Ashes of Creation and the Cost of Belief

I remember when MMOs felt like places.

They were worlds with their own momentum, existing whether you showed up or not, continuing their rhythms regardless of your presence. They could ignore you completely if you failed to matter.

Star Wars Galaxies did that to me. It rewired my expectations in a way I never recovered from.

In Galaxies, you were a person trying to exist inside a machine that barely acknowledged you. Cities existed because players built them. Economies lived or died because people chose to participate or walk away. You could become known without ever touching combat. You could spend months becoming useful to other people instead of chasing loot. Your name mattered. Your reputation mattered. the game did not put you on tracks like a theme park.

I watched entertainers and doctors become social gravity wells, while crafters became celebrities. When Galaxies went dark in 2011, it wasn’t just a shutdown. It was a way gaming, and community in them dying quietly.

The years that followed brought MMOs chasing "The Dream". Theme parks. Convenience. Progress bars. Cash shops. Daily chores pretending to be adventure.

Every new project promised to bring the magic back. Every one of them said the same words. Player freedom. Meaningful choice. Living worlds. And every one of them eventually revealed the ugly truth.

So by the time Ashes of Creation entered the conversation, I was tired.

Burned out tired, beyond simple skepticism. The kind where you stop getting excited even when the trailers look good. The kind where you half listen to developer interviews because you already know how the story usually ends. Another studio. Another promise. Another postmortem waiting a few years down the road.

I remember the forums lighting up late one night. The Kickstarter link bouncing around. I was watching another MMO bleed players when I felt that familiar tug.

The one that whispers maybe this time is different. I hated that feeling. It had betrayed me before. Still, I clicked.

The Pitch That Reached Backward

The Ashes of Creation pitch grabbed me with language more than spectacle.

Nodes. Dynamic cities. Caravans with risk. Player driven politics. Scarcity. Consequence. Travel that mattered. Progression that emerged naturally instead treadmill quest chains. The phrase “player driven” kept coming up as a structural claim, something fundamental rather than flavor.

At first, it was overwhelming. Too many systems stacked together. Too much ambition for one project. But underneath it all was something I recognized. A design philosophy that felt older than the genre had allowed itself to be for a long time.

It sounded like someone remembered Galaxies. Or Ultima Online. Or the messy early years when designers trusted players to create stories instead of consume them. This was a silhouette cut from memory and held up as a promise. It felt like something out of the golden age.

I was skeptical. Nostalgia is a powerful drug, and MMO players are particularly vulnerable to it. Studios know this because every sandbox since Galaxies have promised the same things. Player housing. Crafting that mattered. Economies driven by scarcity. Most of them delivered checkboxes instead of worlds.

Then the Kickstarter passed three million dollars in 2017. That was the moment belief turned into momentum.

When Belief Becomes Identity

Three million dollars is commitment from the fans. People were backing a version of themselves that still believed MMOs could be more.

You could see it forming in the forums. Long heart felt posts. System debates. Guild plans. Arguments over mechanics that didn’t exist yet. Believers and skeptics both convinced of the truth.

I had sworn I was done after Galaxies. Sworn it again after every supposed sandbox that turned into another theme park with housing bolted on. But there I was, leaning forward anyway.

That’s how it starts.

Early Cracks and Old Ghosts

The first real tension came from money rather than gameplay.

A referral program appeared and immediately set off alarms. The reason had everything to do with memory. MMO players don’t forget monetization scars.

I remembered the Trading cards in Galaxies, and SOE monetizing a corpse instead of fixing what killed it. I remembered trusting explanations that sounded reasonable right up until they hollowed the game out.

Now once again, Cosmetics followed. Monthly rotations. Limited availability. “Support development,” they said. “FOMO manipulation,” critics said. Both interpretations came from the same place, distrust learned the hard way.

I kept watching and wafting for a response. Watching as players argue. while Wondering what was really being built, a world or the momentum around one.

I told myself it was too early to judge. Transparency counted for something. It always does, until it doesn’t.

So I stayed on the sidelines, watching development crawl forward the way I once watched Galaxies patch notes. Hoping each one would fix something instead of breaking it.

Living Inside the Wait

Years passed.

Alphas appeared. Then more alphas. Different phases. Different names. Roadmaps shifted. Timelines stretched. Explanations grew longer and more careful.

From a development perspective, it looked reasonable. From a player perspective, time thickened.

This is the part people underestimate. When a project takes long enough, players stop waiting for it and start living inside the idea of it. They imagine characters. Cities. Economies. Futures. They build identity around patience. Around belief. Around sticking it out when others leave.

Money stops feeling like a transaction, and more like exposure. a little Like standing closer to a fire that warms you just up till it burns you.

I recognized it because I had done it before. Stayed in Galaxies long after most players left. Convinced it would come back. Revisited a few time even, long after the guild was gone. Hope is a currency that It spends itself even when there’s nothing left to buy.

Monetization and the it's Weight

Monthly cosmetics stopped being products and became symbols of dedication.

To supporters, they were proof the studio was still breathing. To critics, proof the project depended on anticipation instead of delivery. The longer the game stayed almost ready, the louder both readings became.

That’s the danger zone. When development becomes a psychological economy preying on hopes and dreams as nostalgia circles the drain.

I had seen this economy before with countless games where players invest thousands of hours and dollars into dreams that would never shine again.

Apocalypse and the Pattern Repeating

Apocalypse was introduced as a testing environment. Combat. Networking. Scale. On paper, the logic tracked.

Emotion doesn’t care about whitepapers. Players backed a persistent world. Apocalypse felt like a trend shaped detour. A familiar one.

I had watched SOE do the same thing. Chasing WoW numbers. Chasing trends. Forgetting why people loved their game in the first place. We wanted our cities. Our economies. Our social fabric, what gave the game life just vanish.

Even after Apocalypse shut down, the bruise stayed. Trust doesn’t reset when features are retired. It just adds another scar.

Steam and Exposure

Steam Early Access changed everything.

The audience widened. Context disappeared. Goodwill evaporated. Performance problems surfaced publicly. Bots. Cheating. RMT. All the unglamorous infrastructure problems that every MMO faces, now visible at scale.

In late January 2026, a director’s letter went out. Performance issues acknowledged. Bots addressed. Cheating discussed. It sounded steady. Responsible.

Looking back, Though, it reads like the calm before collapse.

When It Fell Apart

It happened fast.

Reports surfaced as Leadership resignations dropped. Board conflicts. WARN Act notices. The founder reportedly stepping down in protest. Layoffs followed. Employees began posting publicly that they were seeking work because the studio was shutting down.

There was no graceful wind down. Just Sudden impact.

Then came the allegations that some employees were laid off without receiving final paychecks. I don’t know whether they’re true, but as allegations go, they wouldn’t surprise me.

I’d finally taken the plunge with it in Early Access on Steam when, shortly after, Ashes disappeared from Steam. Purchases disabled. Listing pulled. The details blurred together. The message did not.

Stability was gone.

Watching the Community Break

Steam reviews flipped hard negative as anger and grief swarmed around them. with Scam accusations leading the charge in the comments.

I didn’t lose much money. However, there was a mix of guilt and relief that I’d stayed cautious, as I recognized the hope burning in those threads. I had felt it before, and feared it again.

Scam or Collapse

Calling it a scam feels clean, offering closure while simplifying a complicated failure into a villain. It’s probably wrong.

A scam requires intent from the start. This looks to me like ambition colliding with reality. Vision exceeding structure, and failure under pressure.

Intent matters when accountability is discussed. The harm is still done when failure causes devastation, but it’s difficult to say it was always a scam.

What Was Actually Sold

What players bought was the idea of a place once lost to them. A place where people worked together building a world of adventure and community.

I know what this dream feels like, and I lost it when Galaxies shut down. When my city vanished, and community scattered.

As of early February 2026, Ashes of Creation appears suspended or collapsed. Whether it returns in another form or joins the long list of unfinished adventures remains unknown.

What Remains

I think back to the early MMO days often. To the worlds that didn’t care about retention curves or cosmetic shops. To the days when developers were rock stars, bringing fantastic worlds to life as experiences for players.

Too often today, it seems more like a cash grab, in more ways than one. Suits dressed up as developers feasting on the aspirations of fans.

Crowdfunding and early access have changed the model. The appearance of transparency. The hope of player involvement. All while shifting the risk onto consumers.

There was a time when a development cycle meant getting a product to market before a consumer was approached. Now, all it needs is a dream and a payment platform.

The ashes are real.

And MMO players will keep walking through them. Funding the next vision. Hoping again. Because we’re chasing more than just games. We’re chasing places to belong.

Sometimes I wonder if somewhere, in an abandoned server, if the bones of another world are still waiting.

And sometimes I wonder if we’ll ever learn to stop naming our fish before dinner.

In the crowded world of streaming, personalities matter as much as the games themselves. Some creators rely on charisma, others mastery, and a rare few build something that feels like a living narrative, and that's where Smirk_MP firmly belongs.

His channel is new, but it already carries a distinct identity shaped by Warhammer humor, interactive fitness challenges, and a tone that blends toughness with wry self awareness.

Warhammer Core

At its core, the channel focuses on Warhammer content. Space Marine 2 is the current centerpiece, and Smirk approaches it as both a fan and an entertainer. The language, jokes, and even the stream culture fuel an ongoing Warhammer universe accessible for newcomers.

Fitness as Spectacle

A key part of his emerging identity is the fitness challenges that have become a signature feature. His “Space Marine 2 Workout Stream” ties each follow to ten pushups and each subscription to ten burpees. It’s both spectacle and commitment, and the humor around it foster a growing community.

“Pushups for the Pushup god, burpees for the Burpee throne” has become a tagline that embodies the tone of the channel. It mixes dedication with absurdity, matching the energy of a universe where superhuman warriors are the norm. The audience gets entertainment and engagement, and Smirk gets a way to make his streams physically dynamic.

Integrated Identity

What sets him apart is how naturally he folds this fitness element into his gaming persona. Many streamers lean on gimmicks that feel separate from their core content. Here, the workouts are an extension of the Warhammer theme, creating a consistent brand that stands out.

Viewers don’t just watch him play; they watch a “slightly unhinged baldo” push himself in real time. It reinforces the idea that his channel is alive, reactive, and centered around doing things with intensity.

Community and Lore

Community interaction is another defining strength. Even at this early stage, the chats show an active group of viewers who participate in the humor and help build its ongoing mythos. They ask questions, prompt “lore unlocks,” and riff on Smirk’s comments in a way that feels organic.

Unlike some streamers who exaggerate or manufacture a persona, Smirk maintains a grounded tone. He acknowledges that not everything needs to be shared, which adds to the sense of authenticity and enthusiasm among the community.

Early Growth Phase

Smirk makes it clear that the coming weeks will shape the official streaming cadence, with Space Marine 2 serving as the anchor. The promise of additional games keeps things open, but the core focus on Warhammer gives the channel a clear identity during its growth phase.

What stands out from the early interactions is how much the audience sees potential in him. Viewers are already adopting internal jokes, suggesting that the channel is building a recognizable culture faster than most new streams do. Strong community identity is often a sign of future growth, especially in niche content where fans appreciate dedication.

Flexibility and Longevity

Although Warhammer is the main draw, there is room for variety. Smirk hints that he will play other titles from time to time, giving the channel the flexibility to branch out without losing its thematic backbone. This helps maintain long term viewer interest and reduces dependency on a single game’s content cycle. At the same time, keeping Warhammer as the anchor ensures the core audience always has something familiar to return to.

Why It Works

For viewers seeking a channel with personality, community, and a strong thematic backbone, Smirk_MP’s stream is worth watching as it grows. The combination of Warhammer dedication, interactive workouts, and steady engagement forms a unique blend that has already begun to resonate among the viewers.

Stat Notice: All ship statistics shown below are not static values. These numbers represent default ship values within a variable range of norms at the current level and tier shown and may further vary due to components and upgrades. This list is based on ships I've encountered during gameplay and may grow as updates release or new ships are discovered.

Exterior View

ZLUMXY Exterior View

Cockpit View

ZLUMXY Cockpit View

Core Attributes

Defensive Attributes

• Ship Shield: 3,163

• Ship Armor: 3,718

• Shield Reboot: 5 sec

• Shield Recharge Delay: 14.8 sec

• Shield Regen Rate: 20.4/s

• Damage Absorb: 1.1%

• Damage Resist: 1.4%

Offensive Attributes

• Ship Damage Bonus: 4.7%

• Crit Chance: 0.6%

• Crit Damage: 53.5%

• Fire Rate: 2.8%

• Projectile Speed: 10%

• Accuracy: 9.7%

• Heat Cooler: 3.2%

Mobility and Utility

• Ship Speed: 2,534 km/h

• Thruster Recharge: 1.5/s

• Thruster Fuel: 29.9

• Warp Speed: 17,966,720

• Ship Energy: 66.9

• Energy Regen: 0.7/s

• Cargo Slots: 22

• Cargo Capacity: 47 m3

• Exterior View

NEXASIS-X Exterior View

Cockpit View

NEXASIS-X Cockpit View

Core Attributes

Defensive Attributes

• Ship Shield: 8,351

• Ship Armor: 9,635

• Shield Reboot: 4.2 sec

• Shield Recharge Delay: 12.9 sec

• Shield Regen Rate: 31.7/s

• Damage Absorb: 2.5%

• Damage Resist: 3.6%

Offensive Attributes

• Ship Damage Bonus: 15%

• Crit Chance: 1.9%

• Crit Damage: 55.4%

• Fire Rate: 9.7%

• Projectile Speed: 15.2%

• Accuracy: 16.1%

• Heat Cooler: 7.6%

Mobility and Utility

• Ship Speed: 2,811 km/h

• Thruster Recharge: 2.3/s

• Thruster Fuel: 35.5

• Warp Speed: 26,432,562

• Ship Energy: 123.5

• Energy Regen: 1.2/s

• Cargo Slots: 23

• Cargo Capacity: 57 m3

Exterior View

THE QUUEN Exterior View

Cockpit View

THE QUUEN Cockpit View

Core Attributes

Defensive Attributes

• Ship Shield: 13,078

• Ship Armor: 15,578

• Shield Reboot: 4.5 sec

• Shield Recharge Delay: 12.2 sec

• Shield Regen Rate: 32.4/s

• Damage Absorb: 2.4%

• Damage Resist: 3.3%

Offensive Attributes

• Ship Damage Bonus: 10.2%

• Crit Chance: 1.2%

• Crit Damage: 55.4%

• Fire Rate: 6.3%

• Projectile Speed: 14.8%

• Accuracy: 14.7%

• Heat Cooler: 7.0

Mobility and Utility

• Ship Speed: 2,958 km/h

• Thruster Recharge: 2.2/s

• Thruster Fuel: 36.6

• Warp Speed: 25,670,580

• Ship Energy: 152.3

• Energy Regen: 1.3/s

• Cargo Slots: 23

• Cargo Capacity: 55 m3

Exterior View

MORTHRA-G-X1-23 Exterior View

Cockpit View

MORTHRA-G-X1-23 Cockpit View

Core Attributes

Defensive Attributes

• Ship Shield: 8,644

• Ship Armor: 9,789

• Shield Reboot: 4.3 sec

• Shield Recharge Delay: 11.7 sec

• Shield Regen Rate: 32.3/s

• Damage Absorb: 2.6%

• Damage Resist: 3.4%

Offensive Attributes

• Ship Damage Bonus: 14.5%

• Crit Chance: 1.9%

• Crit Damage: 60.4%

• Fire Rate: 9.5%

• Projectile Speed: 16.6%

• Accuracy: 15.9%

• Heat Cooler: 7.4%

Mobility and Utility

• Ship Speed: 2,804 km/h

• Thruster Recharge: 2.3/s

• Thruster Fuel: 34.4

• Warp Speed: 27,535,868

• Ship Energy: 131

• Energy Regen: 1.2/s

• Cargo Slots: 23

• Cargo Capacity: 60 m3

Exterior View

FALRON TANK-M1-24 Exterior View

Cockpit View

FALRON TANK-M1-24 Cockpit View

Core Attributes

Defensive Attributes

• Ship Shield: 19,907

• Ship Armor: 29,358

• Shield Reboot: 4 sec

• Shield Recharge Delay: 11.8 sec

• Shield Regen Rate: 34.5/s

• Damage Absorb: 2.8%

• Damage Resist: 3.6%

Offensive Attributes

• Ship Damage Bonus: 10.4%

• Crit Chance: 1.4%

• Crit Damage: 60.8%

• Fire Rate: 6.8%

• Projectile Speed: 16.5%

• Accuracy: 15.9%

• Heat Cooler: 7.3%

Mobility and Utility

• Ship Speed: 2,987 km/h

• Thruster Recharge: 2.4/s

• Thruster Fuel: 35.7

• Warp Speed: 27,693,302

• Ship Energy: 155

• Energy Regen: 1.3/s

• Cargo Slots: 24

• Cargo Capacity: 61 m3

Exterior View

THE MIST Exterior View

Cockpit View

THE MIST Cockpit View

Core Attributes

Defensive Attributes

• Ship Shield: 13,206

• Ship Armor: 15,984

• Shield Reboot: 4.5 sec

• Shield Recharge Delay: 12.3 sec

• Shield Regen Rate: 32.9/s

• Damage Absorb: 2.5%

• Damage Resist: 3.2%

Offensive Attributes

• Ship Damage Bonus: 17.6%

• Crit Chance: 2.3%

• Crit Damage: 60%

• Fire Rate: 11.6%

• Projectile Speed: 15.1%

• Accuracy: 15%

• Heat Cooler: 6.7%

Mobility and Utility

• Ship Speed: 5,464 km/h

• Thruster Recharge: 2.6/s

• Thruster Fuel: 39.9

• Warp Speed: 29,255,428

• Ship Energy: 181.2

• Energy Regen: 1.7/s

• Cargo Slots: 24

• Cargo Capacity: 56 m3

Exterior View

DONNARENAR Exterior View

Cockpit View

DONNARENAR Cockpit View

Core Attributes

Defensive Attributes

• Ship Shield: 9,494

• Ship Armor: 11,754

• Shield Reboot: 4.4 sec

• Shield Recharge Delay: 12.4 sec

• Damage Absorb: 2.8%

• Damage Resist: 3.5%

Offensive Attributes

• Ship Damage Bonus: 12%

• Crit Chance: 1.4%

• Crit Damage: 59.9%

• Fire Rate: 7.5%

• Projectile Speed: 16.6%

• Accuracy: 16.3%

• Heat Cooler: 7.6%

Mobility and Utility

• Ship Speed: 2,784 km/h

• Thruster Recharge: 2.3/s

• Thruster Fuel: 36.2

• Warp Speed: 27,679,030

• Cargo Slots: 24

• Cargo Capacity: 57 m3

Exterior View

XEGHAN WARRIOR-M1-22 Exterior View

Cockpit View

XEGHAN WARRIOR-M1-22 Cockpit View

Core Attributes

Defensive Attributes

• Ship Shield: 6,707

• Ship Armor: 7,679

• Shield Reboot: 4.2 sec

• Shield Recharge Delay: 13 sec

• Shield Regen Rate: 32.7/s

• Damage Absorb: 2.5%

• Damage Resist: 3.3%

Offensive Attributes

• Ship Damage Bonus: 7.9%

• Crit Chance: 2.2%

• Crit Damage: 59.2%

• Fire Rate: 9.7%

• Projectile Speed: 16.1%

• Accuracy: 16.3%

• Heat Cooler: 6.8%

Mobility and Utility

• Ship Speed: 6,124 km/h

• Thruster Recharge: 3.4/s

• Thruster Fuel: 52.6

• Warp Speed: 25,026,088

• Ship Energy: 152.6

• Energy Regen: 1.3/s

• Cargo Slots: 12.5

• Cargo Capacity: 28 m3

Exterior View

ANNIHILATING Exterior View

Cockpit View

ANNIHILATING Cockpit View

Core Attributes

Defensive Attributes

• Ship Shield: 16,470.2

• Ship Armor: 18,419.7

• Shield Reboot: 4.2 sec

• Shield Recharge Delay: 12.3 sec

• Shield Regen Rate: 39.8/s

• Damage Absorb: 3.1%

• Damage Resist: 4.2%

Offensive Attributes

• Ship Damage Bonus: 12.3%

• Crit Chance: 1.3%

• Crit Damage: 60%

• Fire Rate: 7.2%

• Projectile Speed: 18.9%

• Accuracy: 20.4%

• Heat Cooler: +6.7

Mobility and Utility

• Ship Speed: 2,892.8 km/h

• Thruster Recharge: 2.4/s

• Thruster Fuel: 43.9

• Warp Speed: 27,891,936

• Ship Energy: 182.7

• Energy Regen: 1.7/s

• Cargo Slots: 23

• Cargo Capacity: 55.3 m3

Exterior View

THE X-M Exterior View

Cockpit View

THE X-M Cockpit View

Core Attributes

Defensive Attributes

• Ship Shield: 5,475

• Ship Armor: 3,687

• Shield Reboot: 4.2 sec

• Shield Recharge Delay: 12 sec

• Shield Regen Rate: 42.3/s

• Damage Absorb: 1.8%

• Damage Resist: 2.5%

Offensive Attributes

• Ship Damage Bonus: 43.3%

• Crit Chance: 6.7%

• Crit Damage: 109.2%

• Fire Rate: 21.4%

• Projectile Speed: 22.1%

• Accuracy: 21%

• Heat Cooler: 6.8%

Mobility and Utility

• Ship Speed: 11,080 km/h

• Thruster Recharge: 4.3/s

• Thruster Fuel: 69.3

• Warp Speed: 52,597,024

• Ship Energy: 333.8

• Energy Regen: 3.1/s

• Cargo Slots: 12

• Cargo Capacity: 29 m3

Exterior View

Mother Ship Exterior View

Cockpit View

Mother Ship Cockpit View

Core Attributes

Defensive Attributes

• Ship Shield: 70,116

• Ship Armor: 71,705.9

• Shield Reboot: 4.6 sec

• Shield Recharge Delay: 12.3 sec

• Shield Regen Rate: 32.3/s

• Damage Absorb: 2.6%

• Damage Resist: 3.5%

Offensive Attributes

• Ship Damage Bonus: 14%

• Crit Chance: 2.9%

• Crit Damage: 83.6%

• Fire Rate: 7.1%

• Projectile Speed: 15.7%

• Accuracy: 15.7%

• Heat Cooler: +6.3

Mobility and Utility

• Ship Speed: 1,388.8 km/h

• Thruster Recharge: 1.9/s

• Thruster Fuel: 31.4

• Warp Speed: 10,630,031

• Ship Energy: 170

• Energy Regen: 1.2/s

• Cargo Slots: 86

• Cargo Capacity: 186.9 m3

Exterior View

XANTHEAN Exterior View

Cockpit View

XANTHEAN Cockpit View

Core Attributes

Defensive Attributes

• Ship Shield: 36,744

• Ship Armor: 55,438

• Shield Reboot: 4.1 sec

• Shield Recharge Delay: 11.6 sec

• Shield Regen Rate: 34.9/s

• Damage Absorb: 3%

• Damage Resist: 4.2%

Offensive Attributes

• Ship Damage Bonus: 16.9%

• Crit Chance: 0%

• Crit Damage: 79.2%

• Fire Rate: 9%

• Projectile Speed: 15.9%

• Accuracy: 17.3%

• Heat Cooler: 7.8%

Mobility and Utility

• Ship Speed: 1,382 km/h

• Thruster Recharge: 2.2/s

• Thruster Fuel: 32

• Warp Speed: 11,167,538

• Ship Energy: 202.2

• Energy Regen: 1.4/s

• Cargo Slots: 81

Cargo Capacity: 199 m3

Cargo Class

Exterior View

LERCAN Exterior View

Cockpit View

LERCAN Cockpit View

Core Attributes

Defensive Attributes

• Ship Shield: 15,360

• Ship Armor: 25,877

• Shield Reboot: 4.2 sec

• Shield Recharge Delay: 11.6 sec

• Shield Regen Rate: 34.4/s

• Damage Absorb: 2.8%

• Damage Resist: 3.8%

Offensive Attributes

• Ship Damage Bonus: 10.8%

• Crit Chance: 1.5%

• Crit Damage: 51.9%

• Fire Rate: 8.2%

• Projectile Speed: 17.1%

• Accuracy: 16.2%

• Heat Cooler: 7.6%

Mobility and Utility

• Ship Speed: 671 km/h

• Thruster Recharge: 2.3/s

• Thruster Fuel: 35.9

• Warp Speed: 15,224,089

• Ship Energy: 191

• Energy Regen: 1.2/s

• Cargo Slots: 1

• Cargo Capacity: 8,910 m3

Exterior View

LITTLE HAULER Exterior View

Cockpit View

LITTLE HAULER Cockpit View

Core Attributes

Defensive Attributes

• Ship Shield: 13,354

• Ship Armor: 23,804

• Shield Reboot: 4.3 sec

• Shield Recharge Delay: 12.7 sec

• Shield Regen Rate: 35.5/s

• Damage Absorb: 2.6%

• Damage Resist: 3.5%

Offensive Attributes

• Ship Damage Bonus: 11.2%

• Crit Chance: 1.3%

• Crit Damage: 53.2%

• Fire Rate: 8.7%

• Projectile Speed: 17.2%

• Accuracy: 15.6%

• Heat Cooler: 7.8

Mobility and Utility

• Ship Speed: 417 km/h

• Thruster Recharge: 2.3/s

• Thruster Fuel: 36.2

• Warp Speed: 7,147,912

• Ship Energy: 207.1

• Energy Regen: 1.3/s

• Cargo Slots: 2

• Cargo Capacity: 17,820 m3

Exterior View

CARGO CRUISER Exterior View

Cockpit View

CARGO CRUISER Cockpit View

Core Attributes

Defensive Attributes

• Ship Shield: 14,594

• Ship Armor: 28,064

• Shield Reboot: 4.2 sec

• Shield Recharge Delay: 12.5 sec

• Shield Regen Rate: 33.4/s

• Damage Absorb: 2.7%

• Damage Resist: 3.9%

Offensive Attributes

• Ship Damage Bonus: 10.7%

• Crit Chance: 1.4%

• Crit Damage: 50.4%

• Fire Rate: 8.7%

• Projectile Speed: 15.7%

• Accuracy: 16.4%

• Heat Cooler: 7.8

Mobility and Utility

• Ship Speed: 360 km/h

• Thruster Recharge: 2.5/s

• Thruster Fuel: 36.1

• Warp Speed: 7,343,032

• Ship Energy: 195.1

• Energy Regen: 1.2/s

• Cargo Slots: 3

• Cargo Capacity: 26,730 m3

Exterior View

TRANSPORT TITAN Exterior View

Cockpit View

TRANSPORT TITAN Cockpit View

Core Attributes

Defensive Attributes

• Ship Shield: 14,013

• Ship Armor: 26,931

• Shield Reboot: 4.3 sec

• Shield Recharge Delay: 12.3 sec

• Shield Regen Rate: 32.7/s

• Damage Absorb: 2.5%

• Damage Resist: 3.3%

Offensive Attributes

• Ship Damage Bonus: 10%

• Crit Chance: 1.3%

• Crit Damage: 52%

• Fire Rate: 7.5%

• Projectile Speed: 15.7%

• Accuracy: 15.8%

• Heat Cooler: 6.6%

Mobility and Utility

• Ship Speed: 245 km/h

• Thruster Recharge: 2.3/s

• Thruster Fuel: 35

• Warp Speed: 7,608,207

• Ship Energy: 182.4

• Energy Regen: 1.2/s

• Cargo Slots: 4

• Cargo Capacity: 35,640 m3

Exterior View

GALACTIC CARRIER Exterior View

Cockpit View

GALACTIC CARRIER Cockpit View

Core Attributes

Defensive Attributes

• Ship Shield: 16,808

• Ship Armor: 28,211

• Shield Reboot: 4.4 sec

• Shield Recharge Delay: 12.1 sec

• Shield Regen Rate: 33.0/s

• Damage Absorb: 2.7%

• Damage Resist: 3.6%

Offensive Attributes

• Ship Damage Bonus: 10.8%

• Crit Chance: 1.3%

• Crit Damage: 48.7%

• Fire Rate: 8.0%

• Projectile Speed: 16.6%

• Accuracy: 15.7%

• Heat Cooler: 6.9%

Mobility and Utility

• Ship Speed: 170 km/h

• Thruster Recharge: 2.2/s

• Thruster Fuel: 34.7

• Warp Speed: 8,674,598

• Ship Energy: 182.9

• Energy Regen: 1.2/s

• Cargo Slots: 5

• Cargo Capacity: 44,550 m3

Exterior View

STARDRILLER Exterior View

Cockpit View

STARDRILLER Cockpit View

Misactor View

STARDRILLER Misactor View

Core Attributes

Defensive Attributes

• Ship Shield: 3,121

• Ship Armor: 3,178

• Shield Reboot: 5.0 sec

• Shield Recharge Delay: 13.9 sec

• Shield Regen Rate: 21.6/s

• Damage Absorb: 1.7%

• Damage Resist: 2.0%

Offensive Attributes

• Ship Damage Bonus: 4.7%

• Crit Chance: 0.5%

• Crit Damage: 43.4%

• Fire Rate: 1.8%

• Projectile Speed: 6.5%

• Accuracy: 7.1%

• Heat Cooler: -3.2

Mobility and Utility

• Ship Speed: 2,017 km/h

• Thruster Recharge: 1.0/s

• Thruster Fuel: 21.4

• Warp Speed: 14,878,706

• Ship Energy: 85.5

• Energy Regen: 0.9/s

• Cargo Slots: 48

Cargo Capacity: 103 m3

Exterior View

Cockpit View

Misactor View

Core Attributes

Defensive Attributes
Ship Shield: 13,576
Ship Armor: 15,816
DamageAbsorb: 3.6%
Damage Resist: 5%
Shield Reboot: 4.2 sec
Shield Recharge Delay: 12.5 sec
Shield Regen Rate: 36/s

Offensive Attributes
Ship Damage Bonus: 10.1%
Crit Chance: 1.3%
Crit Damage: 45.7%
Fire Rate: 5.2%
Projectile Speed: 10.3%
Accuracy: 10.9%
Heat Cooler: +6.9

Mobility and Utility
Ship Speed: 1,838 km/h
Thruster Recharge: 1.4/s
Thruster Fuel: 21.9
Warp Speed: 18,289,378
Ship Energy: 131.8
Energy Regen: 1.4/s
Cargo Slots: 49
Cargo Capacity: 120 m3

Swarm Attributes
Swarm Production Speed: 6%
Swarm Control Range: 6%
Swarm Defense: 6%
Swarm Damage: 4%
Swarm Capacity: 67

Exterior View

Cockpit View

Core Attributes

Defensive Attributes
Ship Shield: 1,300
Ship Armor: 1,464
Shield Reboot: 4.2 sec
Shield Recharge Delay: 12.3 sec
Shield Regen Rate: 37.1/s
Damage Absorb: 3%
Damage Resist: 4.2%

Offensive Attributes
Ship Damage Bonus: 12.8%
Crit Chance: 1.5%
Crit Damage: 54.3%
Fire Rate: 9.9%
Projectile Speed: 18%
Accuracy: 18.1%
Heat Cooler: 7.8%

Mobility and Utility
Ship Speed: 1,890 km/h
Thruster Recharge: 2.8/s
Thruster Fuel: 38.5
Warp Speed: 20,196,956
Ship Energy: 229.7
Energy Regen: 1.4/s
Cargo Slots: 37.8
Cargo Capacity: 93 m3

Swarm Attributes
Swarm Production Speed: 23.4%
Swarm Control Range: 21.6%
Swarm Defense: 21.6%
Swarm Damage: 14.4%
Swarm Capacity: 219.6

Exterior View

Cockpit View

Core Attributes

Defensive Attributes
Ship Shield: 3,978
Ship Armor: 4,485
Shield Reboot: 4.1 sec
Shield Recharge Delay: 11.9 sec
Shield Regen Rate: 39.7/s
Damage Absorb: 3.2%
Damage Resist: 4.0%

Offensive Attributes
Ship Damage Bonus: 13.5%
Crit Chance: 1.7%
Crit Damage: 58.1%
Fire Rate: 10.0%
Projectile Speed: 18.4%
Accuracy: 19.2%
Heat Cooler: 8.2

Mobility and Utility
Ship Speed: 2,002 km/h
Thruster Recharge: 2.7/s
Thruster Fuel: 39.7
Warp Speed: 21,117,762
Ship Energy: 228.1
Energy Regen: 1.4/s
Cargo Slots: 40.5
Cargo Capacity: 103 m3

Swarm Attributes
Swarm Production Speed: 32.5%
Swarm Control Range: 32.5%
Swarm Defense: 30%
Swarm Damage: 20%
Swarm Capacity: 335

Exterior View

Cockpit View

Core Attributes

Defensive Attributes
Ship Shield: 670
Ship Armor: 745
Shield Reboot: 4.1 sec
Shield Recharge Delay: 12.3 sec
Shield Regen Rate: 37.4/s
Damage Absorb: 3.1%
Damage Resist: 4.0%

Offensive Attributes
Ship Damage Bonus: 13.0%
Crit Chance: 1.7%
Crit Damage: 57.3%
Fire Rate: 9.6%
Projectile Speed: 18.8%
Accuracy: 18.0%
Heat Cooler: 7.7%

Mobility and Utility
Ship Speed: 2,012 km/h
Thruster Recharge: 2.8/s
Thruster Fuel: 39
Warp Speed: 19,970,224
Ship Energy: 223.3
Energy Regen: 1.4/s
Cargo Slots: 36.5
Cargo Capacity: 93 m3

Swarm Attributes
Swarm Production Speed: 20.8%
Swarm Control Range: 19.2%
Swarm Defense: 20.8%
Swarm Damage: 14.4%
Swarm Capacity: 193.6

Exterior View

Cockpit View

Core Attributes

Defensive Attributes
Ship Shield: 2,689
Ship Armor: 2,913
Shield Reboot: 4.0 sec
Shield Recharge Delay: 12.5 sec
Shield Regen Rate: 39.3/s
Damage Absorb: 3.1%
Damage Resist: 4.3%

Offensive Attributes
Ship Damage Bonus: 13.4%
Crit Chance: 1.6%
Crit Damage: 57.7%
Fire Rate: 10.1%
Projectile Speed: 18.5%
Accuracy: 17.6%
Heat Cooler: 8.1%

Mobility and Utility
Ship Speed: 2,027 km/h
Thruster Recharge: 2.6/s
Thruster Fuel: 38.6
Warp Speed: 21,241,412
Ship Energy: 210.5
Energy Regen: 1.5/s
Cargo Slots: 37.7
Cargo Capacity: 96 m3

Swarm Attributes
Swarm Production Speed: 24%
Swarm Control Range: 24%
Swarm Defense: 26%
Swarm Damage: 18%
Swarm Capacity: 268

This tutorial covers how to set up and use Voice Attack to control your ship in SpaceBourne 2.

It was during the late hours of the night when it all began. I was deep asleep enjoying the sweet hum of the fan when I felt a tug against my covers. My eyes peered open as I heard her voice. It was my sister again crawling under the covers, in a panic. Her words were erratic. I couldn’t understand what she was saying, except one, “Ghost”.

I was very young, about five years old, but I remember rolling my eyes at her. It wasn’t uncommon for my sister to come running to my room when she heard something creeping in the night. I didn’t believe in ghost, but it wasn’t roaches or spiders this time.

I don’t know why, but I wasn’t afraid of anything. I got out of my bed to see what she was frantic about.. And headed for the hallway.

As I entered the hallway, looking across to my parents’ room. I saw a figure that was like a silhouette. The Lamp was on right next to him, but he was as dark as an abyss. No light reflected off him to reveal any features. He was like a void, a space cut out of existence. It was as if the night itself had taken form.

I blinked confused But there he was, A Shadowman tossing clothes around as he fumbled through the laundry hamper. At first, I thought my eyes deceived me.

So I headed down the hall where the faint sound of the TV was playing. When I reached the living room, I stood there staring at the couch, trying to make sense of it. My parents were in the living room watching television, both of them.

Unsure of what I had witnessed a few moments before. I headed back to the room with the figure in it.

Before I could make it all the way, a key came flying into the hallway, bouncing against the wall. A metallic clink echoed down the hallway as the key struck my chest.

This puzzled me, but still I went down the hall and eventually seen the shadow figure searching areas of the room. What was he searching for? I remember thinking.

I decided it didn’t matter anyway. He must have been someone my dad knew. Why else would he be here?

So I went back to my room and attempted to go back to sleep. My sister remained buried under a mound of blankets, and still frantic. I attempted to get back to sleep.

It was at this point when I seen a series of clothing come floating in to my room in a strangely orderly fashion. One by one, they floated in and dropped at the foot of my bed.

Not An Actual Photo

My sister became completely erratic at this point and ran down the hall screaming about a face forming in the window. I turn to look, and saw a strange set of eyes fading into the background just beyond the window.

I went to sleep after she left, and later the next day mentioned it to my parents. All they would tell me was that there were no friends over.

Years later, as my sister brought it up during one of our family scary movie nights. They mentioned the only thing they knew about the house was the previous owner took his own life over a divorce dispute.

I can’t say for certain what or who I saw that night, but it wasn’t my dad. Though I do wonder, is he still searching? And searching for what?

Unfortunately, with the vast amount of space hard drives have these days, it can be months or even years before our bad habits catch up to us.

Our computers become sluggish and unresponsive, leaving us with a daunting task of finding the clutter. A massive clutter.

So what do you do? Well, the average PC guru will launch the Windows Disk Cleanup tool, and honestly, it's a fair tool to run on a regular basis for general purpose cleaning.

It clears things like temporary internet files, memory dumps, and other junk your system holds onto longer than it should. You can launch it by pressing Win + R, typing cleanmgr, and hitting Enter.

Select the drive, check the boxes for the files you want to clean up, like system files, logs, or old updates, and click OK. Simple enough.

However, when you need to do a thorough cleaning, there’s a tool called WinDirStat that really shines.

This tool does a fantastic job of showing you exactly where your data is stored by percentage. Even better, it can locate duplicate files across your drive, even if they have different file names.

First, you're going to want to select the drive to examine. If you want to also search for duplicate files, be sure to check the box below that enables duplicate detection.

Next, you’ll see a screen that maps out your drive’s file structure along with all its contents. At the top, folders are listed in size order so you can see which ones are using the most space.

Down below, there’s a tree map with a colorful grid where each block represents a file, and the size of the block tells you how much space it’s using.

You can click through folders and locate your largest files to begin the decluttering process. As you dig deeper, the percentages will adjust, helping you pinpoint the stuff that's eating up space. It’s much easier than browsing through Explorer trying to guess what's taking up room.

At the bottom of the window, you'll see a visual graph of the files and their types.

There’s a color legend on the right to help you figure out what kind of data you’re looking at such as videos, archives, executables, and so on.

Right above the graph, there's a tab to switch to a Duplicates view, which is super handy.

In the screenshot above, you can see duplicate files listed. These are found by comparing each file's hash, which is basically a digital fingerprint that's unique to the file’s content. This means even if the name is different or it’s in a different folder, it’ll still detect that it’s a clone.

In todays world of Forza, Gran Turismo, and games like car mechanic simulator. It’s easy to forget about the little games that pioneered the way for the modern era of simulation racing.

In 1989 a game called street rod came out. In street rod your tasked with buying your first car to turn into a hot rod. when the game starts your greeted with a newspaper.

You have 3 sections to click on, just move your hand over to Parts, Cars, or the garage.

The first thing you want to do is go to the Car section and buy your first car. with only 750 in cash, its going to be a clunker.

isn't she a beauty? a 1940 Chevrolet 2 - coupe. The best 750 dollars can buy.

Now lets take this thing back to the shop and get started.

Back at the garage she's ready to get a tune up. Move the mouse over the various icons to go to the stations you need to work on your car. Be sure to hit that Radio on the top right on the shelf to turn off that loud music.

image edited by Darious to show icons nomenclature

When your ready to go out for a challenge hit the streets and head over to the local diner.

After a brief cutscene you will arrive at the diner.

From here you can challenge the local racers for fun or for pink slips. Be careful risking that sweet ride you have. The controls for street rod are the arrow keys for driving and space bar to change gears.

Keyboard Controls Mouse Controls
Up key: Gas Right button: Gas
Down key: Brake Left button: Gear shift
Left key: Steer left Move left: Steer left
Right key: Steer right Move right: Steer right
Space Bar: Gear shift

If your interested in trying street rod or its Sequels. The IP to Street Rod was purchased in 2012 by MK Consultancy and is available for download on their site StreetRodOnline.com. Be Sure to run it in DosBox. A tutorial on using Dosbox is on their website.

To go Fullscreen while Running Street Rod in DosBox press ALT+Enter on the game window.

Happy Racing.

Crime Boss Rockay City is a Heist game mixed with city domination. The game plays out in both single player and multi player. In single player you take on the city as Travis Baker, a crime boss.

The goal is simple, but not so easy. Take over the city before the sheriff comes a knocking. During each day you have the option to conduct heist on a variety of targets, defend your territories or attack territories to gain more.

As each day passes the Sherriff's investigation increases, and once it hits 100 Percent he will come for you.

Win or lose, your game will begin a new in a roguelike fashion. You will level up your boss, and unlock abilities from other characters.

The story will progress with each "restart" giving a new insight to the characters within the city. Sounds simple enough. :) but rest assured chuck Norris "the Sheriff" is coming to thwart your plans.

Cast and Characters of Crime Boss: Rockay City (2023) INGAME STUDIOS & 505 Games

Crime Boss Rockay city carries a notable cast of characters played by a variety of superstars. The Game carries a not so serious 4th wall breaking atmosphere, that rings of eighties nostalgia.

The game is a Rock N Roller Coaster between pulling off a fast heist, Taken over new turfs, and defending your own. All with the looming threat of "The sheriff" breathing down your neck.

The game carries over into multiplayer where you and any mixture of up to 3 friends or bots can embark on a variety of dangerous heists.

Successfully completing any of these missions will grant XP towards your Boss level, and cash for buying more team members (Bots) and weapon upgrades.

Team Members, in both single player and Multiplayer come with a range of skills, and weapon selections.

Gear up and grab your little friend for a heart pounding slaughter fest of gold hungry mobsters. Crime Boss Rockay city delivers that comedic gore fest I didn't know I needed.

Next time chuck, Next time.

As a Member of the Gen X community, I can remember the days of watching free TV through TV antennas, also known as rabbit ears. During those days, we had no choice but to watch our favorite TV shows at a specific time slot. When It came time for a commercial break, it was time to run to the bathroom, or make a quick snack. Listening to the TV commercial in the background was a reminder of the short time you had left.

It wasn’t until later in the early 90s when I was old enough to get cable TV. Ironically, even though I was paying for it now, I still had advertisements inserted in the TV shows. This was pre-Internet as we know it today, and those “breaks” were useful.

Until early 2000s, this was the standard model of consumer to entertainment provider relationship. I, and probably the average consumer as well, may have been unaware of their own value. A value that clearly existed or the Advertisers would not have paid for our eyes to be on their product.

Tivo Logo

Inventions like Tivo, gave consumers options to view later and skip ads. Combined with the advancements of the Internet. Led to more people giving a greater part of their day consuming content. No longer was it a scheduled block of time to watch Babylon 5 and her hotness, who is Claudia Christian. I could now Tivo it and enjoy it with a cold drink after work.

Claudia Christian from Babylon 5

As TV was dealing with TiVo interfering with ad revenue, the Internet was ramping up with Internet banners, pop ups, page hijackers, and worse, Malware. Consumers like myself got sick of it, leading to a war against intrusive advertisement. The installment of pop up blockers, and eventually to ad blockers in a variety of forms, disrupted ad revenue.

Here's the thing. It’s understandable that creators and content providers, such as YouTube, need compensation for services rendered. It’s certainly not free to host videos, nor is it free to make such videos. But where is the line?

When we think about the time it takes for someone to make a video, or craft a piece of art. It’s expected for the creators to include the cost of their time in the final product. When we get up and go to our nine to five daily job, we’re paid by the hour, usually.

Salaried positions are more nuanced, but still you’re not supposed to be worked to the point you’re making less than minimum wage per hour. Though companies stretch the limits.

There’s a saying that we’ve probably all heard in one form or another, “in my free time”. A phrase that shows a block of time that were not being paid, and thus free to do as we wish. A saying that universally means, “my time is money.”

It feels like a strange twist when giving up our time becomes the payment for consuming content.

So when the brave browser came out with an ad blocker, with the option to get paid to watch their ads, if and only if we wanted to, it got me to thinking. Why aren’t we paid to watch ads? It’s my time. You “the advertiser” have to be aware many people hate watching intrusive advertisements, as much as we hate our day jobs.

Here's the thing, it’s really those intrusive ads that are hated. Sure, we may not enjoy watching any ad, but a little banner on a webpage or limited ad breaks don’t break our immersion as much. So it’s tolerable, and historically true, that the price of admission to free content is the consumption of advertisements.

So why aren’t we paid to watch ads? Well, our time is money, as I mentioned. Here, it’s the value of our time that we used to complete the transaction in order to consume content. With brave, we’re paid specifically to watch an ad, and not receiving any content. A transaction with no middleman, such as a content creator. A system I would certainly sign up for if it was on a larger scale. I would even provide feedback if they desired it.

So what is the value of our time? Let’s look at a few things.

1. The minimum wage in the United States is $7.25 per hour.

2. The average length of a commercial is 30 seconds

3. The average commercial time within an hour long video is 90 seconds.

With there being 3600 seconds in an hour, and at the minimum rate of hourly compensation, the typical consumer in the US is spending on average 45 cent’s worth of their time to watch 3 ads in an hour long video. Compare that to the cost of a movie ticket and it’s really not that bad of a deal.

Unfortunately, there’s an emerging trend to charge for the content, and still show ads. As a consumer, I’m more than happy to make sure the content creator gets paid for their effort, whether I watch ads, subscribe, or even contribute to the tip jar. I’m also more than happy to use an ad blocker when creators or content platforms get greedy.

Additionally, when content becomes infested with ads, browser hijackers, and other such things as Malware. I can’t help but advocate for ad blockers.

There’s a difference between paying dues to enjoy content and getting screwed over.

It was 52 years ago when gambling games first appeared as a playable form of home entertainment on the Magnavox_Odyssey. The game was roulette, often packaged with the console.

Roulette on Magnavox Odyssey

The start of a new era had begun. It wouldn’t be long before the Atari 2600 would hit the scene in 1977, and with it the game Casino in 1979. An Atari game full of various card games often found in, you guessed it, casinos.

ATARI 2600 Casino 1979

Over the next several years poker and other gambling games would be released on various consoles and eventually the Personal computer.

Ken Uston BlackJack/Poker 1982
Vegas Stakes 1993 
Super Caesars Palace 1993 
World Series Of Poker Tournament Of Champions 2007 
World Championship Poker games 2004- 2007 
Poker Superstars 2005 (early Mobile design)
Poker Superstars II 2006 (early Mobile design)
Texas Hold ’em 2006
World Series of Poker 2008: Battle for the Bracelets

Between 1972 and 2008 there was one theme that dominated the style of poker game that hit the market, immersive and backed by iconic players.

At the height of this era was in my opinion the last great poker game to be released. World Series of Poker 2008: Battle for the Bracelets, narrated by Phil Hellmuth “The Poker Brat”. The game consisted of several game modes, including a training guide with Phil Hellmuth as your teacher.

Box art for WSOP 2008 Battle for the bracelets

The game is filled with famous personality’s in the poker world. All of which the player can play against in their own pursuit of the Bracelet. 

• Annie Duke

• Chris Ferguson

• Clonie Gowen

• Cyndy Violette

• Dave Ulliott

• Erik Seidel

• Greg Raymer

• Joe Hachem

• Johnny Chan

• Josh Arieh

• Liz Lieu

• Mike Matusow

• Phil Gordon

• Phil Hellmuth

• Scott Fischman

The presentation in this game was second to none. Your hands are narrated by Lon McEachern & Norman Chad, and it came with its own music video.

Norman Chad & Lon McEachern 

Win a tournament and you’re treated to a behind the scenes tour by Phil Hellmuth showing you what a real life win would be like. A point of View video tour of the various places of luxury that comes from your wins.

1997 introduced the game Snake preloaded on the Nokia mobile phone as one of the earliest forms of mobile games. Over the next 10 years the mobile market would slowly gain ground in the gaming industry. 

However, Shortly before the release of WSOP 2008 battle for the bracelets, was the release of a new product that would forever change how poker games would be developed. 

On January 9, 2007 The first-generation iPhone was announced, and the mobile gaming sector would soon change the very idea of what it means to be a gamer. 

Soon the idiocracy crowd would join the ranks of those they once slandered as basement dwellers, nerds, and geeks.

The mobile design has infiltrated a plethora of gaming genres with it’s invasive ideology, that manipulates players behavior using predatory psychology Tactics.

Tactics, that ironically are also used in gambling establishments. 

Sensory Features
Bright lights loud sounds that can promote risky decision-making.

Color Schemes
Red can evoke excitement and urgency. Green associated with money and luck.

Physical Layout
Casinos may have busy carpets, few windows, and no clocks. Making it easier to lose track of time and hard to relax.

Social Influences
The presence and behavior of other players can influence a player’s behavior, including NPC characters.

Wins and Near-Misses
Wins & Near-misses can create a surge of exhilaration leading to a desire to play more.

Psychological Rewards
Winning can induce adrenaline and dopamine creating false excitement, and social rewards like praise from other players, or even NPC characters.

1. General appearance and layout
2. Rebuys with real money for fake chips
3. Lack of the Poker-life experience

1. Appearance and layout

Here's two modern examples of poker games found on PC using the mobile design.

1. Jackpot Poker by PokerStars

Jackpot Poker by PokerStars

2. Poker Championship

Poker Championship

3. Modern WSOP Game

https://www.wsop.com/

Now in comparison to WSOP 2008 Battle for the bracelets and World Championship Poker 2004

4. WSOP 2008 Battle for the bracelets

5. World Championship Poker 2004

World Championship Poker 2004

2. Rebuys with real money for fake chips

One of the changes that's taken place over the years is the introduction of casino and poker games selling fake chips for real money. All the negative downsides to real gambling with zero benefits to the player.

Worse yet, is there’s now an incentive to manipulate the table outcomes for the players. The developers are encouraged to create high stakes scenarios in order to get players to push their hands.

Plausible but unlikely scenarios of two player having great hands simultaneously become the norm. An environment where the developer wins every time when players routinely go on tilt.

In the real poker environment the house gets paid by the “rake” generally 2.5% to 10% of the pot in each poker hand. The house doesn't care who wins or loses, they get paid either way.

3. Lack of the Poker-life experience

One of the attractions to poker games has been the immersion level of the games as they increased over the years. In WSOP 2008 Battle of the Bracelets you started off by creating your character, formally known as “The Rookie” at the tables.

From there you engaged with the single player experience of working your way up through the career mode. Week after week in game you hit the tables for another chance at the bracelet.

Between the career mode, Training courses, pop up advice videos from Phil and other pros. The game Immersed you in the poker experience for the one time cost of the game.

You may be wondering;

 Are there any modern poker games that are worth playing?

Unfortunately most modern poker and casino games today are carbon copy’s of the Mobile trash mentioned above designed to milk players wallets dry. 

However there are a couple that are mediocre.

1. HD POKER

HD POKER

HD poker has decent gameplay, minimal “ads” to buy from the store, and overall is an “ok” experience.

Unfortunately the “Buy Fake chips with real money” brings into question the suspicions high tension hands or “bad beats” in HD Poker. 

2. Vegas Infinite by PokerStars

Vegas Infinite by PokerStars

Vegas Infinite is playable with and without a VR setup. Having played it in both, I would say I prefer the game without VR option. It’s nice to be in VR and be able to grab things, pick up your chips, toss your cards in to fold.

However, it all feels a like a bit of a novelty. There a step learning curve to operating the game in VR, especially looking at your cards with out just picking them up. I should note I'm not a Veteran to VR games.

Overall the VR experience just felt slower and more of a social hangout than a poker game. 

Interface aside, the game feels much like any other modern poker game that offers fake chips for real cash.

So what can fix this problem?

Unfortunately unless a AAA developer wants to make another great poker game with a career mode, training videos, with big names in poker as opponents ect..

We’re probably stuck with simple game designs, but one thing that can help is to eliminate real money transactions for fake chips. 

There’s no logical reason to include all the downsides of gambling when no benefits are allowed. When game company's can manipulate the outcomes of the cards to entice players to spend money getting chips, its a rigged game.

I understand servers cost money, and a influx of funds is needed to maintain ongoing maintenance and other cost. 

Sell me avatars, cosmetics, playable locations ect.. but not Chips.