Video Games...Discuss Them

[amberlita]

OK, I looked into it and appears old hardware/software from the Wii will work on the Wii U. Which is probably exactly what that Youtube demo video was supposed to be demonstrating. But whatever... I wouldn't be getting it for free since it's not a redeemable piece of merchandise for my points. That's the only reason I would have gotten it. I didn't feel like dropping $300 out of my pocket on a Wii before, doubt I'll have the impetus to do so with the Wii U. But atleast if I decide to get one someday later I'll be able to get the old Wii Zelda games as well.

[Morris Schæffer]

Hell Amber, I already re-acquired Metroid Prime Trilogy and Mario Galaxy 2. The former I have played, but not the latter. And I will definitely buy Skyward Sword too since it's supposed to be fab and I never played it. I highly doubt the new Mario game will be superior to either SS and MG2. I wish I could get excited about WiiU's launch line-up. No doubt the likes of ZombiU may very well end up as positive experiences, but I look at said game and think "nope that doesn't grab me." That zelda video we got two E3's ago sure did and I can't help but think something of that majesty should have been available at launch.

Edit: shit, that spider looks more impressive each time I see it. One question, is the display of the controller equally capable of showing a 1080p image?

[Dukefrukem]

I just read this. So what's the deal now? I do have a steam account, but I never got HL2 via steam, but via retail (which I now no longer have since I bought the Xbox 360 Orange box a few years ago). Why would I even need steam if I'm downloading the whole shebang as 3 self-contained torrent files? Anyhow, no urgency. Enjoy the trip.

Well it's a Half-Life 2 mod, so of course you need Half-Life 2 to run it. I have a free copy if you'd like it? (steam digital version of course)

I am writing a review of Black Mesa Source which I hope to be done by the end of this week.

[Morris Schæffer]

Well it's a Half-Life 2 mod, so of course you need Half-Life 2 to run it. I have a free copy if you'd like it? (steam digital version of course)

I am writing a review of Black Mesa Source which I hope to be done by the end of this week.

Lies! I downloaded the 2007 Source SDK Base software (free) and that was all I needed. Of course, had I not panicked I wouldn't have had to ask it in the first place.

The game isn't less than the original and thanks to the graphics possibly better although there's an annoying issue. Nearly every time I'm standing in front of a door, the perspective resets to ground level or ceiling level which is odd since I'm not moving my mouse at all. Mind, this is the case in the office complex so it could be restricted to that level. Performance seems to be pretty good although I have the feeling the game is more taxing on my 2 year old notebook than it should be. I'm now at the level "WE'VE GOT HOSTILES." Oh boy, clean-up crew is here.

[Dukefrukem]

"We've Got Hostiles" is such a great sequence. And I disagree that this game is better than the original. There's still a lot wrong with it. The flow and timing of events is not very good.

[Morris Schæffer]

"We've Got Hostiles" is such a great sequence. And I disagree that this game is better than the original. There's still a lot wrong with it. The flow and timing of events is not very good.

Maybe. Above all, just really weird to go back to mouse + keyboard for a FPS. Hello 360 gamepad. Much, much better.

As for your critique, difficult for me to argue as it has been ages since I played the original. It does feel like it's building up just right with many areas instantly recognizable.

[megladon8]

Finished "Black Ops" last night. As predicted, the reveal was dumb, dumb, dumb.

Also the "twist" of who the interrogator was was...was it really even a twist? Maybe it's because I worked so much with voice augmentation in my radio days, but I knew who it was the whole time. When the game tried to be all "SURPRISE! LOOK WHO IT IS!" I audibly groaned.

[D_Davis]

The last two episodes of the 8-4 Podcast have been focusing on a Super Nintendo retrospective, and they're very good. Tons of nostalgia, cool facts and some insider knowledge.

[Morris Schæffer]

Hm. Against the marines, the 360 gamepad lacks precision due to the framerate not being silky smooth. It's really insanely hard to even hit them, let alone perform a head shot. I may need to revert back to the mouse.

[megladon8]

I would love some kind of re-release of the original "Half Life" on consoles. I've never played it.

[Morris Schæffer]

Hm. Against the marines, the 360 gamepad lacks precision due to the framerate not being silky smooth. It's really insanely hard to even hit them, let alone perform a head shot. I may need to revert back to the mouse.

Man, was this game ever so hard on "hard" difficulty?! Bruuuutal. If I didn't have the option to save anywhere, "hard" difficulty would be impossible.

[Dead & Messed Up]

The last two episodes of the 8-4 Podcast have been focusing on a Super Nintendo retrospective, and they're very good. Tons of nostalgia, cool facts and some insider knowledge.

See, this is why I hate podcasts. You get me all excited for this, and then I download the podcast, and it's two and a half hours long, and they don't even get to the SNES until ninety minutes into the podcast. I respect that they have a lot of news and catching up and self-congratulatory chuckling to get through in any given cast, but why not segment this so people who want the SNES retrospective actually get an SNES retrospective?

[D_Davis]

It's the second part of their regular podcast.

8-4 is always great, so I don't mind. And it's free, so....why complain? Heh...I wondered if I should even post the rec here, since I figured people would just bitch about something. LOL.

I actually really love long podcasts. I usually listen to about 30 minutes each day as I walk my dog in the afternoons.

[Dead & Messed Up]

It's the second part of their regular podcast.

8-4 is always great, so I don't mind. And it's free, so....why complain? Heh...I wondered if I should even post the rec here, since I figured people would just bitch about something. LOL.

Sorry, in general I hate podcasts, and I love the SNES, so I probably should've just kept my mouth shut. Once they get to the SNES stuff, there's some interesting trivia and suchlike.

[D_Davis]

I listen to more podcasts than I watch television and movies, read books, play video games, and listen to music. They're my main form of media. I think they're the single greatest thing about the Internet and new media (or at least my personal favorite thing. I'd miss them the most if the whole thing went away). I've discovered so many great voices, learned a ton of things, and have been entertained for countless hours, all for free. They're amazing.

The 8-4 guys aren't video game journalists or anything. They're actually a company that translates games from Japanese to English, and from English to Japanese. Most of the guys have worked on both sides of the gaming biz, so I've been listening to and reading and playing their stuff for years.

[megladon8]

Decided to plod my way through "Black Ops" on Veteran just to get the achievements. I want to at least get my money's worth from the game by playing through a second time (since the campaign is quite short, and my internet connection does not allow me to play online).

It's frustratingly difficult and often feels quite cheap. I'm beginning to see why people much prefer the Infinity Ward stuff to the Treyarch.

I think the next game I play will be "Metro 2033". I fired it up this afternoon and was enjoying it, but the controls are too different from "Black Ops" to be able to play them simultaneously.

I'm also a bit peeved with "Metro 2033" for its language stuff. I put the audio to Russian for more authenticity, but the subtitles only come on when key characters are in engaged in dialogue with you - all the people who talk to you in passing or respond to your actions in the world are left untranslated.

Guess when I go back to it I'll start a new game with the language set to English.

Bummer.

[Thirdmango]

Even as a kid I had no problem using the N64 controller. It worked just fine.

I never had a problem with it as a kid, going back it's sorta odd. But the worst thing about the controllers was the life of them. Those joysticks got worn out awful quick and it became impossible to use them after a while. My brother and I ended up with about 7 or 8 controllers because of this.

[Thirdmango]

So I really suck at the combat in Assassin's Creed II, so I didn't think I was ever gonna get the No-Hitter trophy.

I love the idea of achievements/trophies and admit fully that I often try and get them all but then there are games such as this game that when they offer an achievement that you can only get once 20 hours into the game I get pissed off and stop trying to get them all. I don't know if they have the same trophy on this PS3 version but when you get to the gliding part make sure you kick someone, I was so good at it I never needed to and lost out on the achievement.

[Dukefrukem]

Video I made of the opening of Black Mesa

[youtube]9BCGBpdrhFM[/youtube]

[Lucky]

The Walking Dead Ep 1 game is pretty cool. How much do the decisions actually weigh on the game? With so many episodes I can't imagine that there are that many different paths at the end.

[megladon8]

Speaking of trophies/achievements, what games have people here gotten everything for?

The only game I have every achievement for (360) is "The Walking Dead", and I have yet to get ep. 3.

I would really love to get everything in "Spec Ops: The Line", and I think it's entirely possible. It'll just take some time.

I also came pretty close with "Halo: Reach".

[Ezee E]

Not sure. Maybe a same end result for your main character, but I imagine lots of options for the supporters.

Nonetheless, best gaming experience this year; easily.

[EyesWideOpen]

Speaking of trophies/achievements, what games have people here gotten everything for?

The only game I have every achievement for (360) is "The Walking Dead", and I have yet to get ep. 3.

I would really love to get everything in "Spec Ops: The Line", and I think it's entirely possible. It'll just take some time.

I also came pretty close with "Halo: Reach".

I'm about 900 points away from a 100,000 gamer score. I think I've gotten all the achievements for like 30 or so games.

[Winston*]

Walking Dead spoilers

[

Show Spoiler

Does the reporter woman do much in the subsequent games if you save her in the first game? I saved the dude and he seems boring. Also does the guy come with you if you save him instead of the kid?

]

[Winston*]

I listen to more podcasts than I watch television and movies, read books, play video games, and listen to music.

Me too, probably. Mostly comedy though.