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Gaming was like breathing. It was the biggest part of my life as a teenager, one of my priorities as a college student, and eventually one of my most expensive “hobbies” as a young professional.
Then all of a sudden, after thousands of hours spent playing across genres and platforms, boredom hit me hard for the very first time in my early thirties. Some of my favorite games soon gave me the impression of being terribly long. I couldn’t help but notice all the repeating tropes and similarities in game design between franchises.
I figured it was just a matter of time before I found the right game to stimulate my interest again, but time continued to go by and nothing changed.
Is it that games have failed to innovate, or that real life is ultimately more engaging?
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Freeman on Monday January 07 2019, @11:10PM (4 children)
Ever since I read about Fallout76, I knew where they were going and have stayed way far away from that horrible beast. I've played through and finished Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout Tactics, Fallout 3, and Fallout New Vegas. Am currently playing Fallout 4 and having a blast in VR. Fallout76 is Bethesda's attempt at getting on the gravy train. They want money that prints money, the same way some stupid mobile games have done. I could almost forgive them for making Fallout Shelter a microtransaction game, but that wold require me to accept microtransactions and that isn't going to happen. When an independent developer can make a jewel of a game like Terraria, and not have DLC / microtransactions. A stupidly huge developer like Bethesda/Blizzard can make their games without it as well. I can give them DLC that introduce more story, so long as it's substantial and not something that should have been in the original game. Otherwise, loot boxes and microtransactions will remain the hallmarks of games that I avoid like the plague. I will also be vocal to friends / family members about the insanity of loot boxes and microtransactions.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 4, Informative) by Freeman on Monday January 07 2019, @11:15PM
I did play Fallout Shelter and spent $0.00 on that thing. It could have been an excellent game, if they'd not gone down the microtransaction hole. As it is, it's a fun sim like game, that is "beatable" without paying any money. I say "beatable" as you can unlock all the buildings, without paying money. The game isn't really "beatable" as far as I can tell. It's just more of the same once you unlock that last building. I assumed, the Nuka Cola factory building would produce Nuke Cola, so you wouldn't have to buy any with real money or get them through quests. I was wrong. It's just a building that gives food+water. So, I'm even less impressed. I wish it wasn't so much of a cash grab.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by kazzie on Tuesday January 08 2019, @03:13PM (2 children)
The first games that got that kind of treatment from me were those on the original Steam platform: I objected to the principle of having to connect to the internet to play the game. When loot boxes and micro-transactions came along, I was already out of "mainstream" gaming (or had my head in the sand).
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Tuesday January 08 2019, @04:16PM (1 child)
Steam, doesn't require that you be connected 100% of the time. You can download your game, then play it in offline mode 99% of the time. Some publishers have built always online into their game. Even single player games, like Assassin's Creed.
Though, really, GOG is the game platform for you, then. All of the benefits of an online collection of games, with the legal right to make a backup of each game's installer offline on your own media. You may not be able to resell it, but you're guaranteed access just as much as the old school purchase of a CD/DVD game. With the added benefit of not needing a CD/DVD in the drive to play the thing. Seriously, take a look at the GOG platform. GOG Galaxy, is really nice, but 100% unnecessary. You can download each game separately through the website interface. Then backup the installer executable on physical media.
Possibly the greatest feature from GOG is that they try to add cool things to their list of downloadables. Like (optional to download), manuals, wallpapers, sound tracks, maps, walkthrough, etc. Some of the extras are original (created by or for GOG).
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 3, Insightful) by kazzie on Tuesday January 08 2019, @10:17PM
I believe Steam has changed it's connectivity rules somewhat since first launched, but that's the impression I first formed at the time.
I am a lover of GOG's approach and catalogue, and have several of their games. Their integration of patches for old games to run on newer operating systems is a particular boon.