V is for Verisimilitudinous virtual tides. The tiny selection of maritime sims that acknowledge the Moon’s effect on sea levels grew by one late last month. Not only do eSail owners who opt in to the V3 beta get improved visuals and a new ‘Trade Islands’ map with dynamic tide heights (tidal flows have yet to be implemented), when close to land they may now encounter anabatic and katabatic breezes in addition to wind shadows.
W is for While I don’t see eye to eye with my old boss…
…on the subject of women’s rights, when it comes to games criticism I suspect we’re not all that far apart. Predictably, I’d argue the kind of mealy-mouthed “well, you’d like it” review Graham Smith bemoans in the last Sunday Papers is much more common on sites that have dispensed with genre specialists and old hands. The less experience and confidence a reviewer has in a particular field, often the more likely they are to produce a safe, arse-covering ‘people-who-like-this-sort-of-thing-should-like-this-sort-of-thing’ review when asked to venture into unfamiliar territory.
X is for XXL exoskeletons inserted into Armored Brigade 2
Although the mechs in Mystodan’s Battletech mod can rotate their torsos, insurmountable (?) engine limitations mean, for the moment at least, they must glide from place to place rather than stride.
Y is for Y am I still playing Sharpshooter?
Partly because, clearing the game’s randomly generated settlements became much more challenging when foes began toting shotguns and carbines.
Partly because the game does a nice line in post-mortem ragdolls.
Partly because I’m a sucker for a spot of bow-and-arrow action.
And partly because, I’m hoping Stolpskott’s ongoing AI improvements will eventually result in enemies that hunt as well as hunker down.
Z is for Zaccaria Pinball and the other 25 ‘originals’ still in place
Thank you to everyone who has proposed or seconded a THC Alphabet game thus far. As yet no nominated replacement has gained the requisite two supporting votes, but Armored Brigade 2, Old World (75% off on Steam right now), Return of the Obra Dinn, and Xenonauts 2, are all just a single vote away from induction.
It’s not quite cohesive yet, but my (ill- / well-)-formed thoughts on Media / Sports Journalism include the following:
A) Fans ruin everything
I expect reviewers to be sufficiently self-aware to have a clue how objective they’re being.
If a sport doesn’t uphold fair-play and enforce the rules of the game, then it can only expect contempt from this disinterested viewer.
B) You’re a Journalist not a cheerleader
Peddling hype and trying to big-up every single match / event / installment are the noises of a gormless oaf – a wet Tuesday night in Stoke is likely to only ever be just that.
Only following the content-creator’s / sports body’s PR lines is even worse.
C) My sought-after marking criteria:
– 1) What level of brain functionality is needed to enjoy it?
eg. The Mandalorian is for pre-pubescants; MMOs are for seeking numbness from reality
-2) How niche is it within its genre?
eg. Half-Life 2 is an over-rated but foundational FPS and ought to be played by most with an interest in that field. European Blastinator 3: Jongleur des Tariffs has little to mark it out amongst first-person shooters / 3d platformers.