Video Games Randomness - Prioritize specific game threads!

[Max Peck]

That video above reminded me that I never knew in my head how to pronounce Brian Blessed name. Was it Blessed all one word like you've been 'blessed' by a priest or is it like in the video Bless ed. Im still not sure, Ti me ear Bless ed sounds best as a name.

[Blackhawk]

That video above reminded me that I never knew in my head how to pronounce Brian Blessed name. Was it Blessed all one word like you've been 'blessed' by a priest or is it like in the video Bless ed.

Bless-ed (two syllables) is also used for the word when used as an adjective. The priest blest my hat; it was a bless-ed event.

[Unagi]

Was it Blessed all one word like you've been 'blessed' by a priest or is it like in the video Bless ed.

Bless-ed (two syllables) is also used for the word when used as an adjective. The priest blest my hat; it was a bless-ed event.

@Daehawk

I'm going to insist that, no matter how many syllables it has, it's still all one word.

[GreenGoo]

I haven't bought anything from Steam in a long time. Steam tells me my wishlist is on sale, I check isthereanydeal.com and find it cheaper elsewhere. I buy it and activate it on Steam.

Steam is rarely the cheapest option these days, even during sales. It's not that I never buy from Steam, but it's so rare it feels like never. Maybe less than 5% of my purchases these days.

[Daehawk]

Same

[Blackhawk]

Steam is rarely the cheapest option these days, even during sales.

The other storefronts learned not to try to anticipate Steam. Instead, they wait for Steam to post a sale, then undercut them. Then they undercut each other. They then go back and forth like that for a while. There have been sales where I've had a half a dozen '[Game] meets your price' from ITAD in a few hours, each one a little lower than the last, as the various stores try to underbid each other.

On the longer sales, I've learned to give it a day or so before I try to buy.

[GreenGoo]

Oh definitely.

I also avoid the Big Sale before the Bigger Sale, that happens occasionally. Black Friday -> Christmas is one where you end up paying more on Black Friday than you would if you waited a month for the X-mas sale.

Whatever sale they have right before the SUMMER SALE is also a trap.

[GreenGoo]

Came across this:



Ever since Dungeon Keeper I've been looking for the perfect dungeon management game. This isn't it, from what little I've seen. Neither was DK1 or DK2, but they were at least good and new.

However, I will be checking it out, because I love the idea. I am not a fan of the cutesy Minecraft graphics, but if the play is interesting that won't matter. I've seen the basic gameplay loop, but not enough to know how it builds and expands on that loop over time.

There's supposed to be a demo somewhere. I might install it because this has piqued my interest enough. I haven't installed a demo in years.

Edit: A quick glance around steam and their website didn't turn up any mention of a demo. Oh well. 5 seconds of looking is all I'm willing to do for this.

[Punisher]

Here you go

[GreenGoo]

Prologue! Of course.

Thanks!

edit: Assuming the Prologue is an accurate depiction, it's way too soon for me to be trying this game. I don't know if it's in early access or not, but it feels like it, and I'm not much of an early access guy.

Oh well.

[Max Peck]

This has been in my backlog for ages, but it's billed as modern (as of a few years ago) take on Dungeon Keeper, has good user reviews and is on sale for dirt cheap at the moment.

[Skinypupy]

This has been in my backlog for ages, but it's billed as modern (as of a few years ago) take on Dungeon Keeper, has good user reviews and is on sale for dirt cheap at the moment.

As a huge fan of Dungeon Keeper, I bought it when it first came out and didn’t care for it much. Not sure if that’s because of the game itself, or because my personal gaming tastes have shifted (I’ve generally lost patience for RTS). Probably a little of both, tbh.

I have heard they’ve made a ton of improvements. Maybe I need to fire it back up today…

[Punisher]

Prologue! Of course.

Thanks!

edit: Assuming the Prologue is an accurate depiction, it's way too soon for me to be trying this game. I don't know if it's in early access or not, but it feels like it, and I'm not much of an early access guy.

Oh well.

The main game doesn't appear to be early access so this most likely isn't.
For some reasons a lot of developers are using Prolouge instead of Demo. It also gets confusing when Prolouge means early access or a demo even tjough the full game isn't available yet.

[LordMortis]

Evil Genius II soured me on the the whole category of games. The game really played like a bad beta and they were releasing paid for DLC on top of it. I'm not sure what would bring me back but DKII clone isn't enough. Someone would have to show me some additional gaming god magic to pull me back in and see $20 of DLC is not it. OtOH, I'm always willing to listen to someone else's experience and see if they are expressing that magic.

Which reminds me. Klie sent me an email about a new game not that long ago. I really need to give it a looksee. Klie have had a way of finding new magic for me



Edit, NM. I guess they are just publisher, not the developer of this.

[Max Peck]

I've always thought that "prologue" implies a demo that is save-compatible with the full game, so that you can continue without restarting if you make the purchase. I have no idea to what degree that is actually the case, though.

[GreenGoo]

Oh that all makes sense. I'm just out of touch. I count on Google translating what I'm saying to what I mean far too much, and this time it failed me.

[Blackhawk]

There were multiple DK 'spiritual successors.'. Check out the Dungeons series as well.

[GreenGoo]

Yeah, I have dungeons II and if I remember correctly, it was good, but the campaign was too short for my preference.

That's a very compelling price for III, and I vaguely remember that IV is supposed to be good as well.

[Skinypupy]

FWIW, War for the Overworld has the the same voice actor as the original Narrator (Richard Ridings), which definitely helps. Side note: Ridings also does the voice of Daddy Pig in Peppa Pig, a fact which caused a very significant double-take the first time I watched it.

The last Dungeon game I played (3, maybe?) had this weird mix of underground lair building with another traditional RTS going at the same time topside. I have major trouble keeping up with just one RTS, so adding a second simultaneous one made me quit pretty quickly.

[Punisher]

I've always thought that "prologue" implies a demo that is save-compatible with the full game, so that you can continue without restarting if you make the purchase. I have no idea to what degree that is actually the case, though.

It does vary.
Most of the ones I've plasyed are X part of the full game. They may or may not let you transfer your save to the full game. If not, you will be replaying that same stuff.

A few are completely separate and actually take place before the game. A couple were actually recommended to play first. Most were more like tech demos. They have basic story but are meant to show off gameplay.

[LordMortis]

The only prologue I've played was a tutorial for superhero tactical TBS. I never bought the game so I don't know if it was the same as the in game tutorial. Likely it was. It was also something you could likely skip if you so chose.

[Skinypupy]

Skinypupy’s Game Development Commandment #6: Thou shalt not dump major plot development exposition during the middle of a massive firefight.

In SW Outlaws last night, I was in the middle of fighting for my life against 10-12 mobs. All the while, the two main faction leaders were on the comlink discussing why the cryo facility I was in was critical for the survival of an entire species and what I needed to do about it. I missed the entire dialog (due to the whole “fighting for my life” thing) and simply had to start following the quest arrows after it was over without having a clue what was going on.

The last several games I’ve played have done this. It’s hard enough for me to stay alive during combat, much less pay attention to whatever the hell you’re talking about.

[GreenGoo]

The last several games I’ve played have done this. It’s hard enough for me to stay alive during combat, much less pay attention to whatever the hell you’re talking about.

Definitely. I'm sure it makes for great cinema. It's less good when every neuron is devoted to keeping your character alive.

[Blackhawk]

Skinypupy’s Game Development Commandment #6: Thou shalt not dump major plot development exposition during the middle of a massive firefight.

In SW Outlaws last night, I was in the middle of fighting for my life against 10-12 mobs. All the while, the two main faction leaders were on the comlink discussing why the cryo facility I was in was critical for the survival of an entire species and what I needed to do about it. I missed the entire dialog (due to the whole “fighting for my life” thing) and simply had to start following the quest arrows after it was over without having a clue what was going on.

The last several games I’ve played have done this. It’s hard enough for me to stay alive during combat, much less pay attention to whatever the hell you’re talking about.

Dear god, yes please. Focusing on enemies, survival, the HUD, abilities, movement, and all of the other aspects of combat makes it damnably hard to pay attention to either plot nuances or mission parameters being delivered verbally. Now add in the fact that you're trying to hear what they're saying over the top of gunfire, explosions, special effects, ambient noise (usually a room full of machinery), and enemies screaming out orders to each other, and it becomes hard to even hear the 'briefing.' The best I can do sometimes is try to glance at the subtitles and get the gist of it, but there isn't really time for reading dialogue, either.

It's even more fun when the 'guy in the chair' dialogue happens to overlap with a boss shouting his own dialogue at you.

More than once I've finished a major combat, had big plot events unfold in the process, and had no clue what had happened, leading to future exchanges making no sense whatsoever - which is even worse when the combat ends with a dialogue choice based on what was said. I've also had times where I couldn't figure out what the bleeping bleep I was supposed to be doing to finish a section, only to find out that the hints were delivered verbally in the middle of a fight.

A few times I've had to pause the game, go to YouTube, and find a video of someone else playing that section just to listen to what was said.

On the same note I'll add that I dislike quest journals that only list the current objective and don't summarize what's happened up to that point. It may have been four or five days since I played, and that quest may be something I started two weeks ago before doing side content. When it's time to continue with it, I often have no clue what the context is for what's happening (this was a flaw in Cyberpunk 2077, for example.)

[Sudy]

Been doing some tidying, you couldn't imagine the GARBAGE I've unearthed! Who wants to take a trip to the DUMP?!




And one from the OOGH collection...:

[YellowKing]

Oh man, I LOVED Arcanum! What a blast from the past. I haven't thought about that game in ages.

[Daehawk]

Oh man, I LOVED Arcanum! What a blast from the past. I haven't thought about that game in ages.

I have that big box still. Finished it twice. It was horribly buggy when released but I didn't suffer any I dont think. One time as a gun user and a second time as a total imbecile hammer guy. That was funny the dialog I got . Still remember that to this day.

I still have DRAWER FULL OF OLD 90S PC MAGS..ALL GAMING RELATED..MOSTLY cgw..SOME PC GAMER iM SURE AMONG OTHERS. Need to go through it...and no Im not fixing that damn caps lock key befuddle.

[Anonymous Bosch]

I still have DRAWER FULL OF OLD 90S PC MAGS..ALL GAMING RELATED..MOSTLY cgw..SOME PC GAMER iM SURE AMONG OTHERS.

[Blackhawk]

I threw away about a hundred of them five or six years ago - I just kept a dozen or so issues (those with special meaning to me, or those I was mentioned in, etc.)

[LordMortis]

I had a bunch of 80s computer gaming mags saved in to the 90s but they all went away when I moved out of my parents house. After that it was books. I still have too many books that I'll never go back to. It's getting on time to donate the many of them. I finally got rid of all the Windows NT etc... manuals that have been sitting around forever. Emptied two full shelves of space. The computer game manuals I purged gave me 4 filing cabinet drawers.

[hitbyambulance]

Been doing some tidying, you couldn't imagine the GARBAGE I've unearthed! Who wants to take a trip to the DUMP?!

i'll take some of that console trash off your hands

[Max Peck]

Regarding Auto Fire, I was aware of the game -- although, to be fair, I've pretty much forgotten about it while I wait for it to show up on Steam. It's been "coming soon" for a few years now, so maybe never?

[TheMix]

Regarding Auto Fire, I was aware of the game -- although, to be fair, I've pretty much forgotten about it while I wait for it to show up on Steam. It's been "coming soon" for a few years now, so maybe never?

From the comments, you might have better luck monitoring itch.io

https://vertigames.itch.io/auto-fire

That said, no update since 2022? Not looking good.

[Max Peck]

Yeah, I'm not so desperate for a new Autoduel that I'm going to the trouble of setting up an itch.io account just to try out an apparently abandoned work-in-progress.

[LordMortis]

Didn't need an account to download from blackhawk's link... in R&P.... but I still wishlisted from Steam anyway. I would have donated but like you, I'm not going to set up an account and give money for an EA game version. I'll still give it a try when it's convenient and if I like where it's headed it'll be a steam purchase. I am very excited for another Autoduel.

[LordMortis]

I loaded the game... and started it against my better judgement. It's not a Windows authorized executable and that always makes me nervous, especially for an EA development that has been in the dark for over two years. I thought it was going to be TBS but it's not and would/will play better with a gamepad. I don't have the desire to work on my motor skills for driving by game pad (or arrows) right now, so I'll come back to it later.

[Blackhawk]

Behind its identikit theme and terrible name, XDefiant is the perfect antidote to those tired of Call of Duty’s modern-day bloat

Killed by UbiSoft.

[Rumpy]

So, here's something I've noticed recently. Some games on Steam have Microsoft Playfab listed as a 3rd-party account requirement. Had never heard of this until recently, and looking it up, from what I can understand, it's a cloud-based multiplayer option on the dev side of things, rather than as an end-user thing. But somehow it started showing up as a requirement on the store pages, and I have to think it's a bug on the store pages.

I've been playing Dreamlight Valley and it's listed on the store page as being a 3rd-party account requirement, yet it never does ask for account linking.

[Daehawk]

This info is all thanks to the folks over at PC Gamer so mosey on over there if you'd like to support them and read more stuff. These links to stories lead back to them too.

Got two stories I thought you'd like...

CD Projekt promises that, compared to The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, The Witcher 4 'will not be smaller, and it will not be worse'

Tremblay went on to declare Project Polaris, which is currently being worked on by 400 members of CDPR's 650-strong staff, would be bigger and better than anything the studio had done before. "And the next game we do will not be smaller, and it will not be worse. So it will be better, bigger, greater than The Witcher 3, it will be better than Cyberpunk—because for us, it's unacceptable [to launch that way]. We don't want to go back."

and...

Blizzard is delisting Warcraft 1 and 2 from GOG, but GOG says it's gonna preserve them forever anyway, hands out a discount, and announces new policy for its preservation program to boot

Warcraft 1 and 2 will leave GOG this December 13, exactly one month after Blizzard surprise-dropped its remasters of the games, but if you already own the games—or buy them before the 13th—you won't lose access. GOG is actually launching a discount code, MakeWarcraftLiveForever, that you can use to knock $2 (£1.50) off the Warcraft 1 and 2 bundle if you pick it up before D-Day (the D is for delisting).

[Torfish]

I didn't see a Path of Exile 2 thread so I'm posting my thoughts here.

Early access is out on Friday. This looks to be 'the dream' ARPG game. Could be game of the year material even though it's early access. Last year I finally figured out POE 1. Everything clicked and it quickly became one of my favorite games. I put in over 500 hours in the past 12 months.

Since I'm still having a blast with POE1, I'm contemplating not playing POE 2 early access and wait for the full game which will probably be in about 1 yr. They are only releasing the first 3 acts with a lot of the end game. I probably won't hold out because I'm weak. I'm going to try.

I fully expect the game to take off big time and it could become a rare generational game where it brings in the masses long term.