ThunderPeel2001

Here's what I get from it: It's GTAIV with a new city. There's absolutely nothing about the video that suggests they've attempted to do anything new or different. The fact that the lead is older just means they've opted for a different stereotype this time: Mafia Boss. He doesn't even sound as interesting as Tony Soprano. I can already hear his dialogue in my head, though. "Eh, Tony! What the fuck do you mean they're dead? Well get out there and find my fucking drugs! Here I am, so-called mafioso boss. Wanted by the FBI, CIA and Interpol. Biggest dick in the city. And I'm stuck working with fucking amateurs." Actually, I suppose this time he's going to have more of a heart, given that it's implied he's retired and wants a family life. Except he can't escape his past... How original! *sigh* *sigh* *moan* *moan* Despite this one gripe, it visually looks fantastic and I actually can't wait to play it, given the fun I got from GTAIV. I just wish they could write something good! I wonder if they'll use the cop system from GTAIV or Chinatown Wars?

I'm guessing Dan Houser is still handling writing duties: I forgot I had muted my laptop when the trailer came on, and in my head I expected to hear a low, gravely voice talking wryly about "the city". I restarted the video, unmuted and lo, if that wasn't exactly what I got. *sigh* Looks stunning, though.

So it's Grand Theft Auto IV: San Andreas Edition then.

I just found it amusing. I thought Elmuerte was referring to 4:3 at first. Why is 16:10 preferred over 16:9?

Excellent.

Sorry, Chris. I was apparently too busy noticing Jake's name to notice yours... :-/

Not by too much, I hope.

It's interesting. I really enjoyed the first game, but I was bewildered at how they decided to end it: Weird cliff-hanger about Marcus's dad being connected to the Horde? It's not really a game where I care about the plot, but I do wonder what they did with it... I guess I'll eventually find out when I play. I hope it's something interesting.

Couldn't he just configure it for controllers to use dual sticks? A trigger button could be used for jumping.

Well I'm ashamed that I used to send emails so filled with unusual and creative vitriol, if that's any consolation. Actually that sounds insincere, but it's not. I used to be HUGELY defensive because I was so sensitive. I could get slighted very easily because of certain things that ruined my self-esteem in my youth. I'm a hell of a lot better than I used to be, though. In fact, I'm barely recognizable in many ways to the person I was in 2002. I know I still have my moments, but I'm sincerely sorry that our email exchange left a stain on your memory. Also, for what it's worth, I loved Church of Tim. (Although I'll never understand why you bowed to pressure to censor Michaelangelo's David Tim.)

A bandanna counts as a pirate outfit now? :-/

If only. That would have been awesome

To be fair, you'd just emailed me a photo of someone giving the finger because I'd pointed out that the Church of Tim - the one place on the internet dedicated to Tim Schafer's games - had gotten the name of two of his five credited games wrong. So I got a bit defensive. I'm sorry (Oddly enough I still remember opening the attachment, probably as much as you remember being likened to a primate with poor language skills.) Sigh. Everything on the internet should be erased.

Haha! That says SO much about our culture. Forget Windows, this is applicable to every new tech product. Take iPads. In 16 years time they're going to look like pieces of shit!

I decided to write more than two letters about Tintin: Overall it was a fun adventure in a way that I've never really seen before. I've never been a fan of Tintin (finding the titular character to be far too dull), but this just about managed to win me over. At its best it reminded me of Raiders of the Lost Ark, at its worst it reminded me of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The worst moments (for me) came when the writers seemed to take the easy way out just so they could have a stupid, slapstick joke. I always thought that Tintin's alleged strong point was its realism and intricate plotting -- While there's plenty that makes the world seem "real", there's also plenty that takes it into Tex Avery territory. It's a weird mix. I also kept thinking, "this would be so much better if it was live action". It's still worth seeing, though, and I'm sure kids of a certain age will love it.

Why did you all get name checked in 2005?

Agh, no! I got too uninhibited and bought everything! Now I no longer have a house or computer on which to play my vast Steam collection. Damn you, IrishJohn. Also: Ghostbusters The Video game is $3!

I could buy a beer for that!!!

It's damned ugly. And it's a really shitty way to navigate your music. Much like WinAmp or Windows Media Player. That said, I despise it more than the others because so many people think it's the greatest app on the planet. As I said before, I think Zune player has the perfect balance of prettiness and usability. Of course it comes down to personal tastes, but the fact that it killed subbes has definitely tipped the scales against it for me.

That hasn't been true for a while now: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/

Glad we could be of help!

Hmm. Not so much a "bundle" this time. When is a Ben and Dan game going to be added to one of these?

What was right? Um. Some of the background were acceptable (most were barely OK or pretty shoddy) and a few of the voices were good (Guybrush, LeChuck, the Store Owner, as I remember). The rest was TERRIBLE. Including the interface, which made Maniac Mansion's look advanced. The worst crime of all was erasing the beautiful memories of the original game. Thank god they got things a lot more right with the second SE.

Jakey Jakey Jake Jake

I despise iTunes (and iPods), but only because of the awful interface. Zune player is where it's at for me