kmtrain83

@Godot25
Yes.... I agree with this sentiment, but it is just that: sentiment, when you are dealing with a corporation that values cold, hard cash. 30% will always beat 14% in the stock market.

Now I’m confused. Are they just going back to basics, or transitioning to PCBox/ multi platform? Can they do it all?
Whatever happens, it will be for shareholders first and gamers as an afterthought.

@ozkrmz
I don’t think this a pendulum that swings from bad to good again.

At least we still have that thumbnail from DOA 7.

People are coming to the realization that hardware generations are not an advancement like they used to be, and the opportunity cost of real money going towards this hobby may be better spent on other pursuits. Many older gamers I suspect also have worrying and lengthening backlogs.

There are a lot of spirited comments. From the company’s perspective, I can’t imagine they want to make less money, so this was probably done to consolidate and cause less problems with multiple versions of the same game. From the consumer perspective as I get older, I realize nothing last forever and just enjoy what you have.
Preservation of media is also a problem in music, movies, and even books.
I wager to say the versions of Homer’s Odyssey that we read today are not “the original,” but we can appreciate it nonetheless.

@TrollOfWar
I never considered attaching my PC to the big screen TV, because I kind of need it for the home office. If I had to buy a 2nd PC for the basement it would be just for games, hence the console. I’m not sure if that calculus needs to change anytime soon.

@TrollOfWar
Hello, that’s interesting take that PCs will dominate the future of gaming. Do you mean a dedicated desktop tower that connects to a monitor with mouse and keyboard? What about the couch, controller, and big TV experience? Will that also be PC makers such as Lenovo and Dell or will it be streamed from the TV itself using a built-in app?

@darylb24
Happy gaming

@darylb24
I liked both the Nintendo and Playstation directs. It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be fun. When hobbies stop being fun, then why hobby?

I’m thinking of checking out the previous title, which is on sale right now on PlayStation and Nintendo; BRIGANDINE The Legend of Runersia

I don’t think these layoffs were planned, as in the workers were given a contract and once the game launched, they were no longer required. By the the sounds of it, they were caught off guard.

My wallet and backlog need a break right now.
I’d pay attention if any of the Star Wars games get new footage.

@ShadowRJ
That is a very detailed and specific form of pessimism.

I’ll only watch if it is 60 frames per second

I have the base game on physical disc. I wonder if I should expand to the DLC, or maybe just swap for the Nintendo edition. This is a good game for hybrid play, handheld and docked.

I have been waiting for a Moreowind remake, but I eventually got this on Steam. I’ll try it out then if I want to play it on big screen, we’ll look into this console edition.

I picked up a used copy of the 3DS version a few years ago and as soon as I started it, I realized it would be a slug so I sold it. This one might go on the Switch 2 backlog in a couple of years, depending on circumstances.

@naruball
I am fine with wired earbuds since you are sitting still and tethered to the device anyway. I am more into wireless earphones when I’m walking around or otherwise multitasking.

Not interested. I used the Portal much more in 2024 when I finished BG3. I barely touched it this past year. The screen is not the problem. I think the screen is great.

Once more, into the Starfield rumors.

I played this back in the day and to be honest, I wasn’t necessarily going to look at the remake. I’m getting a little tired of remakes and remasters unless there’s a compelling need. And then, as far as the cancellation of their unannounced stuff; that happens all the time so what are we actually missing?
That being said, I do agree with everybody’s assessment of this company‘s poor management and feel bad about the upcoming layoffs

I have several thoughts about this, mostly feelings. I’m not surprised as someone who bought a Sony CLIE PDA and Vaio laptop in the 2000s only for them to be doing this. I read long ago that their electronics division including TVs was losing money. Their only profits were from cameras, PlayStation, and movies, and I’m not sure about cameras anymore.
I can also say my Sony 85” TV I got a couple of years ago transformed my PS5 experience. It’s really something else. I guess I would have been fine with LG or Samsung, but knowing it was Sony somehow lifted the experience. TCL is fine I guess, and may get better with this arrangement. BTW 51-49 might as well be 99-1 when it comes to ownership.
Lastly this is a reminder that nothing is sacred in the business world, and all it takes is sustained losses for Sony ( or more likely Microsoft at this juncture) to decide one day they are exiting the console market.

@JamesLimited5990
Interestingly, they actually have a futurist survey where they predict the cause of human extinction and nuclear war is now second place to AI, although there is some overlap (AI could trigger the nukes instead of humans doing it)

I wonder how much of the best selling game lists are weighted in favor of the ones that have been given the most consistent discounts

@RoomWithaMoose

I clocked in 200 hours on Hades 2 on the original Switch, so it definitely competed for my time during that period. In comparison I played about four hours of Clair Obscur on PS5 and that was my most played game this fall and winter.

I built up a PS4/PS5 library since this was my first Playstation. I'd to start working my way through the all time greats. Mostly right now I play Nintendo though.

I look at this list and feel sorry for my ever-growing backlog.

I am glad Blue Prince got some recognition, even if it was on a technicality. As far as the whole AI thing, digital entertainment and computer programming are ripe for technological advances even more than other industries, and so I don't see this issue going away. The main problem is with technology always is how humans use or abuse it, so the guardrails matter. (Until of course artifical superintelligence breaks free of its shackles, and destroys us all.)

@TheArt
Just buy Hades

I'm not a game developer, but imagine if this was say a restaurant, and after waiting at your table 2 hours the waiter says "due to creative and /or various issues, the chef would like me to inform you that your dinner will not be served."
Obviously, there is a difference in scale, but at a basic level, isn't it their job to just crank out a Terminator?

I hardly touched my PlayStation this year except tried Blue Prince, which I found to be somber and depressing. I just started the physical GameStop exclusive version of Clair Obscur last night on the Portal and I enjoyed it for about three hours before going to bed. It’s pretty good so far, but I’m not sure it reaches the heights of of prior games of the year. I recently just spent 200 hours playing Hades 2 on OLED Switch which is my personal GOTY.

I'm okay with this because more games = more fun. As long as the option exists for players at a wide range of entry points, what's wrong with it? People can decide when enough must play titles are only available for the next generation, they can pay to get newer hardware. It's the same in the PC and mobile space

I have it on original Switch, but I would like to try a demo on PS5 if they release one

I will be very interested to see how the next several years of games from this company may or may not change based on the owner. The only EA games I played lately are sports and the Star Wars Jedi games. I can’t see how the ownership would dictate much difference with those titles.

It’s been a tradition for us to get a $10 Roblox gift card in the stocking for the 3 kids. Don’t tell my son, but I got him a physical copy of Astro Bot along with the matching controller.

@11001100110zero
I have no idea what 80% of that means. If I have the learn all that to work the Steam Machine, then no thanks.

One thing I I’m sure of after looking through the nominees and just the general vibe is I’m definitely going to skip this event and just read about it later. I just got my physical copy of the GameStop limited edition for Clair Obscur Expedition 33, and as soon as I get to a reasonable stopping point on Hades 2 (NSW), I’ll give it a go

@charbtronic
Please provide a link to the YouTube that you mentioned.

My son was all hyped for it, and I finally said we can get it on Steam over the Thanksgiving break, but he said "Nah, I'm good. I watched a playthrough on Youtube."
So if it is mostly a short cartoon-like experience without much gameplay, I'm not sure if other people are going to do the same.

I am OK with console manufacturers, tapping into the mobile market in order to increase exposure of the brand and keep a steady cash flow

The pendulum could swing back again with these design elements depending on the political winds, so maybe there will be a revival in 4, 8, or 12 years.

On a side note, ever since my Alexa went smart “Alexa+” AI enhanced, I’ve been asking how many days until Christmas and the replies are all over the place!

I’m surprised the AI quality control didn’t catch the AI generated six fingered hand.

My son asked about it, but although we own all the major consoles and PC, most of his time is spent on Valorant, Fortnite, Roblox, or Minecraft. I'm not sure this device would aid in any of that.
I'm not sure as this Gen Z and now Gen Alpha get jobs and discretionary income in 10-15 years, where exactly their loyalties will evolve into, vis a vis the technological advances.
I could see this Steam Machine getting obsoleted along with everything else in favor of cloud streaming.

Between this and the ROG Xbox Ally X, I'm mostly just excited that there seems to be a willingness to try new things, after a period of relative stagnation.

Although I don’t think Sony can take direct credit whether GTA 6 is good or not, if it ends up being the platform with the biggest sales numbers, then they should deserve some credit for positioning themselves into achieving that outcome.

Although I haven't used my Portal in several weeks (Hades 2 GOTY), I'm eager to try this out. I keep mine in the 2nd floor bedroom, and the PS5 is in the basement media room. So having a way to play a bit at night in bed vs trekking down and up 2 flights does make a difference in how I can complete lengthy titles. I don't think I would have had enough gas to push through the 3rd act of Baldur's Gate 3 if I didn't have a Portal.

@Max_the_German
Sure, why not

I liked it a lot last year and I don’t think I could’ve won Baldur’s Gate 3 without it. That being said I’m mostly playing games on Switch. Even with good Wi-Fi I had all sorts of connection issues on the Portal, and couldn’t see myself playing games that required precise timing.