RICHARD PARKINSON
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I'm not sure I see it as much of an issue. In a singleplayer game doesn't it come down to the player to be as creative as they want to be? Using the example of Splinter Cell, Jeff Gerstmann lists all the equipment you have at your disposal, as well as the ability to shoot people in the head for a quick kill. Isn't it up to him to have fun playing with those other weapons? He doesn't like the idea of having this perceived easier option but at the same time he knows there are other weapons that let him play the game in a different way. Just because the game presents him with an easy option, doesn't mean he has to take it.
I don't have a problem with quick kills, but that's probably from years of playing Counter-Striker - a game that is almost defined by the players ability to kill as fast as possible. If you don't learn to headshot in CS, you won't last long in a round. I've never played Halo, but it's interesting what you say Jeffrey about overpowered weapons that are essentially one hit kills. In CS there was a particular rifle that would kill with one shot but pretty soon it became an unwritten rule that no-one used it. Eventually most clans just took the weapon off their servers completely. I always found it interesting how strongly most players felt about something they considered a 'cheat' weapon because of how much easier it was to kill with it.
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I'm not sure I see it as much of an issue. In a singleplayer game doesn't it come down to the player to be as creative as they want to be? Using the example of Splinter Cell, Jeff Gerstmann lists all the equipment you have at your disposal, as well as the ability to shoot people in the head for a quick kill. Isn't it up to him to have fun playing with those other weapons? He doesn't like the idea of having this perceived easier option but at the same time he knows there are other weapons that let him play the game in a different way. Just because the game presents him with an easy option, doesn't mean he has to take it.
I don't have a problem with quick kills, but that's probably from years of playing Counter-Striker - a game that is almost defined by the players ability to kill as fast as possible. If you don't learn to headshot in CS, you won't last long in a round. I've never played Halo, but it's interesting what you say Jeffrey about overpowered weapons that are essentially one hit kills. In CS there was a particular rifle that would kill with one shot but pretty soon it became an unwritten rule that no-one used it. Eventually most clans just took the weapon off their servers completely. I always found it interesting how strongly most players felt about something they considered a 'cheat' weapon because of how much easier it was to kill with it.
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Tuesday, August 17, 2010
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Ah yes, the stories about Pro Evolution/FIFA sound very familiar. With pretty much every version comes the point where I've mastered it and even on the top difficulty it's not even a challenge anymore. At this point it becomes a vague background activity while I listen to music or just relax. Problem is when I've got new games waiting to be played I will STILL sit down for a few matches on my Masters League save. That's when it gets worrying...
Thankfully I don't waste as much time in openworld games as I used to. I think I drained my appetite for that with GTA 3 when the novelty of starting fights with police in a 3D city was still fresh. Probably a few days worth of time wasted on that game just going from no stars to five stars then death, rinse and repeat.
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Ah yes, the stories about Pro Evolution/FIFA sound very familiar. With pretty much every version comes the point where I've mastered it and even on the top difficulty it's not even a challenge anymore. At this point it becomes a vague background activity while I listen to music or just relax. Problem is when I've got new games waiting to be played I will STILL sit down for a few matches on my Masters League save. That's when it gets worrying...
Thankfully I don't waste as much time in openworld games as I used to. I think I drained my appetite for that with GTA 3 when the novelty of starting fights with police in a 3D city was still fresh. Probably a few days worth of time wasted on that game just going from no stars to five stars then death, rinse and repeat.
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Friday, August 13, 2010
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I think there is a level of compromise between what you're saying and how the others play the game. I mean, I can see why the setting would make Ubisoft think of giving you various weapons to play with and making the combat based on counters and dodges. Yet when you think about it, both Ezio and Altair spend 90% of the game running across rooftops, climbing buildings and hanging off ledges. Then when they are faced with a group of guards all that athleticism and those acrobatics disappear and they stand planted on their feet. I think there's a place for the swordplay, but they could add another level to the combat that allows you to use that athleticism in a fight.
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I think there is a level of compromise between what you're saying and how the others play the game. I mean, I can see why the setting would make Ubisoft think of giving you various weapons to play with and making the combat based on counters and dodges. Yet when you think about it, both Ezio and Altair spend 90% of the game running across rooftops, climbing buildings and hanging off ledges. Then when they are faced with a group of guards all that athleticism and those acrobatics disappear and they stand planted on their feet. I think there's a place for the swordplay, but they could add another level to the combat that allows you to use that athleticism in a fight.
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Thursday, July 29, 2010
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Well, while I'd have to disagree that AC2 didn't let me play like an assassin, I would say that the control system still needs work. AC2 was a big improvement on the first game but I think most of you would agree that on the rare occasion you got stuck in a fight with a large group of guards, the system was very clunky. Jordan, I don't know if you've played Arkham Asylum, but that game pretty much nailed its combat mechanic. It had a level of depth to it that let skilled players pull of totally badass moves but even on its most basic level you still felt like Batman. The combat felt fluid but brutal and pretty much a perfect fit for the kind of fighter Batman was. I'd imagine a similar style of combat for someone like Ezio would work. Not a 'win' button, but a system that felt fluid and allowed for the kind of situation you talk about where you can deal with a group of guards without instantly slowing the pace of the game.
Personally I'd be happy if they tightened up the controls a bit and gave you a few more stealth options. Even though AC2 was a much better stealth game than the first, I'd still like them to give you some more abilities to stay hidden from guards.
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Well, while I'd have to disagree that AC2 didn't let me play like an assassin, I would say that the control system still needs work. AC2 was a big improvement on the first game but I think most of you would agree that on the rare occasion you got stuck in a fight with a large group of guards, the system was very clunky. Jordan, I don't know if you've played Arkham Asylum, but that game pretty much nailed its combat mechanic. It had a level of depth to it that let skilled players pull of totally badass moves but even on its most basic level you still felt like Batman. The combat felt fluid but brutal and pretty much a perfect fit for the kind of fighter Batman was. I'd imagine a similar style of combat for someone like Ezio would work. Not a 'win' button, but a system that felt fluid and allowed for the kind of situation you talk about where you can deal with a group of guards without instantly slowing the pace of the game.
Personally I'd be happy if they tightened up the controls a bit and gave you a few more stealth options. Even though AC2 was a much better stealth game than the first, I'd still like them to give you some more abilities to stay hidden from guards.
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Thursday, July 29, 2010
" seem to be taking this a bit seriously Jeffrey, I can't see much grief going on. I know this might stir it up again, but I'm not sure what you wanted to happen here? What you see as nitpicking I see as simply a thorough discussion. As in, people posted an answer to the article and then Gabriel explained his side of it further. Or were we all meant to suddenly side with him after he explained his point more? You seem to be coming at this from a very odd angle.
It isn't our fault that a group of people posted comments roughly along the same lines, it's just the way it went. Just because I disagree with Gabriel doesn't mean I'm suddenly out to get him or I hate him. You seem to be reading malice and ill intent in other peoples comments where there simply is none. Labelling people as fanboys for giving their view is a little harsh.
People are allowed to having differing opinions without the world exploding"
It isn't our fault that a group of people posted comments roughly along the same lines, it's just the way it went. Just because I disagree with Gabriel doesn't mean I'm suddenly out to get him or I hate him. You seem to be reading malice and ill intent in other peoples comments where there simply is none. Labelling people as fanboys for giving their view is a little harsh.
People are allowed to having differing opinions without the world exploding"
Thursday, January 14, 2010
" I managed to spell one of my favourite games wrong. Twice."
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
"mention of Theif makes me sad inside. Nothing has come close to the tension I've felt whilst hiding from those Hammerites. It adds real jeopardy when you know the enemy searching for you will tear you a knew one.
Poor old Theif, always forgotten. It seems the stealth mechanic was just too good, eh?
Sorry, that was bad"
Poor old Theif, always forgotten. It seems the stealth mechanic was just too good, eh?
Sorry, that was bad"
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
"an't really disagree on your point about expense. I managed to build something that has suited me fine for 2 years and still plays things to a high level, but still I know it's coming around to upgrade time. It's not quite as prohibitive as some like to make out, but you'd be deluding yourself if you thought PC gaming was as cheap as buying a console.
It just comes down to what you are comfortable with, I suppose. I'm in my mid-20's and have few responsibilities (no huge mortgage, family) so I can get away with it. I try and justify the extra money because I use my PC for a lot more than just gaming. When a game breaks because of a random glitch I do wonder why I bother!
On your point about the frustration of instaling games, I think consoles are beginning to suffer from this slightly. These days patches for console games are just as common as ones on the PC and they aren't always small. Often if you put a game into your 360/PS3 that is a couple of years old you can expect the developer to have patched it a few times. You end up stuck waiting for a patch when all you wanted was a quick blast on an old favourite. Personally I'm happy to wait, but things aren't as simple for console gamers as they used to be.
Oh and can I just say how great it is that a topic like this that usually descends into insults and name calling on most gaming sites has stayed so civil! You've got some sort of witchcraft going on here, Bitmob"
It just comes down to what you are comfortable with, I suppose. I'm in my mid-20's and have few responsibilities (no huge mortgage, family) so I can get away with it. I try and justify the extra money because I use my PC for a lot more than just gaming. When a game breaks because of a random glitch I do wonder why I bother!
On your point about the frustration of instaling games, I think consoles are beginning to suffer from this slightly. These days patches for console games are just as common as ones on the PC and they aren't always small. Often if you put a game into your 360/PS3 that is a couple of years old you can expect the developer to have patched it a few times. You end up stuck waiting for a patch when all you wanted was a quick blast on an old favourite. Personally I'm happy to wait, but things aren't as simple for console gamers as they used to be.
Oh and can I just say how great it is that a topic like this that usually descends into insults and name calling on most gaming sites has stayed so civil! You've got some sort of witchcraft going on here, Bitmob"
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
"l I have to say I think the article could have been worded better. Obviously you went for a more light-hearted feel while still getting your point across but I think that meant you skimmed over some points that could have done with a bit more explanation. You've gone on to point out in the comments how much experience you have with PC gaming so it might have been better pointing that out in the article? In the article you say you don't want to have to shell out $2000 every 2 years just to play an RTS. If you have this much experience with PC games you must realise that statement simply isn't true?
The problem with this kind of piece is that while some of your points are valid, what you have to realise is that all those people out there that love PC gaming do so inspite of its problems. When you come out with a statement that PC gaming is "ultimately unsatisfying" it's going to get people a bit defensive, even though you are perfectly entitled to that opinion. Now that consoles are clearly the dominant force in gaming, people who still enjoy playing on their PC feel the need to defend it even more than ever.
Personally I love playing games on my PC and on consoles. Yet whenever I see an argument like this I always have to wade in on the side of the PC community, we always feel like the underdog. I know that sounds a little melodramatic but I think it's how a lot of PC gamers feel.
Sorry if that all sounds a bit blunt, I'm certainly not trying to claim you are wrong in disliking PC gaming (I certainly hate it sometimes!). I just wanted to say why I think you've got this kind reaction to your article that you can see in the comments"
The problem with this kind of piece is that while some of your points are valid, what you have to realise is that all those people out there that love PC gaming do so inspite of its problems. When you come out with a statement that PC gaming is "ultimately unsatisfying" it's going to get people a bit defensive, even though you are perfectly entitled to that opinion. Now that consoles are clearly the dominant force in gaming, people who still enjoy playing on their PC feel the need to defend it even more than ever.
Personally I love playing games on my PC and on consoles. Yet whenever I see an argument like this I always have to wade in on the side of the PC community, we always feel like the underdog. I know that sounds a little melodramatic but I think it's how a lot of PC gamers feel.
Sorry if that all sounds a bit blunt, I'm certainly not trying to claim you are wrong in disliking PC gaming (I certainly hate it sometimes!). I just wanted to say why I think you've got this kind reaction to your article that you can see in the comments"
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
"al the initial rage I feel at being killed in what I deem an unfair way evaporates when I watch the kill cam. That thing has helped a lot in making me see where I've gone wrong in certain situations. The rising hatred quickly stops when you watch a kill cam clearly show the other guy was faster, more aware or just plain better. The friend I play with isn't quite as controlled. Most games all I can hear over comms are torrents of insults aimed at the opposing players!
I definitely see a lot of people playing MW2 with pre-conceptions about how they think the game should be played. You see a lot of un-written rules being created by communities playing online shooters. I'd imagine many of them I see in MW2 have been brought over from the first Modern Warfare game. Personally I can't stand people inventing their own rules and restrictions on how I should play my own game. This definitely seems to be the main source of rage that I've come across. With something like chess, both players go into the game knowing exactly what the rules are. With MW2, some players go in to play it however they want and have their own fun. While others have already applied their own rules on how the game should be played and if someone else doesn't play by their rules then they are playing unfairly. Even worse if this leads to them playing badly, which is often the reason for the tirade of abuse. I play MW2 on the PC so most of it is text based thankfully, although I'm getting a bit tired of hearing the phrase "noob tube" used in every match. Apparently in MW2 you aren't allowed to use some of the guns, because that's against the rules.
It all reminds me so much of playing CS years ago. The same use of un-written rules to dictate the way it's played, the same levels of rage when the 'good' players get beaten by a lowly newb because they don't adhere to those rules. Unfortunately in my youth I was more often one those idiots complaining that someone wasn't playing the game properly. I'm a bit less uptight these days.
Certainly in MW2 my friend and I have been on the receiving end of lots of abuse because we are, to our shame, habitual campers. You wouldn't believe (or maybe you can) the kind of hatred this produces. It's all because we aren't playing the game how they want us too. The fact we aren't particularly good players means we usually get ejected from our little spot quite quickly, but it still amazes me how incredibly wound up some people get about it. I'll admit, there are a few tactics used in MW2 that annoy the hell out of me (akimbo 1887, running about knifing everyone) but I'd be an almighty hypocrite if I started telling others how they should play. So you just grit your teeth, pull out your duel G18's and hide in a dark corner.."
I definitely see a lot of people playing MW2 with pre-conceptions about how they think the game should be played. You see a lot of un-written rules being created by communities playing online shooters. I'd imagine many of them I see in MW2 have been brought over from the first Modern Warfare game. Personally I can't stand people inventing their own rules and restrictions on how I should play my own game. This definitely seems to be the main source of rage that I've come across. With something like chess, both players go into the game knowing exactly what the rules are. With MW2, some players go in to play it however they want and have their own fun. While others have already applied their own rules on how the game should be played and if someone else doesn't play by their rules then they are playing unfairly. Even worse if this leads to them playing badly, which is often the reason for the tirade of abuse. I play MW2 on the PC so most of it is text based thankfully, although I'm getting a bit tired of hearing the phrase "noob tube" used in every match. Apparently in MW2 you aren't allowed to use some of the guns, because that's against the rules.
It all reminds me so much of playing CS years ago. The same use of un-written rules to dictate the way it's played, the same levels of rage when the 'good' players get beaten by a lowly newb because they don't adhere to those rules. Unfortunately in my youth I was more often one those idiots complaining that someone wasn't playing the game properly. I'm a bit less uptight these days.
Certainly in MW2 my friend and I have been on the receiving end of lots of abuse because we are, to our shame, habitual campers. You wouldn't believe (or maybe you can) the kind of hatred this produces. It's all because we aren't playing the game how they want us too. The fact we aren't particularly good players means we usually get ejected from our little spot quite quickly, but it still amazes me how incredibly wound up some people get about it. I'll admit, there are a few tactics used in MW2 that annoy the hell out of me (akimbo 1887, running about knifing everyone) but I'd be an almighty hypocrite if I started telling others how they should play. So you just grit your teeth, pull out your duel G18's and hide in a dark corner.."
Friday, December 18, 2009
"hink things like Netflix can certainly effect your view of a console. I use my PS3 almost constantly because of blu-ray and watching TV (PlayTV over here in the UK). However, that "jet engine" fan that gets used in the 360 is the main reason my xbox sits collecting dust. I'm not sure if using the PS3 all the time means I'm just not used to the 360 but whenever I turn it on it's very noticeable. Yeah, it's a fairly trivial point when choosing between a console, I'm sure I'd get used to if I was forced to. The thing is the PS3 does most of the stuff that I want so why would I settle for a noisy fan?
The fact that Assassin's Creed II is supposed to be better on the 360 irked me slightly because of the noise, until I realised how stupid that was. Maybe I just need to get myself a decent sound system.
I'll be awkward and say the iPhone/iPod Touch won this year. Although I also turned to the DS a lot during the usual barren gaming months. Now the new Mario & Luigi game taunts me from the shelves just as the other consoles become overloaded. I almost feel like apologising to it when I walk past the DS sections in the shop. Why didn't you come out earlier"
The fact that Assassin's Creed II is supposed to be better on the 360 irked me slightly because of the noise, until I realised how stupid that was. Maybe I just need to get myself a decent sound system.
I'll be awkward and say the iPhone/iPod Touch won this year. Although I also turned to the DS a lot during the usual barren gaming months. Now the new Mario & Luigi game taunts me from the shelves just as the other consoles become overloaded. I almost feel like apologising to it when I walk past the DS sections in the shop. Why didn't you come out earlier"
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
I think Yann has hit on my main problem with a Mass Effect film. Even though pretty much every videogame film I've seen has ranged from passable to coma inducingly bad, I don't think there is anything wrong with trying. Like Alan said above, there are plenty of highly respected books that don't suffer from being made into a film, whether they turn out well or not.
My problem with a potential Mass Effect film is if they simply retell the same story we have all already played. It's fine having books or comics that fill in the story in and around the games, but would any of us read a graphic novel that was just the same as the main plot line in the original game? To me it would be completely pointless because I'm losing what makes Mass Effect (plus many, many other games) so exciting-basically I'm the one creating the story and building my own character. It's not being dictated to me by a director. The only way it would work is if it was a new story based in the Mass Effect universe, as other have stated. This is Hollywood though, can you really see them being that creative? It'll be easier to just reheat the original story.
A movie based on Halo would seem more appropriate because the story doesn't change because of your actions and the character you control has an identity that's already been created for you. Watching a film that told the same basic narrative as Mass Effect would probably leave me sat in the cinema thinking "I didn't do that, I saved her" or "my Commander Sheperd wouldn't have made that decision".
Plus, the other obvious problem is that Hollywood will most likely make Sheperd a man, and we all know the Commander is a woman!
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