GD Lounge: The Division and Game Developers Conference 2016

It has been quite a while since we had a new Games Discussion Lounge, and since I am certain that folks would like things to continue moving along, we have a new thread. I may be doing this by myself, but I shall seek to keep the lounges rotated on a monthly basis, so in April we will have a new one and so on and so forth. The topics I have in mind are about gaming and entertainment.

This month, Ubisoft released their record-breaking title, The Division. It is an impressive game, earning an 8 out of 10 on GameSpot and Metascores in the 80s on Metacritic, an aggregate sister site of this website. User reviews are mixed. Some like it for its depth of customization while others are disenchanted by its stat-based combat. I intend to play it, eventually, to experience what GameSpot says, "might be the most impressive urban world outside of a Rockstar game." This is a bold statement that is intended to express that its environment has depth of character. It can be hermeneutically expressed as to mean that there is perceived value in the aesthetics of this game. Then, I ask where we go from here. In an industry with diminishing returns graphically, I wonder if those of us in society shall come to a point that is a recognizable situation for no longer placing as much emphasis on graphical power as a kind of beauty.

In other news, the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2016 begins today and continues until Friday, this week. It is an event that will have discussions about the insider perspective of the art and science of developing games. I like to learn about the fundamental aspects of things, not excluding games, so I hope to hear from the developers of Skylanders, The Witcher 3, and Unity. Google developers have a presence at the Game Developers Conference. They will be live streaming this week.

Ubisoft is like your liying, cheating ex. Yeah sure, she could cook a decent meal here and there(though its slight variations of the same food), but shes still a cheating, lying GF. Why still have her around?

Yay a new lounge to call home.

I played the Division beta on Xbox One & PC, the game was really fun but it didn't sold me for what Ubisoft was asking for, this is one hype game I'm skipping, I'm burned out from playing Destiny almost 2 years now. Sorry but The Division isn't for me.

GameSpot at GDC

Some interesting ideas are shown, here. The video game industry has an amazing variety of games. I am looking forward to the 2016 set of games.

I have not been playing games very much in recent times, but I decided to schedule a bit of time each week for gaming. Gaming is amazing, and I would like to learn about the new design concepts that game designers and developers are thinking about, observing, contriving, and inventing.

@PETERAKO: That is harsh. Have you boycotted Ubisoft titles?

@davillain-: Okay. I did not play any of The Division's betas, but I would like to give it a chance. It looks interesting, but I think that the main appeal for me is the possibility of random encounters with other players in the game world.

@BranKetra: Yes. Last game I bought was anno 1404 and only after extensive research on wether it uses uplay or not, and even then I really liked anno. Last time I bought a Uplay title was also the first. Its a painfull tale. Driver san fransisco was on my sights for quite some time. I had a prejudice going against Uplay, due to all the horror stories I was hearing about, without actually trying it out. But I budged and forked out 35 euros to buy it(retail). To my horror, the code that came with the game was invalid, not already taken, but invalid, like it did not exist. Faq didn't help, I tried to enter the code in a ton of ways, but to no effect. I got to the forums and all the support I got was support staff referencing the damn FAQ, no matter what I told them. I even tried to offer them the code to see if it was indeed valid, but no one answered to that. I tried to take it back to the store I got it from, but they told me they couldn't take it back because the problem was with the publisher, not them. 3 months of trying later I threw out the game. A guy I follow on youtube posted a video of his troubles aswell which are very recent

But you know, Uplay horrors stories are not alone. The unjust declaration that over 90% PC gamers are pirates only to be disproven by Ubisoft's PC games sales coming second only to the PS4, falsely misquoting articles for false advertising for the division, throwing a lot of cinematic BS for AC unity because it was hella broken, Saying that watch dogs was focused on PC only to be awfuly broken on it and tried to spew even more BS about it etc.

Ubisoft might have actually overtaken EA.

@PETERAKO: That seems like a terrible experience. I hope that Ubisoft has improved since then. If not, getting The Division may not be worth the money it costs to buy.

Game Engines:

Unreal Engine 4:

CRYENGINE V:

Unity 5.4

Virtual Reality

PS Virtual Reality Announcement:

There are some great activities going on in the video game industry. The process to design, develop, and release games is more accessible than ever before. Game designers are inventing fascinating applications for players to become engaged in virtual worlds.

Stellaris:

Rigs (PS VR)

2016 looks like it will be a great year for gaming.

Okay, so a new lounge will be opening on Friday, the first of April.

The new lounge is open.

April 2016 GD Lounge- Click Here