AbsolutSurgen

Are you responding to what I wrote or to someone else?

I don't think the Prototype series was very good in its day. I haven't played the Infamous games since launch -- but really enjoyed the three of them. To me, you can see the gampelay in the Spider-Man games being directly influenced by Infamous. If you're OK playing older open world games, that don't have quite the same variety in terms of side quests, I am sure they hold up relatively well.

I'm not sure what a "serious game" is. Most games I play are mostly fantastical -- robotic dinosaurs, paranormal evets, futuristic aliens, romanticised history, unrealistic tech and over-the-top violence. If you go back 10, years and look at the characters in most video games that were attempting to have realistic graphics. Most of the characters were made to look young and objectively attractive. Mass Effect -- Every single woman and alien woman had a thin waist, big hips and armour that contoured around their breasts. And facially, they were modelled to have traditional female beauty. Male characters were all buff with square jaws. That was the norm in virtually all video games of the era. Flash forward to 2023/2024. Something like Horizon: Forbidden West -- most of the characters are either overweight or beanpole thin. No muscular dudes (except maybe the chief of the Tenakh). No women with the exaggerated hourglass figure. Same thing with commercials. 10-years ago, most commercials were filled with objectively attractive people -- remember how people used to say "sex sells". Today, not so much. We could debate whether it's a good thing or a bad thing, but let's not pretend it hasn't happened.

Anyone know the typical length of AMD exclusivity deals for features? I assume it is 6 months?

There shouldn't be a problem with people wanting characters in the media they consume to be a certain way, and to consume that media; while simultaneously not consuming the media they don't want. There has been a trend in movies/TV/commercials/games to feature less conventionally attractive/sexualized characters. It's been super evident over the last 10 years. It's somewhat ironic that social media has leaned heavily in the opposite way.

Preach. In reality, there is enough room in the gaming world for a variety of different games. Not everything needs to be for everyone. I have no interest in games that focus on how hot a girl's butt is, nor the ones that have you select the right three dialog prompts to fuck an NPC. But, I'm OK with those games being available for others. If someone gets off by staring at a hot digital ass for 15 hours; who am I to judge? it's 2024, there are enough games with over-the-top representation for those who want that experience as well.

I will play this once I'm done with H:FW. It takes me quite a bit longer to finish games than you, so it may be a month or so before I start it. I loaded it up, hoping to get a benchmark (which I couldn't find), and instead watched the VERY long intro to the game. I'll post my opinions in the Avatar thread once I've actually sunk my teeth into it.

Just picked up Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora Gold Edition. Mostly because I've heard so much about the graphics, and how much I enjoy the IP. Normal Price -- $150 + Tax = $169.50 What I paid = $169.50 less 40% sale = $101.70 less 20% off for spending 100 Ubi points = $81.36 less $15 Wallet credit earned from previous purchase = $64.44 I've been a big fan of the single player DLC from Ubi, and since they never seem to put the DLC on sale, it made sense to bundle it in the Gold edition if I was going to effectively get 50% off.

That’s why I stopped watching.

How the NFL views the NIL era: 'This whole draft landscape has changed' THEATHLETIC.COM It's not just that NIL money is helping lure players back to school. Some coaches are concerned it's producing a more entitled prospect. It’s bizarre to me how invested some Americans are with college sports. How does a college QB playing in a 2nd tier conference make $10 million?

I stopped watching the video when it became apparent they didn’t understand Roblox is a gaming platform, not a game.

And as far as gaming stories go, SW:JS had one of the better ones. The combat and exploration are what made it great, though.

Don’t all EA games come to EA Play after a year? What am I missing.

Without RT, Burning Shores would need to be a huge step over Horizon: FW to beat something like AW2.

I've had no technical challenges whatsoever.

Half the fun in this game for me is the Cauldrons and the Hunting Grounds.

The fact that revenue in Asmodee was mostly flat from 2021-2024, but EBITDA was down ~30% leads me to believe Asmodee was being run really poorly by Embracer. It's a lot of debt, but the good side is that the board game industry has very little CapEx.

Interesting race over the weekend: 1) Verstappen will probably win every remaining race this season, barring technical failures/penalties 2) Red Bull need to move on from Sergio Perez. They need a viable second driver 3) I wonder if Ferrari is regretting signing Hamilton? He has been thoroughly outclassed by George Russell this season. 4) It's a shame we have to wait until 2026 for the new engine regs

I'm really enjoying Horizon: FW. I would guess I am somewhere around 35-40% of the way through. They are really doing a good job of introducing new tribes, and giving them a unique cultural identity through colorful side missions. Plus, giving each a unique set of face paint/armour is a cool touch. Almost all of the side content is really well put together, even if some of it feels a little hokey/preachy. I don't understand the people who say that the combat is boring. It is definetly hard if you don't take advantage of most of the games systems, and target a machine's weak points and their weaknesses. I've tried to target a large machine with the wrong outfit/weapons and died before doing much damage, only to switch up my gear and take it down in 30 seconds. That said, IMHO there are too many systems in this game (and I have this complaint about a lot of recent RPGs). Upgrading weapons requires specific animal parts, plus there is a skill tree, plus there is a valor "super mode", plus there is a variety of "special attacks" that you can choose for each weapon, plus there is food that gives you bonuses, plus there are traps... It's all a bit much. That said, it's an awesome game, and I am thoroughly enjoying every minute.

I am hoping this allows Asmodee to get back on its feet. It's obvious they were making cuts to how they do business that were more about saving short term cash, than ensuring the long term viability of their games.

Will do. There is a ton of technique with stretching the dough, and launching it -- and I am very much a beginner ATM -- so it will likely look very amateurish.