Q&A: Dec 21st, 2022

dksjournal Asks
When it comes to the hardware necessary to play games (ie console, PC), do you think of them as just what they are, or would you either buy or refuse to buy a product even if it means you can’t play a game you wanna play? I think I heard you wanna play Breath of the Wild but don’t wanna buy a Switch (which I get).

Little column A, column B.

On the one hand, it is what it is. We don't live in a world where everybody can access a piece of software equally, but I do still care about value, and I also know myself pretty well.

I've seen how little I use my PS4 Pro overall, and just can't imagine that an even more purpose built console like the Switch would get more playtime. I'm more likely to spend time softmodding an original Xbox.

Jorge Asks
How have you been enjoying your time with NFS Unbound?

A lot! I really want to spend more time building specialized vehicles for different taskts with their own behavior and styles... the reason I don't though, is that there's a Halo Infinite problem here.

The game's number of events is laughable, and not nearly enough to warrant the grinding which I think would otherwise be compelling.

I've also come to the conclusion that handling's a downgrade overall from NFS Heat, as are a couple of minor features. Unbound's a good time! It's one step forward, one step back, but truthfully, I just wanted more Heat, and that's what this game fulfills, it's added so many songs to my playlists, and, hopefully, unlike Heat, this game can get the updates it deserves.

Nathan Tellent Asks
why did you skip my question

I skipped last week's Q&A entirely, so nothing personal.

Hammiam Says
O

Thanks.

K The Shy Kat Asks
Do you have a favorite game that’s bad, but also fun to mess around in terms of gameplay mechanics like with Alpha Protocol or RE6?

Those two my just be my favorites, but to not give a lame cop out answer, I unironically enjoyed Ricochet. Nothing else plays like that game, and while it will always be a meme in the context of Valve, I'd be genuinely down for an enhanced version of follow up.

DizzyDwarf Asks
if you were given the time, budget, and can do whatever ya wanted what would you make a black lagoon game be?

I'm not posting a design doc in the middle of a Q&A.

TL;DR Version:

Prologue: Lagoon Co. rolls in on a client who hasn't completed the payments owed to them in a recent deal. Revy charges in via Max Payne + Devil May Cry gameplay to also encounter the Italian Mafia, Hotel Moscow, and Hong Kong Triad, which also means she runs into Boris and Shenua.

Arc 1: Tasked with finding and delivering a package, Lagoon arrive just in time to witness it being taken by a rival group. Turns out the package is a server of the world's largest collection of pirated media content, it's copying files at the very moment. Should it be disconnected or destroyed, the job's considered a failure.

It'd featuring vehicle sequences with the Lagoon itself, eventually leading to the underground network tunnels and sub-bases used by soldiers during WWII. There's a gameplay sequence where Revy's using Browning LMG with Rock hodling a box of ammo next to her at all times to feed the chamber.

Arc 2: After playing Boomer Shooters at the local netcafe in first person via the player,, Rock and Revy go to the Yellow Flag, encountering a mysterous man from the States, he's arrived to end the one case he never solved as a crooked cop, putting down a 250k bounty on Revy.

This one's the center piece Roanapur itself, as well as hinting more at Revy's past, while having more interaction's with Eda, Sawyer, Shenua, Lotton, etc. I don't know if Revy shooting through the local station is too on the nose, but it's something to be considered.

Arc 3: Lagoon Company is hired by Chang to assist in an important meeting with all of the Triad leaders in Hong Kong. Believing there's going to be a war, he brings Lagoon as a part of third party security with more freedom than his own forces.

The arc begins with Rock and Revy actually visting a Theme Park, with rides, mini-games, and concerts the player can choose to visit at their leasure, before the chapter kicks off with the most insane setpieces yet, involving a Motorcycle chase based on Everything or Nothing, and sliding down rails of staircases like Jet Set Radio.

Arc 4: War in Roanapur.

Self explanatory.

And yes... this is the short version.

Daresis Asks
Where would you personally like to see in an Infinite story expansion? not specifically story beats but biome mechanics weapons etc.

Something that isn't related to the Master Chief.

I'd want to see environmental interaction, even basic stuff like patches of ice that loose traction like Halo 1. Something the 343 games haven't really taken advantage of in their level design space are the conditions you find yourself in.

While I like Halo 4, it starts to not matter whether you're in a cave-complex, lush jungle, or industrial hallway, everything plays the same.

Valentin Lacaroz Asks
Since you spoke about launchers before, do you use exclusively GOG Galaxy (for GOG games and your other launchers) or do you plan to do so?

I would completely daily drive GOG Galaxy for everything not installed on Steam if Uplay would let me!

Ubisoft's insistence on ignoring people's "remember PC" function has forced me to still ocassionally log in to separate services away from GOG, which is a real shame because, while GOG does have it's problems, it's so much nicer to have everything in just two spaces...

Andy Charles Asks
Favourite LOTR movie?

I uh... haven't seen LOTR.

This will probably be the last thing I ever post.

It's been fun.

Submit your questions in the comments below, for future Patreon Q&A's.