Fidcal
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Posts posted by Fidcal
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Thanks, I'll check the PS4 controls later but I don't recall a wristwatch button. In fact, I've pretty much pressed every button multiple times. Actually though, that reminds me I've bought and acquired other items like dynamite or something or grenades and no way to use them. I mean, the right front button throws knives and that's it. I see no way to switch in other types. Also is wipe mask auto? I've never done it. Also I can't really tell if my mask is on or off except by donning/removing it a few times to see the movement! I've often spent a long time 'indoors' without realising my mask was on.
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Anyone know a good free fiction website where you can simply click and download without joining anything? I've been searching and searching for the Metro 2033 book. I'd prefer it in html quite frankly but ebook is okay. Every website I visit leads you round in circles with false links or 'join for free trial'. Only gutenberg is open and free but they don't have this book. The internet is swamped with websites that don't truly work, that trick you into false clicks or downloads that don't work or the classic: 'if this doesn't download in 1 minute then click here' and they never download so why bother? Freeware is another example.
I was watching a bit more of the above video and he mentions the game doesn't convey the protagonist's real motive for what he's doing. That reminded me of the Goblet of Fire movie which didn't convey why Ron Weasley was really annoyed at Harry Potter for entering the tournament. The book brings that out better. Makes a big difference when you know so perhaps this vid game might feel even better if I understood that.
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Good video Aosys! Big too. I'm only halfway and have to break off. (BTW anyone who hasn't got it, get 4K video downloader! It's brilliant for grabbing vids so you can watch them off-line anytime.) Interesting how different people have different complaints about the same game. Much of his criticism was stuff that didn't bother me much but he never was bothered by what I didn't like. Which supports my long-standing proposition that OPTIONS is the way. The perfect game has loads of options to play in different ways. Of course, that costs more and wouldn't solve his complaint about the English voice acting etc. I was more involved in the gameplay and what they were saying than how indifferent was the voice-acting. Now I'll probably notice!
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Good to hear there's a lightgem in Exodus; I'll definitely be getting that when I've finished these two! I did glimpse the edge of a watch on my wrist once but no way to use it. I seriously wish I could hide weapons and clipboard! I'm forced to have one or the other on screen ALL THE TIME in any combat area. Reminds me of those Thief fan mission videos where the player plays continuously with the cosh held up!
Everywhere is really tense - but becomes doable as you learn each checkpoint. I'd even say 'easy' compared to some games. By that I mean, a section feels near-impossible then after a few attempts it's suddenly over. That Cursed Station was like "You go and kill the monsters and get the bomb and block the airlock and blah blah on your own and we'll wait here!" Yeah right, thanks guys. But you're right Carnage, stealth worked wonders. If you crouch in the dark with light off then they can pass right by you. I think only if they collide directly with you do they know you're there. So that whole Cursed Station could probably be done in like 5 minutes? That's the perfect balance for me. Hope it remains that way. Compare Fallout 4 where there are places that are impossible to fight or stealth until you have enough weapons/armour etc. But that's a true open-world game and you just don't go there till you're ready or can back away if you do accidentally. Metro is a linear corridor game where you can only move about within locations along a fixed path. Incidentally, when I downloaded, I estimated the 2nd game to be 3 times bigger?
I had a really bad checkpoint-repeat-forever with the Blacksmith guy further on. He blocked the door with a locker turned and ran out the opposite door. I was still paralysed by the cut-video thing. Soon as control returned I dashed after him and thought I saw him stagger to a halt waiting for me. I ran up behind him to wait. A guard came along and killed me. No matter what I did it was Groundhog minute over and over and over and over. Grrr! And I hate that the checkpoint is mostly the cut-scene where you have no control! Why do they bother with forcing the player to endure that? Better to have a new checkpoint just after he blocks the door! Anyway, I finally decided to run ahead past Blacksmith. Died. More than once. But eventually got a bit further. Suddenly I realised there's a guy running ahead of me - it's the Blacksmith! WTF? I died. Eventually it dawned on me that when he blocked the door and ran around the corner he raced ahead and probably bumped a guy who looked much the same as him who then staggered forward and stopped. In my line of sight I didn't notice the real Blacksmith running ahead (there were different people moving about.) It was one of those switch illusions (there's one on Youtube or recent TV I think where a guy asks street directions, two more guys walk between them carrying a door or something and the last of those switches places with the original talker. He carries on asking directions of the man in the street who doesn't notice it's a completely different person! Apparently that works on most(many) of us. You see what you expect to see.
Anyway, it was both annoying and funny at the same time.
Enjoying this game so far! Oh, one last thing before I go. Anyone thinking of playing this, the compass on the objectives clipboard POINTS THE WAY! That is brilliant! It's edgy switching between gun and compass but at least you know where to go. That's corrected me loads of times where I've gone past a turning or whatever.
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Managed to get through on the same checkpoint by finding two filters I'd missed. The next sections as you said is good stealth and the fact that you can extinguish lights suggests light and shadow do play a part even without a light gem. Very good game so far. I'd have liked to see more stealth and strategy approaches even with the monsters - like getting up to ledges they can't reach and overhangs to daunt the demons. The price would be time inching into position but I'd prefer that. Hack and slay is fine for a while but I like at least two ways to get through so if you can't do one then you can try another way. But it's all very edgy stuff whether fighting or sneaking!
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No, I couldn't afford the silencer.
Also en route I regularly search everywhere, even going into side rooms and back rooms while Bourbon waits. I doubt I missed much in the way of filters but I'll have to try again.Can one really reload different checkpoints? I only see the option to load the last one. I think I probably have to reload the chapter when he first comes up into Moscow.
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OK, that worked thanks - though why running to Bourbon does anything I've no idea! I'd have never thought of that.
Now I'm out in Moscow and doing reasonably, get separated from Bourbon, now I'm really using stealth. I've never yet killed a demon in the air no matter how many shots I fire, but I've killed one twice by creeping up behind it on the ground then either shotgun or throwing knife (which I retrieved.) Met up again with Bourbon and of course, stealth ends because he struts around with light on. Waves of monsters I can just about handle except out of filters so no chance of surviving that checkpoint. Except maybe, the compass points left but Bourbon stands to the right. Maybe I should try sneaking behind him to that area first. Otherwise, is reloading the chapter and searching for filters my only option?
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I'm following Bourbon and reached a graveyard with flies. Bourbon is trying to wind up a gate but he sounds mental as though affected by something. Keep getting white outs. Tried gas mask to no effect. Can't see anything that kills me nor what to do. Bourbon says 'remember our agreement' but all I can remember is maybe to watch his back? Whichever way I look I see no enemies except maybe the flies. Is this where I should burn some webs? Can't see any way to help him wind up the gate faster. I crouch before it pressing forward but never get under it even at its max.
Is there any kind of logical solution that I'm missing? Maybe search more bodies and find a silver bullet?
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Mmm... I got through so far in that track cart. 2 checkpoint reloads and it seemed hopeless with the limited ammo but seemed to lash out and did reasonably well. Some confusion about controls. How to put weapon away? Decided it's just auto when combat is over. What that lighter is for I dunno. Someone shouted something about a flamethrower? The lighter came up either auto or by accident with me hitting controls. Something worked but I didn't properly see any flamethrower. Got a feeling it's just helping you through these early stages but there's some blundering to be done first. Odd that my character never seems to speak.
Certainly looks good and with a different style. Grim.
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Sounds interesting so I'll give it a go. Downloading Metro Redux at £25 which, if I understand it, is Metro 2033 Redux plus Metro Last Light Redux which sounds good value at £12.50 each. Should be playing in 40 minutes. I'll keep in mind what you said, Carnage, about 2033 taking 30 minutes to get into. Glad you cautioned me about or I might have lost patience!
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Sadly I've reached my limit with this game. I've been trapped in a building for the last hour and there is no further enjoyment. There is no 'quest' listed in the brochure that I need to do - well, there are quests listed which I think I've done but they don't tick off so I can't be certain. Possibly the 'supposed' quest is to escape the building but I can't be sure of that either - nor can I find any area I've not been in before 20 or 30 times or more.
I can't recommend this game to the average player, nor to the stealth player. I did not have a single experience of good stealth where I achieved an objective by satisfying stealth. I did however, get busted many times without knowing why. Currently I was given a torch which I cannot turn off so stealth is meaningless. I did try walking round with my wristwatch raised up to cancel the light but in the end I felt wtf, stood up, and walked boldly around accepting that I was lit up like a Christmas tree.
So it's not stealth as we know it nor is it open-world - not like Oblivion, Skyrim, Fallout 4, Dying Light, and so on. No, it's a linear, corridor game but where the path you must follow is wide in places so you can wander 'sideways' quite a bit. Ultimately you have to continue the way decided for you.
I never understood the 'four-hour' thing because I played far longer than that without a single game reload. It was never an issue. Time never ran out for me. I took little notice of the time except to meet appointments.
The game type has great potential and, as I've said, only needs proper difficulty levels where on the easiest level the player can have: a dynamic sketch map that fills in as the player character reaches different areas, a compass to go with it so you don't keep going round in circles like I did (then I could have given up earlier!), a proper list of story events, characters, and quests. By 'quests' I mean, it should always tell you what you need to do and why - then check them off when accomplished. Too many mysteries in this game that are not anything to do with solving a crime but to do with game management - like a whodunnit novel with missing paragraphs and pages (and the pages won't turn until you blindly guess something.)
There is a lot of interesting stuff though so it's not all bad. Maybe wait until you can pick it up cheap for £5 or £10? I remember buying Oblivion for £12 and that was amazing value.
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Okay, I figured out the pneumatic thing - I had the switches set wrong. But now, this is the perfect example of what I've been saying. I'm Scarlet. I don't know precisely why I got into this building other than a vague idea of finding info maybe? I have zero readables except for a password I apparently wrote on my hand. I remember getting that password but I'm sure I used it before. Anyway, I used it and get the cartridge. For reasons unknown the magnetic door opens so I can exit. But what is the cartridge? Why does she want it? I can't examine it. I'm blundering through the motions blindly because that's all I can do. Possibly she referred to this in her self-mutterings previously but there was a lot of her murmuring and I can't recall anything signficant. The control for the briefcase doesn't work. Maybe it's Miller who has the case? Which reminds me, I saw a suitcase but couldn't reach it. I go down steps and all fades to black. The black fades up into the next chapter and I'm still on the stairs ready to continue. But wait! I'm the guy now! Maybe Scarlet really is Miller? Or Miller is Scarlet in drag? I think I've figured it all out now. Michael found out I was really a guy and killed himself by blowing up the building?
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I reserve judgment on recommending it until I've seen more. I definitely wouldn't want to put anyone off trying it. I look regularly at the main readable (can't remember what it's called but it's like a big empty memo with handwriting on top some of which I've recently discovered is clickable - plus there are side tabs I only just noticed. Still not sure I'm seeing all the info. And, of course, when I'm the woman I don't get any of that.
All this game probably needs is a proper introduction (I never saw one at all and I started it twice) plus a major overview page that the player can refer to briefly describing, the big picture, main quests, and characters - probably also give more when starting new chapters as to who we are and why. The game relies on the player memorising disjointed snippets of info too much. The storytelling needs improving so everything is clear, has real purpose, and we can sympathise with character feelings. It could be brilliant by adding less than 1%.
This is why I withhold judgement. As the story unfolds maybe I'll 'get it' and then I might decide on the excellence of the game. It's definitely playable and interesting.
I just viewed the video again because it gives a little more than I get from playing! It confirms there's an investigative reporter (wondered where I'd got that from!) but who? I'm assuming it's this novelist Miller. Maybe he's researching for a book. The woman... sometimes I think she's just a flashback memory from someone Miller interviews... dunno. About the kids - there were definitely toys in one scene and I thought they'd belonged to her kids.
I'm just going back in for a short session to figure out this bombed building thing with the pneumatic tube system...
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It's good to have more than one route - in fact I suspect you might be able to do a lot of that. I failed virtually all the objectives in the next section yet still came out to continue. More story is emerging but it still feels disjointed, unconnected, like pieces of a jigsaw. Now I know solving a mystery is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle but here I got no overview, no backbone story onto which to fit the pieces - so they remain scattered. In the next session I discovered after a minute or two that now I was a man! No rhyme nor reason that I'd changed characters did I detect. The overall concept of this game is good but they're not very good at conveying the story intelligibly and with clarity.
Anyway, I later changed back to the woman in a bombed out building for some reason. How I got in there or why I don't know. I had an early impression from what I remember of the first argument that her kids were either missing or dead yet she bemoans someone else (presumably an ex-lover/husband?) with never a thought of the kids. I'm stuck in this building. Been literally round and round in circles but can't see a way forward. Keep coming back to the same safety helmet! I've had to undo two clamps which were helping to hold the building together so maybe the whole thing will collapse if I can find the right trigger.
Yeah, I did find some interactive tabs and in the notes. Maybe they'd always been there! Never occurred to me to move a cursor over a readable and click it! Which reminds me, there's a cursor you can move when looking at the watch but I can't see any purpose to it. Maybe it's just sharing the same routine as the pager where you can use the cursor to control it.
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Closed the game and restarted from scratch this morning but found I hadn't missed anything at the start - there really is very little info. There's a scene with an argument but no context. In fact, that defines everything I've seen so far - no context. From within the game I don't know who or what I am or why I am doing anything. So the game is of the type which I call a game of blunders. By that I mean I learned some time ago in this type of game it's not worth trying to understand - just click everything and keep trying to blunder forward blindly. Compare that to Thief and Dark Mod where you pretty much know what your ultimate objectives are; the challenge is how to accomplish them.
So, as I progress I discover that some handwritten notes on a large memo I've got apparently my own handwriting - notes I'm writing as I go along. Later I discover that the building I've entered into through a window is not some unknown enemy's lair but is where I work myself! This is blind blundering and for me breaks a major rule of video games: nothing should be harder than it would be in real life and nothing should be unknown that you'd expect to know in real life. Like how can this character I'm playing not even know who she is or why she's there or what she's supposed to be doing except as she goes along? I didn't even know I was the woman in the argument scene until I'd been playing for a few minutes.
None of this may bother some players like it does me but if it does bug you, the way to play is, as said, to resign to click stuff and blunder on and let it unfold. But it lacks feeling because I don't feel desperate or scared or anything really because it's all just an abstract void.
That said, the presentation and game movement is not bad. Leaning needs two keys/buttons which is why I never found it at first: it's one shift-type plus the move left right (and I think forward but forget to check that again.)
I think the only game saves are probably check points.
Forget climbing as we know it in Thief and Dark Mod - it's special-point climbing like onto a window ledge or over a desk. You can't climb over any desk except one special desk sort of thing.
Stealth includes crouch but my first experience of any interaction with an enemy was an alarm that I think now is bound to be triggered. I was trapped in an office. The guard had a torch. I hid behind a partition. He came in and eventually went out but it's all glass partitioned offices. I had nowhere to go except out past him which seemed impossible. At his furthest distance I quietly opened the door which immediately alerted him. I back away and hid again. No solution that I could see. I eventually just walked out and he simply took me to the security head who had me evicted. So the so-called stealth seemed choreographed (even though there was a 'quest' to escape the building. Dunno if anyone got out without being seen or even if it matters.)
Mixed feelings then. There is enough interest to keep me going for now but no passionate involvement yet, if ever. Sheesh... when I recall how excited I was when I first played Thief! Maybe I'm just getting old.
Textures are moderate to poor. Dark Mod bookshelves are vastly better - the books spines in this bland and blank without even a blurred title! Oh well, maybe the developers don't have the time and resources and dedication of Dark Mod developers - but it shows. Seriously, the graphics are not a big issue with me; gameplay is king - but here it's more... queenish.
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Played for 15 minutes to get the feel of it. Graphics better than I thought. Movement good. Climbing appears limited to selected points. Not got 'lean' to work yet. No idea what to do other than search around. No info. No objectives immediate or longterm. No game saves as far as I can see. I suspect that something showed automatically after it downloaded because it was at the start menu of the game when I turned back to the PS4. Seems daft. Did they expect players would sit for 2 or 3 hours waiting to interact the moment it began? Anyway, I'll restart the whole thing in the morning to see if it indicates what the player is supposed to be doing. I mean, yes, I gather I'm an investigative reporter and there was some sort of terrorist event but apart from that, why am I at the start location? 2.25am Too tired now....
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OK, now downloading.... Cost me about £25 from the PS4 store. But bloody Sony started downloading about 3 or 4 other trash things first without asking! I estimated it would be downloaded by midnight. Went back to my PC, returned about ten to midnight. Then I realised it was downloading updates for Red Dead Redemption 2, Fallout 4, and another - all of which I've finished playing ages ago! AND I've got auto-downloads set to OFF! Bloody Sony. I mean, it appeared to have put the new game I'm waiting for last in the queue!
The download estimate was 3 hours - but I don't believe it. I estimate 90 minutes tops from just before midnight so I'll stop up late. 12GB. Just hope there isn't an update for that after it's downloaded!
I'll post my views tomorrow probably...
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I'm very impressed. I think I'd buy this even on what I've seen so far. Not sure about gameplay but I'd like to explore. I love fiction and story but in most games I've found complex readables drag the action down (probably guilty of that myself!) so let's hope this is crafted well enough to avoid that.
The Unreal Engine graphics look dated compared to modern games, most especially the NPCs, but that's not a deal breaker. It's all about gameplay and freedom to move about in an open world. Leaning round corners! You just gotta buy a game where you can lean round corners! I didn't see any light gem equivalent so we don't know if shadow plays a part.
What was not clear to me was if the 4-hour 'mission' is a one-off or if you could play it in enough different ways that different stories emerge. Even if that was fixed at say 10 stories, it would add such a lot. Or at least sufficient variety of the same story as to feel quite different. Fallout 4 was only partly like that but there were sufficient differences that I played it right through to the four ending plus another one of my own invention. But Imagine a game like this one with unlimited stories randomised by the game - like a massively complex equivalent of Cluedo with randomised characters some who might be villains, some heroes and heroines, others in-between! But I'm getting carried away now.
First person. Wonder if there is any climbing? I'm guessing killing or knockouts are not allowed for this player character. That's rare for any game if so.
I applaud the attempt at something different. I'll keep watch for its release...
[EDIT- Oh, wait! I didn't realise it's already out. I might download this tonight...]
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Since posting earlier I came across an astonishingly-configurable taskbar replacement for Windows called Nexus by Winstep. It does much of what I described: configure everything I could think of plus more all at the point of use with good clear info where needed. Of course, it's not a complete OS or UI but it precisely defines the principles of what would make a good UI imo. One of the best-presented, flexible-yet-intuitive programs I've ever seen. Even an old cynic like me is raving to myself!
And free (though I'm likely to buy the pro version with stackable bars and other goodies to provide a complete popup launcher.) Why I never found this before I don't know because I've searched for docks before.
I confess I was a little dejected at the responses here to my vision but now I see there really are people out there who see things my way. Just wish they, or someone like them, would develop a new Linux distro and change the world! -
The same principles I've described apply to all devices. I have an Android tablet and it's awkward to use. I'd like to tweak a few things but I can't so it is effectively unusable for me. If it had been Void-based then I could. You want limited configurability - and only that permitted by the UI provider whereas I want near-unlimited configurability - defined by me. I want freedom; you want restrictions. Flexibility does not preclude a default UI for the masses. Windows is somewhat configurable but it mostly requires digging and searching and hard work. It might need a hidden setting that only an internet search will reveal. It might need a registry hack. It might need 3rd party software. All bullshit. I want to right click anything and be led to all the info relevant to that item with good info what to do (or the direct confirmation that the system cannot do what I want so I need waste no further time!) Those who don't want that don't have to use it. I mean, if your pc, games console, smart device were more configurable than you need, and easier to do so, I can't really understand why you'd object to that since nobody would force you to reconfigure anything. I mean, if a friend asked you about your device would you say, not I can't really recommend this because it's so configurable you'd get confused so you'd have to leave it set to the defaults. "Is that a problem" he asks. "Erm... no but, why not get a different device with very restricted configurability?" says you.
I've never been able to understand objections to options which nobody is forcing anyone to use. With everything Void-based everyone could continue exactly as they are now anyway, and those of us wishing to change something can do so. It's win-win. Everyone's happy. Currently millions are not happy. It's a no-brainer. Just paste this into Google: Microsoft Windows faults OR problem OR errors OR annoyances - you'll get half a billion results (not that Google will permit you to see them all.) Those are web pages each with several or many users struggling to fix something and many of them without finding solutions for their efforts. Linux is more restrictive and less helpful than Windows frankly but has more potential to be GREAT than a profit-driven OS can ever be.
But the future is bright. Evolution is unstoppable and if something like my idea is better then it will out-survive the likes of Windows even if it takes centuries to reach that point because of obstacles like big business and lack of imagination. Linux, or something like it, is the most promising vehicle for that future.
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Yeah, pity. And I thought a flexible, very easy to understand UI ready to run straight out of the box with no annoyances that you cannot simply remove or change how you like, and with clear, sensible help always at the point of use - I thought that would be popular. Oh well, what do I know.
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Yes, if you stop Cortana in Task Manager then it restarts within seconds.
Shutup10 I couldn't understand the settings but StopUpdates10 is working fine! It's running in the background constantly monitoring Windows. In Settings - Windows Update the status shows as 'Your device is up to date. Last checked 07/02/2019 16:07. But it's definitely not true. If I run the StopUpdates10 control program in the start menu it shows Windows Update is blocked with below it a big button: 'Restore Windows Updates' so I can permit Windows to update if I wish then block it again - or leave it to never update. It's been no problem. In my Firewall, I've also refused permission to everything of M$oft's except: svchost (set to local only) and system (local only.) That alone blocked updates but Windows still tried. Now it doesn't even try because it thinks it's up to date. Forever. StopUpdates10 is really simple because there are no settings except Stop or Restore Updates.
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This is my concept of an ideal OS user interface set up to serve the user and not the provider. I call it The Void but it would be delivered with a default UI similar to Windows 10 for the sake of familiarity with most users who just want to click and go. More knowledgeable users could quickly reconfigure the UI how they want it, and this is what they'd get when they do so:
No desktop. The concept of a desktop as a launchpad was always a bad idea. Let me illustrate with a short story.
A factory owner grew tired of chasing assistants to carry out tasks so he called in a few workmen from the factory floor to build him a new desk with loads of buttons on top. One button would summon his secretary, another his vice-president, and so on. They made and installed his new desk but once it was cluttered with his in-tray and out-tray, his blotting pad, keyboard, monitor, desk tidy, and so on, he had trouble getting at the buttons. He had his workmen bring up a couple of the bots from the factory so now when he wanted to find a button on his desk he first pressed a button on the side of his desk and the bot arms swung into action to move the clutter away to a side table - restoring the clutter afterwards.
You see how foolish the above notion would be. But that's what we have with Windows.
The Void begins with a swirling black cloud of nothing. It's not a desktop but a creation space. You can right click it anywhere and a menu lets you create any pane (panel, rectangle, window, box - choose the word you prefer but they are the same thing) or choose defaults. A pane is just a blank rectangle but you can right click it and configure it to be a menu or button holder or a mixture. Each item in a pane is simply a link to an app, a doc, a service, whatever. There are defaults so you might add all installed apps to a menu in one go but also remove or hide what you don't and add individual stuff if you want. You can configure the pane and everything in it to be any colour, any font, any size, any type, any transparency any border, any anything - you design the style - either to your preferred defaults or individually. When I say 'any' I really mean 'ANY' - not a range defined by someone else. You can resize or move any pane anywhere and optionally dock it with any other pane on any side. You can lock it or make it hide and appear - you set all the rules how it would do that. EVERYTHING is optional. Anything you object to can be fixed. Too much like hard work? Right click the void, select say, 'defaults - similar to - Win 7' and you're good to go, plus you can tweak it any which way.
All help is at the relevant point of use by right clicking. You won't normally have to use a separate search or scour the internet like now. Example: a couple of days ago I wanted to change a drive letter. I knew it had to be done through Disk Management but couldn't remember the route to it. I entered Disk Management in the Win 10 search. It suggested formatting partitions (which was the correct route to the task but not very helpful if you didn't already know) or search the web. A more useful OS would link to anything drive-related by right clicking the drive in a file manager where you'd naturally first look.
Most commonly there might be six main panes: a full screen picture as background, a service menu launcher, a start menu launcher, a running tasks manager, a task launcher, and a system tray - but there's is nothing special about each pane because you decide what goes where. If you like desktop icons then you could make the picture pane sit always at the back and permit it to accept shortcuts just like a conventional desktop. Or you can just use the task launcher pane.
The user is never restricted to some style or plan enforced by the provider. Not mass surveillance. Not bloatware pre-installed. Not updates. Not Users. Not logins. Not invisible passwords. YOU choose. You want multiple users? Fine, you add that property. Keep passwords visible? YOU decide to include what you love and exclude what you hate. Why should M$oft decide for you? Then change the style in each successive Windows or update? A default is fine, but give us freedom over everything.
Help can always be reached by right clicking at the point of use. Ultimately leading as a last resort to every conceivable keyword that might enter your head so you can find what you want. People now think it's normal to spend hours doing searches for the simplest task. I say, right click and follow the bread crumbs and virtually always find the info you need in 20 seconds or less. It IS possible! It needs resources, imagination, intelligence, creativity, integrity, and a desire to serve instead of making your customers serve you. Clearly M$oft don't have any of those qualities except the first: DOLLARS, but they're keeping those. -
Yes, this is why I said previously in this thread that before Linux can become really popular it needs a new Messiah for the Common Man who can speak plain English and provide a distribution that is EASY and FLEXIBLE with help always right at the point of use. Then it might really take off - well given enough software of course, that's the other deal breaker. I appreciate the current developers have limited resources and are working for free (I applaud that ethic) but I'm just describing the results of that situation and why Linux is not as mainstream as it could be.
I just figured out why my old Linux dvds wouldn't boot - the security in the BIOS. (would have been nice if the Ubuntu people had mentioned that on the download page.) Anyway, I fixed that and downloaded the latest Ubuntu to remind myself. Pretty much how I recall - very limited configuration. I managed to get the dock bar to the bottom of my right monitor and made the icons as large as they allowed but it's fixed. The dock does not hide unless a Window is moved over it and the bar at the top of the main screen seems to be permanently visible and permanently bolted to the top of the screen.
It seems there are many distros each configured how the developers like instead of letting the user set it how they like. This reminds me of the difference between an off-the-peg suit and one that is tailored to fit: chose the one that most nearly fits you but is never ideal. Am I wrong to aspire after an ideal OS?
I think maybe I will post my notes... <evil laugh>
Metro games
in Off-Topic
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Finally found out how to get that weapons menu on ps4 - hold triangle and use D-pad. Been playing ages and only just discovered grenades and stuff I've got! Also found the watch! It's visible almost off-screen all the time he's holding a double-handed firearm! I was vaguely aware of some graphic down there but never looked closely at the weaponry thing so didn't connect it in the gloom with the glimpse I'd had of seeing the watch fully in some animation. I'd been expecting a button press to bring up the wrist. Still not found the mask wipe control though but I think it must clean itself in time. I mean a few splatters of blood on the visor would be useful so I know I'm wearing it! Also just remembered the charger! I thought the light was a bit dim! But I'd only ever used that charger once near the start and played all this time! Seems to me the light maybe never totally fails?