Video Games...Discuss Them

[Dukefrukem]

3 days? How about 3 minutes? I was playing SSBB yesterday and when I died by way of the CPU 3 times in a row, I violently started punching my couch pillow. I should be locked up!

[Dukefrukem]

Steam Sale so far:

$1.01 - Home
$14.99- Tomb Raider Collection - (includes PSX games too for a total of 8 games)
$5.88 - Universe Sandbox, Half-Minute Hero
$11.24 - Dungeon Defenders 4-pack
$2.49 - Psychonauts
$4.99 - Tom Clancy's HAWKS 2
$5.09 - I AM Alive!
$0.00 - Dear Esther

TOTAL SPENT SO FAR: $45.69 for 16 games comes to $2.85 a game (not counting the 3 additional copies of DD)

Very tame for me this year.

[megladon8]

I really want to play "Dear Esther".

[D_Davis]

This from the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.



It's interesting. They're definition of "long-term" is all of 3 days, though.

Anyway, I have the PDF if anyone were so inclined. Had to get it through the university though, otherwise you have to pay.

I'd like to see the level of aggression measured and ranked against other mundane triggers like working, traffic, finances, fixing things, taxes, car trouble, etc. I bet it would be the least amount of added aggression - I know it is for me.

[D_Davis]

I'd also bet that aggression/anger triggered from video games dissipates more quickly than aggression/anger triggered by IRL things, because as soon as the game system is turned off, it's out of mind, where as other triggers (working, traffic, finances, fixing things, taxes, car trouble, etc.) all have much stronger, more lasting ramifications.

[amberlita]

Good point. I haven't seen any studies that measure those other factors. Unfortunately, since they are the target demographic, these studies tend to be geared toward teenagers/young adults who are not likely to appreciate the hassles of finances, job insecurity, child care, etc.

[megladon8]

Really enjoying GiantBomb's awards.

Really cool to see "Fez" and "Spec Ops: The Line" get some love.

Also it seems "X-COM: Enemy Unknown" may be the game that appeared on the most lists. Either that or "FTL".

[Dukefrukem]

My walking Dead ending was heart wrenching.

[D_Davis]

Good point. I haven't seen any studies that measure those other factors. Unfortunately, since they are the target demographic, these studies tend to be geared toward teenagers/young adults who are not likely to appreciate the hassles of finances, job insecurity, child care, etc.

For me, when I was young, school and social triggers were far more potent than video games when it came to triggering any kind of aggression or anger. I think it's kind of pointless to look at violent video games in a vacuum as a trigger for anything negative, especially when you don't rank those emotions on a scale with other triggers.

Maybe the violent video games are reminding the players of things IRL; maybe it's actually the violence people see on the news 24 hours a day that is the real cause of the aggression, but it is the act of playing a video game that triggers the repressed emotion, because games can be cathartic.

The same thing happens all the time with music and books - you're sitting there enjoying something and all of the sudden you remember something that happened to you and are flooded with emotions. The book or music didn't cause that emotion, they were simply catalysts in helping those memories to surface.

[EyesWideOpen]

My updated top ten since the year is pretty much over at this point:

1. Journey
2. New Super Mario Bros U
3. Mass Effect 3
4. The Walking Dead
5. FEZ
6. Dust: An Elysian Tail
7. Borderlands 2
8. Nintendoland
9. Papa & Yo
10. Rock Band Blitz

[Dukefrukem]

My updated top ten since the year is pretty much over at this point:

1. Journey
2. New Super Mario Bros U
3. Mass Effect 3
4. The Walking Dead
5. FEZ
6. Dust: An Elysian Tail
7. Borderlands 2
8. Nintendoland
9. Papa & Yo
10. Rock Band Blitz

My top 10.

HM: Mark of the Ninja
10. Firefall (Beta)
9. XCOM: Enemy Unknown
8. FTL
7. Dishonored
6. AirMech (Beta)
5. Far Cry 3
4. Hotline Miami
3. Diablo III
2. The Walking Dead
1. Borderlands 2

Bottom 5

5. Max Payne 3
4. Mass Effect 3
3. Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
2. Medal of Honor: Warfighter
1. Resident Evil 6

[shaun]

Anyone play the Gods and Kings expansion for Civ 5?

I'm finding the Steam deals a bit lacking and 75% off sounds about right for an impulse purchase.

[Dukefrukem]

No. I want to though.

In other news the PS2 was finally discontinued after 13 years running. Sold 150 million units.

The Wii is currently at 97milish.

[megladon8]

There are a couple of releases I still have to get around to playing, but my top 10 would include...

Halo 4
Max Payne 3
Spec Ops: The Line
Fez
The Walking Dead

Hmmm...will have to keep thinking...

[Ezee E]

Started Far Cry 3 yesterday. So far it's alright. When you get into battle, it's pretty intense. Hope there's more of that and less skinning animals and searching for leaves...

[Watashi]

Bioshock 2 is pretty much a carbon copy of Bioshock (but with a less political story). I still enjoyed it a lot mainly because it was fun to explore Rapture again after a long wait. I'm now starting Minerva's Den.

[D_Davis]

The best game I played this year stands far above all of the other new games this year:

Journey

[Idioteque Stalker]

Anyone play the Gods and Kings expansion for Civ 5?

I loved it. Not only does it add some awesome new stuff (religion, plenty of wonders, civs, units, etc.), but its changes to battle and especially city-state relations improve so much on vanilla civ that I can't imagine playing the game without it.

[megladon8]

The best game I played this year stands far above all of the other new games this year:

Journey

I'm dying to play this.

One of the greatest parts of the game (I hear) is the soundtrack. I've nearly cracked down and purchased the OST to listen to, but I am holding off 'til I can experience it all in the game itself.

Speaking of downlodable games with great soundtracks, have you gotten around to playing "Fez" yet?

[shaun]

I loved it. Not only does it add some awesome new stuff (religion, plenty of wonders, civs, units, etc.), but its changes to battle and especially city-state relations improve so much on vanilla civ that I can't imagine playing the game without it.

Sold. Thank you.

[EyesWideOpen]

Started Far Cry 3 yesterday. So far it's alright. When you get into battle, it's pretty intense. Hope there's more of that and less skinning animals and searching for leaves...

Just got it today. So far so good.

[Idioteque Stalker]

I think I'm going to buy a PS3 with my fantasy football winnings, but I already own an 360 and haven't yet convinced myself that the PS3 exclusives are worth it. So far I definitely want Journey, MGS 4, and Demon's Souls. What else is essential?

[D_Davis]

I think I'm going to buy a PS3 with my fantasy football winnings, but I already own an 360 and haven't yet convinced myself that the PS3 exclusives are worth it. So far I definitely want Journey, MGS 4, and Demon's Souls. What else is essential?

I owned only a 360 for a long time, and then after Dark Souls got a PS3 for Demon's Souls. Just for that it was totally worth it. But now it's become my system of choice - it's quieter, faster, fewer ads on the dash, and I find the overall experience more enjoyable. Also, with PS+, you get a ton of free games.

I think Demon's Souls and Journey are two games worth owning the system for.

Also, Ni No Kuni comes out in a few weeks.

[Dukefrukem]

I think I'm going to buy a PS3 with my fantasy football winnings, but I already own an 360 and haven't yet convinced myself that the PS3 exclusives are worth it. So far I definitely want Journey, MGS 4, and Demon's Souls. What else is essential?

Ignore the people that say don't waste your time with Uncharted. Buy all three of them and play them in sequence. Killzone multiplayer is fantastic. Both Infamous games are great sandbox experiences. Warhawk and Starhawk are also great multiplayer experiences. Heavy Rain is a must play. Whether you like the ambition or not will be yours to decide.

[Ezee E]

Heavy Rain for sure.