A Casual (Carebear) Gamer: October 2024

In the last few weeks I've manly been playing the usual online MMO's but also single player Planet Crafter. A game which captured my interest for sure. Specifically due to it's new DLC. Planet 'Humble'. The new planet/scenario is indeed interesting in nuanced ways(more on more of my other gaming after I waffle about it).

The changes may be considered minor, but the mechanic changes do mix things up. Which I've liked. Starting off the new planet, the realization about the lack of basic Cobalt(converts to Oxygen) is a somewhat panic 'omg' moment or two; Till you figure out(very fast) the new material and it's reprocessing to get cobalt. Noting like impending dire need to motivate.

The DLC is one I took my time in but at the same time flew through. Exploration, discovery, looting, building. All good, like a streamlined version of the main game planet. At least for 'veteran' Planet Crafter me. Yet I did not take my time to 'really take my time'. Progress is unavoidable once you start, just not done at break neck speed. Rockets by the end were my multiplier to real progress. I was well setup by the time the patch to introduce the Pirate crash site was implemented. End game is full planet transformation after all so I knew what was coming and what needed to be done. Watching the stats screen as I went, plugging the gaps as it all went on... Heat falling behind would lead to 2 new devices outside and 2 more heat rockets etc etc etc.

Overall the planet and the 'story' starts off interesting but fades fast; So much so that late game I was questioning if I'd missed a few things. But it's ending falls off a cliff. Talk about a let down. But the game is all about the playing and this DLC is no different. I was glad that I'd not gone slow to build up for a long stay. This DLC for me was always one and done, the more I played it the more it confirmed that decision for me.

I played it on standard. I'm all about the enjoyment. Best of luck if a player needs it to be 'harder'.

I didn't make any mammals or work with DNA beyond bee and silk larva and even at that only a few as the rest came from my single habitat and beach combing. A single base that is only a minor scratch compared to even the 3rd base/setup I had on my original planet save. Humble is good to experience and play as it is 'different'. There is 'interesting' in just being there and seeing it; But once done it's done for me.

A minor super-food farm was setup, as was a minor cookie farm.... Extra refined ores went into creating bars and exported via the trade rocket. Used in turn to get the only real item I 'needed'. T2 Storage. Some other minor blue prints were gained, just because(cookies).

So, the story in the end left me with more questions than answers and I took to the games discussions; It seems many players also felt the same. So in reading up I wasn't surprised by the ending and "the message". I could see the end coming from a galaxy away.

I was well done with the DLC by about 80% Terraforming. I'd automated everything and done most of everything needed/else, way beyond 'survival'. So I ended up 'waiting' around for the 100% and end message 'mail' to pop. Like I was spinning in a chair passing time.

Glad to have gotten the DLC, supported the game devs etc.... But I've no need to return to the Planet, or my base there..... Interesting distraction; So back to faffing about with my main base on the original planet, when I feel the need to actually 'play' the game.

Having said that I'm helping my wife on her 'Humble' save as she was amenable to co-op'ing the end of her save....

Now for a lot of screenshots of my Humble save!

Hope springs eternal for No Mans Sky and me but the game is only getting bigger; And still I can't get into it and the thought of starting from scratch is so off-putting as ever. Another try and another 'not for me' moment with the game. Hope springs eternal...... Maybe next time?

The season that it is the events are all in games, Euro Truck Sim 2 is no exception; Giving me time to also micromanage my trucking empire. With a 5% inkling to do at least one or two trips in American Truck Sim....

SCS Software

The new main menu screen has added Ghosts this year; As well as on the Trailer sidings. I'm not going 'mad' in doing the event trips needed. Plenty of time to do it(Sunday, 17th of November at 23:59 UTC).

I've yet to fully get into the Driving Academy. Time will fix that I'm sure.

Powerwash Sim also has it's 'spooky' map. Nice to see and good to have done.

Star Trek Online has seen a lot of my interest ratcheted down(Planet Crafter was in the way as a time-sink); So no surprise that game-play has been basic with event/dailies as the core on both PC and console. One thing of note has been the Red Alert filler between events on console. It started and hasn't stopped. Due to stop on the 17th of Oct it's still going and I've gotten to both claim the extra Dil each day and 2 of the main 'Red Alert' rewards. Odd but I'll take all the freebies I can get. I've no need to run it for the rep rewards but it's 'nice'. It's also survived 3 downtime's. I'm sure that in the background dev's have been at work to 'correct' it.... Thankfully such things in the past have not been 'revoked' so the longer it goes on the more players will benefit..... The usual Halloween event is it's usual interesting self. Again another long-term event both as in it's nearly over and years being run, year after year, where the player-base are all 80% clueless(what to do, where to do it and how etc). Is there really that high a turnover of players in the game.... Maybe I'm that naive....

Eve Online has much the same gameplay as ever for me. The more things change the more they stay the same. Kind of the same as the launcher and it's 'issues', ever ongoing in a self fulfilling error loop. Launch and error, error due to failed launch, round and round we go again.

As for gameplay, it's P.I. Mining, Industry with the usual 'dailies'. PvE when I have more time to commit to it. That said I've been pushing an alt more down the AFK mining route for no other reason than on a side pc I can....

I've been avoiding all Star Citizen news especially anything from the recent CitizenCon. With luck the proof in the pudding will explain itself sooner rather than later with an actual game. Not holding my breath at all.

That said TheYamiks has done some interesting overview vids on it comparing other top space games etc.

- Star Citizen VS Elite Dangerous VS No Man's Sky VS X4 Foundations (2024/2025)

- BIGGEST Videogame Ever is coming 2026? - Squadron 42

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has had a Nuketown Launch Trailer. Great map from back in the day. Fun. Looking at the trailer brought back a lot of memories. As for the modern iteration of CoD , I've no interest.

Red Dead Redemption getting to PC is a good thing and it seems to be running well. Even if it costs more than I'd like. Sale for me.

https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/red-dead-redemption-may-still-look-like-a-14-year-old-game-but-its-absolutely-brilliant-on-handheld-gaming-pcs/

But to play it on Steam-deck is interesting:

ETA PRIME

Cities: Skylines, the first game, is getting new DLC! If nothing else that should tell you what to think of the second game!

https://www.eurogamer.net/cities-skylines-1-gets-new-paid-dlc-18-months-after-its-supposedly-final-update

I've waffled about both games on this lil'ol'blog. Why I liked the first and not so much the second.

Sociable Soccer is still plying itself. '25' is going to be 'decent'; But I think I've lost all interest in it.

https://www.sociablesoccer.com/blog/be-more-sociable-this-season

Subnautica 2 is official with trailer and Steam page etc. With luck it will be 'good' as I wasn't into SubZero. So will see how this goes.... Wish-listed.