What is the last video game you played?

[Quintus 5,396]

Apparently the latest PSN firmware is banning the hackers.

Anyway, this weekend I restarted Batman: AA. Still a freakin' classy piece of gaming arse.

[Koray Savas 2,250]

I don't know the whole story behind it. It's apparently a serious problem for Sony. My real-life friend hacked his PS3, so he can download any game he wants off the internet and just play it, pretty much the exact same thing as film piracy. He says that he can't sign on to the PSN because there's a chance Sony can find out and ban the IP address. I don't understand how they would know, though. I'm not for it, he's just really cheap and doesn't want to buy games. He said though that there's a patch the hackers are working on to prevent Sony from doing anything if they sign on.

An IGN article I read said the problem can only be fixed by a hardware update, and not firmware, hence the serious problem.

[Quintus 5,396]

http://www.next-gen.biz/news/ps3-firmware-update-%E2%80%9Cbans-black-ops-hackers%E2%80%9D

That should make things clearer,

[John Crichton 4]

Just remember, unlike movies video game sequels are usually better than the original.

I got my copy of Mass Effect 2 and I'm loving it. The opening scene was epic. Being more of an RPGer than a shooter though, I kinda miss the menus.

[Henry B 50]

The menus are still there, John. They're just not accessible by keyboard shortcuts for some reason.

The inventory... um, not so much.

[Trent B 325]

Personally I don't see the point in hacking a console or hacking your online game account. What's the point of even playing if you're going to hack your account to cheat?

Actually I'm glad that the latest PSN update bans hackers. While it's no surprise there's a way to circumvent it for a short time I still hate hackers.

[Marian Schedenig 7,499]

Personally I don't see the point in hacking a console or hacking your online game account. What's the point of even playing if you're going to hack your account to cheat?

Having the freedom of playing non-"authorised" software? In Sony's special case, having the freedom of running software that was actually advertised to work at the time when many of us bought their consoles, e.g. various forms of Linux?

Part of the PS3's original reputation was that of being a super computer usable for more than "just" gaming and watching Blu-rays, and Sony actively advertised that you could install Linux and run custom software. Then they removed that option.

Aside from that, I'm all for hacking any kind of user restriction, and all major consoles are liable to that. With a hacked console, you have the freedom of running open source software, including stuff like the wonderful ScummVM to play your (legally purchased) LucasArts adventures. The only supposedly illegal thing about it? Removing user restrictions from the console's software.

[Red 74]

Just remember, unlike movies video game sequels are usually better than the original.

I got my copy of Mass Effect 2 and I'm loving it. The opening scene was epic. Being more of an RPGer than a shooter though, I kinda miss the menus.

I'm gonna be picking up ME2 on the PS3 soon. From what I've heard it's the game of 2010.

[John Crichton 4]

If your PC can handle it I'd recommend that version. The controls are better and you can pick it up cheap on Amazon now.

Henry, yeah I was thinking more the inventory. But I'm still early yet, we'll see what there is to offer.

[Bellosh 2,982]

First trailer of Lego Pirates of the Caribbean:

Disney Releases First LEGO Pirates Of The Caribbean Trailer

One of the comments said it the best, Lego Lord of the Rings needs to be done....if only they got the rights.

[Wojo 2,450]

I wonder if having both TLOTR and Harry Potter licenses would be a conflict of interest.

They can't even fashion the main artifact of the saga -- the One Ring -- in Lego that a Lego man could hold.

[Marian Schedenig 7,499]

Sure can:

[Wojo 2,450]

Those aren't Rings. Sauron is The Lord of the Rings, not the Discs.

[Bellosh 2,982]

I believe the correct term is "studs"

[Koray Savas 2,250]

I'm starting to get tired of Black Ops, so I've been going through a few of my older games and continuing/replaying them.

Got the remaining two trophies I needed for Fallout 3.

Played some more MOH: Frontline HD, really really love this one. I hope some other PS2 classics get the HD upgrade.

Finally beat Dead Space. Overall the game was a bit repetitive, but it truly keeps you on your toes, and the atmosphere is cool as hell. Decided to get the sequel, especially since the Collector's Edition dropped down to $60. I would have skipped it and gotten the standard for $40, but I want the score as well.

[Quintus 5,396]

I agree on Dead Space. Apparently though the sequel is MUCH better. I'll be getting it sometime soon.

[John Crichton 4]

I think I'm about halfway through Mass Effect 2, really enjoying it so far. I have to say that in terms of pure gameplay I give the edge to the first one. I liked the overload rather than reload system for combat, and despite frustrations with the Mako and repetitive environments I like the planet exploration better in the first too. I'm honestly even missing the inventory depth, ME2 is a little too streamlined.

ME2's biggest edge is the story. Much better than the rather thinnish one of the original. Yeah, it's mining the original for depth, but that's what good sequels do. The characters are a wash, great in both games.

I'm certainly going to be on board for ME3 as soon as it comes out.

[Quintus 5,396]

After being disappointed with ME2, I'm not so sure I'll be playing the third. I'll be keeping an eye on the previews.

[Marian Schedenig 7,499]

I was going to try and get TIE Fighter running decently in DOSBox, but it turns out my joystick has died since I last played the X-Wing series.

[Trent B 325]

Man they seriously need to change the way how kill streaks work on Black Ops. For example if you use a B-52 (Rolling Thunder) and if you're inside a building you don'e DIE from your own kill streak.

To further explain I was in a match on Array, had gotten the B-52, was in the tunnel with the stairs leading up to the entrance of the round room. I went ahead and fired up the B-52 and it freaking KILLED me while I was inside that tunnel. I was like what the fuck!?!?! That shit never happened in Modern Warfare 2 if you were inside of a building and was away from the harm.

[Charlie Brigden 6]

I was going to try and get TIE Fighter running decently in DOSBox, but it turns out my joystick has died since I last played the X-Wing series.

That whole series needs a freaking rerelease.

[Marian Schedenig 7,499]

I was going to try and get TIE Fighter running decently in DOSBox, but it turns out my joystick has died since I last played the X-Wing series.

That whole series needs a freaking rerelease.

I'd agree, but if anything they'd just re-release the Windows versions, without the gorgeous original iMuse scores.

[Koray Savas 2,250]

Decided to replay BioShock 2 and bought the Protector Trials add-on as well. Good stuff, I'm highly anticipating Infinite. It's still over a year away, but damn I'm sure it'll be worth the wait.

Also got a second Move controller now that we have some in stock.

[BurgaFlippinMan 7]

I think I'm about halfway through Mass Effect 2, really enjoying it so far. I have to say that in terms of pure gameplay I give the edge to the first one. I liked the overload rather than reload system for combat, and despite frustrations with the Mako and repetitive environments I like the planet exploration better in the first too. I'm honestly even missing the inventory depth, ME2 is a little too streamlined.

ME2's biggest edge is the story. Much better than the rather thinnish one of the original. Yeah, it's mining the original for depth, but that's what good sequels do. The characters are a wash, great in both games.

I'm certainly going to be on board for ME3 as soon as it comes out.

I wasn't a fan of the superstreamlined inventory myself, but I guess it is better than dealing with the nightmarish interface of the first. I loved the stories in both, and felt they were equally involving. ME2's ending was a pretty breathtaking sequence and I was all set for the third when it was over.

[Wojo 2,450]

Finally beat Dead Space. Overall the game was a bit repetitive, but it truly keeps you on your toes, and the atmosphere is cool as hell. Decided to get the sequel, especially since the Collector's Edition dropped down to $60. I would have skipped it and gotten the standard for $40, but I want the score as well.

19 October 2010 - 08:36 PM: Fuck Dead Space and Hitman! Wojo, I thought you were better than this.

[Koray Savas 2,250]

If I remember that post correctly, I was joking because you said you decided to get those over Fallout.

[King Mark 3,530]

Been playing Arcania :Gothic 4. Finished it in a few days. It's a rather short game, took 30 hours to do all the contents (main quest + all side quests) .The game kind of ended when it was getting interesting

[Wojo 2,450]

If I remember that post correctly, I was joking because you said you decided to get those over Fallout.

More than likely. It just struck me as odd, not giving you a hard time.

Oh, I bought Fallout: NV all right. I can tap it with my toe where I'm sitting.

I just never installed it because I have planned to format my primary hard drive and not only restore an earlier ghost of my current operating system, but also install 7. It didn't make sense to install back in October -- especially when the PC gaming community cried foul over its instability and lack of immediate patches. Now I can download its updates once over Steam, and make a Ghost or Acronis backup of a clean system with those patches intact.

I just bought an additional internal 1 TB hard drive that I intend to use as both another duplicate storage location for my music and pictures, as well as a place to install a ton of games that I've been neglecting.

Back when I bought Dead Space and Hitman, I still never installed them.

[Koray Savas 2,250]

Dead Space 2

More Necromorph slaughter, and it's even better than before. Why? Because the protagonist actually has a face and voice. It's amazing how much it adds to the gameplay. Now I can actually care whether he dies or not. They ironed out a lot of the little things from the first game and it's a very smooth experience. Not sure if I even want to try multiplayer, but I'm already on Chapter 5 in the story and am liking it so far.

[King Mark 3,530]

I just installed Mass Effect 2 and Borderlands. Change of pace from my medieval RPG's (waiting for price to fall on Two Worlds 2)

Which to play first?

(still waiting to play Fallout New Vegas until the have time to patch everything)

[Quintus 5,396]

Mass Effect is better suited to your tastes, I'd have thought. I'm actually surprised you picked up the excellent Borderlands - I didn't think you'd be into the visual style. But if you can see past that and the very slow start (it heats up once you level up a bit and start getting better weapons), there's a ridiculously addictive "loot 'em up" to be found with rpg-lite elements and open world adventuring with lots to see and do. Seriously, the looting in that game is probably the most addictive of any game I've ever played; which is crazy when one remembers it's essentially an first person shooter. Just don't expect much of a story.

[Koray Savas 2,250]

(still waiting to play Fallout New Vegas until the have time to patch everything)

What do you want them to patch? There are really only some one-of-a-kind glitches that are just part of the engine. The gameplay is much smoother than Fallout 3, the main problem is the occasional freeze. I was looking up the PS3 release date for the Dead Money add-on, and learned that they're planning on releasing 7 add-ons over the next 2 years. LOVE IT! We're getting the first one on Feb 22nd, and after that they'll be released simultaneously on PS3 and 360.

Unfortunately, they said they have no plans to allow the game to continue after the final quest.

[Wojo 2,450]

That's ok. I read that the game actually tells you that you've reached the point of no return, so you have the ability to stop and come back later. Unlike vanilla Fallout 3, where the game would just end and Porky Pig would escort you to the end credits, until Broken Steel changed that. There are many books, movies, and albums that I wish would continue after their logical "end" to wrap up loose plot threads or thematic ideas, but no dice. Restart or wait for the sequel.

Players of these "open world RPG's" are spoiled that they want them all to be like Elder Scrolls games: playable after the main quest storyline ends. More linear RPG's like Fallout 1, Fallout 2, and Knights of the Old Republic I and II simply end after the main quest is completed. That's why you should save your game frequently enough that when you find yourself completing the game, you can go back to finish the side quests before you get there.

[Koray Savas 2,250]

I thought Fallout 3 had a disclaimer? New Vegas lays it all out for you, a notice will pop saying you'll be doing this for this faction and that there is no going back.

[Wojo 2,450]

I don't know, I never made it that far into FO3's main quest. Once the Enclave appeared, I spent time wandering the map trying to loot their sites, the game got buggy, I uninstalled it, and never touched it since.

So since I never made it that far into the main quest, I certainly never exploited the benefits of Broken Steel, aside from getting creamed by some Reavers, hanging out with Albinos, and learning that Overlords inside the Air & Space Museum are tough. I never went to the spaceship, the Pitt, or Point Lookout.

[John Crichton 4]

I'm loving all the "genre show" cameos showing up in Mass Effect 2: Seth Green (of course he was in the first too), Tricia Helfer, Michael Hogan, Adam Baldwin, Michael Dorn.

[King Mark 3,530]

Started Borderlands. I chose the soldier guy for a few mission maybe I should have picked the sniper or the chick with powers. I'll try them out before I go further into the game

[Marian Schedenig 7,499]

I only recently noticed that Ron Gilbert is on Twitter. Posting wise words such as these:

Know what makes an adventure game fun? A world full of interesting vibrant characters, not a vacant world you fumble around in.

[Quintus 5,396]

Not that wise, really. Just sense.

Any gamer worth their salt already realises that.

[Marian Schedenig 7,499]

I never had the feeling that the gaming masses had much common sense.

[Quintus 5,396]

Telltale's Jurassic Park available from April: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-02-18-telltales-jurassic-park-opens-april

[BurgaFlippinMan 7]

and here's the trailer for Jurassic Park

http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/02/18/jurassic-park-out-in-april-new-trailer-released/

[Koray Savas 2,250]

Back To The Future is on the PSN. Is it worth $20?

[John Crichton 4]

Yes. I haven't played the just released second ep yet (want to finish up Mass Effect 2 first), but it's the usual solid Telltale adventure game and it nails the tone and style of the films perfectly.

[King Mark 3,530]

I only recently noticed that Ron Gilbert is on Twitter. Posting wise words such as these:

Know what makes an adventure game fun? A world full of interesting vibrant characters, not a vacant world you fumble around in.

yeah but you don't seem to be playing many games, except waiting 10 years for the next Monkey Island. There's no perfect games.

Finished all the quest in the first section of Borderlands (arid badlands).

[Quintus 5,396]

It begins to open after that point. Arid Badlands is basically a big tutorial.

[King Mark 3,530]

oh I thought I was about halfway through the game

I guess my cool 4X exploding shotgun will become obsolete pretty fast

[Marian Schedenig 7,499]

I only recently noticed that Ron Gilbert is on Twitter. Posting wise words such as these:

Know what makes an adventure game fun? A world full of interesting vibrant characters, not a vacant world you fumble around in.

yeah but you don't seem to be playing many games, except waiting 10 years for the next Monkey Island. There's no perfect games.

Never said I'm playing them, and of course there are no perfect games (though some select few come close). But I don't see how that makes a difference for the topic at hand.

[Koray Savas 2,250]

Yes. I haven't played the just released second ep yet (want to finish up Mass Effect 2 first), but it's the usual solid Telltale adventure game and it nails the tone and style of the films perfectly.

I played the demo. It's kinda like Monkey Island but crappy. Not my type of game.

[Quintus 5,396]

oh I thought I was about halfway through the game

I guess my cool 4X exploding shotgun will become obsolete pretty fast

4X? Lol, a peashooter.

What colour is the gun, btw? Do you know about the gun colours?

A very handy rarity guide: http://borderlands.wikia.com/wiki/Weapons