What are you playing?

[Solfe]

I wouldn't mind a new MMO to get into, and that would be the one if my laptop could run it.

There is always Gemstone IV... it is text based and therefore likely to work on any computer. The word "Massive" might be a bad description of the game now-a-days but it was pretty huge when it started.

[NickW]

I wouldn't mind a new MMO to get into, and that would be the one if my laptop could run it.

I was looking at the minimum requirements on it, and my work laptop could run it at minimum specs. I am going over there this weekend, so I will try to get a couple of hours in while I am there. After that I will write a first look review on it with my pro and cons about it.

[Fazor]

I was looking at the minimum requirements on it, and my work laptop could run it at minimum specs. I am going over there this weekend, so I will try to get a couple of hours in while I am there. After that I will write a first look review on it with my pro and cons about it.

My machine is just barely above minimum specs, but I've noticed that sometimes means it can run a game fine (on lowest settings) and sometimes means it can manage to load the game, but it won't be playable.

I can run Rift -- at least, it ran the Beta fine. And Beta's usually run worse than final builds. I might pick SW:TOR up off Origin on Friday (payday), but I'm nervous as to how it will run. I wish more games, particularly MMOs, had like "demo" downloads available so users could make sure they will work.

[NickW]

My machine is just barely above minimum specs, but I've noticed that sometimes means it can run a game fine (on lowest settings) and sometimes means it can manage to load the game, but it won't be playable.

I can run Rift -- at least, it ran the Beta fine. And Beta's usually run worse than final builds. I might pick SW:TOR up off Origin on Friday (payday), but I'm nervous as to how it will run. I wish more games, particularly MMOs, had like "demo" downloads available so users could make sure they will work.

I have had that problem with several games before. I don't run a gaming rig at home anymore because I have gotten away from gaming on computers. Every once in a awhile though a game will interest me, only to find out my laptop won't even touch it. Of course, your idea of a short beta would be nice to test its functionality on lower end machines.

[Fazor]

I have had that problem with several games before. I don't run a gaming rig at home anymore because I have gotten away from gaming on computers. Every once in a awhile though a game will interest me, only to find out my laptop won't even touch it. Of course, your idea of a short beta would be nice to test its functionality on lower end machines.

They usually end up having them, but MMO's don't seem to get trials or demos until well after their initial release. I don't even care if it's the game, if they'd release some sort of "stress test" or something that I could use to determine if it would be playable, that'd be great.

[NickW]

They usually end up having them, but MMO's don't seem to get trials or demos until well after their initial release. I don't even care if it's the game, if they'd release some sort of "stress test" or something that I could use to determine if it would be playable, that'd be great.

On second thought, they do. They are called "free trial periods". You know, that pesky little things that requires your credit card and hope your connection doesn't go down the day you are supposed to cancel it. Or as one of my friends found out, when you click "cancel membership", sometimes it just doesn't work. He spent the next 3 months trying to cancel an account before it finally cancelled.

[HenrikOlsen]

Yet another reason to use a debit card.

[NickW]

One of the many reasons I don't have a credit card...

[Paul Beardsley]

I almost got as far as the third Sacred Flame in Zelda, but broke my nunchuk while trying to fight that demon.

I've never hated a boss fight as much as this one, and in fact it's reduced my opinion of Skyward Sword. There's just no feedback on whether you're making any progress at all. So far, it's been, try to hit the demon with your sword. Demon grabs sword blade. Shake the controller like fury till he lets go. Try again. Demon immediately grabs sword blade again so you can't do anything. Repeat 100 times. This is not good programming, not good gaming. We (Clare and I) play adventures to explore, solve puzzles, and enjoy a good story. Going from a pleasant strollaround with the occasional difficulty, to something that absolutely isn't fair, fun or interesting, is not what we're looking for.

[Fazor]

I almost got as far as the third Sacred Flame in Zelda, but broke my nunchuk while trying to fight that demon.

I've never hated a boss fight as much as this one, and in fact it's reduced my opinion of Skyward Sword. There's just no feedback on whether you're making any progress at all. So far, it's been, try to hit the demon with your sword. Demon grabs sword blade. Shake the controller like fury till he lets go. Try again. Demon immediately grabs sword blade again so you can't do anything. Repeat 100 times. This is not good programming, not good gaming. We (Clare and I) play adventures to explore, solve puzzles, and enjoy a good story. Going from a pleasant strollaround with the occasional difficulty, to something that absolutely isn't fair, fun or interesting, is not what we're looking for.

That was the problem the first time you face him too. Only need to hit him a few times and then it'll trigger the *actual* fight; but as you said, there's absolutely no feedback as to what you're supposed to do. Basically just had to swing randomly and sometimes you hit him, sometimes he grabs the sword. Very poor boss fights, which is perplexing considering how enjoyable most of the other bosses were.

[Moose]

I don't know why, but I'm most fond of playing Italian factions in the Total War series, particularly the Venetian city-state, even if it means I have to mod the game to make it happen.

Tonight, my army of 1250 man army from Venice and Rome (with cannon; no mortars nor howitzers) managed to take an upgraded star fortress near Antigua, defended by 1100 desperate English rebels and, without a single friendly casualty. (600 enemy casualties, most of which were from my bringing down sections of wall.) Granted, they were pirate mobs, but still.

I breached the eastern walls in two places (and caught almost 600 defenders on the collapsing sections.) Then I marched most of my troops to create a fire trap around the breaches, where my cannon could fire grape-shot through the breaches. The surviving defenders took up positions near the breaches to prevent my entry. We stared at each other for a while.

[...] With the defenders thus distracted by the threat of a night assault from the east, the Lagunari Serenissima^[1], hidden in a grove to the south of the city, crept around to the western walls under cover of darkness. So quiet were they, and so unaware the English Rebels of Antigua, that by false dawn, they found the Lagunari Serenissima formed up before the citadel's flag pole, so-called "Governour of the Leeward Islands" trussed at their feet, and their false banner, flying upside down beneath the Standard of Venetia.

So great was their dismay that they abandoned their arms, in groups and as individuals, without firing so much as a single shot.

^{[1]: An elite regiment of shock marines commissioned in Venice in 1710. (In actuality, the Lagunari Regiment Serenissima of Venice was formed in 1951 and, according to a Wikipedia article on the subject, serves to this day.)}

[Moose]

Holy moley. I think I've just crit-failed my saving throw for resisting Skyrim while waiting for a decent mod load.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY3MFs7NptE

Off to install.

[Solfe]

My son just "defeated" Disney Universe this morning. He was really annoyed by Hex's song singing.

[Fazor]

Holy moley. I think I've just crit-failed my saving throw for resisting Skyrim while waiting for a decent mod load.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY3MFs7NptE

Off to install.

Bethesda released a sneak peak at the Skyrim theme song last Spring, and it single-handedly broke the needle off my personal hype meter. If this version would have come prior to the game's release, I think my head would have exploded.

[Fazor]

I was able to get the English-translated copy of Ys: Origins and have put a few hours into it. Enjoying it so far - JRPG that reminds me of the 'Secret of Mana' / 'Legend of Mana' series or something. Action-rpg.

[Paul Beardsley]

Well, we've finally got as far as the last boss fight in Zelda: Skyward Sword.

Apart from the previous encounters with Ghirahim, we've really, really loved the game. It's probably the best fantasy (non-horror) game we've ever played. Even the (non-Ghirahim) boss fights were fun.

But the end fight is horrible. Again, there is no feedback, no sense that you're doing the right or wrong thing. I slaughtered whole nations of orc-like creatures, then knocked G off a series of platforms, then destroyed his sword numerous times before he clicked his fingers to bring it back one last time and killed me. All this cost me seven full-hearts potions.

I've looked at the walkthrough, and I see that there is a long way to go after mastering the above. And although I think I could improve my performance - the walkthrough provides useful hints - I am very much inclined to call it a day. I could put a ton of effort into repeatedly trying to whack the bosses so that we get to see the epilogue, but I could put less effort into finding a better-paid job.

We are not hard-core gamers. 99% of Zelda is not hard-core. It seems a shame that people like us, who buy the Zelda games for the 99% that we enjoy, are effectively excluded from enjoying the endings. Yes, we managed to finish Twilight Princess and Ocarina of Time, but by the time we'd got through the end game, we were so fed up (to put it politely) that we didn't actually care about the epilogue - we just wanted closure.

[Fazor]

Press on Paul! If *I* can beat it, you can. I don't know why they made the Girahim fights all "basically swing wildly and hope you hit something" but eh. Reflecting their attacks by blocking (you know, thrusting your shield at the moment they strike) is critical in this (and the final, final) fight.

I went and got a wired xBox controller so I could use it with my PC, but Ys has been put on hold by another pickup I made when I was getting my controller. They had a used copy of 'Star Ocean: Second Evolution' for PSP. I played Star Ocean 2 back before I went to college, but I didn't take my Playstation with me when I moved to school so I never finished it. SO: Second Evolution is just a remastered Star Ocean 2, but it has me hooked. I'm further than I ever got in my first go (save file says I've logged 15 hours, but probably closer to 17 since there were a few times where I went back to prior saves to pick up stuff I missed, thus lost some playtime.)

[HenrikOlsen]

Playing my way through DADIU's games for fall 2011. Several small games made as graduation projects of The National Academy of Digital, Interactive Entertainment, a collaboration between five universities and three art schools to bring new talent together.

They're developed with the Unity 3D engine so can basically be played on everything that isn't an iP(hone/od). Types are varies and includes surreal puzzle (Back to bed), first person horror shooter (1916 – Der unbekannte Krieg), platform with a twist (Blendimals), strategy/puzzle (Branch) and several others.

[dgavin]

Been enjoying Skyrim a lot! Started a gem collection in game too: http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/7...96/?tab=public

[Fazor]

Been enjoying Skyrim a lot! Started a gem collection in game too: http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/7...96/?tab=public

I love seeing the things people come up with to do in Skyrim! Thanks for posting that.

[Paul Beardsley]

Press on Paul! If *I* can beat it, you can. I don't know why they made the Girahim fights all "basically swing wildly and hope you hit something" but eh. Reflecting their attacks by blocking (you know, thrusting your shield at the moment they strike) is critical in this (and the final, final) fight.

Thank you for the exhortation, Fazor. Your post was a significant factor in getting us to try again.

Getting past Girahim was much, much easier the second time - partly because I had a much better strategy for getting past that nation of orcs. The strategy included:
* Don't rush it. Stop the action by calling up the map, help your wife get the shopping in. (I usually do the shopping, BTW; I had a lot of work on today.)
* Go back for hearts.
* Take it easy when the bombers strike - wait around, let them chuck them, then walk in a circle around the bomb so that the orcs congregate around the bomb when it explodes.
* Save your running for when there are archers - go for them AND EXTERMINATE THEM!
* Run at the sumo wrestlers and jump over their shields so that you can strike them from behind. A couple of hits and they go down like a time traveller in a paradox factory.
* When surrounded by orcs, hold the Z key and do overhead strikes. It doesn't drain stamina anything like as much as spinning slashes. In fact it's really amusing the way you kill one, then the next, then the next, without even trying.
* STAND UP! It's a Wii game, for goodness sake! Play it like you're there.

Imagine my surprise and delight when I discovered there was a save point between Girahim and Demise. I never, ever have to fight Girahim again unless I choose to replay it! I had three heart potions left and I was able to catch two fairies before I went in for the final boss. I got killed the first time, but the second time I managed to administer the final thrust with no potions or fairies and exactly two hearts left.

Cue the extended epilogue which made the ending of the film version of Return of the King seem brief (and I mean the uncut version with a Tarkovskyesque "The Scouring of the Shire" added in).

On balance, that was utterly lovely. The most epic and delightful (non dark) fantasy game we have played to date, with an endgame nowhere near as difficult as The Ocarina of Time or Twilight Princess.

So, what next? Clare is lending the game - and the Wii itself - to a work colleague, so we won't be resuming Silent Hill: Shattered Memories for a while. For the PS3 we've got Heavy Rain, which we started ages and ages ago but then other things came up, and we've got Uncharted 3.

[Fazor]

The funny thing about Skyward Sword was that while playing it, I had plenty to complain about. But by the end, I had this utter sense of satisfaction that I haven't felt in years. I ended up rating the game highly in my review.

I died on the Demise fight once or twice, but once I realized what to do, it was an easy win. I could say that about almost all the boss fights (the non-Girahim ones, anyway.) Though there were few other bosses I died at, there were those I struggled through until I figured out the weakness, and then EUREEKA! Easy win.

I appreciate boss fights that reward you for doing it right, rather than being hard through cheap gimmicks and factors out of your control.

[dgavin]

Skyrim is a fun game, occasionally if you tick off an NPC they send assassin's out after you. I tracked down one of the people that put a bounty on my characher and had some pointed coversation with them...

http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/7...84/?tab=public

[dgavin]

Oh, almost forgot to post this, is my first Charater in Skyrim, named Dreemon. http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/7...76689721913988

*Edit to add*

And another, this one in the style of Elder Scrolls. http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/7...58/?tab=public

[peter eldergill]

Loving Skyrim, finding selling stuff a royal pain.

Playing a destruction mage, mostly fire. Level 36 at the moment

Pete

[dgavin]

Skyrim Gem collection growing...http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/7...28/?tab=public

[dgavin]

My first Skyrim action shot, landed a power move on a dragon. http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/7...94/?tab=public

[Paul Beardsley]

The funny thing about Skyward Sword was that while playing it, I had plenty to complain about. But by the end, I had this utter sense of satisfaction that I haven't felt in years. I ended up rating the game highly in my review.

As you can probably tell from my last post, I found the ending thoroughly satisfying. But with a few exceptions - Girahim, a couple of the other bosses, the flowing quicksand, the silent realm sequences and the repeated "You have found a jelly blob" lectures - I found I was utterly loving the game whilst actually playing it. I loved the time crystals, and how the half-buried bones of a vanquished foe would appear somewhere else when you'd changed history slightly. I loved the flying beetle (which we called Percy), and took great delight in getting him to scout out land we'd be exploring shortly; it was extra-amusing when he'd kill a couple of triffids en route, cut the grass and bring back gems in a single trip. We found (most of) the characters very entertaining, even the annoying ones like the storage girl and her blossoming romantic feelings. I loved swimming in a flooded land, seeing familiar things from an unusual angle.

And, whereas I am sure I could have played the game from start to finish on my own, it was vastly more pleasant to play with my wife as my co-pilot (as she has been in many past games). Discussing puzzles and then being impressed with each other's cleverness added a lot. Then there was the shared delight when we recognised a Goron - thoroughly likeable guys who have amused us in different eras of Hyrule.

I died on the Demise fight once or twice, but once I realized what to do, it was an easy win. I could say that about almost all the boss fights (the non-Girahim ones, anyway.) Though there were few other bosses I died at, there were those I struggled through until I figured out the weakness, and then EUREEKA! Easy win.

I appreciate boss fights that reward you for doing it right, rather than being hard through cheap gimmicks and factors out of your control.

Agreed, although you are clearly a more skillful gamer. The giant squid was the only one that didn't get to kill me!

Now, all this talk of Skyrim is tempting me, but I've got a second novel to write, a language to learn, website design skills to acquire and I want a better-paid job. Can I really do all these things and play Skyrim?

[Doodler]

Had my first prison sentence in Skyrim. Managed to rack up about 8k worth of bounty on my head after a misunderstanding with the Riften guards over my Stormcloak orc's habit of skewering Imperial soldiers when he thinks no one is looking. I figured, "ah, what the heck?" and proceeded to rampage through the countryside, shredding several garrisons worth of Riftens before I misclicked and surrendered. Two botched lockpicks later, I just served my time and got on with my life.

Been having an interesting issue with this current character's game. With my Imperial Imperial, I couldn't break wind and not have a dragon swooping down from above. Riverbend was a ghost town from all the wandering NPCs that had been fried. Now with my Stormcloak Orc, I've had multiple shouts I couldn't unlock because the scaley buggers wouldn't come out and play...


As far as other games I've played, I still tinker around in Oblivion from time to time, and I've been enjoying Star Trek Online again, what with the new Duty Officer system that gives you a moderately interesting way of fleshing out the "below decks" crew. Looking forward to seeing the Enterprise-F launched in a couple months.

[dgavin]

Ha! I caught a dragon taking a nap in Skyrim! LOL

http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/7...06/?tab=public