Topics

91

Classic Video Games / Which console generation improved the most on the last? (Best Console Gen?)

« on: November 27, 2018, 06:48:27 pm »

Hello everyone



Throughout the time of gaming, so many generations have come and gone but the whole point of launching that new wave is to innovate and give something new and exciting that beats out what is already the standard in terms of quality and fun.  And each generation seems to set the bar higher and higher.  So my big question is....


Which gaming generation did the most to improve on the generation that came before it?




My answer might shock some of you guys as I know it's outlandish and many actually say the opposite but the generation imo that improved the most on the last and will stand time as one of the most important video game generations of all time....  is the current one.  And I'll explain why







Virtual Reality no longer a sci fi dream but a "virtual' reality




My first reason for this console generation being the most revolutionary and most evolving is Sony's innovation first.  But I will get into Nintendo and Xbox's big innovation as well.  But Sony along with Oculus and HTC have reinvisioned what VR can be, where it can go and has made a statement in terms of technological engineering.   Sure the library is still in infancy and nobody knows what this can be yet.  But boy is it interesting.   It's what we used to imagine the future would be like except it's here and the future is now



PC power in a Home Console.  The 4k Titans




While PS4 Pro is also a spec beast,  This advancement in my story belongs to Xbox with their incredible One X.  A vapor cooled spec beast with 4k 60 Fps visuals, HDR,  and ridiculous load times and computing power.  Enough to rival many of the industry standard PCs (in similar price range) and it does so in the comfort of a home console platform.   Graphically speaking.  We have never seen anything come close in a home console.



2 in 1 Console, Nintendos Reimagining of efficiency and design




Nintendo might have the most unique of all these advancements in gaming tech.  The idea to have a home console with 1080p current genish visuals, but that type of power in which you can bring with you anywhere and play anywhere seemlessly.    This idea has spawned a generation that blurs the line between portable and home console.   A world where you can play every game you can on the big screen in the palm of your hand on your morning commute or on lunch breaks.   It's a idea that might be underappreciated. How a Switch puts PS3 or even slightly better then PS3 quality graphics into a console thinner than a wallet and capable of fitting in a hoody kangaroo pocket is mind boggling.


Best Controllers Ever




Some people are team Xbox controller (like me) and some love the PS4 controller more.  But if you've held both I think most can agree both offer something for different genres of games and both are freaking amazing!  And most people revere either one or the other as the greatest controller of all time.    If you are into first person shooters and racing games.  Xbox One controller offers the most incredible FPS platform in gaming.   If you are into platforming, fighters, JRPGs and hack and slash games,  PS4 controller is the standard.  And both have improved so much on the last gen.  With motion tech, rumble sensors, improved grips and PS4 with its touch pad and light bar.  It adds a level to immersion. 



A all in one media device




All 3 main consoles but especially Xbox One (hence the name) have made gaming consoles so much more than just gaming consoles.  Taking over a whole avenue of other media outlets and using their device as a hub to seemlessly interchange among channels, apps, smart TV content and blu ray media.   With voice command or motion command, this becomes a way of interchanging all of what you like at a whim easy.


The FREE game that took over the world




I know Fortnite is very controversial among gamers, and I personally don't like it but the idea of having a game, that is essentially free (aside from paying for skins or advantages) be one of the most downloaded and played games of all time has vastly changed the platform of gaming.  It proves that games can be free but still not only be massively appealing but also extremely profitable and fun.   I see how 8 year olds act with this game.  And it makes me question why my parents had to pay 60 dollars per game growing up lol.


Red Dead Redemption 2




Red Dead Redemption II.   It's all that needs to be said





So those are my reasons why I think this console gen is not only easily the best console gen of all time but also the most innovative and bettering upon the last.   I think between Switch, PS4, And One X we have a trifecta of gaming consoles,  each offering something and each essential to a gamer.   All are borderline flawless and all have amazing fun to be had




What console gen do you think improved the most on the last? 

92

Off Topic / Who is your favorite DBZ character? DBZ Universe vs Marvel/DC Universe?

« on: November 25, 2018, 07:18:02 am »

Hello everyone


1st part of the question.....


Just recently I started to get into the DBZ universe .  I have been watching the old episodes and the Budokai games and most especially Fighter Z are gorgeous and incredible fighting games up to the standards of Marvel Vs Capcom games.  Very fun and fast paced arcade fun     I love the anime quite a bit and have been enjoying all the characters and the back plot.  It's taking a lot to unravel as I am extremely late.  But i'm starting back with the old cartoons and working my way up to new stuff.


I definitely already have my number 1 favorite character.  But I will list off my favorite 3.   



I also wanted to ask, what is everyone's thoughts on DBZ as a whole? 


NUBMER 1 FAVORITE CHARACTER - Android 18




Android 18 is super badass.  I think she's awesome.  Not only is she extremely tough and capable of whooping Vegeta's butt but she is also extremely beautiful even though she's an android lol.   



Second Favorite - Piccolo




Piccolo is epic,  he's strong but grounded in his ways too.  He's Goku's buddy and he's strong af.   


3rd favorite -  Goku




I know it's a casual fan answer because he's so popular, but he's freaking Goku lol.  I like him a lot.  More than I like Vegetta or Gohan. 





Second Part of the Question......








For my second part of the title,  I have seen a lot of debates circling around that Goku by himself could beat up the entire Marvel Universe.   I think this is a bit of hyperbole and very situational but I could be wrong.  I want to make it fair by giving Goku some sort of power limit.  Maybe a certain SS threshold as DBZ universe plot wise the power is basically limitless so theoretically Goku could defeat anyone.   So I made it fairer by having the entire DBZ Universe versus the Entire Marvel and DC universes.     In a giant show down of epic galactic, super hero, saiyan proprotions



I personally think it's very close.   For the DBZ let's give them only their regular form, maybe Super Saiyan form but not ultimate form so it's fair.   But I think Silver Surfer serves to be an extremely difficult out, as does Galactus.   Characters like Spiderman who are essentially mortals with super power suits would get killed pretty easily by Goku.  Batman would get snapped in half like a pencil and maybe even eaten lol.    But I think some mutated beasts like Venom, Carnage, Hulk, and the likes would be very tough to beat.   I think Hulk would get bested by Piccolo easily but I think Carnage might Kill a Krillin or a Trunks. 



It'd be a pretty amazing showdown.  I think their are so many faceoffs to be had




Which is your pick for which universe would win?



I think i'm giving it to DBZ unvierse by a slim margain.  I know Cell could whoop a good portion of the universe.  I think strenght in numbers might play for Marvel.  It'd be super close  

93

Modern Video Games / PS4 black friday bundle, VR and Controllers sale has launched early. 18th-26th.

« on: November 19, 2018, 05:10:26 am »

I know many of you probably already know, feel free to ignore this thread if so and I don't mean to overshare but it was shocking me how poorly this sale was advertised.  Almost none of my friends know about it and so many people are still waiting till friday and thinking the spiderman is a digital and that only gamestop has it.  It seems as though they are selling fast but I just wanted to share in case any of you kind folk were interested in one early     It's all retailers that carry one while supplies last.  Seemed to be a few at my local walmart but they had to pull the box from the back. 


The spiderman is also a physical copy for those wondering.   


Thanks for looking.   Happy hunting! 

94

General / I am finally a proud PS4 owner :). Game suggestions? (Soera)

« on: November 18, 2018, 05:22:01 pm »

Hello everyone

I finally broke the seal today.  I am so excited. After years of putting it off because I already had Xbox One and Switch and couldn't warrant having 3 next gen consoles.  I finally found the moment in time where I had the chance to get it for the sale (199.99 for 1TB with Spiderman) and get an awesome game with it       It's the first time 3 different consoles convinced me to buy their flagship all in the same Generation which says something about the state of games.  I think all 3 are very incredible.  What a time to be alive.




The reason I put Soera in the title is because I wish I could tag Soera because I know he loves PS4 and I really admire his collection.  So impressive and awe inspiring how much epic blue gold he has lol .   I know he knows the console front and back and along with many others has convinced me to buy it.



Early Impressions


My earliest impression of the console is I love the design and how it looks on my desk near my One X.  It has a larger foot print than I thought it would width wise.  It's the slim model but it's pretty long and heavy. It's actually quite a bit bigger than my One X surprisingly.   I find the controller to be much better than I imagined and I love the light and the feel of it.  I enjoy the UI and what i've seen of the interface as well .   But of course i'm very new. 



My main intent is to share a proud moment of my gaming journey.  But I also wanted to ask for game reccomendations from the proud PS4 folk on here    For games that are hidden that should be tried.


My favorite type of game for PS consoles is action adventure like Ratchet and Clank, Jak and Daxter type games.  Specifically Ratchet and Clank being the main reason I wanted it so bad because I love those.  Sadly only 1 Ratchet game has been made but I wanted to know if any other PS exclusive games fit that cloth.   Jak and Daxter style games   I also like open world stuff, and kingdom hearts style games (Adventure RPG)

My current must have list is

The Last Of Us Remaster
GOW
Ratchet and Clank
MLB The Show 18
The last of Us 2 (when it's announced)
Horizon Zero Dawn

Those are the main reason I bought the console, along with spiderman of course but it came with that one


What are your thoughts on the awesome 199.99 PS4 sale?  What games would you reccomend?   Thanks for sharing

95

Classic Video Games / Pat the NES punk controversy. Thoughts on Pat's "gamers are entitled" remarks?

« on: November 17, 2018, 07:02:49 pm »

Hello everyone


To keep it short and to the point for those who aren't caught up on everything.


1. Diablo Immortal (mobile diablo) gets announced. Everyone rages about it because they didn't like it.
2. Pat the NES punk refers to those getting upset about it as cry babies and claims gamers are entitled.
3. PewDiePie (70 million subscribers) picks up the story, essentially giving Pat (250k subs) the ermac fatality. Just off his sheer fanbase scale.  Now all his fans are ravaging Pat's channel with dislikes and unsubs.
4.  Everyone hates Pat now.



To stem beyond that a lot of people don't like Pat to begin with,  they say he did his pawn stars thing and only went on there to flex his NWC gold and grey carts and that he is very mean to his friend Ian sometimes and really just jumps into topics he doesn't know much about to give half assed opinions and has a fake superficial personality. 




I however disagree with this and like Pat a lot and want to meet him at an expo soon.  I like Pat and I think Pat was also 100 percent right with his statement.  As a gamer I can admit I fall into this category sometimes.  I am 100 percent a whining, hard to please, entitled gamer sometimes as all gamers are I think.   We all tend to demand things of Devs without taking consideration intangibles or their feelings, we critique anything and everything we don't like way too harshly almost in a cult like way,  we are very over reactive as a community and very unaccepting of things that don't tailor fit our preferences.  Which can be frustrating at times.   


Where do you stand with Pat the NES punk?  Have you met him?  Do you like him?   Or do you not know who he is? 

96

General / What is your video game bounty? (Video Game Sins forum game)

« on: November 16, 2018, 07:16:45 pm »

Hello everyone

I have a fun game to play in the forums with everyone inspired by Red Dead's bounty system and how certain crimes warrant harsher bounties to be placed on you. .  I am going to list a list off some of the most damning Video game sins a gamer or anyone could do in the world of gaming.  And assign a money value to each and I want to ask what your total bounty is?   You will see what I mean below.  The bounty on your head may say a lot about you and the type of collector you are but probably not   Below are some of the hollowed grounds in which gamers have walked the path of the dark side of gaming and done the forbidden either as a naive child or just by mistake.   Each has a money value that places the bounty on your head.  Let's see who is the GREATEST OUTLAW OF ALL OF VG COLLECT. 



Crimes

Wrote your name on a cartridge with sharpie -  10$
Threw out the box to a game as a kid or adult - 20$
Traded in a game to gamestop for less than a 10th it's value -  10$
Called someone the N word on Xbox Live - 100$
Ever said the phrase "Genesis does what Nintendon't" unironically - 150$
Shipped a video game box to someone in a bubble mailer -  2,250$
Placed the price sticker on the inside cover of the game instead of the case - 1,200,000$
Bought your child or gamer relative a DVD for christmas suckering them into thinking it was a game due to it's shape. - 10$
Unplugged the console because you lost to your sybling in a game - 100$
Cheated without the other person knowing - 10$
Spoiled the ending to a JRPG or any game ruining someone's experience of the game.  - 200$
Deleted someone's save file of their memory card deliberately - 15,000$
Got a game you already had but didn't pretend to be happy - 10$
Bought the zelda wallet off the gamestop counter lol - 10$
Ever used the term "Get rekt noob" unironically -  100$
Ever made fun of someone for liking a certain console (console wars) - 20$
Ever made fun of full set collectors for buying shovelware to fulfill their goal -  50$
Ever hit the reset button while your friend was playing SNES or NES - 200,000$
Any time a game puts a gay or minority protagonist, you label it "pandering" - 200$
Moved an Xbox 360 while the disc was spinning causing it to scratch - 10$
Claimed a high score that wasn't yours at the arcade or stole your friends armor - 20$
Camped during objective based games causing your team to lose - 5$
Ever said the phrase "PC master race" unironically - 300$
Make fun of Nintendo yet buy all their stuff (Everyone lol  ) - Free pass
Preordered and purchased No Man's Sky - 3$
Threw a controller or broke a TV or game in rage  - 5$
Walked in front of the TV while someone was fighting a boss - 15$
Borrowed someone's game but kept it for over 2 weeks without notice. - 20$
Named Link anything other then Link in Orcarina of Time/LTTP - 100$




Ok folks,  their is the bounty list.  Some of the most wanted offenses in this county .   What is your bounty?  Are you wanted dead or alive, are you getting strung up in town square?  Or are you just getting a warning? 



My bounty is 265 dollars.   I have wrote my name with sharpie before unfortunately as a kid threw out the boxes too,  I have camped during objective games, raged and unplugged the console and such. 


Thanks for playing.

97

Modern Video Games / What is the best open world game ever made? (Red Dead Redemption 2 Discussion)

« on: November 16, 2018, 03:34:50 pm »

What is the best open world game ever made and why is it Red Dead Redemption 2?      My main question is what is your pick for best open world game in your opinion?  But also I want to touch on everyone's thoughts on Rockstar and most especially Red Dead 2.  As it's truly blown me away


But in all seriousness this is a tough question for me because open world "sandbox" games are one of my favorite genres and I grew up on GTA style games.  It was easily GTA 5 for me until RDR2 came out and now RDR2 just kicked the door down on my top 10 all time list's party and is giving everyone else dirty looks.  Shoving aside last of us and hanging out at the bar with super mario world  .   It's a rare breed of game that only comes once a decade imo. 


WORLD



I mean it's world for one is flawless.  It's bustling with activity.  So huge in scope but so filled with enviroments, animals, strangers.  It feels extremely alive.  Some small towns pack more things to do and more excitement then some games entire worlds.   BOTW for example while amazing and i'm not knocking that game at all,  sometimes it has the size but not the depth.  Sometimes you can rome for a while without seeing much but land or maybe a random enemy spawn.   But with red dead, you got random guys asking for your help,  prisoners breaking free,  bounty hunters,  poker games, saloon brawls,  that guy with the raccoon on his head that tries fighting you for no reason.   It's just always something.  I haven't had much of a dull moment yet.



GRAPHICS

Now it's leaps and bounds ahead of GTA V imo but that's obvious due to age.  In fairness I do think some games have slightly better visuals (Forza Horizon 4) but none that have a world as detailed and as large.   Red Dead's detail far outweights just the surface graphics.  From the little nuances, animations and the way the enviroment interacts.  It's a class act visually.


Attention to detail

The way the horses balls shrink due to the cold, and you have to oil your gun or it gets gunked up.  The way everything is just like real life but somehow still doesn't seem to be a pain in the ass the way BOTW was with the weapons breaking.  It felt even more in depth but somehow still fun and not breaking the video game feel.


Setting and story telling



Honestly,  Rockstar is just subhuman at this point with immersing a player into the world.  You feel like a outlaw.  You simply do.  Not to quote IGN lol.   But I am Arthur Morgan when i'm playing the game.  I'm the baddest outlaw of all these parts and the god damn O'l Driscol swine will pay. 

The 1899 representation feels so genuine.  So unfiltered.  No SJW shying away from the obvious race tensions, slavery, woman inequality and animal cruelty that existed in those times.  It's smack in your face and it's raw.  It's passionate from the developers.  and it's well done without pandering.


What a specimen of game.  One that will go down in the archives as one of the greatest open world games and one of the best games of all time in my opinion


My main question is what is your favorite open world game of all time.   But my side question is your thoughts on Red Dead 2.  I hope all of you get the chance to enjoy it like I have .   


Rockstar is god. 

98

Classic Video Games / Am I immune to the virtual boy or is it unfairly hated? (Virtual boy)

« on: October 24, 2018, 06:54:30 pm »

Hello everyone


So just about 3 weeks ago I finally completed a gaming goal I have wanted to complete for quite some time since I can remember and that is obtain the virtual boy.  I always wanted one but never could find one for a obainable price. I've always loved it and never knew why.  It's just iconic in it's presence. It's stance.  It's sillouette.  It's part of gaming history. I have envyed looking at it for the past few weeks.  It sits perched on my desk.  It's beautiful in many ways.   






Now I know many of us have seen the angry video game nerd video or the countless hatred comments towards it.  So of course my main interest in it is to own the piece of history and as a conversation piece of Nintendos many different efforts and attempts in gaming.  I really want to make my room look more like a curration of different consoles to display a companies endeavors throughout history.   I assumed i'd hate it like everyone else and not play it beyond the first try.  But I went in extremely unbiased and gave it a fair chance.   And after piecing together, the stand, the eye foam and the original insert that holds the eye foam.   I purchased my first Virtual boy game .   Mario Tennis and fired it up in all it's glory. 


Liked It







So I waited for the iconic Headache of doom associated with playing the VB for more than 10 minutes. Only to find myself 1 hour and 20 minutes in with no feeling of pain outside of occasional itches under the eye piece that would have to pause the game and scratch.    Outside of that.   Visually I found the red colors kinda neat and cool.   It's like a digital matrix and being a part of another red and black world. I found it no less intrusive than the green colors of the gameboy.  It's even more visible than that.  It's kinda like a world where the shadows watch you.   A world where red and blue are of the same.  It's just red.  Warm almost.  Inviting.   




So after playing Mario Tennis for well over an hour straight.  I've decided that not only do I already long to play it again,  it's also a incredible game.  Like probably either 2nd or 1st best Mario Tennis game i've played.   It's addictive.  Simple. And boy does it give the challenge.   It's just like the arcade games of old.   Simple.  Right to the point but you can't put your finger on why they lure you back each and every time.   It's magical




The Gripes






Of course like any console their are some gripes.  Although way more minor than the hate videos suggest.  One of them being the stand and comfort of leaning into the VB to play it.   I couldn't play longer than 5 minutes hunched over like this without getting uncomfortable.   But I circumvented this by playing the VB another way.    Which is lay down on the floor comfortable with some pillows supporting your head and just rest it up against your face with it's legs on your chest.   It's comfortable as sleeping with a face mask on.   






Outside of that,  the sounds were amazing for a handheld game of it's day.  The graphics were beyond ambitious imo for early 90s tech and I really think the virtual boy is unfairly hated.   I thought it might have been a fluke but I really just genuinely liked the game.   Of course I have to try other games but Tennis isn't even supposed to be as good as Wario Land.   Wario Land is supposed to be even better so I can imagine i'll love that too.


Why the VB is so hated




The reasons are very distinct.  I'm starting to lean towards a smeer campaign that was mass perpetrated by the conspiring powers that be during the 1990s or some organized secret society that was hateful of the virtual boy. Mob members. Someone was paid off.  The boxer took a dive.  Of which the skeleton crew still lingers today.  Polluting forum threads with villainy and angst towards the all holy red lord itself.  The savior of handhelds.  The one to sacrafice itself for gameboy to prosper.   Dark underbelly of society stuff.  Sega most likely paid to influence negative publicity of the console.  It surged mainly in arcades, early editorials.  Hidden stuff.   Never in the mainstream media.  And It mysteriously perished within only a few years of it's launch.   



The Virtual boy very well could have been a scientific expiriment to test the long term brainwashing effects of the red lights on the human brain.  A failed attempt at global domination by the japanese government.   But it may have worked on me because I like it a lot.   I want to play it again.   I'd probably do anything the console told me to.   I feel like the red lights have a deeper meaning and considering it's out of Nintendo's norm to cancel failed consoles early (wii u).   I think the motives weren't exactly underlined.  I think the virtual boy extends deeper.   I think it's a mind control device of sorts.   I think it collects data till this day.




As a whole this might be because I wasn't playing the VB or alive during the moment in which it came.  Perhaps it was a marketing let down.  Because it isn't Virtual Reality.  But I mean it's pretty close. I found it to be not only not bad, but good,  Maybe even fantastic.   


I am excited to piece together, teleroboxer, wario land, the baseball game and a few others that are good.   It's a shame it's library was cut so short.    It might actually be my new favorite console in terms of wanting to seek games for it and collect for it.   It has my full happiness and passion of the hobby currently.     I needed this too.   A great return to retro collecting as I have been in modern games for a while. 






What is your stance on the Virtual Boy?  Is it unfairly mistreated?  Or do you hate it also?   

99

General / If you have/had children. Would you let them play M rated games?

« on: October 05, 2018, 05:01:33 am »

Hello everyone


Today I bring up a very fabled and old debate in gaming culture since when I was a little kid during the "mothers against gaming" movement. For those out of touch, In the early to late 90s with the spawnings of the GTA franchise, Mortal Kombat and a few other main targets it was basically a militia set out to blame gaming for most modern massacres and child misbehavior.  They went to multiple judicial levels to attempt to get M rated video games banned from store shelves but the judges ruled in favor or making them accessible at a certain age requirement similar to DVD and Movie media.   It kinda led to ESRB if i'm not mistaken.  But I could be wrong    So now I just call them the mothers against gaming movement as a blanket term.

 The extremely fine line of parenting that many people especially in the younger parents 16-24 demographic seem to be very torn on still exists today though. And I wanted to see what all you folks would do if your child wanted to play a Mortal Kombat, a grand theft auto or a Call of Duty.  (Popular forms of entertainment amongst kids more so then adults even) and see differing ideas on the topic from parents or people who want kids down the road.  It's important talk. 


Their seems to be two main types of parents from what I seen in general in regards to music, games movies, TV and all of the above. They tackle the topic two extremely different ways.  I know many parents on both sides. 


The hiding parent





The hiding parent are very common and pretty easy to explain. They just don't allow their child to play M rated games, watch R rated movies or listen to something like Eminem.   They usually put child restrictions on media accounts, locking pins on TVs and supervise what their children do extremely critically and may even disbar teen rated games.  But of course this opens the door for those who say "He'll find a way to do it when you aren't looking, So you are better of explaining it to him and educating.  To me that's correct.  Which leads us to further discussions later.  And of course with being overly aggresive with censorship this can leak into things like creativity, freedom and happiness overall which again will be saved for later too . 


Educate not Eliminate parents





Educate not Eliminate parents for the most part with some exceptions of course (nudity) will allow their child to watch a R rated move like the dark knight or whatever or play M rated games after first sitting down with them and explaining thoroughly why it is bad and why they can't do it in real life.   Breaking down the rules of playing it and what they can expect to see and why it's there.  The purpose of the media and then afterwards giving them free reign to explore it after first being taught.     


As a whole I'm impartial to the parents who explain but allow.  Mostly because it's 2018 and Kids will just play what they want at their friends house on steam and are most likely well versed in disarming parental locks when nobody is looking except then you won't be there to sit with them and explain it because you were too busy pretending the kid's arent elusive enough to play it behind your back in the digital age.  Imo then is when the child will be corrupted. Alone with his friends, seeing crazy explicitive things while listening to Eminem on the school bus while you pretend like little Jimmy will never hear the word F***.  We all were a kid once so we can kinda attest to that to some extent I imagine.  Whatever was taboo at home was certainly popular at recess lol.  The cool kid always had the Marylyn Manson or Eminem playing or the GTA.  Or the most taboo of all......   The Nokia N gage  .     So it's almost better to make sure they learn from their parent vs their friend.  Same with drugs and sexual education.   And especially the Nokia N Gage.

As a whole my parents had extremely lax policies on what I could or couldn't play. They took great efforts to explain and monitor it but not all out say no.  If my grades were good, I was respectful to them and wasn't in trouble.  They rewarded me with fun.  It made for a happier childhood as a whole and I had fonder memories.   Another big reason I say kids will find a way is because when I was a kid I wasn't allowed to play grand theft auto san andreas.  It was the only game I wasn't allowed to play lol.

Except I did play it at my cousins house accross the street every day for the good portion of 6 months using a Tomb Raider case if anyone asked what we were playing because my mom didn't know one game from another lol.   

But It didn't corrupt me because my parents thought me about violence in the video games at age 5 with Jet Force Gemeni killing the alien bugs.  So it really did set the foundation blocks of knowing what was the digital world or the real world.    Although I was bad for sneaking to play it and really shouldn't have.  I do regret it very much.  But It's just part of being a kid wanting to see what's cool I guess.


It's a very debatable and divicive topic with much to unpack.  Which side do you think you take or are you somewhere in the grey area in the middle balancing both? 




What are your thoughts on the topic?  Thanks for sharing.

100

General / Have video games ever become an unhealthy obsession for you?

« on: October 01, 2018, 10:45:53 pm »

Hello Everyone

Although many practice moderation with their favorite things. Some just lack that level of control.  And sometimes it's really hard to get a grip on your life as the line blurs between what is best for your game life or your actual life.  By unhealthy I mean many different things.  Their are 3 main things video games can be counter intuitive to if you are as obsessed as some. I have been obsessed to unhealthy levels before. Sometimes it can be hard to try to balance real life with games every day and often times fail as the digital world is my favorite.  I will get into that more later.


Money



 First one is video games can become an unhealthy obsession if you are spending excess amounts of money on them which leads to missing bills or car payments, not eating right.  Or just being broke.  Or if it counters business ventures, high paying jobs. and loses you chances to become financially comfortable.


(I have on occassion gaven up my food money to buy more games as a kid.  My dad would give me money for food, a allowance.  Sometimes I deemed video games to me more important than my food.  Sometimes I still do but usually can afford both lol.)

Friends and Family




  Video games can become unhealthy if they get in the way of you socializing with friends, family, going to social gatherings.  Being in social situations.  Since so much of the game consumes your time and happiness.


Health



  And of course for the definition of health as in fitness healthy .   That is espeically effecting Americans and youth quite a bit.  Sitting in one spot playing video games can really make you fat and have horrible cardio or heart problems as you age.  But mostly if you combine gaming with lack of exercise and bad diet.

(I do know many gamers who struggle with this one a lot.  If you don't want to share your story you don't have to.  Just know I support you and hope for the best for you.   ) 


Have you had any of these 3 ever become worst due to video games?  I think I have seen some talk about spending a lot on games before.  I don't think it's bad because it's something you love and some people spend more on jewlery or clothes    



Have you ever gotten carried away with your love of video games?  Spent hundreds of hours binging them and losing grip on reality?  Becoming financially irresponsible because of them.  Missing out on oppurtunities because of them ect...?   


Thanks for sharing .   

101

Modern Video Games / How important are graphics to you?

« on: September 24, 2018, 02:40:32 am »

Hello everyone .


One thing I have been noticing happening with me lately which I don't care for much, Is ever since modern era gaming, When I play 360 games or earlier Xbox One games that aren't 4k. Mostly only modern realistic looking games that are in between PS2 gen and PS4 Pro/One X gen I notice they are muddy and of worst resolution and often times have bad frame rates and It kinda ruins my experience and I go back to something One X enchanced.  Before I used to never focus enough to care but now I can see the difference. It makes anything that isn't 4k look bad to me. (Excluding retro games)


Has anyone else experienced this phenomenon of graphical snobbery? Were you ever a graphics snob.   And on a scale of 1-10 how much do graphics matter to you?  I assume a PS4 Pro might give this too if you play it for too long.  It's like jumping from a Ferrari back into the Camry.


As I mentioned above, this does not include most retro games. It also does not include switch, because Nintendo makes their 1080p games look gorgeous no matter what.  The smaller screen gives nice pixel density and most of the games are cartoony.  For some reason when I play PS2 I don't nitpick the graphics. And especially SNES because it's 16 bit and the best of the best 16 bit has to offer for the most part.  I know the graphics were amazing of it's time so i'm less likely to critique and just enjoy gameplay.  But I think with new games, they kinda depend on graphics quite a bit more.  I have become a graphics snob that I never wanted to be .   Please slay me with the VG Collect sword before I become a PC master race member.  Please free my soul. 


As a whole I wouldn't say graphics mean everything to me yet, but i'm getting there.  It's really something I care about more then I should.  I will try to break this tonight by playing Tomb Raider definitive edition.  It's a old XB1 game that will be 1080p.




Thanks for sharing your opinions .   

102

Modern Video Games / Telltale games to fully shut down after laying off over 250 employees.

« on: September 22, 2018, 02:25:28 am »

Today is a sad sad day everyone . 

I haven't found many game companies to have ever putten me on a roller coaster of emotions with sheer brilliant story telling the way telltale has continuously done.  The final season of the walking dead is not even halfway released but the first episode leaves so much of what could have been.  I have grown to love many of the characters. And part of the story has honestly shaped me as a person. I feel interlaced with the company and have been a huge supporter since their inception.  This day I never thought would come and i'm honestly not handeling it as well as i'd assume I would with any game dev.   I just can't imagine.   It sure was a ride 



The fate of tfs is still unknown but it would really hurt not to see the final ending the game series deserves. I'm not sure if 3 and 4 episodes are still in beta phase but I really hope they can still release it as I have already pre paid.


Today I mourn and I cry. 


I have a decent idea as to why they went under.  Awful marketing, terrible business practices (Like giving your game out for free multiple times) the game being priced at 20 dollars makes it less lucrative than the 60 USD games of course.  And they really must have paid out the wazzoo in licensing these big names. 


What game company that went defunct hurt you the most in your life?   Weather old or new?

103

General / Most attractive video game characters? (All Time Video Game Crushes)

« on: September 17, 2018, 11:06:07 pm »

Hello everyone

Although having romantic feeling or thinking a game character is attractive is looked at as geeky, we are among geeks and I think most people I have talked to have found a video game character to be beautiful/hot and had crushes on different characters growing up or even as adults.     The cosplay world and the fan fictions reflect this too.


Some characters just have a subtle infectious personality that may correlate with a romance preference you have.  The type of person you'd probably fall for if they were real.  And some are just kinda made with the intent to be attractive weather it be over zealous body parts by the Dev 


As a whole their have been plenty of game characters I thought were very attractive and some I have had crushes on.  Here is a list of 5 of my biggest video game Crushes.   The most fresh in my mind anyway.  Although I feel like i'm leaving someone out.


Lara Croft (Post Definitive Edition)



Lara has kinda always been considered an iconic attractive girl in video game culture, but really pre modern console age I disagreed.  But modern day Lara is unique. Personality wise she is witty, sharp, brave and most of all kind.  She's also beautiful.  And I also think British/English accents are cute. 

Dawn (Pokemon)





BOTW Princess Zelda



BOTW Princess Zelda is beautiful imo and her character development and back story helps a lot with making her interesting more so than the brunette version imo. 

Elanor (Walking Dead)



If you played the game you probably hate her but I always shipped her with Javier.  She was a nurse in a zombie apocolypse and was really nice.

Kairi (Kingdom Hearts)





Which video game characters did you have a crush on or just thought were very attractive? 

104

General / Video game name frustration. (Rant)

« on: September 14, 2018, 05:08:57 pm »

Hello everyone

One thing that has struck me about games lately is that developers seem to have this unexplained amnesia. I think I may have touched on this before but not In some time and not in depth but lately it's just impossible to ignore.  I wanted to see if anyone else ever wondered about this phenomenon and why it occurs and has been annoyed by trying to categorize or figure the mess out weather conversing about games or collecting them in general.


Here is a pretty large culprit of many things but naming their games is yet another fumble from EA as a whole.

Need for speed most wanted 2012 2005






Why god. The OCD gods poke us with their flaming rods.  We beg for the answers as to why.  We cry and we beg.  How did this blunder get past Quality Control,  PR, the executives, the board rooms?  Their was already a Need for Speed most wanted just 7 years prior.  Would it have killed them to put a 2?  Just one 2, it's all we ask.  Nobody cares if devs changed.  Devs change all the time.  It's still the second one of that namesake. Would it have sunken the whole ship?   I thought this was the only instance i'd be seeing once every so often.  I passed it off as an annoying mishap.  It's just an anomaly.   


I was so, so wrong .   







First you go 25 years naming your games based on the year of the season in which it comes out.  Now and only now you decide to name the game after how many years the franchise has been out? Although during Madden 09 you didn't name it Madden 20? So what happens when the year 2025 comes and Madden comes out?  Exactly,  2 madden 25s.  It chronilogically ruins a shelf.  It makes absolutely zero sense. 25 is well after 19 although 19 is the newest one.  Why EA.  why can't you just put 25th anniversary on the package like everyone else does.      How much bugar sugar does it require to just pass this off as a good idea?

Spiderman....4?






I do love the PS1 version, sadly now when you mention spiderman, people will just poke their heads out yelling how great the new one is and everyone will be talking about PS4 edition this, and red ps4 that and the old one might as well never have been made.










Xbox (one?)



Xbox 360?



Xbox...... ONE!!!








Sony has the right idea. PS1,PS2,PS3, PS4.  Even their controller has stood mostly the same in shape and format.  If something is broke don't fix it.  You know it's most likely going to be the PS5.  Not the playstation iguana,  the playstation virgo project and then you get the thing and it's called the PS2 but PS2 already exists they say but PS2 has 2 fans in it so it had to be the PS2.   But it's the PS5.    My mind is melting.  I care about you Lindsay Lohan, I care about your well being. 





Their are companies that get it right for the most part, One I notice consistently having somewhat common sense with their names is Square.  It's not final fantasy,  it's final fantasy X, or X-2 or XII. Final Fantasy Chronicles.  Tomb Raider Definitive Edition.  Not just tomb raider.  Rise of the tomb raider,  Shadow of the tomb raider.  Whoever looks things over at Square clearly is awake lol

Nintendo also for the most part fits this narrative.  Zelda BOTW, Mario Odyssey, Splatoon 2,  Pokken Tournament DX even though it's almost the same game.  Pikmin 1, 2, 3.   They released a game called Yoshi but have now changed it to Yoshi's crafted world.   Someone at PR probably realized, wow, we have a Yoshi already for NES.  Maybe we can be creative.













Does anyone else wonder why this happens so much especially in this current gen of games.  Why have companies started to just laze out on the names.  Or even just copy names from old games.  It truly ruins shelfing certain franchises of games in a collection.  If you go chronilogically you'd have Madden 13,25,15?   What does one do if he wants to talk to his friend about how amazing god of war is. 

I love god of war man, it's such an epic game.   "Yeah dude, It looks pretty epic in 4k"   Really how'd you get your PS2 to run 4k, that's cool man.   "PS2?"   Yes,  OG old school god of war.  Not god of war 4.   God of war 4 is god of war 4.  It should have been called god of war 4.  It would have sold even more units had it been called 4 for the fact of being called 4.  I feel like naming my first born child Godda Warr IV.   


Does anyone else find this an annoying trend?  Thanks for sharing . 

105

General / Do you like Telltale games? (Discussion)

« on: August 25, 2018, 04:11:49 am »

One of my favorite developers of all time is Telltale games .  Truly a golden grail company that almost never disappoints me.   Each and ever unraveling plot line they muster is pure story telling gold.  It's like they are androids who function on a different brain wave length than our brains can muster how they just pump out emotional rollercoaster story after emotional rollercoaster story.  For iconic franchises and adaptations. And this year is season 4 and final season of the walking dead tell tale game series.  And no other game series ever has ever put me through such a tornado of emotions and gotten me so invested.   

At this point Clementine means something to me, not just a character but an actual tangible influence in my life and really although a virtual entity, someone I care for if that makes sense.  It sounds like exaggeration games be so powerful sometimes.  From the first season you show her how to use a gun and she's 8,  from ups and downs she's been through with Lee so much and see at least 4 dozen people die but now she's 17 and it's crazy to see it all come full circle.    Not one season of the series has not made me cry, laugh, get angry all in one.   Just toying with your emotions and keeping you happy along the ride.




The character development of TT games is so awesome imo.  I love how your decisions deeply effect the plot.  Sometimes they come back to haunt you.   I love how they added collectibles in the new one too .




I loved wolf among us,  I loved the Minecraft stories mostly,  I adored the tales from the borderlands game.  And especially the holy grail walking dead series. 




Some people don't like them.  I think most won't if they come in wanting a video game that's demanding, and video game like.  I tend to consider them more interactive movies that you write the plot in and once you come at them with that perspective and want to enjoy the story line.  The very storyline you shape with every decision in the dialogue is pretty marvelous and fun.   But I can see why many might not like.  The gameplay is of course simple.



Do you like Telltale games or point and click story games as a whole or do you think they are bad?