Happy New Year!!!!

Contemplation....

vlogbrothers

Steam Replay 2022....

The Steam Replay 2022 is an interesting bunch of personal stats. While not all "lies, dámn lies and statistics"; the percentage's that make the replay are what they are. A surprise to me in a few ways. No surprised that Planet Crafter is among the most played but that Sniper Elite 4 shows up there is. Especially as it's only 1% above a game I'd thought I'd played a whole lot more... Euro Truck Sim 2. 

Surprised as well when considering that Steam isn't the only 'platform' I game with.... I wonder what the real stats would be when including game-pass on PC/Xbox, Ubisoft, GoG, EA and Epic's launchers.... Never mind adding in World of Warcraft, Eve Online and Star Trek Online, MMO's; and games like Minecraft(java) with their own launcher. Plus that little bit of Oculus VR that is sure to add to the mix. Maybe it's best not to know those stats!!

Anyway the Steam stats are interesting.

Happy Christmas....

Islanders....

It's been a while since I've played Islanders(blogged on here, here, here and to a lesser extent but still relevant here). It's still a chill, relaxing experience. Games that get long-term TLC updates are always of more interest to me. Games that stay installed. Especially when those updates are not monetization based. I noticed yesterday that Islanders got such an update that also included seasonal changes. While not a compulsory way to play the game I wanted to see what was added to make it 'seasonal'.

I wasn't disappointed. It's a minimalist cut game as is but the seasonal additions really added to the cute factor. The lights, presents, 'candy canes' are all just that, seasonal cute. Sometimes it's the little things that make a game or a return to a game more enjoyable. It was pleasant to be back.

ETS 2....

Progress is progressing since last time. Faster from what I can see on ETS 2 than in the American version. Another year and another winter event that's given rewards to both iterations of the game. 

Which in turn has me thinking should I get ATS? The more I see in ETS 2 as complete the more ATS is a 'different' fresh start. Something to ponderon as the Steam sale nears. Then again do I really need to add another long-term game.....

I've completed the personal goals with a bit of hopping around the map to add some variety to the jobs.

With another expansion on the horizon as well I took some more time to work on the business side of the game. Trucks trailers and drivers. Adding in some smaller garage locations to fill in the coverage gaps. Not that that's a real stat to know or work on; More a gut feel from what I'm seeing on the driver location map. That and the profit turnover per day with a cross check on trailer use. That said there is no need for profits. With a +1 billion account, that goal for more it's not what it once was. Still it's a means to really hit the ground running and make any new map areas/DLC work for me sooner than later.

Star Trek Online....

Despite having resubbed(again) to WoW; STO has for the past week been my most played MMO.

Since the last couple of posts(here and here)I've been more into the Winter event on PC, specifically my new Breen themed character. That said I've still kept the Kuumaarke Visionary ground set on him and his crew. So it's not all themed.

In trying to be a little more thematic with the Officers I tried to buy the Cryo grenades but the vendor never had any. 50/50 chance every hour my azz. With him being out of my way it wasn't worth the effort to keep trying.

On a positive side I've been happy to mess about with the 'winter' space skills on said bridge officers. Nothing min/maxed, casual is casual in a mix and match fun kind of way.

With my friend new to the game I've realized how complex trying to explain the game systems is. Skills, traits, buffs and bonuses to the player, bridge officers, active space and ground Doffs ... All interconnected and different. The deeper you dig the bigger the hole, not sure if there will be a critical mass of information. Time will tell. I've said and he is thankful for not overloading the info on him. Which has all been an interesting process but there is so much that interconnects.

Some players obviously enjoy the winter more than others! Just look at this lil character!

Of course with the good and interesting comes the 'bad' and frustrating. Like a now old TFO I've complained about before. Where 90% of players are clueless as to the tactics of what to do. I mean even when a narrator says to close portals, defend the data center, they don't seem to understand never mind do. I still can't get over it..... I alleviate the frustration by watching the carnage. Should I type text to explain and focus players to do things. I could and probably should but I don't need the potential aggravation of interactions. WoW thought me that many moons ago. I'd like to think players would be nice but I'm not one to tempt fate. Plus it's not like the TFO lasts that long. 

When a group lacks DPS it's obvious what kind of TFO experience it's going to be no matter how 'good' players are and act; But a good underdog fight is still better than intentional bystanders. As for the rest I've done enough complaining for now.

Just more gaming waffle....

After the update for Subnautica came, it's been on my mind(no surprise right!); So I hopped back in. My main save had my character in the deep; In a somewhat 'dangerous' area near where a ghost leviathan patrols. As with most things in the game the idea of the deep dark dangers are a thousand times worse than the actual real danger(not to say there aren't... real dangers); But getting back to a save where it's been a while and all that was once familiar and taken for granted was strange and a little jarring. All that aside I did head back to my main base and replace the dome on a few buildings. Which looks nice. I've no need to swap out any others for the 'larger room'. If I did it would take away from the original gamplay journey. Small changes here are best.

I was a bit dumbstruck when I saw another new DLC coming out for Cities Skylines. It's almost as much content as the Sims 4! While I can appreciate the game being more to some gamers it's lost it's appeal for me a long time ago. I used to hope back in to see the free additions on patches but I've lost that interest as well. Sometimes a game can have too much content! Being curious to see what I'd missed I clicked into the games store page. I was a bit shocked to see the combined bundle and it's price listing for all the content I didn't have! There's a lot, a lot!

Still it's a lesser price on sale than it was before even if .....Sales math....

I'm not buying but the moral of the story is....

Always wait for a sale.

Always wait for a sale..

Always wait for a sale...

Or so the lotto says(lol).

Event and dailies continue.... Eve login rewards, STO event daily, Euro Truck Sim 2 event but not a daily thing that's to do.... And maybe WoW rewards over the weekend.... With a side of Battlefield 1 just for fun. I've also started A Plague Tale Requiem, pondering if I should do it as a Youtube thing like I did with the previous game. I also want to test Kingdoms and Castles VR mode just for laughs....

Too many games not enough time.... Same'ol same'ol..

ETS 2....

Another day, another game and it really is that time of year. Winter events of one kind or another in games of all kinds.

ETS 2's version see's a gamer deliver gifts. No real surprise there. 

As for in game changes I do like the snow background. I'm not one to mind the seasonal changes on a theme when it comes to the in game graphics. I'm not into mods for the game but a bit of in game snow would be a nice touch, maybe one day.

This years 'gift' trailers are another new design based on the winter theme which is in turn themed on "Love, Peace, Hope, and Care". Like the previous years I 'get' it, I get why they have it but I also no not like how it looks. This or the previous two years.

I miss the old theme where the trailer had actual presents. The last of which was cheery, bright and festive as F**k!

Once they were 'just' presents.  

Then they added more and lights!

As for this years rewards, they are 'fine'. The neon-themed, truck paint job "Lines of Reflection" could be interesting on the right truck/trailer. I'm sure once the community has unlocked all the rewards(5 of them?) there will be something for everyone; So far I'm not swooning over any I've seen on the blog. Again I get the themes within a theme but it's not working for me....

I really miss the (newer) old trailer.

Subnautica....

A game I've played, considered and pondered about for many years. It's always nice to see an older game get a new update. Maybe more so when the improvements of a later follow up game trickle down to the previous iteration. So it is with Subnautica's latest update. Lessons and updates from Below Zero have come to Subnautica.

While I appreciate the larger room and dome, I don't think I need to return to the game to start upending bases with restructuring(never say never!!!).

But it's the 'little' differences that have impressed me more.

The UI and icons are improved; The battery indicator on the items in the bottom bar a much better option....  All good stuff!

Improvements to the overall game engine are also welcome. Again I may not be actively playing the game but I know its a game I'll come back to(revisit).

Planet Crafter....

While my main save game time is all about farming the Golden butterflies; I've reached a point where even than is less appealing never mind useful. Collecting for collections sake. I think the next patch is really needed to get actual game progress.

My secondary save is the one where my base was slightly misplaced given the further development changes I've seen in my main save.... The large vine. So I did it.... I moved the base and it's contents one module over.

Main save preview of the area...

Newly moved base(second save)...

It's not much but it's been worked on, improved and somewhat streamlined and should be safe enough. 

It was a lot of work to empty the buildings, setup temp storage and then put everything back. Things a player does when he's not paying for WoW(lol).

Overall the more things change the more they stay the same. I may have to stop saying that even if it's true.

One thing I'm thankful for is that asteroids do not destroy any building or structure that they hit. I'd be an unhappy gamer if they did.