Two Point Hospital....

Two Point Hospital game-play it's still not happening. A downward trajectory from the last time I posted has truly turned into a flatline. Again I'll say it's a me thing. I do love the game, it's mechanics and it's humour. I've bought more DLC than I probably should have and in retrospect don't regret. 

I mean clown ambulances.... Flying Ducks! Whats not to like! I'm wondering where my funny bone went! 

Two Point Studios

So the motivation to play and enjoy it's world is just not there anymore and hasn't been for some time. Maybe I've not given it enough time, enough of a break to make a return to the game more 'wanted'. 

Giving space and time away from the game hasn't helped so far. I think it's fair to say the light for the game really has gone out. A bit harsh of a statement. If I'd any flicker of motivation I'd be in the game, even just a little. Of course there's also the reasoning that I've more games to play than I can shake a stick at(PC and Xbox) but again if I'd any motivation for the game I'd be back to it regardless and not just before I post on a blog about it.

Fundamentally as much as DLC brings new items, situations and mechanics the core mechanics remain the same; I can't get my mind passed that basis, so a lot of it 'feels' like a grind despite any new window dressing. A retread of what has been done to death. Maybe I do need to uninstall it, cut it off completely.

As they say, the more things change the more they stay the same. It's both a good and a bad thing. 

I just don't know how to get that spark for the game back. It's a me thing for sure. As much as I waffle about it I'm not a theory crafter about the game. When I play it I 'just' play it without too much thought. I 'just' like to play it.... And now I don't. Like a light switch easy to turn off but hard to turn back on.  Now that I'm not playing it I'll waffle on the internet about why I think that is. Thinking about it too much.

It's funny(not ha ha funny) how some games are like this. Other games I can enjoy and walk away from. Even ones I've put lots of time, effort and cash into. Yet more I've held onto and stuck with to get more from (I've posted about many of those) in long-term ways.

What has saved the game and kept it installed is that I've invested so much(too much?) time and effort with lots of DLC content still to do. I know there's more value to gain from it... Maybe I'm just being too pig headed. I need to forget about it and play the game whenever I get the urge..... Then again that's the problem... No urge. Catch 22.

So what have I done in the game to bring all this waffle out. Not much. 10 minutes of gameplay in months. I'd been working on the second star of the second map on the latest DLC(speedy recovery). Unlocking the third map in doing so. The goals the same, gain stars, complete levels, earn money/upgrades/kudos..... 

Time will tell. So more time away from the game and more of a wait and see.... ? 

Two Point Hospital....

As much as I've posted previously and as much as I've 'been into' Two Point Hospital; Overall I'm still on a downward trajectory with it's game-play. New, unique DLC and all(that DLC here, here and here). 

From the DLC's high's and lows to the high's and low's of the game in general. Why I'm not playing a game I like is mainly due to long-term burnout; And I mean loooooooooooooooong-term burnout. As good as the game and the DLC's are; As good as the themes and window dressing is...The more things change the more they stay the same. 100% love the game, 100% would recommend, 100% haven't clicked the icon to play it in 'a while'! 

So that stomach churning, gut feeling of aversion to playing is real for me. That may sound like an extreme reaction but it is what it is. The motivation to play is nowhere near, by a long shot. Too much of a good thing over too long a time-frame? Maybe? Long-term gaming moods strike again...?

Distance makes the heart grow fonder. So maybe some(a lot, like a loooooot of) time away from the game will work out for more enjoyment down the line(a bit like my current Assassins Creed Origins kick).

Two Point Hospital....

The new DLC has grown on me. I've not dived in head first since last time but taken my time and yea it's grown on me. 

The same essential hospital elements are there. The game is the game at heart. No surprise. Making cash is king. So gaming the research is still a quick must do. I guess I was expecting some more subtle changes to it's underlying mechanics. Once the initial cash hardship is done; And the main gameplay of the DLC kicks in. Not to mention the money being generated, it's fun.

Nothing like some patented money generation!

The game got itself confused as I went back to my old main Research hospital and I got a pop up for the last old community project(which completed about two real world years ago)!? Weird but whatever.

Progress is progress. The first hospital of the DLC is complete with three stars.

While the second hospital opens up early enough into the first hospitals life; I like to get three stars before moving on to do the next.

Which should be some good game-play in the coming week. Time to take the helicopter view.

Two Point Hospital....

With the surprise launch of new DLC for Two Point Hospital. I had some excitement for something new being added to a great game. 

I still had that excitement on day one after playing it. It's new game mechanics are good(essentially no more walk in not relying on walk in patients, gotta go get them yourself). The new rooms/equipment and treatments are as comical and well done as ever. Under the weather patients leaving trails of water are a new janitors nightmare.

I like everything about the DLC. I just don't know why I'm not really playing it. I potter for a few minutes then save and leave till the following day or two. I might call it burnout from the main campaign but that's been long ago and the other DLC's either never clicked or were left in the same way(as I was saying last time). The only real difference is that I'm into this one! So I'm surprised to see that I've not been playing it as much as I thought I would. I'm not the only one as my wife hasn't been back to it since trying it the first time.... 

My last game session was about 30 minutes. Longer than most days since getting it and that was to setup a research room to help with cash flow. As much as has been changed via the DLC, perhaps not much has really changed. As the saying goes the more things change the more they stay the same. The common denominator of the game is still it's core gameplay; Not much song and dance can hide that.

Maybe I'll be more into it after I've spent some more time with it. More to ponder about this but at least I'm plugging away little by little. 

Two Point Hospital....

It's been a while since I've been fully back to the game with motivation. It's a game that faded away. It just went that way for me. Freebies are welcome but nothing long lasting from a game-play perspective. The projects system wasn't really an active thing(like here, here and here) as it needed players that weren't there. The last DLC(Green) didn't keep me at it and I never did go back to it.

All that said and I was massively surprised to see a new DLC coming out for the game! Here was I thinking they were done and dusted with it's development!

Two Point Hospital

No wonder I was suprised to see that. I thought they had moved on to the Campus.

I've enough time since playing the game, enough nostalgia and enough enthusiasm for the new DLC mechanics that I've already bought it! Time will tell how it plays out.

Two Point Hospital....

While not an update that adds anything other than cosmetic stuff; It's still hilarious to see in game.

The four costumes for the staff, 'do it for me'. I wish there were more staff thematic outfits. Maybe an Orville set would be good....

There are items as well; From a Sonic staue to ring, plant, totem and mat placeables as well. 

Nice free additions. Can't complain....Not a huge draw to go play the game once I saw the items and changed all staff uniforms..... Still fun to have. Happy 30th Sonic.....

Two Point Hospital

Two Point Hospital....

Another 'winter' event and another Two Point 'project' done.....

The Fire Fountain reward is a much better option, at least in aesthetics than the Ice version(imho). 

Both have their place and uses.... Maybe I was to quick to 'dis' the Ice Fountain... I still have the Beach resort DLC to do after all.

Two Point Hospital....

 Are we there yet........

Day's of Unlockable's....

The last few days has seen some new games purchased, as well as a lot of the 'winter' events in games come to a conclusion.

New games:

Democracy 4, Rebel Galaxy Outlaw and Beat Saber; though I've barely scratched the surface of them so far.

As well as DLC for Two Point Hospital. The Culture Shock DLC. Which should be interesting.

The DLC, at least in my head can't be disassociated from Duke Kaboom. 

Unlocked events:

ETS 2 had the bulk of it's winter objectives done, personal and community. 

Two Point Hospital is 50% done on it's current winter project. 

The first unlock reward 'ice fountain' is at least to me a bit underwhelming. It's a bit big to use in the majority of my hospital server rooms.

Over on Star Trek Online I'm still pottering away as I really like that event.

This years reward ship has been claimed on both Xbox....

.... And on PC.

It's a better ship than I thought but I'm sure that my best of inventory fit is an abomination to those out there that are leetist stat savvy.

Still it's a fun ship to blast about in.

Last but not least, and not a winter event but here it is anyway...... Tetris Effect got it's December update which finally add's VR. 

For me VR does nothing to boost my Tetris Effect experience. It comes off as an impractical gimmick; Pity as it was the last thing I was hanging on to see in the game....

Two Point Hospital....

I usually keep up with the TPH info... Yet I missed the start of the latest research project. 

No time like the present to get started. At least I've not missed any rewards....

Two Point Hospital....

The second map of the 'Green' DLC is proving to be as much of a grind as I feared it would be. I had hope it would've worked out better but that hope was replaced with severe RNG and the usual grind.

The DLC theme is fun enough, but the usual percentages game and randomness really is mind numbing. Especially the 'Cure Rates' objective, very staff training/machine upgrade dependent. Even then the %'age is set back by a staff member on a break that's replaced by a lesser trained staff member that in turn ruins your %'age without you looking till it's to late...... Ah that's why there were 5 ghosts in that corridor..... etc etc

After some perseverance and brute force (click to send patients for immediate treatment) I got the first star.

Getting that star unlocks the last map of the DLC.

From what I've seen my wife play on that map it's unique and would be worth a try at least but I think I'm done with the second map. I can't see myself going for the second or third star there. At least not right now. I'll have to step away from the game for a 'bit' before doing any further progression.