OS Neutral What Game You Play'n?

[txa1265]

Isn't it odd that Baldur's Gate 3 runs on Steam Deck but any Mac with an M1 or M2 SoC isn't viable?

My son actually ran it on his M1 MacBook Air - not great visuals but it worked. And on release that is how I'd describe the Steam Deck play (can't believe I put in 120 hours with 10-30FPS performance!). But I think for me it just reinforces that Apple really needs to do a lot to truly compete in this space - they have amazing hardware and the Metal framework has possibilities ... but for a little Linux-based handheld to whoop its butt is sad. I will continue to hope for Apple to do some sort of Proton-like layer to interface with Steam.

 

[diamond.g]

Isn't it odd that Baldur's Gate 3 runs on Steam Deck but any Mac with an M1 or M2 SoC isn't viable?

That is probably because the porting team got fired, and Larian has not done anything at all to improve the macOS version since then.

 

[bousozoku]

That is probably because the porting team got fired, and Larian has not done anything at all to improve the macOS version since then.

I'm betting that they had a couple of Windows developers who had never touched a Mac to adjust the code to run on macOS. I've seen this too many times in the past where I would be working on a multiple platform application and the DOS/Windows people made the code as specific as possible to avoid abstraction because they were lazy.

 

[Huntn]

Speaking of Baldur’s Gate, I have developed an aversion to turn based combat. For a board/card game it’s ok, or nostalgic, but it feels un-natural to me for a dynamic fight. 🤔

 

[bousozoku]

Speaking of Baldur’s Gate, I have developed an aversion to turn based combat. For a board/card game it’s ok, or nostalgic, but it feels un-natural to me for a dynamic fight. 🤔

I get that. It's easier to follow, but it doesn't make sense.

I've played a number of free-to-play games and lately, it's been Solo Leveling: Arise, which is checkpoint to checkpoint battle. It's still not much different than Honkai: Star Rail, which is turn-based.

Have you seen Strinova? I thought that it was interesting because characters can go two dimensional for a while, anime-like. I may not get through the tutorial, though, because there are so many keyboard combinations. 😄

 

[txa1265]

Speaking of Baldur’s Gate, I have developed an aversion to turn based combat. For a board/card game it’s ok, or nostalgic, but it feels un-natural to me for a dynamic fight. 🤔

Interesting - if anything I have gone more in the opposite direction ... I used to make all of those 'real time with pause' games behave more like action RPG, now I love the turn based stuff in BG3 and the Pathfinder games. In another decade I might be back in the other direction again!

 

[Huntn]

Interesting - if anything I have gone more in the opposite direction ... I used to make all of those 'real time with pause' games behave more like action RPG, now I love the turn based stuff in BG3 and the Pathfinder games. In another decade I might be back in the other direction again!

Dragon Age Inquisition I love because you are working with a party of 3 additional AI characters, and combat flows naturally, or you have the ability to pause, and direct your team to different positions, or take over a different party member, if they have a special ability you want to execute at a specific time.

 

[dmccloud]

Dragon Age Inquisition I love because you are working with a party of 3 additional AI characters, and combat flows naturally, or you have the ability to pause, and direct your team to different positions, or take over a different party member, if they have a special ability you want to execute at a specific time.

Combining both the action and turn-based fighting styles like that was a genius move on their part. It allows players flexibility on multiple levels without locking them into a specific play style. My big issue with BG3 combat is that is feels slow and even clunky compared to what you encounter in games such as Skyrim, Dragon Age, etc.

 

[Huntn]

Combining both the action and turn-based fighting styles like that was a genius move on their part. It allows players flexibility on multiple levels without locking them into a specific play style. My big issue with BG3 combat is that is feels slow and even clunky compared to what you encounter in games such as Skyrim, Dragon Age, etc.

Because it does not appear as a natural interaction, but a staged, forced mechanism. I don’t even like turn based in RTS, although I don’t object to a pause to make a selection if it’s needed. As I said for a D&D board game, it’s got to be turn based, but not for a video game.

 

[LookToWindward]

Have you ever played Baldur's Gate? That uses Real Time with Pause, I like this style of game and dislike the purely turn based combat

 

[txa1265]

My counter-opinion is that when I want my physical 'twitch 'skills to be the dominant force in determining the outcomes ... I'll play a FPS.

No action-RPG has as good shooting as an early 2000s FPS, nor does it have as good melee as something like Jedi Knight 2. Not saying they aren't good systems, but you get the point. Sure you can use strategy, but ultimately in a FPS just like in action RPG, it is physical skill >> brain skill.

The ENTIRE RPG genre both tabletop AND computer was built around brain >>>>>hand skill. So for me playing a game like BG2, KotOR, or BG3 ... I like the ability to strategize and plan for battle.

 

[Huntn]

Have you ever played Baldur's Gate? That uses Real Time with Pause, I like this style of game and dislike the purely turn based combat

Baldur’s gate is listed as turn based? 🤔

 

[txa1265]

Baldur’s gate is listed as turn based? 🤔

BG3 is turn-based, BG1 & 2 were RTwP.

It is funny to me on RPG-centric forums to see how people have really split between action-based and turn-based, and very few actually prefer RTwP but still love the BG games (but criticize NWN 1 & 2 which also use it)

 

[Huntn]

BG3 is turn-based, BG1 & 2 were RTwP.

It is funny to me on RPG-centric forums to see how people have really split between action-based and turn-based, and very few actually prefer RTwP but still love the BG games (but criticize NWN 1 & 2 which also use it)

It’s two different ways to approach a tactical challenge based on personal preference, micromanage everything or give your team mates some credit while you do your part. ☺️

If I’m playing RTS, micromanage is ok. If I want to “role play” that’s not me playing every one’s part, that is me interacting mostly as one member, possibly the leader of the team interacting with others, appreciating their individuality, shouting out orders on occasion. 🙂

 

[txa1265]

Getting ready for next year, set aside BG3 and started a replay of Pillars of Eternity (Avowed based in same universe). Been a long while since I played so things are fresh but somewhat familiar. Everything maxed out on the Steam Deck and it looks and plays wonderfully. Default controls were almost entirely useful (no default Map button? fixed that!)

 

[Huntn]

Anyone playing Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (2024)? How is it? It looks right and sounds right, it's getting good reviews, but I don't plan on purchasing it for $70... 🤔

​

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on Steam

Uncover one of history’s greatest mysteries in a first-person, single-player adventure. The year is 1937, sinister forces are scouring the globe for the secret to an ancient power connected to the Great Circle, and only one person can stop them - Indiana Jones™.

store.steampowered.com

 

[txa1265]

Anyone playing Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (2024)? How is it? It looks right and sounds right, it's getting good reviews, but I don't plan on purchasing it for $70... 🤔

View attachment 2460165​

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on Steam

Uncover one of history’s greatest mysteries in a first-person, single-player adventure. The year is 1937, sinister forces are scouring the globe for the secret to an ancient power connected to the Great Circle, and only one person can stop them - Indiana Jones™.

store.steampowered.com

Yeah the new $70 price point has really notched up my requirements for purchase. I'm also hearing good things but not interested enough to pay that much - I've been tending to just 'wishlist & wait'. For the game Avowed from Obsidian releasing next year, I'll pay full price. Aside from that (well, and Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines 2 which I pre-ordered in 2019 so is sitting in my GoG library!), no plans for $70.

 

[salamanderjuice]

Anyone playing Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (2024)? How is it? It looks right and sounds right, it's getting good reviews, but I don't plan on purchasing it for $70... 🤔

View attachment 2460165​

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on Steam

Uncover one of history’s greatest mysteries in a first-person, single-player adventure. The year is 1937, sinister forces are scouring the globe for the secret to an ancient power connected to the Great Circle, and only one person can stop them - Indiana Jones™.

store.steampowered.com

It's on PC Game Pass too. It only came out today unless you paid extra for 3 days of early access. I'll be checking it out on XSX as I already have Game Pass. So no need for $70.

 

[loui100]

Anyone playing Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (2024)? How is it? It looks right and sounds right, it's getting good reviews, but I don't plan on purchasing it for $70... 🤔

View attachment 2460165​

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on Steam

Uncover one of history’s greatest mysteries in a first-person, single-player adventure. The year is 1937, sinister forces are scouring the globe for the secret to an ancient power connected to the Great Circle, and only one person can stop them - Indiana Jones™.

store.steampowered.com

Been playing it on Geforce Now. It's glorious, especially if you are an Indy fan. 100x better writing than all the post-trilogy movie sequels. The full pathtracing graphics is also stunning. My personal Game of the Year so far

 

[Huntn]

Yeah the new $70 price point has really notched up my requirements for purchase. I'm also hearing good things but not interested enough to pay that much - I've been tending to just 'wishlist & wait'. For the game Avowed from Obsidian releasing next year, I'll pay full price. Aside from that (well, and Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines 2 which I pre-ordered in 2019 so is sitting in my GoG library!), no plans for $70.

I remember hearing something about Bloodlines 2 being a trainwreck, so it got switched to another studio? I’m very concerned that it can live up to the original. 🤔

 

[Huntn]

Been playing it on Geforce Now. It's glorious, especially if you are an Indy fan. 100x better writing than all the post-trilogy movie sequels. The full pathtracing graphics is also stunning. My personal Game of the Year so far

Thanks! I’ve got enough in my queue to hold off for a year or so to purchase.

 

[txa1265]

I remember hearing something about Bloodlines 2 being a trainwreck, so it got switched to another studio? I’m very concerned that it can live up to the original. 🤔

Yeah I honestly thought it was fully cancelled for a while, but apparently it was just dormant being handed off to a new developer. And a year or so ago after that announcement things seemed pretty dismal but since then ... not too bad. Will it be as good as Bloodlines? Oh definitely not. But probably better than Redemption and it looks like it should overall be some OK fun. Low expectations are key!🤣

 

[Huntn]

Yeah I honestly thought it was fully cancelled for a while, but apparently it was just dormant being handed off to a new developer. And a year or so ago after that announcement things seemed pretty dismal but since then ... not too bad. Will it be as good as Bloodlines? Oh definitely not. But probably better than Redemption and it looks like it should overall be some OK fun. Low expectations are key!🤣

Jeanette Voerman​

Bloodlines:

• Characters
• Clans, especially Malkavian
• Atmosphere
• Music
• Dialog
• Radio Station Late Night Talk Show Host+ Frigg'n Chicken!
• The Voerman Sisters!
• Spooky Mansion that scares a Vampire. 😅
• Kevin Bacon makes a guest appearance! (character who looks just like him) 😜

 

[Queen6]

Yeah I honestly thought it was fully cancelled for a while, but apparently it was just dormant being handed off to a new developer. And a year or so ago after that announcement things seemed pretty dismal but since then ... not too bad. Will it be as good as Bloodlines? Oh definitely not. But probably better than Redemption and it looks like it should overall be some OK fun. Low expectations are key!🤣

Was play tested and torn apart as not remotely close to the original. Far as I know The Chinese Room (dev team) are working on it to get it in a better shape. Bloodlines 2 has had a bad development cycle between the two studios, however The Chinese Room has done some good work of late, so there's hope.

Q-6

 

[txa1265]

View attachment 2460555
Jeanette Voerman​

Bloodlines:

• Characters
• Clans, especially Malkavian
• Atmosphere
• Music
• Dialog
• Radio Station Late Night Talk Show Host+ Frigg'n Chicken!
• The Voerman Sisters!
• Spooky Mansion that scares a Vampire. 😅
• Kevin Bacon makes a guest appearance! (character who looks just like him) 😜

Love it all! Bloodlines is another of those 'hard to exactly rate but definitely a top 5 all time' games for me. I replay it at least every few years mixing up clan and gender. This year was another female Tremere run.

And I do have the soundtrack on my iTunes library (with the entire Deb of Night included)!