New LOTRO Expansion Announced: Wolves of Mordor

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The next expansion for the MMORG, The Lord of the Rings Online, was announced on the 1st August, via the gaming website MMORPG.The Wolves of Mordor, which will launch later in the year, appears ambitious in scope as it will include two new game systems as well as the obligatory story update. This expansion takes place in Draugardh located in the North East of Mordor, beyond the Plateau of Gorgoroth. It includes the new zones of Heledhris, Parth Rhavas and Nan Ogol. These vary environmentally ranging from the arid, volcanic and semi-tropical. Players will encounter the Daugrim in these regions, Werewolves but not in the modern sense. This is not the lycanthropy of Eastern European legends but in the established Tolkien idiom of fell spirits inhabiting the bodies of Wolves. The region also sees the return of the Woses and players can expect to encounter Elves and scouts from Gondor. As ever with LOTRO expansions, there will be new instances as well as a raid.

The two new game systems included with The Wolves of Mordor appear quite intriguing. Neighbours, is an additional feature to existing player housing. NPCs visit your home(s) and players have the option of completing special Neighbour Missions with them. These advance a bespoke Neighbour reputation system, offering rewards for both the NPC and the player. How you interact with an NPC impacts upon their mood and disposition. The second system is Survival Instincts, an account-wide progression system tied for the time being to the regions in the new expansion. As you “quest” through Draugardh, you will unlock new triggered abilities, active skills, and tactical responses that “enhance” your respective class strengths. Survival Instincts are earned by building reputation with the region’s inhabitants and are organised through a new tab on the existing Trait Panel. What makes this mechanic more interesting is that they’re account-wide unlocks.

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The addition of two new game systems certainly makes The Wolves of Mordor standout from recent expansions. LOTRO players have been asking for the scope of the housing system to be broadened for years. Neighbours certainly appears to address these requests. Survival Instincts raises some interesting possibilities, especially with regard to account-wide unlocks and benefits. Both Guild Wars 2 and Star Trek Online have systems like these and they’re useful when creating new alts. Standing Stone Games have posted provisional notes on both these new systems with further details coming soon. It is also worth noting that the next expansion does not include an increase in the level cap and hopefully that means that the virtue trait cap will similarly remain the same. I do find the gear treadmill somewhat tiring in LOTRO, especially if you reach level cap close to the launch date of a new expansion and subsequently have to replace all you recently acquired gear.

What I do find interesting about The Wolves of Mordor is that developers SSG, have chosen a less known lore reference about Sauron being “Lord of Werewolves” as the theme for the expansion. This lore comes principally from First Age material surrounding Beren and Lúthien. During that era, Sauron turned the captured Island of Tol Sirion into the evil fortress of Tol-in-Gaurhoth and apparently bred werewolves by imprisoning evil spirits within wolf-bodies. They were used as executioners and hunters. Sauron himself took the shape of a mighty wolf and it should be noted that the battering ram Grond, which was used during the assualt on Minas Tirith during the War of the Ring, was fashioned into the shape of ravening Wolf’s head. Details regarding these references can be found in The Silmarillion and The History of Middle-earth. Hence I am looking forward to the release of this new expansion as SSG have always utilised canonical lore well.

Space Cadet 3D Pinball

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This is a post about the power of nostalgia and how sometimes, interacting with something from your past, be it physically or mentally, can produce a very strong and tangible emotional reaction. In some instances, this can be the result of something that you have specifically set out to do. On other occasions you can wander into a sense of nostalgia purely by chance. Today I experienced a very strong sense of nostalgia while watching a YouTube video and then again when I sought to replicate what I had seen. The video showed someone installing Windows 95 on to an old 486 PC from that era. The Window’s start up sound really touched a nerve (but in a good way) and then when the guy in the video launched Space Cadet 3D Pinball, a game that shipped with the operating system, I felt a strong compulsion to track down a copy and install the game myself, thus revisiting something that was an integral part of my life in 1995.

To cut a long story short, it is entirely possible to get Space Cadet 3D Pinball running on a Windows 11 PC and contemporary hardware. Naturally you need the original game files taken from Windows 95. You can find copies online. Next there is an open-source Space Cadet 3D Pinball project maintained by k4zmu2a on GitHub. It is a reverse-engineered, Windows 11-compatible version of the original game and as ever with GitHub, you can inspect all elements of the code and build to ensure its safe and bona fide. Extract the original files to a location of your choice, add the files provided by k4zmu2a to the same folder and the run the new executable. Congratulations you can now play Space Cadet 3D Pinball, once again. Furthermore, you can play via keyboard, mouse or game controller, depending on your personal preference. You can also maximise the game to fullscreen, as well as keep a record of high scores.

I have fond memories regarding the launch of Windows 95 and this particular time in my life. I had recently taken up a system administration position within the government department where I worked and was interested by the potential of this new operating system and the arrival of the internet. I remember when I installed Windows 95 on my own home PC using 13 floppy disks and how I later added Microsoft Plus via a CD-ROM. It felt at that the time that computing was at a new and important crossroads and it was exciting to be part of this change. Having a game such as Space Cadet 3D Pinball bundled with the new operating system seemed so decadent by the standards of the time and I remember playing it a lot. So when I played it again this afternoon, for the first time in 30 years, I had a very emotive response. I was briefly transported back to 1995. Such is the power of nostalgia.

RV There Yet? The Best Game I’ve Never Played

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RV There Yet? is possibly the most entertaining game I’ve never played. My vicarious pleasure regarding this title has come exclusively from watching two popular YouTubers, JackFrags and WillFromWork, play through the game over a series of videos. It has been immensely amusing to watch and I have empathised a great deal as the group of four players has struggled with the game’s unpredictable mechanics and their own team’s dynamic. I could go and buy RV There Yet? myself but I doubt if I would ever have a gaming experience anywhere close to what I’ve watched online recently. So in some respects watching these videos has been an interesting alternative as I’ve been entertained, which ultimately is the point of video games. Perhaps there is a deeper philosophical point here that the game developers should reflect upon, as they’ve lost a potential sale. However, that is separate discussion for another day.

RV There Yet? is a cooperative adventure video game developed and published by Swedish game studio Nuggets Entertainment. It was released for Windows on 21st October last year. During the past few months it has gained traction and cult status mainly through word of mouth and being streamed. The game has players control a beat-up RV and attempt to navigate it through challenging terrain while returning from a camping trip. The game emphasises careful driving, obstacle management and teamwork in multiplayer mode, as players work together to avoid damage and complete the journey. The RV is fitted with two winches, front and back, which are often integral to traversing the terrain. Animals such as mountain lions, eagles and goats are also a source of danger. The games cartoony aesthetic and collision physics are also very amusing. RV There Yet? can be played either solo or co-operatively. Hilarity ensues.

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What I found so amusing when watching this game being played on YouTube was the way the players personal pathology and their approach to problem solving would vary. Attention spans would wander often resulting in disastrous choices and decisions. The group dynamic between JackFrags, WillFrom Work, TommyRage and Bongeh in these videos is another factor that made things enjoyable. The group banter and the affable nature of those involved made the proceeding very relatable. If I were playing, I would be the logical individual trying to shepherd those players with less focus. It is this emergent game play and the entertainment that stems from it that makes this genre of games so popular. There is no requirement for skill or min-maxing. It’s about being in the moment and taking your fun where you find it. These games do not have any form of gatekeeping. The only barriers to participating are owning the game and having friends.

Prior to writing this post, I went online to find a video review of RV There Yet? The first video I saw wasn’t a critique of the game but more of a rant against this genre which some have rather scathingly labelled “friendslop”. I instantly disliked this trite epithet as it is clearly intended to circumnavigate any critical thinking and debate. Instead it seeks to create a biased binary position and is ultimately a pejorative term. Games such as RV There Yet? are not intended to be a skills based grind. Yes they’re contrived and simplistic but that doesn’t invalidate them. Yes, it does help having the right group of friends to get the most out of such games and these highly condensed videos show all the best parts of a far lengthier gameplay session. However, despite this curation, the fun is organic and often that’s the best kind of fun. Sometimes I despair of the blinkered mindset of competitive gamers who cannot countenance anything outside of their own experience. They seem a singularly po-faced demographic.

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There was a time when I would’ve been a little envious when watching the likes of these four friends having such an entertaining gameplay experience. However, I realise nowadays that there are multiple factors that contribute to such things happening and you cannot always replicate them yourself. Sometimes, just watching someone else doing “the thing”, rather than doing it yourself, is the next best option. It’s one of the reasons sports attract audiences. Is RV There Yet? an entertaining game. Not by default. But it does offer the potential for entertainment and that potential doesn’t ask much from the players. Overall, I see that as a good thing. Therefore, ignore the fun police. There’s none so blind as those who cannot see, to coin a phrase. And if you, like myself, cannot play the game personally for whatever reasons, checkout someone else’s gameplay on YouTube. It will raise a wry smile.

Guild Wars 3

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I don’t keep up with gaming news as much as I use to but several noteworthy announcement have come to my attention of late. Firstly, there’s an expansion, Songs of the Past, coming for the Witcher III: Wild Hunt in 2027. No doubt this is to pave the way for the Witcher IV. Next, I also found out about Hand of Fate: Horde. I liked this franchise and was saddened to learn that the original studio, Defiant Development, closed. Hence is was a pleasant surprise to see this new game being developed by members of the original studio. The third announcement was regarding Guild Wars 3. A new MMORPG in active development by a major studio is no small feat and is certainly good news for fans of this franchise and the genre per se. However, once you look beyond this news this announcement raises several questions and has certainly given me pause for thought. Let us take a few moments to consider them.

When a new game in a popular franchise is launched, it does not necessarily mean the immediate death of the previous iteration. You can still buy and play older versions of titles such as Call of Duty and Battlefield and they often maintain a dedicated player base. That has not always been the case with the MMO genre. The Playstation 2 version of EverQuest Online Adventures was shutdown by Sony Online Entertainment upon the release of EverQuest II. Overwatch was not closed as the such but the game client was patched thus morphing existing installations of the game into Overwatch II, regardless of whether players wished this or not. However in the case of Guild Wars 2, ArenaNet have announced that they will keep producing content for the older game once they have completed work on Guild Wars 3. ArenaNet have a track record of maintaining old and new products in parallel.

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Perhaps the biggest issue associated with Guild Wars 3 and the one that is currently being debated, is what does a modern MMORPG look like? The term has evolved greatly over the last 25 years and as a result there are clear difference between games hailing from different eras. Those who want tab targetting, static combat and structured skill rotations, along with a strong social component and required grouping may be disappointed. I suspect that ArenaNet will be pursuing a modern approach to Guild Wars 3, utilising a hybrid style that blends a large persistent online world with the kind of high-mobility gameplay that you find in modern third-person action games. Perhaps there are clues to be found in the recent RPG Crimson Desert, which started its development life as an MMORPG before being transitioned into a single player game. It has many systems inherent in the MMORPG genre but its combat is very contemporary.

Naturally, there is scope that some players will not like the cut of Guild Wars 3 proverbial jib and will not migrate to it. Conversely, the existing Guild Wars 2 community may well see a substantive drop in players which may impact negatively upon guilds and end game content. You cannot please everyone, nor should you try to. It will be interesting to see how both game fare. I still have numerous screen captures taken during the Guild Wars 2 beta tests in 2012 and have fond memories of that time as I was a consummate MMORPG player back then. Nowadays, I am more curious about the development of Guild Wars 3 from a business and industry perspective, rather than an active player of the genre. As to those players who have already questioning whether to continue to play Guild Wars 2 now that a new game has been announced, I’d urge them to live in the moment and continue to play and enjoy the current game. Guild Wars 3 is a long way off. “Now” is here already.

Star Trek Online: Reputation System

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Star Trek Online has many in-game systems that are common to the MMORPG genre. The reputation system is one such example. In STO there are 13 reputation factions. Once a player has reached level 50 they may start progressing through the 6 reputation tiers of each one. Players gain progression through daily projects (20 hours in duration). Hourly projects are also available though they yield less reputation advancement and are limited to three times a day. Hence 20 hour projects are consider by default the most efficient way to gain rep. Projects require 30 Faction Specific Marks (earned via various activities in-game), 15,000 Energy Credits (standard in-game currency) and 2000 Expertise points. The most efficient way to tackle the reputation grind is to build up the necessary resources in advance and then at a designated time each day, start all 13 respective projects. Upon completion projects yield a player bound lockbox containing a random space or ground weapon, a console or Elite Marks which can be used to acquire faction gear.

The reputation system in STO is intended to be a lengthy process. The time required to complete each reputation tier increases as you progress. If a player maintains a regular schedule with regard to undertaking 20 hour reputation projects, then they can complete all 6 tiers within 70 days. However, once a player has reached Tier 5 in a specific reputation, they then unlock reputational “sponsorship” which effectively halves the time it takes to gain rep on any subsequent alts on that account. Sponsorship doubles the amount of reputational experience you gain from projects. This makes the process somewhat easier but it is still considered one of the biggest chores within STO. However, unlocking each factions reputation provides players with access to a wealth of useful gear and traits, some of which are currently deemed to be the default meta by the community. Reputations also provide a means to earn Dilithium which is a major currency in STO.

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I recently created a new account for STO, so I could document the overall experience of being a new player. As I mentioned in a previous post, I do not have the advantage of being able to access account wide unlocks from prior alts. However, my current rep progression is complex, as I did claim the free Jem’Hadar Vangard alt as part of the ongoing Gamma Recruitment Event. This is a level 60 character that has three reputation factions already progressed to tier 5 and inherent reputation sponsorship. Hence I was similarly expecting to have the benefit of sponsorship on my new TOS era alt across all 13 rep factions. However that is not the case and for some reasons, Discovery Legends and GammaTask Force factions are progressing at the normal, unsponsored rate. I am not sure whether this is a bug or by design but it means that not all rep factions will progress in a uniform fashion.

It’s been a while since I have through the reputation grind in STO. All my other alts belong to a lifetime account and benefit greatly from the myriad account wide unlocks. A new alt associated with that account is showered with claimable faction marks and therefore has all the resources necessary to fast-path through the rep system before they even reach level 50. Not so with this new alt. In fact I recently decided to farm the ongoing Crystalline Catastrophe Event, which rewards the player with 105 reputation marks of their choice each time. I ended up doing this event 26 times in one play session to build a stockpile. Obviously, I could have chosen not to do this but that would have made the timetable for gaining maximum rep in all factions longer than the current 50 days (70 for the two factions that aren’t sponsored). It should be noted that Cryptic do give players the option to buy tier 5 rep if they see fit. I do not. I like convenience but I have my limits.

MMORPGs Based on Existing Intellectual Properties

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I was recently perusing my archive of old blog posts, when it struck me how much I’ve written about the MMORPG genre over the years. Naturally, there was far more material from between 2008 and 2012 as that was period when I immersed myself in the genre and was very enthusiastic about it. I was at a point in my life when I had the time to dedicate to such games and I was happy to participate in the social aspect of they offered. I would regularly play through group content and spend time socialising online with fellow guild members. My experience remains a textbook example of how online games can be more than the sum of their parts and that where you are at in your life has a major impact upon your overall enjoyment. As I read though various old posts it became clear that my experiences where specific to this particular part of my life and that they cannot be repeated. My relationship with the genre is very different now and that’s fine.

Out of all the MMOs that I’ve dabbled with over the years, only two are still being actively played. The Lord of the Rings Online and Star Trek Online. After giving this matter some thought, I have concluded that it is my relationship with the intellectual property on which they’re based is the main reason why these two have remained, where as other have fallen by the wayside. I used to play Guild Wars 2 regularly. I participated in the beta testing and doggedly worked my way through the base game and tackled the first expansion. It was the latter that killed my interest. On its release Heart of Thorns was difficult to play through, due to it’s three dimensional environment. There were no flying mounts at the time, so the game ground to a halt for me. Usually in such circumstances, games like LOTRO have the benefit of lore heavy narratives which appeal to my sense of fandom. Guild Wars 2 is its own unique IP and sadly has no emotional resonance for me. So I stopped playing.

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The same thing effectively killed my interest in most other MMOs. I really tried to get into the lore of The Elder Scrolls Online because I had enjoyed Skyrim so much. But it all seemed a little too derivative for my taste. When I’ve raised this issue in-game, other MMO players have suggested I just ignore the dialogue and mission text and focus on just getting whatever is required done. Sadly, I like narratives and therefore want to know what my motivation is. Doing a task for “reasons” doesn’t really suit me. Such things don’t kill my interest in an MMO immediately. The social component can keep me engaged for a while, especially if you often play through content as a group. However, that too can wane over time, especially if friends move on to another game. I’m in a curious situation where I still talk online each week to a friend I have met through MMOs but we seldom play the same games any more.

All of this raises the question of whether I am still an MMO player per se, or whether I am just playing MMOs as single player games, in a multiplayer environment. Crimson Desert has highlighted this point as that game feels conspicuously like an MMO, especially with regard to many of its game systems and mechanics, yet it lacks the presence of other players. I suppose the definitive test would be if a new MMO launched that took my fancy, would I now play it? That question would depend greatly upon its setting and whether it was based on an IP I was already familiar with and enjoyed. If there was a modern MMO released that was set in the First Age of Middle-earth, then I would most definitely try it. I cannot say the same about titles with just a generic fantasy setting. I am not entirely sure if this change in perspective is down to me or the ongoing evolution of the genre. I suspect that both have contributed to my current outlook.

Star Trek Online: Levelling an Alt on a New Account

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 Creating alts is an integral aspect of the MMORPG genre. Many players will create a character of a specific class or faction, play it for a while, lose interest in it or they may decide that it is just not for them. Fortunately it is no effort at all to simply re-roll a new alt and set off once again. Furthermore, lots of players never reach level cap of the MMORPG that there playing. When the going get’s tough, so to speak, you can either soldier on for another 50 levels or simply create a new alt and return to the comfort of tried and tested content. Alts also give you the chance to secure an accolade or achievement that you previously missed. They are also of great benefit to the genres social aspects. Creating a new alt so you can play along with a friend who is just starting is great fun. Developer’s love them too as it means you’re still playing the game.

So it is easy to see why alts are so popular and a key part of the MMRPG scene. I recently resumed playing Star Trek Online and found that I have nearly used up all my available character slots. Rather than pay for more, the easiest solution was to create a new account, which I duly did. I took advantage of the on going Gemma Recruitment Event and claimed the free Level 60 Tactical Vanguard Jem’Hadar character. However, what I really wanted to do was create a new 23rd Century character from the Star Trek: The Original Series era. STO has an outstanding but somewhat short story arc set in this time period which totally catches the vibe of the TV show. Hence I created a new Captain and “boldly” went about the business of saving the universe without ripping my shirt at the shoulder. It didn’t take long for me to spot the difference between creating an alt on this new account compared to my existing one.

My main STO account dates back to the launch of the game in January 2010. In 2015 I upgraded to a lifetime account. I have one primary character that I have used to play through all in-game content and events. In STO a lot of the rewards you receive from events are account unlocks. Ships you have bought from the C-Store are similarly available across your account. So if you create a new alt, as soon as you have completed the tutorial you can start claiming a wealth of gear that greatly assists in your ongoing progression. Kit modules, ground weapons, shield and armour for your away team. Universal consoles and various sets of ship gear. Then there’s dozens of vessels to choose from. You get the idea. Simply put, rolling a new alt under such circumstances is a relatively frictionless undertaking because they get such a leg up with all the material advantage. My new alt on the recently created alternate account has no access to any of this.

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Overall this has been a timely reminder as to how all new players experience Star Trek Online. You get a level appropriate ship, default gear and slowly progress using the mission rewards you’re given. Your inventory and bank space is initially small but sufficient for the loot that you receive at this stage of the game. Without the benefits of fancy unlocks, learning combat with the gear the game provides teaches you the situational awareness and tactics you need to master. You can’t cheese it through having access to better stuff. Hence the levelling process, via the missions, means you progress in a measured fashion, gaining access to better gear, as the game intended. The game gives you what you need as you level for free. If you want any more then you can always use the store. This intended scarcity makes the new player consider what they equip and what they may sell or buy.

As I am playing on a new account which I created mainly for short term fun, I am reticent to spend any money on the two alts it is currently home to. I did remember to check on the Alienware website to see if there were any freebie game codes available and there are at the time of writing this posts. So I managed to secure the following items. Terran Empire Odyssey Outfit. An Elite Services Pack and a small XP Boost. The service pack provides 36 bank slots and 36 inventory slots, as well as two bridge officer slots. This usually costs 1000 Zen in the C-Store store so is well worth grabbing while its still available. Beyond this addition, I shall continue to play in the “vanilla” fashion, as Cryptic intended. Although not being able to access my account unlocks has made me appreciate how beneficial they can be. In the meantime, I shall battle the Klingons with my vendor trash gear, like its some kind of Kobayashi Maru test.

Returning to Star Trek Online in 2026

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I recently took a break from Crimson Desert choosing instead to to play something familiar and easy going. As I’ve been logging into Star Trek Online daily to participate in the anniversary event, I decided to look through my various alts and see how far they had progressed through the game and what resources they had. At present I have twelve alts. My primary Captain was created in 2015 during the original Delta Recruit Event. I had previously played STO intermittently since its release in January 2010 but I never kept any of those characters. Hence this decade old Tactical Federation Captain has been my main focus when playing. The other eleven alts are the result of other recruitment events or whenever I wanted to try something different, such as playing a specific class or faction. I obviously played a lot of STO during the lockdown as several alts date from that period. Several had maximum reputation across all factions.

I created a Klingon Defence Force Captain in early 2021, going so far as to buying a Legendary D7 Intel Battlecruiser for them. So I decided to resume playing through the various story arcs with this character, while tinkering with the his gear, away team and ship as I went. It has proven a most satisfying experience because the game offers a great deal of scope for change and fine tuning. It is also a good example of a game where it is easy to pick up where you left off and if you want instant action, you can always jump straight into a Task Force Operation. STO is a process driven game with a strong set of underlying mathematically driven systems. Hence improving your overall build is an unambiguous process. However, if learning the theory behind build creation does not appeal to you, you can always just follow one of the many guides that can be found online. The story driven missions certainly provide adequate gear for all the PVE content.

Endgame in STO seems to be predominantly focused on min-maxing, increasing your DPS and running Elite level content. However, the game certainly lends itself to roleplay for those disposed to such things. Having twelve alts means I can always return to one and find some aspect that needs improvement or tweaking. The story content is also very engaging and certainly captures the heart and soul of most Star Trek shows. Having so many of the original cast providing voices helps immensely with atmosphere and immersion. Some of the minor mini-games and their subsequent accolades and benefits can become obsessive pursuits. The Lore Mission, The Path to 2409, being one example. I recently discovered that you can still breed specific species of Tribbles and despite the age of this systems, some can still offer some very useful buffs when equipped. Then there is the rabbit hole of visiting the in-game tailor and customising your outfit.

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However, you cannot play STO without referencing the persistent bugs as well as the element of “jank” that is present in several aspects of the game. Despite being based upon a premium franchise, STO has always had a the air of a second tier MMORPG, with developer’s Cryptic having to fight for resources. Although I am very fond of this game and think that it captures the essence of the franchise well, it always feels like it hasn’t fully met its potential. I’m sure now that Cryptic are back in full control of the development that they have aspirations to improve the game which is currently showing its age. Yet whatever plans they may have, they will not be realised immediately. Which means that anyone returning to STO or playing for the first time, has to accept the game as it is at present. The low level bugs and glitches can be annoying at times but for me, they never make the game unplayable.

Having watched a few videos on the subject of playing STO in 2026, the issue of the C-Store comes up quite quickly. Simply put, STO monetises multiple aspects of the game. Ships, personnel, items, services and more. However, it must be said that they are always selling you more of what you have already. The resources that are available to free players are adequate. As you level a new character through the game you are given free ships that may not be the best but can get the job done. You have sufficient bank and inventory spaces. If you want more then there is scope to earn in-game currency or participate in regular events that reward you with gear or ships. As for the argument of “pay to win”, I’m not sure what you win exactly? You can create a high performance ship build made up of premium items but you can also do the same with regular gear. Skill is also an important factor and that cannot be bought.

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As a franchise Star Trek is in a state of flux at present. The acquisition of Paramount Global by Skydance Media has led to all current TV productions being halted. Long term plans have yet to be announced but the new owners seem focused on feature films rather than episodic television. This leaves a substantial gap in the market for fans. Something that a persistent world game with regularly updated lore adjacent content, could address. Whether Cryptic can rise to such a challenge remains to be seen. In the meantime if you fancy trying STO, there is a convenient on going Quick Start Event running until May 21st. Both old and new players can login to the game and claim a free Tactical Vanguard Jem’Hadar character. They are level 60 by default and come with appropriate gear, skills, traits and ship. Alternatively you can start the game from the beginning, choosing between multiple factions, all of which begin with unique starter missions.

As I mentioned at the start of this post, STO is currently celebrating its 16th anniversary. That’s a long lifespan for an MMO. Developers’ Cryptic recently posted a new road map for 2026 and they certainly have plans. As a lifetime account holder, I wish them well but I do hope that they can do more than just put new events, items and episodic stories. I would like to see a comprehensive ongoing project to address the bugs in the game and to streamline and restore the existing story content. Due to the story arcs being tweaked (some have been removed altogether), what is left although narratively good, has some continuity issues. Ground combat needs to be revised and any improvement to the character models would go a long way to improve things. The game needs more story content that is in the idiom of that produced in the first decade of the game. In the meantime, I shall continue to progress my alts and play what content is available.

Crimson Desert: Patches and Continuous Improvement

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 The action, open world RPG Crimson Desert has been patched five times since it launched on March 19th and there have also been multiple hotfixes. At first glance this isn’t anything unusual. New games have bugs and issues arise once a game is released and played across a much wider variety of hardware than in QA testing. However, if you read the patch notes that accompany these sizeable downloads it quickly becomes apparent that developer’s Pearl Abyss are not just addressing bugs and software glitches. They are actively engaging with their player base and responding to suggestions and requests from that community. Although this is not a unique approach, what is surprising is the speed and quantity in which these player driven changes are happening. There seems to be an active ongoing process to refine the game and eliminate some of its “rough edges” and the players are contributing to this process with their feedback.

As of today, 11th April, the latest patch upgraded Crimson Desert to Version 1.03.00. This included some very interesting changes and improvements to the game. The option to hide various weapons from being displayed on your characters back was a welcome addition. As were settings to customise the in-game camera’s behaviour. This has been a major issue for players when trying to manipulate objects using the Axiom Force ability. Teleportation via the Abyss Nexus has been refined, allowing the player to do so while mounted, falling, swimming or climbing. Cut scenes can now be fast forwarded through, as opposed to just skipped. There are also a wealth of minor quality of life improvements such as font size, improved lighting (especially indoors) and water surface reflection detail. A lot of additional graphical related controls have been added within the game settings. Further details for the latest and previous patches can be found at the Pearl Abyss website.

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The developer’s have also published a comprehensive list of features they intend to add to Crimson Desert in the immediate future. Many of these are potentially game changing, no pun intended. The most notable is a difficulty setting for boss fights, something that has been a bone of contention since the game’s launch. Following on from this is the ability to replay boss fights which could be an invaluable practice tool. Another proposed change is the re-blockading of previously liberated regions or fortifications. This would certainly add to the notion of a “living world” and keep players engaged and building their reputation with certain factions. There are also a lengthy list of UI improvements and such as mount and pet menus, a wardrobe system and various storage facilities for consumables and collectibles. Pearl Abyss even have plans to further increase the draw distance and graphical fidelity of the game, which is amazing considering how notable the graphics are at present.

In the past I have seen many developers “talk the talk” regarding a game’s future but totally fail to deliver on the promises they’ve made. This situation with Pearl Abyss seems somewhat different. Some of the specific changes listed in the DEV Update post have already been delivered in the latest patch. This proves that the developer’s are not just acknowledging player feedback but quickly and efficiently delivering the results. At present there is a schedule to implement all the proposed changes by the end of June. This will not only improves the quality of Crimson Desert for those who have already bought the game but offers a great incentive for those who are considering doing so or have it currently on a wish list. In the current climate of underperforming triple A games and studios failing to honour their own roadmap, Pearl Abyss seem to be doing much of the heavy lifting when it comes to repairing gamer and developer relationships.

Starfield: Unexpected DLC

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According to my Steam statistics, I last played Starfield on 19th December 2023. I bought the game upon its release in September of that year and played in total for 136 hours. Starfield held my interest for three and a half month and I wrote seven blog posts about various aspects of the game. Although there were some engaging aspects to Starfield, I did feel that that the game was somewhat lacking in systems and content, at that point in its lifecycle. I also think that the marketing and player expectations associated with Starfield were overblown and unrealistic. The shadow of Skyrim looms large over all new Bethesda releases and they don’t seem able to quite recapture that magic. Hence, I inevitably drifted away from Starfield and to another game and was effectively “done” with it. I have not played the game since which seems to validate the theory that game are becoming increasingly more ephemeral.

With this in mind, I was somewhat surprised when I launched Steam a few days ago to find that there was new DLC available for Starfield. Furthermore because I had bought the premium edition of the game at launch, I could access this new content for free and avoid the £8.99 charge. Apparently, the first DLC for the game, Shattered Space, completely passed me by. This was additional story content which added new factions, creatures and bosses. It also provided further weapons, armour and equipment, as well as crafting and research materials. The latest DLC, Terran Armada, is similarly a story expansion but also includes the Free Lanes update which adds the ability to freely fly between planets in a star system and reduce the game’s dependency on loading screens. The DLC also includes the new X-Tech system, allowing players to further customise their gear. The new content also adds lots of minor additional features and quality of life changes to Starfield.

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Naturally the appearance of this DLC after all this time, piqued my curiosity and I immediately considered re-installing the game. No doubt this was exactly what Bethesda intended. However, I am currently writing a blog post about gamers tendency to move from game to game and how it is easy to lose focus on a specific title due to the sheer abundance of games available nowadays. Hence, I immediately decided not to download Starfield for a second time. Crimson Desert is my primary RPG at present and it displaced Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon; a game that I have not finished at present. That game also dropped some unexpected DLC recently, compounding my dilemma further. With regard to Starfield, when I stopped playing in 2023, I was effectively done with it. I didn’t see that it had any more to offer and I’m not sure if two additional storylines change that. My disinterest in the game was due to a lack of engaging systems and a compelling reason to stick around.

To be fair, Bethesda have made it abundantly clear that the recent new content for the game is just that and the new DLC does not change the base game into Starfield 2.0 to coin a phrase. This is not like No Man’s Sky where multiple patches effectively re-invented the game over time. Although the DLC for Starfield addresses many issues that have been a source of criticism, it is still essentially the same as it was at launch. The game offers a focused experience that some will find to their liking, especially those who like the concept of a vast and somewhat barren universe. However, those wanting Skyrim in space (which so many people did) will remain disappointed. As such there is not sufficient reason for me to start playing again. My gaming time is best used focusing on those titles that hold my interest. For me, Starfield was an interesting experiment which didn’t quite hit the mark and at present, I am more inclined to return to No Man’s Sky, if I am to start playing a space themed game once again.

The Philosophy of Crimson Desert

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13 days after its release, market analysts estimate that Crimson Desert has already earned $200 million across the four main platforms (PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S). The game is certainly proving popular among gamers with the internet awash with live streams and “let’s play” videos. However, reviews are mixed both among gaming journalists and YouTube influencers. Common complaints about the game include that it is slow to start, the controls are poorly laid out on all platforms and that developer’s Pearl Abyss have done a poor job of explaining most aspects of the game to new players. Although such criticisms are true to a degree, I think these complaints highlight how many gamers are conditioned to expect new titles to follow a specific pattern with regard to pacing, narrative exposition and learning in-game systems. A pattern that Pearl Abyss has chosen to ignore, instead favouring an old school approach.

Today I resumed playing Crimson Desert after a week long break (I was on holiday). I decided to explore the world rather than resume any specific quests, so I just took off in a random direction from the Greymanes camp in the Howling Hills. My avatar travelled on foot as it allows you to go “off-piste” and traverse difficult terrain more efficiently than on horseback. I climbed a small plateau that was nearby for no other reason than to see if there was anything of note at the top. Due to stamina limitations, I had to climb up in stages, pausing on ledges as I went. When I reached the top, I was rewarded with a staggering view across Pywel. It was then I noticed that the regionally specific ambient music that plays intermittently had stopped. The only sounds that were audible were the environmental sound effects. There was no dialogue or prompts to do anything. Just stillness and an opportunity for me, the player, to reflect upon the game and how it makes me feel.

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Contemporary RPGs eschew such moments. Instead of organic personal reveries, players are funnelled in contrived set pieces. Instead of genuine stillness, we’re presented with confected vignettes that telegraph their unsubtle emotional intent. Characters inner monologues become a verbally incontinent means to steer the player in the “right direction”. You want to think? You haven’t got time to think as there’s a game to play. Gaming is a process nowadays and no longer a medium for introspection. Video games are also becoming increasingly driven to meet the needs of those that play them for a living and not so much for pleasure. Hence the languid pace and player driven play style of Crimson Desert has bamboozled those gamers who want a quick and efficient play through before the next big title is released. As for silence in a game, it is a quality that frightens some players and is not welcome.

Crimson Desert, although filled with many modern game systems and mechanics from other big titles, has also thrown in a suspiring amount of “old school” concepts. Many of which hail from the halcyon days of the MMORPG genre. The first 30 hours or so of the game are still essentially part of an overall tutorial. The player is encouraged to peruse the various in-game menus to glean the information they need to play. They are free to do this at their own pace. As to what quests one does, it again comes down to choice. The game won’t nag you if you go off exploring doing side quests rather than the main story. From time to time, you’ll realise that you’re struggling with content due to gear or a skill being missing. You then have to correct this yourself. Again the game will not pester you. In fact the prompts that are available can be disabled. You the player are in charge, or adrift at sea, depending on your perspective.

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Perhaps the most noticeable thing that Crimson Desert does is that it give the player time and space to stop and just be present in the world. You are encouraged to consider a vista or visit a settlement and pet a cat or goat for the fun of it. Such things are not treated as frivolous indulgences but essential to the enjoyment of the game. Developers Pearl Abyss do not feel that the key to happy gaming is being micromanaged and kept busy. Something that I feel is a very North American mindset. Instead they provide the player with such a dynamic and immersive world, that they cannot help but take time out to come to terms with it. Hence gamers who expect a process driven, conveyor belt approach to both story and “learning the game” struggle to come to terms with the philosophy of Crimson Desert. They have either forgotten or never known the non-didactic nature of older video games. For those who do it’s a breath of fresh air.

Crimson Desert: Arm Wrestling Quick Time Event

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Early on Crimson Desert, the main quest requires the player to enter a tavern and arm wrestle a particularly strong guard. The arm wrestling match consists of a quick time event. If playing on PC you have to rapidly press the “E” key which turns a power meter from white to red. Then a white dial appears above the meter with a rotating hand. When the hand passes over a segment of the dial that is marked by hatching, the player must press the “R” key. The idea being the meter filling with red is you strength building (or waning) and the “R” key prompt indicates when to try and force your opponent’s arm. You will need to to continuously press the “E” key throughout the arm wrestling match and the “R” key about 4 times to win.

This may all sound somewhat innocuous but it should be noted that if you do not win the arm wrestling match then you cannot advance and complete the first chapter of the game. You need to finish the first chapter to be able to acquire the abilities Axiom Force, Force Palm and Flight. Also to be able to progress to the next one. If you cannot complete the quick time event in the arm wrestling match you cannot complete the main story. At present, there is no means to bypass this quest or at least skip the arm wrestling match.

Needless to say this has annoyed a great many gamers who have struggled to complete this specific activity. Myself included. On PC, the two keys that have to be pressed and physically right next to each other on the keyboard which makes things harder. Similar complaints have been raised by those using a Xbox controller which requires “X” and “A” to be pressed. Perhaps the biggest criticism is the fact that quick time events are not especially liked by gamers as they are arbitrary, tedious and the unenjoyable. Why would you gate progress on the main quest behind such a universally reviled and notoriously divisive game mechanic as a quick time event?

Initially I was annoyed by this quest and the fact that I may have to wait until Pearl Abyss patched it due to public pressure. However, I subsequently decided to beat this QTE by other means. If I could use a script of some sorts to rapidly press the “E” key for me, I could concentrate on pressing the “R” key when prompted. So I installed AutoHotKey, got Google Gemini to write me a script which I then used and beat the QTE. As a public service, here is a guide showing the steps I took. Hopefully they will work for other PC gamers.

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Install AutoHotKey.

Right hand click on your desktop and select “New AutoHotKey Script”.

A small New Script window opens.

Click the Edit button.

Notepad should open.

Copy the script below which uses Hardware-style timing. It holds down the “E” key longer so the game has time to see it.

#MaxThreadsPerHotkey 2

; 1. IMPORTANT: Right-click this script and select "Run as Administrator"

; 2. Ensure Crimson Desert is in "Borderless Windowed" mode.

F1::

Toggle := !Toggle

Loop

{

If (!Toggle)

Break

‍ ‍

; Sends to the active window with a delay between down and up

Send, {e down}

Sleep, 30 ; Holds the key down for 30ms

Send, {e up}

‍ ‍

Sleep, 60 ; Time between separate presses

}

Return

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Save the Script to your desktop.

Double click the Script to run it. You may have to do this as an Administrator.

Press “F1” to start the Script and again to stop it.

If you have HDR enabled in the game settings then turn it off for the duration of the arm wrestling match as it makes the quick time prompt clearer. If you have multiple screens ensure that Crimson Desert is running on your primary monitor as AutoHotKey by default also uses this. Set the game to Windows Borderless before running the script.

I started the arm wrestling match and then pressed “F1” as the 3 second countdown started. The ”E” button was sufficiently pressed by the script, allowing me time to focus on the “R” key. I won the arm wrestling match after pressing the “R” key approximately 4 times.

I have been enjoying Crimson Desert so far but was discombobulated by this QTE that gates the main quest progress. Fortunately my work around did much to restore a positive view of the game but I am slightly worried that similar such QTEs may appear elsewhere in the story. If this sort of game mechanic frustrates you and you wish to register a complaint with the developers, Pearl abyss, here is a link to a FAQ regarding how to raise a support ticket. If enough players express their displeasure they may patch this issue in the future.

NVIDIA DLSS 5

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Earlier this week, Nvidia posted a video featuring their latest iteration of DLSS technology (Deep learning super sampling). DLSS 5 is an AI-powered “real-time neural rendering” process and unlike previous versions that focused on improving frame rates through upscaling or frame generation, DLSS 5 uses generative AI to “infuse” frames with photorealistic lighting and material details that the game engine never actually calculated. Let us pause for a moment and consider these words. Material detail that the game engine never actually calculated. Therein lies the rub. If you watch the aforementioned video or peruse the images posted here, it is abundantly clear what the technology does.

The technology used in DLSS 5 is interesting. It uses a model trained to understand “scene semantics”. Assets such as human skin, hair, and fabric can be augmented to add realistic effects like subsurface scattering (how light glows through skin). It enhances surface textures in real time, making materials like weathered leather or brushed aluminium appear photorealistic. DLSS 5 come with a suite of developer for studios to flag specific areas and aspects of games for AI enhancement, while also protecting areas so they maintain their original art style. DLSS 5 is expected to launch in Autumn 2026 and will probably be linked to the upcoming release of the GeForce RTX 50 Series of graphics cards.

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However, setting aside the technology used, it is hardly surprising that Nvidia’s promotional video has been poorly received (the reveal video receiving an 84% dislike ratio on YouTube). There are several major concerns that arise from this technology. Many gamers and developers worry that GPUs will essentially be adding details that don’t exist, rather than accurately representing the game and its art design. Some feel this shifts gaming away from a human-crafted experience toward an AI generated one. At present such technology requires a dual-RTX 5090 graphic card setup. No doubt the next generation of GPUs designed specifically to run DLSS 5 will be exceedingly expensive, driving up the cost of gaming. There are also concerns that Nvidia’s claims that artists will maintain “full control” will prove spurious.

However, perhaps the biggest point of contention stemming from the use of DLSS 5“ is the so-called Yassification” of games. “Yassification” is an internet slang term referring to the process of heavily editing an image, typically a face, using AI-powered beauty filters to make the subject look more glamorous, polished, or generically attractive. Critics argue the AI acts as an intrusive “beauty filter” that significantly alters character faces and designs. For example, in a DLSS 5 demo for Resident Evil Requiem, the character Grace Ashcroft appeared with botoxed lips and modified hair, leading to accusations of “AI slop” that bypasses the original artist's intent. Many gamers think that DLSS 5 technology is effectively a “yassification machine”. There are concerns that such technology could be used by some gamers to modify games in bespoke ways, such as changing race or gender to effectively “de-woke” them.

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Although I do see the possibility for this technology to be used in the culture wars in a politicised manner, I think the most immediate problems will be those pertaining to copyright and the overall legality of augmenting games in this manner. There is a risk that AI tools of this nature could alter trademarked IP within a game such as a brand logo or copyrighted image without direct developer involvement. This could potentially invalidate the licensing agreement that the developer's may have with third party organisations. There have also been legal questions raised over the data scraping that Nvidia has used to train its AI for DLSS 5.

It is also worth noting the belligerent and tone deaf response by Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang to gamer pushback, which he called “completely wrong”. His semantically driven argument was essentially focused on the tools that come with DLSS 5 being the means to ensure against any malfeasance. Clearly he is unaware of public opinion regarding the reliability and moral rectitude of corporate promises. I suspect that the arguments will continue from both sides over the months ahead. The real test will be whether the new generation of Nvidia GPUs that support DLSS 5 sell well. Many gamers are notorious hypocrites. However, with RAM and other hardware prices increasing at present, it may be a case that the cost will be the main problem that slows the uptake of DLSS 5.

Crimson Desert: Initial Thoughts

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Last night, I spent the first 45 minutes after the launch of Crimson Desert, watching the 92GB pre-downloaded game files slowly decompressing and installing. I finally launched the game at about 10:50 PM GMT. I then waited a further 5 minutes while shaders were downloaded. It took me about 15 minutes or so to read through the various game settings and choose those that are optimal for my PC. I suspect even if you have a beast of a computer, you’re still going to have to spend some time tweaking settings. As for those players like myself with a gaming rig that is somewhere in the middle of the game’s specifications, be prepared to do a lot of fine tuning both within Crimson Desert itself and your Windows settings.

I can run the game at 2K with a mixture of Ultra and Cinematic graphics settings. I’m getting about 60 FPS when standing idle but the moment my character does anything substantive, the frame rate drops to about 40 FPS. However, this isn’t a deal breaker for me. Lengthy loading times are a reality due to the scale of the open world but the game plays animated sequences over them to distract from the waiting. The only technical issue I had initially was the game music intermittently cutting out while other audio, such as sound effects and dialogue, continued as normal. This was resolved by turning off “Signal Enhancements” within the “Advanced” tab of “Speaker Properties” in Windows.

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Upon starting Crimson Desert, you’re dropped into the story of a rapidly unfolding conflict between two factions. There’s nothing unusual about this story telling trope but when the fighting starts you get a lot of on-screen information regarding combat that is hard to digest. Fortunately, this part of the game is effectively a tutorial so the enemies are relatively weak. Your character is injured and awakes in an unexplained realm which they traverse and thus learn the game’s various movement mechanics. They are subsequently transported back to reality, healed and acquire a mount which they use to travel to Hernand, the first major quest hub, to begin the main game. Upon arrival, a primary quest is granted but the player is free to start exploring the town and surrounding area. It is a reactively safe area so presents a perfect opportunity to start looking through the various menus such as inventory, quests, skills etc. There are a lot and this aspect of Crimson Desert along with some others make the game feel very much like a single player version of an MMO.

The combat controls for Crimson Desert on the PC are based around left and right mouse buttons, which are used for light and heavy attacks. These are appended by using the CTRL and ALT keys to guard and dodge. Other keys are similarly used for other abilities requiring your hand movement to be dextrous. There was a similar keyboard layout for Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and I struggled with that initially, although I did finally master it. Apparently, if prefer to use a controller the layout used is incongruous and the keys cannot be re-mapped. Hence a game with an abundance of systems also has a complex control layout, making the initial learning curve quite steep.

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This is why I think it’s important to take your time in the first major quest hub and take the opportunity to explore the immediate world and figure out the different ways to interact with it. Also to spend time familiarising yourself with the games systems. Crafting is an important part of the game, especially making consumable that buff your health. Although a single player game, Crimson Desert does not have the complex branching dialogue options of other RPGs. NPCs provide quest prompts in a more arbitrary fashion. Sometimes you may just hear some dialogue while passing them that provides a clue. You will frequently have to use your menu to organise your inventory and switch between equipment. These menus often have multiple pages, so you have to drill down to access the data you require. The game seems to provide only the most essential information via on screen prompts and encourages you to explore both the world, GUI and menus on your own.

Some players will find this initial complexity and the measured pace of the opening hours of Crimson Desert frustrating. If you’ve played Skyrim, then jumping into Witcher III is not a culture shock, because they are broadly similar with a lot of common systems. Crimson Desert is very similar to the initial pace of a MMORPG and I suspect that there is a requirement of a substantial time investment before the story elements, familiarity with the game’s systems and players confidence align. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised to learn in the next few months that a percentage of players who usually favour single player games, abandon Crimson Desert simply because it has a much more measured pace at the start of the game. I can also see old school MMO players warming to this title because there are so many parallels.

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With regard to the games aesthetic and style, Crimson Desert is a singularly handsome game with an incredibly well realised world. The draw distance is very impressive. This is something that the game keeps in reserve until one specific sequence at the beginning of the story, where you cross a bridge and suddenly see a valley stretching out to your left. It is a stunning revelation and something that is already becoming a common point of note in the various YouTube videos about the game. The game certainly seems well optimised to accommodate as much graphical performance as possible. The sound design and ambient music is also very impressive. The voice acting for the English version is broadly very good, although a few performances remind me of dubbed Hong Kong movies from the seventies. Some of the language is quite choice as well and I was surprised to hear the use of the word “cunt” within the opening 5 or 10 minutes.

So far, despite quite a lot of fine tuning the game settings, my interest is certainly being held by Crimson Desert. It seems to be a huge game with a great deal of content. Something that will take months to complete. Furthermore, to accommodate the scope of its vision, the game goes about it in its own unique way. That may enthral some players and annoy others. I usually come to RPGs and similar games, several months after launch. Hence there are a wealth of player curated resources available, telling you come to complete quests, create and optimal build and where the best gear is located. This time round I have started playing right from launch and so I am flying blind by my own standard. Oddly for me, that is proving to be fun. It is also nice to play a game that hasn’t been designed around a relatively short life cycle. I suspect there is plenty of life in Crimson Desert and that it potentially could have the longevity of Skyrim. As ever, time will tell.

Pre-ordering Crimson Desert

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I have been aware of the online interest around the open world action game Crimson Desert for a while now. One of the things that has intrigued me about it is the scope of the game. The word “hype” has been bandied about by a few gaming websites. However, from what I have observed, developers Pearl Abyss have not been excessively hyperbolic themselves, with regard to the manner in which the game’s systems and mechanics have been marketed. Now that the press embargo has been lifted, the pre-release reviews seem to confirm that everything we’ve seen in promotional videos in the run up to the launch, is in fact present in the game. So far the initial critical response has been very positive and it has been hinted that the game may well be a genre milestone. Perhaps Crimson Desert is just a rare example of a game that has not had a rushed development and isn’t launching prematurely for business reasons.

As I still had some money left from my birthday, I decided to pre-order Crimson Desert today. The standard edition of this single player game retails at £55 and the deluxe version at £65. As usual I spent sometime looking for the best deal that I could find online and eventually purchased a digital deluxe version for £54, saving £11. I could have found a cheaper key but I prefer to by from vendors that I’ve used before. This minimises the risk of being scammed or purchasing a region locked key that requires a VPN to activate, or some other complex workaround. The vendor will make the Steam key available nearer the launch date. I would expect it to be on or near the 17th March, when the game can be pre-installed 48 hours ahead of launch. According to the Pearl Abyss the game installation is 150GB in total which is a quite a size. Like many modern games it is now recommended that the game is run on an SSD.

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It is becoming increasingly important to check a game’s minimum specifications before purchasing these days. In the past there was a degree of “wriggle room” with regard to whether a new title would run on your PC. However, nowadays it is a far more exact science. I can run Battlefield 6 in 2K but if I alter the game settings beyond what is stated in the game specifications, then the overall performance drops dramatically. According to the specifications for Crimson Desert, I should be able to run the game somewhere around the “recommended” settings. I am curious to see what sort of graphical quality that provides, although there is much that games can do these days when running on average hardware. Upscaling being a useful “get out of jail” card if necessary. I’ll know for sure on Monday 19th March at 15:00 PT, 22:00 GMT and March 20, 7:00 KST, when Crimson Desert launches. No doubt there will be a follow up post with my initial thoughts on the game.

Video Games Are Bad at Explaining Themselves

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Video games as a genre are extremely poor at explaining themselves. When you buy a new game you’ll often find little or no information regarding the basic systems and mechanics. The industry assumes that their customers are by default familiar with the fundamentals of playing a modern video game. Hence if a game has a tutorial, it is often based around videos rather than detailed verbal instructions. You are are briefly shown a clip of a specific move being successfully undertaken but it is seldom shown in a wider context. The industry also expects the fan community to take on the role of curating and disseminating information about its games. The move away from forums and bespoke websites to Discord highlights this. Discord is a primarily a real time communication tool and not good at maintaining a historical data archive. If you want an answer to a specific gaming question, you’ll more than likely find it on YouTube in a video made by a fellow gamer.

This issue has been highlighted recently as I’ve watched my grandchildren try new games on my computer. They play primarily on their phones or the Nintendo Switch 2. Hence their major frame of reference are interacting with games via a touch screen or a controller. As a result, PC gaming via a keyboard and mouse is quite abstract for them and also physically difficult for their small hands. The problem is further compounded by their often being no viable tutorial directly available in the games they play. My PC having two monitors helps in so far as you can run a video on one screen while playing a game on another but videos are often a lottery. Information is not always up to date and not everyone who creates YouTube content are skilled communicators. Furthermore, although it is useful to have access to online resources, this does explain or justify why a game such as Fall Guys does not have an integral tutorial?

When playing Roblox with my granddaughters, I often ask them how to do a specific task in games such as 99 Nights in the Forest. Sometimes they’ll know and other times they will not. Most of their knowledge comes from “just trying things” which can be a great way to learn but it can leave you with serious gaps in your knowledge. This matter is compounded as I play with them on the PC, which often has different or even additional controls. Online searches have sometime led to all of us finding out something that we previously didn’t know. Discovering information this way can be fun but it can also be very frustrating. I hit a brick wall today trying to figure out exactly how you used the various game passes in Chivalry 2. I eventually found a Reddit post that cogently explained the specific steps required to activate the pass and how you subsequently accessed unlocked gear. Again, isn’t providing such information incumbent on the developers?

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I was going through my bric-a-brac cupboard recently and found the installation disks for several games from the middle 2000s. All had comprehensive manuals. In fact the in-depth instructions that came with the MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online where so well written, I chose to play the Lore-master class purely on the strength of the written summary. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (the 2009 version) has an excellent tutorial level dovetailed into the start of the game, where you’re character has to visit the firing range to undertake basic weapons proficiency. It’s an excellent example of seamlessly integrating practical instruction into a game and making it part of the story and overall experience. If you remember such things, it is a stark contrast to how things are done these days. The videos game industry’s casual attitude towards having to explain themselves to their paying customers seems a least, ill considered and at worse, frankly disrespectful.

However, let us end on a positive note. As I was writing this post I collated a list of games that I’ve played over the last twelve months. Most of which were completely new to me at the time. After some consideration, I remembered that those games that made the best effort to school new players in their respective gameplay, were often so called AA titles. Sniper Elite: Resistance has a bespoke level at the start of the game that provides examples of the most essential mechanics and systems. Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon integrates a tutorial into the game prologue as you character escapes incarceration. The more I think about it, the biggest offenders for not making any effort to explain themselves are once again, the big triple A game developers. However, the tide of public opinion is beginning to change against this sector of the video game industry. Perhaps this in another potential lesson that can be added to an already lengthy list, that they can learn.

Fun or Skill?

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I have written in the past about the video games we cannot play. The ones that require a keen understanding of a game’s mechanics, along with a strong degree of manual dexterity and situational awareness. Being 58 years old, I tend to have neither the co-ordination necessary to succeed or the patience to master such complex skill requirements. With this in mind, I recently watched a YouTube video for Chivalry 2 and thought, that looks like fun. The fact that it showed someone picking up a chicken and throwing it at an opponent is neither here nor there. However, after watching a few more videos I realised that combat in the game was complex and that, as usual, the reality of playing such a game would be different from my expectations. Hence, I came very close to not buying Chivalry 2. However, I eventually decided that I would, so I bought it for just under £10 from an online vendor.

So why did I change my mind? Because I fundamentally do not like the idea of there being a “skills gate”. It probably didn’t help that I watched a video by someone who had obviously spent a lot of time playing Chivalry 2 and they were rather contemptuous of newer players. They didn’t care for gamers that are happy to just potter about in the game and aren’t that fussed about mastering combat. But then again, I’ve no time for the fallacy of the “you’re playing the game wrong” mindset. Nor do I like self appointed gatekeepers. Excelling at a game is fine in itself but is it not an adjunct to playing and having fun? We don’t say to children “here is a sport or a musical instrument that you can learn but don’t bother even trying if you’re not going to strive for total excellence in it”. Society seems to be losing sight of the fact that enjoyment and fun are an integral part of many hobbies and pastimes. Everything doesn’t have to be competitive.

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I regularly encourage my grandchildren to draw and paint. We sit down together and talk while doing something creative. The idea is to simply take pleasure in what you’re doing. No one judges anyone else’s work and you can always find positive comments to make. “That’s interesting, tell me about it” being a good line of enquiry. Children are happy to express themselves creatively and they only stop when someone says something critical or imposes rules on what they’re doing which leaches the fun out of the activity. Its the same with sport. As well as being enjoyable to play sports can teach other valuable social and moral lessons. However, it only takes a coach who takes things too seriously and a leisure activity becomes a chore. As a child I used to enjoy being in the school choir. We were fortunate to have a good musical director who favoured enthusiasm over perfection. Sadly, they retired and their replacement was a perfectionist who drove out at least half of the choir members.

Being skilful in a video game or trying to improve your gameplay is not a bad thing in itself. I have regularly played Battlefield 6 since its release last October and have overtime become nominally better at it. Familiarity with the maps, learning how weapons handle and using simple tactics have all contributed to improving my gameplay and the quality of my overall experience in game. However, all of this has been approached in a casual fashion. I certainly haven’t trained or formally practised and the object of each game played remains to be entertained. Today, I played my first 64 player game in Chivalry 2. I died a lot but it doesn’t matter. I was laughing out loud most of the time due to my incompetence and the absolute mayhem that was happening around me. Occasionally even I could get a kill on a veteran, due to being in the right place at the right time and my random play style. I’m sure it infuriated some players. The thought of which delighted me even more.

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I will always play video games primarily for fun. Any improvement in my gameplay is simply due to increasing familiarity, rather than a concerted effort. If you’re the sort of player that wants to be the best of the best, then that is your prerogative. Just don’t make the mistake of thinking that your gaming philosophy is correct by default. It is just a subjective opinion and as such is simply one of many. There is certainly a debate to be had about how you efficiently match players with comparable skills or whether it is better to just throw everyone together. The problem with this area of discussion is that a definitive answer has still not been reached. However, playing against bots is an interesting halfway house and certainly something I favour when I don’t want the hassle of dealing with people. As for the issue of skill versus fun, they don’t have to be mutually exclusive but I believe that there relationship is asymmetrical and that fun is always the starting point and not vice versa.

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon - Magic and Spellcasting

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I decided to pursue a magic and spellcasting build in the RPG Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon after the story prologue. During the opening section of the game, the player is presented with a sufficient range of weapons to determine which type suits them best, although you can change at any time during the game. For me, casting spells feels right and is fun. Plus I have fond memories of the magic system in Two Worlds II and Skyrim. So once I started playing through the first zone, I started putting attribute and skill points into the appropriate trees to bolster my spells strengths and frequency. I also chose gear that would bolster those statistics further. The results have been surprising, as magic and spellcasting is not presented in the usual “glass cannon” style you find in some other RPGs. Here it offers  robust DPS output and with the right gear and spell combination, a strong degree of survivability.

Magic in Tainted Grail: Fall of Avalon consists of the following. Spells that can be cast which cause damage or drain health. Cubes which are chargeable magical artefacts that enhance existing magic attacks or provide an additional one. Wands that players can use to enhance spellcasting, manage mana and provide defensive options such as parrying and blocking a melee weapon. There are 6 types of spells available in the game. Summoning, healing, projectile, ray, channeled, and area of effect. Players can equip up to 2 spells simultaneously on their loadout and can hotswap between 4 loadouts. There are 55 spells available in the game. Cubes are charge-based equipment that collect energy through actions such as attacking an enemy, spending mana, or spellcasting. Once fully charged a cube can activate its effect. If 2 spells are equipped, instead of a spell and a wand or shield, the player will have to rely on dodging incoming attacks, instead of parrying and blocking.

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Most spells can be cast in two different ways. Light cast and heavy cast. Light cast is faster, uses less mana but deals less damage and has no bonus or crit related effects. Heavy cast is more powerful but costlier in terms of mana and takes longer to cast. Their respective use and benefits are situational, depending on which enemies you’re facing and what their respective weakness is. The main resource to cast spells is mana which is the blue bar on the UI, between health (red) and stamina (green). Each time players cast a spell, mana is spent and the blue bar is reduced accordingly. Channelled spells, keep spending mana while they’re being used. Mana regenerates slowly over time, both while in or out of combat. Spirituality is the main stat for spellcasting and magic. Points spent on it increase spell power, mana and its regeneration. The more spirituality players have, the more efficiently they use mana (IE the cost of spellcasting).

To use magic and spellcasting effectively in Tainted Grail: Fall of Avalon a player has to manage their use and regeneration of mana. All of which is dependent upon how they spend skill and attribute points and what gear they wear. If done correctly the right armour set, coupled with appropriate skills will regenerate mana upon enemy kills or critical hits. Thus the player should seek a build that uses mana and regenerates it, allowing the player to sustain prolonged attacks. For example the Waning Moon Set is a specialized armour set that provides continuous mana regeneration and is particularly effective when your mana is low. The set effect increases mana regeneration by 1% and boosts this by 50% when your mana is below 25%. The spell Soul Salvage is a spell that when targeted at your active summon (IE an AI companion you have summoned to help you), dismisses them and restores 75% of the mana cost used for the initial summoning, based on their current health.

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Some players favour melee combat and the experience of fights being up close and personal. I prefer stealth, ranged attacks and the ability to move quickly, find cover or dodge. Magic and spellcasting is the perfect fit for such a strategy in Tainted Grail: Fall of Avalon. I am currently in the second zone of the game and have a build that allows me to take on two to three mobs simultaneously. Ranged attacks using lightning and ice projectiles are particularly effective on standard landscape enemies. I tend to use a wand when fighting melee bosses, as I can parry and block, exhausting their stamina. Then as they pause to recuperate, I can hit them hard with a ranged or AoE attack. Or I can summon multiple AI companions if I run low on stamina during a fight and they can act as temporary “meat shields”. All of which makes combat very satisfying, as there are always options depending on the situation.

Warhammer: Dark Omen - Available from GOG

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I originally bought Warhammer: Dark Omen in the summer of 1998. I played a demo copy via a magazine cover disc, which was a common means of promotion and marketing back then. Although I was at that point, unfamiliar with the Warhammer Universe, I found this game to be an excellent point of entry. The story did an excellent job of introducing players to “The Old World”, the political and power structure and major characters. I instantly liked both the aesthetic and the lore. Warhammer: Dark Omen was also the first real-time tactical wargame that I played and I spent numerous hours playing through the campaign. Overall, the game was a critical success, particularly on PC, but it struggled commercially upon its initial release and didn’t quite find the audience that it deserved. However, it has achieved status as a “cult classic” among gamers, leading to a recent re-release on GOG in late 2025. 

Technically, Warhammer: Dark Omen is a sequel to Warhammer: Shadow of the Horned Rat, although it is not at all necessary to have played the first game. Warhammer: Dark Omen provides a variety of battles that are played in real time. The Warhammer fantasy setting affords players a mixture of medieval warfare with fantasy elements. Hence players deploy units prior to a battle based upon what enemy units they can see and the anticipation of reinforcements. To win you must kill or rout all enemy units. If your forces are similarly routed or destroyed the battle is lost. while losing if all their units are killed/routed from the battlefield. Units include infantry, archers, cavalry and cannon along with more exotic forces such as Dwarf Warriors, Mercenary Ogres and various Wizards. Losses can be replaced (purchased) between battles and units can use magic items to use to help them in battle.

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The game maps are 3D with units depicted via animated sprites. The player can issue various commands to units throughout battles, instructing them to move, engage specific enemies or use a magical item. It is important to move the in-game camera around the map and examine the terrain from multiple angles both prior and during the battles. Line of sight is extremely important especially for archers and cannon. The enemy attacks in waves and can sometimes set ambushes. Therefore it is important to zoom the view out from time to time and take stock of the battlefield. If a friendly unit is completely wiped out in a battle it is absent from the rest of the campaign. Therefore, battles need to be fought strategically and not rushed and it is prudent to ensure that your core units are not lost. However, throughout the main story, additional guest units may join you for a while and subsequently leave.

The main story that drives the campaign in Warhammer: Dark Omen is fairly straightforward. Due to an alignment of planets, a powerful supernatural entity, The Dread King, has returned to the world and raised an undead army. Morgan Bernhardt, commander of the “Grudgebringer” mercenaries is tasked by Emperor Karl Franz in investigating and eliminating this threat to The Empire. As the “Grudgebringer” mercenaries journey south they fight various battles in key locations, often with local allies. There are a handful of cutscenes during the course of the story with the majority of the dialogue being delivered by animated talking heads in portraits frames, set against a background reflecting the current location. It is all relatively low key, as you’d expect from a game of this age but the voice acting is solid. There is also a very atmospheric soundtrack by Mark Knight. It should also be noted that this game is hard. You cannot vary the difficulty which is taxing at times.

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Last year, Warhammer: Dark Omen received over 15,000 votes on the GOG Dreamlist, leading to an official re-release with 4K and widescreen support in December 2025. It should be noted that the game may require some fine tuning to run how you like it on your PC. There is an excellent guide to this process over at Dark Omen Fansite Portal. All things considered this 28 year old game runs well thanks to GOG and I for one am very pleased to see it make a return. It is not just a case of nostalgia, although that is a factor. Warhammer: Dark Omen is a good real-time tactical wargame that is accessible and compelling. Unlike modern games it is not cluttered with an excess of systems and mechanics, instead focusing on providing straightforward battle scenarios where the player succeeds through thinking and measured action, rather than bluffing their way through. Sometimes less is indeed more.

LOTRO: New Zone Coming in Q2

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According to the recent “letter to the players”, Standing Stone Games will be adding a new zone to the MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online in the second quarter of this year. Possibly around May or June. Having spent the last three expansions in the South of Middle-earth exploring the tropical Umbar and the deserts of Harad, I would certainly welcome a change of location. I have gradually warmed to these zones over the last eighteen months but I do find them so incongruous. They are so radically different to the European style content that has been the mainstay of the game for so long. Tolkien’s source text has plenty of detail regarding Eriador and Rhovanion. Information regarding Harad is scarce, hence it has afforded the developers a great deal of artistic freedom. Although exceedingly well realised these tropical zones have taken a while for me to get used to.

With the advent of a new zone coming to the game, it is natural for players to speculate as to where in Middle-earth these areas will be located. I suppose the first question one asks is whether this is the start of a new story arc or will it just be a standalone area, such as Yondershire or Wildwood in Breeland. The next question, from my perspective, is will it be a level cap area or a zone set at a different level. Will it be an alternate region of progression, in the way that Cardolan provides an alternative to Ered Luin, The Shire and Breeland? Players have discussed for a while whether there should be an alternative to Moria? LOTRO is a game that encourages players to create new characters and make multiple play throughs of game content. Hence providing a broader range of areas that you can explore and undertake quests is desirable.

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At present there are some interesting gaps in SSG’s map of Middle-earth. Hence it is logical to think that these may be “filled in”. For example, adding the South Farthing of the Shire would connect that area to Cardolan via Sarn Ford. Maybe the developers will add Western Enedwaith or Minhiriath. We have also yet to see The Grey Haven in the game. All of which would lend themselves to interesting story content. Perhaps there are already clues as to our next destination on the existing in-game map which shows Lindon, Rhûn and Khand. It is also worth remembering that SSG has previously added zones to the game that are set in the past, such as The Battle of Azanulbizar and The Battle of the Morannon. I particularly enjoyed these additions and would welcome more. Let us not forget places that can exist in different story phases, as we’ve seen with King’s Gondor, Minas Tirith and Helm’s Deep.

Although this is all just speculation, it is very gratifying to be in a situation where there is forthcoming game content to speculate about. Other MMOs are not so fortunate. I recently wrote about the slow stagnation of Star Trek Online. An IP that lends itself to a wealth of potential new material. However, due to ownership related problems, the game has seen very little new content of any note over the last two years. That is a criticism that cannot be levelled at SSG, who continue to create new content for LOTRO. Although it is unlikely that we’ll ever see any major game engine changes made to LOTRO, the developers do seem to be focused on ensuring that the game as it is, remains viable and is supported with regular updates. Hence I look forward to this year’s scheduled updates and will continue to play this MMORPG as it approaches its nineteenth anniversary.