Various video game stuff not deserving its own thread

[TKVNC]

One issue with digital-only storefronts is it sort of killed experimental peripheral games.

I miss the spinning white stands of random games for barely anything. Found a lot of gems there.

[Tangerine]

Shareware disks had a lot of garbage on them, but occasionally you'd find a gem. Can't really find a good game that way anymore.

[logincrash]

Shareware disks had a lot of garbage on them, but occasionally you'd find a gem. Can't really find a good game that way anymore.

I had a disc with a Thief the Dark Project demo on it and then I lost it. Couldn't find the game for years after.
When I actually found it and played it, it was an amazing experience.

[rusty_shackleford]

Shareware disks had a lot of garbage on them, but occasionally you'd find a gem. Can't really find a good game that way anymore.

The popularity of HoMM is almost entirely due to it being given out for free with magazines in eastern europe

[Rand]

Shareware disks had a lot of garbage on them, but occasionally you'd find a gem. Can't really find a good game that way anymore.

I found the Exile III shareware on a PC Gamer disk.
It was like finding a bundle of cash while replacing the drywall in your home.

[Rand]

One issue with digital-only storefronts is it sort of killed experimental peripheral games.

I miss the spinning white stands of random games for barely anything. Found a lot of gems there.

Same.
Played several enjoyable games I got for $5 I wouldn't have bothered with otherwise.

[DagothGeas5]

Shareware disks had a lot of garbage on them, but occasionally you'd find a gem. Can't really find a good game that way anymore.

The popularity of HoMM is almost entirely due to it being given out for free with magazines in eastern europe

Reminds me of some CDs I was gifted that were all in Polish but had multiple games on them that were sold with magazines, not sure if it is the same thing, should still have them around but I will have to ask. Couldn't understand a word, much less read what meant what at times during the customized installation, but they were all great games that I recall. Very surprised they would just give something like that away as if it was candy, which also reminds me of some Italian company called Ferrero that used to make videogames based off of cartoons they made to advertise their snacks that I recall. Some videogames, or demos of such, were even given "for free" alongside some cereal brands that I recall.
One example of the Ferrero games (though I loved every single one I played).

[logincrash]

Reminds me of some CDs I was gifted that were all in Polish but had multiple games on them that were sold with magazines, not sure if it is the same thing, should still have them around but I will have to ask. Couldn't understand a word, much less read what meant what at times during the customized installation, but they were all great games that I recall.

It's so weird, I can read (as in understand) Polish if I squint my eyes and focus really hard. Even though I only know a bit of Ukrainian and Russian. Goes to show how similar the Slavic languages are, like cousins.

[DagothGeas5]

Reminds me of some CDs I was gifted that were all in Polish but had multiple games on them that were sold with magazines, not sure if it is the same thing, should still have them around but I will have to ask. Couldn't understand a word, much less read what meant what at times during the customized installation, but they were all great games that I recall.

It's so weird, I can read (as in understand) Polish if I squint my eyes and focus really hard. Even though I only know a bit of Ukrainian and Russian. Goes to show how similar the Slavic languages are, like cousins.

Same here, though only if it's spoken in my case. I can understand Russian, Bielorussian (I am told there is a difference and it's not just a different Russian), Ukrainian and even some other one I can't recall the name of (Czech, maybe? Not sure) just by having learned some Polish. If it's written it's like looking at a puzzle for me, but the second I recall what is what (or how it is pronounced) everything clicks together.
Somewhat unrelated, but, Grzegorz Brzęczyszczykiewicz is a wonderful name. If I have to go make an account somewhere with the woke folk, that's what I will choose XD

► Show Spoiler

[SpellSword]

Was looking around for the other Deus Ex games on GOG and found this post from Human Revolution's page. Not exactly sure what it means, but wanted to ask for more information here if anyone knows what this is about. Is the game trying to give user data to the company (like how the likes of Baldur's Gate 3 track player choices etc)?

(Placed in a spoiler as the post takes some space, original, or, at least, the guy that forwarded this to the comments from the forum where he found it, is the first comment here at the bottom of the page https://www.gog.com/en/game/deus_ex_hum ... ectors_cut )

► Show Spoiler

original post by user spinewire from GOG Forum

June 04, 2020

TL;DR DXHR Directors Cut has built in telemetry, tracking and metrics which phones home to 2 separate companies which causes the freeze. Non-Directors Cut doesn't include telemetry, tracking and metrics and doesn't crash.


Has anyone experienced the game freezing and sound looping after completing a take down (once the camera goes back to first-person) or hacking (after being successful)? It happens every time on the first level for me.

I've tried the usual DX9 mode and turning off HUD notifications, as I feel it's a bug in the nasty "achievements" code that may be running behind the scenes but it made no difference.

The game runs smoothly otherwise, but unfortunately I cannot avoid hacking in the game.

Update 1: I've just noticed via processmonitor that one of the last things for the exe to do is to try and establish a connection to: 184.107.107.213 (but it's fw'd out). I'm not a fan of rabbit holes but I'm keen to know other people's experiences.

Update 2: Sysmon reveals all about that IP address:
QueryName: dx3a-pc-game-metrics.eidos.co.uk
QueryStatus: 0
QueryResults: type: 5 legacyos.eidos.co.uk;184.107.107.213;
Image: C:\Program Files\GOG\Deus Ex HRDC\DXHRDC.exe

Update 3: A quick dig for that URL and I see some lovely slides: slideshare.net/acagamic/game-metrics-and-biometrics-the-future-of-player-experience-research.

Update 4: After I permit DXHRDC.exe outbound to the internet, it still locks up however it now completes the below requests with identical timestamps before crashing:
QueryName: dx3-pc-game-infocast.eidos.co.uk
QueryStatus: 0
QueryResults: type: 5 legacyos.eidos.co.uk;184.107.107.213;
Image: C:\Program Files\GOG\Deus Ex HRDC\DXHRDC.exe
then
QueryName: master10.doublefusion.com
QueryStatus: 0
QueryResults: 91.195.241.136;
Image: C:\Program Files\GOG\Deus Ex HRDC\DXHRDC.exe
the

....Full detailed post in Forum. PLEASE GOG FIX THIS INTRUSION IN PRIVACY (and improve 4k Hud scaling)

@DagothGeas5 I saw that as well and it kept me from purchasing it.

Also don't forget the "one time use" microtransactions in the sequel Deus Ex: Mankind Divided that were locked to a single playthrough requiring them to be repurchased for each use...

Here's how things work.png

"...Consumables work the way they do due to first party constraints..."

[Tangerine]

"...Consumables work the way they do due to first party constraints..."

I believe it. The part they're not telling you is the constraint was a mandate from the big boss.

[Nooneatall]

The D4 expansion is so slow and terrible. We've really lost the fast paced arcade action of older games. Everything is a side quest and cutscene. Just let me make number go up! Those vampire survivor likes get it right.

[DagothGeas5]

Was looking around for the other Deus Ex games on GOG and found this post from Human Revolution's page. Not exactly sure what it means, but wanted to ask for more information here if anyone knows what this is about. Is the game trying to give user data to the company (like how the likes of Baldur's Gate 3 track player choices etc)?

(Placed in a spoiler as the post takes some space, original, or, at least, the guy that forwarded this to the comments from the forum where he found it, is the first comment here at the bottom of the page https://www.gog.com/en/game/deus_ex_hum ... ectors_cut )

► Show Spoiler

original post by user spinewire from GOG Forum

June 04, 2020

TL;DR DXHR Directors Cut has built in telemetry, tracking and metrics which phones home to 2 separate companies which causes the freeze. Non-Directors Cut doesn't include telemetry, tracking and metrics and doesn't crash.


Has anyone experienced the game freezing and sound looping after completing a take down (once the camera goes back to first-person) or hacking (after being successful)? It happens every time on the first level for me.

I've tried the usual DX9 mode and turning off HUD notifications, as I feel it's a bug in the nasty "achievements" code that may be running behind the scenes but it made no difference.

The game runs smoothly otherwise, but unfortunately I cannot avoid hacking in the game.

Update 1: I've just noticed via processmonitor that one of the last things for the exe to do is to try and establish a connection to: 184.107.107.213 (but it's fw'd out). I'm not a fan of rabbit holes but I'm keen to know other people's experiences.

Update 2: Sysmon reveals all about that IP address:
QueryName: dx3a-pc-game-metrics.eidos.co.uk
QueryStatus: 0
QueryResults: type: 5 legacyos.eidos.co.uk;184.107.107.213;
Image: C:\Program Files\GOG\Deus Ex HRDC\DXHRDC.exe

Update 3: A quick dig for that URL and I see some lovely slides: slideshare.net/acagamic/game-metrics-and-biometrics-the-future-of-player-experience-research.

Update 4: After I permit DXHRDC.exe outbound to the internet, it still locks up however it now completes the below requests with identical timestamps before crashing:
QueryName: dx3-pc-game-infocast.eidos.co.uk
QueryStatus: 0
QueryResults: type: 5 legacyos.eidos.co.uk;184.107.107.213;
Image: C:\Program Files\GOG\Deus Ex HRDC\DXHRDC.exe
then
QueryName: master10.doublefusion.com
QueryStatus: 0
QueryResults: 91.195.241.136;
Image: C:\Program Files\GOG\Deus Ex HRDC\DXHRDC.exe
the

....Full detailed post in Forum. PLEASE GOG FIX THIS INTRUSION IN PRIVACY (and improve 4k Hud scaling)

@DagothGeas5 I saw that as well and it kept me from purchasing it.

Also don't forget the "one time use" microtransactions in the sequel Deus Ex: Mankind Divided that were locked to a single playthrough requiring them to be repurchased for each use...

"...Consumables work the way they do due to first party constraints..."

Had no idea of the microtransaction things, never heard of ******** like this before this is on another level. Thank you for letting me know! Incredibly ironic, and sad too, that it would be a game with Deus Ex in the title to have such things attached to it.
Truly


Edit: Actually, I have seen some similar ********, placed in a spoiler as it might do the big Steam banner and it will occupy a lot of space that way:

► Show Spoiler

There is an item to call harpies in Dragon's Dogma 2 that is a consumable that is to be purchased with real money, one time use.

This camping thing, which can be found in-game but they, of course, don't tell you that
Or this item, which deepens the affection of NPCs, which can be done in-game without using such a thing

All one-time use, of course.

[Rand]

Reminds me of some CDs I was gifted that were all in Polish but had multiple games on them that were sold with magazines, not sure if it is the same thing, should still have them around but I will have to ask. Couldn't understand a word, much less read what meant what at times during the customized installation, but they were all great games that I recall.

It's so weird, I can read (as in understand) Polish if I squint my eyes and focus really hard. Even though I only know a bit of Ukrainian and Russian. Goes to show how similar the Slavic languages are, like cousins.

Same here, though only if it's spoken in my case. I can understand Russian, Bielorussian (I am told there is a difference and it's not just a different Russian), Ukrainian and even some other one I can't recall the name of (Czech, maybe? Not sure) just by having learned some Polish. If it's written it's like looking at a puzzle for me, but the second I recall what is what (or how it is pronounced) everything clicks together.
Somewhat unrelated, but, Grzegorz Brzęczyszczykiewicz is a wonderful name. If I have to go make an account somewhere with the woke folk, that's what I will choose XD

► Show Spoiler

Gregorz Brezencystikayvitch.

[DagothGeas5]

It's so weird, I can read (as in understand) Polish if I squint my eyes and focus really hard. Even though I only know a bit of Ukrainian and Russian. Goes to show how similar the Slavic languages are, like cousins.

Same here, though only if it's spoken in my case. I can understand Russian, Bielorussian (I am told there is a difference and it's not just a different Russian), Ukrainian and even some other one I can't recall the name of (Czech, maybe? Not sure) just by having learned some Polish. If it's written it's like looking at a puzzle for me, but the second I recall what is what (or how it is pronounced) everything clicks together.
Somewhat unrelated, but, Grzegorz Brzęczyszczykiewicz is a wonderful name. If I have to go make an account somewhere with the woke folk, that's what I will choose XD

► Show Spoiler

Gregorz Brzencistikayvitch.

What language is that in? Is it another spelling?

[Finarfin]

Was looking around for the other Deus Ex games on GOG and found this post from Human Revolution's page. Not exactly sure what it means, but wanted to ask for more information here if anyone knows what this is about. Is the game trying to give user data to the company (like how the likes of Baldur's Gate 3 track player choices etc)?

(Placed in a spoiler as the post takes some space, original, or, at least, the guy that forwarded this to the comments from the forum where he found it, is the first comment here at the bottom of the page https://www.gog.com/en/game/deus_ex_hum ... ectors_cut )

► Show Spoiler

@DagothGeas5 I saw that as well and it kept me from purchasing it.

Also don't forget the "one time use" microtransactions in the sequel Deus Ex: Mankind Divided that were locked to a single playthrough requiring them to be repurchased for each use...

"...Consumables work the way they do due to first party constraints..."

Had no idea of the microtransaction things, never heard of ******** like this before this is on another level. Thank you for letting me know! Incredibly ironic, and sad too, that it would be a game with Deus Ex in the title to have such things attached to it.
Truly


Edit: Actually, I have seen some similar ********, placed in a spoiler as it might do the big Steam banner and it will occupy a lot of space that way:

► Show Spoiler

There is an item to call harpies in Dragon's Dogma 2 that is a consumable that is to be purchased with real money, one time use.

This camping thing, which can be found in-game but they, of course, don't tell you that
Or this item, which deepens the affection of NPCs, which can be done in-game without using such a thing

All one-time use, of course.

THESE JAPANESE ******* ****!!!!!

[Roderick]

Was looking around for the other Deus Ex games on GOG and found this post from Human Revolution's page. Not exactly sure what it means, but wanted to ask for more information here if anyone knows what this is about. Is the game trying to give user data to the company (like how the likes of Baldur's Gate 3 track player choices etc)?

(Placed in a spoiler as the post takes some space, original, or, at least, the guy that forwarded this to the comments from the forum where he found it, is the first comment here at the bottom of the page https://www.gog.com/en/game/deus_ex_hum ... ectors_cut )

► Show Spoiler

original post by user spinewire from GOG Forum

June 04, 2020

TL;DR DXHR Directors Cut has built in telemetry, tracking and metrics which phones home to 2 separate companies which causes the freeze. Non-Directors Cut doesn't include telemetry, tracking and metrics and doesn't crash.


Has anyone experienced the game freezing and sound looping after completing a take down (once the camera goes back to first-person) or hacking (after being successful)? It happens every time on the first level for me.

I've tried the usual DX9 mode and turning off HUD notifications, as I feel it's a bug in the nasty "achievements" code that may be running behind the scenes but it made no difference.

The game runs smoothly otherwise, but unfortunately I cannot avoid hacking in the game.

Update 1: I've just noticed via processmonitor that one of the last things for the exe to do is to try and establish a connection to: 184.107.107.213 (but it's fw'd out). I'm not a fan of rabbit holes but I'm keen to know other people's experiences.

Update 2: Sysmon reveals all about that IP address:
QueryName: dx3a-pc-game-metrics.eidos.co.uk
QueryStatus: 0
QueryResults: type: 5 legacyos.eidos.co.uk;184.107.107.213;
Image: C:\Program Files\GOG\Deus Ex HRDC\DXHRDC.exe

Update 3: A quick dig for that URL and I see some lovely slides: slideshare.net/acagamic/game-metrics-and-biometrics-the-future-of-player-experience-research.

Update 4: After I permit DXHRDC.exe outbound to the internet, it still locks up however it now completes the below requests with identical timestamps before crashing:
QueryName: dx3-pc-game-infocast.eidos.co.uk
QueryStatus: 0
QueryResults: type: 5 legacyos.eidos.co.uk;184.107.107.213;
Image: C:\Program Files\GOG\Deus Ex HRDC\DXHRDC.exe
then
QueryName: master10.doublefusion.com
QueryStatus: 0
QueryResults: 91.195.241.136;
Image: C:\Program Files\GOG\Deus Ex HRDC\DXHRDC.exe
the

....Full detailed post in Forum. PLEASE GOG FIX THIS INTRUSION IN PRIVACY (and improve 4k Hud scaling)

I suppose it can be blocked in the firewall?

[UltraFan123]

I think the name "Rebel Wolves" was 100% intentional with the current social climate. lol

[Rand]

Same here, though only if it's spoken in my case. I can understand Russian, Bielorussian (I am told there is a difference and it's not just a different Russian), Ukrainian and even some other one I can't recall the name of (Czech, maybe? Not sure) just by having learned some Polish. If it's written it's like looking at a puzzle for me, but the second I recall what is what (or how it is pronounced) everything clicks together.
Somewhat unrelated, but, Grzegorz Brzęczyszczykiewicz is a wonderful name. If I have to go make an account somewhere with the woke folk, that's what I will choose XD

► Show Spoiler

Gregorz Brzencistikayvitch.

What language is that in? Is it another spelling?

I made it into an American Standard English spelling, based upon the phonemes I could hear and reproduce, yes.
English speakers could read that and approximately reproduce the sounds as best they could, given that there are a few subtle phonemes we don't generally use in there.

[Rand]

I think the name "Rebel Wolves" was 100% intentional with the current social climate. lol

Given that Geralt is called the "White Wolf", and iirc, Vesemir is sometimes called the "Old Wolf", and they left that DEI infested shithole, I would say so.

[DagothGeas5]

► Show Spoiler

Was looking around for the other Deus Ex games on GOG and found this post from Human Revolution's page. Not exactly sure what it means, but wanted to ask for more information here if anyone knows what this is about. Is the game trying to give user data to the company (like how the likes of Baldur's Gate 3 track player choices etc)?

(Placed in a spoiler as the post takes some space, original, or, at least, the guy that forwarded this to the comments from the forum where he found it, is the first comment here at the bottom of the page https://www.gog.com/en/game/deus_ex_hum ... ectors_cut )

► Show Spoiler

original post by user spinewire from GOG Forum

June 04, 2020

TL;DR DXHR Directors Cut has built in telemetry, tracking and metrics which phones home to 2 separate companies which causes the freeze. Non-Directors Cut doesn't include telemetry, tracking and metrics and doesn't crash.


Has anyone experienced the game freezing and sound looping after completing a take down (once the camera goes back to first-person) or hacking (after being successful)? It happens every time on the first level for me.

I've tried the usual DX9 mode and turning off HUD notifications, as I feel it's a bug in the nasty "achievements" code that may be running behind the scenes but it made no difference.

The game runs smoothly otherwise, but unfortunately I cannot avoid hacking in the game.

Update 1: I've just noticed via processmonitor that one of the last things for the exe to do is to try and establish a connection to: 184.107.107.213 (but it's fw'd out). I'm not a fan of rabbit holes but I'm keen to know other people's experiences.

Update 2: Sysmon reveals all about that IP address:
QueryName: dx3a-pc-game-metrics.eidos.co.uk
QueryStatus: 0
QueryResults: type: 5 legacyos.eidos.co.uk;184.107.107.213;
Image: C:\Program Files\GOG\Deus Ex HRDC\DXHRDC.exe

Update 3: A quick dig for that URL and I see some lovely slides: slideshare.net/acagamic/game-metrics-and-biometrics-the-future-of-player-experience-research.

Update 4: After I permit DXHRDC.exe outbound to the internet, it still locks up however it now completes the below requests with identical timestamps before crashing:
QueryName: dx3-pc-game-infocast.eidos.co.uk
QueryStatus: 0
QueryResults: type: 5 legacyos.eidos.co.uk;184.107.107.213;
Image: C:\Program Files\GOG\Deus Ex HRDC\DXHRDC.exe
then
QueryName: master10.doublefusion.com
QueryStatus: 0
QueryResults: 91.195.241.136;
Image: C:\Program Files\GOG\Deus Ex HRDC\DXHRDC.exe
the

....Full detailed post in Forum. PLEASE GOG FIX THIS INTRUSION IN PRIVACY (and improve 4k Hud scaling)

I suppose it can be blocked in the firewall?

I think so, it is an outgoing (outbound, I believe it's called? Not sure) connection, so it should be doable. The guy seems to say, though, that the game just trying to make that connection, wether it succeeds or not, causes freezes, and that is not something that just blocking the request might fix, as the request will still happen (and be rejected, but still happen).

Gregorz Brzencistikayvitch.

What language is that in? Is it another spelling?

I made it into an American Standard English spelling, based upon the phonemes I could hear and reproduce, yes.
English speakers could read that and approximately reproduce the sounds as best they could, given that there are a few subtle phonemes we don't generally use in there.

I see! Nicely done! There is one thing though the first e ( ę ) makes a sound that is important to reproduce, though I am not sure how it could be spelled for English speakers. It is like a "tlang" of an un tuned instrument string, not sure how best to describe it. "YONder" said with an accent is similar to the sound, but not sure how to spell it.

[Roderick]

I see the problem now.

[Roderick]

I think the name "Rebel Wolves" was 100% intentional with the current social climate. lol

Indeed odd name.

[Rand]

I see! Nicely done! There is one thing though the first e ( ę ) makes a sound that is important to reproduce, though I am not sure how it could be spelled for English speakers. It is like a "tlang" of an un tuned instrument string, not sure how best to describe it. "YONder" said with an accent is similar to the sound, but not sure how to spell it.

If so, I can't really hear it, and I definitely could not reproduce it without copious practice.
Some phonemes are so alien to some speakers of other languages that don't make specific use of them that they can hardly tell them apart from similar sounds.
English is notoriously loose with specific vowel sounds.

Japanese/Chinese/Korean attempting to pronounce a word with the L sound in any position but the last is an example of it being so unused that a speaker has difficulty learning to do it.
(please -> prease)

[DagothGeas5]

I see! Nicely done! There is one thing though the first e ( ę ) makes a sound that is important to reproduce, though I am not sure how it could be spelled for English speakers. It is like a "tlang" of an un tuned instrument string, not sure how best to describe it. "YONder" said with an accent is similar to the sound, but not sure how to spell it.

If so, I can't really hear it, and I definitely could not reproduce it without copious practice.
Some phonemes are so alien to some speakers of other languages that don't make specific use of them that they can hardly tell them apart from similar sounds.
English is notoriously loose with specific vowel sounds.

Japanese/Chinese/Korean attempting to pronounce a word with the L sound in any position but the last is an example of it being so unused that a speaker has difficulty learning to do it.
(please -> prease)

You did amazing regardless, it is still funny to just look at the thing for how long it is XD Thank you for the talk on this, really interesting stuff!

[rusty_shackleford]

Steam grading scale feels a little broken imo.
80% approve — waow, it's amazing!
70% approve — it's pretty good!
69% approve — it's ****

[logincrash]

Steam grading scale feels a little broken imo.
80% approve — waow, it's amazing!
70% approve — it's pretty good!
69% approve — it's ****

Isn't that literally ever single grading system ever? Be it 10/10, 5/5, A-F, or 100%? Every single time the top mark becomes an expected result, so you're only allowed to use the upper percentile of them to grade the subject. And then over half of the scale is useless.
This is why number scores suck **** and are pointless. A simple recommend/not recommend is better, even if it lacks nuance.

[Roguey]

Seems solid to me. Mixed isn't necessarily bad, just very divisive.

[rusty_shackleford]

Seems solid to me. Mixed isn't necessarily bad, just very divisive.

As soon as it stops being blue you might as well shut down your studio

[Rand]

Steam grading scale feels a little broken imo.
80% approve — waow, it's amazing!
70% approve — it's pretty good!
69% approve — it's ****

Isn't that literally ever single grading system ever? Be it 10/10, 5/5, A-F, or 100%? Every single time the top mark becomes an expected result, so you're only allowed to use the upper percentile of them to grade the subject. And then over half of the scale is useless.
This is why number scores suck **** and are pointless. A simple recommend/not recommend is better, even if it lacks nuance.

This is why we defended X-Play's rating system. It was all you needed to know.

1: A game you should never, ever touch. Broken or shovelware.
2: Not unplayable garbage, but severely flawed games you probably want to avoid.
3: It's a game. Not exceptional, not offensive. Just a playable game. Doesn't bring anything great to the table, but doesn't do anything badly either.
4: Succeeds on most levels, but still has some flaws. A must play if you like the type of game.
5: The best games. Not necessarily perfect, but definitely a top game in its genre.

No half points, and a zero is NOT a game at all.