Video Games General

[Tom the Cat]

I've increasingly been looking for a thread like this, only I didn't realize what I wanted until today. So here it is.

ITT: Video games! Anything goes.

Want to talk about a game you got off PSN, but don't feel like making a new thread for it? This is the place.
Feel like debating the finer points of genre mishmash in modern game design, but don't want the conversation getting too in-depth? This is the place.
Want to find out what Live Arcade game to pick up to play with your girlfriend? This is the place.

Just want to talk about something relating to video games without starting a dedicated thread? Do it here.

Think of it as a "What's playing on your screen?"
Think of it as... the LTE of Gaming.

That said, I don't have much of anything to post in here at the moment, but many of my recent posts (Champions Online talk, Summer of Arcade talk, Cody's Fall Compendium thread) probably would've found their way in here rather than into dedicated threads if this had existed before.

[Sean II]

What live arcade games should I play with my girlfriend?

[Talenos]

Mine liked the Penny Arcade games, but those aren't two player. She also likes Hexic.

[Tom the Cat]

N+ is pretty simple fun, though it can get frustratingly difficult in later levels.

I hear Peggle Nights is hitting Live Arcade soon. Chicks love Peggle.

[Tom the Cat]

Decided to take a brief Batman break to try out the Section 8 demo.

All I can say is: what is this i don't even

[Gretyl]

Oh right, I should fire up the Batmans demo now. *delete*

[Gretyl]

I like the "level" that PSN profiles have, where trophies function as XP and the level curve flattens out as you go up. I'm also glad there isn't a public leaderboard for the dickheads who've 100%'d everything ever released.

[G.O.A.T.]

Ugh, Beatles Rockband may actually get me to buy some D/L content. With as big a catalog as the Beatles have, you think they could put more than 45 songs in the game...

It'll probably get me to sing too... which is rather unfortunate for anyone living with me.

[Tom the Cat]

WET demo is flashy, but feels like it's trying way too hard to be a Tarantino flick. It also feels kinda clunky to me.

Not bad, but not good enough to keep it on my fall/winter games radar.

[Wargazm]

that's too bad, the game looked like it had promise.

I am looking forward to Borderlands and Rage at the moment.

[begin_the_begin]

So anyone picking up the new Mass Effect DLC or Castle Crashers DLC? No? Too little too late?

What live arcade games should I play with my girlfriend?

I think Gretyl deleted my response from the other thread. Something, something, Worms, Worms 2, Arkadian Warriors, or a classic sidescrolling shooter or beat 'em up.

[Cody]

what's in the mass effect dlc?

[Warlock]

what's in the mass effect dlc?

I heard it sucks and is very buggy. Stuff I've read suggests it's mostly fighting a bunch of guys.

[Tom the Cat]

that's too bad, the game looked like it had promise.

I am looking forward to Borderlands and Rage at the moment.

It still has promise in the same way that Stranglehold had promise. But there looks to be a lot of really top-notch titles coming out soon (hopefully Borderlands and Rage will fit that bill), and WET struck me as a game that would be pretty good any other time of the year, but is going to get lost amongst the shuffle this fall. Well, for me, at least. I'm sure there are a lot of people who are going to dig its over-the-top sword-and-gunplay.

[Tom the Cat]

Mass Effect DLC or Castle Crashers DLC? No? Too little too late?

Probably for me. Burned myself out on Castle Crashers proper, and am far more interested in ME2 than going back to ME1 now that I haven't touched it for several months.

[Gretyl]

So anyone picking up the new Mass Effect DLC or Castle Crashers DLC? No? Too little too late?

What live arcade games should I play with my girlfriend?

I think Gretyl deleted my response from the other thread. Something, something, Worms, Worms 2, Arkadian Warriors, or a classic sidescrolling shooter or beat 'em up.

No, I didn't. This forum's very well-behaved, so don't look at me this time. Did you by-chance miss the big SUBMIT buttan?

[Tom the Cat]

Are we talking about this post right here?

[Gretyl]

Ha! This week's ZP fails on two counts:
1. They cover 2.5D without even a sideways glance at Shadow Complex.
2. Yes, you can have half a dimension! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractal_di ... efinitions

Still enjoyable, but I guffaw at his fuckups.

[Wargazm]

So anyone picking up the new Mass Effect DLC or Castle Crashers DLC? No? Too little too late?

I'll probably get the Mass Effect one after they clean up all the bugs. I've been meaning to give that game another playthrough for a while.

[Tom the Cat]

When is Mass Effect 2 out, anyway? I was under the impression it was on the way in the next month or two.

Have they made comments about whether you'll be carrying your character info/stats on Shephard over to the new game? If so, I guess I could see doing a fresh play of the game so I was familiar with who I was taking over as in ME2.

[Wargazm]

When is Mass Effect 2 out, anyway? I was under the impression it was on the way in the next month or two.

oh, no, I don't think so. Pretty sure it's still like a year away.

I guess some sites are saying Q1 2010, but I'd take that with a grain of salt. Unless I've missed something (which is totally possible), no review sites have posted any kind of hands-on impressions or anything, and I don't even think anybody's seen it in motion either...just screenshots.

Have they made comments about whether you'll be carrying your character info/stats on Shephard over to the new game? If so, I guess I could see doing a fresh play of the game so I was familiar with who I was taking over as in ME2.

yeah, you will be carrying your guy from ME1 over. They announced that when they first announced the trilogy; your guy would stay with you throughout the story.

I'm in the same boat as you...I want to run through the game again so everything's fresh in my mind.

[Tom the Cat]

Yeah, I think I kind of burned out when I'd made a third or fourth character, trying to put my points in different focus areas. I think my first (and favorite) Shephard was an evil guy, but I really don't remember much of anything about him except vaguely what he looked like.

[begin_the_begin]

So anyone picking up the new Mass Effect DLC or Castle Crashers DLC? No? Too little too late?

What live arcade games should I play with my girlfriend?

I think Gretyl deleted my response from the other thread. Something, something, Worms, Worms 2, Arkadian Warriors, or a classic sidescrolling shooter or beat 'em up.

No, I didn't. This forum's very well-behaved, so don't look at me this time. Did you by-chance miss the big SUBMIT buttan?

Are we talking about this post right here?

Yep, that's the post I was talking about. Sorry, I'm retarded. I thought that since Sean asked the same question about XBLA games inside this thread, that the old thread got deleted. Forgot his question was part of a different thread. Sorry.

[Tom the Cat]

You should be! If there's one thing we don't want, it's extraneous posts in the VGG!

[Gretyl]

Postcount++ is gaming-related, is it not?

[Tom the Cat]

Postcounts are kind of like high scores.

[Tom the Cat]

Which means Fzzuy is that weird guy with the ratty BSG t-shirt, Rush mix tape and 2-liter of Shasta.

[Gretyl]

Glad I never check the leaderboards.

[Crump's Brother]

Ha! This week's ZP fails on two counts:
1. They cover 2.5D without even a sideways glance at Shadow Complex.
2. Yes, you can have half a dimension! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractal_di ... efinitions

Still enjoyable, but I guffaw at his fuckups.

Since I had just played SC the night before and never even heard of the two games he covered I ended up being very disappointed with this week's video.

[begin_the_begin]

Have they made comments about whether you'll be carrying your character info/stats on Shephard over to the new game? If so, I guess I could see doing a fresh play of the game so I was familiar with who I was taking over as in ME2.

yeah, you will be carrying your guy from ME1 over. They announced that when they first announced the trilogy; your guy would stay with you throughout the story.

I'm in the same boat as you...I want to run through the game again so everything's fresh in my mind.

Yeah, definitely going to be playing through ME1 again, maybe a month before release, in order to transition smoothly into ME2.

As for gameplay footage, I think we've seen some "HUD-less" gameplay going on in the videos for ME2. Like in the trailer: http://www.gametrailers.com/video/e3-09 ... fect/50068
or this video:
http://www.gametrailers.com/video/gc-09 ... fect/54354

[Talenos]

I watched some people play it at E3, looked like they were going for the HUD-less thing. Don't remember to much of it though. I haven't even cracked my game open yet. How does it compare to something like Fallout 3 as far as length?

[Cody]

I'd say about the same. The main storyline is about the same and the side missions are about the same.

[Wargazm]

As for gameplay footage, I think we've seen some "HUD-less" gameplay going on in the videos for ME2. Like in the trailer: http://www.gametrailers.com/video/e3-09 ... fect/50068
or this video:
http://www.gametrailers.com/video/gc-09 ... fect/54354

ahh, ok. see, I've gone dark on this game too, so I must have missed this.

[Wargazm]

Speaking of "going dark"...does anyone else do that? I try to stay away from all media for games that I know I want to buy. Game previews aren't quite as bad as movie trailers, but there's still enough spoilers in them for me to give them a wide berth.

[Tom the Cat]

Not generally. I don't think I've been as excited for a game as I was for Arkham Asylum, and I wasn't afraid to get out there and see what I could see to whet my whistle. Demos, some in-game footage, interviews.

Granted, I try to avoid overkill on it so there's plenty new to be seen, but usually game journalists do a pretty decent job of restraining any spoilers to the first act of a game.

[Wargazm]

Yeah, but I still want to experience that first act for myself, completely fresh. I guess I'm just really picky about that kind of stuff.

I figure those videos, interviews, etc, are all there to get you excited about a game. Well, there's some games that I am already excited for, so I don't need that extra media spoiling one iota of that first playing experience.

[Wargazm]

And yet I can't help but click on that Batman dream game thread. These are going to be the longest 4 days of my life.

[Cody]

Speaking of "going dark"...does anyone else do that? I try to stay away from all media for games that I know I want to buy. Game previews aren't quite as bad as movie trailers, but there's still enough spoilers in them for me to give them a wide berth.

no I never do that. I love spoilers. Can't get enough of them!

[G.O.A.T.]

Speaking of "going dark"...does anyone else do that? I try to stay away from all media for games that I know I want to buy. Game previews aren't quite as bad as movie trailers, but there's still enough spoilers in them for me to give them a wide berth.

Too many shitty/sub-par games in the NES-Playstation era taught me otherwise (Simpsons: Bart vs. Space Mutants, Frank Thomas's Big Hurt Baseball, GTA w/ London Expansion). I never would have bought the Batman game if not for the demo...

That being said, I don't usually like to go overboard either. Nothing quite like low expectations being blown away (Eternal Darkness comes to mind).

[Tom the Cat]

1251471494058.jpg (25.15 KiB) Viewed 5750 times

[Crump's Brother]

Quality.

[Sean II]

Oh man that may have to go into the TF2 sprays folder

[Tom the Cat]

Good idea, I hadn't even thought of that.

[Tom the Cat]

The rumor that MS might launch a 250 GB model has all but quashed my plans to pick up a new HDD soon. I really gotta get one I can start installing games to, though; getting a disc read error every other time I boot up Batman is starting to piss me off.

[Talenos]

Yeah, I too want to get a new one. But don't you think they'll be happy with just two models of 360?

[Tom the Cat]

Yeah, I too want to get a new one. But don't you think they'll be happy with just two models of 360?

I would think so, but the info slip came from the same place that got the rumor mill going on PS3 Slims. So I'm inclined to believe they'd introduce a "higher-end" model for people willing to pay $400+.

[Wycked]

I got Phantasy Star Portable like a month ago... I really liked the demo, and I do like the game, I can just never bring myself to play it. I don't know what it is! It's the kind of game you really need to sit down for an hour or so to play, and that's not really what a portable's made for.

Been playing the shit out of Dissidia though. I don't like the fact that attacks are basically like Smash Bros. ( > + O for this attack, ^ + [] for that attack, etc.), but without basic melee attacks. It's like, wear down their stats with O attacks, then wail on 'em and wear down HP with [] attacks, build up your EX gauge and unleash the big limit break move. I often wish that I could just hit 'em with the damned sword a couple times before I throw in that badass special move that knocks them across the arena. But once I got used to the attack controls, I really dig it. 10 hours into the story mode, and that's just with Cloud. There's still 19 other characters to play through and other modes to unlock.

[Talenos]

Yeah, I too want to get a new one. But don't you think they'll be happy with just two models of 360?

I would think so, but the info slip came from the same place that got the rumor mill going on PS3 Slims. So I'm inclined to believe they'd introduce a "higher-end" model for people willing to pay $400+.

But what can they possibly offer for $100 besides a bigger hard drive? I don't know if that's really worth it for me if that is the only change.

[Crump's Brother]

I played a little more Shadow Complex tonight. It's a fun game, but not a very interesting one. I guess it goes to show what a little art direction can do for a game. I'll put more time in and try to beat it on Sunday.

[Tom the Cat]

Yeah, I too want to get a new one. But don't you think they'll be happy with just two models of 360?

I would think so, but the info slip came from the same place that got the rumor mill going on PS3 Slims. So I'm inclined to believe they'd introduce a "higher-end" model for people willing to pay $400+.

But what can they possibly offer for $100 besides a bigger hard drive? I don't know if that's really worth it for me if that is the only change.

The German Amazon listing was for a 250 GB HDD with 2 wireless controllers and a copy of Forza 3. Not sure if it included an HDMI cable to boot.

[Gretyl]

Yeah, I too want to get a new one. But don't you think they'll be happy with just two models of 360?

I would think so, but the info slip came from the same place that got the rumor mill going on PS3 Slims. So I'm inclined to believe they'd introduce a "higher-end" model for people willing to pay $400+.

But what can they possibly offer for $100 besides a bigger hard drive? I don't know if that's really worth it for me if that is the only change.

XBox Live SuperlativeMetal! You only pay the $100 with hardware and that's it!

[Wargazm]

Man, I want to pony up for an elite to replace my dying box, but I don't want a black console. all my accessories are white, plus I have a custom launch team faceplate that would look like shit on a black console.

I may just have to have to find a pro before they sell out of those.

[Toilet of Sadness]

Why in the hell wouldn't you just buy an arcade? That's the cheapest model and you just plug in your old hard drive and everything works.

[Wargazm]

because I want a bigger hard drive for game installation. As it is I only have 2 GB left. Add in future rock band song downloads, and I won't be able to download anything pretty soon.

[Tom the Cat]

http://kotaku.com/5349013/best-buy-360- ... for-a-song

Dag, yo. Big 360 sale. Might have to go ahead and preorder MW2 with this deal.

[Toilet of Sadness]

Pretty sure I'm going to use that to buy Batman and Beatles Rock Band.

[Talenos]

Sounds like Beatles Rock Band and Brutal Legend it is.

[Gretyl]

I wholly recommend XBox Live's "The Drinking Game" for anyone who wants to die of alcohol poisoning but doesn't want to think of themselves as an alcoholic.

What is?

[Tom the Cat]

It's a game where you designate the number of players and then take turns at a slot machine. The slot machine has various fruit, one mug, two mugs, and german bar maid indicators. German bar maid means everyone drinks (1), and each mug counts as a drink. So if you roll five mugs, you drink five. If you roll a bar maid and two mugs, everyone drinks three.

And you just keep pulling that slot machine handle until you're out of booze or no one's left alive.

[Talenos]

Seems like a simple cash-in on what could have been a great idea.

[Tom the Cat]

Best machinima I've seen in a long time:

[Crump's Brother]

Isn't machinima when you use the in-game engine to create something? To me that looks like a cutscene or a fmv.

[Tom the Cat]

Isn't machinima when you use the in-game engine to create something? To me that looks like a cutscene or a fmv.

That shows how good of a job they did with it.

Granted, they were using Garry's Mod and not TF2 proper, but that's kind of splitting hairs over what counts as machinima and what doesn't.

[Gretyl]

You have a shitty eye for shitty work.

[Gretyl]

I guess I'll include you in that too, Tom.