The good news is even if it bombs the whole franchise will see renewed interest. Whether as a last ditch effort to save the series or to capitalize on the momentum this release will be our best chance to see Dragon Age: Origins & Awakening remaster or remake.

Reading more is always the right choice

I can agree with all that. I still defend Odyssey because it grew on me. Once I looked at it as an odyssey it clicked for me. From the moment Odysseus leaves Ithaca to fight in the Trojan war until he gets back everything he does is on an epic scale, so epic it all starts looking mundane when compared to each other. That’s the problem with the game, it’s so vast and huge it just loses meaning of itself within its own glory and majesty. Ubisoft really captured that spirit for me.

My school teachers would be so proud that asking me to read the Iliad and the Odyssey finally paid off. Growing an appreciation for video games was probably not what they had in mind.

I’m playing Unity right now and I’m about to switch to something else. I really like Unity, it is also the biggest collect-a-thon since ACIII. Referring to my earlier point, the maps for the collections are largely locked behind additional purchases.

I had the same complaint about Syndicate, really felt like you were hacking away for way too long on even basic enemies. And again locked behind mtx was basic gameplay balancing.

Origins was great because although it had largely the same mtx issues the new mechanics allowed you to work around them. Odyssey then rolls around and undoes much of the changes Origins made in that regard. It’s an obvious pattern of using questionable design to boost margins.

You joke but I would totally come back to CoD if they went 3rd person. Haven’t played since 2011 MW3

Couldn’t agree more, currently rotating between Unity, Syndicate, Origins and Odyssey and the difference between the first two and the last two is massive. By the time you reach Odyssey it truly stopped feeling like an AC game. Still really like Origins though, vaguely felt true to the spirit of the rest of the series while introducing really nuanced and interesting changes.

My biggest complaint for all of them is how mtx is interwoven with in-game progression. Played them all on PS4 and they felt like a real slog to get through. Now on PC where I indulged and unlocked those features for free they feel accurately balanced. That’s the real problem with Ubi’s games. At some point features are hacked out to be monetized and squeeze out some extra dollars.

Not to mention how predatory the helix credit system is/was, haven’t played Valhalla nor Mirage.

I can agree with not engaging with hate and reporting it as encountered.

I don’t think anything about your attitude or demeanor when responding to others. I was referring more towards you saying to simply not engage with the trolls at all so that newbies would get the impression that we’re better than that as the difference between us.

You have found a method that works and you are putting into practice what you think is best. Automatically cements my respect for you because those are things I can get behind.

This isn’t a with all due respect statement, just sincerity, that method doesn’t work for me. I cannot walk away from every chance I come across to challenge my positions because I believe that means losing on opportunities to strengthen my beliefs. This means that sometimes I’m gonna need to get down in the mud, get my hands dirty and make an ass of myself.

Some mud wrasslin’ and chasing an oil covered squealer through a field is just old fashioned wholesome fun. Don’t knock it til you try it neighbor

Joining in on the fray with edgelords is the closest I want to be to bloodsports. Dark impulses are hard to stamp out of the soul.

Lot of words just to say that once the advertisers move in on a centralized platform its value is shot. A huge part of the reason I abandoned the last platform I was using and sought a federated alternative.

People get upset if you part your hair wrong. Forgetting a name hasn’t gotten me killed yet but stranger things have happened.

I can remember someone’s name after one meeting but when I can’t it makes me feel awkward. I feel less awkward when 9 times out of 10 they forgot meeting me the first time.

If it works for you I won’t dissuade. But hiding away from shit don’t do nothing about the smell.

I have maybe 20% total awareness of what’s going on at any one time.

Yeah my claim is that Valve used the data from their monthly survey and anything that was not willingly provided from users was bought from Google to R&D the Steam Deck. If that isn’t a probable or plausible scenario to you then you simply don’t understand why marketing data is useful.

I never said anything about selling out to Google.

Not every drop of orange juice is worth the squeeze.

You’re right. But it’s not a question of buying consoles, it’s a matter of creating a free account. The majority of people have been conditioned to do so all their lives they won’t question another. If you really want to make a difference choose better battles, how about going after the system that allowed this problem to exist in the first place instead of getting caught up trying to put out the symptoms.

I’m not a defeatist, I’m just wondering if this battle is worth making a stand at when in order to change the gaming industry you first have to change the nature of industry itself. At what point do you stop trying to save the Titanic and start drawing plans for the Titanic II?

there’s the monthly hardware and software survey

It’s optional.

whatever users didn’t willingly provide was probably bought from Google.

Ah, yes, probably.

I mean I wish I could find a source

No surprise there.

We’re all voicing opinions. I chose mine and don’t begrudge yours.

More like false accusations.

Your words in bold to highlight how hard it is for you to believe that Valve bought data from Google to create the Steam Deck.

I understand what you’re saying but there will never not be mtx in games. Even if these guys are getting raked over the coals the only lesson being taken away is to nickle and dime you slower.