I am pretty sure that is supposed to be rope...

Portal and Portal 2 can look pretty stunning at times.
If you can make effective use of your art assets; if you can make use of intelligent, visual design.
The game will come out, looking alright.

I haven't payed too much attention to NieR, so I can't really say anything good or bad about the game and its graphics.

That said, it's all about the budget Platinum had. If it was high enough then I agree that they should have worked on better assets for the PC (and Pro & XoX) version, but if the budget was tight then I understand why decided to use the same assets for all platforms and concentrate on other aspects of the game.

Careful there! That's a forbidden word around here, specially with the one you've put before it.

Could be storage related.
At 144hz/fps you will be more sensitive to drops than me as my panel is only 60hz.

With Windows 10 I did notice on a test rig that with the creators update I would have massive unexplained performance drops during a gaming session.
Rolling back to Windows 7 fixed that completely.

I intend to do a little more experimenting to find out the root cause one day, just haven't gotten there yet.

They have standards?

In all seriousness, standards seem to change extremely conveniently as soon as new hardware drops for console gamers.

I mean, Xbox gamers didn't give a crap that the vast majority of games were running at sub-1080P resolutions and thus looked like Vaseline was smeared all over the screen... But now you can't shut them up about resolution now they are beating the Playstation 4 Pro.

Same. I am a graphics/resolution whore, but I am trying not to spend untold thousands of dollars on PC hardware every year anymore. - So 1440P is the sweet spot as far as investment is concerned right now.
I would love 4k, heck even 8k. Just not until they hit the right price point... As I get older my priorities in life are starting to shift.

Storage related issues could fit all of the symptoms. I do notice frequent activity on my HDD despite the fact that it's just passive storage. No program actually runs on it. So there might be some issue with Windows using it as swap or some bullshit.

Right now I'm planning on separating my system into a smaller browsing and video PC. That would kick all of my HDD storage out of my gaming rig. Maybe it's better then.

You got it wrong. I specifically used that word. If I had said "fan" instead of "fanboy" it would actually be ban worthy.

There are finer points in posting here. "Fanboy" is only against the rules if it's specifically directed to a named person. If you describe a group or an unnamed person with it it's absolutely fine. It's just important that no one can infer the actual person it's directed at. So if you use it unspecific it's the same as using any other curse, such as asshole or idiot. No one will fault you for calling unspecified idiots idiots.

Using "fan" has its own caveats. It's basically the other way around. It's fine to call specific people "fans" as long as it's not within a derogatory statement. But if it is, then it's a straight ban. It's even more sensitive when applied to a group because that would be generalization. In that case it doesn't even have to be necessarily derogatory in nature.

You can trust me and my ban history on this. I've used the F-word on many occasions not to provoke a ban but actually to escape a ban.

And that doesn't even mention the extra safety net of the last sentence being clearly marked as a joke on the previous paragraph.

Well, I told you because I got a warning for using the term when describing the reaction and hypocrisy of some Nintendo fa... rooters on the site a while ago.

But yeah, you know more than me about bans .

I present to you, Wolfenstein II: TNC - https://imgur.com/a/tOuBc

(Maximum settings btw)

Honestly, character details aren't really the thing I'd look for in XV, especially since you'll be moving around far too much to notice the detail of their skin or eyes. The texture detail of surrounding objects and LoD/object render distance should all be increased for the port. 

It still amazes me at how a game designed for PC in it's Alpha stage, still looks better than most AAA games and their texture detail. 

Tuesday news:

SALES & "SALES"/DEALS

Fortnite Battle Royale has surpassed 2 million concurrent players & 40 million total players
http://www.dsogaming.com/news/fortnite-battle-royale-has-surpassed-2-million-concurrent-players-40-million-total-players/
Back in December 2017, Epic Games announced that its free to play battle royale game, Fortnite Battle Royale, has surpassed 30 million players and 1.3 million concurrent players. And in just a month, Epic’s title was able to catch the attention of 10 million additional gamers.

Squad-based sci-fi strategy/RPG hybrid, The Red Solstice, is now available for free on Humble Bundle
http://www.dsogaming.com/news/squad-based-sci-fi-strategy-rpg-hybrid-the-red-solstice-is-now-available-for-free-on-humble-bundle/
Ironward and the Humble Bundle are currently offering The Red Solstice for free to all PC gamers. As with most Humble Bundle giveaways, this offer will end in 48 hours and players will be able to keep this game in their Steam inventory forever.

>>Only 24h left to grab it! Get it from here.

Time to take a look at some of the 709 weeklong deals at Steam (I don't post the link because it doesn't work):

• The Early Access title Sailaway - The Sailing Simulator is 25% off: http://store.steampowered.com/app/552920/Sailaway__The_Sailing_Simulator/
• Last Day of June is 40% off: http://store.steampowered.com/app/635320/Last_Day_of_June/
• Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion - Ultimate Edition is 75% off (caution, the regular edition is full price): http://store.steampowered.com/sub/39352/
• Brothers - A Tale of Two Sons is 80% off: http://store.steampowered.com/app/225080/Brothers__A_Tale_of_Two_Sons/
• Crypt of the NecroDancer is also 80% off: http://store.steampowered.com/app/247080/Crypt_of_the_NecroDancer/
• Insurgency is 85% off: http://store.steampowered.com/app/222880/Insurgency/
• Lastly, for the fans of point'n'click games, there's The Daedalic Armageddon Bundle at 90% off: http://store.steampowered.com/sub/55062/

SOFTWARE

Robot Cache is an upcoming digital storefront that will let you buy and sell games online
http://www.pcgamer.com/robot-cache-is-a-blockchain-based-platform-that-will-let-you-buy-and-sell-games-online/
InXile Entertainment CEO Brian Fargo has unveiled a new, blockchain-based digital distribution platform called Robot Cache that will enable gamers to buy games, just as they do on any other platform, and then resell them when they're finished. Robot Cache will also have its own cryptocurrency called Iron, earned through mining or game resales, that can be used for games purchases or cashed out.

>>This is the url, but you won't find much: https://www.robotcache.com/.

MODS/EMULATORS

Fallout 3 remake in Fallout 4’s Creation Engine is a thing and here are its first screenshots
http://www.dsogaming.com/news/fallout-3-remake-in-fallout-4s-creation-engine-is-a-thing-and-here-are-its-first-screenshots/
Road To Liberty is currently working on a Fallout 3 unofficial/fan remake in Fallout 4’s updated Creation Engine, and released the first screenshots from it. This Fallout 3 remake is called Capital Wasteland and promises to update and bring Bethesda’s RPG into the ‘current generation of gaming and graphics.’

This mod for Skyrim Special Edition completely overhauls its enemy system
http://www.dsogaming.com/news/this-mod-for-skyrim-completely-overhauls-its-enemy-system/
Modder ‘Nightman0’ has released a brand new mod for the Special Edition of Skyrim. Skyrim Revamped – Complete Enemy Overhaul focuses on enemy variation and hard boss battles.

>>To both know more about it and also download it, head to Nexus Mods.

GAMING NEWS

Cyberpunk 2077 may get an E3 2018 trailer, may also be shown behind closed doors
http://www.dsogaming.com/news/cyberpunk-2077-may-get-an-e3-2018-trailer-may-also-be-shown-behind-closed-doors/
Last week, we informed you about the official Twitter account of Cyberpunk 2077 showing signs of activity. While nothing is set on stone yet, we believe that this will be the year of CD Projekt RED’s cyberpunk game. And according to GRYOnline, Cyberpunk 2077 will receive an E3 2018 trailer.

>>TallSilhouette has a thread about it.

Monster Hunter: World – Rotten Vale Gameplay
http://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/monster-hunter-world-rotten-vale-gameplay/
Monster Hunter World will soon come out on consoles and Capcom has released a brand new playthrough video, showing 8 minutes of brand new gameplay footage.

Former MotorStorm & Driveclub developers are working on an Unreal Engine 4-powered sci-fi game
http://www.dsogaming.com/news/former-motorstorm-driveclub-developers-are-working-on-an-unreal-engine-4-powered-sci-fi-game/
Wushu Studios is a brand new independent studio helmed by veteran AAA developers behind the highly successful MotorStorm and Driveclub franchises, as well as fresh talent from around the world.

Final Fantasy XV is coming to the PC on March 6th, benchmark on February 1st, final PC requirements
http://www.dsogaming.com/news/final-fantasy-xv-is-coming-to-the-pc-on-march-6th-benchmark-on-february-1st-final-pc-requirements/
Square Enix has announced that Final Fantasy XV: Windows Edition will be released on March 6th. The Windows Edition will feature the base game and over 20 game add-ons / DLC (downloadable content), as well as new features including an expanded map of Insomnia with new enemies and side quests and a first-person camera mode.

>>The only thing remarkable from the req. specs is that it demands over 100GB of storage, over 155GB for 4K. Insane. They better use some nice textures...

First-person puzzle adventure, Q.U.B.E. 2, releases in Q1 2018, gets new gameplay trailer
http://www.dsogaming.com/news/first-person-puzzle-adventure-qube-2-releases-in-q1-2018-gets-new-gameplay-trailer/
Toxic Games has announced that its first-person puzzle adventure game, Q.U.B.E. 2, will come out in the first quarter of 2018 and released a gameplay trailer for it. The new trailer showcases how Q.U.B.E. 2 begins in cold, pristine environments before more natural elements begin to encroach into the spaces of the monolith, players will be exploring.

Masters of Anima, isometric strategic adventure game, gets a debut gameplay trailer
http://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/masters-of-anima-isometric-strategic-adventure-game-gets-a-debut-gameplay-trailer/
Focus Home Interactive has released the debut gameplay trailer for Masters of Anima. In this gameplay trailer, players will follow Otto in his quest against the forces of evil in strategic, action-packed battles, where their ability to make tactical decisions quickly is vital.

Star Wars Battlefront 2 Patch 1.1 is now available for download and here are its release notes
http://www.dsogaming.com/news/star-wars-battlefront-2-patch-1-1-is-now-available-for-download-and-here-are-its-release-notes/
DICE has released the first patch of 2018 for Star Wars Battlefront 2. According to the release notes, the Star Wars Battlefront 2 patch 1.1 brings Iden Versio’s TIE/In fighter to multiplayer matches, and adds the Crait map to the Blast Game Mode.

Tuesday news, part two:

RimWorld creator says 'next version will be 1.0', outlines what to expect
http://www.pcgamer.com/rimworld-creator-says-next-version-will-be-10-outlines-what-to-expect/
Back in November, RimWorld mastermind Tynan Sylvester declared the colony sim as in its "final stretch" of development. Now, the creator has confirmed Ludeon Studios is working towards version 1.0, and is "furiously refining the hell out of this thing" along the way.

Free-to-play military shooter Ironsight will begin open beta testing in February
http://www.pcgamer.com/free-to-play-military-shooter-ironsight-will-begin-open-beta-testing-in-february/
The near-future military shooter Ironsight, which began closed beta testing late last year, will move into open beta on February 1, publisher Aeria Games announced today. The open beta will feature "a broad range of new content," including four maps, a new mode, and a new mission.

World of Warcraft patch 7.3.5 goes live tomorrow in North America, patch notes out now
http://www.pcgamer.com/world-of-warcraft-patch-735-goes-live-tomorrow-patch-notes-are-out-now/
Blizzard has (finally) announced that World of Warcraft patch 7.3.5 will be rolled out tomorrow—January 16—in North America, and January 17 in Europe. Expected to be the final patch for the Legion expansion, 7.3.5 will add a number of new features to the game detailed in the full patch notes, which were also released today.

Two Point Hospital is a new management sim from the creators of Theme Hospital
http://www.pcgamer.com/two-point-hospital-is-a-new-management-sim-from-the-creators-of-theme-hospital/
Last week, Sega teased an incoming project with a tweet that featured a light bulb. Today, the internet's hunch has been confirmed with the announcement of Two Point Hospital—a new management sim from ex-Lionhead and Bullfrog veterans Mark Webley and Gary Carr.

The building in the screenshot, are you fucking serious?. The texture looks like it was repeated every single time and it looks so out of place. Completely unreal, considering this is from the same devs who made Bayo 1-3, MGSR etc.