I occasionally play games with friends, but 95% of the time even that is online play just within our group (coop and the like). I also only play with people I know in person, or their friends, most of which I've at least met once or twice anyway. I haven't talked to an internet random in a video game since WoW Cataclysm in 2011, and I typically turn off any chat features entirely when I am online. I have no energy to waste on the scum that permeates online gaming now.
It's a classic strategy game where the AI poses no threat and can't play by the game's own rules.
Every DLC release added a new layer of half-baked game mechanic complexity , introducing another new system that the AI can't command & forcing the player to adopt their own house rules.
I do agree that the base game is likely the most "challenging" AI-wise, but even calling it half-decent is being way too charitable.
The problem since launch with Civ 6 is that the AI poses no military threat whatsoever beyond the opening era of the game on higher levels when they start with Turn 1 extra units.
Which is simply unforgivable for a franchise whose entire meta is all out war.
Enemy pathfinding is the worst nowadays in so many games. It's to the point where I'm pleasantly surprised when I can't just trick their AI into the most obvious killzone ever.
I’m from Texas. It’s Mexicans here. It’s been Mexicans here for many years.
I do play some Forza. Horizon has been going down each entry since 3. 5 is at best a DLC for 4. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not one to suggest that every new entry of a game series has to be revolutionary. I’m all in on if something is fun, more of the same is fine. The problem is it’s “less” more of the same. They got so freaking lazy. Even their rally DLC in FH5, look it’s more dirt and cactus! You didn’t have enough of that already! Forza Horizon 6 would have to blow my mind for me to be in on it, I’ve lost interest and shunned Microsoft since the launch of 5.
Seriously though, almost everything I play (outside of Forza I suppose, although it doesn’t get much time anymore) is either Indie-to-AA level online stuff to screw around in a bit with friends, or old stuff I have mostly on GOG. I’ve been replaying Doom 3 recently. It doesn’t feel old after a handful of years. I’ll probably get my hands on Dead Space on PC soon, I haven’t played through it in several years. Still have the Xbox version, but eh I’m starting to abandon that platform, so we will see.
I’m a huge fan of let’s say 2005-era 3D graphics. Enough level of detail to put me in place, not so much it has to be as much work. Before the PS3 era came along and made everything sepia. I also liked how much more time was spent on environmental lighting. Not that it had to be realistic, that means nothing to me. It gave areas a feel. They also had to make the game fun because otherwise it wasn’t much to look at.
I mean you’re right, the reason I never manage to finish a game is always the graphics, I don’t like doing graphics. I actually have a few things I think I can finish in mind now, but life happens at times and I can’t dedicate much time to it for a bit. Nothing revolutionary but it would be cool to actually release a game.
I've been out for several years now.
I occasionally play games with friends, but 95% of the time even that is online play just within our group (coop and the like). I also only play with people I know in person, or their friends, most of which I've at least met once or twice anyway. I haven't talked to an internet random in a video game since WoW Cataclysm in 2011, and I typically turn off any chat features entirely when I am online. I have no energy to waste on the scum that permeates online gaming now.
Civ 6 is a microcosm of modern game design.
It's a classic strategy game where the AI poses no threat and can't play by the game's own rules.
Every DLC release added a new layer of half-baked game mechanic complexity , introducing another new system that the AI can't command & forcing the player to adopt their own house rules.
I do agree that the base game is likely the most "challenging" AI-wise, but even calling it half-decent is being way too charitable.
The problem since launch with Civ 6 is that the AI poses no military threat whatsoever beyond the opening era of the game on higher levels when they start with Turn 1 extra units.
Which is simply unforgivable for a franchise whose entire meta is all out war.
Enemy pathfinding is the worst nowadays in so many games. It's to the point where I'm pleasantly surprised when I can't just trick their AI into the most obvious killzone ever.
I’m from Texas. It’s Mexicans here. It’s been Mexicans here for many years.
I do play some Forza. Horizon has been going down each entry since 3. 5 is at best a DLC for 4. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not one to suggest that every new entry of a game series has to be revolutionary. I’m all in on if something is fun, more of the same is fine. The problem is it’s “less” more of the same. They got so freaking lazy. Even their rally DLC in FH5, look it’s more dirt and cactus! You didn’t have enough of that already! Forza Horizon 6 would have to blow my mind for me to be in on it, I’ve lost interest and shunned Microsoft since the launch of 5.
Seriously though, almost everything I play (outside of Forza I suppose, although it doesn’t get much time anymore) is either Indie-to-AA level online stuff to screw around in a bit with friends, or old stuff I have mostly on GOG. I’ve been replaying Doom 3 recently. It doesn’t feel old after a handful of years. I’ll probably get my hands on Dead Space on PC soon, I haven’t played through it in several years. Still have the Xbox version, but eh I’m starting to abandon that platform, so we will see.
I’m a huge fan of let’s say 2005-era 3D graphics. Enough level of detail to put me in place, not so much it has to be as much work. Before the PS3 era came along and made everything sepia. I also liked how much more time was spent on environmental lighting. Not that it had to be realistic, that means nothing to me. It gave areas a feel. They also had to make the game fun because otherwise it wasn’t much to look at.
I mean you’re right, the reason I never manage to finish a game is always the graphics, I don’t like doing graphics. I actually have a few things I think I can finish in mind now, but life happens at times and I can’t dedicate much time to it for a bit. Nothing revolutionary but it would be cool to actually release a game.