An add-on called Finite Liquid replaces Minecraft's gamily-modeled water with fill-the-container realism; cut a channel from sea to cavern, and it will slowly fill to the brim. In this video, YouTuber MrLiquidmatter demonstrates the effect; then accidentally falls victim to a glitch that generates a massive, world-drowning tidal wave. [NSFW language]
Minecraft tsunami
Play "Coronasweeper", a Minesweeper clone for the age of COVID-19
Software developer Sofia Levin created "Coronasweeper", a clone of Minesweeper with a theme suited to our grim pandemic: When you narrow down the location of an outbreak, you set a "shelter in place order". It's really nicely done, though I am terrible at it because I've always been terrible at Minesweeper itself. READ THE REST
'Meat peripherals': brain interfaces are coming, says Steam president Gabe Newell
Interviewed by New Zealand's 1 News, Gabe Newell (of Valve and Steam fame) says "meat peripherals" are coming. You will enjoy them. Newell admits some of the ideas may seem incredible, and said some of the discussions he's having around BCIs are "indistinguishable from science fiction" — but according to him, game developers would be… READ THE REST
Queer romance was removed from 2011's Mass Effect 2 to appease Fox News
Bioware's 2011 game Mass Effect 2 features Jack, a woman who hints at pansexual relationships but will only romance the player if they're playing a man. It's because they removed the option in fear of a conservative media backlash. [thegamer.com] Here's the game's writer Brian Kindregan, interviewed by Cian Maher: "Mass Effect had been pretty… READ THE REST
Sleek design meets innovation with these Acer Chromebooks, on sale now at over 50% off
If you're still living back in the days when a Chromebook was just some cheap tech trinket that couldn't do much more than take notes or check emails, it's time to catch up. Over the past decade, Chromebooks have grown up, hanging on to their slim profiles and low price points while expanding their functionality… READ THE REST
These 10 pens aren't like that trusty ball-point you remember – they're better
When was the last time you sat down and actually wrote something with a pen? Not just an appointment reminder or a three-word note, but an actual written document with sentences and paragraphs and stuff? We're willing to wager that it's probably been a very long time. While keyboards and digital devices have pushed physical… READ THE REST
Roybi is like a kid's favorite robot friend – if that robot was also an AI-driven tutor in almost everything
For decades in film and TV, we've been tantalized by the idea that one day soon, robots will step up to become a child's indispensable learning and emotional support companion. Thanks to advances in artificial intelligence, we're getting closer to the possibility of that day, although it's hard to imagine a human teacher ever being… READ THE REST