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#91
Computer Gaming / Re: Source of the Nile
Last post by Grim.Reaper - April 09, 2024, 03:38:34 AMCan you share what resolution are you playing on and what is your default scaling setting? If using the settings the game recommends seems to be ok but seen discussion on higher resolutions to excessively stretches to fill the screen. I have 3840x2160 resolution plus I believe scaling is higher than 100 so trying to figure out how this might look.
#92
Computer Gaming / Re: Source of the Nile
Last post by joram - April 08, 2024, 10:33:16 PMThe manual warns of a certain resolution but i just fired it up and it was just fine.
With that said, I like it but it is bare bones. Perhaps it's the nostalgia factor but i have been enjoying myself exploring. I have an inkling how to play already having played the board game but the lack of tutorial will be an obstacle for those not familiar. The manual isn't terribly helpful but it does explain enough if you think through the implications. For example, pro tip, each Askari can support up to 3 people through hunting but it's terrain dependent. I tend to make sure Askari's are just under half my expedition. You can go with less if you bring enough of your own rations which is alternative approach. I also forgot what it took to carry a canoe and had to cache one fairly early because of it. It's explained in the manual but just reading it may not be enough for those brand new to the game.
In addition to a lack of tutorial, it is strictly solo play. There's no multiplayer (unsurprisingly) but there's also no AI opponents so a lot of the tension of the original boardgame is lost. The pluses is that all the fiddly tracking you have to do of your expedition is all automatic and you can knock out some explorations fairly quickly. Though I prefer classic, there's an enhanced map mode as well.
I do hope in some future iteration there are at least some AI opponents (and/or multiplayer) so you can feel a bit more pressure on when to keep going forward or when to turn back but other than that, it's fun. I also hope they can put a hall of fame in there as well so you can keep track of your previous expeditions. Maybe there is one, i haven't quite completed a whole game but i don't think there is. And finally, it needs a tutorial for the uninitiated. Perhaps someone will write a guide, which would help, but i think a full on tutorial is needed.
With that said, I like it but it is bare bones. Perhaps it's the nostalgia factor but i have been enjoying myself exploring. I have an inkling how to play already having played the board game but the lack of tutorial will be an obstacle for those not familiar. The manual isn't terribly helpful but it does explain enough if you think through the implications. For example, pro tip, each Askari can support up to 3 people through hunting but it's terrain dependent. I tend to make sure Askari's are just under half my expedition. You can go with less if you bring enough of your own rations which is alternative approach. I also forgot what it took to carry a canoe and had to cache one fairly early because of it. It's explained in the manual but just reading it may not be enough for those brand new to the game.
In addition to a lack of tutorial, it is strictly solo play. There's no multiplayer (unsurprisingly) but there's also no AI opponents so a lot of the tension of the original boardgame is lost. The pluses is that all the fiddly tracking you have to do of your expedition is all automatic and you can knock out some explorations fairly quickly. Though I prefer classic, there's an enhanced map mode as well.
I do hope in some future iteration there are at least some AI opponents (and/or multiplayer) so you can feel a bit more pressure on when to keep going forward or when to turn back but other than that, it's fun. I also hope they can put a hall of fame in there as well so you can keep track of your previous expeditions. Maybe there is one, i haven't quite completed a whole game but i don't think there is. And finally, it needs a tutorial for the uninitiated. Perhaps someone will write a guide, which would help, but i think a full on tutorial is needed.
#93
Computer Gaming / Re: MSFS 2020
Last post by Skoop - April 08, 2024, 10:28:40 PMIf you try the fly by wire a320, it comes with an installer that has links to the documentation.
It also will allow you to download their AI traffic "FSTL".
It's the best AI traffic program in MSFS and it's freeware.
It really helps the immersion having the proper airline skins at the proper locations when you're flying.
It's also synced with the in game atc so you'll get warnings and go arounds when the traffic is in the way.
It also will allow you to download their AI traffic "FSTL".
It's the best AI traffic program in MSFS and it's freeware.
It really helps the immersion having the proper airline skins at the proper locations when you're flying.
It's also synced with the in game atc so you'll get warnings and go arounds when the traffic is in the way.
#94
Computer Gaming / Re: MSFS 2020
Last post by DesertFox - April 08, 2024, 06:34:07 PMNice, thanks for the info Skoop! I wouldn't even know where to begin looking there is so much available.
#95
Computer Gaming / Re: MSFS 2020
Last post by Skoop - April 08, 2024, 04:56:08 PMThe PMDG 737 is the best Boeing in MSFS, you can get the 800 on its own and it's pretty much all you'll need. They are releasing the 777 soon if you want something for long hauls.
The Fly By Wire A320neo is really good freeware, feels almost payware, good place to start if you want to try Airbuses. They are also working on an A350 addon.
If you want to go further into Airbus, the Fenix A320 is top notch, best payware airbus, might be the best payware addon rival only to PMDG.
The Fly By Wire A320neo is really good freeware, feels almost payware, good place to start if you want to try Airbuses. They are also working on an A350 addon.
If you want to go further into Airbus, the Fenix A320 is top notch, best payware airbus, might be the best payware addon rival only to PMDG.
#96
Computer Gaming / Re: FREE --> 3 DLCs for Hearts...
Last post by Rayfer - April 08, 2024, 10:44:15 AMQuote from: Ian C on March 26, 2024, 10:00:32 AMJust to hijack this thread for thoughts on a mod. Bear with me...
I recently started playing the Black Ice mod and it is by far the best and most realistic experience I've had with any WW2 global strategy game, ever. This is a mod made by a team that know history and wargames.
If you like HOI4 and you can handle the extra depth, I highly recommend it. In my recent play through as the UK I went through experiences that matched the Battle of Britain, Blitz, the U-Boat war and now I'm up to 1942 and the Russo-German war and Japanese war is in full swing.
To give some idea of the scope: The Luftwaffe was hammering the RAF over the UK from the fall of France up to 1941 and I was hanging on by a thread. My production of Fighters wasn't enough to fill the losses and literally every single tech gain and percentage of help proved decisive (as it does elsewhere in the game). When the U.S. Sold me Fighters I literally breathed a sigh of relief.
My industry was being bombed away. Black Ice has separate factories for air production, tank production, etc. and strategic bombing can individually target these.
The AI does a great job. There are U-Boat attacks all over the historical routes and they are difficult to defend against so far. Air, Land and Sea combat behaves very realistically, both in means and pace.
Too many things to list here about how much fun and how dramatic this mod is. The way units are composed is accurate. Combat and supply feels realistic. I found myself really using espionage and cryptography, air power and other factors as combat in North Africa was at a stalemate until I realised I was just playing casually like I do with the base game. Once I started taking small factors into account, using air supply, breaking cyphers, air recon, etc, the battle shifted in my favour. These are things that don't really impact too much in the base game, but they really count here.
There are some drawbacks. The mod is really deep. Research, production and other areas are massively expanded. If you find these areas boring or a struggle in the base game, you won't like the mod. It also requires some knowledge of the history of the time, in order to make appropriate choices. It requires more attention and it is definitely exhausting in places, but, as a simulation of world war two, for me at least, this is the realism and drama of it. I would highly recommend that the game is run at a maximum of speed 2 while at war, maybe 3 in the quiet moments. It is easy to miss something really important. Once again, this game takes a lot of concentration and planning. You can't go in lightly.
I took my eyes off the Far East while fixating in North Africa and Japan took Ceylon. From there they threatened East Africa and Southern Arabia. Again, the AI is very surprisingly good. I was blaming ahistorical AI on this before I released I'd let them have Ceylon through negligence and neglecting my naval presence there. The island is strategically important because from it, the Japanese can project naval power into the Indian Ocean and Arabian areas and I completely missed it because I was used the base game's AI. I've cowed the German Kriegsmarine and there is little chance of them launching any invasion as the Germans are bogged down in Russia, so I'm sending the majority of the Home Fleet over to the Indian Theatre to stop any more Japanese advances.
I'm tempted to restart, as it's my first proper game with Black Ice, but I think I'll stick with it and accept my mistake and recover from it.
In summary, this is the best HOI 4 experience I've had so far, but it's deep, difficult, historically realistic and unforgiving.
LINKS TO MOD:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1137372539
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=842834893
Pay close attention to IC's comment: There are some drawbacks. The mod is really deep. Research, production and other areas are massively expanded. If you find these areas boring or a struggle in the base game, you won't like the mod. This is what turned me off to this Mod...the depth of detail in research and production overwhelmed my 72 year old brain.
#97
Computer Gaming / Re: MSFS 2020
Last post by DesertFox - April 08, 2024, 10:39:19 AMThanks for the tip, Toonces! The stock stuff has kept me pretty busy when I have time for it, but I will look into what's out there.
#98
Computer Gaming / Re: MSFS 2020
Last post by Toonces - April 08, 2024, 07:35:44 AMDesert Fox, you really should get a couple of modules. The stuff that ships with stock MSFS is good, but some of the payware modules are amazing. The PMDG stuff is unreal.
Never tried FSEconomy, but I did enjoy Air Hauler when I was flying MSFS.
Never tried FSEconomy, but I did enjoy Air Hauler when I was flying MSFS.
#99
Computer Gaming / Re: Source of the Nile
Last post by Grim.Reaper - April 08, 2024, 05:29:06 AMI'll wait to see more comments on how this game displays, I hate having to manually make sure my desktop settings are set a certain way before playing a specific game, new releases should always have a way to handle different resolutions and scaling. Maybe it still works ok, but the warning gives me pause so I'll wait for feedback.
#100
Computer Gaming / Re: Source of the Nile
Last post by devoncop - April 08, 2024, 03:38:25 AMI like the look of this.nit seems replayability is pretty high. Thanks for the heads up.