Thursday, 24 July 2025

That time again....

The Subnautica 2 'thing' has been interesting to see unfolding; I'm sure now that things are gone all legal it'll be a while before 'news' comes out.

https://www.eurogamer.net/subnautica-2-delayed-by-publisher-krafton-just-months-before-alleged-250m-payout-to-developers

 

This week in video games has a site up as well as the YouTube channel, separate but the same. Interesting. https://thisweekinvideogames.com/

 
 
 
Stop killing games has some interesting information....
 
 
Speaking of which, Ubisoft is Ubisoft?

 

After having thought the game was 'done'.... Or better to describe 'done for me'; An official Release Date of  Plan B: Terraform will be out the end of next August.... Interesting to see.

 

Speaking of a game I thought I was done with..... Starship Troopers: Terran Command is getting another DLC and a 3rd year roadmap..... Time will tell if I pick the paid content up.....

 


Star Trucker Update 1.0.67.0 - Mid-Session Difficulty Settings, was of interest. A game I want to get into but the time hasn't been there to allow it, with one ting and another. I thought with the lull in Euro Truck 2 events etc I'd have been into Star Trucker but no..... Not yet. 

 

RoboCop: Rogue City - Unfinished Business has still been in my peripheral vision. I'm hearing good things as in it's more of the same goodness. Given how 'done with it' I was at the end of the 'main game' I think I just need more time and space to then 'make' me want more.... Time and a sale......

 

The Saboteur is a great game while I've played more of it, there's not been a lot..... Then I restarted as I'd thought I'd messed up something.... Not that that would have mattered in this game, but it mattered to me.... Only it really didn't matter in the end but no great shakes. Enjoyment was had and will be moving forward.




 
 
 
Otherwise game-play overall has been game-play. What I want in the moment with no real plan.
 
Bit of Wii bowling/emulation quick play etc...
 
Battlefield 1 either on Xbox or PC seems to have servers filled with clans, trouncing spamming solo randoms like me..... But it could just be the summer and the schools are off...... Who am I to judge age and skill....... 
 
Xbox has seen me pick up 60 Seconds! Reatomized, which was on a 50% sale for the hefty, hefty price of 4.99. Spur of the moment thing. I got the game on PC back in the day(2015) when it came out first, then got the upgraded edition 'Reatomized'(2019) when they released it free for those that had already got the original. I've had great fun with it over the years so it's just nice to have it on Xbox....
 

Xbox has also seen me play more Darkest Dungeon & Assassins Creed Mirage... Both in their early days with no rush to 'finish' them; Fun in 'just' the doing. Adding in a bit more Tetris connected here and there. Not to mention Star Trek Online but more on that later. 
 
The Darkest Dungeon campaign I've got running is set on the 'easy' Radiant Mode as I'm here for the fun not the slog. Already been there, done that, blogged about it(times 3 full content runs).
 
 
Assassins Creed Mirage is best summed up as Origins 'lite' for me. Origins was a joy I was completionist about(as blogged); Mirage appeals due to it's more restrained landscapes..... I've been trying to get into Odyssey but it's like the more I try the more I don't want to play it.... And I go back to Mirage. Granted Odyssey is on PC but Xbox controllers all the way. I'm not sure about ditching Odyssey as it has a lot to offer it's just that Mirage seems more accessible never mind 'shorter'.
 
 

As much as I play Tetris Connected, I've missed the last few events; But still got to claim a nice Avatar or two in the last few hours of teh most recent...
 

So, Star Trek Online on both PC and Xbox has seen the ongoing daily event shenanigans. I've also taken a shine to getting the Risian tribble for the buff to flying speed(on lots of characters). On Xbox my latest (motion picture themed) character has been the one to do the event, including the pets(birds) just because.. Fun is fun. A recent vid my a youtuber re a build for any ship that outperforms given it's omni-ship nature; Which should help me make the most of the main ship I want on this themed character.... The Compiler Science Dreadnought. A ship I could never get to grips with.... For lots of reasons not just the fit, but if the right fit is there it may smooth things out..... Not that there are no other ships to use.... I've got 3 others well fit for him to use but the theme is the theme...... Time will tell.
 
 



 
 
Eve Online has seen me do a good bit of the usual same'ol same'ol, PI, industry, asset management etc etc.... When it comes to PI I've no real complex chains setup; Going more for low cost quantity bulk sales to make the meeeeeellions. That said 2 characters furthest away from Jita have complex setups. One was to help a friend who no longer plays the game(for now, again); The other charecter was so far away in Minm space that the long haul to Jita wasn't worth my time. Local markets and markets near enough are very much not worth the loss in profits. So a catch 22. I was ending up with a lot of stock building up. Waiting for the sell sell sell moment that wasn't arriving.... Maker suck is a real thing. So I pulled the trigger to redo that characters PI, not for isk generation but the end product for me(my main).  A four year old youtube video being the template for my new setup. 
 
 

Things are setup and working much the same as he has, working away slow and sure. Still early days yet for me but for as complex as it is it's got an ease to it in it's doing for the product rather than the sales.....
 
This ship he uses in the vid is also interesting given the low bulk of the T2/T3 product shuffle. The character I used is also Minm in Minm space and had plenty of spare T1 Haulers and parts to play with.... Noting ventured nothing gained and it turned out well given what was on hand to mess with.
 
 
[Wreathe, Wreathe]
Type-D Restrained Inertial Stabilizers
Expanded Cargohold II
Damage Control II
'Halcyon' Core Equalizer I
Type-D Restrained Inertial Stabilizers

10MN Afterburner II
Multispectrum Shield Hardener II
Compact Thermal Shield Amplifier
Compact EM Shield Amplifier
Medium Shield Extender I

Improved Cloaking Device II

Medium Low Friction Nozzle Joints I
Medium Low Friction Nozzle Joints I
Medium Hyperspatial Velocity Optimizer I 
 
 
While the ehp is about 3k lower than his the align time is 3.51 seconds so ever so slightly quicker than his. Not that those really matter.... If you get caught, your 'caught'. He was in lowsec so hisec with my fit should be 'fine'. Right....... Right....... :)
 
 
My alpha alts downsizing went well and redistribution of ships and assets has been interesting to both de-clutter and de-complicate.
 
Not quiet back to basics..... That would need me to go to one of my alts alone which I've thought about before... The alts that were created to use the second decade time codes...... Back to them would be interesting as mains but that is already well trodden ground.... Then again with the right corp.......?

Thursday, 17 July 2025

Wii Journey.....

The only hands on with a Wii I had in the 2000's was via my then girlfriend's(now wife's) console. As original a Wii as you can get. White Wii, balance board etc etc.... Wii Sports bowling being my favorite game; Yet I was never in any need of my own Wii console and I never embraced it for it's other games or gameplay. I didn't look down on it in any way, I was just an Xbox console and game gamer. OG Xbox to 360 etc, etc, PC gaming all the while. Wii on release was and still is a game changer of note, but was never enough to 'make' me get into it's ecosystem. Roll on nearly a couple decades(ish plus) and I felt a need to play bowling again.... 
The original console had resided under the sitting room TV for years unused till it was put away in a container in the back of a wardrobe of an unused bedroom/place where everything gets put temporarily short term(longterm) as a Storeroom with a bed..... One of those rooms..... My need to Wii Bowl got the Wii out of storage only to discover/rediscover parts that were loaned out..... My wife had loaned both of the controllers and nunchucks to her brother; So in the wait to get them back I'd too much time to ponder the Wii listings on Amazon and Temu etc...... So in the background of the last six or so months I've been fully embracing the Wii gaming lifestyle. With my need to play bowling, looking at the 3rd party cheaper(than back in the day) items/games, I decided to 'be all about the Wii'. Both my wife and I kind of crossed over in online searches and purchases, she had more success with the motion plus modules than I did.....I just got the motion plus 2 pack, she got the motion plus 2 pack with silicon sleeves.....   






I also picked up a Wii Classic Controller....
Wii to HDMI converters seemed to be a more practical buy (2 pack was cheaper than one standalone).....

 
A spare sensor bar (just in case) because I own a cat that has been known to take interest in 'vulnerable' cables..... Even if the cable has been in place for years, ignored by him, then suddenly appear in his visuals(leads to butt wiggle, pounce, attack, chew....). Cat is cat. 



I also picked up 20 Blank White DVD cases as second hand games tend not to have the best case condition.... Which leads me onto, pondering the second hand games market. More on that in a mo....

Also in the wait for the controllers to return back from the brother-in-law I was very tempted to buy 2 'replacement' controllers but before I could the OG controllers made a return appearance. With those back it was time to get the Wii out of storage, which was good bar one exception; The Wii Sports Disc was not in the Wii Sports case..... The one game I really liked from the before times..... The only game I really had an urge to play.... Typical. We have no idea where it could have 'gone'...... 
Looking up the second hand markets and the game is beyond the price it should be. As the main second hand shop chain is looking for €38+ for it and second hand solo sellers see it as just as expensive... Even if the game was with everything back in the day......Talk about price gouging. 

Of the games and hardware already part of the collection or bought in, some were looked at via nostalgia for a moment then put back into the storage box....... The Wii Fit disc and Balance Board never made it out of the box! Science Pappa had been a game for a niece back in the day so it went back in the box as well.

Second hand games are for the most part either really cheap or really expensive. Wii Sports despite it's numerous discs given away back in the day is one of the most expensive games..... I like the game and I really want to play Bowling but I'm not gonna pay €38+ for the disk......
 
 
So with the original White Wii console(software version 4.3e) and 2 Official Controllers and Nunchucks; We also now had(needless to say all 3rd party) 2 x Wii to HDMI converters (I'm all about the spares) 2 new Sensor Bars(wired), wired classic Controller, 2 x Motion Plus Controller addons and 2 x Motion Plus Controller addons with longer silicone grip sleeves... Not a bad bundling.
  
The games already owned from the OG days were already the most of interest to her. Even if, as I said, some already went back in the box. Those kept out included.....
Wii Sports(just need to find the disc to put in the case)
Numerous Just Dance games
Numerous Rabbids games 
Monopoly / Monopoly Streets 
 
Second hand games picked up that were of interest include:
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit
Need for Speed Undercover 
Rouge Trooper (Quartz Zone Massacre) 
Tomb Raider Anniversary
Red Steel
Red Steel 2 
Wall-E
Sid Meier's Pirates
Splinter Cell Double Agent
Trauma Center Second Opinion
Carnival Funfair Games
 
Of that last list, the top 9 were of interest to me and the bottom 2 were of interest to 'herself'.... Of those some where not as expected, some better. All played but none 'completed'. This is all about fun in doing for short game-play sessions.
 
Between, Need for Speed Hot Pursuit and Need for Speed Undercover I expected the newer of the games to be better but Hot Pursuit was much better then Undercover. I know Wii versions/ports are not regarded as 'good' by gamers overall, but for the Wii and what it is.... Hot Pursuit is the better of the two and plays well considering it's limitations by comparison to oter platforms. The games fun is there. Undercover plays like your in a fair ground bumper car... Disappointing. Pursuit was fine, no great shakes but fine for (not to do it a disservice) what is is.
 
Rouge Trooper (Quartz Zone Massacre); a joy of a game, plays relay well, not a game that's fussy with Wii controls or too busy being a Wii game(game mechanics for the sake of using Wii specific actions).
 
Tomb Raider Anniversary was not like Rouge Trooper, I couldn't play it. It was very fussy with it's mechanics/controls, too busy being a Wii game to let gamplay break through. The grapple/nunchuck motion/action was a pain to use. To be kind it felt unintuitive. I didn't even try it with the controller but may have to reattempt it with that at some stage.... 
 
Red Steel was interesting and while it was a little all over the place with it's controls and what it wanted to be(fps or sword fighter). The middle ground of both felt like being unbalanced on a tightrope but there was enough momentum in it to carry me through the gameplay..... 
But! 
Red Steel 2 is a game where it knew what it wanted to be and is super fun to play in a world that knew what it was. Swords all the way! Very fun to play.
 
Wall-E while being a platform puzzler(not my favorite style/genre), has the movies looks and charm to bring Wall-E to life. And with that the gameplay felt good.... Another enjoyable title.
 
After trying numerous versions of Splinter Cell Double Agent, the Wii version is a surprise in how faithful it is(imho). From what I remember of the Xbox versions (OG/360), the Wii version does hold up. If this was the only way a gamer had to play the game it wasn't a bad experience. 
 
Trauma Center Second Opinion was of interest to my wife who it turns out via an old save seems to have had the game in the past and obviously traded it in! She'd no recollection of it but this time round she played the game and came to probably the same conclusion, half decent till the Manga elements became too much to go on with....   
 
Carnival Funfair Games, just for a quick look and it's half decent for some mini games for a brief moment. A game put down quickly....

Sid Meier's Pirates for me was the star of the show. I've played many versions of the game over the years, PC and Xbox, but this Wii version was a jaw dropper of a surprise due to it's character and ship having customization. Actual real customization!! I couldn't believe it. A game I'd known so well for so long and here was a 'better version'.... The Wii controls are good and the game is fun to play as it should be! I'll post about it separately.... 


With a great working setup, good games overall there was that 'one thing' still missing. A game of bowling. I liked this OG Wii original setup, I'd not even suggest anything re modding the console etc... You'd think I'd bite the bullet and just get the second hand overly expensive disc and call it quits.....  
 
But no, in the end I just could  not swallow the second hand prices..... I'd not mod the console but in the searches online I did look into such modded consoles..... Which lead to the 'why pay €30' for a game when I could pay €250 for a whole lot more.... Lots of hardware and games, too say I was already down the rabbit hole would be an understatement. So what caught my eye the most....  This vid a while back from Wicked Gamer & Collector about a modded Wii from https://sumoshopstore.com/product/nintendo-wii/
 

There was also this Vid from Madlittlepixel about the same shop and 'product'. 
 
Needless to say I got one.... And I've been enjoying it a lot. As many games as there are on it some are missing, which I already had physically for the most part, second hand for the OG Wii. I kind of like that, both Wii's are now setup and working for their own niche. All working well for me. Am very happy..... I've since been playing a bunch of games across multiple emulation systems from the modded console. No complaints. Been bowling away goodo.
 
Of the 2 Gamecube controllers I received one was transparent Green( my inner Xbox fan was happy) and a solid silver. Good stuff. The console itself had one minor scratch by the controller ports on top so was well hidden; And the modded shell was great looking.  
 
But it doesn't end there..... 
 
The old problem of not having a long enough cable from console to couch was real. In looking online to buy extender cables there was a two pack that was sold out.... Which made me look into the wireless Gamecube controller. As I said before I fully embracing the ecosystem, this looking was real and not just research. As other posts in this blog can attest I'm also nostalgic, so no wonder I went with more 3rd party 'stuff'..... Just as I'd ordered the wireless pad.... The extender cables became available.... So yea I ordered them....
 
 
 
But low, behold no point not popping for a 4th controller..... Would be a shame to not have a 4th controller for those party games maximum players etc..... Right..... Right....... So I picked up another. But no extender cable.... I have my limits, finally; Plus that 4th person on the floor can be the focus of fun camaraderie! The gaming does go on......




Wednesday, 9 July 2025

Another week....

Gaming is most definitely the distraction from all in the real world, life and everything else.
 
Stop Killing Games, has been having more and more updates, here, here and now this latest one:
 
 
 
 
Jake Baldino had an interesting vid and info on the Micrsoft/Xbox news on top of everything else. gameranx also did more on it.
 
   
Skill Up had a good video as well, worth a look:
 
  
I have to say I'm very much in agreement with John Hancock's final thought, disappointment in them never-mind any greater thoughts on their business practice etc. 
 
 
 
Last week was the first time I've really thought of not getting my Ultimate sub renewed. Thinking about it and it's not making sense for me to buy in. I play games on gamepass on PC and Xbox but sometimes maybe not enough to justify it.... But it's only €17.99 a month.... I don't want to feel forced to play games I'd not have naturally played....... So I'm 70% or so there that in a few months I'll not renew; And that's besides all the MS.Xbox shenanigans to consider.
 
 
 
 
As for Ubisoft, well they can go take a long run off a short pier.... 
 
 
 
 
Subnautica 2 had it's own issues with P.R. to say the least. 
Just as I thought things for the second game were ramping up..... Now not so sure...... Time will tell indeed....
 
 
  
 
Moving on.... 

 
 
 
Breachway is a good game. I like the deck building, rogue-lite game set in a sci-fi universe. A game I've played since it was early 'early access', but not so early early, early access. Demo's lead to a sale purchase of said early access. It's enjoyable to see a game develop and get better, which this one is. My current view is that it's a bit overly complex in this iteration, with it's ship systems, crew, 'power' distribution mechanics etc. All before you have the cards to work with....  I'm still pottering away with it but if it wasn't 'early access' I think I'd call it done and say the game wasn't really for me..... The ongoing development is keeping hope alive for a more playable(for me) game.... I am a filthy dirty casual at heart after all. As is, we'll see what the next changes, updates/patches bring; And see if they are game changers. 
 
 
 
 
 
Stargate Timekeepers is a niche game for sure, one that should have included me with enthusiasm. A game I bought in the Winter 2024 sale, just after the release of it's second half(it's 'full' release). I've had the game sitting there ever since, waiting for me to have the right mood/frame of mind to take it on...... I've been into the old Commandos games but where this game is the same(sneaking/planning) it's so much more 'work' to do. Which if your into it should make a player the proverbial pig in shiz..... But I've no enthusiasm at all for it's game-play. Playing the game just 'feels' like too much work, too much effort with a lack of a fun reward. Quirky in it's user interface clicking/character actions; At least for me it isn't charming but frustrating. That Stargate 'fun', as thematic as the game is, is missing for me. It's almost like the game is trying too hard and misses the mark in more noticeable ways than should be noticed. It's charecters are all trying to be clones of the shows stars, rather than being new and unique. 
 
 
Over time I thought that going into it slowly, save and walk away (rinse and repeat), then that game-play 'something' would kick in and I'd be 'into it'. That's just hasn't happened. 
 
Looking at the comments on Steam I do get a lot of what they are saying. The game is "flat and uninspired".... and "eyes of a dead fish"......  Harsh to read but they are onto something, it's a very player perspective thing. In a love it or not kind of way. Comments on the narrative being 'ok' but not great are for the most part true imho. Comments on the lack of a real connection to the TV show are somewhat unkind after seeing what's there; But at the same time are true as well. The game tries it's best with what it has, which is a lot; But at the same time kinda misses the mark in a "could try harder" kind of way. More like could try harder in some ways and not others. From what little I've seen myself. It's a slow game, the sneaking and planning make the game what it is. A slow paced sneaking, planning, paced game. It is what it is because it's not any other type or genre; But there seems to be so much expectation for it to have been so much more...... I never saw the early days, I've no idea about the promises made or broken but what I did see was the sneaking game and it looked interesting, promising even. Slitherine have so many good games under their belt I'm sure that added to the 'promise' and expectations; But I think too many people did expect too many things.
 
In an effort to make actual progress in the game, to get fun from the gameplay I've reduced the 'difficulty' to the lowest. The carebear in me is fine with that, the game player in me is looking to get back to at least normal difficulty and push through the lethargy of mechanics and self motivation without just letting the game sit where it is....  
 
The melancholy goes on.... 
 

 
  
 
 
The Saboteur is a game I picked up just as I'd initially read and watched a few vids about it... A couple of months ago. Well worth it at €10 never mind a sale of €5. The graphics despite larger resolutions are 'of their time', some would say dated; But I'm a gamer that sees the nostalgia and there is plenty with the way this game looks. The game itself oozes character, charm and game-play to jump into. The game takes a lot of elements from a lot of games, mixes them all up and still comes out recognizably unique. The most interesting element for me are the Assassins Creed climb anything. It really opens up the open world rather than feeling limited with walls. The unique way the black and white turns to colour after freeing sections is such a good element. Overall, the style of the game, setting, music, make the game interesting to get lost in. To want to get lost in and do more.... The story, the characters, stereotypical as they are are, are all well written, fun, it's a joy to watch and take part. So many little touches that make the game alive, idle animations, random interactions on the streets.... Such a good game. It should have been more of a hit back in the day. Apparently console reviews were meh and middling where PC had received better. But still, had I known about this game back then I'd be singing it's praises. It's akin to being the Mad Max of it's day! Very underappreciated!!   

It's worth going into the install directory to launch VideoSetup.exe and bump up the default graphics from their late 2000's default minimums. Not that I maxed everything.....
 

One of the big things about the game that I appreciate is that there's no bloat, it's a direct game, missions(main and side) and objectives with story..... Open world but not in a way where there's too much.... I'll be having fun inhabiting this world.
 



 
2009,,,, It's almost 20 years ago....

 

 
 
 
Euro Truck Sim 2 has had some more quality of life updates, retroactively bringing in some Steam Achievements as well. Nice to see. Not that I've done much play in the game; I've a feeling I should wait for the next in game event. Given that that is most likely October/Halloween that game-play itch will only grow, so will see. Here's to a special event appearing sooner.... 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
Star Trek Online is seeing the Summer Event in full swing across all platforms. 
 
 
I like the way that the event reward ship(The Federation Intel Holoship) is (like in the movie) in the water. Looking aptly very cruise ship-esque.  
 
 
 
So I've been busy running my PC and Xbox accounts through it's activities and daily need towards the reward. 
 
The ship itself has no interest for me besides wanting to see it's special mechanics in action for myself; So I'll get to mess about with those at the least..... Might be time for another themed alt on Xbox..... I've also an odd need to see it cloak.....
 
 

 
 
 
Eve Online.... Is as usual all about the industry, p.i. marketeering and PvE....... With healthy doses of sitting in stations doing not much of anything.... While watching Youtube....

 
I've decided to downsize my alts. There's no use having a ton of ships and 'gear' on them if I'm not using them..... Other than doing the basics on them.... So a lo to of asset shuffling going on.... 

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
With a push to finish the Starship Troopers Terran Command Urban DLC; I can now say it's over... It's all over, Done, thank Fk! Talk about a grind. Bringing the typical Starship Troopers themed grind dial up to 20. Halfway through the DLC I was really fed up, but once started I needed to finish it. So that kind of motivation was always going to feel more of a grind; But dámn the grind was more than real as the game went on. Talk about meat grinder.
 
  
 
 

  


 




Not an unexpected narrative end in one respect but there was in another(taking the shot); That said the 'story' played out in a satisfying way given the Troopers universe. Gameplay wise, as I said, it really is peek Starship troopers, as I said 'talk about a grind'. PTSD for the grind PTSD. I'm glad I've been giving it a break before going back in to each gameplay session. Some of those missions are harsh and always have maintained pressure on a player that only ramps up. But this DLC again as I said really turns it up. So yea it was a push to get it done and I'm glad it's the end, to finally say I'm 'done with it all'. Thank F. Did I mention, thank Ffffffffffffff..f.......... Plenty of time before I get nostalgic about this...