#I will however post some consolation concept art stuff (If I can get good photos off ma cellular device) | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

wozman23 · 4 years ago

Text

My 2020 in Gaming

I finished my 100th video game of the year yesterday. In a normal year that would be an embarrassing feat. By in 2020, pretty much stuck within these four walls for nearly nine months now, I'm really proud of it. The last few years, my gaming habits took a severe hit due to working too much. I was fortunate to have the finances to pick up the PlayStation VR and the Switch, but I couldn't dedicate a lot of time to them, and when I did, the joy wasn't there as much since I was often exhausted. In 2018, I still managed to get through almost 40 games, but last year that number fell to 25. There was so much I wanted to play, but I just didn't have the free time. And then 2020 dealt me a lifeline... When LA came to a halt, three and a half months into the year, I was only working on finishing Game #6. Since then, I've been on a tear. A large part of my efficiency came from two choices. In late April, I signed up for Xbox Game Pass for $1 for the first month. Then in June, the “Racial Injustice” Bundle with hundreds of PC games – about a dozen of which I really wanted to play - released on itch.io. Overall, it was a solid mix of AAA games and indie games, although I've skewed more toward indies for years now. There were big anticipated releases like The Last of Us, Part II and Doom Eternal. Splatoon 2 finally got the shrink wrap pulled off that it's been suffocating in for years. (It was fantastic, so I'm not sure why I waited so long.) There were massive games that I put dozens of hours into, like my 77 hours descending into the madness of Hades, or my 69 soaking in the world of Ghost of Tsushima, with a sizeable chunk of those hours being me just toying around with Photo Mode. (Props to the PS5 for finally telling you your playtimes via the OS.) There were dozens of small indie games that only took a few hours to complete – which is kind of my sweet spot these days. A few weighed in at just 30 minutes, like Swarm, a Steam game I found through Get Indie Gaming's Youtube channel, or Syphonia, a student project from ISART Digital that I was anticipating. There were games I replayed, like some of my favorites of all time, Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy and Alan Wake, as well as the remastered versions of Ghostbusters: The Video Game and the Crash Bandicoot and Spyro trilogies. There was great stuff I paid for, and a few awesome games that I got for free through the Epic Games Store, or via subscriptions with PlayStation Plus, Game Pass Ultimate, or the times I took advantage of free trials of Amazon Prime. And I even got hooked on an online multiplayer only game, which has only happened on a handful of occasions in the history of online play.A lot of people are going to look back on 2020 as a terrible year, but for me it's been a godsend. It's allowed me to enjoy multiple passions, with gaming being one of the biggest. Like any hobby, my gaming habits over the years have ebbed and flowed. Overall, the last generation I've been fortunate to own every major console for the first time in a generation. Yet – outside of a few phenomenal games like Horizon Zero Dawn, ASTRO BOT Rescue Mission on VR, and the other aforementioned PlayStation first party titles – overall I wasn't really impressed as much with the AAA offerings. The indie scene is only gaining ground. But with the PS5, the proper return of my all-time favorite franchise, Ratchet & Clank, and my Game Pass renewed until 2022, I'm optimistic about where gaming is headed. As for my favorite games that released this year, here's my list: 1. The Last of Us, Part II 2. Battletoads 3. CARRION 4. Hades 5. ASTRO's Playroom 6. Filament 7. Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout 8. Bugsnax 9. Ghost of Tsushima 10. Ori and the Will of the Wisps The Last of Us, Part II The original The Last of Us was my favorite game of the previous generation, as well as the most impressive game of all time. It was mind-numbingly good, so much so that I really did not want a sequel. I didn't even want to replay it. It was one of those things that just felt complete. Nothing more needed to be said, and in doing so, there would be a large risk at ruining what made it great. Slowly, Naughty Dog eroded away at me, and I began to anticipate the sequel. Right before it I even replayed the remaster of the original. Part II is one of those rare project that manages to one-up what you thought was already perfection. It's like a 30 hour blockbuster movie that just keeps ramping up in intensity. So much of what makes it special is within the design of its details: the way it presents itself, the pacing, its message. Like many, key details were spoiled by online trolls prior to launch, but it really didn't matter. This post could be just as long and be only about The Last of Us, Part II. (I still may write something up at some point.) There's just so much of it to dissect. But it's impossible to talk about without spoiling all of its magical moments. It simply offers a masterclass in game design and narrative flow. I really don't need a Part III, but should one exist, I know damn well I'll be there. Battletoads I loved the original Battletoads. I even replayed it, and beat it with the help of the Rare Replay rewind feature right after playing the new entry. It's practically impossible otherwise. When there was talk of a new game I was hyped. But when it was finally revealed, with a completely different art style, I was taken aback. Because of that, I went in to the new entry not expecting much. However, that stylistic choice is exactly what put it in the Number 2 spot in my list. The original Battletoads concept was created to ape the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the original game felt much like the early TMNT brawlers. The new Battletoads doubles down though, expanding their empire to combat TMNT's cartoons. The game itself is a fairly straight forward 2D brawler, that looks and plays great, but the real stars are the cutscenes and the humor. It has this great Saturday morning cartoon vibe that I've never seen a game nail near as well. I don't watch a lot of the modern cartoons, but many have compared it to Rick & Morty. It's really quick, and silly, and feels exactly what a company should be aiming for if they wanted to create the next TMNT craze in the world today. Sure, the game itself is nowhere near perfect in all dimensions, but the way it tackles humor is really impressive and admirable. That's the main reason it occupies my Number 2 spot. CARRION CARRION reminds me a lot of INSIDE, typeset aside. INSIDE for me was this solid atmospheric game that at it's end became this awesome fever dream, but was over just when it was getting interesting. CARRION feels like INSIDE's spiritual successor. You play as this creepy creature, with all these grotesque tentacles, and you just run amok. It's just plain fun. Plus it's an insanely unique lifeform to play as, and there's nothing more I love than playing a game where you take on the role of some strange creature. Like many of the indie games I love, CARRION doesn't overstay its welcome. Over the few hours of its journey, it iterates, provides you with some unique challenges, they grabs its hat and coat and bids you adieu. There's nothing more I love than a game with that approach. Show me something cool. Make me play something that feels like something I've yet to experience in my over 30 years of gaming. Then get out of the way so that I can find another game that makes me feel that way. Kudos to Game Pass as well for partnering with the CARRION developers and offering the game on release day. I was looking forward to the game, but with so many games on my radar, I often simply can't get around to all of them. Had I needed to purchase CARRION, it might have had to wait in the wings for a while. I've played so many games on Game Pass this year that I may have otherwise never actually purchased, and many of them have found the ranks among my favorites from the last few years. Hades Up until now, I'd like Supergiant Games as a creative studio. I've played all of their games, and loved the artistry present in them. However, I've always felt like the gameplay was a bit lackluster. Not previously being a fan of roguelike games – although Game Pass has provided some great experiences there as well – I initially had no plans to buy Hades. But praise was unanimous, the Epic Store gave people a $10 coupon just for downloading Rocket League for free, and it was on sale for $5 off, so I scooped it up for $10. At first, I thought I had made a mistake. I wasn't really into it. But then it slowly started to sink its hooks into me. After about 30 runs, I'd finally vanquished Hades himself. And what was your reward: a brief encounter with your mother, followed by your death and cyclical return to The Underworld. And that's really where the brilliance of Hades comes in. In beating the game, you realize you have only scratched the surface. I played around 70 more runs. I got the full story from my mother. I tried out the different weapons. I played around with the perks and heat gauge. I maxed out the relationships with almost everyone. (I never got Demeter's final few dialog options to pop.) All along the way, I kept thinking, I'll quit after I do X, but then Y and Z would egg me on even further. I spent 77 hours in that world. Sometimes, with nothing to do during the day, I'd practically play all day long. No other game this year took up that much of my time. Few ever do. Not bad for a game I initially had buyers remorse for. ASTRO's Playroom I wasn't sure I was going to be able to get a PS5 at launch. I got lucky on release day thanks to the PlayStation Direct website. (Every other retailer is a giant hunk of shit, who doesn't care if they sell to an actually gaming fan or some asshole reseller.) Had I not secured an early PS5, it wasn't a big deal. Most of the games I wanted to play were coming to PS4 as well. The baked-in ASTRO's Playroom was the only exception. And there's always that extra special feeling of playing something right when it comes out. It's funny to think that the best PS5 game is given away for free with every console, but that is just the case. Much like ASTRO BOT Rescue Mission, which did wonders for showing off what PlayStation VR could do – it was my 2018 GOTY - ASTRO's Playroom shows off what the PS5 can do, primarily via the advancements of the DualSense controller and the solid state hard drive. I've never been one to care for graphics, and the PS5 will surely evolve over time, but those two details are what makes the device feel truly “next gen” so far. The way the triggers adjust tension is so wild. I really don't know how much they'll be used, but it's a cool option to have. And loading times are practically non-existent. (I've since went back to the Xbox One for a few more Game Pass releases, and loading times feel jarring.) As far as ASTRO goes, he's a terrific mascot in an age where mascot platformers aren't really a thing anymore. The experience relies heavily on nostalgia, as you collect relics of PlayStation's past. Also scattered throughout are other bots dressed up to reference other franchises. Dozens of franchises are represented, from characters like Crash, to Ratchet, to Kutaro from Puppeteer. It's really a lovely homage to PlayStation that any longtime fan will enjoy. Plus, it's a really fun game to play, with beautiful tech themed worlds, some infectious earworms, and some cool mechanics. Japan Studio has been a bit of an enigma for a while now. But the ASOBI Team is knocking it out of the park with ASTRO. ASTRO reminds me a lot of Iota from Tearaway: they're both cute mascot characters, crafted with a lot of love, from terrifically artistic games that did an excellent job of showing off new tech. I can't wait to see what ASTRO is up to next. Filament This one sat near the top my Steam wishlist for nearly the entire year before I finally grabbed it about a week ago when it went on sale. I love a good puzzle game. Basically, you control a bot that tethers out a string-like filament that you use to interact with pillars. Sometimes you just make sure you graze the line by one; other times you loop around one. Sometimes you're simply turning a pillar on. Other times they must be linked in pairs, by color, or a specific number of times, just to name a few of the options. That's really where Filament glows. What starts of simple grows insanely complex by the end. You'll be combining mechanics in some rather brain-busting puzzle. And the game does very little to explain things to you, or help you along the way, yet it feels very inuitive. Still, many times I simply hit walls, where I was almost convinced the puzzles were impossible. In a few instances, it took a while to understand new rule sets. Eventually I solved every single puzzle without resorting to help. And it took me about 48 hours. (Granted I think my stat tracking was probably counting some idle time where I had the game running but walked away to do stuff like make a meal.) It's a surprising amount of content for a puzzle game that can easily be reduced to: solve puzzles by drawing lines. One other thing I appreciated was that I found myself taking notes and drawing things out on paper. That's a tactic I don't pull out often, but love when a game pushes me in that direction. One instance in particular even had me cut up squares of paper to piece together one of the secret text logs. By the way, I missed a ton of those logs. After completing the few I found, I did look how to unlock the rest, and some of the stuff there was absurdly complex. There's really not a lot to compare Filament to outside of The Witness. But if you like a really challenging puzzle game with a ton of content, give this one a look. Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout I don't like online multiplayer games. They rarely hold my interest. I put quite a bit of time into Rocket League, Uncharted 2, Resistance 2 Co-op, and Fat Princess, but that's been about it. And in some of those cases, the main reason I spent a good amount of time with them is because I was unemployed during their reign. Overall, I'm not one to interact with people online. And I don't like the idea of a game dictating when I play it. But when Fall Guys was included with PlayStation Plus, I liked the look of it enough to give it a try. Getting a win took a while, but after the first one, I started to become pretty consistent with my runs. Much like Hades, I thought, “I'll just play until I get the trophy for 7 wins.” Then I set my sights on 20. Then I got hooked on collecting the costumes. By the time I'd finished my first stint in Season 1, I'd reached the max Level 30 and had every trophy except for the one requiring five wins in a row. I've given up hope there. Sony says I logged 40 hours with it, which equates to a lot of rounds. One day I went back for Season 2, and enjoyed the new levels, even though I was getting eliminated since I was sight-reading them. I don't know how much time I'll be putting in with it in the future should I find gaps in my list of games. Usually with multiplayer games, the focus fades once I unlock all the trophies I can. And I'm not sure how much time I want to dedicate to becoming proficient at future season. But the fact that Fall Guys even got that much attention from me to begin with is a testament to how much fun it is. Bugsnax Bugsnax could have been a joke. The previous game from Young Horses, Octodad: Dadliest Catch was just that: a silly romp that equated to little more than just a goofy control scheme. Bugsnax was the butt of many jokes upon reveal, reaching meme status in which it became the Schrödinger's cat of games. When someone talked about it looking good, you weren't sure if they were being honest or a hipster. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was intrigued. It's another fine example of a list of stellar games that have been given away for free with PlayStation Plus. Would I have played it otherwise? Who knows? But I'm glad I got to. It is silly, but the silliness works in unison with what turned out to be a very fun game to play. The world and its characters are weird. Everybody has a laughable name, Filbo Fiddlepie, Chandlo Funkbun, and C. Clumby Clumbernut, just to name a few. ( I wonder what the C stands for?) The Bugsnax, which are part bug, part snacks, follow suit, with the burger inspired Bunger, the french fry spider, Fryder, or the popsickle, Bobsickle. The most delightful part is when you catch one of the bugsnax and you hear them say their name from the speaker in the controller. Hearing “Weenieworm” never got old. Any sound coming from Bunger put a smile on my face. Feeding the bugnsax to the other characters was a blast as well. Certain bugsnax resulted in sheer silliness, while combinations could provide interesting fashion statements. But past all that silliness was a fun game too. You're given a few different tools to capture bugsnax, and are sent to figure out how. By the time I was reaching the end, having done all there was to do, I was sad to see it end. It was simply a joy to platinum the game, and I'd definitely be down for more Bugsnax adventures. Ghost of Tsushima I love Sucker Punch to death. Sly Cooper is one of my favorite series. On the other hand, I've never been into the world of the samurai, or watched any samurai movies. But Sucker Punch is a studio I'm happy to support, and I figured I'd be getting a good quality game, so I was in. (Plus, I had the free time. At the time, I thought it might be my gaming binge swan song as I thought we'd be coming out of this pandemic in July. Boy was I wrong!) The world of Tsushima is breathtaking. The partnership of style and graphical fidelity creates beauty in every square inch of the world. As far as the game is concerned, it what I would expect from a AAA open world game. There are main missions, and side missions, and things to upgrade, and all kinds of places to explore. It's fairly predictable in that regard, although I did enjoy some of the ways it tackled many of those side missions. The haiku system was a relaxing alternative to combat missions. Foxes and birds always encouraged me to meander from the main missions. And shrines provides some nice platforming challenges. Combat was unique, and being about to cater it to your preferred combat style was appreciated. It did wear out its welcome a bit after dozen of hours, but I appreciate its simplicity. Still, most impressive was just that living, breathing world. I spent a lot of time in photo mode. A LOT! I could easily spend an hour or two just traveling around finding beautiful vistas to tinker around with lighting and effects. In the end, most of my complaints really just boil down to the fact that it's a large AAA game, and comes with the tropes and restrictions of the territory. Otherwise, it would be higher up the list. Ori and the Will of the Wisps Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a great game, but ultimately it's just more Ori. That's not necessarily a bad thing. It just doesn't really subvert expectations. Everything that made the first game great is here too. It looks gorgeous. It's fun to traverse and explore. But looking back, it doesn't stick out as fondly in my memory as many of the other games in this list. Some of that could be the fact that it released early in the year. It was the game I was playing when the world crapped the bed. But it could also just be that I prefer the intrigue of new IP over sequels. Even so, it's hard to discredit just how well it plays and how beautiful and rich that fantasy world is. Honorable Mentions (that released this year): Carto, Lightmatter, Swarm, Symphonia, Bartlow's Dread Machine, Doom Eternal, Control's AWE Expansion Honorable Mentions (I played that released years prior): Bomb Chicken, SUPERHYPERCUBE, Dead Cells, Moonlighter, Songbird Symphony, The Messenger, JUMPGRID, ETHEREAL, Spring Falls, Unruly Heroes, Celeste, Lonely Mountains: Downhill, Splatoon 2, My Friend Pedro, A Short Hike, Future Grind, SOMOS, A Plague Tale: Innocence, The King's Bird

0 notes

ntrending · 6 years ago

Text

The best new gadgets and tech from CES 2019

New Post has been published on https://nexcraft.co/the-best-new-gadgets-and-tech-from-ces-2019/

The best new gadgets and tech from CES 2019

We’ve been dropping updates from CES this week, but we know you just want to see the best stuff with the least amount of effort—all that content you’ve been meaning to get to isn’t going to watch itself. So, here’s a short-and-sweet recap of CES highlights you can use to impress your friends with your incredible knowledge of cool new gadgets. You’re welcome.

Bell Nexus

The “belle” of the electronics ball was this full-sized version of Bell’s six-rotor air taxi. The company says it could be carrying passengers as soon as 2020, so let’s hope Bane doesn’t show up to take over our city before then.

Samsung Wall TV

It first debuted at last year’s CES, and now Samsung’s MicroLED-based Wall TV will be available for custom installation in homes this year. It’s made of smaller, modular panels that interlock to create a huge screen with no bezel, and is one of the most beautiful things on the show floor this year. The one on display on the show floor checked in at 219-inches.

Sony 98-inch Master Z9G 8K TV

TVs with 8K resolution were big at this year’s CES, even though there’s almost no native content to watch on them. However, Sony’s 98-inch flagship TV promises smart upscaling to make your puny 4K content look good on its massive screen.

Samsung Bots

In addition to its typical offerings of TVs and mobile devices, Samsung introduced a new robotics platform with a variety of use cases. Bot Care is like a live-in nurse that checks on elderly folks, while Bot Air detects and filters polluted air. Bot Retail will sell you stuff and the GENS exoskeletons can make moving around less painful for people with leg and back issues.

LG Signature OLED TV R

The LG booth had an insane array of flexible OLED screens surrounding its entrance, but the real star was the 65-inch TV that rolls up into a subtle base when you’re not watching it. This was a prototype at last year’s show, but you’ll be able to buy it in 2019 if you have a Scrooge McDuck vault full of gold coins with which to pay.

Technics SL-1200MK7

The original version of this well-regarded DJ turntable went off the market roughly eight years ago, but vinyl’s popularity has surged since then. Now, Panasonic is bringing back the SL1200 aimed at DJs—it’s good for scratching—and people who like lots of damping because they stomp around their house and make their records skip.

Willow 2.0 hands-free breast pump

The updated version of this hands-free breast pump is easier to assemble, more comfortable to use, and more effective when it comes to preventing spillage. It will run $500 for a pair when it ships in February.

Impossible Burger 2.0

Fake meat may not seem like a tech product, but Impossible Foods launched its new soy-based meat replacement at this year’s show. You can read our full taste test here, but the bottom line is that it’s one of the most convincing—and delicious—plant-based meat replacements around.

Razer Turret

This mouse-and-keyboard set sits on a metal base and allows Xbox One users skip the controller for PC-style game controls. it looks like a solid product, but its existence is somewhat controversial since console gamers will have to play against an increasing number of annoyingly accurate, mouse-using snipers.

Hyundai Elevate walking car

It’s only a concept for now, but Hyundai has a vehicle that mixes wheels with legs so it can handle any variety of uneven or unpredictable terrain. It has a vaguely Star Wars vibe about it.

Panasonic S1 and S1R full-frame cameras

There weren’t a ton of new cameras at CES this year, but Panasonic did release some final details about its full-frame, pro-grade mirrorless cameras. Both will have new modes, like high-resolution mode which combines several pictures into one bigger image. Both cameras start shipping in March and will use new lenses developed with the help of Sigma and Leica.

Alienware Area 51m

This 17.3-inch gaming laptop has a desktop grade processor and graphics chip inside that you can swap out and upgrade on your own. Sure, it weighs more than three MacBook Airs, but think about all that power.

Dell XPS 13

The Dell XPS 13 was already one of the best laptops around, and the new version has moved the webcam to the top of the screen instead of the bottom for a much more flattering angle during your Google Hangouts.

Jabra Elite 85H noise-cancelling headphones

The flagship Jabra headphones use AI to analyze sound in your environment and tweak the noise cancelling to best help you tune out the real world—and really focus in on listening to the Bohemian Rhapsody soundtrack for the 1,000th time this week.

Polaroid Instant Classic Camera

I’m generally opposed to cameras that try to emulate analog photography with digital tech, but Kodak’s upcoming Instant Classic camera was undeniably cool. I got my photo taken with a prototype version and the zInk prints are surprisingly reminiscent of prints from old pull-and-peel instant cameras, which were popular until the ‘90s.

Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar

This Dolby Atmos compatible soundbar has 13 speakers inside and can mimic a full surround-sound system all on its own. It doesn’t come cheap, however, with a price tag of $2,499 when it ships in May. I did get a chance to hear it, however, and it’s impressive.

Ring Door View Cam

Designed for people who live in apartments, the new Ring smart doorbell goes where a typical peep hole sits on your front door. It lets you see who is outside of your home and also has a knock detector that can tell if someone is trying to whack your door down.

Soma Innofit smart bra

This electronic bra has sensors inside that are designed to let wearer choose the right size and fit in a bra. Of course, it only recommends option from Soma’s own offerings, but customers can try it on in-store, get their measurement, and then buy a bra without having to buy the smart version.

Samsung Space monitor

The screens on Samsung’s space-saving monitors are nothing out of the ordinary, but both models (there are 27-inch and a 32-inch versions), come mounted to clamp with an articulating arm. It allows you to move the monitor close to you when you’re working, then store it flush against the wall so you have room to do tarot card readings or make Cheeto art on your desk when it’s not in use.

The North Face FutureLight material

The North Face released a new kind of proprietary waterproof, breathable material they call FutureLight; made through a process they call “Nanospinning” (think creating a membrane using very small fibers), the resulting material lets air breeze through– to keep it comfortable when you sweat– but keeps the rain out when it drizzles on you.

Kohler Numi 2.0 toilet

If you caught any of the early CES coverage, you almost certainly heard about the smart toilet with Alexa integration. This $7,000 toilet lets you customize the temperature of the seat and play our playlists while you sit there and stare at your phone while avoiding your family and other responsibilities.

In-car VR

Both Audi and Intel showed off in-car virtual reality systems that are meant to entertain passengers. The custom content tailors itself to the estimated time of your ride as well as the motion of the vehicle so the disparity between what you see and the motion you feel won’t make you yarf.

KitchenAid Smart Display

Last year, smart displays were all the rage. This year, however, their numbers were sparse. However, KitchenAid’s smart display has Google Assistant built-in and is designed to withstand all kinds of grime and moisture including a jet of water, so it should survive even if you fling everything around when you cook like the Swedish Chef from the Muppets.

HTC Vive Pro Eye

The new high-end VR headset from HTC will include technology that tracks where the wearer is looking so they can navigate menus just by looking in specific spots. It will also allow the headset to blur areas outside the wearer’s normal field of view to make the in-focus graphics look sharper and more detailed.

Nreal Light

Omron HeartGuide Blood Pressure Watch

This FDA-approved device takes a wearer’s blood pressure using an inflatable cuff, just like at the doctor. It took an impressive amount of work for the company to make an inflating air bag that didn’t squish out to the sides of the watch and ruin the readings.

Written By Stan Horaczek

#Technology

0 notes