The SteamOS integrated Steam Link has consistently been so broken for me that I have moved to using the Flatpak as a non-Steam app for streaming from my Desktop.
This results in both the Desktop and Deck's client's input layout being applied, neither having the option to be turned off and the latter being buried in Steam settings and staying active when in the Deck's settings.

Which is annoying as I use my Steam Deck as my primary controller now, thankfully the above can be worked around by creating an empty layout in one of the two settings.
On the Desktop side hardware acceleration is disabled too, I'm not sure if this is still necessary, but it was needed some time back to avoid system crashes.

But once it works it just works and works well, it's just very silly having to apply such a workaround on an integrated system with a dedicated shortcut and library synchronisation for streaming in the same way.
I'm not using the internet aspect of remote play (yet) and am sticking to X11 for various problems which I've tried solving but didn't quickly find working solutions for.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Quoting: MicHaeL_MonStaR

Quoting: RedWyvern

QuoteI've actually never played this one, am I missing out on something here?

Yes, you absolutely are.

The game uses modern Tetris rules (outside of Classic mode), which differ wildly from traditional Tetris.
Initially they seem weird, quirky, maybe even glitchy, but they're very purposefully designed.
The more you get familiar with them, the more fun it gets to pull off weird tricks and score better in this way.
And a skill ceiling is practically non-existent, no matter how long you play you'll see (slow) improvements in your skill.

In the journey mode, they've pretty much turned Tetris in a spiritual experience, unlike any other game I'm aware of.
It's not shameful to start with beginner mode here if needed, this mode is an absolute must-play.

The effect modes all offer fun and unique spins on the Tetris gameplay, offering more variation than you'd expect from Tetris.
Don't be afraid of the online functionality popup here, it's only for sharing your scores, the gameplay all works offline.

Even the multiplayer is fun, the Connected mode is incredible and the competitive modes are fun too.
It generally works well, it uses good peer-to-peer hosting, which still depends on whichever system was appointed as host.

And the game continues to get updated and well supported, you can feel that the studios involved care first and foremost about having their game play well.
Earlier this year a pretty major 2.0 update was released, which implemented a lot of community feedback and expanded the effect modes.
Along with this performance update, they've been one of the first to show official gameplay on Deck too, in Tetris Effect: Connected Hands-On Gameplay Preview | Steam Deck.
It is important to note that Tetris Effect is a very graphically intensive game, though for casual modes it can be made playable on Vega 8 tier iGPUs.

Overall it's one of my all-time favourite and deeply respected games, this while I only picked it up on a whim as I liked playing basic Tetris on my graphical calculator.

That all sounds nuts. but a good enough jump from the one I played on the NES (or actually I also played a top-down-ish three-dimensional one on DOS back in the day) to justify playing it today. - I always worry they change things up too much from the essence of a classic game, but I suppose this is the closest I'll get for an updated modern version. Kinda like that Pac-Man Championship Edition DX+.

That MS-DOS version would be Welltris, I don't think it was succesful but it's mentioned in most Tetris history documentaries on YouTube.

The main difference is the modern or old Tetris rules, you can try the new rules with M+KB at Tetris.com.
These modern rules are like a completely different game, good fun after adjusting to them if you're open to the superrotation weirdness.
On top of the new rules, Tetris Effect's main addition is the Zone, a scoring mode that also sees use as a Connected mechanic.

Tetris Effect's Classic Mode is basically NES Tetris if you want to stick to the old rules, you can even compete in it online if you like, with CTWC like score battle with identical RNG.
This is with low stakes, just some levelling.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Quoting: kuhpunkt

Quoting: Jpxe

Quoting: RedWyvernIt is important to note that Tetris Effect is a very graphically intensive game, though for casual modes it can be made playable on Vega 8 tier iGPUs

How’s the performance on Steam Deck? Can you get stable 60fps at low TDP?

I have the setting on high. With 10 watts you get like high 80 fps, with 11 watts 90 fps all the time.

edit: Just tested some more... at least when you use the "celebration" environment with the fireworks and tons of particles it can drop down to about 65 fps even at 15 watts. Never went below that for me, but still at high settings.

That's a significant improvement over what I felt I got back when playing a 1.x version of the game at Medium.
This had stutters similar to the ones visible in the early Deck gameplay video too.

While I use my Deck as a controller while playing (with Steam Link), I usually play Tetris Effect on my PC.
This as it's a the bigger the screen, the better kind of game (though low latency is more important still).
And my PC's headphone output is significantly better now I upgraded to an audio deck for it, despite the amazing adaptive OST this benefit is more apparent in other games.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

QuoteI've actually never played this one, am I missing out on something here?

Yes, you absolutely are.

The game uses modern Tetris rules (outside of Classic mode), which differ wildly from traditional Tetris.
Initially they seem weird, quirky, maybe even glitchy, but they're very purposefully designed.
The more you get familiar with them, the more fun it gets to pull off weird tricks and score better in this way.
And a skill ceiling is practically non-existent, no matter how long you play you'll see (slow) improvements in your skill.

In the journey mode, they've pretty much turned Tetris in a spiritual experience, unlike any other game I'm aware of.
It's not shameful to start with beginner mode here if needed, this mode is an absolute must-play.

The effect modes all offer fun and unique spins on the Tetris gameplay, offering more variation than you'd expect from Tetris.
Don't be afraid of the online functionality popup here, it's only for sharing your scores, the gameplay all works offline.

Even the multiplayer is fun, the Connected mode is incredible and the competitive modes are fun too.
It generally works well, it uses good peer-to-peer hosting, which still depends on whichever system was appointed as host.

And the game continues to get updated and well supported, you can feel that the studios involved care first and foremost about having their game play well.
Earlier this year a pretty major 2.0 update was released, which implemented a lot of community feedback and expanded the effect modes.
Along with this performance update, they've been one of the first to show official gameplay on Deck too, in Tetris Effect: Connected Hands-On Gameplay Preview | Steam Deck.
It is important to note that Tetris Effect is a very graphically intensive game, though for casual modes it can be made playable on Vega 8 tier iGPUs.

Overall it's one of my all-time favourite and deeply respected games, this while I only picked it up on a whim as I liked playing basic Tetris on my graphical calculator.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

I'd like to win the game as it seems to somewhat resemble Airborne Kingdom, another game I enjoyed, which I got gifted as this is not a genre I usually buy games in.
I've seen the developers cooperate in a giveaway in AK's Discord and them recommending The Wandering Village as a similar experience to their game, it's nice to see cooperation instead of rivalry.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Quoting: MohandevirAre the Steam Deck's original thumbsticks an issue? Personally I have no reason to change them, but I might just be lucky...

I don't think so, but mine developed some mechanical slop and by this a bit of drift in one of the sticks.
Still well within the factory deadzones (which I greatly reduced) and they work fine, but it feels off around the centre position and when clicking.

The reason for this damage seems to be that I occasionally carry my Deck in a somewhat heavy backpack, the included case offers less protection that you might expect as it flexes easily around the sticks.

So I'd be looking at possibly replacing the modules over that down the line, the rest of my Deck being pristine, aside from some wear on the trackpads and triggers and some mild scratches around the charge port and on the back.
But as the potmeters are not the problem, might as well get originals, I can transplant the pots of the old sticks later for another repair too.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Have given the Demo a try after finding out about it through this article.
The Linux-native version does not work due to a Steam misconfiguration, they have included a script that fixes the library issue but Steam is configured to launch the raw executable.
Switched to Proton as the Linux version also messed up my display settings, had to disable V-Sync too to mitigate annoying jitter.

Enough on this technical ramble, about the game itself.
I greatly dislike all the music found in the Demo, just hyperactive vaguely musical noise all around.
Some of the timing beats seem off, accidentally hitting multiple keys and long presses are also read weirdly, the latter not considering release time.
The UI is neat if lacking in any variation.

But it's so far the only thing that actually got me to touch-type properly and mostly thanks to my keyboard, I do find it fun.
Will probably buy the game over that, a game does not have to be good to be enjoyable after all.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Quoting: JuliusThis is really starting to sound like a slot machine... I wonder if that is intentional?

It probably is, going by the analysis made in this video; https://youtu.be/bkVKLPvXBUc
It's an interesting analysis of how games use such psychological tricks to either make the game more fun (like Vampire Survivors) or drain money from it's players (what many mobile games do).

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Quoting: slaapliedjeI had a hard time liking it. It does have great character, but I guess I just got the 'oh, I have played this for 10 years already, I will go do something else.' Vibe from it. It always felt like it was just on the cusp of being fun. Though maybe that is because I got lost after a while.

Interesting thoughts about it. I have only shortly tried DRG but disliked it then.
Mainly as the dwarfs their lines aren't my humour (disabled these) and because I didn't find much enjoyment in the gameplay.
But the latter is probably because I generally don't like FPSes and this probably being an FPS that does things differently for the sake of it, would be something I'd have a harder time appreciating, when I don't play similar games anyway.
Will definitely give it another try eventually but this would explain further why the game probably wouldn't be for me.
The devs still absolutely deserve their success ofc, it's great to see indie games get popular.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Just as I thought I would be spared these kinds of end of year summaries, Steam introduces one.
Oh well.
Have a look, if you want.
edit: Noticed a bug too, it says I comoleted all Century achievement, uh, I definitely didn't.

View this comment - View article - View full comments