Another week full of game updates, new releases and plenty still to come. Time for another of our weekly chats about all the wonderful gaming we've been doing.
This week saw some interesting releases for Linux including Desperados III, A Long Way Down, Crusader Kings III, a new set of Stadia Pro games and plenty of upcoming releases mentioned like The Jackbox Party Pack 7, BOY BEATS WORLD, art of rally, Tenderfoot Tactics, Songs of Syx and plenty more from our Gamescom round-up. Certainly no shortage and that's only off the top of my head from this last week.
My current love that I keep going back to is Super Bomberman R Online, which is currently a time-limited exclusive on Stadia. If you have Stadia Pro, it's free to claim until November 30 (and Stadia Pro still gives a month free on sign-up) and it seems there's plenty of players on it, I've had no troubles finding matches.
I've never been that big of a Bomberman fan but something about having 64 people running around various arenas is hilarious. The way it's done is very much like a Battle Royale, a little Fall Guys even. You're initially split into many arenas, with each round having a few taken away so you need to run across to another. It's frantic and brilliant fun.
I'm also mourning the loss of my trusty Logitech F310 gamepad, it had a good 5+ year run but it's time to wave goodbye as it has decided that it no longer wishes to stay connected for more than a few seconds (tested across multiple machines).
Opening it reveals no obvious fault that my total amateur tech mind can find to fix. So, it's time to shop for a new gamepad. While the Gioteck WX-4 Wireless I have still continues on, the PC/Linux support overall is still too lacking right now and as much as I still love the Steam Controller, and confessed much love before, there's times where a stick is just needed and for local multiplayer titles another is required. Sure would be nice if those older hints of a new Steam Controller came true don't you think?
So, do I go for another trusty Logitech F310? For the price, the F310 is still one of the best PC gamepads around. Perhaps the wireless F710? Or one of those fancy units from 8BitDo? Although the last 8BitDo I had needed some manual repair only a few months after picking, with a button acting like it was always being pressed, so their build quality doesn't feel too great overall.
Feel free to give over your gamepad suggestions for Linux gaming in the comments this week. What are you using, what's your favourite with great game support? Other than that — over to you in the comments: what have you been gaming on Linux lately?
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Mohandevir Sep 6, 2020
Sure would be nice if those older hints of a new Steam Controller came true don't you think?
YES! PLEASE! Can't resolve myself to playing a shooter with a right stick. Total lack of precision!
0 Likes
Factorio. Yep, that's it. Building a megabase is a lot of work, but an interesting design challenge.
2 Likes, Who?
Other than Factorio, which I put about 80 hours into, I recently finished World of Goo and Hexcells. I also put a fair amount of time into Lyne and Spacechem again, and a handful of other games that I abandoned after playing.
Personally, I've had two 8bitdo controllers, a sf30pro and an sn30pro+, and both of them are still working with no build quality issues. Of course, my F310 is also still working with no build quality issues, so it could be that I'm just not using them that hard.
Personally, I've had two 8bitdo controllers, a sf30pro and an sn30pro+, and both of them are still working with no build quality issues. Of course, my F310 is also still working with no build quality issues, so it could be that I'm just not using them that hard.
0 Likes
Desperados III, just played four missions I can sense it's going to be a MASTERPIECE!
Agreed. I thought Shadow Tactics was great already, but they've outdone themselves with the amount of "juice" and polish they've added to this game.
I've been really torn between Desperados III and Spiritfarer recently, since I'm enjoying both so much, and I'm having a hard time putting either of them down.
2 Likes, Who?
I'd love to play Arcanum, but it's not easy to set up on a modern PC, even on Windows.I haven't tried them myself (yet), but Lutris has Wine install scripts for the GOG version or Arcanum and its essential patches here. Should be worth a try.
You're right, it works. The resolution is usually the problem. There is a fan-made patch, but I'm not sure whether it runs on Linux. Or better, how to install it. And I'm notoriously wary of downloading patches from dark corners of the web :)
0 Likes
In case you didn't notice, the link I gave you has a separate Lutris script for downloading and installing the UAP 2.0.0 patch with the high resolution fix and other goodies. In case you don't know what Lutris is, you can read more here. Or read one of Liam's articles on it here on GOL. :)I'd love to play Arcanum, but it's not easy to set up on a modern PC, even on Windows.I haven't tried them myself (yet), but Lutris has Wine install scripts for the GOG version or Arcanum and its essential patches here. Should be worth a try.
You're right, it works. The resolution is usually the problem. There is a fan-made patch, but I'm not sure whether it runs on Linux. Or better, how to install it. And I'm notoriously wary of downloading patches from dark corners of the web :)
1 Likes, Who?
Ha, I hadn't noticed that! Thanks, that's awesome! Just have to set up Lutris on this brandnew install. Goodness, I have to stop distro-hopping.
0 Likes
Tried Terreria. Sadly I feel bored with it pretty quickly. I think I just want in the mood.
Switched over to Crying Sun's with proton. Liking it quite a bit, although it's inspiration from ftl is obvious, the setting is quite nice. Reminds me a bit of eclipse phase
Terraria is one of those games where you can feel somewhat lost if you don't take look at a guide at some point. It's more fun to play it when you have idea that there is better weapon or armor out there, you just have find all the ingredients and in case of ores, you might have to upgrade your pickaxe. There's lot of different things to do.
Truth to be told though, I gave up before final boss. I didn't feel like going back to previous boss in hope of getting random loot that would be needed to be able to craft a better weapon.
1 Likes, Who?
Going old school with Age of Wonders III.
1 Likes, Who?
I put a lot of hours into HL: Alyx today, so many in fact I had to charge the controllers twice! It's splendid, but I'm now at a point it's becoming a little repetitive, I hope it throws something new my way soon. The way things are, I won't be able to play until next weekend most likely, unfortunately.
I've also been playing a little of Seers Isle, a very pretty VN. It's quite good story-wise, it's been a pleasant diversion after all the head crabs.
As for controllers, I just use all the Dualshocks 4 I have around the house. I gave up on the Steam Controller, no right stick is game-breaking for me.
I've also been playing a little of Seers Isle, a very pretty VN. It's quite good story-wise, it's been a pleasant diversion after all the head crabs.
As for controllers, I just use all the Dualshocks 4 I have around the house. I gave up on the Steam Controller, no right stick is game-breaking for me.
2 Likes, Who?
I'm just going to post my Steam review.
The FREE ONES
Not Recommended
6.5 hrs last two weeks / 6.5 hrs on record
Posted: Sep 6 @ 1:44pm
Updated: Sep 6 @ 1:58pm
In one sentence - this game is frustrating for the sake of being frustrating.
It's not fun. It's a first person rhythm game where the timings are so tight in certain sections that normal people will find themselves repeating a section not dozens, but possibly over a hundred times being clearing it almost by accident when everything lines up for them, which happened to me several times. Games based on a free running mechanic have to be able to keep a rhythm going and this one breaks it over an over and over.
For example, remember the end sequence in the first HALO? The one where you are in the warthog and you just about have to try in order to die or fail? Have the game go out on a high note when the player feels invincible? There's a similar sequence at the end here except the designer picked that moment for a waterfall section that you might have to replay two dozen times before you stick a landing correctly. And then you have to do it again or you respawn back at the first difficult to stick landing.
I beat the game out of spite. I'm uninstalling it and never plan to play it again. Oh, it's very pretty in terms of art direction if that matters to you.
The FREE ONES
Not Recommended
6.5 hrs last two weeks / 6.5 hrs on record
Posted: Sep 6 @ 1:44pm
Updated: Sep 6 @ 1:58pm
In one sentence - this game is frustrating for the sake of being frustrating.
It's not fun. It's a first person rhythm game where the timings are so tight in certain sections that normal people will find themselves repeating a section not dozens, but possibly over a hundred times being clearing it almost by accident when everything lines up for them, which happened to me several times. Games based on a free running mechanic have to be able to keep a rhythm going and this one breaks it over an over and over.
For example, remember the end sequence in the first HALO? The one where you are in the warthog and you just about have to try in order to die or fail? Have the game go out on a high note when the player feels invincible? There's a similar sequence at the end here except the designer picked that moment for a waterfall section that you might have to replay two dozen times before you stick a landing correctly. And then you have to do it again or you respawn back at the first difficult to stick landing.
I beat the game out of spite. I'm uninstalling it and never plan to play it again. Oh, it's very pretty in terms of art direction if that matters to you.
0 Likes
Avehicle7887 Sep 6, 2020
Children of Morta did my weekend. I find the game to do a good job to encourage players to use all characters, got past the 2nd boss so far.
Aside from gaming I've also switched my swap partition to a swap file. Not a big change but cleaner and more flexible that way.
Aside from gaming I've also switched my swap partition to a swap file. Not a big change but cleaner and more flexible that way.
0 Likes
Terraria is one of those games where you can feel somewhat lost if you don't take look at a guide at some point. It's more fun to play it when you have idea that there is better weapon or armor out there, you just have find all the ingredients and in case of ores, you might have to upgrade your pickaxe. There's lot of different things to do.
Truth to be told though, I gave up before final boss. I didn't feel like going back to previous boss in hope of getting random loot that would be needed to be able to craft a better weapon.
I can see that. I think my issue is that I want a perfect balance between "open world" and lore/story/progression, which is almost impossible to do in a procedural setting. I just didn't feel compelled to continue and progress. I think I'll return to it sometime later, when I'm more in the creative mood.
I was also put off by the night time. It felt like just waiting while the game progressed without purpose. I know I could craft or something, but if I ran out of supplies, I just had to wait.
0 Likes
[email protected] Sep 6, 2020
Control
Ni No Kuni Wrath of the White Witch Remastered
Monster Hunter: World
Remnant: From the Ashes
Ni No Kuni Wrath of the White Witch Remastered
Monster Hunter: World
Remnant: From the Ashes
2 Likes, Who?
I had a very similar issue with my F310. Opening it up didn't show anything as the problem was in the cable at the point where it enters the controller. Seems like a common point where the cable partially breaks.
I fixed it by cutting the cable a bit shorter and resoldering it inside on the PCB. Wasn't super easy, but very manageable even for a novice solderer like me.
Last edited by Julius on 7 September 2020 at 12:28 am UTC
I fixed it by cutting the cable a bit shorter and resoldering it inside on the PCB. Wasn't super easy, but very manageable even for a novice solderer like me.
Last edited by Julius on 7 September 2020 at 12:28 am UTC
4 Likes, Who?
It's rare that I really need the second stick on a game so the Steam Controller works really well for me. That said I also have an F310 that's worked pretty well when it does make sense.
That said I've been playing -
That said I've been playing -
- Wolfenstein II: The New Colosssus. I had a ton of fun with this killing Nazi's with a mostly stealthy playthrough. The game looks and performs like greased lightning. Really impressive. And it was great, until my save files got corrupted during the last mission.
Sadly the game does not have a manual chapter selection/level load so I 'finished' the game watching a YT video. - Some slow progress through Hollow Knight. As beautiful as this game is, I really have to take it in smaller doses as I get pretty frustrated going back to recover my soul/geodes when I die. I feel almost punished for exploring and getting into new territory that I might not be able to handle yet.
- Digging into the copy of Assassin's Creed: Unity I got for free a year or so ago when Notre Dame burned up. Revolutionary Paris is gorgeous, but it's hard to get used to not seeing more than 50-60fps no matter what settings I set. Sigh.
- Finished the Thailand Resort mission from Hitman in the Hitman 2 engine. I love finding all the little ways to approach the missions.
- Despite having some nice hardware already, I've been spending too much time pining for the Big Navi 2.
1 Likes, Who?
furaxhornyx Sep 7, 2020
I tried demos of Unbound: World Apart and Werewolf: The Apocalypse — Heart of the Forest
- Unbound has some very nice graphics and atmosphere, and some clever puzzles, but I tend to get a little bored after a while. If you enjoy this kind of game, you should definitely give it a try though.
- Werewolf, well, I tried it because it was the only visual novel-like game that made me install it and want to play it, but it is too slow. Nice atmosphere though.
- Once more, I made a friend discover Overcooked. This game never disappoint
- Finally, I bought Undead Horde on sale, and this game has got me hooked the whole Sunday. It's a simple gameplay, but very fun (and way easier than Iratus)
As for the gamepad, my several Xbox 360 controllers work perfectly, even the one included with my Xbox 360, around 15 years ago. I do have an Xbox One controller as well (the lovely Sea of Thieves edition
), but the detachable cable tend to cause disconnections, and on wireless mode, some buttons are not mapped properly (notably the map button), which is why I still rely on the trusty 360s.
- Unbound has some very nice graphics and atmosphere, and some clever puzzles, but I tend to get a little bored after a while. If you enjoy this kind of game, you should definitely give it a try though.
- Werewolf, well, I tried it because it was the only visual novel-like game that made me install it and want to play it, but it is too slow. Nice atmosphere though.
- Once more, I made a friend discover Overcooked. This game never disappoint
- Finally, I bought Undead Horde on sale, and this game has got me hooked the whole Sunday. It's a simple gameplay, but very fun (and way easier than Iratus
)As for the gamepad, my several Xbox 360 controllers work perfectly, even the one included with my Xbox 360, around 15 years ago. I do have an Xbox One controller as well (the lovely Sea of Thieves edition
), but the detachable cable tend to cause disconnections, and on wireless mode, some buttons are not mapped properly (notably the map button), which is why I still rely on the trusty 360s.
1 Likes, Who?
I have been trying out Wyrmsun. It is a great Warcraft II style free/open source RTS.
1 Likes, Who?
I had a very similar issue with my F310. Opening it up didn't show anything as the problem was in the cable at the point where it enters the controller. Seems like a common point where the cable partially breaks.I did the same thing with my first F310, although with an ugly cable repair shrink sleeve + duct tape mess. That lasted for a while. But when the second one broke, I went for the F710 instead and I've been very happy with that decision. It was twice the price but it also feels at least twice as solid. And I just love the ergonomics of these things, stiff triggers and all.
I fixed it by cutting the cable a bit shorter and resoldering it inside on the PCB. Wasn't super easy, but very manageable even for a novice solderer like me.
I've also got a Steam controller (thanks to a friend who was nice enough to send me theirs), but I haven't been able to get used to it. I mean I like the idea of it, but I just don't have the manual dexterity for the thumb pads and the face buttons are in a very uncomfortable location for me. Not to mention the clicky noises. They just drive me (and my wife) up the wall.
1 Likes, Who?
- Once more, I made a friend discover Overcooked. This game never disappoint
You know the sequel has a native Linux version? Great game, with lots of extra content available.
3 Likes, Who?
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