Languish.org

General Category => Off the Record => Gaming HQ => Topic started by: Syt on June 26, 2012, 12:12:54 PM

Title: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 26, 2012, 12:12:54 PM
Not every game deserves its own threads, but I think some should still be mentioned now and then.

Came across this game trailer:

Oniken (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixCI4JXUuUE&feature=player_embedded). If you miss old 8bit NES action games like Contra et al then this miht be worth cecking out. Also worth watching the trailer if you like 80s hair band rock guitars.

Available for 3.99 on Desura: http://www.desura.com/games/oniken



In a similar vein there's Retro City Rampage coming up. Open world gameplay like in GTA, but graphics and gameplay is 8-bit, with homages to Commando/Ikari Warriors/etc, Zelda, Super Mario, Bionic Commando . . .
Gameplay Trailer (http://vimeo.com/37120940#)
80s cereal commercial (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv0O6oHeVzE)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 22, 2012, 03:49:39 AM
Say what you will about GamersGate, they're willing to give a stage to the non-mainstream games.

http://www.gamersgate.com/DD-7554/7554

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-MwAQSxTnnLY%2FT0hYN3hbs_I%2FAAAAAAAAGbM%2FK0GoC7p583k%2Fs1600%2F%25257E7554%25257E.jpg&hash=d3cc7b9a69521fa397677ad79acc2a00d42953ee)

Quote7554 is a first person shooter set against the historical backdrop of the climatic conclusion to the first Indochina War between the Vietnam People's Army revolutionaries and the oppressing French army.

The single player campaign puts gamers on the front line of a colonial independence movement locked in battle against a technologically more advanced modern Western occupier.

Players will experience the colonial movement's growth from insurgent guerrilla band to a conventional army usingHavok's Vision Engine 8 and  Nvidia's PhysX.

You will see a true Vietnam that you never seen before in a video game.
And the game is hard challenge when you fighting with lack of weapons and ammutions, a differennt persective with others FPS that you already know.
Less

How many shooters are there that allow you to shoot the evil French?  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Viking on July 22, 2012, 06:09:15 AM
whats the significance of the number 7554?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 22, 2012, 06:16:35 AM
Quote from: Viking on July 22, 2012, 06:09:15 AM
whats the significance of the number 7554?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7554
QuoteThe name 7554 comes from the historic date, 7 May, 1954, on which the French Colonist expeditionary army in Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam surrendered to the Vietnam People's Army.[
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 21, 2012, 03:26:29 PM
Preview for Lords of Football:

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/08/21/sports-and-all-lords-of-football/

Basically, Sims meets Football Manager. This could be pretty brilliant.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on August 21, 2012, 05:09:02 PM
Quote from: Syt on August 21, 2012, 03:26:29 PM
Preview for Lords of Football:

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/08/21/sports-and-all-lords-of-football/

Basically, Sims meets Football Manager. This could be pretty brilliant.

Gameplay sounds strongly reminiscent of The Movies.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on August 21, 2012, 05:39:09 PM
Quote from: Syt on July 22, 2012, 03:49:39 AM


(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-MwAQSxTnnLY%2FT0hYN3hbs_I%2FAAAAAAAAGbM%2FK0GoC7p583k%2Fs1600%2F%25257E7554%25257E.jpg&hash=d3cc7b9a69521fa397677ad79acc2a00d42953ee)



Is that guy on the left armed with a rake?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on August 21, 2012, 05:40:34 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on August 21, 2012, 05:39:09 PM
Quote from: Syt on July 22, 2012, 03:49:39 AM


(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-MwAQSxTnnLY%2FT0hYN3hbs_I%2FAAAAAAAAGbM%2FK0GoC7p583k%2Fs1600%2F%25257E7554%25257E.jpg&hash=d3cc7b9a69521fa397677ad79acc2a00d42953ee)



Is that guy on the left armed with a rake?

Giant power plug.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on August 21, 2012, 06:48:12 PM
I suppose he's actually on the right.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on August 21, 2012, 06:53:19 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on August 21, 2012, 06:48:12 PM
I suppose he's actually on the right.

Heh.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 21, 2012, 11:10:47 PM
Quote from: Barrister on August 21, 2012, 05:09:02 PM
Quote from: Syt on August 21, 2012, 03:26:29 PM
Preview for Lords of Football:

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/08/21/sports-and-all-lords-of-football/

Basically, Sims meets Football Manager. This could be pretty brilliant.

Gameplay sounds strongly reminiscent of The Movies.

Yeah, that, too. I thought the Movies was a mess (though the movie making was fun), but I have some hopes for this one. Football sims have become a bit too serious for my taste.

We had the On The Ball series in Germany which was highly detailed for its time, but also included bribes, doping, and had more personality: players had hobbies and various things could happen based on that. A diver could have an accident, a hobby writer might release a scandalous behind the scenes book etc. In match preparation you could specifically tell players to attack an opponent on the pitch to neutralize him. Also, the game featured April Fools jokes. Every other April 1st a mean random event would pop up, like the whole team dying in a plane crash, or the club being sold to Arabs. Most of the time you were too immersed to notice the date.

The main programmer of the series went on to work for EA's FIFA Manager.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Viking on August 22, 2012, 08:50:08 AM
Quote from: Syt on August 21, 2012, 11:10:47 PMAlso, the game featured April Fools jokes. Every other April 1st a mean random event would pop up, like the whole team dying in a plane crash, or the club being sold to Arabs.

FM has a filthy rich arab pretending to buy the club if the computer date and in game date are both 1 April.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 28, 2012, 03:50:48 PM
The Great Giana Sisters remake looks confusing but interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDQGRkHpiqg&feature=plcp

I like that they're using Machinae Supremacy's fantastic cover of Chris Hülsbeck's original tune (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqZVp752EUo) for the game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 11, 2012, 02:46:14 AM
Quote from: Syt on June 26, 2012, 12:12:54 PM
In a similar vein there's Retro City Rampage coming up. Open world gameplay like in GTA, but graphics and gameplay is 8-bit, with homages to Commando/Ikari Warriors/etc, Zelda, Super Mario, Bionic Commando . . .
Gameplay Trailer (http://vimeo.com/37120940#)
80s cereal commercial (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv0O6oHeVzE)

Well it's out on Steam for 12.59 introductory price. I played through the tutorial (10-15 minutes?) and it's pretty insane but fun. Kind f like Saint's Row The Third turning into an 8bit parody of the 1980s.

In this time I participated in a Dark Knight heist parody, fought against four turtles from a sewer and two gung ho soldiers roping in from a helicopter (Contra?), travelled through time in a phone booth and got picked up by a crazy professor in a Delorean. There's more 80s and video game references than you can shake a stick at. If you liked GTA1 and/or loved 8bit video games, then this game is for you.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcache.kotaku.com%2Fassets%2Fimages%2F9%2F2010%2F08%2Frookie.jpg&hash=8a4031d027c3b6131d04635cd06e118f1951e745)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fgamerlimit.com%2Ffiles%2F2012%2F10%2FR1.png&hash=95daa802150c0c1561a55468074c2273f7d8ee59)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.nintendolife.com%2Fnews%2F2010%2F09%2Finterview_retro_city_rampage%2Fattachment%2F7%2Flarge.jpg&hash=cea93b2a4f10378d057629ac8c6486a17eae01e1)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mundoreturn.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F04%2Fretrocityrampage1.png&hash=6bf2148a73e70c786aac21e91474f573713b7656)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.xblafans.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F%2F2011%2F03%2FRetroCityRampage3.png&hash=e45c1f83b142ea9269649301824c4b983b00726a)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 12, 2012, 10:40:19 AM
Hotline Miami. Worst game trailer ever?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ODNqUbcqI7w
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on October 13, 2012, 02:08:21 PM
This may be interesting I hope. I need a Fallout type fix.

http://www.nuclearunion.com/

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nuclearunion.com%2Fi%2Fscr%2Fscr2.jpg&hash=b34c74d8afef3eba1d08c5cc440a961234351f49)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nuclearunion.com%2Fi%2Fscr%2Fscr4.jpg&hash=bb2b984fa92d8c12a5122c6a9c1413709e0823f2)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on October 16, 2012, 07:47:17 AM
That looks interesting.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on October 16, 2012, 07:50:28 AM
I suppose imagining a ramshackle post-apocalyptic world is fairly easy if you live in Russia.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 27, 2012, 11:32:12 AM
I picked up Deadlight (http://www.deadlightgame.com).

2D sidescroller in the Unreal engine. Graphics look pretty good. In a nutshell, this is (the old) Prince of Persia or Another World meets The Walking Dead in 1986 Seattle. Cutscenes are done in comicbook style. You can fight the zombies, but most of the time it's much better to avoid them or trap them. Gun toting should be reserved for extreme circumstances because it's very likely to draw more zombies.

I've finished the game in just over 4 hours (and I'm not exactly a wizkid when it comes to platformers). I enjoyed the game quite a bit, despite a VERY silly sewers sequence. The twist at the end was not really surprising; and I thought some of the action sequences were a bit luck based. The checkpoint system cancels out most of the frustration, though.

The game unlocks a nightmare mode, which is like regular mode but without checkpoiints. Also, you can find three 1980s style "handheld" LCD games during the levels which you can then play from the main menu.

Overall I had good fun, but I guess my recommendation would be to wait for a 50% off sale, as 12$ seems a bit high for a 4 hour game.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.cdnds.net%2F12%2F30%2F618x412%2Fgaming_deadlight_2.jpg&hash=217405e443dace91c9089278be64590117043d8d)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.consol.at%2Fuploads%2Ftx_consolreviews%2Frte%2FRTEmagicC_Deadlight-Review-SCREENSHOT-2.jpg.jpg&hash=060bceaff5a4f2cddb0f93f3c8997daf73e9a6b6)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.cdnds.net%2F12%2F30%2F618x412%2Fgaming_deadlight_4.jpg&hash=92dbd45c00735f217033f2ba195903b148a3f858)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.gamepro.de%2Fimages%2Fidgwpgsgp%2Fbdb%2F2335229%2F600x338.jpg&hash=ba7aa6269632b42d5dea50aa52aee4cb5106c8c0)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on October 27, 2012, 07:38:54 PM
It's pretty.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 28, 2012, 10:10:22 AM
I've played Frog Fractions.

http://twinbeardstudios.com/frog-fractions

Words can't begin to describe . . .  :blink: :wacko: :lmfao:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on October 28, 2012, 10:18:33 AM
Quote from: Syt on October 28, 2012, 10:10:22 AM
I've played Frog Fractions.

http://twinbeardstudios.com/frog-fractions

Words can't begin to describe . . .  :blink: :wacko: :lmfao:

So bizarre! And when you get to Frog Teaches Typing...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 28, 2012, 10:23:20 AM
It gets weirder. Much weirder.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on October 28, 2012, 12:13:07 PM
I stopped when I bought that power that uninstalled all my other powers. :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 28, 2012, 12:27:59 PM
So you didn't make it to president? :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on October 28, 2012, 01:15:17 PM
That did get way weirder.  Hearst Castle though! :wub:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 28, 2012, 01:23:50 PM
Still not sure what the point of the game was, though. :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on November 11, 2012, 05:54:49 AM
Anyone know if FarCry 3 is more like the awesome original or the bed-shitting sequel?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on November 11, 2012, 11:39:45 AM
Little bit of both. You get to hunt tigers & eat them.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 11, 2012, 01:04:05 PM
In honor of Armistice Day I bought Strategic Command WW1 + Expansion today.

AARs may or may not follow.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on November 15, 2012, 04:55:09 PM
I am playing Populous 2, off of Gog.com, and enjoying it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on November 15, 2012, 08:57:20 PM
Quote from: Syt on November 11, 2012, 01:04:05 PM
In honor of Armistice Day I bought Strategic Command WW1 + Expansion today.

AARs may or may not follow.

Me interested and wanna know more.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Camerus on November 15, 2012, 11:40:02 PM
Quote from: Drakken on November 15, 2012, 08:57:20 PM
Quote from: Syt on November 11, 2012, 01:04:05 PM
In honor of Armistice Day I bought Strategic Command WW1 + Expansion today.

AARs may or may not follow.

Me interested and wanna know more.

Yeah, I've been considering buying it for months.  I love the Strat Command WW2 series.  Air power.   :wub:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 16, 2012, 02:39:05 AM
Tactical turn-based WW1 combat, on the Squad Battles engine! :o

http://www.johntillersoftware.com/SquadBattles/FirstWorldWar.html
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 16, 2012, 02:44:21 AM
Altough it only has the Western Front and Gallipoli  <_<
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 16, 2012, 03:12:27 AM
Quote from: Drakken on November 15, 2012, 08:57:20 PM
Quote from: Syt on November 11, 2012, 01:04:05 PM
In honor of Armistice Day I bought Strategic Command WW1 + Expansion today.

AARs may or may not follow.

Me interested and wanna know more.

I have played so far: 1 turn. It seems to hit the middle ground between the simplistic Guns of August and the convoluted WW1 Gold.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 16, 2012, 03:50:01 AM
Syt I think the purchase was: a mistake.

Commander: The Great War is just out, and while even more abstracted in some ways than SC:WW1, it is quite neat, and the AI is ruthless. Plus turns don't take an eternity.
I had some good fun with SC but I think this Commander game will be my lightweight WW1 game.



Anyways, quite interesting designer doc on the WW1 tactical game. I am SOOO purchasing it when I get home:
http://www.johntillersoftware.com/SquadBattles/FirstWorldWar/notes.pdf
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on November 16, 2012, 08:42:48 AM
Ugh, John Tiller.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 16, 2012, 08:45:07 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on November 16, 2012, 08:42:48 AM
Ugh, John Tiller.

The Squad Battles games are quite nice.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 16, 2012, 08:46:37 AM
Oh and ED, since WW1 Gold was too much for your elderly mind, you really ought to check out Commander: The Great War. Big abstraction (a "battleship" is actually meant to be a whole fleet for example), but easy to manage, and even easier to screw up. Hard decisions and a good AI.
Great game, too bad it's not big on alternative scenarios.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on November 16, 2012, 08:47:12 AM
Quote from: Tamas on November 16, 2012, 08:45:07 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on November 16, 2012, 08:42:48 AM
Ugh, John Tiller.

The Squad Battles games are quite nice.

They may be, but the graphics gave me eye cancer.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on November 16, 2012, 08:48:18 AM
Hey you guys hear anything about AGEOD's WW1 game? I heard it was really fun.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 16, 2012, 09:02:40 AM
Quote from: garbon on November 16, 2012, 08:48:18 AM
Hey you guys hear anything about AGEOD's WW1 game? I heard it was really fun.

oh ha-ha! Do not blame me for the inability of the others here.  :sleep:

They pretend to be hard core strategy gamers, but then fail at grasping anything more realistic than HoI :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 16, 2012, 10:10:52 AM
Sorry, I wanted to like WW1, but the interface was absolutely horrific, and trhe battles kept crashing for me.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 16, 2012, 10:18:47 AM
Quote from: Syt on November 16, 2012, 10:10:52 AM
Sorry, I wanted to like WW1, but the interface was absolutely horrific, and trhe battles kept crashing for me.

It's just a shtick Ed is playing on me. :)

WW1 (Gold) is much better now, but I understand it was hard to get into. I had an easy time because I already knew (and PBEMed) the boardgame which got converted with it. It's one of those games you need the full manual for even with an interface which works better.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on November 16, 2012, 11:04:32 AM
Quote from: Tamas on November 16, 2012, 09:02:40 AM
oh ha-ha! Do not blame me for the inability of the others here.  :sleep:

They pretend to be hard core strategy gamers, but then fail at grasping anything more realistic than HoI :P

I still have WW1 Gold, and I kind of liked it. However my grasp of the game mechanics is rather poor. As the provinces are cut on the map on the Western Front I was incapable to stop the Germans to reach Paris and block them even if I divided my French Corps to make a picket line; they'd just go around if I kept them together, or pounced into them if I separated them.

Unless it's supposed to be so, and the "Taxis de La Marne" triggers as an Event. :(

Playing the Russians, however, I can manage better at sacrificing moujiks to save the Motherland.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 16, 2012, 01:13:59 PM
Capturing a god damn machine gun nest on a hill without any grenades or heavy support? First day of Gallipoli apparently sucked.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on November 16, 2012, 02:40:59 PM
Now you gave me the World War One itch, you Hungarian motherfucker.  :licklips:

So Commander : The Great War ot Strategic Command : World War 1? Or should I replug AGEOD's WW1 Gold? The World Wonders...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 16, 2012, 04:22:54 PM
Quote from: Drakken on November 16, 2012, 02:40:59 PM
Now you gave me the World War One itch, you Hungarian motherfucker.  :licklips:

So Commander : The Great War ot Strategic Command : World War 1? Or should I replug AGEOD's WW1 Gold? The World Wonders...

Well you already have WW1 Gold. Fire it up, see if you can tackle it now. Just make sure to apply the latest patch:
http://ageoddl.telechargement.fr/3rdParty/WW1%20GOLD/Patches/WW1_Patch_v1.0.8q.exe

If you still don't like, I am leaning toward suggesting Commander: The Great War. I like it better than SC at the moment, altough can still be the "newness" feeling.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 16, 2012, 04:25:11 PM
BTW, with these latest patches, the turn-based AI in WW1G is supposed to be as active as with the standard mode.

Turn-based mode should help your France problem via interceptions. You can slow the enemy stack down by intercepting with a minimal force. Unless they Overrun you, their movement is halted, apart from possible Breakthrough with Reserves.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 17, 2012, 05:28:17 PM
 :lol: goddamn

I started a campaign in the tactical WW1 game, about a South African unit going against the Dendvil or whatever Forest at the Somme Offensive. With these campaigns, while you can play on if you end with a defeat, but there is a specific officer representing you. If he dies, campaign ends. With a lot of scenarios in some campaigns, that can be a bitch.

No problem like that here though. My guy fell just short of the German trench due to the miss-shot of a friendly mortar, on the 2nd turn of the first scenario.  :pinch:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 18, 2012, 12:09:15 AM
Dunno, the John Tiller squad battle games kinda lost me when I was unable to crack Iraqi bunkers with a repeated barrage from M1 tanks.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: katmai on November 18, 2012, 12:30:49 AM
Should have tried it with T-72
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 18, 2012, 12:37:23 AM
Still, what really ticks me off about JT games is that with all his years of experience his AI still sucks donkey balls. His single player scenarios are usually stacked hilariously against the player, making them more puzzle games than tactical challenges. And whenever the AI would be required to do something actively it fails. Be it attempting to cross a river (not easy, but at least bring some troops near, and not piecemeal!) or even approach the victory locations (as happened in some Pike & Musket scenarios to me where I won battles by clicking "end turn" and not doing anything else).

It's a real shame, because he covers some very interesting and underrepresented eras (France '14, Leipzig 1813, 16th century etc.).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 18, 2012, 04:09:02 AM
Last time I tried his operational games, the AI was braindead yes. But they are okay in the Squad Battles. Altough like with most AIs, it's better if you are on the attack against it.

What I was wondering about in case of the WW1 game is all the pinning of my attacking troops. I mean, this is realistic for all I know, but damn it's hard to mount a proper assault. Though I guess the "I need big masses of troops to overwhelm the dug-in enemy but then the troops can be executed and pinned en masse" is kind of a historical problem for stuff like the late 1914 battle I was trying.

And of course my problem with every large-scale tactical scenarios, be it Squad Battles or Combat Mission is the tedium of moving all those troops. :P

Still, a very interesting topic seems to have been done well. And it's not like you can cherry-pick from WW1 tactical games. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on November 19, 2012, 03:12:46 PM
Quote from: Tamas on November 18, 2012, 04:09:02 AM
Last time I tried his operational games, the AI was braindead yes. But they are okay in the Squad Battles. Altough like with most AIs, it's better if you are on the attack against it.

What I was wondering about in case of the WW1 game is all the pinning of my attacking troops. I mean, this is realistic for all I know, but damn it's hard to mount a proper assault. Though I guess the "I need big masses of troops to overwhelm the dug-in enemy but then the troops can be executed and pinned en masse" is kind of a historical problem for stuff like the late 1914 battle I was trying.

And of course my problem with every large-scale tactical scenarios, be it Squad Battles or Combat Mission is the tedium of moving all those troops. :P

Still, a very interesting topic seems to have been done well. And it's not like you can cherry-pick from WW1 tactical games. :)

So is it better or worse than WW1 Gold ?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 19, 2012, 03:52:43 PM
 :rolleyes:

it's a tactical game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 20, 2012, 08:15:32 AM
Ok, I am getting interested in the Cold War game being done on the HoI3 engine. There, I said it.

http://www.avault.com/features/paradox-strategy-tour/?page=3
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: PDH on November 20, 2012, 08:32:04 AM
You are hopeless, Beethead.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on November 20, 2012, 11:08:01 AM
And now for a game that is actually good. Imperialism released on GOG for $6.  :cool: :cool:

http://www.gog.com/gamecard/imperialism
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 20, 2012, 12:45:47 PM
God, I loved that game
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on November 20, 2012, 08:21:46 PM
Trying to find a legit, non-cd version of Rise of Nations; found the demo of the expansion version, quite a bit of gameplay for a demo, still a pretty neat game.

Pity it's not on steam or gog.com.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on November 20, 2012, 08:27:30 PM
I tried to do the same thing a few months back.  Sadly, I don't think that it was ever released online in any fashion, at least not legitimately.  Still, there are some cheap CD versions of it on Amazon.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on November 20, 2012, 09:11:33 PM
I couldn't find the CD of it but I found my box, manual & quick reference card. One of you want it?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josephus on November 20, 2012, 09:31:48 PM
RoN was one of the better games of its class.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on November 21, 2012, 09:39:26 AM
Quote from: Tamas on November 20, 2012, 12:45:47 PM
God, I loved that game

I bought it but couldn't remember how to play.  :lol:

I'll read through the manual and reference card again today and soon it'll feel like 1998 all over again. :wub:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on November 21, 2012, 01:44:54 PM
My Dad was cleaning out his work room a few weeks ago, and found my old MicroProse titles;  M1 Tank Platoon, Red Storm Rising, B-17 Flying Fortress.  All still in perfect condition, complete with keyboard overlays.  Same with all my Lucas Arts games:  1942, all of the Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe disks, etc. 

Man, those were the days.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 21, 2012, 01:52:03 PM
 :cool:

I loved the ones that gave you background. Like the thick manuals that came with Twelve O'Clock High and Battle of Britain that had long articles about the bombing campaigns, Darklands' info about Germany 1400 or X-Wing/TIE-Fighter and their in-universe background infos. Not to mention the "magazines" that came with the Wing Commander and Strike Commander games.

One that I still have came with Flying Corps - it had a reprint of Manfred von Richthofen's war diary.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on November 21, 2012, 01:55:23 PM
Yeah, the production value for those games were top-notch back in the day.   They were excellent packages.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josephus on November 21, 2012, 05:37:30 PM
Quote from: Syt on November 21, 2012, 01:52:03 PM
:cool:

I loved the ones that gave you background. Like the thick manuals that came with Twelve O'Clock High and Battle of Britain that had long articles about the bombing campaigns, Darklands' info about Germany 1400 or X-Wing/TIE-Fighter and their in-universe background infos. Not to mention the "magazines" that came with the Wing Commander and Strike Commander games.

One that I still have came with Flying Corps - it had a reprint of Manfred von Richthofen's war diary.

Yeah. Now all we get is a fucking PDF file.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on November 21, 2012, 07:49:52 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on November 21, 2012, 01:55:23 PM
Yeah, the production value for those games were top-notch back in the day.   They were excellent packages.

Games came in bigger boxes then.  I remember getting cloth maps and once an entire novel.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on November 21, 2012, 09:22:24 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on November 21, 2012, 07:49:52 PM
Games came in bigger boxes then.  I remember getting cloth maps and once an entire novel.

Funny how they still cost the same retail now with just a .pdf.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 22, 2012, 12:34:49 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on November 21, 2012, 09:22:24 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on November 21, 2012, 07:49:52 PM
Games came in bigger boxes then.  I remember getting cloth maps and once an entire novel.

Funny how they still cost the same retail now with just a .pdf.

I'm not gonna cry over that. After all, computer and video games are one of the few products I can think of that didn't become more expensive in the last 20, 25 years.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on November 22, 2012, 12:45:00 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on November 21, 2012, 09:22:24 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on November 21, 2012, 07:49:52 PM
Games came in bigger boxes then.  I remember getting cloth maps and once an entire novel.

Funny how they still cost the same retail now with just a .pdf.

You do know what inflation is, right?  They don't "cost the same" at all.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on November 22, 2012, 12:45:35 AM
I thought they did.  A new PC game cost about 40 odd bucks back '98.  Now they cost nearly 60.  Course with Steam, you can get them a lot cheaper.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 22, 2012, 01:07:54 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on November 22, 2012, 12:45:35 AM
I thought they did.  A new PC game cost about 40 odd bucks back '98.  Now they cost nearly 60.  Course with Steam, you can get them a lot cheaper.

Not over here. Top shelf PC games cost between 80 and 120 German Marks and they cost 40-60€ now (DM => € is roughly 2:1). NES and SNES games could cost up to 140 DM, now 70 €.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on November 22, 2012, 07:24:49 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on November 22, 2012, 12:45:35 AM
I thought they did.  A new PC game cost about 40 odd bucks back '98.  Now they cost nearly 60.  Course with Steam, you can get them a lot cheaper.

The Rise of Nations box previously mentioned has a price tag : 69.99$
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on November 22, 2012, 07:29:31 AM
Quote from: Habbaku on November 22, 2012, 12:45:00 AM
You do know what inflation is, right?  They don't "cost the same" at all.

I know what gouging the customer to maximize profit in exchange for a product of lesser quality is.

$49.99 for a PC game in 1989 with maps, overlays, books and posters versus $54.99 for an empty box and a .pdf in 2009.   Some inflation.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josephus on November 22, 2012, 09:01:56 AM
I wouldn't mind paying a bit more for all that extra shit. And who actually prints out an 80-page manual?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 22, 2012, 09:06:18 AM
Quote from: Josephus on November 22, 2012, 09:01:56 AM
I wouldn't mind paying a bit more for all that extra shit. And who actually prints out an 80-page manual?

People with access to high volume laser printers and binding equipment at work.

Only did that for War in the East, though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on November 22, 2012, 11:59:57 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on November 22, 2012, 07:24:49 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on November 22, 2012, 12:45:35 AM
I thought they did.  A new PC game cost about 40 odd bucks back '98.  Now they cost nearly 60.  Course with Steam, you can get them a lot cheaper.

The Rise of Nations box previously mentioned has a price tag : 69.99$

I remember buying Starcraft new for less then 50, and not thinking it out of the ordinary.  I also remember thinking they were cheaper then console games at the time.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on November 25, 2012, 01:01:25 PM
Tim Stone over at RPS seems to enjoy Commander : the Great War.  Might have to give it a shot.   :hmm:

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/11/23/the-flare-path-a-hextasy-of-fumbling/#more-132989
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on November 25, 2012, 01:04:47 PM
I dunno. What does Jim Stone say about it?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Minsky Moment on November 27, 2012, 12:41:21 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on November 22, 2012, 12:45:35 AM
I thought they did.  A new PC game cost about 40 odd bucks back '98.  Now they cost nearly 60.  Course with Steam, you can get them a lot cheaper.

The economic reality of the game industry now is effective price discrimination.
The big fans willing to spend more are hooked with special limited edition blah blah blah and pay over retail.  The enthusiasts buy on release and pay full retail.  Those willing to wait 1+ years can get a nice fat discount through steam, etc. and pay a fraction what one used to pay in the old days.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 27, 2012, 01:03:59 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on November 25, 2012, 01:01:25 PM
Tim Stone over at RPS seems to enjoy Commander : the Great War.  Might have to give it a shot.   :hmm:

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/11/23/the-flare-path-a-hextasy-of-fumbling/#more-132989

its quite good yes. I have doubts about replayability though. Like, since I couldn't be bothered with the stupid submarine mechanics, USA never got close to joining in against me.

Also, Entente AI I think never ever does amphib landings against Turkey, not even in Mesopotamia. So while upon Turkish entry you get hit with a totally unhistorical British zergrush through the Sinai, you can stop it by moving all Turkish units there.
Also Russia seem to ignore the Caucasus unless you make a move. I had a game where it launched a counter offensive, and I had two where it remained passive.

Otherwise the fronts work mostly historical I guess.

Sooo... I highly recommend it for something like playing one game to completition per side, maybe for PBEM.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on November 27, 2012, 03:47:54 PM
Yeah, I've never been concerned with AI in wargames aside from the EU stuff and its ilk.  PBEM is infinitely more fun and challenging.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on November 27, 2012, 03:53:50 PM
I thought it looked interesting until I saw a screenshot that looked like units were pretty generic with the rather old and tired PG 1-10 strength points thing, rather than representing actually military units (corps, divisions,armies, whatever).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 27, 2012, 04:12:46 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on November 27, 2012, 03:47:54 PM
Yeah, I've never been concerned with AI in wargames aside from the EU stuff and its ilk.  PBEM is infinitely more fun and challenging.

Right, except that it is more cumbersome than just sitting down for a relaxing single player session.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on November 27, 2012, 05:09:24 PM
Yeah, why go in search of girls when you can just stay home and jerk off?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on November 27, 2012, 06:09:00 PM
Context shift!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on November 27, 2012, 09:29:36 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on November 27, 2012, 05:09:24 PM
Yeah, why go in search of girls when you can just stay home and jerk off?

No chance of rejection AND saving gas mileage.  Win Win!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 28, 2012, 01:49:14 AM
Quote from: Habbaku on November 27, 2012, 05:09:24 PM
Yeah, why go in search of girls when you can just stay home and jerk off?

I guess Freud would like what you are equating with your passionate pbem sessions with Berkut :p
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on November 28, 2012, 03:51:19 AM
Better than beeting off.  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 08, 2012, 01:46:49 PM
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/meriwether/meriwether-an-american-epic

An RPG/Resource Management/Exploration game based on the Lewis & Clark expedition, with the route being procedurally generated for infinite replayability. Looks pretty interesting. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on December 13, 2012, 12:54:54 PM
anybody playing Hawken?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on December 20, 2012, 08:49:37 AM
Allegedly, GOG's Alpha Centauri now has the Alien Crossfire expansion as well.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: ulmont on December 20, 2012, 09:05:04 AM
Quote from: Tamas on December 20, 2012, 08:49:37 AM
Allegedly, GOG's Alpha Centauri now has the Alien Crossfire expansion as well.

I'll have to update and see; I bought GOG's Alpha Centauri a while back, and now I see that it is listed as updated and reviews talk about it having Alien Crossfire.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 20, 2012, 09:25:40 AM
That would be sweet and almost AAR-worthy.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: ulmont on December 20, 2012, 09:44:44 AM
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.gog.com%2Fupload%2Fforum%2F2012%2F12%2F41c39be64374f350448811db1ce8a3e33f282970.png&hash=4d6ed8e9a5bcfe2a44bde0f50c125a934df166cd)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on December 20, 2012, 02:05:55 PM
I embraced geekhood back when SMAC was released and I wrote pages and pages of war plans, peace treaties, and OOBs of my armies for all of my SMAC games as the Spartans. :nerd:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on December 20, 2012, 02:16:23 PM
I'll have to buy Alien Crossfire. Have recently been playing Alpha Centauri.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on December 20, 2012, 02:46:27 PM
The only thing I didn't like about Alien Crossfire was that you couldn't have all the factions play at the same time.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on December 20, 2012, 02:53:46 PM
These Gog.com games are working out really well on my little windows XP netbook, I've inadvertently come across my ideal gaming rig/console.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: ulmont on December 20, 2012, 03:10:46 PM
Quote from: garbon on December 20, 2012, 02:16:23 PM
I'll have to buy Alien Crossfire. Have recently been playing Alpha Centauri.

If you have the GoG Alpha Centauri, it supposedly automatically updated to include Alien Crossfire for free.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: sbr on December 20, 2012, 03:14:53 PM
I just bought the gog verion of SMAC last night.  :showoff:

ALong with Witcher 2, hopefully it is better than the first one.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on December 20, 2012, 03:15:57 PM
Oh I think you're right. The installer shows up as updated and is larger than my original setup file. Thanks! :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 29, 2012, 08:58:03 AM
Are there no current, good golf games for the PC? Research seems to indicate that the pinnacle was Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004, and that it's been seriously downhill since then.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on December 29, 2012, 09:40:27 AM
Quote from: Syt on December 29, 2012, 08:58:03 AM
Are there no current, good golf games for the PC? Research seems to indicate that the pinnacle was Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004, and that it's been seriously downhill since then.

You need a motion sensor-ed consol. Tiger Woods works great even with my Wii (especially later editions which have support for that extra-sensitive Wii controller expansion). Huge fun.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 29, 2012, 10:05:25 AM
I'm not going to buy a gadget for one game I play every now and then.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on December 29, 2012, 12:25:59 PM
Tried Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion. Is there a way to make the tooltips appear in the normal location instead of in the lower right corner of the screen? That's a dealbreaker to me, I won't play a game that goes out of its way to annoy.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on December 29, 2012, 08:53:10 PM
Bought and playing The Secret World, which has recently become a pay once, no-subscription game. I fuckin' love it until now. It's one of the most atmospheric MMORPGs I have played in a long while, almost on par with EVE Online. You can feel H.P. Lovecraft's inspiration seep through the game as I play through the first setting (aptly named Kingsmouth). Currently subbing a Swedish nerd/Lisbeth Salander-like character, who is both a Tremere wannabee (blood magic) and a cutter (blades), so she whacks with swords as much as she thaumaturges the shit out of zombies and Mayan Servants of One Deaths.

What I like is the versatility : I can choose to open up paths with other weapons anytime I want and there's no level per se. It is all skill points and ability points; right now my character is using blades and blood magic, but I can open up using, for example, claws, firsts, assaults rifles, hammer, shotguns, and chaos magic. Also, there are investigation missions, with puzzles and enigmas, whose clues need research done both in-game and on the real Internet (false websites have even been made by Funcom on the Internet), and sabotage/espionage missions in which you need to sneak without getting caught. It find it refreshing, it changes from the usual smack-all/kill-all missions and fetch quests in your run-of-the-mill MMORPG. It also does not pull punches, plenty of swear words and very mature subject matters in the dialogues. This is not WoW, and I hope it stays that way throughout the whole game. Sadly, PvP seems to be restricted to warzones and instances, which sucks.  :(

Plus, Kirsten Geary, the jaded valley girl contact/handler when you join the Illuminati, has some hilarious lines.  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on December 30, 2012, 03:00:07 AM
Played some Secret World (free weekend) when it was released. Never understood why it was a MMORPG. The concept screamed SP.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on January 01, 2013, 09:32:33 PM
LULZ, didn't know they had Diablo III servers in Shanghai.

QuoteGreetings!

It has come to our attention that you are trying to sell your personal Diablo III account(s). As you may not be aware of, this conflicts with the EULA and Terms of Agreement. If this proves to be true, your account can and will be disabled. It will be ongoing for further investigation by Blizzard Entertainment's employees. If you wish to not get your account suspended you should immediately verify your account ownership.

Please open this connection:


If your account passes the check successfully, we will send this package of dynamic Battle.net Mobile Authenticator to you in the form of e-mail.

In 3 days after you receiving the e-mail, if you don't submit your information, we have right to freeze your account, every player is obligated to protect the safety of the account. You must work together with us to be determined to crack down all the behaviors of destroying games.

If you had already authenticator your account, please disregard this automatic notification.

Regards,

Account Administration Team
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: sbr on January 01, 2013, 10:55:22 PM
 :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on January 02, 2013, 12:35:08 PM
They luv u long time.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 07, 2013, 01:15:01 PM
Roguelike TOME has reached V1.0 (something most roguelikes never accomplish, even if they've been around for ages).

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/01/07/tome-is-where-the-heart-is-happy-new-roguelike/

QuoteIn 2013, I resolve to convince as many people as possible to play Roguelikes and I'll be particularly targeting those people who have never delved into the devious dungeons of '@' before. It's OK to admit that you've avoided them in the past because they look intimidating/crappy. TOME could be the gateway game you've been waiting for. It's a variant of one of the core roguelikes but when it reached version 1.0 recently something miraculous happened. Firstly, it actually reached 1.0, which is on a par with the parting of an ocean given how many of these wonder-works are fated to grow forever, passing from designer to designer. But more amazing still, TOME has neat graphics and a friendly interface. Download it immediately.


If you didn't download TOME immediately then please do so now, unless you're at work, in which case it's acceptable to wait until your lunch break. Take your lunch break immediately.

For a veteran dungeon diver such as myself, cynicism may creep in. Sure, it looks good, but when was that ever the point? And, hey, there's an optional mouse-driven interface but doesn't that mean the whole thing must be so dumbed down that it might as well be a third-person shooter? I haven't played enough to figure out precisely where TOME fits in my personal Roguelike charts, but I am impressed by how much variety it offers and the simple fact that I can almost definitely convince lots of people to try it. So far, like the best fantasy RPGs, I feel like it offers new worlds full of mystery and danger, and those are two of my favourite things.



I chose to be some sort of magical elf on my first attempt and found myself in a land of living crystals. When I died, after about five minutes, I started again as a human with a sword and a shield. Magic had failed me but cold steel wouldn't. That character began his quest in a trollmire, which looked like a forest except instead of squirrels and butterflies it was full of writhing masses of worms and, would you believe it, various types of troll. Although there's plenty of randomness, there are actual quests other than 'go down', and different races and classes have different objectives and areas to explore. Try them all! Except the ones you have to unlock. Work out how to unlock those instead by trying the others.

TOME isn't horribly confusing and it even has a tutorial but if you do feel a twinge of anxiety when it confronts you with its many possibilities and options, breathe, relax and experiment. The only wrong choice is 'quit'. Perhaps you've dabbled before. You can admit that here. Nobody will judge you, least of all an actual judge with a wig and a gavel. Maybe somebody was passing a paper full of Dredmor around behind the bike sheds one day and you took a drag on it and thought, hey this isn't so bad, I expected ASCII after-phlegm and an interface that punched me in the lung but the whole experience is far smoother and more pleasant than I'd ever have imagined. TOME is more traditional than Dredmor but is just as easy to use and to understand. It's also free, though lacking in humour and gargantuan eyebrows.

To add icing to the already delicious cake, the T-Engine4 on which TOME is built is ready for more modules right now. It's begging for them, whether they're totally new worlds, additional quests and scenarios, or something in between. It's a general purpose Roguelike engine and could spark a revolution, providing a simple means of creating and collating turn-based adventures. I'm already tempted to hibernate for much of 2013 just so I can see how many people embrace this and what they produce.

I'll probably write more soon, when I've spent more time with TOME itself, but I couldn't resist making this my first news post of the year. It's such a thrilling and potential-packed way to start what dunderheaded analysts are already failing to call 'The Year of the Roguelike', and it could mark the opening of a fantastic floodgate.

http://te4.org/

Screens:
http://te4.org/tome/screenshots

Downloads:
http://te4.org/download
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on January 07, 2013, 01:42:52 PM
Hmm, that review seems a bit...Timmyesque in its enthusiasm.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on January 09, 2013, 07:05:38 PM
Does anyone know how to download steam bought games? Got some on the cheap over christmas expecting to download and play them when I got back to my proper computer but they're not showing up in my library for download...

I spent most of last night playing Faster Than Light. It is very very simple but oh so addictive.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on January 09, 2013, 07:28:45 PM
Quote from: Tyr on January 09, 2013, 07:05:38 PM
Does anyone know how to download steam bought games? Got some on the cheap over christmas expecting to download and play them when I got back to my proper computer but they're not showing up in my library for download...

I spent most of last night playing Faster Than Light. It is very very simple but oh so addictive.

Do you by accident have to accounts tied to different email addresses ?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on January 09, 2013, 09:03:42 PM
Quote from: Tyr on January 09, 2013, 07:05:38 PM
Does anyone know how to download steam bought games? Got some on the cheap over christmas expecting to download and play them when I got back to my proper computer but they're not showing up in my library for download...

I spent most of last night playing Faster Than Light. It is very very simple but oh so addictive.

That means the games you bought are not released/available in Japan.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on January 09, 2013, 09:13:47 PM
...but I bought them. That...sucks. And is weird, they were oldies.
Will try a UK proxy and see if I can get them.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on January 09, 2013, 09:28:17 PM
That's totally obnoxious if true.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on January 09, 2013, 09:32:05 PM
It's worth the try but Steam is apparently very good at detecting VPN and proxies.

Sadly, Japan is one the worse Steam country there is.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 09, 2013, 11:30:49 PM
Quote from: Tyr on January 09, 2013, 09:13:47 PM
...but I bought them. That...sucks. And is weird, they were oldies.
Will try a UK proxy and see if I can get them.

I bought Scribblenauts after awesome reviews on an Amazon.com sale for $7.49 and activated it on Steam. Problem: release date in Europe is late February, so it's just sitting there, pre-loaded, unplayable.

Based on forum chatter using a proxy to get around such restrictions violates the Steam EULA, and people had their accounts supposedly cancelled over that.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on January 10, 2013, 01:06:53 AM
Quote from: Tyr on January 09, 2013, 07:05:38 PM
I spent most of last night playing Faster Than Light. It is very very simple but oh so addictive.

:yes:  FTL is one of the best games of 2012 and has eaten up a ton of my time of late.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on January 10, 2013, 02:30:37 AM
Shit!
It seems steam made a completely new account for these new games. Thats just ridiculous, seems to be no  way to merge them too. Well, that's the last time I buy stuff from steam. Experiment over.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on January 10, 2013, 05:15:56 AM
Next time log in with your usual account before buying something, jesh :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on January 10, 2013, 09:01:03 AM
Quote from: Tyr on January 10, 2013, 02:30:37 AM
Shit!
It seems steam made a completely new account for these new games. Thats just ridiculous, seems to be no  way to merge them too. Well, that's the last time I buy stuff from steam. Experiment over.

:huh:

What do you mean, I have to put gas in the tank before starting the engine?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on January 10, 2013, 09:21:59 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on January 10, 2013, 09:01:03 AM
Quote from: Tyr on January 10, 2013, 02:30:37 AM
Shit!
It seems steam made a completely new account for these new games. Thats just ridiculous, seems to be no  way to merge them too. Well, that's the last time I buy stuff from steam. Experiment over.

:huh:

What do you mean, I have to put gas in the tank before starting the engine?

the nerve some car companies have!  :mad:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on January 10, 2013, 12:07:06 PM
Quote from: Tyr on January 10, 2013, 02:30:37 AM
Shit!
It seems steam made a completely new account for these new games. Thats just ridiculous, seems to be no  way to merge them too. Well, that's the last time I buy stuff from steam. Experiment over.

Have you even bothered e-mailing Steam about it?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on January 10, 2013, 12:19:43 PM
Why would he want to do that? :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on January 10, 2013, 12:19:48 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on January 10, 2013, 12:07:06 PM
Quote from: Tyr on January 10, 2013, 02:30:37 AM
Shit!
It seems steam made a completely new account for these new games. Thats just ridiculous, seems to be no  way to merge them too. Well, that's the last time I buy stuff from steam. Experiment over.

Have you even bothered e-mailing Steam about it?
Steam would just explain that, while they are willing to make their service idiot-proof, going all the way to Tyr-proof is too expensive and thus unreasonable.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on January 10, 2013, 12:21:17 PM
Quote from: grumbler on January 10, 2013, 12:19:48 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on January 10, 2013, 12:07:06 PM
Quote from: Tyr on January 10, 2013, 02:30:37 AM
Shit!
It seems steam made a completely new account for these new games. Thats just ridiculous, seems to be no  way to merge them too. Well, that's the last time I buy stuff from steam. Experiment over.

Have you even bothered e-mailing Steam about it?
Steam would just explain that, while they are willing to make their service idiot-proof, going all the way to Tyr-proof is too expensive and thus unreasonable.

I actually have two Apple IDs which I only discovered recently. Thankfully one of them has nothing associated with it and I haven't used since college. -_-
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on January 10, 2013, 12:34:49 PM
Quote from: grumbler on January 10, 2013, 12:19:48 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on January 10, 2013, 12:07:06 PM
Quote from: Tyr on January 10, 2013, 02:30:37 AM
Shit!
It seems steam made a completely new account for these new games. Thats just ridiculous, seems to be no  way to merge them too. Well, that's the last time I buy stuff from steam. Experiment over.

Have you even bothered e-mailing Steam about it?
Steam would just explain that, while they are willing to make their service idiot-proof, going all the way to Tyr-proof is too expensive and thus unreasonable.

The hilarious bit is that "Steam" apparently made this new account for him.  Never did he arrive at a point where he selected his account name and password and it was made completely obvious what he was doing.  I'm sure some vile Steam rep just hopped onto his computer and typed it all up for him, then gave him the information.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on January 10, 2013, 07:03:40 PM
Can't he just gift the game over to his other account?  I've never gifted a game ( I don't have many friends), but I was under the impression you could give your games away.


Syt's problem is a bit more obnoxious.  I have no idea why they stagger release dates out for different countries.  There is probably some good reason, but I don't know what it is.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on January 10, 2013, 08:31:31 PM
You have to buy them as gift.

We're your friends! Add me, I'm Arthois.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on January 10, 2013, 10:19:53 PM
The process did not involve entering my password twice, confirmation emails, etc.... Nothing at all about making new accounst. The only new stuff I did was around entering by card details.
The way the two accounts seem to be is one (the new one oddly) displays my account name at the top whilst the one I've been using just has one of my email addresses at the top.
I've no idea what happened. I guess this split predates this purchase but how is beyond me.

Quote from: Habbaku on January 10, 2013, 12:07:06 PM

Have you even bothered e-mailing Steam about it?
Yes. No replies however. They've never replied when I had problems.


Its just ridiculous the way its working. On the account with the new games it lists my games from my usual account but when I click on them asks me to buy them. This is just illogical.
Seems they're dead set against ever merging accounts too.
Anyway, this has further cemented by dedication to buying real games and none of this digital license purchase crap.



For the new games so far-
Blood Bowl: Bleh.
Democracy 2: I've seen this guy's other menu based games before....all much of a muchness.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on January 11, 2013, 03:32:47 AM
http://www.cityofgangsters.com/us/#!/game

This has Languish MP written all over it, assuming it will not suck
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 11, 2013, 04:46:03 AM
Trailer for CD Projekt's (of Witcher fame) Cyberpunk 2077:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=P99qJGrPNLs

The look is a bit like mid-90s Dorian Cleavanger artwork.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.evga.com%2Fgaming%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F01%2FCyberpunk-2077.jpg&hash=396f62e33909ec091ffdd84d9b21c5673d44aa85)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on January 11, 2013, 01:23:15 PM
That Geopolitical Simulator game's new iteration will be out soon.

QuoteMasters of the World - Geopolitical Simulator 3 includes several new features: •Multi-country game mode: the player can lead several countries simultaneously and change the fate of the world by developing collaborative strategies
•New map (high resolution) with detailed cultural zones, different types of forest (broadleaf, pine, rainforests), savannas, rivers, urban areas, rail networks, oil and gas pipelines, ports and airports (with aircraft route management), oil tankers, containerships, and more.
•New laws: players can set the income tax by bracket, nationalize/privatize economic activities, set product prices, and adjust the head of state's salary level. They can also regulate physician-assisted suicide, same-sex parent adoption, abortion, marijuana consumption, prostitution, and the right of foreign nationals to vote in local elections.
•In-depth debt management, including intervention by rating agencies, interest rate negotiations with international lenders, and the ability to apply for loans or debt relief with the IMF or the Eurozone
•Players can create their own international organizations and define their types (free trade zone, monetary union, politico-military organization, exporting countries), budget, geographical area, bylaws (voting system, meetings with heads of state, common political ideology...).
•Televised appearances: from the president's office to announce new drawbacks, try to justify unpopular decisions or calm the people when they are angry; from the UN press gallery when, for example, requesting a military intervention; while traveling in a region or during import events to occupy the media and strengthen popularity
•New construction projects available: pipeline networks crossing several countries to transport the gas and oil, high-speed train lines, port centers, and civil airports to improve transportation conditions, tourism, and freight.
•New scenarios: "Saving Greece" etc...
•World Simulation mode playable in multiplayer mode over a network
•The ability adjust various game settings: terrorist organization activity level, the probability of natural and man-made disaster triggering, the reactivity level of the people and social groups to unpopular actions on the part of their ruler, the probability of wars being triggered and their level of acceptance by the people (peaceful world or war-prone world)
•The integration of ongoing game support, personified by a professor of geopolitics, who can explain to the player the game's major functional principles for politics, economy, strategy, and espionage, alert the player to problems that need to be solved in his or her country and the actions that can be taken, and provide the player with some political tips and tricks.
•A technology discovery tree display showing technological advancements and opportunities for research sectors
•System display of signed economic contract assessments
•Detailed election results and surveys with percentages for all political parties for each of the country's groups and lobbies
•The ability to group together several proposed laws into a reform to present them to Parliament together and have them voted on all at once. This can be helpful for passing laws that might otherwise not pass
•Implementation of a referendum procedure of some proposed laws: with a referendum, it is the people, not the Parliament, who decide whether to adopt the law.
•The addition of commando units, which operate in stealth mode to conduct operations directly within enemy bases
•Mission planning for military units: the player can assign multiple objectives and define patrol areas
•Links to relevant Wikipedia articles for each proposed law
•Updates on January 1, 2013 with over 600 data elements for each of the 175 playable countries, including the political makeup of governments and legislative bodies based on the latest elections, the latest estimates for budgetary deficits and debts, countries' ratings with rating agencies, growth estimates for the next 40 years, etc.
•Updates and creation of new faces in line with reality: heads of state, department secretaries, political party leaders, the heads of international organizations...
•Inclusion of new organizations: BRICS, GUAM, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Bolivarian Alliance
•New playable countries: South Sudan, Luxembourg, Malta, Singapore, Maldives, Cape Verde, the Solomon Islands, Comoros, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on January 13, 2013, 01:46:31 PM
Napoleon Total War with Darth Mod installed has, to steal a phrase from Ed, given me a murder boner.

Watching two thousand Mamluks on horseback smash themselves on my infantry squares and then completely destroying the Mamluk infantry lagging behind, along with the new musket sounds and smoke graphical mod, is something dear to behold in this game. :wub:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on January 13, 2013, 04:37:42 PM
:yes:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on January 13, 2013, 04:42:00 PM
I haven't tried it with Napoleon:total war.  Did with Empire.  Fucking blast.  It's pretty cool when 10,000 screaming Punjabis come at your line and you cut them down, or when you recruit six units of Gurkha and run them at the Polish.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: PRC on January 14, 2013, 01:23:27 PM
Quote from: Syt on January 07, 2013, 01:15:01 PM
Roguelike TOME has reached V1.0 (something most roguelikes never accomplish, even if they've been around for ages).

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/01/07/tome-is-where-the-heart-is-happy-new-roguelike/

QuoteIn 2013, I resolve to convince as many people as possible to play Roguelikes and I'll be particularly targeting those people who have never delved into the devious dungeons of '@' before. It's OK to admit that you've avoided them in the past because they look intimidating/crappy. TOME could be the gateway game you've been waiting for. It's a variant of one of the core roguelikes but when it reached version 1.0 recently something miraculous happened. Firstly, it actually reached 1.0, which is on a par with the parting of an ocean given how many of these wonder-works are fated to grow forever, passing from designer to designer. But more amazing still, TOME has neat graphics and a friendly interface. Download it immediately.


If you didn't download TOME immediately then please do so now, unless you're at work, in which case it's acceptable to wait until your lunch break. Take your lunch break immediately.

For a veteran dungeon diver such as myself, cynicism may creep in. Sure, it looks good, but when was that ever the point? And, hey, there's an optional mouse-driven interface but doesn't that mean the whole thing must be so dumbed down that it might as well be a third-person shooter? I haven't played enough to figure out precisely where TOME fits in my personal Roguelike charts, but I am impressed by how much variety it offers and the simple fact that I can almost definitely convince lots of people to try it. So far, like the best fantasy RPGs, I feel like it offers new worlds full of mystery and danger, and those are two of my favourite things.



I chose to be some sort of magical elf on my first attempt and found myself in a land of living crystals. When I died, after about five minutes, I started again as a human with a sword and a shield. Magic had failed me but cold steel wouldn't. That character began his quest in a trollmire, which looked like a forest except instead of squirrels and butterflies it was full of writhing masses of worms and, would you believe it, various types of troll. Although there's plenty of randomness, there are actual quests other than 'go down', and different races and classes have different objectives and areas to explore. Try them all! Except the ones you have to unlock. Work out how to unlock those instead by trying the others.

TOME isn't horribly confusing and it even has a tutorial but if you do feel a twinge of anxiety when it confronts you with its many possibilities and options, breathe, relax and experiment. The only wrong choice is 'quit'. Perhaps you've dabbled before. You can admit that here. Nobody will judge you, least of all an actual judge with a wig and a gavel. Maybe somebody was passing a paper full of Dredmor around behind the bike sheds one day and you took a drag on it and thought, hey this isn't so bad, I expected ASCII after-phlegm and an interface that punched me in the lung but the whole experience is far smoother and more pleasant than I'd ever have imagined. TOME is more traditional than Dredmor but is just as easy to use and to understand. It's also free, though lacking in humour and gargantuan eyebrows.

To add icing to the already delicious cake, the T-Engine4 on which TOME is built is ready for more modules right now. It's begging for them, whether they're totally new worlds, additional quests and scenarios, or something in between. It's a general purpose Roguelike engine and could spark a revolution, providing a simple means of creating and collating turn-based adventures. I'm already tempted to hibernate for much of 2013 just so I can see how many people embrace this and what they produce.

I'll probably write more soon, when I've spent more time with TOME itself, but I couldn't resist making this my first news post of the year. It's such a thrilling and potential-packed way to start what dunderheaded analysts are already failing to call 'The Year of the Roguelike', and it could mark the opening of a fantastic floodgate.

http://te4.org/

Screens:
http://te4.org/tome/screenshots

Downloads:
http://te4.org/download

I've been playing this and find it a lot of fun. 

I've always been interested by Dwarf Fortress and some other roguelikes but could never get past the ascii display.  Not to say that this games graphics are mind-blowing, they look like they could be on the NES, but it's enough to easily interpret what's happening.

My best character in TOME4 so far has been a Dwarf Berserker but i've also done well with Halfling Alchemists.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on January 14, 2013, 01:26:12 PM
Not sure I follow you comment re:DF. There have been plenty of graphical mods for it for quite sometime now.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: PRC on January 15, 2013, 09:23:20 PM
Quote from: garbon on January 14, 2013, 01:26:12 PM
Not sure I follow you comment re:DF. There have been plenty of graphical mods for it for quite sometime now.

Any simple install and play ones?  What do you recommend?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on January 15, 2013, 09:25:50 PM
Quote from: PRC on January 15, 2013, 09:23:20 PM
Quote from: garbon on January 14, 2013, 01:26:12 PM
Not sure I follow you comment re:DF. There have been plenty of graphical mods for it for quite sometime now.

Any simple install and play ones?  What do you recommend?

Yeah, that would be what I'm after, perviously what I read on here seemed like a lot of work*

:P
*vs clicking on a install.exe.  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on January 15, 2013, 10:03:36 PM
Quote from: Tamas on January 11, 2013, 01:23:15 PM
That Geopolitical Simulator game's new iteration will be out soon.

QuoteMasters of the World - Geopolitical Simulator 3 includes several new features: •Multi-country game mode: the player can lead several countries simultaneously and change the fate of the world by developing collaborative strategies
•New map (high resolution) with detailed cultural zones, different types of forest (broadleaf, pine, rainforests), savannas, rivers, urban areas, rail networks, oil and gas pipelines, ports and airports (with aircraft route management), oil tankers, containerships, and more.
•New laws: players can set the income tax by bracket, nationalize/privatize economic activities, set product prices, and adjust the head of state's salary level. They can also regulate physician-assisted suicide, same-sex parent adoption, abortion, marijuana consumption, prostitution, and the right of foreign nationals to vote in local elections.
•In-depth debt management, including intervention by rating agencies, interest rate negotiations with international lenders, and the ability to apply for loans or debt relief with the IMF or the Eurozone
•Players can create their own international organizations and define their types (free trade zone, monetary union, politico-military organization, exporting countries), budget, geographical area, bylaws (voting system, meetings with heads of state, common political ideology...).
•Televised appearances: from the president's office to announce new drawbacks, try to justify unpopular decisions or calm the people when they are angry; from the UN press gallery when, for example, requesting a military intervention; while traveling in a region or during import events to occupy the media and strengthen popularity
•New construction projects available: pipeline networks crossing several countries to transport the gas and oil, high-speed train lines, port centers, and civil airports to improve transportation conditions, tourism, and freight.
•New scenarios: "Saving Greece" etc...
•World Simulation mode playable in multiplayer mode over a network
•The ability adjust various game settings: terrorist organization activity level, the probability of natural and man-made disaster triggering, the reactivity level of the people and social groups to unpopular actions on the part of their ruler, the probability of wars being triggered and their level of acceptance by the people (peaceful world or war-prone world)
•The integration of ongoing game support, personified by a professor of geopolitics, who can explain to the player the game's major functional principles for politics, economy, strategy, and espionage, alert the player to problems that need to be solved in his or her country and the actions that can be taken, and provide the player with some political tips and tricks.
•A technology discovery tree display showing technological advancements and opportunities for research sectors
•System display of signed economic contract assessments
•Detailed election results and surveys with percentages for all political parties for each of the country's groups and lobbies
•The ability to group together several proposed laws into a reform to present them to Parliament together and have them voted on all at once. This can be helpful for passing laws that might otherwise not pass
•Implementation of a referendum procedure of some proposed laws: with a referendum, it is the people, not the Parliament, who decide whether to adopt the law.
•The addition of commando units, which operate in stealth mode to conduct operations directly within enemy bases
•Mission planning for military units: the player can assign multiple objectives and define patrol areas
•Links to relevant Wikipedia articles for each proposed law
•Updates on January 1, 2013 with over 600 data elements for each of the 175 playable countries, including the political makeup of governments and legislative bodies based on the latest elections, the latest estimates for budgetary deficits and debts, countries' ratings with rating agencies, growth estimates for the next 40 years, etc.
•Updates and creation of new faces in line with reality: heads of state, department secretaries, political party leaders, the heads of international organizations...
•Inclusion of new organizations: BRICS, GUAM, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Bolivarian Alliance
•New playable countries: South Sudan, Luxembourg, Malta, Singapore, Maldives, Cape Verde, the Solomon Islands, Comoros, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados

Is it better than that god-awful game SuperPower from a few years ago?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 16, 2013, 12:18:39 AM
I've only really played the first part, but it has a much stronger focus on domestic politics (elections, passing laws for which you have to influence opinion leaders to see it your way, etc.) and the foreign policy part severely lacking. You can ask other leaders to improve the human rights situation in their country, make trade agreements, condemn people in front of the UN and declare war, mostly (the latter usually gets you deposed immediately unless you have a very strong case . . . haven't fully worked out the requirements).

If you want a game that simulates e.g. the efforts of EU, US, Russia to put pressure on Iran regarding their nuclear program, or the EU strife in the wake of the Euro crisis, I don't think this is it. I have no idea how you would do that in the game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 17, 2013, 04:43:12 PM
I picked up Euro Truck Simulator 2 on Steam (enjoying it quite a bit, even though it mostly involves driving overland on the highway - kinda soothing, though, if you turn on music in the background).

Anyways, the game has already attracted Balkantards:

http://steamcommunity.com/app/227300/discussions/0/864957182772730761/

QuoteSlovakia with illegitimate borders.

I really hate that the Slovakian border was put onto the Hungarian border with the road going into Hungary and then to Slovakia, this pretty much seems like a massive insult to me and my country for altering our territorial integrity this way in a game when we are completely part of the EU and the schengen area.

It is clearly wrong as I state that it is claiming that Hungary's territory is a Slovak territory, while it is not. I demmand this to be changed immediately.

I feel this game is a massive letdown.

:lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: sbr on January 17, 2013, 04:55:25 PM
 :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on January 17, 2013, 05:05:58 PM
That is awesome.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on January 17, 2013, 05:09:06 PM
Quote from: mongers on January 15, 2013, 09:25:50 PM
Quote from: PRC on January 15, 2013, 09:23:20 PM
Quote from: garbon on January 14, 2013, 01:26:12 PM
Not sure I follow you comment re:DF. There have been plenty of graphical mods for it for quite sometime now.

Any simple install and play ones?  What do you recommend?

Yeah, that would be what I'm after, perviously what I read on here seemed like a lot of work*

:P
*vs clicking on a install.exe.  :P

Not really too much work (I'm lazy too!).  I liked using this set:

http://artgoblin.pl/df.php

All if you have to do is click link and then unzip. Graphics are pre-installed. That simple. :)

Most difficult part will be learning the controls and then also learning how the various objects and industries interact.

*And looks to still be based on most recent version.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on January 17, 2013, 05:12:16 PM
There's also this pre-installed set.

http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=57557.0
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on January 17, 2013, 05:35:03 PM
iOS hit 10000000 is now on Steam.  Addictive mix of dungeon crawling match games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on January 18, 2013, 03:32:37 AM
Re: the steam stuff. They....actually gave me a refund?!!?!
Albeit to the wrong, new account, but it'll be simple enough to remember to buy as a gift if I want to buy something. Shame though that the sale is over so i missed those games
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 21, 2013, 01:56:13 PM
I've hardly played any OOTP13. However, I'm setting up a 1949 Soviet league, to run alongside an NPC historical MLB, with a final between the top four teams.

The Soviet teams at the moment are:

Dnipropetrovsk Miners
Kiev Partisans
Leningrad    Aurora
Minsk Torpedos
Moscow Red Stars
Riga Cogs
Tbilisi Locomotives
Smolensk Fighters
Baku Oilers
Donetsk Farmers
Kharkov Tanks
Moscow Bears
Odessa Revolution
Rostov-on-Don   Cossacks
Stalingrad Victory
Vilnius Dynamo

They'll mirror the U.S. system with two leagues of 8 teams each.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on January 21, 2013, 03:51:00 PM
Quote from: garbon on January 17, 2013, 05:09:06 PM
Quote from: mongers on January 15, 2013, 09:25:50 PM
Quote from: PRC on January 15, 2013, 09:23:20 PM
Quote from: garbon on January 14, 2013, 01:26:12 PM
Not sure I follow you comment re:DF. There have been plenty of graphical mods for it for quite sometime now.

Any simple install and play ones?  What do you recommend?

Yeah, that would be what I'm after, perviously what I read on here seemed like a lot of work*

:P
*vs clicking on a install.exe.  :P

Not really too much work (I'm lazy too!).  I liked using this set:

http://artgoblin.pl/df.php

All if you have to do is click link and then unzip. Graphics are pre-installed. That simple. :)

Most difficult part will be learning the controls and then also learning how the various objects and industries interact.

*And looks to still be based on most recent version.

:cheers:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on January 21, 2013, 09:42:31 PM
Quote from: Tyr on January 18, 2013, 03:32:37 AM
Re: the steam stuff. They....actually gave me a refund?!!?!
Albeit to the wrong, new account, but it'll be simple enough to remember to buy as a gift if I want to buy something. Shame though that the sale is over so i missed those games

You seem shocked.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: katmai on January 21, 2013, 10:10:05 PM
Quote from: Syt on January 21, 2013, 01:56:13 PM
I've hardly played any OOTP13. However, I'm setting up a 1949 Soviet league, to run alongside an NPC historical MLB, with a final between the top four teams.


I'm in my 1906 season of my historical replay in charge of the New York Giants :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on January 21, 2013, 10:29:47 PM
I'm considering OOTP13 to get me through the post-Super-Bowl-to-Opening-Day phase.

Looks like it's as good as advertised.  Reminds me of the old APBA Baseball program from the late 80s.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: katmai on January 21, 2013, 10:30:24 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on January 21, 2013, 10:29:47 PM
I'm considering OOTP13 to get me through the post-Super-Bowl-to-Opening-Day phase.

Looks like it's as good as advertised.  Reminds me of the old APBA Baseball program from the late 80s.

It is fun and quite customizable.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on January 21, 2013, 10:33:49 PM
Yeah, I'm thinking about the possibilities of a customizable league.  Transplant those '70 Orioles into the 1940s, see how they do.

Hey, can you get Jocquin Andujar to hit somebody and start a mound rush?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Kleves on January 23, 2013, 03:51:03 PM
THQ has been dissolved. SEGA purchased Relic, developer of two of my all-time favorite strategy franchises. The story:
QuoteIt's worth noting that all of these sales are pending approval from U.S. bankruptcy court and nothing is finalized yet. A hearing is currently underway in Delaware.
•SEGA has agreed to purchase Relic, developer of Company of Heroes and Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War.
•Koch Media (owner of Dead Island publisher Deep Silver) has agreed to purchase Saints Row developer Volition as well as the publishing rights to the Metro franchise.
•Crytek, who is currently developing Homefront 2, has purchased the rights to the Homefront franchise.
•Take-Two (parent company of 2K and Rockstar) has agreed to purchase Turtle Rock Studios' project codenamed Evolve. (Update: While Take Two was initially rumored to have acquired Darksiders publisher Vigil, reports now indicate that isn't the case)
•Ubisoft has purchased the rights to publish South Park: The Stick of Truth (pending any further objections from South Park Studios) as well as THQ Montreal, the current developer of Assassin's Creed creator Patrice Desilets' project codenamed 1666.

According to Distressed Debt Investing, SEGA paid $26 million for Relic, Ubisoft paid $3.2 million for South Park and $2.5 million for THQ Montreal.
Koch Media paid $5.8 million for Metro and $22.3 million for Volition, Take-Two paid $11 million for Evolve and Crytek paid $500,000 for Homefront. No bids were placed for Vigil.

Many THQ employees, meanwhile, have reportedly lost their jobs based on early reports on Twitter.

Assets including Darksiders studio Vigil and have not been acquired. The future home of the WWE franchise has yet to be disclosed.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on January 23, 2013, 03:56:43 PM
Well that's a shame.  Probably means that Company of Heroes 2 will be delayed.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on January 23, 2013, 04:06:25 PM
I could have bought Homefront. Not that I would have wanted it. What a stupid game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on January 23, 2013, 04:41:16 PM
Poor Patrice Desilet, back into the Ubisoft fold.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on January 23, 2013, 05:00:40 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on January 23, 2013, 04:06:25 PM
I could have bought Homefront. Not that I would have wanted it. What a stupid game.

I bought for five bucks, and got bored of it in about five minutes.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 24, 2013, 01:27:52 AM
Vigil will be shut down, it seems. Shame, really, Darksiders was a fun game - not great, but good fun while it lasted. Darksiders 2 was still good, though I think they overstretched the experience a bit. Still, would have liked the franchise to continue in some form.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: katmai on January 24, 2013, 05:00:58 PM
Hey Syt, just got email this morning about pre-ordering OOTP 14.
Have you heard what they are improving/changing from 13?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 25, 2013, 12:21:04 AM
Quote from: katmai on January 24, 2013, 05:00:58 PM
Hey Syt, just got email this morning about pre-ordering OOTP 14.
Have you heard what they are improving/changing from 13?

Yes, it has the list in the email.  :huh:

Or you could look here: http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/ootp-14-general-discussions/227714-pre-order-ootp-14-now-feature-list-inside.html

Their feature lists are usually work in progress, but the big changes are normally already in there. The changes are in most cases evolutionary, not revolutionary. Which is why some people only buy every other year. Me, I don't mind giving the crazy North German an annual fee so they keep working on this.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: katmai on January 25, 2013, 12:31:56 AM
Lol, no i know what they listed.
My question was the evolution or revolution that you answered :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 25, 2013, 12:34:52 AM
Ok. :)

One thing to keep in mind - you can only import leagues into the next version of the game. So if you have a long running game (and some on their forums have games that run for years in real life), you couldn't import 13=>15, but only 13=>14=>15.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 25, 2013, 05:36:55 AM
Chivalry (think Battlefield in the middle ages) has a free Steam weekend.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on January 29, 2013, 10:45:50 AM
Ulm over at Paradox is doing his funny AAR on March of the Eagles. And once again I fail to see how this is not EU3 on Victoria 2's Europe map. Russia joining France in beating up Prussia. UK steamrolling Denmark. Austria warring Ottomans, Russians joining in.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Minsky Moment on January 30, 2013, 11:42:55 AM
Quote from: katmai on January 24, 2013, 05:00:58 PM
Hey Syt, just got email this morning about pre-ordering OOTP 14.
Have you heard what they are improving/changing from 13?

I skipped 13 but pre-ordered 14.
Feature list is here: http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/newsletters/nl0109/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on January 30, 2013, 12:27:10 PM
Quote from: Tamas on January 29, 2013, 10:45:50 AM
Ulm over at Paradox is doing his funny AAR on March of the Eagles. And once again I fail to see how this is not EU3 on Victoria 2's Europe map. Russia joining France in beating up Prussia. UK steamrolling Denmark. Austria warring Ottomans, Russians joining in.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Sounds more like risk with nice graphics.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 30, 2013, 12:30:55 PM
AGEOD has released a stand-alone follow up for Alea Jacta Est, Birth of Rome:

http://www.ageod.com/eu/45-birth-of-rome.html

QuoteBIRTH OF ROME is the first of many games of the ALEA JACTA EST series, that the AJE team is preparing and that should cover ultimately all the Roman era. In BOR, you can simulate the following wars:

-           The 3rd Samnite War opposing Rome and the Etruscan and Samnites tribes between 298 and 291 BC, that will bring Roman control of central Italy.
-           The Senones War (284 to 282 BC), a violent Gallic tribe in Northern Italy at war against Rome. Victory against those powerful Celtic warriors allows the Romans to take their revenge against those who plundered Rome en 390 BC.
-           Pyrrhic Victories (280 BC to 272 BC) where the Senate of Rome finally manages to capture Tarentum and southern Italy after having repulsed one of the greatest ancient warrior king, Pyrrhus of Epirus.
-           The First Punic War, a very long campaign between 264 and 241 BC, pitting Rome versus Carthage for the control of Sicily. It's a tough and balanced struggle, focusing on naval operations. A shorter version of the war starts midway, in 256 BC, with Rome's first landing in Africa.
-           The Mercenary War (241 BC to 238 BC), a fight between an exhausted Carthage and her own rebelled mercenaries in Africa. Not suited for sensitive minds...

BIRTH OF ROME offers a level of historical accuracy and detail never reached before in a video game. It's a true simulation where the player is confronted with the challenges of the great commanders of the ancient era. How to create – and pay – your armies and fleets, organize and maneuver them, sustain and reinforce them, taking into account military, economic, political and diplomatic parameters...

This new release also put a particular emphasis on fleets and sea power, as they are essential to ensure control of maritime supply and naval supplies. But beware of the wrath of Neptune, the God of the Seas...

The game uses the AGE engine, also used in ALEA JACTA EST and various other AGEOD titles, with a simultaneous turn-based system of a month-long duration
The map mostly focuses on Italy, Northern Africa and the Western Mediterranean, with the cities, roads, fortifications, tribes and kingdoms of the time...
Hundreds of historical leaders and units, options and events (real or hypothetical), five campaigns covering the 298 BC to 238 BC time spam, all of this will give many hours of challenging gameplay versus the game's AI or another human opponent (PBEM possible).

BIRTH OF ROME does not require ownership of the ALEA JACTA EST, as it is a standalone product.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on January 30, 2013, 01:53:44 PM
I looked into that briefly, and saw that it is listed as 1-3+ players.

I am: intrigued...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 30, 2013, 02:04:02 PM
Original AJE had that, too, I think.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on January 30, 2013, 02:24:29 PM
There's also a game I already own :

http://www.matrixgames.com/products/366/details/Crown.of.Glory:.Emperor%E2%80%99s.Edition
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 30, 2013, 02:44:54 PM
I made several attempts at it and never really got far into that one. :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: sbr on January 30, 2013, 03:05:43 PM
Has anyone played AJE?  I was interested at first, but then forgot so I guess I wasn't that interested.  I am just barely interested again.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on January 30, 2013, 03:55:41 PM
I am very intrigued by Birth of Rome. Very. It is pretty cheap too...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on January 30, 2013, 03:58:07 PM
Quote from: Berkut on January 30, 2013, 03:55:41 PM
I am very intrigued by Birth of Rome. Very. It is pretty cheap too...

Just decide if you like late republic / various empire civil wars, OR early republic, as AJE and BOR are standalones.

If you like the standard AGEOD system, plus are interested in Roman history, you ought to like it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 30, 2013, 05:02:27 PM
Wizardry Online has been released:

QuoteAbout the Game
Wizardry Online is a free-to-play, fantasy, hardcore MMO that takes elements from the original Wizardry games and re-imagines them as a modern MMO experience.

In Wizardry Online, everything is trying to kill you. Ferocious monsters, deadly traps and other players lie in wait for you to make even the slightest mistake. The difficulty level is insane. The dungeons are brutal. There is no auto-healing. You will earn your levels. And when you die, you die forever.

The only way to survive is to fight. Real-time reactions make the difference between a hit and a miss. If you don't aim your spells properly, they will miss or, worse, hit another player. Skill, timing and team tactics are the only things standing between life and death. In Wizardry Online, you must play your best in every encounter – because you're always just one mistake away from oblivion.

Key Features:
- The Hardest MMO Ever: No auto-regeneration, no auto-leveling, no safe zones. Enemies respawn faster than you can kill them – so keep moving! Are you up for the challenge?

- Classic MMO Mechanics: There are countless dungeons to crawl, puzzles to solve and traps to disarm.

- Total Character Customization: Four character classes, three alignments and five races. Each class can be combined with the others to create hybrid classes. Each of the races has unique advantages, all the way down to different speeds of attacks with different weapon types.

- Permadeath: If you fail to prepare properly, your character may be lost forever upon death.

- Server-Wide PVP: It's kill or be killed in the world of Wizardry Online. Team up early to discourage opportunistic players – or form your own roving gang of murderers and thieves!

- Sophisticated Crime System: When you kill or steal from other players, you become a criminal. Watch out for the guards, or you may end up in prison!

- Bounty Hunters: Only the best players can survive with a price on their heads. Will you live in infamy, hiding in the slums? Or will you bring people like that to justice?

- Free to Play. Your Way: Our philosophy is simple. Free games. No commitment. And if you want to buy, it's on your terms.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on January 30, 2013, 05:24:56 PM
At first blush that looks like a game I wouldn't touch with a 10' pole.

Reading up on it however, it's not quite so bad.

It isn't quite as "hardcore" as it makes it out to be.  When you die, you have a chance at being resurrected.  You can sacrifice some of your items to increase that chance.  If you fail your body turns to ash and is gone.  However your "soul" survives.  You can then create a new character with all of your saved levels (but, no equipment).

You aren't flagged for PVP for your first few levels either, and even then there are guards that protect the towns.

Still not going to play it though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on January 31, 2013, 12:24:47 PM
Is anyone buying that Omerta game? Syt? Feedback please :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on January 31, 2013, 12:28:49 PM
Quote from: Syt on January 30, 2013, 05:02:27 PM
Wizardry Online has been released:

Heh when Obsidian was asking what game I wanted 'Project:Eternity' to be most like I joked 'Wizardry:Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord' and here my ridiculous statement is a reality.  Does it look like this:

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.gamespy.com%2Fcolumns%2Fimage%2Farticle%2F111%2F1115803%2Fthe-dungeon-dragons-effect-20100824093540231.gif&hash=97eb63147133f42ce99a1ddd21c2aaeef7096300)

??
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 31, 2013, 01:02:31 PM
Quote from: Tamas on January 31, 2013, 12:24:47 PM
Is anyone buying that Omerta game? Syt?

No.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 31, 2013, 01:04:50 PM
Quote from: Valmy on January 31, 2013, 12:28:49 PM
Quote from: Syt on January 30, 2013, 05:02:27 PM
Wizardry Online has been released:

Heh when Obsidian was asking what game I wanted 'Project:Eternity' to be most like I joked 'Wizardry:Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord' and here my ridiculous statement is a reality.  Does it look like this:

??

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-jpcO98gbZvA%2FTfuG5sKTS-I%2FAAAAAAAAC_U%2FlFSq1mzZa-Y%2Fs1600%2Fw17.jpg&hash=0024ade9e3bd5afd60d716b068cd4d13317a2be5)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnabe.kokidokom.net%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F12%2FWizardryOnline-2012-12-16-23-00-17-50.png&hash=3b18c5654aff5d4fa80a8124d678b475accf7b07)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on January 31, 2013, 01:06:00 PM
That doesn't look anything like Wizardry  :mad:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 31, 2013, 02:07:25 PM
Features blurb for Antichamber:

Quote- A deeply psychological experience that will make you question everything you know about how a game works.

- Mind-bending challenges that will subvert your expectations at every twist and turn.

- An enormous, seamless non-Euclidean world to explore.

- Lifelike soundscapes developed by Robin Arnott and an ambient soundtrack composed by Siddhartha Barnhoorn.

- A gun that can create, destroy and manipulate matter, allowing you to discover new ways to overcome your surroundings.
:cthulu:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 31, 2013, 04:10:41 PM
Actually picked up Antichamber on a whimsy.

Wow. What a mindfuck. But in a good way. I don't want to spoil stuff, but it really is a different kind of puzzler.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 31, 2013, 04:22:43 PM
RPS review of Antichamber.

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/01/31/wot-i-think-antichamber/

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rockpapershotgun.com%2Fimages%2F13%2Fjan%2Fantichamber5.jpg&hash=00b4bdaa8272425a7cc144f2e77ddde0ce543060)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on February 01, 2013, 09:41:54 PM
Is Paradox now going after some kind of niche Tim-Neil hybrid market? :hmm:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YBc2pK-ECfA#!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: DontSayBanana on February 02, 2013, 10:27:39 AM
Quote from: Syt on January 17, 2013, 04:43:12 PM
I picked up Euro Truck Simulator 2 on Steam (enjoying it quite a bit, even though it mostly involves driving overland on the highway - kinda soothing, though, if you turn on music in the background).

Been thinking of picking that one up- how does it compare to, say, the original Hard Truck?  Or Bus Driver?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on February 02, 2013, 11:23:17 AM
Downloaded the DUST 514 beta for the PS3.  It has possibilities.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 02, 2013, 11:24:23 AM
Quote from: DontSayBanana on February 02, 2013, 10:27:39 AM
Quote from: Syt on January 17, 2013, 04:43:12 PM
I picked up Euro Truck Simulator 2 on Steam (enjoying it quite a bit, even though it mostly involves driving overland on the highway - kinda soothing, though, if you turn on music in the background).

Been thinking of picking that one up- how does it compare to, say, the original Hard Truck?  Or Bus Driver?
Haven't played either, so can't say. It's rather casual, though, depending on driving model you choose (you can play with steering wheel, clutch/stick shift if you're so equipped - I use the "real" automatic). I find the game rather soothing.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on February 02, 2013, 11:31:05 AM
FTL makes me want to punch my monitor.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 02, 2013, 12:06:28 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on February 02, 2013, 11:31:05 AM
FTL makes me want to punch my monitor.

It can do that.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 03, 2013, 11:35:41 AM
FTL- grrrrrr. Finally beat the rebel flagship...and it had another bloody stage :bleeding:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 08, 2013, 11:03:02 AM
This game (now on Steam) wins my "Pretentiousness In Sales Blurb Award":

QuoteBientôt l'été

Bientôt l'été is a videogame for two players. Two players who pretend to be lovers. They pretend to be lovers separated from each other by lightyears of deep space. They have lonely walks along the shore of a simulated ocean, thinking wistful thoughts of each other. Thoughts from ancient Earth literature by Marguerite Duras.

The empty beach, the strong wind, the gentle music and a small colony of electric seagulls are their only companions. Yet their heart is full and their mind confused. Walk along the shore, until they meet the emptiness.

When it all becomes too much, they run towards each other. Enabled by intergalactic networks, they touch each other's holographic bodies in cyberspace. A surreal game of chess becomes the apparatus through which they, man and woman, can talk. The words they have were given to them, as they have always been to lovers everywhere.

The sea remains, tugging at their hearts when not at their hairs and clothes, as it itself is tugged by the virtual moon. And as great as the desire for the other may be, they cannot stay away from the wind and the waves and the sand. Every time they find a new treasure. An abandoned tennis field. An heap of coal. A dead dog. Ordinary. Absurd. Meaningless. Yet comforting.

Enter a café, exit a villa, enter a casino, exit the ruin of an ancient colonial mansion. We know this is not real. So it doesn't surprise us. Nothing surprises us. It doesn't matter when you feel the pain of love. Of being in love, of falling in love, of leaving in love. There is no such thing as time. There is only love. And it never stops. No matter how much it hurts.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on February 08, 2013, 11:22:17 AM
The premise reads like a Eric Rohmer movie script, and just as boring.  :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Queequeg on February 08, 2013, 05:50:42 PM
Anyone play the Dead Space games?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 11, 2013, 08:46:14 AM
I played the first one, but didn't finish, because I'm horrible at survival horror games. I love horror movies, but in game form I can't handle it well. Also, I hate jump scares.


Speaking of which. Gameplay trailer for Slender - The Arrival. Pre-order price is under €3.50.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tP6NqFtC7sc
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 11, 2013, 02:48:08 PM
Gratified to see The Longest Journey kickstarter doing so well so fast.  Hopefully I will just have to scratch together enough fund to get the cheap copy  :P  http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/redthread/dreamfall-chapters-the-longest-journey
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Liep on February 11, 2013, 04:52:43 PM
Have any games been made yet with kickstarter funding?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 11, 2013, 04:57:55 PM
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/11/28/the-kickstarter-successes-where-are-they-now/

So the celebrated FTL would be a good example.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 11, 2013, 09:17:58 PM
Quote from: Syt on February 11, 2013, 08:46:14 AM
I played the first one, but didn't finish, because I'm horrible at survival horror games. I love horror movies, but in game form I can't handle it well. Also, I hate jump scares.


Speaking of which. Gameplay trailer for Slender - The Arrival. Pre-order price is under €3.50.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tP6NqFtC7sc
Me too, don't care about horror films at all but can't do scary games. Hated the haunted hotel part of bloodlines <_<


I thought that slender game was a free one that had been out for a while?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 12, 2013, 01:06:17 AM
Quote from: Tyr on February 11, 2013, 09:17:58 PM
I thought that slender game was a free one that had been out for a while?

Seems to be a follow up. It's half price for pre-order, with beta access.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on February 12, 2013, 05:16:58 PM
"Distant Worlds" and some of the other more recent MOO-like 4X space games haven't really grabbed me (likely due to my unreasonably high expectations), but this upcoming one looks dangerously promising to me...especially the more involved colony management. 

http://predestinationgame.com/


Wilcard factor?  It's being made by Northern Irelanders. :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 13, 2013, 04:20:02 AM
March of the Eagles is available for pre-order on Steam for 17.99. Comes with a free copy of Sengoku if you pre-order.

Previews seem to suggest that this might be a decent MP game?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 13, 2013, 04:23:33 AM
I guess. I really want to find an excuse to buy this. :P

But I was a big turtle in the EU3 MP games, can't see myself enjoying an EU3 where everything is removed except the RTS warfare.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: LaCroix on February 13, 2013, 04:39:55 AM
haven't played it in awhile, but i've found alpha protocol to be an incredibly excellent RPG (if a bit flawed). immensely fun, with an interesting plot and dialogue system
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 13, 2013, 07:40:49 AM
System Shock 2 comes to GOG tomorrow.

It's kinda fun to see GOG become what one of the intentions behind Home of the Underdogs was: a place where you can go and get all those old, classic games that might not otherwise be available/playable on modern machines. Gone are the days of having a forum thread listing all kinds of small, shady online traders to buy legit copies of old/out of print games from.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on February 13, 2013, 09:36:17 AM
Quote from: Syt on February 13, 2013, 07:40:49 AM
System Shock 2 comes to GOG tomorrow.

It's kinda fun to see GOG become what one of the intentions behind Home of the Underdogs was: a place where you can go and get all those old, classic games that might not otherwise be available/playable on modern machines. Gone are the days of having a forum thread listing all kinds of small, shady online traders to buy legit copies of old/out of print games from.

Yeah and somewhat ironically now that MoM and it's ilk are readily available I still haven't gotten around to getting it.   :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 15, 2013, 07:33:57 AM
Quote from: LaCroix on February 13, 2013, 04:39:55 AM
haven't played it in awhile, but i've found alpha protocol to be an incredibly excellent RPG (if a bit flawed). immensely fun, with an interesting plot and dialogue system
I've got that installed on my computer from agessssss ago, never actually played it beyond the introduction though for some reason. :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Queequeg on February 15, 2013, 11:38:00 AM
Fable 3. Worth it for Stephen Fry.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on February 21, 2013, 08:41:35 PM
Hearing some rumblings about FO4. Kind of eyeballing State of Decay.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Queequeg on February 22, 2013, 07:05:26 PM
Anyone know of any Sea Dogs like 17th Century pirate-trader game?  Sea Dogs was one of my favorite games of all time. 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Phillip V on February 24, 2013, 10:40:04 AM
Impressive updates to For The Glory. That is some dedication. :o

http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showthread.php?670046-For-the-Glory-1.3-Preview-5-What-s-new
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 24, 2013, 10:42:44 AM
Quote from: Phillip V on February 24, 2013, 10:40:04 AM
Impressive updates to For The Glory. That is some dedication. :o

http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showthread.php?670046-For-the-Glory-1.3-Preview-5-What-s-new

I've since exited the project but really not so impressive if you divide that all by 3 years. What happens when development falls to one person (the scenario updates not withstanding).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: jimmy olsen on February 25, 2013, 05:16:30 PM
The new Laura Croft game actually looks good. :hmm:

http://www.nbcnews.com/video/in-game/50946009#50946009
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 26, 2013, 02:30:02 AM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on February 25, 2013, 05:16:30 PM
The new Laura Croft game actually looks good. :hmm:

http://www.nbcnews.com/video/in-game/50946009#50946009

who is Laura, Tim? Something made you slip her name here, so spill it!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 26, 2013, 03:05:06 AM
Yeah, the reviews so far look decent - the first one or two hours seem to be grating, though (many quicktime events). German site Golem.de clocks the main campaign at 10-12 hours, without going exploring/finding the (supposedly) plentiful secrets.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 26, 2013, 11:18:09 AM
Balls For The Ball God – Blood Bowl II Announced (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/02/26/blood-bowl-ii/)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Neil on February 26, 2013, 06:25:15 PM
Quote from: Tamas on November 16, 2012, 02:39:05 AM
Tactical turn-based WW1 combat, on the Squad Battles engine! :o

http://www.johntillersoftware.com/SquadBattles/FirstWorldWar.html
Needs more dreadnought battles.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on February 26, 2013, 06:53:06 PM
Tiller's games still look like shit.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on February 26, 2013, 08:31:27 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on February 26, 2013, 06:53:06 PM
Tiller's games still look like shit.

Seconded
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on February 26, 2013, 08:32:08 PM
Quote from: Neil on February 26, 2013, 06:25:15 PM
Quote from: Tamas on November 16, 2012, 02:39:05 AM
Tactical turn-based WW1 combat, on the Squad Battles engine! :o

http://www.johntillersoftware.com/SquadBattles/FirstWorldWar.html
Needs more dreadnought battles.

Useless relics.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on February 26, 2013, 09:19:48 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on February 26, 2013, 08:31:27 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on February 26, 2013, 06:53:06 PM
Tiller's games still look like shit.

Seconded

And the AI sucks even worse.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 27, 2013, 03:17:47 AM
I like the WW1 game. Interesting to follow the change in tactics and weaponry. ie. going from napoleonic formations being pinned and decimated in the open, to  pre-modern squads and platoons being pinned and decimated in no-man's land, or stuck in barbed wire, or in the firezone established on the paths left open between the wires.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 27, 2013, 03:20:01 AM
But seriously, there are some cool moments, like you FINALLY, FINALLY break through the first line, and the enemy's reinforcements come rushing in and your decimated forces desperately try to hold on and avoid being chased off from the trenches they just captured.

Plus the designer included a long and excellent article about the evolution of tactics in the war.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on February 27, 2013, 01:27:20 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on February 25, 2013, 05:16:30 PM
The new Laura Croft game actually looks good. :hmm:

http://www.nbcnews.com/video/in-game/50946009#50946009

Conan O'Brien's review is much better. http://youtu.be/xCe8-1dbXZc
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Neil on February 27, 2013, 04:19:15 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on February 26, 2013, 08:32:08 PM
Quote from: Neil on February 26, 2013, 06:25:15 PM
Quote from: Tamas on November 16, 2012, 02:39:05 AM
Tactical turn-based WW1 combat, on the Squad Battles engine! :o

http://www.johntillersoftware.com/SquadBattles/FirstWorldWar.html
Needs more dreadnought battles.
Useless relics.
You're a useless relic.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 27, 2013, 06:04:37 PM
Quote from: Tamas on February 27, 2013, 03:17:47 AM
I like the WW1 game. Interesting to follow the change in tactics and weaponry. ie. going from napoleonic formations being pinned and decimated in the open, to  pre-modern squads and platoons being pinned and decimated in no-man's land, or stuck in barbed wire, or in the firezone established on the paths left open between the wires.

That sounds awesome...

but no French campaign :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Liep on February 27, 2013, 06:12:54 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on February 27, 2013, 01:27:20 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on February 25, 2013, 05:16:30 PM
The new Laura Croft game actually looks good. :hmm:

http://www.nbcnews.com/video/in-game/50946009#50946009

Conan O'Brien's review is much better. http://youtu.be/xCe8-1dbXZc

:lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 27, 2013, 06:47:01 PM
That was pretty fun.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Queequeg on February 27, 2013, 06:55:32 PM
GOD DAMN IT I WANT A NEW SEA DOGS
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on February 27, 2013, 06:56:21 PM
Conan's fucking awesome. I'll prob get this one when it comes out.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Neil on February 27, 2013, 09:32:11 PM
Wow, that was pretty gruesome, with the whole impalement through the neck thing.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 28, 2013, 01:49:17 PM
I got an e-mail that Fallen Enchantress got a new patch, so I am giving it a try.

I am actually enjoying the first few turns  :huh: Will see if I get bored of it quickly again as usual.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on February 28, 2013, 07:04:08 PM
I am/was maybe start getting into SoW: Gettysburg/Antietam. Fuck that manual makes my head hurt..... :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Neil on March 01, 2013, 12:05:10 PM
Why can't somebody remake Simearth?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on March 01, 2013, 12:27:54 PM
Quote from: Neil on March 01, 2013, 12:05:10 PM
Why can't somebody remake Simearth?

Because EA would just make it worse.

What we need is an HD update, nothing more.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on March 01, 2013, 12:39:03 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on March 01, 2013, 12:27:54 PM
Quote from: Neil on March 01, 2013, 12:05:10 PM
Why can't somebody remake Simearth?

Because EA would just make it worse.

What we need is an HD update, nothing more.

They would turn the remake into an always-online singleplayer experience that would continually spam DLC and in-game items purchasable only through Origin. Then a couple years later they would turn the servers off to cut costs because SimEarth 2 would be in development.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Neil on March 01, 2013, 11:40:46 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on March 01, 2013, 12:39:03 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on March 01, 2013, 12:27:54 PM
Quote from: Neil on March 01, 2013, 12:05:10 PM
Why can't somebody remake Simearth?

Because EA would just make it worse.

What we need is an HD update, nothing more.
They would turn the remake into an always-online singleplayer experience that would continually spam DLC and in-game items purchasable only through Origin. Then a couple years later they would turn the servers off to cut costs because SimEarth 2 would be in development.
Nope.  EA directive is that everything has to have multiplayer.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on March 02, 2013, 12:00:48 AM
Other than the short-lived Sims Online - I think the Maxis properties have been mostly spared that.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on March 02, 2013, 12:13:05 AM
Quote from: Neil on March 01, 2013, 12:05:10 PM
Why can't somebody remake Simearth?

Crippling fear of critical success and money?  I do love some of those Sim games.  Simearth was great, I also loved Simant.  I had an ant farm when I was kid, so that one really hit home.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on March 02, 2013, 12:18:12 AM
Though I liked it - SimLife was a bit confused.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Neil on March 02, 2013, 08:47:56 AM
Quote from: garbon on March 02, 2013, 12:00:48 AM
Other than the short-lived Sims Online - I think the Maxis properties have been mostly spared that.
Not anymore they won't.  The EA Games boss said he won't greenlight anything without multiplayer and microtransactions.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on March 02, 2013, 09:18:58 AM
Quote from: Neil on March 02, 2013, 08:47:56 AM
Quote from: garbon on March 02, 2013, 12:00:48 AM
Other than the short-lived Sims Online - I think the Maxis properties have been mostly spared that.
Not anymore they won't.  The EA Games boss said he won't greenlight anything without multiplayer and microtransactions.

Oh gotcha. I haven't paid attention to them as they generally make shit.  Also, good to know that I can avoid the new version of SimCity then.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on March 02, 2013, 07:46:23 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on February 28, 2013, 07:04:08 PM
I am/was maybe start getting into SoW: Gettysburg/Antietam. Fuck that manual makes my head hurt..... :lol:

But damn the mulitplayer on that game must be awesome.  :secret:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on March 02, 2013, 08:31:20 PM
Quote from: garbon on March 02, 2013, 12:18:12 AM
Though I liked it - SimLife was a bit confused.

So it was entirely accurate.  :cool:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on March 02, 2013, 08:39:22 PM
Quote from: Drakken on March 02, 2013, 07:46:23 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on February 28, 2013, 07:04:08 PM
I am/was maybe start getting into SoW: Gettysburg/Antietam. Fuck that manual makes my head hurt..... :lol:

But damn the mulitplayer on that game must be awesome.  :secret:

Looks to be. I would be afraid to go MP at this point. Modern tactics of regiments using bounding overwatch in a brigade would not work out so well I fear.  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on March 02, 2013, 10:22:26 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on March 02, 2013, 08:39:22 PM
Looks to be. I would be afraid to go MP at this point. Modern tactics of regiments using bounding overwatch in a brigade would not work out so well I fear.  :lol:

Just do what I did when things got too unwieldy in video games like that: get all Red Army.  Everybody goes.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on March 05, 2013, 09:38:24 AM
I see that EA already killed off Dead Space 4 based on Dead Space 3's first month sales.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Cecil on March 06, 2013, 03:37:31 PM
So....inXile just put together a "Torment" kickstarter.

And it got funded in less than 7 hours.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Kleves on March 06, 2013, 03:49:58 PM
Quote from: garbon on March 05, 2013, 09:38:24 AM
I see that EA already killed off Dead Space 4 based on Dead Space 3's first month sales.
Isn't that just a rumor?
QuoteDead Space 4, which was allegedly in pre-production at Visceral Montreal, has allegedly been canceled following poor sales, according to rampant online rumors. This news follows recent layoffs at Visceral Montreal and its rumored closure, and is completely false.

EA tells IGN that this information is "flat-out not true," as well as reaffirms that Visceral Montreal (the developer behind Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel, not Dead Space 3) is alive and well. The publisher wouldn't confirm one way or the other that Montreal was involved in a Dead Space sequel, and simply stated it collaborated with the Dead Space development team in the past.

EA's generic statement provided to the press reads, "While we have not announced sales for Dead Space 3, we are proud of the game and the franchise remains an important IP to EA." The publisher declined to provide IGN with sales estimates.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on March 06, 2013, 04:00:06 PM
Yeah could be. When I first saw it several places were saying it was definite and then retracted.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Queequeg on March 07, 2013, 12:37:46 AM
Quote from: Cecil on March 06, 2013, 03:37:31 PM
So....inXile just put together a "Torment" kickstarter.

And it got funded in less than 7 hours.
Fuck.  Thought this was Planescape. 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on March 07, 2013, 12:05:28 PM
Anyone keeping an eye on State of Decay and/or Metro Last Light?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 08, 2013, 12:06:41 PM
Twenty minutes alpha gameplay footage of "Shadowrun Returns":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9MiMjQwd2VE#at=313

Reminds me a lot of the SNES game which I loved.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on March 08, 2013, 12:11:40 PM
Interesting
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 15, 2013, 12:10:57 PM
Saints Row IV announced.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ax5lfDVjF3w

QuoteIn the next open-world installment of Saints Row, Deep Silver Volition continues the story of the Third Street Saints by elevating their status to the highest level – the leaders of the free world. In Saints Row IV, the head honcho of the Saints has been elected to the Presidency of the United States. But the Saints are just getting started. Now the larger-than-life insanity of the Saints series gets a new twist with a catastrophic alien invasion, and the aliens have transported the Saints to a bizarro-Steelport simulation. Wield gargantuan superpowers and fight to free humanity from alien granddaddy Zinyak's mental grasp. Escape the simulation that's trapped the Saints crew, or die trying.

Saints Row IV lets players delve into an arsenal of alien weaponry and technology that will turn each Saint into an ultimate entity of destruction. Utilize out-of-this-world superpowers to fight all the way to the top. With intensified action and enhanced customization, players can use their newfound superpowers and leap over buildings, outrun the fastest sports cars, or send enemies flying with telekinesis in the greatest, most insane installment of Saints Row yet.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on March 15, 2013, 12:22:59 PM
I think I'm done with that series. I still haven't finished part 3 as it felt so incredibly comical...so I don't think I'll be interested in Saints Row turned superhero defenders of earth.

Also, though certainly implausible - Saints Row 1 / 2 didn't strike me as being particularly insane/goofy.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: sbr on March 15, 2013, 12:30:46 PM
I liked the insane/goofy parts of SR3 and loved the game as a whole.  I never played the first two though so I'm not a purist.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on March 15, 2013, 12:43:52 PM
Quote from: Syt on March 08, 2013, 12:06:41 PM
Twenty minutes alpha gameplay footage of "Shadowrun Returns":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9MiMjQwd2VE#at=313

Reminds me a lot of the SNES game which I loved.

That was a great game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 16, 2013, 02:06:21 AM
Ron Gilbert has left DoubleFine to work on an iOS game: "Scurvy Scallywags in The Voyage to Discover the Ultimate Sea Shanty: A Musical Match-3 Pirate RPG"

This may be the greatest game title since "Dudebro: My Shit Is Fucked Up So I Got to Shoot/Slice You II: It's Straight-Up Dawg Time".
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 20, 2013, 02:17:34 PM
No single player DLC for Tomb Raider. Which is a bit . . . baffling to say the least.
http://www.destructoid.com/no-plans-for-single-player-tomb-raider-dlc-249158.phtml

Quote"There are currently no plans in place for any Single Player expansions," said Stewart in a Reddit AMA. "All of our DLC is based around the Multiplayer experience for now."

Still, the latest patches have drastically improved performance on my nVidia card so I can play on ultimate quality setting without frame rate drops.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 23, 2013, 12:20:30 PM
Here's your nostalgia for today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=G6d1A2row6I

(The Tim Schafer quote is brilliant)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 29, 2013, 08:23:57 AM
http://www.gamersgate.co.uk/DLC-APOSGTOH/graviteam-tactics-operation-hooper

QuoteGraviteam Tactics: Operation Hooper
Rating: 5 (3 votes cast)

Graviteam Tactics: Operation Star.
DLC: Operation Hooper (March 2013)

1) New battle area - Angola, Cuito-Cuanavale district, 10 x 12 km.
2) Three new operations (February 1988) SADF, UNITA  and Angolan army (FAPLA) with Cuban volonteers.
3) New weapons and vehicles made in USSR and SAR.



------------------------------------
1. INSTALL
------------------------------------

1) Run update utility (click to game version in main menu or update.cmd).
2) In the window that appears, click "Install" button and select update file.
3) Wait for the installation.
4) Click "Save and Play" button.

------------------------------------
2. DEPENDENCES
------------------------------------

1) Game core update v5.81.
2) Game update March 2013.

:hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 29, 2013, 02:10:26 PM
GoG now has Strike Commander, from the team of the original Wing Commander.

http://www.gog.com/gamecard/strike_commander

QuoteWhat's cool about it:
Strike Commander includes the original game, Strike Commander: Tactical Operations, and the expanded Speech Pack.
Features Gauntlet mode: wave after wave of enemies.See how long you can survive!
A powerful and gripping story set in an alternative future that didn't turn out quite as expected.

Overview:
Twenty-two years after the fall of the Soviet Union, the world has become embroiled in a series of conflicts centered around an ever-dwindling resource: oil. Mankind's hopes for world peace lie battered and broken. Take command of Stern's Wildcats, an elite squadron of mercs trying to fly straight in a world of deceit and violence. Engage rival merc squadrons, third world dictators, and the armies of the dreaded IRS. In a world gone mad, there's plenty of room to fly, all that's required is the cash.

Strike Commander puts you in the best place to witness fast-paced dogfighting action: the pilot's seat. Fly high as you take on over 60 missions, each more challenging than the last in your top-of the-line F16 squadron piloted by the best crew in the business (operational success rate of 86%). Strike Commander is a classic flight combat sim where a pilot is only as good as his, or her, last flight. Fly to survive and survive to fly, in this modern-day action-oriented jet fighter combat simulation!

22 years after the fall of the USSR? That's TODAY!  :o
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on March 29, 2013, 03:58:07 PM
I thought I remember Strike Commander being an enormous turkey.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Queequeg on March 29, 2013, 07:14:56 PM
Holy shit.  Favorite game of my childhood.  Blast from the past, that.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on March 29, 2013, 08:46:41 PM
Strike Commander was a blast.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 31, 2013, 02:27:42 AM
William Shatner fighting a Gorn:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4hnBp7x2QAE

Unfortunately, the game itself looks crap.-
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Kleves on April 01, 2013, 11:27:18 AM
Telltale says they're making Poker Night 2, featuring Claptrap from Borderlands, Brock Samson from The Venture Bros., Sam from Sam & Max, Ash from Evil Dead, and GlaDOS as dealer.

April Fools joke? I'll let you decide: http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/04/01/telltale-games-poker-night-2-announced
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on April 01, 2013, 01:13:58 PM
Nifty.  Of course, I'm already stoked for the new Venture brothers season this spring.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on April 04, 2013, 09:43:39 PM
Almost here. :)

Metro:Last Light
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.geforce.com%2FActive%2Fen_US%2Fshared%2Fimages%2Fxml_graphics%2Fmetro-last-light%2Fscreenshot-2.jpg&hash=69a0beb53bc67a1c1d8b7a2d4c3160d1f43ebd6e)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on April 05, 2013, 10:41:46 PM
Beat Deus Ex: Human revolution.  I was kinda disappointed.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: katmai on April 15, 2013, 02:28:28 PM
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on January 30, 2013, 11:42:55 AM
Quote from: katmai on January 24, 2013, 05:00:58 PM
Hey Syt, just got email this morning about pre-ordering OOTP 14.
Have you heard what they are improving/changing from 13?

I skipped 13 but pre-ordered 14.
Feature list is here: http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/newsletters/nl0109/

I have enjoyed 13 and with today's release of 14 think i'm gonna buy it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 15, 2013, 02:30:26 PM
A neat feature is that you can plop all historical uniforms/logos into the data folders now, and the game will pick the right ones, depending on the year (files will require year range at the end; there's already files pre-configured in the mods sections of the forums).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: katmai on April 15, 2013, 02:31:55 PM
Quote from: Syt on April 15, 2013, 02:30:26 PM
A neat feature is that you can plop all historical uniforms/logos into the data folders now, and the game will pick the right ones, depending on the year (files will require year range at the end; there's already files pre-configured in the mods sections of the forums).

Yeah that is one of the features i like as been stealing spreadsheets and making my own in regards to Uniforms, Nicknames and stadiums  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 15, 2013, 02:49:35 PM
There's also a new feature where you can run a quick report on uniforms/logos for your league(s) to have a quick look if all checks out.

I've set up my Soviet league I mentioned earlier:

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg189.imageshack.us%2Fimg189%2F4481%2Fsbfk.jpg&hash=a06bf413cff4e89c959e2a0e094f3cd604c72879)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: katmai on April 15, 2013, 02:51:55 PM
All about the Bears baby!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: katmai on April 15, 2013, 02:56:02 PM
Hey Syt have you done the Import from version to version before?

Just wondering as my old historical league is only in 1905 as been playing every game for my Giants.
Just curious as  how difficult or if should start fresh.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 15, 2013, 02:59:21 PM
Normally it shouldn't be much of an issue, but haven't done it myself yet (I usually sim my games, so I move forward faster).

On the forums are people who have been porting over their games since OOTP9 or so, so I don't think there's too many problems. You probably want to check league settings etc. for the new features to make sure they're set correctly.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: katmai on April 15, 2013, 03:03:54 PM
Gotcha, I think gonna start fresh as were enough things i missed when creating my historical league and only corrected after the fact.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on April 15, 2013, 04:35:43 PM
"Soviet" and "Baseball".

Tragic.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 15, 2013, 11:24:58 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 15, 2013, 04:35:43 PM
"Soviet" and "Baseball".

Tragic.

I've set it up so the Soviet champion plays the World Series winner in a battle of the systems. :nerd: :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 16, 2013, 01:54:29 AM
Quote from: Syt on April 15, 2013, 11:24:58 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 15, 2013, 04:35:43 PM
"Soviet" and "Baseball".

Tragic.

I've set it up so the Soviet champion plays the World Series winner in a battle of the systems. :nerd: :P

that's like a cheesy 80s sports movie flick  :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on April 16, 2013, 08:09:37 AM
They killed Apollo Creed
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on April 16, 2013, 08:12:31 AM
I like most of the names;  they're relevant and humorous.

Although Vilnius' team should be the Schoolmasters.  ONE BUNT ONLY PLEASE
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on April 16, 2013, 08:13:23 AM
 :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 16, 2013, 08:37:33 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 16, 2013, 08:12:31 AM
I like most of the names;  they're relevant and humorous.

Although Vilnius' team should be the Schoolmasters.  ONE BUNT ONLY PLEASE

:lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on April 16, 2013, 10:51:47 AM
I noticed king of dragon pass only cost
4 quid so I decided to buy it. Was a little
bit of a pain to get it to run and it is rather
different to what I expected but it seems pretty
good.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 07, 2013, 05:13:16 AM
The Spaghetti Western fan in my appreciates this trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=UJ_d-C5UsLo
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 18, 2013, 01:01:30 AM
Has anyone tried Reus yet?

http://www.gog.com/gamecard/reus

QuoteWhat's cool about it:

Control four mighty giants, each with their unique abilities.

A complex system of upgrades and synergies allows for endless styles of play.

Observe humanity, let your giants praise or punish them.

Enjoy an interesting art style and a strong soundtrack.

Overview:
In Reus, you control powerful giants that help you shape the planet to your will. You can create mountains and oceans, forests and more. Enrich your planet with plants, minerals and animal life. There is only one thing on the planet that you do not control: mankind, with all their virtues and and all their vices. You can shape their world, but not their will. Provide for them and they may thrive. Give them too much and their greed may get the upper hand.

User reviews say it's more of a puzzle game about correct tile placement than a "true" God game, but it looks pretty neat.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 18, 2013, 01:25:44 AM
Yeah it's more like a puzzle, but as you unlock possible tile developments during your games (by achievements) the number of possible combinations grow significantly, so it is far from easy to über optimise your game. Plus there are factors like the special projects for villages: you cannot know in advance which ones of these will be started, and the bonuses these give can change the characteristics of the village.

All in all I quite enjoy it. It is not more a puzzle than simcity was as I recall, or Tropico. Well worth the 9 euros.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on May 18, 2013, 03:43:10 PM
I'm enjoying Don't Starve, although the palate is a little bleak.  It's a nice sandbox survival game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on May 18, 2013, 08:44:26 PM
Quote from: Syt on May 07, 2013, 05:13:16 AM
The Spaghetti Western fan in my appreciates this trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=UJ_d-C5UsLo

It looks like the Old West as envisioned by Games Workshop.  All it lacks is Orks.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on May 18, 2013, 09:36:27 PM
Quote from: Scipio on May 18, 2013, 03:43:10 PM
I'm enjoying Don't Starve, although the palate is a little bleak.  It's a nice sandbox survival game.

I've heard nothing but good about that and am looking forward to the Steam summer sale for it, in particular.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 20, 2013, 07:03:18 AM
Interesting trailer for a SWAT strategy game, "Doorkickers":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mjQY4vp7ubk

QuoteQuick Points:
2D, top down graphics
Real Time with Free Pause
No DRM
PC oriented, with handhelds and Mac / Linux as later developments
Single Player (but MP might come later)
No turns, no hexes, no action points or awkward interfaces
Non-linear levels, freeform gameplay
Mission editor and modability
Unlimited gameplay via mission and campaign generators

http://inthekillhouse.com/doorkickers/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on May 20, 2013, 11:25:16 AM
Quote from: Scipio on May 18, 2013, 03:43:10 PM
I'm enjoying Don't Starve, although the palate is a little bleak.  It's a nice sandbox survival game.

I like it too. It ain't easy tho.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 10, 2013, 12:14:20 PM
Angry Video Game Nerd reviews the Toxic Avenger Gameboy/Genesis/NES games tgether with Lloyd Kaufman, creator of the Toxic Avenger:

http://cinemassacre.com/2013/04/30/avgn-toxic-crusaders/

:bleeding: / :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 12, 2013, 12:30:15 PM
Sometimes a game ad on Steam just makes your brain come to a screeching halt and go, "Back up a bit, did I really read what I think I just read?"


FIST-PUNCHER: Pre-Order now to receive the Robot Unicorn DLC.

QuoteAbout the Game
Return to the glory days of sidescrolling beat-em-ups, courtesy of developers Team2Bit and Adult Swim Games.

The sinister Milkman holds the city of Las Cruces in his nasty criminal grip, and it's up to legendary black belt neurosurgeon Dr. Karate and the rest of the Fist Puncher team to deliver old-school justice to the lawless streets.

Key Features
15 playable characters, including Dr. Karate and Steroid Jackson
Assign "RPG-lite" skill points to level up your crew as you play
Each fighter has a unique set of moves and perks to unlock
50 levels of mayhem
Packed with collectibles, Easter Eggs, and secrets
99 achievement trading cards to find
2-4 players simultaneous local co-op action

PRE-ORDER TO PLAY AS ROBOT UNICORN

Minigame (Flash): http://games.adultswim.com/fist-puncher-streets-of-outrage-action-online-game.html
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 30, 2013, 01:37:02 AM
If you like old Genesis games like Sonic or Strider, then you might like this free flash game:

http://www.rippledotzero.com/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 12, 2013, 11:58:55 AM
A love letter to Commandos 2, and especially the "White Death" level:

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/07/11/perpetually-cool-white-death/

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rockpapershotgun.com%2Fimages%2F13%2Fjul%2Fc2_01.png&hash=6b2cb6f5707916c215f62c0ca92a96628002c08c)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 24, 2013, 12:07:31 PM
I thought on the weekend that there's damn few sports action games on PC compared to consoles, and today, rather out of left field, Steam puts up Rugby Challenge 2 and NASCAR 2013. Talk about niche.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on July 25, 2013, 09:47:41 PM
Shadowrun Returns sneaked up on me. Anyone buy it and have any impressions so far?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: katmai on July 25, 2013, 10:29:14 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on July 25, 2013, 09:47:41 PM
Shadowrun Returns sneaked up on me. Anyone buy it and have any impressions so far?

Scippy was all gaga for it, but not sure he picked it up yet.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 25, 2013, 10:36:45 PM
Eurogamer gave it 8/10.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 26, 2013, 06:38:51 AM
Quote from: Syt on July 12, 2013, 11:58:55 AM
A love letter to Commandos 2, and especially the "White Death" level:

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/07/11/perpetually-cool-white-death/
01.png[/img]

Ah Commandos, why oh why did you dissapear into FPS shitness. I loved those games, wonderful puzzles disguised as small scale strategy games. It was always my way to wipe out every single German.........

Incidentally how are WW2 games for those from the wrong side?....
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Zanza on July 26, 2013, 10:20:52 AM
I loved the Shadowrun P&P game one and half decades ago, I wonder if I would like this new CRPG.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on July 26, 2013, 10:31:30 AM
I am buying ShadowRun when I get home today.  I have very little time to game these days but if I get a chance to get some time in on it I will let you know what I think.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 26, 2013, 11:20:29 AM
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-07-25-shadowrun-returns-review
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on July 26, 2013, 12:30:01 PM
Quote from: katmai on July 25, 2013, 10:29:14 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on July 25, 2013, 09:47:41 PM
Shadowrun Returns sneaked up on me. Anyone buy it and have any impressions so far?

Scippy was all gaga for it, but not sure he picked it up yet.
I funded it on Kickstarter.  It's pretty damn good.  Some bugs breaking scripts, and I hate the checkpoint saves.  But very faithful to the PnP game.  I don't know how it compares to the SNES game.  Difficulty curve is pretty low for the included campaign, which I've almost finished but I've got two more courtesy of the Kickstarter.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on July 26, 2013, 02:44:01 PM
Space Hulk will be out on the 15th :o
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on July 26, 2013, 02:50:24 PM
I was playing Wargame: Airland Battle and after I logged off I noticed I had three new Steam cards. I sold them but I noticed that someone had paid $57.74 for a W:ALB card that has been going for something like 40-50 cents since the Steam sale began.  :lmfao: :lmfao: :lmfao:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on July 26, 2013, 03:30:22 PM
ouch. painful mistype
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 30, 2013, 12:35:21 AM
Has there been any good low power demand games lately? I need something to play at my parent  place on my old computer.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Zanza on August 03, 2013, 05:12:40 AM
So how is Shadowrun Returns?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on August 04, 2013, 03:04:00 PM
Quote from: Zanza on August 03, 2013, 05:12:40 AM
So how is Shadowrun Returns?
Fun.  A few minor bugs, but very solid overall.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on August 05, 2013, 10:29:43 AM
Quote from: Zanza on August 03, 2013, 05:12:40 AM
So how is Shadowrun Returns?

I am really digging it.  Definitely not a AAA title but it is the main game I am playing right now.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on August 11, 2013, 12:29:49 AM
I may have missed it during my tech exile (-_-) but when did using a middle button on the mouse (/pressing the scroll wheel) become a thing again?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 15, 2013, 11:24:06 AM
Tropico 5 announced.

http://www.gamercast.net/tropico-5

QuotePenultimo the great communicator has announced that El Presidente will be returning for a fifth term in Kalypso Media and Haemimont Studios' Tropico 5. You heard that right, and Tropico 5, the next instalment in the critically acclaimed city-builder series will be seeing a release next year on Windows PC, Mac, Linux and Xbox 360!

Watch the Great Dictator himself in this brand new teaser trailer for the game, I do hope you get the pun.

Tropico 5 will come with a variety of new gameplay features, and all new art that has been reworked to provide the game with a distinct historic visual identity so that as you play through the centuries you won't simply be using the same old tired buildings.

The largest of the changes to the game however is dynasties, now they aren't going all Crusader Kings on the series, however the great El Presidente will take control of the infamous island of Tropico during the early colonial times, which can then be guided through the centuries as the world moves forwards.

To ensure that your legacy thrives you'll need to promote members of your extended family to positions of power in order to lay the foundations of your dynasty, after all, surely El Presidente can't survive two World Wars, the Great Depression, and the Cold War to modern times?


Tropico 5 will also include advanced trading mechanics as you amass a global trade fleet and use your ships to secure routes to neighbouring islands, this is alongside a wealth of new research options, allowing you to advance your nation through the ages. On top of all that Tropico 5 will be the first in the series to feature up to 4 player cooperative and competitive multiplayer on any given island map, which will require a lot more exploring than you are used to.

Tropico 5 is scheduled for a release during 2014 on Windows PC, Mac, Linux and Xbox 360, they certainly seem to be adding a lot to the beloved game, we only hope that they don't overcomplicate it, be sure to check out the official website.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on August 15, 2013, 01:08:41 PM
A fan remake of Colonial Conquest...

http://bringerp.free.fr/RE/ColonialConquest/remake.php5

My pants remain dry.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on August 15, 2013, 01:20:40 PM
Wait..what?

http://www.dynaverse.net/market/2-starfleet-command-community-edition.html

Starfleet Command 2 that works on modern operating systems?

BONER DETECTED

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on August 15, 2013, 01:26:38 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on August 15, 2013, 01:08:41 PM
A fan remake of Colonial Conquest...

http://bringerp.free.fr/RE/ColonialConquest/remake.php5

My pants remain dry.

The second computer game I ever played - the first was Empire.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on August 15, 2013, 02:03:03 PM
Quote from: Syt on August 15, 2013, 11:24:06 AM
Tropico 5 announced.

http://www.gamercast.net/tropico-5

QuotePenultimo the great communicator has announced that El Presidente will be returning for a fifth term in Kalypso Media and Haemimont Studios' Tropico 5. You heard that right, and Tropico 5, the next instalment in the critically acclaimed city-builder series will be seeing a release next year on Windows PC, Mac, Linux and Xbox 360!

Watch the Great Dictator himself in this brand new teaser trailer for the game, I do hope you get the pun.

Tropico 5 will come with a variety of new gameplay features, and all new art that has been reworked to provide the game with a distinct historic visual identity so that as you play through the centuries you won't simply be using the same old tired buildings.

The largest of the changes to the game however is dynasties, now they aren't going all Crusader Kings on the series, however the great El Presidente will take control of the infamous island of Tropico during the early colonial times, which can then be guided through the centuries as the world moves forwards.

To ensure that your legacy thrives you'll need to promote members of your extended family to positions of power in order to lay the foundations of your dynasty, after all, surely El Presidente can't survive two World Wars, the Great Depression, and the Cold War to modern times?


Tropico 5 will also include advanced trading mechanics as you amass a global trade fleet and use your ships to secure routes to neighbouring islands, this is alongside a wealth of new research options, allowing you to advance your nation through the ages. On top of all that Tropico 5 will be the first in the series to feature up to 4 player cooperative and competitive multiplayer on any given island map, which will require a lot more exploring than you are used to.

Tropico 5 is scheduled for a release during 2014 on Windows PC, Mac, Linux and Xbox 360, they certainly seem to be adding a lot to the beloved game, we only hope that they don't overcomplicate it, be sure to check out the official website.

I bought Tropico 4. It wasn't that fun as apart from the campaign missions - sandbox was pretty easy to get a handle on and "win".
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on August 15, 2013, 03:08:30 PM
I recall very little changed between 1,3 and 4. 4 especially was hardly worthwhile.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on August 15, 2013, 03:24:33 PM
Space Hulk is out. I had to buy it.

I got wiped out on the first tutorial mission twice  :lol:second was easier though. The flamethrower is your friend when you want to delay aliens in a tight corridor.

Back to EU4 though!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on August 15, 2013, 04:24:23 PM
Hey, they remade Duck Tales. I remember watching my nephew playing the orginal on my NES.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on August 15, 2013, 05:36:41 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on August 15, 2013, 04:24:23 PM
Hey, they remade Duck Tales. I remember watching my nephew playing the orginal on my NES.

I loved that game.  :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on August 15, 2013, 05:58:33 PM
The TMNT game on the NES was a total bitch. Made my nephew cry. And I ended up having to try to finish levels.  :glare:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Kleves on August 15, 2013, 10:00:10 PM
Quote from: Tamas on August 15, 2013, 03:24:33 PM
Space Hulk is out. I had to buy it.
Let us know if that turns out to be any good.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on August 16, 2013, 02:55:10 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on August 15, 2013, 05:58:33 PM
The TMNT game on the NES was a total bitch. Made my nephew cry. And I ended up having to try to finish levels.  :glare:

Yeah, that game had insane difficulty.  A lot of the old NES games were like that.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 16, 2013, 03:06:25 AM
Quote from: Kleves on August 15, 2013, 10:00:10 PM
Quote from: Tamas on August 15, 2013, 03:24:33 PM
Space Hulk is out. I had to buy it.
Let us know if that turns out to be any good.

I had a go at it last night. From what I understand it's very faithful to the board game. So luck with the dice plays a major role. Unfortunately, my only comparison is Space Crusade (another adaptation) which I played on C64. It's pretty tense, but the graphics are pretty weak for this day and age (a far cry from, say, XCOM). The over shoulder camera for your troopers is a neat feature, though, but it could be larger.

My main gripe at this point is that it would be nice to have an option to speed up the animations, because your hulking troopers in their heavy armor move with all the speed and elegance of an arthritic elephant. Which is a bit of a sticking point when you restart a mission for the fifth time and have to go through the slo-motions of the initial moves of your five guys yet again.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on August 16, 2013, 06:02:47 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on August 15, 2013, 05:58:33 PM
The TMNT game on the NES was a total bitch. Made my nephew cry. And I ended up having to try to finish levels.  :glare:

I hated the level where you had to swim in that fucking maze with giant pink electric seaweed that would kill you. I hated it so much.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on August 16, 2013, 06:10:35 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on August 16, 2013, 06:02:47 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on August 15, 2013, 05:58:33 PM
The TMNT game on the NES was a total bitch. Made my nephew cry. And I ended up having to try to finish levels.  :glare:

I hated the level where you had to swim in that fucking maze with giant pink electric seaweed that would kill you. I hated it so much,

Yeah, that was fucking impossible.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on August 16, 2013, 06:23:12 AM
Quote from: Syt on August 16, 2013, 03:06:25 AM

My main gripe at this point is that it would be nice to have an option to speed up the animations, because your hulking troopers in their heavy armor move with all the speed and elegance of an arthritic elephant. Which is a bit of a sticking point when you restart a mission for the fifth time and have to go through the slo-motions of the initial moves of your five guys yet again.

Yeah, but at least you can issue orders to an other dude while the previous dude is busy trampling around.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 16, 2013, 06:42:56 AM
Robert Florence at RPS hates it:

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/08/16/wot-i-think-space-hulk/

A lot of the criticism is obviously born out of being very familiar with the board game (and lacking the immediacy/frantic dice rolling of the original - something that translated well into the last Blood Bowl adaptation, though), but the glitches/slow speed at least should be possible to patch up (no animation mode, maybe?).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on August 16, 2013, 07:13:26 AM
Quote from: Syt on August 16, 2013, 06:42:56 AM
Robert Florence at RPS hates it:

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/08/16/wot-i-think-space-hulk/ (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/08/16/wot-i-think-space-hulk/)

A lot of the criticism is obviously born out of being very familiar with the board game (and lacking the immediacy/frantic dice rolling of the original - something that translated well into the last Blood Bowl adaptation, though), but the glitches/slow speed at least should be possible to patch up (no animation mode, maybe?).

This is what happens when Tamas helps fund a game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on August 16, 2013, 07:51:49 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on August 16, 2013, 07:13:26 AM
Quote from: Syt on August 16, 2013, 06:42:56 AM
Robert Florence at RPS hates it:

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/08/16/wot-i-think-space-hulk/ (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/08/16/wot-i-think-space-hulk/)

A lot of the criticism is obviously born out of being very familiar with the board game (and lacking the immediacy/frantic dice rolling of the original - something that translated well into the last Blood Bowl adaptation, though), but the glitches/slow speed at least should be possible to patch up (no animation mode, maybe?).

This is what happens when Tamas helps fund a game.

I impulse-bought it the day it came out because it had "Warhammer 40000" written on it, I did not help it in any way before that  :rolleyes:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on August 16, 2013, 07:59:57 AM
Also, I have only played like the first two missions but I haven't found that many bugs. It is not as awesome as I hoped it would be that is clear, but it is hard not to take that RPS review as a nostalgic guy comparing his good old times with his friends at the table, to playing a single-player computer game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 16, 2013, 08:04:42 AM
My main complaints at this point are:
- Animation is WAY too slow (maybe realistic, but a real damper on my enjoyment ... I get the point that it's slow, lumbering soldiers vs. agile aliens, but this is too much). An option for faster movement of the marines would be much appreciated.
- Dice rolling is tucked away in the bottom right. I prefer the Blood Bowl solution where you get a pop up for each dice roll, increasing tension.
- Graphics could be nicer, but I can live with what they are.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on August 16, 2013, 09:38:38 AM
A reply on the review, I tend to (want to) agree with it:

QuoteAs for the specifics:

-Animations: Incredibly slow. Except everyone forgets to mention that the genestealer animations are quite fast. Its never taken more than a minute for the genestealer AI to process his turn, simply because those cracked-up velociraptors zoom across the map. A terminator, on the other hand, has to spend half his turn just to turn around (as per the board game rules), so the devs opted to make them huge clunking behemoths. And I think its great. Perhaps not great if you're used to the super fast X-COM commandos dashing everywhere, but terminators are not supposed to be lithe. They look, and feel bulky. Now the devs did try to offset this by allowing you to order multiple units at the same time. So you can give orders to your other astartes whilst the first one moves.

-Bugs: They're out there. Looking through the community page on steam one will find all kinds of bug reports. Personally I have only encountered two: A specific animation bug where firing on a mission objective shows the terminator fighting into the air (it still registers though, but has caused a lot of confusion for some people) and a serious bug where completing mission six (exiting the librarian) leads to defeat instead of victory. This has stopped my progress cold in the game (which means no one can progress past mission six atm, including mr. Florence). To the devs credit:

"Sliverleech [developer] 1 hour ago
Version 1.0.1 on its way
Hi all,

We are right now working on a bugfix release that will come out in some hours from now.

It will as minimum fix
- OSX 10.6 input issues
- Mission 6 win condition (brown bag is over our heads)
- Mission 4 fixes to logic

And some menu issues found.

Just to let you know what we are working on!"

-AI: As someone who plays a lot of wargames, this is tremendously important to me. New X-COM had horrible AI, and had to employ game mechanics to work its way around it (the free move the aliens get). Empire Total War was/is unplayable due to bad AI. And no one is talking about Space Hulk's AI. Why? Because its quite good, that's why. First off its not predictable, so replaying a mission will mean the AI will use different entry points for its blips. Second, it forces you to make hard choices. Let's say you set a terminator on overwatch down a corridor (something you'll be doing a lot of). If the AI can't reach you that turn, it'll stay hidden, outside the line of sight (maybe behind a door, maybe around a corner). Now its your turn and you suddenly have a very tough choice to make. Do you leave your terminator behind a the rest of the squad moves on? Because if you leave him on overwatch, the most you'll be able to do is move him one step back. The AI is great at putting the player in catch-22s. And I've yet to see anyone mention it.

-Multiplayer: In regular multiplayer, you can't see how many genestealers are in a blip. In hotseat you can, however, because both players are on the same machine and the genestealer player can't be expected to memorize the values of all his blips. Not an optimal solution, to be sure, and it would be better if the devs gave an option to hide blip values. Still, its an understandable problem.

-Graphics. Everything looks like it should. Haven't seen many criticisms of the game so far on this front. Its also worth noting the many little details the devs have hidden away in the game. Purity seals on machinery. Tomes and codexes, prayers scribbled on walls. Bones and scratch marks. Again, not the kind of stuff you notice, but its there, and contributes (along with the ponderous thunk of the terminators) to that Warhammer 40k feel. Also, the excellent first person cam. Whenever you select a unit, on the top right corner you'll see a blurry video feed of what he can see. It's great stuff.

To sum it all up: Space Hulk is a game that was obviously released a bit too soon, and as such has some bug fixing to do. That's the business and I understand, devs don't control their own QA and all that. Unfortunately this includes a serious game breaking bug that will hopefully be fixed today. As for the actual game, it is clearly obvious that this was designed by fans, huge fans, of Warhammer 40k. It refuses to distance itself from the source material in any noticeable way, and I just can't criticize a studio for making that choice (it even shows the dice rolls in the message window). I've enjoyed it tremendously so far. Just know what it is (a board game adaptation) and know what its not (fast-paced. It's slow and ponderous, as I believe it should be.)

Oh and there should be a patch out today for the mission 6 bug and the like.

All in all, I really like RPS as I almost always find myself agreeing with them on games, but that piece of fanboi tantrum is way too far away from my impressions. Truly great game? No. Much, much better than that wall of whine makes it out to be? Yes.

I mean, FFS, he spends like a paragraph on the fact that if you are on hotseat mode, you can see the number on the genestealer swarm markers during the genestealer turn. Really, mate?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 16, 2013, 09:52:10 AM
Quote-Animations: Incredibly slow. Except everyone forgets to mention that the genestealer animations are quite fast. Its never taken more than a minute for the genestealer AI to process his turn, simply because those cracked-up velociraptors zoom across the map. A terminator, on the other hand, has to spend half his turn just to turn around (as per the board game rules), so the devs opted to make them huge clunking behemoths. And I think its great. Perhaps not great if you're used to the super fast X-COM commandos dashing everywhere, but terminators are not supposed to be lithe. They look, and feel bulky. Now the devs did try to offset this by allowing you to order multiple units at the same time. So you can give orders to your other astartes whilst the first one moves.

I get that, but it makes my turn tedious, not tense. I'm not saying that they should remove the slow movement, but at least give the option for fast movement.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on August 16, 2013, 05:30:22 PM
I just played the first mission of the non-tutorial campaign. That RPS review was REALLY unfair. Poor sobs are probably losing a lot of sales because of it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on August 16, 2013, 10:19:23 PM
Steam has Kalypso's catalog upon on sale. Man, they really do make shitty games, don't they?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 16, 2013, 11:08:36 PM
Quote from: garbon on August 16, 2013, 10:19:23 PM
Steam has Kalypso's catalog upon on sale. Man, they really do make shitty games, don't they?

I was going through the list yesterday and looked at the metacritic scores - pretty depressing, yeah. Now, I did like Patrician 3 a fair bit (or Patrician 2 Gold as it was called here), and Tropico 3/4 are ok if a bit too easy (I recall 1 being much harder).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 16, 2013, 11:09:29 PM
Quote from: Tamas on August 16, 2013, 05:30:22 PM
That RPS review was REALLY unfair.

That I can agree with.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 21, 2013, 12:21:18 PM
Trailer for Redshirt:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nf850By_Nds
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on August 24, 2013, 10:41:30 AM
The 6th mission of the Space Hulk campaign is HARD. Or I am unlucky with rolls. But I just can't complete the damn thing.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 26, 2013, 09:26:21 AM
http://chrischung.com/catlateraldamage

QuotePlay as a cooped-up cat where your paw is your only weapon and mischief-making is your only directive. Move your paw to swat at things and knock them onto the floor. Knock as much stuff on the floor before time runs out! Made for the 2013 7DFPS challenge.

Movement: WASD Keys
Sprint: Hold Shift
Jump: Space (hold to jump higher)
Look/Swat: Mouse (ESC to unlock cursor)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 28, 2013, 11:38:16 AM
Sid Meier's Ace Patrol is out on Steam.
http://store.steampowered.com/app/244070/

Anyone who played the iOS version?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 30, 2013, 10:40:14 AM
New naval/air combat game coming out 24th September:

http://matrixgames.com/products/483/details/Command:.Modern.Air/Naval.Operations?utm_source=Matrix+Newsletter+-+August+2013&utm_campaign=Matrix+August+News&utm_medium=email

QuoteTHE CLASSIC CLASHES OF HISTORY. THE HEADLINES OF TODAY. THE BATTLES OF TOMORROW.



Relive the brutal air struggle between Iran and Iraq. Wrestle the Falklands under your control. Hunt down rogue nukes in Pakistan. Go "Down Town" around Hanoi and spar with the deadly NV air defences. Lead nuclear-powered sharks of steel against the masters of antisubmarine ops. Trade volleys of fire in close-quarters gun duels, or obliterate the enemy with sophisticated, heavy-hitting hypersonic missiles from hundreds or thousands of miles away. Escort vital convoys to their destination, or make a last stand against all odds. When things escalate out of control, step up to unconventional or even nuclear weapons. Play the most dangerous game of hide and seek – at sea, on land and in the air. Command is the next generation of air/naval wargaming.



YOU ARE IN CONTROL

Surface fleets, submarine squadrons, air wings, land-based batteries and even satellite constellations are yours to direct as you see fit – from the lowliest pirate skiff to the mightiest aircraft carrier, from propeller biplanes to supersonic stealth fighters. Every sensor and weapon system is modeled in meticulous detail. You are given the hardware; but you have to use it well.



THE WORLD AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

Throw your distorted flat maps away – Command uses a realistic 3D earth globe for each of its scenarios. Rotate and zoom in and out of the action, from satellite view down to the trenches and wavetops. Play scenarios or build your own on any place on earth – from classics like the Middle East, South Atlantic, North Cape and Europe to new and rising hotspots like the Arctic, the Pacific and the Indian Ocean.



RELENTLESS REALISM

Sensors and weapons work just like in real life, with all their strengths and weaknesses. Units move, detect, fight and win or die based on what their systems can and cannot do. Electronic warfare and technological levels can tilt the balance of battle. The weather can be your best ally and your worst enemy. The terrain, both overland and undersea, can hide you from the enemy but also can block your weapons from firing. Thermal layers, convergence zones, surface ducting, the deep sound channel and factors such as water salinity and temperature may decide the sub vs ship duel. Command's battle environment is as unforgiving as the real thing – and as rewarding for those who understand it.



AIR/NAVAL WARFARE AROUND THE WORLD

Korea. Colonial wars. Vietnam. Middle East. Cuba. Falklands. Iran-Iraq. World War 3. Desert Storm. India & Pakistan. The Arctic circle. Future conflicts in the Pacific, Norwegian Sea, Russian periphery and more. Experience conflict from post-WW2 all the way to 2020+ and beyond. Test your mettle against lethal land-based missile forces, air regiments, naval fleets or pirate groups. Face off against threats of the past, present and future. How do you measure up against the challenges of modern warfare?


LEAD, DON'T MICROMANAGE

Modern warfare with all its technicalities scaring you away? Your staff & tactical AI sweat the details so you don't have to. Aircraft position themselves to deliver their warloads optimally; Ships and subs maneuver on their own to reach out and touch the enemy (including winding their way around islands, landmasses and even known mines) – and everyone tries very hard to save his skin when bullets are flying. Manage the big decisions and let your virtual crews get to the details – and still intervene whenever you want.



MAKE YOUR OWN WAR

Think you can build a better conflict? Prove it! Command's integrated scenario editor offers unparalleled functionality for making your own scenarios or editing existing ones. Create and share with other players detailed, exact-down-to-the-meter land installations from all over the world – from airbases to port complexes to ICBM fields. Customize unit icons, sound effects, even platform weapons and sensors (Aegis on the USS Iowa – click and done). Create multiple sides with variable, complex alliances and postures. Assign forces to detailed missions with custom behaviors and inheritable doctrines. Script complex interactive events with the advanced event editor. Assign variable success thresholds – from triumph to utter defeat. From a gunboat duel all the way to global thermonuclear warfare – the possibilities are endless.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmatrixgames.com%2Ffiles%2Fgames%2F483%2F20130829031805.JPG&hash=592e34332d1ee3f396fdbc587f2db4c572205098)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmatrixgames.com%2Ffiles%2Fgames%2F483%2F20130829031633.JPG&hash=402ee5a10a95601c59ad7b019b2a6d16383f46b6)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmatrixgames.com%2Ffiles%2Fgames%2F483%2F20130829031635.JPG&hash=733d847cf13a5a63104c18fc939cf2ed14184055)

That looks a bit non-exciting to me, but might be of interest to hardcore naval enthusiasts (sorry, Neil, no dreadnoughts).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: sbr on August 30, 2013, 10:52:27 AM
Map sucks.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on August 30, 2013, 12:25:57 PM
MRSP: $ 99.99
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on August 30, 2013, 12:56:00 PM
So it's another version of Harpoon.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 30, 2013, 12:59:55 PM
I think it was originally called "Red Pill" (or "Blue Pill"?) before being picked up by publishers and changing the name Modern Air/Naval Operations.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on September 02, 2013, 08:22:30 AM
Not much excitement here for Rome Total War 2. It is out tomorrow.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 03, 2013, 11:34:39 AM
For you Hockey fans out there: the guys who do Out of the Park Baseball are bringing out Franchise Hockey Manager:

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/franchise-hockey-manager/

QuoteFranchise Hockey Manager ("FHM") is the deepest, most immersive, and most customizable hockey management game in the world. Choose one of 19 leagues and select a team to guide to glory. Sign free agents, trade players, draft the next crop of superstars, and much more!
Key Features

- Manage your own hockey team
- Complete 2013-14 rosters for over 300 teams across 19 leagues
- New NHL alignment for 2013-14 season included
- NHL, AHL, OHL, WHL, Liiga, EIHL, KHL, SHL, and many more leagues included
- Every historical NHL and WHA season from 1947 through 2012-13 included
- Use commissioner mode to edit players, financials, and more
- A Deep Hockey Universe

- Advanced stat tracking, including Corsi and Fenwick
- Manage your team over multiple decades
- Rich news section offers all your league's highlights
- League events and milestone watches alert you to important happenings
- Watch your Hall of Fame grow

Not sure how the quality is - unlike OOTP it doesn't have 14 years under its belt yet, and I think the developers are different?

Still, I thought some people might be interested (and there's a Mac version, too!).

Here's their forums:

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/fhm-general-discussions/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: katmai on September 03, 2013, 01:50:51 PM
I am tempted by it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 03, 2013, 02:30:53 PM
I had a look at the forums. Lots of grumbling. But there should be a demo or something.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on September 04, 2013, 12:32:55 AM
Getting closer, but Beeb is still eagerly awaiting "Franchise Curling Manager"
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on September 04, 2013, 08:48:39 AM
Quote from: Tonitrus on September 04, 2013, 12:32:55 AM
Getting closer, but Beeb is still eagerly awaiting "Franchise Curling Manager"

:w00t:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on September 09, 2013, 09:53:38 AM
First game I know about covering the Spanish Civil War:
http://www.ageod-forum.com/showthread.php?31971-Welcome-España-1936&p=287409#post287409

Beside the standard AGEOD engine stuff it has interesting regional decisions making it a bit more strategic (like in PrON), so if you ever felt like prosecuting commies/fascists in territory you control, this is the game for you.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 09, 2013, 11:57:45 AM
Space Engineers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3b9e_KWO-I

Basically Minecraft IN SPACE without the blocky graphics and with a physics engine.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on September 11, 2013, 12:50:19 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Si3gYiZbz6Q

Trailer for Valiant Hearts : The Great War, an adventure game set during WW I.  Hoping for good things out of it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on September 11, 2013, 04:09:06 AM
Quote from: Habbaku on September 11, 2013, 12:50:19 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Si3gYiZbz6Q

Trailer for Valiant Hearts : The Great War, an adventure game set during WW I.  Hoping for good things out of it.

Stuff like insert the glass eye of the dead soldier back to its socket so his pocket would open and give you the pipe which you can exchange with the camp whore for a pack of cigarettes to give as a present to the Captain? I`ll pass.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 11, 2013, 04:33:32 AM
Quote from: Tamas on September 11, 2013, 04:09:06 AM
Quote from: Habbaku on September 11, 2013, 12:50:19 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Si3gYiZbz6Q

Trailer for Valiant Hearts : The Great War, an adventure game set during WW I.  Hoping for good things out of it.

Stuff like insert the glass eye of the dead soldier back to its socket so his pocket would open and give you the pipe which you can exchange with the camp whore for a pack of cigarettes to give as a present to the Captain? I`ll pass.
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on September 11, 2013, 04:34:36 AM
You know it will be like that. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 11, 2013, 04:34:38 AM
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/09/10/impressions-valiant-hearts/

QuoteValiant Hearts: The Great War doesn't look like a war game.

And that's because, to hear the folks at Ubisoft Montpellier tell it, it's really not. World War I is the backdrop, but beyond that, the adventure puzzler is kind of like The Walking Dead. Characters come first, and typical tropes of the genre shamble in at the back of the pack or don't show up at all.

And yet, despite the cartoony art style and focus on heartfelt interactions over shooting until eagles cry and Uncle Sam gives you his beard as a trophy, Valiant Hearts really isn't much like Walking Dead either. Dialogue is nearly non-existent, with Ubi instead opting to take inspiration from the likes of Machinarium to produce a mixture of audio cues and visual language.

It's a minimal approach, but it may well end up being all the more affecting for that reason. The story will focus on five characters – a French prisoner of war, an American volunteer fighting in the name of his deceased wife, a medic beset on all sides by the horrors of war, a British aviator who lied about knowing how to fly, and a lovesick German soldier – and their intertwined tales, all of which involve the aforementioned Battle Puppy in some way or another.

It's a great setup in a surprisingly underused (at least, by games) setting, and it's rooted in real tales from the time. Producer Yoan Fanise even brought along actual letters sent by his great grandfather from the frontlines, many of which directly inspired scenes in the game. He positively buzzed with energy as he flipped through his stack of photos and postcards, eventually producing his great grandfather's worn, barely legible dogtag. He survived the war, thank goodness, but it was still a chilling sight to behold.

Moments later, we encountered the very same dogtag in-game, presumably in much better shape than the body that once wore it. The French POW, Emile, began his section peeling potatoes and wheeling massive stew cauldrons as Germans guffawed and chomped on pretzels (the game certainly isn't without its lighthearted moments) in the background. Then some kind of huge blast hit, and the laughing stopped. And so did everything else.

Emile nearly got a headstart on the whole "being six-feet-under" thing that dead people like to do so much, but he was rescued by Valiant Hearts' loyal canine companion. Tugged from the snow-strewn rubble, he then pet the Red Cross wonder-pup (something you can do any time you feel like it) and played fetch with him using what – in retrospect – I'm fairly sure was a human leg bone. At the time, however, I was just like, "D'AAAAAAWLOOKITTHEFURRYTHING" – proving that, even during times of haunting madness and total emotional destruction, adorable fuzzy creatures still drop the average human IQ by at least ten points.

Emile's section was otherwise simple, but it was more about establishing a tone and flavor than leaving armies of brain cells bleeding in craters from mortar blasts of obtuse puzzles. Before long, he dug up a dogtag and – sure enough – it was an exact replica of the one resting in Fanise's clenched fist. The game treated it not as some monumental occasion, but as a rather matter-of-fact truth. "If things had gone a bit differently," it seemed to say, "this game's creator might not even exist today."

As Emile approached the remains of a transport track, he balanced a section that could no longer support his weight by dragging a mine cart onto one end of it. Then he lurched his way to the top to survey the war waging below. The remains of a massive anti-air gun watched alongside him, unfeeling, as a terrifyingly colossal zeppelin rolled into view – eclipsing even the dreary clouds that eclipsed the sun. The moment left me feeling positively puny. I'm pretty sure that was the point.

American volunteer Freddie's demo section was even shorter, and thankfully a bit easier on my not-so-valiant heart. Fanise explained that each character has different puzzle-solving abilities, and all the while Freddie clipped his way through barbed-wire fences, hurled explosives, and generally did his best to survive in a paradoxically green, lively field. He was no Rambo, however, so his (still rather simple) puzzle involved waiting for a gun emplacement to reload so he could climb up behind it, stealth past another soldier, and then drop down and wire an entire bridge to explode. That was the end of his admittedly less impressive bit, but Fanise promised much more complexity in later areas.

Valiant Hearts: The Great War certainly looks impressive, but the demo only clomped around on the surface of what has the potential to be an extremely deep, nuanced look at a wildly complex subject. Simply talking to the Fanise revealed the crushingly powerful passion driving this project, and though the team is only ten people strong, there's an excellent pedigree behind it. This one certainly isn't at a lack for promise, is what I'm saying. But can it follow through? Sadly, I didn't see enough to get a positive read one way or the other. I'm crossing my fingers until my bones ache, but the rest is up to Ubisoft. Valiant Hearts will be out sometime next year.

But hey, if nothing else, at least it's got a really, really great dog. Sorry, Riley. You're already old news.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: barkdreg on September 14, 2013, 01:34:28 PM
Looks great. I'm definitely getting this game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: DontSayBanana on September 15, 2013, 09:12:11 AM
Quote from: Syt on September 09, 2013, 11:57:45 AM
Space Engineers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3b9e_KWO-I

Basically Minecraft IN SPACE without the blocky graphics and with a physics engine.

:mmm: Me likey.

:lol: I just noticed that one of the ships in the big ship collision demo was a Republic Cruiser from Star Wars: Episode I.  That says good things about flexibility in the construction.  Better believe I'll be buying it and making some damn Lancers and Carrack Cruisers. :mmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on September 24, 2013, 12:07:47 PM
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/gods-will-be-watching

The Gods Will Be Watching folks hit their goal and then some.  Can't wait.   :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 29, 2013, 12:27:13 AM
Destructoid pointed out that Second Life is still going. I had a look at their website (never tried it) and looked at their world map.

http://maps.secondlife.com/

On the left there's:
QuoteDestination Guide PicksTake a look at some of the best places we've found in Second Life

Top destination:
QuoteRoseWould Plantation Sex & Swingers Club (A)

A lush plantation with destinations mimicking sites in the commonwealth of Kentucky, USA. They offer true southern hospitality and...
:lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 02, 2013, 10:29:02 AM
Espana 1936 is out. Here is an AAR to see how it is:
http://www.ageod-forum.com/showthread.php?32101-España-1936-a-beta-AAR

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: MadImmortalMan on October 03, 2013, 11:54:34 AM
The John Romero classic Daikatana is up on Steam for $6.99.  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on October 03, 2013, 12:59:22 PM
Hmmm,stuff from Matrix/Slitherne/Ageod or Dickitana.

Decisions, decisions......
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 08, 2013, 09:19:53 AM
I am actually starting to grow tired of RPS covering all those Kickstarter and indiegogo titles.

I get all interested or even excited just to realize the "game" they tout is little more than a concept in somebody`s head.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on October 08, 2013, 03:45:54 PM
I'm tired of 'indie' games in general.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on October 08, 2013, 06:05:13 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on October 03, 2013, 12:59:22 PM
Hmmm,stuff from Matrix/Slitherne/Ageod or Dickitana.

Decisions, decisions......

Lulz, matrix...for somebody allegedly smart enough to have shit fall on him for cash, you sure make some repeat errors in judgment sometimes.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on October 08, 2013, 06:23:35 PM
I don't think you got it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on October 09, 2013, 01:51:47 PM
Then use the appropiate smiley.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on October 10, 2013, 12:49:53 PM
The Darkest Dungeon :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=AQLxdHfMPF8

QuoteThe concept behind Darkest Dungeon is to put the dungeon back in "dungeon crawler."  The environment itself is an antagonist - a scary, haunted place where your chances of survival are slim, hordes of terrifying monsters notwithstanding.

To pay that out, we're focusing not just on exploring miles of subterranean sepulchres, but on the effects those abysmal environs have on the psyches of the party members.  We envision a dungeon adventure where characters are more than a sum of their stat-heavy gear, because let's face it, a Sword of Smashing +2 doesn't mean much in the hands of a catatonic coward.

Each and every adventurer you recruit will develop a unique combination of predispositions, proclivities, flaws and strengths - factors that must be carefully considered when forming a party and leading it through horrific environs.  Furthermore, how you perfom in the dungeon will have lasting and impactful consequences on their continued development.  You are put smack-dab in the role of a squad leader or sports team manager, doing your best to keep the human factors from fracturing your team or destroying their effectiveness.

In short, we want to create the kind of team interaction and tension that arises in the most desperate situations.  We want Hudson's panic from 'Aliens', MacReady's booze-battling from 'The Thing', James's detached sadism from 'The Hurt Locker'.  We want you to manage a party of human heroes faced with almost insurmountable odds.  If you can lead them to victory, you'll have earned it.

Shows promise.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on October 10, 2013, 08:35:37 PM
Sounds like crap.

As far as dungeon crawlers go, they broke the mold with Phantasie I and II.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on October 10, 2013, 08:41:29 PM
Now those games bring back some memories.  :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 11, 2013, 02:17:08 AM
Salvation Prophecy is out for less than 15 bucks:

http://www.outofeight.info/2012/07/salvation-prophecy-review.html

QuoteThe Good: Large land and space battles, dynamic setting, faction command with colony and station development, competent AI
The Not So Good: No trade or mining activities for supplemental income, mid-game repetition, no multiplayer
What say you? This space adventure game brings impressive engagements in a living universe: 6/8

MY POORLY WRITTEN INTRODUCTION
While the big publishers may be ignoring the space adventure genre, indie games are (as always) picking up the slack. Why, I have reviewed two of them this year alone. If that doesn't say "trend", then I don't know what does! Next in line is Salvation Prophecy, a game that promises epic epicness in epic quantities. Featuring both land and space battles and a dynamic universe where battles happen without being scripted in a campaign, does Salvation Prophecy provide a satisfying space adventure?

GRAPHICS AND SOUND
Salvation Prophecy features pretty decent graphics for a $20 indie game. The ship models are detailed enough, although the texture work could have been better and less black. The weapons look great as colorful lasers fly across the screen during the game's large-scale conflicts. The space backgrounds are colorful without being distracting, and the asteroids are appropriately rocky. On land, you get decent character models that make for easy identification in the heat of battle; they could have more varied animations, though. The various worlds you will assault (or defend) are varied with interesting terrain and scattered cover. The space station layout, though, is recycled over and over again (which does make it easy to find things). As for the sound design, results are typical: average effects during combat, canned voice acting snippets, and setting-appropriate music. Salvation Prophecy certainly is not the best looking (or sounding) space game, but it holds its own and the graphics never negatively impact the gameplay.




ET AL.
The universe of Salvation Prophecy is populated with four races, one of which you can lead towards ultimate victory: the slow but powerful Drones, well-rounded Free Nations, quick Salvation, and explosion-oriented Wyr. As you play, missions will pop-up that you can choose to join, and completing them will earn money for upgrades and experience points for new skills and abilities. There are five mission types in the game: a land-based planetary invasion, space battles, bounty missions against a team of pirates, investigating an unstable wormhole, or charting a new galaxy. In the first two types, it's not just you and maybe one other ship up against waves of magically spawning enemies (*cough* *cough*). Rather, it's twenty ships or soldiers against twenty enemy ships or soldiers, which tends to produce very exciting, chaotic battles. The battle size in Salvation Prophecy is something I tried to achieve in other games, but to no avail, and countless space adventure games feature your rogue pilot up against impossible, frustrating odds. It's nice that Salvation Prophecy actually goes a more realistic route and gives you plenty of allies to help you along the way and balance out the odds. I am less of a fan of the later missions that are inherently unfair, where it is you against a team of enemy units. But, the game allows you to avoid these types of missions altogether and wait for the next group endeavor. Of course, with only five mission types, and the fact that the missions all play out the same, variety leaves a lot to be desired, until you earn the ability to guide your faction. You see, as you play the game, Salvation Prophecy gradually unlocks new things to do over time. When you start out, you can only complete land missions. Eventually, space battles, bounty missions, and solo planet invasions become available, ultimately culminating in the ability to command your entire faction. The faction commander can build new colonies and space stations, erecting buildings to extract resources, placing defensive structures, and establishing fighter wings. The commander can also coordinate attacks on enemy strongholds; it's like a light strategy game that gives you greater variety in the late game. As you unlock new mission types, skill upgrades also become available, allowing for improved offense, defense, or new stims (items to use during land battles), plus a unique skill for each faction. In this sense, Salvation Prophecy allows you to slightly tweak your character towards your play style. There are some areas of Salvation Prophecy that could be enhanced. As I alluded to earlier, all you do is missions, as the game does not feature any trade or mining to earn extra money. This is disappointing for those who like those types of activities, and it would give you a break from the stern combat focus of the game. Salvation Prophecy also lacks multiplayer, which would have made the battles even more impressive. The tutorial covers the basic control schemes for the inexperienced computer gamer (and can be skipped over, thankfully).

The controls in Salvation Prophecy are typical for a space game and third person shooter, utilizing mouse aiming for the ship portions, number keys for weapons, and function keys for items. The HUD is informative, displaying data on armor, ammunition levels, current speed, and friendly troop status. You can also zoom in on an enemy unit to displays its health level, and a "target nearest enemy" button is available for quicker destruction. A rotary menu also gives easy access to mission briefings, equipment loadouts, ship attributes, a galaxy map, local sector scanner, and skill tree. Overall, I was pleased with the interface in Salvation Prophecy, as it presents most information on the main screen or in easily accessible displays.

One notable aspect of Salvation Prophecy is the living universe it presents: it's not just you checking off a series of scripted missions. Instead, the other factions (and your own, for that matter) complete missions without your direct intervention, creating a dynamic galaxy where colonies and space stations change hands after successful invasions. Other races will even attack your bases, so you'll need to periodically jump into your fighter and join the defense. Each station features a hanger for ship storage and upgrades, a drop ship hanger where land battles are coordinated, an armory and medical lab for weapon and item enhancements, and mission control to get new missions. As you navigate between destinations, you'll encounter two control-based minigames: during in-system jumps, you'll have to avoid lightning bolts in a tube (this has been an entire game before), and you'll have to carefully stay within a wormhole when shuttling off to distant worlds. These two minigames are both short and interesting enough diversions from the rest of the combat-heavy game.

In space, no one can hear you scream, but they can get shot by your lasers. The space battles feature physics that makes it feel like you are piloting a heavy ship: a lot of space adventure games allow you to turn on a dime and maneuver unreasonably quickly, but Salvation Prophecy requires skill and planning to successfully defeat those pesky enemy ships. Strafing is possible (using the "A" and "D", naturally), which is an easy way to avoid oncoming enemy fire. The game uses a modest amount of auto-aim (if you enable it), which I found to be necessary to preserve any sense of accuracy, since Salvation Prophecy lacks a lead indicator for targeting assistance. There is also friendly fire, which can be a problem in the game's massive battles; I have "accidentally" destroyed several friendly ships that got between me and my target. As you complete missions, you can spend money to upgrade several aspects to your ship: energy, weapons, and shields. It seems that the enemy ships also improve over time, so both sides become more deadly as the game progresses.

On land, Salvation Prophecy transitions to a third-person shooter. There is a small assortment of weapons to choose from: a ranged laser, a melee weapon, and a rocket launcher that's meant for destroying buildings and groups of enemies. I would like to see more exotic options for weapons, considering the alien factions that are present in the universe. The land battle levels feature undulating terrain and plenty of objects behind which to take cover. You can equip yourself with items (called "stims") that can heal, improve accuracy, enhance speed, or reduce damage. Just like in space, all weapons can cause friendly fire, although in the generally 2-D land battles, allied units are easier to keep track of. Taking an enemy planet involves destroying all of the buildings, and the battle continues until that happens or you die (which requires loading of a previous saved game).

I was quite satisfied with the AI in Salvation Prophecy. Your computer opponents (and allies) are competent pilots and ground troops. In space, AI fighters will engage nearby enemy units and fly in unpredictable patterns when under fire. On the ground, the computer uses special skills (shields, bombs), runs away to cover when healing, and engages nearby enemies. The AI has access to the same items you do, and it is adept at using them at appropriate times. I found both the land and space battles to be challenging without being unfairly so.

IN CLOSING
Salvation Prophecy knows its limits, and what it does it does well. The setting is compelling, with missions going on in the background and changing the dynamics of the world, with colonies and stations switching hands and news of unsuccessful invasions ticking across the screen. Instead of being the focal point of the game, and taking on countless enemies by yourself, you are an integral part of your faction's success, present to break the stalemates between evenly-matched AI opponents. Both the land and space battles are chaotic, enjoyable messes of dangerous lasers darting across your display. Salvation Prophecy has some of the best non-scripted battles in any space adventure game: forty-ship (or –person (or –alien)) battles here seem more convincing than in some other space games where success is only up to you and your scripted mission objectives. The colonies and space stations provide these missions, and navigating between these waypoints involves non-annoying minigames performed during high-speed travel. Experienced earned by not dying is spent unlocking new skills and additional aspects to the game, as Salvation Prophecy opens up something new as you become more adept, ending with control of your entire faction. The game does get repetitive between the time when you unlock all of the mission types and before you can command the entire faction, as each basic mission type plays out the same (with some new wrinkles as new defenses are introduced) every time. The faction management aspect of Salvation Prophecy is certainly enticing, as you develop your colonies and send out attack orders on enemy space stations. I just wish it didn't take so long to progress that far, as it feels like too much work to get to the strategic aspects of the game. The AI is thankfully intelligent and not a liability on either side of the battles, piloting and engaging in ground combat effectively. Besides the mid-game repetition, Salvation Prophecy also falls short in a couple of other areas: there is no optional mining or trade to supplement your mission income and experience, and multiplayer battles are not present. Still, Salvation Prophecy provides some successful space adventuring that fans of the genre will likely enjoy.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on October 12, 2013, 07:25:55 AM
The Wolf Among Us, TellTale Games' foray into the Fables universe, takes place about 15 years before the comic book series begins.

Blows The Walking Dead out of the water.  Ep 1 ends with a serious hook.  Blew my mind.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 16, 2013, 02:14:59 AM
Fantasy Kommander from Matrix comes out, and its world has to be one of the lazier designs I've seen in a while. Don't get me wrong, taking inspiration from history and modelling some countries after real life versions or mixing ideas - no problem, can be used to great effect. But when your map is a slightly warped Europe, and some countries just have some of their leters jumbled to name their fantasy version .... ehh .... hell, "Avenog" is "Genova" backwards.

That said, might still be a decent game. Maybe.

http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3405165

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/1277918_583412508386144_2023575125_o.jpg)

QuoteFirst of all, I have to confess that I love maps. Any kind of maps, ancient, modern, futuristic, on paper or on the screen. When I see a map with borders, streets, cities, my imagination starts to fly and I become a traveller, a free adventurer or the conqueror of the world! Any kind of world/s! So basically I have to confess to be a megalomaniacal crazy kid... maybe like Alexander the Great and his illustrious colleagues in history? Mmmh, this is a question without an answer.

The map you see is the high-scale geopolitical map of the Eukarion continent in the year 800 A.D.

I suggest you to freely explore this map and start your journey in the fascinating, varied and complex world of Fantasy Kommander.

I designed this world using my knowledge about the medieval Europe and its fantasy narrative tradition (I'm graduated in military history after all ;).

Eukarion was born from a mix of real European medieval history and fantasy archetypes.

Comparing this map to Europe you will notice many geographical similarities.

In the centre of the map you can see a peninsula similar to Italy limited to the North from a chain of mountains akin to the Alps. To the east you can see a large mountain range that is similar to the Ural mountains. On the west you can see the "Iberian peninsula" with its Pyrenees mountains. Going north you'll see territories similar to France, Germany, the Scandinavian Peninsula and Great Britain. In the south you can recognize the Strait of Gibraltar, the Mediterranean Sea and two islands that are similar to North Africa. The geographical elements that are most different from our real world are the island of the supreme elves and the south-east. The first is completely invented (it's like the myth of Atlantis), the second (the south east) is a fusion of the Balkans, the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula. Most rivers are modelled on the great rivers of Europe.

From a historical and political point of view Eukarion is like Medieval Europe inhabited by fantasy creatures and races like dragons, orcs, elves etc. On the historical level the background is overflowing with anachronisms. I mean , the fact that the map represents the continent in the 800 A.D., doesn't mean it's similar to the European political situation in that year. There's feudalism and a hierarchical society of nobility for sure, but the individual "states" on the map are designed with an anachronistic method. I will try to explain this better talking about single territorial entities on the map.

For example the biggest empire, Adamantia, is inspired to the Carolingian Empire (9th Century, Dark Ages), while the smaller Grand Duchy of the Seven Towns is inspired to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany during the Renaissance (15th-16th centuries). So we have different ages, from the same period that we call Middle Ages, that live together in the same background. For this reason you'll see characters with equipments from the Dark Ages (Viking axes for example) and early Renaissance (heavy plate armours). What you'll not see is what I consider "Fantasy Trash" like an Elven Ninja-Vampire in a gothic cathedral... for this kind of things we created the King's Island series and Defender of the Chicks, and if you want to laugh you should play these games and not Fantasy Kommander.

To all the crazy people that are curious to know more about the link I designed between real European history and Fantasy Kommander I give this simple list:

Empire of Adamantia: Carolingian Empire (9th Century)
Kingdom of Chifrans: Kingdom of the Franks (5th century) (the "beginning" of the Kingdom of France)
Kingdom of Dalenghen: Kingdom of England (10th century)
Kingdom of Numadir: Vikings (8th -9th centuries) (in our background they are more "civilized")
Kingdom of Anapes: Kingdom of Asturias (8th Century) (the "beginning" of the Kingdom of Spain).
Ancient Empire of Izanthyb: Byzantine Empire (4-14th centuries)
Duchy of Malion: Duchy of Milan (14th century)
Republic of the Merchants: Republic of Venice (13th century)
Grand Duchy of the Seven Towns: Grand Duchy of Tuscany (16th century)
Avoneg Republic: Republic of Genoa (11th century)
Sacred Land of the Cross: The Papal State (6th century)
Sacred Principalities: Crusader States (12th-13th centuries)
Duchy of Irba: Kingdom of Sicily (13th century)
Emirates, Caliphate and Sultanate: Islamic Kingdoms (9th century)"
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on October 16, 2013, 05:06:42 AM
Having a slightly warped map of Europe (or some other part of RW) is not automatically bad, as long as it fits the premise. Warhammer Fantasy did it, for example.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on October 16, 2013, 08:32:15 AM
WHERE IS SERBIA? SERB STRONG, LIKE KANGAROO.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on October 16, 2013, 08:53:17 PM
Tribes of the Dark Races. :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on October 17, 2013, 10:15:27 AM
I like how the Ancient Kingdom of the Dwarves is right next door to the Ancient Kingdom of the Giants.  Surely an example of similar geography producing similar cultures.... or not.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on October 17, 2013, 10:18:54 AM
Quote from: grumbler on October 17, 2013, 10:15:27 AM
I like how the Ancient Kingdom of the Dwarves is right next door to the Ancient Kingdom of the Giants.  Surely an example of similar geography producing similar cultures.... or not.

Same culture, separeted by...eugenics?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on October 17, 2013, 10:21:14 AM
I am not convinced that 5 Numadirs are enough.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on October 17, 2013, 01:13:38 PM
So how much is going to be?  80 bucks?  120?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 19, 2013, 12:33:03 AM
What's with Steam taking on all those old games, recently? They just added a lot of the old Topware backlog, and now there's 7th Guest, Shadow Man and 11th Hour up? Too many people wandering over to GOG.com?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on October 25, 2013, 02:43:41 PM
Is FORCED any good?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on October 25, 2013, 04:19:35 PM
Quote from: The Brain on October 25, 2013, 02:43:41 PM
Is FORCED any good?

It's okay, but consensual is better in my opinion.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on October 25, 2013, 04:20:59 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on October 25, 2013, 04:19:35 PM
Quote from: The Brain on October 25, 2013, 02:43:41 PM
Is FORCED any good?

It's okay, but consensual is better in my opinion.

Why you turn innocent question into sex talk?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on October 27, 2013, 12:25:10 AM
Even though I have a CD for the original somewhere, because it was cheap and I am lazy I purchased a copy of Master of Orion II from GOG.com.

Minus - despite saying it worked under OS X, it failed to work under OS X 10.9.  Perhaps something new with Mavericks.

Plus - it is still a very, very good game. :thumbsup:  I got it working under Win 7, and promptly lost an hour.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on October 27, 2013, 01:52:23 AM
I gained an hour just now.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on October 28, 2013, 11:08:15 AM
Quote from: Barrister on October 27, 2013, 12:25:10 AM
Even though I have a CD for the original somewhere, because it was cheap and I am lazy I purchased a copy of Master of Orion II from GOG.com.

Minus - despite saying it worked under OS X, it failed to work under OS X 10.9.  Perhaps something new with Mavericks.

Plus - it is still a very, very good game. :thumbsup:  I got it working under Win 7, and promptly lost an hour.

I guess we've freed up your gaming time from Starbase Orion?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 02, 2013, 01:28:24 PM
To be released on Steam on November 15th:

- XCOM: Enemy Within
- Baldurs Gate II Enhanced
- X Rebirth
- LEGO Marvel Superheroes (European release, I know it's out in US already)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Zanza on November 02, 2013, 03:36:56 PM
What is enhanced about BG2 Enhanced?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on November 02, 2013, 04:35:24 PM
Quote from: Zanza on November 02, 2013, 03:36:56 PM
What is enhanced about BG2 Enhanced?

HD graphics
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 02, 2013, 05:47:20 PM
Quote from: Syt on November 02, 2013, 01:28:24 PM
To be released on Steam on November 15th:

- XCOM: Enemy Within
- X Rebirth

on the same day? 3 days before the ck2 expansion? Ehh
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on November 02, 2013, 07:58:00 PM
It's also the day the PS4 comes out.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on November 03, 2013, 03:34:36 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on November 02, 2013, 07:58:00 PM
It's also the day the PS4 comes out.

3 days before the CK2 expansion? Great timing, Sony. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 03, 2013, 03:50:33 AM
Quote from: Zanza on November 02, 2013, 03:36:56 PM
What is enhanced about BG2 Enhanced?
QuoteThe Final Chapter - Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition includes Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn and Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal, the epic conclusion of the Bhaalspawn saga.

Four New Party Members - Bundled with Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition are four new characters that can join you on your journey.

The Black Pits 2: Gladiators of Thay - Explore the tactical depth of high-level Dungeons & Dragons combat. Undermine your captors and prey upon their weaknesses while you dodge traps and battle for your life against Demi-Liches, Mind Flayers, and Githyanki.

Easy Multiplayer - Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition makes it easy to find, list, and join multiplayer games, even while behind a firewall.

Widescreen and More - Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition features full widescreen support, remastered area artwork from original renders, and a host of other interface and gameplay improvements.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Zanza on November 04, 2013, 12:19:23 PM
QuoteFour New Party Members - Bundled with Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition are four new characters that can join you on your journey.
If they are well made, that might actually be interesting.

QuoteThe Black Pits 2: Gladiators of Thay - Explore the tactical depth of high-level Dungeons & Dragons combat. Undermine your captors and prey upon their weaknesses while you dodge traps and battle for your life against Demi-Liches, Mind Flayers, and Githyanki.
IIRC the only demi-lich in BG2 was virtually impossible to kill unless you used cheesy tactics and prepared perfectly for the fight. Mind flayers are quite hard and you had to use fairly cheesy tactics for that too. Not sure what Githyanki are. If they were in the original game, they didn't leave a lasting impression. So based on this description either the dungeon is incredibly hard and only useful for maxed out level 30 characters at the end of Throne of Bhaal or it is no fun because demi-lichs and mind-flayers are typically too strong for a normal party.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on November 04, 2013, 12:28:44 PM
Quote from: Zanza on November 04, 2013, 12:19:23 PM
Not sure what Githyanki are. If they were in the original game, they didn't leave a lasting impression.

The Githyanki sunk your ship in BG2 and sent you plunging into the Shark-people place if try to escape Spellhold by ship.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 04, 2013, 12:31:03 PM
They also played a major role in NWN2.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Zanza on November 04, 2013, 01:37:22 PM
Quote from: Valmy on November 04, 2013, 12:28:44 PM
Quote from: Zanza on November 04, 2013, 12:19:23 PM
Not sure what Githyanki are. If they were in the original game, they didn't leave a lasting impression.

The Githyanki sunk your ship in BG2 and sent you plunging into the Shark-people place if try to escape Spellhold by ship.
Right. They also came after you when you kept their sword. I somehow don't remember them as nearly as powerful as Mindflayers or fucking Demi-Lichs though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on November 04, 2013, 01:40:38 PM
Quote from: Zanza on November 04, 2013, 01:37:22 PM
Quote from: Valmy on November 04, 2013, 12:28:44 PM
Quote from: Zanza on November 04, 2013, 12:19:23 PM
Not sure what Githyanki are. If they were in the original game, they didn't leave a lasting impression.

The Githyanki sunk your ship in BG2 and sent you plunging into the Shark-people place if try to escape Spellhold by ship.
Right. They also came after you when you kept their sword. I somehow don't remember them as nearly as powerful as Mindflayers or fucking Demi-Lichs though.

Yeah they are just weird Abyssal plane pirate people.  You can certainly make them hard with the right gear and spells and so forth but there is nothing particularly terrifying about them.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on November 04, 2013, 02:27:01 PM
Quote from: Valmy on November 04, 2013, 01:40:38 PM
Yeah they are just weird Abyssal plane pirate people.  You can certainly make them hard with the right gear and spells and so forth but there is nothing particularly terrifying about them.

Githyanki were a good reason not to attempt travel between the planes as their swords could cut your planar cord which connected you to your own plane :nerd:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on November 04, 2013, 03:09:17 PM
Quote from: Valmy on November 04, 2013, 01:40:38 PM
Quote from: Zanza on November 04, 2013, 01:37:22 PM
Quote from: Valmy on November 04, 2013, 12:28:44 PM
Quote from: Zanza on November 04, 2013, 12:19:23 PM
Not sure what Githyanki are. If they were in the original game, they didn't leave a lasting impression.

The Githyanki sunk your ship in BG2 and sent you plunging into the Shark-people place if try to escape Spellhold by ship.
Right. They also came after you when you kept their sword. I somehow don't remember them as nearly as powerful as Mindflayers or fucking Demi-Lichs though.

Yeah they are just weird Abyssal plane pirate people.  You can certainly make them hard with the right gear and spells and so forth but there is nothing particularly terrifying about them.

I thought they lived in the Astral Plane.  If I recall correctly, they were waging eternal war against another people called the Githzerai who lived on Limbo.  The Githyanki were chaotic evil, high leveled, and carried powerful silver swords.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on November 04, 2013, 10:43:19 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on November 04, 2013, 03:09:17 PM
I thought they lived in the Astral Plane.  If I recall correctly, they were waging eternal war against another people called the Githzerai who lived on Limbo.  The Githyanki were chaotic evil, high leveled, and carried powerful silver swords.

And both races were once one race enslaved by the Mind Flayers who split with their differing interpretations on how to secure their freedom.  Dak'kon from Planescape Torment was a Githzerai.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on November 04, 2013, 10:46:40 PM
Nerds.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 06, 2013, 12:30:45 AM
First impressions on COD:Ghosts

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/11/05/call-of-duty-ghosts/

QuoteCall Of Duty: Ghosts is available now. We weren't given any review code before release, so I've just started playing its single-player campaign this afternoon. About two to three hours in, I'm ready to provide you with some impressions. Will this be the CoD to win us back over? To realise the potential of such a massive budget, and remember what made the original Call Of Duty 1 and 2 such incredibly special games? Will I grow a rollercoaster out of my face and gargle fireplaces? Find out below.

I really do enjoy first-person shooters. And as such, I go into every new game with a genuine hope it'll be something special. There's no reason, with the wealth of talent at Activision's various teams working on Call Of Duty: Ghosts, why it shouldn't be a stunning shooter that I want to champion from the hills. I allow myself to believe each time that perhaps it will. If that's the case for Ghosts, it's not within the first three hours.

But things began promisingly. It starts off with a couple of adult brothers, sat in the woods, being told a story by their father. A story about an elite fighting force, created in the most terrible conditions, super-human creatures forged from horror – the Ghosts. The sons pah and scoff at the idea, as the three jog back to their idyllic suburban home. It's very un-Call Of Duty, very un-macho beginnings. There's seemingly a small earthquake. Again, in a particularly ungrunting moment, the father makes reference to a clearly late mother's fear of such tremors, gently mocking her. What is this even.

It turns out to be an awful lot more than an earthquake. Emerging from the woods reveals a neighbourhood in chaos, vast explosions, the road cracking up beneath them. Epic scale, in an unepic environment. Not tanks and helicopters, but terrified people and domestic vehicles fleeing in terror. It has my attention.

Cuts to "15 minutes earlier". That's an odd length of time. It's an even odder location: low Earth orbit. You're now playing an astronaut on board a small space station. Improbably, astronauts in different coloured spacesuits suddenly start shooting at people. Panic ensues, you catch a weapon, and start firing back. It's preposterous in the extreme, but gleefully so.

It turns out that a giant space laser has been taken over by a terrorist group who had posed as space-partners, and is now firing at North America. And it's targeting a lot of other major cities. In a bold suicide mission, you and your partner set out to prevent its firing again.

That's all, well, bonkers. But good bonkers! It's such a boldly different beginning, and suggests a game that's trying to do something particularly different. So my optimism doesn't look so silly now, right?

Wrong.

That was the first ten minutes. Everything in the following three hours has been nothing like it, and everything like the miserably familiar ungame drear-fest that has so successfully pulled its coup over what was once the most thrilling of gaming genres.

It's ten years later, and the two brothers have gone through the complete transition into grunting armyman blank spaces. Whoever the bad spacemen were, the South American forces are now an invading army in the USA, and you're a defending army, so shoot at them. The ones in the slightly different coloured uniform.

I'm not far enough in to know their true origins and motives. Just that they're the ones to fire toward, because someone said so. And it's business as usual, as you're forced to follow behind the AI people who actually get to play the game.

"Stay low, follow my lead," says my brother. "Target on the right, take him out," he instructs. If I do it, he might tell me it was a "nice kill". Ew. If I don't, the game either gets cryogenically frozen, ready to emerge from its stasis at such a time as I do as I'm told, or somehow we all die. "Target in the open," my brother points out. "Target neutralised," he continues with barely a breath, having shot him before I could look around. Oh, okay. I'll just stand back here carrying the sandwiches.

In fact, so frequent are these barked instructions that sometimes he says two of them at the same time! "Go here." "Shoot that." "Stand still." "Do nothing." "KGiollf tohratc gouvyer."

Joining us on our adventures, famously, is a doggie. An Alsatian called Riley, who is impervious to bullets and barks at wolves. He can be instructed, with a tap of Q, to savagely attack enemies. He leaps for their throats and brutally mauls them to death. "Nice," says your brother. Who I'm now convinced is a very disturbed man.

At the game's most ridiculous, you're given direct control of Riley, able to see through a camera on his head. Quite how your extraordinary puppetry of his body is working the game chooses to throw away in a nonsense line about, I don't know, psychic dog powers. Here you get to run around, leaping at baddies and eating their neck meats, until the game tells you it's time to stop again. It's utterly silly.

With each iteration of this series, and those of its rivals, the degree of player agency is reduced. While the genre has been primarily about bottom-following for years now, the contemptuous attitude taken to players seems to grow more disdainful as time goes on. Where we've previously been told "YOU'RE LEAVING THE GAME AREA!!!" when we've dared to wonder what was over there, in Ghosts you're just plain dead if you're audacious enough to walk off its invisible line.

Of course it's always argued the reason the CoD games sell fourteenty-billion copies is because of the multiplayer. The reality is that a huge proportion of customers are in it for the single-player. Even the developers don't get this: last year Treyarch's David Vonderhaar said, "As popular as Call of Duty is, there are a lot of people who don't play multiplayer. And quite frankly, this bugs the shit out of us." Even they don't understand why people are buying it for the single-player, and I find it so hard to relate to what such people want from gaming.

Dragging you around by your nose, the game wedges its fingers so far up your nostrils that it pokes at your brain, trying to stop it from ever thinking. It's so vapid, so uninvolving, so empty. Once you're clear of that intriguing opening, you're faced with a sequence of shooting at pop-up baddies followed by a sequence shooting from the back of a truck. It couldn't be less inspired or more generic. It's like it hates you, itself, everything. Someone somewhere said, "Yeah, just put them in the back of a truck shooting, because fucking hell, they'll buy it anyway," before putting his plastic coffee cup down on a desk, leaning his head against a wall, and sighing.

Oh look, I'm manning a turret while scripted events happen all around me. Oh look, a scripted event has broken the turret and now I'm running in the one acceptable direction in this vast beach area. Oh look, men are shouting at me, telling me what to do, in a medium where our freedom and ability to experience the unreachable are usually so valued. One of the men shouts, "We're surrounded from all sides!" and I simultaneously think the obvious, "what other form of surrounded is there?", at the same time as feeling the ennui of the person who had to write that line, and the system in which it was good enough, and the man who recorded it in the studio, and the person whose job it was to make that man shout that line at that moment.

It's a woeful experience, empty bluster and noise, shouting into the wind of meaningless explosions and pointlessly detailed locations. Tomorrow in a full review I'll discuss the technical issues, and the depth of failure the experience truly offers. And maybe how much it improves as it goes on? Maybe?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on November 06, 2013, 02:16:07 AM
Quote from: Valmy on November 04, 2013, 10:43:19 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on November 04, 2013, 03:09:17 PM
I thought they lived in the Astral Plane.  If I recall correctly, they were waging eternal war against another people called the Githzerai who lived on Limbo.  The Githyanki were chaotic evil, high leveled, and carried powerful silver swords.

And both races were once one race enslaved by the Mind Flayers who split with their differing interpretations on how to secure their freedom.  Dak'kon from Planescape Torment was a Githzerai.

We used to play Planescape with old AD&D 2nd edition rule set.  It was good fun.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 08, 2013, 12:52:00 AM
Sid Meier's Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies is out for 5 bucks.

Would it be too much to dream they make a Star Wars version of this?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Queequeg on November 08, 2013, 02:16:57 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on November 04, 2013, 03:09:17 PM

I thought they lived in the Astral Plane.  If I recall correctly, they were waging eternal war against another people called the Githzerai who lived on Limbo.  The Githyanki were chaotic evil, high leveled, and carried powerful silver swords.
Has no one played Planescape recently?

Githzerai and Githyanki were originally humans or a human-like race enslaved by ilithids on the astral plain.  Eventually Zerthimon found a way to break free of Ilithid mind control and began a war with the mindflayers, but upon his initial victory the race split in to a chaotic group bent on extermination and forcing of will upon limbo (githyanki) and the followers of the continued teachings of Zerthimon.  Though IDK how canon that is because in Planescape the Unbroken Circles of Zerthimon was messed with by one of the incarnations of the Nameless One.


I need to get laid.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on November 08, 2013, 02:20:58 AM
Seconded.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on November 08, 2013, 04:02:33 AM
Quote from: Queequeg on November 08, 2013, 02:16:57 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on November 04, 2013, 03:09:17 PM

I thought they lived in the Astral Plane.  If I recall correctly, they were waging eternal war against another people called the Githzerai who lived on Limbo.  The Githyanki were chaotic evil, high leveled, and carried powerful silver swords.
Has no one played Planescape recently?

Githzerai and Githyanki were originally humans or a human-like race enslaved by ilithids on the astral plain.  Eventually Zerthimon found a way to break free of Ilithid mind control and began a war with the mindflayers, but upon his initial victory the race split in to a chaotic group bent on extermination and forcing of will upon limbo (githyanki) and the followers of the continued teachings of Zerthimon.  Though IDK how canon that is because in Planescape the Unbroken Circles of Zerthimon was messed with by one of the incarnations of the Nameless One.


I need to get laid.

I haven't played the pen and paper game since 1997 or so.  The books had really good art.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grinning_Colossus on November 29, 2013, 08:13:09 PM
I just threw away $20 on The Mandate and its catchy Soviet theme song.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1964463742/the-mandate (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1964463742/the-mandate)

Looks like it's trying to be part-RPG, part-naval combat simulator. Here's hoping it doesn't fail at both.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on November 29, 2013, 09:36:04 PM
For those who thought Eve online didn't have enough Space Russians.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grinning_Colossus on December 02, 2013, 05:47:48 PM
Mandate got funded. Hopefully they'll adopt a system similar to StarFleet Command for the space combat. Those were some fun battles.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on December 02, 2013, 06:01:37 PM
Quote from: Grinning_Colossus on December 02, 2013, 05:47:48 PM
Mandate got funded. Hopefully they'll adopt a system similar to StarFleet Command for the space combat. Those were some fun battles.

Fond memories there with the SL league.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 05, 2013, 08:55:18 AM
Starbound early access is available on Steam. It's basically Terraria .... IN SPACE! Planets are randomly generated, with randomized flora/fauna. Once you have the material to fuel your ship you can go to other planets. MP/PvP is available. It's 13.99
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 07, 2013, 11:45:21 AM
I've watched a couple of TotalBiscuit's Hearthstone videos. Looks quite interesting and fun. Looking forward to it going public.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on December 07, 2013, 12:57:14 PM
Quote from: Syt on December 07, 2013, 11:45:21 AM
I've watched a couple of TotalBiscuit's Hearthstone videos. Looks quite interesting and fun. Looking forward to it going public.

It's surprisingly deep.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on December 07, 2013, 06:09:39 PM
Well suppose it's about time to get War in the East and the add-on. Been putting it off long enough.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on December 07, 2013, 06:30:25 PM
and maybe this to get my Assault fix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MJvehBNqVY

QuoteTime is represented in turns, which are resolved simultaneously for both players (WEGO). Turns length (i.e. the span of simulated combat time they represent) depend on the average effectiveness of the whole force, with increased turn lengths for forces suffering a drop in their effectiveness. For example, I've seen my force's effectiveness drop due to numerous battlefield malaises (excessive ammunition expenditure, fatigue or too much distance to a headquarters unit) and get my turn length increased from 20 to a command-wrecking 43 minutes. The mind-blowing thing about this? The other side (Soviets in this case), thanks to their undisputed numerical superiority, suffered less effectiveness degradation and had almost no increase in their turn length. This is called asynchronous, variable length turns: I was able to give orders every 43 minutes of simulated combat time, the Soviets were able to give orders every 25 minutes. John Boyd's observation, orientation, decision and action (OODA) cycle comes immediately to mind. Are you ready for maneuver warfare?


http://kriegsimulation.blogspot.com/2013/09/flashpoint-campaigns-red-storm-preview.html

Leopards, Cheiftains, and Cobras...OH MY!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 08, 2013, 12:11:40 AM
Yeah, the command system has gotten some attention on this one. On top of what he says, your orders to units will start clogging up the airwaves, so you should be economical with them as you can't give an unlimited amount of orders. Also, a lot of radio chatter makes it easy for your enemy to pinpoint your HQ and hit them with artillery.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on December 08, 2013, 12:24:47 AM
Quote from: Syt on December 08, 2013, 12:11:40 AM
Yeah, the command system has gotten some attention on this one. On top of what he says, your orders to units will start clogging up the airwaves, so you should be economical with them as you can't give an unlimited amount of orders. Also, a lot of radio chatter makes it easy for your enemy to pinpoint your HQ and hit them with artillery.

What would your rating be of it?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 08, 2013, 12:41:55 AM
I haven't played it yet. Here's a review, though:

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/11/08/wot-i-think-flashpoint-campaigns-red-storm/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on December 08, 2013, 01:59:17 AM
 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on December 08, 2013, 04:14:27 PM
Pulled the trigger on Flashpoint, WitE+ DLCs  ;)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on December 08, 2013, 09:41:13 PM
Chemical weapons too..... :mmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on December 11, 2013, 02:58:52 PM
I'm liking this. Fills one of my favorite modern tac games, Assault series superbly.
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1507280_10202505433708312_1234581800_o.jpg)

 


Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 14, 2013, 02:32:39 AM
This might be interesting: Dungeon of the Endless (DOTE) (http://www.amplitude-studios.com/Articles/BEHINDTHEDOOR).

It's a sci-fi themed hybrid - part exploration of a randomized sci-fi dungeon, part resource management, part RPG elements and some tower defense. It's out on Steam in version 0.1.1.

Even at this early stage it shows a lot of promise. Here's a twenty minute gameplay video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKJk3gvtLyc

The game is by Amplitude who also gave us Endless Space.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on December 14, 2013, 08:33:28 PM
Now they're just not even trying anymore...

Quote
Dear customer,

This is an automated notification sent from our account security system. You logined your account successfully at 4:27  on twelve 11th form the 125.87.*.* range, but our system shows the 125.10.*.* IP range exists a large number of hackers. As too many customer complaints, the 125.98.*.* IP range has been blacklisted.

We are concerned about whether your account has been stolen. In order to guarantee the legitimacy of your account, visit click:

website fill out some information to facilitate our investigation.

Account security is solely the responsibility of the accountholder. Please be advised that in the event of a compromised account, Blizzard representatives will typically lock the account. In these cases the Account Administration team will require faxed receipt of ID materials before releasing the account for play.

If you ignore this mail your account can and will be closed permanently.
Once we verify your account, we will reply to your e-mail informing you that we have dropped the investigation.

Sincerely,
Blizzard account system
Blizzard Entertainment2013
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: DontSayBanana on December 15, 2013, 12:55:48 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 14, 2013, 08:33:28 PM
Now they're just not even trying anymore...

Quote
Dear customer,

This is an automated notification sent from our account security system. You logined your account successfully at 4:27  on twelve 11th form the 125.87.*.* range, but our system shows the 125.10.*.* IP range exists a large number of hackers. As too many customer complaints, the 125.98.*.* IP range has been blacklisted.

We are concerned about whether your account has been stolen. In order to guarantee the legitimacy of your account, visit click:

website fill out some information to facilitate our investigation.

Account security is solely the responsibility of the accountholder. Please be advised that in the event of a compromised account, Blizzard representatives will typically lock the account. In these cases the Account Administration team will require faxed receipt of ID materials before releasing the account for play.

If you ignore this mail your account can and will be closed permanently.
Once we verify your account, we will reply to your e-mail informing you that we have dropped the investigation.

Sincerely,
Blizzard account system
Blizzard Entertainment2013

You been playing on some shady proxies lately, Seeds? ;)

Hey, at least they're using East Asian IPs.  125.10 is @Home Network Japan, and the other two are at least different branches of the same ISP- China Telecom.  Pretty funny that they couldn't be arsed to use the same Class B pool twice in the same demand letter, though. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on December 16, 2013, 10:54:45 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 14, 2013, 08:33:28 PM
Now they're just not even trying anymore...

Quote
Dear customer,

This is an automated notification sent from our account security system. You logined your account successfully at 4:27  on twelve 11th form the 125.87.*.* range, but our system shows the 125.10.*.* IP range exists a large number of hackers. As too many customer complaints, the 125.98.*.* IP range has been blacklisted.

We are concerned about whether your account has been stolen. In order to guarantee the legitimacy of your account, visit click:

website fill out some information to facilitate our investigation.

Account security is solely the responsibility of the accountholder. Please be advised that in the event of a compromised account, Blizzard representatives will typically lock the account. In these cases the Account Administration team will require faxed receipt of ID materials before releasing the account for play.

If you ignore this mail your account can and will be closed permanently.
Once we verify your account, we will reply to your e-mail informing you that we have dropped the investigation.

Sincerely,
Blizzard account system
Blizzard Entertainment2013
The account of this is believable, too many complaints.  And sentence fragments.  You should also be advised that this should be responded to in the same passive voice as was used by the phishers.  If active voice were to be used by you, suspicions might arise in the minds of the phishers, and your response might be ignored by them.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: PRC on December 16, 2013, 11:01:16 AM
Quote from: Syt on December 05, 2013, 08:55:18 AM
Starbound early access is available on Steam. It's basically Terraria .... IN SPACE! Planets are randomly generated, with randomized flora/fauna. Once you have the material to fuel your ship you can go to other planets. MP/PvP is available. It's 13.99

I've been playing this.  It's a lot of fun, if you enjoyed Terraria you will love this.  It is early access beta so I have noticed some issues and every update means you should basically start a new character but it's been great so far.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on December 17, 2013, 11:16:56 AM
Tampax is willing to beeta test it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on January 08, 2014, 01:58:23 PM
Followup to the best RTS ever made now has a teaser trailer.  :)
http://youtu.be/UxlGYVVGu3I

Quote
First Wargame: Red Dragon Teaser Trailer Makes Me Randy
The Wargame series has the scale of Supreme Commander, the dynamic campaigns of Dawn of War: Dark Crusade, the tactical nous of Eugen's own RUSE, and it seems there's a new entry in the series every year. I'm pretty sure we should all be playing these games.

As the name suggests, Red Dragon is the first Wargame to take the series out of Europe and set it instead in Asia. It's still a Cold War-ish affair, this time set between 1975 and 1991, but with 450 new units including tanks and planes from China and North Korea. Multiplayer returns also, for up to 20 players.

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/01/08/first-wargame-red-dragon-teaser-trailer-makes-me-randy/#more-183323
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on January 22, 2014, 05:58:35 AM
Heroes of Stalingrad will be released on the 12th of February.

http://matrixgames.com/products/349/details/Mark.H..Walker%27s.Lock.%27n.Load:.Heroes.of.Stalingrad (http://matrixgames.com/products/349/details/Mark.H..Walker%27s.Lock.%27n.Load:.Heroes.of.Stalingrad)

If you like boardgames and tactical stuff it is well worth checking out. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on January 22, 2014, 06:03:38 PM
LOLZ, Matrix Games + Mark Walker =  game with demons from another dimension that will need 14 patches in 6 weeks
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on January 22, 2014, 06:07:14 PM
I'll stick with the boardgame. Thanks.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on January 23, 2014, 06:23:05 AM
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy148%2FMandyMae%2Fstatler_and_waldorf.jpg&hash=731eeb496dc337ea1c94a89695b4713821b2bb13)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on January 23, 2014, 10:19:01 AM
Go beet it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: fhdz on January 23, 2014, 11:58:20 PM
Well now I want to play Kharkov: Disaster on the Donets.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Liep on January 24, 2014, 09:49:44 AM
I like the new Assassins Creed, it's Far Cry 3 with clunkier movements but a more awesome setting. Swinging unto a British frigate plunging a swords into peoples faces is hilarious.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on January 24, 2014, 09:52:47 AM
Isn't Far Cry 3 in first person?

At any rate, it is fun though I tire of the animations for what you decide to do after capturing a ship....and it is the first in the series where I recall getting notices that I need to do more to level up (in this case the ship) before continuing on with the story.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Liep on January 24, 2014, 09:59:06 AM
Yeah, but everything from gathering upgrades through hunting to assassinations (in FC it's called take downs) is exactly the same. And the map is synchronizations vs. unjamming radio towers. I guess game crossover reuse isn't new, but it feels silly when it's so obvious.

And a quick push on 'E' will skip the animations.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on January 24, 2014, 10:08:47 AM
Except that at least 2 of those things you are speaking about have been in earlier iterations of the series. I don't remember which iteration the assassinations from above came in but it was before this one and I believe the map synchronizations started in AC2.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Liep on January 24, 2014, 10:11:27 AM
Well, I haven't played AC since I was disappointed with the controls in the first iteration, so I don't know who took what from whom. At any rate they did sailing really fucking good here, never mind how it actually is to steer a ship, it feels right.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on January 24, 2014, 10:33:04 AM
Quote from: Liep on January 24, 2014, 10:11:27 AM
Well, I haven't played AC since I was disappointed with the controls in the first iteration, so I don't know who took what from whom.

Ah okay, yeah - the series got much better after the first one which was quite painful with its controls. AC2 and Brotherhood were also fun as they took place in Italy.  New stuff in AC4 is the focus on a ship (there was some brief sailing in AC3) and then that hunting/treasure maps. Otherwise, not so dissimilar from the other recent iterations (which I think some reviewers noted as a negative).

Quote from: Liep on January 24, 2014, 10:11:27 AMAt any rate they did sailing really fucking good here, never mind how it actually is to steer a ship, it feels right.

Yes, unlike it many games, very approachable.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on January 24, 2014, 10:34:33 AM
And all this is using the Shaun White Snowboard engine!

The assasinate animation in AC is an object called "kick sliding" (or something snowboard specific).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on January 25, 2014, 07:57:34 AM
Silent Service 1&2 are available on Gog.com for package deal of $5.99.

I love the internet.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on January 25, 2014, 10:33:29 PM
Blackguars is out.

Demo is interesting. First time I play an RPG based on anything else than D&D.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on January 26, 2014, 02:42:53 PM
Quote from: Tamas on January 23, 2014, 06:23:05 AM
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy148%2FMandyMae%2Fstatler_and_waldorf.jpg&hash=731eeb496dc337ea1c94a89695b4713821b2bb13)

That's goddamned right.

I'm Statler on the left, as Ed is probably taller and thinner than I am anyway.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on January 26, 2014, 07:13:50 PM
170 pounds of pure gristle.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Iormlund on January 29, 2014, 08:15:48 PM
Banished (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gAXcREfjbQ) is out in a couple weeks and looks awesome, especially for a game made by one dude.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Liep on January 29, 2014, 08:49:51 PM
Quote from: Iormlund on January 29, 2014, 08:15:48 PM
Banished (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gAXcREfjbQ) is out in a couple weeks and looks awesome, especially for a game made by one dude.

That looks really interesting. And difficult, or maybe Quill is just not very good.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on January 29, 2014, 09:30:50 PM
I hope it's cheap.

It's Anno 1701 with a none-cartoonish look & no wars.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Iormlund on January 29, 2014, 10:35:25 PM
Quote from: Liep on January 29, 2014, 08:49:51 PM
Quote from: Iormlund on January 29, 2014, 08:15:48 PM
Banished (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gAXcREfjbQ) is out in a couple weeks and looks awesome, especially for a game made by one dude.

That looks really interesting. And difficult, or maybe Quill is just not very good.

He makes a couple mistakes, especially when he queues up the trading post (which he didn't really need anyway). But to be fair he's playing it when there's not that much information available about mechanics and this was his longest game so far.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on January 31, 2014, 11:27:51 AM
Quote from: Iormlund on January 29, 2014, 08:15:48 PM
Banished (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gAXcREfjbQ) is out in a couple weeks and looks awesome, especially for a game made by one dude.

I've been following it for a while, really impressive.
This will probably be the first game in years that I'll buy on release.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Zanza on January 31, 2014, 11:46:33 AM
If the first reviews of that are positive, I'll buy it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Queequeg on January 31, 2014, 04:35:03 PM
Anyone planning to get Thief 4?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on January 31, 2014, 06:18:10 PM
Quote from: Queequeg on January 31, 2014, 04:35:03 PM
Anyone planning to get Thief 4?

Ah, the game about Eastern Europeans opening torrent links.

I vill beet this game!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on January 31, 2014, 06:19:50 PM
Quote from: Queequeg on January 31, 2014, 04:35:03 PM
Anyone planning to get Thief 4?

Nah.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 07, 2014, 11:29:33 AM
Combat Mission - Red Thunder preview:

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/02/07/the-flare-path-always-bagrational/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on February 11, 2014, 06:50:03 PM
Quote from: Syt on February 07, 2014, 11:29:33 AM
Combat Mission - Red Thunder preview:

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/02/07/the-flare-path-always-bagrational/

Finally, back to the only theater that matters. :showoff:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on February 11, 2014, 08:40:01 PM
Also flamethowers!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 12, 2014, 06:55:22 AM
Lock n' Load Heroes of Stalingrad is out.

I had some seriously fun times testing it, hence my pushing it to you people.

http://www.matrixgames.com/products/349/details/Mark.H..Walker's.Lock.'n.Load:.Heroes.of.Stalingrad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFdOMQsOvZM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff2X2s6iZfQ
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 12, 2014, 07:48:51 AM
Is that a mistake that boxed version is cheaper?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 12, 2014, 08:00:02 AM
Quote from: garbon on February 12, 2014, 07:48:51 AM
Is that a mistake that boxed version is cheaper?

The boxed displays as more expensive for me
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 12, 2014, 08:06:52 AM
Same here. Matritherine's pricing can be wacky at times (World in Flames download costs same as box with lots of extras), but not that crazy.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 12, 2014, 08:12:31 AM
Oh shit, just realized when it was small on my tablet, 5 looked like a dollar sign. :D :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 12, 2014, 08:14:27 AM
Quote from: Syt on February 12, 2014, 08:06:52 AM
Same here. Matritherine's pricing can be wacky at times (World in Flames download costs same as box with lots of extras), but not that crazy.

Oddly the other day Amazon had a new Cd with digital download that was actually a few dollars cheaper than download. Then I was fully awake so I know it was the case. :D -_-
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on February 13, 2014, 06:44:58 PM
The buzz around Titanfall hasn't affected me at all until I started watching streamers playing the beta. It looks like a lot of crazy, stupid fun.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on February 18, 2014, 02:26:07 PM
Some Red Thunder gameplay. Guy also has Titanfall stuff too.

http://www.twitch.tv/chrisnd/c/3729842

http://www.twitch.tv/chrisnd/c/3729757
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on February 18, 2014, 09:50:18 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on February 13, 2014, 06:44:58 PM
The buzz around Titanfall hasn't affected me at all until I started watching streamers playing the beta. It looks like a lot of crazy, stupid fun.

Once I saw the preview video of getting into the mech, I was sold.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: DontSayBanana on February 18, 2014, 10:59:31 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on February 18, 2014, 09:50:18 PM
Once I saw the preview video of getting into the mech, I was sold.

I'm still waiting for another proper Steel Battalion game, dammit. :angry:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on February 19, 2014, 09:15:50 AM
I've since played Titanfall in beta and it is indeed awesome. Most people play it like it's Callerdoody so they can't cope with a noob like me jet-packing around invisible blasting fools away with a shotgun.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on February 19, 2014, 09:17:30 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on February 19, 2014, 09:15:50 AM
I've since played Titanfall in beta and it is indeed awesome. Most people play it like it's Callerdoody so they can't cope with a noob like me jet-packing around invisible blasting fools away with a shotgun.

Does it have a Tribes tinge to it?

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on February 19, 2014, 09:26:00 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on February 19, 2014, 09:17:30 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on February 19, 2014, 09:15:50 AM
I've since played Titanfall in beta and it is indeed awesome. Most people play it like it's Callerdoody so they can't cope with a noob like me jet-packing around invisible blasting fools away with a shotgun.

Does it have a Tribes tinge to it?

It's not as fast and "slidey" as Tribes, but there are movement options like Stimpacks and Prosthetic Legs that give you ultra fast Quake-like speed. You can slide around on walls and double jump too. There aren't really any classes either, just different load outs that you can change once you level up a couple times. I usually like to have Sprint on all the time wielding a shotgun and prowl around capture points with Invisibility on while my Titan is outside pwning Calladewty nerds on Guard mode.

It's like a weird mix of Tribes+Call of Duty 4+Mechwarrior.

The beta ends tonight I think. You might still be able to get in and try it for a few hours. PC and XBone only though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on February 19, 2014, 09:33:42 AM
Huh. My video game boner twitched.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on February 19, 2014, 09:36:38 AM
I had zero interest into titanfall.

Now I want to play it. Shame it's 60$.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on February 19, 2014, 05:59:19 PM
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rockpapershotgun.com%2Fimages%2F14%2Fjan%2Fthunder01.png&hash=758a8d6152f2b6552b623fe73dcb322e6992d4a8)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rockpapershotgun.com%2Fimages%2F14%2Fjan%2Fthunder04.png&hash=0ddbaa6164e26fa5ed09d829215158646f91b8b2)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7442%2F12565803215_1440153068_b.jpg&hash=663e1c69d7e0299febcc01fbbd325453a4a1361a)



QuoteThe Flare Path: Always Bagrational

By Tim Stone on February 7th, 2014 at 1:00 pm.
Tweet this

If you ever find yourself in Hell, do check out the Empirical War Museum. Their tank collection makes Bovington's look paltry, their 1:1 scale 'Little Pearl Harbour' diorama will literally take your breath away, and their seemingly empty Landmine Gallery is pure genius. Last time I visited I bumped into a couple of Battlefront.com researchers outside the Hall of Flamethrowers. The pair claimed they weren't there on business, but their camera bags, tape measures, and smouldering eyebrows told a different story.

Combat Mission, that titan of tactical wargaming, is on a train heading East. In just over a month's time it will disembark at an unremarkable Belorussian railhead and plunge straight into a series of ferocious Operation Bagration battles. Panthers will growl, T-34s will burn, throaty 'Oorah!'s will send shivers and sweat trickles down grimy PanzerGrenadier spines. Second-gen Combat Mission ('CMx2′) has shifted Fronts several times over the last five years, but a couple of easy-to-overlook engine enhancements make this the most exciting relocation yet.

A feature tucked away in the Editor section of the Red Thunder overview page has got me most animated. To the outsider, the promise of "AI Triggers [that] allow AI forces to execute actions based on other units or interaction with Objectives" might not sound like a reason for hat hurling, but for anyone that misses the unscripted dynamism of the old CMx1 AI, the announcement is a massive morale booster.

Currently, AI plans don't change to fit shifting battlefield realities. The timetables sketched out by scenario authors are followed to the letter/number whatever you decide to do with your own forces. Battle crafters are expected to second-guess players and unsurprisingly they regularly guess wrong.

In Red Thunder things will be different. Silicon COs will get a big helping hand in the form of invisible (to us) behaviour triggers. Now artificial adversaries won't decide when to spring ambushes, or commence withdrawals or counter-attacks, simply by consulting wristwatches (though this is still an option). They'll spring into action when a player blunders into a pre-daubed trigger area. A cunning scenario shaper can assign several triggers to a particular unit or bunch of units, though presently only one of these triggers can be active at a time. While explaining the new capability on the official forum, BFC's Steve Grammont describes how it could be used to, say, create more plausible tank destroyer behaviour...

"The Human player moves his units cautiously along the road. Unknown to him he runs over the Trigger Objective and that springs the tank destroyers into action. They appear on top of a hill 800m off to the left, catching the player's attacking tanks in the flank and (hopefully for the AI) knocking some out. After a couple of minutes of trading fire AI Group 3 executes another Order to move back behind the hill for cover and then relocate to a new spot to then be tied into a new Trigger Objective so as to repeat the same sort of thing but from a different location."

In another nod to that section of the CM Old Guard still uncomfortable with aspects of CMx2′s Great Leap Forward, Red Thunder will also reintroduce online WeGo multiplayer. Since Shock Force, if you've wanted both sentient opposition and the splendid tension and space to think offered by CM's optional WeGo mode (players plot moves TBS-style, then those moves are simultaneously executed during a nail-biting minute of non-intervention real-time action) your only option has been PBEM. Technological hurdles mean TCP/IP WeGoers won't be able to rewind action phases the way they once could, but it's still a significant advance.

Of course, when, earlier this week, I asked a Kampfgruppe of beta-testers and BFC insiders to share their most memorable RT combat experiences, it wasn't AI triggers and MP modes that dominated the anecdotes.

Scenario maestro George McEwan's first taste of the 'new' (not seen in CM since Afrika Korps) flame weapons had left an indelible mental mark. After hosing a Soviet trenchline with liquid fire and hearing a chilling chorus of unexpected screams (he'd assumed most of the enemy were already dead) he watched his grenadiers push on through positions scattered with corpses and smouldering terrain. "The overall effect was one of how nasty flamethrowers were/are as weapons. A very different experience from CMx1 where the target infantry either fled or just dropped dead in a very cartoon like way."

Beta-tester Pnzrldr was similarly struck by the fearsome destructive power of the knapsack napalmists. He described "Working for hours against a merciless TAC AI to get my Pioniere Flammenwerfer close enough to see that little blue LOS line, hit that red button, and watch all that fiery petrol squirting straight down the trench"

Tank riders, another Red Thunder novelty, cropped up in quite a few battle tales. Bil Hardenberger talked of an occasion when his "Panther, covered by tank riders on its rear deck, was merrily advancing along a secure flank when suddenly, an enemy aircraft strafed the panzer knocking several infantrymen to the ground. The survivors hung on while the vehicle, now obscured by the dust kicked up by the aircraft's rounds, moved on, oblivious to the damage being inflicted on its passengers."

The introduction of impact graphics seems to have gone down rather well with the beta fraternity. According to tester Sergei "My favorite moment with the new decals was when I was inspecting battle damage on my IS-2. There seemed to be a deflection mark on the gun but I couldn't see a "gun hit" report at any point. Finally, pausing at each hit, I saw that one shot bounced from the frontal armor, hitting the main gun! This is the kind of stuff that must have happened in the game previously but until now you couldn't see them unfold, you'd just wonder why the tank gun was knocked out.". And the tell-tale impact scars aren't only produced by AP. Sergei again:
"A T-34/76′s canister shot against a German bunker is a fireworks display that everyone needs to see. The hundreds of balls are all tracked and leave individual holes in the bunker."

The most obvious gaps in Red Thunder's extensive unit list – Lend-Lease vehicles like the Sherman and M3 halftrack, and troop types like the SS and Luftwaffe – will be filled by future modules (The Finns, Hungarians, Romanians, Poles and Bulgarians may also find their way into the game in a similar manner). Happily, the default unit mix looks more than capable of delivering unusual/unfamiliar military match-ups. After his first taste of Soviet heavy tanks, studio artist MikeyD's Tigerphobia is nowhere near as acute as it once was: "My side had IS-2 'early' tanks. The AI had Tiger Is and Panthers rolling in my direction across an open map. At 1km they spotted each other. A Tiger I got off the first shot – it bounced off my IS-2′s bow. I can't recall ever seeing an 88 round harmlessly ricocheting away while playing the Normandy game. The IS-2′s 122mm gun replied with a clean penetration straight though the center of the Tigers' bow plate, leaving a hole big enough to put your fist through. Yikes! From a kilometer away! I'm DEFINITELY not on the Western Front anymore!"

Not that the Reds can expect to have things all their own way. The pic above was grabbed by Pnzrldr during an ambitious Ausf B hunt. "Turns out that no, even from directly behind, a 45mm pop gun will NOT penetrate a King Tiger. However, he did run away! My T-70 got off two shots, one upper hull hit, one lower. Instant Hero of the Soviet Union!"

Getting used to Ost Front AFV types promises to be a much more straightforward task than adjusting to the peculiarities of WW2 Soviet infantry. Approaches that worked well with Allied or Axis forces in past CMx2 titles, may – according to BFC's characteristically well-informed Steve Grammont - prove impractical with Red Thunder's Ivans. Due to their relative inexperience, poor training, and small, fragile, radio-deprived HQs, piecemeal infantry tactics aren't recommended for the Red Army player.

Just about the only situation where Soviet infantry should shine is in close-range firefights. Liberal provision of PPS and PPSh-41 submachineguns will see to that. Tester Chris Nelson's favourite Red Thunder moment thus far involved a spot of close-quarters SMG mayhem. After fording a river with a little help from the T-34s that had bused them into battle, most of his men made it into the contested wood-edge that was their goal. "In the claustrophobic vegetation, the lethal short-range firepower of the SMG squads soon became apparent as they quickly mopped-up the survivors of the German rearguard."

Though I'm expecting to be amongst the mopped-up as often as the moppers, Red Thunder is a game I'm longing to lose myself in. Will those AI triggers prove as transformative as I hope? Will we be able to use those flamethrower teams without a Tiger-heavy heart?  Come mid-March we'll find out.


http://battledrill.blogspot.com/2014/02/combat-mission-red-thunder-beta-after.html
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 19, 2014, 10:49:48 PM
That's the same article as far as I can see that Tim Stone also posted on Rock Paper Shotgun and that I linked above.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 19, 2014, 11:04:12 PM
While I was on Steam to pick up Banished I noticed the developer Longbow has a new Hegemony game out.  This time they have shifted from the Greek world to create Hegemony: Rome.  The game is still in early development but I really like this developer and they way the create strategy games.

I recommend you take a look.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on February 20, 2014, 09:17:21 PM
Banished is good. Real good. It's giving me the "just ten more minutes" feeling. Before I know it two hours have gone by.  :lol:

Should get even more replayability with after the mod kit is released.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on February 20, 2014, 09:47:50 PM
Can't wait for March!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on February 21, 2014, 02:33:28 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on February 20, 2014, 09:17:21 PM
Banished is good. Real good. It's giving me the "just ten more minutes" feeling. Before I know it two hours have gone by.  :lol:

Should get even more replayability with after the mod kit is released.

I really like it, it's slow and relaxing.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on February 21, 2014, 07:10:57 AM
Anno 2070 complete is 75% off on Steam for 12.50$
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 21, 2014, 08:35:39 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on February 21, 2014, 07:10:57 AM
Anno 2070 complete is 75% off on Steam for 12.50$

I have re-installed that just recently actually, to combat my urge to buy Banished. I think it is well worth that price. The Anno gameplay combined with pretty graphics, and a nice near-future setting. Building up an industrial powerhouse churning out pollution and smog, or a nice green community, plus underwater buildings... quite nice.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on February 21, 2014, 08:44:04 AM
My problem is...Targes :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: PDH on February 22, 2014, 03:53:59 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on February 20, 2014, 09:17:21 PM
Banished is good. Real good. It's giving me the "just ten more minutes" feeling. Before I know it two hours have gone by.  :lol:

Should get even more replayability with after the mod kit is released.

Indeed.  It is a time sink, and enjoyably so.  Even if I only get 2 hours to the dollar spent on a game I feel I have come out ahead and I expect many hours on this one - I just had my 1st town hit the stage where population grown is outgaining death due to old age, including a nice tornado that tore up my town and food production.  So far, very fun.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on February 22, 2014, 05:16:21 PM
Trailer for Wargame: Red Dragon, the sequel to Airland Battle, just came out.

http://youtu.be/IoXwdVJIlk0

:wub::wub::wub::wub::wub::wub:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: PRC on February 24, 2014, 12:07:42 PM
Quote from: PDH on February 22, 2014, 03:53:59 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on February 20, 2014, 09:17:21 PM
Banished is good. Real good. It's giving me the "just ten more minutes" feeling. Before I know it two hours have gone by.  :lol:

Should get even more replayability with after the mod kit is released.

Indeed.  It is a time sink, and enjoyably so.  Even if I only get 2 hours to the dollar spent on a game I feel I have come out ahead and I expect many hours on this one - I just had my 1st town hit the stage where population grown is outgaining death due to old age, including a nice tornado that tore up my town and food production.  So far, very fun.

Yeah, I picked this up and am having a lot of fun with it so far. 

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on February 24, 2014, 08:35:48 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on February 22, 2014, 05:16:21 PM
Trailer for Wargame: Red Dragon, the sequel to Airland Battle, just came out.

http://youtu.be/IoXwdVJIlk0

:wub::wub::wub::wub::wub::wub:

Not enough little girl aircraft carriers.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on February 25, 2014, 09:30:52 AM
AssCreed IV- pretty damn awesome pirate simulator.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 25, 2014, 12:39:57 PM
Quote from: Scipio on February 25, 2014, 09:30:52 AM
AssCreed IV- pretty damn awesome pirate simulator.

But?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 25, 2014, 04:05:45 PM
Anyone played Warehouse and Logistics Simulator?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Zanza on February 25, 2014, 04:09:05 PM
Quote from: The Brain on February 25, 2014, 04:05:45 PM
Anyone played Warehouse and Logistics Simulator?
Yeah, at work. I've got SAP ECC v6.0 with the DLCs MM, LO and WM and lots of mods by diligent Indians installed. How about you?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 25, 2014, 04:16:11 PM
Quote from: Zanza on February 25, 2014, 04:09:05 PM
Quote from: The Brain on February 25, 2014, 04:05:45 PM
Anyone played Warehouse and Logistics Simulator?
Yeah, at work. I've got SAP ECC v6.0 with the DLCs MM, LO and WM and lots of mods by diligent Indians installed. How about you?

Haven't played it, but Languish made me interested.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 25, 2014, 05:11:41 PM
Quote from: The Brain on February 25, 2014, 04:05:45 PM
Anyone played Warehouse and Logistics Simulator?

I am waiting on Seedy's feedback.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on February 25, 2014, 09:08:37 PM
Quote from: Tamas on February 25, 2014, 05:11:41 PM
Quote from: The Brain on February 25, 2014, 04:05:45 PM
Anyone played Warehouse and Logistics Simulator?

I am waiting on Seedy's feedback.

[filter]Hey man nut shot[/filter]
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on March 01, 2014, 03:24:04 PM
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.johntillersoftware.com%2FPanzerBattles%2FBattlesOfKurskSouthern.jpg&hash=2d8b98fd5f57cbec2f771819dc8aaf3d9e55c955)



http://www.johntillersoftware.com/PanzerBattles/BattlesOfKurskSouthern.html

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.johntillersoftware.com%2FPanzerBattles%2FBattlesOfKurskSouthern%2FBoks_8.png&hash=f6567e9e0156a37942d36db93d8fd8db30b3b36b)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.johntillersoftware.com%2FPanzerBattles%2FBattlesOfKurskSouthern%2FBoks_5.png&hash=24528cc1732d3f6c304a1e962cdb0e680e3fe994)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 01, 2014, 03:32:56 PM
Preview on "Vietnam '65", coming for iOS and Windows:

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/02/28/the-flare-path-on-the-ho-chi-minh-trail/

QuoteWhile, clinically speaking, everyone has at least one wargame in them, not everyone has the patience, skill and obstetrical forceps (don't Google) necessary to extract that wargame. My Monmouth Rebellion TBS? It breaks my heart to admit it, but I suspect it will never see the light of day. Then again, South African strategy-smith Johan Nagel has been gestating Vietnam '65 for nigh-on 30 years, so perhaps it's a bit early for defeatism.

The screenshots dotting today's word-paddy show the Vietnam '65 playable prototype in action. If you peer very hard at them you may be able to discern Yours Truly...

Struggling slightly with the tiny icons and keyboard-reliant interface (prototype inconveniences).
Groaning as yet another village falls under the thrall of the VC.
Wincing when an unexpected RPG connects with an infantry-crammed Chinook.
Pondering Forward Base placement.
Combining supply drops with medevac pick-ups.
Wondering when I'll have enough cash to purchase a gunship.
Blundering into minefields.
Pining for an undo key.

Enjoying a game that captures the challenges of counter-insurgency operations and the strategic character of the Vietnam War better than any other PC title I can think of.

Hearts and mines minds are at the heart of Johan's splendidly singular turn-based creation. Dab 'start game' and a village-studded map appears. Winding between the villages like a prowling Pit Viper is a randomly-generated and totally invisible Ho Chi Minh Trail that periodically spawns Viet Cong units. These hard-to-detect foes (the player always controls US/ARVN forces) make for nearby villages and, if they reach them, erode the local Hearts and Minds score. The lower a village's H&M the less likely it is to furnish useful intel when you pay it a visit with one of your patrols, and the more likely it is to become a focal point for enemy activity like ambushes and minelaying.

Let things slide too far and the North Vietnamese Army will start infiltrating from the Western edge of the map (Cambodia). Asymmetric warfare becomes increasingly symmetrical. Unlike their VC comrades who, once detected, are usually fairly easily eliminated (combat is very simple in V65 – just move your unit onto an enemy and await the pop-up result message) NVA grunts and tanks are seriously tough customers.

Whoever the foe, fleece-thick Fog of War ensures combat always has an element of cat-and-mouse to it. The player hunts for needles (mobile, poison-tipped needles) in a big haystack using a combination of patrols and village visits, then attempts to blunt those needles with infantry, arty, gunships, and armour). Every VC or NVA scalp collected nudges the local H&M score back into the black, and generates cash for the purchase of replacements and new units. It's the sort of simple yet mesmerising vicious circle more often found in good board games than historically-sensitive PC fare. Johan's 30 years of counter contemplation may partially explain the pleasing cardboard feel. Like many grogs his love affair with wargaming began with Avalon Hill's Squad Leader.

Vietnam '65 itself began life as a Commodore 64 game – "I coded the initial version back in 1985 for the historical society at university. It was very basic but the concept of the Hearts & Minds score worked well." Later, Operation Flashpoint was pressed into service as a testbed before being abandoned when engine limitations became apparent. Encouraged to return to the project by new distribution options – "Now with the iStore I can distribute electronically which is a game changer" – Johan spent nine months scrubbing the rust off his coding skills and implementing improvements like the hidden Ho Chi Minh Trail (a "big breakthrough in playability"). A $2.99 Unity-engined iOS release is now little more than a month away with a PC version scheduled for June.

I'm rather hoping the PC incarnation, when it comes, offers cartography and counters as an alternative to the 3D visuals illustrated above. I've grown rather attached to the creased period map used in the prototype and, after spending a good portion of this week in the agreeable company of Lock 'n' Load: Heroes of Stalingrad, am acutely aware of the power of comely counter art.

With so much enemy activity obscured by imaginary palm fronds and elephant grass, it's hard to assess V65′s AI at present. It certainly seems smart enough. Even with Johan's words of advice ringing in my ears ("It's all about combinations. Artillery and Fire Bases are very important for area domination, especially in respect of the NVA incursions. Look after your experienced infantry and especially your Rangers, whilst understanding the power of the ARVN in intel gathering...") all of my play sessions have, thus far, ended ingloriously. What keeps me COINing is the wonderful Vietnam War feel, and the fact that every setback feels plausible. I'm enjoying failure and, going by past experience, that's a sure sign I'm in the presence of a strong design.

Johan's commitment to and interest in the Vietnam War is profound and long-standing – "I've been a student of the conflict for as long as I can remember, and have personally visited all the major battle sites" – but happily for those of us that love to see wargame devs tramping unfamiliar battlefields he also has a taste for local history. Just in case a game emphasising the importance of civilian sympathies in the 20th Century's most famous proxy conflict wasn't refreshing enough, Mr Nagel is currently adapting the Vietnam '65 model to simulate the Anglo-Boer War.

Blimey. Can't wait.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 01, 2014, 03:34:51 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on March 01, 2014, 03:24:04 PM
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.johntillersoftware.com%2FPanzerBattles%2FBattlesOfKurskSouthern.jpg&hash=2d8b98fd5f57cbec2f771819dc8aaf3d9e55c955)

Is this going to be the JT game that finally has a useful AI opponent?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on March 01, 2014, 03:39:13 PM
*Shrugs*
I'm just getting it for the 250 meter maps.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on March 01, 2014, 05:21:17 PM
I've been playing War Thunder.  I wonder what will happen to the servers if war breaks out.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 04, 2014, 01:05:44 PM
http://matrixgames.com/news/1363/Qvadriga.is.now.available

It's a chariot racing game. There is a demo link in there.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on March 04, 2014, 01:08:27 PM
:hmm:

It looks sort of like the assignments they'd hand out in CS classes.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 04, 2014, 01:33:02 PM
RPS had a preview IIRC that wasn't too bad.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 06, 2014, 10:05:25 AM
Quote from: Syt on March 04, 2014, 01:33:02 PM
RPS had a preview IIRC that wasn't too bad.

Links to the demo and quick how-to guide:
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3564526
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on March 06, 2014, 01:53:01 PM
For Path of Exile

the new content patch has been released and I give it a big thumbs up.  Also new 4 month leagues have just started.  If you havent tried the game before I recommend starting in the Ambush League - ie the non harcore one.

They have put in a lot of new content that people can experience from the beginning.

I also highly recommend you try this again if you have tried it before, the new content makes it play like a very different game and the graphics have also been significantly improved. 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 07, 2014, 08:23:04 AM
Sword of the Samurai is on GOG. :o

I only encountered it the first time maybe 7 or so years ago. Got hooked despite its obvious age.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 13, 2014, 08:24:05 AM
Qvadriga review on RPS:
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/03/13/qvadriga-turnbased-racing-game-review/

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: PDH on March 13, 2014, 08:52:09 AM
Back in the day we had fun playing Circus Maximus.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on March 13, 2014, 09:02:03 AM
Beet's sales pitch is like Radar selling wingtip shoes.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 13, 2014, 09:12:25 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on March 13, 2014, 09:02:03 AM
Beet's sales pitch is like Radar selling wingtip shoes.

:rolleyes:

Am I pushing all our games to you? No. I liked Qvadriga even when it was a single track pre-beta published on the dev's homepage more than a year ago. I would be pushing it to you even if I wasn't involved in it. I think it is stuff that several people here would enjoy. So I post about it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on March 13, 2014, 09:13:54 AM
So defensive.

Ed 1
Beets -5
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on March 13, 2014, 09:18:49 AM
3 posts and maybe one person sort of showed interest...:hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 13, 2014, 09:23:14 AM
Quote from: garbon on March 13, 2014, 09:18:49 AM
3 posts and maybe one person sort of showed interest...:hmm:

Yes, hence the more posting, since people are missing out  :P

But fine, I will shut up.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on March 13, 2014, 09:24:59 AM
I like yanking your chain T.  :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Beenherebefore on March 13, 2014, 09:25:21 AM
Some decent sale prices on Steam today.

Bioshock Infinite, 7,49 Euros.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on March 13, 2014, 10:14:34 AM
I'm sorely tempted by that sale, but I think I'll keep holding out for a bundle discount that comes with the DLC.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on March 13, 2014, 06:25:43 PM
Wargam RED DRAGON: Naval Trailer
http://youtu.be/J9OwrKS9XRg

I have a boner.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 14, 2014, 09:40:19 AM
RockPaperShotgun has an AAR for QVADRIGA that may actually push me over the edge re: buying the game:

Rome, Commentary & the Lash (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/03/14/qvadriga-aar/)

QuoteLike Adam I've gone anti-clockwise lots this past week and loved every minute of it. During the course of my latest Qvadriga campaign, my team, the Greased Pigs, have travelled the length and breadth of Europe and North Africa. Older, wiser, and sporting more scar tissue than Maximus, the Colosseum's angriest bull hippo, we're now on the verge of our 100th race, a race I thought I'd share with you today in The Flare Path.

I can't promise success or spectacle. My stats reveal that my aurigas (charioteers) win almost a third of the events they enter. Less encouragingly, the figures also show that 44% of our races finish without a Pig on the podium. Part of the joy of this wonderfully fast-paced, surprisingly subtle tactical TBS is the unpredictability. Sound tactics, strong charioteers, and solid equipment are vital, but some days no amount of skill and hardware can overcome the perfect hoof-storm of cunning rivals and cruel luck.

I've come to Rome for the big 1-0-0 bash. I was planning to compete at the famous Circus Maximus but, despite the fact that the Pigs are now 'legendary' on the global stage and 'worshipped' locally, the snobs that run the place won't let us in. Bah. It will have to be the Rome Maxentius nextdoor. A large 'Category V' hippodrome, the difference in scale and splendour isn't actually all that great.

Choosing an auriga for the big day is going to be considerably harder than choosing a venue. My latest signing, Babpo the Spaniard, is, on paper, my finest charioteer. That extra heart by his name means he's tougher than his teammates. The thing is, he hasn't won for me yet and I don't trust him the way I trust the likes of Anir, Hapu, and Preherwen. Those guys have been with the Pigs since the early days. The days when we were nobodies plying our perilous trade on tiny dung-dotted desert circuits on the edge of the Sahara.

I think it's going to be Preherwen. Though he hasn't enjoyed quite the success of Anir, he has talent by the galley-load and has pulled off a couple of truly miraculous wins in his time. I team him with a quartet of my best horses and, tingling even more than usual, press 'RACE'.

Every Qvadriga derby begins with the turn of an event card. Incredibly varied, these can add everything from arena bumps, sandstorms, and extra laps, to sabotaged gates, snipped reins and pissed, projectile-vomitting hurling spectators. On this occasion, the card really couldn't have been more propitious. Plainly, the Gods are smiling on me today so it seems sensible to smile back. I place a 1000-and-something denarii wager (for some reason the bet slider refuses to settle on 1000) on the 5:1 Preherwen.

This is it. The Maxentius buzzes like a giant marble beehive as the twelve aurigas ready themselves behind its shaded carceres. There are only three orders available in the first few turns of a race – 'accelerate', 'decelerate', and 'use whip'. If my 99 previous races have taught me anything it's that two of those should be avoided like the plague. To maximise our chances of success I must hit the first straight near the front of the pack. With Preherwen's whip poised above a quartet of twitching horse rumps, the race begins.

Not bad. Not bad at all. The combination of busy lash, event card luck, a decent lane draw, high auriga skill, and quality chariot and nags, means we reach the spina (the raised platform in the centre of the track) in 3rd position and in roughly the middle of the eight lanes. Better still, none of the vehicles near to the crimson-clad Preherwen have fetlock-shredding blades attached to their wheel-hubs. Losing a horse to a vicious neighbour on the first straight doesn't happen often, but when it does it's usually race over for the unlucky/unwary victim.

Okay, my first tricky choice. I've got a blue-clad Veneta faction cove called Mageshgetil sneaking up on the outside. With his small light chariot and powerful pullers, an overtake seems inevitable. I could try a spoiling lane switch but he might squeak past before the manoeuvre is complete, or cut inside negating the block.

Brilliant. The switch worked perfectly. Mageshgetil attempted to whip his way past and wound up running into the back of my veering machine. Better still, one of his horses was wounded in the collision. I've lost a place to one of the grey quadrigas currently dominating the inside lanes, but, in the circumstances, it feels like a worthwhile sacrifice.

In the next turn a bloody wheel-versus-whip fracas between rivals on my left, and a frenzy of lane changes amongst the leaders (the inside lane folk understandably, don't want to execute the approaching turn too close to the spina wall) give me the opportunity to gain ground. Gunshot-loud whip cracks speed Preherwen past squabblers and steerers.

Entering the first corner my chariot is inches away from the second-place vehicle, a Veneta quadriga piloted by one Rufus. A bottle-green path predictor suggests stability isn't going to be a problem in the remaining sector of the bend, so maybe I can risk a little combat. I wonder how Rufus and his nags will react to a flurry of whip blows?

Hopes can be dashed in seconds in Qvadriga. Rufus obviously had exactly the same idea as me. In the two-way, high-speed, melee the muscular Preherwen prevailed; Rufus was stunned, his horses injured and slowed, but – and it's a Colossus of Rhodes-sized 'but' – my charioteer dropped his whip. I may have just blown my chances.

As we slingshot out of the corner, behind us the dazed Rufus is causing a heart-warming traffic jam. Poor sod. It's definitely not his day. Before he has a chance to recover, he's whipped to death by a bad-tempered bastard bypassing the snarl-up on the inside. The purple predator goes by the name of Damianus.

I don't think I've ever lost a whip before. Frankly, I'm not sure what to do for the best now. The leading chariot is now so far ahead he's off the screen, and my usual tactics – whip hard, whip often (unless your horses are on their last legs, natch) – are impossible. I can still accelerate using the reins, but I've lost the ability to initiate quick bursts of speed.

The blood spattered Damianus chases me all the way down the top straight. As we cross the line to complete the first of our three laps, he's two or three lengths behind. The gap narrows slightly in the turn, but my ruthless rival doesn't seem to have the legs for an overtake. Barrelling along the lower straight, our simultaneous lane changes (him searching for a way through, me looking to close the door) leave plaited wheel tracks in the hot Maxentius dust.

Splendid, Damianus definitely seems to be running out of steam. As I sweep towards the scene of my de-whipping, drifting alarmingly en-route (I really should have cornered a tad wider), he's a dot in my imaginary bronze wing mirror. In fact he's in imminent danger of losing a couple of places to a pair of spina-hugging whip crackers.

Three turns have passed since my last paragraph. During those turns one of those spina-huggers misjudged a turn and flipped his chariot (still attached to the now-unencumbered horses, he's presently ploughing the circuit with his nose). Almost too late, I noticed two equine cadavers in my lane and took appropriate evasive action. The big news, however, relates to the current race leader. Sophus, my fact-hungry mouse cursor tells me, may not be in quite the commanding position he appears to be in. Though he's still around five lengths ahead, he's evidently got potential propulsion problems. One of his meaty motors shows an orange health bar, another a yellow.

Final lap, lower straight. Sophus has just swung left to avoid a wreck. The detour seems to have cost him a surprising amount of speed. As we enter the last turn of the race, we're neck and neck, but my chariot, three lanes from the spina, has the superior line. You know what? I think I might just snatch this.

By Jupiter! Sophus just did something uncharacteristically – wonderfully – reckless. Seeing a lead he'd hung onto for almost the entire race, slipping away, he attempted to whip his way through the last corner. The combination of pace and lane (2) produced a fairly predictable cloud of dust and debris out of which emerged four grey horses dragging a human travois. Hard luck, old bean. Been there, bought the toga. Nothing can stop me now!

Nothing except... the chariotless race leader has exited the bend fractionally ahead of Preherwen.

If the dizzy dust chewer can hang on to the reins until the finish line, it's possible, just possible, he could still grab a victory. I consider switching lanes and attempting to trample him, then remember my humanity realise Preherwen is pulling clear and let physics take its course.

38,500 denarii! The wine will flow like auriga blood in the Greased Pigs stables tonight.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Zanza on March 14, 2014, 02:37:19 PM
LA Noire with DLCs for 10 Euro at Steam. Worth it?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on March 14, 2014, 02:50:08 PM
Quote from: Zanza on March 14, 2014, 02:37:19 PM
LA Noire with DLCs for 10 Euro at Steam. Worth it?

I didn't play it as much as I would've liked, but I enjoyed what I did play.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 15, 2014, 09:50:43 AM
Fan made game (only 9 rather repetitive levels so far): http://gamejolt.com/games/action/he-man/19434/

Playable characters: He-Man, She-Ra, Man-At-Arms, Teela, Sorceress and Orko.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.gjcdn.net%2Fimgserver%2Fscreenshot-thumbnail%2F898x1000%2F34417.jpg&hash=9447d67af630a57abfe81accaaacffedbe803e0b)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.gjcdn.net%2Fimgserver%2Fscreenshot-thumbnail%2F898x1000%2F35191.jpg&hash=6fd5b95d0f79ac2c153e201e4c0cd2b6b85b2e68)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.gjcdn.net%2Fimgserver%2Fscreenshot-thumbnail%2F898x1000%2F34151.jpg&hash=4e4e3fd14d95240945baf2eeaa00ed924c227296)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.gjcdn.net%2Fimgserver%2Fscreenshot-thumbnail%2F898x1000%2F34113.jpg&hash=ecc5b7b56dccf2f68533e5eded86ca5ab81fdd8f)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on March 15, 2014, 12:12:14 PM
Divinity: Dragon Commander.

Steep fucking learning curve. Rock-paper-scissors-lizard-Spock-Wollowitz. I can't think of a similar game that on normal difficulty just fucks you right in the ass and keeps going.

But it's a hell of a lot of fun.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: fhdz on March 15, 2014, 01:13:24 PM
Quote from: Tamas on March 13, 2014, 08:24:05 AM
Qvadriga review on RPS:
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/03/13/qvadriga-turnbased-racing-game-review/

Yeah, I'm actually going to be picking that one up. Been following it for a bit.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on March 15, 2014, 02:53:04 PM
Quote from: PDH on March 13, 2014, 08:52:09 AM
Back in the day we had fun playing Circus Maximus.

Quadriga looks almost like a ported version of MMP's Circvs Minimvs.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Alcibiades on March 15, 2014, 09:28:21 PM
Quote from: fhdz on March 15, 2014, 01:13:24 PM
Quote from: Tamas on March 13, 2014, 08:24:05 AM
Qvadriga review on RPS:
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/03/13/qvadriga-turnbased-racing-game-review/

Yeah, I'm actually going to be picking that one up. Been following it for a bit.


Let me know what you guys think, looks interesting but not sure about $20 for that.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on March 16, 2014, 06:29:34 PM
I'm actually becoming tempted to give Diablo III a go.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: fhdz on March 17, 2014, 08:42:52 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on March 15, 2014, 02:53:04 PM
Quote from: PDH on March 13, 2014, 08:52:09 AM
Back in the day we had fun playing Circus Maximus.

Quadriga looks almost like a ported version of MMP's Circvs Minimvs.

That's along the lines of what I was thinking too...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Liep on March 17, 2014, 03:09:52 PM
So does anyone know if GTA5 will be out for PC?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Alcibiades on March 17, 2014, 09:52:04 PM
Rumor is May 28th
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on March 18, 2014, 08:31:22 AM
Mini metro.
Quite a fun simple little puzzle game
http://dinopoloclub.com/minimetro/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on March 18, 2014, 01:50:26 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on March 16, 2014, 06:29:34 PM
I'm actually becoming tempted to give Diablo III a go.

Today is a great day. Perhaps the greatest day.

The Diablo 3 auction house is closed forever. May the idiocy behind it never be forgotten. 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 21, 2014, 12:02:24 AM
I've watched the video of quill18 about Warlock II - it looked neat enough, and I did enjoy Warlock 1 despite the braindead AI and blandness, so I was happy to see it on pre-sale (it's not released, but if you buy now you can play the current version, which is release candidate, I believe).

Anyways, W1 cost 20 at release. W2 is 30. Or 40, if you want some digital tat (artwork, soundtrack, a novel?). Or 50, if you want an extra handful of spells, hero units and an additional ruler.

You know what? I'll wait for a sale.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on March 21, 2014, 06:20:28 AM
Steam calls this Early Access. I think it's proper.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on March 29, 2014, 11:18:38 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvWGLcdI8o8
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on March 30, 2014, 07:53:28 AM
That's a great, great trailer.  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on April 04, 2014, 03:33:44 PM
QuoteHello!

You are receiving this email because you have pre-ordered Combat
Mission: Red Thunder. This is a one-time notification (you are not
subscribed to any mailing lists).

Your Pre-Order Download is now ready!



:showoff:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on April 04, 2014, 04:14:53 PM
Neat.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 04, 2014, 11:38:12 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on April 04, 2014, 03:33:44 PM
QuoteHello!

You are receiving this email because you have pre-ordered Combat
Mission: Red Thunder. This is a one-time notification (you are not
subscribed to any mailing lists).

Your Pre-Order Download is now ready!



:showoff:

I would have pre-ordered, but they didn't have a download only pre-order. I didn't want to pay an extra $27.- for shipping of a disc I'll never use.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on April 05, 2014, 01:23:46 AM
I always get the hard copy.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on April 05, 2014, 10:42:21 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on April 05, 2014, 01:23:46 AM
I always get the hard copy.

THATS WHAT SHE SAID LULZ
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on April 05, 2014, 08:16:35 PM
I was going to post some screens of tank riders but couldnt get screen hunter to capture anything.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 06, 2014, 12:05:59 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on April 05, 2014, 08:16:35 PM
I was going to post some screens of tank riders but couldnt get screen hunter to capture anything.

Can't you use Print Screen and copy to a gfx program?

I may do an AAR today of one of the previous games (Normandy, Market Garden or Italy).

I've had the other titles for a while but haven't played them very much. I'm seriously out of practice as I noticed yesterday.

Fortress Italy, Battle for Borgo Cascino (or something). An under strength U.S. infantry company has to secure a large countryside estate in Sicily. The place is on a hill, surrounded by some trees and orchards, but most of the approach is open field.

I earned a total defeat.

Reasons why I lost:
1. I took too long. I approached carefully across the mostly open fields - however except for a lone, exposed MG there was no opposition. The first German squad sat in one of the estate's buildings and was only visible from like 20 meters away.
2. Not handling my support units properly. I left my 60 mm mortars in the deployment zone, because they could hit the first row of buildings from there. However, they were useless against everything else, and by the time I brought them up with jeeps the time limit was nearly gone. Also, when I sent the jeeps back to retrieve them I realized that there were two more MG units in them. Oops. Also, my FO for the 81 mm mortars spent most of his time trying to get any useful vantage point to direct fire against where the enemy was.
3. Securing all objectives. I had the main estate, but I failed to capture the exit road, and a small copse of trees on the left flank.
4. Securing the flanks. Instead of sending one platoon up the left flank to secure the woods (which had an infantry gun and a squad of Panzergrenadiers), and another to secure the small estate on the right flank (which had another squad), I sent everything up the middle, and I got caught in flanking fire all the time.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on April 06, 2014, 01:15:49 AM
Quote from: Syt on April 06, 2014, 12:05:59 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on April 05, 2014, 08:16:35 PM
I was going to post some screens of tank riders but couldnt get screen hunter to capture anything.

Can't you use Print Screen and copy to a gfx program?

I may do an AAR today of one of the previous games (Normandy, Market Garden or Italy).

I've had the other titles for a while but haven't played them very much. I'm seriously out of practice as I noticed yesterday.

Fortress Italy, Battle for Borgo Cascino (or something). An under strength U.S. infantry company has to secure a large countryside estate in Sicily. The place is on a hill, surrounded by some trees and orchards, but most of the approach is open field.

I earned a total defeat.

Reasons why I lost:
1. I took too long. I approached carefully across the mostly open fields - however except for a lone, exposed MG there was no opposition. The first German squad sat in one of the estate's buildings and was only visible from like 20 meters away.
2. Not handling my support units properly. I left my 60 mm mortars in the deployment zone, because they could hit the first row of buildings from there. However, they were useless against everything else, and by the time I brought them up with jeeps the time limit was nearly gone. Also, when I sent the jeeps back to retrieve them I realized that there were two more MG units in them. Oops. Also, my FO for the 81 mm mortars spent most of his time trying to get any useful vantage point to direct fire against where the enemy was.
3. Securing all objectives. I had the main estate, but I failed to capture the exit road, and a small copse of trees on the left flank.
4. Securing the flanks. Instead of sending one platoon up the left flank to secure the woods (which had an infantry gun and a squad of Panzergrenadiers), and another to secure the small estate on the right flank (which had another squad), I sent everything up the middle, and I got caught in flanking fire all the time.

I am out of practice too. I also got JT's Panzer Battles and yet to dig into it.

Print screen didnt work either had to go with FRAPPS

(https://scontent-b-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/10245343_10203320542685527_1333060648_n.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: PDH on April 12, 2014, 03:17:17 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 19, 2014, 11:04:12 PM
While I was on Steam to pick up Banished I noticed the developer Longbow has a new Hegemony game out.  This time they have shifted from the Greek world to create Hegemony: Rome.  The game is still in early development but I really like this developer and they way the create strategy games.

I recommend you take a look.

I saw this is getting nearer to finish.  I never played the earlier games, how are they?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 13, 2014, 12:16:36 PM
If you liked the Quest for Glory, then you might want to check out "Heroine's Quest". Video Review:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl8nzzwMDz0

It's available on Steam. For free. Yes, free.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on April 15, 2014, 11:07:28 AM
Quote from: PDH on April 12, 2014, 03:17:17 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 19, 2014, 11:04:12 PM
While I was on Steam to pick up Banished I noticed the developer Longbow has a new Hegemony game out.  This time they have shifted from the Greek world to create Hegemony: Rome.  The game is still in early development but I really like this developer and they way the create strategy games.

I recommend you take a look.

I saw this is getting nearer to finish.  I never played the earlier games, how are they?

Its too bad more people didnt try them.  They are excellent games.  The player has to be smart with resource managment and something that is unique to these games in the rts genre supply and supply chains.  If you keep your armies out in the field without adequate supply they will become less effective and ultimately fade away.   Combat is done very well.  Its not just a question of building the most troops and sending them out.  The player has to think about flanking the opponent and avoiding the AI flanking them. 

I would recommend these games to anyone wanting to play a strategy game set in Ancient Greece.

I havent spent much time with the latest game but what I have seen doesnt disappoint.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on April 15, 2014, 01:58:54 PM
Been playing some Open Transport Tycoon Deluxe.  :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on April 15, 2014, 02:27:11 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on April 05, 2014, 01:23:46 AM
I always get the hard copy.

'Course you do. And you pay with cash.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on April 17, 2014, 04:57:10 AM
Quote from: mongers on April 15, 2014, 01:58:54 PM
Been playing some Open Transport Tycoon Deluxe.  :)
I've been thinking of playing that again. Is goods/passenger destinations included by default now?
They really need to sort out their mod directory.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on April 17, 2014, 12:44:44 PM
I bought/downloaded Conquest of the New World -  Deluxe from GOG. I used to really like that oldie game, and having some fun with it now.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 20, 2014, 12:03:55 AM
I picked up The Last Federation. It's from the same devs as the good AI War, the decent Bionic Dues and the not so good A Valley Without Wind.

Premise: You're the last survivor of your race in a solar system with 8 distinct alien races. Your goal: to unite them into the Last Federation. You can do this through diplomacy or force. You have one ship that you can customize with weapons and special abilities.

Each race has its own personality, government system etc. You can perform good deeds for them (clean out pirates, help with research, fleet building, improving the living standards on the planet etc.), not so nice deeds (sabotage, curry favor with one of the factions, espionage ...), or, if you have enough favor, influence them to do stuff (attack someone, build colonies, expand fleet ...). It feels like playing a grand strategy game on a meta level. You want to make sure that your (prospective) allies are strong enough, have a good tech level, but ideally are also in a position where they need your help.

Combat is turn based. It was originally supposed to be real time, and you can tell. The way it works is that you set order for movement and attack, then you get 3 seconds of action, then the game pauses for the next round. I think it works pretty well and is reasonably fast paced. The missions I've done so far (which have been drop off something, attack pirate convoy, attack pirate base) have not been too challenging so far, but I'm still at the start of the campaign, so that may change. Besides, I'm playing on normal difficulty, there's two or three steps above it.

The whole thing feels very 1990s, and I don't mean that in a bad way - the system map with its giant planets, the rather good soundtrack, and the painted background graphics for when you visit planets or something major happens.

I'm not sure I like it yet, but I see good things.

I'm an hour in, and a bit overwhelmed at the options and the balancing that will be involved and it feels a bit dry at this point. Do I want the bloodthirsty, animalistic insect race who love me to increase their tech? Or should I rather throw in my lot with the pacifist robots? Or should I favor them both, having the robots transfer their techs to the insects? What of the other races? Doing non-combat missions can take months of in game time during which the balance of pwoer can significantly shift, especially when one race after another gains space flight capability (in the beginning it's only one).

The star system is randomized during every play - the races are the same, but their planet and their countdown till they can into space are randomized.

There is a Let's Play here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lVQ6sV44WA

And a few random screen shots.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1-news.softpedia-static.com%2Fimages%2Fnews2%2FThe-Last-Federation-Turn-Based-Strategy-to-Launch-on-Steam-for-Linux-on-April-19-437227-2.jpg&hash=58f20544b897dc1ca99032e7482343c4176a0451)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.akamai.steamstatic.com%2Fsteam%2Fapps%2F273070%2Fss_20cbc4a4b63acb1fbe65b5d7054752339454eacb.1920x1080.jpg%3Ft%3D1397855882&hash=269097397794d997243bfcfa03308c30dac3e8ed)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpixelperfectgaming.com%2Fwp-content%2Fgallery%2Fthe_last_federation_steam_screenshots%2Fthe_last_federation_steam_screenshot_010.jpg&hash=5589e4eea2ecc6aa8a4575b72913b30d4b5a9b48)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.strategyinformer.com%2Fr%2Farticle_images%2Foriginal%2F4234.jpg&hash=cf5e98df9dac4080edfe5930b3fb6e514801320a)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 20, 2014, 12:20:34 AM
I've also watched quill18's stream about Factorio - it's an interesting premise ... start from scratch and build an industrial factory on a planet. But it looked rather dull. It's Supply Chain Management the Video Game. It's kind of nifty to set up your mining, electricity, research and production facilities to feed each other automatically, but the way there looks loooong.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on April 20, 2014, 08:17:18 AM
Quote from: Tyr on April 17, 2014, 04:57:10 AM
Quote from: mongers on April 15, 2014, 01:58:54 PM
Been playing some Open Transport Tycoon Deluxe.  :)
I've been thinking of playing that again. Is goods/passenger destinations included by default now?
They really need to sort out their mod directory.

Not sure what you mean, I'm just playing it like I did the original.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 23, 2014, 01:54:18 AM
TB reviews Last Federation. Haven't put as much time into it as I would like, what with uncluttering my apartment and preparing for the move on Saturday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu1VziShzDg

The devs are currently adding a small feature every day this week (yesterday ways to obtain techs from the races, today making perma-death optional) while fixing bugs and exploits after which they'll switch to weekly updates adding quests, weapons, etc.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 13, 2014, 01:18:10 PM
A new Warhammer 40k game! It's strategy! It's turn based! Its ...

CHESS!

http://warhammer40kchess.com/


WTF is going on in GW's licensing department, I wonder. :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 11, 2014, 04:59:46 AM
Trailer for Dreadnought (sorry, Neil, the sci-fi kind).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teH5Oowj-J8

I chuckled.

Same with the Dead Island 2 trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQv8niU_L6s


Both games under development by Yager, who made Spec Ops: The Line.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on June 13, 2014, 08:21:08 AM
I am itching again for some La Grande Guerre PBEM. It is by far the awesomest boardgame simulation of WW1, and while a monster, a very playable one. IIRC everything is accessible for it online, good for 2 to 4 players. We could stick to historical warplans, or go for free selection of them as people please.

With 2 players there is a bigger workload per player obviously, but with 3 or 4 there is considerable downtime for a given player due to the nature of PBEM. Players are per front, BTW, not country (as that would drag stuff out too much), but that is mostly relevant to the Central Powers, since the per front division means there will be a France/UK/maybe Italy player and a Russia/maybe Romania/maybe Greece/maybe Bulgaria/maybe Ottomans player.


To make you want to play more, a short list:
-the movement war  can be very fluid with interceptions and reaction moves and the like.

-when the game switches to trench war it all changes, and actual combat phase becomes decidedly easier, although obviously more indecisive, but you still retain certain level of fluidity at the East for quite a while, as that front will lag behind in trench levels

-the key in the game for victory (unless you Paris or collapse Austria-Hungary in 1914 militarily), is to break the will of the other nations to fight.
There are various consequences tied to National Will: Mutinies, Revolutions (with a varying outcomes from military dictatorships through "white" democracies to Bolshevik takeover), but also NW might resurrect if things go TOO bad, and the enemy starts to conquer the home cities of the nation in question

-there is a kind of semi-random technology system: you do have an influence on what to research but not complete, so you cannot rush to stosstruppen and tanks from the getgo (unless you strike lucky)

-Diplomacy is basically as easy as rolling a dice to influence a given country, but each country has their separate list of DRMs and effects tied to different diplomatic levels. It is a very nice system

-the production system is very elegant: your economy can be either geared for civilian or military production, with about 10 steps in between: the more military production you enact (if your parliament/power factions let you!), the more production points and artillery munition production you have (quite crucial), but the less bonus for National Will you receive. An easy but crucial balancing act

I was in a 3 players PBEM game once (I AARed it on Languish I believe) and it went reasonably well despite using Aide de Camp (there is a Vassal module now IIRC). Only reason it ended was that one of the players got pissed because of some silly reason (we didn't let him redo something after massive hindsight or something).

So, Berkut? Habbaku? Anyone?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on June 13, 2014, 08:55:11 PM
I'm tentatively interested.  Link me some rules and stuff.  I would prefer to play Allies in the East if we get four.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on June 14, 2014, 08:14:34 AM
All the rulebooks and such are here:
http://talk.consimworld.com/WebX?14@@.ee6d67e/2093


There is a VASSAL module at the vassal site and boardgamegeek, I will scout around to see if there is anything more up to date.

While there are a shitload of booklets and such, the real core of the game are in the movement and trench rules, the rest are mostly full of things that need only be referenced every once in a while.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on June 15, 2014, 11:30:43 AM
Storm over the Pacific has become available on Steam, and I'm pondering buying it. Seems it has flown under the radar, I have an itching for some Pacific War action but I am too busy for WITP:AE.

Should I or shouldn't I?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on June 16, 2014, 03:49:09 PM
Quote from: Drakken on June 15, 2014, 11:30:43 AM
Storm over the Pacific has become available on Steam, and I'm pondering buying it. Seems it has flown under the radar, I have an itching for some Pacific War action but I am too busy for WITP:AE.

Should I or shouldn't I?

I got it (just because I'm in a big Pacific War phase and I thought what the hell), but I haven't really played it.

Is WitP:AE remotely playable if you don't have a diagnosis btw?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on June 19, 2014, 05:23:04 PM
Quote from: The Brain on June 16, 2014, 03:49:09 PM
I got it (just because I'm in a big Pacific War phase and I thought what the hell), but I haven't really played it.

Is WitP:AE remotely playable if you don't have a diagnosis btw?

WitP AE is a great game if you have a high tolerance for micromanagement.  You won't micro-manage every thing every day, but will need to remember things like checking the status of the individual pilots in your training squadrons once a month or so, and deciding whether you want random or focused searches by your search planes.

If you don't know whether you have a high tolerance for micromanagement or not, you don't.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on June 20, 2014, 03:37:05 AM
Quote from: grumbler on June 19, 2014, 05:23:04 PM
Quote from: The Brain on June 16, 2014, 03:49:09 PM
I got it (just because I'm in a big Pacific War phase and I thought what the hell), but I haven't really played it.

Is WitP:AE remotely playable if you don't have a diagnosis btw?

WitP AE is a great game if you have a high tolerance for micromanagement.  You won't micro-manage every thing every day, but will need to remember things like checking the status of the individual pilots in your training squadrons once a month or so, and deciding whether you want random or focused searches by your search planes.

If you don't know whether you have a high tolerance for micromanagement or not, you don't.

Thanks. Likely I wouldn't have the stomach to actually play it, but maybe to play around with it... You can get it with a printed manual, no? :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on June 20, 2014, 12:49:43 PM
Quote from: The Brain on June 20, 2014, 03:37:05 AM
Thanks. Likely I wouldn't have the stomach to actually play it, but maybe to play around with it... You can get it with a printed manual, no? :hmm:
Yes, it comes with a printed manual.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on June 20, 2014, 12:56:53 PM
My biggest issue with WITP was the inability to ramp up IJ plane and pilot production, but after reading some on the subject, I understand why they did what they did.  While the US was pushing pilots through at ramped up rates once hostilities began, the IJN was still bouncing pilot candidates out for failing white glove inspections.  Rather disconnected from the realities of the early war phase, and the expectation that pilots will have to be replaced.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on June 20, 2014, 01:57:02 PM
It would have been cool if a few diehard pilots had held out in the Philippines until the 70s, flying ragged Zeros held together by duct tape and Yamato spirit, engines running on palm oil.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on June 20, 2014, 05:08:52 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on June 20, 2014, 12:56:53 PM
My biggest issue with WITP was the inability to ramp up IJ plane and pilot production, but after reading some on the subject, I understand why they did what they did.  While the US was pushing pilots through at ramped up rates once hostilities began, the IJN was still bouncing pilot candidates out for failing white glove inspections.  Rather disconnected from the realities of the early war phase, and the expectation that pilots will have to be replaced.

Japanese combat pilots had no leave and were not retired to become pilot instructors. They were kept on the frontline until they died. Plus the hours of training needed until going out out of flight school were far longer than their US counterpart.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on June 20, 2014, 05:10:38 PM
BUT they got all the vending machine panties they could eat.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on June 21, 2014, 09:56:51 AM
I got the game. :blush:

Cause I'm in such a huge Pacific War phase I just can't get enough of the stuff.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on June 21, 2014, 05:03:20 PM
Quote from: The Brain on June 21, 2014, 09:56:51 AM
I got the game. :blush:

Cause I'm in such a huge Pacific War phase I just can't get enough of the stuff.
have you gotten all of H.P. Wilmott's books on the topic?  He's the best author of the Pacific War, IMO. 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on June 21, 2014, 05:11:35 PM
Quote from: grumbler on June 21, 2014, 05:03:20 PM
Quote from: The Brain on June 21, 2014, 09:56:51 AM
I got the game. :blush:

Cause I'm in such a huge Pacific War phase I just can't get enough of the stuff.
have you gotten all of H.P. Wilmott's books on the topic?  He's the best author of the Pacific War, IMO.

No. Thanks for the tip. I have read H.P. Lovecraft's Pacific stuff though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on June 21, 2014, 06:23:21 PM
Boooooooooo
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on June 21, 2014, 06:28:41 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on June 21, 2014, 06:23:21 PM
Boooooooooo

Super or regular? :wub:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on June 21, 2014, 07:53:31 PM
Super.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on June 22, 2014, 07:50:06 AM
Quote from: Drakken on June 20, 2014, 05:08:52 PM
Japanese combat pilots had no leave and were not retired to become pilot instructors. They were kept on the frontline until they died. Plus the hours of training needed until going out out of flight school were far longer than their US counterpart.

This wasn't the plan, but that's the way it worked out.  The Japanese mobilized their instructors into "temporary" combat units just before the war started, but then couldn't spare them to return to instructor duty.  Plus, they couldn't get combat pilots to agree to leave their units and become instructors, and it was considered dishonorable to try to force them to become instructors.

Prewar (and, in the Navy, until after Midway), the pilot training programs were absurdly difficult and expensive.  Lack of fuel changed that; by 1944 pilots were arriving in front-line units with only about 100 hours of flight time total, none of it in type.  The Japanese were also very quick to write off damaged or won out aircraft, so they didn't have the reserves of used front-line aircraft to use as advanced in-type trainers.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on June 22, 2014, 12:07:44 PM
Can you do a Doolittle raid in WitP:AE?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on June 22, 2014, 12:56:09 PM
Quote from: The Brain on June 22, 2014, 12:07:44 PM
Can you do a Doolittle raid in WitP:AE?

No.  Planes return to their base of origin after a combat phase mission.  You can load a B-25 squadron onto a carrier when docked, but the only mission you can fly with it is a transfer mission in the orders phase.  You cannot land a B-25 on a carrier at all.

It is possible to evacuate the USAFFE HQ from the Philippines, though, and so save MacArthur.  Then, when SWPacCom HQ shows up, you will have a second Douglas MacArthur!

Also, as the allies, keep an eye out for LCDR Quinton McHale as a PT Boat TF commander. 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on June 22, 2014, 05:31:49 PM
Broke down and picked up the PC versions of Fallout 3 and NV. Enough time has passed since I played them on Xbox to start anew.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on June 22, 2014, 08:02:26 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on June 22, 2014, 05:31:49 PM
Broke down and picked up the PC versions of Fallout 3 and NV. Enough time has passed since I played them on Xbox to start anew.
Get the three "Quest for Heaven" mods for FO3 from the Nexus.  Absolutely amazing.  Far better than any of the DLC.  And far better than the main quest.  If you have the Zeta DLC, get Starship Zeta Crew for a follow-on (and a better, shorter DLC quest).   It is quite good, and quite epic, as well.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on June 22, 2014, 08:10:00 PM
Really enjoying The Witcher, at long last. Boring first act resolving nicely into the second Act (Chapter 3) with plenty to do, and plenty of intrigue. Lots of cringeworthy stuff, but I still enjoy the combat, the voice work, and the music.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: sbr on June 22, 2014, 08:27:21 PM
I couldn't stand The Witcher.  I forced myself into at least the Third Act but realized there was little point in playing a game that I didn't enjoy.

Glad you like it though.

EDIT:  Looks like I made it a good way through Chapter IV before I gave up.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on June 22, 2014, 09:04:38 PM
Quote from: Scipio on June 22, 2014, 08:10:00 PM
Really enjoying The Witcher, at long last. Boring first act resolving nicely into the second Act (Chapter 3) with plenty to do, and plenty of intrigue. Lots of cringeworthy stuff, but I still enjoy the combat, the voice work, and the music.
I liked The Witcher.  The second game I couldn't play past about the third QTE (the boxing twitchfest).  It was way too much work and too little game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on June 22, 2014, 09:32:27 PM
Quote from: grumbler on June 22, 2014, 08:02:26 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on June 22, 2014, 05:31:49 PM
Broke down and picked up the PC versions of Fallout 3 and NV. Enough time has passed since I played them on Xbox to start anew.
Get the three "Quest for Heaven" mods for FO3 from the Nexus.  Absolutely amazing.  Far better than any of the DLC.  And far better than the main quest.  If you have the Zeta DLC, get Starship Zeta Crew for a follow-on (and a better, shorter DLC quest).   It is quite good, and quite epic, as well.

I will thanks.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Alcibiades on June 23, 2014, 02:08:08 AM
Anyone try out Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning?  Saw it on the steam sale, got decent reviews but you never know any more.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Jaron on June 23, 2014, 02:14:16 AM
It's 5 bucks. I say go for it. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 23, 2014, 02:24:28 AM
Quote from: Alcibiades on June 23, 2014, 02:08:08 AM
Anyone try out Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning?  Saw it on the steam sale, got decent reviews but you never know any more.

I've sunk 8 hours into it (though full playthrough with sidequests supposedly takes about 100 hours or more).

It's basically an MMORPG by design (the way the areas progress, there's harvesting and crafting etc.), but without the MMO part. The combat is action based. It's above average IMO, and some of the setting is pretty interesting, but it appears that it can be a bit grindy.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Alcibiades on June 23, 2014, 02:29:27 AM
So... it's a skyrim clone or?  Phone research isn't the easiest.  :P

Just curious if you thought it was worth it, though 8 hours isn't much all things considered.  :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 23, 2014, 02:48:01 AM
That's more because of my games ADD. :P I liked the setting well enough, and the combat is decent.

I liked it well enough, but it's not as open as Skyrim, if that's your gauge. It's much more MMO like - smaller, contained areas, connected with paths, plus quest hubs, with a level progression between areas. Think WoW map design.

Again, if you have to choose Skyrim or Amalur, choose Skyrim. If you have to choose between Fallout 3 and Amalur, choose Fallout 3.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on June 23, 2014, 06:09:28 AM
Amalur is like Skyrim Really Lite.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on June 23, 2014, 07:01:46 AM
Quote from: Alcibiades on June 23, 2014, 02:08:08 AM
Anyone try out Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning?  Saw it on the steam sale, got decent reviews but you never know any more.

I liked it. Fun Combat, ok story.

I bought Titanfall, it plays so much like UT that I couldn't pass up.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on June 23, 2014, 08:10:39 AM
Titanfall is a hoot on the sexybox one.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on June 23, 2014, 07:13:57 PM
Quote from: grumbler on June 22, 2014, 08:02:26 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on June 22, 2014, 05:31:49 PM
Broke down and picked up the PC versions of Fallout 3 and NV. Enough time has passed since I played them on Xbox to start anew.
Get the three "Quest for Heaven" mods for FO3 from the Nexus.  Absolutely amazing.  Far better than any of the DLC.  And far better than the main quest.  If you have the Zeta DLC, get Starship Zeta Crew for a follow-on (and a better, shorter DLC quest).   It is quite good, and quite epic, as well.

Crap i'm like a drunkard in a dark room with this mod shit.  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on June 23, 2014, 07:58:30 PM
That's sort of how I thought of you all the time.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on June 23, 2014, 11:55:50 PM
Downloaded FMM and everything is coming together.

Hardest part was getting FO3 to run on this machine. Fixed now though.

Mods Loaded
Quest for Heaven
Wanders Edition
Mart's Mutant Mod
Abbrieviated Effects




Grumbler what NV mods? I have Downloaded the "someguy" series.

Mods Loaded
More perks
more traits
nevada skies
fook
Project Brazil
For the Enclave
The some guy series
a world of pain
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on June 24, 2014, 01:32:04 AM
I'm locked out from the steam sale since my location and billing address are different counties  was all set to buy stuff to. Their loss.
I should really finish oblivion before playing skyrim anyway.
And come to think of it I never finished new Vegas either. It doesn't grab me the way fallout 3 did
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on June 24, 2014, 08:43:24 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on June 23, 2014, 11:55:50 PM
Downloaded FMM and everything is coming together.

Hardest part was getting FO3 to run on this machine. Fixed now though.

Mods Loaded
Quest for Heaven
Wanders Edition
Mart's Mutant Mod
Abbrieviated Effects




Grumbler what NV mods? I have Downloaded the "someguy" series.

Mods Loaded
More perks
more traits
nevada skies
fook
Project Brazil
For the Enclave
The some guy series
a world of pain

Probably the best NV quest mods are Tales from the Burning Sands, the Someguy series, Strangers Abroad, and Beyond Boulderdome.  If you like combat, the Rockwell series (Rockwell Descent and Rockwell Pursuit) give you plenty of that, and some interesting stories and places.  I hope you like combat, because AWoP is all about combat!  :D

I'd use the Nevada Project rather than FOOK; it is much more customizable.  Make sure you use New Vegas Script extender and the Mod Configuration Menu.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on June 24, 2014, 04:15:16 PM
Quote from: Tyr on June 24, 2014, 01:32:04 AM
I'm locked out from the steam sale since my location and billing address are different counties  was all set to buy stuff to. Their loss.
I should really finish oblivion before playing skyrim anyway.
And come to think of it I never finished new Vegas either. It doesn't grab me the way fallout 3 did

Two different environments IMO. FO3 seemed more confined more old world, as NV had the feeling of more openness and new world. For me, I like both equally well and wish they would at least give some indication of the next FO.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on June 24, 2014, 04:17:27 PM
Quote from: grumbler on June 24, 2014, 08:43:24 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on June 23, 2014, 11:55:50 PM
Downloaded FMM and everything is coming together.

Hardest part was getting FO3 to run on this machine. Fixed now though.

Mods Loaded
Quest for Heaven
Wanders Edition
Mart's Mutant Mod
Abbrieviated Effects




Grumbler what NV mods? I have Downloaded the "someguy" series.

Mods Loaded
More perks
more traits
nevada skies
fook
Project Brazil
For the Enclave
The some guy series
a world of pain

Probably the best NV quest mods are Tales from the Burning Sands, the Someguy series, Strangers Abroad, and Beyond Boulderdome.  If you like combat, the Rockwell series (Rockwell Descent and Rockwell Pursuit) give you plenty of that, and some interesting stories and places.  I hope you like combat, because AWoP is all about combat!  :D

I'd use the Nevada Project rather than FOOK; it is much more customizable.  Make sure you use New Vegas Script extender and the Mod Configuration Menu.

Thanks. I'm really liking Nevada Skies for the environmental effects.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on June 25, 2014, 05:47:20 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on June 24, 2014, 04:17:27 PM
Thanks. I'm really liking Nevada Skies for the environmental effects.

I like it a lot as well, but it glitches sometimes.  I was walking around Freeside when a rad Storm started up.  I ran inside the Wrangler and the storm followed me in!  There were dozens of people just going "ouch" as the storm attacked all of them at once. Had to reload that one, as the framerate dropped to near-zero.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on June 26, 2014, 04:16:05 PM
Quote from: grumbler on June 25, 2014, 05:47:20 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on June 24, 2014, 04:17:27 PM
Thanks. I'm really liking Nevada Skies for the environmental effects.

I like it a lot as well, but it glitches sometimes.  I was walking around Freeside when a rad Storm started up.  I ran inside the Wrangler and the storm followed me in!  There were dozens of people just going "ouch" as the storm attacked all of them at once. Had to reload that one, as the framerate dropped to near-zero.

Finally got FOSE working on FO3. I was using the wrong unpacker and it was corrupting something to the files.  :mad: All good and after a few more ini fixes FO3 is stable as hell.

Now I can get it loaded on NV. NV is one unstable bitch. Locks up with fast travel about 60% of the time.  I got spoiled with the Xbox version. I'll hunt for some stablizing mods.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on June 27, 2014, 02:57:29 AM
FO3edit was awesome for sorting out load order conflicts.

Quote[00:05] Background Loader: Fatal: <Exception: "AQFH3.esm" requires master "Abbreviated Effects.esm" to be loaded before it.>
[00:11] Background Loader: finished
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on June 29, 2014, 10:21:08 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on June 27, 2014, 02:57:29 AM
FO3edit was awesome for sorting out load order conflicts.

Quote[00:05] Background Loader: Fatal: <Exception: "AQFH3.esm" requires master "Abbreviated Effects.esm" to be loaded before it.>
[00:11] Background Loader: finished
You'll want BOSS as well.  http://boss-developers.github.io/  It automatically sorts mods for you, in FO3, FONV, Skyrim, and Oblivion.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 29, 2014, 11:04:20 AM
I've started watching a Let's Play of Ryse: Son of Rome. Pro: graphics look shiny. Con: the gameplay is pretty uninspired (looks like the Arkham series melee system with sword and shield, but instead of open world you're railroaded through the levels). And the plot. W. T. F.

So apparently young Marius comes home to Rome to visit his family. And suddenly the city is attacked by barbarians. In the streets. Everywhere. His father is killed and he swears vengeance, and joins the Legio XIV (Austria represetin'?) to strike at the barbarian invaders' home province ... Britannia. Again W.T.F.

Apparently barbarians from Britain trekked all the way to Rome and launched a surprise invasion of the city. Sounds plausible. :thumbsup:

I don't mind if Hollywood versions of historic periods deviate from history to tell their story (see: Gladiator), but seriously, at least look at a map when you write the plot.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on June 29, 2014, 11:11:59 AM
Evil King George has a long reach.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on June 29, 2014, 01:56:24 PM
Quote from: Syt on June 29, 2014, 11:04:20 AM
I've started watching a Let's Play of Ryse: Son of Rome. Pro: graphics look shiny. Con: the gameplay is pretty uninspired (looks like the Arkham series melee system with sword and shield, but instead of open world you're railroaded through the levels). And the plot. W. T. F.

So apparently young Marius comes home to Rome to visit his family. And suddenly the city is attacked by barbarians. In the streets. Everywhere. His father is killed and he swears vengeance, and joins the Legio XIV (Austria represetin'?) to strike at the barbarian invaders' home province ... Britannia. Again W.T.F.

Apparently barbarians from Britain trekked all the way to Rome and launched a surprise invasion of the city. Sounds plausible. :thumbsup:

I don't mind if Hollywood versions of historic periods deviate from history to tell their story (see: Gladiator), but seriously, at least look at a map when you write the plot.

What does the word "Ryse" actually mean in this context?  The letter "y" is not common in Latin.  In fact I can't think of any Classical Latin words with the letter "Y" off the top of my head.  Also that plot is retarded.  What era is the game take in?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 29, 2014, 02:20:31 PM
You can read the plot here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryse:_Son_of_Rome
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on June 29, 2014, 05:00:09 PM
Using Y instead of I is a gimmick of Crytek, the makers of Ryse and Crysis.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Pishtaco on June 30, 2014, 09:20:40 AM
Replace y with i and you get "rise", the vocative form of "thing which has been ridiculed".
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on June 30, 2014, 09:29:41 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on June 29, 2014, 01:56:24 PM
What era is the game take in?

When Nero is Emperor :lol:

I guess Boudicca won?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on June 30, 2014, 11:31:21 AM
Quote from: Syt on June 29, 2014, 02:20:31 PM
You can read the plot here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryse:_Son_of_Rome
That is hands down the stupidest thing based on Rome I've ever read.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 30, 2014, 12:04:40 PM
Well, it's basically CoD set in ancient times. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on June 30, 2014, 01:47:37 PM
Quote from: Scipio on June 30, 2014, 11:31:21 AM
Quote from: Syt on June 29, 2014, 02:20:31 PM
You can read the plot here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryse:_Son_of_Rome (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryse:_Son_of_Rome)
That is hands down the stupidest thing based on Rome I've ever read.

I'm inclined to agree.  You can play with history if you like.  You can even throw in absurd things to make it secret history like Indian Jones.  But when you go this far off the reservation you might as well make up a fantasy world.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on June 30, 2014, 08:11:21 PM
I'm really liking the FWE hardcore mode opposed to New Vegas'.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on July 02, 2014, 11:22:22 AM
You guys should really check out Divinity Original Sin. It seems to really be in the Languish alley of RPGs, especially CRPGs.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on July 02, 2014, 11:24:17 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 02, 2014, 11:22:22 AM
You guys should really check out Divinity Original Sin. It seems to really be in the Languish alley of RPGs, especially CRPGs.

I'm hearing great things of it. It's already in my wish list.

Sadly, Steam sales and Humblebunde have conditioned me into not paying double digits for games anymore, so it may take a while for me to get it.  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on July 02, 2014, 11:27:24 AM
That's my problem too. Really, really hard to justify a price point of over 10$.

And I just bought Titanfall.

That was a mistake.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on July 02, 2014, 11:46:59 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 02, 2014, 11:22:22 AM
You guys should really check out Divinity Original Sin. It seems to really be in the Languish alley of RPGs, especially CRPGs.

I am thinking about it.  Has anybody here played it yet?  I would at least like one review from somebody I can trust first.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on July 02, 2014, 11:59:33 AM
I kickstarted Divinity:OS, and I've played it a little. It's really focused on turn-based action. It maintains the sly wit of the other Divinity games. I'm less keen about the systems, but it's a pretty, entertaining turn-based CRPG.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on July 02, 2014, 12:02:31 PM
Quote from: Scipio on July 02, 2014, 11:59:33 AM
I kickstarted Divinity:OS, and I've played it a little. It's really focused on turn-based action. It maintains the sly wit of the other Divinity games. I'm less keen about the systems, but it's a pretty, entertaining turn-based CRPG.

Turn based....action?  Aren't those antonyms?

Is there a good amount of interaction and decision making or is it rather exploration and combat based?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on July 02, 2014, 12:07:25 PM
Quote from: Valmy on July 02, 2014, 12:02:31 PM
Quote from: Scipio on July 02, 2014, 11:59:33 AM
I kickstarted Divinity:OS, and I've played it a little. It's really focused on turn-based action. It maintains the sly wit of the other Divinity games. I'm less keen about the systems, but it's a pretty, entertaining turn-based CRPG.

Turn based....action?  Aren't those antonyms?

Is there a good amount of interaction and decision making or is it rather exploration and combat based?

Watch this : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDaYWfqJD3g
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on July 02, 2014, 12:09:45 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 02, 2014, 12:07:25 PM
Quote from: Valmy on July 02, 2014, 12:02:31 PM
Quote from: Scipio on July 02, 2014, 11:59:33 AM
I kickstarted Divinity:OS, and I've played it a little. It's really focused on turn-based action. It maintains the sly wit of the other Divinity games. I'm less keen about the systems, but it's a pretty, entertaining turn-based CRPG.

Turn based....action?  Aren't those antonyms?

Is there a good amount of interaction and decision making or is it rather exploration and combat based?

Watch this : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDaYWfqJD3g

Ugh lengthy video reviews.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on July 02, 2014, 07:57:06 PM
Hey Grumbler, the Alton mod is not too bad. Pretty well done so far.

FWE leveling is slowwwwww. Fuck.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Legbiter on July 03, 2014, 05:14:10 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 02, 2014, 11:22:22 AM
You guys should really check out Divinity Original Sin. It seems to really be in the Languish alley of RPGs, especially CRPGs.

I noticed your post, checked it out and folded like a cheap lawn chair and got it. Digging it so far.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on July 03, 2014, 06:16:15 AM
Quote from: Legbiter on July 03, 2014, 05:14:10 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 02, 2014, 11:22:22 AM
You guys should really check out Divinity Original Sin. It seems to really be in the Languish alley of RPGs, especially CRPGs.

I noticed your post, checked it out and folded like a cheap lawn chair and got it. Digging it so far.

How's the combat?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on July 03, 2014, 08:19:54 AM
I found a guy who knew a guy who had a spare GOG key so now I have the game.  The character creation screen looked promising but after all my networking it was after midnight  :P

I will try to fire it up in earnest tonight.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on July 03, 2014, 08:45:43 AM
Double dip kickstarter backers?!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Legbiter on July 03, 2014, 09:36:06 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 03, 2014, 06:16:15 AMHow's the combat?

Pretty neat. Fighters are more gear-dependent than mages, also seem to be late bloomers. Combat is fun and varied so long as you take the enemy mages out ASAP. Enemies 2 levels above you will demolish you unless you're very lucky so watch your surroundings.

I like how the game's an old school g with no questmarkers to hold your hand. You just have to sack up and recall the quest dialogue like God intended.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on July 03, 2014, 09:36:57 AM
I think I am going to cave-in.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on July 03, 2014, 09:38:56 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 03, 2014, 08:45:43 AM
Double dip kickstarter backers?!

I think so.  A decent number of them were being passed out this week.  Not sure how that happened but I was glad to be the beneficiary.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on July 03, 2014, 11:29:33 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 02, 2014, 11:27:24 AM
That's my problem too. Really, really hard to justify a price point of over 10$.

And I just bought Titanfall.

That was a mistake.

My problem is that there's a load of great games from the past 4-5 years that I can get sub €10 or even sub €5 before having to get to recent great games that cost me €40.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Pedrito on July 03, 2014, 05:40:46 PM
Quote from: celedhring on July 02, 2014, 11:24:17 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 02, 2014, 11:22:22 AM
You guys should really check out Divinity Original Sin. It seems to really be in the Languish alley of RPGs, especially CRPGs.

I'm hearing great things of it. It's already in my wish list.

Sadly, Steam sales and Humblebunde have conditioned me into not paying double digits for games anymore, so it may take a while for me to get it.  :lol:
Exactly the same  :lol:  It's very very rare that I buy a game at full price nowadays, I have already an enormous collection of older titles that will keep me busy for months between a GOG/Steam sale and the other. Right now, for example, I'm having a blast playing Anno 2070, a game I did not touch for almost one year.
An exception are Kickstarter games I backed, but usually the devlopment process is so long that, when the game's out, it comes as a free gift because I already forgot the money I gave them two years before  :blush:

L.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Iormlund on July 06, 2014, 03:57:58 AM
It's also because as a working adult you get so little spare time you need time to get through the games you already have. By the time you've done so, that shiny "new" game will be on sale.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on July 06, 2014, 02:36:45 PM
Is Legions of Ashworld any good?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on July 06, 2014, 03:05:47 PM
I'm finally getting into one of the games I pre-ordered at full price years ago: The Witcher 2.

And I'm replaying Dragon Age 2, with an eye to completism. Gonna continue on to DA 3, which drops on my birthday (38 gonna rock SO HARD).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: katmai on July 06, 2014, 09:38:16 PM
Quote from: Iormlund on July 06, 2014, 03:57:58 AM
It's also because as a working adult you get so little spare time you need time to get through the games you already have. By the time you've done so, that shiny "new" game will be on sale.

Yeah I'm working 6 days a week, so no time to play any games atm.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on July 07, 2014, 05:04:06 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on July 02, 2014, 07:57:06 PM
Hey Grumbler, the Alton mod is not too bad. Pretty well done so far.

FWE leveling is slowwwwww. Fuck.
I really need to replay Alton.  It was so buggy in the version available when I was playing FO again that I never finished it.

Agree with your earlier comment that FWE has a better hardcore mode than FONV.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on July 10, 2014, 06:20:58 AM
Quote from: Iormlund on July 06, 2014, 03:57:58 AM
It's also because as a working adult you get so little spare time you need time to get through the games you already have. By the time you've done so, that shiny "new" game will be on sale.

I play a couple hours at nights (not every night, sometimes I watch movies) - it helps me unwind from work, really, particularly if the game is violent enough  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on July 10, 2014, 02:41:58 PM
The Wolf Among Us took a serious turn down Bleaker Street (pun intended). Holy shit, what a downer; even when you win, everyone thinks they've lost.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on July 10, 2014, 02:49:00 PM
Quote from: Scipio on July 10, 2014, 02:41:58 PM
The Wolf Among Us took a serious turn down Bleaker Street (pun intended). Holy shit, what a downer; even when you win, everyone thinks they've lost.

I think I've only completed the first two Eps so far.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on July 10, 2014, 08:59:58 PM
I have a desire to play something like Skyrim or the new Fallouts  Sadly Bethesda decided to go MMO. :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on July 11, 2014, 04:54:44 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on July 10, 2014, 08:59:58 PM
I have a desire to play something like Skyrim or the new Fallouts  Sadly Bethesda decided to go MMO. :(

You can pick up Morrowind on the cheap and try either this http://www.moddb.com/mods/morrowind-overhaul-sounds-graphics or http://kotaku.com/5947989/morrowind-just-got-even-prettier-with-this-new-graphical-overhaul

I have tried both, and tend to stick to the latter, despite the fairly clunky original gameplay.

There'll be another TES game, I am sure, but they space them out with 3-5 years between them, the bastards.  :mad:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on July 11, 2014, 08:26:28 AM
Well Skyrim came out in 2011 so we are due  :cool:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on July 11, 2014, 10:50:50 AM
TES: Let's kill High Elves, I hope.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on July 11, 2014, 06:26:00 PM
Having a blast with Assassin's Creed 2. Renaissance Italy is such a great setting for this kind of conspiracy-driven, assassination-rich plot.

Plus, I usually don't care about jumping puzzles, but when said jumping puzzle involves ascending to the top of the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore... then yeah, I'll do it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on July 11, 2014, 06:31:31 PM
Yes 2 and Brotherhood are nice because of that setting.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on July 11, 2014, 06:52:09 PM
AC2 and Brotherhood were the pinnacle of the series. Downhill since, unfortunately.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on July 11, 2014, 07:07:47 PM
American one was alright though yeah not particularly great. Pirate one was fun in a manner of speaking but not really as an AC game.

Worst was probably the Turkish one. No I do not want to play amateur bomb maker. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 11, 2014, 07:18:09 PM
AC1 was rather meh and I struggled through it.  2 was awesome though.
I'm looking forward to 4, but I've only just finished brotherhood. I've got revelations (the one I didn't realize existed) and 3 (seems a lot less exciting a setting) to get through first.

I'm just hoping they fulfill my desires for a Victorian London game down the line.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on July 11, 2014, 07:36:05 PM
Well next up is apparently the French Revolution.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on July 11, 2014, 09:19:55 PM
Quote from: Norgy on July 11, 2014, 10:50:50 AM
TES: Let's kill High Elves, I hope.
I think we are due a Fallout game first.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 11, 2014, 09:51:22 PM
Quote from: garbon on July 11, 2014, 07:36:05 PM
Well next up is apparently the French Revolution.
Seems a bit derivative after just doing the American revolution.
But a Scarlet Pimpernel game! :w00t:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on July 12, 2014, 05:53:55 AM
The ones set in America don't look that appealing to me... I have not played them, but running around wilderness and colonial towns doesn't look as nearly as cool as Rome, Florence or Constantinople in the XVth century.  They have pirates, though, I'll give them that.

Revolutionary France has lots of potential though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on July 12, 2014, 02:19:19 PM
Quote from: grumbler on July 11, 2014, 09:19:55 PM
Quote from: Norgy on July 11, 2014, 10:50:50 AM
TES: Let's kill High Elves, I hope.
I think we are due a Fallout game first.

Yip
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on July 12, 2014, 10:38:02 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on July 12, 2014, 02:19:19 PM
Quote from: grumbler on July 11, 2014, 09:19:55 PM
Quote from: Norgy on July 11, 2014, 10:50:50 AM
TES: Let's kill High Elves, I hope.
I think we are due a Fallout game first.

Yip

We are due for it, but we won't get it for a while.  Bethsoft put their eggs in the MMO basket instead. :mad:  I just want to play a game where I can explore to my hearts content, kill monsters and get treasure.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: sbr on July 13, 2014, 12:21:05 AM
Technically ESO was not developed by Bethesda, it was developed by Zenimax Online, a completely separate company under the Zenimax umbrella.

I have a had time believing that there was no Beth involvement in ESO, but that is the Zenimax company line.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on July 13, 2014, 07:31:45 AM
Quote from: sbr on July 13, 2014, 12:21:05 AM
Technically ESO was not developed by Bethesda, it was developed by Zenimax Online, a completely separate company under the Zenimax umbrella.

I have a had time believing that there was no Beth involvement in ESO, but that is the Zenimax company line.
Well, that is correct as far as the development team personnel at Bethesda Game Studios are concerned, but I'm not sure that management time and development money didn't get sucked out of Bethesda to pay for ESO.

We are due for a BGS game in the next year, though, and I don't doubt that we will get one.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on July 17, 2014, 07:12:14 PM
I love these guys;  now on a weekly basis, their pace is getting better, their Eengrish is not.

QuoteDear customer,

Because you are involved in the trading of gold and equipment.
legitimately means playing with an unaltered game client.
Doing otherwise violates our policies for Battle.net and Diablo III, and it goes against the spirit of fair play that all of our games are based on.
We strongly recommend that you avoid using any hacks, cheats, bots, or exploits.

Suspensions and bans of players that have used or start using cheats and hacks will You can confirm that you are the original owner of the account to this secure website with:

Login to your account, In accordance following template to verify your account.

* Account name
* Account password
* Secret Question and Answer
Show * Please enter the correct information

If you ignore this mail your account can and will be closed permanently.
Once we verify your account, we will reply to your e-mail informing you that we have dropped the investigation.

Blizzard Entertainment SAS
TSA 60 001
Service Administration des Comptes
78143 Velizy Villacoublay Cedex

Account Administration Team
Diablo III World of Warcraft , Blizzard Entertainment 2014
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on July 17, 2014, 07:44:38 PM
Odd, Plague Inc appears to have teamed up with Fox to add a bit as a promo for Planet of the Apes.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 18, 2014, 11:22:57 AM
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.superdataresearch.com%2Fcontent%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F06%2FSuperData-Top10SubscriptionMMOs_Worldwide.jpg&hash=ca35f0d5efd6a5009ce49871512682f2c0e269f2)

That explains why I got an email for a new LotRO expansion. :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 18, 2014, 11:23:35 AM
Quote from: garbon on July 17, 2014, 07:44:38 PM
Odd, Plague Inc appears to have teamed up with Fox to add a bit as a promo for Planet of the Apes.

Makes sense. The end credit sequence of the first movie reminded me of the original flash game, with the disease spreading.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on July 18, 2014, 01:58:06 PM
Quote from: Syt on July 18, 2014, 11:23:35 AM
Quote from: garbon on July 17, 2014, 07:44:38 PM
Odd, Plague Inc appears to have teamed up with Fox to add a bit as a promo for Planet of the Apes.

Makes sense. The end credit sequence of the first movie reminded me of the original flash game, with the disease spreading.

Hah! I had the exact same thought when watching the film. Guess a lot of people that played that made the connection.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on July 20, 2014, 05:37:28 PM
Working through "A Quest for Heaven esp1" in FO3. Excellent so far. [spoiler]Just started SA-23 currently. So far Nexus 5 had me on edge most.  :lol: Got to love a well made game environment that can do that.[/spoiler]

[spoiler]Because I was Lvl 8, I had to infiltrate past the Super Mutant area to get to tracking command. I wouldnt survive in a stand-up fight against them. It took little over an hour actual time with Recon Armor/ Fire Ant Necture / Terrian while doing it at night. Sometimes just inching forward. It was fucking awesome. My daughter was looking on saying, "Are you going to do anything"  :lol: "Your barely moving"[/spoiler]
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on July 20, 2014, 05:54:25 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on July 20, 2014, 05:37:28 PM
Working through "A Quest for Heaven esp1" in FO3. Excellent so far.

...... My daughter was looking on saying, "Are you going to do anything"
.....

:D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on July 21, 2014, 01:13:04 AM
I beat Sniper elite 2.  It was fairly mediocre but it was free.  I always have a hard time getting my bearings in third person games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on July 21, 2014, 03:15:25 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on July 21, 2014, 01:13:04 AM
I beat Sniper elite 2.  It was fairly mediocre but it was free.  I always have a hard time getting my bearings in third person games.

I got the final guy with my first shot. On Hard.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on July 21, 2014, 09:04:48 AM
Got OOTP from the bundle, and started a game despite knowing fuck all about baseball. Took over the Orioles (spent some time in Baltimore back in the day) and lost my first game against Tampa with a  4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 card.  :glare:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on July 21, 2014, 10:02:25 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on July 20, 2014, 05:37:28 PM
Working through "A Quest for Heaven esp1" in FO3. Excellent so far. [spoiler]Just started SA-23 currently. So far Nexus 5 had me on edge most.  :lol: Got to love a well made game environment that can do that.[/spoiler]

[spoiler]Because I was Lvl 8, I had to infiltrate past the Super Mutant area to get to tracking command. I wouldnt survive in a stand-up fight against them. It took little over an hour actual time with Recon Armor/ Fire Ant Necture / Terrian while doing it at night. Sometimes just inching forward. It was fucking awesome. My daughter was looking on saying, "Are you going to do anything"  :lol: "Your barely moving"[/spoiler]

Glad you enjoying it.  There is a spot or two in each episode where the combat gets kinda ridiculous, but the story is always gripping.

Ep 1 is the most puzzle-heavy, in terms of figuring out which switch does what.  I am not sure whether the gradual move to more "figure out the story" rather than "find the switch" came about because of the unfortunate demise of the woman who started the series, or whether that was planned, but you will enjoy the change. Keep us posted.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on July 22, 2014, 08:59:50 AM
Anyone tried "The Forest"?
It's one of those survival games, and really just in alpha. I quite enjoyed the first try.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on July 22, 2014, 09:30:52 AM
So, in a fit of impulse buying to offset my homicidal/suicidal birthday ideations, went out and bought a custom rig.  i7 quad core, dual GEForce cards, more horsepower than I will need for at least 4 years.

I'm seng colora and textures I've never seen before. :cry:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on July 22, 2014, 11:53:55 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 22, 2014, 09:30:52 AM
dual GEForce cards, more horsepower than I will need for at least 4 years.


Hopefully from the latest generation. And do download MSI's rather great little program Afterburner for fan control and such.

http://event.msi.com/vga/afterburner/overview.htm
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on July 22, 2014, 04:15:03 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 22, 2014, 09:30:52 AM
I'm seng colora and textures I've never seen before. :cry:
Cholera (aka "seng colora") is serious.  See your doctor.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on July 22, 2014, 04:23:19 PM
Turn on the biggest textures and 1080p resolution on the doctor when you see him.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on July 22, 2014, 05:16:59 PM
Quote from: grumbler on July 21, 2014, 10:02:25 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on July 20, 2014, 05:37:28 PM
Working through "A Quest for Heaven esp1" in FO3. Excellent so far. [spoiler]Just started SA-23 currently. So far Nexus 5 had me on edge most.  :lol: Got to love a well made game environment that can do that.[/spoiler]

[spoiler]Because I was Lvl 8, I had to infiltrate past the Super Mutant area to get to tracking command. I wouldnt survive in a stand-up fight against them. It took little over an hour actual time with Recon Armor/ Fire Ant Necture / Terrian while doing it at night. Sometimes just inching forward. It was fucking awesome. My daughter was looking on saying, "Are you going to do anything"  :lol: "Your barely moving"[/spoiler]

Glad you enjoying it.  There is a spot or two in each episode where the combat gets kinda ridiculous, but the story is always gripping.

Ep 1 is the most puzzle-heavy, in terms of figuring out which switch does what.  I am not sure whether the gradual move to more "figure out the story" rather than "find the switch" came about because of the unfortunate demise of the woman who started the series, or whether that was planned, but you will enjoy the change. Keep us posted.

IMO this mod outshines any of the games or DLC quests, with the exception of The Pitt. They should hire this individual for quest work on the next one.

[spoiler]I currently just started in the vault with the big airlock door. Very creepy place along with the survivors. I dont get creeped easily but this place is doing it. [/spoiler]
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on July 22, 2014, 06:57:58 PM
I'm absolutely in love with AC2. I just spent one hour just travelling around Venice, I didn't think one could catch Stendhal's syndrome by playing a videogame.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on July 22, 2014, 07:00:36 PM
:mellow:

:P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on July 25, 2014, 06:42:07 PM
Been bored lately.  Thinking of getting Vicky II.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on July 25, 2014, 06:56:46 PM
If you do - pretty key to have the expansions.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 26, 2014, 12:23:35 AM
Trailer for Firefly Online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y98otfH9X8

It looks very retro (and with iOS and Android listed as release platforms it's no surprise), but looking at this makes me a lot giddier than I'm supposed to be about it. :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 26, 2014, 07:24:51 AM
Commander: The Great war is now on Steam. I thought I had it, but it appears I was mistaken. I did notice that I have a copy of American Civil War II that I never installed, though. :unsure:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Admiral Yi on July 28, 2014, 05:47:50 PM
I discovered the Internet in Civ IV (no scribes allowed) and the icon is a picture of Al Gore.  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on July 28, 2014, 06:42:28 PM
The Last Of Us (Remastered) drops tomorrow for PS4.  Should I: get it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on July 28, 2014, 09:45:31 PM
If you didn't play it already on the PS3, definitely.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on July 29, 2014, 06:47:49 AM
Nope, never had a PS3.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on July 29, 2014, 08:24:03 AM
It does play more like an interactive movie than a game, but it is still very awesome.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on July 30, 2014, 05:04:05 PM
It's one of the best video games in recent years.  I think it's the kind of game that can change the paradigm of single player narrative adventures for the near future.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on July 30, 2014, 06:47:17 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 30, 2014, 05:04:05 PM
It's one of the best video games in recent years.  I think it's the kind of game that can change the paradigm of single player narrative adventures for the near future.

Shame it's not out on PC.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on July 30, 2014, 06:59:25 PM
Things are tilting back in favor of consoles, Raz.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on July 30, 2014, 10:01:06 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 30, 2014, 06:59:25 PM
Things are tilting back in favor of consoles, Raz.

I have a hard time believing that.  PCs are so cheap now and can do so much more.  Plus the games are cheaper.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 31, 2014, 12:56:23 AM
New COD trailer. Is it me, or is this series becoming more ludicrous/retarded with each iteration?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUysNWHffWg
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on July 31, 2014, 05:37:12 AM
Quote from: Syt on July 31, 2014, 12:56:23 AM
New COD trailer. Is it me, or is this series becoming more ludicrous/retarded with each iteration?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUysNWHffWg

COD knows its audience.  :D

Also, good to see Frank Underwood in a position of power.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on July 31, 2014, 11:38:58 AM
Quote from: Valmy on July 30, 2014, 10:01:06 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 30, 2014, 06:59:25 PM
Things are tilting back in favor of consoles, Raz.

I have a hard time believing that.  PCs are so cheap now and can do so much more.  Plus the games are cheaper.

But people aren't buying them; just a shrinking minority of hardcore gamers (read: Languish).

Everybody else is jumping on the tablet express, and between the new Sexbox and PS4, combined with more innovative, non-insulting games like The Last of Us, consoles are going to take back the driver's seat.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on July 31, 2014, 12:00:03 PM
If people are not buying them then how are things 'tilting back' to consoles.  Sounds like they never tilted our way anyway.

'shrinking to a minority of hardcore gamers'

So....like all of gaming history.

Anyway I  like paying less for my rig and far less for my games.  The other gamers are suckers.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on July 31, 2014, 12:27:36 PM
Seedy is partially right. Except no one is buying consoles.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on July 31, 2014, 12:31:47 PM
Sony's sales for the first quarter exceeded their expectations for the entire year, before it was even available in their home market. As far as they're concerned, they're being bought.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on July 31, 2014, 12:33:05 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 31, 2014, 12:27:36 PM
Seedy is partially right. Except no one is buying consoles.

Really?  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on July 31, 2014, 12:34:01 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 30, 2014, 05:04:05 PM
It's one of the best video games in recent years.  I think it's the kind of game that can change the paradigm of single player narrative adventures for the near future.

Only reason I havent got it is no Sony.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on July 31, 2014, 12:41:17 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on July 31, 2014, 12:33:05 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 31, 2014, 12:27:36 PM
Seedy is partially right. Except no one is buying consoles.

Really?  :lol:

It happens, yes.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on August 01, 2014, 06:40:29 PM
Elite: Dangerous is looking very, very impressive. :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on August 01, 2014, 06:47:38 PM
Bought Commander: The Great War, now that it is available on Steam. Elegant WW1 game in the simplicity of the rules and the UI, I find, compared to the slower, more unwieldly WW1 Gold. The AI reportedly seems to be a very tough nut to crack, even on Handicapped. When I get a hold of it I'll make an AAR.:cool:

As an aside WW1 Gold was dropped by AGEOD, to be picked by Plug-In Digital and Digital Froggies. It was repackaged and put on Steam as well under the name World War 1 : Centennial Edition, with new UI and game hardware improvements. Will eventually buy and try it out.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on August 01, 2014, 06:55:09 PM
Playing some 'Master of Magic', that game never gets old.  :cool:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on August 02, 2014, 03:24:29 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on August 01, 2014, 06:40:29 PM
Elite: Dangerous is looking very, very impressive. :hmm:
Read about that today. Apparently you can buy a beta now but for a very large price, as the game is developed and a new beta with more features is released the price goes down. Oddly backwards.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 02, 2014, 03:31:52 PM
I think it's because of kickstarter: the more you pledged, the sooner you got access. So they have to do the same pricing with the beta version or the kickstarter backers who paid a lot to get earlier access will be pissed.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on August 02, 2014, 03:33:51 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 30, 2014, 05:04:05 PM
It's one of the best video games in recent years.  I think it's the kind of game that can change the paradigm of single player narrative adventures for the near future.
This game = good.

[spoiler]I enjoy seeing Boston in ruins as well.[/spoiler]
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on August 02, 2014, 03:44:17 PM
 :lol:  Yeah, didn't break my heart either.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on August 02, 2014, 03:44:40 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 31, 2014, 12:31:47 PM
Sony's sales for the first quarter exceeded their expectations for the entire year, before it was even available in their home market. As far as they're concerned, they're being bought.

:lol:  All that says is that their method for determining sales expectations sucked.  It says nothing whatever about whether or not the damned things are actually selling well.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on August 02, 2014, 03:49:25 PM
My contacts at Sony Best Buy tell me otherwise.  :ph34r: :ph34r: :ph34r:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on August 02, 2014, 03:54:18 PM
QuoteJul 31, 2014 10:24 AM EDT By Russell Westerholm

PS4 vs Xbox One Sales: Sony Dominating Next-Gen Console Market With Unexpectedly High Profit

Sony's PlayStation 4 (PS4) is continuing its strong sales performance and has led the way for the company to tally a profit in the second quarter of this fiscal year.

According to USA Today, Sony announced $17.6 billion in sales in the latest quarter, which was good for a $216 million profit. Sony's sales, largely due to the PS4's dominance on the next-gen console market, increased six percent from this time last year.

In the latest quarter, Sony has sold 3.5 million video game systems, compared to 1.1 units in the same period one year ago. Released in Nov. 2013, the PS4 led the way for an astonishing 96 percent sales increase in Sony's console and network division.

Though Sony is enjoying this unexpected success, it may only soften the blow of the forecasted loss the company should be posting come the end of the fiscal year in March 2015. USA Today reported Sony's PC line shakeup, a larger scale repositioning of the company and poor smartphone sales led to the expected loss.

Since the release of the PS4 and Microsoft's Xbox One, Sony has kept a sizeable lead over all its competitors. While Nintendo has floundered with its line of Wii consoles, Microsoft has been better, but still trailing Sony significantly.

In the second quarter, Microsoft noted in a sales report it sold 1.1 million Xbox One and Xbox 360 units, the same amount Sony sold in last year's second quarter, before the PS4's release. When comparing it to Sony's report, the PlayStation outsold the Xbox three-to-one in the latest quarter.

However, despite Nintendo's recent struggles, Sony finally claimed the spot of most-selling video game systems. Nintendo had held that spot for eight years, BBC News reported.

Sony expects to sell 17 million PlayStation units by the end of the fiscal year, which would be the most in three years. As well as increased sales through the PlayStation network, Sony also predicts the PS4 will continue to drive video game sales.

That's still a shitload of platforms.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on August 02, 2014, 05:16:25 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 02, 2014, 03:49:25 PM
My contacts at Sony Best Buy tell me otherwise.  :ph34r: :ph34r: :ph34r: 

I was commenting on your argument, not on any sales figures.  I neither know nor care about console sales, except that I am not a customer.

Well chin-chin... do carry on with your mud pies.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 07, 2014, 12:18:47 PM
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-08-07-godus-is-out-now-for-free-on-ios?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialoomph

Godus is now free for iOS. :lol:

QuoteGodus is out now for free on iOS

Populus and Black & White creator Peter Molyneux has released his latest god game, Godus, on iOS today.

The free-to-play affair puts players in the role of god, shaping a civilization and its surrounding landscape as you see fit. You'll be able to carve rivers into the terrain, rain down meteors, guide villagers on adventures, and learn more about these people's belief system.

"In Godus your hands will sculpt the mountains and carve rivers. Your touch will create pastures for your people. You will be loved by tiny worshipers that need your help to grow and your direction to progress through the ages of civilization," explained Molyneux in the release announcement.

"Power comes to you through influence, and your miracles guide the forces of nature. You must decide whether to use such awesome power for good or ill," he continued. "As you progress through the game you will find history hidden in the land through mysterious artefacts that uncover the true story behind your Followers. By journeying to far off lands to complete quests, you will bring back powerful abilities for your ever-gracious people."

Over time developer 22cans will add new features to Godus, allowing players to clash with rival gods, unlock new abilities and compete in various challenges.

Godus is still available on Steam Early Access, where a new "Settlements revamp update" will be added tomorrow. This version will be receiving a "spectacular, bonkers & undeniably amazing PC-exclusive feature," according to 22cans community manager George Kelion.

For more on Godus, our Chris Donlan took a deep dive with the PC version in April where he was less than impressed in the Dungeon Keeper creator's latest effort. "It's still hard to pin down what, if anything, 22Cans actually wants Godus to be," he said at the time. "After 70 hours of Godus, it actually sounds like blind, panicked, directionless design that chews up eager, talented developers and bores and confuses and angers the players." Hardly a glowing recommendation then, but game design is an iterative process, so perhaps this official iOS release will be better. It's free anyway, so see for yourself how you like playing god.

I feel for the Kickstart backers on this one, though. :(

Also, what happened with the dude who won that Cube thing where he gets to be supreme God of the game, and gets a share of the revenue?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on August 09, 2014, 04:19:00 AM
I have a hankering to play a new Shooter.  Or maybe an old shooter.  I watched some action movies this week and now want to kill someone.  I thought it best if I do in a computer game rather then real life.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 09, 2014, 04:25:39 AM
Well, Saints Row IV is on sale for 10 bucks. If you haven't played it, there's Call of Juarez: Gunslinger. Shadow Warrior (the new one) is supposedly pretty decent, but it's $35.

Check out this list of action games under 10 bucks with a metascore of at least 75:

http://store.steampowered.com/search/?sort_by=Released&sort_order=DESC&category1=998&price=0%2C10&genre=Action&metascore=75
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on August 09, 2014, 08:20:32 AM
Gunslinger is worth your investment, its a fun story.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: DontSayBanana on August 09, 2014, 08:52:46 AM
Ooh, the Jedi Knight games are on that list.  Those were fun.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 10, 2014, 12:53:01 AM
Spec Ops: The Line is also on sale. Though it's not really a fun shooter and deals with some mental issues of the protagonist. :unsure:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on August 10, 2014, 09:28:07 AM
Quote from: Syt on August 10, 2014, 12:53:01 AM
Spec Ops: The Line is also on sale. Though it's not really a fun shooter and deals with some mental issues of the protagonist. :unsure:

Yeah, I can do that without a game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on August 10, 2014, 11:38:53 AM
Tried to play the golem quest on dragonage; haven't played that game for years and felt I should finally finish it all.
I died horribly.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on August 10, 2014, 11:55:42 PM
Instead of buying something new I just started playing Bioshock infinite again.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on August 11, 2014, 02:25:41 AM
Also I'll post the first part of my Gettysburg AAR tomorrow.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on August 13, 2014, 08:28:07 PM
The new call of duty sounds fun. I might get this one, haven't bought a Cod game since #4 and Battlefield does nothing for me anymore.

I do like Titanfall but that game is dead.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: sbr on August 13, 2014, 09:19:31 PM
Marvel Heroes 2015 is pretty fun.

Anyone who is a fan of either Marvel Superheroes or Diablo/Torchlight style ARPGs should get plenty of fun out of the free model.  You get to pick one hero to start with, out of a condensed list (Captain America, Black Panther, Punisher, Black Widow, Luke Cage, Human Torch, Colossus, Storm, Hawkeye, Rocket Racoon, Daredevil).  By the time you level that one to max level you should be able to buy another hero with the in-game currency.

I started with Colossus and he is tearing shit up.  I just killed Loki, finishing the Normal difficulty story mode for the first time but I am only level 30 out of a max of 60.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 13, 2014, 10:42:04 PM
I dunno, the launch reviews of that one seemed pretty dreary (unfun levels, roaming a level with ten Captain Americas, a dozen Black Widows etc. running around ...).

r is this a new game?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: sbr on August 14, 2014, 01:53:48 AM
Same game but they have done a lot to fix it.  I have only been playing for a few days, so I don't know the details but it sounds like there has been a lot of work done on it.

You will see some of the same heroes, which feels silly, but it doesn't bother me that much personally.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: katmai on August 14, 2014, 02:01:57 AM
Quote from: sbr on August 14, 2014, 01:53:48 AM

You will see some of the same heroes, which feels silly, but it doesn't bother me that much personally.
. Deal breaker for me.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: sbr on August 14, 2014, 02:09:47 AM
Quote from: katmai on August 14, 2014, 02:01:57 AM
Quote from: sbr on August 14, 2014, 01:53:48 AM

You will see some of the same heroes, which feels silly, but it doesn't bother me that much personally.
. Deal breaker for me.

I can understand that.  The free:fun ratio is pretty good for me, which is especially nice since I have not been working much the last 6 weeks, so more free time than money.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: katmai on August 14, 2014, 02:22:35 AM
I understand that I have been playing dc online on PS4 this last week. It is much more console game than it is PC.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Martinus on August 14, 2014, 04:10:12 AM
Is this the thread where we get excited about upcoming games?

If so, I have Sims 4, Civ:BE, WoW:WoD and DA3 lined up this autumn. :nerd:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on August 14, 2014, 05:05:53 AM
Quote from: Martinus on August 14, 2014, 04:10:12 AM
Is this the thread where we get excited about upcoming games?

If so, I have Sims 4, Civ:BE, WoW:WoD and DA3 lined up this autumn. :nerd:

who the fuck are you?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: katmai on August 14, 2014, 05:50:11 AM
Quote from: Martinus on August 14, 2014, 04:10:12 AM
Is this the thread where we get excited about upcoming games?

If so,  WoW:WoD . :nerd:

:nelson:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 14, 2014, 06:35:40 AM
If you like subway maps, then you may want to look into this game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gNBdIBfnHk&index=3&list=UU3tNpTOHsTnkmbwztCs30sA
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on August 14, 2014, 07:04:03 AM
The new Wow expension does look very nice. It's outland, it has that BC feeling.

I've decided(before Sbr's post) to give MH2015 a try. Apparently, continuing to lvl without paying after 30 is almost impossible without xp boost.

Any of you guys tryed Firefall?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Martinus on August 14, 2014, 07:45:22 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on August 14, 2014, 07:04:03 AM
The new Wow expension does look very nice. It's outland, it has that BC feeling.

I've decided(before Sbr's post) to give MH2015 a try. Apparently, continuing to lvl without paying after 30 is almost impossible without xp boost.

Any of you guys tryed Firefall?

Dunno what either MH2015 and Firefall are.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 14, 2014, 08:29:23 AM
Quote from: Syt on August 14, 2014, 06:35:40 AM
If you like subway maps, then you may want to look into this game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gNBdIBfnHk&index=3&list=UU3tNpTOHsTnkmbwztCs30sA

It's actually pretty decent fun, ideal for coffee breaks. It's just a bit frustrating how the game seems to spawn new stations where it's the least convenient, making you add unseemly dents to your otherwise neat lines. Basically, each station will have a geometric shape, and passengers will spawn at stations in the shape of a station they want to get to. Shapes of stations can change during the game, too. The video gives a pretty good idea of the mechanics.

Here's my latest attempt at New York.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs14.postimg.org%2Fjfz9yqf75%2FNew_York_City_715.png&hash=04c9d25883ae428e0afba5661f295d78201128b9)

It's pausible, but still a bit hectic and forcing you to improvise. Occasionally it's best to just cancel the whole thing and draw the lines anew. Downside: you have to wait till all trains are back in the depot, and passengers may spawn in the meantime.

It's 6.99 and in early access, but it's already very playable.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on August 14, 2014, 08:32:44 AM
Quote from: Martinus on August 14, 2014, 07:45:22 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on August 14, 2014, 07:04:03 AM
The new Wow expension does look very nice. It's outland, it has that BC feeling.

I've decided(before Sbr's post) to give MH2015 a try. Apparently, continuing to lvl without paying after 30 is almost impossible without xp boost.

Any of you guys tryed Firefall?

Dunno what either MH2015 and Firefall are.

MH 2015 is Marvel Heroes, like SBR said, it's a Diablo 2 with Marvel Heroes, F2P.

Firefall is Borderlands meets Open world WoW MMO, also F2P.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: sbr on August 14, 2014, 10:30:20 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on August 14, 2014, 07:04:03 AM
The new Wow expension does look very nice. It's outland, it has that BC feeling.

I've decided(before Sbr's post) to give MH2015 a try. Apparently, continuing to lvl without paying after 30 is almost impossible without xp boost.

Any of you guys tryed Firefall?

I just hit 30 yesterday and had no trouble gaining 2 more levels, in fact 31 & 32 may have gone faster than most other post-20 levels.  I have friends that are int eh mid 50s and I don't think they have paid for XP boosters.

I don't think you get much XP for replaying the story missions in harder difficulties, especially at first because you out-level the early Herioc before you finish Normal.  Challenges and Legendary Quests still give nice XP, maybe even better than the first Story Mode.

I played Firefall for about 1 week, maybe 20 hours.  It is fun, but got old for me pretty quick.  The free version gets you access to 1 battleframe in each of 4 classes.  Once you hit max level (40) you can get another for free.  It felt to me like paying real cash was more important in Firefall than MH, but to be honest if you are serious about either you will need to pay.  The free versions are nice, but you can't expect developers to give everything away for free.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on August 14, 2014, 10:56:43 AM
You've played Firefall more then me, I've clocked 14 hours, and it has grown old me. There are small fun moments but most of my time was spent going from one Job board to the next collecting tickets so I can buy that vendor class related Item. Rinse & Repeat without having a fun story to pull me thru.


Franchise Hockey Manager 14 is in the 8 Ball Bundle, the bundle can be add for 2.99. Regular price of FHM14 is 20$.

See the full Bundle here : http://www.bundlestars.com/all-bundles/eight-ball-bundle It also has Baseball, Soccer, Golf and Basketball sims.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: sbr on August 14, 2014, 11:27:31 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on August 14, 2014, 10:56:43 AM
You've played Firefall more then me, I've clocked 14 hours, and it has grown old me. There are small fun moments but most of my time was spent going from one Job board to the next collecting tickets so I can buy that vendor class related Item. Rinse & Repeat without having a fun story to pull me thru.

Yep, exactly how I feel.  The fun moments are really fun, but they are too few and far between.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on August 14, 2014, 02:05:05 PM
I tried to play Oblivion for the first time in 4 years today.
Damn its ugly. I just couldn't do it.
My intention was to finally finish the story quests so I could start Skyrim.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Martinus on August 14, 2014, 03:25:01 PM
Quote from: Tyr on August 14, 2014, 02:05:05 PM
I tried to play Oblivion for the first time in 4 years today.
Damn its ugly. I just couldn't do it.
My intention was to finally finish the story quests so I could start Skyrim.

Why would you play Oblivion with Skyrim out there?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on August 15, 2014, 09:13:52 AM
Quote from: Martinus on August 14, 2014, 03:25:01 PM
Quote from: Tyr on August 14, 2014, 02:05:05 PM
I tried to play Oblivion for the first time in 4 years today.
Damn its ugly. I just couldn't do it.
My intention was to finally finish the story quests so I could start Skyrim.

Why would you play Oblivion with Skyrim out there?
story
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on August 15, 2014, 09:24:48 AM
Yeah same reason I did.  I mean the Empire Strikes Back is better but you still want to watch Star Wars first.  Now if you are really hard core you could go back and play Arena  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on August 15, 2014, 09:33:38 AM
Oh Marty why are you Garrosh Hellscream?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Martinus on August 15, 2014, 10:37:37 AM
Quote from: Valmy on August 15, 2014, 09:33:38 AM
Oh Marty why are you Garrosh Hellscream?
We share similar personality. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on August 15, 2014, 08:46:51 PM
QuoteFallout 4 Rumor Roundup: What Fans Can Expect
Posted by: Amir Heydari Posted date: August 15, 2014 In: Technology
Fallout 4 is coming, and fans of the game have waited seven long years for the release.Fallout 3 was a smash hit when it was released in 2008, and Fallout 4 is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated releases of 2015.The exact launch date is not certain, but it is speculated that it will come out in fall 2015. It will probably be previewed at E3 2015, since it didn't premiere at E3 2014.

A PR officer for the game developer, Bethesda Game Studios, officially confirmed that Fallout 4 will come out at some point.

A Redditor who knew a contact at the PR office for Bethesda Game Studios broke the news online, and he divulged some details about the storyline.The Redditor said that it would be set in Boston, and that it would be pretty much a direct sequel to Fallout 3. The game is going to have some returning factions.

The city motif for Boston is going to be somewhat cyberpunk and somewhat retro-futuristic, unlike anything ever seen in a Fallout game previously.Other elements of the game include a strong android influence and an Institute that has become extremely advanced in technology. The Institute will have probably developed or acquired a Garden of Eden Creation Kit to be able to have a farm in the post-nuclear environment.


Other rumors surrounding the game are even more exciting.

There is a good possibility that the game will have a massively multiplayer online mode when it is released, and Obsidian is rumored to be involved.In an interview with IGN, Josh Sawyer the director said that he would be very interested in getting involved with the game, and if he was given the green light, could end up giving the game a MMO element.


http://airherald.com/fallout-4-rumor-roundup-what-fans-can-expect/6391/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on August 15, 2014, 09:16:13 PM
I believe I'm about 85% through Fallout 3 AQFH Part 3. Fucking master piece. A few non game stopping glitches. It outshines any of the stock game quests and DLC's. Even any of the FONV quests.

For lack of better words, IMO, put a new face on Fallout 3. It just reshaped the whole game environment. It is like I'm playing a different game, a different nuance and feel I guess.

Started at 8th level in part 1 and currently near 18th, with a modest mod list. I would agree that this mod is very difficult with FWE. This mod at times will frustrate the living shit outta ya, but the pieces are there just easily overlooked. 

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on August 16, 2014, 09:24:27 AM
I'm surprised that they have the gall to try and get people to pay for Fable again at a full game price!

http://www.lionhead.com/games/fable-anniversary/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 16, 2014, 09:26:12 AM
Yeah, saw the price and thought WTF??

I couldn't get into the games, anyways.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on August 16, 2014, 09:32:06 AM
I though they were okay (though I think I only ever finished the first 1) but like all Peter Molyneux titles, shells of what they could have been (were stated to be).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 16, 2014, 09:33:03 AM
I thought the goofy humor clashed too much with trying to present a somewhat serious story. YMMV, of course.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on August 16, 2014, 09:52:40 AM
Agreed that Fable was nowhere near what it promised. It was still alright though. I liked its Britishness too. Always a rarity.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on August 16, 2014, 12:08:45 PM
I enjoyed the humor quite a bit myself, gave it personality.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on August 17, 2014, 10:40:41 AM
Quote from: Syt on July 26, 2014, 07:24:51 AM
Commander: The Great war is now on Steam. I thought I had it, but it appears I was mistaken. I did notice that I have a copy of American Civil War II that I never installed, though. :unsure:

but is it good?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on August 17, 2014, 05:15:31 PM
Quote from: garbon on August 16, 2014, 09:32:06 AM
I though they were okay (though I think I only ever finished the first 1) but like all Peter Molyneux titles, shells of what they could have been (were stated to be).

I engjoyed Fable, but couldn't get into Fable 3.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on August 22, 2014, 04:55:09 AM
Bought the second Civ 5 expansion on steam.
While I was there I bought an old game called Ghost Master for 30p. It is meh. One interesting point is that it didn't work at first...I had to apply a no cd crack to get it to work :bleeding:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Warspite on August 22, 2014, 07:01:21 AM
On the Steam sale, I just bought all the Bioshock games for £7, having never dipped into the series before. Bioshock 1 seems fun, if a little light.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on August 22, 2014, 07:09:55 AM
I got them through the bundle a few weeks before. I'm liking them a lot, probably not "pro" shooters but the setting and story are great.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grallon on August 22, 2014, 09:06:16 AM
I bought 'Divinity - Original Sin' on a spur of the moment moment...  Has anyone tried it?  It's a single player RPG.



G.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on August 22, 2014, 10:13:41 AM
Quote from: Grallon on August 22, 2014, 09:06:16 AM
I bought 'Divinity - Original Sin' on a spur of the moment moment...  Has anyone tried it?  It's a single player RPG.

It's quite fun. It can also be played coop.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 22, 2014, 10:39:37 AM
I haven't played as much of it as I would have liked so far, but it is good. Also, it was released on June 30th and has been almost consistently on the Steam Sales Top 10 (though they've dropped to ranks 11-20 this week).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on August 23, 2014, 07:12:11 AM
Dishonored is free to play on Steam this weekend, if you haven't tried it.

My rating: Above awesome.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 23, 2014, 11:17:29 AM
Battlefront is now selling the "3.0" upgrade to Combat Mission: Battle for Normandy and Fortress Italy. $10.00 (or $20.00 if you want to upgrade both games) buys you:

QuoteGraphics
Hit impacts to vehicles and bunkers now shown graphically ("hit decals")
Water animates for fording units
Improved shaders

Gameplay
Ground units are now able to fire at attacking aircraft
Ammo Dumps allow platoons to have reserve ammo stored separately on map (automatically distributed for certain Skill Levels)
WeGo TCP/IP with the ability to save but not the ability to replay combat action
Spotters restricted to directing only one Mission at a time. Assets can now be group fired.
More realistic/varied RoF of automatic weapons.
Improved load time for scenarios, especially larger ones with complex terrain

User Interface
Three different sets of camera controls; Standard (traditional), First Person Shooter, and Real Time Strategy
Optional graphical Command and Control link tracing
KIAs are shown in the Soldier/Crew Panels to track soldiers lost during the game
Option to disable music separate from other game sounds

Editor
Ability to create AI Triggers that execute actions based on other units or interaction with Objectives (existing battles do not have this, but it can be added by authors if they wish)
Maximum map size increased
Improved responsiveness of 2D editing, especially for large maps
Improved load time for 3D Preview, especially large maps
Customized "Mod Tags" for most graphics. This allows for multiple mods for the same item without the need to move items in/out of Data folder
Ability to specify specific mods be used for a specific Scenario. If CM fails to find the specified mod it will use the default

2.0 was also sold separately, but you at least got it included with some of the DLC.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on August 24, 2014, 12:30:51 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on August 15, 2014, 09:16:13 PM
I believe I'm about 85% through Fallout 3 AQFH Part 3. Fucking master piece. A few non game stopping glitches. It outshines any of the stock game quests and DLC's. Even any of the FONV quests.

For lack of better words, IMO, put a new face on Fallout 3. It just reshaped the whole game environment. It is like I'm playing a different game, a different nuance and feel I guess.

Started at 8th level in part 1 and currently near 18th, with a modest mod list. I would agree that this mod is very difficult with FWE. This mod at times will frustrate the living shit outta ya, but the pieces are there just easily overlooked.
A belated "told you so!"  :D

The combat does get out of hand a few times, IMO.  Other than that, though, I agree that it is the best thing in the Fallout 3/NV universe.  I especially loved the music in the second episode.  So haunting.

Its a pity Firelady isn't around to see where this series eventually became.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 27, 2014, 12:40:48 PM
Nobunaga's Ambition: Souzou is on Steam.  :w00t:


In Traditional Chinese only.  :mad:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on August 27, 2014, 12:45:28 PM
Tiger penis. :w00t:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on August 27, 2014, 12:59:48 PM
Quote from: The Brain on August 27, 2014, 12:45:28 PM
Tiger penis. :w00t:

Powdered?  :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on August 27, 2014, 02:56:05 PM
Quote from: Syt on August 27, 2014, 12:40:48 PM
Nobunaga's Ambition: Souzou is on Steam.  :w00t:

In Traditional Chinese only.  :mad:

As with all KOEI imports, wait for the PUK to come out. Although I admit Souzou is among the best NA games in recent years.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on August 27, 2014, 07:26:39 PM
Playing civ 5.
My usual way to play is to be fairly peaceful and concentrate on settlers, wonders and improving tiles... Until someone inevitably attacks me, I can usually just about survive and then counter attack and take them down.
This time i decided to try something different and be a militaristic arsehole from the start.
Just one problem- ouch, the money and happiness penalties.
I'm not sure I can play on with this game. I'm safe but I am heamoraging gold and my happiness is so low I'm even getting armed up risings all the time. Damn.
Civ 5 really does have some bad design choices- the one unit per tile thing is dumb. Roads should also rv handled differently
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on August 27, 2014, 07:28:42 PM
Quote from: Syt on August 27, 2014, 12:40:48 PM
Nobunaga's Ambition: Souzou is on Steam.  :w00t:


In Traditional Chinese only.  :mad:
Always wanted to play one of those games but nothing recent seems
To be in English and my Japanese is nowhere near high enough for it
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on August 27, 2014, 08:57:19 PM
Quote from: Tyr on August 27, 2014, 07:26:39 PM
Playing civ 5.
My usual way to play is to be fairly peaceful and concentrate on settlers, wonders and improving tiles... Until someone inevitably attacks me, I can usually just about survive and then counter attack and take them down.
This time i decided to try something different and be a militaristic arsehole from the start.
Just one problem- ouch, the money and happiness penalties.
I'm not sure I can play on with this game. I'm safe but I am heamoraging gold and my happiness is so low I'm even getting armed up risings all the time. Damn.
Civ 5 really does have some bad design choices- the one unit per tile thing is dumb. Roads should also rv handled differently

You be wrong. The death of the doom stacks is wonderful.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on August 28, 2014, 11:12:27 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on August 27, 2014, 08:57:19 PM
Quote from: Tyr on August 27, 2014, 07:26:39 PM
Playing civ 5.
My usual way to play is to be fairly peaceful and concentrate on settlers, wonders and improving tiles... Until someone inevitably attacks me, I can usually just about survive and then counter attack and take them down.
This time i decided to try something different and be a militaristic arsehole from the start.
Just one problem- ouch, the money and happiness penalties.
I'm not sure I can play on with this game. I'm safe but I am heamoraging gold and my happiness is so low I'm even getting armed up risings all the time. Damn.
Civ 5 really does have some bad design choices- the one unit per tile thing is dumb. Roads should also rv handled differently

You be wrong. The death of the doom stacks is wonderful.

Agreed.  Almost all of the design choice differences from IV were improvements.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on August 29, 2014, 11:55:07 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on August 27, 2014, 08:57:19 PM
Quote from: Tyr on August 27, 2014, 07:26:39 PM
Playing civ 5.
My usual way to play is to be fairly peaceful and concentrate on settlers, wonders and improving tiles... Until someone inevitably attacks me, I can usually just about survive and then counter attack and take them down.
This time i decided to try something different and be a militaristic arsehole from the start.
Just one problem- ouch, the money and happiness penalties.
I'm not sure I can play on with this game. I'm safe but I am heamoraging gold and my happiness is so low I'm even getting armed up risings all the time. Damn.
Civ 5 really does have some bad design choices- the one unit per tile thing is dumb. Roads should also rv handled differently

You be wrong. The death of the doom stacks is wonderful.

Doom stacks were a bit much (though better than the old one unit dies, they all die).
But one per tile is too little the other way IMO.  It just seems silly that such a huge land area can only hold one unit.
There should be a happy medium of allowing say one unit per type in a tile.

Roads are my main complaint though.
A good fix IMO would be that roads are built as excellent paved roads and then slowly decay into  the dirt tracks that are the current norm, with accordingly worse travel times. Maintaining them can be a job for workers- gives workers something to do when you don't need them.
At the least maintenance shouldn't be as bad as it is.


I recovered my game anyway. Somehow. Looting enemy provinces kept my economy afloat until I was able to get a few lucky social policies.

The new ideology stuff is interesting.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Martinus on August 30, 2014, 11:31:45 AM
Civ 5 is excellent - it's the best Civ to date (assuming you play with both expansions).

The idea about micromanaging road maintenace with workers is one of the worst things I have ever heard.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on August 30, 2014, 11:35:18 AM
Yeah I gotta join in saying that system is pretty good as is on the areas you've noted as problematic.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on August 30, 2014, 11:39:28 AM
Quote from: Martinus on August 30, 2014, 11:31:45 AM
Civ 5 is excellent - it's the best Civ to date (assuming you play with both expansions).

The idea about micromanaging road maintenace with workers is one of the worst things I have ever heard.
Who said anything about micromanaging?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on August 30, 2014, 04:07:25 PM
Quote from: Tyr on August 27, 2014, 07:28:42 PM
Quote from: Syt on August 27, 2014, 12:40:48 PM
Nobunaga's Ambition: Souzou is on Steam.  :w00t:


In Traditional Chinese only.  :mad:
Always wanted to play one of those games but nothing recent seems
To be in English and my Japanese is nowhere near high enough for it

My Japanese is nonexistent and I can play NA games just fine, as long as I understand the basic concepts of the game. KOEI games aren't exactly War in the Pacific complex. I use my New Nelson kanji manual to search whatever kanji I don't understand, plus I've found several Japanese wikis about these games that I can use translators on when I need to understand something.

My main gripe with Souzou is that the player's historical events have no minimum date requirements. If, for example, you play Oda Nobunaga starting in the 1551 scenario, and you manage to unite Owari way before 1560 (which is impossible not to do), you immediately unlock the Battle of Okehazama event even though it's not 1560. Then all you need to do is to send a Oda force to besiege an Imagawa stronghold and you will immediately kill off Imagawa Yoshimoto without a struggle.  :huh:

I might do an AAR of the game for Languish one day, except that this time I would bar all historical events so it becomes a full Battle Royale mayhem (so no Hojo-Takeda-Imagawa triple alliance or shit like that). Just like the first NA, everyone pitted against everyone.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 03, 2014, 03:24:31 AM
Plugged my new GTX770 w/4GB into my computer yesterday after my GTX660 died last week.

I can now play FarCry 3 at ultra details on full HD and it's beautifully smooth and there's barely any fan noise from the PC.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on September 03, 2014, 06:11:34 AM
The 700 series has been really satisfying.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 03, 2014, 11:39:00 AM
It seems Obsidian (of all people?) are working on a modern day version of World of Tanks:

http://aw.my.com/us/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 05, 2014, 08:15:21 AM
Slitherine/Matrix websites near unusable and taking forever to load. What's going on, Tamas?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on September 05, 2014, 09:24:50 AM
Quote from: Syt on September 05, 2014, 08:15:21 AM
Slitherine/Matrix websites near unusable and taking forever to load. What's going on, Tamas?

Should be ok now.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on September 05, 2014, 09:40:25 AM
Too many Gigabeets on the server.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on September 05, 2014, 09:42:59 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on September 05, 2014, 09:40:25 AM
Too many Gigabeets on the server.

:rolleyes:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on September 06, 2014, 05:40:16 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on September 05, 2014, 09:40:25 AM
Too many Gigabeets on the server.
:lol: 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on September 09, 2014, 07:28:47 AM
I don't suppose any of you wargamy types have bought Piercing Fortress Europa? It might not look much on screenshots but it has a very clever WEGO operational system and logistics system. I would love to PBEM it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on September 09, 2014, 03:29:54 PM
Got Saints Row 4 yesterday. I'm a huge fan of the series, and so far I'm having a blast. It's a great parody and the whole "GTA with superpowers" gameplay is actually pretty fun to play.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on September 12, 2014, 06:06:43 PM
GTA V coming to XBOne and PS4 on November 18th.

DROPPING FUCKING LOADS!!!! :w00t:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: sbr on September 12, 2014, 06:14:13 PM
Relax.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on September 12, 2014, 08:42:08 PM
It is fun but hardly fun enough to debase oneself with such a post. :o
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on September 13, 2014, 04:54:11 AM
Quote from: sbr on September 12, 2014, 06:14:13 PM
Relax.
:lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on September 13, 2014, 04:54:23 AM
Quote from: garbon on September 12, 2014, 08:42:08 PM
It is fun but hardly fun enough to debase oneself with such a post. :o
Relax.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 17, 2014, 08:41:21 AM
Reommended Curators on Steam. My top suggesestion:

NeoGAF. Their slogan: "Games we buy but never play."

Steam knows me too well. :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on October 17, 2014, 09:14:54 AM
Yeah, that's us Gaffers. Talk about video games, never actually play games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 17, 2014, 11:59:38 AM
ZOMG! Cinemawares' Wings! has been remade:

http://store.steampowered.com/app/320840/

:wub:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on October 17, 2014, 12:00:16 PM
Abyss Odyssey is a pretty fun roguelike with some wonky fight mechanics.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 26, 2014, 04:06:50 AM
The USCSS Nostromo from the Alien Isolation DLCs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1AGWXNmLZQ
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: MadImmortalMan on October 26, 2014, 02:54:10 PM
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F2KTajwT.jpg&hash=145ad9d1272b8a3f1d2ccd29458511fc33bede28)

HMS Hercules and the Greek army waiting for the Germans at the gates of fire. SR1936
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on October 26, 2014, 04:35:09 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on October 26, 2014, 02:54:10 PM
HMS Hercules and the Greek army waiting for the Germans at the gates of fire. SR1936

HMS Hercules was razor blades by 1939.  And she didn't look at all like that.  And she seems to have a Greek flag symbol, like the soldiers do.  Is this an alt-hist sort of game?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on October 26, 2014, 06:14:28 PM
Well the infantry are carrying RPG-7s so I'd guess a lot of time travel is going on in that scenario.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: MadImmortalMan on October 27, 2014, 02:15:41 AM
SR1936 is an adaptation of SR2020, which is slightly future. In this case, Hercules is a US Colorado class battleship that I bought the plans to make. :P

Anyway, the Germans didn't get down through Yugo for another couple years, so I had a bunch of escorts and a second BB there by then. Even so I barely survived it. And I was way the hell in debt (Greeks, duh).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on October 27, 2014, 10:15:48 AM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on October 27, 2014, 02:15:41 AM
SR1936 is an adaptation of SR2020, which is slightly future. In this case, Hercules is a US Colorado class battleship that I bought the plans to make. :P

Anyway, the Germans didn't get down through Yugo for another couple years, so I had a bunch of escorts and a second BB there by then. Even so I barely survived it. And I was way the hell in debt (Greeks, duh).

So, a fantasy game (Greece building battleships, even obsolete ones?).  And Greek ships were RHS (Royal Hellenic Ship) not HMS.  And Colorado didn't look like the model, either!  :lol:

But, if it's fun, none of that matters.

Though I don't know what a SR1936 or SR2020 is.  Aren't they Italian biplanes?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Richard Hakluyt on October 27, 2014, 01:00:39 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on October 27, 2014, 02:15:41 AM
SR1936 is an adaptation of SR2020, which is slightly future. In this case, Hercules is a US Colorado class battleship that I bought the plans to make. :P

Anyway, the Germans didn't get down through Yugo for another couple years, so I had a bunch of escorts and a second BB there by then. Even so I barely survived it. And I was way the hell in debt (Greeks, duh).

I've been wondering whether to get this, it is clearly not that accurate a representation on WW2 but how is it in terms of fun and gameplay?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: MadImmortalMan on October 27, 2014, 03:30:15 PM
It's not too bad, but it's very unpolished. The level of accuracy they shoot for in the units is extreme, so they really only get them close for the big players. I mean they actually have it down to how many men per tank x how many tanks per unit = manpower required to build and stuff like that. Obviously, the icons are not so precise. Even the Nagato looks like an Iowa. Some are pretty good though.

And because it's basically Supreme Ruler 2020 brought back in time with some events added and stuff it's a bit clear that it's not suited to WW2 in various ways. For some reason I do like the engine though. The economic model is fairly complex. Much better than HOI in that way. Much more potential. Lots of complexity.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on October 27, 2014, 04:58:22 PM
Quote from: grumbler on October 26, 2014, 04:35:09 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on October 26, 2014, 02:54:10 PM
HMS Hercules and the Greek army waiting for the Germans at the gates of fire. SR1936

HMS Hercules was razor blades by 1939.  And she didn't look at all like that.  And she seems to have a Greek flag symbol, like the soldiers do.  Is this an alt-hist sort of game?

Or you know, the mod simply uses old art assets.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on October 27, 2014, 05:11:30 PM
In SR2020, I enjoyed invading Indiana and Michigan with my Ohio.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on October 27, 2014, 06:45:22 PM
King of Dragon Pass fans!

http://sixages.com

Enjoy the wait.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Richard Hakluyt on October 27, 2014, 07:16:58 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on October 27, 2014, 03:30:15 PM
It's not too bad, but it's very unpolished. The level of accuracy they shoot for in the units is extreme, so they really only get them close for the big players. I mean they actually have it down to how many men per tank x how many tanks per unit = manpower required to build and stuff like that. Obviously, the icons are not so precise. Even the Nagato looks like an Iowa. Some are pretty good though.

And because it's basically Supreme Ruler 2020 brought back in time with some events added and stuff it's a bit clear that it's not suited to WW2 in various ways. For some reason I do like the engine though. The economic model is fairly complex. Much better than HOI in that way. Much more potential. Lots of complexity.

Thanks.

Think I'll leave it for the time being, maybe if there is a game shortage later in the year....
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 31, 2014, 10:30:36 AM
Ian Livingstone's Forest of Doom now has a computer adaptation:

http://store.steampowered.com/app/270490/?snr=1_4_4__tab-PopularNewReleases
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 31, 2014, 10:37:29 AM
Though I see more books are available by the publisher on mobile, and cheaper. Starhsip Traveller. :wub: It was my first choose your own adventure book, and for a while friends and I became mildly obsessed with them. I enjoyed none as much as the Lone Wolf series, though, with its beautiful maps and epic storyline.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 31, 2014, 04:08:15 PM
I always cursed that i was too young to have got those when they were contemporary and had to hunt them down second hand. Lone wolf was amazing
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on November 06, 2014, 05:38:08 PM
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.battlefront.com%2Fimages%2Fstories%2FCMBlackSea%2Ft-90_tn.png&hash=83e9567aa6bf6bded6c6f4c0ad34c3045ef98aea)
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.battlefront.com%2Fimages%2Fstories%2FCMBlackSea%2Fabrams-0_tn.png&hash=13704f54795e544dde7a29d16822dfbe4ba1ea21)
http://www.battlefront.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=335&Itemid=579
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on November 06, 2014, 06:38:07 PM
Look, it's the Polish Navy.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.battlefront.com%2Fimages%2Fstories%2FCMBlackSea%2Famphib-2_tn.png&hash=58833435b95fee868b499ab752a2e9195a8970ce)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on November 06, 2014, 06:57:56 PM
LOL, Captain Wiktor
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on November 06, 2014, 08:14:05 PM
I think they'd have more traction with a Nato/WP 1985ish. :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 06, 2014, 11:59:35 PM
Steam goes full wartime nostalgia mode:
Silent Service I&II
Command HQ (from 1990)
Across the Rhine
Taskforce 1942
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 08, 2014, 04:09:55 AM
What a beautiful title for a freeware game: "Evil Robot Of Doom Crushes Innocent Town Due To Parliamentary Disagreement"

http://nik.itch.io/evil-robot-of-doom-crushes-innocent-town-due-to-parliamentary-disagreement

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.itch.io%2FaW1hZ2UvMTMyNzgvNDQ3MzMucG5n%2Foriginal%2Fl3sIis.png&hash=0ec201869ce052a6e6a58a6e9fe4fb8e5d645103)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on November 08, 2014, 04:50:44 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on November 06, 2014, 08:14:05 PM
I think they'd have more traction with a Nato/WP 1985ish. :(

They don't do alt-history.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 16, 2014, 04:32:09 AM
The Cinemaware 1986 - 1991 anthology is out on Steam for €8.49 at release discount, including:

Defender of the Crown
SDI
The King of Chicago
Sindbad and the Throne of the Falcon
Lords of the Rising Sun
Rocket Ranger
It Came From the Desert
It Came From the Desert II: Antheads
Wings!
TV Sports: Football
TV Sports: Basketball
TV Sports: Baseball
TV Sports: Boxing

No idea how well optimized they are for modern PCs.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 20, 2014, 02:02:56 PM
For Games Workshop fans: Focus Interactive is putting out Mordheim in Early Access.

http://www.mordheim-cityofthedamned.com/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on November 21, 2014, 06:16:21 AM
GTA V on the PS4 is the shiznit. :cool:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on November 21, 2014, 06:22:26 PM
I see pre-order for the Game of Thrones game by Tell Tale is on Steam.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 22, 2014, 01:12:14 AM
Quote from: Syt on November 20, 2014, 02:02:56 PM
For Games Workshop fans: Focus Interactive is putting out Mordheim in Early Access.

http://www.mordheim-cityofthedamned.com/

91% of 97 reviews on Steam are positive atm, though it's still in early access.  :hmm:

I guess I'll wait for a more finished release, though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on November 23, 2014, 01:10:55 AM
After a long while, I logged on into World of Tanks and noticed it's still an arcade full of arty-hating assmonkeys that it ever was.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Martinus on November 26, 2014, 11:17:21 AM
Quote from: garbon on November 21, 2014, 06:22:26 PM
I see pre-order for the Game of Thrones game by Tell Tale is on Steam.

Definitely getting it. Loved their Wolf Among Us.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on November 26, 2014, 11:36:20 AM
Yeah I am really interested in that one.  I think Adventure Games are the best platforms for ASOIAF games and I look forward to seeing if that is true.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: sbr on November 26, 2014, 02:43:47 PM
Quote from: Martinus on November 26, 2014, 11:17:21 AM
Quote from: garbon on November 21, 2014, 06:22:26 PM
I see pre-order for the Game of Thrones game by Tell Tale is on Steam.

Definitely getting it. Loved their Wolf Among Us.

I need to play that now while I am between big games, I keep meaning to but then get distracted.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 27, 2014, 05:03:04 AM
What do you know about this one, Syt?

http://store.steampowered.com/app/279440/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 27, 2014, 06:14:51 AM
Seen it, but I have the complete collection from Project Aon, so not sure if I'll jump on it.

I've seen Steve Jackson also has a title on Steam now, but it's more expensive than on Android, with only minor added features.

EDIT: looked closer, and I see it's not an adaptation of the books. Doesn't look too great TBH, but I will wait for user reviews.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Martinus on November 27, 2014, 07:55:48 AM
I love the fact that making games for Mac OS is becoming more and more a standard, and the niche/smaller developers are actually leading in this.

By the way, for those interested, it seems Civ: Beyond the Earth is out on Mac OC since yesterday. I wonder if I get it for free on Steam since I already have the Windows version.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on November 30, 2014, 07:32:24 PM
Combat Mission: Black Sea (BS)................... :lol:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxaXCUdUOrA

First look alpha
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on December 01, 2014, 12:04:20 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on November 30, 2014, 07:32:24 PM
Combat Mission: Black Sea (BS)................... :lol:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxaXCUdUOrA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxaXCUdUOrA)

First look alpha

That's the Beta.  Chris showed some the clips of the Alpha back in June I think.  I do hope they have December release.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on December 01, 2014, 12:34:13 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on December 01, 2014, 12:04:20 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on November 30, 2014, 07:32:24 PM
Combat Mission: Black Sea (BS)................... :lol:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxaXCUdUOrA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxaXCUdUOrA)

First look alpha

That's the Beta.  Chris showed some the clips of the Alpha back in June I think.  I do hope they have December release.

Raz.....9:19  :lol:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7MnKuSXoxM
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 01, 2014, 12:47:14 AM
Whenever I blink Battlefront issue new patches that they charge money for. At this point I don't care any more.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on December 01, 2014, 01:32:03 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on December 01, 2014, 12:34:13 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on December 01, 2014, 12:04:20 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on November 30, 2014, 07:32:24 PM
Combat Mission: Black Sea (BS)................... :lol:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxaXCUdUOrA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxaXCUdUOrA)

First look alpha

That's the Beta.  Chris showed some the clips of the Alpha back in June I think.  I do hope they have December release.

Raz.....9:19  :lol:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7MnKuSXoxM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7MnKuSXoxM)

June or May I suppose.  Syt is right though.  They are pulling bullshit that even Matrix games wouldn't do.  I think their problem is they never expanded.  They could probably make a lot more money and produce better games if they put the games on Steam and hired 5-10 more people.  But no, they seem content to stay in the Wargaming ghetto forever.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on December 01, 2014, 08:18:27 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on December 01, 2014, 01:32:03 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on December 01, 2014, 12:34:13 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on December 01, 2014, 12:04:20 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on November 30, 2014, 07:32:24 PM
Combat Mission: Black Sea (BS)................... :lol:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxaXCUdUOrA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxaXCUdUOrA)

First look alpha

That's the Beta.  Chris showed some the clips of the Alpha back in June I think.  I do hope they have December release.

Raz.....9:19  :lol:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7MnKuSXoxM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7MnKuSXoxM)

June or May I suppose.  Syt is right though.  They are pulling bullshit that even Matrix games wouldn't do.  I think their problem is they never expanded.  They could probably make a lot more money and produce better games if they put the games on Steam and hired 5-10 more people.  But no, they seem content to stay in the Wargaming ghetto forever.

Anyway what is the main hang up with the Shock Force series? It's current state as of today. Not when it cameout.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on December 01, 2014, 08:38:38 PM
Well, it was a little unbalanced.  Hypothetical struggle between the US, UK, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands vs Syria. The only way to make the battles challenging was to outnumber the player 5-1 and give the Syrians the highest training.  I remember some annoying features like Units wouldn't retreat but instead get a question mark over their heads and vanish if they suffered to much morale damage.  Battle for Normandy ironed out a lot of the problems.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on December 02, 2014, 05:04:40 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on December 01, 2014, 08:38:38 PM
Well, it was a little unbalanced.  Hypothetical struggle between the US, UK, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands vs Syria. The only way to make the battles challenging was to outnumber the player 5-1 and give the Syrians the highest training.  I remember some annoying features like Units wouldn't retreat but instead get a question mark over their heads and vanish if they suffered to much morale damage.  Battle for Normandy ironed out a lot of the problems.

Can understand that. I thought just the setting was a terrible mis-step on their part. CM:BS may be more enjoyable and more balanced, but the backdrop is silly IMO.

I have not looked to see if there is a WP/Nato mod for SF
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on December 02, 2014, 08:17:59 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on December 02, 2014, 05:04:40 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on December 01, 2014, 08:38:38 PM
Well, it was a little unbalanced.  Hypothetical struggle between the US, UK, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands vs Syria. The only way to make the battles challenging was to outnumber the player 5-1 and give the Syrians the highest training.  I remember some annoying features like Units wouldn't retreat but instead get a question mark over their heads and vanish if they suffered to much morale damage.  Battle for Normandy ironed out a lot of the problems.

Can understand that. I thought just the setting was a terrible mis-step on their part. CM:BS may be more enjoyable and more balanced, but the backdrop is silly IMO.

I have not looked to see if there is a WP/Nato mod for SF

There's not much modding that can be done.  Most features in the game are hard coded.  All anyone can do is change textures and sound.  Battlefront is poorly run.  It's like they don't want to succeed. 

I actually had the idea of a Russian/Ukrainian war scenario back in like 2008 (it was to be part of the background of an Alien Invasion scenario), the US doesn't actually get involved with that war though many former Warsaw Pact states send forces to fight the Russians.  Sort of a NATO east comprising Poland, the Baltic states, Hungary, Czechia, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on December 03, 2014, 06:04:59 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on December 02, 2014, 08:17:59 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on December 02, 2014, 05:04:40 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on December 01, 2014, 08:38:38 PM
Well, it was a little unbalanced.  Hypothetical struggle between the US, UK, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands vs Syria. The only way to make the battles challenging was to outnumber the player 5-1 and give the Syrians the highest training.  I remember some annoying features like Units wouldn't retreat but instead get a question mark over their heads and vanish if they suffered to much morale damage.  Battle for Normandy ironed out a lot of the problems.

Can understand that. I thought just the setting was a terrible mis-step on their part. CM:BS may be more enjoyable and more balanced, but the backdrop is silly IMO.

I have not looked to see if there is a WP/Nato mod for SF

There's not much modding that can be done.  Most features in the game are hard coded.  All anyone can do is change textures and sound.  Battlefront is poorly run.  It's like they don't want to succeed. 

I actually had the idea of a Russian/Ukrainian war scenario back in like 2008 (it was to be part of the background of an Alien Invasion scenario), the US doesn't actually get involved with that war though many former Warsaw Pact states send forces to fight the Russians.  Sort of a NATO east comprising Poland, the Baltic states, Hungary, Czechia, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria.

Agree that their topic choices get's me to shake my head. I will probably get SF et al.  There is a nine file European make over and that's a start.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on December 03, 2014, 09:27:48 PM
Another MOO-esque title in development.

http://starsinshadow.com/index.html

I kinda dig the artwork.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Martinus on December 09, 2014, 04:56:45 AM
It seems Witcher 3 has been delayed again. Here is the developer's open letter:

QuoteDear Gamers,

Ever since we started working on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, we knew it would be an ambitious game. We wanted, and still aim, to give you an incredible experience, an epic adventure in a vast, completely open fantasy universe.

The sheer size and complexity of The Witcher, key features of the title, have had a decisive impact on production. Now, nearing the end of our work, we see many details that need to be corrected. When we release the most important game in our studio's history, we must be absolutely sure that we did everything we could to limit any bugs to a level that will allow you to enjoy the game thoroughly.

With this in mind, we took another look at current workloads and what they mean for the team. Even though everyone is working at full speed, we concluded that we need another 12 weeks, so we are shifting the release date of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt to May 19th, 2015.

We owe you an apology. We set the release date too hastily. It's a hard lesson, one to take to heart for the future. We know what we want to do to make Wild Hunt one of the best RPGs you will ever play. And we continue to work hard to achieve just that. So, we apologize and ask for your trust.

Thank you for the all support you show us on a daily basis. We truly do appreciate it. It has fueled us in our passion since the start and will continue to do so.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on December 09, 2014, 09:33:43 AM
Quote from: Martinus on December 09, 2014, 04:56:45 AM
It seems Witcher 3 has been delayed again. Here is the developer's open letter:

(snip)
Too bad they didn't delay Witcher 2 long enough to realize that the QTEs ruined the game.  Ruined a great series as far as I was concerned.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Martinus on December 09, 2014, 09:43:28 AM
What's QTE?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on December 09, 2014, 09:46:20 AM
Quote from: Martinus on December 09, 2014, 09:43:28 AM
What's QTE?
Quicktime Events.  Like the one where you have to either press the indicated keyboard buttons fast enough or die in the boxing match.  I quit the game right there.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on December 09, 2014, 09:55:28 AM
Yeah, I wonder who are the people who like QTEs. :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Martinus on December 09, 2014, 10:02:24 AM
Ah, it's very console-y, I suppose.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on December 09, 2014, 12:07:59 PM
No one likes QTEs except marketers because they make cinematics seem interactive and they sell interactive products.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on December 09, 2014, 03:47:18 PM
I didn't mind the QTEs for Witcher 2.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on December 09, 2014, 03:47:52 PM
Witcher 2's QTEs were annoying but not game ruining. Its combat system was pretty bizzarely bad though. The original was amazing. The second...meh
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on December 09, 2014, 05:05:28 PM
HoMM3 is being released in HD: http://might-and-magic.ubi.com/universe/en-GB/games/all-games/might-and-magic-heroes-3-hd/index.aspx
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on December 10, 2014, 01:06:41 AM
I've just accepted QTEs as an annoying part of modern design.  Sort of like "lives" systems of yesteryear.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on December 10, 2014, 09:12:04 AM
Quote from: Tyr on December 09, 2014, 03:47:52 PM
Witcher 2's QTEs were annoying but not game ruining. Its combat system was pretty bizzarely bad though. The original was amazing. The second...meh
The boxing QTE was game-ruining for me.  The catapult one at the start at least had some game value.  The push "random buttons fast enough when the prompt appears, like a lab rat" boxing QTE just destroyed my faith in the game design completely.  Designers who would add absolute shit like that were obviously more interested in doing stupid stuff just to be doing stuff, so i bailed to spend lifespan on something more promising.

Agree that the original was amazing (other than the railroading common to all Bioware games of the period).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 10, 2014, 09:19:24 AM
Remember when EA used to publish pretty good games from great developers? Pepperidge Farm remembers.

SimCity 2000 is 20 years old, and can now picked up for free at Origin (in case you don't have a GOG copy yet).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on December 10, 2014, 09:47:43 AM
Quote from: Syt on December 10, 2014, 09:19:24 AM
Remember when EA used to publish pretty good games from great developers? Pepperidge Farm remembers.

:lol:  For an Austrian, you're remarkably dialed in on American pop culture references.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 10, 2014, 01:59:36 PM
If you want to melt your brain a bit: http://entire.spacebar.org/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Martinus on December 10, 2014, 03:22:48 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 10, 2014, 09:47:43 AM
Quote from: Syt on December 10, 2014, 09:19:24 AM
Remember when EA used to publish pretty good games from great developers? Pepperidge Farm remembers.

:lol:  For an Austrian, you're remarkably dialed in on American pop culture references.

I thought Syt is a German.  :huh:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on December 10, 2014, 03:25:11 PM
All the best Austrians are Germans.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 10, 2014, 03:33:15 PM
I'm confused at this point. I guess I'm transnational.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on December 10, 2014, 03:37:40 PM
Cronenbergian. :x
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on December 10, 2014, 05:22:55 PM
Quote from: Syt on December 10, 2014, 03:33:15 PM
I'm confused at this point. I guess I'm transnational.

So which is it?  I thought you were an Austrian that spent time in Germany and went back to Austria.

I would say you all look alike, but that would be racist.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 10, 2014, 05:47:40 PM
Born and raised in Germany near Hamburg; child of '76. Left for Austria 10 years ago.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on December 10, 2014, 05:53:22 PM
My bad.  Now who the fuck is the Austrian around here?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: PDH on December 10, 2014, 08:10:08 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 10, 2014, 05:53:22 PM
My bad.  Now who the fuck is the Austrian around here?

Syt
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on December 10, 2014, 08:17:40 PM
Anschluss, Schmanschluss.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on December 10, 2014, 10:01:29 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 10, 2014, 05:53:22 PM
My bad.  Now who the fuck is the Austrian around here?

Yi's the nearest we have to an Austrian here.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Martinus on December 11, 2014, 02:49:50 AM
I would say Tamas. He is as Austrian as Yi and he is also a Hungarian. :contract:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on December 11, 2014, 05:12:44 AM
Finally beat Far Cry 4.  Has the tradition of bad endings.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 25, 2014, 04:08:10 AM
So, anyone took the plunge into War in the West yet?

http://www.matrixgames.com/products/507/details/Gary.Grigsby's.War.in.the.West
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 25, 2014, 11:37:32 AM
Endless Legends is RPS' PC game of 2014

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/12/24/best-pc-game-2014-endless-legend/

QuoteAnd you thought it had to be a game that hadn't featured previously on the list.

Adam: Cor. It's a strategy game!


Endless Legend takes up the baton handed down from one Civilization to the next, the stick of 4X that has passed through the hands of the Masters of Magic and Orion. It takes up that baton and finds it wanting.



Amplitude haven't set out to fix something that's broken in their intelligent reconfiguration of the 4X strategy game, they've looked to expand on certain ideas and found it necessary to scrap certain elements of the accepted wisdom. It's an immediately recognisable type of game, as John discovered to his horror and reports below, but while it may be from the same stock as its ancestors, it's far more knowledgeable and well-travelled. The uncle from that curious branch of the family tree who only visits once a decade because he's off having adventures in parts of the world you've never even heard of.

Almost every rule in the game seems to have been designed around the idea that it might need to be broken at some point. That's what the factions do, in a way – they overturn the conventional thinking about aspects of the 4X routine, which means the entire structure of the game has to be built around flexibility of approach.

In a year that contained new Civilization and new Age of Wonders, for Endless Legend to come out on top of the 4X pile is quite an achievement. To do so by stripping the genre down and discarding or retooling many of the inherited parts was bold, and that's as good a word for Amplitude's year as any. A Bold Year.

Their two projects released in 2014 – Endless Legend and Dungeon of the Endless – show a studio approaching genres with confidence and flair. The art in both games, but particularly in Legend, is equal to the inventiveness of the ideas, and with this stellar year, Amplitude have confirmed their status at the forefront of PC development. Long may they continue.

Over to John.



John: Okay, look, everything that's a problem with strategy games is made clear within the first few seconds of Endless Legend's tutorial. The words,

"Your army is currently composed of only a single unit, a Settler, represented by several pawns on a hexagon."

WHAT?

A single unit, one chap, is represented by three individual people? That encapsulates RTS gaming for me better than any other example I can think of. It's so laboured, so buried in rules, that all sense is abandoned in favour of information for graphs.

It's work! It's hard work! There's nothing worse on Earth than doing taxes, and the strategy genre seems to be about trying to recreate that sensation in gaming form. "Balance this with this. Ensure you've put this in the right column. Worry about your resources not being able to pay for your needs..." Why do people, so SO many people, want to put themselves through this?

But like taxes, not only is it hard work, it's obfuscated, confusing work. "A single unit represented by several pawns on a hexagon," might as well be, "Form 46B.2 must be completed before Form 46B.1, but not until Form 46.1 has been filed online."

"Terrain resources are Food, Industry, Science and Dust."



Columns for graphs! Within moments the screen is a mass of data, forms, charts... I don't understand how anyone has the will to continue. I don't need this in my playtime! I want to shoot the guns, or talk to the lady about the missing dragons, or solve the ethical dilemma!

"Per working production, resources from Tiles, and potential modifiers (positive or negative) all have an impact on the Total Production you can expect from your city in the next turn."

AAAARRRGGGHHH!

I'm genuinely very pleased that so many of RPS, and its readers, have had such a great time with this game. I'm also utterly mystified by the lot of you.



Alec: Bye John! OK, so: Endless Legend. 'Fresh' is a bloody odd word to apply to something that's so much to do with hexagons and graphs, but it's what I think every time I fire up Amplitude's game. The familiar is in there, right down at the bottom, but for layers above that we have both this gorgeous, clear, crisp, hyper-modern look – right down to the UI, which is usually something that strategy games leave to wallow in unpretty archaism – and massive, fundamental changes to the Civ formula.

Where Beyond Earth proved ultimately slavish to a tried and tested design, Endless Legends is a true rethink. I'm not complacent when I play it, I've got so much left to figure out, and every new attempt feels like settling on a new frontier. I expect to be going back to Endless Legend many times over the coming months.

I'm pretending not to be superficial, but honestly, I really can't get past the prettiness of Endless Legend. Turn-based strategy games aren't supposed to look like this, right? They're supposed to have ugly, faux-vintage serif fonts and fake scroll effects on the corners of their menus, to have maps that look like a maths textbook. Not Endless Legend. It confounds aesthetic expectations.

Just look at the cleanness of the interface, the bold colours, the quietly inventive unit types, the intricate but unfussy tactility of the terrain, the weather effects that make my body temperate drop by 20 degrees whenever Winter arrives, the seamless switch from world view to map view, even down to the way it all loads back in in tiers when you alt-tab back to it, as though some god is laying out the world for you. Strategy games aren't supposed to look like this.

Best of all, it feels like it came from nowhere. It defies the rule that often only publisher-owned mega-studios can create the most remarkable strategy games, reminds us that there are no gatekeepers to this most PC of genres.



Jim: When Amplitude were the studio that had made Endless Space, they were notable. Now that they have both Endless Legend and Dungeon Of The Endless chalked up on their scoreboard, well, they're an enormously important developer. In some ways this award to Endless Legend for Best Game should also be an acknowledgement of the huge achievement the Paris-based gang have made – and the use it has made of a pool of talent drawn from major studios that worked on major games across the world. Amplitude have to now be regarded as one of the most interesting (and potentially one of the most important) European developers.

As for Endless Legend itself, well, we've already said enough about it, I think. A formidable strategy that encompasses thoughtful decision-making, esoteric world-building, and even a worth story. It's full of ideas, and feels like the strategy genre woke up from a deep dream to express some fabulous inspiration.

Yes, it's flawed. And that's fine. So is almost everything in every end of year list you might mention.

On a personal note: I certainly played more Planetside 2 in 2014, and I might have had fun in Far Cry 4. But neither time nor mere fun and quite enough anymore. I've played decades of games. I've had my fun, and when a game like this offers me more than either a time sink or simply a playful escape, then I pay attention. This is such a game. It is our game of the year.

Their complete list:

Best Racing Game: Qvadriga
Best FPS: Wolfenstein The New Order
Best Tactics: Door Kickers
Best Puzzle: Hexcells Infinite
Best Word: Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Best Combat: NEO Scavenger
Best Landscape: Mountain
Best 4X: Endless Legend
Best Exploration: Salt
Best Adventure: The Wolf Among Us
Best Co-Op: Far Cry 4
Best Kickstarter: Divinity: Original Sin
Best Worldbuilding: Dark Souls II
Best Strategy: Distant Worlds: Universe
Best Words: Sunless Sea
Best Action: Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Best Horror: Alien: Isolation
Best Gosh, What? A New Esport? Good: Smite
Best Being Pleasantly Lost: Bernband
Best Something Or Other: Legend of Grimrock 2
Best WHAT: Secret Habitat
Best RPG: Dragon Age: Inquisition
Best CCG: Hearthstone
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on December 25, 2014, 11:45:40 AM
Hmm, I am playing EL, and it still has a fair amount of bugs.

I am also hating the "every unit creates it's own naval transport from anywhere" concept (as opposed to having to build dedicated navy transports) in games like this, as it essentially makes oceans/water pointless and boring.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 25, 2014, 11:54:46 AM
Quote from: Tonitrus on December 25, 2014, 11:45:40 AM
Hmm, I am playing EL, and it still has a fair amount of bugs.

I don't see much of it on the forums (except the usual "AI sucks" threads, and some crashes)? I haven't played in a while - what bugs are still left?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on December 25, 2014, 02:37:06 PM
AI will always suck in every single player game. 

Bugs I've noticed:

- occasionally crashed when generating a random map.
- sometimes a unit/army will not be able to move (until you save/reload).  I've mostly noticed with a hero-stack...and didn't notice this one until after the most recent patch.
- the numbers of units in a stack (when transferring between armies) not updating. 

And not sure if a bug, but often in tactical combat, the units will moved off the front line in weird directions...but that may be just me or the game mechanics there sucking.

And as said, not really bugs so much as flaws...often all but one or two of the AIs get ROFL-stomped pretty easy, and goes from a nice, multi-empire game to a fight between 2-3 giant blobs in no time.  On the AI-sucking, it obviously cheats (under the whole, "I will hate you in diplomacy because your army sucks"...how can they know it sucks without cheating?).  And as mentioned, I dislike the ocean-movement mechanics.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on December 25, 2014, 05:28:19 PM
I bought Alien: Isolation and I wouldn't recommend it.  Being stalked by the Alien is tense and fun at first, but after being killed a three dozen times it gets tedious.  It has some neat ideas.  For instance, you get a weapon with very limited ammo.  Of course it's not really effective against anything except other people and shooting someone alerts the Alien to your presence.  There are two types of humans in the game.  Those that are annoying, and those that are deadly.  The annoying ones have guns and will shoot at you sometimes.  The deadly ones give you missions to get computer codes or key cards which indicates they really hate you.  Production values are good.  Good Graphics, sound voice acting etc.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on December 26, 2014, 09:05:08 PM
Quote from: Tonitrus on December 25, 2014, 02:37:06 PM
AI will always suck in every single player game. 

Bugs I've noticed:

- occasionally crashed when generating a random map.
- sometimes a unit/army will not be able to move (until you save/reload).  I've mostly noticed with a hero-stack...and didn't notice this one until after the most recent patch.
- the numbers of units in a stack (when transferring between armies) not updating. 

And not sure if a bug, but often in tactical combat, the units will moved off the front line in weird directions...but that may be just me or the game mechanics there sucking.

And as said, not really bugs so much as flaws...often all but one or two of the AIs get ROFL-stomped pretty easy, and goes from a nice, multi-empire game to a fight between 2-3 giant blobs in no time.  On the AI-sucking, it obviously cheats (under the whole, "I will hate you in diplomacy because your army sucks"...how can they know it sucks without cheating?).  And as mentioned, I dislike the ocean-movement mechanics.

Add one:
- Playing as Broken Lords, completion of quest objective fails to trigger [spoiler]it's one where you need to settle a new region on a spot that creates more than 13 dust...a few attempts in regions with more than enough don't do anything.[/spoiler]  Odd though, as it has worked before, just won't in this game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 28, 2014, 06:08:30 AM
RPS' The Flare Path looks back at Battle of the Bulge computer wargames, from 8bit till today:

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/12/26/the-flare-path-battle-of-the-bulge-wargames/

I didn't know that Panther Games (Conquest of the Aegean, Battles from the Bulge) had jumped ship from Matrix which makes their games currently unavailable (I blame Tamas). Shame, they had a pretty cool approach to wargaming (no hexes, lines of command, realtime, proper topographical maps ...).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 30, 2014, 01:47:37 AM
Was cautiously looking forward to The Order (1886), but this preview warning (5 reasons why you might not want to pre-order) from Eurogamer makes it sound like a Steampunk version of the recent slew of modern military coverbased shooters (CoD, MoH):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjalebKd4wE
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on December 30, 2014, 07:12:57 AM
I may have gone a bit overboard on the Steam holiday sales.  :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Iormlund on December 30, 2014, 10:22:28 AM
I only got Bastion and Transistor so far.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on December 30, 2014, 10:26:32 AM
I haven't seen anything that I've wanted at the current prices.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 09, 2015, 08:39:15 AM
So RPS summarizes Battlefront's recent discussion (http://community.battlefront.com/topic/117381-sell-on-steam/) re: whether their games might come over to Steam:

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/01/09/the-flare-path-full-steam-astern/

(In short: HELL NO and SHUT UP)

For Tamas:

QuoteMy guess is that companies like Slitherine don't have the direct sales strength that we do. There's some evidence to back up this presumption, but since none of us have access to their sales numbers it can't be proven. I can say at one point I did see some Matrix sales numbers and they were very unimpressive. I also have a fairly decent understanding of how Matrix operates as a business internally. Again, that might not be the case with all of their products or their sales in general, just saying that I have some sound reasons for my position.

The point here is that a company like Matrix might require Steam sales to stay in business. Therefore, they have everything to gain by being on Steam and everything to lose by staying off it. We feel the opposite is true for Battlefront.

Shame, though, because I can't be bothered to navigate BF's maze of base games, expansions, engine updates and bundles any more. I like their games, but I don't like them *that* much.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on January 09, 2015, 09:49:33 AM
I was part of that debate. :)  I'm on the first page spelling words wrong.   I came to the conclusion that the developers are dipshits.  It was founded by two guys who were bitter over something back in the 1990's.  They still seem to be resentful about something that happened though I'm not sure what it was.  The result is they have this weird bunker mentality.  They don't let you mod their games, they only sell the games at absurd prices, they don't hire much in the way of staff so their products are often late and now they've started selling patches (a clear indicator that they are doing good business).  Pdox is a good counter example.  They make niche games and started out around the same time.  Pdox has become quite successful, while battlefront has managed to remain about the same size.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 09, 2015, 09:55:02 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on January 09, 2015, 09:49:33 AM
I was part of that debate. :)

From that thread: "Matrix problem is their outrageous pricing schemes [...]"
As opposed to BF? :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 09, 2015, 10:19:28 AM
I also like the attitude of, "Combat Mission is so niche, it'll lever work on Steam!" Which is why Paradox, who were similarly niche, moved completely to Steam, because it was outselling all their other avenues, including their - formerly - own GamersGate, by a country mile.

(Bit of an unfortunate name for a store these days ...  :D )
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on January 09, 2015, 10:22:54 AM
I'll still have my memories of the original Combat Mission games. Watching a soviet battalion  rout after taking light mortar fire warms my heart.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on January 09, 2015, 07:10:37 PM
My wife got me into a fun little puzzle game called Windosill. Cutesy little physics puzzler, for 2.99 on Steam.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 10, 2015, 12:48:17 AM
Those with small kids might want to check "Monster loves you" on Steam. It's essentially a choose your own adventure picture book in which you take a monster from birth to (hopefully) old age or (if you don't score high enough) dissolution in the primordial ooze to be reborn. It's rather charming, but it has a fair amount of text, so a parent narrating would be helpful for little would be monsters.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/226740/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: MadImmortalMan on January 10, 2015, 02:32:18 AM
Kotaku is leaking that an announcement will be coming on Fallout 4 very soon.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 10, 2015, 04:03:45 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on January 09, 2015, 09:49:33 AM
I was part of that debate. :)  I'm on the first page spelling words wrong.   I came to the conclusion that the developers are dipshits.  It was founded by two guys who were bitter over something back in the 1990's.  They still seem to be resentful about something that happened though I'm not sure what it was.  The result is they have this weird bunker mentality.  They don't let you mod their games, they only sell the games at absurd prices, they don't hire much in the way of staff so their products are often late and now they've started selling patches (a clear indicator that they are doing good business).  Pdox is a good counter example.  They make niche games and started out around the same time.  Pdox has become quite successful, while battlefront has managed to remain about the same size.

I agree with you. TBF, though, I tried downloading my old purchases, and back till 2011 still works (I keep those emails with the download links), whereas 2008 doesn't. So while they say the link expires after 365 days, in practice they hang around longer. Their store is still horrific.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on January 10, 2015, 08:31:26 AM
Quote from: Syt on January 09, 2015, 10:19:28 AM
I also like the attitude of, "Combat Mission is so niche, it'll lever work on Steam!" Which is why Paradox, who were similarly niche, moved completely to Steam, because it was outselling all their other avenues, including their - formerly - own GamersGate, by a country mile.

(Bit of an unfortunate name for a store these days ...  :D )

Gamersgate also had a horrible setup. From what I recall it was either paypal (which I didn't have) or you had to setup some other system that would connect with your bank account. It lacked the direct credit card route - at least for cards we have here in the us. -_-
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 10, 2015, 08:34:59 AM
Hm, I seem to recall it worked fine with European cards.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on January 10, 2015, 08:44:13 AM
I just checked and I see they list Visa/Mastercard now. Before I think it only had JCB (is that a credit card?) and Maestro debit card.

Or maybe that's wrong but all I can recall is jumping through hoops as an American. Was glad when distribution was changed. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 10, 2015, 08:54:22 AM
FWIW, I seem to recall that there were frequent complaints about their billing process.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on January 10, 2015, 12:58:18 PM
Naval Action looks pretty cool: http://youtu.be/p03tKexDjSU
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on January 10, 2015, 01:01:17 PM
Looks like it has potential, but I won't hold my breath.  Haven't been impressed with a naval warfare game since Dangerous Waters, and it was a long stretch since Harpoon actually worked.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on January 10, 2015, 01:26:49 PM
These ships are beautiful. I can see myself just sailing around with them for the sake of it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on January 10, 2015, 11:12:19 PM
Quote from: garbon on January 10, 2015, 08:31:26 AM
Quote from: Syt on January 09, 2015, 10:19:28 AM
I also like the attitude of, "Combat Mission is so niche, it'll lever work on Steam!" Which is why Paradox, who were similarly niche, moved completely to Steam, because it was outselling all their other avenues, including their - formerly - own GamersGate, by a country mile.

(Bit of an unfortunate name for a store these days ...  :D )

Gamersgate also had a horrible setup. From what I recall it was either paypal (which I didn't have) or you had to setup some other system that would connect with your bank account. It lacked the direct credit card route - at least for cards we have here in the us. -_-

Gamersgate never gave me trouble.  Battlefront did with their stupid license agreements and Matrix games gave a lot of headaches.  Steam has had it's problems, for instance their online mode doesn't always work, but nothing to bad.  Never had a problem with GOG.  Steam is becoming the VHS to the rest of the world's Betamax, and I really don't have much of a problem with it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on January 10, 2015, 11:21:23 PM
Becoming? It has already come.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 11, 2015, 12:49:21 AM
Indeed. The only other store worth visiting these days is GOG, due to their focus on old/out of print games and indie titles.

EA's Origin? Only for their own titles.

And other stores often sell Steam codes, anyways.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on January 11, 2015, 05:19:41 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on January 10, 2015, 12:58:18 PM
Naval Action looks pretty cool: http://youtu.be/p03tKexDjSU

I'm not sitting through all that. Is friendly fire always on in this game? kekekekek
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on January 11, 2015, 05:24:28 AM
Does sound travel at realistic speed in Naval Action btw? It really bugged me in one of the naval games a while back that sound was instant.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on January 12, 2015, 01:39:36 AM
Quote from: The Brain on January 11, 2015, 05:24:28 AM
Does sound travel at realistic speed in Naval Action btw? It really bugged me in one of the naval games a while back that sound was instant.

According to the people at Battlefront:  "The only thing faster than the Speed of Sound is the Speed of Greed."

http://www.battlefront.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1005&Itemid=257

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 23, 2015, 12:44:02 PM
Whoa. OOTP16 will have an MLB license. I've bought each iteration since OOTP9, but  haven't really played since 12, I think. :blush:

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffiles.ootpdevelopments.com%2Fnewsletters%2Fnl0154%2FLM438gn1DF%2Fnewsletter_screen1.jpg&hash=e63b23c983a3b477ecf2c4ebd356ce2872a8dceb)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on January 23, 2015, 08:58:43 PM
That's very cool.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 24, 2015, 03:15:56 AM
From screenshots it would appear that they don't have the rights to player likenesses, though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on January 25, 2015, 02:32:23 PM
StarCrawlers beta. I kickstarted this. It's a space hulk crawler based in a hub, with a privateer sort of setting. Got some interesting stuff (psionics, rogue robots, hacking, etc.). Combat and movement is very reminiscent of Wizardry series. Still pretty rough, but distinctive art style and exploration.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on January 27, 2015, 12:39:40 PM
Quote from: Syt on January 24, 2015, 03:15:56 AM
From screenshots it would appear that they don't have the rights to player likenesses, though.

I don't think that kicks in until the license kicks in.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 10, 2015, 01:14:14 PM
Quote from: Syt on August 07, 2014, 12:18:47 PM
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-08-07-godus-is-out-now-for-free-on-ios?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialoomph

Godus is now free for iOS. :lol:[...]

I feel for the Kickstart backers on this one, though. :(

Also, what happened with the dude who won that Cube thing where he gets to be supreme God of the game, and gets a share of the revenue?

Clusterfuck ahoy!

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/02/09/oh-godus-what-the-hells-going-on/

QuoteHey, remember Godus?! It was successfully Kickstarted in 2012, despite launching with no video at all, as the name of "Peter Molyneux" still carried enough currency to raise over half a million pounds for his return to the god game genre. Just over two years have gone by, and mobile free-to-play versions of the game launched last year, but what state is the PC development in now? Molyneux has announced that he's now working on a new project, a mobile thing called The Trial, suggesting Godus is no longer his focus. And the team currently working on the game have recently acknowledged that they, "simply can't see us delivering all the features promised on the kickstarter page." Uh oh.

So what is the state of the development? It sounds as if the developers themselves do not quite know. Designer Konrad Naszynski has recently been added to the team and is being impressively frank about his experiences on the Godus message boards. As well as stating that he doesn't believe the Kickstarter promises are achievable, he added, "a lot of the multiplayer stuff is looking seriously shaky right now especially the persistent stuff like hubworld." And more recently he has posted to explain how "frustrated" he is with the speed at which he's able to bring change. The developer arrived by peculiar means, having played the Godus alpha and becoming concerned about the direction in which it was headed. He was given an unpaid position by Molyneux, he says, and after a year was finally appointed to a place where he should be able to influence the direction of the game. When trying to fix seriously underdeveloped aspects of the game, Naszynski explains that he had to choose something that seemed quickly achievable with minimal resources, so chose the story. He says that had he selected to overhaul the resource system, "I would have been told outright no."

[...]

As for those Kickstarter promises, it's not looking good. The silliest claim made was that it would be finished in "seven to nine months". That wasn't even true of the money-raking mobile versions, and with the PC game in Early Access since September 2013, it's been missed by a further 17 months on top. The Linux version, added as an achieved stretch goal, has shown no signs of appearing (and the game is built in an engine that doesn't support Linux). A "student forum" was promised, claiming to provide "feedback on your game design and any career advice you might need", but we can't find them. (In fact, 22Cans' forum is entirely disabled.) We've searched for items like the "Godus Making Of Book", received at certain pledge levels, and cannot find evidence of its existence.

[...]

One he says he regrets, and would not do again if he were to do it over. Perhaps rather surprisingly, and without apparent irony, Molyneux states that a Kickstarter causes one to over-promise at the start of development. He told Tech Radar,

"There's this overwhelming urge to over-promise because it's such a harsh rule: if you're one penny short of your target then you don't get it. And of course in this instance, the behaviour is incredibly destructive, which is 'Christ, we've only got 10 days to go and we've got to make £100,000, for fuck's sake, lets just say anything'. So I'm not sure I would do that again."

This rather considerably concerning statement on how he went about getting people's money doesn't seem to have slowed the developer down. His new game, The Trail, will be an "experience never seen before" according to the Fun And Serious Games Festival at which he announced it.

[...]

He goes on to explain that his new game will, "build on feelings and emotions untapped so far." The site also appears to attribute to Molyneux the statement that Godus, "lacked in narrative, progress and reward." A fascinating use of the past tense for a game still being sold, for £15, as Early Access.


And:

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/02/10/22cans-confirm-godus-team-shrinkage-admit-mistakes/

Quote[...]

Molyneux sits down with Jack Attridge and new Godus designer Konrad Naszynski, to explain what's happening with the game, in response to some extremely frank questions offered by the community:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0P9yYG0G5I

There are a few issues. Not least that the opening question, regarding whether Kickstarter goals will be met, is wildly ignored with irrelevant rambling on a number of other subjects, finishing with Molyneux and Attridge congratulating themselves for how well they've answered it.

A favourite moment comes at 1:25, with Naszynski's face when Molyneux declares that Naszynski "absolutely loves Godus". There's not even an attempt to pretend otherwise – and nor should there have been, with the new developer having already publicly stated that he fought to work at the company because he wanted to rescue it from being so bad. Naszynski also goes on to list the ways in which the game is falling far short of where it should be, in stark contrast to Molyneux's weary-sounding optimism.

Later in the video, Molyneux makes some really enormous statements, in the form of apologies. He says that if given the chance to do it over again, he would finish the PC version before releasing the mobile port. That's quite the claim, since he also states that it will likely take "months and months and months" to add in the scant few features they've said they'll work on with the now reduced Godus team, and the mobile version is what's been bringing in money. He also says,

"I take the point that some of the pledges should have been met, and that we should have taken the time to work on them."

Which is... astonishing. All of the pledges should have been met. If that's not going to happen, then Kickstarter's terms and conditions at the time of the Godus campaign suggest refunds should be offered – and the acknowledgement in the video above would seem like all the evidence that's necessary for backers who have not received pledges to claim one.


Once story has been added, we're told they will next begin work on overhauling the game's combat. Beyond that, nothing has been revealed. No mention is made of the multiplayer, nor the persistent hub world. And indeed what that means for the "winner" of Curiosity.

It would seem there is a lot more to be learned about what's happened with Godus. If you would like to contact RPS with details, send an email via my name above this article. We've tried contacting Peter Molyneux and 22cans but have so far heard nothing back.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 10, 2015, 01:43:55 PM
Quote from: Syt on January 24, 2015, 03:15:56 AM
From screenshots it would appear that they don't have the rights to player likenesses, though.

If you play the 1885 season it won't bother you.

The Louisville Colonels will be champions of the Beer and Whisky League!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 10, 2015, 01:46:13 PM
Trusting Molyneux was a bad idea?  Shocking.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on February 10, 2015, 01:50:32 PM
Quote from: Valmy on February 10, 2015, 01:46:13 PM
Trusting Molyneux was a bad idea?  Shocking.

It amazes me that anyone still buys anything he touches.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 10, 2015, 01:53:07 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on February 10, 2015, 01:50:32 PM
Quote from: Valmy on February 10, 2015, 01:46:13 PM
Trusting Molyneux was a bad idea?  Shocking.

It amazes me that anyone still buys anything he touches.

People like Fable for some reason.  That is what gave him a second chance.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 10, 2015, 01:54:38 PM
Quote from: Valmy on February 10, 2015, 01:53:07 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on February 10, 2015, 01:50:32 PM
Quote from: Valmy on February 10, 2015, 01:46:13 PM
Trusting Molyneux was a bad idea?  Shocking.

It amazes me that anyone still buys anything he touches.

People like Fable for some reason.  That is what gave him a second chance.

I think the Fable series has been fun - though as with everything he does, way underdeveloped as compared to what he would say would be included.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on February 10, 2015, 05:45:25 PM
I tried Godus on the iPad. Hey, it was free.

BORING
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 12, 2015, 09:40:22 AM
And the corn-crusted cherry on top of the shit sundae that is Godus: the fate of the "winner" of the Curiosity Tap-athon:

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/02/11/loss-of-faith-will-godus-ever-have-a-god-of-gods/

QuoteEurogamer have published a really superb article in which they speak to Bryan Henderson, the "winner" of Curiosity, who was promised a life-changing prize. That prize turned out to be the role of "God of Gods" in the multiplayer version of Godus, and a share of the money made by the game. Well, a share of the money made by the multiplayer bit of the game, which was always supposed to be part of the game. But apparently, because it's still not in there two years on, means he doesn't get anything. Nothing at all. Not even emails for month after month, according to Wesley Yin-Poole's heartbreaking interview with the 21 year old.

They then go on to put this to Molyneux himself, hours after we'd published our article that revealed the depth of mess that Godus is currently in. Along with the predictable gush of apologies, Molyneux also makes some odd claims that entirely contradict a video he'd recorded the same day.

Eurogamer's story is devastating. Curiosity was a mobile game* in which people mindlessly tapped on a cube and could spend money through microtransactions in order to tap harder. At the centre of the cube, promised Molyneux, was something life-changing – and not money, he said, but something we could never guess, something enormous. It turned out when 18 year old Bryan Henderson won that it was a role in a forthcoming game, Godus, and indeed some money – a share of the sales. Godus, at the time, hadn't been put up on Kickstarter, and so there was no guarantee the project would even go ahead, but that didn't slow Molyneux. It was an "insane risk", he told us in July 2012, because he "takes insane risks all the time".

Godus, of course, was funded. A few months later, a fractured and extremely poor version of the game appeared on Steam's Early Access with no multiplayer component. Months went by and multiplayer still didn't happen. Then, it briefly did and was almost instantly removed since it didn't work. 26 months since the game was funded, no multiplayer has been added, and as we wrote on Monday, the developers think it likely never will be.

Which means that all this time later, Henderson has had no role to play in Godus. But what Eurogamer have revealed today is far worse – he's also been almost entirely ignored by 22cans and Molyneux. After being invited into the Guildford offices of 22cans, and asked to sign a contract, Henderson returned to Scotland and waited for his prize to become a reality. And it never has. Worse, communication almost immediately dried up, with Henderson eventually giving up trying to keep in contact with the studio.

When Eurogamer put this to Molyneux on Monday, he gave an all-too familiar burst of apologies and blame-taking.

"I totally and absolutely and categorically apologise. That isn't good enough and I'll take it on my own shoulders that I should have made sure he was communicated with. We will from today onwards do that."

It's obviously appalling that it took a journalist approaching the company for them to acknowledge they should have stayed in touch with the winner of their much publicised competition, but it's even more concerning that it seems to be accepted that there's no reason Henderson should have yet received any of the "millions and millions" Molyneux boasted the game has made in a video released by 22cans on Monday evening. Henderson's "clock will start ticking" as soon as they've implemented the multiplayer hub that the project's new lead has already said he can't see happening.

"I simply can't see us delivering all the features promised on the kickstarter page, a lot of the multiplayer stuff is looking seriously shaky right now especially the persistent stuff like hubworld." – Konrad Naszynski

Speaking to Pocket Gamer last August, Molyneux told them that Henderson, "makes a portion of every pound we make. He accrues all that money – we're not paying him yet, but he's accruing it."

It's also worth noting that when we spoke to Molyneux in 2012, he told us that Henderson would be God Of Gods for a very significant period of time. He said, "we could make it five years. We could make it ten years."

But when he spoke to PG last year, it had enormously shrunk to just half a year:

"His reign will last for about six months from when we unlock multiplayer. Within those six months, communities can come together to earn the right to challenge Bryan and overthrow him as god of gods."

So potentially far less than six months then. Indeed, if Bryan gets overthrown, Molyneux told them, then that new person would start earning profits from the game. A madly different prospect from the "life-changing" claims made three years ago.

Another odd claim to come out of Eurogamer's interview is that the reason the multiplayer hasn't worked in Godus, and for the extensive PC development delay. As Eurogamer puts it, Godus' publisher forced a server switch back in November 2014, which then forced 22Cans to build new tech in order for people to keep playing the game." Right, but how does this square up with claims made in the Kickstarter pitch, where Molyneux explained they were turning to crowd-funding in order to avoid needing a publisher.

"But we need funding to continue, and rather than partner with a publisher, we're keen to explore the exciting new Kickstarter platform. It means we can stay independent and it gives you the opportunity to have a voice in the development of GODUS... Funding it via Kickstarter allows us to stay a small independent team with unlimited freedom in our creativity. It'll just be you, us and our unbridled dedication (no publishers)."

Five months later 22cans signed a publisher for Godus
.

Finally, in the Eurogamer article Molyneux tells Wesley, "But, we are – and this is going to sound ridiculously excusey but it's the actual truth – we are now working on combat, which is the piece of the puzzle we need in the game before we start working on the Hubworld and the multiplayer." Which strikes as a little strange, since in the video he recorded on the same day, he explained that they were currently working on finishing the story and that combat was planned for later this month.

Where does this leave things? In such a muddle. With Molyneux appearing to contradict himself in interviews and videos recorded in the same afternoon, it's really hard to know how to unpick it all. And as for Bryan Henderson, the chances of his ever becoming God Of Gods does look slim. That he may not receive anything at all seems utterly awful.

We are hoping to speak to Peter Molyneux very soon and hopefully put these confusions to him.

*It's worth noting that Peter Molyneux assured Rock, Paper, Shotgun that Curiosity would be coming out on PC, to the extent where he appeared at our PC-only show, Rezzed, in 2012, to promote the game to an audience of PC gamers. He later tried to claim that there was never meant to be a PC version when Nathan interviewed him for RPS, then when pushed stated, "Maybe said it was possible to do on PC, but I think we didn't do it on PC because we put all of our love of tapping into tapping with a finger and not with a mouse. I can't remember playing it on PC, but I can imagine it would be a little bit more tedious with a mouse than it would be with a finger." Which makes it a touch galling he plugged it at our PC show.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on February 12, 2015, 10:02:27 AM
This makes me think that I've never played Fable.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 12, 2015, 10:23:38 AM
Poor Bryan, too young to know that you shouldn't trust Molyneux.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on February 12, 2015, 08:23:04 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on February 10, 2015, 05:45:25 PM
I tried Godus on the iPad. Hey, it was free.

BORING

I'd say the exact same thing about the Fable series, except for the free and iPad parts. 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 13, 2015, 09:06:12 AM
Well, RPS' John Walker had a chat with Peter Molyneux following the recent articles. It's a long read, but ... well ... you judge if Walker is just out for blood, or if it's the tough love Molyneux needs.

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/02/13/peter-molyneux-interview-godus-reputation-kickstarter/

Opening lines:

QuoteRPS: Do you think that you're a pathological liar?


Peter Molyneux: That's a very...

RPS: I know it's a harsh question, but it seems an important question to ask because there do seem to be lots and lots of lies piling up.

Peter Molyneux: I'm not aware of a single lie, actually. I'm aware of me saying things and because of circumstances often outside of our control those things don't come to pass, but I don't think that's called lying, is it? I don't think I've ever knowingly lied, at all. And if you want to call me on one I'll talk about it for sure.

TL;DR points from Molyneux:
- games are hard to make
- he's passionate about them
- budgeting/planning time for games development is impossible when doing something new, even with all his experience
- he means/believes everything he says when he says it
- mistakes were made
- RPS/press wants to destroy him
- he just wants to make great games and works hard for it

I don't disbelieve him, but I think he's not competent enough or too naive and blue eyed to run his own show. He (much like Tim Schafer) is a good, occasionally great developer, but like him he needs boundaries and a publisher who can put their foot down if need be. Props to him, though, for not quitting the interview (but then again he's a bit of a narcissist, I guess).

I wonder, though, if any dev will sit down with Walker for an interview after this. :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on February 13, 2015, 09:15:00 AM
If the gaming industry wants to taken seriously it's makers need to get called out from time to time.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 13, 2015, 10:31:12 AM
Sit down with a Walker.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 13, 2015, 10:42:29 AM
Favorite quote:

Peter Molyneux: No, I actually said, "I wish I hadn't focused on," I didn't say I shouldn't have done.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on February 13, 2015, 10:44:25 AM
Video game industry.   :lol:  Nothing but monkeys and footballs.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 13, 2015, 01:01:40 PM
Anyone played Tokyo School Life? Any good?

http://store.steampowered.com/app/320760/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on February 13, 2015, 02:49:12 PM
Quote from: Syt on February 13, 2015, 09:06:12 AM
Well, RPS' John Walker had a chat with Peter Molyneux following the recent articles. It's a long read, but ... well ... you judge if Walker is just out for blood, or if it's the tough love Molyneux needs.

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/02/13/peter-molyneux-interview-godus-reputation-kickstarter/

That's not an interview - that's a cross-examination.  But Walker isn't terribly effective at cross-examination.

I dunno - I think we all knew Molyneux was full of shit before this.  All he's done is given us another example of how full of shit he is.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 13, 2015, 03:16:19 PM
Well, it's not often that games press is doing anything of the likes, well, at all. In many ways it's a cuddlefest, except if a developer or publisher really screws the pooch (Ubisoft releases last year, Molyneux, DoubleFine's Space Station DF9 debacle ... and a lot of the time it's quickly either water under the bridge, or they're given then benefit of the doubt with their next games). I don't need a piece like this for every failure (and Molyneux is an easy target, because he gladly digs himself into holes deep enough so he can hang hismelf with all the rope you're giving him), but more distance between developers and commentators would be welcome (but that goes for almost every product specific reporting).


Anyways, Molyneux promises to not talk to the press anymore. Make of that what you will, considering the general value of him promising anything these days.


He's described his upcoming game The Trail (or Trial? some sites say one, some say the other) as an "experience never seen before":

Quote'It can be understood at a glance, and it entertains the idea of communication beyond words, by means of music, art, and so on. The problem with social media is that we communicate too much. If you and I, who are having a conversation right now, could only say ten words to each other, we'd feel frustrated, with lots of things to say that we can't utter. But, on the other hand, we'd make every effort to make those ten words sound as meaningful as possible.'

The British game guru wants his game to be exciting by appealing to the competitive spirit that is embodied in highest score tables. In fact, such tables have always been characteristic of video games. 'Let's think about a very simple notion like highest score tables. They tell you how good you are at playing the game. We all like them. They're part of Candy Crush. They're part of Call of Duty. But is there a way of turning this into a core component of the game, an exciting element in its own right? [...] If I can get the game to excite people together, if I can make them feel the excitement of discovery together, if I can reach out to them not as individuals but as a group, if I can make them care about their neighbours as much as they care about themselves, then I think I can have a game that builds on feelings and emotions untapped so far.'

As usual, nothing about actual gameplay or mechanics. He probably has a vision in his head that excites him, but it will be interesting to see if he can put it into a computer program in a reasonable amount of time, in a way that comes close to his vision, and with the available resources.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on February 13, 2015, 07:56:00 PM
I have no problem asking a developer tough questions, but there no need to be insulting.  You can be confrontational and not be rude.  I'm sure that, "Do you think that you're a pathological liar?" could be phrased a bit differently.  One thing that is clear is that Pete is not a good business manager.  When it was just him and a handful of people he did fine, but as games required more people he was out of his depth.  I feel as if some sort of governing principle of organization can be applied to poor old Peter, but I have no idea what that may be.  Oh well.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 14, 2015, 02:59:16 AM
I think he's kind of like George Lucas. When there's someone to set boundaries (a studio or publisher) he can create amazing stuff. When let loose, we get the blu-ray versions of the original Star Wars trilogy and the prequels.

The interview feels a bit like an intervention to me.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 14, 2015, 03:05:29 AM
Real life Bioware RPG:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnSMP1lQVQM

:lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on February 14, 2015, 04:05:25 AM
Quote from: Syt on February 14, 2015, 03:05:29 AM
Real life Bioware RPG:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnSMP1lQVQM

:lol: :lol: :lol:

It's terrible and hilarious at the same time  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on February 14, 2015, 05:00:27 AM
Quote from: Syt on February 14, 2015, 02:59:16 AM
I think he's kind of like George Lucas. When there's someone to set boundaries (a studio or publisher) he can create amazing stuff. When let loose, we get the blu-ray versions of the original Star Wars trilogy and the prequels.

The interview feels a bit like an intervention to me.

I disagree.  Lucas is a skilled marketer and shrewd businessman.  He gets what he wants, he just makes boring crap.  Molyneux sucks at the business side.  He gets over excited and can't make good judgments on how much time or money a project requires.  This isn't that unusual, the requirements of a producer and a developer require a different skill set and too often those people are at odds with each other because they don't understand what the other one really does.  When they try to do the other guys job they sometimes get lost.  See the Duke Nukem development cycle or the Ion storm fiasco.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 14, 2015, 05:03:25 AM
The bit with the sword is me in any game I run out of inventory space.  :blush:

Also: hand-me-downs. :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on February 14, 2015, 01:32:31 PM
Anyone have a pop at Offworld Trading Company?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 17, 2015, 02:28:04 PM
GOG.com stream on Twitch: Quill18 playing EU1 chatting with Johan on the phone. :lol:

*nostalgia*

Also, GOG now has EU1, HoI1, Vic1, Majesty 1&2
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 17, 2015, 02:30:34 PM
I still have somewhere an unopened box of EU1 that I bought for 99 cents. :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 17, 2015, 02:39:25 PM
I moved to EU1 from the Home of the Underdogs forums. A regular from the forums, known for loving strategy games, had disappeared because he spent all his time with this game, only to come back once in a while to rave about it.

So I got it. A patch broke the game for me. Spent some time emailing prototype patches back and forth with P'dox till they sorted it out. That was before it even was released in North America IIRC.  I got seriously hooked on EU2 at the time. Beta'ed for a while with HoI, CK, Vic etc. (dropped out at EU3) which was fun.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 17, 2015, 03:20:55 PM
I should have clarified that I did play EU1 (though around the time EU2 was released) - that was just my "extra" copy as it were. :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on February 17, 2015, 04:00:59 PM
Quote from: Syt on February 17, 2015, 02:39:25 PM
I moved to EU1 from the Home of the Underdogs forums. A regular from the forums, known for loving strategy games, had disappeared because he spent all his time with this game, only to come back once in a while to rave about it.

So I got it. A patch broke the game for me. Spent some time emailing prototype patches back and forth with P'dox till they sorted it out. That was before it even was released in North America IIRC.  I got seriously hooked on EU2 at the time. Beta'ed for a while with HoI, CK, Vic etc. (dropped out at EU3) which was fun.

I lurked the Underdogs forum and was brought to EU1 because of Hartmann raving about it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on February 17, 2015, 04:21:38 PM
I saw EU1 in some store that didn't normally carry that many computer games.  I didn't buy it, but went home and googled it (Hell, this had to be 2000-2001 or so, I may not have even used google at that point), then went back and bought it.  Fun times ensued.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 17, 2015, 04:24:56 PM
I was still using altavista at that time.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 17, 2015, 04:26:47 PM
I owned the EU board game after I saw it advertised in another AWE game about the Russian Civil War.  I was so excited when I saw there was going to be a computer game about it, since the rules were pretty much an unplayable mess...but you REALLY wanted to play it because the idea was so awesome.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 17, 2015, 05:06:26 PM
Quote from: celedhring on February 17, 2015, 04:00:59 PM
Quote from: Syt on February 17, 2015, 02:39:25 PM
I moved to EU1 from the Home of the Underdogs forums. A regular from the forums, known for loving strategy games, had disappeared because he spent all his time with this game, only to come back once in a while to rave about it.

So I got it. A patch broke the game for me. Spent some time emailing prototype patches back and forth with P'dox till they sorted it out. That was before it even was released in North America IIRC.  I got seriously hooked on EU2 at the time. Beta'ed for a while with HoI, CK, Vic etc. (dropped out at EU3) which was fun.

I lurked the Underdogs forum and was brought to EU1 because of Hartmann raving about it.

Underdogs brought me here.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 18, 2015, 09:09:05 AM
If you're unsure what your next playthrough in EU4, CK2, Civ5, Skyrim or Fallout:NV should be, you can get inspiration from this generator:

http://www.scenariogenerator.net/

The Skyrim one seems pretty good, but CK2 is sometimes delivering odd results where you would probably have to switch religions at least once in your playthrough.

Although goals like this sound fun (as Aswan):
- Have all 7 Deadly Sins
- Contract Syphillis
- Become a Master Seductress
- Go on a pilgramige
:lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 18, 2015, 02:53:30 PM
I bought EU1 shortly after it was released.  I happened upon it because someone was raving about it on another forum.   I visited the Paradox site - read the first AAR that was posted and was hooked.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on February 20, 2015, 10:21:47 AM
I noticed nobody mentioned the release of Total War: Attila.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 20, 2015, 10:23:47 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on February 20, 2015, 10:21:47 AM
I noticed nobody mentioned the release of Total War: Attila.

Horse archers mounted on flaming pigs?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on February 20, 2015, 10:25:34 AM
Quote from: Valmy on February 20, 2015, 10:23:47 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on February 20, 2015, 10:21:47 AM
I noticed nobody mentioned the release of Total War: Attila.

Horse archers mounted on flaming pigs?

Brain just got an erection
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 20, 2015, 10:32:17 AM
Seems like it's a much more solid release than Rome 2, but I haven't played that one much (though apparently it's decent by now), and I want to get my money's worth out of it before throwing more cash at them.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 20, 2015, 10:58:22 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on February 20, 2015, 10:25:34 AM
Quote from: Valmy on February 20, 2015, 10:23:47 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on February 20, 2015, 10:21:47 AM
I noticed nobody mentioned the release of Total War: Attila.

Horse archers mounted on flaming pigs?

Brain just got an erection

Lucky guess.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on February 20, 2015, 02:33:04 PM
Quote from: Syt on February 20, 2015, 10:32:17 AM
Seems like it's a much more solid release than Rome 2, but I haven't played that one much (though apparently it's decent by now), and I want to get my money's worth out of it before throwing more cash at them.

YouTube videos of TW: Attila look promising, but I'll probably just wait for a 50% off sale on Steam.

In other news, the Homeworld 1 & 2 Remastered Collection come out in a few days. Hmmm... :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 20, 2015, 03:08:25 PM
Totalbiscuit is streaming it Homeworld HD release preview on Twitch right now.

My next purchases, if any, will likely be along the lines of Hands of Fate, Darkest Dungeon or Sunless Sea.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 20, 2015, 03:11:26 PM
What about Pillars of Eternity?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 20, 2015, 03:13:44 PM
Quote from: Valmy on February 20, 2015, 03:11:26 PM
What about Pillars of Eternity?

I backed that (and Torment), so it's coming my way, anyways.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 20, 2015, 03:17:01 PM
Quote from: Syt on February 20, 2015, 03:13:44 PM
Quote from: Valmy on February 20, 2015, 03:11:26 PM
What about Pillars of Eternity?

I backed that (and Torment), so it's coming my way, anyways.

Ah ok.  Coming next month, I am pretty pumped!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 20, 2015, 03:24:01 PM
Anyone play Manos: The Hand of Fate?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Pedrito on February 20, 2015, 05:26:53 PM
Quote from: Valmy on February 20, 2015, 03:17:01 PM
Quote from: Syt on February 20, 2015, 03:13:44 PM
Quote from: Valmy on February 20, 2015, 03:11:26 PM
What about Pillars of Eternity?

I backed that (and Torment), so it's coming my way, anyways.

Ah ok.  Coming next month, I am pretty pumped!
I should be excited too, but unfortunately POE will come at a time my video game fever is at an all time low.
My HD is full of good to great games, but it seems I cannot find the time and the dedication to play any one of them.  :(

L.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: PDH on February 21, 2015, 11:31:07 AM
I have been playing Civil War 2 for the past week or so.  Seems ok, and it models the strengths of the North fairly well.  Tamas will be happy to know the US can still build huge 30k man corps by summer of 1862.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on February 21, 2015, 02:59:16 PM
Quote from: PDH on February 21, 2015, 11:31:07 AM
I have been playing Civil War 2 for the past week or so.  Seems ok, and it models the strengths of the North fairly well.  Tamas will be happy to know the US can still build huge 30k man corps by summer of 1862.

CSA AI is still too hyper aggressive.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: PDH on February 21, 2015, 04:02:11 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on February 21, 2015, 02:59:16 PM
Quote from: PDH on February 21, 2015, 11:31:07 AM
I have been playing Civil War 2 for the past week or so.  Seems ok, and it models the strengths of the North fairly well.  Tamas will be happy to know the US can still build huge 30k man corps by summer of 1862.

CSA AI is still too hyper aggressive.

Agree.  They need to tone down the Quantrill's Raiders riding into Iowa and conquering regions shit.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on February 21, 2015, 06:51:40 PM
October 1861 and there are rebels outside of Pittsburgh and Columbus. Silly.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Lettow77 on February 22, 2015, 02:26:01 AM
A problem I had with that game was the absurd strength of northern morale to stay in the war, or namely the natural regeneration while you hold your capital. Beauregard had occupied New York City, and Confederate Chicago was under occupation by Johnston, but despite completely losing KY and VA with just slender besieged garrisons in MD and MO, northerners were excited to wage their war of conquest.

Occupied cities were something like Cincinatti, Columbus, Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, Indianapolis- it was absurd. Short of the capital falling or I suppose the 1864 election, it feels like the war cannot end.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 22, 2015, 08:51:32 AM
The Making Of trailer for Byte & Magic is EPIC:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP5pCI1SmuI
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on February 22, 2015, 01:26:27 PM
I dont get it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on February 22, 2015, 02:29:09 PM
It's not very good.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on February 22, 2015, 02:37:00 PM
It's the whole eightiesness of it what makes it amusing. I liked it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on February 22, 2015, 07:35:55 PM
Quote from: celedhring on February 22, 2015, 02:37:00 PM
It's the whole eightiesness of it what makes it amusing. I liked it.

But it's not real eightiesness, that's why it's not very good.  It's like someone who saw a parody of 1980's culture and then based their little video off that.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 23, 2015, 12:56:18 AM
I find it's not really that far off from what the developer scene looked in 80s Germany.

This is Manfred Trenz, creator of Katakis and Turrican at work:

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nemmelheim.de%2Fturrican%2Ffiles%2Fasm%2F1.jpg&hash=c25c12c92bac5cfd2189d67fcd82f02541549116)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 23, 2015, 09:13:27 AM
RPS recommended a game off Shrapnel Games, and it prompted me to check their (quaintly archaic) webpage after a while.

They still have All American: The 82nd Airborne in Normandy listed, and you can still pre-order it for $49.99.

They were originally looking for a 2000 release, and got beta testers on board in 2001. That puts Empires in Arms, Duke Nuke'Em Forever and World in Flames to shame. Especially since it's building on the existing 101: The Airborne Invasion of Normandy.

QuoteOur plans have always been to release around June of 2000. We are pretty much on track for that timeframe, but I don't want to start making promises until I firm up timing with the distribution network.

:lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Iormlund on February 23, 2015, 02:37:13 PM
The original Homeworld was one of my favourite games. So I got the remastered version. Of course, someone fucked up yet again, and I need to leave the country the day it is released. I can't even pre-load it to play in the hotel. :glare:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on February 23, 2015, 03:27:34 PM
Quote from: Syt on February 23, 2015, 12:56:18 AM
I find it's not really that far off from what the developer scene looked in 80s Germany.


If you want to mock video games in 1989, you show this.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJBucdfBscI
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 23, 2015, 11:08:54 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on February 14, 2015, 01:32:31 PM
Anyone have a pop at Offworld Trading Company?

I've seen a few videos and it looks pretty decent, though I guess it only really shines in multiplayer (quill18, Arumba, Northernlion, Mathas are doing a couple of games together and they're pretty entertaining).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 25, 2015, 09:35:32 AM
Quote from: PDH on February 21, 2015, 11:31:07 AM
I have been playing Civil War 2 for the past week or so.  Seems ok, and it models the strengths of the North fairly well.  Tamas will be happy to know the US can still build huge 30k man corps by summer of 1862.

I know  :mad:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 25, 2015, 09:36:10 AM
I have been playing Total War Attila BTW. If you like the Total War games you should get it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 25, 2015, 11:11:50 AM
I want little pictures of buildings and soldiers in the UI, not the Rome 2 symbols. What does Attila have?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 25, 2015, 11:21:40 AM
Quote from: The Brain on February 25, 2015, 11:11:50 AM
I want little pictures of buildings and soldiers in the UI, not the Rome 2 symbols. What does Attila have?

little pictures IIRC, Mr. Man-Child.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 25, 2015, 11:22:37 AM
:cheers: I might look into that.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 25, 2015, 12:20:28 PM
I must break my self-imposed censorship on talking about our own games (being not impartial to them), because I think this trailer  of Vietnam '65 nicely conveys the feeling of playing the game, which, BTW, I have been very happy to work on, as it manages to be very authentic on the situation and challenges it portraits, while completely avoiding of being an excel sheet:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sft4XvTt9Oc&feature=player_detailpage
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 25, 2015, 12:25:27 PM
I am still holding out for Indochine '54.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 25, 2015, 03:03:21 PM
Quote from: Valmy on February 25, 2015, 12:25:27 PM
I am still holding out for Indochine '54.

AIDS killed the party. :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on February 25, 2015, 03:22:06 PM
Quote from: Tamas on February 25, 2015, 12:20:28 PM
I must break my self-imposed censorship on talking about our own games (being not impartial to them), because I think this trailer  of Vietnam '65 nicely conveys the feeling of playing the game, which, BTW, I have been very happy to work on, as it manages to be very authentic on the situation and challenges it portraits, while completely avoiding of being an excel sheet:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sft4XvTt9Oc&feature=player_detailpage

I don't think you need to not talk about your company's games. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 25, 2015, 03:27:12 PM
I also do not not think you shouldn't not talk about your company's games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on February 25, 2015, 03:37:32 PM
Polishing the turd time from Tamas.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 25, 2015, 05:07:18 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on February 25, 2015, 03:37:32 PM
Polishing the turd time from Tamas.

You, sir, are ignorant of the finer matters of the world.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on February 25, 2015, 07:00:04 PM
Hey, Tamas.  I was recently told that the PC game business is like rocket science, is that correct?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on February 25, 2015, 08:02:13 PM
Quote from: Tamas on February 25, 2015, 05:07:18 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on February 25, 2015, 03:37:32 PM
Polishing the turd time from Tamas.

You, sir, are ignorant of the finer matters of the world.

Yes sir, lord Beet.

*bows*
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 26, 2015, 01:22:16 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on February 25, 2015, 03:37:32 PM
Polishing the turd time from Tamas.

I've read the previous on the game, and it looks like it's maybe the first Vietnam game to try and properly simulate the conflict, i.e. the uncertainty of where the enemy is, trying to locate the (randomized) Ho Chi Minh trail, and the difficulty of using conventional forces to counter this.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on February 26, 2015, 05:11:03 AM
TW: Attila is sort of fun. Harder than Rome II, which is good. The Western Roman Empire is as good as gone into various splinters with hordes roaming everywhere by 406. So don't expect much in terms of historical accuracy. Some tribes, like the Geats, for no apparent reason went horde and ended up in Mauretania.  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on February 26, 2015, 02:58:20 PM
Quote from: Syt on February 26, 2015, 01:22:16 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on February 25, 2015, 03:37:32 PM
Polishing the turd time from Tamas.

I've read the previous on the game, and it looks like it's maybe the first Vietnam game to try and properly simulate the conflict, i.e. the uncertainty of where the enemy is, trying to locate the (randomized) Ho Chi Minh trail, and the difficulty of using conventional forces to counter this.

I just like giving Tamas shit.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 26, 2015, 03:33:35 PM
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia4.onsugar.com%2Ffiles%2F2014%2F01%2F06%2F002%2Fn%2F1922283%2F26a420cfbaf5460f_image.png.xxxlarge.jpg&hash=b4fd4bc451bafd82d02c18f04328a3c9e15a9c81)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Martinus on February 26, 2015, 05:03:10 PM
So, Sid Meier's Starships looks like MOO set in Civ:BE universe and is out next month.  :ph34r:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on February 26, 2015, 05:43:08 PM
Homeworld is tough.  I have very little idea what I'm doing most of the time.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on February 26, 2015, 06:14:38 PM
But what about the game?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on February 26, 2015, 07:38:13 PM
Quote from: Syt on February 26, 2015, 01:22:16 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on February 25, 2015, 03:37:32 PM
Polishing the turd time from Tamas.

I've read the previous on the game, and it looks like it's maybe the first Vietnam game to try and properly simulate the conflict, i.e. the uncertainty of where the enemy is, trying to locate the (randomized) Ho Chi Minh trail, and the difficulty of using conventional forces to counter this.

Grunt did most of this in 1971.  The VC player could secretly choose which scenario was actually being played (and thus, the victory conditions), and one of the choices had no VC units at all - the US player had to declare the area VC-free by turn X (turn 10 or turn 20, I can't remember) or lose the game.  That was the most interesting game mechanic (because it forced the US player to take risks to force combat if there actually were any VC) I can remember.  The downside was that, unless I played my friend Armen, no VC player had the patience to play a game in which he was just faking it, in order to set up games where he was not.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on February 27, 2015, 07:50:04 PM
I've been entertained by "Dead State".
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 02, 2015, 01:23:05 AM
Languish the Game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jEHPH30NVc
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 02, 2015, 01:28:18 AM
"There's not much writing and one hour in the lines start repeating themselves." Yup, Languish. :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 02, 2015, 01:41:35 PM
Quote'Pregnancy' is an interactive short story where the player attempts to influence the decisions of a 14 year old girl about the future of her pregnancy.

Lilla Sandor is the protagonist of 'Pregnancy'. She is a 14 year old girl who lives in Hungary. Lilla gets pregnant after being abused by a criminal and she is confused about what to do with the child she carries in her womb. The player acts as the voice of conscience influencing and guiding the young girl's decisions.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on March 02, 2015, 10:50:06 PM
Quote from: Syt on March 02, 2015, 01:23:05 AM
Languish the Game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jEHPH30NVc

That's awesome. 
"If you're poor, stop being poor."  How long have they had an account here?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on March 03, 2015, 06:18:23 PM
I'd probably buy that.

"Dead State" is apparently still in alpha or beta or ceta or whatever, but it has gotten me hooked. Just like the series "The Walking Dead", it is eerie and keeping people happy is not only hard, but in my experience nigh-on impossible. It's like "Dwarf Fortress" with zombie apocalypse survivors being unhappy about, well, everything. It's hard enough to build a good enough shelter from scavenging parts and it gets harder with some severe morale maluses (is that malii?) when people don't get their deodorant, cigars or coffee beans.
I'd recommend this game for anyone who enjoys turn-based combat and thinks the end of the world as we know it based in Texas seems enjoyable.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 04, 2015, 12:34:48 AM
Is that the one that computes stuff for when you're not in game, i.e. you have to play regularly to stay on top of things?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on March 04, 2015, 02:18:30 AM
No that is State of Decay which isn't turn based.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on March 04, 2015, 05:05:42 PM
Haven't tried that one. This one is like "Silent Storm" with zombies and maintaining and upgrading the shelter.

Some of what happens:
- You start out as a lonely crash survivor. The virus is like the one in "The Walking Dead", people turn undead when they die infected.
- If you want to live, there needs to be daily scavening trips. Building materials, food, luxuries. You'll meet undead. They're not so bad, but the living are. Mostly.
- You'll find survivors that aren't hostile that can be a benefit to the shelter. Most living are either motorcycle asstards in some club called the Coyotes (killing them is good, as you can get their armour and weapons) or they're random looters who'll fuck open fire and be like, well, a person who might not like people on his lawn.
- Some survivors will show up at your shelter. One is a preacher. I wish I had put a bullet in him.
- Random encounters on the road add to the challenge, undead in hordes or Coyotes and some other group I found called the Predators. They were real assholes. Their armour was good to have, though.

In short, the game's about keeping people alive, while doing runs where you'll most likely lose some people and not find enough food.Then there are internal politics and events. I survived 32 days as leader before someone at the shelter just ended my reign with a headshot. Frustrating and enjoyable, easy to understand and very hard to master. That's my verdict.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: PRC on March 05, 2015, 12:51:21 AM
EA shuts down Maxis:

Quote
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/03/04/its-a-sim-ea-closes-simssimcity-developer-maxis/

Oh man, this is a sad day. Former staff today reported – later confirmed by EA – that the heart of Maxis, the studio behind The Sims & Sim City, is to be ripped out. While satellite studios in Redwood Shores, Salt Lake City, Helsinki and Melbourne remain, the Emeryville headquarters was Maxis as we knew it. It's had a chequered recent history, particularly with regard to the most recent SimCity, but without a doubt this was a legendary developer.

Here's the EA statement, sent to Kotaku:

    "Today we are consolidating Maxis IP development to our studios in Redwood Shores, Salt Lake City, Helsinki and Melbourne locations as we close our Emeryville location. Maxis continues to support and develop new experiences for current Sims and SimCity players, while expanding our franchises to new platforms and developing new cross-platform IP.

    These changes do not impact our plans for The Sims. Players will continue to see rich new experiences in The Sims 4, with our first expansion pack coming soon along with a full slate of additional updates and content in the pipeline.

    All employees impacted by the changes today will be given opportunities to explore other positions within the Maxis studios and throughout EA. For those that are leaving the company, we are working to ensure the best possible transition with separation packages and career assistance."

No reason for the closure is given there, but these things almost always come down to money. Staff who've been with Maxis for over a decade shared the news on Twitter, with lead gameplay scripter and 13-year Maxis veteran Guillaume Pierre revealing that "everyone's out of a job." What EA's claim that staff "will be given opportunities to explore other positions within the Maxis studios and throughout EA" actually entails remains to be seen. The Redwood Shores studio isn't too far away if anyone can land places at it (and if they even want to), but all the others would involve massive upheaval.

Despite the references to Maxis ongoing in some capacity, many are today treating this as a wholesale loss of the studio first founded in 1987 by Will Wright and Jeff Braun. It was born in Emeryville, California and died in Emeryville, California, and by God I'm downcast about this. Surely few would believe that the shortcomings in SimCity were not driven by cold business decisions from above, and while The Sims 4 was perfectly serviceable in most regards, it's a crying shame that Maxis didn't get the chance to truly soar again before the axe fell.

Big hugs and best of luck to everyone affected by this. Whatever wobbles it might have had, Maxis is as iconic a PC games developer as we've ever had. This is a big loss.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 05, 2015, 01:14:39 AM
Not surprising, considering how SimCity was a huge failure, and Sims4 doesn't seem to generate the buzz they were looking for (streamlining was good for performance, but removing the city story progression left many unhappy, it would seem).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Neil on March 05, 2015, 09:16:30 AM
And don't forget Spore.  It seems to me that the last thing Maxis did that sold was Sims 3, and the last thing they did that was actually good was a long time ago.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on March 05, 2015, 09:19:08 AM
I guess I hadn't realized that EA hadn't already "broken up the band" so to speak of what was Maxis.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on March 06, 2015, 01:10:42 PM
I think I am going to get Sid's Starships on day 1.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on March 07, 2015, 10:21:57 AM
Cities: Skylines is looking pretty damn good. I'm tempted to buy it on day one.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 12, 2015, 12:24:10 AM
Steve Jackson's Starship Traveller (a choose your own adventure book) is now on Steam. It's 9.99, which is probably overpriced considering that I got the mobile version for half that.

Compared to his other books it's not very popular, but it holds a special place for me, because it was my first choose your own adventure book (a classmate brought it to school when we were in 5th or 6th grade).

A definitely-not-Federation starship gets sucked through a black hole into a parallel universe and has to find its way home; to do that you have to find a space and time coordinate to calculate your jump. And it's notoriously difficult to get the correct ones (there's several wrong ones throughout the book).

What made the book for me, though, was that it had a very episodic feel, with each system you visit a small mini adventure, giving it a cool Star Trek vibe, and seemingly branching very widely, giving you the feeling of actually exploring space.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 13, 2015, 02:13:00 PM
Kerbal Space Program, if instead of spaceships you had car engines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glBjN4pyX30
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on March 13, 2015, 08:15:40 PM
Just blasted through Hotline Miami 2.  If the graphics didn't look like an arcade game from 1987 I'd be a little disturbed by the violence.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on March 18, 2015, 08:58:51 AM
Well Steam has gotten very bizarre for me. So far, it looks like I can play all of my games but the store has gotten wonky. While both those pop-up sales notifications and wishlist have changed over to pounds, the main store still currently lists all items in dollars. :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 18, 2015, 09:08:39 AM
You might find fewer games in the store in case something is region locked (I think newer Ubisoft titles are not on Steam UK?).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on March 18, 2015, 09:15:46 AM
I'm wondering if it is something that just needs some time to catch up and they'll finally get sorted out. I don't know if my store is correctly pointing to UK or not given that prices are still in dollars. (All of which is really fine as I'm of no mind to make an purchases right now, not while I still don't even have a UK bank account...:weep:)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on March 18, 2015, 09:15:55 AM
Quote from: garbon on March 18, 2015, 08:58:51 AM
Well Steam has gotten very bizarre for me. So far, it looks like I can play all of my games but the store has gotten wonky. While both those pop-up sales notifications and wishlist have changed over to pounds, the main store still currently lists all items in dollars. :hmm:

Maybe, some parts are location based, others are based on your billing address. Have you change that in steam payment options?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on March 18, 2015, 09:16:51 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on March 18, 2015, 09:15:55 AM
Quote from: garbon on March 18, 2015, 08:58:51 AM
Well Steam has gotten very bizarre for me. So far, it looks like I can play all of my games but the store has gotten wonky. While both those pop-up sales notifications and wishlist have changed over to pounds, the main store still currently lists all items in dollars. :hmm:

Maybe, some parts are location based, others are based on your billing address. Have you change that in steam payment options?

Ah that might be it then. No, I've not yet changed my billing as I don't have any payment options connected to where I am now.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 20, 2015, 07:00:24 AM
http://www.quartertothree.com/fp/2015/03/19/in-the-shit-with-vietnam-65/

"I have to say, this game totally won me over. I expected it to be a facile mishmash of Vietnam myths and shallow gameplay, and instead I got a coherent, original game system that reflects a certain understanding of the Vietnam War with mechanics that fit together as a whole yet are evocative in their own right. It's far more than I expected, but more importantly, it's an excellent treatment of something I've actually never seen. That doesn't happen a lot for me these days."

:P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on March 20, 2015, 04:06:36 PM
Anyone play EVolve?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on March 20, 2015, 06:31:57 PM
Nah.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on March 20, 2015, 08:12:44 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on March 20, 2015, 04:06:36 PM
Anyone play EVolve?

The deluxe edition is 80$cdn on steam.

Fuck that bullshit, so no.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on March 21, 2015, 11:05:40 AM
Goddamn Creationists.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on March 23, 2015, 07:44:38 AM
If anyone wants a copy of "Age of Decadence" (turn-based RPG from something looking like late Roman Empire), I bought three by mistake. It's the same studio that made "Dead State".

So I have two to give away.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 23, 2015, 07:53:31 AM
I have a copy already. My impression of the beta was that it's hard for the sake of being hard, though I appreciate that they want to make every skill relevant while making sure you can't be a jack of all trades. I will try it again when the beta is done.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on March 23, 2015, 08:06:26 AM
Yeah, it was pretty harsh.

Even upping the resolution in "Options" was a quest in its own right.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 23, 2015, 08:11:14 AM
IIRC I rolled a thieving/speechcraft character once. I got killed when I interfered in a lynching and was unable to talk down a mob.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on March 23, 2015, 08:14:47 AM
There were so few skill points to spread out. I used mine on graphics settings, I think. Died almost immediately.

I tried to be the "jack of all trades", but I suppose I need to specialise. I do like the setting and it seems like a decent game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on March 23, 2015, 08:16:26 AM
Sure, I'll take 1 of those keys Norgy.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on March 23, 2015, 09:01:41 AM
Can grab the other one if it's still available. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on March 23, 2015, 11:40:04 AM
Grey Fuck and Solmyr got them. 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on March 23, 2015, 12:36:57 PM
Thank You Norgass.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on March 23, 2015, 06:01:30 PM
A gift, one that I paid for, and you call me ass?

That's like, so classy. So fuck you Francotard.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on March 23, 2015, 06:09:02 PM
Calm it down, boys. :rolleyes:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on March 23, 2015, 06:18:09 PM
Bleh.  :yuk:
Like you have a say.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on March 23, 2015, 06:33:14 PM
Why can't we all just get along? :cry:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on March 23, 2015, 06:33:30 PM
Quote from: Norgy on March 23, 2015, 06:01:30 PM
A gift, one that I paid for, and you call me ass?

That's like, so classy. So fuck you Francotard.

Yes, we have established you like to use the word fuck.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 26, 2015, 05:29:09 AM
There is a 50% off deal on Qvadriga. Buy it :P

http://store.steampowered.com/app/297760/

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on March 26, 2015, 07:04:12 AM
I don't know now. Tamas is shilling now for it.

MAKE BEET SHINY!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 27, 2015, 04:19:55 AM
Quote from: Tamas on March 26, 2015, 05:29:09 AM
There is a 50% off deal on Qvadriga. Buy it :P

http://store.steampowered.com/app/297760/

The game shows the racers holding the reins in their hands. My understanding is that they wrapped the reins around their waist to better handle the forces during the race (they also carried a dagger to cut themselves loose in case they found themselves off the chariot and dragged by the horses).

0/10. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on March 27, 2015, 08:17:09 AM
To make Tamas feel better, I'm thinking of getting War in the West when I start getting my crop checks.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 27, 2015, 08:24:51 AM
I've blown my monthly budget on OOTP, Valkyrie Chronicles, and QVADRIGA.

In a month or three, when I've finished Pillars of Eternity, I might be able to play any of those. :P

I had a check if OOTP got rid of one of my pet peeves, in that Hungary and Finland share a name database and yup: random Hungarian league, and it's full of Finns. So no Habsburg Empire League anytime soon. :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 28, 2015, 03:11:04 PM
So, watched an Alien Isolation live stream and while I love the look and atmosphere of the game: nope, not gonna play that anytime soon. :lol: :ph34r:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on March 28, 2015, 07:45:56 PM
Quote from: Syt on March 28, 2015, 03:11:04 PM
So, watched an Alien Isolation live stream and while I love the look and atmosphere of the game: nope, not gonna play that anytime soon. :lol: :ph34r:

I can't stand scary movies but scary games are fine.  The problem with that one is that it got frustrating and going into it you already knew what the alien was, and what his deal was which deflects some of the thrills.  Still, I played it through to the end and I don't always do that.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 29, 2015, 01:00:10 AM
I have to credit them, though - where most horror games rely on cheap jump scares, this game seems more focused on creating tension and dread through its stealth system. I have to admit, even watching this passively was stressful. :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on March 29, 2015, 12:38:38 PM
An interesting decision is in that game is to make it look like the space station is being run on an old Atari 2600.  To save you have to shove a key cartridge into a machine, and the codes look like some of the monsters from space invaders.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 29, 2015, 01:42:39 PM
Yeah, seen that. Fits nicely with the design of the first movie. I like this (now retro) look.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 30, 2015, 03:20:32 AM
Out There Omega Edition: you're an astronaut from Earth hurled across the galaxy and trying to find your way home through a procedurally generated galaxy of weird.

Souped up version of an Android game, beta available for 9.99 on Humble Store; will convert into a Steam key on release this Thursday.

It's FTL the text game, basically. You pick a star and head there. Upon arrival there's a chance of a random event, often with multiple choice options. At its core it's a resource management game: you need Iron to repair your hull, you need oxygen, and fuel. You can get oxygen on habitable planets (generally found around yelow stars), iron on same or other rocky planets and fuel on gas giants. Almost every action costs fuel and/or hull/oxygen points, so you constantly have to scavenge, making the game extremely hard.

You also come across artifacts that teach you new tech (chances are you just dumped the vital mineral to build the tech because you needed space for fuel), new ships that you can take over, alien life (though you have to learn the language bit by bit, and the "words" are randomized each time), and other things. There's NO combat as far as I can see.

Still, it's a fun diversion, and in 3 or 4 play throughs I had no random events repeat themselves, so there seems to be a decent number of them. It's extremely easy to get into a situation where you run out of one important resource or other, but let's you still try your luck and hope for a good dice roll to make a last ditch effort, but chances are slim that it works.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on March 30, 2015, 10:16:41 AM
New p'dox forum certainly is ugly.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on March 30, 2015, 08:03:36 PM
Hey Syt, do you recommend East Side Hockey Manager from the makers of FFM or Franchise Hockey Manager 2014 from the makers of OOTP?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 31, 2015, 12:01:11 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on March 30, 2015, 08:03:36 PM
Hey Syt, do you recommend East Side Hockey Manager from the makers of FFM or Franchise Hockey Manager 2014 from the makers of OOTP?

Never tried it, so no idea. Hockey is not my sport.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on March 31, 2015, 06:44:49 AM
It should be. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on March 31, 2015, 11:58:42 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on March 31, 2015, 06:44:49 AM
It should be. :)

Hockey is an awesome sport to be sure.

You know, showing an affinity for hockey might help you to relocate to corporate headquarters in Canada :whistle:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 31, 2015, 12:33:59 PM
I've been told that the Toronto NBA team is actually gaining in popularity. No one watches soccer, The Blue Jays are not pulling huge crowds, and the Maple Leafs are losing support, because while attendance costs premium price, the owners supposedly don't feel the need to create a compelling product/team.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on March 31, 2015, 12:34:46 PM
That's accurate. Become a fan of a respectable team like the Jets.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 31, 2015, 12:35:26 PM
If I'd root for an NHL team I would, naturally, root for the Pittsburgh team. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on March 31, 2015, 12:40:09 PM
Germans just cannot resist black and gold. Though, come to think of it, that actually works even better for Austria.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Liep on March 31, 2015, 12:42:27 PM
Quote from: garbon on March 30, 2015, 10:16:41 AM
New p'dox forum certainly is ugly.

Yup.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on March 31, 2015, 01:25:01 PM
Somebody really needs to tell them that there's other colors besides shades of blue.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on March 31, 2015, 01:27:46 PM
Quote from: celedhring on March 31, 2015, 01:25:01 PM
Somebody really needs to tell them that there's other colors besides shades of blue.

Swedes just cannot resist blue.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on March 31, 2015, 02:05:09 PM
Quote from: Valmy on March 31, 2015, 12:40:09 PM
Germans just cannot resist black and gold. Though, come to think of it, that actually works even better for Austria.

The colors of the Vasa dynasty! :w00t:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on April 04, 2015, 07:33:58 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on March 27, 2015, 08:17:09 AM
To make Tamas feel better, I'm thinking of getting War in the West when I start getting my crop checks.

Dear God. That game is huge.

Enjoy the dollar from me in your paycheck Tamas!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 05, 2015, 02:38:44 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on April 04, 2015, 07:33:58 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on March 27, 2015, 08:17:09 AM
To make Tamas feel better, I'm thinking of getting War in the West when I start getting my crop checks.

Dear God. That game is huge.

Enjoy the dollar from me in your paycheck Tamas!

:yeah:

That game is just truly massive.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 05, 2015, 02:40:35 AM
It is the next step in the evolution of monster wargamer, as well. I mean, for examples check out the logistic system's flow chart in the manual.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on April 05, 2015, 06:06:34 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on April 04, 2015, 07:33:58 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on March 27, 2015, 08:17:09 AM
To make Tamas feel better, I'm thinking of getting War in the West when I start getting my crop checks.

Dear God. That game is huge.

Enjoy the dollar from me in your paycheck Tamas!

Suck it up Der Führer.... :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on April 05, 2015, 06:51:42 PM
I started a game as 'ol crazy eyes. 43-45.

I love the PzGr division on Sardinia.  :rolleyes:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on April 05, 2015, 08:44:35 PM
I think I do a CM Black Sea AAR.  Then you all can see what a disaster I am in command.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on April 05, 2015, 09:07:25 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on April 05, 2015, 08:44:35 PM
I think I do a CM Black Sea AAR.  Then you all can see what a disaster I am in command.

Actually do one. I'm still on the fence with that one.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on April 05, 2015, 11:24:06 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on April 05, 2015, 09:07:25 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on April 05, 2015, 08:44:35 PM
I think I do a CM Black Sea AAR.  Then you all can see what a disaster I am in command.

Actually do one. I'm still on the fence with that one.

Well I started one then it crashed as I tried to save.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: PDH on April 06, 2015, 07:55:15 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on April 05, 2015, 11:24:06 PM


Well I started one then it crashed as I tried to save.

Just like the real war :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on April 06, 2015, 11:33:48 AM
Well when I try again, I'll know where those BRDM 2s were hiding.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on April 07, 2015, 05:33:32 PM
I think the problem is that I pushed the setting up to get good screen shots so when I save it stalls and then stops responding.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on April 09, 2015, 07:03:29 AM
1) Do you have the latest drivers?
2) Don't overdo it. We'll most likely dislike the pointy elbows of your tanks anyway.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on April 11, 2015, 01:59:52 PM
Okay, I did the first 30 minutes of a mission and will set up the AAR this weekend.  Remarkably I'm winning.  Well maybe not so remarkably, I am fighting Russians.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on April 14, 2015, 08:46:01 PM
Tamas, does Sovereignty: Crown of Kings suck?

http://slitherine.com/games/Sovereignty_CrownofKingsPC
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 15, 2015, 12:02:08 AM
It has 88% positive reviews on Steam (out of a small sample of 25, though).

I'll wait till it's no longer Early Access and see what it's like then.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: sbr on April 20, 2015, 07:26:49 PM
I am somewhat excited for the Killing Floor 2 Early Access release tomorrow.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 30, 2015, 01:50:22 PM
The times, they are a-changing! WWE 2k15 is on PC, and its the first major WWE game on PC since Raw in 2000-fucking-2. :o

The match engine is still pretty good (more going for simulating a "natural" match flow as you would see on TV, and you have to watch your health and stamina both - putting on great moves will lower your stamina, opening chances for comebacks by opponents), but customization is much lower than in 2k14. But they added a better career mode. I might do that for a Let's Play series.

Post match replies are horribly broken, though: it shows the opponents and ref down in the ring without ropes.  :huh:

But: load times are WAAAAY lower than on PS4 where it could take a minute to get into a match.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 02, 2015, 01:04:38 PM
Well, the port of WWE 2k15 is a mixed bag. The matches are capped at 60 FPS, which is ok for fighting games. However, cutscenes are limited to 30 FPS, sometimes dropping to 20 FPS; though I have no idea why - the scenes that drop don't look more complex than some in match scenes, or have more stuff/lights/shadows or whatever, and changing detail levels helps none.

Worst part is that some of the in match TV camera angles also drop to 30 FPS, sometimes creating a slomo effect.

On the plus side, loading times are MUCH better than on console; no more waiting a couple of minutes to get into matches.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 05, 2015, 09:22:27 AM
SSI's Pacific General and Fantasy General are now on GOG. :nerd: :wub:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on May 05, 2015, 09:24:19 AM
If a shitload of SSI stuff appears, they will be able to see my erection from space.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on May 05, 2015, 02:14:49 PM
Quote from: Syt on May 05, 2015, 09:22:27 AM
SSI's Pacific General and Fantasy General are now on GOG. :nerd: :wub:

I remember fantasy general.  I could have a unit that was a musketman tied to a balloon.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 06, 2015, 11:46:30 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on May 05, 2015, 09:24:19 AM
If a shitload of SSI stuff appears, they will be able to see my erection from space.

If they release Age of Rifles, then pants->dairy factory
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 07, 2015, 10:05:07 AM
GOG now has Star Trek 25th Anniversary + Star Trek Judgment Rites (both with the original cast's voices), plus  Star Trek Starfleet Academy.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on May 07, 2015, 02:19:56 PM
Call me when they get Bridge Commander.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on May 07, 2015, 03:13:43 PM
Quote from: Scipio on May 07, 2015, 02:19:56 PM
Call me when they get Bridge Commander.

I've seen that spelled as "Bride Commander" today. I laughed...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on May 07, 2015, 05:44:15 PM
Quote from: Crazy_Ivan80 on May 07, 2015, 03:13:43 PM
Quote from: Scipio on May 07, 2015, 02:19:56 PM
Call me when they get Bridge Commander.

I've seen that spelled as "Bride Commander" today. I laughed...

HEY NOW
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on May 09, 2015, 01:11:48 PM
 :lol:

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on May 09, 2015, 08:47:00 PM
I bought The Witcher 2 for like 3 bucks on Steam.

Do you get to bang lots of wenches in this game like in the first one?  :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on May 10, 2015, 04:57:06 PM
From what I remember, yes. A lot.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on May 10, 2015, 05:28:50 PM
I'll be interested to read what you think, Cal.  I was really looking forward to Witcher 2 (loved the first one) and probably only played about 30 minutes of the game before giving up in disgust.  It is easily the most disappointing game I can recall.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on May 10, 2015, 07:17:05 PM
I played thru the tutorial and that's pretty much it so far.  At this point not sure how I feel about the game but it feels really 'busy' to me in that there's a million different things to do in combat, etc.  I don't see a way to remap the keyboard controls which is going to be annoying if that's the case, because I'm left handed and don't like 'traditional' WASD movement.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 10, 2015, 11:35:27 PM
I wanted to like the Witcher series, but I got so bogged down in the opening of the first game (I found the village/Barghest thing so tedious and boring and drawn out that I just stopped - I'm watching Gopher's play through). After that I thought there was no sense checking out 2 (I prefer playing games with narrative focus in order and not jumping into the middle), and I'll likely skip Witcher 3 till I've at least finished watching the first 2. A shame really, because I really liked the short stories this is based on.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: sbr on May 10, 2015, 11:49:29 PM
I couldn't stand The Witcher.  I own The Witcher 2 but haven't even tried it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on May 11, 2015, 08:39:48 AM
I got Shadow of Mordor right around the same time and what little time I have had for video games lately has mostly been going into that.  I have that on my PS4 though, not my PC.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on May 11, 2015, 09:14:15 AM
GOG offered Witcher 2 for free last winter.

I couldn't get into it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on May 12, 2015, 08:35:07 AM
Never got into them.

The first one, I played for some time, but like grumbler, I gave up on the sequel after about 30 minutes.

You can slate Bethesda for strange bugs and some poor quests, but I'd rather replay Skyrim again.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on May 12, 2015, 08:54:55 AM
Quote from: Norgy on May 12, 2015, 08:35:07 AM
Never got into them.

The first one, I played for some time, but like grumbler, I gave up on the sequel after about 30 minutes.

You can slate Bethesda for strange bugs and some poor quests, but I'd rather replay Skyrim again.

At least with bethesda, you get mods and those can make up for a lot of the disappointment with the base game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on May 12, 2015, 09:31:46 AM
To me, Skyrim is still one of the best games released, and that has to do with the mods. The replayability increased a lot.

I played Morrowind and Oblivion to death, and I hope for a new TES game some time.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Octavian on May 13, 2015, 03:25:33 AM
Got The Witcher 2 in 2011 but like many others couldn't get into it. Then Skyrim came and I forgot about it. Tried the enhanced version and I finished it a couple of days ago. Loved it. One of my favorite games and I'm definitely looking forward to the third one.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on May 14, 2015, 12:14:06 PM
Quote from: Octavian on May 13, 2015, 03:25:33 AM
Got The Witcher 2 in 2011 but like many others couldn't get into it. Then Skyrim came and I forgot about it. Tried the enhanced version and I finished it a couple of days ago. Loved it. One of my favorite games and I'm definitely looking forward to the third one.

Did the enhanced version get rid of the QTEs?  Those were the absolute worst:  boring and stupid, and yet essential to continuing the game.  I quit when i ran into the boxing QTE.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Octavian on May 15, 2015, 06:12:16 PM
Quote from: grumbler on May 14, 2015, 12:14:06 PM
Quote from: Octavian on May 13, 2015, 03:25:33 AM
Got The Witcher 2 in 2011 but like many others couldn't get into it. Then Skyrim came and I forgot about it. Tried the enhanced version and I finished it a couple of days ago. Loved it. One of my favorite games and I'm definitely looking forward to the third one.

Did the enhanced version get rid of the QTEs?  Those were the absolute worst:  boring and stupid, and yet essential to continuing the game.  I quit when i ran into the boxing QTE.

No and I agree those were the worst. I skipped the boxing quest because of that. Still there were a couple more QTE's throughout the game. The worst being the Kayran fight. It could be worse but a damn shame they added them.

I don't expect them to be in the TW3.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on May 16, 2015, 07:30:05 AM
Is GalCiv 3 any good?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on May 17, 2015, 03:26:07 AM
Quote from: Octavian on May 15, 2015, 06:12:16 PM
Quote from: grumbler on May 14, 2015, 12:14:06 PM
Quote from: Octavian on May 13, 2015, 03:25:33 AM
Got The Witcher 2 in 2011 but like many others couldn't get into it. Then Skyrim came and I forgot about it. Tried the enhanced version and I finished it a couple of days ago. Loved it. One of my favorite games and I'm definitely looking forward to the third one.

Did the enhanced version get rid of the QTEs?  Those were the absolute worst:  boring and stupid, and yet essential to continuing the game.  I quit when i ran into the boxing QTE.

No and I agree those were the worst. I skipped the boxing quest because of that. Still there were a couple more QTE's throughout the game. The worst being the Kayran fight. It could be worse but a damn shame they added them.

I don't expect them to be in the TW3.

Good, I hated the QTEs in Witcher 2 too.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on May 22, 2015, 10:33:33 PM
A part of me wants to get AGEOD "War to End all Wars".  The other part of me says, "Are you stupid?  AGEOD is company with contempt for all human life and they make games to punish humanity for it's hubris in thinking you can have a deep playable war games.  Admittedly it is an improvement over their previous WWI game where they were unable to tell the difference between "West" and "North"
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on May 23, 2015, 09:46:02 AM
Beeting a dead horse I see.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 23, 2015, 11:16:35 AM
:rolleyes:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on May 23, 2015, 11:33:03 AM
Quote from: The Brain on May 16, 2015, 07:30:05 AM
Is GalCiv 3 any good?

Yes.  :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on May 23, 2015, 12:05:06 PM
Quote from: Norgy on May 23, 2015, 11:33:03 AM
Quote from: The Brain on May 16, 2015, 07:30:05 AM
Is GalCiv 3 any good?

Yes.  :)

Reviews seemed a bit mixed. Does it have the fun factor?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on May 23, 2015, 12:38:23 PM
Quote from: The Brain on May 23, 2015, 09:46:02 AM
Beeting a dead horse I see.

I look at the screenshots and say "oh, that looks fun", then see the word AGEOD and recoil like a shelter dog. :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 25, 2015, 11:28:07 AM
I'm starting to get worried that many, many indie games that I check on Steam show:

"1 friend already owns this game:
fhdz"

:ph34r:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on May 25, 2015, 11:58:00 AM
Many?

All of them!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 31, 2015, 04:39:38 AM
If anyone wants a true Metroid-inspired game, give Axiom Verge a bash. It's almost a Super Metroid clone, but it does enough own things to freshen it up.

And the soundtrack is awesome: https://axiomverge.bandcamp.com/releases

It's even more impressive when you consider that this is literally a one man project (coding, music, graphics).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 31, 2015, 10:33:54 AM
They make games for all target audiences, don't they?

QuoteAbout This Game
In the smallest district of Montreal, the Crown Attorney relies on the legal expertise of its lawyers; backed up by the support of a single hard-working secretary.

This is the story of Dana Larose, a young woman starting her career as a secretary in the Crown Attorney's office. The office is both overworked and understaffed, so you'll have to work out whose projects you help with accordingly.

Will you be able to unravel the mystery being covered up, balance the stress of juggling overtime for everyone, and still manage to find love...?

FEATURES
Four dateable characters: Jonathan, Pierre, Ross and Dorothy
Deal with many different kinds of work to help everyone out around the office
Put in overtime for extra money, but be careful to balance work and pleasure or you'll crack under stress!
What secret is being covered up by the Crown Attorney's office? Follow the clues...

Working for a Canadian Crown Attorney? How outlandish is that? :rolleyes:

(And I think BB should absolutely get this game for his secretary :P )

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.akamai.steamstatic.com%2Fsteam%2Fapps%2F350490%2Fss_00f7ff12b6f377b7d7b586bb8c0246378d9a8385.1920x1080.jpg&hash=9c1071b10ae84b96bfda50bca99601882294458c)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on May 31, 2015, 10:52:14 AM
I've been wasting a good amount of time with this lately:

http://agar.io/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 03, 2015, 04:01:48 AM
Star Trek™: Starfleet Command Gold Edition on gog.com

http://www.gog.com/game/star_trek_starfleet_command_gold_edition
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on June 03, 2015, 06:06:10 AM
Quote from: Habbaku on May 31, 2015, 10:52:14 AM
I've been wasting a good amount of time with this lately:

http://agar.io/

I forgot to post that it caused me to waste a fair amount of time when I clicked on that. :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on June 03, 2015, 10:42:15 AM
 :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on June 03, 2015, 10:49:50 AM
Quote from: Syt on June 03, 2015, 04:01:48 AM
Star Trek™: Starfleet Command Gold Edition on gog.com

http://www.gog.com/game/star_trek_starfleet_command_gold_edition

Many hours  online (SL) with this and the two follow-ons. A very subtle and detail game.

SShxn

House of Za'Kath
House of Martok
Red Claw
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 03, 2015, 12:14:38 PM
I have a code for SimCity™ 2000 Special Edition on GOG if anyone is interested?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on June 03, 2015, 01:56:05 PM
Quote from: Syt on May 31, 2015, 10:33:54 AM
They make games for all target audiences, don't they?

QuoteAbout This Game
In the smallest district of Montreal, the Crown Attorney relies on the legal expertise of its lawyers; backed up by the support of a single hard-working secretary.

This is the story of Dana Larose, a young woman starting her career as a secretary in the Crown Attorney's office. The office is both overworked and understaffed, so you'll have to work out whose projects you help with accordingly.

Will you be able to unravel the mystery being covered up, balance the stress of juggling overtime for everyone, and still manage to find love...?

FEATURES
Four dateable characters: Jonathan, Pierre, Ross and Dorothy
Deal with many different kinds of work to help everyone out around the office
Put in overtime for extra money, but be careful to balance work and pleasure or you'll crack under stress!
What secret is being covered up by the Crown Attorney's office? Follow the clues...

Working for a Canadian Crown Attorney? How outlandish is that? :rolleyes:

(And I think BB should absolutely get this game for his secretary :P )

Oh my!  How did I miss this post?

I almost feel as if I must play this game, just for the amusement value of pointing out everything that's wrong with the game...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on June 03, 2015, 02:04:16 PM
*Norgy likes the post above*
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on June 03, 2015, 02:05:23 PM
If you do please post your AAR here. kthxbye.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on June 04, 2015, 02:20:32 PM
Okay, so the game is bad.  Not hilariously bad, just extremely boring.

Is there an easy way to take screenshots in case I can manage to turn it into an AAR?  Having to cut and paste into Paint seems like a hassle...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 04, 2015, 02:37:02 PM
Quote from: Barrister on June 04, 2015, 02:20:32 PM
Okay, so the game is bad.  Not hilariously bad, just extremely boring.

Is there an easy way to take screenshots in case I can manage to turn it into an AAR?  Having to cut and paste into Paint seems like a hassle...

Steam overlay should have a hotkey (that you can re-bind).

Thanks for taking one for the team. Dating sims/visual novels seem to range from hilarious to hilariously bad to just plain bad. :hug:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on June 04, 2015, 02:52:03 PM
Quote from: Barrister on June 04, 2015, 02:20:32 PM
Okay, so the game is bad.  Not hilariously bad, just extremely boring.

Is there an easy way to take screenshots in case I can manage to turn it into an AAR?  Having to cut and paste into Paint seems like a hassle...

Not enough gaol?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on June 04, 2015, 03:03:48 PM
Quote from: Syt on June 04, 2015, 02:37:02 PM
Quote from: Barrister on June 04, 2015, 02:20:32 PM
Okay, so the game is bad.  Not hilariously bad, just extremely boring.

Is there an easy way to take screenshots in case I can manage to turn it into an AAR?  Having to cut and paste into Paint seems like a hassle...

Steam overlay should have a hotkey (that you can re-bind).

Thanks for taking one for the team. Dating sims/visual novels seem to range from hilarious to hilariously bad to just plain bad. :hug:

Where does it put the screenshots?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on June 04, 2015, 03:05:52 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on June 04, 2015, 02:52:03 PM
Quote from: Barrister on June 04, 2015, 02:20:32 PM
Okay, so the game is bad.  Not hilariously bad, just extremely boring.

Is there an easy way to take screenshots in case I can manage to turn it into an AAR?  Having to cut and paste into Paint seems like a hassle...

Not enough gaol?

This'll be the punchline of the AAR (assuming I do it):

[spoiler]There's not enough of anything.  You're a secretary.  You run around making photocopies and writing reports (which real secretaries don't do, but whatever).  And that's it.  Who the hell thought a legal secretary game would be entertaining?!?[/spoiler]
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on June 04, 2015, 03:23:06 PM
I've been playing "Windward" a bit. Seems like a nice little game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on June 04, 2015, 03:23:22 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on June 03, 2015, 10:49:50 AM
Quote from: Syt on June 03, 2015, 04:01:48 AM
Star Trek™: Starfleet Command Gold Edition on gog.com

http://www.gog.com/game/star_trek_starfleet_command_gold_edition

Many hours  online (SL) with this and the two follow-ons. A very subtle and detail game.

SShxn

House of Za'Kath
House of Martok
Red Claw

Is the Gold edition they are selling not complete?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on June 04, 2015, 03:25:29 PM
Quote from: Barrister on June 04, 2015, 03:05:52 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on June 04, 2015, 02:52:03 PM
Quote from: Barrister on June 04, 2015, 02:20:32 PM
Okay, so the game is bad.  Not hilariously bad, just extremely boring.

Is there an easy way to take screenshots in case I can manage to turn it into an AAR?  Having to cut and paste into Paint seems like a hassle...

Not enough gaol?

This'll be the punchline of the AAR (assuming I do it):

[spoiler]There's not enough of anything.  You're a secretary.  You run around making photocopies and writing reports (which real secretaries don't do, but whatever).  And that's it.  Who the hell thought a legal secretary game would be entertaining?!?[/spoiler]

I thought you were supposed to ignore the work and sleep with the lawyers. Lame.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on June 04, 2015, 03:32:13 PM
Quote from: Valmy on June 04, 2015, 03:25:29 PM
Quote from: Barrister on June 04, 2015, 03:05:52 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on June 04, 2015, 02:52:03 PM
Quote from: Barrister on June 04, 2015, 02:20:32 PM
Okay, so the game is bad.  Not hilariously bad, just extremely boring.

Is there an easy way to take screenshots in case I can manage to turn it into an AAR?  Having to cut and paste into Paint seems like a hassle...

Not enough gaol?

This'll be the punchline of the AAR (assuming I do it):

[spoiler]There's not enough of anything.  You're a secretary.  You run around making photocopies and writing reports (which real secretaries don't do, but whatever).  And that's it.  Who the hell thought a legal secretary game would be entertaining?!?[/spoiler]

I thought you were supposed to ignore the work and sleep with the lawyers. Lame.

Well the dating part is just plain creepy.  As you do more tasks for the lawyers, your relationship with them increases.  At some point you can then ask the lawyers out on dates. 

Now, I know offices romances happen.  But I'd like to think I can have a high opinion of my assistant without wanting to get into her pants.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on June 04, 2015, 03:33:19 PM
Now there is some kind of mystery within the game.  Perhaps it gets more interesting at that point - I never got that far.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on June 04, 2015, 03:39:02 PM
Quote from: Barrister on June 04, 2015, 03:32:13 PM
Now, I know offices romances happen.  But I'd like to think I can have a high opinion of my assistant without wanting to get into her pants.

You clearly are doing lawyering wrong.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Minsky Moment on June 04, 2015, 05:41:11 PM
Quote from: Barrister on June 04, 2015, 03:33:19 PM
Now there is some kind of mystery within the game.  Perhaps it gets more interesting at that point - I never got that far.

Crown prosecutor's office is covering up massive corruption in the World Curling Federation.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on June 04, 2015, 06:01:03 PM
Quote from: Berkut on June 04, 2015, 03:23:22 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on June 03, 2015, 10:49:50 AM
Quote from: Syt on June 03, 2015, 04:01:48 AM
Star Trek™: Starfleet Command Gold Edition on gog.com

http://www.gog.com/game/star_trek_starfleet_command_gold_edition

Many hours  online (SL) with this and the two follow-ons. A very subtle and detail game.

SShxn

House of Za'Kath
House of Martok
Red Claw

Is the Gold edition they are selling not complete?

SFC was first out of the gate. The overall series improved with EAW/OP. IIRC EAW/OP was heavily fan influenced from the SFB crowd. Nothing wrong with SFC if you haven't played the others. This is computerized SFB and very subtle as far as tactics, energy management (very important), this is not arcade spaceship combat. Most SFB tactics transferred well. I.E "sabre dance" a Klink ship (maintaining speed 31, alternating disrupter banks, etc). GORN ANCHOR and so forth.

go to  http://www.9thfleet.com/opsstarfleetcommand.php then click on SFC2 library. That will give you a taste of these games. 

SFC Gold
Federation, Klingon, Romulan, Lyran, Hydran, and Gorn

SFC EAW
The above w/ Mirak (Kzinti), ISC, and more

SFC OP
Orion Pirates, X-Ships, and more.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 04, 2015, 11:44:09 PM
Quote from: Barrister on June 04, 2015, 03:03:48 PM
Where does it put the screenshots?

When you close the game there should be a pop up window with them, and a button "View in folder" or something that takes you to the directory.

Otherwise it's cryptic. E.g. my City Skylines screenies are in D:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\47007872\760\remote\255710\screenshots
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on June 05, 2015, 06:07:05 AM
Quote from: Barrister on June 04, 2015, 03:32:13 PM
Quote from: Valmy on June 04, 2015, 03:25:29 PM
Quote from: Barrister on June 04, 2015, 03:05:52 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on June 04, 2015, 02:52:03 PM
Quote from: Barrister on June 04, 2015, 02:20:32 PM
Okay, so the game is bad.  Not hilariously bad, just extremely boring.

Is there an easy way to take screenshots in case I can manage to turn it into an AAR?  Having to cut and paste into Paint seems like a hassle...

Not enough gaol?

This'll be the punchline of the AAR (assuming I do it):

[spoiler]There's not enough of anything.  You're a secretary.  You run around making photocopies and writing reports (which real secretaries don't do, but whatever).  And that's it.  Who the hell thought a legal secretary game would be entertaining?!?[/spoiler]

I thought you were supposed to ignore the work and sleep with the lawyers. Lame.

Well the dating part is just plain creepy.  As you do more tasks for the lawyers, your relationship with them increases.  At some point you can then ask the lawyers out on dates. 

Now, I know offices romances happen.  But I'd like to think I can have a high opinion of my assistant without wanting to get into her pants.

It's a dating sim.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on June 07, 2015, 05:07:36 AM
can anyone remember the name of this game...from the makers of Fallout, a zombie survival rpg/strategy. I think it was released not too long ago? Or perhaps its still in beta.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on June 07, 2015, 01:15:19 PM
Wasteland.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on June 07, 2015, 02:36:37 PM
I finally made the jump to FM15 and I can't stop playing it  :weep:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: PDH on June 07, 2015, 09:22:03 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on May 31, 2015, 10:52:14 AM
I've been wasting a good amount of time with this lately:

http://agar.io/

Fun little game.  Too many ganker-tard idiots, but still fun.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on June 10, 2015, 08:42:28 AM
Master of Orion nerds may want to check the Internet.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on June 10, 2015, 10:56:12 AM
Quote from: Tyr on June 07, 2015, 05:07:36 AM
can anyone remember the name of this game...from the makers of Fallout, a zombie survival rpg/strategy. I think it was released not too long ago? Or perhaps its still in beta.

Interplay hasn't really made any games in years.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on June 10, 2015, 11:00:04 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on June 10, 2015, 08:42:28 AM
Master of Orion nerds may want to check the Internet.

Meh - no one involved in the original is involved in making this new sequel.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on June 10, 2015, 11:01:56 AM
Quote from: Barrister on June 10, 2015, 11:00:04 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on June 10, 2015, 08:42:28 AM
Master of Orion nerds may want to check the Internet.

Meh - no one involved in the original is involved in making this new sequel.

http://arstechnica.co.uk/gaming/2015/06/master-of-orion-the-original-4x-sci-fi-masterpiece-is-being-rebooted/
QuoteAs well as enhanced visuals, Wargaming is promising a rebuilt user interface, a new score from the composer of the original game, new voiceover by "well-known actors," and new tutorials. Argentine-based NGD Studios, a relative unknown in the development world, is handling the reboot, along with "key members" of the original development team. NGD Studios' output has included several mobile games, as well as a top-down shooter and MMORPG for Windows.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on June 10, 2015, 11:03:03 AM
Quote from: Barrister on June 10, 2015, 11:00:04 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on June 10, 2015, 08:42:28 AM
Master of Orion nerds may want to check the Internet.

Meh - no one involved in the original is involved in making this new sequel.

Not entirely true, but that isn't really the interesting part anyway.

What I found interesting was that Wargaming bought the IP. They have a proven ability to actually produce games, so this is interesting to me, since I of course loved MOO and MOO 2. At least, it is as interesting as anything possibly can be when the sum total of what is known is almost nothing...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on June 10, 2015, 11:46:38 AM
The main riff of Orion is awesome! :punk:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on June 10, 2015, 11:48:37 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on June 10, 2015, 08:42:28 AM
Master of Orion nerds may want to check the Internet.

This would be a good reason for me to break down and get a home computer for gaming.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on June 10, 2015, 05:32:40 PM
The game will disappoint. There's no way a Master of Orion sequel (or any space 4X, honestly) will ever meet the sort of expectations people have developed since MOO2.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on June 10, 2015, 06:02:26 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on June 10, 2015, 05:32:40 PM
The game will disappoint. There's no way a Master of Orion sequel (or any space 4X, honestly) will ever meet the sort of expectations people have developed since MOO2.

Even if they just upgraded the graphics from MOO2 I would be happy.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on June 10, 2015, 07:49:42 PM
It better have the blue-skinned elf babes.  :mad:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on June 10, 2015, 11:09:08 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on June 10, 2015, 05:32:40 PM
The game will disappoint. There's no way a Master of Orion sequel (or any space 4X, honestly) will ever meet the sort of expectations people have developed since MOO2.

On the other hand, it's got to be better than MOO3.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on June 11, 2015, 01:27:59 AM
There have been lots of spiritual successors, but not have captured the same magic.  And honestly, as we age, that may not even be possible anymore.

And heck, I've got ideas stuck in my head of how the perfect MOO game would be, so nothing will probably ever live up to my fantasy hype.

I will be cautiously optimistic however. 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on June 11, 2015, 05:32:47 AM
Quote from: Barrister on June 10, 2015, 11:09:08 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on June 10, 2015, 05:32:40 PM
The game will disappoint. There's no way a Master of Orion sequel (or any space 4X, honestly) will ever meet the sort of expectations people have developed since MOO2.

On the other hand, it's got to be better than MOO3.

Fair point  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 11, 2015, 06:30:57 AM
Expansion for Total War: Attila

http://store.steampowered.com/app/343462/

Quote-   Huge new Campaign Map
-   New 'Expedition' faction with new gameplay features
-   5 Playable Factions with additional new Units, Tech and Buildings
-   A dramatic story-based, campaign challenge


The year is AD533. Within the last century, the Western Roman Empire has been wiped from the face of the earth.
However, the final bastion of Rome's glory lives on in the Roman Empire of the East; this still formidable power dreams fitfully of regaining its lost grandeur.
Emperor Justinian knows there is but one desperate gamble left - an ambitious and dangerous venture to recover what is rightfully his, to reconquer the West before all that Rome once stood for is lost to history. The task is Herculean, with barbarian kingdoms now established and thriving throughout the Mediterranean; there is only one possible man to lead such an expedition.
His father's former bodyguard, hero of the Battle of Dara, and the ruthless suppressor of the Nika riots.
Belisarius is the final hope of a dying Empire, the Last of the True Romans.

A Unique Campaign with New Gameplay Mechanics
The Last Roman Campaign Pack is an epic expansion for Total War: ATTILA, delivering a narrative, mission-based experience on a new, highly-detailed campaign map of the Mediterranean theatre.
Charging the veteran Total War player with the role of Belisarius and his Roman Expedition, you must reclaim Rome's lost territories from the savage, hostile forces.
The struggle to fulfil your duty as servant of the Emperor Justinian is brought to life by a series of new story events and missions. The Emperor, the Empress and your own wife, Antonina, vie for your attention, demanding arduous and often contradictory services. Completing these tasks will provide you with the men and supplies you need, but offending the wrong person will greatly weaken the fragile Expedition.
Alternatively, you might declare independence and attempt to re-establish the Western Roman Empire under your own banner, seeking glory and immortality away from the court at Constantinople.
Will you stay loyal to Justinian's vision of reclaiming Rome from the barbarians? Or will you follow your own path, establishing yourself as a new Emperor in the West?

New Campaign Map
The Last Roman's Campaign map is a vast and highly-detailed representation of central Western Europe in 533 AD, featuring 35 provinces across over 100 regions, including Italy, North Africa, Spain and France.

Playable Factions
The Last Roman offers five playable factions – the brand new Roman Expedition but also the Ostrogoths, Vandals, Franks and the Visigoths – each one featuring its own faction traits and new campaign starting-position.
The Vandalic Kingdom is threatened by rebellious Sardinia and the looming Roman danger, while the Ostrogothic Kingdom is hamstrung by its pro-Roman queen and the demands of an unworkable alliance. Both seek to solidify their borders and make the most of Italy's rich and fertile lands; but Belisarius' reputation precedes him, and they know a cornered animal will fight to the last.
For the Franks and the Visigoths, the return of the Romans presents an opportunity. Both are growing kingdoms, fuelled by youthful vigour and a thirst for conquest. Now, the time is right for them to expand; with the other great powers locked in conflict for control of distant Africa, Europe lies waiting - waiting for a new, greater empire to rise from Rome's ashes!

New Units
Alongside revisited unit rosters, the primary factions in The Last Roman also feature the following new units.
The Roman Expedition
-   Bucellarii (Guard Cavalry)   
-   Foederati (Sword Infantry)   
-   Skutatoi (Sword Infantry)
-   Antesignani (Sword Infantry)
-   Limitanei (Spear Infantry)   
-   Skutatoi Spears   (Spear Infantry)
-   Skutatoi Axemen (Axe Infantry)
-   Bucellarii Guard Axemen (Axe Infantry)
-   Cataphracti (Shock Cavalry)
-   Clibanarii (Shock Cavalry)
-   Bucellarii (Shock Cavalry)
-   Foederati Cavalry (Melee Cavalry)
-   Foederati Horse Archers (Missile Cavalry)
-   Hippo Toxotai (Missile Cavalry)
Vandals
-   Vandal Horsemen (Melee Cavalry)   
-   Noble Vandal Cavalry (Melee Cavalry)
-   Vandali Comitatus (Shock Cavalry)
-   Moorish Levy (Spear Infantry)
-   Noble Vandal Swordsmen (Melee Infantry)
Ostrogoths
-   Sagittarii (Missile Infantry)   
-   Elite Sagittarii (Missile Infantry)   
-   Ballistarii (Missile Infantry)   
-   Iuvenes (Melee infantry)
-   Milites   (Sword Infantry)
-   Spear Milites (Spear Infantry)
-   Milites Comitatenses (Sword Infantry)
-   Spear Milities Comitatenses (Spear Infantry)
-   Veterans (Sword Infantry)   
-   Spear Veterans   (Spear Infantry)
-   Domestici (Elite Infantry)
-   Scholae (Elite Cavalry)   
-   Comes (Generals Unit)   
-   Javelinmen (Basic Skirmishers)   
-   Noble Javelinmen (Elite Skirmishers)

New Technologies and Buildings
The Last Roman Campaign Pack features many new technologies and buildings.
The Roman Expedition displays a heavily modified Roman technology tree containing 20 new technologies and an entirely new Expedition-specific building tree.
If independence is declared, the Expedition's building options revert to traditional Roman styles, better suited to the ambitions of an upstart, usurping Emperor.
The other playable factions also feature new combinations of Western Roman and Barbarian technologies and buildings.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on June 14, 2015, 03:06:19 PM
Playing LEGO LotR. I'm not sure why Sam is tearing Hobbiton apart with a gardening tool, story-wise. But it's strangely relaxing. Now I know what it must be like to be an Irishman.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on June 14, 2015, 03:08:59 PM
Quote from: Barrister on June 10, 2015, 11:09:08 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on June 10, 2015, 05:32:40 PM
The game will disappoint. There's no way a Master of Orion sequel (or any space 4X, honestly) will ever meet the sort of expectations people have developed since MOO2.

On the other hand, it's got to be better than MOO3.

apparently it's supposed to be decent once modded to the hilt, but I never could be bothered to find out.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on June 15, 2015, 06:28:27 PM
I tried Moo3 modded. Nothing could save it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: PDH on June 15, 2015, 07:42:09 PM
MOO3 was the game without a soul.  It could suck the fun out of Mihali on speed.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on June 17, 2015, 05:12:10 AM
One worrisome thing is that it appears the new MoO is using the "starlane" movement feature.  I never have cared too much for that one, and MoO/MoO2 didn't use it (I think it was introduced in MOO3?).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on June 17, 2015, 03:05:54 PM
currently playing both the witcher (1) and strike suit zero.
enjoyable
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on June 17, 2015, 04:37:34 PM
So stardrive 2- much good?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on June 18, 2015, 04:17:36 AM
Quote from: Tyr on June 17, 2015, 04:37:34 PM
So stardrive 2- much good?

Don't know. Didn't dare pull the trigger since reviews were ass.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Alcibiades on June 18, 2015, 12:42:40 PM
Quote from: Tyr on June 17, 2015, 04:37:34 PM
So stardrive 2- much good?

Developer is a total tool, proceed with caution.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Alcibiades on June 18, 2015, 12:43:04 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on June 07, 2015, 02:36:37 PM
I finally made the jump to FM15 and I can't stop playing it  :weep:


Worth going to from FM 14?  Heard some quirky things/results...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on June 18, 2015, 04:50:00 PM
The results were at times bonkers prior to patching. Seems less so now.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 20, 2015, 12:41:33 PM
John Cena's Sexy Hich School Adventure:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHb-tVsRTHU

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.itch.io%2FaW1hZ2UvMTEyNjUvMzQ4NTcucG5n%2Foriginal%2FtBxW6K.png&hash=da26ba927c3010937476e85885a781e59adbc249)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on June 20, 2015, 01:14:53 PM
in between the other two games I'm currently playing there's now some Titan Quest too.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on June 20, 2015, 02:43:44 PM
Quote from: Syt on June 20, 2015, 12:41:33 PM
John Cena's Sexy Hich School Adventure:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHb-tVsRTHU

:)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on June 20, 2015, 02:48:31 PM
Witcher 3 has no QTE. It's a rhythmic slasher RPG, very close in spirit to the first one with better alchemy and inventory management, and more opaque skill trees. But damn, once you get your shit really upgraded- one shot kills of tough grunts in the final part of act 3 are just phenomenal. The fast attack branch is stupendous.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on June 21, 2015, 07:52:02 AM
Quote from: Crazy_Ivan80 on June 20, 2015, 01:14:53 PM
in between the other two games I'm currently playing there's now some Titan Quest too.

:wub:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 21, 2015, 03:09:54 PM
Installed the HD texture mod for Mass Effect. Looks surprisingly good. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on June 21, 2015, 09:31:50 PM
Where did you find it?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 21, 2015, 11:16:52 PM
http://www.moddb.com/mods/mass-effect-1-new-texture-updatesimprovements-mod

I downloaded the torrent version, and followed the included readme.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on June 22, 2015, 03:13:10 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on June 10, 2015, 10:56:12 AM
Quote from: Tyr on June 07, 2015, 05:07:36 AM
can anyone remember the name of this game...from the makers of Fallout, a zombie survival rpg/strategy. I think it was released not too long ago? Or perhaps its still in beta.

Interplay hasn't really made any games in years.
A lot of the same guys I mean, not same company
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 23, 2015, 12:44:43 PM
So Arkham Knight on PC seems to be craptastic - locked to 30FPS (though you can change it by editing the ini file), and shitty performance even on high end machines. 70% of 3300+ reviews on Steam are negative.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on June 23, 2015, 02:49:30 PM
Well, I'm glad I didn't run out to buy a video card for it then.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on June 23, 2015, 02:53:41 PM
Quote from: Syt on June 23, 2015, 12:44:43 PM
So Arkham Knight on PC seems to be craptastic - locked to 30FPS (though you can change it by editing the ini file), and shitty performance even on high end machines. 70% of 3300+ reviews on Steam are negative.

But terrible performance makes it more cinematic Syt!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 23, 2015, 03:04:12 PM
You know what else is shitty? If you pre-ordered on Steam you got Harley Quinn as playable character.

nVidia had a promo where if you bought certain graphics cards you would get Arkham Knight for free. Except you wouldn't get the pre-order bonus.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on June 24, 2015, 09:40:52 AM
I've never gave to a kickstarter before and it's not like they need my money but i am very tempted by shenmue 3
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on June 24, 2015, 04:37:33 PM
Haven't gotten enough forklift driving in your real life?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 25, 2015, 03:01:26 AM
WB stops selling the PC version of Arkham Knight: "We take these issues very seriously and have therefore decided to suspend future game sales of the PC version while we work to address these issues to satisfy our quality standards."

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/06/25/batman-arkham-knight-sale/

Also, a dev post on Steam said that the "recommended specs" for the game were meant to have the same performance as the console version, not for having everything maxed out (which is probably NOT something you want to tell rabid members of the Glorious PC Master Race).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: katmai on June 25, 2015, 03:36:33 AM
I plan to get Batman on console, just like i have the previous versions. Never crossed my mind to get the PC version.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on June 25, 2015, 03:48:32 AM
Quote from: katmai on June 25, 2015, 03:36:33 AM
I plan to get Batman on console, just like i have the previous versions. Never crossed my mind to get the PC version.

:console:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on June 25, 2015, 04:41:27 AM
Quote from: katmai on June 25, 2015, 03:36:33 AM
I plan to get Batman on console, just like i have the previous versions. Never crossed my mind to get the PC version.

This is why we can't have nice things.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: frunk on June 25, 2015, 06:59:38 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on June 25, 2015, 04:41:27 AM
This is why we can't have nice things.

Katmai carries a lot of weight.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on June 25, 2015, 09:09:04 AM
Quote from: Syt on June 25, 2015, 03:01:26 AM
WB stops selling the PC version of Arkham Knight: "We take these issues very seriously and have therefore decided to suspend future game sales of the PC version while we work to address these issues to satisfy our quality standards."

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/06/25/batman-arkham-knight-sale/ (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/06/25/batman-arkham-knight-sale/)

Also, a dev post on Steam said that the "recommended specs" for the game were meant to have the same performance as the console version, not for having everything maxed out (which is probably NOT something you want to tell rabid members of the Glorious PC Master Race).

Wow.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 25, 2015, 01:56:05 PM
Comment from Totalbiscuit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJ2wGmsdHBs

He argues that it's probably influenced by Steam now offering refunds, and possible pressure form nVidia who had a promotion that included the game with some of their cards. Also, that it should be interesting to see if the game owner numbers on SteamSpy go down, indicating refunds, and by how much.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on June 25, 2015, 02:40:16 PM
I mean yes it was something anybody with half a brain could see but that take on the Apple Confederate Flag thing was spot on.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 30, 2015, 12:33:22 PM
QuoteSECTOR is a classic shooter game that you play the role of Dimitri, he and ​​another scientists made fail biological tests and the infected enemies took possesion with technology evolution. Survive at this severe place, fighting against creatures and solve problems, now you need to place the order on earth.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on July 02, 2015, 03:25:31 PM
So, Legends of Eisenwald. Yay or nay?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 02, 2015, 11:07:41 PM
Quote from: The Brain on July 02, 2015, 03:25:31 PM
So, Legends of Eisenwald. Yay or nay?

If you buy it, let us know how it is. I was initially interested, but the Early Access reviews made it look medicore.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Alcibiades on July 02, 2015, 11:50:47 PM
Quote from: Syt on July 02, 2015, 11:07:41 PM
Quote from: The Brain on July 02, 2015, 03:25:31 PM
So, Legends of Eisenwald. Yay or nay?

If you buy it, let us know how it is. I was initially interested, but the Early Access reviews made it look medicore.

:yes:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 04, 2015, 02:17:31 PM
It seems upcoming platformer Cuphead takes its retro aesthetic back in time a whole lot further than just the 8bit era. :hmm:

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.icxm.net%2Fteam%2Fuploads%2FCuphead%2Fcuphead-bird.png&hash=fcf7aa71794f3c2102628f77543b8d7a7383e3ca)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.icxm.net%2Fteam%2Fuploads%2FCuphead%2Fcuphead-train.png&hash=d933d3de7da14f4bbad3b1673904278cb95492a6)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic2.tonight.de%2Fthumbs%2Fgal%2F13%2F17%2F06%2Fi_detail%2Fcuphead-screenshots-61713.jpg&hash=9ae4003471710c9edb4a4255c30daf366dbd4c6a)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic0.tonight.de%2Fthumbs%2Fgal%2F07%2F17%2F06%2Fi_detail%2Fcuphead-screenshots-61707.jpg&hash=a20a8bd576014cf131ede6cb54c53a1ce4fc6d6d)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on July 04, 2015, 03:35:22 PM
That looks really impressive
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on July 05, 2015, 11:56:18 AM
Quote from: Syt on July 02, 2015, 11:07:41 PM
Quote from: The Brain on July 02, 2015, 03:25:31 PM
So, Legends of Eisenwald. Yay or nay?

If you buy it, let us know how it is. I was initially interested, but the Early Access reviews made it look medicore.

I bought it. It won't start. YMMV
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on July 05, 2015, 01:41:37 PM
other places where people have played Eisenwald have these players range from "meh" to "enjoyable enough but the healing is ff-ing expensive and farmers suck..."
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 06, 2015, 03:35:03 PM
I decided to play minecraft again to see how much it has changed.
It lags like hell even on single player. :bleeding:
Fuck that shit.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 06, 2015, 10:29:23 PM
There's going to be a new and improved version for Windows 10.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Archy on July 07, 2015, 12:29:04 AM
Finished the Banner Saga.  It was very nice.  I'll play It again.  Final battle was rather easy though
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 07, 2015, 12:43:30 AM
Game marketing hint: if you want to get me interested in your puzzle game, don't use screenshots like this:

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcs622929.vk.me%2Fv622929869%2F18438%2FIsLDA5qBAH8.jpg&hash=9c81f1886ee403cb6743bec4153d6f195ad2fbb5)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on July 07, 2015, 10:52:16 AM
Out of boredom I'm doing a Crusader Kings 2 AAR.  IN AMERICA!  You will all see rise of the House of Raz and  the defeat of the Sioux!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on July 10, 2015, 05:14:24 PM
Quote from: The Brain on July 05, 2015, 11:56:18 AM
Quote from: Syt on July 02, 2015, 11:07:41 PM
Quote from: The Brain on July 02, 2015, 03:25:31 PM
So, Legends of Eisenwald. Yay or nay?

If you buy it, let us know how it is. I was initially interested, but the Early Access reviews made it look medicore.

I bought it. It won't start. YMMV

After a few updates I am now able to launch the game. Will give more info if I find the time to play a little. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 10, 2015, 11:36:02 PM
Blood Bowl II comes in September. I liked the first one, though in hindsight waiting for the last edition to come out would have been smarter - even though they gave hefty discounts for owners of the previous versions.

Anyways, the bullshit is already strong with this one. It starts with 8 races:
Humans, Orcs, Dwarfs, Skaven, Dark Elves, Chaos, Bretonnia, High Elves.

If you pre-order on PS4 you get the Lizardmen as bonus.
If you pre-order on XBone you get Wood Elves as bonus.
If you pre-order on Steam you can CHOOSE Lizardmen OR Wood Elves. Not both, because that would be silly and not force you to buy the other race as DLC.

For comparison:
BB1 started with 9 races IIRC.
Legendary Edition added 11 races, some new turfs, and owners of the original game got 50% off.
Chaos Edition only added a few races (3?), but you again got 50% off, so in total I think I paid 80 EUR over the course of 3 years, which is tolerable.

I would be surprised if new races for BB2 would cost less than 8 EUR, so bringing the total from the 10 at release (including the two pre-order races), to the 23 of the Chaos Edition would be an extra 104 EUR. (Even at 5 bucks it would still be 65 EUR.)

Yeah, I'll wait for the GOTY edition and keep playing the old version if I feel the itch.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on July 11, 2015, 05:31:17 AM
I have been owned so many times by "The Age of Decadence" (which looks really good), I am a bit tired of it.
Will try again, and post a short review.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 11, 2015, 05:35:22 AM
I've toyed with it, but I want to wait for the proper release before going in again. Kind of how I wait for Divinity Original Sin's Enhanced Edition before playing it again.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on July 11, 2015, 06:41:05 AM
Short review, about 2 hours of gameplay:

"The Age of Decadence" is probably more for the RPG purists than me. Me, I like stuff like "Skyrim".
The setting is highly interesting. Kind of a post-Roman Empire world. When you start out, you will be weak, so spend those skill points wisely. Picking your class is of importance too.
Starting off in some lowly town on the edge of everything, there's a quest you can't skip. Which is fine. I've died numerous times during it.
Once you manage to survive, what you do is kind of up to you.

Is it worth playing? The sheer ambition behind it makes it worthwhile. We're talking a huge world here. The combat system is fairly old-fashioned and turn-based. A tad easier than say "Pillars of Eternity" and recognisable from "Dead State" (another game from the same developers).
Graphics are less impressive than GTA V's, but not bad in any sense.

Character development will be key to your ultimate success. I like this game, despite it being in Alpha still. The finished article should be really good.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: sbr on July 11, 2015, 11:39:27 PM
Quote from: Syt on July 10, 2015, 11:36:02 PM
Blood Bowl II comes in September. I liked the first one, though in hindsight waiting for the last edition to come out would have been smarter - even though they gave hefty discounts for owners of the previous versions.

Anyways, the bullshit is already strong with this one. It starts with 8 races:
Humans, Orcs, Dwarfs, Skaven, Dark Elves, Chaos, Bretonnia, High Elves.

If you pre-order on PS4 you get the Lizardmen as bonus.
If you pre-order on XBone you get Wood Elves as bonus.
If you pre-order on Steam you can CHOOSE Lizardmen OR Wood Elves. Not both, because that would be silly and not force you to buy the other race as DLC.

For comparison:
BB1 started with 9 races IIRC.
Legendary Edition added 11 races, some new turfs, and owners of the original game got 50% off.
Chaos Edition only added a few races (3?), but you again got 50% off, so in total I think I paid 80 EUR over the course of 3 years, which is tolerable.

I would be surprised if new races for BB2 would cost less than 8 EUR, so bringing the total from the 10 at release (including the two pre-order races), to the 23 of the Chaos Edition would be an extra 104 EUR. (Even at 5 bucks it would still be 65 EUR.)

Yeah, I'll wait for the GOTY edition and keep playing the old version if I feel the itch.

Ugh.

There are so many reasons to do like you say and wait, and that has always been my stance: 


However enough of the people I play BB with are talking about pre-ordering and starting up new leagues with BB2 that I am not just wavering but likely to pre-order.  :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 12, 2015, 12:56:11 PM
Playing some Final Fantasy 14. Still in the n00b areas, and the game doesn't exactly re-invent the genre, but it's fun enough. One thing I like is that if you want to change class you just change your weapon in hand (though you have to start from Level 1 in all classes, and there's three n00b cities for three classes each), and there's skills that you can learn in one class and use in another, and dual classes. That's a long ways away for me, though.

Anyways. I'm playing a Lancer (melee DPS), and thought, "those armor sets look pretty reasonable!"

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs29.postimg.org%2Fmkdgwqqjb%2Fffxiv_12072015_194047.jpg&hash=ac13b0532138ee7c43b3b758b44588cd09c5c795)

Then I got my most recent upgrade for Leg and Foot armor (two items):

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs29.postimg.org%2F9u98jnil3%2Fffxiv_12072015_193905.jpg&hash=57d8992956c7d2aff3abf92b014a743309a2b6a5)

:rolleyes:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on July 12, 2015, 01:33:16 PM
:D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 12, 2015, 01:38:23 PM
Mind you, it got worse. These are all quest rewards (there seem to be no item loot drops so far, so items are either crafted or bought or earned as rewards).

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs21.postimg.org%2Fro8m5agif%2Fffxiv_12072015_203551.jpg&hash=82adb11a43018b379ad57e56d40cc52ae694e744)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 12, 2015, 02:12:46 PM
Though to be fair, I ran into a male lancer with the same gear and it looked the same. So no case of where the same armor looks like plate on a guy and like a bikini on a gal.

And a few quests later I'm back to more reasonable armor. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on July 13, 2015, 03:48:01 PM
Fuck yeah  :w00t:

http://www.engadget.com/2015/07/13/assassins-creed-lead-joins-ea-star-wars/

QuoteMotive's first project is the new Star Wars game coming from Uncharted series writer and Creative Director Amy Hennig. Raymond now also oversees Hennig's studio, Visceral Games, and she says Motive will "work in close quarters with the BioWare team," which is responsible for Mass Effect and Dragon Age.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on July 13, 2015, 04:02:43 PM
The Bioware part means they will share the same building until they find a better spot, presumably not that they will work together on the game.  Bioware Montreal needs one more year to finish Mass Effect: Andromeda and possibly one more year for support / DLCs for a sizable part of the team.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on July 13, 2015, 04:14:53 PM
Quote from: Syt on July 12, 2015, 02:12:46 PM
Though to be fair, I ran into a male lancer with the same gear and it looked the same. So no case of where the same armor looks like plate on a guy and like a bikini on a gal.

And a few quests later I'm back to more reasonable armor. :D

If you can't win in a g-string, when can you win.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on July 13, 2015, 04:23:55 PM
Quote from: viper37 on July 13, 2015, 04:02:43 PM
The Bioware part means they will share the same building until they find a better spot, presumably not that they will work together on the game.  Bioware Montreal needs one more year to finish Mass Effect: Andromeda and possibly one more year for support / DLCs for a sizable part of the team.

I'm more excited about the Uncharted writer writing a Star Wars game. Seems a match made in heaven to me.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on July 13, 2015, 05:11:43 PM
Opening a EA studio is the first step into closing an EA studio.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on July 14, 2015, 10:45:28 AM
I am very surprised I enjoy driving a huge truck around Northern Europe so much.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 14, 2015, 11:13:39 AM
Quote from: Norgy on July 14, 2015, 10:45:28 AM
I am very surprised I enjoy driving a huge truck around Northern Europe so much.

It's uncanny, isn't it? There's mods expanding the map out to Russia, Spain and around the Mediterranean.

Looking forward to the US version (which starts with California and either Nevada or Arizona, with more states to be added later).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on July 14, 2015, 11:16:58 AM
I find myself crashing into stuff because I enjoy the scenery so much.

Euro Truck Simulator 2 must have one of the biggest maps in gaming history. While there are just a few cities, just riding at 85 km/h in the countryside on dual carriageways is awesome.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Archy on July 15, 2015, 12:38:13 AM
I also love it.  Especially the new Scandinavian DLC.  I'm curious for the update in Hungary.  Most beautiful parts is the road to Bergen in Norway and through the Alps on a secondary road.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: katmai on July 15, 2015, 12:51:28 AM
You guys are weird.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on July 15, 2015, 02:00:13 AM
Quote from: katmai on July 15, 2015, 12:51:28 AM
You guys are weird.

Yeah...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on July 15, 2015, 07:24:50 AM
I love Euro Truck Simulator 2 too.  :blush:

Loved the scenery so much, on my first mission from Hamburg I missed a sortie and caught myself heading for the Danish border.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on July 15, 2015, 08:13:26 AM
Quote from: katmai on July 15, 2015, 12:51:28 AM
You guys are weird.

I cannot in good faith dispute that sentiment.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on July 15, 2015, 10:02:27 AM
Quote from: Drakken on July 15, 2015, 07:24:50 AM
Loved the scenery so much, on my first mission from Hamburg I missed a sortie and caught myself heading for the Danish border.

:o
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Archy on July 15, 2015, 10:06:22 AM
Off course for the total immersion you should learn Polish forget all other languages and don't wash yourself for a week
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on July 15, 2015, 10:35:42 AM
Also, drive in Norway with no snow tires while drunk out of your skull.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on July 15, 2015, 12:11:38 PM
When I want to experience driving...I drive. :o
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on July 15, 2015, 12:13:18 PM
Quote from: garbon on July 15, 2015, 12:11:38 PM
When I want to experience driving...I drive. :o

Is it a truck across northern Europe though?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on July 15, 2015, 12:16:01 PM
garbon = 300 lb trucker
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on July 15, 2015, 12:21:59 PM
Quote from: garbon on July 15, 2015, 12:11:38 PM
When I want to experience driving...I drive. :o

Good for you.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on July 15, 2015, 12:22:44 PM
Quote from: The Brain on July 15, 2015, 12:16:01 PM
garbon = 300 lb trucker

:o Proof!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 15, 2015, 01:34:05 PM
Quote from: garbon on July 15, 2015, 12:11:38 PM
When I want to experience driving...I drive. :o

Others might be more considerate of the environment. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on July 15, 2015, 03:44:12 PM
Most driving games are with muscle cars and about racing. I personally don't like track racing. I do, however, enjoy games where you are free to choose whatever you want to do.
Running fish from Szch... whatever Stettin is called now to Esbjerg or just driving at night on the Autobahn between Hamburg and Dortmund, an experience that would cost me quite a bit to do right now... why not.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on July 15, 2015, 03:46:39 PM
Quote from: Syt on July 15, 2015, 01:34:05 PM
Quote from: garbon on July 15, 2015, 12:11:38 PM
When I want to experience driving...I drive. :o

Others might be more considerate of the environment. :P

Fuck that shit. ;)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on July 15, 2015, 03:53:53 PM
Quote from: garbon on July 15, 2015, 03:46:39 PM
Quote from: Syt on July 15, 2015, 01:34:05 PM
Quote from: garbon on July 15, 2015, 12:11:38 PM
When I want to experience driving...I drive. :o

Others might be more considerate of the environment. :P

Fuck that shit. ;)

No wonder you left San Francisco.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on July 15, 2015, 04:27:59 PM
Quote from: Valmy on July 15, 2015, 03:53:53 PM
Quote from: garbon on July 15, 2015, 03:46:39 PM
Quote from: Syt on July 15, 2015, 01:34:05 PM
Quote from: garbon on July 15, 2015, 12:11:38 PM
When I want to experience driving...I drive. :o

Others might be more considerate of the environment. :P

Fuck that shit. ;)

No wonder you left San Francisco.

I don't know. After all, that's when I had a regular driving commute in my hybrid.../when I did the most riding around for fun.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on July 16, 2015, 12:39:43 AM
Quote from: garbon on July 15, 2015, 03:46:39 PM
Quote from: Syt on July 15, 2015, 01:34:05 PM
Quote from: garbon on July 15, 2015, 12:11:38 PM
When I want to experience driving...I drive. :o

Others might be more considerate of the environment. :P

Fuck that shit. ;)

Time enough for the earth in the grave.  :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on July 16, 2015, 12:40:26 AM
Quote from: Norgy on July 15, 2015, 03:44:12 PM
Most driving games are with muscle cars and about racing. I personally don't like track racing. I do, however, enjoy games where you are free to choose whatever you want to do.
Running fish from Szch... whatever Stettin is called now to Esbjerg or just driving at night on the Autobahn between Hamburg and Dortmund, an experience that would cost me quite a bit to do right now... why not.

Does it have Czech hookers DLC?  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: DontSayBanana on July 16, 2015, 02:52:30 AM
Quote from: Syt on July 14, 2015, 11:13:39 AM
It's uncanny, isn't it? There's mods expanding the map out to Russia, Spain and around the Mediterranean.

Looking forward to the US version (which starts with California and either Nevada or Arizona, with more states to be added later).

Is that a serious thing?  I love ETS2- it's obviously not photorealistic, but they've done an amazing job with the scenery they did put in; it'd be awesome to see what they do for US maps.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 16, 2015, 02:56:57 AM
ATS was scheduled for beta release in February this year - seems they're behind their schedule.

But it already has a Steam page: http://store.steampowered.com/app/270880/

Here's an hour of footage from V0.1 gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSUKlmqBJYQ

And here's the official webpage: http://americantrucksimulator.com/

I read on their dev blog that they were showing off the game to US truck manufacturers to try and get them signed up for licensing deals (kind of what they did with ETS2 - some companies joined late, like Mercedes; I think they've by now replaced the generic brands with the real counterparts on the game).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on July 16, 2015, 06:56:50 AM
Alot of people seem to enjoy these odd simulator games.  Maybe it's some kind of inner child that likes to pay with toy cars and trucks, but I've read about a lot of people who were skeptical of these games and once they played them fell in love.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 16, 2015, 07:07:45 AM
I guess the trick is to have a good simulation that looks good, but keeping it approachable. ETS2 has decent physics (well, not great, but good enough, and differentiating between well between trucks), but the entrance hurdle is pretty low. Here's a truck, drive from A to B. Controls are simplified if you want (I use an X-Box controller) or you can use sim controls with steering wheel, pedals and stick.

It's much easier to pick up than a flight sim, for example.

And yeah, there's some odd niches. OMSI2, for example, faithfully recreates driving a certain bus line in 1980s Berlin (RPS had several rather lovely articles about it).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 16, 2015, 10:10:01 AM
Now on GOG:

Warhammer: Shadow of the Horned Rat
Warhammer 40k: Final Liberation
Warhammer 40k: Chaos Gate

http://www.gog.com/game/warhammer_shadow_of_the_horned_rat
http://www.gog.com/game/final_liberation_warhammer_epic_40000
http://www.gog.com/game/warhammer_40000_chaos_gate
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: PRC on July 16, 2015, 11:55:24 AM
Big Darkest Dungeon update came out yesterday.  New classes, lots of tweaks... seems a bit harder too.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on July 16, 2015, 11:56:31 AM
Not playing again until release day, but the new class does look cool.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on July 16, 2015, 03:39:58 PM
Legions of Steel good?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on July 16, 2015, 11:43:05 PM
Quote from: Syt on July 16, 2015, 10:10:01 AM
Now on GOG:

Warhammer: Shadow of the Horned Rat
Warhammer 40k: Final Liberation
Warhammer 40k: Chaos Gate

http://www.gog.com/game/warhammer_shadow_of_the_horned_rat (http://www.gog.com/game/warhammer_shadow_of_the_horned_rat)
http://www.gog.com/game/final_liberation_warhammer_epic_40000 (http://www.gog.com/game/final_liberation_warhammer_epic_40000)
http://www.gog.com/game/warhammer_40000_chaos_gate (http://www.gog.com/game/warhammer_40000_chaos_gate)

Man, I don't remember Shadow of the Horned Rat looking that much like crap back 20 years ago.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 17, 2015, 12:37:12 PM
I never played Horned Rat, I have the other one though, Dark Omen, it was really good for a while...then it became impossibly hard.
Final Liberation was easy but AMAZINGLY GOOD. Closest we've had to a proper digitised warhammer table top game.
Chaos Gate- meh. Not so good.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on July 17, 2015, 03:15:18 PM
Congrats to Syt for figuring out the Flarepath Foxer last week.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 28, 2015, 11:58:44 AM
Here's something out of absolutely nowhere, a remake of SSI's Colonial Conquest: http://store.steampowered.com/app/341030/

Played that for hours with friends on C64. Occasionally it would bug out and get stuck in the combat phase.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 28, 2015, 11:58:58 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on July 17, 2015, 03:15:18 PM
Congrats to Syt for figuring out the Flarepath Foxer last week.

Thanks, I sometimes get bored at work.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on July 28, 2015, 01:18:59 PM
Quote from: Syt on July 28, 2015, 11:58:44 AM
Here's something out of absolutely nowhere, a remake of SSI's Colonial Conquest: http://store.steampowered.com/app/341030/

Played that for hours with friends on C64. Occasionally it would bug out and get stuck in the combat phase.

The sense of nostalgia is strong with this one.  This is the first computer game I ever played - hotseat on a friend's C64.  It is what made me want to get a computer for myself.   I saved and saved to buy my own computer except by the time I had enough money to buy one they were no longer selling C64s and colonial conquest was never ported from the C64.

This is probably going push me to make the computer purchase I have been putting off.  :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on July 28, 2015, 01:34:15 PM
Looking at that link, I also saw that there is a new Hegemony game coming out.  After my August vacation I might just have to ask Viper for some computer buying advice.  :cool:

http://store.steampowered.com/app/308173/?snr=1_5_9__300
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 31, 2015, 11:27:30 AM
Hey, there's finally! a platformer based on Manos - Hands of Fate:

http://store.steampowered.com/app/350780/?snr=1_4_4__122

QuoteHomages to all of your least favourite terrible movies and games!

:huh:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on July 31, 2015, 06:17:06 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on July 16, 2015, 06:56:50 AM
Alot of people seem to enjoy these odd simulator games.  Maybe it's some kind of inner child that likes to pay with toy cars and trucks, but I've read about a lot of people who were skeptical of these games and once they played them fell in love.

For me an odd simulator game would be being a captain on a submarine or a general.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: DontSayBanana on July 31, 2015, 10:44:34 PM
Quote from: Syt on July 31, 2015, 11:27:30 AM
Hey, there's finally! a platformer based on Manos - Hands of Fate:

http://store.steampowered.com/app/350780/?snr=1_4_4__122

QuoteHomages to all of your least favourite terrible movies and games!

Finally!  A videogame that's better than the movie it's based on! :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 01, 2015, 01:50:07 AM
Games Done Quick is currently running on Twitch.

Yesterday, I watched a guy complete TES Oblivion in under 50 minutes without going out of bounds (i.e. glitching through walls) and completing the story quests. Afterwards a guy did it in under 7 minutes, using wall glitches.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 05, 2015, 01:26:32 PM
WTF?

http://store.steampowered.com/app/359050

Quote"Shower With Your Dad Simulator 2015: Do You Still Shower With Your Dad?" is a fast paced shower-simulation where you shower with your 8-bit dad. It's good, clean fun!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on August 05, 2015, 01:54:39 PM
No Crunch option?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Archy on August 05, 2015, 02:01:51 PM
Quote from: The Brain on August 05, 2015, 01:54:39 PM
No Crunch option?
That's the asscrack DLC
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 06, 2015, 01:45:04 PM
New trailer for American Truck Simulator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ficMiV3AfuE
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on August 06, 2015, 01:55:23 PM
can you pick up hookers at the Flying J
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Archy on August 06, 2015, 01:56:13 PM
Quote from: Syt on August 06, 2015, 01:45:04 PM
New trailer for American Truck Simulator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ficMiV3AfuE
:drools:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on August 06, 2015, 05:22:44 PM
Quote from: Caliga on August 06, 2015, 01:55:23 PM
can you pick up hookers at the Flying J

Wrong thread.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 07, 2015, 12:51:59 AM
Victor Vran which has gotten decent (though not brilliant) reviews is getting a Motörhead expansion. :huh:

http://www.pcgamer.com/victor-vran-is-getting-a-motorhead-expansion/

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F4d663a369f9f03c3c61e-870e77779efd63f7bd6c2ee08d8cfae6.r2.cf1.rackcdn.com%2Fimages%2F0yREcrnN_7OW.878x0.Z-Z96KYq.jpg&hash=c1c9e8ea32945478fd7ca4dc2405cd706c356867)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fe5c351ecddc2f880ef72-57d6ff1fc59ab172ec418789d348b0c1.r69.cf1.rackcdn.com%2Fimages%2F93BSFVJpzDch.878x0.Z-Z96KYq.jpg&hash=354f6adf3c7edb2b620e78c9662f374821c5dafa)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on August 08, 2015, 04:56:30 AM
Quote from: Syt on August 06, 2015, 01:45:04 PM
New trailer for American Truck Simulator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ficMiV3AfuE

I came a little.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: schaksen on August 09, 2015, 02:59:54 PM
Quote from: Norgy on August 08, 2015, 04:56:30 AM
Quote from: Syt on August 06, 2015, 01:45:04 PM
New trailer for American Truck Simulator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ficMiV3AfuE

I came a little.
Looked good, the game that is. I hope the scandi expansion has a price drop once american truck driver is out i still havent bought that :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on August 09, 2015, 03:09:55 PM
The roads in Norway are :bleeding: between Oslo and Bergen. I'm a bit disappointed they didn't add a few more towns. The northernmost areas of Norway and Sweden are among the most scenic too.

I just had a drive from Bergen to Newcastle, and completely forgot about the left side driving in the UK. The trip was: Not very lucrative.  :Embarrass:
On a sidenote, driving through Jutland is just plainly boring.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: schaksen on August 10, 2015, 02:06:12 PM
Quote from: Norgy on August 09, 2015, 03:09:55 PM
The roads in Norway are :bleeding: between Oslo and Bergen. I'm a bit disappointed they didn't add a few more towns. The northernmost areas of Norway and Sweden are among the most scenic too.
Well I'll be sure to only buy if the price is right
Quote from: Norgy on August 09, 2015, 03:09:55 PMI just had a drive from Bergen to Newcastle, and completely forgot about the left side driving in the UK. The trip was: Not very lucrative.  :Embarrass:
I can imagine the headlines, "Continental lorry-driver spreads panic on the M1"
Quote from: Norgy on August 09, 2015, 03:09:55 PMOn a sidenote, driving through Jutland is just plainly boring.
Quite realistic then.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Archy on August 10, 2015, 03:39:30 PM
To be honest I adored the part between Oslo and Bergen off course I've never been there. I like it as much as the Alps. I concur though Jutland is boring.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on August 10, 2015, 03:48:25 PM
I want to make fun of this game, but it occurred to me that the gameplay is almost identical top what I've been doing in Elite: Dangerous - driving around dropping off cargo to different destinations.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on August 11, 2015, 03:04:14 AM
Quote from: Archy on August 10, 2015, 03:39:30 PM
To be honest I adored the part between Oslo and Bergen off course I've never been there. I like it as much as the Alps. I concur though Jutland is boring.

Let's say my driving is a little imprecise on small roads.  :blush:
This in turn becomes costly.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 11, 2015, 03:15:08 AM
Quote from: Barrister on August 10, 2015, 03:48:25 PM
I want to make fun of this game, but it occurred to me that the gameplay is almost identical top what I've been doing in Elite: Dangerous - driving around dropping off cargo to different destinations.

Plenty people tried the game, thinking it's a joke and came away really liking it. I can pleasantly zone out during the game while watching a podcast or YouTube stuff on the side, or listen to an audio book. It's really relaxing.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on August 11, 2015, 05:54:34 PM
I think I'm nearly finished valkyria chronicles.
Pretty fun small squad based strategic rpg set in a sort of fantasy ww2.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: schaksen on August 12, 2015, 02:41:26 PM
Quote from: Syt on August 11, 2015, 03:15:08 AM
Quote from: Barrister on August 10, 2015, 03:48:25 PM
I want to make fun of this game, but it occurred to me that the gameplay is almost identical top what I've been doing in Elite: Dangerous - driving around dropping off cargo to different destinations.

Plenty people tried the game, thinking it's a joke and came away really liking it. I can pleasantly zone out during the game while watching a podcast or YouTube stuff on the side, or listen to an audio book. It's really relaxing.
It's good clean family fun also, even though one sometime has to revert to an older savegame when the kids crash the newly purchased truck :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on August 13, 2015, 10:36:47 AM
I just went and cleaned up my HD of games which I barely touched, but that I left installed just because some time I might get to seriously play them.

I just freed 150 Gb  :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on August 13, 2015, 10:54:31 AM
:D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 14, 2015, 12:28:31 PM
Twitch plays Dark Souls. Previously, someone made a script where people could play a game by entering commands in chat. The first game played that way to completion on Twitch was Pokemon. Then a Metal Gear game.

Now the crowd mind is playing Dark Souls, which is a bit ambitious, I think. :lol:

17 hours in, they haven't made it out of the tutorial area yet: http://www.twitch.tv/twitchplaysdark
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 15, 2015, 02:10:42 AM
1 Day, 7 Hours in, they've made no progress :lol: The viewer numbers are down to a third of what it first was. My prediction: the group will boil down to a handful of viewers who will be able to coordinate enough to actually get moving.

Not sure how the delay between stream and chat is going to work out in a game like this that requires reactions within fractions of a second (blocking/dodging/parrying an attack for example) or you die almost immediately.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 15, 2015, 06:00:18 AM
*checks again* They managed to get back into character creation. :lol: :bleeding:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on August 15, 2015, 06:29:04 AM
I watched a bit of the Pokémon playthrough and it was an hilarious sight, I can't imagine it working one bit for Dark Souls :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on August 15, 2015, 08:43:44 AM
I watched for about 10 minutes yesterday (around 19h) and all they did was reload to the last save over & over.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 15, 2015, 10:22:50 AM
They made it back into the game, but yeah, they still haven't made it past the first bonfire.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on August 15, 2015, 10:28:02 AM
If they manage to uninstall the game: they win.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 17, 2015, 02:43:56 PM
About 4 days in, doesn't look like they made any significant progress (still in tutorial area, still in the pool that the viewers now worship and praise).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on August 17, 2015, 04:44:05 PM
I loathe Dark Souls with a passion.
Yes, I am prepared for losing and adversity when playing a game, but Dark Souls just wants to eat you alive.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 18, 2015, 12:19:01 AM
It actually reminds me a lot of the first Zelda on NES. You have almost no instructions, almost everything you meet wants to kill you, the non-hostile people you meet are weirdos living in caves giving cryptic advice, you have to figure out a lot of things for yourself through trial and error, you scour the landscape for secrets, and hope that the next boss won't kill you.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on August 18, 2015, 03:13:31 AM
Sounds like a Languish simulator. :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 20, 2015, 09:00:04 AM
So Twitch have beaten the first boss. Because the streamers have de facto turned the game into a turn based game :lol:

http://www.pcgamer.com/twitch-plays-dark-souls-beats-first-boss/

QuoteWhen Shaun told us last week that Twitch was playing Dark Souls he said that it would never succeed, but it's already managed to hit one milestone and beat the first boss.

As reported on the official Dark Souls Facebook page, thousands of users typing commands into chat managed to beat the Asylum Demon in six days and six hours.

There is a catch, however. According to Polygon, those responsible for Twitch Plays Dark Souls have modified the game so that it pauses for 20-30 seconds after each player character action, to give the users time to react to what's going on now rather than—thanks to delay—what happened half a minute ago. During the pause window, users type commands into chat and then the system counts them up and enacts the most popular when the game starts up again.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on August 20, 2015, 04:21:03 PM
"The Age of Decadence" is starting to annoy me hugely.
It's well-written, and I so want to enjoy it, but it is one of the least user-friendly games I have ever installed.
Arrrgh!
One more try.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 21, 2015, 01:14:23 AM
http://www.pcgamer.com/warhammer-40000-has-the-only-interesting-space-marines-in-games/

QuoteWarhammer 40,000 has the only interesting Space Marines in games

The fantasy universes of games often have the advantage of feeling familiar before you're even done with the character creation screen–plonk elves and wizards and orcs down in an approximation of medieval times and we're good to go. Then, once we're submerged in the water and comfortably backstroking, they can start showing off their unique twists on that formula. Games Workshop's Warhammer Fantasy setting is a perfect example of that: it looks as Tolkien as anything but then you find it's got Elric's cosmology and Blackadder's sense of humor and a heavy metal album cover's sense of subtlety.

In creating their sci-fi universe, Warhammer 40,000, Games Workshop pulled off the same trick a second time. Partly they did it by throwing elves and wizards and orcs in too–renamed Eldar and psykers and, um, Orks–but also by borrowing from popular sci-fi with a magpie's eye, taking from Aliens and Dune and 2000AD comics like Judge Dredd and Nemesis The Warlock. Among those borrowings are the Space Marines, which superficially fit the stereotype every designer who has read Starship Troopers puts in their games. At first glance they could just as easily be their equivalents from Halo or StarCraft or Doom: gruff men whose main job qualification is looking good in power armor and having jawlines you could chop wood with. But Warhammer 40,000 has been around for 28 years and, through multiple tabletop games, video games, novels, comics, audio dramas, and one terrible direct-to-DVD movie, accrued a rich background for every element of its setting, including the manly men of the Imperial Space Marines.

And every element of that background is weird as all get-out.

They shall know no fear, and also eat brains

Each Space Marine of the Adeptus Astartes has been genetically engineered and then modified further with surgery and hypnosis to be a post-human badass. They've each got a bit of DNA in them that, without going too deep into the backstory, comes from someone who is on the borderline of being a god and is certainly worshiped as one. They're not so much soldiers as fanatical ubermensch warrior monks organized into themed chapters with names like Blood Angels or Imperial Fists, and to ordinary folk they're barely human.

The religious fervor regular people of the 41st millennium associate these eight-foot tall supermen with occasionally comes across in the video games. In third-person action game Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, Captain Titus walks down a corridor full of injured Imperial Guard who regard him with religious awe. "I got to see a Space Marine before the end," one mutters. Their leader, an imposing woman named Second Lieutenant Mira, doesn't even come up to the meaty slab of his neck.

(Space Marines' height proved a tricky thing for games with FMV. Strategy game Final Liberation: Epic 40,000, recently re-released on GOG.com, looks like it has the actor playing a Marine in its gloriously cheesy live-action cutscenes standing on a box behind the ordinary human Commissar to get the scale about right.)

It's not just height and holiness that makes the Space Marines different. Each one has up to 19 new organs implanted into their tree-trunk bodies. If you've ever seen the episode of Invader Zim where he tries to pass as an Earthling by ramming bits of people's guts inside himself it's basically that: "More organs means more human!" They have a secondary heart, replacement ears, an extra kidney, ribs fused together into a bulletproof mass, "multi-lungs" that allow them to breathe in low-oxygen atmospheres and underwater–and these are just the start. Each chapter of Marines has different options from the pick-and-mix of new biological flavors, like the Betcher's Gland, which enables them to spit a blinding contact poison that's acidic enough to eat through metal, given time. Tragically, none of the video games have made use of that.

Oddest of all, a Marine's omophagea implant connects their brain and stomach so they can absorb genetic memories from living things they consume. It's the reason every second chapter has the word "blood" in its name and half the rest are called Soul Drinkers, Flesh Tearers, or just straight-up Flesh Eaters. In the novel Courage and Honour by Graham McNeill a Marine eats the brain of an alien Tau to gain the ability to pilot their skimmers past sentry towers, though he's not partial to the "oily taste and rubbery texture." None of the video games about Marines have let me gain skills through cannibalism. There's a unique hook for an RPG going unused here.

The galaxy's toughest psychopaths

According to the first edition of the Warhammer 40,000 tabletop wargame Space Marine cadets are "specially selected from amongst the galaxy's toughest psychopaths." Each chapter has a world they recruit from, choosing the young men who are best at killing and whisking them away. Those planets are never civilized places, they're feral murderworlds. The Space Wolves chapter recruit from Fenris, where literally everyone is a viking, and when they fly down and scoop up injured combatants who performed admirably in battle those warriors think they're being taken to Valhalla and a life of fighting among the stars, which is broadly true. Other chapters select kids from street gangs or warrior tribes but as it says right there in the rulebook: they're all psychopaths.

This is sort of reflected in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine by the way Titus gets his health back. While he has a regenerating shield just like Master Chief the health underneath that doesn't return–unless he executes his enemies. Titus feels better after gorily dispatching bad guys, stomping their heads into the ground or bisecting them with his chainsword. (Space Marines are guys who look at a chainsaw and think, "That should be balanced for parrying.") Their bloodthirstiness is sometimes their downfall, and the Dawn Of War real-time strategy games regularly depict this, with their Blood Raven chapter of Marines easily tempted into joining murdercults of the Chaos Blood God, Khorne, when they're not being manipulated into attacking potential allies because they'll happily kill anyone who looks different.

According to the Codex Space Marines (3rd edition) they're are kept in line by a strict timeline of daily rituals that begins with morning prayer at 4 AM and continues through a full schedule of firing rites, battle practice, and tactical indoctrination before ending with free time–a period that lasts for 15 minutes and is considered optional. When they're not flying across the galaxy to fight Orks, the Space Marines live strict monastic lives that are highly ritualized to keep them in line. According to Ian Watson's novel Space Marine these rituals includes testing the cadets by stripping them naked and branding their buttocks, in case the homoerotic subtext of these celibate orders of manly men living their entire lives together went past you. Somewhere out there I'm convinced there's a Space Marine battlecruiser called the Tom Of Finland.

That religious lifestyle comes with some odd superstitions. In the 41st millennium apparently we revert to a belief that technology is alive, possessed by "machine spirits" who can be placated through maintenance rituals using sacred oils. That's why in the Space Hulk games the Marines respond to weapon jams with prayers, and call hitting a gun to make it work again "administering the holy sacrament." In Dawn Of War II: Retribution the techmarine has the ability to bless vehicles so they perform better, and whether he's simply taking remote control of them or using a latent psychic ability to inspire actual machine spirits is left up to the player to decide.

More Warhammer games than ever are being made right now, and as usual most of them focus on the easy sell of the Space Marines. (I'd like to see their female counterparts the Sisters Of Battle get their own game; the war nuns have only shown up in a Dawn Of War expansion so far.) If we're going to have another dozen video games about the Space Marines it would be great to see more of those games engage with the fiction Games Workshop have built up around them, deeply strange as it is, rather than use them as generic spacemen with big guns. At least let them eat the occasional brain, that's all I'm asking.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on August 21, 2015, 12:33:50 PM
I agree with that.  The Warhammer 40k universe is great.  all those cracy people, fighting among themselves all the time, yet remaining a powerful factor in the galaxy (galaxies?).  Amazing.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Lettow77 on August 24, 2015, 03:45:15 AM
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.akamai.steamusercontent.com%2Fugc%2F423690028473488673%2FBB86274C950561D8B91EDD413F2D7B5E2AED5E31%2F&hash=257afb4d7ffc869d88555bb94c8b1586308c670f)

How am I supposed to play any further now that i've been stricken with images of the stern but fair Japanese cottonocracy of Kentucky and their neat and orderly plantations?



Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 25, 2015, 12:55:18 PM
Been playing The Talos Principle a fair bit. I've completed the first two worlds (except for the Stars) and am now in the third world. Fun puzzles, though not too taxing on my poor little brain. (I think the longest I've been stuck was an hour on one of the single player co-op levels).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on August 25, 2015, 01:35:11 PM
Ha ha got combat mission bb and ak running smooth as silk on win10.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on August 25, 2015, 01:47:52 PM
Quote from: Syt on August 25, 2015, 12:55:18 PM
Been playing The Talos Principle a fair bit. I've completed the first two worlds (except for the Stars) and am now in the third world. Fun puzzles, though not too taxing on my poor little brain. (I think the longest I've been stuck was an hour on one of the single player co-op levels).

Say hi to Cal.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 26, 2015, 09:46:03 AM
Elder Scrolls: Arena and Morrowind are now on GOG (Daggerfall is available for free on Bethesda's site). Also: Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire and Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard. Additionally, Fallout 1&2 and Tactics are back.

Doom, Doom II, Ultimate Doom, Quake: The Offering have also been added.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on August 26, 2015, 09:48:12 AM
Seems like I got Arena for free (legally) for free as well.

I just cannot get past the start dungeons in those games anymore. Games that tried to dazzle with graphics do not age well.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 26, 2015, 09:51:59 AM
The Morrowind complete overhaul does a good job of keeping that game looking decent (it actually looks now how it looked in my nostalgia addled brain: "Didn't this already look like this?" *checks old screenshots*  "Bloody hell!").

Morrowind stands out as the one game that blew me away when I first played it, in like the first hour. "I can pick up all these things? How much WORK was it to put it all there???" - "I can just, like, go anywhere and explore?" "Look at all them graphics!!!"

The combat has not aged so well, though. :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on August 26, 2015, 09:57:12 AM
Quote from: Syt on August 26, 2015, 09:51:59 AM


Morrowind stands out as the one game that blew me away when I first played it, in like the first hour. "I can pick up all these things? How much WORK was it to put it all there???" - "I can just, like, go anywhere and explore?" "Look at all them graphics!!!"

The combat has not aged so well, though. :(

Exactly my experience.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on August 26, 2015, 10:05:39 AM
Yeah, at the time Morrowind had more herbs than most RPGs of the era had enemy types. I was blown away too.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on August 26, 2015, 10:08:47 AM
Quote from: celedhring on August 26, 2015, 10:05:39 AM
Yeah, at the time Morrowind had more herbs than most RPGs of the era had enemy types. I was blown away too.

I loved the setting and the culture and all that. Daggerfall and Arena had interesting concepts but everything looked pretty fantasy generic.

But anyway I was talking about Daggerfall and Arena. Both were great looking at the time and I was especially blown away by Daggerfall. But man I can hardly go 20 minutes with either these days.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 26, 2015, 10:53:25 AM
Quote from: celedhring on August 26, 2015, 10:05:39 AM
Yeah, at the time Morrowind had more herbs than most RPGs of the era had enemy types. I was blown away too.
:P

Anyways, at the time, it was the biggest, most expansive game I had played, and a rather alien world to explore (the latter being a reason why I found Oblivion too generic). I hadn't played any Ultima game, though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on August 26, 2015, 11:02:35 AM
The kickstarter for Divinity Original Sin 2 is up: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/larianstudios/divinity-original-sin-2

Had loads of fun playing the first one, but I still haven't  broken the mental barrier that prevents me from paying for a game that won't be out for nearly two years.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 26, 2015, 11:06:44 AM
I still have unfinished: Divinity OS, Pillars of Eternity and haven't even started Wasteland 2.

All are scheduled for expansions or improved editions coming up soon-ish, so I feel reluctant to dive back into any of them. :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on August 26, 2015, 03:26:20 PM
Quote from: Syt on August 26, 2015, 11:06:44 AM
I still have unfinished: Divinity OS, Pillars of Eternity and haven't even started Wasteland 2.

All are scheduled for expansions or improved editions coming up soon-ish, so I feel reluctant to dive back into any of them. :(
Me too.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on August 26, 2015, 04:07:36 PM
I have backed D:OS 2 on kickstarter. I think I owe them that.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 28, 2015, 06:22:35 AM
The rumblings for WWE 2k16 start to sound good.

WWE 2k15 did some things to imrpove match mechanics but got rid of a lot of customization options.

WWE 2k16 promises the largest roster (120 at release, not counting any DLC). Additionally, a lot of the customization is supposed to come back (female wrestlers, shows, entrances ...). Endless reversals have been removed in favor of a limited amount of reversals (simple, or saving several to do a major reversal). They also promise an expanded career mode, a WCW mode, ...

PC version was originally announced along with console versions, but has since been removed from the game's page. I guess it will be a delayed release on PC again (15 on PC was released 6 months after console versions - but it included all DLC). Amazon still allows for pre-orders of the game, though.

Changes to the match engine here: http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/08/27/wwe-2k16-hands-on-wrestle-smarter-not-harder
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 28, 2015, 07:08:35 AM
Also, next week Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence comes to Steam, and it's going to be available in ENGLISH:

http://store.steampowered.com/app/392470/

The pricing, though:

QuoteLaunch discount available from September 1st, 2015. $49.99, $10 discount from the regular price of $59.99, will be applied for only 1 week since the launch. Additionally, the three scenarios will be offered as a bonus.
Do not miss this opportunity!

QuoteThe renowned historical simulation series returns with enhanced features in "Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere on Influence". Take the role of the legendary Warring States Daimyō (Warlords) such as "Nobunaga Oda" and "Shingen Takeda" to work your way towards unification by making best use of domestic affairs, diplomacy and battles against the fierce Warlord neighbors.

The latest installment has numerous enhancements and features to it's predecessor "Nobunaga's Ambition: Souzou" by expressing the Warring era's highlight, the "Battle of Sekigahara" in the highest quality ever to date in the franchise's history. Also the numerous in game procedures required in making progress towards unification has seen a major revamp in all areas.

- Recreate the "Battle of Sekigahara" your way:
Realistic as it gets, simultaneous strategy executions recreating a realistic battle condition. New systems are in place such as the "Alliance" command allowing you to join hands with other Warlords or "Corps under the command system" allowing you to take full control of the numerous unique Warlords under your command.
- Command your troops on the ever changing battlefields:
Battles has become more dynamic with new fields and situations being added requiring more tactical planning and troop controls than before.
- New scenarios and "Sengoku Chronicle" creating a dynamic Warring State Era:
4 new scenarios tracing the historical facts are in place such as "Birth of Nobunaga" (1534), "Battle of Sekigahara" (1600) with New "Sengoku Chronicle" seeing over 500 Officers being added to the character listing.
- New features based on player feedbacks:
Enriched game play experience with an enhanced edit features, new objects and Imperial Diplomacy to name some additions from the strong requests from our fans!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on August 28, 2015, 10:40:27 AM
Given the money I've paid to import the game from Japan, this price is a total bargain. You'd be foolish to skip on the 10% discount. Plus, for that price you get the PUK included.

I'm hesitating, should I stay with the original Japanese or buy the translated version? The latter will allow me to access all the DLCs, as the Japanese versions are region-locked. Plus it'll allow me to skip the whole translation issue. :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on August 29, 2015, 12:07:21 PM
I got an email from World of Tanks: "[Brain], do you like dogs?" :unsure:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 31, 2015, 12:16:29 PM
So this is on sale for €10.04 at 33% off on Steam:

QuoteKarmaflow: The Rock Opera Videogame is a puzzle platforming game. It is a unique spin on the traditional gaming experience. In Karmaflow, the game's story is presented entirely in the form of a rock opera, sung by some of the world's most talented rock voices.

Karmaflow tells the story of the Karmakeeper, and his journey through several worlds. Each world is protected by a Guardian. These Guardians are burdened by a heavy conflict, which rages in each world. The Karmakeeper learns what happened in each world by hearing each Guardian out, but also listening to their counterparts. In the end, he decides what happens to the world and its inhabitants.

Play as the Karmakeeper and actively decide the way the rock opera and its story progresses in Karmaflow: The Rock Opera Videogame. Puzzle and explore your way through five different worlds. Change the environment, change the music...

Key features:
- A unique blend of musical narrative and gameplay experience
- Extract from and infuse Karma to objects and beings to change their behaviour.
- An adaptive music system: your actions control the tone of the music.
- Music performed by international artists like:
Simone Simons (Epica)
Dani Filth (Cradle of Filth)
Marc Hudson (Dragonforce)
Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica)
Alissa White-Gluz (Arch Enemy)
Metropole Orkest (the world's biggest – Grammy-award winning – professional pop and jazz orchestra)
- Explore five different mysterious worlds. Meet all the characters. Learn about their conflicts. Your actions determine the fate of each world.

Reviews are mixed to crap, but the weirdness of it might be worth it?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on September 02, 2015, 12:41:01 PM
I wonder if there will be Austria/Hungary mods for ETS 2, taking into account how many refugees you can fit in your truck.  :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on September 02, 2015, 05:07:27 PM
Downloaded VtM Bloodlines from steam.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on September 03, 2015, 10:09:55 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on September 02, 2015, 05:07:27 PM
Downloaded VtM Bloodlines from steam.
Great game. :cool:

I think I heard that the Steam version incorporates fan mods that make it better, too, and clean up some of the plot holes.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on September 03, 2015, 10:31:45 AM
Quote from: Caliga on September 03, 2015, 10:09:55 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on September 02, 2015, 05:07:27 PM
Downloaded VtM Bloodlines from steam.
Great game. :cool:

I think I heard that the Steam version incorporates fan mods that make it better, too, and clean up some of the plot holes.
Thanks, good to know
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on September 03, 2015, 01:31:59 PM
I'd like something new to play around with.

Tried "State of Decay" but it wasn't for me, really.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on September 03, 2015, 05:12:12 PM
Quote from: Norgy on September 03, 2015, 01:31:59 PM
I'd like something new to play around with.

Tried "State of Decay" but it wasn't for me, really.

I have eyed that since it came out. Never pulled the trigger.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on September 04, 2015, 04:02:44 AM
Graphics are good, but the game isn't that much to write home about.
Too linear and scripted for my taste.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on September 04, 2015, 07:30:21 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on September 03, 2015, 10:31:45 AM
Thanks, good to know
Make sure you try the game at least once as a Malkavian. :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on September 05, 2015, 05:46:10 AM
I am tempted to preorder blood bowl 2 before the multiplayer beta starts next week
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on September 05, 2015, 11:19:15 AM
I wrote something fairly scathing about Telltale's "Game of Thrones" game. I retract that so, so very much. The storytelling is good and although I don't much care for the "gaming" aspects of it, it's fast become one of those games I can't wait to have the next installment of. Episode six will be rather sad, I suspect.

I also recently finished their "The Walking Dead" seasons. It tells a fairly harsh and ugly story (it is "The Walking Dead" after all), and I really loved Season 2 with Clementine.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on September 05, 2015, 11:22:05 AM
Well then I retract my scathing reply to your scathing review  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on September 05, 2015, 03:05:11 PM
I didn't quite know what I had bought. And I definitely wasn't clear on Telltale having more episodes coming.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on September 05, 2015, 09:12:37 PM
The Master of Orion site has been updated quite a bit since it's announcement...

http://masteroforion.com/

It's looking good so far, appears to be starting out with the standard set of original MoO races...and the Collector's Edition is going to have "evil" Humans (vs. the normal, peace-loving "Euro" humans).  And the developers have not ruled out brining in more races (referencing all the ones added in MoO2/3) later.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on September 06, 2015, 12:45:15 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on September 02, 2015, 05:07:27 PM
Downloaded VtM Bloodlines from steam.
It is awesome if unfinished.
The hotel is a bit of a low point though. :ph34r:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Jaron on September 06, 2015, 12:52:01 AM
I bought the Thirty Years War game from AGEOD on recommendation from Tamas. I'm not sure how much I like it yet. Anyone else giving it a spin?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on September 06, 2015, 05:57:44 AM
Quote from: Valmy on September 05, 2015, 11:22:05 AM
Well then I retract my scathing reply to your scathing review  :P

Did you play it, by the way?
I am curious as to what choices people made in the latest installment.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on September 06, 2015, 07:06:20 AM
Finished Spec Ops: The Line this weekend (the main campaign is pretty short, 8 hours long). That shit is... intense. Apocalypse Now in the sand.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on September 07, 2015, 05:09:39 AM
Hmm. I have that in my Steam library. Good god, I have a lot of games I haven't played in my Steam library.  :Embarrass:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 07, 2015, 05:11:31 AM
 :Embarrass:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on September 09, 2015, 09:01:05 AM
Quote from: Tamas on September 05, 2015, 05:46:10 AM
I am tempted to preorder blood bowl 2 before the multiplayer beta starts next week

AI still has no concept of time.  :(

Too bad because otherwise it looks gorgeous and plays nice.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 13, 2015, 02:57:13 AM
Quote from: Tamas on September 09, 2015, 09:01:05 AM
Quote from: Tamas on September 05, 2015, 05:46:10 AM
I am tempted to preorder blood bowl 2 before the multiplayer beta starts next week

AI still has no concept of time.  :(

Too bad because otherwise it looks gorgeous and plays nice.

Picked this up and joined the Stripdor Ladder League (run by Strippen and Crendor, two streamers/YouTubers I follow). Rolled a dwarf team called Beered Patrol (Fear the Beer!), and went into my first match against some Skaven, trying to get my bearings (been playing some BB1 again recently). In turn two I kill one of his players and he ragequits. If that's the kind of stuff that pisses you off you shouldn't play Blood Bowl. :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on September 13, 2015, 03:28:48 AM
:D

To be fair free to join leagues make it a viable min/maxing strategy to just conceded and throw away your newbie team and start over.

Luckily, it seems leagues can require spending of in-game currency to join, putting a limit on this. Such entry fees can be made into a prize pool too, AFAIK

Let me know if you find a good league Syt
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 13, 2015, 03:34:16 AM
For now I'm just oodling - game release is a bit away, and then the game really starts IMO (and all races available).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 19, 2015, 02:14:18 AM
So it seems Konami is indeed dropping out of the console/PC business and will now focus on mobile. And making pachinko machines of their old properties (Silent Hill, Castlevania etc.).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on September 19, 2015, 07:02:09 PM
There goes all hope of a new suikoden.

I was just thinking the other day about the dire state of the industry, particularly in japan. I miss Japanese games. Western games... So many shades of darkness gets old.
It must be very different to be a kid these days. Video games just aren't the big thing they were in my time, in their place is little mobile freemium quasi games :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on September 20, 2015, 07:14:28 PM
Want colorful? Buy a 3DS and enjoy the colorful Nintendo games.

You can also do it with a WiiU, there is just less games to do it with.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on September 21, 2015, 03:27:39 PM
I am thinking of getting a PSP as that seems to be where the most interesting Japanese things have been happening this past decade.

WiiU :bleeding:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on September 22, 2015, 06:56:41 AM
What's your problem with the WiiU?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 22, 2015, 04:12:29 PM
The WWE2k16 release roster is out. Ca. 120 wrestlers (without DLC), about 50 of which are from the Attitude Area or before (counting variants like two version of Sting or Steve Austin, and some wrestlers who are still active), which isn't too shabby.

Now if they could announce the PC release, at least. <_<
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on September 22, 2015, 04:22:30 PM
Quote from: Syt on September 22, 2015, 04:12:29 PM
The WWE2k16 release roster is out. Ca. 120 wrestlers (without DLC), about 50 of which are from the Attitude Area or before (counting variants like two version of Sting or Steve Austin, and some wrestlers who are still active), which isn't too shabby.

Now if they could announce the PC release, at least. <_<

I would buy a WWE PC game. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 22, 2015, 04:31:54 PM
WWE2k15 was released on PC, but I find it mediocre. They revamped the match engine a lot, and sacrificed a lot of the customization that was in 2k14 (where you could create own titles,TV shows and venues, had more controls over entrances, could create female wrestlers ... I had a classic WWF universe going on thanks to lots of downloads and adding original entrance themes.

I also have the PS4 version of 2k15, but its loading times are atrocious, especially in wrestler creation - PC performs much better, but for some reason they locked the parts of it (entrances, some camera angles during the match) to 30FPS while the actual match runs at 60. It's sometimes tricky to play when the camera changes and the game becomes only half as responsive due to framerate drop.

WWE2k16 promises to bring back more customization and more slots for custom content. They're also tweaking the match engine again a bit, to not make reversals unlimited - they're really striving to create a match flow as you would see on TV. I'll definitely follow it and see how it goes.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 22, 2015, 04:36:15 PM
Also, BB2 is now live. I played with my dwarf team (Beered Patrol) against Dark Elves and murdered him. Quite literally. He started out with possession but got stuck in my defense. Dwarfs being sturdy and all of them starting with the block ability can be pretty tough to crack. That stall turned into a bloody brawl. After the first half he could only field 5 players (2 knock out, 1 dead, 3 injured - one of the injured was also dead, but got revived by apothecary) vs. my 9. After I beat up his remainders at the start of the 2nd half (and I had ball possession) he conceded the match. I have one dwarf on the disabled list with a smashed hand but no long term damage.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on September 23, 2015, 03:44:59 AM
I wanted to train myself in using High Elves. I love my Skaven but I think they kind of stopping me from advancing in tactics past a certain point.

Anyways I have started a solo league against the AI, and have yet to not win in 3 games. It clearly has some pretty good tactical moves and formations stored in its scripts, but it has next to zero strategic forward-thinking. In fact I think it has zero. As such, you need to be both bad and unlucky to really run the risk of losing against it.

Too bad. But considering it doesn't take that much longer to play a human than the AI, I can live with MP
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 23, 2015, 03:59:17 AM
Yeah, I will try to stick with MP for now, though supposedly the campaign is better this time. I picked dwarfs because they're sturdier than the other races and having block in a new team is just so good. And they work well with my play style - I prefer running game over passing game, and while dwarfs are slow they can grind opponents down fairly well to score late winning TDs.



Speaking of sports games - NBA 2k16 is coming out soon. I'm not interested in basketball, but this bit caught my eye:

Featuring an all-new MyCAREER experience written, directed and produced by acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee.
:huh:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on September 23, 2015, 07:25:53 AM
What games are you guys talking about?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 23, 2015, 07:26:54 AM
Blood Bowl 2. I think.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on September 23, 2015, 07:52:07 AM
Yes :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on September 23, 2015, 03:20:26 PM
Quote from: Syt on September 22, 2015, 04:36:15 PM
Also, BB2 is now live.

How is the multiplayer?  Can we get enough people to try a Languish League? :hmm:  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on September 23, 2015, 03:55:25 PM
Quote from: Syt on September 22, 2015, 04:36:15 PM
Also, BB2 is now live. I played with my dwarf team (Beered Patrol) against Dark Elves and murdered him. Quite literally. He started out with possession but got stuck in my defense. Dwarfs being sturdy and all of them starting with the block ability can be pretty tough to crack. That stall turned into a bloody brawl. After the first half he could only field 5 players (2 knock out, 1 dead, 3 injured - one of the injured was also dead, but got revived by apothecary) vs. my 9. After I beat up his remainders at the start of the 2nd half (and I had ball possession) he conceded the match. I have one dwarf on the disabled list with a smashed hand but no long term damage.

Started a High Elf team in the big open MP league. Got a dwarf opponent.

I got quite unlucky and lost the ball on his endzone early, then fought for a draw first half.

I thought I would have a murderous time to defend it to draw in second half, but the guy while clearly having a good idea on how to play dwarves, got into what seems to be a common theme with rookie bashy team coaches: got mesmerised by all the brawling and made stupid risky attacks before doing risk-free positional moves.

I won 2-0 ^_^
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 24, 2015, 12:26:11 AM
Lost 1-0 against Skaven yesterday. Mostly because I
- am very rusty still
- I decided to run the ball on the sideline and couldn't get away before getting pushed off field
- he played good defense, blocking a few key players but keeping a defensive line a square away from me - can't really dodge past him, and only few options to open a corridor

I killed two of his players, though, and injured one for permanent damage, so I consider it a moral victory. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 24, 2015, 08:05:53 AM
This is so true. As popular as the pixel aesthetic is for indie games (and I don't have anything against it per se), they fail to take into account what those pixels looked like on a CRT screen.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FPq2Yra4.png&hash=7e5bdb0db4db9c168c554da5922beedc1b0a15c1)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on September 24, 2015, 08:06:41 AM
Ah and I won 2-1 against an Orc team. Which I am happy for considering he managed more successful dodges and passes than I did. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on September 24, 2015, 02:07:57 PM
Quote from: Syt on September 24, 2015, 08:05:53 AM
This is so true. As popular as the pixel aesthetic is for indie games (and I don't have anything against it per se), they fail to take into account what those pixels looked like on a CRT screen.

(http://i.imgur.cq2yra4.png)
Yeah, modern retro is just so....smooth. And nice.
But I do prefer it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on September 24, 2015, 05:39:04 PM
Matrix has released the Campaign Series: Middle East 1948-1985.

I might get it for a lightweight distraction. However, IIRC the series East Front II, West Front, Rising Sun did not model command and control well. I'll have to pull the Rising Sun Manual from the downstairs tomb to check.

(https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/11990431_988634311157453_2519809662725366774_n.jpg?oh=27575aee66c9be0aa096b373c20e4924&oe=569EB312)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on September 24, 2015, 07:36:12 PM
Galciv III is on sale, -50%.  Good time to buy it if you want it, but I wouldn't call it ready to play yet.  Maybe in a week or two, when patch 1.4 comes out.   Until then, chances are you'll encounter a broken AI.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on September 25, 2015, 04:55:09 AM
Sorcerer King is on sale too. Worth getting?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Duque de Bragança on September 25, 2015, 05:07:54 AM
Quote from: Syt on September 24, 2015, 08:05:53 AM
This is so true. As popular as the pixel aesthetic is for indie games (and I don't have anything against it per se), they fail to take into account what those pixels looked like on a CRT screen.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FPq2Yra4.png&hash=7e5bdb0db4db9c168c554da5922beedc1b0a15c1)

Yeah, sometimes game advertised as 8-bit styled, yet even a Megadrive would not have such fine graphics, much less a Nec PC Engline.
Pixels look way worse on flat screens displays than CRTs, without even the connection quality (SCART/RGB/composite etc.) That's the real problem with retro gaming, try hooking up a Super Nintendo or even an old Playstation on a modern TV. Nothing an old CRT or a scaler for the pesky 240p resolution plus scanlines can't solve though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 26, 2015, 03:40:17 AM
Been watching a few FIFA 16 videos. My general impression was that it doesn't look great, and that some of the animations were off (bad transitions, or players looking wooden).

Then I looked at NBA 2k16: https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=5&v=-5P1HTI_WdI

Why can't EA Sports games look like that? Can't be for lack of money.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on September 26, 2015, 07:04:37 AM
Actually it is. Only Madden gets a full budget.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on September 26, 2015, 11:34:17 AM
Says PC games but dammit I'll talk about console games anyway.
I've finally got around to playing "The Last of Us".  I was assured that it wasn't scary and was more post-apocolyptic so I've gave it a go.
I give it big plus points for a interesting setting and a nice story, design, etc... I would like to see a film of this.
The game itself....its level based structure is very visible, I have to think it is intentional that they want the splits to be so visible in this way. Quite nice to have it so neatly split into encounters.
Much of the game plays a bit like Commandos, but 3rd person action based.  The shooting sucks, its way too hard to aim with a control pad, but then I guess that fits in well with a setting where you really shouldn't be looking for a fight.
Problems...it gets very frustrating in places. There was one part in the subway- I knew where some good loot was but I always ended up dying after collecting it. So I kept having to repeat the same loot collection process. Its a bit annoying. The balance of checkpoints is a little bit too spaced out, though not massively so.
A big nit pick I have though....given the game's story/setting....is this stealth based asssaination gameplay really fitting? Many of the enemies are infected. They have a highly infectious zombiesque virus. And your main character is going around without much protection strangling them.
And then when stealth fails and you get into hand to hand....especially with the clickers...so much infected blood and shroom spores must be being released into the air.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 26, 2015, 01:44:36 PM
So I rolled a new Chaos team in Blood Bowl 2 and played against a new dwarf team. My opponent scored a TD in the first half, but I managed to injure two of his players on his drive, and two more after kick off. He then said there was no point continuing the match, and hoped I enjoy the SPP (player XP). But instead of conceding he disconnected, so I had to sit and wait for 3 minutes till the game timed out and I got the win.  :rolleyes:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on September 28, 2015, 07:27:41 AM
The internet equivalent of taking his ball and going home.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 29, 2015, 01:13:51 PM
Jotun is out on Steam:

http://store.steampowered.com/app/323580/

QuoteJotun is a hand-drawn action-exploration game set in Norse mythology.

In Jotun, you play Thora, a Viking warrior who died an inglorious death and must prove herself to the Gods to enter Valhalla.

Explore vast regions of Norse Purgatory to find runes to unleash the jotun, giant Norse elementals. Fight them using only your massive two-handed axe, the blessings of the Gods and your skills!

Impress the Gods!

Features
- Experience beautiful hand-drawn animation
- Fight five epic jotuns, giant Norse elementals
- Explore nine vast and mysterious levels filled with Viking mythology
- Learn about Thora's life and death in an overarching story
- Summon powers bestowed upon you by the Viking Gods
- Hear authentic Icelandic voice-overs
- Listen to an amazing original soundtrack, specifically composed for every gameplay moment by Max LL

I've watched previews of this, and it looks absolutely gorgeous.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on September 29, 2015, 10:19:58 PM
 :)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/webeharebrained/battletech
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: katmai on September 29, 2015, 10:44:24 PM
Just picked up Franchise Hockey Manager 2 from creators of OOTP.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on September 29, 2015, 10:45:26 PM
Quote from: Tonitrus on September 29, 2015, 10:19:58 PM
:)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/webeharebrained/battletech

Ooooh classic Battletech. Nice.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 30, 2015, 08:49:36 AM
Quote from: katmai on September 29, 2015, 10:44:24 PM
Just picked up Franchise Hockey Manager 2 from creators of OOTP.

I seem to recall their first attempt was not so good. Let us know how this one is. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Alcibiades on September 30, 2015, 09:45:06 AM
Quote from: katmai on September 29, 2015, 10:44:24 PM
Just picked up Franchise Hockey Manager 2 from creators of OOTP.

Reviews looked decent, how is it?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: katmai on September 30, 2015, 01:24:52 PM
Going to try a historical game starting in 1942 with Big six and then jump into a current year mode as well. Will let you guys know by Saturday (as steam has a 25% off till October 5th)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 30, 2015, 03:11:24 PM
The different gaming personalities you meet in Blood Bowl are interesting.

Game 1, I foul a grounded opponent and kill him. Me: "Ouch, sorry." He: "No worries, part of the game."

Game 2, I foul a grounded opponent and injure him. Me: "Sorry about that." He: WTF? Why are you fouling! You fucking dickhole!"

To be fair, the first guy was pretty relaxed and good humored, the second guy was whining about every failed roll of his and every successful roll of mine (I did pull some crazy shit like dodging out of enemy control zones, picking up the ball, handing it off, running up the field, passing it to a minotaur who then with two "go for it" steps (extending movement at chance of tripping) made it into the endzone - in one turn without re-roll).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on September 30, 2015, 03:40:03 PM
Quote from: Syt on September 30, 2015, 03:11:24 PM
He: WTF? Why are you fouling! You fucking dickhole!"

...it's Blood Bowl.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on September 30, 2015, 04:31:42 PM
Just because the rules allow it you think it's fine to do it? Do you rape and kill the help when you visit Saudi Arabia? :huh:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 01, 2015, 02:22:03 AM
Quote from: Habbaku on September 30, 2015, 03:40:03 PM
Quote from: Syt on September 30, 2015, 03:11:24 PM
He: WTF? Why are you fouling! You fucking dickhole!"

...it's Blood Bowl.

I told him all's fair in love and Blood Bowl. He was significantly more quiet after that. I don't mind chatting with my opponent, but he was whining/bitching all the time before that about how the RNG sucks and he's never lucky and I had all the good rollls and how life was against him ....

I approach Blood Bowl with a detached attitude. I expect the worst from my rolls and the best from the opponents. I'm happy when a bullshit play works (for me or my opponent), and I take nothing the game or the opponent does personally. The game is designed to be very random. I've pulled off risky moves on first try on one turn only to roll into triple skulls (with re-roll!) on the next, killing my own player. It's just what happens. As the commentary in the first game said: In Blood Bowl there's no winners, only survivors.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 01, 2015, 03:37:43 AM
I am the same with it Syt and having good fun.

That said, my opponents have been mostly rather newbies even compared to me. And Bretonnians. Since the weekend I have had around 10 games. 7, and I kid you not, have been against Bretonnians.

They made mincemeat out of my Skaven but then I switched to a Wood Elf team and found my calling.

Most of my opponents wanted to play the ball instead of trampling my guys into the ground first and it was bound to not work out for them. Except for one of the Bretonnian players who was pretty good, and beat me.

Still, 5 wins and 1 defeat so far ^_^

This game is fun.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 01, 2015, 10:24:49 AM
Heroes of Normandie is out ^_^

http://store.steampowered.com/app/365890/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on October 01, 2015, 11:08:31 AM
A sensible price point? WTF?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 01, 2015, 11:45:43 AM
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Freplygif.net%2Fi%2F1471.gif&hash=92add94f7b5b613c7dc85bc8673911ba52168fc8)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on October 01, 2015, 01:53:12 PM
Quote from: Tamas on October 01, 2015, 10:24:49 AM
Heroes of Normandie is out ^_^

http://store.steampowered.com/app/365890/

It looks good. 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on October 02, 2015, 02:46:19 PM
So glad this got funded. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kingartgames/the-dwarves-a-new-storydriven-fantasy-rpg/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: PDH on October 03, 2015, 10:09:41 AM
Quote from: Tamas on October 01, 2015, 10:24:49 AM
Heroes of Normandie is out ^_^

http://store.steampowered.com/app/365890/

Looks fun, if a bit light (intentionally so).  Tamas, How much time can one get out of this?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 03, 2015, 10:22:11 AM
Quote from: PDH on October 03, 2015, 10:09:41 AM
Quote from: Tamas on October 01, 2015, 10:24:49 AM
Heroes of Normandie is out ^_^

http://store.steampowered.com/app/365890/

Looks fun, if a bit light (intentionally so).  Tamas, How much time can one get out of this?

There is a good amount of content IMHO. Altogether 36 campaign missions (US, Germans, Brits), 12 "rogue" missions which is a kind of campaign but very steep difficulty and carry over forces, a bunch of skirmish maps (would need to look up exactly how much) plus multiplayer which is fairly easy to handle.

And we are working on more content. More multiplayer maps, a Brit "rogue" campaign, plus the boardgame has tons of expansions we can convert to the computer version if the sales are good.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on October 03, 2015, 02:54:48 PM
is there a discount for swedes
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 04, 2015, 02:58:52 AM
Quote from: The Brain on October 03, 2015, 02:54:48 PM
is there a discount for swedes

There is 33% launch discount for everyone :p
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on October 07, 2015, 03:23:20 AM
Prison Architect is finally out and it looks like they had quite a few things (including a prison break mode) that they held back from the alphas.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 07, 2015, 11:32:02 AM
Transformers: Devstation is out to positive initial impressions: http://store.steampowered.com/app/338930/?snr=1_4_4__122

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.akamai.steamstatic.com%2Fsteam%2Fapps%2F338930%2Fss_86cce1065e92b85c7cf09251896ba27e4310ec92.1920x1080.jpg&hash=c42fa798aeac5ccca1702706ea5e7b3ca9fef22e)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.akamai.steamstatic.com%2Fsteam%2Fapps%2F338930%2Fss_b96f1ab7e421b186dabefb2dda8531cc754818a4.1920x1080.jpg%3Ft%3D1444151114&hash=e8dad6254b4dff12cc23b79d1232806ada09cf87)

QuoteThe TRANSFORMERS are back, and this time they're in the hands of acclaimed developer PlatinumGames, who have combined their over-the-top brawler action with comic book inspired art to create a TRANSFORMERS game like none other.

Surprise the enemy: PlatinumGames signature fast action allows instant robot to vehicle attacks, slam downs, counterattacks, and infinite combos for to create a unique master combat system.
Five playable AUTOBOTS: Wreak havoc on the DECEPTICONS as OPTIMUS PRIME, BUMBLEBEE, SIDESWIPE, WHEELJACK and GRIMLOCK.
Actors from the original TV series: Reprising their roles are Peter Cullen (OPTIMUS PRIME), Dan Gilvezan (BUMBLEBEE), Frank Welker (MEGATRON and SOUNDWAVE), and more.
Play again and again: 5 difficulty levels with overhauls in enemy composition, combined with a deep customization system, means hours of intense gameplay.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 07, 2015, 12:00:06 PM
Ok, this looks pretty awesome: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5M7dcZKahis
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 09, 2015, 11:34:06 AM
EU3, Wolfenstein 3d and Spear of Destiny, Quake 2&3, and Return to Castle Wolfenstein are now on GOG.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on October 09, 2015, 11:36:31 AM
Wait they got Frank Welker to play Megatron? Well now that changes things.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 09, 2015, 11:56:40 AM
Quote from: Valmy on October 09, 2015, 11:36:31 AM
Wait they got Frank Welker to play Megatron? Well now that changes things.

And Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime. You can watch them in the Jim Sterling video I've linked.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on October 09, 2015, 12:38:13 PM
Ok that guy sounds a bit like Chris Latta.

Wait Vince DiCola does the music? Ok holy shit this game was obviously made for us 80s kids. I will have to pick up this one.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 09, 2015, 01:45:29 PM
Yeah, it's Fan Service - The Game.

It's reported to be short, though (but with challenge modes and stuff).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on October 09, 2015, 01:54:04 PM
Quote from: Syt on October 09, 2015, 01:45:29 PM
Yeah, it's Fan Service - The Game.

It's reported to be short, though (but with challenge modes and stuff).

That's fine. Looks like something fun to play with my son.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 09, 2015, 02:06:00 PM
Speaking of fan service, here's a free He-Man game, using art and sounds from the animated series: http://gamejolt.com/games/he-man/19434# ;)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on October 09, 2015, 02:10:29 PM
There are some things not even childhood nostalgia can make good  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on October 10, 2015, 01:44:24 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RUz80MUK_s

"First Look" video for the new MoO.  I must say, it only makes me more pessimistic.  Even looking past that the robot newsreaders are annoying to the extreme...if that is the gameplay combat they're showing, the game is looking to be barely more than a graphically redressed MoO2 with space combat dumbed down to an smartphone/tablet app level.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on October 10, 2015, 04:37:28 PM
Quote from: Tonitrus on October 10, 2015, 01:44:24 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RUz80MUK_s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RUz80MUK_s)

"First Look" video for the new MoO.  I must say, it only makes me more pessimistic.  Even looking past that the robot newsreaders are annoying to the extreme...if that is the gameplay combat they're showing, the game is looking to be barely more than a graphically redressed MoO2 with space combat dumbed down to an iOS app level.

Yeah, I was under impressed.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 24, 2015, 01:35:52 PM
I finished the Last of Us. It was very good.
Funny to read internet comments about it though, so many ass burgers kids failing to get the actual story.

Next  I think I'll finally play Mass Effect 3 on my PC.
Are any of the DLC worth it?
Hope my ME2 save is still on my computer.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: MadImmortalMan on October 27, 2015, 09:53:07 PM
I just realized, from a youtube video of it, that Goat Simulator is actually not a game about raising goats like on a farm, but being a goat and fucking up everything in the neighborhood.  :P

Could be fun, for like six minutes.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on October 28, 2015, 02:43:15 AM
Been playing some Vermintide. It's OK.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on October 28, 2015, 10:46:18 AM
Rebel Galaxy is a shitload of fun. Best played with controller. 2d space sim (all on the horizontal plane). Reminds me of the first Privateer, or Freelancer if Freelancer weren't so fucking precious.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 28, 2015, 11:49:52 AM
Mass Effect 3- I loved the first two when I played them...4+ years ago.
Now with this...meh. There doesn't seem to be all that much gameplay in it. Just...follow linear path, point and shoot, talk, limited decisions...
I do hate that I was punished on one mission for not having bought DLC for ME2.
Nonetheless the story seems nice, despite having forgotten the details of earlier ones, and I've bought my first ever DLC.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on October 29, 2015, 05:56:18 AM
Is عالم أريب any good?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: schaksen on October 29, 2015, 06:01:55 AM
Quote from: The Brain on October 29, 2015, 05:56:18 AM
Is عالم أريب any good?
WTF?
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=305916566
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 29, 2015, 06:25:47 AM
Arabic Mega Man MMO? I've seen worse concepts.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 29, 2015, 04:09:57 PM
Jesse Cox playing "Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes" with TotalBiscuit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-krReNnkW6I

An example of highest difficulty - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BhHkvHcUfo (Though I guess you appreciate the level of coordination once you've seen people stumble through the easy ones for the first time :lol: )

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on October 29, 2015, 08:15:53 PM
Quote from: Syt on October 29, 2015, 06:25:47 AM
Arabic Mega Man MMO? I've seen worse concepts.

Is it wrong that the first thing I thought of was "I wonder who represents the evil Israeli's in this game world"?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on October 29, 2015, 09:24:43 PM
Quote from: Syt on October 29, 2015, 04:09:57 PM
Jesse Cox playing "Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes" with TotalBiscuit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-krReNnkW6I

An example of highest difficulty - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BhHkvHcUfo (Though I guess you appreciate the level of coordination once you've seen people stumble through the easy ones for the first time :lol: )



That is really, really cool.

I really like some of the very neat ideas people are coming up with.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 30, 2015, 03:47:58 AM
It was originally a VR game for Oculus Rift. The design tries to turn the limitation of VR (only one person wears the goggles) into a strength for a cooperative experience that can involve more than one player in the same room.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Legbiter on November 02, 2015, 04:17:01 PM
Been playing Age of Decadence which is officially out now. The lore and setting pleases my inner storyfag but my first 2 talkie characters both got brutally murdered before leaving the starting town so I rolled a dumb merc bruiser who's a much better fit to the setting it seems.  ^_^
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Alcibiades on November 03, 2015, 03:18:11 PM
Blood Bowl 2 is 33% off.  Worth getting for $30, without elves/lizards?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: sbr on November 03, 2015, 03:24:28 PM
No not really
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 03, 2015, 03:26:54 PM
yes it is worth it
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: sbr on November 03, 2015, 08:04:42 PM
Quote from: Tamas on November 03, 2015, 03:26:54 PM
yes it is worth it

No it's not, and while I am a bit biased because of the pile of shit the developers and publishers are and the travesty of a game they took 3+ years to make, I'll play along for a bit.

There are only 2 reasons to get or play BB2 over Blood Bowl:Chaos Edition. 

The first is the graphics "upgrades".  I personally don't think it is that much of an improvement but if you really like to watch pretty moving pictures I suppose you could make an argument for it.

The second is if you are interested in the Open League TV-Based Matchmaker leagues.  They are so full of trolls, conceders and assholes that I would rather take a cheese-grater to my ball sac than to play another minute of that.  Most of that crowd has moved away from BB:CE so if you are looking to get in a quick random game or two a week then you would need to get BB2 for that.

I don't know what Alci's income situation is, but I can't imagine anyone outside of Montgomery Brewster for whom this game is currently "worth it".  There are better looking cheaper games if you just want to look at pretty graphics; there are cheaper and more fun ways to be an online troll and asshole than to play in the BB2 MM league; there are better, cheaper games if you are looking to just kill a couple of hours a week.

If you have any serious interest in Blood Bowl get BB:CE for $8 and I will direct you to some worthwhile games.

If you just want the game and are trying to justify it to yourself, knock yourself out but at that point you are no longer worried about it being "worth getting".

It may eventually turn into something good, if Cyanide can figure out how to get their heads out of their collective asses, but I can't imagine that happening any time soon and it will be on an even better sale in the meantime anyway.  Maybe even with more than 1/3 of the teams that should be in it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Alcibiades on November 03, 2015, 08:43:30 PM
I'll hold off then, thanks.   :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 04, 2015, 02:29:00 AM
Quote from: Alcibiades on November 03, 2015, 08:43:30 PM
I'll hold off then, thanks.   :lol:

your loss. It has better graphics, better UI, all around a better experience than playing BB1

Grant you I haven't played THAT much MP but conceders have been the minority, and they only conceded when I had them thoroughly beaten. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: sbr on November 04, 2015, 08:46:29 AM
What's better about the UI?  I think it is markedly worse.

Ill make this quick as I am off to work, but can get more detailed later if anyone is interested.

To select a team:  Instead of having a list of your teams on one page you have the stupid little scroll wheel where you have to click through to get to the team you want.  This seems to be a console thing, but pointless extra clicking on the PC.

BB1:  (https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F7xpNFwB.png&hash=28223da84f2335d83cd0b6817b98ae3e51239f38)

BB2:  (https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FzAcD3Tv.png&hash=99468d4b17614602b0599599ce2e8e10d0c2f1b1)

To view your team:  Each player comes up as a silly card you have to click on to view that player's atributes and skill instead of showing everything in a list on one page.

Skills are now visual icons instead of words.  The icons are too small to be able to tell quickly what they are without clicking on the player card every time you want to do something.  Injured players just show the Injury Icon, you again have to hover over that icon to see if it is a permanent injury or just a MNG.



BB1:  (https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FxQ8RtIm.png&hash=be73e8d2d361eb7997fcf1ed554201f183f7acdb)

BB2:  (https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F0SIZ8MI.png&hash=9fbf474e9ef9a0ced40ffbe09e98b70f016d4fb5)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FIG9vdvq.png&hash=577ed031343de84817a2612c617117339f1b3426)

Again if you are just interested in pretty pictures BB2 MAY have an argument, but I am interested in better game play and ease of getting information.

The game no longer tracks player stats, which is a huge deal in league play, and for anyone who cares about that.

Pregame:  No way to view the team you are playing before buying Inducements.

This doesn't even include the mess of in-game UI I can talk about after work.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 04, 2015, 09:57:54 AM
I meant the UI during the actual match. I don't care much for the rest of it indeed, but it sure is pretty.

And I won't get into the same arguments I saw on the Steam forums, full of nerd rage over having to adopt to new things.
All I know is that overall I am having more fun using BB2 than BB1. I would not go back.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on November 04, 2015, 09:58:40 AM
Well hello there Anne Bonny, you saucy elf chick.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on November 04, 2015, 12:39:51 PM
Yeah. BB2 it is!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: sbr on November 05, 2015, 08:22:22 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on November 04, 2015, 09:58:40 AM
Well hello there Anne Bonny, you saucy elf chick.

They toned the Witch Elf down a lot in BB2, she was much bustier and less dressed before.

And they turned the War Dancer into a dude! :mad:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on November 06, 2015, 03:26:17 PM
Quote from: sbr on November 05, 2015, 08:22:22 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on November 04, 2015, 09:58:40 AM
Well hello there Anne Bonny, you saucy elf chick.

They toned the Witch Elf down a lot in BB2, she was much bustier and less dressed before.

And they turned the War Dancer into a dude! :mad:

was he called Starbuck?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on November 07, 2015, 11:45:41 PM
I got Arkham Knight to try out my new video card.  It would have been nice if hadn't been able to figure out who the Arkham Knight is after his first line.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Pedrito on November 09, 2015, 01:06:04 PM
Has anyone played Starpoint Gemini 2? It's on sale on Steam, and I'm tempted.  :hmm:

L.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on November 14, 2015, 02:35:14 PM
Started Assassins Creed 3- Its strange. Feels like a game trying to mimic AC rather than AC itself. Movement is....clumsy. The dialogue is also rather cobbled together, feels put together in a rush, there's lines and scenes missing.
Though my big misgiving about an unsuitable setting is being calmed.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on November 14, 2015, 03:06:06 PM
Perhaps you should go see a doctor. Sounds like something is going wrong with your brain. :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on November 14, 2015, 06:57:22 PM
Quote from: garbon on November 14, 2015, 03:06:06 PM
Perhaps you should go see a doctor. Sounds like something is going wrong with your brain. :hmm:

Odd that you should be so bitchy today, have you yourself considered some help?

Or alternative just have a drink and chill the fuck out.  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on November 14, 2015, 07:27:16 PM
Quote from: mongers on November 14, 2015, 06:57:22 PM
Quote from: garbon on November 14, 2015, 03:06:06 PM
Perhaps you should go see a doctor. Sounds like something is going wrong with your brain. :hmm:

Odd that you should be so bitchy today, have you yourself considered some help?

Or alternative just have a drink and chill the fuck out.  :P

:mellow:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on November 15, 2015, 08:52:24 AM
Quote from: Pedrito on November 09, 2015, 01:06:04 PM
Has anyone played Starpoint Gemini 2? It's on sale on Steam, and I'm tempted.  :hmm:

L.

I have it, but haven't played much yet. not enough to make a full recommendation, but what I played was enjoyable
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 16, 2015, 03:46:10 AM
How I feel in most multiplayer online games.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi3.kym-cdn.com%2Fphotos%2Fimages%2Foriginal%2F001%2F041%2F641%2F530.gif&hash=88c6771b3a8d56900b8f0680c2d00e2623b64f90)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on November 16, 2015, 08:43:15 AM
Age sucks, yes.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on November 16, 2015, 11:09:07 AM
Quote from: Syt on November 16, 2015, 03:46:10 AM
How I feel in most multiplayer online games.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi3.kym-cdn.com%2Fphotos%2Fimages%2Foriginal%2F001%2F041%2F641%2F530.gif&hash=88c6771b3a8d56900b8f0680c2d00e2623b64f90)
:lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 22, 2015, 03:11:07 AM
I'm watching Jesse Cox' Let's Play of South Park: The Stick of Truth. You can tell it's a labor of love from both Obsidian and Matt Stone/Trey Parker. It looks just like the TV show, it's written by Parker/Stone and besides the usual South Park humor pokes fun at a lot of RPG and video game tropes (silent protagonist, certain quest types and abilities, killing rats in the basement, turn based combat ...).

It also makes me regret I've never really watched the show. When it came out in Germany the dubbing was crap, and by the time I had access to the English language version there were a bajillion episodes. I did watch (and loved) the movie, though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on November 22, 2015, 04:46:13 AM
Continue to play AC3.  It is a very good game but the feelING of it being rushed persists. So many missing and misplaced ed scenes and plot oddities. As for the game play .... so much of the challenge comes when your guy does something you didn't want him to do.
The  naval  battles are cool. Simple. But they work well. I wonder if they had planned for ac4 at this point or It came naturally.  You know what would be great? A hornblower game
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on November 23, 2015, 03:39:14 PM
Quote from: Syt on November 16, 2015, 03:46:10 AM
How I feel in most multiplayer online games.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi3.kym-cdn.com%2Fphotos%2Fimages%2Foriginal%2F001%2F041%2F641%2F530.gif&hash=88c6771b3a8d56900b8f0680c2d00e2623b64f90)
yeah, that's why I usually avoid MP.  the only exception was ME3.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 23, 2015, 03:59:35 PM
Yeah, I just had this in Star Wars Battlefront. I thought I had a decent round, and I actually had 11 kills - my best result yet. Turns out I was *still* bottom of the score board on my team and died 20 times. :lol:

In a later round there was a guy who ran around ROFL-stomping our team, racking up 33 kills in under 10 minutes. He had the last blaster you can unlock which is powerful but has a low firing rate and shitty range (probably easy to unlock if you've had 20-30 or so hours and are not too crap - I've played 13 hours and am level 17, though it was also a pre-order bonus).

That's when I decided to take a break. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on November 23, 2015, 08:39:10 PM
Quote from: Caliga on November 16, 2015, 11:09:07 AM
Quote from: Syt on November 16, 2015, 03:46:10 AM
How I feel in most multiplayer online games.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi3.kym-cdn.com%2Fphotos%2Fimages%2Foriginal%2F001%2F041%2F641%2F530.gif&hash=88c6771b3a8d56900b8f0680c2d00e2623b64f90)
:lol:

It's funny because it's true.  You are start out and you find yourself up against hyperactive 12 year olds who have 20 years experience in a game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: miozozny on November 23, 2015, 08:42:08 PM
Quote from: Syt on November 22, 2015, 03:11:07 AM
I'm watching Jesse Cox' Let's Play of South Park: The Stick of Truth. You can tell it's a labor of love from both Obsidian and Matt Stone/Trey Parker. It looks just like the TV show, it's written by Parker/Stone and besides the usual South Park humor pokes fun at a lot of RPG and video game tropes (silent protagonist, certain quest types and abilities, killing rats in the basement, turn based combat ...).

It also makes me regret I've never really watched the show. When it came out in Germany the dubbing was crap, and by the time I had access to the English language version there were a bajillion episodes. I did watch (and loved) the movie, though.

Lots of episodes, but you can simply watch a few....My favorite episode is 'Woodland Critter Christmas'.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Alcibiades on November 23, 2015, 09:06:13 PM
Quote from: miozozny on November 23, 2015, 08:42:08 PM
Quote from: Syt on November 22, 2015, 03:11:07 AM
I'm watching Jesse Cox' Let's Play of South Park: The Stick of Truth. You can tell it's a labor of love from both Obsidian and Matt Stone/Trey Parker. It looks just like the TV show, it's written by Parker/Stone and besides the usual South Park humor pokes fun at a lot of RPG and video game tropes (silent protagonist, certain quest types and abilities, killing rats in the basement, turn based combat ...).

It also makes me regret I've never really watched the show. When it came out in Germany the dubbing was crap, and by the time I had access to the English language version there were a bajillion episodes. I did watch (and loved) the movie, though.

Lots of episodes, but you can simply watch a few....My favorite episode is 'Woodland Critter Christmas'.

:XD:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on November 26, 2015, 02:34:57 PM
Is Mordheim any good?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on November 26, 2015, 02:40:14 PM
The Stick of Truth is a fantastic rendition of Southpark-as-a-game. It's pretty much an episode of the series where you happen to be the protagonist.

Even if you don't really watch Southpark, all the jokes about RPG and fantasy tropes are pretty good.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on November 26, 2015, 02:54:20 PM
It does look rather good, have to add it for my list of stuff to get when I'm back home for xmas.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 26, 2015, 02:54:50 PM
Yeah, even though I only ever watched the movie (and the WoW episode) I had great fun watching the Let's Play. It's probably also because the player was Jesse Cox who is a big fan of the show and got many of the in-jokes while having a similar style of humor (so he's not a player going in who will be terribly shocked by what he encounters).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 26, 2015, 02:58:17 PM
Also, German version is obviously censored, especially because of "a few" swastikas. If it was part of an episode it wouldn't be a problem, though, because while Germany makes allowance for use of swastikas in movies or TV shows, games aren't included in the exception, though that's possibly also because no developer has challenged it in court.

Austria has similar rules, but games are included in the media exception. South Park SoT is still censored here (though uncensor patches exist).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on November 27, 2015, 12:55:50 AM
I want to claw my eyes out after the travesty that is the Telltale Games Game of Thrones episode 6. I figured the same people that produced TWD game couldn't make something terrible.  I was wrong.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Queequeg on November 29, 2015, 01:05:01 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on November 27, 2015, 12:55:50 AM
I want to claw my eyes out after the travesty that is the Telltale Games Game of Thrones episode 6. I figured the same people that produced TWD game couldn't make something terrible.  I was wrong.
There's a huge drop off in quality from around Episode 4.  No idea why.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on December 01, 2015, 04:30:51 PM
I was thinking of the long tradition of "sexual reward" in video games and a thought occurred to me.  In the very first Super Mario brothers, you go to 7 or 8 castles and only find a toadstool guy.  Obviously is this is an insufficient reward.  On the 8th or 9th (I forget how many levels there are in that game), you find the princess then you stop.  Are there a bunch of other castles with toadstool guys that Mario doesn't even bother dealing with?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on December 01, 2015, 04:45:34 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on December 01, 2015, 04:30:51 PM
I was thinking of the long tradition of "sexual reward" in video games and a thought occurred to me.  In the very first Super Mario brothers, you go to 7 or 8 castles and only find a toadstool guy.  Obviously is this is an insufficient reward.  On the 8th or 9th (I forget how many levels there are in that game), you find the princess then you stop.  Are there a bunch of other castles with toadstool guys that Mario doesn't even bother dealing with?

It doesn't matter. Once you rescue the monarch the enemy occupation of the kingdom is at an end. I am pretty sure Princess Peach would never have sex with a commoner like Mario.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on December 04, 2015, 04:30:26 AM
Telltale announce a Batman game. Really looking forward to that. I love their stories.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=63&v=X2-h6l9-y0I

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 04, 2015, 08:34:28 AM
The next chapter in the Rose's War between Konami and Hideo Kojima:

http://www.geek.com/games/hideo-kojima-forbidden-from-attending-the-game-awards-by-konami-1641277/

QuoteHideo Kojima forbidden from attending The Game Awards by Konami

It appears game designer Hideo Kojima and publisher Konami are still on rocky ground after the Metal Gear Solid creator was told he could not attend The Game Awards 2015 in Los Angeles, CA on Thursday night. Hideo Kojima was set to appear at the award show in which Metal Gear Solid V was up for four awards, including Game of the Year, and Kojima Studios was nominated for Developer of the Year.

After actor Kiefer Sutherland took to the stage to accept the award for Best Action/Adventure game on Kojima's behalf , host Geoff Keighley took a moment to address both the crowd and viewers at home, informing them of Kojima's obvious absence. He explained that due to an employment contract with Konami, Kojima was not allowed to attend the show or to accept any awards on behalf of Metal Gear and the studio.

The response from fans at The Game Awards was noticeable: a loud boo ushered up from the audience.

Keighley continued on adding his own his own thoughts on the matter, "He's still under an employment contract and it's disappointing, and it's inconceivable to me that an artist like Hideo would not be allowed to come here and celebrate with his peers and his fellow teammates."

Kojima's relationship with the game studio Konami has been in question since earlier this year when the new Silent Hills game that Kojima was working on with director Guillermo del Toro was suddenly canceled, and the demo that was to precede it was pulled from the PlayStation Store. Then in July, rumors circulated that that Kojima's production studio had "dissolved" and was no longer in operation.

Konami has been trying to combat these rumors each time, going so far as to issue a take down of a YouTube video that tried to explain all the back and forth up until that point. Even American publication The New Yorker started reporting on it all, citing that Hideo Kojima had officially left Konami. Konami responded by saying, oh no, he's just on vacation.

It's been a year long drama as crazy as any Metal Gear story line. One thing is for certain though, the fans are behind Kojima and Kojima himself continues to stay classy and supports his team and Metal Gear, even from the other side of the world.

Konami continues to alienate its former fanbase (I say former, since they move from consoles/PC to mobile, and the most likely way you see new MGS/Silent Hill/Castlevania etc. products is in the shape of Pachinko machines).

It's not so much that they're re-orienting their company to new markets - that's something that corporations do. But Konami seems to deliberately go out of their way to piss off their old fans and shit over a fair number of very valuable IPs.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fattackofthefanboy.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F08%2Fsilentnil-758x4281.jpg&hash=70471c9343c188c42c92ef21d43af7e44213bd4f)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fgamemoir.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F09%2Fcastlevania_pachinko.jpg&hash=18aa7baea945c4e5d48a4b009ba0910d75f0b3fe)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on December 04, 2015, 11:37:52 AM
Quote from: celedhring on December 04, 2015, 04:30:26 AM
Telltale announce a Batman game. Really looking forward to that. I love their stories.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=63&v=X2-h6l9-y0I

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on December 05, 2015, 04:04:44 PM
http://www.battlefront.com/
CM Final Blitzkrieg
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi6.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy207%2FBaneman%2FCMFB%2520view%2520to%2520Cobru.png&hash=4806286a780a92077d0ed1b1015f086f748ac949)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on December 05, 2015, 04:09:49 PM
I used to be such a serious CM player. But they fragmented the game so much, it seems like now it is just a pure money grab for them, with each "game" having some tiny slice of the war...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on December 05, 2015, 04:17:47 PM
Quote from: Berkut on December 05, 2015, 04:09:49 PM
I used to be such a serious CM player. But they fragmented the game so much, it seems like now it is just a pure money grab for them, with each "game" having some tiny slice of the war...

This is very true unfortunately. But I'll still still go to the dealer to get my fix.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on December 05, 2015, 05:09:04 PM
Quote from: Berkut on December 05, 2015, 04:09:49 PM
I used to be such a serious CM player. But they fragmented the game so much, it seems like now it is just a pure money grab for them, with each "game" having some tiny slice of the war...

They have a lousy business model.  The guys who run it are control freaks.  They hate hiring additional staff, they don't like selling their products out side their website, they allow much in the way of modding, and they have a habit banning people who disagree with them.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 05, 2015, 05:37:13 PM
More than half a year between the most recent front page updates on Battlefront.com. :lol:

Yeah, I was really invested in their games for CMx1, especially CMBB, but CMx2 didn't really pull me in, though I have all up to Red Thunder. Selling $10.- patches doesn't help, either (and it's not like they're adding big features in them).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on December 05, 2015, 05:45:55 PM
Quote from: Syt on December 05, 2015, 05:37:13 PM
More than half a year between the most recent front page updates on Battlefront.com. :lol:

Yeah, I was really invested in their games for CMx1, especially CMBB, but CMx2 didn't really pull me in, though I have all up to Red Thunder. Selling $10.- patches doesn't help, either (and it's not like they're adding big features in them).

Wow, excuse my ignorance, but I've never seen that before.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on December 05, 2015, 05:49:38 PM
Quote from: mongers on December 05, 2015, 05:45:55 PM
Quote from: Syt on December 05, 2015, 05:37:13 PM
More than half a year between the most recent front page updates on Battlefront.com. :lol:

Yeah, I was really invested in their games for CMx1, especially CMBB, but CMx2 didn't really pull me in, though I have all up to Red Thunder. Selling $10.- patches doesn't help, either (and it's not like they're adding big features in them).

Wow, excuse my ignorance, but I've never seen that before.

Yea, please explain.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 05, 2015, 06:17:05 PM
They call it engine upgrade, I call it patch. http://www.battlefront.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage_bfc&product_id=459&category_id=36&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=26

Oh, and if you want to play with the Commonwealth or Market Garden expansion, the upgrade is required, though to be fair, you can get bundle deals. The full Normandy package is $105.

The real kicker is that if you bought the game at release you had to buy the upgrades, but if you buy the base game now it will be V3.0 already. Nice way to reward the people who bought early or pre-ordered. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on December 05, 2015, 06:44:09 PM
Eh, I think that is a little misrepresenting there.

Poor planned for an engine change on there part to be sure.

My problem with them is method which they cover the theaters now. That is a money grabbing plan IMO.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on December 06, 2015, 12:59:41 AM
I don't think it was an actual "Engine change".  It's still the same engine.  They modified it.  That's called a patch.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 06, 2015, 03:03:38 AM
I think they're incremental upgrades of the engine, not new engines.

I find their pricing policy nefarious, though.

Game 1 released ($55)
Upgrade 1 released (V2.0) because you have a handful minor features in Game 2 that you pass on to the old game ($10)
Expansion 1 released - it will require the upgrade 1. ($35)
Upgrade 2 released (V3.0) with the handful of new features from new released Game 3 ($10)
Expansion 2 released - will require upgrade 2 ($35)
(I believe that was the release order for Battle for Normandy)
Total: $145

And you get part of that with Fortress Italy, too, because that also needs the upgrade to V3.0

Now, they could have included the upgrades in the expansions. But they didn't.

Fast forward to today - if you see Game 1 for the first time you notice it still costs $55. However, now it already has all the upgrades included. That's $20 you're saving right there. Or you could get the "all in one" package that sells for $105.

And I wouldn't be surprised if/when they release upgrade V4.0 after the Bulge game is out (snow! which is arguably the biggest addition of all the upgrades), and then an expansion that, again, requires you buying the upgrade in order to play it.

No one works for free, but this nickel & diming is annoying. At least with Paradox expansions you get features that more often than not are major gameplay additions to the game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on December 06, 2015, 12:10:12 PM
Finished Far Cry 4. I really like the Far Cry games (except Far Cry 2 which was annoying). Nice sandboxing and well written and acted.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on December 08, 2015, 11:05:38 AM
I noticed AGEOD released their new Napoleonic game. Supposedly you can play a grand campaign and reorganize your army as you want.

Might get it. Davout gets 5 divisions in his corps. :frog:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on December 08, 2015, 02:31:24 PM
They emailed me about it. I was like still fugly? Yup.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on December 08, 2015, 02:50:50 PM
I really enjoyed the last one. What is different about this one? Just the Grand Campaign? I guess that is fun you only really  got that experience in the Spain scenario before.

My glorious French Armies would slowly melt away :weep:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on December 08, 2015, 03:49:40 PM
Quote from: garbon on December 08, 2015, 02:31:24 PM
They emailed me about it. I was like still fugly? Yup.

Ugly?  :huh:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on December 08, 2015, 03:50:08 PM
I thought it was pretty actually :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on December 08, 2015, 05:39:47 PM
Quote from: Tamas on December 08, 2015, 03:49:40 PM
Quote from: garbon on December 08, 2015, 02:31:24 PM
They emailed me about it. I was like still fugly? Yup.

Ugly?  :huh:

Yeah, as with well all AGEOD games, it looks like non-pretty butt. Well maybe not March of Eagles but then really that was P'dox gloss.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on December 08, 2015, 07:03:20 PM
Quote from: Tamas on December 08, 2015, 03:49:40 PM
Quote from: garbon on December 08, 2015, 02:31:24 PM
They emailed me about it. I was like still fugly? Yup.

Ugly?  :huh:

Garbon like still be ugly.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on December 20, 2015, 05:32:02 AM
Anyone played Beyond Sol? Its a rather fun little game. Mix of Escape Velocity and city builder and...yeah. Nice.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Archy on December 21, 2015, 01:33:29 AM
I'm very fond now of 80 days. A game I bought on black Friday steam sales. It's based on Jules vernes around the world in 80 days. But in a more steampunk environment. It's a text adventure more like you writing the book by choosing the route you take as Passe-partout . Because of this it has high replayability. Also not heavy on systems requirement.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: jimmy olsen on December 26, 2015, 07:14:05 PM
I'm two months late to this news, but I just saw that Paradox bought White Wolf Publishing (of World of Darkness fame {Vampire the Masquerade })!!!

Two of my favorite companies merging, I really hope they don't fuck it up!

http://digital.di.se/artikel/paradox-koper-rollspelsjatte
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on December 26, 2015, 09:34:58 PM
Tainted.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: jimmy olsen on December 26, 2015, 10:45:40 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on December 26, 2015, 09:34:58 PM
Tainted.

I hope they don't fuck it up is a taint worthy endorsement now?  :huh:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 27, 2015, 10:14:07 AM
Between my toilet trips I've watched a let's play of Until Dawn (PS4 exclusive). Now, that's a horror game I can't get behind. It's centered around 8 teenagers on a party weekend in a house on a private mountain. It throws in basically all the horror movie tropes, with the gameplay a mixture of choose your own adventure and quick time events. Basically, it's like a Telltale adventure with huge graphics budgets and casting Hayden Panettiere and Peter Stormare. Ultimate goal: keeping all the cast alive Until Dawn (in the playthrough I watched, four die). The game makes a big deal out of how your decisions (and fuck ups) carry forward and affect the story, and watching once makes it pretty convincing, though I guess like with the Telltale Games you will start noticing how the cogs turn after a second or third playthrough and lose some of the illusion.

It's a horror game I could play, I think - much more story driven, and while there are jump scares, they're not the only trick the game has (unlike so many survival horror games on Steam that are basically variants on Amnesia).

The graphics are pretty, though.

(https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5339/17985086961_3bc41a5c0c_b.jpg)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn3.dualshockers.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F07%2F2_1436948690.jpg&hash=4e263342d5cb6c82d899a964fa0befa35ff16463)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: jimmy olsen on December 28, 2015, 05:41:47 AM
Okay, after watching this question and answer on where Paradox and White Wolf intend to go... you can put this down as a endorsement! :w00t::w00t::w00t:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEoG8YQrLuE
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 30, 2015, 06:07:36 AM
Why is there no end to open world sandbox survival games on Steam Early Access? Is any of those games *ever* going to be out of Early Access before its player base disappears?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on December 30, 2015, 06:19:08 AM
Heh. Yeah, there's a ton of them.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on December 30, 2015, 08:04:43 AM
So.... elite dangerous is on sale.
Is there any smidgen of frontier hidden in there?  Anything at all worthwhile?  Or just amother mmorpg?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on December 30, 2015, 09:37:30 AM
Quote from: Tyr on December 30, 2015, 08:04:43 AM
So.... elite dangerous is on sale.
Is there any smidgen of frontier hidden in there?  Anything at all worthwhile?  Or just amother mmorpg?

I would wait and see if Horizons is any good. Still in Early Access.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on December 30, 2015, 10:32:52 AM
I have tried Early Access games quite a lot. Some are decent, like Savage Lands and Dead State (which is now released). Some are just tear-wrenchingly "early". And some stay in Early Access. FOREVER.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 30, 2015, 10:46:25 AM
I generally stay away from Early Access unless the game is largely feature complete, or the developers show commitment to delivering a finished product, or the game is HEAVILY discounted.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on December 31, 2015, 02:02:46 AM
I have a simple rule: I don't buy Early Access games any more.  When the developers feel like the game is finished, I'll buy, and at probably a significant discount.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on December 31, 2015, 02:54:27 AM
It's likely a very sound rule.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on December 31, 2015, 06:03:02 AM
I bought Mount and Blade and Minecraft early access and loved them.
Project Zomboid...less so.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on December 31, 2015, 06:16:06 AM
Quote from: Tyr on December 31, 2015, 06:03:02 AM

Project Zomboid...less so.

It has an interesting premise, but man, those graphics are poor. It's like your graphics card just barfed.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on December 31, 2015, 07:30:39 AM
The graphics don't bother me at all. The clunky control system is what stops me playing.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on December 31, 2015, 08:10:13 AM
Quote from: Syt on December 30, 2015, 06:07:36 AM
Why is there no end to open world sandbox survival games on Steam Early Access? Is any of those games *ever* going to be out of Early Access before its player base disappears?

And of those open world survival games, 90% are zombie-themed. Sick of it already.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on December 31, 2015, 09:40:26 AM
Bought a few games early access.  That Gettysburg game which I showed off here with an AAR (and the save file corrupted so couldn't show the end).  Still it was was worth it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on January 05, 2016, 05:34:19 PM
I'm playing the south park rpg.
It's a fun little game.  Quite funny. Though flawed.  Feels too small for a full game, and very simple.  Also commits a carnal sin of game design  and has missable items <_<
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 11, 2016, 04:54:14 PM
A game for Valmy AND Barrister? :o

http://store.steampowered.com/app/384630/

233 positive vs 27 negative reviews.

QuoteAviary Attorney

The year is 1848. Paris is on the brink of yet another revolution, and the prisons are overflowing with guilty and innocent alike.

One man stands for justice amid society's chaos. No. One bird...

Play the role of Monsieur Jayjay Falcon, a bird of prey with a good heart and questionable lawyering expertise. Join him and his witty apprentice, Sparrowson, as the two take on clients, interview witnesses, collect evidence, and deliver justice to the guilty.

With art by 19th century caricaturist J. J. Grandville, and music by legendary romantic-era composer Camille Saint-Saëns, this game promises to be a ~swanderful~ experience.
Features:
Four chapters of talon-biting intrigue and suspense.
Dozens of colorful characters to meet, interview, and bribe.
Did I say bribe? I meant persuade.
Real-life landmarks. Knock on the doors of Notre-Dame! Loot the Louvre!
Three fully fleshed-out endings. Decisions have consequences!
More bird puns than you can shake a feather at.


(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.akamai.steamstatic.com%2Fsteam%2Fapps%2F384630%2Fss_92cad3d06e54d0058103a0db5ae13458d4eacd34.1920x1080.jpg&hash=c7f1211f8a4f719e38f22afd024b28fc4e675710)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.akamai.steamstatic.com%2Fsteam%2Fapps%2F384630%2Fss_53bbbedb6973ec88412db36b28845950a21ef3ff.1920x1080.jpg&hash=948eb51f894b0ab0cfd7ac6eddf8467e5c99fd65)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.akamai.steamstatic.com%2Fsteam%2Fapps%2F384630%2Fss_8e9c1d563ede84e206cd67591d39440c80bb2d42.1920x1080.jpg&hash=6b137d278cf716ad5bcfc76cdcf4aa804054d208)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.akamai.steamstatic.com%2Fsteam%2Fapps%2F384630%2Fss_bcb06b99ef711766c57039a7308898e4d7f53591.1920x1080.jpg&hash=9d3e875ec6acce20ee0deb2e84b71b41e0ebcd6c)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.akamai.steamstatic.com%2Fsteam%2Fapps%2F384630%2Fss_a6454c3bbd692de6c2ba66d5d679c441dd2a748e.1920x1080.jpg&hash=804f91ca63a22bddd3aae216fd3982c7f4591ca9)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 18, 2016, 10:42:52 AM
American Truck Simulator will come with California and free launch day DLC Nevada:

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F36646d87786feafc0611-0338bbbce19fc98919c6293def4c5554.r0.cf1.rackcdn.com%2Fimages%2FIFoZLdjtqCSj.878x0.Z-Z96KYq.jpg&hash=26607aa139dad9d7dc3e48fa0eaedfb10df71d7e)

Only 30 cities. ETS2 had 60 at launch, IIRC. Arizona will be added later as free DLC. Later DLCs will cost, though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: jimmy olsen on January 18, 2016, 11:35:10 AM
The bird game looks great!  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on January 27, 2016, 09:27:27 AM
Quote from: Syt on January 11, 2016, 04:54:14 PM
A game for Valmy AND Barrister? :o

1848? Paris?

Ok I am getting this game.

AAR coming in...um...some point.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 27, 2016, 02:00:05 PM
Puzzle game The Witness is out. RPS has announced it with a headline that's one of my favorites now: "Get Up, Come On, Get Down With The Witness"

In case you miss the reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09LTT0xwdfw :punk:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on January 27, 2016, 04:02:38 PM
Quote from: Syt on January 27, 2016, 02:00:05 PM
Puzzle game The Witness is out. RPS has announced it with a headline that's one of my favorites now: "Get Up, Come On, Get Down With The Witness"

In case you miss the reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09LTT0xwdfw :punk:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at02Fvdhk2I
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on January 29, 2016, 08:24:00 PM
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-witcher-3-dev-wants-cyberpunk-2077-to-launch-i/1100-6432907/

:licklips:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on January 30, 2016, 04:54:58 AM
I've just realised that I still never finished oblivion or started skyrim.  Always get sidetracked....
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on February 02, 2016, 01:55:35 PM
I played Sniper Elite v2 since last week.  It was free on Steam when I got it, so that was the best investment in a game yet :P
It's a nice shooter.  A little repetitive, I fear, but for free, I ain't complaining.  But there are real guns and real city settings and since it's called "Sniper", well, the emphasis is on positionning yourself for the best possible sniper shots, not running around guns blazing.  So that's a change from Wolfenstein :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 02, 2016, 02:29:01 PM
The reviews for Sniper Elite 3 were very good, too. Basically, it seems to be a proper stealth game with large levels where you are (relatively) free on how to reach your objectives. TB's take on it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzy0gNMGkgU (Game play footage starts 10 minutes in if you don't care about gfx options, loadout stuff etc.)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 05, 2016, 02:42:09 PM
Rather sweet/nostalgic review of American Truck Simulator: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/02/04/american-truck-simulator-review/

I picked it up despite it's smaller map compared to original ETS 2, but hard to argue with a €20 price tag.

I haven't played it yet, but reading the review I wonder how experiences of American and European audiences differ. ETS2 was not so much aimed at creating an accurate representation of the European long distance road network, but giving you an idealized feeling of being on the road and just chill.

From what I see ATS does the same, but this time trying to scratch the itch of a longing for the freedom the American West promises in book, song, and film, and which is probably much more romanticized over here than in the US.

I hope the game gets many happy expansions so that you'll be able to re-enact Smokey and the Bandit at some point. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on February 05, 2016, 10:42:29 PM
I think I'll write a "To end all wars" AAR.  I found out that I can bring pretty much every country into the War at the very beginning.  So I have Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Italy all invading France.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 05, 2016, 10:46:03 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on February 05, 2016, 10:42:29 PM
I think I'll write a "To end all wars" AAR.  I found out that I can bring pretty much every country into the War at the very beginning.  So I have Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Italy all invading France.

Huh? How?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on February 06, 2016, 12:35:45 AM
Well, first I take a bunch of screen shots, then I post them here write some innane bullshit.  It's really pretty easy.

Italy just took Nice. :(  I was sort of hoping that series of forts would hold them back.  If France collapses before the end of the year I don't think I'll make the AAR.  Right now my strategy is putting putting as many Frenchmen in uniform as possible trying to hold back the enemy hordes.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 06, 2016, 02:19:32 AM
Koei Tecmo is pulling a Matrixgames. Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII is out on Steam (Japanese/Chinese only so far), and the price is ... €82.99  :lol: :lol: :lol:

(And the Steam user reviews aren't very positive about the gameplay, either.)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 06, 2016, 04:28:40 AM
Wtfffffff
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Liep on March 03, 2016, 08:25:29 AM
http://www.engadget.com/2016/03/03/valve-steam-bundle-discounts/

:w00t: :w00t:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Arvoreen on March 03, 2016, 10:56:38 AM
About freaking time!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on March 04, 2016, 07:53:01 AM
Quote from: Syt on February 06, 2016, 02:19:32 AM
Koei Tecmo is pulling a Matrixgames. Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII is out on Steam (Japanese/Chinese only so far), and the price is ... €82.99  :lol: :lol: :lol:

(And the Steam user reviews aren't very positive about the gameplay, either.)

Isn't the game just available in Japanese language too?

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on March 04, 2016, 01:24:37 PM
Quote from: Norgy on March 04, 2016, 07:53:01 AM
Quote from: Syt on February 06, 2016, 02:19:32 AM
Koei Tecmo is pulling a Matrixgames. Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII is out on Steam (Japanese/Chinese only so far), and the price is ... €82.99  :lol: :lol: :lol:

(And the Steam user reviews aren't very positive about the gameplay, either.)

Isn't the game just available in Japanese language too?

Not according to Steam.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on March 04, 2016, 01:29:34 PM
The rather steep price puts me off anyway, Nip lingo or not.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on March 04, 2016, 01:33:51 PM
Well the other language is Traditional Chinese, so I'll pass too.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on March 04, 2016, 02:23:31 PM
I might pay for it if there were Armenians I could genocide just to rile up Spellus.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 08, 2016, 01:45:12 PM
Not sure if anyone here checks out Ross's Game Dunegon now and then. I like his review of obscure games, but I still think this is his best review:

Super Cult Tycoon (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnkqdMS1LkE) (YouTube)

He's, uhm, oddly specific in explaining how the game is unrealistic. :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 11, 2016, 02:38:54 AM
So Syt how is the new wrestling game?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on March 11, 2016, 07:06:58 AM
Quote from: Syt on March 08, 2016, 01:45:12 PM
Not sure if anyone here checks out Ross's Game Dunegon now and then. I like his review of obscure games, but I still think this is his best review:

Super Cult Tycoon (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnkqdMS1LkE) (YouTube)

He's, uhm, oddly specific in explaining how the game is unrealistic. :lol:

Thanks for posting that.  I hadn't seen that reviewer before.  Funny stuff.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on March 11, 2016, 11:48:54 PM
Quote from: Norgy on March 04, 2016, 01:29:34 PM
The rather steep price puts me off anyway, Nip lingo or not.

It's still cheaper than physically importing KOEI games from Japan, I can vouch for that.  :sleep:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on March 13, 2016, 02:13:21 PM

Graviteam Tactics: Mius-Front

http://store.steampowered.com/app/312980/

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.akamai.steamstatic.com%2Fsteam%2Fapps%2F312980%2Fss_b9ec7ca706bb02159b78ce3d42b9965ee1893c1c.1920x1080.jpg%3Ft%3D1457549961&hash=6b8a5b2655cbd0a2a1f3c063c6880a691fb7b993)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: PDH on March 13, 2016, 09:21:25 PM
They really should close those side turret doors.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on March 14, 2016, 06:43:53 AM
"The main reason for our loss of tanks was apparently the crew members were hot and opened the doors" - Franz Halder's diary
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on March 15, 2016, 01:58:57 PM
currently looking a battle brothers. apparently in the vein of Darklands, which some of you play(ed).

I've been thinking about Renegade: Battle for Jacob's Star too lately. That's a game that needs a remake, with some additional fleshing out.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on March 19, 2016, 06:07:44 PM
Tamas will be happy, I've purchased Victory and Glory : Napoleon. This should fill my hegemonistic needs.

La garde meurt mais ne se rend pas!  :frog:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on March 19, 2016, 06:17:04 PM
Quote from: Drakken on March 19, 2016, 06:07:44 PM
Tamas will be happy, I've purchased Victory and Glory : Napoleon. This should fill my hegemonistic needs.

:lol:  That appears to be a boardgame port of Napoleon in Europe.  The map is even the same.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on March 19, 2016, 06:32:31 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on March 19, 2016, 06:17:04 PM
:lol:  That appears to be a boardgame port of Napoleon in Europe.  The map is even the same.

It is. However from what I read the AI is a killer and Britain will keep the player on his toes with his diplomatic clout. I liked how the boardgame (and PC port) operationalizes that reality; after all Napoleon was crushing piecemeal foes that on paper should have defeated France, had they been united and well-coordinated. However, I am still in doubt on how the game represents the sheer manpower advantage France had over his opponents combined.

The fact that only France is playable does iff me, but if succesful a Britain DLC is on the cards.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on March 19, 2016, 06:45:28 PM
The game won't historically represent anything to a degree.  It is way too abstract for that.  It is basically Risk meets Napoleon with some diplomacy rules and a crunchy tactical combat system thrown into the mix.  I would not recommend it to anyone.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on March 19, 2016, 07:19:25 PM
Quote from: Syt on March 08, 2016, 01:45:12 PM
Not sure if anyone here checks out Ross's Game Dunegon now and then. I like his review of obscure games, but I still think this is his best review:

Super Cult Tycoon (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnkqdMS1LkE) (YouTube)

He's, uhm, oddly specific in explaining how the game is unrealistic. :lol:

Damn, that would actually be a great theme for a tycoon game, but the execution is pretty shoddy and simplistic.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 21, 2016, 02:20:59 AM
Quote from: Habbaku on March 19, 2016, 06:45:28 PM
The game won't historically represent anything to a degree.  It is way too abstract for that.  It is basically Risk meets Napoleon with some diplomacy rules and a crunchy tactical combat system thrown into the mix.  I would not recommend it to anyone.

I haven't payed the boardgame but I have had good fun working on the PC game, I think the format works well for a fairly light, but challenging and flavourful single player Napoleonic experience.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Richard Hakluyt on March 21, 2016, 03:28:12 AM
I got the game and I'm having some fun with it. I wouldn't advise people with tight budgets to get it but for people who don't mind paying £20 for, say, 20 hours of entertainment it is fine. I tried at "general" setting at first but things went badly so now I'm a "corporal"........ :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on April 03, 2016, 06:46:36 AM
I just saw an advert on tv for a game called quantum break.
I've no idea what it's about but shit the graphics look amazing :o
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on April 04, 2016, 11:16:40 AM
Quote from: Drakken on March 19, 2016, 06:32:31 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on March 19, 2016, 06:17:04 PM
:lol:  That appears to be a boardgame port of Napoleon in Europe.  The map is even the same.

It is. However from what I read the AI is a killer and Britain will keep the player on his toes with his diplomatic clout. I liked how the boardgame (and PC port) operationalizes that reality; after all Napoleon was crushing piecemeal foes that on paper should have defeated France, had they been united and well-coordinated. However, I am still in doubt on how the game represents the sheer manpower advantage France had over his opponents combined.

The fact that only France is playable does iff me, but if succesful a Britain DLC is on the cards.

If you have the time and inclination an AAR thread for this game would be much appreciated  :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on April 04, 2016, 11:20:29 AM
He has one right now. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Archy on April 08, 2016, 12:27:40 AM
Counting te days to the release of Banner Saga 2. :cool:
Banner saga is one of the few games I ever completed. Loved it. I like the fantasy Viking and saga setting. Curious about the changes in battle.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on April 12, 2016, 05:51:29 PM




(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.akamai.steamstatic.com%2Fsteam%2Fapps%2F406290%2Fss_d90dae269d7e812beafd1cfe8716f55551dfe237.1920x1080.jpg%3Ft%3D1460490760&hash=e6218304ce58645b4301b8b7fd551e3abc58d624)


http://store.steampowered.com/app/406290/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on April 12, 2016, 06:07:57 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on April 12, 2016, 05:51:29 PM


http://store.steampowered.com/app/406290/

:cool:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on April 12, 2016, 06:39:49 PM
Did they sort out the AI then? Didnt the devs say last month it might not be ready at launch? And well in Feb they said it would be out last month...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on April 23, 2016, 07:24:48 PM
http://fraghero.com/red-dead-redemption-2s-real-name-revealed-leaked-map-confirmed-real/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on April 24, 2016, 09:42:55 AM
Sweet.  RDR was so completely badass.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on April 24, 2016, 09:51:42 AM
If only they found it in their kind hearts to release it on PC...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Iormlund on April 25, 2016, 08:30:09 AM
Damn, I suck at Battlefleet Gothic.  :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on April 30, 2016, 06:26:04 PM
I was going to do a Crusader Kings AAR, but I got hooked on Total War Atilla.  I have revived the Western Roman empire.  Eastern Empire is looking a bit shabby though.  The Huns don't conquer.  They simply raze cities leaving only desolation.  Much of Anatolia and the Persian empire is gone.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on May 02, 2016, 09:01:46 AM
Gave Eador Masters of a Broken World another chance while killing some time yesterday.  The first time I tried this game I didn't like it very much.  I think it was Tamas who tried to convince me it was a good game.  And you know what?  He was right.  If you get a chance give it a try.  A good way to wait the week for the release of Stellaris.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on May 02, 2016, 02:46:22 PM
I tried playing Dragon Pass for the first time in a while.
Totally forgot how to play.
Starving within 2 years. :blush:

Quote from: crazy canuck on May 02, 2016, 09:01:46 AM
Gave Eador Masters of a Broken World another chance while killing some time yesterday.  The first time I tried this game I didn't like it very much.  I think it was Tamas who tried to convince me it was a good game.  And you know what?  He was right.  If you get a chance give it a try.  A good way to wait the week for the release of Stellaris.

I liked it for a while, though it gets a bit buggy and annoying after a few worlds are won.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on May 03, 2016, 08:33:53 AM
I just downloaded from Matrix games Close Combat: Iron Cross. Liking it so far, but just started get back into it (I had played the old Close Combat game).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on May 06, 2016, 04:50:04 PM
And now for something completely different:  :huh:


QuoteBattlefield 1: Reveal Trailer
Battlefield 1 / 6 May 2016
Battlefield 1 Officially Confirmed, Release Date, First Details, Collector's Edition Revealed
Early Enlister Deluxe Edition will let you play three days early.


By Andrew Goldfarb

Following a leak this morning, EA has officially confirmed that the next Battlefield game is called Battlefield 1.

Battlefield 1 is set in World War I and will be released on October 21, 2016 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC (via Origin).

If you want to play three days early, an Early Enlister Deluxe Edition will be available for all platforms on October 18 for $79.99 and will include extra vehicles, weapons and emblems including the Red Baron Pack, the Lawrence of Arabia Pack, and new visual appearances for three large vehicles -- the Frontline Camouflage Train, the Night Raid Airship, and the Dazzle Camouflage Dreadnought.

In a blog post, EA said Battlefield 1 contains some of the largest and "most dynamic battles in FPS history" and will include battles on land, in the air, and in the sea. "Tanks, planes, machine guns, artillery – a lot of the tech you've used in other Battlefield games was perfected during this era, letting the classic Battlefield DNA shine through," EA wrote. Locations confirmed so far include France, Italy, and the Arabian Desert.

Battlefield 1 will include dogfighting in biplanes and airships with external manned guns, as well as the World War I staples you'd expect like trench warfare, French tanks, mustard gas, and gas masks. Melee combat will be more of a focus, with weapons including a spiked baton, trench shovel, rapier, and more.

There will be a Persistent Squad System to allow four players to form a squad and enter matchmaking together to guarantee they're grouped for an entire session.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/05/06/battlefield-1-officially-confirmed-release-date-and-first-details-revealed
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on May 06, 2016, 05:26:47 PM
Was there a lot of rapier duels in WWI?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on May 06, 2016, 05:45:45 PM
I guess you really can be Ottoman Empire.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Norgy on May 06, 2016, 08:02:52 PM
They used to bludgeon people back then to get to ZE ZEPPELIN, I think.

This is almost as superbly arrogant as CoD in space.

Or I am too old for this.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on May 06, 2016, 08:04:05 PM
I'll buy it to bean a teenager with a trench mace.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on May 06, 2016, 09:57:04 PM
A long, long time ago the makers of of the battlefield series made a game called Operation: Eagle, which takes place in a sort of alternate WWI.  It was terrible and the game barely worked.  I did play it at LAN party, but between crashes the multiplayer was a hoot.  I think they realized that Multiplayer was the only thing they could do well, and released Battlefield 1942 (which I wasted way to much time on in college).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on May 06, 2016, 09:57:49 PM
Can you believe that FIFA 16 is 80$ on Origin, 80$!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on May 08, 2016, 05:06:54 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 06, 2016, 09:57:49 PM
Can you believe that FIFA 16 is 80$ on Origin, 80$!
Pop down to any game shop at you can get FIFA 14 for 50 c. :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on May 09, 2016, 12:32:42 PM
Started playing Red Dead again. I forgot how much a dick Marston is  :lol: Also what a beautiful game visually and story wise.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-6ayxDUYazXg%2FTgotAM2Q29I%2FAAAAAAAAAgs%2FE76LRubz4TU%2Fs1600%2FRedDeadRedemption%2Bworld.jpg&hash=b210ad43a77395a006cd5a4d63bf5ed5e3d47638)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on May 09, 2016, 02:21:44 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 06, 2016, 04:50:04 PM
And now for something completely different:  :huh:

Well I would play the fuck out of that if it were available on PC.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on May 09, 2016, 03:15:03 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 06, 2016, 04:50:04 PM
And now for something completely different:  :huh:


QuoteBattlefield 1: Reveal Trailer
Battlefield 1 / 6 May 2016
Battlefield 1 Officially Confirmed, Release Date, First Details, Collector's Edition Revealed
Early Enlister Deluxe Edition will let you play three days early.


By Andrew Goldfarb

Following a leak this morning, EA has officially confirmed that the next Battlefield game is called Battlefield 1.

Battlefield 1 is set in World War I and will be released on October 21, 2016 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC (via Origin).

If you want to play three days early, an Early Enlister Deluxe Edition will be available for all platforms on October 18 for $79.99 and will include extra vehicles, weapons and emblems including the Red Baron Pack, the Lawrence of Arabia Pack, and new visual appearances for three large vehicles -- the Frontline Camouflage Train, the Night Raid Airship, and the Dazzle Camouflage Dreadnought.

In a blog post, EA said Battlefield 1 contains some of the largest and "most dynamic battles in FPS history" and will include battles on land, in the air, and in the sea. "Tanks, planes, machine guns, artillery – a lot of the tech you've used in other Battlefield games was perfected during this era, letting the classic Battlefield DNA shine through," EA wrote. Locations confirmed so far include France, Italy, and the Arabian Desert.

Battlefield 1 will include dogfighting in biplanes and airships with external manned guns, as well as the World War I staples you'd expect like trench warfare, French tanks, mustard gas, and gas masks. Melee combat will be more of a focus, with weapons including a spiked baton, trench shovel, rapier, and more.

There will be a Persistent Squad System to allow four players to form a squad and enter matchmaking together to guarantee they're grouped for an entire session.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/05/06/battlefield-1-officially-confirmed-release-date-and-first-details-revealed

Can I launch a chemical attack in this?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on July 04, 2016, 12:40:58 PM
I played/beat Undertale recently, an indy RPG With A Message™.  Fortunately, it happens to be a message I enjoyed quite a bit, the characters are all cute, the music engaging, and the gameplay alternating between hilarious and frustrating (the good kind). 

Only ~ten hours of content (unless you play it the 'wrong' way, which I won't comment on further for fear of spoilers), but worth the price of entry.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 08, 2016, 01:08:30 PM
I've been playing a bit of Overwatch since release. Considering that I hate MP shooters, I'm having a great time with it. The new competitive season just started, but I'm on a potato laptop till Friday next week, so I can't play.

Many decry it as shallow, casual, and a rip off of TF2, but I must say it has created a bunch of easily recognizable characters with (mostly) interesting abilities, and it's easy to just pick up and play a few rounds. The characters range in their ease of play (from classic snipers and twitch focused characters to a dwarf who mostly puts down a turret - or a robot that turns into a turet).

There's a whole lot of lore attached to it (though the game has no story campaign - probably a holdover from canceled Project Titan).

And the last animated short was a bit of a Pixar rip off (the animation quality is rather astonishing, for something that's basically just the throwaway backstory of one of the characters).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to8yh83jlXg
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Duque de Bragança on September 08, 2016, 04:10:21 PM
Willkommen zurück Syt!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 19, 2016, 09:01:48 AM
Picked up the new and improved Titan Quest Anniversary Edition for under €5 while it was on sale.

I've played about 20 hours, and am now in Egypt, in Act I or II.

And I think I will stop now. I'm using melee weapons and armor, and I'm rather bored. Enemies can't really kill me, but my damage output (110 dps at level 21) feels painfully low.

The game feels really grindy, and none of the gear that drops is any use to me except to sell to vendors to then buy a proper weapon/armor from them and improve it with charms etc. which makes looting mostly a task of taking the items that require the least inventory space - especially because vendors are few and far between. I've been using the same vendor bought armor for 10 or so levels now. In Egypt I finally upgraded my weapon at a vendor, after 8 or so levels - an increas in dps of 15%. Woot.

The environments are very pretty, but the combat feels very lackluster and repetitive, with not much variation between enemies.

I've gone for the warfare/defense masteries, and none of the skills look too great to me, adding rather limited damage, or only triggering on a <10% chance. Maybe a different class would have been more fun, but other ARPGs manage to make melee combat (I prefer playing beefy tank chars) much more interesting.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on September 22, 2016, 01:05:23 PM
Anyone else stoked for The Atomy? :w00t:

QuoteThis is a shooter about killed in fortieth gangster, who tries to wash away his guilt in the personal hell. He will have to pass a long way, because he is also responsible for the deeds of his ancestors and children.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on September 22, 2016, 01:06:39 PM
High map suckage.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on September 22, 2016, 01:48:00 PM
I've been playing Injustice.
Never played  a beat em up on pc before. The tutorial was hard. Xbox pads are not suited at all.
It's cool though.  Nice DC story and it all flows together seamlessly
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on September 22, 2016, 02:04:12 PM
You know what I fancy playing? An old-schoolish dungeon crawl like the Wizardries, M&Ms, Bard's Tale... is there something new-ish in that vein? I tried Legend of Grimrock a couple years ago and didn't do it for me, and the new Might & Magic game is a turd.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on September 22, 2016, 02:19:11 PM
Quote from: celedhring on September 22, 2016, 02:04:12 PM
You know what I fancy playing? An old-schoolish dungeon crawl like the Wizardries, M&Ms, Bard's Tale... is there something new-ish in that vein? I tried Legend of Grimrock a couple years ago and didn't do it for me, and the new Might & Magic game is a turd.

Well The Bard's Tale IV will be coming out within a couple years :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on September 22, 2016, 03:13:50 PM
Quote from: Valmy on September 22, 2016, 02:19:11 PM
Quote from: celedhring on September 22, 2016, 02:04:12 PM
You know what I fancy playing? An old-schoolish dungeon crawl like the Wizardries, M&Ms, Bard's Tale... is there something new-ish in that vein? I tried Legend of Grimrock a couple years ago and didn't do it for me, and the new Might & Magic game is a turd.

Well The Bard's Tale IV will be coming out within a couple years :hmm:

BUT I NEED IT NOW.

Gonna tour GOG and see what I find... There's gotta be some well-aged oldie in there.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on September 23, 2016, 04:11:59 PM
Just noticed that the two stickied thread in this sub-forum both haven't had a single post in around eight months.

Might a Mod like to reconsider their status or are there other reasons for it being that way?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on September 24, 2016, 10:56:23 AM
Anyone have any thoughts on this?

https://www.destructoid.com/halcyon-6-starbase-commander-is-september-s-sleeper-hit-387434.phtml

QuoteHalcyon 6: Starbase Commander is September's sleeper hit
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on September 24, 2016, 10:59:29 AM
King of Dragon Pass is on sale for the week--only $5.99.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 24, 2016, 11:05:25 AM
Quote from: garbon on September 24, 2016, 10:56:23 AM
Anyone have any thoughts on this?

https://www.destructoid.com/halcyon-6-starbase-commander-is-september-s-sleeper-hit-387434.phtml

QuoteHalcyon 6: Starbase Commander is September's sleeper hit

Rumblings about this have been generally favorable, with two caveats: combat apparently can be a bit dull, and the events start repeating after several hours of gameplay.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on September 24, 2016, 11:10:18 AM
It is interesting to me that all reviews I see of space games now feature a mention of/comparison to Stellaris.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on September 25, 2016, 02:07:16 PM
So, I decided to be honest with myself an uninstall all games in my steam library that I know I won't play. 120 Gb freed in total  :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 02, 2016, 04:13:21 AM
Titan Quest had an anniversary edition released. I picked it up for cheap. I gave it a fair try, but quit after over 20 hours (I just made it to Egypt). It just feels very dull and slow and badly paced.

Grim Dawn (by largely the same team) was also on sale on GOG, and I'm enjoying it A LOT more.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 03, 2016, 01:38:00 PM
Weird shit Steam recommends: http://store.steampowered.com/app/531190/

QuoteOn September 1939,
The biggest war in the history, WWII broke out.
You are a commander of Soviet Union Independent Girl Brigades.
Fight over 5 years battle against Nazi, and bring Victory to the mother country!
Урааааааааааааа!!!

Hardcore SLG, user friendly RPG and Dating Sim are combined into one Tactical RPG!
Eastern Front with huge battlefield and Various weapons are expressed by cute pixel arts.
In tactilal phase, develop strategy, purchase weapons, and train officers.
In the battle phase, command units according to the various elements, Stealth and Search, Zone Of Control, Direction, Air support etc...

8 cute and sexy characteristic heroines.
Voices by Japanese voice actress.
About 70 existent weapons!
T-34, Mosin-Nagant, Katyusha, etc...
About 20 Maps!
Maps are based on famous battles in Eastern Front, such as Battle of Moscow, Battle of Kursk, etc...
School Phase between chapters.
Heroines teache you Russian History, Weapon, and miscellaneous knowledges about Russia.
Comedy story, that fools hell of the war!
Adjustable difficulty.
BGMs are arranged Russian martial songs.
About 15 hours total playtime (till the 1st ending).
Additional maps and Addtioanl challenges.
Support gamepad.
FREE TO PLAY.
No charge from game start till ending.

*1 All the characters in this game are older than leagal drinking age!
*2 This game supports only Japanese language at the morment.
*3 This game cntains some Mature Contents(service scenes).

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.akamai.steamstatic.com%2Fsteam%2Fapps%2F531190%2Fss_b56fe36e2076baa4010d731d9b22bb1c86d7b93b.1920x1080.jpg&hash=9c9e66cf3bdae02116182ba68fb1a20113376b26)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.akamai.steamstatic.com%2Fsteam%2Fapps%2F531190%2Fss_1760aad9f1bda3bd97174fb5a6989485e505901a.1920x1080.jpg&hash=5c4a3704ff62ab22824c32311cee7c62d6dcfe03)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.akamai.steamstatic.com%2Fsteam%2Fapps%2F531190%2Fss_3ee1f0aa5f83fd2106c3a9164e3d39b5e6b4e71c.1920x1080.jpg&hash=21185cf6cd9d74bd31d4c70ba97f00f0cac04778)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.akamai.steamstatic.com%2Fsteam%2Fapps%2F531190%2Fss_7f8c18d28a3b9707c3567b117557af87cb0991ab.1920x1080.jpg&hash=2e25707266a7f34f3f74e186fe59826c968bae09)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.akamai.steamstatic.com%2Fsteam%2Fapps%2F531190%2Fss_bf8190bc39d35c1b5184cabc60724e7d83358b09.1920x1080.jpg&hash=2b1c55e30b3bb927004d353ef70e1e512de6b8da)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.akamai.steamstatic.com%2Fsteam%2Fapps%2F531190%2Fss_2e517056e7bfa35f521f0e0cdbe8dd9246b5b8b7.1920x1080.jpg&hash=2c9b1fbbe9eb8e0101410c3dfe2dcca4cba21614)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.akamai.steamstatic.com%2Fsteam%2Fapps%2F531190%2Fss_cdbecd524041ac027167d0dc4ec135f3059a5eb2.1920x1080.jpg%3Ft%3D1475326160&hash=84103b2f5cefe6f46cad1bde954b554fa665c38e)

Why yes, I was looking for a dating sim/wargame set on the Eastern Front.  :wacko:

:lol: :bleeding:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on October 03, 2016, 10:13:00 PM
I had noticed that you can import saved games in the Witcher.  So I played through the first one again and will start the second one soon.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on October 03, 2016, 10:22:16 PM
The fuck kind of bubblegum teenybopper whack-off material is that
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on October 03, 2016, 11:43:34 PM
HOTT.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on October 04, 2016, 10:10:28 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 03, 2016, 10:22:16 PM
The fuck kind of bubblegum teenybopper whack-off material is that

It says that all characters are above legal drinking age, which is admittedly perplexing.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 05, 2016, 11:59:47 AM
Syrian Warfare is coming to Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/485980

QuoteAbout This Game
This war has been going on for a long time, and it's hard to say when it will be over. We got so used to it that news from Syria has become trivial. We've even already forgotten how it all started, and where the roots of the terrible terror lie – the terror that swept across Europe in recent years.

Syria is all over the news, and it's become a subject of many documentaries. We, however, want to show the story through the lens of the game and don't let the word "game" mislead you. This game does not claim to be a history lesson, but it shows the course of the war in all its seriousness through the major milestones, from the first days till the latest important victories over terror.
What kind of a game is it?

-Syrian Warfare is a real time strategy with a high degree of realism. This game is not about a base construction or units production. The player will have to determine their forces characteristics before they go into action. And during the mission, they would be able to select reinforcements in order to support the troopers.

-The troops and machinery crews move from mission to mission and gain experience, which helps them increase their effectiveness.

-Trophies captured by the player on the battlefield can be used throughout the whole campaign.

- Importantly enough, there are no «life bars» for vehicles in the game. Damages are calculated by taking into account the protection module and the power of adverse factors. Inflicted damages affect the functioning of the module.

- In the battlefield, it is impossible to repair the armor, but one can repair the modules by using a limited stock of spare parts. Ammunition and fuel are also limited.

- A system of high-quality physical demolition of buildings and other objects is used in the game (it does not only look spectacular, but it has a serious influence on the tactics during the missions, especially in urban areas).

- The game has a wide set of tactical possibilities: The storming of buildings, usage of smokescreens, infantry lift by helicopters and APC/IFV, air strike calls, capturing of trophy weapons and equipment, usage of heat flares and active defense complexes.
- And of course the story itself. We will try to show the conflict, not from a point of view of a general, located somewhere at the 'top'. No, it will be a story of a man, who lived in the country that descended into hell. A story of struggle, loss and regained hope.

Gee, I wonder who the good guys will be:

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.akamai.steamstatic.com%2Fsteam%2Fapps%2F485980%2Fss_6a6e46eebca9bed86f2b09ff2859d33099d8107e.1920x1080.jpg&hash=463514b413526fb493157edc73ce2b8ba2545d81)

EDIT: Actually, here's a quote from the devs on the Steam forums:

QuoteDo some research. Russia wasn't part of the coalition which democratized Iraq and Libya.
But is not the point. I answered for trolling about "Assad or we burn the country". Yes, we support legitimate authority against jihadists and "moderate rebels". Recent examples of Iraq and Libya show the fate of the countries without "dictators" demonized by the west democratic countries.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on October 05, 2016, 12:16:26 PM
Whereas Syria is in so much better shape than Iraq and Libya  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Alcibiades on October 05, 2016, 02:21:55 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on October 03, 2016, 10:13:00 PM
I had noticed that you can import saved games in the Witcher.  So I played through the first one again and will start the second one soon.

Not really worth it, get a set of gear for the early game you will end up replacing, and I think I read transporting from 2>3 does almost nothing if I read correctly.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on October 16, 2016, 07:24:03 PM
Battlefield 1 release date is Tuesday. :ph34r:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on October 16, 2016, 07:37:42 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 16, 2016, 07:24:03 PM
Battlefield 1 release date is Tuesday. :ph34r:

Sure, there is exchanging realism for gameplay, but there is CAS zeppelins?   :rolleyes:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on October 16, 2016, 07:51:19 PM
I just think it's hilarious that EA initially rejected the premise because they were concerned that ignorant dumbassfuck Millennials with their gnat-sized attention spans that didn't pay attention in school because they were too busy snapchatting pics of each others' dicks didn't know about WW1 (http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-1-ea-was-concerned-kids-didnt-know-ww1/1100-6440385/).  Hilarious, and quite sad.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on October 16, 2016, 08:12:07 PM
But will millennials know the vital difference between clips and magazines?  :mad:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on October 16, 2016, 08:37:31 PM
Quote from: Tonitrus on October 16, 2016, 08:12:07 PM
But will millennials know the vital difference between clips and magazines?  :mad:

If they don't, basecop will be very angry.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on October 16, 2016, 08:40:25 PM
Basecop angry.  Basecop smash.  Oooh, is that a new delivery menu?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on October 17, 2016, 01:54:13 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 16, 2016, 07:51:19 PM
I just think it's hilarious that EA initially rejected the premise because they were concerned that ignorant dumbassfuck Millennials with their gnat-sized attention spans that didn't pay attention in school because they were too busy snapchatting pics of each others' dicks didn't know about WW1 (http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-1-ea-was-concerned-kids-didnt-know-ww1/1100-6440385/).  Hilarious, and quite sad.

Snapchat didn'the exist when I was in school. Also the article notes that they were worried people might not know about it - not that people didn't actually. :rolleyes:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 17, 2016, 02:02:36 AM
I still find it sad/hilarious that France, the main combatant on the Western Front for the Allies, will be available as DLC instead if being included from the start.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 17, 2016, 07:26:20 AM
Is this pillars of eternity much good?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on October 17, 2016, 12:42:04 PM
Yes.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on October 17, 2016, 01:40:58 PM
Quote from: garbon on October 17, 2016, 01:54:13 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 16, 2016, 07:51:19 PM
I just think it's hilarious that EA initially rejected the premise because they were concerned that ignorant dumbassfuck Millennials with their gnat-sized attention spans that didn't pay attention in school because they were too busy snapchatting pics of each others' dicks didn't know about WW1 (http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-1-ea-was-concerned-kids-didnt-know-ww1/1100-6440385/).  Hilarious, and quite sad.

Snapchat didn'the exist when I was in school. Also the article notes that they were worried people might not know about it - not that people didn't actually. :rolleyes:

OK, so I editorialized my click bait.  People get paid to do that, you know.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on October 17, 2016, 01:44:31 PM
Are you getting paid to post on Languish?

Also my complaint was about your editorial
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on October 17, 2016, 01:48:49 PM
I get paid in rainbows and daisies, cunt.

And fuck your complaint, you cunty cuntfuck.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on October 17, 2016, 01:58:22 PM
That must keep you in rather trim shape.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on October 17, 2016, 03:25:13 PM
Any thoughts on Tyranny? I loved Pillars of Eternity and wondering whether to get this on opening day or not... I fancy a good RPG. However, it looks a bit too similar engine-wise to PoE. If it's broke don't fix it and all that, but the combat was a bit dull - my only complain about that game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on October 22, 2016, 08:29:37 AM
Battlefield 1: 

Pros: SP mode is deep and gorgeous for a change
Cons: Multiplayer Hardcore "Coming Soon"

Verdict:  Whiny ass carebear autistics that can't deal with being shot by other people without knowing where the bullet came from finally get their dicks sucked by EA, and can play by themselves all they want forever and ever.  Congrats, everybody-gets-a-ribbon faggots. 




Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on October 22, 2016, 06:05:02 PM
Quote from: celedhring on October 17, 2016, 03:25:13 PM
Any thoughts on Tyranny? I loved Pillars of Eternity and wondering whether to get this on opening day or not... I fancy a good RPG. However, it looks a bit too similar engine-wise to PoE. If it's broke don't fix it and all that, but the combat was a bit dull - my only complain about that game.

Not out yet.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 27, 2016, 01:15:13 AM
Bethesda have decreed that they will only distribute review copies of their games to media outlets one day before release at most. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/10/26/bethesda-outline-anti-consumer-review-policy/

All the more reason to wait for their games to hit the bargain shelf and then decide whether or not to buy on the general consensus that has formed by this point.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on October 27, 2016, 06:59:48 AM
and remember not to pre-order.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on October 27, 2016, 07:34:59 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 22, 2016, 08:29:37 AM
Battlefield 1: 

Pros: SP mode is deep and gorgeous for a change
Cons: Multiplayer Hardcore "Coming Soon"

Verdict:  Whiny ass carebear autistics that can't deal with being shot by other people without knowing where the bullet came from finally get their dicks sucked by EA, and can play by themselves all they want forever and ever.  Congrats, everybody-gets-a-ribbon faggots.

Hay Seedy:

You think 8 and 7 year olds can handle this game? Seriously.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on October 27, 2016, 07:42:44 PM
It's not only more graphic than the others, but there's an actual emphasis on demonstrating to the player exactly how futile combat was in that war.

For instance, there's a Single Player mode that introduces all the elements in the game to you--and every time you die, after the cut scene they display the name and age of an actual casualty of that war.  Bit of a bummer, but makes its point.

I would not consider it age-appropriate for that particular bracket, no.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on October 27, 2016, 07:44:28 PM
Thanks.

I guess we keep playing NHL and see who can injure the most players during a game. OVECHKIN SMASH
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on October 27, 2016, 07:50:41 PM
I would highly recommend it for Daddy, though. 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on October 27, 2016, 07:57:15 PM
I just might get it. It's been over a year since I played any real multiplayer. Might be time to return to being a dick.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 28, 2016, 12:56:18 AM
Played a bit of Battlefield 1 yesterday. It's my first BF game.

Liked the intro mission. It was poignant as CdM said. And some sections made me feel a bit uncomfortable, like machine gunning down retreating soldiers with the tank MG.

Played some MP and it quickly turns to WW1 themed fantasy. I do get the annoying DirectX error that many people eported, so I might still opt for a refund.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 28, 2016, 03:40:17 AM
Quote from: Syt on October 28, 2016, 12:56:18 AM
It's my first BF game.


(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Freplygif.net%2Fi%2F1566.gif&hash=256d15c21109e6908462279a0746f701c852c259)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 28, 2016, 03:51:25 AM
I've just previously not been very interested in online MP shooters.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on October 28, 2016, 03:54:37 AM
I have never played a BF game either...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 28, 2016, 03:54:48 AM
Same.
I played the first a little to try it out but...meh.
There was a time way back when where I played DoD and TFC way too much. Not keen to get back into that.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 28, 2016, 03:58:37 AM
Ok guys you can go out on the left and leave your gamer credentials behind. Thank you.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on October 28, 2016, 03:59:15 AM
I have dabbled in online shooters, but never got interested enough in them to play most of the famous titles out there.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: frunk on October 28, 2016, 06:13:55 AM
I don't think I've played more than a couple hours of any shooter since Doom 2.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 28, 2016, 07:41:56 AM
I will say, though, that BF1 looks very pretty, even on medium settings.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 31, 2016, 01:59:50 PM
Massive Chalice. Stupid name. Main mechanic doesn't work as well as expected. But fun.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on October 31, 2016, 02:43:14 PM
What would have been a better name? Quid pro quo Chalice?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on October 31, 2016, 04:42:55 PM
Chalice.  Sounds like stripper stage name.  ITS PRONOUNCED SHÁLEECE
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on October 31, 2016, 05:53:01 PM
I don't think I want to see a woman strip who goes by the name of "MASSIVE SHÁLEECE"
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on November 04, 2016, 09:35:28 PM
The new Doom is hilarious and amazingly fun. Between it and Civilization 6 I'm in game heaven.  :goodboy: :nerd:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 07, 2016, 04:23:23 PM
American Truck Sim at max settings with 400% downsampling can look nice.

(https://s16.postimg.org/loie8bctv/20161107130105_1.jpg)

(https://s16.postimg.org/nhlawmy0j/20161107130705_1.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on November 08, 2016, 11:35:57 AM
I notice a new game called Transport Fever.
Finally a worthy modern version of Transport Tycoon?

I'm also contemplating buying FM 17  :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on November 15, 2016, 01:45:19 PM
Fuck Football Manager. Just fuck it.
I bought it. Played it. Got to the end of January....... bam. My save game seems to have corrupted. And the game has failed to autosave every 2 weeks as it was meant to. My last game is in November. A solid Sunday of play gone. Fuck this piece of shit.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Zoupa on November 15, 2016, 08:09:02 PM
Bought RimWorld, just on impulse on steam, had never heard of it.

Holy shit guys. Take a look at it if you like base building, X-Com style. It's awesome.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on November 15, 2016, 08:17:54 PM
Quote from: Tyr on November 15, 2016, 01:45:19 PM
Fuck Football Manager. Just fuck it.
I bought it. Played it. Got to the end of January....... bam. My save game seems to have corrupted. And the game has failed to autosave every 2 weeks as it was meant to. My last game is in November. A solid Sunday of play gone. Fuck this piece of shit.

It replicates the Sunderland season so far.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on November 15, 2016, 09:09:15 PM
Quote from: Zoupa on November 15, 2016, 08:09:02 PM
Bought RimWorld, just on impulse on steam, had never heard of it.

Holy shit guys. Take a look at it if you like base building, X-Com style. It's awesome.

Rimworld is hilariously grim and unforgiving. It sucks you in and then shits all over you.

It's great.  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on November 15, 2016, 09:09:33 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on November 15, 2016, 08:17:54 PM
Quote from: Tyr on November 15, 2016, 01:45:19 PM
Fuck Football Manager. Just fuck it.
I bought it. Played it. Got to the end of January....... bam. My save game seems to have corrupted. And the game has failed to autosave every 2 weeks as it was meant to. My last game is in November. A solid Sunday of play gone. Fuck this piece of shit.

It replicates the Sunderland season so far.

OH SNAP
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on November 15, 2016, 10:48:07 PM
Anyone played Graviteam's Mius Front?
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yLvs4F6Yew8/VtenYEcQTzI/AAAAAAAAUTY/5pnO2ZJEWS8/s1600/2016-03-02_00010.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on November 15, 2016, 10:54:28 PM
lol is that a shell?


Looks like another IGO-UGO Combat Mission, though
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 16, 2016, 12:57:25 AM
Graviteam's main draw is that battles are dynamically generated from an operational map, so you have to think beyond the current encounter. My main complaints are that the battle maps are usually huge with only a handful of units on them (which may or may not be realistic) and a UI that was designed by aliens.

Their add ons cover some interesting scenarios, like Namibia in the 80s, Afghanistan 1979, and the usual Eastern Front stuff.

Review of the original title when it was still Paradox published: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/12/06/wot-i-think-achtung-panzer-operation-star/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on November 16, 2016, 01:16:21 AM
Thanks
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 16, 2016, 01:35:16 AM
Ok, I thought this was another campaign expansion (their previous model was to have a base game, and other scenarios/campaigns/wars were added through expansion packs, which were a hell of a pain to install before they went on Steam).

It seems that this is a new, revamped game; I will probably check it out at some point.

RPS's initial impressions: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/03/04/the-flare-path-graviteam-tactics-mius-front-preview/

This screenshot illustrates nicely the scale of map vs units:

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.akamai.steamstatic.com%2Fsteam%2Fapps%2F312980%2Fss_3552c05a422677cd116531101ea138dcf560acfd.1920x1080.jpg&hash=5077a4106ac6e416879bb5dc40d7e857f1aeae81)

(no idea why the ground texture looks so crap; the close ups with more detail look far better)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on November 17, 2016, 07:15:26 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on November 15, 2016, 08:17:54 PM
Quote from: Tyr on November 15, 2016, 01:45:19 PM
Fuck Football Manager. Just fuck it.
I bought it. Played it. Got to the end of January....... bam. My save game seems to have corrupted. And the game has failed to autosave every 2 weeks as it was meant to. My last game is in November. A solid Sunday of play gone. Fuck this piece of shit.

It replicates the Sunderland season so far.
It would be nice if the real world season corrupted.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 20, 2016, 04:36:22 PM
Been playing some Overwatch again this weekend. I've given up on Battlefield 1; I just couldn't get into the game - I had an atrocious K/D ratio, progress was slow for me (because I suck), and I didn't feel like I was getting any better at it with more playtime, i.e. my usual online MP shooter experience.

With Overwatch at least I have a feeling I know (mostly) what I'm doing, and I usually get thrown into matches roughly at my skill level where I have a decent challenge without getting too frustrated. It helps that most rounds last under 15 minutes. I can pick it up when I feel like playing a shooter, play a few rounds, and then step back again.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on November 20, 2016, 04:38:57 PM
Quote from: Syt on November 20, 2016, 04:36:22 PM
Been playing some Overwatch again this weekend. I've given up on Battlefield 1; I just couldn't get into the game - I had an atrocious K/D ratio, progress was slow for me (because I suck), and I didn't feel like I was getting any better at it with more playtime, i.e. my usual online MP shooter experience.

You Teutonic twat.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 20, 2016, 04:54:07 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on November 20, 2016, 04:38:57 PM
Quote from: Syt on November 20, 2016, 04:36:22 PM
Been playing some Overwatch again this weekend. I've given up on Battlefield 1; I just couldn't get into the game - I had an atrocious K/D ratio, progress was slow for me (because I suck), and I didn't feel like I was getting any better at it with more playtime, i.e. my usual online MP shooter experience.

You Teutonic twat.

Hey, if you enjoy it that's cool. I'm just not very good at shooters. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on November 20, 2016, 05:19:48 PM
It's not about being good. It's about ensuring that other players' "online gaming experience" remains "varies", as stipulated in the ESRB game rating system.  As in ruining it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on November 21, 2016, 10:25:23 AM
Yeah, I suck massively at shooters and I'm still having fun griefing 1337 nerds in battlefield 1.

Also, I find it fun just taking a role and going for broke in it. I've been playing scout and sneaking around, getting into advanced positions on the flanks and just spotting the entire enemy team with flares while serving as a spawn point for better players than me. It is fun and I still get a bunch of points even if I suck at shooting.

Next I will play support and lob infinite grenades at everyone and laugh a whole lot. LOL Stoßstruppen
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 21, 2016, 02:57:24 PM
Upcoming game: SHADOW TACTICS: BLADES OF THE SHOGUN

https://www.gog.com/game/shadow_tactics_blades_of_the_shogun
http://store.steampowered.com/app/418240/

Think thw WW2 tactical Commandos series set in Old Japan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCa4JHNXk-o

Playable demo is now available.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 23, 2016, 05:25:09 PM
http://www.conanexiles.com/

In development, Early Access planned for January 31. A survival game set in the Conan universe. They seem to offer flexibility in how you want to play - either by yourself locally, or on public PvP or PvE servers, or setting up your own servers with custom rules.

The solo mode could intrigue me into trying this - so far I've otherwise stayed away from survival games, because they're mostly MP only, with players who can sink dozens of hours per week into it having a huge advantage.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8Wr3C2wpSo (the music :wub: )
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on November 23, 2016, 06:27:25 PM
It's from the dudes that made The Secret World, that's a game that made me wish I still had time for MMORPGs.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on November 23, 2016, 09:22:02 PM
Steam Sale.

I think I might be getting ATS and/or Helldivers
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Alcibiades on November 23, 2016, 11:54:44 PM
Bloodbowl 2 worth 11$?   After all this time...and without the 30 race DLCs.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Alcibiades on November 24, 2016, 12:15:20 AM
Also, Twilight Struggle is 50% off, considering it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on November 24, 2016, 01:16:19 AM
Quote from: Alcibiades on November 24, 2016, 12:15:20 AM
Also, Twilight Struggle is 50% off, considering it.

What the hell are you waiting for?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 24, 2016, 02:13:38 AM
Quote from: Alcibiades on November 24, 2016, 12:15:20 AM
Also, Twilight Struggle is 50% off, considering it.

Both are well worth it, for both you'll want to get into mp after learning the ropes against the AI, and it's fairly easy to do so in case of both
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on November 24, 2016, 04:26:59 AM
DA: Inquisition GOTY is a mere €15 over at Origin. Just bought it, my computer is a bit old but according to some youtube videos I can run it at medium detail.

Now to wait until my mediocre DSL manages to download the 35+ Gb of the full package
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on November 24, 2016, 09:07:32 AM
I was sure I replied here but it is gone 🤔

Is it normal for a steam sale now? Thought I was waiting for Xmas.
Tempted for just cause 3. Also heard good things of sunless sea.
Never played a far cry game. They don't follow on right ?
I assume the first is now no good. Do I go with 2 or 3?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on November 24, 2016, 12:06:47 PM
There is always a Fall Steam Sale.

Far Cry 1 is a early 00's FPS but was pretty fun. Far Cry 2 and 3 are open-world First person shooters. It's like Assassin's Creed but in FPS.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 24, 2016, 12:25:35 PM
Start with Far Cry 3, that's excellent. 2? Not so much. I haven't played the others.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 24, 2016, 02:27:52 PM
Quote from: celedhring on November 23, 2016, 06:27:25 PM
It's from the dudes that made The Secret World, that's a game that made me wish I still had time for MMORPGs.

Funcom also made the Age of Conan MMORPG, though on the official website they say that the company has changed much since those days.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on November 24, 2016, 03:19:29 PM
So Sunless Sea.
Very slow. I don't quite get it. I always run out of fuel or supplies. Not sure how to make money :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on November 28, 2016, 12:53:13 PM
Played DA: Inquisition for 3-4 hours. I'm going to spend 80% of time in this game running around, am I?  :glare:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on November 28, 2016, 12:56:53 PM
Quote from: celedhring on November 28, 2016, 12:53:13 PM
Played DA: Inquisition for 3-4 hours. I'm going to spend 80% of time in this game running around, am I?  :glare:

As opposed to? :unsure:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on November 28, 2016, 01:03:51 PM
Quote from: celedhring on November 28, 2016, 12:53:13 PM
Played DA: Inquisition for 3-4 hours. I'm going to spend 80% of time in this game running around, am I?  :glare:

What? Of course not. You have to stop every few seconds to get crafting materials.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on November 28, 2016, 01:45:17 PM
Quote from: celedhring on November 28, 2016, 12:53:13 PM
Played DA: Inquisition for 3-4 hours. I'm going to spend 80% of time in this game running around, am I?  :glare:
read Valmy's AAR   :P

there were a couple of useful mods, such as auto-loot.  I don't know if it's still working.
But yes, it's a traditional RPG.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on November 28, 2016, 01:54:23 PM
Quote from: Valmy on November 28, 2016, 01:03:51 PM
Quote from: celedhring on November 28, 2016, 12:53:13 PM
Played DA: Inquisition for 3-4 hours. I'm going to spend 80% of time in this game running around, am I?  :glare:

What? Of course not. You have to stop every few seconds to get crafting materials.

As the Dragon Age Czar of the forum, what's your take on it compared to the other two?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on November 28, 2016, 04:13:37 PM
Quote from: celedhring on November 28, 2016, 01:54:23 PM
Quote from: Valmy on November 28, 2016, 01:03:51 PM
Quote from: celedhring on November 28, 2016, 12:53:13 PM
Played DA: Inquisition for 3-4 hours. I'm going to spend 80% of time in this game running around, am I?  :glare:

What? Of course not. You have to stop every few seconds to get crafting materials.

As the Dragon Age Czar of the forum, what's your take on it compared to the other two?

Obviously it is inferior to DA:O. It is flawed but almost completely diametrically opposed to the flaws in DA2. Myself I had more fun playing DA2 but the people who hated DA2 seem to like DA:I better. DA:I fixed the things people did not like about DA2, but also took away most of DA2's strengths.

I think the two sequels are about equal in quality but are really different. Do not read my AAR unless you want to be really spoiled :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on November 29, 2016, 07:50:39 AM
I think DA:O is best followed by DA:I. DA2, I suppose has a more interesting story than DA:I but the gameplay itself felt too constrained, you were too hemmed in.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on November 29, 2016, 08:47:52 AM
Playing 'Beep' - nice looking silly platformer.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 29, 2016, 08:51:59 AM
Been playing a bit of Jedi Academy again for nostalgia's sake. I've always assumed that the designers were inspired by Iron Maiden for Marka Ragnos's Tomb and the Sith Lord's look himself.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fvignette3.wikia.nocookie.net%2Fstarwars%2Fimages%2F6%2F66%2FMarkaragnosestomb.jpg%2Frevision%2Flatest%3Fcb%3D20071206011458&hash=39c0d6fd79872a318242947c5dc984bae76a747e)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fvignette2.wikia.nocookie.net%2Fstarwars%2Fimages%2F0%2F08%2FMarkaragnosheadshot.jpg%2Frevision%2Flatest%3Fcb%3D20071206011718&hash=cec90c539fd5674bb95655f099b373e19d3023ad)

(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/e6/b4/99/e6b49918049b39533063c5c0e8f52ef7.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on November 29, 2016, 09:25:07 AM
Quote from: Syt on November 29, 2016, 08:51:59 AM
Been playing a bit of Jedi Academy again for nostalgia's sake. I've always assumed that the designers were inspired by Iron Maiden for Marka Ragnos's Tomb and the Sith Lord's look himself.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fvignette3.wikia.nocookie.net%2Fstarwars%2Fimages%2F6%2F66%2FMarkaragnosestomb.jpg%2Frevision%2Flatest%3Fcb%3D20071206011458&hash=39c0d6fd79872a318242947c5dc984bae76a747e)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fvignette2.wikia.nocookie.net%2Fstarwars%2Fimages%2F0%2F08%2FMarkaragnosheadshot.jpg%2Frevision%2Flatest%3Fcb%3D20071206011718&hash=cec90c539fd5674bb95655f099b373e19d3023ad)

(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/e6/b4/99/e6b49918049b39533063c5c0e8f52ef7.jpg)

Just notice a game on Steam, I think called 'Brutal Legends' that'll get when I get home, it has in it Jack Black, Lemmy, Ozzy Osbourne and Rod Halfin (?sp) . And has a crude but quite Heavy metal vibe to the gameworld.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on November 29, 2016, 09:49:37 AM
Quote from: mongers on November 29, 2016, 09:25:07 AM
Just notice a game on Steam, I think called 'Brutal Legends' that'll get when I get home, it has in it Jack Black, Lemmy, Ozzy Osbourne and Rod Halfin (?sp) . And has a crude but quite Heavy metal vibe to the gameworld.

You are taking me back to when I was living in SF after graduating college. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on November 29, 2016, 09:53:06 AM
Quote from: garbon on November 29, 2016, 09:49:37 AM
Quote from: mongers on November 29, 2016, 09:25:07 AM
Just notice a game on Steam, I think called 'Brutal Legends' that'll get when I get home, it has in it Jack Black, Lemmy, Ozzy Osbourne and Rod Halfin (?sp) . And has a crude but quite Heavy metal vibe to the gameworld.

You are taking me back to when I was living in SF after graduating college. :D

Glad I could be of service. :hug:

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 29, 2016, 10:39:09 AM
Quote from: mongers on November 29, 2016, 09:25:07 AM
Just notice a game on Steam, I think called 'Brutal Legends' that'll get when I get home, it has in it Jack Black, Lemmy, Ozzy Osbourne and Rod Halfin (?sp) . And has a crude but quite Heavy metal vibe to the gameworld.

The game is very much a love letter to heavy metal, and the game's soundtrack is one of the greatest "best of" soundtracks in games: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Br%C3%BCtal_Legend#Soundtrack
It oozes atmosphere, and it has an amazing cast.

BUT.

The gameplay is a bit of a mess between open world driving (ok), 3rd person hack and slash (ok), and a strong focus on really annoying real time battles (stage battles, I believe they're called) that you control with your 3rd person character.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on November 29, 2016, 10:41:40 AM
Quote from: garbon on November 29, 2016, 07:50:39 AM
I think DA:O is best followed by DA:I. DA2, I suppose has a more interesting story than DA:I but the gameplay itself felt too constrained, you were too hemmed in.

Yeah, I enjoyed what DA2 wanted to be, story-wise. I just didn't enjoy actually playing it.

Can't comment on DA:I's story yet. Although so far it's cookie-cutter "Build support and allies to face world-threatening danger" Bioware cliché.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on November 29, 2016, 11:08:52 AM
Quote from: celedhring on November 29, 2016, 10:41:40 AM

Yeah, I enjoyed what DA2 wanted to be, story-wise. I just didn't enjoy actually playing it.

My experience was completely opposite. I thought it had serious problems storywise but I loved the gameplay.

QuoteCan't comment on DA:I's story yet. Although so far it's cookie-cutter "Build support and allies to face world-threatening danger" Bioware cliché.

It isn't (well ok it isn't entire NOT that but it is not like DA:O in that sense). It would be better if it was though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on November 29, 2016, 11:37:02 AM
Quote from: celedhring on November 29, 2016, 10:41:40 AM
Quote from: garbon on November 29, 2016, 07:50:39 AM
I think DA:O is best followed by DA:I. DA2, I suppose has a more interesting story than DA:I but the gameplay itself felt too constrained, you were too hemmed in.

Yeah, I enjoyed what DA2 wanted to be, story-wise. I just didn't enjoy actually playing it.

Can't comment on DA:I's story yet. Although so far it's cookie-cutter "Build support and allies to face world-threatening danger" Bioware cliché.
I enjoyed the game, but there's a lot of sillyness in the story, at times.
And there's always the fact that you are out gathering herbs or rescueing someone's goat while there is impending doom on the world.
And when the final battle comes, you are alone with your team.  Allies are nowhere to be seen.  You rescued&helped a group of people, but it doesn't matter whom you helped, or even if you helped them at all.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on November 29, 2016, 11:38:38 AM
Quote from: viper37 on November 29, 2016, 11:37:02 AM
Quote from: celedhring on November 29, 2016, 10:41:40 AM
Quote from: garbon on November 29, 2016, 07:50:39 AM
I think DA:O is best followed by DA:I. DA2, I suppose has a more interesting story than DA:I but the gameplay itself felt too constrained, you were too hemmed in.

Yeah, I enjoyed what DA2 wanted to be, story-wise. I just didn't enjoy actually playing it.

Can't comment on DA:I's story yet. Although so far it's cookie-cutter "Build support and allies to face world-threatening danger" Bioware cliché.
I enjoyed the game, but there's a lot of sillyness in the story, at times.
And there's always the fact that you are out gathering herbs or rescueing someone's goat while there is impending doom on the world.
And when the final battle comes, you are alone with your team.  Allies are nowhere to be seen.  You rescued&helped a group of people, but it doesn't matter whom you helped, or even if you helped them at all.

Oh and that does not even scratch the surface :lol:

It is best not to think about it too much.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on November 29, 2016, 12:02:40 PM
Quote from: Valmy on November 29, 2016, 11:38:38 AM
Quote from: viper37 on November 29, 2016, 11:37:02 AM
Quote from: celedhring on November 29, 2016, 10:41:40 AM
Quote from: garbon on November 29, 2016, 07:50:39 AM
I think DA:O is best followed by DA:I. DA2, I suppose has a more interesting story than DA:I but the gameplay itself felt too constrained, you were too hemmed in.

Yeah, I enjoyed what DA2 wanted to be, story-wise. I just didn't enjoy actually playing it.

Can't comment on DA:I's story yet. Although so far it's cookie-cutter "Build support and allies to face world-threatening danger" Bioware cliché.
I enjoyed the game, but there's a lot of sillyness in the story, at times.
And there's always the fact that you are out gathering herbs or rescueing someone's goat while there is impending doom on the world.
And when the final battle comes, you are alone with your team.  Allies are nowhere to be seen.  You rescued&helped a group of people, but it doesn't matter whom you helped, or even if you helped them at all.

Oh and that does not even scratch the surface :lol:

It is best not to think about it too much.

Of course that's a big problem with a lot of these type games. Okay sure, I'll go hunt down your missing cat while the world burns.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on November 29, 2016, 12:11:12 PM
Quote from: garbon on November 29, 2016, 12:02:40 PM
Of course that's a big problem with a lot of these type games. Okay sure, I'll go hunt down your missing cat while the world burns.

It usually works out alright since you are normally just some rando. In DA:I it is hilarious absurd.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on November 29, 2016, 12:25:20 PM
Quote from: garbon on November 29, 2016, 12:02:40 PM
Of course that's a big problem with a lot of these type games. Okay sure, I'll go hunt down your missing cat while the world burns.

My favorite instance of that was in Batman: Arkham City (which is a great game), where Batman gets poisoned, and instead of following the quest chain that ultimately gives you the antidote, you can just waste hours doing senseless sidequests.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on November 29, 2016, 12:30:05 PM
Quote from: Valmy on November 29, 2016, 12:11:12 PM
Quote from: garbon on November 29, 2016, 12:02:40 PM
Of course that's a big problem with a lot of these type games. Okay sure, I'll go hunt down your missing cat while the world burns.

It usually works out alright since you are normally just some rando. In DA:I it is hilarious absurd.

True, though still fairly absurd in many games as often you eventually become 'the hero' that people know and yet you still have to do silly crap.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on November 29, 2016, 12:56:28 PM
Anyway play the game until you are done (either because you won it or because you got sick of it) then go over to my AAR thread and tell me what you thought.

Link: http://languish.org/forums/index.php/topic,12726.0.html
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on November 29, 2016, 12:58:03 PM
Quote from: Valmy on November 29, 2016, 12:56:28 PM
Anyway play the game until you are done (either because you won it or because you got sick of it) then go over to my AAR thread and tell me what you thought.

Sure, I have avoided it so far because of spoilers, but I loved your other DA aars.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on November 29, 2016, 02:37:25 PM
I loved DA:I. Not as good as ME 3, which is still the best of the BioWare games, IMHO.

Looking forward to Andromeda.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on November 29, 2016, 03:10:24 PM
One of these days I am going to play the ME2 DLC and ME3. Someday. Probably shortly after I get around to playing the Witcher series.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on November 29, 2016, 03:36:23 PM
Quote from: Valmy on November 29, 2016, 03:10:24 PM
One of these days I am going to play the ME2 DLC and ME3. Someday. Probably shortly after I get around to playing the Witcher series.
DA:I > ME3.

But, ME3 multiplayer was fun.  Buggy as hell, but fun.

ME2 felt a little too much like a console game for me.  Load a level, fight a bunch of monsters, fight a boss, go home.
ME3 has a similar formula, sometimes, but not always.

There's a huge mod, many, many gb, and many hours of installation to get true HD textures for both ME2 and ME3, I recommend it if you want to play.
And forget about Witcher 1&2, #3 will keep you occupied for 200hrs.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on November 29, 2016, 03:57:37 PM
If I play The Witcher it will be the whole series -_-

ME2 felt like a shooter game with self contained 'stages' or whatever but it was a fun shooter game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on November 29, 2016, 04:00:41 PM
I played the first Witcher for maybe 15-20 hours.  I thought it was ok and I kept lolling at all of the ridiculous sex scenes Geralt was having, but there was something or other I found difficult and never ended up getting past it.

I also have Witcher 2 and played it for a little bit but couldn't get used to the combat controls and gave up in frustration.

I hear that they are much more streamlined in 3 and hope and pray that it's the case.  I better not have to get a Steam controller or something in order to play the damn game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on November 29, 2016, 08:15:44 PM
I used a regular game controller. Easy pesy. Great story line and well done.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on November 29, 2016, 09:35:35 PM
Quote from: Caliga on November 29, 2016, 04:00:41 PM
I hear that they are much more streamlined in 3 and hope and pray that it's the case.  I better not have to get a Steam controller or something in order to play the damn game.
I didn't need a Steam controller or something in order to play the damn game.  Only a keyboard and mouse  A new mouse, specifically for gaming, with buttons everywhere, but still a mouse.  Anyway, my old mouse died on me while playing, so no big deal.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 30, 2016, 06:19:18 AM
I have a cheap knockoff of an Xbox controller, made for PC. Worked very well with Witcher 3 but I did NOT enjoy the mouse+keyboard combo
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on November 30, 2016, 08:56:23 AM
Quote from: Tamas on November 30, 2016, 06:19:18 AM
I have a cheap knockoff of an Xbox controller, made for PC. Worked very well with Witcher 3 but I did NOT enjoy the mouse+keyboard combo
you need a programmable mouse, where you can assign more commands.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on November 30, 2016, 11:29:08 AM
Valmy, do me a favour and tell me I shouldn't bother collecting the shards for the Oasis temple sidequest.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on November 30, 2016, 11:38:15 AM
Quote from: celedhring on November 30, 2016, 11:29:08 AM
Valmy, do me a favour and tell me I shouldn't bother collecting the shards for the Oasis temple sidequest.

Um...sure.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on November 30, 2016, 11:46:06 AM
So I should?  :ph34r:

I looked it up and there's 126 of the things. That's a fucking lot and I'm afraid it won't lead to anything too exciting.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on November 30, 2016, 11:48:44 AM
Quote from: celedhring on November 30, 2016, 11:46:06 AM
So I should?  :ph34r:

I looked it up and there's 126 of the things. That's a fucking lot and I'm afraid it won't lead to anything too exciting.

It leads to some decent stuff. As far as collections go it is one of the best. The others take hours and you get a few EXP once you complete the collection.

But ultimately is it worth it? Meh.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on December 01, 2016, 11:25:17 AM
Quote from: celedhring on November 30, 2016, 11:46:06 AM
So I should?  :ph34r:

I looked it up and there's 126 of the things. That's a fucking lot and I'm afraid it won't lead to anything too exciting.
There are some very good equipment there, eventually.  You can live without it, but it'll make your life more miserable, that's all.

The regular game isn't too tough, so it won't show.  Once you get into the expansions though...  I'd use every ounce of bonus and luck I can get.

But it's a really annoying side quests.

Oh, and don't forget the puzzle pieces.  They are ab-so-lu-te-ly essential to the game.  Really.  There's no going around without it.

I would never lie about something that important.









*exits the room silently*
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on December 02, 2016, 02:58:33 PM
Anybody play that new Master of Orion? Its 15 bucks,but I'm getting a vibe that I should hold off.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on December 02, 2016, 03:07:17 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on December 02, 2016, 02:58:33 PM
Anybody play that new Master of Orion? Its 15 bucks,but I'm getting a vibe that I should hold off.
Buy Galactic Civilizations III with all the DLCs.

But if you want MOO, read the review:
http://www.pcgamer.com/master-of-orion-review/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on December 02, 2016, 03:10:20 PM
Gracias. I may get it. Might even revive my AAR thread.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on December 02, 2016, 09:17:33 PM
More on DA:I

So the big bad [spoiler]is recycled from a not particularly interesting DA:2 DLC? Laaaaaaaaaame.[/spoiler]
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on December 02, 2016, 09:28:24 PM
Huh. Seriously? [spoiler]I mean he is one of the Magisters mentioned at the very beginning of DA:O. The very first Darkspawn. The guy who doomed the world. I mean if that is lame then everything in the series is lame. Which, granted, is certainly a valid perspective :P[/spoiler]
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on December 02, 2016, 09:32:29 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on December 02, 2016, 03:10:20 PM
Gracias. I may get it. Might even revive my AAR thread.

Went ahead and got it. If I can change the names of the human leader, prepare your anus for Barron Trump leading humanity from planet Trump Tower over the space Mexicans.

The jokes write themselves.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on December 03, 2016, 12:06:39 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on December 02, 2016, 09:32:29 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on December 02, 2016, 03:10:20 PM
Gracias. I may get it. Might even revive my AAR thread.

Went ahead and got it. If I can change the names of the human leader, prepare your anus for Barron Trump leading humanity from planet Trump Tower over the space Mexicans.

The jokes write themselves.

Especially in that development of the game was outsourced to Argentines.  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on December 03, 2016, 04:18:55 AM
Quote from: Valmy on December 02, 2016, 09:28:24 PM
Huh. Seriously? [spoiler]I mean he is one of the Magisters mentioned at the very beginning of DA:O. The very first Darkspawn. The guy who doomed the world. I mean if that is lame then everything in the series is lame. Which, granted, is certainly a valid perspective :P[/spoiler]

[spoiler]It's a guy that you - as a player - already faced and defeated in a throwaway DLC. So when the villain was revealed in DA:I I was "huh, that guy again?" instead of "ooooh, cool". Plus you already faced another of those "original sin" Magisters in the Awakenings DLC for DA:O (the dude that wants to give Darkspawn free will), so they are old hat by now, imho.[/spoiler]
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on December 03, 2016, 08:48:01 PM
This is good news


http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/12/03/psx-2016-the-last-of-us-part-2-announced
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on December 03, 2016, 08:57:16 PM
Quote from: celedhring on December 03, 2016, 04:18:55 AM
Quote from: Valmy on December 02, 2016, 09:28:24 PM
Huh. Seriously? [spoiler]I mean he is one of the Magisters mentioned at the very beginning of DA:O. The very first Darkspawn. The guy who doomed the world. I mean if that is lame then everything in the series is lame. Which, granted, is certainly a valid perspective :P[/spoiler]

[spoiler]It's a guy that you - as a player - already faced and defeated in a throwaway DLC. So when the villain was revealed in DA:I I was "huh, that guy again?" instead of "ooooh, cool". Plus you already faced another of those "original sin" Magisters in the Awakenings DLC for DA:O (the dude that wants to give Darkspawn free will), so they are old hat by now, imho.[/spoiler]

[spoiler]There is just no pleasing some people.

Anyway I thought the DLC were both excellent for DA2 so I will just have to disagree on "throwaway" :P

Anyway finish the game and then we can talk about it more.[/spoiler]
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on December 03, 2016, 09:18:28 PM
Quote from: Tonitrus on December 03, 2016, 12:06:39 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on December 02, 2016, 09:32:29 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on December 02, 2016, 03:10:20 PM
Gracias. I may get it. Might even revive my AAR thread.

Went ahead and got it. If I can change the names of the human leader, prepare your anus for Barron Trump leading humanity from planet Trump Tower over the space Mexicans.

The jokes write themselves.

Especially in that development of the game was outsourced to Argentines.  :P

Hilarious.

Plus the human science chick has Melania's accent and space cat race has fantastic tits. GRAB EM BY THE PUSSY.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on December 06, 2016, 06:22:29 AM
Quote from: Valmy on December 03, 2016, 08:57:16 PM
Quote from: celedhring on December 03, 2016, 04:18:55 AM
Quote from: Valmy on December 02, 2016, 09:28:24 PM
Huh. Seriously? [spoiler]I mean he is one of the Magisters mentioned at the very beginning of DA:O. The very first Darkspawn. The guy who doomed the world. I mean if that is lame then everything in the series is lame. Which, granted, is certainly a valid perspective :P[/spoiler]

[spoiler]It's a guy that you - as a player - already faced and defeated in a throwaway DLC. So when the villain was revealed in DA:I I was "huh, that guy again?" instead of "ooooh, cool". Plus you already faced another of those "original sin" Magisters in the Awakenings DLC for DA:O (the dude that wants to give Darkspawn free will), so they are old hat by now, imho.[/spoiler]

[spoiler]There is just no pleasing some people.

Anyway I thought the DLC were both excellent for DA2 so I will just have to disagree on "throwaway" :P

Anyway finish the game and then we can talk about it more.[/spoiler]

I plan to finish it around Christmas. Despite the occasional bitching, I am enjoying the game. It helps that the first zones after the first are much tighter and focused. The Hinterlands were a bit scary.

I still don't care much for crafting, though.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on December 06, 2016, 03:39:52 PM
Quote from: celedhring on December 03, 2016, 04:18:55 AM
Quote from: Valmy on December 02, 2016, 09:28:24 PM
Huh. Seriously? [spoiler]I mean he is one of the Magisters mentioned at the very beginning of DA:O. The very first Darkspawn. The guy who doomed the world. I mean if that is lame then everything in the series is lame. Which, granted, is certainly a valid perspective :P[/spoiler]

[spoiler]It's a guy that you - as a player - already faced and defeated in a throwaway DLC. So when the villain was revealed in DA:I I was "huh, that guy again?" instead of "ooooh, cool". Plus you already faced another of those "original sin" Magisters in the Awakenings DLC for DA:O (the dude that wants to give Darkspawn free will), so they are old hat by now, imho.[/spoiler]

[spoiler]You didn't defeat him.  That was clear in the last act of said DLC[/spoiler]
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on December 06, 2016, 03:43:40 PM
Quote from: celedhring on December 06, 2016, 06:22:29 AM
I still don't care much for crafting, though.

Thankfully you can still basically ignore it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on December 06, 2016, 04:53:27 PM
Quote from: garbon on December 06, 2016, 03:43:40 PM
Quote from: celedhring on December 06, 2016, 06:22:29 AM
I still don't care much for crafting, though.

Thankfully you can still basically ignore it.

Yeah, that's what I'm doing so far. Random drops and rewards are more than enough to keep my gear current.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on December 07, 2016, 11:25:25 AM
Crafting in DA:I is basically unnecessary, although I got my best gear that way. It's essentially a nugatory DPS advantage, 99 percent of the time. The high-quality gems are key, though. Killer status effects and armor penetration.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on December 07, 2016, 03:57:37 PM
Quote from: celedhring on December 06, 2016, 04:53:27 PM
Quote from: garbon on December 06, 2016, 03:43:40 PM
Quote from: celedhring on December 06, 2016, 06:22:29 AM
I still don't care much for crafting, though.

Thankfully you can still basically ignore it.

Yeah, that's what I'm doing so far. Random drops and rewards are more than enough to keep my gear current.
the best gear in the game is crafted.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on December 07, 2016, 04:06:16 PM
Yep. I won't say you HAVE to craft stuff (I mean I only played through the game once and I crafted) but the drops are pretty crap compared to what you can, eventually, craft.

And they really go out of their way to make crafting as shitty as possible. IMO anyway. Granted I am not a fan of crafting in RPGs at all.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on December 07, 2016, 05:37:56 PM
So far I just haven't needed "the best gear in the game" to kill anything that I have encountered. And that includes dwagons. Might change later, when I reach the endgame. But these games are so casual (which is fine by me) that I doubt it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on December 08, 2016, 09:47:15 AM
Quote from: celedhring on December 07, 2016, 05:37:56 PM
So far I just haven't needed "the best gear in the game" to kill anything that I have encountered. And that includes dwagons. Might change later, when I reach the endgame. But these games are so casual (which is fine by me) that I doubt it.
You will be afraid.   :ph34r:

EDIT: the basic game is casual, except for a few fights (a couple of dragons were really, really, really hard), and I found that the ennemies don't really scale to your level, at some point, you use an assassin or a mage and the fights are over in less than 30 seconds.   However, once you hit the DLCs...well, ask Valmy, I think he'll describe it in a way that I could never achieve :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on December 08, 2016, 09:55:29 AM
That wascally dwagon!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on December 10, 2016, 07:41:08 PM
Do I dare get my hopes up? I've always wanted a carrier deck flight ops management game :blush:

But it is Matrix and those eurotrash antisemite cossack sluts at Slitherine.

QuoteAnyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm...

But can you manage the deck of the Nimitz-class nuclear powered supercarrier, the USS Ronald Regan (CVN-76)?

Carrier Deck is a fast paced time management game where you will play as the Air Officer on board a CVN-76 in the midst of active war. You, alone, are responsible for all aspects of operations involving aircraft on the ship and you'll need to work fast to ensure everything happens in time for the highest chances of warfare success.

Load the right planes and helicopters up and ready them for the required military missions. Manage both launching and landing the planes, avoiding crashes that could spread throughout the deck wrecking multiple planes and damaging the ship.

In Carrier Deck, you'll manage a staggering array of aircrafts including the F18 Hornet and Super Hornet, Chinook and S3 Viking, through a campaign that covers the oceans all over the globe. Test your skills in a full spectrum of operations across the globe in extensive campaign mode, or just try the Skirmish mode for a quick challenge.

Features

    1. Full management of the flight deck incl, moving, fueling and arming of aircraft
    2. Aircraft maintenance and management of the hangar deck
    3. Selecting and launching of search missions to detect enemy air, surface and submarine threats
    4. Tasking and launching of intercept missions
    5. Special Forces deployment and Amphibous operations
    6. Ground strikes and close air support missions
    7. Receiving and dispatching cargo missions
    8. Full range of aircraft and helicopters onboard from fighters to early warning and detection aircraft.

http://www.matrixgames.com/products/680/details/CarrierDeck

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on December 10, 2016, 07:46:31 PM
Matrix? $129.99
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on December 10, 2016, 07:48:34 PM
Patch 4.04363 to be issued at game release.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on December 10, 2016, 11:01:21 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 10, 2016, 07:41:08 PM
Do I dare get my hopes up? I've always wanted a carrier deck flight ops management game :blush:

But it is Matrix and those eurotrash antisemite cossack sluts at Slitherine.

QuoteAnyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm...

But can you manage the deck of the Nimitz-class nuclear powered supercarrier, the USS Ronald Regan (CVN-76)?

Carrier Deck is a fast paced time management game where you will play as the Air Officer on board a CVN-76 in the midst of active war. You, alone, are responsible for all aspects of operations involving aircraft on the ship and you'll need to work fast to ensure everything happens in time for the highest chances of warfare success.

Load the right planes and helicopters up and ready them for the required military missions. Manage both launching and landing the planes, avoiding crashes that could spread throughout the deck wrecking multiple planes and damaging the ship.

In Carrier Deck, you'll manage a staggering array of aircrafts including the F18 Hornet and Super Hornet, Chinook and S3 Viking, through a campaign that covers the oceans all over the globe. Test your skills in a full spectrum of operations across the globe in extensive campaign mode, or just try the Skirmish mode for a quick challenge.

Features

    1. Full management of the flight deck incl, moving, fueling and arming of aircraft
    2. Aircraft maintenance and management of the hangar deck
    3. Selecting and launching of search missions to detect enemy air, surface and submarine threats
    4. Tasking and launching of intercept missions
    5. Special Forces deployment and Amphibous operations
    6. Ground strikes and close air support missions
    7. Receiving and dispatching cargo missions
    8. Full range of aircraft and helicopters onboard from fighters to early warning and detection aircraft.

http://www.matrixgames.com/products/680/details/CarrierDeck

That's not what a real air ops officer does (he just carries out the air plan, and makes no decisions as to what launches when, nor does he control the flight deck), but what the heck, it's just a game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on December 10, 2016, 11:12:02 PM
Grumbler is awaiting trimere deck, where you press buttons to keep the rowers in line.

a button: flog
B button: hit with stave
C button: throttle slave
D button: kill slave
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on December 10, 2016, 11:20:09 PM
Quote from: grumbler on December 10, 2016, 11:01:21 PM
but what the heck, it's just a game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on December 10, 2016, 11:22:10 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on December 10, 2016, 11:12:02 PM
Grumbler is awaiting trimere deck, where you press buttons to keep the rowers in line.

a button: flog
B button: hit with stave
C button: throttle slave
D button: kill slave

The Wii version lets you simulate the galley drum.  BATTLE SPEED
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on December 10, 2016, 11:27:45 PM
We better keep these awesome game ideas to ourselves, Tamas might steal them.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on December 10, 2016, 11:39:27 PM
All his screenshots are actually photocopies taped to the monitor.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 11, 2016, 01:40:17 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 10, 2016, 07:41:08 PM
But it is Matrix and those eurotrash antisemite cossack sluts at Slitherine.

Slitherine are British. :huh:

Edit: It's by the same guys as Vietnam '65. That was a nifty game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on December 11, 2016, 09:28:18 AM
Quote from: Syt on December 11, 2016, 01:40:17 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 10, 2016, 07:41:08 PM
But it is Matrix and those eurotrash antisemite cossack sluts at Slitherine.

Slitherine are British. :huh:

YOU BLEW THE JOKE
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on December 19, 2016, 07:57:19 PM
Dragon Age 3 update: I'm - I believe - 2/3 in (without DLCs). Thanks to my obsessiveness in clearing every single sidequest in every area, I find myself overlevelling every area I play in, so combat is even less of a challenge than it normally is - which is probably a good thing since it has very little depth. Nonetheless, I'm enjoying the world-building, the sheer amount of side stories, and just gawking at how beautiful this game is - even throwaway zones are designed with great care and immersiveness. That said, I kinda wish they went smaller and allowed themselves more fleshed out quests, encounters, and level design. Like in many (most?) open world games, it's quantity over quality. Still, I'm enjoying playing it more than I did DA2.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on December 19, 2016, 09:38:58 PM
Been playing the 12 Labours of Hercules series of time management games available on steam; surprisingly entertaining.  :bowler:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on December 20, 2016, 12:34:08 AM
Rogue One gave me the need to fire good ol' Star Wars: Rebellion on Steam.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 20, 2016, 03:24:45 AM
Saw the game coming to Steam, but I got it on GOG ages ago.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on December 20, 2016, 03:33:33 AM
The lack of new Star Wars games during this new iteration of the saga is most disappointing. And the only one we got is Star Wars Battlefront...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 20, 2016, 03:44:25 AM
Quote from: celedhring on December 20, 2016, 03:33:33 AM
The lack of new Star Wars games during this new iteration of the saga is most disappointing. And the only one we got is Star Wars Battlefront...

They released a Battle of Scarif DLC. :P

I still want Privateer/Freespace set in the Star Wars universe. :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on December 20, 2016, 07:43:24 AM
I was finally able to get somewhere on Democracy 3. Crushing it in elections with the opposition getting less than a million votes.
It seems the solution in the game as in reality is to spend your way out of a deficit.
Cutting military spending and getting people out of their cars is key too.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 20, 2016, 07:52:35 AM
Imperium Galactica is on GOG. Is it worth getting? Not in a nostalgic sense, but rather is this a game that holds up and is still worth playing?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on December 20, 2016, 09:11:40 AM
Quote from: Syt on December 20, 2016, 03:24:45 AM
Saw the game coming to Steam, but I got it on GOG ages ago.

I wonder if DirectPlay still works for multiplayer.  :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 22, 2016, 08:06:53 AM
Couple of oldies have popped up on GOG:

https://www.gog.com/game/indiana_jones_and_the_last_crusade
https://www.gog.com/game/armed_and_dangerous
https://www.gog.com/game/stunt_island

Not sure how relevant Stunt Island is when you have GTA5 or Just Cause 3 these days.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on December 22, 2016, 01:39:50 PM
Quote from: celedhring on December 20, 2016, 03:33:33 AM
The lack of new Star Wars games during this new iteration of the saga is most disappointing. And the only one we got is Star Wars Battlefront...

we could indeed do with a new x-wing/tie-fighter game. But that's not going to happen I guess
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on December 22, 2016, 02:53:03 PM
Quote from: Syt on December 22, 2016, 08:06:53 AM
Couple of oldies have popped up on GOG:

https://www.gog.com/game/indiana_jones_and_the_last_crusade
https://www.gog.com/game/armed_and_dangerous
https://www.gog.com/game/stunt_island

Not sure how relevant Stunt Island is when you have GTA5 or Just Cause 3 these days.

Of course that game is almost 25 years old, but the big thing of Stunt Island was all the camera/editing tools. I spent stupidly large amounts of time creating my crash reels.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 25, 2016, 03:40:30 AM
RPS's game of the year: Devil Daggers. (Available for 4.99 on Steam)

A video review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-37mtp_Sg4
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on December 27, 2016, 05:38:10 PM
That looks...bad.  :mellow:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on December 28, 2016, 06:42:41 PM
2016 keeps on giving...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on January 04, 2017, 08:02:41 AM
My new PC is arriving tomorrow. I want to buy Battlefield 1 as a sort of celebration. Question: pace-wise, is it such an extremely fast silliness as the Star Wars Battlefront game, or I will have time to turn around before I am killed?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 04, 2017, 08:15:57 AM
I find BF1 pretty ok. It's fast and chaotic, but certainly lower paced than, say, Battlefront or Overwatch IMHO.

nVidia asked me to play with 150% oversampling on my 1080p screen on the GTX 1080, but I removed that. Game still looks amazing, though.

For other games to give your new rig a workout, look at Just Cause 3 if you haven't yet. Or reinstall Witcher 3, or GTA5.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on January 04, 2017, 08:25:49 AM
Thanks Syt.

I am definitely planning on reinstalling The Witcher 3, I am fairly late in the campaign I hope I'll be able to remember how to fight :D

And there is Total War Warhammer that I sorta' stopped playing because the long loading times, small screen, medium graphics combo was starting to test my patience.

Plus I am quite curious to see what improvement I can get with the single thread CPU-heavy strategy games.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 04, 2017, 08:31:34 AM
Btw, there's plenty gameplay videos and streams out there to see BF1 gameplay. ;)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on January 04, 2017, 08:32:16 AM
Quote from: Syt on January 04, 2017, 08:31:34 AM
Btw, there's plenty gameplay videos and streams out there to see BF1 gameplay. ;)

good point  :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on January 04, 2017, 08:33:08 AM
You might consider The Division as well. I've been playing that, and it looks incredible on my old PC, I bet it looks amazing on something current.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 04, 2017, 08:50:32 AM
Haven't played The Division, but I hear that while the main game is ho-hum, the Survival Expansion is really good.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on January 04, 2017, 09:09:03 AM
I only started playing after XMas, a friend of mine had it and said that it was improved immensely in the 1.4 or 1.5 patch, and was a lot of fun. Kind of like Destiny, but in modern NYC.

I've really enjoyed it so far. The gameplay is very good, but not super twitchy. I think of it as a cross of Counter Strike and Destiny.

And it really does look incredible. I was fighting in Stuyvesant town, which is where my little sister lives in Manhattan, and I literally felt in game like I had been there before - I recognized the street my sister lives on from having been there before. It was kind of creepy...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on January 04, 2017, 09:26:01 AM
 :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 04, 2017, 09:34:33 AM
I may have to give this a try then, at some point.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on January 04, 2017, 09:35:29 AM
One other thing I like about it...it is hard! I am well geared for my level, and me and a friend play coop, and we die regularly if we are not careful and spend a little time planning what we are going to do...

If either of you play, let me know. The game is a blast played coop, IMO.


BerkutJH in game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on January 04, 2017, 09:36:35 AM
It was on sale for $25 for the holidays on Steam, not sure if that is still going...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on January 04, 2017, 09:45:27 AM
I have taken a look and I think I'll go with BF1 for now. I am more in mood for the older style weapons right now. I still have a couple of days to change my mind though!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 04, 2017, 10:00:41 AM
Ubi is currently in a mode where they discount their stuff frequently and regularly to drive people to their uPlay store/client. Probably best to wait for another offer on Division.

Speaking of Ubi, Rainbow Six Siege seems to be in very good shape with a very solid playerbase these days.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on January 04, 2017, 10:01:17 AM
Yeah, if it is not on sale, I am sure it will be again soon...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on January 04, 2017, 07:56:47 PM
Put it in your Steam Wish List, and they will email you went it's on sale.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on January 04, 2017, 10:24:45 PM
Finally gotten around to Shogun 2. Me rikey the Rise of the Samurai campaign. Me rikey warrior monks.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on January 04, 2017, 10:34:07 PM
Shogun 2?  What, did fahdiz have a yard sale?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on January 04, 2017, 10:37:04 PM
EXCUSE ME FOR BEING 3 YEARS BEHIND ON MOST PC GAMES.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on January 04, 2017, 10:40:50 PM
Hello if I had a comp to run Age of Rifles and CivWar Generals 2, I would. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on January 04, 2017, 10:54:02 PM
Now that you mention it, I have an entire box full of DVD and floppy PC games, everything from TalonSoft titles to shit like Battlefield 1942, Ghost Recon and AH's 5th Fleet.  Wonder if it's worth anything on the eBay.com nerd feeding frenzy.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on January 05, 2017, 01:56:38 AM
Dosbox
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on January 05, 2017, 02:17:33 AM
Quote from: Tamas on January 05, 2017, 01:56:38 AM
Dosbox

Bootstrap poserware.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on January 05, 2017, 03:45:16 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on January 04, 2017, 10:24:45 PM
Finally gotten around to Shogun 2. Me rikey the Rise of the Samurai campaign. Me rikey warrior monks.

Nice. I like Shogun 2. Haven't played Rise yet though (I'm a Sengoku fanboi).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on January 05, 2017, 08:46:52 PM
More Shogun 2. Got 16 provinces and apparently I scare everybody else and they jump me. Only my 2 vassals and 2 allies(one if them being my brother clan) stick with me.

Now I'm gonna assrape the AI with my Monk/samauri/cavalry stacks. Yeah bitches.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Alcibiades on January 05, 2017, 09:18:32 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on January 04, 2017, 10:37:04 PM
EXCUSE ME FOR BEING 3 YEARS BEHIND ON MOST PC GAMES.

Try six years you dirty old senior citizen.   :mad:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on January 05, 2017, 09:21:29 PM
Quote from: Alcibiades on January 05, 2017, 09:18:32 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on January 04, 2017, 10:37:04 PM
EXCUSE ME FOR BEING 3 YEARS BEHIND ON MOST PC GAMES.

Try six years you dirty old senior citizen.   :mad:

:yes:

Like thinking Modern Family is the greatest new show ever.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on January 05, 2017, 09:26:49 PM
Excuse me for not being a total dweeb.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on January 05, 2017, 09:48:53 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on January 05, 2017, 09:26:49 PM
Excuse me for not being a total dweeb.

Have you tried the Nappy TW?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on January 05, 2017, 09:50:37 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on January 05, 2017, 09:48:53 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on January 05, 2017, 09:26:49 PM
Excuse me for not being a total dweeb.

Have you tried the Nappy TW?

Yeah. Game didn't tickle my pickle. Doesn't feel Napoleonic to me.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on January 05, 2017, 09:51:42 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on January 05, 2017, 09:50:37 PM
Yeah. Game didn't tickle my pickle. Doesn't feel Napoleonic to me.

16-bit usually doesn't.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on January 05, 2017, 09:52:43 PM
Shut up Wesley.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on January 05, 2017, 10:02:00 PM
Napoleonic The Hedgehog

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on January 06, 2017, 08:39:01 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on January 05, 2017, 09:26:49 PM
Excuse me for not being a total dweeb.

Dweebs are the only people able to google? :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 06, 2017, 10:57:10 AM
Historicalgamer's strategy games of the year:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AubW_aOdEpM

1. 2:58 - Hearts of Iron IV (Paradox)
2. 10:10 - Order of Battle: World War II (Matrix/Slitherine)
3. 16:31 - Atlantic Fleet (Killerfish)
4. 23:10 - Rule the Waves (NWS)
5. 28:34 - Ultimate General: Civil War (Game Labs)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on January 06, 2017, 11:47:32 AM
lol Hearts of Iron
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on January 06, 2017, 02:36:07 PM
Must have been a bad year.  HoI4 is horrid.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on January 06, 2017, 02:41:31 PM
Quote from: Syt on January 06, 2017, 10:57:10 AM
Historicalgamer's strategy games of the year:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AubW_aOdEpM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AubW_aOdEpM)

1. 2:58 - Hearts of Iron IV (Paradox)
2. 10:10 - Order of Battle: World War II (Matrix/Slitherine)
3. 16:31 - Atlantic Fleet (Killerfish)
4. 23:10 - Rule the Waves (NWS)
5. 28:34 - Ultimate General: Civil War (Game Labs)

C'mon.  Ultimate general hasn't even had a full release.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on January 06, 2017, 03:28:10 PM
Quote from: Tyr on January 06, 2017, 02:36:07 PM
Must have been a bad year.

+1
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on January 06, 2017, 03:47:20 PM
Crap, Battlefield 1 is awesome, and I was, very unlike me, kicking ass in my first MP match, went straight up to level 3. Then I got dropped from the server and apparently all my points got lost  :mad:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on January 06, 2017, 04:20:05 PM
Quote from: Tamas on January 06, 2017, 03:47:20 PM
Crap, Battlefield 1 is awesome, and I was, very unlike me, kicking ass in my first MP match, went straight up to level 3. Then I got dropped from the server and apparently all my points got lost  :mad:

Thanks Brexit!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 09, 2017, 02:00:18 PM
Hey Barrister, you like the Canadian wilderness, don't you? :P

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/01/09/the-long-dark-sandbox-review/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on January 27, 2017, 12:43:39 PM
Does Galciv3 worth it?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 28, 2017, 02:42:04 AM
Found it meh. Didn't really add much to the GalCiv2 model.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Alcibiades on January 29, 2017, 03:27:42 PM
Avorion is really cool. 

http://store.steampowered.com/app/445220/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on January 29, 2017, 03:50:16 PM
I noticed that Steam reviews were kind to Mortal Kombat X after they apparently did some PC optimization, so I bought it (half price). I like it so far.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Arvoreen on January 30, 2017, 11:32:53 AM
My son hooked me on this one....seems to be an updated Dwarf Fortress type game

http://store.steampowered.com/app/294100/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 31, 2017, 11:18:50 AM
Conan Exiles - comes with dick slider and jiggle physics.

NSFW link with dangly bits: http://www.pcgamer.com/conan-exiles-dick-slider/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on January 31, 2017, 12:41:58 PM
Try it Syt and let us know. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 31, 2017, 12:43:39 PM
Watched some streams of this yesterday I will wait for a few more updates before I buy. Seems pretty barebones so far.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on February 05, 2017, 10:41:28 PM
Still playing Rome II. Watching 8 legions assrape eastern kingdoms gives me big boner.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 13, 2017, 03:13:07 PM
Watching TB play Sniper Elite 4. He sneaks up a tower, but soldiers see him. He tries to mine the stairs, but the enemy sees it and decides, "let's not go there."

However, the tower is made of wood, so they just shoot him from multiple directions through the soft cover and kill him. :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 23, 2017, 10:54:11 AM
Hidden & Dangerous 1 and 2 are now available on GOG.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on February 25, 2017, 07:02:02 PM
Just acquired 'Plants vs Zombies' on steam, rather amusing game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Alcibiades on February 25, 2017, 08:51:12 PM
Ghost Recon Wildlands having a free open beta this weekend.  Just beat whats available in the beta, pretty good.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 26, 2017, 03:47:59 AM
PSA: If you register a game from Matrix/Slitherine on your accoutn, do so on your Slitherine account, not Matrix. Slitherine appears to give you access to the original installers, while Matrix does not.

Been registering a bunch of my older games, like WitP:AE or Command Ops, on my Slitherine account and I get to download the installers again.

On my old Matrix games it doesn't have that (only downloads for patches or manuals, at best). Not sure why they don't have one unified system for both.

Also, I "merged" my Matrix and SLitherine accounts - shouldn't the members area where I can see my registered games also get merged? Why have that separated? Trying to use the key of a Matrix-registered game on Slitherine tells me that the key has already been used.

And for Spartan and Chariots of War it tells me my serials are invalid. Not already registered, just invalid. <_<

EDIT: Oh, wait, found some downloads on Matrix under "My Orders" - but of a mess those two sites. And not sure why Slitherine adopted the Matrix look instead oif vice versa. I preferred the look and feel of Slitherine's page by far.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on February 26, 2017, 05:28:48 PM
Tamas had a beet do their websites.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 26, 2017, 05:38:33 PM
 :rolleyes:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on February 26, 2017, 07:36:46 PM
It shows I care.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 27, 2017, 03:07:29 PM
Jim Sterling on Digital Homicide's $10 million law suit against him that was dismissed with prejudice:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS-LXvhy1Do

(includes lots of gloating)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: jimmy olsen on March 01, 2017, 09:11:35 PM
Been playing around with Universe Sandbox 2.

Placed a rocky planet with .91 Earth masses, a radius of 6199km and a density of 5.45g/cm3 in a stable orbit 1.28 AU from the sun and named it Minerva.

With an atmopheric density 1.21 times Earth it is a balmy 50 C.  That seems surpisingly high.  :hmm:

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: MadBurgerMaker on March 05, 2017, 02:42:39 AM
I got myself Rise of Flight and a couple of the plane packs from Steam.  My pilot, Franz something (Hoffmann? I don't remember it's from a name generator.  There are two Ns at the end for sure though.  Very German. :P) got two kills on his first mission.  A Nieuport 11 and 17 GBR.  He then broke his wings on the second mission while making a turn and was seriously injured.  His fault, not mine.  Definitely his fault.


Flying a Halberstadt D.II sometime in 1916.  Cool game if you like flight sims and/or WW1 planes. 

E:  I'm using this mod called the Pat Wilson campaign generator.  Makes it easier to create and do stuff for a pilot career.  Side note:  I have been reminded by this game that WW1 planes were fucking death traps.

E2:  Got up to 6 kills and a new bird + squadron transfer.  Jasta 2, Albatros D.IIlt with a 20mm overwing gun to go with the usual nose MG:

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F0w5UAMX.gif&hash=6bcd9a541f9b74dca31fd69f75bd8b92402777fe)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 05, 2017, 02:57:53 AM
Played Four Last Things, a point and click made entirely with rennaissance art (well, some is dated later) and music (again, some later composers, like Bach). http://store.steampowered.com/app/503400/

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.akamai.steamstatic.com%2Fsteam%2Fapps%2F503400%2Fss_0c0e2310cec136782cb19a993d7b8df425d19694.1920x1080.jpg&hash=3ec6a76b046ed682513e67352fade8ab3391d086)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.akamai.steamstatic.com%2Fsteam%2Fapps%2F503400%2Fss_520b638f7b01323472aac1b86744463cb2a68ae7.1920x1080.jpg&hash=51bac82dea37cb7391c7864328ba50a6d829c2cb)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.akamai.steamstatic.com%2Fsteam%2Fapps%2F503400%2Fss_1eefbc1da30a3bd779212d1784c87b20b3606eea.1920x1080.jpg&hash=f3627052f492664a4f8aa722958449ba706fe7e3)

It's a short experience (I finished in 2 hours), not very hard or deep, and has some funny jokes, but overall left me wanting for more. 7.99 is a bit much for the experience, but probably worth it at half off.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 06, 2017, 02:44:59 PM
http://store.steampowered.com/app/509260/?snr=1_239_new__newonsteam-largecap

QuoteNorthern Regime: 1862 is a hardcore survival game set against the backdrop of the American Civil War in the frozen and frigid lands of Northern Dakota. It's you vs. the environment and all its inherent dangers as you tackle Confederate soldiers, hostile wildlife, and the cold to stay alive.

:lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 07, 2017, 04:49:22 AM
Picked up Spacechem on GOG's spring sale:

https://www.gog.com/game/spacechem

Really enjoying it so far, thoguh I think I'm still a fair ways from the really challenging puzzles.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on March 07, 2017, 05:41:03 AM
Quote from: Syt on March 06, 2017, 02:44:59 PM
http://store.steampowered.com/app/509260/?snr=1_239_new__newonsteam-largecap

QuoteNorthern Regime: 1862 is a hardcore survival game set against the backdrop of the American Civil War in the frozen and frigid lands of Northern Dakota. It's you vs. the environment and all its inherent dangers as you tackle Confederate soldiers, hostile wildlife, and the cold to stay alive.

:lol:


Goddamn, Sherpa guides on Everest don't have backpacks that big.

You'd think somebody with all that programming skill would use it for Good, not Stupid. 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: MadBurgerMaker on March 10, 2017, 11:18:50 PM
Six kills for the Royal Navy.  The Sopwith Pup rules all. 

Until I get my hands on a Camel. 

Death to zee Germans.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 11, 2017, 09:39:33 AM
Really enjoying Warhammer 40000: Armageddon. The application of the Panzer General model to Warhammer works very well, and I enjoy this a lot more than the Panzer Corps series.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: jimmy olsen on March 13, 2017, 09:26:27 AM
Anyone play Cossacks 3? Is it any good?

https://youtu.be/F2RdtB_0FFc
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 13, 2017, 09:27:05 AM
User reviews on GOG seem pretty "meh."

https://www.gog.com/game/cossacks_3
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on March 18, 2017, 08:27:31 AM
Stardew Valley is very good, fun, light, and relaxing :wub:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 19, 2017, 03:41:06 PM
Ah, Just Cause 3 .... :lol:

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi0.kym-cdn.com%2Fphotos%2Fimages%2Foriginal%2F001%2F185%2F629%2F2d7.gif&hash=38e13f2a5bd2c6fb39ae947d96852393d4653bc7)

(From Know Your Meme)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on March 20, 2017, 03:51:52 AM
I started Grim Dawn.
So far.... Alright.
But clicky clicky clicky
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on March 20, 2017, 10:19:33 PM
A remame of Crisis in The Kremlin has been discreetly released on Steam.  :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 21, 2017, 02:53:01 AM
Quote from: Drakken on March 20, 2017, 10:19:33 PM
A remame of Crisis in The Kremlin has been discreetly released on Steam.  :hmm:

QuoteDon't let the Soviet Union to collapse, and the socialist system to fall in the darkness of history or lead the Soviet Union by a new path – democracy and free market! But before you decide something, think – wouldn't it cause more harm than good?

FREE FUTURE DLCS

Also we will make new free DLCs, if the game is bought by definitely number of people.
Possible DLCs:
200 purchases: "Aftermath"
- 1986 starting year (if Chernenko would died in 1986); new usual and prestarting ('history') events; new modificators.
350 purchases: "Five years of funeral"
- Death of politicians; new politicians; events-reaction on death of politicians.
450 purchases: "The August coup"
- 1991 starting year(playable GKChP and Gorbachev); special prestarting ("history") events for this starting year; new modificators.
650 purchases: "Arsenal of Lubyanka"
- Specials features of KGB; geological science branch (which influence on different types of country); opportunity to influence on propaganda vector.
800 purchases: "Australia and Oceania"
- Adding of Australia and Oceania, cooperation with them, and new events.
1000 purchases: "Alternative"
- 1993 starting year, where USSR has won the Cold War, but lost countries and former allies, despite of accepting new ideological formation, are cooperating in Collective Security Treaty Alliance to prepare a ground for a new Cold War. New events, new actions in Dimplomacy and new Aalliances.

ABOUT THIS GAME

Comrades! Brothers and sisters!

In this significant day I want to tell all workers of the world, that our expectations have come true and as The Great Revolution was a perfect Party's creation so a proletarian game Crisis in Kremlin is an outstanding achievement of this great organization! Because now completely every person, even a cook, can rule the state! And this is our merit, comrades, because only we bring protection and prosperity and we must overtake the rotting West. And so every person must as soon as possible master this skill by opening Crisis in Kremlin and bring the started to an end – to the 5-year plan of new millennium!

In the game every comrade will have to solve important political and economic, but historically accurate, interesting and exciting questions and tasks. On your decisions it will depend, what the USSR will be by the end of the year 1991 (and even a bit further) – empty words, which everybody interpret in dark colors, a superpower or the new pillar of democracy, though you can try any other political mechanic, you like.

However,don't forget that we are watching you closely and honestly hope that you will not betray your labor Motherland!

Crisis in the Kremlin

- is the game about Perestroyka time, where you should reign the Soviet Union at such hard period and lead it to the Bright Future by way like you want!
Do you think democracy and free market are salvation? Do you want democracy socialism? Or christian conservatism? Utopian communism?.. Or, perhaps, do you like dictatorship and your deification? All ways are open!

Here you can:
- Start Perestroyka and survival through it
- Demolish Soviet Union or build full-automatisation state
- Rule the Council of Ministers
- Controll the State Planning Comittee
- Commit diplomacy actions
- Intervene in international events
- Repress, reform, proclaim, interfere, declare, destroy and build...

Will you influence on dark future?
All world is waiting for you, comrade!

Yeah, don't color me convinced ...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on March 21, 2017, 09:13:45 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on March 18, 2017, 08:27:31 AM
Stardew Valley is very good, fun, light, and relaxing :wub:
I've been farming parsnips, potatoes, and tulips, and making some decent money. Also I caught some sardines and snagged some seaweed.

Cleared out a bit more of the trees and wild grass and weeds around the farm. Next up on the docket is building a fence around my first field and building a coop for chickens! :w00t:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on March 21, 2017, 11:42:52 PM
Okay Funk... I bought Stardew Valley.  It does have a very relaxing vibe to it at the end of a busy day. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on March 22, 2017, 07:58:43 AM
Quote from: Barrister on March 21, 2017, 11:42:52 PM
Okay Funk... I bought Stardew Valley.  It does have a very relaxing vibe to it at the end of a busy day. :)

It really does lighten my mood up after work. The soundtrack is good and the cutscenes are really cute as well.

My advice is to do whatever you want in the game at your own pace without regard for timing and just chill out while you plant your parsnips :cool:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on March 22, 2017, 10:41:17 AM
I've been tempted by that one for a while.
I used to love Harvest Moon.
But I'm just too much of a completionist. Strove for constant efficiency
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 22, 2017, 12:59:37 PM
Quote from: Drakken on March 20, 2017, 10:19:33 PM
A remame of Crisis in The Kremlin has been discreetly released on Steam.  :hmm:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4d8dMAd10xE
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on March 22, 2017, 03:32:52 PM
Quote from: Syt on March 22, 2017, 12:59:37 PM
Quote from: Drakken on March 20, 2017, 10:19:33 PM
A remame of Crisis in The Kremlin has been discreetly released on Steam.  :hmm:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4d8dMAd10xE

Waaaay too many moving parts, but I can see myself enjoying fiddling with it and trying to trigger WWIII or some other fun shit. Will definitely pick up at a deep discount.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 22, 2017, 03:52:57 PM
Quote from: celedhring on March 22, 2017, 03:32:52 PMWaaaay too many moving parts

That was my impression. No way this is well balanced. Though there may be so many options that it takes a while to notice the imbalances.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 24, 2017, 03:23:33 PM
When you spend over 90 minutes on an Operation in BF1, are on the final attack, and then the server disconnects. :mad:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on March 24, 2017, 06:46:05 PM
Quote from: Syt on March 24, 2017, 03:23:33 PM
When you spend over 90 minutes on an Operation in BF1, are on the final attack, and then the server disconnects. :mad:

Clearly God favors the Allies -_-
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on March 26, 2017, 03:30:00 AM
Got a new computer. Now BF1 looks pretty good, maybe I should start playing it in earnest.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on March 26, 2017, 01:48:02 PM
Bought Ghost Recon Wildlands. Liking it a lot so far, but then I liked Far Cry 3 and 4. My soldier is hot. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: frunk on March 27, 2017, 10:14:39 PM
I just gave Grim Dawn a bit of a try, and it's ok.  Has some nice ideas, but the skill system isn't that interesting.  I think it's best to maximize two attack skills (one damage, one control) and concentrate the rest of your points on support.  There are some combos involving cooldowns, but they don't seem as effective.  Compare that to Diablo 3 (choose from a few different skill choices that all get better as you level) or POE (focus on a damage type but choose from several different skills within those types).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on March 27, 2017, 11:27:35 PM
Anyone try Battle Brothers?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 28, 2017, 02:02:39 AM
Quote from: frunk on March 27, 2017, 10:14:39 PM
I just gave Grim Dawn a bit of a try, and it's ok.  Has some nice ideas, but the skill system isn't that interesting.  I think it's best to maximize two attack skills (one damage, one control) and concentrate the rest of your points on support.  There are some combos involving cooldowns, but they don't seem as effective.  Compare that to Diablo 3 (choose from a few different skill choices that all get better as you level) or POE (focus on a damage type but choose from several different skills within those types).

Also, D3 offers high level gear that bossts certain skills and can create powerful combos. My nuke monk was pretty fun to play (click on edge of screen once or twice, kill all enemies in vicinity before you see them).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on March 28, 2017, 09:35:08 AM
Quote from: frunk on March 27, 2017, 10:14:39 PM
I just gave Grim Dawn a bit of a try, and it's ok.  Has some nice ideas, but the skill system isn't that interesting.  I think it's best to maximize two attack skills (one damage, one control) and concentrate the rest of your points on support.  There are some combos involving cooldowns, but they don't seem as effective.  Compare that to Diablo 3 (choose from a few different skill choices that all get better as you level) or POE (focus on a damage type but choose from several different skills within those types).

Grim Dawn is about the synergies created by selecting the two classes.  There are multiple ways that can be done.  You are right that Diablo 3 is very different - that game is pretty mindless.  Just pick a skill and you are done.  With Grim Dawn the game is designed to allow you to respec easily to take advantage of better synergies and equipment bonuses as you level.  After a while you start getting equipment that will tempt you to respec to take advantage of the skills inherent in the equipment.

Also, the game is designed to use multiple skills.  If you were just using two then you were definitely missing out on the full potential of the character you were playing.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: frunk on March 28, 2017, 10:24:50 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 28, 2017, 09:35:08 AM

Grim Dawn is about the synergies created by selecting the two classes.  There are multiple ways that can be done.  You are right that Diablo 3 is very different - that game is pretty mindless.  Just pick a skill and you are done.  With Grim Dawn the game is designed to allow you to respec easily to take advantage of better synergies and equipment bonuses as you level.  After a while you start getting equipment that will tempt you to respec to take advantage of the skills inherent in the equipment.

Also, the game is designed to use multiple skills.  If you were just using two then you were definitely missing out on the full potential of the character you were playing.

I use more than one skill, but only two attacks.  The rest of the skills are support to improve damage or survivability.  As best I can tell the skill tree encourages continuing to push that narrow focus to maximize effect, and I haven't really seen a reason to respec into a different attack.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on March 28, 2017, 10:53:31 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on March 27, 2017, 11:27:35 PM
Anyone try Battle Brothers?

It's pretty good if you want a turn-based tactical combat game with a Free Company-theme set in a low-fantasy universe. It's actually pretty difficult until you scavenge up some decent gear. Your men will die. A lot.

I haven't tried it since they patched in the end-game troubles like Orc invasions.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on March 28, 2017, 06:55:28 PM
Quote from: frunk on March 28, 2017, 10:24:50 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 28, 2017, 09:35:08 AM

Grim Dawn is about the synergies created by selecting the two classes.  There are multiple ways that can be done.  You are right that Diablo 3 is very different - that game is pretty mindless.  Just pick a skill and you are done.  With Grim Dawn the game is designed to allow you to respec easily to take advantage of better synergies and equipment bonuses as you level.  After a while you start getting equipment that will tempt you to respec to take advantage of the skills inherent in the equipment.

Also, the game is designed to use multiple skills.  If you were just using two then you were definitely missing out on the full potential of the character you were playing.

I use more than one skill, but only two attacks.  The rest of the skills are support to improve damage or survivability.  As best I can tell the skill tree encourages continuing to push that narrow focus to maximize effect, and I haven't really seen a reason to respec into a different attack.

Yeah, but that is what I am talking about.  The game is really designed to use multiple attack skills which stack and enhance the effects of eachother.  It is possible to get by with only two but I am not sure why you want to limit yourself in that way.  The mob resistances become such that it would be hard to progress if you were only using two attacks.  It is possible to do it, but I am not sure why you would.   The downside is that the game can become a bit frenzied and situational awareness can become important as you figure out what attacks work best against which mobs and so if you really only want to use a few skills over and over Diablo is probably the better choice.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: frunk on March 28, 2017, 07:56:35 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 28, 2017, 06:55:28 PM
Yeah, but that is what I am talking about.  The game is really designed to use multiple attack skills which stack and enhance the effects of eachother.  It is possible to get by with only two but I am not sure why you want to limit yourself in that way.  The mob resistances become such that it would be hard to progress if you were only using two attacks.  It is possible to do it, but I am not sure why you would.   The downside is that the game can become a bit frenzied and situational awareness can become important as you figure out what attacks work best against which mobs and so if you really only want to use a few skills over and over Diablo is probably the better choice.

Maybe that happens near endgame, but I haven't had any problem so far clearing out areas and taking on bosses with just two.  Considering I can still enhance those two, I don't know why I would waste time weakening them by spreading the points around.

So far it has been much simpler than Diablo.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on March 29, 2017, 08:43:49 AM
Played through an Indie game called Kona, which takes place in Canada in 1970.  Starts off okay, but feels like it ends halfway through.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 29, 2017, 09:40:27 AM
Planescape enhanced edition coming. I never finished this game.

https://www.gog.com/game/planescape_torment_enhanced_edition

QuoteAbout: The original Planescape: Torment was released in 1999 to widespread critical acclaim. It won RPG of the Year from multiple outlets for its unconventional story, characters, and amazing soundtrack. Since then, millions of Planescape: Torment fans have enjoyed exploring the strange and dangerous city of Sigil and surrounding planes through the Nameless One's eyes.

Discover an incredibly rich story and a setting unlike anything else in fantasy. Defeat strange and alien creatures, engage in rich dialogue, and explore the dark and dangerous Planescape setting in this 50+ hour RPG classic.

This is Planescape: Torment like you've never seen before."What can change the nature of a man?" - You are the Nameless One, a hulking figure covered in scars and tattoos collected over the course of countless lives—none of which you can remember, but are now coming back to haunt you. You are prodded awake by Morte, a floating skull and keeper of secrets, to embark on an adventure taking The Nameless One from the dirty streets of Sigil into the mysterious Outer Planes and even into the depths of Hell itself.

Portals riddle the planar metropolis of Sigil, providing access to anywhere in existence, but only if you have the proper key. Known as the "City of Doors," Sigil is a neutral ground where demons, devas, and races from across the multiverse gather under the watchful shadow of the Lady of Pain, the city's enigmatic ruler. This is a place where the word is mightier than the sword, where thought defines reality, and belief has the power to reshape worlds.

In your search for answers, you'll find companions matching the bizarre nature of the planes: a chaste succubus who can kill with a kiss, a confused crossbow-wielding cube, a suit of armor animated by a spirit demanding JUSTICE, and more. With these companions and others at The Nameless One's side, you will explore worlds in search of answers, all to discover that some destinies cannot be escaped and some memories cost more than an even an immortal can bear.

- Enhanced Planescape: Chris Avellone, Lead Designer on Planescape Torment, has partnered with Beamdog to curate gameplay updates, bug fixes, and enhancements to best capture his original vision for the game.

- The Planes Await: Planescape is a setting you've never experienced before, filled with strange magics, bizarre adversaries, and Dungeons & Dragons locations from across the multiverse.

- Conversations to Remember: Encounter personable items, philosophic undead, and rat hiveminds while walking the planes with the strangest collection of allies ever seen in an RPG.

- Pick Your Path: Character creation is just the beginning. The Nameless One can change his class, alignment, and even gain new abilities based on your choices.

- Remastered Music: The full Planescape: Torment soundtrack has been remastered in-game to add more depth to Sigil and the multiverse.

- 4K Interface: Sigil has never looked this good! The interface of Planescape: Torment has been rebuilt in high definition with tons of new convenience features.

- A Planescape For Today: The Enhanced Edition includes modern features such as tab highlighting, area zooming, combat log, quickloot, and more!

- Play It Your Way: Enable Enhanced Edition features as you desire or turn them off to experience Planescape: Torment in its original glory.

- Cast Comprehend Languages: Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition is available in English, French, Polish, German, and Korean. Note: Korean translations are text only with voice-overs played in English.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on March 29, 2017, 09:56:42 AM
I might buy it if it goes on sale and if I find myself with the time to play it.  It was one of the best RPGs of its day, after all.

Otherwise, meh.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on March 29, 2017, 12:30:54 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on March 22, 2017, 07:58:43 AM
Quote from: Barrister on March 21, 2017, 11:42:52 PM
Okay Funk... I bought Stardew Valley.  It does have a very relaxing vibe to it at the end of a busy day. :)

It really does lighten my mood up after work. The soundtrack is good and the cutscenes are really cute as well.

My advice is to do whatever you want in the game at your own pace without regard for timing and just chill out while you plant your parsnips :cool:

Surprisingly I'm still playing.

Game does get more involved as you go along.  In order to advance certain quests it's not enough to just plant simple crops - now you have to make various items out of the crops you grow (e.g. I'm growing hops to make beer, but I need to build a brewing-thingy so I'm busy mining in order to get copper).  BUt still every day starts with waking up, watering my crops, then deciding what else I have time to do that day.

When I realistically have about an hour to game before going to bed it's somehow satisfying.  I mean I wish I had time to dig into a 100+ hr RPG, but the couple times I've tried I just don't have the time for it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on March 29, 2017, 12:54:33 PM
Quote from: Barrister on March 29, 2017, 12:30:54 PM
When I realistically have about an hour to game before going to bed it's somehow satisfying.  I mean I wish I had time to dig into a 100+ hr RPG, but the couple times I've tried I just don't have the time for it.

This as been a problem for me for a number of years but this Christmas I think I finally found the solution to it.

I bought a Xbone & Forza Horizon 3. Now I race cars for an hour or 2 and I am satisfied.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: frunk on March 30, 2017, 09:24:48 AM
I was quite enjoying Grim Dawn last night, and ready to post how much I liked exploring the world and not having Magic Find.  Then I hit a quest I couldn't finish.  Completely blocked after running 3 levels of a dungeon with no indication of how to fix the problem other than reference to an item I didn't have.  I fired up the wiki, and it turned out I needed to complete another quest given by an NPC I'd never met (and most likely wouldn't of found).  So I run that quest which includes going 2 levels deep in another dungeon, then go back (walking down through 3 levels again) and use the item.  I get to the boss fight and die.  It turns out I need to craft the item again to gain access.  By this point I'd played an hour or so longer than I wanted so I stopped.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on March 30, 2017, 10:14:40 AM
Quote from: frunk on March 30, 2017, 09:24:48 AM
I was quite enjoying Grim Dawn last night, and ready to post how much I liked exploring the world and not having Magic Find.  Then I hit a quest I couldn't finish.  Completely blocked after running 3 levels of a dungeon with no indication of how to fix the problem other than reference to an item I didn't have.  I fired up the wiki, and it turned out I needed to complete another quest given by an NPC I'd never met (and most likely wouldn't of found).  So I run that quest which includes going 2 levels deep in another dungeon, then go back (walking down through 3 levels again) and use the item.  I get to the boss fight and die.  It turns out I need to craft the item again to gain access.  By this point I'd played an hour or so longer than I wanted so I stopped.

Where was this?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: frunk on March 30, 2017, 10:21:55 AM
Quote from: The Brain on March 30, 2017, 10:14:40 AM
Where was this?

Secrets of the Lost (http://grimdawn.wikia.com/wiki/Secrets_of_the_Lost) requires Descent into Torment (http://grimdawn.wikia.com/wiki/Descent_into_Torment), which you don't get until completing Old Scars (http://grimdawn.wikia.com/wiki/Old_Scars).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on March 30, 2017, 10:24:19 AM
Thanks. Managed to avoid the problem in my many runs. :)

I have 482 hours in the game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: frunk on March 30, 2017, 10:29:13 AM
Quote from: The Brain on March 30, 2017, 10:24:19 AM
Thanks. Managed to avoid the problem in my many runs. :)

I have 482 hours in the game.

It's certainly not a mistake I'll repeat, as I know the ordering now.  In some sense it ties into what I like about the game, encouraging you to explore rather than race through taking the shortest path.  I just wish there would have been some indication in game on what to do, other than wandering around randomly or looking it up in the wiki.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 05, 2017, 03:00:49 AM
I've gone through my games catalogue and compiled a "to do" list of games I actually want to play/finish out of all the guff that has accumulated over the years.

Well, I'm down to 250-300 titles out of 1000+. A lot of them RPGs. :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on April 05, 2017, 04:35:01 AM
Quote from: Syt on April 05, 2017, 03:00:49 AM
I've gone through my games catalogue and compiled a "to do" list of games I actually want to play/finish out of all the guff that has accumulated over the years.

Well, I'm down to 250-300 titles out of 1000+. A lot of them RPGs. :hmm:

:wacko:

I've got about 20 and I've barely played half of them.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on April 08, 2017, 07:06:25 AM
Quote from: Barrister on March 29, 2017, 12:30:54 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on March 22, 2017, 07:58:43 AM
Quote from: Barrister on March 21, 2017, 11:42:52 PM
Okay Funk... I bought Stardew Valley.  It does have a very relaxing vibe to it at the end of a busy day. :)

It really does lighten my mood up after work. The soundtrack is good and the cutscenes are really cute as well.

My advice is to do whatever you want in the game at your own pace without regard for timing and just chill out while you plant your parsnips :cool:

Surprisingly I'm still playing.

Game does get more involved as you go along.  In order to advance certain quests it's not enough to just plant simple crops - now you have to make various items out of the crops you grow (e.g. I'm growing hops to make beer, but I need to build a brewing-thingy so I'm busy mining in order to get copper).  BUt still every day starts with waking up, watering my crops, then deciding what else I have time to do that day.

When I realistically have about an hour to game before going to bed it's somehow satisfying.  I mean I wish I had time to dig into a 100+ hr RPG, but the couple times I've tried I just don't have the time for it.

There is an attempt to develop a CdM version...  :P

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mirkwoodfalcon/cattails-open-world-cat-and-wildlife-simulation-ga?ref=card
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on April 08, 2017, 10:05:15 AM
PLEDGED
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on April 08, 2017, 07:06:49 PM
I can just feel the desperate sadness from cat ladies hitting the pledge button. WHY CANT I FIND A MAN?

Sad!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 10, 2017, 04:05:48 AM
Old Time Hockey: http://store.steampowered.com/app/543010

QuoteAggressive hockey is back! Experience hockey the way it was meant to be played in this old school arcade style hockey game where blood on the ice is just another day at the rink. Big moustaches, no helmets, dirty hits, bench-clearing brawls, goalie fights, and stick fights – that's Old Time Hockey.

Old Time Hockey features 5-on-5 arcade hockey gameplay where players will their opponents to submit through rough and tumble aggressive hitting and fighting. You are expected to contest for the puck by taking the body and hitting your opponents by throwing elbows, shoulder checks, cross checks, hip checks, and dirty clotheslines. Timely hits allow your team to go on fire and inflict further damage on your opponents causing them to drop the mitts and fight. That's right, aggressive hockey is back in town! Experience hockey the way it was meant to be played - line brawls, bench brawls, goalie fights, stick fights, knockouts and injuries, molestation of refs - Old Time Hockey has it all! Win the bouts to fatigue your opponents for good and gain a clear advantage to score goals and win the hockey game. Better yet, injure most of your opponents and you will win the game by way of a forfeit. That's Old Time Hockey - I went to a fight the other night, and a hockey game broke out!

:lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 10, 2017, 05:28:10 AM
Been watching streams for Playerunkown's Battleground, a new Battle Royale game in early access by the maker of the previous King of the Hill mods for other games.

Playstyle is simple: you're parachuted onto a deserted Russo-Slavic island with 99 other guys. Equipment is hidden randomly in houses. In regular intervals the play area is reduced, players caught outside the area for too long die. Generally the game has several distinct phases: 1: get gear and try to stay away from agglomerations of enemies. 2: make sure you stay insie the circle while minimizing risk. 3: Showdown with the last few players in a small area.

It's pretty fun to watch, but I found the controls pretty clunky and sluggish - the game can't deny its ArmA heritage (the same goes for inventory management). If you're used to controls from more action focused shooters, then it's pretty bad. The game would also benefit from being able to climb over fences or walls, or up ledges.

My first Steam refund. :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 11, 2017, 11:47:08 AM
Bayonetta is now on PC :o
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 18, 2017, 02:18:12 AM
I'm 22 hours into Divine Divinity. I'm enjoying it a fair bit. Some bits feel a bit grindy, but at the same time, the story is decent enough, and I really, really appreciate that killed enemies don't respawn, so you're not wastng time with trash mobs when you backtrack through a dungeon or the open world.

Pacing seems a bit odd at the start, though. You can spend hours in the first dungeon before the world opens up. Later, the story quests can be done at your leisure while you explore/level up. Though about 15 hours in I felt there was not much variety in randomized equipment loot, and then again it suddenly opened up more with more magic and special loot becoming available.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on April 18, 2017, 02:32:44 AM
I like the Divine Divinity games a lot. Always find them very enjoyable, even if they won't redefine the genre or anything of the sort.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 18, 2017, 02:56:15 AM
I liked how you're one second the new hero of the realm, and then suddenly you run errands for the young 12 year old brat of a Duke (essentially Joffrey from GoT) and the courtier he bones and then get stripped of all your reputation in the end. But hey, I washed dishes! :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 29, 2017, 12:04:27 AM
When doing a gothic action RPG, make sure its banner is unique.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.akamai.steamstatic.com%2Fsteam%2Fapps%2F400170%2Fheader.jpg&hash=50e3185fcd043e9b287884cbf4e8209de58b197f)
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.akamai.steamstatic.com%2Fsteam%2Fapps%2F345180%2Fheader.jpg&hash=c980c81d5f342f361d14e355910e1e496b5e55b4)
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.edgecast.steamstatic.com%2Fsteam%2Fapps%2F219990%2Fheader.jpg&hash=699f246f2ef4ee6a375414c6da8b0521b435f527)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on April 29, 2017, 02:53:38 AM
I honestly have a hard time telling these games apart.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on May 07, 2017, 05:21:50 AM
Porno Studio Tycoon has no explicit content? FIAL :bleeding:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on May 07, 2017, 08:40:15 AM
Quote from: The Brain on May 07, 2017, 05:21:50 AM
Porno Studio Tycoon has no explicit content? FIAL :bleeding:

DLC market  ;)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 18, 2017, 03:12:29 AM
The Surge, a Souls-like with a cyborg/robotic theme is out. PC Gamer does a review. It's not exactly well written, and gripes IMHO too much about how it's not Dark Souls instead of talking more about, well, the game itself.

However, the biggest point of contention is the start:

http://www.pcgamer.com/the-surge-review/
QuoteThe Surge opens with a scene-setting train ride straight out of Half-Life while Warren, a brown-haired white male straight out of every video game, heads to his first day of work. He's signing up at future megacorp CREO to be turned into one of their mechanized workers restoring the world after environmental collapse. Then I get control of the camera, spin it around, and realize Warren's not as generic as I thought. He's in a wheelchair.

[...]


Cue a comments section filled with cries of "racism against whites," "SJW" (well, not really, that acronym is blocked on PCG comments), "keep politics out of games" etc. :bleeding:

Never mind that this was meant to underscore the author's opinion that the game isn't very original, and while I don't agree with the review (based on video gameplay I've watched of the game), he has a point about "male - white - brown haired" being the most generic of protagonists in games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on May 18, 2017, 05:39:03 AM
SJW? :unsure:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: schaksen on May 18, 2017, 05:40:49 AM
Quote from: Tyr on May 18, 2017, 05:39:03 AM
SJW? :unsure:
Social Justice Warrior
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on May 18, 2017, 09:08:25 AM
SJW used to mean internet activists so righteous that they spent all their time calling out other activists for being less pure than they were instead of, you know, actually doing any activism.

Now it has morphed to mean anybody who suggests all immigrants should not be shot.  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 19, 2017, 10:36:16 AM
http://store.steampowered.com/app/469820/Genital_Jousting/

QuoteGenital Jousting is an online and local multiplayer party game about flaccid penises and wiggly anuses for up to eight players at once. Players control a detached penis complete with testicles and an anus. Multiple game modes provide a stimulating orgy of objectives: penetrate and be penetrated as fast as possible or compete in absurd, silly and sexually suggestive games and challenges.

If this is something that makes you uncomfortable or sounds unappealing, please do not purchase or play Genital Jousting, or even continue reading.

Online and Local Multiplayer for Eight: Genital Jousting is more fun with friends and can satisfy up to eight players at once! Find a few willing partners, cuddle up on the couch, and share controllers or go online to joust with anonymous players from all over the world.

Traditional and Party Modes: Dabble in the throbbingly fast-paced Traditional Mode or jostle your way through some stiff competition in Party Mode including challenges like Double Delight, Obstacle Intercourse, and Weiner Round Up.

Customize Your Member: Genitals come in all shapes and sizes so pick your favorite color and decorate it with the most appealing outfit to customize a penis you can really get behind!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 19, 2017, 10:48:47 AM
 :huh:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on May 19, 2017, 10:50:13 AM
Sounds kind of gay.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on May 19, 2017, 11:02:08 AM
Quote from: Barrister on May 19, 2017, 10:50:13 AM
Sounds kind of gay.

Just sounds awful. Things like this are why people should hate gamers.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on May 19, 2017, 07:32:41 PM
Quote from: Tamas on May 19, 2017, 10:48:47 AM
:huh:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on May 19, 2017, 07:46:31 PM
This does not break any standards on Steam? I mean granted I know their standards for quality are low but...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on May 19, 2017, 08:20:15 PM
Quote from: Valmy on May 19, 2017, 07:46:31 PM
This does not break any standards on Steam? I mean granted I know their standards for quality are low but...

"Hey Dad, can I download 'Uncle Wiggly'?"
"Sure."
*pause*
"WTF WIGGLY ANUSES"
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on May 20, 2017, 02:06:47 AM
Quote from: Valmy on May 19, 2017, 07:46:31 PM
This does not break any standards on Steam? I mean granted I know their standards for quality are low but...

Steam is life.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on May 20, 2017, 02:42:58 AM
Holy Shitsnacks!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 20, 2017, 03:29:42 AM
Oxygen Is Not Included is awesome
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on May 20, 2017, 07:44:18 AM
Quote from: Tamas on May 20, 2017, 03:29:42 AM
Oxygen Is Not Included is awesome

indeed
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 01, 2017, 09:22:17 AM
ES: Oblivion, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas are now on GOG, if anyone wants DRM free versions.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on June 07, 2017, 04:23:39 AM
I went to sleep waaaaay too late last night because of Cold Waters.

It is most certainly a Hollywood version of modern naval warfare but still fun, has a lot of relevant stuff like thermal layers, wired torpedoes, sonar buoys etc. And it's pretty.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on June 07, 2017, 03:34:44 PM
I had what I thought to be my best campaign mission yet. Los Angeles class sub, 1984.

Order was to find and destroy a Soviet sub-resupply force. I probably found them, although there was no cargo ship detected, all 3 surface vessels were combat ones. First salvo took out two of them, I don't think they ever detected me, laying still just under the thermal layer at app. 250 feet.

While I was waiting for the 3rd ship  to race toward trouble and meet my 2nd salvo, I noticed an Ivan (2?) submarine as well, but it seemed to just dick around and ping in vain a couple of hundred feet below me. Lost him while 3rd ship was sinking close to me.

A bit later we were meeting almost head on. I didn't want to do a hip shot kinda' thing, waited for full target resolution, so ended up firing 4 torpedoes at point blank range. They went all above the enemy sub, as my wires broke when I dodged the single torpedo the Ivan fired at me.

I failed dodging, btw. Hull down to 48% damage to propulsion but I still felt confident. I was sitting a bit above Ivan, engine off and it seemed like it had no idea. I was waiting for the torpedoes to reload, I was watching in 3D view from the back of my sub, the enemy ahead and below me. Seemed like an easy kill.

That's when the second enemy torpedo suddenly swam in to the edge of my view, to the starboard back end of my sub. I thought "shit" and I was dead.

I am pretty sure there was no aircraft around, so I am guessing I didn't detect the second torpedo launch, maybe the first was with an active torpedo sonar hence my detection. Or maybe there was a warning before it hit, I just got so cocky I didn't notice.

Fun game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on June 07, 2017, 03:38:58 PM
Already played a lot of Dangerous Waters:  better, worse or different?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on June 07, 2017, 04:36:19 PM
It is lighter than Dangerous Waters. Significantly, I guess. Much better looking. Has dynamic campaign.

You WASD control your sub, with several additional keys. Don't frown upon it too much though, you quickly get used to it and it keeps you more in the action.

Game is not without bugs though. Sometimes a sunk surface ship just weirdly half-register as sunk - it sinks, but it remains marked as an active unit. One even launched a missile-carried torpedo on me :D
And you can destroy them any further. Real trouble with this is that since they register as enemy vessels you can't quit the battle and return to the campaign map once you killed everyone or lost your pursuers, you need to leave the area for that, which is a pretty fucking big area.

But I am having as much fun as I hoped I would.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on June 08, 2017, 08:47:47 AM
Cool;  loved DW, but you needed 12 credits at the Naval Academy to plot solutions.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on June 08, 2017, 08:56:59 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on June 08, 2017, 08:47:47 AM
Cool;  loved DW, but you needed 12 credits at the Naval Academy to plot solutions.

I am setting the game aside now until the first patch due to the error I mentioned, plus the godlike enemy planes, both confirmed issues by the developer.

But it is big fun, and round about the same level of details I want to go into with a simulation. If I want details I can always play CMANO anyways.

It's just that because of the zombie ships bug, missions often take way too much time.


BTW I tried briefly the 1968 campaign as well. Went sub hunting in the first mission (I was in the time's state of the art US sub but don't remember the name). When I made contact with the enemy force (they were about to land some Spetnaz off the coast of Norway), I was highly annoyed to only spot one of them on the sonar for a few seconds at a time. I got frustrated, turned active sonar on. Didn't see shit. Got a torpedo fired at me. Tried to flee in the shallow water. I died.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on June 08, 2017, 09:53:02 AM
They ever adjust for crew quality in CMANO?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on June 08, 2017, 11:40:18 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on June 08, 2017, 09:53:02 AM
They ever adjust for crew quality in CMANO?

I don't remember off the top of my head, but probably no.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 08, 2017, 03:47:59 PM
Been playing Victor Vran. That's a fun game. Streamed it for 3 hours yesterday and 8 hours today, and the time just flew by. I think the first time I checked the clock today 6 hours had passed.

On the one hand it's a Diablo clone, on the other it isn't. Skills depend on equipped weapons, there's no stats assignment on level up, and you configure your character through outfit, weapons, and cards that give you passive skills. Combat is fast paced, requiring more input than Diablo - you often have to dodge out of the path of enemies or projectiles, and you switch weapons on the fly to use specific skills (e.g. I currently keep switching between my life steal rapier and my AOE hammer).

Your character - a demon hunter - is voiced by the guy who voices Geralt in the Witcher games. And you get a snarky narrator who keeps breaking the forth wall and makes silly (and sometimes tired) references who actually made me laugh a few times throughout.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on June 10, 2017, 09:58:46 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on June 08, 2017, 08:47:47 AM
Cool;  loved DW, but you needed 12 credits at the Naval Academy to plot solutions.

FYI a beta patch that supposedly fixes all my gripes with the game has just been released
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: MadBurgerMaker on June 17, 2017, 11:36:59 PM
Quote from: Tamas on June 10, 2017, 09:58:46 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on June 08, 2017, 08:47:47 AM
Cool;  loved DW, but you needed 12 credits at the Naval Academy to plot solutions.

FYI a beta patch that supposedly fixes all my gripes with the game has just been released

Been using USS Narwhal in the 84 campaign.  Sneaky. 

Vaporizing Grishas with Harpoons does not ever get old.   

E:  Dammit, got smoked by a Victor II and III ambush in the Barents Sea while SSBN hunting.  Killed the II, but never detected the III except for the torpedoes he shoved down my throat.  I sent two back down the bearing, because fuck that guy, but was dead before they even activated.  <_<

The AI seems to be able to detect me very quickly sometimes, regardless of what I'm doing.  I'll start the battle being actively pinged, which is irritating.  I mean, it gives me a bearing to where they are and all that, but they're already all up in my shit before I've even gotten going.  This happens when starting at 25km, even just moving at 1/3.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on June 19, 2017, 08:52:51 AM
I have found Harpoons to be very much inferior to the torpedoes. Maybe I am just using them the wrong way but every time I try them, most of them ends up caught on the escorts' defensive fire. And then they know EXACTLY where I fired from so even if I GTFO I'll have to dodge missile-delivered torpedoes for the next half a day.

Whereas just last night I managed to eradicate an entire invasion force just with torpedoes. First salvo took out half of the 4 cargo ships, and I had time to reload, sending 2 against the surviving cargo ships and then one each against the 2 escorts closest to me. Got never shot at, not sure if I was ever discovered or they were just coming in on the detected torpedo launch's spot.

Keeping your wire connection to your torpedo is sure useful.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: MadBurgerMaker on June 25, 2017, 04:40:35 AM
Quote from: Tamas on June 19, 2017, 08:52:51 AM
I have found Harpoons to be very much inferior to the torpedoes. Maybe I am just using them the wrong way but every time I try them, most of them ends up caught on the escorts' defensive fire. And then they know EXACTLY where I fired from so even if I GTFO I'll have to dodge missile-delivered torpedoes for the next half a day.

Whereas just last night I managed to eradicate an entire invasion force just with torpedoes. First salvo took out half of the 4 cargo ships, and I had time to reload, sending 2 against the surviving cargo ships and then one each against the 2 escorts closest to me. Got never shot at, not sure if I was ever discovered or they were just coming in on the detected torpedo launch's spot.

They are definitely inferior, but they're fun to use on defenseless ships and it saves a torp for subs and ships that can shoot the Harpoons down.

QuoteKeeping your wire connection to your torpedo is sure useful.

:yes:  Sucks when it breaks and the target pops a noisemaker.  Just have to hope it circles back around and picks them up again.

I downloaded the Russian subs mod from Subsim this afternoon.  The Alfa is a damn killing machine.  It's loud and has garbage sensors, but when they shoot at you, just turn away, punch it, wait for the torpedo to run out of gas (might as well go active at that point too and get the location of everything around you, since your position is now known globally anyway), and then come back for more.  It's very maneuverable as well, so you can easily make some knuckles and use those to work your way back toward what you're about to kill while doing your high speed run.  I haven't tried to lure a torpedo back to the sub that fired it yet, but it's on my to do list.

Don't try to shoot anything at 42 knots though.  Wrecks the tubes.  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 25, 2017, 05:24:28 AM
Dark Souls III is settling into my Dark Souls I patterns (farming/learning an area extensively till I can clear it easily), though I currently try to play the game with less cheesing and exploits after starting over with a new char.

Spent 7+ hours yesterday almost entirely farming the four Lothric Knights near the Vordt boss arena in High Wall of Lothric, for the Lothric Knight Set, plus souls (to buy the Firelink Shrine Tower Key and to cure undead curse) and embers. I've become reasonably decent fighting those knights one on one, though, which is part of the idea. Moving on to Undead Settlement now.

:blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on June 25, 2017, 09:28:16 AM
Where do you people find all this time for video gaming?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on June 25, 2017, 12:48:43 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on June 25, 2017, 09:28:16 AM
Where do you people find all this time for video gaming?

Where don't you?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on June 25, 2017, 12:49:36 PM
Go fuck your flaming self in a towering inferno, cunt.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on June 25, 2017, 01:14:15 PM
That's rather hateful. I just meant that you as a single man who presumably doesn't work weekends...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on June 25, 2017, 01:30:17 PM
Oh, bullshit.  A day without a cunt comment from you is like a day without a sunrise.  You cunt resist it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on June 25, 2017, 01:43:47 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on June 25, 2017, 09:28:16 AM
Where do you people find all this time for video gaming?

Plus the fuckers also read books and stuff.  :wacko:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 26, 2017, 02:06:50 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on June 25, 2017, 09:28:16 AM
Where do you people find all this time for video gaming?

Having no social life helps a lot with that. :weep:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on June 26, 2017, 10:40:54 AM
Quote from: Syt on June 26, 2017, 02:06:50 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on June 25, 2017, 09:28:16 AM
Where do you people find all this time for video gaming?

Having no social life helps a lot with that. :weep:

Your social life is what you make it. Do what trips your trigger. ;)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on June 26, 2017, 10:57:21 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on June 25, 2017, 09:28:16 AM
Where do you people find all this time for video gaming?

They don't watch sports.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on June 26, 2017, 11:59:19 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on June 26, 2017, 10:57:21 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on June 25, 2017, 09:28:16 AM
Where do you people find all this time for video gaming?

They don't watch sports.

Who the fuck does anymore?  Soccer hooligans, that's who.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on June 26, 2017, 12:51:47 PM
I watch it. I like sports.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on June 26, 2017, 09:00:26 PM
I'd put more effort into watching baseball if the Cardinals puts some effort into playing it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on June 27, 2017, 07:02:37 AM
Got a tater farm going in Stardew Valley now.

At some point you get laid right? :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on June 27, 2017, 09:33:36 AM
Quote from: Caliga on June 27, 2017, 07:02:37 AM
Got a tater farm going in Stardew Valley now.

At some point you get laid right? :hmm:

I think you can get married and have a kid, yeah
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on June 27, 2017, 09:34:33 AM
Best way to play, imo, is to just chill and do things at whatever pace you wish. It's a good time waster.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on June 27, 2017, 09:51:37 AM
Quote from: Caliga on June 27, 2017, 07:02:37 AM
Got a tater farm going in Stardew Valley now.

At some point you get laid right? :hmm:

Only after marriage. -_-
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on June 27, 2017, 10:12:17 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on June 27, 2017, 09:34:33 AM
Best way to play, imo, is to just chill and do things at whatever pace you wish. It's a good time waster.

Good that you can.
The problem with harvest moon was always the tight schedule and ticking clock
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on June 29, 2017, 02:47:42 PM
I built a furnace on my farm and am also collecting bundles for these little green alien looking dudes who live in an abandoned community center.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on June 29, 2017, 02:53:05 PM
Also one of the songs reminds me of the Millennial Fair song from Chrono Trigger. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on June 29, 2017, 02:59:51 PM
Quote from: Caliga on June 29, 2017, 02:47:42 PM
I built a furnace on my farm and am also collecting bundles for these little green alien looking dudes who live in an abandoned community center.

SOme of those bundles are damn tricky to complete.  Be sure to keep some of everything you find.

And be sure to practice your fishing. <_<
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on June 30, 2017, 10:46:32 AM
There's a CFL game coming out for the PC in July! :w00t:

http://store.steampowered.com/app/664650/Canadian_Football_2017/

Well it looks like they don't have a CFL license so technically it's a "Canadian Football" game, but still, I've wanted a game like this for years.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on June 30, 2017, 12:42:49 PM
"Now YOU can experience the excitement of an 8 team league, two of which have the same name!"
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on June 30, 2017, 12:59:40 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on June 30, 2017, 12:42:49 PM
"Now YOU can experience the excitement of an 8 team league, two of which have the same name!"

There haven't been two teams named Riders since 1996.  Damn those hillbilly Saskatchewan rednecks for blocking Ottawa from their traditional name! :ultra:

And we have 9 teams now. :cool:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on June 30, 2017, 01:08:40 PM
Need 1 more, soon. It makes for too many off weeks.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on June 30, 2017, 01:15:12 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on June 30, 2017, 01:08:40 PM
Need 1 more, soon. It makes for too many off weeks.

It would be preferable, true.  Either Halifax or Quebec City would work.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on June 30, 2017, 01:25:37 PM
Halifax.

Quebec has no where to put them & ULaval won't share.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on June 30, 2017, 01:44:11 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on June 30, 2017, 01:25:37 PM
Halifax.

Quebec has no where to put them & ULaval won't share.

There is no place you could put a 10th franchise that would have a pre-existing stadium.  You'd need to build.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on June 30, 2017, 06:57:48 PM
Doesn't Halifax has a stadium already? Where they play those special game once in a while?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on June 30, 2017, 09:12:41 PM
Quote from: Barrister on June 30, 2017, 10:46:32 AM
There's a CFL game coming out for the PC in July! :w00t:

http://store.steampowered.com/app/664650/Canadian_Football_2017/

Well it looks like they don't have a CFL license so technically it's a "Canadian Football" game, but still, I've wanted a game like this for years.

Given the average age and number of CFL fans, I am not sure the marketing department did a lot of due diligence.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on July 01, 2017, 01:34:41 AM
We should just merge them into the NFL...kinda like MLB, the NBA and NHL have Canadian teams.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on July 01, 2017, 03:23:24 AM
Apparently p'dox has snapped up Triumph Studios (Age of Wonders)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on July 01, 2017, 08:54:32 AM
Quote from: Tonitrus on July 01, 2017, 01:34:41 AM
We should just merge them into the NFL...kinda like MLB, the NBA and NHL have Canadian teams.

Only Toronto could really do it.  Just like basketball and baseball.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on July 01, 2017, 08:51:57 PM
Picked up Total War:Attila and the Belisarius DLC. Fun just flaming Vandals for giggles.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on July 02, 2017, 09:07:48 PM
Is 'Unity of Command' worth getting?

Seems like a beer and pretzels game, in a good way.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on July 02, 2017, 09:16:46 PM
Yeah, if it's dirt cheap.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on July 03, 2017, 08:11:37 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 02, 2017, 09:16:46 PM
Yeah, if it's dirt cheap.

Thanks, oh and it's in the steam sale for 5 bucks.  :cool:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on July 06, 2017, 03:59:22 AM
Metal Gear Solid V is very fun, even with the juvenile/Japanese crap in it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 14, 2017, 11:53:56 AM
In case you found Animal Farm a bit too lighthearted?

https://www.gog.com/game/tooth_and_tail

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT09ZBf8IsA

QuoteLead the revolution with an army of flamethrowing Boars, mustard gas-lobbing Skunks, and paratrooper-puking Owls. From the designers of Monaco: What's Yours is Mine, Tooth and Tail is a Real-Time-Strategy game featuring Single Player, Online Competitive Play, Split Screen, Replays, and more.

Build a base, lead your army, eat your enemies!

The War for Meat

The Longcoats, the Commonfolk, the KSR, and the Civilized are in the midst of a Civil War over who gets to eat, and who has to be the meat. A darkly humorous tale of riots and revolution is told through an extensive Single Player campaign.

Endless Replayability

With procedurally generated maps and customizable factions, no two conflicts will be the same, forcing players to strategize rather than memorize.

Pick-up-and-Play

With matches lasting from 5-12 minutes, controls designed specifically for the gamepad, and split-screen couch play, Tooth and Tail is a popcorn RTS for veterans and newcomers alike.

(https://media.playstation.com/is/image/SCEA/tooth-and-nail-screen-06-ps4-us-2nov16?$MediaCarousel_Original$)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 14, 2017, 04:53:52 PM
It does have a nice animation style
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: MadBurgerMaker on July 15, 2017, 02:14:05 AM
Immediately thought of The Secret of.... NIMH? The one about the rats and mice escaping from the lab.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on July 15, 2017, 04:46:49 AM
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on July 15, 2017, 02:14:05 AM
Immediately thought of The Secret of.... NIMH? The one about the rats and mice escaping from the lab.

Me too :hug:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on July 15, 2017, 11:10:49 PM
Euro Truck Simulator - What a nice game.  :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on July 15, 2017, 11:20:23 PM
Quote from: mongers on July 15, 2017, 11:10:49 PM
Euro Truck Simulator - What a nice game.  :)

Even in video games, you're pulling over and shitting on the side of the road.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 19, 2017, 06:23:00 AM
I bought Transport Fever as part of the ongoing saga of searching  for a modern transport tycoon.
Meh.
Its alright. But more railroad tycoon than transport tycoon. Very small scale, very slow.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on July 19, 2017, 06:40:39 AM
Quote from: Tyr on July 19, 2017, 06:23:00 AM
I bought Transport Fever as part of the ongoing saga of searching  for a modern transport tycoon.
Meh.
Its alright. But more railroad tycoon than transport tycoon. Very small scale, very slow.

Why not just play the open source transport tycoon deluxe instead?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on July 19, 2017, 08:41:07 AM
Quote from: Tyr on July 19, 2017, 06:23:00 AM
I bought Transport Fever as part of the ongoing saga of searching  for a modern transport tycoon.
Meh.
Its alright. But more railroad tycoon than transport tycoon. Very small scale, very slow.

To be correct, it is more a game for transportation tech nerds than fans of tycoon games. It has exactly as much common wit railroad tycoon, as with transport tycoon.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 19, 2017, 08:45:39 AM
Really looking forward to Sundered, from the makers of Jotun: https://www.gog.com/game/sundered

QuoteAbout: Pre-order now and you will receive the soundtrack for FREE! The soundtrack will be made available upon release.

Sundered is a horrifying fight for survival and sanity, a hand­-drawn epic from the ​creators of ​​Jotun. You play Eshe, a wanderer in a ruined world, trapped in ever­changing caverns teeming with eldritch horrors. Harness the power of corrupted relics to defeat gigantic bosses, at the cost of your humanity. Resist or embrace.
- Beautiful hand­-drawn art
- Massive boss fights
- Dynamic encounters against hordes of enemies
- A mix of hand-crafted & procedural levels
- Corruptible abilities
- Multiple endings
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on July 26, 2017, 03:01:19 AM
Played a little bit of Battlefield 1.  10 Hour free trial.  Played a little bit of the campaign, then got dumped into to Multiplayer.  Never got a good grasp at Multiplayer.  Liked the Single player aspect though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 26, 2017, 10:11:22 AM
Anyone played Northgard?
Shows signs of being close to my dream viking exploration / strategy / rpg
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on August 07, 2017, 01:33:40 AM
Pillars of Eternity is indeed quite good :godlike:

Though starting this and steam completely losing my install pretty much ensures I'll never finish grim dawn. And skyrim... Well that's gone. I learned my lesson, don't dabble in mods and side quests.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 07, 2017, 11:58:49 AM
So, Mordor - Shadow of War. Got some hype, and previews looked fine. I wasn't particularly interested, because the predecessor was too grindy for me.

Anyways, the last few days have been ... interesting:

- Shelob will show up, but mostly as sexy female. Stupid pandering, but, uhm, well, whatever.

- Microtransactions:

http://www.pcgamer.com/middle-earth-shadow-of-war-will-have-microtransactions-tied-to-its-nemesis-system/

Quote"An important aspect of the Nemesis System now comes in forging, customizing and leading your own army of unique Orc followers against the fortresses of Mordor," the announcement reads. "There are different ways to do this, including dominating Orcs by exploring the vast open-world and encountering them as part of Orc society, or players can acquire Orcs and other items through the Market (in-game store)."

Uhm .... microtransactions in a single player game? And ones that promise faster progression by skipping grind? How likely is it that the gameplay will skew heavily towards grind to entice players shelling out extra cash?

- Wait, it has competitive multiplayer!

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-08-07-shadow-of-war-has-a-ranked-online-mode

QuoteMiddle-earth: Shadow of War players will have two ways to invade other people's Mordors when the game launches this year. The first of these is a new mission type called Social Conquest; the other sees the return of Vendettas from Shadow of Mordor with one or two tweaks.

In Social Conquest players can set up a captured fortress however they choose, installing an overlord and a series of captains from their existing follower base. They will also be able to purchase upgrades for their defending army before sharing that fortress online. After that other players will be free to assault the fortress using their own army, loading into the defending player's instance of Mordor and launching an attack.

During the assault, the attacking player will be free to kill or brand the defending player's forces, though it's worth noting that any branded troops (including captains) will not be carried over when the attacking player returns to their instance of Mordor.

There are two different ways to take on a fortress in Social Conquest: Friendly conquests allow players to mount an assault without risk to their followers. In ranked mode, players will earn a better assault rating with each successful conquest, with that rating dropping in the event of a failed attempt. Vitally, ranked mode is also different in that the attacking player's followers are at risk - if a captain dies during an assault, it's dead for real. Think of it like dying in the matrix, only for orcs.

Happily, the rewards for successfully attacking a base are plentiful. Capturing a fortress will reward the player with a conquest loot chest and some spoils of war - points that are accumulated in order to earn spoils of war chests. These chests contain followers and other goodies, allowing players to get stronger before returning to the Mordor from whence they came.

On top of Social Conquest, Vendettas make a return for Shadow of war. If you played Shadow of Mordor, you may remember these were opportunities to avenge the death of one of your friends by summoning the orc that killed them and fighting to the death. The scale of these missions has increased for Shadow of War, making them very similar to the war chief confrontation missions from Shadow of Mordor. Whereas before a Vendetta was simply a matter of finding the target and killing them, players must now draw out their quarry by completing an objective; one usually involving mass murder and / or explosions.

Successfully completing a Vendetta mission not only earns you a Vendetta loot chest; the player you avenged gets a notification and some spoils of war, allowing them to profit from the endeavour. As with Social Conquests, players will need to travel to a different instance of Mordor in order to attempt the mission, although Vendettas differ in that you won't get to try again should you die.

So, you can buy captains in loot boxes which would give you an edge in multiplayer, AND you can lose them in multiplayer, creating a potential drain for the game that makes you either grind more or buy more lootboxes.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on August 09, 2017, 06:58:32 PM
Hooked the extra PC to the flat screen. Loaded up FO3 with mods. Took some tweeking with win10.

Hmmm, Combat Mission BB & AK on a big flat screen tv. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on August 12, 2017, 06:18:18 PM
Bought Battlefront's Strategic Command WW2: War in Europe as it was on Steam. Started to weave through the essential manuals, but it'll take a while.

Now if they ever release World War 1 on Steam, instant buy.  :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on August 13, 2017, 02:16:42 AM
Quote from: Drakken on August 12, 2017, 06:18:18 PM
Bought Battlefront's Strategic Command WW2: War in Europe as it was on Steam. Started to weave through the essential manuals, but it'll take a while.

Now if they ever release World War 1 on Steam, instant buy.  :blush:

It's a Matrix game, dude.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on August 13, 2017, 02:24:00 AM
Quote from: Tamas on August 13, 2017, 02:16:42 AM
It's a Matrix game, dude.

I thought it was from the same developer, but published by Matrix?  :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on August 13, 2017, 02:29:24 AM
Quote from: Drakken on August 13, 2017, 02:24:00 AM
Quote from: Tamas on August 13, 2017, 02:16:42 AM
It's a Matrix game, dude.

I thought it was from the same developer, but published by Matrix?  :hmm:

Yes. Battlefront was the publisher of the previous games. They were never the developers.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on August 13, 2017, 04:27:54 AM
Seedy, what did you do?

http://store.steampowered.com/app/593280/Cat_Quest/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 13, 2017, 04:52:11 AM
I think this would be more up his alley: http://store.steampowered.com/app/520600/Purrfect_Date/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on August 14, 2017, 10:15:35 AM
Quote from: Tamas on August 13, 2017, 02:29:24 AM
Yes. Battlefront was the publisher of the previous games. They were never the developers.

You seem itchin' for a fight. PBEM over this European theater? ;)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on August 14, 2017, 10:38:06 AM
Quote from: Drakken on August 14, 2017, 10:15:35 AM
Quote from: Tamas on August 13, 2017, 02:29:24 AM
Yes. Battlefront was the publisher of the previous games. They were never the developers.

You seem itchin' for a fight. PBEM over this European theater? ;)

That would be fun but I don't think I'd have the time.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on August 14, 2017, 03:57:24 PM
Quote from: Syt on August 13, 2017, 04:52:11 AM
I think this would be more up his alley: http://store.steampowered.com/app/520600/Purrfect_Date/

Why am I not notified of these things
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on August 15, 2017, 02:58:45 PM
Sunless Sea is a fun little time-waster.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 17, 2017, 09:25:32 AM
Recently I thought about streaming Ultimate General: Civil War or American Civil War II, but I think in the current climate I'd rather not. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on August 17, 2017, 09:53:08 AM
Is Ultimate General any good?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 17, 2017, 10:41:23 AM
Haven't played much yet. The Historical Gamer plays it a lot on YT, though: https://www.youtube.com/user/thehistoricalgamer
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on August 17, 2017, 12:46:20 PM
Quote from: The Brain on August 17, 2017, 09:53:08 AM
Is Ultimate General any good?


Yes.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on August 29, 2017, 07:21:59 AM
The new XCOM2 expansion is calling to me... has anyone tried it yet and can tell me that it sucks and I shouldn't buy it?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on August 30, 2017, 06:57:28 AM
Tried the Destiny 2 open beta for PC.

A smooth 60 fps (sometimes more) on my quite old rig as put a game I had no interest in onto my radar.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Zoupa on August 30, 2017, 09:17:55 PM
Quote from: Tamas on August 29, 2017, 07:21:59 AM
The new XCOM2 expansion is calling to me... has anyone tried it yet and can tell me that it sucks and I shouldn't buy it?

Metacritic has it at 88 I think... That being said I haven't tried it myself. I'm cheap.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on August 31, 2017, 03:48:27 AM
Quote from: Zoupa on August 30, 2017, 09:17:55 PM
Quote from: Tamas on August 29, 2017, 07:21:59 AM
The new XCOM2 expansion is calling to me... has anyone tried it yet and can tell me that it sucks and I shouldn't buy it?

Metacritic has it at 88 I think... That being said I haven't tried it myself. I'm cheap.

It's pretty great.

Had a resource raid mission that not only had the twist of having a bit of a race for containers as aliens would be airlifting them out gradually, but it involved a lot of zombies, sorry I mean The Lost, regular aliens, plus one of the Chosen villains. In a middle of city environment. A 3-way massacre. I had an 87% chance to finish off the Chosen and probably win the map but I missed, and I got killed off.

There are some performance improvements, new mission types and changes to existing ones, new maps, the NPC factions offer variety, there are off-map mission to send your people to, there is a bond system between soldiers to micro manage a bit if you are so inclined, there is extra story and chrome, and I am only 1.5 months in...

They truly threw everything and the kitchen sink into it. I would recommend newcomers to play without the expac as all the options must be overwhelming when you are new to it all, but if you have seen the base campaign, this is a great refreshing of the game. I am as addicted as I was when the game first came out.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on September 05, 2017, 07:00:55 AM
UnEpic. Pretty fun Metroidvania game. Lots of metagaming references.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on September 05, 2017, 04:54:17 PM
Just played through Prey.  The game is kind of weird.  It's a remake of a game from about 10 years ago, except it has absolutely nothing to do with the previous game.  I'm baffled as to why they would spend the money on a licence of a game few people remember and that only average to begin with.  What the game actually is, is System Shock 2.  You are on a space ship full of monsters, the monsters have killed the crew or turned them into monsters, you read people's emails and audio logs, you level up abilities and gain magic powers and you hit people with a big wrench.

The game is also alternate history.  John F Kennedy wasn't assassinated in 1963 and the result was that we now have anti-gravity and giant space stations.  On the other hand the Soviet Union is still here and there are space aliens.  The space aliens are kinda lame.  They look like scribbles and wander around aimlessly in the fancy office of the space station.  Some of them can turn into inanimate objects to ambush you which never stops being annoying.

Still, I put 30 hours into it, which is more than most games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on September 05, 2017, 07:12:23 PM
You certainly knocked the shit out of those achievements on Steam with it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Liep on September 09, 2017, 10:45:31 AM
Finished Far Cry 4, as entertaining as 3 but with a little disappointing finish. Went full Amira, because.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on September 13, 2017, 07:44:37 PM
I've been playing the game Banished. Simple to play, kind of until you figure it out, else you probably tend to expand too fast and your population starves. Lots of excellent fan created expansions for it. It's really a cool game, not overly complex for the times I want a less complicated or tedious game to play, but there's plenty enough to it to give some fun and challenge.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: jimmy olsen on September 13, 2017, 11:32:16 PM
Quote from: KRonn on September 13, 2017, 07:44:37 PM
I've been playing the game Banished. Simple to play, kind of until you figure it out, else you probably tend to expand too fast and your population starves. Lots of excellent fan created expansions for it. It's really a cool game, not overly complex for the times I want a less complicated or tedious game to play, but there's plenty enough to it to give some fun and challenge.

Woah! KRonn, long time no see! Hope you're doing well.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on September 15, 2017, 09:47:43 AM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on September 13, 2017, 11:32:16 PM
Quote from: KRonn on September 13, 2017, 07:44:37 PM
I've been playing the game Banished. Simple to play, kind of until you figure it out, else you probably tend to expand too fast and your population starves. Lots of excellent fan created expansions for it. It's really a cool game, not overly complex for the times I want a less complicated or tedious game to play, but there's plenty enough to it to give some fun and challenge.

Woah! KRonn, long time no see! Hope you're doing well.
Yeah, I'm doing well, thanks. Retirement life is so liberating. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on September 15, 2017, 10:18:57 AM
I wish I could be retired. Anybody want to give me 5 million dollars?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on September 15, 2017, 11:49:28 AM
Quote from: Valmy on September 15, 2017, 10:18:57 AM
I wish I could be retired. Anybody want to give me 5 million dollars?

Hehe, I also wish I had 5 mil. but getting by well enough.  :) 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on September 15, 2017, 12:39:57 PM
Banished is nice. Though it's a shame it hasn't had any official updates to incorporate some of the extras from the expansions. A bit barren otherwise.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on September 15, 2017, 02:53:30 PM
Quote from: Tyr on September 15, 2017, 12:39:57 PM
Banished is nice. Though it's a shame it hasn't had any official updates to incorporate some of the extras from the expansions. A bit barren otherwise.

It has tons of fan/player mods which add a lot to the game. Colonial Charter is one big mod which adds a whole lot.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on September 15, 2017, 03:56:43 PM
Quote from: KRonn on September 15, 2017, 09:47:43 AM
Yeah, I'm doing well, thanks. Retirement life is so liberating. :)

Not having to worry about a retirement is even more liberating.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on September 16, 2017, 10:26:05 PM
If I could ever retire I would play Stardew Valley until I die.

GOTTA PLANT MY SEEDS MAYO UBER ALLES
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on September 16, 2017, 11:32:00 PM
Purchased Men of War: Assault Squad 2 on Steam, as it is 80% off.

I have had some savage fights already, just playing single-player, and the Soviet Union campaign missions are vicious. The Leningrad one led to a cemetery of destroyed panzers, but they finally overwhelmed me on the last wave.  :(

(https://i.imgur.com/A3FkOn4.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/rlaHfaL.png)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on September 18, 2017, 05:37:53 PM
Divinity: Original Sin II is out. Still playing I.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on September 18, 2017, 07:23:17 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on September 15, 2017, 03:56:43 PM
Quote from: KRonn on September 15, 2017, 09:47:43 AM
Yeah, I'm doing well, thanks. Retirement life is so liberating. :)

Not having to worry about a retirement is even more liberating.

Agreed. I think I'll be fine but I'm just starting out with it and it's all so new from bringing in a paycheck. I encourage anyone who asks about it to save up for it, 401k, IRA, etc. A manager at my old company asked if I wanted to come back part time and they're receptive to me working two or three half days a week.  As long as I don't feel stuck in the rat race and with what I'll be doing it should be interesting and low hassle. But they are going through a huge amount of work, upgrades and acquiring new hospitals so I'll see how that goes for me.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on September 18, 2017, 08:25:50 PM
Yeah.  I don't think you got my meaning.  But I am happy for you.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: PDH on September 18, 2017, 08:32:58 PM
I switched jobs enough that I get to work until I die...or I win the lottery.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on September 18, 2017, 09:00:12 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on September 18, 2017, 08:25:50 PM
Yeah.  I don't think you got my meaning.  But I am happy for you.

Ah, I think I understand now. A worry just wondering if going to be able to retire. I hear ya.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on September 28, 2017, 10:31:06 PM
I'm a nerd so I bought Total War Warhammer 2 at release and I don't regret it a bit it's mad fun launching dinosaurs on flank attacks and enveloping keebler elf battle lines with thousands of giant rats
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on September 30, 2017, 04:03:21 AM
I'm not getting TWW2. Wasn't Warhammer 1 just a year ago? Not usual for TW to have such a quick turnaround and a sequel.
Given the way TWW was going with a DLC galore though I guess it makes sense they'd want to try and sell even moar for the extra races.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on September 30, 2017, 04:19:01 AM
GW killed the world, and I'm holding them to it. TWW(2) is like a memory of a world, and the memory's fading.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on September 30, 2017, 10:02:09 AM
Quote from: Tyr on September 30, 2017, 04:03:21 AM
I'm not getting TWW2. Wasn't Warhammer 1 just a year ago? Not usual for TW to have such a quick turnaround and a sequel.
Given the way TWW2 was going with a DLC galore though I guess it makes sense they'd want to try and sell even moar for the extra races.

Nah, TWW2 is actually entirely different from the 1st game. The races are more unique, the campaign is completely overhauled, the missions are more varied and are actually important this time, and the battles, at least to me, seem more "epic". Oh and battle magic is actually good now.

So far I'm enjoying it a lot more than the first game, and I quite liked the first game. The Campaign AI is kinda dumb, though, but that's par for the course for Total War anyway.

There's nothing quite like feral Tyrannosaurs rampaging through dumbass Chaos warriors. It's beautiful :wub:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on September 30, 2017, 10:06:37 AM
Quote from: The Brain on September 30, 2017, 04:19:01 AM
GW killed the world, and I'm holding them to it. TWW(2) is like a memory of a world, and the memory's fading.

Their retail product placement was that bad?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 13, 2017, 06:20:36 AM
Since I wasn't really involved with it, I feel I am free to point out that Field of Glory II is a great game, and if you are interested either in ancient era battles, or tabletop-style wargaming, you definitely should pick it up.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 13, 2017, 06:25:34 AM
Borderlands humble bundle. Will buy just for a look, I've heard the name a lot.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on October 13, 2017, 06:49:26 AM
It's polarizing.

Personally, I hate it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on October 13, 2017, 09:16:47 AM
I don't think I'd like Borderlands. I did love Tales from the Borderlands though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on October 13, 2017, 07:19:51 PM
Kinda burned out on Path of Exile so I'm mainly dividing my game time between Warhammer 2 Total War and, very recently, Grim Dawn for a new ARPG itch. And it was only $7.50 so why not?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on October 13, 2017, 07:21:16 PM
I'm going to stalk Syt in his Twitch channel.  Rat bastard's not leaving us that easily.   :mad:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on October 13, 2017, 07:37:08 PM
 :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 14, 2017, 03:03:26 AM
So...yeah. Borderlands seems so far so terrible. Very very console first. In a "Console players are idiots, they just want to point and shoot" sort of way.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Iormlund on October 14, 2017, 04:31:20 AM
I'm back to FO 4.

Survival is tough. Got infected at level 10 and expended almost all my food, water and stimpaks trying to get to a doc in Diamond City. Also, my character dies really easily.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on October 16, 2017, 08:10:11 PM
I started playing Imperialism 2 - that's still a good game. A good oldie and there's a lot to it. Fun game. I got it from GoG games. Loaded it onto Win10 and I had to enable "direct play" from the control panel, I think under windows features, in case anyone wants to play the game. I got that info from the GoG site.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: MadBurgerMaker on October 17, 2017, 03:02:43 AM
Ghost Recon Wildlands is pretty good, despite some bugs.  LMGs are fun as hell when the badguys start calling in reinforcements after finding their dead buddies.  "Going loud."

I haven't found an anti-material rifle yet, but I understand those are even better.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on October 21, 2017, 02:57:05 PM
Quote from: KRonn on October 16, 2017, 08:10:11 PM
I started playing Imperialism 2 - that's still a good game. A good oldie and there's a lot to it. Fun game. I got it from GoG games. Loaded it onto Win10 and I had to enable "direct play" from the control panel, I think under windows features, in case anyone wants to play the game. I got that info from the GoG site.

I loved Imp 2.  Something really satisfying about building up the province and getting all those free resources and industries in the smaller towns.  RR and Dreadnoughts for the win.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on October 22, 2017, 09:37:26 AM
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on October 17, 2017, 03:02:43 AM
Ghost Recon Wildlands is pretty good, despite some bugs.  LMGs are fun as hell when the badguys start calling in reinforcements after finding their dead buddies.  "Going loud."

I haven't found an anti-material rifle yet, but I understand those are even better.

I love Wildlands.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on October 23, 2017, 10:05:21 AM
Quote from: grumbler on October 21, 2017, 02:57:05 PM
Quote from: KRonn on October 16, 2017, 08:10:11 PM
I started playing Imperialism 2 - that's still a good game. A good oldie and there's a lot to it. Fun game. I got it from GoG games. Loaded it onto Win10 and I had to enable "direct play" from the control panel, I think under windows features, in case anyone wants to play the game. I got that info from the GoG site.

I loved Imp 2.  Something really satisfying about building up the province and getting all those free resources and industries in the smaller towns.  RR and Dreadnoughts for the win.

Yep. Still pretty fun and a simpler game but has plenty enough parts to it with economy, diplomacy, industry, battles.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 23, 2017, 12:24:39 PM
Always preferred the first. The second was OK but...just didn't have the oomph.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 23, 2017, 01:32:00 PM
Quote from: Tyr on October 23, 2017, 12:24:39 PM
Always preferred the first. The second was OK but...just didn't have the oomph.

Yeah me too
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Duque de Bragança on October 23, 2017, 03:20:20 PM
Quote from: KRonn on October 23, 2017, 10:05:21 AM
Quote from: grumbler on October 21, 2017, 02:57:05 PM
Quote from: KRonn on October 16, 2017, 08:10:11 PM
I started playing Imperialism 2 - that's still a good game. A good oldie and there's a lot to it. Fun game. I got it from GoG games. Loaded it onto Win10 and I had to enable "direct play" from the control panel, I think under windows features, in case anyone wants to play the game. I got that info from the GoG site.

I loved Imp 2.  Something really satisfying about building up the province and getting all those free resources and industries in the smaller towns.  RR and Dreadnoughts for the win.

Yep. Still pretty fun and a simpler game but has plenty enough parts to it with economy, diplomacy, industry, battles.

And a random New World without DLC!  :D
Still playing it from time to time.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on October 25, 2017, 10:01:03 AM
Been playing Witcher 3 in my new laptop - I get 35-40 fps on high graphic settings, and that's good enough for me, really. Game's amazing and super-beautiful.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on October 25, 2017, 05:28:36 PM
One day I will go back to it.  I didnt like the battle interface very much but I guess with more time I would learn how to use it better.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on October 25, 2017, 06:09:55 PM
I loved the way Witcher 3 looked.  The voice acting was also excellent, and the story seemed really cool.  The character controls, though.... there must be a word that means "the exact opposite of intuitive."  Whatever word that is, it is the word to describe everything but basic movement and basic combat.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on October 25, 2017, 08:45:41 PM
Quote from: celedhring on October 25, 2017, 10:01:03 AM
Been playing Witcher 3 in my new laptop - I get 35-40 fps on high graphic settings, and that's good enough for me, really. Game's amazing and super-beautiful.

It is.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: MadBurgerMaker on October 27, 2017, 11:46:07 PM
Quote from: The Brain on October 22, 2017, 09:37:26 AM
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on October 17, 2017, 03:02:43 AM
Ghost Recon Wildlands is pretty good, despite some bugs.  LMGs are fun as hell when the badguys start calling in reinforcements after finding their dead buddies.  "Going loud."

I haven't found an anti-material rifle yet, but I understand those are even better.

I love Wildlands.

The anti material rifle is indeed cool but I found the auto shotgun that looks like it's made for giants with the 30 round mag on it and: ermahgerd
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 29, 2017, 04:10:41 AM
Thinking to finally buy Witcher 3 in the steam sale.
Though another open world game....sigh
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on October 29, 2017, 12:25:21 PM
Just noticed that the Egyptian Assassin's Creed is now out.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on October 29, 2017, 01:07:11 PM
Quote from: garbon on October 29, 2017, 12:25:21 PM
Just noticed that the Egyptian Assassin's Creed is now out.

Must be a bitch to play using hieroglyphics.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on October 29, 2017, 01:30:48 PM
Quote from: garbon on October 29, 2017, 12:25:21 PM
Just noticed that the Egyptian Assassin's Creed is now out.

And what is in now, oh trend-sensitive one?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on October 29, 2017, 01:34:00 PM
Quote from: The Brain on October 29, 2017, 01:30:48 PM
Quote from: garbon on October 29, 2017, 12:25:21 PM
Just noticed that the Egyptian Assassin's Creed is now out.

And what is in now, oh trend-sensitive one?

Certainly not Sweden. <_<
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 30, 2017, 05:39:22 AM
I had a look in on eu4.
Wow the map has changed a lot.
Though seems France still always overruns Spain and conquers the world.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on November 03, 2017, 04:36:11 PM
I bought Witcher 3.
I'm playing through Witcher 2 again first.
It's a strange game. It branches super early so if you only play it one you will only see half of the game.
Many years ago when I played the game I chose the half of sticking with the humans, seemed the best way to get a neutral outcome. Though I ended up never seeing the dwarf city and having the dragon stuff just exposition dumped on me without actually finding anything for myself. Felt very wrong.
Knew I should have played the other half but only doing it now.

It's a weird game. Not how I remember.
It handles unusually. That I do remember. It was impossible to get a handle on at first.
Though I also remember the game opening right away into a battle with a dragon which was exceptionally difficult. This seems not to be the case now? I've a camp to explore? Did the enhanced edition change something or its to do with the different save I imported or?....
One annoyance- I planned to play this with my xbox pad from the sofa. Though the text is all so tiny that this is impractical. Bah.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on November 22, 2017, 07:46:40 PM
Gary Grisby's War in the West is 63% off on Steam for the Black Friday.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on November 22, 2017, 07:49:56 PM
Yeah now it's only a gazillion bucks.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on November 28, 2017, 10:30:26 PM
Bought Prey during the thanksgiving sale for $17 and after 45 minutes I'm solidly hooked   :ph34r:

It's basically an updated System Shock 2 or Deus Ex
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on November 29, 2017, 04:17:10 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on November 28, 2017, 10:30:26 PM
Bought Prey during the thanksgiving sale for $17 and after 45 minutes I'm solidly hooked   :ph34r:

It's basically an updated System Shock 2 or Deus Ex


Yeah, it's good.  I really enjoyed it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on November 29, 2017, 09:35:36 PM
NSFW

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHicD-j29bE
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on November 29, 2017, 11:59:21 PM
Ugh, should be name "Botox Project".
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on November 30, 2017, 12:18:39 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on November 29, 2017, 09:35:36 PM
NSFW

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHicD-j29bE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHicD-j29bE)


What game am I even looking at here?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on November 30, 2017, 12:35:12 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on November 30, 2017, 12:18:39 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on November 29, 2017, 09:35:36 PM
NSFW

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHicD-j29bE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHicD-j29bE)


What game am I even looking at here?

http://www.indiedb.com/games/babylon-project
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on November 30, 2017, 01:50:26 AM
Just what I think of when somebody brings up Ancient Sumer!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on November 30, 2017, 04:51:33 AM
So...yet another generic open world game. But one which tries to distinguish itself with teh boobs?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on November 30, 2017, 09:41:13 AM
Quote from: Tyr on November 30, 2017, 04:51:33 AM
So...yet another generic open world game. But one which tries to distinguish itself with teh boobs?

Pretty sure that will not distinguish it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on November 30, 2017, 09:50:09 AM
For a game with such emphasis on ass. The physics of it are really bad.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on November 30, 2017, 10:12:16 AM
These days I only play games that have a penis size slider at character creation.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on November 30, 2017, 11:01:14 AM
Quote from: The Brain on November 30, 2017, 10:12:16 AM
These days I only play games that have a penis size slider at character creation.

Kinda tough to develop a slider that size in the first place, isn't it?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on November 30, 2017, 11:08:45 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on November 30, 2017, 11:01:14 AM
Quote from: The Brain on November 30, 2017, 10:12:16 AM
These days I only play games that have a penis size slider at character creation.

Kinda tough to develop a slider that size in the first place, isn't it?

I have a 24 inch screen.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on November 30, 2017, 11:14:25 AM
Sitting closer to a screen doesn't make it larger.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on December 01, 2017, 11:15:54 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on November 29, 2017, 04:17:10 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on November 28, 2017, 10:30:26 PM
Bought Prey during the thanksgiving sale for $17 and after 45 minutes I'm solidly hooked   :ph34r:

It's basically an updated System Shock 2 or Deus Ex


Yeah, it's good.  I really enjoyed it.

I'm looking at this. Is it a run and gun or can you sneak the bell around which is my preference?

Also, is it an attention to detail game? IOW does it boringly give you obvious clues and hints?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on December 02, 2017, 07:40:34 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on December 01, 2017, 11:15:54 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on November 29, 2017, 04:17:10 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on November 28, 2017, 10:30:26 PM
Bought Prey during the thanksgiving sale for $17 and after 45 minutes I'm solidly hooked   :ph34r:

It's basically an updated System Shock 2 or Deus Ex


Yeah, it's good.  I really enjoyed it.

I'm looking at this. Is it a run and gun or can you sneak the bell around which is my preference?

Also, is it an attention to detail game? IOW does it boringly give you obvious clues and hints?

I've only played a couple hours but I've yet to find an actual gun so I think it's safe to say it's not a run-and-gun type of game. And yeah, there is plenty of detail and lots background objects in the game that tell the story and give context to the game. Also, from what I've played so far you're free to wander wherever you want in the game. There seems to be multiple ways to get to places.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on December 02, 2017, 09:50:11 AM
I'll qualify the above a bit more.

I just picked up my first firearm about 2 hours in.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on December 15, 2017, 11:50:49 AM
Quantum Break- Beautiful and runs well. But wow is it a bad game. Sub par action followed by a 20 minute long FMV. Apparently they thought they were doing something cool and novel with a tv show and a game in one.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on December 19, 2017, 03:03:37 PM
Anyone tried Fire Pro Wrestling World?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on December 21, 2017, 04:51:55 PM
Steam sale just started up. Lots of discounts.

Anyone have any recommendations? I need a few games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on December 22, 2017, 05:23:38 AM
Quote from: Habbaku on December 21, 2017, 04:51:55 PM
Steam sale just started up. Lots of discounts.

Anyone have any recommendations? I need a few games.

I'm considering IL-2 Stalingrad at half price. Not sure if it will be any good without a joystick, though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on December 22, 2017, 09:04:23 AM
IL2 needs a joystick. IMO.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on December 22, 2017, 09:20:34 AM
Quote from: Maladict on December 22, 2017, 05:23:38 AM
I'm considering IL-2 Stalingrad at half price. Not sure if it will be any good without a joystick, though.

You can always tell when somebody's flying with a mouse. 

TURNING TURNING straight TURNING TURNING straight TURNING

So everybody goes after them first.  Worse than noobs.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on December 22, 2017, 09:50:23 AM
Quote from: Maladict on December 22, 2017, 05:23:38 AM
Quote from: Habbaku on December 21, 2017, 04:51:55 PM
Steam sale just started up. Lots of discounts.

Anyone have any recommendations? I need a few games.

I'm considering IL-2 Stalingrad at half price. Not sure if it will be any good without a joystick, though.

Get a joystick. Problem: solved.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on December 22, 2017, 07:28:19 PM
I think I may do a HOI4 AAR.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on December 24, 2017, 06:53:36 AM
I could never figure HOI4 out :blush:


Civ 6 is worth getting?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on December 24, 2017, 04:16:30 PM
Quote from: Tyr on December 24, 2017, 06:53:36 AM
I could never figure HOI4 out :blush:


Civ 6 is worth getting?

No.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on December 25, 2017, 11:12:34 AM
Quote from: Tyr on December 24, 2017, 06:53:36 AM
I could never figure HOI4 out :blush:


Civ 6 is worth getting?

Yes.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on December 27, 2017, 11:27:03 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on December 25, 2017, 11:12:34 AM
Quote from: Tyr on December 24, 2017, 06:53:36 AM
I could never figure HOI4 out :blush:


Civ 6 is worth getting?

Yes.

If one wishes to play through a couple times and then realize the answer was no all along.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Zoupa on December 27, 2017, 11:11:16 PM
Civ 6 was a let down for sure. No from me also.

If you liked Baldur's Gate back in the day, absolutely get Divinity Original Sin 2, even at full price. One of the top 5 games I've ever played.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on December 28, 2017, 05:36:38 AM
People recommend getting Stellaris Utopia? Does it change the game in good ways or is it just feature bloat?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on December 29, 2017, 06:57:40 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on December 27, 2017, 11:27:03 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on December 25, 2017, 11:12:34 AM
Quote from: Tyr on December 24, 2017, 06:53:36 AM
I could never figure HOI4 out :blush:


Civ 6 is worth getting?

Yes.

If one wishes to play through a couple times and then realize the answer was no all along.

My Civ 5 (purchased in 2010) total hours: 684.
My Civ 6 (purchased in 2016) total hours: 203.

Civ 6 is as good as unmodded Civ 5 at this point.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on December 29, 2017, 08:27:46 AM
I've apparently 74 hours on Civ 5 (purchased in 2013) and 52 hours on Civ 6 (purchased in 2017).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on December 29, 2017, 10:39:24 AM
Just play 5 & buy 25$ worth of Beer.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on January 01, 2018, 11:46:36 AM
Back on Witcher 3, starting to buckle down on Blood & Wine. This expansion is fucking huge.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on January 03, 2018, 05:41:05 AM
I bought the attack on titan game.
It is rather great.
Basically a cross between Dynasty Warriors, Spiderman and Shadow of the Collossus.
Shame it lacks the original theme tune. But I'll play it in my head anyway.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on January 04, 2018, 10:16:14 AM
I know you people don't like racing games, but I recently caught the bug again and upgraded my hardware to Thrustmaster 300 RS GT Edition wheel and pedals, and a Thrustmaster TH8 shifter. Tried it out in both Assetto Corsa and Project CARS 2 and you actually get a decent driving feeling. Lots simpler and cheaper than taking sports cars to the Ring IRL.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on January 04, 2018, 11:02:37 AM
I'm quite enjoying 'Sid M.'s Ace Patrol'  :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on January 04, 2018, 08:46:04 PM
Quote from: mongers on January 04, 2018, 11:02:37 AM
I'm quite enjoying 'Sid M.'s Ace Patrol'  :blush:

Those were fun on the iPad. I liked the WWII one better.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on January 04, 2018, 09:47:08 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on January 04, 2018, 08:46:04 PM
Quote from: mongers on January 04, 2018, 11:02:37 AM
I'm quite enjoying 'Sid M.'s Ace Patrol'  :blush:

Those were fun on the iPad. I liked the WWII one better.

Thanks for the heads up, I'll start on that once I finish WW1.  :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on January 25, 2018, 01:47:01 PM
So, Wars of Succession...

Is Charles XII an off the charts combat monster?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on January 25, 2018, 03:38:31 PM
Quote from: The Brain on January 25, 2018, 01:47:01 PM
So, Wars of Succession...

Is Charles XII an off the charts combat monster?

FWIW I think it's going to be one of the classic in the AGEOD series. If you tried and didn't like a game in the series I don't think this is likely to change your mind (although there are video tutorials now!), but the theme is strong the game is pretty an well researched.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on January 25, 2018, 03:45:04 PM
I have never been able to stomach AGEOD's engine but the theme here makes me interested. There's so little out there about the War of Spanish Succession.

I guess will pick it up at some point down the line.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on January 25, 2018, 03:50:06 PM
Quote from: celedhring on January 25, 2018, 03:45:04 PM
I have never been able to stomach AGEOD's engine but the theme here makes me interested. There's so little out there about the War of Spanish Succession.

I guess will pick it up at some point down the line.

Philippe, one of the AGEOD founders did tutorial videos for this game: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQrYLOdjwRhRbqDmiBH_vlwaoFNGcVcZg

I am aware the engine is a hard nut to crack for some, maybe the videos are worth checking out.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on January 25, 2018, 03:57:35 PM
I never got into the engine (but I've never made a serious effort either), I will very likely get the game of course since it's GNW (and some other war).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on January 27, 2018, 12:12:14 AM
Absolute buy for me, too.

Carolus Rex, dig skall vi hämnas!!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on January 30, 2018, 07:08:53 PM
Banished is still a favorite game. It's a fun game with the many mods really making it into a great town builder. Mods I like include those with many more resource and manufacturing buildings, many different types of homes and a lot more.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on January 30, 2018, 08:48:17 PM
'Emperor Rise of the Middle Kingdom', worth it for the music alone, also seems way more relevant now than when it game out a dozen years ago.  :cool:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 02, 2018, 03:19:35 PM
Expeditions Conquistador... Anyone else played this?
Man...I want to like it. The setting is untapped and cool. The mechanics seem to be all there...
But the interface is just horrific. It's so clunky....
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 02, 2018, 03:23:53 PM
CC liked it. I had the same reaction as you.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on February 02, 2018, 03:24:19 PM
Quote from: Tyr on February 02, 2018, 03:19:35 PM
Expeditions Conquistador... Anyone else played this?
Man...I want to like it. The settings is untapped and cool. The mechanics seem to be all there...
But the interface is just horrific. It's so clunky....

Loved it myself. The mechanics are merely allright, but the RPG elements and the untapped setting made for a great experience.

Besides the unrealistic role of women, the game is pretty well researched too.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 02, 2018, 03:38:10 PM
I need to take that little gem out for another round of play.  The replayability is another strong attribute of the game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 02, 2018, 03:45:46 PM
Don't forget the Viking game! Just don't bring your swastikas.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on February 08, 2018, 07:39:33 PM
Stars! I played this game a lot in the past. Probably came out in the 90s, fun game of space domination. Kind of simple but when it came out I think the game's interface was a bit ahead of its time. Before windows on Microsoft computers were popular the game used windows for the various actions you could take and to look at all sorts of different items such as planets, fleets, etc.  Haven't played it for probably ten years and of course it's quite dated now. Used to be a fun game for more easy gaming yet with a good amount of strategy and empire building.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 08, 2018, 08:46:00 PM
I loved Stars!  :wub:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on February 08, 2018, 09:48:16 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 08, 2018, 08:46:00 PM
I loved Stars!  :wub:

That indeed was a good, simple, fun game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 11, 2018, 02:18:40 PM
Being playing Death Road to Canada. Fun little, party based zombie themed game about trying to get to Canada (which zombies apparently don't like). Picked up on the cheap via the 2017 best of humble bundle. Procedurally generated adventuring.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 15, 2018, 11:58:04 AM
I've ended up picking up Kingdom Come  :Embarrass: Having read about all the glitches, I quite like it so far, just done with the prologue.

If combat doesn't get quicker and less awkward later on I'll may complain, but for now it fits well the fact that your character doesn't actually know how to use a sword.

Also I am highly offended: the bad guys speak Hungarian.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on February 15, 2018, 12:01:30 PM
Quote from: Tamas on February 15, 2018, 11:58:04 AM
Also I am highly offended: the bad guys speak Hungarian.

[Laughs in Latin]
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 15, 2018, 12:22:14 PM
Quote from: Tamas on February 15, 2018, 11:58:04 AM
Also I am highly offended: the bad guys speak Hungarian.

That gives you an unfair language advantage :angry:

Is there horse combat?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 15, 2018, 01:06:14 PM
Quote from: Valmy on February 15, 2018, 12:22:14 PM
Quote from: Tamas on February 15, 2018, 11:58:04 AM
Also I am highly offended: the bad guys speak Hungarian.

That gives you an unfair language advantage :angry:

Is there horse combat?

IDK, but FFS: I was SURE the game fucking saved as I just got to the bloody end of the prolouge and the start of the first "proper" scene. I had to rush so I shut it down.

It did NOT save. I am back to the very start of the last prologue story part, that's about 15 minutes of gaming if not more. WTF
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 15, 2018, 01:12:44 PM
Quote from: Tamas on February 15, 2018, 01:06:14 PM
Quote from: Valmy on February 15, 2018, 12:22:14 PM
Quote from: Tamas on February 15, 2018, 11:58:04 AM
Also I am highly offended: the bad guys speak Hungarian.

That gives you an unfair language advantage :angry:

Is there horse combat?

IDK, but FFS: I was SURE the game fucking saved as I just got to the bloody end of the prolouge and the start of the first "proper" scene. I had to rush so I shut it down.

It did NOT save. I am back to the very start of the last prologue story part, that's about 15 minutes of gaming if not more. WTF

Maybe having annoying features is a cunning ploy to make people hate racism?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 15, 2018, 01:15:26 PM
Quote from: Tamas on February 15, 2018, 01:06:14 PM
IDK, but FFS: I was SURE the game fucking saved as I just got to the bloody end of the prolouge and the start of the first "proper" scene. I had to rush so I shut it down.

It did NOT save. I am back to the very start of the last prologue story part, that's about 15 minutes of gaming if not more. WTF

So can you not manually save? Since I work for a living and have kids this means I pretty much could only play at night if I cannot shut it down at a moment's notice.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 15, 2018, 01:30:38 PM
Quote from: Valmy on February 15, 2018, 01:15:26 PM
Quote from: Tamas on February 15, 2018, 01:06:14 PM
IDK, but FFS: I was SURE the game fucking saved as I just got to the bloody end of the prolouge and the start of the first "proper" scene. I had to rush so I shut it down.

It did NOT save. I am back to the very start of the last prologue story part, that's about 15 minutes of gaming if not more. WTF

So can you not manually save? Since I work for a living and have kids this means I pretty much could only play at night if I cannot shut it down at a moment's notice.

Yeah you have a special drink that you can drink to save.

Right now there is some kind of hack people posted that you can use to save whenever, and the developers have said they'll patch in a proper save feature. I don't know what they were thinking.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on February 15, 2018, 01:40:13 PM
Quote from: Tamas on February 15, 2018, 01:30:38 PM
Quote from: Valmy on February 15, 2018, 01:15:26 PM
Quote from: Tamas on February 15, 2018, 01:06:14 PM
IDK, but FFS: I was SURE the game fucking saved as I just got to the bloody end of the prolouge and the start of the first "proper" scene. I had to rush so I shut it down.

It did NOT save. I am back to the very start of the last prologue story part, that's about 15 minutes of gaming if not more. WTF

So can you not manually save? Since I work for a living and have kids this means I pretty much could only play at night if I cannot shut it down at a moment's notice.

Yeah you have a special drink that you can drink to save.

Right now there is some kind of hack people posted that you can use to save whenever, and the developers have said they'll patch in a proper save feature. I don't know what they were thinking.

"Dark souls doesn't let you save all the time & it's super thrilling & fun!"
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 15, 2018, 01:41:28 PM
I think they did to stop save scumming. Which is fine but you still need to be able to save freely in case, you know, the freaking game crashes or something.

The potion would be cool if it restored a save game (and somehow still be consumed) and the only other way you could restore is if you were dead.

Or they could just have an iron man option like most games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 15, 2018, 01:45:01 PM
If a player wants to save scum, isn't that on them? Why do devs need to be heavy handed on that aspect?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 15, 2018, 04:15:06 PM
Quote from: garbon on February 15, 2018, 01:45:01 PM
If a player wants to save scum, isn't that on them? Why do devs need to be heavy handed on that aspect?

Because they want a more HARD CORE experience :P

But yeah I cannot imagine they thought that would be popular.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Alcibiades on February 18, 2018, 10:57:57 PM
Picked it up on release, game is really good and extremely immersive.  20 hours in and I've barely progressed the story.  Save feature is annoying, but makes sense in some ways.


I modded it and save scum before big fights/thefts etc. any way.  :sleep:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 19, 2018, 12:32:19 AM
Quote from: Alcibiades on February 18, 2018, 10:57:57 PM
Picked it up on release, game is really good and extremely immersive.  20 hours in and I've barely progressed the story.  Save feature is annoying, but makes sense in some ways.


I modded it and save scum before big fights/thefts etc. any way.  :sleep:

Yeah I cannot wait to play it. Everybody whose opinion I respect has said it is fantastic.

Unfortunately it will be a couple months at least.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 19, 2018, 01:35:01 AM
It has got me pretty hooked for sure.

They got the starting from nothing feeling quite right. The save system no doubt helps with that, but still the game should save when you quit. I also have applied the save hack because I simply cannot play the game otherwise.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on February 23, 2018, 02:41:55 PM
Has anyone tried the Assassin's Creed Origins' new Discovery (non-combat) game mode? I'm considering buying the standalone version.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 26, 2018, 01:34:23 PM
Anyone know if Ottoman Empire: Spectacular Millennium will be any good?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 28, 2018, 05:27:02 AM
Qvadriga is heavily discounted at the moment. If you don't buy it, you suck.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 28, 2018, 07:50:55 AM
You have taste, perhaps?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 28, 2018, 08:14:00 AM
Quote from: garbon on February 28, 2018, 07:50:55 AM
You have taste, perhaps?

It's great fun.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 28, 2018, 10:39:56 AM
Quote from: Tamas on February 28, 2018, 08:14:00 AM
Quote from: garbon on February 28, 2018, 07:50:55 AM
You have taste, perhaps?

It's great fun.

I agree.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on March 04, 2018, 01:09:15 AM
Tamas, any idea why the PBEM++ thing in Decisive Campaigns: Barbarossa would keep crashing the game whenever I tried to make an account with it?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 04, 2018, 02:59:00 AM
Quote from: Habbaku on March 04, 2018, 01:09:15 AM
Tamas, any idea why the PBEM++ thing in Decisive Campaigns: Barbarossa would keep crashing the game whenever I tried to make an account with it?

I have no idea, but registering here should also do the trick: https://samelogin.slitherine.com/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2F

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on March 06, 2018, 05:16:33 PM
Tamas or anyone else have any interest in a Decisive Campaigns: Barbarossa or Blitzkrieg from Warsaw to Paris PBEM game?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on March 06, 2018, 07:57:29 PM
Quote from: Tamas on March 04, 2018, 02:59:00 AM
Quote from: Habbaku on March 04, 2018, 01:09:15 AM
Tamas, any idea why the PBEM++ thing in Decisive Campaigns: Barbarossa would keep crashing the game whenever I tried to make an account with it?

I have no idea, but registering here should also do the trick: https://samelogin.slitherine.com/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2F

No dice on that, though I'm having account-merging issues that hopefully Slitherine's e-mail support can fix. Wee.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 07, 2018, 09:00:28 AM
Quote from: Habbaku on March 06, 2018, 05:16:33 PM
Tamas or anyone else have any interest in a Decisive Campaigns: Barbarossa or Blitzkrieg from Warsaw to Paris PBEM game?

I have been playing TOAW lately, I'd be happy to PBEM that but I don't want to re-adjust for Barbarossa at the moment, sorry.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on March 07, 2018, 11:44:13 AM
The betrayals never cease.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on March 09, 2018, 02:23:40 PM
Finally started Walking Dead S2.
30 minutes in and you have to kill a dog.
Nope.
Uninstall.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 12, 2018, 03:46:49 PM
There's a Legions Triumphant (DLC) tournament coming up for Field of Glory II. Anyone from here joining it? I am tempted but I kinda' suck with these late Roman era armies
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on March 12, 2018, 07:51:31 PM
When is it coming up?

I'd buy the game on sale if I knew there were tournaments for it!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 13, 2018, 12:31:22 AM
Quote from: Habbaku on March 12, 2018, 07:51:31 PM
When is it coming up?

I'd buy the game on sale if I knew there were tournaments for it!

This tourney starts on Monday but there'll be others. There has been a fairly sizeable competitive community around even the first game, and we have had no trouble filling 100+ tournaments for the new one
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 14, 2018, 07:45:06 AM
Well, I think I officially suck at late(r) Roman period battles.

I was playing as Romans vs Dacians cca. 100AD-ish army sets against the AI, to see if I could manage the same battle in the tournament. TWICE I was 1% from achieving auto-victory, but the AI turned it around and achieved an autovictory itself a few turns before the battle's end. Key was that once stalling me so close to my auto-victory, a lot of the Dacian units that I routed earlier managed to recover and returned to the battle, turning the tide. (BTW I did not work on the game so I am allowed to praise it :P ).

I have concluded I am not ready for the tournament.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on March 14, 2018, 08:06:40 AM
I decided to play Shogun 2 again.

Oh the old problems with 3D. Troops just act so stupid when you try to get them to man walls.

Japan is really an interesting map for such a game considering its linearity.

Though realm divide is handled stupidly. I wish Total War would make vassals worthwhile
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on March 19, 2018, 09:39:29 AM
Thea: the awakening - wow I have not had this much fun with a computer game in a very long time.  And it is 50% off until, I think, today.

A very intelligent blend of city builder, crafting game and rpg. 

A good salve to brackets getting destroyed in the NCAA tourney.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on March 29, 2018, 03:55:59 PM
Far Cry 5 is the most absurd video game I've played, maybe ever. It is so chaotic, ridiculous, and hysterical that I can scarcely believe half the shit that happens in the game.

It is easily the most fun I've had in an FPS in a long, long time.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on March 29, 2018, 04:06:36 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 19, 2018, 09:39:29 AM
Thea: the awakening - wow I have not had this much fun with a computer game in a very long time.  And it is 50% off until, I think, today.

A very intelligent blend of city builder, crafting game and rpg. 

A good salve to brackets getting destroyed in the NCAA tourney.

Thanks for the tip CC, sounds rather interesting; heads over to Steam.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on March 30, 2018, 06:00:35 PM
Tyranny is by far the most engaging of the new Infinity Engine style games. Loving it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on April 04, 2018, 12:32:29 PM
I bought Expeditions: Vikings on a steam sale.  Haven't had a chance to give it a spin but I have high hopes based on how enjoyable their Conquistadors game was.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on April 05, 2018, 01:53:53 PM
If you don't already have CK2, you can now get a permanent copy for free on Steam.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on April 09, 2018, 11:34:54 AM
Expeditions Vikings is a lot of fun.  A lot of options and story lines to follow so I think I will have a lot of fun exploring the various story branches over time.  They have done a good job capturing the feel of the viking age and building up our homestead has a satisfying feel to it.  Highly recommend this one.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 16, 2018, 04:24:35 AM
Last week I returned to World of Tanks after several years. 1.0 sure is pretty.

They have changed the maps, they are the same but they are not. So I suck badly, only yesterday was I showing some signs of sometimes doing what I was doing.

Also I think there are WAY more premium tanks in battles than when I was active. There's a lot more types of them as well.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on April 18, 2018, 01:56:20 PM
Any excitement for Total War Britannia?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on April 18, 2018, 02:06:26 PM
Moderately excited, but not interested in paying full price because: Creative Assembly.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on April 18, 2018, 08:22:00 PM
Quote from: Tamas on April 16, 2018, 04:24:35 AM
Last week I returned to World of Tanks after several years. 1.0 sure is pretty.

They have changed the maps, they are the same but they are not. So I suck badly, only yesterday was I showing some signs of sometimes doing what I was doing.

Also I think there are WAY more premium tanks in battles than when I was active. There's a lot more types of them as well.

I'm the jerk in a Russian IS-2 on the PlayStation version.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on April 21, 2018, 05:49:21 PM
XCom2 War of the Chosen is very nice indeed. Firaxis is not fucking up with the XCom series. But I did end up preordering Phoenix Point when it was on sale, and that looks like it will be a worthy advance in the genre.

Hopefully XCom 3 will be another advance. Meanwhile, backer redemption codes for Battletech are now available.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on April 23, 2018, 02:02:36 PM
Hmm Battletech looks real good y'all

Releases tomorrow.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on April 23, 2018, 06:32:50 PM
I'm excited for it, but so afraid of buying games at-release these days.

Please let me know what you think ASAP.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on April 24, 2018, 07:06:13 AM
Quote from: Habbaku on April 23, 2018, 06:32:50 PM
I'm excited for it, but so afraid of buying games at-release these days.

Please let me know what you think ASAP.

I'll be playing it right after work. I'll write something here about it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on April 24, 2018, 01:38:44 PM
Expeditions: Viking and Expeditions: Conquistador are pretty cheap right now.

Anyone had good experiences with them?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on April 24, 2018, 01:42:25 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on April 24, 2018, 01:38:44 PM
Expeditions: Viking and Expeditions: Conquistador are pretty cheap right now.

Anyone had good experiences with them?

I've got Conquistador.
Meh.
Its a great idea and setting.
But it all feels very clunky. Like something from the mid 90s.
If you're comfortable with old games then you might get into it more than I did
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on April 24, 2018, 02:21:28 PM
Quote from: Tyr on April 24, 2018, 01:42:25 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on April 24, 2018, 01:38:44 PM
Expeditions: Viking and Expeditions: Conquistador are pretty cheap right now.

Anyone had good experiences with them?

I've got Conquistador.
Meh.
Its a great idea and setting.
But it all feels very clunky. Like something from the mid 90s.
If you're comfortable with old games then you might get into it more than I did

Yeah, CC loved the latter and has made initial positive comments about the former. I found myself in same boat with Conquistador. A bit too old school for me.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on April 24, 2018, 09:17:09 PM
Anyone else following this?

https://gamerant.com/cyberpunk-2077-first-person-rumor/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on April 24, 2018, 09:29:14 PM
Quote from: garbon on April 24, 2018, 02:21:28 PM
Quote from: Tyr on April 24, 2018, 01:42:25 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on April 24, 2018, 01:38:44 PM
Expeditions: Viking and Expeditions: Conquistador are pretty cheap right now.

Anyone had good experiences with them?

I've got Conquistador.
Meh.
Its a great idea and setting.
But it all feels very clunky. Like something from the mid 90s.
If you're comfortable with old games then you might get into it more than I did

Yeah, CC loved the latter and has made initial positive comments about the former. I found myself in same boat with Conquistador. A bit too old school for me.

Thanks, Tyr and garbon. Gonna take a jump on Vikings, then. If I like it, I'll go backwards even though the Conquistador idea seems cooler.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 25, 2018, 04:28:01 AM
So, overall I like Battletech and I'll be playing it but it has some pretty glaring flaws.

I was expecting better graphics from the screenshots. It's serviceable but nothing special.

The tutorial is not very good and I hope it can be skipped if I ever restart the campaign.

But still, it's fun to try and position yourself on the maps, trying to take that good shot in (that won't have you grind the enemy mech down one pip of armor at a time). And the campaign mode makes you wanna be sure you don't get damaged needlessly. Jumpjets are fun as well.

Basically, it seems like they didn't even try grabbing the attention of people new to Battletech.

Next big question for me with the game is the AI - I am just entering proper campaign missions territory.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on April 25, 2018, 10:25:19 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on April 24, 2018, 07:06:13 AM
Quote from: Habbaku on April 23, 2018, 06:32:50 PM
I'm excited for it, but so afraid of buying games at-release these days.

Please let me know what you think ASAP.

I'll be playing it right after work. I'll write something here about it.

After about 10 hours of actual game play I am finding it difficult to pull myself away from this video game.

Graphically the game looks pretty, especially the terrain. There are some framerate issues if you're picky about that sort of thing, though I am running it on a 6 year old CPU and a GTX 970 with 16 gigs of RAM, so make of that what you will. The art style is quite nice as well.

The turn-based combat is slower paced than the new XCOM, which I like. It really feels like giant stompy robots slugging it out inside lunar craters or lush forests, and the light mechs really feel like they're flying across the maps conpared to the heavier mechs. The initiative phase system is really cool in that you can manipulate the turns so that lighter units can run in, shoot something in the vulnerable rear armor, and then on the next turn fly away to safety (or shoot and fly to safety if you have that perk) before the heavier unit can react. Overall I'm finding the battles very satisfying, echoing what Tamas is saying.

What happens in the mech battles matters a whole lot in the campaign. It hasn't happened to me (yet) but going into bankruptcy ends your game so costly repairs after battles and losing your mechwarriors actually matter. And making your mechs from scratch in the mech bay is super easy and, for me, really enthralling. I'm still in the early game so scrapping together salvaged weapons and mechs into something resembling a coherent and sensible mech lance is challenging but doable. It is very satisfying building your mechs and then seeing them actually work well with the other mechs in your lance. In my last few contract missions I was neck deep in SRMs but had no good ballistic weapons so I slapped a ton of SRM 6s and jump jets on my Centurion and Shadow Hawk. Basically they fly up to enemies and slam them with dozens of missiles and secondary weapons, while I have a fast scout in a Spider (and I just pieced together a Jenner to replace it) that moves along the flanks and sensor locks enemies making it easier to land hits. The 4th mech in my lance is just a fire support mech, shooting from slightly behind the brawler mechs with lasers and autocannons. It's working well so far.

On the negative side, I've had one crash so far. Also I would suggest loading it in a SSD. And as I mentioned above it could use more optimization so it runs smoother.

Overall I'm really happy with this video game so far.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on April 25, 2018, 11:59:28 PM
Quote from: Tamas on April 25, 2018, 04:28:01 AM
So, overall I like Battletech and I'll be playing it but it has some pretty glaring flaws.

Yeah like I have to go in the service of vile Aristo-SWINE

(https://i.imgur.com/IjsRjfz.jpg)

But at least I get to fight against Le Directoire...er...the Directorate.

QuoteI was expecting better graphics from the screenshots. It's serviceable but nothing special.

Boy, you are not kidding. I am glad to hear this reaction because I thought maybe there was something wrong with my graphics card. The art style in the cut scenes are alright but man the maps are horribly washed out. Everything just looks bland and brown.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 26, 2018, 12:49:53 AM
After the first story "boss fight" mission you get a crapton of cash, but I was so beaten up in the actual fight, that after buying just a couple of small things, fixing up stuff, then actually having to wait like 2 months to have a lance worth of mechs operational, I am broke again  :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on April 26, 2018, 07:14:45 AM
I watched some gameplay footage of that mission so I knew what was coming  :D

Only had a little structural damage on my Blackjack and some accidental overheat damage on my Spider.

Lights early in this game are hilarious. You can fly across the map and spot for your big boys either using just the passive scanning or sensor locking so your guys can just go ham on some unsuspecting light mech which just had all its defensive evasion erased.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 26, 2018, 08:33:03 AM
Is the sensor lock ability some kind of equipment I need to install?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on April 26, 2018, 10:08:42 AM
Quote from: Tamas on April 26, 2018, 08:33:03 AM
Is the sensor lock ability some kind of equipment I need to install?

It's the first ability you unlock in the Tactics branch of the skill tree
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 26, 2018, 10:38:24 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on April 26, 2018, 10:08:42 AM
Quote from: Tamas on April 26, 2018, 08:33:03 AM
Is the sensor lock ability some kind of equipment I need to install?

It's the first ability you unlock in the Tactics branch of the skill tree

ah, thanks
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Pedrito on April 26, 2018, 11:36:00 AM
I'm totally new to the Battletech universe, yesterday I tried to start a game but didn't have much time, and stopped at the "Choose your background" screen: do the different affiliations matter for my initial stats, or its' more of an aesthetics and starting position matter? which one did you choose?

And, I'm a bit worried about the requisites: my pc is a i5 2.500K with 8gb RAM and a 960GTX, hope it works without too much stuttering...

L.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on April 26, 2018, 11:50:19 AM
Quote from: Pedrito on April 26, 2018, 11:36:00 AM
I'm totally new to the Battletech universe, yesterday I tried to start a game but didn't have much time, and stopped at the "Choose your background" screen: do the different affiliations matter for my initial stats, or its' more of an aesthetics and starting position matter? which one did you choose?

And, I'm a bit worried about the requisites: my pc is a i5 2.500K with 8gb RAM and a 960GTX, hope it works without too much stuttering...

L.

Some of the character choices affect your initial skill values, like giving you a +1 to Gunnery at the start of the campaign. This won't lock you into a certain skill path though because you gain XP every mission and you can certainly march up a different skill path.

Some of the background character choices affect the RPG-like conversation choices you have, as well as occasionally giving you additional options in the random events that happen during interstellar travel.

The game runs ok on my midrange desktop, but some performance issues and one crash are telling. I think it would be perfectly the right decision to wait until a patch or two to pick this up, unless you really love Battletech and want to kick big robots in the balls RIGHT NOW. The gameplay itself is really solid and it will still be that way in a few weeks or months after technical issues are ironed out.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on April 27, 2018, 03:48:49 PM
BattleTech is such a powerful dose of nostalgia I felt like I'd been kicked in the nuts. It really captures the feel of the tabletop game without the shitty reliance on dice rolls, paper, and jerky GMs.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Legbiter on April 27, 2018, 06:16:55 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 09, 2018, 11:34:54 AM
Expeditions Vikings is a lot of fun.  A lot of options and story lines to follow so I think I will have a lot of fun exploring the various story branches over time.  They have done a good job capturing the feel of the viking age and building up our homestead has a satisfying feel to it.  Highly recommend this one.

Bought this one on your recommendation and so far it's a blast.

Thanks for the heads up.

Been running it with the Norse english version for that extra bit of cultural relevance.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Ed Anger on April 27, 2018, 08:20:30 PM
Quote from: Pedrito on April 26, 2018, 11:36:00 AM
I'm totally new to the Battletech universe, yesterday I tried to start a game but didn't have much time, and stopped at the "Choose your background" screen: do the different affiliations matter for my initial stats, or its' more of an aesthetics and starting position matter? which one did you choose?

And, I'm a bit worried about the requisites: my pc is a i5 2.500K with 8gb RAM and a 960GTX, hope it works without too much stuttering...

L.

Davions are munchkins. Steiner are boring. Kurita is for those with body pillow issues. Liao are lunatics and Marik are generally ignored.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on April 27, 2018, 10:45:46 PM
Agreed. Only proper Swedenese-speaking Rasalhaguers are fit to rule the Sphere.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 28, 2018, 11:07:28 AM
Have to do my first reload in Battletech. I thought I had the game figured out, going through several missions without much trouble in terms of Mech damages. But now I am running into missions where I end up being outnumbered, which sucks. And I am not sure is needed: the AI seems capable: it gangs up on the weak link in your Lance, tries to concentrate fire on already damaged parts, and won't expose its own damaged sides to you if it can help it - at least that's my impression.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on April 28, 2018, 06:08:33 PM
Looking for a traditional rpg mainly dungeon based game on steam, any suggestions?

Ideally an updated 'eye of the beholder' or something along that lines.

Has to have character generation, 3-6 dungeon party size. Definitely not 3d graphics, isometric 2d at a touch.

I'm trying out this, but it's a bit too generic, no back story, just a high-score based on dungeon clearance:
Monsters' Den: Book of Dread
https://store.steampowered.com/app/502230/Monsters_Den_Book_of_Dread/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/502230/Monsters_Den_Book_of_Dread/)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on April 28, 2018, 07:10:50 PM
Quote from: mongers on April 28, 2018, 06:08:33 PM
Looking for a traditional rpg mainly dungeon based game on steam, any suggestions?

Ideally an updated 'eye of the beholder' or something along that lines.

Has to have character generation, 3-6 dungeon party size. Definitely not 3d graphics, isometric 2d at a touch.

I'm trying out this, but it's a bit too generic, no back story, just a high-score based on dungeon clearance:
Monsters' Den: Book of Dread
https://store.steampowered.com/app/502230/Monsters_Den_Book_of_Dread/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/502230/Monsters_Den_Book_of_Dread/)

I really enjoyed Legend of Grimrock (1 and 2).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on April 28, 2018, 08:03:28 PM
Quote from: The Brain on April 28, 2018, 07:10:50 PM
Quote from: mongers on April 28, 2018, 06:08:33 PM
Looking for a traditional rpg mainly dungeon based game on steam, any suggestions?

Ideally an updated 'eye of the beholder' or something along that lines.

Has to have character generation, 3-6 dungeon party size. Definitely not 3d graphics, isometric 2d at a touch.

I'm trying out this, but it's a bit too generic, no back story, just a high-score based on dungeon clearance:
Monsters' Den: Book of Dread
https://store.steampowered.com/app/502230/Monsters_Den_Book_of_Dread/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/502230/Monsters_Den_Book_of_Dread/)

I really enjoyed Legend of Grimrock (1 and 2).

Thanks for that I'll check them out.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 30, 2018, 08:12:01 AM
Whoever chased Syt away needs to investigate if this is worth checking out or not:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/599010/Hanse__The_Hanseatic_League/

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on April 30, 2018, 10:58:42 AM
Quote from: Tamas on April 30, 2018, 08:12:01 AM
Whoever chased Syt away needs to investigate if this is worth checking out or not:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/599010/Hanse__The_Hanseatic_League/

That looks an awful lot like Patrician. Not that that's a bad thing.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on April 30, 2018, 03:10:08 PM
Yeah, that looks like an expanded version of a new Patrician game, with a bit of Port Royale to it. The Patrician games being among my favorites, have played a lot of hours with them. 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on May 03, 2018, 11:49:09 AM
I put about 15 hours into Expeditions: Viking and I'm not sure I'd recommend it. It's not a bad game, per se, but nor does its main gameplay system (combat) really strike me as all that interesting.

It is, at its essence, a tactical combat game rather than a true RPG (there is very little characterization in the cast) and the tactical combat just isn't that engaging. At a certain point, in my 50th battle or so, it just got repetitive. Hit this button, whack this guy, position my guys behind cover, shoot the thing, avoid traps. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Unfortunately, the strategic management elements aren't nearly interesting enough to make up for it, either. The game has you building up your homeland through the course of the game to get various bonuses, but it's all off-screen and handled in a simple menu. I'm sure there's something at the end-game that makes it more important, but in the interim...nothing all that terribly intriguing.

Couple that with the fact that, for all this Vikinginginging that I'm doing, you only ever seem to get control of 10(!) characters, only 6 of whom will ever be involved in combat at any one time and...it doesn't really feel like I'm going to be the scourge of England.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on May 03, 2018, 12:17:44 PM
Quote from: Tamas on April 28, 2018, 11:07:28 AM
Have to do my first reload in Battletech. I thought I had the game figured out, going through several missions without much trouble in terms of Mech damages. But now I am running into missions where I end up being outnumbered, which sucks. And I am not sure is needed: the AI seems capable: it gangs up on the weak link in your Lance, tries to concentrate fire on already damaged parts, and won't expose its own damaged sides to you if it can help it - at least that's my impression.

The intel provided by your fixer is not 100% reliable. You may end up in missions that are more dangerous, like 1 good token higher, than advertised when you sign in.

If you find yourself outgunned or outnumbered, retreating to fight another day is definitely a viable option. The cost of Mechwarrior deaths or injuries far exceeds merely losing the contract and not getting the money.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on May 04, 2018, 06:58:49 PM
Yeah, I've withdrawn once from the contracts I've had so far. I actually got a "good faith" withdrawal, meaning I still got paid a little for my trouble, and I paid no cost.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on May 06, 2018, 05:38:36 PM
Anyone play Frostpunk?  If so, what do you think?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: jimmy olsen on May 14, 2018, 06:30:15 PM
As you guys may have noticed I'm on a world war one kick these days.

What game, if any would you recomend for that?

I was thinking of maybe To End All Wars or HOI Darkest Hour so I can play the WWI scenario.

https://www.wargamer.com/articles/best-ww1-strategy-games-wargames/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on May 16, 2018, 07:51:13 AM
Phoenix Point pre-Alpha is pretty damn good. Makes XCOM look amateurish, as far as the combat depth goes.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 16, 2018, 08:15:44 AM
Quote from: Scipio on May 16, 2018, 07:51:13 AM
Phoenix Point pre-Alpha is pretty damn good. Makes XCOM look amateurish, as far as the combat depth goes.

There's a very important difference between wanting to go uber-detailed and failing (which one could call amateurish), and deliberately designing something that's not a spreadsheet.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on May 16, 2018, 08:28:32 AM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on May 14, 2018, 06:30:15 PM
As you guys may have noticed I'm on a world war one kick these days.

What game, if any would you recomend for that?

I was thinking of maybe To End All Wars or HOI Darkest Hour so I can play the WWI scenario.

https://www.wargamer.com/articles/best-ww1-strategy-games-wargames/

I can recommend neither of those games, unfortunately.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on May 16, 2018, 01:30:33 PM
Paradox Con is in a few days. What sort of garbage fire do we expect to be announced there? Victoria III? Rome II? Sengoku II? HOI 9?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on May 16, 2018, 02:05:45 PM
A Mars expansion. Couple of games from other devs. Nothing from Paradox development.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on May 16, 2018, 02:24:30 PM
 :cry:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Threviel on May 16, 2018, 11:28:27 PM
https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?forums/new-pds-title-tba-at-pdxcon-2018.1008/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on May 17, 2018, 01:54:08 AM
God, I hope it isn't Victoria 3.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on May 17, 2018, 01:56:53 AM
If they could make it better, I'd be okay with that. I'd also be okay with a fun version of Rome.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: jimmy olsen on May 17, 2018, 03:30:06 AM
Quote from: Valmy on May 16, 2018, 08:28:32 AM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on May 14, 2018, 06:30:15 PM
As you guys may have noticed I'm on a world war one kick these days.

What game, if any would you recomend for that?

I was thinking of maybe To End All Wars or HOI Darkest Hour so I can play the WWI scenario.

https://www.wargamer.com/articles/best-ww1-strategy-games-wargames/

I can recommend neither of those games, unfortunately.
I'm not interested in playing France though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on May 17, 2018, 09:13:15 AM
Quote from: garbon on May 17, 2018, 01:56:53 AM
If they could make it better, I'd be okay with that. I'd also be okay with a fun version of Rome.

Yeah either would be great if it's comparable EU4 and CK2.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: PDH on May 17, 2018, 09:50:25 AM
Quote from: garbon on May 17, 2018, 01:56:53 AM
If they could make it better, I'd be okay with that. I'd also be okay with a fun version of Rome.

Rome, the Oakland of games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Richard Hakluyt on May 17, 2018, 11:33:51 AM
I'd say that Antiquity is the biggest gap in their stable of games. A paradox Ancient game could be awesome  :cool:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on May 17, 2018, 12:04:07 PM
They have one and it's awful.

Maybe Rome II, then? The hints are pretty vague, but seem to indicate an ancients game or Victoria III.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: jimmy olsen on May 17, 2018, 11:04:15 PM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on May 17, 2018, 11:33:51 AM
I'd say that Antiquity is the biggest gap in their stable of games. A paradox Ancient game could be awesome  :cool:

Yeah, given all the mechanics in CK2 I think they can pull it off now.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Richard Hakluyt on May 18, 2018, 08:01:47 AM
Quote from: Habbaku on May 17, 2018, 12:04:07 PM
They have one and it's awful.

Maybe Rome II, then? The hints are pretty vague, but seem to indicate an ancients game or Victoria III.

I always thought that Rome was a half-hearted attempt; on a par with March of the Eagles and that game about Japan.

The full paradox game experience would be the EU, Victoria, HOI, CK and Stellaris series. Games with lots of addons, mods, etc etc.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: jimmy olsen on May 19, 2018, 02:27:39 AM
Hearts of Iron II was $3.74 and Darkest Hour was $1.99, so I'm going to try out that WWI scenario.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: jimmy olsen on May 19, 2018, 04:19:25 AM
Lots of desicions to make...not sure I know what I'm doing.  :lol:

While I did transfer 13 divisions to the east, I think I'm going to try to sucker the French into Alsace, then cut them off.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on May 19, 2018, 06:46:03 AM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on May 17, 2018, 11:33:51 AM
I'd say that Antiquity is the biggest gap in their stable of games. A paradox Ancient game could be awesome  :cool:

That's my take on it. I really want a good grand strategy game set in Antiquity, so I'm really happy with this announcement.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on May 19, 2018, 07:24:24 AM
I'm actually looking forward to a new pdox game  :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on June 02, 2018, 02:00:45 PM
Will GAY Nation: a Gay Game for Gays [GAYS ONLY] be any good?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on June 10, 2018, 08:02:46 PM
New Cyberpunk: 2077 trailer. http://cyberpunk.net

No, I'm not doing the tags.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on June 10, 2018, 10:47:24 PM
So, uh, according to their E3 presentation, Fallout 76 is going to be ONLINE ONLY, even if you want to play solo. Apparently every other character you meet in the world will be an actual player, not an NPC.

And goodbye modding. You made Bethesda's in-house games good, but it couldn't last forever.  :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on June 11, 2018, 03:52:03 AM
Elder Scrolls 6 is coming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQcnDNd3P7Q
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on June 11, 2018, 02:59:49 PM
Cyberpunk 2077 – official E3 2018 trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X2kIfS6fb8
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on June 12, 2018, 08:46:42 PM
Wait so they are making a new Star Control game? Damn everything is being rebooted now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-EnCjcxsJE

If you never played Star Control 2 in the 1990s you missed out. Not sure it needs to be brought back from the dead though :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on June 12, 2018, 08:53:54 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on June 11, 2018, 03:52:03 AM
Elder Scrolls 6 is coming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQcnDNd3P7Q


Wow you cannot even tell where the game is set with that trailer. Impressive Bethesda :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on June 13, 2018, 02:55:45 AM
Quote from: Valmy on June 12, 2018, 08:53:54 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on June 11, 2018, 03:52:03 AM
Elder Scrolls 6 is coming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQcnDNd3P7Q


Wow you cannot even tell where the game is set with that trailer. Impressive Bethesda :P

It was probably last-minute damage control after people weren't that happy about Fallout 76. :P

Seems like Hammerfell or High Rock is the current best guess based on terrain in the trailer.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on June 13, 2018, 03:28:54 AM
Quote from: Valmy on June 12, 2018, 08:46:42 PM
Wait so they are making a new Star Control game? Damn everything is being rebooted now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-EnCjcxsJE

If you never played Star Control 2 in the 1990s you missed out. Not sure it needs to be brought back from the dead though :hmm:

I first played it this century.
It held up.
Looking forward to the new one.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 28, 2018, 01:42:11 PM
EA is making best use of its Star Wars license :D

https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/28/17514192/ea-star-wars-game-amy-hennig-leaves

QuoteLast October, EA shuttered Dead Space studio Visceral, but it kept one project alive: a new, story-driven Star Wars adventure helmed by Uncharted creator Amy Hennig. Development was to continue at EA Vancouver — but it looks like that might no longer be the case.

Speaking to Eurogamer, Hennig revealed that she left EA in January, and is currently in the process of forming her own studio. She's looking to build up a smaller team to potentially focus on VR projects. "I'm doing all this stuff, working on all kinds of things," she says. But as for the Uncharted-like Star Wars adventure, it appears that development has stalled, and there's now a very different game in the works.

"I'm not doing anything Star Wars," Hennig tells Eurogamer. "And, who knows what the future may hold, but that project is on the shelf now. The Vancouver studio is working on something pretty different. It's really not... Y'know, once you go more open world it's such a different game to the one we were making. Everybody loved what we were doing and I'd love to see us resurrect that somehow, but it's complicated."

EA, for its part, isn't commenting on the status of the game. But the company did release a statement confirming Hennig's departure:

"Yes, Amy Hennig has moved on from Electronic Arts. Amy is an amazing storyteller — a crafter and a creator. We have so much respect for her and the creative spirit she brought to the teams and projects she worked on at EA. We wish Amy all the best with what comes next, and we will all be watching with excitement."

With the ongoing struggles of Battlefront II, and the sting that came from the cancellation of Star Wars 1313, it's been a rough few years for players looking to explore a galaxy far, far away. But there's at least some good news on the horizon: Titanfall studio Respawn teased a single-player game called Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order at E3 this year, which is expected to launch next year.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 09, 2018, 09:27:38 AM
Best Mom? 

https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/8wwkni/found_the_instructions_my_mom_wrote_for_12yearold/

(https://i.imgur.com/8JM6YLZ.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on July 09, 2018, 10:30:12 AM
I played Foxhole for a while yesterday - I thought I would take a look around, learn a bit about the mechanics of the game, and then put it away until it gets closer to release  - about 6  hours later I realized I should probably go to bed.  :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Drakken on July 09, 2018, 03:39:20 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 09, 2018, 10:30:12 AM
I played Foxhole for a while yesterday - I thought I would take a look around, learn a bit about the mechanics of the game, and then put it away until it gets closer to release  - about 6  hours later I realized I should probably go to bed.  :D

Foxhole is such a good game, especially if you can find a good team that welcomes you with open arms.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on July 10, 2018, 05:49:14 PM
Warframe has kind of taken over all of my gaming time for the last 3 months. The gameplay itself is just plain fun and the game is really convenient for anyone who has, uh, an actual life. Even just playing for 30 or 45 minute chunks of time, you still feel like you're making progress in whatever you are working toward. And there are A TON of things to be doing in this game. The real meat of the game doesn't even really start until after maybe 60 hours of game time. It really rewards the "work" you put into it.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on July 11, 2018, 07:52:33 PM
Quote from: Drakken on July 09, 2018, 03:39:20 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 09, 2018, 10:30:12 AM
I played Foxhole for a while yesterday - I thought I would take a look around, learn a bit about the mechanics of the game, and then put it away until it gets closer to release  - about 6  hours later I realized I should probably go to bed.  :D

Foxhole is such a good game, especially if you can find a good team that welcomes you with open arms.

I am really enjoying it.  But I find the communications system a bit overwhelming with all chat in one channel.  Normally people try to maintain order in chat but it gets a bit crazy at times.  I understand that is going to be addressed in the next update and I think that is really going to improve the experience.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on July 12, 2018, 10:28:34 AM
Warhammer : Vermintide 2 is now on Xbox Game Pass so I tried it last night.

Chaotic button smashing with a lot of systems. The Banters between characters is fun. Gameplay loop is a little shallow & takes too much time to complete.

On a personal note, I am not sure I like playing a First person game with a controller.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on July 14, 2018, 11:28:06 AM
Hey Drakken, what faction do you play?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 21, 2018, 02:35:16 AM
*installs World of Tanks for first time in years*
*is assaulted by a gazillion messages, menus, and new features*
*uninstalls World of Tanks without playing a single match*
:lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 23, 2018, 07:22:07 AM
Speedrunner beats Fallout 1, 2, 3, New Vegas, and 4 in under 90 minutes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1dMHICuiRM
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 24, 2018, 04:21:17 AM
Just me or has humble bundle totally ran out of steam lately?
They're doing a lot of sales but no bundles.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on July 24, 2018, 04:44:07 AM
I really don't have much time (or even patience) for proper games anymore, so I'm dwelling into the evil world of mobile gaming. Right now I'm hooked to Final Fantasy Brave Exvious. It really has wetted my appetite for playing JRPGs again. Anything you'd recommend that can be played on the go?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 24, 2018, 05:02:18 AM
Quote from: celedhring on July 24, 2018, 04:44:07 AM
I really don't have much time (or even patience) for proper games anymore, so I'm dwelling into the evil world of mobile gaming. Right now I'm hooked to Final Fantasy Brave Exvious. It really has wetted my appetite for playing JRPGs again. Anything you'd recommend that can be played on the go?
I've been considering getting a PSP for years. Close to actually taking the plunge. I want to play the first two personas.

In terms of mobile though...I can just never bring myself to pay for mobile games.
Though I think Dragon Pass has a mobile version? I'm sure there's a few others like so too but it escapes me now :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 24, 2018, 06:23:12 AM
Quote from: celedhring on July 24, 2018, 04:44:07 AM
I really don't have much time (or even patience) for proper games anymore, so I'm dwelling into the evil world of mobile gaming. Right now I'm hooked to Final Fantasy Brave Exvious. It really has wetted my appetite for playing JRPGs again. Anything you'd recommend that can be played on the go?

Give Reigns a try. It's a fun, surreal kingdom management game where you make decisions to advance a weird plot and balance your meters (make no group in society too happy or two angry) by swiping left or right. Till your monarch dies and the next one takes over. It's rather compelling and available on mobile and PC.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 30, 2018, 02:17:45 PM
Finally finished Far Cry 3. Wow those endings suck. The entire second island was really short actually.

Started Homefront the Revolution.
And. OK. I get why the Red Dawn remake made the enemy North Korea.
But why does this game feel the need to do it? China makes so much more sense
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on July 30, 2018, 03:22:34 PM
Quote from: Tyr on July 30, 2018, 02:17:45 PM
Finally finished Far Cry 3. Wow those endings suck. The entire second island was really short actually.

Started Homefront the Revolution.
And. OK. I get why the Red Dawn remake made the enemy North Korea.
But why does this game feel the need to do it? China makes so much more sense

Have you played Far Cry 4? Better endings I think, and also not the long anticlimax of the second island in 3.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on August 01, 2018, 06:42:21 PM
I bought Super Hot during the steam sale.  Game play is fun, but they insist on doing this thing where you are hacker from like 20 years ago.  They make the game look like it's being observed through an old CRT with scan lines and curved screens and it hurts my eyes.  It's one of those games with a meta-plot which is like having have a college Freshman explain Nietzsche to you.  I know where this is going and I don't care.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on August 02, 2018, 04:53:02 AM
Do I wan to buy Madden 19 for the PC?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on August 02, 2018, 05:22:57 AM
Quote from: The Brain on July 30, 2018, 03:22:34 PM
Quote from: Tyr on July 30, 2018, 02:17:45 PM
Finally finished Far Cry 3. Wow those endings suck. The entire second island was really short actually.

Started Homefront the Revolution.
And. OK. I get why the Red Dawn remake made the enemy North Korea.
But why does this game feel the need to do it? China makes so much more sense

Have you played Far Cry 4? Better endings I think, and also not the long anticlimax of the second island in 3.

No. Will get it if I spot it cheap
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on August 02, 2018, 06:50:54 PM
Got to a point in SuperHot where it told me to stop playing.  Okay.  Now what?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on August 02, 2018, 08:38:46 PM
Quote from: Tamas on August 02, 2018, 04:53:02 AM
Do I wan to buy Madden 19 for the PC?

Subscribe to Origin Premiere.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on August 03, 2018, 03:48:45 AM
Good idea, but I have subscribed to Access for one month instead. Gives me a 10 hours trial of the game which should be plenty.

I have had a quick look just to realise that I do NOT remember the controls from 11 years ago.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on August 08, 2018, 05:51:15 PM
So Fallout 76 won't be on Steam which means I probably won't buy it.  I've found if a game is not on Steam I just don't play it as much even if I want it.  Never played Dragon Age II and III despite liking 1 a lot.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on August 08, 2018, 06:03:05 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on August 08, 2018, 05:51:15 PM
So Fallout 76 won't be on Steam which means I probably won't buy it.  I've found if a game is not on Steam I just don't play it as much even if I want it.  Never played Dragon Age II and III despite liking 1 a lot.

Yeah, I find the same thing.  I often forget there are games available outside Steam.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on August 09, 2018, 05:45:51 AM
I even bought Far Cry 3 twice as I forgot I had it since it wasn't on Steam :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on August 09, 2018, 12:52:46 PM
Yeah if a company wants me to play their game they better put it on Steam. I can and do make exceptions. Rarely.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on August 09, 2018, 02:05:20 PM
It is so weird as I can still remember before when I had been like ugh, no I do not want to use Steam.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 10, 2018, 01:05:34 PM
You know, it's kinda nice that I keep getting annual anniversary vouchers for my two different log ins on Slitherine/Matrixgames, but it's not so nice that every time I try to claim them I get "The token provided is no longer valid for this user" and it doesn't show up under my vouchers. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on August 15, 2018, 08:44:31 AM
As soon as I'm out of Switzerland I need to start putting in the effort to buy more physical games.

And yes. I remember when steam launched. It sucked. It just made multiplayer counterstrike a pain.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 17, 2018, 09:35:19 AM
Gameplay trailer for Generation Zero.

Hunting killer robots and survival.

Setting: Sweden, November 1989.  :huh:

It looks very pretty, though.

Gameplay trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=31&v=wtvVuF3dE1c

Made by Avalanche (Just Cause, Mad Max).

(https://assets.vg247.com/current//2018/08/generation_zero_gameplay_shot_1.jpg)

(https://pmcvariety.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/generation-zero_1.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DjguBeRUUAACp1j.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on August 17, 2018, 02:03:11 PM
Were killer robots that big a problem in late 80's Sweden?  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on August 18, 2018, 02:54:25 AM
Looks like they were inspired by Tales from the Loop? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn6ifkbE_WI

Edit: turns out Simon Stålenhag is not involved. Decide for yourselves if Avalanche were heavily inspired by his art or not: https://www.google.se/search?q=simon+st%C3%A5lenhag&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj-34XNkvbcAhWNAYgKHQF-DQEQ_AUICigB&biw=1920&bih=1083
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on August 25, 2018, 08:38:00 AM
Slay the Spire is an awesome early access game that combines rogue-like elements with card collecting. Highly addictive.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 31, 2018, 11:24:50 AM
Quote from: The Brain on August 18, 2018, 02:54:25 AM
Looks like they were inspired by Tales from the Loop? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn6ifkbE_WI

Edit: turns out Simon Stålenhag is not involved. Decide for yourselves if Avalanche were heavily inspired by his art or not: https://www.google.se/search?q=simon+st%C3%A5lenhag&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj-34XNkvbcAhWNAYgKHQF-DQEQ_AUICigB&biw=1920&bih=1083

https://www.pcgamer.com/swedish-artist-simon-stalenhag-is-not-happy-with-generation-zero/

QuoteWhen Generation Zero released its gameplay trailer earlier this month, I remarked that its blend of moody landscapes and retro-futurist technology looked very similar to the work of Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag, the creator of pen and paper RPG Tales from the Loop.

As it turns out, those similarities have not gone unnoticed by Stålenhag himself, and the artist is not particularly happy with how those similarities have caused a flood of questions regarding whether he was involved with the project.

The issue has been rumbling on for several weeks, starting not long after Avalanche released its gameplay trailer for Generation Zero. In a tweet, Stålenhag said "Every time Avalanche releases a Generation Zero trailer, I have to answer questions about if I was involved or if they ever talked to me about it. It's getting tedious."

Stålenhag then followed this up with a thread explaining his feelings in greater detail. To be clear, it isn't the similarities between Avalanche's work and his own that he finds troubling. "Borrowing, referencing, and modifying other artist's work is a very important part of art" he wrote. "Furthermore, I don't think it should be necessary to declare your influences."

What does annoy Stålenhag is that he already has connections with the studio. "Avalanche knows who I am. We live in the same town. The game director of the GZ follows me on Twitter. I've even met them and briefly worked with them, and not once did they mention they were working on a game set in the Swedish countryside in the late 1980s, featuring giant robots."

"The minimally decent thing to do would have been to at least acknowledge the similarities when pointed out," he added. "If acknowledging that is something you're not prepared to do—fine—but then I'm sure there are other ways to do Swedish sci-fi that doesn't look confusingly similar to the Tales From The Loop books and RPG."

Eurogamer has since followed-up the story, speaking both to Stålenhag and Avalanche's Emil Kraftling, the director of Generation Zero. Kraftling stated that Stålenhag "hasn't been involved with the game directly or indirectly" and that "His work has not been the motivation for—nor the inspiration behind—why we decided to create it."

In addition, Kraftling said Avalanche had been in contact with Stålenhag's agency, and that there was an acknowledgement that no copyright infringement had been made. But Stålenhag refuted that there had been any such acknowledgement from his agency because neither himself nor they had "accused Avalanche of anything."

It's impossible to know for sure whether Avalanche took inspiration from Stålenhag's work, or whether the whole thing is a freak coincidence. But Avalanche's refusal to acknowledge any kind of similarity between Stålenhag's work and Generation Zero does seem a stretch, especially given the existing connections between the two. According to Eurogamer, Kraftling claimed that they've explained the situation to journalists who have asked, but nobody had published any of those explanations. Hopefully the two sides will find a way to settle the issue soon.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 03, 2018, 11:17:31 AM
Found Bloodborne GOTY for 19.99 today. :) Now I only have to finish Dark Souls II and III :D :Embarrass:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on September 03, 2018, 02:19:06 PM
Played a PC version of Ticket to Ride.

Any idea how scoring works in this game?
The final scoring makes sense but the base number is a mystery to me.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on September 03, 2018, 04:34:55 PM
Quote from: Tyr on September 03, 2018, 02:19:06 PM
Played a PC version of Ticket to Ride.

Any idea how scoring works in this game?
The final scoring makes sense but the base number is a mystery to me.

Every time you place trains, you score based on the number placed. From memory, 1 train=1 point, 2=2, 3=4, 4=7, 5=10, 6=15.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on September 04, 2018, 12:26:51 AM
Quote from: Habbaku on September 03, 2018, 04:34:55 PM
Quote from: Tyr on September 03, 2018, 02:19:06 PM
Played a PC version of Ticket to Ride.

Any idea how scoring works in this game?
The final scoring makes sense but the base number is a mystery to me.

Every time you place trains, you score based on the number placed. From memory, 1 train=1 point, 2=2, 3=4, 4=7, 5=10, 6=15.

You mean the individual paths?

That seems kind of counter intuitive, shorter routes between places should be better....Oh well. Thanks.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on September 04, 2018, 08:12:11 AM
They are easier to build so why should they score more points?

That is not how games work!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on September 04, 2018, 08:23:54 AM
Quote from: Tyr on September 04, 2018, 12:26:51 AM
Quote from: Habbaku on September 03, 2018, 04:34:55 PM
Quote from: Tyr on September 03, 2018, 02:19:06 PM
Played a PC version of Ticket to Ride.

Any idea how scoring works in this game?
The final scoring makes sense but the base number is a mystery to me.

Every time you place trains, you score based on the number placed. From memory, 1 train=1 point, 2=2, 3=4, 4=7, 5=10, 6=15.

You mean the individual paths?

That seems kind of counter intuitive, shorter routes between places should be better....Oh well. Thanks.

You should probably read the rulebook.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on September 04, 2018, 08:29:01 AM
Also, more efficient routes give fewer jobs for the poor. Tyr is an enemy of the proletariat :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on September 04, 2018, 10:48:46 AM
I like my games to follow the laws of common sense :p
Which yes. Probably part of why I'm not a board game guy.

Quote from: Tamas on September 04, 2018, 08:29:01 AM
Also, more efficient routes give fewer jobs for the poor. Tyr is an enemy of the proletariat :(
Not true. The longer train journey provides more hours for the train's staff but it drastically decreases the viability of commuting between the two :p
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on September 04, 2018, 11:12:46 AM
 ;)

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on September 09, 2018, 04:05:29 AM
Fallout 4. Yay or nay?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on September 09, 2018, 11:58:02 AM
Yes
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on September 09, 2018, 12:00:22 PM
On a side note there are a few games I'm looking forward to;

Cyberpunk 2077
Call of Cthulhu
Fallout 76
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on September 09, 2018, 01:16:46 PM
Oh, is there a Call of Cthulhu game coming out?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on September 09, 2018, 01:27:05 PM
Quote from: celedhring on September 09, 2018, 01:16:46 PM
Oh, is there a Call of Cthulhu game coming out?

http://www.callofcthulhu-game.com/en
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on September 09, 2018, 01:48:53 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on September 09, 2018, 11:58:02 AM
Yes

Thanks. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on September 09, 2018, 01:52:21 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on September 09, 2018, 01:27:05 PM
Quote from: celedhring on September 09, 2018, 01:16:46 PM
Oh, is there a Call of Cthulhu game coming out?

http://www.callofcthulhu-game.com/en

Thanks, looks promising!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on September 09, 2018, 06:32:14 PM
No Gods or Kings. Only Man.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Zoupa on September 09, 2018, 08:55:28 PM
Quote from: The Brain on September 09, 2018, 01:48:53 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on September 09, 2018, 11:58:02 AM
Yes

Thanks. :)

New Vegas remains the best of the series. Hugely disappointed in F4. The atmosphere/story bored me to tears.

My 0.02$.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 14, 2018, 02:11:23 AM
New tactical civil war game in the works, dev diaries/blog here: http://www.grandtactician.com/thecivilwar/blog/

It has dispatches :w00t:

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.grandtactician.com%2Fthecivilwar%2Fcontentimg%2FPapers7.jpg&hash=170b1ebc1ba25296eaf08ded8ddea9bc7c5d2686)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.grandtactician.com%2Fthecivilwar%2Fblog%2Fimages%2F8.jpg&hash=8aa7c7756ec34c0af0ba759556c67d496d4fc49a)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.grandtactician.com%2Fthecivilwar%2Fblog%2Fimages%2F10.jpg&hash=2bd71ee3008fd8328d12afd5c1acaf133c2caf1b)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.grandtactician.com%2Fthecivilwar%2Fblog%2Fimages%2F12.jpg&hash=984d9454810157c361045a096567e18a688a261c)

Younger wargamers may struggle with the font. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 14, 2018, 05:14:59 AM
The Forza Horizon 4 demo is good fun, and it looks very pretty (I run it on beyond Ultra settings at 1080p on my GTX1080 and don't dip below 60 FPS) if you like driving around the British countryside. The last Forza game I played was on the 360, but unless there's any microtransaction nonsense coming, I will probably pick this up. I like arcadish, pretty, free roaming driving games. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on September 14, 2018, 05:34:50 AM
Quote from: Syt on September 14, 2018, 02:11:23 AM
New tactical civil war game in the works, dev diaries/blog here: http://www.grandtactician.com/thecivilwar/blog/

It has dispatches :w00t:

Younger wargamers may struggle with the font. :P

Damn right.  Half the game would be spent squinting at these messages.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on September 14, 2018, 08:33:56 AM
Heh. In my genealogical research I have become really good at deciphering 19th century scrawl. Time to put those skills to good use!

That is exactly what Civil War era military paperwork looks like as well. Neat.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 14, 2018, 08:52:26 AM
Quote from: Valmy on September 14, 2018, 08:33:56 AM
Heh. In my genealogical research I have become really good at deciphering 19th century scrawl. Time to put those skills to good use!

That is exactly what Civil War era military paperwork looks like as well. Neat.

Yeah, it seems they're using original forms as template (links are on their website).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on September 14, 2018, 09:01:51 AM
Do you think the paper was yellow-brown like that at the time? I just figured it was like that because I was reading it 150 years later but it was white at the time.

Or was 19th century paper just like that?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on September 14, 2018, 09:01:59 AM
Quote from: Tyr on September 14, 2018, 05:34:50 AM
Quote from: Syt on September 14, 2018, 02:11:23 AM
New tactical civil war game in the works, dev diaries/blog here: http://www.grandtactician.com/thecivilwar/blog/

It has dispatches :w00t:

Younger wargamers may struggle with the font. :P

Damn right.  Half the game would be spent squinting at these messages.
THat looks cool.

Hopefully they will be smart enough to combine historic period art with the ability to turn that off/on when it comes to actual important content where clarity matters.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on September 14, 2018, 09:09:08 AM
If they are smart, when you pass your cursor over the dispatch it will display the gist of what it says.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on September 14, 2018, 11:39:46 AM
Quote from: Syt on September 14, 2018, 05:14:59 AM
The Forza Horizon 4 demo is good fun, and it looks very pretty (I run it on beyond Ultra settings at 1080p on my GTX1080 and don't dip below 60 FPS) if you like driving around the British countryside. The last Forza game I played was on the 360, but unless there's any microtransaction nonsense coming, I will probably pick this up. I like arcadish, pretty, free roaming driving games. :)

FH4 won't have microtransactions

If this is crossplay we could share avatars. I have a Xbox to play Forza games, so I am of course getting this one.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on September 14, 2018, 02:53:56 PM
Quote from: Valmy on September 14, 2018, 09:01:51 AM
Do you think the paper was yellow-brown like that at the time? I just figured it was like that because I was reading it 150 years later but it was white at the time.

Or was 19th century paper just like that?

I could have been that colour originally. Cheaper kinds of paper, like the paper you'd use for notes, contained more lignin which makes it darker.

If there are different shades of yellow or brown it's more likely because of age.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 15, 2018, 02:10:46 AM
Well, Meridian 59 is finally on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/893390/Meridian_59/

:D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on September 23, 2018, 10:10:08 PM
Picked up Rising Storm 2: Vietnam on sale for $8 on Steam. The meatgrinder is real and it's spectacular. Most fun I've had in a Battlefield-type game in a long time.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 25, 2018, 08:42:05 AM
Gaming controversies in 2018.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dn77XN0XkAAkF6t.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 25, 2018, 08:49:30 AM
Full story: https://www.pcgamer.com/total-war-rome-2-is-getting-review-bombed-on-steam-because-of-women-generals/?utm_content=buffer070d2&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=buffer-pcgamertw
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on September 25, 2018, 08:57:24 AM
Wait 50% of Nubian generals were women? Or 50% of the 15% so 7.5% of their generals. Interesting...

Anyway how typical. You wonder when people will tire of it all.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on September 25, 2018, 09:55:37 AM
Does anyone actually read Steam reviews?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on September 25, 2018, 10:09:10 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on September 25, 2018, 09:55:37 AM
Does anyone actually read Steam reviews?


People who just look around to find games to play might. I don't have time for just randomly playing games anymore.

But I cannot imagine many people look at Steam reviews for a well known game like Total War: Rome 2.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 25, 2018, 10:17:55 AM
Quote from: Valmy on September 25, 2018, 10:09:10 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on September 25, 2018, 09:55:37 AM
Does anyone actually read Steam reviews?


People who just look around to find games to play might. I don't have time for just randomly playing games anymore.

But I cannot imagine many people look at Steam reviews for a well known game like Total War: Rome 2.

They might in a "the media say this is great, but what do players say?" kind of way.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on September 25, 2018, 11:30:58 AM
I guess it's less a problem in the case of this particular game, but Steam reviews, the overall review score I mean, can totally destroy a game. Mob rule absolutely works with it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on September 25, 2018, 02:02:55 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on September 25, 2018, 09:55:37 AM
Does anyone actually read Steam reviews?


Occasionally, but they aren't very useful.  Half of them are like "Yeah, I played this game like 600 hours and I loved it but they nerfed wigwams so I'm giving it one star".
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on September 27, 2018, 12:06:20 PM
Anyone here plays Field of Glory 2? The just released Rise of Persia DLC is really fun and I'll be playing in the tournament using its armies, starting next week. you should join.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 27, 2018, 12:07:31 PM
I have it and play it occasionally, but not well enough for tournaments. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 28, 2018, 01:42:00 AM
Ads you couldn't run in 2018:

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FpxK349h.jpg&hash=361f61c6fc1f0fe85d8c8478ccb260af42fc550b)

:XD:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on September 30, 2018, 05:35:26 AM
I am quite hooked on Magic the Gathering: Arena. I am working on a zombie deck in honour of the black deck I had in Magic's Hungarian rip-off when I was a teenager.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on October 05, 2018, 12:30:41 PM
Time to play some AC: Odyssey! :w00t: Well after it finishes all that time to copy to the hard drive and then update itself. -_-
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on October 05, 2018, 03:10:56 PM
QuoteGET SHADOW WARRIOR 2 FOR FREE

Free on Gog.com for another 18 hours.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on October 06, 2018, 05:59:46 AM
Quote from: garbon on October 05, 2018, 12:30:41 PM
Time to play some AC: Odyssey! :w00t: Well after it finishes all that time to copy to the hard drive and then update itself. -_-

I played it for 5 hours straight as soon as I got home from work   :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on October 06, 2018, 11:02:43 AM
Btw, the coolest thing I've done so far is murder 3 sharks guarding a sunken temple while I'm swimming with a giant axe in one hand and wearing bronze armor.

Game is good.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on October 06, 2018, 11:11:24 AM
Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion is $9.99 on Steam. I think I'm going to take a shot at it. I've always liked the idea of the game, and it gets high ratings, and might be multiplayer bait...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on October 06, 2018, 02:59:46 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on October 06, 2018, 11:02:43 AM
Btw, the coolest thing I've done so far is murder 3 sharks guarding a sunken temple while I'm swimming with a giant axe in one hand and wearing bronze armor.

Game is good.

It delivers though I'm 9 hours in and have yet to have the opportunity for male on male romance. Just tried to push that bitch Odessa on me with flirt option every single time you run into her. Eventually pity asked her onto my crew. <_<
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on October 06, 2018, 10:26:11 PM
Quote from: garbon on October 06, 2018, 02:59:46 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on October 06, 2018, 11:02:43 AM
Btw, the coolest thing I've done so far is murder 3 sharks guarding a sunken temple while I'm swimming with a giant axe in one hand and wearing bronze armor.

Game is good.

It delivers though I'm 9 hours in and have yet to have the opportunity for male on male romance. Just tried to push that bitch Odessa on me with flirt option every single time you run into her. Eventually pity asked her onto my crew. <_<

I'm running with Kassandra and tried to romance Odessa when I first met her. No dice.  :D

I'm only about 7 hours in, though. I'm kind of taking my time and doing most, though not all, of the side missions. Only just started doing stuff in Megara.

I found an Athenian amphitheater in some other town I stumbled upon and I kind of got shivers. There is something about Assassin's Creed games and connecting with the past. AC2 and Brotherhood did that for me as well.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on October 07, 2018, 02:09:43 AM
Are you sure it was an amphitheater? :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on October 08, 2018, 02:36:48 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on October 06, 2018, 10:26:11 PM
Quote from: garbon on October 06, 2018, 02:59:46 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on October 06, 2018, 11:02:43 AM
Btw, the coolest thing I've done so far is murder 3 sharks guarding a sunken temple while I'm swimming with a giant axe in one hand and wearing bronze armor.

Game is good.

It delivers though I'm 9 hours in and have yet to have the opportunity for male on male romance. Just tried to push that bitch Odessa on me with flirt option every single time you run into her. Eventually pity asked her onto my crew. <_<

I'm running with Kassandra and tried to romance Odessa when I first met her. No dice.  :D

I'm only about 7 hours in, though. I'm kind of taking my time and doing most, though not all, of the side missions. Only just started doing stuff in Megara.

I found an Athenian amphitheater in some other town I stumbled upon and I kind of got shivers. There is something about Assassin's Creed games and connecting with the past. AC2 and Brotherhood did that for me as well.

Still ain't found no male love (and I've even explored a bit of Athens!). Game did try to pitch an old woman at me though...

I'm beginning to forget my pre-friday life where I hadn't yet stomped (spartan kick) on wolves, bears, boars, etc.

Also, notoriety for slaughtering chickens / chickens attacking when you attack one of a group. :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on October 08, 2018, 04:30:55 PM
My Kassandra and the old woman got it on. The cutscene was hilarious  :lol:

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on October 11, 2018, 11:54:06 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on October 08, 2018, 04:30:55 PM
My Kassandra and the old woman got it on. The cutscene was hilarious  :lol:

Last night in Assassin's Creed: Xena Warrior Princess, I infiltrated a Spartan Fortress to kill its local Polemarch and steal some loot. I jumped onto one of its towers from a nearby cliff and proceeded to one-shot or two-shot a Spartan captain and his accompanying warriors with devastating fire arrow headshots. I ziplined to the other side of the fortress and laid a trap on the signal fire that defending troops use to call reinforcements and then snuck around to find the bear cage.

From a nearby rooftop I shot open the bear cage with an arrow and the bear proceeded to maul about 6 Spartans while I shot arrow after arrow into their backs. The bear finally died after killing 5 men. The Spartans finally seemed to locate my position so their leader put a bounty on my head. I fled to my original tower of death as 3 different mercenaries, one after another, climbed up to face me. I dispatched each of them and threw their arrow-ridden bodies from the tower as the Spartans looked on in horror. The Spartan Polemarch, my target who I had not yet killed, ran up to the signal fire to send for reinforcements. I laughed out loud from my tower as my trap exploded him into pieces. I mopped up the remaining Spartans shortly afterward and killed one final mercenary in a rooftop duel.

Lastly, I tracked the Spartan who had put out the contract for my head to a beach encampment not far from the fortress I recently conquered singlehandedly. One headshot later he joined his colleagues in Hades.

My Xena Warrior Princess simulator is fun and good.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on October 12, 2018, 06:29:06 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on October 11, 2018, 11:54:06 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on October 08, 2018, 04:30:55 PM
My Kassandra and the old woman got it on. The cutscene was hilarious  :lol:

Last night in Assassin's Creed: Xena Warrior Princess, I infiltrated a Spartan Fortress to kill its local Polemarch and steal some loot. I jumped onto one of its towers from a nearby cliff and proceeded to one-shot or two-shot a Spartan captain and his accompanying warriors with devastating fire arrow headshots. I ziplined to the other side of the fortress and laid a trap on the signal fire that defending troops use to call reinforcements and then snuck around to find the bear cage.

From a nearby rooftop I shot open the bear cage with an arrow and the bear proceeded to maul about 6 Spartans while I shot arrow after arrow into their backs. The bear finally died after killing 5 men. The Spartans finally seemed to locate my position so their leader put a bounty on my head. I fled to my original tower of death as 3 different mercenaries, one after another, climbed up to face me. I dispatched each of them and threw their arrow-ridden bodies from the tower as the Spartans looked on in horror. The Spartan Polemarch, my target who I had not yet killed, ran up to the signal fire to send for reinforcements. I laughed out loud from my tower as my trap exploded him into pieces. I mopped up the remaining Spartans shortly afterward and killed one final mercenary in a rooftop duel.

Lastly, I tracked the Spartan who had put out the contract for my head to a beach encampment not far from the fortress I recently conquered singlehandedly. One headshot later he joined his colleagues in Hades.

My Xena Warrior Princess simulator is fun and good.

:thumbsup:

Animals are great for takedowns.

I finally got my first male-on-male romance. Of course, it was Alcibiades. :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 12, 2018, 06:37:31 AM
It sounds like Far Cry: Ancient Greece.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on October 12, 2018, 07:24:58 PM
Quote from: Tamas on October 12, 2018, 06:37:31 AM
It sounds like Far Cry: Ancient Greece.

Having played Far Cry 5 earlier in the year, it kinda is. It's definitely a Ubi game. The exploration, setting, and story so far is superior, however, and the sheer scale puts Far Cry to shame.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 13, 2018, 12:40:59 PM
Forza Horizon 4 is rather pretty.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DpZ7xAWXUAEMzFQ.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DpZ7xASWwAA0E57.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DpZ7xAWW0AUEWjL.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on October 13, 2018, 05:23:29 PM
The Witcher 3 is fucking long.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on October 13, 2018, 07:43:15 PM
Yip. Superb game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on October 15, 2018, 11:09:04 AM
I picked up Frostpunk http://www.frostpunkgame.com/ on a steam sale yesterday and thought I would give a try for an hour or so and then watch the Chiefs hopefully beat the Patriots.  Many yours later it was very late, I missed the football game and I realized I needed to get to bed.  Still need to check what happened in the football game.

It is a survival/city building game which takes place in a world that has become an ice cube.   keeping people warm, fed and healthy are the main preoccupations.  There is an interesting tech tree and a separate "laws" tree in which you decided how your society will function.  The city building part of the game takes part in a crater where you build out in concentric circles from a central heating unit.  There is also an exploration part of the game which occurs as you unlock tech.  I won't say too much about that to avoid spoilers.

Lots of options and ways to accomplish the goals and it seems they are coming out with a sandbox version although the various scenarios feel like a bit of a sandbox already.

It is from the makers of This War of Mine.  It is a unique gaming experience - at least for me. And as you know, I found it very addicting.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on October 15, 2018, 11:15:02 AM
Quote from: garbon on October 12, 2018, 06:29:06 AM
I finally got my first male-on-male romance. Of course, it was Alcibiades. :lol:

Good for you. Plato said he was hot.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: The Minsky Moment on October 16, 2018, 11:01:22 PM
He Made Athens Great Again.
Until he destroyed it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on October 17, 2018, 07:48:08 AM
RDR 2...so close.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Oexmelin on October 18, 2018, 08:43:54 PM
Lucas Pope, of Papers, Please, fame, launches his new game. Once again, a one person endeavor, apparently.

https://www.gog.com/game/return_of_the_obra_dinn
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on October 18, 2018, 09:08:01 PM
FINALLY. I've been occasionally checking on development of that every couple of months. Looks great.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 20, 2018, 11:44:19 AM
A shy Peel P50 peeks out of the woodwork.

(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/341170672116039682/503164866400485387/Pup.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on October 26, 2018, 01:17:44 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on October 17, 2018, 07:48:08 AM
RDR 2...so close.

Now to wait the million hours for it to install and then patch. Has two discs, one just of data!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 26, 2018, 01:28:08 PM
Looks like RDR2 isn't coming to PC. May finally have to buy a PS4...any other games to make that worthwhile? Most stuff seems to be on PC these days.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 26, 2018, 03:26:32 PM
I'll hold out for a GOTY edition of RDR2 at half price. It looks great, but I won't plop down 99.99 to get all the content.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on October 26, 2018, 09:30:17 PM
Quote from: Tyr on October 26, 2018, 01:28:08 PM
Looks like RDR2 isn't coming to PC. May finally have to buy a PS4...any other games to make that worthwhile? Most stuff seems to be on PC these days.

It may not be announced for PC but they'll probably do what they did with GTA V: Release the PC version 18-24 months later and make a boat load more money because people will want to buy THE DEFINITIVE version with ULTRA PC GRAPHICS after already buying the console version.

That said, I'm also starting to think about buying a PS4 Pro next month.   :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on October 28, 2018, 08:18:09 AM
Those who've played RDR 2 over the weekend... How is it? I've read it's quite a bit different than the other big open world game this year, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, in that it's a lot slower paced and controls less well.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 28, 2018, 08:21:09 AM
Rumor that PC version is coming:

https://rockstarintel.com/red-dead-redemption-2-companion-app-files-hint-to-pc-version/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on October 28, 2018, 11:06:59 AM
RDR1 never came to PC take that into consideration if you do want to play it now rather than later.

If you are buying a console for just 1 game, get an xbox one S, they will be very cheap on Black Friday ~180 US.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 28, 2018, 11:17:49 AM
Yeah, but supposedly the architecture of RDR1 was "special" which made it very difficult to port.

These days, there's little difference between Xbox and Windows in terms of game development, so I guess it will be easier. Besides, I would be surprised if Rockstar would not eye the lucrative PC market after the massive cash cow that GTA Online is for them. My guess: it'll come to PC either when RDR Online is done, or Rockstar finds that they sold all the console copies they can.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on October 28, 2018, 12:06:45 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on October 28, 2018, 08:18:09 AM
Those who've played RDR 2 over the weekend... How is it? I've read it's quite a bit different than the other big open world game this year, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, in that it's a lot slower paced and controls less well.

I'm liking it but it is much slower paced than AC:O. I think I was 2-2.5 hours in before you end what is roughly the 'tutorial' section. Also, it has a lot of cutscenes. Most of them make sense and nice add to the game, there are a few that make no sense. Like I was riding on my horse after a mission and suddenly had this long scene of a view from the sky to auto-bring me back to a location that wasn't that far away.

Unlike AC:O, there does seem more of a feel that your actions have consequences and the crime/witness/bounty systems is a bit more fun than the AC one (though you don't get merc opponents). Also, weapon/craft/etc. system feels a bit more complex. Repeatedly need to check my load-out / remember a bit more what are the keys to press to perform certain moves. :blush:

Overall, I've been enjoying and think well worth a purchase. Different enough from AC:O that I think I'll be balancing back and forth between the two for the next few weeks.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on October 28, 2018, 05:21:00 PM
Thanks garbon. I will probably end up buying a PS4 during the Black Friday sales and I am still only about 40% through AC:O even with almost 40 hours in the game so I have something to tide me over until then.

I really appreciate the fact that RDR 2 plays so much differently than AC:O. RDR looks so much slower paced and immersive than Odyssey, but Odyssey is just so much fun running around and exploring such an interesting setting and just feels so right with its controls. Plus I just really like Kassandra as a character.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Liep on October 30, 2018, 11:40:16 AM
Found RDR2 for the incredible low price of €51, I'll report on gameplay tomorrow when it's done installing. :zzz:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on October 30, 2018, 11:52:06 AM
So the new Call of Cthulhu is apparently rather meh. :( First half of the game (the one they showed early) is good, later half is a mess.

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/10/29/call-of-cthulhu-review/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Liep on October 31, 2018, 07:51:07 AM
Quote from: Liep on October 30, 2018, 11:40:16 AM
Found RDR2 for the incredible low price of €51, I'll report on gameplay tomorrow when it's done installing. :zzz:

Wow, impressive world... a few hours later, so there's no fast travel, eh?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: garbon on October 31, 2018, 08:54:18 AM
Quote from: Liep on October 31, 2018, 07:51:07 AM
Quote from: Liep on October 30, 2018, 11:40:16 AM
Found RDR2 for the incredible low price of €51, I'll report on gameplay tomorrow when it's done installing. :zzz:

Wow, impressive world... a few hours later, so there's no fast travel, eh?

Actually there is. You just have to do some tasks (I think involving hunting) to be able to unlock the upgrade. I saw it somewhere (either at the crafter or the ledger) but haven't yet done whatever it was to unlock it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on October 31, 2018, 12:19:20 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on October 30, 2018, 11:52:06 AM
So the new Call of Cthulhu is apparently rather meh. :( First half of the game (the one they showed early) is good, later half is a mess.

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/10/29/call-of-cthulhu-review/
:(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 01, 2018, 04:19:18 PM
Been playing some Bloodborne today. It feels weird playing in 30 FPS, as I feel that the game is slightly less responsive, kind of like non-remastered DS1 on PC. Got to Father Gascoigne, but took a break because I hit a wall with him. Also, I find I can't play Soulsborne games more than a few hours.

Also, playing Red Dead Redemption 1. My last save (about an hour into the game) was from 2011. :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on November 02, 2018, 07:44:09 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on October 30, 2018, 11:52:06 AM
So the new Call of Cthulhu is apparently rather meh. :( First half of the game (the one they showed early) is good, later half is a mess.

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/10/29/call-of-cthulhu-review/


A Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines for this generation?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on November 02, 2018, 10:32:17 AM
I was really looking forward to Call of Cthulhu.  Hopefully it gets improved some with patching?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on November 02, 2018, 11:05:13 AM
Well, the problem seems to be that the latter part of the game basically ignores your choices in the story and becomes a run of the mill action game. I'm not sure that can be patched.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on November 03, 2018, 05:03:15 PM
Just got a smartphone with more oomph and I was wondering if there's some mobile games people here would recommend? Something to kill time in my long commutes. Books are overrated.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on November 03, 2018, 11:47:01 PM
Polytopia and the Reigns series (including Game of Thrones) for me.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on November 04, 2018, 03:11:42 AM
Twilight Struggle
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on November 08, 2018, 12:29:15 AM
I've been playing Far Cry 5.  The game is stupid fun but periodically the enemy captures you so one of the villains can give some sort of boring monologue, get right in your face and maybe torture or kill someone.  This happens like 9 times and it's really fucking annoying.  I just want to run around shooting wolves with a flamethrower.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on November 09, 2018, 09:08:31 AM
Do you actually shoot stuff with a flamethrower? Don't you more like hose them?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 09, 2018, 09:49:39 AM
I'll be checking Battlefield 5 out tonight or tomorrow, as I have a premium Origin subscription.

Based on my little time with the beta, my expectations are non-existent.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on November 09, 2018, 12:07:08 PM
I bought Slappy Ass. Seems worth the money so far.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Zoupa on November 09, 2018, 12:54:31 PM
Quote from: The Brain on November 09, 2018, 12:07:08 PM
I bought Slappy Ass. Seems worth the money so far.

Just googled it. You weirdo  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on November 09, 2018, 06:03:14 PM
Quote from: The Brain on November 09, 2018, 12:07:08 PM
I bought Slappy Ass. Seems worth the money so far.

Yup, I totally got my 3 bucks' worth.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on November 10, 2018, 02:08:14 PM
Warframe just released its newest (free) expansion, a giant open-world zone on Venus. It's pretty great so far.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on November 11, 2018, 08:41:38 PM
Been playing RDR2 on PS4.  Really enjoying it so far.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 12, 2018, 08:20:36 AM
Alright Battlefield 5 is fun.

As usual I suck at it but there are ways to make onself useful.

My favourite is the machine gunner, even if I spray and pray and do no big damage I get to suppress people and get some points for that.

And as Recon, you have a rangefinder tool that also tags spotted enemy units - this is fairly big because you don't get to do that now, only Recon when they do this or when they damage somebody.
So for example on a closely contested and won map, I felt like I helped out on the final defense of a flag, despite being horribly far and badly positioned to get hits with my shitty noob sniper rifle. I was tagging the incoming enemy constantly, and getting nice spot assist scores.

The Sunday afternoon session was ruined with a bunch of little kids playing tough in the text chat, but I guess that's inevitable.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on November 12, 2018, 09:42:29 AM
My computer doesn't meet the minimum requirements for this game. First time that this has ever happen to me otherwise I would play it. (I have no interest into playing a FPS on my Xbone)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on November 12, 2018, 04:49:29 PM
Ugh.  Far Cry 5 has a bad plot.  In fact, this may be the worst plot I've ever seen in a video game.  The plot constantly interrupts the game, sometimes causing me to fail missions, to tell me about the bad plot.  None of the Far Cry games have had a great plot, but that was always a minor concern, you didn't have to pay much attention to it.  This is like being stalked by someone who keeps reading to you his Manchurian Candidate fan fiction.  It's annoying, it's vapid, it's confusing, and you can't get away from it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on November 12, 2018, 05:09:04 PM
Turn it off?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 12, 2018, 05:16:36 PM
Playing The Return Of the Obra Dinn. A mystery/logic puzzle game by Lucas Pope (Papers, Please) with unique aesthetic in which you have to figure out the fate of the crew of a ghost ship of the East India Company in the early 1800s.

Loving it a lot (7 hours in), and looking forward to puzzling out everything. :)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/653530/Return_of_the_Obra_Dinn/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 13, 2018, 05:24:06 PM
Finished the game in ca. 10 hours. It had some good WTF moments when you uncover the story. Chat told me I missed some clues that would have made it easier, but I was able to guesstimate to 100% completion. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Liep on November 17, 2018, 05:57:18 PM
RDR2, aka. Farming Simulator 2018.

Well, great gameplay but a bit too buggy. Th story is good if a little frustrating and I'm really not sure about that ending.

And I still vastly prefer PCs for shooter games, but seeing this on my UHD screen was incredible.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on November 17, 2018, 08:06:18 PM
Quote from: garbon on November 12, 2018, 05:09:04 PM
Turn it off?


In the end, that's what I did.  I was playing and the game crashed windows (I don't even remember the last time a game did that).  I was getting close to the end anyway so fuck it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on November 18, 2018, 07:55:34 AM
Quote from: Liep on November 17, 2018, 05:57:18 PM
RDR2, aka. Farming Simulator 2018.

Farming? Do you mean hunter and gather simulator?

I'm still far from finishing the main story as it seems like a game that is meant to be played at a casual, relaxed pace.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on November 18, 2018, 08:32:39 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on November 03, 2018, 11:47:01 PM
Polytopia and the Reigns series (including Game of Thrones) for me.

Good suggestions, thanks.  :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on November 21, 2018, 08:03:12 PM
I'm playing some Port Royale 3, a gain in the Patrician type series that I never really played that much. My favorite was Patrician 3, great game and I played a whole lot of it. Patrician 4 I also like and is more of a challenge as the other traders are more competitive.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 23, 2018, 08:45:52 AM
So I watched a bit of Battlefield V on Twitch, and my first immediate concern was, "Why is there a Sturmtiger in North Africa?"
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 23, 2018, 09:01:02 AM
Quote from: Syt on November 23, 2018, 08:45:52 AM
So I watched a bit of Battlefield V on Twitch, and my first immediate concern was, "Why is there a Sturmtiger in North Africa?"

Yeah there was an outrage over women (!!!!!11111) in the game, but not over the fact that automatic submachine guns are the default starting weapons for half the classes (snipers and machine gunners the ones who do not get one).

Still, it's a fun game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 23, 2018, 09:04:56 AM
I believe that, but I don't think I'd play it enough to buy it or buy Origin Access. I really liked BF1 but only have 18 hours in it. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on November 23, 2018, 09:32:55 AM
Quote from: Syt on November 23, 2018, 08:45:52 AM
So I watched a bit of Battlefield V on Twitch, and my first immediate concern was, "Why is there a Sturmtiger in North Africa?"

The Atomwaffen Division were unavailable.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on November 23, 2018, 02:55:28 PM
I want physical copies of games as much as possible.
Where would have the best selection?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on November 23, 2018, 03:21:06 PM
Quote from: Syt on November 23, 2018, 08:45:52 AM
So I watched a bit of Battlefield V on Twitch, and my first immediate concern was, "Why is there a Sturmtiger in North Africa?"

From what I've heard there are Tigers in 1940 Rotterdam, fighting the British while V1 rockets fly overhead. I don't think the game is supposed to make any sense.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 23, 2018, 04:33:03 PM
Quote from: Maladict on November 23, 2018, 03:21:06 PM
Quote from: Syt on November 23, 2018, 08:45:52 AM
So I watched a bit of Battlefield V on Twitch, and my first immediate concern was, "Why is there a Sturmtiger in North Africa?"

From what I've heard there are Tigers in 1940 Rotterdam, fighting the British while V1 rockets fly overhead. I don't think the game is supposed to make any sense.

Speaking of which, I hope some young nazis get all upset, when you are playing on the German side sometimes you jump out of a plane as a paratrooper, and in the pre-jump animation there's a black soldier :D Well, the animation is the same regardless of the side you play. But still.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on November 23, 2018, 08:14:01 PM
Yeah, I don't think anyone playing EA's Battlefield games a lot is really all that interested in historical authenticity. They all kind of play the same since BF4. Those folks are playing the Red Orchestra and Rising Storm series.

Not saying they aren't still fun, because they can be. I had a good deal of fun in BF 1.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 24, 2018, 02:08:40 AM
It just makes the "women destroy the game's realism" group all the sillier.

Btw, comment from a COD WW2 review of the single player campaign. Yes, it's a collection of old tropes and all that. However, they'll be old only to older gamers. There's a whole new generation of players that weren't inundated with WW2 movies, series, and games like we were in the late 90s/early 00s. With the veterans dying off, the conflict disappears ever more from the public's mind.

Heck, it's as far back now as WW1 was when I was a kid.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 30, 2018, 05:17:49 AM
Oh god no, I've quickly fast-forwarded into a preview stream recording of the X4 Foundations game and the guy is walking around in a station! Noooo... I was so looking forward to this game maybe not sucking but fuck me if I am going to once again walk around trying to find bloody merchants I can actually trade with.

I can use the bloody Internet even in 2018 for such a thing so why not in the distant bloody future?!!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 30, 2018, 05:25:47 AM
Ok looking in further he seems to be trading after docking without leaving his ship. :P That's better :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on November 30, 2018, 06:56:53 AM
Phew, glad that crisis was resolved.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 30, 2018, 08:37:47 AM
I KNOW, RIGHT
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on November 30, 2018, 08:43:25 AM
I'm having another cup of tea to settle my nerves over that close scrape!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 30, 2018, 08:59:26 AM
 :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Zoupa on November 30, 2018, 12:55:06 PM
Tamas, how noob-friendly are those X games? They always look amazing and the concept really appeals to me. Unfortunately they seem to be kinda niche and really hard to get into if you haven't played the previous versions.

Also are they similar to Elite Dangerous? A mile wide and an inch deep?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Legbiter on November 30, 2018, 02:19:52 PM
Been playing Pathfinder: Kingmaker lately. If you were into the isometric RPG's of old Bioware then you're in for a treat. A mammoth of a game. the writing is...pathcy but servicable I'd say so far.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 30, 2018, 02:38:03 PM
Quote from: Zoupa on November 30, 2018, 12:55:06 PM
Tamas, how noob-friendly are those X games? They always look amazing and the concept really appeals to me. Unfortunately they seem to be kinda niche and really hard to get into if you haven't played the previous versions.

Also are they similar to Elite Dangerous? A mile wide and an inch deep?

I think at their heart they are German-style business strategy games. You are working toward the point where you are running a business empire from the map and some spreadsheets. The basic idea of space trading on that scale interests me but I have never gotten really far with any of these games.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on November 30, 2018, 04:33:09 PM
Is Hitman any good? I got it for free.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on November 30, 2018, 04:49:49 PM
Quote from: The Brain on November 30, 2018, 04:33:09 PM
Is Hitman any good? I got it for free.

All I know is that in Hitman 2 you can kill people with muffins (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnM_jGEQgek).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on November 30, 2018, 05:22:09 PM
I want to design a game that is basically Eve Online, but without you actually driving spaceships around in any kind of first/third person view.

IE, your role is that same as someone in Eve who is playing the Eve game at the level above actually flying your ship itself.

So the focus of the game would be on dominating some area of space using your own ships that must be built (or bought from those who do build them), or engaging in mercantislism (building ships) or whatever.

So if you want to engage in some Eve analagous activity, like mining, you don't fly your ship there and do it, you send your ship(s) there to do it, and control them more like a board game.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 30, 2018, 05:35:30 PM
Quote from: Berkut on November 30, 2018, 05:22:09 PM
I want to design a game that is basically Eve Online, but without you actually driving spaceships around in any kind of first/third person view.

IE, your role is that same as someone in Eve who is playing the Eve game at the level above actually flying your ship itself.

So the focus of the game would be on dominating some area of space using your own ships that must be built (or bought from those who do build them), or engaging in mercantislism (building ships) or whatever.

So if you want to engage in some Eve analagous activity, like mining, you don't fly your ship there and do it, you send your ship(s) there to do it, and control them more like a board game.

Have your guys call my guys.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on November 30, 2018, 08:33:38 PM
Quote from: Berkut on November 30, 2018, 05:22:09 PM
I want to design a game that is basically Eve Online, but without you actually driving spaceships around in any kind of first/third person view.

IE, your role is that same as someone in Eve who is playing the Eve game at the level above actually flying your ship itself.

So the focus of the game would be on dominating some area of space using your own ships that must be built (or bought from those who do build them), or engaging in mercantislism (building ships) or whatever.

So if you want to engage in some Eve analagous activity, like mining, you don't fly your ship there and do it, you send your ship(s) there to do it, and control them more like a board game.

The operational level of a Space 4X.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on December 01, 2018, 11:37:40 AM
Quote from: frunk on November 30, 2018, 08:33:38 PM
Quote from: Berkut on November 30, 2018, 05:22:09 PM
I want to design a game that is basically Eve Online, but without you actually driving spaceships around in any kind of first/third person view.

IE, your role is that same as someone in Eve who is playing the Eve game at the level above actually flying your ship itself.

So the focus of the game would be on dominating some area of space using your own ships that must be built (or bought from those who do build them), or engaging in mercantislism (building ships) or whatever.

So if you want to engage in some Eve analagous activity, like mining, you don't fly your ship there and do it, you send your ship(s) there to do it, and control them more like a board game.

The operational level of a Space 4X.

That would be great!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 01, 2018, 12:22:38 PM
Has anyone tried Starsector?

http://fractalsoftworks.com/

QuoteCurrent Features

Pilot your ship in top-down 2D combat
Command your fleet in tactical battles
Gain experience to level up your skills
Detailed space combat mechanics
Customize your ship's loadout before battle
Hire officers to give skill bonuses, pilot auxiliary ships, and oversee your operations
Explore war-torn star systems
Exploit events to trade goods for profit
Win the favor or scorn of powerful factions
Discover new worlds and salvage lost derelicts
Mod support for diverse user-made content
Claim new worlds, build outposts and industry



Upcoming Features

Determine the fate of the Sector by your actions

QuoteWhat will you discover in the ongoing development of the world of Starsector?

Single player, gritty, dystopian sci-fi setting
Classic top-down gameplay style enhanced by modern technology
A procedurally generated galactic sector seeded with well-known core worlds and factions
Develop your character into a hot-shot pilot, a smuggler, a stern admiral, an industrial magnate – or anything in between
Outfit ships with your weapons of choice and add hull modifications to create devastating tactical combinations
Explore hundreds of locations to find habitable worlds, rich resource deposits, and lost technology
Assemble a large, powerful fleet or a finely-tuned task force with hand-picked officers and crew
Cripple core world supply lines to create easy prey for piracy or bolster the rule of law and try to reverse the Sector's descent into chaos
Survey forgotten worlds and establish new colonies among the ruins
Use lost and forbidden technologies to advance your cause – can you afford to pay for the consequences of your hubris?
Leave your mark upon the world and determine the fate of the Sector with your decisions

The recently released an update:

QuoteStarsector version 0.9a is now out! Here are some of the new things you can do in this release:

Establish colonies! Build up industrial production to make a profit, improve your colonies, and protect them from many dangers
Visit a portside bar to find missions and other opportunities
Fight alongside – or against – massive orbital stations
Create your own faction and set up its military doctrine
Find blueprints and use them to let your colonies produce ships, weapons, and fighters
Face enemy ships with dynamically generated weapon loadouts
Discover new dangers and derelicts on the fringes of the Sector
Explore planetary ruins
Raid core worlds for plunder or to disrupt your competition
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on December 01, 2018, 01:47:36 PM
Starsector owns but I'm terrible at the combat. One of these days I will have time enough to learn it well.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Zoupa on December 02, 2018, 12:46:41 PM
Check out Avorion also. Quite polished.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on December 07, 2018, 01:34:21 PM
Quote from: Syt on December 01, 2018, 12:22:38 PM
Has anyone tried Starsector?

http://fractalsoftworks.com/

QuoteCurrent Features

Pilot your ship in top-down 2D combat
Command your fleet in tactical battles
Gain experience to level up your skills
Detailed space combat mechanics
Customize your ship's loadout before battle
Hire officers to give skill bonuses, pilot auxiliary ships, and oversee your operations
Explore war-torn star systems
Exploit events to trade goods for profit
Win the favor or scorn of powerful factions
Discover new worlds and salvage lost derelicts
Mod support for diverse user-made content
Claim new worlds, build outposts and industry



Upcoming Features

Determine the fate of the Sector by your actions

QuoteWhat will you discover in the ongoing development of the world of Starsector?

Single player, gritty, dystopian sci-fi setting
Classic top-down gameplay style enhanced by modern technology
A procedurally generated galactic sector seeded with well-known core worlds and factions
Develop your character into a hot-shot pilot, a smuggler, a stern admiral, an industrial magnate – or anything in between
Outfit ships with your weapons of choice and add hull modifications to create devastating tactical combinations
Explore hundreds of locations to find habitable worlds, rich resource deposits, and lost technology
Assemble a large, powerful fleet or a finely-tuned task force with hand-picked officers and crew
Cripple core world supply lines to create easy prey for piracy or bolster the rule of law and try to reverse the Sector's descent into chaos
Survey forgotten worlds and establish new colonies among the ruins
Use lost and forbidden technologies to advance your cause – can you afford to pay for the consequences of your hubris?
Leave your mark upon the world and determine the fate of the Sector with your decisions

The recently released an update:

QuoteStarsector version 0.9a is now out! Here are some of the new things you can do in this release:

Establish colonies! Build up industrial production to make a profit, improve your colonies, and protect them from many dangers
Visit a portside bar to find missions and other opportunities
Fight alongside – or against – massive orbital stations
Create your own faction and set up its military doctrine
Find blueprints and use them to let your colonies produce ships, weapons, and fighters
Face enemy ships with dynamically generated weapon loadouts
Discover new dangers and derelicts on the fringes of the Sector
Explore planetary ruins
Raid core worlds for plunder or to disrupt your competition

So its a modern Escape Velocity?
Cool
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 07, 2018, 04:34:16 PM
I picked up Strategic Command WWII: World at War. Just streamed it for about 8 hours. I enjoy it a lot - it's accessible, I would liken it to Panzer General (one unit per hex, movement/attack), with multiple choice and other scripted events, production, research and (very basic) diplomacy layered on top. The map and scale is just big enough to give room to maneuver without being overwhelmed, and browsing through the manual once to understand what some things do gets you going.

I don't mind that some of the war gets abstracted (e.g. invasion of Norway is handled via event that costs production points, similar with the Afrika Korps - you can choose to do it manually, though). You also get some event troops (e.g. Japan gets some invasion troops in April '41). This also means that the game, unlike HoI4, will generally not go too far of the rails.

Damn, the war in China is a slog. It took a while till I had the feeling I had enough armies there; some Chinese units refused to die. I'm not sure if I have enough naval units for the upcoming war with US/UK, though. :D I also learned to make sure I have enough amphibious transport before invading England. Turns out landing 2 units is not quite enough. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on December 23, 2018, 02:44:05 PM
Anyone play Fap Queen? It's free but I still feel that it's probably not worth it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on December 23, 2018, 03:28:26 PM
Quote from: Syt on December 07, 2018, 04:34:16 PM
I picked up Strategic Command WWII: World at War. Just streamed it for about 8 hours. I enjoy it a lot - it's accessible, I would liken it to Panzer General (one unit per hex, movement/attack), with multiple choice and other scripted events, production, research and (very basic) diplomacy layered on top. The map and scale is just big enough to give room to maneuver without being overwhelmed, and browsing through the manual once to understand what some things do gets you going.

I don't mind that some of the war gets abstracted (e.g. invasion of Norway is handled via event that costs production points, similar with the Afrika Korps - you can choose to do it manually, though). You also get some event troops (e.g. Japan gets some invasion troops in April '41). This also means that the game, unlike HoI4, will generally not go too far of the rails.

Damn, the war in China is a slog. It took a while till I had the feeling I had enough armies there; some Chinese units refused to die. I'm not sure if I have enough naval units for the upcoming war with US/UK, though. :D I also learned to make sure I have enough amphibious transport before invading England. Turns out landing 2 units is not quite enough. :D

I picked this up as well, but have not had a chance to try it yet.

How does the Pacific War play out?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 26, 2018, 06:19:18 AM
I haven't gotten that far yet. It might be worth checking what event units Japan/US get. One thing I do like is that they added warnings for events that are coming up, and what your options will be. Very convenient for lazy guys like me who don't want to check the manual too much. :P

Each scenario also comes with strategy guides in PDF format (accessible from within game).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 26, 2018, 06:25:16 AM
Picked up Crisis in the Kremlin and Ostalgie: The Berlin Wall. The former lets you lead the USSR from 1985 onward and choose a path of reform, or of clamping down on liberalization. The English translation is wonky. Most interaction is through multiple choice events. It's all right for the 7.14 Euros I spent on the complete bundle.

Ostalgie does the same, but for the other Eastern Block countries. You can choose form GDR, Poland, Hungary, Yugoslavia, CSSR, Romania, Bulgaria, and Albania to try and stay in power from 1989 till 1992. Comes with soundtrack socialist songs for each country.

Not sure I like how scripted the game felt as GDR. I tried to reform, and people were at 80+% of support, but I still got the waves of refugees in summer (when Hungary opened its borders to Austria), and mass protests in Fall 1989 that led to my demise.

Again, not the deepest of games, and the translation is wonky. But for the price it feels quite all right as a quick diversion.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on December 26, 2018, 09:11:22 AM
Quote from: Syt on December 26, 2018, 06:25:16 AM
Picked up Crisis in the Kremlin
Played that game back in the day.  I remember it being really fun. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on January 05, 2019, 09:06:38 AM
During the Steam Winter Sale I picked up a bunch of old-style adventure games from Wadjet Eye Games.  I had played 'Technobabylon' previously and thought it was great.

A few days ago I beat 'Unavowed' and quite honestly, I think it's one of the best adventure games of all time.

Now I'm playing 'Shardlight' and loving it so far.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on January 07, 2019, 05:17:55 PM
From the trailers, to me they kinda look like successors to the 'ol Sierra Online "Quest" games. :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on January 15, 2019, 08:59:35 PM
Lately I've been playing Railroad Tycoon II, Platinum edition. Finding it pretty fun again. Back when it first came out I played it a lot, was a favorite. Fun getting back into it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on January 15, 2019, 09:13:45 PM
Quote from: Tonitrus on January 07, 2019, 05:17:55 PM
From the trailers, to me they kinda look like successors to the 'ol Sierra Online "Quest" games. :hmm:
Yep.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on January 16, 2019, 08:36:48 PM
Quote from: KRonn on January 15, 2019, 08:59:35 PM
Lately I've been playing Railroad Tycoon II, Platinum edition. Finding it pretty fun again. Back when it first came out I played it a lot, was a favorite. Fun getting back into it.

I should look into that, KRonn have you played the open source Transport Tycoon Deluxe game, OpenTTD?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on January 16, 2019, 08:37:30 PM
Are the 'Knights of Pen and Paper' RPG games worth playing?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on January 17, 2019, 11:16:30 AM
Quote from: mongers on January 16, 2019, 08:37:30 PM
Are the 'Knights of Pen and Paper' RPG games worth playing?

not really
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on January 17, 2019, 12:03:57 PM
Ditto Tamas's opinion. I thought it was fun for maybe an hour.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on January 17, 2019, 12:22:33 PM
Quote from: Tamas on January 17, 2019, 11:16:30 AM
Quote from: mongers on January 16, 2019, 08:37:30 PM
Are the 'Knights of Pen and Paper' RPG games worth playing?

not really

Thanks, i'll give them a miss.

Maybe I'll go for some old school rpg on gog.com
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on January 18, 2019, 07:43:57 AM
Quote from: Habbaku on January 17, 2019, 12:03:57 PM
Ditto Tamas's opinion. I thought it was fun for maybe an hour.

Thanks, I tried the free version out for half an hour and it was mildly amusing for about as long. cheers.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 18, 2019, 05:14:08 PM
Forza Horizon 4 is one of the prettiest games I know, and it keeps astonishing me with little details. That it's got 500+ cars meticulously recreated with interior and exterior is a given at this point. It's almost startling in cases of cars that I've been in in real life. In first person driving, the shifting of gears by your character is animated as is appropriate for the car (e.g. some cars are stick shift, some are automatic, some race cars have the shift up/down on the steering wheel or on the sides of it ...), and your character is slightly reflected in the windshield. Then there's the world - a condensed Northern England/Southern Scotland. English reviewers were surprised by the amount of detail and verisimilitude by the British developers. Different types of phone booths, bus stops, streets of Edinburgh, backyard clutter behind houses, etc. A lot of mundane stuff.

Today I noticed another detail - each house has rooms behind the windows. It's just a cube with a photo of a room on it, kind of like a skybox, but it's still astonishing. A pub has a pub texture inside, shops have shop textures, residential houses have living rooms, bedrooms, studies, staircases, kitchens etc., and all where it makes sense. Not just ground floor but all floors. And every room, even if the window is covered 90% by a curtain, or obscured by blinds.

I'm a sucker for detailed open worlds, and this game just seems silly at this point. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on January 18, 2019, 05:37:35 PM
Do I have that?
It sounds familiar.
Something forza anyway. I'm sure I got it on a month I forgot to pause humble monthly. Never installed. Maybe never used even claimed.
A racing game just doesn't appeal
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on January 20, 2019, 04:48:11 PM
Quote from: mongers on January 16, 2019, 08:36:48 PM
Quote from: KRonn on January 15, 2019, 08:59:35 PM
Lately I've been playing Railroad Tycoon II, Platinum edition. Finding it pretty fun again. Back when it first came out I played it a lot, was a favorite. Fun getting back into it.

I should look into that, KRonn have you played the open source Transport Tycoon Deluxe game, OpenTTD?

Oh wow, there's a blast from the past! I played a lot of Transport Tycoon back then.  :)  Trains, trucks, ships and maybe more. Fun stuff.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on January 20, 2019, 04:50:34 PM
Syt, that sounds like a pretty cool game indeed. Sounds a bit like one of the Sims games where you work with characters and families. They go to work and do all sorts of stuff. An older game and I haven't played it in years.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on January 20, 2019, 05:09:06 PM
Quote from: KRonn on January 20, 2019, 04:48:11 PM
Quote from: mongers on January 16, 2019, 08:36:48 PM
Quote from: KRonn on January 15, 2019, 08:59:35 PM
Lately I've been playing Railroad Tycoon II, Platinum edition. Finding it pretty fun again. Back when it first came out I played it a lot, was a favorite. Fun getting back into it.

I should look into that, KRonn have you played the open source Transport Tycoon Deluxe game, OpenTTD?

Oh wow, there's a blast from the past! I played a lot of Transport Tycoon back then.  :)  Trains, trucks, ships and maybe more. Fun stuff.

Yes, good stuff.  :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on January 23, 2019, 05:53:02 AM
I've been playing Yakuza 0. Really enjoying it.
Though recently leaned every female character aged 18-40 is modelled on, and has their gasps voiced by, a Japanese porn actress.
Ah....
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on January 23, 2019, 08:24:17 PM
Quote from: Tyr on January 23, 2019, 05:53:02 AM
I've been playing Yakuza 0. Really enjoying it.
Though recently leaned every female character aged 18-40 is modelled on, and has their gasps voiced by, a Japanese porn actress.
Ah....

Hehe...too funny.  :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 24, 2019, 04:11:39 AM
Farming Simulator 19 gets an esports league: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/01/23/farming-simulator-esports-league/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on January 24, 2019, 09:12:55 AM
:w00t:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on January 24, 2019, 04:59:53 PM
Quote from: Syt on January 24, 2019, 04:11:39 AM
Farming Simulator 19 gets an esports league: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/01/23/farming-simulator-esports-league/

Texas A&M can finally be champions.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on January 25, 2019, 09:59:32 AM
At the Gates, hard, a bit frustrating and loads of fun for a true strategy PC gamer geek.  :cool:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on January 25, 2019, 10:09:14 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on January 25, 2019, 09:59:32 AM
At the Gates, hard, a bit frustrating and loads of fun for a true strategy PC gamer geek.  :cool:

I've read AI is coming in a few months!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on January 25, 2019, 04:57:08 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on January 25, 2019, 09:59:32 AM
At the Gates, hard, a bit frustrating and loads of fun for a true strategy PC gamer geek.  :cool:
LOL can I be: Syagrius
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on January 26, 2019, 09:09:57 PM
I played the original Tropico game when it first came out, but hadn't played any of the Tropico games for a long time. So this weekend I got Tropico 4 from Steam. I'm enjoying it, and in a little while, I will probably buy Tropico 6 which came out recently. Fun games.  :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on January 26, 2019, 10:24:06 PM
Civilization Call to Power 2. :gasp:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on January 26, 2019, 10:28:46 PM
Quote from: mongers on January 26, 2019, 10:24:06 PM
Civilization Call to Power 2. :gasp:

Oh wow, one of the oldie Civs! The second game in the series, I think. Great games and really breakthrough games for the genre, huge scope, builders and war games and so much fun. Definitely gave me many all nighters or late night games.


Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on January 26, 2019, 10:56:09 PM
Quote from: KRonn on January 26, 2019, 10:28:46 PM
Quote from: mongers on January 26, 2019, 10:24:06 PM
Civilization Call to Power 2. :gasp:

Oh wow, one of the oldie Civs! The second game in the series, I think. Great games and really breakthrough games for the genre, huge scope, builders and war games and so much fun. Definitely gave me many all nighters or late night games.

I found a disc, though it appears to be on steam and gog.com.

First time I've ever played it, certainly rather different game mechanics and concepts from the mainstream civ games.

That's a slaver unit, no idea what to do with it.  :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 27, 2019, 04:01:31 AM
I couldn't warm up to CtP2 the same way I did to CtP1. CtP1 had a lot of amazing concepts:
- state budgets to finance research, treasury, production, and public works
- public works budget: a pool of money to build tile improvements (instead of the clunky builder system)
- non-military units: slavers, abolitionists, televangelists, lawyers, bioterrorists ...
- making army stack composition matter by having ranged, flanking, and melee units (until you get to tanks, which count in each category) - combat resolved in phases in a special "battle screen"
- fictional history until 3,000 AD with lots of utopian/dystopian tech (loved the AI Pyramid)
- underwater cities and orbital stations
- global warming that would raise the sea levels (I would rush underwater city tech, then pollute like crazy to flood enemy coasts while my cities turned to underwater colonies)
- trade routes for special resources that could be raided

The game was badly balanced but a lot of fun. However, CtP1 and Alpha Centauri were launched within 2 months of each other, and it was completely eclipsed by the latter (which is the better game, tbh). I wished that the Civ series had stolen more of the ideas, though. For CtP2 they scaled back a lot of the ideas.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 27, 2019, 04:06:02 AM
Started playing Yakuza 0 yesterday. Having a lot of fun with it. The tone is weird, with the hard boiled Yakuza gangster story alternating with (very) silly side quests.

Mini games tried so far:
- Mahjong
- Outrun
- Space Harrier
- those machines where you use a mechanical arm to grab a prize
- baseball batting
- bowling
- pool
- darts
- karaoke
- disco dancing

And that's like maybe half of them?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on January 27, 2019, 08:40:46 AM
Quote from: Tamas on January 25, 2019, 10:09:14 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on January 25, 2019, 09:59:32 AM
At the Gates, hard, a bit frustrating and loads of fun for a true strategy PC gamer geek.  :cool:

I've read AI is coming in a few months!

I think some players are disappointed because they think they are getting another version of Civilization.  But it is not that at all.  It is a fairly complex resource/supply chain management economic game.  The player is not really competing against the AI because the AI factions are not trying to achieve the end victory goals the player has.  I enjoy the game for what it is but readily admit it is not for everyone.  If a Civ type game is what a player wants, they should definitely buy Civ and not this game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on January 27, 2019, 12:28:02 PM
Quote from: Syt on January 27, 2019, 04:06:02 AM
Started playing Yakuza 0 yesterday. Having a lot of fun with it. The tone is weird, with the hard boiled Yakuza gangster story alternating with (very) silly side quests.

Mini games tried so far:
- Mahjong
- Outrun
- Space Harrier
- those machines where you use a mechanical arm to grab a prize
- baseball batting
- bowling
- pool
- darts
- karaoke
- disco dancing

And that's like maybe half of them?


I've always found it weird that some games seem to be trying to get you to play some other game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on January 27, 2019, 01:03:59 PM
Quote from: Syt on January 27, 2019, 04:01:31 AM
I couldn't warm up to CtP2 the same way I did to CtP1. CtP1 had a lot of amazing concepts:
- state budgets to finance research, treasury, production, and public works
- public works budget: a pool of money to build tile improvements (instead of the clunky builder system)
- non-military units: slavers, abolitionists, televangelists, lawyers, bioterrorists ...
- making army stack composition matter by having ranged, flanking, and melee units (until you get to tanks, which count in each category) - combat resolved in phases in a special "battle screen"
- fictional history until 3,000 AD with lots of utopian/dystopian tech (loved the AI Pyramid)
- underwater cities and orbital stations
- global warming that would raise the sea levels (I would rush underwater city tech, then pollute like crazy to flood enemy coasts while my cities turned to underwater colonies)
- trade routes for special resources that could be raided

The game was badly balanced but a lot of fun. However, CtP1 and Alpha Centauri were launched within 2 months of each other, and it was completely eclipsed by the latter (which is the better game, tbh). I wished that the Civ series had stolen more of the ideas, though. For CtP2 they scaled back a lot of the ideas.

Thanks for the review Syt. :cheers:

Just started it so fun discovering some of those concepts that are either still in it or were put back in via the Apothyon community mod, which seems to be quiet an improvement from vanila.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on January 27, 2019, 01:38:33 PM
Quote from: Syt on January 27, 2019, 04:06:02 AM
Started playing Yakuza 0 yesterday. Having a lot of fun with it. The tone is weird, with the hard boiled Yakuza gangster story alternating with (very) silly side quests.

Mini games tried so far:
- Mahjong
- Outrun
- Space Harrier
- those machines where you use a mechanical arm to grab a prize
- baseball batting
- bowling
- pool
- darts
- karaoke
- disco dancing

And that's like maybe half of them?


You can figure out mahjong?
I downloaded a shogi app to see if I could figure that out.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 27, 2019, 04:43:37 PM
I understand the mahjong basics, but the scoring still eludes me, and I need to understand the strategy. I'm losing at the easiest table. Shogi is easier to pick up (the move lists for the pieces is not too complex), but having this turn into second nature would take time.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 27, 2019, 04:46:13 PM
Quote from: mongers on January 27, 2019, 01:03:59 PM
Just started it so fun discovering some of those concepts that are either still in it or were put back in via the Apothyon community mod, which seems to be quiet an improvement from vanila.

I might check out those mods when I have time. (I have CtP2 from GOG) :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on January 28, 2019, 10:28:19 AM
has cal played mahjong
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on January 29, 2019, 06:33:58 AM
Quote from: The Brain on January 28, 2019, 10:28:19 AM
has cal played mahjong

Let's leave your "jong" out of this! :yucky:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on January 30, 2019, 09:27:00 AM
Quote from: The Brain on January 28, 2019, 10:28:19 AM
has cal played mahjong
:)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on February 01, 2019, 08:16:45 PM
Giving 'Temple of Elemental Evil' a go.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 02, 2019, 03:21:55 AM
Quote from: mongers on February 01, 2019, 08:16:45 PM
Giving 'Temple of Elemental Evil' a go.

I loved it!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Richard Hakluyt on February 02, 2019, 03:32:41 AM
Quote from: mongers on February 01, 2019, 08:16:45 PM
Giving 'Temple of Elemental Evil' a go.

The working title for that was "Conservative Party Headquarters".......not many people know that.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on February 02, 2019, 08:07:13 AM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on February 02, 2019, 03:32:41 AM
Quote from: mongers on February 01, 2019, 08:16:45 PM
Giving 'Temple of Elemental Evil' a go.

The working title for that was "Conservative Party Headquarters".......not many people know that.

:lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on February 02, 2019, 09:23:12 AM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on February 02, 2019, 03:32:41 AM
Quote from: mongers on February 01, 2019, 08:16:45 PM
Giving 'Temple of Elemental Evil' a go.

The working title for that was "Conservative Party Headquarters".......not many people know that.

:rolleyes:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 02, 2019, 01:12:24 PM
Quote from: Barrister on February 02, 2019, 09:23:12 AM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on February 02, 2019, 03:32:41 AM
Quote from: mongers on February 01, 2019, 08:16:45 PM
Giving 'Temple of Elemental Evil' a go.

The working title for that was "Conservative Party Headquarters".......not many people know that.

:rolleyes:

I guess you haven't been following the news from the UK over the last two years.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on February 02, 2019, 03:55:11 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 02, 2019, 01:12:24 PM
Quote from: Barrister on February 02, 2019, 09:23:12 AM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on February 02, 2019, 03:32:41 AM
Quote from: mongers on February 01, 2019, 08:16:45 PM
Giving 'Temple of Elemental Evil' a go.

The working title for that was "Conservative Party Headquarters".......not many people know that.

:rolleyes:

I guess you haven't been following the news from the UK over the last two years.

I have.  And "elemental evil" would apply far better to Jeremy Corbyn.

The British Tories just have no clue what the fuck they are doing.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 02, 2019, 06:44:36 PM
Corbyn is many things but evil is not one. Naiive is more the word I'd use for him.
The Tories however....


Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on February 02, 2019, 08:38:51 PM
Quote from: Tyr on February 02, 2019, 06:44:36 PM
Corbyn is many things but evil is not one. Naiive is more the word I'd use for him.
The Tories however....

To the unbiased observer, Corbyn appears as evil as May. His very silence and lack of leadership on such an important issue damns him.  Corbyn appears perfectly happy to passively see Britain suffer so long as it brings him electoral gain.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 03, 2019, 03:41:01 PM
Quote from: grumbler on February 02, 2019, 08:38:51 PM
Quote from: Tyr on February 02, 2019, 06:44:36 PM
Corbyn is many things but evil is not one. Naiive is more the word I'd use for him.
The Tories however....

To the unbiased observer, Corbyn appears as evil as May. His very silence and lack of leadership on such an important issue damns him.  Corbyn appears perfectly happy to passively see Britain suffer so long as it brings him electoral gain.
Its a reflection of his long standing policy on Europe; it doesn't exist. He has a long voting record of just ignoring debates on European issues.
There couldn't be a worse man leading labour for this time.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on February 03, 2019, 04:02:21 PM
Quote from: Tamas on February 02, 2019, 03:21:55 AM
Quote from: mongers on February 01, 2019, 08:16:45 PM
Giving 'Temple of Elemental Evil' a go.

I loved it!

Thanks for the recommendation, first I'm going to try it with the circle of eight mod, then perhaps the keep on the borderland reworking of it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 03, 2019, 04:14:07 PM
Radio Commander showcase video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6RYW8yqO8Y


https://store.steampowered.com/app/871530/Radio_Commander/

QuoteIn Radio Commander you are playing as an American military commander serving in US Army during the Vietnam War. You will be carrying heavy burden as your mission is to coordinate military operations taking place between 1965 and 1967. But this is not just another RTS, in which you are an invisible being hovering over the battlefield. In Radio Commander situation reports are given to you in form of dramatic radio statements sent by troops fighting on the ground. And your only accessory is a strategic map, on which you can place tags and notes. Will you be smart, fast and cold-blooded enough to carry the responsibility and save your men?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 03, 2019, 04:39:26 PM
Can you play: polka?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 08, 2019, 08:12:38 AM
Some people say that the Mr X/T-00 dude in the Resident Evil 2 remake looks a bit like Dolph Lundgren.  :hmm:

(https://media.comicbook.com/2019/02/mr-x--1156718.jpeg)

(https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-balh3740/images/stencil/1280x1280/products/21232/26109/dolph_lundgren_ivan_drago__00082.1487088813.jpg?c=2?imbypass=on)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 08, 2019, 08:37:21 AM
:)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on February 08, 2019, 11:12:05 AM
I see it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 09, 2019, 12:42:14 PM
Played a bit of Battlefield V's conquest mode. Ugh. I was not made for these games. I try to hang around my squad mates and play the objective as a medic, so my scores are ok thanks to healing/reviving.

However, I totally suck at spotting enemies. Be it realizing someone attacks me from behind or the flanks, or - when attacked at ranged - seeing the enemy at all. :D And even if I do see them, my aim/juking is so horrible that in a 1v1 duel I lose 9.5/10. :D

So I mostly try to stay behind everyone else, hoping to stay out of immediate sight. :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 09, 2019, 03:39:01 PM
Conquest mode sucks. Try Operations or Frontlines. Those are pretty cool.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 09, 2019, 06:24:08 PM
I couldn't help it. Despite all I still have to play I gave into the stem sale. Star Control Origins.
Its alright.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on February 09, 2019, 08:08:31 PM
Giving Call of Cthulhu a go.

Also on the horizon;

https://www.thesinkingcity.com/en

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__zJKpkOHHE
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on February 11, 2019, 11:31:54 AM
Syt, have you try Anthem?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on February 11, 2019, 11:43:27 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on February 09, 2019, 08:08:31 PM
Giving Call of Cthulhu a go.
Definitely let us know how it is.  :cthulu:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 11, 2019, 05:10:11 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on February 11, 2019, 11:31:54 AM
Syt, have you try Anthem?

No. Not really into that sort of game. I tried a bit of Warframe and Destiny 2, but got bored fast. Don't see why I would get invested more in this. Generally not big about shooters or MP games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on February 11, 2019, 05:19:18 PM
Quote from: Syt on February 11, 2019, 05:10:11 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on February 11, 2019, 11:31:54 AM
Syt, have you try Anthem?

No. Not really into that sort of game. I tried a bit of Warframe and Destiny 2, but got bored fast. Don't see why I would get invested more in this. Generally not big about shooters or MP games.

With you on that brother.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 11, 2019, 05:31:39 PM
Star Traders Frontiers, immersive game with lots of variability, options and good design.  Nice sandbox game with lots going on.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 11, 2019, 05:46:01 PM
I'm amazed how much content the Trese brothers have been adding to Star Traders on a weekly basis for many months now.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 11, 2019, 07:07:59 PM
I found it because somebody here suggested it - probably you.  Thanks very much  :cheers:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on February 11, 2019, 10:22:18 PM
Quote from: Syt on February 11, 2019, 05:10:11 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on February 11, 2019, 11:31:54 AM
Syt, have you try Anthem?

No. Not really into that sort of game. I tried a bit of Warframe and Destiny 2, but got bored fast. Don't see why I would get invested more in this. Generally not big about shooters or MP games.

Alright. I agree with you D2 is boring.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on February 12, 2019, 08:19:03 PM
Quote from: KRonn on November 21, 2018, 08:03:12 PM
I'm playing some Port Royale 3, a gain in the Patrician type series that I never really played that much. My favorite was Patrician 3, great game and I played a whole lot of it. Patrician 4 I also like and is more of a challenge as the other traders are more competitive.

I just bought Patrician 3 in the steam sale, only done the tutorial so far, but I like what I've seen.  Not sure if I'll cope with the sandbox nature of the game, maybe it's best to play the campaign first?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on February 19, 2019, 02:47:02 PM
Huge discount on Steam for Field of Glory II today. I think I might actually buy it this time.

Wait...

Tamas, is Field of Glory III coming out soon or something?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 19, 2019, 03:35:47 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on February 19, 2019, 02:47:02 PM
Huge discount on Steam for Field of Glory II today. I think I might actually buy it this time.

Wait...

Tamas, is Field of Glory III coming out soon or something?

Unlikely. They're working on a grand strategy game that can be integrated with FoG2 for battle resolution.

I like FoG2 as a beer & pretzels game. Just accept that once units are locked into melee combat you lose control of them till that combat ends. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on February 19, 2019, 03:45:42 PM
 :hmm: Shouldn't it be that way? Short of being able to call a retreat, I don't think that you should have control of Classical-era units once they're engaged like that.

I'm open to those more knowledgeable arguing the other way, though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 19, 2019, 03:56:55 PM
No, I agree that it should be that way. I was also fully on board with the system in Spartan and Chariots of War where you set up your armies and give basic commands at the start and then hope for the best. :P

But there's some people who object to not always having full control, hence the caveat. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on February 19, 2019, 03:58:34 PM
Those people are weird and should go play Chess or something. I play historical games for history and simulation with a good dose of playability/fun added.  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 19, 2019, 04:01:33 PM
It's Slitherine midweek madness on Steam hence the discount, Habs.

Buy FOG2 FFS its awesome. We have regular tournaments too, and the core of the fans run their own miniatures-style tournament with people joining with their army lists and whatnot.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 19, 2019, 04:02:01 PM
Anyways, this is the grand strategy game they work on: http://www.slitherine.com/products/789/details/Field.of.Glory.Empires

There was some mention of it in the Imperator: Rome thread.

Dev Diaries:

http://www.slitherine.com/news/2782/Field.of.Glory:.Empires.Dev.Diary.#1.-.A.Brief.Overview
http://www.slitherine.com/news/2788/Field.of.Glory:.Empires.Dev.Diary.#2.-.Region.Management,.Population,.Loyalty
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 19, 2019, 04:04:09 PM
Btw, Tamas, it shouldn't be "his" in this text. :P

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.matrixgames.com%2Famazon%2FScreenshots%2FFOG_E%2FDevDiary2%2F%2FCarthage-is-converting-the-conquered-population-to-his-culture-and-ethnicity.jpg&hash=6d3e537e2a25daf8ca1d7a70b361f2f1e5a07386)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 19, 2019, 04:05:17 PM
Also, the Galactica game is fun, and also on sale.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 19, 2019, 04:06:42 PM
oops!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on February 19, 2019, 04:15:01 PM
Quote from: Syt on February 19, 2019, 04:02:01 PM
Anyways, this is the grand strategy game they work on: http://www.slitherine.com/products/789/details/Field.of.Glory.Empires

There was some mention of it in the Imperator: Rome thread.

Dev Diaries:

http://www.slitherine.com/news/2782/Field.of.Glory:.Empires.Dev.Diary.#1.-.A.Brief.Overview
http://www.slitherine.com/news/2788/Field.of.Glory:.Empires.Dev.Diary.#2.-.Region.Management,.Population,.Loyalty

Thanks!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on February 19, 2019, 04:15:17 PM
Quote from: Tamas on February 19, 2019, 04:01:33 PM
It's Slitherine midweek madness on Steam hence the discount, Habs.

Buy FOG2 FFS its awesome. We have regular tournaments too, and the core of the fans run their own miniatures-style tournament with people joining with their army lists and whatnot.

Corporate shill! Fanboi!

...I'm buying it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 19, 2019, 04:29:58 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on February 19, 2019, 04:15:01 PM
Quote from: Syt on February 19, 2019, 04:02:01 PM
Anyways, this is the grand strategy game they work on: http://www.slitherine.com/products/789/details/Field.of.Glory.Empires

There was some mention of it in the Imperator: Rome thread.

Dev Diaries:

http://www.slitherine.com/news/2782/Field.of.Glory:.Empires.Dev.Diary.#1.-.A.Brief.Overview
http://www.slitherine.com/news/2788/Field.of.Glory:.Empires.Dev.Diary.#2.-.Region.Management,.Population,.Loyalty

Thanks!

It might give me what I wanted a long time - the strategy level of Rome: Total War, with turn based combat.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on February 19, 2019, 08:57:18 PM
Wait what is the difference between FOG2 and that other similar game Tamas is always going on about with 800 "expansions"?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on February 19, 2019, 09:13:12 PM
That sounds like the game he's always going on about, though it only has 4 expansions.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on February 19, 2019, 09:13:57 PM
WEll, I bought FOG2 anyway. It better be amazing, or Tamas has to send me the entire amount in beets.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 20, 2019, 12:52:44 AM
 :rolleyes: Making shit up about what I am "going on about" will not hide the fact that you just HAD to buy what Habbaku did, Berkut.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on February 20, 2019, 01:18:03 AM
Quote from: Tamas on February 20, 2019, 12:52:44 AM
:rolleyes: Making shit up about what I am "going on about" will not hide the fact that you just HAD to buy what Habbaku did, Berkut.

Damnit, what game am I thinking of? Isn't there another ancients kind of thing you really like? Tactical?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 20, 2019, 03:37:01 AM
Star control origins complete.
It was OK. No st2, visibly unfinished, but the aliens were fun.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 20, 2019, 05:20:46 AM
Berkut, Habs, let me know if you want a PBEM game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on February 20, 2019, 08:37:25 AM
I definitely want a PBEM game. I definitely didn't buy it to play single-player.  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 20, 2019, 08:42:41 AM
The AI is good for practice I think, it often offers a decent challenge. Nothing like a human of course.

Once you feel ready post a challenge and let me know the password. I leave the sides entirely up to you (I don't want a historical battle though, point-spending is much more interesting). The Romans are very good for getting the hang of the game. They are hard to break and thus forgiving of mistakes.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on February 20, 2019, 06:52:48 PM
Battle is up. Password is "TamasisSpartacus".

Three guesses as to what armies I picked.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 21, 2019, 05:27:16 AM
You're on!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on February 21, 2019, 01:49:55 PM
The latest Bioware game, Anthem, was released to the masses yesterday after a week-long early access period. I played a 10-hour trial last week.

If you were hoping for a great narrative-driven video game with memorable NPCs and a unique story in the vein of the Baldur's Gate series or Knights of the Old Republic, boy do I have some bad news for you.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 21, 2019, 01:54:24 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on February 21, 2019, 01:49:55 PM
The latest Bioware game, Anthem, was released to the masses yesterday after a week-long early access period. I played a 10-hour trial last week.

If you were hoping for a great narrative-driven video game with memorable NPCs and a unique story in the vein of the Baldur's Gate series or Knights of the Old Republic, boy do I have some bad news for you.

That it is too addictive because it is all that and more?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 21, 2019, 01:58:32 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on February 21, 2019, 01:49:55 PM
The latest Bioware game, Anthem, was released to the masses yesterday after a week-long early access period. I played a 10-hour trial last week.

If you were hoping for a great narrative-driven video game with memorable NPCs and a unique story in the vein of the Baldur's Gate series or Knights of the Old Republic, boy do I have some bad news for you.

Yeah it is really making me nervous. Mass Effect got the axe after one substandard game with Andromeda (and note it was stripped down in order to get all resources dumped on this Anthem thing) and now I am a little concerned about the future of the entire studio. I have no idea who thought it was a good idea to make a RPG company make a looter-shooter...

But the whole future of the studio is in doubt if this thing flops. It was kind of a lose-lose proposition for me anyway since if Anthem was a huge success well fat chance Bioware was going to keep making RPGs anyway.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on February 21, 2019, 02:07:46 PM
Yeah Anthem is just getting killed in the reviews I've seen.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 21, 2019, 02:13:52 PM
I guess what I have to hope for is for Anthem to be just marginally be successful. Enough to keep Bioware going but not enough for Anthem to be EA's new cash cow.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on February 21, 2019, 02:16:19 PM
Between this debacle and Bethsoft and their latest Fallout flop I assume the future of CRPGs is now in serious trouble. :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 21, 2019, 02:19:06 PM
Most common comment I see about Anthem: Gameplay is fine, but everything else sucks - 'bleh' story, horrible load times (and plenty loading screens), and bad tethering when your team mates rush forward.

I'm not into looter shooters, so I had little interest in it in the first place. I watched some streams and it just looked so generic and bland.

And I think EA screwed it additionally with the F2P Apex Legends releasing shortly before which has been highly acclaimed and has become popular fast - it's taking hero shooter mechanics (i.e. characters with different skill sets) and combines with the battle royale. It's 3-man teams and I understand that they managed to make co-op between team mates easy and intuitive, even without voice chat, by having a context sensitive "ping" system, which sends messages to your team mates; e.g. "ping" your ammo slot and you ask for ammo, with "thank you" just another button press.

(Anthem heavily insists on voice chat between players, with no text chat possible - which is a great idea when you have a lot of in-mission story voice-overs.)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 21, 2019, 02:20:39 PM
Quote from: Caliga on February 21, 2019, 02:16:19 PM
Between this debacle and Bethsoft and their latest Fallout flop I assume the future of CRPGs is now in serious trouble. :hmm:

Well, Obsidian is still working on their sci-fi RPG. Though they tampered expectations by saying that it's not an open world sandbox, and that playthroughs will probably around 40 hours.

CRPGs will stay around, but I doubt they will be AAA affairs. My money is atm on smaller outfits, like Larian with their Divinity games, and Obsidian.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 21, 2019, 02:27:16 PM
Quote from: Syt on February 21, 2019, 02:20:39 PM
Quote from: Caliga on February 21, 2019, 02:16:19 PM
Between this debacle and Bethsoft and their latest Fallout flop I assume the future of CRPGs is now in serious trouble. :hmm:

Well, Obsidian is still working on their sci-fi RPG. Though they tampered expectations by saying that it's not an open world sandbox, and that playthroughs will probably around 40 hours.

CRPGs will stay around, but I doubt they will be AAA affairs. My money is atm on smaller outfits, like Larian with their Divinity games, and Obsidian.

AAA RPGs are probably dead. They just do not fit the current market obsession with trying to make another Fortnite.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 21, 2019, 02:52:18 PM
Quote from: Valmy on February 21, 2019, 02:27:16 PM
AAA RPGs are probably dead. They just do not fit the current market obsession with trying to make another Fortnite. multiplayer game with long term engagement with "recurring spending oppoertunities"

FYP. :P

MP games are better return on investment, because player retention tends to be higher than with linear story driven games. A lot of MP games have adopted a seasonal structure of having content available for a limited time, exploiting Fear Of Missing Out where possible, and getting players to log in for their dailies or weeklies and entice them to spend more money on their 60 or 70 or 90 ("Ultimate Editions" :P ) bucks games. It's rather depressing, really.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on February 21, 2019, 04:20:19 PM
Quote from: Syt on February 21, 2019, 02:19:06 PM
Most common comment I see about Anthem: Gameplay is fine, but everything else sucks - 'bleh' story, horrible load times (and plenty loading screens), and bad tethering when your team mates rush forward.

I'm not into looter shooters, so I had little interest in it in the first place. I watched some streams and it just looked so generic and bland.

I enjoy looters and looter-shooters but Anthem is a fine example of mediocrity in the genre. The combat is passable but repetitive, which isn't uncommon in the genre but other games hide their repetition much better than Anthem.

Character progression is almost non-existent. You level your mech suit up to 30, but all that does is unlock new slots that let you equip gear or unlock one of 4 mechs. There aren't any interesting choices to make. Your skills are attached to the gear you equip but some skills are clearly superior to others and you can only choose 2 active combat skills at a time so the choices are essentially made for you. Item progression, in the form of new gear and weapons, is reduced to simple, gradual increases in numbers to a few stats. There are no interesting or unique mechanics attached to gear or weapons until you get to end game. Even then, from what I've seen, these unique weapons are subpar compared to similar mechanics in PoE, Diablo, or Warframe.

I was hoping for something accessible and fun to play that was deep enough to sustain my interest long term. Anthem is fun in bite-sized pieces but there isn't much left after the first few bites.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Oexmelin on February 21, 2019, 04:26:07 PM
Quote from: Syt on February 21, 2019, 02:20:39 PM
CRPGs will stay around, but I doubt they will be AAA affairs. My money is atm on smaller outfits, like Larian with their Divinity games, and Obsidian.

I still have some hopes for Projekt Red (is it AAA now?). As far as narrative-driven games go, RDR2 may have given ideas to others, and I am also hoping the best for Beyond Good and Evil 2, even if that one may still take some years to get there.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on February 21, 2019, 11:10:04 PM
Quote from: Oexmelin on February 21, 2019, 04:26:07 PM
I still have some hopes for Projekt Red (is it AAA now?).
Quality wise: AAA
Budget wise: AA

The Witcher series got them a leg to jump on, they built bigger&bigger until #3 and its expansion.

Damn, what a fine game that was.

But the author is pissed they didn't respect his IP integrally.  Well, frankly, playing a novel is kind of boring, and I felt Geralt of Rivia was in all ways the same as in the books.  But to each their own.

Anyway, their new Cyberpunk game looks great, but lots of things can happen.  They had to start from scratch for all their characters this time, with no guidelines.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on February 21, 2019, 11:39:23 PM
I played some RDR2 tonight and I was struck how different I feel when I'm playing that game versus when I was playing Anthem last week. The world of RDR2 feels alive, real, and immersive. Its characters are fully-fleshed out people, and the dialogue is well written. Anthem's world feel generic and born in a board room, and it's characters are one-note and boring, if not outright annoying half the time.

I know they're different genres, but still... It's funny to see the different directions Rockstar and Bioware took over the past 20 years. The studio that popularized extreme video game violence on city streets now has some of the best writing in the industry while the studio that virtually created the narrative-driven CRPG is reduced to giving players two false dialogue choices in a mediocre third-person shooter.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 22, 2019, 12:26:44 AM
On the streams I watched the in mission dialogue lines were possibly the most depressing thing. The unengaging banter sounded pretty much like the fake multiplayer voice chat that game companies like to put in E3 game trailers and which makes you cringe because it's so unnatural.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on February 22, 2019, 08:02:35 AM
Anthem wise, what I disliked from the betas, was that for a looter shooter there is not a lot of loot & looting. Finding out what your loot is also very very slow.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on February 22, 2019, 01:01:13 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on February 21, 2019, 11:39:23 PM
I played some RDR2 tonight and I was struck how different I feel when I'm playing that game versus when I was playing Anthem last week. The world of RDR2 feels alive, real, and immersive. Its characters are fully-fleshed out people, and the dialogue is well written. Anthem's world feel generic and born in a board room, and it's characters are one-note and boring, if not outright annoying half the time.
What you're saying is, making 2 games for the price of one doesn't really work? ;)

Who would have thought gutting Mass Effect 4's team to build Anthem would result in 2 mediocre games?

I wonder who's the genius now at Bioware.

It does not bode well for DA4.  :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on February 27, 2019, 02:48:03 PM
I'm getting a bit board with the consumer churn with Steam games; I find myself wasting time reading game reviews on.

Maybe time to put it to be for a while?


edit:

Think I'll not bother buying games till next Winter, when it'll be more appropriate.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on March 05, 2019, 12:52:32 PM
Quote from: viper37 on February 22, 2019, 01:01:13 PM

It does not bode well for DA4.  :(

At this point I will be shocked if we even see a single player RPG from Bioware again. DA4 or not. I hope to be pleasantly surprised...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on March 07, 2019, 10:00:45 AM
Found 'Endless Space' in my uninstalled steam 'queue', I think it's a rather neat space 4x, I especially like the planetary system graphics.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on March 07, 2019, 10:17:19 AM
Endless Space 2 is really good. If you like the first one, then you'll really enjoy the second.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on March 07, 2019, 11:30:03 AM
I have been thinking about trying that.  What did you like about 2?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on March 07, 2019, 11:52:17 AM
Quote from: Habbaku on March 07, 2019, 10:17:19 AM
Endless Space 2 is really good. If you like the first one, then you'll really enjoy the second.

Thanks for the recommendation, I'll try it once I've 'played out' the first one.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 07, 2019, 12:50:28 PM
Diablo 1 is now on GOG.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on March 07, 2019, 01:01:27 PM
Quote from: Syt on March 07, 2019, 12:50:28 PM
Diablo 1 is now on GOG.

The original crack that caused my arpg addiction.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 07, 2019, 01:33:03 PM
I wonder if it's a coincidence that they release it a day before a new league for Path of Exile starts. :P

Also, Warcraft 1 & 2 will come to GOG.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on March 07, 2019, 05:27:45 PM
Quote from: Syt on March 07, 2019, 01:33:03 PM
I wonder if it's a coincidence that they release it a day before a new league for Path of Exile starts. :P

Also, Warcraft 1 & 2 will come to GOG.

:cool:

Thanks Syt.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 14, 2019, 01:24:22 PM
Production Line:

https://youtu.be/IhGTKBAC94c
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 17, 2019, 07:58:12 AM
Possibly the most epic round of Street Fighter EVER: https://twitter.com/Demondesign/status/1106589076696850432?s=20

(Haven't played since II on SNES, funny how many moves I still recognize in the modern incarnation :D )
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 18, 2019, 05:34:12 AM
https://store.steampowered.com/app/784150/Workers__Resources_Soviet_Republic/

QuoteABOUT THIS GAME
- Manage all aspects of your own republic with planned economy, including mining resources, manufacturing goods, construction, investments, and citizens too.
- Create your own industrial complexes with loading and unloading stations, storage, warehouses, and factories.
- Build the infrastructure and manage its traffic, including roads, railways, sidewalks, conveyors, wiring, and pipelines. Wisely place and connect factories, houses and warehouses, and make the most efficient connections.
- Plan and build the living areas with everything your citizens may need to live their happy life, such as playgrounds, cinema s, taverns, and shops.
- Send your citizens to the mine to get coal, iron and other natural resources; or send them to the fields to pick up the crops; or take them to factories to produce manufactured goods.
- Sell and purchase resources and goods from western countries or other soviet countries to get dollars or rubles and buy the products or resources you need ... or invest in new infrastructure or buildings.
- Enjoy authentic soviet buildings and vehicles, as well as realistic landscapes of the 60's to the 90's.
- Play the way you want! You can focus on getting natural resources or products and trade them for money; or you can build a self-sufficient republic; or you can just use the easy sandbox mode with unlimited money/resources and just enjoy building something live.
- Economic simulation. Prices of resources on the global market are changing over time as you play –one day you can sell or purchase steel for a $100 per ton, but in a few months the cost can rise to $200 or decrease to $50. The price of everything is connected to the cost of work and resources.
- Increasing difficulty.As prices change, the demands of the citizens also change, and you will need more resources to keep them happy and force them to work.

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/784150/ss_7fc8a4df1d020c2245f510cdd05897ee08565980.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/784150/ss_b0956768592b79f3b5375124aa7e7b19a3edb2dd.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/784150/ss_83ce2c1679b03523b8b3f123d143e8ed5f803291.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/784150/ss_c5dc8d2a62c930278f630c28fe65c225a075ac23.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/784150/ss_141303487178b4628804180716f17ef79b01b8ae.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/784150/ss_b24600f473c7645cee7871408a1fa4173c0381e8.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/784150/ss_d11b916e0b476dd98dde8c40bd8ac0b47f4f0fec.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/784150/ss_64d3b82ce49ec46c1466b944ee9f5e1f5bfb60f7.600x338.jpg)

Early access, but they say all mentioned features are in the game, and that they'll work on balancing and polishing and that they're looking for community feedback for new content. Currently sitting at 83% positive reviews out of ca. 700. Saw a few streamers play this on the weekend - doesn't seem too shoddy. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on March 18, 2019, 08:53:19 PM
I've been playing HOI4 with the new Man The Guns expansion. So far it seems good, lots of new stuff and concepts. Naval battles seem better, more options for your ships and more research items for equipment to specialize ships to what you want/need. I do like the ability to train up ships and air units like you can do for land units. I'm liking the way resources are handled, such as oil which is needed to build units but also to move, train and when fighting. Similar to how oil was handled in earlier versions of HOI (2 or 3).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on March 19, 2019, 05:41:39 PM
Quote from: Caliga on February 11, 2019, 11:43:27 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on February 09, 2019, 08:08:31 PM
Giving Call of Cthulhu a go.
Definitely let us know how it is.  :cthulu:

So far it plays like an interactive movie. 'Bout a quarter way through.

Story: A
Graphics: C
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on March 22, 2019, 02:11:39 AM
OMFG
PARADOX JUST ANNOUNCED BLOODLINES 2
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on March 22, 2019, 10:48:12 AM
What is it?

edit: nvm, saw the other thread
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 22, 2019, 10:51:02 AM
Sekiro - Shadows Die Twice is out. Been watching since yesterday, it looks amazing, but brutally hard. Combat is faster and more fluid than in the Souls games, with a bigger focus on aggressive attacks and deflecting attacks. And it leans heavy into medieval Japanese horror.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on March 23, 2019, 04:39:24 PM
Played some Age of Wonders, I like it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on March 24, 2019, 05:38:31 PM
Played over 20 hours of Tom Clancy's The Division 2 from Ubisoft.

It's basically Diablo 3 with guns. I'm loving it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on March 24, 2019, 11:51:24 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on March 24, 2019, 05:38:31 PM
Played over 20 hours of Tom Clancy's The Division 2 from Ubisoft.

It's basically Diablo 3 with guns. I'm loving it.

How is it compared to the first one?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on March 25, 2019, 06:59:08 AM
Quote from: The Brain on March 24, 2019, 11:51:24 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on March 24, 2019, 05:38:31 PM
Played over 20 hours of Tom Clancy's The Division 2 from Ubisoft.

It's basically Diablo 3 with guns. I'm loving it.

How is it compared to the first one?

Never played it so can't say. From what I understand, the gameplay is similar: Tacticool 3rd-person cover-based shooter combat mixed with special abilities and an RPG-like looting and progression system. I know it sounds crazy but it actually works.

Got into this one because they released a public beta several weeks ago and I loved the gameplay loop. It fills my need to see video game numbers go up on a stat sheet.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 25, 2019, 07:05:23 AM
From Sekiro subreddit, but applies for me to all RPGs, ever.

(https://i.redd.it/dtij7ne1r8o21.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on March 25, 2019, 07:47:58 AM
That is one of the things I like about Darkest Dungeon, if you can possibly use a thing you will use it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 25, 2019, 07:53:49 AM
I think it also depends on how quickly it replenishes. If I get health potions all the time I'm more likely to use them. Now, if my mage can use his armageddon spell only once per day, I'm much less likely to use it in the first few encounters of that day. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on March 25, 2019, 08:09:53 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on March 24, 2019, 05:38:31 PM
Played over 20 hours of Tom Clancy's The Division 2 from Ubisoft.

It's basically Diablo 3 with guns. I'm loving it.

PC?

I play it too & basically for the same reasons. The open beta sold me on the game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 25, 2019, 08:19:48 AM
I don't want to overspend on games so April will be a tough choice between the new Anno game and Rule the Waves 2.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on March 25, 2019, 08:39:41 AM
Matrix games never go on sale.
Ubisoft games go on sale quite often.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 25, 2019, 08:41:35 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on March 25, 2019, 08:39:41 AM
Matrix games never go on sale.

Not true. They go on sale on GOG and Steam (such titles as there are), and there's always the huge Christmas sale on their website that offers incredible discounts.

Also, Rule the Waves is not a Matrix game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on March 25, 2019, 08:46:29 AM
I was fooled!

35$US for RtW2, cheap!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on March 25, 2019, 08:50:28 AM
Quote from: Syt on March 25, 2019, 07:05:23 AM
From Sekiro subreddit, but applies for me to all RPGs, ever.

(https://i.redt/dtij7ne1r8o21.jpg)

Yep.
Big thing that massively slows my play in BG and especially Eldar Scrolls games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on March 26, 2019, 02:27:54 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on March 25, 2019, 08:09:53 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on March 24, 2019, 05:38:31 PM
Played over 20 hours of Tom Clancy's The Division 2 from Ubisoft.

It's basically Diablo 3 with guns. I'm loving it.

PC?

I play it too & basically for the same reasons. The open beta sold me on the game.

PC. I'm funk_monk on UPlay. I usually play with my brother so I'm not even level capped at 30 yet.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on March 26, 2019, 03:29:40 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on March 26, 2019, 02:27:54 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on March 25, 2019, 08:09:53 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on March 24, 2019, 05:38:31 PM
Played over 20 hours of Tom Clancy's The Division 2 from Ubisoft.

It's basically Diablo 3 with guns. I'm loving it.

PC?

I play it too & basically for the same reasons. The open beta sold me on the game.

PC. I'm funk_monk on UPlay. I usually play with my brother so I'm not even level capped at 30 yet.

Arth0is. I play mostly alone & I am also not capped, don't expect to hit it for another month or 2.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 29, 2019, 05:40:24 AM
Quote from: Syt on August 17, 2018, 09:35:19 AM
Gameplay trailer for Generation Zero.

Hunting killer robots and survival.

Setting: Sweden, November 1989.  :huh:

It looks very pretty, though.

It looks like the game might not be very good. :(

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/03/28/generation-zero-review/

QuoteThere's a lot of repetition, underscored by the repetition in the environment. It's an appropriately bleak, rainy, robot-infested world to stomp around in, but I've seen the same houses, vehicles, barns and cabins so many times. And it has so, so many bugs. Most of them are small, but they're so numerous that it sets a tone. Scenery collides with scenery; wooden platforms float as if by magic; doors open into the ground; items disappear and reappear from the inventory. I could go on.

I'm being rough on Generation Zero, and almost feel bad. It has so much potential, and is close to being an decent game. I want to love it, and maybe one day I could. As it stands, though, this needs a lot more time invested in it. It needs patching, it needs a UI overhaul, it needs more variation in enemy types and it needs more finesse in its combat. You can see that there's a fun and rewarding game in there, but it's buried deep under distracting technical bugs, an overabundance of unsatisfying items and infuriating ammunition boxes. In fact, if you wanted to describe the issue with a Swedish word, you could say that there's no omsättning. There's no turnover, no change, no development. It's perpetually a pain in the rumpa and it stays that way no matter how far you progress, no matter what items or skills you unlock.

Maybe can be salvaged by post-release patches and changes?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 29, 2019, 07:57:36 AM
Also, Tropico 6 seems good. Will wait for sale, though.

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/03/29/tropico-6-review/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on March 29, 2019, 09:55:38 AM
Quote from: Syt on March 29, 2019, 07:57:36 AM
Also, Tropico 6 seems good. Will wait for sale, though.

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/03/29/tropico-6-review/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N53ocygtRJg  :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 29, 2019, 09:56:42 AM
Meh, his whole shtick is breaking games. Doesn't mean the games are shit.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 29, 2019, 09:58:58 AM
Quote from: Syt on March 29, 2019, 09:56:42 AM
Meh, his whole shtick is breaking games. Doesn't mean the games are shit.

There was an open beta of Tropico 6. It is quite clearly the best version of Tropico. It is also quite clearly a very superficial change from 5.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 29, 2019, 10:01:20 AM
I'm aware, but I haven't really played Tropico since 3, so it might be time to update for me. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 29, 2019, 10:09:42 AM
Quote from: Syt on March 29, 2019, 10:01:20 AM
I'm aware, but I haven't really played Tropico since 3, so it might be time to update for me. :P

Ah then there's no question. :) Tropico 5 was quite nice. They have added some extra buttons you can press for missions (called them Pirates and such), and divided the map up into smaller islands, and are calling it Tropico 6.

But if you haven't played #5 then you'll have lots of fun I think.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on March 29, 2019, 10:12:29 AM
Last (and first) one I've played is 4, but I have 5 in my Steam library as well. Should I just play that and get 6 when it's at 50% discount? :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 29, 2019, 10:15:11 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on March 29, 2019, 10:12:29 AM
Last (and first) one I've played is 4, but I have 5 in my Steam library as well. Should I just play that and get 6 when it's at 50% discount? :P

Depends on your monetary situation entirely. :P

I really wanted to like 6 in the public beta as it looked a nice game but I just couldnt' remove myself from how similar it played and looked to 5. You'll probably get more enjoyment out if you skip straight to 6.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on March 29, 2019, 01:15:48 PM
I didn't rate the most recent tropico. Way too console-ised
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on March 29, 2019, 02:08:31 PM
The new Anno 1800 game, however, looks fucking ace.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on March 29, 2019, 03:43:51 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on March 29, 2019, 02:08:31 PM
The new Anno 1800 game, however, looks fucking ace.

Yeah, I eagerly await that release
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 29, 2019, 05:50:14 PM
For those who care about these things: Anno 1800, as a UbiSoft game, will be exclusive to Epic Games Store and uPlay.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on March 29, 2019, 07:10:42 PM
Quote from: Syt on March 29, 2019, 05:50:14 PM
For those who care about these things: Anno 1800, as a UbiSoft game, will be exclusive to Epic Games Store and uPlay.

Though apparently if you pre-purchase on Steam that'll allow you to have on Steam and dev has promised Valve support for those customers with dlc, etc.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Zoupa on March 29, 2019, 09:10:44 PM
What's the big nerd meltdown about Epic getting exclusives? Can someone break it down for me, because I don't understand the outrage. All i could gather was that folks didn't want to have an extra launcher. Big deal.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on March 30, 2019, 02:39:56 AM
Quote from: Zoupa on March 29, 2019, 09:10:44 PM
What's the big nerd meltdown about Epic getting exclusives? Can someone break it down for me, because I don't understand the outrage. All i could gather was that folks didn't want to have an extra launcher. Big deal.

The Epic launcher is also crap and does shady things on your PC without your permission.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 30, 2019, 03:17:31 AM
I don't think "another launcher" is a problem. I have Uplay, Origin, GOG, Steam, Battle.net, and launcher-less games I bought directly from the devs (you're welcome, Tamas :P ).

I think people were in general happy when Epic first said they want to become a competitor to Steam. People have been complaining about Steam for year, especially since they opened the floodgates to all kinds of garbage (I'd like to think there could be a happy medium between overly restrictive curation as existed in the past and letting everyone in). It's also great that they offer a bigger cut of the revenue to developers publishers. On top of it, they're well placed to take on the juggernaut - they have deep pockets (thanks to Fortnite) and they have a huge existing user base (thanks to Fortnite).

So when people heard they wanted to compete with Steam, they expected something along the lines of, "like Steam, but better", or "without the garbage".

What was delivered was a barebones shop that didn't even have a search function or two factor authentication until recently. It still doesn't have features like user reviews, wishlists, shopping carts, forums (game specific or otherwise), mod support etc. A lot of this is on their recently published road map, but it looks like it will be 6-12 months until they have a fully featured store at which time it might be a joy to use. If they had waited another year to finish the shop and release it fully featured, I think acceptance would have been higher.

Epic CEO has said that what will win the battle will not be a better store, but getting devs to use Epic exclusively. Now, Steam has a quasi-monopoly, because a lot of devs find it, overall, convenient to use for their distribution, but they never had any exclusivity deals like Epic is signing them with publishers right now. If someone wanted to sell their game outside of Steam, they were ok with it. However, Epic's brute force approach is rubbing a lot of people the wrong way (I'm sure a lot of people won't care either way). It's especially galling in some cases, where a game is available for pre-order on Steam and then becomes a timed exclusive on Epic (at least they said they'd honor existing pre-orders). Or in the case of a Kickstarter game that promised their backers GOG or Steam keys (backer's choice) and now is a timed Epic exclusive (not sure how they resolved this).

Additionally, Epic has been plagued with security issues over the last year or so. There were numerous cases of hacked accounts in the past (as said, they only recently added two factor authentication), recently people said they couldn't register on the store because their email address had already been used (it seems the email confirmation system was spotty), and users have also found Epic to snoop through their Steam contacts lists without authorization. It also took them a few weeks or month to make their shop GDPR compliant. Some people are bothered that Chinese company TenCent is a major investor in Epic now, but to me that's not too problematic.

Might be that we're seeing teething problems of what will end up to be a great store. Mostly they seem keen on squandering the initial goodwill that a lot of people had towards them.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on March 30, 2019, 06:20:46 AM
I remember back when I was very skeptical of steam. Now though it is so easy. What advantage is there for me as a consumer to learn a new platform that is likely clunky and unintuitive?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on March 30, 2019, 11:12:50 AM
Quote from: garbon on March 29, 2019, 07:10:42 PM
Quote from: Syt on March 29, 2019, 05:50:14 PM
For those who care about these things: Anno 1800, as a UbiSoft game, will be exclusive to Epic Games Store and uPlay.

Though apparently if you pre-purchase on Steam that'll allow you to have on Steam and dev has promised Valve support for those customers with dlc, etc.

I have it on my Steam wish list. Just checked it and this message appears:

QuoteNotice: Sales of Anno 1800 will be discontinued on Steam after April 16th due to a publisher decision to make the game exclusive to another PC store.

The publisher has assured us that all prior sales of the game on Steam will be fulfilled on Steam, and Steam owners will be able to access the game and any future updates or DLC through Steam.

We apologize to Steam customers that were expecting it to be available for sale after the April 16th release date.


Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on March 30, 2019, 02:58:11 PM
Quote from: garbon on March 30, 2019, 06:20:46 AM
What advantage is there for me as a consumer to learn a new platform that is likely clunky and unintuitive?
that's why they force exclusive deals...

EA did the same with Origin.  I hated it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on March 30, 2019, 03:08:44 PM
Yeah, Origin is an example of an awful, clunky platform (or at least was when I was forced to use it for Inquisition).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on March 30, 2019, 03:33:10 PM
Rather than all these different  platforms the steam competitors ought to get together and come up with an independent platform. That's the only way steam will be defeated.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 31, 2019, 02:44:44 AM
I am sure there are valid reasons to dislike the Epic store but I remember the same level of aggravation when Steam started to become a platform hard to avoid.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on March 31, 2019, 03:02:43 AM
Wake me when Epic becomes hard to avoid.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Iormlund on March 31, 2019, 03:06:03 PM
Quote from: Tyr on March 30, 2019, 03:33:10 PM
Rather than all these different  platforms the steam competitors ought to get together and come up with an independent platform. That's the only way steam will be defeated.

They don't want to defeat Steam. They want to become Steam.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on March 31, 2019, 03:16:52 PM
If that happens, I can live with checking two sites
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on March 31, 2019, 03:27:09 PM
For a Ubisoft game, just buy it on Uplay. Epic or Steam, still gotta use Uplay to play it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on April 01, 2019, 04:28:47 AM
I just got Borderlands 2 and all DLC for 14 € on Steam sale. Should I also get Borderlands 1 and play it first for the story?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on April 01, 2019, 07:28:22 AM
No.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 01, 2019, 01:00:58 PM
In April 1st Gaming News, Ubisoft has a Rabbids crossover event in For Honor today.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D3CgNAIX0AEdx1C?format=jpg&name=medium)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D3CgNMkXcAMuAAx?format=jpg&name=medium)

And Rainbow Six Siege has a week long "Rainbow is Magic" event with pink unicorns and hostages replaced by furries, and .... well, look for yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyzqxRHLPpk

:lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on April 02, 2019, 08:38:26 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 29, 2019, 03:43:51 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on March 29, 2019, 02:08:31 PM
The new Anno 1800 game, however, looks fucking ace.

Yeah, I eagerly await that release

Nice, I hadn't heard about this next version of the game. I'll be watching for it.  :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on April 03, 2019, 12:45:10 PM
So yeah, Anthem development was a huge clusterfuck (it's a long read). https://kotaku.com/how-biowares-anthem-went-wrong-1833731964
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Threviel on April 04, 2019, 04:25:08 AM
I don't know why, I haven't played any Bioware for ages, but I found that article interesting. Thanks.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 04, 2019, 04:49:48 AM
Bioware made a half hearted response. RPS's John Walker opines on it: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/04/03/biowares-awful-response-to-kotakus-expose-pours-petrol-on-a-raging-pr-fire/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on April 04, 2019, 10:02:09 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on April 03, 2019, 12:45:10 PM
So yeah, Anthem development was a huge clusterfuck (it's a long read). https://kotaku.com/how-biowares-anthem-went-wrong-1833731964

QuoteMany at the company now grumble that the success of 2014's Dragon Age: Inquisition was one of the worst things that could have happened to them. The third Dragon Age, which won Game of the Year at the 2014 Game Awards, was the result of a brutal production process plagued by indecision and technical challenges. It was mostly built over the course of its final year, which led to lengthy crunch hours and lots of exhaustion. "Some of the people in Edmonton were so burnt out," said one former BioWare developer. "They were like, 'We needed [Dragon Age: Inquisition] to fail in order for people to realize that this isn't the right way to make games.'"

Damn. Sorry guys.

If it makes them feel any better I did not buy the game until late 2015 :P

QuoteWithin the studio, there's a term called "BioWare magic." It's a belief that no matter how rough a game's production might be, things will always come together in the final months.

So you are telling me that Bioware took its management inspiration from the way the United Kingdom has traditionally been governed? Typical Canadians.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 04, 2019, 10:16:58 AM
Speaking of Bioware, we haven't seen Neil in a while, have we? :unsure:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on April 04, 2019, 10:21:11 AM
Quote from: Syt on April 04, 2019, 10:16:58 AM
Speaking of Bioware, we haven't seen Neil in a while, have we? :unsure:

Not since last year.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on April 04, 2019, 01:04:25 PM
Quote from: Valmy on April 04, 2019, 10:02:09 AM
So you are telling me that Bioware took its management inspiration from the way the United Kingdom has traditionally been governed? Typical Canadians.

Didnt the Canadians who started it stop managing after they sold?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on April 04, 2019, 01:13:20 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 04, 2019, 01:04:25 PM
Quote from: Valmy on April 04, 2019, 10:02:09 AM
So you are telling me that Bioware took its management inspiration from the way the United Kingdom has traditionally been governed? Typical Canadians.

Didnt the Canadians who started it stop managing after they sold?

Not immediately, but yes they're gone now.

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/177892/BioWares_founding_doctors_leave_video_games_behind.php
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on April 04, 2019, 01:49:01 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 04, 2019, 01:04:25 PM
Quote from: Valmy on April 04, 2019, 10:02:09 AM
So you are telling me that Bioware took its management inspiration from the way the United Kingdom has traditionally been governed? Typical Canadians.

Didnt the Canadians who started it stop managing after they sold?

Yes and it was not managed like that back when they were in charge. Or at least it did not seem like it. Sure they had crazy ambitious goals and visions but it seemed like they had plenty of time and enough planning to make it work.

Granted they were only a small/medium developer at the time.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 08, 2019, 12:56:45 PM
Didn't expect this: Slitherine will publish Fantasy General II. They got the license from GOG, but you will be able to buy it from both GOG and Steam.

It looks pretty.

https://www.gog.com/game/fantasy_general_ii

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1025440/Fantasy_General_II/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on April 08, 2019, 07:35:40 PM
Woah, that take you back.  I remember Fantasy General had some really weird units.  Like a guy tied to a balloon holding a rifle or cavalryman armed with a flame thrower.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 09, 2019, 12:35:28 AM
Yeah, I don't know why they decided to revive the brand. Fantasy general was fun, but the lore and story wasn't very memorable. In fact, their producer said as much during the reveal stream, pointing out that they work on fixing that. This would probably work and sell just as well if they labelled it a spiritual successor and created an original world.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 09, 2019, 01:52:05 AM
Possibly the best gaming related Twitter account: https://twitter.com/CanYouPetTheDog
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 10, 2019, 03:50:39 PM
Meanwhile, at ActivisionBlizzard (courtesy of WaPo):

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D3wsu88XoAA5gFB?format=png&name=900x900)



(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D3wswZWXoAI-TV3?format=png&name=900x900)



(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D3wsx39XoAEvMVX?format=png&name=900x900)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on April 10, 2019, 04:20:59 PM
Quote"Rather than having a baby who's in the neonatal ICU, where she's not able to focus much on work."

I've heard about child labor but damn. :o
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on April 11, 2019, 07:59:29 PM
Funny because my attitude went from "Activision Blizzard is a video game company with ethically questionable monetization practices" to "Activision Blizzard is an ethically questionable video game company"
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on April 12, 2019, 07:26:46 AM
Anno 1800 is coming out next Tuesday, there's is an open beta until the 14th.

It's pretty good.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 12, 2019, 08:47:55 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on April 12, 2019, 07:26:46 AM
Anno 1800 is coming out next Tuesday, there's is an open beta until the 14th.

It's pretty good.

I spent about an hour with it before work.

It is stunningly gorgeous. Otherwise I have seen so far one big improvement: range of buildings is based on distance on the road network, not an arbitrary circle.

Both things are great, but otherwise the gameplay is identical to all previous games, and thus I doubt I'll make myself pay 50 pounds for those two things.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on April 12, 2019, 09:41:26 AM
It seems to be a lot incremental improvements, yes. Relocate key & blueprint mode.

It's also for me, the first interesting setting since Anno 1404, as #5 & 6 were stupid.

Can't decide if it's worth 80$ to me.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on April 24, 2019, 10:30:53 AM
Quote from: Syt on February 11, 2019, 05:10:11 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on February 11, 2019, 11:31:54 AM
Syt, have you try Anthem?

No. Not really into that sort of game. I tried a bit of Warframe and Destiny 2, but got bored fast. Don't see why I would get invested more in this. Generally not big about shooters or MP games.

So I tried Destiny 2.  Got it for free, played through the campaign and a few MP missions&matches.

It was fun for a little while.  My younger cousin told me the game was super fun once you completed the main game and started doing coop missions... but really, no.  I feel like I have no purpose...

Ok, I'll admit, I like shooters, sometimes.  I really like the Sniper Elite shooters, 2,3,4.  A lot of fun.
In Far Cry, I kept using a sniper rifle as often as I could, same in Mass Effect, alternating between an auto rifle for close encounter and the black widow for as much as I could, in MP as well as SP.

So, this game... the AI is stupid.  Like really stupid.  Unlike Doom or Wolfenstein they wont follow you through corners, they won't try to find a weak spot in your cover, so basically, hide behind a rock, get a quick shot or 3 with rockets or sniper, and the ennemy is gone.  You only really need to come out of cover to take your ammo.

While you play, there are other players in your world, and sometimes you interact with them, as in, shoot stuff together because an ennemy is in your way.

Now, the bad stuff is, that game is totally imbalanced.  Your mission requires you to go to point A.  To get through to point A, you need to get over an ennemy that is invulnerable to your puny weapons because the recommended power level to kill it is 603 while you are at 70 power... So you got to wait for higher level players to come and do this mission that is to kill this ennemy...  Boring and stupid, at times.

The story is unimpressive.  Yes, it has airs of Mass Effects at times.  Yes, the MP part is better developped and integrated into the game than Mass Effect was, since it is basically a MP game to begin with.

All in all, I have enjoyed playing this game for a few hours and it was well worth it's 0$ price tag.  The expansion costs 55$ and I wouldn't recommend this for anyone here, unless you really, really, really like multiplayer unbalanced semi-cooperative shooter.

Ah, did I tell you about the "true" multiplayer part, where you play against ennemies 60x more powerful than you are?  The other players can kill you with one shot from their sidearm, or simply run you over with their double bladed lightsaber or whatever it is they're using that makes them look like Darth Maul on steroid... Really, I like a challenge, but this is stupid.  Jesus, what was going in the mind of these developpers??  What is the fun is shooting at ennemies that don't take damage and dying on the first shot?

So, 0$.  That's worth trying, if only to see the "future" of gaming (it is depressing :( ).  Don't expect to get attached to your character, to cry because you lost your favorite tomboy soldier to a suicide mission, to feel the adreline rush of multiple banshees screaming and coming at you while the friend's daughter you just saved is sacrificing herself to kill them alll...  Nope, nothing of the sort. 

Also, the single player game is weird.  You got to complete some missions to advance the story.  Some of them mid game require an higher level (24) than the end missions (160)... Silly, if you ask me.  Not having a linear game is ok, but not sure that having missions you can't really take until you level up your character only to have to end missions ridiculously easy to do afterward is fun.

I would not recommend this game to Valmy, unless he wants to do a sunday afternoon AAR ;)

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on April 24, 2019, 11:00:16 AM
My older son likes playing the competitive matches.  He tells me they last about 20 minutes so it is something he can work into his schedule every few days.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on April 24, 2019, 01:54:38 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 24, 2019, 11:00:16 AM
My older son likes playing the competitive matches.  He tells me they last about 20 minutes so it is something he can work into his schedule every few days.
he's probably one of these Jedi killing me in one strike :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Zanza on April 24, 2019, 03:04:57 PM
I got Anno 1800 now. I like it so far. I think the last one I played must have been 1503 or so. This is pretty well done.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 24, 2019, 05:02:04 PM
Meanwhile, in Mortal Kombat 11:

https://www.reddit.com/r/PS4/comments/bguuzb/in_mk11_it_will_cost_you_6440_to_buy_every_skin/

QuoteIn MK11, it will cost you $6440 to buy every skin in the game without grinding, assuming you have perfect luck and are checking on the store every 6-8 hours

Let's assume you just want to finish the campaign, do every character tutorial and complete the basic towers. You do not want to do any grinding outside of this, but you want to unlock every skin in the game:

On average, one skin costs 500 Time Krystals, which costs $5 in the store. You can of course earn these, but they accumulate very slowly

Skins appear in the store on a rotational basis, where a set of five skins are made available for a limited period of time (usually 6 to 8 hours), then they are gone and you have to grind the towers to earn them. This adds to the urgency to quickly spend money on that skin you always wanted. For our calculations to be valid, we will assume you never see a duplicate skin in the store and you check the store every 6 hours or so

There are 23 characters in the game, each of which has 60 skins. But playing through the story, character tutorial and basic towers will usually unlock 4 of these, so we have 56 skins to unlock

So based on these, we get: 23 * 56 * 5 = $6440

Note that these calculations include the patch which the devs promised would solve the progression issues

This figure does not include: fatalities, brutalities, gear or single use consumables because I have not figured out the exact drop rate for these



Edit:

Why not just grind for the skins?

I got around 760 Time Krystals after 4 hours of play. At this rate, it will take me 3390 hours to unlock every skin. Sure, I could complete specific towers of time to get there faster. But like I explained in my previous post, these are near impossible to complete without rare or better gear and single use consumables, which themselves require more grinding.

Why the outrage over this? Previous MK games allowed you to pay for skins too...

In MKX, you could unlock all: skins, fatalities, brutalities and DLC characters for just $40. Yet in this game, you need $6440 just to unlock all the skins.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on April 25, 2019, 11:00:01 AM
Why would you bother to unlock all the skins?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on April 28, 2019, 02:48:18 PM
FWIW I'm having fun with MK11. Haven't really played a lot of MK games since the first (though I've owned a few). I like the MK characters and style. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 30, 2019, 10:39:28 AM
What are you, 12?!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on May 01, 2019, 07:36:16 AM
Quote from: Tamas on April 30, 2019, 10:39:28 AM
What are you, 12?!

:angry:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 02, 2019, 01:50:23 PM
List of upcoming wargames:

https://www.wargamer.com/articles/war-games-for-pc-2019/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on May 02, 2019, 05:37:59 PM
Meh
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on May 03, 2019, 01:39:26 PM
Dude tours the real life locations in Fallout 1, Fallout 2, and Fallout: New Vegas:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89sOyZdtVA0
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 03, 2019, 01:41:22 PM
Oooh, new Noah Gervais video. I like his videos. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on May 05, 2019, 04:05:45 PM
Enjoying the steam version of 'Twilight Struggle' that came in a recent humble bundle.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Duque de Bragança on May 05, 2019, 05:24:20 PM
Quote from: Syt on May 02, 2019, 01:50:23 PM
List of upcoming wargames:

https://www.wargamer.com/articles/war-games-for-pc-2019/

Fantasy General 2! :o

I'll keep an eye on it, since I actually enjoyed the first one. Yes, that was 20 year ago or so.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on May 08, 2019, 07:42:19 AM
Bought 'Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic' from gog.com, a real nice beer and pretzels type fantasy strategy game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 16, 2019, 01:42:42 PM
RPS really likes Total War: Three Kingdoms

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/05/16/total-war-three-kingdoms-review/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on May 16, 2019, 03:45:52 PM
I wonder if they'll finally fix the issues that have been there for eons. Like the crappy handling of troops around any sort of structure.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 17, 2019, 01:58:47 AM
Quote from: Tyr on May 16, 2019, 03:45:52 PM
I wonder if they'll finally fix the issues that have been there for eons. Like the crappy handling of troops around any sort of structure.

What was the last TW game you played? I mean, in recent ones it still can be crappy, but vastly improved from the infuriating scenes of the old games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 17, 2019, 02:36:12 AM
At the end of the day I expect Hollywood style battles from Total War games, not something hyper-realistic. If you go in with that expectation they are quite enjoyable.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on May 17, 2019, 03:05:57 AM
Yes. I found the battles in Total War: Warhammer to be more tolerable thanks to it explicitly being a fantasy game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on May 18, 2019, 02:00:52 AM
Quote from: Syt on May 16, 2019, 01:42:42 PM
RPS really likes Total War: Three Kingdoms

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/05/16/total-war-three-kingdoms-review/

They also really liked Imperator...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 18, 2019, 03:10:49 AM
I like Imperator. :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on May 18, 2019, 07:25:02 PM
Quote from: Syt on May 18, 2019, 03:10:49 AM
I like Imperator. :(

You do? I am glad. I hope it goes on to great success.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on May 19, 2019, 08:44:32 AM
Waiting for the big patch to give Imperator a proper go. Not that I have much time for gaming anyway...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on May 23, 2019, 09:02:45 PM
Thanks for the tip Syt! I am installing the Revolutionary Tribunal game as I type. Many traitors will have a little shave from the national razor.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: mongers on May 23, 2019, 10:53:33 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 19, 2018, 09:39:29 AM
Thea: the awakening - wow I have not had this much fun with a computer game in a very long time.  And it is 50% off until, I think, today.

A very intelligent blend of city builder, crafting game and rpg. 

A good salve to brackets getting destroyed in the NCAA tourney.

Again thanks for the tip CC, I actually got around to getting this and it seems real interesting from the couple of hours I've played.

Also it's for sale on Steam for like 5 bucks at the moment.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 24, 2019, 01:24:15 AM
Quote from: Valmy on May 23, 2019, 09:02:45 PM
Thanks for the tip Syt! I am installing the Revolutionary Tribunal game as I type. Many traitors will have a little shave from the national razor.
:thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 24, 2019, 06:53:26 AM
The praise was too much to bear, I have bought Three Kingdoms.

So far it's pretty great.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on May 24, 2019, 06:07:07 PM
I got Total War: THREE KINGDOMS. He Man looks nothing like Dolph. :huh:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 25, 2019, 05:34:02 AM
So Valmy, how goes your career as judge of the revolution?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 25, 2019, 08:43:04 AM
So I've been modding Oblivion using Bevilex's mod list to make it look acceptable in this day and age, and also added some gameplay mods from Maskar's Overhaul (heavily tweaked, because I don't like everything that's in it).

I can play for an hour or two at a time before I get bored. Compared to Morrowind, the gfx are obviously much prettier, combat is better, and the design of side quests is generally better. However, what's missing is the world building/lore. Morrowind was an alien place, but that's not even the key.

Vvardenfell with its inhabitants felt like an organic whole. You had the three houses (Telvanni, Redoran, Hlaalu), with their territories and provincial capitals. You had the Ashlander clans. The Dwemer ruins. Desolate wastelands, and lush farmland. All of which was connected by a rich, underlying lore and a history that was remembered and interpreted differently by the various factions. Then you had the outside conquerors with the Empire and their Legion who came for ebony, and their settlements like the main port of Ebonheart right next to Vivec, or Caldera the ebony mining town. You have the guilds you can join, the Tribunal Temple, the Legion, and the Imperial Cult.

Again, all feels interconnected and part of a "real" world.

Oblivion feels more like a theme park of stuff to do, but with little connection between the various hubs. It's a mosaic of disconnected stones, not an interwoven tapestry. I believe you can pull off the medieval Central Europe setting well - look at Gothic 2, or the Witcher series.

In Oblivion everything seems a lot less integrated with one another. Part of it may be the fully voiced dialogues. Morrowind could put a lot of its world building in the exposition dialogues of NPCs who you could ask about tons of stuff. Oblivion can't have those info dumps (and if it did, it would be a lot more tedious as voiced dialogue if you want to sit through it instead of quickly reading it).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 26, 2019, 06:28:11 AM
I liked Panzer Corps. It's a nice Panzer General clone, with tons of scenarios (wait for a sale because the amount of add ons is silly).

Panzer Corps 2 will apparently feature randomized maps. And they're using this splash art. Jesus, that looks like one of those mobile game ads.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.matrixgames.com%2Ffiles%2Fspotlight%2F1393_image.jpg&hash=35d5b9aca9d398518c68eb5879757c68222c8c83)

:x
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 27, 2019, 01:09:12 PM
Quake II with raytracing 3D is coming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=unGtBbhaPeU
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on May 27, 2019, 11:25:02 PM
Quote from: Syt on May 25, 2019, 05:34:02 AM
So Valmy, how goes your career as judge of the revolution?

Oh it is fun. I am honor bound to play every France based game in French and usually that is no big deal since most of the time it is a strategy game of some sort. But this time I have to pay careful attention to exactly what is said and that is a little tricky :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Zoupa on May 28, 2019, 03:01:41 AM
Honor your sig :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 29, 2019, 04:07:33 AM
Quote from: Valmy on May 27, 2019, 11:25:02 PM
Quote from: Syt on May 25, 2019, 05:34:02 AM
So Valmy, how goes your career as judge of the revolution?

Oh it is fun. I am honor bound to play every France based game in French and usually that is no big deal since most of the time it is a strategy game of some sort. But this time I have to pay careful attention to exactly what is said and that is a little tricky :P

:)

If you want to learn a bit Chinese (or wait for a [fan] translation), there's also what appears to be Final Fantasy Tactics set in the French Revolution with anime girls. :P

https://store.steampowered.com/app/994730/_Banner_of_the_Maid/

QuoteBanner of the Maid is a Turn-Based Strategy Game set in the late 18th century to early 19th century, based on the alternative history of the French Revolution.
At the end of 18th century, as the House of Bourbon was on the verge of clasping, Louis XVI of France planned to secretly escape from his country. Starting from the French Revolution, the wave of chaos swiped across Europe. Follow the steps of our protagonist, the young female officer Pauline Bonaparte, to start her journey as a regular officer and win battles both on the battlefront and in the political vortex of Paris, and finally write her own heroic story.


In the heat of the French Revolution, the Royalists, Club des Feuillants, Club des Jacobins and Malmaisons, various factions contend with each other on the grand stage of Paris. Starting from the eye of storm, the Malmaison Salon, Pauline Bonaparte have to approach the factions, complete their quests and challenges in order to establish connections with political figures and win over their support, gather funding to improve her weaponry and equipments, secure army supplies while she also tries to discover and unveiled the secrets of the Maids that are buried deep inside the City.


The storm of the French Revolution and the mysterious Maids had changed the fate of the entire Europe.
The revolution is a time of heroes: talented and trustworthy generals, secret agents of the Royal Family, even musicians who possesses extraordinary talents. More than 30 characters with distinct background will be available for you to command. Hire them to be one of your own, understand their stories and cultivate them to be your unstoppable force on the battlefields.


Command the iconic troops of the 18th and 19th century such as Line Infantry, Skirmisher, Calvary, Artillery and much more through the Turn-Based Strategy combats to experience the reimagined European battlegrounds.
Train your commanders to improve their abilities and learn the appropriate tactical skills, defeat powerful enemies!


Over 30 maps, including cities, plains, snowy mountains, etc. Utilize the unique elements on the battlefields to ensure advantages.
- Critical terrain elements that provide advantages and disadvantages during battles;
- Different key locations that provide unique support to different types of troops;
- Special events that take place on the battleground as the story progresses;
- Environment changes such as storm, heavy snow, thick fog, dark nights, etc.

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/994730/ss_37d50044797d7584cb3b91b193ada9c53c428087.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/994730/ss_92309cf671f0355089703a7b613e8fddbb9226df.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/994730/ss_d17b8ed92aff0dfb51d7a8fc75e6ef3ef3b9ca26.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/994730/ss_e8badf9db42ffc37f9aff7bc5516d35fdf1f5810.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/994730/ss_5df727efd318682da99891cb51ad6ff8be301b37.600x338.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on May 30, 2019, 10:37:21 AM
Xbox Game Pass is coming to PC, officially.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on May 30, 2019, 11:56:46 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 30, 2019, 10:37:21 AM
Xbox Game Pass is coming to PC, officially.

What does that mean?

Will I be able to play xbox 360 games like Civilization revolutions 2 on my pc for a monthly rental? :unsure:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on May 30, 2019, 04:16:06 PM
Maybe.

Microsoft hasn't detailed the offer yet. On the Console sides it offers 200+ games, both old & new for a cool 10$(13cad)/month
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on May 30, 2019, 04:21:24 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 30, 2019, 04:16:06 PM
Maybe.

Microsoft hasn't detailed the offer yet. On the Console sides it offers 200+ games, both old & new for a cool 10$(13cad)/month

Thanks for the reply Grey fox, always good to have someone knowledgeable around to ask. :cheers:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 31, 2019, 07:08:32 AM
https://store.steampowered.com/app/921430/Genius_NAZIGIRL_GoePPelsChan_ep1/

QuoteGenius! NAZI-GIRL GoePPels-Chan ep1

This is a slightly different history to the world we know.
An anti-war visual novel parody set in 1930s Germany where you play Goeppels-chan, the Minister of Propaganda, and have to keep the Fuhrer happy.
The game has several routes - see if you can find the good ending.

Direction/Writing
Nao Minda

Illustration
Kiichi

Voice actors
Geli Goeppels/Gumi Kinoshita


(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/921430/ss_217fda00250526aefc5be00c67ffac92969783d2.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/921430/ss_5ba4e5b4ac577b139d147473e9fcc986e3f3a0e4.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/921430/ss_1fe7fb8e3f7e931794547ce633ec93c4d39414fb.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/921430/ss_db5578b1d40bc782bfff075dd851337478fd3c8e.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/921430/ss_27e8ca6724ff87f1000faa7c1167c2f72177f143.600x338.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 31, 2019, 07:10:56 AM
There is a sequel: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1063080/Genius_NAZIGIRL_GoePPelsChan_ep2/

QuoteThis is a slightly different history to the world we know. Having been appointed propaganda minister at the age of 14, the genius girl. Geri Goeppels, together with her private secretaries Rolly and Flute, is up to all sorts of secret maneuvers. This time,I'm going to make a propaganda animation.

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1063080/ss_072f6cd6c7e9af33be86df34649b4a6917e35296.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1063080/ss_05534e3897ffc66884c089d8351848af049d9292.600x338.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on May 31, 2019, 03:56:30 PM
If CdM were here, I'm sure he'd say something relevant about Japan and atom bombs.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on June 01, 2019, 02:14:56 PM
I've been playing HOI4 MTG a lot, and lately got back into Imperialism II for a more leisurely type game. Still a fun game.  :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on June 02, 2019, 11:05:13 AM
Been playing Total War 3 Kingdoms over the weekend and it's so good I'm losing track of time. I have to pull myself away from it and get, like, real life work done, but it's hard.  :lol:

CA did a fantastic job on the strategy layer, including diplomacy. I'm pretty happy I skipped Imperator and picked this up instead.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on June 02, 2019, 12:13:45 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on June 02, 2019, 11:05:13 AM
Been playing Total War 3 Kingdoms over the weekend and it's so good I'm losing track of time. I have to pull myself away from it and get, like, real life work done, but it's hard.  :lol:

CA did a fantastic job on the strategy layer, including diplomacy. I'm pretty happy I skipped Imperator and picked this up instead.

I agree. It is awesome.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on June 02, 2019, 02:22:32 PM
My favorite ever Total War was M:TW2 Kingdoms, specifically the scenario where you're the Spanish conquering Mexico.  Not sure why I liked that one so much, but it was awesome.  Anyway, I'll probably pick this one up based on the reviews you guys are giving it and also that I love the underlying history with this one.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on June 02, 2019, 03:09:17 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on June 02, 2019, 11:05:13 AM
Been playing Total War 3 Kingdoms over the weekend and it's so good I'm losing track of time. I have to pull myself away from it and get, like, real life work done, but it's hard.  :lol:

CA did a fantastic job on the strategy layer, including diplomacy. I'm pretty happy I skipped Imperator and picked this up instead.

I bought the Viking themed one last year but wasn't that impressed with the strategic depth and while the battles looked great, after a while even that became a bit monotonous.  What makes this version different?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on June 02, 2019, 03:25:48 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on June 02, 2019, 11:05:13 AM
Been playing Total War 3 Kingdoms over the weekend and it's so good I'm losing track of time. I have to pull myself away from it and get, like, real life work done, but it's hard.  :lol:

CA did a fantastic job on the strategy layer, including diplomacy. I'm pretty happy I skipped Imperator and picked this up instead.

Sweet. I bought it, but I won't be playing it until I've finished reading the Romance (Penguin abridged version).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on June 02, 2019, 04:23:58 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on June 02, 2019, 03:09:17 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on June 02, 2019, 11:05:13 AM
Been playing Total War 3 Kingdoms over the weekend and it's so good I'm losing track of time. I have to pull myself away from it and get, like, real life work done, but it's hard.  :lol:

CA did a fantastic job on the strategy layer, including diplomacy. I'm pretty happy I skipped Imperator and picked this up instead.

I bought the Viking themed one last year but wasn't that impressed with the strategic depth and while the battles looked great, after a while even that became a bit monotonous.  What makes this version different?

I guess the overall depth and complexity of the systems aren't drastically different, although there are differences. In 3K there is almost a CK2 level focus on characters and their relationships to each other. This was present in Britannia as well but much less prominent. The strategic gameplay is much more nuanced and interesting in 3K. The tactical battles are a little mediocre in contrast. They are ok but certainly nothing exciting.

Overall, Three Kingdoms is a much, much smoother experience than Britannia, or much of the Total Wars before it. The different elements, including graphics and the UI really come together. There are some wonky stuff of course, in particular the complex web of diplomacy can be confusing at times. But that's a minor annoyance in what is a great game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on June 03, 2019, 05:34:48 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on June 02, 2019, 03:09:17 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on June 02, 2019, 11:05:13 AM
Been playing Total War 3 Kingdoms over the weekend and it's so good I'm losing track of time. I have to pull myself away from it and get, like, real life work done, but it's hard.  :lol:

CA did a fantastic job on the strategy layer, including diplomacy. I'm pretty happy I skipped Imperator and picked this up instead.

I bought the Viking themed one last year but wasn't that impressed with the strategic depth and while the battles looked great, after a while even that became a bit monotonous.  What makes this version different?

Having never played Britannia I can't speak to the differences.

In Three Kingdoms, I'm finding the provincial building much deeper than Warhammer. The diplomatic AI makes sensible decisions most of the time, and they feel like they have real personalities. The UI is both beautiful and functional and easy to use. I can look at something at a glance and know exactly what is means and I can click a single button and instantly bring up a nicely packaged overview of my characters, provinces, armies, or whatever.

Each faction has a different play style and circumstance, lending to replayability. In Romance mode, the battles play out in some melding together of Warhammer's hero-centrism and traditional Total War, and there's the Records mode if you want a completely traditional Total War experience.

I like how the campaign follows the Romance of the Three Kingdoms story, which lends a narrative to the very character-centric gameplay of the game as a whole.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 05, 2019, 09:02:02 AM
Diablo 1 on GOG now includes the Hellfire expansion. If you already bought the game, it's added to your account automatically.

https://www.gog.com/game/diablo
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on June 06, 2019, 10:16:13 AM
I feel like this might be something to have a joint Languish shot at:
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/06/06/co-op-space-submarine-game-barotrauma-just-hit-early-access-and-its-an-absolute-hoot/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 06, 2019, 02:38:21 PM
Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin, and CM3: Afrika Korps are now on GOG for about €5 each. :wub:

https://www.gog.com/game/combat_mission_2_barbarossa_to_berlin

https://www.gog.com/game/combat_mission_3_afrika_korps

Beyond Overlord has been around for a while: https://www.gog.com/game/combat_mission_beyond_overlord
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on June 06, 2019, 05:36:12 PM
Quote from: Tamas on June 06, 2019, 10:16:13 AM
I feel like this might be something to have a joint Languish shot at:
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/06/06/co-op-space-submarine-game-barotrauma-just-hit-early-access-and-its-an-absolute-hoot/

That does seem like fun. I wishlisted it, at least.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 07, 2019, 03:53:39 PM
Early Access:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1058430/A_Legionarys_Life/

QuoteA Legionary's Life lets you play as a Roman soldier during the years of the Second Punic War and beyond. Rise up through the ranks and win prestigious awards or just focus on making it home in one piece; it's up to you.

This is a unique single-player game with RPG elements, extensive usage of attribute and skill checks, a turn-based combat system involving many variables (including morale, reach, confined space and high ground) and a touch of roguelike features. Among them, permadeath. If you are unfamiliar with the term, it means you'll have to start over if your character dies; but don't worry: the game is designed to be replayable and you'll see only a fraction of it in each run. Also, you'll be able to spend points on your next legionary based on how well your most successful characters performed.

Try the demo

This game is unlike most RPGs. Your character won't be successful at everything. Challenges should be picked carefully based on your legionary's strengths and weaknesses. In general, the game is not designed to put you in a situation where the odds are against you unless you willingly step into it. At times, you may fail to perform a task and take a mild penalty in Morale and/or Opinions (a measure of your relationships with relevant entities within the game, like your superiors and your fellow soldiers). Don't get discouraged when this happens, it is nothing more than a minor setback you can easily recover from. If you think the game is treating you unfairly in some situations, feel free to drop a line on the discussions forum. This is an Early Access version and may need rebalancing.

Most of all, I strongly recommend that you try the demo before you buy this game. It's here on Steam and it's free, there's no better way to make sure that A Legionary's Life suits your taste. The demo contains the first 3 parts out of 11 planned.

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1058430/ss_b07a89aed04077e89489b8ec94c91ebff6cf1d48.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1058430/ss_8f0d6af37836fdef2fc203fcb7e4de2cef1409e7.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1058430/ss_0fc0c0ef190621e507c0bf3fbc6fdfc3bdae25d6.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1058430/ss_72bf7ffedbad7001064c9a51b7c8116ffae9a238.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1058430/ss_73d408d3ad9eec5a62a69a580b3460433afa2221.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1058430/ss_6b43d589f0a5fe5e68781d7cd2963ecc5881ac21.600x338.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on June 07, 2019, 05:16:15 PM
So. On 3 kingdoms - have they fixed vassals?
Recently played shogun again and really annoys me how vassals will suddenly turn on you even though they should know they'll be crushed and have a good thing going at the moment.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on June 08, 2019, 08:17:54 PM
The Perfect E3 Presentation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP091FeB-3o)

Keep an eye on his shirt during the presentation.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on June 09, 2019, 07:04:16 AM
@Syt

Thanks, that looks interesting
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on June 10, 2019, 03:56:41 AM
Quote from: Tyr on June 07, 2019, 05:16:15 PM
So. On 3 kingdoms - have they fixed vassals?
Recently played shogun again and really annoys me how vassals will suddenly turn on you even though they should know they'll be crushed and have a good thing going at the moment.

There's a beta patch that's supposed to trim back Yuan Shao's desires on that.

But, in my experience in the early mid-game there'll be a phase where a strong faction will vassalise several others.

However, even with Yuan Shao's massive vassal empires, it never really lasts. Sooner or later it will implode, at least partially.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on June 10, 2019, 09:18:25 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on June 09, 2019, 07:04:16 AM
@Syt

Thanks, that looks interesting

It is an addictive game that helps one fight off jet lag.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on June 10, 2019, 10:02:21 AM
That Roman game looks really interesting. I think they missed a trick by not setting it during the Ist century BC though. You'd be fighting (and getting dragged to) civil wars besides fighting external enemies.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on June 10, 2019, 10:15:40 AM
Quote from: celedhring on June 10, 2019, 10:02:21 AM
That Roman game looks really interesting. I think they missed a trick by not setting it during the Ist century BC though. You'd be fighting (and getting dragged to) civil wars besides fighting external enemies.

And the Social Wars would be perfect for co-op play.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on June 10, 2019, 10:22:46 AM
Holy Effin' Shit, if Michael Gove does win and makes citizenship applications free, I know what I am spending my £1300 on instead: a new PC!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReDDgFfWlS4
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on June 10, 2019, 03:51:45 PM
Quote from: Tamas on June 10, 2019, 10:22:46 AM
Holy Effin' Shit, if Michael Gove does win and makes citizenship applications free, I know what I am spending my £1300 on instead: a new PC!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReDDgFfWlS4

:mmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on June 10, 2019, 03:56:21 PM
Jesus that looks amazing.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on June 10, 2019, 04:39:44 PM
Cool. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on June 11, 2019, 07:10:29 AM
I'll be playing it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on June 11, 2019, 08:12:18 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on June 11, 2019, 07:10:29 AM
I'll be playing it.

I'll be watching the 1fps slideshow when I try to run it on my PC.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on June 11, 2019, 08:23:51 AM
You are allowed to upgrade it!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on June 11, 2019, 08:24:38 AM
I mean that looks far better than being an actual pilot. They probably don't let you fly low right over the pyramids like that IRL.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 11, 2019, 08:33:12 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on June 10, 2019, 09:18:25 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on June 09, 2019, 07:04:16 AM
@Syt

Thanks, that looks interesting

It is an addictive game that helps one fight off jet lag.

Glad you like it. :) I played half an hour in it and made it my second battle in which I was killed by a Libyan Light Infantryman (I killed one, got murdered by another).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 11, 2019, 09:51:48 AM
Final Fantasy VII remake. The character of Tifa, from the original game:

(https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-63ad487f7628021b2de41deadbea0d7b)

will look like this in the remake:

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F5b0988e595225.cdn.sohucs.com%2Fimages%2F20190611%2F68705b09de6c4d15afde44c53c916fd8.jpeg&hash=434bf8ed45761a1f3a4739b9d9da449e8ae97fb2)

Apparently some parts of the internet are complaining because the new version "isn't sexy enough."
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on June 11, 2019, 10:00:28 AM
So the FF7 remake is coming out for reals or is it still vaporware?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on June 11, 2019, 10:21:47 AM
Quote from: Syt on June 11, 2019, 08:33:12 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on June 10, 2019, 09:18:25 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on June 09, 2019, 07:04:16 AM
@Syt

Thanks, that looks interesting

It is an addictive game that helps one fight off jet lag.


Glad you like it. :) I played half an hour in it and made it my second battle in which I was killed by a Libyan Light Infantryman (I killed one, got murdered by another).

After a few initial failures I made it as far as being promoted to the next rank, through the third battle and then I got too cocky and died raiding a village by taking on the leader who was wearing chainmail.  Oops
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on June 12, 2019, 05:47:25 AM
So, I know there's several gaming platforms out there, and I wondered if there's something we could use among a circle of friends that can't meet to often due to IRL.

We want to play a co-op card-driven game we all own (7th continent). Ideally we're looking for a platform where we could upload the game state, our hands - pictures of our components, essentially - and make it easily accessible for everybody playing. Does that exist?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on June 12, 2019, 05:58:28 AM
Quote from: celedhring on June 12, 2019, 05:47:25 AM
So, I know there's several gaming platforms out there, and I wondered if there's something we could use among a circle of friends that can't meet to often due to IRL.

We want to play a co-op card-driven game we all own (7th continent). Ideally we're looking for a platform where we could upload the game state, our hands - pictures of our components, essentially - and make it easily accessible for everybody playing. Does that exist?

VASSAL would be by far the most obvious, if a module exists. If not, then Tabletop Simulator, but that's fiddly.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on June 12, 2019, 06:04:00 AM
Yeah, we considered TS but it's a bit too impractical - if pretty. There's no vassal module (just one for a "demo" of the game).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on June 17, 2019, 04:47:40 AM
Testing the xbox Game Pass thing. £1 is not too shabby for checking out games for a monh.

Pro tip if you try it: the client will require the big May Win10 update (1503 IIRC) BUT it will still refuse to download most games after that. That's because the big update doesn't include the .NET update that you'll still need for the client to work properly. So make sure to run Windows Update... after the update.

Bomber  Crew: hard pass.

Void Bastards: that's actually fun. I probably would have refunded on Steam if I spent 22 pounds on it, but for 1 it's lost of fun. Kind of like an FPS FTL, with a distinct comic-book style.

Football Manager 2019: this was a major mistake.  I can already feel the addiction setting in.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on June 17, 2019, 05:54:14 AM
It's a sci-fi RPG but RPS is worryingly scant on details of transgender representation :P

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/06/17/the-outer-worlds-preview/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on June 17, 2019, 07:30:19 AM
Quote from: Tamas on June 17, 2019, 04:47:40 AM
Testing the xbox Game Pass thing. £1 is not too shabby for checking out games for a monh.

Pro tip if you try it: the client will require the big May Win10 update (1503 IIRC) BUT it will still refuse to download most games after that. That's because the big update doesn't include the .NET update that you'll still need for the client to work properly. So make sure to run Windows Update... after the update.

....

Tamas thanks for the spotting this and the tech details.

For others the full UK game pass list is here:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/store/collections/pcgaVTaz?rtc=1 (https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/store/collections/pcgaVTaz?rtc=1)

Noticed that Imperator Rome is one of them.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 17, 2019, 08:24:12 AM
The only game on the list for Austria that I'm interested in and don't have yet is Outer Worlds.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on June 17, 2019, 06:07:18 PM
Quote from: Syt on June 17, 2019, 08:24:12 AM
The only game on the list for Austria that I'm interested in and don't have yet is Outer Worlds.

:yes:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on June 18, 2019, 03:51:23 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on June 17, 2019, 06:07:18 PM
Quote from: Syt on June 17, 2019, 08:24:12 AM
The only game on the list for Austria that I'm interested in and don't have yet is Outer Worlds.

:yes:

It's not coming out until next year, though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on June 18, 2019, 04:12:51 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on June 18, 2019, 03:51:23 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on June 17, 2019, 06:07:18 PM
Quote from: Syt on June 17, 2019, 08:24:12 AM
The only game on the list for Austria that I'm interested in and don't have yet is Outer Worlds.

:yes:

It's not coming out until next year, though.

October, mate.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on June 18, 2019, 05:58:53 AM
Quote from: Tamas on June 18, 2019, 04:12:51 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on June 18, 2019, 03:51:23 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on June 17, 2019, 06:07:18 PM
Quote from: Syt on June 17, 2019, 08:24:12 AM
The only game on the list for Austria that I'm interested in and don't have yet is Outer Worlds.

:yes:

It's not coming out until next year, though.

October, mate.

I mean on an actual platform.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on June 18, 2019, 06:19:00 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on June 18, 2019, 05:58:53 AM
Quote from: Tamas on June 18, 2019, 04:12:51 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on June 18, 2019, 03:51:23 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on June 17, 2019, 06:07:18 PM
Quote from: Syt on June 17, 2019, 08:24:12 AM
The only game on the list for Austria that I'm interested in and don't have yet is Outer Worlds.

:yes:

It's not coming out until next year, though.

October, mate.

I mean on an actual platform.

Ah
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on June 18, 2019, 07:28:14 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on June 18, 2019, 05:58:53 AM
Quote from: Tamas on June 18, 2019, 04:12:51 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on June 18, 2019, 03:51:23 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on June 17, 2019, 06:07:18 PM
Quote from: Syt on June 17, 2019, 08:24:12 AM
The only game on the list for Austria that I'm interested in and don't have yet is Outer Worlds.

:yes:

It's not coming out until next year, though.

October, mate.

I mean on an actual platform.

:hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on June 21, 2019, 10:38:17 AM
Have both Asassin's Creed Unity and Origins primed for these summer holidays, since it's been long that I played an AC (which I usually enjoy). Which one should I go for? Unity's setting is more interesting to me, but I know that game got awful reviews on release.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on June 22, 2019, 04:07:14 PM
Surviving Mars.....sucks :(

Its just about manually moving resources about a lot. Sigh
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on June 22, 2019, 04:08:58 PM
Quote from: celedhring on June 21, 2019, 10:38:17 AM
Have both Asassin's Creed Unity and Origins primed for these summer holidays, since it's been long that I played an AC (which I usually enjoy). Which one should I go for? Unity's setting is more interesting to me, but I know that game got awful reviews on release.

I've only played a little of Unity (long after the backlash). On the other hand, I finished Origins. I'd say go with Origins.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on June 24, 2019, 09:09:34 PM
Tomorrow The Sinking City arrives.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on June 25, 2019, 11:18:06 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on June 24, 2019, 09:09:34 PM
Tomorrow The Sinking City arrives.

So, how is Tomorrow The Sinking City?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on June 25, 2019, 05:34:42 PM
Quote from: grumbler on June 25, 2019, 11:18:06 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on June 24, 2019, 09:09:34 PM
Tomorrow The Sinking City arrives.

So, how is Tomorrow The Sinking City?

It arrived but have work and class. Has to wait till friday.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 27, 2019, 06:42:40 AM
Summer Games Done Quick runs at the moment on Twitch. It's a charity event that's run twice a year for about a week and features 24/7 speed runs of a variety of games. E.g. two guys sped through the Russian campaign in Red Alert 2. Because they reached a certain incentive goal, the run included all cutscenes without skipping. Tim Curry :wub: Still, they finished in about 90 minutes.

It's interesting to have on in the background, and you'll be treated to some rather random games and challenges. The most interesting feat so far was a speedrunner completing Wii Punch Out in about an hour, beating all opponents in the first round ... while being blindfolded. :ph34r: (he uses audio queues, has learned patterns/timings, etc. - the most problematic thing for him was using the Wii motion controller in menus :lol: )
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on June 27, 2019, 05:52:15 PM
Red Alert 3.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 27, 2019, 11:34:38 PM
Yes. -_-
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 29, 2019, 10:24:51 AM
Btw, GMT's Fort Sumter boardgame is available on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1041940/Fort_Sumter_The_Secession_Crisis/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on June 29, 2019, 10:32:51 AM
Yeah, but it kind of sucks.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 29, 2019, 10:57:14 AM
How so?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on June 29, 2019, 11:01:36 AM
Quote from: Syt on June 29, 2019, 10:57:14 AM
How so?

i have found the game way too abstract for my taste.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on June 29, 2019, 11:46:21 AM
Quote from: Syt on June 29, 2019, 10:57:14 AM
How so?

It has some sorta interesting mechanics that have no connection whatsoever to the subject matter it is portraying.

The first time I played, I won, and I wasn't sure if that meant that I started the war, stopped the war, avoided the war, or what.

It's just some mechanics loosely based on Twilight Struggle mechanics, but without any actual connection to anything it is supposedly portraying. I would probably like the game better if it wasn't making any pretense to any theme at all.

Further, even if you get beyond the theme, the various pieces don't even make any sense in relation to each other.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on June 29, 2019, 12:00:29 PM
Quote from: Berkut on June 29, 2019, 10:32:51 AM
Yeah, but it kind of sucks.

Yeah. I finished the tutorial, but only barely avoided falling asleep.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Minsky Moment on July 01, 2019, 02:19:21 PM
It was kind of fun to play around with a few times, but Berkut is right, the theme is totally incidental.  Why is "Montgomery" significant and why should I put tokens there other than because it has a bell on it?  What is the role of Northern State Houses and why can they be used to block whatever Montgomery is doing?  It's not clear who or what you are playing and how they are exercising control over (e.g.) "Newspapers" or "Abolitionists" or "Texas" You could just name all the Boxes A through L and superimpose them on a map of Mongolia, it would play the same way and mostly feel the same way..
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 02, 2019, 09:37:42 AM
Shenmue 3, neverending story.

Years ago, the dude behind Shenmue 1 & 2 said he would try to crowdfund a 3rd entry in the series. There's apparently fans of the series (I never played it), so to Kickstarter he went. Sony, seeing how popular the campaign was, also invested money. Ys Net, the developers went to work.

People got to choose their rewards, whether they wanted a physical version, or a Steam key, the usual stuff.

Then DeepSilver offered to publish the game. And signed a one year exclusivity deal with Epic. So a lot of backers said, "But I don't want to use Epic, I want the Steam key that I was promised."

"Sorry," said Deepsilver/Ys Net, "Also: no refunds."

Tim Sweeney, the head of Epic said that it's Valve being unreasonable, because Valve won't let developers generate Steam keys for games not being sold on the platform. :huh: He accuses Steam of "trapping" Kickstarter games. (Steam allows devs to create as many keys as they want that they can sell elsewhere, e.g. their own website, or key shops like HumbleBundle, as long as the game is also available for purchase on Steam.)

So, things got a bit heated, and Deepsilver/Ys now offer refunds, or - alternatively - a Steam key in a year after release (I think together with an Epic key now?).

They also clarified what the physical copies would entail. Keep in mind, last year, someone brought that up:

(https://abload.de/img/x0kvxarkzjb3.jpg)

However, the Kickstarter page now states this:

QuoteThe PC Physical version will be delivered on disk. However, the disk will contain the Epic Games Store installer and not the actual game data.




Now, I don't have a particular horse in this race, as I don't follow these games or intend to play them. However, this is a prime example of how to destroy goodwill for Kickstarter funding campaigns. Granted, Kickstarters are always dicey for the people funding them (and I've been lucky with the few projects I paid for), but this is currently creating an image of first asking fans to fund the game, then getting money from Sony, and Deepsilver, and now Epic paying to Deepsilver, with the ones who actually supported the project early and helping it get the attention it did now falling of the train.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on July 02, 2019, 10:26:57 AM
*shrug* If Darth Vader can do it then why not other people.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 02, 2019, 12:28:08 PM
Steam is trapping games?
But Epic signed the exclusivity....
Which is lame. Hope I can find a physical copy that doesn't just demand a epic install
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on July 03, 2019, 05:32:54 PM
Stardew Valley might be the greatest game ever made.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on July 03, 2019, 07:01:06 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on July 03, 2019, 05:32:54 PM
Stardew Valley might be the greatest game ever made.

What do you like about it?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on July 03, 2019, 08:34:19 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 03, 2019, 07:01:06 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on July 03, 2019, 05:32:54 PM
Stardew Valley might be the greatest game ever made.

What do you like about it?

It's as intense or as relaxing as you want it to be. Whatever mood I'm in, if I want to minmax my income or if I just want a relaxing time fishing, the game accommodates. I can futz around town and get married or ignore everyone and act like a crazy hermit who lives on the outskirts of town. Plus, I can play it while watching TV or listening to a podcast and not miss anything.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 04, 2019, 01:38:16 AM
See.... I don't get the relaxation out of it.
I know there's a time limit. I know there are things to achieve. So I end up playing for maximum efficiency.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on July 04, 2019, 12:37:20 PM
Each game has a timer?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on July 04, 2019, 02:48:46 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 04, 2019, 12:37:20 PM
Each game has a timer?

But in Stardew Valley, it's day/night cycle.

I'm with Tyr, I don't find that relaxing.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on July 04, 2019, 03:29:47 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 04, 2019, 02:48:46 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 04, 2019, 12:37:20 PM
Each game has a timer?

But in Stardew Valley, it's day/night cycle.

I'm with Tyr, I don't find that relaxing.

True, but it's low stakes.  Who really cares if you don't get everything that you wanted to done in the day.

However, what drove me to quit Stardew Valley was the damn fishing mini-game.  I hated it, but in order to proceed with many of the quests you needed to fish.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 04, 2019, 03:36:09 PM
For under 10 bucks you can buy a Napoleonic multiplayer shooter. Gameplay looks ok, but ahistorical:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/589290/Holdfast_Nations_At_War/



For a bit more there's War of Rights, a American Civil War multiplayer shooter that aims at recreating a more historically accurate experience:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/424030/War_of_Rights/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on July 04, 2019, 03:40:13 PM
Quote from: Barrister on July 04, 2019, 03:29:47 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 04, 2019, 02:48:46 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 04, 2019, 12:37:20 PM
Each game has a timer?

But in Stardew Valley, it's day/night cycle.

I'm with Tyr, I don't find that relaxing.

True, but it's low stakes.  Who really cares if you don't get everything that you wanted to done in the day.

However, what drove me to quit Stardew Valley was the damn fishing mini-game.  I hated it, but in order to proceed with many of the quests you needed to fish.

Oh, you just have limited time in a day to get things done but no limit on the number of days - that seems fine and I would find that relaxing if I needed to pass some time.  But I might want to go fishing for real.  :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on July 04, 2019, 03:45:21 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 04, 2019, 03:40:13 PM
Quote from: Barrister on July 04, 2019, 03:29:47 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 04, 2019, 02:48:46 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 04, 2019, 12:37:20 PM
Each game has a timer?

But in Stardew Valley, it's day/night cycle.

I'm with Tyr, I don't find that relaxing.

True, but it's low stakes.  Who really cares if you don't get everything that you wanted to done in the day.

However, what drove me to quit Stardew Valley was the damn fishing mini-game.  I hated it, but in order to proceed with many of the quests you needed to fish.

Oh, you just have limited time in a day to get things done but no limit on the number of days - that seems fine and I would find that relaxing if I needed to pass some time.  But I might want to go fishing for real.  :D

Well there's 28 days in a season, and at heart it's a farming game so you need to make sure you get your crops planted early enough to be able to harvest in time.  And there's no limit on the number of years you can play so if you don't get something done in one summer, there's always next year.

But at least when I'd play, you'd wake up in the morning and go water your crops/harvest.  Then spend the afternoon going to town, or fishing, or maybe chopping some wood, until it's time to go back home and go to bed.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on July 04, 2019, 09:19:34 PM
It's a game where doing work is it's own reward. The only constraints are money and time. Just like real life  :lol:

Oddly enough I like the fishing minigame a lot. Better than the combat, certainly.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on July 05, 2019, 07:07:43 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 04, 2019, 03:40:13 PM
Oh, you just have limited time in a day to get things done but no limit on the number of days - that seems fine and I would find that relaxing if I needed to pass some time.  But I might want to go fishing for real.  :D

That's my issue with all fishing games & mini-games, just makes me want to go fish for real.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 05, 2019, 08:06:54 AM
Speaking of relaxing games, here's a fun little time waster:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1046030/ISLANDERS/

You have a small island, and get points for adjacency bonuses of your buildings. You need to hit certain scores to unlock the next set of buildings. Once you have placed all buildings (or can't place any more) without hitting the next level you start over. Low stakes, fun little city builder for EUR 5.- (actually less than that, at current sale).

Steam rating:

QuoteRECENT REVIEWS:
Overwhelmingly Positive (1,710)
ALL REVIEWS:
Overwhelmingly Positive (3,747)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 05, 2019, 03:15:55 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 04, 2019, 12:37:20 PM
Each game has a timer?

2 years iirc?
I never got to it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on July 05, 2019, 10:37:32 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on July 03, 2019, 08:34:19 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 03, 2019, 07:01:06 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on July 03, 2019, 05:32:54 PM
Stardew Valley might be the greatest game ever made.

What do you like about it?

It's as intense or as relaxing as you want it to be. Whatever mood I'm in, if I want to minmax my income or if I just want a relaxing time fishing, the game accommodates. I can futz around town and get married or ignore everyone and act like a crazy hermit who lives on the outskirts of town. Plus, I can play it while watching TV or listening to a podcast and not miss anything.

It is good relaxing fun.  Thanks for the recommendation!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on July 10, 2019, 09:24:12 PM
I picked up Football Manager 2019 for $13.50 and I am an idiot for doing so because now all I think about in my spare time is who to sign before the season starts.

Haven't picked up FM since 2014 or 15. I think in one of those I had a few hundred hours of game time :bleeding:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on July 10, 2019, 09:26:15 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 05, 2019, 10:37:32 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on July 03, 2019, 08:34:19 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 03, 2019, 07:01:06 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on July 03, 2019, 05:32:54 PM
Stardew Valley might be the greatest game ever made.

What do you like about it?

It's as intense or as relaxing as you want it to be. Whatever mood I'm in, if I want to minmax my income or if I just want a relaxing time fishing, the game accommodates. I can futz around town and get married or ignore everyone and act like a crazy hermit who lives on the outskirts of town. Plus, I can play it while watching TV or listening to a podcast and not miss anything.

It is good relaxing fun.  Thanks for the recommendation!

For me, it's the ultimate "got home from work and need to decompress for an hour" video game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on July 11, 2019, 06:06:17 PM
Quote from: Syt on July 04, 2019, 03:36:09 PM
For a bit more there's War of Rights, a American Civil War multiplayer shooter that aims at recreating a more historically accurate experience:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/424030/War_of_Rights/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/424030/War_of_Rights/)
that looks really good, for an alpha!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 12, 2019, 11:19:52 AM
HMS now available on Steam:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/688660/Her_Majestys_Ship/

QuoteRISE THROUGH THE RANKS TO FLEET ADMIRAL

Start your career as a Captain on a 3rd rate Ship of the Line, then work your way up to become the next Admiral of the Fleet.The primary objective of the game is to be promoted to Admiral of the Fleet, without having any mutiny nor losing the vessel.

The player will receive tasks from the admiralty which will need to be executed in order to get the desired promotion.

LOOK AFTER YOUR CREW AND PREVENT A MUTINY AT ALL COSTS

The Navy doesn't take lightly to having a crew mutiny onboard one of their vessels, its a career limiting move.Along the way, the player will be challenged with various tasks and tempted with targets of opportunity, whilst keeping the crew happy and not ending with a mutiny.

OUT-THINK AND OUTPLAY YOUR OPPONENTS

Multiplayer and Co-Op games will pit you against the AI and other human opponents.The player can command a British, Spanish, French or Portuguese Man-o-War, ruling the waves and clearing it of the enemy and pirates.

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/688660/ss_58549de9ccacb8feafeef6f00c9e96c87d20e430.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/688660/ss_9a3a3a61b30ec9504fa0685ee5e678519ae480da.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/688660/ss_f95c90c751834bcd536fca4d6201d9a93feac769.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/688660/ss_1713a999e176eb24e2d58b21d563d8ee22e94bd9.1920x1080.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on July 12, 2019, 12:45:00 PM
That is something I think I will really enjoy.  Thanks for posting it!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on July 12, 2019, 01:27:55 PM
Where is the lash?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on July 12, 2019, 04:03:40 PM
Quote from: The Brain on July 12, 2019, 01:27:55 PM
Where is the lash?

You unlock it after completing the sodomy puzzle minigame.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sophie Scholl on July 13, 2019, 03:07:58 AM
Anyone have experience with Columbia Block Games?  They're running a kickstarter for a computer port of their Richard III board game.  I'm a huge fan of the era and will probably buy-in regardless, but I was curious if some of the grognards here had any thoughts on the company.  Linkage here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/787937257/blocks-columbia-block-wargaming-on-your-pc-and-mac
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on July 13, 2019, 11:54:40 AM
Quote from: Benedict Arnold on July 13, 2019, 03:07:58 AM
Anyone have experience with Columbia Block Games?  They're running a kickstarter for a computer port of their Richard III board game.  I'm a huge fan of the era and will probably buy-in regardless, but I was curious if some of the grognards here had any thoughts on the company.  Linkage here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/787937257/blocks-columbia-block-wargaming-on-your-pc-and-mac


Haven't played their games, but maybe I own the Richard III boardgame. Don't remember.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on July 14, 2019, 06:36:07 PM
Quote from: Syt on July 12, 2019, 11:19:52 AM
HMS now available on Steam:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/688660/Her_Majestys_Ship/

Speaking as a man who not only has every single Patrick O'Brien book (and has read them multiple times), but has his own personal early 19th century uniform of a RN Captain, this might just appeal to my interests...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on July 14, 2019, 07:04:08 PM
Quote from: Benedict Arnold on July 13, 2019, 03:07:58 AM
Anyone have experience with Columbia Block Games?  They're running a kickstarter for a computer port of their Richard III board game.  I'm a huge fan of the era and will probably buy-in regardless, but I was curious if some of the grognards here had any thoughts on the company.  Linkage here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/787937257/blocks-columbia-block-wargaming-on-your-pc-and-mac

CBG has released some great games.  My particular favorites are Quebec 1759 and Rommel in the Desert.  I have no idea how good they will be about adapting their games, although much of the design reasoning behind blocks (hidden information from opponent without making it difficult to see your own position) doesn't exist on the computer.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 15, 2019, 07:07:21 AM
Quote from: Barrister on July 14, 2019, 06:36:07 PM
Quote from: Syt on July 12, 2019, 11:19:52 AM
HMS now available on Steam:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/688660/Her_Majestys_Ship/

Speaking as a man who not only has every single Patrick O'Brien book (and has read them multiple times), but has his own personal early 19th century uniform of a RN Captain, this might just appeal to my interests...

I thought of you when posting this. That said, the player reviews seem to be on the mediocre side so far, and Tim Stone's preview on RockPaperShotgun a few weeks ago was also not glowing.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on July 16, 2019, 09:23:49 AM
:unsure:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on July 16, 2019, 10:22:06 AM
Quote from: Habbaku on July 16, 2019, 09:23:49 AM
:unsure:

oops I meant to respond to BBs post.
Will fix
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on July 16, 2019, 10:23:02 AM
Quote from: Barrister on July 14, 2019, 06:36:07 PM
Quote from: Syt on July 12, 2019, 11:19:52 AM
HMS now available on Steam:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/688660/Her_Majestys_Ship/

Speaking as a man who not only has every single Patrick O'Brien book (and has read them multiple times), but has his own personal early 19th century uniform of a RN Captain, this might just appeal to my interests...

I had the same thought but while this game could be a way to role play the books it is not close to being that kind of experience.  It is more about constant micro management of stations in a race against an opponent to reach the top rank.  They need to remove the race and make it more of a sandbox career game to make it enjoyable.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on July 16, 2019, 10:28:18 AM
Yeah the reviews I read were universally not positive, so I didn't pursue any further.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 21, 2019, 05:23:01 AM
Battletech is on sale.

Good time to buy?
Whats the status with DLC? - this is a quasi-paradox game.....
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 22, 2019, 04:04:09 AM
I picked up Rule the Waves 2. I didn't play 1 (though I own it), and look forward to blundering my way through 5 decades of naval history (I have little knowledge of it, but I guess I can at least learn some terms with the game :D ).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 26, 2019, 02:48:52 AM
We had "how to find new games" recently. Ross Scott has uploaded a list of the games he's interested in, and a video in which he explains how it's assembled (link to list in video description):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuL2PF-iZp0
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 29, 2019, 01:33:48 PM
Someone's trying to bring Microprose back: http://www.microprose.com/index.html
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 29, 2019, 06:04:06 PM
With a shitty template website. Hmm
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on July 31, 2019, 09:39:44 AM
Quote from: Syt on July 29, 2019, 01:33:48 PM
Someone's trying to bring Microprose back: http://www.microprose.com/index.html

They had some great games "back in the day".  :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 01, 2019, 10:43:46 AM
Angry Video Game Nerd did a review of the awful game Life of Black Tiger. His gues star is Gilbert Gottfried.

Here'd Gilbert talking about Tigers fucking: https://youtu.be/GKp3V1PiELk?t=853

I think I preferred him reading Bigfoot porn over on John Oliver. :hmm:

Also, didn't expect my day to contain the Gilbert Gottfried quote, "I can buy all the rare and erotic animal feces I want" but here I am.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on August 07, 2019, 01:46:17 PM
https://www.eurogamer.net/amp/2019-08-07-age-of-wonders-planetfall-review-depth-without-flavour

Euro gamer did not like the new 'Age of Wonders' game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on August 09, 2019, 06:55:49 AM
I've been playing a game called Moonlighter.
Its a cool little Zelda-esque game where you fight your way through dungeons by night and sell your loot in your shop by day to fund your purchase of better dungeon-delving equipment
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Oexmelin on August 09, 2019, 12:14:13 PM
Speaking of Microprose, Slitherine has bought the rights to Master of Magic.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 10, 2019, 02:45:24 PM
A bunch of free to play chess variants (no AI, unfortunately). Some interesting ideas in there.

https://pippinbarr.github.io/chesses/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on August 10, 2019, 04:24:07 PM
Quote from: Oexmelin on August 09, 2019, 12:14:13 PM
Speaking of Microprose, Slitherine has bought the rights to Master of Magic.

:hmm:

Might it now disappear from Gog.com?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 11, 2019, 08:53:53 AM
PUBG is banned in Australia, because it contains "realistic" joints that restore your health.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Oexmelin on August 11, 2019, 11:58:01 AM
Quote from: mongers on August 10, 2019, 04:24:07 PM
Quote from: Oexmelin on August 09, 2019, 12:14:13 PM
Speaking of Microprose, Slitherine has bought the rights to Master of Magic.

:hmm:

Might it now disappear from Gog.com?

Perhaps not. GoG already updated the info on MOM and Slitherine already allows GoG to sell a lot of it's now owned IP.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 11, 2019, 12:00:50 PM
Steam Workshop items now require Valve approval:

https://www.pcgamer.com/all-steam-workshop-items-now-require-valve-approval/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on August 11, 2019, 05:50:56 PM
People are still playing counter-strike?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on August 12, 2019, 08:42:44 AM
Does anyone else struggle with the graphics style of Age of Wonders Planetfall?

I mean, it is very pretty, but both the strategic and tactical views are so busy with items and colours that I find it exhausting to extract actual information from it. I need to take breaks from it every half an hour or so.

I had this with AoW3 too as well, for what it's worth, but not this much.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on August 12, 2019, 10:15:05 AM
I don't think I'll try it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on August 12, 2019, 10:19:30 AM
Quote from: Tamas on August 12, 2019, 08:42:44 AM
Does anyone else struggle with the graphics style of Age of Wonders Planetfall?

I mean, it is very pretty, but both the strategic and tactical views are so busy with items and colours that I find it exhausting to extract actual information from it. I need to take breaks from it every half an hour or so.

I had this with AoW3 too as well, for what it's worth, but not this much.

Yes. I didn't care much for the visual style of AoW3, and Planetfall being more of the same style with extra clash of colors makes me not playing it. God I loved Shadow Magic.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Saladin on August 14, 2019, 06:30:56 AM
Thinking about getting a new wargame and I'm looking for something a bit like TOAW. Anyone got any tips or should I just get Toaw?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on August 19, 2019, 04:56:45 PM
Playing a bit of Battlefield 5. I've always liked Battlefield. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on August 19, 2019, 08:46:04 PM
Playing a good amount of Banished, with Colonial Charter mod and a few smaller mods for houses and such. Fun game to relax with.

I've been playing a lot of HOI4, enjoying playing the Japanese which I never really used to play much but it's become a favorite. Also getting into Victoria 2 here and there.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 21, 2019, 03:09:27 PM
During my playthrough of Morrowind with the (very lore friendly) Rebirth mod last year, with the recommended gfx mods added, I took well over 100 screenshots, and a slideshow of that folder is still my desktop background. I will have to return some day, esp. since Rebirth has been update a few times since then.

(https://i.imgur.com/ItN1o2V.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/qQXhTr7.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/UYg4k9r.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/xTwEpuF.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/HIEjKUs.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/wV4Fxzy.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/R9KcLxW.png)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on August 21, 2019, 03:21:19 PM
Nice. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on September 03, 2019, 02:11:59 AM
I got bored of moonlighter. It angered me with its unexplained knock out mechanic

I have started to play driver San Francisco. Made in 2011 on the ps3 it holds up well.
This has got me thinking about how slow video game technology has developed this past decade. In the past there's no way something 8 years old would still hold up.
I'm wondering whether the financial crash is to blame or that we have reached a simple point where improvements are neglible. I have never bought a ps4 and will likely hold out till ps5. There are ps4 games I'd like to play but they don't look like anything the 3 could not handle.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 03, 2019, 02:21:47 AM
I think you can see it in consoles too - from the 8 bit generation on every new generation was a major leap. 16 bit, CD ROMs, better 3D graphics, HD graphics ... up till the PS3 and XBox 360. PS4 and XB1 seemed like minor upgrades compared to the previous generations, and the only new things they come up with is more online functionality and 4k resolutions.

When I bought a 360 it was more affordable than a PC or gaming laptop with similar capabilities. Now consoles seem to play catch up to what PCs can do. And the old days of plopping in the game and start playing are also over. You have to install the games, download updates etc.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on September 30, 2019, 06:43:32 AM
First Battletech impressions - :(

So...slow...and...plodding.
Moving units one by one across the map....
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 01, 2019, 12:22:41 PM
15th Century Double Feature, both games under €10 each.


FIT FOR A KING

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1110380/Fit_For_a_King/

QuoteReform the church to divorce and marry as you please. Marry foreign princesses, or, heck, your favourite bookshelf. Or both. Jail your steward. Execute everyone. Ordain your horse as a priest. Knight your bed. Who's going to stop you? God? Nope. Not after you become the Pope.

This is no game of thrones. This is real life, as Henry VIII would have lived it, if only he had the imagination.

England, 1520. As the king or queen of this nation, you've been challenged to out-spend your rival, King Frank, at the Field of the Cloth of Gold. With the help of your staff and sycophants, you might be able to do it. Except you've misplaced your gold all over the castle... time to find all those chests and collect all those taxes!

Maybe you'll bankrupt the country, but at least you'll have a good time doing it.

- 26 royal commands, including (M)arry, e(X)ecute, (C)ollect taxes, (B)less, (K)night, (P)lay Lute and (R)eform Church.
- Play as King or Queen and rewrite the laws to suit your whim.
- Non-linear adventure sandbox simulation. Rule your kingdom or wreak havoc in it, as you prefer.
- Meet Machiavelli, Suleiman the Magnificent, and more, in incredible historical realism.
- Original music tracks by Visager Music, as well as an adaptation of Henry VIII's masterwork, Pastime in Good Company.
- A bear. Beware.

Humiliate King Frank with your wealth and excess, or die trying.

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1110380/ss_1fe1251d21ba17fda777440c49edb4fc59da3120.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1110380/ss_a944efa6bea9222a21eca559e0ff3b50c117348e.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1110380/ss_1d10c1c36ca236261e24ab6f7439a261fb130f1b.600x338.jpg)




ASTROLOGASTER

https://store.steampowered.com/app/742520/Astrologaster/

QuotePlay as 'Doctor' Simon Forman - unlicensed medical professional and astrologer - and help him win a medical licence. Astrologaster is a narrative-based comedy game.

Explore Forman's life, his work, and his relationships with his clients. Make story choices by performing astrological readings. Choose strategically or make decisions just for fun - but be aware that your choices will have consequences (and unpredictable side effects!)

13 clients come to see you 5-7 times seeking advice for personal, professional and medical problems. By examining the stars in the sky, you diagnose and determine answers for your clients' problems. As well as affecting the storyline, these choices will alter your clients' satisfaction levels. Satisfied clients will write you letters of recommendation, and with enough of these letters you can obtain a medical licence from the University of Cambridge.

So-called "real" (licensed) doctors call Forman a quack and fraud. Help Forman prove these medical establishment elitists wrong!

- Perform real* astrology: Examine the sky and choose astrological interpretations that Forman will use to advise his patients. (But remember: astrology is not an exact science!)
- Solve Hilarious Problems: Consult on problems ranging from Elizabethan terror plots and foul diseases, to romantic entanglements and stolen pies!
- Change Lives: Win your patients' favour or ruin their lives. Advise 14 characters who return 5-7 times. Patients have their own ongoing stories which often overlap with each other. Use gossip from some characters to guide and manipulate others.
- Win A Medical Licence: Convince patients to write letters of recommendations. Collect enough letters to exchange them for a medical licence.
- Fully Voiced Character Dialogue: Sitcom-style comedy brought to life by a cast of over a dozen actors.
- Sing Along: Enjoy Renaissance-era music and sing along to each character's theme song.
- Casebooks Come Alive: Simon Forman's cases are presented as a beautiful pop-up book. Turn pages to delve deeper into your patients' stories.

The Story

London, 1592. A great plague sweeps through the capital. When doctors flee the city in fear, a hero rises. His name is Simon Forman, "Doctor" of Astrology, Astronomy and Physick. Not only does he have the power to cure the sick, he can find their lost pets and predict their futures! All by reading the movements of the stars.

But when the plague ends, Forman's problems begin. The real doctors return to London and they will stop at nothing to bring him down...

Astrologaster is a story-driven astrological comedy game set in Shakespeare's London. Based on a true - and truly ridiculous - story. Simon Forman was considered a sage by some and a charlatan by others. What will your legacy be? Will you put your faith in the stars?

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/742520/ss_6fd67e02f53d88f29eac55b323db7318f20a9c47.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/742520/ss_0e28a5dffb288631843ccb1f1ec9ab07ed5338f9.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/742520/ss_abe94607eba8b2ae49d2c93cfec55f0da788610b.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/742520/ss_7e3eae728d6d2b9ece4c6d96cfba82fb4b04adf7.600x338.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on October 01, 2019, 02:34:31 PM
Quote from: Syt on October 01, 2019, 12:22:41 PM
15th Century Double Feature, both games under €10 each.

FIT FOR A KING

Richard Garriot called and wants his Ultima IV graphics/interface back.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 03, 2019, 05:34:42 AM
Has anyone else had steam lose their organisation?

Twice now it has totally lost my folders.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 03, 2019, 06:09:53 AM
Well, I was travelling and forgot to cancel my Uplay free trial in time. :P So I guess I'll be playing Ghost Recon Breakpoint (sp?) for a month.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on October 03, 2019, 06:22:16 AM
:D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 03, 2019, 11:45:20 AM
Quote from: Tamas on October 03, 2019, 06:09:53 AM
Well, I was travelling and forgot to cancel my Uplay free trial in time. :P So I guess I'll be playing Ghost Recon Breakpoint (sp?) for a month.

I understand it's ridiculously overwrought with microtransactions, and requires always online in SP?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 03, 2019, 03:11:56 PM
IDK, I played it during the open beta, I think it is awesome. I really liked Wildlands and this is the same just better and even prettier.

Sure you have to be online, but, hey, its 2019 :P

And yes the main mission hub has players walking around IIRC like an MMO but contextually they are fellow survivors of your unit so it is not a big deal, and you won't encounter anyone in the open world unless you are teamed up. So I just ignore it.

I also ignore PVP so I really don't care/know how the microtransactions work.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on October 03, 2019, 04:34:39 PM
Quote from: Tamas on October 03, 2019, 03:11:56 PM
IDK, I played it during the open beta, I think it is awesome. I really liked Wildlands and this is the same just better and even prettier.


Sounds nice. I loved Wildlands.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 04, 2019, 07:39:12 AM
Yikes, reviews for the new Close Combat game are not kind. The 2nd part of RPS's review details its shortcomings: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/10/04/wot-i-think-close-combat-the-bloody-first/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on October 04, 2019, 10:11:17 AM
Destiny 2 is F2P now on all platforms if you're looking for a solid shootmans game. Cross save is possible now too. Last night I got tired of sitting at the computer in our office so I plopped down on the couch in the living room and continued my character's progress on PS4.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 09, 2019, 02:44:30 PM
I've been thinking a few hours into Unity of Command since the weekend. I'm not sure I actually enjoy it much. It feels more like a puzzle game than a strategy game, esp. if you try to get brilliant victories.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on October 09, 2019, 02:49:55 PM
Unfortunately, it is definitely a puzzle game series. I liked it, but it's not especially deep or interesting.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 09, 2019, 03:04:35 PM
I mean Panzer General and its clones are also often more of a puzzle game, but it feels more free form, and more forgiving, and makes for good beer/pretzels fodder. UoC feels like solving a sudoku.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on October 09, 2019, 03:17:53 PM
A couple Matrix Games I am...intrigued by:

https://www.matrixgames.com/news/shadow-empire-is-announced

No idea what the time frame is on that though, but it is a neat idea.

This one:

https://www.matrixgames.com/news/warplan-will-be-released-on-october-24th

Is coming out this month. I am interested primarily because if the designers dev diaries. He has the right mindset, in that he looks at a game like this as a set of interesting and/or difficult choices, and how to present them to the player.

No idea if he can execute those ideas well, of course. But I am very interested...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on October 09, 2019, 03:18:44 PM
Quote from: Syt on October 09, 2019, 03:04:35 PM
I mean Panzer General and its clones are also often more of a puzzle game, but it feels more free form, and more forgiving, and makes for good beer/pretzels fodder. UoC feels like solving a sudoku.

Thanks, so that's why I didn't get on with it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 09, 2019, 03:22:35 PM
The concepts for Humankind, a Civ-like from the Endless Space/Legends makers look very interesting to me:

https://www.pcgamer.com/introducing-humankind-the-sega-backed-civ-killer-from-the-endless-legend-devs/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 09, 2019, 03:23:46 PM
Quote from: Berkut on October 09, 2019, 03:17:53 PM
https://www.matrixgames.com/news/warplan-will-be-released-on-october-24th

Is coming out this month. I am interested primarily because if the designers dev diaries. He has the right mindset, in that he looks at a game like this as a set of interesting and/or difficult choices, and how to present them to the player.

No idea if he can execute those ideas well, of course. But I am very interested...

I'm so far not sure why I would buy this when I have the Strategic Command: War in Europe and World at War.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on October 09, 2019, 03:56:55 PM
Shadow Empire looks like it will be great.  I think I will wait to hear what Berkut thinks of Warplan before buying.

Humankind is definitely something I will be looking at when it is released.

Thanks to both of you for noting them  :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on October 09, 2019, 04:31:03 PM
Quote from: Syt on October 09, 2019, 03:23:46 PM
Quote from: Berkut on October 09, 2019, 03:17:53 PM
https://www.matrixgames.com/news/warplan-will-be-released-on-october-24th

Is coming out this month. I am interested primarily because if the designers dev diaries. He has the right mindset, in that he looks at a game like this as a set of interesting and/or difficult choices, and how to present them to the player.

No idea if he can execute those ideas well, of course. But I am very interested...

I'm so far not sure why I would buy this when I have the Strategic Command: War in Europe and World at War.

SC is good, but in the end fails for me. It is too gimmicky, and too prone to being beatable by just playing the system. You see that with AARs where people are conquering the world and such.

I found that after the first play through, I was playing the system, rather than the war. So I haven't even picked it up again in a long time.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on October 09, 2019, 04:49:16 PM
Quote from: Berkut on October 09, 2019, 04:31:03 PM
Quote from: Syt on October 09, 2019, 03:23:46 PM
Quote from: Berkut on October 09, 2019, 03:17:53 PM
https://www.matrixgames.com/news/warplan-will-be-released-on-october-24th

Is coming out this month. I am interested primarily because if the designers dev diaries. He has the right mindset, in that he looks at a game like this as a set of interesting and/or difficult choices, and how to present them to the player.

No idea if he can execute those ideas well, of course. But I am very interested...

I'm so far not sure why I would buy this when I have the Strategic Command: War in Europe and World at War.

SC is good, but in the end fails for me. It is too gimmicky, and too prone to being beatable by just playing the system. You see that with AARs where people are conquering the world and such.

I found that after the first play through, I was playing the system, rather than the war. So I haven't even picked it up again in a long time.

Also I was reading the designer's posts and he decided to build this game after building a mod for SC - he wanted a game that did all the things that SC and other computer games didn't have.  I am more intrigued now.  I hope he was able to execute his plans.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on October 09, 2019, 06:45:52 PM
Quote from: Berkut on October 09, 2019, 03:17:53 PM
A couple Matrix Games I am...intrigued by:

https://www.matrixgames.com/news/shadow-empire-is-announced

No idea what the time frame is on that though, but it is a neat idea.

Same group that did the Decisive Campaigns series as well, so it's in good hands.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on October 09, 2019, 07:11:42 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on October 09, 2019, 06:45:52 PM
Quote from: Berkut on October 09, 2019, 03:17:53 PM
A couple Matrix Games I am...intrigued by:

https://www.matrixgames.com/news/shadow-empire-is-announced

No idea what the time frame is on that though, but it is a neat idea.

Same group that did the Decisive Campaigns series as well, so it's in good hands.
Indeed, that alone was enough to pretty much get my onboard. Interesting topic I like, and a group that has already executed some damn good games...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on October 12, 2019, 06:30:47 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on October 09, 2019, 03:56:55 PM
Shadow Empire looks like it will be great.  I think I will wait to hear what Berkut thinks of Warplan before buying.

Humankind is definitely something I will be looking at when it is released.

Thanks to both of you for noting them  :)

Indeed.  Though I can't help thinking something like a Roadwar 2000 mod could make it even better.  :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 15, 2019, 07:13:07 AM
https://archive.org/details/softwarelibrary_msdos_games?&sort=-downloads&page=8


TEH MEMORIES
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 15, 2019, 09:45:47 AM
Doesn't seem right that I see a whole bunch of games there that are sold on Steam or GOG.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on October 16, 2019, 01:41:57 AM
Quote from: Tamas on October 15, 2019, 07:13:07 AM
https://archive.org/details/softwarelibrary_msdos_games?&sort=-downloads&page=8


TEH MEMORIES

Narco Police! I sucked so much at this game, I might avenge my 10 year old self  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on October 17, 2019, 06:34:02 PM
Quote from: Syt on October 15, 2019, 09:45:47 AM
Doesn't seem right that I see a whole bunch of games there that are sold on Steam or GOG.

Why not?  All the GoG/Steam folks do is make them work and sell them for $5.  You can get them for free, like they did, and make them (maybe) work yourself.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 18, 2019, 05:03:09 AM
Quote from: Berkut on October 09, 2019, 03:17:53 PM
https://www.matrixgames.com/news/warplan-will-be-released-on-october-24th

Is coming out this month. I am interested primarily because if the designers dev diaries. He has the right mindset, in that he looks at a game like this as a set of interesting and/or difficult choices, and how to present them to the player.

Preview gameplay stream (about 2.5 hours).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 21, 2019, 07:55:34 AM
I've started playing the RPG Disco Elysium. It's bonkers, in a good way. And your skills keep talking to you. It kinda feels like playing Hunter S. Thompson/Raoul Duke. I had a discussion with my garish tie (it wanted me to do bad things), and my character has determined that he will have to sing karaoke in the shitty hotel lounge at some point.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 21, 2019, 09:17:43 AM
Might be relevant to some people's interests here:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1051420/Jeys_Empire/

QuoteJey's Empire

Play as J.Edgar Hoover, legendary Director of the FBI, in this historical strategy-RPG game.

You will fight against the Mafia, the Communists, the Ku Klux Klan, the Black Panthers, the Weather Underground and many other dangerous organizations and groups.

You will also have the opportunity to investigate all the great cases of the Sixties, ranging from the assassination of Marilyn Monroe to of Kennedy's own shooting.

You are the master of secrets, pulling in the shadows, the strings of American political life.

A Management Rpg

In this, you manage your empire as you would with a classic management game.You interact in RPG mode with a fauna of henchmen, gangsters, and personalities of the 1960s.

Don't Get Fired!

Your enemies dream of getting rid of you. Cultivate your precious secret files and intelligence to always stay one step ahead of them.

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1051420/ss_a938eeb2b89ec6fa2a2a5fd46698b9e2d35497ac.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1051420/ss_99c32dfb2137254c2add2f2fc172a231c7116018.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1051420/ss_af84fbda02ed1323d83879d120e33967a4f932c4.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1051420/ss_d294f05ec1bc506340ffab5326644a652e0e4f66.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1051420/ss_53724dc563153a2e7cfe22b1e80740b464d8352b.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1051420/ss_a33f9f235996d085860ddcf2af917ef827fc14f1.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1051420/ss_e422ff01d434282b08225af59da45ca8353180a3.1920x1080.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 21, 2019, 09:26:44 AM
Possible companion pieces:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/774091/Ostalgie_The_Berlin_Wall/

By the same people who remade Crisis in the Kremlin a few years back. As leader of one of the Eastern Block countries (GDR, Bulgaria, Poland, Romania), try to make it through the upheaval periods of 1989/90. Features party propaganda songs from all involved countries. (under €5.39)

There's an add on that adds Albania, CSSR, and Hungary. (€2.39)


For mono:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/950740/China_Maos_legacy/

Year 1976, the stormy Cultural revolution has died down, hard times of hongweibing and public critics are coming to an end. Old and sick Mao Zedong will soon leave China to his comrades from CPC. The Cold War is coming into a new phase and only you will determine what will China become and what place will it take in the world.
— Lead the People's Republic of China from 1976 to 1985
— Restore relations with the USSR and compete for the leadership in the socialist camp or become the conductor of USA's interests or forge your own path without looking at others
— Build a strong planned economy, lead the market reforms and invite investors from all over the world or fulfill communist's dream about automated state plan - the future of Chinese economy is in your hands
— Expand your influence, become the master of the Asian region, reach for the Europe - the restless world of Cold War gives you a lot of opportunities
— Watch over the Party - politicians want to reach higher places, plot and conspire. Your fellow party members may become your helpful allies or deadly enemies
— Remember that your actions will determine the world by the end of the XX century - will the Soviet Union fall apart, will the socialist camp fall, will DPRK become an outcast country, will you repeat the glorious path of China or will you manage even better?
(€5.99)

The full Kremlin/Ostalgie/Mao bundle is here:
https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/6733/Perestroika_Democracy_Glasnost/

Not overly deep or complex, but also not overly expensive (Mao is the most expensive standalone).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on October 21, 2019, 09:49:30 AM
Quote from: Syt on October 21, 2019, 09:17:43 AM


Quote
(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1051420/ss_af84fbda02ed1323d83879d120e33967a4f932c4.1920x1080.jpg)


Pffft everybody knows the Mafia is a myth.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 23, 2019, 09:00:59 AM
Former Army colonel talks about the realism in Radio Commander, the new Vietnam wargame:

https://www.wargamer.com/articles/radio-commander-realism/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 25, 2019, 01:07:20 AM
Review of WarPlan:

https://www.wargamer.com/reviews/warplan/

In short: AI handles combat well, but is not good at the strategic level.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 25, 2019, 04:11:41 AM
For what it's worth, the deployment button bug has been fixed for the release version. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 25, 2019, 04:13:33 AM
Basically, the way I see it, WarPlan is more of a "wargame wargame" than Strategic Command, in the sense that is somewhat more complex (handles smoother as a flip side), and it is more like a board wargame (as the Wargamer review also mentions). SC has much more scripting in terms of events and what the AI exactly should do strategically. Whether that's good or bad for you that's really down to personal taste.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on October 27, 2019, 07:38:13 AM
Bought Disco Elysium based on some of the reviews and this is probably the best writing in a video game I've seen in many, many years. Maybe since Planescape Torment, even. And the system looks like it lends itself to multiple playthroughs as different kinds of characters, based on your skill point preference.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 27, 2019, 07:46:19 AM
I'm enjoying it immensely (see my post further up).

I'm playing as "me", and the game has already pegged me as being too boring, too apologetic, and fairly middling in my political views  :ph34r:

I do want to replay this as commie Hunter S. Thompson, though. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on October 29, 2019, 10:14:24 AM
Has anyone tried War Plan yet?

I was watching a first impressions video and lost all faith in what the reviewers impression was when he thought the tool tip that said he had 3-1 odds in an attack meant he would lose 3 to the defender's 1  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 29, 2019, 10:29:12 AM
Tbf, it's pretty inconsistent between games. Take the superficially very similar Panzer Corps and Order of Battle:

This shows how much damage each side will (likely) take:
(https://i.imgur.com/ycM9eIj.jpg)

This shows how much damage each side will (likely) cause:
(https://cdn.mmos.com/wp-content/gallery/order-of-battle/order-of-battle-attacking-point.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 29, 2019, 12:20:47 PM
For the fans of Harpoon and the likes:

Command: Modern Operations, successor to Command: Modern Air Naval Operations will drop November 14th.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1076160/Command_Modern_Operations/

QuoteThe first release of Command rocked the foundations of modern PC wargaming, steamrolled its way into the Pentagon and won numerous "Wargame Of The Year" awards. Now, the restless rascals at WarfareSims are back at it with a vengeance! The already legendary game of modern cross-domain operations returns with an all-new UI, even more refined simulation mechanics and a host of new features and content to engross you into the challenges of warfare post-WW2 and in the 21st century. Are you ready? Are you up to it?


No man, and no armed service, is an island. Aircraft, ships, submarines, ground forces and installations, satellites and even strategic weapons are at your disposal. You are given the forces and their hardware; but you have to direct them wisely.


You asked for a faster, smoother earth-globe interface with richer, even more detailed map layers - and you got it! Over half a terabyte's worth of satellite imagery and terrain elevation combine to deliver an unprecedentedly crisp battlefield for your forces to roam.


Command's new slick, dark-themed UI slams you right into the seat of a modern-day military command center and never lets go. Play in desktop-standard window or gamelike full-screen mode. Arrange your secondary info windows just how you like them - or park them into extra monitors. Customize your map and info windows to perfection to suit your play style.


Hundreds of changes and additions to gameplay based directly on user feedback means the game is now yours more than ever. Minimaps? Check. Quickly load recent scenarios or saves? Yup. Real-time dynamic ORBATs of both friendly forces and known contacts? Yessir. Time-step sim execution to prevent "runaway sim"? Can do. Glorious victories or crushing defeats have never felt so easy to experience.


Don't spend too long gawking at the pretty maps, because the battlefield is even more alive and ready to crush you! Expanded ground ops let you take advantage of distinct terrain types (desert, forest, urban, swamps etc.) for mobility, weapon effects and visibility. Enhanced AI routines for dogfights and even more technical factors make your grip on air superiority more tenuous. The groundbreaking features of the "Chains Of War" campaign are now standard: Disrupt your enemy's communications to isolate his units (but watch out for your own), perform scriptless amphibious, airdrop or pickup operations, watch as aircraft limber back shot almost to pieces and marvel at exotic new weaponry.


Even at the dawn of unmanned systems, combat is not a dry hardware comparison. Your war machines are crewed or remote-controlled by human beings: people trained with varied proficiency (from novice to ace), operating under custom doctrine and rules of engagement (when to do what, how to decide, how to react etc.), most of the time making the rational decision, and sometimes making a brilliant call or a mistake. These people often matter far more than the hardware. The deadliest combat units are only as sharp as their crews.


Korea. Colonial wars. Vietnam. Middle East. Cuba. Falklands. Iran-Iraq. World War 3. Desert Storm. India & Pakistan. The Arctic circle. Past and future conflicts in the Pacific, Norwegian Sea, Russian & Chinese periphery and more. Experience conflict from post-WW2 all the way to 2020+ and beyond, in more than 600 official and community scenarios. Test your mettle against lethal land-based missile batteries, air regiments, naval fleets or pirate groups. Face off against threats of the past, present and future. How do you measure up against the challenges of modern warfare?


The new "Quick Battle Generator" lets you quickly get into the action without worrying about wider strategic or political complexities. Or use the ultra-powerful scenario editor to put together your own dream battle just the way you want it. Enhanced scripting capabilities through the built-in Lua engine mean you can even create your own combat AIs. Think you can create your own WOPR/Joshua? Prove it!


All the original Command official scenarios remastered from scratch by professional scenario designer Rory Noonan (author of the "Silent Service" scenario set), plus brand-new official and community scenarios to quench your wargaming appetite. Updated cold-war and modern-day databases with the latest in hardware and systems mean you'll never run out of setups to try out. Seamlessly import and use your existing Command scenarios, saves, .inst files and more!

Command: Modern Operations. Just when you thought it cannot get any better.



FEATURES

* Revised user interface, based on dark theme and with lots of tweaks for improved gameplay.
* Completely re-written map engine, enabling fast and lag-free zoom & pan operations.
* New spectacular high-resolution map layers
* Support for real-time Tacview 3D view (NOTE: separate purchase of Tacview Advanced edition required)
* Numerous new UI & gameplay features such as hover-info databox, time-step mode, colored datablocks, minimaps, "recently loaded" scens/saves etc.
* Massive boost in simulation performance/scalability.
* Automatic on-demand remote fetching of platform images (Players no longer need to manually download and install the database image packs)
* Message Log 2.0: A radically improved message reporting system.
* New game mode: Quick Battle Generator
* New line-of-sight (LOS) tool
* New ScenEdit feature: Merge scenarios

* New sim features:
- Customizable aircraft formations
- Terrain type affecting movement, vulnerability and detectability of ground forces
- New cost-based pathfinder engine
- Realistic sub comms
- Patrols with customizable movement pattern
- Vastly improved aircraft flight model
- Improved dogfight AI
- Aircraft crew G-tolerance
- Radar frequency agility
- Explicit Doppler-notching

* Renewed emphasis on overall gameplay experience:
- Additional and expanded tutorials
- Stylized map icons by default
- The "Chains Of War" previously-exclusive features (cargo & amphib ops, aircraft damage, comms disruption and advanced weapon types) are now standard.

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1076160/ss_2d074fdd293f88647528d1117a793afaafa71047.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1076160/ss_6404153c8889416d56b5d55477518ca7795804c7.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1076160/ss_76c2ad5e211dca2327c559a7477b7e3199ae9d14.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1076160/ss_274ddd7a6d717ba6da74a8fbdef7e53e48822b35.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1076160/ss_90725ca52afaab28ee9d293e16e68f4b670fa3bb.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1076160/ss_6b5424fd3b7dfcaa8a194523c14e932c9fdf4ae9.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1076160/ss_8ff4584ba0f8764a9e123887244c8e87b43ca110.1920x1080.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on October 29, 2019, 07:48:33 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on October 29, 2019, 10:14:24 AM
Has anyone tried War Plan yet?

I was watching a first impressions video and lost all faith in what the reviewers impression was when he thought the tool tip that said he had 3-1 odds in an attack meant he would lose 3 to the defender's 1  :lol:

Well, I tried to buy it.  The Matrix store front is not very user friendly.  After a few attempts at trying to figure out why I was getting a message that my order could not be processed I gave up.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Legbiter on October 30, 2019, 04:41:21 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on October 27, 2019, 07:38:13 AM
Bought Disco Elysium based on some of the reviews and this is probably the best writing in a video game I've seen in many, many years. Maybe since Planescape Torment, even. And the system looks like it lends itself to multiple playthroughs as different kinds of characters, based on your skill point preference.

Been playing this as well. Went with flamboyant, grandiose disco cop.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on October 30, 2019, 08:33:57 PM
Quote from: Legbiter on October 30, 2019, 04:41:21 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on October 27, 2019, 07:38:13 AM
Bought Disco Elysium based on some of the reviews and this is probably the best writing in a video game I've seen in many, many years. Maybe since Planescape Torment, even. And the system looks like it lends itself to multiple playthroughs as different kinds of characters, based on your skill point preference.

Been playing this as well. Went with flamboyant, grandiose disco cop.

Four hours in and pumping points into Inland Empire. Having discussions with corpses and neckties while having a thought named "Volumetric Shit Compressor" that increases my Endurance level cap is, uh, certainly a new role-playing experience for me.  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Legbiter on October 31, 2019, 04:14:15 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on October 30, 2019, 08:33:57 PMFour hours in and pumping points into Inland Empire. Having discussions with corpses and neckties while having a thought named "Volumetric Shit Compressor" that increases my Endurance level cap is, uh, certainly a new role-playing experience for me.  :lol:

Poor Kim, having to work with the player character. My run so far seems to be 50% Bukowski novel and 50% Curb Your Enthusiasm episode. Somehow even failing the skill checks is still kinda ok and often hilarious. Meeting the aptly named Measurehead and being called a ham sandwich was funny as well.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on October 31, 2019, 04:29:29 PM
Quote from: Legbiter on October 31, 2019, 04:14:15 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on October 30, 2019, 08:33:57 PMFour hours in and pumping points into Inland Empire. Having discussions with corpses and neckties while having a thought named "Volumetric Shit Compressor" that increases my Endurance level cap is, uh, certainly a new role-playing experience for me.  :lol:

Poor Kim, having to work with the player character. My run so far seems to be 50% Bukowski novel and 50% Curb Your Enthusiasm episode. Somehow even failing the skill checks is still kinda ok and often hilarious. Meeting the aptly named Measurehead and being called a ham sandwich was funny as well.

I'm thinking of people I can base my next character off of, and Donald Trump is right at the top of the list :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Legbiter on October 31, 2019, 04:40:15 PM
Teetotaller run, adopt Revancholian Nationalism for the conversation options. Never snivel or apologize. Bump Drama, Rhetoric and Suggestion.  :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on November 01, 2019, 05:06:46 AM
I decided I want to play cities skylines again.
But man. All that config to get it properly modded, the amount of broken mods et al.... I gave up before playing
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 01, 2019, 05:25:13 AM
I've given up on CS modding. The number of interdependencies and figuring out what works and doesn't is worse than modding an Elder Scrolls game. I stick with a few basics, like that Traffic management mod.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on November 01, 2019, 06:53:37 AM
Quote from: Syt on November 01, 2019, 05:25:13 AM
I've given up on CS modding. The number of interdependencies and figuring out what works and doesn't is worse than modding an Elder Scrolls game. I stick with a few basics, like that Traffic management mod.

:yes:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on November 01, 2019, 10:50:18 AM
So it's not just me then.

It's a shame as there does seem to be a lot of great mods that could let me have a decent crack at making a European style city.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on November 01, 2019, 10:53:46 AM
I just deleted* that game last night, found it way too fiddly.


* Also the new Steam interface has at least one usual feature, the ability to list your game library by install size, very helpful as I need some extra space to do some video rendering.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 01, 2019, 10:58:43 AM
I don't know, maybe there's some fan sites out there that curate mod collections. Even using recent collections on the Workshop often cause more problems than they help.

At the same time I marvel at the creators that build beautiful stuff like this.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EHwTFFAVUAEgMlb?format=jpg&name=medium)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EHzo-5wW4AAKIOx?format=jpg&name=medium)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EGRpYScW4AAqvCv?format=jpg&name=medium)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EEliVNuWkAAS6oT?format=jpg&name=medium)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EEgnFuJXUAAX0Gl?format=jpg&name=medium)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on November 01, 2019, 11:24:07 AM
I play CS too!

But what I really play is traffic management the game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on November 02, 2019, 08:33:32 AM
Going through steam, Oh great a D&D game, 'Idle curse of grimock'* , but turns out to be some clicker game, may well be the most mindless game I've ever played.   <_<


And yet I played two to three hours of it before deleting it.   :Embarrass:


* or something stupidly similar, can't be arsed to look it up.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 02, 2019, 12:13:28 PM
Installed Battlefield V again for some mindless WW2 flavored action. For some reason it made me play through the introduction again which consists, among other things, of:

- driving a Pz VI Tiger in North Africa ... in 1941 (the Tiger came into service in 1942)
- fighting in Kasserine Pass ... in 1942 (the battle of Kasserine Pass was in early 1943)
- intercepting British bombers en route to Hamburg 1943 ... during the day (the USAAF bombed during the day, the RAF at night)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 02, 2019, 03:35:54 PM
The Iwo Jima map is pretty cool, though. Goes from beach landings to fortified positions, up the mountain and through caves and finally to the mountain top.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on November 02, 2019, 03:49:21 PM
Quote from: Syt on November 02, 2019, 12:13:28 PM
Installed Battlefield V again for some mindless WW2 flavored action. For some reason it made me play through the introduction again which consists, among other things, of:

- driving a Pz VI Tiger in North Africa ... in 1941 (the Tiger came into service in 1942)
- fighting in Kasserine Pass ... in 1942 (the battle of Kasserine Pass was in early 1943)
- intercepting British bombers en route to Hamburg 1943 ... during the day (the USAAF bombed during the day, the RAF at night)


Winton Churchill fighting at Verdun
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on November 02, 2019, 07:02:19 PM
I am considering buying the Outer Worlds.  It's been a long time since I have played a first-person RPG.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 03, 2019, 03:25:10 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on November 02, 2019, 07:02:19 PM
I am considering buying the Outer Worlds.  It's been a long time since I have played a first-person RPG.

Get the xbox game pass for pc Raz, it's about 4 dollars a month and the game is included.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on November 03, 2019, 05:12:11 AM
Quote from: Tamas on November 03, 2019, 03:25:10 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on November 02, 2019, 07:02:19 PM
I am considering buying the Outer Worlds.  It's been a long time since I have played a first-person RPG.

Get the xbox game pass for pc Raz, it's about 4 dollars a month and the game is included.

That's what I'm thinking, until it comes out on Steam. Don't want to support Epic.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on November 03, 2019, 06:20:02 AM
Tried call of duty ww2.
Part way through d day and I have to stop playing. I feel so ill. Never came across this on a pc fps before, usually it's a console thing.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on November 03, 2019, 11:34:28 AM
I've gotten some very mild queasiness if I get into a 3D FPS-type game after have been away from one for a while.  Readapt quickly though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Agelastus on November 04, 2019, 08:47:39 AM
Quote from: mongers on November 01, 2019, 10:53:46 AM
I just deleted* that game last night, found it way too fiddly.


* Also the new Steam interface has at least one usual feature, the ability to list your game library by install size, very helpful as I need some extra space to do some video rendering.

You actually found something to like about the new interface? I'm impressed.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on November 04, 2019, 08:51:44 AM
Quote from: Tonitrus on November 03, 2019, 11:34:28 AM
I've gotten some very mild queasiness if I get into a 3D FPS-type game after have been away from one for a while.  Readapt quickly though.

I have never been able to play them, nausea is just minutes away.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on November 04, 2019, 08:57:17 AM
Started playing 'Forge of Empires' - strategy browser game heavily advertised a few years ago, I'm rather enjoying it, lots city design/building, production choices etc.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Iormlund on November 04, 2019, 03:51:10 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on November 04, 2019, 08:51:44 AM
Quote from: Tonitrus on November 03, 2019, 11:34:28 AM
I've gotten some very mild queasiness if I get into a 3D FPS-type game after have been away from one for a while.  Readapt quickly though.

I have never been able to play them, nausea is just minutes away.

I've had that problem since Half-life 2. Widening the Field of View works for me. It seems developers have been narrowing it down to keep the amount of stuff on the screen low (and gain FPS).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on November 04, 2019, 04:04:40 PM
Quote from: mongers on November 04, 2019, 08:57:17 AM
Started playing 'Forge of Empires' - strategy browser game heavily advertised a few years ago, I'm rather enjoying it, lots city design/building, production choices etc.

Some friendly advice, step away now.  It starts off innocuous enough but the business model is entirely based on getting you sucked in to an early game where the micro transactions are purely optional to the mid game where they start becoming important quality of life and game enhancing requirements.  Lots of people look at the time they have spent playing and justify a few dollars here are there to make their life in the game easier.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on November 05, 2019, 10:06:23 AM
So Red Dead Redemption 2 launches for the PC today, if you're one of the folks who've been waiting for the PC release.

I think you have to buy it through Rockstar or through Epic, though. Steam release is not until December.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 05, 2019, 10:08:13 AM
I have a 3 week break in December. I might get it then.

But I have still too many other "big games" to get through. Witcher 3. AC: Origins and Odyssey. Etc.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on November 05, 2019, 02:01:16 PM
I'm really hesitant to buy anything from the Epic store.  If I have a game on there I will likely just forget it.  That's what happens with the Origins store.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on November 05, 2019, 06:08:29 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on November 04, 2019, 04:04:40 PM
Quote from: mongers on November 04, 2019, 08:57:17 AM
Started playing 'Forge of Empires' - strategy browser game heavily advertised a few years ago, I'm rather enjoying it, lots city design/building, production choices etc.

Some friendly advice, step away now.  It starts off innocuous enough but the business model is entirely based on getting you sucked in to an early game where the micro transactions are purely optional to the mid game where they start becoming important quality of life and game enhancing requirements.  Lots of people look at the time they have spent playing and justify a few dollars here are there to make their life in the game easier.

CC, thanks for the advice, I'll give it a while longer, as it's a harmless thing to have going on in the background whilst I read the web.  :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 06, 2019, 07:44:56 AM
Famous last words :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on November 06, 2019, 09:10:35 AM
Quote from: Tamas on November 06, 2019, 07:44:56 AM
Famous last words :D

:D

I'll get to the end of the iron age and give up then  :P

If this were a stand alone city builder game ala Caesar II I'd almost certainly pay for the game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 12, 2019, 03:50:21 AM
So, is this new star wars game any good? You can get it already with Origin Premium.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Iormlund on November 13, 2019, 10:47:02 AM
Quote from: Tamas on November 12, 2019, 03:50:21 AM
So, is this new star wars game any good? You can get it already with Origin Premium.

Looked it up on Steam:

QuoteIncorporates 3rd-party DRM: EA on-line activation and Origin client software installation and background use required.
Requires 3rd-Party Account: EA Account (Supports Linking to Steam Account)

Pass.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 13, 2019, 11:36:51 AM
Thanks, grandpa :p

What more concerns me are the review embargo and the exclusion of the game from the Origin Access 10 hours trial scheme. The latter with the cringe worthy excuse of avoiding spoilers.

The game must be pretty bad.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on November 13, 2019, 12:24:39 PM
The game looked utterly uninteresting in the previews I watched. YMMV.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Zoupa on November 13, 2019, 12:35:55 PM
Is this the fallen Jedi thing? It's impossible to tell from the previews.

I guess that was the point with EA.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on November 13, 2019, 01:11:04 PM
Gameplay-wise it looked like a Force Unleashed rehash.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on November 13, 2019, 02:53:48 PM
Quote from: Tamas on November 13, 2019, 11:36:51 AM
The latter with the cringe worthy excuse of avoiding spoilers.


:lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 14, 2019, 04:14:46 AM
Yeah, really skeptical about the Star Wars game. It seems they took some inspiration from Sekiro for the sword combat, but I don't hold my breath. Might pick this up when heavily discounted.

Tbf, the new Battlefront II is a decent time waster at this point.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Octavian on November 25, 2019, 01:09:11 PM
Jedi Fallen Order.

It's probably game of the year for me so far. Great story, great setting, great characters, great gameplay.

It's great!

9/10

I love the banter between the stormtroopers. Some of them felt relieved by the fact that they held the high ground :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on November 25, 2019, 01:14:34 PM
Mechwarrior 5 looks like it might be an interesting FPS-alternative to Battletech...but I wonder if it won't be overly shallow as it predecessors were.

But fortunately(?), it's locked behind a year of Epic Games storefront exclusivity.  Perhaps the good/unintended consequence of that business decision, is it keeps stick-in-the-muds like me from rushing out a getting a half-finished game and instead seeing how/if all of its bugs and or content develops before purchase.  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 02, 2019, 04:42:17 PM
Matritherine announce Starship Troopers: Terran Command from the makers of Order of Battle: WW2.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=pz_CKhycqN4&feature=emb_logo

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1202130/Starship_Troopers__Terran_Command/

QuoteStarship Troopers - Terran Command is a thrilling real-time strategy game set in the Starship Troopers movies universe. Take command of the Mobile Infantry and do your part in the war against the Arachnid threat. Build, develop and control your armies to strike an effective balance between tactical superiority and strength in numbers. Ensure that human civilization, not insect, dominates the galaxy now and always!

Planetary Campaigns
Fight for control over an entire planet in the campaign mode, where the storyline and missions develop according to your choices and achievements on the battlefield. Remain obedient to the demands of Terran Command – no matter how costly or ruthless – to benefit from exclusive unit types and special abilities, or follow your own path to glory to become an irrefutable Hero of the Federation. Develop and customize your forces through a detailed technology tree and upgradeable leader characters that can be assigned to your units.

Tactics & Numbers
While the Arachnids can rely on virtually limitless numbers, the Mobile Infantry must develop effective tactics to overcome this imbalance. Deploy your units at strategic locations to cover vital choke points and gain superior firepower through tactical use of elevation levels. Be wary, however, that battle mechanics such as True Line of Sight and True Line of Fire also allow Bugs to lay ambushes around every corner, as they are well known for their use of surprise attacks and deception.

Units & Abilities
An expansive range of unique units, weapons, and special abilities are at the disposal of MI commanders. Infantry squads armed with Morita Assault Rifles and MX-90 Fragmentation Grenades form the mainstay of your forces. Rocket Troopers deliver deadly payloads with pin-point accuracy while Engineers are vital to shore up defensive positions with MG turrets, barricades, and minefields. As a campaign progresses, technological breakthroughs unlock the true potential of the Federation's arsenal with Power Armor infantry squads, TAC Fighter airstrikes, Marauder mobile suits, and many more developments optimized for spraying Bug ichor across the battlefield.

Key features
- Dynamically generated campaigns for virtually limitless replayability.
- Dozens of unique unit types, each with their own special abilities.
- Terrain elevation, True Line of Sight & True Line of Fire provide deep tactical gameplay.
- An extensive technology tree to develop and customize your forces.
- Persistent leaders can be attached to units and upgraded throughout the campaign.
- Heroics, explosions, gore, and Bugs. Lots of Bugs.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on December 02, 2019, 04:45:19 PM
I had to click the trailer there to confirm it was movie and not book.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 03, 2019, 02:13:27 AM
Looks like it might be a take on the "They Are Billions" formula.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on December 03, 2019, 09:24:43 AM
My mother always said violence doesn't solve anything.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 07, 2019, 01:07:51 PM
In early access, rated "very positive" so far:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1184770/The_Political_Process/

QuoteThe Political Process

Explore a dynamic world of politics in this turn-based, political simulator. Create a character, run for political office, write legislation, balance budgets, and more as you move up the political hierarchy.

Create a Custom Politician
Play as a Democrat or Republican in the American political system. Customize the name, age, and appearance of your character. Calculate your political ideology by selecting over 40 policy positions, each representing a different aspect of your social and fiscal ideology. Play as any kind of politician that you can imagine. Create a backstory for your character. Is your character a young progressive looking to improve the world one government policy at a time, a stubborn old libertarian trying to reduce the size of government, or a middle-aged moderate trying to bring practical compromise to politics? Create any backstory and motives for your character that you want. How you play is up to you.

Choose a District
You can play in any part of the country. Choose from all 50 states and over 3,000 counties. Each district is unique and based on real life data.

Customize Your World
Fine-tune district details to create the world exactly as you want it. There are over 80 variables you can change in the advanced options, such as voter demographics, ideology, and turnout, district population, poverty rates, and more.

Run for Political Office
You can run for 9 different political office positions across the city, state, and national levels. Available positions include: school board, city council, mayor, state house, state senate, governor, U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, and the presidency. Use political strategy to defeat your opponents in primary and general elections. The electoral campaign process includes: creating a campaign platform, knocking on doors, coordinating volunteers, fundraising, holding rallies, conducting polls, and organizing marketing campaigns. Use a combination of these activities to increase name recognition, sway public opinion, influence voter enthusiasm, and raise voter turnout. For the ultimate election challenge, you can run for president. The presidential election is even more in-depth because you must decide how to divide your resources among all 50 states. Which states are guaranteed wins, which can you flip, and which can you ignore. Each state is different, so you will have to adjust your message accordingly. Will you go after the independent voters in swing states, try to increase voter turnout among your supporters, or use attack ads to decrease voter enthusiasm for your opponent? With the correct strategy, you may become the next president. But, your strategy cannot focus only on winning your election. If you want to be a successful president, you will need a majority in congress. That means that your party members need to win elections. To help party members win elections, you may need to campaign in states that you cannot win. Campaigning in such states may increase voter turnout enough to help members of your party win their elections. There are many strategic decisions to make when campaigning for president.

Write Legislation
Choose from over 80 types of legislation. You can choose legislation related to taxes, education, crime, health care, poverty, and more. For example, you can adjust tax rates, decrease Social Security benefits, eliminate food stamps, increase higher education grants, reduce jail lengths, create free community college, and much more. Before legislation can become law, it must progress through the legislature - through committee hearings, amendments, and voting. Politicians will vote on the legislation based on their unique ideologies and policy positions. If the legislation passes in the legislature, it will be sent to the executive branch (mayor, governor, or president) to be signed into law or vetoed. Legislation that becomes law will influence various in-game metrics.

Gain Political Influence
For every election you win and law you pass, you will gain political points. These are a representation of your political experience. Political points play an important role in the game. In the legislature they determine which committees you can join and whether you will be the chairperson of your committee. As the chairperson, you get to decide whether legislation related to your committee will receive a hearing. This effectively gives you the power to prevent legislation from becoming law. Political points also determine whether you become party leader or caucus leader, which gives you influence over how other politicians vote. Getting a leadership position requires many terms in office, but once you get one, you can have a significant impact as a politician.

Balance Budget
Leadership positions will allow you to create a budget, which must be approved by the legislature. Determine tax policy and decide how to distribute tax revenues. Choose which government programs you will support and which you will eliminate. Make tough decisions that could have a lasting impact on your constituents. Budgets in the game are based on real-life budget data, and thus give a simplified, but fairly accurate, representation of the budget process. You will have to make the kind of budget decisions that real-life politicians make.

Actions Have Consequences
Everything you do as a politician has consequences. The things you say on the campaign trail influence voter enthusiasm, which influences voter turnout. An extreme campaign platform may lose you the independent vote. But, if your platform is too moderate, you may lose the primary election to a partisan opponent. How you vote on legislation influences your approval rating, which can influence whether you have a primary challenger in the next election.

The laws that you create can have complex effects by influencing over 100 metrics. For example, passing a law that eliminates food stamps will decrease childhood access to nutrition. Hungry children do not perform as well in school, so the high school graduation rate will decrease, which means more poverty, more crime, and lower tax revenues (since students who withdraw from high school earn lower wages and pay less taxes). The higher crime rate will increase the number of criminals in jail, which will increase the jail budget, but the lower tax revenue means that you cannot afford an increase to the jail budget, so you will have to make budget cuts to some other program. Those budget cuts will influence even more metrics. It is a complex puzzle.
These kinds of decisions may require a lot of strategizing. How you campaign for the primary election may differ from how you campaign for the general election. You may make the political calculation that it is in your best interest to vote in favor of legislation that you dislike. Doing so may improve your relationship with an important political caucus, giving you enough support to pass controversial legislation. You may make the decision to not seek a higher level political office this election season because you would have to face an incumbent you are unlikely to defeat.
There are many variables to consider when making political calculations.

Explore a Dynamic World of Politics
The world is filled with over 600 procedurally-generated politicians with unique ideologies, personalities, and careers. The game simulates primary and general elections for every politician, and you can see these election results at the end of every election. Cheer on colleagues as they run for higher office. Watch the presidential election results come in with anticipation about which party will control the executive branch. Then, view the results for house and senate elections to see which party will control congress. Did any colleagues or rivals lose their elections? The world is constantly changing as politicians retire, seek higher level positions, or lose a primary election to an up-and-coming challenger. Politicians have ambitions; like you, they will try to ascend the political hierarchy. You may see a city council member rise to the level of governor; and you can watch as colleagues in the senate run for the presidency.

You can watch as the political balance changes over time and predict how changing government approval ratings will influence the next election.

All of these background events help to produce a more engaging political world.

Outside the political world, there is also the world of your constituents. The game simulates over 100 metrics based on default conditions and government policies. Watch how metrics change over time based on the policies that you and your colleagues create. Will you reduce poverty, improve education, eliminate the federal deficit?

Control the Fate of Your Party
One of the playable positions in the game is the Campaign Committee Chairperson. In this position, you are responsible for electing party members to office. Recruit candidates and fine-tune their policies. Use party resources to sway public opinion and increase voter turnout, in an effort to elect as many party members as possible. This position has the potential to significantly impact the ideology and success of your political party. If you are unhappy with a member of your party, you can select a candidate to challenge them in the next primary. If your party is becoming too radical, you can recruit moderate candidates to represent the next generation of your party.
Be strategic in the candidates you choose. You may be able to win competitive districts if you are clever in the policies you select for your candidates.
Use financial resources wisely - will you focus on increasing voter turnout, or will you play the long game and gradually, over the course of many elections, use marketing to sway public opinion, and change the party ideology to more closely match your own?

Dictator Mode
In dictator mode you can play as the president as long as you want, without having to win reelection. Write legislation and control the budget without interference from congress. Use Dictator Mode to test out various ways to balance the federal budget or to see how different combinations of laws influence the country. Create any combination of policies that you want.

Things to Consider Before Buying
The game attempts to be a realistic, but simplified, simulation of politics. Like real-life politics, it can be difficult. Some elections cannot be won. Some legislation cannot be passed. Understanding this must be part of your political strategy. In what districts can you win an election? What legislation can you pass? These are the kinds of questions you have to consider as a politician. The challenging aspects of the game make your accomplishments more rewarding.

If audio is an important element of your playing experience, you should be aware that the audio quality in this game is currently not very good. There are three sounds in the game: clicking a button, clicking a tab, and an alert sound when new events are added to your schedule. Each sound effect can be changed from a selection of several options, if you dislike the default sound effects. All sounds in the game can be muted. The game currently has four (low-quality) songs that play in a loop, and are, by default, muted. They can be unmuted in the options menu. If you do not want to play the game in silence, feel free to play your favorite music, ambient noises, or relaxing nature sounds in the background.

Election campaigns become more interesting as you seek higher level positions. In low-level positions, such as school board or city council, you have very few resources, which limits how much you can do in terms of influencing the election. Higher level positions such as the senate and house of representatives will provide you with more resources and opportunities, making higher level election campaigns more interesting.

There is no tutorial; you have to navigate the political world on your own. There is a concepts page that explains many of the features in the game and gives advice about how to play the game. If you read the concepts page, and explore all of the tabs in the game, you should have a decent understanding of how to play. You will be instructed on how to locate the concepts page when the game begins.

There are no win conditions in the game. You play the life of a politician and retire whenever you want. A reasonable end point for the game is the end of your second term as president.
Some aspects of a politician's life are repetitive: knocking on doors, fundraising, attending rallies. These activities can also be repetitive in the game, but they are not too time-consuming to complete.

When running for political office, you must run as a Democrat or a Republican. You cannot play as an independent. Even though you have to campaign as a Democrat or Republican, you do not have to act like them. You can play with whatever ideology and policy combinations that you want.

Many of the playable positions are very similar - playing as a state representative is not different from playing as a state senator.

There is no option to veto appropriation (budget) legislation. Budget legislation automatically becomes law because there is currently no mechanism to simulate shutting down the government.

If you are not interested in the game in its current state, consider adding it to your wishlist. Then, as new updates are release, you can evaluate whether the new content is something that you are interested in playing.

Since the game is in early access, features of the game can change or be added. This means that any of the aspects above can be improved based on community input. Suggestions for improvement are welcome and encouraged.

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1184770/ss_95b5823fcbf99e2850d521bb843e056ee94149b5.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1184770/ss_78400912692341e77f5db7817b1e31efc93940de.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1184770/ss_ab5776fb440a631efae53183fc945b87f159b150.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1184770/ss_b733567169e56522c52191068bcd74692513834e.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1184770/ss_993c4d3f021556f03627ea9949d1cb08d74c845d.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1184770/ss_de46edaae034bb73142b13f915b5778ae31f47af.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1184770/ss_a15cdb9b1f48745803d68ee5c2281f86b0d6a461.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1184770/ss_9f238cc2dac0aad9ad7d3ffc15eb7fd3d790af40.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1184770/ss_d55767c67cd8250ac442766c0017804101ddca01.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1184770/ss_3bdf5b58a3ab7d8353e76759554ae8be38effc91.1920x1080.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on December 09, 2019, 05:05:49 AM
OMG Read Dead Redemption 2 is awesome. Logged pretty much my entire weekend on it.

I am planning to go on a hunt for a perfect elk pelt next, now that I might have a rifle to one-headshot one.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on December 09, 2019, 05:20:38 PM
Anyone still playing Dawn of Man?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on December 09, 2019, 06:54:10 PM
I am, I didn't like the adjustment they made to make the raiders more powerful.  It turns the game into an RTS combat game more than a survival game.  But the recent upgrades to the economy are a good step forward.  I am hoping for some more content in the future.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on December 09, 2019, 07:14:04 PM
Ah.  I saw it was on sale on Steam and was thinking about picking it up.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Oexmelin on December 10, 2019, 12:49:37 PM
Playing the Return of the Obra Dinn. It's wonderful.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 10, 2019, 01:01:55 PM
I loved it a lot. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 17, 2019, 10:33:38 AM
Blade Runner is now on GOG: https://www.gog.com/game/blade_runner

It only recently was gotten ready to run on modern machines.

https://www.pcgamer.com/blade-runner-westwoods-classic-adventure-game-is-finally-on-gog/?utm_content=buffer68d92&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=buffer-pcgamertw

QuoteGOG has rescued another classic game, one that's probably been at the top of a lot of people's lists, releasing it digitally for the first time. Blade Runner, Westwood Studios' classic adventure game, has finally returned. And you can grab it now.

Blade Runner has taken so long to appear because the source code was lost when Westwood Studios moved. It's actually thanks to the ScummVM community that we have this version, as they spent eight years reverse engineering the game's engine. And now GOG has made a deal with Alcon Interactive, the license owner, to release it digitally, DRM-free.

Though it's based on the movie, it follows a different detective, Ray McCoy, as he hunts down his own renegade replicants. It runs parallel to the movie and spins a pretty similar yarn, but it's a chance to properly explore LA and dig into things only briefly touched on in the movie.

Like its inspiration, it's also a looker. Sure, the lavish pre-rendered backgrounds don't look quite as stunning as they did in 1997, but it hasn't lost any of its style. There's no dearth of cyberpunk settings these days, but Blade Runner's LA is still a singular city.

At times it's a bit like an interactive Blade Runner museum, letting you play with all the toys Deckard used in the movie. You can administer a Voight-Kampff test, for instance, and use your Esper machine to analyse 3D photos of crime scenes. It's the police work that's the best part, even if it's sometimes just clicking on a low res photo a lot.

You can get it for £6.89 during the GOG Winter Sale.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Oexmelin on December 17, 2019, 06:18:32 PM
I'll be getting it. I learned about Blade Runner from that game before watching the movie. Loved both.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on December 26, 2019, 06:13:13 PM
I got Soulcalibur 6 on the Steam sale. When I created my character it turned out to be a hot BDSM chick. :o
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on December 27, 2019, 05:41:37 PM
So... are there any good porn games out there, or is Skyrim with porn mods the way to go?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on December 29, 2019, 09:46:53 AM
Quote from: The Brain on December 27, 2019, 05:41:37 PM
So... are there any good porn games out there, or is Skyrim with porn mods the way to go?

https://store.steampowered.com/app/265930/Goat_Simulator/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on December 29, 2019, 04:01:18 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on December 29, 2019, 09:46:53 AM
Quote from: The Brain on December 27, 2019, 05:41:37 PM
So... are there any good porn games out there, or is Skyrim with porn mods the way to go?

https://store.steampowered.com/app/265930/Goat_Simulator/

I actually never got around to buying this.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on December 30, 2019, 07:10:25 AM
I stayed up way too late playing Slay the Spire last night.  I'm sick so it was a terrible idea.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on December 30, 2019, 10:44:18 AM
I got Divinity: Original Sin via the Steam sale.  It's great... no idea why I never played it before.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on December 30, 2019, 10:45:30 AM
Quote from: Caliga on December 30, 2019, 10:44:18 AM
I got Divinity: Original Sin via the Steam sale.  It's great... no idea why I never played it before.

Yeah wtf is wrong with you.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on December 31, 2019, 03:29:20 PM
Having fun with Planetfall.  Lots of interesting choices.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 02, 2020, 06:08:48 PM
Finished Disco Elysium at last. :)

Such an excellent game, and I can think of very few games that gave me the feeling of being able to properly roleplay my character. While you do play a prescribed character, you have a lot of options with how you deal with the world. Actually, this is one of the few RPGs where I would purposely NOT select all dialogue options, because they were not fitting to the character I was playing as; whereas in other games I would go through all options as a matter of course. I want to replay with a completely different character to see how it changes the game (plus, there were a few loose ends I didn't tie up, though the ending left me quite satisfied).

The writing is excellent, and even when I felt stuck I felt I had plenty to do in the microcosm of Martinaise. It's few games that fil me with vague existential dread one moment and then have my burst out laughing five minutes later. Tonally, it's like a weird mix of Hunter S. Thompson, David Lynch, and Wes Anderson. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on January 03, 2020, 02:20:31 AM
Just got Disco Elysium as well, pondering on which to play first, it or Outer Worlds (via Xbox Game Pass). :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on January 09, 2020, 02:39:38 PM
Is Hentai Nazi any good?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on January 09, 2020, 03:44:57 PM
Quote from: The Brain on January 09, 2020, 02:39:38 PM
Is Hentai Nazi any good?

The title is enough to give you all of the information you need to know.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 10, 2020, 04:47:34 AM
Quote from: The Brain on January 09, 2020, 02:39:38 PM
Is Hentai Nazi any good?

How does it compare to the Genius! NAZI-GIRL GoePPels-Chan series of anime visual novels?
https://store.steampowered.com/app/921430/Genius_NAZIGIRL_GoePPelsChan_ep1/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on January 10, 2020, 02:49:22 PM
Quote from: Syt on January 10, 2020, 04:47:34 AM
Quote from: The Brain on January 09, 2020, 02:39:38 PM
Is Hentai Nazi any good?

How does it compare to the Genius! NAZI-GIRL GoePPels-Chan series of anime visual novels?
https://store.steampowered.com/app/921430/Genius_NAZIGIRL_GoePPelsChan_ep1/

Probably less of a Riefenstahl tinge.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 15, 2020, 11:23:27 AM
Quote from: Syt on May 29, 2019, 04:07:33 AM
Quote from: Valmy on May 27, 2019, 11:25:02 PM
Quote from: Syt on May 25, 2019, 05:34:02 AM
So Valmy, how goes your career as judge of the revolution?

Oh it is fun. I am honor bound to play every France based game in French and usually that is no big deal since most of the time it is a strategy game of some sort. But this time I have to pay careful attention to exactly what is said and that is a little tricky :P

:)

If you want to learn a bit Chinese (or wait for a [fan] translation), there's also what appears to be Final Fantasy Tactics set in the French Revolution with anime girls. :P

https://store.steampowered.com/app/994730/_Banner_of_the_Maid/

QuoteBanner of the Maid is a Turn-Based Strategy Game set in the late 18th century to early 19th century, based on the alternative history of the French Revolution.
At the end of 18th century, as the House of Bourbon was on the verge of clasping, Louis XVI of France planned to secretly escape from his country. Starting from the French Revolution, the wave of chaos swiped across Europe. Follow the steps of our protagonist, the young female officer Pauline Bonaparte, to start her journey as a regular officer and win battles both on the battlefront and in the political vortex of Paris, and finally write her own heroic story.


In the heat of the French Revolution, the Royalists, Club des Feuillants, Club des Jacobins and Malmaisons, various factions contend with each other on the grand stage of Paris. Starting from the eye of storm, the Malmaison Salon, Pauline Bonaparte have to approach the factions, complete their quests and challenges in order to establish connections with political figures and win over their support, gather funding to improve her weaponry and equipments, secure army supplies while she also tries to discover and unveiled the secrets of the Maids that are buried deep inside the City.


The storm of the French Revolution and the mysterious Maids had changed the fate of the entire Europe.
The revolution is a time of heroes: talented and trustworthy generals, secret agents of the Royal Family, even musicians who possesses extraordinary talents. More than 30 characters with distinct background will be available for you to command. Hire them to be one of your own, understand their stories and cultivate them to be your unstoppable force on the battlefields.


Command the iconic troops of the 18th and 19th century such as Line Infantry, Skirmisher, Calvary, Artillery and much more through the Turn-Based Strategy combats to experience the reimagined European battlegrounds.
Train your commanders to improve their abilities and learn the appropriate tactical skills, defeat powerful enemies!


Over 30 maps, including cities, plains, snowy mountains, etc. Utilize the unique elements on the battlefields to ensure advantages.
- Critical terrain elements that provide advantages and disadvantages during battles;
- Different key locations that provide unique support to different types of troops;
- Special events that take place on the battleground as the story progresses;
- Environment changes such as storm, heavy snow, thick fog, dark nights, etc.

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/994730/ss_37d50044797d7584cb3b91b193ada9c53c428087.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/994730/ss_92309cf671f0355089703a7b613e8fddbb9226df.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/994730/ss_d17b8ed92aff0dfb51d7a8fc75e6ef3ef3b9ca26.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/994730/ss_e8badf9db42ffc37f9aff7bc5516d35fdf1f5810.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/994730/ss_5df727efd318682da99891cb51ad6ff8be301b37.600x338.jpg)

Looks like an official English translation will be released on 14th February. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on January 15, 2020, 02:03:22 PM
But no French translation? :(

I mean showing off your boobs was à la mode at the time so it is not completely historically inaccurate :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 15, 2020, 02:06:58 PM
You do get what I assume is a very dashing Murat, though. :P

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/994730/ss_5267a88e61e3e9c5fc0d95926687464dfb607916.1920x1080.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on January 17, 2020, 02:52:00 PM
Maybe it's time for some CM:BtB again.

From old games.
(https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/338777_4101422905117_411915400_o.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_ohc=gEUQbr-OOBkAX-XmbXL&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=b57652cf5b05622904c015b089d1e881&oe=5ED09D47)
(https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/469830_4101435065421_2041903713_o.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_ohc=0pkU36PWRYwAX94F4B9&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=c559e3e92c3f71c93cc737c3b15f42fa&oe=5E91445D)
(https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/458538_4140976773939_1251828846_o.jpg?_nc_cat=106&_nc_ohc=sxyACG2cjE8AX8BpSEb&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=88797291c209368859f15ac46b892ac1&oe=5E93283C)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on January 17, 2020, 02:54:56 PM
It's weird to think that CM:BtB is closer to WW2 than we are to CM:BtB.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 05, 2020, 02:19:02 PM
Tiny Islands, a little time waster you can play in your browser for free:

https://dr-d-king.itch.io/tiny-islands
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 05, 2020, 02:22:03 PM
Played around with Foundations - a medieval themed city builder which focuses on production chains. 

It is still in alpha so there is a lot yet to be implemented.  But it looks good already.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/690830/Foundation/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on February 05, 2020, 10:21:14 PM
Quote from: The Brain on December 27, 2019, 05:41:37 PM
So... are there any good porn games out there, or is Skyrim with porn mods the way to go?
Skyrim with porn mods.  Better engine.  And you could probably fuck a lizard. Or a horse.  It seems to be highly moddable.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 06, 2020, 01:45:41 AM
Quote from: viper37 on February 05, 2020, 10:21:14 PM
Quote from: The Brain on December 27, 2019, 05:41:37 PM
So... are there any good porn games out there, or is Skyrim with porn mods the way to go?
Skyrim with porn mods.  Better engine.  And you could probably fuck a lizard. Or a horse.  It seems to be highly moddable.

Thanks. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 06, 2020, 11:45:35 AM
Apparently EA is increasing the prices of ts back catalog on Steam for countries not the US:

https://www.reddit.com/r/pcgaming/comments/ezgpg4/ea_has_increased_the_regional_prices_of_most_of/

E.g. Sim City 4 went from €9.99 to €19.99  :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on February 09, 2020, 08:38:01 AM
nVidia released it's video game streaming service, called Geforce Now. It has two tiers right now, one is free and one at 5 bucks a month with a 3-month free trial.

Google Stadia's streaming service requires you to buy games for Stadia even if you already own them on Steam or whatever. Geforce Now actually uses Steam's library (and Uplay and Epic), so you can actually play games you already own (revolutionary stuff, I know).

So now I'm using my laptop with integrated graphics to play DOOM, Anno 1800, Destiny 2, and EU4 at 1080p 60 fps on my couch in the living room. Pretty slick stuff.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 10, 2020, 04:02:48 PM
Tactical WW2 game Nations at War by Lock&Load coming. The look of the gameplay in the trailer should please the more old school grognards and counter pushers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVYn30z2W_o
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Rex Francorum on February 11, 2020, 06:16:51 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 05, 2020, 02:22:03 PM
Played around with Foundations - a medieval themed city builder which focuses on production chains. 

It is still in alpha so there is a lot yet to be implemented.  But it looks good already.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/690830/Foundation/

It is developed in a building 5 mins away from my house
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 11, 2020, 08:12:58 PM
Cool  :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on February 11, 2020, 11:08:24 PM
I've been watching this game for a little while now:
http://greedfall.com/ (http://greedfall.com/)

I'll eventually buy it, but it looks really interesting for a RPG game, the world is really similar to 17th-18th century Europe (costumes, people, buildings, etc) but with fantastical creatures.

from what I have seen the main critics were that the game was buggy on release, but it should be ok by now for the worst bugs.
Valmy, you check this one out, in case you have some time left for another AAR ;)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 12, 2020, 02:18:29 AM
Making another attempt at breaking through the learning curve of Football Manager 2020. I have downloaded player images, etc. of course. And also found a skin that I like (FLUT).

The last time I seriously Football Managed was in the early 2000s, mostly with Anstoß 3, a German series (their head dev went on to lead EA's FIFA Manager series). The Anstoß series has a very dear place in my heart. It was of course much more limited than modern games. You could only play in Germany, and only in the top two leagues. There were less stats, and matches were either radio style text only or pre-rendered scenes with multiple outcomes.

The series was also a bit irreverent. There were random events that could affect you (like a rock concert in the stadium requiring you to redo the turf, or a player releasing a tell all book, tanking squad morale). The April 1st jokes were the worst. "Your entire team died in a plane crash!" .... "April Fools!" They caused serious WTF moments you first encountered them.

It also handled the shady side of things. You could funnel money into a secret fund that you could use to bribe players or refs. You could use performance enhancing drugs, and the trick was to use them early enough during season prep that players wouldn't test positive during matches, but late enough to give you a competitive edge before the effect dissipates. Or you just risk it and use it during the season.

One thing that German football managers did, which I didn't realize I missed until some German online comments pointed it out when FM got a German release last year or the year before, was add a business sim on top of the football sim. You had to negotiate your contracts with sponsors and TV stations. You set prices for tickets and merchandise (Anstoß kept stats which player's merch was the most popular). You were responsible for maintaining, expanding, or rebuilding your stadium. Heck, Anstoß 3 had a little Sim City bit where you built your club area with its various buildings and facilities:

(https://www.fancorner.de/files/fancorner_public/images/anstoss_3_fotoalbum/Vereinsgelaende/Vereinsgelaende001.jpg)

You also had some RPG elements - you could date and marry, have kids (who might become players themselves), bought houses and status symbols ...

Gotta say, I miss that whole aspect a little bit. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 12, 2020, 04:18:10 AM
I'd argue that FM's latest iterations are very heavy on the RPG part.

You have LOTS of communication options with your players, the press, the board, and specific relationships with these, down to individual journalists.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on February 12, 2020, 04:34:16 AM
In FM if you play long enough you can have your son show up in your team's youth teams, too.

One option I've always missed, besides having a bit more meat in the business part of the simulation, is being able to play as a player/manager. I recall an older football manager sim where you could do that.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 12, 2020, 12:32:57 PM
Yes. I too miss that side of things on old footy manager games. I used to like premier manager for this and fifa mangers stadium builder was fun.

I await my Roy of the rovers adventure game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: DGuller on February 13, 2020, 11:57:47 PM
I recently got back into GTA IV.  Last time I played it was almost 10 years ago, and back then I just started out driving for real.  I just now played a mission centered around the southern tip of Man Algonquin, and I've had that creepy feeling of deja vu.  Not from playing the game before, but from having driven in or through downtown Manhattan before.  It even had my workplace building in the game modeled, which isn't particularly famous or remarkable.  That was a masterpiece of a game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 14, 2020, 03:48:53 AM
Yeah, that's like kind of their freaky thing. I just drove for the first time in Malibu today and felt a tinge of recognition from GTAV.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 14, 2020, 03:52:40 AM
Not having been to LA I felt some of that when I played GTA5 after L.A. Noire, where some L.A. inspired historical buildings gave me an odd sense of dejà vu. "Oh, isn't that the church ... didn't there used to be a car salesman two corners from here?"
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 14, 2020, 04:16:52 AM
I really have my fingers crossed for GTA6 returning to the UK. A grotty northern city would be a great setting. And be good for this feel
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 14, 2020, 04:37:54 AM
Quote from: Tyr on February 14, 2020, 04:16:52 AM
I really have my fingers crossed for GTA6 returning to the UK. A grotty northern city would be a great setting. And be good for this feel

Nobody a yard away from Northern England gives a rat's ass about Northern England. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 14, 2020, 05:35:47 AM
Northern England/Southern Scotland was beautifully represented in Forza Horizon 4. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 14, 2020, 02:00:50 PM
Possibly of interest to WW2 carrier action fans here:

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2020/02/14/the-flare-path-talks-task-force-admiral/

QuoteFor a man patently hellbent on developing the most realistic Pacific Theatre of Operations wet wargame ever, French flat-top fan 'Amiral Crapaud' uses the 'R' word extremely sparingly. Still at least a year away*, Task Force Admiral Volume 1: American Carrier Battles is a project with ancient touchstones, but a thoroughly modern approach to graphics, physics, and what Carl von Clausewitz called "friction". I've high hopes for Drydock Dream Games' debut diversion. Read the following Shinano-sized interview to understand why.

* A limited playable beta may arrive before 2021.

(Interview in article)

Pre-alpha tech demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upbqBpcG3EA&feature=emb_logo
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on February 14, 2020, 02:49:13 PM
Quote from: DGuller on February 13, 2020, 11:57:47 PM
I recently got back into GTA IV.  Last time I played it was almost 10 years ago, and back then I just started out driving for real.  I just now played a mission centered around the southern tip of Man Algonquin, and I've had that creepy feeling of deja vu.  Not from playing the game before, but from having driven in or through downtown Manhattan before.  It even had my workplace building in the game modeled, which isn't particularly famous or remarkable.  That was a masterpiece of a game.


I thought of GTA IV as a Dguller simulator.  You start out as an eastern European immigrant in Brighton Beach and go on an epic quest to New Jersey.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: DGuller on February 14, 2020, 03:56:15 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on February 14, 2020, 02:49:13 PM
Quote from: DGuller on February 13, 2020, 11:57:47 PM
I recently got back into GTA IV.  Last time I played it was almost 10 years ago, and back then I just started out driving for real.  I just now played a mission centered around the southern tip of Man Algonquin, and I've had that creepy feeling of deja vu.  Not from playing the game before, but from having driven in or through downtown Manhattan before.  It even had my workplace building in the game modeled, which isn't particularly famous or remarkable.  That was a masterpiece of a game.


I thought of GTA IV as a Dguller simulator.  You start out as an eastern European immigrant in Brighton Beach and go on an epic quest to New Jersey.
:mad:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on February 14, 2020, 06:18:24 PM
Quote from: DGuller on February 14, 2020, 03:56:15 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on February 14, 2020, 02:49:13 PM
Quote from: DGuller on February 13, 2020, 11:57:47 PM
I recently got back into GTA IV.  Last time I played it was almost 10 years ago, and back then I just started out driving for real.  I just now played a mission centered around the southern tip of Man Algonquin, and I've had that creepy feeling of deja vu.  Not from playing the game before, but from having driven in or through downtown Manhattan before.  It even had my workplace building in the game modeled, which isn't particularly famous or remarkable.  That was a masterpiece of a game.


I thought of GTA IV as a Dguller simulator.  You start out as an eastern European immigrant in Brighton Beach and go on an epic quest to New Jersey.
:mad:


Is that not your life story?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on February 15, 2020, 12:40:59 AM
I have no idea how hearts of Iron 4 Navy works.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: DGuller on February 15, 2020, 12:45:03 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on February 15, 2020, 12:40:59 AM
I have no idea how hearts of Iron 4 Navy works.
I assume you you have Man the Guns DLC?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on February 15, 2020, 02:37:14 PM
Quote from: DGuller on February 15, 2020, 12:45:03 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on February 15, 2020, 12:40:59 AM
I have no idea how hearts of Iron 4 Navy works.
I assume you you have Man the Guns DLC?


Yes.  I don't even know where half my ships are.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Threviel on February 15, 2020, 03:33:31 PM
Watch some videos, it is quite neat actually, but quite a learning curve.

I had huge issues with air forces and navies in the beginning.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on February 15, 2020, 08:23:18 PM
I honestly didn't want to watch an hour of youtube video to learn how to play a computer game.  That seems like too much work.  Maybe I will some other time.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on February 15, 2020, 10:01:03 PM
Ships are in the areas their fleets are assigned to, and move from area to area to patrol them.  Only when there are battles is their exact location determined.  There is an icon in each sea area telling you how many TFs on a given mission are currently in that area.  The TFs themselves aren't shown except when in battle.  That's actually realistic from a strategic POV, since they wouldn't be reporting exact position unless in contact with the enemy.  Sending reports reveals one's position.  Ask Admiral Lütjens.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Threviel on February 16, 2020, 03:01:22 AM
It was a few years ago, bu I seem to remember that someone did a very good explanation in the HoI 4 thread. Peak through that one.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 16, 2020, 03:12:57 AM
I keep promising myself to dive into Command: Modern Operations, partially as a means to learn a bit about modern air/naval combat.

But every time I open it, the tutorial list glowers at me ....  :ph34r:

(https://i.postimg.cc/hvXWDzym/CMO.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on February 16, 2020, 09:30:55 AM
I imagine CMO is one of those games that is fit for the "Expectations vs Reality" meme.

Expectation: I AM LAUNCHING THE CRUISE MISSILES, MR. PRESIDENT. *VERY CRISP SALUTE*

Reality: How much fuel do my AWACS need??? This is fucking boring, why am I doing this??
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 16, 2020, 09:46:08 AM
I mean, I guess you're not entirely wrong.

https://youtu.be/h9mWWka7hK4?t=619

;)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 21, 2020, 08:29:52 AM
Major update for Planetfall is available.  The changes look good.  Haven't had a chance to try it out.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 22, 2020, 02:13:45 AM
Quote from: Syt on September 14, 2018, 02:11:23 AM
New tactical civil war game in the works, dev diaries/blog here: http://www.grandtactician.com/thecivilwar/blog/

It has dispatches :w00t:

Campaign preview video:

https://youtu.be/ZRdRLmPcBZw
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on February 25, 2020, 08:53:26 PM
I bought Baldur's Gate enhanced edition when it came out, but never got around to playing until now.  It's kind of weird playing a game that I last played 20 years ago.  I'm having fun, but it really makes you realize that AD&D 2nd edition was a crappy system.  Every thing that changed with 3rd edition was an improvement.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 28, 2020, 12:18:41 PM
(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/1e/96/51/1e965145f71ca6287d7ab57402a9d84a.jpg)

^_^
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 06, 2020, 07:15:31 AM
Paging @celedhring

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1034750/The_Flower_Collectors/

QuoteA detective mystery set in the political powder-keg of Barcelona in 1977. You play Jorge, an ex-cop in a wheelchair with a difficult past. Alone on your balcony, you watch the world pass by through binoculars.

One stormy night, you witness a murder. Determined to uncover the truth, you form an unlikely alliance with young ambitious journalist Melinda and start your investigation.

Together, you'll solve a complex mystery by unravelling the secrets of unsuspecting neighbors.

Inspired by classic crime noir films and games like Campo Santo's Firewatch, The Flower Collectors is a detective story with a whole lot of heart.

Solve a captivating murder mystery with an unusual storyline
Meet a host of colourful anthropomorphic characters in a lush, atmospheric world
Investigate using your binoculars, camera and transmitter to uncover neighborhood secrets from your balcony
Create a crime chronology to figure out whodunnit
Interrogate priests, beggars, club singers and nosy old ladies alike
Dive into the unique setting of post-Franco Barcelona in the 70ies
Emphasizes characters, world building and narrative over skill challenges
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 09, 2020, 04:03:30 PM
Wife told me to choose a game she'd buy for me for my namesday. I went with Rimworld.

Bad choice. OMG SO BORING.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 09, 2020, 04:05:30 PM
I've heard many descriptions of Rimworld, but boring has so far not been among them.

Then again you thought Ghost Recon Breakpoint was fun. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 09, 2020, 04:14:13 PM
Quote from: Syt on March 09, 2020, 04:05:30 PM
I've heard many descriptions of Rimworld, but boring has so far not been among them.

Then again you thought Ghost Recon Breakpoint was fun. :P

I get the concept of the game but I think No Oxygen (or what its called) does it better. It's just too much of a sandbox.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 09, 2020, 04:17:53 PM
Rimworld is very much a sandbox where you set your own goals and try to deal with the nonsensical and silly situations you find yourself in when the game's systems collide (the latter arguably the main pull for many). If that's not your cup of tea and you prefer less free-form games then I can understand why you're not enjoying it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on March 09, 2020, 04:52:34 PM
Hungarians yearn for strong leadership.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on March 15, 2020, 03:00:58 PM
Since I'll be stuck at home for a while, thought I'd buy Playdek's port of GMT's Labyrinth.

Great, more misery  :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on March 22, 2020, 04:25:18 AM
Anyone got any good let's play of Doom Eternal to recommend? Preferably one where I can see what's going on and the player doesn't talk shit constantly. I'll probably not be playing the game myself any time soon, but it looks fun enough to watch.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: DGuller on March 26, 2020, 11:52:49 PM
After watching real life NASCAR conduct their race on iRacing last week, I was inspired to dust off my sim racing rig and come back to iRacing.  Amazingly, my Logitech G27 wheel still functions perfectly after 8 years of collecting dust.  Unfortunately, the nut behind the wheel didn't age as gracefully.  :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on March 27, 2020, 04:10:36 PM
DOOM Eternal is the most intense video game I've ever played. I have to stop playing after about an hour because it's just too much :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on March 27, 2020, 05:47:17 PM
I've been playing graveyard keeper. It's fun. A sort of light no need to stress about the timer stardew Valley
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on March 27, 2020, 07:51:42 PM
Warplan is now on Steam, has anyone taken this out for a spin yet?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 29, 2020, 08:41:19 AM
OMG Tiller Games released Serbia '14. I know I'd be quickly exhausted by the 90s UI and moving dozens if not hundreds of units around one by one, but it is CALLING TO ME.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on March 30, 2020, 07:35:58 PM
Quote from: Tamas on March 29, 2020, 08:41:19 AM
OMG Tiller Games released Serbia '14. I know I'd be quickly exhausted by the 90s UI and moving dozens if not hundreds of units around one by one, but it is CALLING TO ME.

Do they have a "dig in and send most of the troops to Galicia" option for Austria-Hungary?

Because trying to attack Serbia while Russia is coming at you is the most Conrad von Hotzendorf move ever.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 31, 2020, 12:16:09 AM
Quote from: Tamas on March 29, 2020, 08:41:19 AM
OMG Tiller Games released Serbia '14. I know I'd be quickly exhausted by the 90s UI and moving dozens if not hundreds of units around one by one, but it is CALLING TO ME.

I've seen it, but I'm hesitant. I like their Panzer Campaigns engine for WW2 battles, but I feel it doesn't do all that well outside that time period. The Modern Campaigns games are still ok, but I couldn't get into France 14 or East Prussia 14. I may have to give them another try, though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on March 31, 2020, 02:03:44 AM
Should be spelled Servia '14 for period flavor.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on March 31, 2020, 02:47:05 AM
Quote from: Tamas on March 29, 2020, 08:41:19 AM
OMG Tiller Games released Serbia '14. I know I'd be quickly exhausted by the 90s UI and moving dozens if not hundreds of units around one by one, but it is CALLING TO ME.

You know my first thought was "what happened in Serbia in 2014"   :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 31, 2020, 02:57:54 AM
Quote from: Syt on March 31, 2020, 12:16:09 AM
Quote from: Tamas on March 29, 2020, 08:41:19 AM
OMG Tiller Games released Serbia '14. I know I'd be quickly exhausted by the 90s UI and moving dozens if not hundreds of units around one by one, but it is CALLING TO ME.

I've seen it, but I'm hesitant. I like their Panzer Campaigns engine for WW2 battles, but I feel it doesn't do all that well outside that time period. The Modern Campaigns games are still ok, but I couldn't get into France 14 or East Prussia 14. I may have to give them another try, though.

I have bought it, felt like the insane amount of research that has gone to it (available for free in the designer notes PDF on the site) deserved it.

But yeah I am not convinced. Smaller scenarios start with most troops alread engaged and that's a mighty slog of being a dozen hexes from an objective and having to dislodge the enemy from each one in bloody fights.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 31, 2020, 02:58:11 AM
Quote from: celedhring on March 31, 2020, 02:47:05 AM
Quote from: Tamas on March 29, 2020, 08:41:19 AM
OMG Tiller Games released Serbia '14. I know I'd be quickly exhausted by the 90s UI and moving dozens if not hundreds of units around one by one, but it is CALLING TO ME.

You know my first thought was "what happened in Serbia in 2014"   :blush:

:mad:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 31, 2020, 03:00:57 AM
Quote from: Tamas on March 31, 2020, 02:57:54 AM
Quote from: Syt on March 31, 2020, 12:16:09 AM
Quote from: Tamas on March 29, 2020, 08:41:19 AM
OMG Tiller Games released Serbia '14. I know I'd be quickly exhausted by the 90s UI and moving dozens if not hundreds of units around one by one, but it is CALLING TO ME.

I've seen it, but I'm hesitant. I like their Panzer Campaigns engine for WW2 battles, but I feel it doesn't do all that well outside that time period. The Modern Campaigns games are still ok, but I couldn't get into France 14 or East Prussia 14. I may have to give them another try, though.

I have bought it, felt like the insane amount of research that has gone to it (available for free in the designer notes PDF on the site) deserved it.

But yeah I am not convinced. Smaller scenarios start with most troops alread engaged and that's a mighty slog of being a dozen hexes from an objective and having to dislodge the enemy from each one in bloody fights.

I think my biggest gripe was the handling of MGs. They have a range of 2 hexes, but they require a setup turn and clear line of sight which makes using them a huge pain in the ass when on the offensive.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on March 31, 2020, 06:13:52 AM
Soooo Mount and Blade 2 is in early access.

I've too much to play now so shall hold off.
But. Yay.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 01, 2020, 01:33:53 AM
Quote from: Syt on March 31, 2020, 03:00:57 AM
I think my biggest gripe was the handling of MGs. They have a range of 2 hexes, but they require a setup turn and clear line of sight which makes using them a huge pain in the ass when on the offensive.

I started an East Prussia 14 scenario yesterday. I had forgotten about the two types of artillery - the one that you can fire immediately, and the one that requires one turn to plot before firing. And yeah, re: the MGs: you start with a few MGs in movement mode, but out of range of enemies. So I move them one hex, click deploy ... oops, not enough action points. So you have to move it (1 turn), set it up (1 turn), and then can fire. By which point your own infantry is probably in the way, or have shuffled their feet waiting for the MGs to set up. It's very much the same how artillery moves in Panzer Campaign games, and it seems a bit exaggerated for MG units.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 01, 2020, 01:38:54 AM
New ACW game:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1241910/Victory_and_Glory_The_American_Civil_War/

Developer: Forced March Games, Electric Games
Publisher: Lock 'n Load Publishing

QuoteThe War of Brother Against Brother

Victory and Glory: The American Civil War is a game of grand strategy and fast-play tactical battles where you take the role of either the Union or the Confederates and attempt to win. You will move your armies, fight great battles, recruit new troops, and conquer cities. The AI will control either the Confederacy or the Union forces in this great conflict!

Game Features
- Re-fight the entire American Civil War!
- Play either side: Union or Confederacy
- Many specialized unit types that cover everything on land and water:
- Rifles: smoothbore, rifled muskets, even repeating rifles, two types of artillery
- ironclads, wooden warships, blockade runners, and river gunboats.
- Almost 100 unique 'Event Cards' with artwork by Keith Rocco.
- Each card implements special unit upgrades, advantages in battle, new recruits, historical events, or political events that can affect the struggle between North and South.
- Land Battles can be resolved automatically, or with a more detailed tactical battle system.
- Simple resolution for naval battles, gunboat attacks, and bombardment of port defenses.
- Never plays the same way twice. Infinitely re-playable.
- Solo play against a very challenging AI.

Several Settings:
- 1861: fight as the Union or the Confederacy under historical conditions.
- Alternate scenarios for the Union or the Confederacy including several 'what ifs'
- Multiple levels of difficulty,
1). Play the Union against the Confederacy with border states of Missouri, Kentucky, and Maryland as independent regions between the two sides. (Washington D.C. is the Union capital and forms an exception to the border-state status).
2). Play the Confederacy against the Union with border states of Missouri, Kentucky, and Maryland as independent regions between the two sides. (Washington D.C. is the Union capital and forms an exception to the border-state status).
3). Play the Union against an expanded Confederacy with the states of Missouri, Kentucky, and Maryland having seceded and joined the Confederacy. This is an "alternate history" scenario, with the U.S. capital moved to New York City.
4). Play an expanded Confederacy against the Union with the states of Missouri, Kentucky, and Maryland having seceded and joined the Confederacy. This is an "alternate history" scenario, with the U.S. capital moved to New York City.

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1241910/ss_e84365e50d1f5399ad7c658eb9dbebdf882c1412.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1241910/ss_e11dcfd02f77bb542f2b15fa818d2bfb3c6f23ff.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1241910/ss_10361f1b5787dc48e90f5d26110a399289d8a954.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1241910/ss_cf72d0235b0a86af4e7b73e358297f51d76e2e3f.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1241910/ss_a462245b31994c570d4b58a50f8e285ca67e02ba.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1241910/ss_8d0fee1e45de7bc6645a13a4bcffd727f5c99269.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1241910/ss_fe991dac28dcb39bd70a907eebb6884d5b2f497b.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1241910/ss_1003a4f48622633007a3891fb8c9170b71b77802.1920x1080.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 01, 2020, 01:39:35 AM
Yes I agree the machine guns are extremely fiddly.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 01, 2020, 01:41:50 AM
Seems like a sequel of the Napoelonic game. I really like the developer (worked with him on the napoleonic game) but I really don't like the publisher.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 01, 2020, 01:46:02 AM
Quote from: Tamas on April 01, 2020, 01:41:50 AM
Seems like a sequel of the Napoelonic game. I really like the developer (worked with him on the napoleonic game) but I really don't like the publisher.

I had forgotten about that one. I wanted to like it, but I never could wrap my head around army organization/movement and battles. Which is kinda crucial for a Napoleonics game. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on April 01, 2020, 03:03:04 AM
Quote from: Tyr on March 31, 2020, 06:13:52 AM
Soooo Mount and Blade 2 is in early access.

I've too much to play now so shall hold off.
But. Yay.

According to a friend, it doesn't look like it's been in making for ten years. And for single-player at least, right now Warband with mods is better.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 02, 2020, 02:12:00 AM
This one snuck in under radar: https://www.gog.com/game/fields_of_glory

Old Microprose's Fields of Glory. I used to spend a lot of time with that game, though I never fully understood its workings (a common theme for me and wargames). :lol:


(https://images.gog-statics.com/4a7e5f847e9fba43f03bdf2eb12453513b68edc44919d58d3862b4b9b8855bdf.jpg)

(https://images.gog-statics.com/5b2d6a6ed87d34f557a00ccd0fe4eb61b11576f7539fe4c79fa37f1c74b28b45.jpg)

(https://images.gog-statics.com/09ae31c4ef9d06067affc66ba33786c104227ad75836dc0f53779fc6b2bae5fd.jpg)

(https://images.gog-statics.com/0854bfad798ed3928f229f4908b80306bacb9b796b6ab7abd0c0e8b1456df6a3.jpg)

(https://images.gog-statics.com/56a9c5bf5d9bd36d12d8a0fa5a16d74e1ab7c6de5a15006e12286e75aeb9d051.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on April 02, 2020, 02:17:28 AM
I played FoG back in the day. I liked it, but IIRC the artillery charges were annoying.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 02, 2020, 03:17:30 AM
I think that was the first computer wargame I played, although I did not know there were such things as wargames at the time.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 02, 2020, 03:40:04 AM
I am slowly getting into Serbia '14 I think.

I am playing the "condensed" version of the 1st invasion, so its a fairly large scenario that kicks off just as the battle for Mount Cer starts to unfold. Playing as A-H, obviously. It is interesting, as on and north of Cer, I am trying to form a defensive line to contain the Serbs with units that are in desperate shape already (would be even harder if the AI wasn't timid, while south of it I am on the attack, trying to advance to relieve pressure.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 02, 2020, 03:45:25 AM
But the UI of course continues to be terrible. A ridiculous amounts of clicks and more than half of them to find out or confirm that I can't do the thing that I want to do, because there's no easier way to learn that other than trying.

t's something that has frustrated me for a long while now. There are incredible amounts of research and talent going into these games with the OOBs and the scenario designs. But they mostly end up wasted because the engine they use is from the mid-90s.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on April 02, 2020, 03:47:54 AM
Quote from: Tamas on April 02, 2020, 03:45:25 AM
But the UI of course continues to be terrible. A ridiculous amounts of clicks and more than half of them to find out or confirm that I can't do the thing that I want to do, because there's no easier way to learn that other than trying.

t's something that has frustrated me for a long while now. There are incredible amounts of research and talent going into these games with the OOBs and the scenario designs. But they mostly end up wasted because the engine they use is from the mid-90s.

I can't shake the feeling that there's an idea in some circles that if you're into decent interfaces and playability you're not a true computer wargaming enthusiast.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 02, 2020, 03:54:21 AM
Quote from: Tamas on April 02, 2020, 03:45:25 AM
But the UI of course continues to be terrible. A ridiculous amounts of clicks and more than half of them to find out or confirm that I can't do the thing that I want to do, because there's no easier way to learn that other than trying.

t's something that has frustrated me for a long while now. There are incredible amounts of research and talent going into these games with the OOBs and the scenario designs. But they mostly end up wasted because the engine they use is from the mid-90s.

Anything specifically? Personally, I find it hard to gauge in these games how many AP it takes to switch movement modes, and how many I get in one vs the other. Or how many AP I will have left when moving next to a unit. For larger scenarios I've made it a habit to highlight moved units during my turn so I keep track of who has moved and who hasn't. Similar, at the start of the scenario I highlight all fixed units, and whether any reinforcements are expected and when.

That said, the base strat is easy. Shoot a hex until units are disrupted, then assault. Minimize enemy opportunity fire when moving while maximizing yours for the AI turn. Etc. Again, I feel this works best in their WW2 games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 02, 2020, 03:55:46 AM
Quote from: Syt on April 02, 2020, 03:54:21 AM
Quote from: Tamas on April 02, 2020, 03:45:25 AM
But the UI of course continues to be terrible. A ridiculous amounts of clicks and more than half of them to find out or confirm that I can't do the thing that I want to do, because there's no easier way to learn that other than trying.

t's something that has frustrated me for a long while now. There are incredible amounts of research and talent going into these games with the OOBs and the scenario designs. But they mostly end up wasted because the engine they use is from the mid-90s.

Anything specifically? Personally, I find it hard to gauge in these games how many AP it takes to switch movement modes, and how many I get in one vs the other. Or how many AP I will have left when moving next to a unit. For larger scenarios I've made it a habit to highlight moved units during my turn so I keep track of who has moved and who hasn't. Similar, at the start of the scenario I highlight all fixed units, and whether any reinforcements are expected and when.

That said, the base strat is easy. Shoot a hex until units are disrupted, then assault. Minimize enemy opportunity fire when moving while maximizing yours for the AI turn. Etc. Again, I feel this works best in their WW2 games.

Excellent points!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 02, 2020, 03:57:08 AM
Oh, and use the artillery menu to make sure you use all your assets. Though I still have trouble understanding what makes a unit "unavailable" during a turn.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 02, 2020, 03:58:55 AM
Btw, the gfx update for the Squad Battles series is a mixed bag. The terrain looks much better, but the units much worse.  :hmm:

Oh, and Tamas, if you have any of the old WW2 Panzer Campaign games: they all have their Gold upgrades now for nicer graphics and overhauled/added scenarios.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 02, 2020, 03:59:07 AM
Quote from: The Brain on April 02, 2020, 03:47:54 AM
Quote from: Tamas on April 02, 2020, 03:45:25 AM
But the UI of course continues to be terrible. A ridiculous amounts of clicks and more than half of them to find out or confirm that I can't do the thing that I want to do, because there's no easier way to learn that other than trying.

t's something that has frustrated me for a long while now. There are incredible amounts of research and talent going into these games with the OOBs and the scenario designs. But they mostly end up wasted because the engine they use is from the mid-90s.

I can't shake the feeling that there's an idea in some circles that if you're into decent interfaces and playability you're not a true computer wargaming enthusiast.

I think they just don't really care. Regardless of genre, it is very easy to develop snow blindness to the problems of a software you have been intimately familiar with. For the people developing for the Tiller engine, using it is second nature. Learning to work with something else would be a major undertaking for what is basically a free-time hobby for most of these guys, and I think most of them are happy to just design and develop for their own no doubt shrinking circles.

And that's fair enough, there are plenty of niche online hobbies out there. I just think these wargames could reach a far bigger audience if done in at least a remotely modern way.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 02, 2020, 03:59:29 AM
Quote from: Syt on April 02, 2020, 03:58:55 AM
Btw, the gfx update for the Squad Battles series is a mixed bag. The terrain looks much better, but the units much worse.  :hmm:

Oh, and Tamas, if you have any of the old WW2 Panzer Campaign games: they all have their Gold upgrades now for nicer graphics and overhauled/added scenarios.

Thanks, I don't remember buying any of them back in the day.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on April 02, 2020, 08:41:33 AM
Quote from: Syt on April 01, 2020, 01:38:54 AM
New ACW game:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1241910/Victory_and_Glory_The_American_Civil_War/


My initial review after being dumb and buying this because it is ACW and strategic and I really really really really want there to be a playable strategic ACW game....

So I am sitting at home and very bored, and I love ACW games, so I decided to give this a try. My first impressions after two games!

Game 1, Union. Turn 3 sees the fall of Washington. Hmmm.

I send McDowell south with his army of 12 or so, and he is promptly attacked by a Southern army of 11. OK! First Bull Run! He gets absolutely crushed - loses 8 of his 11 units, and the south loses 2 units.
4:1 casualty ratio in a major battle! Wow! That's impressive, since nobody ever achieved that during the war ever!
The South marches to Washington, and attacks again, but I am clever and play my reinforce battle card! Hah! That 9 to 6 battle is now 9 to 11!
Doesn't matter, I get crushed, and all my units are killed between the battle and pursuit. Washington falls on turn 3 or 4.
OK, so that went poorly. Lets try this again....

Start over, and this time, I am getting some leaders, damnit! We sent Grant to Washington right away, and get him a couple more leaders so at least when we fight we will have leaders in every spot. Surely this will matter!
I reinforce, and on turn 3? 4? Both sides have max sized armies in Virginia. It's 1864, except in the spring of 1861.
The CSA attacks Grant and his 20 with their 20, except they have Lee (who is much better than Grant) and Jackson (who is also better than Grant), and the battle is just silly. I do like 1 point of damage, and every shot the CSA fires destroys a unit. On round 3, Grant is killed, and I've lost like 8 units to zero CSA losses
.
So far, the game doesn't feel like it has any resemblance to the American Civil War.

But it's only been a few hours of play....
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 02, 2020, 09:48:47 AM
 :lol: My condolences. :console:

Have you played Gary Grigsby's War Between the States?



In a pang of nostalgia I dug winSPWW2 (the updated version of old Steel Panthers). Damn, it's still fun. Not overly complicated, and easy to play. The gfx haven't aged well. I find an 800x600 resolution works best for me. I can play in desktop resolution of 1920x1080, but the interface doesn't scale and the text becomes tiny.

I think the closest to a modern incarnation might be Armored Brigade (though that's NATO vs WP, and real time).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on April 02, 2020, 09:55:31 AM
I would love to have winSPWW2 with somewhat contemporary graphics. That would rule.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 02, 2020, 09:57:29 AM
Quote from: The Brain on April 02, 2020, 09:55:31 AM
I would love to have winSPWW2 with somewhat contemporary graphics. That would rule.

It's pretty bad when you have green soldiers on green background. Say a sniper in a woods tile. Or soviet brown units on brown terrain. I switch on the unit flag markers, because it's easy to overlook units.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 02, 2020, 10:01:45 AM
Quote from: Berkut on April 02, 2020, 08:41:33 AM
Quote from: Syt on April 01, 2020, 01:38:54 AM
New ACW game:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1241910/Victory_and_Glory_The_American_Civil_War/


My initial review after being dumb and buying this because it is ACW and strategic and I really really really really want there to be a playable strategic ACW game....

So I am sitting at home and very bored, and I love ACW games, so I decided to give this a try. My first impressions after two games!

Game 1, Union. Turn 3 sees the fall of Washington. Hmmm.

I send McDowell south with his army of 12 or so, and he is promptly attacked by a Southern army of 11. OK! First Bull Run! He gets absolutely crushed - loses 8 of his 11 units, and the south loses 2 units.
4:1 casualty ratio in a major battle! Wow! That's impressive, since nobody ever achieved that during the war ever!
The South marches to Washington, and attacks again, but I am clever and play my reinforce battle card! Hah! That 9 to 6 battle is now 9 to 11!
Doesn't matter, I get crushed, and all my units are killed between the battle and pursuit. Washington falls on turn 3 or 4.
OK, so that went poorly. Lets try this again....

Start over, and this time, I am getting some leaders, damnit! We sent Grant to Washington right away, and get him a couple more leaders so at least when we fight we will have leaders in every spot. Surely this will matter!
I reinforce, and on turn 3? 4? Both sides have max sized armies in Virginia. It's 1864, except in the spring of 1861.
The CSA attacks Grant and his 20 with their 20, except they have Lee (who is much better than Grant) and Jackson (who is also better than Grant), and the battle is just silly. I do like 1 point of damage, and every shot the CSA fires destroys a unit. On round 3, Grant is killed, and I've lost like 8 units to zero CSA losses
.
So far, the game doesn't feel like it has any resemblance to the American Civil War.

But it's only been a few hours of play....

Doesn't even sound like Victory and Glory's (Napoleonic one) combat results, more like the Hannibal game from the save dev (which is pretty awesome if you can look past the graphics).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on April 02, 2020, 10:50:52 AM
Quote from: Berkut on April 02, 2020, 08:41:33 AM
Quote from: Syt on April 01, 2020, 01:38:54 AM
New ACW game:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1241910/Victory_and_Glory_The_American_Civil_War/


My initial review after being dumb and buying this because it is ACW and strategic and I really really really really want there to be a playable strategic ACW game....

So I am sitting at home and very bored, and I love ACW games, so I decided to give this a try. My first impressions after two games!

Game 1, Union. Turn 3 sees the fall of Washington. Hmmm.

I send McDowell south with his army of 12 or so, and he is promptly attacked by a Southern army of 11. OK! First Bull Run! He gets absolutely crushed - loses 8 of his 11 units, and the south loses 2 units.
4:1 casualty ratio in a major battle! Wow! That's impressive, since nobody ever achieved that during the war ever!
The South marches to Washington, and attacks again, but I am clever and play my reinforce battle card! Hah! That 9 to 6 battle is now 9 to 11!
Doesn't matter, I get crushed, and all my units are killed between the battle and pursuit. Washington falls on turn 3 or 4.
OK, so that went poorly. Lets try this again....

Start over, and this time, I am getting some leaders, damnit! We sent Grant to Washington right away, and get him a couple more leaders so at least when we fight we will have leaders in every spot. Surely this will matter!
I reinforce, and on turn 3? 4? Both sides have max sized armies in Virginia. It's 1864, except in the spring of 1861.
The CSA attacks Grant and his 20 with their 20, except they have Lee (who is much better than Grant) and Jackson (who is also better than Grant), and the battle is just silly. I do like 1 point of damage, and every shot the CSA fires destroys a unit. On round 3, Grant is killed, and I've lost like 8 units to zero CSA losses
.
So far, the game doesn't feel like it has any resemblance to the American Civil War.

But it's only been a few hours of play....

Wah! The AI beats me! Not realistic! Wah! :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on April 02, 2020, 01:07:59 PM
Quote from: Syt on April 02, 2020, 09:48:47 AM
:lol: My condolences. :console:

Have you played Gary Grigsby's War Between the States?

Oh, yeah, Berkut and I played that a decent bit. It's better, but still generates weird results.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on April 02, 2020, 01:09:21 PM
Quote from: Berkut on April 02, 2020, 08:41:33 AM
Quote from: Syt on April 01, 2020, 01:38:54 AM
New ACW game:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1241910/Victory_and_Glory_The_American_Civil_War/


My initial review after being dumb and buying this because it is ACW and strategic and I really really really really want there to be a playable strategic ACW game....

So I am sitting at home and very bored, and I love ACW games, so I decided to give this a try. My first impressions after two games!

Game 1, Union. Turn 3 sees the fall of Washington. Hmmm.

I send McDowell south with his army of 12 or so, and he is promptly attacked by a Southern army of 11. OK! First Bull Run! He gets absolutely crushed - loses 8 of his 11 units, and the south loses 2 units.
4:1 casualty ratio in a major battle! Wow! That's impressive, since nobody ever achieved that during the war ever!
The South marches to Washington, and attacks again, but I am clever and play my reinforce battle card! Hah! That 9 to 6 battle is now 9 to 11!
Doesn't matter, I get crushed, and all my units are killed between the battle and pursuit. Washington falls on turn 3 or 4.
OK, so that went poorly. Lets try this again....

Start over, and this time, I am getting some leaders, damnit! We sent Grant to Washington right away, and get him a couple more leaders so at least when we fight we will have leaders in every spot. Surely this will matter!
I reinforce, and on turn 3? 4? Both sides have max sized armies in Virginia. It's 1864, except in the spring of 1861.
The CSA attacks Grant and his 20 with their 20, except they have Lee (who is much better than Grant) and Jackson (who is also better than Grant), and the battle is just silly. I do like 1 point of damage, and every shot the CSA fires destroys a unit. On round 3, Grant is killed, and I've lost like 8 units to zero CSA losses
.
So far, the game doesn't feel like it has any resemblance to the American Civil War.

But it's only been a few hours of play....

1 Southern Gentleman really can whip 20 Yankee hirelings :lol:

All these gamers who insist the South was so superior militarily have to explain why they did so poorly in the West.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on April 02, 2020, 01:14:51 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on April 02, 2020, 01:07:59 PM
Quote from: Syt on April 02, 2020, 09:48:47 AM
:lol: My condolences. :console:

Have you played Gary Grigsby's War Between the States?

Oh, yeah, Berkut and I played that a decent bit. It's better, but still generates weird results.

Its much more complex as well. This has the framework for a pretty damn good, modest complexity ACW strategy game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on April 02, 2020, 01:16:44 PM
The game feels like it was just rushed. It has a pursuit mechanic, for example, that is pretty obviously a holdover from the Napoleonic Wars game, and makes no sense in a ACW game.

I think somewhere one of the help texts about reserves mentioned that it might be a good idea, for example, to hold back your Imperial Guard.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on April 02, 2020, 01:17:50 PM
Quote from: Berkut on April 02, 2020, 01:16:44 PM
The game feels like it was just rushed. It has a pursuit mechanic, for example, that is pretty obviously a holdover from the Napoleonic Wars game, and makes no sense in a ACW game.

I think somewhere one of the help texts about reserves mentioned that it might be a good idea, for example, to hold back your Imperial Guard.



Yeah I cannot think of any ACW battles that had significant pursuit casualties, whereas in the Napoleonic Wars those would often be where most of the killing took place.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 02, 2020, 01:25:27 PM
So what is the best ACW strategy game at the moment (or historically) on PC? Not counting tactical games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on April 02, 2020, 01:40:31 PM
Quote from: Syt on April 02, 2020, 01:25:27 PM
So what is the best ACW strategy game at the moment (or historically) on PC? Not counting tactical games.

I did think that the Slitherine game was pretty decent...I mean it has all the problems their games normally have but it kind of felt like the Civil War. That is getting kind of old now though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 02, 2020, 03:37:21 PM
You mean the AGEOD one? I or II?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on April 02, 2020, 03:43:10 PM
Quote from: Syt on April 02, 2020, 03:37:21 PM
You mean the AGEOD one? I or II?

The second one.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 02, 2020, 04:58:43 PM
FYI when the PC version of Labyrinth (early access) came out I  found it too confusing and not pleasant to play.

Today I tried it again after a new update and had a great time. Has improved a lot. Lost out to the Islamist bot in a long game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on April 02, 2020, 05:07:55 PM
Quote from: Tamas on April 02, 2020, 04:58:43 PM
FYI when the PC version of Labyrinth (early access) came out I  found it too confusing and not pleasant to play.

Today I tried it again after a new update and had a great time. Has improved a lot. Lost out to the Islamist bot in a long game.

Did the Goblin King get you?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 03, 2020, 12:12:53 AM
Quote from: Tamas on April 02, 2020, 04:58:43 PM
FYI when the PC version of Labyrinth (early access) came out I  found it too confusing and not pleasant to play.

Today I tried it again after a new update and had a great time. Has improved a lot. Lost out to the Islamist bot in a long game.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1210830/labyrinth/
:unsure:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 03, 2020, 12:26:43 AM
Quote from: Syt on April 03, 2020, 12:12:53 AM
Quote from: Tamas on April 02, 2020, 04:58:43 PM
FYI when the PC version of Labyrinth (early access) came out I  found it too confusing and not pleasant to play.

Today I tried it again after a new update and had a great time. Has improved a lot. Lost out to the Islamist bot in a long game.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1210830/labyrinth/
:unsure:

Yes.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 03, 2020, 01:12:35 AM
Googled a bit more and presume you mean this? https://store.steampowered.com/app/931950/Labyrinth_The_War_on_Terror/

Full titles would help people like me, you know? :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 03, 2020, 02:19:06 AM
Sorry I thought you were joking  :D

Yes, it's sort of like a cross between Twiligh Struggle and a COIN game. Designed by the same guy later creating the COIN system.

It's fun.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on April 03, 2020, 03:57:12 AM
I was actually thinking of getting Labyrinth as a boardgame, too. I'll ask about it in the boardgames thread.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 03, 2020, 10:12:02 AM
Lock'n'Load are busy little bees.

Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital is in Early Access for 2.99: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1149940/Lock_n_Load_Tactical_Digital/

Two additional packs are available for it, for €4.91 each:
- Heroes of Nam - Pack 1
- Heroes of Normandy - Pack 1
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 04, 2020, 02:48:29 AM
X4: Foundations. Yay or nay?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on April 04, 2020, 11:02:06 AM
Quote from: Tamas on April 04, 2020, 02:48:29 AM
X4: Foundations. Yay or nay?

Every time I've tried one of those games over the years it's been nay. Don't know much about that one specifically.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 07, 2020, 01:50:41 AM
Coming on Thursday: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1011610/Radio_General/

Basically, a WW2 version of the Vietnam focused Radio Commander (but a different developer), but more ambitious:

QuoteRadio General is a real-time strategy game where you can't see your units. Instead you talk with them over the radio. You receive verbal reports, and then issue orders back. Unfortunately for you, war is confusing. Your units won't always know what's going on, and you must make tough decisions based on these incomplete (and often confused) reports. All of this is done from a detailed command tent, as it would have been during WWII.

Clear your throat, and show us your best commanding voice. By combining speech recognition with full voice-acting, you'll feel like you're a general on the horn with your troops. (Speech recognition only available in English and on Windows).

Behind the scenes, ammunition, morale, camouflage, sight and stamina are all being modelled. Elevation and terrain type will heavily influence battles. A smaller force will be more successful in launching ambushes in a forest than a larger force. Being on a road drastically improves movement speed, however affords little cover and camouflage. Being on a hill will drastically increase your spotting distance, whilst also increasing your range and damage. Study the map carefully, and identify how best to use your units.

Carefully choose which companies to deploy - each company has unique strengths and weakness. Learn the quirks and personalities of your companies: zealous officers may refuse to retreat. Veteran companies will gain specializations, with each unit type having unique abilities.

Everyone needs a break, and your companies must rest and replenish between missions. Exhausted units perform poorly, so watch your unit rotations.

Play from the under-represented perspective of the 1st Canadian Army. Take part in the disastrous Dieppe Raid, crack the Hitler and Gothic Lines in Italy, land upon the Normandy beaches and close the Falaise Gap.

Review 100's of historical photos, documents and video. Learn how soldiers lived throughout the war, and gain a better understanding of their experiences.

Recreate history's most famous battles of the war using an easy to use map editor. Share your creations using Steam workshop. Create challenging scenarios for others to try to beat!

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1011610/ss_c109e57bb75561685a83ff633eff3b07ce7713a9.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1011610/ss_aa10a13baae2e3a570ca344cc4c573ffa4a1c174.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1011610/ss_52594de4e785e1434762b2a4cf91b165638f6144.1920x1080.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on April 07, 2020, 08:56:52 AM
Animal Crossing: New Horizons on the Nintendo Switch is a hoot and a nice moral antidote to the craziness of the times we're in.  :cry:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 09, 2020, 02:14:19 PM
The Procession to Calvary, the successor to Four Last Things is out:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1071130/The_Procession_to_Calvary/

Probably worth it if you like renaissance art and music, point & click adventures, and pretty dumb humor. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on April 09, 2020, 07:51:18 PM
Quote from: Syt on April 09, 2020, 02:14:19 PM
The Procession to Calvary, the successor to Four Last Things is out:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1071130/The_Procession_to_Calvary/

Probably worth it if you like renaissance art and music, point & click adventures, and pretty dumb humor. :D

I had no idea that I needed that whole bundle.  Fixed, now.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 10, 2020, 07:19:09 AM
Quote from: Syt on April 07, 2020, 01:50:41 AM
Coming on Thursday: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1011610/Radio_General/

Basically, a WW2 version of the Vietnam focused Radio Commander (but a different developer), but more ambitious:

Tim Stone's review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2020/04/10/the-flare-path-radio-general-review/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 10, 2020, 07:19:29 AM
Quote from: grumbler on April 09, 2020, 07:51:18 PM
I had no idea that I needed that whole bundle.  Fixed, now.

:thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on April 15, 2020, 01:10:43 PM
I ordered a Valve Index with my Trumpulus. At least, I thought that's what I was doing. Little did I know that ordering it just places me into a queue where, eventually, when more are ready, they'll confirm I still want one and charge me then.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 16, 2020, 04:09:47 AM
Article on solo wargaming with Tabletop Simulator:

https://www.wargamer.com/articles/tabletop-wargaming-quarantine/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on April 16, 2020, 05:44:28 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on April 01, 2020, 03:03:04 AM
Quote from: Tyr on March 31, 2020, 06:13:52 AM
Soooo Mount and Blade 2 is in early access.

I've too much to play now so shall hold off.
But. Yay.

According to a friend, it doesn't look like it's been in making for ten years. And for single-player at least, right now Warband with mods is better.

I went ahead and got the early access (having been a big fan of Warband/mods). 

As of right now:

- I'm having some graphics issues (it might be that it doesn't like my brand of graphics card for some reason). 
- Combat is not impressing me.  For all of Warband's issues, I felt that at least I had some control/able to make use of skill.  Bannerlord's is way more fast-paced/arcady...such that it doesn't really feel like I have any control at all.  I think for the older/more casual players, it will be nothing but an exercise in frustration.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 16, 2020, 07:58:28 AM
The things that keep showing up in my recommendations ...

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1151120/Arrest_of_a_stone_Buddha/

"Hitman is searching for an answer in France 70-s."

QuoteAs a professional killer you'll live through November 1976 alternating non-stop shoot'em up action with a downtempo mundane life.

You're fast and lucky enough so you don't plan your actions too far. You kill with one shot and you never miss. When you're run out of ammo you just throw a gun away. You can disarm any enemy and use any weapon. And when it's time to get out you just use a vehicle nearby.

You have an apartment in the historical center of the city. When you want to eat you go to a cafe, and you can visit a museum or a cinema when you're looking for entertainment. And you have a lover when you need a woman.

And there's this question which is longing for an answer.

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1151120/ss_7c6917f5b58a99529bf19178b81739447912ce29.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1151120/ss_6f5cb08a4fc9c8b4da99ecb51f610641d726e170.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1151120/ss_38afb5fd1edbd970e588b9c7d02e717dec07653e.600x338.jpg)


Apparently it's from the people behind "The friends of Ringo Ishikawa":

QuoteA highschool gang leader Ringo Ishikawa trying to live through his last autumn before graduation. With his best friends.

You should play it if:

1) You're fond of good stories with strong dialogues (especially about growing up)
2) You're a fight games enthusiast (you'll get your hands on some unique brawl mechanic and I promise you'll be satisfied)
3) You're into some yakuza-delinquent aesthetics

Basically, the game is an existential open world beat'em up with some school sim elements. It has a little of everything: a town to explore, day-night cycle, npc on their schedule, battle grinding, school grinding, mini-games (ping-pong, billiard, video-poker, video-game console with one game...) and so on.

But the main thing is the story I'm trying to tell. And I designed the game to make you feel this story. So it's not about rival gangs, or taking over turfs, or anything. You just live there and feel. And that's all.

Both games have "Very Good" review scores on Steam though. :unsure:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on April 18, 2020, 07:58:17 AM
https://store.steampowered.com/app/742700/Empire_Deluxe_Combined_Edition/?fbclid=IwAR1-pa49VtLzQLLIARAXJ4ztdc2Mo5O8pquItYUcSt8nyDafVH_PWUf9Uj4

OK, so who played this game a lot back in the day?

Man, this was one of the greats. If the new one has well implemented multi-player....
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on April 18, 2020, 05:23:19 PM
I hope this is going to be good.

https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Tsushima-Special-PlayStation-4/dp/B085JS4WL3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1XI86LCZ5Y0ST&dchild=1&keywords=ghost+of+tsushima+ps4&qid=1587248478&sprefix=Ghosts%2Caps%2C211&sr=8-1
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on April 18, 2020, 05:49:42 PM
I have a memento from the Togo shrine in Tokyo on my shelf. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on April 18, 2020, 10:01:58 PM
Quote from: Berkut on April 18, 2020, 07:58:17 AM
https://store.steampowered.com/app/742700/Empire_Deluxe_Combined_Edition/?fbclid=IwAR1-pa49VtLzQLLIARAXJ4ztdc2Mo5O8pquItYUcSt8nyDafVH_PWUf9Uj4

OK, so who played this game a lot back in the day?

Man, this was one of the greats. If the new one has well implemented multi-player....

I used to play that game Empire a lot, was a huge favorite in its day. I even played a bit of multi-player with it. 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 19, 2020, 01:24:48 AM
This reviews nicely so far:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1227400/Over_the_Alps/

Over the Alps

Postcards written in invisible ink reveal a secret history...

Travel back in time in the debut game from Stave Studios, OVER THE ALPS. Stay undercover, evade the police, and race across 1939 Switzerland in this Hitchcockian World War Two spy thriller.

Navigate the twists and turns of an interactive story written by Jon Ingold of 80 DAYS and HEAVEN'S VAULT fame, where each of your actions has consequences.

Also available in 14 other languages including Chinese (Simplified & Traditional), German, Russian, French and Arabic!

Featuring:
- A replayable, branching narrative with multiple endings and secret stamps to be discovered.
- Beautifully rendered Swiss scenery inspired by vintage travel posters.
- Determine friend from foe with a colourful cast of characters.
- Choose your own route on a map filled with real-life locations, while trying to avoid the Swiss Police.
- Two upcoming story updates, doubling the size of the base game, which will be included at no extra cost!

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1227400/extras/tinybirds.gif)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1227400/extras/goschenentrain.gif)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1227400/extras/cows.gif)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1227400/extras/trainstation.gif)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1227400/extras/observatory.gif)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1227400/ss_6796fecd1706d21eed01ebe887b15b3ef167568b.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1227400/ss_423a80b8e3d1bc3d71e384cf7503fa25287990fd.1920x1080.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on April 19, 2020, 02:35:50 AM
Well that's pretty.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on April 24, 2020, 05:25:18 AM
So....Paradox's Rome game sucks.
But I really am hankering for some kind of strategic level ancient world experience...
Any other options?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 24, 2020, 05:31:32 AM
Quote from: Tyr on April 24, 2020, 05:25:18 AM
So....Paradox's Rome game sucks.
But I really am hankering for some kind of strategic level ancient world experience...
Any other options?

https://www.wargamer.com/reviews/field-of-glory-empires/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on April 24, 2020, 05:36:49 AM
Quote from: Syt on April 24, 2020, 05:31:32 AM
Quote from: Tyr on April 24, 2020, 05:25:18 AM
So....Paradox's Rome game sucks.
But I really am hankering for some kind of strategic level ancient world experience...
Any other options?

https://www.wargamer.com/reviews/field-of-glory-empires/
I think I've tried some of their games before. They're very board-gamey style right?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 24, 2020, 06:08:58 AM
Quote from: Tyr on April 24, 2020, 05:36:49 AM
Quote from: Syt on April 24, 2020, 05:31:32 AM
Quote from: Tyr on April 24, 2020, 05:25:18 AM
So....Paradox's Rome game sucks.
But I really am hankering for some kind of strategic level ancient world experience...
Any other options?

https://www.wargamer.com/reviews/field-of-glory-empires/
I think I've tried some of their games before. They're very board-gamey style right?

I guess Empires can also be called boardgame-ish in style as opposed to the Paradox approah, but otherwise it has little to nothing to do with their earlier efforts.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 24, 2020, 06:13:00 AM
It is quite the departure from their previous games, but I think it feels more like a board game now than their previous games. I don't list that as negative, though. YMMV.

Otherwise there's only Rome 2, I suppose. 

Maybe "Aggressors: Ancient Rome" https://store.steampowered.com/app/783210/Aggressors_Ancient_Rome/

Or perhaps the upcoming "Imperiums: Greek Wars" https://store.steampowered.com/app/1183470/Imperiums_Greek_Wars/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on April 24, 2020, 06:22:29 AM
Now that second one does look like potentially one of the games of my dreams.

Board gamey style is a turn off for me for sure.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on April 25, 2020, 09:53:12 PM
Played through Doom Eternal.  It was fun, but also informative.  It's basically how Mike Pence sees the world everyday.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on April 26, 2020, 01:49:44 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on April 25, 2020, 09:53:12 PM
Played through Doom Eternal.  It was fun, but also informative.  It's basically how Mike Pence sees the world everyday.

The demons are all female in Eternal?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 26, 2020, 03:09:59 AM
Any opinions on this one? https://store.steampowered.com/app/1022310/Warhammer_Underworlds_Online/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on April 26, 2020, 04:42:00 AM
I'm off on Stellaris until they fix some bugs (the no-name rebels is too annoying), and there is a significant update due next month anyway.

So on a lark, I bought Rimword.


Aaaand just spend about the last 14 hours straight playing it.  Dammit, I is hooked.  :sleep:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 27, 2020, 02:46:14 AM
What would you buy if you had to choose: Mount and Blade 2, or X4: Foundations?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 27, 2020, 02:52:29 AM
M&B2 looks pretty positive so far.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on April 27, 2020, 07:49:24 AM
Quote from: Syt on April 27, 2020, 02:52:29 AM
M&B2 looks pretty positive so far.

Technically, it seems to be running mostly ok.  My initial (and admittedly very shallow) impression though is that it is mostly an updated/glossier MB:Warband.

The biggest adjustment for me so far, is that being so used to how the first-person combat/mechanics in Warband are...I've become a combat master (against the AI at least) in that game.  In MB:2, combat for me so far is just an exercise in frustration...it feels way more "arcadey" and faster-paced.  It may just be a case of debuffing, but in Warband I was a master of horse archery and horse-borne melee combat.  In MB2, I can almost never hit anyone with a sword from a horse, and they whack me good every time I come in for a swing.

And even infantry melee combat just feels like far much more of a wild/random click-fest...not the finesse I had developed in Warband.  But I'd also have to add that my impression of Bannerlord so far is that combat finesse is not even possible to achieve.

It looks pretty though.   
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on April 27, 2020, 09:29:20 AM
Quote from: Syt on April 27, 2020, 02:52:29 AM
M&B2 looks pretty positive so far.

Yes it does. I am not going to get it until it comes out for real but so far it looks interesting.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on April 28, 2020, 07:39:54 PM
New wargame to PC type port. Designer I think came from AGEOD, but the game looks very "wargame" like. Going to try it out.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1180900/Winter_War/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: fromtia on April 28, 2020, 08:53:51 PM
Quote from: Berkut on April 28, 2020, 07:39:54 PM
New wargame to PC type port. Designer I think came from AGEOD, but the game looks very "wargame" like. Going to try it out.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1180900/Winter_War/

Looks cool. I see the close combat series is up for sale on GOG.  :cool:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmxHR_c4KxE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmxHR_c4KxE)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on April 28, 2020, 11:39:26 PM
Quote from: Berkut on April 28, 2020, 07:39:54 PM
New wargame to PC type port. Designer I think came from AGEOD, but the game looks very "wargame" like. Going to try it out.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1180900/Winter_War/

:)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 29, 2020, 05:00:03 AM
Been playing Filament, a puzzle game where you basically draw lines to connect dots:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1137350/Filament/

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1137350/ss_cf6d092cd27149ce2af0524ff9e09ebc416119be.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1137350/ss_9dc35453f2b660a56a4af3fb813e16fb43df8ab4.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1137350/ss_9c489dcb924011367f557ae2012820d13412deb0.600x338.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1137350/ss_def9dac9d750a6f8a2b492e841565002768d2514.600x338.jpg)

I play it in small bursts and like it a lot. I'm still at the most basic level (connect all bright pillars, without touching the dark ones), and it's kinda doing my head in. :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on April 30, 2020, 01:55:37 AM
Meltdown on p'dox forums over forum design changes. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on April 30, 2020, 03:27:17 AM
Quote from: garbon on April 30, 2020, 01:55:37 AM
Meltdown on p'dox forums over forum design changes. :D

New blood for Languish? :w00t:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on April 30, 2020, 03:55:03 AM
It also made me realise that I've spent more than half my life as a member of the Paradox forum and half my life as a member of Languish. -_-
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 30, 2020, 05:18:55 AM
Quote from: garbon on April 30, 2020, 01:55:37 AM
Meltdown on p'dox forums over forum design changes. :D

How drastic a change can this be ...

*checks forums*

Whoa! :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 30, 2020, 05:19:26 AM
Quote from: garbon on April 30, 2020, 03:55:03 AM
It also made me realise that I've spent more than half my life as a member of the Paradox forum and half my life as a member of Languish. -_-

Well, not half, but I guess my Paradox account turned 19 years old in January. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on April 30, 2020, 05:40:15 AM
Quote from: Syt on April 30, 2020, 05:18:55 AM
Quote from: garbon on April 30, 2020, 01:55:37 AM
Meltdown on p'dox forums over forum design changes. :D

How drastic a change can this be ...

*checks forums*

Whoa! :lol:

I mean change is always tough but it does appear they made it a lot less functional for not many obvious benefits.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: DGuller on April 30, 2020, 08:55:22 AM
WTF?  What an awful redesign.  I've noticed a trend in the last few years of regression when it comes to design trends on the Internet.  People just rush to copy the design choices of the latest hot shit, not thinking through whether others' choices suit their own objectives or audience, or considering the fact that today's Internet darlings may have become successful despite some awful choices they rushed through at inception rather than because of them.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: DGuller on April 30, 2020, 09:28:01 AM
Any good threads on the redesign?  It's hard to find anything.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on April 30, 2020, 09:30:20 AM
Quote from: DGuller on April 30, 2020, 09:28:01 AM
Any good threads on the redesign?  It's hard to find anything.

Key appear to be: https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/upgraded-forum-feedback-thread.1387167

and in OT: https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/this-is-hideous.1387170
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on April 30, 2020, 09:31:35 AM
Also, I never saw it (as I don't generally look in the p'dox general discussion forum) but they had given a sneakpeak of the new layout:

https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/sneak-peak-on-refurbished-forums.1372876/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 30, 2020, 10:12:59 AM
New AssCreed game to be set in Norway/England, player is Viking.

https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020-04-30-assassins-creed-valhalla-reshapes-the-series-rpg-storytelling-by-giving-you-a-viking-settlement

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjsxI01XWsA
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on April 30, 2020, 11:24:30 AM
Excellent time travelling Vikings assault Late medieval kingdom who responds by digging around to find something that looks like Roman armour.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 30, 2020, 11:28:10 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 30, 2020, 11:24:30 AM
Excellent time travelling Vikings assault Late medieval kingdom who responds by digging around to find something that looks like Roman armour.

Got more of a Sutton Hoo helmet vibe (though the plume seems out of place):

(https://i.postimg.cc/63mXpt9V/Tank.jpg)

(https://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2019/08/PA-44476986.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on April 30, 2020, 11:44:43 AM
Yeah, the faceplate is right.  The plume ruins it though. 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on April 30, 2020, 12:07:46 PM
Is he prepping for No-Neck November?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on April 30, 2020, 12:27:10 PM
I never finished the pirates AC though keep meaning to get back to the series.
One of my dream games is a viking rpg/strategy game. Sort of uncharted waters meets Mount and blade and the original dune.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on April 30, 2020, 01:42:15 PM
Quote from: Syt on April 30, 2020, 05:18:55 AM
Quote from: garbon on April 30, 2020, 01:55:37 AM
Meltdown on p'dox forums over forum design changes. :D

How drastic a change can this be ...

*checks forums*

Whoa! :lol:

no shit... yowza
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on April 30, 2020, 01:58:11 PM
Quote from: Tyr on April 30, 2020, 12:27:10 PM
I never finished the pirates AC though keep meaning to get back to the series.
One of my dream games is a viking rpg/strategy game. Sort of uncharted waters meets Mount and blade and the original dune.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/445190/Expeditions_Viking/

And it is on sale

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on April 30, 2020, 02:20:14 PM
That one was a total dud for me. The roleplaying narrative isn't nearly strong enough and the combat just got tiresome after a time.  :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on April 30, 2020, 04:16:47 PM
Yeah. I tried the conquistador one. It just feels too outdated.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on April 30, 2020, 04:36:57 PM
Yeah Conquistador failed with me too.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on April 30, 2020, 05:52:44 PM
On Assassins Creed games, just got Unity (because setting) and want to try Odyssey.

But I'm mainly spending my time furious at the overly negative depiction of the Revolution and Robespierre <_<
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on April 30, 2020, 07:01:23 PM
Quote from: Tyr on April 30, 2020, 04:16:47 PM
Yeah. I tried the conquistador one. It just feels too outdated.

Well the conquistador one came out many years ago  ;)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Oexmelin on April 30, 2020, 08:00:08 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on April 30, 2020, 05:52:44 PM
On Assassins Creed games, just got Unity (because setting) and want to try Odyssey.

But I'm mainly spending my time furious at the overly negative depiction of the Revolution and Robespierre <_<

The good thing about it, is that my students understand it's fiction. Robespierre's treatment in a movie like "The French Revolution" - or in the kinds of lazy characterizations that are rampant in American popular histories - have been much harder to undermine.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on May 01, 2020, 02:17:01 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 30, 2020, 07:01:23 PM
Quote from: Tyr on April 30, 2020, 04:16:47 PM
Yeah. I tried the conquistador one. It just feels too outdated.

Well the conquistador one came out many years ago  ;)

I recall trying it as soon as you raved about it. No bueno.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on May 01, 2020, 03:29:24 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 30, 2020, 07:01:23 PM
Quote from: Tyr on April 30, 2020, 04:16:47 PM
Yeah. I tried the conquistador one. It just feels too outdated.

Well the conquistador one came out many years ago  ;)
2013. It was not so long after I tried it.
It feels like a relic of the 90s.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 01, 2020, 03:33:20 AM
I feel I should really play an AssCreed game some time. I mean, I have them all in my uPlay account. :unsure:

For setting, I find all since III compelling.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on May 01, 2020, 09:57:24 AM
Quote from: garbon on May 01, 2020, 02:17:01 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 30, 2020, 07:01:23 PM
Quote from: Tyr on April 30, 2020, 04:16:47 PM
Yeah. I tried the conquistador one. It just feels too outdated.

Well the conquistador one came out many years ago  ;)

I recall trying it as soon as you raved about it. No bueno.

Shocked that the things we like are different.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on May 01, 2020, 11:16:56 AM
Quote from: Berkut on April 28, 2020, 07:39:54 PM
New wargame to PC type port. Designer I think came from AGEOD, but the game looks very "wargame" like. Going to try it out.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1180900/Winter_War/

So is it any good?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 01, 2020, 11:22:49 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on May 01, 2020, 11:16:56 AM
Quote from: Berkut on April 28, 2020, 07:39:54 PM
New wargame to PC type port. Designer I think came from AGEOD, but the game looks very "wargame" like. Going to try it out.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1180900/Winter_War/

So is it any good?

Looks similar to Battles for Spain, from the same publisher:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/984730/Battles_For_Spain/?curator_clanid=36173274

Seems related to the Wars Across the World engine. https://store.steampowered.com/app/341040/Wars_Across_The_World/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on May 01, 2020, 01:26:39 PM
That game looks like a trap. You can buy the game for only $10 but the scenarios will run you another $110 :o
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 01, 2020, 01:29:08 PM
Quote from: Valmy on May 01, 2020, 01:26:39 PM
That game looks like a trap. You can buy the game for only $10 but the scenarios will run you another $110 :o

The base game comes with a bunch of scenarios, but I have no idea how good they are.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Zanza on May 01, 2020, 03:43:55 PM
Playing Anno 1800 at the moment. It's on the one hand soothing if you just want to build a nice city. If you want to minmax it or compete with stronger Sis, it becomes stressful due to the necessary muti-tasking and micromanagement
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on May 01, 2020, 06:48:42 PM
I've been enjoying what is probably the worst named game I've ever seen, "KARDS".  It's basically Hearthstone but WW II.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 02, 2020, 02:38:44 AM
Port Royale 4 is in the works:  https://store.steampowered.com/app/1024650/Port_Royale_4/

Seems like they still don't give a fuck about historical ownership of colonies:

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1024650/ss_ad59de974adc3c26c50b25f14b7710ea15a1ca4d.1920x1080.jpg)

Either use a historical map with historical colony ownership, or a fantasy map. Either are fine. But this is one of the few cases where historical inaccuracy really breaks a game for me. -_- :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on May 02, 2020, 05:03:58 AM
At a bare minimum have alternate language names for the colonies.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 02, 2020, 06:21:51 AM
Sid Meier's Pirates had different starting dates, and at different dates they would have either different cities, or different names/ownership of cities:

https://archive.org/download/piratesmap/piratesmap.jpg
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on May 02, 2020, 07:44:48 AM
Quote from: Syt on May 02, 2020, 02:38:44 AM
Port Royale 4 is in the works:  https://store.steampowered.com/app/1024650/Port_Royale_4/

Seems like they still don't give a fuck about historical ownership of colonies:


Either use a historical map with historical colony ownership, or a fantasy map. Either are fine. But this is one of the few cases where historical inaccuracy really breaks a game for me. -_- :blush:

I've seen another screenshot of the same area where all the flags are English, final setup might be different.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 02, 2020, 08:05:41 AM
Mostly I want a proper modern remake of Patrician 2 Gold (or 3, if you're not from Germany :P ).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 03, 2020, 05:36:02 AM
There's not many games about ancient Greece, so I dug out Spartan by Slitherine again. It's ... ok, I guess? It feels relatively simplistic - build buildings in cities, gain resources through buildings or trade, build units, fight. Diplomacy is rudimentary, and battles are very much like in Dominion - you set up your army at the start of battle, give some basic orders (flank; wait then advance; seek enemy ...) and then sit back while the sprites duke it out (you can rally/retreat/charge, though). Turns are months, but on map there's no difference between December or June. There's a lot of clicking of "next turn" while you wait for buildings and units to build, or resources to pile up.

They tried to be somewhat accurate with the 5th century period flavor, at least. I kind of liked the predecessor, Chariots of War, a bit better. It had fewer convenience functions, but it covered an era oft neglected by grand strategy, i.e. the Bronze Age, with a map from Anatolia to Nubia and Elam.

I looked at Hegemony, but meh.

I hope Total Wars Saga: Troy will be fun (and that you can choose to play with or without superpowered heroes, like in Three Kingdoms). Their Thrones of Britannia game wasn't too bad.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 03, 2020, 05:46:35 AM
And yes, I know that there'll be the 550 - 330 BC expansion for Filed of Glory: Empires, but I feel the provinces in Greece are a bit too few to make playing there a lot of fun.

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/34556788/3ca11a60690d87e6d81a2c8c0c2b5b1ce46b22de.png)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on May 03, 2020, 06:51:34 PM
Quote from: Tyr on May 01, 2020, 03:29:24 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 30, 2020, 07:01:23 PM
Quote from: Tyr on April 30, 2020, 04:16:47 PM
Yeah. I tried the conquistador one. It just feels too outdated.

Well the conquistador one came out many years ago  ;)
2013. It was not so long after I tried it.
It feels like a relic of the 90s.

Seven Cities of Gold was ossum.  :mad:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on May 04, 2020, 02:33:28 AM
Quote from: Tyr on April 30, 2020, 04:16:47 PM
Yeah. I tried the conquistador one. It just feels too outdated.

I liked quite a bit, I thought the writing was pretty strong (once you got past stuff like the mordernized women roles). Only the combat felt repetitive after a while.

Never tried the viking one though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on May 05, 2020, 11:34:41 PM
I've been pretty addicted to KARDS lately.  Achievements generate quite a bit of free gold/cards/packs so it's not too hard to build up cards.  I threw in $5, but I don't think that's necessary.  The drafting is surprisingly rewarding and fun.  The cost of a draft almost breaks even compared to buying packs at 2 wins, and at a full 7 wins it pays for an equivalent of ~2 draft buy ins.  The drafting also has an interesting element where a common card will frequently come with dupes to make it easier to tailor into specific strategies.

At first I thought only having the 5 major powers would limit strategies, but adding up to 12 cards from another power really shakes things up.  The Italian and French minors are also quite wacky.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 10, 2020, 05:47:44 AM
Having a fun run as Rome in Field of Glory Empires. I got a bit greedy in the Balkans, then gotdrawn into Hispania more than I intended (wanted to form the East Spanish province, but local powers kept interfering, so In the end I ended up owning 2/3 of the peninsula after rather costly fighting in shitty terrain. I had descended from a glorious to an old republic. When the Marcomanni declared war I just kicked their butt and demanded tribute without taking terirtory. That was in 166 BC. I was looking forward to finally consolidate again after about 60 or 70 years of ruthless expansion and getting that decadence down ... when Macedonia declares war (they own Greece + pretty much all of Asia Minor).

Thanks, game! :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 12, 2020, 12:45:24 PM
Ok, I was trying to salvage this by transferring legions towards Macedonia, but it takes them years to get there from Hispania and Germania. While they're en route, two tiny barbarian nations DOW me. Oh, and Carthage who go to invade Sardinia, Sicily and attack in Hispania where little Emporia repulsed my armies in the Pyrenees. And I lost an Italian province to a slave uprising without any army nearby to put it down. :bleeding:

Also, I've now regressed to a decadent republic, only 50 years or so after being a glorious one.  :(

I still kind of tempted to try and salvage the situation, though.  :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: DGuller on May 20, 2020, 07:54:47 AM
Quote from: garbon on April 30, 2020, 09:30:20 AM
Quote from: DGuller on April 30, 2020, 09:28:01 AM
Any good threads on the redesign?  It's hard to find anything.

Key appear to be: https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/upgraded-forum-feedback-thread.1387167

and in OT: https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/this-is-hideous.1387170
Almost a month later, and it dawned on me that I'm not regularly checking the Paradox forums anymore.  Checked back in today, and yep, same unreadable shit.  I wonder how much traffic volume they lost to their forums.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 20, 2020, 08:24:37 AM
Remember this forum? https://web.archive.org/web/20030725154141/http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on May 20, 2020, 09:06:39 AM
Quote from: Syt on May 20, 2020, 08:24:37 AM
Remember this forum? https://web.archive.org/web/20030725154141/http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php

:)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: DGuller on May 20, 2020, 09:28:16 AM
They knew how to make forum software back in the day.  :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 20, 2020, 10:32:41 AM
I also was a Victoria mod for a hot 5 minutes. :D

(https://i.postimg.cc/byHDxqqG/Mod.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on May 20, 2020, 10:38:13 AM
My times as a Spanish mod  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on May 20, 2020, 11:23:31 AM
Quote from: Syt on May 20, 2020, 10:32:41 AM
I also was a Victoria mod for a hot 5 minutes. :D


No need for that snarky tone.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on May 20, 2020, 11:28:13 AM
^_^
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on May 20, 2020, 11:29:05 AM
I'm technically still a mod in a deeply buried forum.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on May 20, 2020, 11:44:30 AM
I miss Patric
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 20, 2020, 11:51:13 AM
Patric was a good egg. He emailed me experimental exe files when an update broke EU1 for me. Turned out the copy protection didn't like my CD drive. :D Hartmann on Home of the Underdogs had suggested I reach out to them on the forums for support (he was a huge EU1 fan).

I also liked Joakim. Pretty chill dude. Patric/Johan/Joakim was the old trio. in EU1/2 days.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on May 20, 2020, 11:55:32 AM
Hartmann was the dude that brought me over to Paradox games, too. I lurked at House of Underdogs.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on May 20, 2020, 07:42:31 PM
Quote from: Syt on May 20, 2020, 10:32:41 AM
I also was a Victoria mod for a hot 5 minutes. :D

(https://i.postimg.cc/byHDxqqG/Mod.jpg)


I can't remember exactly, did you create some of the flags for that game?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 20, 2020, 09:51:02 PM
For the first one, yes. Also wrote many flavor texts for minor countries in HOI1 (recycled in 2).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on May 21, 2020, 03:10:51 AM
I was a beta-tester for both CK2 and EU4.  :D Haven't read the Paradox forum in years, though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on May 21, 2020, 04:08:03 AM
Quote from: Syt on May 20, 2020, 09:51:02 PM
For the first one, yes. Also wrote many flavor texts for minor countries in HOI1 (recycled in 2).

"Wales: It's a ghastly place. Huge gangs of tough, sinewy men roam the valleys, terrifying people with their close-harmony singing."?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 21, 2020, 04:12:39 AM
Quote from: The Brain on May 21, 2020, 04:08:03 AM
Quote from: Syt on May 20, 2020, 09:51:02 PM
For the first one, yes. Also wrote many flavor texts for minor countries in HOI1 (recycled in 2).

"Wales: It's a ghastly place. Huge gangs of tough, sinewy men roam the valleys, terrifying people with their close-harmony singing."?

"The sheep tramble in fear."
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on May 21, 2020, 02:27:05 PM
Quote from: Syt on May 20, 2020, 09:51:02 PM
For the first one, yes. Also wrote many flavor texts for minor countries in HOI1 (recycled in 2).


I guess I remember better than I thought.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on May 21, 2020, 06:25:40 PM
I've been playing a couple of simple tower defence games.  :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 22, 2020, 10:31:56 AM
What even is video games?

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2020/05/22/fortnite-will-screen-a-full-christopher-nolan-film-in-game-for-free/

QuoteFortnite will screen a full Christopher Nolan film in-game for free
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Octavian on May 24, 2020, 01:47:21 PM
Playing Star Wars Knights of the old Republic (modded). Playing it for the first time and it's great. I love the era and the story so far even though the game was spoiled to me a long time ago on a website far far away.

Still worth it.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on May 24, 2020, 03:25:59 PM
With so many remakes/remasters going around, I wish they went back and updated at least Kotor 1.

Or better still, make another Star Wars RPG. Sure they could spare the budget among the dozens of bland shooters/mobas they have kept churning out.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on May 24, 2020, 05:55:01 PM
Wasn't that recent star wars game with the ginger kid from shameless an rpg?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 24, 2020, 06:27:15 PM
I have been playing Snowrunner.  :Embarrass:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on May 24, 2020, 10:37:20 PM
Quote from: Tyr on May 24, 2020, 05:55:01 PM
Wasn't that recent star wars game with the ginger kid from shameless an rpg?

That was more an action game, not really an RPG.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on May 28, 2020, 05:45:14 AM
Quote from: DGuller on May 20, 2020, 07:54:47 AM
Quote from: garbon on April 30, 2020, 09:30:20 AM
Quote from: DGuller on April 30, 2020, 09:28:01 AM
Any good threads on the redesign?  It's hard to find anything.

Key appear to be: https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/upgraded-forum-feedback-thread.1387167

and in OT: https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/this-is-hideous.1387170
Almost a month later, and it dawned on me that I'm not regularly checking the Paradox forums anymore.  Checked back in today, and yep, same unreadable shit.  I wonder how much traffic volume they lost to their forums.

They've now a legacy skin that fixes the most egregious issues with formatting.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 31, 2020, 02:44:42 AM
This looks like silly fun: https://store.steampowered.com/app/674500/Total_Tank_Simulator/

QuoteDEPLOY YOUR FORCES AND GET PERSONAL
Play as a commander deciding your army configuration and tactical deployment on the field on massive battles. But also experience first line action instantly by taking control of individual units on the fly, from tanks or planes to snipers and more.

EVERY BATTLE IS UNIQUE.
From infantry to aircraft, super-secret projects or tanks, LOTS of tanks... there are over 200 different units at your disposal, seriously - check them out!
You won't run out of maps either. With more than 50 unique maps you will never know if your next battle is going to be deep in the Sahara Desert, in the green fields of Europe or in the snowy plains of Russian Taiga.

DESTROY EVERYTHING.
Large maps carefully crafted to fit infantry, motorized and airborne action that include deformable terrain and gradual destruction of buildings and landmarks. Shape your battlefield with never ending artillery fire! Blow up vehicles, bring down buildings, flatten forests... It's total physics-driven destruction.

CAMPAIGN MODE
Change WWII history! Choose a faction and take part in countless battles to decide the fate of Europe! You will engage in different missions through your campaign:
Deathmatch. Fight to the last man standing.
Kill VIP. Kill all the specified enemy units within a limited time
Protect VIP. Protect a specified group of ally units for a certain time.
Wave defense. Defend a map against waves of incoming enemies.

SANDBOX MODE
Do whatever you want, think of most ridiculous scenarios and recreate them in sandbox mode. The only thing limiting you here is your imagination... and CPU :)

SHADOW MODE
Face your worst enemy, the one that knows you best... yourself! A survival mode where you face your victorious armies from previous battles. How far you can get?

SECRET WEAPONS & SPECIAL TACTICS UNITS
We are not even sure you should be reading this... Do we have trained animals, nuclear bombs, paratrooper commandos, flying bombs, gliding tanks, time portals and more... don't be ridiculous! But check our wishlist campaign section...

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/674500/extras/4.DESTROY_EVERYTHING.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/674500/extras/6._SANDBOX_MODE.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/674500/extras/7._SHADOW_MODE.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/674500/extras/8._SECRET_WEAPONS___SPECIAL_TACTICS_UNITS.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 05, 2020, 02:09:24 PM
C&C Remastered is out on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1213210/Command__Conquer_Remastered_Collection/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on June 05, 2020, 02:38:48 PM
Quote from: Syt on June 05, 2020, 02:09:24 PM
C&C Remastered is out on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1213210/Command__Conquer_Remastered_Collection/

KANE LIVES!

https://youtu.be/DrtodXOIeW8
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on June 05, 2020, 04:01:19 PM
Bought it instantly :blush:
I think Red Alert is the last of the series I played.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on June 05, 2020, 04:59:29 PM
Quote from: Maladict on June 05, 2020, 04:01:19 PM
Bought it instantly :blush:
I think Red Alert is the last of the series I played.

I bought it too  :lol:

The "installation" cinematics are very cool. Sound Blaster  :lol:

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on June 06, 2020, 07:18:26 AM
Forced myself to log off at 2.30 am, just like the old days  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on June 06, 2020, 10:09:17 AM
Quote from: Maladict on June 06, 2020, 07:18:26 AM
Forced myself to log off at 2.30 am, just like the old days  :lol:

Up till 1 am here  :D

Yeah this remaster ticks all the boxes. It's like I'm 11 years old again.

The soundtrack is alone worth the $20 imo.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 06, 2020, 11:15:24 AM
I got C&C as part of a bundle in the 90s or early 00s. I couldn't get into it, but I was never much of an RTS player.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on June 06, 2020, 11:19:05 AM
Is Tiberian Sun available remastered? I played a lot of Dune 2 but I never got into C&C or Red Alert other than Tiberian Sun.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on June 06, 2020, 11:41:53 AM
Ugh,  :yuk: :yuk: :yuk:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on June 06, 2020, 12:10:34 PM
Quote from: The Brain on June 06, 2020, 11:19:05 AM
Is Tiberian Sun available remastered? I played a lot of Dune 2 but I never got into C&C or Red Alert other than Tiberian Sun.

Unfortunately this is only the first C&C and Red Alert.  :(

This looks like a big hit for EA though, so hopefully we'll see a remaster of Tiberian Sun (and Red Alert 2) eventually
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 06, 2020, 12:29:22 PM
A game I picked up in early access, but I feel a tad overwhelmed by its content, in a Dominions way. I think I will wait till it's fully released before giving it another try. I do like the heavy randomization, though (races, cultures, deities etc.).

https://store.steampowered.com/app/567080/Wizards_and_Warlords/

QuoteWizards and Warlords is a turn-based strategy game, where you play as a wizard in a randomly generated fantasy world, filled with rival wizards and warlords. Create a customized sovereign or choose from one of many predefined templates.

Blending grand strategy with aspects of the 4X genre, the game offers a plethora of settings and randomly generated cultures and races. It is up to you if you want to fight great wars, crushing powerful rivals in the pursuit of world conquest - the challenge of survival in a grim and dangerous world, perhaps even beset by planar invaders and ancient evils - or a balanced game, where you control but one of many realms in the world, immersing yourself in an emergent story driven by random events and the interactions of AI personalities.

Manage your cities and fortresses, increase your power through research and industry, design arcane constructs, recruit armies and heroes, explore and exploit dungeons and ruins, and experience random events and event chains. You can mod several aspects of the game and create your own world maps.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on June 06, 2020, 12:36:05 PM
Looks interesting. I'll add it to my "ugly and ambitious hex games" waitlist after I'm done with Shadow Empire.  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 12, 2020, 05:12:28 AM
Anyone played any of the Carrier Battles games?

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1163340/Carrier_Battles_4_Guadalcanal/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on June 12, 2020, 07:54:52 AM
Quote from: Syt on June 12, 2020, 05:12:28 AM
Anyone played any of the Carrier Battles games?

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1163340/Carrier_Battles_4_Guadalcanal/

I think I tried them - this looks really interesting, but if it is a port of a game already implemented on iPad, why wouldn't I just play it on the iPad? Is there more to this?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on June 12, 2020, 07:57:58 AM
Quote from: Berkut on June 12, 2020, 07:54:52 AM
Quote from: Syt on June 12, 2020, 05:12:28 AM
Anyone played any of the Carrier Battles games?

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1163340/Carrier_Battles_4_Guadalcanal/

I think I tried them - this looks really interesting, but if it is a port of a game already implemented on iPad, why wouldn't I just play it on the iPad? Is there more to this?

IIRC you can only play the Americans on the iPad, but I haven't actually tried either.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 12, 2020, 12:45:52 PM
Demon's Souls remaster coming for PS5.

Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zPObTB5YYg

And comparison (as much as is possible for such a short trailer) with the PS3 original: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSc6zDINHlQ

Not gonna be enoughf or me to get a PS5, though. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on June 12, 2020, 12:48:11 PM
I unexpectedly got a Nintendo Switch from my brother. What games should I get?  :hmm:

Tbf I don't know how I will find the time to play Switch games, plenty of PC games in my backlog already. I guess I could play during my commutes, if I still had those  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 12, 2020, 12:50:52 PM
Plenty of indie games. Breath of the Wild seems like an obvious choice. Or Animal Crossing for chilling out.

I don't have a Switch myself, but it seems a lot of people who have one play where they normally wouldn't, like in bed.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on June 12, 2020, 12:57:22 PM
I suppose there's gotta be some decent JRPGs in there, too.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on June 12, 2020, 01:02:50 PM
Fire Emblem is fun.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 12, 2020, 01:29:02 PM
Also, from what I hear from people with Switch, a lot of them play in situations where they normally wouldn't, or play on their phone/tablet.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on June 12, 2020, 01:51:40 PM
I've heard good things of a game called Astral Chain. And Octopath Traveller. And of course Pokemon.
I really want a Switch, but the rumours of a 2 screen version being imminent have me delayed on going for it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on June 12, 2020, 02:11:19 PM
Seems like it would be rather cumbersome with two screens.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 13, 2020, 02:27:38 AM
The guys who made the excellent Commandos-a-like Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun (https://store.steampowered.com/app/418240/Shadow_Tactics_Blades_of_the_Shogun/) have brought out Desperados 3, which seems to be quite good: https://www.pcgamer.com/desperados-3-review/

EDIT: it comes out 16th June, it isn't out yet.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on June 13, 2020, 06:36:46 PM
Last of Us 2 on 19 June

and

Ghost of Tsushima on 17 July

:yeah:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on June 14, 2020, 11:11:30 PM
Got an itchy trigger finger so I played Call of Duty this weekend. COD Warzone is the free to play version and it has a quasi-Battlefield 50vs50 Team Deathmatch Mode with vehicles.

Damn thing is an absurd blast. Bullets whizzing by constantly, explosions everywhere, crazy idiots in buggies and giant trucks driving 100mph running other idiots over and flying off cliffs Dukes of Hazard-style, and a ton of maps because it just reuses a bunch of locations from the main Battle Royale mode. It's insane and it's a blast. It reminds me of Battlefield when it was good.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on June 15, 2020, 06:02:50 AM
The main battle royale map is just the regular MP maps combined.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 29, 2020, 02:07:04 PM
I'm watching a playthrough of Outer Wilds and I regret that I paid no attention to the game before and have it probably spoiled for me now. It looks quite incredible.

If you like chill exploration, alien environments, lunar lander, and puzzles then it might be worth checking out.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Oexmelin on June 29, 2020, 10:23:51 PM
Yes. I saw a pitch for it, and deliberately avoided everything else about the game - until I can buy myself a new console. Looks indeed incredible, and it won a ton of awards at the BAFTA.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 30, 2020, 09:55:06 AM
You know, there's "retro" games with pixelated art and some chiptune. And then there's Black Jewel which goes all in on the C64 look and sound. :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cByN08jRLGY
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on June 30, 2020, 02:51:22 PM
Quote from: Syt on June 30, 2020, 09:55:06 AM
You know, there's "retro" games with pixelated art and some chiptune. And then there's Black Jewel which goes all in on the C64 look and sound. :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cByN08jRLGY

Gameplay seems firmly stuck in 1987 too   :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on June 30, 2020, 07:07:51 PM
'Planar Conquest' whilst not a Master of Magic clone, it's certainly inspired by it.

Worth checking out as it's a good and cheap as chips on steam.


edit:

Very Cheap as it's 90% in the steam sale, so like $2 !.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on July 02, 2020, 07:42:35 AM
OOTP21 is now on Xbox Gamepass PC.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 04, 2020, 06:24:56 AM
Quote from: Syt on February 22, 2020, 02:13:45 AM
Quote from: Syt on September 14, 2018, 02:11:23 AM
New tactical civil war game in the works, dev diaries/blog here: http://www.grandtactician.com/thecivilwar/blog/

It has dispatches :w00t:

Campaign preview video:

https://youtu.be/ZRdRLmPcBZw


Beta gameplay for Grand Tactician. The battle of Gettysburg: https://youtu.be/8dslT5bE-Bo

I don't think the game will win any prizes for graphical fidelity.  :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 07, 2020, 02:23:49 PM
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-next-spiders-game-is-about-the-french-revolution-but-with-robots/?utm_content=buffer7336a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=buffer-pcgamertw

QuoteThe next Spiders game is about the French Revolution, but with robots

Spiders, the company behind Greedfall and Mars: War Logs, unveiled its new project today during the Nacon Connect online event. It's called SteelRising, and it asks a very Spiders kind of question: What if the French Revolution was fought by robots?

In SteelRising, you'll play as Aegis, the automaton bodyguard of Marie Antoinette, who has been ordered to seek out its creator in order to end the massacres being carried out by the robot army of King Louis XVI. It will be a more action-focused game than Spider's previous RPGs, we're told, with an increased focus on verticality and integrated level design to avoid jarring transitions from exploration to combat.

Aegis has a range of melee weapons, "alchemical rifles," and heavier weapons integrated into her body, which can be replaced or upgraded through the game through a range of unique side quests.


Teaser: https://youtu.be/KDAaeBSp4ow
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on July 07, 2020, 02:25:00 PM
Edit your youtube link to "time_continue=0" Right now, it starts at the end.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 07, 2020, 02:26:20 PM
Oops, fixed.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on July 07, 2020, 02:28:34 PM
It tells nothing but that was a fun teaser!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Pedrito on July 08, 2020, 02:10:15 AM
After Xcom and Xcom 2, I'm in need of a turn-based tactics fix.

Long War 2 seems a bit intimidating, has anyone here tried Phoenix Point?

L.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on July 08, 2020, 06:06:31 AM
Try Mutant Year Zero : Road to Eden

https://store.steampowered.com/app/760060/Mutant_Year_Zero_Road_to_Eden/

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 08, 2020, 07:56:45 AM
I should get back to that. It is quite good.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Pedrito on July 08, 2020, 06:12:23 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 08, 2020, 06:06:31 AM
Try Mutant Year Zero : Road to Eden

https://store.steampowered.com/app/760060/Mutant_Year_Zero_Road_to_Eden/
Thanks, will try!  :)

L.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: DGuller on July 09, 2020, 05:18:12 PM
I've come back to Jagged Alliance 2, on patch 1.13.  :Embarrass: The world desperately needs a new Jagged Alliance game that's been done right.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on July 09, 2020, 07:37:03 PM
Bought my first and last cycling management game, not so much complicated as huge amounts of content, it would take tens if not hundreds of hours to play one full year.  :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on July 09, 2020, 08:38:54 PM
Quote from: DGuller on July 09, 2020, 05:18:12 PM
I've come back to Jagged Alliance 2, on patch 1.13.  :Embarrass: The world desperately needs a new Jagged Alliance game that's been done right.

Ah, yes.  Jagged Alliance:  the Hunt for the Guy with the G11.  :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 10, 2020, 06:59:08 AM
Ένα νέο παιχνίδι στρατηγικής για την αρχαία Ελλάδα θα κυκλοφορήσει σύντομα.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1183470/Imperiums_Greek_Wars/

QuoteImperiums: Greek Wars is a unique combination of turn-based 4X and historical grand strategy with a mythological twist.

Inspired by our previous award-winning title Aggressors: Ancient Rome, we bring you a fresh look at a Greco-Persian world of schemers, warmongers, and ruthless politicians. This merciless world is enhanced by myths and stories about heroic deeds and hidden treasures as only the Greeks were able to imagine.

Greco-Persian world

The game starts in 359BC when Philip II of Macedon takes the throne. Macedonia at the time is a backwater on the edge of the Hellenic world, but Philip is an ambitious man. He has a dream to become leader of the whole of Greece, a dream he will follow until his death...

Choose one of 30 playable factions ranging from mighty Sparta or Athens, ambitious Macedonia, slowly declining Achaemenid Empire and its power-hungry satrapies, to a number of smaller Greek city-states and groups of semi-nomadic societies living on the outskirts of the Hellenic world. Lead your nation to glory if you can...

Lead, rule and conquer

Your task is to do more than survive. You are divine ruler, supreme military commander and political leader who seeks glory and prosperity for all your subjects. Lead them to magnificent victories, manage the economy on all levels, and provide successful livelihoods as well as stable and just government.

It is not a task for the weak; all problems rest upon your shoulders; every crisis is a test of your political and military prowess. Decisiveness, tactical thinking, political shrewdness, and above all an adventurous spirit is what will cause one person to stand out - to rise as a star shining through the darkness of millennia to come.

Historical immersion

The Greco-Persian world of Imperiums is a faithful representation of historical reality, political relations, animosities and ambitions. Take a unique opportunity to experience on your own shoulders the weight of responsibility as the chosen one. As leader you can follow your own path or take advice and guidance from dozens of nation-specific objectives.

Experience the ancient Greek world in such a detail as never before.

Myths and Legends

Ancient people believed in myth and legend; it was part of their reality. Those adventurous enough can send their generals in the footsteps of ancient heroes to find the Golden Fleece or untie the Gordian Knot. Unveil the truth of some of the stories and myths of the Greek world.

Face the opponents

Your opponents will be unforgiving, but if you want more of human slyness and unexpected turns, join a multiplayer game and challenge other players in a race to victory!

New worlds

The universe of Imperiums offers an endless number of realms. Imagine a world to your liking and let us bring it to you. Whatever your choice, enter with a clear mind and prove that you can not only survive but build an empire worthy of the title.

Take advantage of the imagination of others and explore worlds they created. Go even a step further, let yourself be inspired as creator whose ideas shape others' worlds.

Learn with ease

It is not shameful to take advice from time to time. You're not alone in this cruel world; there is always guidance to explain, provide context, and offer recommendations. Let yourself be guided by your intuition and logic, and you will soon become a master.

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1183470/ss_f4c17870b277b1fc6628afa312bd1f9879e4e0b8.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1183470/ss_600edc651fb2214c51c26f6f4501d233c0848331.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1183470/ss_e43bfb0502c29f361cb4abae847e208b9fdf6d17.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1183470/ss_e7bb6f834d8ce4a6a9ecb58790da4e4d0ee315d5.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1183470/ss_fd11039c97d3e16b7ca034e0246f7d2600e0ee18.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1183470/ss_087b9e2762bdd8d56025138579b8313e9145d9b4.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1183470/ss_a5d29b0450a7c05c4784935d6284f5f0c4c46d1e.1920x1080.jpg)

I couldn't get into Aggressors: Ancient Rome, but I'm curious how this one will turn out.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 12, 2020, 07:28:46 AM
No E3, but Devolver Digital did their .... whatever it classifies at. Originally on stages at E3, their storyline is now in the 4th year. Fictional CEO Nina Struthers is caught in her mind/simulation after nearly dying at the end of last E3, with Linda from marketing taking over and placing hype over everything else, even announcing games with no intention to release them. :o But a resistance has formed to stop her reign of terror and free Nina's mind. It's the usual meta commentary on the state of the industry as in previous years, but with even more meta references, and somewhat less violence/gore. Might be weird and confusing if you're not familiar with their schtick.

Not many games they showed would be interesting for me, except Carrion in which you basically play the thing from, uhm, The Thing. Here's the Nintendo trailer, but it will also come out for PC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nFSVKH0nAQ

There were also new trailers for Shadow Warrior III. Seems they got inspired by the terrain traversal in Sekiro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00d8nw3eG18

And there's a trailer for Serious Sam 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3f8ikw4xDk Bit weird to see the Roman ruins from Talos Principle in this. :D

Full presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN2dcsx7mJA

Or if you just want the cheesy 80s end credits song: https://youtu.be/AN2dcsx7mJA?t=2417



Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 12, 2020, 08:43:56 AM
If you wondered what an Assassins Creed game made by Akira Kurosawa would look like, I think this Japanese trailer for Ghost of Tsushima answers that quite nicely:

https://youtu.be/ZvF_dv5-aRI

Comes out this Friday on PS4.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 12, 2020, 09:20:48 AM
Beans, a new Toronto studio with Devolver is looking for staff. Their website is .... very ... 90s. If you ever were on Geocities, you will find its quite familiar: https://www.thebeansteam.com/+

:bleeding: :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on July 12, 2020, 11:51:17 AM
Quote from: Octavian on November 25, 2019, 01:09:11 PM
Jedi Fallen Order.

It's probably game of the year for me so far. Great story, great setting, great characters, great gameplay.

It's great!

9/10

I love the banter between the stormtroopers. Some of them felt relieved by the fact that they held the high ground :)
I've recently started playing this.  I had to buy an Xbox controller for this, it's unplayble with a keyboard and a gaming mouse.

I'm struggling with the controls, I'm at the second difficulty level, right after "story mode".  It's taking me twice the time to do anything in this game, because I keep pressing the wrong buttons.  Never played with a controller in all my life.

I'm a bit disapointed that it's stricly a combat game, I expected a more RPGish feeling to it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 12, 2020, 02:55:44 PM
Trailer for Far Cry 6, featuring Giancarlo Esposito: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgPZ1PG8bD4

Kind of funny since he and Michael Mando (Vas from Far Cry 3) are both in Better Call Saul.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 13, 2020, 03:53:23 AM
I hope they have a bit more freedom and less silly fantastical stuff than FC5
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on July 13, 2020, 05:02:48 PM
Far Cry 5 was terrible.  So unless they really mix things up and improve the game I'm a hard no.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 14, 2020, 04:58:03 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on July 13, 2020, 05:02:48 PM
Far Cry 5 was terrible.  So unless they really mix things up and improve the game I'm a hard no.

I kind of liked it for its Red Dawn aspects.
But then being randomly captured about 8 different times in scripted events only to escape/be set free/some prophesied bollocks. No.
It really did have a lot of the makings of a good game, but they screwed it massively.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 14, 2020, 09:37:28 AM
Quote from: Syt on July 12, 2020, 08:43:56 AM
If you wondered what an Assassins Creed game made by Akira Kurosawa would look like, I think this Japanese trailer for Ghost of Tsushima answers that quite nicely:

https://youtu.be/ZvF_dv5-aRI

Comes out this Friday on PS4.

I was being flippant about the Kurosawa bit, but apparently the developers aren't:

https://ew.com/gaming/ghost-of-tsushima-akira-kurosawa-estate-cinematic-mode/

QuoteJason Connell and Nate Fox, the creative directors behind Ghost of Tsushima, are very upfront about the influence legendary Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa had on their open-world samurai game.

"I think one that is just crystal clear is the movie Sanjuro," Fox tells EW of the 1963 work. "It's a film that features, at the very end of it, a standoff between two samurai. The tension that those two warriors have, they wait for the other to make a first move and then one of them dies with just one stroke of his sword. We tried to translate that into the standoff in our game very directly." Another he points to is Kurosawa's 1954 classic Seven Samurai, "which defines my concept of what a samurai is," Fox remarks. "The samurai in that film have a dignity and a heart that we really strived to capture."

Connell, Fox, and their team at Sucker Punch, which developed Ghost of Tsushima after the inFamous series, pulled from a long list of inspirations for their next saga, about a lone samurai who must betray his noble principles in order to save his home from invading Mongols. We're talking everything from Japanese comics like Usagi Yojimbo to other games like 1984's Karateka. But the influence of Kurosawa's work is so strong that they decided to honor the director, who died in 1998, with something called Kurosawa Mode.

Prospective players caught a glimpse of this gaming format during May's virtual State of Play preview presentation. It's the black-and-white cinematic mode that mirrors Kurosawa's filmmaking style and aims to give gamers the feeling of playing inside a samurai movie. Connell and Fox pitched the concept to Kurosawa's estate to get the official blessing.

"We have this great game that transports people back to feudal Japan and Akira Kurosawa was one of our reference guides, especially early on about how we wanted it to feel," Connell explains. "As we got closer and closer to making that a reality, we were like, 'What do we call this special mode that we created, this black-and-white throwback?' We threw out a bunch of different words and we thought, 'What would be awesome would be if we could call it Kurosawa Mode.' In order to do that, we felt that we needed to reach out to the estate and see if that's something they'd be interested in. We sent a short video showing what it generally looks like, what it feels like."

It's not just a black-and-white filter, Connell clarifies. "We actually did some research on the curves that may have existed on that kind of film that [Kurosawa] might've used."

It proved difficult to translate that directly into a game like Ghost of Tsushima with current film-mapping technology, so Connell took various black-and-white samurai films and analyzed scenes from various times of day and weather conditions to track "how deep were the blacks? How bright were the whites?"

For final touches, the team added a film grain to make the mode appear as though it had just emerged from the age of Kurosawa, as well as an increased wind function. In Ghost of Tsushima, the wind serves as the player's navigational tool; Jin actually follows the wind to find his next destination. In the Kurosawa Mode, the wind is "cranked up," says Connell. "And lastly," he adds, "we actually toyed with the audio a little bit. Our audio team have an internal tool that mimicked sounds of old TV and, specifically, megaphones, radios, TVs back to the '50s." It all makes for a game with the feel of theatrical entertainment.

I approve of this nonsense in games. :) I still believe L.A. Noire was best played in black and white (it also made the combination of 3D environments and facial animations less jarring).

Preview video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok1HR9B2bys

Cinematics with the same filter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIMnJgOuon0
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on July 14, 2020, 09:51:20 AM
Its the Metal Gear Solid guy, right? I really enjoyed the last game of that series (first one I played) but I was REALLY uncomfortable with the couple of torture scenes, the one involving the barely-dresses female, especially.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 14, 2020, 09:56:33 AM
Quote from: Tamas on July 14, 2020, 09:51:20 AM
Its the Metal Gear Solid guy, right? I really enjoyed the last game of that series (first one I played) but I was REALLY uncomfortable with the couple of torture scenes, the one involving the barely-dresses female, especially.

What are you referring to? :unsure: Hideo Kojima (= Mr MGS) was doing Death Stranding last.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on July 14, 2020, 10:01:20 AM
Quote from: Syt on July 14, 2020, 09:56:33 AM
Quote from: Tamas on July 14, 2020, 09:51:20 AM
Its the Metal Gear Solid guy, right? I really enjoyed the last game of that series (first one I played) but I was REALLY uncomfortable with the couple of torture scenes, the one involving the barely-dresses female, especially.

What are you referring to? :unsure: Hideo Kojima (= Mr MGS) was doing Death Stranding last.

I refer to Metal Gear Solid 5, I think that was. In the story there is one sequence of cutscenes where your character and his team are torturing a disabled guy, and another one where they do the same to a scantily clad female.


EDIT:

Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HQdJrAJV2U

and here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GLoKZg_p-w
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 14, 2020, 10:03:50 AM
Quote from: Tamas on July 14, 2020, 10:01:20 AM
Quote from: Syt on July 14, 2020, 09:56:33 AM
Quote from: Tamas on July 14, 2020, 09:51:20 AM
Its the Metal Gear Solid guy, right? I really enjoyed the last game of that series (first one I played) but I was REALLY uncomfortable with the couple of torture scenes, the one involving the barely-dresses female, especially.

What are you referring to? :unsure: Hideo Kojima (= Mr MGS) was doing Death Stranding last.

I refer to Metal Gear Solid 5, I think that was. In the story there is one sequence of cutscenes where your character and his team are torturing a disabled guy, and another one where they do the same to a scantily clad female.

No, which post were you referring to? There was no connection to MGS in the last page or 10. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on July 14, 2020, 11:17:45 AM
Tamas thinks Kurosawa = Kojima.  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on July 14, 2020, 11:20:24 AM
Quote from: Habbaku on July 14, 2020, 11:17:45 AM
Tamas thinks Kurosawa = Kojima.  :lol:

Were they ever seen together?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on July 14, 2020, 11:21:35 AM
 :hmm: Excellent point.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on July 14, 2020, 12:41:11 PM
Well they both begin with a K and sound Asian and that's all the attention I have given to either game :p
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 14, 2020, 12:51:30 PM
Quote from: Tamas on July 14, 2020, 12:41:11 PM
Well they both begin with a K and sound Asian and that's all the attention I have given to either game :p

But you are familiar with Akira Kurosawa, one of the most important and influential directors of the 20th century? :unsure:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on July 14, 2020, 12:58:33 PM
Was she in Asian Fuck Faces?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Duque de Bragança on July 14, 2020, 01:53:08 PM
Quote from: Syt on July 14, 2020, 12:51:30 PM
Quote from: Tamas on July 14, 2020, 12:41:11 PM
Well they both begin with a K and sound Asian and that's all the attention I have given to either game :p

But you are familiar with Akira Kurosawa, one of the most important and influential directors of the 20th century? :unsure:

According to most Japanese, he was too westernized anyways.  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on July 14, 2020, 06:01:51 PM
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on July 14, 2020, 01:53:08 PM
According to most Japanese, he was too westernized anyways.  :lol:

They are just pissed that Kurosawa's Dreams didn't portray Japan in a good light. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on July 15, 2020, 02:34:21 AM
The main character has more than a passing resemblance to Toshiro Mifune, even. Heck, I might even get the game just for that (I used to get a kick of AssCreed games back when they were good, too).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Duque de Bragança on July 15, 2020, 09:13:48 AM
Quote from: Syt on July 14, 2020, 09:37:28 AM


For final touches, the team added a film grain to make the mode appear as though it had just emerged from the age of Kurosawa, as well as an increased wind function. In Ghost of Tsushima, the wind serves as the player's navigational tool; Jin actually follows the wind to find his next destination. In the Kurosawa Mode, the wind is "cranked up," says Connell. "And lastly," he adds, "we actually toyed with the audio a little bit. Our audio team have an internal tool that mimicked sounds of old TV and, specifically, megaphones, radios, TVs back to the '50s." It all makes for a game with the feel of theatrical entertainment.

Quote
I approve of this nonsense in games. :) I still believe L.A. Noire was best played in black and white (it also made the combination of 3D environments and facial animations less jarring).


:nerd:

Depends on how it's done. As for the sound, Kurosawa movies such as the Seven Samurai Yojimbo, Sanjuro or the Hidden Fortress had Perspecta sound so not the common sound of old '50s TV.
To sum up, it's a directional sound system, with some kind of surround effect, while not true stereo but still noticeably better than good old '50s mono.
Modern HD video releases include some kind of surround mix to take that into account cf. Criterion plus.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perspecta (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perspecta)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 15, 2020, 09:37:00 AM
Ghost of Tsushima does look great.
Sort of Way of the Samurai meets Witcher 3.
It seems to veer away from the American style of open world too and more towards the European style. Which is nice.

Plus its by the guys who made Infamous, which was a good series.
I may well buy a PS5 when it comes out to play it- seems a bit daft to buy a PS4 now.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on July 15, 2020, 09:43:33 AM
A PS5 will be 600£, while the PS4 is ~250£?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on July 15, 2020, 11:03:36 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 15, 2020, 09:43:33 AM
A PS5 will be 600£, while the PS4 is ~250£?


Looking that price up just shows a leak in June that was noted to be an error?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on July 15, 2020, 11:48:24 AM
Middle kid Andrew had his 8th birthday a couple weeks ago.  He really didn't ask for anything in particular for a present, so I kind of winged it.  In amongst a few other things I got him a copy of Pokemon: Sword for the Switch.

It was either a terrible gift, or a fantastic one, as all three boys have been absolutely hooked ever since.

I've never played a Pokemon game in my life (other than fooling around with Pokemon Go when it first came out), but I've been playing it a bit once the boys go to bed.  It's well done for what it is.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on July 15, 2020, 11:58:35 AM
I bought Pokemon Shield over sword so I could have:

(https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/31XGnjaL2dWY0H24xtAcCETHx38=/0x0:1920x1080/920x613/filters:focal(807x387:1113x693):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65707138/Screenshot__131_.0.png)

(:blush:)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 15, 2020, 12:00:26 PM
 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on July 15, 2020, 12:20:08 PM
Quote from: garbon on July 15, 2020, 11:03:36 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 15, 2020, 09:43:33 AM
A PS5 will be 600£, while the PS4 is ~250£?


Looking that price up just shows a leak in June that was noted to be an error?

I might be a tad high in my estimate. Estimating £ is never easy to me.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 15, 2020, 12:58:50 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 15, 2020, 09:43:33 AM
A PS5 will be 600£, while the PS4 is ~250£?

If buying new I don't see it being worth the savings to buy the older system.
Though the second hand market is a thought.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 15, 2020, 01:31:27 PM
Not really a game, but the first (free) version of Nuclear War Simulator is out.

http://nuclearwarsimulator.com/

QuoteAbout
The goal of this project is to build a realistic simulation and visualization of large-scale nuclear conflicts with a focus on humanitarian consequences. There are currently over 13000 nuclear weapons on this planet of which over 9000 are in military stockpiles. This software should help you answer the question: what will happen if Russia and United States or India and Pakistan use their arsenals?

There are a lot of interlocking systems and processes in a nuclear conflict: the command and control system, locations and movement of forces, weapons delivery systems and humanitarian consequences. By simulating the most relevant of these systems you should be able to tell a credible story about how nuclear conflicts play out and what are the consequences.
The simulation is developed in Unity and will be distributed as a stand-alone application.

Currently implemented features:
- visualise and calculate effects of nuclear weapons (thermal radiation, overpressure, fallout and mass fires) on a high-density population grid (similar to Alex Wellerstein's NUKEMAP)
- visualisation of overpressure, thermal radiation, radiation dose from fallout, areas affected by mass fires, population density and casualties density (prompt radiation is not considered)
- effects from hundreds to thousands of explosions can be calculated and visualised in seconds
- design and place nuclear forces to recreate current, past or future arsenals using an intuitive UI
- create attack plans and conflict scenarios and share them with others
- place yourself, your family and your friends inside the simulation and calculate the probability of your survival
- simulate the dynamics and timing of the conflict and effects of a first strike using a damage model based on CEP and overpressure
- simple production cost model: how many weapons can a country build if it wants to?

Some more details can be found in the screenshots-section. Technical details on the models and databases being used here will be added soon. Follow me on twitter to stay updated.

Work in progress

This simulation is not yet finished. Some aspects are not very accurate or missing entirely: ballistic missiles flight times are only approximate, nuclear winter model is not complete. Some models may have to be replaced completely in the future. Please let me know if you detect some severe inaccuracy. If you think you can use this simulation in one of your projects but some calculation or visualisation is missing please contact me and I will try to implement it.



Videos:

http://nuclearwarsimulator.com/videos/

Screenshots:

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnuclearwarsimulator.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F11%2FScenic2-1.jpg&hash=ceffec00f8994e614532f717297a0c143977e9ce)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnuclearwarsimulator.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F11%2FCasualties2.png&hash=4f6baec2c7bb134a29e0172b95d85e222f5b8aa1)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnuclearwarsimulator.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F11%2FCasualties.png&hash=753e4ec6603a90778e7f7374ff32498a79b0016f)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnuclearwarsimulator.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F11%2FFalloutDose2.png&hash=73f509d01794f163071cc50f929601826e774148)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnuclearwarsimulator.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F11%2FBlueprints.png&hash=20387444de7effd9bb5b55c67a095f03ee181c69)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnuclearwarsimulator.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F11%2FPlacement.png&hash=ef34eab5597120af39d4c4aaff1d8e81d930ff84)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnuclearwarsimulator.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F11%2FSmokeFromBurningCities.png&hash=d3928cd753aa33e03820279fb69697e2dce2c8e1)

The last screenshot shows smoke from burning cities.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on July 15, 2020, 01:37:51 PM
What kind of sick fuck would place people he knows in the simulator? I've seen Black Mirror.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 15, 2020, 01:41:06 PM
Sold
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on July 15, 2020, 04:09:19 PM
Will I be able to cut off the head of the Soviet chicken?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on July 15, 2020, 04:38:30 PM
Quote from: Tonitrus on July 15, 2020, 04:09:19 PM
Will I be able to cut off the head of the Soviet chicken?

More importantly, will you be able to play the Soviets and still get to take a dump without a plan?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 15, 2020, 10:20:26 PM
It has no AI. It's just a sandbox to play through scenarios of your own choosing, setting up assets and strike plans.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on July 16, 2020, 01:53:38 AM
Quote from: Tonitrus on July 15, 2020, 04:09:19 PM
Will I be able to cut off the head of the Soviet chicken?

is that before or after it crossed the road?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on July 17, 2020, 08:21:53 AM
Henry Cavill builds his own gaming PC.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CCs-N1Eh2Z5/?igshid=10w313t6cddpm
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 17, 2020, 09:24:24 AM
Some people may know the game Attentat 1942 about the aftermath of the killing of Reinhard Heydrich:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/676630/Attentat_1942/

QuoteAttentat 1942 is a historically-accurate adventure told through the eyes of World War 2 survivors. Many moral dilemmas and existential struggles await you on your way to discover the troubled past of your family. Written and made by professional historians.

It's 1942 and Reinhard Heydrich, the ruler of the Nazi occupied Czech lands appointed by Hitler, was assassinated. Nazi retaliation was brutal. Your grandpa was among the victims, sent to a concentration camp. But why? What role did he play in the attack? Why didn't he tell his family? Was he brave or reckless?

Immerse yourself in a story about love, friendship and heroism among the horrors of a world conflict. Confront witnesses, experience the everyday life under Nazi rule and uncover the fate of your family in this award-winning game about World War II.

History made interactive. Attentat 1942 features:
- deep-branching dialogue, where your choices matter
- interactive comics and memories, hide resistance leaflets from the Gestapo or flee from a Nazi prison
- rare digitized film footage and historical items

About Us
Charles Games is a Prague-based studio focused on exploring the narrative possibilities of video games with strong emphasis on serious games.


The devs have been trying to get the game onto Google Play, but ....

https://twitter.com/CharlesGames_cz/status/1284116775702077440?s=20

QuoteGoogle rejected Attentat 1942 due to Nazi references. After all the hard work, multiple e-mails, approval by German regulators, we're frustrated. How we're supposed to make an historically-accurate game about WW2 horrors without Nazis? We don't know. A thread. #indiegame #gamedev

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EdIZYL1XkAAlNku?format=jpg&name=small)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 17, 2020, 09:29:02 AM
An article about their road to approval in Germany (a change of rules of the German games industry ratings board, kind of like ESRB in US, means that each submitted game will be reviewed individually, instead of rejecting games with Nazi symbols by default; the latest Wolfenstein games caused some re-thinking in that regard).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on July 17, 2020, 09:37:10 AM
I don't care what Google does or doesn't do, but I think it's very unsound for governments to get involved in these things. The German obsession with promoting the myth that German soldiers in WW2 didn't fight under the swastika banner is unbecoming a supposedly civilized country.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on July 17, 2020, 09:46:35 AM
I mean that actually sound like a fascinating and possibly even an educational resource. I get Google's policy because I imagine this is an exception, but it should be flexible enough for exceptions.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 17, 2020, 10:01:18 AM
Quote from: The Brain on July 17, 2020, 09:37:10 AM
I don't care what Google does or doesn't do, but I think it's very unsound for governments to get involved in these things. The German obsession with promoting the myth that German soldiers in WW2 didn't fight under the swastika banner is unbecoming a supposedly civilized country.

:huh:

The game in question has been released in Germany, with swastikas. Through the Darkest of Times as well. Maybe read the article I linked next time?  The German ratings board have changed their rules, as mentioned. :rolleyes:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on July 17, 2020, 10:28:03 AM
Quote from: Syt on July 17, 2020, 10:01:18 AM
Quote from: The Brain on July 17, 2020, 09:37:10 AM
I don't care what Google does or doesn't do, but I think it's very unsound for governments to get involved in these things. The German obsession with promoting the myth that German soldiers in WW2 didn't fight under the swastika banner is unbecoming a supposedly civilized country.

:huh:

The game in question has been released in Germany, with swastikas. Through the Darkest of Times as well. Maybe read the article I linked next time?  The German ratings board have changed their rules, as mentioned. :rolleyes:

I was talking in the general, your post mentioned that this game had been approved by German authorities. Many many WW2 games have been released without swastikas where a player who doesn't know better gets the strong impression that German soldiers in WW2 didn't fight under the swastika. And scale models of German WW2 planes and vehicles without swastikas etc. I can only guess at the reason why German authorities think it's a good idea to portray German WW2 soldiers as just "men of honor doing their patriotic duty, not Nazis at all no Sir...".
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 17, 2020, 10:33:46 AM
Quote from: The Brain on July 17, 2020, 10:28:03 AM
Many many WW2 games have been released without swastikas where a player who doesn't know better gets the strong impression that German soldiers in WW2 didn't fight under the swastika. And scale models of German WW2 planes and vehicles without swastikas etc. I can only guess at the reason why German authorities think it's a good idea to portray German WW2 soldiers as just "men of honor doing their patriotic duty, not Nazis at all no Sir...".

I need a bot to post the amount of :rolleyes: this comment requires.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on July 17, 2020, 10:36:21 AM
Quote from: Syt on July 17, 2020, 10:33:46 AM
Quote from: The Brain on July 17, 2020, 10:28:03 AM
Many many WW2 games have been released without swastikas where a player who doesn't know better gets the strong impression that German soldiers in WW2 didn't fight under the swastika. And scale models of German WW2 planes and vehicles without swastikas etc. I can only guess at the reason why German authorities think it's a good idea to portray German WW2 soldiers as just "men of honor doing their patriotic duty, not Nazis at all no Sir...".

I need a bot to post the amount of :rolleyes: this comment requires.

*shrug* FWIW I think Germany should stop letting itself be defined by the Nazi era and rejoin the ranks of civilized nations. Without having a friggin' board approving games in advance to prevent wrongthink.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 17, 2020, 11:44:08 AM
We've had the discussion numerous times on this board. I see no value in rehashing it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on July 17, 2020, 12:12:54 PM
Quote from: Syt on July 17, 2020, 11:44:08 AM
We've had the discussion numerous times on this board. I see no value in rehashing it.

I agree completely.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 21, 2020, 04:33:18 AM
Grand Tactician: The Civil War (1861-1865)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/654890/Grand_Tactician_The_Civil_War_18611865/

Comes out 21st August.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 21, 2020, 04:46:59 AM
Quote from: The Brain on July 17, 2020, 10:36:21 AM
Quote from: Syt on July 17, 2020, 10:33:46 AM
Quote from: The Brain on July 17, 2020, 10:28:03 AM
Many many WW2 games have been released without swastikas where a player who doesn't know better gets the strong impression that German soldiers in WW2 didn't fight under the swastika. And scale models of German WW2 planes and vehicles without swastikas etc. I can only guess at the reason why German authorities think it's a good idea to portray German WW2 soldiers as just "men of honor doing their patriotic duty, not Nazis at all no Sir...".

I need a bot to post the amount of :rolleyes: this comment requires.

*shrug* FWIW I think Germany should stop letting itself be defined by the Nazi era and rejoin the ranks of civilized nations. Without having a friggin' board approving games in advance to prevent wrongthink.

Doesn't Sweden have a media ratings board?
The UK and US I know do.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on July 21, 2020, 05:36:51 AM
Quote from: Tyr on July 21, 2020, 04:46:59 AM
Quote from: The Brain on July 17, 2020, 10:36:21 AM
Quote from: Syt on July 17, 2020, 10:33:46 AM
Quote from: The Brain on July 17, 2020, 10:28:03 AM
Many many WW2 games have been released without swastikas where a player who doesn't know better gets the strong impression that German soldiers in WW2 didn't fight under the swastika. And scale models of German WW2 planes and vehicles without swastikas etc. I can only guess at the reason why German authorities think it's a good idea to portray German WW2 soldiers as just "men of honor doing their patriotic duty, not Nazis at all no Sir...".

I need a bot to post the amount of :rolleyes: this comment requires.

*shrug* FWIW I think Germany should stop letting itself be defined by the Nazi era and rejoin the ranks of civilized nations. Without having a friggin' board approving games in advance to prevent wrongthink.

Doesn't Sweden have a media ratings board?
The UK and US I know do.

I have never heard of computer games in general in Sweden needing approval by the government before publication. AFAIK you do need a license for gambling if it's casino-like games about money, but I don't know if the government looks at every specific individual such game if you have a gambling license.

Government pre-approval of movies for age 15+ was ended ten years ago. I don't know the exact rules for kids' movies, if they still require pre-approval (I think so though).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 21, 2020, 10:21:51 AM
Quote from: Syt on July 21, 2020, 04:33:18 AM
Grand Tactician: The Civil War (1861-1865)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/654890/Grand_Tactician_The_Civil_War_18611865/

Comes out 21st August.

Actually, it will be in Early Access.

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/654890/ss_1f78ea64c5c2c1177d4ec72b3c89605fe0ed33c7.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/654890/ss_409b8e265fcb85c3b393eb30a429e4a6442b4089.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/654890/ss_c7516abb92e45905b0d58b4de6b7a1a0ef63b0ac.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/654890/ss_97e3d9229e227c0403cc60bb279fb516eb3c732f.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/654890/ss_e71293a8acd925b59acdee16328ca6f20c8c7644.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/654890/ss_7e332e3f5c0b833692a916bb85f3580e22170ec1.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/654890/ss_fe4a465ff1d66f3c92cb5b147a8eaaa340bd9535.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/654890/ss_0865295fc1ef8b1d60d1660acd04e68f457d6da6.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/654890/ss_1f8b3daf7d92c042b09d5c743d7143869d7d59ac.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/654890/ss_7cecbea2d375b3a6974ce51ed950a0e931ade13b.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/654890/ss_8593985ebc7091377ad451c53baf362172c0a6f1.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/654890/ss_c91ba74e9b07b354e2ce86252638c6f1e49f724f.1920x1080.jpg)

I really hope it doesn't suck. :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Richard Hakluyt on July 21, 2020, 11:04:18 AM
It looks great  :cool:

Battlefields look a bit blurry though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on July 21, 2020, 03:46:22 PM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on July 21, 2020, 11:04:18 AM
It looks great  :cool:

Battlefields look a bit blurry though.

Have you seen genuine photos from the time? Everything that isn't nailed down is blurry.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on July 21, 2020, 08:11:33 PM
Detroit captured by British troops? :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on July 21, 2020, 09:06:07 PM
If you have a PS4 and enjoy action games I recommend picking up Ghosts of Tsushima. The combat feels visceral and the graphics are beautiful. It's also surprisingly calm and peaceful at times. Fits the samurai movie vibe perfectly.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on July 22, 2020, 03:11:44 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on July 21, 2020, 09:06:07 PM
If you have a PS4 and enjoy action games I recommend picking up Ghosts of Tsushima. The combat feels visceral and the graphics are beautiful. It's also surprisingly calm and peaceful at times. Fits the samurai movie vibe perfectly.

Waiting for it to come to PC. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 22, 2020, 03:20:19 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on July 21, 2020, 09:06:07 PM
If you have a PS4 and enjoy action games I recommend picking up Ghosts of Tsushima. The combat feels visceral and the graphics are beautiful. It's also surprisingly calm and peaceful at times. Fits the samurai movie vibe perfectly.

How does it ruin on a normal, old, non-pro PS4? Load times?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on July 22, 2020, 09:54:44 AM
Quote from: Syt on July 22, 2020, 03:20:19 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on July 21, 2020, 09:06:07 PM
If you have a PS4 and enjoy action games I recommend picking up Ghosts of Tsushima. The combat feels visceral and the graphics are beautiful. It's also surprisingly calm and peaceful at times. Fits the samurai movie vibe perfectly.

How does it ruin on a normal, old, non-pro PS4? Load times?

I have a regular PS4 and it runs fine. Occasional frame rate drops below 30 fps (both versions are 30 fps capped). Load times are amazingly short. Fast-traveling take maybe 5 seconds and reloading after dying takes like 3 seconds to load.

I would love a PC version at 60 fps but that will probably take years to happen. :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 22, 2020, 10:00:54 AM
Yeah. :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on July 22, 2020, 10:24:04 AM
B&W mode at a somewhat jerky 24 fps works for me  :w00t:. Alas no PS4 (I thought about buying one a few months ago, but thought it pointless so late in the console's cycle...).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on July 22, 2020, 10:30:55 AM
Quote from: celedhring on July 22, 2020, 10:24:04 AM
B&W mode at a somewhat jerky 24 fps works for me  :w00t:. Alas no PS4 (I thought about buying one a few months ago, but thought it pointless so late in the console's cycle...).

Yeah there's a "Kurosawa mode" which filters the graphics through a B&W film grain which is pretty cool, but the game is beautiful in normal mode too.  :cool:

This game is well optimized but it's still old hardware. The drops to 25-26 fps are noticeable if you're used to ROCK HARD 60 fps on a PC game. My brother bought me Death Stranding on Steam and that game is soooo smooth in 60 fps.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on July 22, 2020, 11:02:59 AM
Quote from: Syt on July 22, 2020, 03:20:19 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on July 21, 2020, 09:06:07 PM
If you have a PS4 and enjoy action games I recommend picking up Ghosts of Tsushima. The combat feels visceral and the graphics are beautiful. It's also surprisingly calm and peaceful at times. Fits the samurai movie vibe perfectly.

How does it ruin on a normal, old, non-pro PS4? Load times?

The answer appears in your question

:D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 22, 2020, 11:03:45 AM
 :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 22, 2020, 11:25:44 AM
Carrion comes out tomorrow, a metroidvania heavily inspired by The Thing, with you playing as The Thing, an amorphous mass of flesh and tentacles trying to break out of confinement, growing larger the more you consume. And apparently you can also take over humans temporarily.

First 25 minutes of gameplay below. The animation of your ... character(?) is quite disturbing, to say the least. :lol:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTCheRo9Md4

https://store.steampowered.com/app/953490/CARRION/

QuoteABOUT THIS GAME

CARRION is a reverse horror game in which you assume the role of an amorphous creature of unknown origin. Stalk and consume those that imprisoned you to spread fear and panic throughout the facility. Grow and evolve as you tear down this prison and acquire more and more devastating abilities on the path to retribution.

MATURE CONTENT DESCRIPTION

The developers describe the content like this:
CARRION contains frequent graphic violence and gore.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Threviel on July 22, 2020, 12:56:26 PM
Quote from: The Brain on July 21, 2020, 05:36:51 AM
Government pre-approval of movies for age 15+ was ended ten years ago. I don't know the exact rules for kids' movies, if they still require pre-approval (I think so though).

IIRC the very last movie that the government had any issues with was Casino in ´95.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 22, 2020, 01:28:13 PM
Quote from: Syt on July 22, 2020, 11:25:44 AM
Carrion comes out tomorrow, a metroidvania heavily inspired by The Thing, with you playing as The Thing, an amorphous mass of flesh and tentacles trying to break out of confinement, growing larger the more you consume. And apparently you can also take over humans temporarily.

First 25 minutes of gameplay below. The animation of your ... character(?) is quite disturbing, to say the least. :lol:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTCheRo9Md4

https://store.steampowered.com/app/953490/CARRION/

QuoteABOUT THIS GAME

CARRION is a reverse horror game in which you assume the role of an amorphous creature of unknown origin. Stalk and consume those that imprisoned you to spread fear and panic throughout the facility. Grow and evolve as you tear down this prison and acquire more and more devastating abilities on the path to retribution.

MATURE CONTENT DESCRIPTION

The developers describe the content like this:
CARRION contains frequent graphic violence and gore.

I mean it looks cool and hypnotic but also that it'd be a pain to control yourself.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on July 22, 2020, 01:31:55 PM
Quote from: Threviel on July 22, 2020, 12:56:26 PM
Quote from: The Brain on July 21, 2020, 05:36:51 AM
Government pre-approval of movies for age 15+ was ended ten years ago. I don't know the exact rules for kids' movies, if they still require pre-approval (I think so though).

IIRC the very last movie that the government had any issues with was Casino in ´95.

Yeah that rings a bell.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on July 22, 2020, 04:54:09 PM
Anyone have any VR game recommendations? I beat HL: Alyx and have been piddling around with some user-generated levels on it, but otherwise only have Super Hot VR and Budget Cuts 1/2.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 23, 2020, 10:36:33 AM
Do we have any chess aficionados here?

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1349230/5D_Chess_With_Multiverse_Time_Travel/

Quote5D Chess With Multiverse Time Travel

5D Chess With Multiverse Time Travel the first ever chess variant with spatial, temporal, and parallel dimensions. It's the first ever chess variant with multiverse time travel!

Sharpen your tactics by solving a collection of multiverse chess puzzles.
Practice against four different AI personalities, each with different strengths and styles.
Try out a variety of different starting positions and scenarios.
Play online with your friends or against strangers.

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1349230/ss_8889f6e8aded66536e903bc8ff4fbfb5e07a0346.1920x1080.jpg?t=1595483391)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1349230/ss_97f16569f6535e3cc068da1c32d7c42e149d83eb.1920x1080.jpg?t=1595483391)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1349230/ss_94a8c5ad627363b1d0e9d72a1a5f8db45f2b5f9c.1920x1080.jpg?t=1595483391)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1349230/ss_09914e27c52ab5efd765a09ce1f3e1c24b8ac65c.1920x1080.jpg?t=1595483391)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on July 23, 2020, 11:53:11 AM
Hell I suck at Chess in two dimensions.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Oexmelin on July 23, 2020, 12:09:41 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on July 22, 2020, 04:54:09 PM
Anyone have any VR game recommendations? I beat HL: Alyx and have been piddling around with some user-generated levels on it, but otherwise only have Super Hot VR and Budget Cuts 1/2.

I don't own a VR myself but I heard great things about Tetris effect.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on July 23, 2020, 12:11:26 PM
I would love to be good at chess, but I am not so that is far too complex for me :lol:  :Embarrass:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 23, 2020, 12:19:13 PM
Here's a long video of 5D Chess ... the streamer explains some of the ideas behind it throughout. It's "a bit" mind bending. https://youtu.be/DIax8lQzaK4?t=208
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 23, 2020, 01:01:57 PM
It looks very interesting. But I don't know the rules of even regular chess.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on July 23, 2020, 01:08:05 PM
From what I've heard President Trump has already mastered 5-D chess. Checkmate libs  :homestar:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 24, 2020, 04:09:15 AM
For RTS nostalgics, KKND 1&2 are on Steam now.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 25, 2020, 02:39:31 PM
About 90 minutes of the Menelaus campaign for Total War Saga: Troy. Apparently the battles need some tweaking (i.e. unit collision not working yet - supposedly already fixed at time of posting of the video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bkD5OiBb3U
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on July 29, 2020, 03:31:28 AM
Interesting concept. It's a "quick" wargame that stays at the strategic and operational level (i.e. no hexes). Feels quite unique and looks like it can be played in one sitting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRgYh__d3cQ

Hopefully the author adds PBEM down the line.

EDIT: I found that he indeed intends to add PBEM.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 29, 2020, 04:23:42 AM
I decided to support my first ever kickstarter.
Eiyuden Chronicle.
New game by the people behind the Suikoden series.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Duque de Bragança on July 29, 2020, 05:49:14 AM
Quote from: Tyr on July 29, 2020, 04:23:42 AM
I decided to support my first ever kickstarter.
Eiyuden Chronicle.
New game by the people behind the Suikoden series.

Interesting, thanks. I'll keep an eye on it.
I supported Wasteland 2 back in the day (2013-14).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on August 04, 2020, 03:07:16 PM
Far Cry 5.

Now, that is a great game.  :)

It's more action than typical shooter, and is probably closer to Skyrim than Wolfenstein or Doom.
It ain't linear, it's an open world, lots of ennemies with various tactics to kill them, lots of variaty in missions too. :)

however, the engine is still in DX11 and that sucks.  Since the graphics are beautiful, they had to cut elsewhere to allow the game to run smoothly.  So, all the ennemies kinda look the same, 4-5 variations of them.  The cutscenes and the story is totally worth it though.  Greg Bryk is fantastic in his role of a pure religious nutty psychopath :)  The acting is really great, scary, dreamy at time.

In one series of missions, you are targeting their drug production, an hallucinogenic drug called "bliss" and the way it affects your character, I'd swear I was on drugs myself :D

Highly recommended.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on August 04, 2020, 03:09:46 PM
Did you play earlier Far Cry games? How does it compare? Is there a retarded oh-noes-I-got-taken-again thing going on?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on August 04, 2020, 04:08:37 PM
Quote from: The Brain on August 04, 2020, 03:09:46 PM
Did you play earlier Far Cry games? How does it compare? Is there a retarded oh-noes-I-got-taken-again thing going on?

Very much so.
And weird fantasy elements too.
But fun anyway.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on August 04, 2020, 04:10:57 PM
I really enjoyed Far Cry 1, 3, and 4. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on August 04, 2020, 04:49:26 PM
Quote from: The Brain on August 04, 2020, 04:10:57 PM
I really enjoyed Far Cry 1, 3, and 4. :)


Yeah, that sounds about right.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on August 04, 2020, 08:15:15 PM
Quote from: The Brain on August 04, 2020, 03:09:46 PM
Did you play earlier Far Cry games? How does it compare? Is there a retarded oh-noes-I-got-taken-again thing going on?
I've played the first 3 ones.

I like the 1&3, but it was not as open as this, and they felt more linear.  It also did not came with that many options (you can hunt&fish for money, if you want to, and there are "stunt" missions where you repeat the exploits of a famous stuntman, like setting yourself on fire with an ATV riding down a slope, or using a plane to perform some stunts.

I would say it's the best of the series, albeit there are some minor, non game breaking glitches.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on August 04, 2020, 10:57:11 PM
Wow, I thought the game was shit.

"Hey, you know that part in the movies where the bad guy captures the hero and gives a little speech?  Well, let's do that 9 times."

"What do you want the say?"

"Oh, nothing really.  Just what motivates them."

"What motivates them?""

"Nothing, we took that part out to make is less political"

"So they kidnap hero so they can say nothing?"

"Yes!  9 times!"
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on August 05, 2020, 04:01:45 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on August 04, 2020, 10:57:11 PM
Wow, I thought the game was shit.

"Hey, you know that part in the movies where the bad guy captures the hero and gives a little speech?  Well, let's do that 9 times."

"What do you want the say?"

"Oh, nothing really.  Just what motivates them."

"What motivates them?""

"Nothing, we took that part out to make is less political"

"So they kidnap hero so they can say nothing?"

"Yes!  9 times!"
Well, there are four bad guys.  And they are religious people, so their goal is to convert and conquer, not destroy.

The weak must be culled.  You have consitantly opposed their goals in every region, so you are certainly not weak.  Each one is trying to recruit you in his/her own way.  That's how I saw it, and I liked it.  But to each is own :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on August 05, 2020, 06:03:21 PM
What is their religion?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on August 05, 2020, 06:25:22 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on August 05, 2020, 06:03:21 PM
What is their religion?
Based on Viper's description, I would guess Unitarian. But I could be wrong.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on August 05, 2020, 07:14:16 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 05, 2020, 06:25:22 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on August 05, 2020, 06:03:21 PM
What is their religion?
Based on Viper's description, I would guess Unitarian. But I could be wrong.

It's never stated.  They are just an generic evil cult.  They are a safe and boring villain.  That wouldn't be so much of a problem if the game did not interrupt play on a regular basis so you can watch boring cut scenes where the villains try to demonstrate how evil they are.  There is also a Manchurian candidate type thing that the player will immediately figure out but have to play through several times till the big reveal that you foresaw six hours ago.  A video game doesn't need a good plot, but if you have boring plot don't keep telling us about it.  If the plot is that Donkey Kong kidnapped your girlfriend is now standing on top of a tower throwing barrels at you I don't want to spend an hour listening to Donkey Kong's soliloquy on how he became a barrel-wielding, inter-species sexual predator.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 06, 2020, 01:20:18 AM
This is what modded X-Wing Alliance looks like: https://youtu.be/CDg82ON-Xgs

https://xwaupgrade.com/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on August 06, 2020, 03:22:31 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on August 05, 2020, 06:03:21 PM
What is their religion?
They are definately Christian (often singing Amazing Grace).  With a personality cult for their prophet, "Father", Joseph Seed.

So, Protestant, but their own specific denomination, "Eden's Gate".
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on August 06, 2020, 03:27:18 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on August 05, 2020, 07:14:16 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 05, 2020, 06:25:22 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on August 05, 2020, 06:03:21 PM
What is their religion?
Based on Viper's description, I would guess Unitarian. But I could be wrong.

It's never stated.
They talk of God almighty, they talk of forgiveness, of test, and they sing Amazing Grace.  Does that look like Orthodox Jews to you? 

QuoteThey are just an generic evil cult.
Most cults are evil.

QuoteThey are a safe and boring villain.
Yeah, well, making them a specific, existing branch of christianity would have gotten them lawsuit, protests and boycotts, something a multi-national tries to avoid.

QuoteThat wouldn't be so much of a problem if the game did not interrupt play on a regular basis so you can watch boring cut scenes where the villains try to demonstrate how evil they are.
Personally, I liked them very much.  To each his own :)

QuoteThere is also a Manchurian candidate type thing that the player will immediately figure out but have to play through several times till the big reveal that you foresaw six hours ago.
I will grant you that point.

QuoteA video game doesn't need a good plot, but if you have boring plot don't keep telling us about it.  If the plot is that Donkey Kong kidnapped your girlfriend is now standing on top of a tower throwing barrels at you I don't want to spend an hour listening to Donkey Kong's soliloquy on how he became a barrel-wielding, inter-species sexual predator.
Donkey Kong did not kidnap your girlfriend and drugged her because he thought he was "saving" her, like a doomsday cult would do.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on August 06, 2020, 07:59:08 PM
As Shelf mentioned, it could just as easily be Unitarians.  If they wanted to specify Christianity, they could have, but chose not too because they don't have a backbone.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Minsky Moment on August 07, 2020, 12:07:13 PM
Quote from: viper37 on August 06, 2020, 03:27:18 PM
Donkey Kong did not kidnap your girlfriend and drugged her because he thought he was "saving" her

Isn't that the plot of King Kong, presumably the inspiration for Donkey Kong?  Without the drugging of course.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on August 08, 2020, 06:13:57 AM
Disco Elysium is a trip. I appreciate a game that implores my character that he should just fucking kill himself  :lol:

I first played this back when it got released. I died on the second day. I started playing it again recently and my second playthrough is completely different. Hopefully I don't die on the second day again.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on August 08, 2020, 02:06:07 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on August 08, 2020, 06:13:57 AM
Disco Elysium is a trip. I appreciate a game that implores my character that he should just fucking kill himself  :lol:

I first played this back when it got released. I died on the second day. I started playing it again recently and my second playthrough is completely different. Hopefully I don't die on the second day again.
Loved that game. :wub:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 08, 2020, 02:08:33 PM
I'd argue it's the best written game in a literary sense, in a Kerouac/Hunter S. Thompson kind of way.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 08, 2020, 03:48:38 PM
It's been sitting in my account for a while, but I installed AssCreed: Oranges. Didn't start the campaign yet, but roamed around a bit in tourist mode. The map is a whole lot larger than expected. And I'm surprised by the fidelity of the environment and locations. Easily on par with GTA5 if not beyond it. :o And I love the Ptolemaic Greco-Egyptian mix.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on August 08, 2020, 04:45:19 PM
It was really good looking.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Octavian on August 12, 2020, 04:30:39 AM
Quote from: Syt on August 08, 2020, 03:48:38 PM
It's been sitting in my account for a while, but I installed AssCreed: Oranges. Didn't start the campaign yet, but roamed around a bit in tourist mode. The map is a whole lot larger than expected. And I'm surprised by the fidelity of the environment and locations. Easily on par with GTA5 if not beyond it. :o And I love the Ptolemaic Greco-Egyptian mix.

It is really juicy looking.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on August 12, 2020, 05:57:54 AM
It is one of the few, since the ones set in Rome, that I felt compelled to finish all the way to the end.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on August 12, 2020, 08:05:59 AM
I played the pirate one for a while, but I got tired of all the jumping around and shit so I stopped.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on August 12, 2020, 08:10:36 AM
Quote from: Caliga on August 12, 2020, 08:05:59 AM
I played the pirate one for a while, but I got tired of all the jumping around and shit so I stopped.

I bounced off hard of all AssCreed games before Origins, but I really liked that one, first one I completed (with the rest I don't think I ever got past the earliest stage). Odyssey is awesome as well and overall better but that's why you should first play Origins
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on August 12, 2020, 08:16:21 AM
Maybe I'll give them another shot.  Story-wise, I really enjoyed Pirates of the Assassin's Creed or whatever it was called.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 12, 2020, 08:21:19 AM
From what I understand, Origins and Odyssey are more like your usual open world games, but in one of the best environments with the most historical flavor. It's why I'm cagey about the new one, because it seems like Hollywood Viking stuff, and the setting isn't as intriguing to me as the time of Caesar and Cleopatra in Egypt or Greece during the Peleponnesian War.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on August 12, 2020, 08:23:37 AM
I've been wanting to play Origins/Odissey for a while, but I have way too many games in my backlog. I greatly enjoyed the AssCreed II games mostly for their settings and the tourism factor.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on August 12, 2020, 08:29:55 AM
Quote from: Syt on August 12, 2020, 08:21:19 AM
From what I understand, Origins and Odyssey are more like your usual open world games, but in one of the best environments with the most historical flavor. It's why I'm cagey about the new one, because it seems like Hollywood Viking stuff, and the setting isn't as intriguing to me as the time of Caesar and Cleopatra in Egypt or Greece during the Peleponnesian War.

Yes essentially they are Far Cry: Ancient Egypt and Far Cry: Ancient Greece. But they are still awesome.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on August 12, 2020, 08:36:55 AM
Quote from: Tamas on August 12, 2020, 08:29:55 AM
Quote from: Syt on August 12, 2020, 08:21:19 AM
From what I understand, Origins and Odyssey are more like your usual open world games, but in one of the best environments with the most historical flavor. It's why I'm cagey about the new one, because it seems like Hollywood Viking stuff, and the setting isn't as intriguing to me as the time of Caesar and Cleopatra in Egypt or Greece during the Peleponnesian War.

Yes essentially they are Far Cry: Ancient Egypt and Far Cry: Ancient Greece. But they are still awesome.

And they are in third person.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on August 12, 2020, 09:38:38 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on August 06, 2020, 07:59:08 PM
As Shelf mentioned, it could just as easily be Unitarians.  If they wanted to specify Christianity, they could have, but chose not too because they don't have a backbone.
There's no real need, imho.  I can guess what they are, but it's really irrelevant, anyway.  I don't expect a multinational corporation to take any risks.  Like, say, having the hero participate in a terrorist attack organized by radical muslims...  Been there, done that.  I guess that's the reason most call of duty games are now strictly MP.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on August 12, 2020, 09:39:39 PM
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on August 07, 2020, 12:07:13 PM
Quote from: viper37 on August 06, 2020, 03:27:18 PM
Donkey Kong did not kidnap your girlfriend and drugged her because he thought he was "saving" her

Isn't that the plot of King Kong, presumably the inspiration for Donkey Kong?  Without the drugging of course.
He kidnaps your gf like King Kong did, because he kinda likes her.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 18, 2020, 09:57:06 AM
In case anyone has this game: Annals of Rome (released 1986) is out on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1148670/Annals_of_Rome/

(https://store.steampowered.com/app/1148670/Annals_of_Rome/)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1148670/ss_ecf447ebcb91c597edca3deea656225659b89bd3.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1148670/ss_53a6d7d4b8607c815efbad24ee65f5ae6c4c196f.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/1148670/ss_c129fd1585529b64389520300cea724d23b1bb4c.1920x1080.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 21, 2020, 02:15:04 PM
ICYMI: Blasphemous, the 2D Soulslike heavily inspired by medieval Spanish Catholicism and guilt has released a free DLC, and they added Spanish voice acting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKfree2PJ_A

https://store.steampowered.com/app/774361/Blasphemous/

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/774361/extras/Hat_Explore.gif)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/774361/extras/Hat_Combat.gif)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/774361/extras/Hat_Boss_fight.gif)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/774361/ss_933510ac0fd13c6bd4ecc4c187e0506d520f2e70.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/774361/ss_959ffc1230d2ca57e18a9c96f3c56f5643b5cce7.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/774361/ss_23c70f980432d67b527ed562a42c41f55d9f9fc8.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/774361/ss_67e9de6ea4dc169d21aaacb3d8625e2e0b3e025d.1920x1080.jpg)

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on August 21, 2020, 02:18:02 PM
Quote from: Syt on August 18, 2020, 09:57:06 AM
In case anyone has this game: Annals of Rome (released 1986) is out on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1148670/Annals_of_Rome/
Is Anals of Rome anything like Centurion: Defender of Rome was?  Cause that game was OSSUM. :cool:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 21, 2020, 03:05:54 PM
Quote from: Caliga on August 21, 2020, 02:18:02 PM
Quote from: Syt on August 18, 2020, 09:57:06 AM
In case anyone has this game: Annals of Rome (released 1986) is out on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1148670/Annals_of_Rome/
Is Anals of Rome anything like Centurion: Defender of Rome was?  Cause that game was OSSUM. :cool:

No minigames. That map is as graphic as it gets.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on August 21, 2020, 03:34:26 PM
Also, it was cool that you could jackhammer Cleopatra in that game. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on August 22, 2020, 01:10:20 AM
Quote from: Caliga on August 21, 2020, 02:18:02 PM
Quote from: Syt on August 18, 2020, 09:57:06 AM
In case anyone has this game: Annals of Rome (released 1986) is out on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1148670/Annals_of_Rome/
Is Anals of Rome anything like Centurion: Defender of Rome was?  Cause that game was OSSUM. :cool:

More buggering?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on August 22, 2020, 01:10:41 AM
Quote from: Syt on August 21, 2020, 02:15:04 PM
ICYMI: Blasphemous, the 2D Soulslike heavily inspired by medieval Spanish Catholicism and guilt has released a free DLC, and they added Spanish voice acting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKfree2PJ_A

Medieval Spanish Catholicism was weird.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on August 22, 2020, 01:47:03 AM
The guys that made Blasphemous are, of course, Andalusian.  :lol:

Those are some pretty recognizable voice actors. The game must be doing well.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on August 22, 2020, 09:51:42 AM
Quote from: Syt on July 21, 2020, 04:33:18 AM
Grand Tactician: The Civil War (1861-1865)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/654890/Grand_Tactician_The_Civil_War_18611865/

Comes out 21st August.

So, anyone tried this yet?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on August 25, 2020, 02:25:21 PM
I started on Doom Eternal, but the pointless parkour probably makes me stop playing it. Why is it there? Incomprehensible. The crouch mechanic in Doom (2016) was completely pointless, but at least it was optional, unlike this parkour stuff. Also, Doomguy used to be this tough badass dude, and now he's a trapeze artist? Er... wut?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on August 27, 2020, 03:42:26 PM
AoE3:DE will have Swedes??!? :w00t:

I'LL TAKE YOUR ENTIRE STOCK
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on August 28, 2020, 10:29:56 AM
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020-08-27-the-sims-4-is-getting-a-star-wars-expansion

QuoteThe Sims 4 is getting a Star Wars expansion

The Sims 4 is ditching its suburban comforts for a life of adventure in a a galaxy far, far away, thanks to imminent arrival of its latest Game Pack expansion, Star Wars: Journey to Batuu.

As its name suggests, The Sims 4 newest expansion, jets players and their tiny digital charges to Batuu, a remote terrestrial planet at the edge of the galaxy's Outer Rim Territories. Here, Sims can explore Black Spire Outpost (also the setting for Disney's various new Star Wars theme park lands), where they can eat, shop, dodge Stormtroopers, and admire the Millennium Falcon.

It's also possible for Sims to pledge their allegiance to either the Resistance or the First Order while in Batuu, embarking on missions at the behest of DJ R-3X, the droid in charge of the music at Oga's Cantina, to earn rewards and a raise their reputation within a particular faction.

As a Sim's standing increases, it'll affect how other Sims aligned to an opposing faction respond to them, and open up new contacts in the world. "Depending on the choice your Sim makes," explains EA, "they might encounter Vi Moradi running a mission, Rey practicing with her lightsaber, Kylo Ren losing his temper, or Hondo Ohnaka cheating at a game of sabacc."

Sims will also be able to hunt for parts required to build their own lightsabers and droids on their travels (again, much as in Disney's theme park). Once created, Sims can undergo lightsaber training and spar to raise their Fitness skill, while droids can help assist in missions.

Although Sims won't be able to settle down permanently in Batuu, EA says they'll be able to bring their adventure home with them via new decor, home design items, and recipes inspired by the Black Spire Outpost. They can also hang onto their lightsabers for a bit of impromptu action back on Earth, or bond with their droids for some additional companionship.

The Sims 4's Star Wars: Journey to Batuu expansion comes to PC, Mac, Xbox One, and PS4 on 8th September, and should cost around £17.99.

:hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on August 28, 2020, 10:42:28 AM
Finally.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on August 28, 2020, 10:43:07 AM
QuoteAlthough Sims won't be able to settle down permanently in Batuu


(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Freplygif.net%2Fi%2F988.gif&hash=85566659f42e1b8f687e2005d61415e81a6b4fa5)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on August 28, 2020, 11:05:23 AM
That is a perfect summation of McNabb's time in Washington in one gif.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on August 30, 2020, 10:01:59 PM
Quote from: The Brain on August 27, 2020, 03:42:26 PM
AoE3:DE will have Swedes??!? :w00t:

I'LL TAKE YOUR ENTIRE STOCK
Sadly, there is now world conquest mode ;)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on August 31, 2020, 03:17:20 PM
I've been playing Horace.
Rather great 2D platformer/love letter to the 80s.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 31, 2020, 11:09:22 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on August 22, 2020, 09:51:42 AM
Quote from: Syt on July 21, 2020, 04:33:18 AM
Grand Tactician: The Civil War (1861-1865)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/654890/Grand_Tactician_The_Civil_War_18611865/

Comes out 21st August.

So, anyone tried this yet?

It seems to not be very polished and the AI not very good yet, so I'm waiting for now.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on September 01, 2020, 05:21:36 PM
Control came out on Steam last week.  It is the first game in a long while where I actually cared about the story.  I do enjoy weird fiction.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on September 03, 2020, 01:48:06 PM
I watched a playthrough of God of War 4, minus routine combat and travel. It's a good story well told. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 03, 2020, 02:44:18 PM
Paging BarristerBoy - a retro game set in early 1900s Canada (Free Demo!):

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1098770/The_Crimson_Diamond/

QuoteThe Crimson Diamond is an EGA text parser mystery adventure game where you play as amateur geologist and reluctant detective Nancy Maple. Nancy is born and raised in the Toronto, Canada, where she works as a clerk for the Royal Canadian Museum. She dreams of attending university to study geology and mineralogy, and she's prepared to venture into the unknown to achieve her goals!

Follow Nancy as she travels north to the fictional ghost town of Crimson, Ontario to investigate the discovery of a massive diamond in the area. Eavesdrop on conversations to learn more about the eccentric cast of characters who find themselves gathered at Crimson Lodge. Explore the lodge and its environs to evaluate the diamond claim, and maybe solve a mystery or two along the way! The Crimson Diamond is a cozy mystery that encourages reading and engaging in the story over devious arcade challenges.

- Explore Crimson Lodge and the surrounding wilderness
- Listen and talk to a cast of characters with different personalities and motivations.
- Uncover secrets, discover hidden areas, solve mysteries!

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1098770/ss_e7e61cf34070af5d4a3544c93db477f9c0142ba3.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1098770/ss_e3e30af33d05730caa33563cba2efa491123ffbc.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1098770/ss_5dabd326b1c8b9cffff09a581d822589f4e0ef3f.1920x1080.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on September 03, 2020, 02:46:15 PM
Silly game - there is no Royal Canadian Museum. :rolleyes:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on September 03, 2020, 02:53:47 PM
Born in the Toronto?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on September 03, 2020, 02:54:32 PM
I wish I could press ESC to skip indigestion. :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on September 03, 2020, 04:30:49 PM
The graphics are stunning.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Oexmelin on September 03, 2020, 04:46:54 PM
Also, wasn't BB a geology major?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on September 03, 2020, 05:06:47 PM
Quote from: Oexmelin on September 03, 2020, 04:46:54 PM
Also, wasn't BB a geology major?

I'll give you the long story since you're in academia...

My major was technically in Environmental Science, however it was only the second year of that degree being offered and there was no separate department of environmental science.  I had to take a mish-mash of courses in ecology, biology and the like.  You also had to pick a "specialization" (because there really weren't enough environmental-type courses).  Mine was in geology.  But anyways between my required geology courses, and the geology "electives" I had to take because they were prerequisites to courses I was required to take, I spent way more time in the geology building than anywhere else, so I usually just told people I got a geology degree.

And then I got a co-op work experience job at an actual mining company (then HBM&S, now HudBay Minerals) in Flin Flon, hated it, and signed up to write the LSAT.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on September 03, 2020, 06:08:21 PM
BB would never play a game set in Ontario anyway.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on September 03, 2020, 08:42:53 PM
Quote from: Barrister on September 03, 2020, 05:06:47 PM
Flin Flon
dumb name for a town  :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 04, 2020, 10:57:28 AM
Trailer for Regiments, a WW3 game published by MicroProse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui7MNFk0eSM&feature=emb_logo&ab_channel=MicroProse

Looks like Wargame: European Escalation, which leaves me unimpressed. Didn't care about those games, or Steel Division, because it's way too fast paced for my tastes. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on September 04, 2020, 11:15:08 AM
Quote from: Caliga on September 03, 2020, 08:42:53 PM
Quote from: Barrister on September 03, 2020, 05:06:47 PM
Flin Flon
dumb name for a town  :D

Named after Flintabbety Flonatin, the main character in a dime store novel from 1905.

Here's a statue of him (designed by cartoonist Al Capp):

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/Flinty_Statue_2.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on September 04, 2020, 11:29:10 AM
Quote from: Barrister on September 04, 2020, 11:15:08 AM
Quote from: Caliga on September 03, 2020, 08:42:53 PM
Quote from: Barrister on September 03, 2020, 05:06:47 PM
Flin Flon
dumb name for a town  :D

Named after Flintabbety Flonatin, the main character in a dime store novel from 1905.

Here's a statue of him (designed by cartoonist Al Capp):

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/Flinty_Statue_2.jpg)

I'm not sure how that at all modifies what Cal said. :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on September 04, 2020, 11:46:38 AM
Quote from: Syt on September 04, 2020, 10:57:28 AM
Trailer for Regiments, a WW3 game published by MicroProse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui7MNFk0eSM&feature=emb_logo&ab_channel=MicroProse

Looks like Wargame: European Escalation, which leaves me unimpressed. Didn't care about those games, or Steel Division, because it's way too fast paced for my tastes. :D

The Wargame series was fun in 8-player games where I'd zerg rush my opponents with a hundred T-55s and then call it a day.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on September 04, 2020, 11:47:45 AM
Quote from: garbon on September 04, 2020, 11:29:10 AM
I'm not sure how that at all modifies what Cal said. :hmm:

I was providing context. -_-
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on September 04, 2020, 01:12:49 PM
I liked the wargame series but yeah, it was twitchy.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on September 10, 2020, 02:58:13 AM
Apparently, the games available with the basic tier EA subscription will soon be available with the Xbox Game Pass as well, at no extra cost. The Game Pass is quickly becoming a VERY bargain method of playing games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on September 10, 2020, 03:45:14 AM
Longish article about Paradox's shitty treatment of their QA department: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2020/09/08/paradox-interactives-qa-staff-allege-poor-treatment-low-pay-and-mismanaged-layoffs/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on September 10, 2020, 05:48:53 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on September 10, 2020, 03:45:14 AM
Longish article about Paradox's shitty treatment of their QA department: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2020/09/08/paradox-interactives-qa-staff-allege-poor-treatment-low-pay-and-mismanaged-layoffs/


This that someone posted in the comments was interesting to consider: https://twitter.com/Fuzzlette/status/1292141640405196803
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 10, 2020, 05:54:47 AM
While I think the way the QA team was treated and the whole situation was handled at P'dox is crappy, I feel this is a situation that happens in a lot of companies that grow very fast in a very short time - often the structures don't evolve to cope with the change and the "old guard" think they can just carry on in their carefree, informal ways.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on September 10, 2020, 06:02:57 AM
Doing QA is not glamorous & lots of industry treats us like shit. While the gaming industry does it often it also gets called on it regularly.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on September 10, 2020, 08:07:40 AM
Quote from: Tamas on September 10, 2020, 02:58:13 AM
Apparently, the games available with the basic tier EA subscription will soon be available with the Xbox Game Pass as well, at no extra cost. The Game Pass is quickly becoming a VERY bargain method of playing games.

Ok actually not THAT much as they are doubling the price to 8 pounds next month. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on September 10, 2020, 08:13:57 AM
I was really considering it but that price puts it firmly on the "not worth it given the time I have to play" category.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on September 10, 2020, 08:20:41 AM
 :lol:
Quote from: Tamas on September 10, 2020, 08:07:40 AM
Quote from: Tamas on September 10, 2020, 02:58:13 AM
Apparently, the games available with the basic tier EA subscription will soon be available with the Xbox Game Pass as well, at no extra cost. The Game Pass is quickly becoming a VERY bargain method of playing games.

Ok actually not THAT much as they are doubling the price to 8 pounds next month. :P

:lol:

I have GP Ultimate here, so actual no extra cost.

The newly extended all-access system is also pretty cool. 25$us/month for 24 months for both a console & GPU is a great deal.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 11, 2020, 04:00:35 AM
From the Wargamer review of Starni Games' "Strategic Mind: Blitzkrieg":

https://www.wargamer.com/reviews/strategic-mind-blitzkrieg/

QuoteMerriam-Webster's Dictionary has two definitions of the compound word 'tone-deaf'. The first is related to an inability to tell differences in musical pitch. The second definition, which is more relevant here today, is as follows: "having or showing an obtuse insensitivity or lack of perception particularly in matters of public sentiment, opinion, or taste."

[...]

Blitzkrieg begins with you controlling your forces as General Franz Halder, an important general in the forces of Nazi Germany, in the Spanish Civil War aiding the Francoists in defeating the Republican Spanish. This would be fine but the cutscenes immediately seek to establish dear old Franz as a good and honorable general, something that is told to us many times throughout the game. He is portrayed as loyal to the Reich but also to his values, and eventually he moves away from aligning with the Nazi government. I don't want to give too much of the story away in case you plan on playing this, but suffice to say it diverges from history and paints Halder in a very favorable light.

There are two major issues with the story: the first being that the cutscenes and voice acting is just, well, terrible. I can't find a nice way to say this; it's just plain bad. You have maybe one halfway decent German accented voice actor in the game who tries to put emotion into the role, but most characters are voiced by incredibly neutral sounding, vaguely American actors. No one really sounds into their roles, and I can't blame them, because the dialogue and the story failed to engage me at any level. As an aside, the unit barks are similarly terrible, but more on that in a minute.

The second, and much larger issue, is that the story directly seeks to support Halder's myth of the 'Clean Wehrmacht'. After the war, in an attempt to rehabilitate the images of high-ranking members of the German military, Halder masterminded a memorandum which claimed that the Wehrmacht was (and this is an extreme summary) an apolitical force that just followed the orders of the government, and was not responsible for any major war crimes. This is a huge lie, but one that the game not only propagates, but goes even farther with, making Halder into some kind of moral German war hero.

It is frankly absurd that the game pushes this narrative in this current political climate, saying that the man who led the Wehrmacht while they committed a huge number of war crimes was a good person. Joe, in his review on Strategic Mind: The Pacific, mentioned that the voice acting that Starni Games got was awfully racist for the Japanese characters, and I fear that trend continues with this game. The voice acting isn't racist in SM:B, but I could say that it is rather generous to fascism, through lines such as "The trains are running on time" and "We will save the world from chaos" coming from your Wehrmacht units as they seek to expand the German Reich.

CONCLUSION
I could continue to talk about how uncomfortable this game makes me for some time. As someone who watches the news and sees political upheaval in almost every Western democracy, it is troubling to see a game continue to feed reactionary rhetoric. The absolutely terrible story aside, I found the gameplay middling at best, and frustrating at worst. If you want to play a strategic level game set in World War 2, I recommend looking elsewhere.

In the wake of this article's publication Starni Games has made a comment contesting the characterisation of their game within the review. If you would like to read their response you can do so on their Steam community page here.: https://steamcommunity.com/games/1200330/announcements/detail/2901963148048277119

The comments under this thread are amusing, with the usual "keep politics out of my wargames!" and "Wargamer allows 'woke' SJW individuals to do their reviews"

The topic of wargames if of course fraught with politics. While a prevalent view among wargamers seems to be to largely ignore the politics and idelogies around their chosen subjects and focus on the purely military aspects, I find that the older I get the less comfortable I feel playing certain scenarios or sides in wargames. E.g. in Graviteam Tactics there's several scenarios about units of the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler. One scenario takes place two days after troops of the unit massacred over 800 men, women, and children in the Kharkov area which severely soured me on playing as those units.

War brings out the best and the worst in people, and i don't believe that there are "clean wars." And of course the topic of war makes for a compelling subject for strategy games on tactical, operational, and strategic levels. Yet most games try to blank out those darker aspects (one of the few exceptions was Decisive Campaigns: Barbarossa where as member of the German general staff you're faced with many idelogical/moral questions).

Sorry for rambling there, but I don't really have a clear stance on how much politics should or shouldn't be in wargames, or if people should feel bad for playing as Germans (or Italians, or Soviets, or Japanese, or ...) in WW2 games or Confederates in ACW games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on September 11, 2020, 06:52:44 AM
I thought Halder led the Heer, not the Wehrmacht?

German WW2 generals' sense of morals is hilarious. I remember reading Guderian's memoirs and he was enormously upset when a general was fired (not imprisoned or killed) unfairly, but totally OK with waging a major war of annihilation against innocents.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on September 11, 2020, 07:20:05 AM
QuoteIn the wake of this article's publication Starni Games has made a comment contesting the characterisation of their game within the review. If you would like to read their response you can do so on their Steam community page here.: https://steamcommunity.com/games/1200330/announcements/detail/2901963148048277119

Their statement on steam sounds so whiny.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on September 11, 2020, 08:07:42 AM
Quote"Wargamer allows 'woke' SJW individuals to do their reviews"

Heh. 'Hitler was wrong' 'You over-politicized SJW woke extremist!!'

It kind of seems like the game itself was political with a pro-Halder agenda. Naturally I only tolerate pre-Vichy and DeGaulle French apologism in my WWII games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on September 11, 2020, 10:41:39 AM
I've always been a bit amused when people complain that actors or voice actors speaking English in place of the actual language spoken by their "real" (even if fictional) counterpart don't speak with an appropriate "accent."  Uh... they are not even speaking the "realistic" language, let alone accent.  The others around them (including the audience) would not perceive any accent at all if the dialogue was in the original language being spoken to native speakers of that language. 

Phony accents are phony.  Better no artificial accents at all.  Just let the actors speak.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on September 11, 2020, 11:50:44 AM
Or, if they are villains, just have them speak with a British accent  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on September 11, 2020, 12:04:25 PM
Pretty sure all medieval people spoke with British accents. All German peasants had cockney accents up to some point in the 19th century.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on September 11, 2020, 12:13:31 PM
Quote from: celedhring on September 11, 2020, 11:50:44 AM
Or, if they are villains, just have them speak with a British accent  :P
As God, and the actors' union, intended :)

Mildly alarmed at the rise of Scandinavian actors who can do English accents :ph34r:

Interesting issue though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on September 11, 2020, 12:17:38 PM
Quote from: grumbler on September 11, 2020, 10:41:39 AM
I've always been a bit amused when people complain that actors or voice actors speaking English in place of the actual language spoken by their "real" (even if fictional) counterpart don't speak with an appropriate "accent."  Uh... they are not even speaking the "realistic" language, let alone accent.  The others around them (including the audience) would not perceive any accent at all if the dialogue was in the original language being spoken to native speakers of that language. 

Phony accents are phony.  Better no artificial accents at all.  Just let the actors speak.

But then how do you make a "ze Shermans are coming" joke about Germans facing US armor?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: PDH on September 11, 2020, 12:34:30 PM
If they want to show it is a foreign tongue they should just read their lines very loudly and slowly.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on September 13, 2020, 01:11:58 AM
Quote from: Valmy on September 11, 2020, 08:07:42 AM
Quote"Wargamer allows 'woke' SJW individuals to do their reviews"

Heh. 'Hitler was wrong' 'You over-politicized SJW woke extremist!!'

It kind of seems like the game itself was political with a pro-Halder agenda. Naturally I only tolerate pre-Vichy and DeGaulle French apologism in my WWII games.

Ah, yes, the "our games are not political" crap from developers is quite common.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on September 14, 2020, 11:44:10 AM
Quote from: Valmy on September 11, 2020, 08:07:42 AM
It kind of seems like the game itself was political with a pro-Halder agenda.

it seems to me that the game has multiple campaigns and each one puts you through the mind of a loyal servant of that faction.

Kinda like playing the Zergs in Starcraft.  Except this time, it's realistic, so infinately more touchy.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 15, 2020, 12:35:04 PM
Seems EA is giving up on their plans of being a full fledged games store.

https://www.pcgamer.com/electronic-arts-is-renaming-origin-to-ea-desktop-app/

Origin will be renamed to EA Desktop App. :mellow:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 18, 2020, 12:36:48 PM
I've been watching Hades closely, a roguelike action game (each run is randomized, but you unlock new skills and gear that you can use in future runs, and apparently it also has a decent story - it's by Supergiant games who made Bastion, Transistor and Pyre), which was in Early Access for two years.

It's now out, on sale (20% off till 24th September, €16.79 at the moment): https://store.steampowered.com/app/1145360/Hades/?curator_clanid=3584665

What I didn't know, though, was that they have their narrator read the patch notes on each major release, including this one. :lol:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=20&v=8x9dyya1ci0&feature=emb_logo&ab_channel=SupergiantGames
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 25, 2020, 04:47:10 AM
A positive review of Port Royale 2: https://www.strategygamer.com/reviews/port-royale-4/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on September 25, 2020, 04:56:16 AM
Quote from: Syt on September 25, 2020, 04:47:10 AM
A positive review of Port Royale 2: https://www.strategygamer.com/reviews/port-royale-4/

:lol: Was that typo intentional? Because I failed to spot what's new with the game apart from the graphics.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 25, 2020, 08:33:09 AM
Speaking of retro games, Macchiavelli is on GOG. I hope they'll also add Machiavelli II:

https://www.gog.com/game/machiavelli_the_prince
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on September 26, 2020, 04:41:54 AM
Quote from: Syt on September 25, 2020, 08:33:09 AM
Speaking of retro games, Macchiavelli is on GOG. I hope they'll also add Machiavelli II:

https://www.gog.com/game/machiavelli_the_prince

If they managed to make it run without crashing that'd be awesome, what a great game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 27, 2020, 04:29:15 AM
On that retro note. California Games and Impossible Mission II are on Steam:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1399480/California_Games/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1400680/Impossible_Mission_II/

Though of course you can just play the version of your choice (C64, Amiga, etc.) on your emulator of choice.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 27, 2020, 04:32:04 AM
Oooh, Lost Patrol is also on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1392750/Lost_Patrol/?curator_clanid=38465691

QuoteOur chopper tailed-out after taking a hit... the pilot won't be leaving the ground again. Now I have to lead my weary platoon back to our lines through the jungles and paddy fields. Entering what appears to be a friendly village - only to find it is a cover for a guerrilla faction - is just one of the things that helps our insomnia... that and the elusive psycho in my squad – I gotta figure out who he is before the morale factor becomes our worst enemy. Jeez, will this stupid war never end?!

Back in the day when most games fell firmly into one camp such as shoot 'em up, adventure, arcade action or map-based strategy, Lost Patrol was unusual in that it fused together elements of all these genres and more. With a combination of styles that tested a player's entire gamut of skills, this 1990 release picked up fans on the popular platforms of the day – the Amiga, Atari ST and (for the relatively few PC gamers at the time) MS-DOS. Appearing in many 'top 100' lists, Lost Patrol is fondly remembered by those that played it, and is now available officially on Steam for the first time, courtesy of Pixel Games UK.

The general action takes place on a military map, through which you are tasked with navigating a squad of men whose helicopter has crash-landed after an attack by the pesky guerrilla fighters. At certain points however the game field will switch view, requiring your arcade shooting skills, some hand-to-hand combat or other such surprises. Praised in its day for the quality of these additional graphic scenes, you'll quickly realise why Lost Patrol is considered a retro classic!

Minigames and a lot of RNG made this a tad frustrating IIRC :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 01, 2020, 06:42:04 AM
I've been trying to get somewhere with Kerbal lately.
Man, I just can't get a plane flying.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on October 01, 2020, 07:32:23 AM
With planes it's important to make sure that the center of thrust is behind the center of lift, which is just inside or directly behind the center of mass.  Mess that up and you'll an unflyable mess.

Second, make sure you are using jet engines.  They have much better efficiency.
Third, takeoffs and landings are the hardest part.  Widely spaced landing gear and a slight upward tilt when resting on the ground will help with both.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 01, 2020, 03:35:47 PM
I've got go there. Also avoided spinning out. Still yet to people to grasp how to generate lift. The wings seem all too small whilst the tails are too big. Hmm
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on October 02, 2020, 09:16:17 AM
You can look and see how big the lift arrow is.  You may also need control surfaces.  You don't need much, even one set is enough for a small plane.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 02, 2020, 10:35:27 AM
aaaaand I've just realised what was going wrong. The elevons kept placing themselves upside down
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 05, 2020, 04:33:58 PM
I decided to get with the trend and give Among Us a go. Fun little game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on October 05, 2020, 05:53:31 PM
My group has been routinely playing that, along with a few others like Barotrauma, Project Winter, and Dead by Daylight.

If anyone in Languish is interested in playing evenings EST and has a functioning microphone, they're welcome to join. We usually have 2-3 spots open for Among Us, for instance.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on October 06, 2020, 02:35:51 AM
Idk, you're acting kinda sus.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 07, 2020, 12:19:01 PM
The NHL 21 soundtrack list has been released:

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EjvdPOYXkAA_1Qn?format=jpg&name=medium)

I know not one of those bands. :P

Granted, the only NHL game I played was 2002, which had this song that I still like:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EjvdPOYXkAA_1Qn?format=jpg&name=medium

(the video is about soccer and zombies, though, not hockey)

Oh, and of course Sum 41's Fat Lip: https://youtu.be/CMX2lPum_pg
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 10, 2020, 10:16:00 AM
The original Rogue by Epyx, which I understand is a rogue-like game, is coming to Steam on October 20th:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1443430/Rogue/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on October 10, 2020, 11:00:41 AM
Quote from: Syt on October 10, 2020, 10:16:00 AM
The original Rogue by Epyx, which I understand is a rogue-like game, is coming to Steam on October 20th:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1443430/Rogue/

Man I remember playing the hell out of Rogue on a buddy's Compaq computer back in the day.  I might be all over this.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on October 10, 2020, 11:04:14 AM
Quote from: Barrister on October 10, 2020, 11:00:41 AM
Quote from: Syt on October 10, 2020, 10:16:00 AM
The original Rogue by Epyx, which I understand is a rogue-like game, is coming to Steam on October 20th:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1443430/Rogue/

Man I remember playing the hell out of Rogue on a buddy's Compaq computer back in the day.  I might be all over this.

Angband was my gateway drug.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on October 10, 2020, 02:30:17 PM
Larn for me.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 15, 2020, 12:54:06 AM
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1227530/Partisans_1941/

QuoteABOUT THIS GAME

A new approach to the stealth tactics genre: Partisans 1941 combines stealth, action, resource management and base-building elements.

Take control of a group of Partisans resisting the German occupation Eastern Front during World War II.
Plan and initiate combat your way. Use tactical pause, study the environment and choose the best position to set up an ambush.

Build up your resistance camp hidden deep in the woods and find allies to join your cause. Form squads of unique Partisans and undertake diverse missions to undermine enemy forces and infrastructure, while securing resources desperately needed to sustain the resistance.

Experience a dramatic and unique chapter of World War II and become a Red Army commander behind enemy lines.

- Fresh approach to the stealth tactics genre. A new way to play real time tactics - mix of combat, stealth, ambushes and a variety of special items to bring chaos to the enemy ranks. Choose your own way of completing each mission.
- Lead a squad of Partisans. Build a squad of your choice and level up your Partisans. Use your character's strengths to find the right solution to different situations. Find and recruit new resistance members.
- Experience the life of a resistance group. In between missions you witness the routine of a Partisan's life - develop your base, prepare for the next assignments, ensure you have the resources for the Partisan's survival. Keep your troops motivated.
- A different perspective on WW II. Experience the story of fierce resistance against ruthless German occupation on the Eastern Front. See the story and motivation of different people joining the Partisan resistance, military as well as common folk.

As red army commander Alexey Zorin you escape a Nazi prison camp. Gather a Partisan squad from soldiers left behind enemy lines and locals. Live with your squad all the way from small sabotage missions to attacks on the occupational forces' authority.

Play a leading role in an operation initiated by Red Army staff quarters and conducted by all Partisan teams in the area: A strike on the German forces' supply lines for the frontlines, with the goal of buying additional time for the defenders of Leningrad to prepare against the German attack.

Dev message on the forum:
QuotePartisans 1941 is a game - no political statement. We want to guarantee that you can fully enjoy our game to its full extent, which is why we will delete any political discussion on our community platforms without any further comment.
:hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on October 15, 2020, 09:06:59 AM
QuoteAs red army commander Alexey Zorin you escape a Nazi prison camp. Gather a Partisan squad from soldiers left behind enemy lines and locals. Live with your squad all the way from small sabotage missions to attacks on the occupational forces' authority.

Wait, so you play as a guy who will be shot after the war?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on October 15, 2020, 09:29:20 AM
Yes & no.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on October 15, 2020, 10:31:06 AM
There's a lot of DLC potential. AFAIK partisan warfare in Eastern Europe continued into the early 50s.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 15, 2020, 02:21:08 PM
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EkY75gXWoAAixyf?format=jpg&name=medium)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on October 15, 2020, 02:23:14 PM
:cheers:

Kinda curious what they changed, though, aside from the voices.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on October 15, 2020, 02:24:40 PM
Good step that.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on October 15, 2020, 02:25:04 PM
:)

Anyone tried the game yet? How are the Swedes portrayed?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on October 15, 2020, 02:51:20 PM
Boxily.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on October 15, 2020, 02:59:35 PM
We have to assemble our own units? :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on October 15, 2020, 02:59:52 PM
That is cool. Just read an interview on that they put up on the official site.

https://www.ageofempires.com/news/interview-anthony-brave/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 15, 2020, 03:13:55 PM
That was interesting, thanks. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 21, 2020, 09:59:54 AM
GOG now has EMPEROR OF THE FADING SUNS

https://www.gog.com/game/emperor_of_the_fading_suns
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on October 21, 2020, 10:24:38 AM
Quote from: Syt on October 21, 2020, 09:59:54 AM
GOG now has EMPEROR OF THE FADING SUNS

https://www.gog.com/game/emperor_of_the_fading_suns

Cool. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 21, 2020, 11:55:50 AM
I am afraid to buy it, there is no way it aged well.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on October 21, 2020, 12:13:15 PM
Quote from: Tamas on October 21, 2020, 11:55:50 AM
I am afraid to buy it, there is no way it aged well.

Wasn't it terribly buggy at the time, then the company went bankrupt or out of business or something?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on October 21, 2020, 12:13:32 PM
Play Shadow Empire instead  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 21, 2020, 12:23:11 PM
Quote from: Barrister on October 21, 2020, 12:13:15 PM
Quote from: Tamas on October 21, 2020, 11:55:50 AM
I am afraid to buy it, there is no way it aged well.

Wasn't it terribly buggy at the time, then the company went bankrupt or out of business or something?

That's what I heard, but for 5.99 I find it hard to resist. Not that I think I will be able to sink much time into this. :D

That said, it sounds like the intro was narrated by David Warner :wub:

https://youtu.be/t5ZtHphQWt4
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 21, 2020, 12:43:41 PM
Ok, I clicked around for 5 minutes, and I admit the game has a very neat aesthetic and a cool soundtrack. And it strikes an interesting atmosphere somewhere between Warhammer 40K, Dune, and HRE in spaaaace (thought he throne world is Byzantium II ....).

(https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/374062-emperor-of-the-fading-suns-windows-screenshot-start-screen.png)

(https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/374053-emperor-of-the-fading-suns-windows-screenshot-diplomacy-screen.png)

(https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/374055-emperor-of-the-fading-suns-windows-screenshot-imperial-offices.png)

(https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/374056-emperor-of-the-fading-suns-windows-screenshot-very-minimalistic.png)

(https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/605744-emperor-of-the-fading-suns-windows-screenshot-the-archives.png)

(https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/374051-emperor-of-the-fading-suns-windows-screenshot-main-screen.png)

(https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/374061-emperor-of-the-fading-suns-windows-screenshot-star-map.png)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on October 21, 2020, 12:45:41 PM
Really enjoyed the game until my save was corrupted.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 21, 2020, 12:48:27 PM
The GOG forums have a few links to fan sites and mods. I might give this one a try over the weekend, maybe watcha  tutorial, to figure out what's going on. Even if it's buggy, it looks interesting enough, even if it might be buggy.

It seems they also released RPG rulebooks for the setting.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on October 21, 2020, 01:13:32 PM
And a tabletop space combat game, Noble Armada.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on October 21, 2020, 03:44:03 PM
I'd forgotten the name of this game so could never find it again, but I recall it quite fondly (except for the incredibly slow land movement).  Holding the right office at the right time was the key, as I recall.  There's one office that has to fight on some nightmare planet and if you get it too early you won't have the strength to beat the.... I don't recall what that enemy was.

It had a great vibe.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on October 24, 2020, 04:27:45 PM
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition.

The original one was a great game.  I've always had fun battling evil British imperialists, fighting rebel Iroquois nations and of course, nothing could compare with the joy of destroying the Russian invasion force in the Colorado Rockies during the Seven Years War ;)

They've made a lot of under the hood changes, bug fixes and they uspcaled the graphics&videos to look really nice.   They apparently tweeked the story a little and renamed the Sioux and Iroquois as Lakota and Haudenosaunee, changed their unit rosters, their abilities, their buildings and their economy.  Since I've only played the first 4 missions, I haven't seen it yet, but on paper, it looks really nice.
Unfortunately, it seems they put the accent on MP, human vs human, and they kinda forgot about optimizing the AI.

The result is a bug ridden game.  They will fix it like they fixed the 2 others, they've just begun, but it's gonna take a couple of months at least to reach the level of quality of the original game.

Units get stuck in unmovable objects; AI will build a fuckton of units but can't send it to attack you because they're stuck in its base between building and he keeps pumping units to the max that increase the problem; sometimes an attacking army will see your towers as fixed objects (like rock) that it can't attack; lambs&cows can't be slaughtered for food yet they are critical to some campaign missions; and so on...

It was a great game that has the potential to be even better, it's still played a lot online (though it can't be compared to something like Starcraft), but unfortunately, at this point, I could not recommend it for anyone.  Wait one year, like I did for AOE II DE and it will be great again ;)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 26, 2020, 12:31:46 PM
Zachtronic are known for puzzlers like Spacechem, Shenzhen I/O, TS-100 and Opus Magnum.

New game coming next week:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/971160/Mbius_Front_83/

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/971160/extras/steam_header.png)

QuoteThe year is 1983 and the United States of America must defend itself from an enemy it could have never imagined— an America from an alternate universe that will stop at nothing to seize control of the country's heartland!

In Möbius Front '83 you will fight tactical, turn-based battles with the cutting-edge military hardware of the early 1980s. Use every tool available -- powerful tanks, fast-moving attack helicopters, long-ranged artillery, tenacious infantry, and more -- to control the complex and rapidly-changing battlefield of the era.

Who are the "Americans" attacking America, and why? Find out in the game's extensive single-player campaign and its fully voiced cutscenes. When you're ready for some R&R, play a new kind of solitaire, solve Zachtronics-style puzzles, and even read the U.S. military manuals that inspired the game. :w00t:

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/971160/ss_cce52182efac8e2b298ea18596a561cedc9ca4ae.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/971160/ss_c2d6a5aa70f905ff8cfd626fa6eb60f34f4d6e7f.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/971160/ss_488af4895dcce792673e9f043e443ab3b860f5e4.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/971160/ss_a14961e8715a55587e8ce416574a894a483d90af.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/971160/ss_ef0d66dae15bf47a40ecb5ce4b7138beade9ff0a.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/971160/ss_0c3cba2bac157da4f20dac87dca94db8aef5a4f9.1920x1080.jpg)

Video trailer:

https://youtu.be/ivN7txHWoOI

I am intrigued. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on October 26, 2020, 12:44:25 PM
Good thing it isn't set in 2020. Wouldn't be much of a game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on October 26, 2020, 04:04:19 PM
Anyone have Sex With Stalin?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on October 27, 2020, 05:30:14 AM
Quote from: The Brain on October 26, 2020, 04:04:19 PM
Anyone have Sex With Stalin?

I don't think we have anyone that old here, except maybe Grumbler.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 27, 2020, 05:31:31 AM
Quote from: The Brain on October 26, 2020, 04:04:19 PM
Anyone have Sex With Stalin?
This sounds like an awesome game.
Unfortunately google tells me this was a question for Syt and not about a game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 28, 2020, 04:38:43 AM
Ah. No. My first guess was right. Sex with Stalin is a game :lol:
https://9gag.com/gag/aO7nDxM
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on October 28, 2020, 10:32:23 AM
Quote from: Syt on October 21, 2020, 09:59:54 AM
GOG now has EMPEROR OF THE FADING SUNS

https://www.gog.com/game/emperor_of_the_fading_suns

Oh wow, I was looking for that a while back and it wasn't around. I don't think it was compatible. I played that a lot back when it came out, and used some mods which enhanced it nicely plus making it more challenging.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on October 29, 2020, 12:17:10 PM
I got this game, Emperor of the Fading Suns. Quite dated of course but a lot to it. I liked it before and still is fun to play for me.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 29, 2020, 12:26:13 PM
I meant to give it a whirl last weekend after the good stuff I heard about it, but I didn't. I may have to rectify this weekend.  :blush:

I did spend quite some time listening to the awesome soundtrack, though.

I still hope we will get Macchiavelli and Merchant Prince II on GOG eventually. Those were fun times (Merchant Prince I is there already). :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 29, 2020, 01:27:46 PM
Anyone played stellar monarch?
The rpgish aspects in a 4x space game intrigues

https://store.steampowered.com/app/446000/Stellar_Monarch/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 30, 2020, 02:27:30 AM
Syt Machiavelli is there already.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 30, 2020, 02:31:39 AM
Aerosoft, the guys behind the well received OMSI omnibus sims have a released a new title, TramSim, in which you pilot tram line 1 in Vienna:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1314140/TramSim/

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1314140/ss_87f52063ce72948b63084b914415a93bdc056e83.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1314140/ss_ba51ec2a3a38bf8f3b681fdb1a7794ca6fa4dc73.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1314140/ss_2499a9cdc8646270bf753bd13833363fae0a5420.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1314140/ss_02974dfc98b4de7ec9e8880335df78c100f6aa83.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1314140/ss_77f7053c4b3b6b978119a16ecd761e505f740f46.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1314140/ss_bfca9105bf8708d8528f9d9b98f64fd16fb0d235.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1314140/ss_cab993f518b97a557afdd03263ca1f1831935d12.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1314140/ss_c1f7ca4bfe6bfdcb97d9f5fbfed6b8641efccf68.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1314140/ss_15774214b79c31ff59f32280c7b21a19b5f975e2.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1314140/ss_1d3b7adab6675d6587235e1fc2d691fe089a7d12.1920x1080.jpg)

The world rendition seems surprisingly good, though it feels a bit like the renders in brochures for planned development projects. Bit disappointed that they only seem to offer the newest tram model which is barely in use yet.

This model is most common one at the moment:

(https://www.bahnbilder.de/bilder/wien-wiener-linien-sl-10-1047936.jpg)

And you still see plenty of these:

(https://fh-sites.imgix.net/sites/1590/2017/12/27201857/71er-fahren.png)

In OMSI 2 base game, e.g., they were modeling a bus line in Berlin Spandau in the 80s/90s, and their Vienna add ons also focused on early 2000s lines with older model buses (and using the old announcer's voice for the stations which was change ca. 2010).

I will wishlist this for the novelty factor, but I will not pay 34.99 for this. I will wait for a sale.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 30, 2020, 02:43:07 AM
For comparison, the corner of Knöllgasse/Quellenstraße we see in the screenshot above as it is in Google maps, because I used to live in that general area:

Some of the architecture on the buildings has been changed (presumably to simplify it?). The kebab stand has disappeared. :( But the posters for Western Union, Handy Klinik etc. are all there. :o

Some greenery has been removed/changed, as well.

(https://i.postimg.cc/GrCj6J9q/knoell.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on October 30, 2020, 02:54:42 AM
Austrian kebabs, for some reason the best kebabs I have ever tasted  :licklips:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 30, 2020, 03:00:15 AM
Quote from: Tamas on October 30, 2020, 02:27:30 AM
Syt Machiavelli is there already.

I had missed that.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 30, 2020, 03:52:32 AM
35 euros for driving one tram around one track.... People be crazy.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on October 30, 2020, 03:56:14 AM
Quote from: Tyr on October 30, 2020, 03:52:32 AM
35 euros for driving one tram around one track.... People be crazy.

I could see myself picking it up for a really deep discount for the "virtual tourism" factor. Heck, that's what I use the AssCreed games for.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on October 30, 2020, 04:00:59 AM
How are the romancing options?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 30, 2020, 04:14:14 AM
Quote from: Tyr on October 30, 2020, 03:52:32 AM
35 euros for driving one tram around one track.... People be crazy.

It's a 25 km route. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on October 30, 2020, 05:18:03 AM
Microsoft needs to make a global train/tram sim on the back of the new FS. I would pay good money for that.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on October 30, 2020, 11:55:27 AM
I love transportation sims (as you guys know I play both Euro and American Truck Simulator, and Flight Simulator), but... I don't get train sims.  You have an accelerator, and you have a brake.  Yay! :hmm:  I'd love to get a boat simulator too at some point, but the ones I've looked at on Steam are either unfinished or seem too arcade-y.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on October 30, 2020, 01:07:45 PM
Quote from: Caliga on October 30, 2020, 11:55:27 AM
I love transportation sims (as you guys know I play both Euro and American Truck Simulator, and Flight Simulator), but... I don't get train sims.  You have an accelerator, and you have a brake.  Yay! :hmm:  I'd love to get a boat simulator too at some point, but the ones I've looked at on Steam are either unfinished or seem too arcade-y.

Not sure what it is. I've almost pulled the trigger on those truck sims a couple of times, even though I loathe trucks and anything trucking related.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 05, 2020, 04:29:50 PM
The Minecraft Lord of the Rings server, that builds the world of Lord of the Rings in Minecraft, celebrates its 10th Anniversary with a video:

https://youtu.be/_VKLCwzfKKc
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 08, 2020, 12:33:32 PM
Started playing Jedi: Fallen Order. Bit of Sekiro, bit of Tomb Raider. I like it so far. The soundtrack is excellent. I do play on easy to storymode difficulty, though, because I lack the patience to get good at the combat.  :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on November 08, 2020, 12:47:06 PM
Quote from: Syt on November 08, 2020, 12:33:32 PM
Started playing Jedi: Fallen Order. Bit of Sekiro, bit of Tomb Raider. I like it so far. The soundtrack is excellent. I do play on easy to storymode difficulty, though, because I lack the patience to get good at the combat.  :blush:

finished it about two weeks ago on regular (with some switches to easy because I couldn't be bothered to redo certain bossfights 20 times). A fun ride though not superoutstanding.
But that's not always a requirement.
The lightsaber duelling is -however- top notch and not as complex (re different moves) as final entries in the Jedi Knight/Jedi Academy series.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 08, 2020, 12:49:39 PM
Yeah, the parry/block stamina is very much inspired by Sekiro - which is a good idea. It's a bit more arcade than in Sekiro where you parry/attack to break your opponent's posture and then land the killing blow.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on November 08, 2020, 01:32:04 PM
Been thinking about buying a steam box or some 3rd party similar thing to send pc games to the living room.anyone tried this?

I've realised with working from home it's super unhealthy to be playing pc games at my desk given its where I am working. If I can move this elsewhere then it will reduce the negative.

Also contemplating a switch and/or ps5. Never had a ps4 and there's a fair few exclusives from that having a ps5 would be good for too.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on November 08, 2020, 03:35:26 PM
Quote from: Tyr on November 08, 2020, 01:32:04 PM
Been thinking about buying a steam box or some 3rd party similar thing to send pc games to the living room.anyone tried this?

I've realised with working from home it's super unhealthy to be playing pc games at my desk given its where I am working. If I can move this elsewhere then it will reduce the negative.

Also contemplating a switch and/or ps5. Never had a ps4 and there's a fair few exclusives from that having a ps5 would be good for too.

I do it via the steam link app on my TV. Although right now I'm not 100% sure you can set it up so you can have your controller tied to your TV and not your computer (I usually just use it to stream stuff to my TV with the controller plugged to my laptop).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Minsky Moment on November 10, 2020, 10:59:05 PM
Quote from: Tyr on November 08, 2020, 01:32:04 PM
Been thinking about buying a steam box or some 3rd party similar thing to send pc games to the living room.anyone tried this?

I've realised with working from home it's super unhealthy to be playing pc games at my desk given its where I am working. If I can move this elsewhere then it will reduce the negative.

I've been using shadow for this.  Will post a full review on the weekend.  You can play PC games on pretty much any screen including an Ipad.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 12, 2020, 05:02:39 AM
Ubisoft wanted to be sure not to be targeted by the Twitter mob so in AssCreed Valhalla you can change your gender back and forth on the fly.

However, this wasn't enough because one NPC had in their description the word "disfigured" in reference to a burned face, so the company apologised for the "ableist" wording following some lone tweet pointing it out as terrible.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on November 12, 2020, 05:43:27 AM
Quote from: Tamas on November 12, 2020, 05:02:39 AM
Ubisoft wanted to be sure not to be targeted by the Twitter mob so in AssCreed Valhalla you can change your gender back and forth on the fly.

However, this wasn't enough because one NPC had in their description the word "disfigured" in reference to a burned face, so the company apologised for the "ableist" wording following some lone tweet pointing it out as terrible.

I think Ubisoft are probably particularly sensitive given everything that just went down.

Also, reading further I think the offense (if any) is that it falls into a trope of the disfigured being/acting monstrous. So said reference noted the disfigurement causing that person to periodically lash out with rage.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 12, 2020, 06:16:40 AM
Viking seems to be pretty good, based on initial reactions, though.

I may pick it up in a few years when I've played Origins and Odyssey. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 12, 2020, 06:52:35 AM
Yeah I really enjoyed Origins and Odyssey so I am very tempted to just shell out the full price, life's too short.

On the other hand, while I suspect I completed the main storyline bit in Odyssey, I still have a lot of the secret evil society to mop up, so perhaps I should return to that instead.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on November 12, 2020, 06:55:56 AM
I really should get back to the pirate one someday. I stopped playing as I got myself stuck trying to complete the side quest super hard ship battles and everything. It was fun though.
I've heard Syndicate is awful? Which is a shame as it is a great setting.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on November 12, 2020, 07:05:27 AM
Quote from: Tyr on November 12, 2020, 06:55:56 AM
I really should get back to the pirate one someday. I stopped playing as I got myself stuck trying to complete the side quest super hard ship battles and everything. It was fun though.
I've heard Syndicate is awful? Which is a shame as it is a great setting.

AssCreed IV is essentially GTA: Pirates. I found it really fun.

I have  the Egypt one to play through... too little time, too many games. Having a Switch complicates things, because I now have a bunch of JRPGs to go through...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 12, 2020, 07:07:27 AM
I admit Jorvik looks quite nice.

(https://cdnb.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/031/585/015/large/danny-hung-ack-birdeyejorvik-01.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on November 12, 2020, 07:15:17 AM
EA games joined Gamepass for Console this week.

EA did not release a lot of games this generation. Those release are mostly a bunch of Star Wars FPSes or the usual sports games.

Downloaded Jedi Fallen Order. I don't usually play those games so I have no frame of reference to how good it is. I had to put it on the lowest difficulty because I don't get how the combat timing works. My son is very excited by the game too.

Looking forward to December when the PC version comes out so I can play Titanfall 2.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 12, 2020, 07:20:35 AM
I'm kinda tempted by the new Xbox Series X once it becomes widely available. The backwards compatibility is tempting to make use of my old 360 games, plus the Microsoft subscription.

I looked at PS5, and the Demon Souls remaster is sold on Amazon for EUR 80, which I understand is the regular price  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 12, 2020, 12:29:04 PM
Field of Glory Medieval will have the Battle of Bornhöved :w00t:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bornh%C3%B6ved_(1227)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 12, 2020, 12:46:17 PM
You can get -20% (10 pounds) off the Valhalla game for 100 Ubi points in the Ubisoft store. For some reason I have almost 700 points so there we go.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on November 12, 2020, 01:23:13 PM
Wait for Black Friday.

Target will have it for ~40$ in the US. There's bound to be a sale somewhere for the PC version.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 12, 2020, 01:27:31 PM
Just checked uPlay - 120 EUR for the ultimate edition  :lmfao:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on November 14, 2020, 11:17:42 AM
Looks like Tim Stone's column on RPS, the Flare Path, got canceled. It's a shame, it highlighted a lot of great strategy games for me.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Oexmelin on November 14, 2020, 11:24:37 AM
Yeah, he got fired.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 14, 2020, 11:27:01 AM
Yeah, he went quite JK Rowling in a comment section, lamenting the lack of trans-critical voices at RPS and called being trans a life choice. There's currently one or two trans people working for RPS after Sin Vega was let go, I think.

Very disappointing. And I think RPS had little choice there - you don't call out your employer and colleagues in public like that.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 14, 2020, 11:29:45 AM
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Eme-0jIUcAA24mi?format=jpg&name=small)

That's the one I have managed to find, was there to more to it, or he got fired for this one?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 14, 2020, 11:30:38 AM
I believe it was the entirety of his comments under that article.

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2020/11/06/watch-dogs-legion-is-booting-a-journalist-off-its-fictional-radio/#comments

Starting with:

QuoteTim Stone
07/11/20 8:28AM

@SomersetVae

"there are diverse voices within RPS when it comes to games, genres, preferences etc but I would say (and i'd be prepared to be challenged on this) there is zero diversity in respect of political views and arguable groupthink and alignment particularly around trans issues."

There's at least one regular RPS contributor who'd like to see the site show a little more respect for the gender critical position in the trans rights debate. Me.

I believe arguments like the ones articulated in pieces like these...

link to theguardian.com
link to ginamaya.co.uk

...are perfectly reasonable. I agree with all those arguing for more constructive discussion and less name-calling in this debate.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 14, 2020, 11:34:50 AM
Still, even with Tim Stone gone, you can go to RPS for quality gaming journalism like this one:

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2020/11/13/the-cases-for-and-against-the-two-eivors-in-assassins-creed-valhalla/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on November 14, 2020, 11:51:30 AM
Being a gamer must be horrible.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on November 14, 2020, 12:53:24 PM
Quote from: Syt on November 14, 2020, 11:30:38 AM
I believe it was the entirety of his comments under that article.

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2020/11/06/watch-dogs-legion-is-booting-a-journalist-off-its-fictional-radio/#comments

I went through the comments and everyone by Tim Stone seemed thoughtful and respectful.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on November 14, 2020, 01:23:59 PM
Quote from: Barrister on November 14, 2020, 12:53:24 PM
Quote from: Syt on November 14, 2020, 11:30:38 AM
I believe it was the entirety of his comments under that article.

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2020/11/06/watch-dogs-legion-is-booting-a-journalist-off-its-fictional-radio/#comments

I went through the comments and everyone by Tim Stone seemed thoughtful and respectful.

Everyone but or everything by?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 14, 2020, 01:26:54 PM
Quote from: The Brain on November 14, 2020, 11:51:30 AM
Being a gamer must be horrible.

RPS has for a while been trying to be the woke voice of gaming. It has gone from a welcome voice to nauseating preaching and virtue signalling. They are the kind of folks for whom no Cyberpunk trailer can be inclusive enough to escape accusations of sexism.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on November 14, 2020, 01:29:37 PM
Quote from: Barrister on November 14, 2020, 12:53:24 PM
Quote from: Syt on November 14, 2020, 11:30:38 AM
I believe it was the entirety of his comments under that article.

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2020/11/06/watch-dogs-legion-is-booting-a-journalist-off-its-fictional-radio/#comments

I went through the comments and everyone by Tim Stone

Why?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on November 14, 2020, 03:15:01 PM
Quote from: Tamas on November 14, 2020, 01:26:54 PM
Quote from: The Brain on November 14, 2020, 11:51:30 AM
Being a gamer must be horrible.

RPS has for a while been trying to be the woke voice of gaming. It has gone from a welcome voice to nauseating preaching and virtue signalling. They are the kind of folks for whom no Cyberpunk trailer can be inclusive enough to escape accusations of sexism.

That feels like a bizarre stance to take.

https://www.resetera.com/threads/cdpr-is-a-transphobic-company-its-time-we-stop-making-excuses-for-them.307474/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 14, 2020, 03:32:59 PM
I haven't looked deeply into the issue but can't you, like, freely change the shape and attributes of your body in the CP game regardless of the gender you choose? Seems tough to be more gender-neutral than that.

Then again. I really do not wish to soak my gaming in politics so I admit never to have researched the details of the crucial world event of an upcoming PC game and its makers nuanced opinion on gender fluidity.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 14, 2020, 03:45:23 PM
Quote from: Tamas on November 14, 2020, 03:32:59 PM
I haven't looked deeply into the issue but can't you, like, freely change the shape and attributes of your body in the CP game regardless of the gender you choose? Seems tough to be more gender-neutral than that.to soak my gaming in politics so I admit never to have researched the details of the crucial world event of an upcoming PC game and its makers nuanced opinion on gender fluidity.

From garbon's article:

QuoteAfter speaking heavily to how inclusive Cyberpunk 2077 would be, it's been confirmed that the character creator will tie the pronouns the game uses to refer to the character with, with the pitch of voice chosen. Meaning that if you choose a traditionally female body type but select a deeper voice, your character will be referred to as "he" or "him" in the game's dialogue. Voice pitch is a sensitive issue in the trans community and with transition as HRT has no bearing on your voice when transitioning as a trans woman, or toward transfeminine identities. As a direct result it becomes something that many trans people are conscious of when they attempt to pass, as it's an element that works against you when people frequently associate a deep voice to being a man, and a high voice to being a women. This in a very real sense is an issue of safety for trans people offline, as having a deeper voice while presenting femme can result in abuse. However it isn't an immediate black or white picture when it comes to how trans people feel about their voice outside of those issues. Your voice is as personal to you as anything else, and there are many trans people that would prefer to be able to feel comfortable using their real voice as opposed to putting in considerable effort toward changing it in the hope of better acceptance.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on November 14, 2020, 04:08:22 PM
Quote from: Tamas on November 14, 2020, 03:32:59 PM
I haven't looked deeply into the issue but can't you, like, freely change the shape and attributes of your body in the CP game regardless of the gender you choose? Seems tough to be more gender-neutral than that.

Then again. I really do not wish to soak my gaming in politics so I admit never to have researched the details of the crucial world event of an upcoming PC game and its makers nuanced opinion on gender fluidity.

The post I linked to was the most in depth I've seen on matters. Worth a look as complaints extend further than the character designer.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 14, 2020, 04:22:57 PM
Quote from: Syt on November 14, 2020, 03:45:23 PM
Quote from: Tamas on November 14, 2020, 03:32:59 PM
I haven't looked deeply into the issue but can't you, like, freely change the shape and attributes of your body in the CP game regardless of the gender you choose? Seems tough to be more gender-neutral than that.to soak my gaming in politics so I admit never to have researched the details of the crucial world event of an upcoming PC game and its makers nuanced opinion on gender fluidity.

From garbon's article:

QuoteAfter speaking heavily to how inclusive Cyberpunk 2077 would be, it's been confirmed that the character creator will tie the pronouns the game uses to refer to the character with, with the pitch of voice chosen. Meaning that if you choose a traditionally female body type but select a deeper voice, your character will be referred to as "he" or "him" in the game's dialogue. Voice pitch is a sensitive issue in the trans community and with transition as HRT has no bearing on your voice when transitioning as a trans woman, or toward transfeminine identities. As a direct result it becomes something that many trans people are conscious of when they attempt to pass, as it's an element that works against you when people frequently associate a deep voice to being a man, and a high voice to being a women. This in a very real sense is an issue of safety for trans people offline, as having a deeper voice while presenting femme can result in abuse. However it isn't an immediate black or white picture when it comes to how trans people feel about their voice outside of those issues. Your voice is as personal to you as anything else, and there are many trans people that would prefer to be able to feel comfortable using their real voice as opposed to putting in considerable effort toward changing it in the hope of better acceptance.

It seems that they could might as well just let players have voluptuous breasts and thundering deep voices, so it is a valid point.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on November 14, 2020, 05:40:13 PM
Quote from: Tamas on November 14, 2020, 04:22:57 PM
Quote from: Syt on November 14, 2020, 03:45:23 PM
Quote from: Tamas on November 14, 2020, 03:32:59 PM
I haven't looked deeply into the issue but can't you, like, freely change the shape and attributes of your body in the CP game regardless of the gender you choose? Seems tough to be more gender-neutral than that.to soak my gaming in politics so I admit never to have researched the details of the crucial world event of an upcoming PC game and its makers nuanced opinion on gender fluidity.

From garbon's article:

QuoteAfter speaking heavily to how inclusive Cyberpunk 2077 would be, it's been confirmed that the character creator will tie the pronouns the game uses to refer to the character with, with the pitch of voice chosen. Meaning that if you choose a traditionally female body type but select a deeper voice, your character will be referred to as "he" or "him" in the game's dialogue. Voice pitch is a sensitive issue in the trans community and with transition as HRT has no bearing on your voice when transitioning as a trans woman, or toward transfeminine identities. As a direct result it becomes something that many trans people are conscious of when they attempt to pass, as it's an element that works against you when people frequently associate a deep voice to being a man, and a high voice to being a women. This in a very real sense is an issue of safety for trans people offline, as having a deeper voice while presenting femme can result in abuse. However it isn't an immediate black or white picture when it comes to how trans people feel about their voice outside of those issues. Your voice is as personal to you as anything else, and there are many trans people that would prefer to be able to feel comfortable using their real voice as opposed to putting in considerable effort toward changing it in the hope of better acceptance.

It seems that they could might as well just let players have voluptuous breasts and thundering deep voices, so it is a valid point.

I think the point is that after marketing how inclusive it would be, the designers of the game actually just fell back on gender stereotypes. 

The thing I am told, and pass on to my clients, by our transgender consultants is that it is appreciated that you make an effort and mistakes will be understood (kind of like struggling with French in France) but once you start pretending you have expertise and get it wrong, that is where the problems occur. 

That makes perfect sense to me.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on November 14, 2020, 05:47:33 PM
Come to think about it, our Finnish friends probably have it a lot easier with the lack of pronouns indicating gender.

Is it the same in Hungarian?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on November 14, 2020, 06:40:15 PM
I just wish people would stop falling for the transphobes bait and giving them their culture war.
Just let trans people be and get on with life .
Trans people in sport is a valid debate.... In the context of people who like having nerdy discussions on the rules and regulations of sports. Funny how it always comes from quite a different direction.

Odd decision to tie gender to voice pitch. Seems it'd be a pretty basic 90s level character creator to have a gender toggle unconnected to everything else.
It seems they've decided in this future of body alterations voice alteration isn't a thing so that's how people judge gender?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on November 14, 2020, 06:54:25 PM
It is odd as even Sims 4 is more progressive on that.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 15, 2020, 05:41:35 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on November 14, 2020, 05:47:33 PM
Come to think about it, our Finnish friends probably have it a lot easier with the lack of pronouns indicating gender.

Is it the same in Hungarian?

No pronouns in Hungarian either. which does make it easier not to accidentally offend someone by misjudging the gender they want for themselves, but of course it is far from being an automatic appliance of full tolerance.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on November 17, 2020, 05:31:33 AM
Speaking of Cyberpunk, here's a trailer for Russia edition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFGTvenylUs  :lmfao:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on November 17, 2020, 02:30:09 PM
I laughed.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on November 17, 2020, 05:36:57 PM
That insane CGI looked very realistic (except for what was happening).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 20, 2020, 06:39:59 AM
I've never played the original Demon's Souls, but watched playthroughs of it. The remake for PS5 from what I see in streams, looks quite amazing. Certainly better than DS3 or Bloodborne. The sound design is awesome, and the magic effects impressive. And it runs at 60 FPS (there's also a more detailed "cinematic" mode that runs at 30 FPS, but it seems nobody is using it :lol: ).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on November 20, 2020, 01:27:54 PM
Cyberpunk 2077 (on Steam) will be playable on Geforce Now the day of release. :hmm:

Tempted to buy it on release now and play the game on Ultra settings with ray tracing on my absolutely mediocre box or my laptop.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 20, 2020, 01:48:48 PM
Oddly, I'm completely unhyped for Cyberpunk. I do like Cyberpunk as a genre, but for some reason this doesn't click with me. Maybe because I still have a gargantuan backlog of big RPGs and open world games. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on November 20, 2020, 07:20:59 PM
I'm fairly stoked for Cyberpunk.  I'll hold off buying until the reviews are out and it's had a patch or two, but I will likely buy the game this year.


Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on November 21, 2020, 04:58:40 AM
Indeed, the delays make me question things a bit, so I'll wait at least a few days and read the reviews. Will buy then if no game-breaking bugs are reported.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 22, 2020, 07:57:51 AM
I didn't play Jedi: Fallen Order the past two weeks, and wanted to continue today. First Origin insisted I log in again, even though I already had Origin open. Ok, needed to look up my password, and authorize my device. Again. Then loaded into the game, and my progress is gone. Like I never launched the game.

Fuck that.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on November 22, 2020, 08:13:01 AM
Quote from: Syt on November 22, 2020, 07:57:51 AM
I didn't play Jedi: Fallen Order the past two weeks, and wanted to continue today. First Origin insisted I log in again, even though I already had Origin open. Ok, needed to look up my password, and authorize my device. Again. Then loaded into the game, and my progress is gone. Like I never launched the game.

Fuck that.

Your hate makes you stronger.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 24, 2020, 10:53:18 AM
This looks interesting in a "not for me" way, but some people here might enjoy it:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1286350/BPM_BULLETS_PER_MINUTE/

It takes the randomized dungeons (made up of arena shooter rooms) and upgrade drops from Ziggurat and combines it with Crypt of the Necrodancer in that you can only shoot and reload to the rhythm of the music. The soundtrack seems quite cool.

Currently 33% off.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on November 25, 2020, 08:59:49 AM
So Football Manager 2021 just released and apparently it has a revamped match engine and it's actually quite good??? Eurogamer had a glowing review of it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on November 25, 2020, 09:03:00 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on November 25, 2020, 08:59:49 AM
So Football Manager 2021 just released and apparently it has a revamped match engine and it's actually quite good??? Eurogamer had a glowing review of it.

That's nice to hear. I've been wanting for them to improve that part of the game for ages, instead of adding meaningless features.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 25, 2020, 02:25:18 PM
I picked up "art of rally" (yes, all lower case), a little arcade racing game about the rally circuit from the 60s through the end of Group B. They don't have official licenses, but the classics are all there, over 50 to unlock:

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/550320/extras/06.gif)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/550320/ss_032d3b8d120b113e1b1cf06da250dff616226ea6.1920x1080.jpg?t=1601768992)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/550320/ss_a461baa1a4ae2eefb76ff0826666dc95ed6c6bb9.1920x1080.jpg?t=1601768992)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/550320/ss_9e6de963c60552e484d87ebf720ce1f4cf40f441.1920x1080.jpg?t=1601768992)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/550320/ss_fb0d9a2fd1fd2ad9c159ab573b158946c541162c.1920x1080.jpg?t=1601768992)

The stylized low poly graphics may not be everyone's cup of tea, but for a quick race in between it's quite fun. :)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/550320/art_of_rally/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on November 25, 2020, 05:22:13 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on November 20, 2020, 07:20:59 PM
I'm fairly stoked for Cyberpunk.  I'll hold off buying until the reviews are out and it's had a patch or two, but I will likely buy the game this year.
May hold off.  I need to buy a new oven.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: DGuller on November 25, 2020, 10:41:39 PM
This is the first time I'm hearing of Cyberpunk.  Is this something like Deus Ex?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on November 26, 2020, 03:35:45 AM
That, or Daikatana. We'll see.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Oexmelin on November 26, 2020, 10:27:15 AM
For Valmy: Mike Laidlaw, of Dragon Age fame, joins with a new studio in Quebec City founded by three ex Ubisoft people.

https://www.polygon.com/2020/11/23/21611526/yellow-brick-games-founders-mike-laidlaw-thomas-giroux-jeff-skalski-frederic-st-laurent-b
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on November 26, 2020, 11:32:55 AM
Quote from: DGuller on November 25, 2020, 10:41:39 PM
This is the first time I'm hearing of Cyberpunk.  Is this something like Deus Ex?

The previews make it seem like Grand Theft Auto, Deus Ex, Blade Runner, and the Witcher series all rolled into one.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on November 26, 2020, 12:00:44 PM
The Witcher in the 21st century.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on November 26, 2020, 02:08:23 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on November 26, 2020, 12:00:44 PM
The Witcher in the 21st century.

would be awesome if Ciri runs around there for a quest or so :D What an easteregg that would be
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on November 26, 2020, 02:30:08 PM
I distinctly remember her describing a sci-fi world when she talks about her dimensional travels in Witcher 3, so I'm sure she will be there.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on November 27, 2020, 02:07:30 AM
Quote from: Oexmelin on November 26, 2020, 10:27:15 AM
For Valmy: Mike Laidlaw, of Dragon Age fame, joins with a new studio in Quebec City founded by three ex Ubisoft people.

https://www.polygon.com/2020/11/23/21611526/yellow-brick-games-founders-mike-laidlaw-thomas-giroux-jeff-skalski-frederic-st-laurent-b

They are gonna have to publish their games via someone, that's when the microtransactions come in.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 27, 2020, 06:01:29 AM
There's a new space race game, "Mars Horizon", starting in the early days of the space race and extending to putting a person on Mars. You run one of 5 different space agencies and can decide to cooperate or do things yourself for more prestige. 85% positive reviews, priced at 17.99.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/765810/Mars_Horizon/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on December 01, 2020, 04:42:28 PM
Anyone planning to get Empire of Sin, the new Paradox release?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 01, 2020, 04:43:39 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on December 01, 2020, 04:42:28 PM
Anyone planning to get Empire of Sin, the new Paradox release?

Reviews so far seem mixed to disappointing so far. Holding off for now. Not really interested in the subject matter anyways, to be honest.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on December 01, 2020, 04:50:54 PM
Apparently, it has two expansions with an expansion pass already. :lmfao:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on December 01, 2020, 05:58:21 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on December 01, 2020, 04:50:54 PM
Apparently, it has two expansions with an expansion pass already. :lmfao:


Looks like just an opportunity to pre-purchase pass to the expansions.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on December 01, 2020, 06:23:42 PM
Yes, that's the exact same as CK3.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 02, 2020, 12:30:35 PM
Great way to go into the winter break. <_<

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EoP8rdpW8Ag6zcr?format=jpg&name=medium)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EoP8x4QW8AEngrG?format=jpg&name=medium)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 02, 2020, 04:20:10 PM
New action flight sim out:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/895870/Project_Wingman/

QuoteProject Wingman is a combat flight action game with an emphasis on polished and refined gameplay, true-to-its-roots inspirations, and an engaging single player experience. Perfect for those who aren't looking for a simulator experience, with the ease of pick up and play, all the way to those who want a fast-paced challenging flight action game.

Dogfight, strike, and fly through combat zones based off an alternate history of Earth. Either over the cold waters of the Bering Strait, attacking tanks in the brutal environments of Yellowstone magma fields, or diving through the Redwoods to strike targets of opportunity in the Pacific Northwest, across the oceans, above the scarred lands of the world, this war will take you from exotic battlefield to exotic battlefield, all while going up against odds way above your pay grade.

Pure Combat Flight Action
Exotic weaponries such as railguns and geothermal-powered armaments will be ready to pluck you out of the sky if you're careless. Whether you are an attack aircraft pilot, skimming the ground with a gatling gun and rocket launchers attached to your wing, or an interceptor with long range, almost sniper-like missiles at your disposal, it will be up to you to prove yourself as an Ace pilot.

Conquest Mode
In Conquest Mode, fight in an uphill battle against various bosses and ace squadrons in a territory capture game, drawing elements from roguelikes and RPGs. Players will have to earn enough money to not only purchase new aircraft, but build a mercenary army of their own in order to take on waves of increasingly difficult opposition as they struggle to take on a myriad of changing missions.

Virtual Reality
Virtual Reality headsets will work in-game to put the player in the cockpit of aerial warfare, immersing themselves in head-swiveling combat. Combine this with full compatibility with HOTAS peripherals and custom axis curves, and you will be able to experience the game however you want, using any DirectInput supported peripheral you like.

Key Features:
Fly in varied and exciting scenarios and locations unlike you've ever seen before
Engaging single player campaign
Over 20 different aircraft and over 40 unique weapons at your disposal
Fight different kinds of adversaries such as giant mechanized fortresses and railgun cannons
Test your skills in Conquest mode and fight against hordes of adversaries
Want a different Conquest experience? - Adjust it with modifiers to your liking
Beautiful 3D Volumetric clouds rendered with TrueSKY
Fully rebindable controls and HOTAS compatibility with DirectInput support
VR Support

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/895870/ss_0c3c1e3d9f6365b4545920512feb7113110caeef.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/895870/ss_fae98b7552ad0b4639dd2ab92ec82bba4bb038db.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/895870/ss_91053990a907458c1801345f464dedff52e56121.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/895870/ss_c8ad80c90e1c1c3cb7ac43e36dab2cf08e40d1ca.1920x1080.jpg)

The screenshots don't look impressive, so here's a gameplay video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzpwugUMDBM&ab_channel=GameZine

Looks quite impressive for a €24.99 indie project. Reminds me of the Ace Combat series.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on December 02, 2020, 08:43:18 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on December 01, 2020, 04:42:28 PM
Anyone planning to get Empire of Sin, the new Paradox release?
I looked at the initial reviews and they turned me off to getting it, at least for now.  Unlike with Syt I am very interested in the subject matter, but not gonna play a half-assed game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on December 04, 2020, 08:05:23 AM
The Spiffing Brit has a video on the game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIRrYvl0fM8

Doesn't even look like he's using anything too crazy, just basic trading of alcohol and utilizing character skills to buff their killing power.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 09, 2020, 12:43:31 PM
American truck sim currently spans Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and recently added Idaho (You da ho!) and Colorado.

They already announced the next expansion: Wyoming.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1415692/American_Truck_Simulator__Wyoming

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1415692/ss_19224b2a3624c525f4fad6bdbfb3fc42dd81e313.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1415692/ss_343bc835f41312f701c3c175b9e2d550df4088d4.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1415692/ss_bd429fb5eb4a016d7f6df74a27cf552453832870.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1415692/ss_bbd46470958a8ddc232e040767762758fe0608ef.1920x1080.jpg)

I look forward to when you can retrace the roadtrip from National Lampoon's Vacation.

(https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf3.myportfolio.com/5d75624ed04b263bdfb754e8878f0c97/e7d1763b-0900-4083-bbdc-efcb8f2b22af_rw_1920.jpg)

Looking at the map, I guess Montana might come after Wyoming?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on December 09, 2020, 02:25:58 PM
Nice, I didn't realize they had announced Wyoming but most people suspected it would be next... which is disappointing to me.

I don't give a fuck about Wyoming (sorry pdh :) )... I want Texas.  I don't even own the Idaho expansion yet, but I'll probably pick it up when it goes on sale next.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on December 09, 2020, 02:36:28 PM
Also, there's talk about SCS splitting their scenery development team in two after Montana (which I agree, is almost certainly next), and then working on two states, and possibly releasing, in parallel.  So like Kansas and Nebraska might come out at the same time as a single expansion, or North and South Dakota.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 09, 2020, 02:56:45 PM
Sounds reasonable, otherwise it's up to modders to complete the map. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: PDH on December 09, 2020, 05:01:15 PM
What's not to love about driving 6 hours across Southern Wyoming to get from one crack town to another?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on December 09, 2020, 06:51:08 PM
Quote from: Syt on December 09, 2020, 02:56:45 PM
Sounds reasonable, otherwise it's up to modders to complete the map. :P
I wonder if the modded maps are good for ATS?  I've tried the ETS2 ProMods maps before and they sucked, though supposedly they've gotten better.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on December 09, 2020, 07:17:56 PM
Quote from: PDH on December 09, 2020, 05:01:15 PM
What's not to love about driving 6 hours across Southern Wyoming to get from one crack town to another?
Well people are making a big deal about how the scenery will look really nice and gee I wonder how cool Yellowstone will look...

I thought it was a trucking simulator, not a vacation simulator. :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: katmai on December 09, 2020, 07:38:36 PM
Quote from: Caliga on December 09, 2020, 07:17:56 PM
Quote from: PDH on December 09, 2020, 05:01:15 PM
What's not to love about driving 6 hours across Southern Wyoming to get from one crack town to another?
Well people are making a big deal about how the scenery will look really nice and gee I wonder how cool Yellowstone will look...

I thought it was a trucking simulator, not a vacation simulator. :hmm:
has your goofy ass ever driven through real Texas?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 09, 2020, 10:59:33 PM
Quote from: Caliga on December 09, 2020, 06:51:08 PM
Quote from: Syt on December 09, 2020, 02:56:45 PM
Sounds reasonable, otherwise it's up to modders to complete the map. :P
I wonder if the modded maps are good for ATS?  I've tried the ETS2 ProMods maps before and they sucked, though supposedly they've gotten better.

I only ever used Promods, and I think they're good. Of course they're more about refining the existing maps rather than expanding them (though I think they have a Russia add on).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on December 15, 2020, 03:59:19 PM
Oh for crying out loud, EA Play ain't coming to Xbox Game Pass PC until next year:

https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2020/12/15/update-on-ea-play-xbox-game-pass-for-pc-2021/?ocid=XGP_soc_omc_xbo_tw_Text_lrn_12.15.1

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on December 15, 2020, 06:21:13 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on April 30, 2020, 05:52:44 PM
On Assassins Creed games, just got Unity (because setting) and want to try Odyssey.

But I'm mainly spending my time furious at the overly negative depiction of the Revolution and Robespierre <_<
Just read that Alfred is the primary antagonist in the new one and I'm starting to feel personally attacked by these games :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on December 15, 2020, 06:41:31 PM
After 7 years I finally finished final fantasy 13.
Not a good game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on December 15, 2020, 10:23:49 PM
Quote from: katmai on December 09, 2020, 07:38:36 PM
has your goofy ass ever driven through real Texas?
I've driven around Houston. :sleep:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on December 15, 2020, 10:26:19 PM
Quote from: Syt on December 09, 2020, 10:59:33 PM
I only ever used Promods, and I think they're good. Of course they're more about refining the existing maps rather than expanding them (though I think they have a Russia add on).
There are, or at least were, Promods maps for Italy before the 'real' Italy expansion came out, as well as for Greece, and they were crap.  Like I kept getting stuck all over the place because turns were impossibly tight or road grades too steep.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: katmai on December 16, 2020, 01:12:47 AM
Quote from: Caliga on December 15, 2020, 10:23:49 PM
Quote from: katmai on December 09, 2020, 07:38:36 PM
has your goofy ass ever driven through real Texas?
I've driven around Houston. :sleep:
so that's a no
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on December 16, 2020, 01:30:10 AM
Quote from: katmai on December 16, 2020, 01:12:47 AM
so that's a no

I don't know. It is pretty representative of generic Texas urban area.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: katmai on December 16, 2020, 02:29:27 AM
Quote from: Valmy on December 16, 2020, 01:30:10 AM
Quote from: katmai on December 16, 2020, 01:12:47 AM
so that's a no

I don't know. It is pretty representative of generic Texas urban area.
it wasn't my question , as you know urban Texas is totally different than West Texas and North Texas. And my contention it isnt any different than Wyoming in its desolation
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on December 16, 2020, 02:42:51 AM
Quote from: Tyr on December 15, 2020, 06:41:31 PM
After 7 years I finally finished final fantasy 13.
Not a good game.

That was the last FF game I bought. Bored me out of the franchise.

I might get the FF7 remake at some point, though. Even if it's for nostalgia's sake.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on December 16, 2020, 02:48:38 AM
Quote from: katmai on December 16, 2020, 02:29:27 AM
Quote from: Valmy on December 16, 2020, 01:30:10 AM
Quote from: katmai on December 16, 2020, 01:12:47 AM
so that's a no

I don't know. It is pretty representative of generic Texas urban area.
it wasn't my question , as you know urban Texas is totally different than West Texas and North Texas. And my contention it isnt any different than Wyoming in its desolation

That is for sure true. Driving through most of Texas is about as much fun as driving through Kansas or Oklahoma. At least Wyoming has Mountains.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: PDH on December 16, 2020, 09:02:19 PM
Quote from: Valmy on December 16, 2020, 02:48:38 AM

That is for sure true. Driving through most of Texas is about as much fun as driving through Kansas or Oklahoma. At least Wyoming has Mountains.

AND Southern Wyoming has early morning "edge of freezing fog" when PDH is driving Valmy to the airport.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on December 16, 2020, 09:08:24 PM
Quote from: katmai on December 16, 2020, 02:29:27 AM
Quote from: Valmy on December 16, 2020, 01:30:10 AM
Quote from: katmai on December 16, 2020, 01:12:47 AM
so that's a no

I don't know. It is pretty representative of generic Texas urban area.
it wasn't my question , as you know urban Texas is totally different than West Texas and North Texas. And my contention it isnt any different than Wyoming in its desolation
I never said it was bro.  That's not what I want them to do Texas.  I want them to do Texas cause a) it bridges the game to the midwest, south, and the east, and b) because Texas has such a large economy and population it'll generate far more 'jobs' from the standpoint of the game economy.  I understand that the bulk of the state's land area is pretty desolate and featureless.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 18, 2020, 03:48:31 AM
Notably, PC Gamer don't include CP77 in their game of the year nominations.

https://www.pcgamer.com/here-are-the-nominees-for-pc-gamers-game-of-the-year-awards-2020/

QuoteOver the next couple weeks we'll be publishing sweeping reflections on this year's news, best moments, and shared gaming experiences. Sitting at the center will be our annual Game of the Year awards, the product of 27 PC Gamer editors' arguments, spent blood, and spilled G-Fuel. Awards will drop day by day beginning this weekend.

We approach these awards somewhat democratically, by first tallying up votes on the five games each editor liked most in 2020. Rather than trying to force a mediocre game into pre-baked award categories, we instead work backwards from those votes to figure out which award fits our favorites. Here are the games that received the most nominations among our team, sorted alphabetically.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Black Mesa
Blaseball
Cloudpunk
Crusader Kings 3
Death Stranding
Doom Eternal
Fall Guys
Fuser
Genshin Impact
Hades
Half-Life: Alyx
Kentucky Route Zero
Legends of Runeterra
Microsoft Flight Simulator
Monster Train
Paradise Killer
Persona 4 Golden
Phasmophobia
Spelunky 2
Spiritfarer
Valorant
Wasteland 3
XCOM: Chimera Squad
Yakuza: Like a Dragon

This year we'll be giving out 13 awards, including Best RPG, Best Action, and Best Strategy Game. Check back beginning December 19 when we'll debut the first award, then another award each day until the end of 2020. Separately, we'll also be handing out accolades to this year's best hardware. Should be a busy couple of weeks!


I admit I've paid much less attention to games this year than I normally do, but this does not seem like a great year for games. I haven't played any of these except CK3 and MS FlightSim. I know of most of those games, but for some it's just the name that's familiar and broad genre affiliation.

Blaseball is an odd one, as it's more like an interactive storytelling project mixed with fantasy sports: https://www.pcgamer.com/place-bets-on-blaseball-a-simulated-baseball-league-with-the-occasional-hellmouth/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 18, 2020, 09:56:06 AM
Apparently Distant Worlds 2 will go into beta in January, and there will be a more in depth video about the game at that point. :)

(https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/upfiles/9/6CC16EC7F1D54217A4F7FFB8B8E13E29.gif)

Some screens from last year's Christmas sneak peak thread:

(https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/upfiles/9/EC3B2CD3BC394ED3AD89B6E8480E1722.jpg)

(https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/upfiles/9/52DA6EBCAE894827A2F34FF3FCD93856.jpg)

(https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/upfiles/9/6797A14F6F2D453393ADD29F7AA9151B.jpg)

(https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/upfiles/9/E69C8DDD38C1410D9031B4797A564DDE.jpg)

(https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/upfiles/9/44E856E0FC4646498C07143F56D71505.jpg)

(https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/upfiles/9/8BAD4C10DA4B4C5880B3915DDF628F72.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 18, 2020, 01:50:18 PM
This looks fun: https://www.pcgamer.com/airborne-kingdom-is-a-hypnotic-city-builder-where-gravity-is-your-only-enemy/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on December 25, 2020, 10:18:29 AM
I need to get my fix for massed musketry so I'm playing Napoleon total war.  There are several big mods that look neat so I downloaded and installed one called La montée de l'Empire.  "La montée de l'Empire" may or may not be correct French.  I had to wade through page after page of bickering about that from eight years ago trying to figure out how to install the damn thing.  After finally getting it to work I start the mod up it throws up an installer that gives me options to tweak the mod.  Cool.  One of the options is to turn on 40 unit armies, so I click that option.  A little text tool opens up stating: "Activate this if you want to play LME with Wolves In The Throne Room´s increased unit limit submod. Please Note! You still have to enable the 40 unit armies feature yourself"

Um, okay.  There is nothing in the launcher that shows how to enable the 40 unit armies.  So I have to dig through forum posts from years ago trying to figure out what to enable it.  Finally, I found a tutorial which I shall reproduce here sans pictures.

QuoteAs there often are questions regarding this feature and people having problems with getting through the process I decided to do a full step-by-step tutorial on how to initialize a campaign with more then 20 units per army. Enjoy!


Disclaimer: I do not own any rights on the two packs and the tool included in the Download Bundle - Credits go to the creators. The downloadable content is just meant to offer a full download of what you need.



Tutorial
This tutorial covers basically everything you need to know.


Step 1

Download the following bundle, safe it on your desktop and unpack it using 7zip or any other suitable tool:

The LME4FullAsizePack includes all you need to initialize your campaign. Just keep it on your desktop.


Step 2

Start the LME4 Launcher from your computer and choose the features you wish to enable for your campaign. Make sure to enable the "Wolves Armies"!

Proceed by clicking on the campaign you wish to play on the left hand side and let NTW start just like normal.



Step 3

When ingame, choose the LME Campaign and the faction you wish to play with. Start the campaign. Once finished loading: save the game (do not change anything, just load the campaign and save!). Exit Napoleon Total war.

Now you have set up the campaign you wish to play with more then 20 units. So let's make the armies bigger!


Step 4

When back on the Desktop open the LME4FullAsizePack you have downloaded.You should see these two packs: Alb23Modified_Deployment_Zones.pack and Alb23UIMod.pack

Copy them both.


Now we need to put the packs into our NTW data folder.Go to: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\Napoleon Total War

Put the two .pack files into the data-folder!


Well done! Now, close the NTW-Folder and go back to the LME4FullAsizePack on your desktop!



Step 5

Open EsfEditor 1.4.6.

Go to File --> Open Savegame

select C:\Users\*YourName*\AppData\Roaming\The Creative Assembly\Napoleon\save_games


Choose the savegame you made! It can easily be found by looking for the faction and date in the name. In your example you can simply use the latest one.

I will use "Königreich Bayern Early January 1807" as example.

Open the savegame!



Now we are ready to edit the armysize!


Navigate to CAMPAIGN_SAVE_GAME -> CAMPAIGN_ENV -> CAMPAIGN_MODEL

Well done!

Do you see the two lines with 20 in it? That are the ones we need to edit!

Doubleclick on the 20 and edit it to the number of units you wish to be included in armies!

40 normally is the best one, although it can be taken up to 80 (But Unitcards would not work that well with that much units and the lag may be enormous!)

Do the same for the second line with 20 in it to set the fleetsize!


Save the changes by going to File -> Save!

Well done my friend, we are nearly finished!

Now close ESF 1.4.6 and go back to the LME4FullAsizePack!



Step 6

We are nearly done!

Open the script text and copy all:

mod Alb23UIMod.pack;
mod Alb23Modified_Deployment_Zones.pack;


Now go back to the LME-Launcher!


Open "Manually Edit Userscript" and place the two lines above the others!

Just place the two lines above the others! Do NOT edit any other line, they will be different to mine if you used other modsettings!

Save the user.script and close it!




Step 7


You are fine to go!

Start Napoleon Total War by clicking on "Start NTW Manually" in the LME-Launcher and load your campaign.

Well done, you can now play with more units per army!

Did you read all that?  No?  Good.  I'm just trying to play a computer game not start up a nuclear reactor.  This is why I rarely used mods in the past.  Nowadays I just go Steam workshop, click "subscribe", select which mods I want to play with and start the game.

Gabe Newell liberated us all from this kind of bullshit.  We should build a statue in his honor. <checks Wikipedia>  Gabe Newell is worth 4 billion dollars?  Okay, well he can build the statue.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on December 25, 2020, 12:00:23 PM
Just get DarthMod (also goes for Empire), it just self-installs and you are good to go. :P

That said, I believe vanilla Napoleon is fine (unlike Empire).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on December 28, 2020, 03:31:57 PM
Over the Christmas break in addition to buying a lot of new knitwear (:wub:) I folded and bought FM21 - I may be some time :ph34r:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on December 28, 2020, 09:48:37 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 28, 2020, 03:31:57 PM
Over the Christmas break in addition to buying a lot of new knitwear (:wub:) I folded and bought FM21 - I may be some time :ph34r:

I've succumbed to the FM gods once again myself  :ph34r:

It's quite good I think.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: katmai on December 28, 2020, 10:00:23 PM
Dammit I've been tempted to grab, youse guys aren't  helping.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 31, 2020, 11:50:05 AM
Hades is the best reviewed (by users) game on Steam in 2020. 98,451 reviews at this point, 98% positive.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on January 04, 2021, 03:55:49 PM
AC:Valhalla is definitely the buggiest one for sometime. Had a quest that I couldnt start only to learn I needed to fast travel to Norway and then back to England... <_<
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on January 06, 2021, 08:42:14 AM
Quote from: Syt on December 31, 2020, 11:50:05 AM
Hades is the best reviewed (by users) game on Steam in 2020. 98,451 reviews at this point, 98% positive.

I've been playing it quite a bit the past couple of weeks.  Keyboard controls are annoying, but I've resisted getting a controller so far. 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on January 07, 2021, 08:45:56 AM
To expand a bit on Hades, it's as if Slay the Spire and Path of Exile had a baby, but with a way better story and writing.  Most of my runs are faster than my Slay the Spire runs.  I think I like StS and PoE better than Hades, but it is a pleasing combination and I'm having a lot of fun playing it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on January 11, 2021, 03:55:55 PM
Horace is an awesome platformer. It really is. I've about finished it.... but I'm shy of collecting enough items for the best ending and...just can't take the final leap
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on January 26, 2021, 02:56:11 PM
This looks promising.  A middle ages building sim/rts

https://manorlords.com/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on January 26, 2021, 04:23:34 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on January 26, 2021, 02:56:11 PM
This looks promising.  A middle ages building sim/rts

https://manorlords.com/
God I am such a sucker for a city builder :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on January 28, 2021, 05:24:57 AM
That does look really nice.

I'm usually wary of these ambitious one-man projects, but the Banished guy delivered so who knows.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 31, 2021, 05:19:55 AM
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1506100/Languish/

QuoteLanguish is a First-Person Indie horror game.

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1506100/extras/capsule_main.png)

:ph34r:

QuoteFeature
explore
Explore this chilling house, experience creepy events, and discover the secrets within.

horror
The creepy atmosphere increases the tension in your chest and your heart rate. As you walk deeper, dangers will happen.

puzzle
You are trying to piece together why you had been brought to this house. Solve the puzzles, they may lead you to the truth.

crime
This story is based on a real crime.

Gameplay
A first-person horror game. Explore this creepy house, uncover its unknown secrets, and face threats along the way.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on January 31, 2021, 05:57:35 AM
[spoiler]The furries are hiding in a secret annex. [/spoiler]
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on February 01, 2021, 10:13:30 AM
Quote from: Syt on January 31, 2021, 05:19:55 AM
crime
[spoiler]It's Jaron's fault.[/spoiler]
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 01, 2021, 10:06:50 PM
The mystery of who sank the Incan torpedo boat.

It was probably those giant ants of Brest-Litovsk.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on February 02, 2021, 06:57:41 AM
Quote from: Valmy on February 01, 2021, 10:06:50 PM
The mystery of who sank the Incan torpedo boat.

It was probably those giant ants of Brest-Litovsk.

That's how they earned the respect of the yardies.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on February 02, 2021, 10:51:13 AM
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition.

I've talked about this on release.

Well, 3 months later, it's no longer a buggy mess.  Most critical bugs have been fixed.
And you can play a single player campaign without an AI...  :thumbsdown:
FFS, 3 months after release, they still can't fixed that.  Despite their patch notes saying they made numerous fixes to the AI.
Basically, if there are scripted attacks, like say "send X units of riflemen at 5:00; send X units of riflemen at 7:00;etc" it will do it.  But if it something along the lines of "build an economy, build troops to counter your attacker", forget it.  Nada. Zero.  The AI camps in its base, does not produce any units beyond its initial contingent.

So stupid.

I should have asked for a refund.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 06, 2021, 07:00:58 AM
WB Games have, after multiple attempts, managed to get their nemesis system from their Middle-Earth games patented:

https://www.ign.com/articles/wb-games-nemesis-system-patent-was-approved-this-week-after-multiple-attempts

QuoteWarner Brothers Interactive Entertainment, publishers of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and its 2017 sequel, Shadow of War (both developed by Monolith Entertainment), have finally managed to secure a patent for the franchise's signature Nemesis System.

The US Patent and Trademark Office released an issue notice on February 3, 2021, stating that the patent would go into effect on February 23 of this year. Warner Bros. has the option to maintain the patent through 2035, providing they keep up with the necessary fees.The patent, filed as "Nemesis characters, nemesis forts, social vendettas and followers in computer games," effectively codifies the functions of Monolith's Nemesis system and the sum of its parts as the property of WB.

While the language in the application is fairly obtuse – as most patent claims tend to be – the "short" version is that the patent covers a system featuring procedurally-generated NPCs that exist in a hierarchy and interact with and will remember the actions of players, have their appearance/behavior altered by players, and whose place in that hierarchy can change and affect the position of other NPCs in said hierarchy (and yes, that's the simplified version).

It also covers the Social Conquest battles from Shadow of War, wherein players can fortify or attack one another's strongholds to see how their army of orcs fares against their friends'.


Warner Bros. has been trying to secure the patent for the system since 2015, but has had to repeatedly revise and resubmit the application. Initial rejections claimed that there were too many similarities in the application to other patents – including ones held by Square Enix, the mobile game QONQR, and even Webkinz – though recent rejections were more focused on the specificity of language throughout the patent.While it's unclear what would happen were a game to release with a Nemesis system of its own between now and February 23, after that date any developer wishing to build a feature with all the aspects detailed in the patent (or at least enough to be considered infringement) will have to secure a license from WB.

Developers can still create similar systems that aren't a 1:1 recreation of Monolith's program, however – the Mercenaries in AC Odyssey or Watch Dogs Legion's fascinating Census system are recent examples of dynamically-generated NPCs and social networks that would likely not be met with a legal challenge – though as members of both the Mordor games and Ubisoft teams have said, such systems are a major collaborative effort requiring considerable resources and development time.

Rumors late last year year hinted that WB Games was potentially going to be acquired by Microsoft after reports that Time Warner was interested in selling its interactive division, though any talk of sales seems to have gone the way of an unfortunate orc captain.


Not sure I agree with patenting game mechanics like this. It might also explain why other companies have been reluctant to replicate it in their games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 06, 2021, 07:04:33 AM
I thought this was already patented from years ago?
I'm sure I've read gamer moaning on that at least.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 06, 2021, 07:05:54 AM
Quote from: Tyr on February 06, 2021, 07:04:33 AM
I thought this was already patented from years ago?
I'm sure I've read gamer moaning on that at least.

They've been trying to patent it for years as per the article and had to keep iterating the application till it was accepted.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on February 06, 2021, 07:33:08 AM
Quote from: Syt on February 06, 2021, 07:00:58 AM
WB Games have, after multiple attempts, managed to get their nemesis system from their Middle-Earth games patented:

https://www.ign.com/articles/wb-games-nemesis-system-patent-was-approved-this-week-after-multiple-attempts

QuoteWarner Brothers Interactive Entertainment, publishers of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and its 2017 sequel, Shadow of War (both developed by Monolith Entertainment), have finally managed to secure a patent for the franchise's signature Nemesis System.

The US Patent and Trademark Office released an issue notice on February 3, 2021, stating that the patent would go into effect on February 23 of this year. Warner Bros. has the option to maintain the patent through 2035, providing they keep up with the necessary fees.The patent, filed as "Nemesis characters, nemesis forts, social vendettas and followers in computer games," effectively codifies the functions of Monolith's Nemesis system and the sum of its parts as the property of WB.

While the language in the application is fairly obtuse – as most patent claims tend to be – the "short" version is that the patent covers a system featuring procedurally-generated NPCs that exist in a hierarchy and interact with and will remember the actions of players, have their appearance/behavior altered by players, and whose place in that hierarchy can change and affect the position of other NPCs in said hierarchy (and yes, that's the simplified version).

It also covers the Social Conquest battles from Shadow of War, wherein players can fortify or attack one another's strongholds to see how their army of orcs fares against their friends'.


Warner Bros. has been trying to secure the patent for the system since 2015, but has had to repeatedly revise and resubmit the application. Initial rejections claimed that there were too many similarities in the application to other patents – including ones held by Square Enix, the mobile game QONQR, and even Webkinz – though recent rejections were more focused on the specificity of language throughout the patent.While it's unclear what would happen were a game to release with a Nemesis system of its own between now and February 23, after that date any developer wishing to build a feature with all the aspects detailed in the patent (or at least enough to be considered infringement) will have to secure a license from WB.

Developers can still create similar systems that aren't a 1:1 recreation of Monolith's program, however – the Mercenaries in AC Odyssey or Watch Dogs Legion's fascinating Census system are recent examples of dynamically-generated NPCs and social networks that would likely not be met with a legal challenge – though as members of both the Mordor games and Ubisoft teams have said, such systems are a major collaborative effort requiring considerable resources and development time.

Rumors late last year year hinted that WB Games was potentially going to be acquired by Microsoft after reports that Time Warner was interested in selling its interactive division, though any talk of sales seems to have gone the way of an unfortunate orc captain.


Not sure I agree with patenting game mechanics like this. It might also explain why other companies have been reluctant to replicate it in their games.

I presume that the patent filing is more deep than the cliffnotes version the article gives. You can patent technologies, not concepts or ideas. Those are IP (which is not as strongly protected as industrial patents). So I presume people will be able to develop similar mechanics as long as the underlying technology is different.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 06, 2021, 07:39:09 AM
Quote from: celedhring on February 06, 2021, 07:33:08 AM
I presume that the patent filing is more deep than the cliffnotes version the article gives. You can patent technologies, not concepts or ideas. Those are IP (which is not as strongly protected as industrial patents). So I presume people will be able to develop similar mechanics as long as the underlying technology is different.

Not necessarily. Namco patented "mini games in loading screens", preventing others from copying the idea (though others managed to skirt around it). From 2015:

https://www.technobuffalo.com/mini-games-loading-screens-patent-expires#:~:text=Now%2C%20if%20a%20developer%20wants,screens%20on%20the%20original%20PlayStation.

QuoteIdeally, we'd never have to look at a loading screen at all. They're pretty boring. Especially on consoles, though, they're sometimes necessary. It would be nice if we had something to do during these moments of downtime, right?

Now, if a developer wants to add a mini-game into its loading screens, it can!

For the past 20 years, though, that's been impossible. Back in 1995, Namco filed a patent on the use of "auxillary mini-games" in loading screens to protect its use of Galaxian in Ridge Racer's loading screens on the original PlayStation.

As PC Gamer points out, though, this patent had a lifetime of 20 years and expired on November 27, meaning that developers can start making use of this once forbidden feature. Some games have gotten around this by implementing things that didn't quite fit the definition of "auxillary mini-game," such as Assassin's Creed letting you walk around an empty loading space, but very few games have skirted it because so many options would have fallen under the patent.

Fallout could use the Pip-Boy mini-games during these sequences, for example. Assassin's Creed is ripe for something like this thanks to the story conceit of everything taking place in a simulator. Long-running franchises could load up emulated versions of their predecessors. These screens could even affect the main game.

To celebrate this, a Loading Screen Game Jam has been organized to come up with ways to make use of this new opportunity.

Again, it'd be better if loading screens went away entirely. I'd rather just play the game I paid for. But if they have to happen, it'd be nice to have something to tinker with while I wait.


Activision filed a patent for incentivizing mictrotransactions (MTX) a few years ago: a player without MTX would be matched against a player with MTX who has an advantage to incentivize the first player to also buy MTX. If he does, he would would be matched against players without MTX to reward and validate his purchase decision. Again, primarily a design "philosophy" rather than a technical blueprint.

Besides, I expect such patents can have chilling effects on other developers who would rather not try to create a similar feature for fear of litigation.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on February 06, 2021, 07:43:37 AM
Seems patent abuse to me, but if it stood for 20 years I guess the courts found it valid. My "entertainment law" classes never touched upon patent law that deeply, but the concept was that you can't patent ideas, concepts, etc... just the technology/means to execute them.  :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 06, 2021, 07:48:25 AM
Considering how video games are built around iteration/expansion/retooling of existing mechanics, I find such patents rather problematic. Imagine if the concept of RTS created around resource harvesting and base building had been patented, or some key concepts from Doom or Wolfenstein.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 06, 2021, 09:02:59 AM
How easy is it to patent a technology that has already been in general use for years, like patenting loading screen games in the 90s (if we accept that it is in fact a technology)?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on February 07, 2021, 08:12:51 PM
Quote from: Syt on February 06, 2021, 07:48:25 AM
Considering how video games are built around iteration/expansion/retooling of existing mechanics, I find such patents rather problematic. Imagine if the concept of RTS created around resource harvesting and base building had been patented, or some key concepts from Doom or Wolfenstein.

It's a stupid thing to patent anyway. You won't gain any revenue from it unless you sue other developers/publishers.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 08, 2021, 05:55:27 AM
The makers of the rather good Battlestar Galactica: Deadlock will reveal a new game tomorrow.

https://twitter.com/SlitherineGames/status/1358721677958479874?s=20
QuoteBlack Lab Games, the developers of #BattlestarGalacticaDeadlock, are proud to announce that their latest title will be announced this Tuesday, the 9th of February at 5pm GMT on our #Twitch channel Right pointing backhand indexhttp://bit.ly/24QeEv4

We will be showing both a trailer and gameplay footage.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 08, 2021, 05:57:13 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on February 07, 2021, 08:12:51 PM
Quote from: Syt on February 06, 2021, 07:48:25 AM
Considering how video games are built around iteration/expansion/retooling of existing mechanics, I find such patents rather problematic. Imagine if the concept of RTS created around resource harvesting and base building had been patented, or some key concepts from Doom or Wolfenstein.

It's a stupid thing to patent anyway. You won't gain any revenue from it unless you sue other developers/publishers.

Unless you are worried that someone does it better, or adds it to a game that sells more than yours.

I recall a lot of people were asking for adding such a mechanic to other games, and I could easily see this fit into an Elder Scrolls title, a Fallout title, a Far Cry games, or a GTA title.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 08, 2021, 09:25:10 AM
https://www.theguardian.com/games/2021/feb/08/are-video-games-too-expensive-assassins-creed-cyberpunk-2077

QuotePay station: are video games too expensive?

In the Guide's weekly Solved! column, we look into a crucial pop-culture question you've been burning to know the answer to – and settle it, once and for all

Last year, something terrible happened. No, not that. Or that, even – something else, that you might not even be able to blame on the Tories. With new consoles from Sony and Microsoft expected, a raft of video game publishers announced that the RRP of their new releases would increase for the first time since the mid-00s. Games such as PS5's Demon's Souls would land at £69.99, not the £50-£55 of previous console generations. Most gamers reacted sensibly to this news. Others, not so much: remarks such as "GAMES RUINED 4EVA SO I FLUSHED MY XBOX DOWN THE DUNNY", written by users with names like n00bsl4yer135 and @URMUM69s, were a common sight on comment threads.

But do the Sl4yers and 69s of Reddit have a point? While an extra £20 won't break the bank for some, games might already be stretching what little disposable income many people have, particularly when twinned with the £250-£450 cost of the shiny new console on which to play them. A hardback book is £15-£20. A Blu-ray is more or less the same, as is the new Steps album on picture-disc vinyl. Compared to these, £70 for a single entertainment product seems ludicrous, particularly when there are monthly subscription services through which, for much less than that £20, you can gorge on books, films, TV and music to your avaricious little blood-pump's content.

The (virtual) reality is, though, a little more complex than this apples-and-orangutans comparison suggests. For starters, the cost of producing an AAA game – big-budget, big-studio, tentpole titles – is now akin to that of making a Hollywood blockbuster. Grand Theft Auto V, released in 2013, cost £195m in development and marketing. December's Cyberpunk 2077 – despite being unfinished, riddled with bugs and, on consoles, uglier than a pooing pug – came in at £228m. That's in the same ballpark as the budget for Avengers: Infinity War. No offence to Steps, but if they spent similar sums making their new album, it was not reflected in the final product.

So if blockbuster films are analogous to games in terms of the sheer cost of putting them out, why are Blu-rays only £20? It's here you also have to consider bang for your buck. A Martin Scorsese film lumbers in at three hours long. Most narrative-led games clock in at 15-or-so hours – five whole Scorseses; a hundred quid's worth of Marty. You'll get 25 hours out of 2020's The Last of Us Part II, and you'll have sunk 100 hours into the most recent trio of Assassin's Creed games before seeing all they have to offer. And open-ended games like racers, sports sims and multiplayers are truly bottomless. You'll be counting their per-hour cost in miserly fractions of pennies. Services such as PS Now and Xbox Game Pass even bring the Netflix model to games: as many titles as you can handle for £9 a month. Suddenly, the value on offer starts to look pretty good.

New games were £40 in the early 90s, back when they were short, shallow, unsightly, simple and rubbish. Adjusted for inflation, that £40 is £86 in 2021. The best modern games are slick, deep, beautiful pieces of art and are, in real terms, cheaper than they've ever been.

Yes, £70 is a lot. But choose wisely and you'll never, ever feel short-changed.

This felt like an odd article choice for the Guardian, what with supporting ever increasing video game prices?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 08, 2021, 09:47:34 AM
Cyberpunk and Hitman 3 made their money back within a week of launch. I don't think pricing is an issue. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 08, 2021, 09:53:51 AM
This is an interesting take on wargaming. Instead of hex based map movement, you assign units and resources to operations. Sprinkle some strategic decisions between turns on top. And at 4.99 you can't complain much about the price.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1265220/Cauldrons_of_War__Barbarossa/

Historical gamer has videos about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRgYh__d3cQ&ab_channel=thehistoricalgamer

And RPS has a review of sorts: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-flare-path-stirs-cauldrons
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 09, 2021, 12:00:00 PM
Quote from: Syt on February 08, 2021, 05:55:27 AM
The makers of the rather good Battlestar Galactica: Deadlock will reveal a new game tomorrow.

https://twitter.com/SlitherineGames/status/1358721677958479874?s=20
QuoteBlack Lab Games, the developers of #BattlestarGalacticaDeadlock, are proud to announce that their latest title will be announced this Tuesday, the 9th of February at 5pm GMT on our #Twitch channel Right pointing backhand indexhttp://bit.ly/24QeEv4

We will be showing both a trailer and gameplay footage.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1295500/Warhammer_40000_Battlesector/

QuoteWarhammer 40,000: Battlesector is a fast-paced turn-based strategy game set in the grimdark universe of the 41st Millenium. Pick your force, develop your army, field mighty heroes and fight for victory using superior strategy, awesome abilities, and devastating weaponry.

Age of Crimson Dawn
Experience an epic twenty mission single-player campaign that explores the aftermath of the Devastation of Baal. Help Sergeant Carleon and his allies purge the Tyranid infestation on Baal Secundus, and preserve the honour of the noble Blood Angels.

Skirmish Mode
Fight across the surface of Baal on maps of your choosing and select either the Blood Angels or the Tyranids in the Skirmish mode. Completely customize your army list by picking your units, heroes and their loadouts.

Forge Your Armies
Command iconic units like the Sanguinary Priest, the Librarian Dreadnought, and the Hive Tyrant to annihilate your foes. Use over 60 abilities and 50 weapons to orchestrate your opponent's bloody demise.

Build Momentum
Each faction has a unique Momentum system that can result in a Surged unit. Units that Surge are able to string together superhuman chains of actions, or use the opportunity to further upgrade their abilities.

Call In Air Support
Use Command Points to call in faction-specific air support abilities. The Blood Angels Stormraven can obliterate xenos with a missile barrage, or deep strike a unit of veteran Assault Marines behind enemy lines. Meanwhile, the Tyranid Harpy can devastate the enemy defenses with its Sonic Screech, or scatter the battlefield with its deadly Spore Mines.

Face Your Friends On The Battlefield
With live and asynchronous multiplayer, and hotseat modes available, there's no excuse not to take your friends to war.

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1295500/ss_1bae9c4c87e5f03dfd3d2b431c02ee798e7c42fd.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1295500/ss_1e4a98d30a309304ba76586d32a5420d69aaddbe.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1295500/ss_b56254d3abbb6abc876bb99f2366501b6af3e12d.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1295500/ss_d5eb0a6e335af0fd48d506e54e166364a07f857d.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1295500/ss_f8ed5083f5ad72afa3ed9f40afe7544c5c061769.1920x1080.jpg)

Bit underwhelming, maybe? :unsure:

BSG: Deadlock had a lot more going for it at launch (freeform campaign of first Cylon War, plus skirmish mode), with DLC adding more to it. Though I guess this game looks like a starter set with more armies/campaigns to be released at a later date? 20 missions is not exactly knocking my socks off, and a skirmish mode with two races seems quite ho-hum.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 09, 2021, 12:52:28 PM
Anyone interested in a new Apple II RPG? :P

https://www.gog.com/game/nox_archaist

QuoteAn 8-bit RPG modeled after the iconic games of the 1980s. You control a party of adventurers who travel the Realm, talk to NPCs in towns and castles, explore dungeons, and fight monsters as you seek to save the world from a terrible danger.

Key Features
60+ hours of gameplay
Complex storyline and open world
Fast character creation and in-game tutorial
Hundreds of non-player characters to talk to
Created on an Apple II computer, for faithful reproduction of 8-bit graphics
8-bit sounds and in-game music

Included with the Game
DRM-free application for Mac and PC
Apple II hard drive and floppy disk images
PDF and eBook manual
Quick reference guide
High-resolution map
Custom soundtrack
Digital wallpapers

(https://images.gog-statics.com/0f62f3805f7e48c40c210f0637c87b6891657fe1df0b088866b04d348e089a4b.jpg)

(https://images.gog-statics.com/17f25b12bd59b28ec0386c04c3d9b6a45d5694f23cf0f0174307b0dcb0c6b59b.jpg)

(https://images.gog-statics.com/5573ee32f2abd53b0afd88ffeda06eb224ad98899235488a34cdf01e70952d0b.jpg)

(https://images.gog-statics.com/77432a436e3b020bc938b1c731551e0a00da3e08786e2feadf15af88a1be4f7f.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 09, 2021, 12:56:12 PM
The 40k game looks like a mod for Dawn of War (1).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 10, 2021, 02:06:31 PM
Valheim, a survival game set in Viking purgatory (Copenhagen?) seems to be pretty popular these days:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/892970/Valheim/

96% of reviews positive out of over 17,000.

QuoteA battle-slain warrior, the Valkyries have ferried your soul to Valheim, the tenth Norse world. Besieged by creatures of chaos and ancient enemies of the gods, you are the newest custodian of the primordial purgatory, tasked with slaying Odin's ancient rivals and bringing order to Valheim.

Your trials begin at the disarmingly peaceful centre of Valheim, but the gods reward the brave and glory awaits. Venture forth through imposing forests and snow-capped mountains, explore and harvest more valuable materials to craft deadlier weapons, sturdier armor, viking strongholds and outposts. Build a mighty longship and sail the great oceans in search of exotic lands ... but be wary of sailing too far...

Key features:
Huge procedurally-generated world - explore and inhabit mystical lands, from mysteriousforests to imposing snow-topped mountain ranges and stunning meadows, complete with their own creatures of legend to battle and wildlife to hunt.
Co-op PvE (2-10 players) - - Whether you want to brave the lands alone or venture with trusted allies, Valheim supports independent, player-hosted servers and unlimited world creation. We recommend playing co-op with 3-5 players.
Punishing dodge & block based combat system with a wide range of weapons
Build & sail ships - from flimsy rafts to imposing warships, build legendary vessels to conquer the seas and discover new lands.
Summon and defeat vengeful primordial bosses of myth and legend, and collect trophies to progress and craft new powerful items
Flexible house and base building system - raise mead halls, farms, settlements outposts, castles and more.
Intuitive item crafting - forge the finest weapons and armour, and craft food and mead.
Dedicated server- for players who want to run a persistent server. If you prefer not to run a server on your PC, consider renting a server at G-Portal.

Community-translated languages:
In addition to the officially supported languages, Valheim has several community-translated languages. As the name would suggest these are all translated by fans and members of the community, and is an ongoing process. We can't guarantee the quality nor completeness of any specific translation effort.

The following languages have been partially translated by the community:
Svenska
Italiano
Romanian
български
македонски
Suomi
Dansk
íslenska
Lietuvių kalba
čeština
Magyar nyelv
Português europeu
한국어 (불완전한)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 11, 2021, 11:40:25 AM
Quote from: Syt on February 09, 2021, 12:52:28 PM
Anyone interested in a new Apple II RPG? :P

I kind of got my fix of that when they released the Bard's Tale trilogy on Steam a couple years back :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 12, 2021, 05:10:27 AM
I'm determined. I'll finally do it. I've had A-Train 9 for a while though completely failed to figure out how to play it. I must do this as it looks like my kind of game if I could just get through the crappy UI and complexity.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 12, 2021, 06:34:29 PM
Well. I'm never going to play this game, and I'm doubtful on whether the voice aspect will work. But looks quite amazingly bizzare and horrifying.
"Militsioner", where you have to escape a skyscraper sized policeman in a small Russian town....

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/can-you-escape-a-town-watched-by-a-giant-policeman
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on February 15, 2021, 08:53:34 PM
Terra Invicta.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=musvPt93VKY

Game looks pretty neat.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 16, 2021, 11:49:53 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on February 15, 2021, 08:53:34 PM
Terra Invicta.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=musvPt93VKY

Game looks pretty neat.

That has a lot of promise
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 17, 2021, 10:41:23 AM
Sequel to ADOM enters early access tomorrow, I guess: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1266820/Ultimate_ADOM__Caverns_of_Chaos/s
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 17, 2021, 11:28:53 AM
I would like to petition game developers to stop using the term "Rogue Like"
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 17, 2021, 11:39:51 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 17, 2021, 11:28:53 AM
I would like to petition game developers to stop using the term "Rogue Like"

Considering ADOM is a grand daddy of that genre  at 25+ years since it's ASCII inception (with graphics only added recently), I think it's quite appropriate in this case.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 17, 2021, 11:42:59 AM
Quote from: Syt on February 17, 2021, 11:39:51 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 17, 2021, 11:28:53 AM
I would like to petition game developers to stop using the term "Rogue Like"

Considering ADOM is a grand daddy of that genre  at 25+ years since it's ASCII inception (with graphics only added recently), I think it's quite appropriate in this case.

Ok, but if they are the grand daddy, why describe their game as being like another game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 17, 2021, 12:33:50 PM
Because roguelike is an accepted genre by now until someone coins a better term? :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on February 17, 2021, 02:32:04 PM
I like procedural RPG myself.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on February 17, 2021, 02:49:15 PM
Quote from: celedhring on February 17, 2021, 02:32:04 PM
I like procedural RPG myself.

But see I know exactly what a "roguelike" game is, and the term "Procedural RPG" means nothing to me.

I should note however that I remember playing the shit out of the original Rogue on a buddy's Compaq (the original ones, with the tiny screen that was somehow theoretically "compact") in the mid-80s so it has a fond association to me.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 17, 2021, 03:12:25 PM
Quote from: Barrister on February 17, 2021, 02:49:15 PM
Quote from: celedhring on February 17, 2021, 02:32:04 PM
I like procedural RPG myself.

But see I know exactly what a "roguelike" game is, and the term "Procedural RPG" means nothing to me.

I should note however that I remember playing the shit out of the original Rogue on a buddy's Compaq (the original ones, with the tiny screen that was somehow theoretically "compact") in the mid-80s so it has a fond association to me.

But do you?  There are so many games that say they are roguelike, that it is now very hard to know what that actually means.  It is much less a genre and much more an adjective these days.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on February 17, 2021, 03:43:47 PM
CC, can you give an example of a game that is described as roguelike that doesn't meet the definition of roguelike?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on February 17, 2021, 03:49:05 PM
Back in the 1990's all shooters were "doom-clones".  At least until Quake.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on February 17, 2021, 04:12:30 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on February 17, 2021, 03:43:47 PM
CC, can you give an example of a game that is described as roguelike that doesn't meet the definition of roguelike?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slay_the_Spire

QuoteSlay the Spire is a roguelike video game

Really, it has just become a word to define games with procedural level generation.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 17, 2021, 04:24:11 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on February 17, 2021, 03:43:47 PM
CC, can you give an example of a game that is described as roguelike that doesn't meet the definition of roguelike?

FTL is an example - Cel's example of Slay the Spire is probably better.  Probably the best is Endless Dungeon - it is its own creation based on a number of influences.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on February 17, 2021, 07:33:16 PM
Both FTL & Slay the Spire are roguelikes.

No Man's Sky, while being procedural, is not.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on February 17, 2021, 07:34:44 PM
Yeah, I'm not seeing how FTL and Slay aren't roguelikes. They hit every marker, even the dungeon crawl aspect to some degree in FTL's case.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 17, 2021, 08:00:13 PM
I guess this demonstrates part of the problem, the term has become one of those in the eye of the beholder type things.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Oexmelin on February 18, 2021, 01:33:17 AM
Eye of the Beholder definitely wasn't a roguelike.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on February 18, 2021, 03:19:30 AM
I missed all those deckbuilding mechanics when playing Rogue  :P

(well, my first roguelike was Angband)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 18, 2021, 08:50:12 AM
At any rate, I find the questioning of ADOM as a roguelike (as debatable as the exact genre boundaries may be, as with any genre) quite funny, considering it's one of the earliest examples (1996) of a Rogue-like game (together with Angband, Nethack, or TOME), and that until recently it looked like this:

(https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lqOFec9qaovI6t9o2wa_cOk_oiI=/1400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19813163/Screen_Shot_2020_03_17_at_2.01.01_PM.png)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 18, 2021, 08:51:52 AM
Here's a video of the developer of ADOM talking about the upcoming sequel. https://youtu.be/ldOFUz3CY6E
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 18, 2021, 10:37:25 AM
Quote from: Syt on February 18, 2021, 08:50:12 AM
At any rate, I find the questioning of ADOM as a roguelike (as debatable as the exact genre boundaries may be, as with any genre) quite funny, considering it's one of the earliest examples (1996) of a Rogue-like game (together with Angband, Nethack, or TOME), and that until recently it looked like this:


I was bemoaning the fact they used the term roguelike.  Marketing normally is about setting your product apart, not announcing hey, we are just another roguelike game.  For example, before reading your post I had no idea this game had the history it does.  Something calling themselves roguelike obscures, since this game actually came first.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on February 24, 2021, 02:58:36 PM
I've been playing a bunch of Minecraft: Dungeons with my son, and now my wife too.

It's not a rogue-like. More of a Diablo-like.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 24, 2021, 04:30:18 PM
 :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on February 24, 2021, 08:54:17 PM
I also play Minecraft Dungeon with my son. He doesn't know what a roguelike is it what Diablo is.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on February 25, 2021, 07:06:37 AM
Bioware finally officially gave up on Anthem. No more development and they will focus on Dragon Age/Mass Effect/SWTOR.

Anthem subreddit is in a bit of an uproar right now. :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on February 26, 2021, 09:38:30 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on February 25, 2021, 07:06:37 AM
Bioware finally officially gave up on Anthem. No more development and they will focus on Dragon Age/Mass Effect/SWTOR.

Anthem subreddit is in a bit of an uproar right now. :lol:

That game was hopeless anyway. I guess Dragon Age and whatever Mass Effect stuff they have in development are Bioware's last hope.

There was a Twitter post out there from some game journo that said because of Anthem's massive failure and recent success with single-player games like Fallen Jedi, they are allowing the new Dragon Age to be developed as a strictly single-player experience.  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on February 26, 2021, 10:23:09 AM
Yes, literally a day later EA is letting Bioware develop DA4 as single-player only. So I guess Anthem didn't die for nothing!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on February 26, 2021, 10:28:00 AM
Nice, because I am strongly disinclined to play multiplayer games. :cool:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on February 26, 2021, 01:02:39 PM
The google algorithm has proposed to me Kingdoms Reborn let's plays. It looks interesting. A mix of civ, anno & banished.

Did you try that one CC?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 26, 2021, 03:42:15 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on February 26, 2021, 01:02:39 PM
The google algorithm has proposed to me Kingdoms Reborn let's plays. It looks interesting. A mix of civ, anno & banished.

Did you try that one CC?

It is in my wishlist  :)

I am trying (and generally failing) to avoid playing early access games.  If my willpower crumbles and I get this, I will report back.

It looks very good.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 26, 2021, 04:29:02 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on February 25, 2021, 07:06:37 AM
Bioware finally officially gave up on Anthem. No more development and they will focus on Dragon Age/Mass Effect/SWTOR.

Anthem subreddit is in a bit of an uproar right now. :lol:


I am amazed another trend chasing shitty EA idea failed miserably.

Bioware now will rest on its laurels, we'll see how it goes.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 13, 2021, 12:07:26 PM
The makers of Euro and American Truck Sim have revealed their next DLCs.

ETS has the Iberia DLC coming soon. After that, it will be "Heart of Russia" which will expand the map to Moscow.

ATS, meanwhile will release Wyoming soon. After that: Texas. Currently in game: Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Wyoming:

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1415692/ss_bd429fb5eb4a016d7f6df74a27cf552453832870.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1415692/ss_6483771a0d340cbd7cf5b5b232a27c833bd3370f.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1415692/ss_145375702e779203fcbbbc1dc96465c9b827d4e7.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ftps%3A%2F%2Fcdn.akamai.steamstatic.com%2Fsteam%2Fapps%2F1415692%2Fss_bbd46470958a8ddc232e040767762758fe0608ef.1920x1080.jpg&hash=d6c8910e532a20253fbf03e85a8ba6acecfd2e1a)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1415692/ss_343bc835f41312f701c3c175b9e2d550df4088d4.1920x1080.jpg)


Texas:

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1465750/ss_90579550923448d1832cdd59b0e2e99aabac2446.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1465750/ss_418a428c6925cb48a561dcd9b5bf4beb90cfa1e9.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1465750/ss_a2c44ede7ea2ade53be4a7c098113fb1b29116fd.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1465750/ss_59a10c605519402b63f13bc73ec85ecce83a0574.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1465750/ss_b39da0ca3b0ce55fea43f444bc1d4c061f32bf13.1920x1080.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on March 13, 2021, 12:33:25 PM
Quote from: Syt on March 13, 2021, 12:07:26 PM
After that: Texas.
pants are a diary factory
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 13, 2021, 12:42:00 PM
With the size of Texas, I kinda hope that after that they will try to expand with similarly sized chunks of territory, e.g. bundling 2 or 3 states into one DLC going forward; else this will take a long time to finish. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 13, 2021, 02:31:29 PM
The Paradox livestream is not showing big news. More content for Stellaris on console, bit of info about the next Stellaris expansion on PC, Surviving Mars will get a free update next week, and more DLC is being developed, Empire of Sin info ... and chat is a microcosm of what you see on the forums. "Fuck [game being shown], where's [other game]!" "Fix [game]!" "Where's Vic3!!" Etc. In between a few people who are happy to get some info on the games they like.

Also, virtual PDXCON in May, with a new Paradox title to be revealed then.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: PDH on March 13, 2021, 11:07:44 PM
Quote from: Syt on March 13, 2021, 12:07:26 PM
The makers of Euro and American Truck Sim have revealed their next DLCs.

ETS has the Iberia DLC coming soon. After that, it will be "Heart of Russia" which will expand the map to Moscow.

ATS, meanwhile will release Wyoming soon. After that: Texas. Currently in game: Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Wyoming:
(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1415692/ss_6483771a0d340cbd7cf5b5b232a27c833bd3370f.1920x1080.jpg)


Jeebus, right down Grand Avenue in Laramie.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 14, 2021, 11:56:59 AM
Quote from: PDH on March 13, 2021, 11:07:44 PM
Jeebus, right down Grand Avenue in Laramie.

I think the games are less about recreating places, but rather sense of place, and - more importantly - the space (highways and country roads) between places.

I didn't feel great today, so I re-installed ATS and drove around New Mexico and Colorado while listening to local radio stations (bit of country, but of talk radio, bit of oldies/classic rock stations etc.).

(https://i.postimg.cc/Q8d9Y52V/20210313222209-1.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/gmZw7GTy/20210314094012-1.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/q0g68sc5/20210314141602-1.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/BS78rb3p/20210314154235-1.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/09Gz8cxb/20210314162138-1.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/bzzsdkNL/20210314163602-1.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/jK9wvDZd/20210314163851-1.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/F9D1SzYv/20210314164249-1.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/FrzzVvSL/20210314164344-1.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 15, 2021, 07:32:44 AM
I missed that Curious Expedition 2 has come out. The game has traded its pixel look from the previous release to something more of a Hergé/Tin Tin style:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1040230/Curious_Expedition_2/?curator_clanid=33526

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1040230/ss_2fd959ea030b593acc1d1e44a029db72d5ec6151.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1040230/ss_da7e73500ff7b618e4309b50ade871e55282bba4.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1040230/ss_a6aaa0dc6f6747195bfb61192427f1806433cf02.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1040230/ss_d32fbf9c61605c75d455e007801e7122bd85001c.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1040230/ss_9c89235e2b97f42b3a25caebbba33d073756cc95.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1040230/ss_a14de894591e357a52ceea3d556e27dab14aadc2.1920x1080.jpg)

QuoteCurious Expedition 2 is a turn-based narrative roguelike that requires players to manage their resources and party members to keep insanity at bay and find glory.

A grand discovery has been made: mysterious islands have begun to appear and vanish from the oceans as if by magic. The great Explorer Clubs are funding expeditions to these strange islands to bring treasures back for the 1889 World's Fair in Paris. Are you bold enough to join the adventure?

- Explore procedurally generated worlds in a variety of biomes, each featuring a new combination of dangers and opportunities.
- Manage your resources to keep your trek alive and sanity high. Balance greed against your survival needs to find glory without perishing.
- Procedural storytelling makes every adventure unique. Your characters form relationships, change loyalty, acquire illnesses, and more in response to the environment and your decisions.
- Embark on an epic campaign that combines procedural gameplay with handcrafted story to create a narrative experience that can be played again and again.
- Dice-based combat mechanics will require all your cleverness to survive fierce wild animals and legendary creatures.
- Join weekly online competitions and pledge yourself to an Explorer Club to compete for unique rewards.
- Outfit your party members with equippable gear to create builds that can take on any challenge.
- Set off on a variety of expedition types, each with their own unique goal and events. Will you seek out the legendary Golden Pyramid or choose to recover the Rainbow Orchid instead?
- Discover mysterious locations and come across all manner of unique cultures, flora, fauna, treasures and more.
- 4K-native graphics inspired by classic Franco-Belgian comics.
- Veteran Curious Expedition players will discover plenty of new content: new items, character types, enemies, biomes, tribes, events, and much more!

€19.99
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on March 15, 2021, 07:38:49 AM
One thing I'm not getting amidst flight sim and truck sim and their impressive realistic graphics and weak gameplay (not the point, I know) is why can't a more active game do the same?
When you have games set in real world cities they're usually shrunken and altered versions.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on March 15, 2021, 07:42:26 AM
Quote from: Syt on March 15, 2021, 07:32:44 AM
I missed that Curious Expedition 2 has come out. The game has traded its pixel look from the previous release to something more of a Hergé/Tin Tin style:

The art indeed is gorgeous and certainly brings back the nostalgia as an avid Tintin reader as a kid. I'll keep an eye if it gets an Ipad release.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 15, 2021, 07:42:47 AM
Quote from: Tyr on March 15, 2021, 07:38:49 AM
One thing I'm not getting amidst flight sim and truck sim and their impressive realistic graphics and weak gameplay (not the point, I know) is why can't a more active game do the same?
When you have games set in real world cities they're usually shrunken and altered versions.

Truck Sim is also shrunken and altered. Cities are a few streets (usually around a commercial area) with a few landmarks, and the overland routes are roughly at a scale of 1/17 or 1/15 or so. These games don't try to simulate true scale (unlike Flight Sim) but aim at (idealized) verisimilitude.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on March 15, 2021, 08:22:56 AM
Quote from: Tyr on March 15, 2021, 07:38:49 AM
One thing I'm not getting amidst flight sim and truck sim and their impressive realistic graphics and weak gameplay (not the point, I know) is why can't a more active game do the same?
When you have games set in real world cities they're usually shrunken and altered versions.
I think you're perhaps trying to compare say American Truck Simulator to like a Grand Theft Auto game with your comment, right?  As in, why can't GTA have a fully-sized real city?

I think the answer is because those games are filled with characters, etc., and like a realistically-sized Manhattan would be impossibly large to populate such that it would actually be interesting, unless you want players spending 20 minutes or more of real time driving between each way point.

edit: But like Syt said, the trucksim games aren't scaled 1:1 to real life anyway, whereas Flight Simulator actually is (but offers a time compression feature).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on March 15, 2021, 08:45:37 AM
I bought a Logitech G29.

Damn it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on March 15, 2021, 09:15:57 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on March 15, 2021, 08:45:37 AM
I bought a Logitech G29.

Damn it.
:cool:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on March 15, 2021, 09:40:20 AM
G29 for Pecker! No more frequent flier bitch miles for my boi!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 15, 2021, 10:00:31 AM
There have been a few attempts at recreating real life cities going back to the DOS era. I think one of the most successful ones was L.A. Noire, and even that only showed part of the city (and a complaint at the time was the lack of side activities compared to GTA games, which I don't agree with - Noire wasn't meant to be that kind of game).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on March 15, 2021, 11:53:05 AM
I think Night City in Cyberpunk 2077 comes quite close to recreating the bustle of a real-sized city. Unfortunately, it's also an example of what will happen if someone tries to recreate a bustle of a real-sized city.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on March 15, 2021, 01:10:15 PM
Quote from: Caliga on March 15, 2021, 09:15:57 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on March 15, 2021, 08:45:37 AM
I bought a Logitech G29.

Damn it.
:cool:

Now I need to build a stand.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 15, 2021, 01:18:52 PM
The Gamer ( :unsure: ) did a list of 10 Most Realistic Recreations of Cities in Games. Playing it a bit loose with "realistic" considering it contains Fallout games and The Division. :P

https://www.thegamer.com/video-game-cities-most-realistic-assassins-creed-the-division/

10: NYC/The Division
9: Rome/AC: Brotherhood
8: San Francisco/Watchdogs 2
7: Boston/Fallout 4
6: Washington DC/The Division 2
5: NYC/Marvel's Spiderman
4: Hong Kong/Sleeping Dogs :)
3: Los Angeles/L.A. Noire
2: Seattle/Infamous Second Son
1: Paris/AC: Unity

I suppose they could have added AC: Odyssey for its faithful recreation of e.g. the Parthenon in Athens.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on March 15, 2021, 03:13:41 PM
I've been playing Half-life 2 and it's two extra episodes and I noticed a few new things that didn't age well.  One of the main characters is named Alyx Vance, the daughter of the scientist Eli Vance.  Another scientist named Issac Kleiner, keeps saying "your lovely daughter" when talking about Alyx.  It's kinda creeped me out.  The game dangles the idea that Alyx Vance might be a love interest of the player Gordon Freeman.  Gordon is a silent protagonist so he doesn't have much personality and he's about 20 years her senior. Admittedly he is biologically in his 20's because he spent the last 15 years frozen in time or something, but it still kind of weirds me out.

Man, times have changed, or at the very least, I have.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 15, 2021, 03:58:41 PM
I got an achievement for driving the Hwy 550 through the Colorado Rockies. The screenshots make it look great: https://blog.scssoft.com/2020/09/colorado-million-dollar-highway.html

Unfortunately, I was passing it in the middle of the night, with a prefab house on my trailer through some hairpin curves, so I didn't quite enjoy it as much. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on March 15, 2021, 04:11:44 PM
Quote from: Syt on March 15, 2021, 07:42:47 AM
Quote from: Tyr on March 15, 2021, 07:38:49 AM
One thing I'm not getting amidst flight sim and truck sim and their impressive realistic graphics and weak gameplay (not the point, I know) is why can't a more active game do the same?
When you have games set in real world cities they're usually shrunken and altered versions.

Truck Sim is also shrunken and altered. Cities are a few streets (usually around a commercial area) with a few landmarks, and the overland routes are roughly at a scale of 1/17 or 1/15 or so. These games don't try to simulate true scale (unlike Flight Sim) but aim at (idealized) verisimilitude.
I see.
Thought it would be like train sim and on a realistic scale - I get how a lot more is possible there when you've a very finite path to deal with.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 15, 2021, 04:18:20 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on March 15, 2021, 08:45:37 AM
I bought a Logitech G29.

Damn it.

Check out Forza Horizon 4 if you like arcade racers. Quite fun, with hundreds of real (and some fantasy) cars to unlock. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on March 15, 2021, 04:20:29 PM
Quote from: Syt on March 15, 2021, 04:18:20 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on March 15, 2021, 08:45:37 AM
I bought a Logitech G29.

Damn it.

Check out Forza Horizon 4 if you like arcade racers. Quite fun, with hundreds of real (and some fantasy) cars to unlock. :)

Oh yeah. I buy Xbox consoles for Forza Horizon games. I've probably played hundreds of hours of FH4.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 16, 2021, 12:21:21 PM
So, I am somewhat interested in this, I hope it turns out to be good:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1194590/Star_Dynasties/

But damn, coming out with an Early Access CK3 clone when the new CK3 update and flavour pack drops is quite unfortunate timing.  :pinch:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on March 16, 2021, 12:48:36 PM
Quote from: Tamas on March 16, 2021, 12:21:21 PM
So, I am somewhat interested in this, I hope it turns out to be good:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1194590/Star_Dynasties/

equally on my list
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on March 16, 2021, 01:07:57 PM
Did you try the demo when it was free in Oct? I tried it but it left me a little cold.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on March 16, 2021, 01:14:47 PM
Quote from: Tamas on March 16, 2021, 12:21:21 PM
So, I am somewhat interested in this, I hope it turns out to be good:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1194590/Star_Dynasties/

But damn, coming out with an Early Access CK3 clone when the new CK3 update and flavour pack drops is quite unfortunate timing.  :pinch:
:hmm: CK3 in space does sound appealing though - I have just started re-reading Dune because everyone raves about it and while I didn't enjoy the book I like the idea of the book a lot (plus I love Lynch Dune and am very excited for Villeneuve Dune).

Maybe I should just play Dune :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 16, 2021, 01:34:23 PM
Just gave it a quick spin I think there's promise but will need to see how good it is at generating these emerging stories and how much of 4x gameplay is there apart from the RPG stuff.

I am giving it a bit of a pause now that the first personal event coming up for my character in my non-tutorial game was him realising he is attracted to his sister.

Seriously, people, is incest one of these things I have fallen behind on in the fashion curve?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on March 16, 2021, 05:10:52 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on March 16, 2021, 01:14:47 PM
Quote from: Tamas on March 16, 2021, 12:21:21 PM
So, I am somewhat interested in this, I hope it turns out to be good:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1194590/Star_Dynasties/

But damn, coming out with an Early Access CK3 clone when the new CK3 update and flavour pack drops is quite unfortunate timing.  :pinch:
:hmm: CK3 in space does sound appealing though - I have just started re-reading Dune because everyone raves about it and while I didn't enjoy the book I like the idea of the book a lot (plus I love Lynch Dune and am very excited for Villeneuve Dune).

Maybe I should just play Dune :hmm:
The original Dune still holds up fantastically well.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on March 17, 2021, 05:23:49 AM
Quote from: Syt on March 15, 2021, 07:32:44 AM
I missed that Curious Expedition 2 has come out. The game has traded its pixel look from the previous release to something more of a Hergé/Tin Tin style:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1040230/Curious_Expedition_2/?curator_clanid=33526

Well, I got completely hooked on this. Thanks Syt! :mad: :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 17, 2021, 06:33:55 AM
 :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on March 17, 2021, 08:01:10 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on March 16, 2021, 01:14:47 PM
while I didn't enjoy the book
:o

I've read maybe 200 science fiction novels and it's the greatest of all of them, by far.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on March 17, 2021, 04:20:42 PM
Quote from: Tyr on March 15, 2021, 07:38:49 AM
One thing I'm not getting amidst flight sim and truck sim and their impressive realistic graphics and weak gameplay (not the point, I know) is why can't a more active game do the same?
When you have games set in real world cities they're usually shrunken and altered versions.

Your question contains the answer - "weak gameplay."

It is hard, resource intensive work to populate an open world.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 17, 2021, 04:28:14 PM
Quote from: Jacob on March 17, 2021, 04:20:42 PM
Quote from: Tyr on March 15, 2021, 07:38:49 AM
One thing I'm not getting amidst flight sim and truck sim and their impressive realistic graphics and weak gameplay (not the point, I know) is why can't a more active game do the same?
When you have games set in real world cities they're usually shrunken and altered versions.

Your question contains the answer - "weak gameplay."

It is hard, resource intensive work to populate an open world.

Daggerfall, and before that Elite took a stab at handling this procedurally, with mixed results. Similar with No Man's Sky to name a more modern example.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 17, 2021, 04:33:25 PM
Disco Elysium Final Cut, adding some quests and, most notably, full voice acting will come out 30th March.

I'm not sure how I feel about full voice acting in this game. I'm not sure if it would have been nearly as introspective for me if it had this from the start.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on March 17, 2021, 06:17:56 PM
I think I read somewhere there is an option to disable the new voice acting. Maybe I'm just dreaming that up though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on March 18, 2021, 04:17:28 AM
Quote from: Syt on March 17, 2021, 04:28:14 PM
Quote from: Jacob on March 17, 2021, 04:20:42 PM
Quote from: Tyr on March 15, 2021, 07:38:49 AM
One thing I'm not getting amidst flight sim and truck sim and their impressive realistic graphics and weak gameplay (not the point, I know) is why can't a more active game do the same?
When you have games set in real world cities they're usually shrunken and altered versions.

Your question contains the answer - "weak gameplay."

It is hard, resource intensive work to populate an open world.

Daggerfall, and before that Elite took a stab at handling this procedurally, with mixed results. Similar with No Man's Sky to name a more modern example.

And as I mentioned, Cyberpunk 2077. Very big and populated with non-interactable cardboard cutouts. At least in Daggerfall you could actually talk to every NPC and ask various generic questions!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 18, 2021, 04:30:38 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on March 18, 2021, 04:17:28 AM
Quote from: Syt on March 17, 2021, 04:28:14 PM
Quote from: Jacob on March 17, 2021, 04:20:42 PM
Quote from: Tyr on March 15, 2021, 07:38:49 AM
One thing I'm not getting amidst flight sim and truck sim and their impressive realistic graphics and weak gameplay (not the point, I know) is why can't a more active game do the same?
When you have games set in real world cities they're usually shrunken and altered versions.

Your question contains the answer - "weak gameplay."

It is hard, resource intensive work to populate an open world.

Daggerfall, and before that Elite took a stab at handling this procedurally, with mixed results. Similar with No Man's Sky to name a more modern example.

And as I mentioned, Cyberpunk 2077. Very big and populated with non-interactable cardboard cutouts. At least in Daggerfall you could actually talk to every NPC and ask various generic questions!

Do you go about a real city striking up conversations with randoms?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 18, 2021, 10:27:17 AM
From tomorrow, you shall be able to link your Game Pass account to your EA Play account and gain access to the base EA subscription's games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on March 18, 2021, 11:17:09 AM
Quote from: Syt on March 17, 2021, 04:33:25 PM
Disco Elysium Final Cut, adding some quests and, most notably, full voice acting will come out 30th March.

I'm not sure how I feel about full voice acting in this game. I'm not sure if it would have been nearly as introspective for me if it had this from the start.
I'll play it again.  I loved that game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on March 18, 2021, 02:11:49 PM
Quote from: Tamas on March 18, 2021, 04:30:38 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on March 18, 2021, 04:17:28 AM
Quote from: Syt on March 17, 2021, 04:28:14 PM
Quote from: Jacob on March 17, 2021, 04:20:42 PM
Quote from: Tyr on March 15, 2021, 07:38:49 AM
One thing I'm not getting amidst flight sim and truck sim and their impressive realistic graphics and weak gameplay (not the point, I know) is why can't a more active game do the same?
When you have games set in real world cities they're usually shrunken and altered versions.

Your question contains the answer - "weak gameplay."

It is hard, resource intensive work to populate an open world.

Daggerfall, and before that Elite took a stab at handling this procedurally, with mixed results. Similar with No Man's Sky to name a more modern example.

And as I mentioned, Cyberpunk 2077. Very big and populated with non-interactable cardboard cutouts. At least in Daggerfall you could actually talk to every NPC and ask various generic questions!

Do you go about a real city striking up conversations with randoms?

No, but I might strike up a conversation in a bar, a night club, or another similar venue. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on March 18, 2021, 02:13:02 PM
On recommendation from people regarding Curious Expedition 2, I picked up a similar exploration roguelike, Renowned Explorers: International Society. It's quite fun as well. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on March 19, 2021, 12:34:48 PM
Quote from: Caliga on March 17, 2021, 08:01:10 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on March 16, 2021, 01:14:47 PM
while I didn't enjoy the book
:o

I've read maybe 200 science fiction novels and it's the greatest of all of them, by far.

I think you chose the wrong 200 books!  :lol:

I enjoyed Dune, but it isn't in my top ten or so.  Pohl Anderson's A Knight of Ghosts and Shadows and A Stone in Heaven, for instance, are both much better (in characters, setting, and plot).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on March 19, 2021, 02:06:50 PM
Quote from: Tamas on March 18, 2021, 04:30:38 AM
Do you go about a real city striking up conversations with randoms?

Most of what you do in an open world game you wouldn't do in a real city...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on March 19, 2021, 02:09:16 PM
Quote from: Jacob on March 19, 2021, 02:06:50 PM
Quote from: Tamas on March 18, 2021, 04:30:38 AM
Do you go about a real city striking up conversations with randoms?

Most of what you do in an open world game you wouldn't do in a real city...

Maybe you wouldn't, coward.  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on March 19, 2021, 08:10:14 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on March 19, 2021, 02:09:16 PM
Maybe you wouldn't, coward.  :P

If you would, why are you doing it in game rather than in real life?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: PDH on March 19, 2021, 09:39:58 PM
Quote from: Jacob on March 19, 2021, 08:10:14 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on March 19, 2021, 02:09:16 PM
Maybe you wouldn't, coward.  :P

If you would, why are you doing it in game rather than in real life?

Maybe he is really fucking lazy.  (got your back here)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 20, 2021, 04:54:53 AM
Point is, if you want a realistic city crowd it is perfectly suitable to have a silent (as in, not telling you more than a random sentence) mass.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on March 20, 2021, 06:48:01 AM
Still, you can usually do more in a big city than just walk around silently. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 20, 2021, 07:20:47 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on March 20, 2021, 06:48:01 AM
Still, you can usually do more in a big city than just walk around silently. :P

You might want to play one of these Yakuza games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on March 21, 2021, 03:47:18 AM
I probably should, sometime.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on March 21, 2021, 02:18:39 PM
Quote from: Jacob on March 17, 2021, 04:20:42 PM
Quote from: Tyr on March 15, 2021, 07:38:49 AM
One thing I'm not getting amidst flight sim and truck sim and their impressive realistic graphics and weak gameplay (not the point, I know) is why can't a more active game do the same?
When you have games set in real world cities they're usually shrunken and altered versions.

Your question contains the answer - "weak gameplay."

It is hard, resource intensive work to populate an open world.
Aye. But when flight sim is showing the whole world...
Why can't there be Eg a military flight sim doing the same over a realistic Germany or so?
A GTA like in a realistic small county. Easy enough to generate the buildings and genericise them a bit, it's just the street plan and key landmarks that are significant.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on March 21, 2021, 02:55:05 PM
Quote from: Jacob on March 19, 2021, 02:06:50 PM
Quote from: Tamas on March 18, 2021, 04:30:38 AM
Do you go about a real city striking up conversations with randoms?

Most of what you do in an open world game you wouldn't do in a real city...

Yeah, I used to think that as well.  One day though, a perfect stranger walked up to me and asked if I would go into a warehouse and kill all the rats in exchange for a belt.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Richard Hakluyt on March 22, 2021, 02:35:15 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on March 21, 2021, 02:55:05 PM
Quote from: Jacob on March 19, 2021, 02:06:50 PM
Quote from: Tamas on March 18, 2021, 04:30:38 AM
Do you go about a real city striking up conversations with randoms?

Most of what you do in an open world game you wouldn't do in a real city...

Yeah, I used to think that as well.  One day though, a perfect stranger walked up to me and asked if I would go into a warehouse and kill all the rats in exchange for a belt.

I'm surprised someone hasn't yet done that as a piece of performance art. Hang around the city centre with a hat with a big "?" on top and hand out quests to strangers with gold sovereigns and whatnot as the reward :)

Example quest : Go to Westminster and steal Michael Fabricant's wig : 5 sovereigns and a pair of magic mormon underpants as a reward.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on March 23, 2021, 10:02:54 AM
Playing the 'Eye of the Beholder' series.  :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on March 23, 2021, 10:05:29 AM
Quote from: mongers on March 23, 2021, 10:02:54 AM
Playing the 'Eye of the Beholder' series.  :)

The first one has the best ending ever!!11
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on March 23, 2021, 11:05:40 AM
Quote from: Valmy on March 23, 2021, 10:05:29 AM
Quote from: mongers on March 23, 2021, 10:02:54 AM
Playing the 'Eye of the Beholder' series.  :)

The first one has the best ending ever!!11
What was it?  I played the Krynn series (Champions of Krynn, Death Knights of Krynn, etc.) but not this one.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 23, 2021, 11:09:16 AM
Quote from: Caliga on March 23, 2021, 11:05:40 AM
Quote from: Valmy on March 23, 2021, 10:05:29 AM
Quote from: mongers on March 23, 2021, 10:02:54 AM
Playing the 'Eye of the Beholder' series.  :)

The first one has the best ending ever!!11
What was it?  I played the Krynn series (Champions of Krynn, Death Knights of Krynn, etc.) but not this one.

EOTB was a tile based dungeon crawler:

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6I_1C0QUTjQ/hqdefault.jpg)

https://www.gog.com/game/forgotten_realms_the_archives_collection_one
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on March 23, 2021, 11:14:47 AM
I meant, what was the game's ending that Valmy seems to love so much?  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on March 23, 2021, 11:23:30 AM
Quote from: Caliga on March 23, 2021, 11:14:47 AM
I meant, what was the game's ending that Valmy seems to love so much?  :P

[spoiler]After this big battle to finally defeat the Beholder, a text box pops up that basically says "you win" and then it drops you to OS. One of the most infamously bad endings ever. Fun game though.[/spoiler]
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on March 23, 2021, 11:27:23 AM
There was this big budget Spanish videogame from the 1990s (Satan) that had a similar ending. After beating it you got a box saying "You defeated Satan, but don't worry he'll be back", and back to the title screen it was. Pissed me off  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on March 23, 2021, 11:27:36 AM
Oh you were being sarcastic. :lol:

It also amuses me that you used the spoiler tag here. :D  Like anyone on here is going to go back and play a DOS game from the late 80s. :sleep:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on March 23, 2021, 11:32:08 AM
Well Mongers is  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on March 23, 2021, 11:36:30 AM
Quote from: Valmy on March 23, 2021, 11:32:08 AM
Well Mongers is  :P
Like anyone on here is going to scroll up and read five posts back. :sleep:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on March 24, 2021, 04:42:17 AM
Quote from: Caliga on March 23, 2021, 11:27:36 AM
Oh you were being sarcastic. :lol:

It also amuses me that you used the spoiler tag here. :D  Like anyone on here is going to go back and play a DOS game from the late 80s. :sleep:

I've actually played the first Ultima in this century.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 24, 2021, 08:42:01 AM
Erik Rutins on War in the East 2: https://www.wargamer.com/gary-grigsbys-war-in-the-east-2/making-monster-wargames-accessible
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on March 24, 2021, 10:44:35 AM
Quote from: Valmy on March 23, 2021, 11:23:30 AM
Quote from: Caliga on March 23, 2021, 11:14:47 AM
I meant, what was the game's ending that Valmy seems to love so much?  :P

[spoiler]After this big battle to finally defeat the Beholder, a text box pops up that basically says "you win" and then it drops you to OS. One of the most infamously bad endings ever. Fun game though.[/spoiler]


I like this ending for Ghost Busters

  (https://i.imgur.com/90lrvoY.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 24, 2021, 11:45:07 AM
WW1 multiplayer shooter Verdun is getting a sequel: Isonzo

https://youtu.be/QDXkVI6w9ec

:ph34r:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on March 24, 2021, 02:06:48 PM
Quote from: Syt on March 24, 2021, 11:45:07 AM
WW1 multiplayer shooter Verdun is getting a sequel: Isonzo

https://youtu.be/QDXkVI6w9ec

:ph34r:

I don't like shooters but this is tempting.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 24, 2021, 02:14:27 PM
I will not buy it - not a shooter person, and I suck at them, anyways. But it does look interesting.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 24, 2021, 02:16:16 PM
 :o
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on March 24, 2021, 09:42:10 PM
Quote from: Tamas on March 24, 2021, 02:16:16 PM
:o

Finally a chance to relive 11 of Hungary's greatest battles.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 25, 2021, 12:28:20 PM
Looking through GOG titles, I was just hit hard in the nostalgia feels, because World Championship Boxing Manager is there:

https://www.gog.com/game/word_championship_boxing_manager

I played it lot on C64 - though I would edit the database to replace all boxers' names with pro wrestler names. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 29, 2021, 05:51:12 AM
This drooling over the Rome Total War remaster is getting a bit annoying. Sure, it was awesome and I played the heck out of it but come on. The tactical AI was nothing, even I defeated it routinely by the most basic "infantry locks the line, cavalry goes around flanks and destroys everything" routine, and of course there are things like Bronze Age Egypt.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 29, 2021, 06:00:28 AM
Bit surprised there being a remaster, anyways. But yeah, people getting overly nostalgic until the fire up the game again.

Then again, there's people who argue that it was the last good Total War game (a claim made about every other TW game by different people, so I guess Creative Assembly are doing something right :P ), so who knows.

I kinda hope the next full TW game after WH3 will be Medieval 3.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on March 29, 2021, 06:00:38 AM
Quote from: Tamas on March 29, 2021, 05:51:12 AM
This drooling over the Rome Total War remaster is getting a bit annoying. Sure, it was awesome and I played the heck out of it but come on. The tactical AI was nothing, even I defeated it routinely by the most basic "infantry locks the line, cavalry goes around flanks and destroys everything" routine, and of course there are things like Bronze Age Egypt.

It's probably people whose first gaming experience was a TW game.

Likewise, I really enjoyed the C&C remaster  :blush:
For about two days and then I never touched it again, but still.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 29, 2021, 06:17:51 AM
Fair enough.

Medieval 3 would be great. I should return to the 1212 mod made for Attila, it is most excellent.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 29, 2021, 09:08:26 AM
All of Kingdom Hearts launches on PC tomorrow: https://www.epicgames.com/store/en-US/discover/kingdom-hearts

So, if you ever wanted a crossover of JRPG and Disney characters .... :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 30, 2021, 12:55:35 AM
Morrowind Rebirth 5.4 release trailer, also celebrating the mod's 10th Anniversary:

https://youtu.be/bYTI9eTAGH0

Video is a bit stuttery, but I assume that's a recording issue, as I played 4.5. a few years ago and all was fine.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on March 30, 2021, 03:44:01 AM
Quote from: Syt on March 29, 2021, 09:08:26 AM
All of Kingdom Hearts launches on PC tomorrow: https://www.epicgames.com/store/en-US/discover/kingdom-hearts

So, if you ever wanted a crossover of JRPG and Disney characters .... :P
Not a good game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 30, 2021, 03:53:40 AM
Quote from: Tyr on March 30, 2021, 03:44:01 AM
Quote from: Syt on March 29, 2021, 09:08:26 AM
All of Kingdom Hearts launches on PC tomorrow: https://www.epicgames.com/store/en-US/discover/kingdom-hearts

So, if you ever wanted a crossover of JRPG and Disney characters .... :P
Not a good game.

Which one, there's like 8 of them in those bundles. :P

EDIT: actually, PC Gamer made a guide which ones to play, which ones to ignore: https://www.pcgamer.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-getting-into-the-kingdom-hearts-games/

I'm not going to dive in - too much money and too much content for me at this point when I still have a ridiculous backlog. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on March 30, 2021, 04:29:04 AM
I only played the first and didn't bother with the sequels after it.
Though as a disclaimer I'm also rather Meh on zelda.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 30, 2021, 04:34:53 AM
Quote from: Tyr on March 30, 2021, 04:29:04 AM
I only played the first and didn't bother with the sequels after it.
Though as a disclaimer I'm also rather Meh on zelda.

Haven't played any of those since the SNES one. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on March 30, 2021, 02:04:32 PM
The free update to Disco Elysium is out now but THE FUCK DOES CUNO CARE??
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on March 30, 2021, 03:51:08 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on March 30, 2021, 02:04:32 PM
The free update to Disco Elysium is out now but THE FUCK DOES CUNO CARE??
:lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 02, 2021, 08:40:06 AM
It's quite well known that original Doom's soundtrack was heavily, uhm, "inspired" by various rock and metal songs.

It still surprised me when I listened to the Kill Bill soundtrack today, though, which includes The Chase, by Alan Reeves, Phil Steele, and Philip Brigham from Road to Salina

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/42/Road_to_Salina.jpg/250px-Road_to_Salina.jpg)

The Chase: https://youtu.be/hFa8ZZS2q0Q

Doom's famous E1M1: https://youtu.be/BSsfjHCFosw
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on April 03, 2021, 02:15:45 AM
Quote from: Syt on April 02, 2021, 08:40:06 AM
It's quite well known that original Doom's soundtrack was heavily, uhm, "inspired" by various rock and metal songs.

It still surprised me when I listened to the Kill Bill soundtrack today, though, which includes The Chase, by Alan Reeves, Phil Steele, and Philip Brigham from Road to Salina

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/42/Road_to_Salina.jpg/250px-Road_to_Salina.jpg)

The Chase: https://youtu.be/hFa8ZZS2q0Q

Doom's famous E1M1: https://youtu.be/BSsfjHCFosw

heh, neat. never knew
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on April 05, 2021, 08:48:23 PM
Lots of EU IV and Disco Elysium lately. DE has me interested enough to do a replay with completely different stats and answers shortly after my first playthrough.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on April 06, 2021, 03:07:32 AM
I'm just waiting for a physical DE.
I've heard good things and it has a British sea power soundtrack (:w00t:)
I normally pay very little attention to game soundtracks, playing music instead whilst I play, but... Favourite band you know. Get physical copies of their records so need one of this.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on April 07, 2021, 07:02:51 PM
Ultimate Admiral: Age of Sail was released today. 

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1069650/Ultimate_Admiral_Age_of_Sail/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on April 08, 2021, 11:11:00 AM
I am very tempted.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on April 08, 2021, 04:45:34 PM
You can only play a British and an American campaign? I'll hold out for the DLC  bundle.

And still waiting for the Dreadnought game.  <_<
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on April 08, 2021, 07:43:11 PM
Yeah if I cannot be Revolutionary France I am not playing a game in that era.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on April 09, 2021, 03:16:30 AM
Well. This made me wee a little.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1134710/NIMBY_Rails/
Potentially the game I've wanted all my life. :w00t:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on April 09, 2021, 05:27:22 AM
Quote from: Tyr on April 09, 2021, 03:16:30 AM
Well. This made me wee a little.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1134710/NIMBY_Rails/
Potentially the game I've wanted all my life. :w00t:

:w00t:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on April 09, 2021, 05:47:15 AM
:lol:

But I am very interested :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on April 09, 2021, 09:33:17 AM
It better have Maglev!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on April 18, 2021, 11:55:39 AM
Finally completed the Banner Saga (all parts).
A nice experience and choices actually matter. During the final chapter I wasn't quite sure if I'd manage to pull in enough positive choices to save the world...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on April 18, 2021, 11:56:43 AM
I quite enjoyed the choice-making and story of The Banner Saga, but if I ever play another game with that style of tactical combat gameplay, it'll be too soon.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on April 19, 2021, 06:12:28 AM
Yeah. Banner saga is good.
I think on the 3rd I cheated and save game edited to get the guy in the north in the right place. Think I kept him South in the 2nd as otherwise he'd just dissappear never to be seen again, seemed a unnecessary death sentence.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 25, 2021, 03:49:21 AM
I've been giving Elder Scrolls Online another try. It's been my third and probably my last.

Now, the game does a few cool things for an MMO. While you quest in a shared world, quest NPCs are often instanced. What does that mean? E.g. you come across a quest giver in the wilderness who tells you to do stuff and meet them elsewhere afterwards. When you progress the quest, the NPC will despawn for you in their original spot and appear in a new location where you then turn in the quest/progress the story. This seems minor, but it reduces backtracking significantly, and improves immersion - no longer will an NPC you "rescued" still show up for you in their original spawn point waiting for other players.

This can also stretch to enemies - e.g. one quest to purge Ayleid ruins from an evil spell turned all mobs in the area neutral, giving you time to explore the area in peace.

All quests are voiced, and some give you options as to how you want to end the quest (usually two, boiling down to "Help A" and "Help B"). Most quest givers also offer background dialogue.

The middling: crafting is the least painful I've come across in an MMO. You don't need special equipment, or tools to gather ingredients and craft.

The skills are based on skill lines. Some are from your class, but others come from using weapons, crafting, doing guild quests, etc. It's not a bad idea on paper - having e.g. a bow skill equipped on your active combat bar will level up bow skills and unlock more skills in that line that you can buy with points you get on level up. Some are active skills, some passive skills.

The downside to this is that as a newbie you can quickly become inundated with skill lines and unsure how to level effectively. I guess it's not much of a problem for solo content, but the game now has "skill advisors" which has a few build suggestions for each class (usually focused on heal, dps, or tank) and then suggest skills to buy on level up for that choice. Overall opinion seems to be that these are great for beginners who have no idea what they do and get them through the campaign, but not optimized for end game content.

Exploration - the game puts a lot of content in the world: there's lore books to find in each map, skyshards to discover (3 shards give one skill point - if you've completed them in one area you can unlock them for all characters ... for a fee), delves (mini dungeons that have a miniboss to kill and sometimes give special loot or side quests), geographic locations, world bosses, locked chests, etc. E.g. the Elven post-tutorial area looks like this:

(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/9a/5c/7a/9a5c7a8395ff13e23906db338a4f0b95.png)

While cool in theory, it becomes a bit tedious, because the map is quite well filled with mobs that are trivial to take out but become quite tedious to clear out every time you go looking for some treasure or hidden crafting shrine for special gear or clear a map marker (finished ones are white on black, unfinished ones black on white). Delves are the worst IMHO, as you can find lore books (which you can't pick up), but chances are half way through reading it a mob will have respawned (after having been killed by one of several players in the dungeon with you at the same time) and attack you. Delves, esp. would benefit a lot from being instanced and not respawning enemies.

Combat feels extremely boring. It tries to break the MMO mold a bit by not having lock on targeting. Instead you will have to aim at your opponent(s) which can be difficult for melee characters at times. It adds a blocking and disrupt mechanic and is set up to weave regular attacks (light and heavy) in between your active skills.

However, you only get 5 regular and 1 ultimate skill on your skill bar (plus block, light attack, heavy attack which are on mouse buttons). You can double this with weapon swaps. Each "combat skill line" has 5 attacks + ultimate, so you will have to choose very carefully from your 3 class lines and weapon lines (bow, 2H weapons, dual wield, staff, sword & shield, ...) as to what you put on your action bar. Some skills can later be "morphed" into stronger versions, but generally you will stick with a very repetitive rotation once you settle on some skills.

Additionally, you can invest points in stamina/health/magicka every time you level up. However, there's no real choice here: if you use stamina attacks, put all points in stamina. If you use magicka attacks, put all points into magicka. Also, make sure all your skills use only one or the other (I guess in solo world content it doesn't matter much, but it will not be optimized in later game). My understanding is that they simplified this a lot from original launch, having different resistances for physical and magical damage and all that, but ... yeah.

Not a fan of the classes in this game, but that's due to personal preference. I prefer playing tanky or nimble melee characters with little to no magic use. However, all classes are built around some spell usage. Dragon Knights get fire/earth spells, Wardens are basically druids with nature magic, etc. The closest to my normal play style is the Nightblade which focuses on close range attacks but still throws in a bunch of spells. While theoretically you could ignore your class skills and just go with weapon/armor skills, it doesn't feel like an optimized build at all.

Monetization seems reasonable to me. You get free access to the base game for free. You can purchase DLC quests and expansions. You will be very limited on storage space, though. A monthly sub will unlock all content and give you unlimited crafting inventory plus more 10% XP and more gold etc., plus a monthly allowance of "Crowns" which you can spend at the in game store - mostly on cosmetics and collectibles but also on potions etc. You get a daily reward for logging in (usually potions of some sort, but for long streaks towards the end of the month you might get currency etc. I played with sub and didn't mind for the amount I played it.

TL; DR: ESO has some interesting ideas; I like the quests and exploration, and some locations make me nostalgic, but the actual mechanics (combat & skill systems) are a major turn off.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 25, 2021, 10:30:18 AM
I also got hooked on picross/nonograms. Nonograms are puzzles that give you a grid and tell you how many cells are filled in on each line. E.g. it might say "1  2  7", which means from left to right there's 1 single cell, 2 connected cells, and 7 connected cells to be filled in.

Looks like this:

(https://si.puzzle-nonograms.com/art/og/puzzle-nonograms.png)

Great for solving while watching something.

I recently finished Paint it Back on Steam. Cost 8 Euros, and took me over 70 hours to finish (some puzzles were significantly harder than others for me, and I tackled them at hardest difficulty). :D

The "2016 Election" bonus round, though ... not sure I needed that in my life. :lol:

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EzqEyNYXsAQEkKC?format=jpg&name=medium)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EzqEyrOXsAAMeO2?format=jpg&name=medium)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EzqEzIRWYAMWs5-?format=jpg&name=medium)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on April 25, 2021, 04:59:52 PM
 :lol:

I caved and bought Nimby Rails. This could be an epic time sink.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on April 25, 2021, 05:14:05 PM
Thanks Syt for the ESCO impressions.

Have you played Picross?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on April 25, 2021, 05:49:22 PM
Been playing Portal Reloaded.  Pretty fun fan mod, that's free on Steam if you own Portal 2.

It adds a third "time" portal.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 26, 2021, 09:53:11 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on April 25, 2021, 05:14:05 PM
Thanks Syt for the ESCO impressions.

Have you played Picross?

No worries; take my comments on ESO with a grain of salt; there seem to be a lot of people enjoying the content as is. It is very much a YMMV case, I guess.

I've not played any of the Nintendo Picross games; Paint it Back was my first to see if I would like them, and it turns out I do. :D I've picked up Pictopix on Steam now which I slowly plink away at a little bit here and there. :)

EDIT: I see the Wikipedia page for Nonograms has a list of solving techniques:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonogram

I'm kind of glad I figured them all out myself, though it's not exactly rocket science. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on April 26, 2021, 02:21:12 PM
I've been playing some Pikmin 3 recently. Mostly because my boy really wanted it, and it has co-op. I'm not particularly good at the game and find it kind of annoying. It's cute though.

I got Disco Elysium, but haven't gotten into it. Cool soundtrack though.

I gave CKIII another go and finally got into it for a bit. Then my ruler went from 0 stress to dead from stress in under 5 minutes of gameplay during a big war (I guess a selection of relatives died in battle) at the same time as a large army of (previously) reliable allies decided not to pile into the big battle that would've wiped out the already once defeated big enemy stack that could've ended the big war. That annoyed me enough that I put the game away again.

I got vortex up on my PC and it looks like another Skyrim run is coming up.

Played some Warhammer Total War a little while ago. The Total War series frequently draws me in with its promise, but typically disappoints after a while.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on April 26, 2021, 03:15:34 PM
My kids had me play through Pikmin 3 multiple times  :lol:

Nothing like playing some weird action game with two preschoolers back seat driving you the whole time.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on April 27, 2021, 03:17:21 AM
I've just seen for the first time that rps has articles where you need to be a subscriber to view more than a preview.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 27, 2021, 03:48:18 AM
Quote from: garbon on April 27, 2021, 03:17:21 AM
I've just seen for the first time that rps has articles where you need to be a subscriber to view more than a preview.

They've had those for ages, but previously they were hidden for a while, and later released to the website for everyone.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on April 27, 2021, 03:50:21 AM
Got it, yeah I figured couldn't be something new. Also, I love how the articles didn't from topic, seem all that worth paying for. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 27, 2021, 04:01:16 AM
Agreed. I've been subbed before to support them, not for the benefits. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 29, 2021, 03:48:49 AM
Expeditions is getting a 3rd instalment after Conquistadores and Vikings. In Rome you will lead a Roman legion in the late republic. The preview sounds quite excellent:

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/expeditions-rome-preview
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on April 29, 2021, 03:51:23 AM
Conquistador had a great sense of setting authenticity (women roles in the enlightened Spain of the XVIth century nothwistanding) and good writing, but the gameplay ultimately was quite flat. Never got to play Vikings but if the game has more depth, I would certainly check out a Roman installment.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on April 29, 2021, 04:09:13 AM
Quote from: Maladict on April 25, 2021, 04:59:52 PM
:lol:

I caved and bought Nimby Rails. This could be an epic time sink.

Made much of it?

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on April 29, 2021, 07:35:36 AM
If you enjoyed the Portal games there is a new mod out now called Portal Reloaded on Steam. It's essentially a new game with new puzzles but now you also have time portals to deal with. The mod requires Portal 2 to play.

I've played it for a couple hours so far and my brain hurts.  :cry:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on April 29, 2021, 07:48:48 AM
Quote from: Syt on April 29, 2021, 03:48:49 AM
Expeditions is getting a 3rd instalment after Conquistadores and Vikings. In Rome you will lead a Roman legion in the late republic. The preview sounds quite excellent:

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/expeditions-rome-preview

Well, thanks for showing me yet *another* CRPG (or three) I must now play. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on April 29, 2021, 07:52:29 AM
Quote from: Tyr on April 29, 2021, 04:09:13 AM
Quote from: Maladict on April 25, 2021, 04:59:52 PM
:lol:

I caved and bought Nimby Rails. This could be an epic time sink.

Made much of it?

I'm playing the sandbox game, with unlimited funds. You can build regular rails (including bridges and tunnels) and tram tracks. Then run a rapidly increasing variety of trains on them, thanks to modders. That is basically it, nothing in the way of signaling or complex intersections, and you can plow through any existing structures (probably not so easily outside the sandbox).

But, it is kind of addicting. Especially building in areas I know well, I find myself nostalgically bringing back long-gone lines, building connections that should have been built long ago, or figuring out how a tram system could work in my hometown. It's good fun so far.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 29, 2021, 08:10:07 AM
Quote from: celedhring on April 29, 2021, 03:51:23 AM
Conquistador had a great sense of setting authenticity (women roles in the enlightened Spain of the XVIth century nothwistanding) and good writing, but the gameplay ultimately was quite flat. Never got to play Vikings but if the game has more depth, I would certainly check out a Roman installment.

I believe Vikings supposedly improved quite a bit over its predecessor, but I've played neither.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 29, 2021, 10:23:28 AM
Between Cyberpunk 2077, the launch of the latest PoE league and the new EU4 expansion it's been a rough time for releases.

The most broken game I ever bought was Bundesliga Manager 97 by Swotware 2000 in 1996. I was rather confused when I unpacked it because the CD-ROM had no label printed on it. Just silver on both sides.

After installing it became quite clear that something was indeed very wrong. Missing graphics, broken menus etc. and a basically unplayable game. I tried reinstalling a few times, thinking the fault was on my end, but eventually I called the support hotline who asked me to mail in proof of purchase and they would send me patches (which they did, and the game became playable, but by then I was firmly switched to Anstoß 2 by Ascaron the year after and didn't look back).

In a magazine I later read what had happened - supposedly an unfinished pre-release build was sent to production and it was not noticed until there were many confused and angry customers. I guess they got lucky that this happened in times before widespread internet use or social media.

There were only a few more releases of Bundesliga Manager: BM98, which was a slightly updated/fixed version of BM97, a compilation of previous BM games (Professional, Hattrick, 97), and Bundesliga Manager X, which no longer had a Bundesliga license. Software 2000 went bankrupt afterwards.

As for the Anstoß series. Anstoß 2 got a significant expansion in 1998. Anstoß 3 came out in 2000 and was IMHO the best game of the series- the series had a lovely mix of business sim, football management and a fair dose of anarchic humor. Anstoß 4 was developed in 12 months from scratch (Anstoß 1-3 code was building onto each other), and was a buggy mess. Anstoß 2005 and 2007 followed with little success.

Ascaron had a great run in the late 90s and early 00s, with their Anstoß series as well as Patrician and Port Royale and the ARPG Sacred. Their last hurrah was Sacred 2 in 2008/09 before going bankrupt in 2009 with Sacred 2 not earning back enough money.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 29, 2021, 12:38:45 PM
Warplan Pacific is out: https://www.matrixgames.com/game/warplan-pacific
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on April 29, 2021, 04:03:11 PM
Quote from: Syt on April 29, 2021, 08:10:07 AM
Quote from: celedhring on April 29, 2021, 03:51:23 AM
Conquistador had a great sense of setting authenticity (women roles in the enlightened Spain of the XVIth century nothwistanding) and good writing, but the gameplay ultimately was quite flat. Never got to play Vikings but if the game has more depth, I would certainly check out a Roman installment.

I believe Vikings supposedly improved quite a bit over its predecessor, but I've played neither.

Yes, Vikings was a big step up and I thought it was very good.  Conquistador is a bit dated now - although I really enjoyed it back in the day.

Very excited that a third game is coming.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on April 29, 2021, 05:42:59 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on April 29, 2021, 07:35:36 AM
If you enjoyed the Portal games there is a new mod out now called Portal Reloaded on Steam. It's essentially a new game with new puzzles but now you also have time portals to deal with. The mod requires Portal 2 to play.

I've played it for a couple hours so far and my brain hurts.  :cry:

Quote from: frunk on April 25, 2021, 05:49:22 PM
Been playing Portal Reloaded.  Pretty fun fan mod, that's free on Steam if you own Portal 2.

It adds a third "time" portal.

I finished it up.  Pretty good, not that long.  There was one puzzle (I think 17) that I couldn't figure out and had to resort to the internet.  I think I should of listened closer to what they were saying rather than the clipping Tiny Desk Concert (which fits the mood really well).

The final puzzle is quite fun, my favorite of the lot.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on April 29, 2021, 05:51:07 PM
One of these days I'll play portal 2.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 03, 2021, 12:51:04 AM
wargamer.com has changed since last I checked :unsure:

(https://i.postimg.cc/8c9YFjRV/wg.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 06, 2021, 02:03:02 AM
I keep telling myself that I will eventually work myself through the dozens of tutorials of Command: Modern Operations, but then I see upcoming update notes like this and feel waaay out of my depth (emphasis theirs). :lol:

https://www.warfaresims.com/?p=5188

QuoteMajor improvements to sonar model. Based on an ongoing discussion of existing flaws in the sonar model (see here for the tech background) with various SMEs both on and off the forum, we have renovated many aspects of the sonar model in order to improve its real-world fidelity. A brief summary of the changes included:
– The thermocline layer is generally weaker then before for a given location, and completely stops being effective at 70+ degrees north or south latitude.
– The minimum bottom depth necessary to achieve converge zone (CZ) propagation is sharply increased per given location, and is no longer static but dependent on latitude. CZs are now also impossible at 70+ degrees north or south latitude.
– Most under-layer sonars (SOSUS/SURTASS excluded) lose the 2x detection range bonus afforded by the deep sound channel. This sharply reduces the in-DSC detection ranges of VDS & towed arrays.
Combined, these changes have the effect of making submarines at great depth more difficult to detect with towed arrays or VDS, and shifting the emphasis more to direct-path detections at the expense of CZs.

Select IRST/FLIR systems can now produce AAW fire control-grade data, allowing EMCON-silent engagements with AMRAAM-class weapons (background discussion here ). Note that the fire-control data generated by advanced IRSTs can be used not only for direct onboard shooting (e.g. F-18E uses IRST-21 to silently shoot AMRAAMs at target) but it can also be distributed to other platforms via CEC (e.g. F-18E silently tracks target, hands off to CEC-equipped ship which silently shoots SM-6 at target).
NOTE: Scenarios will need to be made/rebuilt in DB3000 v488+ in order to use this feature. These are the sensors in DB3000 v488 that have this ability.

Visual and IR sensors are now also susceptible to look-down clutter. For example it is easier for an IRST (or the plain Mk1 Eyeball) to pick out an aircraft over the horizon line than against the surface background. This provides an extra incentive to "go low", even for VLO aircraft, and makes terrain-hugging cruise missiles even harder to spot.

Datalink + TARH AAW missiles (e.g. AMRAAM, SM-6 etc.) can now go active without immediately going autonomous. This allows such missiles to be guided with greater precision & reliability against VLO targets or in strong OECM environment. The datalink is cut instead only when the missile acquires the target (or impacts on it, still under positive control from the link provider.

Various improvements in ballistic missile & BMD modeling, including fixing the simulation slowdown caused by ABM DLZ calculations.

Numerous smaller changes and quality-of-life additions. As a quick example, it is now much easier to visually spot when a side/group/unit's doctrine & ROE settings are overridden at a higher (parent) or lower (children) level, as they are now displayed in a different color when they do. Also as a popular request, the LOS-tool now supports altitude input in feet in addition to meters.

The v488 release of the DB3000 database, incorporating countless player requests and new additions as well as numerous tweaks and fixes. You can view the complete DB changelog here.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on May 06, 2021, 04:32:04 AM
Quote from: Maladict on April 29, 2021, 07:52:29 AM

I'm playing the sandbox game, with unlimited funds. You can build regular rails (including bridges and tunnels) and tram tracks. Then run a rapidly increasing variety of trains on them, thanks to modders. That is basically it, nothing in the way of signaling or complex intersections, and you can plow through any existing structures (probably not so easily outside the sandbox).

But, it is kind of addicting. Especially building in areas I know well, I find myself nostalgically bringing back long-gone lines, building connections that should have been built long ago, or figuring out how a tram system could work in my hometown. It's good fun so far.

I'm bored of it now. It will need a lot more features to keep it interesting, but it's an interesting premise nonetheless.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 06, 2021, 04:36:17 AM
Quote from: Maladict on May 06, 2021, 04:32:04 AM
I'm bored of it now. It will need a lot more features to keep it interesting, but it's an interesting premise nonetheless.

That were my feelings about Dorfromantik. Great art style, but the layig down of cards, Carcassonne style, gets a bit boring rather quickly once you have the basics down. I'm kind of curious what features they plan to add during early access, but at the moment I would say the better mix of town building and puzzling is Islanders.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 07, 2021, 11:06:50 AM
John Tiller's passing made me go back and install all the Panzer Campaigns games on my computer again.

I've finally managed a major victory in one of the Modern Campaigns games. :) Leading the Soviet advance on Kassel I managed to force a crossing of the Fulda river and push out the German defenders.

Final situation:

(https://i.postimg.cc/0r1wyRV0/WP-AAR.jpg)

The scenario drips in your units. It starts you off with T-62 companies and infantry, then adds T-64s and T-72s over time from the map edges. It's also pretty generous with air assets and artillery.

Main issue is that you only have two intact river crossings: B1 and B2. There's not many enemies at B2, but you also only get a handful of units in that sector. B1 is quite well fortified and the approach is mined. You do get 2 bridge engineer units, but they take several turns to create a crossing, and obviously you have to make sure there's not (much) enemy fire on them while they work. I created one crossing (and frankly forgot about the second unit :lol: ).

During the first day of battle, there were Leo 2A4 in the area marked such, supported by a unit of Panzergrenadiere. It took my units forever to dislodge them and drive them off so we could maneuver unhindered on our side of the river. Otherwise the Germans had tank destroyers (Jagdpanzer Kanone), Leo 1s, and lots of Panzergrenadiere. At the end of the scenario they had about 100 Leo 1 heading my way to engage my T-64 and T-72 in Kassel, but they didn't make it in time.

We didn't take the city center (or gain points for exiting units in the South West), but with the achieved objectives and enemy vs our casualties it was still a major win. :)

(https://i.postimg.cc/KcR5R25G/WPVic1.jpg)

Things I failed at:

Using my air mobile unit effectively. I sent them across the river early on, without prior recon, and had to evacuate them because they ended up in a hornet's nest.
Using my attack helo effectively.
Using my recon units effectively.
Using AT assets properly when on the attack: AT guns have a range of one, so you have to bring them up close and personal with enemies, who can (and will) return fire when you move into their zone of control, and they trigger more enemy fire when they deploy (which they have to do to fire at all). You get a BRDM-2 with AT missiles which has a range of 2 ... but so have most NATO tanks against vehicles, so ... best to either go after disrupted or broken enemy formations or try to get in, fire, and back out (which requires very careful action points management).

One of the most frustrating aspects of these games remains the automated return fire. It's annoying when you move your unit adjacent to an enemy and they shoot two or three times at you while you can do nothing, and you want to make sure you minimize your risks (don't move into zone of control of multiple units, try to disrupt enemy units via artillery first etc.).

Obviuously, this cuts both ways. You can set it up that if the enemy moves, changes formations, etc. as many units as possible can deliver reaction fire.

Anyways, this was fun. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Scipio on May 07, 2021, 11:00:57 PM
Hellish Quart, a sort of Eastern Europe meets HRE version of Bushido Blade. Really fun.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 11, 2021, 12:52:36 AM
2001 PS2 title Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance is getting a PC port: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/baldurs-gate-dark-alliance-is-getting-a-pc-port-20-years-later
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on May 11, 2021, 01:47:18 AM
I played the hell out of that game when it came out, but it's certainly outdated by now. It's a very simplistic action RPG.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 11, 2021, 06:33:25 AM
Galactic Civilizations IV trailer: https://youtu.be/6cP9sfHt4BU
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 11, 2021, 11:13:35 AM
Master of Magic remake: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1623070/Master_of_Magic/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on May 11, 2021, 11:23:07 AM
If either one of those turns out to be even a B+ level game, I will be ecstatic. I won't hold my breath.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 11, 2021, 11:40:50 AM
Master of Magic just needs to up the graphics (and as I have read improve the AI maybe - when I was a kid I didn't mind the AI and was happy to win on Hard). The gameplay and as I recall mostly the UI as well will live up to current standards. Might be rose tinted glasses, though.

Which reminds me the above is true for Age of Rifles as well. I consider by far my biggest failure during my time in the gaming industry that I could not convince anyone to pick that game up for a remake. Hod knows I tried.  :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 11, 2021, 11:44:33 AM
Ooooh - system similar to Battlestar Galactica: Deadlock, but in the Battle of Britain? Yes, please! :mmm:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1530450/Scramble_Battle_of_Britain/

QuoteScramble: Battle of Britain

Scramble: Battle of Britain is a simultaneous turn-based dogfighting game. Set in a 3D airspace, the game features fast-paced, tactical combat with dynamic flight physics.
Luftwaffe and RAF fighter squadrons go head to head over The English Channel. Competing players simultaneously issue control inputs for multiple aircraft while time is paused.
The planned orders are then played out simultaneously: shots are fired, loops are looped, colliding planes collide.

Each turn is divided into three phases: planning phase, action phase, and review phase.
Survey the aerial battlefield, plan your flight paths, execute spectacular manoeuvres, scrub through time to assess battle damage, and defeat your enemies through masterful tactics and captivating aerobatics.

PLAN YOUR FLIGHT PATH
The two squadrons simultaneously set input controls for each of their Aircraft, adjusting their flight path and attempting to bring them into attacking positions. Setting the flightpaths works like flying planes in a real-time combat game: you're not choosing from set manoeuvres or levels of altitude, you're adjusting pitch, roll, yaw and throttle to create your path.

The Planning Phase is time-limited: you need to think fast and act quickly.

EXECUTE YOUR ACTIONS
Time is unpaused and your planned actions are played out. All aircraft move and shoot according to the inputs from the Planning Phase.

REVIEW THE TURN AND PREPARE FOR THE NEXT ONE
Time is paused once again. You can move back and forth through the timeline, reviewing the events of the Action Phase to plan for the next turn.

Once both squadrons are ready, the turn is over and you jump to the next one.

MANAGE YOUR SQUADRON
Scramble: Battle of Britain allows you to manage your Royal Air Force and Luftwaffe squadrons and to fly with your favourite planes. All the key aircraft that took part in the Battle of Britain are represented.

Featured Royal Air Force Aircraft:
Supermarine Spitfire
Hawker Hurricane
Boulton Paul Defiant
Gloster Gladiator
Bristol Blenheim

Featured Luftwaffe Aircraft:
Messerschmitt Bf 109
Junkers JU87 "Stuka"
Messerschmitt BF110
Heinkel He111
Dornier Do17
Junkers JU88

GAME MODES AND SCENARIO BUILDER
You can play Scramble: Battle of Britain with your friends or against the AI. The game features single-player and co-op missions, as well as quick skirmishes and competitive scenarios. Do battle in pure fighter-versus-fighter dogfights or engage bomber formations in objective-based missions. Up for something different? Use the scenario builder to create custom single-player missions or multiplayer matches for endless fun.

CUSTOMIZE YOUR SQUADRONS
Make the squadrons your own: the game features in-game tools to customize your fighters with unique camo patterns and decals.

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1530450/ss_fa80036f865b62e52191e01a667d5178778bc138.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1530450/ss_e097e2831aa8cc04e693f18e8f1d02a842616750.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1530450/ss_d98ebf0b3e6e0673ee580cb96bcbf089622eec54.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1530450/ss_06ea20a17196d31b582b00fab91f7ce615666b2c.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1530450/ss_bf731b730b5107e2b30e8736914e797012b974de.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1530450/ss_00f9053436798a9c9819910b3febdfe50f2931ba.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1530450/ss_48b578886c8303f69ea609f1249486b0059798de.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1530450/ss_029e94efe6cbac47583b2705b3f2a985aed8f516.1920x1080.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 11, 2021, 12:37:56 PM
Quote from: Tamas on May 11, 2021, 11:40:50 AM
Master of Magic just needs to up the graphics (and as I have read improve the AI maybe - when I was a kid I didn't mind the AI and was happy to win on Hard). The gameplay and as I recall mostly the UI as well will live up to current standards. Might be rose tinted glasses, though.

Which reminds me the above is true for Age of Rifles as well. I consider by far my biggest failure during my time in the gaming industry that I could not convince anyone to pick that game up for a remake. Hod knows I tried.  :(

The remake is made by the studio who made the Thea games, so they have some pedigree in the genre.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on May 11, 2021, 02:45:25 PM
Quote from: Tamas on May 11, 2021, 11:40:50 AM
Master of Magic just needs to up the graphics (and as I have read improve the AI maybe - when I was a kid I didn't mind the AI and was happy to win on Hard). The gameplay and as I recall mostly the UI as well will live up to current standards. Might be rose tinted glasses, though.

You could break the game with some spells. Like specialize in Death magic to start the game with wraiths, who then annihilate anything you find in the game with infinite healing and raising defeated units as undead.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: bogh on May 11, 2021, 03:18:14 PM
Yeah, I actually played it a number of years back using an emulator. Still very cool, but clearly quite broken and old fashioned in some respects. Will be interesting to see if they can manage the balance of updating and streamlining, while retaining the charm and wide variety of choice.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 12, 2021, 02:23:32 AM
Has anyone played Matrix Games' Desert War? I haven't, because I have not much interest in that theater of WW2. However, the devs are making a game about the Stalingrad campaign now, which looks interesting.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on May 12, 2021, 07:17:59 AM
This is old, but its in the news lately. Peace Maker is a great little free game on the Israel/Palestine conflict.

http://www.peacemakergame.com/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Minsky Moment on May 12, 2021, 10:49:53 AM
Quote from: Syt on May 06, 2021, 02:03:02 AM
I keep telling myself that I will eventually work myself through the dozens of tutorials of Command: Modern Operations, but then I see upcoming update notes like this and feel waaay out of my depth (emphasis theirs). :lol:

https://www.warfaresims.com/?p=5188

I'm in the same boat (har!).  I went through a few tutorials - it didn't seem too bad but there are a couple dozen more to do.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Minsky Moment on May 12, 2021, 10:54:52 AM
Quote from: Tyr on May 12, 2021, 07:17:59 AM
This is old, but its in the news lately. Peace Maker is a great little free game on the Israel/Palestine conflict.

http://www.peacemakergame.com/

10 REM PEACEMAKER GAME
20 PRINT "YOU FAIL"
30 PRINT "HIT HEAD AGAINST WALL"
40 GOTO 30
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 14, 2021, 09:42:06 AM
Blast from the past - Armageddon Empires is now on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1576720/Armageddon_Empires/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 17, 2021, 02:54:25 PM
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1548280/Great_Battles_of_Carolus_XII/

QuoteWith God's help, fight for the glory of Svea Rike!

The king, Carolus XI is dead, the royal castle is in ashes and the people of Sweden are starving to death in the harsh winter. With bloodshed, the enemies of Sweden are now concluding an attack alliance. Russia, Denmark and Saxony-Poland are waiting to attack the Swedish borders. The new fifteen-year-old King, Carolus XII stands alone with the fate of the kingdom in his hands.

In Great Battles of Carolus XII, the player will experience battles such as:

Battle of Narva 1700
Battle of Gemauerthof 1705
The Siege of Veprik 1709

Each battle will last about 30-60 minutes and the player will be able to command infantry, cavalry and artillery units. There are more great battles coming in the future!

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1548280/ss_0afb6363d0a64c0b87d4cd3be1952c37dccdc7e0.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1548280/ss_7950b8eb666d2c95a8ff90ed53a5e47b39a41753.1920x1080.jpg)

4.99, though currently it's 40% off (so it's 2.99 at the moment).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on May 17, 2021, 03:37:56 PM
How good are the Swedish leaders?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 20, 2021, 12:19:53 PM
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1416230/Panzer_Knights/

QuotePanzer Knights

Panzer Knights is an action game about tanks.
Players will play as German faction, control tanks to cross from Western to Eastern Europe, from Battle of France to Eastern Front. Fully experiences the epic and powerful Tank battles through the detailed tanks.

There are many types of mission objects in the vast battlefield. Breaking through the lines of defense, defending the important positions, or defeating the enemies that keep coming.

In games, you can call the bombs or air supply, fix your tank when it's damaged, and switch the formation quickly according to the situation of the battlefield. Players must use every method to conquer the missions.

Key Features
.Over 20 tanks can be controlled
.Over 40 vehicles and artillery will appear in the game
.Detailed tank model
.30 crews with various abilities
.The crews will have voice of bubble talk during the battle
.Damaged in different parts will cause different influences
.11 main levels with storylines
.Vast battlefield and destructible environments

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1416230/extras/v4.gif)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1416230/extras/v3.gif)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1416230/extras/v2.gif)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1416230/ss_d985cfd2950e3bf6caaf315bf5f9f4bb77f45352.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1416230/ss_eb85c31df02369221a3c2e702a5e5c5a8a91feaf.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1416230/ss_c0b30da7d181923b1bcb266f5677de74667038da.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1416230/ss_1f45f5e23bc3da02123c02c85f79e2876bc79c76.1920x1080.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on May 20, 2021, 12:26:43 PM
Remember that confederate kid?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on May 21, 2021, 05:28:30 AM
So apparently Paradox leaked a Victoria 3 announcement but then deleted it: https://www.reddit.com/r/paradoxplaza/comments/nho2mg/victoria_3_leak_on_the_forums/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on May 21, 2021, 05:30:34 AM
I mean. I'm excited. But they're bound to ruin it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on May 21, 2021, 05:33:53 AM
Quote from: Tyr on May 21, 2021, 05:30:34 AM
I mean. I'm excited. But they're bound to ruin it.

Mana for all!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on May 21, 2021, 05:36:46 AM
:o

But cool, even if broken. After all isn't Vic 2 still that way and yet still fun? :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 21, 2021, 05:48:35 AM
Quote from: garbon on May 21, 2021, 05:36:46 AM
:o

But cool, even if broken. After all isn't Vic 2 still that way and yet still fun? :)

I installed it a while ago - I forgot how tedious the diplomacy/competing with other powers for influence was. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 21, 2021, 06:05:43 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on May 21, 2021, 05:33:53 AM
Quote from: Tyr on May 21, 2021, 05:30:34 AM
I mean. I'm excited. But they're bound to ruin it.

Mana for all!

Press button to ethnically cleanse and receive bonus.  :cool:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on May 21, 2021, 08:07:38 AM
When we analyzed the data from Stellaris, we realized what the players loved most was micro-ing pop jobs and trying to unfuck their economy because worker drones kept auto-promoting/demoting every day.

With that in mind, we're announcing Victoria 3: Triumph of Bureaucracy so you can live out your dreams of deciding whether the pop representing 3 Albino Ethiopians living in East London will be a clerk or a laborer.

Pre-order today!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 21, 2021, 08:10:02 AM
Personally, I hope they'll lean even more towards hands off than in Vic2 where you could only hope and pray your capitalists built useful factories half of the time. :P

But looking at HoI4 and EU4 which give ever more control to players to play out whatever revisionist fantasy they crave I suppose that's unlikely to happen. :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on May 21, 2021, 08:10:53 AM
Perfidious Albino, a nation of popkeepers.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on May 21, 2021, 08:38:07 AM
Quote from: Syt on May 21, 2021, 08:10:02 AM
Personally, I hope they'll lean even more towards hands off than in Vic2 where you could only hope and pray your capitalists built useful factories half of the time. :P

But looking at HoI4 and EU4 which give ever more control to players to play out whatever revisionist fantasy they crave I suppose that's unlikely to happen. :(

So that's a recommendation to try out Victoria 2 ?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 21, 2021, 08:39:00 AM
It's a weird game to get into. Check out some online tutorials.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on May 21, 2021, 09:42:13 AM
Quote from: Habbaku on May 21, 2021, 08:07:38 AM
When we analyzed the data from Stellaris, we realized what the players loved most was micro-ing pop jobs and trying to unfuck their economy because worker drones kept auto-promoting/demoting every day.

With that in mind, we're announcing Victoria 3: Triumph of Bureaucracy so you can live out your dreams of deciding whether the pop representing 3 Albino Ethiopians living in East London will be a clerk or a laborer.

Pre-order today!

I remember all the pop related bugs we found when beta testing Vic I.  As I recall it, shortly after release, Johan publicly vowed never to make a game with pops again...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 21, 2021, 09:47:13 AM
Was he involved in Stellaris? I recall that he also said he'd never make a sci-fi game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Richard Hakluyt on May 21, 2021, 10:30:45 AM
Quote from: mongers on May 21, 2021, 08:38:07 AM
Quote from: Syt on May 21, 2021, 08:10:02 AM
Personally, I hope they'll lean even more towards hands off than in Vic2 where you could only hope and pray your capitalists built useful factories half of the time. :P

But looking at HoI4 and EU4 which give ever more control to players to play out whatever revisionist fantasy they crave I suppose that's unlikely to happen. :(

So that's a recommendation to try out Victoria 2 ?

I think it is their best game. Not much in the way of magical mana pools; instead there are indirect controls and actions which might work out. Also each major state has its own advantages and disadvantages which are interesting. Playing Austria-Hungary and trying to prevent all change is a fun game for example.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on May 21, 2021, 10:32:46 AM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on May 21, 2021, 10:30:45 AM
Quote from: mongers on May 21, 2021, 08:38:07 AM
Quote from: Syt on May 21, 2021, 08:10:02 AM
Personally, I hope they'll lean even more towards hands off than in Vic2 where you could only hope and pray your capitalists built useful factories half of the time. :P

But looking at HoI4 and EU4 which give ever more control to players to play out whatever revisionist fantasy they crave I suppose that's unlikely to happen. :(

So that's a recommendation to try out Victoria 2 ?

I think it is their best game. Not much in the way of magical mana pools; instead there are indirect controls and actions which might work out. Also each major state has its own advantages and disadvantages which are interesting. Playing Austria-Hungary and trying to prevent all change is a fun game for example.

I agree.  It is the one game that has not been ruined by the need to make all nations equally playable in multiplayer
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 21, 2021, 10:34:00 AM
It's probably also the one game where they'd have to completely start from scratch because no one can figure out the economy interactions anymore. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on May 21, 2021, 10:35:47 AM
  :lol:  fair point
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 21, 2021, 11:13:53 AM
You can wishlist Master of Magic 2:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1623070/Master_of_Magic/

QuoteMaster of Magic is a combination of an RPG and a strategy game, a remake of a classic from the 90s.

In Master of Magic you take up the role of one of 14 unique and diverse great wizards who compete with each other to dominate the worlds of Arcanus and Myrror.
Choose from different schools of magic and fantasy races to command, then lead your minions and expand your influence and power across the land.

Recruit and command mighty armies of elves, dragons, dwarves, orcs and many more. Support them with powerful spells. Fight tactical turn-based battles and affect the outcome with your magic.

Research new spells, engage in alchemy, perform rituals and use your arcane powers to change the world around you.
Always beware of the machinations of your rival wizards, who seek to reach your same goals. But in the end, remember: there can be only one Master of Magic.

Features:
14 unique playable powerful wizards
5 schools of magic and 18 traits to customize your wizard
Over 60 special abilities
Over 200 spells to research
14 fantasy races to command, including elves, dwarves, trolls, draconians, orcs, klackons, gnolls and many more
196 unique unit types
Over 250 unique magical items, as well as custom crafting
Two parallel dimensional planes, Arcanus and Myrror


(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1623070/ss_9487e4f4de2466829afc76fec446c758aec38f2a.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1623070/ss_53cbca4db0bf4ddcc1c324bd563514217b96d689.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1623070/ss_928014ef2f298cbe5ecaca3acafa2c49a1f5618b.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1623070/ss_e97c4c8b9974af776a5279e37c010bc20b25f562.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1623070/ss_9634f05a9d86cb66d04059463bb59d0f9990ddf4.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1623070/ss_9ef096a6e8fd4af9f97a675af9f650ce404e615b.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1623070/ss_a092d29319dbca2e4f0264d6bda9a6a3fa695558.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1623070/ss_6e01d78ce78028575a9607f0e036d38f625735b0.1920x1080.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on May 21, 2021, 11:48:16 AM
 :cool:

Done
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on May 21, 2021, 11:50:25 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on May 21, 2021, 05:28:30 AM
So apparently Paradox leaked a Victoria 3 announcement but then deleted it: https://www.reddit.com/r/paradoxplaza/comments/nho2mg/victoria_3_leak_on_the_forums/


Oh my Hod! I am so happy to hear this!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 21, 2021, 11:53:27 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on May 21, 2021, 11:48:16 AM
:cool:

Done

I hope it will be good. The devs previously made the Thea games which were good, so that gives some hope. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on May 21, 2021, 12:26:17 PM
Quote from: Valmy on May 21, 2021, 11:50:25 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on May 21, 2021, 05:28:30 AM
So apparently Paradox leaked a Victoria 3 announcement but then deleted it: https://www.reddit.com/r/paradoxplaza/comments/nho2mg/victoria_3_leak_on_the_forums/


Oh my Hod! I am so happy to hear this!

There's actually a bit of a debate now whether it was real or an elaborate troll, based on the fact that Paradox normally uses roman numerals in their sequel numbering. We'll see tomorrow, I guess.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on May 21, 2021, 12:26:38 PM
Isn't the game announcement today in ~30 minutes?  :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on May 21, 2021, 12:29:07 PM
Quote from: Syt on May 21, 2021, 11:53:27 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on May 21, 2021, 11:48:16 AM
:cool:

Done

I hope it will be good. The devs previously made the Thea games which were good, so that gives some hope. :)

Even better - l really enjoyed Thea.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on May 21, 2021, 12:30:27 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on May 21, 2021, 12:26:38 PM
Isn't the game announcement today in ~30 minutes?  :hmm:

Lol, Paradox has instituted filters on "Victoria 3" (and close alternatives) on their Twitch chat, so now people are spamming it with all sorts of ways to go around the filter, like "Lenin Simulator 3". :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on May 21, 2021, 12:38:59 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on May 21, 2021, 12:30:27 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on May 21, 2021, 12:26:38 PM
Isn't the game announcement today in ~30 minutes?  :hmm:

Lol, Paradox has instituted filters on "Victoria 3" (and close alternatives) on their Twitch chat, so now people are spamming it with all sorts of ways to go around the filter, like "Lenin Simulator 3". :lol:


Well if they are doing that it is definitely real.

Fabulous news I was so worried that was a dead franchise.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 21, 2021, 12:42:44 PM
Quote from: Valmy on May 21, 2021, 12:38:59 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on May 21, 2021, 12:30:27 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on May 21, 2021, 12:26:38 PM
Isn't the game announcement today in ~30 minutes?  :hmm:

Lol, Paradox has instituted filters on "Victoria 3" (and close alternatives) on their Twitch chat, so now people are spamming it with all sorts of ways to go around the filter, like "Lenin Simulator 3". :lol:


Well if they are doing that it is definitely real.

Fabulous news I was so worried that was a dead franchise.

I'll refrain enthusiasm for after learning details.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 21, 2021, 12:43:56 PM
Quote from: Valmy on May 21, 2021, 12:38:59 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on May 21, 2021, 12:30:27 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on May 21, 2021, 12:26:38 PM
Isn't the game announcement today in ~30 minutes?  :hmm:

Lol, Paradox has instituted filters on "Victoria 3" (and close alternatives) on their Twitch chat, so now people are spamming it with all sorts of ways to go around the filter, like "Lenin Simulator 3". :lol:


Well if they are doing that it is definitely real.

Fabulous news I was so worried that was a dead franchise.

Considering the Imperator release, and the EU4 expansions recently it might still be stillborn. :P

If the leak was correct, Martin Anward is leading the project, he was (acc. to Mobygames) project lead on Stellaris, HoI4, game director for Imperator and CK3 ... but don't ask me from when till when, as project leads seem to shift a fair bit between games. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on May 21, 2021, 01:33:33 PM
I am glad they left Imperator in a decent state before abandoning it. It is at least kind of fun now.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Threviel on May 21, 2021, 01:42:32 PM
Curious about Vicky 3 and with some time over I'm watching pdsxcon on something called twitch. Damn, this is not good production value. At times like these I feel so old.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on May 21, 2021, 01:44:46 PM
Victoria 3 confirmed. :cool:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on May 21, 2021, 04:26:50 PM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on May 21, 2021, 10:30:45 AM
Quote from: mongers on May 21, 2021, 08:38:07 AM
Quote from: Syt on May 21, 2021, 08:10:02 AM
Personally, I hope they'll lean even more towards hands off than in Vic2 where you could only hope and pray your capitalists built useful factories half of the time. :P

But looking at HoI4 and EU4 which give ever more control to players to play out whatever revisionist fantasy they crave I suppose that's unlikely to happen. :(

So that's a recommendation to try out Victoria 2 ?

I think it is their best game. Not much in the way of magical mana pools; instead there are indirect controls and actions which might work out. Also each major state has its own advantages and disadvantages which are interesting. Playing Austria-Hungary and trying to prevent all change is a fun game for example.

:cool:

Thanks RH, I'll give it a go.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 22, 2021, 12:47:55 PM
Wrong use of apostrophe, but still ... damn. :lol:

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E18_xTzWUAQfIl-?format=jpg&name=small)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on May 22, 2021, 01:09:35 PM
Online gaming destroyed games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 23, 2021, 04:48:53 AM
Been keeping the Twitch stream from PDXCON running on the second monitor this morning and it's been mostly Empire of Sin so far. I checked how the game is now looking, but the reviews are still the same: looks good, but repetitive and shallow. I'm a bit surprised to see that King (the Scottish guy who has been on the Paradox forums for yonks) seems to be working on this?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 24, 2021, 01:47:38 AM
https://store.steampowered.com/app/926540/Prime__Load__1776/

QuotePrime & Load : 1776

Welcome to Prime & Load : 1776 "Commander Mode" Command your own company of intelligent AI infantry soldiers all dressed in the proper uniforms of the American Revolution. Fight across 30+ maps and experience the total control that Prime & Load allows you when in command of your very own regiment. Fight as either the British, Americans, Hessians or French Prime & Load offers a great variety of regiments to play from.

Battles contain 200 + infantry troops supported cannons, fife & drum, ensigns and your teammates Prime & Loads battles really alive. Join the action across the world with servers hosted in the US, EU and Australia!

Developed by Radio Silence Entertainment - A UK Based development team consisting of 3 people with no funding, Prime & Load is truly Indie and made completely by hand.

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/926540/ss_eb586f38d5757d83fe1675ea11c0cbcb58987291.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/926540/ss_eb586f38d5757d83fe1675ea11c0cbcb58987291.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/926540/ss_d34def2bc31afffac454932d27686e6b151f9d66.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/926540/ss_481b789bc23b32273e701821b4278c3a606f3e81.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/926540/ss_589a5360a295ca76b20efd5c2579a3698f629e2f.1920x1080.jpg)

6.99 on Steam, 80% positive reviews out of 198.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 24, 2021, 09:44:33 AM
So, I'm a couple hours into Assassins Creed: Origins. I'm still in the starting are (Siwa). I've cleaned out the two little soldier camps (to my disappointment the soldiers respawn :( ) and did a few quests/treasure hunting. I still love the graphics and world, but ... it feels like playing a stealth archer in Elder Scrolls and is becoming a bit repetitive. :mellow: I suppose I could go in guns swords blazing, but I expect it's also a good way to get killed.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on May 24, 2021, 11:46:17 AM
Unlike the earlier iterations, from Origins onward, head on combat is a viable approach.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on May 24, 2021, 08:55:26 PM
Quote from: Syt on May 24, 2021, 01:47:38 AM
https://store.steampowered.com/app/926540/Prime__Load__1776/

QuotePrime & Load : 1776

Welcome to Prime & Load : 1776 "Commander Mode" Command your own company of intelligent AI infantry soldiers all dressed in the proper uniforms of the American Revolution. Fight across 30+ maps and experience the total control that Prime & Load allows you when in command of your very own regiment. Fight as either the British, Americans, Hessians or French Prime & Load offers a great variety of regiments to play from.

Battles contain 200 + infantry troops supported cannons, fife & drum, ensigns and your teammates Prime & Loads battles really alive. Join the action across the world with servers hosted in the US, EU and Australia!

Developed by Radio Silence Entertainment - A UK Based development team consisting of 3 people with no funding, Prime & Load is truly Indie and made completely by hand.

(snip)

Those brits in the third picture have no clue as to how to form square, do they?

It's probably moot, though, as I doubt forming square was done in those wars.  Not much cavalry, and all of it light.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on May 24, 2021, 09:01:23 PM
Quote from: Syt on May 22, 2021, 12:47:55 PM
Wrong use of apostrophe, but still ... damn. :lol:

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E18_xTzWUAQfIl-?format=jpg&name=small)

I don't know if there'll ever be another GTA.

The bar is so high, and basically all the people who made it are no longer at Rockstar.

I mean, one day there could be a reinvention I suppose.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 25, 2021, 12:18:48 PM
I guess Elder Scrolls is in a similar spot (incidentally also on #5), with Skyrim being seemingly endlessly re-released for 10 years (though at least we know that TES6 is in the works, at least).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on May 25, 2021, 12:37:25 PM
Yeah we went from AAA companies shoving half completed games out the door to them just not releasing anything at all. I guess we never knew how good we had it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on May 25, 2021, 01:05:49 PM
Quote from: Jacob on May 24, 2021, 09:01:23 PM
Quote from: Syt on May 22, 2021, 12:47:55 PM
Wrong use of apostrophe, but still ... damn. :lol:

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E18_xTzWUAQfIl-?formatame=small)

I don't know if there'll ever be another GTA.

The bar is so high, and basically all the people who made it are no longer at Rockstar.

I mean, one day there could be a reinvention I suppose.

Where did they go?
It's not like GTA is star wars or the like. Pretty easy to make gta without the gta license.
Though gta clones are light on the ground these days...

(Ps sleeping dogs 2 plz)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on May 25, 2021, 02:03:32 PM
Quote from: Tyr on May 25, 2021, 01:05:49 PM
Where did they go?

Ousted in various power struggles and/ or for inappropriate behaviour.

QuoteIt's not like GTA is star wars or the like. Pretty easy to make gta without the gta license.

Depends on your definition of "easy". Personally, I think it's pretty hard.

QuoteThough gta clones are light on the ground these days...

... they're not that easy to make, and the dream of stealing GTA's lunch is not compelling publishers I suppose.

Quote(Ps sleeping dogs 2 plz)

Would absolutely love to do it. A few considerations:

1) Square owns the IP, so it's their call.

2) The situation around Hong Kong has changed a bit since Sleeping Dogs. That may influence development.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on May 25, 2021, 02:13:50 PM
Yeah, aren't those kind of GTA-ish open world games really, really expensive to do?  And publishers don't like to spend that kind of money without a well-established IP to go along with it?

I mean GTA itself started out pretty humbly in the DOS-era and would've been much cheaper to build back then.


Cyberpunk 2077 was probably the latest attempt to build a new open-world franchise (I mean it was based on an 80s PnP RPG, but that's a mighty thin IP).  It looks like it made money but it was in development for close to a decade.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on May 25, 2021, 02:26:26 PM
Open world games are pretty common IMO. None have tried to do gta in recent times though. I guess the closest recent one was mafia 3?

And yeah. Didn't mean by easy to do that making it would actually be easy. Rather that copying gta is possible as the license doesn't contain recurring characters, settings are pretty interchangeable and not too fundamental etc...
It's not like trying to make a new star wars game without the license where the setting is pretty core.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 26, 2021, 08:58:34 AM
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E2FamVEXoAEyB7r?format=jpg&name=medium)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on May 26, 2021, 09:04:17 AM
Christ, Skyrim nearly 10 years since Skyrim came out? Now this makes me feel old.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 26, 2021, 09:08:12 AM
Quote from: celedhring on May 26, 2021, 09:04:17 AM
Christ, Skyrim nearly 10 years since Skyrim came out? Now this makes me feel old.

Around the same time as Star Wars: The Old Republic. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on May 26, 2021, 09:19:58 AM
But we do have a bazillion different new editions of skyrim.

And yeah. Doesn't feel that long that skyrim came out whilst morrowind feels ancient.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on May 26, 2021, 09:21:26 AM
Weird - are any of them working on big new games? I mean surely they must be :blink: :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on May 26, 2021, 09:25:18 AM
Far Cry 6 is in development AFAIK, if that counts.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on May 26, 2021, 09:28:42 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on May 26, 2021, 09:21:26 AM
Weird - are any of them working on big new games? I mean surely they must be :blink: :hmm:

GTA Online and Eldar Scrolls Online/Fallout 76 have stolen all their attention.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 26, 2021, 09:35:51 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on May 26, 2021, 09:21:26 AM
Weird - are any of them working on big new games? I mean surely they must be :blink: :hmm:

Bethesda is working on "Project Starfield", a new sci-fi IP, but nothing has been shown of it. The confirmed a few years ago to be working on Elder Scrolls 6, but that it would be a long ways off and would be released after Project Starfield.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 26, 2021, 09:36:59 AM
Quote from: Tyr on May 26, 2021, 09:28:42 AMGTA Online and Eldar Scrolls Online/Fallout 76 have stolen all their attention.

Elder Scrolls Online is done by a third-party studio.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on May 26, 2021, 10:19:47 AM
The Skyrim studio is currently working on 6, Starfield & Blades.



Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on May 26, 2021, 12:05:25 PM
Significantly more time has passed now since Dragon Age Inquisition was released than the between Dragon Age Origins and Dragon Age Inquisition.

But, you know, they were working on Anthem for some crazy amount of time. Time well spent.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Iormlund on May 26, 2021, 01:22:27 PM
Most "classic" game studios seem to be suffering from the same malady. See: Blizzard.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on May 26, 2021, 01:44:54 PM
Is it just that they can wring more money out of their last release and re-porting it to new devices? Or have they all moved online like Tyr was saying with ESO or GTAO?

Because it seems kind of baffling :mellow:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on May 26, 2021, 01:48:08 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on May 26, 2021, 01:44:54 PM
Is it just that they can wring more money out of their last release and re-porting it to new devices? Or have they all moved online like Tyr was saying with ESO or GTAO?

Because it seems kind of baffling :mellow:

For awhile the orthodoxy was that games were dead and online services were what should be done. I think that is all it is. Game publishers are notorious for all agreeing what the public wants and then trying to get the public to want it. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 26, 2021, 01:59:23 PM
Games as a service is attractive to large corporations. Instead of going through cycles of development + big release (which may or may not break even) they can (theoretically) generate a steady, reliable revenue stream. Of course there's hybrid cases like EA Sports titles that are a mix of annual releases and heavy in game monetization. But the goal for many seems to be to have something like Fortnite or Destiny 2 or similar that keeps customers "engaged" and coming back regularly and spend money.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on May 26, 2021, 03:10:46 PM
It's the generational shift. The triple A market skews younger for customers and since it's soul crushing it also does for its workforce. They are not interested in making a new GTA, they want to make the new Fortnite or LoL.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on May 26, 2021, 07:16:13 PM
Quote from: Syt on May 26, 2021, 01:59:23 PM
Games as a service is attractive to large corporations. Instead of going through cycles of development + big release (which may or may not break even) they can (theoretically) generate a steady, reliable revenue stream. Of course there's hybrid cases like EA Sports titles that are a mix of annual releases and heavy in game monetization. But the goal for many seems to be to have something like Fortnite or Destiny 2 or similar that keeps customers "engaged" and coming back regularly and spend money.

Yeah, that's what it looks like to me.

It's a much better risk: reward than pumping however many hundred million dollars into an AAA game and hope you don't fuck it up. Standards are pretty high as well, in terms of graphics and in terms of amount of content required. And if you don't shoot for those high bars, your chance of being rejected by consumers are much higher. Whereas pumping out season-pass content for established games with established costumers safe and predictable and lucrative.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on May 27, 2021, 12:07:01 AM
Is it a better risk/reward? Making those games as a service seems to have resulted in many spectacular financial failures. It kind of reminds me of the rush to make the WoW killing MMORPG back in the day. I mean ESL worked out pretty well but lots of financial carnage occurred trying to make ESL type games.

Granted releasing new versions of Skyrim or new content for established games is not that.

I mean this is also a world where Minecraft and Undertale were huge smash hits. Granted AAA games would need to be better looking than that, but why do you HAVE to have super fancy graphics and tons of content?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on May 27, 2021, 01:21:31 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 26, 2021, 03:10:46 PM
It's the generational shift. The triple A market skews younger for customers and since it's soul crushing it also does for its workforce. They are not interested in making a new GTA, they want to make the new Fortnite or LoL.

I've been looking on with confusion when someone genuinely asked if there was/expected there to be a league of legends mod for ck3
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on May 27, 2021, 09:17:34 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on November 12, 2020, 07:15:17 AM
Looking forward to December when the PC version comes out so I can play Titanfall 2.

I was given this game the other day.  It's a pretty cool game. But I think the sp campaign is less than 10hrs.  Damn short it was!

Still, if you find it in the bargain bin, I recommend it.  A mix of FPS and Mech combat, it's a nice one to play. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 27, 2021, 09:25:43 AM
Quote from: garbon on May 27, 2021, 01:21:31 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 26, 2021, 03:10:46 PM
It's the generational shift. The triple A market skews younger for customers and since it's soul crushing it also does for its workforce. They are not interested in making a new GTA, they want to make the new Fortnite or LoL.

I've been looking on with confusion when someone genuinely asked if there was/expected there to be a league of legends mod for ck3

Well, it's getting a show on Netflix (or was that DOTA?), so I guess some people are invested enough in the lore? :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on May 27, 2021, 09:39:23 AM
Dota. Season 1 has been available for a while.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on May 27, 2021, 11:59:25 AM
Sitter ni i venten och spelar lite Dota?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on May 27, 2021, 12:58:45 PM
Quote from: Valmy on May 27, 2021, 12:07:01 AM
Is it a better risk/reward?

... yes?

QuoteMaking those games as a service seems to have resulted in many spectacular financial failures.

For sure, but are those financial failures orders of magnitude more spectacular compared to the financial failures of game-in-a-box-plus-a-few-DLC failures? I don't expect so.

Conversely, compare the profits of successful game-as-a-service games vs game-in-a-box-plus-a-few-DLC. Are they sometimes orders of magnitude greater? Yes, I expect so.

QuoteI mean this is also a world where Minecraft and Undertale were huge smash hits. Granted AAA games would need to be better looking than that, but why do you HAVE to have super fancy graphics and tons of content?

Minecraft is the most popular game in the world, so yeah, it's a counterpoint on the graphics, but it is also game-as-a-service so not much of a counterpoint there.

Undertale is a successful indie game, but that's an entirely different business model.

The reason you HAVE to have super fancy graphics and tons of content is that those are things that (semi-) reliably improve sales and that you - as a publisher - have control over and can (semi-) reliably add. That they (semi-) reliably improve sales is based on empirical knowledge of the market.

So not all games have to have cutting edge graphics and significant amounts of content. There are literally hundreds of thousands of games that don't. However, if you're making a big bet and putting lots of money in to develop a game in the hopes of having massive sales, then it's a ballsy move to come out below consumer expectations on graphics and content. And typically decisionmakers in large publicly traded companies aren't rewarded for making ballsy moves like that.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on May 27, 2021, 01:44:08 PM
We can see that example happening live right now with Biomutant. THQ Nordic made a 30$ game with 60$ game graphic & are selling it for 60$.

Will that be enough? The coming weeks will tell us.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on May 27, 2021, 09:09:34 PM
Quote from: Syt on May 27, 2021, 09:25:43 AM
Quote from: garbon on May 27, 2021, 01:21:31 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 26, 2021, 03:10:46 PM
It's the generational shift. The triple A market skews younger for customers and since it's soul crushing it also does for its workforce. They are not interested in making a new GTA, they want to make the new Fortnite or LoL.

I've been looking on with confusion when someone genuinely asked if there was/expected there to be a league of legends mod for ck3

Well, it's getting a show on Netflix (or was that DOTA?), so I guess some people are invested enough in the lore? :P

You were right, there is a LoL one too.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 28, 2021, 08:30:08 AM
I completely forgot about Mech Warrior 5, but it's now out on Steam and GOG after being an Epic exclusive for well over a year:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/784080/MechWarrior_5_Mercenaries/
https://www.gog.com/game/mechwarrior_5_mercenaries?pp=10594093386de500e04b3fdabcce7ec3ff556dc5
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 28, 2021, 03:02:01 PM
Creative Assembly stops working on Total War: Three Kingdoms. Fans appear to be unhappy, as they were originally promised expansions that would cover much that is still missing (e.g. Northern parts of the map, iconic leaders etc.), and apparently some bugs are still in the game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on May 29, 2021, 03:04:06 AM
That's sad. I never got around to buying that yet but was looking forward to it.
Guess it hasn't sold well?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 29, 2021, 04:31:27 AM
Incidentally I have just returned to it a week ago. I think it's great. Quite very possibly the best Total War game. It most definitely is from the strategic layer's perspective, but the tactical options are not as varied as in Rome TW2 or Warhammer.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 30, 2021, 10:18:13 AM
I've given AC: Origins another shot, and I'm into it now. I made it to Alexandria, and damn, this might be one of the finest in game ciities I've seen. I feel like a tourist with all the pictures I'm taking.

And I love the details - the mathematicians in the library, the theater that has a play about Cleopatra getting Caesar to kick out her brother, etc.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 31, 2021, 01:14:54 PM
Game Makers Toolkit on how to make better tutoprials for complex games (Paradox, Total War etc.): https://youtu.be/-GV814cWiAw
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 04, 2021, 12:05:36 AM
I find it interesting that some of Total War Saga: Troy's characters seem based on actors:

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E2-7AiBXIAkKd60?format=png&name=360x360)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E2-7Qm-XMAQQOOu?format=png&name=360x360)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E2-7VHoXEAMU-bz?format=png&name=360x360)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E2-7n3RXEAkH3i_?format=png&name=360x360)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E2-8_G1WUAU4J8w?format=png&name=360x360)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E2-9ArxXMAIU65p?format=png&name=360x360)

Unfortunately, a recent patch seems to have introduced an extremely annoying bug that makes the sound in battles stutter and cut. The developers confirmed the issue in April, but so far no patch to fix it has been released. <_<
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 05, 2021, 03:29:40 AM
Someone creating assets for American Truck Simulator is a fan of Frasier, I think.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E3GrxwQWQAMkYSa?format=png&name=small)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E3GXOW7WEAI5yIz?format=png&name=small)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 05, 2021, 02:42:09 PM
Been in Idaho and Washington today in ATS.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E3JIjBOXEAMX9GM?format=jpg&name=medium)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E3JIkr1X0AMBZeT?format=jpg&name=medium)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E3JInkAXoAgt3pI?format=jpg&name=medium)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E3JIvXFXwAU3IIM?format=jpg&name=medium)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E3JIaw2WEBMAq5x?format=jpg&name=medium)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E3JIbkJX0As9MbY?format=jpg&name=medium)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E3JIcQmWQAAwLxF?format=jpg&name=medium)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E3JIc34WUAUIR24?format=jpg&name=medium)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 10, 2021, 03:05:08 PM
New trailer for Elden Ring, From Software's next game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6pCyV7PnqI
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 12, 2021, 04:05:24 PM
Trailer for Trek to Yomi. Basically, "What if Akira Kurosawa black and white movie, but side scrolling fighting game?"

https://youtu.be/vnkk00iSHGM

:wub:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on June 14, 2021, 03:46:55 AM
Just noticed it's been a year since I last bought a game (Shadow Empire). I just don't have time to play games lately (well, I do have it, but I find myself using it more on Netflix et al), but in the interim I've got so many games for free that I just don't see me buying another one in a very long time.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on June 14, 2021, 05:50:18 AM
Slipstreams is crazy addictive.

Don't be fooled it's 100% a puzzle game with sci-fi empire building as a theme and not at all a strategy game. But it is smart and the theme is applied well.  Have spent like 10 hours in 3 days on it trying to become better. The maps are random and after 3 run-throughs you get random elements like different scoring methods (mining focus) or ones that influence the map (more desert planets etc). These you see before starting and can just re-randomise, or turn them off altogether, however. They affect the score you get at the end, as well.

Overall, a really nice game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 22, 2021, 12:38:43 AM
D&D Dark Alliance seems to not be very good: https://youtu.be/jIEOF-Aa1Rk
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on June 22, 2021, 01:54:08 AM
A pity, I quite enjoyed the PS2 originals. Mindless fun ARPGs.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 22, 2021, 02:22:08 AM
If you watch the video it's quite broken. Maybe it can be patched, but the release state is pretty bad.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on June 22, 2021, 02:24:10 AM
I watched the video, even if they patched the bugs there doesn't seem to be much of a game there? Linearish levels, not much diversity in enemies (at least in the video), 3 abilities per character...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 24, 2021, 01:45:17 PM
Maybe of interest to some Languishites, a FREE game:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1497110/Melodramatica/

QuoteIn this charming management game, you embody Josephine, a Victorian theatre manager, in her quest to train an eccentric troupe of actors. It's your job to make sure your actors and the stage are ready to put on a perfect show! Train your actors, resolve conflicts, dress up your troupe in costumes, arrange the correct staging and handle everyone's daily tasks! Can you meet the harsh critics' expectations?

QuoteFeature summary
Craft staging and costumes
Manage your limited budget to allow for the best possible show
Assign tasks to your acting troupe
Assign your actors a role to train for
Help solve issues the actors encounter during their busy schedule
Assign your actors the correct costumes for their role
Match the right backdrops to the plays
Discover the personalities and stories of your actors

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1497110/ss_56cd175bb3c7e9a8f2e1d73edb3c443d6d3c80f1.1920x1080.jpg?t=1624522661)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1497110/ss_449195b597b291769e66a1b2e71b883edd52383e.1920x1080.jpg?t=1624522661)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1497110/ss_072728e8d2e83afe284b9de2048dcb384b3821ec.1920x1080.jpg?t=1624522661)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on June 25, 2021, 12:12:05 PM
Quote from: Syt on May 30, 2021, 10:18:13 AM
I've given AC: Origins another shot, and I'm into it now. I made it to Alexandria, and damn, this might be one of the finest in game ciities I've seen. I feel like a tourist with all the pictures I'm taking.

And I love the details - the mathematicians in the library, the theater that has a play about Cleopatra getting Caesar to kick out her brother, etc.
Since I believe that Germans can be trusted unconditionally, I have purchased this in the Steam Summer Sale. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on June 25, 2021, 12:12:59 PM
Quote from: Syt on June 24, 2021, 01:45:17 PM
Maybe of interest to some Languishites, a FREE game:
Do you get to bang anyone?  I like the free games on Steam where you can do that.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 26, 2021, 04:21:28 AM
Grow up already.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on June 26, 2021, 05:24:28 AM
I don't think we would want a grown-up Cal.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on June 26, 2021, 06:32:54 AM
The thought is terrifying.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on June 26, 2021, 12:51:37 PM
Quote from: Syt on June 26, 2021, 04:21:28 AM
Grow up already.


I recently started up Fallout 4 and wanted to try some mods.  Christ, how many nude mods does someone need?  I also founded a mod that changes the "idiot savant" perk to "idiot slut".  What the fuck is wrong people?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on June 27, 2021, 09:00:40 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on June 26, 2021, 12:51:37 PM
I recently started up Fallout 4 and wanted to try some mods.  Christ, how many nude mods does someone need?

Quite a lot, evidently.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on June 27, 2021, 09:11:42 PM
I think you only need one body mod for males and one for females.  The ones that randomize bodies using different mods don't appear to work very well.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on June 30, 2021, 07:28:22 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on June 26, 2021, 12:51:37 PM
Quote from: Syt on June 26, 2021, 04:21:28 AM
Grow up already.


I recently started up Fallout 4 and wanted to try some mods.  Christ, how many nude mods does someone need?  I also founded a mod that changes the "idiot savant" perk to "idiot slut".  What the fuck is wrong people?
:lol: :lol:
Nude mods are always in the first ones to be released for nearly any game, and quite often the most downloaded mods.  But sure, gamers are mature people :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on July 01, 2021, 03:10:42 AM
And they're much easier to produce than "bang anyone" mods. 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on July 01, 2021, 12:32:32 PM
Quote from: Jacob on June 27, 2021, 09:00:40 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on June 26, 2021, 12:51:37 PM
I recently started up Fallout 4 and wanted to try some mods.  Christ, how many nude mods does someone need?

Quite a lot, evidently.

It's like going to a movie with Paul Reubens

"C'mon PeeWee, do you have to do that here?  It makes it hard to enjoy the film when you do that."
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on July 01, 2021, 12:34:59 PM
Did you see his big adventure?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on July 05, 2021, 10:37:53 AM
Quote from: The Brain on July 01, 2021, 12:34:59 PM
Did you see his big adventure?

Did you see his Big Top?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 09, 2021, 05:29:47 AM
anyone played hammerting?
Seems interesting.
Dwarf Fortress but with a usable UI.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 09, 2021, 01:23:50 PM
Quote from: Syt on April 29, 2021, 10:23:28 AM
As for the Anstoß series. Anstoß 2 got a significant expansion in 1998. Anstoß 3 came out in 2000 and was IMHO the best game of the series- the series had a lovely mix of business sim, football management and a fair dose of anarchic humor. Anstoß 4 was developed in 12 months from scratch (Anstoß 1-3 code was building onto each other), and was a buggy mess. Anstoß 2005 and 2007 followed with little success..

Anstoß 1-3 are now on GOG. :w00t: (German only)
https://www.gog.com/game/anstoss
https://www.gog.com/game/anstoss_2
https://www.gog.com/game/anstoss_3
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on July 09, 2021, 06:30:12 PM
Bought 'Gods - Remastered' during the steam sale, it's an excellent classic Bitmap Brothers platformer.   :bowler:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on July 10, 2021, 01:20:51 AM
Quote from: Tyr on July 09, 2021, 05:29:47 AM
anyone played hammerting?
Seems interesting.
Dwarf Fortress but with a usable UI.

Not yet, but it's in this month's Humble Choice which I'm getting, so I'll play it at some point.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on July 14, 2021, 05:25:30 AM
Company of Heroes 3 announce trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0nWPG_cFqY

Seems like it will be set in Italy and North Africa.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on July 14, 2021, 08:42:37 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on July 14, 2021, 05:25:30 AM
Company of Heroes 3 announce trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0nWPG_cFqY

Seems like it will be set in Italy and North Africa.

Tactical pause and a dynamic campaign in single player sound really nice for those of us who aren't 12 years old and don't have 200 clicks per minute in them. Promising.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on July 14, 2021, 09:25:25 AM
Yeah, I really like the tactical pause and the ability to give commands to paused units.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 14, 2021, 09:36:20 AM
I'll keep an eye on that. I couldn't get into CoH1 because it was way too micro for my tastes, and didn't even as much as look at 2 which seemed to be more of the same.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 15, 2021, 12:52:01 PM
Because Dark Souls modders are weird there's now a mod that makes all textures in game scroll. I'm watching LobosJr stream this, and it's disconcerting and disorienting, especially considering how years of gaming have trained me to see scrolling floors as moving floors. :D

https://youtu.be/M2wwtUGn8uE

Would not recommend to watch if you get motion sick easily.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 15, 2021, 03:54:39 PM
Dark souls does seem the right game for such a painful mod.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 23, 2021, 01:03:58 PM
Max Payne was released 20 years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsQVD5ttpog&ab_channel=RemedyEntertainmentOyj

Sam Lake still looks the same, WTF? :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 28, 2021, 11:41:29 AM
Total War Troy is getting a new expansion, probably coinciding with the Steam release in September.

https://www.totalwar.com/blog/total-war-troy-mythos-release-date-faq/

It's a weird one. Troy has the mythical heroes (Menelaus, Odysseus, Achilles, Paris, etc.) but didn't go full fantasy. Instead they went with "truth behind the myth", i.e. "cyclopes" are just really big dudes, and "centaurs" are very good horseback units. The idea being that these units could have formed the nucleus for those mythical figures.

The new expansion will go full in on the mythological side. You can go on quests to capture a hydra, a Cerberus or a Griffin and have them fight for you. And the "mythological" creatures will be actual cyclopes, centaurs etc. Also, you can call on Zeus to send lightning to smite the enemy.

But also there'll be a free patch which tries to go full historical (well as historical as a game with the characters from the Iliad can be, I guess), turning even the "truth behind the myth" units off. I haven't spent much time with the game, I mostly picked it up for free during the launch promo. But I feel I might like the middle road for this better - yes, have larger than life characters and units, but not going full fantasy.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on July 28, 2021, 04:40:57 PM
Looks like they want to get the most out of their Warhammer art assets.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on July 28, 2021, 09:41:48 PM
Played a little Hell Let Loose since it just released a free update that includes the Russians and two new maps, Kursk and Stalingrad, along with a new attack/defense mode.

It's a solid combination of tactical milsim and Battlefield 1942. Slow, easy to die, but still somewhat accessible. Died quite a bit, sometimes out of nowhere. Takes a little time to situate yourself and where the front is. Generally, you want to shoot in the direction your teammates are shooting. Good rule of thumb..

Me and my squad mates were defending a trench line. Germans would appear in the field before us and we'd shoot them. Not hard. At one point our squad lead was talking about where he thought the Germans might approach our position when his VOIP immediately stopped because a bullet went through his helmet and into his skull with a PLINK. A German machine gun had placed itself on our left flank and started firing right down our line. I took my PPsh and fired it at the general position of where I though the machine gun was firing from over the head of my teammate. A minute of frantic small arms fire and grenades ended with us still in the trench line as more Germans began to attack across the field again. I killed a bunch more with my handy PPsh and we held the line until German artillery landed right on top of us.

10/10 game would recommend for the glory of the socialism.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on July 29, 2021, 03:46:28 AM
Sounds fun. :)

Reminded me I grabbed Verdun 1916 while it was free on Epic and gave it a whirl over the weekend. Refreshing to kill and die from a couple of bullets instead of people being bullet sponges, but quite brutal. Ended up playing with an LMG and spraying at the general direction of people. Ended up with like an almost 3:1 K/D ration despite being a clueless noob being shot whenever I tried to move. Turns out machine guns are pretty effective mowing down people coming your way.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on July 29, 2021, 03:56:03 AM
Total War: Troy options:

(https://i.redd.it/dzty61c5oyd71.png)

Interesting implications for future games, at least ones set in older times. Although they could also do a Victorian Total War with steampunk or somesuch.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 29, 2021, 04:42:07 AM
Well, they did that with Three Kingdoms, didn't they? The historical vs. the mythical as two different playstyles.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on July 29, 2021, 04:46:31 AM
They are going to maintain balance across 3 styles?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 29, 2021, 05:05:54 AM
I'm wondering how special the Mythological style is going to be beyond a few special units and god powers slapped onto the existing game. I feel it would be neat to have a mythologically inspired game with divine interventions and mythological creatures if you design it as such from he ground up, but not sure rejigging an existing game for it is a great idea.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on July 29, 2021, 05:08:43 AM
Quote from: Syt on July 29, 2021, 04:42:07 AM
Well, they did that with Three Kingdoms, didn't they? The historical vs. the mythical as two different playstyles.

And I think it worked fairly well. You could notice the difference.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on July 29, 2021, 08:40:05 AM
Quote from: Syt on July 29, 2021, 04:42:07 AM
Well, they did that with Three Kingdoms, didn't they? The historical vs. the mythical as two different playstyles.
Is Three Kingdoms any good? I ask because I love the setting but never heard of that until I saw it on Steam so I'm a little unsure if it's actually worth getting.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on July 29, 2021, 08:41:01 AM
The streamer I watch that is into Total War thinks it's the best one.

And he's more into War Hammer that he is into TW.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 29, 2021, 09:15:32 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on July 29, 2021, 08:40:05 AM
Quote from: Syt on July 29, 2021, 04:42:07 AM
Well, they did that with Three Kingdoms, didn't they? The historical vs. the mythical as two different playstyles.
Is Three Kingdoms any good? I ask because I love the setting but never heard of that until I saw it on Steam so I'm a little unsure if it's actually worth getting.

I haven't played it, but I think CA recently announced that there were no more expansions coming, apparently leaving out some promised map areas and factions, though I don't know how crucial they are.

It's the early quitting on Three Kingdoms which made it surprising to me that Troy is getting new DLC as I thought it was the least popular of their more recent releases.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on July 29, 2021, 09:25:27 AM
I thought Three Kingdoms was their best selling game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on July 29, 2021, 09:25:43 AM
Quote from: Tamas on July 29, 2021, 03:46:28 AM
Sounds fun. :)

Reminded me I grabbed Verdun 1916 while it was free on Epic and gave it a whirl over the weekend. Refreshing to kill and die from a couple of bullets instead of people being bullet sponges, but quite brutal. Ended up playing with an LMG and spraying at the general direction of people. Ended up with like an almost 3:1 K/D ration despite being a clueless noob being shot whenever I tried to move. Turns out machine guns are pretty effective mowing down people coming your way.

Arcade shooters like BF have a lot going for them but the visceral combat of games like Verdun and Hell Let Loose make the individual moments like these much more meaningful (and fun).

Of course much of the experience also includes dying a dozen times to random bullets and explosions through no fault of your own  :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on July 29, 2021, 09:27:59 AM
The "early quitting" on Three Kingdoms is a ridiculous storm in a teacup. There are several DLCs, a ginormous map, two separate gamemodes, 3 groups of factions which play quite differently (regular factions, Yellow Turbans, and the tribesmen) further differentiated within these larger groups (within the regulars at least) especially with the Emperor mechanics introduced in one of the updates. AND there are minor differences further in terms of campaign "special abilities" of characters - e.g. one gets bonuses for military supply, the other gets bonus point to spend on effects for military victories, the other for economy, the third gets refugees from across the land if he is in peace, to boost his population etc.

It's a massive game on par with most grand strategy games for the strategical layer, and a pretty decent (if no particularly exciting) tactical layer.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 29, 2021, 09:53:12 AM
I had a look where KOEI's Romance of the Three Kingdoms series stands. They're on XIV, but it's 60 EUR with tons of DLC on top that (based on Google translate of Chinese reviews) are rip offs that add little. The game has mixed reviews and the DLCs mostly negative. XIII the same. The titles before that (XI, X, IX) review better, but while ROTK I - XV is on Steam, only the last two entries are available in English. Shame, I remember enjoying ROTK XI (I can probably still download my copy from Gamergate ... :hmm: ).

Samurai Warriors V is also out. It has positive reviews, but it costs 69.99, apparently instead of each character having their own move set they have one move set per weapon (so if characters use the same weapon type ...) - I believe they did that in Dynasty Warriors IX. Anyways, you can already order the season pass for 32.99 which will add horses, some scenarios, and a few weapons (or you get the Deluxe Version which costs 99.99 and includes game and season pass). :lol: Also some user reviews say there's no story mode, just standalone scenarios? :unsure: I used to play a ton of Samurai Warriors III Empires on Xbox 360 and loved it at the time. Not enticed by this one :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on July 29, 2021, 05:19:52 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on July 29, 2021, 08:40:05 AM
Is Three Kingdoms any good? I ask because I love the setting but never heard of that until I saw it on Steam so I'm a little unsure if it's actually worth getting.

I enjoyed it.

I do realize that I don't really like the Total War games, though.

But if you like Total War and the Three Kingdoms period, then it's worth getting.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on July 30, 2021, 09:24:35 AM
Quote from: Jacob on July 29, 2021, 05:19:52 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on July 29, 2021, 08:40:05 AM
Is Three Kingdoms any good? I ask because I love the setting but never heard of that until I saw it on Steam so I'm a little unsure if it's actually worth getting.

I enjoyed it.

I do realize that I don't really like the Total War games, though.

But if you like Total War and the Three Kingdoms period, then it's worth getting.
So I'm not a fan of Total War really - but I really like the Three Kingdoms stuff :ph34r:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on July 30, 2021, 11:24:33 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on July 30, 2021, 09:24:35 AM
So I'm not a fan of Total War really - but I really like the Three Kingdoms stuff :ph34r:

It's pretty decent for that, I think. Worth getting on sale and mess around with. I played through the main campaign once and had a good time.

I've played the Japan one and a couple of the Warhammer ones, and Three Kingdoms was the most satisfying implementation in my book. But I probably won't buy more TW games after this.

Have you looked at Oriental Empires? Less flashy than TW by a long stretch, but it's a pretty solid AA indie ancient China strategy game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on July 30, 2021, 11:26:42 AM
I have Three Kingdoms, but I haven't played it yet. I did get around to reading the Romance though - the short 600p version.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 31, 2021, 02:46:49 PM
After two years in early access, Jupiter Hell will release V1.0 next week.

Jupiter Hell is what became of the Doom Roguelike.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/811320/Jupiter_Hell/

QuoteJupiter Hell is a classic, turn-based roguelike set in a 90s flavored sci-fi universe. Set on the moons of Jupiter, the game pits a lone space marine against overwhelming demonic forces. Rip and tear zombies, demons and unmentionable monstrosities, using classic weaponry such as shotguns, chainguns, railguns and the trusty chainsaw. All to the shine of CRT monitors and the tune of heavy metal!

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/811320/ss_de10383e961d59896f3a66ae05d3f6dea96f6449.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/811320/ss_29f360174c04821cb8ccde66e541b4146827374c.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/811320/ss_8bb0de242942dcede2e08dabb63616dcc8a6817b.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/811320/ss_88a1191732161fee14b7ac14de3030039920572f.1920x1080.jpg)

I seem to have picked this up as part of a sale or bundle, but I haven't played it yet. :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 10, 2021, 09:34:14 AM
The Forza Horizon 5 map revealed. Reportedly 50% larger than the one in the previous game.

(https://assets2.rockpapershotgun.com/forza%20map.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/forza%20map.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on August 10, 2021, 04:20:35 PM
Anyone try Hentai Femdom Simulator?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on August 10, 2021, 07:23:36 PM
Quote from: The Brain on August 10, 2021, 04:20:35 PM
Anyone try Hentai Femdom Simulator?

Does it have [spoiler]lesbian sex[/spoiler]?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 18, 2021, 01:51:42 AM
I'm somewhat tempted by Ascent an twin stick shooter/cyberpunk RPG. I've watched some streams of it, and it looks quite good, and might be enough to overcome my dislike for twin stick shooters.

https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/the-ascent-review/

I may pick this up during one of the inevitable, interminable sales, I suppose.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on August 20, 2021, 10:17:39 AM
It's more of an rpg than a twin stick shooter. It is glorious in 4K. Map sucks.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 21, 2021, 08:14:57 AM
Good to know. :)


CoD has a new trailer that features a JU-87 for a second or three. Military Aviation History made a one minute video pointing out everything wrong with how the plane looks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISRVxZ27bVk&ab_channel=MilitaryAviationHistory

(I like them calling it a "Frankenstuka" :lol: )
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on August 25, 2021, 04:15:23 AM
Anyone play Bum Simulator? :moon:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 25, 2021, 10:44:18 AM
Dude I know through Twitch has released his first game, Doki Doki Gravity Dive:

https://youtu.be/i8cSnzrPhpA

It's a retro 3D shooter. Think late 80s aesthetic; it puts me in mind of Amiga 3D games. It's a small game, designed to play e.g. during lunch break for high scores. The main idea is that you clear a small system of geometrical bodies from enemies. Each body (cube, torus, etc.) has its own field of gravity. The whole thing comes with a pretty neat chiptune soundtrack. It's €6.59 on GOG: https://www.gog.com/game/doki_doki_gravity_dive and $7.99 on itch.io: https://memoriesin8bit.itch.io/doki-doki-gravity-dive

(https://images.gog-statics.com/cab7ae1d9a448ff4827e16331193c45a77f09b0678aff58fc26114426a2850b2.jpg)

(https://images.gog-statics.com/c948363b6344bf6a29a5963045981b7515ef6f30da71a1d343f1709656994103.jpg)

(https://images.gog-statics.com/3b70ff4ac2f3098d2686fa8e2e5ae4b1bd1ef924c4bde2abba8128dd0daeb006.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 29, 2021, 02:49:14 PM
Final Fantasy XIV is sometimes a bit weird.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E9-ydnGWUAQFOdB?format=jpg&name=small)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E9-yil4WYAApQg4?format=jpg&name=small)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on August 31, 2021, 02:23:03 PM
Tried to play ancestors the human kind odyssey.

I don't get it. It's very unintuitive.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 02, 2021, 04:00:03 AM
So I've been mostly (slowly) playing Final Fantasy 14 recently. It's nice escapism, and rather relaxing. I was trepedatious about the mandatory group content you need to advance the main story, but even that has been a breeze (as a tank, anyways) - the game has dungeon roulettes for high level players that they often use for leveling additional classes, so waiting times aren't much of a problem. Other players are chill, for the most part, and helpful. I'm actually thinking about joining a guild :o to have people to chat with while I go through the campaign.

The base campaign (A Realm Reborn) is not the greatest writing ever, but I'm enjoying plucking away at it and doing some side quests (I'm still 10+ levels ahead of the main quest). I am using a guide for what systems unlock when, and checked some beginner guides on what quests to pick up or leave for later - the game inundates you with the option to start leveling additional classes, crafting and gathering pretty early, but the general advice is to leave those for later.

I wouldn't recommend the game if you have strong opinions about anime art style, cat girls, etc. It's also leaning into the goofiness of MMOs, though it tries to keep it out of the main story from what I understand (with the story becoming significantly better but also featuring pretty long cutscenes at points with the expansions). So if a rabbit girl in a surfer outfit playing Metallica's One on an electric guitar in a social hub or a character riding around in a flying tank or bed breaks your immersion, I'd again not recommend.

Additionally, I wouldn't recommend this if you like to create and customize builds - you get your abilities automatically, you don't have to worry about assigning skill points, and while gear is important it's not the be-all/end-all. It's more important to learn your class's rotations and skills and how to ideally string them together and apply this to mechanics in dungeons and boss fights. It's not exactly Path of Exile in that regard. :P

But yeah, I enjoy it. I got a good chuckle out of this dialogue from a quest giver yesterday. She sends you to kill mongrels (because they killed her fiance), and later asks you to take a delivery to a different camp. As she explains:

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E-N-yGrXEAI9uFR?format=jpg&name=small)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 06, 2021, 11:52:36 AM
I've received an email from Slitherine/Matrix that I've been a customer since forever, and clicking the link I got a 44% coupon for my next purchase. Obviously, I picked up War in the East 2, at a more reasonable price of EUR 40 than the 71.99 advertised.

Now only to find time to learn this ...  :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on September 06, 2021, 04:43:37 PM
So.

Seems paradox is a shit place to work?

https://kotaku.com/report-nearly-half-of-paradox-staff-experience-mistre-1847624162
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on September 07, 2021, 01:54:23 AM
Quote from: Syt on September 06, 2021, 11:52:36 AM
I've received an email from Slitherine/Matrix that I've been a customer since forever, and clicking the link I got a 44% coupon for my next purchase. Obviously, I picked up War in the East 2, at a more reasonable price of EUR 40 than the 71.99 advertised.

Now only to find time to learn this ...  :hmm:

I got mine a few weeks ago, but I only deserved a meagre 5%  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 07, 2021, 01:56:26 AM
Mine was for 13 years. At least on this account. Though I seem to recall that I had an older account for which I used to get vouchers for. But I think I merged them a while back and they may have gone with the newer one? :unsure:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 07, 2021, 01:58:14 AM
Quote from: Tyr on September 06, 2021, 04:43:37 PM
So.

Seems paradox is a shit place to work?

https://kotaku.com/report-nearly-half-of-paradox-staff-experience-mistre-1847624162

Yeah. Kinda fits the stories that came out last year. The leaving of their CEO is also a bit weird.

I know it's wild speculation, but I like to think it's no coincidence that Johan opened a studio in Spain around the time that employees in Stockholm got unionized. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on September 07, 2021, 07:42:59 AM
I'm happy that workers in that industry are asserting their rights.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 08, 2021, 03:37:38 AM
Preliminary cars list for Forza Horizon 5.

https://forzamotorsport.net/en-us/news/forza-horizon-5-confirmed-car-list

Bit over 400 cars to start with, which I believe was also the ballpark of FH4 at launch (it sits at over 700 at this point be now, I think, I really liked the James Bond Cars in FH4). :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 08, 2021, 06:06:45 AM
GOG adding a couple of Star Trek games, including Away Team, Elite Force I & II, and Armada I & II (the latter two coming "soon"):

https://www.gog.com/partner/startrek
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on September 08, 2021, 08:28:31 AM
Got into playing No Man's Sky and I'm kinda hooked. I don't know what this game was like at launch but now it's got tons of stuff to do and see and I really enjoy just how super chill the game is. I can do the story missions or I can just fuck off and do my own thing for a few hours and explore some cool planets. It's the ultimate "decompress after a long day" sort of game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on September 08, 2021, 10:56:44 AM
I just got XCom 2 from GoG and quite liking it so far. Just in my first game so a real rookie at it. I played a lot of the first/original Xcom game, but hadn't played any Xcom for years until now.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on September 08, 2021, 01:15:29 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on September 08, 2021, 08:28:31 AM
Got into playing No Man's Sky and I'm kinda hooked. I don't know what this game was like at launch but now it's got tons of stuff to do and see and I really enjoy just how super chill the game is. I can do the story missions or I can just fuck off and do my own thing for a few hours and explore some cool planets. It's the ultimate "decompress after a long day" sort of game.

I was wondering if it was worth it now given all the improvements and it is on sale.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on September 08, 2021, 01:38:52 PM
Quote from: garbon on September 08, 2021, 01:15:29 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on September 08, 2021, 08:28:31 AM
Got into playing No Man's Sky and I'm kinda hooked. I don't know what this game was like at launch but now it's got tons of stuff to do and see and I really enjoy just how super chill the game is. I can do the story missions or I can just fuck off and do my own thing for a few hours and explore some cool planets. It's the ultimate "decompress after a long day" sort of game.

I was wondering if it was worth it now given all the improvements and it is on sale.

I'vce meant to check that out one day.  I know it was lambasted on release, but it's had like 15-16 significant updates in the 5 years since release.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on September 08, 2021, 01:50:38 PM
It can feel lonely from time to time but there's usually a new discovery around the corner. The gameplay gets a little samey for me in the regular mode too. I should really try expedition one day.

I don't like the M&K controls.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on September 08, 2021, 02:46:57 PM
Quote from: garbon on September 08, 2021, 01:15:29 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on September 08, 2021, 08:28:31 AM
Got into playing No Man's Sky and I'm kinda hooked. I don't know what this game was like at launch but now it's got tons of stuff to do and see and I really enjoy just how super chill the game is. I can do the story missions or I can just fuck off and do my own thing for a few hours and explore some cool planets. It's the ultimate "decompress after a long day" sort of game.

I was wondering if it was worth it now given all the improvements and it is on sale.

Yeah, I think the updates over the years have salvaged what I understand to have been a flat gameplay experience into something fairly interesting and accessible. There are lots of things to do and it isn't too difficult to start doing them. It's also not a hardcore simulator by any stretch (though there is a hardcore survival mode) so I like that fact that I can hop in for an hour or so a night and the game respects my time. Often I'll play some music or put a pod on while playing the game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on September 09, 2021, 11:18:38 AM
Been playing project Wingman for the last few days... pretty fun action flight sim that doesn't require you to get your pilot's licence.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 09, 2021, 03:20:01 PM
Teaser for KotOR remake: https://twitter.com/TheSWU/status/1436061326955143171?s=20

Hopefully not a PS5 exclusive.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on September 09, 2021, 04:10:58 PM
The original one was a fucking X-Box exclusive. Pissed me off then, so I guess the remake has to be true to its annoying console exclusive roots.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on September 09, 2021, 04:44:51 PM
Quote
Aspyr
@AspyrMedia
This is no Jedi mind trick!

We're bringing STAR WARS: Knights of the Old Republic - Remake to PlayStation 5 as a console exclusive at launch and to PC in partnership with
@PlayStation and @Lucasfilmgames!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on September 10, 2021, 03:35:38 AM
So a timed exclusive? Well, it's probably still some time away.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on September 10, 2021, 03:46:22 AM
I think what they mean that it's not coming to Xbox.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on September 10, 2021, 01:17:24 PM
For Cal: Gas Station Simulator is coming.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on September 10, 2021, 01:24:30 PM
food on release, or a DLC?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on September 10, 2021, 01:30:21 PM
Quote from: Tamas on September 10, 2021, 03:46:22 AM
I think what they mean that it's not coming to Xbox.

Well they seem to suggest it will be exclusive to PS5 and then eventually come to PC just like the original KOTOR did with XBox. Which is fine, I am more patient these days.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on September 10, 2021, 01:32:25 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on September 10, 2021, 01:24:30 PM
food on release, or a DLC?

Looks like DLC. Or maybe microaggression transactions, pay2eat.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 12, 2021, 01:10:11 AM
Some discussion around the design for Thor for the next God of War game:

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E_EAyr_VgAEyME6?format=jpg&name=small)

Some people whining that he doesn't look like a chiseled body builder, others pointing out he has a strongman physique.

Personally, I'm reminded of Vader, who was a beast, but also fairly nimble (and could do a moonsault off the top rope).

(https://www.njpw1972.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Image15.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CXM479pUkAA_FuV.jpg:large)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on September 12, 2021, 02:16:07 AM
He looks strong. Would have sucked if they made him a body builder.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on September 12, 2021, 03:15:57 AM
Hey, looks like Avengers: Endgame Thor. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on September 12, 2021, 03:46:45 AM
Next thing you know, they'll be making Jesus look like a hippie.  :mad:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on September 12, 2021, 04:57:53 AM
I tried steam link for the first time.
Laptop downstairs a metre from the rooter and pc hooked up by cable.
It... Didn't work. There's just enough input lag to make anything with action unplayable and ought else annoying. Sad times.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on September 12, 2021, 11:47:10 AM
I don't mind the body shape of the GoW Thor.

Not sure why he feels the need to armour his shoulders and arms, but not his chest and abdomen. The hammer is better than the Marvel one, but still looks a bit silly to me.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on September 12, 2021, 12:13:02 PM
Quote from: Jacob on September 12, 2021, 11:47:10 AM
I don't mind the body shape of the GoW Thor.

Not sure why he feels the need to armour his shoulders and arms, but not his chest and abdomen. The hammer is better than the Marvel one, but still looks a bit silly to me.
My assumption is he's in a bit of a battle of the bulge and his weight fluctuates - so he needs some breathing room round his belly.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on September 12, 2021, 12:23:13 PM
It's a stupid complaint. Actual strongmen such as in the world's strongest man contest, as opposed to body builders (oh look at my muscles) , do have this build.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on September 12, 2021, 12:30:48 PM
Quote from: Jacob on September 12, 2021, 11:47:10 AM
I don't mind the body shape of the GoW Thor.

Not sure why he feels the need to armour his shoulders and arms, but not his chest and abdomen. The hammer is better than the Marvel one, but still looks a bit silly to me.

What does a God need with a breastplate?  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on September 12, 2021, 01:44:12 PM
Manuel Noriega was an actual strongman, and he didn't have that shape.   :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on September 13, 2021, 01:16:25 AM
Quote from: Tonitrus on September 12, 2021, 12:30:48 PM
What does a God need with a breastplate?  :P

I know "it's magic" can be used as an explanation for any game design decision, no matter how daft. It doesn't make the shoulder and arm armour but exposed chest any less silly.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on September 13, 2021, 01:17:00 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on September 12, 2021, 12:13:02 PM
My assumption is he's in a bit of a battle of the bulge and his weight fluctuates - so he needs some breathing room round his belly.

That is probably the most compelling explanation possible given the circumstances :cheers:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: PDH on September 13, 2021, 01:11:44 PM
Quote from: Jacob on September 13, 2021, 01:17:00 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on September 12, 2021, 12:13:02 PM
My assumption is he's in a bit of a battle of the bulge and his weight fluctuates - so he needs some breathing room round his belly.

That is probably the most compelling explanation possible given the circumstances :cheers:

Indeed, you buy whole new fat armor and stuff and you lose a little weight and that doesn't fit so well but the old stuff is still too tight.  Might as well wait until you knock off a few more post-holiday pounds or decide to stick with the chunkiness.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on September 13, 2021, 01:34:27 PM
Quote from: Tyr on September 12, 2021, 12:23:13 PM
It's a stupid complaint. Actual strongmen such as in the world's strongest man contest, as opposed to body builders (oh look at my muscles) , do have this build.

An actual Thor looks more like what a one would expect.

https://www.sportbible.com/boxing/boxing-news-hafthor-the-mountain-bjornsson-shows-off-remarkable-77lb-weight-loss-20210510
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on September 13, 2021, 02:33:31 PM
GTA San Andreas was very RPG-y with a gazillion things to do. GTA 4 was slimmed down to more of an action-adventure. Where is GTA 5 on this scale?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on September 13, 2021, 04:29:24 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on September 13, 2021, 01:34:27 PM
Quote from: Tyr on September 12, 2021, 12:23:13 PM
It's a stupid complaint. Actual strongmen such as in the world's strongest man contest, as opposed to body builders (oh look at my muscles) , do have this build.

An actual Thor looks more like what a one would expect.

https://www.sportbible.com/boxing/boxing-news-hafthor-the-mountain-bjornsson-shows-off-remarkable-77lb-weight-loss-20210510
Yeah I had this guy in mind specifically. Quite a difference between his competition look and when he drops the weight
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 13, 2021, 04:35:35 PM
Also, the Thor of myth is known to be a bit of a glutton. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on September 13, 2021, 05:04:54 PM
And Mimir calls Thor fat in the previous game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: PDH on September 13, 2021, 05:09:13 PM
Quote from: The Brain on September 13, 2021, 05:04:54 PM
And Mimir calls Thor fat in the previous game.
Fat or Phat?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on September 13, 2021, 05:17:14 PM
Quote from: PDH on September 13, 2021, 05:09:13 PM
Quote from: The Brain on September 13, 2021, 05:04:54 PM
And Mimir calls Thor fat in the previous game.
Fat or Phat?

Don't remember.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on September 14, 2021, 10:16:58 AM
Quote from: PDH on September 13, 2021, 05:09:13 PM
Quote from: The Brain on September 13, 2021, 05:04:54 PM
And Mimir calls Thor fat in the previous game.
Fat or Phat?

PAWG.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on September 14, 2021, 10:25:28 AM
Quote from: Tyr on September 13, 2021, 04:29:24 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on September 13, 2021, 01:34:27 PM
Quote from: Tyr on September 12, 2021, 12:23:13 PM
It's a stupid complaint. Actual strongmen such as in the world's strongest man contest, as opposed to body builders (oh look at my muscles) , do have this build.

An actual Thor looks more like what a one would expect.

https://www.sportbible.com/boxing/boxing-news-hafthor-the-mountain-bjornsson-shows-off-remarkable-77lb-weight-loss-20210510
Yeah I had this guy in mind specifically. Quite a difference between his competition look and when he drops the weight

As a God of War, fighting is probably important rather than just lifting heavy things off the ground.  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on September 14, 2021, 01:16:35 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on September 14, 2021, 10:25:28 AM
Quote from: Tyr on September 13, 2021, 04:29:24 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on September 13, 2021, 01:34:27 PM
Quote from: Tyr on September 12, 2021, 12:23:13 PM
It's a stupid complaint. Actual strongmen such as in the world's strongest man contest, as opposed to body builders (oh look at my muscles) , do have this build.

An actual Thor looks more like what a one would expect.

https://www.sportbible.com/boxing/boxing-news-hafthor-the-mountain-bjornsson-shows-off-remarkable-77lb-weight-loss-20210510
Yeah I had this guy in mind specifically. Quite a difference between his competition look and when he drops the weight

As a God of War, fighting is probably important rather than just lifting heavy things off the ground.  :P
Ah. I thought you were agreeing with my post.
I'd imagine the muscles for armed fighting have more in common with lifting and throwing stuff than they do boxing.
Especially in a viking context: weight is useful in the shield wall.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on September 14, 2021, 01:59:48 PM
Quote from: Tyr on September 14, 2021, 01:16:35 PM
Ah. I thought you were agreeing with my post.
I'd imagine the muscles for armed fighting have more in common with lifting and throwing stuff than they do boxing.
Especially in a viking context: weight is useful in the shield wall.

Are there any good viking shield walls in pop culture?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on September 14, 2021, 02:04:29 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on September 14, 2021, 10:25:28 AM
Quote from: Tyr on September 13, 2021, 04:29:24 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on September 13, 2021, 01:34:27 PM
Quote from: Tyr on September 12, 2021, 12:23:13 PM
It's a stupid complaint. Actual strongmen such as in the world's strongest man contest, as opposed to body builders (oh look at my muscles) , do have this build.

An actual Thor looks more like what a one would expect.

https://www.sportbible.com/boxing/boxing-news-hafthor-the-mountain-bjornsson-shows-off-remarkable-77lb-weight-loss-20210510
Yeah I had this guy in mind specifically. Quite a difference between his competition look and when he drops the weight

As a God of War, fighting is probably important rather than just lifting heavy things off the ground.  :P

Thor isn't a god of war, IIRC not even in the God of War take on Norse gods.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on September 14, 2021, 02:21:26 PM
I have never played the game.  Just going with the name of the game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Minsky Moment on September 14, 2021, 08:28:55 PM
Almost every source we have about the Norse gods dates well into the Christian era and contact with Christianity is likely to have influenced how they were viewed and described, so one can only speculate at how they were conceived and worshipped during the pre-Christian era.  Thor was probably a weather/sky God like Zeus/Jupiter/Yahweh and the one contemporaneous written description of the Temple of Uppsala identifies him as the central God, with Odin identified as the war God at his side.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on September 15, 2021, 03:35:33 AM
Quote from: Jacob on September 14, 2021, 01:59:48 PM
Quote from: Tyr on September 14, 2021, 01:16:35 PM
Ah. I thought you were agreeing with my post.
I'd imagine the muscles for armed fighting have more in common with lifting and throwing stuff than they do boxing.
Especially in a viking context: weight is useful in the shield wall.

Are there any good viking shield walls in pop culture?

I'm sure there are but I'm struggling to think of one.
I think in latter series the last kingdom finally got book accurate? (the first battle in the show is is a disaster for the shield wall and any accuracy ).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on September 15, 2021, 05:36:05 PM
Yeah, when their budget improved and they could hire more extras, Last Kingdom did a pretty good shield wall at one point.  That first battle was low budget.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on September 15, 2021, 06:07:36 PM
Better than Game of Thrones where they straight-up skipped battles in the beginning and reduced things like the tournament and Robert's hunting party.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on September 15, 2021, 06:20:53 PM
Agreed
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on September 15, 2021, 08:49:04 PM
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on September 14, 2021, 08:28:55 PM
Almost every source we have about the Norse gods dates well into the Christian era and contact with Christianity is likely to have influenced how they were viewed and described, so one can only speculate at how they were conceived and worshipped during the pre-Christian era.  Thor was probably a weather/sky God like Zeus/Jupiter/Yahweh and the one contemporaneous written description of the Temple of Uppsala identifies him as the central God, with Odin identified as the war God at his side.


Thor is certainly a war god.  The Norse had lots of war gods.  They really liked war.  Thor is the Norse variation of a much earlier thunder/war PIE (proto-indo-European) God named Perkunas (or something like that).  The Baltic version, Perun, retained part of his old name.  Perkunas was associated with lighting, oak trees and hitting stuff.  Zeus and Jupiter became associated with thunder and lightning through the influence of West Asian thunder gods like Yahwah and Baal Hadad.  Thunder was probably not the original function as their proto-type was god of the bright, daytime sky.

Zeus and Jupiter have a very old pedigree coming from the PIE.  They are decedents of a PIE deity know as "Dyeus Pater" (or something like that).  The name meant "sky father" and he was sort of the leader of the gods.  Dyeus has a Norse  decedent as well: Tyr.  Tyr seems to have lost his most of his original function and now is sort of a generic war god.  That and the god of stick-your-hand-in-a-wolf's-mouth.  He has an English cognate as well: Teus. which is why Tuesday is so named.

The Romans believed that their gods were universal but just had different names in different culture.  They consider Thor to be the same as Hercules, Tyr was the same as Mars and Odin was the same as Mercury. 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on September 16, 2021, 05:35:16 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on September 15, 2021, 05:36:05 PM
Yeah, when their budget improved and they could hire more extras, Last Kingdom did a pretty good shield wall at one point.  That first battle was low budget.
"This is your BBC" :lol: :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on September 17, 2021, 12:38:13 PM
I have once again bought a good, fun reasonably big game and become entirely obsessed with the mini-game. In this case I bought Judgement and now mainly play mahjong on it :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 17, 2021, 12:54:59 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on September 17, 2021, 12:38:13 PM
I have once again bought a good, fun reasonably big game and become entirely obsessed with the mini-game. In this case I bought Judgement and now mainly play mahjong on it :blush:

You could have bought Yakuza 0 instead if you wanted to play Mahjong. Or darts. Or Outrun. Or a ton of other mini games :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on September 17, 2021, 12:55:57 PM
Quote from: Syt on September 17, 2021, 12:54:59 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on September 17, 2021, 12:38:13 PM
I have once again bought a good, fun reasonably big game and become entirely obsessed with the mini-game. In this case I bought Judgement and now mainly play mahjong on it :blush:

You could have bought Yakuza 0 instead if you wanted to play Mahjong. Or darts. Or Outrun. Or a ton of other mini games :P
:lol: I have Yakuza 0 but not really got into it for some reason. Will return to it though because I like the idea a lot.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 17, 2021, 12:58:35 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on September 17, 2021, 12:55:57 PM
:lol: I have Yakuza 0 but not really got into it for some reason. Will return to it though because I like the idea a lot.

It's a rather confounding mix of super serious melodrama main plot and ridiculous and silly comedy side quests (doubly funny with Kiriu and his super serious demeanor :lol: ) :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on September 17, 2021, 01:25:47 PM
That is actually one of my favourite things about the series - it's a really great balance which I like a lot.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 17, 2021, 03:43:21 PM
1998's Hardwar has been re-released: https://www.zoom-platform.com/product/hardwar

Bit of a cult classic. Think Elite, but more cyberpunk, with a bit more story, set on Titan, and with FMV actors.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on September 18, 2021, 11:19:14 AM
Yakuza 0 is fantastic.
Though the mahjong and Japanese chess mini games mystified me
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 18, 2021, 11:25:12 AM
I'm still mostly playing FF14. Unlike in other MMOs I don't feel the need to rush, and I can just do what I feel like when I log in. Go and level my mining? Sure. Level my secondary class? Can do. Continue the main story? Run some dungeons? And I've only tried 3 of the classes/professions yet, and have yet to dabble with PvP or the randomized challenged dungeons. (Not to mention the content that will unlock by progressing the main story.) It all feels very chill and relaxed. And it's also a nice break from the grimdark fantasy worlds we often get these days. It also helps that the devs have a very strong stance against toxic behavior and chat.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Zanza on September 19, 2021, 07:43:41 AM
Jagged Alliance 3 announced with turn-based combat, some f the old mercenaries etc. I loved JA2, so I will follow this development.

(https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/s2WBgbfZNDFCbiqQmayRNK-412-80.jpg)

https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/jagged-alliance-3-announced-please-let-it-not-suck/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on September 19, 2021, 10:00:02 AM
Quote from: Syt on September 18, 2021, 11:25:12 AM
I'm still mostly playing FF14. Unlike in other MMOs I don't feel the need to rush, and I can just do what I feel like when I log in. Go and level my mining? Sure. Level my secondary class? Can do. Continue the main story? Run some dungeons? And I've only tried 3 of the classes/professions yet, and have yet to dabble with PvP or the randomized challenged dungeons. (Not to mention the content that will unlock by progressing the main story.) It all feels very chill and relaxed. And it's also a nice break from the grimdark fantasy worlds we often get these days. It also helps that the devs have a very strong stance against toxic behavior and chat.

I downloaded it after seeing some reviews. It looks interesting, and the "vive" is so weird!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 19, 2021, 10:31:54 AM
It has a fairly generous free trial (up to level 60, I think), but some limitations - how much money you can have, no tells to other players, that kind of thing.

The original main story is not exactly great for much of its runtime (though it picks up around level 35), some side quests are amusing. If I had one complaint it's that your class unlocks cool abilities quite slowly with some classes getting key abilities in their 40s or 50s. I spent much of the first 20 or so levels only using two or three buttons in combat.

Also, gameplay is not super challenging (at least as tank, I occasionally die as pugilist/monk) on early levels. Also, try not to run every quest you see, especially the unlocks for other jobs, or you will probably go insane. :D Focus on one, maybe two classes (if you much outlevel the quest content). Also, get used to content that you outlevel (Fates, i.e. world events; dungeons) level sync you by default, which can often mean you're back to having fewer skills than you've unlocked (e.g. when you're running a level 16 dungeon as level 30 character).

I like the game for its overall chill vibe. Check out a few beginner guides, because I felt quite overwhelmed when I started.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 19, 2021, 11:30:29 AM
Couple more random thoughts - FF14 is generally quite story heavy. So I hope you like reading. :P

Also, when you go to dungeons the first time, others will get a message that it's someone's first time. Don't feel bad about watching cutscenes in a dungeon - people know if there's someone doing a dungeon for the first time they want to watch the content. It's good etiquette to tell the party it's your first run, and ask if there's anything you need to know (the first few dungeons are very forgiving, so if you played WOW, most mechanics will be straightforward). If you're not the tank, then you may find yourself struggling to keep up with the speed of the group. If it's too fast, ask them to slow down, or ask for pointers about what you should be doing. Most people are quite helpful. (I main a tank, so I get mostly to set my own speed :P ).

If someone is rude or toxic, you can report them, and admins usually are quite harsh in such cases.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 19, 2021, 11:31:19 AM
Also, Jesse Cox has just uploaded a Lore video for beginners which is "99% spoiler free" (his words).

https://youtu.be/GaQ__5ZBwBc
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: KRonn on September 19, 2021, 01:22:17 PM
Quote from: Zanza on September 19, 2021, 07:43:41 AM
Jagged Alliance 3 announced with turn-based combat, some f the old mercenaries etc. I loved JA2, so I will follow this development.

(https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/s2WBgbfZNDFCbiqQmayRNK-412-80.jpg)

https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/jagged-alliance-3-announced-please-let-it-not-suck/

I liked JA 2 also, so I may want to check this out when it's released. Thks for the info!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: DGuller on September 20, 2021, 07:41:06 AM
Quote from: Zanza on September 19, 2021, 07:43:41 AM
Jagged Alliance 3 announced with turn-based combat, some f the old mercenaries etc. I loved JA2, so I will follow this development.

(https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/s2WBgbfZNDFCbiqQmayRNK-412-80.jpg)

https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/jagged-alliance-3-announced-please-let-it-not-suck/
Please don't suck, please don't suck, please don't suck...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 21, 2021, 09:07:28 AM
The Maker of classical paintings adventure games Four Last Things and Procession to Calvary is soon releasing Death of the Reprobate: https://youtu.be/ykPr5D-V2H8
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 21, 2021, 01:47:41 PM
It's a bit surprising in hindsight how many relatively big names the original 1997 Fallout cast had when getting screen actors to do voice work was still the exception:
- Richard Dean Anderson
- Clancy Brown (who wasn't as prolific a voice actor at the time)
- Keith David
- Ron Pearlman
- David Warner
- CCH Pounder
- Tony Shalhoub
- Brad Garrett (aka Ray's brother on Everybody Loves Raymond)
Plus voice actors like Jeff Bennett (Johnny Bravo), Tress MacNeille (who appeared in 600+ Simpsons episodes), Charlie Adler (who was in tons of cartoons since the 80s), Jim Cummings (who was in loads of Disney cartoons and has been voicing Winnie the Pooh since the 80s), or Tony Jay (another Disney alum, Frollo in Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Sheer Khan in Talespin, among others).

I feel someone on the production team must have been quite well connected. Notably, Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II came out in the same year, and despite the brand and having live action cut scenes they worked with fairly unknown folks.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 24, 2021, 12:13:53 PM
SNES game Actraiser (a mix of city building and 2D platforming) has been remastered for PC.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1393370/Actraiser_Renaissance/

I liked the original, but 29.99?  :huh:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on October 05, 2021, 02:01:22 PM
Anyone know what this is about? Any game store that makes me have to waste time finding the menu to install something that it otherwise won't operate without seems like a game store I might be able to do without.

QuoteEpic Online Services and Epic Games Launcher 13.0.0 Update
The Epic Games Launcher is now using Epic Online Services natively to keep cross-platform and social features up-to-date for integrated games.

With this change, the Epic Games Launcher will need to install a local Epic Online Services component as a prerequisite. Once you've installed the 13.0.0 launcher update on Windows you will begin to see messaging informing you of the changes and prompting you to complete Epic Online Services installation to receive future launcher updates.

To ensure you are able to continue to use the Epic Games Launcher we recommend getting the Epic Online Services installation completed as soon as possible. This can be done in just a few short steps from the settings menu in the Epic Games Launcher detailed below.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on October 05, 2021, 02:53:54 PM
It's not a game store. It's a social hub & launcher.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 05, 2021, 02:54:47 PM
Ugh. On the other hand I read the other day that the Epic Games Store will become available as an app in the Microsoft Windows store.  :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 06, 2021, 03:23:03 AM
Quote from: Syt on September 21, 2021, 01:47:41 PM
It's a bit surprising in hindsight how many relatively big names the original 1997 Fallout cast had when getting screen actors to do voice work was still the exception:
- Richard Dean Anderson
- Clancy Brown (who wasn't as prolific a voice actor at the time)
- Keith David
- Ron Pearlman
- David Warner
- CCH Pounder
- Tony Shalhoub
- Brad Garrett (aka Ray's brother on Everybody Loves Raymond)
Plus voice actors like Jeff Bennett (Johnny Bravo), Tress MacNeille (who appeared in 600+ Simpsons episodes), Charlie Adler (who was in tons of cartoons since the 80s), Jim Cummings (who was in loads of Disney cartoons and has been voicing Winnie the Pooh since the 80s), or Tony Jay (another Disney alum, Frollo in Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Sheer Khan in Talespin, among others).

I feel someone on the production team must have been quite well connected. Notably, Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II came out in the same year, and despite the brand and having live action cut scenes they worked with fairly unknown folks.
Particularly strange as Fallout doesn't really seem as though it was a major big budget game.
Maybe it was and memories after the event are warped.
But it really seems that until Fallout 3 came along it was quite a niche known only by nerds series.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on October 06, 2021, 05:37:59 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on October 05, 2021, 02:53:54 PM
It's not a game store. It's a social hub & launcher.

Something I definitely don't need.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 06, 2021, 11:55:36 AM
SO for some reason Jeff Goldblum has been roped into doing promo for a new Jurassic Park/World/whatever game (he previously showed up at not-E3).

And for some reason he's getting interviewed by Jesse Cox?? :unsure:

Clip from the interview: https://twitter.com/JesseCox/status/1445452588262957060?s=20

And: https://twitter.com/JesseCox/status/1445081588526567425?s=20s
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on October 06, 2021, 12:32:53 PM
He already did VO for the first installment of that game. Heck, a lot of the movie's cast was featured in it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 06, 2021, 12:42:52 PM
Apparently Jesse got to play co-op with Jeff and it will be online... somewhere? Twitch? ... this Friday.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 07, 2021, 08:45:31 AM
Speaking of, Twitch has a massive data leak. Their entire source code, including in dev projects (like a Steam-like platform) have been release, plus income for top streamers and bunch of other things. Apparently, login data was not part of the drop, but if you have a Twitch account, maybe a good time to switch passwords.

See here: https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/massive-twitch-data-breach-sees-hackers-release-source-code-contributor-payouts-and-unannounced-software/
And here: https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/security-experts-aghast-at-the-scale-of-twitch-hack-this-is-as-bad-as-it-could-possibly-be/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 07, 2021, 08:51:19 AM
I think I'll try New World.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: DGuller on October 07, 2021, 09:02:35 AM
Has anyone here played GeoGuessr?  I find it strangely addictive, especially without cheating with Google.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 07, 2021, 09:04:03 AM
GeoGuessr Is quite fun, but I haven't played in years. There's one with video footage that people filmed walking down streets, but they tend to be a bit easier.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 07, 2021, 09:54:45 AM
Quote from: Tamas on October 07, 2021, 08:51:19 AM
I think I'll try New World.

It looks like it's heavily focused on crafting, player factions and PvP wars for controlling territories. ... Think I'll pass.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 07, 2021, 10:00:18 AM
Quote from: Syt on October 07, 2021, 09:54:45 AM
Quote from: Tamas on October 07, 2021, 08:51:19 AM
I think I'll try New World.

It looks like it's heavily focused on crafting, player factions and PvP wars for controlling territories. ... Think I'll pass.

Yeah but I did enjoy Warhammer Online which was roughly the same idea, for a while at least. And if you are ever going to play a game like this you should do it close to release before it becomes dominated by uber meta hax0rz seal-clubbing everyone.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on October 07, 2021, 12:05:44 PM
Quote from: Tamas on October 07, 2021, 10:00:18 AM
Quote from: Syt on October 07, 2021, 09:54:45 AM
Quote from: Tamas on October 07, 2021, 08:51:19 AM
I think I'll try New World.

It looks like it's heavily focused on crafting, player factions and PvP wars for controlling territories. ... Think I'll pass.

Yeah but I did enjoy Warhammer Online which was roughly the same idea, for a while at least. And if you are ever going to play a game like this you should do it close to release before it becomes dominated by uber meta hax0rz seal-clubbing everyone.

I watched a pvp live stream of it, and it seems it is already there.  The losing side - that was being streamed, had lots of comments about people needing to power level up so that their faction could be competitive.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on October 07, 2021, 06:44:42 PM
Quote from: Tamas on October 07, 2021, 10:00:18 AM
Quote from: Syt on October 07, 2021, 09:54:45 AM
Quote from: Tamas on October 07, 2021, 08:51:19 AM
I think I'll try New World.

It looks like it's heavily focused on crafting, player factions and PvP wars for controlling territories. ... Think I'll pass.

Yeah but I did enjoy Warhammer Online which was roughly the same idea, for a while at least. And if you are ever going to play a game like this you should do it close to release before it becomes dominated by uber meta hax0rz seal-clubbing everyone.


Do people still do use l33t speak?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 08, 2021, 03:50:33 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on October 07, 2021, 06:44:42 PM
Quote from: Tamas on October 07, 2021, 10:00:18 AM
Quote from: Syt on October 07, 2021, 09:54:45 AM
Quote from: Tamas on October 07, 2021, 08:51:19 AM
I think I'll try New World.

It looks like it's heavily focused on crafting, player factions and PvP wars for controlling territories. ... Think I'll pass.

Yeah but I did enjoy Warhammer Online which was roughly the same idea, for a while at least. And if you are ever going to play a game like this you should do it close to release before it becomes dominated by uber meta hax0rz seal-clubbing everyone.


Do people still do use l33t speak?

i don't think so, but I am old.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 08, 2021, 04:02:31 AM
Anyways, got to level 12 last night.

It's decent but I am finding my Warhammer Online comparison to be apt - it's clearly geared towards PVP. Factions (there are 3) controlling territories has a noticeable impact as they can set taxes in towns on activities like trading and crafting and you have access to town supply dumps if your faction controls it. Also as far as I can tell there are no NPC equipment vendors, only the auction house trading post where players sell their stuff (as I understand).

PVE is decent but very standard MMO except that you actually have to aim yourself. I am enjoying the musketeer gameplay I am gunning for - I have a musket and a rapier.

Leveling via XP -which you get for crafting as well not just quests and killing- gives you attribute points, it is quite clearly indicated and explained which attribute affects which equipment. Skills (giving you passive and active abilities to unlock) are per weapon type and you gain proficiency points in them from using them.

I was reading that you get better loot drops than the stuff you can craft -except for high-end crafters- but with my intention to focus on light armor (that gives you bonuses) I haven't reached that stage yet. Apart from the couple of apparels all my armor is self-made basic cloth stuff. To be fair though if I was ok to put on medium and heavy armor I'd be mostly kitted up by dropped loot now, though.

One particular backstory thing I like is that because of this supernatural thing going on on the island, nobody dies, they re-materialise after a bit  Which gives a "plausible" (as far as fantasy goes) reason for PCs and mobs re-appearing all the time from death. Even the mob re-spawn animation supports that little narrative.

Haven't engaged in PVP yet - whether that's going to hold my attention will clearly be deciding how long I'll stick with the game. But for the time being it has cured my World of Tanks addiction, which is definitely a plus.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 08, 2021, 02:51:11 PM
Quote from: Syt on October 06, 2021, 12:42:52 PM
Apparently Jesse got to play co-op with Jeff and it will be online... somewhere? Twitch? ... this Friday.

https://youtu.be/skXCu2Eyjns
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 09, 2021, 03:56:24 AM
If any Europeans are playing New World, I am on the Yourang server playing Syndicate.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on October 09, 2021, 06:45:50 AM
God I loved Syndicate.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 11, 2021, 04:10:07 AM
Still enjoying New World and not sure why... Elder Scrolls Online should be much more up my alley (and to be fair I did clock about 50 hours on that the last couple of years), as it has tons more PVE content and variety. But the overall gameplay loop just seems better and the graphics plus especially the sound effects make New World more compelling to play. the individual areas of the game aren't that innovative or extraordinary (crafting, PVE, haven't really tried PVP except being flagged for it while doing PVP faction missions), but they seem to fit together nicely, giving context and relevance to each other.

Will be interesting to see how the player-run economy they are gunning for will pan out. There are some resources on the trade post (it's like the auction house) where it seems like you can make decent profit, but the price of the more mundane equipment (green weapons especially) has collapsed. I suspect a lot of people ignore the posting fee (and the warning you get when you try to post an item where your asking price is below that) because there's a LOT of 2 gold items and the default posting time (14 days) cost something like 4.8. The sell screen gives you a list of similar items (type and level) so  I guess people just posting to be cheaper than what they see there but they are actually losing money even if they sell it. Especially as you could get something like 0.50 out from just salvaging the bloody thing.

Tonight I'll have to go through the pain of getting into a dungeon team as I want to close off the lvl25 main story arch before going over to the 26+ region.

But, I won't be leaving my current main hangout (Everfall or somesuch) it's a major central hub on the map and it's under my faction's control. Through my various activities I have built a decent zone reputation (a score) and have chosen myself some crafting fee discounts with it. So I have my crafting stockpile in storage there (and you can craft straight out of the local storage which is neat) and will buy my player housing there once I somehow can get the money together for it (so I can teleport back for free).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 11, 2021, 03:46:55 PM
Coming up on the end of the original campaign in Final Fantasy XIV. The story picks up a fair bit, but from reading spoiler free comments about the last two dungeons ... well, they kinda messed them up and they learned from it for the future. Unfortunately they haven't managed to completely fix them.

In short you have two 8 man dungeons (most dungeons in story are 4-player: tank, healer, 2 dps), with tons of story cutscenes interspersed (like 25 minutes in the first, 30-35 in the second). Because of the system where almost all players do their daily dungeon roulette, you don't have to worry about finding peeps for the group.

However.

Many of them have run those dungeons many times by now. Normally, players are courteous when someone wants to watch cutscenes, but this is a bit much, and experienced players ran through the content, while a first timer was still watching a cutscene. So they made (for these two dungeons only) the cutscenes unskippable, and ramped up the rewards for players coming in through roulette considerably, and now it's a meme. I guess I will see myself, when I run them tomorrow or the day after. :D

Anyways, I'm one level too low (49, need 50) for them at the moment, so I guess it will be a couple more sidequests, clearing my hunting log, and some optional dungeons I haven't tried yet first (and when I get to 50 I can also do my next class quest). :lol:

It's still a pretty and casual affair, and I'm not hit by crippling FOMO for taking it slow. I tend to be a carebear in MMOs, and this game very much caters to that sensibility.  :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Caliga on October 12, 2021, 03:17:35 PM
A few months ago as part of the last Steam sale I bought AC: Odyssey and remembered I bought it this past weekend and checked it out.  I actually like it a lot better than AC: Origins so far. :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 13, 2021, 02:14:13 PM
Finished the main base story of FF14 yesterday. Yes, those dungeons sure were a lot of cutscenes. :D

Loved the lead up to the climax with the plans etc. Keep in mind that in the game you're a mostly silent protagonist. I felt VERY reminded of this: https://youtu.be/4SJOkjxZY9c

The people I ran with clearly knew the place by heart. The fights weren't hard, but man, keeping up was hard.

I'm glad I watched guides beforehand or I would have been super frustrated in the final one. I accidentally aggroed enemies in the first bit (you can fight them, but mostly people just run for an elevator) which led to me dying. So I had to play catch up .. and kinda failed. Fortunately, when the first boss fight starts you can just teleport to it. :D The second time I fell behind when you have to activate a thing in order to use another thing. This is something every player has to do. I activated the thing, but I must have cancelled shortly before it was done, because when I wanted to use the other thing I couldn't. So elevator back up, do it properly again etc. I did catch up with the rest, fortunately, because they were all stuck in their cutscene. :D The last boss fights were easy, and the followed 10 or 15 minutes of cutscenes and fifteen or so minutes of credits. :D

Not the most amazing story ever told, but entertaining enough, with a few small twists near the end. The expansion stories are supposedly where the meat is; I guess I can comment once I get there.

Took me two months and over 160 hours to get to this point, though. I did get sidetracked a lot though. Leveling another class, leveling mining, playing the collectible card game etc. I'm kind of scared of starting crafting, because it's not like e.g. WoW (click button, get product), but a whole process to produce what you want, with ingredient lists of raw and processed goods (themselves created from raw goods) and a skill set to go along with it. Sounds like a crazy rabbit hole (but a great money maker).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 24, 2021, 12:34:30 PM
So, with FF14 behind me, a review of sorts.

It's with mixed feelings that I stopped, but I think it was time.

The main selling point for FF14 at this point is the story. Many consider the original main campaign a slog, and I agree it has its slow bits, and some serious going back and forth to get exposition dialogue. Also, much of it is text only, and where there's voice acting, it's of decidedly mixed quality. I didn't have issues with it, but YMMV severely. It's high in melodrama and the occasional silliness; it is a JRPG at hear, after all. With the first expansion all of this apparently improves significantly, but you can spend dozens of hours to get there. There are boosts to bypass this, but much of the story builds onto previous content, so it might lead to more confusion.

The community is incredibly friendly and helpful. I didn't run into any toxic behavior, and in fact people can be reported and will be punished if they are dicks or assholes. Generally, if you ask people for help, they will gladly do so, and maybe throw in a random pet or mount just because they feel like it. There are many people who play this very much for the social aspects. Their guild, finding awesome cosmetics, decorating their house or guild hall, playing music in the social hubs, going to nightclubs (yes, those exist), ... kind of reminds me to what MMORPGs could be 15, 20 years ago where the community was as important an aspect as the content. I joined a guild myself, and people were incredibly chill and down to earth, with ages ranging from early 20s to 40s and 60s.

In terms of content there's tons of stuff. There's of course the main scenario quest (MSQ) that advances the main story. There's daily quests in areas where you can farm commendations for one of the three Grand Companies (the militias of the city states). There's beast tribes with daily quests that lead to special mounts and have their own little storylines (each expansion has 3-4 of those tribes). There's gathering, with full skill sets that increase your chances to get better or more resources from each attempt. There's an in depth crafting system. There's tons of mini games in the Gold Saucer casino, from lotteries, to a weekly fashion competition to platforming challenges to a collectible card game to an RTS with your pets and full on Mahjong. There's of course dungeons and trials and raids of increasing difficulty (normal, hard, extreme, ultimate). There's towers with 200 randomized floors to try to ascent through. There's fishing (because of course ... there's something like 400-500 different fish to find and catch). As mentioned there's house decorating (if you're lucky enough to snatch up on of the scarce lots). There's farming for glamour (i.e. transmogs). There's a sightseeing log where you have to be in certain spots at certain times, sometimes executing a certain emote. PvP. Level other classes (every character can learn all classes which you switch between by changing gear). Etc.

The devs have been clear that they expect their players to take breaks and play other games. Their philosophy is that if you feel tired or bored you should step back, play something else for a while and come back when you're ready.

The game is very casual friendly. Story content is generally not too challenging to make sure everyone can experience it. Though tough challenges are available for those seeking them.

The graphics, while showing their age can nevertheless look quite impressive, with some really cool locations throughout the game.

The actual gameplay is ... well, it's also showing its age. You have the classic tab-target combat. Most enemies have some abilities that will show a damage circle or cone on the ground which indicates you should move or take the hit. However, it can feel quite slow. The majority of attack skills are on a 2.5 second global cooldown (GCD). You later get utility skills outside these cooldowns, and some classes have ways to shorten the cooldowns. Additionally, you gain skills rather slowly. I ran my first dungeon at level 15 with 3 or 4 buttons, making it a bit tedious. At level 53 I had maybe 18 or 20 skills as Warrior. Most skills have additional effects besides damage, so it's worth reading too tips. E.g. as pugilist/monk I have a base skill, which allows me two use one of two follow ups which lead into two other follow ups. In rotation I would alternate, first using the skill that gives me extra damage for 15 seconds, then the one that deals damage over time (if fighting a boss, e.g.), and then the combo that gives most direct damage. On top, Monk skills deal bonus damage if dealt from flank or read depending on particular button. So a slow skill progression helps to learn these intricacies and how to string them together for best effect. At the end of the day it feels more varied and interesting than, say, SWTOR, but less immediate than ESO's combat which is more action based, but uses fewer skills.

Dungeons are a mixed bag. The original dungeons showed some ambition towards making them a bit larger and maze-like, but this was later abandoned. After the original main campaign, dungeons are usually a run from A to B, with a few trash mobs in between, and usually around 3 boss fights. Even optional dungeons generally have story and lore attached to them. And around level 50 I found that generally there'll be a gimmick or two about them. E.g. in one case you have an invulnerable boss stalk you through the level, and you can only avoid his damage by standing next to glowing crystals. When you fight the boss, it's invincible unless the tank brings it to the same such crystals in the arena. Other dungeons require you to activate things, collect things, avoid things, or - in boss fights - figure out how to avoid certain damage bursts. That can be jumping into one of the hovering water bubbles to avoid arena wide AOE, or preventing certain adds from reaching a target. All this is quite manageable in normal and hard difficulty, but becomes a lot harder in extreme and ultimate challenges where bosses get new mechanics and phases. I've seen Yourtubers compare this to WoW raids, and a comment was that while WoW feels faster (because of FF14's global cooldowns), it still feels challenging, but more like a dance.

Finding groups for dungeons isn't hard. Many players run "duty roulette" which slots them in dungeons seeking players (or assigns them randomly). There's little communication during a dungeon run, unless something funny happens, or someone needs help with the mechanics. If someone watches the cutscenes, people will generally wait for them to finish before moving on. If you end up running a dungeon for which you're oveleveled you'll get synced down - which also means you lose all skills you wouldn't have at the dungeons's level, which is a bit rough. :D

Ultimately, I didn't enjoy the dungeons. Some of them look quite cool, but I didn't find the gameplay much fun. I thought it was because I was playing tank. As tank you set the pace (usually that means first checking how many enemies you can pull while mitigating damage and the healer keeping up). But most of the time you tank the boss, avoid floor markers, and leave the rest of the mechanics to the DPS members of the group. I hear late dungeons demand a bit more from tanks, but it's considered one of the easiest roles, esp. since their aggro retention got buffed a lot (basically, any player must do >10x your damage). I did play my monk in dungeons, too, though (as it's an efficient way for leveling a second class), and while I felt I had more to do, I also felt more "along for the ride". It felt mostly tedious, and not much fun. YMMV, a lot of players seem to enjoy the dungeons for the visuals, story and music (esp. in later expansions), but on low levels I felt it was mostly tedious. Granted, my not liking to rely on others in games, or have them rely on me, probably is also a factor there. I picked up a bunch of dungeons at the end of the original main campaign, and I ran them quite begrudgingly. It's hard to pinpoint really. But running a few maps in POE can take as long as a dungeon in FF14, and I find the former much more engaging.

At the end of the day, I loved the world and story, and I liked the wholesome community (even though I prefer to not interact :ph34r: ). But the gameplay became grating. I found myself avoiding combat (if you switch to gatherer profession, mobs don't aggro on you, unless you're way below them in level), similar to SWTOR, and that's generally a bad sign. I think it comes down to the game systems overall feeling relatively casual. There's lots to do, but it's not demanding particularly much of you. If you're looking for something to while away time, this may be brilliant. There is a lot of content, and you can just chill out with it. And while I do often play games on low difficulties, the good points weren't enough to keep me p(l)aying. If I was a more socially minded person, I might have stayed on for those aspects, but as it is I have plenty RPGs (including Final Fantasy 1-15) that I can play without a monthly sub.

That said, the trial is very generous - you can play the entire base game, plus the first expansion entirely for free, which can keep you busy for 100+ hours, depending on how much side content you want to do. You can't join guilds or answer whispers, but that shouldn't be an issue, generally.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 29, 2021, 07:12:18 AM
The car list for Forza Horizon 5 at launch (491, if Excel doesn't lie). FH4 launched with ~450 cars, and had ~750 at the end, so I would expect a similar increase for the new game.

Year   Make and model
2001   Acura Integra Type R
2002   Acura RSX Type S
2017   Acura NSX
1973   Alpine A110 1600s
2017   Alpine A110
2015   Alumi Craft Class 10 Race Car
1973   AMC Gremlin X
2554   AMG Transport Dynamics M12S Warthog CST
2018   Apollo Intensa Emozione
2013   Ariel Atom 500 V8
2016   Ariel Nomad
1964   Aston Martin DB5
2013   Aston Martin V12 Vantage S
2016   Aston Martin Vantage GT12
2017   Aston Martin DB11
2017   Aston Martin Vulcan AMR Pro
2019   Aston Martin Vantage
2019   Aston Martin DBS Superleggera
2019   Aston Martin Valhalla Concept Car
1984   Audi Sport quattro
1995   Audi RS 2 Avant
2001   Audi RS 4 Avant
2003   Audi RS 6
2006   Audi RS 4
2009   Audi RS 6
2010   Audi TT RS Coupé
2011   Audi RS 3 Sportback
2011   Audi RS 5 Coupé
2013   Audi RS 4 Avant
2013   Audi RS 7 Sportback
2013   Audi R8 Coupé V10 plus 5.2 FSI quattro
2015   Audi RS 6 Avant
2015   Audi TTS Coupé
2015   Audi S1
2016   Audi R8 V10 plus
1958   Austin-Healey Sprite MkI
1939   Auto Union Type D
2014   BAC Mono
1930   Bentley 4-1/2 Litre Supercharged
1930   Bentley 8 Litre
2016   Bentley Bentayga
2017   Bentley Continental Supersports
1957   BMW Isetta 300 Export
1981   BMW M1
1988   BMW M5
1991   BMW M3
1995   BMW M5
1997   BMW M3
2002   BMW M3-GTR
2002   BMW Z3 M Coupe
2003   BMW M5
2005   BMW M3
2008   BMW M3
2008   BMW Z4 M Coupe
2009   BMW M5
2011   BMW 1 Series M Coupe
2011   BMW X5 M
2012   BMW M5
2013   BMW M6 Coupe
2014   BMW M4 Coupe
2015   BMW i8
2015   BMW X6 M
2016   BMW M2 Coupé
2016   BMW M4 GTS
2018   BMW M5
2019   BMW Z4 Roadster
1926   Bugatti Type 35 C
1992   Bugatti EB110 Super Sport
2011   Bugatti Veyron Super Sport
2018   Bugatti Chiron
2019   Bugatti Divo
1970   Buick GSX
1987   Buick Regal GNX
2016   Cadillac ATS-V
2016   Cadillac CTS-V Sedan
2018   Can-Am Maverick X RS Turbo R
2013   Caterham Superlight R500
1955   Chevrolet 150 Utility Sedan
1957   Chevrolet Bel Air
1960   Chevrolet Corvette
1964   Chevrolet Impala Super Sport 409
1967   Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 427
1969   Chevrolet Camaro Super Sport Coupe
1969   Chevrolet Nova Super Sport 396
1970   Chevrolet Chevelle Super Sport 454
1970   Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1
1970   Chevrolet El Camino Super Sport 454
1970   Chevrolet Camaro Z28
1979   Chevrolet Camaro Z28
1988   Chevrolet Monte Carlo Super Sport
1995   Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1
1996   Chevrolet Impala Super Sport
2002   Chevrolet Corvette Z06
2009   Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
2015   Chevrolet Corvette Z06
2015   Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
2017   Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
2017   Chevrolet Colorado ZR2
2018   Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
2019   Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
2020   Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe
1970   Datsun 510
2013   DeBerti Design Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
2018   DeBerti Design Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Drift Truck
2018   DeBerti Design Ford F-150 Prerunner
2019   DeBerti Design Toyota Tacoma TRD 'The Performance Truck'
1969   Dodge Charger R/T
1969   Dodge Charger Daytona HEMI
1970   Dodge Challenger R/T
2008   Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR
2013   Dodge SRT Viper GTS
2015   Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
2015   Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat
2016   Dodge Viper ACR
2018   Dodge Durango SRT
2018   Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
2018   Exomotive Exocet Off-Road
1957   Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa
1957   Ferrari 250 California
1967   Ferrari #24 Ferrari Spa 330 P4
1968   Ferrari 365 GTB/4
1969   Ferrari Dino 246 GT
1984   Ferrari 288 GTO
1987   Ferrari F40
1994   Ferrari F355 Berlinetta
1995   Ferrari F50
1996   Ferrari F50 GT
2002   Ferrari Enzo Ferrari
2003   Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale
2005   Ferrari FXX
2007   Ferrari 430 Scuderia
2009   Ferrari 458 Italia
2012   Ferrari 599XX Evolution
2013   Ferrari LaFerrari
2013   Ferrari 458 Speciale
2014   Ferrari FXX K
2015   Ferrari 488 GTB
2015   Ferrari F12tdf
2017   Ferrari 812 Superfast
2017   Ferrari GTC4Lusso
2018   Ferrari Portofino
2019   Ferrari 488 Pista
1932   Ford De Luxe Five-Window Coupe
1940   Ford De Luxe Coupe
1956   Ford F-100
1959   Ford Anglia 105E
1964   Ford GT40 Mk I
1965   Ford Mustang GT Coupe
1965   Ford Transit
1966   Ford #2 GT40 Mk II
1966   Ford Lotus Cortina
1967   Ford Racing Escort MK1
1968   Ford Mustang GT 2+2 Fastback
1969   Ford Mustang Boss 302
1970   Ford GT70
1972   Ford Falcon XA GT-HO
1973   Ford Capri RS3100
1973   Ford Escort RS1600
1975   Ford Bronco
1977   Ford #5 Escort RS1800 MkII
1977   Ford Escort RS1800
1981   Ford Fiesta XR2
1985   Ford RS200 Evolution
1986   Ford Escort RS Turbo
1987   Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500
1992   Ford Escort RS Cosworth
1993   Ford SVT Cobra R
1994   Ford Supervan 3
1999   Ford Racing Puma
2000   Ford SVT Cobra R
2003   Ford Focus RS
2005   Ford GT
2009   Ford Focus RS
2010   Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor
2011   Ford F-150 SVT Raptor
2011   Ford Transit SuperSportVan
2013   Ford Shelby GT500
2014   Ford Fiesta ST
2014   Ford Ranger T6 Rally Raid
2014   Ford #11 Rockstar F-150 Trophy Truck
2014   Ford FPV Limited Edition Pursuit Ute
2015   Ford Falcon GT F 351
2016   Ford Shelby GT350R
2017   Ford M-Sport Fiesta RS
2017   Ford Focus RS
2017   Ford GT
2017   Ford F-150 Raptor
2017   Ford #14 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing GRC Fiesta
2017   Ford #25 'Brocky' Ultra4 Bronco RTR
2018   Ford #25 Mustang RTR
2018   Ford Mustang GT
2018   Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5
2018   Ford #88 Mustang RTR
2019   Ford Ranger Raptor
2020   Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
2020   Ford #2069 Ford Performance Bronco R
2020   Ford Super Duty F-450 DRW PLATINUM
2021   Ford Bronco
1989   Formula Drift #98 BMW 325i
1997   Formula Drift #777 Nissan 240SX
2006   Formula Drift #43 Dodge Viper SRT10
2007   Formula Drift #117 599 GTB Fiorano
2013   Formula Drift #777 Chevrolet Corvette
2015   Formula Drift #13 Ford Mustang
2016   Formula Drift #530 HSV Maloo GEN-F
2018   Formula Drift #64 Nissan 370Z
2018   Funco Motorsports F9
1983   GMC Vandura G-1500
2012   Hennessey Venom GT
2019   Hennessey VelociRaptor 6x6
1973   Holden HQ Monaro GTS 350
1974   Holden Sandman HQ panel van
1977   Holden Torana A9X
1974   Honda Civic RS
1991   Honda CR-X SiR
1992   Honda NSX-R
1994   Honda Prelude Si
1997   Honda Civic Type R
2003   Honda S2000
2004   Honda Civic Type R
2005   Honda NSX-R
2005   Honda NSX-R GT
2007   Honda Civic Type R
2009   Honda S2000 CR
2015   Honda Civic Type R
2016   Honda Civic Coupe GRC
2018   Honda Civic Type R
1955   Hoonigan Chevrolet Bel Air
1965   Hoonigan Ford Hoonicorn Mustang
1965   Hoonigan GYMKHANA 10 Ford Hoonicorn Mustang
1972   Hoonigan Chevrolet Napalm Nova
1977   Hoonigan GYMKHANA 10 Ford F-150 'Hoonitruck'
1978   Hoonigan Ford Escort RS1800
1986   Hoonigan Ford RS200 Evolution
1991   Hoonigan Rauh-Welt Begriff Porsche 911 Turbo
1991   Hoonigan GYMKHANA 10 Ford Escort Cosworth Group A
1992   Hoonigan Mazda RX-7 Twerkstallion
1994   Hoonigan Ford Escort RS Cosworth WRC "Cossie V2"
2016   Hoonigan GYMKHANA 10 Ford Focus RS RX
1969   Hot Wheels Twin Mill
2011   Hot Wheels Bone Shaker
2014   HSV GEN-F GTS
2014   HSV Limited Edition GEN-F GTS Maloo
2006   HUMMER H1 Alpha
2019   Hyundai Veloster N
2015   Infiniti Q60 Concept
1970   International Scout 800A
1956   Jaguar D-Type
1959   Jaguar Mk II 3.8
1961   Jaguar E-type
1964   Jaguar Lightweight E-Type
1991   Jaguar Sport XJR-15
1993   Jaguar XJ220
2010   Jaguar C-X75
2012   Jaguar XKR-S
2015   Jaguar F-Type R Coupé
2015   Jaguar XFR-S
2015   Jaguar XE-S
2016   Jaguar F-TYPE Project 7
2017   Jaguar F-PACE S
2018   Jaguar I-PACE
1976   Jeep CJ5 Renegade
2012   Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
2014   Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT
2016   Jeep Trailcat
2018   Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk
2020   Jeep Gladiator Rubicon
2002   Koenigsegg CC8S
2008   Koenigsegg CCGT
2015   Koenigsegg One:1
2016   Koenigsegg Regera
2017   Koenigsegg Agera RS
2020   Koenigsegg Jesko
2013   KTM X-Bow R
1967   Lamborghini Miura P400
1986   Lamborghini LM 002
1988   Lamborghini Countach LP5000 QV
1997   Lamborghini Diablo SV
1999   Lamborghini Diablo GTR
2008   Lamborghini Reventón
2010   Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670-4 SV
2011   Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera
2011   Lamborghini Sesto Elemento
2012   Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4
2013   Lamborghini Veneno
2014   Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4
2016   Lamborghini Aventador Superveloce
2016   Lamborghini Centenario LP 770-4
2018   Lamborghini Huracán Performante
2019   Lamborghini Urus
1972   Land Rover Series III
1973   Land Rover Range Rover
1997   Land Rover Defender 90
2015   Land Rover Range Rover Sport SVR
2018   Land Rover Range Rover Velar First Edition
2020   Land Rover Defender 110 X
1997   Lexus SC300
2010   Lexus LFA
2015   Lexus RC F
2014   Local Motors Rally Fighter
1969   Lola #6 Penske Sunoco T70 MkIIIB
1971   Lotus Elan Sprint
1997   Lotus Elise GT1
1999   Lotus Elise Series 1 Sport 190
2012   Lotus Exige S
2016   Lotus 3-Eleven
2020   Lotus Evija
2008   Maserati MC12 Versione Corsa
2010   Maserati Gran Turismo S
2017   Maserati Levante S
1990   Mazda Savanna RX-7
1994   Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997   Mazda RX-7
2002   Mazda RX-7 Spirit R Type-A
2005   Mazda Mazdaspeed MX-5
2011   Mazda RX-8 R3
2013   Mazda MX-5
2016   Mazda MX-5
1993   McLaren F1
1997   McLaren F1 GT
2013   McLaren P1
2015   McLaren 650S Coupe
2015   McLaren 570S Coupé
2018   McLaren 720S Coupé
2018   McLaren Senna
2018   McLaren 600LT Coupé
2019   McLaren 720S Spider
2019   McLaren Speedtail
2020   McLaren GT
2016   Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Coupé
2017   Mercedes-AMG GT R
2018   Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupé
2018   Mercedes-AMG E 63 S
2021   Mercedes-AMG Mercedes-AMG ONE
1929   Mercedes-Benz SSK
1939   Mercedes-Benz W154
1954   Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupé
1987   Mercedes-Benz AMG Hammer Coupe
1990   Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II
1998   Mercedes-Benz AMG CLK GTR
2011   Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
2012   Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG
2012   Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series
2013   Mercedes-Benz G 65 AMG
2013   Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG
2013   Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG
2014   Mercedes-Benz Unimog U5023
2014   Mercedes-Benz G 63 AMG 6x6
2015   Mercedes-Benz #24 Tankpool24 Racing Truck
2018   Mercedes-Benz X-Class
1971   Meyers Manx
1986   MG Metro 6R4
1965   MINI Cooper S
2009   MINI John Cooper Works
2012   MINI John Cooper Works GP
2013   MINI X-Raid ALL4 Racing Countryman
2018   MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4
2018   MINI X-Raid John Cooper Works Buggy
1988   Mitsubishi Starion ESI-R
1995   Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX
1997   Mitsubishi GTO
1999   Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI GSR
2004   Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR
2006   Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX MR
2008   Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X GSR
2014   Morgan 3 Wheeler
1953   Morris Minor 1000
2010   Mosler MT900S
1933   Napier Napier-Railton
1969   Nissan Fairlady Z 432
1971   Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R
1973   Nissan Skyline H/T 2000GT-R
1987   Nissan Skyline GTS-R (R31)
1990   Nissan Pulsar GTI-R
1992   Nissan Silvia CLUB K's
1993   Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec
1993   Nissan 240SX SE
1994   Nissan Fairlady Z Version S Twin Turbo
1994   Nissan Silvia K's
1995   Nissan NISMO GT-R LM
1997   Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec
1998   Nissan R390
1998   Nissan Silvia K's Aero
2000   Nissan Silvia Spec-R
2002   Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec II
2003   Nissan Fairlady Z
2004   Nissan Pickup #23 Rally Raid
2010   Nissan 370Z
2012   Nissan GT-R Black Edition
2016   Nissan Titan Warrior Concept
2017   Nissan GT-R
1984   Opel Manta 400
2009   Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster
2010   Pagani Zonda R
2016   Pagani Huayra BC
2011   Penhall The Cholla
1984   Peugeot 205 Turbo 16
1991   Peugeot 205 Rallye
2007   Peugeot 207 Super 2000
1971   Plymouth Cuda 426 Hemi
2015   Polaris RZR XP 1000 EPS
1965   Pontiac GTO
1977   Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
1987   Pontiac Firebird Trans Am GTA
1959   Porsche 356 A 1600 Super
1970   Porsche #3 917 LH
1970   Porsche 914/6
1982   Porsche 911 Turbo 3.3
1985   Porsche #185 959 Prodrive Rally Raid
1987   Porsche 959
1989   Porsche 944 Turbo
1989   Porsche #65 Rothsport Racing 911 'Desert Flyer'
1993   Porsche 968 Turbo S
1995   Porsche 911 GT2
1998   Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion
2003   Porsche Carrera GT
2004   Porsche 911 GT3
2012   Porsche 911 GT2 RS
2014   Porsche 911 Turbo S
2014   Porsche 918 Spyder
2015   Porsche Cayman GTS
2016   Porsche 911 GT3 RS
2016   Porsche Cayman GT4
2017   Porsche Panamera Turbo
2018   Porsche 718 Cayman GTS
2018   Porsche 911 GT2 RS
2018   Porsche Cayenne Turbo
2018   Porsche Macan Rally Raid
2019   Porsche 911 Carrera S
2019   Porsche 911 GT3 RS
2019   Porsche Macan Turbo
2020   Porsche Taycan Turbo S
2015   Radical RXC Turbo
2017   Ram 2500 Power Wagon
1972   Reliant Supervan III
1980   Renault 5 Turbo
1993   Renault Clio Williams
2008   Renault Mégane R26.R
2013   Renault Clio R.S. 200 EDC
2018   Renault MEGANE R.S.
2019   Rimac Concept Two
2016   RJ Anderson #37 Polaris RZR-Rockstar Energy Pro 2 Truck
2004   Saleen S7
2018   Saleen S1
1965   Shelby Cobra 427 S/C
1965   Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe
2021   SIERRA Cars RX3
1998   SUBARU Impreza 22B-STi Version
2004   SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STi
2005   SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI
2008   SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI
2011   SUBARU WRX STI
2013   SUBARU BRZ
2015   SUBARU WRX STI
1969   Toyota 2000GT
1974   Toyota Celica GT
1979   Toyota FJ40
1985   Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT Apex
1989   Toyota MR2 SC
1992   Toyota Supra 2.0 GT
1992   Toyota Celica GT-Four RC ST185
1994   Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205
1998   Toyota Supra RZ
2013   Toyota 86
2020   Toyota GR Supra
1998   TVR Cerbera Speed 12
2005   TVR Sagaris
2018   TVR Griffith
2015   Ultima Evolution Coupe 1020
2005   Vauxhall Monaro VXR
2016   Vauxhall Corsa VXR
1963   Volkswagen Type 2 De Luxe
1963   Volkswagen Beetle
1969   Volkswagen Class 5/1600 Baja Bug
1970   Volkswagen #1107 Desert Dingo Racing Stock Bug
1981   Volkswagen Scirocco S
1983   Volkswagen Golf GTI
1992   Volkswagen Golf Gti 16v Mk2
1995   Volkswagen Corrado VR6
1998   Volkswagen GTI VR6 Mk3
2003   Volkswagen Golf R32
2010   Volkswagen Golf R
2011   Volkswagen Scirocco R
2014   Volkswagen Golf R
2017   Volkswagen #34 Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross Beetle
1983   Volvo 242 Turbo Evolution
1997   Volvo 850 R
2015   Volvo V60 Polestar
2017   VUHL 05RR
1945   Willys MB Jeep
2019   Zenvo TSR-S
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 29, 2021, 07:20:01 AM
Bit disappointed at the lack of Fiat/Abarth, Lancia, Alfa Romeo from the Italian side. Ford maybe a bit overrepresented? Also going to miss the James Bond cars. Cruising in a 2CV was awesome. :(

Also still hoping they'll add Rolls Royce at some point (just for fun), but if they're not even in FH4 which was set in the UK ...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on October 29, 2021, 07:44:55 AM
Imprezas & Skylines is all we need.

and pick ups. My kids love cruising in pick ups.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 29, 2021, 08:00:52 AM
I love the offroad cars and dirt racers. And just generic household cars, like VW Golf. :D The supercars are cool and all, but they're really not the main attraction for me. :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: DGuller on October 29, 2021, 08:52:08 AM
I personally find supercars to be the most boring cars, in real life as well as in games.  Obviously you can build a monster if budget and practicality are not constraints, but where is the fun in that?  The modestly priced VW rockets that can still function as transportation, on the other hand, are impressive.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 29, 2021, 08:58:24 AM
Btw, for fans of classic racing who like arcade racers, I recommend Art of Rally. It has a stylized look and is time trials only, but it takes you on a journey from the 70s through the 90s:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/550320/art_of_rally/

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/550320/ss_032d3b8d120b113e1b1cf06da250dff616226ea6.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/550320/ss_a461baa1a4ae2eefb76ff0826666dc95ed6c6bb9.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/550320/ss_c9c73e7439632d7ad885ccb5c8d8b412eecf3efe.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/550320/ss_7fbea5c4d0c323b0a018d09ee63c533cf2c36418.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/550320/ss_fb0d9a2fd1fd2ad9c159ab573b158946c541162c.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/550320/ss_15c5e9602631a69084475a008133d4f9db1b4afe.1920x1080.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on October 29, 2021, 09:20:35 AM
Quote from: Syt on October 29, 2021, 08:00:52 AM
I love the offroad cars and dirt racers. And just generic household cars, like VW Golf. :D The supercars are cool and all, but they're really not the main attraction for me. :lol:

Yeah I like to play these games tooling around in family SUVs. It's more realistic for me  :lol:

"Strap in, Dad's beating his record to Aldi tonight!"
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 29, 2021, 09:43:06 AM
That said, the modeling of cars, and their interiors, is quite excellent in Forza games. As a non-driver, the car I probably spent the most time in my life is the Golf Mk 2 that was incredibly ubiquitous esp. among friends. And getting inside and checking all the details was amazing, from the air vents to the cranks for the windows to the light next to the rear view mirror. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Pedrito on October 29, 2021, 03:48:50 PM
Quote from: Syt on October 29, 2021, 08:58:24 AM
Btw, for fans of classic racing who like arcade racers, I recommend Art of Rally. It has a stylized look and is time trials only, but it takes you on a journey from the 70s through the 90s:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/550320/art_of_rally/

I istantly recognized every single car model in the pics  :blush:

L.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on October 29, 2021, 04:20:58 PM
Loving the AOE IV Norman Campaign videos - It sounds like Lipscomb is narrating  :wub:

Oh and the game is not bad either  :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 04, 2021, 11:17:34 AM
15 minutes of Elden Ring gameplay.

https://youtu.be/JldMvQMO_5U?t=846

Tbh, I'm failing to get excited for this since the reveals.

The graphics don't seem much improved from Dark Souls 3 or Sekiro.
Gameplay looks very Dark Souls, with some new additions:
- horseback combat
- a bit of stealth cribbed form Sekiro, I suppose
- proper jumping (like Sekiro)
- ability to summon spectres of enemies as allies (similar to the Spectres in Path of Exile)
- Open world, with dungeons spread out in the landscape

There's some new weapon moves and special attacks.

But a lot of it is staples of previous games (often going back to Demon's Souls):
- illusory walls with secrets behind them
- "bonfire" resting spots, plus an Estus-like healing item
- (post-)apocalyptic fantasy setting, featuring ruins, castles, cethedrals, poison swamps, catacombs etc. (I'm betting there'll be a library/archives again, too!)
- very familiar move sets etc.
- dragons
- body horror enemies

After 4 Souls games, plus Bloodborne, plus Sekiro, I feel this is retreading a lot of familiar ground with not much new added.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 05, 2021, 01:11:35 AM
Played about an hour of Forza Horizon 5. Yes, it's Forza Horizon, and it felt very familiar going in (but then so was going into FH4 in terms of driving, even though the last one I played before that was Forza Motorsport 4 on Xbox 360).

I thought I'd be missing the bucolic Anglo-Scottish countryside, but México looks gorgeous, with some nice view distance depending on where you are. The introduction is also shorter than in FH4 (where you had to play through all seasons once before you were let into the game proper).

So far it's more evolution than revolution, but I'm fine with that.

Also, my e-peen feels good:

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FDZ-RjEX0Agj_Vc?format=jpg&name=small)

:cool:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 05, 2021, 01:24:22 AM
Oh, also, the avatar creator is quite flexible and inclusive. It imported mine from the previous game, so that's fine. It combines presets, so don't expect facial sliders. But you can select from their male/female presets, choose your pronouns (he/she/they), and combine male or female voice with male or female body (which is more than Cyberpunk let you do even though it touted its trans-friendly character creator :P ), and you can also choose to replace any limb with a prostetic.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on November 05, 2021, 03:58:24 AM
I don't like straight driving games. But I do need to get forza horizon 3 (iirc?) someday. Set around here which intruiges.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 05, 2021, 04:06:13 AM
Quote from: Tyr on November 05, 2021, 03:58:24 AM
I don't like straight driving games. But I do need to get forza horizon 3 (iirc?) someday. Set around here which intruiges.

That's 4. Should be available reasonably cheap now that 5 is out. 3 was in Australia and is no longer available for purchase.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 05, 2021, 04:20:50 AM
Quote from: Tyr on November 05, 2021, 03:58:24 AM
I don't like straight driving games. But I do need to get forza horizon 3 (iirc?) someday. Set around here which intruiges.

This is what Game Pass was made for. You are not THAT interested but want to check it out - subscribe for a month for a few pounds, check the game out, get bored with it, profit.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on November 05, 2021, 06:52:31 AM
Game Pass PC is 1£/$ for 3 months right now.

@Syt Nice performance. My son is more excited than me about playing FH5.

XOneS performance is only 1080/30fps but hopefully Xcloud support comes to the Non-Insider builds soon enough so we can play at 1080/60 on the Console.

Who knows how my computer will handle it. Hopefully it'll do 1440p/60 at a great quality.

FH3 was pretty awesome, I liked it more than FH4.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 05, 2021, 12:14:24 PM
Couple random screenshots. They still don't save your shots locally, and it appears you can't take 4K screenshots.  :rolleyes:

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FDchqK5X0Akd6UU?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FDchrqwWUAEHgsQ?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FDchr-7WEAwNOTq?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FDchsSnWUAwDccT?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FDch1izWQAYCI5P?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FDch2A-WEAwuYdV?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FDch2VUWQAcG4zX?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FDch29hXsAEyCX5?format=jpg&name=large)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on November 05, 2021, 01:10:20 PM
You need a faster shutter speed
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 05, 2021, 04:01:20 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on November 05, 2021, 01:10:20 PM
You need a faster shutter speed

Like so?

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FDdN4R5XIAI3uxz?format=jpg&name=4096x4096)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on November 05, 2021, 04:19:14 PM
Isn't this supposed to be Mexico?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: DGuller on November 05, 2021, 04:35:01 PM
How realistic are the driving physics in the game?  I don't expect a simulator quality physics, but do you at least have to brake in the logical places and watch your throttle inputs?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on November 05, 2021, 05:22:32 PM
Quote from: Syt on November 05, 2021, 04:01:20 PM
Like so?

Much better  :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on November 05, 2021, 08:14:53 PM
Quote from: DGuller on November 05, 2021, 04:35:01 PM
How realistic are the driving physics in the game?  I don't expect a simulator quality physics, but do you at least have to brake in the logical places and watch your throttle inputs?

Yes, you could make it that hard for you with the right settings.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 05, 2021, 11:25:33 PM
Yes, you can make the driving more realistic, but at the end of the day it will remain an arcade racer where you plow through telephone poles, market stalls, small trees etc. with very limited consequences (unless you drive a very light car). It's no Project Cars or Assetto Corsa.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on November 06, 2021, 06:33:44 AM
Game runs incredibly well on my 1660 Super and aging CPU. 80+ fps on Ultra preset without any tweaking. It might be best looking game I've ever played.

Raced a plane and won. Raced a guy in a wing suit and also won. This game is sick bruh
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 06, 2021, 08:26:13 AM
Quote from: Tyr on November 05, 2021, 03:58:24 AM
I don't like straight driving games. But I do need to get forza horizon 3 (iirc?) someday. Set around here which intruiges.

Here's a new review for FH4 from last month, if you want to keep something running in the background for an hour: https://youtu.be/5Hu9KJEEGBU

But it also showcases the game decently.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 06, 2021, 11:42:51 AM
I'm surprised how much I like the Porsche Taycan that's in the game and is one of the first cars you get. It's an electric car, that according to Porsche's website is rated at 260 kph. In game, you can get it to over 400 on the highway.  :ph34r: The weird bit is that it accelerates crazy fast and effortlessly to ca. 230 kph ... and only then it shifts to second gear. :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 06, 2021, 02:08:08 PM
So I started a new character in FF14. :D  :blush: Though this time I'm going DPS and focus on main story only so far. I made it to the first few dungeons, and boy, the second one was ... fun. :D

Our tank clearly was very fresh to the game, and for the first couple of fights he forgot to switch on his tank stance which greatly increases aggro generation by a factor of 10 (it took multiple friendly reminders from the party for him to do so; forgetting to switch it on can happen, but usually - as tank - you notice while fighting the first enemies that something feels wrong). Even after that he never used his AOE attack to glue groups of enemies to himself. Single enemies went after our healer and our second DPS (a caster) without him noticing and I basically performed as off tank. Though actually I sometimes had more mobs on me than our tank had.  :hmm:

Having previously played tank this was really painful to watch. In those early dungeons you don't have to do much. You get enmity from the mobs and/or boss, and make sure you avoid damage spikes and use your mitigation while otherwise going through your damage rotation and aim the enemies away from the rest of the party. DPS are doing most of the damage, so it's quite relaxed as tank and you don't have to move much.

I find playing DPS immediately more fun, since it feels more active than tank. Anyways, I got two recommendations after the dungeon, so I guess I didn't do too badly. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 06, 2021, 04:09:24 PM
Also, I switched my name in FH5 to my real name, and it's kind of weirding me out to be addressed by my first name in game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on November 06, 2021, 07:39:51 PM
Quote from: Syt on November 06, 2021, 04:09:24 PM
Also, I switched my name in FH5 to my real name, and it's kind of weirding me out to be addressed by my first name in game.

Yeah I could never get use to it. Even more since my name is use by so few people.

I played most of FH4 with my kids name. Since they started playing it themselves, I've switched the game language to French and my son's name isn't available. He chose something close enough.

For FH5, where he'll get his own save,  he told me he's going to pick Monsieur.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on November 08, 2021, 02:23:31 AM
Sometimes, those crappy social media adbait accounts have some fun stuff in them.

Quote
CDKeys.com
13h  ·
Name a quote from a video game that you can hear in your head.

"War... war never changes".
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 08, 2021, 02:40:04 AM
"Another visitor! Stay a while ... stay FOREVER!"

https://youtu.be/KKzsbUtlHR4
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on November 08, 2021, 02:44:25 AM
See battle boo? Run boo run!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on November 08, 2021, 06:54:37 AM
Quote from: Syt on November 08, 2021, 02:40:04 AM
"Another visitor! Stay a while ... stay FOREVER!"

https://youtu.be/KKzsbUtlHR4

Now that's a blast from the past!  :lol:

Another one firmly ingrained in my brain is "hey, listen!" from the fairy in Ocarina of Time.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 08, 2021, 01:12:59 PM
Speaking of Game Pass for PC, Total War Warhammer 3 is coming to it in February. Is that, like, the release date?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on November 08, 2021, 01:14:45 PM
Yes, day 1 baby.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 08, 2021, 01:15:41 PM
 :yeah:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 09, 2021, 02:46:36 PM
Great combination of character name and pet. Bonus points for picking the cat boi race. :D

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FDxrvM_XMAgJXhF?format=jpg&name=medium)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on November 09, 2021, 04:04:28 PM
Everyone who knows what a "cat boi race" is should be sent to the tanks.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on November 09, 2021, 04:08:49 PM
Quote from: grumbler on November 09, 2021, 04:04:28 PM
Everyone who knows what a "cat boi race" is should be sent to the tanks.

Not sure I understand what makes "cat boi race" awareness an indicator of suitability for armor as opposed to infantry (or other service branches altogether), but I guess....
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 09, 2021, 04:13:31 PM
Quote from: grumbler on November 09, 2021, 04:04:28 PM
Everyone who knows what a "cat boi race" is should be sent to the tanks.

Well, the actual race name is Miqo'te, but only nerds use that.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on November 09, 2021, 04:14:26 PM
Quote from: Syt on November 09, 2021, 04:13:31 PM
Quote from: grumbler on November 09, 2021, 04:04:28 PM
Everyone who knows what a "cat boi race" is should be sent to the tanks.

Well, the actual race name is Miqo'te, but only nerds use that.

Would you prefer being the gunner, loader or driver?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 09, 2021, 04:16:33 PM
I don't think I'd want any role in a tank.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on November 09, 2021, 05:24:26 PM
Quote from: Syt on November 09, 2021, 04:16:33 PM
I don't think I'd want any role in a tank.
But it's your final duty to go into the tank.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 10, 2021, 01:43:09 AM
By that point my life would be tanked, anyways.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on November 10, 2021, 08:11:19 AM
Quote from: Syt on November 10, 2021, 01:43:09 AM
By that point my life would be tanked, anyways.

Tank you very much.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 10, 2021, 03:40:52 PM
VaatiVidya shows off some of the early gameplay from the current beta of Elden Ring:

https://youtu.be/R9DWTt37khU

I admit this looks a lot more interesting now than the gameplay trailer.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 12, 2021, 12:53:05 PM
Morning haze in México.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FEAuhTVXoA09m5b?format=jpg&name=large)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on November 12, 2021, 08:24:14 PM
Sty, are your graphics settings on Max and 4k in Forza? Your game looks better than mine  :P

I am a little addicted to this game. Was going to go to bed at 11 last night and ended up staying up till nearly 2  :Embarrass:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on November 12, 2021, 08:39:24 PM
I quite like the FH craze that has taken over the world. Those driving games were always so fun.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 13, 2021, 12:08:14 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on November 12, 2021, 08:24:14 PM
Sty, are your graphics settings on Max and 4k in Forza? Your game looks better than mine  :P

Yes :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 14, 2021, 05:54:00 AM
FH5 is kinda' addictive.  :Embarrass:

For a while my 1994 Toyota Celica was my favourite car but now I have some Audi estate which feels quite good and a rally-specific Peugeot (206 maybe?) I further upgraded which feels quite good.

Playing rivals mode exclusively, more interesting than the bots. Surely, when up to 4th-5th place out of like 93,000 everyone is over 2 minutes, but the first 2 are like 8-9 seconds that's a cheat? :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on November 14, 2021, 06:31:06 AM
Does it only have exterior views?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 14, 2021, 06:52:26 AM
Quote from: The Brain on November 14, 2021, 06:31:06 AM
Does it only have exterior views?

No, car interiors are modeled in detail for those who prefer to play from that view. I switch between them based on mood.

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_cvRYrWOmAs/maxresdefault.jpg)

(https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fTDdCmI7zlzUeB0OEMS7VxOj3OY=/0x0:3840x2160/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:3840x2160):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22984618/ForzaHorizon5_Launch_Review_05_16x9_WM.jpg)

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on November 14, 2021, 07:02:57 AM
Nice.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 14, 2021, 09:49:58 AM
Yes, though with some details it would be nicer if they either went with a higher polygon count or a texture (see e.g. the lock for the glove compartment on the Volvo, or the seats in the Porsche.

(https://i.postimg.cc/yssXTT8C/Volvo.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/np2KSQXj/porsche.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on November 17, 2021, 07:05:21 PM
I tried to play cities skylines lately.
2 crashes losing a lot of play dampened my enthusiasm.
Then there's that even with expansions and mods the problem of being railroaded into making a nasty American style car City remains.
Stumbled on this on YouTube.
A lot of my thoughts covered here. Interesting stuff.

https://youtu.be/Fy672b7xZ6c
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on November 17, 2021, 07:07:20 PM
How does terrain generation in Cities: Skylines work? Can you set parameters freely and generate a random map to play on?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 18, 2021, 01:48:42 AM
Quote from: The Brain on November 17, 2021, 07:07:20 PM
How does terrain generation in Cities: Skylines work? Can you set parameters freely and generate a random map to play on?

There are no random maps. There's tons of maps on the workshop BUT if you search for them add the term "vanilla" otherwise there might be props used on them that you may have to download separately (a common rabbit hole with C:S mods).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on November 18, 2021, 04:02:31 AM
Quote from: Syt on November 18, 2021, 01:48:42 AM
Quote from: The Brain on November 17, 2021, 07:07:20 PM
How does terrain generation in Cities: Skylines work? Can you set parameters freely and generate a random map to play on?

There are no random maps. There's tons of maps on the workshop BUT if you search for them add the term "vanilla" otherwise there might be props used on them that you may have to download separately (a common rabbit hole with C:S mods).

I really like random maps in this kind of game. :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 18, 2021, 04:27:38 AM
There are tons of maps of real world and fantasy locations, though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 21, 2021, 01:41:12 AM
With John Tiller having passed on, Wargame Design Studio have taken over his games and store. Which makes sense, as I think they were the ones making new titles and updating the existing ones.

Old orders were transferred, and they sent new download links. One per game. So now I have like 90+ emails to go through. :lol:

https://wargameds.com/blogs/news/wargame-design-studio-publishes-its-first-game-civil-war-battles-forgotten-campaigns

QuoteCIVIL WAR BATTLES – FORGOTTEN CAMPAIGNS RELEASED

Wargame Design Studio (WDS) is excited to release its first game under the WDS label.

Forgotten Campaigns is the next installment in the Civil War Battles series with the prior fourteen titles covering the major campaigns in the American Civil War.

Forgotten Campaigns is a title unlike the others in the Civil War Battles series, in that it covers a wide range of actions from all theaters of the war. In this fifteenth installment of the series, we have rolled up the actions not covered in other titles, and in many cases actions that the historians have not devoted much attention to either. Fighting will range from frontier actions in New Mexico during 1862 to Mobile Bay in 1865. The Red River campaign of 1864 is included as is the War in Mississippi with Brice's Crossroads and Tupelo. Naval combat plays a prominent role in many actions as well, with coastal actions from Charleston to Baton Rouge and many others.

Civil War Battles – Forgotten Campaigns is for sale now and can be reviewed and purchased from this link: https://wargameds.com/products/forgotten-campaigns

WARGAME DESIGN STUDIO PURCHASES THE ASSETS OF JOHN TILLER SOFTWARE

In addition to the release of Forgotten Campaigns, WDS is announcing that it has bought the full John Tiller game catalogue, source code and John Tiller and John Tiller Software name. The deal was finalized in September 2021, and we would like to thank the Tiller family for their support in closing the deal and allowing us to continue to build on John's legacy.

With the purchase behind us, we are also launching our new website at https://wargameds.com/

Our prior sites, https://johntillersoftware.com/ and https://www.wargamedesignstudio.com/ should all start to redirect to this new page.

CATALOGUE REFRESH

The full PC game catalogue has been updated and will be branded as WDS titles from today. With the move to new installers, many enhancements and fixes have been included across almost every series. A summarized list of inclusions in the new installers and patches follows:

American Civil War – significant new code enhancements introduced with Forgotten Campaigns and included in all existing fourteen titles. New 2D & 3D hi-res graphics sets. Newly revised and improved documentation
Early American Wars - New 2D & 3D hi-res graphics sets.
First World War Campaigns – additional content updates for all three titles
Modern Campaigns – new code enhancements and the hi-res graphics engine introduced with Panzer Campaigns Scheldt '44 is implemented in all five titles.
Musket & Pike – new code enhancements in both released titles. New 2D & 3D hi-res graphics sets.
Napoleonic's - significant new code enhancements as introduced with Campaign Waterloo 1.09 and now included in all fifteen titles. New 2D & 3D hi-res graphics sets. Many of the enhancements to this series have been ported across from the previous WDS work on the Civil War Battles series.
Naval Campaigns - significant new code enhancements including weather, damage and other items needed for both current and planned titles. All five released titles have been upgraded.
Panzer Battles – significant new code enhancements including replacements, weather, artillery resolution and optional alternative assault resolution that were slated for the next titles in the series. All three released titles and the Demo have been upgraded
Panzer Campaigns – significant new code enhancements including changes to alternate assault resolution, corps attachment and addition of forts. All titles have implemented the hi-res graphics engine introduced with Panzer Campaigns Scheldt '44. Newly revised and improved documentation.
Strategic War – new code enhancements and new hi-res graphics set for both released titles.
Both the Modern Air Power and Squad Battles series are being released as WDS titles, but their planned enhancements are still work-in-progress. More on that at a future date.

In total, we are releasing installers or patches for all ninety-nine PC titles today.

More information on the above announcements is in the following FAQ.

WDS  F.A.Q.
November 19th, 2021

Q: What is WDS?

A: Wargame Design Studio (WDS) was founded in August 2016 to support and enhance John Tiller's wargame series. In September 2021, WDS bought the full John Tiller game catalogue with a remit to continue to publish and enhance the complete range. We have a robust pipeline of new titles and are excited with what the future holds.

Q: What happens with all the games I've purchased over the years from John Tiller?

A: All games purchase through John Tiller Software are completely supported in the same manner that JTS has supported them for years. All games that were purchased through HPS Simulations and converted to JTS versions over the years are also supported. That migration window has now closed, however. In short – if you have a serial number for your game, you are good to go going forward.

Q: What about getting the games installed? I never made a backup of most and what I do have is very old.

A: This is a multi-part answer:

First off, you should only be doing installations from a digital installer. All CD versions of the games are obsolete and in many cases the file structures are different. They should no longer be used.
We will be "re-opening" all orders from our existing store which will cause an email to be sent to you for each product you have ordered in the past. This will give you an opportunity to grab a new installer for the game that is completely up to date as of the WDS announcement.
If you purchased games through the original JTS store (Dec. 2010 – May 2012) then send an email to [email protected] along with your order number(s) or serial number(s) and new installer files will be emailed to you.
If you were migrated over from old HPS purchases, then send an email to [email protected] along with your serial number(s) and new installer files will be emailed to you. ** You must include a complete listing of all game names and serial numbers you are requesting new installers for.
Q: Will you be continuing to sell games as John Tiller Software?

A: No, all titles and sales will be through WDS going forward. We are a fully incorporated company (WDS LLC) in the United States. All our titles use John Tiller's game system, and we will continue to pay homage to John. If you follow existing links to John Tiller Software, it should route you to our new site at wargameds.com

Q: Why aren't you using the existing wargamedesignstudio.com url?

A: We debated using this as our primary url, but it is l-o-n-g. We have chosen the shorter wargameds.com to simplify the ability to find us – wargamedesignstudio.com will still be in place, but you will be redirected to our new URL.

Q: I'm getting a warning message when I try and launch the game installer or update, what gives?

A: This is to be expected and should go away with time. The reason is, we have a brand-new code signing certificate and up until November 19th, 2021, it has only been used within our development circles. All our software has been scanned and found free of both viruses and malware. As time passes and more installations take place around the world the "reputation" of our certificate will grow, and the warnings will diminish. You can confidently by-pass these warnings and install the software.

Q: Will the games run under Windows 11.

A: Yes, preliminary testing shows that the games will run under Windows 11.

Q: Are you planning just to sell the existing titles or are you planning new content?

A: Civil War Battles – Forgotten Campaigns is the first of a very solid pipeline of games. WDS is continuing the approach started in 2016 of bringing together developers, programmers, and artists to build on John Tiller's work. This means a focus on both new titles and enhancements to prior releases. The solid foundation and research behind each title and game series is a perfect starting point for further enhancement.


Fortunately, you can still log into their (new) web store and download your orders from there.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on November 23, 2021, 05:20:20 AM
I am once again weighing up buying Football Manager, or achieving literally anything else for the next few months :ph34r: :weep:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on November 23, 2021, 05:30:07 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on November 23, 2021, 05:20:20 AM
I am once again weighing up buying Football Manager, or achieving literally anything else for the next few months :ph34r: :weep:
Yes. This is why I try to steer clear of strategy games these days.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on November 23, 2021, 05:40:57 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on November 23, 2021, 05:20:20 AM
I am once again weighing up buying Football Manager, or achieving literally anything else for the next few months :ph34r: :weep:

Don't you have Game Pass?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 23, 2021, 07:42:33 AM
Decisive Campaigns: Ardennes Offensive (from the dev who also did Shadow Empire) is out over on Matrix. It seems to improve some aspects over its predecessors, and also have more than just a few scenarios:

https://strategyandwargaming.com/2021/11/20/decisive-campaigns-ardennes-offensive-review-new-golden-standard/

I'll be waiting till it comes to Steam, I think.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on November 23, 2021, 10:57:20 AM
Decisive Campaigns: Case Blue is $7.59 over on Fanatical if anyone's interested:

https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/decisive-campaigns-case-blue

Barbarossa is $12.49:

https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/decisive-campaigns-barbarossa

I'd happily do PBEM against anyone that wanted an opponent.  :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on November 23, 2021, 12:06:22 PM
Quote from: The Brain on November 23, 2021, 05:40:57 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on November 23, 2021, 05:20:20 AM
I am once again weighing up buying Football Manager, or achieving literally anything else for the next few months :ph34r: :weep:

Don't you have Game Pass?
No. I don't know if it'd be helpful for me either (just looked it up). I have PS4 and certain types of games I mainly do on that.

But I did buy FM2022 so decided to go for that rather than making any progress in my personal or professional life for the next six months :ph34r: :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on November 23, 2021, 12:46:54 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on November 23, 2021, 12:06:22 PM
Quote from: The Brain on November 23, 2021, 05:40:57 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on November 23, 2021, 05:20:20 AM
I am once again weighing up buying Football Manager, or achieving literally anything else for the next few months :ph34r: :weep:

Don't you have Game Pass?
No. I don't know if it'd be helpful for me either (just looked it up). I have PS4 and certain types of games I mainly do on that.

But I did buy FM2022 so decided to go for that rather than making any progress in my personal or professional life for the next six months :ph34r: :blush:

I must admit to have played a few too many hours of FM21 while working from home over the last year  :ph34r: :ph34r: :ph34r:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on November 23, 2021, 05:20:52 PM
So BF2042 seems to be crap. Sad.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 23, 2021, 11:44:29 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on November 23, 2021, 10:57:20 AM
Decisive Campaigns: Case Blue is $7.59 over on Fanatical if anyone's interested:

https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/decisive-campaigns-case-blue

Barbarossa is $12.49:

https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/decisive-campaigns-barbarossa

I'd happily do PBEM against anyone that wanted an opponent.  :)

I have played up to half a turn in these games multiple times (Well, in Case White and Barbarossa, none in Case Blue).  :D The games feel a tad unwieldy.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 24, 2021, 04:33:53 AM
On the other end of the spectrum ...

Ozymandias, an upcoming single sitting 4X game.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1768280/Ozymandias/

QuoteAt the dawn of history, Bronze Age kings built the first empires. Strategize their rise to power in a uniquely streamlined 4X.

DISTILLED DESIGN
Focus on strategy over tactics, we've stripped the busywork out of 4X gameplay.
Combat abstracted via innovative Power system so you need only move armies and fleets.

HISTORICAL MAPS
8 handmade maps charting Bronze Ages around the world, empires in real-world locations.
Empires are tagged from 'Easy' to 'Very Hard' to reflect their unique challenges.

COMPETITIVE AI
Data-driven AI system, flexible enough to succeed in any environment.
Streamlined ruleset is inherently AI-friendly so no 'AI cheating' required.

MULTIPLAYER
Players take their turns simultaneously so there's no waiting around.
Choose to play 'live' (short turn timers) or 'asynchronous' (long game timers).

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1768280/ss_b4a636986c9115a4986e7e44cacd9917e0cb1d78.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1768280/ss_f564d5b0cb03f3f969bfbd59a0823ccaf3b4a1c8.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1768280/ss_077b308aa320551fb1bafe6d816cfd78952d5f5b.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1768280/ss_808f3cb4977f88813d0ab99c0773c8f8d5ac3f92.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1768280/ss_e8e1ce761a8f5a0bcd510aae84ddea432be21564.1920x1080.jpg)

A DEMO is available on the store page.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on November 24, 2021, 02:26:13 PM
Quote from: Syt on November 23, 2021, 11:44:29 PM
I have played up to half a turn in these games multiple times (Well, in Case White and Barbarossa, none in Case Blue).  :D The games feel a tad unwieldy.

Thou art weak.

The great thing about the DC series is that you don't have to get bogged into the details to just learn it. Move some units around. Make some attacks. Get your ass kicked and then spam Hitler for more fuel or blame someone else for your mistake. Then start over!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 24, 2021, 04:25:18 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on November 24, 2021, 02:26:13 PM
Quote from: Syt on November 23, 2021, 11:44:29 PM
I have played up to half a turn in these games multiple times (Well, in Case White and Barbarossa, none in Case Blue).  :D The games feel a tad unwieldy.

Thou art weak.

I know.  :Embarrass:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 01, 2021, 04:56:48 AM
For people seeking some old school DOS wargames nostalgia, Sid Meier's 1980s wargames are now on Steam:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1703040/Decision_in_the_Desert/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1703100/Crusade_in_Europe/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1703060/Conflict_in_Vietnam/

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1703040/ss_ef8a45438285557abeb788c56facdc7ae88b929d.600x338.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1703100/ss_e53faed3ccce139186ae2f6ae6996ced1a0e9139.600x338.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1703060/ss_862a6afdf8bbfcbb2bf787582c170de198dea43d.600x338.jpg)

Tbh, I can think of no good reason to go back to these games, unless one has an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia for them.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on December 01, 2021, 09:34:34 AM
"My eyes!  The goggles do nothing!"
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on December 10, 2021, 01:02:37 PM
Ultimate admiral: Dreadnought just appeared in early access. Talk me out of it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on December 10, 2021, 01:48:33 PM
Quote from: Maladict on December 10, 2021, 01:02:37 PM
Ultimate admiral: Dreadnought just appeared in early access. Talk me out of it.

I have the campaign mode will take a LOT of time to be near proper ready, and it's been in works for what feels years.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on December 10, 2021, 05:08:59 PM
Quote from: Syt on December 01, 2021, 04:56:48 AM
(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1703060/ss_862a6afdf8bbfcbb2bf787582c170de198dea43d.600x338.jpg)

I am glad the efficiency of their crack is at 100%.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on December 11, 2021, 10:19:11 AM
Quote from: Tamas on December 10, 2021, 01:48:33 PM
Quote from: Maladict on December 10, 2021, 01:02:37 PM
Ultimate admiral: Dreadnought just appeared in early access. Talk me out of it.

I have the campaign mode will take a LOT of time to be near proper ready, and it's been in works for what feels years.

To clarify, I wanted to write "I have heard" - I don't have the game yet and looking to buy. Also need convincing why not.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on December 11, 2021, 11:03:40 AM
I'm holding out for the campaign mode. But yeah, this has been in development for years already.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on December 16, 2021, 05:39:51 PM
Anyone played mount and blade 2?
It has been in early access a while. It seems the original never came out of it. Though it was fun. I wonder if 2 fixes any of 1s shortcomings.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on December 16, 2021, 06:13:56 PM
I am looking forward to playing it but I don't play early access titles.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on December 17, 2021, 02:18:46 AM
Quote from: Tyr on December 16, 2021, 05:39:51 PM
Anyone played mount and blade 2?
It has been in early access a while. It seems the original never came out of it. Though it was fun. I wonder if 2 fixes any of 1s shortcomings.

Played it a while ago all the way to having my own major kingdom. It was fun. Apparently they've made a bunch of improvements since then, so I plan to play it again soon. The economy is apparently still broken, but the battles are amazing.

Also there's a mod floating around where you can play CK3 but fight the battles in M&B2, if you own both games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on December 18, 2021, 06:56:16 PM

I've just heard of a game named Mashinky. It's an updated transport tycoon. Looks interesting.

Quote from: Solmyr on December 17, 2021, 02:18:46 AM
Quote from: Tyr on December 16, 2021, 05:39:51 PM
Anyone played mount and blade 2?
It has been in early access a while. It seems the original never came out of it. Though it was fun. I wonder if 2 fixes any of 1s shortcomings.

Played it a while ago all the way to having my own major kingdom. It was fun. Apparently they've made a bunch of improvements since then, so I plan to play it again soon. The economy is apparently still broken, but the battles are amazing.

Also there's a mod floating around where you can play CK3 but fight the battles in M&B2, if you own both games.

How does that work with the numbers involved in ck battles?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on December 19, 2021, 02:10:00 AM
Quote from: Tyr on December 18, 2021, 06:56:16 PM

I've just heard of a game named Mashinky. It's an updated transport tycoon. Looks interesting.

Quote from: Solmyr on December 17, 2021, 02:18:46 AM
Quote from: Tyr on December 16, 2021, 05:39:51 PM
Anyone played mount and blade 2?
It has been in early access a while. It seems the original never came out of it. Though it was fun. I wonder if 2 fixes any of 1s shortcomings.

Played it a while ago all the way to having my own major kingdom. It was fun. Apparently they've made a bunch of improvements since then, so I plan to play it again soon. The economy is apparently still broken, but the battles are amazing.

Also there's a mod floating around where you can play CK3 but fight the battles in M&B2, if you own both games.

How does that work with the numbers involved in ck battles?

You can have any number of troops in a M&B2 battle, there's just a limit on how many are on the map at one time and the rest come as reinforcements. I haven't played the mod, though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on December 22, 2021, 10:02:33 PM
If anyone here was waiting for Sim Settlements 2 Chapter 2, it's finally out. https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/55817?tab=files (https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/55817?tab=files)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on December 26, 2021, 12:16:14 AM
Got gifted Football Manager 2022 for Christmas. Fuck.  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on January 12, 2022, 02:27:03 PM
Been playing Vagrus - The Riven Realms. It's a RPG without a main story, where you play a leader of a traveling merchant and/or mercenary company in a Roman-inspired post-apocalyptic world. Your goal is to get rich and/or famous and there are various side stories you can find in the world. Lots of lore and history.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on January 12, 2022, 07:57:22 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on January 12, 2022, 02:27:03 PM
Been playing Vagrus - The Riven Realms. It's a RPG without a main story, where you play a leader of a traveling merchant and/or mercenary company in a Roman-inspired post-apocalyptic world. Your goal is to get rich and/or famous and there are various side stories you can find in the world. Lots of lore and history.

What's the gameplay like?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on January 12, 2022, 08:52:04 PM
I'm trying to play the Banner Saga but I can't make heads or tails of the combat.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on January 13, 2022, 03:28:03 AM
Quote from: Jacob on January 12, 2022, 07:57:22 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on January 12, 2022, 02:27:03 PM
Been playing Vagrus - The Riven Realms. It's a RPG without a main story, where you play a leader of a traveling merchant and/or mercenary company in a Roman-inspired post-apocalyptic world. Your goal is to get rich and/or famous and there are various side stories you can find in the world. Lots of lore and history.

What's the gameplay like?

There's a free prologue for the interested. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on January 25, 2022, 10:55:41 AM
Expeditions Rome is out - I have played for about an hour - the action points based combat is a nice change.  It makes combat a more tactical then it was in Vikings.  Interesting opening premise for your character and the dialogue options are well scripted.  Graphics are pretty nice as an added bonus.   
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on January 25, 2022, 11:04:42 AM
Do they have a 21st century UI on this one?
That killed conquistador for me.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on January 25, 2022, 01:53:37 PM
Quote from: Tyr on January 25, 2022, 11:04:42 AM
Do they have a 21st century UI on this one?
That killed conquistador for me.

You realize how old conquistador is right?  Vikings was made years after that.  And it has been about 5 years since the release of Vikings.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on January 25, 2022, 02:58:18 PM
How good is Expeditions: Rome?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on January 25, 2022, 03:20:25 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on January 25, 2022, 01:53:37 PM
Quote from: Tyr on January 25, 2022, 11:04:42 AM
Do they have a 21st century UI on this one?
That killed conquistador for me.

You realize how old conquistador is right?  Vikings was made years after that.  And it has been about 5 years since the release of Vikings.

The UI for conquistador looked shitty even in its time. I bought it in 2014 and gave up for that same reason.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on January 25, 2022, 03:25:13 PM
I gave up on Vikings because the combat was a drag and the storyline not particularly engaging. I hope Rome is better.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on January 25, 2022, 04:42:56 PM
Quote from: Jacob on January 25, 2022, 02:58:18 PM
How good is Expeditions: Rome?

Can't really say, an hour of gameplay really just gets me just past the intro piece.  But looks good so far.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on January 26, 2022, 04:00:06 AM
Conquistador had an engaging story - I loved the attention paid to the period, besides some small things done for gameplay purposes - but the combat bored me to tears.

If Rome is more fun to play, I'll certainly get it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on January 28, 2022, 12:44:57 PM
Quote from: Jacob on January 25, 2022, 02:58:18 PM
How good is Expeditions: Rome?

Ok, played around a bit more and I really like it.  There are a lot of choices to be made regarding how you skill up your group; how you equip; manage your legions; and manage your economy.  Lots of levels to this game in addition the usual dialogue choices that have meaningful impacts on the game which is the hallmark of the Expedition series.  I also really like the combat, many options here (pro tip you can weapon switch at the start of a turn to get options presented by other weapons/gear).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on January 29, 2022, 10:56:37 AM
Just noticed the classic Bitmap Brothers platfomer 'Gods' is in the Steam sale for $1, well worth it for a blast from the past:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/628720/GODS_Remastered/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/628720/GODS_Remastered/)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on January 29, 2022, 11:11:42 AM
Guy in Spanish EUOT has posted this easter egg from Expeditions: Rome

(https://i.imgur.com/tIMo2ep.png)

He says they're recruitable.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on January 29, 2022, 11:18:48 AM
 :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on January 29, 2022, 11:35:50 AM
I bought a pack containing Suzerain and Yes Your Grace.
Despite having zero time to play games at all.
I have had my eye on them for some time though....
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Oexmelin on January 30, 2022, 04:24:27 PM
Many years ago, Syt posted how he found the Dark Souls game somehow relaxing. I bought Dark Souls then, but just couldn't get into it and didn't really have the time. I got back to it last fall, and finally "got" both the game, and what Syt was saying. Since then, I have finished DS, and started (and am almost finished with) Dark Souls III. The last couple of sessions Sister Friede has been mopping the floor with my character. And yet, what a fascinating and beautiful game.

Thanks, Syt.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 30, 2022, 05:17:05 PM
 :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Oexmelin on January 30, 2022, 11:46:31 PM
 :cheers:

And now have miraculously beaten Friede without summons.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 31, 2022, 12:32:23 AM
Nice. :) How much of a surprise was phase 3 on Friede when you first got to it?

I find DS1 to be the more chill experience; the combat has a certain cadence to it, almost like a rhythm game. DS3 is a bit more hectic. :D

Are you using a guide or playing blind? There's at least two areas in DS3 IMHO that I think can be missed.

Also, DS2. It's the bête noir of the bunch, but I think it's still a good game in its own right. It tries adding a bunch of new mechanics - some are cool, some are not - that can throw off players of the other two, and it drags out longer than it should be. It also feels more video-gamey than the other two. The DLC is quite excellent, though, possibly the best in the series (except Frigid Outskirts, fuck that :lol: ). On top of that, while I think the Scholar of the First Sin edition is the better version, it also ramps up the difficulty in zones. During the early game I died countless times trying to traverse an area and then killed the boss first try. :D On the plus side, enemies stop spawning if you've killed them 12 or so times (there's ways to make them respawn after that, though, through consumables). :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Oexmelin on January 31, 2022, 02:14:12 AM
Honestly, not that surprised. I don't think I ever held the idea of "two phases" to be a hard and fast rule. For some reason, I think I always kind of expect three phases (good old rule-of-three in video games). I weirdly think that the Crystal Sage took me more by surprise, and I got really frustrated with trick-boss Yorm (which led to poor Siegward's demise).

I go in half-blind (one-eyed?). I do a couple of slow exploratory runs, figure out where the bosses seem to be, and because I am a completionist, I look up a guide to figure out if I missed something important. I find it easier in DS3, which is more linear. DS1's area are great, but have a lot more nooks and crannies. Plus, I play offline, so I don't have any messages that could point towards illusory walls and the like.

I did find Archdragon Peak, if that's what you are refering to.  But I can't think of any other "hidden" area?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 31, 2022, 03:00:32 AM
The other one would be Smoldering Lake and Demon Ruins which is a bit out of the way. But if you do the Anri questline, you will probably have gone there. There's also the self contained poison area near Oceiros, but that one's quite easy to find, I think.

I've seen the third phase in the Friede fight surprise some, especially since it gives you an item reward after the second phase. :)

DS1 is indeed a bit sillier (like the descent to Ash Lake being hidden behind TWO illusory walls, or having to go back to the asylum to pick up the doll to go to the Painted World ... not to mention the process of unlocking the DLC :D ).

Good on playing offline - the servers are currently offline, anyways, since someone alerted Fromsoft to a potentially super dangerous exploit that could be used to hijack people's computers.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on February 01, 2022, 04:48:42 PM
Enjoying playing the nicely casual 'Hero of the Kingdom' series.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Oexmelin on February 10, 2022, 09:21:35 AM
I don't think I ever got such a sense of melancholy as I have playing the Dark Souls games. Perhaps Planescape Torment, back in the day.

I have beaten Slave Knight Gael - only the final boss remains and I find myself stretching things out, not really wanting to be done with the game? It's very strange. 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 10, 2022, 09:41:35 AM
Well, (minor spoiler, maybe) new game only starts if you want it to, even after killing the final boss. ;) (not like in DS1 where you kill the boss and the game ends)

And when you restart the campaign, the enemies have more health and hit harder, and you can make different choices with the NPCs.

But as they say: there's only one first playthrough for Souls games. And melancholy is the base mode of the games.:D

Of course you can also set it aside till Elden Rings comes out later this month (though I'd probably wait for reviews). :P

Sekiro would likely be an imperfect follow up. Much more story driven and linear, and much more focused on a single style of combat (and very built around timing your parries).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Oexmelin on February 10, 2022, 10:27:04 AM
Ah, thanks, did not know that. I thought the endgame was automatic.

There is a part of me that would indeed like to replay, but - at least to me, a casual gamer - it's quite tough, and means I have to devote my limited gaming time to *only* this (and usually after teaching, because then I am brain dead anyways). And yes, discovery gives way to challenge in the case of NG...

Sekiro looks super hard. I'll probably need a more relaxed palate cleanser for a bit.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 10, 2022, 10:33:22 AM
Elden Ring is currently being advertised as easier to get into (remains to be seen, of course), and will have an open world, plus a number of "normal" DS dungeons throughout. PC Gamer have a gameplay preview if you're interested: https://youtu.be/ep_PhLPLJxI

I will likely hold off for a while, as I don't play much these days.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 10, 2022, 10:53:09 AM
Lost Ark seems a thing now - anyone going to try it out?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Iormlund on February 11, 2022, 02:25:36 PM
I was going to ... but it seems there's such an influx their servers have collapsed under the weight and EU Launch has been delayed.

The anime aesthetics really tun me off, but a WoW mate has been singing high praises (he's been playing at the Russian server for a while), so I'll try to join his realm and check it out.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 11, 2022, 03:35:43 PM
I shelled out 17 bucks to get in yesterday to kick the tires before the masses descended on the servers.  I was prepared to hate it - the anime art is a big negative.  But the game mechanics are very compelling.  It feels a lot more like a really good ARPG with multiplayer.  It does not feel at all like a WoW MMO time grind.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on February 11, 2022, 08:11:51 PM
I will be giving it a go, despite the anime. It's supposed to be a really solid MMO with ARPG combat mechanics, which is something I'm very interested in. And it's free.

It's just that I know I'll feel embarrassed when my wife walks into the office and my toon is running around half naked with her huge boobs bouncing around  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 12, 2022, 10:41:33 AM
Someone made a Bloodborne "demake", creating a version of what it would have looked like on PlayStation 1 (only the first area, if I understand correctly). People have too much time. You can check out LobosJr's gameplay of the release version: https://youtu.be/1KLHtAeH33s

:D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Oexmelin on February 12, 2022, 06:50:12 PM
So, I finally decided to face DS3's final boss. I beat the Lord of Cinder at my first go. I expected it to be easier, especially after Friede, Slave Knight Gael, and Darkeater Midir - the DLC bosses.

Thanks again, Syt. That was a great gaming experience.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 12, 2022, 08:26:59 PM
I think I am getting a bit addicted to it.  Playing early dungeons on hard, they are quick hitters, easy and quick matching system.  And the play through ARPG solo very much as the quality of just one more encounter before I log off.

I am learning what to look for in mobs to decide whether it is worth stopping to fight the random ones.  And lot is pop up quests that make exploring an area worth while - so you can stay on the rails if you want (and lots of guides suggest that) but I am in no race to get to the end game, and I am finding the exploration and rewards that go with it fun to do.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 12, 2022, 11:36:27 PM
Quote from: Oexmelin on February 12, 2022, 06:50:12 PM
So, I finally decided to face DS3's final boss. I beat the Lord of Cinder at my first go. I expected it to be easier, especially after Friede, Slave Knight Gael, and Darkeater Midir - the DLC bosses.

Thanks again, Syt. That was a great gaming experience.

Glad you liked it. Soul of Cinder is definitely easier than the expansion bosses, but it also depends a bit on what forms/weapons it uses in phase 1. Did you do all optional bosses, like Midir or Old Demon King?

One of my favorite moments in the game is in the second DLC, when you meet Filianor, reach out, and the world turns into the wasteland at the end of time.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Oexmelin on February 13, 2022, 01:42:33 AM
Quote from: Syt on February 12, 2022, 11:36:27 PM
Glad you liked it. Soul of Cinder is definitely easier than the expansion bosses, but it also depends a bit on what forms/weapons it uses in phase 1. Did you do all optional bosses, like Midir or Old Demon King?

It used mostly the homing missile magics and the sword. Even accounting for being OP from defeating DLC bosses, in the end, I think I am better against humanoid bosses than against monstrous ones.

And yes, I did all the optional bosses. Spent some time before Soul of Cinder to make sure I hadn't missed the invading phantom NPC (because these depend on being embered at the right spot). I unexpectedly discovered the Deserter waiting on the site of the Abyss Watchers. 

Quote from: Syt on February 12, 2022, 11:36:27 PM
One of my favorite moments in the game is in the second DLC, when you meet Filianor, reach out, and the world turns into the wasteland at the end of time.

That composition - with Filianor asleep - was indeed quite striking. I also really liked finding the alternate firelink shrine, and realizing it was in the the past.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 13, 2022, 01:58:44 AM
Yes, the "dark firelink" has led to a lot of discussion and analysis. Because you go from (what we assume is) present day Lothric to that place. The main indication that it's in the past is that if you don't talk the the old handmaiden seller in "main" Firelink at all, and talk to the one in dark Firelink first, she will recognize you in the "main" Firelink from earlier. Also, Champion Gundyr is a hint.

But that the raises the question: are we going into the past from "main" Firelink? Because the main one is not directly connected to any of the other areas ... or maybe the passage after Oceiros is a portal to the past? :hmm: It's one of those things that keeps YouTube lore video makers in business. :P

Filianore's egg scene might be inspired by the movie Angel's Egg. Vaati Vidya has a video on that: https://youtu.be/T9wSol7JdG0

Some people have pointed out that it also bears a striking resemblance to the rare Vagrants in Dark Souls 1 (I once encountered on in DS1 Prepare to Die Edition in Undead Parish where I had been countless times without knowing about them and was properly freaked out :D ).

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/voBFUv8Y7YY/maxresdefault.jpg)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsoulslore.wdfiles.com%2Flocal--resized-images%2Fdata%3Aprincess-filianore%2Ffilianore%25281%2529.JPG%2Fmedium.jpg&hash=e9ddf1559f35d734e8ccc81aa4ffd51918668769)

What that means, if anything? No idea :D

And I really liked the end where the world, through the endless rekindling of the flame is reduced to ash and a few ruins. Proper bleak end of times stuff (I think the only other story I recall set at the end of time itself would be Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, with its Restaurant at the End of the Universe :P ). Well, there's another game, but mentioning it would spoil playing it.

If you want to give Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin a try, I have an extra Steam key.

It's a weird game. It's trying to be DS1 but bigger and with more stuff. However, it had some troubled development, and it can be felt throughout. It has some great ideas (power stancing when dual wielding weapons), and some terrible ideas (Adaptability stat influencing how fast you roll, how fast you use Estus ...), and feels more like a fever dream, like when you get to the top of a tower, take an elevator UP, and end up in a lava cave. Err, what? :D But the DLCs are some of the best content. The lore is ... yeah, weird. It definitely feels more like a game and many areas are even more linear than in DS3.

The original release was quite messy, but the Scholar edition tries to have things make more sense. However, especially at the start, the areas before the bosses can be quite tough. I found myself dying tons of times in a place, only to one-shot the boss afterwards.  :hmm: On the plus side, if you kill enemies 12 times or so, they stop respawning, so eventually you will make progress. :P It has a bad reputation, but I think it's still a great game, even if it feels a bit weird compared to the other two main games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Iormlund on February 13, 2022, 10:07:04 AM
Holy shit, the EU release of Lost Ark is a dumpster fire. Can't even get through to the server selection screen before an error pops up now.
Not to mention the lack of language-specific servers and thus completely predictable toxic chat.

How can Amazon be so bad a server deployment?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Iormlund on February 14, 2022, 02:38:14 PM
Haven't been able to get past the loading screen since Saturday.

Amazon have announced they are bringing up a whole new European cluster of servers, but they won't transfer your characters, and there will be no cross-play between both regions.

This is a MMORPG. There's no point of playing without your friends.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on February 14, 2022, 03:53:17 PM
Seems odd that Amazon of all companies couldn't deal with this.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Iormlund on February 14, 2022, 05:29:20 PM
It's on one hand an architecture failure. The game is not designed to be scalable. Which for a MMORPG launching in 2022 is remarkably stupid.

And on the other clearly a monetization issue. Characters and perks bought with real money are non-transferable. Which means that you can't just move to a new server with your mates and then get back again when populations invariably decrease in a few months. Which they most likely will.

So the perfect storm of incompetence and greed.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on February 14, 2022, 07:01:26 PM
Quote from: Iormlund on February 14, 2022, 05:29:20 PM
It's on one hand an architecture failure. The game is not designed to be scalable. Which for a MMORPG launching in 2022 is remarkably stupid.

And on the other clearly a monetization issue. Characters and perks bought with real money are non-transferable. Which means that you can't just move to a new server with your mates and then get back again when populations invariably decrease in a few months. Which they most likely will.

So the perfect storm of incompetence and greed.

Did Boris Johnson have a hand in this?  :bowler:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on February 14, 2022, 08:30:59 PM
Quote from: Iormlund on February 14, 2022, 05:29:20 PM
It's on one hand an architecture failure. The game is not designed to be scalable. Which for a MMORPG launching in 2022 is remarkably stupid.

And on the other clearly a monetization issue. Characters and perks bought with real money are non-transferable. Which means that you can't just move to a new server with your mates and then get back again when populations invariably decrease in a few months. Which they most likely will.

So the perfect storm of incompetence and greed.

Game dev is its own beast and Amazon isn't particularly experienced in the field.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on February 15, 2022, 04:25:36 AM
So did Amazon just have TWO crappy MMORPG launches in a short period of time?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on February 15, 2022, 07:03:24 AM
Yes but it's the desirable outcome. Spending money for week 1 server capacity is dumb. A majority of players will not be there for week 2.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on February 15, 2022, 07:15:15 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on February 15, 2022, 07:03:24 AM
Yes but it's the desirable outcome. Spending money for week 1 server capacity is dumb. A majority of players will not be there for week 2.

Amazon owns the largest on-demand cloud computing platform in the world. They could add or remove capacity without a hitch.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 15, 2022, 07:42:47 AM
True. Though I doubt it's that simple with internal accounting. The game division has to mark down that if bought server space from the server division.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on February 15, 2022, 07:43:48 AM
Elden Ring is releasing soon. I've never played a Soulsgame before but from what I understand it's a Soulsgame but set in an open world. It looks pretty cool.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on February 15, 2022, 08:20:16 AM
I've seen some Let's Play and it looks very enticing. I've also never played a Souls game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on February 15, 2022, 08:27:54 AM
Quote from: Tyr on February 15, 2022, 07:42:47 AM
True. Though I doubt it's that simple with internal accounting. The game division has to mark down that if bought server space from the server division.

It's still neutral for the corporation. And really, AWS are the kings of scalable computing capacity, it's weird that they didn't lean more heavily on them.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on February 15, 2022, 02:53:19 PM
If Amazon can't leverage AWS for the launch of their game, that speaks poorly of their organization IMO.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: bogh on February 15, 2022, 03:00:03 PM
The different parts of Amazon are often deliberately decoupled (to the point of overlapping projects are allowed to run side by side until one emerges a winner), but still they should at the very least be able to pull in relevant people and spin up capacity easily. But infrastructure isn't everything, scaling also depends on the code in question. So it's embarrassing to be sure, but isn't incomprehensible at all.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Oexmelin on February 15, 2022, 04:13:30 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on February 15, 2022, 07:43:48 AM
Elden Ring is releasing soon. I've never played a Soulsgame before but from what I understand it's a Soulsgame but set in an open world. It looks pretty cool.

As you can see from a few posts above, I am a recent convert. It can take time to get it, but once you do, they're amazing experiences.

Apparently Elden Ring is also more welcoming to new players.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on February 15, 2022, 04:58:05 PM
I just got an XBOX Series X along with the Game Pass (that deal where you get to finance the XBOX at zero interest along with the Game Pass).

What games should I be looking at? So far I've gotten Mass Effect combo, F1 2020, Elite, and Halo.

There is a lot on there available, but I didn't see anything about Dark Souls (and I looked).

Also it gives me the PC Game Pass as well, so I've been messing around with Age of Empires IV.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Oexmelin on February 15, 2022, 05:43:41 PM
I have had a lot of fun engineering ridiculous assassination in hitman.

If you've never played Alien Isolation, it's an amazing, and terrifying experience.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on February 15, 2022, 06:54:32 PM
Skyrim 😉

I like to try all the Indies. Hades, Dead Cells, Skull, Death Door.

Play It takes two with one of your kids.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 15, 2022, 09:45:58 PM
For those playing Lost Ark, Lostarkmap.com will help a lot as you move through the zones levelling up.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on February 15, 2022, 11:47:34 PM
Quote from: bogh on February 15, 2022, 03:00:03 PM
The different parts of Amazon are often deliberately decoupled (to the point of overlapping projects are allowed to run side by side until one emerges a winner), but still they should at the very least be able to pull in relevant people and spin up capacity easily. But infrastructure isn't everything, scaling also depends on the code in question. So it's embarrassing to be sure, but isn't incomprehensible at all.

Oh it's not incomprehensible. It just doesn't reflect well, is all.

But live and learn.

It's more just that Amazon has a reputation for paying well and for being really really really demanding. All justified by "we only want the best who give 150%" or some such, because that's how you get the best results and are the most competitive and all that jazz.

And yet, they kind of fumble this just like other game companies do, so all this "we burn you out because you're the BEST doing the BEST" culture isn't really getting them anywhere further than any other company in this particular space.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on February 16, 2022, 01:21:10 PM
Quote from: Oexmelin on February 15, 2022, 04:13:30 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on February 15, 2022, 07:43:48 AM
Elden Ring is releasing soon. I've never played a Soulsgame before but from what I understand it's a Soulsgame but set in an open world. It looks pretty cool.

As you can see from a few posts above, I am a recent convert. It can take time to get it, but once you do, they're amazing experiences.

Apparently Elden Ring is also more welcoming to new players.

Yeah that is a big catch for me. I don't have much time to play video games so if I can just jump right in and not have to learn over the course of dozens of hours the basic gameplay that is optimal.

I'll be getting the PC port so hopefully not too many bugs.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Oexmelin on February 16, 2022, 03:23:25 PM
To be fair, I was playing DS once or twice a week, for a couple of hours, usually after teaching, because I am brain dead by then. DS lasted me throughout the fall, and DS3, from Christmas to last week. On the one hand, I think the learning curve, though steep, is not such a big deal as it's often made to be. But it was basically my only video game during that time. So if you get easily bored with games and need to have different games in frequent rotation, it's not optimal.

I was also playing offline, so no PvP, no invasion, etc. It was perfectly doable. I don't know how amenable to single, offline playing Elden Ring will be.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on February 16, 2022, 07:19:15 PM
Yeah, I tend to float between games I'm actively trying to play every couple weeks, although if I get hooked on one then I usually finish it. And in open world games my tendency is also to float between tasks or just explore the world. I am really interested in this iteration of the Souls experience, but like you it will probably take months for me to finish  :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Iormlund on February 20, 2022, 05:01:22 PM
Quote from: Jacob on February 15, 2022, 11:47:34 PM
Oh it's not incomprehensible. It just doesn't reflect well, is all.

But live and learn.

It's more just that Amazon has a reputation for paying well and for being really really really demanding. All justified by "we only want the best who give 150%" or some such, because that's how you get the best results and are the most competitive and all that jazz.

And yet, they kind of fumble this just like other game companies do, so all this "we burn you out because you're the BEST doing the BEST" culture isn't really getting them anywhere further than any other company in this particular space.

Apparently the game architecture simply doesn't allow for easy scaling.

Which some people seem to think places the blame on this entirely on SmileyGate.

But the thing is, as publisher Amazon should have pushed for something as trivial as character transfers to be ready for a global deployment. If nothing else because a) they fucked up already with New World's launch and b) it reflects extremely poorly on AWS itself, which is the most profitable part of the company.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Iormlund on February 20, 2022, 05:07:27 PM
As for the game itself: after being finally able to log in for a few hours, my Paladin is about level 30-something. It's a nice mix of melee and spell skills so far.

Combat is definitely Losk Ark's best asset. Pretty easy to pick up for someone used to ARPG mechanics. Otherwise the amount of shit thrown at you when you reach Luterra is worthy of PoE. And I haven't even finished leveling yet.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 22, 2022, 03:57:48 AM
Quote from: Iormlund on February 20, 2022, 05:01:22 PM
Quote from: Jacob on February 15, 2022, 11:47:34 PM
Oh it's not incomprehensible. It just doesn't reflect well, is all.

But live and learn.

It's more just that Amazon has a reputation for paying well and for being really really really demanding. All justified by "we only want the best who give 150%" or some such, because that's how you get the best results and are the most competitive and all that jazz.

And yet, they kind of fumble this just like other game companies do, so all this "we burn you out because you're the BEST doing the BEST" culture isn't really getting them anywhere further than any other company in this particular space.

Apparently the game architecture simply doesn't allow for easy scaling.

Which some people seem to think places the blame on this entirely on SmileyGate.

But the thing is, as publisher Amazon should have pushed for something as trivial as character transfers to be ready for a global deployment. If nothing else because a) they fucked up already with New World's launch and b) it reflects extremely poorly on AWS itself, which is the most profitable part of the company.

It is possible they didn't think this shit would be so popular?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 22, 2022, 08:26:40 AM
Other than one small delay on the day it went public, I have had no trouble at all accessing the game. The European servers, by the sounds of it, I had bigger problems. But it is a mistake to generalize that experience across all servers. If I had not been reading languish posts I would've thought this was a huge success.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 22, 2022, 09:52:05 AM
On the EU servers: https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/increasing-lost-arks-eu-server-capacity-is-not-possible-amazon-says/

QuoteLost Ark players in Europe have been dealing with lengthy queues since the game went live in the EU and North America earlier this month. Last week Amazon Games set up a new region called Europe West to help alleviate the strain, although it warned that the Europe West servers would only "reduce, not eliminate, queue times for Europe Central."

Unfortunately, it appears that's about as good as it's going to get. In a new update, the Lost Ark team acknowledged that there's not much it can do for Europe Central itself, apparently because of the game's underlying structure.

"The Europe Central region is at capacity and unfortunately there is no way to increase the number of players per world in Europe Central," Amazon Game Studios community manager TrevzorFTW wrote. "Adding more servers is not possible based on the complexity of all the systems that need to work together."

The situation is further complicated by the fact that Lost Ark does not fully support server transfers. A server transfer option "just rolled out" in Korea, where Lost Ark has been running since 2019, but it's a manual process, run weekly, and doesn't support cross-region transfers, meaning that players can transfer to other servers within Europe Central, but not to the new servers on Europe West.

"Therefore, unfortunately, it is not a viable option at this point for the western version," TrevzorFTW wrote. "But we will not rest until we've exhausted all options."

The bottom line is that the Europe West region will be useful for newcomers and players who haven't progressed very far into Lost Ark on Europe Central, but less so players who are deep into it and don't want to walk away from their characters and progress. As an interim aid, Amazon is offering a second variation of Lost Ark founders packs to players who purchased them so that they can start up new characters in the new region without losing all the startup loot they paid for.

The update also touches on changes aimed at improving matchmaking, reducing gold seller spam, avoiding fraudulent purchases, and improving stability. Full details are up at playlostark.com.


Reminds me of the latest FF14 expansion this year. The game had a significant influx of players in the last two years. When I was playing during summer, there were queues any time of day I would try to log in (usually not more than a minute or two max). I didn't play during the expansion release, but queues were apparently insane, and the population on servers got to bad they had to stop selling the base game and accepting new free trial accounts for quite some while. Adding new servers could have been a solution, but with the chip crisis ...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Iormlund on February 22, 2022, 02:47:04 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 22, 2022, 08:26:40 AM
Other than one small delay on the day it went public, I have had no trouble at all accessing the game. The European servers, by the sounds of it, I had bigger problems. But it is a mistake to generalize that experience across all servers. If I had not been reading languish posts I would've thought this was a huge success.

People were logging in before work and using macros to avoid logout timers, or logging in remotely at noon so the queues would be almost done by the time they came from work.
I wasn't able to even see the queue for a straight week. I would get an error and the client would crash, because over 300k people were already in the queue by the time I got home.

And yes, they should've known. Lost Ark is not a new game (and it shows, it's a very polished experience). It has been a growing success in both Korea and the Russian server for years.
And they've built massive hype for it. A lot of streamers (including the biggest WoW name and two of my fav PoE streamers) were talking about it and are now playing it.
Hell, they sold 1.5 million early access bundles before the global release.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on February 22, 2022, 04:31:53 PM
Quote from: garbon on February 22, 2022, 03:57:48 AM
It is possible they didn't think this shit would be so popular?

Sure, but that's still poor planning.

Like... one of the core tenets of modern game development in this day and age (esp. AAA dev) is the pursuit of the massive mega hit. Almost everything is done with a view to make long term viable, massive scale monetization engines.

Being more popular than you expected is a great problem to have, and isn't really more than a short-term problem (or it shouldn't be).

But building a game with an architecture that "simply doesn't allow for easy scaling" is absolutely a fuck up (if true). Now, it's not a unique fuck up, and perhaps not unsolveable... but it's still pretty fundamental thing. Pretty much every game design decision on a game like that is made to - ultimately - build a massive userbase. To (again if true) have the fundamental architecture counter that is just silly (and expensive).

Like... I've been involved in conversations and planning on projects (like Halo: Infinite), and all it should take in an even decently run organization is for someone of mid-level seniority or better (but ideally all the way to the most junior level employee) to say "so hey everybody, what happens if we get twice the number of expected users? Ten times? How quickly do we scale?" and that should percolate up to decision makers with enough power to make sure the project isn't caught out by something like this.

Now, if they address it in like a week, or maybe two weeks, then it's just the usual stress and BS of game dev. But if it's a problem beyond that then that's really very poor.

Hiccups are one thing. Having people who want to play your game be unable to for any extended period of time is just burning money, both short term and long tail.

Though to be fair, I haven't followed it closely - I'm just reacting to second hand descriptions of the situation. If they get things under control in the short term, then it's not particularly egregious... but the longer it goes on, the worse it looks on them.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 22, 2022, 05:57:46 PM
Quote from: Iormlund on February 22, 2022, 02:47:04 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 22, 2022, 08:26:40 AM
Other than one small delay on the day it went public, I have had no trouble at all accessing the game. The European servers, by the sounds of it, I had bigger problems. But it is a mistake to generalize that experience across all servers. If I had not been reading languish posts I would've thought this was a huge success.

People were logging in before work and using macros to avoid logout timers, or logging in remotely at noon so the queues would be almost done by the time they came from work.
I wasn't able to even see the queue for a straight week. I would get an error and the client would crash, because over 300k people were already in the queue by the time I got home.

And yes, they should've known. Lost Ark is not a new game (and it shows, it's a very polished experience). It has been a growing success in both Korea and the Russian server for years.
And they've built massive hype for it. A lot of streamers (including the biggest WoW name and two of my fav PoE streamers) were talking about it and are now playing it.
Hell, they sold 1.5 million early access bundles before the global release.

All I can tell you is that servers were down a couple of hours on the day it went public on the West Coast servers.  Other than that I had zero problem logging in.

It would be interesting to know why there was such a difference between server regions.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 22, 2022, 06:10:59 PM
Besides the point but.... why does everyone want to play this game anyway?
MMORPGs are quite 2000s no?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 22, 2022, 06:12:34 PM
Quote from: Tyr on February 22, 2022, 06:10:59 PM
Besides the point but.... why does everyone want to play this game anyway?
MMORPGs are quite 2000s no?

I think it is because it does not play like an MMO - it is more like the best ARPG I have ever played with really good multiplayer.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on February 22, 2022, 06:58:06 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 22, 2022, 05:57:46 PM
All I can tell you is that servers were down a couple of hours on the day it went public on the West Coast servers.  Other than that I had zero problem logging in.

Yeah, that doesn't qualify as egregious incompetence. That's more like "with complicated systems like this, sometimes things go wrong and then get fixed."

QuoteIt would be interesting to know why there was such a difference between server regions.

Probably estoric techincal or technical-policy related reason. Could be as simple "it's easy to bring servers online quickly in North America, and difficult elsewhere" due to business policy reasons that are not trivially circumvented inside the organization.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on February 23, 2022, 10:54:39 AM
No-spoilers review of Elden Ring from a long time Fromsoft gamer dude: https://youtu.be/kdstSHeoNGA

Seems good  :bowler:

The Guardian has words:
QuoteVideo games can be all kinds of different things, representing all manner of artistic ambitions. Most, however, share a common goal: to conjure a compelling fictional reality, filled with beckoning mysteries, enchanting secrets, and enriching opportunities to compete and collaborate. They aim to provide a liminal space in which a determined player can fix that which is broken, order that which is chaotic. By this definition, at least, Elden Ring is the finest video game yet made. Its final gift is the assurance that, whatever monsters lurk in a broken world, with perseverance and cooperation, they too can be overcome – all without losing the mystery and wonder that makes our existence beguiling, infuriating, and fascinating.
https://www.theguardian.com/games/2022/feb/23/elden-ring-review-an-unrivalled-masterpiece-of-design-and-inventiveness
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Iormlund on February 23, 2022, 02:26:17 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 22, 2022, 05:57:46 PM
All I can tell you is that servers were down a couple of hours on the day it went public on the West Coast servers.  Other than that I had zero problem logging in.

It would be interesting to know why there was such a difference between server regions.

They initially set up two server clusters for NA, but only one for EU (which has a higher population).

They did not make language-specific servers (or at least chat channels) either.

Thus I'd say very little if any thought was given to the region, which is incredibly weird considering the purchasing power of (mainly) Western Europeans.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 23, 2022, 02:34:02 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on February 23, 2022, 10:54:39 AM
No-spoilers review of Elden Ring from a long time Fromsoft gamer dude: https://youtu.be/kdstSHeoNGA

Seems good  :bowler:

The Guardian has words:
QuoteVideo games can be all kinds of different things, representing all manner of artistic ambitions. Most, however, share a common goal: to conjure a compelling fictional reality, filled with beckoning mysteries, enchanting secrets, and enriching opportunities to compete and collaborate. They aim to provide a liminal space in which a determined player can fix that which is broken, order that which is chaotic. By this definition, at least, Elden Ring is the finest video game yet made. Its final gift is the assurance that, whatever monsters lurk in a broken world, with perseverance and cooperation, they too can be overcome – all without losing the mystery and wonder that makes our existence beguiling, infuriating, and fascinating.
https://www.theguardian.com/games/2022/feb/23/elden-ring-review-an-unrivalled-masterpiece-of-design-and-inventiveness

RPS was also gushing about it. ACG who does IMO pretty decent video reviews is also singing its praises (though pointing out a few issues). https://youtu.be/dJbfm9l1DTk

Kinda tempted, but I also have way too many games and play little at the moment so ... :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 27, 2022, 03:20:44 AM
I finished Portal 2 over the past few days.
I first played it many many years ago but for some reason dropped it and just stopped playing an hour in.
Played it from the start and yeah. It's good. But very short. Much prefer the arena puzzles where its clear what is a portal surface and what isn't to the bits in the ruined old offices, though they were cool.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 28, 2022, 01:20:17 PM
Slitherine are streaming upcoming game Regiments - an upcoming "Cold War gone hot" game in the vein of Wargame: European Escalation. The streamer chose to play the Russians. There's only 10-12 viewers, normally they have 6-7 times as many, and Regiments was eagerly awaited by their viewers/customers.

Seems people may not be in the best mood for this kind of game right now (I know I'm not).

EDIT: my bad, it's not Slitherine streaming, but one of their regular streamers, XTRG, viewership seems normal for his channel :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on February 28, 2022, 06:39:38 PM
Quote from: Tyr on February 27, 2022, 03:20:44 AMI finished Portal 2 over the past few days.
I first played it many many years ago but for some reason dropped it and just stopped playing an hour in.
Played it from the start and yeah. It's good. But very short. Much prefer the arena puzzles where its clear what is a portal surface and what isn't to the bits in the ruined old offices, though they were cool.
Wheatley is kind of how I imagine you sounding.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on March 04, 2022, 12:35:34 PM
So Elden Ring is actually really cool.

It's definitely difficult but not unfair. Learning enemy moves and stances helps a lot in fighting, especially in boss and miniboss fights. I am still a terrible newbie though so I die A LOT. But dying is completely natural and you don't really lose much except some accumulated "runes" (experience points and currency, essentially), which if you're thoughtful then you are spending them before fights where you expect to die a lot.

The one thing I'm really in love with is the setting. The huge open world they created is absolutely engorging and stunningly beautiful in a haunting way. Exploring is a delight and sometimes the hour or so I can spare to play this game at a time is spent just traversing the landscape in search of interesting things to see or views to gawk at. The world itself communicates the story and themes so incredibly well.

It actually reminds me quite a lot of Skyrim, except honestly just a lot better in practically every manner possible.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on March 04, 2022, 01:47:17 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on March 04, 2022, 12:35:34 PMThe one thing I'm really in love with is the setting. The huge open world they created is absolutely engorging and stunningly beautiful in a haunting way. Exploring is a delight and sometimes the hour or so I can spare to play this game at a time is spent just traversing the landscape in search of interesting things to see or views to gawk at. The world itself communicates the story and themes so incredibly well.

 :secret:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on March 05, 2022, 02:12:24 AM
Quote from: Habbaku on March 04, 2022, 01:47:17 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on March 04, 2022, 12:35:34 PMThe one thing I'm really in love with is the setting. The huge open world they created is absolutely engorging and stunningly beautiful in a haunting way. Exploring is a delight and sometimes the hour or so I can spare to play this game at a time is spent just traversing the landscape in search of interesting things to see or views to gawk at. The world itself communicates the story and themes so incredibly well.

 :secret:

 :perv:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on March 05, 2022, 04:14:10 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on March 04, 2022, 12:35:34 PMSo Elden Ring is actually really cool.

It's definitely difficult but not unfair. Learning enemy moves and stances helps a lot in fighting, especially in boss and miniboss fights. I am still a terrible newbie though so I die A LOT. But dying is completely natural and you don't really lose much except some accumulated "runes" (experience points and currency, essentially), which if you're thoughtful then you are spending them before fights where you expect to die a lot.

The one thing I'm really in love with is the setting. The huge open world they created is absolutely engorging and stunningly beautiful in a haunting way. Exploring is a delight and sometimes the hour or so I can spare to play this game at a time is spent just traversing the landscape in search of interesting things to see or views to gawk at. The world itself communicates the story and themes so incredibly well.

It actually reminds me quite a lot of Skyrim, except honestly just a lot better in practically every manner possible.

So am I reading right that its Dark Souls as an MMORPG?
But with Skyrim elements?

I'm not a fan of souls nor MMORPGs but I do like open world RPGs in general. Wonder if there's anything in it for me- for years down the line of course.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on March 06, 2022, 04:09:23 PM
What are some of the cool looking things in Elden Ring? I keep seeing that mentioned online but many of the vids/screenshots don't look all that different from say AC:Valhalla?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 06, 2022, 04:43:31 PM
My first thoughts on Elden Ring. Spoiler free.

Spent 8 hours with it this weekend. And I've not even made it to the first major boss. (I play quite cautiously, methodically, and make use of stealth, so this playthrough will be looong, if I keep going blind) :D

It very much feels like a Souls game (DS3 feels most similar, I'd say). The familiar stats are there, the souls runes that you use as currency for everything, the usual mechanics around combat, healing potions etc.

On top of that you get horseback riding and combat (which took me some getting used to but is quite fun - I had to rebind the dismount button, though, since I kept pushing it accidentally during combat -_- ), some crafting (the basic materials in the first zone seem quite abundant), and of course - the open world, sprinkled with small and large dungeons (I hear some of the main dungeons can be quite extensive). There's also a day/night cycle with more enemies being out at night. And you can summon minions - though only "outside", and even then there's "restricted areas".

I appreciate that the game allows you to skip the tutorial section this time (though I actually managed to beat the boss at the end of it first try).:D

So far I'm happily exploring the starting area, trying to beat some of the tougher enemies, and desperately looking for a bow or crossbow (I started as the dex class with two scimitars - I briefly tried a caster earlier today ... maybe I should have gone for that, but alas - anyways, I can still increase those stats later). Speaking of: it's bringing back build variety, unlike Sekiro which was very limited in that regard.

I'm weirdly reminded of playing Gothic 1 and 2 for the first time. Carefully exploring the world, and occasionally taking a wrong turn that leads to my untimely demise. But I'm having a surprisngly good time despite getting my ass kicked more often than not. :D

It's also funny how you apply knowledge from previous Souls games. There's an item at the end of a room? Probably a trap with enemies waiting in ambush. I have to say, items in the world (except crafting stuff) seem pretty scarce. But again, I'm only in the starting area, so this might yet change.

@garbon: Souls combat tends to be more free form than Assassins Creed. Also, don't expect long dialogue sequences, cutscenes, questlogs, or an abundance of map markers. You do get an indication where to go next (unlike previous games, but those were quite linear), but that's it.

NPCs in Souls games will have some dialogue they share with you (you're usually silent) - usually some lore, or some indication of things you can/should do. Dark Souls 1 had two or three NPCs with stories, and you had to meet certain conditions to advance their plots in certain ways. Dark Souls 3 had a bunch of NPCs with interwoven and branching storylines, but figuring them all out relied heavily on player experimentation.

These games have a tendency to let players figure shit out (and that usually includes the main story and lore). "Special" skills are this time more tied to weapons (like in Dark Souls 3 and its weapon arts - basically special abilities of weapons), though this time you can switch them out to help cater to your playstyle. There's no skill trees, though.

EDIT: I do suffer from the occasional frame drops some people complain about and which seems to be a problem with the current gen from nVidia. <_<
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on March 08, 2022, 02:45:50 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on February 28, 2022, 06:39:38 PM
Quote from: Tyr on February 27, 2022, 03:20:44 AMI finished Portal 2 over the past few days.
I first played it many many years ago but for some reason dropped it and just stopped playing an hour in.
Played it from the start and yeah. It's good. But very short. Much prefer the arena puzzles where its clear what is a portal surface and what isn't to the bits in the ruined old offices, though they were cool.
Wheatley is kind of how I imagine you sounding.

Stephen Merchant is great and I do like not being dropped.... But nah.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on March 10, 2022, 10:57:27 AM
Has anyone taken Distant Worlds 2 for a spin?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: DocDoom7 on March 11, 2022, 01:26:13 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 10, 2022, 10:57:27 AMHas anyone taken Distant Worlds 2 for a spin?

I've been tempted... but just started up with Stellaris and CK3 again so my gaming time has been used up entirely with those two.  Put on the wishlist, will probably buy on sale someday and add it to the vast collection of the Steam backlog :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 11, 2022, 01:34:58 PM
Yes, I was happy when it was announced, but I think I will wait a bit. I've not seen much of what has been improved over its predecesor?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sophie Scholl on March 11, 2022, 03:08:52 PM
Quote from: Syt on March 06, 2022, 04:43:31 PMEDIT: I do suffer from the occasional frame drops some people complain about and which seems to be a problem with the current gen from nVidia. <_<
I was reading a Twitter post earlier that said the PC frame rate issues (and maybe the console?) are contributed to pretty heavily by the Easy Anti Cheat thing they have. Apparently you can disable it but then you can't play online? No idea. These types of games are far, far beyond my level of skill and dedication these days. If there's a storymode in a game, it is 100% what I play.  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on March 14, 2022, 12:13:41 PM
Quote from: DocDoom7 on March 11, 2022, 01:26:13 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 10, 2022, 10:57:27 AMHas anyone taken Distant Worlds 2 for a spin?

I've been tempted... but just started up with Stellaris and CK3 again so my gaming time has been used up entirely with those two.  Put on the wishlist, will probably buy on sale someday and add it to the vast collection of the Steam backlog :D

I gave it a try - In the first couple of hours I really had no idea what I was doing but I learned a lot.  Restarted and learned more.  Restarted again and became completely engrossed in it.  I had meant to play for only a couple of hours in evening over the weekend -  but I looked at the clock at it was 1 am  :Embarrass:

@Syt, I didn't play the first iteration of the game so can't comment on how much has changed. 

Overall graphics are serviceable but if you want flashy modern graphics this game is not for you.  It is definitely more about all the little things and the large number of variables and decisions you can make on pretty much a constant basis.

Also each game progresses differently even when playing the same faction - so replayability seems to be endless.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 14, 2022, 12:24:45 PM
In DW1 I left a lot of the day to day stuff to the AI (also, it was easy to design your ships to outplay the AI), and focused on colonization targets, diplomacy, fleet building/compositions/operations. I also had a lot of functions on "AI suggests" with me having final approval. It made the game quite manageable.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on March 14, 2022, 01:02:42 PM
I try to do the same, but I am having difficulty figuring it all out atm.  My main problem is trying to figure out how to properly instruct an attack fleet to move to deal with the threats that pop up from time to time.

The other thing is how to prevent everyone from declaring war on me - I assume I need to build bigger fleets.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on March 14, 2022, 05:36:28 PM
How similar/different is it to Stellaris?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on March 14, 2022, 09:30:49 PM
Similarity is it is a large scale intergalactic 4x

But this has a very different feel to it.  Where Stellaris requires you to move units around (for example the building ships) much of that is automated but if you feel the need for that level of micro you could do it.  But there is no reason to do it.

I am just digging into it but it seems like there is a lot more going on. 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 15, 2022, 03:19:34 AM
DasTactic had a series of good tutorials when the Universe edition of Distant Worlds 1 came out (and later for Shadow Empire). I had a look, and while it's not a video series but rather one large chunk, he does have a tutorial up for DW2. He also uploaded a pre-release let's play, and some of his live streams.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 16, 2022, 10:13:56 AM
Still plonking away at Elden Ring here and there. The lack of guidance in the world and using the map to see if something cool might be hidden somewhere reminds me of exploration in Morrowind. And as mentioned I love running into FromSoftware tropes/traps where you approach a situation and think, "Yeah ... I see what you're doing here." :P Nice when you're right, but occasionally they still blindside me or add a little twist. :D

The messages from other players are often quite useful (like in one case where I was struggling someone left a message to try a certain thing, which really helped me out). But just as often you get the always funny "Try tongue but hole" :rolleyes: and of course trolls promising you treasure if you jump off a cliff - all time honored traditions. :D (my favorite cooperative dumb joke is one I came across in Dark Souls 2 first, in a long passage, a series of player notes in a long row along the lines of: "Behold message and then: message ahead." Next message: "Message ahead." Next: "Be wary of message." Etc.)

Made my first attempt at entering the first castle yesterday - yeah, that will need some trying things out. Which is one of the more fun bits: running into situations, unsure how to deal with them (usually dying) and then figuring out what approach works best for you (very much like the movie Edge of Tomorrow). The best FromSoft games give you a variety of tools to toy around with multiple solutions and offer a number of ways to overcome challenges (different playstyles, alternate routes, switching up gear, using consumables/items).

This game does it quite well so far where I'm starting to take on some enemies that gave me troubles at first with more confidence - better gear and stats is one part of it, but just getting better is another: learning enemy move patterns, how you can bait out attacks so you get an opening, when it is safe to strike and when it isn't.

And occasionally the game throws you into the deep end where you're glad to paddle back out, panicked (players might know what CHESTnut I refer to :P but knowing that the game also tells you: you'll be back later and it will be easier, because you have better weapons and equipment, and you'll have become a better player by then.

It's not easy staying away from spoilers, though. I've blocked a bunch of keywords on Twitter and avoid any YouTube videos, but it's not always easy. :D

But as usual, this meme applies:

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ExK4pXdWgAQoz5b.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on March 16, 2022, 10:53:31 AM
Yeah Elden Ring really reminds me of traditional open-world Elder Scrolls games. Nothing near Morrowind's/Skyrim's interactivity, but the vastness of the world and the exploration is certainly comparable. And of course, the combat is much, much more interesting than Elder Scrolls games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on March 21, 2022, 12:10:26 PM
New witcher game announced.

https://twitter.com/Marcin360

I can't get to the linked page though, I guess traffic is taking it down.

EDIT: Finally got in, yeah, it seems they're kicking off a new saga (so I assume Geralt-less, the signet doesn't look like the wolf school one). Scant details, though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Savonarola on March 21, 2022, 12:52:12 PM
A friend of mine is going to graduate school for game design.  His first group project was UNICYCLE SAMURAI!

(https://i.imgur.com/VmvehPI.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/cQxTAlH.png)

Wat-cha!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on March 21, 2022, 05:37:03 PM
Apparently another Witcher game in the works.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on March 22, 2022, 04:52:53 PM
Anyone have a Steam Deck or are on the wait list for one?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on March 22, 2022, 05:14:29 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on March 22, 2022, 04:52:53 PMAnyone have a Steam Deck or are on the wait list for one?

They do look very tempting for sure. Though given my lack of time at the moment and many year wait for a switch, again hit by lack of time, I'll probably wait a few years before getting one.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on March 22, 2022, 05:50:45 PM
Quote from: Josquius on March 22, 2022, 05:14:29 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on March 22, 2022, 04:52:53 PMAnyone have a Steam Deck or are on the wait list for one?

They do look very tempting for sure. Though given my lack of time at the moment and many year wait for a switch, again hit by lack of time, I'll probably wait a few years before getting one.

Yeah, that is my angle too. It looks promising though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on March 25, 2022, 01:25:54 AM
So. FIFA.

Not games I've been into since the mega drive era. Attempts at playing modern iterations just confuse me. I can't get the hang of it at all. And all that loot box and gambling stuff they use to mine money from kids....

Nonetheless they're mega sellers with the annual iterations raking in bazillions.

Seems however EA has lost the FIFA license. This is big. They've had it for nearly 30 years with at least a new game every year off the back of it.
I have big fingers crossed that somebody else will swoop in and snatch up the license leading to actual innovation in the football game genre.
Oh how I miss the mega drive days when there were a dozen different variations on how to do a football game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on March 25, 2022, 06:06:22 AM
They did not lose it tho. FIFA asks for $1 billion for every WC cycle. EA, wisely, declined.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on March 29, 2022, 04:47:31 AM
I had a bunch of vouchers expiring soon and no other things that immediately needed buying so I finally did it and bought a switch.
Shiny.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on March 29, 2022, 10:02:50 AM
Quote from: Josquius on March 29, 2022, 04:47:31 AMI had a bunch of vouchers expiring soon and no other things that immediately needed buying so I finally did it and bought a switch.
Shiny.

Yeah that thing is great for parents :P

I'll be on the couch playing Zelda while the little one stumbles around in the living room and I can quickly put the Switch into sleep mode if I need to attend to her. Games are solid too (Breath of the Wild and Hades  :cool: )
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on March 30, 2022, 06:56:54 AM
Good Choice.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on March 30, 2022, 09:16:42 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on March 29, 2022, 10:02:50 AM
Quote from: Josquius on March 29, 2022, 04:47:31 AMI had a bunch of vouchers expiring soon and no other things that immediately needed buying so I finally did it and bought a switch.
Shiny.

Yeah that thing is great for parents :P

I'll be on the couch playing Zelda while the little one stumbles around in the living room and I can quickly put the Switch into sleep mode if I need to attend to her. Games are solid too (Breath of the Wild and Hades  :cool: )

Sounds lovely but definitely not an option with mine. No way would he leave me alone on the sofa :lol:
But being able to quickly sleep and dip in and out is an appeal.

Hades is probably top of my list to get. So far got Mario Kart, Disco Elysium, Goose Game, and Astral Chain. I like how many games have demos on the store too, helped me eliminate dbz kakarot from any consideration.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on March 30, 2022, 08:20:23 PM
I have my eye on Baba is You. Dice Dungeons was pretty fun, especially in waiting rooms or when my kids swim* or play hockey*.


*Because of covid restrictions, parents are not allowed inside.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on March 31, 2022, 09:00:00 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on March 30, 2022, 08:20:23 PMI have my eye on Baba is You. Dice Dungeons was pretty fun, especially in waiting rooms or when my kids swim* or play hockey*.


*Because of covid restrictions, parents are not allowed inside.



Baba Is You is great if you like puzzle games that make you progressively think more and more outside the box.  Otherwise it will be an exercise in frustration.

Some of the later puzzles I'm not as much a fan of when you have to execute a bunch of complicated actions in the right order, and if you mess up early the whole sequence is shot. 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on April 01, 2022, 06:11:17 AM
Quote from: frunk on March 31, 2022, 09:00:00 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on March 30, 2022, 08:20:23 PMI have my eye on Baba is You. Dice Dungeons was pretty fun, especially in waiting rooms or when my kids swim* or play hockey*.


*Because of covid restrictions, parents are not allowed inside.



Baba Is You is great if you like puzzle games that make you progressively think more and more outside the box.  Otherwise it will be an exercise in frustration.

Some of the later puzzles I'm not as much a fan of when you have to execute a bunch of complicated actions in the right order, and if you mess up early the whole sequence is shot. 

Yeah Baba is great but holy crap do some of the puzzles frustrate me. Still haven't finished it  :lol:

That Goose game is cute fun.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 01, 2022, 01:16:17 PM
RPS have posted an excellent list of plot twists in video games: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-9-best-plot-twists-in-pc-games
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on April 01, 2022, 03:41:34 PM
Oh this is sad - apparently a lovely game too:
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/914800/view/3197000290665001626

I'll probably buy just for that.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on April 02, 2022, 01:48:14 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on April 01, 2022, 03:41:34 PMOh this is sad - apparently a lovely game too:
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/914800/view/3197000290665001626

I'll probably buy just for that.

That does look like a worthwhile purchase.  :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on April 04, 2022, 10:38:03 AM
Oh my:
https://twitter.com/devolverdigital/status/1510995585138147333?s=20&t=Cre6zylKHgM2KTZN3iceVA
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on April 05, 2022, 12:42:28 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on April 04, 2022, 10:38:03 AMOh my:
https://twitter.com/devolverdigital/status/1510995585138147333?s=20&t=Cre6zylKHgM2KTZN3iceVA

 :w00t:

I dig the decanonization of the Gilbert-less ones.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on April 05, 2022, 10:19:09 PM
https://kotaku.com/april-2022-game-pass-lost-in-random-life-is-strange-tru-1848750844

Games available on Game Pass starting this month

QuoteApril 5
Cricket 22 (Cloud, Console)
MLB The Show 2022 (Cloud, Console)

April 7
Chinatown Detective Agency (Cloud, Console, PC)
Dragon Age 2, via EA Play (Cloud)
Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare, via EA Play (Cloud)
Star Wars: Squadrons, via EA Play (Cloud)

April 12
Life is Strange: True Colors (Cloud, Console, PC)
Panzer Corps 2 (PC)
The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk (PC)

April 14
Lost In Random, via EA Play (Cloud, Console, PC)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on April 12, 2022, 11:24:30 AM
Having played a few games of Distant Worlds 2 now, I can explain a bit more about the differences with Stellaris.

Stellaris is more of a macro management game.  The economic model is very basic and resources are reduced to two things. Games also feel very similar.  The main difference is the ascendency you go for but even then the game plays out pretty much the same despite all the bells and whistles.  Also, games are long - I have never actually finished one.

Distant Worlds 2 is much more of a micro management game (although you can choose to automate as much of it as you want and step in at any time to give specific orders).  It has a complex resource system that can dramatically effect how each game plays out - you need specific resources to build specific things.

The economic system feels a lot more alive - you can see the private sector ships doing their thing - transport ships, freighters, private miners etc.  You can also make strategic decisions to spur on private economic development, mainly through developing mining rigs on distant worlds - hence the name  :D

Also, and I think most importantly, games have a reasonable length.  I have finished three games now.

There is also a lot of variability amongst games - I think owing to the fact that it does not have to balanced for multiplayer.  That means that even if you are using the same civ with the same settings the game can play out very differently.

I think both games are good, but they are good at different things.         
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 14, 2022, 07:13:21 AM
Thanks for the summary, CC. :) Sounds very similar to DW1 then.

Galactic Civilizations IV will come out soon. I will likely hold off for a while unless reviews are raving - GalCiv3 was fine IMHO, but it needed a few expansions to go from mediocre to good.

The product page has some interesting ideas, though:

https://www.galciv4.com/gameplay

QuotePrevious Galactic Civilizations games existed in a single map of various sizes. Players who enjoyed big maps had to deal with the downside of much of the map being "empty" (no stars or planets). Moreover, exploration of the game was the same on turn 1 as it was on turn 300.

Galactic Civilizations IV introduces star sectors. Each sector is akin to a map in Galactic Civilizations III. Most of these sectors are similar to tiny to large GalCiv III maps that represented a section of the overall galaxy that the player was trying to conquer. Now, there can be anywhere from one to dozens of star sectors to explore.

The early part of the game involves the traditional exploration phase. However, other star sectors can only be reached through subspace streams which require a technology to reach. Thus, a second phase of exploration and conquest is entered once this technology is achieved.

Star sectors allow us to have much bigger maps since we are able to do away with the dead-space tiles which in previous games still consumed memory and more relevantly, giant pathfinding tasks which always forced us to limit the maximum sizes of maps.

Didn't Warlock 2 have a system like that where you were expanding over various "plains" that were essentially linked maps? Also call back to Deuteros on Commodore Amiga where you could expand beyond the solar system and create colonies in other systems that were for all intents and purposes separate game boards (and also accounted for time dilation IIRC). Curious to see how this improves gameplay to break up the map like that.

This one has me interested, though:

QuoteIn previous games, players had to manage every single planet no matter how marginal it was. Players could assign an AI governor to the planet to automate this process but this was rarely satisfying.

GalCiv IV flips the concept of governors on its head: By default, planets aren't managed at all. They simply provide resources (tech, minerals, wealth, food) to the nearest "core" world. Players can then decide if they want to manage a world by assigning a governor to it, which turns that colony into a core world. The governor doesn't manage anything but instead provides a series of bonuses to the planet based on their character. Of course, have too many colonies feeding a core world and that governor may decide he or she doesn't need you anymore and rebel.

Having true colonies is a feature that is so obvious in hindsight that we're baffled we didn't come up with it sooner. In 4X games, the late game stall is almost entirely caused by having to micro manage too many planets, cities, whatever. Here, players will tend to only want to manage the top handful of worlds and leave the rest as colonies whose resources supercharge their associated core world.

Microing your planets and colonies is always the most tedious aspects of these games. So dividing them into "core" worlds that function as usual and "colonies" that are backwaters feeding core worlds sounds interesting, not least from an RP perspective. It could also add interesting decisions - should you turn this world into a core? If you do, how will this affect supply to other cores? I feel a system like this existed somewhere already. Didn't Stellaris have something like that where colonies had to "grow" into proper worlds, some time ago?

Other changes seem less exciting. Leaders seem to be basically pops as you had them in MoO2 or in Stellaris, if I read the text correctly? A research model that makes you pick from options (like Stellaris), though unclear if choice might be exclusive (if you choose A you can't choose B, ever)? Events and quests (like Stellaris), and an expanded ideology system (7 instead of the previous games' good/evil/bad trichotomy (is that a word?)). Executive orders seem to be similar to edicts from (all together now!) Stellaris.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on April 14, 2022, 11:43:07 AM
I have played a good 4x space game for quite a while (or a crappy one either, for that matter). What are the best options on the market right now?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Darth Wagtaros on April 14, 2022, 12:36:47 PM
Hail to the Queen, played it for the first time in years. I got 33 weeks in, which I think is a personal best.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 14, 2022, 01:06:19 PM
Quote from: Jacob on April 14, 2022, 11:43:07 AMI have played a good 4x space game for quite a while (or a crappy one either, for that matter). What are the best options on the market right now?

MoO2. :P

Stellaris has the advantage of being quite moddable and having tons of extra content. More recommended if you like to not min/max but are rather into RPing your faction. Has a huge Star Trek mod that runs through the TV show eras: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=688086068&searchtext=star+trek+new+horizons

GalCiv3 is more traditional. It's not bad, but I wouldn't put it too high on my all time list. With expansions it's IMHO better than GalCiv2, but I spent a lot more time with the older title.

I'm partial to Distant Worlds Universe, though #2 is out now. There's a great overhaul mod that does vanilla friendly rebalancing and adding some new races (unlike other overhaul mods for games that tend to make the game ultrahard which holds no interest to me), and some excellent tutorials on YouTube by DasTactic.

Age of Wonders: Planetfall is good fun if you like your space 4x planetside and it's IMHO better than AoW3. If you like that but want a heavy war focus check Warhammer 40k Gladius (unlike AoWP it has no tactical combat, though). Or, if you like your sci-fi planet based 4x to be more of a wargame, check Shadow Empire.

I liked Endless Legend 1, but 2 didn't quite spark my interest. Also the reviews on Steam indicate that the expansions break balance and some bad bugs in the base game remain unfixed (doesn't bode well for Humankind from the same studio ...).

Slipways is more of a puzzle/logistics game, but a great game to play during a lunch break or so.

For tactical combat, Battlestar Galactica Deadlock is IMO the best out there. It comes with a campaign that lets you fight the first Human-Cylon war (including 1978 style Vipers and Cylon Raiders/Base Stars :nerd: ), with add ons adding more scenarios.

If you want to be the evil space overlord, have a look at Space Tyrant. If you want to be a single character inside a 4X that you can only influence indirectly, check Last Federation (which is a bit weird and quirky, overall), or Drox Operative. Part 2 is out now. I played 1 a bit, but I found the game incredibly grindy. Unsure if the 2nd is similar.

And then there's tons of indie stuff, like Stars in Shadow, Stardrive, Star Ruler, Stellar Monarch. And classics like Sins of a Solar Empire, Star Wars: Empire at War (which also has a ton of mods, with the best probably Republic at War which covers the Clone Wars), Homeworld Remastered, Space Empires III & IV ... In some ways, I guess the X games are a bit of a 4X since you can create a trade/manufacturing empire in them, but ever after 2 and 3 the series seems to flounder.

Personally, I'm kinda hoping that Alliance of the Sacred Suns turns out well: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1113400/Alliance_of_the_Sacred_Suns/

And Fragile Existence: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1672320/Fragile_Existence/

Stellar Monarch 2 is in early access: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1437750/Stellar_Monarch_2/
I thought 1 had an interesting concept, so waiting for this to come out of EA and hoping it's good.

My main complaint with the genre is that too many people try to make something "in the tradition of MoO2". If I want that, I can play MoO2 (which was fun). I prefer people trying something new. Stellaris has gone off in its own direction with a long road of refurbishing the game. Distant Worlds is more traditional but has a lot of detail.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 14, 2022, 01:07:47 PM
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on April 14, 2022, 12:36:47 PMHail to the Queen, played it for the first time in years. I got 33 weeks in, which I think is a personal best.

You mean Long Live the Queen? Nice. :)

I liked the game, but I felt it relies a lot on learning the optimum path through much replaying.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on April 14, 2022, 01:14:53 PM
QuoteI liked Endless Legend 1, but 2 didn't quite spark my interest. Also the reviews on Steam indicate that the expansions break balance and some bad bugs in the base game remain unfixed (doesn't bode well for Humankind from the same studio ...).

I think you meant Endless Space  :)

I really liked Endless Space 2- but I agree, do not get the last DLC.  It broke the game.  If you steer clear of that it is a very enjoyable game and especially if you like that studios' design philosophy. 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 14, 2022, 01:22:15 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 14, 2022, 01:14:53 PM
QuoteI liked Endless Legend 1, but 2 didn't quite spark my interest. Also the reviews on Steam indicate that the expansions break balance and some bad bugs in the base game remain unfixed (doesn't bode well for Humankind from the same studio ...).

I think you meant Endless Space  :)

I really liked Endless Space 2- but I agree, do not get the last DLC.  It broke the game.  If you steer clear of that it is a very enjoyable game and especially if you like that studios' design philosophy. 

Yes, Endless Space :D Curse their naming schemes. :P (I still can't get over them remaking Dungeon of the Endless as Endless Dungeon :bleeding: :lol: )

I might get the DLC except the last one, then. It's been a while since I played the game, but after ES1 and Endless Legend I felt it was a bit underwhelming.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Darth Wagtaros on April 14, 2022, 02:04:53 PM
Quote from: Syt on April 14, 2022, 01:07:47 PM
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on April 14, 2022, 12:36:47 PMHail to the Queen, played it for the first time in years. I got 33 weeks in, which I think is a personal best.

You mean Long Live the Queen? Nice. :)

I liked the game, but I felt it relies a lot on learning the optimum path through much replaying.
Ah yes.  And yes, it seems to be more about gaming the game, I'll play it again in a few years.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on April 14, 2022, 02:14:16 PM
Okay... so my wish list is a game that's not singularly focused on military victory, where there's some complexity and nuance but the initial learning curve isn't massively steep, and where it's possible to actually finish a game rather than getting stuck in an endless grind.

Probably something other than a Paradox game, just for a change of pace.

Distant Worlds 2 sounds like it, maybe, with the optional automation? GalCiv4 with governors sounds alright too, but it's not out yet...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on April 14, 2022, 02:15:58 PM
... oh, as a bonus, I'd love to be able to edit the pictures of the races - eps my own - for customization :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on April 14, 2022, 02:27:11 PM
I've just bought a game on the switch. Captain Tsubasa.
Its the game of an anime I've never seen. Very anime style.
Butttt....it seems to be something I've been wanting a while. An arcadey football game with super powers and an easy learning curve. Kind of like a old early 90s arcade game.
With possible rpgish aspects. I still await the Roy of the rovers game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 14, 2022, 02:41:42 PM
Quote from: Jacob on April 14, 2022, 02:14:16 PMOkay... so my wish list is a game that's not singularly focused on military victory, where there's some complexity and nuance but the initial learning curve isn't massively steep, and where it's possible to actually finish a game rather than getting stuck in an endless grind.

I think Stellaris comes closest, because if you lower the difficulty you can have fun just doing your own thing. You can also build federations and achieve victory that way. The game is ... somewhat intuitive? Best to check some tutorials. The most fun part is the expansion phase, though, when you constantly have anomaly and quest events pop up. The mid and late game are not great if you're not involved in wars. :-/

GalCiv3 has alternate victory conditions (ascension, tech, diplo, influence).

Stellar Monarch is asymmetrical in that you're an old Empire surrounded by smaller ones and have to ensure dominance as Emperor. It has a strong military component, but for the most part you have a "big picture" view of dealing with your courtiers and petitioners, giving general orders to your fleets. It becomes a bit repetitive after a while, but hopefully Stellar Monarch 2 can change that.

The Endless Space games (and esp. 2) have unique play styles and conditions for each race. 2 comes with race specific questlines.

Distant Worlds Universe had (optionally) race specific victory rules. E.g. one race might require you to conduct and intercept the most intelligence missions, plus control a colony that produces a restricted substance and earn the highest trade bonuses. Or you may be required to have the longest lasting mutual defense pact and trade agreement, have the least broken treaties and do the most research. Etc. (Other conditions are destroy the most or lose the least ships, have the most spaceports, own x% of continental worlds, and so on.)

Star Dynasties tried to be Crusader Kings 2 in space, but based on reviews they didn't quite achieve that: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1194590/Star_Dynasties/

Otherwise there's not many space games that aren't "paint the map." :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 14, 2022, 02:47:41 PM
Quote from: Josquius on April 14, 2022, 02:27:11 PMI've just bought a game on the switch. Captain Tsubasa.
Its the game of an anime I've never seen. Very anime style.
Butttt....it seems to be something I've been wanting a while. An arcadey football game with super powers and an easy learning curve. Kind of like a old early 90s arcade game.
With possible rpgish aspects. I still await the Roy of the rovers game.

The 1980s show ran in Germany, apparently. I wasn't sure if I'd seen it, but turns out that was Ganbare, Kickers. :lol: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganbare,_Kickers!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on April 14, 2022, 03:08:11 PM
Thanks for the breakdowns, Syt :cheers:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on April 14, 2022, 03:23:57 PM
Quote from: Syt on April 14, 2022, 02:41:42 PMStar Dynasties tried to be Crusader Kings 2 in space, but based on reviews they didn't quite achieve that: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1194590/Star_Dynasties/
That's a shame - sounds like a really interesting idea :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 14, 2022, 03:38:23 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on April 14, 2022, 03:23:57 PM
Quote from: Syt on April 14, 2022, 02:41:42 PMStar Dynasties tried to be Crusader Kings 2 in space, but based on reviews they didn't quite achieve that: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1194590/Star_Dynasties/
That's a shame - sounds like a really interesting idea :(

That's why I hope Alliance of the Sacred Suns turns out better:

QuoteA thousand years in the future, humanity's last empire stands on the brink of collapse. Noble Great Houses compete for control over the decaying feudal state, while the lives of ordinary people have already begun the descent into an interstellar dark age.

You are the young emperor or empress, preparing to ascend the throne. You carry the last glimmer of hope for a brighter future among the stars.

Alliance of the Sacred Suns immerses you fully in the role of ruler. You will create your character, selecting from a variety of backgrounds and abilities. You will engage in conversations and develop relationships with your officials. You will make hard choices in illustrated narrative events, some threatening the stability of your fragile reign, others shining the faintest hope of a new dawn for your dying empire.

Your empire's long decline means that you begin as ruler in name only. The nobility has coalesced into a handful of Great Houses, and their power has been growing for generations at the expense of imperial control. Members of the Great Houses dominate the imperial bureaucracy and complicate your rule. Yet, the strength of the Great Houses also provides critical support to your empire. A council of nobles serves as a check on your authority, but also a chance to build consensus for your policies.

You cannot micromanage the daily affairs of each planet in your empire, and you do not have omnipotent control of the economy or military. Instead you can only wield your authority as a real emperor or empress would, by managing relationships and politics to rule through appointed officials. Some serve as your governors, ruling planets and star systems in your name.

There are no build queues to micromanage. Instead, exercising wisdom in whom to entrust with official appointments will be critical to the development of planets within your empire. But you must tread carefully, and you cannot make appointments on merit alone. The scion of a powerful House may prove an incompetent governor, but stripping them of position may have consequences far worse than a badly run colony.

You too are a member of a Great House. Your House and those of the other noble families will each employ a unique playstyle. For example, Houses with a technocratic tradition will research advanced technologies to grow their power, while those with a mercantile culture strengthen their rule through economic growth and trade.

These factors will play out differently depending on which of several available scenarios you choose. Each scenario includes unique political situations and victory conditions.

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1113400/ss_781d23b1de2997d5ec3fa26425ec1a68a6bbe615.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1113400/ss_02851064c14109e661efda48567a76cb4d8b5a1f.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1113400/ss_13ea731d7077ed20caec7e5565bb3b442aec45c3.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1113400/ss_ea670c8e7a28a12fecba245d931c6e2d0cc79a51.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1113400/ss_4742048c40c436c13821a959593d16b321fa06e8.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1113400/ss_ad3af8434cb66aa26d38fe393112ea3f9f1abdb7.1920x1080.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on April 14, 2022, 03:51:53 PM
That does sound intriguing.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 14, 2022, 05:44:49 PM
In Alliance of Sacred Suns, the devs insist on game over-ing you when your character dies. This is guaranteed to sunk their Steam reviews. Also when I tried the demo like a year ago, it seemed quite complicated to operate.

Galciv4 though, sounds interesting with the changes, thanks for bringing it up Syt, I assumed it to be a Galciv 3 clone.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on April 14, 2022, 10:15:37 PM
Quote from: Jacob on April 14, 2022, 02:14:16 PMOkay... so my wish list is a game that's not singularly focused on military victory, where there's some complexity and nuance but the initial learning curve isn't massively steep, and where it's possible to actually finish a game rather than getting stuck in an endless grind.

Probably something other than a Paradox game, just for a change of pace.

Distant Worlds 2 sounds like it, maybe, with the optional automation? GalCiv4 with governors sounds alright too, but it's not out yet...

Endless space 2 is probably best then.  Even with automation DW2 has a steep learning curve.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 15, 2022, 01:16:00 AM
Quote from: Tamas on April 14, 2022, 05:44:49 PMIn Alliance of Sacred Suns, the devs insist on game over-ing you when your character dies. This is guaranteed to sunk their Steam reviews. Also when I tried the demo like a year ago, it seemed quite complicated to operate.

Galciv4 though, sounds interesting with the changes, thanks for bringing it up Syt, I assumed it to be a Galciv 3 clone.

I saw that about AotSS (only playing one character), but I'll withhold judgment on that for now. I think it could be an interesting wrinkle to the formula where you have to make sure your limited time counts for something, unlike CK where you're tempted to rush your inept character to an untimely death. Of course it depends on how much you can do during your reign. I don't think the game will be "too short" for it. As I understand it, you start your character at age 18, and turns are one season, i.e. four per year. If your character rules for 60 years (age 78), that's still 240 turns which seems plenty.

My concern is more whether there's enough replayability. It seems there's fixed scenarios, though not sure how much you can customize your games within them. If you can choose enough different options, or starting positions which force you into different play styles then that might not be a problem, though.

On GalCiv4 I'm a bit careful yet. GalCiv3 took DLC to get really good (IMHO), and while I think it's one of the best current gen space 4X games (not that there's much competition) it lacks the flavor that e.g. Stellaris (esp. with mods) has. Again - very much my personal opinion. :) And I still think back to Stardock's attempt at fantasy 4X which ended up really disappointing. They had some great concepts for Elemental: War of Magic, and pared them back bit by bit before release, and the game was all over the place in the end. I was rather hyped for it, and bought the novel pre-release (which was quite bad), but I still have the little pewter dragon sitting on my desk, so there's that. They later released Elemental: Fallen Enchantress, which was more traditional, and overall a lot better, but still quite "meh." They tried twice more with Sorcerer King and Sorcerer King: Rivals (the second being an enhanced version of the former) where they try to turn the game into an asymmetrical one - you're a fledgling ruler trying to build up forces to topple the evil overlord before he can finish the world ending ritual, while making sure not to cause him to smack you down before you're ready (similar to Colonization, or AI War). Not a bad idea, but again - mediocre implementation.

Their GalCiv series does a lot better, so I try to be optimistic, but I will wait to see how it shakes out. Then again, it will come out on Epic first, so it will be at least another year before it's on Steam, I guess, which may benefit the game in terms of post-launch updates.

On that note: remember when Stardock had its own online shop and launcher? I had forgotten about it. :D Wiki says they sold it to GameStop who later pulled the plug on it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 15, 2022, 01:26:21 AM
Btw, I still like Civ: Beyond Earth. Sure, it's not Alpha Centauri (but what game is), but with the DLC it's fun for a game or two every now and then IMHO.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Darth Wagtaros on April 15, 2022, 06:48:57 AM
I never really enjoyed Civ: Beyond Earth.  Was just boring.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 15, 2022, 12:25:59 PM
My main problem with Beyond Earth is the same as with Planetfall: for some reason terrain tiles seem washed out and hard to distinguish/focus on.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on April 16, 2022, 08:05:05 AM
Bret Devereaux posted a rather detailed takedown of the claim to historical accuracy that Expeditions: Rome makes: https://acoup.blog/2022/04/15/collections-expeditions-rome-and-the-perils-of-verisimilitude/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on April 16, 2022, 12:04:39 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on April 16, 2022, 08:05:05 AMBret Devereaux posted a rather detailed takedown of the claim to historical accuracy that Expeditions: Rome makes: https://acoup.blog/2022/04/15/collections-expeditions-rome-and-the-perils-of-verisimilitude/


Damn, I was interested in the game but reading this it would probably piss me off.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: HVC on April 16, 2022, 09:55:13 PM
Played some galciv 4. Early release/paid beta. I recall now why i stopped playing 3. Ai ignores borders at it annoys the hell out of me. Why even have a open border diplomatic option.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Darth Wagtaros on April 17, 2022, 09:15:44 AM
I just fired that up the other day and quit for similar reasons.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on April 17, 2022, 09:27:22 AM
[quote author :D =Solmyr link=msg=1363768 date=1650114305]
Bret Devereaux posted a rather detailed takedown of the claim to historical accuracy that Expeditions: Rome makes: https://acoup.blog/2022/04/15/collections-expeditions - rome-and-the-perils-of-verisimilitude/
[/quote]

He claims that the game claims to be historically accurate. But he never actually sets out where the game makes the claim he claims

It's pretty freaking obvious after about the first half hour that the game is making no attempt to be accurate.  And anybody who has even a passing Knowles about the history of Rome would immediately realize that fact.

For somebody who spent a lot of time analyzing the game and they sure don't know much about it. Which makes me question his further claim that he actually played it for about 50 hours. I think it more likely how do you spent a bunch of time trying to figure out ways to criticize the game for his article. Nobody who has played the series would try to criticize it for something it is not trying to do. This series has never try to be historically accurate. Rather it uses and historical setting to create a fun game.

The equivalent would be criticizing XCOM for not getting the United States historically accurate in every respect.




Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on April 18, 2022, 03:39:43 AM
He explains how the game makes the claim in the section titled... "Making a Claim".
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on April 18, 2022, 03:39:37 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on April 18, 2022, 03:39:43 AMHe explains how the game makes the claim in the section titled... "Making a Claim".

This is as good as he gets "the claim being made here isn't simply one of silent presentation, the game's steam page promises a historically inspired story of political intrigue."

It never makes the claim to historical accuracy.  He makes a claim the developers never do and then criticizes for not meeting his claim.

They do in fact make a game that is "historically inspired".  But only a moron would think this game was trying to be historically accurate.  A well known personage dies in the opening segments of the game.  That should be a tip off to even the most obtuse of game reviewers that the devs were not trying to be historically accurate.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on April 18, 2022, 03:48:57 PM
If I read historically inspired I expect The Great or 1917, not Apollo 13 or Rome.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on April 19, 2022, 07:58:00 AM
Well if you were one of those who didn't think HBO Rome was historically inspired, then no game that uses Rome as a back drop is going to please you.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on April 19, 2022, 08:49:41 AM
You getting a kickback, CC?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on April 19, 2022, 08:49:48 AM
Yeah, I think the Devereaux article is more a case of "if the only tool you have is historical analysis, all your problems look like historical inaccuracies."    He's really criticizing the game for something it doesn't attempt. I can understand, though, why he might be concerned as a historian that the game "teaches" players false things about Roman history and politics while appearing (through things like using foreign words when common English words exist) to be accurate overall.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 19, 2022, 08:58:39 AM
I think it comes down to setting expectations. Recent Assassins Creed games make it pretty clear that their story campaigns are fictionalized (if quantum-leaping into past characters wasn't a clue) - they tried to get the setting quite right, and add their "history tour" modes (though it seems Valhalla slipped from Odyssey and Origins in quality/accuracy from what I've read). Obviously a much smaller indie studio can't get anywhere near that level of having it both ways.

I have no issue with games being less than historically accurate if they don't pretend they are. Total War games have pretty much always focused on Hollywood style battles and stories with a reasonable historical paintjob. That's fine. I would be annoyed if a game like Graviteam Tactics or Command: Modern Operations took that approach.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on April 19, 2022, 09:09:13 AM
I don't get the critique of the critique.

I thought the article as damn interesting - I learned a lot of stuff I did not know.

He is basically saying that the game has historical trappings, and tries very hard to *appear* historical, while in reality not being very historical at all.

That seems pretty accurate. If you care about that, then the article has some relevance to you. If you do not, then you are certainly no worse off for having it pointed out.

A lot more thought and care went into writing that then 99% of the crap out there about games. I say well done.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on April 19, 2022, 11:13:20 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 19, 2022, 07:58:00 AMWell if you were one of those who didn't think HBO Rome was historically inspired, then no game that uses Rome as a back drop is going to please you.

Rome was the best accurate representation of ancient Rome ever seen on the screen.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on April 19, 2022, 12:41:32 PM
Quote from: Berkut on April 19, 2022, 09:09:13 AMI don't get the critique of the critique.

I thought the article as damn interesting - I learned a lot of stuff I did not know.

He is basically saying that the game has historical trappings, and tries very hard to *appear* historical, while in reality not being very historical at all.

That seems pretty accurate. If you care about that, then the article has some relevance to you. If you do not, then you are certainly no worse off for having it pointed out.

A lot more thought and care went into writing that then 99% of the crap out there about games. I say well done.

It would be an good article if it stuck to making general comments about how history is woven into games these days.  And for that it does a good job.

But he went further to make a claim the developers do not make - "Thus it is important to begin with this: Expeditions: Rome is making a clear claim to historical realism, on which much of its marketing and presentation rely."

That is false.  The game never does make a "clear" or any claim to historical realism.  If he had actually played the the game, as he said he did, he would have realized there was absolutely no pretense at historical realism since a well known personage from history dies at the beginning of the game, decades before they did so historically.  You then take up their legacy in the game - fairly literally actually. 

Saying the game is not historically accurate is fine.  But they never claimed to be historically accurate.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 19, 2022, 12:55:58 PM
I've yet to read the article; I did find his series of articles on EU4 and Vic2 quite interesting in looking at how the model history, the games' assumptions and what is and isn't covered, though. So I do trust him to some degree.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on April 19, 2022, 02:32:12 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 19, 2022, 12:41:32 PM
Quote from: Berkut on April 19, 2022, 09:09:13 AMI don't get the critique of the critique.

I thought the article as damn interesting - I learned a lot of stuff I did not know.

He is basically saying that the game has historical trappings, and tries very hard to *appear* historical, while in reality not being very historical at all.

That seems pretty accurate. If you care about that, then the article has some relevance to you. If you do not, then you are certainly no worse off for having it pointed out.

A lot more thought and care went into writing that then 99% of the crap out there about games. I say well done.

It would be an good article if it stuck to making general comments about how history is woven into games these days.  And for that it does a good job.

But he went further to make a claim the developers do not make - "Thus it is important to begin with this: Expeditions: Rome is making a clear claim to historical realism, on which much of its marketing and presentation rely."

That is false.  The game never does make a "clear" or any claim to historical realism.  If he had actually played the the game, as he said he did, he would have realized there was absolutely no pretense at historical realism since a well known personage from history dies at the beginning of the game, decades before they did so historically.  You then take up their legacy in the game - fairly literally actually. 

Saying the game is not historically accurate is fine.  But they never claimed to be historically accurate.
That is not the historical realism he is talking about - the existence of some particular human being which is in fact explained quite clearly in the context of the game. It is everything else.

Like how the formations are organized, etc., etc.

You could certainly make a very historically accurate game about WW2 for example, but have the story of the game start with "Patton died on his plane trip to North Africa! You have been selected to fill in for him! Go!" and then have the rest of the game be ultra historically accurate.

And I think his point is that they very much are making a claim to historical accuracy, due to the way they present the game, with using Latin language and such.

Really, whether or not they "claim" it in the manner you dispute or not is largely irrelevant to the utility of the article. At least to the utility I got from the article anyway, and I never even played the game!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on April 19, 2022, 04:14:33 PM
Yeah, the article was quite useful for me. I was attracted to the idea of inmersing myself in the Late Roman Republic era (one of my favorite historical eras), but reading the article made me realize I wouldn't enjoy the game. Others may not consider Deveraux's objections that important and enjoy it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on April 19, 2022, 08:32:22 PM
Quote from: Berkut on April 19, 2022, 02:32:12 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 19, 2022, 12:41:32 PM
Quote from: Berkut on April 19, 2022, 09:09:13 AMI don't get the critique of the critique.

I thought the article as damn interesting - I learned a lot of stuff I did not know.

He is basically saying that the game has historical trappings, and tries very hard to *appear* historical, while in reality not being very historical at all.

That seems pretty accurate. If you care about that, then the article has some relevance to you. If you do not, then you are certainly no worse off for having it pointed out.

A lot more thought and care went into writing that then 99% of the crap out there about games. I say well done.

It would be an good article if it stuck to making general comments about how history is woven into games these days.  And for that it does a good job.

But he went further to make a claim the developers do not make - "Thus it is important to begin with this: Expeditions: Rome is making a clear claim to historical realism, on which much of its marketing and presentation rely."

That is false.  The game never does make a "clear" or any claim to historical realism.  If he had actually played the the game, as he said he did, he would have realized there was absolutely no pretense at historical realism since a well known personage from history dies at the beginning of the game, decades before they did so historically.  You then take up their legacy in the game - fairly literally actually. 

Saying the game is not historically accurate is fine.  But they never claimed to be historically accurate.
That is not the historical realism he is talking about - the existence of some particular human being which is in fact explained quite clearly in the context of the game. It is everything else.

Like how the formations are organized, etc., etc.

You could certainly make a very historically accurate game about WW2 for example, but have the story of the game start with "Patton died on his plane trip to North Africa! You have been selected to fill in for him! Go!" and then have the rest of the game be ultra historically accurate.

And I think his point is that they very much are making a claim to historical accuracy, due to the way they present the game, with using Latin language and such.

Really, whether or not they "claim" it in the manner you dispute or not is largely irrelevant to the utility of the article. At least to the utility I got from the article anyway, and I never even played the game!

OK, so it's perfectly fine for somebody to criticize a game for making a claim it never actually makes. That makes no sense whatsoever.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 21, 2022, 01:46:29 PM
A lovely ramble by Yahtzee about the state of adventure games past and present, prompted by the announcement of a new Monkey Island game:


It's only 6 minutes and a bit. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on April 21, 2022, 02:14:55 PM
Quote from: Syt on April 21, 2022, 01:46:29 PMA lovely ramble by Yahtzee about the state of adventure games past and present, prompted by the announcement of a new Monkey Island game:


It's only 6 minutes and a bit. :)

That's 15 minutes if he spoke at a normal speed  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 21, 2022, 03:36:36 PM
It's actually a fair bit slower than his Zero Punctuation bits. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 24, 2022, 09:52:51 AM
I am: unable to purchase Galciv4 at Epic. Any and all payment methods are being declined.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 24, 2022, 09:55:22 AM
Quote from: Tamas on April 24, 2022, 09:52:51 AMI am: unable to purchase Galciv4 at Epic. Any and all payment methods are being declined.

That happened to me with the Origin store at some point and I've never been able to fix it. Credit cards, direct payment, PayPal, nothing. The workaround was to buy something on e.g. Amazon or HumbleBundle and then register on Origin. <_<
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: PDH on April 24, 2022, 05:59:02 PM
Quote from: Tamas on April 24, 2022, 09:52:51 AMI am: unable to purchase Galciv4 at Epic. Any and all payment methods are being declined.
It's 'cause of the beet taint.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on April 25, 2022, 02:49:57 AM
https://www.eurogamer.net/gearbox-making-new-tales-from-the-borderlands-out-this-year

QuoteGearbox making new Tales from the Borderlands, out this year

Telltale Games' brilliant Tales from the Borderlands is getting a sequel of sorts, courtesy of Borderlands' main developer Gearbox.

The new Tales game will launch this year and feature a fresh cast of characters, Gearbox's colourful CEO Randy Pitchford announced on stage at PAX East last night.

In development for "many" years, the project has been worked on in-house at Gearbox after the developer saw the critical success of the original Tales - and after Telltale itself sadly closed down.

Pitchford concluded by saying the game would get a proper reveal this summer.

"We really love that format as a way to create characters, create new stories and explore all that differently than what's possible in the looter shooter games," Pitchford said.

"This time we're doing it to imagine all-new characters, all-new stories from the Borderlands," he continued, while emphasising that it would keep the the original's "interactive fiction" gameplay style.

Last year, the original Tales from the Borderlands finally returned to digital game stores after several years, following Telltale's demise.

"Both witty and touching, Tales of the Borderlands sees Telltale at its very best," we wrote in Eurogamer's Tales from the Borderlands review.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on April 25, 2022, 03:45:51 AM
Tales of Borderlands is probably my favorite Telltale game (it's either that one or Wolf Among Us). Dunno how this one will turn out, since I assume it's an entire new team unless they scooped up people from Telltale.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on April 25, 2022, 03:47:07 AM
I posted that news item for you. :hug:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on April 25, 2022, 03:56:32 AM
Thanks!  :hug:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 25, 2022, 05:00:55 AM
The Borderlands games never clicked for me. I'm not big into shooters, and its brand of humor is just not for me.

I checked out some videos of Tiny Tina's Wonderland, its fantasy shooter spin off (the conceit being that you're basically playing through an RPG session narrated by Tiny Tina). Yeah, not doing it for me, either. Will Arnett playing the goofy villain didn't help, either,since I now mostly associate him with BoJack Horseman. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on April 25, 2022, 05:07:23 AM
Quote from: Syt on April 25, 2022, 05:00:55 AMThe Borderlands games never clicked for me. I'm not big into shooters, and its brand of humor is just not for me.

I checked out some videos of Tiny Tina's Wonderland, its fantasy shooter spin off (the conceit being that you're basically playing through an RPG session narrated by Tiny Tina). Yeah, not doing it for me, either. Will Arnett playing the goofy villain didn't help, either,since I now mostly associate him with BoJack Horseman. :P

I find them good mindless shooters, but I can see why somebody could find the often juvenile humor a bit grating  :P  The RPG spoof was already a DLC in Borderlands 2, and it was incredibly fun - but dunno if the conceit will really hold up for an entire game.

FWIW, the writing in Tales of Borderlands was miles above the writing in the original games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on April 25, 2022, 06:25:37 AM
I avoided the main Borderlands games as not something I'd be interested in. I'm not sure why I tried Tales but really enjoyed that.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 25, 2022, 02:06:37 PM
Elden Ring has sort of become my Sunday afternoon game. :D

I made it past the first "proper" story boss, and I noticed I was getting quite frustrating with him.

(MINOR SPOILERS TO FOLLOW)

From Software games often have a very deliberate progression of difficulty. A common design element is having a boss that checks your progression - whether you're good enough to move on. That might be to check if you do enough damage, understand gameplay etc. E.g. Dark Souls 1 has (if you follow "normal" progression) 3 of those bosses early on:

- Asylum Demon: the basics of fighting a big boss (learn how to avoid damage, and when it's safe to attack), plus using high ground for a plunging attack.
- Taurus Demon: much the same, except in a much narrower space. Also teaches to check your surroundings (at one end there's a tower you can climb and tease out plunging attacks, plus there's archers on top who will shoot at you during the fight if you don't take them out first.
- Bell Gargoyles: fighting two mobile enemies at the same time, summoning help from players or NPCs

Other games in the series do the same. Memorably, Father Gascoigne, the first or second boss of Bloodborne (depending on how you progress) is a major stumbling block for new players, including veterans of the series - he's there to teach you that boss fights have multiple phases now, and that this game requires a very aggressive, fast paced play style.

Fast forward to Elden Ring, where Margit the Fell Omen is the first boss on the main progression path that the game lays out for you. He's not the first boss you must fight - there's plenty of optional challenges strewn about in the early game area, and theoretically you can even do things out of order.

On the way to him the game already puts two pretty hard obstacles in your way - you can use your horse (new to these games) to rush through, though I guess with certain builds you might be able to fight your way past the enemies.

But then comes Margit. He has two phases. His moves are fast, he can jump, his cane has crazy reach. The arena is narrow (not as bad as Taurus Demon's parapet, though), and has cliffs on two sides. You can fall off, but in a rare case of a boss in these games cheating, Margit can't.

So I did the usual thing - see what kind of attacks he has, how to avoid them, and figuring out when I could get my hits in. Pretty standard stuff. His moves were not all clear to figure out, but after about an hour I could reliably get him to phase 2.

And that's where I hit a major brick wall. He gets more moves, hits harder, and gives you fewer windows of opportunity. Try as I might, I couldn't figure out how to deal with this jerk. Tried fire, tried magic, tried blocking attacks. Managed to parry him a few times, but that was no guarantee, either.

So after trying for two hours or so, I decided to do a quick google search if I was doing something wrong, or what was going on. I didn't want a walkthrough, but rather some confirmation that he was hard.


Turns out a few articles were written about him. It seemed he was giving new players AND veterans quite the hard time.  Several said that much of the game afterwards feels a lot easier (which could also be them getting better at the game). One video explained (again, without being a walkthrough) that he's one of the most intricate bosses to fight. There's the factors mentioned above. But guys analyzing his move set realized - he doesn't have a "move set" per se.

To explain: in e.g. Dark Souls (any), a boss will have a certain number of moves that they will use either randomly or depending on player actions (e.g. many bosses can defend against you being behind them, or try to hit you when you use a healing item). But overall, it's a limited move set, and much of the challenge is figuring out how to deal with it while still doing damage. "When he does this attack, I have to dodge twice, and then I can hit him with a strong attack," or "This move has a recovery time, I have time to heal up now."

Margit has some moves you can learn. E.g. in phase 1, if he does a running jump attack that is followed by another swipe - you can dodge those, then hit him once or twice ... though if you stand behind him, he'll try a tail swipe, so gotta watch for that. :D But that's not all. Esp. in close combat he has single attacks that he can string together quite randomly (even more so in phase 2). So it becomes much, much harder to get any melee damage in. On top of that, his speed in phase 2 is relentless, and you really need to manage your stamina or he'll catch you flat footed.

So, with this being the first story boss of the game, what's the idea? He does act as a progression check, I suppose, but more in the way Gascoigne is in Bloodborne. If you go to him in a beeline from the game's start and you get smacked senseless, he's meant to have you go back and explore the areas you're been to. Get gear, level up, etc.

If you've leveled up and STILL struggle with him - maybe check out what options the game gives you. There are ways to deal with him that require no mad skillz with the pad, if you use the tools the game provides you with. For example, this is the first time you can summon an NPC to help fight the boss. For some players it's a point of pride to fight bosses without summoning help (either players or NPCs), but the devs put this option there for a reason.

So I summoned the NPC - a sorcerer character. Me melee, him ranged; that should work, right? Well, not really. That guy was really quishy, so it was either me trying to get aggro (and dying) or sorcerer boy dying fast, and - shortly after - me. But Elden Ring also introduced "Spirit Calling" where you can summon certain minions (usually based on enemy types) to help in certain areas. A duo of armored knights (melee and and archer) seemed to do quite nicely. But it wasn't until I used them and the NPC summon together that finally there was some headway. With 4 targets to choose from, the damage was spread much more evenly (unless my summons clumped together :P ), and after an unlucky first try Margit finally went down on my second attempt at that tactic. :cool:

(And apparently there's also an item you can purchase that helps with the fight.)

So yes, he's a progression check. The usual, "Do you have the stats/skills/equipment to take me on?" But, more crucially: "Have you used all your tools?" And "Maybe you should go seek more tools, if you're not getting on with me yet." This ties into the creed of the earlier games - yes, they're hard. But you can make them easier by leveling up, by getting better gear, getting new spells, summoning help, etc. And Elden Ring gives you a lot more options than any of the previous games which makes it really fun.

(P.S.: There's going to be elitists/gatekeepers who will insist the only "true" way of playing these games is without ever leveling, with only basic gear, no summons etc. - fuck those guys. There's no "wrong" way of playing these games as long as you make progress. :P )

(P.P.S.: I'm sure if I were to look up a walkthrough video for Margit, there's probably a silly cheese strat that you can use, but where's the fun in that :P I'll leave looking up stuff for after I finish the game. Which at current pace should be around October or so :lol: )
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Zoupa on April 25, 2022, 03:14:40 PM
Late to the party regarding Space 4X games recommendations for Jacob, but I would definitely try Star Ruler 2.

It was quite a refreshing take on the genre, the UI is great and fully scalable. Overall 9/10.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/282590/Star_Ruler_2/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on April 26, 2022, 08:08:46 AM
Somehow I missed this one.  Looks very interesting.  I will give it a try
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on April 27, 2022, 07:33:50 PM
The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall has appeared on steam:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1812390/The_Elder_Scrolls_II_Daggerfall/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1812390/The_Elder_Scrolls_II_Daggerfall/)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on April 27, 2022, 08:50:00 PM
So I bought GalCiv4, making that the game that got me on to the Epic Store (which I supported in principle, I just couldn't be bothered to sign up).

I'm only one turn in, though, between work and kid duties....
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on April 28, 2022, 02:27:38 AM
I took a page from Valmy and I'm in the middle of replaying a Bioware saga classic. Just finished Mass Effect 1 and currently going on 2.

Despite its age, I enjoyed ME1 immensely. The only really poor part of the game are all the sidequests and related planetary exploration, which recycle the same set of rooms over and over. But the main missions are a blast and the FPS/RPG gameplay, even if quite basic, is still pleasurable. ME1 also brings me some nice memories, since it came out when I was living in NYC, and replaying it sorta brings me back to those times.

Now, ME2 I didn't enjoy as much at the time. Despite the technical improvements, bigger budget, and a more realized worldbuilding, the pared down RPG elements and the story didn't engage me as much. But I'll give it another go. If anything, I want to play the Liara DLC, which I didn't have at the time and I have always heard it's one of the best missions of the saga.

Then I also want to play ME3 because I never experienced the retooled ending.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on April 28, 2022, 05:20:11 PM
Has anyone tried Dune Spice Wars - it looks like they just put a generic single player rts on a map called Dune, made pretty sand graphics, and called it a day.  But maybe it is something better?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on April 29, 2022, 06:58:58 PM
Been playing a little game called Mars horizon.
Manage a space programme from the 50s on, conducting missions and racing for firsts.
It's nice and addictive.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on May 06, 2022, 07:34:10 AM
More than a decade after I gave up trying to make it work, A Tale of Two Wastelands finally came out with a version that works.  TTW basically combines FO3 and FONV in a stable package that uses FONV as the executable.

Normally, this would be a "so what" given that both games are so old, but I'd always wanted to play the DLC-sized FO3 mod "Mothership Zeta Crew," which supposed that the player take control of the alien ship in Mothership Zeta and use it to try to establish more order on Earth.  Alas, it was too much for the FO3 engine and constantly crashed, so I gave up on it.

With TTW, I can play it.  It's a bit surreal to go back to the DC Wasteland after all this time, but it's a fun nostalgia trip as well.  I will say that Id forgotten how few FO3 NPCs existed that were actually interesting.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on May 06, 2022, 12:56:47 PM
So I got GalCiv 4 and played it a bit.

It's pretty decent, I think. That said I haven't played any space 4X games for a while so I don't know how it compares to the benchmarks.

The leader mechanic is neat, but I feel like it's missing the final 10% to make it awesome. I do like the random element in what techs are available to research at any given time. That makes crawling up the tech tree more enaging.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 06, 2022, 01:25:43 PM
Thanks, Jake, I'll keep an eye on it. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 06, 2022, 01:28:31 PM
Also, just saw that GOG has (FINALLY!) added People's General to their catalog. Currently on sale, for EUR 4.29 over here.

https://www.gog.com/game/peoples_general

(https://www.mobygames.com/images/covers/l/246046-people-s-general-windows-front-cover.jpg)

:w00t:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 06, 2022, 01:30:13 PM
Oh, also MicroProse's Crusade in Europe ... that's for the folks who like their wargames VERY old school. :P

https://www.gog.com/en/game/crusade_in_europe
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on May 06, 2022, 01:50:31 PM
Quote from: Syt on May 06, 2022, 01:28:31 PMAlso, just saw that GOG has (FINALLY!) added People's General to their catalog. Currently on sale, for EUR 4.29 over here.

https://www.gog.com/game/peoples_general

(https://www.mobygames.com/images/covers/l/246046-people-s-general-windows-front-cover.jpg)

:w00t:

I played that back then. USA is allied with Russia in the game - it's just wrong  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 06, 2022, 01:57:35 PM
I know, it got its alt history a bit crossed. The 90s were such an optimistic time in that regard.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on May 06, 2022, 04:36:50 PM
I played the shit out of People's General back in the day. Blitzing Volgograd as the PLA was rad.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 07, 2022, 09:36:07 AM
Continuing my glacial progress in Elden Ring. Inching slowly through the first "proper" dungeon. Took me a while to get from the "entry boss" to the next bonfire grace to rest at. The dungeon then opens up, offering various avenues of progress. Really like the level design of this part; if you looked from the outside it would probably be tiny, but because of its verticality and multiple paths you can take it seems larger.

Some paths are of course more obvious than others. FromSoft sometimes create paths where you think you're going out of bounds/abuse the level geometry towards a dead end or deadly drop, but then you find an item you wouldn't get to any other way and realize that path was put there for you to find. :D

Exploring the place leads to a lot of "Oh no" or "NOPE" moments with the denizens of the neighborhood, though. And I kinda regret my choice of weapon that I invested my scarce upgrades in. "I'll play a dodging, fast attack character this time!" *ends up hiding behind a shield a lot* -_-
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Darth Wagtaros on May 07, 2022, 10:50:02 AM
Quote from: Syt on May 06, 2022, 01:30:13 PMOh, also MicroProse's Crusade in Europe ... that's for the folks who like their wargames VERY old school. :P

https://www.gog.com/en/game/crusade_in_europe
Played that on my Atari computer.  Loved it.  I may have to buy it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 08, 2022, 09:24:04 AM
Prompted by People's General's release on GOG, I checked the Matrix forums if someone's been whipping up a Ukraine scenario for TOAW4. There's one in the works (incomplete), but I had a look at what's currently out there. Most old repositories that covered the series up to TOAW3 seem gone, but there's still stuff out there. And most TOAW3 scenarios should work fine if you load them up in the editor and save them.

But it also made me realize my frustration with the scenario making scene. TOAW is an engine that's designed for covering (theoretically) conflict from around WW1 till the modern day. Maps can be from 2.5km per hex to 50km per hex. Likewise, units can run from battalions and companies to divisions. Turns can be from 6 hours to 2 weeks (IIRC - definitely 1 week per turn). Because of the wide range of the engine, I think scenarios work best if they're either high level, with a lot of abstraction, or smaller, more limited scenarios. (Of course, abstraction is made harder by the game setting up units with actual number of tanks, infantry squads, etc. from a huge list of equipment spanning 100+ years.)

Anyways, what do most designers aim towards? Sprawling maps covering most of Europe, with hundreds of units per side rivaling War in the East for sheer stuff on the maps. And of course it's done in 1 day turns max, often half day or 6 hours (saw one with 25km hexes doing 6 hour turns ...). At that point, I might as well fire up the NATO vs WP John Tiller full campaign that stretches from Denmark to Austria in 1 km hexes. Only in those games I can choose to play much smaller scenarios, too. :P

I wished there was a Strategic Command style game for modern conflict, either NATO/WP, or otherwise modern conflicts.

Modern tactical games are more easily available, besides John Tiller.

The excellent Armored Brigade covers 60s-90s, and the DLCs add a nice amount of equipment. I especially like that the game uses real life maps, and you can just select a chunk on which to play your battles. Wish more games would do something like this. There's a decent amount of mods, adding maps, equipment, and scenarios. The biggest transposes the game into WW2 with pretty good results (available on Steam Workshop).

winSPMBT is the current version of old Steel Panthers II (man, did I play the original game A LOT), it's available free, though has some limitations over the licensed version, and it still gets (annual?) updates over at Shrapnel Games. Unlike All American: The 82nd Airborne in Normandy, which is still up for pre-order ... since 2000 or so? Besides winSPMBT and winSPWW2, the site seems pretty dead.

There's Flashpoint Campaigns, of course. The Wargame series and its spiritual cousins (though I don't care for their fast paced RTS antics). The Combat Missions (Black Sea, Cold War) - though there needs to be either a significant price drop, or they need to move to a new engine. :P For air/naval combat, there's Command: Modern Operations. Graviteam Tactics' Mius Front has a few scenarios about the 80s Bush War in Southern Africa and recently released a Iran/Iraq DLC.

There's a smattering of general Cold War political games (Twilight Struggle, Precipice, Ostalgie, Jey's Empire, ...). Even nuclear war games - DEFCON, First Strike, ICBM.

But strategic or operational level "what if" wargames? Few and far between. :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 08, 2022, 05:25:15 PM
In general I agree with your comment on TOAW scenario designers. Monster scenarios have their place but I wish more people made use of what the engine excels at, instead of (often cleverly) pushing it to and over its edge.

But, there are a few manageable WW3 scenarios in there. I am not sure, I don't think we included the TWW (based on the Third World War boardgame series) scenarios in TOAW4 but if not I have grabbed them from the TOAW4 forum. The various scenarios work well under TOAW4 and while definitely not small, they are manageable. My only issue is I find the Warsaw Pact forces way too strong. Although that is offset by events which can see those countries exit the war.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 09, 2022, 09:16:22 AM
Yeah, I have those. I was more looking for "WW3 in an evening" kind of stuff, but I think outside Conflict: Europe that doesn't exist. :D For some reason TOAW4's performance is also not great. Not to mention having to edit the INI file to make it reasonably playable on a 4k monitor (or switching resolution to 1080p for the game :P ).

Not TOAW4 (because it runs in a standard window), but Slitherine games often struggle handling my 4k setup with 150% scaling. They like to start the game in desktop resolution, and THEN scale it up 150%, meaning they stretch the game out of the screen. Had it with Armored Brigade and Field of Glory II, and I'm sure others will behave similar. Running in a window or switching to lower resolution solves it, but it's mighty inconvenient.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on May 09, 2022, 09:20:38 AM
TOAW IV sucks though. The engine is shit. They fucked it up so badly, that you might as well play skip-bo to resolve battles, the combat resolution engine is so far divorced from any connection to actual concerns commanders might have....

<grumble grumble rant rant>
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 09, 2022, 09:42:33 AM
 :rolleyes:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 09, 2022, 09:50:17 AM
Anyways I have been having a lot of fun with Elden Ring, HOWEVER, by playing it in easy mode in a way - I use the Elden Ring wiki excessively to make sure I don't walk past some key item or mess up some quest because of the very vague communication the game does.

Have managed to build a sort of spellsword guy out of my starting Astrologist (around level 80 at the moment). I rely almost exclusively on spells, doing ranged skills while having a tanky spirit summoned for boss fights, but I have a nicely upgraded katana and a spiked mace to do melee with when necessary.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 09, 2022, 10:12:18 AM
I'm 28 hours in, level 25, still in Stormveil Castle (and will be there for a bit :P ). But I'm also very much avoiding spoilers as much as possible - something I failed to do for previous games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Darth Wagtaros on May 09, 2022, 11:13:37 AM
There was NATO Commander.  I always resorted to chemical weapons.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on May 10, 2022, 11:07:38 PM
Romances in RPGs are weird.  I'm playing through Siege of Dragonspear and suddenly this gnome wants to bone me.  That's really awkward.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on May 11, 2022, 01:14:45 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on May 10, 2022, 11:07:38 PMRomances in RPGs are weird.  I'm playing through Siege of Dragonspear and suddenly this gnome wants to bone me.  That's really awkward.

POV: You're a woman.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 11, 2022, 08:29:43 AM
To the surprise of no one, Slitherine have announced Field of Glory: Kingdoms, success or to antiquity focused Empires.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1985050/Field_of_Glory_Kingdoms/

QuoteABOUT THIS GAME

Field of Glory: Kingdoms is the new game from award-winning studio AGEOD, makers of some of the best grand strategy games of all times. It is set in 1054, just after the Great Schism, and it encompasses more than two centuries of epic European, African, and Middle Eastern history.

The game in numbers
375 factions
325 units
600 Buildings
14 Religions/heresies
90 Cultural traits (all new)

Authority and Disorder
Administer your royal domain with the new Authority concept. Keep your population and vassals under control, promulgate edicts to construct buildings, and declare wars on your enemies.

Dynasties and characters
As a ruler, prepare your succession by siring an heir with your spouse or with any other person of your choice. Having an heir is by no means a guarantee of a peaceful transition.

Religion
Having a neighbor of a different religion will create tensions and sometimes wars, even for tolerant rulers. When the imbalance is too strong, diplomacy will take a backseat, and war will be declared. Lose too many holy cities and watch a Crusade or Jihad form up.

Regions and population
Administer your population from the lowest peasants to the prestigious, powerful, and troublesome nobles. The social ladder is difficult to climb and your ability in keeping social classes under control is paramount to success.

Warfare
Keep your borders protected and build an army of expert combatants. Knights, sergeants, spearmen, crossbowmen, and many more types of units can be used to fulfill your objectives.
Field of Glory II Integration

If you want even more direct control, Field of Glory: Kingdoms lets you export and load your battles into Field of Glory II: Medieval and then load the results back into the game.

Multiplayer
And once you think you are ready to be challenged, play against real opponents in one of the largest asynchronous multiplayer systems ever created.

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1985050/ss_7c9386373c368a00ec06d2a15cabbdf0fb15248e.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1985050/ss_882d90c7ff17709e89d3fa83b455f9b1e1e040dd.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1985050/ss_4888950496a1508bbf7a3d8728ae3735bb8cdbe3.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1985050/ss_10410e8aeefa86b0275835d02aba07d8f948dfd0.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1985050/ss_f0825d26666bcaf8325f5a24df8601f5044f418c.1920x1080.jpg)

I'm not usually in the "game isn't long enough", but running from 1054 for "more than two centuries" implies that it ends in the 1200s somewhere, which does seem a tad short. I'd expect at least the Hundred Years War to be included (though that might be an expansion, similar to the Rise of Persia one for Empires?).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on May 11, 2022, 09:07:09 AM
Trying to get the base game right while leaving plenty of ground for later expansions seems the right path to me. I look forward to seeing how it develops.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on May 11, 2022, 11:31:38 AM
What's the Field of Glory schtick?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on May 11, 2022, 11:42:14 AM
Quote from: Habbaku on May 11, 2022, 09:07:09 AMTrying to get the base game right while leaving plenty of ground for later expansions seems the right path to me. I look forward to seeing how it develops.

Agreed.  I am really looking forward to this.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on May 11, 2022, 11:44:24 AM
Quote from: Jacob on May 11, 2022, 11:31:38 AMWhat's the Field of Glory schtick?

It's a well designed grand strategy game which allows the player to resolve combat by importing the Field of Glory tactical game - but that is not necessary.  I actually enjoyed the built in combat resolution system.

I recommend you try Empires if you get the chance.  If this new iteration is as good then I will be very happy.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on May 11, 2022, 12:00:29 PM
Its fun. But then 30 hours in you realise you missed a fundamental way of how the game works and the empire collapses.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 11, 2022, 01:57:01 PM
Can I just say that one of the most infuriating things is the Epic Games Launcher updating? Every time it does, it says, "Oh, looks like you're using a new device! Please enter the security code we sent to the email address you only use when you need to authenticate this client!" No, I am not using a new device. I'm using the same device as last month, last year, two years ago, and I have NOT made any changes to hardware, my account or anything else. :mad:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on May 11, 2022, 04:03:07 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on May 11, 2022, 11:44:24 AM
Quote from: Jacob on May 11, 2022, 11:31:38 AMWhat's the Field of Glory schtick?

It's a well designed grand strategy game which allows the player to resolve combat by importing the Field of Glory tactical game - but that is not necessary.  I actually enjoyed the built in combat resolution system.

I recommend you try Empires if you get the chance.  If this new iteration is as good then I will be very happy.

So I can play miniature battles with it... okay, maybe that's pretty convincing.

I do have the first edition of Field of Glory sitting on my bookshelf... though I never played it....
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on May 11, 2022, 04:20:35 PM
Quote from: Syt on May 11, 2022, 01:57:01 PMCan I just say that one of the most infuriating things is the Epic Games Launcher updating? Every time it does, it says, "Oh, looks like you're using a new device! Please enter the security code we sent to the email address you only use when you need to authenticate this client!" No, I am not using a new device. I'm using the same device as last month, last year, two years ago, and I have NOT made any changes to hardware, my account or anything else. :mad:

Vpn or so?
That usually throws off steam for me.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 11, 2022, 10:32:41 PM
Quote from: Josquius on May 11, 2022, 04:20:35 PMVpn or so?
That usually throws off steam for me.

Nope.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 11, 2022, 10:51:46 PM
Quote from: Jacob on May 11, 2022, 04:03:07 PMSo I can play miniature battles with it... okay, maybe that's pretty convincing.

I do have the first edition of Field of Glory sitting on my bookshelf... though I never played it....

I'm not sure the games follow the miniature rules much (I think Field of Glory 1 did, but I never played it). The new games are made by the company who made Pike & Shot (16th/17th century battles) and Sengoku Jidai: Shadow of the Shogunabout - well, it's in the title (both great games, btw).

Field of Glory 2 uses a much improved version of those two games' engine. The game and its expansions are great fun if you're into the period 1000 BC to 1000 AD. It's quick to play and has a lot of unit variety at this point (still hoping for more content pre 1000 BC ... :( ). It's easy to whip up a random battle or campaign (which is really just a string of battles). The game and each DLC comes with historical battles and campaigns too (again, just a series of battles with some little decisions on between - still great fun).

FoG2: Medieval is the successor, using an updated engine for medieval battles. Covers 11th through 14th century, with the next DLC adding 15th century units, including Swiss pikes. For some reason, this emotion doesn't quite click as much as the one covering the ancients - that may very well be down to my greater interest in antiquity, though.

As for the integration between FoG2: Empires and FoG2 - it's cool and works well, but it also stretches out campaigns A LOT if you want to play them all out. The in game resolution works fine by me, and while I like both games,  I tend to play them separately. Empires has some cool concepts, though its decadence mechanic can be hard to manage and wrap your head around  but it's a great way to slow down player expansion. Empires yhat grow rapidly will tend to struggle more with that then those that move slower. :D and Empire size is not what wins the game; prestige is.

Overall, Empire plays more like a board game when compared to Total War or Imperator: Rome, but I don't consider it a mark against the game. I'd recommend checking the manual or some beginner guides. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on May 12, 2022, 02:22:33 PM
Yeah, so I bought it and started it up... not enough tool tips to just play and see what happens. Sheesh.

I'm not going to watch youtube videos, so I guess reading the manual it is.

I also just bought Fantasy General II. Gameplay seems alright, but I forgot how much I dislike "narrative campaigns" when it comes to strategy games :bleeding:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 12, 2022, 03:11:16 PM
Quote from: Jacob on May 12, 2022, 02:22:33 PMI also just bought Fantasy General II. Gameplay seems alright, but I forgot how much I dislike "narrative campaigns" when it comes to strategy games :bleeding:

Yeah, I think I played two or three scenarios (if that much) and then just dropped it. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on May 12, 2022, 09:21:48 PM
Quote from: Jacob on May 12, 2022, 02:22:33 PMYeah, so I bought it and started it up... not enough tool tips to just play and see what happens. Sheesh.

I'm not going to watch youtube videos, so I guess reading the manual it is.

I also just bought Fantasy General II. Gameplay seems alright, but I forgot how much I dislike "narrative campaigns" when it comes to strategy games :bleeding:

I thought it was pretty cool in Battletech: The Crescent Hawk's Revenge.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on May 15, 2022, 03:13:17 AM
I finally got 20 minutes to start disco elysium.
Funny.
Died in the first room.
1 shotted by a ceiling fan. :blink:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: CountDeMoney on May 16, 2022, 01:12:40 PM
I recommend "Tin Can" on Steam.  Nifty little thinker; you are, in essence, trying to keep yourself alive in an escape pod.

Different game modes, from timed survival to just exploring and seeing what works.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 16, 2022, 04:28:04 PM
Was listening to the Three Moves Ahead podcast episode where they talk about Field of Glory 2: Medieval. They touch on some interesting points there, and maybe some explain why the game doesn't grab me as much as the Ancients version did. They have a point that battles seem a lot more static. Once your units are locked in melee they stay there. That was true of Ancients, too, but those melees seemed to be more fluid - units would break sooner, get pushed back more often etc. In Medieval they just seem to hang there for a long, long time. Secondly, the armies are a lot more similar than in Ancients. In the predecessor you could have Person archers go against Greek Hoplites, Roman Legions against Germanic horde, and any number of matches between 1000 BC and 1000 AD. In Medieval, you're kind locked into very similar armies (unless you bring in the Mongols or some of the Muslim army lists) that may have variance on the fringes, but not so much in their core units. This may or may not get remedied with more DLC (like the Swiss pike focused on about to come out - unit variety in the FoG2 Ancients base game was also not huge, but seemed a lot more varied).

One of them made a good point. It would be cool to have a game like Battle Brothers (or Mount & Blade, I guess) but with battles from FoG2: Medieval, where you run a mercenary company and hire units, maintain your forces etc.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 16, 2022, 04:28:21 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 16, 2022, 01:12:40 PMI recommend "Tin Can" on Steam.  Nifty little thinker; you are, in essence, trying to keep yourself alive in an escape pod.

Different game modes, from timed survival to just exploring and seeing what works.

That looks cool. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 17, 2022, 01:20:49 PM
An upcoming game that might be of relevance to some here. It seems a bit Frostpunkish (resource management, tough decisions, narrative trappings).

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1266030/The_Pale_Beyond/

QuoteFive years ago, The Viscount and its crew set sail into The Pale Passage in search of absolute magnetic South. The ship and its crew were tragically lost to the ice, never to be seen again. Her sister ship, The Temperance shall follow in her path, hoping to find answers where The Viscount failed.

You didn't ask to lead this expedition but here you are: stuck in the ice, Captain missing, miles from civilization and everyone looking for you to lead. Manage your meager resources, balance safety and morale, make the hard calls and head in the only direction you can - into The Pale Beyond.

A polar exploration game set in an unforgiving frozen wasteland where you embark on a treacherous voyage across the ice and into the Pale Beyond. It's a stunning yet harsh landscape that can change at any moment.


Every decision matters. As the expedition unfolds and the winter approaches, every decision you make will have a meaningful impact on the story as you navigate a way over the ice.

After the Captain mysteriously goes missing, you unwillingly take the position of Captain. You didn't ask to lead this crew but here you are: stuck in the ice, miles from civilization and everyone looking for you to lead.

Keeping the crew and sled dogs safe, fed, and warm during an expedition is key for survival. Surviving the ice will matter little in the face of a mutiny, every vote will count. So keep the crew on your side.

Inspired by Victorian etchings and historic paintings of the time depicting the ice, each character and environment has been drawn by hand. The result is a unique artstyle with an expressive cast to see you through the cold and grim environment of the ice.


(https://images.gog-statics.com/2744a5704a349340aba5ac6022578d2c07cb2bab53a80ca596ac9132eea3722f.jpg)

(https://images.gog-statics.com/551314e4eeb93546d11d6f4954eb7d909e550c7fd10560672acad1a94f011c02.jpg)

(https://images.gog-statics.com/f761d202f1f60d3119b63c6a29df6282548d5389debddcfa26187b07086798a8.jpg)

(https://images.gog-statics.com/0faace9aa52d42926122ca5e10d71eb15306a48e0bcc00adc0016e16dfdf7472.jpg)

(https://images.gog-statics.com/964043756c303c033c8e2d55630ca71e7cf6109041868517779dd9ff3e28e384.jpg)

(https://images.gog-statics.com/6e3e32f70598f4dd9e99a15168f586a95981436b4120b4c30ca3a826f6904514.jpg)



Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on May 18, 2022, 04:25:21 AM
I wish more survival games would take place in not-icy snowy terrain. I want jungle or desert!

Related, last week I was in the closed beta of V Rising, which is like Valheim but you are a vampire trying to gather power and build your evil castle. It felt fun, and it's just come out in early access. RPS has a review here: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/v-rising-preview-a-vampiric-valheim-you-shouldnt-miss-out-on
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Threviel on May 18, 2022, 04:40:58 AM
Quote from: Syt on May 16, 2022, 04:28:04 PMOne of them made a good point. It would be cool to have a game like Battle Brothers (or Mount & Blade, I guess) but with battles from FoG2: Medieval, where you run a mercenary company and hire units, maintain your forces etc.

If you want to go old style there's always my first PC game Warhammer: Shadow of the horned rat or the later and somewhat better Dark Omen. I don't understand why they haven't made sequels.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on May 18, 2022, 05:36:33 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on May 18, 2022, 04:25:21 AMI wish more survival games would take place in not-icy snowy terrain. I want jungle or desert!

Related, last week I was in the closed beta of V Rising, which is like Valheim but you are a vampire trying to gather power and build your evil castle. It felt fun, and it's just come out in early access. RPS has a review here: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/v-rising-preview-a-vampiric-valheim-you-shouldnt-miss-out-on


A desert one could be cool. Trying to stay in the shade as a major mechanic.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 18, 2022, 09:58:23 AM
You want Burntime: https://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/burntime/screenshots

(Though it's a post-apocalyptic desert :P )
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Darth Wagtaros on May 18, 2022, 10:19:57 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on May 18, 2022, 04:25:21 AMI wish more survival games would take place in not-icy snowy terrain. I want jungle or desert!

Related, last week I was in the closed beta of V Rising, which is like Valheim but you are a vampire trying to gather power and build your evil castle. It felt fun, and it's just come out in early access. RPS has a review here: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/v-rising-preview-a-vampiric-valheim-you-shouldnt-miss-out-on

If Survivorman taught us anything its that it is harder to survivein the deep jungle than the tundra.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on May 18, 2022, 01:37:53 PM
Quote from: Syt on May 18, 2022, 09:58:23 AMYou want Burntime: https://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/burntime/screenshots

(Though it's a post-apocalyptic desert :P )

Wow. Looks like a proto fallout. And wasteland gets all that cred. Never heard of it before.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 18, 2022, 02:06:24 PM
Quote from: Josquius on May 18, 2022, 01:37:53 PM
Quote from: Syt on May 18, 2022, 09:58:23 AMYou want Burntime: https://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/burntime/screenshots

(Though it's a post-apocalyptic desert :P )

Wow. Looks like a proto fallout. And wasteland gets all that cred. Never heard of it before.

MaxDesign had some decent games back in the day. They were an Austrian studio. They didn't have many games before they shut down in 2004. The year before Burntime they made 1869 (https://www.mobygames.com/game/1869historyexperience), in which you run a shipping company during the transition from saling to steam ships in the mid to late 19th century. The game starts in the 1850s, and a profitable (but risky) option to make money early on is to try and run the blockade during the Crimean War.

Other then that they made The Clue! (https://www.mobygames.com/game/clue), a heist simulator.

But they're probably best remembered for making two little games called Anno 1602 and Anno 1503, which launched the franchise that exists till today. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 19, 2022, 11:02:06 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on April 14, 2022, 03:23:57 PM
Quote from: Syt on April 14, 2022, 02:41:42 PMStar Dynasties tried to be Crusader Kings 2 in space, but based on reviews they didn't quite achieve that: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1194590/Star_Dynasties/
That's a shame - sounds like a really interesting idea :(

FWIW, DasTactic is starting a Let's Play on YouTube, so you can have a look at the gameplay yourself:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on May 19, 2022, 11:51:03 AM
The 4X The Old World is finally available on Steam now, with a modest discount. Comes with new DLC as well.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on May 19, 2022, 12:44:22 PM
I think I may end up paying near-full price for it, which is a big rarity for me.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on May 20, 2022, 12:54:22 AM
Let us know if it's any good!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 20, 2022, 01:13:28 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on May 20, 2022, 12:54:22 AMLet us know if it's any good!


I picked it up, started the tutorial, but then got distracted and shut it down after having it run on the first tutorial message for 3 hours. :D

I'll try to do better. -_-
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on May 20, 2022, 02:25:49 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on May 11, 2022, 11:44:24 AM
Quote from: Jacob on May 11, 2022, 11:31:38 AMWhat's the Field of Glory schtick?

It's a well designed grand strategy game which allows the player to resolve combat by importing the Field of Glory tactical game - but that is not necessary.  I actually enjoyed the built in combat resolution system.

I recommend you try Empires if you get the chance.  If this new iteration is as good then I will be very happy.

I saw FOG: Empires is on 'sale' as part of a current humble bundle so I finally picked this up. Something to try this weekend. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 20, 2022, 02:57:03 AM
I like FoG:E a lot, but it's far more board-gamey and less flavorful than Imperator: Rome or Total War. There's generally also not a huge variety of actions you can take in any given turn. It mostly comes down to managing your pops, maintaining your military and planning your wars, and build the buildings you need - it sounds fairly reductive, but balancing the numbers is where much of the engagement comes from, at least for me, and YMMV.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on May 20, 2022, 03:06:18 AM
Quote from: Syt on May 20, 2022, 02:57:03 AMI like FoG:E a lot, but it's far more board-gamey and less flavorful than Imperator: Rome or Total War. There's generally also not a huge variety of actions you can take in any given turn. It mostly comes down to managing your pops, maintaining your military and planning your wars, and build the buildings you need - it sounds fairly reductive, but balancing the numbers is where much of the engagement comes from, at least for me, and YMMV.

Yeah, I'm familiar with the AGEOD limitations.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on May 20, 2022, 08:00:57 AM
Quote from: garbon on May 20, 2022, 02:25:49 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on May 11, 2022, 11:44:24 AM
Quote from: Jacob on May 11, 2022, 11:31:38 AMWhat's the Field of Glory schtick?

It's a well designed grand strategy game which allows the player to resolve combat by importing the Field of Glory tactical game - but that is not necessary.  I actually enjoyed the built in combat resolution system.

I recommend you try Empires if you get the chance.  If this new iteration is as good then I will be very happy.

I saw FOG: Empires is on 'sale' as part of a current humble bundle so I finally picked this up. Something to try this weekend. :)
You have other obligations, viking!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on May 20, 2022, 08:06:30 AM
Quote from: Syt on May 19, 2022, 11:02:06 AMFWIW, DasTactic is starting a Let's Play on YouTube, so you can have a look at the gameplay yourself:
Cool thanks. Probably not my cup of tea - at least at this point.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on May 20, 2022, 09:05:33 PM
Quote from: Syt on May 20, 2022, 02:57:03 AMI like FoG:E a lot, but it's far more board-gamey and less flavorful than Imperator: Rome or Total War. There's generally also not a huge variety of actions you can take in any given turn. It mostly comes down to managing your pops, maintaining your military and planning your wars, and build the buildings you need - it sounds fairly reductive, but balancing the numbers is where much of the engagement comes from, at least for me, and YMMV.

Agree with this.  The problem with the game that I have is that movement allowances are much too small.  It takes something like ten years to move a legion from Rome to the English Channel.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 21, 2022, 05:08:07 AM
I've played through the Learn To Play missions of Old World.

I'm not sure the game clicks for me yet. The 4X part is generally fine. Nothing revolutionary in that regard IMHO, but well done.

The character management - I don't know, it mostly makes me want to play CK2 or 3 instead, which clearly inspired A LOT of the events in this game. It's not that it's bad, but I also find I care a lot less about characters outside my immediate family circle than I should?

Warfare was a refreshing change from the slow slog fests of e.g. Civ's early game. Your units have a lot of mobility (if you have enough command points to make use of it), but same goes for enemies - so your opponent can pretty much constantly get behind your lines, doubly so if they can go via sea. Unless I overlooked something? :unsure:

Finally, the theme. I'm totally for 4X games that focus on a shorter era than e.g. Civ does. But - and I acknowledge that's entirety me - this also makes it harder for me to ignore the silliness of ahistoric factions meeting each other, like Assyria v. Rome, or that one of the tribal states is the Vandals. On the scale of Civ games it's easier for me to overlook Peter the Great meeting Pericles and Robert the Bruce with battlemechs in the end game. But here, esp. with the focus on characters (and each faction starting with the same ruler every time), it feels off. But if they used generic or fantasy factions, I think it would be blander. As said - more a problem with me than the game itself. :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 21, 2022, 07:05:15 AM
For people who like 4X ancient civ games, check out Imperiums: Greek Wars (the successor to Aggressors: Rome). It has a fair amount of customization options and what not, but it also has ca. 2005 gfx and UI that I haven't been able to get beyond (and I feel the game needs more convenience functions). It's even still using a squares based map. :D It's very much focused on the Anicent Greeks, and you have many options to set up a new game (what level to start at, map settings etc.).

It felt a bit clunky when I tried it, but I see the devs keep updating it, though, 2 years after release, and have a new DLC coming up (Rome vs. Carthage ... which is odd for a game that was focused on Ancient Greece).

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1183470/Imperiums_Greek_Wars/

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1183470/ss_600edc651fb2214c51c26f6f4501d233c0848331.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1183470/ss_83e0016c15c4aabfa8eee4158ae0c4e9252f2cdc.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1183470/ss_f4c17870b277b1fc6628afa312bd1f9879e4e0b8.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1183470/ss_e43bfb0502c29f361cb4abae847e208b9fdf6d17.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1183470/ss_a5d29b0450a7c05c4784935d6284f5f0c4c46d1e.1920x1080.jpg)

The game is currently 45% off till end of the month. (€16.44 here.)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 21, 2022, 07:26:45 AM
The Graviteam developers seem to be plucking away at their game, war or no. They're based in Kharkiv, though I don't know if that's from where they operate at the moment (probably not?). Just before the war started they released an Iran-Iraq War DLC for Mius Front, and this week, the released a DLC based on September 1943 operations in the Kharkiv region (where they base a lot of their WW2 content). September '43 is the latest date in their WW2 catalog (they have a few August 1943 scnearios); the devs have said previously they have no interest in any 1944/45 battles.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on May 22, 2022, 05:25:41 AM
Reading through the 150-page manual to Old World and realized the guy who wrote it is the same guy who wrote that famous strategy guide to SMAC :hmm:

This seems good.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 22, 2022, 01:51:50 PM
Ok, playing a "normal" game of Old World feels a lot better than the tutorials. Balancing the generation of the various resources is a constant chase, trying not to fall behind much in any area. Civics is what I'm struggling most with, but that might be due to the techs I researched (or rather: didn't research :P ). Only playing on "Just" (second lowest difficulty), trying to get my bearings. The map becomes VERY busy once a lot of the territory around your cities is developed. Thankfully there's hotkey overlays to see what needs connecting to the trade network, or what improvements you've built where. Currently, I'm mostly struggling to save up Civics points to enact laws, do diplomacy and pretty much any other administrative decision.

The character events add a lot of flavor, but I still feel less engaged than with CK. The static portraits instead of a portrait generator like CK2 and 3 make the characters look prettier, but some faces are repeating after a while.

I'm not sure locking the game's music behind researching drama is a great idea. It sounds fun on paper, but in my game it took me quite some time to get there due to other priorities. You can manually start songs, but playback ends after one song. <_<

I like the City location system. Reminds me a bit of Endless Legend, and a decent way to avoid city spam. That you have to conquer a lot of them from tribes or barbarians is a nice twist.



Incidentally, I fired up Imperiums: Greek Wars yesterday. Starting with just one unit, it takes a lot longer to get going (and some getting used to some of its quirks - like using settlers to build some tile improvements, whereas you can plop others straight on the map, or that some military units can also create settlements). One thing I like is its (very basic) supply system. Most units can't just run across the entire map exploring. The further away from your lands you get, the higher attrition becomes, and eventually your unit dies. (Hero units like generals are exempt, it seems.) It feels more old school, but also more detailed, and I will likely come back to it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on May 22, 2022, 11:35:47 PM
Installed and started a game of Old World just to peak around for a few minutes.

Ended up playing past midnight :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on May 23, 2022, 10:28:39 AM
I tried it too.  Definitely one of this just one more term games.  I like how they deal with religion.  I didn't think I would like the action point system but I have to love it - you can't just spam units if you don't have the action points they are just going to sit there.  And so you need to be very strategic in what you build, where and why.

Impressed with the mechanics of this game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 23, 2022, 10:35:28 AM
The orders system is actually quite good and has me constantly prioritize during a turn. Am I at war? Guess I will not do many tile improvements for now. At peace? prioritize my workers. Unless there's a governor who needs assigning.

I had to switch off the music, though. There's a huge variety of tracks (good), but they vary so wildly in style and quality (several tracks start and/or stop abruptly) that it's a bit much. (and I'm too lazy to switch on/off the tracks I want) :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on May 23, 2022, 11:14:43 AM
Most difficult for me is running a multifront war. I expected my economy to suffer but you also have the limitation that only so many units can move in a turn. Getting an AI ally to join the fray has been vital.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on May 23, 2022, 11:16:47 AM
Thats always been a problem in most strategy games I find. Total War is particularly awful for it. It takes centuries for an army to march from one side of the map to the other.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 23, 2022, 11:28:07 AM
Mobility is actually not so bad ... if you have enough orders to issue to troops. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on May 23, 2022, 09:41:41 PM
Quote from: Syt on May 23, 2022, 11:28:07 AMMobility is actually not so bad ... if you have enough orders to issue to troops. :P

Using roads and getting the river tech to move swiftly along them is important.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on May 23, 2022, 10:18:40 PM
Still in my very first game on the 2nd difficulty level as Rome. The Roman's starting Leader, Romulus (yes that Romulus), is still alive into his mid-70s and I've attained "Teh Gr8" cognomen.

I may start a new game after I get bored of this one. It was just a first test game anyway, on a pretty easy difficulty. Any suggestions for my next choice of civ?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 23, 2022, 10:42:42 PM
Still on my first game (Persia) too. Around turn 100 with 7 Civs the turns become a bit  slow. I made the mistake of not expanding more in the early game. I'm at 8 cities (after sticking with 5 for the first 65 or so turns). Egypt started on the periphery and has 21. :lol: I'm gearing up to take out Rome who have only 5 cities after getting wedged between Babylon and Carthage and are behind on the tech ladder. My scouts have been around Carthage's territory and they have scary hordes of cavalry.  :ph34r:

I'm playing on semester turns - game speed is as usual, but your character lifespans get technically doubled, so you have more time to reach their ambitions.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on May 24, 2022, 02:38:25 AM
Now finished replaying Mass Effect 2. I remember feeling midly disappointed when this game came out - the main storyline I thought was really weak and the RPG elements too streamlined (you don't even get stats for the different weapons you can use). And while I think the main arc regarding the Collectors is pretty weak and ultimately rather unconsequential in the whole Mass Effect story, everything else is great. The world feels much more like a living, breathing galaxy, the companions all feel unique and have great dialogue, and the sidequests are much better fleshed out - a significant improvement over ME1's roving around planets to visit the same facilities with the same rooms.

Now onto 3. I didn't think I would actually stick around and play the whole trilogy, but they are just too absorbing even after all these years.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 05, 2022, 07:06:27 AM
Warning, rambling post about fantasy 4X coming up. :P

DasTactic has started a new series about a game in early access that looks intriguing:


In a nutshell, you pick an Elder God and try to take over/destroy a randomly generated fantasy world.

This is the Steam page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1741640/Shadows_of_Forbidden_Gods/

It looks rather interesting, and I almost picked it up ... but then I saw that this is the developer's 3rd version of the concept. The previous version (Shadows Behind the Throne 2) was pushed out of early access in July last year, and this went into early access in November, and some buyers of the previous title seem disappointed that the old game was "abandoned" in favor of doing a sequel. That said, this version looks more polished and intricate, but I'll hold off till it leaves early access, to be honest.

But there's a bunch of other fantasy 4x out there. There's of course games like the two Thea titles, steeped in Slavic mythology and folklore, or the Eador games that had some great ideas that never quite came together. Stardock had its Elemental: War of Magic and subsequent titles, there's the more simplistic Warlock games, and the classic Age of Wonders series (I never got into 3 as much as I did into 2). Dominions is on its 5th iteration by now. And Slitherine are working on Master of Magic II.

There's some other interesting indie fantasy 4X titles out there, some of them seem passion projects of one person teams (or at least not much bigger).

There's Deity Empires, which maybe hews closest to the old MoM games. Now, to be honest I never played MoM when it was new. I tried it when it came to GOG, but I didn't get into it much - I have to admit that I bounced off the interface and amount of stuff in the game, hard. Steam tells me that I have 12 minutes in Deity Empires ... and looking at the screenshots I feel it's because it was MoM all over again - according to the Steam page you can create your God from 30 deity skills! There's 200 units! 350 spells! 250 skills! 200 techs! 10 schools of magic! 160 buildings for your cities! Etc. ... Oof. :D It rates as Very Positive from users, though (and through the workshop you can make the graphics a little bit prettier). It has, of course, tactical battles. The last patch if from 2020. Price is €20.99

https://store.steampowered.com/app/889080/Deity_Empires/



Slightly cheaper, at 14.99 (or 18.98 if you want to give the devs some extra appreciation) there's Wizards and Warlords. At first glance it seems to do much the same as Deity Empires. It leans a bit heavier on characters and most notably procedural generation. Races, cultures, and their relations to each other (plus more) can be randomly generated each game. It seems a bit more polished than Deity Empires, and it's still receiving regular patches that fix bugs, rebalance things, add spells, units or buildings etc. It also has tactical combat.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/567080/Wizards_and_Warlords/



Conquest of Elysium 5. From the makers of the Dominions series, it uses many of the same concepts (different eras to play in from mythical with lots of magic to more low magic later ages, unit types etc.), it focuses on exploration and giving player avatars different playstyles. It leans into some procedural generation, and has a bit of a roguelike feel to it. Some runs may be super easy, others you might be doomed from the start. The battles are hands off - you can watch them, but where the Dominions games let you set basic strategies for units, here it's all AI driven. Maybe the biggest plus for the game is the length of a campaign. Depending on map size and parameters you might be able to play a game in an evening. At 24.99 it sits at the upper end of the scale for these types of indie games:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1606340/Conquest_of_Elysium_5/



The quirkiest, and only loosely a 4X game is the excellent Warsim: The Realm of Aslona. I don't see it as much as a strategy game as it's a ... toybox? Narrative sandbox? You inherit a fantasy kingdom and need to run it. The game is all in ASCII (and mostly text), so if you don't like that kind of stuff, stay away. Every turn you can make various choices, take actions, wage war, etc. For 6.49 and because of its looks it seems unassuming, esp. since it's still in early access (though it gets updates at a silly pace). Its strength lies in its unpredictability and that it doesn't take itself too seriously. It's less a game for trying to win but rather to see what weird stuff you encounter while playing.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/659540/Warsim_The_Realm_of_Aslona/



Not 4X, but rather a game about running a mercenary company in a fantasy world, Battle Brothers was a great game, if hard unless playing on lower difficulties: https://store.steampowered.com/app/365360/Battle_Brothers/

More games like that are springing up, though they're still in early access.

There's Wartales: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1527950/Wartales/

Iron Oath: https://store.steampowered.com/app/699330/The_Iron_Oath/

Songs of Conquest seems to lean more towards old Heroes of Might and Magic territory: https://store.steampowered.com/app/867210/Songs_of_Conquest/



Not in early access, but something ... maybe more old school? Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia looks like a title from somewhere between 16bit and PS2. It's set in a fictional fantasy kingdom, with kingdoms, map, and characters reminiscent of old KOEI games (their old Nobunaga or Genghis Khan games), while battles happen on hex based maps (but at 33.99 it seems a bit pricey): https://store.steampowered.com/app/1843940/Brigandine_The_Legend_of_Runersia/



Finally (and I've had it in my account for a while but haven't played it yet), there's Vagrus - the Riven Lands, where you embark on a perilous journey through a dark fantasy world ravaged by calamity. The devs felt it necessary to highlight this warning on their Steam page:
(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/909660/extras/disclaimer2.png)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/909660/Vagrus__The_Riven_Realms/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on June 05, 2022, 01:15:09 PM
I've seen some YouTubers playing around with that game a few weeks ago. Made me think about a failed kickstarter from a few years ago named 'that which sleeps' which had the same premise. Was intrigued then, am intrigued now.

Battle brothers is an absolute gem. Very nice and with a end game crisis that will have you fighting for your life. There is a modding scene but sadly no workshop integration.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on June 06, 2022, 02:42:08 AM
Wizards and Warlords has been on my to-buy list for some time now. Should check it out.

I played Vagrus earlier this year. It is pretty fun, and yes it is hard especially in the beginning. You can see where the devs got their inspiration from, especially if you are an old-school D&D player: there's Roman Empire -style setting, there is a lot of Dark Sun (survival in a harsh desert environment), some Planescape, some Forgotten Realms (the current trio of major Imperial deities are obvious expies of Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul). Plan to return to it at some point.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on June 06, 2022, 03:34:14 AM
I've been watching Dastactic's Forbidden Gods coverage and the concept and mechanics look really interesting and intriguing. It also should make for killer AARs.

I'll probably add it to my wishlist and keep track of the development.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on June 07, 2022, 02:52:49 AM
Quote from: Syt on May 21, 2022, 07:26:45 AMThe Graviteam developers seem to be plucking away at their game, war or no. They're based in Kharkiv, though I don't know if that's from where they operate at the moment (probably not?). Just before the war started they released an Iran-Iraq War DLC for Mius Front, and this week, the released a DLC based on September 1943 operations in the Kharkiv region (where they base a lot of their WW2 content). September '43 is the latest date in their WW2 catalog (they have a few August 1943 scnearios); the devs have said previously they have no interest in any 1944/45 battles.

:huh:

That's kinda sus.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 10, 2022, 01:39:25 AM
Card Shark. If you ever thought that part of Barry Lyndon where he's a hustling gambler and duelist should have been a video game, I guess. :lol:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1371720/Card_Shark/


Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on June 12, 2022, 08:09:35 PM
Through Moonlight I can now stream games like Diablo 3, Halo Infinite, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Microsoft Flight Simulator from my beefy desktop PC to my podunk work laptop with very little lag and rock solid frames.

 :shutup:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on June 13, 2022, 01:42:15 AM
Terra Invicta let's play.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU4E2NtvRlM

The concept is cool, but the gameplay feels like somebody saw the world map bits of the XCom games and decided that's the best part of the game. Dunno.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on June 13, 2022, 02:50:39 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on June 12, 2022, 08:09:35 PMThrough Moonlight I can now stream games like Diablo 3, Halo Infinite, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Microsoft Flight Simulator from my beefy desktop PC to my podunk work laptop with very little lag and rock solid frames.

 :shutup:

Curious.
I tried this with steam play once... Witcher 3 was pretty unplayable with the input lag. Not tried moonlight.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 13, 2022, 06:56:47 AM
Quote from: celedhring on June 13, 2022, 01:42:15 AMTerra Invicta let's play.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU4E2NtvRlM

The concept is cool, but the gameplay feels like somebody saw the world map bits of the XCom games and decided that's the best part of the game. Dunno.

Yeah, it keeps cropping up in my recommendation. It's from the makers of The Long War mod for XCOM, which is not a recommendation for me - yes, let's have the people who thought XCOM was way too short and easy a game design their dream game. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on June 13, 2022, 10:12:34 AM
Quote from: Josquius on June 13, 2022, 02:50:39 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on June 12, 2022, 08:09:35 PMThrough Moonlight I can now stream games like Diablo 3, Halo Infinite, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Microsoft Flight Simulator from my beefy desktop PC to my podunk work laptop with very little lag and rock solid frames.

 :shutup:

Curious.
I tried this with steam play once... Witcher 3 was pretty unplayable with the input lag. Not tried moonlight.

Yeah Steam's streaming service is crap honestly, and of course you can only stream games from your Steam library. Moonlight and Parsec allow you to stream basically any game installed on your host machine.

I've tried Parsec and Moonlight and Moonlight seems to work best for me. Both are free to download and fairly easy to set up. Parsec is a little more user-friendly but once I got remote desktop working with Moonlight it is like night and day.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 19, 2022, 01:57:44 AM
I've been playing some Final Fantasy 1 Pixel Remaster. Now, the conventional suggestion for people interested in getting into the Final Fantasy games is to skip the first 3 games and otherwise start with whatever main series game looks most interesting to them. And now I better understand why.

The gameplay loop of FF1 is fairly basic by modern standards. Grind XP and money in random encounters till you're ready to get past the next story challenge.

And I'm using the term "story" very loosely. The series is now known for its strong narrative focus, and FF1 is not there yet. From what I've seen in my 6 hours of play (again, 80% of it grinding levels in random encounters while listening to 3 Moves Ahead podcasts) it's mostly fetch quests.

E.g. I went to the marshy cave (FUCK that place ... ) to get the crown for the sad king who turned into a boss who dropped the crystal eye that I took to the witch who gave me a potion that woke the sleeping elf king who gave me a key that let me pick up explosives that I took to the dwarves who opened a canal to unlock the rest of the world map. And the village I got to after that promises more of the same.

Not sure I feel like finishing the game, tbh, because there's just not much there. :D

From what I see on the Steam discussions, the difficulty of the remaster has been significantly nerfed from the original and various other iterations of the game. The veteran player community seems split between "The game is ruined because it caters to casuals" and "Thank FUCK they reduced the grind and difficulty, because grind for grind's sake SUCKS."

The remastered soundtrack is quite good, though. (It doesn't seem to be on Spotify, only the old 8bit version.)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on June 19, 2022, 02:41:01 AM
Yeah. I tried the early FFs some time ago. 1 to 3 are skippable like all NES RPGs.

I don't remember much of 4 but I think it was a bit more proper whilst with 5 they got somewhere. 6 of course was fully formed and great. And in 7 they went mainstream.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on June 19, 2022, 10:32:00 PM
2 and 3 never came out in the US for the NES.  4 was released as 2 and 6 released as 3.  So I never played the ones unreleased in the US.  I played the hell out of 1 but that was 30 years ago and it probably hasn't aged that well.  I do remember the marsh cave.  It was full of squid wizards or something.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 20, 2022, 01:54:52 AM
The main strike against the marsh cave is that it has you go through 3 floors, with tons of random encounters that can be pretty harsh if you haven't leveled enough. On top of it, you can't rest to refill your magic or hit points, AND you have to backtrack all they way back to the entrance once you have the quest items (other dungeons with boss fights will generally warp you back out again), so you better bring tons of potions - because the drops from the monsters are also quite scarce.


Played some Battletech. I made it somewhat into the campaign, raised the Argo, and now have to upgrade my squad for the next story mission. It's fun enough, but I feel even at this early stage the mercenary contracts become a bit repetitive (attack base, defend base, destroy enemy mechs, escort convoy, destroy convoy). Maybe it becomes more varied later, but it starts to feel a bit "meh" already.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 20, 2022, 07:32:51 AM
Footnote to Battletech: It mostly made me wish there was a conversion mod for Star Dynasties. :P

Also: I've played the tutorial of Star Dynasties. It's set during a time when the prosperous Empire has collapsed and various noble houses vie for control; no incredibly original, but what these days is? :P

On the surface it does much of what CK2 does - Kings, Dukes, Counts (albeit relabeled), traits, marriage etc. plus events. You also get a council and can assign your councilors to missions- There's spies, inheritances, claims and all that stuff. There's a strong honor system, i.e. if people "misbehave" (e.g. your wife and a courtier have an affair) then you should mete out appropriate punishment.

But there's some differences. For one it's turn based. And it pulls an Old World on you: you only have a limited amount of actions per turn, so you better choose wisely. Warfare is a lot more abstract. You assign an attacker to a target system, and the defender does same. It's then a bit of a tit for tat as each side can can keep adding levies from your vassals to the attack (hoping they agree to show up). I assume this can get interesting once you plan more than one battle in a turn and have to consider how many forces to commit where.

You also only rule your own planet, with all other planets ruled by local rulers. So any expansion requires adding vassals. I started a random map, and it immediately started me off with 4 vassals when I could only handle 3 without penalty (which can be expanded with various traits/decisions/investments), so I had to figure out how to promote one of my vassals and assign her one of my vassals.

There's some "dead" colonies, either never colonized or abandoned. Some, I think, can be recolonized? Also, many buildings on planets aren't "built" but rather are remnants of the old Empire that you return to working conditions; some have effects that extend beyond the planet they're on. And to every construction you must (should?) assign a minion who will speed up/hinder the process. Technological advancement, on the other hand, plays a limited role.

I've only scratched the surface, but I'm willing to try more to see how much depth and gameplay there is. And again, I feel there's some good groundwork for a Battletech themed mod IMO. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on June 20, 2022, 10:49:43 AM
Yeah the campaign in Battletech kind of drags on. The tactical battles are still the best in gaming though. I still open up Battletech and play a random skirmish against the AI every now and then because it's just so good.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 20, 2022, 11:02:51 AM
I'm also not convinced of the game's trajectory that seems to be going full heavy in the long run, with no reasonable use for light mechs. Now, you could get around that with drop limits (I think Mech Commander had that?), i.e. how much tonnage you can deploy in any encounter (with the same going for opposition). But looking at mods that would up variety they almost inevitably also skyrocket the difficulty (esp. Rogue Tech). I'd be happy with just getting more mission and map variety. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on June 24, 2022, 05:29:03 PM
Been hearing a lot of buzz about Diablo immortal.

Sounds really disgusting.

Basically a gatcha game, but they hide their loot boxes behind a dungeon you're paying to enter thus they get to skirt all the laws about needing to be transparent with odds.

Never really been into Diablo, but this just boils my piss. So many of my hate boxes ticked.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on June 24, 2022, 05:39:04 PM
Yeah, lots of criticism.  I have not played a blizz game for a number of years. And don't see any reason for that to change.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on June 24, 2022, 06:56:52 PM
I played it and it's fine for a mobile game but nothing special. And it is especially shit because of the loot box aspect.

I still play modded Diablo 2 sometimes. New season of Project Diablo 2 just started.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 26, 2022, 06:51:32 AM
Well, I finished Final Fantasy 1 Pixel Remaster. I admit after the second crystal I used a walkthrough to figure out where to go next, because I scoured the world and couldn't figure out where to go. Didn't expect that an area I had visited a few times before would NOW have the entrance to the next dungeon. :rolleyes:

The very basic narrative hasn't aged very well, but I'd rate it fine for an 8 bit game (then again, Ultima VI was still released on C64, and so were the Gold Box/Silver Box SSI AD&D games - though of course the hardware/memory/media capabilities were different).

The turn based combat is similar to old classics like Wizardry or Bard's Tale, where you select your actions and then have them resolved by the game - except unlike the earlier titles it adds sprites and animations, making it immediately more engaging. Not sure if this was the first time this kind of turn based party combat was used in a JRPG, but it's been the standard for a very long time after (with some variations, like Chrono Trigger's combo system that also modified the turn based combat into what's basically a cooldown timer system).

While the plot has not much replayability, the gameplay itself does, if you want - mainly by trying to play the game with different party setups, or trying to beat it with a party of one.

I admit I was quite tired by the ceaseless random encounters by the end. I wanted to get the 100% bestiary achievement, but after two hours of trying to get the Warmech to spawn (a look at the Steam forums indicate that it's a very rare spawn in the Sky Fortress) I gave up on that. :P Also, the sea encounters while you're on your ship become a terrible nuisance until you get the airship. You outlevel them quite quickly, but it's some time till you get the airship and don't have to bother anymore.

I don't have an immediate inkling to re-play it, but I'm tempted to load up the NES ROM at some point, just to compare how much grindier the original game was.

The soundtrack remains excellent, though. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on June 26, 2022, 06:57:57 AM
Syt, have you played Octopath Traveler? Its combat system is interesting and is the main draw of the game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 26, 2022, 07:41:02 AM
I have it (and many other games :blush: ) in my account. Not quite sure what I'll play next yet. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on June 27, 2022, 01:00:12 AM
I played it, the combat system was fun but everything else surrounding it wasn't too engaging.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 27, 2022, 09:26:55 AM
Further up somewhere I mentioned that I thought the beer & pretzels Strategic Command series would be great for a 1985 NATO vs WP game, but I guess they have different plans. :P



(There's a Red Storm 1985 mod in the works for War in Europe, though: https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=10653&t=376645 )

(Also, just to clarify: those are two different videos I've linked :P )
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 28, 2022, 09:47:16 AM
Ok, so I started Final Fantasy II Pixel Remaster. It's ... immediately a lot more involved. There's a proper opening "cutscene", the gfx are a bit more detailed compared to the predecessor, and, at least in the early stages, there's a plot for the player to follow. There's more dialogue, and a keyword system to ask characters about topics.

Instead of the previous game's XP and leveling system (with randomized skill gains), you gain e.g. sword skills by using a sword in combat. You can dual wield weapons and forgo a shield. Instead of a fixed number of spells per level you get mana points. I honestly didn't expect such drastic changes already in game #2 which came out only 1 year later, in 1988. :lol:

First time the battle music hit, though, transported me back to FF14, because it also shows up in that game in some cases.

The NES original:


The full orchestral version for the Pixel Remaster:


And the FF14 version which, around the 0:20 mark, turns into a jazzier interpretation that wouldn't be completely out of place in Cowboy Bebop. :lol:


(There's also SNES and Playstation versions, of course.)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on June 28, 2022, 01:00:31 PM
What do these pixel remasters add vs other earlier remakes that makes them worth the hefty price tag?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on June 28, 2022, 01:19:09 PM
I've gotten back into Kerbal Space Program, and I have to say adding an Alarm Clock in the game has made such a difference.  I can do more in a shorter period of time without having to babysit various missions.  Launch, set an alarm, revisit when the alarm goes off.

Right now I have 6 or so different ships that I'm actively monitoring and it's not a burden at all.  It used to be tricky to juggle two at the same time.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 28, 2022, 01:56:08 PM
Quote from: Josquius on June 28, 2022, 01:00:31 PMWhat do these pixel remasters add vs other earlier remakes that makes them worth the hefty price tag?

Dunno. I guess they add convenience functions (quick save anywhere, maps so it's hard to get lost in dungeons), and an overall SNES style look, plus orchestral soundtrack. Also, an adjusted difficulty curve to be less grindy, I guess?

For III-VI I suppose it makes it easy to play them in a way that looks more like the originals (as opposed to the 3D versions they had on mobile and later brought to PC).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 28, 2022, 01:59:00 PM
This article has an overview of the biggest changes: https://www.thegamer.com/final-fantasy-pixel-remasters-originals-differences/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on July 04, 2022, 09:53:35 AM
How could Death Stranding go past any kind of rating agencies with the early-birth babies cut out of their brain dead mothers used as sensors hanged on your chest in a mini incubator thing to detect ghosts of the dead, and all other similar crap?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 06, 2022, 12:10:22 PM
I keep playing Hades, it is very good.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 09, 2022, 06:56:59 AM
Someone made the perfect game for Ed, too late. :(

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1684720/Hitler_Hates_Anime/

(https://mmo13.ru/download/games/65/64498.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on July 09, 2022, 09:21:15 AM
But what about Anime Hitler?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 10, 2022, 07:58:13 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on July 09, 2022, 09:21:15 AMBut what about Anime Hitler?


https://store.steampowered.com/app/1882820/My_Little_Dictator/

QuoteMy Little Dictator, 私の小さな独裁者 (Watashi no chīsana dokusai-sha), is a satirical dark-comedy parody of WW2, featuring genderbent anime dictators and generals! A ridiculous visual novel with turn-based battles, decision branches based on player choices, romance, drama and lots of fun things to play and unlock...

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1882820/ss_5cd84410e026597a07e25895e2d938b2882c486c.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1882820/ss_7cc7313df74affad80a54d538705eeb68362c7c8.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1882820/ss_7f20b71a2568edb10da973080f36c917a21d1e25.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1882820/ss_e09e1f9c85d9c96a3377a0f3aa722bf01df54f1c.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1882820/ss_070ad11f2f1eb7f247ea2bfa78f011815af18eaa.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1882820/ss_74f2710caf0f5b3d0a40e36bd96a3959495e81cb.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1882820/ss_6dcb140c47edb3c2e9bd51819dec0584031e0dda.1920x1080.jpg)

I'm not sure whether to :lol: or :bleeding: at the Panzykampfwagen II's 20mm UwU (https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/uwu/#:~:text=Uwu%20is%20an%20emoticon%20depicting,%2C%20and%20OwU%2C%20among%20others.) gun.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on July 11, 2022, 12:58:01 AM
I do like how the BEF is called BEEF though. Rosbif.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 31, 2022, 08:47:13 AM
I have 51 hours in Elden Ring and still haven't made it past the first main story dungeon.  :lol:  :blush:

(Rather happy I've so far managed to avoid big or major spoilers :D )

I've spent most of my time exploring the starting areas, including adjacent optional bits, and slowly figuring out how to take on some of the harder enemies in those areas (while leveling up, upgrading my weapons etc.). I've heard that the initial area in Dragon Age: Inquisition (Hinterlands?) can be an insane time sink if you want to be completionist about it, and I'm starting to feel the Limgrave/Weeping Peninsula areas can be similar. There's enemies, bosses, mini bosses, ruins to explore, hidden treasures, small mini-dungeons (with not really much variety so far), a network of caves ... and then there's a few big open spots with little to nothing which really makes you paranoid - in one such area you may get invaded by an NPC character, in another ... nothing, and you expect some big boss to show up any moment.

And I've taken a few bad turns that threw me into areas that are too high level for me yet, but that looked awesome, and the game dangles them like a carrot in front of you.

Having played previous Souls games, my main disappointment is that some areas guarded by a bunch of enemies sometimes have only a crafting item or two as reward, while in the denser experience of Dark Souls 1-3 almost every find feels important. Weapons, armor, spells and similar treasures are spaced out a lot more.

I've seen some reviewers, a few weeks after release, say that the game's world is great, but it's just too big, and that you can burn yourself out on it. They cite the scale, but also the re-use of enemies and assets in some areas. I guess it also makes a difference that it is mostly free exploration and less story driven questing, so a lot of it is you running around trying to see what's beyond the next corner, what the glowy item is that tough enemy guards, or what might be in the tower you've seen from afar (and that you can almost certainly visit).

The game's in-game map reminds me of the one that came with Morrowind. It's hand drawn with icons being filled in as you explore the land. No clearing of map icons like in Ubisoft games (actually, icons only start appearing once you've visited a site), but if you study the map closely, you can usually make out locations of towers, ruins, and other points of interest so that you still have an idea which places you might want to check out. The map is not revealed to you in full. When you enter a new area you need to find a "map fragment" along the area's main road. It's not a big challenge,s o far, but it helps keeping you focused on your current areas rather than overwhelming you with the entire map from the start.

A complaint I have is how the game handles item tiers, e.g. upgrade mats. In Dark Souls you would have, from lowest to highest, Titanite Shard => Large Titanite Shard => Titanite Chunk => Titanite Slab. In ER, you have Smithing Stone (1), Smithing Stone (2), Smithing Stone (3), etc. Takes me a bit out of the game, tbh. :D

Comobat is still fun; it feels a bit more forgiving than DS1-3 once you get into the swing of things (pun intended), but that might be because of the extra tools you get: summoning spectres, guard counters after blocking, jump attacks. special skills you can add to weapons and swap while resting, some basic stealth, and the fluid and fun horse combat.

Anyways, 50+ hours in, still enjoying it in bits and pieces, and a far way from finishing. But that seems par for the course for me. DS1 took me about 100+ hours to finish (with walkthrough!), when others are more in the 50-70 hour mark. I have 100 hours in DS2 and 130 hours in DS3 and have yet to finish either game. :D I have a tendency to do a fair bit of exploring/grinding/sightseeing in these games, plus I play often very slow and methodical (pulling single enemies, approaching areas slow and cautious, checking every nook and cranny), so I feel I it takes me 2-3 as long as "normal" players in these games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 31, 2022, 02:55:06 PM
Played a bit of Interstellar Space: Genesis, a space 4X game, currently on sale:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/984680/Interstellar_Space_Genesis/

The game has 81% positive reviews out of 400+.

The gfx aren't much to write home about, but that's fine if the gameplay is good. Unfortunately, after a few hours I was quite bored. The game is one of the many space 4X titles inspired by MOO/MOO2. Unfortunately, I found it quite bland, and it didn't seem to bring much new to the table. It has some pre-defined races (and you can customize your own ones). It has the typical research, it has something similar to Stellaris' traditions (actually, I think it's closer to Civ: Beyond Earth's civ perks, where for each tier in three brackets you have to decide between two options). You can do "remote" exploration, using your scientist's telescopes to (slowly) unveil star systems, or you can send survey ships. There's minor civs, that can grant you perks (like Civ 5/6). There's pops like in MoO2. You can balance planet resources between improving the eco-system, infrastructure and production of buildings and ships. There's tactical combat, and weapons/defenses are built around the holy trifecta of beam weapons, projectile weapons, and missiles. There's leaders to assign as governors or admirals. Etc. The only real twist I saw was that when you unlock one of 4 special resources, you can choose whether to use it offensively or defensively, granting you passive perks (still kinda similar to GalCiv3, I think?). Diplomacy lack personality.

Overall, the game seemed to offer nothing that I can't get from Stellaris or GalCiv3, except those games just feel a lot smoother and more varied.

That said, a lot of people seem to like it because it reminds them of MoO a lot, so YMMV. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 03, 2022, 09:12:42 AM
Started playing Outer Worlds by Obsidian (not to be mistaken with Outer Wilds).

After four hours I struggle to stay interested. People have likened it to Fallout: New Vegas, and some of the bones are there - similar interface conventions, an Old West setting in a sci-fi game, conversations with skill checks, factions etc.

What it lacks, for me anyways, is charm. I had read that the game maps are less open and more linear than FNV, and that's fine. Not every story needs to be told in an open world sandbox. But it feels ... I don't know - mediocre? Drab? Unengaging?

The setting is space western, though with a heavy gilded age capitalist bent, cranked up to 11. Think Finkton in Bioshock: Infinite, peppered with a bit of humor in the Borderlands or Futurama bend (e.g. the starting town covered up the suicide of a worker, because this would be irreparable damaging of company property (i.e. the worker), and would incur a heavy fine for the town). The dialogue tries to mimick the ca. 1900-1910s speak, and so does the art direction of items, in game posters and labels etc. The visuals are colorful, but slightly washed out, I guess? It's not aiming for realism, but it's also not going for Borderlands' cartoon look. But I look at the starting planet - weird plants and animals, a big ringed planet in the sky, lava fields, a big sea, a dingy little settlement - and somehow they managed to make it dull. No Man's Sky's planets are stylized and become repetitive, but it went with a 1970s pulp sci-fi cover aesthetic that works, mostly. OW sits uncomfortably between Fallout 3 and 4 for me in terms of look and feel.

The pacing in the opening feels a bit off. You get your opening cinematic and then create your character, which is embedded into the game's narrative. You're then sent through a linear tutorial that eventually takes you to the first, tiny town. It feels smaller than Megaton, maybe a bit bigger than Goodsprings?

And then you spend two hours or so talking to people in town. Which would be fine, but the discussions don't feel engaging. They drag for the sake of doing world-building. This would be fine, if the dialogues felt more interactive, or the characters wouldn't feel so generic.

You pick your (non-voiced) lines from a list of options as is tradition, but I felt like I had limited options to really shape the dialogue. Being a silent protagonist in a first person game (why did I customize my appearance?) doesn't help, and neither do the character models that are not very emotive (and neither are the voice actors - I like Ashley Burch, generally, but her companion character feels pretty dull, which is an achievement, since she's kinda made out to be a character like Kaylee in Firefly).

Compare with Mass Effect 1. After Eden Prime you spend hours exploring the Citadel and much of it is exposition dialogue, and while it does get a bit dull eventually, it's kept fresh a lot longer by the visuals of the Presidium, weird aliens to meet and learn about, reasonably engaging dialogue, some interactions with your squad mates, and the occasional bit of violence.

At this point I'm not sure I want to carry on with OW, which seems like a bit of a shame.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on August 04, 2022, 03:44:07 AM
I've discovered Wildermyth, a roguelike RPG. In it you play campaigns consisting of several chapters, with procedurally generated world maps and side storylines. In between chapters your characters age, develop relationships, can get children, etc. You can generate characters randomly, or customize almost anything. During the game you can also recruit new characters to your adventuring company (which is good because the original characters will get older and eventually may retire). The characters start as farmers and can develop to become legendary heroes. Each character has a personality, different aspects, story hooks, history, etc. These affect what kind of stories each character will get and how they act during them. I'll post some screenshots from my game below.

(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/719920581038047232/1004505336432042006/screenshot_1.png)

This is my frontline warrior. He got infected with a poison that caused a stony growth on his face.

(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/719920581038047232/1004505394242130071/screenshot_2.png)

This is my hunter. He had an encounter with a crow sorceress that resulted in him starting a transformation into crow form. He's got crow wings, legs, and tail so far.

(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/719920581038047232/1004505466942009434/screenshot_3.png)

A more offensive fighter, she joined the group later on and developed a rivalry with the original warrior, though later they became lovers.

(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/719920581038047232/1004505530636701867/screenshot_4.png)

My mystic, who is kind of a "mage". In combat, mystics "interfuse" with different objects in the scenery (trees, rocks, furniture, etc.) and use them to trigger various effects, depending on the object. For example rocks can explode, trees can extend branches to trap enemies, etc.

(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/719920581038047232/1004505628594671666/screenshot_5.png)

The world map looks like this. You go between regions, fight any hostiles that are present, and secure and develop those regions which then provide resources (that you can use to craft items). Characters can split up, with some doing different tasks. You can only have five characters doing the same task at once, so later on as your group membership grows, you have to assign characters to different tasks.

(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/719920581038047232/1004505705564348547/screenshot_6.png)

Storyboards look like this, a sort of comic book feel. You get some choices that affect the outcome. I like the art style too.

(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/719920581038047232/1004505823386554478/screenshot_7.png)

And this is the combat. It's X-COM-style, with characters each acting in turn, then the enemies. There's a good variet of actions that you can do, with more becoming available as characters advance and learn new skills. Which skills they learn is semi-random (you get a choice from several random skills each time they advance), so characters of the same class (warrior, hunter, mystic) don't necessarily play exactly the same.

Big recommendation for this one!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on August 04, 2022, 03:47:57 AM
It looks pretty interesting. I will definitely check it out! Thanks for the tip.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on August 04, 2022, 03:50:33 AM
Here's a longer review as well: https://www.polygon.com/reviews/22638600/wildermyth-review-pc-proc-gen-worldwalker-games-strategy-mac-linux
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 04, 2022, 04:02:25 AM
I've dabbled a bit with it. I'm not super into its combat system, but I really like its story generation. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on August 04, 2022, 06:31:54 AM
This looks really interesting to me and I tried to add it to my Wishlist, only to find it was already there.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on August 04, 2022, 09:57:46 AM
Anyone played workers and resources Soviet Republic?
I've heard despite the subject matter it's actually a more realistic city builder than skylines :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on August 04, 2022, 10:11:52 AM
Quote from: frunk on August 04, 2022, 06:31:54 AMThis looks really interesting to me and I tried to add it to my Wishlist, only to find it was already there.
LOL. Did the exact same thing.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on August 04, 2022, 10:14:45 AM
Quote from: Josquius on August 04, 2022, 09:57:46 AMAnyone played workers and resources Soviet Republic?
I've heard despite the subject matter it's actually a more realistic city builder than skylines :hmm:

I refunded it but planning to re-acquire at some point.

It is promising (and having vehicles of my childhood on screen is kinda' cool) but it is very micromanagement-heavy.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on August 04, 2022, 11:42:26 AM
Played Wildermyth a bit, but it didn't grab me. It's an area I'm super interested in, but somehow it didn't work for me.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on August 04, 2022, 11:44:59 AM
Is it out of early access yet? 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on August 05, 2022, 01:22:47 PM
I tried a bit of the tutorial, It might grow on me but my initial impression is that the combat system isn't great.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on August 05, 2022, 04:56:16 PM
Quote from: Tamas on August 04, 2022, 10:14:45 AM
Quote from: Josquius on August 04, 2022, 09:57:46 AMAnyone played workers and resources Soviet Republic?
I've heard despite the subject matter it's actually a more realistic city builder than skylines :hmm:

I refunded it but planning to re-acquire at some point.

It is promising (and having vehicles of my childhood on screen is kinda' cool) but it is very micromanagement-heavy.

Tried the demo and ouch, it is indeed. There's just too much *stuff*

It seems to be another one like A Train where I'd love to play but just don't have the time and patience to study the manual
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on August 06, 2022, 01:19:06 AM
So, it's a perfect Soviet simulator? :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on August 09, 2022, 04:02:29 AM
Quote from: Jacob on August 04, 2022, 11:42:26 AMPlayed Wildermyth a bit, but it didn't grab me. It's an area I'm super interested in, but somehow it didn't work for me.

Procedural storytelling? Yeah, I might be getting it just to play around with that. It's something that interests me quite a bit, too.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on August 09, 2022, 10:41:44 AM
I played through a few chapters in a few starts now.  The stories are different every time (except for the intro which you can skip after playing the first time).  Some story lines are much more compelling than others.  My main complaint is that characters age and retire too quickly so that once you get some attachment to them you have to move on.  There is a mechanic to spend points to elevate some so that they can be used again but it is not as satisfying as just keeping with the characters you have developed for a reasonable period of game play.

I grew to enjoy the combat system a bit more, but it is a lot of punching the same buttons over and over.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on August 09, 2022, 07:57:22 PM
Banner Saga is much better once you set it to easy mode.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on August 09, 2022, 10:09:46 PM
Quote from: celedhring on August 09, 2022, 04:02:29 AM
Quote from: Jacob on August 04, 2022, 11:42:26 AMPlayed Wildermyth a bit, but it didn't grab me. It's an area I'm super interested in, but somehow it didn't work for me.

Procedural storytelling? Yeah, I might be getting it just to play around with that. It's something that interests me quite a bit, too.

Afraid AI is going to take your job?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on August 10, 2022, 12:55:19 PM
Quote from: Valmy on August 09, 2022, 10:09:46 PMAfraid AI is going to take your job?

No, not at the moment.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 17, 2022, 01:24:23 AM
This mix of Rollerball and Running Man with a retro-futuristic look seems interesting:

https://www.pcgamer.com/rollerdrome-review/

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on August 19, 2022, 11:07:37 AM
Anyone tried Thymesia yet?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on August 26, 2022, 09:29:11 AM
BBC News - Gamers face price rise on PS5 but not Switch
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-62659688

Quite insane stuff. The PS5 to go up in price.
Once upon a time you could rely on consoles prices steadily dropping as time went on.
The switch sort of broke this with its price remaining stable...
But the price actually going up? Wow.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on August 26, 2022, 09:37:22 AM
Quote from: Josquius on August 26, 2022, 09:29:11 AMBBC News - Gamers face price rise on PS5 but not Switch
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-62659688

Quite insane stuff. The PS5 to go up in price.
Once upon a time you could rely on consoles prices steadily dropping as time went on.
The switch sort of broke this with its price remaining stable...
But the price actually going up? Wow.

Fits alongside p'dox retroactively increasing pricing on flavour pack dlc for ck3.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on August 26, 2022, 09:38:00 AM
Honest question: apart from Nintendo gimmicks and wanting to keep your kids away from your PC, what is the point of buying a console?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on August 26, 2022, 10:00:21 AM
Quote from: Tamas on August 26, 2022, 09:38:00 AMHonest question: apart from Nintendo gimmicks and wanting to keep your kids away from your PC, what is the point of buying a console?

Dedicated console-only exclusives, along with the ease of use. I haven't bought a console (does a VR headset count?) in over a decade, but they are certainly incredibly convenient and have some titles that won't come out on PC for years and years, if ever.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 26, 2022, 10:50:25 AM
I'm reluctant to get a Nintendo console. They seem to be pretty bad about shutting down the shops/online functions of their older consoles rather fast?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on August 26, 2022, 10:51:57 AM
It's less an issue on pcs than it used to be but games just working and being optimised on consoles is a big plus too.

And in these remote working days they help ensure workspace and relaxation space segregation. I am really unsure at the moment whether to upgrade my pc anytime soon due to this. A ps5 on the other hand is semi tempting
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on August 26, 2022, 11:03:16 AM
Quote from: Syt on August 26, 2022, 10:50:25 AMI'm reluctant to get a Nintendo console. They seem to be pretty bad about shutting down the shops/online functions of their older consoles rather fast?

I think the 3DS got what 12 years of support?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 26, 2022, 11:45:25 AM
It may be more perception than reality, but I thought that Nintendo was not good about maintaining online services for their consoles much. I might be wrong.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on August 26, 2022, 11:47:33 AM
Sony is the worse imo. We blame Nintendo because we expect to play their games for so long as they remain expensive.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on August 29, 2022, 02:49:05 PM
https://youtu.be/aw1O6jpASTI

This guy splices together movie and video game scenes. This one, with Leslie Nielsen in Naked Gun and the game Detroit:  Become Human, is pretty good :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 29, 2022, 03:11:45 PM
If anyone is looking for detailed space battle simulations, have a look at Nebulous. It's in early access, and they recently overhauled their missiles:

(ignore the crappy music at the start :P )

And a short review:


https://store.steampowered.com/app/887570/NEBULOUS_Fleet_Command/

They're working on a second faction (currently there's only one fleet pool); basically think OPA from Expanse, using refurbished civilian transports and freighters (that are made up of randomized hull modules to represent their ragtag nature - see the end of the dev log video for that).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on August 30, 2022, 04:29:11 AM
Quote from: Syt on August 26, 2022, 11:45:25 AMIt may be more perception than reality, but I thought that Nintendo was not good about maintaining online services for their consoles much. I might be wrong.

I'm surprised they haven't been pulled up by the EU about this yet.

Big reason why I keep buying physical (yes. Illogical as it may be with patches et al)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 05, 2022, 12:43:01 AM
I picked up WEGO WWII Stalingrad using my loyalty discount on Matrix. I only started the tutorial, but I have already a "more of this, please" moment. We all miss the manual tomes of yore that used to come with games. My counter argument is usually that while having a physical object that you can read away from the computer, ideally all documentation you need should reside inside the game.

This game has an example of that - I don't know how representative that is of the game itself, but yeah: more of this, please!

The game has old school counters with numbers, symbols etc. When you right click a unit, you get details. And if you move the mouse cursor over any icon etc. it will give you an explanation of what it does:

(https://i.postimg.cc/sDPrTHHq/image.png)

(https://i.postimg.cc/Xv40Mfmq/image.png)

(https://i.postimg.cc/QtCws0b8/image.png)

(https://i.postimg.cc/Qdmr367P/image.png)

It's a fairly small thing (and is likely just a copy/paste from the manual PDF), but it's already ahead of so many other games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 05, 2022, 07:40:30 AM
I was bemoaning the lack of WW3 operational games a while ago. Avalon Hill have been pretty busy releasing all kinds of wargames on Steam, and one of them has me covered:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1849360/SGS_NATOs_Nightmare/

QuoteThe Scenarios
The goal of the game is to explore different cases, from small engagements in limited sectors of the front to complete campaigns covering half or the whole map. The game will offer:

• FAR 1985: a 5-turns scenario exploring the Soviet invasion of Bavaria after the fall of Austria, and the reaction of NATO's Force d'Action Rapide (FAR)
• Fulda Gap: a 4-turns scenario covering the expected Soviet breakthrough through the Fulda gap towards the Rhine and Frankfurt
• Austria Invasion: a 6-turns scenario dealing with the invasion of neutral Austria by the Pact
• Fall of Denmark: a 6-turns scenario aimed at exploring the northern part of the conflict with the objective of taking Denmark out and closing the Baltic to NATO.

• BAOR 1985: a short 1 month (15 turns) campaign covering the northern part of the war, in the North German plain, with Soviet, Poles and East Germans against British, West Germans and dutch-Belgians.
• CENTAG 1985: a short 1 month (15 turns) campaign focused on Central and Southern Germany, from Fulda to Bavaria

• Nato's Nightmare Campaign: the whole war (30 turns), two months starting in May 1985.

All turns in the various scenarios and campaigns above represent 2 days.

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1849360/ss_7aab676288d55ab8863cc09e58bf7b10fa1a1bdf.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1849360/ss_9660574b17bdc820919897a3bc5bb58cb03c1068.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1849360/ss_53118db55ffb088035f771c8eafa17e56ce95897.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1849360/ss_02944e3366c8203edc2f978e9a3e115c0c8bde36.1920x1080.jpg)

To come out spring next year. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on September 05, 2022, 08:33:38 AM
I think you are mistaken Syt, Avalon Digital isn't Avalon Hill.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 05, 2022, 09:16:19 AM
Oops, my bad. -_-
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 10, 2022, 12:26:37 PM
Watched some tutorials again, and either it's become easier, or it's finally "clicked" for me: I think I've finally understood how to use on map and off map arty in Graviteam Tactics: Mius Front. :D

It's a bit finicky, but it's not that complex. Your on map artillery needs to be in communications range of their commander. That's either close enough to shout, or after the wire company has run field telephone lines to the batteries (usually done before a battle, but becomes relevant again when units reposition), or - in some cases - have radio contact. Second, have the on map units set to accepting orders from their commander - otherwise they will only fire at targets they spot themselves - which may not be much, if you put your mortars behind a hill. Third, you need someone with eyes on the target zone. Either the arty unit commander himself, or someone else who can call in strikes who has a communications link with the unit commander.

The strike itself is finicky, for some mission plans. Right-click current arty marker of the unit, right-click/drag across the target area to create a path for impact. As pre-battle orders this will be fairly accurate, but assigning new missions during combat may have you firing some shells to zero in first, then plan a new missions to fire for effect. Finally, select ammo (HE, Smoke, Flares) and how many rounds you want each gun to fire (last battle, I put some heavy pre-emptive fire on a objective because I expected the enemy to fortify it (they didn't), and had set the fire mission for so long that by the time my men approached the target I realized almost too late that there were still shells incoming before they walked into the impact area and frantically ordered them to halt. :D

I also finally noticed that there's a "command points" system to simulate limits on battlefield communications. Orders to troops cost points depending on number of units, type of order etc. The points refill depending on your communications infrastructure. German units with radios refill their points quite fast, and you rarely find yourself in a spot where you need to put an order out but can't for long. Red Army who instead use flares and shouts a lot - not so much.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 14, 2022, 03:49:26 AM
This game came out in January; it has 0 reviews so far.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1845040/Panzers_on_the_Steppe/

QuotePanzers on the Steppe (c) is a turn-based historical war game using a double-impulse movement and combat system, with many features that make it fast to play and easy to enjoy:
- AI-based computer player for solo game play, or two-player co-op
- WWII Eastern Front campaign simulation
- Large 43 x 34 Game map covers European Russia and adjacent regions
- Overrun attacks and adjustable initial attack shock level
- Army/corps level units for Russian, German, and allied forces
- Leaders, headquarters, partisans, workers, and tactical air
- Supply, weather and terrain effects, rail and sea movement
- Reinforcements and replacements automatically scheduled
- Movement, retreat, air attack and paratroop drop range displays
- Comprehensive movement and retreat undo capability
- Flexible, fast multiple-unit combat resolution
- Campaign and yearly progress victory conditions
- Save and reload games from your game library
- Automatic game snapshots for replay and alternate scenarios
- Game log and statistics export for spreadsheet analysis
- Single-computer (2-player), local network, and play-by-email modes
- Available for Windows and MacOS
- Full details in the Game Manual

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1845040/ss_bd1475528f931df4c5b753dffb7a2b3ad2ee3670.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1845040/ss_42e442c6da7ba604771959d29cc77cf363651be8.1920x1080.jpg)

This may be a good game. But I feel at a price point of €49.99 there may be better alternatives available. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 14, 2022, 03:52:03 AM
Oh wait, they also released a Gettysburg game in February, for €67.99 :blink:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1868730/Gettysburg_Fields_of_Valor/

QuoteGettysburg: Fields of Valor (c) is a turn-based two-player historical war game that is played on a hex grid using a multiple phase movement and combat system, with many features that make it fast to play and easy to enjoy:
- American Civil War battle of Gettysburg simulation
- Turn-based, streamlined multi-phase movement and combat
- 50 x 35 topographical hex map of the entire battlefield
- All brigades, artillery batteries, and commanders modeled
- Brigades occupy multiple hexes according to size
- Multi-counter brigades move and fight as cohesive units
- Brigade counter values change with combat results
- Reinforcements and replacements automatically scheduled
- Enemy range of influence automatically calculated
- Unit movement range display and movement undo capability
- Available artillery and targets automatically calculated
- Automatic retreat and advance after successful assault
- Save and reload games from your game library
- Automatic game snapshots for replay and alternate scenarios
- Progress, casualty and objectives report continually updated
- Single-computer (2-player) and play-by-email modes
- Available for Windows and MacOS
- Full details in the Game Manual

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1868730/ss_65623873d14f8b4f8ed883a61fb9db2aeb2e08e0.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1868730/ss_5b2d591895c7ea5ddd589fa3efe17965e405e906.1920x1080.jpg)

P.S.: This one has no AI opponent, acording to the discussion forums ....
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on September 14, 2022, 10:12:34 AM
Map sucks.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 15, 2022, 11:34:23 AM
Been playing a bit of Graviteam Tactics recently. Never really spent as much time with the game as it deserves. It's possibly my favorite game in terms of realism, and the campaigns tend to be fairly unpredictable due to the WEGO nature of the operational map out of which the tactical battles are generated, and the persistence of the battlefield. If you keep fighting over a town, its buildings remain destroyed, some bodies remain in the field, and destroyed vehicles dot the landscape where they died. Unfortunately, the UI (while greatly improved) is still all kinds of alien, and provides the highest barrier to entry for newcomers. That, and no one *really* seems to know how the logistics of the operational map work (supplies, replacements, repairs ... ), though my impression is that it's better ... mostly because more of it seems to be automated now. :D

I was playing the Stepanovka campaign (Oct '41, I think) from the original game the other day. It's a relatively short one, with few units under your control on the if you play as Germans. You have other allied units who do their thing on the Northern side of the map, while you do your stuff in the South (you can opt to control your allied units, too). It was a fairly mellow affair, and in ten turns I only had 3 engagements, mostly because I was extremely cautious. Additionally, I only had a few infantry units with their gun support (arty, mortars, some AT), so I was worried into running into armored units (I kept fighting against a tank division HQ, but the tanks were nowhere near me, in hindsight).

I can tell you, though, no amount of smoke makes it comfortable to be on the offensive with only infantry against enemy units of unknown strength when the battlefield looks as open and flat as this:

(https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/1812158720480451842/899DF18F5889727293F2C29C28F42CC630926DD6/?imw=2048&imh=1152&ima=fit&impolicy=Letterbox&imcolor=%23000000&letterbox=true)

:P

Another campaign, set in the same general area, has a different rhythm to it. It's July '43, and the Soviets attack the German lines. The first round has the Reds attack a sector of mine in strength. I assume it's a surprise attack, because I was not allowed to deploy my troops and had to deal with them as they were positioned. I had 9 StuGs, that I tried to get into the flanks/rear of the attack while trying to reposition troops and guns in the little town of Marinovka. And it would probably have worked if there hadn't been a whole bunch of Il-2 circling over the battlefield, strafing my troops and dropping bombs on my poor little tanks. :cry:

Anyways, it became clear fast that I was outmatched. There were a whole bunch of T-34 and KV-1 and hordes of soldiers rushing towards (and through) my lines. I managed to take out 3 tanks. Well, two. One got stuck in a gully. :P I gave the retreat signal, but losses were still bad. I managed to salvage 3 StuGs, and a few men and guns, but about 70% of the initial force in that sector was gone while dealing minimal losses. Tbf, they were outnumbered about 4:1.

(https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/1812158720480453502/333B4620B92E4AE1E4BE722354763662A31462BD/?imw=2048&imh=1152&ima=fit&impolicy=Letterbox&imcolor=%23000000&letterbox=true)

Another clash a bit further on my right flank at least allowed me to reposition my troops. 3 battalions, a whole bunch of guns. I set up defenses in a town and a treeline that flanked the Soviet lines on the right. To take the town the Russians would have to come down hill, cross a little creek, and then come up onto my hill. I managed to misplace a few spotters for mortars (leaving them uneffective), but overall, this went much better, but it was a crazy slugging match. My troops halted the initial push, but afterwards the Russians were sitting on top of their hill shelling mine, having put a whole bunch of guns there. Fortunately, my flanking troops had a good view, and could bring in arty on them before sending in a bunch of infantry to clean them up.

(https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/1812158720480454173/8E72FEDD006EF78AFE7BF06C47561A8731B1F386/?imw=2048&imh=1152&ima=fit&impolicy=Letterbox&imcolor=%23000000&letterbox=true)

(https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/1812158720480454500/677A49AF74A3B81D7174F3010E1793A88FB5CE51/?imw=2048&imh=1152&ima=fit&impolicy=Letterbox&imcolor=%23000000&letterbox=true)
(love details like these - small arms fire kicking up dirt and ricocheting off the gun)

(https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/1812158720480454812/03B80FFBA28D590B6A0291C80E49D6D4B7FE7B1B/?imw=2048&imh=1152&ima=fit&impolicy=Letterbox&imcolor=%23000000&letterbox=true)

Once I had cleared the guns and I thought I was about to wrap thing up I realized that the whole far side of that hill was crawling with enemy infantry. My front line defenders opposing them were exhausted, some of them retreating, so I used some fresh platoons to plug the holes, but it wasn't pretty. My troops on the hill were too exhausted to assault them, my arty had no spotters/comms to shell them efficiently, and my other defenders would have had to attack them across the same valley/river that helped me repulse back the first wave. After well over an hour of battle, much of it near the end just firing at range, the Reds offered a ceasefire and I gladly accepted. Losses were about 20-40% on each side (depending on how many wounded/missing will return to combat). I lost a Marder III and two infantry guns, but otherwise my heavy equipment survived. The Russians lost 7 or 8 guns out of 20, a command unit, and a signal troop, so I think I came out *slightly* ahead.

The name of the game will be to delay the Soviet attacks while shoring up defensive positions, all the while waiting for my reinforcements to arrive/be released. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 15, 2022, 11:37:56 AM
Oh, I was wondering when a new DLC would come out ... just released one. September '42, Voronezh area. I will buy it, just to support the devs, but man, those battlefields scare me. :lol:

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1848420/ss_3f4711fe7d38b45bb01d42dbf7438d295241a99c.1920x1080.jpg?t=1663250465)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1848420/ss_d646b30b552d3101bfc315c802270ab720cfeb4e.1920x1080.jpg?t=1663250465)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1848420/ss_a4064c55d44316b27c10b0757a543f448a64ce5f.1920x1080.jpg?t=1663250465)

I mean yeah - it's Russia, and they use real topographies and historical maps, but sheesh. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on September 15, 2022, 12:13:41 PM
Thanks Syt, I really need to gather my resolve and learn this game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 15, 2022, 12:20:57 PM
Word of warning, though: the devs discourage micro managing and add uncertainties. While you have decent control of your units (limited by command points that replenish fast or slow depending on side, communications capabilities etc.) in general, most of the time it will be sufficient to order them into certain positions, attack certain areas or so (you do have control over formation, whether to use covert movement (if possible) and other things, but using the preset defaults for commands will generally be fine). However, it's also possible that a unit or commander decides to do a bit of their own thing at times. Pursue an attack further than you told them to, engaging a different enemy than you ordered them to, or moving to a slightly different position than you told them.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 15, 2022, 12:30:08 PM
There's a few decent YouTubers for GTMF, btw. I recommend Warsimmer and Tonci87. I found Tonci only recently. He has a really good (new-ish) overview video, and a series of campaigns he plays, with pretty good commentary explaining his strategy and tactics:

https://youtu.be/w0uud0Fv-Lw?list=PLOWnCqHDRIVIZODX4e2YiM_rWWaZwKB7C

I especially like his advice for people put off by the amount of DLC. Buy the game, play the base campaigns. Then buy a DLC that looks interesting and play that. Then the next one. Etc. All campaigns are standalone, and if there's a patch deployed at the same time it's always rolled into the main game.

There's also various tutorials online; just be sure to find one that's somewhat recent, like Warsimmer's video about use of off-map artillery: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY1L0OrmpJo&ab_channel=TheWarSimmer
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Alcibiades on September 15, 2022, 03:24:36 PM
You make it sound very interesting, I'll have to check it out too,
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 15, 2022, 03:35:59 PM
Again, I recommend watching a few videos to get a better idea of how it plays. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 18, 2022, 07:27:54 AM
So I think I will never finish Elden Ring. I pinged away at i some more, but that game is massive. I have 130 hours in Dark Souls III (about 75 of it in my "longest" run) and have yet to finish it. My original DS1 run, with walkthrough, took me well over 100 hours - including a lot of farming, and progressing very slowly and carefully through the levels.

In Elden Ring I have well over 50 hours in one character. I've looked up full map of the game just to get a feeling how much I've done. I'd say maybe 15%? 20 tops? :lol:

Now, that's absolutely on me. Slowly progressing through areas, taking my time to explore every nook and cranny, and taking out enemies not in a headlong rush, but methodically and carefully, if I can (unless I've become comfortable enough with an area to do it on muscle memory) and only moving on when I feel an area is truly "done".

Anyways, with me wanting to explore every square centimeter of the map (including various underground sections) I'd probably look at a 250, 300 hour playthrough; and then I'd probably still miss a lot because this is a FromSoft game, and quests, secrets, special events/bosses etc. can be hard to find or trigger. Great for replayability if you want to figure shit out by yourself, but all kinds of confusing.

So I've been watching LobosJr's first playthrough on YouTube. It's 22 videos, of 4-7 hours each. I'm guessing 100 to 120 hours? (To be fair, he can spend quite a lot of time on bosses to learn their entire movesets and figuring out how to counter them, even if he could easily beat them.)

I'm on Ep. 9 and he keeps finding places, dungeons, bosses, NPCs ... and I'm thinking, "Yeah, never would have found this place or beaten those enemies." At the same time, it's IMHO by far the most creative world FromSoft have ever done, and with more exposition than usual (besides item descriptions and vague hints from mad NPCs). It has shades of their older games, esp. Dark Souls and Bloodborne, but they also put a lot of their lessons from Sekiro to use.

As far as their Souls/Bloodborne games go, I'd say it has the best combat, and even horseback combat feels awesome once you get used to it. It allows crafting of tons of consumables (though you'd probably focus on ones that are useful for your build instead of doing it all the time). And it has surely the biggest variety of equipment of any game of their series (and you can augment them with special attacks).

It's kind of difficult to recommend, because while I think it's their most "mainstream" game yet, I think you would get the most out of it if:
- you like huge worlds to explore with very limited hand-holding (there's some guidance in the game on what to do, and hints, but there's no quest log, quest markers or similar - here's a world, go check it out)
- piece together the events preceding and happening throughout the game, and what every NPCs angle is (Morrowind's backstory with the various conflicting accounts of the Battle of Red Mountain comes to mind, or The Return of the Obra Dinn)
- you like to figure out the mechanics of a game through experimentation (Souls combat has a certain reputation and cadences - stamina management, blocking vs rolling, timing of attacks/combos ... IMHO it's fun once you get into it and stop button mashing; and Elden Ring, after Bloodborne's rejection of shields, embraces them again, with strong attacks after blocking an enemy's blow)
- you like figuring out how to overcome come challenges (depending on your character build, some enemies or bosses will be easier than others; at the same time the game gives you more tools to overcome them than previous ones IMHO, between weapons, consumables, summoning minions, and summoning NPCs and players)
- generous freedom in how to play - tanky with heavy weapons, nimble with quick weapons, ranged, magic (of various types) ... or a mixture of any of those, with huge variety of gear to match
- you like a dark fantasy world that's in decay, with some fantastic (in the true meaning of the word) environments and enemies, ranging from "dudes in armor" to the grotesque (though maybe not as much as Bloodborne); one trap may drop you into a dangerous area that looks like the cover of a heavy metal album, or an elevator might take you to a beautiful, dreamlike underworld, plus much more
- you're happy to put 100+ hours into the game
- have the patience in case you get stuck on a problem - be it a particularly nasty boss (there's probably something you can do/learn to make it easier) or "where to go next" (though unlike previous games, this time you have ample places to explore when stuck/need to take a break from what's blocking you, and fast travel is quite generous in this)

I still want to explore all the environments myself at some point because the game is incredibly gorgeous and has some awesome area and enemy designs, but I think I might download an invincibility mod or something when doing that. :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 20, 2022, 01:32:40 AM
A new Monkey Island game is out, led by original designer Ron Gilbert.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2060130/Return_to_Monkey_Island/

And it appears to ignore the ones that came after LeChuck's Revenge:

QuoteReturn to Monkey Island is an unexpected, thrilling return of series creator Ron Gilbert that continues the story of the legendary adventure games The Secret of Monkey Island and Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge developed in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games.

Not a big fan of the art style (didn't like it much even back in Day of the Tentacle, tbh, preferring the old engine's look from Maniac Mansion to MI2 and Indy4), but it sits at 96% positive reviews out of almost 500, which is a surprise, considering how fans often react to the return of beloved franchises. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on September 20, 2022, 01:36:06 AM
Sweet! I already bought it so I will play it once I get the chance.

I have hated the art direction ever since Monkey Island 2 because it should try to look as much like Treasure Island or whatever which makes the ridiculous nonsense the characters do and say so hilarious. It went very cartoon-y in the new (well very old now, but you know what I mean) games.

Still really liked Curse of Monkey Island despite that. Hoping I really like this one as well.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on September 20, 2022, 09:17:34 AM
I've only ever played Curse and liked it just fine.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 22, 2022, 01:30:15 PM
Speaking of  :pirate

A couple of weeks ago I talked to a co-worker about video games and what games we played when we were young, and what games we obsessed over. He grew up with bootleg consoles in Jaipur, with SNES/Genesis knock offs mostly (emulators?) in the 00s.

I mentioned how some games from my childhood and teens are "lodged in my brain," e.g. I still have all special moves for Super Street Fighter II on SNES still memorized, or how I could probably draw a reasonably detailed map of the Carribean from memory (or at least place cities) because I had played Pirates on C64 so much.

He asked what that game was about, and I said it was basically one of the first open world sandboxes. He didn't quite believe me, this being on an 8bit computer with 64k-ish RAM.

So I explained.

That you had 4 different starting eras, each with slightly different cities on the map (some show up in earlier scenarios, some in later ones), and how later eras had bigger, richer cities, more advanced ships, and busier trade routes.

That you could pick a background in the start from the 4 colonial powers - Spain, England, France, Holland.

That you could roam the map freely, looking for ships to plunder, or cities to attack. That you could search for lost treasures. That you could attack cities both from sea and land. That you had sea battles and sword fighting mini games (and land battles, but those were not good).

That the world kept evolving - cities would be hit by disease, or there would be wars between the powers where you could choose sides and attack enemy ships and conquer cities to give you more ranks. That you could court governors' daughters and marry them. That there was an overarching quest of finding lost family members.

That different ships with different rigging handled differently in various wind conditions, and that there were different winds blowing in different parts of the map, making some journeys harder than others.

That the copy protection (i.e. when the Treasure Fleet/Silver Train were in which harbor in which era) also worked as a way to plan robbing them.

That you had to manage your crew's morale, and you might have to pay them out and hire a new one to keep your journey going. That you had to pay attention to your health and retire in a timely manner. That you could be captured by enemies or marooned by your crew, but that it wasn't game over.

And more little things.

To be quite honest, for a 1987 title originally for C64, this was doing a whole of a lot that would not be regularly seen in games till later.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on September 22, 2022, 01:35:21 PM
Sid Meier's Pirates! was great.  Played the hell out of that game on my Apple II.

There was a remake in the mid-2000s that was pretty good as well.  Kept all of the same basic mechanics, updated the graphics completely.  They added a dancing mini-game, but that was about the only real change.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on September 22, 2022, 02:13:14 PM
It is strange how open worlds were such a rare niche until oblivion or there abouts.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on September 23, 2022, 08:09:03 AM
I've been playing Children of Morta, decent ARPG.  The gameplay is nothing special, although it's smooth and reasonably intuitive.  The storyline and some of the cutscene art keeps me going though.  CoM is not nearly as good as Hades in that regard but it's in the same direction.

I'll probably only do one playthrough, but since I got it on sale I think I'm happy with it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on September 23, 2022, 09:18:19 AM
I've played Surviving the Aftermath a bit.
Its....meh. Its alright. Though get the feeling it builds on Surviving Mars in completely the wrong places. The main quest is a dull game of just sitting and waiting largely.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Oexmelin on September 23, 2022, 02:48:24 PM
Quote from: Barrister on September 22, 2022, 01:35:21 PMThere was a remake in the mid-2000s that was pretty good as well.  Kept all of the same basic mechanics, updated the graphics completely.  They added a dancing mini-game, but that was about the only real change.

It's on sale currently for xbox.

I may have bought it.  :Embarrass:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on September 23, 2022, 02:54:54 PM
Quote from: Oexmelin on September 23, 2022, 02:48:24 PM
Quote from: Barrister on September 22, 2022, 01:35:21 PMThere was a remake in the mid-2000s that was pretty good as well.  Kept all of the same basic mechanics, updated the graphics completely.  They added a dancing mini-game, but that was about the only real change.

It's on sale currently for xbox.

I may have bought it.  :Embarrass:

I got kicked out of my home office so all the kids could have their own rooms.  I went through and culled probably 90-95% of my physical copies of computer games, some going back to the mid-90s.  I'm not much of a gamer anymore, and I had trouble imagining I'd ever go back to most of them.

Sid Meier's Pirates! I kept.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on September 26, 2022, 08:37:23 AM
The boss fights in Children of Morta really go downhill the further you go into the game.  It's mostly invulnerability phases with traps and/or enemy spam, followed by brief periods to damage the boss.  The latest one I've played has like 2-3 minutes of enemy spam and traps with a 30 second window to damage the boss.  Seriously annoying, unimaginative and not even that difficult once you figure out the patterns.  The earlier fights are actually more difficult, this one is just long.  It doesn't help that the area you have to go through to get to the fight is quite long.  Most areas in CoM can be completed in less than 30 minutes even if you explore everywhere, this one took 50.

I'm also salty because I came very close to beating it in my first attempt, but now I have to go back through and do it all again.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 26, 2022, 10:15:07 AM
Sounds very POE late game bosses. I absolutely hate invulnerability phases for bosses. I think it can be done well, e.g. them doing an attack during which they can't be damaged, or if the fight is relatively short. But POE's "standing still inside a shield while you dodge stuff" for long stretches during fights (unless you have a dmg meta build) is really off putting.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on September 26, 2022, 10:43:47 AM
Quote from: Barrister on September 23, 2022, 02:54:54 PM
Quote from: Oexmelin on September 23, 2022, 02:48:24 PM
Quote from: Barrister on September 22, 2022, 01:35:21 PMThere was a remake in the mid-2000s that was pretty good as well.  Kept all of the same basic mechanics, updated the graphics completely.  They added a dancing mini-game, but that was about the only real change.

It's on sale currently for xbox.

I may have bought it.  :Embarrass:

I got kicked out of my home office so all the kids could have their own rooms.  I went through and culled probably 90-95% of my physical copies of computer games, some going back to the mid-90s.  I'm not much of a gamer anymore, and I had trouble imagining I'd ever go back to most of them.

Sid Meier's Pirates! I kept.

Yeah I am more of a gamer in my heart than in practice anymore.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on September 26, 2022, 11:04:23 AM
Quote from: Valmy on September 26, 2022, 10:43:47 AMYeah I am more of a gamer in my heart than in practice anymore.

I feel like the day will come, maybe sooner than I expect, where I will have lots of time for gaming again.

But as it is right now by the time I get the kids into bed and all the days chores are done it's 9:30-10pm.  I'll sit down at my computer thinking I'll play a game, but all I have time and energy for is to look at social media and maybe watch some stupid youtube videos before going to bed.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on September 26, 2022, 11:19:22 AM
I used to fantasize about being able to play a ton in retirement, but I think I told the story about the retired retirement home guy who was in my guild in WoW who could only physically play a few hours a day and struggled with cataracts. So I don't know. Maybe that is my best motivation to stay in shape and in good health :P Got to stay in shape to sit and play games for hours a day.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on September 26, 2022, 11:24:18 AM
Quote from: Valmy on September 26, 2022, 11:19:22 AMI used to fantasize about being able to play a ton in retirement, but I think I told the story about the retired retirement home guy who was in my guild in WoW who could only physically play a few hours a day and struggled with cataracts. So I don't know. Maybe that is my best motivation to stay in shape and in good health :P Got to stay in shape to sit and play games for hours a day.

You did mention that guy before.

Yeah, no cataracts for me, but I did "upgrade" to progressive lenses this summer, and already any game that depends on twitch reflexes is pretty much out for me.  Thankfully there are still lots of casual and/or strategy games to play...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on September 26, 2022, 11:26:03 AM
Even as a kid I sucked at twitch games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on September 26, 2022, 12:33:24 PM
Quote from: Valmy on September 26, 2022, 11:19:22 AMI used to fantasize about being able to play a ton in retirement, but I think I told the story about the retired retirement home guy who was in my guild in WoW who could only physically play a few hours a day and struggled with cataracts. So I don't know. Maybe that is my best motivation to stay in shape and in good health :P Got to stay in shape to sit and play games for hours a day.

Getting physically in-shape is great, but this should also be motivation to retire on your own clock instead of shooting for Social Security age.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on September 26, 2022, 03:49:54 PM
Started playing Red Dead Redemption II.  Never played the first one.  Looks nice.  I'm supposedly at 25% of the game, according to the save system.  Not what I expected, much less shooting, much more horsing around.  Can't wait to unlock fast travel.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on September 26, 2022, 10:35:11 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on September 26, 2022, 12:33:24 PM
Quote from: Valmy on September 26, 2022, 11:19:22 AMI used to fantasize about being able to play a ton in retirement, but I think I told the story about the retired retirement home guy who was in my guild in WoW who could only physically play a few hours a day and struggled with cataracts. So I don't know. Maybe that is my best motivation to stay in shape and in good health :P Got to stay in shape to sit and play games for hours a day.

Getting physically in-shape is great, but this should also be motivation to retire on your own clock instead of shooting for Social Security age.

Sure but even if I was retired, I have three kids and a dementia having Mom. It will be awhile before I go back to being care free even if I was independently wealthy.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on September 26, 2022, 10:47:15 PM
Quote from: Syt on September 26, 2022, 10:15:07 AMSounds very POE late game bosses. I absolutely hate invulnerability phases for bosses. I think it can be done well, e.g. them doing an attack during which they can't be damaged, or if the fight is relatively short. But POE's "standing still inside a shield while you dodge stuff" for long stretches during fights (unless you have a dmg meta build) is really off putting.

So I took the fastest character and basically raced to the boss.  The pacing of the fight was completely different.  The first phase change was in 10 or 20 seconds, and I finished the fight in less than 2 minutes.

It turned out it was the next to last boss, and the last boss was simple although at least it had some neat ideas.

Curious if I was imagining it and because there was a side quest I wanted to find, I took the other character back to the boss and the phase changes took even longer than the first time.  It was easily 4-5 minutes of invulnerability before the first time I got to attack the boss. I did beat it, but it was a grind.  I can't tell if it is tied to level (the fast character was 2/5 levels lower than the other one), character type and/or there is something I'm not doing in the fight to trigger the changes.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 01, 2022, 06:05:50 AM
This is kind of sad.

I got into Overwatch around the time of its release in 2016 and played it on and off for a year or so. It was a game made - among other things - for people like me, who are normally not big into multiplayer shooters. It had a big variety of generally cool and interesting characters for different play styles, an almost saccharine optimism in the future or the world, and once you bought the game, you could enjoy it in full (though it did sell loot boxes for cosmetics). Plus there were seasonal events with special missions and modes, skins etc.

The game wasn't perfect. There were (real or imagined) issues around match making, the meta quickly settled into very conservative team compositions (2-3 tanks, 2 healers, 1 dps) that Blizzard struggled to get balanced, and the community could be quite toxic in both ranked and unranked matches. But overall it was quite good fun if you had learned to play a few heroes decently enough to know broadly what you were doing.

Fast forward to six years later:

https://www.pcgamer.com/overwatch-2-review-in-progress/

The game will be free to play. You will be expected to buy a season pass to access all characters. AND you will have to grind to unlock some(?) of them. The game leans a lot more into monetization. While the original game itself had no story mode, all characters had fairly detailed backstories, told through in game shouts and comments, but also web comics and some pretty damn good animated shorts - seems that goes out of the window too. Instead of broad appeal and easy to get into gameplay it aims for a more "hardcore" demographic (according to the article at least), and removes some "classic" skills, like Mei's ability to freeze an enemy (it's never fun to be stunned/having control be taken away in a game, but usually there's counter plays or your team mates can help if they know what they're doing).

So yeah. From a brightly colored, joyful "shooter for everyone" to another "games as service" run of the mill shooter.



See, that's why I'm glad that there's still games like the From Software titles - Elden Ring, Sekiro, Dark Souls, Bloodborne. You pay once, and that's it. Maybe a DLC later on (as in proper big expansion packs, like in ye olden days). Have fun, enjoy the game. No pre-order items or skills, no special edition with exclusive armor or weapon sets, or cosmetics (even though with "Fashion Souls" (https://www.reddit.com/r/fashionsouls/) being a thing their games would be predestined for this, often featuring dozens on dozens of equipment items to create your preferred look). Maybe pay extra if you want an artbook PDF and the soundtrack, but that's it. No season pass. No loot boxes. No seasonal events. No grinding for points to get that special item before the event runs out. And Elden Ring sold like 15 million copies in half a year.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on October 03, 2022, 02:19:35 PM
I picked up Wildermyth and I'm really enjoying it.  The complaints about combat being shallow or uninteresting are certainly valid, but there's just enough diversity in skills that you and your opponents get that it stays tolerable.  I think it helps that I focus on offense so the battles don't drag on and the boss battles usually have some new mechanics.

I have a bigger concern about the depth of stories.  I've finished three campaigns, and I'm starting to see a lot of repeated events.  Some I understand (like the Seer for cutting down on incursions) and others I appreciate so I can try different paths.  Since story is the main attraction I worry that I won't have much reason to play once I finish the main campaigns.

Still, I've already gotten more than my money's worth out of it so I won't be complaining that much.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on October 03, 2022, 03:09:17 PM
Yeah, this isn't a game you keep replaying. If they put out a DLC I will definitely get it. I agree that I got for my moneys worth by the play Throughs I did have
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on October 03, 2022, 06:54:03 PM
Manor Lords has a demo available on steam - no release date yet though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 04, 2022, 01:18:04 AM
Browsing Steam I saw that 1992's Ancient Art of War in the Sky is up there: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1704640/The_Ancient_Art_of_War_in_the_Skies/

:D

(It's part of their Microprose wargame collection: https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/24509/Microprose_War_Simulation/ )
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on October 04, 2022, 04:41:52 AM
Quote from: frunk on October 03, 2022, 02:19:35 PMI have a bigger concern about the depth of stories.  I've finished three campaigns, and I'm starting to see a lot of repeated events.  Some I understand (like the Seer for cutting down on incursions) and others I appreciate so I can try different paths.  Since story is the main attraction I worry that I won't have much reason to play once I finish the main campaigns.

The game is very moddable (it has an in-game toolkit that lets you add events with specific triggers and many other things), and there are a bunch of event mods on the Steam workshop. I recommend trying those.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 06, 2022, 01:10:01 PM
Emperor of the Fading Suns has received a new patch 25 years after release: https://www.gog.com/forum/emperor_of_the_fading_suns/emperor_of_the_fading_suns_enhanced

Patch notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Qw4w9gEKaVVrhx8JcIY-t858W_QDmRT8eJB9XIJLwgs/edit

Developer doing a preview stream a few weeks ago:

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on October 06, 2022, 06:35:02 PM
Quote from: Syt on October 06, 2022, 01:10:01 PMEmperor of the Fading Suns has received a new patch 25 years after release: https://www.gog.com/forum/emperor_of_the_fading_suns/emperor_of_the_fading_suns_enhanced

Patch notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Qw4w9gEKaVVrhx8JcIY-t858W_QDmRT8eJB9XIJLwgs/edit

Developer doing a preview stream a few weeks ago:


Holy crap!

I really wanted to like that game, but I thought some things were a little off... let's see the patch notes....
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on October 06, 2022, 07:05:55 PM
Emperor of the Fading Suns was the first game I recall that had a deliberate atmosphere.  I was somewhat surprised that so few subsequent game designers tried to do the same.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on October 06, 2022, 10:54:17 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on October 03, 2022, 06:54:03 PMManor Lords has a demo available on steam - no release date yet though.

This already very promising.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 08, 2022, 01:10:59 AM
Yes, saw preview of Manor Lords, and it looks really nice. I've been holding off on Foundation as I was wanting it to get out of Early Access, but I think it might get bumped off the list for me if ML turns out well. :)


Meanwhile:

Superpower III has released to minimal fanfare: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1563130/SuperPower_3/

QuoteSuperPower 3 is a modern geopolitical sim in a planet Earth setup. Rule the world or challenge your knowledge about demography, economics, military strategy, as well as political issues across the globe. Compete with or against other players, or just try to do better than the real-life politicians.

It's ... not well received.  :ph34r:

QuoteALL REVIEWS: Overwhelmingly Negative (508)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on October 08, 2022, 02:01:20 AM
None of the superpowers has ever done well iirc.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 08, 2022, 01:54:43 PM
So am I the only one playing Terra Invicta?

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 08, 2022, 02:01:32 PM
I've picked it up, played the tutorial a bit - very much like what I see but I'm too into CK3 atm.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on October 08, 2022, 06:02:17 PM
Messing around with Bannerlord 2 atm.
But I'm following both PotatoMcWiskey's and Perun's campaigns. Not in too much detail as I don't want to spoil the game too much.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 09, 2022, 01:17:23 AM
Btw, I recommend people check out Hooded Horse's catalog on Steam. They don't have too much out yet, but it's one of the few publishers where almost every other game has either ended up on my wishlist or I'm at least following it to see how it shakes out:

https://store.steampowered.com/publisher/HoodedHorse

They've published Old World; Terra Invicta and Nebulous: Fleet Command are in early access with great reviews so far. Clanfolk also reviews well (Rimworld, but Scottish Highlands, basically?).

Upcoming games are:

Alliance of the Sacred Suns (you get crowned emperor and need to manage your feudal star empire - you only get to play as the one character, so there's a ticking clock)

Against the Storm (fantasy city builder where you build a city between apocalyptic storms, trying to build the city strong enough to be able to rebuild after)

Manor Lords (medieval city builder - excellent demo)

Capital Command (starship command with sandbox campaign mode)

Espiocracy (run a an intelligence agency during the Cold War; promises 74 playable countries)

Xenonauts 2 (the sequel to Xenonauts which was a spiritual successor to original 90s X-Com, but set in the 1970s, though this one seems to be set in the present day)

Fata Deum (god game)

Fragile Existence (real time space exploration/base building RTS with space and planetary combat with survival elements, i.e. trying to preserve humanity against an overwhelming enemy)

Falling Frontier (another space game about exploration/expansion with a stronger focus on logistics and intel, plus some RPG elements, like managing commanders and their traits)

And a bunch more.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on October 09, 2022, 03:23:18 AM
Half of the titles mentioned are on my wishlist... I knew that a few were from the same publisher but not that it were so many.
And it looks like I'll need to dd some more
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 09, 2022, 08:25:30 AM
Quote from: Syt on October 08, 2022, 02:01:32 PMI've picked it up, played the tutorial a bit - very much like what I see but I'm too into CK3 atm.

There seems to be a lot of depth to it, but a pace that is either glacial or epic depending on how much you like it.

Once you get around playing it, I recommend either being patient (including not being shy to restart once you feel you have gained a grasp on what's what) or if you don't mind spoilers watching videos to get a hang of what you are supposed to be doing and what to prepare for - I kind of enjoy the experience that I am as clueless about what the aliens are planning to do as the game's protagonists are supposed to be, but I could totally see a lot of people not being fine with spending 10+ hours on a playthrough just to realise they could have prepared a lot more to what's coming if they actually knew what was coming.

It should keep me occupied until Victoria 3 comes around, which is nice.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 09, 2022, 09:31:38 AM
Quote from: Tamas on October 09, 2022, 08:25:30 AM
Quote from: Syt on October 08, 2022, 02:01:32 PMI've picked it up, played the tutorial a bit - very much like what I see but I'm too into CK3 atm.

There seems to be a lot of depth to it, but a pace that is either glacial or epic depending on how much you like it.

Well, it's from the makers of the Long War mod for Xcom, so ... :P

Cool tips, though. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on October 09, 2022, 11:45:27 AM
Started on FarCry 5. But the unengaging impersonal story and the capture mechanic proved too much for me. Anyone know if 6 is better?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 09, 2022, 02:06:48 PM
Quote from: The Brain on October 09, 2022, 11:45:27 AMStarted on FarCry 5. But the unengaging impersonal story and the capture mechanic proved too much for me. Anyone know if 6 is better?

Since Far Cry 3 these have been the same game with better graphics and a different so-called story. I actually kind of enjoy completing them once. I haven't played 6 but if you didn't like 5 I am betting you won't like 6.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on October 09, 2022, 06:52:33 PM
5 was terrible.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on October 13, 2022, 04:02:15 AM
Been playing Ozymandias (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1768280/Ozymandias_Bronze_Age_Empire_Sim/). It's a fun little game that plays very much like a boardgame. There are no detailed complex systems like Civ-type games, but there are enough options and strategies that you can develop depending on which civ you are playing, your location on the map and what you need to win. The win conditions are very customizable and you can make them easier or harder to influence how quickly you will be able to fulfill them. Each game takes an hour or two to complete so it's not a days-long commitment like Civ.

Here is my Assyrian Empire (red color on the north side) on the Fertile Crescent map, one turn before winning the game. After a protracted struggle I finally crushed the Babylonians while also advancing against the Elamites in the eastern hills. You can see the crowns next to each civ's banner on the left side, those are earned from wonders which are essentially built by fulfilling different conditions. Once you have enough crowns (can be set up as anything from 1 to 10), you win.

(https://i.imgur.com/lE0B9Jr.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on October 13, 2022, 04:03:48 AM
Oh, and it has multiplayer too. Players do their turns at the same time, so there's no waiting. If enough people here get the game, we could get a MP game going. It's 20% off on Steam at the moment.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on October 13, 2022, 04:07:42 AM
Nice. I noticed that one a while back and put it on my wishlist. To me Civ-like games have always been more interesting in the early periods. I liked the old Civilization boardgame.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 13, 2022, 05:42:24 AM
I played the demo and thought it was quite fun. It's certainly very "board-game" and highly abstracted compared to Field of Glory Empires, Civ, or Old World, but on the plus side you can finish a game in an hour or two.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on October 13, 2022, 10:41:49 AM
Has anyone played Cyberpunk? In its present state, would it be worth picking up on sale?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 13, 2022, 03:39:14 PM
Quote from: The Brain on October 13, 2022, 10:41:49 AMHas anyone played Cyberpunk? In its present state, would it be worth picking up on sale?
I've not played but I do hear its in a good state now and well worth it if you have a very good computer.
Mine hasn't been updated for 4 or 5 years so... Not for me.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 13, 2022, 05:56:36 PM
Quote from: The Brain on October 13, 2022, 10:41:49 AMHas anyone played Cyberpunk? In its present state, would it be worth picking up on sale?

You don't need that good a pc for it and yes it is worth it, especially if you are not expecting some revelatory experience like many people at release.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on October 16, 2022, 06:22:17 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on October 13, 2022, 04:02:15 AMBeen playing Ozymandias (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1768280/Ozymandias_Bronze_Age_Empire_Sim/). It's a fun little game that plays very much like a boardgame. There are no detailed complex systems like Civ-type games, but there are enough options and strategies that you can develop depending on which civ you are playing, your location on the map and what you need to win. The win conditions are very customizable and you can make them easier or harder to influence how quickly you will be able to fulfill them. Each game takes an hour or two to complete so it's not a days-long commitment like Civ.

Here is my Assyrian Empire (red color on the north side) on the Fertile Crescent map, one turn before winning the game. After a protracted struggle I finally crushed the Babylonians while also advancing against the Elamites in the eastern hills. You can see the crowns next to each civ's banner on the left side, those are earned from wonders which are essentially built by fulfilling different conditions. Once you have enough crowns (can be set up as anything from 1 to 10), you win.

(https://i.imgur.com/lE0B9Jr.jpg)

I had a lot of fun with this. I like how you can change all the winning conditions.  I haven't tried all the maps. But I think this has a lot of replay value.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 21, 2022, 03:24:06 AM
Watching random youtube videos on game design one talks about Advance Wars.
I remember this game being amazing. I played every game in the series to 100%, reached such a point where I could see through the wargame setting and realise it for the puzzle game it really was.
As part of this video he mentioned a recent fan game which is basically the same thing but up to date and in a fantasy setting by the name of War Groove. Intrigued I looked it up...and I've had in my steam library for 2 years already but never played it. :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on October 21, 2022, 05:19:31 PM
Man, I played a lot of Advance Wars back in the day.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on October 21, 2022, 07:02:55 PM
War Groove's ok. It's no AW.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 25, 2022, 02:37:17 AM
Mount and blade 2 out of early access. Anyone played?
I've had my eye on it a while but felt better to wait till it was done.
Loved the original.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on October 25, 2022, 12:15:02 PM
Yeah, I've been playing around with it lately. Didn't get very far though. It's Mount & Blade alright
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on November 01, 2022, 11:45:21 AM
Visual version of Dwarf Fortress comes out in 6 December.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on November 07, 2022, 05:43:06 AM
Bought Cyberpunk on sale and have played some hours. I like it so far, but then of course I came in with no expectations of a living breathing city or similar. Writing is engaging, acting is good (except Keanu of course), graphics are fine (my 6 y/o computer runs it great no problem). The tutorial VR robo drill sergeant briefly t-posed, but it's the only one I've seen so far and I chose to view it more as a tribute.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 07, 2022, 07:11:09 AM
I think it may be similar to L.A. Noire in that regard. People expected GTA 1946, but the huge, beautifully recreated city is really just scenery for the plot, not an open world like GTA or Skyrim where new quests and secrets can be found all over the place.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Berkut on November 09, 2022, 10:48:09 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on October 16, 2022, 06:22:17 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on October 13, 2022, 04:02:15 AMBeen playing Ozymandias (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1768280/Ozymandias_Bronze_Age_Empire_Sim/). It's a fun little game that plays very much like a boardgame. There are no detailed complex systems like Civ-type games, but there are enough options and strategies that you can develop depending on which civ you are playing, your location on the map and what you need to win. The win conditions are very customizable and you can make them easier or harder to influence how quickly you will be able to fulfill them. Each game takes an hour or two to complete so it's not a days-long commitment like Civ.

Here is my Assyrian Empire (red color on the north side) on the Fertile Crescent map, one turn before winning the game. After a protracted struggle I finally crushed the Babylonians while also advancing against the Elamites in the eastern hills. You can see the crowns next to each civ's banner on the left side, those are earned from wonders which are essentially built by fulfilling different conditions. Once you have enough crowns (can be set up as anything from 1 to 10), you win.

(https://i.imgur.com/lE0B9Jr.jpg)

I had a lot of fun with this. I like how you can change all the winning conditions.  I haven't tried all the maps. But I think this has a lot of replay value.
I bought this back when it was mentioned, and right before bed last night opened it up to mess around with it. Played through the tutorial campaign, then a couple regular games while keeping an eye on election results. Suddenly it was 3am.

It is really quite good. Would love to try this multiplayer.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 10, 2022, 04:41:49 AM
Well, this sounds like a fine mess.

https://www.pcgamer.com/battle-between-ousted-disco-elysum-creatives-and-studio-execs-explodes-with-new-allegations-the-company-we-built-has-been-looted/

QuoteThe battle for Disco Elysium's soul explodes with new allegations, and is heading to court
By Rich Stanton published about 12 hours ago

"We think it's time people knew what has transpired," say fired creative leads. Meanwhile, the company accuses them of toxic management.

In October, the news broke that key creatives behind Disco Elysium had left Studio ZA/UM last year. A few days later, founding member of ZA/UM Martin Luiga alleged they had been "fired on false premises". Studio ZA/UM issued a statement about the "collective effort" of game development without substantially commenting on the news, and we were left uncertain as to what transpired at the studio and what to expect from it going forward. Today, the story exploded with surprising allegations from both sides.

Robert Kurvitz and Aleksander Rostov, the fired Disco Elysium game director and art director, have published an open letter(opens in new tab) which alleges that ZA/UM's current owners took over the company illegitimately before kicking them out. The letter appears to have been prompted by a report in an Estonian newspaper which alleges that the pair of creatives were toxic leaders who were fired for ignoring responsibilities and mistreating colleagues. That news report, which quotes Studio ZA/UM's current CEO, was followed by an official statement from the studio which reiterates its claims.

So the situation is this: The fired Disco Elysium creative leads, Kurvitz and Rostov, say that the new studio co-owner who fired them, CEO Ilmar Kompus, is an illegal interloper in the business, while Kompus and ZA/UM deny that allegation and say that Kurvitz and Rostov were fired for toxic management. It seems almost certain this one will end up in court.

The Estonian Ekspress report quotes Kompus as saying: "Robert [Kurvitz] is said to have been known for belittling women and co-workers in the past, but this was previously unknown to the company. It would be very short-sighted of a growing international company to tolerate such behaviour."

Kompus goes on to say that Kurvitz and others had "delusions of grandeur" about their ownership of the Disco Elysium IP, and alleges they tried to go elsewhere in the industry "but no one was interested."

The report alleges that Kurvitz and Rostov mistreated coworkers in various other ways without going into tremendous detail. It also says that there was conflict between the business side of ZA/UM and the creative team, which given this was an anarcho-communist collective may prompt a shocked Pikachu jpg.

In a report on the claims, GI.biz(opens in new tab) quotes an anonymous source who describes the situation as "CEO corporate scheming on one side, a toxic auteur on the other."

ZA/UM has provided a statement to PC Gamer elaborating on its reasons for firing Kurvitz and Rostov. According to the statement, Kurvitz and Rostov showed "limited to no engagement in their responsibility and work" including "not working at all for almost two years." The company also accuses the pair of "verbal abuse," "gender discrimination," and "attempts to illegally sell" ZA/UM intellectual property "with the aim of undermining the rest of the team."

The statement goes on to say that ZA/UM "denies any claim of financial malfeasance or fraud" and that "the vast majority of profits from Disco Elysium have been invested back into the studio" to fund new projects.

The other side

"Financial malfeasance" is one of several allegations that Kurvitz and Rostov make in their letter, which tells a completely different story about their firing, one in which they uncovered evidence of a crime and were kicked out for asking questions. (Eagle-eyed fans may note that the letter is not signed by Helen Hindpere, the third figure who was fired, though shortly after its publication she did share it on Instagram.)

"Our stake in the game exists in the form of minority shareholdings in an Estonian company called Zaum Studio OÜ, which owns everything related to the game," reads the letter from Kurvitz and Rostov. "The majority of this company's shares were initially held by Margus Linnamäe, an Estonian businessman and investor who provided the initial capital. In 2021, Linnamäe was bought out by another minority shareholder, an Estonian company Tütreke OÜ. Tütreke OÜ is a vehicle for two Estonian businessmen—Ilmar Kompus and Tõnis Haavel."

Kompus, again, is the current CEO of ZA/UM, while Haavel was an executive producer on Disco Elysium. Kurvitz and Rostov go on to say that, after they became majority shareholders in the studio, these two individuals quickly fired them and terminated their "access to the company's information." This allegedly happened after Kurvitz and Rostov asked for documents and financial data, which they say wasn't provided to them.

Then comes Kurvitz and Rostov's big accusation: "Tütreke OÜ must have obtained control over Zaum Studio OÜ by fraud. We believe the money used by Tütreke OÜ to buy the majority stake was taken illegally from Zaum Studio OÜ itself, money that belonged to the studio and all shareholders but was used for the benefit of one. Money that should have gone towards making the sequel."

That is, Disco Elysium's key creators are saying Disco Elysium's profits were used to buy Disco Elysium and ZA/UM itself out from under them.

"We believe that these actions—which in our view, and the view of our lawyers, amount to criminal wrongdoing punishable by up to three years imprisonment—were perpetrated by Ilmar Kompus and Tõnis Haavel with support from Kaur Kender, another minority shareholder. This is hardly surprising given that Tõnis Haavel, who we believe to be the ringleader, has been convicted for defrauding investors on a different matter in 2007(opens in new tab)".

That link is to an Estonian court document, but the allegation concerns a bank called LHV Pank co-founded by Haavel, which in 2007 was also accused of fraud by the US SEC. It paid a big fine and settled without admitting any wrongdoing.

Kurvitz and Rostov say they're reviewing the legal options, but intend to bring both civil and criminal cases in Estonia and the United Kingdom. "The company we built has been looted, while our own earnings are insufficient even to cover legal fees."

The letter says that the pair have stayed silent out of consideration for those still at ZA/UM and their own mental health. "But given the severity of our suspicions—and the seriousness of the evidence we have—we think it's time people knew what has transpired at the company."

The letter does not address the various accusations of toxicity and irresponsibility made of the pair, and ends as follows: "We also believe in what Harrier du Bois calls 'the law'. It's not perfect, but it's there to protect those who create from those who take. And so it will."

Disco Elysium, which still tops PC Gamer's list of the 100 best games on PC, is specifically critical of greed, the petit bourgeois, and the compromises we all have to make in our lives because of these systems. It is if nothing else a stunning critique of capitalism. That this creation is now the subject of claim, counter-claim, and lawsuits is some sort of cosmic irony.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on November 10, 2022, 05:21:05 AM
Well that sucks. Of all the games too, as the article says its particularly relevant there.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 16, 2022, 08:58:35 AM
Josh Sawyer/Obsidian's new game seems quite good:

https://www.pcgamer.com/pentiment-review/

It's a murder mystery set in a Bavarian village in 1518.

QuotePentiment is a rare beast: A relatively short, gameplay-light narrative adventure from a studio renowned for its lengthy, mechanics-heavy RPGs. Even stranger, the team pulled it off with aplomb. Yes, there are some mechanical quibbles, and it did take some coaxing to get me to accept the central mystery's final resolution, but Obsidian's tight grasp on its subject matter and thorough understanding of exactly what it wanted to do with Pentiment has produced a game that I wanted to launch again just as soon as I finished it. I want to see what happens when I pick a different constellation of background traits, pursue different leads, and pass the persuasion checks I failed (and fail the ones I passed).

At 20 hours, Pentiment is a short game compared to some of the hundred-hour titans we've seen this year, but it's a game I see myself replaying a lot in the years to come. I get the feeling that I'll need to spend a lot more time in Tassing before I even scratch the surface.


(https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4qTcnFLkmb7cuDGnh7btsV-1200-80.jpg)

(https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fWR6JFaLsRmtkCC4csnhmc-1200-80.jpg)

(https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6uMrfFBuETaaySYywA4M4n-1200-80.jpg)

(https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FyETtyPAHHdiEedydHee49-1200-80.jpg)

Sawyer is big into (German) medieval/early modern history, and reportedly this is a bit of a passion project of his.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 18, 2022, 05:54:39 AM
This looks awesome :w00t: :wub: (From the makers of Armello)


https://store.steampowered.com/app/1893820/Jumplight_Odyssey/

Apparently a mix of FTL and a bit of games like Two Point Hospital? All in the style of 70s sci-fi anime. :wub:

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1893820/ss_b90a0bbdb967a2ab2656d939dcfd264832f66aa2.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1893820/ss_d2a101adcef409c6b630ecd6e8ec3cda810b74e5.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1893820/ss_8146118c85d47f3b81665492314ee3fe552b9791.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1893820/ss_25180fb91405a4ebc656c9fa8ca34b10eeb3930b.1920x1080.jpg)

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on November 18, 2022, 02:14:45 PM
I'd watch a tv series of that, tbh.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on November 18, 2022, 08:22:41 PM
That Pentiment game is on Game pass. It seems pretty cool  :cool:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 20, 2022, 02:28:59 AM
Probably of little interest to anyone but me and Tamas, I think? :D

WDS have released a new Panzer Campaigns title, Rumyantsev '43. It's their first PzC title to have the new 4.01 interface (mostly just updated menu buttons, some engine upgrades), but it introduces a QoL feature I've long wished for in their games.

Usually they have a "Fast AI" mode, where the enemy AI's turn is run at max speed to keep waiting time between turns down. However, during a player's turn, that speed was not available. What that meant was that turns could be excruciatingly slow, because every time you move a unit in the vicinity of enemies there's a chance of reaction fire to whatever you do. And in some cases that can be 3, 4, 5, 6 different units attacking the one you just moved, all resolving at default speed. If you do any kind of scenario that has a larger number of units in contact with each other ... you spend a lot of time watching this kind reaction fire.

The new updates FINALLY make it so you can run your own turns at faster speeds (can speed up in increments or fastest), meaning it cuts down tremendously on the time needed to play scenarios if you wish :lol: The update will be rolled out for all PzC titles in December.

They also released a new demo for Modern Air War, and a free Little Big Horn game, run on the Early American Wars engine.

You can find all their current demos here:

https://wargameds.com/collections/game-demos-wds
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 20, 2022, 07:07:06 AM
Nice one! I'll try it when they patch the other games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 20, 2022, 01:15:42 PM
Medieval 2: Total War has been ported to iOS and Android. :P

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on November 24, 2022, 10:13:51 AM
My brother gifted me a Steam Deck for Christmas early because he figured they would be difficult to get. Lo and behold they're back to being unavailable until January so I guess he was right.

Funny thing is this is the second Steam Deck sent to me. The first one my brother ordered was actually stolen by the delivery driver. Valve offered to send another one, this time to a FedEx facility instead of my house, and now I'm the proud owner of a handheld gaming PC.

I've only played around with it since I picked it up last night but it seems handy so far. It's like a souped-up Nintendo Switch that play almost anything and, because it's basically a handheld laptop, I can hook it up to a monitor or TV and use it as a computer lol

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on November 24, 2022, 10:38:35 AM
I am increasingly tempted by them. Tried anything super high res like cyberpunk?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on November 24, 2022, 01:30:47 PM
Quote from: Josquius on November 24, 2022, 10:38:35 AMI am increasingly tempted by them. Tried anything super high res like cyberpunk?

Not yet.

I also plan on using it as a platform to stream games so Cyberpunk will be at its highest settings with RTX on
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on November 25, 2022, 07:35:31 AM
The trackpad on the Steam Deck is quite the tactile. It has haptic feedback and kind of "feels" like a mouse.

Want to try Victoria 3 with this thing on the couch  :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on November 25, 2022, 07:49:38 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on November 25, 2022, 07:35:31 AMThe trackpad on the Steam Deck is quite the tactile. It has haptic feedback and kind of "feels" like a mouse.

Want to try Victoria 3 with this thing on the couch  :D

Funk, that is quite interesting, do you think one could use it for occasional pc gaming, so replacing the need for a gaming rig, as I'm the sort of person who is likely to play pc/steam games for only a handful of hours per month/season?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on November 25, 2022, 08:05:48 AM
Quote from: mongers on November 25, 2022, 07:49:38 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on November 25, 2022, 07:35:31 AMThe trackpad on the Steam Deck is quite the tactile. It has haptic feedback and kind of "feels" like a mouse.

Want to try Victoria 3 with this thing on the couch  :D

Funk, that is quite interesting, do you think one could use it for occasional pc gaming, so replacing the need for a gaming rig, as I'm the sort of person who is likely to play pc/steam games for only a handful of hours per month/season?

I mean, it's a PC just in a handheld form factor, yeah. It has a 'Desktop mode' that you can switch to for a windows-like environment. It uses Valve's own SteamOS, which is based on Linux. But if you're looking for an everyday PC you have to be comfortable in Linux.

I have a USB-C dock that I connect it to. I hook up my keyboard, monitor, and mouse and it's basically a little PC. I did that when I set it up so I could run some lines in the command prompt to set up Game Pass cloud gaming via the Edge web browser.

It's not a super gaming PC but it gets the job done. Can play AAA games and indies just fine. Games that aren't 'verified' by Valve as suitable for Deck often have user setting you can search for that make the game playable on the Deck. You can easily tweak graphic settings in each game because it's a PC, and you can also set hardware options on the Deck itself that can lengthen the battery time.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on November 25, 2022, 08:30:03 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on November 25, 2022, 08:05:48 AM
Quote from: mongers on November 25, 2022, 07:49:38 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on November 25, 2022, 07:35:31 AMThe trackpad on the Steam Deck is quite the tactile. It has haptic feedback and kind of "feels" like a mouse.

Want to try Victoria 3 with this thing on the couch  :D

Funk, that is quite interesting, do you think one could use it for occasional pc gaming, so replacing the need for a gaming rig, as I'm the sort of person who is likely to play pc/steam games for only a handful of hours per month/season?

I mean, it's a PC just in a handheld form factor, yeah. It has a 'Desktop mode' that you can switch to for a windows-like environment. It uses Valve's own SteamOS, which is based on Linux. But if you're looking for an everyday PC you have to be comfortable in Linux.

I have a USB-C dock that I connect it to. I hook up my keyboard, monitor, and mouse and it's basically a little PC. I did that when I set it up so I could run some lines in the command prompt to set up Game Pass cloud gaming via the Edge web browser.

It's not a super gaming PC but it gets the job done. Can play AAA games and indies just fine. Games that aren't 'verified' by Valve as suitable for Deck often have user setting you can search for that make the game playable on the Deck. You can easily tweak graphic settings in each game because it's a PC, and you can also set hardware options on the Deck itself that can lengthen the battery time.

Thank you for the thorough reply, Funk, that sounds like the near ideal device or me. :cheers:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on November 25, 2022, 09:00:18 AM
 :cool:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on November 26, 2022, 11:36:23 AM
I was able to set up remote streaming between my PS4 and the Steam Deck so I can play Ghost of Tsushima and Spiderman while, next to me on the couch, my wife watches White Lotus on the TV  :)

I've also set up Moonlight so I can stream Red Dead Redemption 2 on max graphics from my gaming PC to my Deck.

This is too much :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on November 27, 2022, 12:33:35 AM
Bought Oxygen not included.  Game is kind of complicated and I'm still learning.  First thing I did was tunnel into a water pocket because I thought it was oxygen.  My peeps got hypothermia from standing in waist-high water.   :(  I need to read the wiki.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Iormlund on November 28, 2022, 02:59:44 PM
Playing Darktide open beta.

First impressions:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on November 30, 2022, 12:36:33 PM
Niche Hungarian game here. Trianon revenge based FPS where you can summon your ancestors for help:
https://twitter.com/tomescritt/status/1596963206861361153?s=46&t=CP9TEowyldBP0FNCQrXOQQ
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 30, 2022, 12:53:57 PM
Funny, Steam put this Hungarian game into my discovery queue today:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2181830/Follow_The_Crown/

QuoteSave and return the Hungarian Holy Crown by using your stealth and diplomacy skills as a Crown Guard and an American Diplomat. Follow the Crown is a third-person historical adventure game set in Hungary that takes place in two different historical eras – the end of WWII and the Cold War.

Sneak across military areas, underground bunkers & other devastated sites from Budapest, Hungary. Discuss matters of state between the US & the USSR with diplomats & other historical figures. Experience history from two different viewpoints but fight for the same goal- the guard & return the Holy Crown to its rightful place in Hungary.

It's free to play, but only has mixed reviews.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 30, 2022, 01:52:14 PM
Computer version of the War & Peace wargame is scheduled for next year:

QuoteAVALON DIGITAL has captured the look, feel, challenge, and excitement of the classic board game War and Peace and brought it to life on your computer. Solo allows you to become Napoleon as you lead your armies from the fields of France to the steppes of Russia, and from the deserts of Egypt to the mountains of Spain. Or you stand against him as Blucher, Kutuzov, the Duke of Wellington, or any of a score of other famous generals as you plan your strategies to turn the tide of the Napoleonic Wars.

Fight on land and at sea in short scenarios that cover every major strategic operation from 1796 to 1815, or do it all in a grand campaign that may – or may not – end on the field of Waterloo.

SCALE
War and Peace is a monthly turn-based, hex-based (40 miles each), strategic game.
Dozens of individually named and rated generals lead armies composed of abstract strength points each representing roughly 5,000 men infantry or cavalry and their intrinsic artillery.

Every major – and minor – power of the Napoleonic Wars is represented with its own set of individual pieces, each of which is depicted by square counters illustrated with a soldier attired in the uniform unique to their nation and type.
The mix of forces includes everything from Spanish partisans and Prussian Landwehr on up to Russian Cossacks and Napoleon's Old Guard, and more.

The game also includes squadrons of ships of the line and transports with which players can wage both a global naval struggle – or recreate the situations that led to the epic clashes at the Nile, Copenhagen, and, of course, Trafalgar.

CONTENT
The game contains
Different playing modes: solitaire play against the AI
All the historical scenarios from the boardgame:
- THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN OF 1796–97
- THE ARMY OF THE ORIENT, BONAPARTE IN EGYPT 1798–99
- MARENGO: 1800
- THE SUN OF AUSTERLITZ — 1805
- NAPOLEON'S APOGEE: 1806–1807
- WAGRAM — 1809
- THE CAMPAIGN IN RUSSIA — 1812
- STRUGGLE OF NATIONS — 1813
- NAPOLEON AT BAY — 1814
- THE WATERLOO CAMPAIGN — 1815
- THE PENINSULAR WAR: 1808–1814
- SPAIN: 1811–1814
- THE FINAL GLORY: 1812–1814

THE GRAND CAMPAIGN GAME – WAR AND PEACE 1805-1815: a complete campaign covering the entire Napoleonic Wars, with production, diplomacy, foreign wars, land and naval warfare.
Varied Hex maps with a scale of 40 miles per hex, weather zones, major cities for production and victory.
6 Major Powers, playable inside Pro or Anti-French Alliance, dozens of minor nations and powers.
5 different types of infantry, 3 of cavalry, all rated for their morale (i.e. quality) levels
Warship or Transport naval squadrons
All main historical leaders present
March to the sounds of guns, conduct forced marches, fight pitched battles, entrench your armies, lay siege, and engage in amphibious, economic, and guerrilla warfare
Production system for the grand campaign to create your own reinforcements
Turn-based system, scale of one month per turn, with different phases: Attrition, Alliance, Reinforcements, Movement and Combat.
An elegant, easy-to-understand on-screen guide that will walk you through every sequence of play and help you better understand the nuances and depth of choices and strategies available.
Available in English and in French, with Spanish, German, Russian and Chinese coming soon
No internet connection required to play against the AI

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2009780/War_and_Peace/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on December 02, 2022, 04:58:53 PM
So are we interested in Knights of Honor 2? I remember wanting to like 2 but it was a bit of a picture book version of medieval Europe.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 03, 2022, 03:42:05 AM
I played the original KoH and thought it was fun back then, though I didn't (at the time) know what to think of it being essentially "endless mode", i.e. IIRC it didn't have "proper" year numbers and just kept running, so you could play endlessly.

Haven't watched any pre-coverage of it, but I feel I'm not in a rush for it. Bit wary, because it's published by THQ who have a tendency to publish games I'm interested in, but then turn out to be a bit jank/not really great. On the one hand there's Desperados 3 or Expeditions Rome which seem good, but then there's Superpower III, The Guild 3, or Biomutant. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 03, 2022, 03:43:56 AM
P.S.: Watching a preview video from a German channel (no gameplay, though, which makes me a bit suspicious so shortly before release), and I'm mostly thinking I can scratch that itch with CK2 or 3, or Medieval: Total War (with mods). I'll wait and see.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on December 03, 2022, 09:10:45 AM
Here's a letsplay but feels more like a sponsored one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWVKV402Jms

I tend to agree. Being the compulsive spender on strategy games that I am, it will be hard to resist buying it, but for now I agree there seems to be little to do in the game that I cannot already do in CK3.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on December 05, 2022, 05:49:03 AM
I'm very late to the party (so little time to play nowadays...) but Disco Elysium is fascinating. Best game I've played in quite a long time.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 05, 2022, 07:45:34 AM
It's one of those experiences that come out once every few years or so. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on December 05, 2022, 09:14:16 AM
Yeah I generally bounce off hard of games of this type, but this one kept me going until the finish, although I won't be replaying it for alternative endings and the like.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 05, 2022, 09:38:32 AM
From what I understand, while there's a number of alternate situations and paths for certain interactions, the overall arc (premise and final resolution) don't change all that much. Which is fine by me, the game is much more about the main character and his journey and not the main story.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on December 06, 2022, 05:17:34 AM
Quote from: Syt on December 05, 2022, 09:38:32 AMFrom what I understand, while there's a number of alternate situations and paths for certain interactions, the overall arc (premise and final resolution) don't change all that much. Which is fine by me, the game is much more about the main character and his journey and not the main story.

The mystery questline doesn't end much differently but the vision quest lines vary quite wildly.
I accidentally fell into the social democratic one which apparently is quite dull, I wanted the communist one.
People replay for these apparently.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on December 06, 2022, 05:39:11 AM
I'm defaulting to play the main character as myself, which I think is probably the dullest alternative  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on December 06, 2022, 05:49:22 AM
Quote from: celedhring on December 06, 2022, 05:39:11 AMI'm defaulting to play the main character as myself, which I think is probably the dullest alternative  :P
Probably where I fell into the social democratic option. So many of the other dialogue options are just too stupid.
Why can't I be a communist without randomly screaming about the oppression of the workers during a delicate negotiation?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 06, 2022, 06:58:36 AM
Yeah, same. I advocated for small, non-radical changes to society and was chided for enabling the status quo while telling myself I was in favor of change. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on December 06, 2022, 07:42:03 AM
Luckily I read on Grogheads that a German preview listed that you'd like KoH2 if -among other things- you aren't looking for a big challenge. Which I am reading as codeword for the game having either too simplistic mechanics or bad AI or both. This should help prevent me from buying it, even with the Vic3 patch being an unexpected disaster.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 06, 2022, 07:52:56 AM
I saw a review calling it "Crusader Kings Lite" ... :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on December 06, 2022, 07:56:39 AM
Quote from: Syt on December 06, 2022, 07:52:56 AMI saw a review calling it "Crusader Kings Lite" ... :D

CK3 is already CK2 Lite, I am not really looking to go lighter than that. :)

Then again I expect it doesn't have the pointless-event spam CK3 does sometime...  :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 06, 2022, 09:17:54 AM
CK3 can be spammy, but it has nothing on V3's trade notifications and IG bonus trait activation/deactivations. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on December 06, 2022, 09:57:18 AM
Quote from: Syt on December 06, 2022, 09:17:54 AMCK3 can be spammy, but it has nothing on V3's trade notifications and IG bonus trait activation/deactivations. :P

At least those are not pop-ups. :P

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on December 06, 2022, 10:24:43 AM
Quote from: Syt on December 05, 2022, 07:45:34 AMIt's one of those experiences that come out once every few years or so. :)

:yes: It's a great narrative and a truly unique experience in so many ways. I'm probably going to replay it soon and go with one of the less-savory paths.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on December 06, 2022, 10:26:25 AM
Quote from: Tamas on December 06, 2022, 07:42:03 AMLuckily I read on Grogheads that a German preview listed that you'd like KoH2 if -among other things- you aren't looking for a big challenge. Which I am reading as codeword for the game having either too simplistic mechanics or bad AI or both. This should help prevent me from buying it, even with the Vic3 patch being an unexpected disaster.

I am going to give some gameplay vids a good watch, but the Andy's Take channel on YouTube gave a pretty positive review of it.

Seems like if you're looking for a greater challenge, you go for multiplayer...which I intend on if the game's good.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on December 06, 2022, 11:01:17 AM
Thanks, listening to Andy's Take, but he sounds a bit too gushing, like how a great invention is to only be able to assault cities when their defense is down to 50%... forgetting how in CK3/EU4 you need breaches to do the same.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 06, 2022, 11:23:46 AM
I like Andy, but I think he can be a bit too positive, even for someone like me. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on December 06, 2022, 01:05:23 PM
For me it comes down to how twitchy the RTS component is. I don't mind CK3 lite, if I still have time to consider and make interesting strategic and tactical decisions.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on December 06, 2022, 04:05:10 PM
This guy is saying he loved KoH1 and KoH2 is nothing more than a graphical remaster of that, stuck way too much in 15 years ago and unable to compete in today's grand strategy market:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNB3Vahk7c0&t=2s
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on December 06, 2022, 06:48:57 PM
I don't mind games that are a redo of a good game from 15 years ago. Plenty of good games 15 years ago.

Now, I don't know if KoH was good back then, so I don't know....
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on December 07, 2022, 07:10:02 AM
I watched the Andy's Take video, but putting "Total War/Paradox killer" on the thumbnail kinda destroyed its credibility.  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on December 07, 2022, 08:37:37 AM
My recall from having played it when it debuted was that KoH was pretty forgettable and indeed I forgot about it till this recent set of posts.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on December 07, 2022, 09:12:30 AM
Quote from: garbon on December 07, 2022, 08:37:37 AMMy recall from having played it when it debuted was that KoH was pretty forgettable and indeed I forgot about it till this recent set of posts.

Same.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 07, 2022, 09:15:09 AM
I recall that it was weird to play without end dates. And that it had books as resource.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on December 07, 2022, 09:21:28 AM
Quote from: Syt on December 07, 2022, 09:15:09 AMI recall that it was weird to play without end dates. And that it had books as resource.

Those things are unchanged. :) There are no dates in the game apparently. I also remember the books thing feeling weird in KoH1.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 07, 2022, 09:23:16 AM
But still, didn't characters age up and die? Or do I misremember?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on December 07, 2022, 09:39:17 AM
Quote from: Syt on December 07, 2022, 09:23:16 AMBut still, didn't characters age up and die? Or do I misremember?

I am sure they did and do in KoH2 as well since you are supposed to care about marriage and heirs and such.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on December 07, 2022, 12:04:28 PM
Just spotted this game releasing in an hour, seems like it wants to be a Frostpunk-FTL mix. I am: intrigued, but the fact that it managed to get in under my radar isn't encouraging.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1113120/IXION/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 07, 2022, 12:06:08 PM
Have it on my wishlist, but it's very much a "let's wait and see how it turns out" title.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on December 07, 2022, 02:59:59 PM
Quote from: Tamas on December 07, 2022, 12:04:28 PMJust spotted this game releasing in an hour, seems like it wants to be a Frostpunk-FTL mix. I am: intrigued, but the fact that it managed to get in under my radar isn't encouraging.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1113120/IXION/

there was a demo a few months back, it's been on my wishlist since. Greenman has a 28% off.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on December 07, 2022, 06:28:58 PM
Isonzo is pretty fun by the way. But brutal.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on December 07, 2022, 08:39:37 PM
Quote from: Tamas on December 07, 2022, 06:28:58 PMIsonzo is pretty fun by the way. But brutal.

I'll wait until the 11th or 12th sequel before I give it a try.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on December 07, 2022, 09:47:23 PM
The Master of Magic upgrade/remake is set to come out next week...any decent scuttlebutt?

My feels are it might be something like "yeah, that game was awesome, I'll get it!.....oh, yeah, pretty much operates the same but now looks pretty...meh, ok".
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 09, 2022, 07:48:23 AM
Bunch of trailers from the Game Awards: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/every-new-pc-trailer-from-the-game-awards-2022


Hades II is coming, apparently. FromSoftware's Armored Core 6 will come it next year. Cyberpunk's DLC will feature Idris Elba.

Speaking of famous names. Remember when GTA: Vice City had a weirdly eclectic cast of known actors: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0314123/

Seems this game is trying to capture some of that feel (though it's 90s not-Miami instead of 80s not-Miami):


Ken Levine has finally shown what he's been working on:


I know it looks a bit like Bioshock, but it's totally different, because it seems to be in space? I like the grimy version of the shanty Leave Her, Johnny as soundtrack, though.


And FF16 seems to go all in on the spectacle action combat (but still party based?):


Music is nice, though.

More trailers at the link above, but nothing to really blow me away, tbh.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 09, 2022, 07:53:13 AM
Oh and "console exclusive" seems to have a new meaning these days:

(https://i.postimg.cc/hvW09cJD/image.png)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on December 09, 2022, 11:04:35 AM
It means "fuck our competitors". :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on December 09, 2022, 11:53:39 AM
Isn't "exclusivity" the reason why the Biden administration is suing to stop the Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 13, 2022, 02:18:01 AM
Quote from: Syt on November 20, 2022, 02:28:59 AMProbably of little interest to anyone but me and Tamas, I think? :D

WDS have released a new Panzer Campaigns title, Rumyantsev '43. It's their first PzC title to have the new 4.01 interface (mostly just updated menu buttons, some engine upgrades), but it introduces a QoL feature I've long wished for in their games.

Usually they have a "Fast AI" mode, where the enemy AI's turn is run at max speed to keep waiting time between turns down. However, during a player's turn, that speed was not available. What that meant was that turns could be excruciatingly slow, because every time you move a unit in the vicinity of enemies there's a chance of reaction fire to whatever you do. And in some cases that can be 3, 4, 5, 6 different units attacking the one you just moved, all resolving at default speed. If you do any kind of scenario that has a larger number of units in contact with each other ... you spend a lot of time watching this kind reaction fire.

The new updates FINALLY make it so you can run your own turns at faster speeds (can speed up in increments or fastest), meaning it cuts down tremendously on the time needed to play scenarios if you wish :lol: The update will be rolled out for all PzC titles in December.

They also released a new demo for Modern Air War, and a free Little Big Horn game, run on the Early American Wars engine.

You can find all their current demos here:

https://wargameds.com/collections/game-demos-wds

The first few Panzer Campaign patches are now out, plus patches for the WW1 Campaigns games. Speeding up the return fire is such a huge change. :D (Can't wait for it to come to Modern Campaigns, or the Napoleon ones.)

https://wargameds.com/blogs/news/winter-sale-announced-updates-released
https://wargameds.com/blogs/news/southern-front-updates
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Darth Wagtaros on December 13, 2022, 09:04:47 AM
Quote from: Tonitrus on December 07, 2022, 09:47:23 PMThe Master of Magic upgrade/remake is set to come out next week...any decent scuttlebutt?

My feels are it might be something like "yeah, that game was awesome, I'll get it!.....oh, yeah, pretty much operates the same but now looks pretty...meh, ok".
I haven't found anything really except vague announcements.  I saw a partial playthrough and it looked pretty bland.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 13, 2022, 09:10:22 AM
dastactic has done a preview series over on YouTube.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on December 13, 2022, 09:43:09 AM
I think MoM is declaredly a remake with improvements rather than a sequel. Which is fine with me, I am going to check it out.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Darth Wagtaros on December 14, 2022, 08:29:22 AM
Quote from: Tamas on December 13, 2022, 09:43:09 AMI think MoM is declaredly a remake with improvements rather than a sequel. Which is fine with me, I am going to check it out.
How is it?  I'd love to get it, as I was playing MoM Classic the last month.  But at 30 dollars it would have to have a lot of improvements.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on December 14, 2022, 09:36:03 AM
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on December 14, 2022, 08:29:22 AM
Quote from: Tamas on December 13, 2022, 09:43:09 AMI think MoM is declaredly a remake with improvements rather than a sequel. Which is fine with me, I am going to check it out.
How is it?  I'd love to get it, as I was playing MoM Classic the last month.  But at 30 dollars it would have to have a lot of improvements.

Haven't pulled the trigger yet. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on December 14, 2022, 01:56:36 PM
For what it's worth, I have really enjoyed playing KoH2.  I see a lot of people griping that they can't paint the map.  But for me that is part of the appeal. 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Minsky Moment on December 19, 2022, 10:54:36 AM
Quote from: Syt on December 13, 2022, 02:18:01 AMThe first few Panzer Campaign patches are now out, plus patches for the WW1 Campaigns games. Speeding up the return fire is such a huge change. :D (Can't wait for it to come to Modern Campaigns, or the Napoleon ones.)

https://wargameds.com/blogs/news/winter-sale-announced-updates-released
https://wargameds.com/blogs/news/southern-front-updates

Is this series some kind of souped-up John Tiller game engine?  How does it differ from the originals?  What are the best offerings?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on December 19, 2022, 11:00:11 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on December 09, 2022, 11:53:39 AMIsn't "exclusivity" the reason why the Biden administration is suing to stop the Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard?
Yes.  It's likely Sony's lobbying of Congress though.  MS is no position to play this game right now.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 19, 2022, 02:32:46 PM
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on December 19, 2022, 10:54:36 AMIs this series some kind of souped-up John Tiller game engine?  How does it differ from the originals?  What are the best offerings?

Yes, same engine, with some tweaks to gameplay and more quality of life features, updated/more scenarios etc. They've been working on the JTS games for years now, and took over the entire catalog when he passed last year, now revamping all titles while also working on new ones.

But. Same AI, largely. That means that the AI will be ok-ish, in small tactical engagements, not so great when it comes to big picture stuff. In a recent Q&A they said that they would love to dig into the AI more, but that it's fairly entangled in the core game, so rewriting it seems to be a pretty tall task.

It's hard to unequivocally recommend any one title. It kind of depends on what you're interested in. They have free demos for their flagship series (American Civil War, Early American Wars, Panzer Campaigns (1km/hex), Panzer Battles (200m/hex), Squad Battles, Modern Air Power and Napoleonics. You can find them here and try them out. They're all standalone, and (except Waterloo) not included in any of the other games IIRC.

https://wargameds.com/collections/game-demos-wds

If you like any of the engines you can then check out what titles they have in that series - each is usually a pretty  decent and detailed recreation of the battle at hand (in terms of OOB and maps; though e.g. France '40 is currently under rework according to them to improve on it). Generally, smaller scenarios with the AI defending offer a better experience. In an ACW campaign (linked scenarios, branching depending on battle outcome and player choice) I won a scenario by default because the AI couldn't figure out how to take several unguarded victory hexes along a railway line ...

There's several PBEM clubs for the game (The Blitz probably being the biggest one), but I've not dabbled in it.

If you've tried a demo and liked it, and then found a title you're interested in, it might still be worth considering whether to buy it or not. Most titles sell for 39.99 (though they have their Christmas sale on), so if you already have another game covering the same (e.g. Decisive Campaigns, or a good Operational Art of War scenario) then only get it if you really have a strong itch for it.

Hardest to recommend for me is the Panzer Battles series. It plays at the same scale as the old John Tiller Campaigns series games (East Front, West Front, Rising Star, and the recently released Vietnam, all available from Slitherine/Matrix Games). The WDS games cover their areas in greater detail, but I think the old John Tiller titles offer better bang for the buck (i.e. covering the entirety of the war, tons of scenarios; crappy random campaign generator though), even though the gameplay detail in the Panzer Battles series is better and more polished at this point.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Minsky Moment on December 19, 2022, 03:12:43 PM
I'm less interested in the WW2 titles which are covered so often.  The pike and shot era, Nappy, and the air stuff look more interesting for me.  Maybe ACW.  Serbia 14 also looks interesting.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 19, 2022, 04:34:06 PM
I haven't really played the Pike&Shot games except Renaissance's disk version ages ago and didn't really take to it. I'd take Field of Glory 2 Medieval over it any day. The same devs have an older title Pike & Shot Campaigns which uses similar mechanics and covers 16th/17th century (they also have a Sengoku period title).

Can't speak to Air War but I guess they might be more accessible than Command: Modern Operations?

Tamas has played the WW1 games a bit IIRC.

The Napoleon ones - there's few alternatives on the market. I find them a bit tedious to play. E.g. when you deploy skirmishers are treated as separate units you need to babysit while in the ACW games they act as modifier for the parent unit. That said, they have some convenience functions - you can order a commander to attack an enemy and they will use all their subordinate units to execute the order without you having to micro them. That is if you trust the AI. :P

I recommend downloading the demo and going through the tutorial and manual, and also maybe checking some YouTube videos. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Minsky Moment on December 20, 2022, 11:49:40 AM
Quote from: Syt on December 19, 2022, 04:34:06 PMI haven't really played the Pike&Shot games except Renaissance's disk version ages ago and didn't really take to it. I'd take Field of Glory 2 Medieval over it any day. The same devs have an older title Pike & Shot Campaigns which uses similar mechanics and covers 16th/17th century (they also have a Sengoku period title).

Yes I've played Pike & Shot campaigns quite a bit over the years.

FoG I understand is based on a set of ancient miniatures rules that has been stretched and adapted; doesn't seem like the best match for 16th-17th century.

Does anyone do 18th century? 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on December 29, 2022, 08:06:27 AM
Fell into a Cities Skylines habit again over Christmas :ph34r:

While I still like it and fall into that hole every now and then, I wish there was a new city builder around.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 29, 2022, 08:30:17 AM
If you like chill building games, then check out Anno 1800 (which you can play without AI opponents and looks really pretty, in a romanticized Victorian way https://store.steampowered.com/app/916440/Anno_1800/ - check which store is cheapest at the moment; I assume you know https://isthereanydeal.com/ ) or Planet Zoo (about running a zoo https://store.steampowered.com/app/703080/Planet_Zoo/ ). Warning: both have DLC out the wazoo at this point.

Or, for a more price conscious option, check Kingdoms & Castles: https://store.steampowered.com/app/569480/Kingdoms_and_Castles/ It was fairly barebones when I played it at release in 2017, but it seems to have received constant content updates, and has more queued up. However, I can't say if it is much better now.

If you like it a bit bleaker and aren't afraid of Early Access, check Soviet Republic: https://store.steampowered.com/app/784150/Workers__Resources_Soviet_Republic/

And of course there's Farthest Frontier and Foundation (medieval, early access), and there's Manor Lords coming up.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on December 29, 2022, 01:15:07 PM
Thanks! I have a couple of those :ph34r: :blush:

Will definitely given Manor Lords a go when it comes out.

Might give Soviet Republic a go :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Darth Wagtaros on December 30, 2022, 07:24:40 AM
Looke like Anno 1800 requires you install some Ubisoft bloatware too. :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 30, 2022, 07:37:00 AM
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on December 30, 2022, 07:24:40 AMLooke like Anno 1800 requires you install some Ubisoft bloatware too. :(

All Ubi titles do, unfortunately. :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on December 30, 2022, 08:26:29 AM
Amazing they're still hanging onto that. Haven't most publishers dropped it?

I've got a ubisoft game or two I would have played if not for them being locked off in uplay.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 30, 2022, 09:31:41 AM
Quote from: Josquius on December 30, 2022, 08:26:29 AMAmazing they're still hanging onto that. Haven't most publishers dropped it?

I've got a ubisoft game or two I would have played if not for them being locked off in uplay.

They also offer a sub that gives access to all their games. :P

But yeah, of the various publisher stores, I feel theirs is the worst to use.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Zanza on December 31, 2022, 04:31:47 AM
Anno 1800 is a great game even with that stupid Uplay launched and the terrible Ubisoft Shop. The DLCs are not strictly needed, but add quite a bit of depth.

I tried Planet Zoo to play it with my nephew and it has a really hard to understand user interface when trying to build your zoo. I got frustrated there quickly.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on December 31, 2022, 10:00:56 AM
Quote from: Josquius on December 30, 2022, 08:26:29 AMAmazing they're still hanging onto that. Haven't most publishers dropped it?

I've got a ubisoft game or two I would have played if not for them being locked off in uplay.

No, most still use them. They are still growing actually.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on January 01, 2023, 09:03:56 AM
I've been playing mafia definitive edition.
Some years ago I played and really liked mafia 3 so gave this a go....
It's very pretty certainly but my god is it linear. Its shocking how much effort they put into this open world city, with backyards and everything represented, yet you're railroaded through main story missions only with zero exploration or side quests.

Quote from: Grey Fox on December 31, 2022, 10:00:56 AM
Quote from: Josquius on December 30, 2022, 08:26:29 AMAmazing they're still hanging onto that. Haven't most publishers dropped it?

I've got a ubisoft game or two I would have played if not for them being locked off in uplay.

No, most still use them. They are still growing actually.

Guess I've been lucky in the games I play. Didn't I hear something on EA dropping off with theirs?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on January 01, 2023, 09:53:47 AM
You did. They've replaced Origin by EA Desktop.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on January 02, 2023, 11:29:50 AM
Finally played a full game of Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence. Started a game and fiddled around a bit some years ago, but now I sat down and played. If you have played any of Koei's Nobunaga or Romance you know what they are like I guess. I was entertained and found it pretty engaging. It's not super realistic or anything but it certainly feels a lot more Sengoku than for instance Total War: Shogun 2. Managing officers, towns and castles, entrusting far-off provinces to loyal (?) underlings etc. Supply has to be considered, both total stockpiles and that armies on the march don't run out. Diplomatic contacts both with other clans and with the Imperial court.

The UI is mostly reasonable, but sometimes a bit limited. In some situations you don't see officer portraits, which makes it harder to remember which guy is which when you have scores of them. Some choices that pop up give you a chance to check more info on what you're choosing, but some are just "Yes or no?".

There are historical simple cut-scenes showing various interesting events, as long as you haven't messed up those clans enough yet.

Historical knowledge of Sengoku Japan is nice but not required. My first daimyo (of the Echigo Uesugi) adopted Nagao Kagetora as his heir ("ooh nice stats on this one") before I realized that that was the guy better known as Uesugi Kenshin.

Clans and officers are Conservative, Neutral, or Progressive, and how progressive you are determines which policies you can enact and how loyal various officers are to you.

IIRC my game was on normal difficulty, and I had no real problems on the road to victory. I don't know how much of a challenge the game can get on higher difficulties.

Beyond the ususal options you can make maidens officers and not just marriage material, and you can also use samurai cat faces instead of the usual portraits (haven't tried this). The normal portraits are in the Japanese "not really historical but still somewhat realistic" style.

One thing that bugged me at first was that they put the family name last, so Oda Nobunaga is "Nobunaga Oda", which is not how it is done in the vast majority of serious English-language books on Japan. But I got used to it.

One problem at least at the difficulty I played is that battle carries very little risk. If you have more troops and a better commander you can fight a hundred battles without fear. Reduces frustration sure, but also historical accuracy.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on January 04, 2023, 10:38:16 AM
War tales, still in early access, but is a compelling sandbox RPG.

You're playing a band of Mercenaries, and so one of the main things you have to keep in mind is making the payroll and also keeping them fed. The game has good economic and crafting mechanics. There are also a number of interesting decision points. The skill and combat systems. Also have a fairly compelling quality so that if you're not careful, you can lose yourself in the game for several hours.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sophie Scholl on January 05, 2023, 03:17:43 AM
Quote from: The Brain on January 02, 2023, 11:29:50 AMHistorical knowledge of Sengoku Japan is nice but not required. My first daimyo (of the Echigo Uesugi) adopted Nagao Kagetora as his heir ("ooh nice stats on this one") before I realized that that was the guy better known as Uesugi Kenshin.
I had the Super Nintendo and Gameboy versions of Nobunga's Ambition (and the SNES version of Liberty or Death by KOEI), so this was fun to read your thoughts on a much newer version. I vaguely recognized Uesugi Kenshin's name, so I did a quick wiki read and... there's a whole theory that he was actually a she?! Absolutely fascinating! Thank you for indirectly leading me to something really cool and personally relevant!  :cheers:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on January 05, 2023, 04:11:34 AM
I can only imagine how impossible it is to play for those without the learning curve patience.

i still have that a train manual open.... Someday...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on January 05, 2023, 05:21:44 AM
Thanks for the review Brain, I thought it was interesting and worth having a look so headed to Steam to buy it. Just to realise I own it already and played it a few hours about 5 years ago.   :Embarrass:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on January 06, 2023, 09:37:03 AM
Which of the Settlers series do you think was the best?

I just fancy playing one, but can't forthe life of me remember which I've played and liked.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 06, 2023, 10:12:25 AM
I've only ever played II, but I liked it a lot at the time.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on January 06, 2023, 10:26:24 AM
I've played II and Rise of an Empire (6?) and liked them both.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on January 06, 2023, 10:43:30 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on January 06, 2023, 10:26:24 AMI've played II and Rise of an Empire (6?) and liked them both.

Thanks to you and Syt for the recommendation, iirc I played 2 quite a bit, but I'll go with rise of empire as you suggest. :cheers:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Threviel on January 09, 2023, 09:11:38 AM
2 and 3 are the ones I've played most, both are solid but 3 is perhaps a tad less buggish.

4 is very similar to 3 but I haven't played it much.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on January 09, 2023, 09:47:16 AM
I have the fondest memories of 1, I absolutely loved that as a kid, but objectively there's no reason to prefer it over 2.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Threviel on January 10, 2023, 02:10:36 AM
Yeah, 1 has the best atmosphere. I configured an emulated Amiga 4000 a few years back just to play Settlers and Centurion, 10/10, would do it again.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on January 10, 2023, 12:38:18 PM
I'm playing Subnautica and having a lot of fun. Great atmosphere. When I built my big submarine I named it Nautica (hey Cal wink wink).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on January 10, 2023, 02:11:22 PM
I played Subnautica for a few hours until I just freaked out inside a giant underwear cavern and never played again  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on January 10, 2023, 02:12:15 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on January 10, 2023, 02:11:22 PMI played Subnautica for a few hours until I just freaked out inside a giant underwear cavern and never played again  :lol:

:o What size exactly?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on January 10, 2023, 02:14:11 PM
I'm playing Pentiment on the Deck and it's an amazing little game. Pick it up only of you like reading though :nerd:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sophie Scholl on January 10, 2023, 11:12:07 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on January 10, 2023, 02:14:11 PMI'm playing Pentiment on the Deck and it's an amazing little game. Pick it up only of you like reading though :nerd:
I nabbed that during the Steam Winter sale along with a few other titles. I haven't gotten to it yet though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 16, 2023, 12:00:15 PM
So it seems that Mechwarrior 5 with mods is basically the Battletech tactical game, but as action sim?  :hmm:

At least based on Splattercat's video:

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on January 17, 2023, 04:23:54 AM
Quote from: The Brain on January 10, 2023, 12:38:18 PMI'm playing Subnautica and having a lot of fun. Great atmosphere. When I built my big submarine I named it Nautica (hey Cal wink wink).

Finished it. It's a great game. Recommended.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on January 17, 2023, 11:37:00 AM
Quote from: The Brain on January 17, 2023, 04:23:54 AM
Quote from: The Brain on January 10, 2023, 12:38:18 PMI'm playing Subnautica and having a lot of fun. Great atmosphere. When I built my big submarine I named it Nautica (hey Cal wink wink).

Finished it. It's a great game. Recommended.

How big was the game?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on January 17, 2023, 11:46:16 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on January 17, 2023, 11:37:00 AM
Quote from: The Brain on January 17, 2023, 04:23:54 AM
Quote from: The Brain on January 10, 2023, 12:38:18 PMI'm playing Subnautica and having a lot of fun. Great atmosphere. When I built my big submarine I named it Nautica (hey Cal wink wink).

Finished it. It's a great game. Recommended.

How big was the game?

Well I've played 50 hours. I haven't discovered everything that can be discovered. But I haven't rushed things either. Size depends a bit on playstyle, if you laser focus rush the main storyline you can get it done a lot quicker than if you stop and smell the corals.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on January 18, 2023, 04:34:11 AM
Some thoughts on Subnautica [SPOILERS]:

The active playing area isn't that big, and you never go into the open deep ocean. You're always close to "land" (the bottom) as it were, and the deepest areas are in massive cave systems, which makes them very "indoors". With a name and theme like Subnautica it would make sense to do some travel into the open deep. The thought of miles of water in every direction, or at least above and around you as you reach the deep ocean floor, would be cool to experience in the game. Would be awesome to have a deep ocean bathyscaphe/bathysphere that could be carried by the big submarine like it carries the mecha suit or little pod vehicle, and go into the depths. The deepest the present vehicles can take you is 1700m, which won't even get you to the bottom of the Atlantic, and an alien world in a Sci-Fi setting should be able to at least match Earth when it comes to extreme environments. There could be interesting locations on the deep ocean floor, and also free floating deep ocean stuff.

I really like that you don't have to fight. The "enemies" are not demons or monsters, but animals, and if you keep a low profile and stick to stealth and decoys to get you out of trouble you'll be fine. You can build weapons but I never used them. A few times I used my mecha drilling arm to scare off animals that attacked me when mining. And a few times I used my knife on annoying little fish that bit me.

The main story involves curing a global, or at least regional, infection. The way to do this is to explore alien ruins. In the text material you discover/get it is hinted that doing your own research is possible, but AFAIK it really isn't. You can build alien containment modules (the only practical use to me was as fish ponds for food), and you can salvage lab equipment and build lab tables etc. But the lab equipment is all non-functional and AFAIK there's no way to get it functional. I think it would have been super cool if there had been two ways to finish the game, one by exploring ruins (the action style) and one by doing methodical research (the science way). Maybe there were early thoughts like this in development but they dropped it later?

Radiation works nothing like reality, which is standard for computer games and I had no real problem with it. In reality a few meters of water will shield you from the direct radiation from even an open running nuclear reactor. If there's contamination in the water you're diving in sure you will get some exposure, but the self-shielding is immense.

While it can be frustrating when you haven't fully discovered a tantalizing blueprint, finally discovering it is satisfying. And many things are not at all necessary to complete the game. I never discovered the full blueprint for the nuclear reactor (until I started googling stuff after I finished the game), but I used other power sources no problem. And there are things I never even knew existed. There are often many possible ways to do things.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 19, 2023, 02:23:17 PM
Paradox have announced Age of Wonders 4:


Scheduled for May release: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1669000/Age_of_Wonders_4
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on January 19, 2023, 02:46:35 PM
I loved Shadow Magic, but 3 never grabbed me.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 19, 2023, 03:13:22 PM
Well, they have a dev diary:

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1669000/view/3663149487974712471

QuoteInception

First, a bit of history:

The premise and focus of Age of Wonders 4 has been two decades in the making. At the conclusion of 2003's Age of Wonders Shadow Magic, the warring Wizard Kings were banished from Athla along with the Shadow Demons. We knew that if the stars of game business aligned we'd bring them back, bigger and scarier than before.

After Triumph's Overlord period came 2014's Age of Wonders 3. This long-awaited sequel was developed and published independently and was set in a lower-magic era. It saw the rise of the Human Commonwealth's renaissance empire in the void left by the aforementioned archmages. The scheming Shadowborn plotted to bring back the Wizard Kings and the magical times of old, and in the canon ending, they succeeded!

After joining Paradox, we released Age of Wonders: Planetfall (though development actually started prior to the acquisition). This sci-fi sister game allowed us to experiment with new angles, allowed us to bring the game to a new audience on consoles, and taught us a lot about IP building, ranged combat, meta empire systems and unit mods.

Now, after three and a half years of development, we are ready to announce the newest sequel to the fantasy saga. The biggest Age of Wonders game to date: Age of Wonders 4.

The Return of the Wizard Kings

Age of Wonders 4 starts with the banished Wizard Kings breaking free from their otherworldly prisons. Corrupted by centuries of torment in eldritch domains, they have returned to the world of Athla and now seek other realms that lie within their grasp. Not merely satisfied to reclaim their thrones, they seek to establish themselves as gods over mortals.

The mortal leaders scramble to rally their populations against the invaders. Choosing to be a mortal champion or one of the returning Wizard Kings, you must master the forbidden arts and prepare for a confrontation the likes of which the universe has never seen; taking the conflict to Athla and other worlds within the Astral Sea.

Vision

The central theme that emanates through Age of Wonders 4 is Creation; which ties closely to the returning wizard kings with their god-like powers. If AoW3 was autumnal, then AoW4 represents a fresh spring, heralding an age of new beginnings where the magical forces of creation flow freely. This spring theme is actually part of the art style guide, leading to fresher, green and blue tinted color palettes.

The series has always featured a strong in-world player avatar whose empire embodies their traits. With Age of Wonders 4 we take this further with unprecedented faction creation and evolution systems, as well as new ways for players to create realms to conquer. Next to enhanced avatar character creation, you can build your own starting race. Your choice of physical form, culture, traits and magical tome defines your unique race at the start of the game. You can go for an existing trope or create your own unique vision. Mystic Toads, Cannibal Halflings, or Isolated Deep Dwarves are all examples of what is possible. The modular nature of this fantasy race construction set will also make it easier for modders to add content compared to previous games.

But this is only the beginning; our goal is to instill a great sense of progress and agency during the many hours an AoW game takes. No longer stuck in a predefined research/building path determined at the start of the game, you can now evolve your faction in the direction that suits you during play. You rule an empire of your own design, crafting a personal journey.

Gameplay Depth

With each iteration of the Age of Wonders series we have added more gameplay depth: systems that allow players to develop their own strategies and stories through the game; adding agency and replayability. Age of Wonders 4 continues on this path of evolution. Here are some of the new features:
The Tomes of Magic and Other Progression Systems

Players will need to harness the newly unleashed magic to best their rivals. This is done by researching arcane knowledge contained within ancient tomes. We have broken up the game's "tech tree" into 54 Tomes of Magic, spread over 6 Affinities to the cosmic powers (Order, Chaos, Astral, Materium, Nature and Shadow). Each Tome is centered around a strong theme (Pyromancy, Necromancy, Faith, Teleportation, etc) and includes a number of spells and upgrades for your empire you can then research. You can start with goblin barbarians, and follow the path of Shadow with tomes of necromancy and cryomancy that create a frozen empire of death, or use Nature's tomes to create an empire that lives in harmony with the creatures of the forests. As well as tomes, you can use the Empire Tree to unlock skills that improve your empire. Each affinity has its own branch that follows a particular playstyle. Chaos focuses on leading armies in wars of conquest, while Order looks to conquer the world through vassalage and diplomacy.

As you play the game, picking new tomes and skills from the empire tree, your empire will change to reflect your choices. Your unique path and developing Cosmic Affinities affect the spells you use, the cities you build, and the units you field. You control how your people evolve both physically and socially. This all instills a strong sense of progress and roleplaying, while respecting the medieval high fantasy setting.

New Narrative Engine

New to the game is a narrative engine that laces encounters, diplomacy and many other aspects of the game with narrative flair. How you respond to these events tests your judgment as a leader. The events react to who you are, while immersing you deeper in the living world. Of course, many of the events shine new lights on the universe's rich lore, while the game's story missions drive a new epic plot forward.

Intricate Diplomacy and Relations

Diplomacy, both with rival rulers and free cities you encounter on the map, has received a great deal of attention with new types of pacts, grievances and AI personalities to deal with. AIs have better awareness of who you are and their own place in the world.

Cities and Economy

Cities can develop in multiple new ways: we've introduced a new province system where population growth directly results in new territory that can be added to your city's domain, allowing you to shape your domains and expand towards high value locations. Other features include separate production queues for structures and units to ensure that new units can be drafted faster without stalling city development. There are special province improvements for you to build around your cities and a new empire management resource called Imperium. The game's economy alone will likely be the subject of multiple dev diaries!

Combat and new Siege System

Combat has always been at the heart of the game and is better than ever. There's a new morale system which can cause units to rout; adding a new dimension to combat. We have added clearly defined unit roles, which make it easier to identify the many units in the game. And, of course, there are a ton of new units and clever abilities that look and animate better than ever.

There are more links between the world map and combat, like narrative event options that impact battles and most importantly a new siege system that takes the preparations to the world map and gives defenders a window to break the siege. More on these things later!

What's Next
This is just a short overview of things we're doing with AoW4. Of course many loved features make a return: multiplayer, underground, heroes and their arsenals; all have seen evolutions big and small. This is a fully loaded sequel!

From the time of this announcement to our release on May 2nd, there will be an intense barrage of development journals and other community activities, where we'll take a deeper look at the many facets of this game: gameplay features, art, etc. We hope you like what we have to show and we're looking forward to your feedback.

Check back next week where principal designer Tom Bird is going to take a closer look at the building and evolving factions using the Cosmic Affinities and Tomes of Magic !
If you like what you've seen - please Wishlist the game!

Thank you!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 19, 2023, 03:15:10 PM
Also, another video:

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 20, 2023, 05:07:16 AM
And one more video, from DasTactic:


(Haven't watched it yet, but I look forward at the announced faction customization features)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on January 20, 2023, 05:28:51 AM
Quote from: The Brain on January 19, 2023, 02:46:35 PMI loved Shadow Magic, but 3 never grabbed me.

I loved 1, 2 and Shadow Magic. 3 also left me cold so I don't think I'll be in a rush to try 4.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 20, 2023, 11:50:07 AM
I'm carefully optimistic after DasTactic's video. It seems they bring stuff back that was missing in AoW3, like good/bad affiliations.

And at first glance it seems to have more content than AoW3 even after all its DLC.

The game has 10 races (orcs, halflings, elves, tigrans, humans etc.). Each race has a default trait or two (e.g. Orcs are ferocious), but you can change that trait for your faction. Then you select a culture (feudal, barbarian, etc.). After that you pick two cultural traits. And after that your customize your ruler, among other things picking your starting spell tome (out of 50+).

Your overall selection will determine what units you will have at the start, what buildings you have etc., though apparently you can further develop your faction during play. Anyways, if you want to play ferocious barbarian halflings whose hordes feed on the corpses of their enemies to heal, you can do that. The game comes with predefined factions, but other than that you can mix/match looks and traits as you like.

Your successful wizards can become enemies in later games from what I understand? (They call it "Pantheon")

Worlds can be similarly customized - biomes, what kind of special features etc. They also promise extensive modding support.

I'm cautiously optimistic. DasTactic is a big AoW fan, though he didn't like AoW3 as much as the previous ones (though he did enjoy modded AoW: Planetfall a lot), but he seems stoked, and I would hope they'll give him early access so that he gets a preview series before release so we can better gauge if the game is good or not.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on January 20, 2023, 01:47:20 PM
I liked the mechanics in Planetfall.  Looking forward to this.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on January 20, 2023, 03:59:24 PM
I'm willing to give this a go, I think.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on January 20, 2023, 11:18:42 PM
Playing Unciv, seems like a very good clone of Civ 5 for mobiles and low spec pcs.  :cool:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 23, 2023, 03:04:14 AM
Second Front is set to come out 31st January:


Turn based WW2 tactics game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on January 23, 2023, 03:47:39 AM
Quote from: Syt on January 23, 2023, 03:04:14 AMSecond Front is set to come out 31st January:


Turn based WW2 tactics game.

At a very cursory look it looks like a poor man's Battle Academy, and that's quite an old game now.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on January 23, 2023, 09:35:56 AM
Going back to the Civilizaiont theme, yesterday I bought 'Call to Power 2' on gog.com*. I'me enjoying it, no city worker-hex placement, so less micromanagement and some interesting alternative mechanisms for upgrades and what workers would have done.

I'll try out the Apolyton mod this evening, not sure if I tried that out back in the day.


* half price at the moment on gog.com and steam, a cheap game anyway.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 23, 2023, 09:50:59 AM
CtP2 was a better game than CtP1, but I admit I liked CtP1 better - it had a fictional history planned out until 3000 AD and had crazy, overpowered techs and buildings, like using nanites to disassemble enemy cities (grey goo), having your Empire dissent eradicated by installing an AI Pyramid that controls everyone (with a chance of the AI going rogue and starting its own empire), plus silliness like orbital factories, or building underwater cities (it was a viable strategy to fast track underwater colonies, then create pollution that caused the sea levels to rise - your cities were immune, enemy cities might be lost to the waves ...).

The games made a good effort of getting rid of workers, instead giving you a public works budget, and had a decent attempt at changing 4X combat from single unit v single unit towards stacks attacking each other, with melee, ranged and flanking units attacking in phases.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on January 23, 2023, 10:02:40 AM
Quote from: Syt on January 23, 2023, 09:50:59 AMCtP2 was a better game than CtP1, but I admit I liked CtP1 better - it had a fictional history planned out until 3000 AD and had crazy, overpowered techs and buildings, like using nanites to disassemble enemy cities (grey goo), having your Empire dissent eradicated by installing an AI Pyramid that controls everyone (with a chance of the AI going rogue and starting its own empire), plus silliness like orbital factories, or building underwater cities (it was a viable strategy to fast track underwater colonies, then create pollution that caused the sea levels to rise - your cities were immune, enemy cities might be lost to the waves ...).

The games made a good effort of getting rid of workers, instead giving you a public works budget, and had a decent attempt at changing 4X combat from single unit v single unit towards stacks attacking each other, with melee, ranged and flanking units attacking in phases.

Syt, yes CtP 1 sounds like a fun OTT game, but I think it's not really available online, I think one might have to resort to buying an old CD on ebay etc. :gasp:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 26, 2023, 01:39:08 AM
Following the German Expressionist version of Steamed Hams, Steam (hah!) recommended to me yesterday this game in my discovery queue:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2143140/The_Eyes_of_Dr_Kautzmann/

QuoteInspired by German expressionist cinema, The Eyes of Dr Kautzmann is an atmospheric and haunting exploration of radicalisation and the apathy of evil. A first-person point-and-click puzzle/horror game, it will challenge your logic and critical thinking skills just as it horrifies you with its disturbing narrative.

Uncover the Mystery of a Doomed Town

Use your detective skills to piece together the history of a town and find the secrets behind its ultimate fate.

Solve Environmental Puzzles

Apply your understanding of the mystery to solve environmental puzzles and escape the same tragic fate that befell the town's inhabitants.

Experience a Haunting Atmosphere

Taking inspiration from German expressionist cinema and gothic 19th century literature, The Eyes of Dr Kautzmann features a surreal art design and atmosphere that will leave you questioning your own reality.

Note: Currently, only Act 1 is available to play. The game will be updated in the future when more content is complete.

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/2143140/ss_9b6e5b89239b684a447a3a70ecf4ef9181cca4fb.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/2143140/ss_a07d17bb5519b97af1315756e10eb659e9b329f9.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/2143140/ss_fa0b68f75d5ee2dd74f65dd860110c6532a9d98b.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/2143140/ss_6057ed20661bffa0868405e55cd7b2bf2ca63e47.1920x1080.jpg)

Haven't tried it yet, but hey, it's free! (I'll assume the full game, if ever released, might cost money?)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on January 26, 2023, 01:47:47 AM
How long has this German expressionist cinema revival been going on? I saw Steamed Hams had gotten the treatment.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 26, 2023, 02:20:03 AM
Not long enough IMHO -_-
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on January 29, 2023, 07:43:52 AM
Quote from: The Brain on January 26, 2023, 01:47:47 AMHow long has this German expressionist cinema revival been going on? I saw Steamed Hams had gotten the treatment.

I saw that, I commend the effort but there were some stylistical errors in the recreation.  :sleep:  :nerd:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 30, 2023, 12:15:12 PM
If you wished that Fallout 4 felt more like Silent Hill and S.T.A.L.K.E.R., this modlist might be for you. :P

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on January 30, 2023, 12:58:57 PM
I would be content with a mod that made it not dull.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 01, 2023, 08:23:28 AM
From reddit. :D

(https://i.redd.it/vlj0gf3hbffa1.png)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 01, 2023, 12:58:32 PM
Syt, are you getting Second Front?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 01, 2023, 02:42:09 PM
Not yet, I think. People on Steam seem to like it, but I'm not in a WW2 tactical mood at the moment.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 02, 2023, 10:37:47 AM
Nuclear War Simulator is out. Less game, more sim tool.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1603940/Nuclear_War_Simulator/

QuoteInfo section:
Nuclear War Simulator is a detailed realistic simulation and visualization of large-scale nuclear conflicts with a focus on humanitarian consequences. There are currently over 13000 nuclear weapons on this planet of which over 9000 are in military stockpiles. This software should help you answer the question: what will happen if Russia and the United States or India and Pakistan use their arsenals?You can design warheads, missiles and carries, place them on the map and execute attack plans to tell a credible story about how nuclear conflicts play out and what are the consequences. Using a high-resolution population density map and realistic weapons effects like blast, heat and radiation you can make an estimate of how many people will die in a conflict.

Nuclear conflict scenarios
You can design realistic large-scale scenarios between major powers with thousands of warheads. Scenarios can be created manually where you can assign each warhead individually or with the assistance of an AI for faster targeting. It is also possible to simulate whole conflicts with a few clicks on the map interactively. You can download scenarios created by other people and upload your scenarios to the mods.io server.

Realistic effects of nuclear weapons
The simulation includes a high-resolution population density grid. The effects of blast, heat, fires and radiation are calculated and visualized for each population cell to estimate fatalities (similar to Alex Wellerstein's NUKEMAP). The destruction of military targets is simulated using a model considering the CEP of the weapon, target hardness and cratering.You can place yourself, your family and friends into the simulation to estimate the expected injuries and survival probability. The amount of burnt fuel and produced soot are also calculated to estimate the effects of nuclear winter using a simplified model.

Design and placement of objects
Using an intuitive UI you can design warheads, place them on missiles and into silos, on aircraft, TELs and submarines.You can then place the forces onto the map simply clicking on it or importing real-world locations from KMZ files.

If you know how much uranium and plutonium is needed for one warhead, you can estimate how many can be build from today's stockpiles if a country wants to.

Modding and interfaces
The simulation supports some basic modding of unit textures, loading screens and background music. It is also possible to share unit blueprints and scenarios with others.If you have simulated a conflict in another tool you can import the list of detonations as a simple CSV file to calculate the humanitarian effects. On the other hand, you can also export the list of detonations together with the burnt soot into other tools like detailed climate simulations.

Features
- Detailed effects of nuclear weapons, accurate reports on affects/results (including but not limited to radiation zones, casualties and fires)
- Realistic delivery systems, up-to-date full known arsenal of main world powers.
- Sandbox to design weapon systems and build conflict scenarios.
- Individual civilians moving on the map and taking shelter.
- 22+ predefined editable scenarios.
- In-game mod upload and download. (instant synchronisation)
- Adjustable AI.
- Integrated early warning and Missile Defence systems.

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1603940/ss_87f37f1340401a58ba714764676bb74529315bc2.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1603940/ss_7c1374feb709d186d088f1ddfd259dc1acf22eb6.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1603940/ss_0a5e772b9bd7e473eb389a75939852eee6b58b95.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1603940/ss_5db1a03762d94dd50d9eefc7e114d4898add73ed.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1603940/ss_30e7c3ee8928cf333160ec20981d257bbc9ed07c.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1603940/ss_74ecd8060da1e4f0ef4758202bc78a3312d66eda.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1603940/ss_cdcfa88858a7b20e134578465f4f84d4af223306.1920x1080.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 02, 2023, 11:18:28 AM
That looks fun.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 02, 2023, 12:48:56 PM
QuoteNuclear War Simulator is a detailed realistic simulation and visualization of large-scale nuclear conflicts with a focus on humanitarian consequences.

Simulation. Right. I've been to the movies.


QuoteThere are currently over 13000 nuclear weapons on this planet of which over 9000 are in military stockpiles.

The militarization of American local law enforcement is getting out of hand.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Darth Wagtaros on February 02, 2023, 04:56:40 PM
I was hoping it'd be a remake of the amazing 80's game Nuclear War.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: 11B4V on February 03, 2023, 02:00:34 AM
Quote from: Syt on January 30, 2023, 12:15:12 PMIf you wished that Fallout 4 felt more like Silent Hill and S.T.A.L.K.E.R., this modlist might be for you. :P


Oh my
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 07, 2023, 12:41:15 PM
Great War: Western Front has a demo out:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2109370/The_Great_War_Western_Front/

It has you manage the Western Front as a turn based layer (including researching new technologies), with battles playing out in real time.

PC Gamer preview: https://www.pcgamer.com/i-lost-thousands-of-soldiers-in-the-great-war-western-front-because-i-forgot-my-balloon/

Preview by The Historical Gamer:




The game is by Petroglyph who made Star Wars: Empire at War and the Command & Conquer Remastered Collection ... with a lot of lesser known RTS titles in between.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on February 07, 2023, 03:40:03 PM
Quote from: Syt on February 07, 2023, 12:41:15 PMGreat War: Western Front has a demo out:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2109370/The_Great_War_Western_Front/

It has you manage the Western Front as a turn based layer (including researching new technologies), with battles playing out in real time.

PC Gamer preview: https://www.pcgamer.com/i-lost-thousands-of-soldiers-in-the-great-war-western-front-because-i-forgot-my-balloon/
....
The game is by Petroglyph who made Star Wars: Empire at War and the Command & Conquer Remastered Collection ... with a lot of lesser known RTS titles in between.

Thanks for the links, looks like quite a cool game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on February 07, 2023, 04:33:55 PM
So there's a new Harry Potter game coming out: Hogwarts Legacy.

Reviews make it sound interesting, though I almost certainly wouldn't buy it.

What is amusing though is how all the game reviews tie themselves in knots trying to justify why they're reviewing the game, even though they really don't agree with JK Rowling's views on trans people.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on February 07, 2023, 05:42:05 PM
No one takes these shills serious anyways after all those years where every AAA game scored at least 9/10, and often enough 11/10.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 07, 2023, 05:55:03 PM
It seems an interesting one where the developers have not been promising the moon and have specifically been downplaying what to expect. Quite a different approach to the usual.
Though it does seem to have made it a fairly generic Harry Potter themed  open world game rather than the Harry Potter bully I dreamed of.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 08, 2023, 01:40:34 AM
Quote from: mongers on February 07, 2023, 03:40:03 PM
Quote from: Syt on February 07, 2023, 12:41:15 PMGreat War: Western Front has a demo out:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2109370/The_Great_War_Western_Front/

It has you manage the Western Front as a turn based layer (including researching new technologies), with battles playing out in real time.

PC Gamer preview: https://www.pcgamer.com/i-lost-thousands-of-soldiers-in-the-great-war-western-front-because-i-forgot-my-balloon/
....
The game is by Petroglyph who made Star Wars: Empire at War and the Command & Conquer Remastered Collection ... with a lot of lesser known RTS titles in between.

Thanks for the links, looks like quite a cool game.

I have to say, watching the gameplay videos, the game does not look as "twitch-based" as feared, and being able to issue commands while paused is a big plus. The strategic layer looks decently detailed - my main concern is that playing out the entire war (even when auto-resolving very one-sided battles) might be a bit of a slog. Then again, that would probably be entirely appropriate. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on February 08, 2023, 02:51:39 AM
Quote from: Josquius on February 07, 2023, 05:55:03 PMIt seems an interesting one where the developers have not been promising the moon and have specifically been downplaying what to expect. Quite a different approach to the usual.
Though it does seem to have made it a fairly generic Harry Potter themed  open world game rather than the Harry Potter bully I dreamed of.

That's indeed how it seems. Looks interesting but not a must have (Potter or not). Maybe something to get when potential dlc have dropped and when there's a sale. Assuming the user reviews are good. So around 2025 or so.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: mongers on February 08, 2023, 08:46:15 AM
Quote from: Syt on February 08, 2023, 01:40:34 AMI have to say, watching the gameplay videos, the game does not look as "twitch-based" as feared, and being able to issue commands while paused is a big plus. The strategic layer looks decently detailed - my main concern is that playing out the entire war (even when auto-resolving very one-sided battles) might be a bit of a slog. Then again, that would probably be entirely appropriate. :P

That's encouraging news.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 08, 2023, 03:14:25 PM
Quote from: Barrister on February 07, 2023, 04:33:55 PMSo there's a new Harry Potter game coming out: Hogwarts Legacy.

Reviews make it sound interesting, though I almost certainly wouldn't buy it.

What is amusing though is how all the game reviews tie themselves in knots trying to justify why they're reviewing the game, even though they really don't agree with JK Rowling's views on trans people.

Well they put trans characters in the game. Ensuring that everybody will be pissed off. The culture wars are an amazing thing.

I sure hope if I ever become a billionaire I find a better cause to fight for with that money than moral panic culture wars bullshit.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on February 08, 2023, 04:02:18 PM
Quote from: Valmy on February 08, 2023, 03:14:25 PM
Quote from: Barrister on February 07, 2023, 04:33:55 PMSo there's a new Harry Potter game coming out: Hogwarts Legacy.

Reviews make it sound interesting, though I almost certainly wouldn't buy it.

What is amusing though is how all the game reviews tie themselves in knots trying to justify why they're reviewing the game, even though they really don't agree with JK Rowling's views on trans people.

Well they put trans characters in the game. Ensuring that everybody will be pissed off. The culture wars are an amazing thing.

I sure hope if I ever become a billionaire I find a better cause to fight for with that money than moral panic culture wars bullshit.

In a world where werewolves exist, where a man can take the form of a rat, and a polyjuice potion can turn you into a cat, surely a person changing sex via magic would hardly be a big deal?

And that's just off the top of my head - I'm hardly a huge HP nerd.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 08, 2023, 04:42:20 PM
Quote from: Barrister on February 08, 2023, 04:02:18 PM
Quote from: Valmy on February 08, 2023, 03:14:25 PM
Quote from: Barrister on February 07, 2023, 04:33:55 PMSo there's a new Harry Potter game coming out: Hogwarts Legacy.

Reviews make it sound interesting, though I almost certainly wouldn't buy it.

What is amusing though is how all the game reviews tie themselves in knots trying to justify why they're reviewing the game, even though they really don't agree with JK Rowling's views on trans people.

Well they put trans characters in the game. Ensuring that everybody will be pissed off. The culture wars are an amazing thing.

I sure hope if I ever become a billionaire I find a better cause to fight for with that money than moral panic culture wars bullshit.

In a world where werewolves exist, where a man can take the form of a rat, and a polyjuice potion can turn you into a cat, surely a person changing sex via magic would hardly be a big deal?

And that's just off the top of my head - I'm hardly a huge HP nerd.

I know. If you can just change your body into whatever surely the whole idea of transgender would be a non-issue.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 08, 2023, 04:47:13 PM
Played most of the campaign tutorial of the West Front demo. Promising and may be fun but also a bit hard to see how it won't get repetitive very quickly.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 08, 2023, 05:06:30 PM
Quote from: Tamas on February 08, 2023, 04:47:13 PMPlayed most of the campaign tutorial of the West Front demo. Promising and may be fun but also a bit hard to see how it won't get repetitive very quickly.

Leading la Patrie to victory could never get repetitive.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 08, 2023, 05:07:50 PM
Quote from: Valmy on February 08, 2023, 05:06:30 PM
Quote from: Tamas on February 08, 2023, 04:47:13 PMPlayed most of the campaign tutorial of the West Front demo. Promising and may be fun but also a bit hard to see how it won't get repetitive very quickly.

Leading la Patrie to victory could never get repetitive.

Revolutionary zeal or 2003 surrender joke. You decide.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on February 09, 2023, 03:46:58 AM
Does it have the race to the sea? For maximum ability to change history.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 09, 2023, 04:33:13 AM
Quote from: Crazy_Ivan80 on February 09, 2023, 03:46:58 AMDoes it have the race to the sea? For maximum ability to change history.

I don't know but I'd be pretty certain it starts the earliest at the onset of trench warfare. The strategy map mechanics seem alright (I'd say earlier Total War games level in terms of detail) but I can't see them working for maneuver warfare.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 09, 2023, 05:47:11 AM
Mount & Blade 2 coming to Game Pass next week, yay.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on February 10, 2023, 03:45:49 PM
Wired magazine gives Hogwarts Legacy a 1 out of 10.  Yes it mostly has to do with JK Rowling, but it quibbles with the gameplay - complaints which to me could apply to almost any computer game.

I mean - you don't have to review the game.  Feel free to give an article pointing out, in great detail, why you're not reviewing the game.  But to claim to review a game while making it so clear it's a political review just makes me laugh.

https://www.wired.com/review/hogwarts-legacy-review/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 10, 2023, 04:10:20 PM
Quote from: Barrister on February 10, 2023, 03:45:49 PMWired magazine gives Hogwarts Legacy a 1 out of 10.  Yes it mostly has to do with JK Rowling, but it quibbles with the gameplay - complaints which to me could apply to almost any computer game.

I mean - you don't have to review the game.  Feel free to give an article pointing out, in great detail, why you're not reviewing the game.  But to claim to review a game while making it so clear it's a political review just makes me laugh.

https://www.wired.com/review/hogwarts-legacy-review/

At a glance I see a lengthy paragraph on the terf stuff. Seems its written by trans reviewer. Sits very odd to call this political though.

But it does talk a lot about the game too. And it seems to reflect my impressions - Meh.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on February 10, 2023, 04:40:39 PM
Quote from: Josquius on February 10, 2023, 04:10:20 PMAt a glance I see a lengthy paragraph on the terf stuff. Seems its written by trans reviewer. Sits very odd to call this political though.

But it does talk a lot about the game too. And it seems to reflect my impressions - Meh.

Really?

I don't think I've ever in my life seen a 1/10 game review.  Or at least not unless the game was just fundamentally BROKEN.  I mean: here's a review for Battlecruiser 3000AD.  The opening line was "It will go down in legend as the most bug-ridden, unstable, unplayable pieces of software ever released."  Which is how I remember it as.

https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/battlecruiser-3000-ad-review/1900-2538148/

They gave it a 2.6 out of 10.

So tell me this review of Hogwarts Legacy isn't political...



(I saw on Twitter that Wired magazine hasn't even done video game reviews for years and years until this one, but I can not confirm)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 10, 2023, 04:48:37 PM
As it says, the game is Meh and middling though buying it provides financial support to real world shit, which between the lines I read turns a 5/6 to a 1. The best reviewers I find don't even bother with scores.

If they don't usually do game reviews then it does make more sense as an article.

And yeah. I don't see this sort of thing as political. Rowlings transphobia really pissed off that entire group of people. Their existence isn't a political matter.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on February 10, 2023, 05:04:53 PM
Quote from: Josquius on February 10, 2023, 04:48:37 PMAs it says, the game is Meh and middling though buying it provides financial support to real world shit, which between the lines I read turns a 5/6 to a 1. The best reviewers I find don't even bother with scores.

If they don't usually do game reviews then it does make more sense as an article.

And yeah. I don't see this sort of thing as political. Rowlings transphobia really pissed off that entire group of people. Their existence isn't a political matter.

And hey - if they want to write an article about how you shouldn't buy Hogwarts Legacy because of "real world shit" then have at it.  I didn't make the game, I don't have stock in the developer, so let it rip.

But the game is getting very good reviews.  I mean the Metacritic score is 86, which is probably dragged down by a couple of other reviews marking it down for politics. (not that metacritic for AAA games is everything)

https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-5/hogwarts-legacy/critic-reviews

If you're going to "review" a piece of art though, you really ought to grade it for its own artistic merit.  I mean even Triumph of the Will is thought of as an important piece of film, even though it is 100% nazi propoganda.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 10, 2023, 05:07:33 PM
*shrug* All music journalists now think that Dark Side of the Moon is garbage.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on February 10, 2023, 05:11:59 PM
Quote from: The Brain on February 10, 2023, 05:07:33 PM*shrug* All music journalists now think that Dark Side of the Moon is garbage.

Roger Waters can go to Hell, but Dark Side of the Moon is still great.  Slava Ukraini!

Michael Jackson wrote some absolute bangers as well.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 10, 2023, 05:28:51 PM
Quote from: Barrister on February 10, 2023, 05:04:53 PMIf you're going to "review" a piece of art though, you really ought to grade it for its own artistic merit.  I mean even Triumph of the Will is thought of as an important piece of film, even though it is 100% nazi propoganda.

They do though. After the first section ranting about how much the person used to love Potter but feels betrays they talk about the game being pretty mediocre.
The score is just a tiny part of it.

And equally to review bombing due to Rowling, moreso even given the groups concerned, I expect there'll be review score boosting from culture warriors.

As said the best games journalists for me don't really do scores though from what little I've seen the "it's a generic open world game with a Harry Potter theme" narrative dominates.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on February 10, 2023, 06:42:27 PM
Quote from: Barrister on February 10, 2023, 03:45:49 PMWired magazine gives Hogwarts Legacy a 1 out of 10.  Yes it mostly has to do with JK Rowling, but it quibbles with the gameplay - complaints which to me could apply to almost any computer game.

'religious' fanatics will be fanatic
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on February 11, 2023, 02:35:55 PM
JK Rowling pretty much made anything related to Potterverse political all on her own.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 11, 2023, 02:36:36 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on February 11, 2023, 02:35:55 PMJK Rowling pretty much made anything related to Potterverse political all on her own.


Should have known better than having an opinion.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 11, 2023, 02:38:01 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on February 11, 2023, 02:35:55 PMJK Rowling pretty much made anything related to Potterverse political all on her own.


Maybe but why waste time reviewing a game if you are just focused on political points outside of the game?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 11, 2023, 03:02:46 PM
For what it's worth it seems to be very popular on Steam, and the Quarter To Three forum people (who are REALLY not the "anti-woke" crowd) seem to love it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on February 11, 2023, 03:07:27 PM
Quote from: Tamas on February 11, 2023, 02:36:36 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on February 11, 2023, 02:35:55 PMJK Rowling pretty much made anything related to Potterverse political all on her own.


Should have known better than having an opinion.

Nobody is stopping her from having an opinion, but people can also call it out and boycott her work because it's a shitty opinion.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 11, 2023, 03:13:04 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on February 11, 2023, 03:07:27 PM
Quote from: Tamas on February 11, 2023, 02:36:36 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on February 11, 2023, 02:35:55 PMJK Rowling pretty much made anything related to Potterverse political all on her own.


Should have known better than having an opinion.

Nobody is stopping her from having an opinion, but people can also call it out and boycott her work because it's a shitty opinion.


Ok but then say so, don't write a "review" that seems to go drastically against other feedback on the game. Say that she is a POS and anyone who spends money on the HP franchise is also a POS. That's a clear enough position, and also far quicker to convey.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on February 11, 2023, 03:56:51 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on February 11, 2023, 03:07:27 PM
Quote from: Tamas on February 11, 2023, 02:36:36 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on February 11, 2023, 02:35:55 PMJK Rowling pretty much made anything related to Potterverse political all on her own.


Should have known better than having an opinion.

Nobody is stopping her from having an opinion, but people can also call it out and boycott her work because it's a shitty opinion.

that's their opinion, and not necessarily fact.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 11, 2023, 04:54:49 PM
Quote from: Crazy_Ivan80 on February 11, 2023, 03:56:51 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on February 11, 2023, 03:07:27 PM
Quote from: Tamas on February 11, 2023, 02:36:36 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on February 11, 2023, 02:35:55 PMJK Rowling pretty much made anything related to Potterverse political all on her own.


Should have known better than having an opinion.

Nobody is stopping her from having an opinion, but people can also call it out and boycott her work because it's a shitty opinion.

that's their opinion, and not necessarily fact.

I think it is pretty clear that JK Rowling has some shitty opinions.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 11, 2023, 05:27:37 PM
Yeah... Whether Harry Potter is forever tainted and you're a scum bag for buying anything related to it... Highly debatable.
But that Rowling has some pretty offensive stupid views is fairly beyond fact.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on February 11, 2023, 05:42:51 PM
She doesn't only have an opinion. She actively funds anti-trans organization. By buying that game you are contributing to fund hate.

That's why you review it to make a political point.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on February 11, 2023, 06:26:47 PM
again, that's just an opinion.
Many of her detractors however, appear to be batshit insane and extremely hateful towards anyone (especially -in this case- fellow progressives) that doesn't follow the dogma of the day (making them heretics, and those are always fought with more fervour than unbelievers).
Also an opinion, but maybe closer to reality.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 12, 2023, 04:54:21 AM
When your views cross into the domain of opposing the existence of a vast group of innocent people and working to charge the law to restrict their rights then the its just an opinion defence falls down.

That there are a minority of idiots who go way too far with defending the rights of trans people doesn't change the fundamental that they deserve the right to live their lives without even their taking a shit being put into question.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 12, 2023, 05:05:20 AM
Quote from: Josquius on February 12, 2023, 04:54:21 AMWhen your views cross into the domain of opposing the existence of a vast group of innocent people and working to charge the law to restrict their rights then the its just an opinion defence falls down.

That there are a minority of idiots who go way too far with defending the rights of trans people doesn't change the fundamental that they deserve the right to live their lives without even their taking a shit being put into question.

Yes but this topic is complicated by Rowling and others arguing on the grounds of protecting another vast group of innocent people i.e. women (or biological females if that's more precise). They may very well be wrong, but I cannot not sympathise with those women seeing men (biological or otherwise)  telling them what's in their best interest, and infringing on what they previously considered safe areas/places/concept, and not being thrilled.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 12, 2023, 09:27:50 AM
Quote from: Tamas on February 12, 2023, 05:05:20 AM
Quote from: Josquius on February 12, 2023, 04:54:21 AMWhen your views cross into the domain of opposing the existence of a vast group of innocent people and working to charge the law to restrict their rights then the its just an opinion defence falls down.

That there are a minority of idiots who go way too far with defending the rights of trans people doesn't change the fundamental that they deserve the right to live their lives without even their taking a shit being put into question.

Yes but this topic is complicated by Rowling and others arguing on the grounds of protecting another vast group of innocent people i.e. women (or biological females if that's more precise). They may very well be wrong, but I cannot not sympathise with those women seeing men (biological or otherwise)  telling them what's in their best interest, and infringing on what they previously considered safe areas/places/concept, and not being thrilled.

I guess you meant you can sympathise at the end there?

The terf stuff is painful. So much of it is just a bad faith attempt to reframe picking on a vulnerable group to instead being the victim and on the defence.
See also how the far right are suddenly all for the rights of women or gay people when it's Muslims being against them. They've been so succesful in this though that they've managed to sway people like Rowling into backing their side.

The key thing with so much of what they come out with is simply that they haven't got a clue what they're talking about. They just echo each other in an endless loop with the origin being nonsense - trans people suddenly having access to women's shelters for instance and this being a grave threat to women... They've had this right for at least 15 years and there's been zero incidents in that time.

As to men telling them what to do... This is another area the terf front is so useful. A majority of people active in shouty online politics are men, so create a political issue anywhere then its men you'll face most likely. But needs remembering it's women too who think Rowling and her ilk are in the wrong - data consistently shows more tolerance for trans people from women than men.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on February 12, 2023, 01:06:46 PM
Problem of course for the fanatics is that she didn't say anything that is out of line, or even radical.
Unlike what the fanatics are trying to hoist on society. And that there's anyone not towing their line makes them extremely angry and hateful.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 12, 2023, 01:26:54 PM
Quote from: Crazy_Ivan80 on February 12, 2023, 01:06:46 PMProblem of course for the fanatics is that she didn't say anything that is out of line, or even radical.
Unlike what the fanatics are trying to hoist on society. And that there's anyone not towing their line makes them extremely angry and hateful.

She started with potential foot in mouth stuff posting something that could have had an innocent explanation but which seemed to have a fair bit of the fanatics code wording in it.

In the process of trying to dig herself out of the hole she went ever more down the rabbit hole posting propeganda and revealed that oh god, she actually is one of the fanatics.

These days shes actively donating money to anti trans groups.

It's notable its not just the left wing equivalent of the fanatics who recognise she's gone rather off the rails on this stuff. Lots of people who aren't especially invested in trans issues have noted she has crossed quite a line too.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Minsky Moment on February 13, 2023, 10:38:10 AM
Quote from: Tamas on February 08, 2023, 04:47:13 PMPlayed most of the campaign tutorial of the West Front demo. Promising and may be fun but also a bit hard to see how it won't get repetitive very quickly.

General Haig said much the same thing, although a bit less fun when the brandy supply ran low.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on February 13, 2023, 02:46:26 PM
Quote from: Josquius on February 12, 2023, 04:54:21 AMWhen your views cross into the domain of opposing the existence of a vast group of innocent people and working to charge the law to restrict their rights then the its just an opinion defence falls down.

I am 100% positive that JK Rowling does not oppose the existence of trans people.

She has her own views that I may agree or disagree with, but you are seriously strawmanning what her views are.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 13, 2023, 03:11:03 PM
Quote from: Crazy_Ivan80 on February 10, 2023, 06:42:27 PM
Quote from: Barrister on February 10, 2023, 03:45:49 PMWired magazine gives Hogwarts Legacy a 1 out of 10.  Yes it mostly has to do with JK Rowling, but it quibbles with the gameplay - complaints which to me could apply to almost any computer game.

'religious' fanatics will be fanatic

Is it fanatical? I mean Rowling is a pretty weird person, deciding that oppressing people is what you want to spend your success in life on. I don't think it is fanatical or unreasonable take to think human rights are important.

I am definitely a death of the artist kind of person. Especially with literally dead artists, I never quite get that one. I have no interest in playing this game but that has nothing to do with Rowling. But I totally get people feeling differently about it. I don't agree, but I get it.

However yeah I don't see the point of reviewing something if you find it bad just because of the artist (or in the case of this game not even the artist, but owner of the intellectual property the artist is utilizing). You should refuse to review it if you feel like people shouldn't play it for that reason. Your review has no value if you have a bias like that.

Though I always found weird biases were problems in video game reviews. As a fan of RPGs and strategy games I was aware that most video game reviewers just didn't like those genres, at least back in the 1990s and early 2000s when I still read game reviews. So they would hammer games that I thought were genius, and are still regarded as classics, simply because they personally found them unfun. I mean what value does a review of a RPG from a person who just doesn't like RPGs have? Similarly here, what value does a review of a Harry Potter game have from somebody who just hates Harry Potter? That has always been a problem I think. There is just too much variety in video games to have a small-ish professional reviewer class reviewing everything.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 13, 2023, 03:18:27 PM
The game has Very Positive reviews on Steam. As far as it's possible to be right or wrong about these things it seems that 1/10 is likely wrong.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 13, 2023, 03:24:14 PM
Quote from: The Brain on February 13, 2023, 03:18:27 PMThe game has Very Positive reviews on Steam. As far as it's possible to be right or wrong about these things it seems that 1/10 is likely wrong.

I would say so. 1/10 is a score that should be reserved for asset flipping shovelware.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 13, 2023, 03:25:28 PM
Btw, do movie journalists rate LOTR, Paddington, The King's Speech, Shakespeare In Love, and Pulp Fiction 0/10? What he did is a lot worse than what Rowling did.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 13, 2023, 03:29:34 PM
Quote from: The Brain on February 13, 2023, 03:25:28 PMBtw, do movie journalists rate LOTR, Paddington, The King's Speech, Shakespeare In Love, and Pulp Fiction 0/10? What he did is a lot worse than what Rowling did.

I am not sure who you are talking about  :lol:

But that is other reason I lean to Death of the Artist. Because there is something rather arbitrary about it. Once you establish that any bad person associated with anything makes it untouchable, it can quickly get ridiculous.

That and the whole thing about ethical consumption under capitalism in general.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 13, 2023, 03:31:58 PM
Quote from: Valmy on February 13, 2023, 03:29:34 PM
Quote from: The Brain on February 13, 2023, 03:25:28 PMBtw, do movie journalists rate LOTR, Paddington, The King's Speech, Shakespeare In Love, and Pulp Fiction 0/10? What he did is a lot worse than what Rowling did.

I am not sure who you are talking about  :lol:

But that is other reason I lean to Death of the Artist. Because there is something rather arbitrary about it. Once you establish that any bad person associated with anything makes it untouchable, it can quickly get ridiculous.

Harvey Weinstein. And yes, I did look up his producer list on IMDB and picked a few different ones. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on February 13, 2023, 03:46:44 PM
Although I think death of the artist is a little different. My understanding is that it is the death of the author and the birth of the reader. That the creative act of deriving meaning or signification in a work is in the beholding/reading once it's been written/made.

Ignoring the author's biography or moral worth is an even older idea - it's basic new criticism. But I think the pendulum's swung and those high 20th century ideas are a little out of fashion now and didactic, morally instructive fiction and lives are back in vogue. Not least because I think there's a slightly parasocial relationship thing going on with artists, especially with the idea that everything is valid and means something to someone - which I think Rowling was probaby one of the first to benefit from. Edit: And I think that is why the reaction to Rowling is as strong as it is v other artists.

Of course I hate it. Sadly there's nothing that makes me more reactionary - sat on Twitter posting pictures of Beckett and and some Le Corbusier shouting "RETVRN" :ph34r: :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 13, 2023, 03:48:17 PM
Quote from: Barrister on February 13, 2023, 02:46:26 PM
Quote from: Josquius on February 12, 2023, 04:54:21 AMWhen your views cross into the domain of opposing the existence of a vast group of innocent people and working to charge the law to restrict their rights then the its just an opinion defence falls down.

I am 100% positive that JK Rowling does not oppose the existence of trans people.

She has her own views that I may agree or disagree with, but you are seriously strawmanning what her views are.

Here is what I think about JK Rowling: she is not a very self-aware person. She lies, but I don't even think it is intentional. Back when I paid attention to things Harry Potter she would bend over backwards pretending plot holes and other inconsistent things were entirely pre-planned and not issues. Later when diversity became more fashionable she was bending over backwards trying to pretend that her 1990s book series about white straight people was in fact very diverse. She just wouldn't let her work speak for itself, she always had this weird need to be seen as never wrong or virtuous or something. I don't know her personally of course, but I found her extremely bizarre in her public statements.

So sure she has said the right things about trans people and said some shitty things about them. Does she in fact have coherent thoughts about trans people? I don't know. I don't even think she knows. It certainly wouldn't surprise me if sometime down the road she insists that she was very pro-trans the whole time though. Tons of characters in Harry Potter were actually trans, honest!  :lol:

Granted that is all based on my memories of 2010s JK Rowling she might be different now, I don't pay much attention to her public statements anymore.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on February 14, 2023, 01:19:34 AM
Quote from: Valmy on February 13, 2023, 03:29:34 PM
Quote from: The Brain on February 13, 2023, 03:25:28 PMBtw, do movie journalists rate LOTR, Paddington, The King's Speech, Shakespeare In Love, and Pulp Fiction 0/10? What he did is a lot worse than what Rowling did.

I am not sure who you are talking about  :lol:

But that is other reason I lean to Death of the Artist. Because there is something rather arbitrary about it. Once you establish that any bad person associated with anything makes it untouchable, it can quickly get ridiculous.

That and the whole thing about ethical consumption under capitalism in general.

Yeah, there's other people involved in making these things besides [insert controversial person]. It's certainly warranted to take exception at a piece of art's message (and Rowlings detective books are hilariously political/defensive), or even boycott something when its autorship is clearly focused on a single person with views you find objectionable - but I'm willing to bet that Rowling's input in the Hogwarts game is pretty minimal, and the people that created it seem to have done a pretty wonderful job according to reviews. Why punish them?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 14, 2023, 02:31:38 AM
There are many artists that I enjoy who have views that, if I were offended by other people's opinions, I would consider offensive. Including the opinion that people like me should be killed or put in camps, and worse opinions than that. I find it very easy to separate the artist and the art, but I understand that some people have "culture warrior" as a significant part of their identity and enjoy fighting the good fight.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on February 14, 2023, 03:43:48 AM
I'm not saying everyone must boycott the game - it's a personal choice. It's just good to remember what the creator stands for, and weight in your mind whether you want to support them. It's not limited to Rowling, other games also have problematic people/companies associated with them - Ubisoft and their massive culture of sexual harassment, Activision Blizzard's oppression of their employees, etc.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 14, 2023, 03:47:30 AM
Sure. But many people think there's quite a difference between opinions and illegal activities.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 14, 2023, 03:55:06 AM
Quote from: The Brain on February 14, 2023, 02:31:38 AMThere are many artists that I enjoy who have views that, if I were offended by other people's opinions, I would consider offensive. Including the opinion that people like me should be killed or put in camps, and worse opinions than that. I find it very easy to separate the artist and the art, but I understand that some people have "culture warrior" as a significant part of their identity and enjoy fighting the good fight.

I think this is a bit extreme, but you think people are culture warriors if they didn't want to give money to people who wish they would be killed?  :wacko:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 14, 2023, 04:00:27 AM
Quote from: garbon on February 14, 2023, 03:55:06 AM
Quote from: The Brain on February 14, 2023, 02:31:38 AMThere are many artists that I enjoy who have views that, if I were offended by other people's opinions, I would consider offensive. Including the opinion that people like me should be killed or put in camps, and worse opinions than that. I find it very easy to separate the artist and the art, but I understand that some people have "culture warrior" as a significant part of their identity and enjoy fighting the good fight.

I think this is a bit extreme, but you think people are culture warriors if they didn't want to give money to people who wish they would be killed?  :wacko:

I think they are culture warriors if they give art poor reviews because of the artist's opinions, or tell others not to enjoy the art because of the artist's opinions.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on February 14, 2023, 05:53:34 AM
Quote from: celedhring on February 14, 2023, 01:19:34 AMYeah, there's other people involved in making these things besides [insert controversial person]. It's certainly warranted to take exception at a piece of art's message (and Rowlings detective books are hilariously political/defensive), or even boycott something when its autorship is clearly focused on a single person with views you find objectionable - but I'm willing to bet that Rowling's input in the Hogwarts game is pretty minimal, and the people that created it seem to have done a pretty wonderful job according to reviews. Why punish them?
Although the detective books have been adapted by the BBC - and apparently it's a really good show. It stars Tom Burke, though, which helps.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 14, 2023, 05:59:03 AM
Quote from: The Brain on February 14, 2023, 04:00:27 AM
Quote from: garbon on February 14, 2023, 03:55:06 AM
Quote from: The Brain on February 14, 2023, 02:31:38 AMThere are many artists that I enjoy who have views that, if I were offended by other people's opinions, I would consider offensive. Including the opinion that people like me should be killed or put in camps, and worse opinions than that. I find it very easy to separate the artist and the art, but I understand that some people have "culture warrior" as a significant part of their identity and enjoy fighting the good fight.

I think this is a bit extreme, but you think people are culture warriors if they didn't want to give money to people who wish they would be killed?  :wacko:

I think they are culture warriors if they give art poor reviews because of the artist's opinions, or tell others not to enjoy the art because of the artist's opinions.

With the assumption the art has nothing reflecting the artist's opinions?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 14, 2023, 06:00:48 AM
Is this computer game a piece of Rowlings' art, though? And also: is Harry Potter an anti-trans piece of art? I have never read the book so I would not know.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 14, 2023, 06:07:08 AM
Quote from: Tamas on February 14, 2023, 06:00:48 AMIs this computer game a piece of Rowlings' art, though? And also: is Harry Potter an anti-trans piece of art? I have never read the book so I would not know.

I presumed Brain was moving past this one instance when talking about creators who have opinions involving the death of potential segments of their audience.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 14, 2023, 06:14:41 AM
Quote from: Valmy on February 13, 2023, 03:48:17 PM
Quote from: Barrister on February 13, 2023, 02:46:26 PM
Quote from: Josquius on February 12, 2023, 04:54:21 AMWhen your views cross into the domain of opposing the existence of a vast group of innocent people and working to charge the law to restrict their rights then the its just an opinion defence falls down.

I am 100% positive that JK Rowling does not oppose the existence of trans people.

She has her own views that I may agree or disagree with, but you are seriously strawmanning what her views are.

Here is what I think about JK Rowling: she is not a very self-aware person. She lies, but I don't even think it is intentional. Back when I paid attention to things Harry Potter she would bend over backwards pretending plot holes and other inconsistent things were entirely pre-planned and not issues. Later when diversity became more fashionable she was bending over backwards trying to pretend that her 1990s book series about white straight people was in fact very diverse. She just wouldn't let her work speak for itself, she always had this weird need to be seen as never wrong or virtuous or something. I don't know her personally of course, but I found her extremely bizarre in her public statements.

So sure she has said the right things about trans people and said some shitty things about them. Does she in fact have coherent thoughts about trans people? I don't know. I don't even think she knows. It certainly wouldn't surprise me if sometime down the road she insists that she was very pro-trans the whole time though. Tons of characters in Harry Potter were actually trans, honest!  :lol:

Granted that is all based on my memories of 2010s JK Rowling she might be different now, I don't pay much attention to her public statements anymore.

Yeah, I think I'd mostly agree with this though I think she's hardened her stances after evolving opposition to her stances.

Agreed it is a strange pivot from someone who made a lot of money on a well-received, though poorly written, series of books who at first tried to make up claims to burnish her credentials (Dumbledore was always gay though text says nothing) and then took a hard turn rightward over trans issues.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 14, 2023, 06:25:10 AM
The thing with Rowling isn't that she has shitty views. It's that she actively pushes them and donates money to hate groups.
The argument isn't that the game reflects her work thus playing it is enjoying something from that toxic brain, it's that buying it brings direct profits to her, and she has form in donating to groups that actively harm others.

This I see as quite a different thing to the usual question of whether you can enjoy work created by a shit head.
I still love the comedies of Graham Linehan, also a transphobe. Then there's Eric Gill, a man who is pretty core to the history of modern graphic design...and a child abuser.
It's not just divorcing work from the creator but also the business.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 14, 2023, 06:42:41 AM
Quote from: garbon on February 14, 2023, 05:59:03 AM
Quote from: The Brain on February 14, 2023, 04:00:27 AM
Quote from: garbon on February 14, 2023, 03:55:06 AM
Quote from: The Brain on February 14, 2023, 02:31:38 AMThere are many artists that I enjoy who have views that, if I were offended by other people's opinions, I would consider offensive. Including the opinion that people like me should be killed or put in camps, and worse opinions than that. I find it very easy to separate the artist and the art, but I understand that some people have "culture warrior" as a significant part of their identity and enjoy fighting the good fight.

I think this is a bit extreme, but you think people are culture warriors if they didn't want to give money to people who wish they would be killed?  :wacko:

I think they are culture warriors if they give art poor reviews because of the artist's opinions, or tell others not to enjoy the art because of the artist's opinions.

With the assumption the art has nothing reflecting the artist's opinions?

If the opinions impact the art in a negative way then the art can likely be rated poorly on its own merits.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 14, 2023, 06:57:25 AM
Ok so by hate group I think we are meaning LGB Alliance? I was curious and googled them and found this evidence submitted by them to some government thing:

QuoteExecutive Summary

1. LGB Alliance was formed in October 2019 in response to the refusal of Stonewall, once itself an LGB
rights campaigning organisation, to engage in any discussion on issues of sex and gender and how
they relate to Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual people. Specifically, there were serious concerns about
Stonewall's adoption of "queer theory" with its focus on the primacy of gender over sex. This theory
promotes the controversial notion that everyone has a "gender identity" – a concept about which
there is no scientific consensus – as separate from, and overriding, biological sex. It goes so far as to
refer to "same-gender" instead of "same-sex" attraction, which is unacceptable to us since it
redefines and negates LGB sexual orientation. Our submission rejects any inclusion of the term
"gender identity" in legislation as it is impossible to define.

2. LGB Alliance believes that "gender identity theory" reinforces outdated and regressive stereotypes.
We would like to see a world where any boy or girl, man or woman, can dress and be whoever they
would like to be as long as they respect the rights of others.

3. LGB Alliance fully supports the rights of transsexuals to equality under the law. Trans people have
attended and spoken at both the meetings we held before Covid-19 drove everyone to meet online,
and many fully support the work we are doing.

4. LGB Alliance opposes the idea that same-sex sexual orientation is "transphobic"; that sex can be
changed; that children may be born in the wrong body; and that none of these subjects may be
discussed without the severest of sanctions.

5. LGB Alliance is pleased to submit evidence on this important issue which, we believe, has been made
ever more complex by the repetition of factually incorrect statements on the subjects concerned.
These are often made by lobby groups that pose as independent experts – such as the World
Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) or Trans Media Watch for example.

6. In addition, statistics are quoted from flawed research, often around important issues such as suicide
and violence against trans people. LGB Alliance insists on factual accuracy and will only present
evidence that comes from serious and reliable sources. As suicide figures are so germane to the
arguments advanced by gender identity theorists, we recommend the recent document by
Transgender Trend, which is both factual and accurate. https://www.transgendertrend.com/thesuicide-myth/.

7. It is clear that the majority of young people being referred to Gender Identity Development Services
in London are "gender non-conforming". Recent research by two Consultant Psychiatrists, a Professor
of Primary Care Research and a Professor of Obstetrics and Women's Health, demonstrates this
clearly. "Same sex attraction was particularly common amongst natal females, with only 8.5%
describing themselves as primarily attracted to boys."
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridgecore/content/view/76A3DC54F3BD91E8D631B93397698B1A/S205646942000073Xa.pdf/sex_gender_
and_gender_identity_a_reevaluation_of_the_evidence.pdf

8. LGB Alliance looks forward to supporting the Committee and the Government by shining a light on
the myths and disinformation which currently cloud this important subject.

All I am seeing is them challenging what are -excuse me for saying- views on society and identity, not scientific facts. No discrimination seem to spur from their views. Perhaps they are wrong, they most definitely should be debated, but as far as "hate groups" go they seem fairly low in severity.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 14, 2023, 07:28:55 AM
Quote from: Josquius on February 14, 2023, 06:25:10 AMThe thing with Rowling isn't that she has shitty views. It's that she actively pushes them and donates money to hate groups.

If they're not pushing the opinions then the whole thing becomes pretty much a complete non-issue.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 14, 2023, 07:29:43 AM
Hate groups tend to be sneaky around language these days.

https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Gender_ideology

They also have a habit of hiding behind science that they don't understand or is just plain poor quality. It's the age old tactics of the far right in trying to claim to be the one on the defence whilst actively pushing change for the worse.

A big problem I have with this sex /gender thing, an ironic borrowing from gender studies for these groups, is they want to use it to effectively institute apartheid against trans people and strip them of their rights - "we aren't bigots. We totally except transgender people. You can call yourself a woman if you want!... You just get absolutely none of the rights of actual women. That's purely for those who are of the female sex. It's just science" -

I've never came across a coherent response to intersex people and the increasing awareness of sex itself being more than a strict binary. Such questions are always brushed off as irrelevant or even in typical fasc style, attempting to flip things so the asker is the bigot.

But ja. The LGB alliance is a hate group. Of course they'd claim not to be when investigated.

https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/LGB_Alliance
Iirc there's some others she has been involved with too.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 14, 2023, 07:59:04 AM
Quote from: The Brain on February 14, 2023, 06:42:41 AM
Quote from: garbon on February 14, 2023, 05:59:03 AM
Quote from: The Brain on February 14, 2023, 04:00:27 AM
Quote from: garbon on February 14, 2023, 03:55:06 AM
Quote from: The Brain on February 14, 2023, 02:31:38 AMThere are many artists that I enjoy who have views that, if I were offended by other people's opinions, I would consider offensive. Including the opinion that people like me should be killed or put in camps, and worse opinions than that. I find it very easy to separate the artist and the art, but I understand that some people have "culture warrior" as a significant part of their identity and enjoy fighting the good fight.

I think this is a bit extreme, but you think people are culture warriors if they didn't want to give money to people who wish they would be killed?  :wacko:

I think they are culture warriors if they give art poor reviews because of the artist's opinions, or tell others not to enjoy the art because of the artist's opinions.

With the assumption the art has nothing reflecting the artist's opinions?

If the opinions impact the art in a negative way then the art can likely be rated poorly on its own merits.

But isn't that a matter of taste? Take say GTA V and it's controversial torture scene. Let's imagine that the head writer has called for gays to be put in reduction camps/murder and the player is called upon to act out torturing and murdering the sole gay character. Would one be a culture warrior to take issue with that?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 14, 2023, 08:40:48 AM
Quote from: garbon on February 14, 2023, 07:59:04 AM
Quote from: The Brain on February 14, 2023, 06:42:41 AM
Quote from: garbon on February 14, 2023, 05:59:03 AM
Quote from: The Brain on February 14, 2023, 04:00:27 AM
Quote from: garbon on February 14, 2023, 03:55:06 AM
Quote from: The Brain on February 14, 2023, 02:31:38 AMThere are many artists that I enjoy who have views that, if I were offended by other people's opinions, I would consider offensive. Including the opinion that people like me should be killed or put in camps, and worse opinions than that. I find it very easy to separate the artist and the art, but I understand that some people have "culture warrior" as a significant part of their identity and enjoy fighting the good fight.

I think this is a bit extreme, but you think people are culture warriors if they didn't want to give money to people who wish they would be killed?  :wacko:

I think they are culture warriors if they give art poor reviews because of the artist's opinions, or tell others not to enjoy the art because of the artist's opinions.

With the assumption the art has nothing reflecting the artist's opinions?

If the opinions impact the art in a negative way then the art can likely be rated poorly on its own merits.

But isn't that a matter of taste? Take say GTA V and it's controversial torture scene. Let's imagine that the head writer has called for gays to be put in reduction camps/murder and the player is called upon to act out torturing and murdering the sole gay character. Would one be a culture warrior to take issue with that?

Are there gray areas/judgment calls/instances where you don't know if opinion and art are connected? Sure.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 14, 2023, 08:42:27 AM
I thought in my hypothetical it was clear they were linked not accidental.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on February 14, 2023, 08:48:05 AM
I doubt that buying HL directly benefits Rowling.  Usually the TV/Movie/Game developers pay a set licensing fee not based on sales (since the author has no control over the product and can't influence sales that way).  Buying the game may indirectly benefit Rowling in that good sales will encourage further games and thus further licensing agreements.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on February 14, 2023, 08:48:53 AM
Quote from: garbon on February 14, 2023, 08:42:27 AMI thought in my hypothetical it was clear they were linked not accidental.

Obviously what art a person likes, and what a person thinks makes art better or worse, is a matter of taste.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 14, 2023, 09:52:18 AM
Quote from: garbon on February 14, 2023, 06:14:41 AM
Quote from: Valmy on February 13, 2023, 03:48:17 PM
Quote from: Barrister on February 13, 2023, 02:46:26 PM
Quote from: Josquius on February 12, 2023, 04:54:21 AMWhen your views cross into the domain of opposing the existence of a vast group of innocent people and working to charge the law to restrict their rights then the its just an opinion defence falls down.

I am 100% positive that JK Rowling does not oppose the existence of trans people.

She has her own views that I may agree or disagree with, but you are seriously strawmanning what her views are.

Here is what I think about JK Rowling: she is not a very self-aware person. She lies, but I don't even think it is intentional. Back when I paid attention to things Harry Potter she would bend over backwards pretending plot holes and other inconsistent things were entirely pre-planned and not issues. Later when diversity became more fashionable she was bending over backwards trying to pretend that her 1990s book series about white straight people was in fact very diverse. She just wouldn't let her work speak for itself, she always had this weird need to be seen as never wrong or virtuous or something. I don't know her personally of course, but I found her extremely bizarre in her public statements.

So sure she has said the right things about trans people and said some shitty things about them. Does she in fact have coherent thoughts about trans people? I don't know. I don't even think she knows. It certainly wouldn't surprise me if sometime down the road she insists that she was very pro-trans the whole time though. Tons of characters in Harry Potter were actually trans, honest!  :lol:

Granted that is all based on my memories of 2010s JK Rowling she might be different now, I don't pay much attention to her public statements anymore.

Yeah, I think I'd mostly agree with this though I think she's hardened her stances after evolving opposition to her stances.

Agreed it is a strange pivot from someone who made a lot of money on a well-received, though poorly written, series of books who at first tried to make up claims to burnish her credentials (Dumbledore was always gay though text says nothing) and then took a hard turn rightward over trans issues.

The literary awards she received undermine your claim that the books are poorly written.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 14, 2023, 01:50:26 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on February 14, 2023, 03:43:48 AMI'm not saying everyone must boycott the game - it's a personal choice. It's just good to remember what the creator stands for, and weight in your mind whether you want to support them. It's not limited to Rowling, other games also have problematic people/companies associated with them - Ubisoft and their massive culture of sexual harassment, Activision Blizzard's oppression of their employees, etc.


Absolutely, but that is rather the point isn't it? Once we start going down also boycotting Ubisoft, Activision Blizzard, and others then eventually we don't have much left. I could easily list reasons I could legitimately see people also wanting to boycott Square Enix, EA, and Microsoft as well.

Fortunately I also tend to see the toxic qualities of those companies also making their products shitty, which is really the main reason I don't play them. I don't need to boycott Activision Blizzard because Bobby Kotick is a piece of human trash, the real reason not to play that company's games is because Bobby Kotick also ensures their games are trash as well.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on February 14, 2023, 01:57:14 PM
Also - as I say we're talking IP and a fairly distant chain - but, for example, the Saudi sovereign wealth fund is a big investor in Nintendo, Activision Blizzard, EA and others. I'd suggest that's probably as problematic as Rowling's opinions.

It's why I wonder about it because it's not super-obvious to me that the original creator of a work of art - or in this case the IP of that world - is more engaged than the owners of the companies exploiting it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 14, 2023, 02:16:25 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 14, 2023, 09:52:18 AM
Quote from: garbon on February 14, 2023, 06:14:41 AM
Quote from: Valmy on February 13, 2023, 03:48:17 PM
Quote from: Barrister on February 13, 2023, 02:46:26 PM
Quote from: Josquius on February 12, 2023, 04:54:21 AMWhen your views cross into the domain of opposing the existence of a vast group of innocent people and working to charge the law to restrict their rights then the its just an opinion defence falls down.

I am 100% positive that JK Rowling does not oppose the existence of trans people.

She has her own views that I may agree or disagree with, but you are seriously strawmanning what her views are.

Here is what I think about JK Rowling: she is not a very self-aware person. She lies, but I don't even think it is intentional. Back when I paid attention to things Harry Potter she would bend over backwards pretending plot holes and other inconsistent things were entirely pre-planned and not issues. Later when diversity became more fashionable she was bending over backwards trying to pretend that her 1990s book series about white straight people was in fact very diverse. She just wouldn't let her work speak for itself, she always had this weird need to be seen as never wrong or virtuous or something. I don't know her personally of course, but I found her extremely bizarre in her public statements.

So sure she has said the right things about trans people and said some shitty things about them. Does she in fact have coherent thoughts about trans people? I don't know. I don't even think she knows. It certainly wouldn't surprise me if sometime down the road she insists that she was very pro-trans the whole time though. Tons of characters in Harry Potter were actually trans, honest!  :lol:

Granted that is all based on my memories of 2010s JK Rowling she might be different now, I don't pay much attention to her public statements anymore.

Yeah, I think I'd mostly agree with this though I think she's hardened her stances after evolving opposition to her stances.

Agreed it is a strange pivot from someone who made a lot of money on a well-received, though poorly written, series of books who at first tried to make up claims to burnish her credentials (Dumbledore was always gay though text says nothing) and then took a hard turn rightward over trans issues.

The literary awards she received undermine your claim that the books are poorly written.



Not sure if you are serious.

E.L. James has won awards too.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 14, 2023, 03:02:30 PM
So anyway, I downloaded Mount and Blade 2 via Game Pass. Can't really see any big difference from 1, and I played that to death many many years ago, I don't think I will play this sequel much.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 14, 2023, 03:19:43 PM
Quote from: garbon on February 14, 2023, 02:16:25 PMNot sure if you are serious.

E.L. James has won awards too.

The award for most adjectives used to describe a fantasy man's junk?

Though to be fair I don't know if she was even very poetic about that. I don't really want to read sexual fantasies about non-sexually compatible people, that doesn't seem like fun.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 14, 2023, 03:20:56 PM
Quote from: Tamas on February 14, 2023, 03:02:30 PMSo anyway, I downloaded Mount and Blade 2 via Game Pass. Can't really see any big difference from 1, and I played that to death many many years ago, I don't think I will play this sequel much.

Really? Ah too bad I was looking forward to playing that at some point...whenever I get around to it.

Right now I really want to play Pentiment but damn I never have time for gaming any more.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 14, 2023, 03:46:53 PM
Yeah. Some of the top steam reviews for MB2 were poor which put me off getting it. Which is a shame as I was looking forward to it.
Some hints it could be it was just released too early and future versions will be good.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 14, 2023, 04:23:56 PM
Quote from: garbon on February 14, 2023, 02:16:25 PMNot sure if you are serious.

E.L. James has won awards too.

I am serious, you might want to look at the prestigeous awards she won after the first three books.  And before Harry Potter became a household name.

Your apparent need to criticize her writing ability gives support to the point Brain is making.  You can love the art but not the artist. 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 14, 2023, 04:37:09 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 14, 2023, 04:23:56 PM
Quote from: garbon on February 14, 2023, 02:16:25 PMNot sure if you are serious.

E.L. James has won awards too.

I am serious, you might want to look at the prestigeous awards she won after the first three books.  And before Harry Potter became a household name.

Your apparent need to criticize her writing ability gives support to the point Brain is making.  You can love the art but not the artist. 

Now you are confused. I was able to discern that her writing was overhyped long before she came out against trans issues.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on February 14, 2023, 04:47:17 PM
Quote from: Josquius on February 14, 2023, 07:29:43 AMHate groups tend to be sneaky around language these days.

https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Gender_ideology

Just arguing that anyone on the opposite side of an issue is a "hate group" - it's no better than right-wingers labelling those they disagree with as Paedos or groomers.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on February 14, 2023, 04:49:39 PM
Quote from: garbon on February 14, 2023, 04:37:09 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 14, 2023, 04:23:56 PM
Quote from: garbon on February 14, 2023, 02:16:25 PMNot sure if you are serious.

E.L. James has won awards too.

I am serious, you might want to look at the prestigeous awards she won after the first three books.  And before Harry Potter became a household name.

Your apparent need to criticize her writing ability gives support to the point Brain is making.  You can love the art but not the artist. 

Now you are confused. I was able to discern that her writing was overhyped long before she came out against trans issues.

I kind of thought after the first couple of books, which were really just workmanlike YA fiction, Rowling kind of grew as a writer (as did her wordcounts).

Let's be clear - she was still writing Young Adult fantasy books, so it's a low bar, but later books were well written.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 14, 2023, 04:54:13 PM
Quote from: Barrister on February 14, 2023, 04:49:39 PM
Quote from: garbon on February 14, 2023, 04:37:09 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 14, 2023, 04:23:56 PM
Quote from: garbon on February 14, 2023, 02:16:25 PMNot sure if you are serious.

E.L. James has won awards too.

I am serious, you might want to look at the prestigeous awards she won after the first three books.  And before Harry Potter became a household name.

Your apparent need to criticize her writing ability gives support to the point Brain is making.  You can love the art but not the artist. 

Now you are confused. I was able to discern that her writing was overhyped long before she came out against trans issues.

I kind of thought after the first couple of books, which were really just workmanlike YA fiction, Rowling kind of grew as a writer (as did her wordcounts).

Let's be clear - she was still writing Young Adult fantasy books, so it's a low bar, but later books were well written.

I think that's fair on the early books. My impression on the latter was the opposite, I thought she outmuscled her editor to their detriment.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on February 14, 2023, 05:03:42 PM
Yeah though I think they are still an improvement on the early books.

I think her real skill has been the world-building stuff which is why the films and the game etc are still going as they are.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 14, 2023, 05:07:54 PM
Quote from: Barrister on February 14, 2023, 04:47:17 PM
Quote from: Josquius on February 14, 2023, 07:29:43 AMHate groups tend to be sneaky around language these days.

https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Gender_ideology

Just arguing that anyone on the opposite side of an issue is a "hate group" - it's no better than right-wingers labelling those they disagree with as Paedos or groomers.

This isn't a both sides the same issue. The very fact an issue has been created where there shouldn't even be one is down to the work of hate groups and culture warriors.
It's ridiculous how they've shifted the Overton window on this in some people's eyes - I'm the one with conservative views on trans people, that the way things are seems to be fine and any change needs a good argument. But instead you have this false reality being presented where its radical trans extremists on the attack, with zero regard for reality.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on February 14, 2023, 05:10:34 PM
Quote from: Josquius on February 14, 2023, 05:07:54 PM
Quote from: Barrister on February 14, 2023, 04:47:17 PM
Quote from: Josquius on February 14, 2023, 07:29:43 AMHate groups tend to be sneaky around language these days.

https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Gender_ideology

Just arguing that anyone on the opposite side of an issue is a "hate group" - it's no better than right-wingers labelling those they disagree with as Paedos or groomers.

This isn't a both sides the same issue. The very fact an issue has been created where there shouldn't even be one is down to the work of hate groups and culture warriors.
It's ridiculous how they've shifted the Overton window on this in some people's eyes - I'm the one with conservative views on trans people, that the way things are seems to be fine and any change needs a good argument. But instead you have this false reality being presented where such a status quo view is somehow way out left and an attack on... The way things are.

But that's just it - what you view as the "status quo view" really isn't, and most people think that there's very much an issue.

But instead of acknowledging that and trying to argue your point, you're just declaring the debate over and that you've already won it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 14, 2023, 05:20:27 PM
Quote from: Barrister on February 14, 2023, 05:10:34 PMBut that's just it - what you view as the "status quo view" really isn't, and most people think that there's very much an issue.

But instead of acknowledging that and trying to argue your point, you're just declaring the debate over and that you've already won it.

Except it is. I know what the status quo is. The transphobes arguments are built on tapping into people's ignorance of the situation around trans people.

For instance that there's never been laws around what toilet they can use, professional sports have been struggling with defining who qualifies as a woman for  decades without culture warriors storming in and declaring trans people aren't allowed, women's shelters have been open to trans people for at least 15 years with zero incidents, trans prisoners are always dealt with on a case by case basis and overwhelmingly tend to be victims rather than aggressors in prison assaults, etc...

I don't think the debate is over and I've already won. I dispute that there even is a debate to be had despite the efforts of some to make it a thing. And though some headway is being made by the transphobes in recent years, polls overwhelmingly show that most normal people outside of twitter circles don't give a shit.

Trans people are a thing. They have been for decades. Meh.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on February 14, 2023, 05:33:54 PM
Posted a reply in the Brexit thread - but can go anywhere - just think we should maybe return this thread to gaming? :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Darth Wagtaros on February 14, 2023, 07:43:42 PM
Quote from: grumbler on February 14, 2023, 08:48:05 AMI doubt that buying HL directly benefits Rowling.  Usually the TV/Movie/Game developers pay a set licensing fee not based on sales (since the author has no control over the product and can't influence sales that way).  Buying the game may indirectly benefit Rowling in that good sales will encourage further games and thus further licensing agreements.
Where is the drama in that?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on February 14, 2023, 08:14:21 PM
I know you're all waiting for my take, so I'm going to share it:

1) When I read a review of a game like Harry Potter, I'm interested in how it is as a game. I already know what I think about Rowling. What I'm curious about is the quality of the craft and how good it is as an experience, so I can judge the fate of the game in the context of who Rowling is. So on that level, the Wired 1/10 review is pretty useless to me.

2) On the other hand, I'm perfectly fine with someone writing a shitty (or glowing) review based on politics as a political statement. That's a completely legitimate form of expression. Now, I'm sure I'll like it a lot more if the politics agree with mine and find it very annoying if they don't, but by itself "game review as political statement or social commentary" is perfectly acceptable. The Wired 1/10 review is reportedly honest in what it is about which is to its credit. I'd have more issues with it if it gave the game a 1/10 for political reasons but pretended it was about the quality of the gamecraft, but as I understand it that is not the case. So no problem on that account.

3) Personally I've never looked to Wired for game reviews in the past. This particular review has not changed that.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on February 14, 2023, 11:57:29 PM
Quote from: Josquius on February 14, 2023, 05:20:27 PMI don't think the debate is over and I've already won. I dispute that there even is a debate to be had

Just listen to yourself.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: HVC on February 15, 2023, 12:11:27 AM
Giving a 1 review as a professional reviewer is unethical. You want to tell people not to play the game as a political statement go ahead, but don't do it in the guise of a review. You're purposely review bombing.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on February 15, 2023, 12:37:01 AM
Quote from: Tamas on February 14, 2023, 03:02:30 PMSo anyway, I downloaded Mount and Blade 2 via Game Pass. Can't really see any big difference from 1, and I played that to death many many years ago, I don't think I will play this sequel much.

Bannerlord has a ton of excellent mods to play it with. You can mod the base game quite extensively, or even get total overhauls (like Banner Kings, which basically adds a lot of stuff inspired by Crusader Kings 3).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on February 15, 2023, 01:28:01 AM
Quote from: HVC on February 15, 2023, 12:11:27 AMGiving a 1 review as a professional reviewer is unethical. You want to tell people not to play the game as a political statement go ahead, but don't do it in the guise of a review. You're purposely review bombing.

No it is not unethical.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 15, 2023, 04:10:17 AM
Quote from: Barrister on February 14, 2023, 11:57:29 PM
Quote from: Josquius on February 14, 2023, 05:20:27 PMI don't think the debate is over and I've already won. I dispute that there even is a debate to be had

Just listen to yourself.

I'm comfortable in my position-pretty simply,  chill out and leave trans people alone.
Suggesting there is a problem and a debate to be had where all facts show there is no problem, is the entire position of the reactionaries. I won't cede them the ground they're desperate to secure.

Also worth noting you haven't given any actual points here. What you're saying is basically that theres a valid debate to be had - to which no there isn't is the natural response.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: HVC on February 15, 2023, 04:28:10 AM
Quote from: Jacob on February 15, 2023, 01:28:01 AM
Quote from: HVC on February 15, 2023, 12:11:27 AMGiving a 1 review as a professional reviewer is unethical. You want to tell people not to play the game as a political statement go ahead, but don't do it in the guise of a review. You're purposely review bombing.

No it is not unethical.

Give it a N/A and a long post about the ills of transphobia and Rawlings long history. I think review bombing as a reviewer is professionally unethical, basically an extension of your point number one above. It's not personally unethical, just professionally. While often the same, those two things can be different. Every three years I have to take a course as part of my designation that reminds me if that fact :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: HVC on February 15, 2023, 04:35:21 AM
In line with the original topic, I've been playing some XCOM 2. Someone made a comment in the Chinese balloon thread and it got me interested in going back i still suck, but it's fun. 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on February 15, 2023, 09:24:55 AM
Quote from: Jacob on February 15, 2023, 01:28:01 AM
Quote from: HVC on February 15, 2023, 12:11:27 AMGiving a 1 review as a professional reviewer is unethical. You want to tell people not to play the game as a political statement go ahead, but don't do it in the guise of a review. You're purposely review bombing.

No it is not unethical.

I disagree.  It is unethical to tell an audience that the designers, artists, musicians, writers, etc for this game are crap at their jobs because you don't like the author of the source material.  A review bomb is, at least in theory, harmful to those responsible for the product that you are deceiving the audience about.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 15, 2023, 10:44:35 AM
Quote from: garbon on February 14, 2023, 04:37:09 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 14, 2023, 04:23:56 PM
Quote from: garbon on February 14, 2023, 02:16:25 PMNot sure if you are serious.

E.L. James has won awards too.

I am serious, you might want to look at the prestigeous awards she won after the first three books.  And before Harry Potter became a household name.

Your apparent need to criticize her writing ability gives support to the point Brain is making.  You can love the art but not the artist. 

Now you are confused. I was able to discern that her writing was overhyped long before she came out against trans issues.

And you have been wrong all along.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 15, 2023, 10:45:50 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 15, 2023, 10:44:35 AM
Quote from: garbon on February 14, 2023, 04:37:09 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 14, 2023, 04:23:56 PM
Quote from: garbon on February 14, 2023, 02:16:25 PMNot sure if you are serious.

E.L. James has won awards too.

I am serious, you might want to look at the prestigeous awards she won after the first three books.  And before Harry Potter became a household name.

Your apparent need to criticize her writing ability gives support to the point Brain is making.  You can love the art but not the artist. 

Now you are confused. I was able to discern that her writing was overhyped long before she came out against trans issues.

And you have been wrong all along.
:lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 15, 2023, 10:46:23 AM
Quote from: Jacob on February 15, 2023, 01:28:01 AM
Quote from: HVC on February 15, 2023, 12:11:27 AMGiving a 1 review as a professional reviewer is unethical. You want to tell people not to play the game as a political statement go ahead, but don't do it in the guise of a review. You're purposely review bombing.

No it is not unethical.

How is it not unethical?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 15, 2023, 10:46:47 AM
Quote from: garbon on February 15, 2023, 10:45:50 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 15, 2023, 10:44:35 AM
Quote from: garbon on February 14, 2023, 04:37:09 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 14, 2023, 04:23:56 PM
Quote from: garbon on February 14, 2023, 02:16:25 PMNot sure if you are serious.

E.L. James has won awards too.

I am serious, you might want to look at the prestigeous awards she won after the first three books.  And before Harry Potter became a household name.

Your apparent need to criticize her writing ability gives support to the point Brain is making.  You can love the art but not the artist. 

Now you are confused. I was able to discern that her writing was overhyped long before she came out against trans issues.

And you have been wrong all along.
:lol:

 :hug:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on February 15, 2023, 11:57:08 AM
Quote from: HVC on February 15, 2023, 04:28:10 AMGive it a N/A and a long post about the ills of transphobia and Rawlings long history. I think review bombing as a reviewer is professionally unethical, basically an extension of your point number one above. It's not personally unethical, just professionally. While often the same, those two things can be different. Every three years I have to take a course as part of my designation that reminds me if that fact :lol:

... but game reviewing is not a profession and does not have a designation. There is no established code to adhere to. There are no professional or agreed upon standards. There is no governing body. It does not perform a critical function in society. It is, essentially, sharing your opinion about a game. Attaching a 1/10 or 5/5 or B+ or any other score to that opinion does not change that.

If there are any issues regarding "ethics in game journalism" they are the kind that are inherently unethical - misrepresentation and failing to disclose standards. When reviewers continually give 80%, 90%, 100% scores to games of major publishers to stay on good terms with them and get access, that is potentially unethical. Adopting a pose independence when they are not, suggesting they use a different standard and scale ("what do I think of the game") than they actually do ("what will make the publisher continue their relationship with me") can potentially be seen as unethical in a common way because it's misrepresentation.

If you read the review  (https://www.wired.com/review/hogwarts-legacy-review/)it is very clear what standard the reviewer is using to judge the game. Just because you don't find that standard useful or interesting does not make it unethical - professionally or otherwise.

I'll note, also, that the Wired review is not part of MetaCritic nor is Wired an established and important go-to source for gamers making purchasing decisions, so calling it "review bombing" is pretty imprecise. There does not appear to be an organized (or even ad-hoc) effort to drive down aggregate scores.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 15, 2023, 12:19:01 PM
I agree with what Jacob said. Same would go if this was a nazi making nonsense far right points.
If they spell out from the start "this is a nasty bit of woke propeganda invented by the jew to deceive our kids!" then I get where the 1/10 is coming from and all is good.
It's if they pretend the game is just  awful and don't mention their view is completely unrelated to the game itself that there's a problem.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 15, 2023, 12:40:13 PM
Quote from: Jacob on February 15, 2023, 11:57:08 AM
Quote from: HVC on February 15, 2023, 04:28:10 AMGive it a N/A and a long post about the ills of transphobia and Rawlings long history. I think review bombing as a reviewer is professionally unethical, basically an extension of your point number one above. It's not personally unethical, just professionally. While often the same, those two things can be different. Every three years I have to take a course as part of my designation that reminds me if that fact :lol:

... but game reviewing is not a profession and does not have a designation. There is no established code to adhere to. There are no professional or agreed upon standards. There is no governing body. It does not perform a critical function in society. It is, essentially, sharing your opinion about a game. Attaching a 1/10 or 5/5 or B+ or any other score to that opinion does not change that.

If there are any issues regarding "ethics in game journalism" they are the kind that are inherently unethical - misrepresentation and failing to disclose standards. When reviewers continually give 80%, 90%, 100% scores to games of major publishers to stay on good terms with them and get access, that is potentially unethical. Adopting a pose independence when they are not, suggesting they use a different standard and scale ("what do I think of the game") than they actually do ("what will make the publisher continue their relationship with me") can potentially be seen as unethical in a common way because it's misrepresentation.

If you read the review  (https://www.wired.com/review/hogwarts-legacy-review/)it is very clear what standard the reviewer is using to judge the game. Just because you don't find that standard useful or interesting does not make it unethical - professionally or otherwise.

I'll note, also, that the Wired review is not part of MetaCritic nor is Wired an established and important go-to source for gamers making purchasing decisions, so calling it "review bombing" is pretty imprecise. There does not appear to be an organized (or even ad-hoc) effort to drive down aggregate scores.

I am not sure I understand your argument, are you suggesting that ethics depend on a code of ethics being established - no code, no problem?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on February 15, 2023, 12:56:24 PM
Quote from: Josquius on February 15, 2023, 04:10:17 AM
Quote from: Barrister on February 14, 2023, 11:57:29 PM
Quote from: Josquius on February 14, 2023, 05:20:27 PMI don't think the debate is over and I've already won. I dispute that there even is a debate to be had

Just listen to yourself.

I'm comfortable in my position-pretty simply,  chill out and leave trans people alone.
Suggesting there is a problem and a debate to be had where all facts show there is no problem, is the entire position of the reactionaries. I won't cede them the ground they're desperate to secure.

Also worth noting you haven't given any actual points here. What you're saying is basically that theres a valid debate to be had - to which no there isn't is the natural response.

"Chill out and leave trans people alone" is out course good advise.  No one should be going out to bother trans people just for being trans people.

The problem though that can potentially arise is if/when the rights of trans people intersect with other rights.  "The right to swing your fist ends where the other person's face begins".

I'm going to deliberately pick up some low-hanging fruit here just to show you there are debates to be had.

There's the story of Jessica Yaniv, a Vancouver-based trans activist.  She filed numerous human rights complaints against various businesses for discriminating against her.  In at least one (and I think several) instances she filed human rights complaints against female estheticians for refusing to give her a Brazilian wax on her genitals.  Her genitals, in this case, was a penis.  Her human rights complaints were ultimately thrown out as the estheticians described that not only did they not want to be working with a penis, but doing a Brazilian wax on a penis and testicles requires different training than for a vagina.  It was found by a court that it was allowable for a female esthetician to discriminate against trans women because of their penis.

A story that comes out from time to time is lesbians feeling pressured to accept trans women as romantic partners.  https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-57853385  Impossible to say how widespread this is, but you can definitely see the sentiment on Twitter if you look for it.  So the conflict here is between the right for transwomen to be women, and for the right of lesbians to select their romantic partners based on their genitals.  But I think most people fall on the side of "people are attracted to who they are attracted to, and it's nobody else's business if someone is not interested romantically in you".

And on an actual case I worked on - a trans woman was filing an application in court claiming her rights were being discriminated against in prison.  I was assigned the case, and worked with prison officials.  They were cognizant of calling this trans woman by her name, and using the right pronouns.  One issue where I agreed with her complaint was that they would not issue her women's prison clothes or underwear, and I believe they promised to do so (this is perhaps not that great a deal as women are basically issued yellow sweat pants and top, while men are issued an orange jumpsuit, but it was important to her).  But where the prison would not settle on was that they would not house her in the women's section.  This was not their first trans woman prisoner, and they always felt that placing a trans woman in the woman's section would be disruptive.  "who gets placed with who" is a huge issue for prisons, having to worry about sex, but also gang affiliations, level of risk, no-contact provisions, and others.  So what they do is place trans women in the medical unit.  In the end we did not get a final judicial decision on the Charter rights challenge, but in the end even the trans woman herself seemed satisfied with being in the medical unit (she also had unrelated mental health issues).

So look, there's more complicated issues out there that I don't necessarily know the answers to: trans women in sports, bathrooms and other women's only spaces, that I don't pretend to have the answers to.

But you can't just say "trans women are women" and say that ends any possible debate.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on February 15, 2023, 12:58:35 PM
Quote from: Jacob on February 15, 2023, 11:57:08 AM
Quote from: HVC on February 15, 2023, 04:28:10 AMGive it a N/A and a long post about the ills of transphobia and Rawlings long history. I think review bombing as a reviewer is professionally unethical, basically an extension of your point number one above. It's not personally unethical, just professionally. While often the same, those two things can be different. Every three years I have to take a course as part of my designation that reminds me if that fact :lol:

... but game reviewing is not a profession and does not have a designation. There is no established code to adhere to. There are no professional or agreed upon standards. There is no governing body. It does not perform a critical function in society. It is, essentially, sharing your opinion about a game. Attaching a 1/10 or 5/5 or B+ or any other score to that opinion does not change that.

If there are any issues regarding "ethics in game journalism" they are the kind that are inherently unethical - misrepresentation and failing to disclose standards. When reviewers continually give 80%, 90%, 100% scores to games of major publishers to stay on good terms with them and get access, that is potentially unethical. Adopting a pose independence when they are not, suggesting they use a different standard and scale ("what do I think of the game") than they actually do ("what will make the publisher continue their relationship with me") can potentially be seen as unethical in a common way because it's misrepresentation.

If you read the review  (https://www.wired.com/review/hogwarts-legacy-review/)it is very clear what standard the reviewer is using to judge the game. Just because you don't find that standard useful or interesting does not make it unethical - professionally or otherwise.

I'll note, also, that the Wired review is not part of MetaCritic nor is Wired an established and important go-to source for gamers making purchasing decisions, so calling it "review bombing" is pretty imprecise. There does not appear to be an organized (or even ad-hoc) effort to drive down aggregate scores.

I think HVC and CC perhaps don't realize (and am pretty sure that you do) is that language of ethics when it comes to gaming journalism has perhaps been forever tainted by the ever-so-stupid "Gamersgate" controversy, which used language of "ethics" to target and harass a bunch of female gamers and games journalists.

I still stand by my comments on the Wired 1/10 review score, but wouldn't couch it in terms of ethics.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on February 15, 2023, 01:13:21 PM
Quote from: Jacob on February 15, 2023, 11:57:08 AMIf there are any issues regarding "ethics in game journalism" they are the kind that are inherently unethical - misrepresentation and failing to disclose standards. When reviewers continually give 80%, 90%, 100% scores to games of major publishers to stay on good terms with them and get access, that is potentially unethical. Adopting a pose independence when they are not, suggesting they use a different standard and scale ("what do I think of the game") than they actually do ("what will make the publisher continue their relationship with me") can potentially be seen as unethical in a common way because it's misrepresentation.
Also movie, music and publishing reviews <_<

I also think part of it is there was an overcorrection (I used to be on the other side of this argument) from nasty arts snobbery to everything has value to someone. I think the pendulum needs to swing back a little bit :ph34r:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on February 15, 2023, 01:18:15 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 15, 2023, 12:40:13 PMI am not sure I understand your argument, are you suggesting that ethics depend on a code of ethics being established - no code, no problem?

No. The code part of my argument is response to HVC speaking of game reviewing as a profession and invoking his own experience as a member of a self-governing profession:

Quote from: HVCIt's not personally unethical, just professionally. While often the same, those two things can be different. Every three years I have to take a course as part of my designation that reminds me if that fact.

Game reviewers are not a designated profession, they do not have a professional code of ethics (and if they did, IMO it should have to do with independence from influence of publishing companies). You don't get to invent an imaginary code of professional conduct for a non-profession (or port over the one you're familiar with from your own profession) and then claim that diverging from that code you just invented is unethical.

Of course there are such things as ethical and unethical behaviour separate from professional codes of conduct. Theft, lying, misrepresentation, causing harm and so on are all (usually, barring mitigating circumstances) unethical.

Nothing in this piece gets even close to what I understand as unethical behaviour. A writer using the tools and forms of writing to make a political point is not being unethical. The fact that the writer is being a little bit surprising is not unethical; in fact, writers often view playing with form and expectation as an expression of craft.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 15, 2023, 01:20:25 PM
Ethics do not apply to only self-governing professions. 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on February 15, 2023, 01:25:14 PM
Incidentally on ethics in games journalism - do people have thoughts on Atomic Heart?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on February 15, 2023, 01:26:49 PM
Quote from: Barrister on February 15, 2023, 12:58:35 PMI think HVC and CC perhaps don't realize (and am pretty sure that you do) is that language of ethics when it comes to gaming journalism has perhaps been forever tainted by the ever-so-stupid "Gamersgate" controversy, which used language of "ethics" to target and harass a bunch of female gamers and games journalists.

There's that too, yes.

QuoteI still stand by my comments on the Wired 1/10 review score, but wouldn't couch it in terms of ethics.

It's totally fine to find the review worthless or annoying or disappointing or any other of perjoratives; but unethical it ain't.

Personally on reading the review I found it more compelling than I had expected. Certainly it gave me a better understanding of the game (which is what I want from a review) than I got from reading the 95% score professional review topping the list of links on MetaCritic - that just seemed like a standard shill-for-hire piece.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on February 15, 2023, 01:36:42 PM
As an aside, game review site rockpapershotgun.com which can often take somewhat progressive views on videogames that I find alternatingly refreshing and annoying, apparently simply stopped talking about Hogwarts Legacy two years ago.

No review, no essay on why they aren't giving a review.  Instead they had a "Magic Week" (that just so happens to coincide with Legacy's release) where they highlight a bunch of indie games involving wizards and magic.

A far more honourable approach.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: HVC on February 15, 2023, 01:37:23 PM
Quote from: Jacob on February 15, 2023, 01:18:15 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 15, 2023, 12:40:13 PMI am not sure I understand your argument, are you suggesting that ethics depend on a code of ethics being established - no code, no problem?

No. The code part of my argument is response to HVC speaking of game reviewing as a profession and invoking his own experience as a member of a self-governing profession:


I was using that as an aside to highlight that there are differences between "normal" ethics and professional ethics. Badly I suppose lol. I know journalism isn't a designated profession, fox news wouldn't be around if it was. that being said, the lack of a designated professions code of ethics does not preclude there being ethics in a profession, nor does (to BB point) other bad actors actions minimize ones ethics lapses.

That out of the way, we'll have to agree to disagree. The author must place more value on ratings then you because they chose to use a rating. If they value rating and chose to the lowest they could not because of the quality of the game, but because of their personal views of the author (mind you, an author that did not write the game, or have any connection the the creation of said game) then i view that as unethical. if someone had a grudge against Danes, no matter how valid, and rated all your game at 1s regardless of the quality of the game I'd feel that was just as unethical.



Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on February 15, 2023, 02:01:55 PM
Quote from: grumbler on February 15, 2023, 09:24:55 AMI disagree.  It is unethical to tell an audience that the designers, artists, musicians, writers, etc for this game are crap at their jobs because you don't like the author of the source material.  A review bomb is, at least in theory, harmful to those responsible for the product that you are deceiving the audience about.

I don't think the review does that.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on February 15, 2023, 02:06:29 PM
Quote from: HVC on February 15, 2023, 01:37:23 PMThat out of the way, we'll have to agree to disagree. The author must place more value on ratings then you because they chose to use a rating. If they value rating and chose to the lowest they could not because of the quality of the game, but because of their personal views of the author (mind you, an author that did not write the game, or have any connection the the creation of said game) then i view that as unethical. if someone had a grudge against Danes, no matter how valid, and rated all your game at 1s regardless of the quality of the game I'd feel that was just as unethical.

Yeah agree to disagree on that one :hug:

Someone giving all my games 1/10 out of blatant anti-Danish bigotry :ph34r: would be all kinds of things, but not unethical. Unless, of course, you think anti-Danish bigotry is unethical on its own, but alas I don't think anyone thinks that :cry:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on February 15, 2023, 02:10:16 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 15, 2023, 01:20:25 PMEthics do not apply to only self-governing professions. 

For sure. As I said in the post you're responding to :hug:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on February 15, 2023, 02:51:39 PM
By the way, digitaltrends (https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/hogwarts-legacy-ps5-review/) has what I consider the model negative review.  It covers the po0sitives and negatives about the game, and, while it mentions Rowling, only does so in relation to the world she created and how that impacts the game.
QuoteAvalanche has clearly tried to distance itself from Rowling's hateful remarks, going as far as to allow players to create a transgender hero. Though in staying true to the franchise's rich mythology, the narrative is ultimately still at the mercy of the author's worldview. The Goblin story never gains ground as a guiding conflict because it never really makes sense. The universe's uneven power structures beg for some scrutiny, but the books dictate that we don't really question the inner politics of the Wizarding World. Wizards are largely good. Goblins are unredeemable monsters, unless they're running a bank.

Hogwarts Legacy softens Rowling's writing as much as it can, but that's only half a solution. You can't get rid of a worldview without offering one of your own.

That's what the ethical approach looks like.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on February 15, 2023, 04:37:23 PM
Maybe I'll start moderating languish to encourage ethical posting... :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on February 15, 2023, 04:46:59 PM
Quote from: Jacob on February 15, 2023, 04:37:23 PMMaybe I'll stand moderating languish to encourage ethical posting... :hmm:

You could also sit
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Darth Wagtaros on February 15, 2023, 05:24:12 PM
What good is a game review that is not focused on the game but on the author of the books that inspired the game?  It just furhters the image that game reviewers are either shameless shills or useless political hacks.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on February 15, 2023, 05:28:56 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 15, 2023, 04:46:59 PM
Quote from: Jacob on February 15, 2023, 04:37:23 PMMaybe I'll stand moderating languish to encourage ethical posting... :hmm:

You could also sit

Not sure that would be ethical.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on February 15, 2023, 05:33:10 PM
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on February 15, 2023, 05:24:12 PMWhat good is a game review that is not focused on the game but on the author of the books that inspired the game?  It just furhters the image that game reviewers are either shameless shills or useless political hacks.

What game reviewers mostly are are committed videogame fans trying to make a living from underpaid writing gigs.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on February 15, 2023, 05:59:04 PM
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on February 15, 2023, 05:24:12 PMWhat good is a game review that is not focused on the game but on the author of the books that inspired the game?  It just furhters the image that game reviewers are either shameless shills or useless political hacks.



I mean, it's someone expressing their views through writing. If you don't like what that reviewer is writing you can find another writer that is more to your taste. Games aren't toasters.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Minsky Moment on February 15, 2023, 06:45:16 PM
Quote from: Barrister on February 15, 2023, 01:36:42 PMAs an aside, game review site rockpapershotgun.com which can often take somewhat progressive views on videogames that I find alternatingly refreshing and annoying, apparently simply stopped talking about Hogwarts Legacy two years ago.

No review, no essay on why they aren't giving a review.  Instead they had a "Magic Week" (that just so happens to coincide with Legacy's release) where they highlight a bunch of indie games involving wizards and magic.

A far more honourable approach.

But not a courageous one, regardless of how you look at it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 16, 2023, 01:23:25 AM
A remake of the city builder Pharaoh has been released:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1351080/Pharaoh_A_New_Era/

It mainly promises to be an updated version of the classic (including modernized UI and quality of life), and so far is getting very positive user reviews.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on February 16, 2023, 11:29:41 AM
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on February 15, 2023, 06:45:16 PM
Quote from: Barrister on February 15, 2023, 01:36:42 PMAs an aside, game review site rockpapershotgun.com which can often take somewhat progressive views on videogames that I find alternatingly refreshing and annoying, apparently simply stopped talking about Hogwarts Legacy two years ago.

No review, no essay on why they aren't giving a review.  Instead they had a "Magic Week" (that just so happens to coincide with Legacy's release) where they highlight a bunch of indie games involving wizards and magic.

A far more honourable approach.

But not a courageous one, regardless of how you look at it.

You know I thought about this for a bit.

A lot of things can be courageous, but stupid.  Or unhonourable.

Printing a 1/10 review for a game on entirely political grounds, in a magazine/website that doesn't typically review games, is definitely courageous.  But that's probably the best that can be said about it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 16, 2023, 11:37:20 AM
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on February 15, 2023, 06:45:16 PMBut not a courageous one, regardless of how you look at it.

Dunno, considering this was a much anticipated title for fans, plus creating a lot of controversy (which can be converted to clicks), not covering it is maybe not "fighting a dragon" or "storming Omaha Beach" brave, but it certainly is one that lowers traffic/ad revenue for the site that someone has to explain to the people holding the purse strings.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on February 16, 2023, 05:31:09 PM
Quote from: chipwich on February 16, 2023, 03:02:20 PMWhat a horrifying mind to think that ethics only apply if you can be punished for breaking them.

Who thinks that?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: chipwich on February 16, 2023, 05:37:24 PM
Quote from: Jacob on February 16, 2023, 05:31:09 PM
Quote from: chipwich on February 16, 2023, 03:02:20 PMWhat a horrifying mind to think that ethics only apply if you can be punished for breaking them.

Who thinks that?

Derp I misread.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on February 16, 2023, 06:27:37 PM
Quote from: chipwich on February 16, 2023, 05:37:24 PM
Quote from: Jacob on February 16, 2023, 05:31:09 PM
Quote from: chipwich on February 16, 2023, 03:02:20 PMWhat a horrifying mind to think that ethics only apply if you can be punished for breaking them.

Who thinks that?

Derp I misread.

:hug:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sophie Scholl on February 17, 2023, 12:10:17 AM
 :mellow:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: chipwich on February 17, 2023, 03:54:03 AM
In my defense it was a double negative.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 20, 2023, 04:54:55 AM
Not especially interested in the game itself, but noticed on the storefront... Atomic Heart.... £90. :bleeding:

And thats a digital game. Getting up to Street Fighter 2 cart territory.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 20, 2023, 05:14:19 AM
Do we know if it's going to be any good? It's coming to Game Pass tomorrow.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 20, 2023, 05:28:41 AM
I was watching a fresh stream of Blood Bowl 3 to see if the AI has improved over the absolute shite one in BB2.

It hasn't. Hard pass.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 20, 2023, 05:41:22 AM
Quote from: Josquius on February 20, 2023, 04:54:55 AMNot especially interested in the game itself, but noticed on the storefront... Atomic Heart.... £90. :bleeding:

And thats a digital game. Getting up to Street Fighter 2 cart territory.

The standard edition is £55.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on February 20, 2023, 05:55:23 AM
Oh: https://www.gamesradar.com/atomic-heart-developer-denies-claims-that-its-harvesting-data-for-russian-authorities/

QuoteAtomic Heart developer Mundfish has denied claims that it's collecting user data and providing it to Russian state authorities.

Earlier in the week, a fairly explosive report from AIN.Capital(opens in new tab) surfaced alleging Mundfish's Russian store website included a clause informing users that their data may be collected and sent to Russian state authorities including the tax office and the Federal Security Service (FSB), a Russian federal body with broad authority to implement government policy on national defense and counterterrorism.

AIN also claims Mundfish's website policy cited "Russian mobilization laws, under which soldiers are currently being recruited in Russia to continue the criminal war against Ukraine." Furthermore, AIN alleged Atomic Heart itself is being "sponsored by Russian investors" and that Mundfish listed its legal address as being in Moscow.

In a statement to GamesRadar+, Mundfish refuted claims of data harvesting on the grounds that the privacy statement cited in AIN's report is "outdated and wrong."

"Our game and website DO NOT collect any information or data," a spokesperson for Mundfish said. "The website's privacy statement is outdated and wrong, and should have been removed years ago. We have shut down the shop to assure our fans of the integrity of our studio and products. We apologize for any confusion on this matter."

Mundfish has not confirmed or denied claims that its website had once asked users to agree to data collecting, that its privacy policy made mention of Russian authorities, or that it has an office in Moscow.

Earlier this month, the Atomic Heart developer was criticized for its statement on Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The statement conspicuously doesn't mention the Russo-Ukrainian War specifically, but instead condemns "offensive, hateful, discriminatory, violent, or threatening language or content" and describes Mundfish as "a pro-peace organization against violence against people."

It's worth noting that Atomic Heart, which is Mundfish's debut title, stars a KGB agent in an alternate future in which the Soviet Union mastered robotics to defeat Nazi Germany and put an end to World War 2. Central to the recent controversy around Mundfish is whether or not the studio has accepted funds from Russian authorities in developing Atomic Heart. The studio's statement today makes no mention of that matter, but the topic is undoubtedly heavy on the minds of many who have been anticipating the game.

According to its website(opens in new tab), Mundfish is a Cyprus-based "international team" of developers from "countries including Poland, Ukraine, Austria, Georgia, Israel, Armenia, UAE, Serbia, and Cyprus."


Yeah I am not sure I am going to install it.

EDIT: funnily enough it is coming out on the day of Putin's big speech.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 20, 2023, 06:07:11 AM
Surely Steam have checks in place for that kind of shit?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on February 20, 2023, 06:33:47 AM
Presumably one doesn't have to be a cultural warrior to say "Hey, I don't feel like giving money to companies that would engage in such antics."
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on February 20, 2023, 09:35:04 PM
Kerbal Space Program 2 early access on Friday, $50 price tag.  Gameplay videos just came out today, and it looks beautiful with way better interfaces if a bit rough around the edges.

The big problem is the minimum/recommended specs are pretty high.  Minimum is met by only a third of Steam users, recommended by 3%.  My 4yo computer is below the minimum, but I'm still tempted to buy it just to see if it can chug along.  I'll probably wait until some others test out the lower range though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 21, 2023, 07:15:50 AM
Quote from: frunk on February 20, 2023, 09:35:04 PMKerbal Space Program 2 early access on Friday, $50 price tag.  Gameplay videos just came out today, and it looks beautiful with way better interfaces if a bit rough around the edges.

The big problem is the minimum/recommended specs are pretty high.  Minimum is met by only a third of Steam users, recommended by 3%.  My 4yo computer is below the minimum, but I'm still tempted to buy it just to see if it can chug along.  I'll probably wait until some others test out the lower range though.

That's crazy, especially since the first was so light.

I never got far with the first. Too much onus on the skills of actual rocket scientists. Maybe I would have been into it as a kid but these days I just bounce off learning curves.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on February 21, 2023, 09:48:19 AM
Quote from: Josquius on February 21, 2023, 07:15:50 AMThat's crazy, especially since the first was so light.

I never got far with the first. Too much onus on the skills of actual rocket scientists. Maybe I would have been into it as a kid but these days I just bounce off learning curves.

Early builds of KSP were pretty rough on performance.  Later on they got much better.  There's indications that some of the bad performance on KSP2 results from specific types of rocket builds, which should be possible to iron out.  The interface/transitions are all much snappier, since it isn't hammering a single core of the processor like KSP does.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on February 23, 2023, 10:04:07 PM
Company of Heroes 3 is out.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: chipwich on February 24, 2023, 06:56:12 PM
What's your opinion of it?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on February 25, 2023, 10:25:07 AM
Quote from: frunk on February 20, 2023, 09:35:04 PMKerbal Space Program 2 early access on Friday, $50 price tag.  Gameplay videos just came out today, and it looks beautiful with way better interfaces if a bit rough around the edges.

The big problem is the minimum/recommended specs are pretty high.  Minimum is met by only a third of Steam users, recommended by 3%.  My 4yo computer is below the minimum, but I'm still tempted to buy it just to see if it can chug along.  I'll probably wait until some others test out the lower range though.

So it looks like it should be able to run on my system (they lowered the specs and early tests show even under spec machines can still work).  The game looks great and I think they are headed in the right direction but there are enough bugs/issues that I'm going to wait until after the first patch at least.  Let's see how quickly they address problems.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on February 25, 2023, 11:13:40 AM
Quote from: frunk on February 25, 2023, 10:25:07 AM
Quote from: frunk on February 20, 2023, 09:35:04 PMKerbal Space Program 2 early access on Friday, $50 price tag.  Gameplay videos just came out today, and it looks beautiful with way better interfaces if a bit rough around the edges.

The big problem is the minimum/recommended specs are pretty high.  Minimum is met by only a third of Steam users, recommended by 3%.  My 4yo computer is below the minimum, but I'm still tempted to buy it just to see if it can chug along.  I'll probably wait until some others test out the lower range though.

So it looks like it should be able to run on my system (they lowered the specs and early tests show even under spec machines can still work).  The game looks great and I think they are headed in the right direction but there are enough bugs/issues that I'm going to wait until after the first patch at least.  Let's see how quickly they address problems.

steam reviews have it a 50% right now.
there's a few places with between 10-15% reduction around
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on February 25, 2023, 12:03:20 PM
Quote from: Crazy_Ivan80 on February 25, 2023, 11:13:40 AMsteam reviews have it a 50% right now.
there's a few places with between 10-15% reduction around

There's a lot of frothing on Steam.  My favorite one is this bit:

QuoteBecause, not to put to fine a point on it, a fitting description for the current level of technical inadequacies on this project causes epistemological problems of sufficient magnitude as to lay a heavier burden upon the logical and semantic resources of the English language than they can reasonably be expected to bear!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on February 25, 2023, 02:06:49 PM
Quote from: frunk on February 25, 2023, 12:03:20 PM
QuoteBecause, not to put to fine a point on it, a fitting description for the current level of technical inadequacies on this project causes epistemological problems of sufficient magnitude as to lay a heavier burden upon the logical and semantic resources of the English language than they can reasonably be expected to bear!

sounds like it belongs in disco elysium...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on February 28, 2023, 07:39:23 PM
The 4X lite Ozymandias is extremely my jam on Steam Deck. It's perfect for the handheld form factor.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Oexmelin on March 05, 2023, 11:56:29 AM
Quote from: Crazy_Ivan80 on February 25, 2023, 02:06:49 PM
Quote from: frunk on February 25, 2023, 12:03:20 PM
QuoteBecause, not to put to fine a point on it, a fitting description for the current level of technical inadequacies on this project causes epistemological problems of sufficient magnitude as to lay a heavier burden upon the logical and semantic resources of the English language than they can reasonably be expected to bear!

sounds like it belongs in disco elysium...

It's a quote from Yes Minister...

https://youtu.be/8keZbZL2ero
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on March 05, 2023, 01:21:46 PM
Quote from: Oexmelin on March 05, 2023, 11:56:29 AM
Quote from: Crazy_Ivan80 on February 25, 2023, 02:06:49 PM
Quote from: frunk on February 25, 2023, 12:03:20 PM
QuoteBecause, not to put to fine a point on it, a fitting description for the current level of technical inadequacies on this project causes epistemological problems of sufficient magnitude as to lay a heavier burden upon the logical and semantic resources of the English language than they can reasonably be expected to bear!

sounds like it belongs in disco elysium...

It's a quote from Yes Minister...

https://youtu.be/8keZbZL2ero
haven't seen that in ages (like 20+years). Maybe I should rewatch it, at seems nothing much changed there
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on March 05, 2023, 05:58:34 PM
Quote from: chipwich on February 24, 2023, 06:56:12 PMWhat's your opinion of it?
Played through the German linear campaign.  I had fun, which is saying a lot since these days I have a hard time enjoying computer games.  There's an open turn-based total war type campaign as well, but I haven't tried it.  Some sequels radically change the format, some sequels are incremental improvements.  This is neither.  This is Company of Heroes 2006.  It doesn't play any differently.  It doesn't even look much different (though I'm only playing on medium settings).  Fortunately,  Company of Heroes was a great game so more of it is okay. 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on March 08, 2023, 12:29:19 PM
Somewhat intriguing: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2211840/Stellar_Sovereigns/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: chipwich on March 09, 2023, 01:51:07 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on March 05, 2023, 05:58:34 PM
Quote from: chipwich on February 24, 2023, 06:56:12 PMWhat's your opinion of it?
Played through the German linear campaign.  I had fun, which is saying a lot since these days I have a hard time enjoying computer games.  There's an open turn-based total war type campaign as well, but I haven't tried it.  Some sequels radically change the format, some sequels are incremental improvements.  This is neither.  This is Company of Heroes 2006.  It doesn't play any differently.  It doesn't even look much different (though I'm only playing on medium settings).  Fortunately,  Company of Heroes was a great game so more of it is okay.

Everyone on the internet seems to hate the Campaigns.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on March 13, 2023, 11:25:43 AM
I gave Terraformers a try over the weekend.  It was more compelling than you might think, the random generation of cards, and resources and the differing goals in each scenario provide good replay value.

Well worth a go.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 16, 2023, 02:04:28 AM
Besides Victoria 3, I've been spending some time with Railbound. It's a relatively inexpensive puzzle game with pleasing cartoon graphics in which you create railroad tracks to get carriages to connect to the engine. It starts simple, new concepts are introduced every level in a pretty clear way, but I'm at Level 8 of 10 and it's doing my head in (every level has "normal" levels to unlock the next stage, plus "bonus" levels which tend to be harder than the normal ones). But it's quite fun, if a bit frustrating at times when there's a possible solution you're missing and you keep interating through your wrong solutions again and again, trying to fix them - but it's a puzzle game, so that's part of it. :D

Not many frills, just puzzles.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1967510/Railbound/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on March 17, 2023, 10:40:26 PM
My boy made a video game (PC): https://gd.games/artsumbrella/quirky-cracker

<- and -> for movement [space] to jump
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on March 18, 2023, 02:35:38 PM
After the first patch I picked up KSP 2.  It runs on my computer despite being well below the minimum.  If I don't look Kerbin performance is just fine. 

The improvements made are great, but they need to get to the point where it is no brainer better than KSP 1.

I think it will be well worth buying in 6 months to a year based on the pace of the first patch.  We'll see.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 19, 2023, 01:04:18 AM
Quote from: Jacob on March 17, 2023, 10:40:26 PMMy boy made a video game (PC): https://gd.games/artsumbrella/quirky-cracker

<- and -> for movement [space] to jump

Neat :) A bit hard to judge your jumps, because of the limited sight radius, though that may be working as intended to increase difficulty. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 19, 2023, 02:32:40 PM
For folks who like KSP but want it as a warfare sim trying to be as physically accurate as possible, this might be worth a look, currently under $10 during the sale:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/476530/Children_of_a_Dead_Earth/

QuoteThe Most Scientifically Accurate Space Warfare Simulator Ever Made.

Children of a Dead Earth is a simulation of true-to-life space warfare. Design your spacecrafts using real world technologies. Traverse the solar system using actual orbit mechanics. Command fleets as the solar system descends into war, and see if you have what it takes to become the victor.

Features
REAL SCIENCE, REAL TECHNOLOGY - Every technology, from the Nuclear Thermal Rockets, to the Railguns, to the Magnetoplasmadynamic Thrusters, was implemented using actual equations from Engineering and Physics textbooks and white papers. Every aspect of these systems, efficiency, size, mass, power usage, heat dissipation, are all derived from valid equations.

CAMPAIGN AND SANDBOX MODES - Assume the role of an admiral and fight through a detailed storyline chronicling the descent of the solar system into all out war, spanning every planet in the solar system and everything in between. Or simply play in the sandbox, designing ships and pitting them against other ships.

EXTREMELY ACCURATE ORBITAL MECHANICS - With an N-Body Simulator (the kind NASA uses to plot spacecraft trajectories), all orbital phenomenon from hyperbolic orbits, Lagrange points, and orbital perturbation are all correctly simulated. Spacecrafts can stationkeep orbits, or enter into free falling perturbed orbits.

1:1 SCALE - The solar system is modeled completely to scale. The sizes of all planets, moons, and asteroids are accurately enormous, and the distance between them is similarly huge. The extremely high orbital speed of your ships deep in high gravity orbits is correspondingly correct.

FREEFORM SHIP DESIGN - Build your spacecrafts out of rockets, propellant tanks, weapons, powerplants, radiators, and crew modules. Wrap it all up with multiple armor layers, and maybe a Whipple Shield to boot. The acceleration, moment of inertia, delta-v, and much more are all correctly calculated for all spacecrafts you design.

HIGHLY GRANULAR MODULE DESIGN - Tweak everything from the nozzle length or stoichiometric mixture ratio of your bipropellant rockets to the armature and rail dimensions of your railguns. The results of every change is seen in real time, from the change in your rocket's exhaust velocity, to your railgun's inductance or muzzle velocity.

PHYSICALLY ACCURATE MATERIAL PROPERTIES - All materials, chemical reactions, and spectra are physically correct. When your arclamp pumps your solid state laser, the pumping bands need to match up with the actual emission spectra of your excitation gas. When the photon absorption of a material is needed, it is derived from actual refractive index spectra data.

IN-ENGINE MOD SUPPORT - The engine supports black box creation of untested or far future technology for modders to work with. All other game data, from levels to material properties, is also accessible to modders.

STEAM WORKSHOP SUPPORT - Subscribe to mods on Steam Workshop, and they will automatically load. In-game export tools allow instant uploading of your own designs to Steam Workshop.

All of the above aspects combine to yield a space warfare simulator that is unparalleled in scientific realism. No other game combines the extremely accurate orbital mechanics, 1:1 scale of the solar system, and technology which is implemented 100% by scientific equations. If you ever wanted to know what space warfare would actually be like, this is the game for you.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on March 19, 2023, 02:59:38 PM
On the topic. Anyone ever heard of/get anywhere with Juno new origins?
I got that free at some point and have had a look. Initial impressions are too much of the bad side of kerbal. I want more program management and exploration and less actual rocket science  practice.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on March 23, 2023, 06:52:07 AM
https://www.escapistmagazine.com/tax-heaven-3000-has-an-anime-girl-assisting-with-your-taxes/
QuoteTax Heaven 3000 Is an Anime Dating Sim That Does Your Taxes

Visual novels can provide intriguing concepts for video games. Doki Doki Literature Club added horror elements to the text-based genre. Hell, even the likes of Tron are getting in on the action with a detective slant. But what if you want a visual novel to help you with real-life applications? Like taxes? That's where visual novel dating sim game Tax Heaven 3000 comes in, albeit with an anime angle.

Have a look at the announcement trailer via Gematsu:

Tax Heaven 3000 is a game where you go on dates, get to know one another intimately, and prepare your 2022 federal taxes. It's mainly for single filing without dependents. There are multiple endings to be seen, which I hope do not include real-life identity theft.

The makers of the title, MSCHF Product Studio, have mostly done products ranging from sneakers to colognes and to one other game, Chair Simulator. Just the kind of company you should trust with your Social Security Number. Seriously, do not give your SSN and personal details to the pretty anime girl. Spend some money and use an accountant, instead.

Look for Tax Heaven 3000 to launch for PC via Steam on March 31 as a free-to-play game. Also, there will apparently be a physical collector's edition with a body pillow to purchase, unless that's a joke? I can't wait to see the inevitable drama that follows its release.

Criminal genius?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 23, 2023, 07:35:12 AM
Was listening to the Space Game Junkie podcast yesterday where they talked to the developer of Relic Space.

It wasn't on my radar, but it looks interesting: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1146420/Relic_Space/

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on March 24, 2023, 12:40:36 AM
Any of you played A Plague Tale: Requiem?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 27, 2023, 03:28:02 PM
Quote from: Syt on March 23, 2023, 07:35:12 AMWas listening to the Space Game Junkie podcast yesterday where they talked to the developer of Relic Space.

It wasn't on my radar, but it looks interesting: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1146420/Relic_Space/



Been playing a fair amount of it over the weekend. It's not very content rich at the moment (esp. the randomized missions), but I do enjoy its turn based combat a fair bit already - managing energy and heat, plus upgrading/targeting components. I hope the dev sticks to his road map, and he's been pretty up front in his interview that he's working on this by himself and therefore made the timelines less ambitious. More equipment, more events/missions, a new faction, plus a "free play" mode are in the cards.

Here's Splattercat looking at it: https://youtu.be/YBP819UoCZg

It feels a bit like a turn based Drox Operative (i.e. factions do their own thing to win a war, and you do missions to help them out).

Some of the concepts could have been explained a bit better, like buying (old tech) relics from one faction to give to "your" faction which gives them new tech.

Bit hard to recommend at the current price vs. existing content (€17.49), but if nothing else it's a very solid foundation for more to come.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on March 28, 2023, 07:20:08 AM
Goodbye to the 3ds eshop. :weep:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on March 28, 2023, 07:38:15 AM
Quote from: garbon on March 28, 2023, 07:20:08 AMGoodbye to the 3ds eshop. :weep:
why I insist on buying hard copies of Nintendo games.
Ridiculous they keep replacing the shop with every generation.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 28, 2023, 10:30:58 AM
Combat Mission Battle for Normandy is now on Steam:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2297010/Combat_Mission_Battle_for_Normandy/

€59.99, but currently 15% off at €50.14. Oh, and all DLC is also there, available as a bundle with main game for €119,49. :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 28, 2023, 10:31:50 AM
That being said: https://steamcommunity.com/app/2297010/discussions/0/3825284575369534276/

QuoteDLCs and Battlefront redeem
Hi everyone,

we are proud to announce that the DLCs for Battle for Normandy are going to be released alongside the base game on March 28th. But that's not all:

1) If you bought the game from the Battlefront store, you can register your serial on the Matrix store to obtain the Matrix Games version, which in turn, allows you to unlock a Steam version too.

2) If you decide to buy the Matrix version of the game, you will also get a Steam key.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on April 04, 2023, 09:14:57 AM
Six Ages getting a sequel: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/storybook-strategy-sim-six-ages-2-treks-to-pc-this-summer
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Barrister on April 06, 2023, 02:59:03 PM
I don't know why but I wound up buying Hogwarts: Legacy.  I really shouldn't buy any expensive games, I don't have time for them - I haven't even finished the prologue of this one! :lol: :(

But one thing I found curious though is that in character creation - you never actually choose a gender.  You're a late arrival at the school (5th year so what - 14 or 15?), but because of the bulky wizard robes you don't select a body type, all faces and hairstyles are available to you.  About the only differentiation is you get a choice of two voices: one which sounds female, one which sounds male.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on April 06, 2023, 04:34:19 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on April 04, 2023, 09:14:57 AMSix Ages getting a sequel: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/storybook-strategy-sim-six-ages-2-treks-to-pc-this-summer


 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on April 08, 2023, 11:50:42 AM
not sure for how much longer but Battlestar Galactica Deadlock is free on steam currently.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on April 08, 2023, 08:43:29 PM
What's the consensus on Anno 1800?  Never played an Anno game before, but the 19th century looks kinda neat.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on April 08, 2023, 08:48:27 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on April 08, 2023, 08:43:29 PMWhat's the consensus on Anno 1800?  Never played an Anno game before, but the 19th century looks kinda neat.

Depends what you want.
They're less cities skylines or Caesar and more Age of Empires.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on April 08, 2023, 09:15:13 PM
I build armies and command them on the map?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on April 08, 2023, 09:22:56 PM
It's a business logistics simulator with a side of warfare. Anno 1800 doesn't have land troops, only ships.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on April 09, 2023, 03:22:19 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on April 08, 2023, 09:22:56 PMIt's a business logistics simulator with a side of warfare. Anno 1800 doesn't have land troops, only ships.

And it is excellent. Best wait for a moment with a big discount cause it is  expensive with it's 4 seasons of expansions. Which are also quite good
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on April 16, 2023, 03:19:07 PM
The Amiga mini is sub £100 now.

I know logically it's something I'd barely if ever use, it won't match up to my childhood desires given gaming has moved on this past 30 years... But I'm still tempted.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on April 16, 2023, 06:25:58 PM
I have a Commodore 64 mini. I've plugged it in once. It's really fun to have on display tho.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on April 16, 2023, 06:33:41 PM
I still have my old C64 from back in the day...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on April 16, 2023, 07:57:07 PM
Quote from: Jacob on April 16, 2023, 06:33:41 PMI still have my old C64 from back in the day...

I only have the monitor anymore. 😕
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 17, 2023, 01:31:53 PM
Started a career in FM23 at German 3rd League side SV Waldhof Mannheim (they played in the Bundesliga in the 80s under their then legendary coach Klaus "Schlappi" Schlappner (getting Mannheim to top tier was his biggest achievement; he tried similar with other clubs later but failed).

(https://img.welt.de/img/sport/mobile208130389/0632501147-ci102l-w1024/Klaus-Schlappner.jpg)

Anyways, it's the usual low tier stuff - mediocre players, no money for transfers, trying to get some free agents, working on youth system, trying to get loans in. Also, since I've not played much recently, I've handed over many responsibilities to my staff, and make sure I check their recommendations/try to understand. :P

9 matches into the season we're in 7th place with 4 wins, 1 draw, 4 losses. We have an amazing defense (best tacklers in the league, and fewest shots on goal against us), allowing only 8 goals so far. However, our scoring is abysmal, scoring only 9 times total. I dominate passing (best in league for completed passes and fewest opponent passes allowed), possession (best in league, again), etc. But my sports analysts are lost as to what to recommend. "You should try for long shots, because you don't create any scoring chances within the penalty box. That said, you should work the ball into the box, because not a single one of your team's long shots has been on target so far."

Needless to say I'm looking for new offensive staff at the moment. :P

(https://i.postimg.cc/nLpLWD6L/image.png)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: DGuller on April 18, 2023, 11:16:08 PM
Wow, looks like Jagged Alliance 3 really is happening.  Lots of reviews of preview editions have been published today.  The ones I've read seem to be mostly negative, but ironically the things that reviewers consider negative actually make me hopeful.  IMO JA3 could be successful even if you just take JA2 and leave it alone, put a new engine on it, and maybe incorporate some quality of life lessons that game designers learned over the last 25 years.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 19, 2023, 03:51:38 AM
Couldn't resist picking up Blood Bowl 3. I have had full intention to play it in multiplayer as I had no illusions about the AI.

Yet, I did start playing against the AI to learn the UI, and an early indication that it might have actually learned to mind the clock made me burn up my 2 hours refund time on hopelessly trying to get a game out of the AI.

Turns out that yes it is probably better than the BB2 AI in the sense that it seems to go reckless when time is about to run out. Problem is that it does that as stupidly as anything else (still, again, better than BB2) and oh boy it is stupid. Sometimes it seems to just... give up.

A complete farce. Then again as I said I was looking to play MP, but it would be so good to have just a not-braindead BB AI. But just as since BB1, if you have the most rudimentary understanding of the basic tactics of the game (which is the extent of my skills with it) then you simply cannot lose against the AI. At least in BB1 if you just hit end turn without moving the AI would score. In BB2 even that wasn't guaranteed. And I think overall the BB3 AI is even worse.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on April 19, 2023, 06:02:38 AM
Quote from: DGuller on April 18, 2023, 11:16:08 PMWow, looks like Jagged Alliance 3 really is happening.  Lots of reviews of preview editions have been published today.  The ones I've read seem to be mostly negative, but ironically the things that reviewers consider negative actually make me hopeful.  IMO JA3 could be successful even if you just take JA2 and leave it alone, put a new engine on it, and maybe incorporate some quality of life lessons that game designers learned over the last 25 years.

What are the reviewers complaining about? (in so far as reviewers can still be trusted)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: DGuller on April 19, 2023, 08:09:12 AM
Quote from: Crazy_Ivan80 on April 19, 2023, 06:02:38 AM
Quote from: DGuller on April 18, 2023, 11:16:08 PMWow, looks like Jagged Alliance 3 really is happening.  Lots of reviews of preview editions have been published today.  The ones I've read seem to be mostly negative, but ironically the things that reviewers consider negative actually make me hopeful.  IMO JA3 could be successful even if you just take JA2 and leave it alone, put a new engine on it, and maybe incorporate some quality of life lessons that game designers learned over the last 25 years.

What are the reviewers complaining about? (in so far as reviewers can still be trusted)
The two main complaints seem to be cheesy lines from mercs and deliberate omission of chance-to-hit information.  Another complaint is that the game seems to be stuck in the past.  In other words, the complaints seem to be that JA3 is a Jagged Alliance game, and not an XCOM game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on April 19, 2023, 11:06:58 AM
Tnx for the info. I might keep an eye on that one as it's been too long since a decent ja game
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 20, 2023, 04:49:51 AM
Played 3 BB3 matches my Elven Union team. One draw (would have won but I kept clicking the "do not reroll" option when I thought I was clicking reroll :D ) one loss against a team 1.5 times the value of mine (low number of people playing) and won against a Nurgle team.

The latter was the kind of match you pay agile teams for. Hard-fought match, I am up 2-1. I keep pressuring the Nurgle guy when he is on attack, I cannot stop him from scoring but on the other hand it stopped him having the option to run the clock down into a draw if he wanted to. So its 2-2, I have 3 turns to score, I am down 2 players.

Kick-off event is a snow storm so I am reduced to short passes only  He tries to blitz and get to the ball which is a mistake because it leaves enough room for me to do a chain with elves only blocked by one Nurgle guy each. My Thrower with the ball hands it to the other Thrower who dodges his mark with 83% chance, runs as close as feasible to one of the linemen, who catches the pass, and rolls like 4 successful dodges 2 of them 67% ones and scores with one turn to go.  :lol:

The guy rage-conceded immediately  :lol: , which is stupid because that auto generates a 6-0 victory for me and I believe he loses all the experience points he gained for those goals and injuries he did on me.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on April 21, 2023, 06:02:08 AM
This is cool. Disco Elysium drawing montage. Closest we'll get to a film version?

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 24, 2023, 05:01:52 AM
Slowly making my way still through the first season of FM23 as 3rd tier coach in Germany. I'm finding my way around better, but man, the staff planning is putting my brain in knots. "Ok, on this position I have 2 good players and 3 others can take over if I'm pressed for personnel. 4 of their contracts are running out, and one youth player might be ready to move up, but not sure. I want to extend 2 of the 4 expiring contracts, so I should look for possible replacements, but have to keep in mind that 2 of the ones I want to extend might get better offers elsewhere, so perhaps I should shop around more ..." etc. The whole "what does the squad look like next season?" is frying my brain. The squad planner helps, but sheesh. :wacko: :D

In amusing news: Bayern Munich beat Liverpool 3-1 in the first leg  of the Champions League Round of 16. All looked well ... but then they lost 7-0 in Liverpool, with Salah scoring 4 times.  :lmfao:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on April 24, 2023, 06:47:51 AM
Your will power is impressive. I can never resist save scumming in FM.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 24, 2023, 06:56:52 AM
Eh, too lazy to load back up and go through bits again. :D

After a rocky start my team is sitting in a spot for promotion to 2. Bundesliga, but opponents seem to have gotten used to our style, so had to adjust tactics. Also getting plagued with injuries, so had to switch to less intense style.

And there's some feel good stuff in there, like my main striker not hitting for 10 matches in a row. Press were badgering me about him, but I trusted him. I benched him for half a match, brought him in after the break and he scored twice, and then for 12 games in a row. (Though he did manage to snag the ball after an opponent goalie made a bad kick, and managed to shoot over the completely empty goal .... :bleeding). Either way, he's now out with sprained knee ligaments for 6-8 weeks after an opponent's tackle - and I don't really have many strikers in reserve. -_-

Btw, started watching Sunderland 'Til I Die - I assume your accent is similar to the one of the locals on that show? :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on April 24, 2023, 07:08:19 AM
I kind of want to get back into FM but if I do it may affect my real life responsibilities  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 24, 2023, 07:16:25 AM
I was really big into the German football management games of the 90s/early 00s. But in those you could comfortably play a season in a day or two (and obvs. they were much less advanced or detailed than anything we have now). :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Threviel on April 24, 2023, 07:27:14 AM
I play FM on the phone, it's about on the same level as Ultimate Soccer Manager back in the day which was my favourite.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on April 24, 2023, 07:35:28 AM
I have a Steam Deck I'd play it on and I think if I were to start a season playthrough I'd probably play it in bed and not get any sleep  :lol:

The other thing is sometimes FM just decides you're going to lose a game or three and that really ticks me off  :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 25, 2023, 12:43:51 AM
8 matches to go, and we're 2nd place in the table, but 4 key players are out for 4+ weeks and matches against my main competitors in the top ranks are coming up. :ph34r:

Especially pissed at my best left defender - he had an amazing season (and really happy I locked him in early for two more seasons before he exploded in ability and would have asked for a higher salary), but he was out with a torn muscle for 3 weeks, and literally the first day back in training he broke a couple of ribs. :glare:

In terms of results I feel we're punching above our weight (pretty much every match preview has us going in at best at a slight advantage, even against the weakest teams). I held a team meeting, trying to get folks hyped for the final stretch, telling them that while they've been great I feel they can do even more. At which they were all angry and furious. :lol:  :blush:

Next season my (on paper) two strongest players will leave - they ask for way too much money for my budget, so it will suck a bit, but I hope some younger folks will step up, and that the players we bring in will fill any gaps (and improve).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 26, 2023, 12:19:29 AM
The last three matches were tough - so many injuries I had to call up 16 and 17 year olds to plug some gaps. Lost 0-1 at home against 14th in the table. Then played 0-0 at Rot-Weiß Essen who lead the field comfortably 12 points ahead of the rest. And then played away against our direct competitor, Dynamo Dresden.

Early lead in the 3rd minute for us. :w00t: And lost 3-1. :cry:

Amusing. The latter match (Dresden v Mannheim) happened IRL this weekend. Both teams are also still hoping for promotion (but are a bit further down in the ranks). IRL, Mannheim (my team) also scored a very early goal in the 5th minute ... and lost 2-1. Close enough. :lol: (The consensus seems to be that Mannheim dominates most matches but sucks at converting it into goals ... very much my world this season :D )

Anyways, my star striker is making his return from injury and has barely recovered ... only for his replacement to now destroy his ankle tendons during training he's out for 5-6 months(!)  :mad: (He was getting quite complacent in recent matches and I was just getting him motivated again, too ...  :glare: )
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on April 29, 2023, 01:13:52 AM
Preordered Age of Wonders 4, since it looks like fun with lots of customization. :ph34r:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on April 29, 2023, 01:19:25 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on April 29, 2023, 01:13:52 AMPreordered Age of Wonders 4, since it looks like fun with lots of customization. :ph34r:

The reviews seem quite positive, yes. :ph34r:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on April 30, 2023, 03:41:58 AM
Quote from: Syt on April 29, 2023, 01:19:25 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on April 29, 2023, 01:13:52 AMPreordered Age of Wonders 4, since it looks like fun with lots of customization. :ph34r:

The reviews seem quite positive, yes. :ph34r:

I am most definitely picking it up but the videos have me a bit worried because the world map seems very Planetfall-ish with terrain features kind of meshing together and hard to distinguish, at least for me. Made it a bit exhausting for me to play Planetfall because of that.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 02, 2023, 12:52:07 AM
Man, I have all kinds of respect for FM23, but I think I have to call it quits. But I see why there's a large audience for which the series is their "forever game", i.e. the only thing they play.

But for someone like me who likes to switch between games, I think it's not really playable, if I want to play it "seriously." :D It took me well over one week to play through 1 season in Germany's 3rd Liga. Since I had massively messed up my transfers (overstacking in some positions, neglecting others, running a massive deficit ... ) I wanted to start a-fresh. I tried a club in Italy's Serie C (Taranto), Chippenham in Vanarama South (being a semi-pro club you have serious limits on training since it's only 2x a week), and now Juve Stabia near Naples (also Serie C, but with decent finances and staff).

However, just going through the pre-season (with the initial transfer window disabled) takes me easily half a day of assessing players, looking at abilities, hiring staff, figuring out a tactic and getting through the pre-season friendlies (I like to manage them myself to see how the team is doing). I delegate scouting assignments, pretty much everything to do with the youth teams, and training, so basically focus on managing the senior squad (transfers, contracts), the senior squad staff, tactics, line ups and matches (but relying heavily on assistant's input). And it is still so much to do. :D

Additionally, after coming home from work ... it feels like more work. Analyzing stats, abilities, numbers, .... who is best in which position, and what role and duty, in accordance to their abilities and the abilities of those around them, and choosing team and player instructions accordingly, reacting to players' bad form or morale issues, plugging gaps in case of injuries ...

It's interesting and compelling, but I don't feel it's particularly relaxing. :lol:

I was mostly giving FM another "serious" try while waiting for the CK3 and Vic3 patches/expansions, but man. If you're hugely into football and don't switch games often, I think this is great (as is OOTP on the baseball side of things). But I think the time requirement is a bit too much for me - I get two to four matches done in an evening after work, which feels incredibly glacial if you'd love to play a full manager's career and include a couple extra leagues to get decent long term data from them (= more processing time, even at "View Only", which is better than "playable" but still not super-fast). I could switch everything to autopilot and sim my matches, but I think that's just not involved enough for me. :D And playing only one season feels a bit meaningless - these games are very much about long term evolution and development for me. Sure you won promotion - but can you stay up? Will your best players stay? Do you need to keep an old ovrprices veteran? Will your youth intake develop as you'd like them to? Etc.

I'd put it up there with GG's War in the Pacific/War in the East, Dwarf Fortress, etc. in terms of complexity and/or time investment. :ph34r:

Yes, I have 600 hours on Vic 3 since October (200 probably from just letting it run in Observer mode :P ), but the game is a lot less complex IMHO, and a campaign can wrap up in a weekend. Sure, CK3 campaigns can take 100+ hours across 6 centuries, but the moment to moment decision making is much less involved and stressful. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on May 02, 2023, 04:24:28 AM
Yes, thats the problem with FM, its way too much of a full time job. I do enjoy it but for some years now I've purposefully kept myself away from it .
I eagerly await a football management game that has a good balance between casualness and detail. There used to be some good ones back in the day,
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 02, 2023, 04:39:14 AM
I have preordered AoW4.  :Embarrass: I mean, I won't be able to resist picking it up straight away so why not get the bonuses.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on May 02, 2023, 04:58:28 AM
AoW4 Languish multiplayer when? :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on May 02, 2023, 07:18:52 AM
AoW 4 looks good but I have a huge backlog of games so I'll probably wait for a sale at some point in the future.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 03, 2023, 12:46:46 AM
I played a few turns of the AOW4 tutorial last night. It seems smoother than AOW3 at least. I like the flexibility of creating whatever factions you like and not being tied down by "halflings have to be good", "dwarves have to be clumsy" stereotypes. If you want swift, nimble dwarves who worship nature, or cannibal demon summoning halflings, you can do that. (I went with nimble high elves with nature/order affinity, because I couldn't be bothered to be creative yesterday :P ) My only wish is for MOAR OPTIONS but I always do that, regardless of game. I'm the kind of guy who likes adding more planet types, more civics, more traits, more events, more anomalies, more planet modifiers, more traditions for Stellaris. -_-

The tutorial messages seem a bit wonky (I think I went into some menus when the game wasn't expecting me to do so yet).

Some people have been experiencing many crashes; I've not had any issues (running on a 3080 and i9-10900 at max details in 4k).

Game plays well so far, but it's not qiute grabbing me yet - to be fair that's likely not the game's fault. I have my eyes fixed on May 11th and the new CK3 DLC, and later this month the Victoria 3 DLC, and kinda look for something to fill the gap till then - which is also why I dove into FM23. (And I only just realized that Stellaris' new DLC comes out on the 9th :lol: Seems May is Paradox month now  :wacko: )
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 03, 2023, 02:56:23 AM
I have played AoW4 a few hours. It seems like a very well made Heroes of Migh and Magic type of game, almost certainly the best ever of those types of games (except Master of Magic but that one feels like a different category).

But, because of the hype train I expected a more profoundly different experience I guess. It's a very smooth implementation of the old formula yes but it is still the old formula.

Still, I am looking forward spending more time with it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on May 03, 2023, 03:21:51 AM
I assume the options will explode once the modding tools are out.

I had one crash so far, in the first turn when I started the game for the first time. Updated my graphics driver and installed the latest Windows updates, and had no crash since. The devs recommend trying the hotfix beta branch on Steam if you are still crashing, but I haven't needed to, so far.

If anyone is up for a MP game sometime, I'm in.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 03, 2023, 03:30:13 AM
Options-wise there seem to be plenty, I kinda wish I could randomise world generation options though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on May 03, 2023, 06:09:34 AM
Quote from: Tamas on May 03, 2023, 02:56:23 AMI have played AoW4 a few hours. It seems like a very well made Heroes of Migh and Magic type of game, almost certainly the best ever of those types of games (except Master of Magic but that one feels like a different category).

But, because of the hype train I expected a more profoundly different experience I guess. It's a very smooth implementation of the old formula yes but it is still the old formula.

Still, I am looking forward spending more time with it.

I did see one review (not sure where) that said good game but sacrificed a bit of 4X experience as was too focused on rpg element.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 03, 2023, 07:17:30 AM
Quote from: garbon on May 03, 2023, 06:09:34 AM
Quote from: Tamas on May 03, 2023, 02:56:23 AMI have played AoW4 a few hours. It seems like a very well made Heroes of Migh and Magic type of game, almost certainly the best ever of those types of games (except Master of Magic but that one feels like a different category).

But, because of the hype train I expected a more profoundly different experience I guess. It's a very smooth implementation of the old formula yes but it is still the old formula.

Still, I am looking forward spending more time with it.

I did see one review (not sure where) that said good game but sacrificed a bit of 4X experience as was too focused on rpg element.

Maybe but I think that applies to all the HoMM formula games. I do wonder if the surprise hit factor the game (which seems to be emerging) has something to do with many reviewers being too young to have an ingrained experience of these games. Even AoW3 is quite old and for what its worth never really clicked with me, the way this game actually seems to be clicking a bit. (and the way I absolutely loved HoMM2 as a kid).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 03, 2023, 07:58:05 AM
I mean, my impression is that you can still min/max your stats etc. and while there's story and quest events (like in previous AoW games IIRC), it feels less narratively driven than e.g. Stellaris, and maybe more in line with, say, Old World (minus character interactions, plus hero customization and magic system ... maybe more in line with Master of Magic? Never played that one much, though). YMMV, though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 03, 2023, 08:34:37 AM
Quote from: Syt on May 03, 2023, 07:58:05 AMI mean, my impression is that you can still min/max your stats etc. and while there's story and quest events (like in previous AoW games IIRC), it feels less narratively driven than e.g. Stellaris, and maybe more in line with, say, Old World (minus character interactions, plus hero customization and magic system ... maybe more in line with Master of Magic? Never played that one much, though). YMMV, though.

 :o

But yeah out of those, it is closes to MoM.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 03, 2023, 08:43:49 AM
Never was on the shelf in my town when it was new, and when it came to GOG it seemed a bit too old even for me to get into. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 03, 2023, 11:04:48 AM
First preview video for Rule the Waves III. Looks like RtW2, I guess. Or RtW1, for that matter. :P

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on May 03, 2023, 11:39:58 AM
Quote from: Syt on May 03, 2023, 11:04:48 AMFirst preview video for Rule the Waves III. Looks like RtW2, I guess. Or RtW1, for that matter. :P

Yeah, I'm going to wait to see if there's anything interesting in the modern stuff before buying.  I'm thinking that the system won't work well for the guided missile/electronics era because of how it treats FOW in the earlier games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 04, 2023, 01:31:42 AM
Gave AoW4 another wack. My Elves campaign kinda got bogged down, so I decided to try and see if I start the tutorial map over if it would be a scripted map or randomly generated (I expected it might be a scripted pre-set) - turns out that it is generated. :)

In my second attempt (only wanted to start and quit), I got quite a few turns in as Astral/Mystic toadkin and was actually enjoying myself. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 04, 2023, 03:01:54 AM
Yeah I had a really good time with it last night. Eventually realised I wasn't expanding fast enough in the early game so after some climatic battles and whatnot in what I expect was the mid-game I surrendered which gave me enough points to level up my pantheon to level 2.

Maybe the game just caught me in a rare good time of being "attuned" with fantasy games (I was on quite a bit of Warhammer Total War kick, delved into the lore even) which doesn't happen often, but I am really enjoying it. Best fantasy strategy since MoM and HoMM2 easily.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on May 04, 2023, 05:08:47 AM
There are some mods on the workshop already btw, including one from the devs that gives you a massive-size map for 12 players, a mod that adds more banner colors, a tome of penguin magic  :P , and even an overhaul.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 04, 2023, 05:34:13 AM
Thanks but I haven't completed a single vanilla game, I not yet have an idea of what I do and don't want to mod. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on May 04, 2023, 11:56:17 AM
I'm on the fence with this... I almost bought it yesterday but I'm not sure. I also realize that unless I'm really committed to a game (like say CK3), seeing DLC/Season Pass content offered on day one that basically doubles the price of the game kind of turns me off a bit.

Instead I started fiddling with my Skyrim load order after a month's hiatus.

Still, you do make it sound pretty appealing so maybe I'll take the plunge in the end. It is a type of game that I enjoy....
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on May 05, 2023, 04:41:30 AM
You can get the base game for less than 40 euros from some sellers: https://isthereanydeal.com/game/ageofwondersiv/info/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 06, 2023, 05:44:59 AM
Presented without comment (link features NSFW pictures/video).  :whistle:

(Don't know if the game features beets in any form.)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2401460/Tamas_Awakening/

QuoteTamas Awakening

About This Game:
Tamas awakening is a 2D hand-drawn visual novel with top-notch artwork where you play as a young psychologist who obtains a mysterious ancient power from a mystic entity, and you become able to hypnotize people. With this power, you'll have the chance to fuck (and BREED) all the girls around you, especially those who live with you. This game features lots and lots of impregnation and breeding dirty talk, so if that's your thing you'll love it.

This is a LINEAR nukige game, and it features no choices or alternative endings. Sex comes first, plot comes last.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on May 06, 2023, 05:55:04 AM
 :yucky:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on May 06, 2023, 06:08:08 AM
I didn't know Tamas was that into breeding. :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 06, 2023, 07:46:54 AM
 :yucky:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Darth Wagtaros on May 06, 2023, 01:43:04 PM
Tamas is freaky.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: DGuller on May 07, 2023, 01:13:36 AM
What's the meaning of "Tamas awakening" in that game?  :hmm:  Is that a euphemism for an erection? :unsure:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on May 07, 2023, 07:57:01 AM
Quote from: DGuller on May 07, 2023, 01:13:36 AMWhat's the meaning of "Tamas awakening" in that game?  :hmm:  Is that a euphemism for an erection? :unsure:

I am quite sure that I do not want to know.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on May 07, 2023, 03:10:31 PM
Glancing at the screenshots the main character doesn't seem to be named Tamas.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Razgovory on May 07, 2023, 05:18:36 PM
Maybe Tamas made it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on May 08, 2023, 01:23:03 PM
QuoteThis is a LINEAR nukige game, and it features no choices or alternative endings. Sex comes first, plot comes last.

Well what is the gameplay then? You just click the sex button over and over again?  :huh:

I demand pervs get decent gameplay!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on May 08, 2023, 02:26:47 PM
Quote from: Valmy on May 08, 2023, 01:23:03 PM
QuoteThis is a LINEAR nukige game, and it features no choices or alternative endings. Sex comes first, plot comes last.

Well what is the gameplay then? You just click the sex button over and over again?  :huh:

I demand pervs get decent gameplay!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzkCmidjeHc&ab_channel=Gro%C3%9FeTelefonleitung
(button -> awesome)
this seems appropriate then
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on May 10, 2023, 12:21:28 PM
Quote from: Crazy_Ivan80 on April 08, 2023, 11:50:42 AMnot sure for how much longer but Battlestar Galactica Deadlock is free on steam currently.
Got it when it was free. Played a bit yesterday night.

Nice game, but...

So far, there no deep strategy involved.  Picket ships in front to absorb the shock, Battlestar behind to launch fighters when appropriate and fire at will at one ship until it's destroyed.  Rinse and repeat.

The controls with the mouse are a little bit tough to use.

Graphically, it's not very good to watch.  Basic ship model, some small animated portrait of the admiral and an advisor.

The French version has a Quebec and French flag, so I used this instead of the English text. :)

It's a nice game, but not my cup of tea, I think.  I believe I prefer Homeworld 2.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 11, 2023, 03:43:54 AM
Been playing some more AoW4. Admittedly, still on the beginner map, and on easy.  :blush:

I'm having fun, though. I went with "industrious humans", all in on materium (earth/construction) affinity. I actually like how the game leans into modifying your units constantly, by adding new racial modifiers, enchantments (thankfully global enchantments for all units of a type instead of per unit ... that used to be tedious), other races and "ancient wonders" (special ruins, that - once clear & annexed provide bonuses and also new units to recruit).

I'm running into the usual issue I have in AoW games: I never seem to have enough armies, esp. compared to the computer players. :D I've caught up now, but only after severely upping my gold income and then focusing my capital heavily on pumping out some more units. But that's on me :D

Overall really liking it, and kind of annoyed that the CK3 expansion comes today, as I will inevitably give that one a try now :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 11, 2023, 03:58:06 AM
On Normal at least, I am fairly convinced the AI is cheating heavily in AoW4. In my last won game I had an AI with 4 large cities (so far from weak to be fair) seemingly churning out at least 2 full stacks of Tier 3-4 units per turn. Unless it had ginormous gold reserve I don't think that was possible.

I don't mind the AI cheating in general, but it does make late game wars quite tedious. I manually fought these big-ass battles for a while to minimise my losses (since my 3 stacks had to eliminate 6-9 stack mega armies in 2-3 separate battles), but after a while I just couldn't make myself, had to switch to auto resolve.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 11, 2023, 03:59:28 AM
BTW Syt please do play the CK3 DLC and report back. :) I am on the fence about it, I am sure the travel mechanics are to the game's benefit but I am already struggling to tolerate the frequency of random meme events, I don't think I can put up with several more layers of them.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 11, 2023, 04:27:39 AM
The memes themselves don't bother me too much, it's just that they seem to occur too often (and I still believe CK2, esp. at the end if its life cycle was the far worse offender, overall).

I believe it's something where mods help a lot, like VIET (which lets you set the desired level of meme-ness of its content). Also, I saw a message on the forums that in future achievements/ironman will be possible even when using mods that change the checksum (with some unspecified exceptions), so if you felt you wanted to avoid mods and hunt achievements, the two will not be mututally exclusive any more.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 11, 2023, 04:56:21 AM
In CK2 at least you had an option to turn the memes off, which I always did.

What's also bad however (which the travel mechanic may change for the better) is that the events make the game driven by random events without much if any context to the mechanics you are playing with (apart from your traits serving as triggers in some cases). It always frustrates me. Mechanics and actions should inform and trigger events not the other way around, especially when arguably the mechanics are better in CK3 than in CK2.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 11, 2023, 05:09:01 AM
Eh, I think I'm more forgiving of that kind of gameplay. That said, most events have triggers and conditions, so generally they come out of characters' stats, if not results of direct actions. But with the number of characters, I'm fine if they don't model cause/effect chains for every event and action in the game and instead use random events as long as there's still trying to factor in traits and stats of the relevant characters (whether they achieve that well enough is of course up for debate).

That said, at the end of the day it's a game. And ultimately, the question for me is whether I'm entertained - I'm willing to cut the game slack in that regard (it helps that I like games as generators of narrative), but I understand if players who would prefer a more meticulous mechanical simulation of medieval rulership (let's call it "more mechanics, less fluff") don't like the title as much. And I can be quite forgiving of a game's shortcomings if I like the theme and the gameplay hooks me in well enough (looks at his 700+ hours in Victoria 3 ...  :blush: ).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on May 11, 2023, 05:20:42 AM
I think it is a known that many Ck3 events have underdeveloped triggers.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 11, 2023, 06:36:25 AM
Btw, I don't think I like the animation when you unlock a new tome in AoW4 ... it reminds me too much of opening packs in Hearthstone and the money I in that game. :bleeding: :weep: :Embarrass:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on May 12, 2023, 12:37:48 PM
Dungeons 4 (https://www.kalypsomedia.com/us/dungeons-4) has been announced.

The first Dungeons was apparently very, very similar to Dungeon Keeper, so EA tried to have them shut down but lost their legal battle.

Dungeons 2 came out, with enough difference to not warrant a suit.

I've played many hours of Dungeons 3 and I'm now looking forward to Dungeons 3.

It's classified as a "dungeon simulator".  Whatever that means?  :D

They're full of parodies and clichés about fantasy lore, lots of humor, and in the 3rd one, conflict between the narrator and your main character, Talya.
Silly humor, but I like it.  Due to the similarities of Dungeon Keeper, it reminded me of the game, and that's why I picked it up in the first place.  Lots of fun.

I'm eagerly awaiting the 4th one. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on May 13, 2023, 02:39:17 AM
I'm feeling the itch for some nice tactical turn-based WWII game. Any recomendations outside of Panzer Corps?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 13, 2023, 02:53:18 AM
Quote from: celedhring on May 13, 2023, 02:39:17 AMI'm feeling the itch for some nice tactical turn-based WWII game. Any recomendations outside of Panzer Corps?

Panzer Corps 2.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 13, 2023, 03:24:30 AM
Second Front reviews well, but I haven't really jumped into it yet. Similar for The Troop.

There's also the Order of Battle series which has a few more mechanics than Panzer Corps, but I've not really gotten on with it. Or if you prefer your WW2 games to play more like puzzle games, check Unity of Command 1 & 2 (1 is a lot "puzzlier" than 2, I think).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 13, 2023, 03:25:59 AM
Ah yes Unity of Command 2 is excellent, but definitely still has a lot of puzzle feel to it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on May 13, 2023, 03:36:46 AM
My fear with Panzer Corps 2 is that it plays much like a puzzle too. Is that the case?

Otherwise it's a good candidate, given there's a Spanish Civil War DLC, too.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 13, 2023, 04:15:06 AM
Quote from: celedhring on May 13, 2023, 03:36:46 AMMy fear with Panzer Corps 2 is that it plays much like a puzzle too. Is that the case?

Otherwise it's a good candidate, given there's a Spanish Civil War DLC, too.

Too a degree yes, although less than Unity of Command. But really, you should give UoC2 a try. It can be immensely entertaining.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on May 13, 2023, 07:29:15 AM
There's also Strategic Mind: Blitzkrieg, which has been sitting in my wishlist for a long time.

Buy it and tell me what you think.  :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 13, 2023, 07:31:50 AM
Quote from: frunk on May 13, 2023, 07:29:15 AMThere's also Strategic Mind: Blitzkrieg, which has been sitting in my wishlist for a long time.

Buy it and tell me what you think.  :D

Ugh, those games do not look good at all.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on May 13, 2023, 12:12:41 PM
So, since Tamas recommended it, I pulled the plug on Panzer Corps 2, mostly because of the Spanish Civil War DLC - not many "beer and pretzels" videogames model that war.

And here I am, commanding the Condor Legion. My grandfather would have a few choice words if he was still around  :ph34r:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 15, 2023, 12:31:19 AM
Sometimes a game pops up in the Steam discovery queue where a single screenshot makes me deeply uncomfortable.

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/2313960/ss_00510fb45037783a4860626b4f000f3f1bc2de34.1920x1080.jpg?t=1679339878)

(https://thumbs.gfycat.com/InsignificantOnlyLark-max-1mb.gif)

https://elderscrolls.fandom.com/wiki/Lockpicking_(Oblivion)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 15, 2023, 12:55:27 AM
And sometimes a retro inspired game brings back a buried memory:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1507530/Stellar_Mess_The_Princess_Conundrum_Chapter_1/

A point & click clearly inspired by early Lucasfilm, Ltd. games (Maniac Mansion, Zak McKracken), set in 1991 Patagonia.

But this screenshot:

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1507530/ss_5e7fa96579f9e532cf91e6ba81b00fa7d1e71f61.1920x1080.jpg)

Specifically this:

(https://i.imgur.com/DpQz5zs.png)

In the 80s, there were two small shops in the town I grew up in that had C64s on display - most often with ye olde International Soccer on as a demo (one shop actually let us play for a bit but usually asked us to leave when they realized we didn't want to buy anything ... ). Of course in the screenshot above it could just be a soccer match on TV - it's Argentina after all. Still sent me back in time for a moment. :D

(https://i.imgur.com/E8pFzDK.png)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on May 15, 2023, 04:59:14 AM
Anyone played Ixion?
Looks like an interesting narrative city builder in spaaaace.

(https://www.nme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Ixion-gameplay-screenshot.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 15, 2023, 05:57:41 AM
Yeah, heavy emphasis on narrative. There is quite clearly a specific optimal way to play (what to build when) and despite the free roam pretentions, finding that ideal sequence by trial and error is what the game is about. What first appears as freedom is just added difficulty in trial-erroring the expected sequence.

Then again, this might have changed since I played at release.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on May 16, 2023, 02:18:50 AM
So Panzer Corps 2. It's a very nice update of the Panzer General formula.

The Spanish Civil War campaign has this slightly odd gimmick where the infantry is controlled by the AI, to represent that the Condor Legion didn't have an infantry component. But the Condor Legion was also just a small component of the Nationalist air and mech units, so I feel the game is trying too hard. Anyway, the missions (so far) are designed with this in mind. I.e. in the second one the Nationalists are supposed to carry out a frontal attack with their infantry while you are expected to use your armored units to execute a pincer move and trap the Republicans. Still, I expect the gimmick will get old quick, but this - I expect - is exclusive to the SCW campaign.

All missions (so far) are drawn from real episodes from the war, even if they aren't very faithfully rendered. For example, the first one has you airlift Franco's troops over the strait, one of the key German contributions in the war and - I believe - the first operational airlift in military history. But then it also has you take Sevilla afterward (historically, it had already fallen when its garrison joined the coup) with German mech units that didn't exist at the time.  But this is a beer and pretzels game, so I'm not too bothered by that. There are also some cartoony vignettes between missions that are pretty jarring  :rolleyes:

The game looks great with all the minis and such. I'm still getting used to some of the mechanics they added to the basic PZG formula (like encirclement, I still don't understand when a unit is considered encircled or not).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 17, 2023, 04:19:11 AM
Playing some more AoW4. Currently as feudal halflings with focus on zeal/nature, and a pinch of chaos for the swarm modifiers. Going spawnkin (smaller dudes, but more dudes per unit), overwhelming swarm, standing together (both giving bonuses to units close to one another), plus the spell that gives buffs to tier I units. It's silly but fun. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on May 17, 2023, 06:39:26 AM
You can get an achievement if you have a human wizard leading a halfling civ. ;)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Zanza on May 17, 2023, 11:41:29 AM
Jagged Alliance 3 will be launched on July 14th. A gameplay trailer has me cautiously optimistic.

https://youtu.be/5t09aNdl18c
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 18, 2023, 08:16:25 AM
A game I always wanted when I first learned of it around 2000 or so. Bought it of ebay and found it a bit too cumbersome, dated, and opaque for me to get into.

Still, Star Fleet II - Krellan Commander is coming to Steam:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1470940/STAR_FLEET_II__Krellan_Commander_Version_20/

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1470940/ss_f4b4f7ef603e5e12cd23ede8177c6a4b26035b18.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1470940/ss_b132650da41fe5c299e66cf5113c4cc5c9f9d59d.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1470940/ss_71dee4609465878346894f84255f06a9871ea615.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1470940/ss_4b50fa9e7e5e2bbfc7c8693aca02ddc783fb05d3.1920x1080.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on May 18, 2023, 03:51:06 PM
Quote from: Zanza on May 17, 2023, 11:41:29 AMJagged Alliance 3 will be launched on July 14th. A gameplay trailer has me cautiously optimistic.

https://youtu.be/5t09aNdl18c

I'm going to wait until...

No, I'm not.  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on May 21, 2023, 10:21:39 AM
It's nice to see Rule the Waves 3 has received more than 110 Steam reviews and is standing at Very Positive. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 21, 2023, 03:04:03 PM
Been playing way too much Age of Wonder 4. :ph34r:

Got bitten way too hard by the "one more turn" bug on this one. Mind you, I'm playing quite sub-optimally, I think, and "Easy" difficulty keeps me plenty entertained for now - I tend to expand too slowly early game, and generally don't level my heroes fast enough and end up not claiming many Ancient Wonders. Though I still often manage to pull ahead mid game till I snowball over my competition.

I've been mostly playing the story maps. They're decent fun with some wrinkles thrown in. Though the 3rd one (around the caldera) had me go through a couple of attempts till I finally beat it. It has two major modifiers:
1. everyone's at war with everyone
2. during combat, every third each unit has a 30% chance to have Berserk triggered - which means they will attack the nearest enemy or, if no enemy is in range, the nearest ally

With the way the factions are grouped around a lake there's also a good chance you get attacked from two sides.

You can eliminate opponents in two ways: either wipe them out as usual, or fulfill a little story quest that will remove them from the map (in which case their cities become independent cities - quite like the mechanic). Anyways, my first attempts were with civs designed around swarming the enemies with large numbers, but that just didn't work out. Eventually I went with a combo of Dark/Nature goblins who were great archers. Nature for the growth bonuses for my civ, and dark to give myself an edge with all the debuff magic they get (and also frost magic). (I wanted to go undead, but the undead playstyle is a bit weird at the moment.)

Really enjoyed the 4th story map. With it being set in a map with many undead (really liked the ambience) I went with ratkin who were high culture, with Order and Materia magic; basically rat paladins. :D I was struggling early on, but with my allies managed to get "over the hump" and win the day. Though my half dozen of heroes were about 2 or 3 levels behind AI heroes. However, I had 5 or 6 vassal cities (plus 5 of my own), plus a few Anicent Wonders, and with the order empire traits you can recruit armies quite fast through the "rally of lieges" mechanic if you spec into the traits that give buffs/price cuts to those units you can buy.

I think the scenarios are not as detailed or intricate as the campaigns in previous games, though. Essentially it's a "normal" map with some set paramaters (enemies, map modifiers) with a few story events thrown in. It works for me, though. Kinda makes me want to try my hand at creating a story map or two myself. That said, I looked at the modding tools. They give you plenty of flexibility (including importing your own models, animations etc.) - wouldn't call them intuitive, though. :D

I played one "normal" map with 7 players. I can see why some people recommend playing with 5 civs usually. The game stretched all the way to turn 149 (of 150), mostly because it took me a while to figure out the "expansion" victory conditions, and I had to eliminate an ex-ally who had started to oppose me. In the end my halflings had tomes from all schools unlocked, had a bunch of minor modifications to their racial traits, tons of enchants on units, and there was a noticeable 1 minute freeze at the end of every AI turn. :ph34r:

I wished some tomes would be more distinct. Some enchants and racial mutations are all fairly similar IMO, with slight thematic changes, e.g. doing cold instead of fire damage but otherwise working the same. And I wish there were more traits/cultures (something the DLC will address, but there's also mods - not feeling ready to play non-vanilla yet, though). The "skill trees" for each of the magic categories feel thematically a lot stronger. It's also a bit weird that each of the five schools is basically two branches. E.g. nature magic has one line of tomes for animals, one for plant based spells and units. Order has one for faith (mostly healing, buffs etc.) and one for zeal (more aggressive, well, zealous stuff). Dark has death and frost. Etc. I think I'd prefer to have 10 distinct schools and have these "sub sets" split into "proper" branches. I.e. frost being its own thing, death being its own thing etc.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on May 22, 2023, 08:42:36 AM
Mechabellum looks interesting. It's an auto battler that emphasizes implementing your strategy while also predicting your opponent's moves. Plus it has a cool mechwarrior/supreme commander aesthetic.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/669330/Mechabellum/

Published by Paradox too, I think.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 23, 2023, 01:02:21 PM
Paradox did a 3 hours "deep dive" on their channel today (having it on the background while working on something), I think it's mostly an investor PR info?

Anyways, among their various info graphics was a slide about their "success" rate on releases:

(https://i.imgur.com/SjyRK4J.png)
(Larger version: https://i.imgur.com/SjyRK4J.png)

There were some surprises in there for sure. For one, I had completely forgotten about Impire, Leviathan Warships and Showdown Effect. :P

I did not expect, though, that the Shadowrun trilogy and Pillars of Eternity "only" broke even. I would those titles to have a better return on investment than Leviathan Warships (though I guess respective budget per title played a role ... then again, IIRC PDX only did the distribution for Pillars?).

Only about 20 minutes into the actual presentation (20+ minutes of music at the start ... ), but it's been mentioned a few times now that they're very happy with the AoW4 launch :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Oexmelin on May 24, 2023, 03:34:04 PM
It's too bad that Tyranny did well, but not well enough to continue along that vein (and Paradox disengaged from RPGs following that, and PoE's collaboration). It was, for once, an original setting for a RPG.

I think PoE did okay, but did not grow any sort of market. It appealed to people who grew up with Baldur's Gate, and those are the people who bought it. From what I have read, some of the developpers did not really enjoy working on that (they felt trapped by nostalgia's expectations) and the collab. with Paradox did not go well either.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 25, 2023, 11:16:03 AM
Warhammer 40k (retro) shooter, inspired by 90s classics out on Steam. 95% out of 2499 reviews positive. :o

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2005010/Warhammer_40000_Boltgun/

Launch trailer:

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on May 25, 2023, 02:30:58 PM
I know I wouldn't enjoy that but it still excites me.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Zanza on May 26, 2023, 12:52:44 PM
An article on the Paradox info Syt mentions above:

https://gameworldobserver.com/2023/05/23/paradox-interactive-hit-games-kill-rate-growth-strategy

One of their "endless" games, Cities Skylines, is being replaced soon, no?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on May 26, 2023, 02:57:04 PM
Quote from: Zanza on May 26, 2023, 12:52:44 PMAn article on the Paradox info Syt mentions above:

https://gameworldobserver.com/2023/05/23/paradox-interactive-hit-games-kill-rate-growth-strategy

One of their "endless" games, Cities Skylines, is being replaced soon, no?

Wow. Half the games cancelled another released. Colour me intruiged
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 30, 2023, 12:32:46 AM
Was playing a bit of Fabled Lands a bit yesterday. It's based on an old game books series, similar to Fighting Fantasy, Lone Wolf etc. It's basically trying to be an open world game with a game book feel.

I'd say it achives that, esp. in terms of difficulty. As in game books, taking a wrong turn can lead to a sudden and unforewarned "rocks fall, you die" moment. The world map is quite gorgeous, and you move node to node. In towns you have multiple activities/maintenance things (selling/buying stuff, accessing your stash, finding quests), and most "travel nodes" have you roll dice for random encounters. The game has tons of skill rolls (as is tradition) and not too much combat - and it can be tough to get into an encounter you're underleveled for. The game has many options to strip you of money and gear (so having a "second suit" in stash is a good idea).

That said, I play in "normal" difficulty, which lets you save/reload, which is essentially the same as putting your finger into the book to remember where you made a choice so you can go back if it goes bad. :P

Once you figure out the mechanics the game becomes a bit easier. However, after exploring the various map areas a bit it also becomes a bit dull and tedious. There's no real fast travel, so if you want to go from A to B you have to travel through the connecting nodes (and pick the path that is safest/has best encounter tables for you), and that can become quite annoying if you travel back and forth between some areas a bit. It would be more tolerable if you could speed up dice rolls/animations a bit, I guess. Unfortunately, some of the gameplay also becomes not organically running into new things, but rather coming a cross a quest location, seeing a greyed out option, and then filing that away till you have the appropriate quest. Some locations have repeatable scripted encounters which is also a bit dull. There was one "big" story moment where I could choose to pick sides, but otherwise your agency is limited to a few options in each encounter, usually leading into skill checks.

Leveling happens not through grinding experience, but when finishing milestone quests. I was Rank 1 for a long time, and then rose to 5 in a short timeframe while going through some harder/more elaborate quests in a row. Many quests offer stat boosts and new skills outside of the "normal" leveling system, though.

Overall - yeah, it's a gamebook as open world all right, and while some of the encounters or discovering a new location can be interesting, overall it becomes a bit "meh" for me.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on May 30, 2023, 12:47:56 AM
Also, needing a small break from AoW4. The game is fun, but as Tamas said, later in game it becomes a bit of a slog. Large late game tactical battles with both sides having all kinds of spells and buffs can be fun, but also fairly tedious, so I often find myself using autoresolve. Actually, when playing a quick "casual" map, I might use auto combat even from the start. Kind of stuck on the final story map. Still trying to figure out the optimal approach. My first attempt I bankrupted myself - at the start of the scenario you can pick a buff for the duration of the scenario. I thought summoning some units every few turns would be great, but didn't account for their upkeep. Oops. :D Second try, I did better (using the buff that nukes an enemy province every three turns), but was too agressive too soon and ended up losing too many troops and having my main "exploration" stack of my ruler and two aux armies by a group of leaderless stacks of the Big Bad(TM) who gets a bug tech/resource advantage in the scenario.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on May 30, 2023, 03:38:02 AM
Last campaign scenario is apparently easiest to win if you start underground and go for a magic victory. That way, the AI enemies will mostly leave you alone. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 02, 2023, 08:31:38 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on May 30, 2023, 03:38:02 AMLast campaign scenario is apparently easiest to win if you start underground and go for a magic victory. That way, the AI enemies will mostly leave you alone. :D


Thanks for the tip, that worked. Went underground, and stayed there for the entire game. :D Even got the achievement that all my team mates survived. Cheesy? Hell yeah. But I'm not above cheese when it comes to beating some parts of games. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Oexmelin on June 03, 2023, 03:58:10 PM
Quote from: Syt on May 30, 2023, 12:32:46 AMWas playing a bit of Fabled Lands a bit yesterday. It's based on an old game books series, similar to Fighting Fantasy, Lone Wolf etc. It's basically trying to be an open world game with a game book feel.

One of the authors, Dave Morris, was also the author of a TTRPG, the poorly named Dragon Warriors, which was translated into French. I borrowed those books at the library as a kid, and it became my first encounter with TTRPGS. It made quite an impression on me: Morris was, IIRC, a history grad from Oxford, and his world, and game, felt truly grounded in historical myths and folklore. So much so that I never was able to get into D&D, which always felt to me much too cartoonish, too TV-like? Still, it never got much success (apart, weirdly, in Australia, apparently). Yet, my group and I clung to it - mostly because its "spirit" (narrative trumps rules, atmosphere rather than math) appealed to us (and because my attempts at finding a D&D group always ended poorly).

Anyways, over the years, he informally refined his rules, which he released here and there as pdf - and here we are, my friends and I, still using that really old, somewhat clunky, hodgepodge of a system. It's been almost thirty years.

The illustrator of the orignal books, Russ Nicholson (who also contributed many illustrations to the Fighting Fantasy series) died a few days ago.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 04, 2023, 02:59:44 AM
Thanks for sharing, Oex. :)

Fabled Lands is also a bit more grounded. The main race is humans (with a few more phantastical races strewn here and there), and a focus on folklore. The game adapts 4 or 5 out of the 7 released Fabled Lands books quite faithfully from what I read (the books didn't have a major quest throughline, but rather let you follow your on whims, and you could move from one geographic area (book) to another and back again. I guess my main complaint is a lack of more quality of life features. The world itself is quite interesting in its lore.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 07, 2023, 03:16:11 AM
Been playing about 12 hours of Divinity: Original Sin (Enhanced Edition) which has been sitting in my account for yonks.

I'm a bit torn on it. Of the previous games, I only played Divine Divinity and despite some quirks enjoyed it a lot - and D:OS seems very much a continuation of the original game's tradition (unlike D2: Ego Draconis or Dragon Commander), with many recognizable elements (moving objects, teleport pyramids ... ).

Larian's brand of humor and "funny dialogue" won't be to everyone's liking ("Call me Ishmashell" to name but one :P ) but I'm ok with it. I've been watching Escapist's very (VERY) silly "Adventure is Nigh" D&D campaign, and D:OS is MUCH more serious than that. :D

I guess my issue is with pacing, but that may be my fault. I've been exploring every nook and cranny of Cyseal, trying to solve as many quests before leaving town to the monster infested surroundings. But that led to a serious pacing issue, because for the past 10 or so hours I've been mostly talking to NPCs, gaming the sneak system (once you have a party of 4 it becomes a bit trivial to break into "forbidden" areas by engaging multiple characters in conversations to have them look away with one party member doing the breaking/entering unmolested), and only really running into combat when I dug up the entire cemetery (though I still have to explore under the General Store).

It's ovrall enjoyable, but running to/fro in town and investigating the (entertaining) murder mystery is starting to wear on me (and the whole crafting bit is maybe a bit much). :D I will give it more time, esp. to see what it looks like "outside of town" before giving up, though. :D

(I play on Classic difficulty, for the record.)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on June 07, 2023, 07:36:29 AM
I had a lot of fun playing that game. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 08, 2023, 12:12:08 PM
Diablo IV and Street Fighter VI have come out, and both seem to be ... good? :unsure:

Not really interested in either game at the moment, but it feels unusual that games in franchises come out and don't seem broken, incomplete, unfinished (though there is of course the inevitable monetization ... ).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on June 08, 2023, 12:45:42 PM
Yeah,  it is so weird. The covid delayed game have started to come out. I think it's why we're seeing that kind of quality.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 08, 2023, 12:54:19 PM
Yeah. It's also notable because Diablo III's launch was not exactly brilliant (connection issues, the real money auction house, shitty loot tables, the looong road to unlocking the end game .... ), and neither was Street Fighter V IIRC (very barebones in terms of characters, modes and stages).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 09, 2023, 04:41:12 AM
Paradox announced (besides Star Trek Infinite) also Stellaris: Nexus (a turn based MP focused spin off with matches finishing under one hour):


They also announced Space Trash Scavenger, apparently a survival/crafting sandbox game?

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 09, 2023, 04:48:04 AM
Also, dev diary for the coming Dragon Lords in AOW4 (will be an additional lord option besides Champion and Wizard):

https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/developer-diary/dev-diary-18-dragon-lords.1589296/

And an overview of what the Dragon Dawn content pack will have (coming June 20th):

https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/dragon-dawn-content-pack-will-be-available-on-june-20th.1589297/

QuoteAge of Wonders 4: Dragon Dawn Key Features:

Dragon Rulers, a distinct new leader type, customizable from snout to tail, with unique new skills, equipment, transformations, and associated events!
Lizardfolk, a new physical appearance for your factions
Tome of Evolution, adding new units that evolve as they level, and new spells to boost all evolving units
Tome of Dragons, adding spells to summon dragons, wield the power of dragons, and become dragons!
The Ashen War, a new realm option where six mighty elder dragons are locked in

Looking forward to this, and also the balancing/QOL patch that will come alongside it: https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/developer-diary/dev-diary-17-post-launch.1587996/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 10, 2023, 04:46:28 AM
Quote from: Solmyr on May 17, 2023, 06:39:26 AMYou can get an achievement if you have a human wizard leading a halfling civ. ;)


Just finished that. I went with Barbarian haflings and focused on swarms and gave them the "destined conqueror" trait - it seems a bit bugged (you're supposed to be at war with all free cities, I think? :unsure: ), but essentially turns the game into a 1 city challenge as you can't found new cities or absorb existing ones (only Outposts). With the various swarm buffs early on (spawnkin, overwhelming tactics, the buffs for T1 units ... ) the early game becomes fairly easy, and I managed to knock out 2 enemies, with another killed by the AI. Then I got bogged down fighting industrious rats, and I made the mistake of peacing out when I had them on the ropes. The other two AIs allied and started the spell for magical victory. "Clean" victory now out of reach, I threw all my excess items and gold as gifts at them to ally them so I would win through "allied victory"  :whistle:  :blush:

Was still a fun game. :)

Not sure I like how the game deals with razed cities, though. Leaving the ruins behind makes sense, and that they can be resettled. However, even in razed status, the usual restrictions apply (can't found a city/outpost right next to it) - but since I can't create new cities, the AI could come in anytime to resettle the ruins (which is not the worst, since you can reconquer the city again to get more loot), which feels kinda wrong. I control all the territory around the ruins, but can't claim control of the ruins themselves, while the AI can create a one-province city in the middle of my territory. <_<
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on June 10, 2023, 07:29:22 AM
Quote from: Syt on June 08, 2023, 12:12:08 PMDiablo IV and Street Fighter VI have come out, and both seem to be ... good? :unsure:

Not really interested in either game at the moment, but it feels unusual that games in franchises come out and don't seem broken, incomplete, unfinished (though there is of course the inevitable monetization ... ).

I bought the standard version of Diablo 4 to play with my brother and honestly it's much better than I expected, and I played in one of the open betas where I was very underwhelmed by the game.

I expected a disjointed and broken mess where people couldn't log in for hours or days and instead the game is perfectly playable even on Steam Deck and log in queues are short if they happen at all. And the gameplay is much improved from the beta I played in March. The combat feels better and the decisions you have to make regarding skills and items are actually interesting during leveling.

Apparently some of the cracks in the game are slowly being revealed by more hardcore players who have already gotten through most of the content. Some game mechanics are actually completely broken, and the enemy level scaling paradoxically means that you actually feel weaker as you level up, until you get to certain breakpoints for item drops.

Blizzard have actually been very quick in implementing fixes since the betas though, so hopefully these problems are overcome soon. I expected a 6/10 game at launch and instead they've delivered something like an 8/10.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 10, 2023, 08:33:17 AM
Oddly that's how I feel about Age of Wonders 4. I've played all previous entries in the series (not so much Planetfall), but I always was struggling with the series. I liked the setting, the factions, the world, the gameplay ... but I never managed to "git gud" and ended up more frustrated than anything else.

AoW4 clicked very quickly for me - it's much more approachable, the faction customization is fun, and the game is fairly fast paced, letting you get through a session quite quickly (compared to CK3, Stellaris, Civ .... ). It looks quite pretty, and I'm genuinely looking forward to the DLC. One of the most dangerous things I've come across is, "Let's try this idea for a faction and these map creation parameters real quick ..." and suddenly I'm 50 turns into a new map :lol:

I hope they add more schools of magic, and once there's more of them offer (optional) rules to make it you can't unlock all tomes in one playthrough (having my race become both Scion of Flame, i.e. dealing fire damage, getting fire resistance and burn immunity and frostlings - frost resistance, morale bonus on cold trrain, immunity to being frozen - feels "wrong :P ).

It's "a bit" unbalanced now, but the upcoming changes look to fix some of those issues.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on June 12, 2023, 04:04:39 AM
Date revealed. 24th October for Skylines 2.
I am unlikely to get it on release due to other stuff going on but I am excited for some time in the future.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on June 12, 2023, 10:28:41 AM
Starfeld, Sept 6th release.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on June 12, 2023, 10:41:22 AM
There's basically no way the game will be good, right?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 13, 2023, 12:20:31 AM
So I went and finished the last achievements of AoW4, something I normally don't do :blush:

Partly because I enjoy the game and the achievements, in general, aren't too hard but also because a balance patch scheduled for next week that might make this game harder. :P

(And the DLC will probably add new achievements.)

Still haven't tried out all map types. I tried a map with the "in formation" modifier where the map starts out with all desolate terrain and every turn random unclaimed provinces are converted to "normal" terrain which was rather fun, seeing the desolate map slowly take form and shape. :D

Small complaint - you can turn the map to ice with spells, or lush lands, or forests (actually, it's a bit op to use destructive regrowth in enemy territory to destroy their buildings and create a forest, and then use Awaken the Forest to turn the forest into a 6-stack army :menace: ), turn terrain to ash or desolation. However, while you can remove mountains with earth shatter, you can't create new mountains. :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on June 13, 2023, 09:35:46 AM
Quote from: Habbaku on June 12, 2023, 10:41:22 AMThere's basically no way the game will be good, right?

I'm inclined to agree, yeah

It is supposed to be on Game Pass at launch so I may sub for one month just to play it, then wait a year for modders to make it good.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 14, 2023, 02:05:48 AM
Trailer for Cities: Skylines II Preorder.


I caved. :blush:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on June 14, 2023, 03:00:35 AM
Quote from: Syt on June 14, 2023, 02:05:48 AMTrailer for Cities: Skylines II Preorder.

[yout

I caved. :blush:

 :lol:
I gave it brief thought but saw no value in it and given its paradox probably best to ignore it a few months anyway, even if it was a free choice.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on June 14, 2023, 03:11:19 AM
The preview for that open world Star Wars game didn't look too bad. The stealth bits felt a bit Arkham asylum-ish, but that's not a terrible thing.

I hope they stick with the underworld theme and the protagonist doesn't end up joining the rebellion, or meeting jedi and such.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on June 14, 2023, 03:28:58 AM
Quote from: Syt on June 14, 2023, 02:05:48 AMTrailer for Cities: Skylines II Preorder.

[...]

I caved. :blush:
oh no :ph34r:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on June 14, 2023, 03:53:01 AM
Quote from: Syt on June 14, 2023, 02:05:48 AMTrailer for Cities: Skylines II Preorder.


I caved. :blush:

A lot looks the same...bar maybe good ideas pilfered from mods?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on June 14, 2023, 08:11:33 AM
Its hard to convey in a trailer but what Cities Skyline 1 is lacking nowadays and CS2 needs is a good modern engine.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on June 14, 2023, 08:22:23 AM
What Skylines need is not being forced into making 20th century North American style cities.
Given they're Finns and they made Cities in Motion they should know this.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on June 14, 2023, 08:26:20 AM
Will Skylines II have random maps?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 14, 2023, 12:28:39 PM
Star General is now on GOG for 5.00:

https://www.gog.com/en/game/star_general

It's the redheaded stepchild of SSI's old Five Star series (Panzer General, Allied General, Pacific General, Fantasy General, Star General), combining space and ground combat. I had it around the time it came out - it had atrocious performance issues, though, leaving it barely responsive and basically unplayable on my PC back then. Maybe time to give it another look.  :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on June 15, 2023, 06:50:37 AM
Quote from: Syt on June 14, 2023, 02:05:48 AMTrailer for Cities: Skylines II Preorder.


I caved. :blush:

I caved on Starfield instead. :ph34r:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 24, 2023, 12:36:34 AM
One of my favorite AoW4 mods is Wondrous Items which adds a whole bunch of new items to the game - the vanilla item inventory is a bit anemic. On the whole, the items are adding variety without being too OP. The modder recently added custom art for his additions ... and it took me a bit to notice that some of it looked VERY familiar ... he's been using a bunch of icons of uniques in Path of Exile which blend in surprisingly well with the existing equipment icons. "Wait ...  isn't this cloak of flames ... the Cloak of Flame??" :lol:

If anyone wants to sub to the mod: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2981614385
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on June 24, 2023, 03:44:35 AM
I know this is very broad, but I'm starting holidays next week and I kinda want to look for a game to tide me over - I have had so little time to play these past months.

Kinda fancy some interesting rpg or strategy game, something maybe indie that tries to break the mold a little. I know, very broad, but I haven't been much in tune with new videogames. But if you've particularly enjoyed anything in these genres lately, share it and I will look into it.

I'm of half a mind of getting Rule the Waves 3, but that might be a bit too extreme   :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on June 24, 2023, 04:39:35 AM
Rule the Waves 3 is a nice improvement on the previous game, but you still need to be into playing naval design and combat via spreadsheet, to enjoy.

Maybe also try the new Aliens game, it is getting very good reviews. I'll pick it up for sure once we are done with our house move and I can actually focus on anything more involved than World of Tanks.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 24, 2023, 04:59:10 AM
Quote from: celedhring on June 24, 2023, 03:44:35 AMI know this is very broad, but I'm starting holidays next week and I kinda want to look for a game to tide me over - I have had so little time to play these past months.

Kinda fancy some interesting rpg or strategy game, something maybe indie that tries to break the mold a little. I know, very broad, but I haven't been much in tune with new videogames. But if you've particularly enjoyed anything in these genres lately, share it and I will look into it.

I'm of half a mind of getting Rule the Waves 3, but that might be a bit too extreme   :P

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1527950/Wartales/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on June 25, 2023, 04:59:01 AM
Wartales looks interesting. Reminds me of Battle Brothers, which I enjoyed greatly.

For now, though, Rule The Waves 3 it is.  :ph34r:

What was holding me back is not the spreadsheet foolishness - I love that shit. Rather the battles themselves, which seem very numerous and I don't see myself fighting each and every one. But I'll try the admiral/rear admiral modes.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 25, 2023, 06:16:31 AM
On the Single Malt Strategy podcast they mentioned that the amount of battles is a bit of an issue, and that "auto resolve" just means handing it over to the AI while you watch. Also, that there's very limited feedback on how your ship designs performed in combat.

They said that it might be partially due to a mismatch between the interests of the developers and the players. Apparently, the devs originally added the strategic layer to generate scenarios and get people to play the battle sim layer - whereas most players seem to like the strategic and design layer a lot more than the battle sim. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on June 25, 2023, 06:34:23 AM
That sounds familiar. Total War, field of glory....
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on June 26, 2023, 03:28:08 AM
Well, I spent like 9 hours straight playing this shit.  :blush:

After several false starts I sort of got the hang of it - I still play terribly but I let the IA control the majority of my units. As Spain I managed to win a war against Italy and then against Germany (mostly because I manipulated tensions to get allied with France and UK  :blush: ), and I find myself with a couple extra colonies.

The problem with Spain is that my fleet is pitiful compared to every other European power, and I won't be able to ever catch up given the massive budget differences. My ships are actually good, but I don't have enough.

I know the tactic when hopelessly outmatched is going full jeune ecole, but I'm terrible at making torpedo runs, or getting the AI to do them.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Zanza on June 26, 2023, 10:47:00 AM
I started playing Anno 1800 again after buying the Season Pass 4. I dislike the DLCs that add the extra map regions and turned them off, kept everything else running. My goal is to see the newish content (skyscrapers, haciendas, airships, artistas) once.

I read that they are working on the next Anno. Looking forward to that. Maybe Middle Ages or the Ancient Mediterranean Sea as scenario...  :hmm:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on June 26, 2023, 11:19:39 AM
Greek colonies would be a suitable subject matter. Anno 540 BCE (to keep the tradition of the numbers adding up to 9 :P )?

Every time I want to play some Anno 1800 I see more new DLC and then get annoyed and end up not playing. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: DGuller on July 06, 2023, 06:35:55 PM
Jagged Alliance 3 definitely going live in a week.  I really hope it's not going to be a letdown.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 08, 2023, 11:33:48 AM
If anyone (Brain?) is still on the fence about Baldur's Gate 3. :P

(https://i.redd.it/qkguzm6gaqab1.jpg)

(https://i.redd.it/u0shrh3aypab1.jpg)

https://gizmodo.com/baldurs-gate-3-druid-bear-sex-scene-d-d-larian-1850615741

QuoteBeing a Dungeons & Dragons game, and therefore being about letting you make any choice you want, the scene could've played out multiple ways—the player can back out, scared off by Halsin's lack of control; they can comfort him and continue their romantic encounter; or they can... ask him to turn back into a bear. What do you think the audience picked?

"Have you ever considered the joys and pleasures of sexual congress with a wildshaped Druid?" Adam Smith, a lead writer on Baldur's Gate 3, said in a statement sent via press release. "Because at Larian, we have, and ultimately landed on the side of giving the people what they want: tender, consensual romance with a man temporarily transformed into a grizzly bear."

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 09, 2023, 03:20:14 AM
I played and finished Gorogoa. It's a very pretty, somewhat surreal/mindbendy puzzle game. I enjoyed it a fair bit, but I will not go hunt all the achievements, but I felt well entertained. Caveat: it took me ca. 90 minutes to play through, and I'm glad I picked it up on sale a while ago (or in a Humble Bundle? I forget.), because the regular price point of 13.99 is a bit steep. (It's currently €4.19 on sale which seems more reasonable.)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Zanza on July 16, 2023, 02:39:42 PM
So Jagged Alliance 3 is available now. Any first takes on it?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 17, 2023, 06:47:40 AM
An Expanse game coming from Telltale (is it still "real" Telltale? Didn't they go bankrupt), set before the TV show, where you play as Drummer. Their website says they ran the story by the original writers who made some changes but otherwise gave their blessing. Tempting, but I think I'll wait for reviews, given some of the last TT games weren't so good (or maybe their model just outlived its popularity which peaked with Walking Dead and The Wolf Within).

https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/the-expanse-a-telltale-series

Also, it seems a "Valheim but Tolkien" is also in the works:

https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/the-lord-of-the-rings-return-to-moria-f01344

QuoteSet in a procedurally generated Dwarven realm of Moria, no two adventures will be alike, and every expedition is traversable either solo or online with companions. Players can mine to craft greater gear and resources, but beware mining makes noise, and noise created in the quiet deep threatens to awaken the dangers below: where there's clatter, there's combat. Excavate the mysteries of three legendary mountains, extract precious metals, scrape to survive, and battle unspeakable forces to learn the secret of the Shadow that lurks within.

Key Game Features:
-Feel the Fellowship: Experience the Fellowship of the Dwarves like never before, with the rich lore of the iconic fantasy world from J.R.R. Tolkien interwoven into the very fabric of The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria.
-Survive the Dark: To survive the treacherous Mines of Moria players must conserve resources, hunt and gather for food and manage their sleep, temperature and noise levels. Utilize dynamic light systems for safety and to blaze a path further into the darkness. Battle unspeakable evils and survive hordes of monstrous Orcs in visceral combat, while uncovering the secret of the Shadow that looms within the mountain.
-Base Building: Find solace from the darkness. Reveal and clear new locations to create architecture on a grand scale. Get creative and construct bases from scratch or build upon the existing environment. Beware the evils which seek to destroy Dwarven progress.
-Rebuild and Reshape Moria: Restore the long-lost ancient kingdom of Khazad-dûm to its former glory, recovering Dwarven landmarks as the story progresses. Resurrect old mines and refire their forges to yield their untouched resources.
-Explore: Delve into the depths of the Mines of Moria. Procedurally generated environments are abundant with resources and fraught with mystery and danger, providing a unique experience each and every time.
-Co-op Multiplayer: Adventure alone or band together with friends in online cooperative multiplayer with up to eight players.
-Craft Dwarven Tools, Weapons and More: Craft and loot legendary Dwarven armor, tools, weapons and structures. Rebuild ancient forges to strengthen, repair and enchant gear. Upgrade and unlock new technologies and fantastical machines.
- Uncover Magic Artifacts: Discover ancient magic items including swords that glow when Orcs are near, maps of long-dormant Mithril veins, books with forgotten crafting plans and amulets that give strength or wisdom.
-Mine Ore and Jewels: Establish mines to unearth deposits of precious resources such as iron, gold, and quartz; and fantastical materials such as Mithril. Access crafting stations and forges to convert ore to ingots and upgrade gear. But be prepared, mining is loud and can awaken what lurks in the darkness.
-Comprehensive Dwarf Builder: Players become part of Dwarven Legend as they create their own Dwarf in the custom character creator. Dwarves can be customized in a variety of ways to create a unique Dwarven identity. Then, during gameplay, players can find and craft armor and weapons to further enhance their unique style.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on July 17, 2023, 11:43:27 AM
I thought it looked more like Deep Rock Galactic, but Tolkien, but I'm pretty excited for it. Just hope it doesn't suck, per usual.  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on July 17, 2023, 12:57:07 PM
The big question for me is the degree to which they tap into post-Tolkien pop-culture Dwarves, vs lean into the mythical-golden-age-iron-age sensibility of actual Tolkien Dwarves.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 17, 2023, 01:13:06 PM
Here's a gameplay trailer. I mean the graphics aren't exactly the best and latest, but the tone reminds me of the dwarves in Lord of the Rings Online.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on July 19, 2023, 12:48:35 AM
Saw that the latest version of Power & Revolution (previously "Geopolitical Simulator") is out. I haven't bought any of their titles in a while, but every year it pops up in my discovery queue, and every year the comments seem to be, "same old bugs, plus some new ones, minor mechanics additions". Either way, it seems this is working for Eversim, because they've been making these games this game for over 10 years now:

(https://i.imgur.com/cu8XHqH.png)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: DGuller on July 19, 2023, 02:27:20 AM
Quote from: Zanza on July 16, 2023, 02:39:42 PMSo Jagged Alliance 3 is available now. Any first takes on it?
All in all a good game, although very unpolished as of now.  It's a blend of JA2 and XCOM2, and to be honest it could use less of XCOM2.  I also had to lower the max frame rate, because apparently my 4090 GPU and 13900 CPU couldn't handle battles during rain at night without the old-fashioned blue screen of death.  My one impression is that the game mechanics have been streamlined a little too much, and some JA2 fans would consider them too dumbed down.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Zanza on July 19, 2023, 12:50:06 PM
I read some reviews in that direction too. I guess I'll wait a bit until I buy it at discount.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on July 31, 2023, 11:04:24 AM
I got a little free time and had a go at Ozymandeus...
I don't get the wars at all. Just can't beat the final tutorial.
More board game than strategy but still...I want to beat this much
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on July 31, 2023, 02:47:18 PM
It's a fun game.  But watch it, time can fly by  :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Iormlund on August 02, 2023, 07:38:54 AM
Been playing Vampire Survivors for the past 2 days. Why the fuck didn't I find this gem sooner?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on August 02, 2023, 04:02:36 PM
Tried Diablo 4. 

I think they spent their budget on the art rather than the gameplay.

I have tried each class and variants within each class, which is easy to do because you can easily swap around skill points.

There are some odd design choices.  The whole world levels with you.  And so there is no sense of progression.  All battles against mobs and elites feel the same - partly because you see the same mobs over and over again. 

As you skill up the buttons you push don't even change that much, you are always going to be using the same basic and core skill of your build - the whole game.

Once I got to level 50, which is the end of the skill points, the game becomes a pointless grind, unless you really enjoy just grinding for gear.  But if you don't find that enjoyable this game is probably not for you.

The game is also very easy.  I played on hardcore to add a little more challenge, but it's easy to avoid death.  The whole thing just collapses into a repetitive exercise of pushing two buttons.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 03, 2023, 05:20:49 AM
Yahtzee did a Chrono Trigger retro-Zero Punctuation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5h5gP8xq4g

And his comment that he played the game before way back ... well, the accompanying picture brought back memories, because that's how I played it, too at the time. :lol:

(https://i.imgur.com/X0TmfBZ.png)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on August 03, 2023, 05:40:12 AM
:yes:
Thats how I played a lot of SNES RPGs. I since bought them of course but still...
Remember the impossible cloudy future where you had to press f5 or something to get through?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Iormlund on August 03, 2023, 07:24:33 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 02, 2023, 04:02:36 PMTried Diablo 4. 

A comment I saw today put it rather nicely: "Diablo 4 is the best thing to happen to PoE since D3".

The production value is very high, and the overall experience pretty good until you finish the campaign. Then it gets stale fast and you ask yourself: What's next?
And that's PoE.

Pity PoE 2 won't come for another year and change still (with a closed beta on June I figure pre-Xmas release).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on August 03, 2023, 07:57:45 AM
Yeah, oddly enough the campaign is the best part of D4. The problem is it's still a slog to get through and no one in their right mind will want to run it more than once.

For all the stick GGG gets for not implementing a skip-campaign option, at least it's relatively quick and easy to run through. It's basically Adventure Mode lite.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on August 03, 2023, 08:40:15 AM
Quote from: Iormlund on August 03, 2023, 07:24:33 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 02, 2023, 04:02:36 PMTried Diablo 4. 

A comment I saw today put it rather nicely: "Diablo 4 is the best thing to happen to PoE since D3".

The production value is very high, and the overall experience pretty good until you finish the campaign. Then it gets stale fast and you ask yourself: What's next?
And that's PoE.

Pity PoE 2 won't come for another year and change still (with a closed beta on June I figure pre-Xmas release).

The D4 Campaign was interesting so long as you skip all the side quests which become repetitive.  But if you don't do the side quests you lose a lot of the context of the story they are trying to tell.  Another questionable design decision.

Quote from: FunkMonk on August 03, 2023, 07:57:45 AMYeah, oddly enough the campaign is the best part of D4. The problem is it's still a slog to get through and no one in their right mind will want to run it more than once.

For all the stick GGG gets for not implementing a skip-campaign option, at least it's relatively quick and easy to run through. It's basically Adventure Mode lite.

This

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on August 17, 2023, 02:39:07 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 31, 2023, 02:47:18 PMIt's a fun game.  But watch it, time can fly by  :)

Yes. It is that. Though games themselves are quick, just one more turn becomes just one more game.

I think I broadly understand it now. Its an interesting game. Manages something which though very relevant in the real world I've not seen games manage before.
So often just as I'm getting into the swing of things, victory in sight...Some other nation, perhaps on the opposite side of the map, will declare victory.
The strategy is less about guiding your own way to victory and more about balancing your success with ensuring others are not succesful- expand westward then others who border that westward power will be given a free pass.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on August 17, 2023, 09:03:14 AM
Yes, that is a big part of the game.  You can also change up the victory conditions if you want a different kind of challenge.  You can also avoid that mechanic entirely by playing in iirc domination mode.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on August 22, 2023, 05:10:59 AM
The other day I became very tempted to buy one of the top of the range refurbed steam decks. I slapped myself on the wrist and said I'd never have time to play it and should finish my switch games first.

Also notice Forza Horizon series is on sale. Thinking to buy the one set in the UK. As much as I'm not a car fan I do like the idea of a local open world.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on August 22, 2023, 05:52:37 AM
I spent a lot of time on FH4 (set in UK) and loved it.

I spent significantly less time on FH5 and didn't get sucked in near as much.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on August 22, 2023, 06:22:21 AM
I played FH4 extensively. I still play it from time to time with my son. FH5 is simply forgettable.

FH3, set in Australia, is the most fun imo.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on August 22, 2023, 06:23:25 AM
FH5 I enjoyed much more than FH4.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on September 01, 2023, 06:27:37 PM
Dungeons 4 out on November 30th.  :)

While the gameplay is not much to talk about (you build a dungeon, train creatures, unleash them on the forces of good) the acting and the narration are really nice.  It's a really silly game and I loved #2 and #3.  #4 is a direct sequel to #3 with the same actress reprise her role as Queen of Evil Talya.

It shares some similarities with Dungeon Keeper, for those old enough to remember that game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 07, 2023, 12:51:55 AM
RPS article about the upcoming Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader RPG currently under development at Owlcat (Pathfinder: Kingmaker and Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous):

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/warhammer-40000-rogue-trader-is-warhammer-mass-effect-and-you-can-own-planets
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on September 07, 2023, 07:33:34 AM
I tried to play elite dangerous again.
Tutorial... A bit wonky and arcadey, not like space travel at all, but maybe I'll get used to it...
Then into the main game. I have a quest right away to go to a station in a nearby system. I do and... Err.... It doesn't complete.
It seems I have to take any quest from one granter? Maybe?.... I take two quests. One of them is asteroid mining. I find a resource extraction point and.... Yeah... No clue of what to do and trial and error fails. My laser does nothing to the asteroid.
This game really does seem to be the MMO shit I remember and a sad legacy for frontier. I fear we will never see a true successor.

Other issues are the ridiculous system of accessing menus as if they're screens in your cockpit, the mad controls (why the hell isn't M galaxy map?), the unskippably long docking scenes, the unintuitive galaxy map...

Yeah. This game just angers me.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on September 07, 2023, 07:59:33 AM
It's not THAT bad. :P

Think of it as American Truck Simulator in space. The flying and docking etc is great ambience, you can set yourself objectives like I used to choose a faction I'd try and help gain influence in a system. Once you kitted out an explorer ship exploring can be really cool.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on September 09, 2023, 01:31:07 PM
Quote from: Syt on September 07, 2023, 12:51:55 AMRPS article about the upcoming Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader RPG currently under development at Owlcat (Pathfinder: Kingmaker and Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous):

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/warhammer-40000-rogue-trader-is-warhammer-mass-effect-and-you-can-own-planets

Sounds like it could be pretty good.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 12, 2023, 04:52:54 PM
Steam is 20 and looks back at the past two decades:

https://store.steampowered.com/sale/steam20?snr=1_4_4__118

I like the chosen memes/graphical references at the header of each year. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on September 12, 2023, 05:21:41 PM
It would be nice if they celebrated with announcing HL3, but yeah... that's not going to happen
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on September 13, 2023, 12:34:58 AM
I remember when steam was new. I hated it and resisted it until I had no choice.
Hence my steam username is an email address I no longer have.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 14, 2023, 01:02:01 AM
Huge upheaval in the games dev world, for a summary see here: https://www.pcgamer.com/why-every-game-developer-is-mad-right-now-explained/

In short, Unity have decided to change their pricing model (their CEO said a while ago that any developer not monetizing their games was *checks notes* "a fucking idiot."

Starting Jan 1st, 2024, if you reach certain thresholds of revenue and/or installations, you will need to pay $0.20 to Unity per installation.

Oh, and this will apply to all existing Unity users. If you released your Unity game 10 years ago, you also fall under it (Unity say they will count revenue starting 1st Jan 24, but previous sales will be counted as installs - so if you sold the amount of copies that put you over the threshold in the past 7 or so years, any new install will cost you).

The response, especially from indie developers was ... not enthusiastic to put it VERY mildly.

When asked to clarify what "number of installs" meant, Unity was putting out confused signals. At first they said that yes, every install counts, including early access, demos, free game giveaways, or if existing users uninstall and re-install the game.

Then they said on Twitter that no, re-installs etc. would not be counted.

Only to then clarify that of course re-installs would be counted, but games on Gamepass shouldn't worry, they'd bill Microsoft directly, and there'd be "a solution"(TM) for e.g. charity bundles.

To then finally loop back again with this statement:

(https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3omCFHdeimpTXCKurhCc4K-970-80.png)

Which someone summed up as:

(https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dcKTroudynXV2R7AYKKHsQ-970-80.png)

Obviously, even if they walked the decision back 100% now, trust among developers is shattered in how it was announced, how they didn't seem to even know what they meant by "installs", and that they apply it to everyone retroactively.

(https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kp6cQYPECRZZmYEqz7beJj-970-80.png)

(https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CSjfN6WX4qfFALhutYKNo7-970-80.png)

(https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XZrf7bHuTtWnZ3wmw6hGuL-970-80.png)

I thought this number from the article was interesting. Goes to show how big mobile gaming has become.

(http://industryveteransimoncarlessbelievesit'sastraightforwardbusinessdecision:Unitywantsa"semi-trackable"waytomoreeffectivelymonetizeitsbiggestcustomers,mostofwhomaremobilegames,andit'swillingtosacrificearelativelysmallpartofitsbusiness%E2%80%94gameenginerevenuesasawholeonlyaccountforabout23%ofUnity'srevenues,andthePC/consolesegmentisjustasmallpartofthat%E2%80%94tomakeithappen.UnityalsoofferscreditsthatcanbeappliedtowardtheRuntimeFeechargesforusersofitsLevelplayservice,butthat'sonlyavailableonmobiledevices%E2%80%94PCdeveloperscan'ttakeadvantage.)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 14, 2023, 01:03:58 AM
I also like the "90% of our customers won't be affected" stat in the Unity communique. I assume they include all hobbyists who installed it once to play around with it in that number. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on September 14, 2023, 02:38:15 AM
Sounds annoying but reasonable to begin with but then yes. The reinstalls stuff is crap and then everything after that... Wtf.
First I've heard of this, I don't use twitter, and blimey.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 14, 2023, 07:20:30 AM
I'm not on twitter, either; saw it on Reddit and PC Gamer.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on September 14, 2023, 09:30:52 AM
Former EA executieve eh
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 15, 2023, 11:36:56 AM
Saw an article that American Truck Simulator has announced Arkansas as a future expansion. Seems they're making decent progress.

From Wiki:

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/Updated_ATS_map.png)
Green = released
Yellow = in development (seems order is Kansas => Nebraska => Arkansas)
Red: TBD
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on September 15, 2023, 01:41:13 PM
Curious they're expanding squarely into shit states but haven't done many of the more interesting ones on the east coast. I guess theyre just that committed to having everything tied together?
But even following that surely louisiana would be far more interesting and add some variety.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on September 15, 2023, 04:14:50 PM
at least they're fair: in that game all country is drivethrough country
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 22, 2023, 06:43:07 AM
Since RPGs are back on vogue for now, there's been a remake of Wizardry (the very first one) coming out recently:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2518960/Wizardry_Proving_Grounds_of_the_Mad_Overlord/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on September 22, 2023, 06:52:54 AM
Here's a pretty interesting discussion of the Unity Game Engine license changes.  What I found interesting was the business model differences between Unity and Unreal.  Unreal doesn't allow companies to put their logo on the game unless they hit certain thresholds, while Unity requires keeping the logo unless you pay to remove it.  This is one of the reasons Unity is associated with lower quality games (besides the much greater usage of it).

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Iormlund on September 23, 2023, 10:34:33 AM
So they had to roll back some of the changes.

But nothing is set in stone (one of the problems is the ToS says that they can change the terms whenever they see fit and those always apply). So it's just a "trust me bro" thing.

And I can't see them regaining even a modicum of trust unless at least the CEO is let go.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Grey Fox on September 23, 2023, 01:14:09 PM
John Riccitiello, the man who was responsible for EA being repeatedly voted the worse company in the world, is being an idiot again. Nothing will change. If you are a unity developer it's time to let go.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on September 24, 2023, 06:15:24 AM
I think Unity is trying to push every developer of any size onto its Ad supported version of the engine.  The Ad supported version doesn't have to pay these fees.  Which is eh to bleh for mobile games but a complete non-starter for most PC/Platform games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Iormlund on September 24, 2023, 08:48:21 AM
Yeah, that seemed to be the goal here.

Unity has a big piece of the mobile gamedev cake, they were basically blackmailing studios to leverage that into ad revenue.

They failed and maybe destroyed the company in the process.

Trust aside, what I can't really see is how they expected to win any legal challenge in the EU. Our regulators love slapping big corps for unfair practices with huge fines.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on September 24, 2023, 04:33:10 PM
Quote from: Iormlund on September 24, 2023, 08:48:21 AMTrust aside, what I can't really see is how they expected to win any legal challenge in the EU. Our regulators love slapping big corps for unfair practices with huge fines.

It also seems like the charity installs don't count is a huge loophole that could turn Unity based developers into charity based business models ("Every download we donate the $.01 cost to a charity, and then charge an activation fee").  This whole thing has been a dumb, dangerous, ineffective and trust destroying move.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on September 26, 2023, 12:46:44 AM
Quote from: Syt on September 22, 2023, 06:43:07 AMSince RPGs are back on vogue for now, there's been a remake of Wizardry (the very first one) coming out recently:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2518960/Wizardry_Proving_Grounds_of_the_Mad_Overlord/

Next thing you know, they'll be remaking Zork.

But that being said, with reboots/remakes all the rage in the film world...old school computer game reboots are lagging behind.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on September 26, 2023, 01:38:32 AM
Yeah, it's interesting how nostalgia hasn't been that big of a player in videogames as is in film/tv. I guess that's because the medium was still in its infancy in the 1980s. Maybe we'll start getting more once the nostalgia needle definitely moves to the 1990s.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on September 26, 2023, 11:23:45 AM
I expect we'll see more of it in video games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on September 26, 2023, 12:41:16 PM
It'd be interesting to see what it looks like - obviously there's some game franchises still very much in their original area. But then there's so many that are in a form like point and click adventures that I don't think's particularly popular anymore. Interesting to see what gets done with them :hmm:

Having said that it feels a little like BG3 is a bit of a breakthrough hit from people who normally like that type of game, perhaps by leaning into its game-ish features (dice!). Maybe something similar?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on September 26, 2023, 02:11:24 PM
I wouldn't agree nostalgia isn't much of a thing in games.
It probably goes in waves. I remember back in the psx days there was a lot of nostalgia and remakes for old early 80s arcade games and 8 bit consoles with a lot of remakes.

I've heard the most recent street fighter game contains a virtual arcade where you can play the old games and this is proving more popular in multiplayer than the normal game.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on September 26, 2023, 11:45:55 PM
I see your point...a lot of the nostalgia/remake energy has been weaned out in probably many more sequels and spin-offs.  Especially in console games.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on September 27, 2023, 03:22:46 AM
Wouldn't the nostalgia thing also be covered my the many old-style games coming out? Pixel art games are a big thing after all (to name an obvious type)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on September 27, 2023, 03:37:22 AM
Quote from: Crazy_Ivan80 on September 27, 2023, 03:22:46 AMWouldn't the nostalgia thing also be covered my the many old-style games coming out? Pixel art games are a big thing after all (to name an obvious type)

Yeah and there were some kickstarters werent there like a monkey island sequel or something?

Not to mention the massive scam called Star Citizen which took off because the guy made the Wing Commander games.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 27, 2023, 03:42:39 AM
The whole RPG revival, too - Shadowrun, Pillars of Eternity, etc.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Minsky Moment on September 27, 2023, 08:52:14 AM
There's a decent size retro-game community out there based on emulator.  Steam deck has attracted attention because it can easily load and run the leading emulator platforms.  About 5-6 years ago I bought a kit to build my own arcade cabinet - there was quite a lot of online resources available at the time for support.  And enough of a market to support a few different vendors that sell kits.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on September 28, 2023, 02:08:04 AM
Got an offer to get this month's bundle choice for 5€, and seeing the headline game was Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, I got it. I've always enjoyed the mindless (very mindless) fun of the Borderlands games (even if the formula is a little long in the tooth nowadays) and this one delivers the goods on top of a D&D theme.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 29, 2023, 11:15:05 AM
After a decent run with the Shadowrun games and Battletech, it seems that Harebrained Schemes new game is not so good.

Bit of a shame. I'd have been up for a tactical game set in an occultism heavy alternate 1930s, but I was barely remembering the game existed tbh.

https://www.pcgamer.com/the-lamplighters-league-review/

Quote[...] Lamplighters feels like a kind of XCOM-lite—an impression that only grows with unsophisticated AI that might tactfully be described as generous to a fault. Enemy soldiers will inexplicably turn down chances to shoot and jog away from the fight or straight into patches of fire. Even when one of the Scions visits the battlefield, it's surprisingly easy to isolate then overwhelm them before they get a chance to show off their skills. Forgiving it may be, but where's the gratification in overcoming idiots?

Some of these limitations are likely technical, given that Lamplighters already struggles to maintain a decent frame rate. It's a somewhat glitchy experience overall, in fact, with a camera that fails to take account of scenery blocking its view when zooming in on attacks, and some muddy logic that can't but rub you up the wrong way, not least in the transitions between real-time and turn-based modes. Kill the final enemy in a battle and it ends abruptly, with characters standing near fire or unexploded grenades likely to take damage before you resume control.

That's a shame because Lamplighters mostly manages its turn-based and real-time dichotomy quite neatly. Its problems aren't in the core concept, but in placing breadth over depth, content over refinement, which leaves both turn-based and real-time elements lacking the staying power of their more dedicated inspirations. In trying to offer something for everyone, The Lamplighters League might not fully satisfy anyone at all.


A demo is available on Steam, I think.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on September 29, 2023, 11:20:23 AM
Yeah it's a shame as its a day one GamePass game. I guess I am going to... pass.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on September 29, 2023, 12:32:16 PM
I was actually looking forward to this. Like Syt, I've enjoyed Harebrained games quite a bit (particularly the two Shadowrun sequels), and the theme and genre were right up my alley. A pity.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on September 29, 2023, 12:35:34 PM
I mean, it could be they clean it up, and there'll be more reviews coming, but for now it's in my "wait and see" column - plenty other stuff to play, anyways, and Cities Skylines 2 is also coming soon.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on September 29, 2023, 02:39:33 PM
Quote from: Syt on September 29, 2023, 12:35:34 PMI mean, it could be they clean it up, and there'll be more reviews coming, but for now it's in my "wait and see" column - plenty other stuff to play, anyways, and Cities Skylines 2 is also coming soon.
That is going to devour so much of my time :ph34r:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 12, 2023, 06:21:15 AM
This might be of interest to some here, "Rise of the White Sun":

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1189100/Rise_Of_The_White_Sun/

Quote"Rise of the White Sun" is the most immersive grand strategy game set in the Chinese Warlord era.

Delve into a new world filled with intrigue, murky plots, and treacherous military ventures.
Once you experience the chaos of 1920s China, there will be no going back to boring WW2 grand strategy games!

Naturally, you will encounter all the standard features found in other grand strategy games, such as:
-building your empire,
-engaging in diplomacy,
-leading military expeditions...

However, what sets this game apart is its unique focus on leading a loose clique of unreliable opium-addict warlords, commanding massive, unruly (and unpaid) armies.

You'll have the opportunity to play as an underground communist activist, a secret society grandmaster, a "lord of the mountain" bandit king, or a cunning Kuomintang politician.
The game's diverse factions offer distinct flavors and challenges.

Thanks to the valuable feedback from players, the game boasts exceptional historical accuracy, remarkable replayability, and a fresh take on strategy games that I hope you will appreciate.

Have fun!

Maestro Cinetik

PS: Are you unfamiliar with 1920s China?
Lucky you!
I developed this game with the intention of captivating you with this fascinating historical period.
I wish I were you, to discover a new all these fascinating stories!
(After experiencing the game, many of you jump into the Discord seeking a bibliography.)

The graphics are rough, though I'd argue it looks better than the devs' previous outings, "Jey's Empire" (in which you run the FBI as Hoover, trying to stay in office while balancing political and personal issues and demands), and the Cauldron of War entries (Barbarossa and Stalingrad).

As usual, the UI is janky, the English text is of questionable quality (and the tone a bit all over the place), and the tutorials explain the bare minimum. :D

However, it seems the solo dev made an effort to put research in - each province, each character has their own description, texts, scripted events, etc.

At first glance the game it most reminds me of is the older KOEI Romance of the Three Kingdoms games. You act through your commanders who have action points that you can use for movement, combat, managing your armies, territories etc. Each town has different population groups that I suppose you want to keep happy. You can engage in diplomacy with other factions, leaders can defect etc. As usual, the main challenge seems to be managing (and acquiring) very limited resources. Movement is node based (again, similar to old KOEI games).

The game has small scenarios (e.g. just a two-faction struggle over Hunan), to 495 turn scenarios starting in 1920. Not all factions are fully fleshed out with scripted events etc., but more important ones are (or ones that are just weird, i.e. you can play as Roman von Ungern-Sternberg (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_von_Ungern-Sternberg).

Haven't dived in too deeply, and die to its jankitude I'm reluctant to recommend it, but might be worth a look if very interested in the era.

Screen for the "full" 1920 campaign faction selection. A little "gold" icon denotes that a faction has "many" (whatever that means) scripted special content, a silver icon that it has "some" such content.

(https://i.imgur.com/dra4IVw.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 12, 2023, 08:45:30 AM
Steal game's art? :unsure:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 12, 2023, 09:41:51 AM
It gives you access to a press zip file, presumably it's press material, i.e. gfx etc. that sites can use in articles and such. :P



Oh, and if you thought Paradox released Lamplighters League with little fanfare ... Star Trek Infinity is now out. :P

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1622900/Star_Trek_Infinite/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 12, 2023, 10:40:37 AM
I noticed that was due surprisingly soon the other day.
Quick  glance at steam, reviews are not great. Sounds buggy and lots of complaints its just reskinned stellaris. Disappointing.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 12, 2023, 10:44:36 AM
Which reminds me I should finish Star Trek: Resurgence. It's basically a Telltale style Star Trek game over on Epic Games Store, set during the TNG movie era.

The plus: you play two characters (new #1 and an NCO engineer on the same ship), managing relations with other crew members and making decisions. Writing so far is decent.

The minus: the graphics looks quite dated. Gameplay relies on janky mini games a bit much (think David Cage games that like to turn every mundane activity into a little mini game).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on October 12, 2023, 11:33:17 AM
Hey Syt - does the Sichuan Clique (Liu Xiang, Yang Sen, Liu Wenhui, Deng Xihou, He Zhaode, and Tian Songyao) have the gold icon for "lots of events"?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 12, 2023, 12:34:09 PM
Had a look for 1920:
- Liu Xiang: no
- Yang Sen: no
The other characters - is it possible they rose afetr 1920? It might be they come up in the recruitable characters, but not sure.

In 1925 sandbox Sichuan (and most of Eastern China) is not playable.

There's a Sichuanese scrum scenario with 6 factions (Xiong Kewu, Liu Xiang, Lu Chao, Liu Cunhuo, Yunnan Army, Guizhou Army).

FOr the 1920 scenario, the factions with "many events" are: Chen Jiongmin, Guomindang, Chinese Communist Party (and Comintern, which is a joint Communist faction that includes the CCP if you play as them), Roman von Ungern-Sternberg, Orenburg Cossacks, Tibet, Xinjiang. The ones with "some" events are Old Guanxi Clique, Fengtian Clique, Hunan.

For 1925, Guomindang and Communists have "many" events, Guominjun "some" events. Some smaller scenarios have events for their factions (usually the ones that have them on the bigger maps), some don't.

The dev is still working on the game (mostly on a Chinese translation atm), so he might add more, but for now that seems to be it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on October 12, 2023, 12:46:24 PM
Cool, thank you.

It's an a fascinating period. Adding a "back of beyond" set of minis for Warlord era China is high on my list if I ever get to a stage where adding another collection is advisable (it isn't  :lol: ).

I have a specific interest in the Sichuan region for a number of personal reasons. I went to a pretty cool museum there when I visited some years back. It had an entire building dedicated to the Flying Tigers (American air units supporting China / Sichuan in WWII) and pretty big exhibit on the Sichuan Army as well - they (though at that point they were fully integrated into the Republic of China) apparently fought the only successful Chinese action outside of China in WW2, coming to the aid of beleaguered British forces in Burma - the Battle of the Yunnan-Burma Road (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Yunnan%E2%80%93Burma_Road) as it's called in English.

Anyways, I always play Sichuan in "China in Chaos" scenarios, whatever the era :nerd:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on October 12, 2023, 01:13:35 PM
Quote from: Jacob on October 12, 2023, 12:46:24 PMFlying Tigers (American air units supporting China / Sichuan in WWII)

I would find it surprising if there was a single poster here who was unaware of who they were.  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 12, 2023, 01:16:56 PM
Yeah, the game seems very focused on the pre-1930s period which seems like an absolute bonkers era.

Poked around a bit more. Moving armies around requires coolies that you have to "recruit". Unless you can afford expensive trucks. In the basic Hunan scenario I had one of my characters go and bribe a bandit gang to become his "army." He paid extra to ensure their loyalty. When he ordered them to move ... they went, "Nah." Ensuring loyalty of your soldiers (and characters) is a big focus.

And so is actions of your non-general characters. A communist activist might go into a city to try organize the workers, crate a workers militia, launch worker strikes etc. Or you might work on improving lives for the people (though some strata might not like you moving away from ancient traditions in favor of modern ideas).

I started a games as Guomindang in 1920 and was then stumped because I only had Liao Zhongkai who was tasked by Sun Yat Sen to prepare his return to Guangzhou. So I realized that I could move from the China map to the Guangdong Regional map. And then enter the city of Guangzhou, where - if you have the right characters with the right traits - you can interact with the Chamber of Commerce, the Police Precinct, the Mechanic's Union and the Trade Mission (foreign influence does play some role). Such city maps seem to exist for some cities (Hong Kong, Shanghai, maybe more?). Actually, sending Liao Zhongkai to Hong Kong first to gather resources might be a better move, but it doesn't change that the scale of the game makes this feel like having an ant run around the map (when you pass a week, all kinds of warlord movement happen on the map while you just try to rally forces first :lol. ).

So you start of at the very bottom, rallying support, gathering finances, recruiting more people, try to sway maybe other characters etc. Talk about an uphill battle. :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 12, 2023, 01:19:04 PM
Btw, I really enjoyed The Good, The Bad, and The Weird, a Korean action flick, which is basically a spaghetti western set in Manchuria 1939 (which works surprisingly well :P ): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0901487/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on October 12, 2023, 03:51:34 PM
Cannot work out a single thing I'm meant to be doing in that game :lol:

Which is fine it wasn't too expensive and I got some time noodling around. But a shame as I am really, really interested in the period.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 12, 2023, 03:57:34 PM
Yeah, it's fairly obtuse.  :(

There's tutorials and pop ups and a wiki that are meant to be helpful (plus an overlay when you press ALT that shows # of available options for your selected character on a map),but there's definitely a learning curve that I'm not sure I'm ready for atm. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 12, 2023, 03:58:34 PM
Anyways, the trailer for the next Age of Wonders expansion looks good. :)

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on October 12, 2023, 06:58:13 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on October 12, 2023, 01:13:35 PMI would find it surprising if there was a single poster here who was unaware of who they were.  :lol:

:lol:

I'd never heard of them until I wandered into that museum in semi-rural Chengdu. The building was quite a testament to pro-American yet patriotically Chinese sentiment.

I assume there's some sort of massive pop-cultural product or classic film on the topic that I've missed?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 13, 2023, 03:11:59 AM
Quote from: Habbaku on October 12, 2023, 01:13:35 PM
Quote from: Jacob on October 12, 2023, 12:46:24 PMFlying Tigers (American air units supporting China / Sichuan in WWII)

I would find it surprising if there was a single poster here who was unaware of who they were.  :lol:
Unknown. Might have been able to figure it out from context, I know these people did exist, but I don't think Flying Tigers is such a stand out famous name that sans all context I'd know it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on October 14, 2023, 04:33:46 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3CUh0w13PY&ab_channel=TheTerminator

could be something
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 19, 2023, 10:14:08 AM
Trailer for the new game from the makers of Battle Brothers. If you didn't like BB's 2D gfx, maybe give this one a look. :P


https://store.steampowered.com/app/2432860/MENACE/

QuoteABOUT THIS GAME
Command a strike force of marines, mercenaries, and criminals in a distant system, cut off from the Core Worlds. At the lawless frontier, the Wayback system is controlled by pirate warlords, questionable corporations, and fractured planetary governments who struggle for a new order. Though you initially lead your strike force of marines from aboard the strike cruiser TCRN Impetus, you'll quickly need to unite the disparate locals under your leadership to defeat an unknown threat. Fielding tanks, mechs, and infantry squads with a massive selection of equipment to choose from, you'll train your troops, plan out operations, and engage in deadly tactical battles.

The developers of Battle Brothers take us to the far future in MENACE – a turn-based tactical RPG set in an isolated system where a strange new threat has begun to emerge.

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/2432860/extras/image_01_loop.gif)


(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/2432860/extras/headline_01.png)

Your Republic Marine Corps strike force has made its way over to bring the frontier back into the fold, but what was supposed to be a simple pacification mission revealed a threat that puts the entire system at risk...

Your approach is entirely yours to determine – as distress calls roll in, calling you from planet to planet, you can decide which to respond to, what resources to employ, and when to engage based on your readiness levels. Your choices will determine how the local factions feel about your presence, with a direct impact on your relations with them and what favors they may be willing to do for you. Will you prioritize relations with the arms dealers for access to better equipment on the battlefield? Or will you set their needs aside, focusing on the shipwrights instead to gain access to ship upgrades that can support your ground troops from orbit?

With all communications cut off, you're at the top of the chain of command, and your team of marines, mercenaries, and criminals turn to you for answers. Any single operation is not limited to one battlefield, instead taking you on branching paths of multiple missions each, asking you to engage in a series of battles across entire worlds. Make strategic decisions as you progress through an operation, choosing between the missions available to you – will you first take out the enemy air defenses that keep you from landing tanks? Or will you press directly into the enemy to rescue a group of hostages and gain the trust of the locals? Proceed mission by mission to complete the operation, and ultimately, further your grand campaign, but beware – every decision has serious consequences, not just for the operation at hand, but the entire system itself.

The strike cruiser TCRN Impetus acts as your base of operations, not only ferrying you between missions, but providing both orbital support and a place for much needed R&R. Invest in upgrading and customizing your mobile HQ to best synergise with your approach on the battlefield, seeking out opportunities among local allies to gain the upper hand for the task ahead of you.

Without access to your standard issue naval arsenal, you'll have to rely on local black market dealers and the spoils of war to equip your squads. From the jerry-rigged war machines of the pirate factions to the refined, high-end arms of the local mercenaries, each engagement isn't just an opportunity to bring the fractured system under control, but to acquire new equipment to help accomplish your mission.

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/2432860/extras/image_02_loop.gif)



(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/2432860/extras/headline_02.png)

The threat of death is real as you find yourself pit against numerically, and at times technologically, superior enemy forces. Large engagements across diverse battlefields are subject to the effects of weather conditions across a multitude of biomes, and human foes are the least of your concern. In the recesses of the system, something alien has taken hold, and its methods are unpredictable and unrelenting.

Battles in MENACE are deadly affairs – under the hail of bullets, plasma bolts, and missile fire, you will face off against enemies that are well prepared, and ruthless. Expect to permanently lose squad leaders and their squads, and prepare to adapt to constantly evolving situations on the battlefield. Pacifying an entire system doesn't come without a few risks, and superior tactical prowess will determine the victor.

Use flanking maneuvers to make your way around cover, or use heavy ordnance to flush enemies out from their firing positions. Rush from cover to cover as you plot pincer attacks, opening fire to suppress enemy squads and pin them in place while working to destroy cover they might run to. A tactical approach is essential to coming out on top but remember to stay on your toes – though you can plan around intel gathered for mission briefing, plans never survive first contact with the enemy.
Keep an eye on your weapons' efficient ranges, their damage over distance, and whether they're best used against heavily or lightly armored enemies. Even beyond accurate ranges, every round fired causes some degree of suppression to the squad it lands next to – whether they were the intended target or not. With heavy fire more likely to pin an enemy down than small arms, you'll be able to adapt based on the tools at your disposal, but make sure to adjust your approach as needed. Study the enemy to assess if you should be sniping from a distance or aggressively closing the gap under the cover of suppressing fire.

Arrive on the battlefield with a variety of vehicles and mechs alike, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, and a variety of weapons systems to choose from. The firepower of a tank is immense, but the nimble mech is able to respond to fast-moving threats in an instant, rotating freely and quickly. Designated pilots are able to bring these vehicles to the battlefield, albeit at a high cost. Will you opt to bring in an expensive mech you've commandeered from the mercenaries at the cost of better equipment for your infantry? You might lose an entire squad, but the extra firepower might just be what secures your victory.

Use limited supplies to kit your squads out before each mission and ensure you're equipped for the task ahead. Infantry squads can swap their armor to strike a balance between protection and utility with additional accessory slots, where accessories range from disposable rocket launchers to grenades to target designators. Each squad can be equipped from a wide selection of weapons with different advantages and disadvantages, as well as particularly powerful specialist weapons – everything from flamethrowers to sniper rifles to EMP cannons.

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/2432860/extras/image_03_loop.gif)



(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/2432860/extras/headline_03.png)

Pike is the model marine – loyal to the Republic, and a professional soldier, unwavering in the face of adversity. Rewa suffers from the trauma of past scars, a violent rage constantly boiling beneath the surface. Lim owes Pike for saving his home colony, and distrusts non-Marines – but he'll have to learn to meet them in the middle as the going gets rough. Every squad leader in MENACE has a history and personality, and as their commander, it's up to you to navigate the trouble that can bring.

From the marines you flew in with to the locals you need to recruit, each squad leader carries their own expectations and aspirations. Engage with them between missions to learn more about them and what makes them tick – their opinion of you and their morale will determine the performance of your squads both on and off the battlefield.

Squad leaders and their squads earn promotions and improve over time, giving you the option to customize them to your liking. Keep your squad leaders alive and choose perks from a varied promotion tree, acquiring additional abilities to use against the enemy.

Each playthrough features a selection of characters from a massive pool – learn how individual backstories are tied together and prepare to navigate the unique combinations of each run. Stories unfold in unexpected ways as your squad leaders push from engagement to engagement. Watch them crumble under pressure from a cataclysmic threat, and do your best to train them for the fight against the MENACE.



(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/2432860/extras/headline_04.png)

With procedurally generated multi-mission operations and battle maps, alongside a big selection of characters and countless equipment options, every run of MENACE plays different from the last. Find yourself face to face with a seemingly insurmountable challenge that takes on multiple forms across playthroughs, and put your strategic and tactical prowess to the test in new ways each time.


(https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1000/1*cAmykIVkpTi8V8ecrmjrgQ.gif)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on October 19, 2023, 02:07:12 PM
Quote from: Syt on October 19, 2023, 10:14:08 AM(https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1000/1*cAmykIVkpTi8V8ecrmjrgQ.gif)

 :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 20, 2023, 12:59:24 AM
GOG has released old Omnitrend games from the early 90s.

Universe I-III (sci-fi RPG)
Rules of Engagement I & II (Space Battles strategy - fairly detailed IIRC)
Breach I & II (ship boarding tactical game set in the same world as RoE - Breach 2 and RoE2 can be combined - when you board a ship in RoE2 you can play this out in Breach 2)

https://www.gog.com/en/games?developers=omnitrend-software-inc

:nerd:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 20, 2023, 01:00:01 AM
Quote from: Tamas on October 19, 2023, 02:07:12 PM:lol:

Yes, I'm way too excited for this. :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on October 24, 2023, 06:30:40 AM
Quote from: Jacob on October 12, 2023, 12:46:24 PMI have a specific interest in the Sichuan region for a number of personal reasons. I went to a pretty cool museum there when I visited some years back. It had an entire building dedicated to the Flying Tigers (American air units supporting China / Sichuan in WWII) and pretty big exhibit on the Sichuan Army as well - they (though at that point they were fully integrated into the Republic of China) apparently fought the only successful Chinese action outside of China in WW2, coming to the aid of beleaguered British forces in Burma - the Battle of the Yunnan-Burma Road (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Yunnan%E2%80%93Burma_Road) as it's called in English.
Just heard about that battle separately - apparently those Chinese troops were basically the only troops that Stilwell trained in line with his strategy. His strategy was basically to train and equip Chinese troops on the American model with lots of American advisors enough to get at least some Eastern ports back which would open up supply. Chiang rejected that because Chiang's fear was that it would undermine his control over various points of power in the Chinese nationalist side but also would basically blow up his coalition which he'd need to fight the Japanese, but also to fight the Communists in the post-war. You'd need to take on lots and lots of vested interests with other centres of power within Nationalist China - you'd basically be opening another civil war within the war.

It's really interesting because, given that battle, perhaps a Stilwell-ish Chinese army could have really fought back against the Japanese far more effectively but also perhaps Chiang is right and it would have basically blown up the entire nationalist coalition. It feels plausible they're both right - which is obviously really unfortunate for China's experience of the war :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 25, 2023, 12:20:03 AM
It's Societally Sanctioned Spooky Month (October), and just in time World of Horror has come out of early access after a somewhat choppy development. It's a mix of randomly generated lovecraftian JRPG with 2 bit color art style and a visual style heavily inspired by the likes of Junji Ito and his disturbing imagery.

https://www.pcgamer.com/world-of-horror-review/

QuoteWORLD OF HORROR REVIEW
Moody pixel art and chilling adventures bring World of Horror's ancient monsters to un-life.


Maybe the monsters will be the death of me this time, assuming the unnatural holes that have recently opened up on my face don't finish me off first. Maybe neither of them will, because the ancient abomination inching ever closer towards what's left of reality will snap my mind in two long before it comes to that.

Maybe—just maybe—I'll push through, save the world, and most people will never realise anything strange was happening at all. Maybe.

It's this uncertainty that makes World of Horror, a game best described as a head-on collision between Junji Ito's imaginative cosmic horror and HP Lovecraft's tentacle-strewn Cthulhu mythos, so compelling. I can never be quite sure of how the story's going to end: each mystery can play out in multiple ways, based on a combination of my own actions in the moment as well as whether I dare to fulfil a risky additional objective, which might help the town but put me in harm's way in the process.

This bit of agency in an adventure game is exciting, but also makes World of Horror scarier. I can't just click through creepy pictures until I get to the end (or die): I have to actually read the burnt notes I find for clues, listen to gossip and actually remember what was said, and then—if I've got the awareness and equipment to do so—perhaps use this information to push a mystery towards a better conclusion. One of my "favourite" climaxes sees my poor character piercing someone's eye with a needle in a desperate attempt to save them from an even more gruesome fate, and I'm the one who has to mouse their eyeball and manually click the needle in myself, with my own hand.

In the heat of the moment I'm right there, and I hesitate just a little before I remind myself that this is the least bad thing that could happen to them. As unpredictable as the game may be, I'm always right at the blackened heart of this supernatural storm. I'm always the one thing that makes a real difference.

For all the gore, ghouls, and randomised micro-scenarios that may help or hinder my progress, there's a rigid structure to World of Horror that keeps this eldritch uncertainty from descending into a disjointed monster mash. I know I always have to solve five mysteries, each with their own specific goals, unique encounters, and endings. I know I then have to use the keys earned from completing these mysteries to unlock the lighthouse door and hopefully save the universe as we know it. Whatever happens—and the game is not shy about getting downright weird—there's always some sliver of hope, something concrete to aim for. If I can just hang on a little longer I know I can make it through, or at the very least lose my sanity in a productive way.

(https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gpQiAiuAngwZAY8dxi5kyJ-970-80.png)

All of this impending doom is conveyed using the sort of graphics usually found on dusty 5-inch floppy discs, a world made of heavily dithered monochrome pixel art. As simplistic as that may sound, nothing could suit the game better. Every scene is detailed enough to make me wish I couldn't see the hungry eyes staring out from the twisted remains of someone's face, while still leaving enough of a void-like nothing in there to encourage my already nightmare-inclined imagination to eagerly fill in the gaps. I may not always know what the hell it is I'm looking at, but I know in my bones it's something truly awful.

World of Horror's story follows a similar minimalist style, creating an unsettling feeling of being lost or hunted, than it is to follow a typical flowing narrative. This lack of consistency is actually a strength: it  makes it easier for me to weave the deliberately fractured scraps into a sort of improvised dreamlike whole. Going from opening my bills to finding a bloodsoaked box to encountering a man prepared to trade my memories for cold hard cash may not make much sense, but it does make me feel like I'm in danger, like reality's on the verge of collapse, and nowhere is safe.

When the shadows do inevitably come for me, World of Horror's achievement system manages to make death still feel like some sort of win. Whether I banish the ancient horrors or not, performing certain actions as I play—helping someone out, poking something I perhaps shouldn't, even dying in a specific way—can unlock new spells, costumes, items, and more. There's always some sort of reward waiting just around the corner, even when a run ends early because I've succumbed to madness on another plane of existence. No matter what I do the game just keeps getting more varied, more interesting. I'm never put in a position where a mystery I've played through before comes up and the only difference is I pick Option B instead of Option A.

There are plenty of ways to make each run feel as fresh as a newborn shoggoth, with different ancient gods to fight against, mysteries to solve, characters to play as, and customisable background stories to go with them. I can even tweak the overall difficulty at the start of each run. It's a practical, patience-saving alternative to the usual roguelike setup of either repetitively grinding until I'm strong enough to succeed no matter what, or blindly throwing myself into a run and simply praying I'll be lucky this time around.

(https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zpDaMtuFQQZjHWVPqsECXK-970-80.png)

I only rarely stumbled into moments that felt poorly designed rather than cosmically cursed. World of Horror is many things, but a carefully balanced game is not one of them. I find spells generally fail to justify the drain on my Reason required to cast them, and properly dealing with ghosts in battle using a series of claps and bows just isn't worth the hassle. But in a roguelite that lasts perhaps half an hour on a successful run, these issues don't have a snowball in hell's chance of sticking around long enough to cause a real problem, and there are more than enough alternative ways to cause damage or recover from it anyway. If anything, repeat plays only make it clear that the game is more unbalanced in my favour than the grisly trappings would initially have me believe.

Even with those snags, World of Horror is a superb horror adventure that does a fantastic job of making every dark curse feel like another claw tightening around my character's doomed throat, and every hard-won boon frighteningly temporary. A full run might not last long on its own, but it's a very easy game to play all night long—sleeping isn't recommended after you've caught the Old Ones attention, anyway.

85% - Atmospheric, imaginative, and enjoyably unpredictable—this is one of the year's best horror games.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 25, 2023, 12:25:59 AM
Has this been in early access for some years?
It looks very familiar... Or maybe theres recently been some other horror games with this vintage Japanese PC aesthetic?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 25, 2023, 12:30:43 AM
Quote from: Josquius on October 25, 2023, 12:25:59 AMHas this been in early access for some years?
It looks very familiar... Or maybe theres recently been some other horror games with this vintage Japanese PC aesthetic?

Yes, and the dev took like a long break so people thought it was abandoned. Apparently he updated it over the last months to get to release status. I understand it was well playable already before, though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Brain on October 25, 2023, 05:02:32 AM
BattleCakes looks nothing like I imagined.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 26, 2023, 03:46:20 AM
Quote from: Syt on October 25, 2023, 12:30:43 AM
Quote from: Josquius on October 25, 2023, 12:25:59 AMHas this been in early access for some years?
It looks very familiar... Or maybe theres recently been some other horror games with this vintage Japanese PC aesthetic?

Yes, and the dev took like a long break so people thought it was abandoned. Apparently he updated it over the last months to get to release status. I understand it was well playable already before, though.

Ah right.
Yes, sure I saw a lets play some years ago.
It does look very cool. Like something from a fairly hidden (to the west) part of video game history- one thing I always thought would be cool for a horror game to do would be to use such a retro aesthetic but to break it, have certain entities that move in a smooth modern fashion rather than following the clunkiness of the rest... But thats not here of course. It is what it is on the surface.
Its definitely one of those I class under cool to watch and read about but I'll never play though.
Both for my horror game rule and my dislike of punishing difficulty.
 
I'm unsure whether Militsioner will fall into this too when it appeares.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 31, 2023, 04:48:59 AM
Anyone played Midnight Suns?
Had my eye on it a little while and notice its on sale.
X-Com with Marvel and Personaesque relationship building elements.
Does seem up my alley...But such a to-play list already.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 31, 2023, 05:16:46 AM
From what I read the combat is fun. BUT. You better like the dating sim socializing part of the game because it's apparently a HUGE part of the game (and game time), not just brief scenes that glue the tactical aspects together.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 31, 2023, 05:28:01 AM
Randomly found some old screenshots. Reminded me one of my favorite :nerd: :lmfao: moment in any game.

The game version of To Be or Not To Be, a choose your own adventure based on Hamlet. The game gives you several characters to choose from, including the dead King of Denmark, slain in Norway.

You are in Norway at the start and I made a remark when I played it along the line that I would be disappointed if he could just talk to the Norwegians, what with being Danish.

I was *not* expecting that not only was this addressed, but addressed more exhaustively that I could have wished for. :lol:

(https://i.imgur.com/hSBQuRd.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/KxbXMNQ.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/mi5nPRW.png)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on October 31, 2023, 05:51:09 AM
I have no idea what this is but  :lmfao:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on October 31, 2023, 11:42:02 AM
I enjoyed reading that :cheers:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on October 31, 2023, 03:08:08 PM
Game is available here for 4.99: https://store.steampowered.com/app/324710/To_Be_or_Not_To_Be/

:)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 07, 2023, 02:14:11 AM
Got the new Paradox newsletter.

6th Nov: EU4 expansion/major patch
7th Nov: AoW4 expansion/major patch
9th Nov: CK3 flavor pack/major patch
14th Nov: Vic3 flavor pack/major patch

Paradox content is like public transport - first you wait forever, and then there's a whole bunch in a row. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 07, 2023, 04:30:38 AM
Oh AOW4 is today is it?

I was interested in the EU4 DLC then realised I haven't played any country covered by the last DLC I picked up on a sale. :D

I am also interested in CK3's but going to wait for the "dark ages" mod (it's not an extra time period, but rather an extensive rule change / difficulty mod) to be updated.

I am very much interested in Vicky3, the 1.5 is great at least on paper, the public beta shows a much-improved game except for the game-breaking bugs left in it. :P So hoping those are fixed and no new ones introduced.

So I guess AOW4 can tide me over 'til the 14th.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 07, 2023, 04:32:24 AM
OPB had a series about Italy and has started one about Serbia with the current beta, plus his tweaks mod. Not sure if he was having fun because or despite the current beta (or both) :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on November 07, 2023, 04:37:05 AM
Quote from: Syt on November 07, 2023, 02:14:11 AMGot the new Paradox newsletter.

6th Nov: EU4 expansion/major patch
7th Nov: AoW4 expansion/major patch
9th Nov: CK3 flavor pack/major patch
14th Nov: Vic3 flavor pack/major patch

Paradox content is like public transport - first you wait forever, and then there's a whole bunch in a row. :P

16th Nov - staff annual piss up?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 07, 2023, 04:51:00 AM
Quote from: Syt on November 07, 2023, 04:32:24 AMOPB had a series about Italy and has started one about Serbia with the current beta, plus his tweaks mod. Not sure if he was having fun because or despite the current beta (or both) :D

Yeah I think at this point I enjoy his playthroughs more than playing. :D That way I don't have to play through the slow  resource-hog slog, and he built his mod to force some action I think.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on November 08, 2023, 05:03:02 PM
Friends fear he's spotted the new Football Manager is out :ph34r:

Been maybe 18 months - two years since I last played one...so interested again.....
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 09, 2023, 01:26:03 AM
I got my fill last year during final season of Ted Lasso. :D (Price of 59.99 not helping either :P )

It just takes too much time if you want to play it "properly", though I appreciate what it does, as a whole. -_-

If it helps you: they promise a "proper" new version next year as opposed to the "annual updates" of recent years. Though they did add a feature now for transfering your saves between this and future versoin (which Out of the Park Baseball has had for many years now).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on November 09, 2023, 03:59:02 AM
I've not played FM for a few years though I did play a lot on some earlier versions.

Its basically exactly the sort of game I know I need to avoid for the good of my life. Open ended and incredibly time consuming.

What I'd love to see re-emerge at some point is a decent lighter version- not just FM mobile. Like the old Premier Manager series. A management game that does require some thought but where you can get through a season in a hour or two.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on November 09, 2023, 05:22:12 AM
FM2024 is on Game Pass.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on November 09, 2023, 09:34:25 AM
FM works well on Steam Deck so for the good of my personal and professional relationships I must pass

For at least a month :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on November 09, 2023, 03:06:22 PM
:lol:

Yeah I might wait a bit. I'll probably get it over the Christmas break :ph34r:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on November 10, 2023, 01:46:18 PM
There was a point years ago where I was playing the mobile version at the gym - that's how dangerous FM can be.  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on November 10, 2023, 02:51:07 PM
The big thing that helps prevent me from starting a new run on FM is all the busy work at the start of a new save. Got to fire/hire staff, search for players, set up tactics, set up set plays (:bleeding:), install graphics mods, competition patches etc etc

If I have the wherewithal to get through those first couple hours then my life is over. FM won  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on November 10, 2023, 03:18:59 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on November 10, 2023, 02:51:07 PMThe big thing that helps prevent me from starting a new run on FM is all the busy work at the start of a new save. Got to fire/hire staff, search for players, set up tactics, set up set plays (:bleeding:), install graphics mods, competition patches etc etc

If I have the wherewithal to get through those first couple hours then my life is over. FM won  :lol:


Of course right after posting this I found out SI put in a new set piece wizard feature in FM24 so I don't have to mess creating and tweaking set pieces anymore :ph34r:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on November 13, 2023, 06:45:41 AM
yeo have released their third game. I've not tried them, but I kinda like their vibe - old Japanese movies gangster in game form, usually mixing action with narrative parts.



https://store.steampowered.com/app/846110/The_friends_of_Ringo_Ishikawa/

QuoteThe friends of Ringo Ishikawa

A highschool gang leader Ringo Ishikawa trying to live through his last autumn before graduation. With his best friends.

You should play it if:

1) You're fond of good stories with strong dialogues (especially about growing up)
2) You're a fight games enthusiast (you'll get your hands on some unique brawl mechanic and I promise you'll be satisfied)
3) You're into some yakuza-delinquent aesthetics

Basically, the game is an existential open world beat'em up with some school sim elements. It has a little of everything: a town to explore, day-night cycle, npc on their schedule, battle grinding, school grinding, mini-games (ping-pong, billiard, video-poker, video-game console with one game...) and so on.

But the main thing is the story I'm trying to tell. And I designed the game to make you feel this story. So it's not about rival gangs, or taking over turfs, or anything. You just live there and feel. And that's all.

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/846110/ss_f1475640517195b00b73fcb1713089175a136a37.600x338.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/846110/ss_27f5bf50bf92467e8f1594e74477423490071f62.600x338.jpg)


https://store.steampowered.com/app/1151120/Arrest_of_a_stone_Buddha/

QuoteArrest of a stone Buddha

Hitman is searching for an answer in 70s France.

As a professional killer you'll live through November 1976 alternating non-stop shoot'em up action with a downtempo mundane life.

You're fast and lucky enough so you don't plan your actions too far. You kill with one shot and you never miss. When you're run out of ammo you just throw a gun away. You can disarm any enemy and use any weapon. And when it's time to get out you just use a vehicle nearby.

You have an apartment in the historical center of the city. When you want to eat you go to a cafe, and you can visit a museum or a cinema when you're looking for entertainment. And you have a lover when you need a woman.

And there's this question which is longing for an answer.

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1151120/ss_3fb2554d449137810c9a9043e959bc92892cd96b.600x338.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1151120/ss_422f98100283104382d63eba6f5496e7a151fa90.600x338.jpg)


And now:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1687000/Fading_Afternoon/

QuoteFading Afternoon

Seiji Maruyama is a middle-aged yakuza recently released from prison. Known as "Gozuki" (one of the demon generals from Buddhist mythology) he is the power that his oyabun counts on. But there is one thing his aniki is not taking into account: Maruyama is getting old.

You play as Seiji Maruyama, a middle-aged yakuza recently released from prison. Old tropes are here but you can choose to not follow them. The question is — does anything really matter that much now?

The game features:
- Multi-endings;
- Complex beat'em up action;
- Mini-games;
- City to explore.

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1687000/ss_007c6b8043253200f97864c27f5601c838cbe2d6.600x338.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1687000/ss_b4be6609b4dc1d9f8ddc865931a39ff5627422b9.600x338.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1687000/extras/balcony_smoking_2x.gif)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on November 28, 2023, 04:49:27 AM
I do love the art style. Doubt the game would really be much for me but the art...yep.


I finally bought Mount and Blade 2.
Its....good. But it is basically Mount and Blade 1.5 (well. That was already Warband. 1.8?). Not really a generational leap or much of a change. Just the same thing but a new map and bigger scale. Which is disappointing. But its good nonetheless.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 01, 2023, 04:19:26 AM
Last Train Home, a game about bringing the Czechoslovak Legion home in the aftermath of WW1 and during the Russian Civil War.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1469610/Last_Train_Home/

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/last-train-home-review

QuoteLast Train Home review: freezing to death in the Russian Civil War shouldn't be this entertaining
If you could only Syrový


Fewer games than I'd like have captured that feeling of everything getting really out of hand. Not just getting harder, but putting you in a situation that's truly deteriorating all around you.

Last Train Home has an intriguing premise: taking the Czechoslovak Legion home from the Eastern front via an armoured train directly through the chaos of the Russian Civil War. Its unusual mixture of survival sim, RPG, tactical skirmishes, and narrative history holds together, I think, precisely because your efforts to make it all work provide such a contrast to what an incredible mess the world around you is becoming.

(https://assetsio.reedpopcdn.com/the_last_train_home_11.jpg)

It's also novel in that your goal isn't to win the war. It's to get the hell out of there. A deal was cut to evacuate you via Vladivostok, beginning a chaotic 5000 mile odyssey away from home in order to get back home. On paper you're neutral, your fledgling government even issuing orders, but you fought for the Tsar and the Allies are huffing their first hit of red scare, and neither the Reds nor relatively friendly Whites can ignore an unaligned army in their midst.

So you'll inevitably fight the Reds in particular (insistently Reds, not communists - some of your own troops will likely be communist, but, y'know, it's complicated) but potentially the Whites too, and various third party troublemakers. You'll do good turns for the locals, pick up other stragglers to swell your ranks and get more countrymen home, and buy, gather, and steal food and coal and materials to winter-proof, arm, and generally upgrade your train and keep everyone from freezing or starving.

It's a lot. Of course it's very gamified, but turning metal into armour plating for carriages, or cloth into beds and winter uniforms works as a representative abstraction. None of it feels outlandish, even when you're capturing the imperial gold reserve with a whopping ten soldiers, or having your guys research better scopes. It's a little hard to explain, but its systems have been carefully arranged to serve a thematic purpose, not just shoved in because you gotta have crafting, right?

Your soldiers are the heart of it, and they too have an RPG levelling thing going on, but again not a perfunctory one. Each of your few dozen men and women is unique, with a little biography, character traits, and a few stats. The right stats let you train them in a role, which I hesitate to call "classes" because they're actual roles within a team. A legionary can be a rifleman, a medic, and a cook, but which he'll be doing at any given moment depends on what role you've assigned him when setting up a squad or directing him to a job on the train. Each role is either combat or non-combat, but everyone can take on more roles as they gain overall experience, and experience in specific jobs grants bonus stats and special skills, some of which transfer across roles. It can be worth giving someone the medic role even if you only ever deploy them as a scout, for example, since that gives them the 'heal' skill, and a good labourer will get strong enough to be a spare rifleman before long.

Power levelling your way to a dream team doesn't work, as everyone needs rest and healing. A variety of character traits can effect story events and non-combat mission outcomes, the latter also providing low-risk experience so you can cross train your good doctor as a grenadier by having her tag along on those instead of taking up a precious slot on a fight. It all means you'll think carefully about who to send on every job, balancing their personality, skills, and above all their potential. You really need everyone to be their best self, and it's this that really elevates the whole design. It's one of the best military management games I've ever played because it really gets you thinking about how best to use all your people, not just where to stack your chips.

Thankfully, there's also minimal dicking around with inventory and only four skills can be equipped at a time, so they don't get too overwhelming in combat. Skills do vary wildly in usefulness, though. Suppressing with a machine gun works in theory but eats an entire magazine, which I found far too expensive compared to the rifleman's free bayonet charges, and scouts are in the odd position of having the most useless skill - throwing rocks that are apparently made of osmium, a distracting trick that can be replicated by anyone simply poking their head out for a moment - and four incredibly powerful, cheap ones.

Combat is probably where it's weakest, thanks to amnesiac enemy AI and an annoyingly conjoined "move slowly and hold fire and use melee" command. It means that scout will get into concealment in time but then shoot at a passing tank, getting everyone killed, or that medic will either aim at a guy a metre away or slowly creep towards him instead of charging. As your train moves Eastward, some of the hotspots you'll send parties out to investigate will be real-time scripted missions that lie somewhere between Men of War: Assault Squad and a more stealth and flanking mini-encounter game like Mutant Year Zero.

(https://assetsio.reedpopcdn.com/the_last_train_home_4.jpg)

The intricacies of fights aren't outright weak, but it's where most of my minor complaints came up, like bayonet charges targeting an area not a person, so if you send three in at once they'll probably all target the same guy and then stand there while two survivors shoot them. Sniping can't one shot an exposed machine gun but can two-shot an armoured car. Things that look like cover often aren't, soldiers ignore grenades and you don't get much notification when they're attacked. But the weakest part of a bloody strong game is still an enjoyable one, and thanks to some great sound effects, the slow rate of fire, and high effectiveness of cover, it all makes for damn tense shootouts where every shot feels significant.

Last Train Home's other great strength is that all its parts lead so naturally into each other that its considerable length goes by in hour long waltzes from assaulting a town, to upgrading your engine while the fishing expedition walks back, to driving to the next station, to buying some ammunition, to scavenging for fuel, to reaching the next chapter in a fictionalised history of remarkable events that seems now like the most obvious fit for a game ever. To make all this so fun and compelling without feeling tacky or overly sanitised is a remarkable achievement, and one I'm glad to recommend.

(https://assetsio.reedpopcdn.com/the_last_train_home_10.jpg)
(https://assetsio.reedpopcdn.com/the_last_train_home_9.jpg)
(https://assetsio.reedpopcdn.com/the_last_train_home_7.jpg)
(https://assetsio.reedpopcdn.com/the_last_train_home_1.jpg)


Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on December 01, 2023, 09:43:52 AM
Traitors.  :mad:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Darth Wagtaros on December 01, 2023, 11:35:19 AM
So its The March Upcountry except its with trains?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on December 01, 2023, 12:24:40 PM
Sounds like Banner Saga in revolutionary Russia.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on December 03, 2023, 01:57:03 AM
I will be getting that :ph34r

I've read books about the revolution and a bit of the civil war and remember seeing passing references to the Czechoslovak Legion fighting to Vladivostok (which just doesn't seem the quickest or best route out of Russia), and I've thought I want to read a book about them because it's just so wild.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 03, 2023, 02:30:33 AM
Yes, I remember reading about it, either in Keegan's First World War or Stevenson's 1914-1918 and thought it sounded like a crazy story - not least, as you rightly say, because going from Western Russia to Vladivostok as opposed to ... ANY OTHER DIRECTION seems really weird at first glance. :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on December 03, 2023, 04:42:03 PM
Quote from: Syt on December 03, 2023, 02:30:33 AMYes, I remember reading about it, either in Keegan's First World War or Stevenson's 1914-1918 and thought it sounded like a crazy story - not least, as you rightly say, because going from Western Russia to Vladivostok as opposed to ... ANY OTHER DIRECTION seems really weird at first glance. :lol:

A similar thing happened with the belgian expeditionary corps in Russia. They ended up in the US eventually.
Seems lots of people were doing an 'anabasis' in those years

anyway, I've started my journey to Vladivostok.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: DGuller on December 03, 2023, 10:54:30 PM
Seeing the story of the legion, I think I know now where HOI4 pathing algorithm took its inspiration.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on December 04, 2023, 01:56:15 AM
Quote from: DGuller on December 03, 2023, 10:54:30 PMSeeing the story of the legion, I think I know now where HOI4 pathing algorithm took its inspiration.

Heheh

And one of the voice actors sounds like zelensky when giving speeches. Maybe one of the enemies will look like putler...?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on December 04, 2023, 06:45:58 PM
The GTA 6 trailer just dropped and it's set in Vice City, the in-universe equivalent of Miami, and I feel like the game trailer just shows how Florida actually is  :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 05, 2023, 01:55:56 AM
It looks fancy, but in many ways kinda indistinguishable from a UBI Soft open world game trailer IMO. If you showed me this and said it was for Far Cry 7, I would believe you.

I still have my fondest memories of GTA Vice City and San Andreas, and I wish they would return to make tackle a historical setting (we had 80s Miami, 90s LA/SF/LV, even 60s London, if we count 2D titles) ... why not a 70s title?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on December 05, 2023, 02:00:34 AM
All I know is that the high level creative thrust behind the GTA title have been out at Rockstar for years. I expect this will show signs of creative stagnation and franchise exploitation. Of course, that doesn't mean the game won't be good or that it won't be successful, but this is not the Rockstar of old. While that is potentially good in a number of ways, it may also impact creative direction. We'll see.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 05, 2023, 02:17:26 AM
To be fair, I wasn't wowed by the GTA5 trailer, either, but did enjoy the game (though I never even came close to progressing much in the game, instead often choosing to goof around/explore the island, since unlike previous titles it unlocked the whole map from start).

I was watching a video essay about Miami Vice on the weekend and how it shaped the perception of Miami (esp. the early Michael Mann seasons) and, together with Scarface, pop culture around that era and place. It specifically pointed out the night drive - going down city streets to a moody soundtrack, something that the movie Drive later also did. And in fact that's still one of my fondest GTA memories - cruising down the harbor roads at night in a not-Ferrari while it's raining and "Broken Wings" played on the car radio. Sure, the graphics are very dated by today's standards, but man - they sure created a strong feel of time and place with the technical means of the PS2 era. (And it helped that the game had an absolutely star studded cast.)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on December 05, 2023, 02:38:17 AM
I'm just happy to see a new GTA. They've been content to milk GTA online for way too long.

z5q463nrc1p81.jpg

Though yes. A 70s/80s UK based game would be the dream.
Or, probably a bit off piste for GTA , the same
Era but Hong Kong.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on December 05, 2023, 09:56:23 AM
Quote from: Jacob on December 05, 2023, 02:00:34 AMAll I know is that the high level creative thrust behind the GTA title have been out at Rockstar for years. I expect this will show signs of creative stagnation and franchise exploitation. Of course, that doesn't mean the game won't be good or that it won't be successful, but this is not the Rockstar of old. While that is potentially good in a number of ways, it may also impact creative direction. We'll see.

I seem to remember, they lost some of their most creative types back in the day, and never quite recovered.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Minsky Moment on December 05, 2023, 10:41:08 AM
Quote from: Jacob on December 05, 2023, 02:00:34 AMAll I know is that the high level creative thrust behind the GTA title have been out at Rockstar for years. I expect this will show signs of creative stagnation and franchise exploitation. Of course, that doesn't mean the game won't be good or that it won't be successful, but this is not the Rockstar of old. While that is potentially good in a number of ways, it may also impact creative direction. We'll see.

If throwing lots of money at a game makes it good, then it should be truly outstanding.
Not sure the premise holds though . . .
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: FunkMonk on December 05, 2023, 01:05:22 PM
Red Dead Redemption 2 is their greatest ever game and it's not even close though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 05, 2023, 01:15:03 PM
Graham Smith on RPS suggests keeping GTA Vice City as a nostalgic memory, and that it hasn't aged well:

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/grand-theft-auto-vice-city-is-best-left-as-a-hazy-enjoyable-memory

Probably true. :D I have it on Steam, but I'm not curious enough to install it and all the fixes/patches to make it run well on modern systems. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on December 05, 2023, 02:00:00 PM
I don't know about vice city itself but I tried vice city stories a few years back on my psp and... Yeah. Unplayable to my modern standards.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on December 05, 2023, 02:31:07 PM
Quote from: Josquius on December 05, 2023, 02:38:17 AMThough yes. A 70s/80s UK based game would be the dream.
Or, probably a bit off piste for GTA , the same
Era but Hong Kong.

At the same time I was working on Bully, there was a Mods & Rockers game in development at Rockstar. It got canned, though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on December 05, 2023, 02:33:47 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on December 05, 2023, 09:56:23 AMI seem to remember, they lost some of their most creative types back in the day, and never quite recovered.

:lol:  :hug:

... but the crazy but creative senior execs in charge of the shitshow have also been pushed out years ago. While that's probably good for workplace culture (who knows), I expect Rockstar has shifted into a Blizzard / EA / Ubi style "let's milk a well loved franchise with a string of continually weaker pastiches."
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Minsky Moment on December 05, 2023, 03:16:15 PM
Quote from: Jacob on December 05, 2023, 02:33:47 PM:lol:  :hug:

... but the crazy but creative senior execs in charge of the shitshow have also been pushed out years ago. While that's probably good for workplace culture (who knows), I expect Rockstar has shifted into a Blizzard / EA / Ubi style "let's milk a well loved franchise with a string of continually weaker pastiches."

It's hard to blame them; with development costs going into the billion dollar range, the margin for error must be extremely low at the corporate level. That's Hollywood Blockbuster territory and we've seen what those kinds of costs have done to originality and risk taking in the film business.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on December 05, 2023, 03:40:07 PM
Feel like it's a criticism I've read of Bethesda too. The games are good but they're very much doing variations on a theme now.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on December 05, 2023, 04:26:37 PM
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on December 05, 2023, 03:16:15 PMIt's hard to blame them; with development costs going into the billion dollar range, the margin for error must be extremely low at the corporate level. That's Hollywood Blockbuster territory and we've seen what those kinds of costs have done to originality and risk taking in the film business.

Quote from: Sheilbh on December 05, 2023, 03:40:07 PMFeel like it's a criticism I've read of Bethesda too. The games are good but they're very much doing variations on a theme now.

Oh that's absolutely the trend, and it has been for a while. Not a whole lot of risk taking available. It's an interesting ecosystem to observe (and often furstrating ecosystem to be part of).
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on December 05, 2023, 04:56:46 PM
Isn't it a bit unrealistic to expect a given (group of) individual(s) maintain their exceptional quality level of creative output throughout decades?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on December 05, 2023, 05:08:03 PM
Quote from: Tamas on December 05, 2023, 04:56:46 PMIsn't it a bit unrealistic to expect a given (group of) individual(s) maintain their exceptional quality level of creative output throughout decades?

Probably.

But this was the result of a long history of cut throat politics. I doubt there's much of the old guard left, especially the folks I'd consider the creative drivers.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tonitrus on December 06, 2023, 12:14:45 AM
Quote from: Syt on December 05, 2023, 01:55:56 AMIt looks fancy, but in many ways kinda indistinguishable from a UBI Soft open world game trailer IMO. If you showed me this and said it was for Far Cry 7, I would believe you.

I still have my fondest memories of GTA Vice City and San Andreas, and I wish they would return to make tackle a historical setting (we had 80s Miami, 90s LA/SF/LV, even 60s London, if we count 2D titles) ... why not a 70s title?

Or go into the future...a NYC clone inspired by NYC in the Fifth Element.  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 06, 2023, 02:18:28 AM
On the lack of creativity - the business is quite differentfrom 20 years ago when e.g. GTA VC and GTA SA came out. There's a lot more money involved, and big investors tend to be risk averse, so they'll rather make "the sure thing" instead of gambling on an unproven concept (see also: movies). There's a reason why monetization post release and live services became so popular - steady streams of reliable income vs. uncertainty in multiple tent pole releases.

Creativity these days is IMHO mostly found in smaller titles and the indie scene - and to be honest, some of the "small" developers have about the same resources as what might have been considered "big" studios 20 or 25 years ago and also access to better tech and tools and distribution options that let them reach pretty mucht he entire world.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on December 06, 2023, 02:21:45 AM
Quote from: Tamas on December 05, 2023, 04:56:46 PMIsn't it a bit unrealistic to expect a given (group of) individual(s) maintain their exceptional quality level of creative output throughout decades?
Although it kind of goes into the status of video games. They're a huge economic sector employing and enjoyed by millions - but I think we hear and read a lot about dearth of creativity in moves/TV, or Marvel issues etc. Which are similar issues as with video games, perhaps, but it's slightly carved out (I think for a normal paper the Guardian does good coverage - really enjoy their newsletter).

QuoteOr go into the future...a NYC clone inspired by NYC in the Fifth Element.  :P
:mmm: I love Fifth Element.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on December 06, 2023, 05:10:14 PM
Triple A games budgets have ballooned to insane levels where risk is no longer possible.

On the other hand the barriers for entry and resources needed for indie development are lower than ever.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 07, 2023, 02:17:58 AM
So GTA6 is coming to consoles in 2025 (unless delayed). And PC ... ? 2026, maybe?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Iormlund on December 07, 2023, 07:14:47 PM
I'm hoping AI can either help indies make more expansive games or AAA devs take more risk by reducing budgets. Time will tell, I guess.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 08, 2023, 12:57:24 AM
Some areas where AI can already help is art asset creation and voice acting. You can still tell a lot of the time if it's an AI voice, but they're becoming better and better. E.g. some Skyrim mods use AI voices for new NPCs or dialogue to pretty good effect (there's also at least one mod that uses this to voice the player character's lines). There's also the coding aspect where AI can help to some degree. I'm wary of story creation yet (I've been playing around with NovelAI recently, and it's quite impressive in its customization options, but it's not a full replacement for personal creativity and requires a lot of guidance to work "properly" - feels more like collaborative writing if anything at the moment.)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 09, 2023, 09:59:07 AM
Here's a lovely one, for 3.99:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2614200/Daily_Thread_The_Sewing_of_Discontent/

Blurb:

QuoteHenrietta is a seamstress in early industrial Manchester, enjoying Victorian age manufactory work. Relive your favorite moments from Dickens, Zola, and Marx, learn about the history of working conditions and worker rights and how they got where they are today, and think of where they could still go!

QuoteDaily Thread: The Sewing of Discontent

The textile industry is still one of the most exploitative industries in the world.

That is why we created this artistic view of working conditions in the 19th century Manchester in the wake of the first general strike. Play as Henrietta, a seamstress trying to juggle a 14-hour work day while taking care of her family and also engaging in the worker's movement.

The game alternates between two modes: During working hours you try to reach your quota, and at home you use your limited income to try and keep your family alive and well. Can you also find the time to involve your self in the socio-political problems of the era?

Half of all revenue from the game will be donated to Labour Behind the Label, a UK-based non-profit co-operative organisation which campaigns for workers' rights in the clothing industry.


(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/2614200/ss_71fbb8f95dd7e624eb24db8bbb9ab9f7d3e1553d.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/2614200/ss_7470f975805c4545b4d500edb1fdcfa05bf2394b.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/2614200/ss_a8eb8c4b7ac5ebd53f7598bc405da51ec5573559.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/2614200/ss_cf31fbd8399242dcd86334bc1af9332b699ec592.1920x1080.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on December 09, 2023, 02:08:19 PM
In theory I'm intruiged.
I'm practice I never get far with this kind of game. I'm bad at them and tend to have a perfectionist outlook on games...
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on December 13, 2023, 12:43:37 PM
I am: intrigued.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2002570/SeaOrama_World_of_Shipping/

QuoteIn Seaorama: World of Shipping, you'll have access to a fleet of over 17 types of ships and 90 port locations. But getting goods from one port to another is just the beginning...

Start Your Own Shipping Company

Embark on a thrilling entrepreneurial journey as you establish and nurture your very own shipping company in Seaorama: World of Shipping. Begin with a single vessel and transform it into a maritime empire. Strategize, invest wisely, and watch your company grow from humble beginnings to a dominant force in the global trade arena.

Plan Trade Routes Between 90 Port Locations

Create your own trade routes across an expansive world map featuring 90 port locations. Each destination offers unique challenges and opportunities. Analyze market trends, factor in geopolitical events, and master the art of logistics to optimize your routes for maximum profitability and efficiency.

Manage Your Ships & Contracts

Take control of a versatile fleet comprising 17 types of vessels. From cargo vessels to container ships, ensure that your fleet is well-maintained and equipped. Strike lucrative contracts with clients and meticulously oversee every aspect of your shipping operations. Adapt to unforeseen challenges and keep your cargo moving, no matter what obstacles arise.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 13, 2023, 01:10:23 PM
I want a remake of 1869, where you ran a shipping business in the 19th century, during the transition from sailing to steam ships. You could make some quick (risky) bucks trying to run the blockade in the Black Sea and deliver goods to Sevastopol during the Crimean war. :)

https://www.mobygames.com/game/2068/1869/

(From the guys who made Anno 1602 a few years later.)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on December 15, 2023, 09:55:17 AM
Yeah would be great especially with a Ui that doesn't make me want to kill myself.

Also we need a High Seas Trader remake.

This ship game I linked feels like a letdown though, doesn't do anything to address the quick onset of dullness inherent to this type of a game, in fact seems to become more dull even faster. I will give it one more brief go then probably refund.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 16, 2023, 04:51:38 PM
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2707280/Wargame_Construction_Set_III_Age_of_Rifles_18461905/

QuoteOne of the easiest to play and most comprehensive games of it's kind!

Master the art of war in a world where the rifle is the king! Age of Rifles puts you in command of troops from around the world, fighting the endless battles that raged between 1846 and 1905. Much more than a Civil War game, Age of Rifles includes the battles of Europe, Aisa, and South America. Every major conflict is yours to control! Beautiful, painstakingly rendered units and icons and an original period soundtrack will convince you that you have returned to a time when the rifle rules the land!

Key features:
- Easy-to-use game interface allows the novice player to take command immediately.
- Create your own scenarios and campaigns with the GAME EDITOR! Choose from over 1000 uniform combinations, 80+ weapons, and 28 nationalities to create your dream battle.
- Unique gunshot, explosion, and fire animations bring the battlefield to life as your troops advance.
- Unparalleled computer opponent AI.
- The Gazetteer encyclopedia contains complete historical background on individual encounters, wars, and weapons.

Includes 8 campaigns and 62 scenarios:
- American Civil War/East
- American Civil War/West
- American Civil War/Full
- Austro-Prussian: Six Weeks War
- Franco-Prussian War
- Mexican-American War
- Russo-Japanese War
- Soldier Queen

Includes bonus of 3 campaigns and 30 scenarios.
- British Colonial Indian Mutiny
- Wars of Italian Unification
- Hood's Drive North

:w00t:

I guess we're about to learn how well (or not) this has aged ....

QuotePlanned Release Date: 19 Dec, 2023

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/2707280/ss_7a0df7489a34cd99ff49cc8f2d750fe3903450d8.1920x1080.jp)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/2707280/ss_cdc3ece5a62ab4221c6f3164ed1a47bbfd44b677.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/2707280/ss_7168cefa4d891f018a0f679ac9a46c63a1b6171a.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/2707280/ss_38e78a657625dd07e0922d671aa362390445daac.1920x1080.jpg)

Wargame Construction Set 1&2 are also coming:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2707260/Wargame_Construction_Set/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2707270/Wargame_Construction_Set_II_Tanks/
(But tbh, AoR is the best of the bunch IIRC)

Additionally:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2702090/Star_Command/

QuoteSTAR COMMAND gives you the exhilarating excitement that only the best science-fiction novels can deliver. And more. Because, in this multiple-character role-playing game, you don't read about the adventure — you live it!

You create a special force of eight star-troopers by selecting characters with different levels of strength, speed, courage, intelligence, psychic power and other skills.

Your first mission: Locate the infamous Blackbeard and destroy his band of intergalactic pirates — a monumental task given the thousands of planets that make up this game universe. With guidance from Armed Forces Headquarters, you'll search planets and explore dungeon-like hideouts for clues to Blackbeard's home base. Along the way, you'll battle his minions in hand-to-hand and ship-to-ship combat.

With each successful foray, your crew will gain fighting experience, rise in rank and carry more powerful weapons such as ion guns, bacterial-infestation grenades and thunderbolt rifles.

Upon completion of your first task (should you survive it at all!), you'll battle more than smugglers — you'll take on an entire alien, insectoid race! Your orders: Uncover enemy invasion plans and use them to destroy the insect's main battleships.


https://store.steampowered.com/app/2702130/Renegade_Battle_for_Jacobs_Star/
QuoteYou're the best they've got.

Unfortunately, your latest hot-dog stunt did not impress the base commander. No sense of humor. So here you are, patrolling a backwater outpost where the only real danger is the food.

Bored to death, you notice that the stars around you are moving. And then it hits you like a bucket of ice water - those are definitely not stars, they're TOG fighters! Maybe you shouldn't have wished so hard for some action...

Get ready for the dogfight of your life! Command a squadron of Renegade fighters against an overwhelming Terran Overlord Government invasion force. Fly your choice of futuristic ships - from the speedy Cheetah and elusive Space Gull to the exotic Fluttering Petal and the massive Pegasus. It's so intensely real, you'll be sweating bullets!


https://store.steampowered.com/app/2702110/Prophecy_of_the_Shadow/
Quote"The dreaded Prophecy long foretold is nearly upon us! The rise of the Shadow Lord will surely mark the fall of civilization as we know it. Brave adventurer, you must not let this come to pass!"

With these haunting words, the Magic Council sends you off on a quest filled with danger, magic and puzzles in a land replete with untamed wilderness, quaint hamlets, majestic castles, labyrinthine catacombs and dark dungeons.

Prophecy of the Shadow is a classic single-character role-playing game in a mystical fantasy.

90s cinematics with over fifty digitized art and animation sequences, including characters in full costume.

Simple point-and-click interface with icon-based commands and graphical inventories makes the game fast and easy to play. Learn words and converse from an icon bar by clicking on the word.

Three perspective viewpoints: an adventure view allows you to explore this exciting world and engage in combat; an up-close-and-personal mode lets you converse with NPC Characters; and through the use of magic, an eagle's view of the world.

A large, complex world - both above and below ground - that you must save!
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 16, 2023, 04:56:13 PM
P.S.: They'll also release all Great Naval Battles titles in a bundle.

Unsure if they'll show up on GOG as well (all other titles from the publisher are on GOG ASAICT).

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2702080/Great_Naval_Battles_The_Final_Fury/

EDIT: Never mind, they are all coming to GOG:

https://www.gog.com/en/games?releaseStatuses=upcoming&publishers=sneg
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on December 16, 2023, 06:16:22 PM
Age of Rifles  :worthy:

I think it's aged pretty well. I mean, it has better UI and graphics than (post-)Tiller games released the last couple of years. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on December 16, 2023, 06:25:59 PM
heh, Renegade... Never thought I'd see that one again. Had quite some fun with it back in the day, but the game could have been so much more. And that music, oh my. Don't know who's idea that was  :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 18, 2023, 08:21:53 AM
I saw a while ago that Wargame Design Studio had released a Thirty Years War game. Now they've released a free demo for their Musket & Pike series (so far: Renaissance, Seven Years War, Great Northern War, Thirty Years War): Vienna 1683. :lol:  :blush:


https://wargameds.com/collections/new-products/products/vienna-1683
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Minsky Moment on December 18, 2023, 09:36:40 AM
Looks rather nice, at least in 2d (counter) mode.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 19, 2023, 10:58:17 AM
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on December 18, 2023, 09:36:40 AMLooks rather nice, at least in 2d (counter) mode.

Yeah, but it's a WDS game, so the AI will be bad. :D

Age of Rifles is live on GOG:
https://www.gog.com/game/wargame_construction_set_iii_age_of_rifles_18461905_campaigns

There's also a bundle of all three Wargame Construction Sets, though I feel the other two have better alternatives these days: https://www.gog.com/en/game/wargame_construction_set_pack (e.g. WCS2: Tanks is probably not as good as the recent patches of the Steel Panthers games). The publisher's games on GOG: https://www.gog.com/en/games?publishers=sneg

(Note that other SSI titles are here: https://www.gog.com/en/games?publishers=ssi and also Panzer General II is here: https://www.gog.com/en/game/panzer_general_2 ... bit all over the place)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 19, 2023, 11:01:29 AM
Forgot Great Naval Battles bundle: https://www.gog.com/en/game/great_naval_battles_the_final_fury
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on December 19, 2023, 01:39:08 PM
I don't think we have a Age of Wonders 4 thread, so I will put this here.  I am having fun with it, but I always get hammered in the mid game.  I think my problem is I keep waiting for the better units to unlock before build a sizeable military, and I guess I should be spamming out low tier units from the start.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 19, 2023, 02:59:29 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on December 19, 2023, 01:39:08 PMI don't think we have a Age of Wonders 4 thread, so I will put this here.  I am having fun with it, but I always get hammered in the mid game.  I think my problem is I keep waiting for the better units to unlock before build a sizeable military, and I guess I should be spamming out low tier units from the start.

Keep in mind that unlocking race/unit enchants (plus leveling units up via XP) can keep early game units quite competitive until much later in the game. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on December 19, 2023, 04:18:20 PM
Quote from: Syt on December 19, 2023, 02:59:29 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on December 19, 2023, 01:39:08 PMI don't think we have a Age of Wonders 4 thread, so I will put this here.  I am having fun with it, but I always get hammered in the mid game.  I think my problem is I keep waiting for the better units to unlock before build a sizeable military, and I guess I should be spamming out low tier units from the start.

Keep in mind that unlocking race/unit enchants (plus leveling units up via XP) can keep early game units quite competitive until much later in the game. :)

Thanks  :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on December 19, 2023, 11:25:52 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on December 19, 2023, 01:39:08 PMI don't think we have a Age of Wonders 4 thread, so I will put this here.  I am having fun with it, but I always get hammered in the mid game.  I think my problem is I keep waiting for the better units to unlock before build a sizeable military, and I guess I should be spamming out low tier units from the start.

That's a problem I have in these kinds of games as well (which was why I loved Leonardo's Workshop in Civ 2).  Better is the enemy of good enough.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 20, 2023, 01:45:13 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on December 19, 2023, 04:18:20 PMThanks  :)

Just keep an eye at your running expenses. This can become quite expensive otherwise, but normally it should keep you covered till you reach more powerful units/spells and/or your heroes are leveled up.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on December 22, 2023, 12:06:57 PM
I did not know this about Age of Rifles: https://normkoger.com/rifles11.txt

Among the command line options I need to figure out how to apply in Dosbox:

Quote"oldrules+": (Experimental Simulation Rules) Decreases killed and wounded and
replaces them with stragglers and unit cohesion losses. Turns on long reaction
ranges and advanced reporting options. Increases severity of fire combat, but
additional losses are channeled as stragglers and loss of unit cohesion.
Morale rules are strengthened. Artillery units tend to abandon their guns if
overrun rather retreating from melee. Units are eligible for frantic fire in
response to fire attacks by adjacent enemy units. Note: It is extremely difficult
to move units in the face of enemy fire when this switch is on. Assaults are much
more difficult to launch, and due to the stronger morale rules overall casualties
for battles are significantly reduced. If you set oldrules+ and wish to return to
the SSI supported default rules, set "oldrules-" on your command line.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 22, 2023, 10:38:06 PM
Interesting.  :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on December 22, 2023, 10:40:25 PM
Btw, you can find a zip of the Wargamer scenario depot for the game on the Internet Archive. Just Google for age of rifles scenarios download and it should pop up. The archive file is a bit of a mess, and not sure if everything is compatible with 1.4. I tried opening an OOB file with uniform references and it breaks the game. :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 03, 2024, 03:02:08 PM
SCS is currently working on three expansions for American Truck Sim: Nebraska, Arkansas (both previously announced, I think), and now also Missoorah:


Previous trailers for the other two:



Also, once Illinois is added you can finally retrace the Griswold trip to Wally World. :w00t: Chicago and East St. Louis would be the only "main stops" still missing. :)

With those three states they have a lot of "empty space" covered already. :P

(https://i.imgur.com/RS4qHT0.png)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on January 03, 2024, 08:57:32 PM
Galactic Civilizations IV had a small special for Christmas time.  -20% for the base game, and all the expansion to come in 2024.

Jesus, that 129$ dollars on games I just spent.  Sure, I bought the BlueCoats for 1,69$ in that.  But I don't think I've ever spent that much on video games in any one time.  I'm not even sure I bought that much in any one year :D

It does not seem a radical departure from Galciv III.  Not like, say, the Dragon Age series.  But to their defense, having seen Galciv III evolve, having participated in its bug correction and AI balance, it's amazing how these games evolve over time.

They said they would no longer develop Galciv III two year ago, but they are still fixing stuff and introducing minor new features.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 04, 2024, 01:26:07 AM
Quote from: viper37 on January 03, 2024, 08:57:32 PMBlueCoats

Played the original (North & South) on a friend's Amiga against each other so much back in the day. :)

I still mean to get the comic books again. We had a bunch of Tuniques Bleues comics when I was a kid, and they were (with Asterix, or movies as discussed elsewhere) one of the things that got me into history early on.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Zanza on January 04, 2024, 02:00:14 AM
Is GalCiv IV better than Stellaris?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on January 04, 2024, 10:22:16 AM
Quote from: Syt on January 04, 2024, 01:26:07 AM
Quote from: viper37 on January 03, 2024, 08:57:32 PMBlueCoats

Played the original (North & South) on a friend's Amiga against each other so much back in the day. :)

I still mean to get the comic books again. We had a bunch of Tuniques Bleues comics when I was a kid, and they were (with Asterix, or movies as discussed elsewhere) one of the things that got me into history early on.
I played it on Nintendo with my cousins and our friend.  I bought it for the nostalgia factor because it was so cheap.  I've read it was 5hrs of gameplay with the expansion, so I don't expect much.  1 vs 1 or 2 vs 2 maybe for the mp part, I haven't paid much attention.  I expect to play a bit with my younger cousin, again, for nostalgia's sake. 

Yeah, the original comic books got me interested in history too, along with Asterix.  So funny.   Basic strategy: artillery to soften the enemy, infantry to pin them in place, cavalry charge from the flanks to finish 'em.  It still serve me to this day in most games. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on January 04, 2024, 10:32:08 AM
Quote from: Zanza on January 04, 2024, 02:00:14 AMIs GalCiv IV better than Stellaris?
I can only speak of #3, I haven't had the chance to play Galciv IV yet.

And I have not played the gazillion DLCs of Stellaris, only one or two.

It's a more streamlined game, less minute micro-management in the small details.  #4 has further refined this as you need to assign a governor to a planet in order to manually change their production, otherwise, the AI will take care of this.  Not sure how that works exactly.  I'm still out of a gaming pc.

So, anyway.  I haven't played a lot of Stellaris, but I found the AI to be smarter in Galciv3 than in Stellaris, and even in the late game, unless you absolutely want to achieve a domination victory over the huge star system, there were options to make it less tedious.  But if you wanted to conquer every single planet, yeah, you could do that and win that way.  Generally though, you could expand your influence enough to flip the enemy planets.

The trick was to get there once you cranked the difficulty.  The AI was smart enough to adapt to your strategy and counter it early on when you had multiple opponent.  What it was weak on was gang up on you very early on to crush you.  I always managed to bribed them, and exchange enough tech to survive.

The most interesting part of the game was always the ship creator. You can design your own ships and/or import ship models as mods from Steam Workshop.  You always have crazy talented people making ships from all kind of sci fi universe like Warhammer, Gundams, The Expanse, BSG, Babylon 5, Star Trek, and the less well known stuff.  :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Tamas on January 04, 2024, 10:40:58 AM
I have found Galciv4 better than Galciv3, even significantly so, if that means anything.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on January 06, 2024, 07:13:22 PM
Quote from: Tamas on January 04, 2024, 10:40:58 AMI have found Galciv4 better than Galciv3, even significantly so, if that means anything.
Great.
I'm totally out of computers now, except the office one.  :glare:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: HVC on January 06, 2024, 07:26:01 PM
Quote from: Zanza on January 04, 2024, 02:00:14 AMIs GalCiv IV better than Stellaris?

The "borders don't matter " thing in galciv annoys me. To the point I rage quit often.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: viper37 on January 06, 2024, 07:49:33 PM
Quote from: HVC on January 06, 2024, 07:26:01 PM
Quote from: Zanza on January 04, 2024, 02:00:14 AMIs GalCiv IV better than Stellaris?

The "borders don't matter " thing in galciv annoys me. To the point I rage quit often.
They're soft borders :P

You get penalties for crossing other nation's borders, and eventually they dow you.  The harder the difficulty, the quicker this happens.
Also, influence is a thing.  In #3, they could flip your planets.  Don't know about #4.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on January 07, 2024, 09:05:32 PM
Quote from: frunk on March 18, 2023, 02:35:38 PMAfter the first patch I picked up KSP 2.  It runs on my computer despite being well below the minimum.  If I don't look Kerbin performance is just fine. 

The improvements made are great, but they need to get to the point where it is no brainer better than KSP 1.

I think it will be well worth buying in 6 months to a year based on the pace of the first patch.  We'll see.

So 10 months on and I'm wrong about KSP 2 being well worth buying, but the latest patch is a huge improvement and should have been the first early access version.  The graphics are fantastic compared to unmodded KSP 1, the mission system is way more fun, performance is generally equal to or better than KSP 1 and science is better organized and not as cumbersome to pursue (while being harder since you actually have to leave the Kerbin system to max it out). 

It still has too many bugs though, ranging from annoying but ultimately harmless (sometimes you can't use 'm' in a name as it takes you to the map) all the way to rage inducing (it will mysteriously turn up the throttle on a ship, and I hope you notice it did that in time).  It's missing features that are in KSP and the improvements aren't enough to compensate.

I won't be going back to unmodded KSP, but after the mystery throttle stranded a ship in an ~Eeloo sized orbit I'll probably take a break until the next patch.  They hope to have the next big patch (Colonies) within 9 months.  This patch is the first that would include significantly new game elements to the series, so we'll see what happens.

I still can't whole heartedly recommend the game, but it is headed in the right direction and I've gotten enough fun from it that I don't regret buying it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on January 08, 2024, 02:36:27 AM
Leave the system? It goes interstellar?

KSP was fun but it's big problem (it's big selling point to many) was you had to actually do science for most of the interesting stuff beyond the early game. Work out orbital trajectories and such. But then combined with this a bit of twitch play to fly your rocket... And every mission manual.
I was hoping with KSP2 there could be some rebalancing on this to make it more friendly to people without the time or inclination to do calculations.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: frunk on January 08, 2024, 08:50:33 AM
Quote from: Josquius on January 08, 2024, 02:36:27 AMLeave the system? It goes interstellar?

KSP was fun but it's big problem (it's big selling point to many) was you had to actually do science for most of the interesting stuff beyond the early game. Work out orbital trajectories and such. But then combined with this a bit of twitch play to fly your rocket... And every mission manual.
I was hoping with KSP2 there could be some rebalancing on this to make it more friendly to people without the time or inclination to do calculations.

Interstellar is further down the line.  As for KSP most of your complaints can be addressed by "there's a mod for that".  There's mods to calculate/create your flight and there's mods to actually execute the flight.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 13, 2024, 02:12:14 AM
This might be an interesting one ...

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1857090/Norland/

QuoteNorland is a medieval kingdom sim inspired by Rimworld, Crusader Kings, and Caesar that generates complex stories.

Manage a noble family that owns a city populated by dozens of characters from different classes: peasants, slaves, soldiers, and criminals. Each citizen has their own needs and complex behaviors, which will depend on their social status and individual traits. And often, their behavior can be deadly to your family.

Key Features:
  • Control your noble family by assigning tasks to all of its members.
  • Witness how family members will build complex relationships between themselves through love, hatred, friendship, envy, jealousy, betrayal, and a lust for power.
  • Punish criminals, take care of the citizens, and put down any bloody riots that may occur during your reign.
  • Build your armies and defenses, then make decisions on whether to fight or ally with other kingdoms
  • Oversee power struggles, plan out your intrigues and secretly assassinate dangerous enemies.
  • Make ambiguous decisions during events on the global map.
  • Absorb knowledge and technology from books, rewrite them, or create entirely new ones.
  • Build the production chains, raise the population, pay wages, put prices on the domestic market, and trade with incoming caravans.
  • Experience different starting conditions for a unique gaming experience every time you play.
  • Navigate through a simple and accessible user interface.

COMPLEX STORY GENERATION

The game generates complex stories on a new level through unpredictable interactions in a large society made of numerous, unique individuals: things like social stratification, crime, riots, religious controversies, and struggle for the throne can all play a part in the story.

EACH AND EVERY PERSON IS AN INDIVIDUAL

They all have their own relationships, sex drive, beliefs, health systems, and backgrounds. Family members also have unique personality traits, and family traits can be passed on to their children.

FAMILY MEMBERS BUILD RELATIONSHIPS

They joke around, gossip, insult one another, fall in love, make friends, support each other, and sometimes even kill one another out of anger.

GLOBAL MAP

Initiate political intrigue with other kingdoms and religious leaders on the global map. Manage events that require intervention, such as blackmail, plague-infested refugees, natural disasters, and more.

COMPLEX ECONOMY

Build and upgrade buildings to create efficient production chains. Attract migrants with low prices for various goods on local markets and high wages, or use slaves to work in hazardous industries. Trade with caravans. And don't forget the ecological balance.

PLAN OUT YOUR BATTLES

Make use of seven weapon types, three different types of armor, unique combat skills, the body part damage system, and the morale of each member of your army!

CREATE YOUR OWN CULTURE

Survive in the non-stop competition with other kingdoms. Create complex scenarios by setting up an aggressive society built on a slave economy and a strong professional army or a wealthy society of free and happy city dwellers with high levels of technology.


(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1857090/extras/map4.gif)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1857090/extras/inspection_2.gif)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1857090/extras/fight1.gif)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1857090/extras/morning_pray.gif)


There was a demo during one of Steam's events last summer, and PC Gamer seemed to like it:

https://www.pcgamer.com/in-this-mashup-of-crusader-kings-and-rimworld-i-spent-a-huge-amount-of-time-watching-people-vomiting-on-each-other/


QuoteThe kingdom's primary boozehound turned out to be the wife of the king's brother. She was the daughter of a neighbouring monarch and her stats suggested she'd be a real boon to the dynasty. And she was very effective, until she got some drink in her. There were snide remarks, fights, and at one point she burst into the library where her husband and brother-in-law were researching new farming techniques, shouted at them and then spewed up all over them. Then she left.

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on January 13, 2024, 04:34:02 AM
I played that demo a bit and it's been on my wishlist since. Didn't spend too much time on it since I don't want to spoil it too much
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on January 15, 2024, 11:04:46 AM
Looks like it could be fun.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 15, 2024, 12:14:53 PM
These two look interesting for fans of Disco Elysium:

https://www.pcgamer.com/sovereign-syndicate-review/

This game gets a solid 80 from them, which in their scaling denotes a good game. It's €1950 (currently 10% off at €17.55 on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1674920/Sovereign_Syndicate/ ).

QuoteSOVEREIGN SYNDICATE REVIEW
Actually the C in CRPG stands for Cogs, which you put on your top hat.


While playing as Atticus Daley, an alcoholic illusionist, I went through an opium dream to explore memories of the orphanage where I grew up. As Clara Reed, a courtesan sleuth, I found a famous doctor blindfolded in a bordello and impersonated his "nurse" to learn about his research. Sovereign Syndicate may be a steampunk CRPG, but it's not ballrooms-and-zeppelins steampunk. It's grubby gutter-fantasy, where you're more likely to meet a rat catcher or streetwalker than the Queen of England.

Sovereign Syndicate borrows heavily from Disco Elysium, both in terms of presentation—the scrolling text interrupted by internal voices—and play. Combat's de-emphasized to the point of barely existing, and uses the same rules as any other test of your abilities. It's not exactly the same game, using tarot cards instead of dice and with a setting that's closer to Arcanum or Shadowrun in a top hat, but it's one of the first RPGs to really build on Disco Elysium. Considering how excellent Disco was, inviting that comparison is as bold as combining a frock coat with fingerless gloves.

A Tale of One City

While the version of Victorian London in Sovereign Syndicate is gritty, it's not reality. Atticus is a minotaur, one section of the East End is a werewolf containment zone, and half the police force seem to be centaurs. The third playable character, Teddy Redgrave, is a dwarf engineer who moonlights as a monster hunter with a steam-powered automaton called Otto as his sidekick.

Having three player-characters lets you see this strange London from different perspectives—even if all of them are on the lower end of the social spectrum. Clara's trying to get together enough money to leave the city, but gets roped into investigating a murderer the papers have dubbed "the Courtesan Killer", while Teddy chases a less-circumspect killer through the sewers, and Atticus tries to hold off the gin bottle so he can find some missing orphans and his long-lost mother.

You play these characters in alternating chapters, and while their orbits overlap, they do their own thing most of the time. There's no character creation, but you do get to personalize this trio of PCs by choosing from four versions of each, with different starting stats and a trait that unlocks different dialogue options. My Atticus may be defined by his wit while yours is dominated by animal instinct, and there's potential replayability in going back with another one.

You personalize them further through play, with choices that embody one of the stats bumping up the relevant bodily humor and eventually boosting its score. Though I chose to give Clara a high starting grace, which represents both physical and social agility, I picked a lot of cleverclogs dialogue that increased her "black bile" bodily humor, slowly making her intellect score go up as I played more like a detective. (Smoking cigarettes had the same result, though at the cost of hope points. More about that later.)

As someone who has never finished a Dragon Age without restarting because I don't like my first character and would actually rather be a mage and have a nicer face, I appreciate having character creation taken out of my hands like this. It sucks to get halfway through a huge RPG and regret a choice you made hours ago when you didn't know the Trickster archetype wouldn't be a fun way to play Wrath of the Righteous and you should probably have angled for the boring old Angel from the start. I know there are people on the internet who think if you don't get to roll up a bespoke PC it's not a real RPG, but if your definition of RPG doesn't include The Witcher 3, Disco Elysium, or Planescape: Torment your definition sucks.

And having three protagonists lets you play a little loose with them, making risky decisions or experimenting with immorality, safe in the knowledge the other two will probably turn out fine. This must be how parents of large families feel.

Parlour Music Elysium

To make the PCs unique they have different names for their stats, and each of those stats has its own voice. In a direct lift from Disco Elysium, the text scrolling down the right side of the screen is frequently interrupted by the voices of these attributes. When Clara steals a bag of cash her intuition suggests an escape route while her intellect counts the money. When Atticus finds an iron maiden his spryness complains that seeing this enclosed device gives it chills, while his animal instinct roars that the bloody thing's a hoax and was never a real tool of torture. Though the voices aren't quite as distinct as Electrochemistry or Shivers, the technique remains effective.

Another way Sovereign Syndicate resembles Disco Elysium is the absence of a combat system. When any action sequence begins, perhaps a chase or a brawl, it plays out in comic-style art with the consequences of your choices—whether you draw your derringer or try to run away, for example—illustrated by subsequent panels. Confrontations still feel noteworthy, but the absence of full-blown combat mechanics means they don't detract from the flow.

What Sovereign Syndicate doesn't take from Disco Elysium is the regular need to reload when you goof and end up dead in a dumpster. It's much more forgiving. Instead of hit points you have hope points, which I found easy to keep high once I dragged myself out of the early-game gutter. The climax suffered a little thanks to this lack of risk, and thinking positive thoughts whenever I saw some leaves on the ground or the coffin-shaped boxes homeless people sleep in kept my hope buoyed whenever my hope briefly fell. Interestingly, your temperament sometimes determines which options are available, and a no-hope run where I could make more vicious or cynical decisions would be an interesting second playthrough.

Sovereign Syndicate also replaces dice with tarot cards. The Major Arcana represents unlockable character traits, the Devil giving you the brutal trait while the Sun makes you confident, and you draw a numbered card from the Minor Arcana for skill checks. You're still generating a random number but in a way that accentuates the era, when occultism was a semi-respectable drawing-room fad while dice games were considered uncouth.

Though Sovereign Syndicate starts strong, the final chapters don't wrap up as neatly as I'd like. Some NPCs and storylines are written out abruptly, and Teddy ends up feeling like a guy who just happened to be there rather than an equal protagonist. The other two-thirds hit the mark, though. Even as someone with no affection for steampunk as a genre, I got caught up in this particular blend of Victorian London and mythology thanks to how well Sovereign Syndicate evokes a time and place. Hell, I even read the highlighted glossary words to understand all the references to historical characters and Cockney slang.


With its emphasis on roleplay rather than combat and borrowings from Disco Elysium, Sovereign Syndicate feels like another step forward for the CRPG.


The other is this:

https://www.pcgamer.com/i-was-already-intrigued-by-this-disco-elysium-inspired-dandd-based-rpg-where-you-play-as-the-worlds-worst-cleric-but-its-demo-blew-my-expectations-out-of-the-water/

QuoteI was already intrigued by this Disco Elysium-inspired, D&D-based RPG where you play as the world's worst cleric, but its demo blew my expectations out of the water

Esoteric Ebb seemed like a game tailor-made for me, and that left me nervous. An irreverent, dialogue-focused RPG proudly announcing its Disco Elysium inspirations⁠—my mind jumped to all those soulslike games I've gotten my hopes up for that just don't quite have the FromSoft magic.

After trying the game's second draft demo, I'm happy to report that my fears were unfounded: Esoteric Ebb has that spark⁠—not merely an imitation of our 2019 game of the year, but using that familiar format to go on its own RPG adventure.

You play as the world's worst cleric, already maybe the dumpiest of Dungeons & Dragons' classes. Sorry, cleric fans, but the ecclesiastical fantasy just doesn't do it for me, though their healing magic is always welcome. As Obsidian design director Josh Sawyer once quipped, echoing the great Ronnie Coleman, "everybody wants a cleric in the party, but ain't nobody want to main one."

All of which is to say I kind of appreciate being forced into that role by the game, building out and reconstructing this archetype in a new way. Even though your class is set, you still have freedom to choose the cleric's stats and play them any which way, maybe leaning into that "world's worst cleric" bit by giving them booboo Wisdom and cranked up Strength to be a bully-priest, or maxing Dexterity and Charisma for a more flashy, self-involved man of the cloth.

Esoteric Ebb adapts 5th edition D&D to Disco Elysium's style of exploratory, dialogue-focused RPG, and the retrofit works. Your attributes talk to you in the manner of Disco's skills, but you're rolling D20s now instead of Disco Elysium's bespoke system of 2d6 rolls. Even with the changes, Esoteric Ebb nails the slapstick, jittery feeling of your first run through Disco, with failed checks and ill-advised decisions leading to situations you just don't see in other RPGs.

Taking a break from a Baldur's Gate 3 where I'm playing a bard who's good at everything, it felt invigorating to be a useless dope who gave himself a tummy ache trying to tunnel through a massive pile of apples by eating them. One memorably embarrassing faux pas saw my guy reflexively bite his tongue so hard he drew blood, spewing the red stuff out of his Esoteric Ebb seemed like a game tailor-made for me, and that left me nervous. An irreverent, dialogue-focused RPG proudly announcing its Disco Elysium inspirations⁠—my mind jumped to all those soulslike games I've gotten my hopes up for that just don't quite have the FromSoft magic.

After trying the game's second draft demo, I'm happy to report that my fears were unfounded: Esoteric Ebb has that spark⁠—not merely an imitation of our 2019 game of the year, but using that familiar format to go on its own RPG adventure.

You play as the world's worst cleric, already maybe the dumpiest of Dungeons & Dragons' classes. Sorry, cleric fans, but the ecclesiastical fantasy just doesn't do it for me, though their healing magic is always welcome. As Obsidian design director Josh Sawyer once quipped, echoing the great Ronnie Coleman, "everybody wants a cleric in the party, but ain't nobody want to main one."

All of which is to say I kind of appreciate being forced into that role by the game, building out and reconstructing this archetype in a new way. Even though your class is set, you still have freedom to choose the cleric's stats and play them any which way, maybe leaning into that "world's worst cleric" bit by giving them booboo Wisdom and cranked up Strength to be a bully-priest, or maxing Dexterity and Charisma for a more flashy, self-involved man of the cloth.

Esoteric Ebb adapts 5th edition D&D to Disco Elysium's style of exploratory, dialogue-focused RPG, and the retrofit works. Your attributes talk to you in the manner of Disco's skills, but you're rolling D20s now instead of Disco Elysium's bespoke system of 2d6 rolls. Even with the changes, Esoteric Ebb nails the slapstick, jittery feeling of your first run through Disco, with failed checks and ill-advised decisions leading to situations you just don't see in other RPGs.

Taking a break from a Baldur's Gate 3 where I'm playing a bard who's good at everything, it felt invigorating to be a useless dope who gave himself a tummy ache trying to tunnel through a massive pile of apples by eating them. One memorably embarrassing faux pas saw my guy reflexively bite his tongue so hard he drew blood, spewing the red stuff out of his unremovable helmet the next time he opened up his mouth to speak.

Instead of waking up to a lynching investigation with a legendary hangover, Esoteric Ebb's hapless cleric finds himself in a morgue, resurrected after having been fished out of the river. A tea shop has exploded on the eve of this fantasy city's first election, and you're charged with assisting the local goblin tribe in an investigation as to the cause.

I'm interested to see how the political angle will pan out in this vastly different setting, but Esoteric Ebb's already showing off a sense for worldbuilding that impressed me. It has that sense of "as you already know" constructed history I really loved in Disco, and this fantasy world seems like it might be a little bit grimmer and weirder than it first appears. Esoteric Ebb combines that sensibility with a cheeky, Shrek-like banality in its treatment of magic and the fantastic.

One of my favorite characters in the demo is a little imp who's taken his innate tendency toward Evil of the Lawful variety in stride by offering legal advice, including a delightful aside on the case history of resurrection magic: What does the law say about reviving someone executed for murder? If you kill someone and they're resurrected, is it murder or assault?

This small section of city in the demo already feels grungy and tactile, and the cel-shaded art style has really won me over as well⁠—its bright pastel colors and uncluttered textures remind me of 2021's Sable. Esoteric Ebb is very much a Disco Elysium-like, but it feels like it's got something cooking, and I'm excited to see more of it. Esoteric Ebb currently has no set release date, but you can check out the demo for yourself and wishlist it on Steam.


Coming "soon" but you can wishlist it: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2057760/Esoteric_Ebb/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on January 17, 2024, 03:29:56 AM
Persona 5.
I was a late comer to the persona series. Only borrowed 3 and 4 for ps2 15 years ago or so when the Ps3 era had already begun. Had never heard of them before but wow, they were brilliant.

Persona 5 came out in 2016 and I bought it soon after. But... I just never got around to playing it. Life has been busy and it just seemed such a commitment. I could never bring myself to crack open this fresh one off wonder.

I came close to playing it 4 years ago... But heard an extended edition called royale was coming out which stopped that. Then came kids.

Royale came out on switch last year and I made sure to buy a physical version. But still it sat unplayed for a long time. I just couldn't bring myself to take advantage of the pickup and play advantages of the switch with what was sure to be an experience.

I finally took the plunge a few days ago. Everyone went to bed early and... I don't know. New years resolution or something. It was stupid of me to wait like so. It is grand as one of the most highly rated rpgs of recent years should be but obviously not world shattering.

The opening is cool. Vibes of ff7. But the overall flash back framing I'm unsure on.
It is shocking quite how on rails the early game is. It's many hours in before you start to be set free with open gameplay. I'm honestly surprised it's review ratings are so high due to this - many will be fine, rpgs be rpgs, but a lot will hate it.

One thing that is cool is that though the place where the main character lives is a fictionalised version of Yongenjaya also in the game is shibuya station which is pretty accurate to reality and I remembered where to go for the ginza line (it's in a weird seperated upstairs place despite being a metro line).
Also funny is that the character goes to school at aoyama itchome which is where I've done some work in the past. Not too recognisable there though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Sheilbh on January 17, 2024, 10:15:44 AM
I absolutely loved that game :lol: :ph34r:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Minsky Moment on January 18, 2024, 11:21:50 PM
Atari 50: Anniversary Celebration

Collection of Atari-related content presented in several timelines: one for Atari arcade cabinets, two for their 80s consoles (2600/5200/7800), one for their computer unit, and one for their 1990s consoles.  Each timeline is full of interviews from that time and from the present day, ad copy, marketing materials, art, TV spots, internal memos, and even the source code for Combat. 

There are also a bunch of games.  Much the game collection has been released before in many different forms and formats, but this collection is nicely curated - each game includes access to original manuals and customizable display and control options.  As usual key third party titles from Activision and Imagic are not included but some recent homebrews are, as well as a series of "reimagined" classics with updated graphics and gameplay.  Some unreleased but a few completed prototypes are also included in the collection. 

At the peak of the 2600s success, Atari launched an ambitious series of adventure type games called Swordquest.  There were supposed to be four of them, each including a companion comic book and a puzzle contest.  The winner of the puzzle contest would win a valuable prize like a jeweled goblet or crown.  The video game crash occurred between the release of the first and second games, Earthworld and Fireworld. The third game (Waterworld) saw a very limited release through Atari's Club, and Airworld was never made.  The Atari 50 collection tells the full story and includes all the games, including the limited release Waterworld and an "imagined version" of Airworld.

As a someone who childhood was shaped by the 2600, I enjoyed going through the timelines; it may also have some interest for those interested in early video game history or the history of the Valley in 70s and early 80s.  The videos discuss many topics, including aspects of console and game design, clashes between the engineers and the suits, and whether drug use occurred on company premises (it did).  There are several video appearances from the core programming team that left for Activision, as well as Howard Scott Warshaw, who enjoys the distinction of having designed one of the 2600s best original games (Yar's Revenge), one of its most successful film spinoffs (Raiders of the Lost Ark), and its most notorious flop (E.T.).

The timelines tell both directly and indirectly the story of how a company that once dominated the video game industry like no other before or since, was wiped out within a decade. The original sin of the sale to Warner Communications - a necessity to fund the capital costs of the initial 2600 production run definitely caused future problems, as the Warner suits drove away key talent, and aggressively milked Atari's cash flow by pushing for unrealistically fast development times - e.g. the ET disaster likely resulted from the fact that Warshaw had only 5 weeks from start to release, as opposed to the 8+ months of development time for Yar's Revenge.

However, I don't buy the implication that Atari could have been saved with better management and a better understanding of the console product cycle, which some in the collection suggest. As is clear from the timelines, at its core Atari was a developer of arcade games.  The 2600 was explicitly conceived, designed and marketed to bring Atari arcade properties into the home.  The company struggled to develop compelling software properties outside its arcade wheelhouse and Nintendo (and to a lesser extent Sega) cleaned Atari's clock by developing strong character based games. Against Mario, Zelda, and Sonic, the best Atari had to offer was Bentley Bear from Crytal Castles.  That was not tenable.

The last gasp in the 90s was the flawed Jaguar console and a well designed handheld, the Lynx. Although the Lynx crushed the Gameboy in hardware specs, it failed because of lack of competitive software.  The most successful titles for the 90s era hardware were Alien v Predator, a film spinoff using IP Atari didn't control, and  . . .reboots of Tempest, Missile Command and Asteroids. 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 20, 2024, 02:45:59 AM
Thanks for that Minsky, that was a good read. :)


I feel this might be of interest to a few here:


Oh, and this:


Not going to lie, this looks quite decent and plenty pulpy. :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on January 20, 2024, 04:26:00 AM
I'm on board for both of those  :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on January 29, 2024, 09:48:34 AM
Game devs in the 80s didn't worry much about infringing copyrighted works in the games. Whether it's music that was, uhm, "borrowed" (up till the SNES era), or cover art that was very obviously "inspired" by other IPs.

As in completely copy/pasting art.

(https://i.imgur.com/fQA0u0r.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/Fh5RIq0.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/gGUVCON.png)



Now, I was aware that Turrican's title screen was an obvious homage to Manowar's Kings of Metal cover art:

(https://i.imgur.com/ZlRiEHS.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/qQbmVOu.png)


What I wasn't aware of was that Chris Hülsbeck straight up stole two tracks from the animated Transformer movie from 1986 (mostly because the movie was not big over here). And not as in "oh, you can recognize a few chords", but straight up creating chiptune versions. :lol:

The title song is a copy of "Escape" from the Transformer soundtrack:



While the end titles are a copy of Death of Optimus Prime (it's less obvious; play the Transformer track at 2x speed and it lines up):




It's amazing when you consider that nowadays devs who use assets from other games without permission get (rightfully) tarred and feathered. :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on January 29, 2024, 10:06:32 AM
Turrican! This takes me back.

I'll add the cover of "Navy Moves" a Spanish game from 1988 (that actually was pretty damn good for the era)

(https://www.jotdown.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Navymovescomparativa.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 10, 2024, 03:19:43 AM
The headline made me smile but the prospect of a discworld remaster does sound grand.

https://metro.co.uk/2024/02/08/king-charles-owns-half-discworld-video-game-rights-20248365/amp/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 13, 2024, 12:36:46 PM
Occasionally a new game enters early access that seems particularly tailored to the Languish folks: "News Tower", in which you run a New York newspaper in the 1930s. If anyone feels like becoming the next William Randolph Hearst. :P


https://store.steampowered.com/app/1649950/News_Tower/

QuoteLive the life of an aspiring influential publisher in New York City during the 1930s.
Define your editorial line and search the globe for the newsworthy stories of the decade.
The Prohibition, the Great Depression, or a lost cat... Not all articles are deserving of a Pulitzer...

But watch out! The mafia, mayor, and other factions will be more than happy to use your influence in New York City to print their own "truth".
To get unique rewards, you might have to cover the topics they want!
Bend to their will and compromise the freedom of the press or print the truth, whatever the cost!


People's stories create History.

In News Tower, you will follow some of the key moments of the 1930s, but it will be up to you whether to cover and even influence them.
It's up to your reporters to beat the deadline to get the news while it's hot. Time is money in News Tower!

Use your reporter's favorite topics to send them searching for the right news to get it faster, or it might already be old news by the time they return. The more they cover a topic, the more experienced they get, allowing you to sharpen your editorial line.
Search for exciting news across the US and the world that matches your reader's interest and editorial line.
Will you decide to publish gossip to satisfy your readers' thirst for sensational press, or will you always seek hard stories for the truth?

A lot of news offers different avenues of investigation, unveiling diverse versions of the story. Send your reporter down a path, but be mindful of the risk and rewards of each: poking your nose around the mafia may lead to "offers" that you can't refuse...
Not everyone is in favor of the freedom of the press...

Build and optimize your tower to ensure the well-being of your employees while meeting your printing deadlines on Sunday!
Recruit and manage every profession necessary to ensure your success: reporters, photographers, janitors, without forgetting the essential ads salesperson and lawyers.

Make sure you're a great place to work!
Being surrounded by oily and noisy printing machines can get on the nerves of your employees, and they will lose focus, ultimately leading to poorly written articles which will lower your sales.
One always works best when surrounded by lush vegetation and a near unlimited source of coffee.

Build facilities and decorate each floor to transform your dingy tower into a prestigious workspace for your employees. With that done, you will be able to ensure their well-being!
However, you should probably find a more optimal placement for your coal generator. It's making an awful noise on the typesetter's floor...

In News Tower, manage each step of your newspaper's production line:
Telegraph station, typesetting, photography... Each step is essential to transform a reporter's notes into a ready-to-print article. Recruit the right employees and plan the layout of your workstations to optimize your production.

Searching continuously for more topics & scoops is exciting, but will your production line keep up?

Start as a local Brooklyn newspaper and develop your distribution network citywide!

Wall Street, the Yankee Stadium, or New York's Harbor. Expand to famous locations, each unlocking specific upgrades and new audiences with their own reading interests.

Increase your readership one neighborhood at a time to become New York's most influential publisher.

QuoteHow is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

"The full version will feature extra content, going from 1930 to 1939 – only 1930 to 1932 in Early Access.
We're going to keep on building on our existing features to give more depth to it."



What is the current state of the Early Access version?

"The current state of the game includes
- One part of the main campaign play from 1930 to 1932
- 100+ objects to build and manage your tower from printer to luxury decoration items
- 10+ job types to make sure your newspaper is running
- The reporting, production and printing core loop of the game
- News map to send your reporters dig the hottest news of the moment
- 1000+ News items to report on
- New York district systems to gain more readers according to their interests.
- Progress unlocking systems to grow your News Empire bigger and more efficient."

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1649950/ss_7cdba4b8fd0bfc0c913da2fee8ffb197da67bc25.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1649950/ss_e904557eabd3cff5fd4fe32b1257ae9433a99eea.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1649950/ss_913c803308cd6b67a35e0a85696c591fb96441bb.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1649950/ss_cec3345de89280d304b9ef776c911caf54c9ccd8.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1649950/ss_59da509eb3975f62f76e62642844c323fcf0b6bd.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1649950/ss_4329ee9a5b288de944b5c717d08b7fbfb9256b1a.1920x1080.jpg)

(https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1649950/ss_f6695672db4009123293b2b162f4049abdfacfd1.1920x1080.jpg)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 14, 2024, 09:26:07 AM
Eiyuden Chronicle is coming out in a few weeks.
Its the only game I've ever supported on Kickstarter, way back in 2020.
Why?
Its the spiritual successor to the Suikoden series with Murayama Yoshitaka, the primary writer and other from Suikoden onboard.
Just got an update from kickstarter today....and Murayama has died. Just before the release.
This seems so fated :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 14, 2024, 10:36:26 AM
:(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on February 21, 2024, 03:04:52 AM
Kingmakers. A game trailer worth watching.
Looks generic at first but then...  :lol:

Give it 30 secs.
https://youtu.be/OvezgDni8z4?si=A05YsiEMKpZjJu-N

Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: celedhring on February 21, 2024, 03:29:02 AM
This should have had and Army of Darkness theme. I hope it will be modded eventually.  :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Maladict on February 21, 2024, 04:13:07 AM
Groovy.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 21, 2024, 11:04:04 AM
Almost exactly 2 years after release of Elden Ring, FromSoft finally share a trailer and release date for the long awaited DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree - June 21st (summer solstice?).


Elden Ring is a game I still want to get back to, but its size was both amazing and off putting. In 50 hours I explored mostly what is the beginning area, which is like 10-20% of the game map (if that)? But I think that's to do with my explorative, cautious play style (most people say their initial blind play-through was more like 100-150 hours). I mean, it took my current save 160 hours to enter Baldur's Gate Lower City (after Wyrm's Crossing) in BG3. So YMMV. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: The Minsky Moment on February 23, 2024, 10:28:42 AM
The Steam Next event was about 2 weeks ago but I just finished going through some of the demos I DLed.  Short reviews in rough order of interest:

Balatro - there seems to be a glut of deckbuilding roguelikes, none of which has seemed compelling enough to me to play over Slay the Spire.  Balatro is now the exeption - it takes the genre literally, stripping away all thematic elements.  You have a deck of conventional playing cards and play poker hands that have to beat a required score. There are a bunch of buff cards and ways to manipulate the mechanics. Simple in concept, but plays very well and easy to drop and pick up at any time. Now released - at $13.50 price is right.

Indika - You play a young, troubled nun from some version of 19th century Russia, plauged with a disturbing and diabolical voice in her head, and travelling with a badly injured escaped prisoner who claims to talk to God. Nothing that special about the gameplay here which seems to consist of environmental puzzles and some running/jumping excercises. However, it has great and truly original concept with very immersive setting.

Pacific Drive - adventure type game with survival/resource gathering elements.  Not my favorite genre but this one also has a compelling setting - the wilds of the Pacific Northwest, sealed off after a scientific experiment gone badly and mysteriously awry.  From the demo the resource gathering elements center around fixing up your station wagon, which functions as a normal station wagon but apparently is also a manifestation of an alien intelligence of unknown motivations.  Released this week.

Esoteric Egg - Disco Elysium influenced RPG using the OGL license for 5e D&D - from the demo seems to be on the right side of the line of clever and stupid.  You can get the sense of it by the fact that you HAVE to play a cleric (although seems to be considerable customization).  Since I still need to play through the actual Disco Elysium, I'll probably pick this one up later on a sale.

Star Trucker - Euro Truck simulator in outer space.  Not exactly my genre and defeats the purpose if the idea is to drive through "real" locales, but the game looks really nice and grabbed me more in a way the conventional sims usually don't.

Echopoint Nova - stylish open world shooter with parkour elements, lots of running and leaping.  Don't think we are suffering from an FPS shortage, but if you want to play one, you could do far worse than this.

Ultros - metroidvania, core gameplay seems very solid.  Again, not my most favored genre and one not suffering from a shortage of titles, but the art design on this one is unique and makes it cut above the competition. Has been released.

Yet Another Fantasy Title - fantasy RPG parody.  Had its moments but hard to see putting over a dozen hours into it.  I'd definitely go for Esoteric Ebb first, or play a Lego game if I want the make light of some IP vibe.

Game that I couldn't get to work on Steam Deck: Half-sword - Rennaisance era combat sim.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 23, 2024, 05:32:47 PM
Seeing a lot of positive buzz around Balatro. Actually, the lack of theme is kinda putting me off a bit, but I think I might pick it up eventually :D

I have Esoteric Ebb on my wishlist following some previews that looked promising. Didn't try the demo, though.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 28, 2024, 12:23:10 PM
Quote from: Syt on November 07, 2023, 02:14:11 AMGot the new Paradox newsletter.

6th Nov: EU4 expansion/major patch
7th Nov: AoW4 expansion/major patch
9th Nov: CK3 flavor pack/major patch
14th Nov: Vic3 flavor pack/major patch

Paradox content is like public transport - first you wait forever, and then there's a whole bunch in a row. :P

They're doing it again.

Stellaris major patch 3.11.1:  27/02 (yesterday)
Age of Wonders 4 patch & DLC: 27/02
CK3 DLC: 04/03
Vic3 major patch 1.6: 06/03
HoI4 DLC: 07/03
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on February 28, 2024, 07:57:17 PM
Quote from: Syt on February 28, 2024, 12:23:10 PMThey're doing it again.

Stellaris major patch 3.11.1:  27/02 (yesterday)
Age of Wonders 4 patch & DLC: 27/02
CK3 DLC: 04/03
Vic3 major patch 1.6: 06/03
HoI4 DLC: 07/03

I've stopped playing Paradox games because the company insists on breaking my saves and I refuse to dedicate myself to playing a long strategy game in a short span of time so as to be ale to complete it before it is ruined.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Valmy on February 28, 2024, 09:24:31 PM
Quote from: grumbler on February 28, 2024, 07:57:17 PM
Quote from: Syt on February 28, 2024, 12:23:10 PMThey're doing it again.

Stellaris major patch 3.11.1:  27/02 (yesterday)
Age of Wonders 4 patch & DLC: 27/02
CK3 DLC: 04/03
Vic3 major patch 1.6: 06/03
HoI4 DLC: 07/03

I've stopped playing Paradox games because the company insists on breaking my saves and I refuse to dedicate myself to playing a long strategy game in a short span of time so as to be ale to complete it before it is ruined.

I play Crusader Kings II. They haven't broken any of my saves in years.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 28, 2024, 10:52:40 PM
Well, if you know a big patch is coming you can create a manual backup of your mods (copying them from the steam workshop folder to the game's mod folder, where you would keep your manually installed mods), which will make sure that Steam doesn't auto-update them. Or, if you don't want to keep tracking patch schedules you can keep manual copies of your mods at all times, just to be safe. (Also useful if you want to edit/tweak some of them yourself.) And in Steam you can go to the game's properties and revert to a previous patch (under betas, I think). That will let you continue playing your game. It's a bit of manual hassle, but it should at least allow you to keep the game at one state for months and (likely) years.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on February 28, 2024, 11:38:22 PM
Dark Forces remaster is out. People sem to like it, but €29 seems a bit steep. :P
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on February 29, 2024, 01:06:38 PM
Anyone on Languish committed to the spread of Managed Democracy in Helldivers 2? I have a small group that's playing pretty frequently if you'd like to join us.  :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on February 29, 2024, 07:56:53 PM
Quote from: Syt on February 28, 2024, 10:52:40 PMWell, if you know a big patch is coming you can create a manual backup of your mods (copying them from the steam workshop folder to the game's mod folder, where you would keep your manually installed mods), which will make sure that Steam doesn't auto-update them. Or, if you don't want to keep tracking patch schedules you can keep manual copies of your mods at all times, just to be safe. (Also useful if you want to edit/tweak some of them yourself.) And in Steam you can go to the game's properties and revert to a previous patch (under betas, I think). That will let you continue playing your game. It's a bit of manual hassle, but it should at least allow you to keep the game at one state for months and (likely) years.

All of that used to be true, but Steam no longer has the recent versions of, say, HOI4 as betas.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 01, 2024, 06:46:30 AM
That's weird, because for me they still show up:

(https://i.imgur.com/0J2uJ0B.png)

Only thing I can think of was some changes they had to implement when the EU rolled out the GDPR:

https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/changes-to-playing-previous-versions-of-pds-titles.1120883/

If you log into your Paradox account and go to your library (https://beta-accounts.paradoxinteractive.com/library), then there's codes at the bottom that should give you access to the old patches when you enter them in (IIRC) the Private Betas field for the game.

If you've already done that then I have no idea what the issue might be. :(
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on March 01, 2024, 09:59:37 AM
It is also possible to not download a patch.  Just go to settings and make it manual.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on March 01, 2024, 10:12:40 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 01, 2024, 09:59:37 AMIt is also possible to not download a patch.  Just go to settings and make it manual.

I don't think that matters. From my recall and a quick google, users have reported that steam goes to update it automatically when you press to play the program.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Solmyr on March 01, 2024, 10:31:56 AM
People keep their Skyrim at older versions to make mods work, should be possible to do the same with Paradox games?
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: garbon on March 01, 2024, 10:48:29 AM
I vaguely recall something like if you opened the executable rather than through steam?

Though all in more drama than seems worth it for light entertainment
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: crazy canuck on March 01, 2024, 03:34:40 PM
Quote from: garbon on March 01, 2024, 10:12:40 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 01, 2024, 09:59:37 AMIt is also possible to not download a patch.  Just go to settings and make it manual.

I don't think that matters. From my recall and a quick google, users have reported that steam goes to update it automatically when you press to play the program.

Ah, thanks for clarifying  :)
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on March 02, 2024, 12:31:42 PM
Quote from: Syt on March 01, 2024, 06:46:30 AMThat's weird, because for me they still show up:

(https://i.imgur.com/0J2uJ0B.png)

Only thing I can think of was some changes they had to implement when the EU rolled out the GDPR:

https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/changes-to-playing-previous-versions-of-pds-titles.1120883/

If you log into your Paradox account and go to your library (https://beta-accounts.paradoxinteractive.com/library), then there's codes at the bottom that should give you access to the old patches when you enter them in (IIRC) the Private Betas field for the game.

If you've already done that then I have no idea what the issue might be. :(

Yes. Note that there are no 1.13 versions, which is what I was playing.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on March 02, 2024, 12:35:19 PM
Quote from: Solmyr on March 01, 2024, 10:31:56 AMPeople keep their Skyrim at older versions to make mods work, should be possible to do the same with Paradox games?

With Skyrim you have to use SKSE to start the game and avoid being automatically updated.

Plus, you can download the SE version with Enderal and then just copy it over to the Skyrim folder.  The AE version does not work with most of the mods I use.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 02, 2024, 01:46:30 PM
1.13 is the current patch (1.13.7.1, to be precise). I always assumed that within the main patch line (1.12, 1.11, etc) saves (rarely) break, though not sure how much that holds true for HoI4.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on March 02, 2024, 07:22:20 PM
Quote from: Syt on March 02, 2024, 01:46:30 PM1.13 is the current patch (1.13.7.1, to be precise). I always assumed that within the main patch line (1.12, 1.11, etc) saves (rarely) break, though not sure how much that holds true for HoI4.

HOI4 1.13.7.1 breaks the saves of every version before it, just as has been true for every update that has been released while I was playing a game (which is every time I tried to play the game).  Ditto for Stellaris, though I've completed Stellaris games because it doesn't get updated as much.  Still, Pdox makes no attempt to created save update systems, so I just avoid playing to avoid the frustration. 
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on March 04, 2024, 12:43:14 AM
You can set the app manifest to read only. This makes it so Steam can't update it. At least that's what I did to make Skyrim SE not update from 1.5.97.

Here are the instructions (including how to find the app manifest ID for other games):

QuoteI see a lot of desperation when Steam updates SSE. One simple way many people keep their game from updating is by setting the game to only update when launched and then use SKSE to launch the game. Although this approach works just fine I have another solution that can be applied to any Steam game and allows them to be launched more freely with the assurance that there's absolutely no way you or anyone can accidentally cause an update.

The way I keep my game from updating is by making Steam unable to use the game's app manifest. The app manifest is a Steam configuration file for a specific game that can be found in your Steam library folder. Steam needs to change this file in order to update a game, by removing its ability to do so it won't update the game.

That said, let's get to the steps on how to do it:

1-Locate the library folder where your game is installed:

That part is pretty easy, on Windows it'll usually be located in X:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps, where X is the drive you installed Steam on (generally C or D) and on Linux it's usually in ~/.steam/steam/steamapps

In the case you have multiple library folders or installed Steam on a custom folder and don't know exactly where your library folder is, the easiest way to find it is to right click the game > properties > local files > browse local files. After that just move to the father directory until you reach a folder named steamapps.

2-Find the app id for the game:

For Skyrim SE, the app id is 489830.

If you want to find the app id for any other game just head to steamdb.info and type the title of the game on the search bar.

3-Find the app manifest file (appmanifest_489830.acf):

The app manifest is a file in your library folder with the name appmanifest_<app id>.acf (appmanifest_489830.acf in the case of SSE).

4-Make the manifest read-only:

On Windows: Right click the manifest file > properties, mark the checkbox "Read-only" and hit apply.

On most Linux distros through the GUI: Right click the manifest file > properties > look for permissions and uncheck all write permissions (w)

On Linux distros without using a GUI: open the folder containing the manifest file in the terminal and issue the command "chmod 444 appmanifest_<app id>.acf"

Steam will now show that the update was paused due to "Missing file privileges" if you head to the downloads page.

After that, there's no way in hell Steam will update your game until you set the app manifest to be editable again.

Note: after that you won't be able to launch the game directly from the default Steam launcher, as it will immediately attempt an update and display an error, since it's unable to update. The two easy workarounds are to either add the launcher executable as a non-steam game or to go into offline mode. In Skyrim's case, the game can also be launched using your mod manager, SKSE, MO2 desktop shortcuts, etc.

Undo step 4 if you want to update again:

On Windows: right click the manifest file > properties, uncheck the box "Read-only" and hit apply.

On Linux using the GUI: right click the manifest file > properties > check write permissions for the owner and the group (w)

On Linux without the GUI: open the folder where your manifest is located in the terminal and issue the command "chmod 664 appmanifest_<app id>.acf"

After that Steam will be able to make the needed changes to the manifest file and update your game.

Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/skyrimmods/comments/b158op/keep_skyrim_se_from_updating_safely_and/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: grumbler on March 04, 2024, 10:54:57 PM
Thanks, Jake.  That's an incredibly useful (for me) tip.  I'll name my next Stellaris head of state in your honor.  :D
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Jacob on March 05, 2024, 02:13:26 PM
Quote from: grumbler on March 04, 2024, 10:54:57 PMThanks, Jake.  That's an incredibly useful (for me) tip.  I'll name my next Stellaris head of state in your honor.  :D

 :lol:
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 10, 2024, 02:58:51 PM
Turns out there's not one, but at least two rhythm based FPS.

One is BPM, a roguelike shooter that creates random levels (from pre-set building blocks) that your try to clear, unlocking more powers, gear and characters along the way. If you've played Ziggurat, you'll be familiar. Except that the game requires you to stay in the rhythm of the rock soundtrack when shooting. (92% positive reviews out of 8,800).

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1286350/BPM_BULLETS_PER_MINUTE/

The other is Metal Hellsinger, which is not a roguelike, but does have a wave mode for when you don't want to play the story.

It features an original soundtrack with various luminaries of metal:

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1061910/extras/MHS_Roster_600_003_v2.png)

Plus a DLC with new gear etc. plus two new songs performed by Cristina Scabbia from Lacuna Coil and Will Ramos from Lorna Shore and another DLC with gears and unlocks plus three songs performed by Matt Heafy (Trivium), Melissa Bonny (Ad Infinitum) and Joe Bad (Fit for an Autopsy). There's another DLC with 8 licensed tracks which somehow includes Gorillaz, Depeche Mode, Disturbed, Galantis and Icona Pop. The latter one has not been well received. The game has 96% reviews out of 11,000.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1061910/Metal_Hellsinger/
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on March 22, 2024, 04:37:17 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on February 29, 2024, 01:06:38 PMAnyone on Languish committed to the spread of Managed Democracy in Helldivers 2? I have a small group that's playing pretty frequently if you'd like to join us.  :)

Took the plunge. Had a fun evening with it. Very annoying that I don't have a proper mike.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Habbaku on March 22, 2024, 11:20:38 PM
The game makes a good headset near-mandatory if you want to coordinate decently, IMO.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Josquius on March 23, 2024, 05:15:22 AM
Helldivers 2 confuses me.
It has seemingly come from nowhere. I've never heard of the original. But my news feed is getting pumped with it. And there seems to be an awful lot of "I hope they're being satirical..." fascy language in comments around it.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Iormlund on March 23, 2024, 02:28:00 PM
It's quite fun. Especially with buddies.

Not that big a fan of the importance of running, though. The game really punishes you for taking a stand as you go up in difficulty.
Title: Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread
Post by: Syt on March 24, 2024, 10:21:58 AM
Been playing a bit of Monster Train, a roguelike deckbuilder.

I like it, I think, but I feel it lacks the elegant simplicity of Slay the Spire?

Instead of the "normal" combat encounters of STS, it's a wave defense scenario. Your train has three floors, plus a top floor where your "pyre" is. Invader waves enter your train on bottom floor and ascend one floor each turn. Your cards are a mix of minions (think Hearthstone) and spells. You play your cards, finish your turn, then combat resolves. In general, enemies attack first. Afterwards, any post-combat effects trigger and enemies ascend. Each combat encounter has a final boss, and every third one will be against a major boss.

Between combat you can choose between two "tracks" where you can upgrade cards, have what's kind of the equivalent of the "?" rooms of STS, recruit units, etc.

Each run you pick your "main clan" which determines your champion and base card set, plus "allied clan" which adds supplementary cards. E.g. you can choose "Stygian" as main which focuses e.g. on spells and frost damage over time and combine it with the Awoken(?) who will give more health regen. Additionally, cards can be upgraded with up to two modifiers (e.g. giving a minion more health, or multiple attacks per turn, or reducing costs of spells or making them more powerful). You can get artifacts (like in STS), and there's a few risk reward mechanics, like adding enemy buffs to a combat encounter for better rewards, or similar.

It's very polished in its presentation, the soundtrack is great, and there's many permutations how your game can be customized. Though the wave attack and the amount of stuff that can (and can't) synergize is a lot. :lol: