Slaughtahouse

I mean for $30 vs. $100, as long it pushes air, sounds good to me XD. I used to hook up the air compressor and bring my PC into the garage. Wait for the tank to fill up and then be careful not to blow out my board with all teh powar. Tedious but it worked. Something like this, as long as it holds up, seems like a good value. Found one similar for $33 CAD. https://www.amazon.ca/Compressed-air-Duster-110000RPM-Replacement/dp/B0BNMCKSN1/ Let me know how yours holds up Ultra over the next 3-6 months.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora 4K, Ultra (HDR) No editing done to these screenshots. Just photo mode for composition but matches 1:1 in real time. Some of the areas are giving me Morrowind vibes. Last one above is Unobtanium mode. I have to compress them to .jpg because the native .PNGs come in at 20-30mb per photo lol.

Hello lovely people, I purchased an extra key for Avatar: Frontier's of Pandora (Ubisoft Connect) on PC and would like to give it away here. Rules: Post below by letting us know your favourite James Cameron movie, intellectual property (IP), or any other (ad)venture, and why! Submissions will close in two (2) days, Saturday December 16 at 12:00pm EST (9:00am PST). You must have had an account for a minimum. 6 months and 30 post count. I'll use a random generator to determine the winner and if you don't claim the code within 48 hrs from when the PM goes out to the winners inbox, I'll redraw. Only your first post is eligible in the draw, but feel free to post as much as you want. Example scenario: Users A, B, C post in the thread. User A posts 1st, User B posts 2nd and 3rd, User C posts 4th. Draw closes, generator min is 1, max is 3. 3 unique posts. Generator pulls 3, User C wins. Good luck!

There is a good sale on now. Microsoft dropped the price to $400 USD. I grabbed it at $387 USD (520 CAD), bundled with Diablo IV. For context, I still have my 360 plugged in and last winter when my launch 7900 XTX had a faulty vapour chamber (see De8aurer videos for context)... I went back and played Red Dead Redemption on 360. I am looking forward to take advantage of their backwards compatibility since my 360 library is... extensive. If I don't end up using it, maybe I'll modify it into some Frankenstein ITX system.

I just discovered that the 33% off coupon is perpetual. Meaning, once you claim it, you can keep using it on additional purchases. So, if you’re considering any purchases on EGS, just note there is no stress for the coupon transaction decision. Small correction: Coupon is factored on the sale price, not retail price from what I can tell. There are a few games for me, personally that I don’t mind to not have on Steam if I know I will only play it once. One of those is Remnant II. I can grab it for $20 USD but curious how that pans out with cross-play. I’d want to play with friends on Steam. Dead Space remake you can get for dirt cheap. About $15 USD ($20 CAD).

2023-12-13 - Holiday Sales (Round 1) A few sales have kicked off a moment ago. https://www.gog.com/en/promo/2023_winter_sale https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/sales-and-specials/holiday-sale Additionally, Epic Games Store is offering a 33% coupon that stacks with existing sales and they're giving away a few expansions for Destiny 2 for free. https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/destiny-2--legacy-collection-2023 I grabbed Alan Wake II for a total of 36 CAD (26 USD) + tax. Alan Wake II is my first game purchase on Epic Games Store XD

The level of realism is next level

A quick follow up. Since I discovered the "Unobtanium" mode from Digital Foundry's video, I wanted to test it against my system. Full details here: https://www.ubisoft.com/en-us/game/avatar/frontiers-of-pandora/news-updates/6WF5Ud05UCEmLp2R8cjjVn/avatar-frontiers-of-pandora-pc-features-deep-dive. Unobtanium unlocks additional settings for the following categories / features: Shadows Shadow Quality - Max (previously capped at High) Spot Shadows Resolution - Max (previously capped at High) Reflections Specular Reflections - Max, Ultra (previously capped at Very High) Diffuse Reflections - Max (Previously capped at High) Environment Reflection Quality - Max (Previously capped at High) Volumetric Effects Volumetric Fog - Max (Previously capped at Ultra) Volumetric Clouds - Max (Previously capped at High) For the test, same setup as before ((7900 XTX, 5800X3D, latest AMD video driver, Win 10 etc.). Results: Unobtanium 1440p (FSR Disabled) - 33 Fps Avg. Unobtanium 4K (FSR Disabled) - 17 FPS Avg. Conclusions (subjective): Unobtanium does look better but it is definitely not worth the performance lost with current hardware. 4090 reportedly gets 40 fps with DLSS quality for context. I notice the following settings in Unobtanium give the most visual impact/perf: Spot shadow resolution Diffuse reflections Volumetric fog FSR implementation is very good in Avatar and I highly recommend it, or if you have Nvidia, DLSS mixed with High or Ultra settings, to get a great experience. See my config results below. Ultra 4K, FSR Enabled (Quality) - 71 FPS Avg. Hope this helps anyone who is looking at this game. Fun to bench...

Context: I received the game for free. I don't have enough time with it to wrap up all my thoughts. Maybe of gameplay 5-6 hrs (I tend to pause, walk away from games so my time is a bit fluffed). I generally dislike the Far Cry series, which this game is closely compared to. I love the spectacle of Avatar movies in 3D / at the cinema. With that said, I am having a good time with it. What I am enjoying: Traversal Strength / weakness. You can run fast, jump high, punch humans and watch them fly. Level design / platforming. Everything sorta works in first person. It's not perfect but you wont be throwing you controller at the wall when trying to climb trees. I haven't discovered my own Ikran (flying dino) but I suspect that will really help enjoy the world even more. Sense of scale. You're 9' / 3m tall and humans stand far beneath you. Nomad / tribal weaponry (bows, slings, spears etc.) and as a PC gamer... the level of effort in the PC build. A lot of customizability, secret "unobtainium" graphic settings that I havent tried yet, FSR 3 works really well, and the upscaling over all is very good (all my screenshots are "quality" mode which likely means 1440p+ base resolution). One of the best looking games I have ever played. Maybe it doesn't compare 1:1 to Cyberpunk but it's up there. Feels like Crysis 4. What I dislike: Plot / narrative. Seems there just to be there, typical lets save the planet plot by banding together to defeat the bad guys No decision making (stakes / impact) RPG systems. Doesn't seem fleshed out enough. There are large branches and I leaning more into the stealth / hunter lane (bonus' for targeting weak points, quieter movement etc.) but I suspect it wont offer enough customizability to really feel like my playthrough will vary from another player who made different choices. What I am unsure of: Bases. I can see it becoming repetitive but so far, I've found 3 and they seem to vary in layout. They're quite tough (I am playing on hard) and you die very quickly. Suites my gameplay preference of stealth. Run in, disable equipment, run out. I wish the impact of "defeating" a base was more progressive. Once you beat a base, a cutscene plays out and the environment goes from dingey / abused, void of life to freshened up and full native species. TL;DR Sitting between a 7 and 8 for me.

They already went after Apple, and lost. I know they've escalated to the Supreme Court in the US but not sure how all of that will pan out. Curious what the net results will be for developers here. Thanks for sharing the story OP

The Day Before Studio Fntastic Announces Closure Just Days After Early Access Launch - IGN WWW.IGN.COM Mere days after The Day Before launched in early access, studio Fntastic has announced that it's closing: "The Day Before has failed financially, and we lack the funds to continue." I've had this game in the sheet for months now. MMO Zombie game. Not much was shared about it and then it released a few days ago. Welp, seems like the developer just closed so be wary of purchasing this game.

Oh, apparently it's in great shape now. Ever since ~2019, I've heard only good things. One of the few redemption stories out there, like Cyberpunk 2077. I haven't played it but with any very large, ambitious game, especially from a smaller studio, you may not want to jump in right away. Unless you simply wish to support the devs and you believe they can pull it off Their in good shape so I suspect it will get there. I love large, expansive worlds, but I still need a narrative or critical path to redirect myself to when I get bored of wandering. That's really the only reason why I haven't played No Man's Sky. Starfield scratches that itch for me but I only wished Starfield had a better exploration system. Not just transitions from space to planets but more meaningful experiences when landing on planets (not just a 50* km2 zone).

They pulled off No Man's Sky so they have a positive reputation and a lot of good will. I suspect they will be able to deliver, just be wary of launch...

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora 4K, Ultra (HDR)

2023-12-08 Video Game Awards Update Get ready for this monster update. I'll work on plugging this into the sheet but full details and links below! Full Showcase Nominees and Winners source: https://www.ign.com/articles/the-game-awards-2023-winners-the-full-list Game of the Year Recognizing a game that delivers the absolute best experience across all creative and technical fields. Best Game Direction Awarded for outstanding creative vision and innovation in game direction and design. Best Narrative For outstanding storytelling and narrative development in a game. Best Art Direction For outstanding creative and/or technical achievement in artistic design and animation. Best Score/Music For outstanding music, inclusive of score, original song and/or licensed soundtrack. Best Audio Design Recognizing the best in-game audio and sound design. Best Performance Awarded to an individual for voice-over acting, motion and/or performance capture. Games for Impact For a thought-provoking game with a pro-social meaning or message. Best Ongoing Game Awarded to a game for outstanding development of ongoing content that evolves the player experience over time. Best Indie Game For outstanding creative and technical achievement in a game made outside the traditional publisher system. Best Debut Indie Game For the best debut game created by a new independent studio. Best Mobile Game For the best game playable on a mobile device. Best Community Support Recognizing a game for outstanding community support, transparency and responsiveness, inclusive of social media activity and game updates/patches. Best VR/AR Game For the best game experience playable in virtual or augmented reality, irrespective of platform. Innovation in Accessibility Recognizing software and/or hardware that is pushing the medium forward by adding features, technology and content to help games be played and enjoyed by an even wider audience. Best Action Game For the best game in the action genre focused primarily on combat. Best Action/Adventure Game For the best action/adventure game, combining combat with traversal and puzzle solving. Best RPG For the best game designed with rich player character customization and progression, including massively multiplayer experiences. Best Fighting Game For the best game designed primarily around head-to-head combat. Best Family Game For the best game appropriate for family play, irrespective of genre or platform. Best Sports/Racing Game For the best traditional and non-traditional sports and racing game. Best SIM/Strategy Game Best game focused on real time or turn-based simulation or strategy gameplay, irrespective of platform. Best Multiplayer Game For outstanding online multiplayer gameplay and design, including co-op and massively multiplayer experiences, irrespective of game genre or platform. Content Creator of the Year For a streamer or content creator who has made an important and positive impact on the community in 2023. Best Esports Athlete The esports athlete judged to be the most outstanding for performance and conduct in 2023, irrespective of game. Best Esports Coach The Esports coach judged to be the most outstanding for performance and conduct in 2023. Best Esports Event Recognizing an event (across single or multiple days) that delivered a best-of-class experience for participants and the broadcast audience. Best Esports Game For the game that has delivered the best overall esports experience to players (inclusive of tournaments, community support and content updates), irrespective of genre or platform. Best Esports Team Recognizing a specific esports team (not the full organization) judged the most outstanding for performance and conduct in 2023. Most Anticipated Game Recognizing an announced game that has demonstrably illustrated potential to push the gaming medium forward. Best Adaptation Celebrating game-inspired projects across entertainment including TV, movies, comics, and more. Players' Voice This category is 100% voted on by fans for their favorite game of 2023. Announcement Trailers Monster Hunter Wilds Reveal Trailer | Game Awards 2023 God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla DLC Reveal Trailer | Game Awards 2023 OD (Overdose) Reveal Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Marvel's Blade Reveal Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Exodus Reveal Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth - Official Theme Song Announcement Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Sega Next Generation - Montage Trailer | Game Awards 2023 The Finals Launch Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Light No Fire Reveal Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Final Fantasy 16 Echoes of the Fallen and the Rising Tide DLC Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Rise of the Ronin Release Date Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Skull and Bones Release Date Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Lost Records: Bloom & Rage | Reveal Teaser | The Game Awards 2023 Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero Reveal Trailer | Game Awards 2023 No Rest for the Wicked Reveal Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Big Walk Reveal Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Kemuri Reveal Trailer | Game Awards 2023 The Casting of Frank Stone - Official Reveal Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Jurassic Park Survival Reveal Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Visions of Mana Reveal Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Hellblade 2: Senua's Saga Gameplay Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake Reveal Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Black Myth: Wukong - Official Release Date Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Tales of Kenzera: Zau Reveal Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Palia - Official Switch Trailer | Nintendo Direct 2023 The Outlast Trials - Official Console Announcement Trailer | Game Awards 2023 The Rise of the Golden Idol Reveal Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Last Sentinel Reveal Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Zenless Zone Zero Official Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 - Official Release Date Reveal Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Mecha Break - Official Reveal Trailer | Game Awards 2023 The First Descendant - Official Release Window Cinematic Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Guilty Gear Strive Elphelt Reveal Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden - Official Trailer | Game Awards 2023 The First Berserker: Khazan - World Premiere Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Usual June Wishlist Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Pony Island 2 Panda Circus Reveal Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Harmonium: the Musical Reveal Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Windblown Reveal Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Thrasher Official Trailer | Game Awards 2023 World of Goo 2 Reveal Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Arknights: Endfield - Official PS5 Announcement Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Official Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Ready or Not - Official Release Date Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Honkai Star Rail - Penacony Trailer | Game Awards 2023 * Final Chapter Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Asgard’s Wrath 2 - Official Launch Trailer | Game Awards 2023 Stormgate - Official Story Gameplay Trailer (ft. Simu Liu) | Game Awards 2023

Thanks for the technical response. I should of been more clear: From an operational standpoint, how they will manage the transition and what impacts there are to their engagement and subsequently, their financials. E.g., Overwatch -> Overwatch 2, CS:GO -> CS2.

Can confirm. Just note that you can enable FSR3 with or without frame gen. I tried at 4K with FSR3 and frame gen enabled. My base frame rate was 40fps and I resulted with 70 fps. I'll play more with it but yes... night and day difference between the driver level implementation. No large stutters anymore. It's just getting used to the latency of 40fps whilst the screen is displaying 70 fps. More subjective opinion. Without FSR (disabling FSR3 & Frame gen), I've adjusted TAA (only alternative on AMD to FSR) to get my framerate at 60fps. Adjusting it (TAA) to "quality" gets me to my target frame rate. I found that 60fps experience better than the frame gen at 40fps but honestly, it really splitting hairs and your mileage may vary.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora 4K, Ultra (HDR) James Cameron will make your PC bleed with this one. Fun note: first game I have tried on PC in about 3 YEARS that supports adaptive triggers with Xbox Series S|X controllers. I was a bit surprised to finally feel the triggers rumble.

Honestly, very much appreciated. I'm under NDA so everything I wish I could say needs to be [REDACTED] but as many of you are likely aware, the games industry has seen quite a large amount of layoffs and thats the lovely industry I moved into a few years ago. Luckily I am still employed (yay) but let's just say, I am really looking forward to the holidays *cracks beer* Anyway, grateful you all enjoy this thread and these discussions

SNIP

Hello, and welcome to another thread full of updates and log of all games (within reason...) to be released in 2024! The goal of the thread is simple: Consolidate the general discussion and track the releases throughout the year. The previous thread started off a bit rough, but over time, the cadence evened out and it was a bit clearer (to me) how to organize and promote a conversation So with that said... Some basic guidelines:

For those curious... Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora performance benchmarks below on my rig (7900 XTX, 5800X3D, latest AMD video driver, Win 10). Ultra 1440p (FSR Disabled) - ~80 Fps Avg. Ultra 4K (FSR Disabled) - ~40 FPS Avg. What's neat in this benchmark tool is you can filter through performance graphs to highlight the render time (ms / frame) depending on division per device (CPU and GPU). See below render time for Raytracing @ 4K. I haven't really had time to play games at all this past month, or spend a lot of effort here but hope to change that next week as work begins to slow down

PC players will probably have to wait even longer for Grand Theft Auto VI ARSTECHNICA.COM History suggests PC port could come months or years after planned 2025 console launch.