Playing LOTRO at 2K and 4K
The MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online runs on a broad spectrum of PCs. From archaic laptops to high end gaming rigs, although it may require a bit of tweaking. At present, the optimal way to play the MMO is at a resolution of 1920x1080 (FHD) with the graphics setting maxed out. The graphics are sharp and the UI is readable. However, a growing number of gamers are now using 2K and 4K monitors. You can play LOTRO at higher resolutions such as 2560×1440 (QHD) and 3840x2160 (UHD) and the game looks great. However, the UI does not scale and so is very small on 2K and 4K monitors. The skill icons on the quickslots (shortcut bars) and the in-game text become difficult to see at these resolutions, which deters some players from using them. It is a known issue that Standing Stone Games are attempting to address but it is unlikely to be resolved any time soon.
The MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online runs on a broad spectrum of PCs. From archaic laptops to high end gaming rigs, although it may require a bit of tweaking. At present, the optimal way to play the MMO is at a resolution of 1920x1080 (FHD) with the graphics setting maxed out. The graphics are sharp and the UI is readable. However, a growing number of gamers are now using 2K and 4K monitors. You can play LOTRO at higher resolutions such as 2560×1440 (QHD) and 3840x2160 (UHD) and the game looks great. However, the UI does not scale and so is very small on 2K and 4K monitors. The skill icons on the quickslots (shortcut bars) and the in-game text become difficult to see at these resolutions, which deters some players from using them. It is a known issue that Standing Stone Games are attempting to address but it is unlikely to be resolved any time soon.
LOTRO running at 2560 x 1440 resolution with non-scaling UI
Naturally, there are workarounds which address this UI issue but they are just that, workarounds and as such are not perfect. The most common solution is to upscale the game from FHD to QHD/UHD. This way the UI remains readable. One way to do this is to use your graphic card’s software, such as AMD Adrenalin or GeForce Experience. Set the screen resolution in LOTRO to 1920 x 1080 and then use your GPU software to upscale the image to either 2K or 4K. This does work but setting it up is quite complex. There are presets for more recent gaming titles but not LOTRO, so it has to be configured manually. Furthermore, upgrades to the software can sometimes reset these settings. An easier method is to use a third party tool, such as Lossless Scaling which not only efficiently upscales the game resolution but can also provide frame generation if required.
Lossless Scaling is developed and published by THS and is a popular third-party utility primarily used by PC gamers. It applies various upscaling algorithms (including its proprietary LS1 and LSFG frame generation) to games and applications that lack native support for technologies like NVIDIA DLSS or AMD FSR. It is available for purchase via Steam or direct from the developer and costs $6.99 (although it is frequently discounted to half that price). Lossless Scaling makes the UI and text on high-resolution monitors much larger and more readable by scaling up the lower-resolution image. Unlike some mods, Lossless Scaling operates as a post-process and does not inject anything into the game's code, so it should not trigger anti-cheat systems or cause crashes. The results are good although the upscaled icons on the quickslots can be a little soft focus.
Quick guide to using Lossless Scaling
Download and run Lossless Scaling: Purchase and install Lossless Scaling from Steam, and let it run in the background.
Configure LOTRO: Launch The Lord of the Rings Online and set the game to run in windowed mode.
Set the in-game resolution: Within the game's settings, choose a lower resolution that matches your monitor's aspect ratio (e.g., \(1920x1080\) for a \(16:9\) monitor, even if your display is \(4K\)).
Activate scaling: In the game, press the Lossless Scaling hotkey (Ctrl+Alt+S by default) to start the scaling process.
Adjust settings: For a better experience, consider enabling "clip cursor," adjusting "cursor speed," and setting "scaling type" to LS1 in the Lossless Scaling application's settings.
Troubleshoot: If the game freezes, try disabling features like frame generation or performance mode in Lossless Scaling's settings, as these can sometimes cause issues.
LOTRO running at 1920 x 1080 resolution and upscaled to 2K using Lossless Scaling (Note the larger UI)
I have been using Lossless Scaling for a week and so far I’ve not encountered any major issues. The upscaled image looks good and the game runs smoothly. As mentioned earlier, the trade off in scaling the UI is that it doesn’t look as sharp as it does in its native resolution. There are some artifacts and tearing but the increase in size is far better on the eyes. If you have HDR compliant monitors, ensure that HDR support is toggled in the Lossless Scaling settings or else LOTRO looks over exposed with washed out colours. Until SSG resolves this matter, this is by far the best solution around. The nominal price is worth every penny. Furthermore, it can be used with other games and if you have a slightly older GPU, its ability to generate frames can help with more demanding titles.
Disco Elysium: The Second Playthrough
I recently started playing through the RPG Disco Elysium for a second time. I did not complete the game last time I played in February and March but go about two thirds of the way through the story. As far as solving the central crime, I had established an accurate cause of death for the murder victim and broadly understood the events leading to their death. The main reason I did not complete the game was because I was playing on the Nintendo Switch and found it increasingly difficult to read the text on the small screen. The loading times were also excruciatingly slow. Playing the game while “docked” helped the former but not the latter issue. Hence I bought the PC version of Disco Elysium: The Final Cut for just £5 and started again from the beginning.
I recently started playing through the RPG Disco Elysium for a second time. I did not complete the game last time I played in February and March but go about two thirds of the way through the story. As far as solving the central crime, I had established an accurate cause of death for the murder victim and broadly understood the events leading to their death. The main reason I did not complete the game was because I was playing on the Nintendo Switch and found it increasingly difficult to read the text on the small screen. The loading times were also excruciatingly slow. Playing the game while “docked” helped the former but not the latter issue. Hence I bought the PC version of Disco Elysium: The Final Cut for just £5 and started again from the beginning.
The main reason I decided to play again is because I really want to reach the ending. I am invested in the unfolding story and empathetic towards the two main protagonists. I would like to see a positive conclusion to their investigation and their respective personal journeys although judging by the inherent tone of events so far, that may not be the case. I also appreciate the scope of the narrative and its intellectual depth. The game gives the player much to think about and I find that a rare quality these days. Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is also clearly not an American game and its European roots are writ large in its complex faux geo-politics, lore and racial dynamics. This is both a unique game and experience. One that I’m simply just not done with yet. I need to see it through.
The main difference between this playthrough and the previous one, is that I have the benefit of hindsight. I know the sequence of events that I previously encountered and this time round I am seeking to pursue them in an optimal fashion. There is such breadth to the branching dialogue trees, that I don’t necessarily have to follow an identical path to last time. I have discovered much that is new to me, due to the game’s breadth. I am also judiciously “save scumming” and it has allowed me to uncover a lot more possible outcomes. This has helped no end with handling my interactions with various characters and afforded me a better perspective on their backstories. This second playthrough has allowed me to focus more on side quests. I don’t have to worry about earning rent as I know that on day 3 of the game, I can find alternative, free lodgings.
Playing on a PC, compared to my previous experience on the Switch, is also quite a revelation. I certainly appreciate the artstyle and design aspects of the game a lot more on a larger screen, at a higher resolution and with HDR. The game soundtrack by Sea Power is also striking, something I didn’t notice as much last time. However, the main benefit of this second play through is simply being able to read the dialogue text on screen, clearly and without impediment. The branching dialogue trees are key to this game and although Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is fully voice acted, it is important to be able to examine the text of what has been said and be able to digest it. There is a great deal of political, philosophical and theological content referenced throughout the game that is complex and requires consideration.
I am usually cautious about second playthroughs of games that I have found especially engaging. I have not replayed Skyrim, The Witcher III or Red Dead Redemption 2 as I wish to retain my first impressions of each respectively, as I feel they are all major gaming landmarks. Also because I invested a great deal of time into each and I would feel obliged to do the same again to attain a broadly comparable experience. On a practical level that isn’t viable. Because Disco Elysium is such a unique beast, I have returned to it to complete an experience, as opposed to revisiting a previous one. By finishing the game I believe I will have a better appreciation of it, as well as having the satisfaction of knowing what fate befalls Harry Du Bois and Kim Katsuragi. Two of the most well defined and intriguing characters in video games.
Paying For Domestic Services
When Mrs P and I moved into our current home, over twenty years ago, we were both working full time. As the garden was poorly maintained and neither of us had any horticultural skills, we decided to employ a gardener. At the time it was a practical solution to the issue of garden maintenance and remains so today. Hence it is a service we continue to use, although our personal health is now the main reason we pay a gardener.
When Mrs P and I moved into our current home, over twenty years ago, we were both working full time. As the garden was poorly maintained and neither of us had any horticultural skills, we decided to employ a gardener. At the time it was a practical solution to the issue of garden maintenance and remains so today. Hence it is a service we continue to use, although our personal health is now the main reason we pay a gardener.
More recently, we paid to have our oven cleaned. Again, this was a decision that was mainly made because we find the logistics of the task difficult. The results were better than anything we could have done ourselves. We are now giving serious consideration to having a cleaning company visit once a month to carry out a substantive household clean. This will then be supplemented with basic cleaning on a weekly basis, carried out by ourselves. Again the main reasons for using such services is time, our ability to do such things ourselves and the fact that the work is often done to a higher standard.
I personally have no problem with the idea of paying for domestic services. They are in principle equitable business transactions, carried out by people who have superior skills in the requisite field. Furthermore, the benefits of such arrangements go beyond the customer and vendor dynamic. Those supplying such services as gardening, car valeting or household cleaning are running businesses which are good for the wider economy. Yet despite all this, I occasionally encounter people who “frown upon” such business arrangements. Their opprobrium is not aimed so much at the providers of these services but more specifically at me for using them.
I am curious to try and understand where this mindset comes from. Is it born of a sense of middle-class guilt, perceptions of laziness, concerns about socio-economic inequality and the exploitation of workers? Perhaps it is a hangover from seventies socioeconomic politics? Or is it more entrenched in the UK’s neverending relationship with class? Do people still see such transactional services as reinforcing some archaic “upstairs, downstairs” social divide? Or is it as simple as the general lack of respect and dignity afforded to "unskilled" labour in society. Let us not forget the social dimension to this conundrum. Is hiring a cleaner an acceptable way to achieve a work/life balance, or is it merely outsourcing inequality. Maybe it’s simply a case that I encounter too many unreconstructed Marxists?
The philosophical arguments against such services notwithstanding, the demand for cleaning and other similar services, is at an all-time high in the UK, with 17% of households now hiring a cleaner. Many people see it as a practical and efficient way to free up leisure time, which is a premium and finite commodity. As for the social dynamic between customer and vendor, in my experience it is far from “feudal”. I treat those providing a service in my home with the same courtesy as I would outside of it.
Perhaps this is a uniquely British quirk? Does the same criticism of using domestic services arise in the US, which to my mind is a far more transactional society. Surely the growth of the gig economy must be putting pay to this somewhat archaic perspective? There are many more practical services available for hire than ever before. From bespoke cake making to jetwashing your drive. In the meantime, I am certainly going to continue to pay for whatever domestic services our household requires. Furthermore, the older I get, the more I shall use them, for obvious reasons.
Cable Management
I recently bought two new monitors and a stand for my PC tower case. Today I thought I’d take the opportunity to disconnect every peripheral, clear my desk and then after a thorough clean, reassemble everything ensuring good cable management. I even went so far as to buy a new power extension lead so I could reorganise where everything was plugged in and therefore be able to isolate specific hardware. It seemed such a simple, straightforward task on paper. The reality was much different. It took me over three hours to sort out, mainly due to the fact that I don’t “bend” so well these days. During this Herculean task, my watch kept on notifying me that my heart rate was “high”. However, I regularly took breaks and fortified myself with gin for medicinal reasons. I am pleased with the results of this task.
I recently bought two new monitors and a stand for my PC tower case. Today I thought I’d take the opportunity to disconnect every peripheral, clear my desk and then after a thorough clean, reassemble everything ensuring good cable management. I even went so far as to buy a new power extension lead so I could reorganise where everything was plugged in and therefore be able to isolate specific hardware. It seemed such a simple, straightforward task on paper. The reality was much different. It took me over three hours to sort out, mainly due to the fact that I don’t “bend” so well these days. During this Herculean task, my watch kept on notifying me that my heart rate was “high”. However, I regularly took breaks and fortified myself with gin for medicinal reasons. I am pleased with the results of this task.
As well as a new power extension lead, I also bought a cable management kit that came with two cable sleeves of differing diameters, both 3 meters in length. There was also a wealth of zip ties and adhesive cable clips. The kit also came with a curious tool that I deduced was used for inserting the sundry cables into the sleeves. No instructions were supplied but I quickly found a YouTube video that showed me how to use it. After a while I managed to get both DisplayPort cables along with the keyboard, mouse, AUX and ethernet cables into one sleeve which I then carefully cut for a perfect fit. I spent some further time organising power cables and carefully tying up the slack so they can’t get caught on my feet or anything else. I can now turn off my PC and monitors while still keeping my wireless charger and printer on.
Cable management is a chore and I fully understand why most people avoid it and pursue a policy of “out of sight, out of mind”. It involves fiddling about in confined spaces, be it under your desk or inside your PC case. However, spending some time to get things sorted pays dividends in the long run. I can clean under my desk now without fear of accidentally pulling out any cables. The reduced clutter around the PC base unit improves the airflow and if I need to do any maintenance, I can access things a lot easier. I can also isolate specific devices due to my fancy new power extension lead. It was also a very satisfying experience, and the hard work was mainly due to me being so out of shape. The fact that I can be a little compulsive when it comes to being tidy and organised obviously had no bearing on the matter, whatsoever.
New Monitors
I use two monitors with my PC, as I find having the additional screen “real estate” invaluable when writing or playing games. Both monitors that I’ve been using up to now are somewhat old and they are not exactly the same size or resolution, although both are FHD. I have previously written about the problems I’ve had trying to get certain games and programs to display on specific monitors and the lengths I’ve had to go to to resolve this issue. To cut a long story short, I recently decided to replace both monitors with larger models with a higher resolution. Mainly because my eyesight is not what it used to be. I see best when working with a bright screen that can produce clear text. New monitors would also address my ongoing screen output problem. Hence, I set myself a reasonable budget and began researching appropriate replacements.
I use two monitors with my PC, as I find having the additional screen “real estate” invaluable when writing or playing games. Both monitors that I’ve been using up to now are somewhat old and they are not exactly the same size or resolution, although both are FHD. I have previously written about the problems I’ve had trying to get certain games and programs to display on specific monitors and the lengths I’ve had to go to to resolve this issue. To cut a long story short, I recently decided to replace both monitors with larger models with a higher resolution. Mainly because my eyesight is not what it used to be. I see best when working with a bright screen that can produce clear text. New monitors would also address my ongoing screen output problem. Hence, I set myself a reasonable budget and began researching appropriate replacements.
While reading online, I learned that some people are using large screen TVs as an alternative to traditional PC monitors. This does come with some caveats. OLED TVs are particularly favoured due to the fact that each pixel is self-lit, which allows for strong blacks, an extensive contrast ratio, and superior viewing angles. They also have fast response times, making them great for gaming. 43 inch screens seem to be the most desirable choice. However, there was a lot of debate about how well the screens handle text and its respective clarity. Also, sitting in front of such a large screen is not for everyone, with some people finding it visually overwhelming. I went as far as going to an electrical retailer and actually standing close to such a screen to see if such a choice was for me. I quickly determined that it was not.
Having dismissed this option, I began looking into what screen resolutions my graphics card could comfortably handle. I have an AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT which at present handles all my gaming needs well at 1920 x 1080 FHD. Opinion seems to be mixed as to how well it copes with 2560 x 1440 QHD and what framerates it can sustain. However, the performance offered by my GPU is sufficient for my needs and if there are any problems, I can always default back to FHD and upscale to 2K. With this in mind I began looking for 27 inch gaming monitors. Fortunately there are plenty of “Black Friday” sales currently ongoing and I managed to purchase two AOC Q27G42XE Quad HD 27" IPS LCD Gaming Monitors. These usually retail at £149.00 but are on sale for £109.00 at Curry’s website. This was well within the £300 budget which I had set.
Upon delivery of my new monitors, I took the opportunity to disconnect my PC and all peripherals and comprehensively clean my desk and the surrounding area. I also removed some devices that are no longer being used, such as my Nintendo Switch along with a plethora of redundant cables. So far I have not run into any major issues with the new monitors. The screens provide excellent clarity when web browsing and working with Google Docs. Video content is also sharp, with vibrant colours, due to the HDR support. Some older video games have required some tweaking but nothing too complex. More recent titles are maintaining an acceptable framerate at 1440p, although it is pushing the GPU to its performance limit. Overall, I am happy with this upgrade. It keeps my PC setup viable and kicks any future upgrade a little further down the road.
MMO Tropes: The Current Meta
I recently read a post on Massively Overpowered about skills rotation in the MMORPG genre. I found the subsequent discussion in the comments fascinating. Mainly because I have never used a fixed rotation of skills in any of the MMORPGs that I play. I understand the reasoning behind such things and why some players want to optimise their combat performance. Using one’s skills in a specific order to maximise damage and manage their subsequent cooldown has a logical appeal. In Star Trek Online, some players go so far as to create keybinds for their rotations and assign it to a specific hotkey, which is then continuously pressed throughout combat. However, rotations are a blunt tool that lack flexibility, often being geared towards dealing with a single target or using an area of effect skill against a larger group. They may not be the optimal approach to combat when things do not go to plan.
I recently read a post on Massively Overpowered about skills rotation in the MMORPG genre. I found the subsequent discussion in the comments fascinating. Mainly because I have never used a fixed rotation of skills in any of the MMORPGs that I play. I understand the reasoning behind such things and why some players want to optimise their combat performance. Using one’s skills in a specific order to maximise damage and manage their subsequent cooldown has a logical appeal. In Star Trek Online, some players go so far as to create keybinds for their rotations and assign it to a specific hotkey, which is then continuously pressed throughout combat. However, rotations are a blunt tool that lack flexibility, often being geared towards dealing with a single target or using an area of effect skill against a larger group. They may not be the optimal approach to combat when things do not go to plan.
Skill rotations are just a part of a wider culture of optimisation and automation, not only in the MMO genre but in gaming per se. A lot of gamers seek to determine what is the best gear or overall build within a game and spend a lot of time min-maxing until they arrive at a consensus. Although these waters can be muddied by such things as play style, in a lot of games that are based around the acquisition and upgrading of gear, there usually tends to be specific items or combinations of them that yield the best results. Hence we see a prevailing game meta emerge. Meta being “most effective tactic available” although the term also covers loadouts and builds. A clear example of this is in Call of Duty: Warzone, where the “Holy Grail” of builds is a weapon with a high rate of fire and damage, with little recoil. Despite launching three weeks ago, a clear meta is emerging in Battlefield 6.
From a logical perspective, knowing which build or gear is the optimal is beneficial. However, the obvious downside to prevailing gaming metas is that they can limit player choice. Any item of strategy that is sub-optimal is redundant. Hence metas potentially remove fun and stifle creativity. It can also affect role-playing elements. Standardising aspects of a game can lead to a repetitive experience where players feel obliged to follow the meta to stay competitive. It also negates large swathes of gear and items, even classes, as they are deemed sub-par and therefore a poor choice. In multiplayer games, those who have not pursued the prevailing meta may find themselves excluded from group content as they may not be able to perform their respective role as efficiently. Additionally, the relentless pursuit of efficiency and overall optimisation can lead to a community of “tryhards” and “sweats”.
If all of these criticisms are correct then why do gaming metas prevail? One reason is the inherent complexity of modern video games, especially the MMORPG genre. There are a lot of systems to learn as well as game mechanics. Not all of these are immediately understandable and many have a basis in mathematics thus not universally appealing. When starting a new game, many gamers do not want to get bogged down in excessive tutorials and explanations. They simply want to learn as they play. If the complexities of a game are unappealing and you have neither the time or inclination to learn, then it is quicker and easier just to follow a meta build recommendation. I have been playing The Lord of the Rings Online for 17 years and I still only have the broadest understanding of the game’s statistical system. I know that Will is important for the Lore-master class but not exactly why.
Prevailing game metas also pose a problem for developers, as they strive to seek balance within their games. This requires continuous monitoring of data to inform adjustments. However, altering the meta through balance changes can anger players who have invested time and resources into the previous meta strategies, potentially leading to community issues. Developers need to regularly “shake up” the existing meta with new content or balance changes to keep the game fresh and prevent player burnout, which is crucial for long-term player retention in live-service games such as MMOs. Yet players always find ways to optimize the “fun out of a game” (as some players see it) faster than developers can anticipate. Sometimes, a meta related problem stems from a fundamental flaw in a core game mechanic, which might require a complex rework rather than simple numerical tweaks.
Emerging game metas seems to be a “chicken and the egg” problem and not just for the MMO and other multiplayer subgenres. Unless there are some fundamental changes to the standard mechanics used in most games, they will always emerge. Introducing “dynamic” mechanics is one approach, where systems can change due to external factors. The so-called Rock, Paper, Scissor approach where for every strategy or class advantage there is a hcounter-strategy, preventing any single approach from being universally dominant. This ensures the “best” strategy is situational and dependent on what the opponent is doing. However, this may be a little too close to “random”, which is seldom appealing. Then there’s the issue of skill. That however, is an entire blog post in itself. In the meantime, it is apparent that for the present prevailing metas will endure in games and we just have to live with them.
The UK Online Safety Act: 3 Months On
In July the UK Government introduced the Online Safety Act which requires age checks for accessing sexually explicit content online. As a result of this, Pornhub, the 19th most visited site on the internet, has reported a 77% decline in UK traffic. Furthermore, according to the UK regulatory body, OFCOM (The Office of Communications), overall visits to pornographic websites from the UK have fallen by 33%. Naturally, those who championed this legislation are claiming a moral and political victory. However, once you consider what these facts actually mean, they paint a somewhat different and potentially more worrying picture. It would be staggeringly naïve to think that UK visitors to Pornhub have ceased visiting such sites due to the age verification requirements. The more likely explanation is that UK porn consumers are now using VPNs to circumnavigate these restrictions and that this traffic to Pornhub is now recorded as coming from elsewhere.
In July the UK Government introduced the Online Safety Act which requires age checks for accessing sexually explicit content online. As a result of this, Pornhub, the 19th most visited site on the internet, has reported a 77% decline in UK traffic. Furthermore, according to the UK regulatory body, OFCOM (The Office of Communications), overall visits to pornographic websites from the UK have fallen by 33%. Naturally, those who championed this legislation are claiming a moral and political victory. However, once you consider what these facts actually mean, they paint a somewhat different and potentially more worrying picture. It would be staggeringly naïve to think that UK visitors to Pornhub have ceased visiting such sites due to the age verification requirements. The more likely explanation is that UK porn consumers are now using VPNs to circumnavigate these restrictions and that this traffic to Pornhub is now recorded as coming from elsewhere.
According to independent research by Cybernews, the UK has become one of the world’s fastest-growing VPN markets. The UK ranks eighth worldwide for VPN adoption at the time of writing and is now the leading G7 nation in terms of VPN use and one of only three European countries included in the top 10 list. Data shows the UK logged over 10.7 million VPN app downloads in the first half of 2025, surpassing countries such as the US, France, and Germany. One vendor of VPN services for smartphones saw an increase in downloads of 1,800%. All of which indicates the inherent flaw in the OSA, that it can be easily bypassed by using a VPN. Clearly this law is not supported by a substantial number of UK citizens. According to Google, prior to the OSA, eight million users from the UK visited a quarter of a million pornographic websites each month. Such a market doesn’t just vanish overnight.
The Online Safety Act is a typical piece of UK Government legislation, insofar as it is well intentioned in seeking to protect children from harmful content online. However, the parameters of this act and the manner in which it strives to enforce its mandate are ill considered. Clearly those involved have little or no understanding of contemporary information technology and infrastructure. It can also be argued that they have underestimated human nature. The result is legislation that can only deal with the symptoms of a problem and furthermore, only in a binary fashion. Any site that is deemed problematic has to implement age verification. If it will not or cannot, it is blocked by UK ISPs. At best it is a rather blunt tool. At worst, it has provided the current and all future UK Governments with the means to censor content with impunity.
I am not an absolutist libertarian but I do prefer the state to minimise its involvement in social issues. I believe that there is a duty of care to protect children from specific online content but I do not think that is the sole job of the UK Government. Parents, guardians and carers should be the first and foremost group involved in such an undertaking. Those who are legally responsible for a child’s welfare should know exactly what a child is doing online and police it accordingly. Sadly, we have a generation of parents who are just as enamoured with social media and online culture as their children and therefore are hardly best equipped to deal with this matter. Levels of IT literacy are also quite low in many adults. Despite a superficial “monkey see, monkey do” ability to use technology, there is seldom any functional understanding of how such things actually work.
Three months on from the launch of the OSA in the UK, I personally have not been greatly inconvenienced by this legislation so far. I’ve had to verify my age once for Instagram. This used an AI to look at an image of my face and determine if I am over 18. It was hardly a chore and I didn’t expect my age to be disputed. Beyond this one time, I have bypassed any issues as I have a VPN extension installed in all my web browsers and a year’s subscription to Surfshark. Outside of my personal experience, numerous websites that deal with sexual health and wellbeing have been blocked. Even Wikipedia has had to age gate certain content. All of which is troubling. Unfortunately, I can only see this matter getting worse over time and becoming more of a political football, driven by hot takes and showboating. Poorly conceived legislation often fails and brings the law into disrepute. In the meantime are children any safer? I doubt it.
PC Airflow and Dust Contamination
It may be a case of preaching to the Choir but dust contamination in your PC causes overheating, decreased performance, and potential hardware failure. This mainly occurs due to dust restricting airflow, impeding components such as heat sinks and creating short circuits from conductive particles. Fluff builds up and restricts cooling fans, forcing them to work harder. Heat build can lead to issues like system crashes, lagging, and even permanent damage to the motherboard and CPU. Over time, it can shorten the lifespan of the computer and in severe cases, poses a fire hazard. When I used to work in IT contracting, I used to see the effects of dust contamination all the time. PC placed on carpet tiles or on top of desks and surrounded by other objects. I remember one PC replacement project I was working on where we found an old PC with a dead mouse in it. It was desiccated by the heat.
It may be a case of preaching to the Choir but dust contamination in your PC causes overheating, decreased performance, and potential hardware failure. This mainly occurs due to dust restricting airflow, impeding components such as heat sinks and creating short circuits from conductive particles. Fluff builds up and restricts cooling fans, forcing them to work harder. Heat build can lead to issues like system crashes, lagging, and even permanent damage to the motherboard and CPU. Over time, it can shorten the lifespan of the computer and in severe cases, poses a fire hazard. When I used to work in IT contracting, I used to see the effects of dust contamination all the time. PC placed on carpet tiles or on top of desks and surrounded by other objects. I remember one PC replacement project I was working on where we found an old PC with a dead mouse in it. It was desiccated by the heat.
I bought my latest PC in January 2024. It has a Be Quiet branded case with two fans in the front and back of the chassis. The PSU is installed in the base of the tower case with the fan facing downwards, over a grill with a dust filter over it. The feet on the case raise the base about 2 centimeters or so off the ground. The GPU has two fans and there is a large fan on the heatsink of the CPU. The case itself has ventilation at the back, front and in the base. The PC resides under my desk and stands on a hardwood floor. I noticed over the last fortnight that the ambient temperature of my office was getting warmer and it was clear that the PC was the source of the heat. The fans were also getting noisier when playing graphic intensive games. So I adjusted the speed of the two fans mounted in the case to cool the PC and decided that I should have a look in the case once it was turned off.
Despite having adequate ventilation in a clean room (I vacuum the floor weekly), all fans in the PC had a substantial layer of grey fluff. The base of the PC where the vent for the PSU is located was especially clogged. It was clear that all fans were being impeded by the dust contamination and that the PSU was getting especially hot. Fortunately I bought a USB air duster and vacuum cleaner recently and used this to remove all dust and fluff. After cleaning all fans appeared to be spinning unimpeded. I subsequently vacuumed the room so that the displaced dust and fluff wasn’t drawn back into the PC case. I am still surprised at how much dust was present, especially in light of the fact that we do not have any carpeting in our home but there are plenty of other potential sources both inside and outside the house. Upon turning the PC back on, the fans were noticeably quieter and the temperature remained stable.
Since cleaning my PC case I have given some thought to relocating my base unit off the floor. Unfortunately there isn’t sufficient desk space available at present. As a compromise I bought a PC stand that raises the case a further 7 centimetres off the ground and allows air to flow under the PC a lot more freely. As it’s on wheels it also allows me to pull the case out from under the desk for easy access to the various cables that connect at the back. Overall I recommend checking your PC for dust contamination at least once every quarter and ensuring that your PC case is placed for optimal ventilation. It would appear that PC’s overheating is still a common problem and can on occasions do damage to the CPU, GPU and PSU. In extreme circumstances you may even flambé a rodent, which would never do. However, 10 minutes of simple maintenance, every few months, can prevent such things.
Battlefield REDSEC
The Battlefield 6 Battle Royale game mode, known officially as Battlefield REDSEC, was released today at 15;00 on all platforms. REDSEC, which is short for “Redacted Sector,” offers an interesting take on the Battle Royale genre, blending familiar elements from games such as Fortnight and Warzone, while maintaining those unique aspects of Battlefield. Hence, you will find missions, loot crates and an ever decreasing environment, as well as the squad class dynamics and the destructible environment. The map offers both urban areas as well as open countryside thus supporting multiple play styles. Furthermore, REDSEC includes two additional modes. Gauntlet and Portal. Although it has launched alongside the first season of Battlefield 6 (which comes with an optional season pass), REDSEC is available to download as a standalone mode and is free-to-play.
The Battlefield 6 Battle Royale game mode, known officially as Battlefield REDSEC, was released today at 15;00 on all platforms. REDSEC, which is short for “Redacted Sector,” offers an interesting take on the Battle Royale genre, blending familiar elements from games such as Fortnight and Warzone, while maintaining those unique aspects of Battlefield. Hence, you will find missions, loot crates and an ever decreasing environment, as well as the squad class dynamics and the destructible environment. The map offers both urban areas as well as open countryside thus supporting multiple play styles. Furthermore, REDSEC includes two additional modes. Gauntlet and Portal. Although it has launched alongside the first season of Battlefield 6 (which comes with an optional season pass), REDSEC is available to download as a standalone mode and is free-to-play.
REDSEC Battle Royale FAQ:
REDSEC is set in Fort Lyndon, California.
The map includes beachside suburbia, a golf course and a military blacksite.
It’s the largest map in Battlefield history.
Instead of an enclosing circle of gas, there is a ring of fire which kills instantly.
The game mode supports 100 players, or 25 squads of 50 duos, battling it out.
Each class can unlock new gear through training paths. IE RPGs can be upgraded to guided missiles and drones can be upgraded to carry ordinance.
Armoured vehicles are present in the game. M1 Abrams tanks and M3 Bradley armoured personnel carriers are located in locked Vehicle Trailers.
There are Redeployment Stations around the map, although respawning is not as ubiquitous in this Battle Royale.
Players can favourite up to 8 weapons loadouts, which can be accessed in-game via Custom Weapon Drops.
There are crates offering random weapons and gear. There are also safes which the Engineer class can open with his tool.
Players can equip two personal armour plates.
There are multiple ziplines around the map.
Gauntlet Mode:
Gauntlet is a separate mode that is a relatively short, elimination-driven gameplay experience. 32 players (eight squads of four players) are dispersed across Fort Lyndon and must fight through various round-based missions. Players have five minutes to complete the objective for each round. The missions and locations change for each round. Gauntlet is focused upon teamwork and coordination.
Portal Mode:
Portal allows Battlefield 6 players to create their own game modes and bespoke maps. REDSEC Portal brings these tools to the Fort Lyndon map. Two official Portal maps are currently available with more set to follow in the weeks to come.
Battle Pass:
Coinciding with the launch of REDSEC, is Season 1 for Battlefield 6 and an accompanying battle pass system. This shares unlockable rewards and XP progress between both the base game and its Battle Royale REDSEC counterpart. EA have stated that they have no plans for there to be any exclusive REDSEC unlocks. However, not all skins from Battlefield 6 will be available. There is also an in-game store selling cosmetic items but so far, these remain within an military idiom.
Initial Thoughts:
I logged into REDSEC this afternoon and as I had bought the Phantom Edition of Battlefield 6, I had a free season pass with the first 25 levels unlocked. I then spent some time playing Battle Royale mode and then went online to watch some livestreams. At first glance, anyone coming from another major BR game will find a lot of familiar mechanics. You drop into the map with a squad and collect gear and perks from crates along the way. You can then pursue missions to gain XP and upgrades to your weapons and gear, while eliminating other players. You can access your own loadouts and use vehicles to traverse the map, although heavy armour is not so easily accessible. The main difference is to succeed you need to lean into the game’s squad dynamics and utilise their respective skills.
Healing your team is important, so Support classes are advantageous with their ability to revive players quickly. That being said, all players can drag a downed teammate to cover and heal them but it takes longer. Engineers improve vehicles by their presence and can repair on the fly. The tactical ladder that accompanies the Assault class is invaluable, affording access to vantage points that aren’t accessible from the ground. The Recon class has the advantage of drones and the ability to drop bombs on targets. However, the biggest game changer in this Battle Royale is the destructible environment. You can create your own access into a building with C4 or a sledgehammer. Similarly, if an enemy squad is entrenched in a fortified position, you can demolish it with sufficient fire power. Plus, there is no ultraquick omnimovement in this game. Speedy gunfights may work in some scenarios but not all.
So far, I think that Battlefield REDSEC is sufficiently different from its competitors. Due to the franchise’s game mechanics, there is greater appeal to casual and new players because they will be able to find a role if gunplay is not their forte. No doubt REDSEC will attract “sweaty tryhards” but they may not find things to their liking and their standard strategy will not work so well in this environment. There won’t be any gas play clutches, as in Warzone and last moment heroics driven by omnimovement and hipfire may be far less commonplace. It may even be the case that vehicles prove to be the key to winning. Also, Javelin, a custom kernel-level anti-cheat system, may also be a major factor in keeping REDSEC an equitable gaming experience because it appears to work. Time will tell. In the meantime I believe the correct assessment of today’s release is “so far, so good”.
Screenshots from Jackfrags livestream.
Waiting For Amazon's Lord of the Rings MMO
Tolkien enthusiasts may recollect Athlon Games, a subsidiary of Leyou Technologies, announcing that it was developing a new MMORPG, based upon The Lord of the Rings, back in September 2018. The following summer, it was revealed that Amazon Game Studios was the partner developer for the project. In late 2020, Leyou Technologies (a Hong Kong-based company), was acquired by the Chinese conglomerate Tencent. This triggered a contract clause with the license holder, Middle-earth Enterprises, allowing them to terminate the existing arrangement if a new deal could not be met. Amazon and Tencent were unable to agree upon how to proceed with the project, leading Amazon to withdraw from negotiations. The project was subsequently scrapped. No details or images of the MMO have been released.
Tolkien enthusiasts may recollect Athlon Games, a subsidiary of Leyou Technologies, announcing that it was developing a new MMORPG, based upon The Lord of the Rings, back in September 2018. The following summer, it was revealed that Amazon Game Studios was the partner developer for the project. In late 2020, Leyou Technologies (a Hong Kong-based company), was acquired by the Chinese conglomerate Tencent. This triggered a contract clause with the license holder, Middle-earth Enterprises, allowing them to terminate the existing arrangement if a new deal could not be met. Amazon and Tencent were unable to agree upon how to proceed with the project, leading Amazon to withdraw from negotiations. The project was subsequently scrapped. No details or images of the MMO have been released.
However, despite the project being terminated, Amazon Games still wished to develop a game based upon Tolkien’s Legendarium. No doubt driven by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos’ love of this intellectual property, plus the fact that Amazon MGM Studios is committed to producing further seasons of the TV show, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Hence, in May 2023, it was announced that another The Lord of the Rings MMO was in the early stages of production. This time, the development and publishing of the game is under a new agreement with Embracer Group’s who bought Middle-earth Enterprises in August 2022. The new game is being developed by Amazon Games Orange County, the same studio that created the MMO New World. At present, it is not clear how far into development the game is or the scheduled release date.
Two and a half years on from the initial announcement, no major details of this new MMO have been released. However, there is no indication that the project is in any sort of difficulty either. Thus it is logical to assume that no news is good news and that the game is still in full production. From the little information that is in the public domain it would appear that the game will be utilising an evolved version of the Azoth Engine (which was developed for New World) to deliver a distinct realisation of Middle-earth. One of the game’s aims is to be able to support large-scale multiplayer battles. At present the developers are searching for a unique “hook” to differentiate the game from others in the genre. Apparently, the game is not linked to The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which is set in the Second Age. Instead the game is clearly set in the literary events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
Naturally, such a dearth of information has led to a great deal of speculation from Tolkien fans and gamers. Firstly, the term MMO is very nebulous and can include a wide variety of gaming genres and sub-genres these days. Is this game a traditional MMORPG with a persistent world, quests, player progression and a key social dynamic, like New World itself. Or are we looking at a game with an emphasis on multiplayer battles with the social elements being adjacent to the main game, such as Destiny 2 or something similar? What will the business model be? A freemium hybrid like traditional MMOs, or a totally free-to-play game with a season pass? Furthermore, will this new game be available across multiple platforms, as New World, The Elder Scrolls Online and Neverwinter?
For many gamers perhaps the biggest question is how will the release of a new multiplayer game based upon Tolkien’s work, impact upon the existing MMORPG, The Lord of the Rings Online. From a business perspective, can two such games co-exist without threatening each other’s business prospects, or will there be licensing issues? Although Star Wars Galaxies was not directly "killed off" to make way for Star Wars: The Old Republic, its closure was the result of a mutual decision by LucasArts and Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) after their contract was set to expire and because they felt there was no need for two Star Wars MMOs. Could something similar be a possibility here? LOTRO is currently 18 years old and has a small but loyal playerbase. However, it clearly is not going to grow any further. Would a significant proportion of its core players migrate to a new game?
Competition is a healthy thing, in principle at least and it is nice as a consumer to have choice. I am always interested in different people’s visions of Professor Tolkien's work, such as artists like Alan Lee, John Howe and Ted Nasmith, so for me a new game would be welcome purely from a creative and aesthetic perspective. The themes and lore of Middle-earth lend themselves to a variety of interpretations, so I see no benefit in creating an MMO that just replicates what LOTRO does. However, business is often loath to deviate from the tried and tested models that are currently profitable, so there is a possibility that gamers may well just get the same meat, but with different gravy. All of the so-called WoW killers that were released over the last 15 years have essentially followed that game’s formula.
I would like the new LOTR MMO to be a less linear game with more dynamic content and the chance to develop characters that aren't solely based around combat. To be able to lose oneself in a virtual Middle Earth, where you are free to explore, craft, farm, trade or simply wander would be a true marvel and a massive step forward for gamers and fans of the IP. If such a system could be combined with optional narrative quests and multiplayer battles, then it may be the perfect compromise. But such ideas are not necessarily practical, achievable or economically viable. The development costs required to create such a world would be substantial and the risk of such an experimental project would be substantial. Such an undertaking is best left to the likes of Raph Koster. In the meantime, we just have to wait and manage our expectations, which is a gamer’s default position.
My Local Cinema
In a misguided fit of enthusiasm, I briefly considered booking tickets to go to London next month to see Predator: Badlands at the IMAX cinema at Waterloo. However, I balked at the price and when I considered the train journey and the fact I’d be going on my own, apathy got the better of me. I decided to wait until the film becomes available on Disney + etc. Hence cinema’s loss is streaming’s gain, which seems to be becoming an all too familiar story. I’ve only been to the cinema once this year and that was to the British Film Institute, where I saw an old classic, Electra Glide in Blue, rather than a new film. Last year I went to the cinema three times. All visits were to my local venue, the Sidcup Storyteller. Sadly that cinema has been closed since the end of July and its future has hung in the balance. Its absence has been keenly felt as it provided a pleasant and convenient local service.
In a misguided fit of enthusiasm, I briefly considered booking tickets to go to London next month to see Predator: Badlands at the IMAX cinema at Waterloo. However, I balked at the price and when I considered the train journey and the fact I’d be going on my own, apathy got the better of me. I decided to wait until the film becomes available on Disney + etc. Hence cinema’s loss is streaming’s gain, which seems to be becoming an all too familiar story. I’ve only been to the cinema once this year and that was to the British Film Institute, where I saw an old classic, Electra Glide in Blue, rather than a new film. Last year I went to the cinema three times. All visits were to my local venue, the Sidcup Storyteller. Sadly that cinema has been closed since the end of July and its future has hung in the balance. Its absence has been keenly felt as it provided a pleasant and convenient local service.
The Sidcup Storyteller cinema temporarily closed because its operator, Really Local Group (RLG), went into liquidation. RLG faced wider financial difficulties, which led to the closure of its venues and a temporary closure of the Sidcup cinema for a refurbishment and transition to new management. The cinema was expected to reopen under a new operator, supported by Bexley Council in September. Sadly, finding a replacement operator with the necessary experience has proven harder than expected. However, it would appear that the management team behind Hackney’s Castle Cinema are looking to run the Sidcup Storyteller, which seems very reassuring. The Castle Cinema is an independent, crowd-funded community movie theatre and not affiliated to any corporate behemoths.
As there is no timetable at present for the re-opening of the Sidcup Storyteller cinema, I shall have to look to nearby alternatives for my immediate cinematic needs. There is the Vue cinema in Eltham High Street and Cineworld in Bexleyheath Broadway. They’re not my first choice as I’ve had issues with them in the past, such as film’s being shown in the wrong aspect ratio and lighting being insufficiently dimmed. They also seem to favour the most commercially viable films to schedule. Hence you don’t always get as much choice as you would like. Plus they tend to attract younger viewers who struggle with the social etiquette associated with a trip to the cinema. Therefore, I hope that an appropriate deal can be struck between the Castle Cinema management and Bexley Council, resulting in the Sidcup Storyteller cinema re-opening its doors soon.
Battlefield 6: Farming XP and AFK Bot Servers
One aspect of Battlefield 6 that some players struggle with is unlocking and levelling up new weapons. Players begin the game with a selection of weapons from each class but you then have to actively play with each of them to unlock specific attachments via Mastery XP. Further weapons become available as players gain experience and increase their overall Career Rank. Players who are well versed in playing the FPS genre will naturally progress faster. The downside to this is that new players equipped with a base weapon end up going up against seasoned players with superior firearms. Both Mastery and Career Rank XP are doled out according to team and individual performance in each game you play. It is a slow grind for players to unlock weapon and vehicle resources. Double XP tokens go some way to address this issue but they do not mitigate the progression speed, which exists by design.
One aspect of Battlefield 6 that some players struggle with is unlocking and levelling up new weapons. Players begin the game with a selection of weapons from each class but you then have to actively play with each of them to unlock specific attachments via Mastery XP. Further weapons become available as players gain experience and increase their overall Career Rank. Players who are well versed in playing the FPS genre will naturally progress faster. The downside to this is that new players equipped with a base weapon end up going up against seasoned players with superior firearms. Both Mastery and Career Rank XP are doled out according to team and individual performance in each game you play. It is a slow grind for players to unlock weapon and vehicle resources. Double XP tokens go some way to address this issue but they do not mitigate the progression speed, which exists by design.
However, this problem has been creatively addressed by the player base. Battlefield 6 allows players to create custom servers and populate them with bots. These can be shared with other players or used privately. Hence within hours of the game launching on 10th October, players have been creating bot farms and playing against low threat AI bots to gain both types of XP, frictionlessly. Unfortunately, as of today Battlefield Studios have now nerfed the ability to gain Mastery XP from custom games with bots. You can no longer use such servers for Daily Missions, Assignments or Challenges either. However, farming Match Completion Bonus which counts towards your Career Rank XP, is still possible at the time of writing this post. Players can set up a private AFK bot server with games that last just 4 minutes, which yields 3465 XP each time.
To set up a private AFK bot server, go to Battlefield Portal and sign in with their EA account credentials. Then follow the steps below.
Click Create New and then select Portal Custom (not Verified Modes).
Then choose Default and click on Start Editing.
The first setting that you can configure is the game time. Set this to 4 minutes which is below the game timeout for being AFK.
Leave all other settings to their respective defaults and then click on Publish, on the drop down menu on the left of the screen.
The next screen allows you to name the server. Click on Step 3, again on the drop down menu on the left of the screen, to to go to the Publish Experience page.
Finally click on Create New and then Submit To Publishing, to complete the process. Your custom game will be flagged as Pending but you can still use it.
To run the server, start Battlefield 6 and navigate to Community and My Experience, where you will find your customer server. Host it and let it run. It will not be visible to other players. A multiplayer game will start and finish every 4 minutes, giving you 3465 XP Match Completion Bonus each time. You don’t have to do anything else and can go AFK. This method can be used on both consoles and PCs. It should yield good results for players just starting to level in the game but it should be noted that as you advance your Career Rank, the amount of XP required for the next level always increases. Hence a level 1 player running such a server running for six hours may gain 6 levels, whereas a level 45 player doing the same may only gain half that amount. Use accordingly and remember that this workaround may also be nerfed at a later date by Battlefield Studios.
Battlefield 6: More Tips
Multiplayer gameplay in Battlefield 6 is often fast, chaotic and disorientating. There are numerous controls to learn and game mechanics to familiarise yourself with. It can be a struggle at times to try and navigate your keyboard while under fire. Often you will lose in a gunfight simply because you don’t know about something important that could help you out or save your life. Like many other online games, it all comes down to experience. So here are some further tips regarding gameplay, settings and online etiquette, that will broaden your knowledge of Battlefield 6 and hopefully improve your online experience. As ever these tips are in no particular order. Some may be self-evident, others not. They’re written from the perspective of a PC player but are applicable to all platforms.
Multiplayer gameplay in Battlefield 6 is often fast, chaotic and disorientating. There are numerous controls to learn and game mechanics to familiarise yourself with. It can be a struggle at times to try and navigate your keyboard while under fire. Often you will lose in a gunfight simply because you don’t know about something important that could help you out or save your life. Like many other online games, it all comes down to experience. So here are some further tips regarding gameplay, settings and online etiquette, that will broaden your knowledge of Battlefield 6 and hopefully improve your online experience. As ever these tips are in no particular order. Some may be self-evident, others not. They’re written from the perspective of a PC player but are applicable to all platforms.
Any class can drag and heal another incapacitated player. This is essential to conserving tickets.
Interact with Support players by pressing E, LS to replenish ammo. Alternatively request ammo by using the radial menu.
Take the high ground in combat. It is easier to spot enemies and direct your squad from elevated positions. It is easier to fire down on an enemy for an enemy to fire up.
Within the game’s graphic settings lower the World Brightness from 50 to 40. It improves visual clarity.
Do not take vehicles without allowing other players the option of joining you. A solo player cannot drive as well as fire primary and secondary weapons. Vehicles have both an offensive use, as well as providing team transportation.
Use the combat roll to negate or reduce fall damage. Just press jump while dropping down from a building. For distances under 8 metres and you sustain no damage.
Do not use a sniper rifle outside of the Recon class as it randomly misses shots by design.
Charge your defibrillators by pressing the trigger on your mouse or controller before reviving players, as it brings them back with more health.
Suppressed weapons do not show as a red dot on the minimap at 15 metres distance, when fired. Players firing suppressed weapons in your line of sight do not show a red dot above their heads.
Use the tactical ladder to access windows, climb walls and to reach elevated cover.
Support class ammo bags are proximity-based and will resupply ammo in the AoE radius. The bag also provides a low, passive heal over time. Ammo bags can also be used to boost your initial stock of grenades and RPGs.
Initiation Breakthrough is a tutorial game mode featuring enemy bots, designed for new players to learn the basics of the game. It becomes unavailable between levels 10 to 20, depending on how much you use it.
Turn on Helicopter Control Assist within the game settings, as it allows the helicopter to hover automatically when no player input is applied.
When driving a tank, you can toggle between two different types of ammunition. Choose between anti-personnel or armour piercing, when in combat.
When on fire, extinguish flames by going prone and crawling.
Battlefield 6: Tips
Although Battlefield 6 is a straightforward and self-explanatory multiplayer FPS, there are a great deal of controls, systems and game mechanics to master. Simply learning your controller or keyboard layout takes some time. There is also a lot of information about the game that, if known, can greatly improve your online experience. These can range from simple changes to default settings to understanding how weapons handle in-game and how to control them effectively. Hence, I thought it would be useful to new or returning players, to collate a list of tips for Battlefield 6. Some are quite obvious where others may not be quite so well known. They’re in no particular order. Hopefully you’ll find them useful.
Although Battlefield 6 is a straightforward and self-explanatory multiplayer FPS, there are a great deal of controls, systems and game mechanics to master. Simply learning your controller or keyboard layout takes some time. There is also a lot of information about the game that, if known, can greatly improve your online experience. These can range from simple changes to default settings to understanding how weapons handle in-game and how to control them effectively. Hence, I thought it would be useful to new or returning players, to collate a list of tips for Battlefield 6. Some are quite obvious where others may not be quite so well known. They’re in no particular order. Hopefully you’ll find them useful.
Do not fire your weapon continuously because the longer you fire, the more bullet spread (or bloom ) you will experience. Tap fire to reduce bloom. You can also switch to semi-auto or burst fire (if the weapon supports it) for increased accuracy.
Mount your weapon on both horizontal and vertical surfaces for stability. If your weapon has a bipod equipped, press the melee button while lying prone to mount on the ground.
Weapons are zeroed to 50 metres, apart from sniper rifles. Therefore when ADS firing at close range, aim lower, IE at the groin or abdomen, to hit the central body mass. Otherwise you will fire too high.
Hip firing at close quarters is quicker and potentially more accurate.
When in combat, go prone selectively and tactically as you don’t register on the minimap when shooting and there is less recoil.
Use the game audio to your advantage. The game’s sound design is very good at providing audio cues and indicating location. Using a headset greatly helps pinpoint sounds.
Use the minimap. Increase its size via settings and consult it regularly. It shows enemy locations as well as your squad mates and team. Use it to locate resources such as ammo supplies.
Spot enemies by aiming at them and pressing the Q, L1 or LB. It is easier using a drone on the Recon class as you just have to move the crosshairs over the target to mark them.
Use the mounted heavy weapons such as the machine guns and recoilless guns when targets present themselves. They are accurate and deadly if used effectively. If possible, have a squad mate cover you while using mounted weapons.
Whenever possible attack tanks from the rear, where their armour is weakest. If you’re a Recon class, be creative with the use of C4. IE attach to vehicles and drones etc.
Engineers can use smoke grenades to provide cover when advancing, retreating and reviving players. Remember that smoke can be countered by the use of thermal weapon optics.
When running, stow your weapons and run with your combat knife, defibrillators or engineer tool equipped, to go faster.
Beware sniper scope glint. White glint shows a sniper aiming. A rainbow glint indicates that you’re at the right range for a one shot kill.
The Support class can use deployable cover at strategic locations and chokepoints. Engineers can repair deployable cover.
Any class can change the default melee weapon from knife to a sledgehammer. Use them to get through walls and floors, providing alternate routes to a strategic target.
Thinking Out Loud
To quote Sam Gamgee “It's the job that’s never started as takes longest to finish, as my old gaffer used to say”. I recently had a timely reminder that this aphorism is 100% true. I finally got round to updating my blog, something that I had been putting off because I knew it would result in breaking the site and incurring a great deal of work. Well I did it. The process was relatively straight forward and didn’t result in anywhere near the amount of formatting issues that I had feared. Within 72 hours I had figured out how to fix most of the problems that arose and after a week I had added new pages and revised those that required a makeover. I still have to correct image sizes in many previous posts but the site has finally been dragged into the current blog era. Furthermore, addressing this issue has lifted a weight of my mind and I feel far more disposed towards writing and posting regularly. I wish I had done this sooner.
Thinking Out Loud is a recurring post in which I present a selection of thoughts and ideas that have recently crossed to my mind. While some of these could be developed into lengthy blog posts in their own right, that is not the primary objective of this initiative. Thinking Out Loud serves as a platform to share some ideas for mutual contemplation and reflection. Hopefully, this will stimulate some debate and discussion. As always, I invite you to leave a comment and welcome any insights you might wish to contribute.
Website Upgrade
To quote Sam Gamgee “It's the job that’s never started as takes longest to finish, as my old gaffer used to say”. I recently had a timely reminder that this aphorism is 100% true. I finally got round to updating my blog, something that I had been putting off because I knew it would result in breaking the site and incurring a great deal of work. Well I did it. The process was relatively straight forward and didn’t result in anywhere near the amount of formatting issues that I had feared. Within 72 hours I had figured out how to fix most of the problems that arose and after a week I had added new pages and revised those that required a makeover. I still have to correct image sizes in many previous posts but the site has finally been dragged into the current blog era. Furthermore, addressing this issue has lifted a weight of my mind and I feel far more disposed towards writing and posting regularly. I wish I had done this sooner.
Fan Podcasts
15 years ago the majority of the podcasts that I regularly listened to were fan made productions. Many of these were video game related. I was far more passionate about gaming back then and would happily listen to fellow players relate their in-game experiences and discuss the minutiae of a specific class or instance. These shows were sometimes a little rough around the edges but they were driven by passion and had a sense of honesty about them. Sadly, many of these shows have ceased production and the “wild west” spirit of the internet has slowly been tamed. I find nowadays that the majority of podcasts that I listen to, although independently produced, use professional production companies. There are still people out there recording via Zoom and using dodgy mics but it’s not so commonplace. I wonder if the perceived need to be slick and professional discourages people from having a go themselves?
Green Vegetables
I was channel surfing the other day and watched a few minutes of a shopping channel that was selling kitchen appliances. The “brand ambassador” was extolling the virtues of steaming fresh vegetables. Everything they said about them from a nutritional perspective was factually correct. However, then they went and spoiled it by saying “and they taste great”. I beg to differ. I find that very few vegetables have a pleasant taste. I don’t mind carrots, peppers, sweet potato or butternut squash but tend to find most “green” vegetables to be bitter or sulphurous. I eat vegetables because they’re a nutritional necessity and because I don’t want to get scurvy. Drowning them in gravy or some kind of spicy condiment helps. Beans are a far more interesting substitute.
Cutting Your Fingernails
Old age is marked by the decline of the human body. Your waistline expands, hair turns white and skin loses its elasticity. I am a sad wreck of the man I was thirty years ago. However, that being said, one part of my body remains resolute in being healthy. Namely, my fingernails. They grow at a prodigious rate and I find myself regularly having to cut them as I cannot stand having nails like a velociraptor. Furthermore, having recently purchased some good quality nail clippers and being observed to have well manicured nails, I now find myself regularly pressganged into having to cut other people’s fingernails and toenails. While I’m on the subject, what is the correct way to dispose of nail clippings? They are biodegradable. However, you don’t want them falling into the wrong hands, what with voodoo and such like.
Phone Calls
I found an old mobile phone bill from 2011 recently. Over the course of a month it listed dozens of daily phone calls. I was working in short term IT contracts at that time so a great deal of those itemised calls were work related. I also used voice calls and texting for all my social arrangements. When I stopped working to be my parent’s carer, I continued to use my phone regularly. Although at that point the bulk of all my calls were related to hospital appointments, social services and other healthcare and local government institutions. Nowadays, it is very unusual to get a phone call. I am no longer a carer and have retired from work. The number of contacts on my phone has reduced dramatically. I mainly stay in touch with friends and family via WhatsApp. If the phone rings and the number is not recognised, I let it go to voicemail by default. It’s odd how we’ve become disinclined to talk to each other.
Phone Internet Tethering
Usually I don’t have a problem with internet access when Mrs P and I are travelling. My phone data plan is sufficient for Google Maps and social media usage. Once we reach our hotel, it’s just a question of connecting to the free Wi-Fi or if need be, buying upgraded access. It’s seldom that expensive. When I went on holiday to Croatia this summer, I bought a bespoke data plan before arriving that granted me extra internet access. Our hotel in Makarska also had very robust internet access. Hence, regardless of being out and about or by the pool, I never had any issues getting online. The ubiquity of internet access means we often take it for granted. I seldom go to places in the UK or abroad that don’t have advanced IT infrastructure. Until this week.
Usually I don’t have a problem with internet access when Mrs P and I are travelling. My phone data plan is sufficient for Google Maps and social media usage. Once we reach our hotel, it’s just a question of connecting to the free Wi-Fi or if need be, buying upgraded access. It’s seldom that expensive. When I went on holiday to Croatia this summer, I bought a bespoke data plan before arriving that granted me extra internet access. Our hotel in Makarska also had very robust internet access. Hence, regardless of being out and about or by the pool, I never had any issues getting online. The ubiquity of internet access means we often take it for granted. I seldom go to places in the UK or abroad that don’t have advanced IT infrastructure. Until this week.
I am currently in St. Leonards-on-Sea in East Sussex on a 5 day break. We’re staying at Combe Haven Holiday Park for “reasons”. The caravan/static home/park home or whatever you want to call it is very well equipped with “all mod cons”. However, there is no internet access in the caravan itself. If you go to either the pub or the restaurant, there is complimentary wireless internet available. Sadly, such environments are not practical for me to sit down for an hour or so and write as they’re busy and somewhat loud. Thankfully, the 4G signal on my phone in this part of the UK is reasonably strong, so I decided to see if I could use this device for internet tethering. I have a Google Pixel 8a.
On my handset, there are specific settings for tethering that are easily accessible. There is a choice of turning the phone into an internet hotspot and connecting devices such as a laptop wirelessly. Alternatively you can attach the phone to a device via a USB cable and tether that way. I found that the wireless hotspot method was a little too unstable and the connection would intermittently drop. However, directly connecting to the phone via a USB cable has proven a far more reliable method. The internet connection is far from fast, about 3.49 Mbps, but it is sufficient for me to access my website and publish this post. Streaming media and gaming are off the table but as I’m technically on holiday, such activities weren’t part of my schedule anyway.
Although I have no immediate need at present, I have already started researching Portable Wi-Fi Routers/Mobile Hotspots. Rechargeable travel routers that can accommodate a SIM card, access the internet and act as a local hotspot for up to 10 devices. They’re ideal when travelling to locations where the only internet access available is 4G/5G via the phone network. If combined with a data only SIM package they can prove invaluable, according to consumer feedback. I read a comparison of common models on TechRadar and the reviews indicated that they can provide stable coverage within modest parameters but to to expect miracles. However, compared to Starlink they’re a far more affordable option. One I may take up in the future.
Battlefield 6: Thoughts on the Launch
When Battlefield 2042 launched on 19th November 2021, it was a complete dog’s dinner. There were technical issues, including widespread bugs, poor performance and inconsistent hit registration. The launch was also criticized for the removal of core gameplay features like the class system, a scoreboard, and a server browser, which led to the game being considered unfinished and incomplete at release. Although developers, Battlefield Studios, worked hard to address many of the issues arising from the launch, the net result was that the franchise’s reputation was harmed. However, the beta testing of Battlefield 6 throughout August this year, has done much to restore the franchise’s good standing with a game that has clearly returned to a formula that works.
When Battlefield 2042 launched on 19th November 2021, it was a complete dog’s dinner. There were technical issues, including widespread bugs, poor performance and inconsistent hit registration. The launch was also criticized for the removal of core gameplay features like the class system, a scoreboard, and a server browser, which led to the game being considered unfinished and incomplete at release. Although developers, Battlefield Studios, worked hard to address many of the issues arising from the launch, the net result was that the franchise’s reputation was harmed. However, the beta testing of Battlefield 6 throughout August this year, has done much to restore the franchise’s good standing with a game that has clearly returned to a formula that works.
Hence, yesterday’s launch of Battlefield 6 was of particular significance. Players would finally be able to experience the entirety of the new game and determine if Battlefield really was “back”. It was also a chance for developer’s, Battlefield Studios, to restore the franchise’s reputation. Fortunately, the launch went relatively well, with record player counts being set (740,000 concurrent players on Steam) as soon as the game went live at 16:00 GMT. However, there were some problems such as the game not working at all via the EA app, thus inconveniencing a sizable group of players. There were also some general errors such as “DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_REMOVED”, which PC players encountered across multiple platforms. And being a game launch, there were server queues, which at one point were over a quarter of a million.
Thankfully, within 24 hours the majority of these issues were resolved. During this period I had to use EA support and I was impressed how quick and efficient the live chat option was. The communication was clear and the troubleshooting comprehensive. I was finally able to launch and play Battlefield 6 at about 13:00 PM today. The game is extremely well optimised and immediately configured the graphics to a level my PC could handle, without any need for me to do any fine tuning. Despite there still being an extremely large number of concurrent players, finding a multiplayer game does not take long and the server performance is robust. All of which is a step up from Call of Duty: Warzone where finding and connecting to a game can sometimes take 3 or 4 minutes. It will be interesting to see what happens when Battlefield 6 releases its Battle Royale game and starts directly competing with Warzone.
It is worth noting that EA were acutely aware that there were problems with the launch of Battlefield 6 yesterday. They were not as bad as those that blighted its predecessor but a lot of people were inconvenienced. While writing this post I received an email from EA addressing the failure of the EA app and apologising for the problem. As compensation they have offered the following. “Anyone on the EA app who was impacted will receive 12 Hardware and 12 Career 60-Minute Boosters, which should be arriving in impacted players’ in-game inbox this weekend. In addition, we will also be granting impacted players full access to a seasonal Battle Pass. Phantom Edition owners will get Season 2’s full Battle Pass”. As someone who uses the EA app and who purchased the Phantom Edition of the game, I appreciated the gesture. I shall share my thoughts on live gameplay in my next post.
LOTRO: Free Transfers from Former 32-bit Game Worlds
After a six month migration period, Standing Stone Games formally closed all their legacy 32-bit game servers for the MMORPG, The Lord of the Rings Online, on the 31st August 2025. Despite this planned closure being widely discussed via the game’s official forums, professional video game websites and fan blogs, many LOTRO players were unaware of this deadline. Hence many were unable to migrate their respective alts to the new 64-bit servers. Naturally those affected by these closures were upset, especially those with longstanding characters who didn’t relish the prospect of starting from scratch with a new alt. Thankfully, SSG have been true to their word and as of today, have re-opened these “dark worlds” to character transfers. If you have an alt trapped on one of the older game worlds, then now is the time to use the transfer wizard and move them to a new active game world.
After a six month migration period, Standing Stone Games formally closed all their legacy 32-bit game servers for the MMORPG, The Lord of the Rings Online, on the 31st August 2025. Despite this planned closure being widely discussed via the game’s official forums, professional video game websites and fan blogs, many LOTRO players were unaware of this deadline. Hence many were unable to migrate their respective alts to the new 64-bit servers. Naturally those affected by these closures were upset, especially those with longstanding characters who didn’t relish the prospect of starting from scratch with a new alt. Thankfully, SSG have been true to their word and as of today, have re-opened these “dark worlds” to character transfers. If you have an alt trapped on one of the older game worlds, then now is the time to use the transfer wizard and move them to a new active game world.
Standing Stone Games have a comprehensive transfer guide on their website which is well worth reading. I have also made a video of how to use the transfer wizard, here. Due to historical differences between the US and European LOTRO game servers, alts from U 32-bit servers have to be migrated to US 64-bit servers. Similarly, alts from EU 32-bit servers have to be migrated to EU 64-bit servers. The service is free of charge and SSG is offering transfers from the “dark worlds” until 1st October 2027, which is a sizable timeframe. Players should bear in mind that depending on demand, the transfer service can take anything between 24 hours and several days to complete. Also, that the “dark worlds” are only available for character transfer. You cannot log into them. If players experience any issues when transferring alts, they should contact SSG customer support.
Playing Hell Let Loose: Buying the Game and the Practice Range
I bought Hell Let Loose last night. A decision I suspect that I shall regret. Despite the fact that I know that the YouTube videos of this game are carefully curated and therefore not truly representative of the reality of its gameplay, I felt compelled to try this World War II multiplayer tactical first-person shooter. From time to time I find a game that really appeals to me as a concept and I want to play it. However, more often than not these are online multiplayer games and as such the human element is distinctly “variable”. Hence the idealised gameplay that I imagine is a far cry from what playing the game is really like. I’m sure I am not alone in this mindset. Sometimes I have to just “get it out of my system” and the only real way to do that is buy the game in question, be disappointed and then move on.
I bought Hell Let Loose last night. A decision I suspect that I shall regret. Despite the fact that I know that the YouTube videos of this game are carefully curated and therefore not truly representative of the reality of its gameplay, I felt compelled to try this World War II multiplayer tactical first-person shooter. From time to time I find a game that really appeals to me as a concept and I want to play it. However, more often than not these are online multiplayer games and as such the human element is distinctly “variable”. Hence the idealised gameplay that I imagine is a far cry from what playing the game is really like. I’m sure I am not alone in this mindset. Sometimes I have to just “get it out of my system” and the only real way to do that is buy the game in question, be disappointed and then move on.
I wrote a post a while back where I speculated that Hell Let Loose is one of those games that it’s best to watch, rather than play and I now get to prove or disprove that theory. At least such an experiment is good for a few blog posts. The first step was naturally to buy a copy of the game and so I looked at several price comparison websites yesterday to see whether this was going to be a costly endeavour. I noticed there were about 3 permutations of Hell Let Loose (Standard, Deluxe and Ultimate) and a lot of DLC. I quickly discovered that the DLC is mainly cosmetic outfits and weapon skins. Not game maps. So I bought the cheapest version I could from a reputable vendor, spending £16 from Fanatical. There was a sale on at the time and I had just 10 minutes to spare before the discount expired and the price returned to £42 which is not such a bargain.
The game is approximately a 54GB install. Not that’s a problem as I have a 4 Terabyte NVMe M.2 SSD. One of my better purchases. On launching Hell Let Loose for the first time I didn’t encounter any issues of note, apart from my usual problem of trying to get the game to display on my second monitor. I could drag a windowed version over to my screen of choice and it stayed there once I did so. However, when I quit and relaunched Hell Let Loose, it defaulted back to the primary display. So I used MultiMonitorTool and the problem was resolved. The graphic settings were turned up to Epic by default and as my graphics card didn’t object I left them as such. Hell Let Loose is a handsome looking game that uses Unreal Engine 4. After looking at the graphic settings I spent some time pursuing the keybindings, of which there are many.
Next, I started looking through the various classes and factions in the Barracks. It was then that I noticed that all were unlocked and that I had downloaded and installed the game client for the test server. A mistake but a useful one, as it allowed me to see a much wider variety of builds other than the base ones. I then moved on to the Practice Range and experimented with various weapons. I found the bolt action rifles to be very accurate and was also surprised by the low recoil on the fully automatic weapons such as SMGs and LMGs. Grenades can be thrown over arm or under arm but there is no visual assist to help you gauge the distance. You effectively have to learn manually and assess the distance by how high you raise your arm. I also tried driving a few vehicles which are quite complex, as there are manual gears to master.
What I didn’t do after all this was to jump headlong into a live game. I have decided that due to the complexity of Hell Let Loose, which is a much different beast to Warzone or even Battlefield, I shall watch a few YouTube videos and try and orient myself first. Having a keymap on my other monitor may be useful and learning some basic tips may well improve my first gameplay experience. I also have to set up my headset as communication with other players is key in this game. This is likely to be the one aspect of the game that I’ll like least, as open microphones do seem to be a magnet for the worst sorts of gamers. I did however, install the live game client and delete the test server version. All I have to do now is find an evening when I have a few hours spare and then log into a live game and see how it goes. I’ll share my thoughts in the next post.
Underwater (2020)
In the near future, Kepler 822, a research and drilling facility located at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, suffers a sudden and catastrophic structural failure. There are only six survivors. Mechanical engineer Norah Price (Kristen Stewart), Captain Lucien (Vincent Cassel), biologist Emily Haversham (Jessica Henwick), engineer Liam Smith (John Gallagher Jr.) and crew members Rodrigo (Mamoudou Athie) and Paul (T.J. Miller). As all the functional escape pods have been used and they are unable to contact the surface, the Captain suggests using pressurized suits to walk one mile across the ocean floor to the Roebuck 641 drill installation. There they will find more escape pods. However, it soon becomes apparent that the disaster was not caused by an undersea earthquake and that they are not alone as they make their journey.
In the near future, Kepler 822, a research and drilling facility located at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, suffers a sudden and catastrophic structural failure. There are only six survivors. Mechanical engineer Norah Price (Kristen Stewart), Captain Lucien (Vincent Cassel), biologist Emily Haversham (Jessica Henwick), engineer Liam Smith (John Gallagher Jr.) and crew members Rodrigo (Mamoudou Athie) and Paul (T.J. Miller). As all the functional escape pods have been used and they are unable to contact the surface, the Captain suggests using pressurized suits to walk one mile across the ocean floor to the Roebuck 641 drill installation. There they will find more escape pods. However, it soon becomes apparent that the disaster was not caused by an undersea earthquake and that they are not alone as they make their journey.
Underwater starts with all the hallmarks of a film that is very derivative of Alien. The technology and immediate environment all have an industrial aesthetic that is worn and feels used. The crew is made up of “working men” rather than clean cut academics and the corporation that owns and runs the facility is simply referenced by branding on bulkheads or on monitor lockscreens. The screenplay by Brian Duffield (No One Will Save You) and Adam Cozad is lean and moves quickly but there’s sufficient dialogue to get the measure of each character. The threat comes quickly during the film’s concise 95 minute running time and it is here that Underwater diverges from similar films. DeepStar Six featured a prehistoric Eurypterid and Leviathan had monsters caused by mutagens containing piscine DNA. Underwater has a distinctly Lovecraftian nemesis.
Director William Eubank maintains a tense and claustrophobic atmosphere. Due to the seven mile depth, there is no sunlight and the ocean floor is illuminated by the lights on the crew’s environment suits and from LEDs on equipment. Hence, for the first two acts the aquatic menace is seen only fleetingly and the shocks come mainly from jump scares. The death scenes are hectically edited and you certainly get the impression that something unpleasant has happened but you cannot see the detail. Although initially frustrating this becomes the film’s greatest strength as it becomes clear this is not just a case of an apex predator. The crew do a little theorising about what is happening around them but it is left vague and there are no convenient answers. The climax and final reveal work better as a result of this approach.
Underwater is an effective genre outing. It isn’t a masterpiece and certainly isn’t original. It takes some standard tropes from “creature features” and horror films and it tries its best to do something a little different with them. The $60 million budget covers a lot of ground, with the sets, production design and VFXs looking polished and plausible. The cast is competent and the characters likeable. Marco Beltrami’s score at times has shades of vintage John Carpenter and Alan Howarth. But it is the film’s final act that is responsible for making Underwater better than average. Casual viewers may not necessarily get the inference but those who are aware of the concept of cosmic horror should enjoy the eldritch payoff. Underwater is a well crafted rollercoaster ride, that doesn’t out stay its welcome and should be judged as such.
