[Aptorian]

Definitely has very, very little to do with AC now.

I wish they'd just rebooted Prince of Persia instead. Would had made so much more sense.

[Tiste Simeon]

Well the less they have to do with the modern bit the better as far as I'm concerned, they lost their way on that one a long time ago. Yes it feels very different now, but I think it's a good thing.

[Maark Abbott]

Alternative Goose, on 04 October 2018 - 03:02 AM, said:

Definitely has very, very little to do with AC now.

I wish they'd just rebooted Prince of Persia instead. Would had made so much more sense.

They sorta did

Twice

[Aptorian]

But this time it would be for realsies.

[Traveller]

Malankazooie, on 03 October 2018 - 11:36 PM, said:

I didn't play Unity or Syndicate (sorta wanted too, but just didn't have time to). I got back in with Origins due to the overwhelming positive response it received, plus I couldn't resist an open world where ancient Egypt was the setting (and it didn't disappoint, it was beautiful).

Looks like Odyssey is getting pretty much the same reception as Origins. Much like Apt though, I'm laser focused on RDR2, so will have to wait to play Odyssey. I have read criticisms that Assassin's Creed is no longer really Assassin's Creed games anymore and is only carrying forward the name.

I enjoyed Syndicate, mostly for the setting over the AC part though. The pieces of Eden in that game are the only real link to AC, and they seem forced in.
Would it have done as well as an individual title, with a different name? It certainly would have been more fun to ditch the AC theme altogether and make use of the selection of side missions involving Dickens, Jack the Ripper etc instead.

I like the look of Origins and Odyssey, but apart from the setting they look like games I've already played. RDR2 is going to use any time I have to play; I'll just move on from NMS which is all I have time for right now.

[Aptorian]

Odyssey looks like it's going further in on the RPG aspect, so I'd definitely suggest picking Odyssey over Origins.

Conversation choices, narrative consequences, more equipment management. This I'm personally curious to see how deep this Nemesis-light mercenary and medusa stuff is.

[Mentalist]

So, it sounds like Microsoft is buying Obsidian.

Combined with their streaming gaming announcement, and the revival of XO, what should we be expecting in terms of actual games?

[Aptorian]

Buggy unfinished games with a great Story that aren't done in time?

[Mentalist]

Alternative Goose, on 10 October 2018 - 02:28 PM, said:

Buggy unfinished games with a great Story that aren't done in time?

If we get 5 studios pumping out single-player content (Obsidian, Ninja Theory, Compulsion, Initiative and the rumoured Playground open-world game that's most likely Fable), it might become worthwhile to upgrade to Win 10 after all.

[Maark Abbott]

Alternative Goose, on 10 October 2018 - 02:28 PM, said:

Buggy unfinished games with a great Story that aren't done in time?

In fairness to Obsidian, KOTOR2 was (from memory) a publisher issue. Also, New Vegas is the best of the first person Fallouts. So if Microsoft actually let them work, we might see something really good from this.

My gruntlement levels appear to be returning after this news.

[Aptorian]

Techland message to Rockstar.

http://youtu.be/eVdqy8EXH3c

This is exciting because it suggests we might get a new gunslinger. Gunslinger was awesome.

[Mentalist]

A preview of Darksiders III. Some big changes from the formula, but I'm still interested.
Unless this absolutely review bombs, I'll be getting in Week 1.

[Mentalist]

So, new and emerging trends:

Google's "stream new AssCreed through Chrome" thing is turning out alright.

Microsoft announced a games streaming project to go into beta next year.

Discord launches a game store with some games exclusive to its store. It also offers a subscription model for its going library

Sony tacitly mentions it's making next gen hardware. Also, it's streaming service PS Now switches to allow users to download games they are subbed to.

What do people think of streaming/sub model developments?

Personally, I'm very much the dinosaur in the room. I don't like the idea of relinquishing ownership of my media.
This could be cuz I stopped watching TV shows in mid 2000s, so the whole Netflix craze went over my head, but I remain attached to my digital library. I have years worth of backlog, and I feel that any switch to a rotating subscription model would mean there would eventually be many games that go out of circulation permanently and I'd never get to play them. We are already seeing this with licensed games (especially Activision) where games are removed from Digital sales once licenses expire. However under current system if you bought the game on Steam before it's taken off the store, you can still download it later. With a subscription model, all games would have a built-in "shelf life" .

What does everyone else think?

[Aptorian]

Don't know about the preservation thing. hopefully institutions like National libraries step in eventually and demand copies for safekeeping.

As for the streaming thing. From what I heard it's still very limited. Low res, low FPS, lot of latency. It's the lag that is the big issue from what I've read. Some slow and turn based games
will work fine. Things that demand twitch reactions like driving, fighting, shooting, etc. are hampered by streaming and, if I understand correctly, you can't really fix this no matter the improvements because it's a speed of light thing, not processing problem.

This post has been edited by Alternative Goose: 16 October 2018 - 06:41 PM

[Tiste Simeon]

I wish I'd signed up for Odyssey Stream as I could have at least played a bit for free.

I suppose it was the next logical step after Steam etc. really...

[Khellendros]

I'm also a dinosaur, very much in the 'own, not rent' my games media group. I buy physical whenever possible, even though it's a pain to have to switch discs. I just like having the actual material object. I do also have a ton of download-only games, but right now I have no interest in any subscription model (though I'm sure I thought the same thing about Netflix, Amazon Prime etc. also, and now I have those).

So long as the service exists where you can purchase or rent games, survival should not be too much of an issue. It's the same with Netflix, etc. Yes, they refresh their content all the time, but if you really want those movies/shows, you can still purchase a download or physical version through other stores (aside from, I suppose, Netflix-original content, but as yet none of that has been removed from the service so far as I am aware).

[ansible]

Khellendros, on 17 October 2018 - 02:33 PM, said:

I'm also a dinosaur, very much in the 'own, not rent' my games media group. I buy physical whenever possible, even though it's a pain to have to switch discs. I just like having the actual material object. I do also have a ton of download-only games, but right now I have no interest in any subscription model (though I'm sure I thought the same thing about Netflix, Amazon Prime etc. also, and now I have those).

So long as the service exists where you can purchase or rent games, survival should not be too much of an issue. It's the same with Netflix, etc. Yes, they refresh their content all the time, but if you really want those movies/shows, you can still purchase a download or physical version through other stores (aside from, I suppose, Netflix-original content, but as yet none of that has been removed from the service so far as I am aware).

Very much agree with this. Physical over digital if possible. I keep all of my old consoles, etc. Dunno. I miss the days of gaming isolation (no internet). If you wanted to play multiplayer, you had to invite your friends over. How else to play Smash Bros. or Goldeneye? And at home, alone, I would play Final Fantasy with no trophies or patches or DLC.

Sounds like a dream now.

[Mentalist]

It appears in the great launch-off of February 22, 2019 Sony blinked first: DaysGone is delayed to April.

Who will be next? I'd guess Crackdown 3.

[Aptorian]

Anyone been listening to Giant Bombs 10 year anniversary podcast?

https://www.giantbom...cast/1600-2495/

Lot of great memories in that podcast. I miss Ryan Davis. I was devastated when he passed away.

[Morgoth]

Alternative Goose, on 24 October 2018 - 09:01 AM, said:

Anyone been listening to Giant Bombs 10 year anniversary podcast?

https://www.giantbom...cast/1600-2495/

Lot of great memories in that podcast. I miss Ryan Davis. I was devastated when he passed away.

Yeah, I worked through some boring stuff at work yesterday and listened to the whole thing. It was charming and warm in equal measures. I really enjoy the two podcasts, and the very occasional video. They seem like genuinely nice people, not to mention surprisingly funny.