atomicpoet

atomicpoet , 1 minute ago to Random stuff

Yesterday’s undisputed heavyweight fight was one for the ages.

It’s been 24 years since we even saw an undisputed champion. And this lived up to the hype.

Oleksandr Usyk actually beat the much bigger Tyson Fury. Knocked him down even. It was shocking.

I’m pretty sure we can call Usyk one of the greatest fighters of all time. In 22 fights, he became both the undisputed cruiserweight and heavyweight champion of the world.

The only other fighter to accomplish that was Evander Holyfield. But I actually think Usyk is better than Holyfield because Usyk won a gold medal at the Olympics.

And what a day for Ukraine as well! That country needed Uskyk.

atomicpoet , 10 hours ago to Random stuff

Today, 10 games were released on Steam. These are the ones I found interesting:

Indigo Park: Chapter 1

• a first person horror game about restoring power to an abandoned amusement park
• price: FREE!

Pre Dusk

• a 2D action platformer about a small kid exploring a dark world
• price: C$6.49, but currently has a -15% discount selling at C$5.51

atomicpoet , 10 hours ago to Random stuff

I appreciate [Chants of Sennaar](Chants of Sennaar) for what it is, but it's not for me.

I like the minimalist graphics as well as the neat sound design. The puzzles are all right. And the mouse-driven controls are quite intuitive.

But where it loses me is trying to figure out runes. That part is painful to me. And this game pretty much focuses on that.

Still, it's impressive that this game was made by a two-man development team.

Maybe I'll give this a chance some other day, but it just doesn't appeal to me right now.

Chants of Sennaar screenshot (RTX 3080 Ti)
Chants of Sennaar screenshot (RTX 3080 Ti)
Chants of Sennaar screenshot (RTX 3080 Ti)

atomicpoet , 11 hours ago (edited 10 hours ago) to Random stuff

I love Minute of Islands, but it's works like these where the term "video game" becomes inadequate.

And I say this because opinions on Minute of Islands are polarizing. Some people, like myself, think this has incredible storytelling. Other folks feel that the gameplay is shallow.

My own feeling is that if you stop focusing on this as a game and instead let it tell its story, then you will enjoy Minute of Islands. Its narrative is about death and grief, and a girl's memories of tragedy. Living in a time where open world sandbox games are all the rage, I know this is asking a lot.

But Minute of Islands is an amazing experience. You play Mo, a girl on an island who must deal with a threat that could end life as she knows it. As the keeper of the Omni Switch, only she can deal solve the crisis. The more the story goes on, you realize that she has already lost so much.

The hand drawn art is what really stands out. It feels like I'm playing an animated film. The incredible detail is simply outstanding. When i was a child, this is how I wished video games appeared -- and it's all the more amazing that I got my wish now. Even on the Steam Deck's 7" screen, this felt incredibly immersive.

The developers are seem quite proud of the sound design. The recommended that I play this wearing headphones, and I understand why. The voiceover narration, ambient effects, and music are all excellent. This is a huge aspect of the storytelling.

Ever since I saw Space Ace in the arcade when i was young, I've been wanting a video game that offers a truly cinematic experience. I realize, of course, that video games aren't always meant to be cinematic. But sometimes, cinematic is exactly what I'm looking for -- Minute of Islands delivers in this respect.

To me, this is exceptional art. Even if you believe the gameplay is slow, you cannot deny the great story-telling, hand-drawn graphics, and sound design. Studio Fizbin, the developer, is definitely one to watch out for and I look forward to their future works.

atomicpoet , 19 hours ago to Random stuff

My daughter says that the female equivalent to Godzilla is Goshzilla.

atomicpoet , 19 hours ago (edited 15 hours ago) to Random stuff

I can’t believe Rolling Stone gave a negative review of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

But then again, they’ve been wrong so many times.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/goodbye-yellow-brick-road-249137/

atomicpoet , 21 hours ago (edited 21 hours ago) to Random stuff

What you see here is Litil Divil -- a game that was supposed to be released for the Super NES CD-ROM (a.k.a., the Nintendo PlayStation).

As the story goes, Sony was supposed to develop a CD add-on for the Super NES. Fearing that Sony was going to use this add-on as a way to enter the console market, Nintendo stabbed Sony in the back at the last moment -- opted to go with Philips instead. This only managed to piss off Sony further, and made them actually enter the console market with the Sony PlayStation.

Nevertheless, some games were actually in development for the Super NES CD-ROM. Little Divil was supposed to be released for it in 1990 or 1991. However, when it became apparent that the CD-ROM add-on wouldn't happen, developer Gremlin Graphics released it for MS-DOS and CD-i instead. Later on, it would also get a released for the Amiga CD32.

Looking at this, I would have been psyched to have played this in 1993, when Litil Divil was finally released. But for someone such as myself, CD-ROM technology was completely out of reach. This kind of tech seemed downright futuristic. Even music CDs were expensive back then -- never mind video games.

So what do we even have here? You're a red devil named Mutt who's travelling through a labyrinth looking for a pizza. That's pretty much what this is. Lots and lots of mazes, occasional puzzles, and a little cartoon humour thrown in.

Considering the time, Litil Divil seems appropriately "interactive", which was the big buzzword with CD technology. It was supposed to seem like you were playing a movie that would respond to your choices. Nowadays, this translates into clunky controls. I will say, though, that they were a lot less clunkier than similar games of this ilk.

For the time, the graphics were incredible. The character models and environments weren't this detailed on cartridge-based consoles. The frames of animation weren't this smooth there either. And there was rich CD-quality music!

This being a game made by Gremlin Graphics, Litil Divil is all right. Modern gamers probably won't love it so much, but if you like old-school adventure games, this will be up your alley. And as a piece of history, it's pretty neat!

Litil Divil is quite inexpensive nowadays. At regular price on GOG.com, is C$3.39. Right now, it has a -59% discount, selling for C$1.39.
https://www.gog.com/en/game/litil_divil

skinnylatte , 23 hours ago to Random stuff

Saw a bunch of East Asian Americans running a class (hundreds of dollars) on how women above 40 can benefit from ‘eastern wisdom’ and they’re just listing all the things we just call, well, food. I’ll save you a hundred bucks. Ginseng chicken soup. Lots of mushrooms and vegetables. Cantonese hot desserts (with snow fungus, lotus seeds etc).

atomicpoet , 1 day ago to Random stuff

Good for going paid instead of “free” with micro-transactions.

Because, unless a developers have a good thoughtful way to make micro-transactions work, I’m won’t do it. I’d rather pay for a game up front than deal with loot boxes.

https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/always-online-free-to-play-arpg-relaunches-with-an-offline-mode-zero-microtransactions-and-an-upfront-price-were-in-uncharted-territory-and-its-a-big-risk/

atomicpoet , 1 day ago to Random stuff

Today, 82 games were released on Steam. These were the ones I found most interesting:

Spellcats: Auto Card Tactics

• a rogue-like deckbuilding card game about a magical kitty, featurrng pixel art graphics
• gamepad supported
• price: C$12.99

Our Little Friend

• a horror game about a robot friend, featuring low res polygonal graphics
• price: C$2.59

EQQO

• a poetic narrative puzzle game, based on Ethiopian legends, with hand drawn graphics
• gamepad supported
• price: C$10.49, but currently has a -40% discount selling at C$6.29

My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery

• a family friendly 3D platformer based on the well-loved cartoon franchise My Little Pony
• gamepad supported
• shared/split screen co-op
• price: C$51.99

Archaeogem

• a 2D precision platformer about exploring lush biomes, somewhat inspired by Indiana Jones, featuring pixel art graphics
• gamepad supported
• price: C$10.99, but currently has a -30% discount selling at C$7.69

Gilded Eternal

• an arcade game about luring monsters intot the King's crushing hand
• gamepad supported
• demo download available
• price: C$12.99, but currently has a -30% discount selling at C$9.09

Fairytale Furnishing

• a cozy dollhouse simulation with lots of design options
• price: C$6.49, but currently has a -10% discount selling at C$5.84

Little Odyssey

• a 3D open world game about travelling around a desert on a giant magical turtle
• gamepad supported
• Linux port available
• demo download available
• price: C$19.49, but currently has a -30% discount selling at C$13.64

Arcane Assembly

• a fantasy-themed metroidvania with gun customization
• price: C$10.49, but currently has a -10% discount selling at C$9.44

Master Key

• a top-down black-and-white action RPG that's similar to 8-bit Zelda
• gamepad supported
• Linux and Mac ports available
• demo download available
• soundtrack and bonus content available as DLC
• price: C$15.49, but currently has a -10% discount selling at C$13.94

FoxyRush

• a 2D platformer about a fox that loves cherries
• gamepad supported
• Linux port available
• demo download available
• price: C$6.49, but currently has a -20% discount selling at C$5.19

Genopanic

• a 2D metroidvania platformer about exploring a space station, featuring 16-bit style pixel art graphics
• gamepad supported
• soundtrack available as DLC
• price: C$19.49, but currently has a -10% discount selling at C$17.54

Hexton

• an relaxing isometric puzzler and farming simulator based on hexagonal tiles
• price: C2.59, but currently has a -40% discount selling at C$1.55

Kilonova

• a 3D fantasy-themed platformer and beat 'em up
• gamepad supported
• Linux port available
• price: FREE!

atomicpoet , 1 day ago to Random stuff

The moment I heard Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion, I knew this was going to be a strange game.

It's a very cutesy game about anthropomorphic fruits and vegetables. Yet, it's tackling the mature theme, of all things, tax evasion. As the name implies, you have been a very bad turnip, and now you must do a bunch of errands for the mayor in order to set things right.

In terms of world building, this reminds me a lot of Adventure Time. But as you can see from the screenshots, it plays a lot like Legend of Zelda. And what I mean is the older 2D top-down Zeldas, not these 3D versions that most people play nowadays.

My overall feeling about Turnip Boy is that this is basically Zelda, but with a more cutting sense of humour, easier gameplay, and a post apocalyptic story. That's not a bad thing at all. If you like Zelda, you'll probably like Turnip Boy.

This is also a good game for children. They'll love the cutesy characters and the simple action RPG mechanics. Sometimes this game gets a little dark, but it's not too dark for children.

It shouldn't surprise you that I like the graphics. It's got a 16-bit style but has much more colour. And it looks particularly great on a Steam Deck.

The sound design has lots of whimsy. I particularly like the music which is quite catchy, and sometimes gets cinematic.

This was developer Snoozy Kazoo's first game. They have since released a sequel, Turnip Boy Robs a Bank that was released earlier this year.

While this game got a mixed reception amongst professional reviewers, people who actually bought the game seem to really like it. Based on thousands of reviewers, Turnip Boy has a 95% approval rating -- which puts it in rarified territory in terms. Few games get that amount of good user reviews.

I definitely recommend this game, especially if you like Zelda.

Turnip Boy Robs a Bank screenshot (RTX 3080 Ti)
Turnip Boy Robs a Bank screenshot (RTX 3080 Ti)
Turnip Boy Robs a Bank screenshot (RTX 3080 Ti)

atomicpoet , 1 day ago to Random stuff

My wife has never seen Rocky, so that’s what we’re watching tonight.

atomicpoet , 1 day ago to Random stuff

Spicy Taiwanese braised beef noodles!

atomicpoet , 1 day ago to Random stuff

What a deal! I just bought 50 CD-Rs for C$6.99. Which comes to C$0.14 per CD-R.

And I’m going to have a lot of use out of this stack. I buy lots of music off Bandcamp that needs to be burnt. And I have a modded PSOne that accepts these discs too—which will be great for all the after-market homebrew out there.

atomicpoet , 1 day ago to Random stuff

Lord of the Rings on VCD.

I love VCD. That was a great format. I’d get this but I already have LOTR on DVD.

atomicpoet , 1 day ago to Random stuff

Badminton is no joke. I’ve been playing it for three years now. My conditioning and stamina have gotten better, but it still kicks my ass.

atomicpoet , 1 day ago to Random stuff

Sometimes I feel like the most basic dude ever.

There are times when my lizard brain takes over, and I have to say to it, “STFU!”

And this takes actual effort.

atomicpoet , 1 day ago to Random stuff

Just got these running shoes, and they are shockingly comfortable. They feel sculpted for my feet.

I’ll be doing lots of running with these on.

atomicpoet , 1 day ago to Random stuff

Paul Stephen-Davis had an amazing run of video games between 2014-18.

An indie developer out of the UK, that fellow put out banger after banger. It is truly impressive what he accomplished during that time period. I own almost all of his works, and Super Trench Attack was my first foray into his creations.

What makes Paul Stephen-Davis so good is that, at his best, he merges British humour with Japanese-style aesthetics. Specifically, with Super Trench Attack, we have something akin to Shock Troopers and Metal Slug -- if those games were programmed by Monty Python.

It is fast and intense gameplay that's often quite challenging. But sometimes, when I'm in the middle of a battle, I nearly keel over with laughter as I take some poor schmuck by surprise as he's relieving himself.

The graphics have that late 90s pixel art look that would have been on PlayStation or Saturn consoles. I'm specifically talking about the 2D art as this game eschews all polygons and sticks to sprites.

In terms of sound, it works so well. Musically, it's got a military marching band thing going on, but I find it catchy as hell. The sound effects have that arcade quality to them, and they really enhance everything.

When I first bought this eight years ago, not very many people had heard about this game. I'd still say too few people have tried it. Yet, of the people who've tried it, almost all of them love it. Everyone says the same thing: it is incredibly fun for something so cheap.

I might as well mention Paul Stephen-Davis' other games because they're all incredible: Verdict Guilty, Death's Hangover, Dungeon Marathon, The Spy Who Shot Me. Super Trench Attack even got a sequel. Every single one of those games was amazing.

Unfortunately, Paul Stephen-Davis' company, Retro Army, went under and he no longer does solo development. I wish he'd make a return, but I understand that the video game industry is a hard grind. The man probably wants to make a paycheque, and I understand completely where he's coming from.

But just in case Paul is reading this, I hope you understand that you have fans. I'm one of them. I've built incredible memories with your games. And not just me, my family loves them too.

Thank you for your work.

Super Trench Attack screenshot (RTX 3080 Ti)
Super Trench Attack screenshot (RTX 3080 Ti)
Super Trench Attack screenshot (RTX 3080 Ti)

atomicpoet , 1 day ago (edited 1 day ago) to Random stuff

If you were using desktop Linux in 2006, then War§ow is probably quite special to you.

This was a time when quality open source games were few and far between. Those that did exist were largely 2D games that didn't show off modern (at the time) hardware capabilities. I like SuperTux as much as the next guy, but it was similar to a 16-bit games -- specifically Super Mario World -- and Linux could do better.

When Warsow came out, it was exactly what I craved: an arena shooter FPS with cutting edge graphics. For Linux, this was the Unreal killer. And it was completely free!

I'm not much of a multiplayer guy. I much prefer my single player campaigns. But being on a Toshiba laptop running Ubuntu, do you realize how amazing it was to connect with folks from around the world -- fragging everything with abandon?

This ended up being a popular game for e-sports. Numerous LAN tournaments were launched dedicated to the game. It was a shimmering jewel for open source game development.

And then in 2016, the game was abandoned by the original developer. Updates stopped appearing. My copy of Warsow doesn't even launch anymore without heavy troubleshooting.

Thankfully, I don't have to troubleshoot because Warsow has been forked! Indie developers Team Forbidden have taken up the baton, and WarFork is now available on Steam.

WarFork is still in active development. It's got an active playerbase, though not nearly as active as when Warsow was in its prime. Nevertheless, I'm glad this game still exists, people play it, and -- most importantly -- it works on my machine without a hitch.

For me, this game fills me with nostalgia. When you're in a gaming desert, you're thankful for any drop of water. Warsow was that drop of water.

atomicpoet , 2 days ago to Random stuff

Today, 69 games were released on Steam. These were the ones I found interesting:

Mr Snuggles Dungeon Adventure

• a rogue-like dungeon crawler RPG with lots of cuteness and pixel art graphics
• gamepad supported
• Linux port available
• demo download available
• price: C$3.89, but currently there's a -25% discount at C$2.91

Adventure Of Baldero I and II

• two adventure platformers about a bald hero, featuring Game Boy-inspired graphics
• gamepad supported
• price: C$12.99, but currently there's a -15% discount at C$11.04

PO'ed: Definitive Edition

• a re-make of a 3DO FPS that has become quite infamous over the years
• gamepad supported
• playable on Steam Deck
• price: C$15.99

Wantless : Solace at World’s End

• a dystopic tactical RPG, with an isometric perspective, where you attempt to save your patients from themselves
• demo download available
• price: C$23.49, but currently there's a -25% discount at C$17.61

Dino Dino – Playful Paleontology

• a family-friendly collection of minigames that also teaches about dinosaur paleontology
• price: C$4.99, but currently there's a -10% discount at C$4.49

Musashi vs Cthulhu

• a 2D beat 'em up about a famous samurai warrior who's been put under a curse, the effect which makes him a target for monsters
• gamepad supported
• price: C$6.49

Arctic Eggs

• a sci-fi about cooking illegal chicken eggs in Antarctica* gamepad supported
• Mac and Linux ports available
• price: C$12.99, but currently there's a -30% discount at C$9.09

Break the Loop

• a 2D turn-based rogue-like RPG about rescuing the worrld from an abyssal monster
• demo download available
• price: C$19.49, but currently there's a -20% discount at C$15.59

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes

• an action-adventure about a woman in an ornate environment attempting to find answers
• gamepad supported
• Steam Deck verified
• price: C$32.99

Drag Her!

• a 2D drag queen themed fighting game
• gamepad supported
• online and shared/split screen PvP
• price: FREE!

RUNGORE

• a card-based RPG, inspired by Slay the Spirre with 16-bit style pixel art graphics
• gamepad supported
• demo download available
• playable on Steam Deck
• price: C$19.49, but currently there's a -25% discount at C$14.61

Revelatio

• a turn-based rogue-like ROG in which you're the primal darkness attempting to corrupt light
• demo download available
• price: C$12.99, but currently there's a -10% discount at C$11.69

Citadel Stormer 2

• a run-and-gun platformer with 16-bit style pixel art graphics
• gamepad supported
• price: C$15.00

Combo Card Clashers

• a rogue-like deck-builder RPG with a fantasy theme
• price: C$15.49, but currently there's a -17% discount at C$12.85

atomicpoet , 2 days ago to Random stuff

I knew F.E.A.R.: First Encounter Assault Recon was going to be something special.

I've liked almost everything that Monolith Productions makes. At this point, they should be regarded as one of the premiere developers for PC. In fact, I just played another one of their games a few days ago -- Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor.

But F.E.A.R. is probably the game they're most known for because, oh my God, was this one of the few titles where the hype was truly worth it.

I remember the year this came out. People were using it to benchmark PCs. If your rig could run F.E.A.R. well, it was a decent machine -- that's how "next generation" this game was.

In some ways, this is a weird fever dream of a game. You're hunting down a cannibal psychic. He's chowing down on people like he's visiting a KFC at midnight. Soon while you're going off on this hunt, you start tripping balls. And then a creepy little girl shows up and makes things explode.

When you're not hallucinating, the best part of the game is the A.I. Even for now, it's exceptional. They don't just come right at you, they use strategy to flush you out. Sometimes they throw bombs to coax you out of a room, or they flank you at both sides. They react to whatever you're doing, and this creates a next level immersion.

With all this conversation about A.I., I think it's important to acknowledge that A.I. has been with use for decades now, and it's been a core part of gaming for awhile. If it's done well, A.I. can provide and exceptional experience.

You can really see this with F.E.A.R. when the NPCs have conversations and react to what you're doing.

The graphics are what many people remember this game for, and with good reason. For 2005, this looked spectacular. Stuff like fire and water effects were incredible.

But for me, the real star of the show is the sound design. This is one of those games that's recognizable simply by hearing it. It's got an ambience that chills you to the bone, and I can't get enough.

I've already spoken a lot about Monolith Productions. You're probably tired of me talking about them. But let me say, for 2005, they made perhaps the best game in the world.

F.E.A.R.: First Encounter Assault Recon screenshot (Steam Deck)
F.E.A.R.: First Encounter Assault Recon screenshot (Steam Deck)
F.E.A.R.: First Encounter Assault Recon screenshot (Steam Deck)

atomicpoet , 2 days ago to Random stuff

Look, I never intend on buying a crappy game. All I want is premium gold. But no amount of alchemy will transform a turd into a gold nugget.

That's how I feel about El Matador.

What I was hoping to experience was Max Payne with some Robert Rodriguez style. What I got instead was something that is simply not fun.

First of all, El Matador depends way too much on bullet time. How bad is it? El Matador has two type of bullet time: one that's on a timer, the other that's activating when you jump.

Compounding the whole mess, the only way you can avoid getting shot many times is by activating bullet time. And you end up having to do silly things like jumping into the line of enemy fire just for the off chance you will stay alive.

Speaking of which, I respect games that are hard, but not games that are unfair. If I'm sneaking by a corner and enemies somehow have the clairvoyance to know I'm there, then it's simply unfair.

Apparently, the reason this game was so hard was because the campaign itself is only 5-6 hours long. So in order to make gamers feel they got their money's worth, they dialled the difficulty up to insane level. Even "easy" mode is actually hard.

Thing is, the difficulty feels like a con. I know when a game presents a challenge, and when the deck is stacked against you. It's the difference between chess and slot machines.

It's too bad because I like the graphics and sound. They appeal to me. But even that can't save El Matador.

I have a feeling that El Matador killed its developer, Plastic Reality Technologies. Just as soon as the game was released, they closed their doors. They never made another game again.

El Matador screenshot (RTX 3080 Ti)
El Matador screenshot (RTX 3080 Ti)
El Matador screenshot (RTX 3080 Ti)

atomicpoet , 2 days ago to Random stuff

DEAL ALERT!!

Fanatical just launched their build-your-own Nexus bundle with three tiers:

• 1 game for C$1.35
• 5 games for C$4.09
• 10 games for C$6.35

Highlights of this bundle include Wolfenstein 3-D, Hands of Necromancy, and Grotto.

https://www.fanatical.com/en/pick-and-mix/build-your-own-nexus-bundle

atomicpoet , 2 days ago (edited 2 days ago) to Random stuff

So I had to play Drag Her! -- the drag queen fighting game.

The whole concept it too irresistible.

I don't typically care about drag queen stuff. I've never watched Ru Paul's Drag Race ever. I mean, don't get me wrong, I realize drag queens have been a thing across many cultures -- it is an art form. I've just never paid attention.

But a fighting game? Yeah, I'm totally on board. And I'm glad I tried Drag Her!

Because this game is absolutely hilarious. I have not laughed so hard while playing a video game in a long, long time. Whoever made this deserves an award because I was bowled over laughing.

The moves are over-the-top. One of the drag queens hits another over the head with a bloody trashcan! Another has this special move where there's a Sailor Moon-esque animation -- then she brings out this humongous lipstick bazooka.

Then when you get knocked out, the narrator yells "K-Ho!" It's the little touches like that which give this game so much charm.

There's no single player arcade mode or campaign. If you want to play this, it must be co-op. Thankfully, there's both local and online co-op modes available and I had no trouble finding an opponent.

I have no idea who the developer is, but it looks like this is Fighting Chance Games' first release. I look forward to what the deliver next because Drag Her! is definitely memorable.

atomicpoet , 2 days ago to Random stuff

Someone made a drag queen fighting game. I don't know if it's any good, but the art style is pretty neat.

And what's more, it's FREE!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2446820/Drag_Her/

atomicpoet , 2 days ago to Random stuff

Whenever I see a crow looking at my food, I can see the wheels turning.

atomicpoet , 3 days ago to Random stuff

If Final Fantasy can no longer be successful on PlayStation then the era of 3rd party console exclusives is truly over.

This is clearly why so many Japanese developers are focusing on PC game development, including Sony themselves.

https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/square-enix-president-bemoans-weak-final-fantasy-sales-and-says-his-restructure-is-existential-our-winning-formula-is-no-longer-effective/

atomicpoet , 3 days ago to Random stuff

This is the worst Apple commercial I’ve ever seen.

Apple used to trumpet themselves as a company that empowers creators. But this iPad commercial shows a company that wants to crush creators.

https://youtu.be/ntjkwIXWtrc

atomicpoet , 3 days ago to Random stuff

So basically, Xi is Putin’s daddy.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/05/533e57d6979e-putin-xi-meet-to-affirm-unity-in-countering-west-boost-cooperation.html

atomicpoet , 3 days ago to Random stuff

Today, 65 games were released on Steam. These are the games I found most interesting:

I'm grouping all these games together because they're re-releases in the same series.

Close Combat

Close Combat 2: A Bridge Too Far

Close Combat 3: The Russian Front

Close Combat 4: The Battle of the Bulge

Close Combat 5: Invasion: Normandy - Utah Beach to Cherbourg

• this series are World War 2 simulators, originally released in the 90s, each which is a tactical RTS
• price: individually, each game is C$7.79, but there's currently a -15% discount at C$6.62. You can also buy all games as part of a bundle, which has a regular price of C$38.95, but there's currrently a -43% discount, available right now at C$22.20

I'm also grouping the following games together since they're part of the same series:

Warlords I + II

Warlords III: Darklords Rising

• a fantasy turn-based strategy series where empires struggle for supreme power
• price: individually, each game is C$7.79, but there's currently a -15% discount at C$6.62. You can also buy all games as part of a bundle, which has a regular price of C$15.58, but there's currrently a -32% discount, available right now at C$10.60

Deep Beyond

• a first person interactive thriller about a sea explorer and the mystery of her father's disappearance, featuring low poly cell-shaded graphics with attractive dithering
• gamepad supporded
• price: C$6.49, but currently discounted -15% and selling for C$5.51

SMYS : Show Me Your Stairs

• a party game where you race your friend to build a tower to the top -- with almost reverse-Tetris gameplay
• gamepad supported
• shared/split screen PvP and co-op
• demo download available
• costumes and soundtrack available as DLC
• price: C$13.99, but currently discounted -25% and selling for C$10.49

Baladins

• a choose-your-own adventure 2D RPG with cute paper-like graphics
• gamepad supported
• online and shared/split screen co-op
• price: C$32.50, but currently discounted -10% and selling for C$29.25

MULLET MADJACK

• a cyberpunk boomer shooter FPS with low poly graphics inspired by anime
• gamepad supported
• demo download available
• artbook and soundtrack available as DLC
• price: C$25.95, but currently discounted -10% and selling for C$23.35

Squab

• a 2D precision platformer starring a pigeon
• gamepad supported
• price: C$3.89

Banana Cowboy

• a 3D platformer starring a banana cowboy in a fruit-themed unitiverse, rescuing people from your evil twin
• price: FREE!

Cento

• a rogue-like deckbuilder with rhythm characteristics, featuring pixel art graphics
• gamepad supported
• demo download available
• price: C$12.99, but currently discounted -10% and selling for C$11.69

Wayfarer

• an action-adventure game where you explore labyrinthine caves, featuring low poly graphics
• price: C$1.29

Byte Hack

• a 2D cyberpunk puzzle platformer about hacking your way through an infected computer tower, featuring 16-bit style pixel art graphics with CRT effects
• gamepad supported
• demo download available
• price: C$6.49

atomicpoet , 3 days ago to Random stuff

Just because a game can be played with a gamepad doesn't mean you should. That's the key lesson I learned from Train Valley.

As for why I tried doing that, I was out and about with my Steam Deck and Train Valley was "playable". Yes, it's playable with a Steam Deck, but don't do it with the default gamepad. Try to use typical keyboard and mouse controls if you can do it.

But again, because I'm stubborn, I decided to soldier on with the gamepad controls. The first problem I encountered is that, though the screen displays gamepad buttons, the tutorial assumes keyboard and mouse. As a result, there's a lot of trial and error.

And the gamepad controls are not intuitive whatsoever. For example, the D-pad does not select a tile. Instead it selects mode. No, to select a tile, you must use the left analog joystick. And selecting a train isn't a matter of pressing one button. No, you must select two buttons at the same time, specifically right trigger and "A".

If that sounds convoluted to you, that's because it is!

I could have bypassed all this tomfoolery by just using the Steam Deck's built-in touch screen. And I tried this too. It works so much better than the gamepad.

Nevertheless, my point is that sometimes you should just let a PC game be a PC game -- especially with these puzzle-strategy train simulators.

Yes, I realize that PC games have often been ported to console. Sim City for SNES is an example. But let's be honest, do you like playing these ports on console? Really, does anyone?

I have a hard enough time playing an FPS on console. It's doable, sure. Yet, keyboard and mouse give me such an advantage, I only use a gamepad when that's the only option. I've been so spoiled by the Steam Deck's built-in trackpad that I really don't want to go back to an Xbox or PlayStation gamepad -- both which lack one.

Now you're probably wondering if Train Valley 2 is good. Yes it is. It's a nice cozy and relaxing game that let's you putter about with cute trains.

Look at those screenshots. Is there anything more charming? The soundtrack is pleasing.

And oh yes, it has Mac and Linux ports.

But because I spent more than an hour being frustrated by trying to make this work with a gamepad, I'm warning you that not everything is meant for a gamepad.

Listen, PC gaming can be wondrous if you embrace the keyboard and mouse. It's preferable if get up, close, and personal with a monitor so you can see all those fine details. Let those tiles work their magic.

For this reason, I actually do recommend Train Valley 2 under the right conditions.

Train Valley screenshot (Steam Deck)
Train Valley screenshot (Steam Deck)
Train Valley screenshot (Steam Deck)

atomicpoet , 3 days ago to Random stuff

Also, what even is the purpose of a beard?

From what I can tell, the benefit is that it gives me the option for another face. If I want to be mildly unrecognizable, I can just grow out my facial hair.

But other than that, I have no idea why men grow beards.

atomicpoet , 3 days ago to Random stuff

Something I’ve always wondered about is why human females have so much breast tissue when they’re not nursing.

For example, if you look at other primates, they don’t have boobs all the time. Gorillas, chimpanzees, and orangutans don’t walk around with cleavage. That’s a human characteristic.

But humans are odd in other ways. For example, our lack of fur. Also, we sweat. We’re just really weird animals.

atomicpoet , 3 days ago to Random stuff

Crazy workout!

I ran 2km in 20 minutes and hit my VO2 max for 5 minutes straight.

Also did 100 squats, did 36 reps with 35lbs dumb bells, and 45 sit-ups. Managed 2:45 minutes of planking. Finished off with 20 minutes of cycling.

So far, I got 12,000 steps in today.

atomicpoet , 3 days ago to Random stuff

To be honest, as much as I feel nostalgia for the past, I count my blessings that I’m in the present.

I work for myself. I have no boss. I cannot be fired. My ability to make a living is not impacted by office politics or ensuring someone with more power likes me.

atomicpoet , 3 days ago to Random stuff

Five years ago, it was easy to go online to buy a dress for my wife.

All I had to do was search for "Asian women fashion" and I could get some ideas.

Now you can't just put "Asian women" because you get photos of literal children. So you have to put "mature Asian women" in the search.

And you can't just put "fashion" because now you just get recommendations at the top of the page from the same vanilla shops that show white women as models. That won't work if the woman you're looking to buy for isn't white.

So I try to be hyper specific. I have to type "summer dress mature asian woman". And that's when the A.I. buffoonery starts because apparently when you're that hyper specific, it's near-identical to a prompt for an A.I. generative image.

As for why I don't just do a search on Amazon? Because when I input those search terms on Amazon, I don't get every day wear. I get costumes for white people to cosplay.

Got to love "progress".

atomicpoet , 8 days ago to Random stuff

In Marathon, you can turn off the HUD by pressing F1.

This is the first time I've ever noticed it, and it makes a big difference. As much as I love Marathon, that HUD is massive.

Here's Marathon with the HUD and without it. Look at the difference in screen real estate!

Marathon without the HUD