Hello Thursday! How have you been doin', Thursday? Good? That's great.
Oh, things are going fine with me too, thanks 2221121for asking. Look,
I'm in a bit of a rush, so I'm going to cut to the chase: I'm just
here for the free games. So, Thursday, whatcha got for us today?

And Thursday says (pointing to the Epic game store):

* Homeworld Remastered Collection
https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/homeworld-remastered-collection
The classic sci-fi strategy franchise reborn! Well, almost; it doesn't
include "Homeworld: Emergence" (nee "Cataclysm"), which I always
thought was the best of the series, but it's got the other two, and
they're pretty good too. The original was epic in scope and even today
the original holds up pretty well; remastered, it's a delight. The
sequel is in there too (it was never my favorite). But the collection
is worth grabbing - and playing - if you've never given the franchise
a try. Who doesn't like commanding giant spacecraft in awesome space
wars?

* Severed Steel
https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/severed-steel
"Severed Steel" is a single-player FPS game with a focus on its
fast-paced gameplay; it is, in essence, a boomer-shooter that doesn't
insist on retro graphics. It's light on story but heavy on style, and
apparently does it all with panache. Not quite my sort of thing, but
looks enjoyable if that's your preferred genre. Go for it. (You might
already have it though, since Epic gave it away last December. Still,
pick up the free artbook in the add-ons while you're there.)

Hey Thursday, those are two pretty cool games. Thanks for the
freebies! We have seven days to claim them, you say? Well, I'll keep
that in mind, but I'm pretty sure I won't need that long to decide.
See you next week!

On 27/07/2023 16:02, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
> * Homeworld Remastered Collection
> https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/homeworld-remastered-collection
> The classic sci-fi strategy franchise reborn! Well, almost; it doesn't
> include "Homeworld: Emergence" (nee "Cataclysm"), which I always
> thought was the best of the series, but it's got the other two, and
> they're pretty good too. The original was epic in scope and even today
> the original holds up pretty well; remastered, it's a delight. The
> sequel is in there too (it was never my favorite). But the collection
> is worth grabbing - and playing - if you've never given the franchise
> a try. Who doesn't like commanding giant spacecraft in awesome space
> wars?

Ground Control I really liked as unlike most RTS'es it didn't have the
whole resource collection and build cycle meaning the game didn't turn
into a clickfest unlike say Total Annihilation. Homeworld I thought was
ok but it just didn't grab me in the same way that GC did. Possibly it
was the 3D element I found not to my liking.

On Thu, 27 Jul 2023 11:02:09 -0400, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action,
Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

>it is, in essence, a boomer-shooter that doesn't
>insist on retro graphics.

I prefer the term X-shooter, as I know no boomers that played DOOM or
even Wolf3d. I don't want my generation lumped in with them.

--
Zag

No one ever said on their deathbed, 'Gee, I wish I had
spent more time alone with my computer.' ~Dan(i) Bunten

On Fri, 28 Jul 2023 11:19:21 +0100, JAB <noway@nochance.com> wrote:

>On 27/07/2023 16:02, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
>> * Homeworld Remastered Collection
>> https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/homeworld-remastered-collection
>> The classic sci-fi strategy franchise reborn! Well, almost; it doesn't
>> include "Homeworld: Emergence" (nee "Cataclysm"), which I always
>> thought was the best of the series, but it's got the other two, and
>> they're pretty good too. The original was epic in scope and even today
>> the original holds up pretty well; remastered, it's a delight. The
>> sequel is in there too (it was never my favorite). But the collection
>> is worth grabbing - and playing - if you've never given the franchise
>> a try. Who doesn't like commanding giant spacecraft in awesome space
>> wars?
>
>Ground Control I really liked as unlike most RTS'es it didn't have the
>whole resource collection and build cycle meaning the game didn't turn
>into a clickfest unlike say Total Annihilation. Homeworld I thought was
>ok but it just didn't grab me in the same way that GC did. Possibly it
>was the 3D element I found not to my liking.

"Ground Control" was quite good, but unfortunately it slipped beneath
the radar at the time of its release. Its focus on the tactical
aspects of combat over the pseudo-strategic of contemporaneous RTS
games made it a breath of fresh air. Its sequel wasn't quite as
engaging but was still fun. The "World in Conflict" games were pretty
good too (essentially being a refined 'Ground Control' except set in
modern times) but I was getting pretty tired of RTS games by that
point, and only gave them a single play through. But I've replayed
"Ground Control" numerous times.

The developers - after being bought out by Ubisoft - went on to
develop a number of other games - including "Tom Clancy's The
Division" and "Far Cry 3" where you can still see - if you squint -
some of the DNA of their earlier games.

"Homeworld" succeeded less because of its gameplay, I think, than its
production values. Its epic orchestral score, the beautiful
space-scapes, the massive warships, and the haunting narrative all
made for a very impactful experience. The gameplay itself was okay,
but - aside from the innovations of using 3D space and having a large
immobile homebase to defend - not particularly exciting. A lot of the
missions were a slog and - because the results of one mission passed
on to the next - a mistake you made five missions past could keep you
from succeeding in a later mission.

The multiplayer was fun. "Homeworld" was one of the last RTS games I
played online, IIRC. And "Homeworld: Cataclysm" had this awesome
first-person viewpoint for the space-fighters; you couldn't control
the ships, but it was fun to switch to that view and watch the pilots
do their thing; it was very Star Wars. ;-)

Zaghadka <zaghadka@hotmail.com> wrote:
> On Thu, 27 Jul 2023 11:02:09 -0400, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action,
> Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

> >it is, in essence, a boomer-shooter that doesn't
> >insist on retro graphics.

> I prefer the term X-shooter, as I know no boomers that played DOOM or
> even Wolf3d. I don't want my generation lumped in with them.

I am a DOOMer. ;) I think my 1st FPS game was Catacomb 3D on my IBM PS/2 model 30 286 10 Mhz PC.
--
"Some of the Jews were persuaded [by the preaching of the Gospel] and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women." --Acts 17:4. Will Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer nuke this already hot ant from orbit soon?
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Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Fri, 28 Jul 2023 11:19:21 +0100, JAB <noway@nochance.com> wrote:

> >On 27/07/2023 16:02, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
> >> * Homeworld Remastered Collection
> >> https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/homeworld-remastered-collection
> >> The classic sci-fi strategy franchise reborn! Well, almost; it doesn't
> >> include "Homeworld: Emergence" (nee "Cataclysm"), which I always
> >> thought was the best of the series, but it's got the other two, and
> >> they're pretty good too. The original was epic in scope and even today
> >> the original holds up pretty well; remastered, it's a delight. The
> >> sequel is in there too (it was never my favorite). But the collection
> >> is worth grabbing - and playing - if you've never given the franchise
> >> a try. Who doesn't like commanding giant spacecraft in awesome space
> >> wars?
> >
> >Ground Control I really liked as unlike most RTS'es it didn't have the
> >whole resource collection and build cycle meaning the game didn't turn
> >into a clickfest unlike say Total Annihilation. Homeworld I thought was
> >ok but it just didn't grab me in the same way that GC did. Possibly it
> >was the 3D element I found not to my liking.

> "Ground Control" was quite good, but unfortunately it slipped beneath
> the radar at the time of its release. Its focus on the tactical
> aspects of combat over the pseudo-strategic of contemporaneous RTS
> games made it a breath of fresh air. Its sequel wasn't quite as
> engaging but was still fun. The "World in Conflict" games were pretty
> good too (essentially being a refined 'Ground Control' except set in
> modern times) but I was getting pretty tired of RTS games by that
> point, and only gave them a single play through. But I've replayed
> "Ground Control" numerous times.

> The developers - after being bought out by Ubisoft - went on to
> develop a number of other games - including "Tom Clancy's The
> Division" and "Far Cry 3" where you can still see - if you squint -
> some of the DNA of their earlier games.

> "Homeworld" succeeded less because of its gameplay, I think, than its
> production values. Its epic orchestral score, the beautiful
> space-scapes, the massive warships, and the haunting narrative all
> made for a very impactful experience. The gameplay itself was okay,
> but - aside from the innovations of using 3D space and having a large
> immobile homebase to defend - not particularly exciting. A lot of the
> missions were a slog and - because the results of one mission passed
> on to the next - a mistake you made five missions past could keep you
> from succeeding in a later mission.

> The multiplayer was fun. "Homeworld" was one of the last RTS games I
> played online, IIRC. And "Homeworld: Cataclysm" had this awesome
> first-person viewpoint for the space-fighters; you couldn't control
> the ships, but it was fun to switch to that view and watch the pilots
> do their thing; it was very Star Wars. ;-)

I briefly played both games. They were OK.

--
"Some of the Jews were persuaded [by the preaching of the Gospel] and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women." --Acts 17:4. Will Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer nuke this already hot ant from orbit soon?
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On Fri, 28 Jul 2023 15:23:06 +0000, ant@zimage.comANT (Ant) wrote:
>Zaghadka <zaghadka@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> On Thu, 27 Jul 2023 11:02:09 -0400, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action,
>> Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

>> >it is, in essence, a boomer-shooter that doesn't
>> >insist on retro graphics.

>> I prefer the term X-shooter, as I know no boomers that played DOOM or
>> even Wolf3d. I don't want my generation lumped in with them.

>I am a DOOMer. ;) I think my 1st FPS game was Catacomb 3D on my IBM PS/2 model 30 286 10 Mhz PC.

They're all Wolf3D-clones to me ;-)

But, I've given up arguing against the term 'boomer-shooter'.
Inaccurate and ageist as it may be, that's the term the hobby has
picked and I don't see it changing any time soon.

Anyway, I tell myself that the name is actually descriptive of the
genres' fondness for explosive weaponry and penchant for using them as
mobility tools (e.g., 'rocket jumping'). There are a a lot of BOOMs in
DooM, after all. ;-)

It's definitely not because I'm old and don't like being reminded of
the fact. Nope.

On Fri, 28 Jul 2023 12:58:36 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson
<spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

>But, I've given up arguing against the term 'boomer-shooter'.
>Inaccurate and ageist as it may be, that's the term the hobby has
>picked and I don't see it changing any time soon.

I hate the term myself as it does not make any sense. My parents are
boomers and their generation does not play video games as far as I can
tell. I don't like my generation being lumped in with them.

But I also agree with you that arguing against it is pointless. That
is the term being used and that is not likely to change.

Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Fri, 28 Jul 2023 15:23:06 +0000, ant@zimage.comANT (Ant) wrote:
> >Zaghadka <zaghadka@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >> On Thu, 27 Jul 2023 11:02:09 -0400, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action,
> >> Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

> >> >it is, in essence, a boomer-shooter that doesn't
> >> >insist on retro graphics.

> >> I prefer the term X-shooter, as I know no boomers that played DOOM or
> >> even Wolf3d. I don't want my generation lumped in with them.

> >I am a DOOMer. ;) I think my 1st FPS game was Catacomb 3D on my IBM PS/2 model 30 286 10 Mhz PC.

> They're all Wolf3D-clones to me ;-)

> But, I've given up arguing against the term 'boomer-shooter'.
> Inaccurate and ageist as it may be, that's the term the hobby has
> picked and I don't see it changing any time soon.

> Anyway, I tell myself that the name is actually descriptive of the
> genres' fondness for explosive weaponry and penchant for using them as
> mobility tools (e.g., 'rocket jumping'). There are a a lot of BOOMs in
> DooM, after all. ;-)

> It's definitely not because I'm old and don't like being reminded of
> the fact. Nope.

You know. I wouldn't mind DOOMer term. That is fitting for me even though I played Wolf3D, Catacombs 3D, etc. before DOOM.
--
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day..." --2 Timothy 4:7-8. Chris Nolan's Oppenheimer nuked this old fat ant & his APU buds yesterday!
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On 28/07/2023 15:51, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
> On Fri, 28 Jul 2023 11:19:21 +0100, JAB <noway@nochance.com> wrote:
>
>> On 27/07/2023 16:02, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
>>> * Homeworld Remastered Collection
>>> https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/homeworld-remastered-collection
>>> The classic sci-fi strategy franchise reborn! Well, almost; it doesn't
>>> include "Homeworld: Emergence" (nee "Cataclysm"), which I always
>>> thought was the best of the series, but it's got the other two, and
>>> they're pretty good too. The original was epic in scope and even today
>>> the original holds up pretty well; remastered, it's a delight. The
>>> sequel is in there too (it was never my favorite). But the collection
>>> is worth grabbing - and playing - if you've never given the franchise
>>> a try. Who doesn't like commanding giant spacecraft in awesome space
>>> wars?
>>
>> Ground Control I really liked as unlike most RTS'es it didn't have the
>> whole resource collection and build cycle meaning the game didn't turn
>> into a clickfest unlike say Total Annihilation. Homeworld I thought was
>> ok but it just didn't grab me in the same way that GC did. Possibly it
>> was the 3D element I found not to my liking.
>
> "Ground Control" was quite good, but unfortunately it slipped beneath
> the radar at the time of its release. Its focus on the tactical
> aspects of combat over the pseudo-strategic of contemporaneous RTS
> games made it a breath of fresh air. Its sequel wasn't quite as
> engaging but was still fun. The "World in Conflict" games were pretty
> good too (essentially being a refined 'Ground Control' except set in
> modern times) but I was getting pretty tired of RTS games by that
> point, and only gave them a single play through. But I've replayed
> "Ground Control" numerous times.
>

Something I came to realise about the type of games I like is I really
want them to do just one thing and for GC that was combat. It's a issue
I've had with some city builder games, I enjoy the city
building/resource management part and then they just have to combat in
it. If I wanted that I'd play a wargame which focuses on it.

World in Conflict I've not played but looking at it they seem similar to
The Wargame and Steel division series both from Eugen Systems.

> The developers - after being bought out by Ubisoft - went on to
> develop a number of other games - including "Tom Clancy's The
> Division" and "Far Cry 3" where you can still see - if you squint -
> some of the DNA of their earlier games.
>
> "Homeworld" succeeded less because of its gameplay, I think, than its
> production values. Its epic orchestral score, the beautiful
> space-scapes, the massive warships, and the haunting narrative all
> made for a very impactful experience. The gameplay itself was okay,
> but - aside from the innovations of using 3D space and having a large
> immobile homebase to defend - not particularly exciting. A lot of the
> missions were a slog and - because the results of one mission passed
> on to the next - a mistake you made five missions past could keep you
> from succeeding in a later mission.
>

My main memories of Homeworld were how cool the visuals and audio were
but the combat part, not so good. It may be because I didn't understand
what I supposed to do but it felt like build loads of ships and fling
them at the enemy and hope for the best.

> The multiplayer was fun. "Homeworld" was one of the last RTS games I
> played online, IIRC. And "Homeworld: Cataclysm" had this awesome
> first-person viewpoint for the space-fighters; you couldn't control
> the ships, but it was fun to switch to that view and watch the pilots
> do their thing; it was very Star Wars. ;-)
>
>

On 28/07/2023 18:48, Mike S. wrote:
> On Fri, 28 Jul 2023 12:58:36 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson
> <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> But, I've given up arguing against the term 'boomer-shooter'.
>> Inaccurate and ageist as it may be, that's the term the hobby has
>> picked and I don't see it changing any time soon.
>
> I hate the term myself as it does not make any sense. My parents are
> boomers and their generation does not play video games as far as I can
> tell. I don't like my generation being lumped in with them.
>
> But I also agree with you that arguing against it is pointless. That
> is the term being used and that is not likely to change.

I don't hate but it does seem a somewhat silly term. The boomer
generation isn't associated with them and boomer itself is really used
as a pejorative which I don't believe is what they are saying about the
games.

Mike S. <Mike_S@nowhere.com> wrote:
>I hate the term myself as it does not make any sense. My parents are
>boomers and their generation does not play video games as far as I can
>tell. I don't like my generation being lumped in with them.

It make sense to me because "boomer" is a term used by young people these
days to dimissively describe anyone older than them, eg. "ok, boomer".

--
l/ // Ross Ridge -- The Great HTMU
[oo][oo] rridge@csclub.uwaterloo.ca
-()-/()/ http://www.csclub.uwaterloo.ca:11068/
db //

Ross Ridge <rridge@csclub.uwaterloo.ca> wrote:
> Mike S. <Mike_S@nowhere.com> wrote:
> >I hate the term myself as it does not make any sense. My parents are
> >boomers and their generation does not play video games as far as I can
> >tell. I don't like my generation being lumped in with them.

> It make sense to me because "boomer" is a term used by young people these
> days to dimissively describe anyone older than them, eg. "ok, boomer".

I prefer "OK, DOOMer". :P
--
"Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come." --Psalm 71:18. It's national lasagna Caturday!
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JAB <noway@nochance.com> wrote:
> On 28/07/2023 18:48, Mike S. wrote:
> > On Fri, 28 Jul 2023 12:58:36 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson
> > <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >> But, I've given up arguing against the term 'boomer-shooter'.
> >> Inaccurate and ageist as it may be, that's the term the hobby has
> >> picked and I don't see it changing any time soon.
> >
> > I hate the term myself as it does not make any sense. My parents are
> > boomers and their generation does not play video games as far as I can
> > tell. I don't like my generation being lumped in with them.
> >
> > But I also agree with you that arguing against it is pointless. That
> > is the term being used and that is not likely to change.

> I don't hate but it does seem a somewhat silly term. The boomer
> generation isn't associated with them and boomer itself is really used
> as a pejorative which I don't believe is what they are saying about the
> games.

That is why DOOMer is better. :P
--
"Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come." --Psalm 71:18. It's national lasagna Caturday!
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On 7/27/2023 11:02 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

> * Homeworld Remastered Collection
> The classic sci-fi strategy franchise reborn! Well, almost; it doesn't
> include "Homeworld: Emergence" (nee "Cataclysm"), which I always
> thought was the best of the series, but it's got the other two, and
> they're pretty good too. The original was epic in scope and even today
> the original holds up pretty well; remastered, it's a delight. The
> sequel is in there too (it was never my favorite). But the collection
> is worth grabbing - and playing - if you've never given the franchise
> a try. Who doesn't like commanding giant spacecraft in awesome space
> wars?

Played Homeworld back when it first came out and enjoyed it, but one
thing that I remember thinking at the time was that the game would have
been practically the same in 2D. Having to deal with X, Y and Z in a RTS
game didn't really add much in terms of strategy as I had anticipated,
but it was dope to sit back and watch some of those battles in glorious
3D. The story and music were surprisingly good as well.

Going to give the second one a whirl as soon as I have my pile of shame
I mean backlog under control :)

--
I'm sorry that Mitch McConnell appears to have suffered a medical
incident. He'll have the best health care that tax-payer's money can
buy, and return to work to abolish medicare and social security for the
rest of us.

On 7/30/2023 1:14 PM, Metal Guru wrote:
> On 7/27/2023 11:02 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
>
>> * Homeworld Remastered Collection
>> The classic sci-fi strategy franchise reborn! Well, almost; it doesn't
>> include "Homeworld: Emergence" (nee "Cataclysm"), which I always
>> thought was the best of the series, but it's got the other two, and
>> they're pretty good too. The original was epic in scope and even today
>> the original holds up pretty well; remastered, it's a delight. The
>> sequel is in there too (it was never my favorite). But the collection
>> is worth grabbing - and playing - if you've never given the franchise
>> a try. Who doesn't like commanding giant spacecraft in awesome space
>> wars?
>
> Played Homeworld back when it first came out and enjoyed it, but one
> thing that I remember thinking at the time was that the game would have
> been practically the same in 2D. Having to deal with X, Y and Z in a RTS
> game didn't really add much in terms of strategy as I had anticipated,
> but it was dope to sit back and watch some of those battles in glorious
> 3D. The story and music were surprisingly good as well.
>
> Going to give the second one a whirl as soon as I have my pile of shame
> I mean backlog under control :)
>
So, never.

--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.

On Sun, 30 Jul 2023 16:14:43 -0400, Metal Guru <MetalGuru@IsItYou.com>
wrote:

>On 7/27/2023 11:02 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
>
>> * Homeworld Remastered Collection
>> The classic sci-fi strategy franchise reborn! Well, almost; it doesn't
>> include "Homeworld: Emergence" (nee "Cataclysm"), which I always
>> thought was the best of the series, but it's got the other two, and
>> they're pretty good too. The original was epic in scope and even today
>> the original holds up pretty well; remastered, it's a delight. The
>> sequel is in there too (it was never my favorite). But the collection
>> is worth grabbing - and playing - if you've never given the franchise
>> a try. Who doesn't like commanding giant spacecraft in awesome space
>> wars?
>
>Played Homeworld back when it first came out and enjoyed it, but one
>thing that I remember thinking at the time was that the game would have
>been practically the same in 2D. Having to deal with X, Y and Z in a RTS
>game didn't really add much in terms of strategy as I had anticipated,
>but it was dope to sit back and watch some of those battles in glorious
>3D. The story and music were surprisingly good as well.

Yeah, the much acclaimed 3D battlespace didn't really amount to much.
Probably because there was very little advantage to attacking from
above or below. It just meant you had two new directions to defend,
which spread your limited force a bit thinner, but you could have
gotten the same results by cutting back on the number of units.
Perhaps if the ships were more vulnerable in certain directions, or
there had been more cover (in space?) but mostly, the 3D-ness of the
game was a gimmick.

But, like you said, it sure looked pretty.

>Going to give the second one a whirl as soon as I have my pile of shame
>I mean backlog under control :)

"Homeworld 2" was disappointing. Narratively, it felt unnecessary, and
its mechanics confused quantity with quality. Sure, everything was
bigger and more powerful, and you got more units to play with, but it
lacked the novelty of the original, the story (a standard 'find the
super-powerful gimcrack to defeat the big-bad' quest) was far less
interesting, and the pacing - both of the narrative and how new units
were introduced - was poorer. The mechanics felt dated too.

It was probably a much better game in multiplayer, but as a
single-player experience it was average, and honestly not a game I'd
recommend playing for that purpose.