donbot

Is it really THAT easy?

^I'd say getting her to that stage to begin with would be very much the difficult part!

Don´t forget the explosions

Hey Don, did you hear the news of a Mass Effect movie being commissioned? From a beginner's perspective (I've been playing a bit of it on PS3 recently), it's a struggle to see how the story could translate into film. So much of the game's allure seems to be in it's open-endedness and I'm pretty sure everyone will have their own unique interpretation of who Shepard is. Could it work?

Do you play with friends, or you just jump in with whoever's playing at the time? Do you voicechat, or even textchat, or pretty much just do your own thing?

As Squad Leader (responsible for respawning, throwing smoke, holding the objective once I arrive) and Machinegunner (responsible for setting up bases of fire and maneuvering it forward until I can settle in the objective) I send group messages on screen a lot to deliver orders, and try to 'rally' the troops towards the objective, or give them advice on where the enemy positions are.

I pretty much do my own thing and I never use the microphone in RO2. So I am looking for something like RO2- where I can jump and out.in 20 minutes whenever I want to with zero commitment to anybody else and there's always servers available 24-7. I actually uninstalled it a while back, as the community was so small that it got kind of repetitive (lack of new, quality maps and only 2 or 3 servers had team-oriented players).

You're only human SS

Lol donny, best halloween-themed set I´ve seen recently

Hey Don, did you hear the news of a Mass Effect movie being commissioned? From a beginner's perspective (I've been playing a bit of it on PS3 recently), it's a struggle to see how the story could translate into film. So much of the game's allure seems to be in it's open-endedness and I'm pretty sure everyone will have their own unique interpretation of who Shepard is. Could it work?

I think it could. No matter what decisions you make and how you shape your character, there's still an overriding and pretty strong story that carries through. The only thing is, to make it a creditable movie that does justice to the games would require a pretty epic budget. I think it would be difficult to fully realise the world, being how vast in scope it is, with all the back stories of the different races and all their histories and relationships with one another - I dare say they'd have to be quite selective in what they choose to include in the film. I'd love to see it done well, but I'll refrain from having any hope until I see/hear more >_>

What sort of Shepard are you playing?

I suppose you don't know Miranda (from ME2) if you're just getting into it, but it's really weird seeing Yvonne Strahovski featured in this current season of Dexter. She provided her voice and likeness for the character

Do you play with friends, or you just jump in with whoever's playing at the time? Do you voicechat, or even textchat, or pretty much just do your own thing?

As Squad Leader (responsible for respawning, throwing smoke, holding the objective once I arrive) and Machinegunner (responsible for setting up bases of fire and maneuvering it forward until I can settle in the objective) I send group messages on screen a lot to deliver orders, and try to 'rally' the troops towards the objective, or give them advice on where the enemy positions are.

I pretty much do my own thing and I never use the microphone in RO2. So I am looking for something like RO2- where I can jump and out.in 20 minutes whenever I want to with zero commitment to anybody else and there's always servers available 24-7. I actually uninstalled it a while back, as the community was so small that it got kind of repetitive (lack of new, quality maps and only 2 or 3 servers had team-oriented players).

I don't really play much competitive multiplayer these days.. I think there's far more interesting and creative things being done elsewhere in gaming. It's kind of interesting how little people actually work together though, in objective based game modes - they largely tend to just do their own thing rather than actually work as a team, but I guess that's hard without proper communication. I always find text chatting or pre-set voice commands pretty ineffectual, and voice chatting seems really underused. It seems to be used by douches to troll more than anything.. but then I'd say a lot of people play in smaller clusters of their friends, and are chatting on an external program like Skype/Mumble/whatever rather than doing it in game.

That sort of in-and-out approach is perfect for an arcade shooter like COD, but a 20 minute burst seems really light, for the sort of game you want

The multiplayer experience depends a lot on what server you're playing. I was only interested in 2 servers in particularly due to the fact that 1. There were clans that regularly played there, and used VOIP. 2. player base was older, also, the games were always big 3.the choice of maps- they were the maps that were structured to encourage teamwork. There was always a visible 'front line', and it moved back and forth like a wrestling match.

The quality of COD:UO servers, back in the day, was noticably lower. I personally avoid all 'deathmatch' type games.

As far as RO2 goes, the quality of a few maps are good, but there just isn't enough material. After one plays WW or Bridges a few times, the fun- which comes from uncertainty, danger, and disorientation does decrease as the terrain becomes familiar.

I don't really play much competitive multiplayer these days.. I think there's far more interesting and creative things being done elsewhere in gaming. It's kind of interesting how little people actually work together though, in objective based game modes - they largely tend to just do their own thing rather than actually work as a team, but I guess that's hard without proper communication. I always find text chatting or pre-set voice commands pretty ineffectual, and voice chatting seems really underused. It seems to be used by douches to troll more than anything.. but then I'd say a lot of people play in smaller clusters of their friends, and are chatting on an external program like Skype/Mumble/whatever rather than doing it in game.

That sort of in-and-out approach is perfect for an arcade shooter like COD, but a 20 minute burst seems really light, for the sort of game you want

AI really bores me. I prefer global multiplayer. For instance, the story based game you and Michael are talking about is something I would never play , and would simply just youtube a little for the sake of curiosity..since it's a story.

RO2 has handled the casual player fairly well in places, but not well enough. I am more about history than the actual games themselves, , anyway. It's difficult for me to fully describe it to you. If you've read osprey technical manuals, 'The Forgotten Soldier' by Guy Sajer, 'Storm of Steel' , or 'In deadly combat', the historical 'feel' and appeal of RO2/Iron would make more sense.

The best moments of RO2 are when you're behind cover with a bunch of guys, throwing smoke, and uncertainty is in front of you, like it was in Stalingrad. The attack towards the objective could succeed or the entire group may be cut down and respawned 200 meters back again. Or the you're defending the objective, and enemies are approaching from all sides.

The CEO of Tripwire, who plays RO2 as 'Ramm-Jaeger' is knowledgeable about military history himself, and his (admittingly imperfect) product does reflect his mindset.

--

So accessing the appeal of the 'Blitzkrieg' game requires being fluent in the language of armored warfare. So if you'd studied the combat history and organization of the US Armored divisions, you'd understand it's role in the Ardennes in December 1944. If you studied the Panzer divisions, you'd understand its role here as well.

So the 'Blitzkrieg' maps, some of the based on the Ardennes battle, make more sense and help bring history and your knowledge more to life. This is why I am interested in any simulation that involves the wars of the 20th and 21st century. Unfortunately, very few good ones appear.

Good to see a Hallowe'en return of that unsettling picture ()...

I don't know when your birthday is (and now that the upgrade has got rid of the old list perhaps none of us will ever know each other's anymore? ), but I saw this and figured it might as well be today: http://i47.tinypic.com/2hf83gi.jpg

Such picture is great to be posted on ANY occasion

For instance, the story based game you and Michael are talking about is something I would never play , and would simply just youtube a little for the sake of curiosity..since it's a story.

What a boring way to experience a video game

That's such a specific experience you're looking for. I hope you can find your dream game some day :Dinah:

I don't know when your birthday is (and now that the upgrade has got rid of the old list perhaps none of us will ever know each other's anymore? ), but I saw this and figured it might as well be today: http://i47.tinypic.com/2hf83gi.jpg

A very merry unbirthday to me

^

You probably have seen this, but this is Dionni Tabbers:

That blouse in B& W #2 makes her bust look like the greatest thing in the world..

^Oh, she is all kinds of pleasing

Ah, what more could you ask for? A winning goal on the boundary line in the dying seconds of the game, and a special Carlton Cold on-tap booth! Rain stayed off too (although it was bloody cold). Port won 14.4 (88) to 13.9 (87) for the 'Doggies.

^That's what it's all about

I take it you didn't get that meat pie though hey?

^Alas no... Had a pie after, at a local boozer, to try and maintain the spirit of the evening but it wasn't quite the same. No Eagle Rock on their jukebox neither!

Whatchu think of the new set i got don?

^DON'T LOOK AT ME

Hey have you seen the trailer for Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs?

I think it could. No matter what decisions you make and how you shape your character, there's still an overriding and pretty strong story that carries through. The only thing is, to make it a creditable movie that does justice to the games would require a pretty epic budget. I think it would be difficult to fully realise the world, being how vast in scope it is, with all the back stories of the different races and all their histories and relationships with one another - I dare say they'd have to be quite selective in what they choose to include in the film. I'd love to see it done well, but I'll refrain from having any hope until I see/hear more >_>

What sort of Shepard are you playing?

I suppose you don't know Miranda (from ME2) if you're just getting into it, but it's really weird seeing Yvonne Strahovski featured in this current season of Dexter. She provided her voice and likeness for the character

I presume you can get though the game just fine either way but since I'm really just scratching the surface, I thought I'd play it paragon style and see how it goes. I'm familiar with Miranda though - far from ideal I know, but I had to jump straight into the second game - from what I understand, the first one never got a PS3 release.

Interesting that the characters are actually based on likenesses of real actors. Now that you mention it, it makes perfect sense, but for some bizarre reason I hadn’t considered it before now. In that case, though I suspect they’d probably want a bankable name to play Shepard, they could pretty much go with the people who’ve lent their voices to the games. They’ve commissioned a writer who’s never had a script produced, but from what I understand he’s a big Mass Effect fan, so he probably has a better chance of doing the script justice than someone less familiar with the material. Cause for optimism maybe?

^DON'T LOOK AT ME

Hey have you seen the trailer for Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs?

Heard rumors but didn't see that til now The lighting is what always gets me