August 2024 PC Gamer Article Discussion

[Pifanjr]

This CT scanning company is sowing chaos for Pokémon card collectors by selling X-ray scans of booster packs: 'We firmly believe we stand in the zone of chaotic good'

You can find out if you're sitting on an unopened Charizard for a scant $75 per pack.

www.pcgamer.com

I might be missing something, but buying a booster pack for $2000 just in case it might hold something even more valuable just so you can sell it sounds like it's just gambling. Even if you don't plan on selling it, it's still gambling.

I personally don't see the problem with decreasing the amount of gambling within the hobby.

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Former GTA dev says 'it's time for a revolution' where 'animation is more AI-driven and physics-driven' than done by hand

"If anyone is going to make that step it's going to be Rockstar," said Obbe Vermeij, former technical director at Rockstar North.

www.pcgamer.com

As far as I know, animation is a pretty major limiting factor in adding new features to games, so I wonder how big of an impact AI will have here.

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Palworld's community manager says our 'dead game' fixation is ruining gaming: 'I don't think it really serves anyone to push gamers to play the same game, day in and day out'

"It's not healthy for us."

www.pcgamer.com

I don't see why anyone would care to call a game "dead". Seems like the only people who would do that would be people trying to denigrate the people still playing, either for attention or because they're just immature jerks.

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Fallout: London devs hand out maths homework to players who are suffering from a bug that lowers their HP

I knew BIDMAS would come in handy.

www.pcgamer.com

when I tried working through the equation myself, I was halted by horror flashbacks of GCSE maths, which no one should be forced to relive.

I checked the equation expecting to see something unnecessarily complicated, but it just consisted of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. The only conclusion I can take from this is that I'm really out of touch with what the math skills of the average person are.

 

[Hveðrungr]

Fallout: London devs hand out maths homework to players who are suffering from a bug that lowers their HP

I knew BIDMAS would come in handy.

www.pcgamer.com

“when I tried working through the equation myself, I was halted by horror flashbacks of GCSE maths, which no one should be forced to relive.”

I checked the equation expecting to see something unnecessarily complicated, but it just consisted of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. The only conclusion I can take from this is that I'm really out of touch with what the math skills of the average person are.

Alternate conclusion: journalists are not the average person; they're worse. If they were better at maths they could have got a better-paying job. That they didn't suggests that they are probably significantly worse at maths than one would otherwise expect.

 

[Brian Boru]

journalists are not the average person; they're worse. If they were better at maths they could have got a better-paying job

Not much in it:

I'm really out of touch with what the math skills of the average person are

That gets my vote, been my experience that most people have some psychological block against math—probably cos it isn't cool.

 

[DXCHASE]

Former Bungie devs show fury and sorrow over layoffs, following the revelation that CEO Pete Parsons allegedly spent at least $2,414,550 on vintage cars in the past 2 years

No bungee cords at the bottom.

www.pcgamer.com

This whole scenario has me thinking differently while playing Destiny atm. Im sure it can be said about Tim Clark right now. Its not at all a surprise though and thats the saddest part about this

and then, oh hey...

Intel is laying off 15,000 people: 'We are making some of the most consequential changes in our company's history'

Announces revenue of $12.8 billion for the quarter with operating income of zilch.

www.pcgamer.com

Im also feeling this too, stating earlier that my job at a high-tech company is reducing time at our location with VTO, where people are using up a lot of time to cover for the day lost. There is def. something to be said about why certain industries need to unionize.

 

[Pifanjr]

There is def. something to be said about why certain industries need to unionize.

My union has been fighting since March this year for a new agreement, but the companies refuse to give in to, for example, pay rises that exceed inflation or paying interns.

Which to me seems like stuff they will need to do anyway to avoid losing their employees. It's making me consider changing jobs and I can't imagine I'm the only one.

 

[Pifanjr]

If 1 million people sign a petition, a ban on rendering multiplayer games unplayable has a chance to become law in Europe

A European initiative is now underway for videogame preservation and consumer protections against publishers "killing games."

www.pcgamer.com

I feel like the most straightforward answer from game publishers would be to put a time limit on any purchase. If they go back to monthly subscriptions no one can argue they aren't getting the product they paid for when the publisher shuts the game down at the end of the month.

Not that I think this petition has a chance of becoming an actual law.

 

[Hveðrungr]

If 1 million people sign a petition, a ban on rendering multiplayer games unplayable has a chance to become law in Europe

A European initiative is now underway for videogame preservation and consumer protections against publishers "killing games."

www.pcgamer.com

I feel like the most straightforward answer from game publishers would be to put a time limit on any purchase. If they go back to monthly subscriptions no one can argue they aren't getting the product they paid for when the publisher shuts the game down at the end of the month.

Not that I think this petition has a chance of becoming an actual law.

I think the point of the petition is just that studios should allow private servers to maintain the game after support ends. It doesn't seem unreasonable tbh.

 

[Hveðrungr]

You officially have no excuse not to play Deus Ex: Mankind Divided now Prime Gaming is doling out free GOG copies of the game

Unless you don't have Prime. That'd be a good excuse. I guess.

www.pcgamer.com

I'm happy to see my beloved imsims getting some love, but this was a bit sloppy:

• DXMD was given away free on Epic only a few months ago, no subscription required.
• Dishonored 2 is set in Karnaca, not Carnaca.

Btw if you're going to play DXMD, you should play DXHR first. The alternative is that it will play you a twenty-minute precis video when you start DXMD, spoiling DXHR for you.

 

[BeardyHat]

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Palworld's community manager says our 'dead game' fixation is ruining gaming: 'I don't think it really serves anyone to push gamers to play the same game, day in and day out'

"It's not healthy for us."

www.pcgamer.com

I don't see why anyone would care to call a game "dead". Seems like the only people who would do that would be people trying to denigrate the people still playing, either for attention or because they're just immature jerks.

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I watched this video the other day that is tangentially related, as towards the end, the author discusses how this "dead game" stuff has basically been trained into people, essentially by Live Service games. Apparently, the creator of Gloomwood was getting harassed because the updates aren't coming fast enough and people think they're owed something.

People in general are obsessed with the constant flow of "new content" for the content mines. Whether that's books, movies, music and on and on. We're so spoiled these days, it seems that people blow through a thing and then immediately expect more; see any MMO ever and people reaching level cap in a day, then complaining the game has "no content."

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ewp9QrZHLLs

Fallout: London devs hand out maths homework to players who are suffering from a bug that lowers their HP

I knew BIDMAS would come in handy.

www.pcgamer.com

I checked the equation expecting to see something unnecessarily complicated, but it just consisted of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. The only conclusion I can take from this is that I'm really out of touch with what the math skills of the average person are.

I am utterly atrocious when it comes to math. I repeatedly failed relatively basic math classes throughout my schooling, having to take a very basic math class to finish my Bachelor's off and I still struggled, only completing the course with a C or 70%, which was the highest grade I'd ever achieved in a Math class.

I can write you a paper on Platos Theory of Forms, but just don't ask me to do any math.

I think the point of the petition is just that studios should allow private servers to maintain the game after support ends. It doesn't seem unreasonable tbh.

Private servers are also a way to see a still existing game that actually doesn't exist in that form anymore either. They actually also generally have a better community, in spite of being free, but that's probably due to the little bit higher barrier to entry in seeking them out and actually getting on to them.

You officially have no excuse not to play Deus Ex: Mankind Divided now Prime Gaming is doling out free GOG copies of the game

Unless you don't have Prime. That'd be a good excuse. I guess.

www.pcgamer.com

I'm happy to see my beloved imsims getting some love, but this was a bit sloppy:

• DXMD was given away free on Epic only a few months ago, no subscription required.
• Dishonored 2 is set in Karnaca, not Carnaca.

Btw if you're going to play DXMD, you should play DXHR first. The alternative is that it will play you a twenty-minute precis video when you start DXMD, spoiling DXHR for you.

Mankind Divided had so much potential that was squandered. I've gone back to HR several times (never as much as the original), but have never touched MD again. The nonsense story and (seeming) lack of area, as well as the abrupt ending just left such a sour taste in my mouth, I haven't wanted to return. Or at least, it never pops into my mind when I think of playing a Deus Ex game.

 

[neogunhero]

Mankind Divided had so much potential that was squandered. I've gone back to HR several times (never as much as the original), but have never touched MD again. The nonsense story and (seeming) lack of area, as well as the abrupt ending just left such a sour taste in my mouth, I haven't wanted to return. Or at least, it never pops into my mind when I think of playing a Deus Ex game.

Gotta agree as a big Deus Ex fan. As for the “new” games, HR was a lot more polished. MD had some great ideas, especially the beginning areas that are absolutely chock full of secrets and things to uncover, but the story was the weakest of all the Deus Ex games. I remember playing it, having a good time, then suddenly it just ended. It was very clearly rushed at the end, because not even the gameplay conclusion was satisfying, let along the story conclusion. You fought a boss, killed them, then boom ending cutscene. Very anti-climatic and put me off from revisiting it as much as I do the original and HR.

 

[ZedClampet]

Paradox indefinitely delays Prison Architect 2, just like it did with Life By You before it was scrapped

So close, yet so far.

www.pcgamer.com

I loved the first one. Paradox is so frustrated with this that I think they changed developers.

I also learned from this article that Life by You has been canceled and the studio closed. That's astonishing considering the game was about to launch. It must have been dreadful.

@Pifanjr You stole my thread! Just kidding. Thanks for posting this. I don't know why I always forget this one.

 

[Hveðrungr]

I also learned from this article that Life by You has been canceled and the studio closed. That's astonishing considering the game was about to launch. It must have been dreadful.

i got u fam

Paradox cancels life sim Life by You, CEO says they gave the studio 'a fair shot' but now 'believe it is better to stop'

Paradox says "the road leading to a release that we felt confident about was far too long and uncertain" to continue.

www.pcgamer.com

Hours after cancelling its only game, Paradox shutters its 24-person Life by You studio

Paradox Tectonic has followed Life by You into history.

www.pcgamer.com

Former dev from sunken Sims competitor Life by You alleges the team had 'the rug pulled' from under them—despite outperforming the company's internal metrics

"We were a strong team on a strong project ready to launch to a strong audience."

www.pcgamer.com

 

[Zloth]

That gets my vote, been my experience that most people have some psychological block against math—probably cos it isn't cool.

Lies!! Who tells you these things? UNCOOL people, that's who!

 

[Pifanjr]

Paradox indefinitely delays Prison Architect 2, just like it did with Life By You before it was scrapped

So close, yet so far.

www.pcgamer.com

I loved the first one. Paradox is so frustrated with this that I think they changed developers.

My guess would be that the switch to 3D is causing inmates' pathfinding to take too much time/CPU. At least, that's what Dwarf Fortress struggles with once you have a lot of things moving around. It's probably not their only problem.

@Pifanjr You stole my thread! Just kidding. Thanks for posting this. I don't know why I always forget this one.

You snooze you lose.

 

[ZedClampet]

My guess would be that the switch to 3D is causing inmates' pathfinding to take too much time/CPU. At least, that's what Dwarf Fortress struggles with once you have a lot of things moving around. It's probably not their only problem.

If they are having problems with 3D pathing then you must be able to make multi-floor prisons. otherwise movement would still be 2D. I hope this is the case. The first one would have been better with that.

I've seen a number of single developer indie games with great 3D pathing. I mentioned Colony Survival where the people, if their paths were blocked, were climbing over obstacles and also swimming to get to their work stations. Then there was Tavern Master, with a 5 story tavern/inn with tables and stuff that you put all over the place, and I never saw anyone get stuck or lost, and you would have hundreds of guests and a ton of waitresses.

On the other hand, there are examples of the bad, too. Astro Colony and Supermarket Simulator are awful, and those are just 2D movement (even though the games are 3D).

Seems like maybe getting new developers to make a sequel doesn't always work out. Kerbal is another example.

 

[ZedClampet]

The follow-up to Palworld could go 'beyond AAA', but Pocketpair's CEO only wants to pursue projects that 'are interesting as indie games'

The next game will remain small, despite the studio's massive success.

www.pcgamer.com

Pocketpair has no interest in developing AAA games and urges people to buy more indie games.

For some reason, when they talk about AAA, they mean live service and MMOs only. Games that never end. Maybe the definition is changing.

 

[Hveðrungr]

For some reason, when they talk about AAA, they mean live service and MMOs only. Games that never end. Maybe the definition is changing.

 

[Pifanjr]

IRL Squid Game competitors complain it was too real, reporting injuries and poor treatment as they fought for $5 million beneath a grinning MrBeast: 'We're all just looking up at the sky, screaming at him like he's god'

Are you not entertained?

www.pcgamer.com

I don't think the takeaway from the Squid Game show was supposed to be that it would be really fun to mistreat other people for entertainment.

 

[Brian Boru]

it would be really fun to mistreat other people for entertainment

How about just cos?

Milgram experiment - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[ZedClampet]

Based on this and other MrBeast stories he doesn't seem like a person you'd like to know. Shame that he's apparently the most popular YouTuber

 

[Frindis]

Larian releases Baldur's Gate 3 anniversary video celebrating the fans, and boss Swen Vincke says you ain't seen nothing yet: 'We're gonna take all of that energy and convert it into something new, something shiny, something big'

He's not wearing armour though, so what the hell.

www.pcgamer.com

Good video and what a fantastic game BG3 is! I do wonder what their next project will be. Any ideas? Since he mentions shiny, I started thinking about a LOTR game. I don't see them striking a deal with the Embracer Group though and I think Amazon Games is making a LOTR MMO, so that is wishful thinking.

Another possibility could be a new Ultima game if EA wants to give them the chance. It's not like they are doing anything good with that IP anyway.

 

[ZedClampet]

How about just cos?

Milgram experiment - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

They were just following orders. But at least no one was actually mistreated as they were at this disastrous MrBeast show.

Milgram experiment was really interesting. How much fault can we apply to the average person when they are genetically predisposed (apparently) to obey authority figures?

 

[ZedClampet]

Larian releases Baldur's Gate 3 anniversary video celebrating the fans, and boss Swen Vincke says you ain't seen nothing yet: 'We're gonna take all of that energy and convert it into something new, something shiny, something big'

He's not wearing armour though, so what the hell.

www.pcgamer.com

Good video and what a fantastic game BG3 is! I do wonder what their next project will be. Any ideas? Since he mentions shiny, I started thinking about a LOTR game. I don't see them striking a deal with the Embracer Group though and I think Amazon Games is making a LOTR MMO, so that is wishful thinking.

Another possibility could be a new Ultima game if EA wants to give them the chance. It's not like they are doing anything good with that IP anyway.

I believe they've already said they aren't doing a famous IP this time. I could be misremembering.

 

[Frindis]

I believe they've already said they aren't doing a famous IP this time. I could be misremembering.

That could very much be the case. They did mention they were working on two new projects, so perhaps anything famous would be something like Divinity: Original Sin 3 after those.

 

[Zloth]

He said Shiny! So, Earthworm Jim 3 or maybe Sacrifice HD. That, or an RPG set in the Firefly universe.