Mobile gaming, on Android, is an interesting space right now. I used to buy flagship phones exclusively, as high spec as I could just…because I could. I played a few emulated Nintendo Switch games on them, as well as the odd Game Pass title (with a telescoping GameSir Xbox mounted controller thing) and then I realized I really had no use for them. I rarely played, and my most recent phone purchases have been mid-range.

That said, so much is now possible on Android. You can emulate everything from Switch to PS3, use pretty front-ends to use as a launcher station (a quick note of appreciation for the totally FOSS option - Lemuroid), and as unbelievable as it still is to me, you can even play full PC games like GTA V using winlator

The scene for Android emulation is incredibly dramatic with frequent in-fighting, but also pretty impressive from a technical standpoint. It’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea - and that’s fine, but the mobile scene which isn’t just gatcha games hooking kids on the Play Store is so varied. Then you’ve got actually impressive games like DREDGE getting a Android release, replete with custom builds and changes for the Android system (no lazy ports!). Heck, even No Man’s Sky is coming to Android soon!

This is the second really positive review of the game I’ve read the past few days.

I’d like to imagine I’m responsible for the first! Do try it, it’s really good. It doesn’t feel like other games, there’s no frenzied movement, nothing really skill-based, or reaction-based, you can just explore a beautifully designed world (the art style is so unique), with a perfect soundtrack (Japanese Breakfast!)…tackle things your own way!

Its a beautiful game, not something I’d typically enjoy but slowing down to enjoy a slower game made me happy.

Well now my name has some baggage

It’s just…going to seem selfish of me, because it’s a lovely initiative…but reformatting, citing and posting elsewhere just adds to the ‘work’ of this. I like to contribute to the open-source, community-driven Lemmy world, it makes me feel happy that there’s a space like this around.

But, that said, if you wanted to add it, by all means please do! I’ve zero objections. I just have too much on my plate right now to even consider it!

Thanks for the idea though, it’s nice to see another space where the community writes, cites, edits and posts their own work to be hosted :)

Oh thank God.

I was picturing the community sharpening their pitchforks for this kind of sensitive topic!

(Glad you enjoyed it!)

Do!

And feel free to send me a message, either on Revolt or Matrix - I’m typically online most of the time anyway :)

You must be using Boost?

For some reason that app struggles with too many images / GIFs

Once long back the dev was made aware of that issue and had a fix, but…I suppose its broken again for this?

You can use any other app, or just the browser if that helps? Sorry to hear its still a problem

Send them a message!

I’ve no doubts they’d love to talk details!!!

Oh that’s so interesting!

If they’d like someone to chat to, I’m on Matrix most days (along with Revolt) and more than happy to be an ear if they need! Thanks for leaving a comment, I always appreciate you dropping by :)

On the topic of Steam Deck, how reliably do the GOG achievements and cloud saves work with Heroic Launcher? I’ve been using Non-Steam game launcher for Non-Steam games, but it doesn’t always add the game reliably to Steam so I’m stuck doing it manually.

I’ve had some bad blood with the ‘developer’ of NSL in the past. But that’s all ancient history. My main issue with NSL (still to this day) is that it has everything installed under one prefix. This is just insane to me, if one thing goes wrong…everything disappears. But, of course it’s all personal choice and lots of people enjoyed using it before NSL got kicked off Decky Loader, publicly denounced by Kyle (developer of Bazzite) added religious scripture to his work, generally proved themselves to be a shitty person.

Anyway! On to Heroic:

Achievements:

GOG achievements work flawlessly. My good friend imLinguin is in charge of the GOG integration on Heroic, and his work with Comet (how the achievements are logged) is amazing! There’s no on-screen pop up for the achievement, but it is logged on your profile on GOG’s site, as is your playtime.

Adding the game to Steam:

Its in the settings - automatically add the game to Steam, and it’ll do it for you! As well as populate the game with all the required artwork for the title (capsule, capsule wide, logo etc). It does require a restart however to add it to your Steam game library - under non Steam games tab!

Cloud Saves:

They’ve not failed me yet, but the team and imLinguin do warn that it is not finalized yet. It’s ‘experimental’ - that being said, it’s perfect for me. It ‘just works’. Once you set it in the game’s settings you can double-checl (if you like) on the GOG site: https://www.gog.com/account/cloud-saves/page/1 - you’ll see it listed once it is done and you know you’re safe!

^ Here’s an example of the last game I played via Heroic - TOEM, and the saves were uploaded and are sitting there nicely :)

Lastly if you’re super curious, my friend Gardiner has a server on Revolt where quite a few dev friends of mine, including imLinguin drop by now and then to share their news and work and chat. You could ask him in the server if you’ve any questions! Here’s the link to the Revolt server, if you’re wanting to see!

Please update on here if you do! I love the GOG case community so so much, and I’d love to see yours!!!

I’ve heard this before. Quite a long time back someone contacted the dev of Boost who fixed it at the time with an update but…since then I suppose its broken again?

Its only Boost that seems to have this issue, I’m sorry. Using the browser though there’s no slow-down, if that helps?

Thank you so much :)

If they’re on a platform you are, ask them! They seem super approachable and really proud (rightly so!) of their work, so I’ve little doubt they’d enjoy chatting about the technical details of their efforts!

You’re welcome :)

You can find their LinkTree here, which hopefully helps you get in contact with them?!

I’m unsure of materials or processes, since it’s not something I’ve gone into detail on (instead I just love the look of them!), though doing a search I did see a couple of Nintendo Switch-centric sites have done ‘articles’ on their work too, so it’s kinda known in the space. I do hope this helps!

Thanks for reading through!

Hey, don’t worry! Better safe than sorry, this way at least if people reading are curious and want to find it (and play!) they can search it up, I’d assume. No problems!!!

Ahhhh, thalassophobia! I’m the opposite, having my dive license the idea of submerging is heaven to me!

Just an escape!

I’ll keep my apartment in the city, of course, but I like the idea of having somewhere that I will perhaps be less inclined to work, or stay in a chair/sofa, and instead keep running wild. That’s the hope, anyway!

I’m curious what you think of games like Dead Cells, Graveyard Keeper, Eastward, Stardew, Octopath Traveler, Sea of Stars?!

Are they just not something you’d enjoy because it reminds you of what gaming used to be? I like to think of it, in some cases at least, as a way independent developers can make games without having to be versed in a whole other world of 3D animation which might be a bridge too far. But, then again, I’m very much in the category of:

enables younger ppl to enjoy older games