feelthedarkness

I take two things from some of the negativity. One, some people just aren't at a point in their lives where something like this will resonate. I felt increasingly horrible for Katie's dad, partially because that's a lot closer to my fears. I can't expect some 17 year old CoDBlops fan, for who video games are a kind of sport to relate to a sense that you're passed mid-career and it's just not working. Two, there is probably something worth considering in the complaints, if not the specific idiot complaints themselves. I have really loved some of these pure narrative games Dear Esther, 30 Flights, Gone Home, but I feel there is some validity to questioning the push/pull of pure narrative and interactivity.

I think it's kind of easy to tie this back to the original discussion, that torture advocate believe it to be effective, despite evidence to the contrary. First, there is ample evidence that contrary facts often strengthens people's resolve in faulty ideas ("backfire effect" & confirmation bias). Often these division are along political lines, so if the hated group opposes it, it must be right. There is also a perception that those in custody are guilty, because they are in custody, and that they are purely irrational zealots incapable of compassion or reason. There are people in Gitmo who have been cleared of any wrongdoing, but they are still there, because they are there. Media can help shape perceptions in conjunction with a lack of any genuine understanding or contact, and existing worldview. "These animals only understand one thing!"

I think that is better employed in Spec Ops, where as things get worse, he's exposed to and participates in more brutality, and Walker becomes more unhinged. His barks get cruel and melee attacks get more savage.

Not finished yet, so I'm mostly scanning posts, but it broke the top 10 on Steam tonight. Go peoples.

having an opinion isn't really a thing! Also, I'm not sure you can call "opposing torture" "opinionated in a way that is different from me" when torturing people, while totally ineffective, has bipartisan approval.

This was a great cast, I really enjoy when guests are on because they often bring an unreserved enthusiasm for GAMES (write large). re: Modern AAA "stealth". I think modern big-time games have gone large on spectacle, but haven't moved the needle much on AI or significant mechanics, and streamlined level design around that. I'm thinking of the "fps map design 1993 vs 2010" image. Low impact stealth killing is an effective way to mask a lack broad world interaction and sophisticated systems.

I've only read YBaRA & The Atlas, but I'd agree they're both hard, sometimes harder than things I regard as actually hard? hah. Vollmann is somebody I feel like I should read more of. He's seen everything.

I loved GR, but after learning that the "Kenosha Kid" chapter is about Slothrop meeting a young Malcolm X I realized I was probably taking in about 40% of the book at best. The intellect that could hold all that in one brain is just daunting. Sidebar: Has any fan of Infinite Jest and Gravity's Rainbow read William Vollman's You Bright and Risen Angels? If not, I recommend it!

There is probably some nebulous value in buying it on Steam as well, to raise it's "top seller" status and maybe get it some visibility. Unless all those visible places are paid promos.

Don't let their friendly, helpful attitudes fool you.

That has definitely been the case with some bands! It has been historically very difficult to get Japanese punks to reissue classic records. Stuff that achieved a sort of legend status based on 1,000 original copies 20+ years ago. Most of these have been bootlegged a few times and the bands get really angry about it, but also refuse to let labels do legit reissues. "You had to be there" is usually the answer.

The only motive that makes sense is profit. I know the retail markup on games is low compared to everything else, like 20-30%, from wholesale. So if they can lock up exclusive distribution, they can open the copies they paid $40 for and sell them for $90 knowing they're the only game (haha) in town and unable to be under cut. They also know that it's a niche, but passionate audience who are probably familiar with import costs and will pay the high price. Also, if they're opening their own new games they don't have to worry about other retailers paying more for used copies and selling them for less.

back in July both the Take Two ceo & Dan Hauser said they weren't planning on PS4/XBO releases. I don't really believe that, though. I would assume they'd do the same high res pass for the new consoles as the PC.

and Reviewers Tilt, allowing for some subjective opinion stating, in an otherwise objective consumer product evaluation.

There must be some kind of deal for the exclusivity, no?

This could also create an incentive for publishers of small/niche titles to strike deals with Gamestop for a larger exclusivity fee, knowing GS can gouge their customers with impunity.

If the game is only available through Gamestop, and they're automatically marking them up to $90 as used, they probably aren't available much cheaper elsewhere. I also agree with the contempt for the game community embracing their own gouging. The cynic in me says "good for you Gamestop!" You want to ensure the consoles drive your business into the ground with digital distribution, do this. The realist in me knows that GS going out of business is bad for everyone even if I vowed never to shop there years ago.

Far Cry 3: I really enjoyed a lot of this game, though it seems like the bulk of the effort was spent on the first 2/3s. The missions were more dynamic, and the wildlife was more active, though I really enjoyed the verticality of the 2nd island both for driving, and wingsuit jumping. I wish there was more explicit in game acknowledgement that I did everything. I'm surprised there wasn't an achievement or a weapon or something at the ends of most of the lines. The narrative is pretty absurd, and even if I were going along with it the final encounters with Vaas & Hoyt don't make any sense. They both start with you in a guaranteed losing position and then just gloss over that, even though it all happens via QTEs and cinemas. Limbo: Totally wonderful, and it's so minor, but I loved the way it just silently switches to the credits at the end. Reminds me of old Janus films or something. Really beautiful.

Haha, YES, I started editing my post to talk about that. Running into people and/pr shoving them into traffic, down stairs, off piers. In GTA Vice City, I loved standing on the roofs of cars, and if you had a baseball bat you would try to smash the driver, who would drive increasingly erratically the more you banged on the roof. in GTA4, they tweaked the physics so you couldn't ghostride the panic'd whip.

I have a weakness for games that let me careen through public streets trying to do sweet jumps off things that shouldn't be jumps, and watching the fake people scatter.

What Danielle was saying is really true through, their character creator is cool and nicely inclusive, seemingly by design. I think the devs were actually saying that recently, pushing back on some marketing. You can make a male or female voiced avatar and give them any proportions or shape you'd like. Large people can be fairly large.

I think you need to cut them some slack, as the show is really just some friends speaking extemporaneously and making jokes. Also, people should be allowed to just not like stuff. I suspect that they wouldn't really come around on it, as they've been generally cool on games parodying games.

I have the same issue with Roguelikes. I totally understand the appeal, but modern gaming has wrecked the impermanence for me. Even with something short, like Binding of Issac, I get too bummed me out after a good run ends do to some dumb mistake and I'm left with "nothing to show for it."

you mean they're adding the interior decorating vigor?