And again...

Gamescom had some interesting moments, from trailers to gameplay; But not much I'd seen made me really 'want' anything. DLC's maybe.....

Gamespot's, Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024 Full Showcase: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2-SIvsP0T8

Gamespot, preshow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lXQmgsb-4w&t=8430s

 

Jake Baldino has a more compact video everything cool from Gamescom 2024

 

I'd no idea that there was a new Commsnd & Conquer game, momentary unknown anticipation immediately faded to zero when I saw it was a mobile game. Command & Conquer: Legions

Civilization 7 - Official Reveal Trailer | gamescom 2024

Civilization 7 Will Be The Most Beginner-Friendly Civ Yet apparently.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKZl8gbYDHQ 

Given my heart is still more Civ 3 than 4, 5 or 6....... From 4 up it's all been too 'console'-esque to me. I've waffled before on this blog about civ.... Anyway 4, 5 & 6 only worked as the Xbox 360 version, Revolution, I liked that. Still for 7, gameplay will need to be seen, time will tell.

 
Farming Simulator 25 Gameplay Trailer was interesting but I doubt I'll be doing anything with it but I do watch more on youtube than play any Farm Sim game such as Daggerwin:

WOW I WASN'T EXPECTING THIS! - Farming Simulator 25 Gameplay Gamescom Trailer

Farm Sim 17 is my goto if I have to say a version.
 

Given my issues with Sniper Elite 5 I've not bought it on Steam but have played it via Gamepass. So seeing Sniper Elite - Resistance was of interest but as for getting... Time will tell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRlJu83DdKY

 

Dave the Diver - Balatro, Potion Craft & Mxmtoon Collaboration seems interesting but for me seems to be more along the lines of flogging a horse to death..... Announcement Trailer | gamescom 2024

More detail needed to see if I really need it; I've no connection to the DLC's themed content.

 

 

For my own gamplay, Battlefield 1 got a brief match or two on both PC and Xbox over the last week, but nothing worthy of any real mention, just decent, fun matches.

 

 

 

After a little more gameplay the Boltgun DLC has been completed. Boltgun is boltgun and the DLC is Boltgun plus. More varied waves to kill, in a shorter more intense experience. Very intense at stages. So it does what it says on the tin, again and more compact(at times). Enjoyable but I doubt I'll be back to just 'wave mode'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the PowerWash Simulator(DLC), I've completed the 40k DLC and started the Back to the Future content. 

 

 

The 40K DLC is peak themed Powerwash Simulator. Enjoyable if your into the theme(I am), with enough maps to make it worth it(imho).

 

 

Needless to say(?) the Back to the Future content is more 'fun'. Maybe it's just my nostalgia but seeing Doc's van and the parking lot itself is 'just' fun to be in. As for when you complete the car itself, yes an enjoyable animation to it's finish.

 

 

 

So far a really enjoyable experience. Next up the Clock Tower, external and internals. I'm a Back to the Future fan so just going up and into the clock-tower brings a smile.

 

 

Not to mention the town 'set' being enjoyable to take a wonder in.

 

 

 

Eve Online is as it usually is, daily do's with the added daily do's of actual in game mechanics of doing content to get rewards. My own dailies still include PI, manufacturing with a side of mining and PvE level 4's. The actual game mechanics of doing something daily are just added on top if they suit me or are coincidental. Like mining(mine X amount of ore), missioning(gain loyalty points, and kill X number of NPC's) or manufacture an item. The rewards all add up and should not be sniffed at. For the SP rewards more than the ISK but that depends on the players perspective. Players on the markets kill for such tiny .01 percentages you'd think players spending a few minutes to gain a million free isk wouldn't be scoffed at.... Anyway. Otherwise I've been hopping out and around mains and alts as the mood takes. As usual.

 

 

  

My RL friend is still neck deep in his production high's, lows and wowes. Again I can only offer my own takes as advice but more often than not he takes that advice with his own flavour(as he should), doing things his way. Still, talk about practical learning.... Something, something autopilot, lowsec system, something, something, killmail,.... Then I get a mail saying his production got delayed and I'll have to wait for my ships some more..... I amuse myself by awarding him with another corp medal with a witty description... I'm not smug honest.... Most of the time.

 

I did treat myself to finally buying both an Obelisk and a Bowhead. Along with their fits(one was way more expensive than the other, if you know what I mean. I've yet to implant a clone for the freighter. That's future fun.

 

 

 

The game client/launcher are still buggy cráp. On a good day it takes starting the launcher, clicking on character(s), deleting that/those process's's's, relaunching the launcher and starting again. Sometimes it takes more rounds of that merry go round.

 

Sometimes the client opens and before I've clicked a character to play it says it's already got clients running(and that's after a reboot). 

 

It's really not!

 

But best of all is when the game freshly started after a PC freshly starting does this and breaks itself. So wonderful. Here's to another year sub with 2 discounted yearly MCT's... Like last year so I can keep on this train of hope.

I mean a game that corrupts it's own files with it's own launch copy/verification and then complains about it. Why involve a user at all! Talk about auto-piloting to lowsec and complaining.

 

 

 

Star Trek Online has once again been my main goto, and again on Xbox more than PC. That said I've taken some time to claim ships with the yearly campaign rewards. 

Before I mention those, is it me or did the bank NPC 'overseer' get some more animations? Was she always this 'active'? 

  

 

Nice to see the Hirogen Escort get an update. https://www.playstartrekonline.com/en/news/article/11570912

 

 

On PC I've never used a token to claim one of my favorite ships, the Terran Lexington. I'm using it on Xbox as a mainstay on a few characters this long while. Again used as a mainstay on my never before mentioned second PC account.... But my main account, I'd never claimed it! I was surprised.  Then again I've so much on that account and so many 'themed' charecters/ships maybe no surprise.

 

 

Most ships I have are Federation. The game is what the game is so very Fed heavy. To add to my own theme builds I took two other tokens and 'bought'/'claimed' a KDF and a Romulan ship to add to the mix.

 

As for the 'premium' ship choice; I've no real need on any character for one. For the ship or trait. I'm not in the know with the meta. I can listen/watch a lot of those that do online/youtube.... But unlike my Gorn character and getting him a D7 with last years token... This year I had no real needs now or for the foreseeable..... Throw it in the bank for when I do have a need.........?    Meh no! I got my primary main the Mirror Warship...

 

 

Given the new changes to the T6 tokens being no longer able to claim ships that are on the store under 2 years, I was late to claim the Ahwahnee and in turn it's hanger pets. Funny(not haha funny) that I do have it on Xbox and on my 'other' PC account. Roll eye's, deep sigh, etc etc.

 

 

 

On an STO fleet note, my latest gripe to grind my gears on is when Fleets 'need' mandatory donations for player 'promotion'.

 

40K and sales....

Two Point Museum is the next iteration of the franchise. Which does look interesting. One of more interest to my wife (who is still going through Two Point Campus) than for me. GamesRadar had some interesting takes Two Point Museum is packed with customization, discovery, and playful charm!

Official Announcement Trailer:

 

 

Replaced got a 13-Minute Gameplay Overview via IGN, very interesting to see:

 

 

Breachway got a demo update... Full details here. It's made the game(demo) a more (imho) strategic turn based game than it was. It feels more turn based than quick click, at least to me. A harsher game because of it but in a good way. Graphics also to my eye have received a subtle cell shaded tweak..... I'm liking all I've seen so far.

This last week has seen me re-buy games I already have due to sales on different platforms as well as some more DLC. The games I already have are on PC and the sale was on Xbox. What did I pick up? The double pack of South Park games(the good ones), great games. As well as Star Trek Resurgence. It's a game I've mixed feelings on(at least second time round on pc, but on sale and on Xbox makes me think I'll enjoy it there more than 'again' on PC.... Yea it's a light excuse but I'm giving it a shot. 3 games for €24. Can't complain bout the prices...

 

On PC I picked up 2 of PowerWash Simulator's DLC's(Warhammer 40,000 Special Pack  &  Back to the Future Special Pack ); As well as Boltgun's DLC(Forges of Corruption Expansion). I guess I'd been in a 40k mood after watching Luetin09's latest video. 40K LEGENDS - LEMARTES GUARDIAN OF THE LOST | Warhammer 40,000 Lore History

 

 

Warhammer 40,000 Boltgun, Forges of Corruption, fun is fun.

 

  

 

 

 

 

PowerWash Simulator before the DLC was bought I completed the remaining extra jobs. Then went all in on the 40k jobs.

 

 

 

The 40K jobs work for me, great theming for the jobs. Can't complain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Planet Crafter hasn't seen any co-op of note this last week. I'd noticed from the co-op map(not fully terraformed) a few other areas where there were still items I 'needed' to collect on my solo map. So I explored/collected them.

 

 

 

 

No Mans Sky, I actually logged in, checked out a few things on the station I was on, looked up some notes..... Bit by bit I'm sure I need to do a fresh start of the game..... I may come round eventually to actually do it.....

 

Star Trek Online is still my dual platform mmo. It's getting attention on both Xbox and PC. Xbox again with more time than on PC. Xbox characters are still getting finalized(no fush), reputation etc. Otherwise, events come and go on both and content is done. Rinse Repeat. I'm into it hence the game on two platforms. Fun in it's doing.

 

I've not gotten up to speed on some content regarding choosing some reward ships from the event/campaign rewards. CasualSAB has a comprehensive vid: Best Premium Ships from Event Campaign VI

As well as the replacement for the combat meter. 

STO Combat Meter (SCM) Retirement & How to Install the Open Source Combatlog Reader (OSCR)

 

 

Eve Online gameplay is as my usual PvE needs must. The game/launcher is really all over the place in regard to a lot of things. For me they are, login rewards both earned and 'free'(free is back) apparently. Software wise the client and launcher issues are an ongoing frustrating clusterfk. I'm not sure CCP knows what they want with 'rewards' or game tech(due to the FPS), nor how to get what they think they want etc.etc. All a bizarre guessing game. I'm as outside as I can be and I'm looking at it with questions. Do they not? They seem to double down and down and then double down again....  Free SP weekly in the in game store, free SP and isk with 'rewards' from in game activity; Daily login rewards gone then back but SKINr based(ignored by me). Eve seems more a test bed now than ever before. Nothing like a live service to gain instant user reaction and dev motivation to 'fix' things. More to come internal tested or not. They really do seem to throw it all at the wall and see what sticks. Like shíting all over the people who are your current customers..... I'll shut-up....

 

OZ_Eve had an interesting vid/stream as always, PLEX Rush - The Oz Report (Aug 17th, 2024) - Eve Online Market Insights.