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Old Man Gaming

@oldmangaming76.bsky.social

22 followers 22 following 128 posts

An old gamer who has played games for 40+ years starting with an obsession with a Donkey Kong Jnr console and now predominantly games on PC. I have random musings about the gaming industry including games and the general zeitgeist

Posts Replies Media

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

I have kept hearing about gamers suggestions to developers to 'Just make better games'. Simple right. I have gone through my thoughts on this in a (somewhat lengthy) post on Substack. Feel free to comment as I would love to hear other peoples take on this.

open.substack.com

Just make better games, or variations of that idea

Probably the most common critique of the gaming industry as a whole, but what does it actually mean?

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

With all the talk of GTA6 and it's imminent release I wanted to highlight how the crush that it has created is a magnification of the industry as a whole.

oldmangaming.org.uk

How GTA6 is a hyper example of what is happening in the games industry — OldManGaming

The hype around GTA6 has caused many games to move out of its way. This is a good example of what happens all the time in the gaming industry but on a much larger and magnified scale It happened last...

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

@matpiscatella.bsky.social I was wondering if you data about people outside the western markets feelings about @grandtheftautoiv.bsky.social. We are quite isolated in our western bubble. I was interested if it was as big in other markets. I was thinking about GTA6 effecting Eastern titles releasing

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Was ActivisionBlizzard bought by @microsoft.com and @xbox.com or was it the other way around? The current moves seem extremely ABK-like. It seems kind of like in Diablo where taking the crystal into you turned you into the monster. Or has Bobby Kotick been taken on as a advisor to Asha Sharma?

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

An Article I wrote in February about the retirement of Phil Spencer and after reading it I kind of feel a little bit like Nostradamus. I know it was only 4 months ago but the speed of the changes in the industry lately, it really feels like 4yrs ago.

open.substack.com

Phil Spencer leaving Xbox an article from my website written on the 22nd February 2026

This is an article I wrote when Phil Spencer left XBOX. I randomly read through it and it made me feel a bit like Nostradamus.

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

There has been much conversation around the state of the gaming industry and I would love to speak to Matthew Ball and @matpiscatella.bsky.social because I feel they have being telling people about this for ages. We have a supply and demand issue in gaming.

oldmangaming.org.uk

The state of the gaming industry — OldManGaming

Why is the gaming industry in the state it is in? As gamers we are in the best state we have been in ever with more games to play than ever and the sheer vastness and selection of games. Why then is t...

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

I was not planning on watching @geoffkeighley.bsky.social Summer Games Fest this year but rather just catch up on the news the following day but I ended up watching it. It was only OK for various reasons but still well produced. Here are my thoughts on the games

oldmangaming.org.uk

Not E3…. Part one SGF — OldManGaming

My plan was to not watch the Geoff Keighley Summer Games Fest as it was on late and is known for time wasting and ads, and I would rather catch up on all the reveals, release dates and new games (the ...

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

I have been playing @lunaabyssgame.bsky.social on @gamepass.xbox.com GamePass and have had a really good time. I have enjoyed the story and the combat although not difficult, was enjoyable. I would recommend giving it a go.

oldmangaming.org.uk

Luna Abyss — OldManGaming

TLDR: Luna Abyss is a good game and although it is short it is entertaining enough to keep me intrigued. The combat is not difficult so anyone who has always liked the idea of a bullet hell game but f...

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

@lunaabyssgame.bsky.social isGame is a great game. I've played 4hrs & it is pulling me in. An interesting world & characters. The combat on normal difficulty is not difficult at the moment but it is a lot of fun. Kind of a mix between Returnal & Remnant. Enjoying it far more than I thought I would

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

I recently played @blakemanorgame.bsky.social after an age of wanting to get it. @spookydoorway.bsky.social have created another great game. I really enjoyed playing this and would strongly suggest it to anyone who enjoys detective games. For everyone else try the demo.

oldmangaming.org.uk

The Seance of Blake Manor — OldManGaming

This was a random find for me that I was immediately drawn to. I loved Blue Prince and The Case of the Golden Idol and I really enjoyed The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow. Although this is not quite a mix...

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

I finally managed to play @REPLACEDGame. The demo really added to my hype for this game. The game is good and I have really enjoyed my time so far. I have posted a review in progress as I do feel this game deserves the attention

oldmangaming.org.uk

Replaced — OldManGaming

I have been looking forward to this game since the first time I saw the trailer. When I played the demo during Steam’s Next Fest, I really enjoyed the small slice of the game they showed. What I playe...

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

Pretty everyone has had their say about @CrimsonDesert_ and from my experience they are all correct, whether they like or loathe the game. I have my issues with this game but I do find most are issues that can and are being fixed with patches.

oldmangaming.org.uk

Crimson Desert — OldManGaming

By now, everyone and their uncle have had something to say about Crimson Desert. The consensus that I have seen is that people will either love it or hate it. I don’t hold to this opinion as I feel th...

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

I have a genuine question. What do @xbox.com need to do to get us PC gamers to buy games from them instead of Steam? It hit while watching the partner preview that if the game wasn’t on @gamepass.xbox.com I immediately thought of Steam as my go to for the game. We want options but.....

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

I was thinking about Xbox and what I would like from them as a PC gamer and what I feel Xbox console gamers would benefit from. Then what I felt that Xbox needs to do in order to overcome the huge deficit they have in reputation and player trust

oldmangaming.org.uk

What do Xbox need to do — OldManGaming

Before I start anything I want to make very clear that I am not an Xbox fanboy. I play on PC. That does mean that my experience is generally more Xbox focussed than PlayStation, but I don’t play on co...

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

I finally finished Voidtrain on @gamepass.xbox.com and did really enjoy it. I has a kind of quirky humour to it and the game play loop was interesting. I did get bogged down in the resource collection which was unnecessary in the long-term. www.oldmangaming.org.uk/games-i-have-played/voidtrain

oldmangaming.org.uk

Voidtrain — OldManGaming

It took me a while to finish this game mainly due to other things coming up. I spent around 37hr in the game (way above the How Long to Beat numbers) but that was due to my insatiable need to loot eve...

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

Now @digitalfoundry.bsky.social have done the PS5 Pro benchmarks for Crimson Dessert hopefully people will now feel better about buying it on console. As a PC gamer I remember having discussions about FPS with console gamers and the repeated assertion from them 30FPS is fine.

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

As someone who prefers to play a magic user in games, I was wondering what is everyone's favourite magic system in games? I really enjoyed Avowed's magic combat, really hated that you had to chug mana potions. I feel it would have been better if it was similar to a stamina system

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

I watched a video concerned that gamers are blamed when games fail. I feel many points were valid but there are sometimes when we as gamers have a role to play in a games demise. Highgaurd is an example of a game that wasn't helped by negative impression

oldmangaming.org.uk

Gamers want games to fail — OldManGaming

I watched a video by a creator on YouTube I don’t follow but have seen before. He is generally very good and although I don’t always watch his content, when I do watch him I find that he is usually ve...

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

@cyberpunk.net on @gamepass.xbox.com is a great addition. I have played since release (was lucky enough not to have issues) and played again with the release of Phantom Liberty. Fantastic game but @cdprojektred.com and @xbox.com PC game pass would be a nice addition.

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

I am really looking forward to @replacedgame.bsky.social , then I find out it is coming out 14 April and then it is on @gamepass.xbox.com This was definitely one of the standout demos from @steampowered.com Next Fest, a example of the effect a good demo can have. I hope this is trend that returns

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

@kingdomcomerpg.bsky.social games coming to @gamepass.xbox.com has really allowed people an opportunity to play @warhorsestudios.bsky.social fantastic games. It has a reputation of not being an easy game to get into but I have a few non spoilery suggestions as well as reasons to play

oldmangaming.org.uk

Kingdom Come Deliverance I and II — OldManGaming

With Kingdom Come Deliverance I and II being dropped on Game Pass I figured that I would put my two cents worth in for what the games are and why people should at the very least give them a try and la...

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

With the imminent release of Crimson Dessert I wondered if the hype-train for this game has overshot the station. I am excited for this game (I even asked for a cheeky key) but it seems to be at fever pitch. www.oldmangaming.org.uk/random/the-c...

oldmangaming.org.uk

The Crimson Dessert Hype-Train — OldManGaming

I wrote an article on how well Will Powers and Pearl Abys’s marketing team have been at getting information out there about what this game is. As I said their answers have been concise and they never ...

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

With the news that @PlayStation will be returning to console exclusives I thought I would try parse out why that would happen. The usual console war exclusive argument aside I am not sure this is a sensible decision. www.oldmangaming.org.uk/random/plays...

oldmangaming.org.uk

PlayStation discarding their PC — OldManGaming

During a recent interview Jason Schreier stated that he believes that Sony will pull back from their PC plans and that future games won’t release on PC. Many have stated that the games have not sold w...

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Both @kingdomcomerpg.bsky.social 1 & 2are on @XboxGamePass if anybody hasn't played them they are well worth the time investment. You can play each for 100hrs or just play the story for around 40-50hrs, just follow the main quest until you get Master Strike it will make combat easier

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

I have been hearing on multiple podcasts, in multiple articles and in the general discourse about gaming that gaming is heading down a bad path and people are unsure as to whether it will survive. I have thoughts. www.oldmangaming.org.uk/random/yx0vzk75oxovq7r8j5qpp09nkvt5v8

oldmangaming.org.uk

The future of gaming…….. — OldManGaming

I have recently heard so many people speak about the future of gaming and whether gaming as a hobby is dead. What with the console wars, Xbox moving away (apparently) from consoles, AI becoming many g...

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Another set of demos I tried for the @valvesoftware @Steam Next Fest. There really were some great games in the festival. I previously reviewed 17 and here are another 11 games. www.oldmangaming.org.uk/games-i-have-played/oeh421luynslsevfsjl1fo29m3uj5u

oldmangaming.org.uk

Steam Next Fest February 2026: Part 3 — OldManGaming

When checking through the list of games there were a lot of horror games, visual novels, shop simulators, anime games, side scrollers, card battlers, Co op ‘friend slop’ type games, and chill games. I...

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Anybody who thinks gaming is dead I would ask you to go through the demos in @valvesoftware.com's @steampowered.com Next Fest and not find a game you are excited about. There are a LOT of games on there and yes there are many 'slop' or copy cat style games as well.

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

Part 2 of the @valvesoftware.com @steampowered.com Next Fest demo event. I played a few more games. One or two were extremely good games. www.oldmangaming.org.uk/games-i-have-played/steam-next-fest-february-2026-part-2

oldmangaming.org.uk

Steam Next Fest February 2026: Part 2 — OldManGaming

When checking through the list of games there were a lot of horror games, visual novels, shop simulators, anime games, side scrollers, card battlers, Co op ‘friend slop’ type games, and chill games. I...

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

I played the demo for @replacedgame.bsky.social. I think this is going to be something special and I would strongly suggest everyone try the demo. The pixel art graphics are gorgeous, crisp and the sense of vibrancy and depth created even though it is a 2.5D side-scroller is incredible. Wishlist

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Just a short article about @PlayWindrose. This game really has it's hooks in me and I felt I would write about it for anyone who hasn't given it a go yet. www.oldmangaming.org.uk/games-i-have-played/windrose-formally-crosswind-is-really-exciting

oldmangaming.org.uk

Windrose (formally Crosswind) is really exciting — OldManGaming

I played the Windrose demo both in singleplayer and two and three person co-op. Although I am putting up a couple of posts about the Next Fest demos I have played, I felt that this game was too good t...

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

It is that time again, @valvesoftware.com @steampowered.com Nextsest February 2026. There were so many demos to select from, it took as long to sort through the ones I found interesting than to actually sit and play them! www.oldmangaming.org.uk/games-i-have-played/tl5o3vt8n4y9yx8x4stvkc9kntazen

oldmangaming.org.uk

Steam Next Fest February 2026 — OldManGaming

Game demos I played during Steam Next Fest February 2026

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

I have been playing the Windrose Demo and this game could be something special. There is really strong @valheimgame.bsky.social vibes here just set in a pirate world and I have found myself getting sucked in in a similar fashion to when I first played @valheimgame.bsky.social.

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

With Phil Spencer retiring there is bound to be a lot of speculation. This is not good for the industry and I have concerns about the direction of Xbox after he has gone. www.oldmangaming.org.uk/random/phil-spencer-leaving-xbox

oldmangaming.org.uk

Phil Spencer leaving Xbox — OldManGaming

Phil Spencer specifically, and to a lesser extent Sarah Bond, leaving Xbox is bad for the industry as a whole. Let’s not fool ourselves they were both as Corpo as Corpo gets. They were profit driven, ...

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

I played MIO: Memories in Orbit on @gamepass.xbox.com. What a great little game. I don't generally stick with metroidvanias but I kept finding myself coming back to this one. www.oldmangaming.org.uk/games-i-have-played/mio-memories-in-orbit

oldmangaming.org.uk

Mio: Memories in Orbit — OldManGaming

TLDR: This game really surprised me. As someone who really likes metroidvanias, but is incredibly bad at them, this game was a lot of fun. Handling MIO was intuitive, simple and fun. The powerups you ...

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

I have been cautiously excited about Crimson Dessert but more importantly I have been impressed by numerous interviews by @willjpowers.bsky.social . I feel he has shown the correct way to be interviewed while marketing the game. Fingers crossed it will be good.

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

Who is the Steam Machine for? This is a similar question that repeatedly popped up when the Steam Deck came out and few can deny the long term effect that device had on the industry. www.oldmangaming.org.uk/random/ov2eai36ovh6g30xmof12xes7qlxzr

oldmangaming.org.uk

Who is the Steam Machine for? — OldManGaming

This has been a question that has plagued me for a while. While I have read many articles on this they are either overly enthusiastic or overly critical. I want to take a more practical approach. I ...

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

There is a lot of discussion around the new hardware from the console makers and Valve as well as the impact of AI chip caused shortage. This made me ask: Do we really need new hardware? www.oldmangaming.org.uk/random/a-question-that-has-plagued-me-for-a-while-do-we-need-new-hardware

oldmangaming.org.uk

A question that has plagued me for a while: do we need new hardware? — OldManGaming

There has been a lot of talk recently about hardware and hardware prices. The increase in AI data centres and the necessity for RAM chips and solid-state chips has driven prices up and, currently, the...

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

I would love to know from PC gamers how often they actually upgrade their PC components? As a PC gamers I very rarely upgrade my device. I built a PC in 2013 and in the 10yrs plus I had it I upgrade my graphics card from a GTX760 (my old graphics card was full of dust and died) to a 1080Ti in 2019.

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

So @helldivers2.bsky.social which is 'inspired' by the movies Starship Troopers, which was based on a comic is now getting a movie? Does that mean if someone makes a comic based on the movie (with Aquaman @jasonmamoaa.bsky.social ) is that a snake eating it's own tail?

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

Although I have no interest in playing Highgaurdas a game (or games like it in general) , I found the way people were speaking about it in the lead up to its release very interesting. There were so many people who had a little more than healthy scepticism towards a game they had not played.

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

After seeing this post by @matpiscatella.bsky.social I started to think about all the statistics and data thrown out into the ether but more importantly how these data points are used by people discussing the industry as a whole and its overall health.

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

I was thinking the best thing @square-enix-games.com could do is drop Final Fantasy Remake on Game Pass along with the second one for sale when the game comes Xbox. They could do a bundle of both for a reduced price (as on PC with Rebirth) and then drop the final one day and date on all platforms.

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

I played @arcraiders.bsky.social by and really loved the game and gameplay loop but the PvP aspect of the game was not to my liking. I do not feel there is such a thing as PvPvE. It is just a PvP game with enemies rather than an PvE playable game. www.oldmangaming.org.uk/random/arc-r...

oldmangaming.org.uk

Arc Raiders and the PvP vs PvPvE vs PvE dilemma — OldManGaming

I played Arc Raiders in the second and last playtest before release and enjoyed the game loop of the game. I was very aware that due to it being a playtest there still were not all the people playing ...

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

I have been awed by the number of games this year and the quality of those games. With the @thegameawards.com coming up and a huge discussion of the games that are on the list and those that are not, I wanted to look at the games that have not made the cut. www.oldmangaming.org.uk/random/a-ode...

oldmangaming.org.uk

A ode to games that missed out in the Game of the year nominations 2025 — OldManGaming

There has been a lot of discussion around the game of the year this year. Ignoring Geoff Keighley’s award show as the defacto game of the year selector, there has been discussions all over the interne...

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

The recent assertion by Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeny that Steam need to remove the AI tag from games on the storefront is another example of his crusades against another company in the name of gamers but in reality it is to his benefit www.oldmangaming.org.uk/random/tim-s... t.co

oldmangaming.org.uk

Tim Sweeney and the Epic misunderstanding he has about AI — OldManGaming

I am no fan of Tim Sweeney. I, as a PC gamer, feel he cares more about getting one over on other companies like Valve and Microsoft than actually offering something significantly better for the consum...

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

Recently I have noticed a change in how I play and interact with games specifically around difficulty levels. I find I have less of a need to challenge myself and it being more about actually getting to games that have plagued my backlog.

oldmangaming.org.uk

Game difficulty and my slow lean towards games on easy mode…. — OldManGaming

I have always counted myself as a capital G Gamer. I always preferred to play all games on hard (not always the hardest mind) and always wanted to look in every nook and cranny to find the loot or lor...

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

I look into the troubled stormy waters of what is an indie studio. The @sandfallgames.bsky.social situation and a @kotaku.com article of all things made me think of what makes an indie studio or and indie game. www.oldmangaming.org.uk/random/what-is-an-indie

oldmangaming.org.uk

What is an Indie? — OldManGaming

This question has plagued the gaming industry for a while. There have been many discussions, rants, arguments, hit articles, grift content and trolling all in the name of trying to parse out what an I...

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

Looked forward to @valvesoftware.com releasing details of their new hardware devices and am glad there is a Steam Machine in there. Not a device I need myself but a good company to bring PC gaming to the telly. Now to tighten up Steam OS www.oldmangaming.org.uk/random/tsyei6ysimffwu7cckk70bf63m0jmo

oldmangaming.org.uk

The new Steam hardware and overall thoughts — OldManGaming

With Valve releasing details of their new hardware options, there are a lot of misconceptions about what it is they are putting out there. There is a comparison to be made to the Xbox and PlayStation ...

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

I recently saw a posts by @matpiscatella.bsky.social and articles about @valvesoftware.com having a monopoly with @steampowered.com as a PC storefront. The idea seems to stem from these C-level execs who were asked in the survey not being happy with the 30% valve takes.

Old Man Gaming @oldmangaming76.bsky.social · 02/11/2025

I tried to write a review of Claire Obscurer: Expedition 33 and found it is a really had thing to do as I feel it is like the game shines as a blind experience similar to Neir Automata. www.oldmangaming.org.uk/games-i-have-played/vddcgvbd39gpfrq5h9ipc16tzelvas

oldmangaming.org.uk