The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread

[Josquius]

Thanks for that review, Norgs. KCD has been in my to play list for a VERY long time. (Together with plenty other games - I feel I should maybe stop buying narrative driven games and play/finish the hundreds or so I've accumulated over the years. )

Yes. I have it but haven't got around to playing it yet. All the stuff floating around the Internet on 2 has nudged it up the list for me but... Still haven't got onto it.
Seems awkward as most of my non strategy gaming is on steam deck but apparently it needs mouse and keyboard for combat to come close to working.

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

In 2068 they release Skyrim GTA edition, which you can play on computers in GTA 7 which was released the year prior, briefly crashing the global economy.

Bold of you to assume we'll even get GTA 6.

[The Minsky Moment]

Yes. I have it but haven't got around to playing it yet. All the stuff floating around the Internet on 2 has nudged it up the list for me but... Still haven't got onto it.
Seems awkward as most of my non strategy gaming is on steam deck but apparently it needs mouse and keyboard for combat to come close to working.

I've played the intro to KCD1 on deck, works fine.

[Syt]

Preview: Twilight Imperium is coming to Steam: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/one-of-the-most-beloved-hardcore-board-games-of-all-time-is-getting-a-steam-version/

Steam link: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3669430/Twilight_Imperium_Digital/











Marketing copy:

The legendary board game of galactic conquest comes to life on PC! Take your place among the stars in Twilight Imperium Digital - a faithful recreation of the iconic strategy game, now reimagined for digital play.

Command one of 17 unique factions fighting for control of the galaxy through diplomacy, warfare, trade, and cunning political maneuvering.

Whether you're a veteran looking for faster matches or a newcomer seeking a guided introduction, the digital edition brings the entire Twilight Imperium experience to your fingertips.

Lead your faction to victory in a universe where every decision counts. Will you dominate through raw military might, control the Galactic Council with persuasive politics, or outmaneuver rivals with secret objectives and clever deals?

● 17 unique factions, each with asymmetric powers and playstyles.
● Massive replayability with randomized galaxy maps and objectives.
● Full implementation of 4th Edition rules - including trade, exploration, and political phases.
● Multiplayer and solo modes: challenge friends or AI across full-length matches.
● Online matchmaking, hotseat, and asynchronous play for games at your own pace.

No setup time! No cleanup! Just deep, immersive 4X gameplay with beautiful visuals, intuitive UI, and official rule enforcement. With automated systems handling the math and logistics, you can focus on the strategy that matters.

● Dynamic visuals bring the galaxy to life.
● Smart interface designed for newcomers and veterans alike.
● Interactive tutorials and tooltips to guide your journey.
● Animated 3D tactical battles bring even more excitement to every skirmish.

Negotiate, betray, ally, and conquer. Every session of Twilight Imperium Digital is a rich story shaped by your choices and rivalries. Will you sit upon the throne of Mecatol Rex, or fade into the void of forgotten empires?

[Syt]

Interesting video. One of my gripes with Total War is how battle lines turn into amorphous blobs of 1v1 fights. Which especially sucks when playing with Roman legions or Greek phalanxes.

This guy uses mechanics for simulating liquids and applies them to the model.

Not sure how realistic it is, but it kinda looks better?

[celedhring]

Interesting video. One of my gripes with Total War is how battle lines turn into amorphous blobs of 1v1 fights. Which especially sucks when playing with Roman legions or Greek phalanxes.

This guy uses mechanics for simulating liquids and applies them to the model.

Not sure how realistic it is, but it kinda looks better?

I remember reading a few articles years ago on the physics and dynamics of ancient battlefields and I was surprised (although I guess I shouldn't be) on how far it is from being a settled science.

To me, the problem of treating it as purely a fluid physics problem is that people have agency, particles don't. Plus we don't have full confidence on the starting conditions on each side (i.e. gear, unit disposition, the way they fought...). For example, I remember one of the articles I read disputed the idea of supertight phalanx formations because a group of historians did field testing with equipment reproductions and some of the manoeuvering described in the sources would be nearly impossible - but then maybe the sources are embellishing!

[Syt]

GeForce Now updated, using RTX 5080 now for supported games on Ultimate.  $200/year for that tier.

Not a fan of Nvidia but I like the service.

After 5 years, and with my 3080 starting to show its age, and Win10 end of life and EU5 coming, I decided it's time to upgrade. Ryzen 7 7800x3d. I looked at the follow up models, but the performance gain didn't seem worth the extra price. Similarly, going with a 5080 ... 5090 is an extra ca. EUR 1000. Yeah, no. Not yet.

Otherwise increasing SSD space. 500GB and 1TB seemed a lot in 2020, not so much now when not a few games ask for 100+GB (and my normal HDD would be just too slow).

[crazy canuck]

I am also starting to think I should upgrade.  The windows notification that support was ending was my cue too

[Josquius]

My graphics card is long overdue. Recently upgraded everything but that.
Prices still mad?
No pressing need for it at the moment I'll say as gaming time is stlll sparse.

[crazy canuck]

Graphics cards are like houses, the longer you wait, the more expensive they become 

[Grey Fox]

Yeah, this fall is when I update from my 1660ti. I'll get a RX 9060 XT in the coming weeks.

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

I'm still rocking my 1660 TI.  I'll need to upgrade soon if I want to stay on the Windows train, but I'm contemplating getting off at this stop.

[crazy canuck]

What would you use instead?

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

Valve's Proton layer has come a long way, and about 2/3 of my Steam library is either Linux-native (thanks to Unity and Unreal) or Proton-compatible.  For what isn't, I may be able to use GeForce Now to actually run the games.  I'd lose access to some of my Steam and GOG libraries, as well as some of the games I actually still have on disc, but I'm getting annoyed by the decreasing control on Windows.

[crazy canuck]

Thanks!  I think that is beyond me