So long as GOG keeps using AI I'm not gonna buy games from GOG.

So long as Valve doesn't shut down the CS skin trading, doesn't reduce their 30% cut (and stops doing the stupid 'the more you sell the less you have to pay' nonsense), and doesn't stop ('allegedly') pressuring publishers to sell their games at the same price on other stores; I'm not gonna buy games on Steam.

So long as Epic doesn't stop buying exclusives I'm not gonna buy games on Epic.

So long as Itch doesn't properly re-index adult games and doesn't stop withholding payments from creators I'm not gonna buy games on Itch.

That leaves... er... Zoom? I'm sure I can find some controversy there as well.

Every platform has its issues, but at least GOG has an anti-DRM stance, which immediately makes it way better than Steam or Epic. If your feelings really are that strong, at least switch to Itch or Zoom, but don't come here to complain about GOG using AI and then go and buy games on Steam, because you're just being a hypocrite at that point. And for those who complain about 'IP theft', you don't know that they didn't use something like Adobe Firefly. Just going 'AI -> IP theft' is a clear sign you have no idea what you're talking about and are just looking for an excuse to put GOG down (and indirectly advocate in favour of current copyright law, which is horrible and stupid and should be reformed).

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Quoting: scorp10n2000Why would anyone want to buy games on Un-Epic (shit)Store? 🤔

I only buy games on Steam and GOG.

Not on Itch? I know they've had their controversies around paying the devs/publishers, but I'd still consider them pretty decent.

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Quoting: M@GOidThe biggest troll Valve could do is to launch it on march 3, together with HL3. But unfortunately is not gonna happen in today's situation.

Release on March 3rd, together with Half Life 3, which only runs on GNU/Linux. That'd be a troll move (though highly appreciated with our crowd).

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I don't care about the Steam Machine, but hopefully an early 2026 release also means an early 2026 release for the Steam Controller 2.

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Quoting: suchI think FF8R is the one version not to get out of the two - it looks atrocious, and it still has the same technical limitations the previous version had.

So, I maintain that if we're talking compromise (given we're discussing the PC ports, and modern FF8 ports in general) the emulated PSX version is the single best, easiest to obtain, set up and engage with... compromise. Popular games as well, so you can snag those discs easy off ebay. No Pocketstation support in software emulation AFAIK, but that's truly nothing to write home about - I own a couple, I know - and statistically not something someone interested in getting into FF8 in 2026 would be into, certainly not over the rest of the game not being... a sub-par, unresponsive experience relative to the smoothness you get on the PSX, emulated or otherwise.

Now, if we're not talking compromise there's the original hardware route or FPGA, which has the benefit of not requiring a scaler for HDMI output. Pocketstation support included.

I can't for the life of me decipher what you meant by the reading Japanese snarkiness, though :)

Without a PocketStation for Chocobo World you can't get various items (the Remastered version removed CW but added the items to the Angelo Search drop table). Also, a PSX version of FFVIII will set you back like 100 USD, which is 5 times what you'd pay for FFVIII on GOG outside of a sale, and that's before taking the costs for a PSX and PocketStation into account (of course that's even assuming you don't get scammed which used to be a real issue on e-bay). Not to mention the awful load times on PSX hardware (which could be mitigated by using a PS2 with fast disk loading instead).

I will have to admit being wrong about having to be able to read Japanese, though, I thought the PocketStation features were removed from the non-Japanese versions because the PocketStation was only available in Japan. Turns out I was wrong.

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Quoting: such

Quoting: kaktuspalmeThough I personally get it, VIII for example, there's the Remastered and just VIII, which one should I choose?

Neither. Emulate the PSX version. You'll have all the QOL you'll ever want, the game will look much better, and you won't be tied to any online account.

Do PSX emulators even have PocketStation emulation? It's also very bold of you to assume kaktuspalme can read Japanese. The better answer would be 'the Remaster is on GOG, so you can get it DRM-free'.

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What I've been playing? Digimon Story Time Stranger and DiRT Rally 2.0. Especially DR2, I'm absolutely addicted.

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Quoting: CaldathrasI've never played any of the Final Fantasy games. I always thought of the franchise as mostly a console thing, and I've always played my games on PC. Never got around to it once there were PC releases.

Loved the first animated movie, though!

You loved The Spirits Within? I was baffled at why it was called Final Fantasy aside from 'we have the trademark, might as well slap it on this completely unrelated project and try to get more eyeballs' (the Baldur's Gate 3 strategy).

Interesting that you thought of FF as being a console thing, which for the longest time it was, when my introduction to the series was FFVIII on PC (which was a benefit as Chocobo World was inaccessible for Western PlayStation players due to not having the PocketStation).

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Quoting: Liam DaweAll players who already own the 2013 Edition are eligible to access the new version at no additional cost.
Both versions will remain accessible in the owner’s Steam Library once the new version is released.

Combined with:

Quoting: Liam DaweFINAL FANTASY VII currently has a 60% discount on Steam

Means I have to give props to Squeenix. This is the way to do it, and companies like Rockstar should take notes (remember the GTA 3D trilogy remaster fiasco?).

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The best time to release a game is when it's done. The second best time is when it's mostly done and just needs some more content (like Assetto Corsa Rally).

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