The Gaming Thread

[Geek King]

Okay, I'm now playing Pirates of the Burning Seas, a MMORPG (mummorphugger!) set in the Carribean during the age of pirates. So far I'm liking it, but like all MMOs, they still have some issues to iron out. Server stability for one, though that's gotten much better since I started playing.

If I had to compare it to something, I say a cross between Sid Meier's Pirates! and E.V.E. Online. There is lots of running/sailing around doing pirate-y things, but there is also a strong marketplace dynamic you can get into. Also, there is a larger scale battle going on, as the British, Spanish, French, and Pirate factions are trying to take ports from each other. A port in contention starts with a small PvP area around it, which grows as the conflict does. Once it gets large enough, opposing factions get the chance to take it from the owners in a massive PvP/NPC battle.

Over weeks, the entire gulf area fights it out over various ports until one faction wins most of them, then the place resets once a winner is declared, and you have all your stuff/levels/industry still.

This game has a lot of promise, if they can smooth out some rough spots. Several patches have already been released, so it seems that the game is being taken care of so far. I mainly play on the Guadalupe server, British faction, as Mune McIvers, a privateer, if you're interested in popping in.

[RayvenQ]

I've got an awesome mod for S.T.A.L.K.E.R, it's called AKM Mod, originally a russian mod but it has been translated, well, kinda there's still some russian in it in places.

It's got several awesome features, much better and smarter AI, Random Anomolies, Random Stashes, AI actually loot dead bodies and one awesome if smal feature that if you wear a gas mask, your vision is obscured by the mask and you see your breath misting up the lenses.

The only problem is that you need 1.0004 of the game to run the mod, which isn't the latest patch so you'll probably have to uninstall the game and then patch up to 1.0004.

http://board.oblivion-lost.de/showthread.php?t=12558 Link to the thread containing much more info and download links

[Broomjockey]

I've been playing Bully: Scholarship Edition lately. Pretty good game. I recommend it muchly

[Andara Bledin]

Hiyo. Just thought I'd meander through and wave to the fellow WoW players.

I'm currently in my World of Warcraft phase and am playing nightly (and some days) on Chromaggus. My main is Midohri, an orc Hunter. Alts include: Lethe, Bebhart, Beshart, Tshandara, Tmandara, and Succubae.

When I'm not playing WoW, I can often be found playing City of Heroes/Villains or A Tale in the Desert.

For some reason, I couldn't get Thief 1 or 2 to work on my current PC. Too bad, too...I loved the original, but never got very far.

Check the DRM on Thief. It could be a bizarre conflict. I know that in order to play The Sims 2 or any of the expansions, I have to do a disk image because my CD-ROM drive is some generic bit of crap and the copy protection they have in the game has decided that I must be a pirate because of that. So, in order to play a game I own, I have to act like a pirate. Brilliant.

^-.-^

[lordlundar]

Have it, love it.

I also picked up the C&C3 Expansion. The new units are sweet and the Global Conquest mode is interesting as well, even though it got the Idea from Rise of Nations. I also picked up Dawn of War Soulstorm. Nothing Really spectacular, but still a solid game.

[Trayol]

Wow, you like monopolized this whole page. Good Job!

The only game I've been playing recently is Super Smash Bros. Brawl. This game reaks of epic greatness. Anyone with a Wii needs to own this game.

[gunsage]

Well, today's a momentous day for a number of reasons. First the on topic. I just got Patapon! No, I haven't played it yet. Yes, I'm going to...STOP RUSHING ME! I'm enjoying Crisis Core more and more as I play it. After reading over the guide a bit, I'm REALLY liking it. I think really it's only monotonous for me at the moment because I'm mission grinding. Sure, the missions are kinda dull, but really, it's no big deal and you get plenty of bonuses for it, so why the hell not?

Now, here's the . I GOT MY SECURITY+! I only passed by about 11 points...tough stuff. Now onto my CCNA!

[gunsage]

Okay okay, so I lied. Crisis Core is very good, but before even so much as LOOKING at it, what you really have to question is just how much you liked Final Fantasy 7. I don't mean Dirge of Cerberus or the movie...I mean ye olde, still very badass FF7. Here's why. You don't get to play as Cloud. In fact, even almost 10 hours in, I've yet to meet Cloud. I've met Sephiroth already, but not Cloud. The point is that so far I've gone through various locations mentioned, if not fully explored, in the world of FF7 with Zack.

Zack kinda reminds me of Tidus, but more BADass and less DUMBass. The gameplay is very repetitive. The worlds are flat and with no platforming, though there is the occasional going up/down hills/stairs. The "random encounters" aren't quite so random, which to a degree, kinda reminds of Chrono Trigger. Unfortunately, the battles are often button mashing with just a hint of strategy. It is an action/RPG after all and it kinda reminds me of Kingdom Hearts, except not so convoluted with the menus.

So far, it doesn't sound like a very good game. You are absolutely correct while also being infinitely incorrect. See, the real problem here is that if you're a FF7 fanboy (like me), it won't matter. You'll still thoroughly enjoy the game, pacing, etc. Furthermore, the main reason I'm bothering mentioning the repetitiveness is about 80% of what I've done so far is purely optional side missions. The game itself was quoted at 20+ hours. Of course, they make sure to mention that this is without the countless side missions.

What they don't make so good on mentioning is that it's not just the battles that are repetitive, it's the side missions as well. Most missions feature very little if any dialog. Therefore, often all you have to do is find the enemy that is visible outside of combat, challenge him/her/it, and win. Granted, this is a great way to get gil, sp, items, etc., but yes, it gets monotonous. It's challenging at times, but still. The main draw of the game is the visuals, excellent load times, awesome soundtrack, and the fact that it's a purely dedicated, fanboy pantswetting game.

If didn't like or didn't play FF7, this game probably won't be for you. However, if you thoroughly enjoy FF7, this is an excellent title. And really, despite the monotony present in the game, I'd say it's definitely worth full price...though the guide may not be. Yes, I got the guide too, just in case. That's about it for now. I think I might hop on it later, but right now I'm going back to something just as monotonous, but still different: Shining Force Neo. Laterz!

Edit: Forgot to include IGN link. http://psp.ign.com/articles/860/860615p1.html

[gunsage]

Well guys, it's been fun, but this is where I must say goodbye. Sad, really...what with my Security+ exam only being a couple of days away. Yup. I sure had fun in reality, but I've another agenda now. Ahem.

I JUST PICKED UP CRISIS CORE! ZOMG!

So, in summation, life was fun, but FF7 is better.

[gunsage]

I didn't play much over the weekend as much as I tested. I couldn't get Guardian Heroes to work and I had no idea what I was doing on Dragon Force so far, both for the Saturn obviously. If anyone has emu recommendations, PM me. Besides this, I popped on the PS1 emu and wailed away on Arc the Lad 1 again. Yes, I've already beaten it on the actual system, but I wanted to do it all emu'd now so that I could sell the actual copy. Beyond that, I started Blade Runner for the PC. Not a bad game so far, but I wish there was a subtitle option and I need to figure out if there's a way to tune up the graphics (kinda blocky looking).

Besides this, I'm still eagerly anticipating Patapon and I'll probably get Crisis Core when it comes out. Further...I just saw this recently. And yes, I'm DEFINITELY getting it, regardless of how good or bad the critics say it is.

[gunsage]

For some reason, I couldn't get Thief 1 or 2 to work on my current PC. Too bad, too...I loved the original, but never got very far. I also never beat Eternal Darkness. Hey, I remembered another few survival horror-like titles I should throw out there...

- Parasite Eve 1 and 2
- Dino Crisis

I'm not listing the other Dino Crises titles because, well, never tried 3 but it doesn't look all that hot...and 2 was just okay. I'm still hammering away at Shining Force Neo. Actually, there are more movies than I thought, which is cool, but it doesn't help the voice acting or the fact that it's basically another Diablo...or the fact that the originals were awesome...or the fact that it's no longer a turn-based strategy...and so on. BUT...it's still a fun game. Monotonous, repetitious...but still fun in small doses.

[PCGameGuy]

I forgot about Eternal Darkness, I love that one! My favorite spooky was the original Thief : The Dark Project, especially the zombie levels. That moan would get me regularly as I tried to sneak through the catacombs, and then fade to black.

The sequel, The Metal Age, had some creepy robots that'd would freak you out too. Little steam engine dudes, clanking around and mumbling to themselves, and then they alert and start yelling and lobbing grenades!

[gunsage]

To be perfectly honest, I love playing survival horror games in the dark. But really, the last "good" survival horror game I played was Resident Evil 4 (unless F.E.A.R. came out after it, then that). Sure, I still love ye olde Resident Evil 2, but it doesn't have quite the same effect on me now. That was my first. I'd like to throw a few other ones out there just in case you may not have tried them/heard of them...

- Siren
- Fatal Frame series
- Silent Hill 1, 2, and Origins (3 and 4 just didn't creep me out so much)
- Rule of Rose (more in concept than raw scare factor)

What I will say is this...both Siren and Rule of Rose are "force" games in that you REALLY have to make yourself play them. It's not that they're "bad," per se, but flawed definitely. These flaws weaken the gameplay, but not the atmosphere and concept, if you will. The best way to sum it up is the gameplay doesn't match the concept...much like with Killer 7. Even still, they're both decent in their own right and not hard to come by. I think Siren is about $10 or something.

On a brighter note, I've ordered Patapon off of Amazon. I'm also planning on ordering Crisis Core when I get paid next week. Booya.

[Broomjockey]

Eternal Darkness: Sanity's requiem (NGC) This game has a fun take. It doesn't just mess with the character's mind, it messes with your mind.

ARGH! That game is EVIL. One of the characters has the same name I do. And one of the insanity effects is to have the character's name whispered. The first time I ran across that one, I was alone, at night, in the dark, playing with the aforementioned character which shares my name. About 5 seconds later, I was still alone, at night. NOT in the dark. With my back against the wall.

[lordlundar]

On the concept of spooky games to avoid playing in the dark:

F.E.A.R (PC & PS3) The game certainly lives up to it's name. I recall only one person being able to do it, and she was considered the store psychopath (taught me everything I know).

Eternal Darkness: Sanity's requiem (NGC) This game has a fun take. It doesn't just mess with the character's mind, it messes with your mind.