My latest round with Game Pass Ultimate

 i just completed a 3-month Bing Rewards points subscription to Game Pass Ultimate. Still playing on my Xbox One, so some games i wanted to try were not playable (didn't really want to download stuff on my Series S).  i got close to the monthly internet cap as it was every month without those mammoth "next gen" downloads.

Strange that rewards gets me to play less games on Game Pass than i would without them. Why? The daily and monthly 5 pt reward for achievements. i basically hold off playing games as much to make that daily easier (to make the 500pt and 1,000pt monthly bonuses easier to get).

So what did i play/"beat" (considering that i mostly play at the easiest difficulty possible). 

• Ben 10: Power Trip: had to use internet for collectibles though.  There were some annoying segments.  i hate that fast character (hard to control) XLR8. More platforming than i would like
• My Friend Peppa Pig: (for the achievements)
• Dordogne (didn't get the CPR achievements, hate QTEs)
• Bluey The Video game (for the achievements)
• TOEM
• Sword and Fairy: Together Forever
• Persona 5 Tactica: though i hate tactics games
• Persona 3 Reload
• Venba

Played about 60 hours of Octopath Traveler 2 over a 10-day span. Kind of hate the gimmick bosses (especially Dulcinea). Beat half of the character story lines.  Every character 50+ (three are level 75) View some characters as useless.

Disappointments:

* Crash Bandicoot N Sane Trilogy: i suck at this. Spyro was the better series (not like i can do that much better anymore)

* Sponge Bob Square Pants: another annoyingly hard (for me) platformer.

* Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan: feel dumber having played this game.  Too much feeling bs.

* Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes: Massive problems with stick drift/dead zones made this game virtually unplayable.  Stupid minigames and other annoyances.

If you want to play a Suikoden style game wait for the Remaster March 6, 2025

* Diablo IV: a game i didn't actually play.  Why?  i'm not signing up to "battle pass" to play a game.  Also heard it was too much of an MMO type game (i want to play a game, not with others)

* Palworld: don't see the appeal

* Lies of P: getting one achievement was about all of that game i could stomach.

Started, But Didn't Play Enough to Ultimately Get a Feel:

* My Time at Sandrock: stuck when you need to create a crane or something and have to recycle components

* While the Iron's Hot

* Lil Gator Game

 

 

Been a while since my last post.

 Let's see what happened on the video game front...

*  i miss E3.  The hype, the announcements, the industry cohesiveness.  Now you have a bunch of disjointed videos.  MSFT is probably the closest to still have E3 type, but i didn't watch again this year. Only really interested in Fable anyway.

* Becoming more and more disenfranchised with what video games have seemingly turned into. Unfinished buggy messes at launch.  $70 for new games, how about no.  Constant updates are annoying.

* Got Game Pass again for 3 months (thanks severely nerfed Microsoft/Bing Rewards points).  Decided to get it to play Persona 3 Reload and Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes (hopefully, i'll get around to it before GP expires in September).  With Game Pass, it seems i play games more for the pittances i get for rewards than actually enjoying the games.

2023 Xbox Year in Review

 Long time, no post. Yes, still alive, technically. i finally got to 250,00 gamerscore.

The Xbox "Year in Review" came out (oot if you're Candian). What are my stats...

• Total Time: 920 hours.
• Total Game Played: 59
• Total Gamerscore increase: 8,040
• Total Achievements: 386
• Microsoft Reward Points: 176,728
• Top Game Play Month: January
• Top Genre: RPG (49%), Action/Adventure (29%), Puzzle/Trivia (23%), Simulation (1%), Other 1%

Top 5% time played, top 5% Gamerscore, Top 5% achievements unlocked

Most played: Puzzle Quest 3 - 189 hours

True Achievements Year in Review:

• Total Achievements: 391
• Games Played: 33
• Gamerscore: 8,170
• Most Played: Puzzle Quest 3: 180 hours

Why Do i Rarely Use My Series S

 i got the Series S near launch with stimulus money (i think). 

Why the Series S (i targeted that model specifically). Why? Well, i view 4k as a complete waste of resources - especially hard drive space. 2K (1080P) is a little bit of a waste. The fast boot and load times are nice when i use it. But i just don't use it that often. Why is that?

1) One of my biggest problems with the Series S is that there is no ability to select the Xbox One download - i know not an issue with future games (Series S/X only). With the tiny onboard storage, i would rather play the Xbox One version off an external hard drive than the Series Version.

1b) Small hard drive and big games mean i can fit few on the console. i like to have as many as possible and not switch between storage options. Why do i like to have games on the console? - i don't trust they'll always be online if i want to download them (had some issues with Xbox 360 downloaded items disappearing from the store, even when in my download history and download history not saying what the item was).

2) The room it is in has a really crappy wi-fi connection. Really slow download speeds. Doubt i'll be able to use game streaming for future games. 

Superficially it is white and everything else near the TV in my primary recreation area is black (TV edge, soundbar, Blu-ray player, Xbox, weak old Computer - should have never downgraded to Windows 10, i really liked Windows 8). Additionally, i'm swapping out HDMI cables as it is.

3) My Launch Xbox One still works fine - it is more convenient to use.

4) There really aren't that many Series S/X games that interest me, with rising retail prices and modern games, it'd be better for me to use Game Pass Ultimate when there are a few games i want to play. 

Also, games, you don't need to use every button on the controller. i hate using the bumpers and pressing thumb sticks (it feels so wrong).

Didn't watch MSFT presentation for first time in years

Long title rings true. Throught the years, i used to always watch the MSFT E3 show and then the streaming event near June. This was the first year in a long time (maybe Xbox 360 reveal) where i didn't watch.

Why? i guess because i don't really care. Modern games kind of suck - pretty disasters with potentially political undertones. Am i interested in Fable? Yes. Maybe some JRPGs. At some point i'll have to subscribe to Game Pass again.

i would be more interested in ports from PS1 and PS2 era consoles than anything new and shiny (with 100GB+ File sizes). Online multiplayer and games as a service, forget that (mostly).

Persona on Game Passs

Persona games. These games are kind of long (100 hrs 5, 65 hours 3, 4 about 35).  Story wise they are ok -some variant of teenage angst and identity issues.  Turn-based, nice.  However, sometimes the structure of the games and the feeling of bloat (especially around the "social" links) seems annoying.  The games are structured into days with mostly after school and evening activities.  Unfortunately, there is not a ton to do in the evenings.  Then there are forced events that don't always let you do what you want to on certain days. Also, very heavy on Japanese stuff that i was not familiar with (especially the questions).

Persona games have the same themes but tackle it a slightly different story way. Persona 3 had the dark hour and Tartarus. Persona 5 had stealing people's warped desires and Mementos.  Persona 4 has this weird TV thing when it rains at midnight (and going through the TV) - kind of more of a mystery (so far).

Checking in 2023 Edition

 So, what have i been doing in the video game playing space.

i got Game Pass for 3 months (November-February).  Have been playing the Persona games.  Beat (not 1,000ed) 3 and 5.  Playing 4. Backlog of games is still pretty long. Still playing on Xbox One - because it is easier and i don't want to deal with inflated game sizes on a tiny HD.

GamerScore up to 243K (will i hit 250k this year? Probably not, unless i get Game Pass again several times this year). Other (original account) 107,000 - mostly to get Xbox weekly rewards now.  Third gamertag, never really took off (too many games, streaming services, solstice item watching). 

Checking in 2022 edition

 Well, here i am sort of posting this.  So, what did i do in 22?  

Gamerscore (as of 11/28/22): 241,176 

What have i been doing?  Playing stuff on Game Pass (not ultimate) mostly.  i started Persona 5 (decent so far, though not a fan of its structure), though for some reason i got sucked into Disney Dreamlight Valley.

Since they dropped Xbox 360 Games with Gold, i don't have use for Gold anymore.    

1,000ed a few games:

• Turnip Boy Commits Tax evasion
• Asdivine Kamura
• AreA
• Eiyuden Chronicles Rising
• Unpacking

Did i Have a Gaming Problem

 i was clearing out my email and discovered that i kept many emails for Xbox purchases since 2018. Being a whatever i am, i inputted the receipts in a spreadsheet.  How out of control did i get with spending on individual video games during the span of 2018-2022 (not including Game Pass Ultimate)?  It feels like this is not all there is (some seem missing).

$1,140.30 (for 118 digital games).  

$460+ of that could be accounted for with Bing/Microsoft Rewards Xbox Gift Cards.  There were probably some gift card actual gifts in there too.

Yeah, that seems a little high (and i might not have really paid all of them).  Many of these were decent discounts (under $10), however some were overpays, like:  Yakuza Like a Dragon. Some were overpriced Backwards Compatibility digital copies.   

This does not include: Immortals Fenix Rising ($43.95), Assassin's Creed Valhalla ($26.40), Halo Guardians ($8.78), Borderlands GOTY ($10.87), Forza Horizon 4 ($28.01) purchased digitally at Amazon.com. 

Now, the Xbox Series S that i barely have used (decent machine) is another story (with Game Pass it doesn't have the storage space i would prefer, i would always want to use the Xbox One version of games). Also, my launch Xbox One still works pretty well. 

2020 blog post in 2021

Yeah, this is based off the annoying Olympics (the annoying "sporting event", not the much superior mountain range). 

 Started a new gamertag to experience some of the games again. Started playing Lips (man, i lost a lot of range). i used to almost be decent. 

 Seriously, it is getting harder to play games now. Unidentified long-term chest/shoulder problems partly (playing for hours at a time is much harder). Part of it is Game Pass - i now don't play as much in case the game shows up in the weekly/monthly quests. Backlog still out of control (almost filled 4 TB of drives). 

Let's see, i have a Series S i rarely use - partly because my Samsung Smart TV won't recognize it (piece of garbage, i have to recouple the garbage remote almost every time i turn it on. Why did they have to go from IR, which worked, to garbage Bluetooth?) 

 Is anybody else disappointed by the future of gaming. In my days, we would just put a disc or a cartridge in and it would work. Now every other game is some type of GaaS, or needs huge updates so often (definitely looking at you Master Chief Collection - every month another 30+ GB update). i guess i'm kind of getting a little burned out.

I'm Dreaming of a Green Xmas

Been away for a while (chest/shoulder chronic condition that still bothers me immensely), so what happened.  i finally got 200K gamer score.  i beat a couple games, gave up on more. Game Pass is not bad.  Apparently there was some kind of "pandemic" or something.  No, i don't believe it either.  

i'm sure that Santa is going to bring me an Xbox Series S for Xmas.  First launch ever without a launch title game (unless there is).  The games i was considering: AC Valhalla, Immortals: Fenyx Rising, and Yakuza: Like a Dragon.  

i also asked Santa for $120 million in cash, we'll see if that one comes through.  

Games with Achievements in 2016

One of my gaming goals in 2016 was to get achievements in 40 games.  Originally it was from December 2015 on, so i may have to check the dates on some of these.  Why 40?  i don't know, usually i would have gone with a prime number or a square or qube of a number.

E3 2016: MSFT impressions

Well, another E3 season is upon us.  Another year to be disappointed.  This year i was hoping for interested in Scalebound, Recore and hoping for Original Xbox BC.

i didn't like the unnecessary Orlando intro before the show.

There weren't many (or any) real surprises here (not just because everything already leaked).  The central theme of the show was the Play Anywhere initiative (Xbox One and Windows 10).  As someone who doesn't have a computer near capable of playing games on Windows 10, i'm not interested.

Phil Spencer walked on to the stage wearing a t-shirt with the original Xbox logo (what a tease), but it was not to be.  Dang you Phil Spencer!  Original Xbox BC would have been far more interesting to me than anything they announced/showed today

Really, MSFT

So, recently i have been thinking about the Xbox One and how MSFT handles some things.  They have definitely done some things right (like BC, now if they could do the same for the original Xbox). Let's just say i'm not a huge fan of what the Xbox ecosystem looks like going forward. 

MSFT's current strategy (the original one was so much better, even with the "check-ins") has me a bit underwhelmed / annoyed.  Why?

Best Xbox One Games

Well, my list of some of the games i thought were the worst is now up.  How about the current games i think are the best (well, based off of what i "own" and played)?  Note: my opinions do not reflect the views of anyone else, maybe even humanity in general.

Worst Xbox One Games

i saw a thread on NeoGaf (or SonyGaf) as it might as well be called.  Games with Gold has given me a wealth of titles that i would not have purchased/played.  There were some decent sales this year too. So, what are the worst games, in my opinion that i have played on the system?

2016 E3 Wishlist - MSFT

Well, another E3 season is upon us (technically June 13th).  Every year people think that there will be something interesting, shiny and new.

However, shiny and new are not what i want.  i want old with a new coat of paint.  So here is my wishlist (most are completely unrealistic, this is what i want not what i expect)...

Xbox One: 360 Backwards Compatibility, i'm now over 50 games

I like the concept of having backwards compatibility (i'd seriously consider a PS4 at the right price if they had PS One Classics - not PS Now, I hate subscription services).  However, I haven't really used it.  I don't know if i'm a fan of the new release non-schedule (i'd rather have 10+ games announced for the same day every month, like January 17th or something). 

The only game I have actually played on backwards compatibility (BC) is Kameo (Rare Replay).

So if I am not actively playing the games (52 + 5 games that were on Rare Replay and 2 retail game - the Fables), what am I using backwards compatibility for?  Basically, I am using backwards compatibility to free up disc space on my Xbox 360.  I have something like 300-400 GBs of games that won't fit on my hard drive.  I know I should probably buy an external USB hard drive for the slack, but am trying to put that off as long as possible.

I still have about 900 GB left on my Xbox One (including the base and a 2 TB external hard drive). 

Needless to say, my Xbox One game list is kind of a mess (I wish they would let you filter out BC titles).   

Video Games Vanquished in 2016 (Secondary Account)

This is the list of games I have beaten using my secondary gamertag (formerly known as the original Xbox 360 tag). 

Video Games Vanquished in 2016 (Primary Account)

2016 is here (unfortunately?).  The number at the end of the date has changed, not much else has.  Maybe this will be the year my backlog shrinks (not likely, though there aren't many games I want this year).  These are the games that I have beaten (usually that just means seeing the end credits for me) in 2016.  This is my primary account.

Most games will be on the easiest setting (because challenge = frustration and frustration does not equal fun).