PapaGlitch

I really enjoyed my time with Wukong - put in around 30 hours, finished the standard ending over the weekend and currently stuck on trying to finish the final secret ending. But in my mind it is not deserving of GOTY - dodgy optimisation, relentless invisible walls and some really poor level design. That being said ots still a good game, great even, but its own fans and it's own developer have really let it down

I miss physical media more and more as time goes by. Outside of the sheer joy of having everything on a shelf and easily being able to spot what I want to watch or play, there are so many other advantages.

Personally, I'm still someone who holds the preowned market in high regard, and that's why I always prefer to opt for physical. I very, very rarely go back to games (outside of a few classics) and always like the option to offset the cost of a new game by selling old ones on eBay.

Movies have the bigger problem of their distribution being so spread out - trying to find a specific movie and figuring out if I already have access to it via a subscription service or if I need to buy it digitally, and then making sure the service I'm buying it from has an app on the TV on want to watch it on... it is all such a hassle, and to be honest has made me far less likely to bother than when I just had a few shelves full of DVDs.

@Nepp67 currently the second top comment on a post by Alannah Pearce on X announcing she is leaving Sony Santa Monica is someone saying she performed sexual favours to get her job and that's why God of War is "terrible".

That's not a different viewpoint, it's just unmoderated and disgusting misogyny being promoted because the user has paid for a bluetick. I suspect it's stuff like that which is why some users feel compelled to move

@HRdepartment absolutely, never been a more satisfying combat system imo

@GreatAuk of course it is, they saw a gap in the market.

Conversely, I can't understand why those who still enjoy Twitter are so affronted by those wanting to try somewhere else. They didn't like the changes to the platform, so decided to start using a different one and leave those who still enjoy Twitter to hang out there.

Let everyone just enjoy the things they want to - and to bring it back to topic, it absolutely makes sense for PlayStation to also set up shop there to reach as many people as possible. Because, as you alluded to, at the end of the day it is also just a business and will operate in its best interests to generate revenue, irrespective of any perceived agendas.

@GamingFan4Lyf I get your point but sometimes I do want to hear other people's opinions, even those I disagree with, and that's what you used to get with Twitter, but now the culture war stuff is prioritised over genuine informed content. And that is why Blue Sky is an attractive proposition

@GreatAuk Well that's not what I said is it. It's great to engage in healthy debate - it's not so great to wade through the same far right misinformed nonsense and bots that have been pushed to forefront by an agenda pushing algorithm to find the content you actually went on there for. If I go there looking for gaming news, I don't want to see a dozen posts ranting about wokeness, DEI or Sweet Baby Inc for engagement before I find an actually informative post

@MatthewJP it's all very well and good allowing all to have their say, but having been on it for a good number of years now I have definitely noted that the posts espousing a particular world view are now far more prevelant on my timeline than previously, and with the monetisation of the platform being particularly attractive to those on the politically right side of the spectrum those views are continuing to be pushed to the front. It seems to me that Bluesky is a bit of an echo chamber by virtue of its userbase being largely those who reject X, whereas X is an echo chamber by design. Either way, it presents a warped view of reality

This might be a scenario where 'comment off' is the best approach. The response to this topic encapsulate why a number of people are keen to leave Twitter/X in the first place

Lovely, but we need far more Astro Bot merch - Christmas is coming up and my lad is desparate for Santa to bring a sackful for Astro goodies!

Ha I remember Ashley in the original RE4 would call you a pervert if you tried looking up her skirt

I feel Wukong has been massively propped up by weird folk who seem to think it is a savior of gaming taking a stand against "woke". I enjoyed it for what it is but beat the snow level a few months back and really not feeling the motivation to go back and finish it

They still won't have all the original music, so could never be the definitive versions

I swear I only heard the term 'gacha' a few days ago and suddenly I'm hearing it everywhere. And I still don't really know what it is...

@Kidfunkadelic83 I was about the suggest you give it a go as it really isn't too scary, but on reflection the best thing about it is an overriding sense of dread and feeling uncomfortable, and if that's not your idea of a good time I doubt this would change your opinion!

I'm up to the hosptial and its a strong 8 for me, and far better than I had imagined. Performance isn't great is my main gripe, although as I'm playing on PC not sure if that's just my rig (although playing at 1080 on a 4060 so would have thought that would be ok!) Atmosphere is bang on though, which was always the main concern going in

@Voltan If memory serves, Rockstar games only ever seem to stay on Gamepass or PS Plus for around 3-6 months at a time, and tend to rotate between the two services. So I wouldn't be surprised to see RDR2 back on Gamepass again in the next couple of months

@crossbit thanks, that's good to know, I also avoid voice chat so good to know you've had a good experience. It's only £20 on PC so may take the plunge

Is this worth diving into it? I've been tempted for a while, but would need to play with randoms as none of my mates are big gamers? Are the servers still active enough, and is playing with randoms any good?

I'm terrible for buying tech that I really don't need, upgraded to PS4 Pro, have a PS5, Series X, Switch OLED, Steam Deck OLED, recently upgraded my workstation with a 4060 and am even thinking of grabbing a PS Portal. But I gotta say, even disregarding the price I've got absolutely no interest in this at all. The PS4 Pro had the 4K factor, but I really dont see what will excite people about this enough to pay so much

That Concord episode of Secret Level is gonna feel rather bizarre now...

Good to know, I was concerned it would be a toaster

@thefourfoldroot1 it's just a difference in how you like to consume games. Sometimes I've got time to play something but don't know what so like to have potentials at my fingertips - by the time I delete and install something new that takes my fancy I probably won't have time to play anymore

I'm convinced this game is some sort of tax write off thing

I feel it may be worth it when paired with a PC now that the update is out, but can't see it being worth much purely on the PS5 now

@AdamantiumPriest oh yes, a lot of fond memories of Gamestation. Genuinely knowledgeable staff too

I trust there'll be changing their name from Game to avoid action under trade descriptions. Maybe Junk would be more fitting?

I can't help but think this is a bad move from them. Even if all that other stuff is the money maker for them, if I'm out and about I'll often wander into Game to browse the games and may make the occasional impulse purchase; maybe I'm the wrong generation now but I can't imagine ever being motivated to bother going in there if there's no games in there.

I pre-ordered Astro Bot as soon as it came out. However, I don't particularly like Horizon or lego games so I won't just be buying it to prove a point! (Not least because I actually have no problem with 'sad dad' games)

He was absolutely amazing, but I am concerned his casting may give the show a perception of just being a watered down Shogun

Oh damn, I was interested in this...

Easily my most anticipated game of the year. Would be even happier if it happened to be co-op.

And it sounds like a much larger game than Rescue Mission or Playroom; I'll happily pay £70

My expectations were pretty low, and the only thing that piqued my interest was the Ballad of whatever it was called, Concord maybe (although that intro was far too long and I have no interest in their "witty", Marvel-y banter) and perhaps Silent Hill but I have no faith in Bloober. But then Astro-Bot; oh boy, that looks wonderful. So just for that I would have to say it exceeded my expectations

It seems that Take Two are just on rolling contracts with PS and MS to swap GTA V and RDR2 between PS+ and GPU between them every 6 months. Can confidentally predict RDR2 will be gone by December

@LowDefAl Ah I skipped over the Unreal Tournament and Quake stuff. I did play Doom back in the day so if it turned up there maybe I just forgot

I've been playing games, FPS included for over 30 years, and have never heard of this term. Is it in general use??

Rumoured general election and showcase announcements today? Don't know which one I'm more excited for

I'm intrigued and would love to give this a try, but really can't justify a purchase on curiosity alone. Will hope this comes to one of the subscription services down the line

@skaarj217 how is that so? A rudimentary Googling suggests that the developer very much didn't approve of their country's invasion and they relocated. In fact an article on their own website calls Russia's actions unjust

Oof, not the best. RDR2 I can't imagine many people who would like to play it haven't already

@Zenos they released a new model, OLED, just 6 months ago. I don't really see them releasing a new version for another 18 months at the earliest

@Leeg I disagree; I still think at its core Among Us is great fun, I've spent many hours just idly playing on it. The issue it has now is that the servers are either dead or filled with kids or hackers (I know, serve me right for trying to play a kids game, but I genuinely think it really deserves better).

If they can sort out the servers a bit I would love to jump back in for a few games

Why is this story written like it is recounting a young actress's evening with Harvey Weinstein?

@pip_muzz no company deserves blind loyalty, they're all just as ruthless and driven by self interest as another. Times like this remind me that being a cheerleader for a multinational corporation is just absurd.

The reaction was by and large pathetic... however, I do wonder what the hell Sony was thinking in even selling the game in territories where PSN isn't available when the plan was always to implement mandatory PSN login

Top subheading there lads, I'll have Gloria Gaynor stuck in my head for the rest of the day

@Rich33 just to clarify, I also despise the word woke - it's a word that is inherently positive that has been co-opted by the far right. It's the latest in a long line of buzzwords that have been jumped on by those looking to push back on social progress (before woke we had SJW, PC... they all mean the same thing to these people - "someone is trying argue that people other than white men exists and that makes me angry")

I largely agree with your points. The only thing I would question is that the character design has caused outrage. Honestly I haven't seen any outrage about Eve's appearance, only people expecting there to be an outrage and then preemptively getting protective over it. Personally, I just find it slightly amusing, and find those who are so invested in it pretty pathetic. But at the same time, I certainly don't begrudge it - if a game with a scantily clad woman is what you need in your life then go for it. Just don't then use it as an validation for you to voice your awful opinions

@PerpetualBoredom I'll take the opportunity to have another crack at this season!

Pretty good month in all honesty

@MikeOrator I echo your thoughts completely. I'm massively torn as I'm sure I'd enjoy the game, and I know the devs aren't to blame for the toxic discourse around it. However, I just don't feel comfortable supporting it when I know its success is going to give oxygen to a minority of gamers who feel that having realistic looking women in their games is a personal attack on them

@PJ5 and just to reiterate my point, just read the comment immediately above your own

@PJ5 no it isn't the first, but the fact is that this game has come out during an incredibly divisive time when gamergate is rearing its ugly head again and nonsense like the sweet baby Inc debacle and the ever nebulous "war on woke" is in vogue. Fairly or not, this game has become a beacon for a frustrated minority who feel that gender, race and identity politics are the cause of their own failings in life.

Subsequently, they appear to have flocked straight to metacritic to voice their approval for what they perceive as the antithesis of current industry trends. Don't get me wrong, the game seems fun enough and I don't doubt that the devs are thoroughly good folk who worked hard to make the game they wanted to. I enjoyed the demo and will likely check out the full game at some point, but it is terribly naive to think that this suspiciously positive user reaction exists in a vacuum away from wider discourse around it.