twmac

DR3 keeps the time mode in Hardcore difficulty. Going back and getting my girlfriend to play Dead Rising 2 and then playing Co-Op with a friend who isn't very good at games there was this startling realisation as to why Dead Rising 3 has made the timed mode optional. It makes the game better for everyone. I doubt I will play the game in non-timed mode (as long as it is unlockable from the start) but I know a lot of people who might actually play it due to it no longer being massivel y stressful. It is weird because only about a month ago I was all against it but watching my girlfriend struggle up against that instant fail scenario in Dead Rising 2 (where your daughter will die for lack of Zombrex) and give up was an epiphany for me.

I absolutely loved the podcast and it definitely gave me a better appreciation of other people's appreciation of the book. When I read the first two or three pages I was immediately captured by how clever some of his storytelling was, for example the bit already mentioned about 'Mucho' Maas's time as a car salesman sold me on reading further because you understand him to be a ridiculous and unlikable character not because it is explained as such (the story itself hints at him having a poetic soul) but because of Oedipa's reaction to his story and the way she seems to mock patronise him for being a dick. Later that is justified by tales of his quasi-pedophilic infidelities, but in the moment it is entirely down to the reader to take Oedipa's side (or not). A weaker story would have immediately followed up that car lot story with his infidelities but instead Pynchon waits until later for the reader to have to potentially re-evaluate their feelings. Unfortunately, my initial excitement for the novel waned and the whole thing outstayed its welcome with me. There were flashes of fun had at the end (the swastika salesman, Hilarius) but I was so bored that I just plowed through the overly long, overly wordy sentences and pretty much yawned my way to the final page. I totally agree that it shares things in common with the illuminatus trilogy (a book I thought was fucking awful) but it never quite plumbs the depths of tedium that illuminatus did. The book ends on a high note for me, if Pynchon had tried to wrap it all up and give a traditionally satisfying conclusion I would've chucked the book in the bin once done but I did like the final line (even if it is a little overwrought in some ways). I also equate part of my lack of enjoyment of the book with my sobriety. I was pretty drunk when I first started reading the book and I had time in those sauced moments for the book's playfulness with words. I haven't had a drink in 10 days and that almost perfectly coincided with my lack of tolerance for the sentence structure and my constant tripping over the stupid names he gave all his characters. Even drunk, I was not able to internalise their silliness and calling them that was like putting a semi-colon in a part of the sentence; it had no place in being. Not dreadful (I think people touched enough on Pynchon's handling of Oedipa so I won't go into my enjoyment of that), and I certainly enjoyed the discussion had around it but I am not sure I am going to bother with any more Pynchon until I am regularly drinking again.

I cannot wait, this is killing me. Eurogamer post reveals February 2014 as the definite date: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-10-28-earth-defense-force-2025-dlc-and-pre-order-bonuses-detailed

The thesis? Essay? Just kidding. The main point is that, basically, I am pretty sick of the treatment and attitude of the gaming community at large towards women in gaming. A problem that I consider myself to have contributed towards with some ill advised writing and flawed outlook. It rambles a bit but one of the things that bothers me is that gaming and the way that it caters to its audience creates a a self-fulfilling cycle. The community identify with Judd Nelson's character, and don't believe that it is them that are troubled and need a reality adjustment and that really it is everyone who criticises the thing they love that needs adjusting.

I have generally abstained from posting in here, and I am a little afraid about the reactions to this link I wrote: http://www.arcadianrhythms.com/2013/10/releasing-the-inner-man-child/ It came out a couple of days before the Rock Paper Shotgun article rooted around the same sort of thing. Anyway would appreciate feedback, the pointing out of flaws etc, as it something I have become increasingly tired of in the gaming community (I wrote a similar piece called 'Does this look Sexist to you?' a couple of years back). By and large some of the sentiments I've read here I've found pretty distressing as this is definitely a community I respect. Finding attitudes that I have little respect for in terms of being anti-feminism is disappointing.

Sno has been bullying politely encouraging me to play Armored Core V that I have sitting in my unplayed games stack (I picked it up in Poland brand new for 39 Zloty), I am planning to try and dedicate some time to it this weekend as long as I am not too busy. I loved Armored Core IV so I will see what I can do.

Oh man, I just picked up ACV, and then they release Verdict Day... I am so behind. I just finished Castlevania: SotN for the first time. That game is pretty damn amazing and has stood the test of time, mostly. I was really impressed. It is also another game that Dark Souls has clearly taken a lot of cues from. So very good. As soon as it ended I had this weird empty feeling, so I just booted up Castlevania: Harmony of Despair. Don't know what everyone was talking about as the game is actually really great. Have attempted the second level twice and am really liking the potential for multiplayer that I am probably never going to see as no one plays this game anymore.

I wrote about the ending over on the site I write for. Forgive me if it strikes you as a little bit like an armchair game writer. The point is that I spend so much time criticising stuff and nto really proposing solutions that I thought I might try it for once (well twice, seeing as I included a piece I wrote back in 2012) http://www.arcadianrhythms.com/2013/09/what-i-was-looking-for-in-the-ending-of-the-last-of-us/ I wrote it a while back but it didn't get published until now but damn the Idle Thumbs podcast for talking about the ending almost in sync with my article's release!

I had a lazy weekend and put this on. The strange thing I am finding is that it is very therapeutic to just fly places instead of asking for extraction. That said, I think that Saints Row IV may have forever ruined me when comes to world traversal.

I finished it last week and I am so mixed about what it did. There were so many things that felt utterly pointless and yet I can't see how the game would have got away without having them implemented (talking to people between missions, permadeath of the team mates). It just felt like they could quite go all the way in one direction so this game just ended up being nothing. The combat and the commands seem at odds with each other and the AI, although earnest, is utterly wretched in places. However, I did finish it and there were moments where I did enjoy it. I know that doesn't make sense but there you go. Love that screenshot Murdoc.

That's not actually true. I have one and it only plays US titles or really early PAL games that didn't have region locks incorporated. Sean, the leg injury I totally understand. Some of what you are expressing seems to be standard with grevious injuries. My friend exerted himself to the point of exhaustion and ended up with kidney problem that almost killed him. In his road to recovery he suffered from a massive amount of depression because of his inability to do what he wanted to - having been so active and mobile - and this manifested itself with a sense of his own mortality and it scared the crap out of him. I've had the same experience on a smaller scale, I tore a muscle in my chest after a poor decision while climbing. I was out of action for around 2 months, for about 2 weeks I couldn't breathe without it hurting and it was another 6-7 weeks before I could even contemplate climbing again. It was crushing for me at the age of 33 when one of my climbing buddies (aged 26) shrugged a couple of injuries off like they were nothing. It got me down. My feeling is that your body, after suffering a trauma, pummels you with 'downers' as a defence mechanism to make sure you do not go out and do the same fucking thing all over again. On the up side, my buddy fully recovered and is as physical as he ever was. For me, it was a good lesson I've started to know my limits - a bit like understanding when you need to stop drinking - and not pushing past them and also understanding when I can go the extra mile. Also, worth bearing in mind that the best cross country endurance runners (the crazy 3 day trial runners) are in their late thirties and forties.

Speak for yourself.

I would also recommend Dungeon Defenders.It is a great little Co-Op RPG/Tower Defense hybrid where you both actively storm around setting up towers and shooting/hitting enemies.

Duh, I feel stupid now. I really should have been able to figure it out for myself.

I am still confused. I am not going to be specific on that as I am still deciding.# Also what does SO stand for? Do I have to read the article find out? I don't want tips on how to date a gamer; menbabies have cooties.

This whole thing is utterly cringeworthy, but there is a part of me that would love to see this made. To the point where I am also tempted to drop 500 dollars to be an extra in this film: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1544635303/postal-2 It doesn't look like it has a hope of getting its funding though.

It is either that he has lost any understanding of reality or that he has a full grasp on it and enjoys mocking everyone for thinking that he could be this crazy. I don't know at what point I reached the turning point, it might be after I watched Far Cry for the third time but I've gone from despising the guy, the travesty of House of the Dead started it, to simply being amazed at his audacity (three Bloodrayne films) to some kind of admiration for his tenaciousness. One thing you can guarantee is that if he does get funded then we will have a product by the end of it, unlike some kickstarters - he will definitely deliver on whatever he can. No matter how bad it is.

The joke video and the 'but seriously' video on that page are virtually identical and the blurb seems to be written by an excited child. It is amazing.

What does SO stand for? 'Sombre Overlord'?

Because I have a unpleasant sense of humour.

I liked Armageddon, I wrote about it quite heavily when it came out: http://www.arcadianrhythms.com/2011/07/earth-defense-force-insect-armageddon-review/ I am massively excited about 2025.

I finished it last night and although I am not willing to go to the levels of insanity that Miffy did, I enjoyed it. There were several little digs the game made from a mechanics perspective that definitely made me chuckle. The other thing that struck me was how much more savvy the game was about its roots and the mistakes that lay therein. The Shaundi loyalty mission is a good example of them shrugging off a few female tropes and the writing really reflects that. Certainly, it is still dumb in places but it knows when it is being dumb and sends that up. The combat has vastly improved with the introduction of powers, instead of every fight being 'run in kill, then run away to revive yourself' the powers allow comabt to flow, plus the health drops mean that you can really indulge in the carnage. It all makes sense and it is just surprising how many things they fixed that I never realised were broken in the first place. Great job all round.

This just shot to the top of my list of things to play this weekend. Cheers Mington!

Yeah, that has been like that since the inception of the X360.

We are in very different time zones so I am not sure if I could make any promises.