What is the last video game you played?

[King Mark 3,631]

I got pretty far in New Vegas before I decided to wipe my XP installation clean and restore a Ghost from two years ago. This was to nullify all the glitches that I had built up as a result of not having SP3 installed. I have to install 7 sometime this week to make sure my SSD works.

..that sentense says everything about PC gaming. Not sure why you never installed SP3 either

[Wojo 2,453]

I got pretty far in New Vegas before I decided to wipe my XP installation clean and restore a Ghost from two years ago. This was to nullify all the glitches that I had built up as a result of not having SP3 installed. I have to install 7 sometime this week to make sure my SSD works.

..that sentense says everything about PC gaming. Not sure why you never installed SP3 either

That "quote" was actually three sentences. They teach a different English up there in Canada, or do you just forget math?

At any rate, I am rather proud of my ability to build, diagnose, and repair my primary desktop in order to use it as a game platform, work computer, media center, and all-purpose portal to the internet. To those who are too intimidated by the notion, feel free to buy consoles, use Macs, or hire a nerd to do it all for you.

I never installed SP3 because some conflict between AVG 8 and Zone Alarm wouldn't let me. They got stuck in a perpetual loop where neither program could update or allow itself to be removed, and that prevented SP3 from installing. Also, my desktop is extremely heavy because I wanted a full tower, and so I cannot just take it easily to someone's house who has broadband. The infrastructure in my "neighborhood," if you want to call it that, does not permit anything beyond 56k dialup. That's all going to change in the next few weeks.

I had to install Steam and NV onto my laptop and update it in a number of different places, make a backup, and then install the backup onto my desktop just to be able to play NV on my desktop. Steam is great, but it treats dialup users as if they were second class citizens with leprosy, AIDS, and bad breath.

[crocodile 8,020]

Batman: Arkham Asylum. Really entertaining stuff.

Karol

[King Mark 3,631]

At any rate, I am rather proud of my ability to build, diagnose, and repair my primary desktop in order to use it as a game platform, work computer, media center, and all-purpose portal to the internet. To those who are too intimidated by the notion, feel free to buy consoles, use Macs, or hire a nerd to do it all for you.

I'm just saying you lost around 30 hours of gameplay because of a Windows problem in a game you probably won't start again. I'd be throwing the thing against a wall

Well actually, if I was ever going to attempt PC gaming again I would always have 2 PC's

PC1:Dedicated to games only. No other programs than games installed. Tower connected directly to HDTV. Play in 1080p in-game resolution

PC2: Do all the other crap and surf the web with the risk of screwing something up in Windows or getting viruses limited to that PC

K.M.In the process of picking his next game to play (Spectral Force 3 was pretty lame but I got to the end)

[Wojo 2,453]

You read only the first paragraph and thought you had a point to make. You didn't.

In the second paragraph, you would have read how I pointed out that I saved my save games. Steam places them in a "My Games" folder inside of My Documents. I made at least two copies of that folder. OCD. My save games are intact on every drive inside my case.

Whether I want to continue that character or not remains to be seen. I would like to avoid shooting any Powder Gangers in the gunfight in Goodsprings to avoid being villified right off the bat by them, since it makes exploring the prison much, much harder before getting to the vault just south of Red Rock Canyon.

Of course I will continue the game. I find it far more realistic, enjoyable, and in-depth than Fallout 3 (which I never finished), and I paid about $8 for the first two DLC's that I never touched. Ok, I did go to the one with the cloud of death, told the bad BoS guy that I wouldn't play along, and he shot me.

I should reboot into 7 to install Steam, but I doubt I will tonight. I'm far more upset about having to redo the 30+ hours of downloading Steam updates, but oh well.

And for the record, I have four PCs and a laptop.

[Quintus 5,399]

Batman: Arkham Asylum. Really entertaining stuff.

Karol

Wait - you game? You played Batman from start to finish?

[King Mark 3,631]

Whether I want to continue that character or not remains to be seen. I would like to avoid shooting any Powder Gangers in the gunfight in Goodsprings to avoid being villified right off the bat by them, since it makes exploring the prison much, much harder before getting to the vault just south of Red Rock Canyon.

The powded gangers is the least of your problems and you should be heading towards other areas like Primm and the Mojave Desert Outpost . This is a RPG, you don;t have to do the prison and that vault now if you don;t have good enought weapons yet

[crocodile 8,020]

Batman: Arkham Asylum. Really entertaining stuff.

Karol

Wait - you game? You played Batman from start to finish?

Actually, I heard it's a good one so I grabbed a used copy for 2 quid yesterday. Didn't expect to play it for long, but, my "just checking out" turned into 6 hours or so. Didn't finish it yet. It's quite cool actually and feels like an amalgam of so many version of the character. But has some really crappy music in it.

Karol

[Quintus 5,399]

It's the best representation of the caped crusader imo. Joker, too.

I liked the music, particularly the combat stuff with the strings.

[Marian Schedenig 8,211]

I got bored by it. It's a good game, but somehow the story turns into too much of the same "go there, look around, find the right button to press/thing to hit" stuff. I doubt I'm going to finish it now.

[Koray Savas 2,251]

Wojo, you can choose sides in the beginning. Find the Powder Ganger dude behind one of the houses near the outskirts of the town to fight along him in the battle.

I've been playing Lonesome Road. Fallout is simultaneously the best and worst game of all time. Goddamn frame rate has screwed me over so many times, yet I continue to play. For New Vegas, all the DLCs have felt like they were meant to launch with the game, and they just took them out. Well, that's actually the truth, I discovered all the locations you go to in the Mojave that take you out long before the DLCs were announced. With this one in particularly though, that fact hinders the story. The original courier of the platinum chip keeps talking about Mr. House and the future of the wasteland, when I've already killed him and the Legion. Makes no sense.

[Wojo 2,453]

I did go to Primm. There's no reason to go to the NCRCR or whatever acronym prison except to free the sheriff to relieve the deputy in Primm. I just wanted to make the PG's not villified so they'd stop shooting me as I explored some of the areas along that highway.

If you "choose sides" by allying with the PG tormenting Goodsprings, against Ringo, then the people of Goodsprings will hate you. You can side against the PG's harrassing the town, which is the honorable thing to do, but it's only if you actually kill some PG's yourself that the Powder Gangers will villify you. And I know I did plenty of that during that battle. Again, clearing out the fire geckos in the vault will make the PG's like you, as will getting the Great Khans to accept them.

The game has plenty of replay value terms of which side you team with and which sides you kill. I know that the NCR has done some bad stuff, but I don't know how you could morally justify siding with the Legion, ever.

You mentioned the new DLC quest is kinda broken. Same with Papa Khan's longhouse. I reverse pickpocketed a live grenade onto the Legion ambassador, then asked Papa Khan to break his alliance with the Legion, and he still said that the ambassador had made promises like he was still relevant. Broken.

Oh, and when I rescued Anders, I noticed he had a limp. So I reverse pickpocketed two stimpacks onto him. And received negative karma. Damned if you and damned if you don't.

Besides, I had been trying to make my way to one of the caravan companies in the city so that I could get the quest about the caravan that gets lost in Broc Flower Cave, because if you go to Broc Flower Cave before getting that quest, it breaks the quest. Then I can go to that cave and get the special varmint rifle that I can use to snipe the Legionnaires in Cottonwood from a distance. That's the weapon I want.

[Koray Savas 2,251]

I don't read ahead about things, I just go with the flow. More fun for me that way. If an important character dies, or I end up having to sell a special weapon, so be it.

[King Mark 3,631]

In terms of overall game play at the end of New Vegas I was Idolized by everyone except Powder Gangers and Legion (both vilified, not many ways to avoid this in the main story).

Wojo if you make the Powder Gangers like you it'll screw it up with other factions. they aren't important in the big picture

Siding with the Legion would also cut you off a ton of side quests

I could still do all 3 endings (Mr.House,NCR and Yes Man) in my last hour of game play because I didn't piss off anyone

Also Wojo it sounds like you haven;t patched your game, because I encountered no broken sidequests and I did all of them

[Wojo 2,453]

Then it's good that I plan to play through this game at least four times: to side with each of the big three and also go it alone.

[King Mark 3,631]

What I'm saying is that if you play your cards right you can side with anyone within 1 hour of finishing the game. You don't need to do the whole game 3 times to get the different endings.

And that special varmint rifle? You won't get very far with that. It's something you only want to use in the first hours of the game

First few levels :Raise main weapon skill (Guns) to 100,

Then raise Lockpick to 100 and Speech to at least 75

[Koray Savas 2,251]

I spread out my skill points in the beginning. Now though I'm almost 100 in every skill.

[King Mark 3,631]

yes, but it makes the game a hell of a lot easier if you first raise guns , lockpick and speech to max first then the less important skills like Medecine,Science,Sneak..

[Quintus 5,399]

Gears of War 3. Holy sh...

[Koray Savas 2,251]

yes, but it makes the game a hell of a lot easier if you first raise guns , lockpick and speech to max first then the less important skills like Medecine,Science,Sneak..

I always do Lockpick, Science, and Medicine first. As long as I can survive and scrounge, I'm good to go.

[Wojo 2,453]

I want the special varmint rifle to silently snipe the Legion in the cave where the NCR troops are being held hostage down in the southeast part of the map.

I also spread my skills around, knowing full well that I will find skill books and cool perks to help out other skills. I don't want to play this as a pure shooter, so putting all my skills into guns is pointless.

Besides, I eventually plan to play this game in hardcore mode.

Just installed Dead Space. It'll be a nice holdover until I get New Vegas reinstalled.

[King Mark 3,631]

ehh, you guys are hopeless in character building.By the time you find those skill books, you'll have failed all the skill checks they have in the game

Here's my fighting techique for Fallout. Fire a few shots at long range with the sniper rifle, then when the creature comes running towards you (they all do )open VATS and kill it. Pretty much works even for Deathclaws .Of course you need guns at 100 to do enough damage

K.M.who has completed nearly every RPG done for Xbox360 and PS3

[Wojo 2,453]

Then you realize that "role-playing" means that the player gets to play the game as he sees fit, not how some nameless faceless guy in an internet forum thinks he should play. My computer, my game.

[Koray Savas 2,251]

Wojo, at this rate you'll be playing New Vegas for years to come

You can solve that hostage situation in 5 seconds by talking to the guy and convincing them to let the prisoner go in exchange for a safe escape. Which reminds me, there's always a way to talk out of a situation in Fallout. I build Speech and Barter early too.

I just beat Lonesome Road. Well, at least the story. What I said earlier was technically incorrect. It isn't broken, because you can't continue the game after you've beat it. So all the talk about the coming battle at Hoover Damn is still relevant in the game's mind. With that being said, there were 4 possible outcomes for this one, I want to go back and do each one just to see how much it could actually influence the final mission. Some drastic shit could happen.

I feel like I missed something entirely though. There are trophies for completing Gun Runner's weapon challenges, but I have yet to figure out what they are and how to do them. I'm also pretty damn sure I scrounged every last corner of this DLC, and am still missing some collectibles. Oh well, off to the wiki.

[Wojo 2,453]

Ain't got nothin else to do.

[King Mark 3,631]

I took a break of gaming for a week

What's coming out this week? : DARK SOULS

I'm so buying it the first day

I HOPE they didn't actually make the OFFLINE mode unplayable, as certain sneak previews suggest

[Koray Savas 2,251]

ICO and Shadow Of The Colossus

I had never played these games when they were released on the PS2, but since they got so much praise from gaming sites as well as my friends, I decided to grab the HD collection once it came out. Not to mention The Last Guardian clip at E3 a couple years back looked amazing. So I was already sold, but didn't know what to expect.

I started off with ICO, naturally, and beat it the other day. Even by today's standards, this game is phenomenal, but when you realize that it's 10 years old, it makes it even better. The HD remaster is amazing. Graphics are smooth, crisp, and clear. The gameplay is simple, it's one long escort mission, but the atmosphere and setting is unlike any other game I've played. It's serene, but also frightening in a way. The lack of any music, aside from a low SFX-type rumble that plays when enemies appear, is a key role in this atmosphere. The puzzles are challenging, but not impossible, and the trial-and-error gameplay doesn't wear out because of how interesting the design of the game is. The ending is great, and your relationship with Yorda is sweet and touching. I can't wait to do my second play through down the line.

I have just started Shadow Of The Colossus. This is the game that everyone loves, but so far I'm finding that I enjoyed ICO much more. The controls took me a little while to get down, but once I did, it became a much more fluid gaming experience. However, the fact that it's just boss battle after boss battle takes out any rising action in the story. I've only taken down two colossi so far, though, so maybe the scale still manages to grow. The graphics are, again, fantastic; and riding through the open landscape with the sunset on the horizon is a sight to behold.

Battlefield 3 - Open Beta

Goodbye, Call Of Duty. Despite a ton of glitches and bugs, the gameplay and graphics blow any other shooter out of the water. Hopefully they didn't shoot themselves in the foot by releasing the beta so close to the launch date.

[Quintus 5,399]

I think the graphics are shite. I've been left deeply disappointed with the beta.

[Koray Savas 2,251]

Just for reference, what game has good graphics to you? lol

I know you're a fan of Uncharted, but that's the top tier of graphics, in my opinion. Not every game can look like that.

[Quintus 5,399]

Uncharted 2's visuals do remain the pinnacle of this [console] gen, followed by Killzone 3. It's worth pointing out that those two games look gorgeous purely due to their extremely linear mission design. Basically, ram restrictions are less of an issue there than they are in sandbox games such as Battlefield.

After those: God of War 3, Halo Reach, Gears of War 2&3, Crysis 2, Mafia 2, Red Dead Redemption, Dead Island and Dead Space 2 are titles which spring to mind when I think of superior, or ambitious visuals.

Battlefield 3 looks incredible on pc, but I'm afraid the consoles just aren't up to the job, if the beta is anything to go by. It's butt-ugly; I think Bad Company 2 had better quality graphics.

[Koray Savas 2,251]

You've played Resistance 3, how would compare that to Battlefield 3? Personally I think the latter looks better. I get what you're saying, but to call the graphics "butt-ugly" is just going overboard

I think that'd be a term more suited to Fallout

In the end though, I care more about gameplay, and Battlefield 3 is better than most other shooters from the small taste that I've gotten. I'm excited for the campaign.

[Quintus 5,399]

Yeah the gameplay is the other major thing to let me down. Since its unveiling a while ago BF3 has been hyped by EA as the next revolution not just in graphics, but in fps gameplay and design mechanics, too. Disappointingly with this beta, I only played a slightly quicker version of the previous BF games. There's no such advancement or next big step - from what I've played so far - which I'm keen to stress. A minor evolution is not a revolution!

With that said, I'd love the finished product to slap me across the face and call me a bitch.

As for Resistence 2, well I traded it in without ever playing the campaign - for Gears 3. I entered in the online code first though, because I intend on renting or re-buying it in the future.

[Marian Schedenig 8,211]

Battlefield 3 looks incredible on pc, but I'm afraid the consoles just aren't up to the job, if the beta is anything to go by. It's butt-ugly; I think Bad Company 2 had better quality graphics.

I've read a book on game engine architecture written by Jason Gregory, one of the developers/designers on the Uncharted engine. I pity everyone who has to write code dealing with console hardware restrictions.

[Koray Savas 2,251]

Yeah the gameplay is the other major thing to let me down. Since its unveiling a while ago BF3 has been hyped by EA as the next revolution not just in graphics, but in fps gameplay and design mechanics, too. Disappointingly with this beta, I only played a slightly quicker version of the previous BF games. There's no such advancement or next big step - from what I've played so far - which I'm keen to stress. A minor evolution is not a revolution!

With that said, I'd love the finished product to slap me across the face and call me a bitch.

The only other Battlefield I played was 1943, which I believe will be included with each copy of 3 on the PS3. It's much more immersive and realistic than COD, which is usually what any other FPS tries to duplicate. Even Resistance 3 was COD with plastic surgery. Two major things you need to consider - 1) There's no disc in your PS3, that beta isn't running on all four legs. 2) There's still 25 days until it's on shelves. Granted, not a lot of time, but who knows how much they can fix/change by then.

[King Mark 3,631]

Darksouls review. This one is definately not for you Koray

REVIEW:

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/119/1197544p1.html

I did beat Demon's Souls but they make it seem this one almost impossible

[Koray Savas 2,251]

I watched the review earlier, and just like IGN's video review for Demon's Souls, it made me want to buy it. The creativity and design poured into these games in fantastic, it's a shame they make it so goddamned impossible to play. Dark Souls is supposed to be harder, but the fact that you can replenish your health made my ears perk up.

I might try it out once it's a Greatest Hits title.

[Koray Savas 2,251]

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

Buy a 30 oz. drink from Subway, get the "full" multiplayer a month before the final game release. I've been playing it like crazy the past few days. Awesome game, but the fact that it isn't the full multiplayer like promised detracts a little. They put a level cap at 35, and I pray there are more than 6 maps and 5 guns in the final game.

Best part about it all, all your stats carry over unlike a traditional beta.

[Wojo 2,453]

I picked up a used copy of Crysis. Maybe somebody ditched it because it's finally coming out for consoles, so now I got to test it on my gaming rig.

Absolutely gorgeous. Whatever version of DirectX this is that claims to need 64-bit looks really great.

Too bad the gameplay is virtually the same as Crytek's very own Far Cry from 4 or 5 years ago. It's still very good gameplay. And the Crysis suit makes the game practically a Superman simulator (sans flying), even with the recharging health, as long as you step away from battle for a moment or two. My own personal style of gameplay just lends itself very strongly to a lot of sneaking around.

[Quintus 5,399]

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

Buy a 30 oz. drink from Subway, get the "full" multiplayer a month before the final game release. I've been playing it like crazy the past few days. Awesome game, but the fact that it isn't the full multiplayer like promised detracts a little. They put a level cap at 35, and I pray there are more than 6 maps and 5 guns in the final game.

Best part about it all, all your stats carry over unlike a traditional beta.

That's cool for you but I think rather unfair for those who have to wait. Don't see why it's right that USA players should get a hefty headstart. I won't be playing anyway since the lightweight feel of beta really put me off. I was hoping they were gonna up the ante this time around but it's still just as loose and 'casual' as Uncharted 2. There's just not enough depth in the multiplayer gameplay itself for me to really get into it, it's too easy.

I've gotten back into Gears again and man... the difference in skill requirement is... meaty.

[Koray Savas 2,251]

I play Uncharted for the single player anyway. I was surprised at the inclusion of multiplayer in Among Thieves and never played it. With this, I can get my fill and not have to worry about juggling it with Battlefield and Modern Warfare 3 next month.

I got Crysis on the PSN. They apparently went through and redesigned with the Dualshock 3 in mind, and with CryEngine 3. I was expecting a little more, but at the very least it looks like a decent FPS from a few years ago. Movement is a bit stiff. You walk so fucking slow for a man in a super suit.

[Quintus 5,399]

Definitely. It is a good multiplayer game for chilling out on. Fun in short bursts.

Yeah I got Crysis last night. Played up to the first achievement, seems pretty good. I expect it'll get better the further you get.

[Wojo 2,453]

I like being able to grab soldiers by the throat, and either punch them in the face, toss them up into the air, or out into the sea.

In fact, I think I'm going to play bit more before bed. It's only 2.

[Koray Savas 2,251]

I like how you can pick up animals

[King Mark 3,631]

I've started Dark Souls.

so far it's easier than Demon's Souls for some reason .I beat the first boss in 1 try ( reviews said it was hard)

And the xbox360 controller is much better than the PS3 one. I tend to fumble buttons on the PS3 controller

[Koray Savas 2,251]

Have you reached a campfire yet? The IGN review said you could replenish health. I don't know whether that means buy it with souls or get it for free. If it's the latter, I may consider getting the game.

Also, did you get the standard edition or pre-order and get upgraded to the limited?

[King Mark 3,631]

yes, I reached some camp fires. When you rest you get a determined amount of health potions and spells until you reach the next fire (for free, no souls needed). Probably get more as the game progresses

I started with a sorcerer that can cast Magic Missile. I have 30 of these so I weaken enemies from far and close in for the kill with my sword. So far I've been boosting "Endurance" so I have high stamina and can roll a lot and not get knocked over using my shield .I remember in Demon's souls I usually lost some fights because my stamina didn't regenerate quickly enough and became a sitting duck

i'm in the undead level and kicking the crap out of the monsters...I'll report when I meet the next boss, maybe it will be more difficult

got Standard Ed which is the same contents game wise

[Wojo 2,453]

I shot a bird and picked up its body. Then I picked up a tortoise, expecting it to bite me, but it didn't. So I threw it up really high into the air and it landed, dead. Oh well, I'm a fiend.

I made it shortly past the point where the armor shows up. I only found three missiles, and needed to shoot all three at the underside of one of the tanks to neutralize it. Fortunately I did not blow up the gas station as a "distraction" like Prophet wanted, and was able to lure the first tank near enough to be affected when the tanks blew sky high. Otherwise, I wouldn't know how you'd blow them up. I certainly didn't have enough frag grenades.

[Koray Savas 2,251]

When he told me to stock on frags, I didn't even know where they were. I'm on the mission to rescue the hostage.

got Standard Ed which is the same contents game wise

Just checked Amazon:

"The Collector's Edition will include a limited edition art book containing premium illustrations of characters and environments from the game, a mini-strategy guidebook, behind-the-scenes videos from the development studio detailing various stages of game concept, design and building, and the game's soundtrack for digital download. All of this will come packaged with the standard edition game in a custom-designed metal case."

Nothing too big, but something that would have been nice to have, especially for the same price.

[King Mark 3,631]

eeeh.. it's pretty hard after all

Pretty much every thing can kill you with 1 or 2 hits and if you lose your concentration a split second your dead

I just lost 2 levels worth of souls

[Trent Hoyt 13]

WWE All Stars

Probably one of the worst wrestling games in recent memory.