The very worst controller I’ve ever used was this no-name joystick in the 90s. You had to grip like a claw, which looked kind of cool and futuristic but was awful in use. The base was tiny and it had these suction cups that didn’t work at all.
But the very very worst thing about it, was that the input was binary! It was either on or off, no gradual movements or anything. Basically it was an oversized d-pad.

I borrowed it from a friend so I could try Rebel Assault, which looked so awesome what with CD-ROMs being a new thing. But that joystick ruined the experience so much! Try flying a ship through a canyon when all you can do is hard turns in 8 different directions. I constantly crashed within the first 10 seconds of the game and kept thinking it was my fault for being a crap player.
I still hate that monstrosity with every fiber of my being.

My entire family is obsessed with Power Wash Simulator right now. Especially my partner who can’t seem to get enough of it.
It is quite soothing though, just empty your head and wash away the filth.

When you put it like that I suppose Anachronox is definitely more of a JRPG. Either way, it’s a really good game :)

Thank you for your thorough explanation!

It was a mix of both, the battle system was definitely like a JRPG that’s true.
Come to think of it, I’m not an expert on JRPG’s, so maybe it is? :) What else defines a JRPG?

One title that comes to mind is Anachronox. A western rpg with a really good story, interesting characters (one of your companions is an entire planet shrinked down to human size), fun humor and a cliffhanger that never got resolved.

I really wish they made a part 2 but I know it will never happen.

I splurged on the Steam winter sale and bought a set of smaller games.
Right now I’m busy playing I Was a Teenage Exocolonist which has been more fun than expected. I really like the story and the multiple paths and endings. The card games are meh, but once you find a good modifier they become very easy.

At the same time I’m also playing Shadows over Loathing which is very very funny in short sessions.

Oh I love Frog Detective! I played it together with my (then) 5 year old daughter, where I was required to read out loud all the dialogue in funny voices.
They are indeed very cute and short games.

edit: it’s a trilogy, not one game :)

I’ve started playing Rogue Trader. I’m not very familiar with the warhammer 40k universe and my god it’s a depressing place. I’m heavily leaning into the iconoclast play style because I don’t think I’d be able to roleplay as a dutiful servant of the empire.
There’s also a ton of stats that make my head spin. But I usually just avoid thinking about that by decreasing the difficulty and choosing upgrades that sounds interesting.

I’m making my way through the Lyonesse trilogy by Jack Vance. I’ve read the Dutch version many years ago and it’s a real treat to read it again English.
It’s basically one gigantic fairy tale and I’m loving all of it…

Westwood, but not for Command & Conquer or Dune 2. I still remember them fondly for their Kyrandia games. I loved the art design, the music and the jokes.
Kyrandia 2 being one of my all time favorite adventure games, Zanthia was an awesome protagonist. Especially for her time.

It’s nice that their strategy games picked up the way they did, but part of me wishes they stuck with their fantasy games.

I loved the Quest games! They were my first real introduction to the English language. Simple phrases like Open Door and feed chickens were a great way to build my basic vocabulary. I kept pestering my dad for translations until he got fed up and taught me how to use a dictionary :)

I have so many great memories playing those games, on my own and together with my dad. It really was a bonding experience.

That’s true, I didn’t think of that.

They don’t need the BBB though. PVV, NSC and VVD should be good for an 81 seat majority.
But yes, I pretty much expect the coalition to fall within a year or two (should they manage to get a coalition to begin with). The question is who will cause the fall and who will be scapegoated. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ll be positioning themselves for this inevitability from the start.

This is so depressing…
I knew it would be bad, but not this bad. Only comfort I can take is in the fact that they’ll have to form a coalition with other major parties. Most of them already flat-out denied working together with the PVV (Partij Voor de Vrijheid - Party For Freedom) but we’ll see how much of that will remain true.
Hopefully the coalition will break and we’ll have new elections in a year or so.

Started playing Space Wreck which has been fun so far. It’s like playing the old Fallout and Arcanum games, or at least as how I remember them. The first act I basically talked my way through without fighting a single fight or passing any other skill checks. I really love these kinds of role-playing games so I’m a happy… err… person :)
I’m already thinking about how to replay this for my second and third run (it’s supposed to be a short game)

I’m just glad Daggerfall got some appreciation. It is horribly outdated now, but back then it was the first game that really let me explore an open world and role-play as whoever I wanted to be (within the limitation of the game of course). I could do anything I wanted, go anywhere I pleased.
I don’t think I ever got far in the plot, but I spend months exploring every other nook and cranny. I still remember the vibrant online community it created in the form of webrings where people shared tips or showed off their screenshots in self-made geocities websites.

The only problem is that fighting games are relatively niche so the weight of that decision isn’t too high.

Really? I thought fighting games got quite a bit of press attention, at least whenever a new game releases. Specifically because there aren’t a lot of them around but the interest is still pretty big.
I always saw them as kind of like a prestige thing. It might not be everyone’s favorite genre, but having the best fighting game looks good on your platform as a whole. There’s a certain… pedigree to them because of their arcade roots.
Anyway, I hope you’ll get your wish. It’s always a shame when these kind of titles are just languishing away because some company bought the rights but decides to sit on them.

From a completely selfish standpoint, I hope they’ll do something with the neglected IP. Would love to see a new Sierra game, though that might just be the nostalgia speaking :)

Other than that, I recall Microsoft not going to interfere with any unionization attempts due to a neutrality agreement?

It really depends on where I play. Behind the PC it’s definitely mouse and keyboard, it just doesn’t feel comfortable to play with a controller while sitting in my office chair.
Everything else is controller, but it’s not like you have much choice in those situations :)

Baldur’s Gate 3 - It’s my second run. Part of what I love about these games is that you’ll find new things and different approaches with every play-through. And with every run you get a little more daring and in-character with how you react to situations.
First time round I can’t help but play little miss goody two-shoes, just staying true to my own nature. Second time I feel a bit more daring and actually try to act like the self-centered anti-hero I had in mind for this character. Who knows, maybe some day I’ll even dare to play a villain :)