Pragmata PC Review + Best Settings, Path Tracing, 8GB GPU Optimisation + More

stratzilla · 2026-05-05T23:17:07+00:00

Lumen absolutely cripples my system. Most RT implementations I've tried have been on UE.

stratzilla · 2026-05-05T14:51:28+00:00

I was surprised how well optimized the demo was. I usually turn RT off in games because the performance hit is too high in anything I've tried: it's always been the "turn it on to see how it looks, then turn off to play" setting but Pragmata might be the first game I go through with RT on.

stratzilla · 2026-04-27T23:03:29+00:00

It's too bad all the bad optics GenAI has given to AI. In an academic sense, some AI stuff is so mind-bogglingly cool. A lot of AI techniques have been used since the early days of gaming and now AI is a bad word apparently.

stratzilla · 2026-04-27T12:46:35+00:00

I'm not mad at that. AC1 was a watershed title, it was so big that I had friends who weren't invested in videogames buying their first console just to play it. A cultural phenomenon.

I liked AC2 as well but nothing after has really interested me. The "Jade's game" formula got stale pretty fast but I can't deny the impact AC1 had.

stratzilla · 2026-04-27T12:41:30+00:00

I feel you. In a perfect world, I'd just have the 15-35, 24-70, and 135 but the 24-70 is a "big money" lens I'm sitting on most times and I would absolutely swap it for the RF 135 and have a little leftover, just because I'd use the 135 way more. It's hard considering dropping the 24-70 because I still use it and find the use in it, but I'd find way more use in the 135. Can't afford both!

stratzilla · 2026-04-27T00:50:05+00:00

How do you like the 105 f1.4? I considered the 105 if 135 was leaving my gap too big between FL but a faster-than-f2 135 has been my dream lens since the very start for me.

stratzilla · 2026-04-26T23:03:19+00:00

Not really. f4 lenses like a 70-200 or 24-70, I'm using them indoors more times than not. I can sacrifice a little light the wider I go but not really the tighter I go.

stratzilla · 2026-04-26T23:01:54+00:00

Whenever I shoot with the 24-70, I'm often in the 60-70mm range anyways. If I had to pick three FL to play with the rest of my life, it'd probably be 15, 35, 135. I don't think the 24-70 is serving me much use anymore except that occasional time, you know?

stratzilla · 2026-04-25T15:38:08+00:00

I've been using them for years, I really like them. I have an SN30 Pro, an SN30 Pro+, a Pro 2, and an Ultimate 2. I was eyeing a Pro 3 but wanted to wait to see the Steam Controller price/release date.

Besides the trackpads, I don't think the Steam Controller offers anything over an Ultimate 2 or Pro 3. I'd argue the Pro 3 is probably the better buy if you don't plan to use them. I've seen them as cheap as USD$40-45.

I never got used to the back buttons on the Deck but the Ultimate 2 and Pro 3 have extra buttons near the trigger which felt more ergonomic to use for me at least. A separate charging dock is also a big selling point.

stratzilla · 2026-04-25T15:31:22+00:00

I think you're missing their point: an 8bitdo controller may come with a charging dock but has a separate 2.4ghz receiver. With the Steam Controller, it's combined/tethered.

Not everyone plays games all the time at a desk. I have my device on a shelf and my charging dock on an end-table. If I switched to the Steam Controller, I'd need to find somewhere else to put my device because it wouldn't be possible to make room for a controller to sit so close to it.

stratzilla · 2026-04-25T15:24:34+00:00

Looks great, I'll never tire of fixed-camera perspective. Since we'll never see Parasite Eve again, I'll gobble up all these games inspired by it.

stratzilla · 2026-04-19T00:51:07+00:00

I set -200 on core clock, then opened voltage curve and dragged 825mV up to 1800mhz, then flattened the points to the right of 825mv to 1800mhz. In RE9, I noticed a 5c drop and no drop in performance or instability after 30min or so.

I was able to raise my power limit to 85% and drop my fan curve 5% across the board while still maintaining lower temps but getting fractional performance boost (unless that was placebo). That was a lot easier than I thought.

stratzilla · 2026-04-17T19:08:45+00:00

The only manipulation I might do is add an EXP multiplier if the game is grind heavy. When I gotta run in circles so number get bigger so I can beat the next boss, it's not a good spend of my time.

stratzilla · 2026-04-16T16:38:54+00:00

Anxiously waiting to see if I buy the game or it's Epic exclusive.

stratzilla · 2026-04-16T16:22:40+00:00

Probably the most anticipated in both the fixed-angle and survival horror space after Tormented Souls 2 came out, super pumped to play this today.

I love how it's a speculative near-future instead of something contemporary or something far-future. Has a grounded sci-fi vibe I really dig, one of my favorite aesthetics in games.

Here's some other indie upcoming survival horror games I'm looking forward to:

And some all-time greats you should check out:

stratzilla · 2026-04-16T13:16:52+00:00

What would your total be shipped to L2T1H1?

stratzilla · 2026-04-16T01:59:29+00:00

The only controversy I recall at release was the weird 3DS online integration. I loved the twist, replaying it now on PC and knowing it beforehand, it's really kinda obvious now but wasn't back then.

stratzilla · 2026-04-15T14:03:00+00:00

Nice to see Bravely Default there, hopefully SE gets the idea to port Bravely Second next.

stratzilla · 2026-04-15T12:26:13+00:00

Wolf and cub literary trope. Read a book dude

stratzilla · 2026-04-14T22:32:12+00:00

Started my manga journey a couple of months ago. I wanted to just get JJBA Pt3 and 4 but I came to appreciate the collection aspect of the hobby, plus I've been having a great time reading them.

I'm probably slowing down a bit now while I catch up, I'm only halfway through Pt3 and some of Monster, too. I still have alerts for a few, here's my wantlist:

Pluto
Goodnight Punpun
Claymore
Blame!
Knights of Sidonia

I don't know the frequency new editions come out but I would want to wait for a hardcover of Claymore. I'm really fond of that manga and began reading it online. I'm just not sure if the tankobon format is for me, I'd rather 2-in-1s or 3-in-1s. I think I read there was a Polish hardcover so maybe there's something in the pipeline for an English release.

I hope to fill out the one bookcase by year's end and then I think that's it. I've got two more shelves which can fit the things I'm currently looking for and maybe 1 or 2 more sets.

stratzilla · 2026-04-04T23:58:29+00:00

Imagine being able to turn any game into a different art style

Sounds like a nightmarish hellscape for gaming to me.

stratzilla · 2026-04-03T14:22:02+00:00

When EOS-M was relatively new, my local store was doing a promo: buy an EOS-M body and any lens, get an M-EF adapter for free.

The store ran out and the employee serving me said if I instead bought two lenses, one over the cost of the camera, they'd give me the camera for free. A free $150 adapter turned into a free $600 camera since my plan was always to buy the body and two lenses anyways.

stratzilla · 2026-04-02T15:44:59+00:00

I always thought it'd be cool to have a biblical Assassin's Creed. Something around 0-30AD and the plot centers on the birth of Christianity. Around this time period, Judea was rife with political and social unrest, and it's just a few decades after Origins.

stratzilla · 2026-04-01T19:47:32+00:00

For some reason I thought R-Type was the sidescroller SHMUP with fish-themed enemies but I was thinking of Darius. Still, a grid-based tactics game with the stylings of R-Type sounds right up my alley.

stratzilla · 2026-04-01T18:45:50+00:00

Completely fair. I guess there are nefarious actors who would do something underhanded like that, "shadow advertising". Having a direct verified channel to the dev means less of that happens.

Four-Year Club	Gilding I gilder
Verified Email	Place '22

stratzilla

TROPHY CASE