyberpunk restaurant management simulation with lush visuals. - Toem 2: A sequel featuring gentle platforming and photography puzzles. - Transport Fever 3: A detailed simulation game focused on trains. - Tiny Flock: A VR shepherding simulation with whimsical elements. - Radiosol: Players control a mechanical spider in a world of dusty megastructures, utilizing generative AI for multilingual support. - Okko The Exiled: A 2D visual game featuring a small protagonist with a large club. - Songs of Glimmerwick: A witch school RPG combining magic and music. - By God Alone: An expansion for Crusader Kings 3 allowing players to control the Vatican. - Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered: Revives the classic musou experience with enhanced graphics. - RetroSpace: A survival game set aboard a space station drawn into a black hole. - Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve: The latest installment in the aerial combat franchise.

AppWizard

September 28, 2026

Fans React To Minecraft’s Upcoming New Dimension ‘The Sift’

Mojang hosted Minecraft Live, revealing developments including Minecraft Dungeons II and new icy biomes. The most notable announcement was the introduction of a new dimension called "the Sift," which will be added after 14 years. The Sift features a vibrant, cotton candy-colored aesthetic with elements like pink weeds and a blue bunny, contrasting with the darker themes of previous updates. It will be included in the core game in 2027 but will first appear in Dungeons II. Discussions among players are mixed, with some expressing excitement and others skepticism about its design.

AppWizard

September 26, 2026

What’s the weirdest thing that happened to you in a tabletop RPG?

Fraser Brown, Online Editor at PC Gamer, reflects on his 15 years of tabletop roleplaying experiences, sharing memorable anecdotes such as a companion covered in vomit due to the "Vomit Bandit" and his own humorous attempt to use a large table as a battering ram. He emphasizes the unpredictability and creativity of tabletop gaming, highlighting the camaraderie and joy it fosters among players.

AppWizard

September 26, 2026

Guess who patented a new system for in-game ads

Microsoft has a patent titled "Contextually Aware Management of Interactive Software Application Access" (US 202610260258 A1) that describes a system for pausing gameplay to present advertisements to players. Key features include: - A content management system that can suspend user interaction with the game based on a content trigger event. - The presentation of promoted audiovisual content to the user. - A credit system that delays the suspension of user interaction. This system aims to integrate advertisements into gameplay, similar to ad-supported models in mobile gaming. Matthew Ball, Xbox's Chief Strategy Officer, supports in-game advertisements, while EA has launched EA Advertising for in-game integrations and scalable advertising capabilities. The integration of advertisements poses both opportunities and challenges for monetization and user experience in gaming.

AppWizard

September 25, 2026

Your Googlebook has a hidden app that turns its Glowbar into a disco

Google has introduced a hidden feature called the Glowbar Disco app in its new line of Googlebook laptops. This app transforms the laptop's lid light strip into a music-synced light show. The Glowbar is a design element across various manufacturers, indicating battery status and Gemini activity. Alexander Kuscher, Google’s Senior Director of Product for Laptops and Tablets, mentioned this feature during an interview, inviting users to explore it. Users had previously experienced the disco mode during demonstrations, but the method to access it was not disclosed until Kuscher's comments. The Glowbar is also functional, displaying essential information and responding to device activity, with plans for developers to create applications utilizing its capabilities.

AppWizard

September 25, 2026

8 strong Elder Scrolls opinions: With over 2,500 combined hours (and not all as stealth archers), we shout at each other about Skyrim, Morrowind, and Oblivion

Players in The Elder Scrolls series have taken on roles such as the Nerevarine and defeated characters like Dagoth Ur and Mehrunes Dagon. They have collectively spent over 2,500 hours reflecting on the franchise's past and future. Notable quests include Oblivion's The Ultimate Heist, Morrowind's atmosphere, and Skyrim's side quests, particularly A Night to Remember. Some players prefer older RPGs for their depth, while there are mixed feelings about Bethesda's recent titles, with calls for improved storytelling in games like Starfield. The editors advocate for a focus on interactivity, highlighting the immersive experience of manipulating the game environment. They also express interest in an Elder Scrolls television series, suggesting it could explore the franchise's lore while fans await The Elder Scrolls 6.

AppWizard

September 25, 2026

Tim Cain: ‘Among other things that Steve Jackson Games didn’t like about Fallout was Vault Boy’

The Fallout video game was initially developed with the intention of using the GURPS (Generic Universal Role-Play System) license from Steve Jackson Games. However, misunderstandings led to the dissolution of the licensing agreement, which Steve Jackson learned about from a press member rather than Interplay directly. Jackson's objections were primarily due to creative differences, particularly regarding the violent opening cutscene, character design, and the whimsical style of the mascot, Vault Boy. After extensive discussions, Jackson threatened legal action if Interplay continued with Fallout in its current form, prompting Interplay to abandon the GURPS license. This decision significantly impacted the future direction of the Fallout franchise.

AppWizard

September 25, 2026

14 days in Dragon Shelter: A play by play of my first season in the Stardew-style farm sim where dragons help bake pies

Dragon Shelter features a vibrant art style that combines cooking and dragon-themed gameplay. The player arrives at their grandfather's cottage, where they begin learning survival skills and gathering resources. The town is in decline, and the player must earn the townsfolk's trust by completing tasks like delivering baked potatoes. Daily activities include watering crops, cooking, and assisting villagers with various requests. Despite the engaging gameplay, the player feels the world is small and lacks depth, with shops having no interiors and villagers lacking distinct personalities. The game focuses on chores and cooking but may not meet all players' expectations for complex storytelling or mechanics.

AppWizard

September 25, 2026

It’s tough to stand out in today’s games industry, but ‘sorta like Helldivers 2 except dog people’ worked on me

Gravhounds is a co-op wave shooter currently in early access on Steam, available for free during its open playtest. The game features polished gameplay, allowing players to team up against waves of enemies. It includes unique movement mechanics, enabling players to glide across buildable cables, and introduces light resource mining and tower defense elements using a gravity gun. The characters are designed as dogs with human bodies, adding a whimsical touch, and players respawn with a humorous cone of shame. Gravhounds distinguishes itself from traditional military-themed shooters through its creative design and engaging mechanics.