The Shrine

So, I buy House of the Dead 2/3 and SF4, and what is the only game I'm still playing regularly after a few weeks? Warcraft 3.

What do I want to buy? Fight Night, again, even though I played it for like six months straight already. I'll probably wait for 4, though, and just shadowbox instead every time I get the urge to go buy 3 again, since it's better for my body.

Why can't I get excited about games again? Is it because I really am starting to prefer online play and don't like playing against computer opponents, but so many gamers are vicious assholes with serious psychiatric problems? I think that's part of it, but it's not the only thing...I just feel like gaming has gotten kind of myopic as an art form and culture lately, a bit masturbatory or whatnot. I feel like a lot of games are the same damn FPS with different art, lighting, a snazzier engine, different historical or fantastic or sci-fi setting, et cetera.

And, ironically - cosmic irony - I'm actually starting to get bored with all the mindless violence. We ought to have seen a game for one or another platform where you can have real conversations via the mike with NPCs already as opposed to having to stick a billion of the same enemy with the same sword all day - the tech is there, and I've studied natural language processing enough to know that while it's hard, it's not THAT hard. But corporations don't want to make those kinds of games, because some gamers are so turtled and antisocial and afraid of change that they just crap on innovation - I thought the hate for FF12's new battle system was a perfect example of this.

"HOW DARE THEY MAKE THE CHARACTERS AND ENEMIES MOVE AROUND! I NEED TO HAVE ACTUAL REFLEXES TO PLAY THIS GAME NOW! I'M NOT WINNING AS MUCH AS I USED TO BE! DOWN WITH SQUARE AND ANYONE WHO LIKES FF12!!!!"

(I didn't actually see this post anywhere on the Internet - just my interpretation of the more pathetic Square fanboys that are out there, and they are definitely out there.)

I don't know why I'm so bitter - maybe because it's 3AM or so and I don't feel like trying to sleep again. I just feel like my art form is letting me down.

Ummmmm Henry Hatsworth!

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/39592.html

Sassafras wrote:Ummmmm Henry Hatsworth!

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/39592.html

there's also a review up on that sight that might be more helpful for those actually interested in the game

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/47007.html

Mr.Blotus, this was the game that induced all that screaming you may have heard during our RE5 session.

I was just about to say, from the shrieking I heard, that it seemed to be irritating Deb more than anything else.

Blotus wrote:I was just about to say, from the shrieking I heard, that it seemed to be irritating Deb more than anything else.

See in videogame years Im like 10 so when I die I scream and cry. Usually I stop playing when I die but for some reason with Hatsworth I keep going. Beat 2 levels today I know its lame but its my own little victory.

It's certainly much better than The Worlds Ends With You's frantic dual-mode play with the battle. I reallly didn't understand how the fuck you were supposed to somehow fight creatures from two screens at the same time, and I was trying to play harder to get some of the better items. Eventually, I got to a stopping point and just quit.