Here are the news! And because DSOG only has mod articles, I'll merge the two posts into a big one:
SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS
GOG has launched its Halloween Sale with over 3000 titles on sale with up to 90% discounts until November, 1st: https://www.gog.com/en/promo/2023_halloween.
Steam has two new deals:
Fanatical has two new deals:
SOFTWARE & DRIVERS
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MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is a terrible mess on PC but you can at least play it now at Native 4K
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/metal-gear-solid-3-snake-eater-terrible-mess-pc-play-native-4k/
Konami has just released METAL GEAR SOLID Master Collection Vol.1 on PC, and it’s been a big disappointment. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is the worst of the bunch, but luckily, there’s a mod that lets you play it at Native 4K.
First of all, in Metal Gear Solid 3, using a mouse is kind of a joke. Instead of offering raw mouse input, Konami tried to emulate the right thumbstick of a controller. And to make things worse, there’s no option to change how fast the mouse moves. So, if you can’t switch your mouse DPI on the fly, playing with a keyboard and mouse is a pain in the ass. And here’s the weird part: you can’t even change the keys on the keyboard. What’s up with that?
Now as we’ve already reported, the output resolution of all three Metal Gear Solid games is locked at 1080p. However, their internal resolution is at 720p and no, I’m not joking here. Yes, Konami is basically upscaling the game from 720p to 1080p. The end result is a blurry mess that makes all three games look awful (unless of course, you use a CRT monitor).
Thankfully, PC gamers quickly found a way to unlock the game’s internal resolution. Basically, they edited the game’s executable file via a HEX Editor. So, all you need to do is download these patched files.
>> Anyone buying this piece of sh*t deserves all the pain it will give them. Anyway, the article has the links to the three edited files (MEGA) and a 8:36 video explaining the process.
First Community Patch released for Bethesda’s RPG, Starfield
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/first-community-patch-released-for-bethesdas-rpg-starfield/
A group of modders just dropped the very first Community Patch for Starfield. It’s here to help fix all those bugs, errors, and weird stuff that are still in the game. This unofficial patch works like a charm and sorts out a bunch of issues that are still affecting the game. So, we really suggest grabbing it and giving it a go.
The Starfield Community Patch is here to fix numerous issues. It’s going to fix things like objects in the wrong places, script mistakes, and items that don’t quite add up. Plus, it’ll sort out missions that don’t work, exploits that break the game, and even fix spelling mistakes and missing stuff.
>> There are no screenshots (obviously) nor videos, but there's a long list of things that it fixes.
New Cyberpunk 2077 HD Texture Pack attempts to improve the quality of most major/main NPCs
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/new-cyberpunk-2077-hd-texture-pack-attempts-to-improve-the-quality-of-most-major-main-npcs/
Modder “Keen” released a cool new mod for Cyberpunk 2077. Keen made a fancy HD Texture Pack that makes the game’s main NPCs look way better. This pack cranks up the quality of their textures to a super sharp 4K resolution. How did he do it? Well, Keen used some smart AI tricks as well as some manual fine-tuning in photo-editing software.
The NPC Re-Texture Project 2077, in its latest version, makes the game look much better. It gives a makeover to characters like Judy Álvarez, Evelyn Parker, Panam Palmer, Goro Takemura, Kerry Eurodyne, River Ward, Hanako Arasaka, 8ug8ear, and Placide. This pack even works on Solomon Reed and Song So Mi from the Phantom Liberty expansion. They all get a fancy upgrade.
What’s even better is that the modder has big plans. Keen wants to make more characters in the game look better too. In the next updates, they’ll improve the textures of characters like Sandayu Oda, Simon (Royce) Randall, Saul Bright, Oswald (Woodman) Forrest, Ziggy Q, and Ozob Bozo. So, even more characters will get a cool upgrade.
>> There are four side by side pictures showing the improvements.
This graphics mod for Dark Souls is so comprehensive it breaks a boss fight, letting you bomb the Capra Demon from on-high
https://www.pcgamer.com/this-graphics-mod-for-dark-souls-is-so-comprehensive-it-breaks-a-boss-fight-letting-you-bomb-the-capra-demon-from-on-high/
Dark Souls is an interconnected game—if you datamine out a full model of Lordran, you're able to look at the entire breadth of it like it's a model train set, from the swamps of Blighttown to the hallowed halls of Anor Londo.
Back when the game first came to PC, its port was pretty shocking—it took about six years before the remastered version sorted most complaints out. But we're PC gamers. If a game isn't modded to have rig-melting textures or Dewmer rocket boots, what are we even doing here?
Fromsoftserve and their DSR Graphics Overhaul mod (thanks, Gamesradar) is one such attempt to polish the classic to a mirror sheen. This thing's really impressive. Far from just a bunch of texture packs, fromsoftserve has been laboriously giving the whole game a facelift: bringing dynamic shadows to Lordran, making Anor Londo's windows see-through, and even adding new meshes to far-off locations.
This adds to the game's feeling of interconnectedness, letting you see anything from anywhere, as long as you'd be able to draw a reasonable line of sight to it. Turns out that FromSoftware were kind of banking on the draw distance, though.
"My graphics overhaul mod allows you to easily cheese Capra Demon with firebombs," writes fromsoftserve, before demonstrating their character hucking bombs all the way from the Taurus Demon fight to the Capra Demon down below. The modder relishes the fact that this works, and their explanations are pretty in-keeping with the rest of the game's design.
>> The article has an embedded tweet with a video showing the bomb throwing.
The NES classic Castlevania 2: Simon’s Quest got a free 16-bit fan remake on PC
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/the-nes-classic-castlevania-2-simons-quest-got-a-free-16-bit-fan-remake-on-pc/
Hey, Castlevania fans. Today, I’ve got some cool news for you. Metroidquest has released a free 16-bit version of the old-school NES game, Castlevania 2: Simon’s Quest. It’s a fun remake for all of you who love this classic game.
Now here’s what’s great about Castlevania 2: Simon’s Quest Revamped. The remake has extra sub-weapons, a handy in-game map, new music to groove to, and even a music selection option. You can set your buttons the way you like, and choose the game difficulty. Plus, you can enjoy it on your widescreen monitors. Not only that but there’s a Clues Menu/Collection, health bars for all bosses, a secret dungeon, and a juicier storyline. So yeah, it has lots of cool stuff.
In short, this is a must-have for all Castlevania fans. And hey, it’s a free remake so can you really say no to that?
>> There's not one, but two videos... although one is a bit old.
GAMING NEWS
Ubisoft celebrates Rocksmith 2014's 10th anniversary by removing it from sale on all storefronts
https://www.pcgamer.com/ubisoft-celebrates-rocksmith-2014s-10th-anniversary-by-removing-it-from-sale-on-all-storefronts/
Rocksmith 2014 has rocked out for the last time: Almost 10 years to the day after the acclaimed learn-to-play-guitar game debuted, Ubisoft has removed it from sale on all digital storefronts.
>> It may be because the licenses have expired.
European authorities and the FBI bust ransomware group that launched $11 million attack on Capcom
https://www.pcgamer.com/european-authorities-and-the-fbi-bust-ransomware-group-that-launched-dollar11-million-attack-on-capcom/
With just a touch of bravado, the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (or Europol) has announced "a major blow" to the Ragnar Locker ransomware group. To you and me, that name is mostly familiar because of the organisation's 2020 attack on Capcom, which saw it demand $11 million and affect around 400,000 people's data.
>> I'm convinced MegaMan helped in some way.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is when Infinity Ward 'finally gave up on the idea that we were making a better version of Counter-Strike'
https://www.pcgamer.com/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-is-when-infinity-ward-finally-gave-up-on-the-idea-that-we-were-making-a-better-version-of-counter-strike/
(...)
"I have a lot of really positive memories of playing Call of Duty 1 multiplayer on PC," says Mackey McCandlish, formerly of Infinity Ward, in a new interview with IGN. "Back then you could put 64 players plus on a server and you'd play Search and Destroy, our version of Counter-Strike. And then once you're dead, you're out."
Infinity Ward had felt that, over the first two games, it was making a multiplayer experience that was competing with the big-hitters in the genre. "The interesting choice going from Call of Duty 2 to 4 is that we finally gave up on the idea that we were making a better version of Counter-Strike," says McCandlish. "We said 'You know what, our players just want to play Team Deathmatch. Is there anything we could do to make Team Deathmatch something we want to play too?'"
Counter-Strike 2 is banning players for moving their mouse too fast
https://www.pcgamer.com/counter-strike-2-is-banning-players-for-moving-their-mouse-too-fast/
Just days after Valve started reversing bans for those who used AMD's Anti-Lag+ feature in Counter-Strike 2, players have discovered a reproducible method for triggering a VAC ban on your account: moving your mouse very, very fast.
Skyrim lead designer says Todd Howard only revealed The Elder Scrolls 6 because the fans had 'pitchforks and torches' out
https://www.pcgamer.com/skyrim-lead-designer-says-todd-howard-only-revealed-the-elder-scrolls-6-because-the-fans-had-pitchforks-and-torches-out/
It's been five years since Todd Howard revealed the startling news that yes, Bethesda is going to make The Elder Scrolls 6, and it will be years yet before it actually arrives. It's a virtually unprecedented gap between a game's "announcement" (such as it was) and tangible evidence that something's being done to make it happen, and Howard himself said not too long ago that he regrets handling the reveal the way he did. The obvious question then is, why announce it at all? According to longtime Bethesda designer Bruce Nesmith, the fans basically bullied him into it.
After slaying 666 cows, Diablo 4 player makes major breakthrough in the hunt for the secret cow level
https://www.pcgamer.com/after-slaying-666-cows-diablo-4-player-makes-major-breakthrough-in-the-hunt-for-the-secret-cow-level/
The Oxen Gods are finally pleased. After four months with no news, a Diablo 4 player has made a major discovery in the hunt for its supposedly non-existent secret cow level.
Update: The diligent folks in the Not Finding A Cow Level Discord server have discovered that the 666,666 second timer seems to be unrelated to collecting the relics. They also found only your first relic drop requires 666 cows, subsequent ones can drop at any point. I've updated the story below to reflect these new details.
Grand Theft Auto fans were convinced that a big reveal was coming today, but now they're starting to wonder if Rockstar is just messing with them
https://www.pcgamer.com/grand-theft-auto-fans-were-convinced-that-a-big-reveal-was-coming-today-but-now-theyre-starting-to-wonder-if-rockstar-is-just-messing-with-them/
Grand Theft Auto 6 remains both confirmed and unannounced, a Schrödinger-like state of affairs that has some fans so wound up they're seeing signs and portents just about everywhere they look. The latest harbinger from on high? A tweet about a new outfit being added to Red Dead Online.
>> I don't think Rockstar needs to do anything. They're more than delusional enough to play mind tricks on themselves.
Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster comes to Steam in February
https://www.pcgamer.com/star-wars-dark-forces-remaster-comes-to-steam-in-february/
Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster, the next big overhaul from Nightdive Studios, is set to arrive on Steam and consoles on February 28, 2024.
Dark Forces tells the tale of Kyle Katarn, a former member of the Imperial Army who quits the team and takes up the mercenary life after discovering that his parents were murdered by—gasp!—the Empire. Naturally, he finds work with the Rebel Alliance, which contracts him to uncover the truth of something called the Dark Trooper Project, and then put a stop to it. Much shooting is involved.
Ex-Bethesda dev says Starfield could've focused on 'two dozen solar systems', but 'people love our big games … so let's go ahead and let 'em have it'
https://www.pcgamer.com/ex-bethesda-dev-says-starfield-couldve-focused-on-two-dozen-solar-systems-but-people-love-our-big-games-so-lets-go-ahead-and-let-em-have-it/
Starfield's big. Real big. Over 1,000 planets big. However that illusion of bigness really vanishes when the game reuses particular prefabs. You can only go through the exact same space base so many times before you start feeling like you're on the Truman Show.
(...)
While I enjoyed my jaunts around Starfield in a MMO-style checklist fugue state, I have to admit—that's not exactly the 'wonders of space' feeling Bethesda tries to sell you. Interestingly enough, Ex-Bethesda dev and Skyrim's lead designer Bruce Nesmith (who was present for the start of Starfield's development but left Bethesda soon after) suggests a more condensed galaxy was on the table, if only for a moment.
Dataminers find evidence Konami will free Metal Gear Solid 4 from PS3 purgatory, but it's hard to be excited about it
https://www.pcgamer.com/dataminers-find-evidence-konami-will-free-metal-gear-solid-4-from-ps3-purgatory-but-its-hard-to-be-excited-about-it/
The Metal Gear Solid Master Collection is here, and that can only mean two things. One, that this series probably deserves stewardship from a company willing to spend any money at all on creating decent, modern PC ports for it, and two, that it's time to pore over its various data files with a fine-tooth comb.
The dataminers have gotten to work in the 24-some hours since the Master Collection hit Steam, and it's with some trepidation that I can tell you they've found more evidence that Peace Walker and Metal Gear Solid 4 will be making their way over to PC eventually. Over on Reddit, a user named Timo653 decompiled the MGS 2 Master Collection launcher and found functions "to read assets for" Peace Walker, MGS 4, and MGS 5, which at least suggests each of those games is set for their own Master Collection launcher at some point in the future. Are you nervous? I'm nervous.
Skyrim's retired lead designer says anything other than the 'Bethesda usual' has to be approved by Todd Howard: 'He doesn't believe it's true, but unfortunately it's true'
https://www.pcgamer.com/skyrims-retired-lead-designer-says-anything-other-than-the-bethesda-usual-has-to-be-approved-by-todd-howard-he-doesnt-believe-its-true-but-unfortunately-its-true/
Liked Starfield? Hated Starfield? You probably have Todd Howard to thank. A recent chat between MinnMax and Skyrim lead designer Bruce Nesmith shed some light on Bethesda's structure and organisation, and it sure sounds like pretty much every choice the company makes needs Howard's stamp of approval before it can go ahead, even as it's grown bigger over the years. To be fair to Howard, though, it sounds like that's in spite of his own wishes.
