Antedilluvian

[exQUIZitely 🕹️ @exQUIZitely]

Today marks the 25th anniversary of Max Payne, published on July 24, 2001. It's still one of the most atmospheric and immersive games I ever played.

You take on the role of NYPD detective Max Payne, whose wife and daughter were murdered by addicts high on the drug Valkyr. Framed for the killings, you're a one-man army starting a war against the mob, finding clues and proving your innocence.

Far more than “just” a shooter, Max Payne had a cool film-noir atmosphere with excellent cutscenes and a complex, evolving story. The slow-motion sequences always reminded me of "The Matrix", and the soundtrack greatly added to the dark, oppressive mood.

It was a massive hit, selling over 4 million copies and had two sequels. Likely unfamiliar to younger gamers today, but those a bit older will surely remember Max Payne.

[PeteZach @oldyzach]

This is the music that has been unsettling us for so many years.

UFO: Enemy Unknown, PlayStation version (1995).

[NoQuarter Software @NoQuarterSoft]

Once again reminding everyone about the Quake family tree.

[Dillon Rogers @TafferKing451]

id Software was one of the few AAA studios that was doing what people have been asking AAA to do: deliver highly technically performant/quality launches consistently for single player experiences and without predatory microtransactions.

[Nostalgia @NostalgiaYZ]

VHS packaging design used to be so creative.

[exQUIZitely 🕹️ @exQUIZitely]

Remember when games weren't just a "click and download" thing but came in a physical box with disks, manuals, posters and sometimes incredibly beautiful maps?

They gave you the first glimpse of the world that awaits, without revealing too many details or spoiling the secrets still waiting to be discovered by you, the player.

You could see it, trace it in your mind, imagine diving in, exploring, and reaching the furthest corners. What would await you there? Riches, fame, and glory? Death? A legendary sword?

Ultima: The Britannia Map
Wizardry VII: The Lost Guardia Map
Bard's Tale III: The Skara Brae Map
Might and Magic IV: The Xeen Map

When you played those games, the map would be right there, next to your keyboard... or even better, pinned to your wall. I am pretty sure all of you who experienced that kind of gaming have similar memories of how those extras made the games more special.

[Quake Champions @Quake]

Happy 30 years!

[Nightdive Studios @NightdiveStudio]

The Keepers call to you now… will you answer them?

No longer a secret, Thief: The Dark Project Remastered returns!

[BOARDS OF CANADA @boardsofcanada]

INFERNO, OUT NOW.
https://t.co/r6yNo3gkJN

[memeslich 💀 dnd memes @memeslich]

you cannot fast travel

[PC Master Race - PCMR @OfficialPCMR]

Sounds about right.

https://t.co/LKFWEZl8sy

[AlphaFox @alphafox]

Descent turns 30 years old today!

This innovative 3D shooter will actually play on a 486 with 4MB of RAM - talk about efficient memory usage! (I tried it)

[Next Indie @nexindie]

Windows XP-style action roguelike game 'Antivirus Survivors 2003 Professional' gets a playable demo.

Steam page: https://t.co/qV1EmsQ8fi

[☔ @Whotfismick]

I'm this old

[Hedgie @HedgieMarkets]

🦔 Notepad now requires internet connectivity to keep Copilot integration functional. That connectivity enabled a remote code execution vulnerability with a severity rating of 8.8 out of 10.
An attacker can create a malicious Markdown file with specially crafted links. If you open it in Notepad and click a link, a script can download and execute code with your full permissions.

My Take
For 40 years Notepad was the simplest tool on Windows. No internet connection. No fancy features. No way for hackers to get in. People used it specifically because it was basic, just a place to write text without any complexity getting in the way.
Then Microsoft decided it needed AI. To make Copilot work, Notepad now connects to the internet. That connection opened a door that hackers can walk through. If you open the wrong file and click the wrong link, someone can take control of your computer.

This is what happens when you add features nobody asked for to products that worked fine without them. Microsoft fired their testing teams years ago, started using AI to write their code, and decided every single application needs Copilot whether users want it or not. Now a text editor, the most basic program imaginable, has the kind of security hole you'd expect in complex software. They took something simple and reliable and made it complicated and vulnerable. I'm not sure that's progress.

Hedgie🤗

[Apogee Entertainment @Apogee_Ent]

30 years of Duke Nukem 3D.
One loud, unapologetic legacy.

[Nick Schifrin @nickschifrin]

NEW: @potus letter to @jonasgahrstore links @NobelPrize to Greenland, reiterates threats, and is forwarded by the NSC staff to multiple European ambassadors in Washington. I obtained the text from multiple officials:

Dear Ambassador:

President Trump has asked that the following message, shared with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, be forwarded to your [named head of government/state]

“Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America. Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a “right of ownership” anyway? There are no written documents, it’s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also. I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT”

[Proton @ProtonPrivacy]

Looking to break up with US tech?

Here are some European alternatives worth considering:

🇳🇴 Browser: @vivaldibrowser
🇫🇷 Search: @Qwant_FR
🇫🇷 Music: @Deezer
🇫🇷 Web Hosting: @OVHcloud
🇫🇮 Mobile OS: @JollaHQ
🇩🇪 Maps: @here
🇩🇪 Translation: @DeepLcom
🇳🇱 Design: @sketch
🇨🇭Note-taking: @StandardNotes
🇨🇭Messenger: @ThreemaApp
🇨🇭Dev Tools: @SonarSource

Find more → https://t.co/kGNGWDQjki

[Chris Avellone @ChrisAvellone]

Yeah, I mean why bother with people who love the franchise

[PC Master Race - PCMR @OfficialPCMR]

What are they targeting next? Our gaming CPUs?