Thread for Gamers IX: God Howard Starfield Edition

[Pax Nerdvana]

Replaying Republic Commando, because it's awesome.

[The Huskar Social Union]

Alright after having watched a full stream of the campaign for BLOPS: Cold War it actually looks decent as a campaign, some really cool missions in there though the streamer i watched didnt play any of the side stuff so he completed it in less than 5 hours, do i dont know how many extra hours you can get out of those missions. But yeah honestly wasnt too bad.

Multiple endings and stuff too which is neat, also i think it does the whole mind control thing a lot better than blops 1 did even if it is retreading over old ground

I might consider getting it for the campaign if it ever ends up on gamepass in the future and give it a quick playthrough.

[Kargintina the Third]

Alright after having watched a full stream of the campaign for BLOPS: Cold War it actually looks decent as a campaign, some really cool missions in there though the streamer i watched didnt play any of the side stuff so he completed it in less than 5 hours, do i dont know how many extra hours you can get out of those missions. But yeah honestly wasnt too bad.

Multiple endings and stuff too which is neat, also i think it does the whole mind control thing a lot better than blops 1 did even if it is retreading over old ground

I might consider getting it for the campaign if it ever ends up on gamepass in the future and give it a quick playthrough.

Only two side missions and they’re only like 15 minutes each

[The Huskar Social Union]

Alright after having watched a full stream of the campaign for BLOPS: Cold War it actually looks decent as a campaign, some really cool missions in there though the streamer i watched didnt play any of the side stuff so he completed it in less than 5 hours, do i dont know how many extra hours you can get out of those missions. But yeah honestly wasnt too bad.

Multiple endings and stuff too which is neat, also i think it does the whole mind control thing a lot better than blops 1 did even if it is retreading over old ground

I might consider getting it for the campaign if it ever ends up on gamepass in the future and give it a quick playthrough.

Only two side missions and they’re only like 15 minutes each

Oh well that sounds crap, very short game then.

[The New California Republic]

Lol@ this Pingu episode that has had all the sound effects dubbed over with sounds from HL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaVBCuq ... e=emb_logo

[Ifreann]

They're a threat in part because they're incompetent. They're running the world and they're a bunch of idiots who only want money and that's the threat.

Logic would dictate that if they want to be a profitable business, they shouldn't be doing what their doing in Outer Worlds, because its obviously not good for their business. Logic would dictate that they wouldn't even survive any lawsuits launched at them for their questionable behavior.

Corporations are the law in Halcyon. The Halcyon system is their property. In what court are they going to be sued? Who is going to sue them?

I don't even know what you think the corporations are doing that is contrary to the dictates of logic, but perhaps consider that the characters in this game are mostly humans, not Vulcans.

If the moral ambiguity is around rape and slavery and genocide, we could definitely do without it. Moral ambiguity is not unambiguously good in stories.

You probably won't enjoy game of thrones then.

That's a bit like suggesting that someone wouldn't like pizza if they point out that it's possible to have a meal without cheese.

Because giving players those choices is how you tell the story when it's, you know, a game. Sometimes when people are telling a story, they are telling you that something is bad without also telling you that maybe it's good. That isn't them forcing anything down anywhere, that isn't them preaching, stories don't have to have moral ambiguity just because you want it.

Games don't have to have hard decisions to be good. Easy decisions are not failed attempts at hard decisions. Your take on whether a decision is good or easy might not be universal.

Considering what you're bemoaning is a lack of moral ambiguity it's strange that you seem to want stories in games to follow very strict rules about their content.

I have an issue with the streamlined 3 choices set up. Where a series gives you three choices that you can choose from in any given quest or mission. It started initially back in fallout 3 and its become the norm in AAA rpg games. I despise it mainly because it dumb downs the countless options a developer could make into a standard formulaic set up. You seem to have misunderstood my point, I don't want to get rid of decisions, I want to open up more decisions.

As a matter of practicality, you can either have a choice between a strictly limited number of options where each option meaningfully impacts the game, or you can have a choice between a vast number of options but none of them change anything. And if the writers decide to give the player choices with obviously good and obviously bad options, that's not a mistake on their part. It isn't dumb to write a situation where there is a clear right course of action and it isn't clever to write a situation where there isn't. They're just different writing choices.

As for my criticism about it preaching, is that in certain parts of the game. Characters will give you a talk right before a big important decision, that mainly boils down to "do the decision I want you to do". Its a big ol' conversation that basically is supposed to be gearing you up to pick on of the three choices over the others.

And what's the problem with that? I think it's good that the NPCs were written to have beliefs for which they will advocate. Would it be more morally ambiguous if Parvati didn't express any opinion on whether you should destroy Edgewater? Maybe. Be a bit shit to write a character who'll follow you around mutely even as you bring potentially catastrophic upheaval to the lives of everyone she knows and cares about.

---

Black Ops Cold war is a completely original game so far from what ive seen.

all joking aside the addition of dialogue options and being able to make your own character is kind of different for cod i guess.

i say this then 10 minutes later the streamer im watching does a literal repeat of a mission from black ops 1

Ronald Reagan will respect your pronouns while he orders you to do all the war crimes. What an age the 80s were.

[Kathol Rift]

Replaying Republic Commando, because it's awesome.

It is very awesome. I need to go back and replay that after I finish doing Halo 3: ODST on Legendary. I’m currently getting my ass kicked on this though, so who knows how long that’ll be.

[The Huskar Social Union]

Replaying Republic Commando, because it's awesome.

It is very awesome. I need to go back and replay that after I finish doing Halo 3: ODST on Legendary. I’m currently getting my ass kicked on this though, so who knows how long that’ll be.

I wish we could get a sequel set during the Imperial Era where you hunt down jedi or rebel cells. Would be a really cool experience and maybe this time, just maybe, we dont defect to the rebellion half an hour in.

[Pax Nerdvana]

Replaying Republic Commando, because it's awesome.

It is very awesome. I need to go back and replay that after I finish doing Halo 3: ODST on Legendary. I’m currently getting my ass kicked on this though, so who knows how long that’ll be.

I still want to play the old Halo games at some point. Never gotten around to it.

It is very awesome. I need to go back and replay that after I finish doing Halo 3: ODST on Legendary. I’m currently getting my ass kicked on this though, so who knows how long that’ll be.

I wish we could get a sequel set during the Imperial Era where you hunt down jedi or rebel cells. Would be a really cool experience and maybe this time, just maybe, we dont defect to the rebellion half an hour in.

This is an awesome idea. I would play that.

[Kathol Rift]

It is very awesome. I need to go back and replay that after I finish doing Halo 3: ODST on Legendary. I’m currently getting my ass kicked on this though, so who knows how long that’ll be.

I wish we could get a sequel set during the Imperial Era where you hunt down jedi or rebel cells. Would be a really cool experience and maybe this time, just maybe, we dont defect to the rebellion half an hour in.

Even better, since lots of Commandos did defect during Order 66, you could have it be kinda like Halo 2, going back and forth between two characters/squads, one getting hunted by the empire, one hunting for the Empire.

It is very awesome. I need to go back and replay that after I finish doing Halo 3: ODST on Legendary. I’m currently getting my ass kicked on this though, so who knows how long that’ll be.

I still want to play the old Halo games at some point. Never gotten around to it.

ODST is my personal favorite, just because it’s such a unique Halo game, despite just being made in Halo 3’s engine.

[Pax Nerdvana]

I wish we could get a sequel set during the Imperial Era where you hunt down jedi or rebel cells. Would be a really cool experience and maybe this time, just maybe, we dont defect to the rebellion half an hour in.

Even better, since lots of Commandos did defect during Order 66, you could have it be kinda like Halo 2, going back and forth between two characters/squads, one getting hunted by the empire, one hunting for the Empire.

I still want to play the old Halo games at some point. Never gotten around to it.

ODST is my personal favorite, just because it’s such a unique Halo game, despite just being made in Halo 3’s engine.

It's always cool to see a unique take on an old setting, especially if it's executed well.

[Aeritai]

One thing that confused me in the Modern Warfare campaign is that, how did the Russian government not know of Barkov's war crimes? Not sure if they mentioned it in the story or not, but it is weird that the government doesn't know what Barkov was doing unless he's being lying to them this entire time.

[Holy Tedalonia]

Logic would dictate that if they want to be a profitable business, they shouldn't be doing what their doing in Outer Worlds, because its obviously not good for their business. Logic would dictate that they wouldn't even survive any lawsuits launched at them for their questionable behavior.

Corporations are the law in Halcyon. The Halcyon system is their property. In what court are they going to be sued? Who is going to sue them?

I don't even know what you think the corporations are doing that is contrary to the dictates of logic, but perhaps consider that the characters in this game are mostly humans, not Vulcans.

Geez a bit of sarcasm was sprinkled there to lighten the mode. But the case and point is this rule of the corporations would likely collapse with or without the player, due to how incompetent it is. They aren't running their businesses well, and when it comes down to that, people usually jump ship. Investors pull out and companies tank because they suffer from poor management.

You probably won't enjoy game of thrones then.

That's a bit like suggesting that someone wouldn't like pizza if they point out that it's possible to have a meal without cheese.

Its not my fault the cheese is the best part on the pizza.

I have an issue with the streamlined 3 choices set up. Where a series gives you three choices that you can choose from in any given quest or mission. It started initially back in fallout 3 and its become the norm in AAA rpg games. I despise it mainly because it dumb downs the countless options a developer could make into a standard formulaic set up. You seem to have misunderstood my point, I don't want to get rid of decisions, I want to open up more decisions.

As a matter of practicality, you can either have a choice between a strictly limited number of options where each option meaningfully impacts the game, or you can have a choice between a vast number of options but none of them change anything. And if the writers decide to give the player choices with obviously good and obviously bad options, that's not a mistake on their part. It isn't dumb to write a situation where there is a clear right course of action and it isn't clever to write a situation where there isn't. They're just different writing choices.

Not really no, the original fallout game had plenty of options along with large impacts to the story. You could even steal some ghouls water supply and return to see that their settlement completely collapsed and taken over by super mutants. And that isn't even regarding chatting to them. Theres countless other examples, but thats the one that came to my mind. And if that isn't modern enough there's a game called Tyranny. Which gives plenty of options and many opportunities. Don't say its impossible when its already been done, but I guess you don't get that AAA quality that everyone so cares about. The only reason the 3 choice rule is a thing, is so that the rpg genre can appeal to a broader audience, by simplifying one of the core tenets of the genre, roleplaying.

As for my criticism about it preaching, is that in certain parts of the game. Characters will give you a talk right before a big important decision, that mainly boils down to "do the decision I want you to do". Its a big ol' conversation that basically is supposed to be gearing you up to pick on of the three choices over the others.

And what's the problem with that? I think it's good that the NPCs were written to have beliefs for which they will advocate. Would it be more morally ambiguous if Parvati didn't express any opinion on whether you should destroy Edgewater? Maybe. Be a bit shit to write a character who'll follow you around mutely even as you bring potentially catastrophic upheaval to the lives of everyone she knows and cares about.

The simple answer, it takes longer to go through that discussion then making the choice itself. I don't mind if they voice their opinion, but they talk so long. You'd think they would die like William Henry Harrison, but fortunately its not raining in the game.

[The New California Republic]

For the past few weeks I've been considering playing all the Mass Effect games again from start to finish, but then I found out that there is a remaster of all the games being released next Spring, so I'll hold off until then.

[Aeritai]

For the past few weeks I've been considering playing all the Mass Effect games again from start to finish, but then I found out that there is a remaster of all the games being released next Spring, so I'll hold off until then.

Oh the rumors were true? Well that's good to hear! I hope they add all the DLCs into the remastered version.

[Ameriganastan]

For the past few weeks I've been considering playing all the Mass Effect games again from start to finish, but then I found out that there is a remaster of all the games being released next Spring, so I'll hold off until then.

Unless this remaster fixes the bullshit ending, I fail to see the point.

[The New California Republic]

For the past few weeks I've been considering playing all the Mass Effect games again from start to finish, but then I found out that there is a remaster of all the games being released next Spring, so I'll hold off until then.

Oh the rumors were true? Well that's good to hear! I hope they add all the DLCs into the remastered version.

https://www.ea.com/en-gb/games/mass-eff ... ry-edition

Yes it will include all the DLC for each of them.

[Aeritai]

For the past few weeks I've been considering playing all the Mass Effect games again from start to finish, but then I found out that there is a remaster of all the games being released next Spring, so I'll hold off until then.

Unless this remaster fixes the bullshit ending, I fail to see the point.

Considering it's just a remaster... I think Bioware is only just update the graphics.

Oh the rumors were true? Well that's good to hear! I hope they add all the DLCs into the remastered version.

https://www.ea.com/en-gb/games/mass-eff ... ry-edition

Yes it will include all the DLC for each of them.

Nice

[The New California Republic]

Unless this remaster fixes the bullshit ending, I fail to see the point.

Considering it's just a remaster... I think Bioware is only just update the graphics.

I mean, we say "just" update the graphics, but considering how the graphics of the first Mass Effect are looking extremely dated by standards of the past few years, I think the leap will be spectacular. Or at least I'm hoping it will be.

[Aeritai]

Considering it's just a remaster... I think Bioware is only just update the graphics.

I mean, we say "just" update the graphics, but considering how the graphics of the first Mass Effect are looking extremely dated by standards of the past few years, I think the leap will be spectacular. Or at least I'm hoping it will be.

I hope so too, but I don't know EA will either do something really good or something really bad.

[Andsed]

I dont get why other members of the clan were giving you mean looks after you kill Dag. That fucker challenged me for no good reason and I gave him multiple chances before and during the fight to just stand down but no he had to get himself killed by being a salty moronic little shit. And despite that I gave him his ax so he could go to Valhalla and showed respect for him.

Like are you guys really gonna get on my ass for defending myself against a person who challenged me to a fight to death because he does not understand that I am not just letting Sigurd rot and have other actual duties to attend to?

[Ifreann]

Corporations are the law in Halcyon. The Halcyon system is their property. In what court are they going to be sued? Who is going to sue them?

I don't even know what you think the corporations are doing that is contrary to the dictates of logic, but perhaps consider that the characters in this game are mostly humans, not Vulcans.

Geez a bit of sarcasm was sprinkled there to lighten the mode. But the case and point is this rule of the corporations would likely collapse with or without the player, due to how incompetent it is. They aren't running their businesses well, and when it comes down to that, people usually jump ship. Investors pull out and companies tank because they suffer from poor management.

They're in solar system that's somehow cut off from Earth and has only limited contact with other colonies, and the only companies that exist are the ones that make up the board, and they have total control over the system. There is no pulling out.

That's a bit like suggesting that someone wouldn't like pizza if they point out that it's possible to have a meal without cheese.

Its not my fault the cheese is the best part on the pizza.

As a matter of practicality, you can either have a choice between a strictly limited number of options where each option meaningfully impacts the game, or you can have a choice between a vast number of options but none of them change anything. And if the writers decide to give the player choices with obviously good and obviously bad options, that's not a mistake on their part. It isn't dumb to write a situation where there is a clear right course of action and it isn't clever to write a situation where there isn't. They're just different writing choices.

Not really no, the original fallout game had plenty of options along with large impacts to the story. You could even steal some ghouls water supply and return to see that their settlement completely collapsed and taken over by super mutants. And that isn't even regarding chatting to them. Theres countless other examples, but thats the one that came to my mind. And if that isn't modern enough there's a game called Tyranny. Which gives plenty of options and many opportunities. Don't say its impossible when its already been done,

I didn't say it's impossible, I said it's impractical to have more choices and make them all meaningful. Letting Necropolis get destroyed or helping them out isn't a vast number of options, it's two options. And you couldn't very well add a hundred more options and have all of them substantially impact the rest of the game or you'd need to rewrite everything that happens after Necropolis a hundred times. And if you don't have to rewrite everything that comes after Necropolis a hundred times then what happens in Necropolis isn't meaningful, it didn't substantially impact the rest of the game.

but I guess you don't get that AAA quality that everyone so cares about. The only reason the 3 choice rule is a thing, is so that the rpg genre can appeal to a broader audience, by simplifying one of the core tenets of the genre, roleplaying.

Mmm, no, much as elitists would like to imagine that filthy casuals are ruining games, if games are being simplified it's because a game that's simpler to make is more profitable, and the pursuit of profit is what drives the creation of games.

And what's the problem with that? I think it's good that the NPCs were written to have beliefs for which they will advocate. Would it be more morally ambiguous if Parvati didn't express any opinion on whether you should destroy Edgewater? Maybe. Be a bit shit to write a character who'll follow you around mutely even as you bring potentially catastrophic upheaval to the lives of everyone she knows and cares about.

The simple answer, it takes longer to go through that discussion then making the choice itself. I don't mind if they voice their opinion, but they talk so long. You'd think they would die like William Henry Harrison, but fortunately its not raining in the game.

Sounds like you want the game to be simplified.

[The Huskar Social Union]

I dont get why other members of the clan were giving you mean looks after you kill Dag. That fucker challenged me for no good reason and I gave him multiple chances before and during the fight to just stand down but no he had to get himself killed by being a salty moronic little shit. And despite that I gave him his ax so he could go to Valhalla and showed respect for him.

Like are you guys really gonna get on my ass for defending myself against a person who challenged me to a fight to death because he does not understand that I am not just letting Sigurd rot and have other actual duties to attend to?

Because they are bitches

You should eat them to assert your dominance.

[Holy Tedalonia]

Geez a bit of sarcasm was sprinkled there to lighten the mode. But the case and point is this rule of the corporations would likely collapse with or without the player, due to how incompetent it is. They aren't running their businesses well, and when it comes down to that, people usually jump ship. Investors pull out and companies tank because they suffer from poor management.

They're in solar system that's somehow cut off from Earth and has only limited contact with other colonies, and the only companies that exist are the ones that make up the board, and they have total control over the system. There is no pulling out.

Those are just excuses to spare those who don't bother thinking of how fast a ill-managed bureaucracy would crumble.

That's a bit like suggesting that someone wouldn't like pizza if they point out that it's possible to have a meal without cheese.

Its not my fault the cheese is the best part on the pizza.

Not really no, the original fallout game had plenty of options along with large impacts to the story. You could even steal some ghouls water supply and return to see that their settlement completely collapsed and taken over by super mutants. And that isn't even regarding chatting to them. Theres countless other examples, but thats the one that came to my mind. And if that isn't modern enough there's a game called Tyranny. Which gives plenty of options and many opportunities. Don't say its impossible when its already been done,

I didn't say it's impossible, I said it's impractical to have more choices and make them all meaningful. Letting Necropolis get destroyed or helping them out isn't a vast number of options, it's two options. And you couldn't very well add a hundred more options and have all of them substantially impact the rest of the game or you'd need to rewrite everything that happens after Necropolis a hundred times. And if you don't have to rewrite everything that comes after Necropolis a hundred times then what happens in Necropolis isn't meaningful, it didn't substantially impact the rest of the game.

Im not asking to make the sequel to make more than one canon ending. Usually games get around that by departing just far enough from the original. Let it be referenced, but vague enough to leave the decision of the "canon" ending up to you. There are ways around this. RPGs with choice elements have started this trend of simplifying choices, or minimizing the number of choices to ensure a fast development. Its the reason why I'm falling out of love with the genre in the first place. Why play a stealthy backstabber with a silver tongue when there is just good guy and jackass?

but I guess you don't get that AAA quality that everyone so cares about. The only reason the 3 choice rule is a thing, is so that the rpg genre can appeal to a broader audience, by simplifying one of the core tenets of the genre, roleplaying.

Mmm, no, much as elitists would like to imagine that filthy casuals are ruining games, if games are being simplified it's because a game that's simpler to make is more profitable, and the pursuit of profit is what drives the creation of games.

I understand that. Which is why getting a really good rpg is a rarity these days. It ain't the fault of the casual. Its the fault of the companies who are trying to make a profit over making a good product. Ain't a elitist, but you can call me that if it help your worldview, against those who desire something more unique then the generic drab the industry loves to repeatedly regurgitate.

The simple answer, it takes longer to go through that discussion then making the choice itself. I don't mind if they voice their opinion, but they talk so long. You'd think they would die like William Henry Harrison, but fortunately its not raining in the game.

Sounds like you want the game to be simplified.

More like I rather not be lectured why being a jackass is bad. If only they gave the choice itself as much effort as they did the dialogue they gave to my companion.

[The New California Republic]

I mean, we say "just" update the graphics, but considering how the graphics of the first Mass Effect are looking extremely dated by standards of the past few years, I think the leap will be spectacular. Or at least I'm hoping it will be.

I hope so too, but I don't know EA will either do something really good or something really bad.

It'd be great if they got 1, 2, and 3 to the same graphics level, and you could progress directly from one game to the next without needing to open up the next game. So for instance the credits would roll for 1, and it would start 2 seamlessly.