SMB3 does not use its unique tools to build new kinds of puzzles or present alternate paths through a level they just make the challenges a little easier.
This is extraordinarily wrong!
There are secrets that you need specific power ups to get to.
Raccoon/Tanuki are used to fly to secret areas or break blocks with the tail
Fire is used to melt blocks in the ice world
Frog can swim against strong currents
If you start some levels with an invincible star from the map, it will cause some blocks to drop a star instead of a coin, letting you chain invincibility through the whole level
Tanuki and Hammer aren’t necessary for anything in the main game, but they are for some e-reader levels where they can break blocks that can’t be broken normally
Yeah I’ve seen people try to balance things perfectly in factorio, but my strat is always to overproduce and let belts getting backed up balance out the throughput.
That’s funny, I love Slay the Spire, but I have mixed feeling about Balatro.
Balatro is addicting in that once I start playing I don’t want to stop, and yet after playing for a few hours I couldn’t say for sure I had fun at any point the whole time.
Playing Balatro feels like exploring the backrooms to me - just infinite bland nothingness.
Interesting. Optimizing the factory for your immediate current needs sounds very tedious, because those needs change all the time. I instead optimize for expandability and adaptability. The factory game genre isn’t for everyone, but if you are interested in some tips:
My solution is usually something like:
really long line of basic resources (usually a belt of smelted copper and a belt of smelted iron, eventually adding more stuff and adding more belts of iron and copper as supplies are needed)
when I need thing 1, I make a little package that builds it, drawing resources from the line with splitters so the excess can continue down the line
thing 2 is an independent little package farther down the line
When it’s time for thing 3, I build copies of the packages for building thing 1 and thing 2 as necessary to feed the construction of thing 3, again as separate feeds splitting off the main resource line
when it’s time for thing 4, its again independent of the production of things 1-3, except they are splitting off the same main resource belt
If the resources on the main belt are insufficient to feed all of those machines, one of three things needs to happen: 1. Add more raw resource processing until your belt is full and backed up at the beginning 2. If that’s not enough, upgrade the belt 3. If you don’t have a belt upgrade available, build another main resource line and use splitters to rebalance it onto the main line
This construction allows for easy expansion without having to destroy anything. I typically don’t disassemble anything unless it’s actually a problem for some reason or I need the space. This is especially important because you often need some basic components like the level 1 belts even into the late game.
Also, once you unlock robots, you can literally copy-paste, just select an area to upgrade all belts/arms/etc. in, and a lot of other neat tricks that drastically speed things up.
And one last peace of advice: Overproduce everything and let belts backing up balance out the resource distribution. Then if you discover that belts that previously were backed up are now sparse, figure out why and optimize it, usually by adding more production of whatever the missing resource is.
Ultimately throughput is all that matters. Loss of throughput because you don’t need something isn’t wasteful. Loss of throughput because you aren’t producing enough of something is a problem to solve. Things that don’t affect throughput don’t matter and aren’t wasteful.
AYN recently got in touch with me, asking if I’d like to review the AYN Thor in an article, and…naturally I said ‘yes’. I’ve been super excited, seeing that there’s a new boom in DS retro handhelds, hoping that this might mean a viable alternative to the older genuine Nintendo hardware....
This is actually from 2022, but I missed it back in the day. This is quite important research imo, and very relevant lately. Link to the paper itself: www.sciencedirect.com/…/S0747563222001637
I don’t know if you could have chosen a worse example. The sexual ads in cyberpunk are part of the worldbuilding and statement about society and capitalism. They absolutely are necessary to the story.
Silksong is using a 2D hand-animated style, which is not cheap to make, not because of coders but because it requires way more work from artists than other art styles.
I don’t think anyone would have complained if it was $30-$40. They could have sold well at $60 with some people complaining about it and others defending them for the choice.
Is there a alternative to roblox (preferably free) that is just better overall and dosent take advantage of everyone? I want to make games but also be a player… How might i do so and not use roblox? It feels like most clones are dead or close to it but what do you think? What do you suggest and why so?
So i used to play standard minecraft many years ago when i was a kid but then i got very burnt out and havent played it sense. Minecraft has a bigger community/mods than minetest, but minetest is a neat little lua project. How do i decide? what would you suggest?
Honestly $80 price tag on new game is not that bad. The $60 standard has not kept up with inflation.
Everything else though … paying to use the better performance of the new hardware for games like Zelda, paid advertisement demo app, lack of OLED on an HDR console, especially when the previous gen had OLED, same faulty joystick technology, dedicated subscription service ad button on the controller…
Just did a GOG survey that focused on the idea of a paid membership option on GOG. Seems they’re determining what people would be willing to pay extra for. Some of the options were...
I tried playing Harvest Moon on the SNES today and having played Stardew Valley for hours, I thought I'd try and see how tolerable the original Harvest Moon was in comparison. I know and understand it is unfair because there's a 20 year gap between Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley, while also discrediting Harvest Moon's later...
Yeah the controls in the OG Mario Bros (and even the OG Super Mario Bros, to a bit of a lesser extent) are very clunky compared to modern entries. I’d say SMB3 holds up well though.
I Expect you to Die (James Bond themed virtual escape rooms - 3 games in the series so far, all of them are good)
Super Hot (slo-motion first person combat puzzle game)
Beat Saber (a unique rhythm game)
Pavlov (CS:GO but in VR with extensive modding support)
There are other good ones out there but that’s the list that justifies the headset to me.
Also there are some good VR ports of non-VR games out there such as Myst and The Talos Principle. Also there are some good Minecraft mods that add VR support (Java edition of course). Stay away from the Skyrim port though.
I didn’t really understand the benefit of HDR until I got a monitor that actually supports it.
And I don’t mean simply can process the 10-bit color values, I mean has a peak brightness of at least 1000 nits.
That’s how they trick you. They make cheap monitors that can process the HDR signal and so have an “HDR” mode, and your computer will output an HDR signal, but at best it’s not really different from the non-HDR mode because the monitor can’t physically produce a high dynamic range image.
If you actually want to see an HDR difference, you need to get something like a 1000-nit OLED monitor (note that “LED” often just refers to an LCD monitor with an LED backlight). Something like one of these: www.displayninja.com/best-oled-monitor/
These aren’t cheap. I don’t think I’ve seen one for less than maybe $700. That’s how much it costs unfortunately. I wouldn’t trust a monitor that claims to be HDR for $300.
When you display an HDR signal on a non-HDR display, there are basically two ways to go about it: either you scale the peak brightness to fit within the display’s capabilities (resulting in a dark image like in OP’s example), or you let the peak brightness max out at the screen’s maximum (kinda “more correct” but may result in parts of the image looking “washed out”).
Yeesh sounds like your monitors color output is badly calibrated :/. Fixing that requires an OS level calibration tool. I’ve only ever done this on macOS so I’m not sure where it is on Windows or Linux.
Also in general I wouldn’t use the non-hdr to hdr conversion features. Most of them aren’t very good. Also a lot of Linux distros don’t have HDR support (at least the one I’m using doesn’t).
No games that lead to players being pissed at other players, even outside of the confines of the game. I’ve had that happen with, for example, Secret Hitler, so no Secret Hitler....
You’ll never perfectly solve the “no pissing people off” issue because in competitive games you necessarily have people benefit at the expense of others and in cooperative games you’ll fall into the trap of backseat-driver players telling you what to do on your turn.
That being said, here are some of my favorites I’d like to suggest:
Cooperative:
Time Stories (kinda like a time-travel themed mystery-solving role-playing game where the pre-built deck is your DM. 1-4 players. You can buy more decks, each with a different setting and story.).
Pandemic (Stop COVID a deadly disease from killing off the planet. Work together to limit the spread and find the cure before it’s too late) (1-4 players)
Competitive:
The Settlers of Catan (claim resources and land strategically to build the most prosperous kingdom) (2-4 players but there are expansions and spinoffs so this could be like 1-6 players)
7 Wonders (draft cards to build the most prosperous kingdom) (3-8 players IIRC)
In-Between:
Betrayal in the House on the Hill (explore a haunted house until you find a dark secret that turns one of you into a villain the rest have to fight) (3-6 players)
I have one of their older products and I’m happy with it. I’m considering this one.
Comes with Windows 11 but says it supports SteamOS. Should certainly run at least older games well. They say it’s 220x92x28 mm (7.87x3.62x1.1 in) which is a bit chonky for something I’d put it my pocket but not unmanageable.
We’ll just have to see what explanation they give. Did she get herself mutated eventually? Are the potions diluted/weaker? (I remember a quest where Geralt feeds a normal human a small dose of one of his potions.)
Would it be more interesting to have a Ciri that specifically doesn’t have most of the Witcher powers? Maybe, but I can understand them wanting to keep most of the gameplay staples. It looks like they are trying to keep most of Geralt’s moves and then adding some new ones.
Whatever happens, it should be interesting! I think what I’m most excited about is Ciri has a slightly different morality and worldview - I’m excited to see how that ends up affecting the writing.
Of course I’m not taking it for granted it will be good, but I am hopeful.
I’m looking for titles that will run well on my only computer. Which is a 5-year-old 13" convertible laptop attached to a docking station with a 24" 1920x1080 screen. It’s got Intel internal graphics....
One thing I have struggled with lately is finding good games to play. I bounce around from game to game trying to enjoy it but it just doesn’t scratch the itch like it used to. For example, one of my favorites was old school RuneScape, but it hasn’t really been giving me the same enjoyment that it used to. So then I would...
They usually are free to play with predatory monetization mechanics. That was especially back in 2016 when thanks to these games, the mobile gaming revenue outpaced PC and console gaming revenue.
I have an RTX 3060 that I bought about two years ago. Until recently I only had a 1080p 75Hz monitor, so I could play pretty much anything on max settings....
DLSS is extremely noticeable to me at stronger levels. I usually turn it on but keep it set to “quality” instead of “performance”. It’s still slightly noticeable but not that bad at that setting.
I’m interested in something that games and front-ends can implement in order to play online and connect with friends, independent of the actual front-end in use....
I sometimes use VPN software like LogMeInHamachi or Tailscale to play Minecraft multiplayer with friends over the internet.
Basically it makes your computers act as if they are on the same LAN. It should work for playing any game with LAN multiplayer support over the internet.
Gaming Pet Peeves angielski
What are some things that just get under your skin about games?...
Steam Hardware [new Steam Controller, Steam Machine, and VR headset Steam Frame, coming in 2026] (store.steampowered.com) angielski
No prices yet. I may never financially recover from this.
Don't make me choose! angielski
I think I'd have to go with SMW
What's a recent game you've tried playing that isn't worth the hype? angielski
My AYN Thor angielski
AYN recently got in touch with me, asking if I’d like to review the AYN Thor in an article, and…naturally I said ‘yes’. I’ve been super excited, seeing that there’s a new boom in DS retro handhelds, hoping that this might mean a viable alternative to the older genuine Nintendo hardware....
Sexualized video games are not causing harm to male or female players, according to research (www.psypost.org) angielski
This is actually from 2022, but I missed it back in the day. This is quite important research imo, and very relevant lately. Link to the paper itself: www.sciencedirect.com/…/S0747563222001637
Team Cherry winning angielski
Hollow Knight: Silksong is out now on Steam - and it broke Steam servers for 30 minutes and counting now (store.steampowered.com) angielski
Picture of isSteamDown showing that Steam is indeed experiencing issues...
18+ Gen Z Is Cutting Back On Video Game Purchases (www.vice.com) angielski
So are GOG going to relist Devotion? Seeing how they're about freedom to buy games. angielski
Here’s a link to buy Devotion, shop.redcandlegames.com/app/devotion
Is there a alternative platform to roblox for players and gamedevs? angielski
Is there a alternative to roblox (preferably free) that is just better overall and dosent take advantage of everyone? I want to make games but also be a player… How might i do so and not use roblox? It feels like most clones are dead or close to it but what do you think? What do you suggest and why so?
Which of theses games should i play? angielski
So i used to play standard minecraft many years ago when i was a kid but then i got very burnt out and havent played it sense. Minecraft has a bigger community/mods than minetest, but minetest is a neat little lua project. How do i decide? what would you suggest?
The emulator that lets you play NES games in 3D has left early access on Steam (www.pcgamer.com) angielski
The emulator being 3dSen, direct link to Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1147940/3dSen_PC/
POV: You're a kid and just got a brand new Game Boy Advance game from your grandma. How excited are you? angielski
I’ve been trying to read more about this, and it looks like it was being developed and was cancelled before release?...
What's a cancelled game you really miss? angielski
Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube controller is only compatible with GameCube games, Nintendo says (www.videogameschronicle.com) angielski
Nintendo boss Doug Bowser explains the $80 price for ‘Mario Kart World’ - The Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com) angielski
web.archive.org/…/mario-kart-world-price-nintendo…...
My primary use of portable consoles has been lounging around the house. angielski
GOG seems to be considering paid membership option angielski
Just did a GOG survey that focused on the idea of a paid membership option on GOG. Seems they’re determining what people would be willing to pay extra for. Some of the options were...
What are some old games that are hard to revisit, because a more modern and superior version exists? angielski
I tried playing Harvest Moon on the SNES today and having played Stardew Valley for hours, I thought I'd try and see how tolerable the original Harvest Moon was in comparison. I know and understand it is unfair because there's a 20 year gap between Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley, while also discrediting Harvest Moon's later...
Half Life: Alyx is Five Years Old Today angielski
I genuinely can’t believe Half Life Alyx is five years old....
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is as dark as that infamous Game of Thrones episode (www.polygon.com) angielski
What are your favorite board games? I'm looking for games that are satisfying and lead to a sense of accomplishment or fulfillment or connection. angielski
No games that lead to players being pissed at other players, even outside of the confines of the game. I’ve had that happen with, for example, Secret Hitler, so no Secret Hitler....
Nintendo Switch 2 finally officially revealed (venturebeat.com) angielski
A Direct is announced for April 2nd to cover the games.
SteamOS expands beyond Steam Deck (store.steampowered.com) angielski
Helldivers 2 - Omens of Tyranny Update Trailer (www.youtube.com) angielski
The Witcher IV — Cinematic Reveal Trailer | The Game Awards 2024 (www.youtube.com) angielski
What are the best games you can play on a laptop? angielski
I’m looking for titles that will run well on my only computer. Which is a 5-year-old 13" convertible laptop attached to a docking station with a 24" 1920x1080 screen. It’s got Intel internal graphics....
What are some video game quotes that is stuck in your head? angielski
“You Must Construct Additional Pylons”
Embrace the nerddom (lemmy.world) angielski
What are your favorite 1000+ hour games? angielski
One thing I have struggled with lately is finding good games to play. I bounce around from game to game trying to enjoy it but it just doesn’t scratch the itch like it used to. For example, one of my favorites was old school RuneScape, but it hasn’t really been giving me the same enjoyment that it used to. So then I would...
At least it was unique (lemmy.world) angielski
Why are most mobile games trash? (fedia.io) angielski
They usually are free to play with predatory monetization mechanics. That was especially back in 2016 when thanks to these games, the mobile gaming revenue outpaced PC and console gaming revenue.
Upscaling really is black magic
I have an RTX 3060 that I bought about two years ago. Until recently I only had a 1080p 75Hz monitor, so I could play pretty much anything on max settings....
Are there any open protocols for facilitating online gaming?
I’m interested in something that games and front-ends can implement in order to play online and connect with friends, independent of the actual front-end in use....