Video games...what ya playing? And what are you looking forward to? (9 Viewers)

[Deranged Hermit]

Picked up a 3DS last night by trading in my son's 4 year old DS (gave him my DSi) and trading in a bunch of old games. Gotta love paying nothing for a $170 machine for a old DS and 7 games I beat years ago and haven't touched since.

Pretty nice machine overall. I was so busy fiddling with the bells and whistles that I never even had a chance to actually play the Zelda game I got with it. I'm going to get the free month of netflix to see how it plays on it tonight.

 

[Drifter]

I lean sandbox over linear but can understand those that dislike sandbox. What I don't like about either is how time stands still on every aspect while you are free to go shopping, do other tasks, chat with people, etc. In both of of these types of games, they always try and impart a sense of urgency on you

<Game>: We need your help immediately. Please get here as fast as you can"

<Player>: Okay! ...right after I go to the store, buy a new weapon, perform this quick Fedex task, jump up and down for an hour (Hello Oblivion) and try and get into this NPC's pants.

Ultimately, I think the best format would be a sandbox game that progresses in real time around you. It would give you plenty of notices and warnings that things were going to happen with or without you but if you chose not to go, they would happen anyway and the game would continue to progress, or even end if you ignored critical storylines.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Drifter

That's another huge disconnect for me in sanbox games in particular (but does pop up even in the more linear games like Mass Effect - or even my favorite game of all KOTOR).

 

[Insein]

I lean sandbox over linear but can understand those that dislike sandbox. What I don't like about either is how time stands still on every aspect while you are free to go shopping, do other tasks, chat with people, etc. In both of of these types of games, they always try and impart a sense of urgency on you <Game>: We need your help immediately. Please get here as fast as you can"<Player>: Okay! ...right after I go to the store, buy a new weapon, perform this quick Fedex task, jump up and down for an hour (Hello Oblivion) and try and get into this NPC's pants. Ultimately, I think the best format would be a sandbox game that progresses in real time around you. It would give you plenty of notices and warnings that things were going to happen with or without you but if you chose not to go, they would happen anyway and the game would continue to progress, or even end if you ignored critical storylines.

Dead Rising does this somewhat. Its not completely openended but you a free to roam and do what you like until rescued. Missions have time limits until you can no longer do them.

 

[Insein]

I know I'm in the minority, but I generally love the CoD single player games. It's fun to feel like you're in an action movie.

I loved MW1. Especially sneaking through chernobyl and trying to snipe in high winds. Then getting caught in a nuclear bomb. That was cool as hell.

 

[Time Kibitzer]

I'm confused, isn't Mass Effect an open world game? Why are people categorizing it with a linear game like Bioshock?

 

[Drifter]

I'm confused, isn't Mass Effect an open world game? Why are people categorizing it with a linear game like Bioshock?

It's not entirely linear but it's not sandbox either. Like KOTO and Dragon Age it's kind of in between.

 

[wazoo11]

IDK, to me it always depended more on the quality of the game's story. Time is certainly an element, but for example, I never bothered with Black Ops single player because I had multiple friends tell me it was terribly frustrating and just felt tacked on. I know I felt it was tacked on for MW2 and just a demo to teach you how to use the many different weapons for multiplayer.

To me, if you want to get more players to finish and more involved in the game make more co-op storylines. Nearly every co-op game I have played the last few years I have finished.

MW2 is probable the best combat/war genre single player campaign I have ever played.

COD 2>>>>>MW2

 

[wazoo11]

I know I'm in the minority, but I generally love the CoD single player games. It's fun to feel like you're in an action movie.

I got that feeling playing uncharted not COD.

 

[Mad Cow]

IDK, to me it always depended more on the quality of the game's story. Time is certainly an element, but for example, I never bothered with Black Ops single player because I had multiple friends tell me it was terribly frustrating and just felt tacked on. I know I felt it was tacked on for MW2 and just a demo to teach you how to use the many different weapons for multiplayer.

To me, if you want to get more players to finish and more involved in the game make more co-op storylines. Nearly every co-op game I have played the last few years I have finished.

MW2 is probable the best combat/war genre single player campaign I have ever played.

COD 2>>>>>MW2

MOHAA >>>>> COD franchise

 

[Thunderlips]

I lean sandbox over linear but can understand those that dislike sandbox. What I don't like about either is how time stands still on every aspect while you are free to go shopping, do other tasks, chat with people, etc. In both of of these types of games, they always try and impart a sense of urgency on you <Game>: We need your help immediately. Please get here as fast as you can"<Player>: Okay! ...right after I go to the store, buy a new weapon, perform this quick Fedex task, jump up and down for an hour (Hello Oblivion) and try and get into this NPC's pants. Ultimately, I think the best format would be a sandbox game that progresses in real time around you. It would give you plenty of notices and warnings that things were going to happen with or without you but if you chose not to go, they would happen anyway and the game would continue to progress, or even end if you ignored critical storylines.

Dead Rising does this somewhat. Its not completely openended but you a free to roam and do what you like until rescued. Missions have time limits until you can no longer do them.

That's a good example. There are consequences for the choices that you make or missions you fail; unlike Red Dead Redemption (which I did like) where they just let you start the mission over.

 

[saintfool]

"infamous" did a decent job of handling the sandbox world, i thought.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

I'm confused, isn't Mass Effect an open world game? Why are people categorizing it with a linear game like Bioshock?

Mass Effect is not only "open world" in the sense that you get to choose the order in which you do the required missions, each of which is slavishly linear. It's way more like Bioshock than it is like Fallout or Obliviou or even Red Dead Redemption.

 

[RhymesMcJuice]

Deus Ex Human Revolution is awesome, but hard. It's very early but I kept getting killed on the medium setting and had to put it on "I Just Like A Story"

You have to be very good at FPS's in this one since you will get shot up fast.

 

[Time Kibitzer]

Deus Ex Human Revolution is awesome, but hard. It's very early but I kept getting killed on the medium setting and had to put it on "I Just Like A Story" You have to be very good at FPS's in this one since you will get shot up fast.

How'd you get the game before the release date?

 

[RhymesMcJuice]

Deus Ex Human Revolution is awesome, but hard. It's very early but I kept getting killed on the medium setting and had to put it on "I Just Like A Story" You have to be very good at FPS's in this one since you will get shot up fast.

How'd you get the game before the release date?

You want Deus Ex? I can get you Deus Ex, believe me. There are ways, Kibitzer. You don't wanna know about it, believe me.

 

[ren hoek]

Jessica Chobot just had to go and dye her hair blonde didn't she. :biting knuckles:

 

[-arcK-]

I think services like GameFly contribute to the short attention span of gamers. Their customers want to get the most out of their subscription so they try more games and leave a larger % of them unfinished.

Is wanting to get the most out of your subscription a bad thing? It's allowed me to play dozens of games I would have never tried. Sure, I've sent back many within a few days, but if I like a game I finish it. I'd rather be playing a good one than forcing myself to half-heartedly finish a mediocre one.

 

[wazoo11]

Deus Ex Human Revolution is awesome, but hard. It's very early but I kept getting killed on the medium setting and had to put it on "I Just Like A Story" You have to be very good at FPS's in this one since you will get shot up fast.

How'd you get the game before the release date?

You want Deus Ex? I can get you Deus Ex, believe me. There are ways, Kibitzer. You don't wanna know about it, believe me.

Full detailed review once you finish please.Picked up BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger off of a friends recommendation to SS Street Fighter IV. I have never heard of Blazblue but IGN gave this a 9.4

 

[SlaX]

I agree with that article. I finish games, but that is rarer. ME, ME2 you bet. I will do those. I even finished Fallout 3, as well. The single-player of BFBC2 was short, so yes. But I cannot tell you how many games I have started and not finished.

According to Steam's Achievement Statistics page, less than 50% of players who own Portal have even finished the game. Less than 75% have even gotten the fully upgraded Portal gun. At least a higher percentage of Portal 2 Steam owners have beaten Portal 2, with 63.3%. But only just a little over half have even tried the co-op campaign 57.8%.

Note: For those who haven't played any of the Portal games, reading the achievement names may be a spoiler.

I am good for 1 playthrough if I complete one, no more, but that could be due to the fact that I have tons of games I have yet to even start. And yes, I did finish Portal and Portal 2 - both were fantastic. I am not an achievement hunter, though. Finished HL and HL2, but not the episodes.

I realize most people aren't achievement hunters. That's why I only focused on the milestone achievements tied to progress in the game. I usually only focus on missing achievements to give me something to shoot for when I'm replaying games, so I'll try to get the ones I missed previously. Similar to trying to get platinum stars on specific or all weapons on BC2, or ribbons on BF2.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Just picked up Assassin's Creed 1 (I know, I know) and Fallout 3 for $21.

 

[wazoo11]

Just finished Vanquish on hard mode. Wow, for a short game that was hella fun.

Final boss was a pain in the rear though.

 

[The Z Machine]

I'm getting better at Hearts of Iron 3. I've been plating the minor, regional powers and learning to run my economy and conduct war. I'm not quite ready to play as Germany or England. Currently I'm playing as Republican Spain and survived the ciil war to invade Portugal and then turn Ireland into my puppet. I'm planning on joining the allies when they begin their invasion of France or maybe with Russia if they take Poland first.

I palyed a game with Brazil and conquered south america while the us was tied up in the pacific. I got so far as to take Miami by invading from the Bahamas but the US has a ton of reserves on the mainland and I got my ### whooped before I could even make it out of Florida.

 

[jwb]

On the finishing games thing... I do like finishing games, and have finished many an epic game, going back to SSI gold box RPG's on my 386.

That said, I notice many games really ramp up the difficulty (and change the gameplay some) later in the game, making finishing a frustrating ordeal. Portal 2 was like this for me - brilliant right to the last mission or two - then it was frustrating. It was like they forgot what made me really enjoy the previous 90% of the game.

Or, they just get boring, making me think "of come on - end already." The previously mentioned RDR was like that - you got to a point where you *thought* it was ending, then there were a few more (rather tedious imho) missions.

 

[Mad Cow]

I read an article a few years ago about finishing games, middle-aged men and the higher difficulty. It talked about different game modes, and the author said in a nutshell, I don't have time to spend 5 hrs trying to get past a certain point. I want to play a game, enjoy the gameplay, and finish it through the storyline. To that end, he lauded "Easy" setting, because it lets you get through without total frustration, etc. That does resonate somewhat with me. Now, with FPS, I play at at least medium settings, but with games I own that I just want to experience and get through, it makes sense.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

I read an article a few years ago about finishing games, middle-aged men and the higher difficulty. It talked about different game modes, and the author said in a nutshell, I don't have time to spend 5 hrs trying to get past a certain point. I want to play a game, enjoy the gameplay, and finish it through the storyline. To that end, he lauded "Easy" setting, because it lets you get through without total frustration, etc. That does resonate somewhat with me. Now, with FPS, I play at at least medium settings, but with games I own that I just want to experience and get through, it makes sense.

Sounds like Gary Whitta. And I agree for single player. But on left 4 dead I don't even really want to play if it isn't in expert or realism. Usually we will play advanced if it's the first time on a campaign but other than that I prefer the challenge.

 

[Mad Cow]

Trine 2 coming soon. Co-op on that will be

Throw in Torchlight 2 coming soon with co-op and this will be a great year for Indie titles.

Torchlight 2 in 2011 as well

 

[Casus Belli]

I dont think a day has gone by i havent played NBA 2k12 since it came out.

My myplayer i played for 3 seasons was corrupted the other day and wont load

So now i just play association,

 

[jwb]

I read an article a few years ago about finishing games, middle-aged men and the higher difficulty. It talked about different game modes, and the author said in a nutshell, I don't have time to spend 5 hrs trying to get past a certain point. I want to play a game, enjoy the gameplay, and finish it through the storyline. To that end, he lauded "Easy" setting, because it lets you get through without total frustration, etc. That does resonate somewhat with me. Now, with FPS, I play at at least medium settings, but with games I own that I just want to experience and get through, it makes sense.

I start most single-player games on medium / default difficulty, and will ride that as far as I can. Sometimes it's fine right through (most Halo games, Call of Duty, Bioshock, etc). But I will drop it down to easy/casual if there's an area that's starting to frustrate me (fwiw, I'm 45). I'm also probably in the minority, but I really don't like "boss" battles where the boss is a super enemy that you have to kill via pattern/etc. I wish developers would drop that element. I do like harder difficulty levels on co-op games.

 

[SlaX]

I dont think a day has gone by i havent played NBA 2k12 since it came out.My myplayer i played for 3 seasons was corrupted the other day and wont loadSo now i just play association,

You already have NBA 2k12? Lucky.

 

[Casus Belli]

I dont think a day has gone by i havent played NBA 2k12 since it came out.My myplayer i played for 3 seasons was corrupted the other day and wont loadSo now i just play association,

You already have NBA 2k12? Lucky.

lol 2k11 i meant

 

[Jobber]

Just picked up Assassin's Creed 1 (I know, I know) and Fallout 3 for $21.

I frequently do this as well. I haven't bought a new release in a very long time. That's about to change though with Skyrim.

 

[Sundays Rule]

So Vanquish is a total ####show. Total sensory overload.

 

[ren hoek]

So Vanquish is a total ####show. Total sensory overload.

The only things that kept that game from being great were the complete lack of any RPG or leveling elements and an aim assist mechanic. It takes a while to get a good feel for aiming in that one. I like it a lot though.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Just picked up Assassin's Creed 1 (I know, I know) and Fallout 3 for $21.

I frequently do this as well. I haven't bought a new release in a very long time. That's about to change though with Skyrim.

I've just started doing this. I get a lot of gameplay/dollar spent, and I find that it's easier to put down a game rather and slog through something that isn't really enjoyable because I spent $60 on it. That's a real bonus for someone like me who doesn't play a ton of games. I'll buy a handful of new releases a year (anything in the Gears series or Bioshock series, FIFA games) and I've made a killing lately buying old games and pre-owned games. Tallying up my last few purchases - Assassin's Creed 1 - $8Assassin's Creed 2 - $20Assassin's Creed Brotherhood - $30F.E.A.R. - $10Skate 2 - $20Fallout 3 - $13That's 6 games and a pretty significant amount of gameplay (beat AC2 and ACB + some of the side stuff, played a ton of hours of just free-skating in Skate 2, and beat FEAR) for $101. Note that I did pay full price for Bulletstorm within the last year, and never finished it. I mostly just wanted the full access to the Gears beta, so I had to pre-order Bulletstorm to do so. I plan on finishing it at some point, I think I'm ~40% through it.I wasn't even planning on getting Fallout. I actually went into the store angling for AC1 and Skate 3, but they didn't have any preowned copies of Skate 3. I saw Fallout for $13 and pulled the trigger, even though I know little about it. Still, a game from 2008 with the critical acclaim that Fallout has for just $13??

 

[Maelstrom]

Just picked up Assassin's Creed 1 (I know, I know) and Fallout 3 for $21.

I frequently do this as well. I haven't bought a new release in a very long time. That's about to change though with Skyrim.

I've just started doing this. I get a lot of gameplay/dollar spent, and I find that it's easier to put down a game rather and slog through something that isn't really enjoyable because I spent $60 on it. That's a real bonus for someone like me who doesn't play a ton of games. I'll buy a handful of new releases a year (anything in the Gears series or Bioshock series, FIFA games) and I've made a killing lately buying old games and pre-owned games. Tallying up my last few purchases - Assassin's Creed 1 - $8Assassin's Creed 2 - $20Assassin's Creed Brotherhood - $30F.E.A.R. - $10Skate 2 - $20Fallout 3 - $13That's 6 games and a pretty significant amount of gameplay (beat AC2 and ACB + some of the side stuff, played a ton of hours of just free-skating in Skate 2, and beat FEAR) for $101. Note that I did pay full price for Bulletstorm within the last year, and never finished it. I mostly just wanted the full access to the Gears beta, so I had to pre-order Bulletstorm to do so. I plan on finishing it at some point, I think I'm ~40% through it.I wasn't even planning on getting Fallout. I actually went into the store angling for AC1 and Skate 3, but they didn't have any preowned copies of Skate 3. I saw Fallout for $13 and pulled the trigger, even though I know little about it. Still, a game from 2008 with the critical acclaim that Fallout has for just $13??

I had a rule that except for certain games (Battlefield, mostly) I wouldn't pay over $30 - games fall to the $29.99 pretty quick unless they are a big hit. And if you are willing to wait a bit longer you can get outstanding deals.That is why I hate (but love) Steam - I can find year or two old games for ridiculous prices considering that they were $50-$60 just a year or so ago.

 

[NewlyRetired]

For people looking to save, I recommend eBay. The prices you can get there for used games usually crush Gamestop prices. And then if you play the game with in a couple of months you can usually recoup 90-95% of what you spent by putting it back up on eBay.

I think I average maybe $5-$7 a game after all is said and done. Not bad got usually getting a ton of hours out of games.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Just picked up Assassin's Creed 1 (I know, I know) and Fallout 3 for $21.

I am guessing for that price you did not get the GOTY edition of Fallout 3. If you did get that edition you made an awesome purchase.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Just picked up Assassin's Creed 1 (I know, I know) and Fallout 3 for $21.

I am guessing for that price you did not get the GOTY edition of Fallout 3. If you did get that edition you made an awesome purchase.

I don't think so. There were other editions with add-on packs that cost a bit more money, but I didn't get them because I didn't know anything about them. It was really just an on-a-whim purchase. I'm not an RPG guy in the least, so I don't know if I'll even really like it. But I know the games have a great reputation, and it was so cheap.I probably won't get around to starting it for a few months. Gears 3 will occupy nearly all of my gaming time once it releases in a month, and I'm looking forward to Assassin's Creed 1 (despite all the negative reviews) first, assuming I can finish it and don't give up on it early.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

So I might be crazy and go buy a PS3 this week just for the NFL Sunday Ticket. A couple questions: are there PS3 deals out there and different versions of PS3?

What are the best PS3 exclusive games? I am a Mass Effect, Red Dead, KOTOR, GTA kind of guy. Not so much straight FPS kind of guy.

 

[SlaX]

So I might be crazy and go buy a PS3 this week just for the NFL Sunday Ticket. A couple questions: are there PS3 deals out there and different versions of PS3?What are the best PS3 exclusive games? I am a Mass Effect, Red Dead, KOTOR, GTA kind of guy. Not so much straight FPS kind of guy.

Sony just dropped the price of the 160GB model to $250 and the 320GB model to $300, including the new Infamous 2 bundle. I doubt you'll find any better deals than that. At the moment, at least. Probably around the holidays, yes.edit: K-Mart has the 320GB Infamous 2 Bundle + Free Resistance 2 ($29.99 value) for $299.99 this week (August 21st - 27th)

 

[Casus Belli]

Me and my buddy have been playing a lot of fight night round 3 lately so he bought champion the other day and the game seriously blows. The control is atrocious and the graphics are worse than past installments. Hes returning it tommorow.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

So I might be crazy and go buy a PS3 this week just for the NFL Sunday Ticket. A couple questions: are there PS3 deals out there and different versions of PS3?What are the best PS3 exclusive games? I am a Mass Effect, Red Dead, KOTOR, GTA kind of guy. Not so much straight FPS kind of guy.

Sony just dropped the price of the 160GB model to $250 and the 320GB model to $300, including the new Infamous 2 bundle. I doubt you'll find any better deals than that. At the moment, at least. Probably around the holidays, yes.edit: K-Mart has the 320GB Infamous 2 Bundle + Free Resistance 2 ($29.99 value) for $299.99 this week (August 21st - 27th)

Does gamestop do price matching? I have games to trade in and was thinking of going there. Maybe getting a used PS3 (or is that a bad move) and maybe Uncharted 2 used? (Do I need the Uncharted 1 PS2 version to play Uncharted 2?)

 

[SlaX]

So I might be crazy and go buy a PS3 this week just for the NFL Sunday Ticket. A couple questions: are there PS3 deals out there and different versions of PS3?What are the best PS3 exclusive games? I am a Mass Effect, Red Dead, KOTOR, GTA kind of guy. Not so much straight FPS kind of guy.

Sony just dropped the price of the 160GB model to $250 and the 320GB model to $300, including the new Infamous 2 bundle. I doubt you'll find any better deals than that. At the moment, at least. Probably around the holidays, yes.edit: K-Mart has the 320GB Infamous 2 Bundle + Free Resistance 2 ($29.99 value) for $299.99 this week (August 21st - 27th)

Does gamestop do price matching? I have games to trade in and was thinking of going there. Maybe getting a used PS3 (or is that a bad move) and maybe Uncharted 2 used? (Do I need the Uncharted 1 PS2 version to play Uncharted 2?)

From what I've heard, Gamestop will not price match, but you may find a store that will, I'd call first, but they'll probably require the advertisement to match it IF they do at all. Remember that Best Buy also does game trade-ins now, if you have one in your area. And, I'm not sure what you mean about the "Uncharted 1 PS2 version". The first Uncharted was a PS3 game. There wasn't a PS2 version of Uncharted. If you're asking if you should play the first before you play the second, I'd probably recommend it, although I haven't, but really want to.As for the used PS3 question. I'd recommend knowing the seller. A store like Gamestop still sells a used PS3 for too high to consider buying a used over new in my opinion. But in the instance of buying from another seller, I'd have to know who I was buying from, so I know that I wasn't getting a bad machine or banned/modded machine, unless that was what I was specifically looking for. Again, just my opinion. I'd probably only consider a used PS3 if I got a great deal or I came across a first generation, which had PS2 backwards compatibility.

 

[RhymesMcJuice]

So I might be crazy and go buy a PS3 this week just for the NFL Sunday Ticket. A couple questions: are there PS3 deals out there and different versions of PS3?What are the best PS3 exclusive games? I am a Mass Effect, Red Dead, KOTOR, GTA kind of guy. Not so much straight FPS kind of guy.

Sony just dropped the price of the 160GB model to $250 and the 320GB model to $300, including the new Infamous 2 bundle. I doubt you'll find any better deals than that. At the moment, at least. Probably around the holidays, yes.edit: K-Mart has the 320GB Infamous 2 Bundle + Free Resistance 2 ($29.99 value) for $299.99 this week (August 21st - 27th)

Amazon had the 160GB last BF for $300 with a $100 Amazon GC, essentially $200. I'd wait if you can, although the 320GB bundle isn't bad.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

So I got a pre-owned 160gb PS3 and Uncharted 2 for about $200 after turning in a few games at Gamestop this afternoon.

I can't subscribe to PSN though. All that stuff was fixed, right? This is just normal site maintenance?

What's the deal with the controller? You have to keep it plugged in the USB to charge but it's wireless like xbox, right?

 

[NewlyRetired]

So I got a pre-owned 160gb PS3 and Uncharted 2 for about $200 after turning in a few games at Gamestop this afternoon.I can't subscribe to PSN though. All that stuff was fixed, right? This is just normal site maintenance? What's the deal with the controller? You have to keep it plugged in the USB to charge but it's wireless like xbox, right?

Yes controller is wireless. Just plug in to charge. PSN is all fixed. I was just on it earlier today.

 

[Buckna]

Been a slow summer, been taking a break from games mostly. But in 2 weeks Dead Island drops, then Gears 3 two weeks later and then MW3 in November. Goodbye spare time!!!

 

[Cliff Clavin]

I'm getting better at Hearts of Iron 3. I've been plating the minor, regional powers and learning to run my economy and conduct war. I'm not quite ready to play as Germany or England. Currently I'm playing as Republican Spain and survived the ciil war to invade Portugal and then turn Ireland into my puppet. I'm planning on joining the allies when they begin their invasion of France or maybe with Russia if they take Poland first. I palyed a game with Brazil and conquered south america while the us was tied up in the pacific. I got so far as to take Miami by invading from the Bahamas but the US has a ton of reserves on the mainland and I got my ### whooped before I could even make it out of Florida.

What is the gameplay like on this? Similar to Civ, AofE, Total War?

 

[Frank Drebin]

So I got a pre-owned 160gb PS3 and Uncharted 2 for about $200 after turning in a few games at Gamestop this afternoon.I can't subscribe to PSN though. All that stuff was fixed, right? This is just normal site maintenance? What's the deal with the controller? You have to keep it plugged in the USB to charge but it's wireless like xbox, right?

Being a guy normally forgoes things like instructions, I'll save you the early frustration I had with this helpful tip....the controller only charges when the PS3 is turned on.