General Discussion [ Page 63 ]

Indie Game Apalooza With The Greenlight Supershow

Robot Loves Kitty, the amazing awesome factory that created Legend of Dungeon and other Indie hits is organizing the The Greenlight Supershow. This all day Twitch stream will feature a ton of awesome indie games currently on Steam Greenlight. Featuring such radery as Chasm, Ray's The Dead, Castaway, Broforce, McPixel, Delvers Drop & More this event is a must watch.

You can join the Cheerful Ghost event and add it to your calendar for a helpful reminder of when it happens and where to go.

http://cheerfulghost.com/jdodson/events/28

http://robotloveskitty.com/supershow/
http://www.twitch.tv/robotloveskitty/

PS4: FreeBSD 9 Under The Covers. Why This Matters.

Recently vgleaks dropped the news that Sony's Playstation 4 dev kits run a version of FreeBSD 9 called Orbis. In the included screenshots on vgleaks they show the GRUB bootloader offering a few boot choices with Orbis included.

For all of you that are not the most geekily inclined, FreeBSD is a Open Source version of Unix that is an ancestor of Mac OSX. What that means is that Sony's Orbis, Mac OSX and Linux share a very similar Unix core. Since they all rely on OpenGL and the like it could mean an easier time for games to be ported across these three platforms.

I know that just because a company brings a game to the PS4 that doesn't mean they care about Linux or MacOS.... Read All

Summer Sales: What Are You Getting?

The Steam Summer sale is coming up and the GOG.com sale is happening right now. I am wondering what you are planning on picking up or what you have purchased already?

Personally I want to get Don't Starve, Prison Architect, Far Cry 3 + Blood Dragon & Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic as its now out on the Mac on Steam. Most excited about Don't Starve and Prison Architect being on sale.

http://www.gog.com/

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 06/24/2013 at 05:22pm

I'm looking forward to a Skyrim sale. Finished the game on my 360, but got the red ring of death before seeing any of the DLC, so I'm hoping to pick all of them up.

vdogmr25 wrote on 06/24/2013 at 06:01pm

Mainly just the Borderlands 2 DLC.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 06/24/2013 at 08:56pm

I've been waiting for Space Marine to drop to some basement level price, and there are a few others I'll pick up, but that's one I've been looking forward to.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 06/24/2013 at 09:23pm

There is a demo for 40k Space Marine. Maybe I should check that out. Looks interesting.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 06/24/2013 at 10:53pm

@jdodson Landscape and level design are gorgeous in Space Marine. Some of the best representations of scale and space that I've seen in a game. It's barbaric and filled with gore, but a lot of fun to play, and the multiplayer feels good, too.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 06/25/2013 at 12:02am

Nice, ill check out the demo for sure.

Aya_Brea wrote on 06/27/2013 at 03:32pm

I will try to get everything on my wishlist, hope it will be in sale! :D

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 06/27/2013 at 03:40pm

Oh yeah, my Steam wishlist... Forgot about that, I wonder what is on my list as I haven't checked that out in quite some time.

Timogorgon Member wrote on 06/27/2013 at 04:29pm

I just picked up some games from GoG's summer sales (Simcity 2000, and Master of Orion 1 +2) so that'll keep me busy for a little while. As for Steam? I would be very interested in a steeply discounted Skyrim legendary edition. :D

I like to think I'll be good and not buy a ton of games on impulse... but I can't make any promises.

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 06/27/2013 at 05:36pm

Steam has a wishlist? I'm such a noob.

If you want to join this conversation you need to sign in.

Sign Up / Log In

Tariq gives Mario some lyrics

Mario + The Roots. How could this be bad?

Half-Life 3 In Development At Valve?

"We have recently been sent a copy of the original Jira archive data, which has provided unprecedented access to the entire project tracker. Other listings in the data files for known and unknown projects include "Stars of Blood", "Return to Ravenholm", "Episode 3"/"Episode 3 Movie", "Hardware" / "Hardware Core", "SteamMMO" / "SteamMMO Core" and "F-Stop". "

Could be all made up fakery or the real deal. Either way, fun to speculate.

PS Jira is a popular ticket tracking and development web app for software development.

http://www.valvetime.net/threads/updated-half-life-3-left-4-dead-3-source-2-much-more-found-on-valve-project-tracker.243580/

Xbone does a 180 on DRM

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18rc0hnnzhrusjpg/k-bigpic.jpg

Kotaku is reporting that Microsoft is back peddling on their DRM restrictions. Original article: http://kotaku.com/microsoft-is-removing-xbox-one-drm-514390310

According to the article these are the following changes:
No more always online requirement
The console no longer has to check in every 24 hours
All game discs will work on Xbox One as they do on Xbox 360
Authentication is no longer necessary
An Internet connection is only required when initially setting up the console
All downloaded games will function the same when online or offline
No additional restrictions on trading games or loaning discs
Region locks have been dropped

Travis Admin wrote on 06/19/2013 at 09:06pm

You and vdogmr both beat me to this by a minute.

Good news, but the family sharing is now gone. I think this is better in the long run.

vdogmr25 wrote on 06/19/2013 at 09:10pm

I was just posting this! I'm glad they made this choice. I'm more of a PC/Playstation guy, but decent competition is what helps produce better systems all around, as well as better in-house titles. Until now, I didn't think the XBox One would be able to hold up.

BR Supporter wrote on 06/19/2013 at 09:28pm

Not sure how I feel about this. It's nice to know they rethought their tactics but did they do it for the right reasons? Probably not. Most likely they got rid of these restrictions for the sole reason that the Ps4 was going to outsell them if they kept the restrictions.

Now don't get me wrong, this is pretty awesome, but I will still be buying the Ps4 over the Xbone.

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 06/19/2013 at 09:28pm

Oh man, I have been an XBox guy, but had made the choice to jump to the PS4... now the decision is back up in the air...

CapnCurry Supporter wrote on 06/20/2013 at 02:30am

I'm probably being over-cautious, but I'm still in the PS4 camp. I simply can't imagine that five months from worldwide release they can fundamentally change their delivery mechanisms, DRM, and installation process, both at the OS level and at the software level, both internally and with vendors, and have it come out anywhere near playable.

Remember, too, that this is Microsoft we're talking about - the original 360 took years of tweaking before it overcame its reputation as being a Red Ring of Death engine, and that was under what you could call optimal launch conditions.

Travis Admin wrote on 06/20/2013 at 02:46am

I'm still in the PS4 camp for many reasons, but it's not that I don't trust MS on the change. They screwed up, and they're fixing it. If they now fail to fix it, there will be hell to pay, and I think they know that.

I'm still going PS4 because the indie scene is much better with Sony, the price point is better, and so far the games shown for PS4 have been more interesting. I also really like the way they're handling game downloads (allowing you to download the single player or multiplayer parts first), and PS+ has always given me a ton of value, and that doesn't seem to be slowing down.

Plus, it has better hardware. The next gen is running on the same hardware platform so that's actually something you can tell easily. Plus, since it's on the same platform, it's more likely that the extra power will be used well, rather than the ports of this gen where they just pick a console and do straight ports. Depending on the engine they use, it could even handle that automatically.

Timogorgon Member Post Author wrote on 06/20/2013 at 04:16pm

A little part of me was sort of hoping Microsoft would stick with the DRM scheme, fail miserably, and let the Xbone's smoldering remains serve as a warning for other companies who might want to try aggressive DRM. But I also don't want Sony to be the only big dog in the yard. :)

Over all I'm glad to see Microsoft change course.

jdodson Admin wrote on 06/20/2013 at 04:53pm

I wanted them to stand their ground on these choices. Partly, because I have zero care for another XBox and partly because I really wanted to see how the sales panned out.

Just because the internet exploded over this issue the way it did, I wasn't really sure that mean't a long term drop in sales. People often complain and then purchase or purchase a bit later. Plus, really the further both consoles are from each other the starker the competition is.

I agree with the Capn' here, if the DRM systems were so integral into the XBone then this is non trivial work to remove them. Unless they were creative with the truth and they really were just tacked on, either way its a pretty major course correction.

I am not sure in the end if this is a win though. I mean, consumers were heard and major company changes course but it just seems so insubstantial to me. Plus it seems many people were excited about the DRM and now they get less DRM and are upset. I read a few articles by people with "big important gaming press sites" that say we can't have nice things because Microsoft did what people wanted. Uh, sure, I guess.

People cite Steam and say "well hey look, you know Steam does what Microsoft wanted to do and now they are reversing course so we can't have nice things and gamers are hypocrites." I am forumlating my thoughts in specific response to that because they are comparing things I don't think make sense to.

Other people seem upset because people are not flocking back to the XBone and bowing down thanking Microsoft for being benevolent.

People are strange and what Microsoft is doing is even stranger. Personally, I think they should have stood their ground and doubled down on their ol' strategy because it would have been more fun to watch.

Travis Admin wrote on 06/20/2013 at 06:58pm

"well hey look, you know Steam does what Microsoft wanted to do and now they are reversing course so we can't have nice things and gamers are hypocrites."

It is painfully easy to pirate PC games. Steam's method is basically necessary for there to be any hope of the publishers/developers getting money these days. It's less easy with console games, requiring some real effort and sometimes physical modifications to the console.

CapnCurry Supporter wrote on 06/20/2013 at 07:16pm

There's also a different value proposition for console games. I'm not sure whether or where I've expressed this sentiment before, so forgive me if I repeat myself or if I repeat myself (ha), but I can't remember the last PC game I paid $60 for. Because of the historically minimal used-PC-game market and a commonly enforced "no returns on software" policy, I've become accustomed to paying about $20 and knowing I'll never get that money back. When I pay $60 for a console game, I expect to have some equity in the title - I can enjoy it forever for $60, or I can recoup part of my investment later via trade or resale. It's much more like owning property than licensing an experience, and it's that feeling of ownership that's warranted the higher price of console games for me - even though I know that most of that higher price is *actually* going toward development cost, so regardless of the delivery mechanism / rights conferral, the price of a console title is probably going to remain about the same.

If you want to join this conversation you need to sign in.

Sign Up / Log In

Mobile Games: What Are You Playing?

The other day I picked up Junk Jack on iOS after hearing it was a good Terraria clone for the iPhone. After playing it a bit I didn't really see the appeal. The last mobile game I played quite a bit of was Spaceward Ho on the iPhone.

I am interested in checking out interesting Mobile games but don't find the iTunes top rated games to be interesting enough to warrant an install, even the free ones. Because of that, I am wondering if you have been playing anything you might recommend?

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 06/18/2013 at 08:15pm

Really the only mobile game I'm playing right now is Candy Crush Saga (just beat level 155).

Travis Admin wrote on 06/18/2013 at 08:25pm

NOOOOO ADYM! NOT YOU TOO! We've lost a lot of good people to the Candy Crush menace.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 06/18/2013 at 09:29pm

Hmmm maybe I should start that up. I tried once and tossed it not knowing what the craze was about.

Ok, installing.

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 06/18/2013 at 09:43pm

Yeah, I'm a goner. Waiting for FB friends to give me tickets so I continue lol.

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 06/18/2013 at 09:44pm

Jon, the first few levels are Bejeweled Blitzy, but once you get past those, it becomes an addictive puzzle game.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 06/18/2013 at 09:46pm

I'll give it a shot and report back.

Travis Admin wrote on 06/19/2013 at 02:36am

It starts asking you for either money, or for you to share it with your Facebook friends to get more turns. You are locked out of playing the game for a limited amount of time before you pay them or spam people. I can't support that kind of evil.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 06/19/2013 at 02:45am

Well you either charge people for the game or go freemium. I dont agree w those methods but it pays the bills. That said "waiting games" are fairly boring for the most part, I think anyway.

Travis Admin wrote on 06/19/2013 at 02:49am

I have a friend who would seriously stop a conversation because he got more Candy Crush moves.

In other news, to answer the question at hand: Ridiculous Fishing on iOS. This game is seriously amazing. Way more fun than I would ever expect from a fishing game. http://www.ridiculousfishing.com/

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 06/19/2013 at 03:11am

Oh yeah, i heard about that one. Checking it out.

Timogorgon Member wrote on 06/19/2013 at 05:22pm

I actually picked up tiny tower again recently. My iPod touch died, and so I switched to using my wife's old iPhone and was surprised to see the game remembered my tower when I installed it again.

The other day I also dusted off my Gameboy DS and picked up a Chrono Trigger save file that was near the end of the game but still had several side missions to complete. It was nice revisiting some familiar places.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 06/20/2013 at 03:08am

I have been playing Candy Crush and I will say it has a bit more depth than a vanilla Bejewled. I can see where people drop money on this but i have zero desire to do so. Wouldnt have a problem laying them $5 for the game though but i cant justify .99 cents 5,000 times for extra turns.

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 06/20/2013 at 04:13am

I've never put money into Candy Crush. I just wait when I run out of lives. Throttles my addiction I suppose.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 06/20/2013 at 04:15am

Yeah, it sort of stops when I have been playing a bit "too long."

adktz wrote on 07/10/2013 at 12:08am

Stickets for iOS!

If you want to join this conversation you need to sign in.

Sign Up / Log In

GOGcom No DRM Summer Sale + Free Torchlight

GOGcom is launching is summer sale with a pretty impressive lineup including giving away Torchlight for free for the next 48 hours.

http://www.gog.com/news/nodrm_summer_get_torchlight_free_for_48_hours

Lots of retro and indie titles marked down and worth checking out.

http://www.gog.com/NoDRMSummer

**UPDATE**

A few games you should nab while you can:

RollerCoaster Tycoon Deluxe

RollerCoaster Tycoon plus both expansions and the game score. Only $2.99 with no DRM. Holee shit this is a great deal.

http://www.gog.com/gamecard/rollercoaster_tycoon_deluxe

The Firehose: Duck Tales Remastered, WoW Film ++

More information is coming to light about Duck Tales Remastered with E3 game footage. The game will be released on Steam, 360, PS3 later this year, "Woo oooh!"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DuckTales_(video_game)#DuckTales:_Remastered

This just in the "hmmmm" category, it seems the World of Warcraft Movie has started filming. I am curious to see how Thrall and company translate to the big screen.

http://entertainment.slashdot.org/story/13/06/04/1257241/world-of-warcraft-film-shooting-begins-early-2014

If you are a game developer and are having a hard time coming up with a game name, let this website do all the work for you. Because "Star Wars Manlove of the Blood God"... Read All

The Cheerful Ghost Pack

After launching Cheerful Ghost over a year ago I have been very happy with how the site has taken shape, most notably with how awesome it is to play and talk about video games with everyone. The site focuses on the games we love so we can talk about and schedule events with our friends.

One thing I wanted to do soon after I launched site Memberships is design and print some cool Cheerful Ghost swag to hand out to Members as a thank you for supporting the site. It may have happened much later than I anticipated but I am happy to finally announce..

The Cheerful Ghost Pack

The Cheerful Ghost Pack is a collection of all new Cheerful Ghost swag that will be shipped for free... Read All