What are you playing? (Redux)

[fhdz]

Not worth it really.  They added some nice features in theory, but in practice they reek of paradox plans, aka unfulfilled at release.  Maybe in Madden 13 they'll manage to work out the kinks, but as it stands the game is a major disappointment from my end.  Of course, if you only do online play, the one thing I never engage in, it might be a worthwhile investment.  If you're more of a franchise mode fan with a bit of superstar mode in terms of interest, I think you'll find the game sorely disappointing.  I know I was.

Well, that's a bit disheartening.

[fhdz]

I bought Orcs Must Die yesterday when it was 75% off on Steam. I liked the demo, so I should like the rest of the game. And it's short enough that it's a game I might actually finish with my schedule like it is.

[Razgovory]

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl - I missed on it in the first place. Very nice shooter, especially AI is awesome. If you fight a group, they use cover and try to surround you. I was trapped a couple of times, because of getting used to stupid drones waiting for slaughter. I had to flee quite a few times too when overwhelmed. But I play poorly in FPS games so even beginner is a challenge sometimes here. 

Don't worry, the game is tough.  Especially in the beginning.  I never did finish the first one.  I've played it several times, but never got all the way through.

[sbr]

I got Orcs Must Die from a recent Steam sale and just downloaded it last night.  It is a pretty third person fun tower defense game so far.

[Razgovory]

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl - I missed on it in the first place. Very nice shooter, especially AI is awesome. If you fight a group, they use cover and try to surround you. I was trapped a couple of times, because of getting used to stupid drones waiting for slaughter. I had to flee quite a few times too when overwhelmed. But I play poorly in FPS games so even beginner is a challenge sometimes here. 

Don't worry, the game is tough.  Especially in the beginning.  I never did finish the first one.  I've played it several times, but never got all the way through.

Oh, and I just heard the developer went bust.  To bad.

[11B4V]

Still playing CMBB when I get a chance. Going to drop the cash for CM Normandy and of course commonwealth when it comes out.

Skyrim has bored the hell out of me so far.

[BuddhaRhubarb]

Bought a PS3! Yikes. Came with Uncharted 3 which was awesome until I got to the part in the 1st bit as young Drake... I apparently haven't got the dexterity to do the "crouch and cross over a gap" move. It just sticks there. Up to then It was awesome.

my problem with video games is that I suck at them. may have to restart on "very easy" ... also got thrown in with purchase: "Fallout New Vegas" which is much more familiar to me, and a bit easier... Looking forward to some wasteland madness  all day tomorrow!

[grumbler]

I've been playing a lot of WitP: AE lately when I need a break from Skyrim.  Now that I am used to its eccentricities, I like the game quite a bit.  What I am doing in this playthrough is what I did in the last WitP game that I finished:  I played the Japanese from the start of the war until the end of July, 1942 (i.e. through the end of the Japanese offensives and long enough afterward to set up a defensive perimeter), and then switch to the Allies.  That way, the game's feeble offensive AI doesn't get exposed as much.

The game simply will not appeal to people who are big on the "sharp edge" and care nothing about logistics.  But, if you enjoy the challenge of untangling all the messes the AI has made of unit organization, of building up supply lines, bases, and units so that you can go on the offensive when you get some competitive aircraft and some carriers, this is a good game.  I'd really like it if the game allowed me to designate training squadrons, for instance, and have the game automatically pull pilots out when they are qualified for the reserve.  Manually going through each training squadron once a month to promote pilots should not be necessary.  That gripe, and the silly withdrawal rules (requiring exact ships, for instance, rather than types or classes) are my only remaining serious complaints about the engine, though.  I have accepted their absurdly low Allied aircraft reinforcement levels (especially for the British, who produce just over 200 fighters total in 1942) as a scenario anomaly.

I'll admit that the biggest laugh I had in the game was when I looked up the mine production rates; according to the game, the US produced enough ship-laid mines to fill its largest minelayer, USS Terror, once a year!    I'm thinking that the game doesn't handle mine warfare very well, and so the designers crippled it by cutting production.  I've ignored it in my game, pretty much.

The game does a pretty good job, I think, of presenting the offensive and defensive players with the appropriate challenges.  On the offensive, the challenge is to build up bases close enough to the enemy to hurt them, while not getting hurt too badly one's self as one brings up the valuable but vulnerable convoys full of supplies, engineers, and base forces needed to make the base valuable.  Then, one needs to fly recon flights to build up knowledge about the enemy base, and assemble a large fighter force to fly sweeps over the enemy base.   All the while, one is building up the base size until it can fly first 2E, then 4E bombers.  As the bombers become available and the enemy's fighter force declines, one switches some fighters to escort duty and begins the bombing; first the enemy airfield, then the port, and then the ground units.  This is a siege.

The enemy can try to break the siege by sending in reinforcement fighters to challenge and maybe crush your sweeps, or naval bombers/carriers to cut off your base from the massive supply flow it needs to operate (particularly when using 4E bombers and/or fighters using drop tanks).  The AI will throw heavy surface units at your base to try to bombard it into uselessness.  If you have carriers nearby, or a nearby subsidiary base with anti-naval air power, you can stop this.  If not, you may find yourself forced to reinforce the logistics protection before you can resume the offensive.

Like almost all sieges, almost all offensives eventually succeed.  The challenge is maintaining the pace and breaking the enemy before you run out of time.  The Japanese challenge is easier, the sieges over more quickly, and the time frame shorter; as the Allies, you are going to be at this for a very long time.  Luckily, I enjoy that kind of challenge, and so enjoy the game.

[BuddhaRhubarb]

Well spent most of Sunday worshipping at the altar of Fallout. Played Fallout New Vegas until I went to bed and dreamed about playing Fallout New Vegas. Managed to level up to 2nd level in Goodsprings. helping out Ringo etc.

Trying to get out of town is hard though. I keep  getting horribly slaughtered by Deathclaws... As with any game... It takes me a long while to get good at controls. But it sure is fun. I really dug doing the big gunfight against the Power Gangers... a bunch of which I'd earlier massacred for looking shifty on the edge of town. Also I wanted their stuff. Which is helping, but I think I will need to dynamite that Deathclaw.

[garbon]

Bought a PS3! Yikes. Came with Uncharted 3 which was awesome until I got to the part in the 1st bit as young Drake... I apparently haven't got the dexterity to do the "crouch and cross over a gap" move. It just sticks there. Up to then It was awesome.

my problem with video games is that I suck at them. may have to restart on "very easy" ... also got thrown in with purchase: "Fallout New Vegas" which is much more familiar to me, and a bit easier... Looking forward to some wasteland madness  all day tomorrow!

I hated that whole child sequence. Gets better past that.

[grumbler]

Well spent most of Sunday worshipping at the altar of Fallout. Played Fallout New Vegas until I went to bed and dreamed about playing Fallout New Vegas. Managed to level up to 2nd level in Goodsprings. helping out Ringo etc.

Trying to get out of town is hard though. I keep  getting horribly slaughtered by Deathclaws... As with any game... It takes me a long while to get good at controls. But it sure is fun. I really dug doing the big gunfight against the Power Gangers... a bunch of which I'd earlier massacred for looking shifty on the edge of town. Also I wanted their stuff. Which is helping, but I think I will need to dynamite that Deathclaw.

The deathclaws are there to keep you from going north too soon.  The game (and story) wants you to go south to Primm.

[Razgovory]

I picked up Bastion, but I can't get the hang of the dodging, blocking and attacking thing.  I never have been good at that.

[BuddhaRhubarb]

Well spent most of Sunday worshipping at the altar of Fallout. Played Fallout New Vegas until I went to bed and dreamed about playing Fallout New Vegas. Managed to level up to 2nd level in Goodsprings. helping out Ringo etc.

Trying to get out of town is hard though. I keep  getting horribly slaughtered by Deathclaws... As with any game... It takes me a long while to get good at controls. But it sure is fun. I really dug doing the big gunfight against the Power Gangers... a bunch of which I'd earlier massacred for looking shifty on the edge of town. Also I wanted their stuff. Which is helping, but I think I will need to dynamite that Deathclaw.

The deathclaws are there to keep you from going north too soon.  The game (and story) wants you to go south to Primm.

Hoo boy ...Yeah I figured that out after a few or 15 different tries. I guess that's what "save" is for. i'm in the Hotel in Primm right now. Just about to take out the Leader. Going to finish him tomorrow. I'm really enjoying the game. really does feel like a Fallout game despite all the fancy cinematic-ness.  Got some awesome loot thus far. Plasma gun!

[11B4V]

Well spent most of Sunday worshipping at the altar of Fallout. Played Fallout New Vegas until I went to bed and dreamed about playing Fallout New Vegas. Managed to level up to 2nd level in Goodsprings. helping out Ringo etc.

Trying to get out of town is hard though. I keep  getting horribly slaughtered by Deathclaws... As with any game... It takes me a long while to get good at controls. But it sure is fun. I really dug doing the big gunfight against the Power Gangers... a bunch of which I'd earlier massacred for looking shifty on the edge of town. Also I wanted their stuff. Which is helping, but I think I will need to dynamite that Deathclaw.

The deathclaws are there to keep you from going north too soon.  The game (and story) wants you to go south to Primm.

Hoo boy ...Yeah I figured that out after a few or 15 different tries. I guess that's what "save" is for. i'm in the Hotel in Primm right now. Just about to take out the Leader. Going to finish him tomorrow. I'm really enjoying the game. really does feel like a Fallout game despite all the fancy cinematic-ness.  Got some awesome loot thus far. Plasma gun!

New Vegas and FO3 are a blast.

[Josephus]

I suck at video games too. Always have, yet I keep coming back for more...like a video game character.