May 2025 General Game Discussion Thread

[Zed Clampet]

We finished the early access content of Runescape Dragonwild. It's pretty mediocre as far as survival games go.

 

[Zed Clampet]

Borderlands 4 rumored to be $80. Anyone who pays $80 for any base game is out of their mind. But we gamers will be stupid enough to buy it and complain about it at the same time. CLUE: If you buy it, you need to shut up.

 

[neogunhero]

CLUE: you need to shut up.

Good advice for Randy Pitchford

 

[Zed Clampet]

Good advice for Randy Pitchford

We're quickly approaching the time when you'll need to start a thread requesting that publishers please make games with lower end wallets in mind.

 

[Colif]

If I buy Boredlands 4 I must have gone mad, someone please put me out of mysery.

The price isn't the thing stopping me buying it.

 

[Zed Clampet]

I have purchased a Flash game. You might suppose that means I've secured the digital rights to a Flash game since they are all free, but, alas, I've just purchased a license on Steam. I wasn't happy with my blacksmithing game I got the other day, so I got Jacksmith: Weapons and Warriors, and I'm much happier with it.

I did play the free online version, but the Steam version was only $4.99 and is the (slightly) superior version.

It's actually free in multiple locations, but here's one place if anyone hasn't played it before and wants to give it a whirl:

Jacksmith - Play online at Coolmath Games

In Jacksmith, players must follow the instructions to craft awesome weapons and armor. Work carefully and find secret recipes to make the best gear.

www.coolmathgames.com

 

[neogunhero]

I tried a bit of Stalker Shadow of Chernobyl last night and I will say, the graphics do look a bit weird. Character models look smoothed out, proportions seems a bit off since I feel I'm way shorter than everyone, and everything just has a slightly wide effect to it. However, besides that, it's all the exact same as the originals. World textures look the same, guns look nicer and high res, most everything remains the same. Not enough to bombard the game with negative reviews. You absolutely should turn of FSR, motion blur and depth of field though before playing, they are all turned on by default.

 

[Johnway]

We're quickly approaching the time when you'll need to start a thread requesting that publishers please make games with lower end wallets in mind.

honestly i'm just going to vote with my wallet. I'm not going to buy any game thats at £80. i'll spend it on indie games, cheaper games or better yet, go through my massive backlog of games. i might go backwards and play the classics that i missed from my childhood or my younger self. Like the Dos, console gaming etc.

 

[Zed Clampet]

NEWS from my end of the gaming spectrum:

Warframe is the #2 grossing Steam game thanks to the release of an $80 "microtransaction"* that includes a souped up "Prime" version of a regular Warframe and improved versions of her two weapons.

As is Warframe tradition, all of this can be crafted for free in-game, but apparently a lot of people would rather just spend the $80 and have it immediately. I suppose that's a good thing since the game itself is free

*a microtransaction is bought within the game and counts on Steam as game sales while DLC is bought outside of the game and counts separately

****

RoadCraft, by the people who made Snowrunner, has released to the expected "mixed" results. As it turns out, it's a very good game, but people weren't paying attention and were expecting "Super Snowrunner" even though the developer repeatedly said in community updates that this was not the case, that this was a different type of game. Meanwhile, almost every negative review that I read laments that this is not like Snowrunner.

 

[BeardyHat]

NEWS from my end of the gaming spectrum:

Warframe is the #2 grossing Steam game thanks to the release of an $80 "microtransaction"* that includes a souped up "Prime" version of a regular Warframe and improved versions of her two weapons.

As is Warframe tradition, all of this can be crafted for free in-game, but apparently a lot of people would rather just spend the $80 and have it immediately. I suppose that's a good thing since the game itself is free

*a microtransaction is bought within the game and counts on Steam as game sales while DLC is bought outside of the game and counts separately

****

RoadCraft, by the people who made Snowrunner, has released to the expected "mixed" results. As it turns out, it's a very good game, but people weren't paying attention and were expecting "Super Snowrunner" even though the developer repeatedly said in community updates that this was not the case, that this was a different type of game. Meanwhile, almost every negative review that I read laments that this is not like Snowrunner.

My buddy is the type to spend $80 on a game without thinking about it. Everytime there's a new release of something, I see he's bought it and played it for a few hours and then never goes back to it. He is the sucker Publishers hope for.

I'll probably pick up Roadcraft, just because I love Snowrunner. The reviews for Expeditions scared me off for the same reason you mention and after trying it over the free weekend a few months ago, I discovered people are dumb and it's actually a pretty great game that has Snowrunner DNA, even if it's a bit different, which is fine. Snowrunner was the culmination of the Spintires series and I'm not sure where else they really could have gone with it.

Anyway, people are dumb. Though I still haven't bought Expeditions yet, but that's because I still have so much Snowrunner to play and it really scratches the itch. When I eventually finish it years from now, I'll move on to the next game...

 

[Zed Clampet]

Anyway, people are dumb. Though I still haven't bought Expeditions yet

Just to be the devil on your shoulder, Expeditions is 40% off right now.

 

[BeardyHat]

Just to be the devil on your shoulder, Expeditions is 40% off right now.

Oh, I saw.

I'm just really not ready for it yet. When I get the craving, I will absolutely go back to Snowrunner first.

I'm not one to care about 100%ing games, but Snowrunner has had that effect on me. I'm like 80% done with Alaska now and still have like 4 more maps to do. If I wasn't so enamored with the game, I'd pick up Expeditions sooner.

 

[Rolfil]

Borderlands 4 rumored to be $80. Anyone who pays $80 for any base game is out of their mind. But we gamers will be stupid enough to buy it and complain about it at the same time. CLUE: If you buy it, you need to shut up.

I only buy new "AAA" games when they aren't new. Just wait a year or two and you can probably pick it up for a lot less. I'm finding that I'm buying more games that are under £30, playing the games I have or are in the huge backlog that you get with Epic Games free giveawys.

 

[Zed Clampet]

Ok, well I think I'm already getting tired of the Flash game I bought. You know, I'm not even sure there's a fail state because I've lost several battles and it just keeps going and going. I'll probably play to the end of the next section at least.

 

[neogunhero]

Kind of in a rut again. Morrowind is losing my interest, Stalker enhanced didn’t hook me again like I’d hoped, fell off of Dying Light 2, Game Pass subscription expired, can’t figure out what to play next. Deliver At All Costs is a new game coming out today that will be free to keep on Epic, so I may check that out as it seems like a unique idea on the isometric racing genre with a storyline and creative missions. Besides that I’m just not sure what to play anymore. I really ought to make a written backlog of all the games I’ve always been interested in playing but never got around to/wanting to replay, maybe a list like that would help me when I’m indecisive.

 

[Pifanjr]

I really ought to make a written backlog of all the games I’ve always been interested in playing but never got around to/wanting to replay, maybe a list like that would help me when I’m indecisive.

Yeah, like a list of games you've always wished you had time to play. And maybe it would be really nice if you could get a message if one of those games was currently discounted on your favourite store. Probably Steam. Like a Steam Wishlist or something. Or maybe a GOG Wishlist if the games you've wished you'd had time for are especially old.

 

[BeardyHat]

Kind of in a rut again. Morrowind is losing my interest, Stalker enhanced didn’t hook me again like I’d hoped, fell off of Dying Light 2, Game Pass subscription expired, can’t figure out what to play next. Deliver At All Costs is a new game coming out today that will be free to keep on Epic, so I may check that out as it seems like a unique idea on the isometric racing genre with a storyline and creative missions. Besides that I’m just not sure what to play anymore. I really ought to make a written backlog of all the games I’ve always been interested in playing but never got around to/wanting to replay, maybe a list like that would help me when I’m indecisive.

Think there's plenty of sites that do this, but here's one that'll allow you to set parameters (such as never played) within your Steam Library and the randomly select from within that.

Pick a game

Not sure what to play today? Let Pick a Game choose for you! Browse your Steam library, filter your games, or let us pick a random steam game for you.

pickaga.me

My first random unplayed game was Arkham Origins, for example.

I actually need to burn out on Abiotic or something, because I really should be building some new models, but I haven't been able to tear myself away in my limited free time.

Would be nice if it included all the other game stores as well, but better than nothing, I guess.

 

[BeardyHat]

Speaking of, yes, I'm still hopelessly addicted to Abiotic Factor at the moment. My oldest got home from school early yesterday and having slept a grand total of 3-hours the previous night, I decided to let the kids have an extra hour of screen time.

My oldest wanted to watch me play Abiotic, so I ended-up putting in like a solid hour and 45 minutes while he watched, very much a rarity for me to play a game that long. I eventually had to take a break, as while it was almost time to begin my chores, my neck was killing me due to my poor posture while playing.

Anyway, it's still good. Zed will be happy to know I've finally reached a point where I can build a containment thing for the teleporting guy. It takes quite a lot of resources, but should finally get rid of him for good when I can finally get the container built; he did end-up finally getting me a second time after this 45 hours or whatever I've played. I let my guard down, not having my weapon ready for him (basically a special flashlight) and he ended-up pinning me in a corner and killing me.

I'm well into the Hydroplant area now, which I think gives me one area left (Reactors), plus a new portal world I just discovered. I believe that the internet was under the impression that they would release this month, but so far since an announcement early this month, there hasn't been any other news. I'm really hoping they release before I hit the end of the current content, as I think once I "finish" what's here, it'll be tough for me to go back.

Though maybe I'll use it as an excuse not to play any other games and focus on the other hobby projects I need to do until 1.0.

 

[Zloth]

$80 for a game doesn't bug me, assuming it's good and fairly long. There are plenty out there that take 80+ hours of time, so I would still be under my $1/hr target.

I've had a nasty cough the past couple of weeks, so I went back to playing Distant Worlds 2. It's better at using low brainpower for a longer time - just what I've needed to take my mind off of coughing.

I'm still sticking with the non-violent approach. Well, non-violent against the for-sure-sentient things. Monsters are shot frequently and their body parts taken home for feasting.

 

[Zed Clampet]

$80 for a game doesn't bug me, assuming it's good and fairly long. There are plenty out there that take 80+ hours of time, so I would still be under my $1/hr target.

I've had a nasty cough the past couple of weeks, so I went back to playing Distant Worlds 2. It's better at using low brainpower for a longer time - just what I've needed to take my mind off of coughing.

I'm still sticking with the non-violent approach. Well, non-violent against the for-sure-sentient things. Monsters are shot frequently and their body parts taken home for feasting.

So you'd be happy paying $5000 for a game so long as you got 5000 hours out of it as I did Warframe (which is free)?

*****

@Kaamos_Llama killed the Paintress. Will be a couple of days before I start the next section.

 

[Zed Clampet]

Speaking of, yes, I'm still hopelessly addicted to Abiotic Factor at the moment. My oldest got home from school early yesterday and having slept a grand total of 3-hours the previous night, I decided to let the kids have an extra hour of screen time.

My oldest wanted to watch me play Abiotic, so I ended-up putting in like a solid hour and 45 minutes while he watched, very much a rarity for me to play a game that long. I eventually had to take a break, as while it was almost time to begin my chores, my neck was killing me due to my poor posture while playing.

Anyway, it's still good. Zed will be happy to know I've finally reached a point where I can build a containment thing for the teleporting guy. It takes quite a lot of resources, but should finally get rid of him for good when I can finally get the container built; he did end-up finally getting me a second time after this 45 hours or whatever I've played. I let my guard down, not having my weapon ready for him (basically a special flashlight) and he ended-up pinning me in a corner and killing me.

I'm well into the Hydroplant area now, which I think gives me one area left (Reactors), plus a new portal world I just discovered. I believe that the internet was under the impression that they would release this month, but so far since an announcement early this month, there hasn't been any other news. I'm really hoping they release before I hit the end of the current content, as I think once I "finish" what's here, it'll be tough for me to go back.

Though maybe I'll use it as an excuse not to play any other games and focus on the other hobby projects I need to do until 1.0.

We didn't get far enough to get the x-ray lamp. We quit playing very shortly after meeting the Layek. If I had the x-ray lamp or even knew that one existed (we played right at launch, and I'm not sure anyone even knew what to do with the Layek) I would have been happier. We still would have quit, though, due to running out of resources. That poop grenade you mentioned the other day would have been great, but getting crafting recipes is weird in that game, so that's another thing we didn't know existed.

 

[Zloth]

So you'd be happy paying $5000 for a game so long as you got 5000 hours out of it as I did Warframe (which is free)?

Theoretically - though I have no idea how you would ever convince me that I would get 5000 hours from a game ahead of time. There would also be the issue of tons of other games willing to give me a much better price. Just because I'm willing to pay that much doesn't mean I won't jump on a cheaper option!

 

[Zed Clampet]

Theoretically - though I have no idea how you would ever convince me that I would get 5000 hours from a game ahead of time. There would also be the issue of tons of other games willing to give me a much better price. Just because I'm willing to pay that much doesn't mean I won't jump on a cheaper option!

Most people would agree a game is not worth $5000 (many things go into determining the cost of something including, significantly, how much it cost to make and also comparisons to other similar items). The hours played idea is just very arbitrary. You sat in your computer chair for 5000 hours probably. Is that worth $5000? How about the mouse you used? Is the monitor you played the game on worth less than the game itself? Why? You couldn't have this form of entertainment without it. And maybe there are other games that you would put 1000 hours into but only cost $50. You could get 5 of those for $250. Is the $5000 game still a good value if you could have just spent $250? In the days of yore, how much television did you watch? Would you be willing to pay $25,000 for a television that you would use for 10 years? And you don't consider how much joy a game brings. Maybe you've played a game for 5000 hours, but you were only modestly happy during that time. What about a game that lasted for 2 hours and it brought you lasting joy, and you'll think about this game for years to come? Would you only be willing to pay $2 for this game?

Edited the beginning. Too wordy and not as funny this morning as it was last night.

 

[Kaamos_Llama]

@Kaamos_Llama killed the Paintress. Will be a couple of days before I start the next section.

Yea, I dont want to say too much but I'm still playing it and I've beaten the Paintress as well and watched the big reveal. Time is pretty limited at the moment so not too much further but I'm staying with this one still.

 

[Frindis]

Other than more rare occasions (supporting indie developer, meme, just have to have it), the way I see it is just getting the best deal possible regardless of how much joy or whatnot it will give you. Just to give an example: In a local shop they had a deal on my favorite dental floss, a 2 for 1 deal. So I bought 14 of them (I ordered them, obviously did not grab them from the shop physically). Next week they were having another deal on same floss, this time the cost was 3 for 2. Same floss, but not the same deal.