Latest news with #Balatro
Gizmodo
a day ago
- Business
- Gizmodo
Best Buy Has a 4.7-Star LG Monitor for Almost Free, Now Nearly 50% Off for 4th of July
Prime Day is still a couple weeks away. It's an excellent time of the year to stock up on some new accessories, especially tech like computer mice, keyboards, and monitors. Though you don't have to wait for mid July to start saving. Some retailers are trying to get ahead of Amazon are are showcasing some great opportunities to save on their products right now. For instance, Best Buy has this LG monitor for $98 off. It's normally just shy of $200, so now, it's just shy of $100—coming in at the limited time price of just $97. Measuring in at 24″ with a Full HD resolution, this is a perfectly serviceable monitor. It has a refresh rate of 100 Hz. For gamers, you won't be getting ridiculously high detail and frame rates, but what you are getting is a size-able display that does its job for under $100—teh perfect machine to play Balatro on. It does have a 5 millisecond response time and AMD FreeSync which can allows for smooth and consistent frame rates at least. See at Best Buy If you are using the monitor for gaming, you can take advantage of the black stabilizer which can brighten dark area to see what's lurking in shadows as well as turn on a crosshair to the monitor to improve your aim. For non-gamers, this is a great option for someone who deals in spreadsheets that just needs a larger screen than they're laptop has so they can view more at once—or someone who likes to have multiple windows in view at once. The screen is near borderless with a very thin bezel so the bulk of the display is actually displaying. The LED display has an anti-glare surface, you can comfortably set your desk up near a window with the sun coming in without much worry. As far as ports, on the back you'll find the AC power along with and HDMI as well as a VGA port—so you have options when it comes to how you connect. The monitor itself has height-adjustable stand which can also be tilted to your ideal viewing angle. It's also compatible with desk mounts if you'd like to even further customize its angle and position atop your work area. This 24″ Full HD monitor from LG is down to a remarkably low price at the moment. Going for roughly 50% off, the price has been shaved down from $195 to just $97 for a limited time over at Best Buy. Great time to nab it as a second display. See at Best Buy
The Verge
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
Blue Prince is coming to Mac
Blue Prince, the architectural mystery puzzle roguelite, is coming to a Mac near you. In a press release from the game's publisher Raw Fury, it was announced that Blue Prince is getting an update that will add Mac support (via Steam) coming 'later this year.' Blue Prince released earlier this year and quickly became an early GOTY candidate with folks (i.e. me) drawing comparisons to the runaway hit Balatro. The game is kinda like Brewster's Millions with a heaping helping of intricate puzzles to solve and roguelite mechanics to keep you on your toes. In it, your recently deceased uncle has given you the keys to his beloved Mt. Holly manor and has stipulated in his will that the house will be yours if you can find the secret 46th room. The manor is mysterious and its layout shifts and changes every night. Build rooms and solve puzzles to get closer to discovering that 46th room while solving other, deeper mysteries along the way. It's a great game, and definitely well-suited to play sessions on a Macbook Air. In addition to the new platform – which joins PC, PS5, and the Xbox Series X / S – starting today the game's subtle but vibey soundtrack will be available for purchase on Steam. You can buy it either standalone for $10 or, if you don't already own the game, it's being bundled with the soundtrack for $36.
New Indian Express
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Build a rewarding settlement with Drop Duchy
In a post-Balatro world, the roguelike deckbuilders have seriously upped their game. So when 'Drop Duchy' was released a few months ago, I couldn't help but try it out. Drop Duchy is exactly what you would expect from a game in the same genre — it's a simple, but well-built idle game. An idle game is what I can play when I listen to a podcast or an audiobook. It takes up half of your focus, because it is mostly just a combination of muscle memory and inconsequential decisions. And in a post-Balatro world, it needs a shiny new gimmick. So while Poker largely inspires Balatro, Drop Duchy chooses Tetris as its baseline mechanic. You would assume that Tetris has an easier learning curve when compared to Poker. Because Poker requires you to know maths, and Tetris just wants you to understand shapes. But Drop Duchy is cooler than that — it adds five additional layers of complexity to your normal game of Tetris, so that it barely resembles the original game. So what is it? As the name suggests, you must expand your duchy. You own a small piece of land that needs to be carved out to provide you with the right combination of resources. If you are someone familiar with board games like I am, you might notice that creating a continuous strip of similar terrain forms will reap higher benefits. Think Carcassonne. Similarly, the game incentivises you to group shapes of a similar terrain together - rivers bind with rivers, forests with other trees, and plains with fields.
Arabian Post
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Arabian Post
Apple's App Excellence Crowned with Balatro, Neva and Dredge Triumphs
Apple awarded top honours across its six categories at the 2025 Apple Design Awards, celebrating innovation, aesthetics and social impact across apps and games. Standout recipients included Balatro, Neva and DREDGE, which secured wins in key categories and reflect the diversity and creativity of today's digital creators. Balatro, developed by Canadian indie studio LocalThunk, claimed the 'Delight and Fun' game category. This roguelike, poker-infused deck-builder has gained acclaim for its addictive stakes and clever mechanics, combining classic card play with strategic depth. Apple described it as a 'captivatingly innovative card game' that reaffirms the potential of indie titles. Its creator, working solo under a pseudonym, has emphasised the joy in balancing playful randomness with carefully crafted gameplay. In the Interaction category, DREDGE from New Zealand's Black Salt Games attracted praise. It merges slow-burn horror elements with maritime exploration, putting players at the helm of a fishing vessel navigating eerie islands and hidden mysteries. Apple highlighted its 'seamless interactions' across iPhone, iPad and Mac. Nadia Thorne, CEO of Black Salt Games, commended the award as a recognition of the careful adaptation process for mobile controls and atmosphere. ADVERTISEMENT Neva, released by Devolver Digital, secured the Social Impact award. This atmospheric action-adventure tells the tale of a girl and her wolf, journeying through seasonally shifting landscapes and exploring themes of environmental loss, care and connection. Apple noted its 'visually stunning and emotionally resonant' approach, framing it as a contemplative meditation on the bonds humans form with the natural world. Apple's vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations, Susan Prescott, emphasised at WWDC that these awardees exemplify boundary-pushing creativity, well-crafted design, and meaningful user experiences. The event also recognised excellence across app categories. CapWords, from HappyPlan Tech in China, won Delight and Fun for its intelligent language-learning tool. It transforms everyday images into interactive word stickers, offering immersive multilingual engagement. Productivity and creativity saw innovation rewarded with Play by Rabbit 3 Times, a SwiftUI-based prototyping platform that bridges Mac and iPhone workflows. Inclusivity was honoured with Speechify, which offers extensive language-to-voice conversion for neurodiverse and low-vision users, and Art of Fauna, a wildlife-themed puzzle game combining conservation and accessibility features. Visuals and Graphics awards went to Feather: Draw in 3D by South Korea's Sketchsoft, and Infinity Nikki, a richly animated game from Singapore's Infold Games. Watch Duty, a wildfire monitoring app, earned the Social Impact app award for delivering evacuation data, fire perimeter updates and wind information during California wildfires. Its volunteer-run team continues to rely on community feedback to improve communication effectiveness. ADVERTISEMENT The awards, featuring 36 finalists across six categories, reflect Apple's criteria: technical proficiency, design craft, accessibility, user engagement and social responsibility. Notably, the 'Spatial Computing' category from 2024 was omitted, underscoring a renewed focus on cross-platform usability. Each winner demonstrates a commitment to both form and function. Balatro delivers addictive mechanics; DREDGE provides immersive controls and atmosphere; Neva offers emotional and visual storytelling; apps like Speechify and Watch Duty place real-world needs at their heart. Industry analysts say the Apple Design Awards play a significant role in spotlighting independent developers. Tech site AppleInsider noted the retention of all six core categories this year, marking a notable departure from 2024's emphasis on spatial apps. The awards can boost visibility in the App Store, offering small studios a major platform. Balatro's prior accolades — including Game Developers Choice Awards' top honours and DICE recognitions — align with its Apple accolade. DREDGE's win underscores its mobile design excellence, while Neva's recognition continues the narrative trend toward socially conscious storytelling in games. This year's awardees also highlight Apple's focus on global representation. Winners and finalists span China, South Korea, Austria, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States, representing varied genres, languages and development scales. Of special note is Apple's call to developers to integrate accessibility in mainstream gameplay. Winners Speechify, Art of Fauna, and Neva incorporate VoiceOver, haptics, and adjustable modes, affirming the platform's push for inclusive tech. These awards were timed to coincide with WWDC 2025, presenting creators with high visibility and the chance to be featured by Apple. For example, apps like CapWords and Play benefit from showcases in the App Store and WWDC sessions. The unified messaging from Apple and the developers interviewed emphasises a baseline of high-quality experience. Whether crafting elegant UI, refining user engagement, or embedding purpose-driven features, the recognition from Cupertino underscores a shared standard: excellence must be felt by users.
Forbes
04-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Apple Announces 2025 Design Awards Winners
2025 Apple Design Awards Winners Ahead of WWDC 2025, Apple has announced the winners of its 2025 Design Awards, continuing its annual tradition of spotlighting apps and games that blend innovation, accessibility, and fun. The list spans six categories, with two winners in each: one app and one game. Apple has revealed that this year's winners were chosen from 36 finalists from around the world and they have all 'demonstrated outstanding design experiences across apps and games.' From a language-learning app that turns real-world objects into flashcards to a fishing horror game, this year's picks are as quirky as they are impressive. Here's the full list of winners for 2025 Apple Design Awards. CapWords (App) – Made by China's HappyPlan Tech, this language-learning app took the top spot for delight and fun. It uses your camera to turn everyday objects, like coffee mugs or traffic cones, into sticker-style flashcards. Balatro (Game) – A mix of poker and solitaire alongside roguelike deck-builder elements, it's all about crafting powerful poker hands in the gripping gameplay, which is said to challenge players to advance their scores by 'crafting original decks to beat devious blinds and secure victory.' FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder Speechify (App) – This U.S.-made text-to-speech app scooped the Inclusivity award for making written content (from PDFs to websites) accessible in over 50 languages. It also supports VoiceOver and Dynamic Type, among other accessibility tools to serve as a vital resource for people with dyslexia, ADHD, and low vision. Art of Fauna (Game) – It is a charming wildlife puzzle game where you piece together visuals or rearrange text clues. Built with accessibility in mind, it supports features like haptic feedback and VoiceOver to show how inclusive design can be both thoughtful and engaging. Play (App) – A SwiftUI-based prototyping tool that helps designers build native iOS apps directly on their devices and send them to Xcode. Designed by Rabbit 3 Times, Apple describes its UI as 'thoroughly crafted' and 'easy to navigate.'PBJ — The Musical (Game) – It tells the story of Romeo and Juliet with condiments. The game mixes rhythm-based gameplay with narrative storytelling, while featuring a 'wonderful soundtrack.' Taobao for Apple Vision Pro (App) – Alibaba's popular shopping platform got a spatial computing upgrade. Think life-sized 3D product models and customizable item comparisons from placement to size, tailored for Vision Pro users. Dredge (Game) – It is a fishing adventure turned psychological horror game made by Black Salt Games. It starts with taking the helm of a fishing boat and escalates into navigating eerie islands, uncovering strange wildlife, and piecing together a haunting mystery. Watch Duty: Wildfire Maps (App) – It allows real-time wildfire alerts submitted by the public, verified by pros. This app became a critical info source during California's recent San Diego County fires. Neva (Game) – This game offers a side-scrolling journey through a decaying world, as a girl and her wolf navigate shifting seasons. It features themes of friendship and leadership, allowing players to guide the pair through 'breathtaking landscapes, and a story that is as moving as it is timely.' Feather: Draw in 3D (App) – A 3D drawing app by Sketchsoft for the iPad, it turns your 2D sketches into immersive 3D art and makes full use of Apple Pencil features. Infinity Nikki (Game) – Apple describes it as a 'true visual achievement,' thanks to Infinity Nikki's enchanted realm of colour, detail, and rendering. It is packed with magical outfits, whimsical creatures, and unexpected moments.
