NMS....

I've put a few more hours into No Man's Sky over the last week. I'm in no great rush to go anywhere in game. The choice to randomly explore, take a "shortcut" wormhole or go straight to the galactic core hasn't peeked any interest. So beyond minor system exploration, scanning, harvesting of planets and moons; I've been getting re-acquainted with actually playing the game. This new 'NEXT' version of the game.

The 'ol red crystals are no longer Uranium... But a harvest for old times sake....

I've been getting to know the technologies and the resources needed by tech to make life effortless. A need to know that plant X gives oxygen, that X and Y are needed for my life support 'fuel' and that scrap metal is needed for looting. Etc. Etc. Etc.

https://www.gamesradar.com/no-mans-sky-atlas-pass-guide/

I've upgraded some items on my suit, ship and multitool.

One item I'm still trying to get a hook on (blueprint?) is the Oxygen filter.

I think I'm at a point where I know most of what I need to keep exploration/existence in the game going. That's half the battle. The next part, deciding what to aim for as a goal will decide how long I stay in game.....

STO....

1 down, 13 to go....

Darkest Dungeon....

The latest patch has a lot listed.  All for the better I think.

https://steamcommunity.com/games/262060/announcements/detail/1714070254233703961

STO....

Account-wide rewards are always good to have. The Crystalline Entity event is returning with a reputation reward that can be done with 14 event 'Shards'. 14 day, daily event.

"  Completing the event queue will earn you one Crystal Shard every 20 hours. After collecting 14 of them, players can complete a new Event Reputation project to be rewarded with the following:

Crystalline Space Antiproton Energy Weapons (Account Unlock)
-Antiproton Matter Conversion Dual Heavy Cannons
-Antiproton Matter Conversion Beam Array
50,000 Dilithium Ore
500 Fleet Marks
250 Marks of their choice
(Includes all current marks except Gamma)  "

Full details:
https://www.arcgames.com/en/games/star-trek-online/news/detail/10978353

Cities Skylines....

Cities Skylines Panda power is still strong.... pic.twitter.com/ClHnb22GMD

— A Casual Carebear (@ACasualCarebear) August 15, 2018

GRW....

Ghost Recon!! I don't care about the prestige system and the vehicle rewards for the new challenge.... Lacklustre.... Even saying that, where was this kind of incentive/reward when the Tier system came out!

ETS 2....

Good video on the new ETS 2 Trailers update.

https://t.co/3nAeIj61SJ

— A Casual Carebear (@ACasualCarebear) August 14, 2018

Fallout 76....

Good details came from Quake Con: 

https://www.vg247.com/2018/08/11/fallout-76-multiplayer-details-quakecon-2018/ 

All the rules in place for PvP makes me wonder why a PvP player toggle wouldn't be better.  WoW is doing that job really well with the latest expansions 'War Mode'.

Why are game companies hung up on non consensual PvP as a norm. Then they go out of their way to protect players when it could all be done away with by having the player decide if they want PvP or not.

The more I hear about Fallout 76, the more I'm thinking of having nothing to do with it.

As it stands now Fallout 76 isn't on my wish list any longer.

Besides updates to the game engine, new creatures and location, is it really worth it just for Fallout 4 PvP as an extra?

Maybe I'm being too harsh on the declutter/cutting of games from my interest list.

Planet Coaster....

Speaking of thinning my gaming herd, another game I'm marking off is Planet Coaster. As much as games of it's ilk scratch my micromanagement itch; It doesn't scratch it as much as Cities Skylines does. I've put a lot of time into Skylines, it's still ongoing for me from time to time. Especially given a sale on a DLC or two, more of that is to come in the future.

Planet coaster is perhaps too detailed. Like placement of individual paving blocks kind of detailed. Not that that kind of thing had to be done. But min/maxing on a whole other level like that is an easy trap to fall into. Scenarios and challenges aside. I've been happy with the standard placement of park rides and scenery etc. Staff rosters was a step too far for me. So in reflection as much as the game entertained it also annoyed, tipping the balance of the micromanagement one way or the other. A happy balance is a hard thing to keep in this game. At least in my lil 'ol opinion.

I've been convincing myself that if I was into the game I'd be playing. Given I've not been wholeheartedly into it, it's time to cut my losses and move on. Give my time to the games I do want to spent time in.... Cities Skyline.... Or Surviving Mars (that's a whole other story).

The Swords of Ditto....

I like the look and sound of the game, but even after all this time with it's multiple updates (version history); I still can't get into playing The Swords of Ditto. Even after reading details online I haven't been able to shift my perspective. 

My perspective tells me that the visuals are amazing.

The sounds and music are as well.

For me there is a disconnect between the sword and the sword bearer. The character is temporary but the sword remains, yet there is more characterisation on the characters rather than the sword. Soulcalibur could have taught a lesson or two here. But the implementation of it's rogue-like elements, specifically the time limit on each character that holds the sword; It's that that kills exploration and discovery, for me. Even on a casual relaxed run.

A longer game with more meaning is the game I think I wanted from it. I could waffle on trying to explain it. All in all it's a game that hasn't clicked with me on launch or now month's later with all it's patches. I'd hoped that keeping this game on the back burner would make it age well, patches on patches etc. But I think I'll be uninstalling it and moving on.

Zebra Gamer

Quake Champions....

It's been a while since I last posted about Quake Champions, but I've still been plugging away with it. Not that I'm great at it but it's a fun quick blast. Good for one or two games every few day's ish, at least for me.
I haven't been into quick twitchy shooters in years, maybe not even since Quake and Quake 2 multiplayer (and a few Unreal Tourney games after that). So I'm questioning if I can go further with this game. Further than just having a quick match here and there. I don't think I can, not long-term.
So far it's still novel.  But.... But... But... It's a game that can be jumped into with no real effort or forethought; If you do give it forethought, min/maxing and some cold hard cash you can be an ultimate killing machine. Something I am far from.

A Casual Carebear

Free is free....

Steam currently has the game Insurgency for free. At least it's free for the next 48 ish hours.

Details here:

https://steamcommunity.com/games/insurgency/announcements/detail/1703936520914355488

Quake Champions....

I may have missed a reward timing or two....

Not quite optimised, but I'm ok with that....

Quake Champions....

Doom Slayer for a day or two... Don't mind if I do.

BF1....

I've been playing more BF1.... I'm not sure why but it seems to be a bit of a go to game for me at the moment. And with another match worth mentioning, at least in my view. Specifically because I've never done some many revives in one match! Granted I was on the loosing side against a steamroller but still an interesting match because of that.

A Casual Carebear

NMS....

I've still not given up on a chance I might get back into No Man's Sky.

I logged back in and reassessed my 'situation'. That's to say I gathered some resources, scanned some stuff and upgraded some technology. All without being too judgemental.

I need to be in the right mood to take this game back on.
Maybe the Atlas path, maybe random wormholes or just to see whats in the next system over....

BF1....

I've been having some great matches recently; One of which turned out to be the most amazing matches I've ever played. In regards to stats as well as pure enjoyment. Least amongst them a few longer range pistol kills. I wish I had recorded the gameplay. So is there any real point to me saying this if there is no "proof"? Well it happened, I know it because I enjoyed it, that's all that matters.

What I did record was more of the same'ol same'ol, a medic supporting his side. Still entertaining in it's own right.

A Casual Carebear

Hitman....

The latest elusive target duo would be a pain to stalk, so a big thanks to MrFreeze2244. Not that I expect to him to see this. But his latest run-through of the targets and the best locations for take-downs was a godsend.

MrFreeze2244

Having gotten all the unlocks for the level I started off as a surgeon and took out both targets in the same locations as his video. That guard/surgeon conversation is indeed funny, I captured most of it below. Easy targets to do when all the hard work has been done already. Again big thanks to MrFreeze2244.

A Casual Carebear

Planetbase....

It's been ages since I last played Planetbase. The dev team(Madruga Works) may be working on another game at the moment but it's really good that they haven't forgotten Planetbase.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/403190/discussions/0/1742216483308742616/

I'll gladly take all the improvements....
My only need for change in the game is that meal makers should have an option to specify the type of meal to be created. I don't see that happening as it seems to be designed specifically to be the way it is.

Torchlight Frontiers....

I've always liked the style of the Torchlight Franchise. Even saying that I only scratched the surface of the first game before lending it to a friend and never seeing it again. These things happen.
It was only a while ago that I got around to the second game.

A Casual Carebear

There was always a shared world element to the game, I just never chose to play it that way. Solo was perfectly casual enough for me. But a proper MMO version! Well this has peeked my interest!
Torchlight Frontiers, a shared-world action-RPG!

Play Torchlight

Maybe I'm reading too much into the "shared" part of the description. Maybe it's not as MMO as I'm thinking it might be. But the thought of it is very tantalising.
No surprise that "additional details about Torchlight Frontiers will be revealed at a later date."
Time will tell. I'm looking forward to see what form this new game will take. An MMO that's got the ARPG cartoonish Torchlight style.... Could be a game changer.
I think it'll almost have a retro feel for some reason... Comfortably familiar.