Video Games

[hemmelight]

Yeah, I’ve got PSVR2 and it is pretty cool!
Although I don’t find myself using it much for proper races. It’s subtle, but when playing in VR it seems like some processing power is being diverted away from the physics engine so it doesn’t feel as good to play. On controller, anyway. Haven’t seen anybody mention it before but just something I noticed. Could be imagining it.

Still fun to play the odd race in VR just because it’s so cool, though.

 

[JiveTurkey]

So the lovely wife bought me a Playstation Portal controller. I was wanting a second controller anyway so this seemed like an easy gateway nudge into spending 3x that amount So far; it's pretty cool. Great screen and big enough but not feeling like I am carrying around a TV with half a controller bolted onto each side. I will be testing it's functionality over the Easter weekend with the PS5 tucked away so we'll see how it goes. Pretty slick so far \m/

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

So the lovely wife bought me a Playstation Portal controller. I was wanting a second controller anyway so this seemed like an easy gateway nudge into spending 3x that amount So far; it's pretty cool. Great screen and big enough but not feeling like I am carrying around a TV with half a controller bolted onto each side. I will be testing it's functionality over the Easter weekend with the PS5 tucked away so we'll see how it goes. Pretty slick so far \m/

I didn't know this was a thing -- might need to look into this as the consoles are all in kid spaces and while I'd like to replay some Horizon Zero Dawn...I don't wanna do it from the comfort of my 12 year olds bed.

 

[JiveTurkey]

I didn't know this was a thing -- might need to look into this as the consoles are all in kid spaces and while I'd like to replay some Horizon Zero Dawn...I don't wanna do it from the comfort of my 12 year olds bed.

I am still kind of figuring out what all it can do in conjunction with my PS + sub. I had practice late last night and got home in time to get the FW updated and linked to my console. I finished up my section on Still Wakes the Deep I've been stuck on since the weekend. It mirrored the TV screen as I played. Resolution was good, little murkier than the stream on the TV was? I'm interested how streaming direct from PS+ will go

 

[mbenigni]

So the lovely wife bought me a Playstation Portal controller. I was wanting a second controller anyway so this seemed like an easy gateway nudge into spending 3x that amount So far; it's pretty cool. Great screen and big enough but not feeling like I am carrying around a TV with half a controller bolted onto each side. I will be testing it's functionality over the Easter weekend with the PS5 tucked away so we'll see how it goes. Pretty slick so far \m/

These didn't review very well at first, mainly as a value proposition. It used to be just for streaming from a PS5 to your Portal via your home WiFi, which... why not just enjoy your TV, right? But Sony's since made some changes to where you can stream your PS+ games directly from the cloud, even if you don't own a PS5, which makes it a lot more attractive. We're traveling next week, and I kind of wish I had one. Hmm...

The case for getting your hands on a PlayStation Portal before that nasty price hike

The price of the PS Portal is about to go up, and there are a few reasons you should consider buying before it does.

www.eurogamer.net

 

[Devin]

I've played a few rounds of Nightreign with a dude that streams the game from PS+ to the Portal (without owning a PS5)


Seemed to work fine for him

 

[JiveTurkey]

These didn't review very well at first, mainly as a value proposition. It used to be just for streaming from a PS5 to your Portal via your home WiFi, which... why not just enjoy your TV, right? But Sony's since made some changes to where you can stream your PS+ games directly from the cloud, even if you don't own a PS5, which makes it a lot more attractive. We're traveling next week, and I kind of wish I had one. Hmm...

The case for getting your hands on a PlayStation Portal before that nasty price hike

The price of the PS Portal is about to go up, and there are a few reasons you should consider buying before it does.

www.eurogamer.net

Yeah I think the "value" is going to reveal itself (or not) fairly quickly once I get some time with it.

 

[dbagchee]

I've had the Portal since launch - the direct streaming update was great, it took them a while to release a larger library but now there is a ton of stuff to play. They also just updated the streaming bitrate so the image is even better quality - it is great when the TV is otherwise occupied or if want to have a sports on while you get some gaming in. The best part is all the haptic feedback works on it too. I've yet to use it outside of the house.

 

[JiveTurkey]

I've had the Portal since launch - the direct streaming update was great, it took them a while to release a larger library but now there is a ton of stuff to play. They also just updated the streaming bitrate so the image is even better quality - it is great when the TV is otherwise occupied or if want to have a sports on while you get some gaming in. The best part is all the haptic feedback works on it too. I've yet to use it outside of the house.

I've done some more playing on it and its a keeper. Both streaming connected to the PS5 and on it's own. First person POV is a LOT more anxiety inducing on the small screen, imo

 

[mbenigni]

File this under "TGF is a Bad Influence" LOL.

I checked out Target.com last week and saw they still had PS Portal inventory at $199. Drove over there yesterday, still on the fence as to whether I even wanted one. Target was mobbed, but the Game Stop next door was pretty chill. So I walked in there and asked. The kid has inventory, but it's $250; he'll sell me a used one for $210. I say, "Nah, I was on the fence at $200" and he tells me, "Bummer - the price just went up yesterday."

Curious, I walk into Target (where there is no Target staff in sight, but I'm accosted by an INSANELY aggressive AT&T salesperson strategically wearing a red shirt ... Eventually I pry myself away, and find an actual Target employee (invisible in her street clothes, no red shirt.) She would have helped me she says, but she thought I was in the store to talk to the AT&T pitbull. (Generally speaking, I would go directly to AT&T for that sort of abuse.)

I digress... Target is still selling new units for $199, and now I have to buy one LOL. It was like the perfect bad cop good cop tag team play.

Anyway... So far, I'm pretty impressed with the thing, but I bought it for travel and it didn't really occur to me until it was too late that the WiFi requirement (to do absolutely anything) isn't really a great fit.

I'm also beyond fed up with Sony's constantly nudging you into PS+, and then higher and higher tiers of PS+ for functionality that ought to be free. For instance, if I buy a multiplayer game, I shouldn't need a separate subscription to play multiplayer. If I buy a $600 VR kit, I shouldn't need Premium to play a demo of their paltry selection of VR software. And if I buy a PS Portal, I should be able to stream whatever games are on the PS+ tier I'm paying for, and get more games if I upgrade accordingly. I shouldn't get nothing until I join the *(&$@#! Grey Poupon club. Everybody knows PS+ sucks (compared with say, Game Pass), and Sony keeps pretending it's this high privilege. Blech. OK, rant off.

But they got me - it's a lot of hardware for $200, presumably a loss leader. And now - cranky or otherwise - I'm sure to subscribe to PS+ Premium (again) to see what it can do...

 

[dbagchee]

I'm accosted by an INSANELY aggressive AT&T salesperson strategically wearing a red shirt

They are the worst!

But they got me - it's a lot of hardware for $200, presumably a loss leader.

You should be able to stream anything installed on your PS5 through your home network (and on other wifi) without needing PS+. I haven’t tried myself but people have reported good results tethered to phone wifi as well. That said, being able to stream straight from the cloud is most convenient and somehow seems to work better than streaming from your own hardware.

 

[mbenigni]

They are the worst!

This woman was so good at her job it was creepy. She could have been a carnival barker or auction announcer. It was borderline impossible to not talk to her. (No help that I was a captive audience standing a few feet away and trying to get someone to unlock an electronics case for me. Nor was it any help that I do need a new cellular plan - I just didn't want to deal with it on that specific day.) I must have told her a dozen times that whatever the deal was I was not going to make a change on the spot, and she'd pull some semantical flim flam and have me talking again. All charm until the moment you could see her realize I was NOT a sale - and then it was like watching the comely vampire turn into a pile of ash after you drive a stake through its heart. From being my best fast friend to obvious eyerolling, sighing annoyance. (Which felt perfectly backwards.) SO sleazy.

I've thought about making a complaint to Target management, but screw it. Easier to just never go in there again.

 

[strings2000]

 

[JiveTurkey]

File this under "TGF is a Bad Influence" LOL.

I checked out Target.com last week and saw they still had PS Portal inventory at $199. Drove over there yesterday, still on the fence as to whether I even wanted one. Target was mobbed, but the Game Stop next door was pretty chill. So I walked in there and asked. The kid has inventory, but it's $250; he'll sell me a used one for $210. I say, "Nah, I was on the fence at $200" and he tells me, "Bummer - the price just went up yesterday."

Curious, I walk into Target (where there is no Target staff in sight, but I'm accosted by an INSANELY aggressive AT&T salesperson strategically wearing a red shirt ... Eventually I pry myself away, and find an actual Target employee (invisible in her street clothes, no red shirt.) She would have helped me she says, but she thought I was in the store to talk to the AT&T pitbull. (Generally speaking, I would go directly to AT&T for that sort of abuse.)

I digress... Target is still selling new units for $199, and now I have to buy one LOL. It was like the perfect bad cop good cop tag team play LOL.

Anyway... So far, I'm pretty impressed with the thing, but I bought it for travel and it didn't really occur to me until it was too late that the WiFi requirement (to do absolutely anything) isn't really a great fit.

I'm also beyond fed up with Sony's constantly nudging you into PS+, and then higher and higher tiers of PS+ for functionality that ought to be free. For instance, if I buy a multiplayer game, I shouldn't need a separate subscription to play multiplayer. If I buy a $600 VR kit, I shouldn't need Premium to play a demo of their paltry selection of VR software. And if I buy a PS Portal, I should be able to stream whatever games are on the PS+ tier I'm paying for, and get more games if I upgrade accordingly. I shouldn't get nothing until I join the *(&$@#! Grey Poupon club. Everybody knows PS+ sucks (compared with say, Game Pass), and Sony keeps pretending it's this high privilege. Blech. OK, rant off.

But they got me - it's a lot of hardware for $200, presumably a loss leader. And now - cranky or otherwise - I'm sure to subscribe to PS+ Premium (again) to see what it can do...

Have you had more time with it? I am really glad to have picked it up. I finished Still Wakes the Deep (GREAT game) on it and just overall am super impressed. I did catch myself for a minute going "I wonder if I could get a usb C to HDMI cable somewhere..."





It's a nice little piece of kit. It's allowed me to get past some stuck points here and there and just been a fun little gadget to add to the sudden gaming arsenal I have accumulated.

 

[dbagchee]

I finished Hollow Knight last night. I was able to beat the final boss on the first try which I was pretty proud of! I didn’t realize it was going to be the final boss until the credits started rolling ha.

That said, I’m only at 70% complete, so there is a bit more for me to track down and discover in the game.

Looking forward to trying Silksong at some point soon. I really like the art, music, and gameplay style of these games.

 

[Aleksi]

I finished Hollow Knight last night. I was able to beat the final boss on the first try which I was pretty proud of! I didn’t realize it was going to be the final boss until the credits started rolling ha.

That said, I’m only at 70% complete, so there is a bit more for me to track down and discover in the game.

Looking forward to trying Silksong at some point soon. I really like the art, music, and gameplay style of these games.

If you beat the Hollow Knight then you've still got a lot to do to get to the true final boss.

I highly recommend Silksong. It can be a bit sadistic sometimes but it's a great game.

 

[deathbyguitar]

I just want Half-Life 3 already.

 

[dbagchee]

If you beat the Hollow Knight then you've still got a lot to do to get to the true final boss.

I highly recommend Silksong. It can be a bit sadistic sometimes but it's a great game.

I had a feeling there was more stuff to uncover, there are quite a few locked doors/inaccessible areas still on my map...

 

[Jarick]

I had a feeling there was more stuff to uncover, there are quite a few locked doors/inaccessible areas still on my map...

The exploration to get 100% (or really 106%) is really fun! Definitely more challenges involved but it's not too bad compared with the initial play through. I never did the Pantheon which is the boss run expansion, I'm not that good at combat.

I also still haven't beaten the true ending boss, I replayed the game last month and tried once but need to come back to it.

Siilksong is a whole other thing, much bigger game with a lot more difficulty. I got 100% and a few endings but not everything. I've watched a ton of speed runs but haven't gotten myself mentally ready to fully replay it lol. Hollow Knight is way more casual IMO...

 

[mbenigni]

Have you had more time with it? I am really glad to have picked it up. I finished Still Wakes the Deep (GREAT game) on it and just overall am super impressed. I did catch myself for a minute going "I wonder if I could get a usb C to HDMI cable somewhere..."





It's a nice little piece of kit. It's allowed me to get past some stuck points here and there and just been a fun little gadget to add to the sudden gaming arsenal I have accumulated.

I seem to use mine primarily for purposes of carrying it from room to room and occasionally charging it.

As I said before, it doesn't really travel all that well (and neither do I). Nor is it my first choice when I'm at home and there's a big TV right there. So I don't know. I guess it might eventually prove useful when I want to pick up something quick and steal 10 minutes from whatever I'm supposed to be doing... but I have to find the right game to fit the bill. (Nioh is a little bit too precious and menu-heavy for this platform, I think.) I took the bait ponied up for the PS+ Grey Poupon tier - I guess that increases my odds somewhat.

My pet peeve with the design (in spite of the otherwise excellent ergonomics): when I hold it in my hands at an angle that feels natural, the screen is pitched about 20 degrees too high - toward the ceiling and away from my, ya know, eyeballs. 9 times out of 10, it points directly at a skylight or a lightbulb such that I can't see a damned thing. Finding a way to position the Portal that doesn't feel like I'm going to drop it, and doesn't demand I play by sense of smell, is a constant mini-game in itself.

I don't think USB-C to HDMI will be supported. Sony wouldn't want to poach PS5 sales like that, and the Portal is running at a much lower resolution regardless.