The one that looks like SNES but in the shape of a PS4 controller? I got that too but it has these funny back buttons I have no idea what to do with. Otherwise very happy

Artwork is never truly finished, it is abandoned

Thanks to Larian for negotiating an end to the 2007 writers strike.

Good job team

What a treat, and what a win for self-hosting. I wish they talked more about how they did it in the article.

My kid and I finished this game late last year and it’s his all time fav. We love this!

I haven’t been into FPS for several years, but if I was going to play anything current, I’d give The Forever Winter a look. It’s still being worked on, but the early access gameplay is really cool looking, and it’s bringing a lot of ideas to the table creatively.

You just got done telling me they are reporting as fact something that is likely not so, and now you are scoffing at me for not having wasted my time. If there is any reason for this article to still be published or even discussed, it has eluded me.

Oh, so it’s just ragebait and they’re reporting on nothing? I fell for it.

It’s so stupid. I have literally plugged GC controllers into my Switch with an adapter hub, and they worked with non-GC games. This is deliberately worse.

Sorry for that, it gets hard sometimes when I start accidentally living the examined life for a second

It’s Watchguard. Though looking at their site, it seems like there might be support that I wasn’t able to find last time I looked into this. Definitely want to dual boot at some point. I’ve got a Surface Book 3 though, and I know it needs special kernel stuff to get working properly, so I’d almost rather just wait until my boss retires and everyone’s out of a job to dive into Linux. Easier than finding spare time in my life. Living the dream

I want to move to Linux, but I need to be able to use the VPN service my work uses and I’m just not sure how to get it working on Linux. I should just dual boot.

This one is slightly less on target, but I’m really intrigued by a free demo I found this week called Exo Rally Championship. It’s a rally car game, but set in exotic little exoplanetary environments. The movement looks really interesting especially because you’re not just in a low-grav setting, you also have 360⁰ jets you can use to assist in steering or course-correction midair.

I have not checked, but I hope and trust there are difficulty options. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to play MMX at or near the level in that video.

If this is going to be what Switch 2 offers, I’m fully out

Edit: I checked with a friend. Normal game cartridges are still a thing. One thing that makes them slightly better than digital downloads (albeit still imperfect) is that you can at least trade, sell, and buy them used. Not as good as physical media, but slightly better ownership rights than buying a digital copy.

I think it’s one of the best independent art projects/movements of the 21st century. I don’t care how long it takes, those folks are not just making a mod, they’re developing themselves professionally, collaborating at a high level of sophistication, stewarding a community, and breathing new life into work that should not be forgotten, even though its original creators are willing to let it be forgotten.

If nobody’s ever paid you to play it, how would you know it was a good game 🤨

Love this game conceptually but I’m going to have to try again when I have mental bandwidth to get absorbed into it

Rare bookmarked comment

Thanks for fielding this one, I didn’t have the mental energy tbh

Did not enjoy having to explain the idea that it’s a child labour scam to a five year old, but I was able to get the point across.

Time to pass laws, this shit keeps happening. If you sold a game over $x that completely ceases to be playable within X years, you should be forced to open-source your code.

Won’t bother guessing at what the best numbers should be, hardly matters as I’m sure lobbyists would defang the whole thing as much as possible.

It does! Thanks, looking forward to the next dispatch ^^

Great to see another update. One of my buddies is practically a game industry savant so I always feel a bit out of my depth with him. Reading this is my cheat sheet for talking points with him.

Who do you know of that talks about games as art? That’s more my focus, and the only one that really seems to tick that box for me is Noah Gervais - and he’s great, but I would love more variety if you know anyone doing pieces like that.

Mental note to never buy Hopetown.

It’s a reasonable concern, but let’s be honest - so is the concentration of chipset manufacturing in Taiwan.

That’s a deep cut and I’m so glad you said it

I’m not a big “power gamer” as I also game on my laptop mainly and it’s a bit less powerful than yours. My suggestions tend toward retro graphics and indie titles; I have a type.

In no particular order, I’m going to recommend Ruiner, Make Way, and Hyper Light Drifter. Ruiner and HLD both have incredibly intense atmospheres and stylized storytelling with an emphasis on action. Make Way is heaps of chaos, totally unrealistic, and the AI can be brutally hard, but it’s extremely simple and unless you crank down the difficulty to zero, it’s easy to find a flow state in the rapidly evolving mayhem.

It’s a little cringe in retrospect, but I really liked my time with Makai Kingdom. Avoid if anime stuff isn’t your bag.

Ico had some interesting ideas that are worth a look.

Rogue Galaxy was pretty okay.

Psychonauts deserves a mention, though it’s kind of obvious.

Red Faction had cool political leanings for a game of that era.

You’ve got heaps of great suggestions already so I’ll leave it at that.

You ever hear that joke about goth culture being a recession indicator? I think they’re going to have to start taking that seriously if these stocks don’t bounce back. They might have to announce Barbie 2 or …something… Polly Pocket?

Goth girls are gaining. Can’t wait to tell the missus.

I’m honestly just jonesing for some Split/Second, looks like it’s still not there yet!

Thanks for the newsletter! I am not good with fediverse how do I like and subscribe… Your talk of emulation on the deck awoke something in me. I checked and yes, it appears you can emulate 360 on it too.

I was interested in the rest, but this has driven every other thought out of my head. I don’t even know how to make breakfast in this state. I’m a wreck.

Seeing it now, not sure what was up with my searches. Good for those employees who walked out, that’s the energy we need these days

Couldn’t turn anything up, you?

Well spotted. Looks like it had been essentially dormant for a good while after being something of a failed launch, so perhaps they cut ties. Looks like they’re working on getting it off the ground again. I’ll give it a try later

That’s what it said on the steam page.

Under £1 for an Annapurna title? Yes please.

What’s your fave?