OT: Video Game Computers/Gadgets/Gizmos Thread

[Sauce Boss]

I'm playing a lot of different stuff. Nothing's really grabbed me to the point where I need to finish it in a weekend.

Scarlet Nexus is maybe my big one. I'm confused by the story and it's anime as hell, but the combat is a lot of fun.

Ender Lillies is a beautiful Metroidvania that I should be playing more of, got it on Switch.

Knockout Kings I played for a moment and liked it in bursts.

Octopath Traveler I got roughly halfway though, enjoyed it, but bailed. I'll come back.

The Surge 2 is great. I was heavy into this Dark Souls copycat but dropped it for no reason. When I last played it I kept going and going and going after a checkpoint to the point where doing it all over again seems daunting, even though it was probably 2 minutes. Will go back.

Wasteland 3 I'll go back for the DLC.

Forza 4 I enjoy playing for a night but I don't stick with racing games.

Returnal, bailed on.

Risk of Rain 2, want to play more.

Salt and Sanctuary, third time playing. Kind of a perfect game.

Just want to say I like the idea of a weekly "this is what I am playing" round up post.

[Sauce Boss]

Not a whole bunch going on in my gaming world. My girlfriend and I are closing on our first home so we've been mainly packing the apartment to move. Current spread is only four games.

Total War: Warhammer 2 Finally got into a rhythm with a big PC strategy game. Usually I don't have the patience as Grand Strategy games are more of a slow burn. Waging war against Malekith and Rakarth while fending off the forces of Chaos as the High Elves has been highly engaging.

Dead Cells Trying to fill the hole Hades has left while also tiding myself over until Metroid Dread comes out. I'm maybe attempting a run or two every few days.

XCOM 2: War of the Chosen Plugged a few hours into this while I was searching for a new game. Hadn't touched it since it released and the War of the Chosen improvements were quite impressive. Might keep my iron man campaign going, but mostly Total War: Warhammer II filled what I was looking for while I was dabbling here.

Apex Legends My current go-to competitive game. I go in streaks with it, playing a bunch and getting quite good, then not touching it for a few weeks and being real slow when I get back to it. The recent hack that broke matchmaking this weekend plus pub players just being generally toxic has me looking at other games currently. If I can get two regulars to play with, this might go back to being #1 on my playlist.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD comes out in less than two weeks. While I want to play it, I'm also not super hype for it currently. Might pick it up to have it then not touch it for a bit. Otherwise Metroid Dread and Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp are the top two games I'm looking forward to getting this year. Some PC games might slip in there based on reception, but otherwise trying to play more of what I already have this year with the whole "buying a home" thing.

[MikeIsGood]

I randomly pulled up YouTube just now, and it appears Nintendo just announced the Switch "Pro" via a video with absolutely no press. Lol.

Watch on YouTube

It may not be what's called the Pro in rumors. It's a larger, OLED screen without any indication that it's more powerful. But I hadn't seen any rumors that there was going to be more than one new model.

Easy buy if you don't already have a Switch, but as someone who does, hard pass from me.

[crkone]

I randomly pulled up YouTube just now, and it appears Nintendo just announced the Switch "Pro" via a video with absolutely no press. Lol.

Watch on YouTube

It may not be what's called the Pro in rumors. It's a larger, OLED screen without any indication that it's more powerful. But I hadn't seen any rumors that there was going to be more than one new model.

Easy buy if you don't already have a Switch, but as someone who does, hard pass from me.

Actually comes with a LAN port too!

[KidA24]

I bought Monster Train a cardgame rogue-like, similar to slay the spire, on the steam sale.

Holy cow this game has depth and complexity. It's sucked me in, big time.

I need to finish up my Diablo season on the switch. Can't believe how much that game sucked me in again after all these years. For mindless gameplay for half an hour. It's just about perfect.

[humanrefutation]

I randomly pulled up YouTube just now, and it appears Nintendo just announced the Switch "Pro" via a video with absolutely no press. Lol.

Watch on YouTube

It may not be what's called the Pro in rumors. It's a larger, OLED screen without any indication that it's more powerful. But I hadn't seen any rumors that there was going to be more than one new model.

Easy buy if you don't already have a Switch, but as someone who does, hard pass from me.

Yeah, was kinda disappointing. I play it docked 99% of the time on a gorgeous OLED TV, so I don't see the value in the OLED screen. The bigger size, bigger kickstand, and more internal space is also irrelevant.

Absent upgraded graphics, it's not worth dropping $350 on for me.

[ReasonablySober]

[MikeIsGood]

It continues to baffle me that a mobile gaming device doesn't support bluetooth pairing for headphones in 2021, unless that's what they mean by "enhanced audio." Christ, Nintendo.

[Sauce Boss]

Yeah that new Switch is disappointing if you were looking for a “pro” upgrade. Honestly, I’m rather happy that this is a sidegrade that I can completely skip; not feeling like competing for hardware after fighting scalpers for a GPU this past year. When they do finally do a bigger upgrade I’ll bite.

[ReasonablySober]

Watch on YouTube

LOL this is wild. Makes me want to play BOTW again.

[Sauce Boss]

Watch on YouTube

LOL this is wild. Makes me want to play BOTW again.

This makes me want to go back and do Master Mode. That game was brilliant.

[GoldenAntlers]

Heroes 3 was my jam. I was obsessed with that game...I should try and find it.

Did anybody play Myth: The Fallen Lord's or Myth II: Soulblighter by Bungie online back in the day?

I didn’t play online to my memory, but definitely played Myth II as a kid. I feel like no one ever remembers or talks about it. Myth II’s style of gameplay really hasn’t been mimicked either — there’s no real spiritual successors. Wish someone would do are-release/remaster.

I appreciate your appreciation. A small community still exists online. They had the 20something year anniversary of the MWC, Myth World Cup. Free downloads exist somewhere. Have to login through steam now.

To your point, some Myth fans began a game called Deadhold on steam. Might be free. I haven't tried it since early stage but might be good. Definitely inspired by Myth.

The gameplay is still supreme RTS imo. Myth IV is so needed, but would destroy my life. Myth III was an unfortunate bust made by a random ass company holding franchise rights hostage. **** Take 2.

[Sauce Boss]

Did anybody play Myth: The Fallen Lord's or Myth II: Soulblighter by Bungie online back in the day?

I didn’t play online to my memory, but definitely played Myth II as a kid. I feel like no one ever remembers or talks about it. Myth II’s style of gameplay really hasn’t been mimicked either — there’s no real spiritual successors. Wish someone would do are-release/remaster.

I appreciate your appreciation. A small community still exists online. They had the 20something year anniversary of the MWC, Myth World Cup. Free downloads exist somewhere. Have to login through steam now.

To your point, some Myth fans began a game called Deadhold on steam. Might be free. I haven't tried it since early stage but might be good. Definitely inspired by Myth.

The gameplay is still supreme RTS imo. Myth IV is so needed, but would destroy my life. Myth III was an unfortunate bust made by a random ass company holding franchise rights hostage. **** Take 2.

I’d have to really dig to see if I have the files somewhere or even a disc. Was just so unique as sort of a real time tactics game. I do not like making buildings in stuff like Starcraft or Company of Heroes, maybe Dawn of War II is the closest thing to it in the past 13 years? Anyway, I loved it, it’s probably in my pantheon of greats.

Deadhold looks…dead. Not for sale on Steam anymore but the page still exists; seems like they halted production and shut the servers down. Sad because I could totally go for modern Myth II. Wonder what the status of the IP is now…

[WRau1]

Watch on YouTube

[MikeIsGood]

Watch on YouTube

I'm so glad there are devs still making isometric CRPGs.

[Sauce Boss]

Watch on YouTube

I'm so glad there are devs still making isometric CRPGs.

Same. I just wish they all did Divinity’s turn-based combat. I had a hard time getting into modern Infinity Engine style cRPGs like Pillars mainly because combat is real time.

[MikeIsGood]

Watch on YouTube

I'm so glad there are devs still making isometric CRPGs.

Same. I just wish they all did Divinity’s turn-based combat. I had a hard time getting into modern Infinity Engine style cRPGs like Pillars mainly because combat is real time.

Pillars 2 has a turn-based mode built-in. Definitely worth checking out if you haven't - wonderful game, and big improvement on Pillars 1.

[Sauce Boss]

Anyone have good modem/router suggestions for Spectrum? Looks like they’re going to be my only ISP option at my new home. Wondering if I should do my own right out the gate or have them provide the gear to just get me setup and return it at a later date.

[Ryan5UW]

Anyone have good modem/router suggestions for Spectrum? Looks like they’re going to be my only ISP option at my new home. Wondering if I should do my own right out the gate or have them provide the gear to just get me setup and return it at a later date.

I have them and just went through replacing my modem a couple of months ago. The modem they provided got so bad that my service was literally cutting out every day - solved by simply unplugging the modem and plugging it back in. When I'd call for support they could see the service dropping but the only option they could come up with was sending a tech out to check the lines. The lines weren't the problem - the modem they provided was faulty, easily confirmed with a quick google search. I bought this one at the beginning of May and my service hasn't cut out one time since:

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/motorola-32-x-8-docsis-3-1-cable-modem/6105800.p?skuId=6105800

That one should be good for all of their service levels up to 1 gig, and I just confirmed it is still on their approved modem list:

https://www.spectrum.net/support/internet/compliant-modems-spectrum-network/

Once you plug it in you just have to give Spectrum a call and they'll provision it over the phone and you'll be good to go.

Personally, I wouldn't get a modem/wireless router combo - it doesn't seem like those work as well. I'd pair it with a mesh system - I have the Linksys Velop one which I really like, but there are others out there too that are really good, the Nest one is supposed to be good too.

[Sauce Boss]

Anyone have good modem/router suggestions for Spectrum? Looks like they’re going to be my only ISP option at my new home. Wondering if I should do my own right out the gate or have them provide the gear to just get me setup and return it at a later date.

I have them and just went through replacing my modem a couple of months ago. The modem they provided got so bad that my service was literally cutting out every day - solved by simply unplugging the modem and plugging it back in. When I'd call for support they could see the service dropping but the only option they could come up with was sending a tech out to check the lines. The lines weren't the problem - the modem they provided was faulty, easily confirmed with a quick google search. I bought this one at the beginning of May and my service hasn't cut out one time since:

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/motorola-32-x-8-docsis-3-1-cable-modem/6105800.p?skuId=6105800

That one should be good for all of their service levels up to 1 gig, and I just confirmed it is still on their approved modem list:

https://www.spectrum.net/support/internet/compliant-modems-spectrum-network/

Once you plug it in you just have to give Spectrum a call and they'll provision it over the phone and you'll be good to go.

Personally, I wouldn't get a modem/wireless router combo - it doesn't seem like those work as well. I'd pair it with a mesh system - I have the Linksys Velop one which I really like, but there are others out there too that are really good, the Nest one is supposed to be good too.

Got a link to the Velop or some other suggestions? I know I was looking at Nighthawks a few years ago. My thought process right now is use their crappy modem to get setup but go grab a WiFi router from Best Buy so I’m not paying them monthly fees for theirs. Then in a few weeks I’ll replace the modem with probably the option you dropped above.