It's Friday! Are you STILL off?!

[MengJiao]

^You could be right...and both of you are definitely right that it looks amazing...but once bitten and all that.

I'll wait see.

By the way - just a question...how does DCS World WWII impact on Battle of Stalingrad? Or doesn't it? They are the same development teams are they not?

  They are strangely parallel, but not directly related.  It's like parallel evolution: brachipods and peyllcypods-- both have hinged shells and filter-feed from various substraits, but one is a mollusk and the other some kind of Lophophoreate-organism.
   I won't prejudice the issue by saying which flight sim is really not a clam.

   But here are the parallels:
1) both teams have some development experience in IL-2 and CLOD and in the Precursor of DCS world, Lock-on.
2) each has picked an already-functioning non WWII "world" to work in (DCS and Rof)
3) both are doing WWII

   Not so parallel:

1) BOS is focused on a crucial moment in a relatively small space and time frame and seems to be planning to expand by going from theater to  theater in narrow segments of space and time while DCS WWII seems to be more focused on bringing out single aircraft and locating them in some more generic space and time
2) DCS WWII has some aircraft already sort of in it (the DCS P-51 flyable and the FW-190 AI) and is on Kickstarter I think
      while BOS has no completed aircraft -- just an alpha of the LAGG-3 and maybe a bf 109F but already has some hither-to-unseen aspects such as snow in the runway.
3) DCS WWII seems to be aimed at more detail in the aircraft
4) BOS is committed to not going too far in terms of detail

[Grim.Reaper]

So I hear the talk of a standard and premium early access program for Stalingrad...but only see mention of the Premium right now for $94...does anybody know when the standard version will be available and for what price?  $94 is a little steep for me to jump into right now so hoping the standard might be a little more affordable.

[Sir Slash]

Nothing new to see here. Rome 2, CMFI, and Steam & Iron Baltic campaign along with teaching the grandkid bad habits.

[Jarhead0331]

So I hear the talk of a standard and premium early access program for Stalingrad...but only see mention of the Premium right now for $94...does anybody know when the standard version will be available and for what price?  $94 is a little steep for me to jump into right now so hoping the standard might be a little more affordable.

I think the only difference is that premium subscribers received early access in November and standard subscribers received early access just recently in late December.  $94 is the only price point at this time.

[Grim.Reaper]

So I hear the talk of a standard and premium early access program for Stalingrad...but only see mention of the Premium right now for $94...does anybody know when the standard version will be available and for what price?  $94 is a little steep for me to jump into right now so hoping the standard might be a little more affordable.

I think the only difference is that premium subscribers received early access in November and standard subscribers received early access just recently in late December.  $94 is the only price point at this time.

Thanks JH....appreciate the heads up.  Might have to hold off on this one for a little but, it does look like it is shaping up nicely though.

[Kushan]

I've been off since early Tuesday afternoon and don't go back to work until after the new year.

I'll be spending some time with my new Xbox One. So far I've played about 20 minutes of Ryse: Son of Rome and 2-3 hours of Forza 5. I've never really been a racing sim fan, but Forza 5 really has its hooks deep into me. The Top Gear hosts doing the voice work is a really nice bonus as well. Ryse...is ok, but so far its a little too much like Infinity Blade on iOS for my tastes. I've also got CoD: Ghosts and Dead Rising sitting unopened. After watching my cousin play the Dead Rising demo on Christmas I think it may be just a little too over the top in the gore department for me.

Be spending most of the morning finishing up my carrier imports for Command. Once their done I might actually play a scenario or two. The rest of the week will be split mainly between Command, Distant Worlds, CK2, Hearthstone, and FC:RS. I'd like to try and get some Rome 2, Arm3 or Skyrim time as well but my computer is locking up whenever I put my video cards to heavy use. need to fix that before I start to get into anything graphics intensive.

[Nefaro]

I am extremely addicted to Wings Over Flanders Fields.  I rarely play anything on my desktop but that right now.  I recently put in a request to transfer to Jasta 12 in Flanders to get into the middle of the action in '17.  After about a dozen missions with them, we've just now upgraded to Albatros D.Vs so it should be a decent upgrade from my earlier D.III with the underpowered 160hp engine.  Now to get used to flying the new version 'on the edge'.  ;D

I also picked up Front Office Football 7 recently, and started a career with the home team.  I've only been playing it on the laptop when lounging about.  I'm looking forward to seeing what the update will bring since they offered a cash prize for graphical improvements to the interface.  Can't wait to see what the modders do!

I currently have a freshly punched Labyrinth on my tabletop, waiting to be learned.  It's been slow going - I've not really delved into the rules for very long.  They're not massive but the lingo is a bit strange to get used to.  Kinda funny - the fonts and the green color on the manual reminds me of the old VG Vietnam 1965-1975's manual.

I may end up packing that one up and dropping LnL's Eisenbach Gap Deluxe on the table soon, instead.  Thanks to Jack Nastyface's generous offer, I'll be exploring my first LnL game.  It will also be the first old-fashioned hex & counter ground warfare tabletop wargame I've played in almost 20 years.  Thanks Jack!

[JudgeDredd]

^You could be right...and both of you are definitely right that it looks amazing...but once bitten and all that.

I'll wait see.

By the way - just a question...how does DCS World WWII impact on Battle of Stalingrad? Or doesn't it? They are the same development teams are they not?

  They are strangely parallel, but not directly related.  It's like parallel evolution: brachipods and peyllcypods-- both have hinged shells and filter-feed from various substraits, but one is a mollusk and the other some kind of Lophophoreate-organism.
   I won't prejudice the issue by saying which flight sim is really not a clam.

   But here are the parallels:
1) both teams have some development experience in IL-2 and CLOD and in the Precursor of DCS world, Lock-on.
2) each has picked an already-functioning non WWII "world" to work in (DCS and Rof)
3) both are doing WWII

   Not so parallel:

1) BOS is focused on a crucial moment in a relatively small space and time frame and seems to be planning to expand by going from theater to  theater in narrow segments of space and time while DCS WWII seems to be more focused on bringing out single aircraft and locating them in some more generic space and time
2) DCS WWII has some aircraft already sort of in it (the DCS P-51 flyable and the FW-190 AI) and is on Kickstarter I think
      while BOS has no completed aircraft -- just an alpha of the LAGG-3 and maybe a bf 109F but already has some hither-to-unseen aspects such as snow in the runway.
3) DCS WWII seems to be aimed at more detail in the aircraft
4) BOS is committed to not going too far in terms of detail

Thx MJ...appreciate the time.

[Greybriar]

It's Friday! Are you STILL off?!

I am retired so I'm off every day. I hope it stays that way--I would hate to have to re-enter the work force right now.

I will probably be playing a little Civilization V, Diablo III, Sid Meier's Ace Patrol, and I'm not sure what else. Like most everyone around, I have a lot games to choose from not even including the games on my backlog list.

[Jarhead0331]

I've been off since early Tuesday afternoon and don't go back to work until after the new year.

I'll be spending some time with my new Xbox One. So far I've played about 20 minutes of Ryse: Son of Rome and 2-3 hours of Forza 5. I've never really been a racing sim fan, but Forza 5 really has its hooks deep into me. The Top Gear hosts doing the voice work is a really nice bonus as well. Ryse...is ok, but so far its a little too much like Infinity Blade on iOS for my tastes. I've also got CoD: Ghosts and Dead Rising sitting unopened. After watching my cousin play the Dead Rising demo on Christmas I think it may be just a little too over the top in the gore department for me.

Be spending most of the morning finishing up my carrier imports for Command. Once their done I might actually play a scenario or two. The rest of the week will be split mainly between Command, Distant Worlds, CK2, Hearthstone, and FC:RS. I'd like to try and get some Rome 2, Arm3 or Skyrim time as well but my computer is locking up whenever I put my video cards to heavy use. need to fix that before I start to get into anything graphics intensive.

Let us know what you think of Ryse: Son of Rome.

[Grim.Reaper]

I've been off since early Tuesday afternoon and don't go back to work until after the new year.

I'll be spending some time with my new Xbox One. So far I've played about 20 minutes of Ryse: Son of Rome and 2-3 hours of Forza 5. I've never really been a racing sim fan, but Forza 5 really has its hooks deep into me. The Top Gear hosts doing the voice work is a really nice bonus as well. Ryse...is ok, but so far its a little too much like Infinity Blade on iOS for my tastes. I've also got CoD: Ghosts and Dead Rising sitting unopened. After watching my cousin play the Dead Rising demo on Christmas I think it may be just a little too over the top in the gore department for me.

Be spending most of the morning finishing up my carrier imports for Command. Once their done I might actually play a scenario or two. The rest of the week will be split mainly between Command, Distant Worlds, CK2, Hearthstone, and FC:RS. I'd like to try and get some Rome 2, Arm3 or Skyrim time as well but my computer is locking up whenever I put my video cards to heavy use. need to fix that before I start to get into anything graphics intensive.

Let us know what you think of Ryse: Son of Rome.

I own it and played through a good portion of it....graphically, truly awesome!  The death scenes are amazing and gruesome if you like that sort of thing:)  As for the gameplay, jury is out on this one.  It is great at the start, but it does appear to be lacking in depth.  So far seems like you pretty much do the same thing over and over, kill people and kill more people....people also say the campaign is short, but haven't reached the end myself.  I actually stopped playing it for awhile since it was repetitive for me.

[JudgeDredd]

I have F1 2013 (picked it up for a snip (£12) in the Steam sale) which seems to me, from my limited play of it last night, considerably better than 2012. The cars are much more twitchy. Also - LOVE the classic cars (when are they going to realise there's a HUGE market for older F1 simming?)

Judge, are you a fan of rFactor or rFactor2? I'm thinking of buying a Logitech G27 Racing Wheel and getting back into racing.

I hear you about older F1 simming. I prefer the 60's and 70's era.


As for me, I worked yesterday but took today off, and I'm taking Wifey to see "American Hustle" today. After that, it'll be more time spent playing Wings Over Flanders Fields. Still trying to get my joystick sensitivity & deadband worked out.

I'll also get in a bit of Steam and Iron: RJW and some Ageod Civil War 2.

Whilst I do love rFactor2 - there is one thing (I just remembered when firing it up just now)...the menu system is pretty poor. Once you're in game and racing, it's superb...but trying to select something is just awful.

In order to have all tracks available, you have to go through all the cars...individually...one at a time...through each car, regardless of group to get to the car you want to drive. You just have to scroll through all the cars. It's not like they even just list the groups, then you select the group and go through the cars.

Also - it still seems unfinished in places. For example the rev counter on the 1960's cars seems to be useless because it's showing full revs waaaay before you are at the top of the revs. And things like updating is a total pita. At least, I think so.

But - as I said, once you are in game the feel of the cars and the racing is fantastic.

[tgb]

In addition to starting a new Pontus campaign in Rome II, I'll spend some time with some of the games I've picked up over the last couple of weeks - Rise of Venice, Divinity:Dragon Commander, Aarklash Legacy, Expeditions:Conquistador.  It will be interesting to see which holds my attention the longest.

[mirth]

I got sucked into another month subscription to SWTOR, so that'll be my weekend.

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

I'm dangerously close to buying in on the IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad early access...yes, I know, its $94, but it looks soooooo damn good. Really, the only thing holding me back is that I believe you can only play when the developer's servers are up and they only host them in bursts of activity.  I would find not being able to play when I want due to this issue seriously irritating.

I bought in last weekend.  The flight models are already fantastic even though they're still a work-in-progress.  Damage modelling is still alpha but the graphics of bullets and cannon rounds striking an enemy look just plain awesome.  They've already coded in a bunch of very cool ambient stuff that doesn't really affect gameplay but adds a lot to the immersion factor.  I really like the little runnels your landing gear carve in the snow for instance.

I've been having a problem in that I cannot get the bombs or rockets to work.  Whenever I try a ground mission, I just get an error message and then booted back to the lobby.  This has been affecting others as well as it comes up in the early-access bug reporting forum for the game.

There is a new update coming out today (it's downloading now) so hopefully it'll fix the issue I'm having with ground attack stuff. 

The time limitations are annoying but they made no secret about them.  The latest game session went live today at 20:00 GMT and will run until Jan 5th, I think. 

The price tag was definitely steep.  I don't know what the devs have planned as their business model but I suspect it'll follow along the lines of Rise of Flight.  I bet that if you're willing to wait, the price will drop and the base game may even go free-to-play like RoF did.  I just bought in because I'd had about 6 beer in me when I checked my credit card statement and found that they'd accidentally double-charged me for something and put the credit back on my card.  "Serendipity!" I slurred as I pounded the buy button.