Video Games...Discuss Them

[Dukefrukem]

Got this.

[Dukefrukem]

Details for the Dec 9th Destiny update finally official. Quote button broken on MC:

You’ve conquered the Iron Banner, mastered the Nightfall strikes, and have swept through the Vault of Glass with your eyes closed. You’re ready for Destiny’s first expansion.

Bungie and Activision have detailed exactly what you can expect from The Dark Below. In addition to new gear, players can boost their end-game light level from 30 to 32. You’ll also get five more bounty slots, which should make it less painful to pursue multiple exotics at the same time.

The new story missions focus on the Hive god, Crota (whose sword you can wield against its makers in one of the base game missions). You’ll get your tasks from a new character at the tower, Eris.

There’s also a new three-person strike called The Will of Crota, a new six-player raid called Crota’s End, and three new multiplayer maps. PlayStation players will get additional time-limited exclusives (until at least next fall). That comes in the form of a second strike, The Undying Mind.

[Dukefrukem]

I feel bad for Xbox Destiny players.

[megladon8]

Will any of this take place in new areas? Or will they all be missions in existing areas of the game?

[Dukefrukem]

The RAID will undoubtedly be a new area.

Edit: hey there we go. Only took 5 times to refresh the page.

[Dukefrukem]

I meant to say undoubtedly above, but I can't edit my post because Match Cut.

[bac0n]

So, looks like the new stuff is for 30 level players? So I need to spend another 100 hours grinding so I can take advantage of it? If so, I don't think I have it in me (especially with a few weeks remaining until Dragonage), and, frankly, I'm getting tired of all these MMO-type games releasing content updates that are only for end-gamers, rather than stuff that everyone can enjoy.

[Dukefrukem]

So, looks like the new stuff is for 30 level players? So I need to spend another 100 hours grinding so I can take advantage of it? If so, I don't think I have it in me (especially with a few weeks remaining until Dragonage), and, frankly, I'm getting tired of all these MMO-type games releasing content updates that are only for end-gamers, rather than stuff that everyone can enjoy.

Typically new content in MMOs is for end-game players because there is nothing left for those players to do. If you haven't reached that point yet, there is still plenty of things for you to do/achieve.

In this case, in addition to a new RAID which will probably require lvl 32 (unconfirmed), they are adding several story missions and STRIKES which will not be level 30 player requirements. Hell, you can get through the entire game at level 18 as it stands now.

So I'm not sure where your assumptions are coming from.

[bac0n]

Typically new content in MMOs is for end-game players because there is nothing left for those players to do. If you haven't reached that point yet, there is still plenty of things for you to do/achieve.

In this case, in addition to a new RAID which will probably require lvl 32 (unconfirmed), they are adding several story missions and STRIKES which will not be level 30 player requirements. Hell, you can get through the entire game at level 18 as it stands now.

So I'm not sure where your assumptions are coming from.

Just read the IGN article about it. So, yeah, the expansion is about some new raids, a new level cap, and some new PVP arenas, so, yeah, the focus looks very much to be on the higher level guys. I can understand the interest in giving the folks who've run out of stuff to do more stuff to do, but it would be nice to throw the guys who are sick of the grind some new things to do while they level up. Hopefully those strikes that come with the expansion will provide a little of that.

[Dukefrukem]

No. The new story missions , strikes and multiplayer maps are not focused around higher level people. That's 3 of the 4 new things they're introducing.

IGN is blocked at work.

[bac0n]

No. The new story missions , strikes and multiplayer maps are not focused around higher level people. That's 3 of the 4 new things they're introducing.

Well, that's reassuring. IGN didn't make that entirely clear.

[Idioteque Stalker]

So Anita Sarkeesian was on the Colbert Report tonight. Colbert made a jab at Flower.

The satire in this show still seems awkward to me during interviews, but in the end she still managed to get some good bits in.

[number8]

And this MUST be the worst premise of a video game ever right?

So, judging from the trailer, Hatred seems to be a cross between Postal and Manhunt. If so, I feel sorry for anyone cynical and misanthropic enough to find that game anything but appalling.

The developers sound like the most cliched fedora wearing social shut-ins ever:

In an interview with Engadget published today, however, Zielinski had this to say about what the violence in Hatred is supposed to mean.

“That we should not bend under political correctness propaganda which we can see everywhere right now. We live in the free world, with freedom of speech and artistic expression and we should use it in any way we want, otherwise we'll be falling under SJWs [Social Justice Warriors] regime,” Zielinski said.

[D_Davis]

It sickens me to my core that redditors and 4channers have made being for social justice a negative thing, as if they're standing up for the great cause of Free Speech and Journalistic Integrity.

[number8]

Like, if I understand him correctly, they made an entire video game to express a passive aggressive tantrum. That just about says it all.

[number8]

I like that article, by the way. It's talking about video game violence not as a condemnation or contemplation of censorship, but a plea for human beings to use their intelligence to identify the context in which video game violence is delivered, and to use their empathy to decide whether or not they should be commercially marginalized.

[D_Davis]

I like that article, by the way. It's talking about video game violence not as a condemnation or contemplation of censorship, but a plea for human beings to use their intelligence to identify the context in which video game violence is delivered, and to use their empathy to decide whether or not they should be commercially marginalized.

Additionally, a plea for us to us to ask why we would even want to play something like that in the first place. Let's say that we agree a game like that should be allowed to exist - no censorship. Fine. But what does it say about humanity that there will be people who spend money on it, and people who will enjoy playing it?

I ask myself question like this all time when I enjoy certain things. And usually I end up doing away with things that make me ask the question. This is why I rarely watch ultra-violent movies any more. I don't need to see that kind of extreme violence, let alone enjoy it. It's the reason why I stopped playing GTA games. We all have our personal lines, and I'd like to think that other people constantly question themselves and the things they consume like I do.

[bac0n]

Additionally, a plea for us to us to ask why we would even want to play something like that in the first place. Let's say that we agree a game like that should be allowed to exist - no censorship. Fine. But what does it say about humanity that there will be people who spend money on it, and people who will enjoy playing it?

This is exactly what I find most disconcerting about this game. If you look at the comments of the article that #8 posted, there is comment after comment defending this game as a way to "blow off steam".

Now, we all have bad days and need an outlet for some of our negative feelings that doesn't involve harming others, but my rebuttal would be that if you feel the need to play a game that has you watching a woman scream in terror and beg for her life, only to shove a pistol into her mouth and blow her brains out the back of her skull - in cold blood - to "blow off steam", then you are in serious need of some medical attention.

[D_Davis]

Why do you hate freedom, bro?

[bac0n]

Why do you hate freedom, bro?

It's not about freedom - it's about ethics in game journalism!

[Winston*]

Always think of this great Stewart Lee bit, whenever I hear people complaining about political correctness.

[Skitch]

I'm going to go ahead and assume whoever made or purchases that game suffers from micropenis.

[D_Davis]

I always crack up whenever I hear someone complain that $60 is too much for a video game these days.

Most new video game in the mid-80s cost $49.95. According to the United States Department of Labor, adjusted for inflation, that comes out to $115 today. Keep in mind that those old games were often made by teams of 1-5, not teams of 50-500, and they could be beaten in way less than 1 hour.

So the next time you think the next Elder Scrolls game is too expensive, just remember the good old days.

[Dukefrukem]

Disagree. $60 can still be expensive for a video game. Just because it hasn't matched inflation doesn't mean we should be grateful of how things are now compared to the 80s. Elder Scrolls would also provide you with well over 200+ hours of content. $60 for games like Evil Within can most certainly be critiqued.

[megladon8]

I don't think length has much (if any) bearing on how much a game should cost.

I've spent $60 on long games that, afterwards, I thought were worth about $10.

I've also spent $5 on games which I would have gladly spent $60+ on.