And it's December....

Next thing it's gonna be New Year! Blink of an eye. Bit like week to week. The more that happens, the more time flies. Then again the more I game the more time seems to just evaporate..... So no wonder.

The news on the lawsuit against Steam, now being a class action is very interesting.

https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/the-antitrust-lawsuit-against-steam-is-now-a-class-action-and-that-could-have-big-repercussions-for-valve

Star Trucker is getting yet more cool updates and a bit of a customization collaboration.

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2380050/view/4458096337647304797

 

 

The Planet Crafter looks to be continuing a similar patch/update quality cadence. Looking forward to the next patch!

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1284190/view/4483992035504685735

Dave the Diver had a minor update this last week but it seems that I've missed out on a lot of it's minor updates....... Not that I've played much of it recently but as nice are the quality of life changes/updates are I don't seem to have played it properly in a few months...

Eve Online is Eve Online and my gameplay there is on par with my gameplay there. PvE, Industry, solo casual carebear. What can I say other than same'ol same'ol. I've no interest in the new mobile Eve game and no interest in the FPS, from what I've seen and heard. Even if I did it' wouldn't run well on my PC. With the latest 'story' for Eve Online I've no interest in that either. So same'ol, same'ol....

Star Trek Online's Winter event is due tomorrow today and with it the news of the reward ship was released today yesterday.   https://www.playstartrekonline.com/en/news/article/11572674

 

 

Crushers Season 3 ship, I've no interest in it due to the series and I've claimed too many ships to be awed by a 'free' event ship like this. Good to claim and add to characters for the admiralty if noting else. Should be interesting to see what's used from it (console and/or trait) by the meta theory heads; So time will tell. The ship the Eleos Intel Scout Vessel details are here: https://www.playstartrekonline.com/en/news/article/11572677

The event and the reward ship have already been talked about by some of the more prominent STO you-tubers:

CasualSAB : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7hC49U6v-w

Stu1701 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD095ateH3U

 

Otherwise gameplay is gameplay on PC and Xbox as much as on Eve Online; Same'ol Same'ol. Dailies and final ends of the the Mirror universe characters. 

 

I've not messed about with my PC Ferengi as he is in as much decent shape as can be, the new free Ferengi ship is a whole other fit and finish; So I'm leaning to the Xbox for that as a character and a themed build...... But maybe after Christmas in the New Year.

At long last I finally got to play the Radio Commander Pacific Campaign Demo, it's a demo and not a final version but I like it. It's been a while since I played the Vietnam first game but Pacific Campaign 'feels' a better than I thought it would be, they seem to be doing a lot of polish to it since last I saw it.  is still on my wish list.....

The last week has also seen me pickup 2 games for Xbox with the cheap sales of late. Assassins Creed Mirage and Prince of Persia The lost Crown.

In getting them I had expected to like The Lost Crown more than Mirage but in playing the start of each it's the opposite way round. That said The lost Crown is a game that is more prone to continued gameplay per session due to the level design and the innate exploration of those levels. As to which will see more gameplay overall.... Well I've a lot of games to mess about with on Xbox never-mind times 10 those on PC.....

Same'ol, same'ol.....

Not to hammer on an ongoing point..... The more things change, the more they stay the same... And that time flies.....

Same'ol, same'ol. 

 

So whats new.... More of the same.

 

 

 

Interesting to see news of the [2K Launcher] Complete Sunset.  I saw this as an update for XCOM: Chimera Squad; But many games are listed.

 

  

 

Seems Homeworld 3 has reached the end of the line with the 1.3 update. From Eurogamer:

Homeworld 3's last big update launches this week, after developer decision to unify remaining plans

 

The game is still on my wishlist, but I think it'll be on sale sooner than I originally thought.... But this news is making me think deep sale now instead.... 

If the patch is the be all and end all, I hope it really does get one or two more balancing patch the patch fixes..... Rather than the game getting this last one and being dropped like a hot potato..... 

There's a lot more at stake than just fixing a game, keeping hope alive for the futre of the franchise after the 3'rd game.....   Yet I still get whiffs of Mass Effect Andromeda from this news, and we all know how that got 'fixed' in the end...

 

 

 

Star Trek Online is more of the same. Meaning my Mirror character is progressing, now max level with all the trimmings starting to take shape(reputations, ship modules etc).

 

There's still a way to go yet but he's 80% there, last 20% being the hardest or should that be time based longest...

He's now my current primary character for all things including the daily event participation and endeavours. Loving the ship more on PC than on Xbox and I'm surprised at that given I'm loving it there. I think that's due to pc control being easier to take advantage of the directional boosts(at least for me).

With the news of Ambassador Kael leaving the team and his mystery gifting news I was unsure of what it would be. I'm not that in the know even to speculate. Still the odds were it being a ship(kinda what the game is, so 'duh'); But the news was due and it hit alright. Nice account unlock themed ship and outfits. The Grand Nagus celebrates Black Friday with a Gift!

So I'll be claiming that on my characters. Had to do it on my Ferengi first, the rest later and then see if it's a ship my main Ferengi will take as his own or keep his standard D'Kora.

The ships battle module is of interest as I'm into the missile systems just on aesthetics alone. Could be cool to combine it with the mission reward 'Kentari Mass-Produced Missile Launcher'. I see fun ahead regardless of the DPS.

 

 

 

Eve Online is more of the same, mains and alts, dailies and activities in the moment.

Overall both myself and my co-corp mate are both as into Industry as ever. Given he's as good as 12 hours in the time difference it's almost like were on shift work; With only the handover mails/contracts as interactions. Keeps us busy. Each to their own. Besides I still have me, myself and my alts. Keeps me busy.

Euro Truck Simulator 2 had another update of meaning, seems they are really keeping up the best of the best in content changes and fixes. Quality of life doesn't do it justice. Euro Truck Simulator 2: 1.53 Update Release

SCS Software

 

Kinda looking forward to the new DLC. As well as the Winter/Christmas event.

 

 

 

With a bit of a push to finish off the end of the game I did just that with the Stick of Truth. As I said last time, the game holds up as fun to play and fun to laugh at. 

 

But that prolonged ending multi-boss fight is a slog. A very real sense of having come so far may as well push to the end.

 

 

After finishing the game only had the Gore fight left and finished it off. But leaving only a few days between that and starting the second game was too soon; I'll leave it for a 'while'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Another week, just like that....

Another week, just like that....

With Good Old Games (GoG) being DRM free they have always had my interest, but more-so for running older games on modern systems. They are definitely in the lead when it comes to the preservation side of the 'game'. Seems they have a lot more leeway then they thought, maybe the tasks ahead allowing them to 'let' players 'keep' the games they 'own' is too large.... ? It will be if a giant platform that holds a gamer's library goes under. Maybe, maybe not?

https://www.pcgamer.com/games/gog-is-gonna-keep-games-like-new-vegas-running-on-modern-systems-by-itself-using-its-own-devs-to-keep-a-growing-set-of-oldies-going-for-generations-to-come/

The 'dead' game news has had some interesting updates.

While IGN had info about the basics. Ubisoft Hit With Lawsuit for Shutting Down The Crew - IGN Daily Fix;  Accursed Farms had the better and more in-depth info and analysis. 

 

Accursed Farms

 

My game back catalogue has Star Trucker in an 'almost' next to play lineup... I'm glad to see the game get patched and updates(like many others).

Update 1.0.43.0 - Custom Control Mapping

 

 

While I am very much in the Microsoft/Xbox ecosystem I'm glad to hear that Xbox consoles are still going to be 'a thing'. Less so that 'everything' is going to be an Xbox..... Meh, we'll see how this all plays out. But given that their Windows 10 upgrade is for users to get a new PC for Windows 11 I hold out no hope of anything 'good' for users... Everything at a price etc....

This last week has seen my usual 2 MMO's get the usual time/gaming.

 

Eve Online once again is my same'ol, same'ol casual carebear-ish-ness game-play on main's and alt's.

I've moved some scout alts that don't see much use(just no need for them) into a corp on their own..... For no reason than I could. One way or another it really doesn't matter other than for my own lol's.  My r.l. co-corp friend is much the same, doing his own thing, in industry. One day I will get my investments back (in ships)...... But that 12 hour time difference is a killer for co-op. So yea, me my alts and I are doing my thing.

 

 

With the event login goodies 50% done I'm giving 2 alts 10 plex each to use to buy the 7 days in the store to claim the login goodies and with luck the store freebies..... Will see if it works out but at least they will have the login time to claim the rest of the 'event' goodies(Skill Points).

As for Star Trek Online.. News that Earth Space Dock is getting a makeover was initially interesting to me until I saw it was the Picard Season 3 version. A space-dock that looks squat and inelegant. At least when compared to the current movie version... In my view. I've always thought the current look is a good look. 

 

 

 

 

It's all in development and all up in the air until it hits the live system; More than likely early next year with the new 'expansion'. 

I'm all for STO taking the best of the franchise and using it; But dámn, STO does trek better than today's nü trek. STO has done a lot to take what is Trek and expand and improve; They should do the same for any new ESD. From what I've seen of this new ESD (CasualSAB - New Earth Spacedock - First Look) as I've not seen season 3 of Picard(can't get past the first 2 episodes); As detailed as it is, it's an addition to the game that takes more away from the game than adds to it(in my view). I mean the internals have always had a Trek aesthetic not based on any one show, but the external is 'so' movie Trek iconic. Pesky nostalgia getting in the way of modernity.

Anyway. Gameplay has been my usual on PC and Xbox across the dailies and events. The current event on PC, The Feast (https://www.playstartrekonline.com/en/news/article/11572293) has TFO's that are 'easy'; Both ground and space are 99% no brains needed to complete(not just being normal difficulty). For this I've been using the defender semi afk with my wife, fire and forget-esque. Time is not an issue so no need to speed through the ground TFO when the space version will do.

On Xbox the event Dimensional Typhoon is proving to be more interesting with the new TFO, even if I'm still being lazy by doing the Defense of Starbase One instead. Still new is new and the new one with a decent pick up group can still be done fast and well enough. Random is random and mileage varies so for me it's time of day dependent. More and better players at peak times etc....

 

 

 

Like on PC I've used some of the campaign 'free' Lobi to buy some Badgey 'pets' and have the combat variant for my latest mirror character. The character cosmetics not being in the patch don't really matter to me.

Even if the combat pet does no real damage I've found him to be of help cleaning up and picking off small enemies that are usually all over the place in some ground TFO's..... The manner of how he 'is', knife in hand with little boots and the sounds is all hilarious to me.

 

 

Plenty of pets to share, I've no need to sell.... But could do with more account bank slots. Memo to self, next services sale!

The more fleet invites my charecters get to fleets the more things prove fleets are not what a player needs. No random ones decent enough to stay in yet...

 

 

 

 

The only other game to note is South Park the Stick of Truth. A game I played back in the day on PC. Yea 10 years ago! Doesn't seem so long but fk it's been a while. The game is the game, I love it; It's as fun and funny on Xbox now as on PC back then. My cat has taken to watching me play, if not from the couch than face up to the screen..... What ever makes him happy.

 

 

But it's been fun to be back into the game from scratch.

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Playing the game on console I can now see how the game was censored. While I'm glad to have played the uncensored game on PC I get why they would change it for certain areas. Less so for all console versions... But yea World War 2 and probing issues etc I do 'get' it. They have to cover their own ásses.

Screenshots from my gameplay footage back in the day...

Current Xbox version.....

 

 

 

Elle Cordova