#Madden 20 PC

[chirpthingz]

my "essay" on why I don't think kian's plan would amount to anything:

with sources!

spoilers for desconjuracao ep. 20 & calamidade below

my problem with kian's plan isn't that i think it wouldn't work, i just don't think he's capable of achieving it. now, just as a refresher:

kian's plan is referred to as the calamity. his goal is to sever the connection between reality and the other side, destroying it. to achieve this, he must kill anyone with knowledge of the paranormal and destroy the relics. (source)

this is a perfectly reasonable plan that, based on how the other side functions, could work. (source). if i remember correctly, cellbit even confirmed it would work (i can't remember where i heard this, so i may be wrong). and on that note, kian is insanely powerful. he is:

immortal, can move shit with his mind (to an extent), can teleport pretty much anywhere he wants, has a decent amount of followers, can weaken rituals in an area, and has two rituals that essentially insta-kill someone (as far as we are aware), is scarily clever, knows everything about the other side, is 4000+ years old (technically), cannot be caught by surprise, and possesses superhuman strength + agility. (source)

at a first glance, he seems more than capable. he has the highest marcado (player) kill count (5) in the series, and is referred to as the damn god of knowledge by his followers. (source).

but he is not a god, he is not a relic, and there are factors i feel he has not considered.

The amount of people he would have to kill is too high.

kian intends to kill everyone with knowledge of the paranormal. of known living characters, this includes 18 player characters, 4 relics, 25 ordem agentes (not including pcs), 5 members of the leone family (excluding carina), 8 hell hunters, 17 members of the obscurite (excluding yuki & dominic), 1 escripta (not including gal), 6 known ordem prisoners, 1 colosseum employee, cassiano/hugo/eduarda/tim, the 15 surviving members of tipora (excluding amelie & oliver), 2 panacea employees, emilia, donisvaldo (don), mandy/vicente, and a number of npcs whose whereabouts are unknown. this adds up to at least 109 relevant characters. (source). of course, this is not counting the amount of people we don't know about. think about all the other organizations & governments out there. think about how many odd groups like os cinco are out there. think about the mask sect, the host production, the luzidios. furthermore, it is not unreasonable to assume the population of the world that ordem is set in is similar to ours. currently, we are sitting at nearly 8 billion. any amount of those 8 billion could have some knowledge about the paranormal. without a doubt, those people amount to at least a couple hundred thousands. even if we were to even out the playing field and pretend that kian's escriptas were still alive, the ratio of escriptas to people he needs to kill is maddening.

2. Kian is not all-knowing.

"kian sabe, kian sabe-" no he doesn't. he knows about the other side, but that only gets him so far. he could not locate the order base (source) (it is important to note that the order had the help of a relic in hiding themselves) nor stop them when they arrived in italy, he had to rely on clarissa. (source). furthermore, he had no idea about god's diary- the one thing that could stop him. (source). the world is enormous. to be as brief as possible: there is too much ground for him to cover. he can also not account for recorded information. there is no feasible way he can look through every archive, every website, every library, etc. information about the paranormal will survive and he might never know about it. on that note, he cannot possible know where all of his targets are at once, and he cannot get to all of them fast enough before some of them realize they need to hide. this brings me to my next point.

3. It would take him too long to accomplish his goal.

kian is currently immortal. (source). he has all the time in the world. no rush, right? wrong. thinking back to the insanely large amount of people he needs to kill, which assumedly totals up to at least hundreds of thousands of people. it would take him ages to kill them all. even if he did have escriptas helping him, it would take multiple decades at a minimum. the longer he takes, the more time someone else has to stumble upon the paranormal. the number of people he needs to kill is not a fixed rate, it is constantly increasing. if we take into account the rapid spread of news and information because of digital spaces, it's not unreasonable to think that it's increasingly rapidly. this also gives other people more time to figure out how to stop him, which is obviously dangerous to his cause. he cannot reasonable kill people at a fast enough rate to make rapid progress, at least not if he wants to prevent my next point from becoming true

4. Enacting his plan would weaken the membrane.

the membrane that separates reality from the other side can be weakened by fear. entities from the other side use this fear as a bride to physically manifest in reality. (source). kian does not have the time (as explained above), nor the money, nor the resources to ensure every death is untraceable. the amount of people he needs to kill will draw attention, especially when it isn't unreasonable to think that government officials are aware of the paranormal to an extent (for example, verissimo himself comments that the order is partially supported by political allies). it's also important to note the sheer amount of people that will die. to an outside perspective, large amounts of people globally will die or go missing with little public explanations or connections. this will undoubtedly cause mass panic. panicked people become paranoid, and then scared, and then the membrane begins to weaken. this means more opportunities for the other side to manifest into reality, therefore making more people aware of the paranormal. it is completely unavoidable, and (from his perspective) frustratingly counter-active to his plan.

naturally, we do not know the true extent of kian's strength. up to this point, he really has not made any attempts of truly trying to enact his plan; instead he focuses on stopping the people in his way (which, if he continues to focus on such matters, he will never get around to actually bringing about the calamity).

there is also the argument that he may have access to relics. this is addressed by the magistrate in calamity episode 8:

the magistrate informs equipe abutres that if the mask of despair (relic of knowledge) were to be destroyed, kian would possibly control destiny itself. (source).

it can only be assumed that similar consequences would occur should the other relics be destroyed. however, for him to actually destroy the relics, he would have to acquire them first. this is where I believe he meets a significant wall.

the relics do not appear to get along. or at the very least, their differences drive them apart. (source). this does not mean they cannot make agreements. the devil and the host appeared to have no problems with each other in the ordo calamitas base, and the host and magistrate let equipe abutres decide who to side with even though they knew it would end in one of their "deaths" (even if they argued about it the entire time).

most importantly, they all desired to stop kian. this is because, very obviously, they do not want to be barred from reality. and even more importantly, they are very, very powerful.

but the relics of knowledge and energy do not have wielders, leaving it up to the god of death and the devil (unless someone decides to become the new magistrate or host), which brings me to my final topic.

the devil and the god of death are not going to help kian. the strongest counter-argument to this entire essay is that with the help of the devil, kian could easily realize the calamity. with the devil appearing to offer a pact to an imprisoned kian, this reality doesn't seem to far away. yet, there is no logical sense behind this idea. the devil can only lose if kian accomplishes his goal, and kian will not stop until he has destroyed all the relics. they may temporarily work together, but it is a fragile alliance. at some point, the devil must try to stop him. the god of death has only appeared twice, both under circumstances in which his domains were threatened. even if he chooses to ignore the calamity, eventually kian is going to encroach on his territory. the god of death will be forced to intervene.

i, chirp, assume the two would not get along super well, but the magistrate and host have shown us that relics can come together for a cause they both believe in. it is impossible to know if they will both be able to come together in such a way, but the chance is not zero!

in summary: under all that power and immortality, kian is flesh and bone like the rest of us. 4000 years has not softened his pride, and it will probably take 4000 more for his plan to amount to anything.

----

you made it to end!! sorry i am such a yapper lmao, but i've been thinking about this for like two days straight. this essay isn't meant to start any heated arguments, it's all very lighthearted, but i do want to hear your opinions. if i got some information wrong, please forgive me; youtube auto-translated subtitles can only get me so far, and i've only seen calamidade once.

KIAN BROXA.

[svenerd]

Spiele-Releases im August 2024 | Für PC und Konsolen

Photo by DavidGallie on Pixabay Die wichtigsten Spiele-Releases im August 2024 für PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X und Nintendo Switch in der Video-Vorschau: Wir stellen euch alle interessanten Neuerscheinungen für PC, Konsolen und VR vor. Diesen Monat unter anderem mit Star Wars Outlaws, Black Myth: Wukong, & Smite 2. 00:00 Intro 00:29 Sword of Convallaria 00:57 Car Manufacture 01:47 Thank Goodness You’re Here! 02:22 World of Goo 2 03:01 Fields of Mistria 03:38 Level Zero: Extraction 04:11 Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freeks 04:45 CYGNI: All Guns Blazing 05:21 Creatures of Ava 06:07 Cat Quest III 06:49 SteamWorld Heist II 07:29 Deathbound 08:15 Mini Settlers 08:56 Demonsomnia 09:43 Intravenous 2 10:26 I Am Your Beast 11:05 Farewell North 11:49 shapez 2 12:31 Madden NFL 25 13:11 Black Myth: Wukong 13:50 Dustborn 14:32 Mika and The Witch’s Mountain 15:06 Tactical Breach Wizards 15:44 Concord 16:39 Endzone 2 17:26 World of Warcraft: The War Within 18:01 SMITE 2 18:32 GUNDAM BREAKER 4 19:01 Squirrel with a Gun 19:34 Visions of Mana 20:17 Gori: Cuddly Carnage 20:57 Breachway 21:33 Star Wars Outlaws 22:35 REKA 23:24 Crime Scene Cleaner 23:58 Ports Read the full article

[44gamez]

Xbox Game Pass Adds Resident Evil 3, Madden NFL 24, and More

Microsoft has introduced the subsequent set of titles coming to Xbox Sport Go within the first half of February. The upcoming titles embody Madden NFL 24, Resident Evil 3, Plate Up, and extra. The complete listing of video games, DLC, and Perks coming to Xbox Sport Go by way of Microsoft might be seen under in addition to video games leaving the service this month. The complete Xbox Sport Go particulars for February: Obtainable Right this moment Anuchard (Cloud, Console, and PC) The dominion of Anuchard has fallen. Generations after the collapse, its surviving descendants have chosen you to grow to be The Bellwielder of the magical Audros Bell. Go forth, battle monsters, resolve puzzles, and restore Anuchard to its former skyward glory!   Coming Quickly Practice Sim World 4 (Cloud, Console, and PC) – February 7 Hit excessive speeds, roam free alongside the tracks and get inventive with a number of recent instruments and options in Practice Sim World 4. Design your personal liveries, plan Eventualities and seize railfan pictures with the brand new Photograph Mode throughout three detailed routes within the UK, Austria and USA. Madden NFL 24 (Console and PC) – February 8 Get able to gentle it up in Madden NFL 24 with EA Play. PC Sport Go or Final members can begin your season on February 8, 2024, when it joins The Play Record, and from then till March 8, you’ll additionally rating an Final Staff Supercharge Pack. Resident Evil 3 (Cloud, Console, and PC) – February 13 Jill Valentine is likely one of the final remaining individuals in Raccoon Metropolis to witness the atrocities Umbrella carried out. To cease her, Umbrella unleashes their final secret weapon; Nemesis! Taking part in as Jill, it's essential to navigate by way of the chaotic, zombie infested streets of Raccoon Metropolis, stunningly re-built utilizing Capcom’s proprietary RE Engine. Clear up puzzles, encounter different grotesque creatures and attempt to escape the relentless Nemesis on this reimagining of the 1999 traditional! Bloodstained: Ritual of the Evening (Cloud, Console, and PC) – February 14 Returning to the Sport Go library, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Evening is an exploration-focused, side-scroller motion RPG packing all the perfect options you’ve come to know and love from the metroidvania style right into a single, content-packed sport. A Little To The Left (Cloud, Console, and PC) – February 15 A comfy puzzle sport the place day-after-day messes grow to be pleasing puzzle preparations. Stack paperwork, kind postcards, and resolve all types of puzzles throughout over 100 ranges. However be careful for a playful cat who may cease by to swipe away all of your exhausting work! PlateUp! (Cloud, Console, and PC) – February 15 Traditional cooking motion with everlasting roguelite development. Cook dinner and serve your dishes, design and enhance your eating places, and develop your culinary kingdom with unlocks, skills and dishes in procedurally-generated layouts. Tackle the problem solo or rent as much as 3 buddies. Return to Grace (Cloud, Console, and PC) – February 20 A daring area archaeologist has simply unearthed the traditional resting place of a protracted misplaced A.I. god often known as Grace. Journey with varied fractured A.I. personalities as you uncover the good thriller of why she was shut down all these years in the past on this first-person narrative journey set in a visually gorgeous ‘60s retro sci-fi world.   ICYMI MLB The Present 24 is Coming to Sport Go Coming to Sport Go on day one, MLB The Present 24 introduced Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr would be the cowl athlete of the Commonplace Version. The Deluxe Editions pays tribute to the legends of Negro Leagues –– Xbox Sport Go members can improve with the Digital Deluxe Add-On to get bonus gadgets and play 4 days early. Study extra right here.   DLC / Sport Updates Sea of Thieves: Season 11 – Obtainable now New adventures are at your fingertips! Uncover your subsequent Voyage immediately at your Quest Desk, or select a problem that fits you and dive straight into the motion. Collect contemporary plunder for the Buying and selling Corporations as you rise to degree 100 and past, incomes new Distinctions and wealthy rewards. Xbox Sport Go Final Perks Mighty Doom: Cacodemon Mini Slayer Beauty – Obtainable now Put on this Cacodemon beauty in your Mini Slayer to indicate these demons you imply enterprise!  Comes with an Xbox beauty for the BFG, Cacodemon beauty for the Heavy Cannon and extra. Obtain Mighty Doom on cellular, and log into the sport along with your related Microsoft account to say your Perk. You have to to play by way of the tutorial at first launch. F1 23: Champions Improve – Obtainable now Get the Champions Improve together with 4 New My Staff Racing Icons and extra along with your EA Play membership included with Sport Go Final. The Sims 4: Jungle Journey Pack – Obtainable now Assist have fun The Sims 4’s twenty fourth birthday with us! As a present to you, benefit from the Jungle Journey Sport Pack along with your EA Play membership included with Sport Go Final. Smite: 12 months 11 Starter Pack – Obtainable now Have a good time 12 months 11 of Smite in model! The 12 months 11 Starter Pack consists of Anubis and his Voice Pack, in addition to two skins for Anubis, Gravehound and Cosmic Energy, and a 3 Day Account Booster.   Leaving February 15 The next video games are leaving the Sport Go library quickly, so ensure that to leap again in and handle remaining Achievements earlier than they go away. Keep in mind to make use of your membership low cost to save lots of as much as 20% to maintain them in your library. - Galactic Civilizations III (PC) - Opus: Echo of Starsong (Cloud, Console, and PC) Keep tuned at Gaming Instincts by way of Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook for extra gaming information. Source link Read the full article

[nerdwelt]

Wie man den Fehler "Sicherer Start Madden 24" behebt

nerdswire.de   ❘   Veröffentlicht: 2023-08-18T15:32:05   ❘   Aktualisiert: 2023-08-18T15:32:20 Der Madden 24 Secure Boot-Fehler hat einige PC-Besitzer betroffen. Hier finden Sie eine Anleitung, welche Schritte Einzelpersonen empfohlen werden, um den Fehler zu beheben. Auf Social Media haben mehrere Madden-Spieler angegeben, aufgrund eines Secure Boot-Fehlers keinen Zugriff auf Madden 24 für PC…

[first-impressions-gaming]

GAMING RECAP (FEB 13-14)

Dying Light 2 roadmap is set for 2023

Looking at the roadmap revealed by Techland, we'll be getting a new update in April, which will add an upgrade to the game's combat physics for a more brutal experience. On top of that, a gear transmogrification system and brand-new Techland Gamers & Goodies quests will be implemented. This will be followed by another update in June to improve the game's parkour flow and add a new night experience alongside roaming volatiles.

Later on in the year, we'll receive Dying Light 2's second expansion. While it's currently unnamed, franchise director Tymon Smektala has said that fans of the first game can expect the return of some familiar faces. It'll be set in a never-before-seen location and predominantly focus on a narrative-driven experience. What's more, the expansion will add new weapon types to the game, which Smektala says won't just be melee-orientated.

Continue reading here

Bloober Team announces new project with Serial Cleaners dev Draw Distance

Layers of Fears and The Medium developer, Bloober Team, has announced that it's working with Serial Cleaners developer Draw Distance on a new game, which is cryptically codenamed Project M.

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Ubisoft’s is holding a cross-play test for its free-to-play FPS XDefiant this week

Having held several ‘Insider Sessions’ for PC players last year, the latest playtest will see PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC users playing together from February 16-20.

Participants will be able to sample four game modes and 13 maps, including a new battleground called Pueblito, which is set in the fictional Caribbean nation of Yara introduced in Far Cry 6.

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NPD report: US game spending down 5% to $4.3bn in January

During January, US consumer spending on games reached $4.3 billion, a 5% decline year-over-year, according to the latest NPD data.

Software comprised most of the month's revenue (88%), with game content reaching $3.79 billion in January.

Consumer spending for the month on hardware was flat year-over-year at $393 million.

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Another Seven Games Will Leave Xbox Game Pass Soon (February 28)

• ⁠Alien Isolation (PC/Xbox)

• ⁠Crown Trick (PC/Xbox)

• ⁠Dragon Ball FighterZ (PC/Xbox)

• ⁠FAR: Changing Tides (PC/Xbox)

• ⁠Lightning Returns: FFXIII (PC/Xbox)

• ⁠Madden NFL 21 (PC/Xbox)

• ⁠Octopath Traveler (PC/Xbox)

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Edited by mertcan kuranoglu

[baikaishui520668]

[thegamecollection]

E3 2019...

Doesn’t it come around quick?! Yes E3 2019 is so close we can almost feel that sweet L.A. air in our lungs. As always the most exciting time of year for gamers, retailers and tech fanatics is just around the corner and we’ll have our TGC Team in attendance to give you news and blog reviews on everything we get hands-on with. In case you didn’t know then the event will take place between 11th-13th June so you’ll want to quit your job for those dates. This is also fair warning to follow all of our social channels! We’ll give you some links at the end of this blog because we’re good like that. Of course you’ll want to stay up to speed with what’s going on where and when so we’ve decided to drop a summary for you below. You don’t want to miss your most anticipated releases do you?! No you don’t.

Sorry did we say 11-13th? Well in true E3 fashion there will be a number of events taking place before those dates in order to cram as much new content down your throat as possible. Hungry? Good.

Saturday 8th June

EA will in effect not officially be at E3 this year as they are once again choosing to opt for their EA Play pre-event, this time without a press conference. Instead we’ll be expecting a series of livestreams showcasing upcoming releases such as ‘Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order’, Season 2 of ‘Apex Legends’, the standard but always highly anticipated sports releases such as ‘FIFA 20′ and ‘Madden NFL 20′, as well as updates for current releases such as ‘Anthem’ and ‘Battlefield V’. We’ll be all over that Star Wars stream. ALL over it.

Whilst also in attendance between the official dates, there’ll be Nintendo representation beforehand with the Mario company conducting an eSports Tournament. The order of play:

The Super Mario Maker 2 Invitational 2019

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate World Championship 2019 3v3

Splatoon 2 World Championship 2019

Sunday 9th June

Microsoft have something in their locker and apparently it’s pretty significant! Their standard Xbox focused conference will take place on the Sunday afternoon at 1pm (PT) and Xbox boss man ‘Phil Spencer’ has been quoted with a “go big” attitude. By this we’d expect to see something on ‘Halo Infinite’ and new consoles but these are just rumours! We love rumours.

Also true to form will be Bethesda and their traditional press conference taking place at 5:30pm (PT). We’re not really sure on what to expect from them this year! Tell you what though.. We love surprises more than we love rumours! We’re excited to see what’s pulled out of the hat and of course we’ll be there to supply you with the info as it drops. A brief mention again to our social channels coming later!

Monday 10th June

We’re closing in on those doors opening to that floor show! With anticipation maxing out at this point, the Monday is packed with goodness. kicking it off will be the PC Gamer Show at 10am (PT) and will cover everything you’ll be needing if you favour the keyboard over the controller... Pen this one in, PC gamers!

The afternoon at 1pm (PT) will bring with it the Ubisoft presentation and there’s nothing confirmed on what will be teased. However if you’re like us then that’s cool. It just makes it all the more exciting. A rumoured ‘Watch Dogs 3′ reveal could be on the cards? Who knows? Well Ubisoft do and we’re just going to have to wait.

Following up from this would *usually* be Sony but as they’re not in attendance, Square Enix step in with a repeat of last year’s conference. The Kings of RPG will be kicking off their presentation at 6pm (PT) and although an “exciting range of titles” has been teased, there has been no confirmation on anything specific. After last year’s ‘Just Cause 4′ and ‘Kingdom Hearts III’ showcase, they’ll need to go big to top it. Something on that mysterious Avengers game perhaps? Purely speculation.

Tuesday 11th June

The day is here! E3 2019 opens its doors and lets the hordes of gamers and people of the industry in to the many delights that await. Before they do however, Nintendo will air their pre-recorded Nintendo Direct presentation to the world at 9am (PT) and will display the lineup of Switch titles coming in 2019. GIVE ME MORE ON LUIGI’S MANSION 3. GIVE IT TO ME. Sorry I just had to get that out. Following on from this will be the airing of its annual Nintendo Treehouse livestream that will run throughout the week of the event.

And then we are here. We were here at the start of the last paragraph but now we’re here here. E3 2019 and the many, many titles of which some we know and some we don’t, await to blow our minds. Yours too! 

We’ve mentioned our social channels (shameless plugging incoming) so here they are! Hit the like/follow buttons to hang with us in L.A. for the most exciting event in the gaming calendar...

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Tumblr - You’re already on here, mate.

Some would say we’re excited. They’d be right.

-Jack

[modmad]

so with ABSOLUTELY EXCEPTIONALLY MADDENING timing, my cintiq and mac, for unknown reasons, are not working with each other. idk which is broken but I can't draw digitally- will try to reprogram it or shift onto my backup PC but I am pulling my hair out rn (was working yesterday!)

is anyone else having similar troubles? haven’t run the latest mac update bc the last one broke absolutely everything so I’m praying I don’t have to resort to that tbh...

EDIT: so after the third restart it is working again- that’s the the good news, the bad news is I have no idea why it wasn’t working. If it happens again I’ll let you guys know but like, eesh, how to shave 20 years off my lifespan...

[aion-rsa]

25 Hardest PC Games of All-Time

https://ift.tt/38HV1Oq

The most fascinating thing about the history of difficult PC games isn’t necessarily the difficulty of individual titles but rather the diversity of difficult experiences the platform has gifted us throughout the years.

From meme games specifically designed to make you rage quit to underrated platformers and punishing puzzle titles, the history of difficult PC games essentially doubles as a fairly comprehensive look at all the ways developers have creatively punished us for daring to think we were ever good enough to beat their cruelest creations.

What are the most difficult PC games ever made, though? Well, answering that question is only slightly easier than actually playing the games on such a list, so in the interest of honoring the hardest PC games ever, we’re offering an extended look at the games that made you toss your mouse and keyboard in the air and briefly consider the benefits of smashing the family computer. We’re also focusing on games that were initially released exclusively for various PC platforms (or at least games that weren’t simply ported to PC later on) in order to properly pay homage to the truly unique ways our personal computers have tortured us throughout the years.

25. Minesweeper

The first PC game many of us probably played dominated computer classrooms, ate up more free time than many of us will ever care to admit, and ultimately confounded a generation of gamers who desperately tried to see its victory screen. 

That’s what’s impressive about Minesweeper. It’s ultimately a pretty challenging puzzle game that becomes borderline absurd at high-difficulty settings, but I’m just amazed that Microsoft was bold enough to make such a confusing, complicated, and difficult game one of the most recognizable early Windows experiences. 

24. Dota 2

This is a bit of a tricky entry, largely because I’m hesitant to highlight PC multiplayer games in this discussion about difficult titles. Obviously, it’s pretty hard to win a match against some of the best competitive multiplayer players in the world.

What separates Dota 2, though, is its incredible learning curve. Yes, top-rank Dota play is incredibly difficult, but the barrier to entry in this game is so thick that it’s amazing most new players even stick around to try to learn it.

23. Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear

If you’re only familiar with the Rainbow Six series because of Siege (which, to be fair, is a challenging game in its own right), then let me just warn you now that you’re probably in for a world of hurt if you ever dare to try to play the first few entries in this long-running franchise.

The only word that properly describes Rogue Spear‘s difficulty is “unforgiving.” You have to be nearly perfect in your planning, aim, map, knowledge, and execution of all of those elements if you’re going to have any chance of completing this game’s most difficult missions. Don’t even get me started on those stealth sections…

22. Return of the Obra Dinn

There are quite a few challenging “logic puzzle” games on the PC, but what separates this truly incredible experience from some of its immediate competition is the way that the game’s time manipulation mechanics require you to cross-reference nearly every piece of information that you acquire with every other piece of information you acquire.

Yes, you can make educated guesses in Obra Dinn, but that little piece of freedom just shows you how complex this game’s puzzles really are. Return of the Obra Dinn doesn’t just make you think; it demands a different kind of thought process than you’ll find in any other game or any other kind of storytelling experience.

21. Kerbal Space Program

It’s not hard to enjoy Kerbal Space Program. It is, after all, a fairly goofy game about building spaceships where half the fun comes from watching your plans quite literally blow up in your face. However, have you ever tried actually playing Kerbal Space Program well?

If you have, then you probably already know that Kerbal Space Program is one of the most complicated and mechanically advanced PC games ever made. Building a fully functional rocket in this game’s nightmare world of physics and miniature components is only slightly less difficult than being asked to build a rocket in real life.

20. Hotline Miami

Hotline Miami is widely recognized for its all-time great soundtrack and absurd violence, but don’t let this game’s popularity somehow convince you that it is not one of the most unforgiving and mentally exhausting action games ever made. 

While each level in Hotline Miami is essentially a puzzle, few puzzle games also demand perfect aim or the ability to pick up a makeshift weapon at just the right moment in order to salvage your plan of attack. Few gaming experiences match the feeling of getting a Hotline Miami level just right. 

19. Dead Cells

Dead Cells is so much fun to play that you might forget that it’s absolutely one of the most challenging action games of the last few years. Of course, that reality will rise up and smack you in the face the moment that you dare to try to beat the game’s later levels. 

Even if you “grind�� your way to the top of Dead Cells and unlock every weapon, attribute, and skill, you’ll still struggle to topple this game’s most devious challenges. By that point, though, you’ll likely be too committed to seeing it through to realize that you’re actively being beaten down. 

18. FTL

FTL certainly wasn’t the first roguelike game, but this crowdfunded title elevated the genre with its incredible sci-fi setting, brilliant structure, and intense strategy-focused combat sequences. It’s also the game that showed millions just how difficult roguelike games could be. 

Years later, it’s easy to argue that FTL is still one of the hardest roguelike games out there. You can do everything right in this game (which is certainly no easy feat in and of itself) and still instantly lose the “perfect run” thinks to one of a hundred random little things that can go wrong. 

17. SpaceChem

Imagine trying to pass an advanced chemistry test while simultaneously attempting to re-wire the electricity in your home. That’s roughly what it’s like to play SpaceChem: one of the most complicated puzzle games ever conceived. 

I’d say learning to play SpaceChem is half the battle, but the thing that is so interesting about this game is that you never really entirely learn how to play it. You just learn to roll with the punches and make the most out of the various challenges this game uses to constantly keep you on your toes. 

16. Flywrench

At the risk of relying on too many comparisons, I’ll say that the best way to imagine what it’s like to play Flywrench is to imagine trying to play Super Hexagon and Super Meat Boy at the same time without messing up in either. That’s roughly the Flywrench experience. 

What’s amazing about this game is that even those with lightning-fast reflexes aren’t guaranteed to be good at it. Victory in Flywrench comes down to a brutal combination of reflexes, map memorization, quick reads, and the kind of persistence that few games would ever dare demand from their players. 

15. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl

Somewhere between a survival horror game and a simulation shooter lies S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl: one of the most original, terrifying, and yes, brutally difficult PC games ever made. 

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl convincingly sells the horrors of its setting by burdening you with the knowledge that you could indeed die at any time. If this game’s atmosphere, story, and tone don’t make you feel depressed, trying to navigate its toughest sections will probably do the trick. 

14. Dark Seed

While it’s true that the best reason to play Dark Seed is its incredible horror style (which is actually based on the art of H. R. Giger), the second-best reason to play Dark Seed is the desire to experience as much digital pain as possible. 

Dark Seed’s puzzles are hard enough on their own, but this game takes things one step too far by utilizing a time limit system that affords you almost no time to stop and smell the roses. You could argue this game would have been better off overall without that time limit system, but it certainly wouldn’t be as notoriously difficult as it very much is. 

13. Devil Daggers

If you’ve never played Devil Daggers, please be sure to find the time to do so. This absolutely incredible FPS experience effectively reimagines classic shooters as a kind of arena action game that places you in the middle of a small circular stage that is quickly swarmed by the most horrifying foes you’ll ever dare to imagine. 

Devil Daggers is basically what you’d get if you used mods to turn Quake into a bullet hell shooter. Ther are safe zones in this game, but good luck spotting them in a 3D, first-person setting while you’re actively trying not to die at every single moment. 

Read more

Games

PC Gaming Innovations That Changed the Way We Play

By Matthew Byrd

Games

25 PC Games That Changed History

By Matthew Byrd

12. Discworld

Even at a time when point-and-click adventure puzzles were designed to be as difficult as possible, Discworld quickly gained a reputation for featuring arguably the most challenging collection of puzzles that genre has ever seen. 

Discworld embraces the outlandishness of its source material by tasking you with solving puzzles that quite honestly defy any logic that we mere mortals are used to adhering to. Just when you think you may have possibly found a solution to one part of its devious puzzles, you suddenly realize that you haven’t begun to appreciate the maddening scope of what this game truly expects from you. 

11. 1001 Spikes

1001 Spikes isn’t just a throwback to the golden era of “NES hard.” It’s a hall-of-fame worthy collection of all the mechanics, ideas, and venomous design decisions that made those games so difficult (with a few new tricks thrown in). 

From bottomless pits to invisible blocks (and yes, a couple of spikes), 1001 Spikes is an angel to some and a demon to others. It really all depends on how fondly you remember the years of your youth that you spent dying to the cruelest 8-bit titles ever made. 

10. Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines

In a previous article about a nearly impossible dungeon crawler called The Immortal, I talked about how that game tries to make you walk a very specific path to avoid its various death traps. Well, Commandos utilizes a similar trick with one fascinating twist: you have to blaze your own path to victory. 

Commandos is a game of inches. Every move you make has to be carefully considered because each could trigger a mistake down the line that is nearly impossible to recover from. That level of freedom is both incredibly frustrating and the thing that keeps you convinced that you can eventually get it right if you hang in long enough.

9. Gabriel Knight 3

This is another case where I’m not actually sure how much Gabriel Knight 3 deserves this “honor” given that it features some of the most illogical, frustrating, confusing, and often downright unenjoyable puzzle designs in adventure game history. 

Having said that, I ultimately see this as the final boss for genre fans. No matter how good you think you are at solving the most confounding adventure game puzzles ever crafted, I’m willing to bet that this game will leave you seriously considering downloading a walkthrough and calling it a day. This game’s “cat puzzle” alone has broken the strongest souls. 

8. Darkest Dungeon

Moment to moment, Darkest Dungeon is difficult in all of the ways that you’d expect a roguelike dungeon crawler to be difficult. Tough enemies, minimal resources, incredible RNG swings…the gang is all here. 

What separates this title are the mechanics you have to deal with in-between those dungeon dives. Properly managing your always ailing party of heroes often requires you to make difficult strategic decisions that simultaneously punish greed and pretty much demand it if you’re going to have any chance of reaching this game’s nearly impossible final dungeon.

7. I Wanna Be The Guy

I Wanna Be the Guy is both a throwback to the golden age of difficult games and a kind of experiment in how difficult you can make a game without it technically being impossible. It succeeds in both endeavors.

There are many PC games like I Wanna Be The Guy, but this is the title that alerted many of us to the wide world of these indie experiences that are designed to bring you to your breaking point. It’s one of the ultimate examples of how the PC gaming community has been pushing the limits of difficult retro gaming experiences for quite some time now.

6. Dwarf Fortress

Any discussion about Dwarf Fortress‘ difficulty has to eventually address the debate over whether or not you should see this as the kind of game you’re meant to “beat.” For millions of players, Dwarf Fortress is really about the process of figuring out how to do your best in one of the most mechanically complicated games ever. 

That brutal learning curve certainly makes Dwarf Fortress worthy of consideration for this particular list, but it’s the “endgame” that ultimately makes this experience so special. Much like Kerbal Space Program, it’s when you try to succeed at Dwarf Fortress that you appreciate how challenging this fascinating blend of role-playing and world-building really is. Dwarf Fortress is arguably the deepest rabbit hole in video game history.

5. Getting Over It With Bennett Foddy

There have been quite a few incredibly difficult “meme” games in the past, but for my money, none have come close to topping this masterpiece. 

Getting Over It‘s controls are ultimately the source of its legendarily frustrating gameplay, but the thing that will always define this game is that feeling you get when you realize a single wrong move can reset all the progress you’ve made so far. Few other games in history have combined persistence and mechanical challenges quite as well as this one. 

4. X-COM: UFO Defense

There’s no denying that modern XCOM games are incredibly difficult, and there’s no denying that those who are able to beat modern XCOM games deserve a firm pat on the back. That being said, no modern XCOM game will ever compare to the difficulty of X-COM: UFO Defense.

The thing that separates UFO Defense from its competition in this category is the way that it demands you master and constantly consider a daunting number of gameplay mechanics. There is almost no room for error in this incredible game, and you probably won’t even know that you’ve made a mistake until it’s far too late to do anything but start over again. 

3. Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy

Is Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy a troll game? Yes, yes it is. However, that doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be on any shortlist of the most difficult games ever made. 

I highly doubt a developer will ever dare to construct puzzles as complicated as the ones featured in Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Part of the “appeal” of this game is actually the way that its nearly impossible logic puzzles accentuate the ridiculous, yet despondent, nature of its humor. Just be sure to bring a towel. 

2. Osu!

I’ll just come out and say that there’s never been a rhythm game as difficult as osu! With no assistance from a required peripheral instrument, osu! manages to challenge your mechanical abilities like no other entry into this genre has ever dreamed to do. 

Honestly, the only thing you really need to know about this game is that some of the top FPS players in the world use it to prepare for competitive tournaments and matches. It’s the purest and most challenging video game reflex test that’s ever been constructed, and it’s hard not to love it for that. 

1. Wizardry IV: The Return of Werdna

If it seems strange to put an RPG at the top of a list of the hardest PC games ever, that’s because you don’t know Wizardry IV. 

Wizardry IV is a unique dungeon crawler where you’re essentially cast as a villain trying to work your way out of Hell. Actually, the best way to describe this game is just that. Hell. From constantly shifting maps to an experience system (or lack thereof) that requires you to beat incredible challenges without being able to consistently rely on your character actually getting stronger, Wizardry IV is quite simply the cruelest game ever made.

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

Honestly, Wizardry IV’s first room is arguably the most difficult and unintuitive challenge in video game history. From there, things only get worse. It’s an absolute masterpiece in “f*** everything about this” video game design. 

The post 25 Hardest PC Games of All-Time appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[svenerd]

Games zu Weihnachten - Geschenke-Ratgeber von 0 - 18 Jahren

Photo by Michelle_Raponi on Pixabay

Spiele für Kinder - Die perfekten Spiele bis 12 Jahre

Photo by ShortSword on Pixabay Passend zur anstehenden Zeit, in der Geschenke für Weihnachten gesucht werden, stellen wir euch die perfekten Gaming-Geschenke für Kinder bis 12 Jahren für Nintendo Switch, Playstation, Xbox und PC vor. In den Videos am Ende jedes Abschnittes werden alle Spiele kurz vorgestellt. Den Inhalt der jeweiligen Videos findet ihr hier, inklusive Zeitstempel in den Videos. 00:00 Intro 00:48 Mario-Spiele Super Mario Odyssey New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury Super Mario Bros. Wonder 02:42 Bauen und Spaß haben Minecraft Minecraft Legends Minecraft Dungeons Super Mario Maker 2 Dragon Quest Builders 2 05:29 Lego Lego Star Wars: Die Skywalker-Saga Lego Marvel Superhelden 2 Lego Harry Potter Collection 07:16 Sport und Spaß Nintendo Switch Sports Ring Fit Adventure Mario Tennis Aces Mario Golf: Super Rush Mario Strikers: Battle League Mario & Sonic bei den Olympischen Spielen: Tokyo 2020 11:07 Lebenssimulationen Disney Dreamlight Valley Fae Farm Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life My Time At Portia Landwirtschafts-Simulator Animal Crossing: New Horizons 14:48 Hüpfspaß Kirby und das vergessene Land Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe Disney Illusion Island 16:26 Abenteuer Stray The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening 17:32 Rennspiele Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged Team Sonic Racing Lego 2K Drive 20:09 Pokémon Pokémon Karmesin und Pokémon Purpur Pokémon-Legenden: Arceus Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu! Und Pokémon Let’s Go, Evoli! New Pokémon Snap Meisterdetektiv Pikachu kehrt zurück 23:14 Action/Shooter Splatoon 3 Powerwash Simulator

Spiele für Jugendliche - Die perfekten Spiele von 12 bis 18 Jahre

Photo by wal_172619 on Pixabay 00:00 Intro 01:03 Was sollte man beachten 02:05 Fantasy-Spiele The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Tales of Arise Kena: Bridge of Spirits Elden Ring 04:08 Weltraum-Spiele No Man’s Sky Starfield 05:07 Fahren und Fliegen Forza Horizon 5 Forza Motorsport Gran Turismo 7 Wreckfest Microsoft Flight Simulator 07:31 Playstation-Spiele Horizon: Zero Dawn Complete Edition Horizon: Forbidden West Complete Edition Marvel’s Spider-Man Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 09:24 Lizenzspiele Hogwarts Legacy Mittelerde: Mordors Schatten Mittelerde: Schatten des Krieges Lego Der Hobbit Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Lego Star Wars: Die Skywalker Saga Guardians of the Galaxy Batman: Return to Arkham Batman Arkham Trilogy Lego Batman 3 - Jenseits von Gotham Lego DC Super-Villains 11:20 Hüpfen Super Mario Bros. Wonder Rayman Legends Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart 12:38 Cozy-Games Animal Crossing: New Horizons Stardew Valley Landwirtschafts-Simulator 22/23 14:18 Sport EA Sports FC 24 NBA 2K24 NHL 24 Madden NFL 24 16:27 Strategie Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope Anno 1800 Civilization 6 17:58 Puzzle Portal 2 / Portal Begleiterkollektion It Takes Two Untitled Goose Game 20:13 Spiele digital verschenken

Spiele für Erwachsene - Die perfekten Spiele für volljährige Zocker

Photo by chriswanders on Pixabay 00:00 Intro 01:01 Für Rollenspiel-Fans Baldur‘s Gate 3 The Witcher 3 Divinity Original Sin 2 Disco Elysium – The Final Cut 05:31 Für Filmliebhaber und Nostalgiker Robocop: Rogue City Starship Troopers: Terran Command Aliens: Dark Descent Alien: Isolation 08:13 Für Strategen Crusader Kings 3 Stellaris Total War: Three Kingdoms 11:20 Für Gesellschaftsspieler The-Jackbox-Party-Pack-Reihe Party Animals 13:55 Für Horrorfans Resident Evil 4 Dead Space Remake 15:58 Große Hits zum kleinen Preis Yakuza 0 Immortals: Fenyx Rising Far Cry 6 Death‘s Door Vampire Survivors 18:21 Die absoluten Mainstream-Blockbuster The Last of Us Part 1 Red Dead Redemption Red Dead Redemption 2 God of War Ragnarök Diablo 4 21:18 Für beste Freunde und Partner A Way Out Remnant 2 We Were Here Forever 24:16 Für Leseratten Slay the Princess 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical 26:15 Geheimtipps für die, die schon alles haben Pizza Tower Warhammer 40K: Boltgun Cassette Beasts 28:11 Worauf ihr beim Kauf achten solltet Read the full article

[evil-is-relative]

Dragon Break by Evil-is-Relative

My submission for the Scribes-of-Nirn Make Me Bad Contest! The theme is to imagine your OC as evil, and write them as the protagonist of their own Elder Scrolls DLC. I used Ysmir, of course. Who doesn't like to dress up their main OC? I tried a different process for this one, still trying to get around the lack of working tablet and being constrained to printer sized pages. After sketching out the layout, I created the background and Ysmir on different pages, then combined them after scanning and cleaning the sketches. Once they were all together, I colored them in Photoshop. I found this more tedious than simply doing the entire drawing on one page, but easier to work with once scanned in.

Reblog, not repost.

DLC concept below the cut.

DLC Dragon Break details: A disorienting visual effect involving the world lurching and the inside of an Elder Scroll flash across the screen after the player both reaches level 20 and completes the main quest. A message tells the player, "You feel a brief, shooting pain that dims but lingers" and the PC’s health, stamina, and magicka are all diminished by 10%, similar to disease or poison effects. This reoccurs every three game days. The character gets a letter one game day after they first suffer the effect, saying someone knows what is happening to them and can help. The player is instructed to go to the Temple of the Divines in Solitude, and the quest “Find the Priest of Akatosh” is started. In one of the unused sitting rooms upstairs, the Priest of Akatosh waits. His clothing is tattered and he is obviously in great pain. The player can offer him a health potion or spell that will ease this effect on the Priest for the duration of the conversation. The Priest tells the PC that they are in the midst of a Dragon Break, an unwinding of Time itself into several strands. Each strand holds a different Last Dragonborn, in the hopes that one will be able to defeat Alduin and Time continue. Usually, the world of a Failed Dragonborn simply ceases to be after the Dragonborn is defeated, but in this case, the Dragonborn was actually prevented from facing Alduin by the foolishness of mortals more interested in their own wars and machinations. Feeling cheated of her destiny, the Failed Dragonborn used an Elder Scroll to forge a weapon that could sunder time, in order to break into another Last Dragonborn’s timeline and replace them. The pain they feel, the Priest tells them, is because they are being erased from time, and the only reason they still exist is because of their Dragon Blood. Dragons are the Children of Akatosh, and thus attuned to the currents of time. The Dragonborn can temporarily cure the leaching effects by sacrificing a dragon soul. The player loses one dragon soul, goes back to full health until the next three game days have passed. The Priest instructs the Last Dragonborn to seek out the wisdom of Akatosh before he starts to fade. As he vanishes, the quest “Akatosh’s Guidance” is added to the quest log, instructing the player to pray at three Shrines of Akatosh. At the third Shrine, a portal will open, allowing the player to enter the DLC dungeon. The player finds themselves in the shattered remains of Whiterun. The city is burning, rocks and debris float in the air, and the sky is replaced with the swirling dark clouds of Alduin’s Meteor Shout. Maddened Hold Guards and Citizens attack, and meteors fall from the sky. Clear Skies can be used to stop the meteors for a time. The Gildergreen has the Word “Tiid” graven in it. The first word of “Close Time Tear,” Time, has been acquired. The player must reach the Ruins of Dragonsreach to go through the next portal. The portal will not appear if the Word has not been obtained. Through the portal the player finds themselves in the Ruins of Windhelm. Once again, they must fight Maddened Citizens, Stormcloaks, and raining meteors to reach the Palace of Kings, where they can proceed to the next portal. The second Word of “Close Time Tear,” “Vaaz,” Tear, is etched into the city keystone formerly glorifying Ysgramor. The portal will not appear if the Word has not been obtained. The last Ruined City is Solitude, where Imperial Soldiers and Thalmor war as yet more meteors fall. The player must fight their way through to the Blue Palace, which they may enter. The Palace is deserted and filled with fog. An Altmer in Justiciar robes lays dying at the foot of the stairs. If talked to, he will express regret that they targeted the Dragonborn to prevent her from fighting Alduin, believing they could control the dragon and return to being aedra themselves. He can be killed or left to die. The final Word of “Close Time Tear,” “Feim,” or Fade, is carved into the Throne, upon which a note stating only “The Blood of Akatosh will show the way” rests. Behind the Throne the Palace is gone, leaving a chasm of mists and swirling sky. Approaching the mist will reveal the prompt “The Blood of Akatosh.” The PC slices their hand, and the final portal opens. The prompt will not appear if the Word has not been obtained. The player finds themselves in a stone room with several arches on the opposite side, beyond which a sandstorm rages. Clear Skies opens the way, leading them into a large space with a sand floor dotted by the remains of buildings. At the far end, a break in the flowing sands holds a Throne before a copy of Alduin’s Wall. Above it all is a massive, broken hourglass, pouring sand into the room, and a storm that rages overhead. Ysmir sits on the Throne holding an Elder Scroll, which she explains is the Scroll of Time, the only Elder Scroll containing no prophesy, but the secrets of Time Itself. The writings on the Scroll allowed her to craft Eternity’s Flaw, a one-handed sword that drains Health, Stamina, and Magicka. In her hands, she used it to cut the threads of time and enter the player’s. She explains that if she kills you with Eternity’s Flaw, she can replace the player as the Last Dragonborn of their world. The quest objective “Get Eternity’s Flaw from Ysmir” is added. Ysmir is a spellsword class that can summon Flame and Storm Atronachs. If the player is a higher level, she can also summon Dremora. She uses Fire and Lightning spells, as well as Restoration magic on herself. She can use Unrelenting Force, Whirlwind Sprint, Become Ethereal, Slow Time, and Fire Breath Shouts. Dragon Rend will cause her to stagger, but she is immune to Bend Will and Soul Tear. When she falls below 50% health she is susceptible to the Disarm Shout, though Unrelenting Force will also cause her to lose her grip on her sword. Eternity’s Flaw is doubly effective on her. When she reaches 0 health, she will collapse, and the player can talk to her. She can either be slain with Eternity’s Flaw, or convinced to start a new life in the Last Dragonborn’s world. If slain, the player gains: 10 Dragon Souls, plus however many Souls sacrificed to stay at full health earlier, Eternity’s Flaw, and the Crown of Akatosh, a circlet that grants the player an activated effect Flame Cloak that costs no magicka and can be used once a day. If convinced to surrender: Player gains ability to recruit Ysmir as a follower. When following the player, she can heal herself and the player, pick leveled locks, and sneak. She does not mind crime, and can be married or made a steward. The player is granted Eternity’s Flaw, but the Crown of Akatosh remains with Ysmir. After making a decision, the quest objective “Enter the Sands of Time” appears. Using Eternity’s Flaw, the player strikes the figure of Alduin on the Wall, behind the Throne, and a portal out appears. After going through, the world shakes, and the player must use the “Close Time Tear” Shout to seal the rift between timestreams. With that action, the “Dragon Break” DLC ends.

[raeynbowboi]

How to Play as Thomas Sanders in DnD 5e

Yes I know I posted my Star Butterfly post saying it was my last DnD build for a while so I could take a break, but guess I’m a liar because I had a slow work day so here we are. A while ago, someone asked me to make a build for Thomas Sanders, and at the time, I honestly dismissed it, telling them that I didn’t think it was possible. I thought trying to cram five characters into one PC wasn’t really doable, but I’m going to eat those words and tell you all how you can talk to yourself about your feelings. However, this one will be a little different, because each Side could also be its own build, so I’ll be discussing how to build Thomas, Logan, Patton, Roman, and Virgil.

Thomas Sanders

Race: Human Background: Entertainer Class     Glamour Bard: As an entertainer with a love for singing and acting, I thought it most appropriate to have the primary class for all five of them should be a Bard. While Roman could work as a Glamour Bard, as he’s flirty and romantic, I felt it fit Thomas the best. Thomas clearly likes the attention or he wouldn’t do his Sanders Sides videos, and the Glamour Bard does exactly that, making themselves the center of attention and messing with emotions, which seemed to fit with Thomas’ personality and the premise of the series.

For spells, as a level 20 Bard, Thomas has 26 spells. 4 Cantrips, 16 spells, and 6 Bard Magical Secrets, which gives room for 6 spells per Side. Logan’s spells would prioritize finding information or using one’s mind to attack with psychic powers, Patton’s spells would protect and heal his allies, Roman’s spells would focus on charms and buffing his allies, and Virgil’s spells would focus on causing fear, panic, or illusory pain to enemy creatures.

Logan: Mage Hand, Comprehend Languages, Detect Magic, Psionic Blast Legend Lore, Synaptic Static, Intellect Fortress

Patton: Friends, Healing Word, Calm Emotions, Zone of Truth, Otil’s Resilient Sphere, Regenerate, True Resurrection

Roman: Vicious Mockery, Charm Person, Heroism, Enthrall, Crusader’s Mantle, Compulsion

Virgil: Mind Sliver, Dissonant Whispers, Fear, Ego Whip, Psychic Crush, Feeblemind

Logan Sanders (Logic)

Race: Variant Human (+1 CHA, +1 INT) Bonus Feat: Telekinesis Background: Entertainer, Researcher Class     Lore Bard: Really, Lore or Eloquence Bard works great for Logan. Just in different ways. Lore Bards are more focused on knowledge and facts, while Eloquence Bards are good debaters who weaponize logic and reason. Whether factual or logical, any way you slice it, you’re still a nerd. Side Expertise: History, Investigation, Nature, Religion Spell List     Basic Arcana: Light, Mage Hand, Message, Prestidigitation, Mage Armor, Magic Missile, Magic Weapon, Magic Circle, Arcane Hand, Mord’s Sword     Knowledge: Comprehend Languages, Detect Magic, Identify, Detect Thoughts, Locate Object, Locate Creature, Legend Lore, True Seeing     Psionics: Id Insinuation, Mental Barrier, Mind Trust, Thought Shield, Psionic Blast, Ego Whip, Intellect Fortress, Synaptic Static, Telekinesis, Psychic Crush Variant Builds     Knowledge Cleric     Lore Mastery or Psionics Wizard

Patton Sanders (Morality)

Race: Variant Human (+1 CHA, +1 CON) Bonus Feat: Inspiring Leader Background: Entertainer, Courtier Class     Eloquence Bard: Originally, I had Patton as a Valor Bard, but then while looking at Eloquence I started to realize it’s really a good fit for Patton. Aside from the Undeniable Logic feature name, the rest of the build is far more focused on healing, supporting, and calming one’s allies. So, Logan might seem like a good fit based on debating and logic, but in terms of how the subclass actually plays, it’s far more at home with Patton. Side Expertise: Acrobatics, Insight, Medicine, Persuasion Spell List     Wards: Blade Ward, Shield, Warding Bond, Ostil’s Resilient Sphere, Globe of Invulnerability     Healing: Mending, Cure Wounds, Healing Word, Lesser Restoration, Mass Cure Wounds, Heal, Regenerate, Resurrection, True Resurrection, Power Word Heal     Feelings: Friends, Sense Emotion, T’s Hideous Laughter, Calm Emotions     Helpful: Light, Faerie Fire, Feather Fall, Aid, Zone of Truth,  Motivational Speech, Skill Empowerment Variant Builds     Protection Cleric     Banneret Fighter     Redemption Paladin     Abjuration Wizard

Roman Sanders (Creativity)

Race: Variant Human (+1 CHA, +1 STR) Bonus Feat: Actor Background: Entertainer, Noble Class     Swords Bard: He’s a gallant hero, a noble prince, and the strongest of the four sides. Also, he likes to sing and owns a sword, so he checks off all two of the boxes required for the subclass. Side Expertise: Animal Handling, Arcana, Athletics, Performance Spell List    Charms: Friends, Charm Person, Suggestion, Hypnotic Pattern, Geas    Knight: True Strike, Branding Smite, Enhance Ability, Crusader’s Mantle, Circle of Power, Heroe’s Feast, Holy Weapon    Dramatics: Unearthly Chorus, Vicious Mockery, Shatter, Enthrall, Irresistible Dance    Royalty: Command, Speak with Animals, Animal Messenger, Remove Curse, Compulsion, Dominate Person, Dominate Monster, Mord’s Magnificent Mansion, Glibness  Variant Builds     Glamour Bard     Champion, Cavalier, or Eldritch Knight Fighter     Crown, Devotion, or Heroism Paladin     Swashbuckler Rogue     Archfey or Hexblade Warlock     Bladesong Wizard

Virgil Sanders (Anxiety)

Race: Variant Human (+1 CHA, +1 WIS) Bonus Feat: Alert Background: Entertainer, Haunted One Class    Whispers Bard: The Whispers Bard is perfect for Virgil, as both are fixated on attacking the mind, dealing psychic damage, and instilling fear in enemies. Side Expertise: Deception, Intimidation, Perception, Stealth Spell List:     Fear: Vicious Mockery, Bane, Dissonant Whispers, Enemies Abound, Fear, Ego Whip, Eyebite     Darkness: Invisibility, Darkness, Shadow Blade, Maddening Darkness     Mental: Mind Sliver, Minor Illusion, Mage Hand, Id Insinuation, Sleep, Crown of Madness, Phantasmal Force, Ray of Enfeeblement, Catnap, Confusion, Phantasmal Killer, Contingency, Mislead, Feeblemind, Psychic Scream Variant Builds     Shadow Monk     Gloom Stalker Ranger     Assassin, Inquisitive, or Soul Knife Rogue     Aberrant Mind or Shadow Sorcerer     Great Old One Warlock

With the four sides, you could build Thomas in such a way that his spell list changes based on his mood, rolling a 1d4 after every long rest to determine how he feels that day. The sides could be their own characters, questing to save Thomas (or other people) by combating their emotional and psychological problems. Or it’s just a team of wacky bards who each have their own unique niche skills.

[techniktagebuch]

August 1997

But always through Peter’s bedroom in Berlin

1997 habe ich mein Informatik- und Publizistik-Studium, obwohl immer noch eingeschrieben, schon zwei Jahre lang erfolgreich hingeschmissen. Auch den ausbeuterischen Job beim damaligen Berliner Super-Start-up Pixelpark habe ich gekündigt und beschlossen, mich mit E-Learning selbständig zu machen. “E-Learning”, weil der Leiter des “Projekt pro Lehre” der FU-Berlin, für das ich als Computer-Auskenner gearbeitet hatte, das für die Zukunft der Lehre hält. E-Learning heißt für uns zu der Zeit hauptsächlich Dokumente vor einer Veranstaltung (mit Leuten in einem Raum) zum Download bereitzuhalten und danach Protokolle und Bilder der durchgeführten Veranstaltung und ein Diskussionsforum anzubieten, an dem die Teilnehmer dann relativ wenig teilnehmen.

Dieses Setting führt über diverse Bekanntschaften zu der Idee, dass man sowas auch für Entwicklungshilfe anbieten könnte und man damit Menschen “enablen” könnte, die in Ländern leben, die anscheinend Hilfe bei der Entwicklung nötig haben. Daraus wurde der “New Media Workshop Harare: Internet as a possibility to improve communication for private organisations”, finanziert und durchgeführt von der Carl-Duisberg-Gesellschaft. Und ich soll als Computer-Auskenner den technischen Teil dieses Workshops übernehmen. Harare ist die Hauptstadt von Simbabwe im Südosten von Afrika. Dort leben neben ganz normalen Menschen auch Elefanten und andere Tiere, die man sonst nur aus dem Tierpark kennt. Natürlich mache ich da mit.

Die technische Infrastruktur des E-Learnings, das wir bald auch den Teilnehmern in Afrika anbieten, besteht aus einem Windows NT Server auf einem 486er PC. Dieser Server hängt im Internet per ISDN-Einwahl (nur ein Kanal mit 64 kBit, weil man muss ja auch noch telefonieren) mit fester IP-Adresse erreichbar unter einer Domain. Dieser Server steht in meinem Wohnungsflur in Berlin-Neukölln unter der Garderobe, weil die rasselnden Lüfter wirklich sehr laut sind. Da sich aus zum Aufschreibezeitpunkt 2020 immer noch unerklärlichen Gründen (so viel zum Thema Computer-Auskenner), die Internetverbindung nach einer längeren Laufzeit immer wieder aufhängt, ist ein Teil des Systems an eine mechanische Zeitschaltuhr angesteckt, bei der man in einem 24-Stunden-Kreis mit kleinen Stiften die aktiven Viertelstunden einstellen kann. Das E-Learning ist jeden Tag zwischen 3 Uhr und 3 Uhr 15 nicht erreichbar. Zum Glück ist ganz Afrika in ähnlichen Zeitzonen wie Berlin.

Der erfahrene Kollege, der den Workshop in Harare moderiert und schon viele solcher Veranstaltungen im Entwicklungshilfe-Kontext weltweit gemacht hat, Alfons, ist für die ganzen technik-unabhängigen Themen, wie Prozesse, Kommunikation und Dokumentation, zuständig. Ich fühle mich in guten Händen und fliege im August 1997 relativ naiv und unvorbereitet nach Simbabwe. Überraschenderweise bekommen die Akteure solcher Veranstaltungen, zumindest zu der Zeit noch, Business Class Flüge bezahlt und ich muss mich nach der Hälfte des zehnstündigen Fluges nach Südafrika rechtfertigen, dass ich keine weiteren edlen Weine, Whiskeys oder Schokoladenparfaits mehr haben will.

Der Workshop findet in der Prince Edward School in Harare statt, einem im 19. Jahrhundert von der britischen Kolonisation gegründeten Knabeninternat.

Die Schule erhält von der deutschen Entwicklungshilfe ca. 20 PC-Arbeitsplätze, die ein lokaler Elektrohändler liefert. Zwei Tage lang installieren Cornelius (einer der Workshop-Teilnehmer aus Harare und ehemaliger Schüler der Schule) und ich Netzwerkkarten und Betriebssysteme auf diesen Rechnern.

An den Rechner, der am nächsten an einer Telefonsteckdose steht, schließe ich mein mitgebrachtes 56k-Telefonmodem an (Internet-Connectivity war nicht Bestandteil der zur Verfügung gestellten Hardware). Das stellt den Internetzugang für den gesamten Workshop zur Verfügung. Zur Einwahl mit Ortsgebühr (auf Telefonrechnung der Schule) benutze ich meinen Compuserve-Internet-Zugang, der weltweit funktioniert.

Nachdem die Infrastruktur innerhalb von zwei Tagen fertig aufgebaut ist, nehmen mein Kollege Alfons und ich uns ein Mietauto (inklusive Fahrer) und fahren für drei Tage zu der schwer beeindruckenden Sehenswürdigkeit “Great Zimbabwe”. Die Digitalkamera Kodak DC25, die mir ein Freund aus Berlin für den Afrika-Workshop zur Verfügung gestellt hat, hat eine Auflösung von 493 x 373 Pixeln (0,18 Megapixel). Entsprechend sehen die Bilder aus – allerdings trägt diese Bildqualität auch zur Romantisierung der Erinnerungen bei.

Hinten am Strand vom Lake Mutirikwi war wirklich eine Elefantenfamilie zu sehen

Nach diesem touristischen Highlight beginnt am Montag der Workshop. Angemeldet haben sich 18 Teilnehmerinnen und Teilnehmer aus fast genauso vielen afrikanischen Ländern.

Nach den Vorstellungsrunden und der Bildung der Arbeitsgruppen am ersten Tag ist der Dienstag komplett für mich und die technischen Aspekte reserviert. Ich habe ein Gewaltprogramm vorbereitet: Geschichte des Internets, prinzipielle Funktionsweise, Internet-Dienste (E-Mail, Usenet, FTP, Webseiten ... soziale Netzwerke gibt es noch nicht wirklich). Interessant auch ein Block zur Benutzung von Suchmaschinen: es gibt noch kein Google, deswegen am Beispiel AltaVista und Yahoo. Beispiel zur Benutzung von logischen Operatoren in Suchanfragen: “Kenya” (80278 Treffer), “+Kenya+Kiswahili” (9000 Treffer), “+Kenya+Kiswahili-Nairobi” (10 Treffer). Und natürlich ein Webseiten/HTML-Crashkurs (Titel “<body></body>”). Das Ganze an einem Tag in vier Sessions.

Ich bin mit meiner Performance nicht wirklich zufrieden und das wird auch vom Protokoll einer Teilnehmerin bestätigt:

“... Peter was extremely divided, shared and therefore failed to be well concentrated on solving some problems.” (*seufz*, recht hat sie)

Allerdings gibt es auch eine positive Zusammenfassung in der mein Schlafzimmer vorkommt.

“... Suddenly there was a maddening clicking on keyboards as all participants embarked to set their e-mail addresses in their respective computer with the expert assistance from Peter, Tevie, Jim and Thandi.

E-mail addresses set, participants started sending messages across the globe - but always through Peter's bedroom in Berlin where the Server is sitting!!

At this stage it was time to go for a grand Italian lunch.”

Aus dramaturgischen Gründen hatte ich den Leuten erzählt, dass der Server zu Hause in meinem Schlafzimmer und nicht im Wohnungseingang installiert ist.

Abgesehen von meiner mittelmäßigen didaktischen Performance denke ich, dass der Workshop, gerade wegen der eigentlichen Kommunikationsthemen, recht gut verlaufen ist.

Sehr visionäres Gruppenergebnis: “Use IT more widely to get quick global answers to global environmental problems”

Zum Abschluss am Freitag werden alle Teilnehmer zum Reden-Anhören, Häppchen-Essen und Anstoßen in die deutsche Botschaft eingeladen. Nach dem offiziellen Akt beschließen wir in eine nahe gelegene Disko zum Chill-out zu gehen. Ich werde mangels Krawatte nicht in die Disko reingelassen. Ein Workshop-Teilnehmer, der schnell in sein Hotel um die Ecke gelaufen ist, hilft mit seiner Zweitkrawatte aus.

Nach meinen Erfahrungen dieser Wochen in Simbabwe und mit den Leuten, denen ich begegnet bin, ist es ziemlich bedrückend zu wissen, dass dieses Land in den nächsten 20+ Jahren vom verbitterten, senilen Despoten wirtschaftlich, kulturell und intellektuell ziemlich zugerichtet wird.

(Peter Witzel)

[doubleddenden]

I got two games on sale in the PSN store I'd be pretty glad to recommend

Rayman Legends and Ty the Tasmanian Tiger HD

Rayman Legends has the better polish between the two, BUT Ty was an indie game made back all the way in the PS2 and Gamecube era, so obviously there's gonna be an edge for Rayman here. But, both are pretty solid

Rayman Legends is a 2d side scrolling platformer with optional Co Op. I originally had the game for my 360, but time took its course and I lost it. I remember my friends and I playing it together nights after school, and the inevitable descent into maddening laughter as we kept dying over and over.

It still holds up. It's pretty fast paced, flows pretty well, the graphics are gorgeous and wonderfully animated, and the music... mua. So good. It mixes orchestra with. . . Kazoos? Rabid country bumpkin? It's got this real peaceful or real chaotic unhinged vibe to it, and there's even a level that plays to the beat of a game appropriate Black Betty. Not to mention there's TONS of levels, TONS of secrets to find, and TONS of character skins for 4 different characters that pretty much all play the same. It's a fun time, and I can tell you from experience that this game will make you feral but in a good way, especially if you play with friends. A 9/10

Ty the Tasmanian Tiger is a collectathon from circa 2002 ish. I still remember the commercial for it where Sonic, Spyro, and another character I can't remember were wrapped up in bandages in the hospital, all shaking in fear at Ty himself. It actually kickstarted this weird obsession I had with Australia that lasted through my elementary years. There was a few sequels with 2 being my personal favorite, but time also took those from me. Thankfully it's back on modern consoles and pc.

So, Ty is a collectathon. If you've played something like Banjo or Mario, you get the gist. What makes this game different is the setting and overall control style with combat involving various kinds of boomerangs you can make out of cogs OR some you grab via story progression. Well, and you can glide and bite. And you can swim really fast when you're allowed.

So out of the way, the controls are gonna feel a bit off at first, but you get used to it after a bit. I'm fairly sure the controls work better than they did back in the PS2 days, but that may be my imagination. It definitely runs better at 60 fps during gameplay, but there's something kind of off about the new shading in some areas and on some of the models. Again worth noting that some of the models will look rough, because again, it is from 2002.

It's still a pretty game, and once you get the hang of it, it's pretty fun. The levels are gorgeous and fun to explore with all sorts of things hidden here and there. I literally found a sunken ship that I never saw 20 years ago when I last played! I'm pretty fond of Ship Rex, since it gives you lots to explore and it looks good too. I also really like the music, it really reminds me of home even though it's the opposite side if the world from home. It's very down to earth with Australian vibes at times. The voice acting is also pretty passable. Nothing quite Emmy worthy, but it's not terrible at the least. Something new in the HD version are skins! I've been having a ball trying them all out with my favorite being Ty's prototype skin.

Overall I think it's got a lot of soul and a lot to offer if you give it a fair chance. Its cheesy and fun and it captures something pretty unique for its genre. I'd give it a 7.5 or an 8/10. Honestly there's room for improvement but overall I'm just happy to have it back.

Now... to just get Ty 2, 3, and maybe 4 on consoles and a 5th one.