#sid meiers ultimate collection one more turn

[linuxgamenews]

Discover Sid Meier's Ultimate Collection: The One More Turn Bundle

Sid Meier's Ultimate Collection One More Turn bundle of games is a big deal for Linux, Mac, and Windows PC. Thanks to the brilliant minds of the Humble Bundle team. Available now for an incredible price. When it comes to the realm of strategy and simulation, few names are as iconic as Sid Meier. If you're curious about what all the attention is about or you've just stumbled upon this world, check out Sid Meier's Ultimate Collection One More Turn. First off, let's talk about the "Sid Meier’s Civilization" series. After being handed the reins of an entire civilization, starting from its humble beginnings in ancient times and due to guide it through the highs and lows of history. All while carving out a path to the modern era. That's what the "Civilization" series offers. Sid Meier's Ultimate Collection One More Turn is not just about building cities and armies. These games are about making choices that will also shape the future of your people.

The Content:

Sid Meier's Ultimate Collection One More Turn offers two decades of game content. Since you get to take various versions of this adventure. Right up to the latest entry, "Civilization VI" on Linux. And the best part? There's a ton of additional content, due to expansions and add-ons, that introduces fresh civilizations and unique scenarios. So, every time you dive in, there's always a new story waiting for you. Now, for those with a love for adventures on the high seas, "Sid Meier’s Pirates!" might just be your cup of tea. Instead of continents and kingdoms, here you're thrown into the world of pirates. All while you get to navigate the uncertain waters, hunt for treasures, and of course, engage in thrilling ship battles. Think of it as a ticket to take on the golden age of piracy.

What games are in the Sid Meier's Ultimate Collection One More Turn Bundle

Sid Meier's Civilization VI

Gathering Storm DLC

Rise and Fall DLC

Vikings Scenario Pack DLC

Poland Civilization & Scenario Pack DLC

Australia Civilization & Scenario Pack DLC

Persia and Macedon Civilization & Scenario Pack DLC

Nubia Civilization & Scenario Pack DLC

Khmer & Indonesia Double Civilization & Scenario Pack DLC

75% Off New Frontier Pass Coupon with the Sid Meier's Ultimate Collection One More Turn

Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth - The Collection

Sid Meier’s Civilization V: The Complete Edition

Sid Meier's Pirates! (with Proton)

Sid Meier's Civilization IV: The Complete Edition (with Proton)

Sid Meier's Civilization III: Complete (with Proton)

Sid Meier's Starships (with Proton)

Sid Meier's Railroads! (with Proton)

Sid Meier’s Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies (with Proton)

Sid Meier’s Ace Patrol (with Proton)

Sid Meier's Colonization (Classic)

Sid Meier's Covert Action (Classic)

The entire collection, which showcases the range and depth of Sid Meier's work. While aptly titled Sid Meier's Ultimate Collection One More Turn. Trust me, once you start, it's tough to stop. You'll find yourself playing, while the hours fly by.

The Deals:

This collection is part of Humble Bundle. So of course you get to decide how much you want to pay. While the usual cost of all this content can be as much as $471 USD, you can access Sid Meier's Ultimate Collection One More Turn for as little as $15 USD. What's even better, a part of your purchase goes to the charity "Trees, Water & People". Since you're not just indulging in a world of strategy; you're also making a difference in the real world. To make things smooth for you, all these titles can be redeemed on Steam. Since its a platform you're already be familiar with. Most of them are available for Linux, some via Proton with Windows, and even Mac too. Sid Meier's Ultimate Collection One More Turn is a fantastic option for both newcomers and veterans of the strategy genre. And remember, by getting this bundle, you're not just expanding your virtual horizons but also contributing to a noble cause. Along with quite a bit of native support for Linux. While releasing for an incredible price.

#sid meiers ultimate collection one more turn #humble bundle #linux #gaming news #ubuntu #mac #windows #pc #pay what you want

[your-dietician]

Best Prime Day, Day 2 tech deals 2021 at Amazon

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Best Prime Day, Day 2 tech deals 2021 at Amazon

We may receive commission from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

TVs and headphones and laptops, oh my! These Prime Day deals are off the charts. (Photo: Yahoo Life)

Spent the first day of Prime Day not sure what to pick up? You’re in luck! Prime Day — Day 2 is now in full swing and the discounts are even deeper. So take advantage of these Prime Day tech deals. 

Take out your wish list and check it twice. What have you been waiting on? Now’s the moment to grab it, whether it’s that big-screen TV, that cushy pair of headphones or that new smart home device. These price drops are epic.

We’ve gathered the very best Prime Day tech deals on everything from Apple AirPods to Nintendo games to Lenovo laptops and beyond. More good news: Amazon will give you free shipping on everything here. And if you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get even more — access to new movies and TV shows, discounts at Whole Foods, exclusive deals and two-day shipping on many, many items. Not yet a member? Why not? You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here.

Read on for the Prime Day — Day 2 tech deals calling your name.

Best TV deals

Not a typo: Just $100 gets you a top-rated HDTV! (Photo: Amazon)

This deal seems too good to be true…but it ain’t! Amazon has one of its top-selling TVs, the Insignia 24-inch Smart HD TV — Fire TV Edition, on sale for just $100 for Prime members only!

Instant access to Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, YouTube, Disney+, Prime Video and so much more will soon be yours. Alexa is included in the remote, so browsing will be a snap. Shoppers are just as shocked by the quality of this TV as we are by this incredible price!

“I am honestly very pleasantly surprised with how much I like this TV,” wrote a delighted shopper. “As far as clarity goes, I believe 720p is plenty for this screen size…. I have been very pleased with the Wi-Fi reception of the built-in Fire TV. It actually works a lot better than the USB-plug-in external fire sticks, for whatever reason.”

Shop more TV deals below:

Insignia 24-inch Smart HD TV — Fire TV Edition, $100 (was $170), amazon.com

Insignia 39-inch Smart HD TV — Fire TV Edition, $180 (was $250), amazon.com

Insignia NS-43DF710NA21 43-inch Smart 4K Ultra HD — Fire TV Edition, $220 (was $320), amazon.com

Toshiba 43-inch 43C350KU C350 Series LED 4K Ultra HD Smart Fire TV, $260 (was $370), amazon.com

Insignia 55-inch NS-55F301NA22 F30 Series LED 4K Ultra HD Smart Fire TV, $350 (was $500), amazon.com

Sony X80J 55-inch 4K Ultra HD LED Smart Google TV, $748 (was $800), amazon.com

Sony X80J 65-inch 4K Ultra HD LED Smart Google TV, $898 (was $1,000), amazon.com

Best headphone and earbud deals

Story continues

Good thing you don’t already own these — you’d never hear us shouting about what a great deal this is. (Photo: Amazon)

Sometimes, we get really lucky, and a big name drops the price on luxe headphones for Prime Day. Well, this is one of those times! These wireless Sony WH-CH710N Noise-Canceling Headphones are on sale for just $78 — that’s a whopping $122 off! Don’t you feel whopped? Shop now and save 61 percent — this is the lowest price we’ve ever seen on these top-rated cans!

The wireless headphones feature the crisp, clear audio you expect from Sony. Their Dual Noise Sensor Technology blocks out nearly all background and ambient distractions. No humming from your air conditioner or thrum from the washing machine — it’s just you and your music! Any birthdays coming up? These make an impressive gift (they’ll think you spent a fortune).

“The Sony headphones are perfect. They sync easily and the sound is clear,” raved a solace-seeking husband and dad. “The noise-canceling feature is great and often annoys my wife and kids when I can’t hear them. These are very comfortable….The charging is quick and the battery life is very good.”

Shop more headphone and earbud deals below:

Echo Buds, $80 (was $120), amazon.com

Apple AirPods Max, $522 (was $549), amazon.com

Apple AirPods Pro, $190 (was $249), amazon.com

Beats Solo Pro Wireless Noise Cancelling On-Ear Headphones, $170 (was $300), amazon.com

Bose Noise Cancelling Wireless Bluetooth Headphones 700, $229 (was $399), amazon.com

Sony WF-1000XM3 Noise Canceling Wireless Earbuds, $148 (was $230), amazon.com

Sony WF-SP800N True Wireless Sports In-Ear Noise-Canceling Headphones, $88 (was $199), amazon.com

Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones, $120 (was $200), amazon.com

Apple AirPods with Wireless Charging Case, $160 (was $199), amazon.com

Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earphones, $145 with on-page coupon (was $200), amazon.com

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds, $149 (was $300), amazon.com

Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus, $85 (was $150), amazon.com

Jabra Elite Active 65t Earbuds, $60 (was $100), amazon.com

Best gaming deals

FYI: This RPG features lots of DLC, and at just 15 bucks for three games, it’s a pretty BFD. (Photo: Amazon)

It’s time to join a mayhem-fueled thrill ride — at 70 percent off! In Borderlands Legendary Collection for Nintendo Switch, you’re whisked away to the planet Pandora, where you’ll be tasked with stopping the Calypso twins from getting all the bandit clans together and claiming ultimate power in the galaxy. Shoot, loot and role-play your way through the high-stakes action and collect a whole boatload of gadgets along the way.

This is the Legacy Edition, which includes all three games and DLC (downloadable content), is packed with new missions and stories, and more pillaging and power-ups.

“It’s so awesome to be able to play Borderlands on a handheld system,” raved a delighted gamer. “After about 100 hours in each game so far, All three run silky smooth with no hiccups. The gameplay is just how I remember it on the xbox 360 and I love it. I highly recommend this collection…”

Shop more gaming deals below:

Luna Gaming Controller, $49 (was $70), amazon.com

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (PS4), $16 (was $40), amazon.com

Sid Meier’s Civilization VI (PC), $35 (was $60), amazon.com

Mafia: Definitive Edition (PS4), $20 (was $40), amazon.com

BioShock: The Collection, $15 (was $50), amazon.com

NBA 2K21 (Xbox Series X), $20 (was $70), amazon.com

Godfall (PS5), $40 (was $70), amazon.com

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Nintendo Switch), $48 (was $60), amazon.com

Runmus Gaming Headset, $20 (was $43), amazon.com

Madden NFL 21: Next Level Edition (Xbox Series X), $21 (was $70), amazon.com

The Falconeer: Day One Edition (Xbox Series X), $22 (was $40), amazon.com

Outriders Day One Edition (PS5), $40 for Prime members only (was $60), amazon.com

Immortals Fenyx Rising (PS5), $30 (was $60), amazon.com

Best smartphone and tablet deals

Normally we’d never yell “Fire!” in a crowded website, but….”YOU’VE GOT TO GRAB THIS FIRE HD 8 FOR JUST $45!” (Photo: Amazon)

How ’bout another half-price sale? Coming right up! On sale for $45 (was $90), the Fire HD 8 has a brilliant eight-inch HD display and works with Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Music as well as hundreds of social media apps, games, and more. With its 10-hour battery life, this baby supports binge-watching.

“This HD 8 boots up extremely fast. The screen movement is very smooth,” wrote a delighted tablet user. “I own an HD 10 but I like this better because the size makes it easier to hold and maneuver…. I had a concern about the sound quality, but the sound quality is very good. The charge time is fast and the battery holds a charge for a long time.” And the price? Ridiculous.

Shop more smartphone and tablet deals below:

Fire HD 8 Plus, $65 (was $110), amazon.com

Fire HD 10, $80 (was $150), amazon.com

Fire HD 10 Plus, $110 (was $180), amazon.com

Kindle, $55 (was $90), amazon.com

Kindle Paperwhite, $80 (was $130), amazon.com

Kindle Oasis, $185 (was $250), amazon.com

Apple iPad (10.2-inch, Wi-Fi, 32GB), $299 (was $329), amazon.com

Moto G7 Plus, $140 (was $250), amazon.com

TCL 10 Pro Unlocked Android Smartphone, $295 for Prime members only (was $400), amazon.com

Ulefone Note 9P smartphone, $145 with on-page coupon (was $200), amazon.com

Best smart-home deals

Want to turn your dumb home into a smart home? Look to the orb! (Photo: Amazon)

With an all-new sphere design, the fourth generation Echo Dot, marked down from $50 to just $25 (we’ve done the math — that’s half off!) for Prime members only, is a small but powerful smart speaker with a glow-light base that can not only channel Alexa but can also stream tunes from Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, Sirius XM and more. It offers clearer, more robust audio quality than earlier iterations. With this dynamo at 50 percent off, there’s never been a smarter time to pair it with another Echo Dot to create amazing stereo sound.

Shoppers love the compact dimensions — just 3.5-inches high — which make it great for smaller rooms. “This is exactly what I was looking for,” said a happy Amazon shopper. “The sound is loud and clear. Now I am able to hear all online stations with no interference. The design is space-saving, with rubber underneath to prevent sliding.”

The Echo Dot 4 comes in Charcoal, Glacier White and Twilight Blue.

Shop more smart-home deals below:

Echo Show 5, $45 (was $80), amazon.com

Echo Auto, $15 (was $50), amazon.com

Echo Show 10 (third generation), $190 (was $250), amazon.com

Echo Frames (second generation), $175 (was $250), amazon.com

Echo Show 8 (second generation), $95 (was $130), amazon.com

Fire TV Cube, $80 (was $120), amazon.com

Fire TV Stick 4K, $25 (was $50), amazon.com

eero 6 mesh Wi-Fi router, $83 (was $129), amazon.com

Ring Video Doorbell Wired, $45 (was $60), amazon.com

Ring Spotlight Cam, $150 (was $200), amazon.com

Ring Stick Up Cam, $75 (was $100), amazon.com

Rexing V1 4K Ultra HD Car Dash Cam, $72 (was $100), amazon.com

Govee Immersion WiFi TV LED Backlights, $49 (was $80), amazon.com

Best work-from-home deals

Whether you’re working from home or just playing around, this Lenovo laptop/tablet’s got you covered. (Photo: Walmart)

Here in Prime time, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is on sale for just $399 (down from $520) — over 20 percent off! If productivity is your game, then this machine came to play (by which we mean work). Its brilliant HD 14-inch LED display makes everything look stellar, from spreadsheets to YouTube videos. And thanks to a speedy and powerful AMD Ryzen 3 4300U Octa-Core Processor paired with 4GB of memory and 128GB of on-board storage, the Flex 5 can handle just about any task you throw at it. The laptop even doubles as a Windows 10 tablet — that’s the “Flex” part.

“Amazing laptop, perfect for my everyday needs,” wrote a delighted Walmart reviewer. “Runs fast, touchscreen is awesome and it’s lightweight and small, making travel easy. Extremely durable. Love the ability to use the Lenovo pen, and the tablet mode is such a great feature. Definitely would recommend, especially for the epic price range. Can’t compare.”

Shop more work-from-home deals below:

AcePC AK1 Mini PC, $140 with on-page coupon (was $190), amazon.com

HP Chromebook 11, $180 (was $260), amazon.com

LifeLong Ergonomic Laptop stand for desk, $60 (was $90), amazon.com

AndaSeat gaming and office chair, $240 for Prime members only (was $300), amazon.com

DamKee Massage Gun, $69 with on-page coupon for Prime members only (was $110), amazon.com

Saiji Laptop Bed Tray Desk, $36 with on-page coupon for Prime members only (was $100), amazon.com

SoQool Laptop Stand, $16 for Prime members only (was $90), amazon.com

Canon Office and Business MB5120 All-in-One Printer, $250 (was $300), amazon.com

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

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Board Games Wishlist

Next year, I plan to leave video games for a while. Also, I’m a big board game enthusiast. Yet I haven’t bought a single board game in maybe 10 years. I would like to change that and dedicate a shelf in my life to a small library. I have some boards and cards left from my teen years, but only 3 of them are good enough to make it.

One reason I’m writing this post right now is because there’s no reasonable way for me to keep a wishlist. The other one is that it’s always possible I won’t start buying board games as I might not want to cluster my space. Money might be a reason too as I’d rather spend $100 on something else than a heavy box. This also a key to how I ordered the list. Cheap small games, which are easy to get out and play are top priority. The second category are games with esoteric qualities such as great artwork. I think that a game with reasonable production is more likely to get played with non-geeks than a space opera. The third category are reasonably priced big boxes with swift gameplay. This game features Reiner Knizia and several other clever designs. The last category are games, which float over me in my wet dreams. Boxes full of shiny components, power fantasy and overblown artwork.

Accessibility in my region is also a quality I consider. Some games are surprisingly affordable in local distribution.

All pictures in this article are sourced from Board Game Geek if not stated otherwise.

Good games I already own

I own more than three games but only three qualify as games I would like to put on table again. These three games are:

1. König der Elfen - 20 years old design, which  is quite straightforward and enjoyable. While staying simple, it offers enough space for strategy. I quite enjoy the artwork too.

2. The Hobbit Adventure Boardgame - a very old design from 1993. I like this one purely for nostalgia. It’s one of these adventure games you never finish as a children because you enjoy your time with the game and you can’t really grasp boss fight rules.

3. Carcassonne: Hunters and Gatherers - I picked this one back when it was the only alternative version of Carcassonne. The box included more than the vanilla. I kind of regret the decision as I think that the original themes suits this classic better. 

Small Light Investitions

This category is simple. Mostly well regarded games under 20 bucks in small boxes. I’m really likely to get most of these. Also, It’s easy to put take one or more of them on the go. This makes them more likely to be played and therefore even more worth their small pricetag.

4. Citadels - This is a classic a played and enjoyed many times. I’m interested to see how it holds up. It’s been a while after all. 

5. Bang! The Dice Game - I played Bang! at least hundred times and I wouldn’t be against returning to it. This seems to be a better option plus a great introduction to dice games.

6. Age of War - Another small game using dice. I want to store some time ago to buy it, but they managed to sell it out super fast. Hopefully, there’s a second edition or something. This game seems to really pack a punch for its size.

7.  Artifacts Inc. - A slightly bigger game, less of a classic, but one with glowing reviews and magnificent art. Ryan Laukat created a beautiful universe with his games and this one’s universally highly regarded. An alternative might be Roam, if it turns out well. The latter game’s currently on Kickstarter. It might prove more difficult to bring this to the table, but I would like to have it for its pleasant look only.

8. Biblios - I listened to a podcast recently and it praised Biblios. Given its a cheap game with a likable theme (I can imagine many of my almost cynical friends attracted by it), this is a must have. The dice looks nice too.

9.  Sunset Over Water - I’m certain you will like this slightly kitsch game too,  if you check out this article. Daily Worker Placement’s my favourite board gaming website and their reviews are often visual experiences, which make you see a game from an entirely different angle. The game’s supposed to be easy going and relaxing. Also I like it, when cards are used as tiles. I just love that space element of board games over traditional card games. The other exciting thing are meeples in this game. They show how much chill Sunset Over Water is.

10. Targi - I heard this is an ultimate worker player experience for two players. I’m hyped to try it. The table presence of this game is great and mechanics are really easy to grasp. I think the theme is quite strong and original too. Unfortunately, it’s impossible for me to get Targi  locally right now.

Osprey Games

Ok, this might sound like a dumb category. But look at them! I want all of Osprey productions. They’re neat little packages with excellent graphic design, interesting themes and mostly well regarded games. The only downside is, that I’ll have to order them from England as the one I crave the most for isn’t available here. I can’t live without Cryptid.

11. Cryptid - The game’s a piece of art. I have a massive boner for the way it is both abstract and concrete. The theme of searching for something is simple enough for normal people to enjoy it and to appreciate the game. I really want to own and play Cryptid.

12. The Lost Expedition - Read the review Daily Worker Placement published and tell me it doesn’t make you excited about this little (solo) experience. Again, the production is on spot, the theme is great and the gameplay leaves space for imagination, micro stories created by situations.

13. London - When you take a look at Martin Wallace’s portfolio, it’s a wild ride. I currently own one of his designs, Runebound, and it’s a game too long and complicated to be played. It simulates computer RPGs better than more popular games such as Talisman, but it can’t be played in the same casual fashion. London’s hopefully a different case. The theme’s less embarrassing and it offers real economical challenge.  That’s something my friends are likely to appreciate.

14. Agamemnon - Again, I love the production and it feels like an actual ancient games. Drive Thru Reviews’ episode on the game hooked me on mechanics as well. He compares it to Samurai, which is a famous game from Dr. Knizia. The comparison favours Agamemnon as a tighter cousin of the bigger game.

Reasonably Sized Boxes

This category are games usually more expensive than games in first 2 categories. I usually want them for a reason. I watched and read reviews on most and they hyped me on their original mechanics or perfect implementation of traditional ones. Also, you might follow dominant themes in this category. One of them are designers. Dr. Knizia’s games in general are good examples of games, which belong in this category. They’re usually light on mechanics. He is able to work with little to create a perfect puzzle.

15. The Quest for El Dorado - I’m super hyped about this one right now. Many videos recommend Dominion as a good starting point for deck building games. El Dorado is better in my humble opinion. Deck building mechanism is a simple one and well tied with movement. This a swift racing game, which is about planning ahead and player interaction. The two videos got me hooked more than anything else. Shut Up and Sit Down’s review and especially Game Night’s session with the game. Last fifteen minutes provide some really good analysis.

16. Mombasa - For some reason, the local distribution of Mombasa is extremely affordable. I like the theme better than other Pfister’s games too. It’s not a light game and choices in this game are more complicated and I’m not sure it’s really a good choice, but it’s a steal. And I want to make my liberal friends feel bad about exploitation.

17. Sid Meier's Civilization: A New Dawn - This game’s more elegant than Mombasa but nowhere near El Dorado or ather Knizia’s gems. I’m a civilization sucker, tho. A New Dawn managed to cut down enough to make the length of an official civ board game reasonable. It features a very attractive mechanic. The later you use an action, the stronger it becomes. I don’t mind it being less meaty than most civ games.

18. Rise of Tribes - I dislike the cover of this one. Other than that it looks like a perfect game for me. It’s fast, especially combat, and it features an interesting choose your action mechanic. I feel like this is a tight design, which might become even tighter after you play Rise of Tribes several times. It feels like a great game to play multiple times in a row. Together with A New Down, they should be great starting points, when coming with your own design for a civilization themed light board game. The picture is courtesy of  Henry Chinaski

Outlandish Furniture

It’s not likely that I’ll ever own more than one of games in this category (Concordia). I would love to have them all. They’re big, finely produced and full of inspiring moments. I need funds and space for normal furniture, which clashes with these boxes. They’re a dangerous turning point too. If I ever get more of these, I’m neck deep in collecting. There’s no way I’d play more of them regularly. I

19. 878 Vikings - Price tag of Vikings is too big. The game isn’t heavy or long, but plastic minis make it more expensive and big than it should be. The design is intriguing otherwise. It’s a fairly simple and very thinky are control game, which could be considered a good entry point for wargaming too.

20. Concordia - The peak of eurogames? Shut Up and Sit Down’s review doesn’t sell this one short and it makes me willing to invest in it. Unfortunately, the latest edition (Venus) is more expensive than I find reasonable atm. Owning Concordia is a goal to have, but I have to get there, have a group to play it with and allocated space for its box.

21.-25. Food Chain Magnate, Nusfjord, Quantum, Santa Maria

26. PARKS - This game isn’t expensive or big. It was kickstarted recently and it’s difficult to predict its availability. It has an attractive theme and art style. Mechanics seem to be quite laid back and that’s something I like too. It ought to be more of an experience than a battle or a race.

#board games #wishlist

[stag28]

"Fairness is the unspoken promise of most video games. Controlled by an omniscient and omnipotent designer, a video game has the capacity to be ultimately just, and players expect that it will be so. (Designers also have an incentive to be even-handed: A game that always beats you is a game you’ll soon stop playing.) And yet, when video games truly play by the rules, the player can feel cheated. Sid Meier, the designer of the computer game Civilization, in which players steer a nation through history, politics, and warfare, quickly learned to modify the game’s odds in order to redress this psychological wrinkle. Extensive play-testing revealed that a player who was told that he had a 33 percent chance of success in a battle but then failed to defeat his opponent three times in a row would become irate and incredulous. [..] So Meier altered the game to more closely match human cognitive biases; if your odds of winning a battle were 1 in 3, the game guaranteed that you’d win on the third attempt—a misrepresentation of true probability that nevertheless gave the illusion of fairness. Call it the Lucky Paradox: Lucky is fun, but too lucky is unreal. The resulting, on-going negotiation among game players and designers must count as one of our most abstract collective negotiations. [..] Luck is equally vital in modern games, whether it emerges from dice rattling in a cup or the treacherous Chance cards in Monopoly. But its role has changed: Humans have taken the reins from the gods, and luck has become a design tool capable of changing players’ experiences and expectations. For instance, it enables players of varying abilities to play together by reducing the advantage of actual skill. [..] When the soccer ball sails past the goalkeeper in FIFA, or when, inexplicably, a herd of race cars slows down to allow you to catch up, a game designer’s hand has just acted to provide some ghostly rigging. The effect of this manipulation is to flatter you and thereby keep you engaged. But it’s a trick that must be deployed subtly. A player who senses that he’s secretly being helped by the game will feel patronized; after all, luck is only luck if it’s truly unpredictable. Which is where the problems begin. [..] “As soon as the player becomes aware of any sort of pseudo-randomness, it risks undermining the joy of getting lucky,” [..] Games in which you’re given seemingly random rewards often employ a device known as a “pity timer,” Sottosanti explained, which guarantees that something seemingly fortunate will happen to you after a sustained period of misfortune—anything from 10 minutes to an hour, depending on the game. [..] While some instances of pseudo-randomness are designed to create the feeling of fairness, others are designed for profit. With the rise of so-called freemium games—free games that make real money during the course of play by selling virtual items—comes the temptation to manipulate what looks like a random act of chance in order to encourage further spending [..] It’s a technique straight out of the 1950s playbook of the American psychologist B.F. Skinner. Whether the subject is a pigeon, rat, or person, Skinner found, the strongest way to reinforce a learned behavior was to reward it on a random schedule. The designers of free-to-play games, by using an intermittent variable to dole out small prizes, found that they could keep players engaged—and spending—for longer. [..] When a player feels favored by luck, she said, “you can pin it to certain neurotransmitters spiking, and you know dopamine is released. Even the compulsive search and hunt for recreating that sense of euphoria is driven by the reward center in the brain.” Dopamine’s power to turn us into luck-chasers can be seen most vividly in the effects of some drugs used to treat Parkinson’s disease, which, in flooding the brain with dopamine, have been shown to turn patients into gambling addicts. And the temptation to manipulate the appearance of probabilities, in order to appeal to the human brain, is nowhere greater than in the gambling industry, where, whether the game is hosted on the Internet or in a physical machine in a casino, software usually handles the calculations. The results of any modern slot machine are based on arcane random-number generators in a computerized network, not on the fortunate conjunction of three wooden wheels. But losing to that sort of luck can be dispiriting. So gambling machines often employ the fiction of physical luck—by, say, making it look as if you just missed out on a king’s ransom as the final matching bar of gold or lemon reels to a stop just shy of a jackpot payout. This entices you to once more bet on odds that remain astronomical. [..] “On the one hand, people experience near-misses as aversive, but at the same time, the near-miss increases motivation. On a slot machine, a near-miss makes you more likely to continue, because it makes you feel like you’re improving at the game.” For games based heavily upon luck, maintaining this illusion of improvement and control is crucial. [..] Persuading a player that he’s improving at a luck-based game in turn increases the likelihood that he’ll take on unfavorable odds. “For years the gambling industry has had the ability to track individual players, create robust historical profiles on customers, and employ algorithms that can tell when someone is likely to leave,” [..] The operators of digital gambling machines have the ability to change payout odds in the middle of a gambling session based on these profiles, by giving a player a small payout in order to tempt him or her to keep playing. Many states have laws that forbid “luck” from being manipulated in this way. To get around that, casino operators dispatch so-called “luck ambassadors,” who go onto the casino floor and hand gamblers a cash bonus to keep them invested. Freemium games, which aren’t currently subject to the same legal strictures that bind the gambling industry, can freely give these bonus payouts during the game in order to make a player feel lucky—and so keep them playing and spending. [..] Unfortunately, the pure approach doesn’t always convince players. “Today, players almost always perceive patterns of manipulation where there are none,” Jason Kapalka, the Peggle developer, said. “When I was working on online games, it was nearly impossible to convince certain players that the results weren’t rigged in some way. People came up with elaborate theories about how beginners were given better results so as to rope them into subscriptions, or veteran players would be rewarded with better results for their patronage, and so on.” [..] If play is the way in which human beings rehearse life, it follows that we require our games to be filled with uncertainties, moments of caprice to which we must adapt our position and strategy. But we’ve grown more demanding about the luck that games serve to us—not too much, not too little."

#videogames #gamedesign #incentives #manipulation

[entergamingxp]

Get Borderlands, Bioshock and XCOM for cheap in the 2K Humble Bundle • Eurogamer.net

Almost 400 worth of games for just 16.

Humble has launched a new 2K Game Together Bundle that features the likes of Borderlands, Bioshock and XCOM for next to no money at all.

This bundle starts, as they always do, with the cheapest £1 tier. You’d usually find this one a little underwhelming, but it’s hard to complain about getting The Darkness 2, Sid Meier’s Pirates! and Spec Ops: The Line for that price. Oh, and we can’t forget about Carnival Games VR, too!

The Darkness 2 and Spec Ops: The Line are especially strong shooters for the money. You’ve probably heard enough spoken about the latter by now, but it’s well worth a playthrough if you’ve not had the chance yet.

The next tier is currently hovering around the £10 mark and could easily tempt you with the inclusion of the Bioshock Collection. This features all three games in the series, plus DLC. And definitely don’t sleep on that DLC either. Both Minerva’s Den from Bioshock 2 and Burial at Sea from Bioshock Infinite are some of the best the series has to offer.

They feel like a bit of an afterthought, but also available in the second tier are The Golf Club 2019, Civilization 3: Complete and NBA 2K Playgrounds 2.

Lastly, in the final tier, you’ll find a real mixed bag of goodies for £16. At the top end, you’ve got the brilliant turned-based strategy masterpiece XCOM: Enemy Unknown – Complete Edition. Not a bad way to get your eye in ahead of the release of XCOM: Chimera Squad next week.

Then, there’s also both Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition – Enhanced and Borderlands: The Handsome Collection. Hundreds of hours of looter-shooter mayhem await in these three games, though if you’ve only got time for one then I’d suggest Borderlands 2 was when the series hit its peak.

The last couple of games in the final tier are sporty: NBA 2K20 and WWE 2K20. The latter didn’t exactly launch in the best state last October and went viral after a multitude of glitches were shared online. Then, to make matters worse, a Y2K style bug crashed the game for anyone playing at the start of the year. Maybe one best avoided?

After more top gaming offers? You can find loads over at Jelly Deals. Join us to find the best power bank for Nintendo Switch, the best PS4 external hard drive or where to find the best Xbox Game Pass Ultimate deal.

Nevertheless, at £16 for everything in the 2K Game Together Bundle, it’s clearly great value. It’s live at Humble Bundle for the next two weeks.

from EnterGamingXP https://entergamingxp.com/2020/04/get-borderlands-bioshock-and-xcom-for-cheap-in-the-2k-humble-bundle-%e2%80%a2-eurogamer-net/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=get-borderlands-bioshock-and-xcom-for-cheap-in-the-2k-humble-bundle-%25e2%2580%25a2-eurogamer-net