Eve Online....

I'm not a complete hater! I just dislike CCP's track record on player interactions, game promotions/monetization and a majority of their business decisions that directly impact/change Eve Online's universe and/or game-play. I do really, really like the game and I'm a solo carebear! A member of the great unwashed masses.

The list of my bitter and twisted feelings is long and has a crown jewel(mysterycode); But I'm a sucker for what they get right in Eve Online. It's why I bought the last 2 x 3 month sub with MCT; It's why I'm considering buying it twice again, it's on promotion again. It was predictable they would do something as the last 3 month with MCT has just about 'run out'. 50% off! A sale that actually appeals to me as an actual sale!

It's a deal, it's a bargain and I can't help but hate myself for wanting to get it again! Feeding the hand that bites me, so to speak.

Anyway the main reason for waffling on this post is to say that CCP can do things right. Yea I said it....

No, not the monetizations. No, not the 'deals'. Not the 'bargains'; Both are larger subjective gray areas; But the real reason for this post ......... One moment while I explain......I was in the Epic store to claim the latest free game when I saw an Eve Online popup. A free Eve content pack you say! I even like the colours!

So I created a new Eve Online alt. For no other reason than to claim the bundle. It's been a while since I created a new Eve character. Which I did and then split the goodies between both my 'mains' once the tutorial was done. I'm a collector, a hoarder and if the Bind on Pickup changes to the login/event rewards hadn't been done I'd be happier. However here's the 'really good bit'.... The new, new, new, latest new variation of the New Player Experience......... It's good! 

Maybe I'm behind the times but I've no need to create new alts on an ongoing basis.

It's an actual honest to goodness, good version. It's practical! Intuitive..............Makes sense, it's interesting AND enjoyable!!!!! 

There's just the right level of  NPC 'characterization'; In a white and blue collar kind of way, without being over the top one way or the other! Professionals like Caldari Navy(I created yet another Caldari, Calamari for life) officers are professional and work for a living miners are suitably 'roughneck'. 

Eve/CCP don't make it easy to do things simply, Even if a new alt this way is 'working the system'; I look forward to creating another character via my wife's Epic login and 'redistributing' goodies but also seeing the creation/tutorial again. Granted I've yet to turn her to the dark side of Eve Online gameplay but Eve Online is a long-term thing......  

So the new/latest intro tutorial is good, I'd even go so far as to say..... gr....great....(One moment while I pick myself up off the floor).

The game as usual has always been upping the ante in the graphics department. Eve Online today is so very very purdy. It does a hard sell with graphics in the tutorial process. That's not to say the game is ugly on an average day; but the tutorial locations and the AIR station are 'very nice'. Very photogenic, don't mind if I do!

The only things I have issue with are 2 items that you have as part of the tutorial missions that are removed from you. Understandably so but still; I'm a collector/hoarder..... It's a personal perspective.

First up is a black box mission item that did respawn a copy of itself so I could have had it to keep but was all taken on redocking for the mission handin. :(

The other is the AIR 'tutorial' Astero; I so very much wish I'd been able to keep it. Even if it is 'special' and tutorial use based; As short as it's life in the tutorial was I wish I'd been able to keep it. A broad complex issue that being given an Ibis doesn't get resolved by.

Guess I have attachment issues #Gollum.

Speaking of every day Eve Online. The more things change the more they stay the same. My usual activities are my usual activities. Mains and alts, skills, missions and mining, P.I. and trading. Whatever suits the mood and timings.

Eve Echoes....

While I may have waffled too much, thought too much and waffled way too much again last time. An Eve Echoes tweet yesterday was questionable to me and worth more waffle....

24 Hours old and only 19 likes and 2 retweets..... 

But it's the analogy of the games PR labeling their game with 'return to life', that's essentially telling everyone your own game is dead; That's more than just a Freudian slip? Desperation? Hmmmm 'Waiting for your return', indeed.

19 likes and 2 retweets....

From all I've seen and read since my own views, there are a lot of flaws to the games current game mechanics still in need of dev time. If Destroyers have 'issues' then what does that say about Titans when they're up.

As I said before, if your into the game, then good for you. For me there's a lot that needs to be done to draw me in and even at that it's monetization is very off-putting to me. It's a monetization test-bed for an 'alternative' Eve game and in doing things there, they will 'bring' it to Eve Online if it meets their profit needs/expectations. CCP is CCP. I've waffled so much on that score in the past(mysterycode). 

Yea I'm waffling on... 

What's the Eve Echoes community talking about....

GicaForta: New Auto Salvagers Content Is A Disaster | EVE Echoes

AHSHEEVED: Top 10 Blunders - Eve Echoes   &   Did you know? Comet, Lazarus - Eve Echoes

For a more positive note - 

Captain Benzie: Lazarus Units, Comets, Corp Recruitment Tools, Returnee Events & More!! || EVE Echoes

Star Trek Online....

Missions, events, TFO's in general, patrols, EC and Dil earned. Fun had. 

The more things change the more they stay the same. The game has a good balance, at least in my eye, in regard to gameplay and paying for items. The more I see STO being talked about online the more I see one-line comments about it being 'pay to win' and 'bad' because of it. It's not and it isn't. It's free, give it a try and see for yourself on the platform of your choice(PS,Xbox,PC). Just because you can pay doesn't mean you should. The number of players I see in bought ships that explode regularly and/or have no clue of anything about the TFO they're in.... is getting ridiculous. I'm a casual underdog kind of player. If one of my lesser alts in a T5 with basic mark 12 gear is the sole survivor 5 seconds after a TFO starts there's something wrong with how players see STO as 'pay to win'. Especially while 'lesser' ships from events etc are the mainstay workhorse that get casual TFO's done. The quiet casual majority.

Before I pay something into a game(any game) I play the game, especially if it's free. I consider it an investment and I'm not casual about that. So the game gives me joy/fun etc... So of course I'll pay into it to get more out of it. Like me buying the Life-time benefits a few years into playing the game! 

I'm just scratching my head trying to understand players that whip out the credit card and then in a TFO fall flat on their face.... They must be disappointed?   

My gameplay has been fun. Both on PC and Xbox. As I said, I've done missions, events, TFO's in general, patrols, earned EC and refined Dil. Enjoyment it solo and with my wife; Who now has herself bought into the lifetime life.  

For the first time I checked out the KDF lifetime 'special' station. It's very Klingon and I like it a lot! 

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. 

The Planet Crafter....

The more I play Planet Crafter the more three movies come to mind The Martian, Finch and to a lesser extent Red Planet. Lots of similarities in themes and crossover appeal. The game is more immersive because I'm into those types of movies as I overlay my own form of roleplay. Like Minecraft the more I potter about with the game the more I need want to do in it. Since the last time I've posted I've changed a lot around. Even with images below, they aren't all up to the current minute I've been changing so much about.

I've hope for the additional elements of the game to come. Maybe I'm reading too much into it. I'll be happy if saves are kept between versions and survive all the way till release.... It's still early day's yet. Either way I have to admit to having hype for it. The next update in a weeks time will add a lot. So no surprise to say I'm looking forward to it.

As for gameplay..... I've been refining my current base setup. Taking down smaller tech and putting up larger versions as I 'advance'. Also adding in a much bigger material storage 'facility' in anticipation for the patch and the larger extractors/miners. The next patch will lead to more tweaking as it adds to the scope and scale of things, so plenty more to be changed yet.

Day that's in it....

 

Sniper Elite 4....

With the end of the main campaign(here and here) I took a bit of a break from the game; Then in more recent weeks went back to do the 'extra' missions. Having bought the all singing, all dancing version on a Steam sale I can't say if it was worth it back in the day at whatever a full price was. I can say that the DLC missions have given me more; More difficult and larger maps to enjoy, and I've enjoyed them. So for the future I'm sure that such an all inclusive version will be on sale again and I'd say that it's well worth it.

Anyway, I've been back to it on and off progressing the DLC content just like I did in the 3rd game; more on that game here and here.

The maps have been more of the same good fun. Large maps, tactics from silent to 'loud'. More difficult enemies, like elite snipers/troops. Or area's that merge and mingle lots of arcs of fire from multiple patrols/enemies. Which can all lead to a lot of 'fun'. 

Silent moments taking out guards leads to an all out alert and in that 'get out of dodge' moment you round a blind corner and run into another patrol and the flash of a sniper scope somewhere; Running into a building and up the stairs bumping into another enemy you knife. Options limited and the heart-rate of your character pounding as you aim to cover the stairway to the attic; pondering in your mind if you have time to run to the window behind you for 'options' or stay and 'get' the first enemy to follow you.....

The more I play the more I tend to be both loud and quiet. Noting like an enemy on edge who don't know whats coming.

There are some set pieces, but not many and all usually fun. Like the Hitler escape. 

Most come in the form of completed objectives which get a wave of enemy reinforcements; Which you that get to ambush or be ambushed by. Again that brings me back to my Hidden and Dangerous 2 days and nostalgia; Setting up mines to destroy reinforcement tanks/troops.

Other moments are obvious fun. Coming across a new weapon and a large target filled with explosive barrels; Be a shame not to use it! 

A Casual Carebear Gamer