dium

I'm not a typography snob or anything, but I always make a point of using dashes correctly (for some reason). OSX uses Alt - for en dash, Alt Shift - for em dash. That's OS level, so it's delightfully universal. Except when software overrides it, like these forums for example. :/

"Is __anything__ art?" is a question where the answer couldn't possibly matter, but I agree with what you say, the arguments either way can produce something valuable. I have also read If on a winter's night a traveler (necessarily italicized due to unconventional capitalization) and recommend it, and also recommend Italo Calvino in general. (I will say, though, that I found If on a winter's night a traveler to be a uniquely frustrating book, in that the second person protagonist is often described to be frustrated by what he's reading (or what he isn't reading) and that translates seamlessly into actual frustration on the real reader's part. At least it did for me.)

I had this exact same thought the first time I played through The Beginners Guide. It is pretty silly, but I respect Ebert as much or more than any other film critic of his generation and his categorical dismissal of video games was always a weird caveat to that. Ebert's main argument against video games was: because the video game creator can't control how the player moves through the creation, the creator can't exert enough authorial control for the game to be "art". Very basic literacy in video games is enough to see how that's moronic reasoning. But The Beginners Guide comes close to making an explicit counter-argument, through narration, while you're playing it. Every other moment Davey is telling you almost literally: "Authorial control is being exerted! Artistic intent is being communicated!" Ultimately, though, I agree with Darthbator: Ebert probably wouldn't be able to engage with the game on a deep enough level (nor would he want to).

I'm guessing that from here on out, this thread will be in Spoiler tags entirely.

Good writeup by Cameron Kunzelman on Paste: http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/10/the-beginners-guide-review-good-evening.html (No story spoilers in that article, but I'd personally avoid too much media about this game before playing it) My somewhat more considered thoughts:

I don't think this is a spoiler to say this: the game itself kinda preemptively addresses this kind of thinking about short games (and therefore itself). I played it last night and my specific opinions are still coalescing, but The Beginners Guide is definitely an appropriate and successful followup to the Stanley Parable. If you liked that game (unless you liked it purely for the humor, I suppose) you owe it to yourself to play the Beginners Guide too. Just be prepared for a completely different tone.

Wow, you just made me feel a lot better about this whole situation. Um, not that I think about other people's life choices purely in terms of what it means to my personal convenience or anything.

I had to pace myself with Bojack the same way I have to do with all-the-way, not-even-remotely-comedy drama shows. I ended up watching it at about the same rate as if it had been released on a weekly schedule.

Yes, this is why I like GOTYs too. There tends to be a lot of games released in the first half of the year that make me think "that looks interesting" and that I've already forgotten about in 2 months. GOTYs solve that problem somewhat. The rankings and who "wins" are largely irrelevant to me.

Seriously, guys? Arguing about what is game? Old memes die hard I guess.

Maybe it's reductionist but I think the appeal of Dolan Duck as a presidential candidate comes down to three things (which I put in spoilers below so as not to derail the feminism thread too much). (edited to try to get around word filter, lets see if that works)

You're fine, and you have not been playing it wrong. Any further explanations would be spoilers.

He's responsible for Keep On Truckin' and that's about it I think, yep, just checked that's all he's ever done.

Somebody brought their daughter to work today and she's been singing the chorus of Bad Blood on loop for the last 45 minutes. I have to say, I do not like this song very much. I don't think it's this little girl's fault either.

I was going to suggest that another reason we're harsher on Swift is that her work is recent and contemporary, while Crumb's very much is not. But I'm willing to believe that misogyny may have as much or more to do with it.

Already seen Matt Damon in a space suit, already seen Jeff Daniels look concerned in a control room, basically already seen the movie I assume.

Whoops, nope, pushed back to September. I should probably feel more self-conscious about how ravenous I am for more of this cartoon show.

This is where my mind immediately goes when I think about this. It makes sense to me that physical and digital pricing would be the same in part due to business relations with big retailers.

It's especially hard to understand from the perspective of someone who buys a lot on Steam, where the absolute opposite is true. Console digital stores seem so unfriendly by comparison and it's why I've never really used them. Steam has set an expectation that they don't even try to meet.

To answer the main question of the thread, though: I don't really find any of the pay-once pricing schemes in video games to be unreasonably high. In fact it's much more common for me to find prices surprisingly low (especially with mobile, like itsamoose brought up). Other pricing schemes, like subscriptions and DLC, are much too variable for me to assess as a whole. Certain examples seem exploitative maybe, but it's a case-by-case thing. The really worrying trends tend to be related to games I have no interest in (whale-hunting "social" games... or Star Citizen) so I have less to say about those.

I was about to make a post about how full-price video game pricing is practically irrelevant to me since I buy the majority of my games at steep discounts during sales and promotions. But then I started answering dartmonkey's question and I realized how that isn't really true anymore... mainly due to Nintendo. The last video game I bought at full launch-day price was Splatoon. Other full price games I bought this past year before that (not necessarily in this order): Mario Kart 8, Smash Bros WiiU+3DS, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate. I checked my Steam list just now and apparently I also bought Cities Skylines and Grim Fandango Remastered for what is currently "full price" but I can't remember if those were launch prices or not (they're both under $30).

This is the first I've even heard of it. Which in and of itself makes me want to see it.

The advantage to Microsoft was understood, but it's good to know I wasn't missing anything.

What is the advantage (or, if lacking an advantage, the difference) of waiting for an invite as opposed to just forcing the update like I did?