coaxmetal

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Posts posted by coaxmetal

  1. Posted

    I'm meh on the whole thing, but I just wanted to point out that if no one had mentioned that it was a Game of Thrones spoiler, I probably wouldn't have even noticed :)

     

    same, I only recognized it as one because I already knew it from reading the books. Also, that book came out in 2005, I feel like thats fair game for talking about if people want to.

  2. Posted

    Oh yes, I also am not very familiar with Tezuka, but I found Pluto to be great. Really enjoyed that. I've also read 20th Century Boys, also by Urasawa. longer, and followed by 21 Century boys, but also fantastic. Another manga I really enjoyed that I haven't mentioned in here is The Lucifer and Biscuit Hammer (Hoshi no Samidare). Not Urasawa, just thought I would mention it because I was thinking about it.

  3. Posted

    How do they do things there?  I ask because there's a ridiculously popular ramen place here (Orenchi Ramen) and they're open something like 11:30 to 1:30 and you basically have to get there at 11 and put your name down if you want to be in the first round of people to be seated/eat.  If you get there at the actual time that they open you're going to be waiting around 45 minutes to an hour for it to get to your name and if you get there at 12-12:30 there's a decent chance they won't get to your name on the list before they run out (they just stay open until they run out of ramen).  Is Ramen Dojo similar? 

     

    I actually haven't been there myself, but from what I have heard, yes.

  4. Posted

    I had read a lot of comments about how insanely hard Braccus Rex boss fight can be. Because of this I feared that I would get completely obliterated and never want to play the game anymore. Turns out I beat it on my first try (!!!) thanks to my amazing skills a couple of good tips. Read only if you are frustrated or don't want to find things out the hard way:

     

    I actually had a very easy fight with him because I didn't realize I could get to him so I went on with the game and came back later when I was 2 levels higher than he was. Levels make a big difference. It's also really cool that the game let me go on, I'm fairly certain I could have completed the game and never fought him.

  6. Posted

    So I'm flying in to San Francisco next Monday and will be working in San Mateo all week going through acceptance tests with our client. Not sure if I'll have much free time but my hotel will be right by the SFO airport. Any recommendations on stuff to do in that area? Any free time I have will only be in the evening unfortunately.

     

    Not a ton to do down there, that I know of. But San Mateo is known for Ramen, so if you get a chance, maybe go to Ramen Dojo.

  7. Posted

    Yeah its a bummer that the controls are a bit clunky, the combat is tolerable but unnecessary. Still, I could look past that because I loved the atmosphere and environment and story. Unfortunately will have to wait till later next year to see more (based off a tweet by them saying it would be ~ 9 months). I didn't find most of the puzzles to be too pixel hunt, at least, not in a bad way, but there were 1 or 2 that stood out for that, which wasn't great either. I did really like the arc of the story even in the first episode, they ended it well, and I like that they gave the episode its own complete story arc.

  9. Posted

    I unsubscribed from crunchyroll because I had finished KLK and a few other things and found myself not using it, have they improved their manga selection? When I last saw it, it was pretty pitiful. There aren't many good avenues to read manga digitally in any official way. 

     

    On the manhwa front, Naver, who host a lot of the korean webtoons, put out an official english language app and website (weebtoons.com I think), which is great, except that means all the sites and people that were translating it had to take their stuff down, so for a few series I was following, like Kubera, the official translation is at like chapter 7 whereas the (very well done) fan one was at 100 or 200 something, at least. 

     

    Also I still need to read the latest volume of knights of sidonia, which I do own, but I know ill read it really fast and then not have any more, so I have been putting it off.

  10. Posted

    I think most sports are too inflexible about rules and adapting (one of the reasons I like F1 so much is how willing they are to change the rules and use the best tech they can in all aspects of the sport), and I support what dota is doing, with iteratively changing rules for balance and fun. I mean, competitive games have been doing that for a while, but there is nothing wrong with it, and sports like Soccer should maybe try it out -- use cameras to support ref decisions, for instance.

     

    Also Sean's description of some of the more esoteric stuff (Or maybe it was Brad's on the bombcast, they both talked about the international a bunch on both podcasts) in dota, like memorizing which tree to eat so you can execute a move through it, is rather off-putting. Dota seems, from the outside, like it is incredibly far up its own ass, which I think is why I am averse to playing it.

  11. Posted

    Twisted Hel scans (the good scanalator group that has been doing Tokyo Ghoul for a while) added some more chapters, which is great, but also another group (a 4th, I think?) decided to join the fray, only they just release chapters that are way too far ahead so there is nothing leading up to them. Very strange.

     

    Can we talk about webtoons or manhwa in this thread. Even though you don't read manhwa backwards?

  12. Posted

    This looks interesting, and I can absolutely see the Swapper vibe from it. I wonder if it was a conscious influence perhaps?

     

    I have a slight apprehension that this prediction for the story could become true:

     

    The robotic AI, being a female, will have some romantic interest in the human she is protecting. I suspect this mostly just because of the choice of their genders, and also a little because in the trailer she seems emotionally distraught about possibly losing her human companion. It makes sense she'd be programmed with a strong disposition to protect him but I'd be super disappointed if the game played it out as a romantic entanglement.

     

    I can't get it right now cause my paypal's been cleared but it's on my wishlist (which basically my bookmarked 'cool games' list).

     

    I can answer your apprehension, if you want:

     

    that is not what happens

  13. Posted

    Yeah, I've also been suprised by the lack of press. Giant bomb did a quicklook, which is how I heard of it, but i've seen very few mentions of it or people talking about it, and I think it is very worth talking about and playing.

  14. Posted

    I'm at about 40 hours now, I think I am more than halfway through the game, just based on where the level cap is (im level 14, the cap appears to be 20) but I'm not sure at all. I'm still really enjoying it. I also noticed, through talking to other people, that it handles, and has specific dialogue for, doing the story out of order, or skipping parts. That reminds me of when, in Fallout 1, I just stumbled onto the final boss while wandering around the wasteland and ended up cheesing him to death, and unexpectedly beat the game.

     

    Anyway, in Divnity:

    I went to visit the white witch before entering the church and killing Braccus in Cyseal, and, though the dialogue around finding the white witch would have changed had I done that first, the game handled it just fine, and let me do it out of order. 

     

    That's not necessarily an incredibly difficult thing to do (though it can get arbitrarily complex but I don't think that is the case here) but I am always pleasantly surprised when that happens. Breaking sequences like that is something that I expect to break a game, not something I expect the game to handle gracefully.

     

    Somewhat related to that, I do also appreciate the lack of breadcrumbs/handholding because it enabled that for me.

  15. Posted

    Like I said on the podcast, I literally sat down to the game, no idea what it is, made a character (two) and went "oh fuck this is a Diablo!" 

     

    And obviously, as I play it I continue to realize that my assumptions are wrong. But Thumbs isn't a review or recap podcast -- it's what impressions do the four/five of us have when we experience a thing.  

     

    Oh yeah that totally makes sense. I thought it was like diablo when I first saw it too. I didn't intend to be accusatory, just wanted to point it out. I didn't mean to have it come across as "You are wrong" (although, that is exactly what I said, which was probably not the best thing to do), I mostly just wanted to put that information out there in case anyone didn't know or got the wrong impression. I didn't realize what kind of game it was at first and, had I thought it was a diablo style game, I probably wouldn't have played it, and would have missed out. But yes, to your point, I know idle thumbs isn't a review cast or anything, and I wouldn't want it to be either. This (crpgs at least) just happen to be something that I care a lot about, so I was perhaps a little overzealous there.

  16. Posted

    Since nobody else has done it, I'm going to be the guy that says Sean is wrong in saying that Divinity OS is a diablo style game/ action RPG:

     

    Sean is incorrect in saying that Divinity OS is a diablo style game/Action RPG. Which isn't a big deal, since it isn't that dissimilar, but since this is something I'm passionate about (this genre) I felt like pointing it out. It is a CRPG, in the vein of Fallout (1 & 2), Baldur's Gate, Planescape Torment, etc. Not necessarily a huge distinction, but the way a CRPG plays vs how an ARPG plays is pretty different imho. with a CRPG, especially divinity, there is the management of multiple party members and tactics, and it is usually turn based (or meant to be paused, like Baldur's Gate, though that actually has turns as well). It shares the whole loot and equipment and character progression stuff with an ARPG. Well, really any RPG has that I supposed. I think most CRPGs are also a lot more story/dialogue heavy, the Diablo games have very little meaningful dialogue and no dialogue trees or anything (at least, not that I can recall). You don't spend a lot of time going around a town talking to people and making choices. 

     

    Anyway, though I have never played a Divinity game before, from what I hear the old ones were more action rpgs, but this one definitely hearkens back to my favorite genre of games, and I am thoroughly enjoying it. It is a long game though, I'm 40 hours in so far and can't tell if I am close to finishing it or not. Also, typing "ARPG" and "CRPG" a bunch makes me feel like a pedantic nerdlord, which I suppose I may be.

  17. Posted

    No, this is your inference. And it's a valid one, but I will say that my immediate reaction was one of, "wait, is he wearing that Nazi?" And after playing through the scene a second time, I still had that response.

     

    The way the scene is constructed, it smash cuts (or Gilligan cuts, if you prefer) from the act of decapitation to the act of being dressed in leather. The juxtaposition of these two scenes is not an accident, even if the intention is murky. If it is implied that he's wearing human skin, that's disgusting on an ethical level. If it's not meant to be implied, then it's a horrible stylistic choice from the story department of Machine Games.

     

    Wolfenstein has been dogged in the press due to its tonal inconsistency, and its general sadism makes it hard for me to outright discount the instinctual response this specific scene elicited.

     

    Here's the scene in question, skip to 13:30:

     

     

     

    whoa whoa whoa. I don't see that at all in that scene. He just cuts his head off. There is even a mention later (I forget where) of a nazi commander found decapitated, referring to that guy. I think they probably would have mentioned skinless too. Also I don't think he could have tailored it that well.

     

     

    In Baldur's Gate 2 theres a murder who skins people, and when you find his house there is a suit of leather armor made out of human skin. I think you need to be evil to wear it or something though, I forget.

  18. Posted

    We're about to enter a golden age of this stuff (I hope). The Wasteland 2 beta scratches this exact itch, and the writing seems a shade better up front. Then Pillars of Eternity & Tides of Numenera! 

     

    I am not confident any of those will be good (though I do now have wasteland 2 beta access, but havent' tried it yet). Hopeful, but not confident. I think it is likely Pillars of Eternity will be good, at least. Inxile hasn't proven they can deliver on this yet though, and esp with Tides of fasdfajsdhfa they are making super lofty claims (spiritual successor to Planescape Torment, which is my favorite game). Hopefully wasteland 2 is good though, ill find out soon. If crpgs make a proper comback I will be so happy.

     

     

    Also, for anyone here who likes this game (Divinity) and hasn't played the late 90s/early 2000s crpgs, play Baldur's Gate 2, at least. BG2 with mods, or probably the enhanced edition (haven't tried it yet) is perfectly playable.

  19. Posted

    Oh man those gifs are incredible. I've been meaning to read one punch man, that's great. I'll also read Yotsuba.

     

    I currently have a few volumes of manga ive been meaning to read. English manga goes out of print fast, so I try to buy it while its hot, if its one I want to own. I have all 3 english volumes of Drifters (by Kouta Hirano, who made Hellsing, which I also own) which I havent read yet (though I have read scanalations) and also the latest english volume (9) of Knights of Sidonia, which I love. I with Blame! wasn't out of print, I only have the first volume which I found at a used book store.

  20. Posted

    I've been following and rather enjoying Tokyo Ghoul (http://www.batoto.net/comic/_/comics/tokyo-ghoul-r3056) but weirdly there are now 3 different scanalation groups working on it, and they all keep scanalating the same chapters over and over. that seems like a waste tbqh. Some of the groups are better than others though. Twisted Hel scans is pretty legit.

     

    Also, I would (having finished the available chapters) like to again recommend Ryuushika Ryuushika, the japanese calvin and hobbes. it is funny and adborable (http://www.batoto.net/comic/_/comics/ryuushika-ryuushika-r291)

     

    img000016.jpg

  21. Posted

    I've been watching since Hamilton's rookie year in 2007, and being British myself, have found he's my favourite driver (even in spite of his tantrums). This year has been my favourite so far; the big shake up with the technical regulations has lead to some excellent races. Long may it continue!

     

    Yeah i'm loving it too. Good battle at the top between Hamilton and Rosberg too, though neither of them are my favorite drivers. The German GP this weekend was great, though I feel sorry for Massa. It was a lot of fun seeing good drivers in good cars at the back of the pack make their way up, like Ricciardo, Hamilton, Magnussen. Also more Alonso battles, which are great.

  22. Posted

    The Fall is a game that I feel like came out of nowhere, I heard of it on IRC and because Giant Bomb (In particular, Vinny, which is worth mentioning) did a quicklook (http://www.giantbomb.com/videos/quick-look-the-fall/2300-9225/). The game, an atmospheric adventure game about robots, is only $10 on steam at full price, and, while it is only a few hours long, depending on how long it takes to figure out the puzzles, it left my very satisfied. In fact, I thought it was amazing. It seems to be episodic, and it is unclear to me whether the $10 purchase is just for the first episode, but if it is I have no complaints, as I think it is entirely justified, and it also tells a very satisfying narrative in the space it has, it does not feel lacking.

     

    For those unfamiliar (I assume most people, since I was) the quick look is a better illustration than any description I can give, but Ill try anyway. Imagine a game with the visual styling and atmosphere of The Swapper, but about robots and AI, and the problems they face, and also more of an adventure game than a puzzle game (no item combination, but picking up items and using them elsewhere in one off ways to solve adventure game style puzzles).

     

    If it is not clear from what i have already said, I adore this game and highly recommend it. It is not, however, without faults. Most of the criticism I have for it has to do with the controls. The game has some combat, though it is not the focus, and that part isn't terrible, but is a bit clunky. I got used to it and ended up not minding it, but it certainly isn't the draw. Its not awful though, its no Dreamfall.

     

    Anyway, has anyone else played it? I would love to talk about it, the subject matter and style are incredible and I really wish more games, or things in general, were like this. I also feel that this game has been relatively under the radar in the press (much like The Swapper as well) and would love to see it get more attention.

     

     

    Oh I should probably say the developer. It was made by Over the Moon Games (http://www.overthemoongames.com/) and as far as I know it is their first game, but I don't know who is there and what else they may have done. Apparently the game was kickstarted, but I was not aware of it until very recently. As I said before, I think it is great and highly recommend it.

  23. Posted

    I just finished The Fall. At least, the first episode, but the game gives no indication from the outset that it is episode, and, even were there not more forthcoming, I would have been entirely satisfied with the experience i had. It was incredibly well done. I want to discuss it more, but I think I am going to make a thread for it since I haven't found one.

     

    e: as I threatened, I made a thread about The Fall https://www.idlethumbs.net/forums/topic/9513-the-fall/

  24. Posted

    I love manga. Been closely following Tsutomu Nihei's (Author of Blame! and Biomega, among other things) Knights of Sidonia (Sidonia No Kishi). Volume 9 came out in english recently. I been getting them all as they come out because unfortunately english manga tend not to stay in print very long. I also read a lot of unofficial translations, ofc. Recently been reading Ryuushika Ryuushika, which sort of feels like a japanese Calvin and Hobbes, in that it's about a child with an incredible imagination and has some philosophy thrown in. Also its funny and adorable. Been reading the translation on Batoto (http://www.batoto.net/comic/_/comics/ryuushika-ryuushika-r291)