B
PC gaming:
I seem to have nearly come down off my World of Tanks Frenzy. I have completed the Russian heavy IS-7 line, The medium line, and the arty line. I also have the American Arty out to tier 10. I'm playing with a clan (Ogre) about three evenings a week as my tanks are needed, and I'm training newcomers through the feeder clan DragonOgre. It is still lots of fun. However...
War Thunder has got my attention currently. WW2 aeroplane combat. It is essentially the same format as World of tanks, different company. Free to play, slow advances when free, and micro transactions if you want to get boosts. I spent the $80 to buy the big starter pack. This includes 5 premium aeroplanes, and two campaigns, Pacific as Japanese, and Pacific as U.S. The compromises are there, but they are the ones you want a company to make - they get the feel right. Skill will always win out, but luck exists. Fighters are agile, but need precision in their agility to get the kill. Bombs are effective - you need to get the bombers before they are in position. The balance between kill ground, kill fighters, kill bombers is great. Historical campaigns are well researched, and the formations they choose line up with battle reports from both sides.
It has the same decisions for the player as World of Tanks regarding multiple 'lines'. You can be razor sharp and specific, and develop one line: I.e. Britain only; or you can develop several lines, up to five: US, Germany, USSR, Britain, and Japan.
Each country includes it's Allied lines. Germany includes Italian planes. Britain includes the Commonwealth. You can even get a little Aussie pride, as the Wirraway is one of the cheapest premium planes, and is a handy little ground attack craft. Aeroplane customisation is available, and once you have 125 kills under your belt, you can get the RAAF kangaroo rondel, and paste it as a decal over the RAF rondels to have your own Aussie air force.
The UK 'line' fills out with levels - roughly based on age of introduction. So level 0 & 1 are the 1934-1939 planes like the Wirraway, and the Swordfish. Level 2&3 introduce the 1940 efforts like the first Hurricane, and the Blenheim bomber. Level 4&5 Gets the Hurricane Mark 2 with rockety goodness, and the mighty Spitfire. Turns on a dime, but you can't chase anyone :p
Anyway, I'm having fun there, and it is getting more of my PC time than World of Tanks.
Neptune's Pride calls itself a 'digital board game'. It is a browser based space exploration and conquest game, where about six players reach for the stars, develop their planets, and crush their enemies. Interface is simple and effective, the real time aspect is amusing. I've been playing a game for about four weeks. It seems interesting, I have no real idea how i am going. My empire is building a bit like the "Risk" strategy of building up in Australia for a late game rush. I'll tell you when I know.
On the iPhone I've just about finished Warhammer Quest. It is a worth it for the few bucks they are asking, and I purchased the extra packs as well. The game flows well, if a little buggy. I play iPhone games very casually, twenty minute runs here and there. The bugging out tends to loose me a half a gaming session every fortnight or so. I'm only playing on baby mode, where my heroes cannot die, as I play so casually i don't want to regrind dead dudes just to see the extra challenges. Sounds and graphics are engaging and fun, and once again it gives good 'feel'. I don't know if a non-GW gamer would enjoy it. Let me know.
Motor World is a cute time waster. You are running a car factory, and putting together cars and earning more models while making a profit and researching technologies. It is simple and stylish. It is of the 'efficiency' school. You can't die, it would be difficult to go backwards, so the aim is to improve your efficiency in a pleasing way. I was happy to note that making a crappy petrol engines just to get you through to green cars actually was a valid tactic. Hydrogen powered supercars for the win!
I seem to have nearly come down off my World of Tanks Frenzy. I have completed the Russian heavy IS-7 line, The medium line, and the arty line. I also have the American Arty out to tier 10. I'm playing with a clan (Ogre) about three evenings a week as my tanks are needed, and I'm training newcomers through the feeder clan DragonOgre. It is still lots of fun. However...
War Thunder has got my attention currently. WW2 aeroplane combat. It is essentially the same format as World of tanks, different company. Free to play, slow advances when free, and micro transactions if you want to get boosts. I spent the $80 to buy the big starter pack. This includes 5 premium aeroplanes, and two campaigns, Pacific as Japanese, and Pacific as U.S. The compromises are there, but they are the ones you want a company to make - they get the feel right. Skill will always win out, but luck exists. Fighters are agile, but need precision in their agility to get the kill. Bombs are effective - you need to get the bombers before they are in position. The balance between kill ground, kill fighters, kill bombers is great. Historical campaigns are well researched, and the formations they choose line up with battle reports from both sides.
It has the same decisions for the player as World of Tanks regarding multiple 'lines'. You can be razor sharp and specific, and develop one line: I.e. Britain only; or you can develop several lines, up to five: US, Germany, USSR, Britain, and Japan.
Each country includes it's Allied lines. Germany includes Italian planes. Britain includes the Commonwealth. You can even get a little Aussie pride, as the Wirraway is one of the cheapest premium planes, and is a handy little ground attack craft. Aeroplane customisation is available, and once you have 125 kills under your belt, you can get the RAAF kangaroo rondel, and paste it as a decal over the RAF rondels to have your own Aussie air force.
The UK 'line' fills out with levels - roughly based on age of introduction. So level 0 & 1 are the 1934-1939 planes like the Wirraway, and the Swordfish. Level 2&3 introduce the 1940 efforts like the first Hurricane, and the Blenheim bomber. Level 4&5 Gets the Hurricane Mark 2 with rockety goodness, and the mighty Spitfire. Turns on a dime, but you can't chase anyone :p
Anyway, I'm having fun there, and it is getting more of my PC time than World of Tanks.
Neptune's Pride calls itself a 'digital board game'. It is a browser based space exploration and conquest game, where about six players reach for the stars, develop their planets, and crush their enemies. Interface is simple and effective, the real time aspect is amusing. I've been playing a game for about four weeks. It seems interesting, I have no real idea how i am going. My empire is building a bit like the "Risk" strategy of building up in Australia for a late game rush. I'll tell you when I know.
On the iPhone I've just about finished Warhammer Quest. It is a worth it for the few bucks they are asking, and I purchased the extra packs as well. The game flows well, if a little buggy. I play iPhone games very casually, twenty minute runs here and there. The bugging out tends to loose me a half a gaming session every fortnight or so. I'm only playing on baby mode, where my heroes cannot die, as I play so casually i don't want to regrind dead dudes just to see the extra challenges. Sounds and graphics are engaging and fun, and once again it gives good 'feel'. I don't know if a non-GW gamer would enjoy it. Let me know.
Motor World is a cute time waster. You are running a car factory, and putting together cars and earning more models while making a profit and researching technologies. It is simple and stylish. It is of the 'efficiency' school. You can't die, it would be difficult to go backwards, so the aim is to improve your efficiency in a pleasing way. I was happy to note that making a crappy petrol engines just to get you through to green cars actually was a valid tactic. Hydrogen powered supercars for the win!
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