September 2025 General Game Discussion Thread

[Colif]

i've never understood why they needed to get a sequel and how the sequel was meant to improve on the first (they look the same practically). even now its still a bit of a mess. might be just easier to cut their losses and run at this point.

Profit?

I don't know, I assumed engine was built from scratch. Its the new Crysis, built for PC we will have in 10 years time... maybe. I am sure it wasn't intentional.. just like Crysis. Or am I thinking of Far Cry?

 

[Zed Clampet]

Profit?

I don't know, I assumed engine was built from scratch. Its the new Crysis, built for PC we will have in 10 years time... maybe. I am sure it wasn't intentional.. just like Crysis. Or am I thinking of Far Cry?

@Johnway I haven't really looked at what players are saying right now, but if the game hadn't been so buggy and unoptimized at launch, I think most players would have like 2 better than one, partly because they vastly expanded the simulation both on and off screen.

In the first game, all the cars and people running around were just cars and people running around. In 2, what they do while running around is what underlies the economy. Weather use to only be visual, it didn't impact gameplay, etc.

Most things in 1 were just calculated. Now they "actually" happen. Unfortunately, that makes the game run like garbage (apparently--that just speculation)

 

[Colif]

Most things in 1 were just calculated. Now they "actually" happen. Unfortunately, that makes the game run like garbage (apparently--that just speculation)

So makes me wonder what sort of PC they were running this on in the build phase to reach the conclusion that making every vehicle an actual agent, or I don't know, predict the action of things with weather, was a smart idea? Were they using quantum computers as weather prediction isn't something we get right in reality...

As is said, in 10 years we might have processors with enough cores to give the game what it needs... right now, the most people have is 16 cores... it looks like it needs more than 8 cores right now, and not many CPU have that... besides server ones. (ignoring E cores and all the small ones that some CPU have now). Even the dual ccd X3D CPU only use one lot of cores now in games, they not designed to let you use both.

I don't know if its a memory restriction, its more a processing problem.

If you only want a small city or happy to restart when population reaches 200k, its an okay game now... though not sure what actual required specs are to get that... it might chew ram as well. All those calculations have to go somewhere.

 

[Pifanjr]

@Pifanjr You need to get your act together. First you tell me I can only buy 3.14 games this month, and then you link me to a bunch of interesting Humble bundles. Or maybe that was @Frindis . Well you both need to get your acts together. Work on it.

A Humble Bundle only counts as one.

@Zed Clampet since you have so many games to choose from, here is another one

Save 81% on Ultimate Fishing | Complete Editon on Steam

store.steampowered.com

@Zed Clampet you'd almost think he's doing on purpose.

 

[Zed Clampet]

A Humble Bundle only counts as one.



@Zed Clampet you'd almost think he's doing on purpose.

He is, but I have a secret weapon, I already own the games. So he's actually just reminding me of games to play.

 

[Colif]

Looks at thread... suspects Zed quoted me in error and then deleted it, as why else would I get a notification about the above response.

Blames Xenforo

 

[Zed Clampet]

So makes me wonder what sort of PC they were running this on in the build phase to reach the conclusion that making every vehicle an actual agent, or I don't know, predict the action of things with weather, was a smart idea? Were they using quantum computers as weather prediction isn't something we get right in reality...

As is said, in 10 years we might have processors with enough cores to give the game what it needs... right now, the most people have is 16 cores... it looks like it needs more than 8 cores right now, and not many CPU have that... besides server ones. (ignoring E cores and all the small ones that some CPU have now). Even the dual ccd X3D CPU only use one lot of cores now in games, they not designed to let you use both.

I don't know if its a memory restriction, its more a processing problem.

If you only want a small city or happy to restart when population reaches 200k, its an okay game now... though not sure what actual required specs are to get that... it might chew ram as well. All those calculations have to go somewhere.

I'm trying to picture in my head what it would take to have all those cars and people wandering around as individual assets. Satisfactory and Factorio both handle millions of assets moving very fast on conveyors, but I'm guessing that everything on a single conveyor belt shares the same arguments and calls. I certainly don't think they are polling everything constantly like Cities Skylines 2 might have to. "Where's car 138000892? Where's car 138000892? Where's car 138000892" potentially a billion times a second.

 

[Zed Clampet]

Looks at thread... suspects Zed quoted me in error and then deleted it, as why else would I get a notification about the above response.

Blames Xenforo

I just rewrote it. Should be above this post. The problem is that I started to respond to you this morning and never finished it and then accidentally included the fragment in the post to pifanjjr

 

[Colif]

Yes, its Xenforo's fault... I knew it.

You can clear its memory - last menu in the text choices box, more options/drafts/delete draft (slaps self as its not his job anymore)

Well, they were trying to create some reality in traffic as people had followed cars before and discovered they didn't always go to the same places.

Its because people have too high expectations (and maybe it was over promised) and don't realise asking for this makes game slow and means instead of having amazing graphics, the CPU is bogged down wondering where all the cars are.

Making the simulation more believable at expense of actually being able to play game on anything less than a top end PC with 128gb of ram and a 5090

Someone should have explained that to gamers when they demanded the feature, as we not there yet in a tech space to do it without downsides.

 

[neogunhero]

About once a year I get into a pretty heavy Game Dev Tycoon phase, and I'm currently in one now. I have no idea what it is about this game, but once you get going, it's hard to put down for a while. There isn't much to it, you're just clicking through different menus, but the fantasy of running a game company and the rush you get when your game finally does well is really compelling.

One thing that always puts a smile on my face is naming my games. I always do something stupid like "Piratez 2: The Buccaneering", "Alienz: The Invazion", or "WarFace" (wait a minute).

Besides that, all I've been playing is Skate. In a way I feel like I'm in a rut again because these are two low-impact games, very easy to veg out to. Haven't been playing anything of actual artistic relevance, but sometimes that's okay.

I've dropped Arco, perhaps I should pick that back up. It was really fun but it didn't grip me to stick with it for long. After about two hours I stopped playing, but it was really great, the writing was amazing and gameplay was very unique and innovative. That's one game that really makes me want a Steam Deck.

 

[Frindis]

Been playing this demo for roughly 3 hours. I like it, cute monsters, combat seems intuitive enough and I love that you can evolve the creatures. Reminds me a lot of Palworld, since I have never played any of the Digimon/Palworld games before. I agree with @Zed Clampet that keyboard/mouse implementation should have been MUCH better, but at the same time, I kind of understand why they want you to use a controller. It's the same with the Dark Souls series. Sure, you can use keyboard/mouse, but there is no way in in hell you are going to get close to anyone combat combat-wise that uses a controller. Why? Because the ability to switch between weapons/items can be done much faster since the series was built around controllers. I also think this might be true for Elden Ring also, even if you can play it with mouse/keyboard just fine.

Digimon Story Time Stranger Demo on Steam

Play the opening chapter of Digimon Story Time Stranger in this demo. Save data from this demo can also be transferred into the full version of the game.

store.steampowered.com

 

[Johnway]

So i finally buckled and decided to splash the cash for Path of exile. I bagged myself the first blood back (20 bucks or £17) and then prompty bought currency tab and the map tab with enough money for another stash tab. Effectively solving ALL my storage issues. Especially when i have my guilds 5 tabs to spare as well. Challenge wish its just more grinding, i'm closing in on another challenge (so 18 done) and got a few other ones in play. But again, i've done the math and there doesn't seem to be anything that points at the 28 completed. i need to find the last challenge and target it. But like i say it requires luck for me to get that opportunity. For instance, defeat 3 delve bosses. Sounds simple right? Well i need to find them, i technically have found 3, but i'm after a more reliable option. fingers crossed i get it before october. I really don't want to spend half a year playing more POE. I need to move on.


On other news, i've almost finished trails of cold steel. on the final chapter and against the boss of the final dungeon. unsurprisingly its difficult. it has a huge pool of health (200000 and i do like 1000-2000 at a time) and it hits hard enough to oneshot my team if i'm not at full health. its what i call BS. i understand the power of the boss etc but for a game its not fun to be oneshotted. i have been thinking of a plan and i just hope that i can just stack health so each person has 10000+ to buy me breathing room. The good news the boss isn't immune to any elements so i can get each member of the team to specialize on one element and go from there.

Of course, it really depends if i can stack health. if it only gives me one then i'm pretty much clueless as to what to do next.

 

[Zed Clampet]

Sure, you can use keyboard/mouse, but there is no way in in hell you are going to get close to anyone combat combat-wise that uses a controller. Why? Because the ability to switch between weapons/items can be done much faster since the series was built around controllers. I also think this might be true for Elden Ring also, even if you can play it with mouse/keyboard just fine.

That's what they told Guido and I about V Rising, yet when we spent a couple of days playing PvP, even I whipped more than whipped me, and Guido was Death walking among us.

However, in this case I have no doubt you are correct because after my short time with the game, I can only imagine what the rest of the keypresses I didn't get to are like. If they let me change them, that's a different story. I could put things on the 4 side buttons of my mouse.

My only problem with Elden Ring is their love of binding two things together. Mainly, I'm talking about dodge.

 

[Zloth]

I think I'm pretty much done with Liurnia. Guess it's time to explore Caelid. Ugh - nasty place.

My only problem with Elden Ring is their love of binding two things together. Mainly, I'm talking about dodge.

You mean like how dodge and sprint are the same button?

 

[Zed Clampet]

I think I'm pretty much done with Liurnia. Guess it's time to explore Caelid. Ugh - nasty place.


You mean like how dodge and sprint are the same button?

Yes.

******

ALL I NEEDED was for Monster Train 2 to use the card I was trying to play, and I would have won. It said, "Spend 50 coins and add 100 shield to unit", and every time I tried to do this it said I didn't have enough money. I had plenty of money.

I think the problem was that I upgraded the card. Originally the card said to pay 50 coins and add 50 shield. When I upgraded it, it changed the shield to 100 but left the coins alone. So either 1) The price was supposed to change but stayed the same on the card, or 2) The price wasn't supposed to change, but did internally, though not on the card.

 

[Zloth]

I took revenge on a certain surprise bear last night - though it took two tries. The first time I ran in a direction that made my summon vanish, and giant bears are ROUGH for a spellcaster. The critter hardly ever gives you a chance to cast anything!

My weapons were stuck because I didn't have enough smithing stone 3's. It seems that those mining caves aren't so optional. Finishing the boss isn't needed, but you've got to go through and pick up the smithing stones or your weapons won't upgrade.

 

[Zed Clampet]

I think I'm going to do the solo player's version of base raiding in Dune Awakening. I'm going to wander around looking for bases that have run out of power.

 

[Pifanjr]

So I made a new submarine in Barotrauma that's a bit more traditional and I've been playing through the campaign. It uses automatic turrets and is as small as I could make it, so I can pilot it mostly by myself.

My daughter saw me playing it and asked if we could play it together, so I made a new campaign for the two of us. She's still not very good at using a keyboard and mouse at the same time, but Barotrauma only has a few buttons and she was doing pretty well.

She insisted on playing as a mechanic, so her job was fixing anything that broke. Of course that means she doesn't have anything to do if things go well, so she started requested I break the sub more, leading to predictable results. Luckily you can just respawn.

She seemed to like playing together, though I don't think she really grasps the sense of progression and I have my doubts she'll want to play more. But maybe this is a sign that I should try introducing her to more games.

 

[Zed Clampet]

I've got to stay off the Dune Awakening store page. All the free weekend kiddies are leaving negative reviews, and they don't even have a clue. Reviews are filled with misunderstandings and general cluelessness. And if I read one more of them, I might lose the ability to correct them in a friendly way.

Fortunately, these reviews don't count since Steam is marking them all as "received the game for free".

The most depressing thing about PC gaming is watching the hive mind do its thing. I don't believe these are real people. I think they are just NPCs that Elon's simulation created as fillers for me and the other real person, a dude in Wisconsin.

 

[Pifanjr]

I've got to stay off the Dune Awakening store page. All the free weekend kiddies are leaving negative reviews, and they don't even have a clue. Reviews are filled with misunderstandings and general cluelessness. And if I read one more of them, I might lose the ability to correct them in a friendly way.

Fortunately, these reviews don't count since Steam is marking them all as "received the game for free".

The most depressing thing about PC gaming is watching the hive mind do its thing. I don't believe these are real people. I think they are just NPCs that Elon's simulation created as fillers for me and the other real person, a dude in Wisconsin.

 

[Zed Clampet]

These videos YouTube keeps recommending have to be fake. I lost track of this video, sadly, and so I can't link it, but this is as close as I can get to the conversation which was supposedly captured on someone's phone:

Woman: I'm having a great time tonight. We should get back together.

Man: That would be a terrible idea.

Woman: Why?

Man: Because I woke up and you had a knife to my throat.

Woman: I said I was sorry.

Man: I woke up as you were trying to kill me.

Woman (smiling): But I didn't. I was going to. I thought your time had come. But then God told me to not to kill you.

 

[Zed Clampet]

But an even better one was this:

Man: I'm leaving you.

Woman: Why?

Man: Because you slept with Alonzo.

Woman (Has a big cheerful smile): No! It's okay! We were going to sleep together, but he didn't fit., So we didn't do it.

Man: What! What the hell...

Woman: We tried to sleep together, but he didn't fit, so it's okay.

Man: What do you mean he didn't fit! I fit!

and so on

 

[Kaamos_Llama]

Played a few hours of Hell Is Us.

Its a 3rd person action game, the combat seems to be all melee and a little button mashy. Faster paced than Elden Ring and the moves dont have the same weight or deliberateness. It has difficulty settings if youre not into the fighting side, I'm playing on normal and have not been frustrated yet.

Setting and atmosphere is dark and bleak, alternate reality near Earth in a warzone somewhere vaguely European, which also seems to be descending into a kind of timey wimey cosmic horror nightmare. Apparently Annihilation was an major inspiration, but the vibe is also quite Alan Wake and a little bit newer Resident Evils. If anyone saw the German TV show Dark, it also has some of that about it. The monsters early on at least arent ghosts, demons or zombie types though, theyre weird smooth extra dimensional alien things, not moist or gory, more ethereal.

The story is youre a soldier with the 'ON' (UN) who stole equipment and snuck in looking for your parents who live in a village in the zone, . They dont give you much else.

So far lots of exploration and Tomb Raider/RE style puzzles where you need to pay attention to the environment, with no mini map and minimal UI, no quest log, no artificial markers. It's a semi open world with set seperate zones that it seems you can travel back and forth in between at will. The kind of game where sometimes a knee-high picket fence will block you off, but I dont mind that kind of gameyness here. Inside the zones there are interconnected paths with some wide open areas. There's no direction for where to go outside of clues found in the world and the vague goal of find your family. I'm not getting lost like I was in Expedition 33 though, the pathways have plenty of distinct landmarks.

It has a save point system, but its not Soulslike in that enemies dont respawn after saving. There was some talk of it running really badly before release, but Ive set it to Ultra and DLSS Quality with Frame gen and its running at over 120 FPS nealry all the time with only a little hitching when entering a new area on my 4070/5800X3D. Feels smooth.

Excited to play more of it, based on open critic review scores (80) maybe it drops off or gets samey, but apparently its a 20-40 hour deal so that probably wont worry me too much.

 

[BeardyHat]

Was going to play some Dune Awakening this morning, but realized I don't have time for cutscenes and character creation, as it'll be all my available playtime this AM.

I'm going to try and give it a go this evening if I feel motivated.

 

[Pifanjr]

Yesterday evening I went through my Steam library and installed a couple of different games to try out with my kid. However, today she surprised me by requesting to play Barotrauma again.

She still wasn't interested in the progression though. She just wanted me to break the sub again so she could fix it. Then she asked me how to order the bots around, installed herself as a dictator and banished me outside of the sub and proceeded to have a lot of fun ramming into me and trying to avoid letting me get back inside.