New Year, same'ol, same'ol....

New year, same'ol, same'ol. I've never been a New Years resolutions kind of person. If I was going to make any changes on an ongoing basis I'd have done so when I thought about it; Not when the clock strikes 12. Works for some, just not me. Like posting on a regular basis.... I'm at least two weeks pottering away on this post..... Two weeks late? The post will post when it gets posted....

Euro Truck Simulator 2 had a good Winter Event. The Nordic Horizons DLC event is just over (ended last Sunday the 1st of Feb). Horizons may be the 'current' DLC but with another 2 incoming. If it were not for those other 2 I'd probably have gotten Horizons and taken part in the event. But with the three on my steam wish-list it seems to me to cry 'wait for a sale'. I can't shake thinking that the event is too much of a Fomo push to 'buy the DLC'. Such f.o.m.o. is off-putting for me, this time round. I thought SCS was better than that but I guess the almighty dolla is still key. At least they used to have more subtlety, or at least appeared to be. 

Between both enjoyable events, Halloween and Chrimbo, I've unlocked a lot of in-game goodies. 

 

 

 

As for American Truck Sim, I've only logged in to claim the rewards I've unlocked via ETS2...

I'm into playing the same game but different (ETS2 to ATS) but I'm missing too much DLC to make anything but the annual events really worthwhile in ATS.... So maybe the next event will be the one I do in ATS instead of ETS 2. 

 

Speaking of truck games, it seem that with ETS 2 and ATS heading to Xbox/Consoles; Other Truck games are feeling that they can now change their own lanes on PC.  Steam: Truck Simulator 2026: USA

 

IGN

 

 

  

Planet Crafter has seen me play far too much solo and co-op(wife) game-time. It's a game that is very easy to repeat content in(like asset management in Eve Online). Mainly for me at the moment it's all been about filling inventory with items that I will need(or think I will need) for the upcoming free DLC. 

Since the last paid DLC, the game has seen a few updates to correct some issues. The one main big patch also added some new areas to the DLC including a new animal. All worth it and good to see.

Solo on Toxicity.... 

Co-Op on Humble....

  

 

With the updates to Hitman 3 and it's evolution into 'world of Assassination', I've been keeping an eye on it and the twitch drops... After claiming a bunch I usually go into the game to see the items..... This last batch had a bunch I'd already claimed bar one (version 2 of the twitch suit).... Which did the not show up bug..... not unusual.... Which lead me to actually played the game, shocker I know. Not much played but to get an item unlock I spotted.

 

 

Sniper Elite: Resistance was on sale and I purchased it's all singing and dancing edition. I'd previously played the game on PC through Xbox Ultimate; While the saves are not cross compatible it's good to be back in the game. I've been trading Steam achievement rivalry with a friend.

  

 

BALL x PIT is still seeing gameplay, especially since the last patch added two new charecters and a bunch of balls!  https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2062430/view/99775316462930487

Good timing as I'd just finished running all the other  characters through New Game+ (some through ++). 

 

A Casual Carebear Gamer

 

A game I've enjoyed and look forward to more content. 

 

 

 

 

Some of the last items to claim were 2 of the main balls and 3 of the secondary buff abilities.

 

 

 

 

It's good to get the new content. 

 

 

 

Still need to get two passives but I've been taking my time with it. 

 

  

 

 

Some VR has entered the chat with some minor gameplay. All the talk of the Steam VR/Machine etc has had the VR on my mind. Being all in on the Steam platform means I'm keen on the new hardware. My Rift-S headset is still kicking. So I can say I've played some more of  Beat Saber & Maestro. Both surprising me with their updates and replay-ability. That said Beat Sabre's levels are getting way too fast for my average reflexes......

 

 

 

 

Star Trek Online is still a mainstay, The academy freebies were on PC last week(or so) and will be on console for free on the 17th-ish. The anniversary freebies are also due in the coming week? Or so? As usual they probably won't announce those.... So I'll keep an eye out....

  

 

 

There's currently a week of a boost to endeavour points. I usually do these "dailies" as I see them if they are handy to do(coincidental with other activities) or if I'm 'just' in the mood for more to do.... But with the boost on I've been doing that bit more than usual; Be a shame to miss out on that little bit more of a boost to the points. On PC I've been doing well.... That is until they changed and added to the space items you can add to in the endeavours. So I'm ploughing away, slow and steady (PC and Xbox).

 

 

A players got to do what a players got to do, while waiting for a queue.....

 

 

 

Eve Online has taken a back seat to all other gaming. After the last bit of Omega time ran out from Chrimbo I'd left the characters in a good place. Sorted but not as sorted as I'd like but nothing to worry about both re Skills and assets.

 

 There has been some interesting Twitch rewards to claim....

 

As for in game and out of game dev news I've no read the or seen anything official. After watching a reaction to the news/Roadmap for the coming year I'm still very "meh". So not likely to pay to play.  

Ashterothi's stream is worth having on the side to catch up on the info etc.....

 

So it seems I've no pressing need to be part of the universe and the recent roadmap does nothing for me.

 

 

  

Games I'm keeping an eye on:

 

SpaceCraft :

 

Shiro Games

 

 

 

 EXODUS :

 https://www.exodusgame.com 

 

EXODUS

 

ACG did a good review of the game.

 

ACG

 

Hitman 3....

Hitman 3 was a game I wanted to like. I initially ranted about the game and more recently here and here I guess I softened up a bit. The game isn't my be-all and end-all of gaming, but with the Steam summer sale I couldn't help but notice the games price drops.

Even with the substantial drops in price, if your looking to get H3 and all it's DLC content it's total price is still too expensive(in my view) at €47.82(Deluxe plus all Seven Deadly Sins). Never mind re-buying older content if it's not recognized from your previous game purchases..... 

Anyway it's still not a good look to get so much of a price drop a year and a half into the games life. Never mind halfway through its 'second year' release. To me that screams of dropping of a hot potato. Getting cash while they can. 

It's good that there's constant development, additions and updates(for as long as that lasts). Then again I've not kept up to date on 'fixes' for the game.

But I'm just done with it(since the end of the second game). I'm over tired with it all. So much chopping and changing with the games, the DLC, repackaging, publishing and publishers, what content, in game recognition and achievements will and won't crossover etc etc. 

Again, the game isn't my be-all and end-all of gaming. I'll wait another year or so and pick it all up as an all in one bundle at a much lower price with luck when an offline patch is introduced. I just found the current price drop 'interesting'.

Hitman 3....

I still stand by what I've said in my post a few weeks ago. The good and the bad. That said I've played more of the game. Some via Xbox Ultimate for PC but mainly via the Hitman 3 'demo' on Steam for H2 content. 

As if the (newer)Hitman games and their interaction/unlocks weren't complicated enough; but I'm glad to have played the 3rd game on PC and get credit for the Xbox achievements.

After doing a bit of reading on the migration process from the previous games into H3 I saw that I could get the benefits of Playing H1 & 2 within H3, even as the Demo) with most of my previous H1 and H2 unlock/items etc..... A process that doesn't need me to buy the game and still lets me "keep my stuffs". So I did it.

Not everything registers and I found all maps have all progress for escalations wiped out. Completed or not. But still some credit for their completion still exists(like rewards). 

As well as some map unlocks for feats etc that don't make sense. Such as map completion being ticked but no recognition for killing the main target on that map..... It is what it is and I'm glad to have gotten the large proportion carried over so it can slide....

Easy to see my interest waned later in H2

Still my view that H3 is H3 and has a fair few problems is as true as ever; I'm sure there won't be any of them fixed any time soon. 

That's not to say they aren't changing/updating/tweaking and bringing out new content.... But the flaws seem to run deep and won't be fixed casually in just a patch.

I could be wrong.... But as a full version of H3 via xbox sub and a H1 and H3 via the H3 demo install from Steam there's no incentive for me to buy H3. Besides looking at the buy options on Steam it's massively overpriced. Time will tell if an all inclusive version goes on sale 'cheap' down the line.

HITMAN 3....

Hitman 3 has been a marketing mess in my view from start till now. My previous waffle here and here and here and here!

The news of bugs since launch have persisted and were one of the main reasons I stayed clear of it. The Epic exclusive time didn't help either. The polish on the game that's there shows more clearly the lack of polish in other areas. The always on internet access is still a problem even after so much chopping and changing with it. 

It was all off-putting to me, no wonder I didn't really care about the game. Never mind 'having' to redo all the first and second game content in the third game to 'mark it as complete'. It's a game for completionists after all. Granted there was a one time item conversion/import but useless for me; I still haven't bought the third game. I don't intend to. But I did get to play it 'free' via xbox game-pass for pc. So there was no worry over items for me in the here and now.

Did I encounter bugs. Yes. I've come across weird NPC with physics defying pathing issues. Weird floating npc's. Strange item behaviors such as doors not opening if there's an item that even hints at clipping it. Weird physics when killing an NPC where their body does a death fling or fly's off into space. 

I've come across the non moving NPC's with their arms out as it they were still on a design drawing board. I've loaded save games that reach 75% load and then crash to desktop. I've come across bad laggy gameplay that hangs for 10+ second. Which isn't great when your trying to line up a headshot; I presume that's the game trying to do something online with it's connectivity check. All that said I can tolerate it because in playing it now I didn't take it seriously.

I'm a completionist but the third game to me is a lesser son of greater sires. The first game was great back in the day. The second showed great improvements over the first and so was worth redoing 1st game content in 2; But the third for all the good points it has(and it has a few) just has no motivation for me to 'get into it'; And that's even with 'free' access to it! I think I'll go back to the second game and start doing some stuff I missed!

Playing the third game was interesting. Not like the previous games but just as a casual one run on each map and done kind of way. I played it on Pro as a casual experience and got what felt like a 'casual' experience. Maybe I'm too used to playing Hitman, maybe I should have done it on Master mode, but anyway I found this Pro mode a very forgiving run of Hitman. Too many options and not enough harshness in other elements. Guess they just can't please some people.

A Casual Carebear Gamer

For me it was a guns out do it to get it done and there was practically no pushback from the game, no retribution from alerts, no 'real' difficulty in overcoming. It felt underwhelming when being so blatantly ballsy on maps. So yea, a single run on each map to both collect, see and do as much as possible felt like enough. I usually do such runs to both learn the map and get a feel for things. Learn the stories. Then go back and start the process of unlocking things, doing feats and claiming the suits and silent assassin ratings. But not in this game, not now. Three as I said is a lesser game when compared to the previous 2. At least for me.

Hitman 3, is big, is beautiful and has some interesting new mechanics. Shortcuts being the best and camera being the worst(imho). Shortcuts aid in gameplay return and retention; reward efforts to seed up your play and reduce grind. Camera is useless and does not do anything a screwdriver couldn't have done previously. It's and addition rather than an necessity. There are maybe two occasions where it 'is' needed as there is no other choice. Nice try IOI to make 47 a mission impossible agent but it doesn't work for me in this franchise, in this game. In a lot of area's where the camera could be used I just used a screwdriver etc to unlock stuff. The camera is a novelty, it wasn't special enough.

The story is interesting, it has elements that are good and bad but that's a 'suspension' or disbelief thing. 47 was for the most part 'in character' in my view. I just found him a shade and I mean a sliver of a shade too trusting in some situations. In that regard the Diana stuff is forgivable, it's believable; But on the 'other' side of the story(Grey) I'm not convinced. Maybe it was a bit of a let down that all that preamble and suspicion wasn't justified when I think it should have been and would have made a more interesting story..... Maybe that's just me in the moment overthinking it.

It's the ending that's the epitome of what this game is. Take the good with the bad. 

The last mission is possibly the best forced linear Hitman moments that made me feel like I was 47. I was engrossed in it. Felt emotion in sneaking about and getting to the end. The end being the end for both gamplay and narrative. It's the only map I've repeated/reloaded to clear feats etc.

Fun is fun.

Ultimately as a Hitman completionist(of these new iterations) I'd like to get the game, preferably an all singing, all dancing version on Steam. I think I'll be waiting a good bit longer for a decent knock down price..... On sale. Me thinks they shall milk it for all it's worth, for a lot longer!