LOTRO: The State of the Game in Late 2025
Kingdoms of Harad, the 13th expansion for the MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online, was released today. Highlighting developer’s Standing Stone Games continuing commitment to this eighteen year old game. As 2025 draws to a close, I thought it would be prudent to reflect upon the current state of LOTRO and to consider what may come next year. Two words that I associated with this MMO are stable and consistent. The playerbase is loyal and dependable. Player numbers never greatly decline nor do they notably expand. LOTRO fills a very specific gaming niche and one of the reasons it retains its players is that there is no suitable alternative game. Although there is not a great deal of data in the public domain, it is generally accepted that LOTRO has an older player demographic and that many are consummate Tolkien fans.
Kingdoms of Harad, the 13th expansion for the MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online, was released today. Highlighting developer’s Standing Stone Games continuing commitment to this eighteen year old game. As 2025 draws to a close, I thought it would be prudent to reflect upon the current state of LOTRO and to consider what may come next year. Two words that I associated with this MMO are stable and consistent. The playerbase is loyal and dependable. Player numbers never greatly decline nor do they notably expand. LOTRO fills a very specific gaming niche and one of the reasons it retains its players is that there is no suitable alternative game. Although there is not a great deal of data in the public domain, it is generally accepted that LOTRO has an older player demographic and that many are consummate Tolkien fans.
This is the third expansion for the game that is set in the South of Middle-earth. Although many aspects of the MMO remain consistently good, such as the story telling and character development, I personally haven’t warmed to this area. Umbar, Harad and Khand are not especially detailed regions within Tolkien’s writing. I feel that the game developers have drawn too much from a stereotypical depiction of Middle-eastern culture. The sort you see in Western pop culture depictions of Sinbad and Ali Baba. For me it is an incongruous contrast to the established regions of Middle-earth. I’d rather these areas had just remained alluded to within the game, the same way they are in the Legendarium. However, what I am describing is a matter of taste. I’m sure there are LOTRO players who feel the opposite.
The latest expansion sees an increase in the level cap from 150 to 160. Thus there will be a need to replace all your existing jewellery, weapons and armour equipped on your alts. It may feel somewhat arbitrary but levelling remains an important element to many players, as does the gear treadmill. No doubt there will be an increase in the virtue traits level cap, so there is plenty to work towards over the month ahead. The expansion will at some point include new raids and instances but these really are a niche requirement and only a nominal amount of players playthrough such content. There are no new classes or races and Kingdoms of Harad does not include any new systems or mechanics. However, this should come as no surprise as SSG tends to work within established confines.
The most significant event for LOTRO this year was the migration to 64-bit servers and the regional consolidation. The lag issue that has plagued this MMO for years has definitely improved but has not been totally eliminated. The main issue that SSG faces is a knowledge gap, as the majority of staff that built the game have gone. It’s not a case of SSG not wanting to fix issues but the fact that they can’t. Hence the game still cannot adequately support 2K and 4K gaming. It is the main reason why LOTRO always gets “more of the same”. Quests, instances and missions are known quantities. More ambitious projects such as overhauling the deed log have proven far harder. There is also a long list of issues that SSG have said that they will “look into” that remain outstanding. Standardising event or faction based barter currency is one example. Removing outdated systems from the HUD being another.
If you pay attention to the press releases from the business side of the Daybreak Game Company, it is clear that LOTRO is financially sustainable within its existing parameters. It has a stable playerbase and yields a sufficient ROI to keep moving forward. However, it was made clear by CEO Ji Ham that the much touted graphics upgrade and console version of the game would not go ahead because of the cost. He stated that they could get a new game for the price. LOTRO players have conjectured whether the cancellation of Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings based MMO, will have an impact upon LOTRO. Could it mean further investment? I think not. The video game industry is contracting at present and is extremely risk averse. LOTRO continues because it generates sufficient revenue within its operational parameters. It is not seen, in business terms, as anything more than the sum of its parts.
LOTRO players have a strong emotional attachment to the game. I also believe that the developers SSG do the best with the budgets and resources they have to work with. However, I think that it is unrealistic to expect anything more from this vintage MMO other than what it currently offers. I believe I said exactly the same thing 3 or 4 years ago in a similar post. Hence, for me the most sensible thing to do going into 2026 is be content that LOTRO still endures. At some point in the New Year a roadmap for the next twelve months will be published, although I don’t expect any surprises. A year-long content schedule will be sufficient to keep me happy. Anything else is a bonus. Due to the tumultuous nature of the video game industry at present, perhaps it isn’t wise to look any further ahead. The road may not go “ever on and on” forever.
Still Wakes The Deep
In the wake of Disco Elysium, I’ve been playing through several other games that have a focus on narrative and plot. I began with Call of Cthulhu which I shall write about in a separate post. Let it suffice to say that although I enjoyed the game, I wasn’t quite satisfied. This is not necessarily the game’s fault, as it makes a good attempt at depicting Lovecraftian Cosmic Horror. It’s just that any game following hard on the heels of one of the best RPG’s I’ve ever played, is likely to come up short in comparison. So I looked through my game library and found that I had Still Wakes The Deep, which enjoys a good reputation for having a strong story. I subsequently played through the game over two late night sessions and was left suitably impressed. So much so that I’ve bought the additional DLC, Siren’s Rest, in the hope that it maintains the quality of its predecessor.
In the wake of Disco Elysium, I’ve been playing through several other games that have a focus on narrative and plot. I began with Call of Cthulhu which I shall write about in a separate post. Let it suffice to say that although I enjoyed the game, I wasn’t quite satisfied. This is not necessarily the game’s fault, as it makes a good attempt at depicting Lovecraftian Cosmic Horror. It’s just that any game following hard on the heels of one of the best RPG’s I’ve ever played, is likely to come up short in comparison. So I looked through my game library and found that I had Still Wakes The Deep, which enjoys a good reputation for having a strong story. I subsequently played through the game over two late night sessions and was left suitably impressed. So much so that I’ve bought the additional DLC, Siren’s Rest, in the hope that it maintains the quality of its predecessor.
Still Wakes The Deep is a 2024 psychological horror video game developed by The Chinese Room and published by Secret Mode. Set in 1975, the story centres around an electrician named Cameron “Caz” McLeary (voiced by Alec Newman), who finds himself trapped on a damaged oil drilling platform in the North Sea after a mysterious drilling incident. Caz has to rescue and aid work colleagues while being hunted by various arcane monsters. He is further hampered by severe weather conditions. Played in first-person, Still Wakes The Deep has no combat as such; instead, players must use stealth and solve straightforward puzzles to ensure their survival. As you progress through the storyline, the oil rig physically changes, although the overall gameplay remains predominantly linear.
Right from the start Still Wakes The Deep reeks of authenticity. The game environment, the oil rig BeiraD, is incredibly well realised to the extent it becomes a character itself. Not only is it technically accurate but it is embellished with authentic period details. Transistor radios, CRT televisions, even the empty beer cans are of the time. The game uses authentic Scottish regional accents making the dialogue very credible. The game subtitles are not actually verbatim, effectively providing a translation for those unfamiliar with the slang and dialect. The writing is strong, tapping into themes from the time such as trade union unrest and a cavalier attitude towards health and safety. The horror elements of the plot are not explained beyond the crew observations and there is no heavy handed expository conclusion at the game denouement.
The gameplay is mainly navigating a hazardous environment to find other crew members. This often requires solving puzzles to fix devices, open doors or otherwise access a safe route. There is a stealth mechanic and running at key moments in the game. The monsters are made up of the crew members that you met at the beginning of the game. This adds a layer of poignancy as they often retain facets of their personalities. Within the story, close proximity to the monsters causes hallucinations. In gameplay, if a monster is nearby there is a visual cue, whereby “floaters” appear in the corner of your first person perspective, which subsequently grow. This and the lack of any HUD adds greatly to the ambience. It should be noted that when being pursued there is an option to look back. This may afford you a better view of the monster pursuing but you may also run into an obstacle. Use accordingly.
I completed Still Wakes The Deep in six hours. I frequently bungled quick time events triggered by the structural integrity of the oil rig failing. I also took my time exploring. Although there is a superb atmosphere, the gameplay is mainly functional. If the game was any longer, it could potentially outstay its welcome without a wider variety of things to do. Yet despite the somewhat A to B approach and a story that uses familiar tropes, Still Wakes The Deep punches above its weight due to the tremendous visuals, sound design, outstanding writing and authentic voice acting. It has a strong sense of eldritch, cosmic horror and its grown up tone as well as its attention to period detail aids its credibility. Be warned, the language is justifiably ripe as you’d expect from people in this line of work and from this era. I’m looking forward to the DLC and hope it continues in exactly the same idiom.
Thinking Out Loud
Our household has a newspaper delivered once a week on a Saturday. It is specifically for Mrs P who still likes to sit down at the weekend and catch up with the recent events via print media rather than the 24/7 rolling coverage on TV. There was a time, back in the seventies and eighties, when this delivery service was the province of children trying to earn some money. Nowadays it tends to be adults that undertake this work. Our local newsagents were bought out by a bigger chain a few years back. They in turn were acquired by Morrisons supermarket. A month ago they sacked 1700 “paper boys” nationwide and contracted the newspaper delivery service out to a specialist company, Newsteam. Today at 04:00 a large vehicle pulled up on our drive and noisily rammed a newspaper through the letterbox. This is apparently “progress”.
This post is a collection of random thoughts and eclectic ideas. Hopefully they are succinctly expressed as well as short and to the point. A few words about the various things that have crossed my mind in recent weeks. They may also be ephemeral talking points from the never-ending news cycle, or even those obscure thoughts you experience while laying awake in your bed. Either way, they are not the sort of material that requires a full blog post and in-depth analysis. A paragraph or two is usually sufficient to make a point for your consideration. All of which is collectively gathered under the title “Thinking Out Loud”, which has become a recurring blog post. Feel free to comment and offer your perspective on any point raised that takes your fancy.
Newspaper Delivery
Our household has a newspaper delivered once a week on a Saturday. It is specifically for Mrs P who still likes to sit down at the weekend and catch up with the recent events via print media rather than the 24/7 rolling coverage on TV. There was a time, back in the seventies and eighties, when this delivery service was the province of children trying to earn some money. Nowadays it tends to be adults that undertake this work. Our local newsagents were bought out by a bigger chain a few years back. They in turn were acquired by Morrisons supermarket. A month ago they sacked 1700 “paper boys” nationwide and contracted the newspaper delivery service out to a specialist company, Newsteam. Today at 04:00 a large vehicle pulled up on our drive and noisily rammed a newspaper through the letterbox. This is apparently “progress”.
Christmas Cards
December is fast approaching. Fortunately, our household has bought all the necessary Christmas gifts and cards already. Naturally, this is all Mrs P’s doing. Not mine. Now I am not a mean person, nor do I consider myself cheap. However, good quality Christmas cards, especially personal ones with fancy messages inside, are expensive. As is postage. A 1st class stamp costs £1.70 and a 2nd class is £0.87 at present in the UK. It is likely that we could spend £100 on 50 cards and their associated postage. By my estimation, I’ll send about 10 cards altogether to friends and my immediate family. Which begs the question, who the hell are all these other people that get sent cards? I asked Mrs P and she quoted several names but none of them rang any bells. Mind you exactly the same thing happens when we start receiving cards. I’ll look at a selection and wonder who the hell are you?
Anthropromorphism
Humans have a propensity for anthropomorphism. IE the attribution of human traits, emotions and behaviours to non-human entities. This can be animals, objects, or natural phenomena. It’s a common concept in storytelling, mythology and everyday life. We give human characteristics, such as speech or feelings, to things that are not human. Pets are the most obvious example. Please see “the internet” for further examples. Bearing all this in mind, please see the above picture which I am currently using as desktop wallpaper on one of my monitors. Is it me or does this Cheetah look mournful? Like some terrible injustice has been perpetrated upon them. Perhaps he went to pour himself a bowl of Coco Pops and there was no milk left in the fridge, so he had to have them dry. What do you think? Oh, so it’s not just me then.
Reaching the Limits of Your Understanding
Learning takes longer as you get older. Especially with complex subjects. If I am reading textbooks then I have to do it several times before things stick. Hence I listen to a lot of non-fiction audiobooks because the slower pace of the narration allows me time to absorb information. I can also rewind and listen again to difficult concepts. Philosophical subjects are becoming a struggle to learn as I find some too abstract. Similarly I find a lot of theoretical physics very hard to conceptualise. I find that these subjects often take me to the limits of my understanding. I am aware that Carl Sagan argued that all ideas and concepts should be able to be explained to the wider public. Yet I think that some subjects that exist primarily as abstractions to begin with are hard to convey as a metaphor or any of the other semantic devices we commonly use to convey complex things.
UK Licensing Law
I went to a local restaurant on Friday for breakfast. It was a social gathering from Mrs P’s church. The establishment in question is contemporary and informal and you go to the counter to order your food, which is then brought to the table. It was 10:30 AM and I fancied a pint of cider. However, I was politely told that due to the terms of their license to sell alcohol, I could not be served until 11:00 AM. It wasn’t a big deal so I had my Full English breakfast, sans alcohol but it did get me thinking. So I did some research. The UK Licensing Act of 2003 regulates the sale of alcohol, entertainment and late-night food and drink within England and Wales. Businesses need a premises licence to be able to provide these services. The actual hours during which a licensee can do this are negotiable. However, the standard hours tend to be 11:00 to 23:00 and this remains broadly the norm.
Your Internet Router
Our home has a 1 Gbps “fibre to the premises” internet connection. It has proven reliable since it was installed in June 2022. Our internet service provider EE (part of the BT group) are neither the best of worst suppliers. The monthly cost is not especially competitive and so we may be looking to move providers next Easter. However, that is a matter for the future. For the present there is a more immediate issue. Starting on Friday 21st November, our internet connection has started randomly dropping. Furthermore, both the Wi-Fi extender in the lounge and the wireless printer in my office have become disconnected from the network. It was as if their details had been erased from the router. I suspected that a recent firmware upgrade may be the culprit although EE denies it. However there are posts online from other customers with similar technical issues.
Our home has a 1 Gbps “fibre to the premises” internet connection. It has proven reliable since it was installed in June 2022. Our internet service provider EE (part of the BT group) are neither the best of worst suppliers. The monthly cost is not especially competitive and so we may be looking to move providers next Easter. However, that is a matter for the future. For the present there is a more immediate issue. Starting on Friday 21st November, our internet connection has started randomly dropping. Furthermore, both the Wi-Fi extender in the lounge and the wireless printer in my office have become disconnected from the network. It was as if their details had been erased from the router. I suspected that a recent firmware upgrade may be the culprit although EE denies it. However there are posts online from other customers with similar technical issues.
Like many people, I use the router supplied by my ISP. Such devices can be a lottery and I have had some in the past that have been poor. By which I mean they did not support the latest protocols and features, had limited functionality and unreasonably restricted user access. However, I do not think that is a fair description of my current router supplied by EE. The Smart Hub Plus (Wi-Fi 6) is their standard router for FTTP plans. It offers dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz & 5 GHz) across a reasonable range (up to up to 30 meters or 98 feet). It copes well with our brick built bungalow and I get a speed of 70 Mbps in the lounge where the media player, satellite receiver and TV are based. I can access and manage the router from my phone and it allows for a degree of customisation of DNS, VPN and Wi-Fi services. However, recent problems have mitigated these benefits.
In light of the recent problems, I reported the fault to EE and an engineer came to site and tested the fibre connection. He indicated to me that the fault lay with the router and a replacement was duly ordered. I have learned subsequently that there was also a fault at the junction box on the pole in the street but this was not made known to me at the time. While waiting for the replacement router, I did consider buying a third party router and using that instead of the one supplied by the ISP. There are numerous models that are compatible with UK fibre specifications which offer improved performance, better Wi-Fi coverage, and greater control over your network. A third-party router can provide advanced features, faster Wi-Fi speeds (like Wi-Fi 6 or 7), enhanced security options and far more user customization. It can also help you avoid monthly rental fees if that is part of your contract.
However, pursuing this option would present some additional problems. Although EE does not prohibit the use of third party routers, the moment you install one you will no longer receive technical support within the confines of your premises. They will guarantee the internet connection to the point of entry but no further. The purchase cost, security and ongoing maintenance of a private router all fall to you. Going forward, there may well be compatibility issues if your ISP makes any changes to their network or security protocols. Although there is a lot of information in the public domain regarding setting such a router up, none of it is officially sanctioned. I watched a YouTube video recently in which someone replaced their EE router with one made by TP-Link. It required firmware updates and a great deal of troubleshooting to work and when it did it offered no tangible benefit.
So I have decided to stick with the router supplied by EE. A new unit arrived today and it is a later model. I installed it and then set about reconnecting all devices. This proved problematic as the router crashed twice while I was logged in as administrator. Expecting the worst, I called EE who reset my internet connection, while I rebooted the router and Openreach modem (ONT). This resolved the problem and I was able to connect all remaining devices. The internet connection and router have remained stable since then. This issue has been a timely reminder that internet technology can develop faults like any other household device. Furthermore, although domestic technology designed for customer use is often restricted in functionality, it comes with contractually mandated support. Sometimes it is preferable that someone else does the heavy lifting with regard to trouble shooting.
Udo Kier (1944 - 2025)
German actor Udo Kier died on the 23rd November at the age of 81. Kier was far from a high profile star but his saturnine good looks and piercing eyes meant that he stood out. As an actor he was enigmatic, brooding and at times sinister which brought him to the attention of several notable European and American directors, such as Werner Herzog, Lars von Trier and Gus Van Sant. His early acting roles in the late sixties gained little attention and it was not until 1973 when he starred in Andy Warhol’s Flesh For Frankenstein, directed by Paul Morrissey that the right people started to take note. What followed was a career that spanned over 220 films, initially in arthouse productions but over time in horror and cult movies, until eventually he started to be cast in mainstream productions. Yet whatever role he appeared in he was always notable.
German actor Udo Kier died on the 23rd November at the age of 81. Kier was far from a high profile star but his saturnine good looks and piercing eyes meant that he stood out. As an actor he was enigmatic, brooding and at times sinister which brought him to the attention of several notable European and American directors, such as Werner Herzog, Lars von Trier and Gus Van Sant. His early acting roles in the late sixties gained little attention and it was not until 1973 when he starred in Andy Warhol’s Flesh For Frankenstein, directed by Paul Morrissey that the right people started to take note. What followed was a career that spanned over 220 films, initially in arthouse productions but over time in horror and cult movies, until eventually he started to be cast in mainstream productions. Yet whatever role he appeared in he was always notable.
I became familiar with Udo Kier’s work mainly through horror films. He had a brief role in Dario Argento’s Suspiria (1977). He stood out in Blade (1998) playing a pure blood vampire elder who meets a dramatic end. In 2007 Kier worked with Rob Zombie in Grindhouse, appearing in the faux movie trailer “Werewolf Women Of The SS” and later in the remake of Halloween. He could effortlessly move from one genre to the other. Hence he appeared notably in Gus Van Sant in My Own Private Idaho (1991) and multiple productions for Lars von Trier, including Europa (1991), Dogville (2003) and Melancholia (2011). His dramatic range was extensive hence he appeared in comedy, complex social dramas and dark thrillers. His role in S. Craig Zahler’s Brawl In Cell Block 99 (2017) is singularly disturbing and is a standout aspect of an already intense film.
Udo Kier was a prolific actor across multiple mediums. Outside of film, he was a voice actor in the video games industry and also in many animated television productions. He featured in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 as a Transylvanian psychic called Yuri and was working up until his death with Hideo Kojima on the forthcoming game OD. Kier also voiced numerous roles in both Justice League and Batman animated television shows including the Music Master and Herbert Ziegler. Not to be confined to just one artistic medium, Udo Kier appeared in Madonna's controversial book “Sex” in 1992. He subsequently featured in the music videos for Madonna’s songs “Erotica” and “Deeper and Deeper”. Kier also appeared in the music videos for Korn’s “Make Me Bad” as well as Eve and Gwen Stefani’s “Let Me Blow Ya Mind”.
Kier was an openly gay man yet he would often play characters of all sexuality. In 2021 he appeared in Swan Song and gave what many fans and critics alike consider the best performance of his career. The film tells the tale of a retired celebrity hairdresser, who leaves his nursing home and takes a literal and figurative journey to style a deceased former client's hair for her funeral. It is a story of self reflection and the changes in gay culture. Kier’s performance is compelling, moving and genuine. Fans have cogently argued that he always brought those qualities to all of his performances but Swan Song finally gave him a role that was a lot closer to home and also finally put him on the radar of mainstream critics. At a time when filmmaking is becoming increasingly bland, along with its leading actors, the loss of Udo Kier is keenly felt. Being mercurial and striking are far from common qualities.
Taking Photos
A couple of times a year, Mrs P asks me to copy onto her laptop, all the pictures that I’ve taken over recent months, as well as those that have been shared with us via WhatsApp. She then diligently whittles them down into a manageable amount which we then print off and put in our photo album. Yes we’re of the generation that still likes to print off hard copies of photos and from time to time look at them nostalgically. We have several albums with photographs in chronological order and numerous frames placed around the house, filled with pictures of family. The bulk of the photos are 4x6 inches (10x15 cm). We use an online photo printing service for the majority of our pictures and visit a local store with a self-service photographic department to print off specific pictures for bespoke frames. The original photos, now neatly organised, are backed up and archived.
A couple of times a year, Mrs P asks me to copy onto her laptop, all the pictures that I’ve taken over recent months, as well as those that have been shared with us via WhatsApp. She then diligently whittles them down into a manageable amount which we then print off and put in our photo album. Yes we’re of the generation that still likes to print off hard copies of photos and from time to time look at them nostalgically. We have several albums with photographs in chronological order and numerous frames placed around the house, filled with pictures of family. The bulk of the photos are 4x6 inches (10x15 cm). We use an online photo printing service for the majority of our pictures and visit a local store with a self-service photographic department to print off specific pictures for bespoke frames. The original photos, now neatly organised, are backed up and archived.
I find the entire culture around “taking photos” fascinating. My father was a keen amateur photographer in the fifties, during his bachelor years. As well as recording his social activities, he also took photos for a practical reason. He was a mechanical engineer and would photograph his design plans as well as his finished work as part of his portfolio. Once married, he copiously photographed family life. In later life he diligently scanned all these pictures to preserve them. I similarly took up photography as a child, although due to changes in technology, I didn’t have to learn the technical side of things. Instead I benefitted from the convenience of the Kodak Pocket Instamatic camera and having your photographs developed at the local supermarket or pharmacy.
Over the years I have catalogued family life and our son growing up via photos. Then at some point I just stop taking such photos. I suppose it stems from children becoming teenagers and no longer wanting to be in family pictures. Curiously, the only photos that I take these days are my and Mrs P’s various travels and holidays. We seldom feature in any of these and it has become a standing joke in our family that if Mrs P appears in any photo, she is always walking out of frame, back toward the camera. Furthermore, due to the fact that it is usually me taking all the photos, I am also conspicuously absent from most “holiday snaps”. As for the pictures of the various places that we’ve visited, these mainly end up in the blog posts I write about them or on social media. In fact the more I think of it, that’s where the bulk of them go these days.
Considering that the camera that I take for granted on my phone is a singularly sophisticated piece of technology, its primary purpose on a day-to-day basis is taking pictures that aid me in various tasks. I had some technical issues with my wireless printer the other day, so I quickly took a picture of the default admin password that was on the back, along with the model and serial number. The phone is connected to my PC, so the pictures are accessible immediately on my monitors. I was then able to resolve the issue with the minimum of hassle. I often use the camera on my phone for chores like this. I’ll take a quick photo of train timetables or booking details. When out shopping, if I see a product that interests me, I’ll take a quick picture and research it later. Photographing packaging is also a great way of ensuring that you buy more of the same.
Photography remains a skill that some people still take the time to learn. By mastering the principles that underpin it, a good photographer will be able to create interesting compositions. Modern technology allows the less gifted to stand on the shoulders of such giants and take acceptable photos with the camera doing most of the heavy lifting. The ability to take multiple photographs quickly and easily also helps, due to the law of averages. Hence I have thousands of digital pictures of my life over the years, with me oddly absent from most. They are precious to me but irrelevant to pretty much everyone else. I wonder what will happen to them once I’m gone? Removed from their context they become random and inconsequential. As you can see, photographs still seem to provoke philosophical musing. Perhaps that’s why as a culture we still take pictures and document our lives. It brings a degree of validation and comfort.
Roblox
I frequently see advertising and promotional material for Roblox. For example, they have gift cards for the game at the supermarket checkout, along with similar products for Minecraft and Fortnite. However, I’ve never really paid any attention to it because I’m not the target demographic. This changed recently when I asked my ten year old, twin granddaughters what they were playing on their phones. They, like countless other children their age, play Roblox, so I did a quick search online to see what all the fuss was about. Apparently, Roblox has approximately 111.8 million daily active users and 380 million monthly active users worldwide. In light of such a prodigious playerbase, I thought I should look into this game further. So I installed Roblox on my PC, via the Windows Xbox app and asked the twins to give me a tour, as well as their thoughts on things.
I frequently see advertising and promotional material for Roblox. For example, they have gift cards for the game at the supermarket checkout, along with similar products for Minecraft and Fortnite. However, I’ve never really paid any attention to it because I’m not the target demographic. This changed recently when I asked my ten year old, twin granddaughters what they were playing on their phones. They, like countless other children their age, play Roblox, so I did a quick search online to see what all the fuss was about. Apparently, Roblox has approximately 111.8 million daily active users and 380 million monthly active users worldwide. In light of such a prodigious playerbase, I thought I should look into this game further. So I installed Roblox on my PC, via the Windows Xbox app and asked the twins to give me a tour, as well as their thoughts on things.
It turns out that Roblox is actually an online platform and game creation system, rather than just a game per se. Users can play a vast number of games and activities that have been created by other players. These are known as “experiences”. Players can create and customise an avatar to use across millions of different games, which range from racing and role-playing to simulations and obstacle courses. The platform also includes social hangouts and messaging features. Roblox also accommodates the trading of virtual items. There is a large, self-sustaining virtual economy based primarily on a freemium model, where users purchase and spend the virtual currency called Robux. Creators earn that currency by developing user-generated content. Due to the vast playerbase the monetisation is very high profile. More on this later.
Roblox is available on all major platforms. The graphics are simple and the game doesn’t have demanding specifications. My granddaughters play via their phones, whereas I installed it on the PC, mainly because I cannot cope with playing games on a touch screen device. Creating an account was easy. Because I was using the Xbox app, my age has already been verified. As a result adults are segregated from younger players with regard to voice chat and text chat. Children can add “trusted connections” to their friends list which then enables both voice and chat services. However, players under 13 cannot use voice chat and those of 13 years or older have to verify their age and phone number. A lot of “experiences” do not support voice chat. However, players can use third party apps to bypass these restrictions. Text chat is heavily filtered with infractions being swiftly sanctioned.
What of the actual “experiences” themselves in Roblox. Well there’s a wide variety, covering multiple different genres. Stylistically, many are a curious fusion of mobile games and old school console classics. Some have the hallmarks of being “home brewed” whereas others are very slick and professional. “Obbys” or obstacle courses to you and me, are very popular and are surprisingly satisfying. Simple, uncomplicated activities are often very therapeutic and “obbys” certainly scratches that particular itch. I played a FPS called Gunfight Arena and it contained a surprisingly large amount of features, such as weapon customisation, ammunition upgrades etc. Survive 99 Nights With Deer proved quite a challenging survival game, despite its basic functionality. Sometimes less is more and just as satisfying. Pet collection games are also popular and there seem to be a lot of fishing games.
“Experiences” are ranked by player voting and there is a chart facility in Roblox to find what is new, trending or a community favourite. Again all games have user statistics, so it is easy to discern how well a title is doing. At the time of writing Survive 99 Nights With Deer has 9.1 million visits. Which leads me onto a couple of negative aspects of Roblox. For every good “experience”, there are several asset flip games of no real value. Content does get deleted but I suspect that it’s a question of constantly trying to keep up with it. Sadly some “experiences” are egregiously monetised. Pop-up messages constantly remind you of paid upgrades and game enhancement. Cash shop buttons are placed deliberately next to touchscreen controls and in-game advertising is invasive. Due to the large playerbase Roblox attracts marketing from major brands such as Nike and Gucci.
I like the concept behind Roblox. A safe space for kids to hangout with friends, where they can play, create and express themselves. But it becomes very clear that the captive audience is a massive cash cow for content creators and companies that want to market a product or raise brand awareness among the young. My granddaughters don’t seem to notice or care about this aspect but it is jarring to me, hailing from an older era of gaming. However, there are many diverting “experiences” that are rewarding for casual gamers. Then there is the social aspects of the platform which is very important to the young. Hence I cannot be dismissive of Roblox in all honesty. And I did find the “Obbys” to be somewhat addictive. It just shows that video games continuously evolve to meet market needs and this is what is currently appealing among younger players.
Screen Capture Software and HDR
I take a lot of screen captures of video games and Windows apps, usually for blog posts. I use both Bandicam and Windows Snipping Tool to do this and have set up various hotkeys to make the process easy. Of late, the screen captures that I’ve taken have all suffered from washed out colours, regardless what tool I used to take them. I checked to see if both these apps needed to be updated but they are running the latest versions. Hence I was initially stumped as to why this problem had started happening. After some thought, I deduced that the only new elements in my PC hardware were my two new monitors. Both of which support HDR. Google Gemini quickly informed me that this was a known issue and taking screen captures from an HDR enabled device resulted in an excessively bright image that looked over exposed.
I take a lot of screen captures of video games and Windows apps, usually for blog posts. I use both Bandicam and Windows Snipping Tool to do this and have set up various hotkeys to make the process easy. Of late, the screen captures that I’ve taken have all suffered from washed out colours, regardless what tool I used to take them. I checked to see if both these apps needed to be updated but they are running the latest versions. Hence I was initially stumped as to why this problem had started happening. After some thought, I deduced that the only new elements in my PC hardware were my two new monitors. Both of which support HDR. Google Gemini quickly informed me that this was a known issue and taking screen captures from an HDR enabled device resulted in an excessively bright image that looked over exposed.
HDR, or High Dynamic Range, is a technology that improves image and video quality by creating a greater contrast between the brightest and darkest parts of an image. This allows for more realistic pictures with a wider range of colours, deeper blacks and brighter whites, while also preserving detail in both highlights and shadows. It is commonly used in 4K televisions and is supported by streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. 4K UHD Blu-ray supports HDR but regular Blu-ray does not, instead using the older Standard Dynamic Range. HDR is also a feature on the latest Smartphones. Furthermore, HDR is common in many contemporary video game titles and as such gaming monitors now support the process. Hence capturing an image from any of these sources is potentially going to run into these issues with regard to colour balance and contrast.
Bandicam screen capture without HDR support
Why does this happen? Mainly because most screen capture software has been designed to capture content in the older Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) format and has been incrementally updated over the years. The fundamental mismatch between the wide brightness and colour range of HDR displays and the technical limitations of traditional capture methods leads to screenshots and recordings that appear dim, washed out, or overexposed. Fortunately, there are specific screen capture apps that have subsequently been designed to support HDR. Bandisoft, the software developer that makes Bandicam, has another product called BandiCamera which is HDR compliant and works in an identical fashion to Bandicam. However, it is purely a screen capture tool producing still images. At present it does not support video capture.
BandiCamera screen capture with HDR support
So far BandiCamera, which is free to download, has proven a good solution to the problem. Screen captures of both video games and websites no longer suffer from the overexposed and washed out look that previously blighted them. Screen captures can be saved in .PNG, .JPG and .AVIF formats. However, BandiCamera lacks some of the features found in Bandicam, which can be configured to take pictures of a specific monitor or any active game executable file. BandiCamera has various hotkeys that can be assigned to specific tasks, one of which allows you to “find capture target”. This works fine when you’re taking a screen capture from a website or YouTube video. However, it is not so good for grabbing a screenshot on the fly while playing a video game. Hopefully future releases will address this and add further functionality.
Update: During the course of researching this issue, I discovered after I had downloaded and installed BandiCamera, that Windows Snipping Tool already has a setting called “HDR screenshot colour corrector”. This can be toggled on or off accordingly. It does a similar job of compensating for HDR’s vivid colour palette, although the results are not quite as comprehensive as BandiCamera. The obvious benefit is that this is a tool that comes with Windows 11.
Thoughts on Blogging Part 23
It’s nearly two and half months since the Blaugust: Festival of Blogging event ended. During that time I’ve maintained a fairly regular writing schedule and I post every two days or so. Furthermore, I finally dragged my blog template, kicking and screaming, into the modern era. I tweaked a few pages and updated the content of the “about” page. The next task is to start going through all previous posts and replacing older, low resolution images with larger, more appropriate ones. This process also presents an opportunity to ensure that all posts follow a uniform style. IE Are appropriately categorised, have links to related posts at the bottom and are SEO optimised. This will be a lengthy task so I think the best approach will be to tackle two or three posts a day. Hopefully this will raise the profile of older content, which generates the lion’s hare of traffic to this site.
It’s nearly two and half months since the Blaugust: Festival of Blogging event ended. During that time I’ve maintained a fairly regular writing schedule and I post every two days or so. Furthermore, I finally dragged my blog template, kicking and screaming, into the modern era. I tweaked a few pages and updated the content of the “about” page. The next task is to start going through all previous posts and replacing older, low resolution images with larger, more appropriate ones. This process also presents an opportunity to ensure that all posts follow a uniform style. IE Are appropriately categorised, have links to related posts at the bottom and are SEO optimised. This will be a lengthy task so I think the best approach will be to tackle two or three posts a day. Hopefully this will raise the profile of older content, which generates the lion’s hare of traffic to this site.
Spikes in Traffic
Over the last two months I have noticed several spikes in my website statistics. Initially I was quite excited, hoping that my writing was gaining more traction and finding a wider audience. Sadly this wasn’t the case. Upon further inspection, the traffic all originated from China and was focused on the homepage (IE the domain name), rather than specific blog posts. Whatever it was, it certainly wasn’t people reading a post and sharing it online. Due to the point or origin and the nature of the traffic, I am very suspicious of this activity. I’ve checked with a few other bloggers that I know and it would appear that I am not the only one to have experienced this anomaly. There is no evidence of any untowards or malicious activity, so beyond monitoring the situation there’s not a lot that I can do. It is still my long term goal to increase the readership of this blog but it is proving an uphill struggle.
Is AI Killing Blogging?
Although no one in my immediate blogging circle has quit blogging per se, I have noticed a decline in output among the 200 plus blogs I subscribe to via Feedly. Several subreddits about blogging that I visit have referenced people leaving the blogging scene due to being unable to compete with AI generated content. However, I think this is more to do with commercial blogs and sites specifically designed to try and generate revenue. Fan created sites are potentially a different matter. One of the reasons fan blogs become popular is because the author’s personality permeates their writing. That is something that AI struggles to replicate and why it is for the present, quite easy to spot AI generated content. However, this may change over time. Although AI is not killing my interest in writing, it does chip away at my motivation. I’m sure I’m not alone in this.
Big Versus Small
Larger monitors with QHD and UHD resolutions are slowly but surely becoming more popular. The latest version of Squarespace and indeed many contemporary blogging templates seem to favour filling that expanded screen real estate. I certainly prefer reading websites with large text and images. However, half of my website traffic is via phones and tablets. Although I use an adaptive template and my writing scales accordingly for each medium, my tendency to write substantive paragraphs can look like a wall of text on handheld devices. This raises the question as to whether to alter the style of my writing to try and accommodate the needs of both large screen users and those that peruse the net via phones and tablets. I’m not sure exactly how you’d do that but there must be a way? Or is the best approach not to worry at all and just focus on the writing?
Playing LOTRO at 2K and 4K
The MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online runs on a broad spectrum of PCs. From archaic laptops to high end gaming rigs, although it may require a bit of tweaking. At present, the optimal way to play the MMO is at a resolution of 1920x1080 (FHD) with the graphics setting maxed out. The graphics are sharp and the UI is readable. However, a growing number of gamers are now using 2K and 4K monitors. You can play LOTRO at higher resolutions such as 2560×1440 (QHD) and 3840x2160 (UHD) and the game looks great. However, the UI does not scale and so is very small on 2K and 4K monitors. The skill icons on the quickslots (shortcut bars) and the in-game text become difficult to see at these resolutions, which deters some players from using them. It is a known issue that Standing Stone Games are attempting to address but it is unlikely to be resolved any time soon.
The MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online runs on a broad spectrum of PCs. From archaic laptops to high end gaming rigs, although it may require a bit of tweaking. At present, the optimal way to play the MMO is at a resolution of 1920x1080 (FHD) with the graphics setting maxed out. The graphics are sharp and the UI is readable. However, a growing number of gamers are now using 2K and 4K monitors. You can play LOTRO at higher resolutions such as 2560×1440 (QHD) and 3840x2160 (UHD) and the game looks great. However, the UI does not scale and so is very small on 2K and 4K monitors. The skill icons on the quickslots (shortcut bars) and the in-game text become difficult to see at these resolutions, which deters some players from using them. It is a known issue that Standing Stone Games are attempting to address but it is unlikely to be resolved any time soon.
LOTRO running at 2560 x 1440 resolution with non-scaling UI
Naturally, there are workarounds which address this UI issue but they are just that, workarounds and as such are not perfect. The most common solution is to upscale the game from FHD to QHD/UHD. This way the UI remains readable. One way to do this is to use your graphic card’s software, such as AMD Adrenalin or GeForce Experience. Set the screen resolution in LOTRO to 1920 x 1080 and then use your GPU software to upscale the image to either 2K or 4K. This does work but setting it up is quite complex. There are presets for more recent gaming titles but not LOTRO, so it has to be configured manually. Furthermore, upgrades to the software can sometimes reset these settings. An easier method is to use a third party tool, such as Lossless Scaling which not only efficiently upscales the game resolution but can also provide frame generation if required.
Lossless Scaling is developed and published by THS and is a popular third-party utility primarily used by PC gamers. It applies various upscaling algorithms (including its proprietary LS1 and LSFG frame generation) to games and applications that lack native support for technologies like NVIDIA DLSS or AMD FSR. It is available for purchase via Steam or direct from the developer and costs $6.99 (although it is frequently discounted to half that price). Lossless Scaling makes the UI and text on high-resolution monitors much larger and more readable by scaling up the lower-resolution image. Unlike some mods, Lossless Scaling operates as a post-process and does not inject anything into the game's code, so it should not trigger anti-cheat systems or cause crashes. The results are good although the upscaled icons on the quickslots can be a little soft focus.
Quick guide to using Lossless Scaling
Download and run Lossless Scaling: Purchase and install Lossless Scaling from Steam, and let it run in the background.
Configure LOTRO: Launch The Lord of the Rings Online and set the game to run in windowed mode.
Set the in-game resolution: Within the game's settings, choose a lower resolution that matches your monitor's aspect ratio (e.g., \(1920x1080\) for a \(16:9\) monitor, even if your display is \(4K\)).
Activate scaling: In the game, press the Lossless Scaling hotkey (Ctrl+Alt+S by default) to start the scaling process.
Adjust settings: For a better experience, consider enabling "clip cursor," adjusting "cursor speed," and setting "scaling type" to LS1 in the Lossless Scaling application's settings.
Troubleshoot: If the game freezes, try disabling features like frame generation or performance mode in Lossless Scaling's settings, as these can sometimes cause issues.
LOTRO running at 1920 x 1080 resolution and upscaled to 2K using Lossless Scaling (Note the larger UI)
I have been using Lossless Scaling for a week and so far I’ve not encountered any major issues. The upscaled image looks good and the game runs smoothly. As mentioned earlier, the trade off in scaling the UI is that it doesn’t look as sharp as it does in its native resolution. There are some artifacts and tearing but the increase in size is far better on the eyes. If you have HDR compliant monitors, ensure that HDR support is toggled in the Lossless Scaling settings or else LOTRO looks over exposed with washed out colours. Until SSG resolves this matter, this is by far the best solution around. The nominal price is worth every penny. Furthermore, it can be used with other games and if you have a slightly older GPU, its ability to generate frames can help with more demanding titles.
Disco Elysium: The Second Playthrough
I recently started playing through the RPG Disco Elysium for a second time. I did not complete the game last time I played in February and March but go about two thirds of the way through the story. As far as solving the central crime, I had established an accurate cause of death for the murder victim and broadly understood the events leading to their death. The main reason I did not complete the game was because I was playing on the Nintendo Switch and found it increasingly difficult to read the text on the small screen. The loading times were also excruciatingly slow. Playing the game while “docked” helped the former but not the latter issue. Hence I bought the PC version of Disco Elysium: The Final Cut for just £5 and started again from the beginning.
I recently started playing through the RPG Disco Elysium for a second time. I did not complete the game last time I played in February and March but go about two thirds of the way through the story. As far as solving the central crime, I had established an accurate cause of death for the murder victim and broadly understood the events leading to their death. The main reason I did not complete the game was because I was playing on the Nintendo Switch and found it increasingly difficult to read the text on the small screen. The loading times were also excruciatingly slow. Playing the game while “docked” helped the former but not the latter issue. Hence I bought the PC version of Disco Elysium: The Final Cut for just £5 and started again from the beginning.
The main reason I decided to play again is because I really want to reach the ending. I am invested in the unfolding story and empathetic towards the two main protagonists. I would like to see a positive conclusion to their investigation and their respective personal journeys although judging by the inherent tone of events so far, that may not be the case. I also appreciate the scope of the narrative and its intellectual depth. The game gives the player much to think about and I find that a rare quality these days. Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is also clearly not an American game and its European roots are writ large in its complex faux geo-politics, lore and racial dynamics. This is both a unique game and experience. One that I’m simply just not done with yet. I need to see it through.
The main difference between this playthrough and the previous one, is that I have the benefit of hindsight. I know the sequence of events that I previously encountered and this time round I am seeking to pursue them in an optimal fashion. There is such breadth to the branching dialogue trees, that I don’t necessarily have to follow an identical path to last time. I have discovered much that is new to me, due to the game’s breadth. I am also judiciously “save scumming” and it has allowed me to uncover a lot more possible outcomes. This has helped no end with handling my interactions with various characters and afforded me a better perspective on their backstories. This second playthrough has allowed me to focus more on side quests. I don’t have to worry about earning rent as I know that on day 3 of the game, I can find alternative, free lodgings.
Playing on a PC, compared to my previous experience on the Switch, is also quite a revelation. I certainly appreciate the artstyle and design aspects of the game a lot more on a larger screen, at a higher resolution and with HDR. The game soundtrack by Sea Power is also striking, something I didn’t notice as much last time. However, the main benefit of this second play through is simply being able to read the dialogue text on screen, clearly and without impediment. The branching dialogue trees are key to this game and although Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is fully voice acted, it is important to be able to examine the text of what has been said and be able to digest it. There is a great deal of political, philosophical and theological content referenced throughout the game that is complex and requires consideration.
I am usually cautious about second playthroughs of games that I have found especially engaging. I have not replayed Skyrim, The Witcher III or Red Dead Redemption 2 as I wish to retain my first impressions of each respectively, as I feel they are all major gaming landmarks. Also because I invested a great deal of time into each and I would feel obliged to do the same again to attain a broadly comparable experience. On a practical level that isn’t viable. Because Disco Elysium is such a unique beast, I have returned to it to complete an experience, as opposed to revisiting a previous one. By finishing the game I believe I will have a better appreciation of it, as well as having the satisfaction of knowing what fate befalls Harry Du Bois and Kim Katsuragi. Two of the most well defined and intriguing characters in video games.
Paying For Domestic Services
When Mrs P and I moved into our current home, over twenty years ago, we were both working full time. As the garden was poorly maintained and neither of us had any horticultural skills, we decided to employ a gardener. At the time it was a practical solution to the issue of garden maintenance and remains so today. Hence it is a service we continue to use, although our personal health is now the main reason we pay a gardener.
When Mrs P and I moved into our current home, over twenty years ago, we were both working full time. As the garden was poorly maintained and neither of us had any horticultural skills, we decided to employ a gardener. At the time it was a practical solution to the issue of garden maintenance and remains so today. Hence it is a service we continue to use, although our personal health is now the main reason we pay a gardener.
More recently, we paid to have our oven cleaned. Again, this was a decision that was mainly made because we find the logistics of the task difficult. The results were better than anything we could have done ourselves. We are now giving serious consideration to having a cleaning company visit once a month to carry out a substantive household clean. This will then be supplemented with basic cleaning on a weekly basis, carried out by ourselves. Again the main reasons for using such services is time, our ability to do such things ourselves and the fact that the work is often done to a higher standard.
I personally have no problem with the idea of paying for domestic services. They are in principle equitable business transactions, carried out by people who have superior skills in the requisite field. Furthermore, the benefits of such arrangements go beyond the customer and vendor dynamic. Those supplying such services as gardening, car valeting or household cleaning are running businesses which are good for the wider economy. Yet despite all this, I occasionally encounter people who “frown upon” such business arrangements. Their opprobrium is not aimed so much at the providers of these services but more specifically at me for using them.
I am curious to try and understand where this mindset comes from. Is it born of a sense of middle-class guilt, perceptions of laziness, concerns about socio-economic inequality and the exploitation of workers? Perhaps it is a hangover from seventies socioeconomic politics? Or is it more entrenched in the UK’s neverending relationship with class? Do people still see such transactional services as reinforcing some archaic “upstairs, downstairs” social divide? Or is it as simple as the general lack of respect and dignity afforded to "unskilled" labour in society. Let us not forget the social dimension to this conundrum. Is hiring a cleaner an acceptable way to achieve a work/life balance, or is it merely outsourcing inequality. Maybe it’s simply a case that I encounter too many unreconstructed Marxists?
The philosophical arguments against such services notwithstanding, the demand for cleaning and other similar services, is at an all-time high in the UK, with 17% of households now hiring a cleaner. Many people see it as a practical and efficient way to free up leisure time, which is a premium and finite commodity. As for the social dynamic between customer and vendor, in my experience it is far from “feudal”. I treat those providing a service in my home with the same courtesy as I would outside of it.
Perhaps this is a uniquely British quirk? Does the same criticism of using domestic services arise in the US, which to my mind is a far more transactional society. Surely the growth of the gig economy must be putting pay to this somewhat archaic perspective? There are many more practical services available for hire than ever before. From bespoke cake making to jetwashing your drive. In the meantime, I am certainly going to continue to pay for whatever domestic services our household requires. Furthermore, the older I get, the more I shall use them, for obvious reasons.
Cable Management
I recently bought two new monitors and a stand for my PC tower case. Today I thought I’d take the opportunity to disconnect every peripheral, clear my desk and then after a thorough clean, reassemble everything ensuring good cable management. I even went so far as to buy a new power extension lead so I could reorganise where everything was plugged in and therefore be able to isolate specific hardware. It seemed such a simple, straightforward task on paper. The reality was much different. It took me over three hours to sort out, mainly due to the fact that I don’t “bend” so well these days. During this Herculean task, my watch kept on notifying me that my heart rate was “high”. However, I regularly took breaks and fortified myself with gin for medicinal reasons. I am pleased with the results of this task.
I recently bought two new monitors and a stand for my PC tower case. Today I thought I’d take the opportunity to disconnect every peripheral, clear my desk and then after a thorough clean, reassemble everything ensuring good cable management. I even went so far as to buy a new power extension lead so I could reorganise where everything was plugged in and therefore be able to isolate specific hardware. It seemed such a simple, straightforward task on paper. The reality was much different. It took me over three hours to sort out, mainly due to the fact that I don’t “bend” so well these days. During this Herculean task, my watch kept on notifying me that my heart rate was “high”. However, I regularly took breaks and fortified myself with gin for medicinal reasons. I am pleased with the results of this task.
As well as a new power extension lead, I also bought a cable management kit that came with two cable sleeves of differing diameters, both 3 meters in length. There was also a wealth of zip ties and adhesive cable clips. The kit also came with a curious tool that I deduced was used for inserting the sundry cables into the sleeves. No instructions were supplied but I quickly found a YouTube video that showed me how to use it. After a while I managed to get both DisplayPort cables along with the keyboard, mouse, AUX and ethernet cables into one sleeve which I then carefully cut for a perfect fit. I spent some further time organising power cables and carefully tying up the slack so they can’t get caught on my feet or anything else. I can now turn off my PC and monitors while still keeping my wireless charger and printer on.
Cable management is a chore and I fully understand why most people avoid it and pursue a policy of “out of sight, out of mind”. It involves fiddling about in confined spaces, be it under your desk or inside your PC case. However, spending some time to get things sorted pays dividends in the long run. I can clean under my desk now without fear of accidentally pulling out any cables. The reduced clutter around the PC base unit improves the airflow and if I need to do any maintenance, I can access things a lot easier. I can also isolate specific devices due to my fancy new power extension lead. It was also a very satisfying experience, and the hard work was mainly due to me being so out of shape. The fact that I can be a little compulsive when it comes to being tidy and organised obviously had no bearing on the matter, whatsoever.
New Monitors
I use two monitors with my PC, as I find having the additional screen “real estate” invaluable when writing or playing games. Both monitors that I’ve been using up to now are somewhat old and they are not exactly the same size or resolution, although both are FHD. I have previously written about the problems I’ve had trying to get certain games and programs to display on specific monitors and the lengths I’ve had to go to to resolve this issue. To cut a long story short, I recently decided to replace both monitors with larger models with a higher resolution. Mainly because my eyesight is not what it used to be. I see best when working with a bright screen that can produce clear text. New monitors would also address my ongoing screen output problem. Hence, I set myself a reasonable budget and began researching appropriate replacements.
I use two monitors with my PC, as I find having the additional screen “real estate” invaluable when writing or playing games. Both monitors that I’ve been using up to now are somewhat old and they are not exactly the same size or resolution, although both are FHD. I have previously written about the problems I’ve had trying to get certain games and programs to display on specific monitors and the lengths I’ve had to go to to resolve this issue. To cut a long story short, I recently decided to replace both monitors with larger models with a higher resolution. Mainly because my eyesight is not what it used to be. I see best when working with a bright screen that can produce clear text. New monitors would also address my ongoing screen output problem. Hence, I set myself a reasonable budget and began researching appropriate replacements.
While reading online, I learned that some people are using large screen TVs as an alternative to traditional PC monitors. This does come with some caveats. OLED TVs are particularly favoured due to the fact that each pixel is self-lit, which allows for strong blacks, an extensive contrast ratio, and superior viewing angles. They also have fast response times, making them great for gaming. 43 inch screens seem to be the most desirable choice. However, there was a lot of debate about how well the screens handle text and its respective clarity. Also, sitting in front of such a large screen is not for everyone, with some people finding it visually overwhelming. I went as far as going to an electrical retailer and actually standing close to such a screen to see if such a choice was for me. I quickly determined that it was not.
Having dismissed this option, I began looking into what screen resolutions my graphics card could comfortably handle. I have an AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT which at present handles all my gaming needs well at 1920 x 1080 FHD. Opinion seems to be mixed as to how well it copes with 2560 x 1440 QHD and what framerates it can sustain. However, the performance offered by my GPU is sufficient for my needs and if there are any problems, I can always default back to FHD and upscale to 2K. With this in mind I began looking for 27 inch gaming monitors. Fortunately there are plenty of “Black Friday” sales currently ongoing and I managed to purchase two AOC Q27G42XE Quad HD 27" IPS LCD Gaming Monitors. These usually retail at £149.00 but are on sale for £109.00 at Curry’s website. This was well within the £300 budget which I had set.
Upon delivery of my new monitors, I took the opportunity to disconnect my PC and all peripherals and comprehensively clean my desk and the surrounding area. I also removed some devices that are no longer being used, such as my Nintendo Switch along with a plethora of redundant cables. So far I have not run into any major issues with the new monitors. The screens provide excellent clarity when web browsing and working with Google Docs. Video content is also sharp, with vibrant colours, due to the HDR support. Some older video games have required some tweaking but nothing too complex. More recent titles are maintaining an acceptable framerate at 1440p, although it is pushing the GPU to its performance limit. Overall, I am happy with this upgrade. It keeps my PC setup viable and kicks any future upgrade a little further down the road.
MMO Tropes: The Current Meta
I recently read a post on Massively Overpowered about skills rotation in the MMORPG genre. I found the subsequent discussion in the comments fascinating. Mainly because I have never used a fixed rotation of skills in any of the MMORPGs that I play. I understand the reasoning behind such things and why some players want to optimise their combat performance. Using one’s skills in a specific order to maximise damage and manage their subsequent cooldown has a logical appeal. In Star Trek Online, some players go so far as to create keybinds for their rotations and assign it to a specific hotkey, which is then continuously pressed throughout combat. However, rotations are a blunt tool that lack flexibility, often being geared towards dealing with a single target or using an area of effect skill against a larger group. They may not be the optimal approach to combat when things do not go to plan.
I recently read a post on Massively Overpowered about skills rotation in the MMORPG genre. I found the subsequent discussion in the comments fascinating. Mainly because I have never used a fixed rotation of skills in any of the MMORPGs that I play. I understand the reasoning behind such things and why some players want to optimise their combat performance. Using one’s skills in a specific order to maximise damage and manage their subsequent cooldown has a logical appeal. In Star Trek Online, some players go so far as to create keybinds for their rotations and assign it to a specific hotkey, which is then continuously pressed throughout combat. However, rotations are a blunt tool that lack flexibility, often being geared towards dealing with a single target or using an area of effect skill against a larger group. They may not be the optimal approach to combat when things do not go to plan.
Skill rotations are just a part of a wider culture of optimisation and automation, not only in the MMO genre but in gaming per se. A lot of gamers seek to determine what is the best gear or overall build within a game and spend a lot of time min-maxing until they arrive at a consensus. Although these waters can be muddied by such things as play style, in a lot of games that are based around the acquisition and upgrading of gear, there usually tends to be specific items or combinations of them that yield the best results. Hence we see a prevailing game meta emerge. Meta being “most effective tactic available” although the term also covers loadouts and builds. A clear example of this is in Call of Duty: Warzone, where the “Holy Grail” of builds is a weapon with a high rate of fire and damage, with little recoil. Despite launching three weeks ago, a clear meta is emerging in Battlefield 6.
From a logical perspective, knowing which build or gear is the optimal is beneficial. However, the obvious downside to prevailing gaming metas is that they can limit player choice. Any item of strategy that is sub-optimal is redundant. Hence metas potentially remove fun and stifle creativity. It can also affect role-playing elements. Standardising aspects of a game can lead to a repetitive experience where players feel obliged to follow the meta to stay competitive. It also negates large swathes of gear and items, even classes, as they are deemed sub-par and therefore a poor choice. In multiplayer games, those who have not pursued the prevailing meta may find themselves excluded from group content as they may not be able to perform their respective role as efficiently. Additionally, the relentless pursuit of efficiency and overall optimisation can lead to a community of “tryhards” and “sweats”.
If all of these criticisms are correct then why do gaming metas prevail? One reason is the inherent complexity of modern video games, especially the MMORPG genre. There are a lot of systems to learn as well as game mechanics. Not all of these are immediately understandable and many have a basis in mathematics thus not universally appealing. When starting a new game, many gamers do not want to get bogged down in excessive tutorials and explanations. They simply want to learn as they play. If the complexities of a game are unappealing and you have neither the time or inclination to learn, then it is quicker and easier just to follow a meta build recommendation. I have been playing The Lord of the Rings Online for 17 years and I still only have the broadest understanding of the game’s statistical system. I know that Will is important for the Lore-master class but not exactly why.
Prevailing game metas also pose a problem for developers, as they strive to seek balance within their games. This requires continuous monitoring of data to inform adjustments. However, altering the meta through balance changes can anger players who have invested time and resources into the previous meta strategies, potentially leading to community issues. Developers need to regularly “shake up” the existing meta with new content or balance changes to keep the game fresh and prevent player burnout, which is crucial for long-term player retention in live-service games such as MMOs. Yet players always find ways to optimize the “fun out of a game” (as some players see it) faster than developers can anticipate. Sometimes, a meta related problem stems from a fundamental flaw in a core game mechanic, which might require a complex rework rather than simple numerical tweaks.
Emerging game metas seems to be a “chicken and the egg” problem and not just for the MMO and other multiplayer subgenres. Unless there are some fundamental changes to the standard mechanics used in most games, they will always emerge. Introducing “dynamic” mechanics is one approach, where systems can change due to external factors. The so-called Rock, Paper, Scissor approach where for every strategy or class advantage there is a hcounter-strategy, preventing any single approach from being universally dominant. This ensures the “best” strategy is situational and dependent on what the opponent is doing. However, this may be a little too close to “random”, which is seldom appealing. Then there’s the issue of skill. That however, is an entire blog post in itself. In the meantime, it is apparent that for the present prevailing metas will endure in games and we just have to live with them.
The UK Online Safety Act: 3 Months On
In July the UK Government introduced the Online Safety Act which requires age checks for accessing sexually explicit content online. As a result of this, Pornhub, the 19th most visited site on the internet, has reported a 77% decline in UK traffic. Furthermore, according to the UK regulatory body, OFCOM (The Office of Communications), overall visits to pornographic websites from the UK have fallen by 33%. Naturally, those who championed this legislation are claiming a moral and political victory. However, once you consider what these facts actually mean, they paint a somewhat different and potentially more worrying picture. It would be staggeringly naïve to think that UK visitors to Pornhub have ceased visiting such sites due to the age verification requirements. The more likely explanation is that UK porn consumers are now using VPNs to circumnavigate these restrictions and that this traffic to Pornhub is now recorded as coming from elsewhere.
In July the UK Government introduced the Online Safety Act which requires age checks for accessing sexually explicit content online. As a result of this, Pornhub, the 19th most visited site on the internet, has reported a 77% decline in UK traffic. Furthermore, according to the UK regulatory body, OFCOM (The Office of Communications), overall visits to pornographic websites from the UK have fallen by 33%. Naturally, those who championed this legislation are claiming a moral and political victory. However, once you consider what these facts actually mean, they paint a somewhat different and potentially more worrying picture. It would be staggeringly naïve to think that UK visitors to Pornhub have ceased visiting such sites due to the age verification requirements. The more likely explanation is that UK porn consumers are now using VPNs to circumnavigate these restrictions and that this traffic to Pornhub is now recorded as coming from elsewhere.
According to independent research by Cybernews, the UK has become one of the world’s fastest-growing VPN markets. The UK ranks eighth worldwide for VPN adoption at the time of writing and is now the leading G7 nation in terms of VPN use and one of only three European countries included in the top 10 list. Data shows the UK logged over 10.7 million VPN app downloads in the first half of 2025, surpassing countries such as the US, France, and Germany. One vendor of VPN services for smartphones saw an increase in downloads of 1,800%. All of which indicates the inherent flaw in the OSA, that it can be easily bypassed by using a VPN. Clearly this law is not supported by a substantial number of UK citizens. According to Google, prior to the OSA, eight million users from the UK visited a quarter of a million pornographic websites each month. Such a market doesn’t just vanish overnight.
The Online Safety Act is a typical piece of UK Government legislation, insofar as it is well intentioned in seeking to protect children from harmful content online. However, the parameters of this act and the manner in which it strives to enforce its mandate are ill considered. Clearly those involved have little or no understanding of contemporary information technology and infrastructure. It can also be argued that they have underestimated human nature. The result is legislation that can only deal with the symptoms of a problem and furthermore, only in a binary fashion. Any site that is deemed problematic has to implement age verification. If it will not or cannot, it is blocked by UK ISPs. At best it is a rather blunt tool. At worst, it has provided the current and all future UK Governments with the means to censor content with impunity.
I am not an absolutist libertarian but I do prefer the state to minimise its involvement in social issues. I believe that there is a duty of care to protect children from specific online content but I do not think that is the sole job of the UK Government. Parents, guardians and carers should be the first and foremost group involved in such an undertaking. Those who are legally responsible for a child’s welfare should know exactly what a child is doing online and police it accordingly. Sadly, we have a generation of parents who are just as enamoured with social media and online culture as their children and therefore are hardly best equipped to deal with this matter. Levels of IT literacy are also quite low in many adults. Despite a superficial “monkey see, monkey do” ability to use technology, there is seldom any functional understanding of how such things actually work.
Three months on from the launch of the OSA in the UK, I personally have not been greatly inconvenienced by this legislation so far. I’ve had to verify my age once for Instagram. This used an AI to look at an image of my face and determine if I am over 18. It was hardly a chore and I didn’t expect my age to be disputed. Beyond this one time, I have bypassed any issues as I have a VPN extension installed in all my web browsers and a year’s subscription to Surfshark. Outside of my personal experience, numerous websites that deal with sexual health and wellbeing have been blocked. Even Wikipedia has had to age gate certain content. All of which is troubling. Unfortunately, I can only see this matter getting worse over time and becoming more of a political football, driven by hot takes and showboating. Poorly conceived legislation often fails and brings the law into disrepute. In the meantime are children any safer? I doubt it.
PC Airflow and Dust Contamination
It may be a case of preaching to the Choir but dust contamination in your PC causes overheating, decreased performance, and potential hardware failure. This mainly occurs due to dust restricting airflow, impeding components such as heat sinks and creating short circuits from conductive particles. Fluff builds up and restricts cooling fans, forcing them to work harder. Heat build can lead to issues like system crashes, lagging, and even permanent damage to the motherboard and CPU. Over time, it can shorten the lifespan of the computer and in severe cases, poses a fire hazard. When I used to work in IT contracting, I used to see the effects of dust contamination all the time. PC placed on carpet tiles or on top of desks and surrounded by other objects. I remember one PC replacement project I was working on where we found an old PC with a dead mouse in it. It was desiccated by the heat.
It may be a case of preaching to the Choir but dust contamination in your PC causes overheating, decreased performance, and potential hardware failure. This mainly occurs due to dust restricting airflow, impeding components such as heat sinks and creating short circuits from conductive particles. Fluff builds up and restricts cooling fans, forcing them to work harder. Heat build can lead to issues like system crashes, lagging, and even permanent damage to the motherboard and CPU. Over time, it can shorten the lifespan of the computer and in severe cases, poses a fire hazard. When I used to work in IT contracting, I used to see the effects of dust contamination all the time. PC placed on carpet tiles or on top of desks and surrounded by other objects. I remember one PC replacement project I was working on where we found an old PC with a dead mouse in it. It was desiccated by the heat.
I bought my latest PC in January 2024. It has a Be Quiet branded case with two fans in the front and back of the chassis. The PSU is installed in the base of the tower case with the fan facing downwards, over a grill with a dust filter over it. The feet on the case raise the base about 2 centimeters or so off the ground. The GPU has two fans and there is a large fan on the heatsink of the CPU. The case itself has ventilation at the back, front and in the base. The PC resides under my desk and stands on a hardwood floor. I noticed over the last fortnight that the ambient temperature of my office was getting warmer and it was clear that the PC was the source of the heat. The fans were also getting noisier when playing graphic intensive games. So I adjusted the speed of the two fans mounted in the case to cool the PC and decided that I should have a look in the case once it was turned off.
Despite having adequate ventilation in a clean room (I vacuum the floor weekly), all fans in the PC had a substantial layer of grey fluff. The base of the PC where the vent for the PSU is located was especially clogged. It was clear that all fans were being impeded by the dust contamination and that the PSU was getting especially hot. Fortunately I bought a USB air duster and vacuum cleaner recently and used this to remove all dust and fluff. After cleaning all fans appeared to be spinning unimpeded. I subsequently vacuumed the room so that the displaced dust and fluff wasn’t drawn back into the PC case. I am still surprised at how much dust was present, especially in light of the fact that we do not have any carpeting in our home but there are plenty of other potential sources both inside and outside the house. Upon turning the PC back on, the fans were noticeably quieter and the temperature remained stable.
Since cleaning my PC case I have given some thought to relocating my base unit off the floor. Unfortunately there isn’t sufficient desk space available at present. As a compromise I bought a PC stand that raises the case a further 7 centimetres off the ground and allows air to flow under the PC a lot more freely. As it’s on wheels it also allows me to pull the case out from under the desk for easy access to the various cables that connect at the back. Overall I recommend checking your PC for dust contamination at least once every quarter and ensuring that your PC case is placed for optimal ventilation. It would appear that PC’s overheating is still a common problem and can on occasions do damage to the CPU, GPU and PSU. In extreme circumstances you may even flambé a rodent, which would never do. However, 10 minutes of simple maintenance, every few months, can prevent such things.
Battlefield REDSEC
The Battlefield 6 Battle Royale game mode, known officially as Battlefield REDSEC, was released today at 15;00 on all platforms. REDSEC, which is short for “Redacted Sector,” offers an interesting take on the Battle Royale genre, blending familiar elements from games such as Fortnight and Warzone, while maintaining those unique aspects of Battlefield. Hence, you will find missions, loot crates and an ever decreasing environment, as well as the squad class dynamics and the destructible environment. The map offers both urban areas as well as open countryside thus supporting multiple play styles. Furthermore, REDSEC includes two additional modes. Gauntlet and Portal. Although it has launched alongside the first season of Battlefield 6 (which comes with an optional season pass), REDSEC is available to download as a standalone mode and is free-to-play.
The Battlefield 6 Battle Royale game mode, known officially as Battlefield REDSEC, was released today at 15;00 on all platforms. REDSEC, which is short for “Redacted Sector,” offers an interesting take on the Battle Royale genre, blending familiar elements from games such as Fortnight and Warzone, while maintaining those unique aspects of Battlefield. Hence, you will find missions, loot crates and an ever decreasing environment, as well as the squad class dynamics and the destructible environment. The map offers both urban areas as well as open countryside thus supporting multiple play styles. Furthermore, REDSEC includes two additional modes. Gauntlet and Portal. Although it has launched alongside the first season of Battlefield 6 (which comes with an optional season pass), REDSEC is available to download as a standalone mode and is free-to-play.
REDSEC Battle Royale FAQ:
REDSEC is set in Fort Lyndon, California.
The map includes beachside suburbia, a golf course and a military blacksite.
It’s the largest map in Battlefield history.
Instead of an enclosing circle of gas, there is a ring of fire which kills instantly.
The game mode supports 100 players, or 25 squads of 50 duos, battling it out.
Each class can unlock new gear through training paths. IE RPGs can be upgraded to guided missiles and drones can be upgraded to carry ordinance.
Armoured vehicles are present in the game. M1 Abrams tanks and M3 Bradley armoured personnel carriers are located in locked Vehicle Trailers.
There are Redeployment Stations around the map, although respawning is not as ubiquitous in this Battle Royale.
Players can favourite up to 8 weapons loadouts, which can be accessed in-game via Custom Weapon Drops.
There are crates offering random weapons and gear. There are also safes which the Engineer class can open with his tool.
Players can equip two personal armour plates.
There are multiple ziplines around the map.
Gauntlet Mode:
Gauntlet is a separate mode that is a relatively short, elimination-driven gameplay experience. 32 players (eight squads of four players) are dispersed across Fort Lyndon and must fight through various round-based missions. Players have five minutes to complete the objective for each round. The missions and locations change for each round. Gauntlet is focused upon teamwork and coordination.
Portal Mode:
Portal allows Battlefield 6 players to create their own game modes and bespoke maps. REDSEC Portal brings these tools to the Fort Lyndon map. Two official Portal maps are currently available with more set to follow in the weeks to come.
Battle Pass:
Coinciding with the launch of REDSEC, is Season 1 for Battlefield 6 and an accompanying battle pass system. This shares unlockable rewards and XP progress between both the base game and its Battle Royale REDSEC counterpart. EA have stated that they have no plans for there to be any exclusive REDSEC unlocks. However, not all skins from Battlefield 6 will be available. There is also an in-game store selling cosmetic items but so far, these remain within an military idiom.
Initial Thoughts:
I logged into REDSEC this afternoon and as I had bought the Phantom Edition of Battlefield 6, I had a free season pass with the first 25 levels unlocked. I then spent some time playing Battle Royale mode and then went online to watch some livestreams. At first glance, anyone coming from another major BR game will find a lot of familiar mechanics. You drop into the map with a squad and collect gear and perks from crates along the way. You can then pursue missions to gain XP and upgrades to your weapons and gear, while eliminating other players. You can access your own loadouts and use vehicles to traverse the map, although heavy armour is not so easily accessible. The main difference is to succeed you need to lean into the game’s squad dynamics and utilise their respective skills.
Healing your team is important, so Support classes are advantageous with their ability to revive players quickly. That being said, all players can drag a downed teammate to cover and heal them but it takes longer. Engineers improve vehicles by their presence and can repair on the fly. The tactical ladder that accompanies the Assault class is invaluable, affording access to vantage points that aren’t accessible from the ground. The Recon class has the advantage of drones and the ability to drop bombs on targets. However, the biggest game changer in this Battle Royale is the destructible environment. You can create your own access into a building with C4 or a sledgehammer. Similarly, if an enemy squad is entrenched in a fortified position, you can demolish it with sufficient fire power. Plus, there is no ultraquick omnimovement in this game. Speedy gunfights may work in some scenarios but not all.
So far, I think that Battlefield REDSEC is sufficiently different from its competitors. Due to the franchise’s game mechanics, there is greater appeal to casual and new players because they will be able to find a role if gunplay is not their forte. No doubt REDSEC will attract “sweaty tryhards” but they may not find things to their liking and their standard strategy will not work so well in this environment. There won’t be any gas play clutches, as in Warzone and last moment heroics driven by omnimovement and hipfire may be far less commonplace. It may even be the case that vehicles prove to be the key to winning. Also, Javelin, a custom kernel-level anti-cheat system, may also be a major factor in keeping REDSEC an equitable gaming experience because it appears to work. Time will tell. In the meantime I believe the correct assessment of today’s release is “so far, so good”.
Screenshots from Jackfrags livestream.
Waiting For Amazon's Lord of the Rings MMO
Tolkien enthusiasts may recollect Athlon Games, a subsidiary of Leyou Technologies, announcing that it was developing a new MMORPG, based upon The Lord of the Rings, back in September 2018. The following summer, it was revealed that Amazon Game Studios was the partner developer for the project. In late 2020, Leyou Technologies (a Hong Kong-based company), was acquired by the Chinese conglomerate Tencent. This triggered a contract clause with the license holder, Middle-earth Enterprises, allowing them to terminate the existing arrangement if a new deal could not be met. Amazon and Tencent were unable to agree upon how to proceed with the project, leading Amazon to withdraw from negotiations. The project was subsequently scrapped. No details or images of the MMO have been released.
Tolkien enthusiasts may recollect Athlon Games, a subsidiary of Leyou Technologies, announcing that it was developing a new MMORPG, based upon The Lord of the Rings, back in September 2018. The following summer, it was revealed that Amazon Game Studios was the partner developer for the project. In late 2020, Leyou Technologies (a Hong Kong-based company), was acquired by the Chinese conglomerate Tencent. This triggered a contract clause with the license holder, Middle-earth Enterprises, allowing them to terminate the existing arrangement if a new deal could not be met. Amazon and Tencent were unable to agree upon how to proceed with the project, leading Amazon to withdraw from negotiations. The project was subsequently scrapped. No details or images of the MMO have been released.
However, despite the project being terminated, Amazon Games still wished to develop a game based upon Tolkien’s Legendarium. No doubt driven by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos’ love of this intellectual property, plus the fact that Amazon MGM Studios is committed to producing further seasons of the TV show, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Hence, in May 2023, it was announced that another The Lord of the Rings MMO was in the early stages of production. This time, the development and publishing of the game is under a new agreement with Embracer Group’s who bought Middle-earth Enterprises in August 2022. The new game is being developed by Amazon Games Orange County, the same studio that created the MMO New World. At present, it is not clear how far into development the game is or the scheduled release date.
Two and a half years on from the initial announcement, no major details of this new MMO have been released. However, there is no indication that the project is in any sort of difficulty either. Thus it is logical to assume that no news is good news and that the game is still in full production. From the little information that is in the public domain it would appear that the game will be utilising an evolved version of the Azoth Engine (which was developed for New World) to deliver a distinct realisation of Middle-earth. One of the game’s aims is to be able to support large-scale multiplayer battles. At present the developers are searching for a unique “hook” to differentiate the game from others in the genre. Apparently, the game is not linked to The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which is set in the Second Age. Instead the game is clearly set in the literary events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
Naturally, such a dearth of information has led to a great deal of speculation from Tolkien fans and gamers. Firstly, the term MMO is very nebulous and can include a wide variety of gaming genres and sub-genres these days. Is this game a traditional MMORPG with a persistent world, quests, player progression and a key social dynamic, like New World itself. Or are we looking at a game with an emphasis on multiplayer battles with the social elements being adjacent to the main game, such as Destiny 2 or something similar? What will the business model be? A freemium hybrid like traditional MMOs, or a totally free-to-play game with a season pass? Furthermore, will this new game be available across multiple platforms, as New World, The Elder Scrolls Online and Neverwinter?
For many gamers perhaps the biggest question is how will the release of a new multiplayer game based upon Tolkien’s work, impact upon the existing MMORPG, The Lord of the Rings Online. From a business perspective, can two such games co-exist without threatening each other’s business prospects, or will there be licensing issues? Although Star Wars Galaxies was not directly "killed off" to make way for Star Wars: The Old Republic, its closure was the result of a mutual decision by LucasArts and Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) after their contract was set to expire and because they felt there was no need for two Star Wars MMOs. Could something similar be a possibility here? LOTRO is currently 18 years old and has a small but loyal playerbase. However, it clearly is not going to grow any further. Would a significant proportion of its core players migrate to a new game?
Competition is a healthy thing, in principle at least and it is nice as a consumer to have choice. I am always interested in different people’s visions of Professor Tolkien's work, such as artists like Alan Lee, John Howe and Ted Nasmith, so for me a new game would be welcome purely from a creative and aesthetic perspective. The themes and lore of Middle-earth lend themselves to a variety of interpretations, so I see no benefit in creating an MMO that just replicates what LOTRO does. However, business is often loath to deviate from the tried and tested models that are currently profitable, so there is a possibility that gamers may well just get the same meat, but with different gravy. All of the so-called WoW killers that were released over the last 15 years have essentially followed that game’s formula.
I would like the new LOTR MMO to be a less linear game with more dynamic content and the chance to develop characters that aren't solely based around combat. To be able to lose oneself in a virtual Middle Earth, where you are free to explore, craft, farm, trade or simply wander would be a true marvel and a massive step forward for gamers and fans of the IP. If such a system could be combined with optional narrative quests and multiplayer battles, then it may be the perfect compromise. But such ideas are not necessarily practical, achievable or economically viable. The development costs required to create such a world would be substantial and the risk of such an experimental project would be substantial. Such an undertaking is best left to the likes of Raph Koster. In the meantime, we just have to wait and manage our expectations, which is a gamer’s default position.
My Local Cinema
In a misguided fit of enthusiasm, I briefly considered booking tickets to go to London next month to see Predator: Badlands at the IMAX cinema at Waterloo. However, I balked at the price and when I considered the train journey and the fact I’d be going on my own, apathy got the better of me. I decided to wait until the film becomes available on Disney + etc. Hence cinema’s loss is streaming’s gain, which seems to be becoming an all too familiar story. I’ve only been to the cinema once this year and that was to the British Film Institute, where I saw an old classic, Electra Glide in Blue, rather than a new film. Last year I went to the cinema three times. All visits were to my local venue, the Sidcup Storyteller. Sadly that cinema has been closed since the end of July and its future has hung in the balance. Its absence has been keenly felt as it provided a pleasant and convenient local service.
In a misguided fit of enthusiasm, I briefly considered booking tickets to go to London next month to see Predator: Badlands at the IMAX cinema at Waterloo. However, I balked at the price and when I considered the train journey and the fact I’d be going on my own, apathy got the better of me. I decided to wait until the film becomes available on Disney + etc. Hence cinema’s loss is streaming’s gain, which seems to be becoming an all too familiar story. I’ve only been to the cinema once this year and that was to the British Film Institute, where I saw an old classic, Electra Glide in Blue, rather than a new film. Last year I went to the cinema three times. All visits were to my local venue, the Sidcup Storyteller. Sadly that cinema has been closed since the end of July and its future has hung in the balance. Its absence has been keenly felt as it provided a pleasant and convenient local service.
The Sidcup Storyteller cinema temporarily closed because its operator, Really Local Group (RLG), went into liquidation. RLG faced wider financial difficulties, which led to the closure of its venues and a temporary closure of the Sidcup cinema for a refurbishment and transition to new management. The cinema was expected to reopen under a new operator, supported by Bexley Council in September. Sadly, finding a replacement operator with the necessary experience has proven harder than expected. However, it would appear that the management team behind Hackney’s Castle Cinema are looking to run the Sidcup Storyteller, which seems very reassuring. The Castle Cinema is an independent, crowd-funded community movie theatre and not affiliated to any corporate behemoths.
As there is no timetable at present for the re-opening of the Sidcup Storyteller cinema, I shall have to look to nearby alternatives for my immediate cinematic needs. There is the Vue cinema in Eltham High Street and Cineworld in Bexleyheath Broadway. They’re not my first choice as I’ve had issues with them in the past, such as film’s being shown in the wrong aspect ratio and lighting being insufficiently dimmed. They also seem to favour the most commercially viable films to schedule. Hence you don’t always get as much choice as you would like. Plus they tend to attract younger viewers who struggle with the social etiquette associated with a trip to the cinema. Therefore, I hope that an appropriate deal can be struck between the Castle Cinema management and Bexley Council, resulting in the Sidcup Storyteller cinema re-opening its doors soon.
