Choices....

 

 

 

No Mans sky has seen a lot of news with it's updates of late; Even with all the new systems etc I've not been able to 'get into' the game again. I've blogged and waffled a lot over the years suffice it to say the more the game has 'become', the more the game is over the top in getting me to play again. All that said there is a NMS youtuber I watch that has also done Planet Crafter content. Jason Plays. As Plane Crafter has had a big update I checked back on his channel to see if I'd missed any Crafter content. Which I didn't..... Long story short he did have a new series started on 'getting into' No Mans Sky.

A Fresh Start Part 1 No Man's Sky Beginners Guide 2024 Well worth a watch. For me even watching it I can see from those vids that I'd still not be 'into' redoing the game. Much as I 'feel' I could, I know I'd be wasting a lot of time for little reward. TheYamiks did a video on it recently as well.

 

Speaking of TheYamiks he's also done a good video on Star Citizen. So 'what he said'.

Star Citizen WORTH IT in 2024?!

PowerWash Simulator's next paid DLC is based on Warhammer 40,000 and I quiet like the trailer. Another DLC to add to the wish-list for some sale down the line.... Very down the line.

The 2024 roadmap is interesting but no sign in sight of it slowing down.... So a sale on DLC seems very far away.

 

 

Gameranx had a recent video on 10 WEIRD Gaming Stories of February 2024, interesting to me in that they had two sections Part 6 regarding Xbox and Part 5 regarding Deca and Star Trek Online. More on the Star Trek Online angle later down the post....

 

Darkest Dungeon saw a good bit of game-time this last week. That time was a 90% RNG nightmare.

 

 

My first run getting back to the Crimson Court was a great success; It all went downhill from there and fell further with every run no matter what and where. I made a lot of mistakes. The Hero Roster is back to a declining state. The available heroes are no longer in sync with compatible groupings which I prefer. The need to mix and match is there but the heroes I can choose is far from ideal. RNG just makes it worse.

 

A Casual Carebear Gamer

 

 

In playing Planet Crafter I've realized that after the patch my active on launchpad rockets are not missing; Just invisible. I'm sure that will be 'resolved in time'. Maybe?

 

 

Patches for the most recent update seems to have updated the randomly generated biomes you reach via portals. I've still been doing a lot of them. New is the new new after all.

 

 

 

 

Star Trek Online is still the 'old reliable'. The game had a 50% off on it's Lifetime Subscription. Again I'll say that if you are into STO and you get a lot from 'just' playing, the Lifetime is well worth it. Pays for itself over time(rewards, details).

 

MC Stu had details regarding the CEO To Address Star Trek Online Community On Ten Forward Live

 

CasualSAB  has two recent relevant videos:

Jonathan Herlache is no longer at Cryptic / Star Trek Online

&

More STO Devs Leaving? - DECA/Cryptic Update

Of the recent updates to the game a patch brought a nice quality of life tag to new items in a players inventory/mats inventory etc.

 

That said recent patches have brought back to me an old bug... walking in space(take that Eve Online). So STO, it's only happened 2 or three times, tis haha funny.

STO on Xbox still has the zoom issues but fingers crossed the fix will be here in a couple of weeks(apparently it's fixed and internally developed to 'work'). As for overall PC/Xbox gameplay; Gameplay is gameplay. I've been doing it more and enjoying it. Events/Dailies/R&D..... Gameplay.

 

 There can never be enough Borg balloons in the bank! 

 

World of Warcraft has seen a slight uptick in gameplay but I'm still not 100% 'into it'. I have a feeling I'm definitely wasting game-time. That said I did get a tour from herself with the Emerald dream etc. 

 

 

Getting some gear to get me into the last of the raid wings for LFR. For the first time in a long time I'm considering not getting the next expansion.... If not for the overarching multi-expansion plans I think I'd have fully checked out. 

 

 

Eve, Eve, Eve online. I've been doing the 'usual' for my preferred gameplay; No surprise's there(that's a good thing).  PvE,R&D with a side of rock harvesting.

 

 

OZ_Eve has been interesting re the markets. The Oz Report (Mar 2nd, 2024) - Eve Online Market Insights. A 'show' that makes me think about 2 previous market youtubers(EVE-Prosper and delonewolf if anyone is interested).

Loru Gaming is a tuber I came across but his 'excitement' about Vanguard makes my eyes roll.

EVE Vanguard UNRECOGNIZABLE In 6 Months   I look forward to being surprised at the epic game that will be Vanguard by the end of the year; I just don't think that's gonna happen(*see meme about google app graveyard).

 

I've seen Eve Status tweets more in the last week than in a long time. https://twitter.com/EVE_status

Eve is Eve; Eve'n after their patch of a patched patch.

 

Only it won't

Initial client run is confused it's already running.

 

 

 

 

PowerWash Simulator....

In the end the last job wasn't so much of a mammoth task; It still took time but the key to it was similar to some of the other larger jobs.... Take the time and enjoy it for 'just' doing it.

Of course uncovering the hieroglyphic-esque scenes of the previous jobs was fun to see.

As for the story, there are as many questions this week as last. Do I really need to know why the volcano is there. No..... It's there because the script of the game needs it to be there. Granted the narrative could have been a bit tighter and less obscure(Or vice versa). It's all so far out there for explanations I can accept the jet from a volcano shooting at me as I'm defended by a futuristic UFO...

The crystal only appears after you 100% the rest of the temple, cleaning it then triggers the end of the game.

I fully expected the end of the game to be a volcanic reset of sorts. It didn't happened. Which is a disappointment as there are a few more achievements I'd like to have gotten from the early game. With previous jobs undoable again I'll have to erase the saves and work it that way. Easier said than done as 'the cloud' auto syncs with the Xbox servers etc and it gets complicated. Not sure it's really worth the effort. Just pondering as I still have the motivation to play more of the game.

I do appreciate the ending for what it is; Especially the credits with it's song and my gameplay highlights..... As well as the after credit scene.

A Casual Carebear Gamer

PowerWash Simulator....

From Ferris Wheel to Subway Station to Fortune tellers Wagon; I think I spoke too soon in my last post. Those next location/objects have flown past. I wouldn't really be saying it's all easy; I've purchased all the best equipment available bar one(they do help). 

It's safe to say I'd not be playing the game if I wasn't having fun. It scratches an itch for sure. If your into it, your into it. I'm surprised at how into it I am.

Cleaning the Ancient Statue wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

And it had an interesting animation on completion, a beam from the statues crowning jewel.

Cleaning the Stunt Plane was really really easy(equipment!)..... Almost Too easy, in a no challenge, filler kind of way. Cool looking plane tho.

Cleaning the Ancient Monument was time consuming but fair.....

Cleaning the Fishing Boat, a big job but one that was very doable....

Cats..... Cats everywhere.

Cleaning the Recreational Vehicle (Again); Seemed easier than the first time..... Because it was a different vehicle.... More fun and no real hard areas to frustrate which made it 'easy'.

Cleaning the Lost City Palace is a big job, best by doing it in small chunks. A big big job. One I'm still working on. I've had to take longer breaks(to other games) but I still want to finish it. Without the best power-washer I'd say it would be frustration central. So for me for now it's time consuming more than anything else. 

Due to the messages and ongoing narrative I've an even stronger feeling that as soon as I'm finished with the Temple the volcano will erupt and I get to start all the jobs over again.... ?

Then again I could be surprised and get to clean an underground cavern.... But I doubt it. 

Fringe odds on becoming a sacrifice to the washer gods and be given a statue as a 'hero'.

As a game I've had no issues with it technically. The only thing out of place has been a floating wrench that was obviously on a box that then got placed somewhere else(on the dock). I can live with it. Nothing game breaking. Even as 'buggy' as the old demo was it was still very playable; Development which shines through in the quality of the release version.