Octopus Overlords

Rumpy wrote: Thu Sep 28, 2023 2:19 pm I mean, from inside the game. Unlock a mission or an outfit or something. At least, I remember one of those GTA5 collection missions, that despite the huge timesink that it was, in the end it rewarded you with a car. It's just so much busywork though.

The only time I do something like that (gazillions of collectibles, done in a group) is when busywork sounds appealing. It's like doing dailies/farming in World of Warcraft - sometimes it's nice to put on a podcast or music, lean back, and just do something to keep your hands busy for a while. In that context, it's meditative, just like painting miniatures, or assembling (a model/Legos/Metal Earth/etc.) Doing it as gameplay, expecting it to be absorbing in and of itself, though? No thanks.

I mean, from inside the game. Unlock a mission or an outfit or something.

It's been my experience, that if the collecting itself gives rewards (like Black Flag chests, Fallout bobbleheads, etc), then there's usually not something for collecting them all. If collecting the item doesn't give rewards (like GTA 5 action figures), then there's usually a reward at the end.

Blackhawk wrote: Thu Sep 28, 2023 4:07 pm

Rumpy wrote: Thu Sep 28, 2023 2:19 pm I mean, from inside the game. Unlock a mission or an outfit or something. At least, I remember one of those GTA5 collection missions, that despite the huge timesink that it was, in the end it rewarded you with a car. It's just so much busywork though.

The only time I do something like that (gazillions of collectibles, done in a group) is when busywork sounds appealing. It's like doing dailies/farming in World of Warcraft - sometimes it's nice to put on a podcast or music, lean back, and just do something to keep your hands busy for a while. In that context, it's meditative, just like painting miniatures, or assembling (a model/Legos/Metal Earth/etc.) Doing it as gameplay, expecting it to be absorbing in and of itself, though? No thanks.

Yeah, and that's exactly it. I only ever do it if I feel it's going to add much to the gameplay experience. And collecting birds just doesn't seem appealing.

It's been my experience, that if the collecting itself gives rewards (like Black Flag chests, Fallout bobbleheads, etc), then there's usually not something for collecting them all. If collecting the item doesn't give rewards (like GTA 5 action figures), then there's usually a reward at the end.

A lot of the time though the collecting doesn't even really give you anything of value though. The bobbleheads are fairly unique, but not a lot of games will even go that far if there is any collecting.

Daehawk wrote: Fri Sep 29, 2023 12:49 pm

This implies that the 15-year-old is more capable than the developers. In truth, it's because the release version will run on grandma's PC from Wal-Mart and your kid's 10-year-old laptop. The modded version will only run on a modern gaming PC. Customer base of 2 billion, or customer base of 100 million?

Of course, that all goes out the window if it's Bethesda. If it's Bethesda, then yeah - the 15-year-old is fixing the problems that they didn't feel like messing with.

I always think Bethesda when I see something like that.

Paradox reveals Foundry, a procedurally-generated factory sim that looks like a mix of Factorio and Satisfactory, and you can play it next week

Paradox reveals Foundry, a procedurally-generated factory sim that looks like a mix of Factorio and Satisfactory, and you can play it next week.

Not satisfied with keeping me up until dawn conquering the world (or galaxy) in its gargantuan grand strategy romps, Paradox has lately been trying to find other ways to stop me from going to bed at a reasonable time, like early access colony sim Stardeus and next year's Sims-like Life By You. Today, another game is being added to the list: Foundry.

Published by Paradox Interactive and developed by new studio Channel 3 Entertainment, Foundry drops you on an infinite, procedurally-generated world and tasks you with building a stupidly large factory. It's a voxel deal, and Channel 3 boasts that every block can be destroyed or replaced with either buildings or new terrain, so you can terraform the place as well as covering it with industry.

Firing up a new game will generate a brand new world containing different biomes, like jungles and mountains. You'll be able to build inside said mountains, too, creating underground factories and mines. Presumably different biomes will spill out different logistical challenges, but Channel 3 is yet to reveal specifics.

Ugh, I've been hit with the dreaded "gaming funk" ever since I beat BG3 a month ago. I suppose that's to be somewhat expected after completing one of the best games I've ever played, but nothing is clicking at all.

Since I finished BG3, I've spent at least 4-6 hours with:

- A second BG3 playthrough (got through most of Act 1 before wanting something new)
- Starfield (thought it was just incredibly boring)
- Original FF 7 (about 15 hours in using 3X speed boosts, but not particularly motivated to finish it for a 5th time)
- Elder Scrolls Online Necrom (it's OK, but the Arcanist class feels kinda 'meh' after an initial first impression game as a whole is starting to feel really dated)
- FF XIV (I just can't get back into it since beating Endwalker. I always sub and play for a couple nights then just bounce off again. Frustrating.)
- Fable Anniversary (decent game for it's time, feels positively archaic now)
- No Man's Sky (got quite a bit further than I ever have before, but I always wander off once the crafting/gathering/building aspects start to get more complex. I always love early game sandbox, but mid to late-game bores me)
- Sea of Stars (a mostly uninspiring Chrono Trigger clone)
- Cyberpunk 2077 (just way too much...stuff. The overload hurts my brain.)
- Diablo 4 (another one where I simply lost all interest after beating the campaign. Have tried all the other classes, but just have no interest in the post-game grind)
- Jedi Survivor (Jedi parkour simulator with the most boring character ever)

Nothing is clicking at all. I'd really love to sink my teeth into another solid RPG, but there's just nothing out there that I haven't already played. Worst part is that after the summer glut of games, there's really just not much on the horizon I'm looking forward to.

I hate this feeling...makes me grumpy.

You just ate the best burger in the galaxy, and you're going around trying to find a burger that tastes good. You might just need to clear your palate. Try a strategy hot dog, an action taco, or some survival sushi.

Jedi Survivor (Jedi parkour simulator with the most boring character ever)

Thats the way I felt about the first one. I got a ways into and quit. I had my worries going in it was like that but had nothing else to play at the time. I did find the story and character better than I thought I would. it was the repetitive jumping and replaying whole area all the time. Plus it became difficult after a while too.

Skinypupy wrote: Mon Oct 02, 2023 4:10 pm Nothing is clicking at all. I'd really love to sink my teeth into another solid RPG, but there's just nothing out there that I haven't already played. Worst part is that after the summer glut of games, there's really just not much on the horizon I'm looking forward to.

I hate this feeling...makes me grumpy.

Depending on your budget, I'd recommend either wishlisting Citizen Sleeper and grabbing it when it next goes on sale, or purchasing at full price if you can afford to do so (it was recently available for a -40% discount as part of the Fellow Traveller Publisher sale in September, but I'm sure it'll be discounted again during the upcoming Autumn and Winter Steam sales):



It's presented more akin to a narrative tabletop RPG, with a focus upon providing engaging and entertaining storylines. The devs are now working on a sequel, Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, which is likely also worth wishlisting:

Anonymous Bosch wrote: Mon Oct 02, 2023 7:38 pm Depending on your budget, I'd recommend either wishlisting Citizen Sleeper and grabbing it when it next goes on sale, or purchasing at full price if you can afford to do so (it was recently available for a -40% discount as part of the Fellow Traveller Publisher sale in September, but I'm sure it'll be discounted again during the upcoming Autumn and Winter Steam sales):

Thanks for this recommendation. Cool concept and a really interesting game in the first hour, although I can't help but feel like I'm going about things all wrong.

Horizon Zero Dawn on the PS5 is what I'm playing now, although my right arm in general and thumb specifically have been sore from a few chores that I overdid, so I'm taking a break. Thumb is sore enough that moving the stick aches something fierce.

More surprising than the AAA title above, I'm playing Graveyard Keeper on the PC. This of all things is what got me out of my funk finally. Which is weird, as this is basically a factory game (supply and production) where 90% of it has to be done manually.

Anyway, I'm no longer in my gaming funk. For now.

Blast from the past...2001

Sci-fi adventure The Alters shares riveting new trailer, launches on PC and consoles in 2024

Polish team 11 Bit Studios shared a new trailer today for its sci-fi base-building survival adventure The Alters, an intriguing mash up of genre ideas that looks quite good. This new video introduces the game’s protagonist, Jan, who is stranded on an alien planet and clones himself many times over to increase his chances of survival.

They’re not your ordinary clones, however, as each Jan is its own person, complete with skills, goals, and even doubts. Choosing the right paths for each Jan clone to create a diverse set of skills will be the key to survival, as will maintaining a relationship with each version of yourself. It’s a twisted sci-fi clone Brady Bunch, where you can have a Jan that cooks, a Jan that crafts, a Jan that gathers resources, and so on.

The Alters is planned for release on PC and current-gen consoles in 2024. Me, myself, and I have just moved it towards the top of our most anticipated games for next year. Check out the new trailer:

I am going retro... I hope to start playing Megafortress in a day or two.

For those of you who remember that far, Megafortress is a fictional EB-52, a heavily modified B-52 testbed that was forced into performing a special mission in the novel "Flight of the Old Dog" by by Dale Brown that will hopefully stop WW3, by destroying the first operational laser weapon deployed by the Soviets that can take out satellites and worse.

There are two DLCs included in the full collection.

When I wake up, I usually lie in bed, think things through, and prepare for the day.

This morning, as I lay there searching for solutions to the problems in my life, it occurred to me: Skyrim is the only video game I know that has both a headless horseman, and a horseless headsman.



And so my problems remain.

I can only share with you that The Witcher has a manless horse head.

TF2 at Halloween time has a horseless headman too. Its a fun part of my Halloween each year. Going on now too.

Zaxxon wrote: Fri Sep 22, 2023 3:04 pm Unity's updated update to the pricing model is out.

Seems like this addresses most of the issues with the plan. Unfortunately for Unity, they are firmly in the 'find out' stage at this point, and are royally fucked.

And, scene.

Good going, there, Johnny Boy.

Lol. Today, in 'the damage is done:'

Blackhawk wrote: Mon Oct 09, 2023 6:18 pm Good going, there, Johnny Boy.

"I've done what I came here to do. Where's my (golden) parachute?"

i've now tried all five Raiden titles in Steam (arcade shmups)

Raiden 1 and 2 have a terrible dot.emu packaging and there is so much wrong with this. i'm going to just extract the arcade ROMs and play them in MAME, it'll be a significantly better experience

Raiden 3 doesn't have the best presentation and really needs graphic filter options, but it's usable. this one is very PS2-era.

Raiden 4 is probably the best of the new Raidens, really well done, seems to be an updated Raiden 3 engine?

Raiden 5 takes a different tack with this continual dialog going on in the background, which i am completely not a fan of. everything seems more shrunken in size as well. i've only put about 20 minutes into it, so i'm super not sure how i feel about it yet.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raiden_(video_game)

i've only played Raiden Fighters Aces trilogy (spinoff of the original series) on Xbox 360, and it's a very nice emulation setup, highly recc'd (tho it's now going for about $60 used on that platform)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raiden_Fighters_Aces

I just wanted to say thanks for posting about your Raiden journey. I am not a particular fan of the game(s) but it certainly ate more than a few of my quarters way back when and I'm always interested in peoples' experiences with historical games (and their descendants).

GreenGoo wrote: Tue Oct 10, 2023 8:47 am

Blackhawk wrote: Mon Oct 09, 2023 6:18 pm Good going, there, Johnny Boy.

"I've done what I came here to do. Where's my (golden) parachute?"

Right over there, in that solid gold backpack. We even imported a genuine Russian jumpin' window, just for you. Off you go!

GreenGoo wrote: Tue Oct 10, 2023 11:32 am I just wanted to say thanks for posting about your Raiden journey. I am not a particular fan of the game(s) but it certainly ate more than a few of my quarters way back when and I'm always interested in peoples' experiences with historical games (and their descendants).

i tend to drop a few quarters into an original Raiden machine when i see them in the wild. it's one of the top-down shooters that gets the 'feel' just right, and there's a reason it was so influential.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1880 ... nquisitor/



Looks like an interesting game in the pipe. I think its based on a book series.

Jesus did not die on the cross, but came down and unleashed vengeance on all the nonbelievers. 1500 years later, an army of Inquisitors brutally enforce the faith. In this dark fantasy adventure you solve intricate cases and unveil abysmal secrets as Inquisitor Mordimer Madderdin.

Kasey Chang wrote: Mon Oct 09, 2023 8:42 am I am going retro... I hope to start playing Megafortress in a day or two.

For those of you who remember that far, Megafortress is a fictional EB-52, a heavily modified B-52 testbed that was forced into performing a special mission in the novel "Flight of the Old Dog" by by Dale Brown

A 1987 novel. 36 years ago a B-52 was already old.

Saw this game was released a couple of days ago, on sale until Oct 20th. Reviews are Very Positive. I am tempted...

jztemple2 wrote: Sun Oct 15, 2023 12:41 am Saw this game was released a couple of days ago, on sale until Oct 20th. Reviews are Very Positive. I am tempted...

How do you construct a vertical railroad? The cars will fall off.

Ask the 5th element

Fardaza wrote: Sun Oct 15, 2023 10:09 am How do you construct a vertical railroad? The cars will fall off.

More to the point, why would you need a vertical railroad? In case you want to go to Bespin by train?

Upward mobility?

ok, i would at least try this one:



currently in this Humble Bundle https://www.humblebundle.com/games/living-in-simulation but i'm not too interested in the other titles

Epic turns on the money hose to lure game devs into releasing their golden oldies on the Epic Games

Epic has announced a foolproof plan to tempt devs and publishers to put their back catalogues onto the Epic Games Store: throw money at them. Announced yesterday, the Now On Epic program will offer game makers (and licence holders) 100% of the revenue generated by older games they put on Epic for the first six months of their time on the store, as opposed to the 88%/12% split that selling games via Epic usually entails.

hitbyambulance wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 2:58 pm ok, i would at least try this one:



currently in this Humble Bundle https://www.humblebundle.com/games/living-in-simulation but i'm not too interested in the other titles

On Humble for $10.

My dad was an electrician. Probably wired half this town. I worked with him for a while in my late teens. He would have liked for me to learn it and take over but I was too busy with cars and girls. Wish I had later in life. Playing the game would feel weird to me I think. Like..you couldn't be one but you'll play as one now?? lol.

hahaha omg the story of this game.

https://edward-la-barbera.itch.io/frasier-fantasy

Experience the thrilling adventure of living an evening as Dr. Frasier Crane!

FIGHT for your antique silverware!

SNEAK through the live-in-help's bedroom!

ATTEMPT to throw the ultimate dinner party!

Frasier Fantasy is a loving tribute to the show, "Frasier," in turn-based RPG form. Filled with Easter Eggs and callbacks, this is the game for anyone wondering if Eddie ever blinked first.