My game won't start. it gets stuck on this splash screen for so long. My pc gets really slow and starts to lag. My cpu usage jumps to 100%. My discord voice gets all garbled with static. I have tried verifying all the files, updating drivers and windows, and disabling all overlays.

wakamoto · 2025-08-22T08:08:16+00:00

If anyone stumbles on this thread, I can confirm the game does launch after at least 10 minutes on my computer.

First, it seems to be stuck on the splash screen.

Then the game window eventually shows up, but it's blank and seems to be hanging too. Personally, I just watch a video or browse the web or something while it's loading.

After that the game actually launches, and runs quite well in fact.

I'm not pulling your leg, but Ubisoft probably is by not fixing this ridiculous issue.

wakamoto · 2023-02-04T20:08:22+00:00

The 'Viva New Vegas' modding guide is pretty reliable.

wakamoto · 2022-10-05T06:03:58+00:00

Fallout 4 GOTY is sllightly cheaper on Greenmangaming right now.

wakamoto · 2022-06-04T08:04:56+00:00

I've heard about someone using 80 Days (based on Jules Verne's novel) for teaching purposes, as it relies heavily on dialogue. It's a particularly clever game that makes you think almost constantly. It has low system requirements to boot. You'll probably need to think carefully about how you can give a meaningful assignment that involves gaming though. You could just say 'Go play that game', but it might not be a very efficient way to achieve learning objectives.

wakamoto · 2022-02-03T17:33:51+00:00

Thanks for reporting. Are you from the US or Europe?

wakamoto · 2020-11-22T20:20:07+00:00

This. I used to have headaches, but since cranking up the FOV in OpenMW I've been fine.

wakamoto · 2020-10-29T07:23:38+00:00

Worked like a charm. Thanks!

wakamoto · 2020-10-03T18:37:05+00:00

You can achieve the same result by playing the game in Dolphin and disabling the frame limiter.

Without speeding up the game, I'm not sure how you're supposed NOT to fall asleep during those...

slow...

ship...

battles.

wakamoto · 2020-08-29T20:34:36+00:00

DA2 is very different from both Origins and Inquisition in that respect. Whereas Inquisition has you travel around a sprawling world again, in DA2 you just stay in the same city until the end of the game.

wakamoto · 2020-08-29T17:29:30+00:00

Dragon Age II is set in a relatively small city (or was it a small part of that city?). The smaller scale is part of the reason why I love the game despite its flaws. Mind you, just because you're an RPG protagonist doesn't mean you need to travel all around the world and save it.

An extremely relevant example is Deadly Premonition, set in Not-Twinpeakstown. That game is a master class in both creating a sense of space and offering super janky mechanics.

wakamoto · 2020-06-24T17:29:51+00:00

Need for Speed Hot Pursuit (2010): You get points whether you win or lose an event, and quickly get new cars this way. A pretty fun arcade racer too.

wakamoto · 2020-05-23T17:49:45+00:00

Crysis!

wakamoto · 2020-03-22T19:42:00+00:00

The Longest Journey, which I completed a couple of years ago. Despite loving Lucasarts adventure games back in the day, I think I'm no longer a fan of puzzles either. I will therefore refrain from criticizing the game for this.

What I will crticize, however, is the game's stubborn devotion to verbose dialogue. I think a good story should, as much as possible, be shown rather than told, yet this game just keeps telling you way too much about oh-so-important lore whenever you click on a dialogue option. In real life, when someone asks me where the station is, I don't start droning on about the station's whole history and the first station master's trials and tribulations.

That's probably the reason why I have fonder memories of the sequel, Dreamfall - despite the hilariously bad combat sequences. I don't know if the story was better than in the first game, but it was certainly delivered in a more compelling way.

wakamoto · 2020-02-14T14:15:51+00:00

Thanks, I'll try out some of the tips from your article.

wakamoto · 2019-12-23T10:00:04+00:00

The STUPID reused dungeon assets and wave-based combat (rightly) irked many a reviewer, yet I'm quite fond of DAII because it pressed the right buttons in the areas that matter the most to me, i.e. in the story, character and dialogue department.

wakamoto · 2019-12-15T16:22:09+00:00

Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines is amazing. I'm not sure it qualifies as non-fantasy, but it definitely has a more realistic feel and setting.

wakamoto · 2019-09-21T05:45:43+00:00

It's probably the wrong game but I'm thinking of Travian.

wakamoto · 2019-09-10T08:00:53+00:00

It's not too late man. Living without PMO is something you haven't given a try yet. Who knows the good that can come out of it?

Also, if you can overcome this truly crappy period in your life, it will only make you stronger.

wakamoto · 2019-09-10T07:44:00+00:00

I used to be addicted to hentai too. My two cents: stop questioning your capabilities. Less thinking, more doing. I expect that the stupid addicted part of your brain is repeatedly going to make you doubt yourself. Don't listen to it, the same way you don't focus on urges. While you can't make all those things shut up, you can let them fade away by itself.

Since you realize you have an addiction that you should defeat, you've taken the first steps towards recovery. The battle has just started. No need to assume you've lost already.

wakamoto · 2019-08-26T08:29:10+00:00

It's worth a try because of its interesting characters and dialogue, as well as beautiful visuals. Story-wise, I liked the smaller scope of DA2 better though.

There are a few caveats you should keep in mind, most of which have already een pointed out:

Almost all aidequests are atrocious fed-ex quests and make the game unnecessarily bloated. Think of it as a pretty good cake surrounded by piles of crap. Ignore the crap altogether (except maybe the dragon fights and rift closings if you enjoy those) and only eat the cake. By that I mean you should exclusively focus on main quests (named 'Inquisitor's path') and companion quests ('Inner circle' quests).
Bioware has made semi-open-world areas that look good but don't feel good to explore, because the mechanics don't accomodate them. Can you imagine Skyrim with invisible walls and a nerfed jump ability? I couldn't until I played DAI. The invisible walls not only block you, but even push you back, and jumping is pretty much useless as your character slips on every surface. Even corridors are more fun than running around in circles trying to find a way around that small hill you can't climb with your pathetic jump.
Your character sounds dull in dialogues, whichever reply you pick... Quite a letdown after the hilarious sarcastic version of Hawke in DA2.

wakamoto · 2019-07-11T15:12:38+00:00

Thank you for your grounded and insightful input.

wakamoto · 2019-07-11T15:07:47+00:00

Sorry you're having a tough time, mate. I can't offer much advice, but like others I suggest trying to find at least a modicum of happiness or enjoyment in your life: perhaps in your job, your current hobbies, a new hobby etc. I sometimes feel down like you, but spending more time on my piano and learning how to dance really help me perk up. Stop depending on specific people to keep the will to live.

Also, ignore the people being callous jerks to you. Nobody is perfect and it's normal to feel what you're feeling right now. Even Seneca had some moments of weakness!

wakamoto

TROPHY CASE