lzim

And for the nth year in a row I've managed to schedule my vacation time around E3/my birthday.

BUT 2016 is weird.

Gametrailers.com is gone. Yes they have been gone for a while.. but what's E3 without Geoff Keighley and the gang?
I might lose my job at any time so there's a tension issue with schedule anything.
Somehow lucked out and have 7 weeks of vacation/timeoff.
I have enough money on hand to visit people.. but I can't visit her. And while I'd want to prioritize visiting my mom again but am not prepared to leave the country again.
Since I might never speak to her again.. but for real this time.. I get upset thinking about it. I miss her so much.
Though I lost my Caliber in November I have the Mazda and am seriously aching for a road trip to anywhere.

And I got kicked from that twitch channel. Time on streams as just a viewer is so bizarre. It's kind of like television all over again.

So much turmoil .. which direction is up again?

And I've found myself not feeling well for the last few weeks. Like I'm better but was really bad last week, almost slept for 3-4 days and don't feel well since, so I don't want to do anything.

That sucks because that means it is much easier to follow the news. And so far it has been irritating bullshit from Microsoft.

GDC should be interesting this year except some of the loudest voices are from Microsoft execs for Xbox, Windows 10, Xbox Live, and ID@Xbox making stupid vague announcements which seem to be based on pulling more developers to Xbox Live, ID@Xbox and Universal Windows App platforms. Hey because it is very hard to get people to jump from making Windows Desktop apps... to anything.. like Windows Apps. Lets cast the net every wider. You know because people that make Windows Desktop Apps like games are going to care.

Like since I worked at HP for that short time so MANY years ago and I got into a conversation with someone there about how Xbox 360 could have gotten a hardware upgrade for PVR/IPTV ages sooner (than basically not at all).. 2006? I've always had a deep interest in CES and GDC. I've really wanted to get another job that would let me talk to people that actually work in consumer electronics if not get a job at a real consumer electronics company.

GDC though is harder to appreciate because you know that some of the stuff you could see just won't make it to retail while so much of the stuff that does won't be appreciated.

That and the majority of gamers out there don't know what GDC is and don't care. Which is why between CES, GDC and E3.. it has always made senses to schedule that week in June off. Plus it is my birthday on of near that week.

And which is why execs from an important software company like Microsoft shouldn't make out of context statements regarding software development issues around a time like GDC because consumers are listening.

So I'm like that's done.. (scheduling time off)... but what's actually interesting? (for GDC)

VR is the hot topic.

VR as in everyone is making a VR headset and as a consumer I'm glad the question is now which VR headset to invest in versus which 4K set to buy.

I've been trying to avoid the expense of a 4K set since 1996.. but that's hard to really explain.

Thankfully there are several reasonable 4K monitors that will make it a non issue to buy at least 1.

For VR, the scene is suddenly very busy due to probable fierce competition on the hardware side from companies that aren't one horse ponies. Whatever they decide to make will be supported by app and game developers shortly. At least by the holidays there will be several important VR headsets on the market with a raft of apps and games to make it a serious new market.

Facebook's Oculus Rift might be the most recognizable, but at $600+ it isn't the cheapest, compared to Google Cardboard, and most likely, depending on the games and how much real support they get by E3 from developers, and a price drop by the holidays.. they will most likely not compete with other comparable VR hardware.

Even this week AMD showed a video of some silly headset that has its processor built-in. Ok but.. tell us HOW you're planning to support software not just that your gear can run software by itself. Is it Android? is it Windows 10? is it some useless proprietary OS?

Others falls under the categories of cheap and what people will actually need. Cheap might be the stuff you'll connect to hardware you already have.. like your phone.. like LG's, HTC's, Google's and Samsung's VR gear. And what people will actually need just means expensive shit.

I'm very partial the LG's new phone and headset because I really like the phone.. and their headset looks very nice.

Which has to mean comfortable.

So I was expecting GDC to feature as many companies trotting out their VR roadmaps to help consumers decide what hardware they should get. Not so much.

Instead there's just the bullshit from MS grabbing headlines.

MS wants more developers to support Windows 10. Ok, so? who cares?

MS has gone so far with a few key stupid vague statements like hardware upgrades for Xbox, Xbox games running on Windows, and Xbox Live being opened to other platforms that many are questioning Xbox One's future.

And I personally was getting really annoyed by these statements because they were vague enough that the internet was getting confused by some of them.. confused enough to speculate. All Microsoft had to do was make clear statements regarding their own damned brands, products and services.

The straw that broke my patience was the open Xbox Live cross-network play statement.

Automatically that meant people would be confused because Xbox Live and PSN don't mix.. and probably never will. It's a brand issue.

Microsoft could have very clearly said look we're opening Xbox Live to support Windows 10 players because we need to grow that platform. It really wouldn't be easy to try to grow the Windows 10 brand for gaming again because of all the residual bad blood from every previous attempts Microsoft has made to push their games on Windows. Not that Microsoft publishes enough games to require a store.

They aren't quite about having shut down dozens of studios, large and small.

Like there are already games on Windows 10. Microsoft doesn't need to do anything to disturb the existing and thriving markets that call Windows 10 home. What Microsoft wants to do is sell games on Windows 10 and make more money doing that. As in compete. As in Valve already wants to get away from Windows. WHY BOTHER pushing AAA game developers that already are supporting Steam to the BS built in Windows 10 Store that virtually no one uses?!

WHY?! I'll buy games from Steam thanks! Fuck you Microsoft and your stupid bullshit store. But no I really wouldn't I'm not a fan of Valve or Steam.

So.. Having the clarification that cross network play does include steam brings some sense to the initiative. Sure Microsoft wants those sales too.. they are not so stupid that they'd require people to own the Windows 10 Store version of games for players to enjoy that delicious cross-network play....which is good I guess.

The thing again is that the bullshit version of these games.. the Universal Windows Platform ones which Microsoft plans to sell aren't the same as the Steam versions so PC gamers as ever are probably not going to care. So the Steam versions of games and Xbox One versions which are VERY different due to hardware performance being vastly different.. that's something else and apparently is part of this supported 'other networks' thing.

How's it going to work in competitive games? No one knows.

Why is Rocket League claiming to be the first game to support Cross Network Play with Xbox Live and PC? Did Shadowrun never happen? Or do they just mean it'll be the first non-bullshit title that might get it right?

Smite would be another.

If they say it stupidly as Xbox Live will be open to ALL other online services.. that's hinting that PSN and PlayStation 4 games would be supported for Cross-Network play.

Hold on.

That means Xbox One games, AAA games.. that are already multiplatform and which costs developers real money to have them run on Xbox Live and PSN... suddenly have to support cross network play. Because it really isn't optional. As soon as Activision does it.. all multiplatform games will have to support cross-network play.

Not nonsense but wtf?! Why now and why all of a sudden?!

Oh.. ID@Xbox games? ok.. that's easier. I like the Microsoft is helping us get this done all hail Microsoft part. The poster child being Rocket League. Ok.. well that's still only the one poster child that already has a game on Xbox and PSN. If they want to support PC and XBL xplay.. that's fine and likely it'll be the only way to sell more copies of the Xbox One version of the game. And not just one game, there's a couple of others but not your AAA staples like Destiny.. or Call of Duty.. or wtfe people are playing competitively on consoles.

That has nothing to do with Microsoft or Sony. Or any other AAA game developer for that matter. It doesn't answer the question of co-op between XBL players and PSN players on PS4 for multiplatform games of the near future.

Personally that means Ark.. which not only has a game on each system.. but they are really pushing multiplayer hard. Hard enough that the game is 40% discounted on Steam AND the competitive multiplayer is free.

Personally I'm pissed because they have a dragon in the game that's exclusive to that competitive multiplayer mode. Meaning I paid for a preview version of a game and can't access one of the most badass creatures.

YES I am just tiddling away day after day raising my little babies.. otherwise playing the game solo.. but that's just how I want to play the game.

It would be nice to know I could still find and tame a damned dragon without PvP.

Like actually I'm mad. Part of the progression from demanding all the developers be rounded up and shot is that you progressively tame better creatures until you get comfortable in the game enough to have fun. Until they say no dragon for you.

Fuck you Studio Wildcard.

So I take that actual frustration and read into Microsoft's bullshit by looking at it like there WILL be more ID@Xbox games and like Ark, the multiplayer aspects, if they aren't solely based on a core multiplayer mode will be open to cross-network play.

And that's fine! That's a dev's choice to make and it is based on players demanding the feature for years but we've ALL been cock blocked by Microsoft's bullshit Xbox Live policies and branding.

After the statement was made.. and after I was immediately like oh shit just wait for people to ASSUME it means AAA games and PlayStation games cross-networking with Xbox One games... I was like wait for it. Wait for Sony's response.

And it didn't come immediately.

So I said give it a day.

A day later..

Sony.

And I mean even while I kind of did testing on PS Home for a short while for them before it was shut down. And ignoring the data breach and any real complaints anyone can have against a company that puts image and branding above all else...

I just hate Sony. There's no getting around it.

I have to respect Sony for how they responded.

It was perfect.

Microsoft.. We make 'cross-network' games for Windows and have for years.

Mic dropped.

I mean I appreciate it because it calls out the bullshit. Microsoft get your shit together and support Windows 10 if you want.. Meaning Steam. Because no one is taking Microsoft's Windows 10 Store seriously. Not only does Sony make games for PSN that work with Windows.. but in general Sony invests in making games. Sony invests in games that actually get all the way to retail.

So.. while some people appreciate that Sony commented.. they didn't say anything new. And neither company has stated that any developer will be able to, even if they wanted to, have Xbox One versions of a game play with the PlayStation version.

That all might come but it is something that two brand conscious companies have very little to gain by supporting.

Sony less so because as much as PlayStation fanboys might love to say the PS4 versions of x game is better.. Sony PAYS money to make sure of it. Allowing people to choose the xbox version and still play with people on PSN. Fuck no.

Now.

Again back to ID@Xbox cross-network play and Ark... before Sony commented I thought these guys would say something good like the PS4 and PC versions would be updated at least by launch to support cross-network play all around. One game, one online community. But there's no PS4 version until launch.... because,

The other statement that had me like mad and really shout out 'WHY!!!' was from Studio Wildcard saying if you guys want a PS4 version of the game preview, ask Sony.

I'm already waiting for Sony to responds to Microsoft's bullshit, I thought.

This loaded statement is a shot at Sony when none is deserved because yes Xbox and Windows 10, by way of Steam, support beta versions of games.. Who said anything about such programs from Sony?

I mean where the fuck is Steam on PS4? Can we start there?

So no PS4 version of Ark until June. That's fine! ain't nobody complaining. SW is probably none too thrilled about needing to do marketing to sell a PS4 version of the game anyway. I mean besides finishing it by June.

I'd made peace with that already before Studio Wild card decided to call out Sony on something they don't even need to support.. when ultimately the Xbox One and PC versions of the Ark preview aren't updated at the same time... can Studio Wildcard actually keep all three versions on par with each other post launch?

Yeah.. we'll see.

So... dust settling I'm all lemme at least get back to Ark because I only have so long with it before the preview ends and the servers are wiped.

But I'm not even feeling well and the game is pretty demanding even though I'm ensconced in my little compound trying to raise baby dinos. A task not without drama since even with defenses somehow some asshole Argentavis managed to murder one of my babies while I had my back turned that was right in the center of the compound.

The game lacks certain features and it really is getting immersion breaking to try to play on.

So I'm spending more time sleeping (trying to get better) and otherwise focused on Twitch. Than actually playing Ark.

Twitch...

Someone asked what game would you make.

First thing to come to mind is that's a stupid question because you should start with what's your favorite game and what about it would you change to make it better.

Designing games for VR is challenging because so much of game design is still based on 2D concepts

Again with the VR shit being the flavor of the day due to GDC, I've wondered what happens if you take really intrinsically 2D experiences and port them to 3D. As in would they break or would they be even more cool?

Let's shorten the list to just 4.

2 of these 2d games that might not convert well to 3D are Eufloria and Fragile Allegiance. The 3rd is Geometry Wars.

And 4th is GTA.

Obviously we know about GTA. And GTA V with VR support is something else again.

So Geometry Wars in 3D? That's a question more about console games and VR which is an open question until we know more info about when/if/how Microsoft plans to support VR. One aspect of the argument was that Xbox 360 barely supported Geometry Wars Evolved. Xbox One runs the game but I doubt it was optimized at all. A VR version of the game.. one running in pseudo 3D would need even more processing power.

Hell will Twitch support VR?

How do you get Twitch to support VR games when most streamers like to have their face up on screen to interact with Chat?

Amazon is really trying to push Twitch... god really knows why.. but it'll be interesting to see. Will a native twice experience ever compare to OBS? And why not?! in-client version of twitch should be able to do everything, 'in-client', that streamers are used to now on PC with overlay/streaming software... and yet not. I don't get it. Who do you ask for that stuff from Twitch? Amazon, Microsoft (ha!) or Sony?

So I'm willing to chill on Geometry Wars and more broadly what ID@Xbox + Xbox Live + VR will mean and just say there's no Xbox One support for VR that will really matter short term.

Actually I'm more interested to know if Burnout will ever come back and if a game like that can support VR. So yeah.. chill.

But.. Eufloria. A game I haven't played for years.. I wanted to look it up but wasn't going to post a link to it on chat because it isn't a game that can really be explained with text. You have to play it. I'm not about to abuse any mod priv on trying to get people to actually check out a good game.

But if you do.. imagine if it could be converted to 3D. If pseudo-biology, a diverse energy economy, orbital dynamics could be introduced for a game like that.. and if they could keep that same intense art style yet support a more sophisticated simulation. Like FRAG. Fragile Allegiance compares to Eufloria on a planetary scale and is 2D but has much more detail. Something in between in 3D/VR please.

So yes.. since I first played FRAG I wanted to rebuild it in 3D. The first time I touched Eufloria I wanted to see that running in 3D. After playing geometry wars extensively to the point I hit the tops of the online leader boards for both retro and evolved... I wanted to see that game in 3D.. but how?

FRAG is an RTS that has the player micro managing and delegating tasks so I guess it could be played point and click.. a modern version of the game could have multiplayer and settlers that moved around on their own instead of directly controlled by the player.

Eufloria has a more macro scope so I guess you could play it with gesture based controller on consoles..

But geometry wars? How could you control that in 3D? a generic console controller?

Then I noticed Eufloria is available on Android?! I just left it on pause for the music.

I love this game so much.

:O !!!!! Google gave me the game for free! nice!

(as since enrolled in silly program to answer surveys like every few weeks/months for a few cents a shot I have 6.50 already banked woo!)

hmm.

So.. yeah.. This year might prove interesting if these games come to mobile and VR will later on. More devs will hopefully mean at least one will make a 3D game on console or mobile that hits that right spot.

Even if it means waiting for even more powerful networks and hardware.. yeah sure 5G is on the way and if people take mobile VR seriously more powerful hardware will follow.