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JEMC 5 days ago
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Another week, another round of gaming news:

SALES/PLAYER COUNTS & DEALS

After 13 years, Euro Truck Simulator 2 smashes its all-time concurrent player peak on Steam by dropping two DLCs with, let me check my notes here, more Europe and more trucks
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/sim/after-13-years-euro-truck-simulator-2-smashes-its-all-time-concurrent-player-peak-on-steam-by-dropping-two-dlcs-with-let-me-check-my-notes-here-more-europe-and-more-trucks/
They'll say they don't get it, young simmer. They'll ask, "You do what all day? You work for a living, and then come home to play a videogame where you work a different, more grueling job?" They won't see the irony in saying that and then queuing for ranked in Street Fighter 6. But take solace—there are thousands of people just like you who wouldn't trade those virtual Swiss skylines for anything.
In fact, it seems like there are more than ever. Over 13 years after its release in 2012, Euro Truck Simulator 2 has surpassed its all-time concurrent player count peak on Steam, according to SteamDB. At time of writing, an hour has passed since the game hit a new all-time peak of 72,678, and while the number is flickering a bit, it's rare to see such a seemingly niche game so hoppin' over a decade after it came out.
There are a few apparent reasons for this. The game just got two new DLCs on the same day: Nordic Horizons, which takes players through northern Scandinavia, and Forest Machinery, a smaller-scall add-on that piles on doodads like wood chippers and mulchers. Not to drive, but to haul across the open road. This is a trucking game, remember?
>> Another factor is an event they launched alongisde the new map DLC where players can earn some decorations for their trucks.

Steam has five new sales/events:

Humble has two new deals:

Fanatical’s Black Friday sale is over and there’s no Cyber-Monday. But they have a new BundleFestive and a new Star Deal:

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

Unreal Engine 5.7 Venice Next-Gen Tech Demo Released
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/unreal-engine-5-7-venice-next-gen-tech-demo-released/
Scans Factory has just released a new Unreal Engine 5.7 Next-Gen Tech Demo that you can download and try. This tech demo shows off the Italian city, Venice, in the latest version of UE5. The demo takes full advantage of Lumen and Nanite, and it can give you a glimpse at what the games using UE5.7 may look like.
Scans Factory has used over 500 assets to create this demo. The team has designed stylized modular buildings, streets, bridges, and other local structures. Players will find small courtyards where freshly washed laundry hangs and daily life unfolds, cosy cafés surrounded by citrus trees and flowers, and a beautiful square filled with historic landmarks.
>> The article has two videos.

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces 2 Unreal Engine Fan Remake V1.03 Beta Released
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/star-wars-jedi-knight-dark-forces-2-unreal-engine-fan-remake-v1-03-beta-released/
It’s been almost two years since our last look at the Unreal Engine Fan Remake of Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces 2. Normally, you’d assume the project is dead. However, a few days ago, its creator released a new beta version. So, no. This fan remake is not dead. Not yet.
In this new beta version, Ruppertle focused on recreating the third level from the game. This means that the fan remake has three levels from the original game, as well as a bonus level for testing and a Sandbox Mode. It also comes with 4 Survival levels.
Now, the bad news is that this beta is only available to Ruppertle’s Patreon members. My guess is that this new demo will be available to everyone once it leaves its beta phase. Sadly, there is no ETA on when this will happen. Until then, though, you can still download its previous version.
For what it’s worth, this is one of the best Unreal Engine fan remakes. As you will see in its latest video, it has proper gameplay mechanics. Players can solve puzzles, shoot enemies, and interact with objects. And, since there aren’t any plans for an official remake of Dark Forces 2, this is the best we can get.
Moreover, this fan remake does not use any Ray Tracing effects. Instead, it relies on pre-baked lighting, which means that it can run smoothly on a wide range of PC configurations. So, this should please every who doesn’t own a high-end PC.
>> There is a 1 minute trailer of this new version.

Play Grand Theft Auto: Vice City with Path Tracing RTX Remix
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/play-grand-theft-auto-vice-city-with-path-tracing-rtx-remix/
A few days ago, modder ‘xoxor4d’ released a Path Tracing RTX Remix Mod for Grand Theft Auto 4. And yesterday, YouTuber ‘MxBenchmarkPC’ shared a video, showcasing Grand Theft Auto: Vice City with this mod.
For those wondering, this isn’t the original GTA: Vice City game. Instead, it is a Vice City Mod for Grand Theft Auto 4. This is why you can use the RTX Remix with it. Right now, you can’t make xoxor4d’s Path Tracing Mod work with the original game.
This Vice City Mod is no other than Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Nextgen Edition. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Nextgen Edition is a free remaster of the classic GTA game. This project brought all the missions, the whole map, and content from the original game to the RAGE Engine.
GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition has an improved version of the city and weapons from the Definitive Edition. All the cars from the Xbox version of the original game are present here. Additionally, all the models of all characters and peds will be from the Xbox version. Plus, you will find all the radio stations from the PS2 version.
And that’s not all. GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition has additional missions of city services. You will find racing missions in Hyman Memorial Stadium and in Sunshine Autos. We also get the side missions of Sunshine Autos Import Garage.
In short, GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition is the best way to play Vice City on PC. You can download it from here. And now, thanks to the RTX Remix Mod, you can enjoy it with real-time Path Tracing.
>> The article has an almost 15 minutes video of this mod.

This Half-Life mod reimagines the game as a boomer shooter—yes, even boomier than the original
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/this-half-life-mod-reimagines-the-game-as-a-boomer-shooter-yes-even-boomier-than-the-original/
Half-Life revolutionized the first-person shooter when it released in 1998, what with its top shelf storytelling and novel puzzles. But who needs any of that crap? What if there was a game that turned the clock back just like, a year or two—same alien menace, some of the same innovations, but it plays a hell of a lot more like Quake. No, I'm not talking about Unreal, I'm talking about Half-Life: Element 64, a fresh mod that released a demo today on Steam.
After spending some time with that demo, I can say it's more of an asset flip into an original game with new levels and music than a mod merely tweaking Half-Life's mechanics. There's no train ride, no resonance cascade, nothing waiting for you in the test chamberrr; it drops you into a level select hub not unlike Quake, HEV suit and all, and from there you'll be blasting away head crabs and vortigaunts in a matter of seconds.
The levels, too, are remixed into more straightforward shooting galleries. Hitscanning marines and aliens lurk around every corner, so you're never waiting long between firefights (for which your guns have been provided a pleasantly centered viewmodel). There are secrets to find and an enemy counter tracking your bad guys slain, making the whole affair feel a bit like id Software's Half-Life.
I don't enjoy the original Half-Life's gunplay as much as Quake's or Doom 2's, but Element 64 maintains a good sense of challenge in its demo with scarce ammo and health pickups. Be ready to pull out the crowbar every now and again.
The full release is set to have four episodes with a host of missions each, and the challenge should only escalate with each new addition. As the Steam page says of the final chapter. "only the most skillful MIT graduates will survive this!"
>> The article has an almost 2 minutes trailer.

GAMING NEWS

MindsEye Title Update 6 Released – Full Patch Notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/mindseye-title-update-6-released-full-patch-notes/
Build A Rocket Boy has just released Title Update 6 for MindsEye and shared its full patch notes. So, let’s see what this new update brings to the table.
>> if you’re surptised that the game is still getting updates, check this: it now has a starter pack that lets you try the “best” mission for free (link).



Please excuse my bad English.

Currently gaming on a PC with an i5-4670k@stock (for now), 16Gb RAM 1600 MHz and a GTX 1070

Steam / Live / NNID : jonxiquet    Add me if you want, but I'm a single player gamer.