Quoting: rambo919The function of any game psychologically is to play out scenarios, a form of learning without risk. Anything you do in a game is an expression of what you would do IRL if given the opportunity and resources, it's just that most seem to not notice this about themselves.

The function of most games psychologically is to entertain the player. Some games do aim to play out scenarios and allow you to learn without risk, others are just a bit of fun or harmless wastes of time. And regardless of the scope or aim of the game, you're always secure in the knowledge that any consequence is purely virtual, and it's perfectly safe and acceptable to make decisions you'd never willingly make in real life.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Quoting: redmanAnd it was called Circle of Blood

I never understood why it needed an edgier title on the wrong side of the big puddle.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Quoting: DrMcCoyUgh, that looks like an AI upscale of the original intro animation:

Doesn't look great, but maybe that's why it says "BETA FOOTAGE, NOT FINAL QUALITY".

View this comment - View article - View full comments

A fully sentient frog capturing and breeding other frogs. I'm not sure if I should feel perturbed or not...

Anyway, game looks fun.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Quoting: RandomizedKirbyTree47Is buying this bundle really more convenient than `flatpak install flathub io.github.freedoom.Phase1`, or the equivalent on your distro's software manager GUI?

I suppose it's more convenient if you want to play Doom or Doom II and not Freedoom.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

I might be upgrading to a 9700x from my trusty 3700x, but I'm in no particular hurry.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Quoting: Purple Library GuyBoarding sports? Arrr, matey! Like "Deck rush" and "advanced cutlass brandishing"?

"Three-peg-legged race", "Timber Shivering", "Hookball" and "Jolly Rogering". No wait, scratch the last one. But you could quite easily think up a bunch of silly events for a pirate themed "sports" game à la Blood 'n Guts [External Link] on the C64. (But maybe leave out the cat throwing...)

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Quoting: Mountain Man

Quoting: Kimyrielle

Quoting: Mountain ManWhat they're demanding is simply not realistic and will most likely encourage developers and publishers out of the European market, or perhaps release special "EU Exclusive" titles that are basically crippled out of the box.

As I said, the power already rests in the hands of the consumers. If you don't like that a game could be "remotely disabled" (talk about a straw man!), then don't buy it. It's as simple as that. No heavy-handed government involvement necessary.

It might not go anywhere, but not for the reason you stated. I frankly don't understand which part of "release the server software and/or remove the DRM when you're commercially done with a game" isn't 'realistic'. Of course it is, and it would cost studios near nothing to publish the required components when they stop monetizing a game.

The reason why it won't happen is more like because governments don't care enough, or don't want to interfere with the Holy Free Market, and not because it couldn't be done.

As noted, it simply may not be legally possible for a company to essentially release a game for free when it contains proprietary and copyrighted content. It's not as simple as some people would like it to be.

You keep ignoring the fact that this isn't what the initiative is about. Nobody is being told to release their games for free. Even "essentially".

They've already sold that content to their customers. The game should be left in a (reasonably) playable state for those existing customers unless there's a very good reason not to.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Quoting: Mountain ManWhat they're demanding is simply not realistic and will most likely encourage developers and publishers out of the European market, or perhaps release special "EU Exclusive" titles that are basically crippled out of the box.

I suppose it might happen some day. Although if a dev/publisher does something like that, I bet they'll lose way more than just EU customers due to the backlash. The gamble seems worth it to me. You might sympathise with corporations over gamers, but it's not European gamers versus the rest, as evidenced by the comments here alone.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Quoting: Mountain ManI am familiar with this initiative and its pipe dream goals of essentially strong arming game developers into releasing their products for free after there is no longer a viable market for them

Doesn't seem like you are familiar with it, seeing as it doesn't try to force anyone to release anything for free. At least read the three paragraph quote in the article before you build up any more straw men.

View this comment - View article - View full comments