Recently I've been having a crack to Borderlands 2.
I got talked into playing this through some friends of mine - that and seeing it (along with some DLC) on a Steam sale for 97% off. This game has a sizable fanbase behind it so there has to be something going for it, right?
So far, this gaming is proving to be a lot of fun. I have only previously played Borderlands 1 on one occasion but here I've been able to put a lot more time into it. Time that has revealed to show intense action and wicked sense of humor. And being irate at Claptrap.
Needless to say, I will be persuing this one more in future....
Sometimes, a passionate fanbase can make sense.
Friday, July 19, 2019
Friday, July 12, 2019
You might know of the original sin
Following last week's attempt at Divinity Original Sin 2, my gaming buds and myself decided to take another shot.
This time was better as we all had a better idea as to what we were doing. There had been attempts to learn about this game in-between times and we had a better of how the game worked. We also stuck together in a group so we got the cooperation part down pat. We also choose the Story mode in order to make things less difficult.
But in the end it all went downhill. Someone decided to pick a fight with the wrong person and we got flattened. We didn't even reach the point where we last got flattened!
I have had heard rumors that this game was tough and presents not so much a leaning curve as a learning right angle. I don't think so: Every time I've played this game it's proven to be learning experience. I can't speak for my gaming buds but this is one game I'm not going to give up on any time soon...
This time was better as we all had a better idea as to what we were doing. There had been attempts to learn about this game in-between times and we had a better of how the game worked. We also stuck together in a group so we got the cooperation part down pat. We also choose the Story mode in order to make things less difficult.
But in the end it all went downhill. Someone decided to pick a fight with the wrong person and we got flattened. We didn't even reach the point where we last got flattened!
I have had heard rumors that this game was tough and presents not so much a leaning curve as a learning right angle. I don't think so: Every time I've played this game it's proven to be learning experience. I can't speak for my gaming buds but this is one game I'm not going to give up on any time soon...
Wednesday, July 10, 2019
Out of the Race
Yeah we all know this: The moment when the PlayStation suddenly became a big deal and Sony affirmed their presence in the console race.
Who would've guessed that such a short speech would've become such a pivotal moment in gaming history?
What i want to know however, whatever happened to Steve Race? For a guy beyond such a pivotal moment in gaming - that is still talked about even now - he seems to vanished off the face of the earth.
Well according to my research, he appears to have left Sony following the successful launch (perhaps unsurprisingly) and gone and done his own thing. I will not begrudge him for it but it's fascinating to me that a guy makes such an effective pitch - one that has astonishing repercussions - and then disappears quietly into the night.
From a distance of twenty-plus years, it would be fascinating to hear his story - especially considering that this was the moment that effectively crushed Sega like a fly - but it is unlikely he would divulge such business-minded matters. But, of course, that only adds to the mystique.
But I for one would like to hear his story before it is lost in the ravages of time.
One can imagine it would be fascinating one....
Who would've guessed that such a short speech would've become such a pivotal moment in gaming history?
Original video located here. Accessed 10th July 2019
What i want to know however, whatever happened to Steve Race? For a guy beyond such a pivotal moment in gaming - that is still talked about even now - he seems to vanished off the face of the earth.
Well according to my research, he appears to have left Sony following the successful launch (perhaps unsurprisingly) and gone and done his own thing. I will not begrudge him for it but it's fascinating to me that a guy makes such an effective pitch - one that has astonishing repercussions - and then disappears quietly into the night.
From a distance of twenty-plus years, it would be fascinating to hear his story - especially considering that this was the moment that effectively crushed Sega like a fly - but it is unlikely he would divulge such business-minded matters. But, of course, that only adds to the mystique.
But I for one would like to hear his story before it is lost in the ravages of time.
One can imagine it would be fascinating one....
Monday, July 8, 2019
Pie-Station
When I got my Retropie, it came with a mammoth selection of games - to a point where one would think that every game released on the Megadrive/Genesis, SNES, NES, and Gameboy was thrust onto a microSD card.
Conversely the no. of games for the N64 and the PS1 are about....ten each.
To me this represents something I've often felt in recent years: The legacy of the PS1.
As mentioned above, there is no shortage of games on the systems of the previous generation(s). Looking at such a library for my Retropie, there will be little to no effort required to pick out a classic. Sure one may find some shlock but what does it matter when there are plenty of games that have managed to withstand the test of time.
But the PS1?
On my Retropie I have added to the PS1 library but that was with games I already own. But even then it library looks kinda sparse. I know the PS1 had a huge library but whereas the above-mentioend consoles also had huge libraries, the question arises: How many games on the PS1 were actually..well.... good?
If you have a huge gaming library then what exactly is the ratio of great games to stuff that has been forgotten?
A quick glance at the wikipedia page of the PS1 has the proclamation that the console has a game library of well over 7000 titles. That is an impressive number to be sure but, again, just how many of those games are actual game-changers (so to speak)? And more importantly, how many of those games have withstood the remorseless ravager that is time?
The PS1 games that came with my Retropie are as follows:
Conversely, the PS1 games that I added to my Retropie are as follows:
Needless to say, whereas the PS2 has gone down in history as a monumental hit (highest selling console ever), as the years go by the PS1 is looking more like a fluke...
Conversely the no. of games for the N64 and the PS1 are about....ten each.
To me this represents something I've often felt in recent years: The legacy of the PS1.
As mentioned above, there is no shortage of games on the systems of the previous generation(s). Looking at such a library for my Retropie, there will be little to no effort required to pick out a classic. Sure one may find some shlock but what does it matter when there are plenty of games that have managed to withstand the test of time.
But the PS1?
On my Retropie I have added to the PS1 library but that was with games I already own. But even then it library looks kinda sparse. I know the PS1 had a huge library but whereas the above-mentioend consoles also had huge libraries, the question arises: How many games on the PS1 were actually..well.... good?
If you have a huge gaming library then what exactly is the ratio of great games to stuff that has been forgotten?
A quick glance at the wikipedia page of the PS1 has the proclamation that the console has a game library of well over 7000 titles. That is an impressive number to be sure but, again, just how many of those games are actual game-changers (so to speak)? And more importantly, how many of those games have withstood the remorseless ravager that is time?
The PS1 games that came with my Retropie are as follows:
- Colin McRae Rally 2.0
- Crash Bandicoot
- Destruction Debry
- Dino Crisis 2
- Gran Turismo
- Grand Theft Auto
- Mortal Kombat Trilogy
- Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee
- R-Type Delta
- The Raiden Project
- Resident Evil 1
- Resident Evil 3
- Ridge Racer
- Street Fighter Alpha 3
- Tekken 3
- Tomb Raider
- Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
- Twisted Metal 2
- Wipeout 3
Conversely, the PS1 games that I added to my Retropie are as follows:
- Final Fantasy Tactics
- Ghost in the Shell
- Loaded
- Metal Gear Solid
- Return Fire
- Space Hulk: Vengeance of the Blood Angels
- Suikoden 1
- Suikoden 2
Needless to say, whereas the PS2 has gone down in history as a monumental hit (highest selling console ever), as the years go by the PS1 is looking more like a fluke...
Friday, July 5, 2019
Sin Bin
Earlier this week I persuaded some of my friends to have a crack at Divinity Original Sin 2.
It should be noted that this was the first time that any of us had played it so we were all going in blind. So how did it go?
Firstly, the character creation screen was impressive boasting a wide number of choices and selections - even for the Original/fixed characters presented at the beginning.
Upon playing, things showed promise with the interface, the character interaction and being able to listen into conversations that one's own character wouldn't normally have access to.
However the first speed-bump came when one of us got into combat well before everyone else. Thus that character had to fend for themselves whilst the rest of the party rushed to their rescue. Of course, that foolish character died and one of the resurrect scrolls was utilized - little did we know is that said scrolls are rather costly....
So eventually we made it to the Fort of Joy which presented an interesting challenge: There's a lot to do here but we needed to stick together: We couldn't go wandering off. And what do you know, we did just that. Eventually however, we all got flattened in a boss fight.
As mentioned earlier, we were all going into this game blind: And, being experienced RPGer's that we are it soon came clear that this game is trying to work a genre made for single-players and applying it across a group. It's an admirable effort to be sure but here, there are four minds at work - each of which operate differently and may be going in different directions.
I was aware that this game operates under the mechanic that each of the characters are all working with one another but, at the same time, are pursuing their own agenda. It's a brave idea to be sure and certainly encourages cooperation but foes it work in practice? I have no idea.
Still this was a first effort so further development is possible....
It should be noted that this was the first time that any of us had played it so we were all going in blind. So how did it go?
Firstly, the character creation screen was impressive boasting a wide number of choices and selections - even for the Original/fixed characters presented at the beginning.
Upon playing, things showed promise with the interface, the character interaction and being able to listen into conversations that one's own character wouldn't normally have access to.
However the first speed-bump came when one of us got into combat well before everyone else. Thus that character had to fend for themselves whilst the rest of the party rushed to their rescue. Of course, that foolish character died and one of the resurrect scrolls was utilized - little did we know is that said scrolls are rather costly....
So eventually we made it to the Fort of Joy which presented an interesting challenge: There's a lot to do here but we needed to stick together: We couldn't go wandering off. And what do you know, we did just that. Eventually however, we all got flattened in a boss fight.
As mentioned earlier, we were all going into this game blind: And, being experienced RPGer's that we are it soon came clear that this game is trying to work a genre made for single-players and applying it across a group. It's an admirable effort to be sure but here, there are four minds at work - each of which operate differently and may be going in different directions.
I was aware that this game operates under the mechanic that each of the characters are all working with one another but, at the same time, are pursuing their own agenda. It's a brave idea to be sure and certainly encourages cooperation but foes it work in practice? I have no idea.
Still this was a first effort so further development is possible....
Wednesday, July 3, 2019
Can't Stop the Music
I have been playing ESO for a very long time., A verrrrrrrrrry long time.
So much so, that I've heard the music so many items over that it's at a point where the music starts to grate.
So I've given myself a small challenge by finding the most ill-fitting music I can to match up next to my ESO sessions.
So far this proving to be the strongest candidate:
So much so, that I've heard the music so many items over that it's at a point where the music starts to grate.
So I've given myself a small challenge by finding the most ill-fitting music I can to match up next to my ESO sessions.
So far this proving to be the strongest candidate:
Original video located here. Accessed 3rd July 2019
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