February 20th 2025.
Have you heard about Apex Legends? It's a popular free-to-play shooter game that has been making waves in the gaming community. I've been meaning to try it out myself, as many people have been raving about its addictive gameplay. But, that's not the only thing on the minds of gamers these days. Recently, a reader wrote in to express their concern about the use of AI in the development of games, citing the controversial name of a game called Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
If you want to join in on the discussion, you can email your thoughts to the address provided. But, let's get back to the topic at hand. It's interesting to see how the gaming industry has evolved, with the rise of free-to-play games like Marvel Rivals and Apex Legends. While some may argue that these games are not as fun as they seem, I personally believe that Apex Legends still reigns supreme in terms of gameplay and action.
But, that's just my opinion. I know that some gamers prefer different types of shooters, like Call of Duty: Warzone or Fortnite. However, for me, Warzone is too tame and Fortnite's gunplay has always been subpar. Although, I have been meaning to try out Warframe, if anyone has any recommendations for it.
It's truly amazing how far the gaming industry has come, especially with the rise of free-to-play games. Twenty years ago, who would have thought that the most popular games in the world would be available for free? Of course, there's always a catch. These games are designed to be addictive, with the intention of getting players to spend money on in-game purchases. But, compared to the quality of games that were available 20 years ago, I can't really complain.
However, there's one thing that bothers me about all this talk about AI in gaming. It seems like the main purpose of implementing AI is to cut costs and replace human workers. It's just another solution in search of a problem, with the main beneficiaries being the CEOs who can afford to buy yet another yacht. And, let's be honest, AI probably won't speed up the game development process at all. In fact, it'll probably just lead to even more work for developers and longer development times. But, as long as the shareholders and executives are happy, right?
It's unfortunate that the real victims of this AI trend are the voice actors, who have been on strike for seven months now. And, we may not even realize the impact of AI on the gaming industry until a few years from now, when we start seeing more and more games with creepy AI voices instead of real people. It's a scary thought, but it's a reality that we may have to face in the future.
Speaking of shady practices in the gaming industry, have you heard about NetEase and their treatment of game creators? It's truly disheartening to see a successful game like Marvel Rivals being taken over by a company who has no qualms about mistreating their employees. It's no surprise that the video game development industry has become one of the worst jobs in the world, with a high percentage of workers losing their jobs in recent years.
It's a shame that companies like NetEase prioritize profit over the well-being of their employees. And, it's even more disheartening to see the lack of appreciation from both publishers and the general public towards game developers. It's easy to criticize and nitpick, but the reality is that game development is a tough and demanding job. The fact that people are willing to send death threats over trivial matters is just absurd.
On a lighter note, have you heard about the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2? Personally, I'm not too excited about it, as none of the announced games have caught my attention. However, I might be tempted to buy a cheaper version of the console, one that doesn't have a screen or Joy-Cons, as I rarely use those features anyways. The mini version would suit me just fine.
It's funny how a name can make all the difference in the gaming world. Take for example, Naughty Dog's decision to cancel The Last of Us Online and the absence of the popular multiplayer mode, Factions, in the first game's remake. It's a shame that the company didn't include it in the first place, and now, neither game has a multiplayer mode on the PlayStation 5. It just goes to show that game preservation is not just about preserving old games, but also ensuring the longevity of new ones.
But, I guess that's just how the gaming industry works. Publishers will do whatever it takes to maximize profits, even if it means disregarding the hard work and dedication of game developers. It's a sad reality, but I hope that one day, things will change for the better. In the meantime, let's continue to support and appreciate the hard work of game creators. And, if you have any thoughts about these issues, feel free to email them to the address provided.
I highly recommend giving Apex Legends a try, especially since it's currently free to play. I've seen some concerns about artificial intelligence not being used to assist developers, and one reader even pointed out their issue with the name of a game called Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
But back to the topic at hand, I was a bit surprised by the success of Marvel Rivals as I didn't find it very enjoyable. Maybe I just don't understand it, but to me, it felt too random and unbalanced. In my opinion, the best free shooter out there is still Apex Legends. While the characters and world may not be the most exciting, the gameplay itself is top-notch and it speaks for itself as a great game.
I've never been a fan of Call of Duty's Warzone, finding it too tame for my taste. And as for Fortnite, the gunplay has never been up to par for me. I've been meaning to try Warframe though, and would appreciate any recommendations.
It's almost hard to complain about these free games, as they are all of high-quality. Of course, they have to be if they want to keep players hooked and spending money. But it's still amazing to think that the most popular games in the world are all free, something that would have been unimaginable 20 years ago.
Now, onto a different topic that I personally dislike - the use of AI in video games. I can't help but feel that it's just an excuse for companies to lay off more employees. It seems like a solution in search of a problem, with the only benefit being to greedy CEOs who just want to buy more yachts. And let's be honest, AI probably won't even speed up the game-making process. It's just another tool for companies to squeeze more work out of their employees. And let's not forget the voice actors who have been on strike for seven months now, all because of this AI nonsense. We may not realize it yet, but in a few years, we'll see the effects of AI in the form of creepy, artificial voices instead of real people.
Speaking of terrible jobs, imagine working for NetEase after they dumped the creators of Marvel Rivals and started doing all the updates from China. It's a heartless move and makes me question why anyone would want to work for them. But honestly, who would want to be a video game developer at all these days? With 1 in 10 losing their jobs in the last few years and the threat of AI taking over, it's no longer the glamorous job it once seemed to be. And to make matters worse, there are fans who have such contempt for the developers, as seen in the comments section of this story. It's truly shameful and I wouldn't be surprised if there were death threats being thrown around.
Now, let's move on to something a bit more positive - the possibility of a cheaper, non-portable version of the Nintendo Switch. As someone who always uses a Pro Controller and never takes their Switch out of its dock, this would be a dream come true. I've been a loyal Nintendo fan since the GameCube, but I have to admit, nothing announced for the Switch 2 has me excited for a launch day purchase. However, a mini version of the console with no screen, battery, or Joy-Cons would definitely catch my attention.
Lastly, I want to touch upon the issue of game preservation and the missed opportunity with The Last of Us Online. It's a shame that the Factions multiplayer mode wasn't included in the first game, and now, with the cancellation of The Last of Us Online, neither game has a multiplayer option on PlayStation 5. It's ironic that companies talk about preserving games when it's the newer ones that are being lost. Factions is practically non-existent now, and let's not forget about Concord - a game that cost millions to make and now seems to have disappeared without a trace. It's a sad reality, and while I don't expect anything to be done about it, there should be a law against this kind of behavior. But alas, Parliament has already said no, so it looks like publishers are free to do as they please.
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