Shagger

I think games with historical settings should aim for a balance between historical accuracy and creative liberties. Total accuracy might appeal to history buffs but could alienate casual players or limit storytelling opportunities. For example, games like Assassin’s Creed sprinkle in historical facts but take liberties to weave compelling narratives. As long as the core essence of the time period is preserved, creative adjustments can make history feel alive and relatable without making it a dull history lesson.

Yeah, this is AI generated visuals.  There are subtle inconsistences with colour boundaries and shading that just don't look right.  For example, no competent human artist would have so much pink and purple on both the character models (the focus for the eye) and all over the backgrounds.  That happend because the "developers" specified those colours and likely negated to specify thier use or add more colours. Even the game description on Steam reads like a checkbox for an AI filter.  Don't get me wrong, it looks pretty.  Very pretty.  I was especially impressed with the fur effects and animations, but it's also complelty shameless.

Moving this to the "video games" sub-forum as this is not a Playstation exclusive discussion.
 
I'll say this everyone somebody posts a thread like.  Why care?
 
We're not CDPR investors, executives or employees, we're gamers. Honestly, who gives a shit about game sales?  It doesn't make a game better nor worse, it doesn't make a game more or less suited you one's taste, it means nothing.  Why gamers are so obsessed with this I will never understand.

I played the original back in the day.
 
It was a decent arcade racer with impressive graphics for it's time.  The game controlled OK for a game of it's time, but by modern standers it doesn't hold up well.  It was slippery and floaty.  It was also sevely lacking in content with only 6 tracks and I think 8 cars (Well, 16 given there was a manual and automatic of each car).  I also don't recall there being any multiplayer of any kind, which is admitantly difficult on a PC game from 1995.
 
Whare the game excelled was it's soundtrack.  You could select the audio files on the game disk (CD-ROM) to play as the in game music and it sounded fantastic.
 
 
This new game is certainly a very drastic change in style.  The trailer implies a very similar approach to the core gameplay, and arcade style racer with drifting and so on, but it will have to be further developed and improved on.

The more I think about, the stranger the idea of drinking cow's milk actually is.  And I love milk...
 
I mean somebody looked at a tone of smelly animal and decided "Yes, I'll drink out of that" when the idea of drinking human milk, something most of us did as babies, is generally consided a vile idea.  An alien looking at that behaviour would be baffled. 

The whole album, so I'll post the link to the playlist instead.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

You are so right about Star Citizen fans.  They are insane.  $750 million of thier fan's money spent plus an undisclosed sum in loans and investment and all that have to offer to thier fans in an alpha with the most ludicrous DLC options in video game history.  As scams go, NFT's wish they could be Star Citizen.

Welcome to VGR.  If there is anything you want to ask, feel free.

Light of Motiram is an upcoming open-world survival game being developed and published by Polaris Quest, a video game developer and subsidiary of Tencent Games.  And it's this Tencent connection whare I believe the bad press this game's has been getting is rooted from.
 
First, here's a look at the trailer.  And... yeah;
 
 
And yes, everyone is saying the same thing.  However, this is Tencent, the Chinese entertainment giant.  This is how it works.  Everyone knows that what thier doing is stealing somebody else's copyrighted thing, they get sued, Tencent ignores it, then that's the end of the matter. 
 
If I'm understanding this game in terms of it's mechanics and concept, it actually looks like more of a cross between ARK and a creature gathering game like Pokémon or Palworld.  But what comes to light with that is yet another game my better half plays on mobile called Mecha Domination: Rampage, which also has designs very similar to what we see in Light of Motiram;
 
 
Tencent is truly shameless.  It's little wonder so many are so concerned about the sheer scale and influence that this company has been gaining in recent years.  Is this something that we're supposed to just expect going forward?  To the point whare even giants of the industry like Sony aren't safe?

Given the fact that rumple controllers are still a thing nearly 30 years later, it's hard to label this as a gimmick.  I loved the rumble pack, but a stupid feature of the N64 made it impossible to use.  You had to plug the damb thing into the same slot as the memory card, making the rumble pack basically impossible to use.  Frankly, it's a miracle the idea caught on at all.

To describe this in one word, pointless.  Not only has this been available on console since the launch of the PS4 and Xbox One, third party software for this purpose has been available for this purpose on PC for, if anything, even longer.  This feature is actually built into the support software for graphics cards these days.  I know that because I've used it.  That software also has the advantage of being available to use with software not launched through Steam, so why would anybody use this?  I'm not dissing the software not it's features, I'm sure it works fine, but anyone even remotely serious about recording gameplay on PC would be either using a capture card or premium third-party software and that's not likely to change.

What aggravates me about these kind of lawsuits and legal cases whare entertainment media is blamed for somebody's heinous actions in real life is the complete and utter failure it represents to address the real, root causes of such incidents.  People are doomed to die in future incidents as a result. 
 
Whilst America's well documented issue with gun culture is certainly a factor, so I do think weapon manufactures have to held accountable, it is obviously nonsense to suggest any entertainment media, whether it's a video game, movie, music, or book, is any way responsible for the real life actions of a person.  Human beings have sentience, the power to imagine and fantasize, it's inherent in all of us.  We also have the ability to recognizes the difference between fantasy and reality as a part of that sentience.  If a person does not have the ability to recognise the difference between reality and fantasy, then there is a problem with that person's mind. They are mentally ill.  It has nothing to do with with a video game.

Why are you being so positive about something so clearly awful?
First, who in thier right mind would suggest that dialogue written by a bot would "more character" than dialogue written by an actual human being? Go spend some time over on Joyfreak's forum, you'll quickly learn how much "character" bot's really have.
 
Then there's tech demo you were so impressed by. The only reason Inworld Origins has a mostly positive review score is down to people making fun of how hysterically stupid the AI actually was. The joy in it was the unintentional hilarity, not because it was in any way impressive. Nor is the game's player stat's and downloads, especially for a free game (Screenshot taken from Inworld Origin's SteamDB page😞
 

 
So you see, some people downloaded it for a laugh, but the vast majority didn't download it at all, and I think I know why. And no, it's not lack of exposure. I mean that very video you embedded was from penguinz0, a channel with 14 million subs and has over 1 million view alone. It's done so poorly because it sets a terrible precedent.
 
We don't want AI to replace actual voice actors and writers for several reasons. AI is still a long way off from even being capable of that at the level of quality we would expect for games anyway. However, even if AI could I'm actually a little horrified that you would see companies replacing writers and voice actors is a good idea! What about people's livelihoods? What about integrity of creative media? This is like Bobby Kotick's wet dream, selling a game without even paying people to make it. And you would actually support that?
 
I know video games are not an entirely creative endeavour. I've even said so myself on this forum that I do not consider video games to be a forum of art. There is logic, rules, structure, engineering and yes, whether we like it or not, intended markets and demographics that all come into play when a game is designed, but that doesn't make the idea of AI replacing the people who do put thier idea's and creativity into these games a welcome prospect. It would be technically impressive if they pulled it off, but it would also be wrong. It can't really be considered a creative element without that human element.
 
I'm not 100% against AI. I think it is interesting to see it being experimented with, even in creative media. I enjoy the AI band The Frostbite Orckings, for example. Even though thier music is AI generated, the entire idea and concept was the creative endeavour of an actual human being, and I'm OK with that. And truthfully, I don't actually mind Inworld Origins in concept either as that is clearly an experiment as much as it is anything else. Using AI instead of the creative mind of an actual human being to develop something that should be created with passion and care for a reason as soulless as saving money, that's a step too far. And that is, whether you are aware of it or not, what your trying sell as good thing here.

Just be glad you're not burdened with Cricket.  That sport makes baseball look like a rock concert.  Not only is it pompous and formal compared to baseball, it's way more tedious and slow paced.  Cautious, defencive play is a huge part of the game, making an already boring game even more boring. In test cricket, it takes 5 days to play one game and it usually ends in a fucking draw!
 
 
Motorsport is pretty much the only sport that holds my interest.  I enjoy the technical and tactical side to it as much as I do action on-track, that's I can watch things like Formula 1 even when it does get tedious without getting bored. However, NASCAR is whare I draw the line. I admire the drivers as I know those cars are not easy to drive and they are being driven at incredible speeds, way faster than F1 cars, but there is a lack of sophistication and variety to the spectacle that just does not appeal to me.  At least Indicar hold races on both ovals and racetracks, so there's some varaity.  

Right now, people can edit thier own posts for 10 minutes after originally posting it. I would personally say that is sufficient for the vast majority of posts that are made on this forum. What people really should do it proof read thier posts  before sending them to give you all the time you might need to look for and correct errors. I understand what you're saying, especially with regard to longer posts. I also must confess I'm as bad anyone for only finding mistakes after I've posted something, but in the end what I should have done was look harder for those errors before posting it, and that's a responsibility everyone has.
 
If we extended that limit (especially to the kind of lengths you desire like above 15 minutes), we would invite abuse to the system like somebody changing thier statement to better argue against a point that was made after thier original post. It's much a better habit to have a good look through your post before sending it, and a shorter edit window I believe helps encourage that behaviour.
 
If it were to change, I maybe would be happy with it at 15 munities as opposed to 10, but anything longer than that and it it could cause more problems than it solves and it wouldn't solve this problem described in this thread as the so called "post farmers" don't care enough about thier posts to re-read and correct them. Not in a 10 minute long edit window, not in a hour long edit window, it would change nothing.

You will find few people who are a bigger fan of these games than me, but even I have to agree.  It would be nice to see the dialoge scenes in the original redone to be more like HFW and possibly some of the gameplay changes as well, like the mele combat, but overall I just don't think it's necessary.  It's too soon and the world does not need this.

There are a few things to consider and it's important to get these parameters before we get started 
 
1. Performance Requirments/Specifications
Asking precisely what you want this PC to be able to do may seem like an obvious question, but it's important to think this through.  For example, if you want to run new games in 4K for the foreseable future, you'll need a more powerful and expensive machine that one that with lesser ambitions, like 1080p or 2K gaming.  Do you want a multi-monitor set up?  It's also important to consider if you want the computer to function as a multimedia system or as a utility for video editing, audio production, streaming, recording and so on.  Have a good thing about what exactly you want.
 
2. Whare are you Planning to put it?
I know it sounds stupid, but specifications and parts lists can vary greatly depending on where you plan to place your PC.  for example, if you plan to use it as a living room PC you might not need monitors, but will likely need Bluetooth and WiFi compatibility, whilst a more traditional desktop might not.
 
3. Budget
And don't just think about the actual PC itself either.  You may need monitors, periferals, accessories, a desk, chair and so on.  These cost money too and can be a significant chunk of your budget, but are very easy to forget.  Obviously you want a PC that's suitable for your specific requirements and that's as future proof and capable as possible within your budget.
 
4. Aesthetics
Do you have any aesthetic requirements? I know this sounds trivial, but one of the advantages of building a PC is that you can have components match to a colour scheme to suit one's personal tastes and/or match the room one plans to use it in. It's unlikely to alter the cost and can make a PC really feel like it's yours.
Have a think about this and get back to this thread when you're ready.

Hey everyone? Just to make you aware that I am now back and starting to become an active member of the VGR community. For those that don’t know me, my name is Alex and I’m from the UK.

Before I get started:
 
This review will be spoiler free, but I will open the discussion below to spoilers, you have been warned. @The Blackangel I can't say for sure, but I think is is possible that some of the images in this show, trailer and contained in this review might be triggering for you. I'd have somebody take a look at the media in this post before you read just to be sure.  
A television series published by Amazon based of the Fallout series on video games released April 11nth viewable on Amazon Prime Video. Me and my better half binged the series yesterday and I decided to share my thoughts.
 
See the trailer below.
 
 
I've been a fan of the games since Fallout 3 and whilst games vary in strength from a storytelling perspective, it was always going to be a challenge to tell a story in this universe from the more uninvolved perspective one has merely watching said story as apposed to role playing it. A very different challenge as, say, the Last of US TV series on HBO because even though one controlled Joel in the The Last of Us video game, the story was was still told from an observers perspective. Adapting a video game whare the player has full control over what a character says, whare they go and what they do right down to the base morals was never going to be easy.  Maybe impossible to do in a way that pleases everyone.
 
However, I've got to give Amazon, MGM Studios and Kitler films thier props because I think they absolutely nailed it!
 
First, the story. Shades of Fallout 3 with the naïve, but courageous Lucy Maclain (Ella Purnell) as she leaves the sanctuary of a nuclear survivor's shelter called Vault 33 to search for her father, the Vault's overseer, kidnapped by a mysterious raider named Moldaver (Sarita Cloudhury). Meanwhile, a defected Enclave Scientist is pursued by a pre-war actor named Cooper Howard turned bounty hunter now known as "The Ghoul" (Walton Goggins) and an opportunistic Brotherhood of Steel Squire named Maximus (Aaron Moten).  This is a complex, yet deeply compelling story with a great drive, great energy, great pacing with lots of unexpected twists and turns. As the viewer, you are always kept guessing as the full story behind not just the motivations of our characters, but the origins of the great war itself unravel.  The show pulled no punches with the violence and with a surprising amount of superb comedy thrown in for free along with all the drama.  I absolutely loved it.
 
The aesthetics are absolutely nailed.  This looks exactly as fans of the show would hope with authentic looking costumes and sets. The pre-war and Vault settings in particular I liked, especially the pre-war cars, many of which actually appeared to be fully functional, a nice touch.  What creative liberties were taken, they were smart about. Nothing felt out of place. The effects, both practical and CGI were also really good.
 
However, one thing I wasn't so sure about was Walton Goggins make up as "The Ghoul". Compared to the other ghouls in the series and, indeed, the games, he skin looked a little to "complete" in the sense that it didn't really look like it was hanging off like it should with a very monotone look to the colour.  He looked less like a ghoul and more like a burn victim with a spray-on tan. Here's a side-by-side of Walton Goggins as "The Ghoul" and a Ghoul from Fallout 3 and I just think that the Ghoul from Fallout 3 looks better with a varied colour pallet and more varied textures going on. 
 

 
The characters themselves are well fleshed out and very well performed by all the cast, no complaints here. Whether you agree with thier motivations and goals or not, you are always given a chance to relate to them and understand them.  The show never gets bogged down with exposition, we learn about these characters through the story in a vey easy to digest yet exiting way.  This doesn't mean I like all the characters though, more specifically Maximus. The guy was traitorous, selfish, stupid and incompetent. That would have bene fine if it weren't for two serious issues:
 
I didn't feel like this character really learned or grew much at all through the story.  He was pretty much the same self-centred glory hound at the end that was at the start. The show tried a little too hard to make one empathise with him, even when he was at his worst, and that was annoying.  
Still, Maximus aside, these characters really grew on me.  I loved Lucy for her sincere compassion as well as her courage and admire the way she refused to let this harsh, merciless world re-shape her principles.  A clever contrast to The Ghoul/Cooper who left me wanting more of the heart that has clearly been buried and hardened by decades of life in this world and the tragedies' in his life. And even without that, he would still be ruthlessly fucking cool. And I must say, I want The Ghoul's Gun modded into Fallout 4 immediately.
 
 The only other thing I didn't like was Amazon and thier stupid video player. Not only did it glitch out frequently blackening the screen in whole or in part several times while watched, we still had to put up with ads even though we pay for Amazon Prime. Sorry, but that's not good enough. I'd actually feel inclined to download this show if I wanted to rewatch it to avoid this nonsense.
 
But that's nothing against the show itself. It was entertaining, compelling, respected the source material and was well produced. I am even temped to say this was better than HBO's The Last of Us as an adaptation, and that is saying something. A much watch for both fans and newcomers alike.
 
9/10

I do t know what is going on, but I'm getting concerned at some of the recent topics popping up, especially on the Mobile Games sub-forum.  Why are people being so happy-go-lucky describing some of the worst things in gaming.  Take this, for example:
 
 
That's Pay-to-Win! Literally the worst and most universally and justifiably hated example of in-app purchases there is!  And you're describing it like free ice cream!  So what is going on here?

Some well established communication apps like Discord, WhatsApp and social media might be useful for this.  DialMyCalks looks pretty good as well, but people might be less inclined to use a more obscure app.

Today I accomplished something I thought I never would.  Something that's been tormenting me for over 20 years.
 
I dodged more than 200 lightning strikes in a row on FFX:
 

 

 
If you don't know anything about this, then I will go back 25 years in time and take up residence inside your head, all safe and warm never to know anything about it either.
 
But if you NEED the context, here it is.  There are a selection of ultimate weapons called Celestial Weapons, one for each character.  Obtaining these weapons and charging them up to thier full potential require completing a variety of challenging side missions and mini games.  Some of these challenges are fairly straight forward, but take a lot of time and grind.  Others in theory should not take that long, but are so nightmarishly hard that the developers responsible have a place reserved in hell.
 
This, what they call "The Lightning Dance" challenge, is one of the very worst. There is an area called "The Thunder Plains" whare lightning can strike the character. It does not harm the party or anything, it's just an indigenous feature of this region.  Is possible to dodge these lightning strikes by hitting the right button when you see a "flash" on the screen.  The thing is, the time between the "flash" and the lightning strike is right on the limit of a human being's reaction time.  I'm not exaduating when I say it's barely possible to dodge just one of them.
 
Yet for this challenge, you are expected to dodge 200 of them in a row.  No saves, no leaving the area, no nothing.  Get hit, and start all over again.
 
For years this has tormented me, but I've got there with, if I may say so, a pretty impressive 309.  Fantastic.  Now I never need to do this again in my life ever.
 
Next, and last, is trying to get a time of 0.00 seconds in the Chocobo Race.  God help me...

To be fair, I've never known of a forum that would do account deletion.  It's bad for forum security and post preservation.  We don't do it on VGR either and there are people who have asked.

I do t know what is going on, but I'm getting concerned at some of the recent topics popping up, especially on the Mobile Games sub-forum.  Why are people being so happy-go-lucky describing some of the worst things in gaming.  Take this, for example:
 
 
That's Pay-to-Win! Literally the worst and most universally and justifiably hated example of in-app purchases there is!  And you're describing it like free ice cream!  So what is going on here?

Yes, members can edit thier own posts on VGR, but only within 10 minutes of posting them.  This has been a long standing policy and it is there for security and to maintain post consistency.  Being able to infinitely edit posts does open up the chance for people to abuse the system to retroactively add bad links and spam as well as "alter" arguments they have made when debating with others and unfairly affect the integrity of others posts.  The 10 minute limit has been discussed before and we're certainly open to the idea of extending it if a compelling argument can be made.  
 
Even if you're already past that 10 minute window, if you report your post to the mod team and explain why you want you post edited, we would consider that request so long as there is a good reason.