Community MetaSteam | October - The size of this adventure is spooky

[MegaApple]

It's nice that Supermassive's first game is now on PC. Always wanted to check out more of their games, and starting with Until Dawn seems like the best place to start.

Sorry to be partypooper, but please play the original if you can,
this remake alters lot of artistic choices for the worst. I'm not even talking about the "updated models"

They changed the camera, which ruins the excellent execution of horror and tone of PS4 original.

Not just that, they changed the time-of-day, which is nonsensical if you follow the plot.

Remake/reimagining tend to make not-great changes, but they are generally excusable.
Changes here detract the horror, in a horror game.

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I got Until Dawn on PS4 years ago for like $10 or something through some Amazon.com black friday sale and still haven't booted it up lol.

Of the choice making adventure games, its on top tier.
And since its OG, it doesn't have the heinous changes of the "remake".
My thoughts :-
.

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One positive thing I've heard about is it's respectful depiction of Islam.
The in-game music stops when ritualistic prayers begin, that is very very good.

 

[Mivey]

Not just that, they changed the time-of-day, which is nonsensical if you follow the plot.

No it isn't. They arrive in the late evening, just around dusk, you see that the sun is still up when they arrive. After Chapter 2 it is dark again. I will not look at videos since they surely contain spoilers, but if I remember, I will go back and look at the videos you posted once I am done.

I am having fun and I am not going to bother playing a PS4 version when I have a great looking PC game on my machine.

 

[Cacher]

Discussion - What are you currently playing? (Week 41 of 2024)

New week, new thread! What are you playing? I reached the final overworld in Dragon Quest V. I fought four bosses within a single day to reunite with , and this final stretch was so emotional that I can't withhold my tears when playing it. On the other hand, monsters in the final overworld are...

metacouncil.com

 

[lashman]

 

[Kal1m3r0]

So only traversal stutter? That's better than I expected from some of the reactions.

Bear in mind that I might be an example of "works on my machine" but that has been my experience so far.
Have been playing at 1080p all maxed with RT ON with a 3070 and Ryzen 5 3600 and I get solid 60fps

 

[MegaApple]

I am having fun and I am not going to bother playing a PS4 version when I have a great looking PC game on my machine.

VIdeo is mainly chapter 1 and timestamped section is prologue.

You will fully enjoy this, don't worry. Pay close attention to details and it will be a rewarding experience.
But do try the original just a little. This is coming from someone who greatly enjoyed it and want others to enjoy it too.

 

[Mivey]

VIdeo is mainly chapter 1 and timestamped section is prologue.

You will fully enjoy this, don't worry. Pay close attention to details and it will be a rewarding experience.
But do try the original just a little. This is coming from someone who greatly enjoyed it and want others to enjoy it too.

The only big addition is the new camera, and I personally appreciate it the new 3rd person camera. They do switch to the classic view during many important scenes, but then you also get others where you can explore things more close by, which does not detract from the horror for me in the least.
And the changes to the lighting are only in Chapter 1, where they arrive at 7pm. It makes sense (depending on time of year) that it's still a bit light at that point and it makes for a nice contrast with the rest of the game when it's darker. It's a good idea.

I get that rabid fans see every change as a deviation from the original, but I'm not bothered by changes and I am not going to bother hunting down a PS4 game and console

 

[lashman]

Release Silent Hill 2 (2024) improvements · RoseTheFlower/UltrawideIndex

The solutions remove the black bars in anything other than 16:9 and fully unlock the FPS from 30. Instructions: Download the preferred archive(s) below. Unpack to \SHProto\Binaries\Win64\ inside t...

github.com

 

[edin]

Edited:

I am having fun and I am not going to bother playing a PS4 version when I have a great looking PC game on my machine.

If I eventually get around to playing it, I'll do so on Deck through the Steam version or the native PS5 version so I'm with you (I guess).

 

[Stevey]

Been trying some Farming Sim games today, mainly 3D games, but I still seem to come back to Stardew Valley.

Coral Island - 3D stardew copycat, but ddidn't like it, felt worse in every way.
My time at Portia - ugly, slow, didn't click

Have yet to try Sun Haven, Graveyard Keeper, Roots of Pacha and Fields of Ministria.

Graveyard Keeper is neat

 

[freshVeggie]

Got a - maybe ? - weird question for everyone here.
Been thinking of starting Fallout 3/New Vegas/4 and I think there are folks here who played and liked them.
So I'd like to learn of which mods or even lists of mods you people use for those games?

 

[fokkusu]

Got a - maybe ? - weird question for everyone here.
Been thinking of starting Fallout 3/New Vegas/4 and I think there are folks here who played and liked them.
So I'd like to learn of which mods or even lists of mods you people use for those games?

The Best of Times

Preamble about the guide's goals and requirements.

thebestoftimes.moddinglinked.com

 

[Kyougar]

Been trying some Farming Sim games today, mainly 3D games, but I still seem to come back to Stardew Valley.

Coral Island - 3D stardew copycat, but ddidn't like it, felt worse in every way.
My time at Portia - ugly, slow, didn't click

Have yet to try Sun Haven, Graveyard Keeper, Roots of Pacha and Fields of Ministria.

My time at Sandrock is better in every way, especially gameplay systems. I bought a bundle with the two games, started with Sandrock, felt I should start with the first game, Portia, but after playing Portia for 5 hours, switched back to Sandrock.

 

[FunnyJay]

My time at Sandrock is better in every way, especially gameplay systems. I bought a bundle with the two games, started with Sandrock, felt I should start with the first game, Portia, but after playing Portia for 5 hours, switched back to Sandrock.

Would you like to elaborate on the differences between the two, and what in your opinion makes Sandrock better?

 

[Kyougar]

Would you like to elaborate on the differences between the two, and what in your opinion makes Sandrock better?

• better models
• battle and skill system is much improved
• better customization
• way more named characters and character storylines (and better storylines)
• more QoL improvements in the crafting, inventory, and building department. This one is especially felt when you play Sandrock first and Portia second.
• and much more

It just feels so much better and put together. An improvement from the first game in most departments.
Don't get me wrong, Portia is a nice game and if Sandrock wouldn't have been made, it would be remembered fondly. But with Sandrock, Portia feels now more as a proof of concept if you want a reductive take.

This is not about dumping on a previous game, though. You can play these games for hundreds of hours and if you do that, than play the possible hundreds of hours on the better game.

 

[Panda Pedinte]

Got a - maybe ? - weird question for everyone here.
Been thinking of starting Fallout 3/New Vegas/4 and I think there are folks here who played and liked them.
So I'd like to learn of which mods or even lists of mods you people use for those games?

Viva New Vegas seems to be the popular list for New Vegas

 

[Hektor]

Bloober, i gotta apologize, i wasn't aware of your game

SH2Remake is incredible

It looks wonderful, the cutscene have insanely good direction, way more than most games, the writing is good, the voice actors are amazing, the animations are great and it feels just like OG Silent Hill 2 did. The exploration, the combat, the puzzles.

They even made a bunch of buildings in the city explorable that weren't in the original, improving the exploration and making the city feel more real in the process.

I played for 10 hours straight.

Only issue so far, i got stuck on environmental objects twice and had to reload.

I hereby apologize to you Blooder Team S.A.
Przykro mi

 

[Mivey]

Bloober, i gotta apologize, i wasn't aware of your game

SH2Remake is incredible

It looks wonderful, the cutscene have insanely good direction, way more than most games, the writing is good, the voice actors are amazing, the animations are great and it feels just like OG Silent Hill 2 did. The exploration, the combat, the puzzles.

They even made a bunch of buildings in the city explorable that weren't in the original, improving the exploration and making the city feel more real in the process.

I played for 10 hours straight.

Only issue so far, i got stuck on environmental objects twice and had to reload.

I hereby apologize to you Blooder Team S.A.
Przykro mi

playing on PS5 right?
EDIT:
Oh, I see they are doing the advanced release thingie, when you pay deluxe edition.

 

[Hektor]

playing on PS5 right?

Deluxe Edition Early Access on Steam.
I became a victim of FOMO

 

[Mivey]

Deluxe Edition Early Access on Steam.
I became a victim of FOMO

Nice to hear the remake is such a respectful and well crafted rendition of the original. I will say though, there is one section of SH2 where they could just completely ignore the original and go ham and that is the fucking boat section. Just give James a motor boat this time around.

 

[fantomena]

Realized I have been playing Civ VI, Songs of Conquest, Sun Haven (stardew-like, liking it so far), Satisfactory and CK3 all day long. What am I doing with my life.

 

[Kvik]

On the other hand, I hate the fact that doing the bare minimum to ensure that you are not shipping a pessimized game after you've already delivered a public build, and when you are still not really supporting any PC specific nice-to-haves, is already praiseworthy because the standards are so low.

I'm holding on hope that they'll have a proper anti-aliasing and AO that actually do something, but alas.

At least the performance now is the way it supposed to be without mods, although it is as you said. Pretty low bar.

 

[Stone Ocean]

Bloober, i gotta apologize, i wasn't aware of your game

The problem was that we were aware of their game!

I'm happy that they nailed it. Love to be proven wrong when it comes to thinking a game is gonna be bad

 

[STHX]

Next Halo is gonna be Unreal, literally

 

[NarohDethan]

Frostpunk base game completed. Good stuff, now to wait for Winter Sale DLC discounts.

 

[moemoneyb1]

Next Halo is gonna be Unreal, literally

Halo Studios: New Name, New Engine, New Games, New Philosophy - Xbox Wire

news.xbox.com

 

[Panda Pedinte]

Realized I have been playing Civ VI, Songs of Conquest, Sun Haven (stardew-like, liking it so far), Satisfactory and CK3 all day long. What am I doing with my life.

You're having a good time with good games

 

[Sobatronix]

Preordered SH2 in Greenman Gaming. Those reviews and impressions are looking good. And the deluxe edition is sold out in GMG so you know the game is selling decently. I totally didn't expect this, I was almost 100% sure that the remake would flop, alas I was wrong.

Can't wait to play on Tuesday

 

[MegaApple]

Next Halo is gonna be Unreal, literally

RIP Custom Proprietary Engines

One of the biggest things about Halo was their famous ragdolls physics and quick load after gameover. Not to forget level editor Forge.
Custom Engines meant quicker development turnover, because tools and engineers were all in-studio.
Unreal means Epic has say in tech aspects.

 

[Mor]

Next Halo is gonna be Unreal, literally

I legit think the problem wasn't anvil engine but their work with stories and structure, really, they just didn't make a good Halo game with Infinite

 

[Mivey]

I legit think the problem wasn't anvil engine but their work with stories and structure, really, they just didn't make a good Halo game with Infinite

assuming the team is familiar with UE5, not having to manage your own engine can mean that the team can focus more on content, iteration and so on. So in theory, it might help make a better game by being able to get the game running in some state quicker, see what works and what doesn't and so on. Of course, the actual transition to a new engine is probably going to sap even more time at first, so it's not so clear that this is a winning proposition.

 

[MegaApple]

I legit think the problem wasn't anvil engine but their work with stories and structure, really, they just didn't make a good Halo game with Infinite

You mean Slipspace Engine.
There were reports that Infinite was getting development issue because of the new engine (which then led to an okay Halo game). Safe to say, they don't want to use it anymore.

 

[Lashley]

Next Halo is gonna be Unreal, literally

I'm sure that'll save them

 

[Parsnip]

Slipcase is an iteration of Bungie's tech, and we all know what kind of mess Bungie's tech is.

Now obviously 343 has done a bunch of work on it over the years after taking over Halo, but I bet there are quite a bunch of legacy things in there that they would have loved to change/fix but haven't been afforded the time to do so.
There's never enough time, tech debt is never ending.

 

[Mivey]

Slipcase is an iteration of Bungie's tech, and we all know what kind of mess Bungie's tech is.

Now obviously 343 has done a bunch of work on it over the years after taking over Halo, but I bet there are quite a bunch of legacy things in there that they would have loved to change/fix but haven't been afforded the time to do so.
There's never enough time, tech debt is never ending.

I think this is ultimately balancing act. Having a custom engine has advantages, since the code base can consider exactly everything your team needs and everything the game needs, allowing for a leaner and more efficient code base and presumably better performance too. This does come at the cost of needing to maintain a large programming team that needs to constantly work in making sure the engine is on top of new hardware and to keep modifying it as the games the studio makes evolves.
With a 3rd party engine, you don't need to maintain a large programming team, you profit from the work that Unity or Epic is doing for you. The price you pay is that you do not have an engine that was written just for your team and your game. A lot of things your game needs might need modifications, which in turn become a technical cost you maintain. Alternatively, you compromise on your vision and stick to what the engine supports, which of course is also a big price to pay.

On top of this, there is the cost of transition: everyone on the team, from artists to level designers to programmers, need to get familiar with the engine, and this will make their first new project that much more expensive.

 

[ezodagrom]

SAO Fractured Daydream ended with a peak of 12.2k concurrent users during the weekend, lower than Fatal Bullet's 21.7k, but higher than any of the other SAO games.
I feel that it could have done a bit better if it was released at a quieter time of the year though, since there's alot of heavy hitters coming out, not only from other publishers but even from Bamco themselves (Sparking Zero is likely to be their biggest new game of the year, not counting the Elden Ring DLC).

 

[Mor]

You mean Slipspace Engine.
There were reports that Infinite was getting development issue because of the new engine (which then led to an okay Halo game). Safe to say, they don't want to use it anymore.

Brain fart, you are absolutely correct, unsure why I said anvil engine lol

 

[Parsnip]

Brain fart, you are absolutely correct, unsure why I said anvil engine lol

It's because AC Mirage finally got a Steam page so you have AC engine in the brain.

 

[Stone Ocean]

I legit think the problem wasn't anvil engine but their work with stories and structure, really, they just didn't make a good Halo game with Infinite

Moving to UE5 is probably them future proofing the games for multiplat releases as well.

 

[Blu]

Out now

 

[Kyougar]

assuming the team is familiar with UE5, not having to manage your own engine can mean that the team can focus more on content, iteration and so on. So in theory, it might help make a better game by being able to get the game running in some state quicker, see what works and what doesn't and so on. Of course, the actual transition to a new engine is probably going to sap even more time at first, so it's not so clear that this is a winning proposition.

It more likely means better opportunities to outsource even more work because you don't need to train new people on your own engine.
And old employees at Microsoft are less secure in their job because a thousand times the current headcount have experience with Unreal

 

[Arc]

We are so back.

 

[edin]

If anyone is interested in Metaphor: ReFantazio on Steam Deck, LMK. I put in over 120 hours into it on both my Steam Decks and also like 30 hours into the console versions. on RPG Site Metaphor: ReFantazio feels right at home on Steam Deck | RPG Site

Also our full (and awesome) review from Josh - Metaphor: ReFantazio Review | RPG Site

 

[ezodagrom]

Dragon Ball Sparking Zero reviews are also starting well, 84 opencritic currently, though no reviews from the biggest outlets yet:

Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero Reviews

Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero is rated 'Strong' after being reviewed by 97 critics, with an overall average score of 82. It's ranked in the top 11% of games and recommended by 85% of critics.

opencritic.com

 

[Mivey]

If anyone is interested in Metaphor: ReFantazio on Steam Deck, LMK. I put in over 120 hours into it on both my Steam Decks and also like 30 hours into the console versions. on RPG Site Metaphor: ReFantazio feels right at home on Steam Deck | RPG Site

Also our full (and awesome) review from Josh - Metaphor: ReFantazio Review | RPG Site

Sounds amazing. Really looking forward to the launch later this week!

 

[edin]

Oh yea if anyone here gets Sparking Zero on Steam and it doesn't boot up on Steam Deck for whatever reason, use the SteamDeck=0 %command% launch option and you will be good. I had that on one of my Steam Decks (the one not running SteamOS beta). Game seems to perform decent in the early hours with HDR on. I really need to find a good guide on how to use HDR settings in-game though.

 

[Blu]

Out in Early Access

 

[lashman]

 

[Lashley]

https://x.com/wario64/status/1843306427529699681?s=46

Alien: Isolation sequel

 

[toxicitizen]

https://x.com/wario64/status/1843306427529699681?s=46

Alien: Isolation sequel