Gaming News – Page 4 – Ms. Bella's World

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Gamers love a good sale, and what’s not to love about it? You get to fill out your game library with a few gems you haven’t tried yet, without making your pocketbook too much lighter. And Steam’s Summer Sale, running until July 11th, 2024, is delivering once again with lots of offerings, some at 90% off or more! So, without further ado, let’s take a look at a few of the deeply discounted games on Steam right now.

Sid Meier’s Civilization VI (2016) – $2.99 (95% off) – If you enjoy a turn-based strategy game where growing and expanding your empire is the main goal, then you can’t go wrong with a Civilization game. The game has an 86% overall positive review score on Steam, with some reviewers having over 1,000 hours in the game, and at least one having over 7,000 hours! If that isn’t a testament to the game’s playability, I don’t know what is.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015) – $3.99 (90% off) – From the iconic studio, CD Projekt Red, The Witcher 3 is an open-world RPG where you play as Geralt of Rivia as he takes on one of his toughest contracts—tracking down Ciri, the Child of Prophecy. Hunt down monsters while traveling across a beautifully crafted open world, explore ruins, and make choices that have consequences. The reviews speak for themselves, with a 96% overall positive score, so if you haven’t picked this up yet, now is a good time.

Batman: Arkham Knight (2015) – $1.99 (90% off) – Enter the world of Gotham, where you play as the Dark Knight. Face the ultimate threat, Scarecrow, as he unites the city’s super criminals with the intent of destroying Gotham and Batman forever. I should mention that this one is not light on the DLC. There are 24 DLC packs, including story packs and skins. These are also on sale, from 20% off to 75% off—or a total of $33.66 for all of them. However, with a 91% overall review score, the base game is definitely worth a pickup at that price.

Middle-earth: Shadow of War (2017) – $2.49 (95% off) – I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t mention the open-world action RPG set in Middle Earth. In this game, you forge a new ring of power and set off to conquer and dominate Mordor with an army of orcs at your side. Quite a different take on fighting Sauron! If you want to get even more from the game, which has an 88% overall review score, then spend an extra $3.50 and get the Definitive Edition, making the cost $5.99. Yes, I did buy this one. And yes, I will be trying it soon.

Frostpunk (2018) – $2.99 (90% off) – With Frostpunk 2 coming September 20th, 2024, now is a great time to pick up this strategy simulation and try it out. You’ll play as the leader of the last city on Earth, managing both your citizens and the infrastructure needed to keep everyone alive. This game has received a number of updates since its launch, improving the gameplay. There are also three DLCs, also on sale at 65% off, for an extra $12.22 if you choose. With a 92% overall review score, this game is worth picking up.

Borderlands 2 (2012) – $3.00 (85% off) – Okay, I’ll admit, this one almost didn’t make the list, as it’s 85% off. However, with a 95% overall review score and at the small price of $3 for the base game, I couldn’t not add this co-op looter shooter to the list. Play as one of several pre-made characters and face off against a massive world of mobs with up to three friends on a quest for vengeance and redemption. I’ve never played Borderlands 2, but it sounds like a mixture of high action and humor, and the graphics are pretty. If you want more from the game, get the Game of the Year edition for an extra $4.99, making it $7.99 (80% off).

There you have it, six games on discounts so deep that you could buy all of them and still not pay the price of one game.

You still here? What are you waiting for? Steam’s that way. Oh no, it’s that way. Wait .. Well, it’s not here! Go forth and have fun!

Until next time, bye for now!

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Over the course of the Summer Showcase and various other game showcases, I noticed a baffling trend. It’s not the first time I’ve seen it, but it’s the first time I’ve really paid attention to it. This trend involves one group of people trashing another group’s console or platform of choice. Whether it’s Xbox vs. PlayStation, or console vs. PC, the rivalry can get surprisingly intense and often detracts from the enjoyment of gaming itself.

Wondering how far back this went, I did a simple look up on YouTube for the term ‘why do console gamers hate pc gamers?’ I found videos going back almost a decade, with titles like ‘Why I hate PC gaming Part 4: Why Console and Capcom is tha bezt!’, ‘Why Do Console Gamers Hate PC Gamers’, and ‘Lies that Console Fanboys Say About PC Gaming’.

Looking up the term ‘why do Nintendo players hate Xbox’ brought a more mixed bag of results, ranging from ‘Hate Comments – XBox vs. Playstation Fanboys’ and various titles comparing Nintendo Switch to Playstation 5.

This year alone, people have been heavily criticizing both the Xbox and PlayStation showcases. I missed the Playstation showcase, not having much interest in what they’re offering after the whole kerfuffle with Helldivers 2 and Sony requiring a PSN account to play the game on PC. I’m not even certain that’s been fully resolved. As for the Xbox showcase, it featured a couple of potential hits, such as Doom: The Dark Ages and State of Decay 3. And those were just two of many good announcements.

Of course, Nintendo had its own showcase just three days ago, featuring some of their classic franchises, from Mario & Luigi Brothership to remasters of Donkey Kong Country Returns and Dragon Quest 3. Once again, it was a full plate of offerings that almost makes me want to get a Switch. Almost.

All I saw was a whole slew of potentially great games from different developers and for different gaming platforms. To me, this should be great news for gamers of all stripes. So why do people spend their precious time and energy criticizing how and on what others choose to engage with the hobby of gaming?

There are key psychological and social factors that may contribute to this intense rivalry.

One factor could be the strong identification gamers often feel with their chosen console or PC. They invest not just money and time, but also emotions into their gaming experiences. These investments lead to the formation of like-minded communities around specific consoles, fostering a deep sense of belonging.

Another significant cause is brand loyalty. Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony actively cultivate brand loyalty through marketing, community engagement, and, to a lesser extent now, exclusive games. Gamers who have positive experiences with one brand over another often become fiercely loyal and defensive of their choice, even in the face of criticism.

PC gamers also exhibit brand loyalty, often centering around preferences for parts manufacturers (Intel vs. AMD vs. NVIDIA) and gaming platforms (Steam vs. Epic vs. GOG). This topic alone could be a completely separate post!

Of course, there’s likely a healthy dose of nostalgia involved, often stemming from what console someone played during childhood. These rose-colored glasses can lead to a lifelong preference. I know that I, for one, will always view the Atari 2600 quite fondly, as I grew up with it, though it’s objectively very outdated now.

All that aside, it still baffles me how a group of people can hate the choices of other people so much that they feel the need to crap all over everything they love on a regular basis. It’s sort of pointless.

I prefer gaming on PC. It’s something I’ve done regularly since 1997 when Diablo came out. Regarding consoles, I’ve owned a few over the years: the SNES, which holds a special place for me, the Wii (still in my possession), and a Game Boy Color and Nintendo DS, both of which I may still have tucked away.

However, I think if someone enjoys playing on the Xbox or the PS5, more power to them. If they prefer Nintendo, great. If they play on a top of the line PC, a brand new Steam Deck, or an old laptop, fantastic!

At the end of the day, we’re all participating in the same hobby – video games. And that should be enough to bring us together.