Posts by Thrik

Wow it's finally open. Wonder if the winner will share.

I actually don't mind all the used game stuff, I never buy used games and it was inevitable that publishers would find a way of controlling it. Things like Steam have already put an end to it for many PC gamers, and for console gamers it'll still be possible to get cheaper used games — just with less benefit to the sellers. Overall it means publishers will get money from sales that'd otherwise bring nothing to them, which is fair enough IMO and in a utopian world might even lead to console games being as cheap as PC games.

What I do vehemently disagree with is the online requirement. Microsoft's blatant attempt at damage control by revealing that it's 'only' every 24 hours rather than constantly means shit. It's still a lot worse than what we enjoy now. I can and have gone for weeks without an internet connection on numerous occasions, for example when moving home or when switching provider. During those periods it's even more vital than ever that I have a games console on hand to combat the immense stresses of being without online connectivity.

I'm sure for most people it'll very rarely be a concern, but when it does become a problem for someone it's likely to become a serious business problem. I know a few people (including my gf) who don't actually have internet connections at home because the monthly bill is a bit much — they do all their web browsing through their phones' 3G instead. Yet these same people happily enjoy gaming during their free time at home, something they'll not be able to do with the Xbox One by the looks of it.

But don't forgot guys... you ARE the controller!!!!!

Microsoft's people must be kicking each other in the assholes now they've realised how most people are going to shorten the name for the next 7+ years.

Probably only of interest to those who're in the UK and/or into health documentaries, but this is probably the best of its kind I've seen. It's a flagship BBC documentary so the production quality is unsurprisingly excellent. The minute-long intro pretty much sums up exactly what it is:

It goes into everything from hospitals to morgues to sex change clinics to road accidents to people living out their last moments with cancer, and shows practically every part of the UK from busy cities to remote islands that have one doctor for thousands of people — basically the whole healthcare system. How the fuck they managed to figure out the logistics of filming all this in one day is beyond me.

Unlike many documentaries of this type it retains a sombre and non-dramatic tone at all times, which makes some of the harrowing stuff that happens all the harder to watch. Will happily admit the mighty Thrik was fighting back tears during some episodes.

Definitely intrigued.

My co-op experience consisted of repeatedly having my helicopter pilot crash into the ground. I got really pissed off, then when it was my turn to pilot I accidentally the same thing. lol.

Special editions announced:

http://www.videogamer.com/ps3/gta5/news/…s_revealed.html

God damnit man. I know I'm going to end up buying the (probably super-expensive) collector's edition just for the extra vehicles and characters. But I guess I only buy a game as magnificent as this rarely.

I think the trailer does a great job of highlighting exactly why Kinect isn't something we want to see in games like this. I bet almost everyone who watched it thought 'erm no thanks' rather than Microsoft's expectation of 'HOLY SHIT THIS IS THE FUTURE!!!!!'.

I'm sure the game will be great anyway, but it just shows how misguided Microsoft's view of the future is. They really do think Kinect is going to become a fundamental part of mainstream gaming. I really don't think it is, apart from maybe the voice stuff (which hardly requires something as advanced as Kinect).

I hope they come up with more interesting ways of using Kinect than 'wave your body around and your character does it too!'. Things like characters in RPGs responding to the expression on my face might actually impress me and enhance my immersion, swinging my arms around like a tosser won't.

Yeah the bundle is great. I already have the game so I'm just buying it for the bonus stuff which is worth it in itself.

Yep.

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That was nice, it's a rare treat for developers to be open with fans about things like this. Also Remedy just oozes style, even their little video is slick as fuck lol.

I can honestly say I'm not disappointed at all. It's always tempting to want more of what we like, but as Tim Schafer once said: if fans had gotten their way and all his games had sequels we'd never have gotten masterpieces like Grim Fandango. Let the creatives create, I say.

Yes I especially love how the god ray is pointing in completely the wrong direction relative to the sun, lol.

Quote from SpronyvanJohnson

This doesn't look like a next gen game to me. Is it me or is it already looking dated?

I'm definitely underwhelmed. KZ3 looked like a decent start for a new generation to me, but in the Ghosts trailer alone I saw a lot of flat-looking surfaces, clipped sprites, uninspiring lighting, etc. it's far from ugly, but I was expecting more polish considering the blank cheque budget it surely has.

Oh man, you can see it coming already. To watch a film you must both be connected to the internet and have your Kinect detecting at least one person (so it knows you're not tricking it), and if it detects too many people it assumes you're broadcasting publicly and cuts you off. Disgusting.

I think you touched on the main problem I have there. I personally thought the content in Battlefield 3 upon release was meagre at best. I was a huge fan of BF2 and BF2142 and enjoyed most of the maps, but in BF3 it felt like many of them were designed for more CoD-based fans and there were only a few in the core game I felt were truly Battlefield maps.

I'm kind of expecting the same to happen again: a paltry selection of maps, at least half of which are designed for this new generation of FPS gamers (ie: small and not very open). Not that I'm saying both sides shouldn't be catered for, but when the amount of content for each becomes so small it makes it very hard to stomach being stung for a few extra maps unless I preorder.

With the Karkand maps included I'd say that BF3 just about felt like decent value for money, but the core game certainly didn't. I never got any of the DLC because by that point I'd decided that I'd spent enough on that game.

Hmm, I kind of want them to just move on from Alan Wake. I enjoyed it but it doesn't seem like the kind of story or franchise that needs sequels. Sometimes stories are better as one-offs, and I'd rather see Remedy focus their attention on fresh IP.

BF3's Back to Karkand pissed me off too. We all know DLC will happen but to advertise it so far ahead of the game's release when we know almost nothing about the game itself seems really cheap. I kind of assumed BF4's 'thing' to differentiate it from BF3 would be the return of China.

What they're essentially doing is taking part of the main game out and turning it into DLC, coercing people to pre-order it rather than find out if the game is actually any good. If they don't, they're punished by having to pay for part of the game that should have been there from the beginning.

I know a lot of people pre-order, but I virtually never do it. I wait until I've seen reviews from not just paid reviewers but also regular dudes.

Yeah it's a shame the gameplay never got mixed up that much in Alan Wake, I hope they've learnt their lesson. That game was so beautifully realised in most other ways.

Jesus fuck man, I know how it works nowadays but it really does seem so shameless when the DLC is advertised so far in advance.