manny_c44

At the same time, if the "Reviewer's Tilt" is how the reviewer afctually feels about the game, why not just post that as a definitive score, rather than bogging the system down with categories that are often times meaningless.

Yeah, but if you read the review its not scathing. I think this reviewer was operating on a 5.0 is average scale, of course adding relevance to your previous argument. I'd never heard of this game, thanks for bringing it up. Really the Bard's Tale review was kind of wierd in a partisan way too. It seems this guy doesn't buy the humor of the game--even at one point suggesting "the game might've even been better if it had played it straight all the way through." I thought the whole point of this game was its humor? And since we're railing against gamespot I also had similar issue with their "Armed and Dangerous" review. Sometimes these reviews make you feel like the guy on the other end just doesn't get it, but instead of just stating that, he's also persuading thousands of people that the game isn't worth their time or money. I have friends (...the stupid ones, I suppose) who, if deciding to read a review at all would look at the score and nothing more. If people actually read reviews I think it would be better for the reviewers (who invest time making them) and the gamers making a purchasing decision. Plus, since the whole reviewing industry is probably damn afraid to deviate too much from one another, cyclical trends form that, in this case, hurt the developers who spent years making a great game. I also think the thumb has this absolutely right, no score is great. But frankly Thumb reviews will never be mainstream because they lack the bizarre instant gratification people get from scores. I think not alot of people read the actual reviews. I don't know if its the poor journalism dished out by alot of other sites or...really I have no explanation other than people's adversity to the written word. Which is a whole other thing that perplexes me. I'm not even sure this rant makes sense, so I'm stopping.

I agree with your idea for arbitrary number assignments as ratings. Any sort of standard is obviously not going to be upheld between writers and between generations of writers for a large and constantly changing site, so throw it out the window and take this "mine is bigger than yours" mentality to the extreme. And why even stop at numbers? Games should be likened to land masses and well known landmarks from now on: Graphics: Syberia Sound:Morroco Gameplay:Gobi Desert in the fall Value: Jersey City Tilt: Pisa etc. That way anyone who reads can construe different deeper-meaning from the scores.

Yeah, you're a pussy. FFX is absolutely devoid of emotion. I'd never before seen a game so focused on story and yet completely lacking one. Voice acting was generally piss too.

If your phallus looks anything like that I would run to a doctor.

...alright, I admit it. I just want to pirate it.

Well its felt like 8 years. Do you think it'll run on XP? I can't find it anywhere...not even ebay has one in the US. I'll just have to pirate it I suppose.

I've really been meaning to look into Outcast for about, well, 8 years or so....I mean it, cough. I'll have to get it, because I was excited about it before other games made me forget it. Thanks for reminding me. Anyway, an example of a game with a great save system is Metal Gear Solid 2 (on Hard difficulty--its just better that way). You can save at any time, but when you load, or die, you'll be at the beginning of the room you saved in. This effectively splits each area into a small level, never eliminating the level's challenge while still allowing for freedom in saving. Also, it uses this room system as a check point, so most of the time you'd only be saving before quiting. In my opinion this makes the game much more fun and just makes sense. But this concept would be hard to implement in games that aren't like MGS. Which is basically all games.

Once you get over the complete and utter lack of a cohesive story, FF X is a pretty fun game. It is plagued by half-baked concepts and rambling soliloqy (or however you spell it), but the battle system is nice and the production values are admirable. I rather liked the enviornments and most (...ok half) of the characters, overall a good game. I say stick with it for atleast a few hours before giving up on it completely.

Really though, Chris, thats hardly a reason to not like a game.

That black and white really was one of the most overrated games of all time...but there's always Halo.... By the way, CGW still has some good writers, its just that the mag is meaty, and Greenspeak has been replaced with a much worse (but still entertaining) column by Coffey. Still my favorite PC magazine. Although they gave Grim Fandango 4/5 stars!

Maybe as these game projects become larger and more bloated, profitable but less expensive games will find a place to co-exist. Like blockbuster movies versus the cheaper-made but sometimes usually better movies, ie Napolean Dynomite, Memento, etc. Or maybe it will be like music, where indie music wilts away while Neu-Cock Rock dominates the globe....I'd rather not think about it

Download 'Ad-Aware' if in doubt. I'm too lazy to get a link, but you should find it easily. It works well.

Ohio authorities say a man was charged Monday with filling out more than 100 fictitious voter registration forms, some in names such as Disney character Mary Poppins and pop singer Michael Jackson. Chad Staton, 22, of Defiance County in northwestern Ohio, was to receive money for each registration form he could persuade potential voters to fill out, said Sheriff David Westrick. Instead, Staton, himself, filled out the forms and returned them to the Toledo woman who hired him. Sheriff's deputies allege he was paid in crack cocaine instead of money. Sweet

Yeah, this demo is pretty much a steaming loaf. The last thing I want from Prince of Persia is Butt-Rock and derivative action. The prince used to be almost a game about exploration and puzzling, the combat was never really an all consuming focus...in fact probably the worst part of those original Pop games was the combat. All important issues aside (like how boring and oddly silent the game is), the graphics are a nice continuation of the PoP style, that whole boat scene was well done.

I'll probably just get Half-Life first and then pick through the rest of that list after Christmas...wait a little while to get Metroid 2, Paper Mario, maybe Metal Gear but I might be too weak to resist. And I really want to play unity even though I know nothing about it.

I think I'm the only one, but even after trying to like Pop for about 5 hours into the game, I just didn't. The combat was boring and the platforming felt stilted. The production values were good enough, but in that 5 hour span I don't think I actually had any fun. I can't see what the glowing reviews were about. I think I'm just getting sick of action games.

Ah, yes. I didn't know this was widespread...I figured people were just leveling up all the time or something. Its funny because although I own FF 7,8,9, and 10, I have never beaten a single one of them. Granted I got about 50 hours of enjoyable gameplay out of each, but I just can't seem to finish one because of the descrepency in difficulties. I hear that Chrono Cross doesn't have this problem, plus gamespot gave it a 10, so I'm probably gonna go looking for a copy ,throw it on my pocket pc, and maybe, finally, beat a Square game.

If you buy either one (pie or cookies) from a store, they are usually shit. If you make either one at home it usually tastes good, so they're all winners. Pies are pretty elaborate in their preperation...but there are dozens of better complicated pastries than pie. The cookie, on the other hand, is like an any-time snack, which are quick and can be ridiculously good if you make special kinds....so I vote cookies.

If your motherboard doesn't have an AGP slot you should probably be looking to upgrade other things too. You could tape a 6600 Gt to a 1987 Dodge Caravan, but it won't run Half-Life 2. Or something...

Harvesting the idlethumb's forums for talent?! Thats madness! Besides that comic bit has been overdone, what you really need is pr0n.

Those robots are meant to be push-over enemies, you shouldn't be taking more than like 40 damage, not dying especially. You know, you can move your gun without locking on, thats probably what you need to do. Although I don't agree with the example I absolutely agree with the general sentiment....even worse are the 10 billion bosses in a row in some Final Fantasy games. If you die at the end you'll be playing for hours just to get back to the one that gives you problems. Not fun.

Be more specific.

I really can't tell if the responses in those 2 other forums are sarcastic or not...1 post looks sincere, and then the next could be construed as sarcastic.

I hope the new game is a gun breaking simulator.