Battlefield 1....

Sometimes it's fun to just mess about with footage. This time messing about was brought on by coming across the right music track which lead to chopping and changing what was already done.

A Casual Carebear Gamer

Battlefield 1....

It's been a good while (over 4 months) since I was last 'really' played the game in a meaningful way(especially on PC). Last night I clicked into the game and against my better judgement joined the 'hardcore' mode Snipers Paradise; The current promoted mode of the day/week/month(or however long they decide to leave it up) and went into a match. 

The mode disables pretty mush everything, except a sniper rifle and a choice of gas or smoke grenades. No sidearms and no melee weapons. No spotting, no minimap etc etc etc. Usually I'm not into those modes as they tend to draw the OP skilled and cheaters. It's a mode that has a great feel good factor when your getting the kills but a frustration when your the one getting hammered. All said and done I really enjoyed the match. I'm no master BF player. Some moments were great, others not so much but all in all a good game. The motivation of the highs gets you through the lows.

I left the video with the original audio as it's something in its own right that brings a lot to the game and the gameplay.

A Casual Carebear Gamer

Battlefield 1....

In more messing about with past content and YouTube Shorts, I've reedited two of (what I consider) the better videos as 'Shorts'..... Works out surprisingly well....

Back to more basics from PC.

And Mashup 4 of Xbox gamplay

A Casual Carebear Gamer

Steam Summer Sale....

With the summer sale on Steam now on I got a few e-mail updates saying games I'd wish-listed were now 'cheaper'. This lead to two things. Me buying some of them and removing others from the list altogether.

It's been a couple of years since I last did an overview post on what I'd been playing, what was 'done', what was being continued and what was 'removed'. I did this list in 2018,  this list early in 2019 & updated again in late 2019 and this one in late 2020. The early 2021 version was in progress when the post got wiped and it's content lost. With it I lost motivation to recreate it(it was a long post). I'm hoping that I'll get around to it again.... Maybe later in the year with a massive update of 2021/22. Time will tell.

Anyhow... 

Three games kicked from my wishlist.....

They are Billions is a game I've watched streamers play and one I've wanted for a while. It's not been on a 'good' sale price so I never got it. Funny(not haha funny) that now it's on a 'good' sale price I'm removing it. It's a hardcore game of wave/rush RTS survival. Maybe a bit too much so for my casual tastes. I'd only end up buying it to have and it'd not get the gamepaly it or I deserve... If you get my meanings..... The killer blow on my decision this time is that I've previously bought Diplomacy is Not an Option on sale a while ago(still not really played it yet but on my list todo). A more 'fun' experience even if it can get hard.

Synthetik 2 is from the looks of it a better game than the original. It improves on the first in many ways. Like being on multiple platforms etc. The reviews seem to say you take the new good with it's own issues. It's still an Early access game so has some leeway on it's current 'issues'. That said it's been a 'while' since I last really played the first game. The second hasn't really been on my radar, just the wish-list to keep and eye on. So seeing it now even on sale isn't conducive for me to get it from what I've seen. I'm happy with the first game. There's noting I've seen in the second that makes me want to get it over just loading up the first. 

Comanche is a game I wanted to see due to my nostalgia for Comanche Gold, back in the day. The 90's had a massive overkill of sims and sim like 'gunship' games. So my nostalgia was real for Comanche. Playing it via Xbox Ultimate was good at the time if short lived. I'm not sure if some of the graphical choices were on purpose for retro nostalgia but in retrospect it took away from it being 'modern' and didn't grow on me. Also in retrospect I think it's casual arcade but simulation take was too blurred. A mix the original pulled off but I feel didn't work here with the new iteration. The game may be 'released' but it still 'feels' early access with work to be done. I'd seen it on sale on other occasions but was always hesitant; That alone should have removed it from the list.

Four games I did purchase....

Fights in Tight Spaces.... A game I've wanted and tried, just waited for the sale price and this is it.

Slipways.... A space management, game that is a slimmed down grand strategy take. So grand strategy 'lite'. It's a game I've seen streamed and liked what I saw. A pretty chill game with lots of micromanagement to get lost in.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shredder's Revenge.... As recent a game to the list as can be. As I posted, it ticks all the boxes for retro playable fun. A no brainer on more than just the price front.

As for Shooty Skies Overdrive.... My recent return kick to VR had me looking for something else to virtually do/shoot This game looked to be 'it', cheap(cheaper now on sale) quick fun.  

ABC Gamer

Speaking of that channel, ABC Gamer has gone through a few reworked iterations over the years. It's gone more younger viewer friendly(tho not so much now but still not watchable for me) since the Nichboy days. Which is a pity. Really liked it back then(but also like his new 'show' Back Pocket)...

Then again so many channels in competition to one another that all do such similar content....

Battlefield 1....

Battlefield 1 has been seeing a lot more one sided matches in the last week and then some. I'm not sure what kind of matchmaking metrics are in action in the game but it feels like there aren't any. Years of game-play experience tells me that it takes a good 4 or 5 of such matches for players to be randomized enough to make things 'fair'. Some Clans are 'good sports', others are in it for K/D ratio regardless of how they got them.

Since last time I've been gaining so much footage that the happy editing medium has passed me by so I've decided to not compile and edit it at all. Easy way out. So just gonna post one of the latest matches with some of it's more memorable clips.

So yea, lots of matches where you end up 'loosing' before you've taken the first capture point. But as I've said before, that doesn't mean that you can't have 'good games'. I've had fun being the underdog and can make a bit of a nuisance of myself to make my time worth it.

Video with added music.....

Video with no added music.....

A Casual Carebear Gamer

Battlefield 1....

As with most games, game-play can happen by mood and by choice. Sometimes you just click an icon without planning. Last night I did just that for BF1 on PC. It's been a while. I'd been planning to do some BF1 on Xbox but in waiting to finish off some Star Trek Online R&D I drifted to PC. What harm in a match or two..... I didn't do too badly. I'm very much in it for the game-play and not just a high K/D ratio. Different strokes for different folks. For me I'm more 'into it' the action, the ebb and flow of battle and 'making a difference'. There's noting better than joining a match and even just putting up a flare change a matches direction. Hard fought matches are the best.

As for the video editing of the clips, it was as quick and unexpected as the gameplay. Bit like this post.

A Casual Carebear Gamer

Battlefield 1....

With one thing and another I've not been playing never mind editing Battlefield 1 game-play footage. The ebb and flow of game-play mood can be a fickle thing; The same with editing. The last few days saw me embrace the mish-mash nature of the edit I had in progress. I'd fallen into the too much footage trap trying to incorporate it all. Some K.I.S.S. methodology and a cutting room floor was well needed. In the end it is what it is. Not too bad, not too good but bear with me, it has it's moments.

A Casual Carebear Gamer

All that said I did get into the end of a match last night and had some fun. Not as rusty as I thought I'd be. Now to see if the bug bites and I get back to matches.....

Battlefield 1(Xbox)....

The nature of the console version of the game is in it's ease of access and 'use'. Maybe it's 'just' my attitude and Xbox gaming in general..... Very casual(here and here). At least it seem to be for me. Game-play is easier to hop into; Especially now I've a a third 'multi-use' display...  Maybe because of it. I can keep doing other things on PC(even if it's YouTube) while also having the Xbox up.....  

Safe to say again I've continued playing a lot of Xbox BF1 and captured more footage then I've time to edit.... As with game-play my editing is 'casual'. Struggling with what to keep and what to cut. Some things work-out and others are pasted over or ignored. Sometimes I get something half decent in the end.

A Casual CarebGear amer

Battlefield 1(Xbox)....

Just one of those moments, leveling with a bang ....

A Casual Carebear Gamer

Battlefield 1(Xbox)....

While I may have been all in on the games PC side.... And the last few months has seen me go all in on it's Xbox iteration.... The Xbox is 'easier' to get games with. Maybe that's a broader playerbase thing; And if so I'm more ponderous about the Xbox Achievements. A lot of gamers must 'just' have the base game.

 

On Xbox it's also less hassle with recorded clips.

On PC players that spawn and take a horse can be a pain for infantry. Being cavalry never appealed to me(Ditto for planes). Killing them on the other hand is very much a fun thing. Maybe because it's an underdog feel for me. Even as a sacrificial thing. Fun to me as I know it's frustration to them. PvP eh!

A Casual Carebear Gamer

A lot of players are 'just' in it for the kills. Match won or lost they only look as the kill/death ratio or appearing on the end screen the most valued player. Assault is the shooter class but a medic with healing or a support with ammo can just as easily do noting but dispense healing /ammo and still be classed as MVP. Shooters accept that by association...

The game is more balanced/nuanced in class and function than a lot of players/pundits will admit.

As a sniper spotting I've seen a match change from a meat grinder to an offensive; Two flares turning the tide for a side is a good feeling...

Battlefield 1(Xbox)....

Sorting out the Xbox clip backlog highlighted two things to me for Battlefield 1. I'm not that bad at the game and editing can still be 'fun' rather than 'work'. 

So another mashup is born....

A Casual Carebear Gamer

Battlefield 1(Xbox)....

More Battlefield on Xbox. I'm Still playing that version more than PC. Back to the pc version only to double check my class's setup than do any gameplay.

While one good thing about the new Series S/X controllers is that they have the dedicated capture button; The downside is I end up with a lot of clips. A lot!

Xbox clip, upload to Xbox network and download to PC with the Console Companion app. Delete those clips via Xbox selecting both local and 'network' versions of the clips..... So I'm left with the only version of those clips on my PC..... When I looked yesterday I had 70+...... That's excessive and daunting when considering the edits needed.

To ensure I 'capture' moments I've set the clip capture to be 1080 and last 2 minutes. Sooooooo Those clips I get usually only have what I want to capture at the end of that 2 minutes and is probably only 10 to 20 seconds long. I'd change the clip length but that 'just in case I miss something' thought gets in the way. 

This all leads to me doing a Youtube video of game-play. Stubbornly I've so much to add into 'just one' that a mashup is the only way to present it. Add and edit clips, add in music to match(kind of), add in transitions etc.... Complex, but at least I'm lucky. Some things in editing 'just' work out. Music with the right beat etc...

So the gameplay in the last week is more akin to PC than I first thought the game to be. It's not just the co-ordinated clan members. Maybe not even 'cheaters' but definitely those that use technology to 'aim'(across a map and behind a building....?). It is what it is. I've found that there are(like on PC) sweet spots in the day that have gamers gaming and not just the super competitive egoists.

Another version of the game I've gotten my monies worth out of. I've had fun and frustrations, wouldn't be a multiplayer game if not with both. 

As for the mashup, it's clips are a near complete look on my class upgrades since I started it on Xbox. 

A Casual Carebear Gamer

Battlefield 1....

Meanwhile back on PC....

Hopping into a loosing match can be anticlimactic; But delaying the inevitable can boost the ego in an "I can play and make a difference" kind of way. There's a buzz in doing/helping with that. No matter how small a difference. It's also fun to see the winning side get frustrated at the delay to their win.... GG :)

A Casual Carebear Gamer

Battlefield 1(Xbox)....

Battlefield 1 as a game is great. Emotive single player action(imho) and it has one of the best multiplayer games I've played in a long time. I'm biased towards the Battlefield franchise so it's no wonder I've been playing BF1 for years. Years on PC. This Xbox version is up there for game-play and I'm still enjoying it for the most part(here and here). So much so that I've not really been back to the PC version since I started.

I've nothing to prove in it as it's not may 'main' version of the game.... As it stands I'm happy with how the leveling on console has gone. Really quickly! I've been enjoying leveling up, unlocking weapons etc. 

I've reached into the level 70's and have unlocked my preferred weapons across the classes.

All with the Hellfighter M1911 sidearms, incendiary grenades, but not settled on a melee weapon.

With all that gear I'm comfortable playing each class. That's not to say that I get to play them the same way as on PC. I don't. I lean more on the SMG for assault, the Auto 8 for Medic, the Lewis Suppressive for Support and everything else bar the main weapon for the Scout.... All because I can't aim as fast as on PC. Too slow on close up targets and too fast far away so compromise is needed.

While I can translate in game knowledge, map and mode tactics(as well as having luck); The input translation is much more of a problem an issue. Trying to aim with speed with a controller....I've mentioned it in passing before and it's hard for me. A controller is not a keyboard/mouse so is inherently going to be lacking precision. Especially as I can directly compare it to my PC version experiences. There's not much I can do to change things other than in game sliders; Yet I feel I need that little bit extra to compete. Controller sensitivity settings can only do so much to bring my experience on par to a PC's. There are so many players that seem to pull of extreme shots so easily.

Players where it 'feels' like they are using a mouse and keyboard. Too much of an accurate shot at too far a range....... They could be that good but they may have technology to help. There are 'controllers' that are specifically designed for FPS games.... I'm not that hardcore. A normal Xbox Series X/S controller is doing 'fine'. I don't wanna spend €150+ on a piece of hardware to compensate... I already have the PC version so...... Console = casual despite my need to compete(or at least feel like I'm trying to be competitive...)

Assaulting in close quarters is better... No one has time to aim...Bullet hose = victory.

Sniping long distance...... Gives me time to line up a shot.

It's the other 80% middle ground that's a problem. Some weapons are better than others. Most of the time it's 'OK' but the other times where I curse the lack of precision bring frustration. Those I could have done better moments are more plentiful in this version and are growing.... A catch 22, unavoidable nature of the console version perhaps..... 

Variables/Calculations, stop thinking and shoot..... 

Maybe with all that considered there's no answer for me.... Just messing about with the game settings. Trial and error to make things a little better......

To illustrate my current lack of precision I present this encounter. A fun one in retrospect. My aim wasn't the only one 'off'... 

A Casual Carebear Gamer

Battlefield 1(Xbox)....

Since my last BF1 post I've been enjoying some more matches on Xbox. Going from PC to console and using a controller again(it's been a while) hasn't been as big a trauma as I'd thought it would be. It's still slower method(imho than pc), no matter the way I try to configure it. So I end up either under or over compensating. Which translates to a lack of reaction time when aiming down the sights and flailing bullets wildly when not. The real problem is the movement acceleration for the right stick. So no wonder I've preferred to favor maps with enclosed spaces over open fields. Unless I'm on a vehicle weapon like a tank cannon.

The servers for console seem to have more players no matter the hour, early or late. Maybe I've just been lucky. The PC version has seen a big fall off pre and resurgence since BF V; But still has peaks and troughs of player numbers through the day. It's never fun to wait for a server only to be the only player on it. But it has happened on PC more than Xbox. 

As this last week has proved the console version is more susceptible to EA server/multiplayer 'problems'. The mysterious EA servers not available -> Go Online and there are no servers 'thing'. While there are workarounds I found it best to launch the game from the EA Play app on the Xbox rather than the game on Xbox itself.... Just worked out better to get the server lists again.... May work for some, may not work like that for others... Finicky to say the least when it does 'act up". If all else fails then the recent lists from old matches may just save the day for a match fix or two.

In saying that the Xbox BF1 crowd 'seem' the same FPS junkies as on PC, which shouldn't surprise me. More easy access to comms makes them a vocal bunch and they're more 'leetist' in a 'get gud' shouty kind of way. 

Like on PC I've had good matches, bad matches and matches where enemy reaction time is 'too accurate'. 

While I've missed using some of the fully unlocked items I use on PC; Unlocking them on the Xbox has been a driving motivator for playing as well. Fun objectives to add to the mix!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanyway all this got me looking at the achievement stat percentages. Good idea;Bad idea. This has the potential to be sarcastic and overly negative... Stats!

Some of the ones I've unlocked and those percentages.....

Less than 20% of players have a medic class at level 2.....

...... It's the medic class, sorely missed when none are about but then again never a 'desirable' class to play for those who want shooty shooty bang bang. The lack of medics has made matches meat grinders. It's noticeable. Not for the better imho. It's common enough to be walked over by 'special' medics who only revive friends and sod every other 'team-mate'. But at least this last week and as I write I've been getting matches with all the medics and revives on the planet! Long may it last.

Less than 18% have an assault class at level 2.....

...... But the shooty shooty bang bang mainstay class; It's what makes a shooter a shooter. It's odd that less than 20% are 2 or above....... Maybe explained by there being so many LMG toting Support players(infinite bullet hose is more preferable?); Can't argue bout that I suppose.

A Casual Carebear Gamer

Just over 30% have completed squad orders....

...... As squad orders can be completed like tripping over thin air, that % means that squad leaders are not doing squad orders..... Again noticeable. But something even I avoid doing on PC.... 

Then again I've not seen many players spot the enemy either, so maybe it's a right shoulder button bad luck voodoo thing..... 

Heaven forbid console players use the same buttons for different things..... Multitasking seems to be a no no overall(Or is that my PC leetism coming through, both maybe); The controller layout can get complicated in the heat of combat. I've had moments when trying to do one thing(like spotting) makes the command wheel pop up and I end up calling for a medic, ammo or shouting GO GO GO in text chat. It's not perfect on PC either but on Xbox it's a pain to escape and not get killed. Better to let the button mashing happen get the spot/kill and forget the errant mashing.

As for why I don't seek out that command duty, I'm in it for the action not the people management.

 

Only (just over) 30% have reached rank 10!!!

...... So much for thinking there's longevity in the game... There're plenty of players listed in matches as being 100+ 

There's plenty of players in the game regardless.....But I've barely played and am in the 40's. Maybe I'm reading it all wrong.

As the saying goes... "Lies, dámn lies and statistics".

A while back I got one of the newer Series S/X controllers. The slightly smaller size and other minor changes are very welcome. I'm biased as an Xbox head so no surprise there either. But the share button is a massive improvment. I've so many clips and screenshots now! More clip management but better than recording everything as I do on PC so I'm welcoming the less use of disk space. 

A Casual Carebear Gamer

Battlefield 1(Xbox)....

The last two weeks(or so) I've found myself playing a lot more BF1 on Xbox. 

While I'm all in on the PC version there are two main reasons at play it on Xbox now.

First off I find the console version of PC games that little bit different as to be a 'new' experience. I've seen this over the last 'while'(years), on and off with Star Trek Online. So access to the base BF1 game via game-pass was an 'of course' I'll try it.

Secondly my brother in law is big into previous Battlefield, Cod and multiplayer console shooters in general. Talking recently he had gotten BF1 and was looking for more team members.... But it seems BF V is getting in the way as he and a friend seem to favor it... So my thinking is maybe playing more BF1 and sharing some gameplay could change a mind or two... 

Meh, there's a lot of minor considerations in the mix. He like another mate of mine whos is also easily distracted by gameplay shiny things(Feet first into a game only to jump feet first into another game a second later).

Getting back to a multiplayer online shooter with a controller is a return to my Xbox 360 days of Battlkefield 4 and CoD Modern Warfare and Black Ops; But back I am, bad aim and all (aim overcompensation).

Aside from my getting used to things again I've been making progress overall. Fun is being had.

With the game being the 'base' game I was starting to miss my earned and unlocked loadouts/weapons from being a 'high level' PC player. Not a whole lot as there is fun is being low level and having less to work with, making do. That said the biggest loss was in map rotations. While there are plenty of 'base' game map servers; Getting the 'server no longer has content you can play' got old fast.

But, synchronicity was there last week, a favorable sale for the game including DLC/season pass made the choice to buy easy. €7.99 can't argue with that.

With the purchase the game has literally opened up. Access to servers running all the maps and all the modes, all the time.

One problem remains, display lag.

I have a busy desk, since the Xbox one app allowed it I've steamed all gameplay to PC via it since; Replacing the 'console monitor' on my desk. In place of it I setup my laptop in a more permanent way(cable management etc.); But getting back into multiplayer on the console means the 2 millisecond delay in streaming is a real killer to my gamepaly. So a HDMI cable back on the console and connected to the laptop HDMI in....Sorted the problem.

I'd mess about with connecting the cable to my main PC monitors alternative input but then Windows throws a hissy fit and shunts all the desktop icons/content to the second screen and it's a mess I can live without; Even if it sorts itself out once the input signal is 'gone'. Simpler to use the laptop and keep the PC 100% usable.

I can still use the app to stream to PC and capture that footage(no external capture device, can't justify it, nor splurge). That has it's own problems as the millisecond delays kicks in; It gets a bit weird in playback, skips and jumps as well as audio desyncing. Still it's a way to capture some footage and still get flawless output to the alternative screen(laptop) for actual gameplay enjoyment/viewing.

All that said I'm not taking the game as seriously as I do the PC version. It's a fun distraction via the console experience. As only consoles can. Like aimed mode being a softer visual than on PC where it's always the same sharpness. It's a 'console thing'(trick?) that reminds me of playing the original Operation Flashpoint and then playing the Original XBox release version. There are just certain things that do and don't change visually and with gameplay when crossing platforms. Some things never change; Same but worlds apart.

P.S. 

     Yea the laptop is still in use even after complaining about it over 3 years ago..... Still doing it's job and still capable.

Battlefield 1....

A video I'd delayed/was 'stuck in editing héll' finally for out of the draft stage. Noting like a bank holiday weekend to free things up and clear some backlog. The footage is from a few weeks ago when Frontlines was the theme of the week(s). I'm quiet happy with the edit. That may be down to more luck than 'mad skillz'. I'm biased as it's all the best bits of a match that went my way; And I like the music. It all 'just' came together.

A Casual Carebear Gamer

Battlefield 1....

More often than not I get to play a few matches of whatever mode is the current 'theme of the week' each night. The last few nights I've 'enjoyed' (more or less) a return to 'Back to Basics'. An acquired taste for sure but one I'm into these days.

A Casual Carebear Gamer

While I'd not call BF1 a dead game it's not in it's prime either. BFV being what it is has also helped BF1's longevity. Still getting a server with players can be a feast or a famine. I've found that I need to be online earlier (7PM-ish) or really late(1a.m.-ish) to get 'decent' EU servers. Still no guarantee there wont' be wall hack/cheaters etc.... These things happen and they usually get a torrent of abuse from both sides which can be entertaining in itself.

Anyway, I've had a lot of good matches. Recently I've tried a few times to do up a post and a video but like my blogging in general it's all been delayed, put aside and unfinished. Such is life. Drafts to get back to at some stage.... Some time.... Later......Maybe....

Battlefield 1....

While I've not been posting up match montages(feels like a long time since I hit a pinnacle on that score), I've still been enjoying some time within Battlefield 1.

It's the unique, surprising, spur of the moment, moments that can be the most enjoyable.

Throwing a grenade, I expected to do some damage; But throwing this grenade, at that moment and seeing it 'land', well, it looked like the player caught it with his teeth!.... Boom!

A Casual Carebear Gamer

Battlefield 1....

Not often that I look back at my own gameplay but one video I'm really happy with from both editing and watching is:

A Casual Carebear Gamer