http://www.pentadact.com/2009-01-01-2008-in-games/ A games writer in the UK who also sometimes tries to make things. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:00:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 http://www.pentadact.com/2009-01-01-2008-in-games/#comment-46420 Redhawk Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:55:55 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2009-01-01-2008-in-games#comment-46420 I love that Mass Effect screenshot. It looks like Kaidan was giving some serious speech and Shepard just popped into the screen and was like "HAY GUSY". http://www.pentadact.com/2009-01-01-2008-in-games/#comment-46326 Thomas "Padre" Lawrence Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:29:29 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2009-01-01-2008-in-games#comment-46326 Also in Left 4 Dead news, a special message from Eminem - click the link in my name. (Warning: lots of swears) http://www.pentadact.com/2009-01-01-2008-in-games/#comment-46325 Thomas "Padre" Lawrence Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:28:47 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2009-01-01-2008-in-games#comment-46325 Also in Left 4 Dead news, a special message from Eminem: http://www.videosift.com/video/Eminem-Has-A-Message-for-Left-4-Dead-Players http://www.videosift... ...ad-Players]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2009-01-01-2008-in-games/#comment-45785 Thomas Lawrence Tue, 20 Jan 2009 07:43:05 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2009-01-01-2008-in-games#comment-45785 Hey Tom, another thing about Left 4 Dead. It struck me just last night that you can have just the latter two maps of the campaign in versus mode. You just need to select chapter four as the starting chapter when you set the game up in the lobby. http://www.pentadact.com/2009-01-01-2008-in-games/#comment-44650 Thomas Lawrence Thu, 15 Jan 2009 06:34:59 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2009-01-01-2008-in-games#comment-44650 Looks like one of your left 4 Dead complaints (the one about the Tank spawning at different times for either side of a Versus match) has been fixed by the latest update. Plus a bunch of other bugs and exploits. I's like some shorter campaigns in general. I mean, in Campaign mode you can just choose to start on part three, but in many ways I'd prefer Valve to release say, three campaigns of half the length of the current ones than two of the same length.
I's like some shorter campaigns in general. I mean, in Campaign mode you can just choose to start on part three, but in many ways I'd prefer Valve to release say, three campaigns of half the length of the current ones than two of the same length.]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2009-01-01-2008-in-games/#comment-44205 Zephyrtr0n Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:42:07 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2009-01-01-2008-in-games#comment-44205 I finally bought a 360 the other day, and I ummed and ahhhed about buying Fallout 3. But in the end, it's easily one of my fave games for a really long time. The VATS thing really works, and feels totally convincing within the world. The atmosphere is excellent - towns feel like real pits of survival, and there's a sense of not wanting to stray too far out, unlike Oblivion. It reminds me of Stalker in that way - spend too long running through the wastes and you could end up being very badly ambushed. Unlike Oblivion it also has a really tangible sense of place and existance. Everywhere looks *right*, and there's just enough mystery to make you wonder. All in all, I'm having more fun with it that I ever thought I would. I just wish, however, that when a crucial character is murdered because of a choice you make in a quest conversation, people actually reacted rather than just ignore it. It's jarring as hell, even if later dialogue does cover the death. Especially when the body lies around in a busy doorway half-dressed for 24 hours. Well, I had to loot his cool gear, didn't I! The VATS thing really works, and feels totally convincing within the world.
The atmosphere is excellent - towns feel like real pits of survival, and there's a sense of not wanting to stray too far out, unlike Oblivion. It reminds me of Stalker in that way - spend too long running through the wastes and you could end up being very badly ambushed.
Unlike Oblivion it also has a really tangible sense of place and existance. Everywhere looks *right*, and there's just enough mystery to make you wonder.
All in all, I'm having more fun with it that I ever thought I would. I just wish, however, that when a crucial character is murdered because of a choice you make in a quest conversation, people actually reacted rather than just ignore it. It's jarring as hell, even if later dialogue does cover the death. Especially when the body lies around in a busy doorway half-dressed for 24 hours. Well, I had to loot his cool gear, didn't I!]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2009-01-01-2008-in-games/#comment-43519 MartinJ Sun, 11 Jan 2009 10:57:42 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2009-01-01-2008-in-games#comment-43519 On the Mass Effect note, (SPOILER ALERT), what did you guys do with Wrex on the mission to the Krogan cure facility? Personally, I had enough charm points to persuade him to stand down, but it was in my Shepard's (I'm playing female) character to... (HEAVY SPOILER) shoot him. I felt really bad after it, but I couldn't rely on him anymore and was afraid he'd backstab me. http://www.pentadact.com/2009-01-01-2008-in-games/#comment-43168 J-Man Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:48:07 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2009-01-01-2008-in-games#comment-43168 Oh, and I meant meet up with you in game btw. Sorry, didn't wanna dash your hopes and dreams. http://www.pentadact.com/2009-01-01-2008-in-games/#comment-43167 J-Man Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:47:34 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2009-01-01-2008-in-games#comment-43167 Methinks I should meet up with you. Tell Graham I said cheers. Or maybe it's cause I used the name "Dexter", so I got Craig and John on my side... Surprisingly, I didn't even know I won. And what's this little figurine thingy? Jeez, PCG really made my day.
Tell Graham I said cheers. Or maybe it's cause I used the name "Dexter", so I got Craig and John on my side...

Surprisingly, I didn't even know I won. And what's this little figurine thingy?

Jeez, PCG really made my day.]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2009-01-01-2008-in-games/#comment-43165 Pentadact Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:20:31 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2009-01-01-2008-in-games#comment-43165 You should thank Graham, he sorted out the festivities this year. The rate's probably on their EU site, I think it was about £6 last time I checked. My favourite MMOG, by the way. http://www.pentadact.com/2009-01-01-2008-in-games/#comment-43160 J-Man Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:28:05 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2009-01-01-2008-in-games#comment-43160 Anybody know the monthly subscription cost for city of heroes? http://www.pentadact.com/2009-01-01-2008-in-games/#comment-43154 Roadrunner Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:09:37 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2009-01-01-2008-in-games#comment-43154 I once won a pogo stick off cartoon network which I never ever used. I was 8 at the time, and this wasn't when pogo sticks were cool. It wasn't even a proper pogo stick, it was a stupid looking purple and green plastic one which was heavier than a car and didn't work because the spring was the kind of spring you'd get in a cold war russian steel factory. But it is a conversation starter.
It wasn't even a proper pogo stick, it was a stupid looking purple and green plastic one which was heavier than a car and didn't work because the spring was the kind of spring you'd get in a cold war russian steel factory.

But it is a conversation starter.]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2009-01-01-2008-in-games/#comment-43130 J-Man Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:21:35 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2009-01-01-2008-in-games#comment-43130 Dear Tom, HOLY FUCKING SHIT THANKS FOR THE CITY OF HEROES COMPETITION PRIZE. Love, J-Man.
HOLY FUCKING SHIT THANKS FOR THE CITY OF HEROES COMPETITION PRIZE.

Love,

J-Man.]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2009-01-01-2008-in-games/#comment-43115 Simpunzle Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:25:35 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2009-01-01-2008-in-games#comment-43115 After that comment on the Oblivion horses... I want to ride a Yao Guai! One of those motorcycles sitting around all over the place would rock too. You get a vehicle in the other FO games, why not this one? It would make your repair skill even more useful. Last character I played in FO3 ran into a unique wasteland trader. No special name, but he had a pack mule and a friggin PET Yao Guai! I WANT!
I want to ride a Yao Guai!

One of those motorcycles sitting around all over the place would rock too. You get a vehicle in the other FO games, why not this one? It would make your repair skill even more useful.

Last character I played in FO3 ran into a unique wasteland trader. No special name, but he had a pack mule and a friggin PET Yao Guai! I WANT!]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2009-01-01-2008-in-games/#comment-42941 DoctorDisaster Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:38:12 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2009-01-01-2008-in-games#comment-42941 @Pentadact: There ARE inescapable pits in some of the Mako levels. Trust me. And just imagine the wonderment of trying to manage the camera in a deep hole barely large enough to accomodate the buggy, with sheer walls on all sides. (Wrex voice) That was fun. I agree that another type of vehicle entirely would be preferable. Some kind of speeder bike thing would be especially cool, I think, because you'd still have a sense that the rest of your team existed. The only giggles I've ever gotten from driving the Mako were when I was bouncing drunkenly over some mildly uneven terrain and suddenly realized that somewhere in the silly tank thing, Wrex and Kaidan and Shepard had to be flying around like dice in a box. While this was hilarious, it can't be a good thing for an RPG when it's hard to visualize your characters in their situation, and the resulting juxtaposition is ludicrous enough to make the player laugh. @Bumface: The threshers aren't that bad once you learn to recognize their hangouts: large, flat space with a few low, circular plateaus and a tantalizing anomaly in the middle. Then you just go in reverse toward the anomaly until the thresher appears, and bombard it while simultaneously gunning your forward accelerator. This way you can reliably get out of their zone before they can pull that adorable "shoot out of the ground right underneath you" trick. @J-Man: Bioware developed Mass Effect. For shame!
(Wrex voice) That was fun.

I agree that another type of vehicle entirely would be preferable. Some kind of speeder bike thing would be especially cool, I think, because you'd still have a sense that the rest of your team existed. The only giggles I've ever gotten from driving the Mako were when I was bouncing drunkenly over some mildly uneven terrain and suddenly realized that somewhere in the silly tank thing, Wrex and Kaidan and Shepard had to be flying around like dice in a box. While this was hilarious, it can't be a good thing for an RPG when it's hard to visualize your characters in their situation, and the resulting juxtaposition is ludicrous enough to make the player laugh.

@Bumface: The threshers aren't that bad once you learn to recognize their hangouts: large, flat space with a few low, circular plateaus and a tantalizing anomaly in the middle. Then you just go in reverse toward the anomaly until the thresher appears, and bombard it while simultaneously gunning your forward accelerator. This way you can reliably get out of their zone before they can pull that adorable "shoot out of the ground right underneath you" trick.

@J-Man: Bioware developed Mass Effect. For shame!]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2009-01-01-2008-in-games/#comment-42755 Pentadact Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:31:42 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2009-01-01-2008-in-games#comment-42755 Aw, poor girlfriend. Pretend it's from her and not us, we won't mind. Yeah, I'm not crazy about playing Left 4 Dead with strangers either. I'm fine playing with internet friends I haven't met, though. Even so, it's pretty rare that seven people I know all feel like playing Left 4 Dead for two hours at exactly the same time as me, so Versus just isn't very convenient.
Yeah, I'm not crazy about playing Left 4 Dead with strangers either. I'm fine playing with internet friends I haven't met, though. Even so, it's pretty rare that seven people I know all feel like playing Left 4 Dead for two hours at exactly the same time as me, so Versus just isn't very convenient.]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2009-01-01-2008-in-games/#comment-42752 TooNu Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:10:30 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2009-01-01-2008-in-games#comment-42752 Hey great to read that. I own left4Dead and have as yet never tried the versus mode because I hate to play with others I don't know irl so I guess I miss out. This doesn't stop me from shouting at Bill for needlessly chillin' outside the safe room every damn time! "GET IN YOU GIT GET IN!!" I won Fallout3 from the first 12days of christmas competition at your day job so I can't wait to play it. Actually, I have wanted this game for years but bought L4D rather based on the reviews and hype L4D was getting at the time. The day I won the competition, my girlfriend had to take the copy she bought me for christmas back to the shop 0_o how much of a mixed blessing is that..and how very typical. Anyway, the box should arrive to my house here in Sweden within the next week or so and again I can't wait to play it. Happy new year! to you and everybody else that reads this blog of awesome.
I won Fallout3 from the first 12days of christmas competition at your day job so I can't wait to play it. Actually, I have wanted this game for years but bought L4D rather based on the reviews and hype L4D was getting at the time.
The day I won the competition, my girlfriend had to take the copy she bought me for christmas back to the shop 0_o how much of a mixed blessing is that..and how very typical. Anyway, the box should arrive to my house here in Sweden within the next week or so and again I can't wait to play it.

Happy new year! to you and everybody else that reads this blog of awesome.]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2009-01-01-2008-in-games/#comment-42735 J-Man Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:30:03 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2009-01-01-2008-in-games#comment-42735 @Bumface (that name never gets old) I didn't mind combat with NPCs, but the rocket turrets and thresher maws had me practically sleeping.
I didn't mind combat with NPCs, but the rocket turrets and thresher maws had me practically sleeping.]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2009-01-01-2008-in-games/#comment-42734 Pentadact Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:29:11 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2009-01-01-2008-in-games#comment-42734 Weirdly, I didn't encounter a single one of those in my first play through. Second time through, just recently, I still only met one. It was fine the first time I fought it, but I died later on and the autosave is so worthless that I was set back to before the fight. This time it just randomly came up beneath me and it was game over. Classy, BioWare, classy. http://www.pentadact.com/2009-01-01-2008-in-games/#comment-42733 Nonomu198 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:25:00 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2009-01-01-2008-in-games#comment-42733 Spore is a massive piece of crap. I wish I could run Fallout 3 and Mass Effect just so I can prove so by pointing out how awesome they are.