Alot of this Microtransactions furore seems to be 'Oh I never played the first one' things. All of the things they're charging for like fast travel, getting out of jail, changing your character etc. were in the first game.
Alot of this Microtransactions furore seems to be 'Oh I never played the first one' things. All of the things they're charging for like fast travel, getting out of jail, changing your character etc. were in the first game.
"We've got Nier Automata at home"Originally Posted by Adramelch
Predatory game design 12 years ago is not a justification for predatory game design now though, even more so when they have been coming out with quotes like "we won't travelling to feel dangerous" to justify the relative lack of fast travel (which I have no issue with personally), only to then undermind their whole mentality through microtransactions.
In fairness, I do think it has been overblown, but that's also because the game launched with bad performance and the whole "can't start a new game" debacle on PC, which just compounds the frustration.
But it wasn't predatory then, its just 'youre not supposed to be able to fast travel everywhere, it's hard to break out of jail, youre supposed to be comitted to your character despite how hideously awful he is' etc
Single player games offering solutions to problems they create on purposes via microtransactions are by default predatory game design in my opinion. It would be something else if they were offering cosmetics or some such (which I still find somewhat absurd for something that is not a live service game), but that's not the case.
To be clear, It doesn't affect me in the slightest, I can get behind the design philosophies of "the world is dangerous/you are stuck with your choices" and I will be enjoying the game (technical issues permitting), just as I did the first one, but I do understand people's frustration.
You get them all for free by playing the game!
So I finished the game, true ending included. Obviously there's a lot more to discover (didn't get to the sphinx for example), but I'll leave it for a subsequent playthrough (or a ng+). The game is a lot of fun, but I have to say, it almost feels like a detailed remake of the original. Mostly similar story, enemies, systems and mechanics. Now not every game has to be innovative, and with how fun the original was, it still makes for a great game, but it feels like a bit of a missed opportunity.
Last edited by Adramelch; 30-03-2024 at 10:11 AM.
Balatro is addictive.
aye its alreet
https://www.cyberpunk.net/en/news/49...-2077-for-free
Free trial of Cyberpunk on PS5 and Xbox X/S this weekend.
I’ve started playing GTA V from the beginning, having given up on the 360 when I simply couldn’t fly planes.
Firstly, figuring out how to play the “enhanced” Series X version and not the Xbox One version was mind numbingly difficult (Load GTA Online and switch to Story Mode, don’t just load GTA V) so I had to do the first few missions twice. Worth it for loading times and better sound though, I’d say.
Driving with anyone except Franklin with his special ability is so frustrating and will likely be the reason I don’t finish it before the new ones out.
I'm a twit
I dunno, you've probably got 2 years to finish it.
I started Forbidden West on Ultra Hard taking a cue from my Zero Dawn playthrough. I don't have that permashield armor thingy this time around so I expected it to be harder, but boy am I in for a challenge. The good side of things is that it transforms the big bosses into some souls-like fights where you have to time your dodge or you just get oneshot. The downside is that big baddies come with several smal machines with them quite often and you just get swarmed, so run and gun is often my go to.
South Park Snow Day is absolute shit.
I feared it would be. Doesn't surprise me though as the show has been utter wank for years now.
Such a shame as their previous two games were cracking.
Aye, the whole 'kids at play' motif has a lot of legs but this feels like a rejected episode stretched out to four hours. The combat is all it has and even that is horrific. I can't even be arsed to finish it. If you're going to give people AI companions during this 4-player horde mode, at least make them good.
Played a bit of "eFootball 2024" before. First time I've touched what is/was PES since Roy Makaay used to bang them in for me back in the day.
Actually plays a fair bit better than I thought it would. I have zero idea how their version of ultimate team works so I just did offline friendlies. It could well scratch that football itch as there's a lot of bullshit that comes with FIFA/FC these days that I'm not massively fond of. And it's free, so if it doesn't, who cares?
Aye, I just stuck with matches against the AI. It's alright for that, even if you do feel like you're Harlem Globetrotting against the same opponents. I assume they still give you players for the full calendar year, too. Makes it very easy not to spend money on any of it.
Yeah I've no idea what's what with it, but might dig into it a bit deeper. I never put money into Ultimate Team so it might be the game for me.
For now though, the fight for Managed Democracy has me fully invested.
Been playing Dragons Dogma 2. There's a 3.6 DLSS and framegen mod out for PC and I'm now getting anywhere from 90 to 220fps dependent. Glorious.
The game is fucking great. Campy, janky awesome fun.
Bastard cuntfuck of a thing. Ante 12's boss is madness.
Well that's pissed on my trying to get past ante 8 at 300,000 chips.
I’ve installed Dungeon Siege.
I'm a twit
Recruit all the donkeys.
I'll be glad of a mule when I can get one. I've decided to play the Nature Magic role and presumably (been a while) end up as the healer. Just recruited my first person, a bad bitch called Ulora who's got an axe and a leather cap, so she's my first melee warrior, I guess. I don't think I'll bother with an archer, so a Combat Magic person next, ideally.
I'm a twit
Zed
Although I think he might be Nature too.
That’s the thing though, you can make them whatever you want really.
I'm a twit
Yes that early it won't matter, recommend an archer at some point so you can use all the fun goblin guns.
It's crazy to think that Dungeon Siege, Neverwinter Nights and Morrowind all released within 2.5 months.
Can’t afford Zed. Will stick to the free mates cos only having two spell slots means I cba transmuting all unwanted items to gold.
Three of us now. Had our first DEFEAT and lost a fair bit of progress but it was good learning. Now I just spam heals during any big fights.
I'm a twit
The official [232 page] dungeon siege strategy guide turned up this morning. £8 well spent.
I'm a twit
Even putting nostalgia aside, Dungeon Siege is great fun.
I've now got my healer (Baz), the smash-shit-up woman in Ulorya, some useless combat magic man called Gyorn and we've just recruited another melee chap, this one a little dwarf called Gloern. The latter twos names do my head in, but they look different enough (ones got a dwarf face lol) that Gloern can stick around even after we've just saved his brother from the mines.
I've just arrived at a snowy little town called Glacern, where I've two quests to hand in. Who knows where we'll go next?
Ulorya's got a badass green spiky sword that glows.In fact, she all glows cos she's wearing a +armor hat. Definitely the main character, while my sappy little priest just mashes right-click to keep her alive like a right simp.
Oh and we got our first mule, Mabel!
Last edited by Baz; 10-04-2024 at 02:53 PM.
I'm a twit
Just the thought of that beautiful grid based inventory is making me want to re-install.
Advance wars is fantastic.
Advance wars 2 is a load of shit. They totally ruined it with all the missile bollocks.
Being able to play all the characters in 2 is great.
I’ve rescued Merik so he’s been assigned as the healbot and former farm boy Baz can crack on doing some damage with Iceshard, pinched straight out of Merik’s spell book.Even putting nostalgia aside, Dungeon Siege is great fun.
I've now got my healer (Baz), the smash-shit-up woman in Ulorya, some useless combat magic man called Gyorn and we've just recruited another melee chap, this one a little dwarf called Gloern. The latter twos names do my head in, but they look different enough (ones got a dwarf face lol) that Gloern can stick around even after we've just saved his brother from the mines.
I've just arrived at a snowy little town called Glacern, where I've two quests to hand in. Who knows where we'll go next?
Ulorya's got a badass green spiky sword that glows.
Oh and we got our first mule, Mabel!
At least Merik looks the part in his wizard robe. Everyone else is dressed like Kat Slater for some reason. Just hit 19 strength on my bashers Ulora and Gloern so their weapons have had a big upgrade. Should slice through mobs with ease now.
Gyorn is as useless as ever. Really should have left him in Glacern and paid for a man called Lorun to join us but never mind, on we go.
I'm a twit
For anyone looking for a starter handheld emulation machine, the Miyoo Mini+ which is the starter device, has been on sale on AliExpress stores.
You'll have to add VAT on but it still can be delivered to you for less than £45 and can be bought with Paypal/Klarna if needs be.
I fancy one of these since someone I know got something similar absolutely loaded with games even though I'd barely scratch the surface. This one comes recommended?
So when lockdown happened they released the original Miyoo Mini. It was overwhelmingly popular to the point where it was always sold out and new batches would sell out again in minutes. Problem was they couldn't keep up with the demand on the custom screen they were using.
They decided to rectify this and make the +, which is bigger(obviously). They're usually £60-70 direct, or if you want to pay more for less hassle it's £89.99 on Amazon via an upseller. Benefit to the latter is they tend to come set up and with an SD card loaded with thousands of games. You also will be covered more if you're buying on Prime for obvious reasons.
It depends mainly on what kind of games you want to play. You'll notice by price point what they're usually capable of. This one would do PS1 and before. The Mini+ also has a great community lead software upgrade you can do called Onion OS.
Most of the listings on the link I shared seem to be out of stock if you are dead set on one colour, but they also show as coming with a pre-loaded SD card. For £45 on that I think it's worth you taking a look. Maybe watch some YouTube videos of it if you're unsure?
If you find yourself using it a lot and want more, there's some great devices at a higher price point too.
A lot of the other ones I've looked at are too expensive for something I may not get on with but £40ish is tempting me I have to say. Ah fuck it why not.
I’ve been eying up the anbernic ones for a while, but they’re priced a little higher, the Miyoo Mini+ just as good?
Depends what model you were looking at. If it's the RG35XX then it's essentially their take on the same kind of device.
Still looking at PS1 and before.
Ah cool. That's good to know as it's cheaper.
Ordered! I'm so easily led.
I showed the Miyoo Mini+ link to a mate of mine who took the plunge too and his came today. 4 days it took from order to in his hand. He's been bashing through Tekken 2 and then worked his way through Streets of Rage 1 and 2 this evening.
I want to get one ordered myself but my card is about to expire and the new one on it's way to me in the post. It should have been here by now. Can't get it ordered in the meantime.
I would like to say one of these would be a perfect gift for a late primary/early secondary school kid in the family. However I reckon they'd look at most of the games and want to know why it isn't Fortnite.
Mine says it comes with 15000 games but no idea what they are, if Tekken 2 is there though what a start. I'm seeing a lot of people saying to install Onion OS first thing so I'll give that a pop first and then away we go.
My daughter likes the old platform games like Aladdin and Tiny Toons that I've put on the SNES mini while being useless at them so she might like this as well by the sounds of it.
Jedi Survivor has been added to Game Pass for anybody interested in such things.
Excellent game that, lot of fun
They usually just chuck a random collection of games they've got on. It'll likely come with most of your bigger name games from back in the day along with a lot of duplicate or modded ROMs you'll never touch to pump those numbers up.
Definitely have a play with the stock OS before tinkering in case you like it.
I don't know if anyone missed them last time, but AliExpress has another sale on for a fair few of these emulator machines and they're a little lower than they were before.
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