S.C.G

There's a chance that I might be interested in factions, I didn't play factions in the original The Last of Us because it was only really the single-player campaign I was interested in. It's only really the single-player campaign that I'm interested in when it comes to The Last of Us Part II as well but at least this way I think the multiplayer will have more of a chance. It really depends on how Naughty Dog decides to roll it out though, if it turns out to be a full price game which gives you all of the multiplayer content on day one, it will do well. If they go overkill with microtransactions then it could go either way but I understand that there was quite a good setup for the previous online modes which worked so it should be fine. I only dabbled in the multiplayer for some of the Uncharted titles, if Factions is significatly different to that then it might be something that I'd play. Over the years there have been less and less multiplayer titles on the PS4 or Xbox One which I feel are really worth investing time in. I'll keep an open mind when it comes to Factions though, if anything I think that Naughty Dog really have a chance to deliver something special with it.

Soon... we just don't know yet though, I was reading that they have sold out already in regions where they were on sale, this seems to be the US ones mainly. I checked eBay and there are only US ones with the purple buttons for sale, so that would suggest that most of the European/UK SNES controllers haven't gone on sale yet. They do seem to be quite reasonable for what they are, £26.99 per controller, maximum of four can be ordered per Nintendo Switch Online account and they look solid enough. I'm just hoping that someone, somewhere will confirm for definite whether or not they can be used wired with the supplied USB cable instead of just charging, hopefully though. Anyway, not long now.

Sega (Edge) Lord X with a video one The Sega Game Gear Top 10 well worth a watch, especially if you have the Mega SG and are waiting for that cartridge adapter. @Happenstance That's what I'm planning on doing as I had some Sega Game Gear consoles and more games until recently but I sold them, only keeping the ones I'm really interested in. I wonder how many I already have might be on this list and if not, I bet I end up considering at least one new Sega Game Gear game as a result of watching this video.

I got this yesterday, I've owned the original on PS4 since it came out, didn't play it... now that I have the definitive edition on the Switch I think I really should play this over everything else.

Cheers for the games gonna have to call it there as I'm all tired out.

Ah this lobby music takes me back... "Omlettttte prevaaaail!"

I'm just happy to hopefully get to play this week.

in

There are plenty of drawbacks to VR for me personally and I realise that I'm likely to be in the minority when it comes to it but this doesn't bother me. Many things which a lot of people see as plus point for VR, I tend to see as negative, for instance... VR is immersive - but it's a compromise, as with everything, you're immersed but at what cost? I don't tend to play with headphones or headsets as it is because I prefer basic surround sound and I don't like being totally taken out of my surroundings, at least on a more traditional gaming setup you can just pause it and walk away easily if you need to. VR makes games which weren't possible on conventional setups - this might be true to a limited degree but mostly you can still make the same games on a standard setup, so I see this as more of an alternative but mostly a gimmick... I bought in to things like Kinect and PS Move but they never really offered anything that brilliant at all and I don't see why VR would be any different for me; yes I can remember experiencing the 3DS in the early days, that was fun but the 3D proved to be a gimmick as well, it offered extra depth in some games but it wasn't necessary. VR is becoming more affordable - gradually yes but it's not about the cost for me, even if I had money to spend on it, I wouldn't because I don't believe it has anything to offer me, the PS4 is a great system but when I first saw the PSVR being brought out at more than the cost of the console and all the hassle of hooking it up it just made me glad that I didn't want it. Obviously I'm still happy for anyone who enjoys VR but I recognise that I'm just not the target audience for it as I've been gradually moving away from more mainstream games and just falling back on the niche but established stuff that I never got a chance to play years ago; a lot of VR games to me have seemed to be mostly mainstream but worse in a way because they've been restricted in some way (story or otherwise) in order to just bring about that proof of concept and then the cost usually overrides it all because it's not just the hardware but the cost of the software too. I could go on but I don't know if my thoughts on VR would be of that much value or maybe they would but its just that I've accepted that it's not for me and I understand that many people get a lot of value out of it so I don't want to seem completely down on it just because but I don't like the deeper agenda behind why we've been "sold" VR so heavilly not just over the decades which have passed but in particular, right now more than ever and it's not just because we have the technology to do it either, I firmly believe that if they had wanted to bring out advanced VR it could have been done long ago, it's just that now really seems to suit a larger agenda behind it; of course not every game will be going along to support this but I think as time goes on, there is a good chance that all these companies invested in VR will be finding ways to extract the data within a seemingly innocent VR experience in order to teach A.I to further a larger agenda and I really don't want any part of that but this is just my opinion and I'd urge everyone to just do their own research and come to their own conclusions on the subject. Then there's the whole other issue of wanting to eliminate wireless signals where possible because they can have a negative impact on us over time, not everyone is susceptible to it but I've noticed over the years that I am, so that's why I like to have everything wired where I can but VR will go wireless in a matter of a single generation of consoles or less, so it will be ruled out for me by default and I don't like having those screens too close to my eyes, not to mention those VR Goggles which require you to strap a modern mobile phone to your face, to me that is just plain dangerous. So those are my main reasons, I think it's good to have an alternative view on the subject even if it's largely dismissed as "an irrational fear of technology" or whatever, at least you have my view on it and I just hope that anyone investing in VR makes it worthwhile for them but I feel like I have to say something at this point, because if it ever gets to the point where certain aspects of VR are affecting peoples health in a negative way due to the further advancing technology, that's when I think it's at the very least worth taking a step back to assess what's going on; I'm sure many of you have already done your own research before buying into VR and probably won't have any problems with it, I don't want to ruin anyones fun I just thought it was worth providing a little more information on why I don't like the idea behind it even though the core concept looks quite appealing from the outset. No I haven't and I really don't think I'm likely to, mostly for the reasons I've gone into above and it's not a case of knocking it without trying it as there are loads of things I would never try because sometimes you just know instinctively that they aren't for you and that's OK... so I just tend to trust my instincts a little more these days after buying into similar things and then getting burned by them though I do admit it does probably come across as a bit "well that's just just your pre-conceived view on how you think VR is, you can't possibly know without trying it" but really, truly it's something I've been sure of for a while now and I don't mind that at all. In an attempt to try and bring something a bit more balanced to this discussion I will ask this question though... What is the one VR title or tech demo which has sold the technology to you just on its own? Or is it really just another way to experience all games later on down the line? That's the key question for me when evaluating it as a product, assuming that there are no health drawbacks to using it or otherwise, just like when buying a conventional console, there's usually a reason that people will buy into the technology, so I'm interested to hear what has made people so ready to get into VR at this point.

I still wouldn't have a VR headset if you paid me, I just don't get it at all and would rather play games on a TV or portable screen. These advancements are good news for anyone going down the VR route though, I just can't justify it myself. I get that it has always been sold as "the future" since... decades ago but the more I see of it, the more disinterested I become in it with each new advancement. At this point I can definitely say that it's not for me and I'm fine with that. Besides, even though it's not about the cost really, how much are all these future headsets going to cost and how many times will people need to upgrade their VR tech before it reaches a level where everyone using it, is actually completely satisfied with it as a platform which can really offer just another option to enjoy games seamlessly with no drawbacks? For me, there are just too many drawbacks to it, the same with mobile gaming... too much compromise, which doesn't gain you much overall. I think that's why I enjoy the Switch so much, the compromise with it is obvious but what you gain from it is huge, games on the go or on the big screen with few drawbacks.

Unless Nintendo are planning on launching a more fully-featured version on the Switch at a later date, I really don't see how this can be Mario Kart 9. Anyway, if Mario Kart Tour is enjoyable enough for anyone playing it on mobile then that's great, I don't agree with the way it's being monetised though but it was always going to happen with a game on this kind of platform. I'm always happy to play Mario Kart on a console, if we get more games on the Switch then that's brilliant but if Nintendo decide to only make Mario Kart for mobiles from now on... well, what is there left to say except that it's a sad day indeed. I don't think they'll do that though, the Switch is too popular to not have another Mario Kart game on it or at least the next iteration of Switch if not, or even dlc for Mario Kart 8 DX.. I wouldn't rule out anything at this point.

Well, I certainly don't count it as mainline, it's completely missable unless it's on a console one day as far as I'm concerned. If it doesn't have a traditional controller option and if it isn't presented in landscape mode then it just isn't really Mario Kart is it? It's an approximation of Mario Kart shoe-horned into the confines of what can be done with a platform which isn't really best suited to gaming beyond time-killing, cash grabs. This is why I don't like mobile games, it's nearly always a compromise no matter who's involved in making the games and there is no game which would make me buy one... ever.

This is why I don't support these games any more, well... part of the reason, they just don't appeal to me any more and I really dislike Activision.

Missed it, was busy, oh well...

I definitely want it, I like the look of the more "serious" premium model wheel, I did just get rid of a wheel for the Xbox One... but for the Switch, I'd probably be more likely to use it. Depends on the price and if it holds up... and the size of the wheel as I'm feeling like I'm really short on space here. Then I've got to think... which games would I really use it for? Well... Virtua Racing definitely! In fact... I might have found my one reason to convince myself to get it. When I can reasonably afford it though, which probably isn't right now.

No trouble at all, I only found out recently when I made a thread. About this game series, I'm curious... what's the most appealing aspect of this kind of game to you? For me, I've never been that fussed about simulation games so I think that's why I don't really give them a chance because they feel like the kind of game I know I wouldn't like. Strategy on the other hand, such as Advance Wars... I like that but simulation just feels too much like having a virtual "job" to me I suppose. That's the only way I can think of explaining it and I don't want to seem like I'm down on the game, I know it's from a series which many players enjoy, I've just never "got it" I suppose.

Because you created the thread, you should be able to change the thread title, I think? Civilization as a series seems to have been around for a long time, it's just not something which has ever appealed to me. But obviously if you're into the series, this is probably the best the games have ever been I would imagine.

Haha, yes I can completely understand that. Though his content and production values are fantastic so I think it's something I'm willing to overlook, plus SLX does make for a good abbriviation at least.

Sega Lord X with another video titled My Favourite Video Game Openings and Cinemas which is well worth a watch either for the nostalgia of seeing the intros again or if you've never seen them before, there are some real classics in there and one or two that I was completely unaware of, also it's good to see where the "Sega" intro for the channel comes from.

My guild card on Monster Hunter Generations reads "Dual Blades for Life" so you know what I'm going to recommend... ...the Heavy Bowgun of course!

Finally, a decent retro HDMI cable solution that's relatively affordable and better than the average cheaper cables which really don't seem to work. I probably won't be buying many of these as I already own the RGB Scart cables from the same company (Retro RGB) but that Nintendo cable which works on ALL consoles which have the same multi-out port, with automatic RGB signal detection makes that cable in particular very tempting for when playing Nintendo consoles on different TV's makes trying to get a decent picture difficult without the right cables; with this cable it implies that it will just work which is a brilliant selling feature, plus I could use this for my AV Famicom unit.

Not a problem, you can't change how games make you feel, if you get the same feeling from certain areas in Minecraft as you do in Metroid that can only be a good thing. I can't say that Minecraft ever did that much for me personally though, I dabbled with it for a few sessions and then didn't return as it's not really my kind of game. Procedural generation done badly can indeed ruin the game, having it for an extra mode though is something I could see really changing things up without damaging the main game. The feeling of isolation in the Metroid world should still be as it was originally though, that's still a main selling point of the series.

Sales are a valid point though, ultimately if Nintendo didn't think it would be worth their while then they wouldn't bother making Metroid games any more but I'd love to see them sell well. That's not to say that I'd want Metroid Prime 4 changed into something unrecognisable just to make it sell loads though, there has to be a balance here. I hear what you're saying though, from a business perspective Nintendo might be willing to be a bit bolder with the Metroid series but there's definitely a list of things with Metroid which we now know work and a list of things which clearly don't thanks to recent entries in the franchise. Metroid: Other M and Metroid: Samus Returns both demonstrate that close-quarters combat can work in addition to blasting stuff and that it can add to the gameplay. Open-World elements could work but only to a certain extent, and open-ended approach to level design which gives the player more options or agency however? That would work. Another thing which has become popular in Metroidvania titles of late is proceedurally generated environments, again this has its advantages and disadvantages as when it's done right it can bolster the gameplay but if it's poorly executed then it can ruin the whole thing; I'm not sure if something like that would be a good fit for the series. If there were more varied paths to take during the game which would lead to you picking up power-ups in a slightly different order, giving access to areas which other players who made a different choice earlier in the game wouldn't be able to find until later or taking one of the other paths after doubling back or finding a new shortcut... something like that has potential from a game design perspective. There's no easy answer, I'm just glad that Nintendo are still making Metroid games and that we'll hopefully have Metroid Prime 4 to look forward to in the coming years in whatever form it takes and of course there have been many different approaches to the Metroidvania genre in the years since Metroid Prime 3 so it would be good if some inspiration from other modern titles could be taken, so long as they fit with some of the more established elements in the Metroid series. I'd be open to some compromises if it makes the game better overall though and I have a feeling that with the Switch userbase only growing, there will be more people willing to give a Metroid game a chance, especially with Super Metroid now on the SNES application for Nintendo Switch Online and with any luck the enhanced version of Metroid Prime Trilogy will have come out long before Metroid Prime 4 which will give people a chance to catch up and make players more aware of the franchise in general.

Yes, yes you are. And so am I... I might as well unseal that physical copy of the game which arrived yesterday in the barrage of post as well. At least I have another years subscirption now as well, I'll use that when the three month code that @Dcubed kindly gave me runs out. Or just redeem it now seeing as it all stacks anyway, but yeah... dat dere Kirbeh theme will be mine!