Video Games - Watcha playin'?

[Naru]

Borderlands - this game is actually pretty good.

[Megatron]

Upon reflection, that day about 10 years ago when a friend told me about Metal Gear Solid and I just scoffed is looking really dumb now. I believe my exact words were "That sounds lame, dude".

Hindsight, 20/20, etc.

Now playing the original MGS. This shit is awesome.

[California Tanker]

I've fired up Railroad Tycoon 3 again. Have found a "1.06" patch, which adds back some of the gameplay elements lost, such as shipping at a loss and storing loads at intermediate stops.

NTM

[Ensign Steve]

We got a Wii!

I played some Mario Galaxies and Wii Sports so far.

[Qingdai]

Wiiiiii!

I'm playing about three dumb games on Facebook.
I should get a life sometime, see how that's like.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Naruto

Borderlands - this game is actually pretty good.

Dammit. The first reviews I read were very negative, so I thought my wallet was safe. Now I keep hearing people say they're enjoying the game. Curses!

[Kael]

That's the one that's being billed as a FPSRPG, right? Set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland?

I'll probably wait on that, though the screenshots and gameplay clips I've seen remind me of Hellgate: London which I liked, so who knows?

[Naru]

Originally Posted by Adam

Dammit. The first reviews I read were very negative, so I thought my wallet was safe. Now I keep hearing people say they're enjoying the game. Curses!

I definitely recommend this game. My main complaint was that it got too easy towards the end of the game (sort of like Fallout 3). But, there is a new game + feature after you beat it that lets you replay the campaign with your same stats and equipment, with the difficulty upped significantly. Very, very significantly. I'm having a lot of fun with my second playthrough right now.

[Adam]

It's on my list now. Of course, Dragon Age comes out tomorrow, and I'm assuming that will occupy my gaming hours for some time to come.

[Crumb]

Originally Posted by Qingdai

I'm playing about three dumb games on Facebook.
I should get a life sometime, see how that's like.

I was forced onto Facebook by my nephew this weekend. I do enjoy the game Farmville. Are you playing Farmville? I don't have any neighbors yet.

Short of a life would you like another Facebook friend?

[Ensign Steve]

Originally Posted by Crumb

I was forced onto Facebook by my nephew this weekend. I do enjoy the game Farmville. Are you playing Farmville? I don't have any neighbors yet.

Short of a life would you like another Facebook friend?

facebook.com/ensignsteve

There's also an group over there.

I play Bejeweled Blitz pretty much constantly when I'm at work.

[Crumb]

Yeah, I was going to bump the Facebook thread if I found it.

ETA: friended you.

[Joshua Adams]

Re: Borderlands, I was under the impression it was primarily a co-op game. Is there plenty of content to make a solo play worth it? I'm not planning on getting it any time soon since I've got no money. I'm not adverse to co-op if I had people to play with, but I'm afraid I won't by the time I get my hands on it.

Last week I blew through Call of Duty 2 on veteran in a couple of days, with a few brushes with death for my controller and/or screen. Now I'm playing Bully: Scholarship Edition. I never knew about this game even though it's remade from a PS2 game, until fairly recently, but it's by Rockstar. It's GTA style sandbox play, toned down for a school setting and a T rating. You can get into fights with members of different cliques, or do errands for people to get money, do oddjobs like mow peoples' lawns, etc. The progression is based on missions much like GTA. You have a variety of prank themed weaponry like stink bombs, itching powder, and marbles to trip people. You can go to classes (or cut them), they play out like mini-games of varying difficulty, and unlock new abilities or prizes. For example, gym class teaches you new fighting moves or improves your projectile accuracy. English class gives you better ability to persuade people by threatening or apologizing, so you can avoid getting busted or getting bullied (sometimes).

I realize it's an older game, so I can't expect it to live up to the high standards of GTA IV in terms of immersion and sheer amount of dialogue... but still, it's not in the same league. Still fun, though. There aren't all that many different people wandering around, and they say the same few things over and over. Still, the game is fun and addictive, with myriad collectibles lying around the school grounds and surrounding town, and plenty of missions and errands and classes and trouble to get into. I lose track of time playing it. Although I'd probably be playing The Ballad of Gay Tony if I had $20 to burn instead.

[Naru]

Originally Posted by Joshua Adams

Re: Borderlands, I was under the impression it was primarily a co-op game. Is there plenty of content to make a solo play worth it? I'm not planning on getting it any time soon since I've got no money. I'm not adverse to co-op if I had people to play with, but I'm afraid I won't by the time I get my hands on it.

It's the same campaign solo or co-op, it's just that more people = more/tougher enemies. The game goes much quicker if you have another person to play with. Either way, it's pretty long.

[Qingdai]

Originally Posted by Crumb

I was forced onto Facebook by my nephew this weekend. I do enjoy the game Farmville. Are you playing Farmville? I don't have any neighbors yet.

Short of a life would you like another Facebook friend?

Hey! I'm playing farmville!

Prepare to be boarded, er, pm'ed!

[Kael]

I joined the facebook thingie too. I do manage to waste a good deal of time on Farmville and Bejeweled most days.

[Qingdai]

So friend me already!

[Kael]

Which one are you?

It should be easy to find me, I think I'm the only John on the list...

[Qingdai]

Done, and done!

[Demimonde]

I am playing Happy Aquarium and Fish World on Facebook. Tending fish is relaxing, and HA is super shiney cute. I like making the babies. Though Fish World just added a new element that you can steal each other's fish, which is making me worry for them.

I am always happy for new friends though, I'm Gina on the FF group.

[MonCapitan2002]

Originally Posted by Kael

That's the one that's being billed as a FPSRPG, right? Set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland?

I'll probably wait on that, though the screenshots and gameplay clips I've seen remind me of Hellgate: London which I liked, so who knows?

They lost me with the FPS part of that description. I find FPS games completely unappealing.

[Ensign Steve]

We played some Paper Mario last night. Way more exposition than necessary in that game. Break the boxes, jump on the mushrooms, save the princess. We've been doing this for decades. I don't need 20 minutes of "allow me to introduce the new villain and explain his motivation" before I start playing.

Once you actually get playing it's fun as hell, though.

[Kael]

I'm still waiting for the Zelda game where one of the characters stops partway through the exposition and goes "Oh, fuck, you know this shit. Just go get the damn sword and kill Gannon ('CAUSE THERE'S ONLY ONE 'N' THERE!) already."

[Adam]

But then they wouldn't be able to spring the SURPRISE TWIST on you when it turns out that the guy your semi-retarded elfin avatar you thought was the main villain is actually working for Ganon, or Ganon is disguise!

Also...

Originally Posted by Kael

...Gannon...

GANNON-BANNED!

[Kael]

I'll spell it how I like!