MentalEdge

MentalEdge, 14 godzin temu

It’s going to require a crowdstrike type fuckup, exploit, or privacy scandal on a widely used AC like EAC before public opinion changes on this.

So many games are making the trade-off and it only makes sense because players don’t understand what they are giving in to.

MentalEdge, 2 godziny temu

Yeah, but it didn’t affect gamers. People don’t care until something either does affect them, or in a VERY in your face kind of way, could.

Crowdstrike, unfortunately, is a funny “lol the corporates fucked their own shit up” case and the average gamer simply won’t connect the dots.

MentalEdge, 2 dni temu

Dunno. But it seems like its bulletproofing has been accurately translated into the game.

MentalEdge, 2 dni temu

bingo

MentalEdge, 4 dni temu

I’m thinking of replaying the first Watch Dogs.

There’s a mod that implements a massive amount of cut content, to the point it’s almost a different game.

MentalEdge, 4 dni temu (edited 4 dni temu)

2 and 3 feel like saints row knock-offs for 12-year-olds.

The first game was… Genuinely different in a lot of ways.

The mod is called Living City and adds so much, it might almost be the real Watch Dogs 2 we never got. What the series could have been had it not gone off the rails.

15 minute video that showcases the many, many things the mod adds to the game.

MentalEdge, 8 dni temu

Was confused for a second there, the title doesn’t specify that the article is about Infinite, so for a minute I thought we were discussing the first game, or the franchise in general.

The first game obviously has a lot to say where rampant freedom is concerned. You might consider it anti-capitalist, but really it’s anti-anarchy, if anything.

I always found the games to be more potent as a starting point for tackling the bad shit a lot of humans will try to pull given power, but Rapture was twice the setting that Colombia was in that regard.

Rapture pulled me into Bioshock.

But Colombia didn’t pull me into Infinite. Booker and Elizabeth did.

As a cleverly written and somewhat complex personal story, Infinite shines. It’s got compelling characters that make you care, and then it puts those characters through the wringer in their search for contentment.

I cared a whole lot about where Elizabeth and Booker would end up, but I can’t say I ever spared Colombia at large a second thought.

MentalEdge, 8 dni temu

And the “twins”. They were fun to run into every time.

Even Comstock, despite barely appearing, was a good villain in the way that he was used to flesh out Booker and the multi-universe plot.

So not really a villain at all, but a clever detail in Bookers detailed personal journey.

Infinite had tons and tons of detail and depth when it came to the characters. The audio logs in the earlier games all fleshed out Rapture.

In Infinite, they flesh out the characters and their lives.

MentalEdge, 17 dni temu

I just want arenas back…

Not that I’ve ever spent, or ever will spend, on Apex.

MentalEdge, 21 dni temu

Yeah that was a bug.

MentalEdge, 21 dni temu

Not gonna happen. Not really.

So far research suggests the guardrail and hallucination problems are unsolvable, and we are seeing diminishing returns from increasing the complexity of these systems.

Hence devs will never have the necessary control required to author an actual narrative. NPCs will end up talking about mechanics that don’t exist, or saying things that contradict an overrall narrative.

Even with actual people, if you just throw them in a room and have the improv a world into existence, it never ends up quite as good as a properly authored narrative.

And LLMs are nowhere near achieving the level of internal consistency required for something like the worlds of Elden Ring or Mass Effect.

Baldur’s Gate 3 contains truly staggering amounts of writing, multiple times that of classical literary works. The hallucination problem means that if all that were AI generated, small parts of it might pass inspection, but trying to immerse yourself in it as a fictional world would have you noticing immersion breaking continuity errors left and right.

MentalEdge, 24 dni temu

I’m not sure whether you’re kidding, but I wouldn’t complain either.

Five and six are not good games, but played in co-op, slightly drunk, they are a riot of cringe, ridiculousness and camp.

We laughed our asses off in the Ada story sections where the second player constantly pops into existence as a faceless “agent” because Ada doesn’t normally have a companion, but they had to make her sections somehow playable in co-op.

The games are top tier material to laugh at.

MentalEdge, 25 dni temu

2016

MentalEdge, 25 dni temu (edited 25 dni temu)

They key for gyro aiming on a console where the screen is attached, is to get the movement to be as one to one as possible, to make it work as if the screen is a portal into the game world that turns in a matching direction as you move the device.

I had this revelation back with the PS Vita, where Killzone Mercenaries worked this way by default. It was magical for an FPS game to play that well on the tiny vita with its miniature analogue sticks.

The joystick camera input and gyro also worked in concert, I’m fairly certain the game hybridized the input signals such that if you moved the device to correct your aim, that would override any current input signal from the stick, making it possible to correct overshoot and undershoot in a way that almost felt like the console was reading your mind.

I’ve not been able to get that with steam input, but you can get close.

MentalEdge, miesiąc temu

Indeed. Looks like Muse Dash on steroids.

MentalEdge, miesiąc temu

Oh cool! It’s like four-lane Muse Dash?

I’m really keen on playing a rhythm game with this level of presentation. Hi-Fi Rush left me thirsting for more rhythm games that have more character and impeccable style.

MentalEdge, miesiąc temu

The title suggests that there are files for an actual expansion, half-finished and unpublished.

When really it’s just some concept art and initial design sketches.

“Unrealized plans for Cyberpunk ‘Moon’ expansion appear online” would be more accurate.

The chose title is technically accurate, but also pretty clearly chosen to make this out to be more than it is.

MentalEdge, miesiąc temu

Those are still what I would consider “sketches”. Just not the two-dimensional kind.

There are a couple more detailed assets, but tubes and boxes laying out locations, interiors and buildings is something you do when still exploring ideas and don’t want to lock anything down.

The written material suggests the writers got the furthest into it. But this is very much planning, not production.

MentalEdge, miesiąc temu

A-fucking-gain?

Did the shitstorm that happened last time teach Bethesda nothing?

What am I saying, no, of course it didn’t.

MentalEdge, miesiąc temu

There has always been ways to make stupid money in the game.

My favorite has been to cozy up to a local faction so I can get assassination assignments that pay the big bucks, and void opal mining was still super lucrative last I checked.

Bounty hunting is a bit slow, but taking on a a mercenary contract with a faction to fight for them in conflict zones pays well IIRC.

The real grind is engineering your ships and weapons, though that was also improved significantly by making it so re-rolling your mods can only make them better, never worse.

MentalEdge, 2 miesiące temu (edited 2 miesiące temu)

Please get rid of the looney toons sound effects.

Completely ruined Eternal for me.

Edit: Do people actually like them that much? They make me feel like bugs bunny, not the doomslayer.

I don’t care if others enjoy the game, that’s fine. But Eternal is unplayable for me because of that tiny tonal shift that has me cringing to death every time I get a headshot or a glory kill, and I wish it weren’t.

MentalEdge, 2 miesiące temu

Ah yes.

The game that just straight up gives you a giant handgun if you simply ask.

MentalEdge, 2 miesiące temu

Oggdo Boggdo flashbacks.

MentalEdge, 2 miesiące temu

“For the love of all things holy, it’s just a pink poncho, please leave me alone.”

MentalEdge, 2 miesiące temu

Fuck yeah

MentalEdge, 2 miesiące temu

I had a nightmare situation a few years back with a ZenFone 6.

It bricked itself within a week, and after I sent it in I got months of radio silence, until I started calling them about it. They had no clue what the status of my repair was, there were a ton of orders for part after part, and it just kept going.

Eventually I just started pressuring anyone I could with “I need a new phone, this old one is falling apart, I can’t just keep using it for months on end as you figure your shit out” and they eventually relented, instead just giving me an entire new unit.

Last year I bought an Asus monitor with clearly advertised “on-site-warranty” (which means a courier comes to your house and just drops off a replacement in exchange for picking up the old one), it was DOA.

I thought great, “on-site-swap” should have this sorted by tomorrow. I started the RMA and the first thing they want me to do is ship my monitor to Germany at my expense. I said “fuck no”, and instead returned it to the retailer as I was still within the return window, and then just walked into another retailer with more in stock, to pick up another, which then worked.

Then, months later, some dude calls me and asks when I’ll be home for my on-site warranty swap, straight up dropping my jaw to the floor. I know I cancelled my RMA.

Lo and behold, the RMA case-number wasn’t even the same, so for some reason Asus decided, on their own, to open another RMA, WITHOUT TALKING TO ME for a monitor I TOLD THEM I WOULD BE RETURNING. Maybe someone tried to fix the fuck-up of not honouring the on-site warranty, but holy fuck if that took two months, thank god I took it into my own hands and got it fixed within 24 hours.

MentalEdge, 2 miesiące temu (edited 2 miesiące temu)

Except Arrowhead isn’t some sony-owned subsidiary studio, whose every statement is little more than puppetry.

They are an independently owned company, in a publishing deal with Sony.

By sabotaging the product like this, Sony is straight up stabbing them in the back as a business partner.

Sony can survive botching a game. Arrowhead might not. They’re being polite, but if I was at Arrowhead, I would be fucking livid with Sony right now.

Their supposed sponsor, a rich entity with more than enough capital, is literally trying to risk their lunch because it wants even more.

MentalEdge, 2 miesiące temu (edited 2 miesiące temu)

The problem was never the PSN requirement, it was dropping it on people months after launch. No one would be pissed if it had been enforced from day one.

They don’t want out, they want sony to wise the fuck up and get with the program.

All I’m saying is, this isn’t some planned-in-advance good cop bad cop routine.

Agreeing to terms isn’t the same as watching your business partner mismanage the customer base to the point your lunch goes up in flames.

Sony is the publisher. Launching the game in countries that don’t even have PSN is 100% on them. Sony is taking action that makes no fucking sense in context, no matter what Arrowhead agreed to.

MentalEdge, 2 miesiące temu

That’s all well and good, but then you take issue with the companies involved for completely different, industry spanning, reasons.

That’s not a retort to what I was saying.

MentalEdge, 2 miesiące temu (edited 2 miesiące temu)

Your approach to discussion is similar to that of a wrecking ball.

Next time, just add a single sentence along the lines of “still glad seeing everyone involved anti-consumer bullshit crash and burn”.

That’s still a valid take. But you’re not gonna see the improvement in the industry we all want realized without caring about the nuances, or acknowledging how and when most people actually care.

MentalEdge, 2 miesiące temu

I know. But that doesn’t matter much in the face of how it actually got handled and the community reaction it led to.

MentalEdge, 2 miesiące temu

Signalis.

It’s good. Very good.

MentalEdge, 2 miesiące temu

I’ve kinda ruined scary games for myself.

I’ve been leaving my guns in the stash because so far, kiting around enemies is just more efficient, and it frees up inventory space.

Last time I properly shat my pants was the giant baby in REVillage… The dollhouse was pretty cool, too.

I’m just loving the crap out of the atmosphere, art, mystery and lore in Signalis.

MentalEdge, 2 miesiące temu

People go back to playing old games.

M$: wait no

MentalEdge, 2 miesiące temu

Fuck this. I would have been STOKED to see another game by Tango.

MentalEdge, 2 miesiące temu (edited 2 miesiące temu)

It’s a hoard shooter. Most of the time.

The main gameplay loop is as follows.

fly to planet > choose operation > select mission > “helldive” down to the surface to complete an objective (evacuate civilians, launch ICBM, eradicate swarm, etc) > complete optional objectives and gather resources > call down a shuttle and extract back to your ship > spend resources on upgrading gear and your ship > repeat

The ship provides “stratagems”, basically various forms of orbital support. You can call down mechs, orbital bombardments, automated weapon emplacements, etc.

The enemy’s designs are very varied, it’s possible to sneak around them and the gameplay down on planet surfaces is generally just very diverse compared to other hoard shooters. Mission types are many, guns, stratagems and gear are many.

There is also a macro game, where all completed operations contribute to the war effort as a whole. All players are fighting the same galactic war, though each mission is always a four player max instance. Playing on a certain planet will contribute to its occupation/defense/invasion, and what planets the community spends their time on, determines where ground is gained or lost.

MentalEdge, 2 miesiące temu

Well if you link it, you will “gain the right to appeal a ban”.

(This is not a joke it’s in the actual announcement from sony)

MentalEdge, 2 miesiące temu

Valve doesn’t need to make games anymore. Their corporate structure allows for it, but relies on people at the company wanting to work on it.

But if they don’t, it’s not really a problem. The company is doing fine.

I think they just lost interest. They got back to it with Alyx because VR was exciting and new territory to explore.

MentalEdge, 2 miesiące temu

I agree so much. Compared to the highs and lows of a good game, TV series and movies feel like background noise at times.

MentalEdge, 3 miesiące temu

Because if good games from a decade ago are freely available, they can’t shove a new overexploiting live service game down our throats when it pales in comparison to the entertainment that’s available for free.

They can only sell less for more, by taking the previous option off the table.

MentalEdge, 3 miesiące temu

https://sopuli.xyz/pictrs/image/1f55fc19-e956-40fc-b5b3-88ebbb8c7302.webp

MentalEdge, 3 miesiące temu

Opening the pause menu will cause the traveler to immediately sit down, according to my sister who played the game religiously for a while, this is the equivalent to “BRB” among people who play a lot.

Each secret you find will add embroidery to the clothing of the traveller, meaning players can tell which one should likely be showing the other around, as well whether someone is a first-timer.

Sticking together is also not that important. The game will match you with a new player if you get separated.

People who play it more than once typically do it to show new players around, that’s where the value of repeat playthroughs comes from.

MentalEdge, 3 miesiące temu (edited 3 miesiące temu)

I am so fucking jealous you’ve heard the ost live.

An orchestral performance cannot be captured by any kind of recording in a way that does it justice.

MentalEdge, 3 miesiące temu

You’re right, I recalled the pattern being more complex and showing the progress towards the white robe, but I’m misremembering. The patter simply show how many times someone has completed the game, up to three times.

MentalEdge, 3 miesiące temu (edited 3 miesiące temu)

That’s the version people actually play, and which has the furthest developed systems to do bigger stuff. Look up PaperMC, it enables some wild stuff for Minecraft multiplayer.

The server options available for multiplayer in Bedrock are truly pathetic in comparison.

MentalEdge, 3 miesiące temu

No shit.

It was way too early back when you did go on a studio buying spree, too, so maybe just stick to funding the studios you do have.