Foz's video game blog (an 8 bit mind in an 8 GB World)

[SirFozzie]

We are through part 1 of the Hard West Campaign. So far, only six or seven deaths. I mean my deaths, not theirs.

edit: 10:15 PM. switched away from Hard West to Rocket League

Twitch (http://twitch.tv/sirfozzie)

Stop in and say hi!

edit: 12/31. I've decided to turn this into my thread for updates from the blog. Hope you guys don't mind, I'll try to keep it to one update per day.

[SirFozzie]

Taking a break from Hard West, moving on to Rocket League!

[PilotMan]

Rocket League is so damn fun.

[SirFozzie]

Agreed. Especially when you can get a crew together,

[sovereignstar v2]

I would love to kick some of your asses at Rocket League sometime.*

*PS I suck

[sovereignstar v2]

Are you torrenting pr0n? I can't get quality for shit on your stream.

[SirFozzie]

Nope! THat's strange, but then again I can't currently connect to twitch.. next week I will run it again, let me know when you guys are available and I'll do a FOFC 8bitmind twitch stream.

BTW, I hope this is not violating any board rules (if so, let me know, and I'll remove it), but I set up a Patreon to support the blog and the twitch stream (one of the goals is to get upgraded router for better streaming)

Support David Yellope creating an8bitmind.com, a Video Game Blog (https://www.patreon.com/SirFozzie?ty=h)

[PilotMan]

Agreed. Especially when you can get a crew together,

I just got my 3 boys to get it on Steam. We are going to have some great 2v2 battles.

[SirFozzie]

Oh, here's some posts that will be going up (as well as all the news I can get my grubby little paws on)

I won't link the post here this time, but I have a number of things that are going up in the next week:

A series of posts chronicling the history of Star Wars games, all the way from the 1983 arcade game, to the recent release of Star Wars Battlefront. (I expect this to be several posts, there are a LOT of Star Wars games to cover)

Keeping with the Star Wars theme, we will have our first “Blast from the Past” review, BioWare’s Knights of the Old Republic!

As a special bonus, we will have a truly OLD SCHOOL Blast from the Past, a retrospective of 80’s game designer Strategic Simulations, Incorporated (SSI), a company I spent about 1,000,000 hours playing their games growing up. (Sword of Aragon, AD&D Gold Box Series, Roadwar 2000, the list goes on and on)

A review of Hard West (those of you who were on for the Twitch stream got to watch, and there was much death.. especially at the beginning where I had trouble figuring out how to set up ambushes in setup mode)

As well as the second Twitch stream.

[Peregrine]

As a special bonus, we will have a truly OLD SCHOOL Blast from the Past, a retrospective of 80’s game designer Strategic Simulations, Incorporated (SSI), a company I spent about 1,000,000 hours playing their games growing up. (Sword of Aragon, AD&D Gold Box Series, Roadwar 2000, the list goes on and on)


I bought most of the Gold Box series when it came out recently on gog.com - surprisingly still fun even though they are very dated.

[SirFozzie]

Yes. A lot of the gold box stuff was very well crafted (it's a shame that the series was looking dated when they did Unlimited Adventures.. it would have been a mlot better in the early days of the internet where you could share files)

[SirFozzie]

A new Wot I'm Playing (DDS: Pro Football 2016, full review to come early next week) and a long form article on how this time, the digital download market will probably stick (and what that means for Gamestop and other such retailers. Hint: It's time to diversify)

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/01/01/the_digital_revolution/

[SirFozzie]

Here's the Weekend News for the first weekend of 2016. we have a couple items on the Oculus Rift, Steam details of account exposure, a couple companies reversing recent trends back into the gaming market, and FF IX coming to phones/PC.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/01/01/weekend_news_1-1/

[SirFozzie]

Soverignstar's joined me for Rocket League, so far we're 5-2 on Snow Day games! If there was ranked Snow Day, we would TOTALLY rock our rankings.


Twitch (http://twitch.tv/sirfozzie)

[SirFozzie]

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/01/03/sunday-blast-from-the-past-sword-of-aragon-1989/

The first "Blast from the Past" article, featuring 1989's "Sword of Aragon" by Strageic Simulations, Incorporated.

[SirFozzie]

Our first full fledged review, is Wolverine Studios Draft Day Sports: Pro Football 16. And that infamous quote from the Wire comes to mind. DDS:PF16 came at the king (FOF7) did it miss?

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/01/06/review-draft-day-sports-pro-football-2016/

[SirFozzie]

Part one of the Star Wars video games retrospective is up. Do you know how hard it was to find some of these games, even screenshots were hard to find! And yet, I want to play a lot of them (ok, not Jedi Arena. Seriously, if you showed me a screenshot and said it was one of those poorly made porn games for the Atari 2600, I would have believed you.)

Also, anyone find any games I missed? (I didn't cover all the arcade conversions to home consoles)

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/01/06/a-star-wars-video-game-retrospective-part-one-the-early-years/

[Peregrine]

Wow Sword of Aragon - haven't thought of that in a long time - great game though.

[SirFozzie]

Actually, something interesting was just brought to my attention regarding the early days of Star Wars games. There was ANOTHER Atari 2600 game, entitled Return of the Jedi: Game I, that had you play a hang-gliding ewok who could drop rocks on enemies (and commandeer their vehicles to use it) However, Parker Brothers deemed the controls too difficult and cancelled the game before release. The designer of the game held onto it and gave the prototype copy to his son, who then sold it years later. Now you can play it online!

Star Wars: Ewok Adventure (Prototype) for the Atari 2600 - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj9fBBPefRQ)

[SirFozzie]

Study indicating nearly 40 million VR Users by the end of 2016? Don't believe the hype, but I don't need to, to understand why they're calling 2016 the Year of VR. (also, check out the previous article on the Oculus Rift pre-orders opening and blowing up the Oculus website! )

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/01/06/superdata-study-39-million-vr-install-base-by-end-of-2016

[Subby]

Our first full fledged review, is Wolverine Studios Draft Day Sports: Pro Football 16. And that infamous quote from the Wire comes to mind. DDS:PF16 came at the king (FOF7) did it miss?

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/01/06/review-draft-day-sports-pro-football-2016/
That seriously looks like someone took a massive shit on a computer screen and then used congealed hobo blood to try and get it off.

/review

[SirFozzie]

Ouch.

Well, as I said to Gary when I gave him my impressions, the UI doesn't yet mesh well with the game (way too dry, cluttered, etcetera) and he indicated that they were looking into making it look more like the other DDS series games, and as I said, there is a decent core here.

For folks who love the FOF7 type game, this will be a problem as FOF7 does things well that DDS:PF does not, but I think there are some decent things in DDS:PF that indicates room for growth (the 2d gameplay is nice, and the flexibility of league creation as well).

I still prefer FOF7 for most reasons, but it's gone through seven iterations, plus the College games. DDS:PF is really in its first iteration, so we'll see how and if the game improves.

[Groundhog]

I think your comment re: splitting the stats into categories could be extended to just about every area of the sim (based on your screenshots in the review). Shrink the size of ratings/stats display screen to give it less of an excel spreadsheet look, and bust each view up into categories that you navigate with tabs/pushbuttons etc.

[SirFozzie]

Definitely. Some work with a face creator would help give it some personality as well. As I said in the Bottom Line of the review, there is stat overload and some glazing of the eyes going on here.

[SirFozzie]

The Weekend News update, featuring a mouse that brings back memories of the Dreamcast, Steam news, and the booby prize for "First major release of 2016 to be delayed until 2017!"

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/01/08/18-weekend-news-update/

[SirFozzie]

A new Wot I'm Playing. I've described before how many hours I've played the Football Manager series (thousands), but I go into a bit more detail about why I spend so many hours on this one game series.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/01/09/wot-im-playing-football-manager-2016/

[SirFozzie]

Part Two of the Star Wars Retrospective is up! Featuring X-Wing, and it's various sequels. Instead of writing about all these games, I should be playing them (they're available and updated to play on modern machines too!)

(and I wonder if I was the only one who decided to pay full price for the CD-ROM edition of X-wing, rather then send in my game disc and wait for them to send me the special edition)

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/01/11/the-star-wars-video-game-retrospective-part-2/

[sovereignstar v2]

You telling me I could play TIE Fighter on a modern PC?

[SirFozzie]

apparently, Sov doesn't read the articles ;)

But yes, a ton of the games have been released through GOG.com, with tweaks to play them on modern computers:

For example.. http://www.gog.com/game/star_wars_tie_fighter_special_edition

[SirFozzie]

Interesting news out today, as Electronic Arts announced they are bringing their EA Access model over to PC in the form of Origin Access, which offers access to 15 or so games for $5 a month, as well as early looks at upcoming releases.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/01/12/origin-starts-subscription-service/

[SirFozzie]

A new feature makes its debut tonight, as Josh (SackAttack here on FOFC) of GameNikkiInExile.com joins me for a round up of gaming news, with some gratuitous Foz-bashing on the side!

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/01/14/two-gamers-talk-january-2016/

[SirFozzie]

Just think, you'd have to hit the most recent Powerball 15 times or so to buy this company. Not bad, Blizzard.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/01/15/vivendi-divests-itself-of-activisionblizzard-stock-values-company-at-20-billion/

[SirFozzie]

Between the Pats game, and learning a new dice game with Eric and Chris (which will be covered in a Wot I'm Playing in the near future), didn't get much done today, but I did come across the best thing ever, a full choir version of Still Alive.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/01/16/not-much-got-done-today/

[SirFozzie]

Had to share this. The good thing about tabletop skirmishing games (like Warhammer) is that it doesn't lead to this, generally being a 1 v 1 game, but I know say, Diplomacy has ended groups that have been running for decades.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/01/17/ftl-the-two-ways-it-bites-you/

[SirFozzie]

A Late night edition of Wot I'm playing, featuring Reiner Kinizia's Age of War.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/01/18/wot-im-playing-reiner-knizias-age-of-war/

[SirFozzie]

(hums in Peyton Manning voice) Mass Effect you play so good...

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/01/20/wot-im-playing-mass-effect-1/

[SirFozzie]

Thanks to the fine folks @Strexm, I now have an overlay! We're in the middle of the 0-100 WoW Tanking Challenge! twitch.tv/sirfozzie !

[SirFozzie]

Couple new posts up, breaking down the Atari Vault (including classic arcade games), and breaking down Game Informer's Top 50 of the year, and some of the statistics will surprise you!

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/01/25/breaking-down-game-informers-top-50-games-of-2015-list/

(also in blog news, we will be running streams at least 6 days a week, starting around 8 PM Eastern daily)

[SirFozzie]

There are reasons I will add non-video game stories to the blog. Like this one about a security flaw with Lenovo software (yes, again). Why? Because it allows me to sneak in a gratuitous Spaceballs reference.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/01/26/i-dont-normally-post-stories-about-apps/

[SirFozzie]

Happy Hump Day! Hopefully, you're getting it, but if you're not, at least get OVER the hump with a Wednesday Night Twitch Stream! Gotta build up a schedule for the Fifteen in February! Twitch (http://twitch.tv/sirfozzie)

(also we have a new couple article on problems with Super Mario Maker problems, and yet another delay for Mighty No 9)

[SirFozzie]

I can't play one of the hottest selling games on Steam. I want to, but you know, the fact I can't read Korean or Chinese is a slight issue (and also: A Ninety buck game is one of the hottest new games on Steam? Talk about a rabid fanbase!)

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/01/28/i-cantplay-one-of-the-hottest-games-on-steam/

[mckerney]

From what I have read some people might have an easier time playing a game in Chinese than finishing all of the puzzles in The Witness.

[SirFozzie]

It's an early stream tonight! Finally breaking through WotLK, into Cataclysm dungeons. The 0-100 Tanking Challenge Continues! Twitch (http://twitch.tv/sirfozzie)

[Neuqua]

I checked out your twitch stream for a few minutes, is that comment section commonly found on twitch? Jeez, talk about common denominator insults.

You're a better man than I for putting up with it.

[SirFozzie]

Thanks Neuq: That's.. not usual (that's the first "troll raid" I've had to deal with), but some of the bigger streams like Hafu have to have several mods on duty watching chat because there are people out there trolling.

[SirFozzie]

Wasn't a long stream tonight, kept having connection issues to warcraft, but here's the weekend news update! https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/01/29/weekend-news-update-129/

[SirFozzie]

A new edition of Wot I'm Playing, as my gaming group has decided they're in the mood for BIG GIANT STOMPY ROBOT gameplay, and you don't get much bigger, gianter, or.. (um.. stompier? Is that a word?) then Battletech, a game three decades strong and getting stronger!

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/01/wot-im-playing-part-1-battletech/

Oh, and I've started the Fifteen for February, and will have a report on the first game in the Core Four, Darkest Dungeon later today!

[SirFozzie]

Darkest Dungeon.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/01/wot-im-playing-part-2-darkest-dungeon/

A game about flawed heroes, a dungeon into the mouth of hell itself. And despite the heroes being flawed, spending their time they're NOT fighting the minions of darkness.. drinking and gambling, and whoring.. being even more heroic because they're so flawed. And because there's no phoenix downs, no 1ups here. They die, they're gone forever (especially because the game frequently autosaves to prevent savescumming).

So, you get more invested when that character you spent hours and hours building up that came through for you time and time again dies because you thought he could pull it out one more time, and you asked for that one step over the line.

It's great. I love it.

And it's the first game in my Fifteen for February attempt.

[Mota]

If I could finish ONE game in February I'd be delighted!

I started Disgaea 5 and Final Fantasy V. I'm also working on Witcher 3, Atelier Rorona, Tales of Graces F.

[SirFozzie]

Please, all of you, do not tell me you are playing X-Com 2 before Friday. This game is getting the hottest reviews I've sen, and it's unusual for any February release to be called a shoe-in for game of the year consideration, but.. yeah, we're there. I'll have a full review of it up on release.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/02/x-com-2-reviews-are-coming-in/

[SirFozzie]

We have a bunch of new articles up: More on Darkest Dungeon and how the developers have actively made the game harder, EVE offshoot gets cancelled to make way for another offshoot, the new Batman Game trainwreck means we won't see it on Mac or Linux, and Mirror's Edge Catalyst enters Closed Beta soon (with a new trailer!)

(oh, and we have a new Twitter Handle for An 8 Bit Mind, @An8BitMind)

[SirFozzie]

I put this in the XCom 2 thread as well, but here we go:

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/05/first-impressions-5-5-hours-into-xcom-2/

[SirFozzie]

In the immortal words from Lethal Weapon.. up till 9:30 AM playing #XCOM2 ? I'm getting too old for this shit. https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/05/in-the-immortal-words-of-murtagh/

[SirFozzie]

XCOM2... defeated (ok, on easy)! The bad news is, that means I have to take a break and actually write a review. The good news is, that means I can go back and try it again on Medium!

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/06/x-com-2-finished/

[SirFozzie]

XCOM2 Review is Live! Welcome Back, Commander.. and by that I mean, Game of the Year candidate!

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/06/review-xcom-2-welcome-back-commander/

[SirFozzie]

The latest "Blast from the Past" is... AUTODUEL.. where the right of way goes to the biggest guns! https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/07/blast-from-the-past-autoduel-1985/

(we also have a Four In February update, and more news!)

[BYU 14]

The latest "Blast from the Past" is... AUTODUEL.. where the right of way goes to the biggest guns! https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/07/blast-from-the-past-autoduel-1985/

(we also have a Four In February update, and more news!)

I would love to see this ported to a current game engine ala Wasteland, one of my favs. Where did you find a version you could play, or did you?

[SirFozzie]

I was mostly working from memory and google from that one.

Rumor has it that Brian Fargo at InXile Entertainment (speaking of Wasteland) wants to do an autoduel game, but its unknown whether SJ Games will let them. (they contested InXile's registration of the autoduel trademark)

[SirFozzie]

Amazon enters the gaming engine market https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/09/amazon-gets-into-the-game-engine-market/

[BillJasper]

Amazon enters the gaming engine market https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/09/amazon-gets-into-the-game-engine-market/

Not sure that was worth the click. :lol:

[SirFozzie]

We thank you for clicking anyway.. this update is meatier (as I recover from the cold!)

The news update for February 11th: Rock Band co-creators take a major blow, announce restructuring, World of Warcraft free to movie goers? The Division Open Beta goes live next weekend, a Bioware writer lands a new job with a familiar title.. and so much more!

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/11/news-update-211/

[SirFozzie]

Personal Note: It's never a good thing when you use StarCraft Memes to describe your health. https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/11/health-status/

[SirFozzie]

Several new posts up on An8Bitmind: Featuring: No New Assassin's Creed "Mainline" game until 2017, Ubisoft's Release Schedule, and Microsoft pulls off interesting cross buy-play move with Quantum Break

www.an8bitmind.com

[SirFozzie]

Update about the return of 7th Sea, in a new edition. (pen and paper RPG that borrows heavily from movies like The Three Musketeers, Zorro and Princess Bride.)

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/13/wot-im-hoping-to-play-7th-sea-second-edition/

[SirFozzie]

We have a new 8 minute video on Total War: Warhammer, this time dealing with the Empire! (man, I can't wait for this game, my fears it will be a bomb are being replaced with excitement)

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/13/another-8-minute-video-on-total-war-warhammer/

[SirFozzie]

Street Fighter V frankly looks a bit undercooked with all the additions it's promising over the next six months.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/14/street-fighter-v-looks-a-bit-incomplete/

[SirFozzie]

Somehow, Battlefleet Gothic: Armada flew under my radar, and it's looking great!

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/14/battlefleet-gothic-armada-comes-out-in-march/

[SirFozzie]

World of Warcraft Tanking. When everything goes wrong....But yet it still turns out SO right.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/14/warcraft-tanking-when-everything-goes-wrong/

[Peregrine]

Update about the return of 7th Sea, in a new edition. (pen and paper RPG that borrows heavily from movies like The Three Musketeers, Zorro and Princess Bride.)

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/13/wot-im-hoping-to-play-7th-sea-second-edition/

I ran a campaign of the old 7th Sea once - fun game.

[SirFozzie]

Yeah, the kickstarter is over 500K, and is on track to be the biggest pen and paper RPG kickstarter of all time.

edit: they have a quick start out if you want to look, you can pledge $1 (and cancel or change it if you want) to get the backer updates with the link.. or let me know ;)

[SirFozzie]

Is ELEVEN Warhammer games in 2015-16 too many?

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/14/warhammer-universes-enter-saturation-point-in-2016/

[SirFozzie]

You know the sad thing, I think I just found a TWELFTH game in the Warhammer/40K Universe that's coming out.

It's like Gremlins, man.. they're hiding under the woodwork and multiplying!

[Groundhog]

I haven't kept up with Games Workshop in years, but it doesn't surprise me that they are pimping out their licenses so readily. Last I heard they were struggling - I guess you can only pump up your prices so much year after year to make up for lagging sales before it bites you in the butt.

Now can someone please just make a legit turn-based actual WH40K/WHFB game. I'd maybe settle for Necromunda. ;)

[SirFozzie]

Deadpool movie is one smoking hot chimichanga of a hit. ($200 million worldwide opening)

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/15/deadpool-movie-is-a-massive-hit/

[Neon_Chaos]

Oh yes, Deadpool stays true to the source material, and Ryan Reynolds was born to play the role. He made sure to keep the movie with an R-rating by being executive producer as well, from my understanding.

[SirFozzie]

I will freely admit this game is not my cup of tea. But it might be your triple vodka. SackAttack and I discussed this game previously.. I used the description "Mindfuck" repeatedly.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/15/danganronpa-trigger-happy-havoc-hits-steam-this-week/

[mckerney]

Danganronpa is fantastic.

[SirFozzie]

Quick story: Activision faces layoffs after casual games underperform https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/16/layoffs-hit-activision-after-weak-guitar-hero-and-skylanders-sales/

[SirFozzie]

Broken servers, lack of features led to Street Fighter V rough release.

This game needed a couple more months in the oven, because apparently it's going to be the best cake ever, but still needs some time to rise.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/16/street-fighter-v-has-a-rough-release/

[SirFozzie]

Mass Effect: Andromeda's Lead Writer left BioWare in September, the latest in a series of high profile departures from the company. Kinda worrying to see so many people leave a company in the middle of its biggest project ever.


https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/16/mass-effect-andromeda-lead-writer-left-bioware-in-september/

[SirFozzie]

War Never Changes, but Fallout 4 does. Fallout 4 announces 3 DLC, Season Pass plan to go up in price

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/16/fallout-4-reveals-three-dlc/

[SirFozzie]

Rocket League modders face ban if they remove non-standard map from Ranked Play.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/17/rocket-league-introduces-ban-for-ranked-play-modders/

[SirFozzie]

Black Desert Online enters second round of closed beta, ahead of March 3rd release. Definitely not my cup of tea, (manual aiming, no healing classes?) but it does look nice, we have the opening cinematic.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/17/black-desert-online-enters-2nd-round-of-closed-beta/

[Thomkal]

Black Desert Online enters second round of closed beta, ahead of March 3rd release. Definitely not my cup of tea, (manual aiming, no healing classes?) but it does look nice, we have the opening cinematic.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/17/black-desert-online-enters-2nd-round-of-closed-beta/

I was very interested in Black Desert, before it became B2P. Much more so than Blade and Soul, which I find very linear and boring. No dedicated healing class there as well. Not sure how much its going to cost to buy, but if there's a good sale some day or it goes F2P, I will probably check it out. The character creation system on BDO looks incredible.

[SirFozzie]

Jet Set Radio, Sega Classics available for free on Steam as part of "Make War Not Love" competition.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/18/jet-set-radio-amongst-sega-classics-available-for-free/

[SirFozzie]

The latest Blast From The Past is Jet Set Radio (currently free on Steam)

or to call it properly, JET SET RADIOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/18/blast-from-the-past-jet-set-radio-2000/

[SirFozzie]

Want to know what's on deck for An 8 Bit Mind this weekend? Check out the Pre-Load:

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/19/the-pre-load-whats-on-deck/

[Balldog]

bummed to see Wildlands is in 2017
Looking forward to The Division though.

[SirFozzie]

A bit late, but we finally have our regular title for our monthly news wrapup with Josh (SackAttack) Allen of GameNikkiInExile.com, it's time for some Free-Fire Fandemonium!

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/20/free-fire-fandemonium-for-february/

[SirFozzie]

Out of the Park Baseball has announced the latest version will be out next month. My OOTP-playing streak is like Cal Ripken's :

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/21/out-of-the-park-17-officially-announced/

[SirFozzie]

Vivendi, fresh from selling Activision/Blizzard stock, submits a takeover bid for Gameloft. Is Ubisoft next on their shopping list?

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/21/vivendi-to-submit-takeover-for-gameloft-ubisoft-next/

[SirFozzie]

Holy Sticker Shock, Batman! HTC Vive to ship in April, for $799.

I want to see what our VR overlords have planned.. but seriously? $600 (Occulus Rift) to $800? That's.. an inhibiting factor to say the least.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/21/htc-vive-release-date-and-price-announced/

[SirFozzie]

Five hours into Tom Clancy's The Division Open Beta: The game is good, but to get the most out of it, you're going to want to get a crew you can trust.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/21/thoughts-on-the-divisions-open-beta/

[SirFozzie]

Interesting twist to Virtual Reality Wars. Samsung offering free Samsung Gear VR with Galaxy S7 preorder.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/22/interesting-twist-to-virtual-reality-wars-samsung-offering-free-samsung-gear-with-galaxy-s7-preorder/

[SirFozzie]

We review the Fire Emblem Fates Trilogy of games (Birthright, Conquest, Revelation) . One of the three may be the most difficult Fire Emblem game ever. It's great. Just beware of Nintendo's hand constantly reaching into your pocket.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/23/review-fire-emblem-fates/

[CrimsonFox]

Rocket League modders face ban if they remove non-standard map from Ranked Play.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/17/rocket-league-introduces-ban-for-ranked-play-modders/

I played a little yesterday...Actually played a lot. And that map seemed no different from any other map. Bravo to the devs for kicking out these people. Sheesh. Wahwahwah! I can't win so I'm not gonna play. So what's different about it

[SirFozzie]

Because you can't easily predict that if the "Ball is at position X with speed Y" I can auto score! It throws off their memorizations.

[SirFozzie]

An opinion piece on the Fire Emblem: Fates "controversy" where people are mighty upset about mini-things, and I'm not surprised it's GamerGate at the core of it.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/23/about-that-fire-emblem-fates-controversy/

[CrimsonFox]

Because you can't easily predict that if the "Ball is at position X with speed Y" I can auto score! It throws off their memorizations.

memoriz...
*sigh*

[SirFozzie]

Well, you know what I mean. They've figured out all the angles and know pretty much where the ball's going to be. Wasteland subtly throws off those traditional angles.

Oh, and the latest game coming up from Paradox Interactive, Stellaris, looks like nine or ten billion types of fun. A sci-fi 4x game from Paradox? Yes please (So far, there's been dev diaries on uplifting primitive species to do your dirty work fleets, alliances and even federations, which allow you to build ships using the best of several races technology.. but with all the political issues that come with it.) No release date for it yet, but I think that it's a good thing after some of the day one bugginess of past games.. but their games are INCREDIBLY deep.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/24/stellaris-looks-like-nine-billion-types-of-fun/

[Thomkal]

Stellaris looks awesome. cannot wait for it to come out.

FOFC Federation? :)

[Super Ugly]

Stellaris looks awesome. cannot wait for it to come out.

FOFC Federation? :)

I am SO EXCITED for this game. Fingers crossed for a Q1/2 release.

[SirFozzie]

It's looking more like Summer, they still have to get HoI 4 out

[SirFozzie]

The latest pen and paper supplement for Divine Madness Press's FIGHT! (The Fighting Game RPG) is Unlockables: Shonen.. and its power level is over 9000.. easy!

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/24/wot-im-playing-fight-shonen/

[SirFozzie]

Well, that was interesting downtime (server side issue), but we're back, and normal service will resume shortly.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/25/were-back/

[SirFozzie]

"Where does he get those wonderful toys"?

If you pick up the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (god that's a long title) car pack for Rocket League, some joker could be saying that about YOU scoring goals with the Batmobile.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/26/batman-v-superman-car-pack-heading-to-rocket-league-march-8th/

[SirFozzie]

Twitch (http://www.twitch.tv/hyperrpg)

The folks behind the Upcoming Battletech game are doing a charity stream as a result of the huge Kickstarter campaign they had. Featuring the folks at Harebrained Schemes against the game's current holders at Catalyst Game Labs, and the rules are: Lose your Mech, lose your beard!

edit: The Battletech part of the stream is over, but they're doing a 48 hour charity stream

[SirFozzie]

Fire Emblem Fates sells over 300,000 copies in launch window. Huge start. Now about that DLC... (and where did I put my "It Prints Money" 3DS meme .GIF file?)

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/27/fire-emblem-fates-three-day-sales-top-300000/

[SirFozzie]

A huge couple months for Psyonix Studios, as Rocket League sales go over the $70,000,000 mark (and this is apparently BEFORE the move to Xbox One)

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/27/huge-boost-for-rocket-league/

[SirFozzie]

(edit, damnit, the last post didn't go up till now, sorry for the dola)

Bizarre situation at the $3,000,000 DOTA2 Shanghai Major tournament.

Gabe Newell channels Vince McMahon - Fires EVERYBODY.

Main announcer? Fired (and called an ass, and said he'd never work for Valve ever again)

Production Company? Fired. Mid-tournament. Not even a "You'll never work for me again". It's "Pack your bags, your camera and all your other equipment and leave."

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/27/bizarre-situation-at-the-dota2-shanghai-major-everyone-gets-fired/

[CrimsonFox]

i thought the fact that he was an ass is why they hired him.

[SirFozzie]

He definitely was irreverent, which was why he was let go the first time but they brought him back despite some misgivings at Valve, and then he starts talking about masturbating to wheelchair porn.. I can see that coming at him.

[CrimsonFox]

There's something wrong with wheelchair porn?

i would guess it would be about making fun of players and the company than just saying something like that. heh.

[SirFozzie]

Additional PlayStation VR details coming, including a a Sony patent on possible haptic gloves to allow you to feel pressure and impact. Yes, we might get a real power glove. It's so Bad.... (TM The Wizard)

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/29/additional-details-on-the-playstation-vr/

[SirFozzie]

Business news: Gameloft, Ubisoft to fight Vivendi's hostile takeover attempts:

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/02/29/ubisoft-gameloft-to-fight-hostile-takeover-by-vivendi/

[SirFozzie]

A major announcement today by Xbox head Phil Spencer could change the way consoles are sold. This is classic "May you live in interesting times" information.

edit: They can't beat Sony this generation, it's true.. but by focusing on incremental upgrades and backwards compatibility, they can really change the console paradigm (ugh. Did I just use the words "Change the paradigm" non-ironically???)

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/03/01/a-major-announcement-today-could-change-console-gaming-forever/

[SirFozzie]

Tom Clancy's The Division preload begins this morning, but NOBODY (even reviewers) will play it before release date.

Normally, I'd say that's an uh-oh sign, but here, it's not like we haven't had betas and play out the wazoo to see it.

Oh, and I hope the guy in charge of Ubisoft's servers gets plenty of beauty rest, because I think at 12:01 am on Tuesday, his life is going to be... interesting.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/03/03/the-division-begins-pre-load-today-no-reviewer-play-until-release/

[SackAttack]

A major announcement today by Xbox head Phil Spencer could change the way consoles are sold. This is classic "May you live in interesting times" information.

edit: They can't beat Sony this generation, it's true.. but by focusing on incremental upgrades and backwards compatibility, they can really change the console paradigm (ugh. Did I just use the words "Change the paradigm" non-ironically???)

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/03/01/a-major-announcement-today-could-change-console-gaming-forever/

No they can't. "incremental upgrades" is an Orobouros move. What they should have learned from the 360 era is that when you split the market by having multiple hardware configurations, the best you can hope for is that developers will engineer their games to deliver the lowest common denominator to everybody. If you start having plug-and-play upgrades, developers will either program exclusively for the 'base' console, or else there will be large swaths of the market that get left behind as the developers focus on the shiny new toys.

Not having to deal with that shit is part (along with 'couch gaming') of why console gamers aren't PC gamers in the first place.

[SirFozzie]

New Star Fox game? Check. New Paper Mario game? Yup. Updates on some games coming over from Japan? Uh-huh. Bunch of classic SNES games in the pipeline for the New 3DS? You betcha. Lotta stuff to talk about in the new Nintendo Direct:

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/03/04/latest-nintendo-direct-information/

[SirFozzie]

I think it's safe to say that some folks aren't exactly chuffed about Xbox's plans to link PC and Xbox One , nor possible Universal Windows Platform issues.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/03/04/pushback-on-the-xbox-future-plans/

[SirFozzie]

No Electronic Arts. No Blizzard, No Disney. Would the last publisher at E3 please turn out the lights?

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/03/05/will-the-last-publisher-at-e3-please-turn-out-the-lights/

[SirFozzie]

You know the story of Moonlight Graham? Thanks to OOTP Baseball, you will meet about 150,000 of his colleagues.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/03/06/one-hundred-fifty-thousand-moonlight-grahams-await-in-out-of-the-park-17/

(I was going to put the I believe.. speech from Bull Durham, but I think that the MLB players reciting the speech from Field of Dreams is better. Besides, I don't think the DH should be outlawed ;))

[SirFozzie]

Another departure at BioWare involving Mass Effect Andromeda , I'm honestly starting to get worried. If people are leaving a YEAR before release (new release date is Q1 2017), it makes me wonder wtf is going on.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/03/08/mass-effect-exodus-continues-at-bioware/

[SirFozzie]

Bad News on Total War: Warhammer, the release date has been delayed three weeks. Good News? Specs on what you need to run it.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/03/08/total-war-warhammer-delayed-until-may-specs-released/

[SirFozzie]

Murderer's Row vs the Big Red Machine? OOTP Baseball is teaming up with prominent baseball writers, that's going to happen. Well, maybe not THAT matchup (I can hope), but 16 of the best teams of all times are being selected for a OOTP tournament.

(seriously, this is the kinda thing that made me a sports sim fanatic in the first place. It's the matching up of teams from different eras, that eternal debate of "What's the best team ever?")

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/03/08/ootp-pairs-with-espn-elias-writers-for-all-time-tournament/

[SirFozzie]

There's a lot to like about Tom Clancy's The Division . However, the broken AI damage model is a big downer. Review ahoy!

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/03/09/review-tom-clancys-the-division/

[mckerney]

I played a few hours of The Division last night, had lots of fun. Only disappointment I had was the character creator. It's the worst I've used in quite a while with how stripped down and short on options it is.

[SirFozzie]

So, we're back (in limited mode) after our hospital stay, with the weekend news!

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/03/13/news-update-313/

[Thomkal]

well glad you are home at least. so what's going on with your eyes?

[SirFozzie]

I have a condition known as iritis, where periodically the iris gets inflamed and causes pain, vision change and pressure. If untreated, it can potentially cause the iris to close completely, which causes a huge build up of pressure and pain, and can lead to glaucoma and possible blindness in the eye. That happened to me once, where they actually had to use an optical laser to poke a hole in my iris (to allow it to drain), and then do a surgery later to make sure it stayed open.

Fun stuff, huh?

[SirFozzie]

We review the latest game from Wolverine Studios, Draft Day Sports: Pro Basketball 2016. And it's like Steph Curry, from way downtown.. Splash!

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/03/14/review-draft-day-sports-pro-basketball-16/

[Gary Gorski]

Thank you for the nice review (especially considering what you've been dealing with medically the past few days). Glad to see that you also really picked up on the nuances of the game and the importance of building the roster by player type and not just by whoever has the highest ratings. I am really happy to see the nice things being said about the depth, challenge and realism of the game :D

[Thomkal]

I have a condition known as iritis, where periodically the iris gets inflamed and causes pain, vision change and pressure. If untreated, it can potentially cause the iris to close completely, which causes a huge build up of pressure and pain, and can lead to glaucoma and possible blindness in the eye. That happened to me once, where they actually had to use an optical laser to poke a hole in my iris (to allow it to drain), and then do a surgery later to make sure it stayed open.

Fun stuff, huh?

lasers? cool :) I saw your other thread about this, and it sounds awful. I've had to wear glasses most of my life, so always sensitive about eye issues. No permanent cure I take it? Hopefully they can do something to ease your pain.

[SirFozzie]

it comes and goes, this is my first outbreak in like six months, and most of them come and go within days. I'd say this is the 2nd worst attack of the iritis). For a while, they thought it was related to my arthritis (a condition called Ankylosing Spondylitis, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ankylosing-spondylitis/basics/definition/con-20019766, but I tested negative for a gene that usually shows up in those cases).

Iritis is a condition that will keep coming back, though, enough so, that I keep the predforte and dilatory eyedrops in the medicine cabinet just in case.

edit: And having a laser shot into my eye was the weirdest feeling ever, it felt like a pop pop feeling in the back of my eye/skull.

[SirFozzie]

We have a guest column from Josh Allen on Microsoft's puzzling moves with modular upgrades:

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/03/15/guest-column-josh-allen-on-microsofts-puzzling-moves/

[SirFozzie]

We review @ootpbaseball Out Of the Park Baseball 17. Simple or Complex, fictional, historical or real, it's great.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/03/19/review-out-of-the-park-baseball-17/

[SirFozzie]

And for those of you, who wanted an alternative to DDS: PB 16, thanks to a guest review from FOFC's own Groundhog.. stay far FAR away from Pro Basketball Manager.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/03/18/guest-review-pro-basketball-manager-2016/

[SirFozzie]

Supreme court turns down EA's request for First Amendment dismissal in retired players Madden Lawsuit.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/03/21/supreme-court-will-not-hear-ea-madden-1st-amendment-case/

[SirFozzie]

Wolverine Studios release their Draft Day College Sports Basketball game, just in time for the tournament.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/03/23/review-draft-day-sports-college-basketball-16/

[SirFozzie]

The EVE Online MMO war that was brought to you by an online casino. This is not an early April Fool's Prank. I'm not that creative.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/03/31/eve-online-war-bankrolled-by-a-casino/

[SirFozzie]

Not even an hour into April 1st, I got bit by my first April Fool's prank.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/04/01/let-the-fools-day-commence-far-far-away/

[Thomkal]

sucker :) Have to say though I don't like it when a program is altered just for a joke.

[SirFozzie]

Yeah, I panicked, but that's what made the joke so good :)

[SirFozzie]

Dola:

All Fool's Day gets me again. Damnit! Plus a round up of more 4/1 action.

(Seriously, what is it with Warcraft Addon makers and "Hilarious" pranks on April Fool's? :P)

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/04/01/more-fools-day-action/

[SirFozzie]

So, it's Four/Four, and that means it's a perfect time for OUR Three F's, as Josh Allen joins me for a little Free-Fire Fandemonium. We discuss hardware news, Nintendo giving Gamergate a "victory", and Final Fantasy news as well.

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/04/04/44-free-fire-fandemonium/

[SirFozzie]

We talk about OOTP Baseball, and every thing that goes into the game. Sadly, Markus crushes my dreams more than once (no Red Sox in the 16 for '16, No APBA Broadcast Blast mode, not ITP 2 anytime soon), but I think mostly those are pie in the sky things.. :)

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/04/04/an-interview-with-the-folks-over-at-out-of-the-park-baseball/

[SirFozzie]

We talk to the folks behind Project CARS about their Oculus Rift edition, and being one of the first games to not only be able to be run in 4K resolution, but 12K Resolution (!!)

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/04/11/an-interview-with-project-cars-on-their-oculus-rift-edition/

[SirFozzie]

Site upgrade complete, and we return with a list of games in the next few months we're looking forward to:

https://www.an8bitmind.com/index.php/2016/04/29/wot-im-looking-forward-to-part-1/

[Thomkal]

I did not know Paradox bought White Wolf. Should be good for both of them.

Stellaris can't come soon enough.

[SirFozzie]

yeah, White Wolf broke up with CCP (the folks behind EVE who at one point had planned a world of darkness MMO), and signed on with Paradox.

It's kinda a Bizarre situation as Onyx Path (made up of old White Wolf'ers who were laid off when the World of Darkness MMO didn't happen) had licensed the rights to the pen and paper side of the New World of Darkness, as well as the classic world of darkness (which was being supported by 20th anniversary kickstarted editions, which I pledged several before all my health issues).

They've split the New World of Darkness to be called "Chronicles of Darkness".. because White Wolf/Paradox wanted to differentiate the Old Classic Now the onlyWORLD of Darkness (which I believe they're planning to make games in)

Actually, this explains it better.

http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/paradox-interactive-acquires-white-wolf-publishing-from-ccp-games.888941/page-21#post-20184721