October 2023 Random Game Thoughts Thread

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I played the demo for Outpath last night. It just came out and has 98% positive reviews out of 395 reviews so far. It’s a clicker/base building game with some really interesting elements. The main gist is that you have to break objects to obtain resources, use those resources to upgrade items and build new stuff, and eventually start to expand the island you start on and automate resource collecting. I haven’t played a clicker game before besides Cookie Clicker which is kind of a meme game after the initial appeal is gone. Outpath is surprisingly good, but needs more updates to the game. The demo also feels like maybe it hasn’t been updated as frequently as the base game, as I did encounter a few bugs no one else seemed to talk about. I may get the full game, it’s a good fun mindless game when you want something relaxing to play. I turned the brightness down to 25% though as I was playing in a dark room and it nearly melted my eyeballs when it first opened.
lol I can't figure out how to eat. It says left click to unequip the food or hold right click to eat the food, but holding right click also unequips it.

Anyway, could be fun for awhile.
 
lol I can't figure out how to eat. It says left click to unequip the food or hold right click to eat the food, but holding right click also unequips it.

Anyway, could be fun for awhile.
It took me a while to figure that out too lol. You have some food to start but need to make more. You press Q I believe to open the menus, go to the food icon, equip the food in your toolbar, then you can scroll to it and hold to eat. It’s a bit tedious but luckily the developer added a “chill” mode to the base game that does away with hunger and stamina. It also gets pretty regular updates, and the dev seems super engaged with the community which is great. Can’t wait to play some more tonight.
 
It took me a while to figure that out too lol. You have some food to start but need to make more. You press Q I believe to open the menus, go to the food icon, equip the food in your toolbar, then you can scroll to it and hold to eat. It’s a bit tedious but luckily the developer added a “chill” mode to the base game that does away with hunger and stamina. It also gets pretty regular updates, and the dev seems super engaged with the community which is great. Can’t wait to play some more tonight.
That's actually what I was doing. I was equipping the food then holding to eat it. I even made two different types of food to see if maybe the food had to be processed before you could eat it. Maybe I needed to close my inventory before trying to eat. I bet that was the problem because it just kept putting things back in my inventory.
 
For those keeping track at home, I started the year at 320 pounds (I'm tall). I was a little less than that when the doctor told me to get down to at least 285. Now I'm 275, which is no longer obese for my height apparently, but I'm shooting for 235, which puts me in the recommended weight zone.

All weights are approximate. I only weigh myself about once a month, if that often.

I could be wrong about what's obese, etc. I haven't really looked it up. I was just told to get under 285 and that my actual recommended weight was 235, so maybe I'm still considered obese. Or maybe it's just "overweight".

My body distributes weight very well. Even at 320 I didn't have a huge belly :)

I did have a couple of people take pictures of me, though. Not sure what that was all about. One woman didn't even try to hide it. She just aimed her phone right at me and snapped a photo. I guess it could have just been my overall size. I've had short women want their pictures taken with me before.
 
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Still playing immortal redneck. The good news is that i've made progress to the second pyramid - cue harder hitting enemies but also more gold in the process. Well at least in theory. The enemies are tougher, but the rewards aren't so hot. I might go back to the first pyramid run that a few times, rack up 20k each time and invest in some much needed upgrades before attempting the second pyramid. The problem is that there aren't as many reward rooms for me to find the diamonds and get serious buck.

AOE2 news, i'm on the final mission of the barbarossa campaign and so far its been a slog. I just can't get into the enemies bases, too many war elephants and siege weapons attacking. i've managed to hold them off, but no substantial force to force my way in. luckily, my ally seems to have made a back door to where i need to be, so i've decided to set up a second base and slowly work my way that way. Perhaps combining our forces would make things easier.

Hopefully, it won't take me more then 30 minutes.

on other news, i'm still sitting on the fence whether i want to buy planetcoaster DLC. Looking on youtube, its more assets, but at the same time i want those assets. But on the flip side, i'm not sure i'll use them.. So i'm resisting, will play the main game and decide afterwards.

lastly, i'm still thinking about monitors. With a huge amount of dell vouchers i would like to buy a new monitor. but i dunno... my monitor is still ok and yeah its 10+ years old and its a TN monitor, it still works and fine. Whilst i would like a 27" 1440 monitor but it also means other costs. namely increased power consumption and demand on my GPU. my 1070 is going to work that much harder. The other option is to go 24" 1920x1080 but looking at the screen size, it might not be much of a step up from my current monitor which is a 21" monitor. Again... i dunno, i taking my time thinking ready for black friday or some sale and going crazy. it feels like a needless expenditure and at times a betrayal to my still working monitor.
 
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Brian Boru

King of Munster
Moderator
a betrayal to my still working monitor

Consider using 2 monitors, especially if you use your PC for other purposes besides gaming—eg art :)

You'd have a BBB fight—big bad boss—on your hands if you tried to take my 2nd monitor away from me, even tho it's had over 100 lines across it for the past ~year… ie waiting to fully break. For me, the diff between 1 and 2 mons is like diff between B/W and color—former works of course, but color adds so much productivity and QoL. Btw I use TVs, not monitors.

When I had a laptop for a couple of years as a desktop replacement, I used to carry 2 TVs with it to plug in.

my 1070 is going to work that much harder

Probably not harder than my 1060 :p

I've had dual for a long time, maybe 20 years, and it didn't cause a problem with much older and weaker GPUs. I even ran a third monitor one year, but had to buy a cheap extra GPU for that as main one only had 2 suitable ports.

Benefits of Dual Monitor Gaming

Ultrawide vs. dual monitors

10 reasons why you need dual monitors

How multiple monitors can boost productivity
 
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Consider using 2 monitors, especially if you use your PC for other purposes besides gaming—eg art :)

You'd have a BBB fight—big bad boss—on your hands if you tried to take my 2nd monitor away from me, even tho it's had over 100 lines across it for the past ~year… ie waiting to fully break. For me, the diff between 1 and 2 mons is like diff between B/W and color—former works of course, but color adds so much productivity and QoL. Btw I use TVs, not monitors.

When I had a laptop for a couple of years as a desktop replacement, I used to carry 2 TVs with it to plug in.



Probably not harder than my 1060 :p

I've had dual for a long time, maybe 20 years, and it didn't cause a problem with much older and weaker GPUs. I even ran a third monitor one year, but had to buy a cheap extra GPU for that as main one only had 2 suitable ports.

Benefits of Dual Monitor Gaming

Ultrawide vs. dual monitors

10 reasons why you need dual monitors

How multiple monitors can boost productivity
I've got a small second monitor for my laptop (it used to be my wife's, so part of the screen is cracked), but I'm only rarely using it. I finally hooked it up for the first time in ages last week to take notes in megaquarium, and then two days ago they updated the game and added a feature that makes note-taking unnecessary.

I did use it when I was playing Hometopia, too, to write down what the customer says.

The only reason I used it at all, though, was out of frustration with Steam's notes. When you open Steam notes, you can no longer see the game! That means you have to shift-tab over and over again. I might as well alt-tab to notepad if I'm going to do that.
 
Consider using 2 monitors, especially if you use your PC for other purposes besides gaming—eg art
The good news is that i have a 2 monitor set up. At work that is. The problem is that my desk is one of those crappy pc tables for one person. So there is enough for one monitor and not big enough 2 sadly. Not even it i used monitor arms etc.

i could probably move things around but it would be kind of a messy layout.

Another expense, buying a new table for my room that ticks the box for all my requirements and there isn't one atm. Might have to wander around some stores to find the right one.
 

Brian Boru

King of Munster
Moderator
i have a 2 monitor set up. At work

Ah cool, then you already know the individual pros and cons for you :)

Another expense, buying a new table for my room

1 second-hand door, four 4x4s, 16 brackets, 64 screws = roughly $20 each for 3 desks I made 6 years ago—lumber is dearer now tho, so maybe $30 all in + labor + whatever covering you want on it.

Think of it as a couple of hours playing Desk Simulator :D
 
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Baldurs Gate 3 some of you may have heard, is pretty good. Well into the city now and hit the level cap of 12 with it seems some way to go. It lets you respec any character at any point for a small amount of gold so theres some side fun to be had with checking out multiclassing and different subclasses. Its a really good isometric RPG, story characters and writing, combat is excellent. Its not just the amount of freedom of choice in the story choices and actions in the world, but the fact that the writing and story reacts and accounts for so many of them in ways you wouldnt have thought it would. There are choices within choices, to the point where I've had to make some physical notes as to which quests paths I want to take to try and achieve the outcomes I want at the end with the characters I like.

It has some rough edges around the camera with some of the the multi layered level design, and especially organizing inventory. I'll take another one of these in a couple of years please with some of the UI stuff ironed out. Should be easy enough right?

On the side I just started a Co-op campaign in Remnant: From the Ashes and its great. Beat the first two bosses, Gorefist and a mob rushing a weird tree lady in an old church. Gorefist was pretty tough and took multiple tries but still fun each time. The shooting feels good, and the melee and Dark Souls dodging combos with it really well. Only disappointment for me is there doesnt seem to be a parry. Good game.

Played a few hours of Alien Swarm Reactive Drop as well. Free on Steam, a simple but fun little class based co op top down shooter.
 
Baldurs Gate 3 some of you may have heard, is pretty good. Well into the city now and hit the level cap of 12 with it seems some way to go. It lets you respec any character at any point for a small amount of gold so theres some side fun to be had with checking out multiclassing and different subclasses. Its a really good isometric RPG, story characters and writing, combat is excellent. Its not just the amount of freedom of choice in the story choices and actions in the world, but the fact that the writing and story reacts and accounts for so many of them in ways you wouldnt have thought it would. There are choices within choices, to the point where I've had to make some physical notes as to which quests paths I want to take to try and achieve the outcomes I want at the end with the characters I like.

It has some rough edges around the camera with some of the the multi layered level design, and especially organizing inventory. I'll take another one of these in a couple of years please with some of the UI stuff ironed out. Should be easy enough right?

On the side I just started a Co-op campaign in Remnant: From the Ashes and its great. Beat the first two bosses, Gorefist and a mob rushing a weird tree lady in an old church. Gorefist was pretty tough and took multiple tries but still fun each time. The shooting feels good, and the melee and Dark Souls dodging combos with it really well. Only disappointment for me is there doesnt seem to be a parry. Good game.

Played a few hours of Alien Swarm Reactive Drop as well. Free on Steam, a simple but fun little class based co op top down shooter.

Have you tried inventory mods?

 
@Pifanjr Did you give up on Disco Elysium yet? I gather you werent loving it.

Havent even looked at any mods yet on a first playthrough, but it would be nice to be able to find the right potion or arrow when you need it in combat or otherwise, thanks.

Its weird to me how a game can go through 3 years of early access with millions of people playing it already and this item organisation is the best they can do. Especially when the game is then out for a couple of months and someone makes a mod that does it probably on their own in their spare time.

Theres some really good stuff, when you click on an equipment spot it will auto show you the available items to equip their across all of the current parties character inventories. What sucks is the extra bags system in the first place. Why do they need to add in an extra click? If I could just organize everything in the main inventory under headings and sub headings: potions, arrows, gloves, weapons etc it would be so much better. Obviously its something theyve had in all 3 of the games for th last 10 years, so I guess they'd have to root it out pretty deep to fix.

Anyway its a minor annoyance compared to the scope of the game, so Iet them off a bit easy.
 

Brian Boru

King of Munster
Moderator
Why do they need to add in an extra click?

That's an issue which goes far beyond any one game, beyond gaming, beyond tech. The tech and artistic types who mainly populate design & dev functions in all industries find it very difficult to separate their own preference and experience from that of users & customers.

Then there's the 'can't see the wood for the trees' problem—they literally can't see the extra little loads they're putting on millions of people.

weird to me how a game can go through 3 years of early access

Probably related, in the demographics of those who'll play early access—probably quite different from 'normal' players, eg maybe more interested in story than playability, or form over function, etc.
 
That's an issue which goes far beyond any one game, beyond gaming, beyond tech. The tech and artistic types who mainly populate design & dev functions in all industries find it very difficult to separate their own preference and experience from that of users & customers.

Then there's the 'can't see the wood for the trees' problem—they literally can't see the extra little loads they're putting on millions of people.



Probably related, in the demographics of those who'll play early access—probably quite different from 'normal' players, eg maybe more interested in story than playability, or form over function, etc.
My wife tells me that a good designer will never favour form over function, but in her heart of hearts I know which way she leans given the choice :D. Thats why we have a nice looking bluetooth cube that sounds terrible rather than an amp and good speakers in the living room.

I'm not sure if that thinking translates perfectly to games though, this kind of inventory system has been similar across the 3 Larian games of the last 10 odd years. It might be that most people favour an extra click over a lot of scrolling or tabs. I'm on team scrolling with headers, but maybe if it was in the game I'd find out it was a bit of a monkey paw. There are a lot of items and item types, sub types and so on. Dont know, maybe its just a lot of extra work to completely rework the system within their engine and resources had to go elsewhere.

2.5 million bought it in early access, so people must have said something.
 
@Pifanjr Did you give up on Disco Elysium yet? I gather you werent loving it.

I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt. I've only just finished the first day, so I'm hoping the beginning was just a bit slow as I got used to the game mechanics. There were a couple or things I overlooked or discovered fairly late that would have made me feel less aimless if I hadn't missed them.

Havent even looked at any mods yet on a first playthrough, but it would be nice to be able to find the right potion or arrow when you need it in combat or otherwise, thanks.

Its weird to me how a game can go through 3 years of early access with millions of people playing it already and this item organisation is the best they can do. Especially when the game is then out for a couple of months and someone makes a mod that does it probably on their own in their spare time.

Theres some really good stuff, when you click on an equipment spot it will auto show you the available items to equip their across all of the current parties character inventories. What sucks is the extra bags system in the first place. Why do they need to add in an extra click? If I could just organize everything in the main inventory under headings and sub headings: potions, arrows, gloves, weapons etc it would be so much better. Obviously its something theyve had in all 3 of the games for th last 10 years, so I guess they'd have to root it out pretty deep to fix.

Anyway its a minor annoyance compared to the scope of the game, so Iet them off a bit easy.

I used to not look at mods before playing a game for the first time either, but nowadays I often check for QoL mods before playing, especially for large games. I think large games are often made to appeal to as many people as possible, which often means things are simplified as to not overwhelm casual players.

I think the inventory UI of Bethesda games is a good example. I assume they made it so simple not just because they're too lazy to add more features.
 
I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt. I've only just finished the first day, so I'm hoping the beginning was just a bit slow as I got used to the game mechanics. There were a couple or things I overlooked or discovered fairly late that would have made me feel less aimless if I hadn't missed them.
If youre not enjoying the setting, writing and story then it might not grab you as thats really the game. Some of the interactions between the named corners of the main characters broken psyche and the world are the best parts. Not to mention the game and Kim judging you on your choices.

I used to not look at mods before playing a game for the first time either, but nowadays I often check for QoL mods before playing, especially for large games. I think large games are often made to appeal to as many people as possible, which often means things are simplified as to not overwhelm casual players.

I think the inventory UI of Bethesda games is a good example. I assume they made it so simple not just because they're too lazy to add more features.
TBH its not very often I play something where anything much bugs me that much so it doesnt cross my mind to look for mods before playing anything.

Its not really that the inventory here is too simple, its actually too busy. Keys and ingredients serve no function outside of undoing locks and alchemy. No need to show them at all when its possible to see that better from the alchemy screen, and keys are just used automatically on the main game screen

Potions, weapons, books, and other items are just thrown in loose wherever theres an empty space. I'm not sure those mods would necessarily help me because my main annoyance is occasionally I want to use an item in combat. In combat if you need a potion or item its displayed like this:

N138EjK.png


Seperate to the normal inventory screen. Just a nightmare to see what's what, and no way at all to sort it unless I'm missing something. Its usually only a matter of a few seconds to mouse over and get the tool tip, but enough to annoy. I do do a lot of alchemy and use a lot of items as you can see which probably doesnt help the issue.

Maybe Larian will fix it piece by piece, lets see.
 
If youre not enjoying the setting, writing and story then it might not grab you as thats really the game. Some of the interactions between the named corners of the main characters broken psyche and the world are the best parts. Not to mention the game and Kim judging you on your choices.

I am interested in solving the case at the very least. I might drop it if I happen to stumble upon another game that draws me in, but so far there isn't anything I really want to play.

TBH its not very often I play something where anything much bugs me that much so it doesnt cross my mind to look for mods before playing anything.

Its not really that the inventory here is too simple, its actually too busy. Keys and ingredients serve no function outside of undoing locks and alchemy. No need to show them at all when its possible to see that better from the alchemy screen, and keys are just used automatically on the main game screen

Potions, weapons, books, and other items are just thrown in loose wherever theres an empty space. I'm not sure those mods would necessarily help me because my main annoyance is occasionally I want to use an item in combat. In combat if you need a potion or item its displayed like this:

N138EjK.png


Seperate to the normal inventory screen. Just a nightmare to see what's what, and no way at all to sort it unless I'm missing something. Its usually only a matter of a few seconds to mouse over and get the tool tip, but enough to annoy. I do do a lot of alchemy and use a lot of items as you can see which probably doesnt help the issue.

Maybe Larian will fix it piece by piece, lets see.

Ah, yeah, that's just bad.
 
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