NEWSWORLD

الجمعة، 13 نوفمبر 2020

Forfait 100 Go à partir de 10 euros, quel bon plan choisir ?

Ca s'active du côté des bons plans forfaits 100 Go et plus, entre les classiques SFR / RED et B&You et leurs offres à 20 euros on trouve NRJ Mobile qui propose 150 Go à 10 euros. On compte les points.

from CNETFrance.fr https://ift.tt/2UnGOit

Crapshoot: The almost-great noir detective mess, Private Eye

Unknown news game ,

From 2010 to 2014 Richard Cobbett wrote Crapshoot, a column about rolling the dice to bring random obscure games back into the light. This week, who's in the mood for something... noirishing?

The inevitable sound of smoky jazz echoes down the dark Los Angeles street. Somewhere, a man falls to the ground with an ice-pick in his neck. A damsel puts the finishing touches to her look of mock distress. A crucial clue is picked up off the floor and torn up by a genre-savvy plotter. And in his dark, cramped office, Philip Marlowe waits to be told the lie that'll pull him into the middle of it all.

Yep. It's time to head back to the golden age of detectives and take a look at a game that—while no classic by any stretch—deserves better than to languish in its current obscurity.

Proper detective games have always curiously been thin on the ground. Sure, there have been plenty of games where you play a detective, but that's not necessarily the same thing. Any old flatfoot can find a few hidden objects on a screen, or shove a bit of newspaper under a door to recover the key on the other side. To actually feel like a sleuth is to enter a world and be given the chance to investigate; to work out whodunnit instead of having to be told. Half the fun of watching detective fiction is trying to get one step ahead of Poirot, Sherlock Holmes, Jonathan Creek or whoever.

It's rare to see an actual game built around this rather than straight-up solving puzzles though, to the point that you usually have to head back to the 90s and games like Laura Bow to even get close to something resembling a case to pick apart with your, how you say, leeetle grey cells. Sure, a few have tried, like Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective and the Phoenix Wright series, but nowhere near enough.

(At a pinch, you could also add Fog, but that's less of a game than the answer to the question 'if a multiplayer adventure is released and nobody plays it because it's shit, does it actually exist?")

Philip Marlowe: Private Eye... or Private Eye: Philip Marlowe, the logo makes it a bit tough to tell which way round the words go... is one of the few that tried. It didn't make much of a mark, ultimately ending up slumming it with Noir and The Dame Was Loaded instead of joining Tex Murphy and Discworld Noir in glory—but that doesn't mean it didn't do anything worth remembering before it disappeared.

Marlowe was always my favourite of the classic pulp detectives: the iconic PI with a sharp tongue, hard-boiled exterior, and noble heart that both separates him from the far more cynical world around him and ensures he's constantly ground down by it. They're traits shared by others of his era, not to mention subsequently picked up by everyone from Tex Murphy to Harry Dresden, but you just can't beat the original. Sam Spade? Nah. Bit of a bore, especially when played by Bogart.

Unfortunately, if you're a fan of the character, you won't find much mystery in Private Eye. It's based on the novel The Little Sister in much the same way that a photocopy is based on an original sheet of paper, with precious little you don't already know. There's the option to play an alternate version of the story with a different criminal and a few minor changes here and there, but the majority of the investigation remains the same. If you haven't read the original on the other hand... well... prepare for confusion. As great as Chandler was, his actual stories could be a bit of a mess. Most famously, when a movie was being made of Marlowe's first case, The Big Sleep, the makers called Chandler to ask "Uh... who killed this guy near the start?" only for the author to realise he hadn't got the faintest clue.

The Little Sister doesn't have anything like that, but it does seriously pile on the plot threads. In the book, this doesn't matter—it's Marlowe's job to solve it, and you're mostly there for his attitude and to see what happens. When you're the one in charge, simply staring at a pile of names like "Orfamay Quest" (no relation to Johnny Quest or the Quest for the Holy Grail) quickly gets confusing, and the story moves from simply trying to track down Orfamay's missing brother to a whole heap of other trouble, including icepick murders, false identities, and intrigue involving Hollywood starlets.

Thank goodness notepads are so cheap. You really need one here.

Investigating the case is an unusual experience, though—a mix of adventure (pointing and clicking), interactive movie (it's a very pathed game) and radio play (there's a lot of talking) that only really works because of the extra little elements scattered in. My favourite, and one I don't think has been done anywhere else, is how the game handles crime scenes. Marlowe's method of investigation has a tendency to dump him on the wrong side of the law, not always for particularly smart reasons. In keeping with this, you're quite welcome to walk into a crime scene, pull an icepick from a corpse's neck and stash it in your pocket for later. After all, you need evidence, right? However, you also have to factor in that when the police finally decide to check out your office, they're not going to be impressed if they find a cupboard full of bleeding murder weapons and other souvenirs you pinched. And they're certainly not above just arresting Marlowe for the crime and declaring it a three-day weekend.

Does this have much impact on the game? No, not really. It's a great idea though, both making you think a little more carefully about how you handle each situation and ramping up the danger. Similar scenes include only having a limited amount of time to raid a room before the police show up, and hoping you grabbed everything, and simple decisions like whether or not to investigate before interrogating a suspect or vice versa. It also leads to the hilarious image of Marlowe casually pulling an icepick out of a corpse's neck, considering it, then going "Nah" and stabbing it right back in.

Adventure gaming still desperately needs ideas like that, and while Private Eye is too tied to its source material to make the most of them, they're probably why I look back on it so fondly. It's a shame that there wasn't a follow-up with a completely fresh story, although looking at the general quality of storytelling here, you can see why—it's a great demo of how words that would be fine in a novel written in the 1950s don't necessarily shine in an interactive game designed for 1997. Modernising classic stories is tough, even if you're not planning to drag them gloriously into the modern day.

What it lacks in spark though, it more than makes up for in atmosphere—the music, the location design, the use of cel-shaded characters that fit into them instead of blotchy FMV characters filmed in front of a bluescreen—and that's honestly as much of noir's appeal as the stories the genre lets unfold. There are better noir games, like the aforementioned Tex Murphy series (and The Pandora Directive especially) and Discworld Noir, but few that make it so satisfying to slip into a pair of gumshoes and snark at a prissy dame from Kansas whose attitude really isn't worth a measly $20 a day plus expenses.

$40 a day? Perhaps. That whisky and detective-friendly dog-food's not going to buy itself...

Oddly, the age of the original story and its setting mean that while Private Eye has obviously dated, it manages to pull off the rare trick of feeling retro rather than ancient. If you're a Chandler fan, it's still worth checking out if you see it cheap anywhere (though it's not 64-bit compatible). If you've never read any? Maybe you should fix that. You'll find cheap compilations almost anywhere books are sold, and the pulpier they are, the better. Afterwards, you might not feel like jumping into this adventure specifically, but that's OK. Hit the second two Tex Murphy interactive movies and you'll still get all the noir you can handle, along with a couple more adventures with the guts to be different.

Sigh. How I wish I'd been able to say "LA Noire" instead. How that disappointment still burns...

from PCGamer latest https://ift.tt/2IBIfHq

Holy Mass Online - Readings and Video : Saturday, November 14, 2020 - In Your Virtual Church

Unknown jceworld ,

Saturday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 496
Reading 1
3 JN 5-8
Beloved, you are faithful in all you do for the brothers and sisters,
especially for strangers;
they have testified to your love before the Church.
Please help them in a way worthy of God to continue their journey.
For they have set out for the sake of the Name
and are accepting nothing from the pagans.
Therefore, we ought to support such persons,
so that we may be co-workers in the truth.
Responsorial Psalm
PS 112:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Blessed the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Wealth and riches shall be in his house;
his generosity shall endure forever.
Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice;
He shall never be moved;
the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia
See 2 THES 2:14
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God has called us through the Gospel,
to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
LK 18:1-8
Jesus told his disciples a parable
about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.
He said, “There was a judge in a certain town
who neither feared God nor respected any human being.
And a widow in that town used to come to him and say,
‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’
For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought,
‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being,
because this widow keeps bothering me
I shall deliver a just decision for her
lest she finally come and strike me.’”
The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says.
Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones
who call out to him day and night?
Will he be slow to answer them?
I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily.
But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Prayer to Make a Spiritual Communion-
People who cannot communicate now make spiritual communion.

At your feet, O my Jesus I bow down and offer you the repentance of my contrite heart, which abysses itself into its nothingness and Your holy presence. I adore you in the Sacrament of Your love, the ineffable Eucharist. I wish to receive you in the poor home that my heart offers you. In anticipation of the happiness of sacramental communion, I want to possess you in spirit. Come to me, oh my Jesus, that I may come to you. May Your love inflame my whole being, for life and death. I believe in you, I hope in you, I love you. So be it. Amen

from Catholic News World https://ift.tt/36zHIhp

Saint November 14 : St. Lawrence O'Toole of Ireland who Died in 1180 - a Confessor who founded an Austin Nunnery

Unknown jceworld ,

St. Lawrence O'Toole

CONFESSOR

Born:

1128, Castledermot, Kildare, Ireland

Died:

November 14, 1180, Normandy, France

Canonized:

1225 by Pope Honorius III

Major Shrine:

St Lawrence's church in Chorley, England

Confessor, born about 1128, in the present County Kildare; died 14 November, 1180, at Eu in Normandy; canonized in 1225 by Honorius III.

His father was chief of Hy Murray, and his mother one of the Clan O'Byrne. At the age of ten he was taken as a hostage by Dermot McMurrogh, King of Leinster. In 1140 the boy obtained permission to enter the monastic school of Glendalough; in that valley-sanctuary he studied for thirteen years, conspicuous for his piety and learning. So great was his reputation in the eyes of the community that on the death of Abbot Dunlaing, early in 1154, he was unanimously called to preside over the Abbey of St. Kevin. Dermot, King of Leinster, married Mor, sister of St. Lawrence, and, though his character has been painted in dark colours by the native annalists, he was a great friend to the Church. He founded an Austin nunnery, of the reform of Aroaise, in Dublin, with two dependent cells at Kilculliheen (County Kilkenny) and at Aghade (County Carlow), in 1151. He also founded an abbey for Cistercian monks at Baltinglass, and an abbey for Austin canons at Ferns.

St. Lawrence, through humility, declined the See of Glendalough in 1160, but on the death of Gregory, Archbishop of Dublin (8 October, 1161), he was chosen to the vacant see, and was consecrated in Christ Church cathedral by Gilla Isu (Gelasius), Primate of Armagh, early in the following year. This appointment of a native-born Irishman and his consecration by the successor of St. Patrick marks the passing of Scandinavian supremacy in the Irish capital, and the emancipation from canonical obedience to Canterbury which had obtained under the Danish bishops of Dublin. St. Lawrence soon set himself to effect numerous reforms, commencing by converting the secular canons of Christ Church cathedral into Aroasian canons (1163). Three years later he subscribed to the foundation charter of All Hallows priory, Dublin (founded by King Dermot), for the same order of Austin canons. Not content with the strictest observance of rules, he wore a hair shirt underneath his episcopal dress, and practised the greatest austerity, retiring for an annual retreat of forty days to St. Kevin's cave, near Glendalough. At the second siege of Dublin (1170) St. Lawrence was active in ministration, and he showed his political foresight by paying due deference to Henry II of England, during that monarch's stay in Dublin. In April, 1178, he entertained the papal legate, Cardinal Vivian, who presided at the Synod of Dublin. He successfully negotiated the Treaty of Windsor, and secured good terms for Roderic, King of Connacht. He attended the Lateran Council in 1179, and returned as legate for Ireland. The holy prelate was not long in Dublin till he deemed it necessary again to visit King Henry II (impelled by a burning charity in the cause of King Roderic), and he crossed to England in September of that year. After three weeks of detention at Abingdon Abbey, St. Lawrence followed the English King to Normandy. Taken ill at the Augustinian Abbey of Eu, he was tended by Abbot Osbert and the canons of St. Victor; before he breathed his last he had the consolation of learning that King Henry had acceded to his request.

SOURCE The Catholic Encyclopedia

from Catholic News World https://ift.tt/36E869O

PC Gamer's 2020 Holiday Gift Guide

Unknown news game ,

Season's greetings, PC gamers—and friends and families of PC gamers! This century of a year has made time malleable (wasn't it just July last week?), but according to the calendar, 2020's winter holidays are very nearly here, and that means it's gift guide season. While daydreaming about pumpkin pie and fresh-baked cookies, the PC Gamer team has spent the last few weeks assembling a range of gifts we'd like to give to the special PC gamers in our own lives. Or to ourselves, if we're being honest.

Below you'll find a range of suggestions sorted into practical budget categories of $200 or less, $100 or less, $50 or less, and $25 or less. They're all items we can either personally vouch for because we own them, or gifts we'd be happy to give or receive ourselves. Some are directly related to PC gaming, while others bear a looser connection: Practical, like a super comfy pair of pants to wear while working from home, or tasty, like a collection of holiday ice cream.

Before we get to the gift ideas, one note for those of you looking to buy the special PC gamer in your life a fancy new headset, or chair, or even laptop: our hardware buying guides have you covered there with in-depth recommendations.

And now, onto the gifts!

Under $200

Gifts for PC gamers under $200

Skyrim laser-cut map: Detailed world maps ($50 - $300+)
These handsome maps of Skyrim, Game of Thrones' Westeros, and real cities like San Francisco are beautifully detailed. Layers of wood give them depth, and the lettering and iconography are excellent. Get a small one for a conversation starter, or go big for the gamer with wall space to fill.

Logitech G903 wireless: An incredible gaming mouse ($127.57)
I've used this mouse for years, and I'm convinced it's the best gaming mouse ever made. What really makes it special is the mechanical hinge design of the left- and right-click, which is extremely reliable and clicky without any bounceback. Once you use it, it's hard to use anything else.

Slim kangaroo leather wallet: Beautiful and durable ($122)
I've been using this wallet for three years, and it's one of the finest gifts I've ever been given. Because kangaroo leather is much more durable than cow leather, it holds up well despite being much thinner. This gift could last years or even decades, and the leather takes on a fantastic patina as it ages, too.

Achewood "Oh No It's Today" art: 2020 in a picture ($200)
I like art that reflects the world, so I find comfort in the idea of waking up every day and seeing the words "Oh No It's Today" from the webcomic Achewood on my nightstand. We're all hurtling through space in this nightmare together.

Philips SmartSleep: a natural light to wake up with ($123)
Looking at your phone is an unpleasant way to wake up. A blast of blue light, the horrors lurking in social media… Instead, this wake-up light mimics the sunrise with warm light and is meant to help you wake up more naturally and gradually. Is there any gift better than a good night's sleep?

Under $100

Gifts for PC Gamers under $100

Raspberry Pi 4 starter kit: A mini PC to tinker with ($99.99)
The Raspberry Pi 4 is a damn impressive little PC with all sorts of uses. Classic game emulation, programming Arduinos, blocking internet ads as a P i hole. This kit includes everything needed to get started. Give the gift of possibility, but in computer form.

Rover Pack Classic: A stylish Topo Design daypack ($99)
Topo Design makes a range of immediately recognizable bags and backpacks thanks to their colorful designs, and we can attest to the Rover Pack Classic living up to the hype. We'd recommend it as a day bag, whether a day means working from a coffee shop downtown (it'll happen again someday!) or hitting a hiking trail.

Cyberpunk 2077 "Tyger Claws" art: 12x20" print ($85)
Cook and Becker does fantastic art prints, and this unique piece from artist Josan "Deathburger" Gonzalez is packed with detail from the streets of Night City. It's a limited edition that a Cyberpunk obsessee will surely treasure.

Jeni's Ice Cream holiday collection: 6 perfect pints (~$88)
One of the leaders of the ice cream renaissance (yes, that's a thing), Jeni's makes wild flavors and ships them in dry ice to keep them frozen all the way home. Choose your own flavors or go with this holiday collection, which includes cognac gingerbread and white chocolate peppermint. I'm talking myself into a box, too.

Deep Sea Sand Art: Hypnotizing desk decor ($95)
I spent 30 minutes writing this entry because I kept staring at videos of the Deep Sea Sand Art sculpture, which looks like a more sciency snowglobe. Would I be permanently distracted if I had something this cool on my desk? Probably. Worth it!

Public Rec All Day Every Day pants: Ultimate leisure ($98)
These pants changed my life. Not to be dramatic, but they're real good pants. Soft and stretchy, yet cut to look more like khakis than sweatpants. I love them for long flights, but they're also perfect for WFH life. Warning: Whoever you buy these for will never want to wear jeans again. For similarly comfortable women's non-jeans, Wirecutter recommends the Outdoor Voices Rectrek Pant ($98).

Under $50

Gifts for PC gamers under $50

The CRPG Book: 500 pages of RPG history (£29.99/$40)
RPGs were once commonly called "Computer RPGs" to distinguish them from pen-and-paper games like D&D. This hardback covers hundreds of them, from '80s legends like The Bard's Tale to modern favorites like Dragon's Age. An immense tome of PC gaming history.

Home Computers: 100 Icons That Defined a Generation: A coffee table PC museum (£25/$33)
PC Gamer and Edge magazine contributor Alex Wiltshire wrote this lovely, photo-heavy time capsule of classic computers. Learn something about the early PCs of the '70s and '80s while poring over the close-up shots of their keyboards and quirky designs.

Marble Queen Pothos: A hearty plant for the office ($37)
I speak from experience when I say it's pretty tough to kill a pothos. For someone who needs a nice plant to brighten up a room, this is a great place to start, and The Sill offers a range of nice pastel planters and affordable shipping.

Glow and Grow Herb Garden: 2-in-1 candle and basil ($35)
It's not weed, though the name sure sounds like it. This cute kit from Modern Sprout starts life as a scented candle, then becomes the planter vessel for an actual basil plant, seeds included. First it smells good, then it smells good and tastes good. Delightful.

Sam & Max figures: Your new desk friends ($40 each)
Two wonderful comic/game characters get handsome new poseable figurines. Nice and timely with one of their adventure games getting remastered. These guys are so lovable, even a non-fan should get a kick out of them as desk buddies (and maybe play the games as a result)!

Noctua NF-A12 120mm: A fan-cy upgrade ($29.90)
Your favorite PC gamer deserves best-in-class cooling, and that means Noctua's "next-generation" NF-A12 fan, which pushes tons of air while remaining remarkably silent. Gift them a couple of these to give them something fun to install in their PC, and they'll enjoy the quieter, cooler performance for years to come.

Anker 65W PowerPort III: A beastly 3-port USB charger ($49.99)
Anker makes quality chargers, and this PowerPort III can handle whatever you throw at it. One USB-C port and two USB-A ports let you charge a laptop at 45W with enough juice leftover for a phone and Kindle, too. It can fast charge most devices and even has swappable plugs for travel.

Dune Imperium: It's Dune, in board game form ($50)
We can't watch Denis Villeneuve's Dune this year, but maybe Dune Imperium can lessen the sting. It's part deck-builder, part "worker placement," where you gather resources to build up your house and try to control the spice, the universe, etc. And yes, there is a card of Oscar Isaac with his magnificent beard.

Peanut Butter Sampler: 6 jars of pure joy ($40)
Let's be honest: Peanut butter is delicious solo, even if society tells us it needs to be on bread or whatever. This collection grants your giftee permission to just chow down with some daring concoctions. Snickerdoodle? Coconut?? White chocolate pretzel?!? This is a mouth party, and all tastebuds are invited.

Skull Headphones holder: Extra af ($29.99)
Yes, it's a crystal skull that you put headphones on. Do you need to know more? You could buy someone a boring headphone stand on Amazon, but why do that when you could give them the most extra gift of the year? "I love that dumb thing," says hardware writer Jorge Jimenez, who uses it in his headphone reviews.

PC Gamer subscription: Hey, that's us! ($32)
Our website's cool, but did you know you can read it on paper, with beautiful page layouts and exclusive cover stories and special features about all things PC gaming before they hit the web? It's true! We think it makes a pretty dang good gift.

Under $25

Gifts for PC Gamers under $25

Bugsnax pins: 4 cute fruit critters ($19)
It's Bugsnax! Talkin' bout Bugsnax! The best theme song of the year belongs to this indie game about collecting bizarre fruit creatures. Turns out they make for great pins regardless of your interest in the game. The scorpion is a pepper! The apple is a crab! Adorable.

Jixia Academy: A great 2-player card game ($18)
This clever card game is a bit like the more famous Love Letter, but well designed for just two players. You're essentially bidding over the favor of smoldering scholars by playing some cards in secret and some revealed, trying to outbid your opponent for certain characters without letting on which ones you're going for. Strategizing allows for endless fake-outs.

Dark Souls map poster: Lovely Lordran ($14-$120)
A timeless poster for a timeless game, this map of Dark Souls' densely connected world is intensely detailed and beautifully colored. We'd go for the mid-size 12x36" "Chunk" version at $24, but if you know a true Souls superfan, you could always splurge for the mammoth 24x72" "Slab" print.

USB hand warmers: A cute cure for freezing fingers ($16.99)
They're toast. I just needed to make sure you realized: these are fuzzy, smiling stuffed toast gloves you put on your hands. That they then plug into a USB port to heat up and provide warmth is really just a bonus. They're so cute! Help someone with cold hands get through the winter in adorable style.

Sol Food Pique hot sauce: A tangy tastebud treat ($12)
This hot sauce from Sol Food, a beloved Northern California Puerto Rican restaurant, was born to elevate eggs and rice to godly status. It adds just enough heat to transform a dish and give it a spicy, subtly sweet flavor, without nuking your mouth—the chili peppers are pretty mild here. I'm not even a hot sauce fan, but give Sol Food's Pique my highest recommendation.

Powell's Octopus Mug: Drink to a great bookstore ($12)
Powell's in Portland may be the best bookstore I've ever visited. Vast enough to get lost in, yet full of cozy corners. 2020 has been hard on bookstores, so at least buying a mug from Powell's will help support them and spread the love, too. And it has an octopus reading a book on it! Cuuute.

This be bad book translation, video games!: Videogame localization in a nutshell ($15)
Gamers of a certain age will never forget translation oddities like "All your base are belong to us." Professional translator and funny writer Clyde Mandelin wrote a book about some of Japan's most famous English goofs, discussing both the games' development history and the root of their linguistic peculiarities.

Dungeons & Dragons starter set: Ground floor D&D ($11.22)
Covid has made in-person game gatherings a challenge, but the roleplaying of D&D is a great fit for Sunday afternoon Zoom sessions. If you know someone who's always been curious but never taken the plunge, gift them their starter set to coax out their inner DM or dwarf.

Console Patent t-shirt: A nicely designed gamer shirt ($25)
I know, I know, we're PC Gamer, but patent diagrams are rad! This one showcasing the classic Super Nintendo and Game Boy makes for a nice, subtle gaming shirt. No obnoxious branding here, just a celebration of cool hardware design.

Slaughterhouse-Five: The graphic novel: A loving adaptation of Vonnegut's classic ($24.99)
Reviews have heaped praise on this new graphic novel, which somehow pulls off adapting Kurt Vonnegut's famous book into a whole new form. You may know writer Ryan North from Dinosaur Comics and Marvel's Squirrel Girl, but the art here is wonderful, too, the right mix of silly and sad. So it goes.

from PCGamer latest https://ift.tt/3lIKFml

Ubisoft is dropping achievements from its launcher, beginning with Assassin's Creed Valhalla

Unknown news game ,

Ubisoft recently made some changes to its online services, renaming and repackaging Uplay and the Ubisoft Club into Ubisoft Connect, and turning its subscription-based Uplay+ into Ubisoft+ (which Rich reckons still isn't worth the price of admission). Another change came with the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla earlier this week: Ubisoft is eliminating standalone achievements in its games.

Players noticed fairly quickly that the Valhalla page in Ubisoft Connect is missing an "Achievements" section. Previously released games have it, but Valhalla, as you can see below, does not.

Image 1 of 2

Assassin's Creed Valhalla — (Image credit: Ubisoft)

Image 2 of 2

A few people in this Reddit thread suggested that the absence could be related to Ubisoft's decision to throw in with the Epic Games Store, presumably forgetting that Epic began rolling out achievement support a few months ago. Not that it should matter—Far Cry 5 has achievements on Ubisoft Connect, for instance, even though they're not offered on Epic—and the achievements in questions are supported directly through Ubisoft's launcher anyway.

Ubisoft eventually confirmed that the absence of achievements in Assassin's Creed Valhalla is intentional, and also said that they'll also be omitted from future games. "Achievements are not not available for this title on PC, and this is an intended change," a rep wrote on the Ubisoft forums.

"Instead of Achievements for new games on Ubisoft Connect ... we have expanded the Challenges, which provide XP and other rewards in Ubisoft Connect. We know that this is a big change for a lot of you, and we appreciate your understanding in the matter."

The reaction to the news has almost universally been not understanding the matter at all, with most respondents expressing outrage over the change, and many threatening to refund their games. (Ubisoft offers a 14-day refund policy on digital game purchases.) It's a surprisingly strong reaction, especially because it's as much a re-branding as anything else: Challenges, like achievements, require players to complete specific activities within a game, but offer rewards—kill eight people from a plane in Far Cry 5, for instance, and you'll earn two "Perk Points" that can be used to upgrade your character abilities—rather than just little badges of merit. Although, maybe the appeal of achievements comes from the way they exist outside of the world of any individual game, as meta badges that are collected solely for the sake of collecting them.

It's possible that Challenges are undergoing a rework as well, as "core challenges are currently unavailable" through Ubisoft Connect. I've reached out to Ubi for more information on why the change was made, and will update if I receive a reply.

from PCGamer latest https://ift.tt/3nfyAoW

Stardew Valley 1.5 update is 'in the home stretch'

Unknown news game ,

We've been waiting for Stardew Valley 1.5 for nearly a year now—since February 2020—and you know what? That's fine, because creator Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone seems like a really good guy, and he's obviously putting a lot of time and effort into it, out of love for the game and its community. And, in case you'd forgotten, he's doing other things, too.

Even so, it's nice to get an update every now and then, to at least confirm that the wheels are still turning. So fans were pretty happy today when Barone tweeted that the update is "in the 'home stretch'."

the 1.5 update is in the "home stretch", it's a very big update so there is a lot of polishing and bug fixing necessary to make sure it's ready. It'll be very fun to share it with all of you in the near future. I think you'll be really happy and surprised with all the new stuff!November 13, 2020

"It's definitely more heavy on the late-game content, but there are some new features/options that you can choose for a new game that might make a fresh run worthwhile," he teased in a follow-up tweet.

Barone hasn't yet gone into deep detail about the 1.5 update, but we do have some idea of what's coming, including a telephone stand, a new type of chest, a new artisan machine for processing bones, maybe a banana tree, and a mysterious new door in Willy's fish shop that leads to... well, that's one of the things we don't know.

With luck, we'll find out soon, although Barone still hasn't hinted at a release date. So for now, let's all take a minute to de-stress after a long week by looking at some beautiful Stardew Valley farms.

from PCGamer latest https://ift.tt/3kp0tZO

NEWSWORLD

الجمعة، 13 نوفمبر 2020

Forfait 100 Go à partir de 10 euros, quel bon plan choisir ?

Crapshoot: The almost-great noir detective mess, Private Eye

Holy Mass Online - Readings and Video : Saturday, November 14, 2020 - In Your Virtual Church

Saint November 14 : St. Lawrence O'Toole of Ireland who Died in 1180 - a Confessor who founded an Austin Nunnery

PC Gamer's 2020 Holiday Gift Guide

Under $200

Gifts for PC gamers under $200

Under $100

Gifts for PC Gamers under $100

Under $50

Gifts for PC gamers under $50

Under $25

Gifts for PC Gamers under $25

Ubisoft is dropping achievements from its launcher, beginning with Assassin's Creed Valhalla

Stardew Valley 1.5 update is 'in the home stretch'

Categories

Recent

Featured

Popular

Blog Archive

Recent Post

Tags