Thursday, 8 May 2025

Wafflin the waffle again....

The last few weeks month (now month) or so has been (for the most part) a return to normal as can be. No more so than in my own lack of motivation on blogging. The last part of the 'job' on my mam's house was internal and a separate job in itself; Which in it's last week saw the final a re-visit from the plumber. With the added bonus of fiber broadband installation due(copper switch off and phone number transfer), still due(3rd time lucky). A crew of efficient cleaners was the very last thing to be organised and did a cleaning blitz on the inside of the house under my wife's direction to get all sparkling. My mam got to return home, adjust to the new changes on the house(heating controls etc)..... So all has worked out well. Gigabit internet will be such a change from visiting with years of phone hotspot and she will have a more reliable service with her contacts(family and friends). Can't complain about a cheaper monthly phone bill in that regard either, while also enabling access to broadband.......  Did I mention broadband..... Joys of modern technology. One step at a time. Like all things life as usual goes on, changes are always happening in one way or another.


The trailer and info that's been coming out about the Minecraft movie says it is what it is, a kids movie with broader franchise appeal. While not all things to all people, it's got something for everyone. That said I've no intention of going to see it. It's no cult classic, more a flash in the pan. I'll catch it at some stage on some steaming service, sometime..... I did like Jake Baldino's take on the movie; I feel in the same boat....


While I'm no stranger to using black markers to do outline borders on certain 3d printed items, replacing paints with full on paint markers now seems to be a more doable 'thing'.... Interesting to see even if I'll stick to my version of painting on whatever model/item I'm 'painting'.....

 
Stahly (Tale of Painters)



LGR seems to be getting his life/home back on track, he's been putting out a lot more vid's across his channels. Great to see. Vintage Computer Festival East 2025 on LGR Blerbs



Marathon got a PR push to introduce it's Alpha ish state. For me, the story narrative via cinematic's shown was interesting or should I say intriguing. I do like the Tron meets Jet set radio visuals that a lot don't seem to like at all. Gameplay wise I was interested till I saw it was a full on looter shooter..... And even less interested in it having a 'cost'.

Marathon | Gameplay Reveal Trailer

Marathon - Official Cinematic Short Story Trailer (Directed by Alberto Mielgo)

Marathon | Gameplay Overview Trailer

Marathon - Official Alpha Gameplay Creator Highlights

It's a pity that the game won't have community area's like Destiny; Even more that the story is all going to be via pickup items and read in their descriptions. A massive let down of a game that had so much promise. Makes me want to go back to Warframe's proven track record, never mind cinematics/music.

As for Marathon it's still got time until release, not much. So it's release will tell all.
 
Worth watching for insight to the game: I played Marathon early... from Jake Baldino



Hitman World of Ass'assination while now in my Steam library, has not seen much gamplay. I think the third game 'spoiled' the fun for me with it's version/publishing shenanigans. The final straw in the messing about with customers 'stuff'. That said a few weeks ago I did pick up the game and felt the old 'fun' for it but I've not been back to it since. Despite the game seeming to bring much of my previous unlocks together..... Like they should have done from the off. Elite Sniper games have fully filled the covert void for my gaming. All said I got another chance to pick up the Twitch drops. I'm not sure if the coin redeem problem has been solved...... No official announcement was ever made but it seems it's fixed, I must check in game when I can....


And I see it's listed now.....



My Xbox gameplay has been mainly Star Trek Online, with some pottering about on Tetris, Darkest Dungeon, Battlefield 1 and Assassins Creed Mirage.

The Tragedy of Ubisoft and Prince of Persia The Lost Crown (by I Finished A Video Game) is an interesting video that makes me want to play more of the game; But then I do and then I stop again. It's a game I want to play but it's too much of a trick platformer for me. If your into Super Meatboy in a Dead Cells meets Tunic way then this is gonna be a game your interested in.... I thought it was gonna be more 'just' dead cells.....





Staying on XBox, Assassins Creed Mirage may be seen as a lesser son of greater sires, but I like that it's open world in a limited (by comparison) way. Not that I've been playing much but it's been fun. Same great AC Origins taste, smaller packaging. Each to their own acquired taste. Origins being the pinnacle AC joy for me, so Mirage's similarities are my bias.











On PC.......


 

The Planet Crafter, is getting moons to manage. Which should be interesting. I'm all about this game's ever evolving state so time will tell how this plays out. New content is needed as I'm a hoover for what the game gives.
 
Miju Games



Is Star Citizen FUN? was an intereting video from TheYamiks



A lot of games are getting a lot of updates.....

Astrox Imperium's final updates are flowing well, they will be missed when the final end comes....

Jason Plays has interesting vids on the latest from No Mans Sky, no sign of that ever slowing down...

There was news that Planetbase will be getting a second game.... As long as the food makers allow for menu choice rather then auto making I'll like the game.... 

Powerwash Simulator, I can't say I was happy when I saw PowerWash Sim 2 was a real thing. My gut reaction was that the first game wasn't finished with yet..... I've still for first game DLC on my wishlist...


That the mere existence of the second game was a stain on the first in a pointless to go on kind of way; In a why bother with either. How do I know I won't be halfway through 2 and the 3rd is announced. They are not done with the first game imho and DLC seems to be more a fund our second game than create for the first, gives a bad gut feeling which has turned me away form both.

Which lead me to take interest in Spray Paint Simulator, I'll have to try it on Gamepass for PC......


It was interesting to see some Farm Sim youtubers; And while not back into any Farm Sim game I was reminded of the special edition either last year or so that included a retro 16-bit version. Which I think was brought to life from a previous April fools joke image(?). But whatever reason I searched for it and it's available to buy on the official site... Not that I got it but one of those internet search rabbit holes..... A real thing. Farming Simulator: 16 Bit-Edition:


The System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is coming and I home is a good one. While I wasn't tempted to get the Oblivion remaster I might with this.....



The Saboteur is a game that came out a good while ago; Seems a game that passed me by back in the day. I'm interested now.... The Saboteur Retrospective vid below is an interesting one. I put it on my Steam Wishlist.... Then a 50% SALE hit and I picked it up for €4.99



Via Xbox Ultimate for PC I took advantage and played Sniper Elite Resistance. A game I was a bit skeptical about; Sniper Elite 5 was a bit of a disappointment due to it's early bugs. I didn't go back to it once my initial playthrough was done.... Resistance being new and worth a shot(pun pun) to see what had changed with mechanics...... Waffle aside, yes, it's a great game. It's maps are better in a more 'clear' and open way imho compared against 5. It's easier to navigate and unlike 5, a player can go over small walls a lot more. Or at least it's more visible what can and not be mantled. I've really enjoyed Resistance. So much so that I've actually gone achievement hunting. When it's cheap on Steam I'll pick it up there as well with all the bells and whistles(Yea I still believe that Steam games belong to me). 





The only ting I can point at as a flaw in resistances release is a minor scenery misalignment(on one map). Not game breaking at all. Not even immersion breaking for me.


With Resistance out SE 5 was on sale on Steam. I picked up the all singing and dancing version. In an attempt to copy over my Xbox saves to PC(despite following all the directions) they just showed up as corrupted. I guess that window of opportunity has passed. 

5 today has 90% less bugs than when it came out. Playing 5 after resistance I'm more appreciative of 5 which hasn't had any real 'quirks' apparent to me as I've played it again. Not like the first time I played it. In my mind Resistance is a perfect fit between the 4th and 5th games.

I also 'get' that altering difficulty choices due to different gameplay moods, styles and needs are all part of the fun... It's a personal and perspective thing. Great game from that perspective as well. Enjoyable to play even making things harder once certain items are unlocked. Fun in custom ways.


Spot the Sniper

Seeing SE 5 today I think I 'may' have been overly critical back in the day, they have made good on the game. Playing 5 directly on from Resistance as well as Resistance having a separate character really does makes me appreciate both games that bit more today. 


 
 



If you know you know



RoboCop Rogue City has been played. It's exactly as it says on the tin, it's a Robocop game with all the nostalgia 'feels' you could want. A game I'm really happy with, better than even my enthusiastic view of it's reviews. The open city to walk around in, the side missions to flesh that out and the main story to enjoy. It's a (dare I say) perfect way to carry on the story from the films(first 2 anyway). Also the first time in a long time where I've stopped and said the graphics are great. The wet roads and puddle reflections are so good! Wandering around the world is a fun thing to enjoy. It's a game that tickles all the member-berries in all the right ways.


















There's a new standalone DLC for Robocop coming up but I'm not sold on it yet.
RoboCop: Rogue City - Unfinished Business seems best described as a Robocop skin on the Dredd 2012 movie. While I'm not opposed to that, my want of this standalone DLC is going to be based on it's price. Given that there are already physical preorders listed in the €30 range, that means I've no interest. Maybe down the line someday....


 
Star Trek Online is ongoing on both PC and Xbox, same game but that bit 'different' of an experience due to the platforms. While I do mimic my Xbox characters to those on PC it's all about the little differences. On Xbox it's not got all the controll options as the PC has but there are one or two instances where Xbox has a slightly more casual pick up and play edge. Depends on the gamer and the game play mood.

PC tfo's definitely have a ship bias attitude. Of which I'm guilty of as well. Hop in a TFO and it's easy to see before things start who is going to be 'effective'. The expensive shiny ships are for the most part piloted by those with more cash than sense, expecting the ship to make them great. Crash and burn as I fly past in my alt with a free T5 and a build that didn't cost anything..... 

Anyway, it's been all event dailies and character tidy-up based on my own gamplay styles.... Nimbus clicky on all etc..... Never mind making characters more racial/thematic etc..... All in the eye of the player.... But all fun in the doing.







Eve Online is the other MMO time sink on PC that is as always 'ongoing'. Ultimately my Eve Online time has been same'ol, same'ol. Capsuleer day/Fanfest and events all culminating this month as a massive content spree which I've very little to do with. I am neither motivated to engage with the newer content or stop my own ways to do so. I'm claiming the login 'gifts' and doing my own thing. PvE casual carebear that I am. In a lot of those ways I'm my own worst enemy. That said I'm a risk averse carebear who has as much dislike of asset loss as interaction with other players. Talk about each to their own. 






The next 'expansion' also has no interest for me. As the other new Eve Online franchise games/iterations. FPS shooter or not. Time will tell but I'm not holding my breath.

Again as I've always said, I'm all for beter quality of life and there are some interesting items from Fanfest.... Time again will tell.

The free Omega days were nice to get and allowed my Alpha alts to collect PI etc. 

I've also taken opportunities to mute and background run Twitch to claim the skin drops etc.


Ashterothi has interesting recap/review vids on fanfest, Day 1, Day 2 & everything else....



























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