So What Are YOU Playing?

[Raen Ryong]

Sadly you're probably right, but regardless I will continue to defend it. Funny since I don't even think it's particularly transcendentally amazing, but the sheer amount I end up defending aspects of it makes me look like I revere and worship it.

[ArchDizzle]

WHAT I'M NOT PLAYING.

Red Dead Redemption while it sits on my shelf all new and still wrapped looking sexy due to my shitty job shittiness of stupid shit shit.

[Charismatic]

Freedom vs lack of freedom is obviously a victory for freedom. However, to have such freedom in the scenario presented above, the storyline would have to be changed. Is it worth sacrificing part of the storyline/character development just for a bit of extra freedom early on? I don't think you can absolutely say whether that is a good or a bad thing.

When speaking of video games... I certainly can.
I can't ever condone sacrificing gameplay for story.

[Raen Ryong]

When you're talking about sacrificing a large amount of story and development for a trivial amount of gameplay, though? I can't even remember one instance where I thought "damn, I wish I could choose my party". To change the storyline to accommodate a full party from the start would make it incredibly uninteresting and remove the tensions between each member's underlying motives and such.

[Charismatic]

I can't even remember once instance where I thought "damn, I wish I could choose my party".

Apparently many others can/have.

[Raen Ryong]

I don't know why people think this <_< it would just make nooo sense whatsoever. There are many people who don't understand the storyline at all despite it being really simple though, so I dunno :S

[Qalbert]

Look, it really all comes down to opinion. Some people think gameplay is the utmost importance, even if the story suffers, and some think the other way. No matter how rationally or clearly you explain the reasoning behind your opinion, the odds of changing the other person's mind is slim to none. So rather than turning yet another thread into this argument, why not just agree to disagree? In the grand scheme of things, why should it matter what someone else thinks about a game, if it doesn't have any impact on how you see it?

in short: stop turning every thread into an argument when neither of you is willing to concede

[Charismatic]

Look, it really all comes down to opinion. Some people think gameplay is the utmost importance, even if the story suffers, and some think the other way. No matter how rationally or clearly you explain the reasoning behind your opinion, the odds of changing the other person's mind is slim to none. So rather than turning yet another thread into this argument, why not just agree to disagree? In the grand scheme of things, why should it matter what someone else thinks about a game, if it doesn't have any impact on how you see it?

in short: stop turning every thread into an argument when neither of you is willing to concede

I disagree.
Neither of us can back anything up with facts though because these are simply opinions.
I can't change yours at all but I certainly can't think of any way that a lack of freedom is 'advantageous'. I prefer to have my freedom.

I already said that.

[Qalbert]

So then stop derailing the thread? Same goes for Ryong obviously, but if even you agree that neither of you will change your mind, than why continue to post about it in here? If you really want to continue it, then why not make a dedicated thread for the discussion of freedom vs nonfreedom, story vs gameplay, etc?

[Charismatic]

Takes two to tango, but as you may have noticed... I've given up trying to convince him of anything (that doesn't mean I can't still respond to his posts though!) so I am not even doing what you are suggesting that I stop doing.

[Eticket]

I think story and gameplay can work for or against each other but they're both important.

The problem with FF13 in this regard was that imo the gameplay suffered at the expense of the story. I can see how splitting a party up due to some dynamic element of storyline can be useful but 'I'm tired. You two go on ahead.' does not qualify. It seemed like the Sazh/Vanille vs Lightning/Hope split was only done to push a minor story revelation in Chapter 8 that was ditched soon after anyway. Thus, both sides of the coin suffered.

I think the main reason I was bugged by the early party situation in FFXIII is because SE has done the same thing before but handled it so much better. (ie: FFIV and FFVI). In other words, a dynamic story event altering gameplay mechanics, say the end of the world or two characters 'sacrificing' themselves to save everyone, is fine. What we got in FFXIII though leaves a bit to be desired in comparison.

With that said, the line of satisfaction in this regard is different for everyone. So, taking Qalbert's lead, in the end all we can do is agree to disagree.

[Caiyuo]

Going to start Blood Will Tell as a break from Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes since I'm like 26 hours in and still have yet to beat.

Now for an introduction to BWT.

Spoiler: show

http://s005.radikal.ru/i211/1002/1b/dd76bd9ef6a5.jpg

As you can clearly see, this motherfucker has SWORD ARMS. The premise is that you're actually fighting to regain your limbs which seems a little nonsensical given goddamn sword arms and a bazooka in your privates or something, but all the same, this looks retarded-amazing.

[Atreides]

I dont think my hammer is strong enough to break those down yet <.<

edit: wtf, my house is still too small for the upgrade?

i hate this second floor... wonder when I last saved <___<

you need to upgrade each area with Kross before you can buy the corresponding upgrades from Lute. It's pretty useful to get the storage asap, since even with a 60 space item box, 60 space fridge, 30 space laboratory storage, and 30 space forge storage you still run out of fucking room all the time lol. I'm at the point where I just synth whatever random shit I have more than 3 of so I'll get skillups and make room, lol

And you can't break the big gray boulders blocking your path (like the one in B2F Lava Ruins) until you have the Gold Hammer, which can break the big black farm boulders in 2 power swings.

I really want to upgrade to the final versions of all the farm tools but A) you need the fucking annoying flowers for them, B) you need little crystals for each which are rare as shit, and C) they use a LOT more RP (24 as opposed to 6, lol). I'm still kinda unimpressed with the gold-level scythe since it can only either cut 1x1, or 5x5, making quick weed trimming hard.

[Kyo]

Lots and lots of Red Dead.

[Yuri-G]

thinking of picking up a new game. I shouldn't. I really shouldn't. I have the following currently waiting in the wings:

- another playthrough of Oblivion on the evil side to do, as well as Shivering Isles
- finish Fallout 3 (I just found dad's holotapes, though I think I'm missing one because the quest won't progress)
- Valkyria Chronicles
- Ninja Gaiden Sigma
- 100% on Mario Galaxy
- GC and Wii Fire Emblem
- Metroid Prime Corruption
- Disgaea 3
- work on my SSFIV Chun
- I'm sure I'm missing something

and yet, I want to get a new game. what is wrong with me?

anyway, I'm torn between picking up
- Half-Life 2: Orange Box for PS3. the graphics are kind of off-putting, though.
- Eternal Sonata. the reviews on this are ridiculously mixed, not sure what to think
- 3D Dot Heroes. not sure if I should wait for a price drop though. there seem to be plenty of copies of this around, I don't think the print run was as short as some people were saying. but it's Atlus, you never know... maybe I should just pick it up now
- Shiren The Wanderer for Wii. this is the front-runner right now. I've never played a rogue-like and it sounds brutally awesome. I haven't played an insanely difficult RPG in a very long time, probably not since I did SMT Nocturne on Hard

or maybe I should replace my lost DS and get a Cyclo... I do need to play Strange Journey at some point.

too many choices. I should probably just save the money for when I move later this year. but it's so hard to ignore that retail therapy itch

[Eticket]

Stack of games up to my waist that I need to start or finish... and I picked up Red Dead Redemption yesterday and started it up.

[Yuri-G]

you and I are kin, brother

[Kaisha]

Ditto.

Makes me want to consider making a "Take a pic of all the shit you've got on your plate" thread.

[Ivaden]

My list could fill a buffet, not just a small plate.

[Atreides]

I dont even bother telling people my list anymore because they usually fall asleep by the time it's over