Video Games Randomness - Prioritize specific game threads!

[Blackhawk]

You'll also have to have the Steam overlay active, which will be a limiting factor with non-Steam games.

[jztemple2]

Don't know if this is the appropriate forum thread, but I'll post it anyway. Steam Game Recording is now available for all users.

Note, you'll need to exit and restart the Steam client to download the update.

I tried exporting clips from Steam recording but I'm only getting "failed" messages. I'm not sure how to post a video here without exporting it from Steam and uploading to YouTube.

[Max Peck]

N7 Day 2024

Hi everyone,

November 7 has arrived once again, and as always, we’re grateful for the opportunity to celebrate all things Mass Effect! This year is a little different, as we just launched Dragon Age: The Veilguard as a studio; so we’re purposefully keeping things lighter as we celebrate the launch of the game (speaking of which, you may notice a small treat from the Mass Effect team in Dragon Age: The Veilguard* if you check out a new chest inside the Lighthouse).

There is some cool new merch in our BioWare store and we have partnered with No Man’s Sky and Destiny 2 to bring back a couple fun cross-promos in those games. Be sure to check our social channels for all the details.

Although we are a little quieter this year, we couldn’t be more excited for what’s to come.

— The Mass Effect Community Team

I've already done the Normandy expedition in No Man's Sky and I don't play Destiny 2, so I guess the ME armor in Dragon Age is it for me this year.

[GreenGoo]

Free time waster on Steam. I'm not sure what it is, even after watching a video, but I know I wanted to check it out.

[Daehawk]

Anyone playing or played Once Human? It looks like Remnant From the Ashes and State of Decay had a baby and its free.

https://www.oncehuman.game/index.html

Steam

[coopasonic]

Anyone playing or played Once Human? It looks like Remnant From the Ashes and State of Decay had a baby and its free.

https://www.oncehuman.game/index.html

Steam

I played it for a while in early access and then again at release. It's interesting for a while... The progression in not very clear after a certain point and I lost interest in trying to figure it out. The gameplay is pretty different and there is a base building and multiplayer events and clans and it's also has seasons with resets of some, but not all things.

[Hipolito]

N7 Day 2024

Hi everyone,

November 7 has arrived once again, and as always, we’re grateful for the opportunity to celebrate all things Mass Effect! This year is a little different, as we just launched Dragon Age: The Veilguard as a studio; so we’re purposefully keeping things lighter as we celebrate the launch of the game (speaking of which, you may notice a small treat from the Mass Effect team in Dragon Age: The Veilguard* if you check out a new chest inside the Lighthouse).

There is some cool new merch in our BioWare store and we have partnered with No Man’s Sky and Destiny 2 to bring back a couple fun cross-promos in those games. Be sure to check our social channels for all the details.

Although we are a little quieter this year, we couldn’t be more excited for what’s to come.

— The Mass Effect Community Team

I've already done the Normandy expedition in No Man's Sky and I don't play Destiny 2, so I guess the ME armor in Dragon Age is it for me this year.

A couple of things about this sale:

• Use discount code BIOWARE10 at checkout for 10% discount.
• A "Navidium Shipping Protection" fee is automatically added to the bill, without advance notice and without an opportunity to opt out.

[Blackhawk]

A "Navidium Shipping Protection" fee is automatically added to the bill, without advance notice and without an opportunity to opt out.

Is it at least an N7 branded scam?

Navidium, from what I recall, isn't insurance. It's a 'service' for sellers that allows them to tack on an extra fee, which the seller keeps. There's no insurance company involved, and if something goes wrong, you're still limited to what the original seller is willing to do to make it right. The seller is functioning like an insurance company (taking the fees to pay for problems), but without any actual contract or commitment to take care of problems.

In other words, EA managed to add microtransactions to physical products.

[Max Peck]

What is this Navidium thing, something to do with the merch store?

[GreenGoo]

Free time waster on Steam. I'm not sure what it is, even after watching a video, but I know I wanted to check it out.

Magic Archery

There's about an hour's worth of gameplay. Maybe two if you want to beat your previous time.

[Rumpy]

I've always felt that N7/Dragon Age armor in their oppposite games felt out of place . Most of them are quite ugly.

[Blackhawk]

+1. Breaking the theme hurts the game for me. I don't want polymer composites in my fantasy games (unless someone makes Expedition to the Barrier Peaks...)

[Rumpy]

Yeah, like earlier this year, I was playing Mass Effect: Andromeda, which I quite enjoyed. It included Dragon Age armor. It looked so corny prancing away on an alien planet in the middle of the Andromeda Galaxy with medieval armor. I don't see the appeal. Worse than that, sometimes it's a meshing of modern and old design elements, which then ends up feeling out of place in either game series. The Blood Dragon armor in the game ends up making you looking like a Cylon.

[Max Peck]

The N7 Day armor is not as in-your-face as the Blood Dragon armor, and it is definitely not some sort of "polymer composite" sci-fi armor. It's just a couple of outfits (with or without a long overcoat) and a helmet, all with vaguely ME-themed color schemes. It's fine.

[Rumpy]

That does admittedly look better. Doesn't nearly look as over the top as some of the other stuff.

[YellowKing]

I made the mistake of trying Vampire Survivors over my three-day weekend, and barely got anything done in 3 days. Wow I cracked out hard on that. I think I finally reached my saturation point where I don't feel compelled to unlock everything, but that was an intense binge.

I'm trying Inscryption now on GamePass, and that's a weird game. I'm not sure the card play is compelling enough for me to stick with it though.

[jztemple2]

Anyone else picking this up? It releases tomorrow. I don't know if I'll get it then or wait till I burn out on Factorio

[jztemple2]

Anyone else picking this up? It releases tomorrow. I don't know if I'll get it then or wait till I burn out on Factorio

By the way, you can get it cheaper on Green Man Gaming.

[Max Peck]

I received an email from GOG regarding their GOG Preservation Program:

We are thrilled to announce our new initiative.

The program is an official stamp on classic games that GOG has improved, with a commitment of our own resources to ensure their compatibility with modern systems and make them as enjoyable to play as possible.

We begin with the re-release of 100 classic games from our catalog with updated, improved, or quality-tested builds, including masterpieces like Heroes of Might and Magic® 3, Resident Evil, and Diablo+Hellfire.

This initiative was created to make games live forever and once again bring the utmost attention to what the center of our work has been for the last 16 years: Video Game Preservation.

The Video Game History Foundation has recently shared that 87% of games created before 2010 are inaccessible today. With the help of the gaming community, we are set on getting that number down to zero.

[jztemple2]

Anyone else picking this up? It releases tomorrow. I don't know if I'll get it then or wait till I burn out on Factorio

I picked this up on release and have put in eighteen hours so far. I'm enjoying it. The Steam reviews that are negative are for the most part complaining (whining?) that there's not that much different from Farming Simulator 22. Well, that's true, but there are updates to graphics, UI, new crops, new maps, etc. But I guess there are always going to be whiners.

I haven't found any glitches or bugs worth a mention. Everything works as expected, although because there is such a variety of equipment and crops the game does require putting some time into it to become reasonably competent. Happy the devs have an academy page with lots of information that's a great help to a newbie.

It's a very relaxing game in some respects. I spent over an hour, real time, cutting down a huge elm and then using my chainsaw to whack it into small enough pieces to go into a wood chipper. Unfortunately at such a small scale the physics of the branches can be wonky and so I ended up putting a lot of them into a pile off to the side. Next time I'll get a more manly tree-cutter and chipper combo.

[Hipolito]

A "Navidium Shipping Protection" fee is automatically added to the bill, without advance notice and without an opportunity to opt out.

Is it at least an N7 branded scam?

Navidium, from what I recall, isn't insurance. It's a 'service' for sellers that allows them to tack on an extra fee, which the seller keeps. There's no insurance company involved, and if something goes wrong, you're still limited to what the original seller is willing to do to make it right. The seller is functioning like an insurance company (taking the fees to pay for problems), but without any actual contract or commitment to take care of problems.

In other words, EA managed to add microtransactions to physical products.

I asked them to refund the fee. They said yes!

[Max Peck]

This seems topical...

[Daehawk]

This looks amazing...

Of Ash & Steel

Of Ash and Steel is an immersive third-person open-world RPG created by a passionate team that values the essence of classic old-school RPGs and modern designs. Explore the lands of a once-prosperous island, hone your combat skills, and survive in the unforgiving realm of the Kingdom of the Seven.

In Of Ash and Steel, you’ll explore the once-prosperous realm of the Kingdom of the Seven, honing your combat skills and forging alliances to survive in an unforgiving land. Rise from a lowly adventurer and build your hero as you like, shaping your fortune and the fate of the world around you with each choice you make.

There are no quest markers to lead you by the hand in Of Ash and Steel. Rediscover the joy of exploration and let curiosity be your guide in a richly detailed world full of hidden treasures, stories, challenges, side quests, bosses and more.

[LordMortis]

I really need to go over my steam wishlish and purge stuff. 1) I get too many emails, which is not that bad, as I get a lot more spam from companies I can't unsubscribe from because I occasionally get important information but 2) I get notifications for games I've wishlisted and I have no idea what they games are. Microcivilization? Why in the world did I wishlist that? WTF is it, anyway?

[jztemple2]

[Unagi]

That's pretty darn cool.

[Fardaza]

I just reached 200 hours today in Warlords 3: DLR! I love the oldies.
GOG has been berra berra good to me.

[Skinypupy]

It's always so difficult to transition to the next game after finishing up one you really, really enjoyed.

I wrapped up Dragon Age Veilguard earlier this week, which I thought was a wonderful, epic journey. Now I'm trying to figure out what to play next and basically just keep bouncing off everything.

I tried Life is Strange 3, a game that has been on my "rainy day" list for a while. Couldn't get past the glacial pace. Tried the latest Gold Road ESO expac, but the drop in graphics from DA to ESO was a bit too much. Fiddles with some seasonal stuff in Diablo 4, but that's boring. Tried a couple racing games that were on PSN (Hot Wheels 2 and something else)...meh. I didn't like the Metaphor Re:Fantazio demo enough to buy the full game, and the new Dragon Quest 3 remake doesn't feel like something I want to buy at full price.

I always end up stuck in a gaming funk after wrapping up something awesome, and it drives me nuts.

I think I'm going to give Star Wars Outlaws another try (I bounced off Jedi Survivor three times before it "clicked") and may also try and get my VR headset working with my PC so I can try Elite Dangerous in VR. Not sure how interesting that will be (I've generally cooled on VR entirely after the initial 'wow factor' wore off), but I figured I should at least give it a shot.

[Rumpy]

Murdered: Soul Suspect is on sale on the PS Store for around $2. This is a great game and well worth playing if you've missed it the first time around.

[Daehawk]

I think I'm going to give Star Wars Outlaws another try (I bounced off Jedi Survivor three times before it "clicked") and may also try and get my VR headset working with my PC so I can try Elite Dangerous in VR. Not sure how interesting that will be (I've generally cooled on VR entirely after the initial 'wow factor' wore off), but I figured I should at least give it a shot.

If you go in try one of those voiced AI assistants. Saw a video once of a guy using vr and he just told the computer what to do like go to half throttle and play some music and such..was kinda neat.

[Max Peck]

VoiceAttack is popular for Elite: Dangerous:



And if you want to go all-in, HCS Voice Packs provide a variety of customized audio packs for various games.

[jztemple2]

VoiceAttack is popular for Elite: Dangerous:

I got VoiceAttack back in 2015 for Elite: Dangerous, it worked pretty well. I didn't have any special voice packs, I just used the MS synthesized voices.

[Daehawk]

I like the female voices. Wouldn't mind an Aussie computer . Ive has Elite in box since release and never touched it. Thats sad. But it was around the time my wife passed and it got lost in all the hubub bub.

Real shale Majel Barrett isn't around to do her voice for it like she was in the computer voice in all of Trek except TOS of course.

[Skinypupy]

Finished Life is Strange: True Colors last night.

That series is the ultimate in “have to be in the right mood” games. When I am, they’re riveting and absolutely wonderful games. When I’m not, they’re a slow, boring plod.

Thankfully I was in the right mood for a few days, as I thought this one was an excellent story.

[raydude]

Finished Life is Strange: True Colors last night.

That series is the ultimate in “have to be in the right mood” games. When I am, they’re riveting and absolutely wonderful games. When I’m not, they’re a slow, boring plod.

Thankfully I was in the right mood for a few days, as I thought this one was an excellent story.

Agreed on both counts - it's a great story and one that requires someone to be in the right mood to appreciate it. I remember playing it when it first came out and tried not to read up on any spoilers for it. I was ready for the ride and it was very cathartic.

[GreenGoo]

Humble Bundle has a sci fi shooter bundle that has the new System Shock for the cheapest it has been so far. What's the word on the Crysis games?

Humble Bundle shooter bundle

[TheMix]

My recollection is that I enjoyed the Crysis games. I honestly don't remember why they were often poorly received. I'm not sure I ever played the third one. And I don't think I have the remasters. I might have to give this bundle a closer look-see.

[disarm]

I really enjoyed the first Crysis but never played the others...seem to remember them getting decent reviews though. As for the rest of the bundle, Prey is a solid game and Doom is fun

[TheMix]

Pretty sure I'll be grabbing it some time today. And I already own Prey. So that will be up for grabs if there is someone that doesn't already have it.

[Daehawk]

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.

As for The Crysis games I loved all of them and replayed and finished them multiple times back when they were new.