First two are collections of short stories so there is no big time invesment with testing it out. You can try the waters and see how you like the style and if you don’t like it enough to continue, at least you have a book that works on its own.

Yes, books came out some years before games. I think around late 80s/early 90s. My understanding is in Poland even people not usually into fantasy know of the books. And it is a classic in the surrounding region.

Games are fairly faithful to the books, at least in spirit. There are some problematic things lore wise that they did in games but I can understand why with most. No adaptation can be 1:1 and I understand it. Overall, I’m happy with how the games ended up.

First game, I didn’t like that much though. One thing is that the age is showing on the gameplay. I could get over that, but the story also recycled too many things from the books. The main story is its own thing, but there are many story beats that felt copied, with some things changed up to mask it. Pretty sure some sidequests were just stories from books, but with diferent characters. I like a good callback, but this game went a bit too far with them for my taste (also didn’t help I read the books just before going into the game - so it was all fresh in my mind).

Story wasn’t bad overall, but it broke the immersion and I just couldn’t get over it. This in combination with the aged gameplay just made me look for a recap and play the Witcher 2 instead.

Stoked for the announced remake of the Witcher 1 though.

I’m a huge Witcher fan and couldn’t stomach the first game unfortunately. Luckily there is a neat recap video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X52-ssOk2KM

I do recommend playing the second one before the third though, even though the stories are standalone.

I do recommend the books if you feel like it. Books -> Witcher 1 recap vid -> Witcher 2 -> Witcher 3 is my recommendation for best experience.

In alpha I think? They have a playable version afaik, but not released, no. Can spend thousands on virtual ships tho

Good news - they are indeed making a sequel

Yeah. I have it wishlisted for a likely later purchase but getting this message public seems like a self-fulfilling prophecy. People might be more cautious buying into it now. I know I am

I don’t know much about the studio but I’m guessing they are not based in an English speaking country.

As it should. Not quite the right reasons, but hilarious nontheless.

An in-develpment MMO

Secret World, though janky, was quite good and really unique. Before they fucked it up with the relaunch that is.

Thattruly is a story I didnot see coming. I’m interested in where it will go

I don’t think it’s always. It can be done so it doesn’t feel too bad I think. But it is extremely rare. And often it does devolve sooner or later. But the point is it can be done.

It is not great, I agree but it’s how it is used. When you think about it, F2P is pretty standard these days so anything with a price tag could be considered “premium” in comparison

Marathon will be a premium title. Marahton will not be a ‘full-priced’ title.”

I believe that’s what I was thinking of, thanks

Wasn’t it among the games shown somewhere where they staded all games shown will be “releasing within a year” well over a year ago?

Yeah, no civilization can get rid of bad people. It just gives them camouflage

I guess it’s about how you see quality. There are many products that are mass produced but if something is handmade, people see value in it to this day.

When or if AI will reach the point you describe… there will be still something special behind a performance done by a living flesh and blood person.

AI may have its place, but I don’t think it should be the be all end all

How else could they inovate now if they didn’t remove it back then?

If I’m not mistaken, the playable teaser was very much a prototype and they pretty much reworked it.

Noticed today it is also available on GOG for anyone interested.

I was dreading trying Linux as well and it was nowhere near as bad as I anticipated. Did full transition (I got new SSD for dual booting to try the waters) to it much faster than I ever anticipated.

I mostly just use the PC for gaming though so mileage may vary.

Agreed, but adjusting tactics often is part of the puzzle, no? You need to solve the puzzle (find out what work = changing tactics) and then executing that solution

Might have been a cash grab - in fact it likely was. But I tend to reserve my judgement. I’m not on the live service hate train - in fact I’m often interested in what they might have on offer. I like to have a main game, and live service games are great for people like me as there is always something to look forward to. And I for one fucking hate the constant cach grab fails.

People always hate on live service games just because of the label, but there is serious lack of good live service games compared to good single player games.

My comment migh’ve come partyl from a place of frustration so apologies if I was harsh or something

Point was Warcraft was primarily single player RTS. Yes, with multiplayer mode but MMORPG is pretty big genre shift. In the end, it’s just about using the IP, nothing more.

You gave examples of games that tried something like this that failed, I just pointed out an example where it was quite successful.

We will never know if the Horizon MMO would be good or bad. I think the IP would fit MMO genre quite well tbh.

The real issue with live service game failiures is that studios design cash grabs, not games they would want to play.

Ever heard of Warcraft?

Pretty sure the in-universe news can be read in game.

I have a faint memory of them introducing a feature of text to speech for them as well, not sure I might be imagining this. Long time since I played.

This is so weird - first they say no kickstarter, now they do one and also are expecting launch next year? Feels all over the place.

Jesus Christ be praised!

Wasn’t there a Horizon show that was cancelled recently?

You can claim directly from Heroic btw, just go to “Stores”

Except seasonal content. I wouldn’t care about the activities, but there is story stuff that directly continues story of one expansion and also leads into the next. Sometimes it is standalone, but also may or may not end up relevant later.

I was really into Destiny but once I got off that train it felt like I just can’t jump back on.

Free is free

GW2 is probably one of the best MMOs out there, but it just no longer grabs me as it used to. I play sometimes, but in bursts. As soon as I run out of story content, I just fall off.

Lately I’ve played Corepunk and quite enjoyed it but it has ways to go still. And the servers are down for like a week now due to tech issues.

Last MMO that really grabed me long term in the last fee years was New World, but I feel the devs just don’t know what game they want. And there was huge content drought with them focusing on launching console version. I’m playing with an idea of getting the expac and make a leap of faith that it has a future because I’d really love that.

Also keeping my eye on Soulframe. It’s (or is supposed to be) a MMO lite but it looks like something that could definitely scratch an itch for me. Still in pre-alpha but I like what they are aiming for and it already plays quite well.

And it was slightly repurposed Trials, no? It used the Trials as base, but they needed it to do something else

Isn’t this a little like hating on Geralt in W3 because he was extremely predictable pick for a protagonist?

Pretty sure she will not be limited to signs. Signs are the most basic magic, Ciri will most likely have actual spells in her arsenal.

It was already reported entering full production some time ago

Myself, I have no plans to buy or play it - I just really like the fact a live service game that comes to a close will be perserved and people who may have enjoyed it can continue to do so.

Here is hoping it becomes a trend.

So I know the consensus is the game is not good, but I’m happy to see offline mode option.