Intrepid Homoludens

Geez, I'm nearly all talked out about this subject. Marek, you do remember the very long and very winding discussion about it at the AG forums, don't you? Well, I'm not gonna ramble on about it, I'll save my energy for some brand new topics to bite on. But your long post more or less sums it up (however cluttered ). BTW, I am an artist and designer myself (my degree says BFA), and I consider myself one of the biggest advocate whores for the use of technology to make art. Among my favourite artists are Bill Viola (video installations), Jenny Holzer (LED displays, mass media), and Laurie Anderson (performance, music, sound). There are already artists using games as platforms for their work.

That tentacle needs a shave, maaaaaaaaan.

Einstein got crappy grades in math, too, didn't he?

I thought he already had.

WOW! Check out the bumpmapping on those stone walls!!!

Burding? Burding?! Mother Yufster gave us the burd?!!

Jesus needs a shave and a haircut as well. EDIT: MAAAAAAAAANNN!!

Your avatar needs a fecking shave and haircut, man. And maybe even a ten minute shower. Maaaann.

Hey, he's kinda cute. The 'sit-down-with-a-glass-of-wine' type.

D-d-d-dammit, it's Mother Yufster! Quick, hide the Manny blow up dolls!!

Good god. That is pathetic, isn't it?

Congratulations, Jayel!!

Demos that stole my heart: top - Beyond Good & Evil; Hitman 2; Half-Life. Bottom - Gabriel Knight 3; Quake III. I usually download demos when I need a break from the full games I currently play and want to switch to another 'world' for a bit without installing a new game I haven't played yet. I actually own very few games, and even then I still have some titles I haven't yet played (like Messiah, Thief II, and Sacrifice). But I'm pretty instinctive about a game I know I'm going to love, so I play the demo not to see if I'll like it, but to confirm my decision and whet my appetite until I actually purchase the full game. So, do you guys download demos all over the place? Which demos did you fall in love with and made you buy the full game?

Heh heh, you'll always have your physical cd of Half-Life 2 to fall back on whenever that happens, right? Right? You purchased it through Steam?!!! LOSER!!!

How many shades of grey and brown can you spot? Has anyone else sampled LOTR: The Return Of The King? I d/l last night. Got to play as Gandalf, and half the time I had no freaking idea how to do it, I was simply clicking away like crazy. All that action seems pretty conventional, though. But the game actually looks uncommonly good, there were literally dozens and dozens and dozens of characters on the screen at once and it got a mite frustrating because Gandalf kept getting lost in the huge crowd of orcs and maidens (whom you were supposed to protect as they fled into the inner part of the castle under siege). I was surprised each and every character 'cast' their own shadows, the atmosphere was really believable. From what I read, all the actors from the movie recorded the voices in the game, and the characters look just like them too. I'm not usually one for hack-n-slash, but this title might be some bit of fun if I find it dirt cheap in the bargain bin later.

Some recent demos I've played: Spider-Man 2 - Lame. Obviously for kiddies and clumsy casual gamers. Most of the work's cut out for you if you're used to difficult action romps. Gameworld is lifeless and lacks interactivity. Yager - I definitely needed a gamepad with this, but was too lazy to hook up my Thrustmaster. It looks really good, and challenging enough if you like sci-fi air combat. Splinter Cell: PD single player - Very nice, but feels the same as the first title. 'Lead-you-by-hand' linearity. Splinter Cell: PD multiplayer - I chickened out of joining any sessions. Screwtape would vouch, I was scared some horny 13-year-old pervert might grab me from behind in a headlock in the dark and actually get off on it. Hitman 2: Silent Assassin, 'Invitation To A Party' level - Madly in love with this, I'm currently playing it to death, discovering the nuances of different ways of accomplishing the mission. I am getting this one. Hitman 3: Contracts - Ditto above. I am getting this one (when it goes for cheap), skipping the first Hitman title (which I own but haven't played), because Contracts recreates some of the first game's levels. Beyond Good & Evil - the rest is history, natch.

It's an excellent demo. It pits you against the Marine units sent in to 'clean up' the place, it is its own level, not one that was snatched from the full game. Gives a very good impression of how the full game felt.

When I had dial-up I used to click on a demo, go to bed, and play it in the morning or after coming home from work the next day. Wasn't always reliable, though. Sometimes the connection broke, and either I gave up or, if I really wanted it, try try again. BTW, has anyone else here played the original Half-Life demo? For those who haven't, the setting has nothing to do with any of the levels in the full game. I remember playing it for the first time and thinking, Wow! This is what good gaming is about? I have to get this game now! I was impressed that they kept the demo's gameworld separate from the full game, so that you got a good impression of it but weren't spoiled, either.

Heh.

Like father, like son......something.

You mean Kingz's aborted fetus had nothing to do with it?

And Kingz's aborted fetus, which Chris is supposed to know nothing about.

Geez!! You're not one of those.......virgin motherfunkers, are you?

MJ is to butterflies what Kingz is to pigeons.