Tali'Thread vas Clan Zorah nar BSN 6.0

[TTTX]

I miss Raiden.

don't worry, you are going to play the cyborg game soon, there is only like 2-3 main missions left now.

[TheodoricFriede]

This honestly kills my enthusiasm for Death Stranding.

Of all the Metal Gear games, this is the only one I actually regret playing.

[TTTX]

This honestly kills my enthusiasm for Death Stranding.

Of all the Metal Gear games, this is the only one I actually regret playing.

We don't know what the gameplay of Death Stranding is outside the small sniptes here and there in a trailer.

[magnuskn]

► Show Spoiler

The scepter that the Horde steals from Boralus at the end of our campaign, I'd imagine, but that should be in the treasury, which is below the king's throne. So either it was a multi-objective raid, someone called an audible, or something else is going on.

Uhh, sorta. I'd say that strategically, the Alliance succeeds pretty well here. The Zandalari fleet is crippled, the king is dead, presumably a lot of the infantry that survived after G'huun's attack are too, plus all those champions of the loa. Jaina is alive, Mekkatorque is out of the picture for the moment, but you don't put someone in cyro if you plan to just let them die. The effect is a new queen and the Horde will definitely gain them as allies, albeit now they're much weaker than they were. I can't imagine Jaina's too badly injured, unless the idea is to sideline her for a while, or otherwise depower her, because the Alliance top brass is legitimately on another level of power. And Tyrande is even getting that powerup from Elune (and losing her heels, RIP).

But I'll cop to the greater point, it has seemed like the Alliance has been the righteous ones, but with terrible execution until miracles happen, while the Horde has poor intentions, but gets shit done. This is a reversal, in that we're playing defense for the sake of new "friendships," fail utterly, and vice-versa. Which is presumably intentional in the narrative. Our turn to take some lumps.

But Arathi is clearly going to the Alliance, a random new Horde fortress is not going to be the canon victor over Stromgarde. Darkshore, I don't know. The Forsaken need a new zone for themselves, but Tyrande is getting the Night Warrior thing, going all old school.

► Show Spoiler

Yeah, the Tyrande thing was long overdue. Since I am mightily sympathetic to the Night Elves (my main has been a Night Elf mage since the class was made available for that race), I am overjoyed that she gets out from being Malfurions doormat. You can be pretty sure that I'll use those black eyes for my own character, although I find the look not that good so far. Maybe she'll stop making constant terrible decisions, too, with this new storyline for her.

I guess we'll see where the story goes. Not for a Sylvanas redemption arc, that's sure by now.

[TheodoricFriede]

Oh my god, how do you trigger the end of this game?!

What more does it take?

[Mobius_118]

Oh my god, how do you trigger the end of this game?!

What more does it take?

There is no real end. That's the point. War is endless, and will continue until there is nothing left of mankind.

You can do FOB missions to try and disarm other players of their nuclear weapons. There's an ending to that particular deal, but it's not a true ending.

[TheodoricFriede]

I wish there was some genius Modder/Programmer out there that could make a Perfect Cut of this game.

Something that can boil it down to its base parts. 10 to 12 hours of content relating directly to the story and explanations, and remove all the chaff you inevitably get when you make the asinine decision to make an open world game.

This story and gameplay in an actual Metal Gear Solid format, like 1 - 4, would have been pretty good. Its interesting to see the lunacy and hypocrisy of Big Boss and his cronies. The ultimate revelation of why there are two Big Bosses in the MSX games is great. But in order to reach that point its like being pulled by your balls by a tractor through manure.

This game could have been great, and all it would have taken was staying true to the classic formula. And I'm not even sure I entirely blame Konami.

I dont honestly believe that the Open World decision was entirely Konami. Maybe Kojima wanted to make the greatest open world game ever made, but that plus his insistence of paying out the ass for real celebrities? I dont BLAME Konami for wanting to get rid of him.

[TTTX]

I dont honestly believe that the Open World decision was entirely Konami. Maybe Kojima wanted to make the greatest open world game ever made, but that plus his insistence of paying out the ass for real celebrities? I dont BLAME Konami for wanting to get rid of him.

They only got rid of him because he was basically the last person at Konami still making Triple A games.

[Alienmorph]

I will agree on the voice actors point Theo is making. There's load of great voice actors that wouldn't cost you an arm and a leg to hire, but there's this bullshit obsession to hire celebrities to give your game more "Prestige" and make it more "Cinematic", and then often you end up overpaying someone who doesn't care to do a good job, instead of having some extra cash to invest in the actual game. Or to pay your devs a bit of extra for the ridiculous amount of overtime they tend to accumulate when working on a big budget game with a tight as fuck deadline.

[Mobius_118]

I think Kiefer Sutherland made an excellent older Big Boss. David Hayter will always be Snake, but Sutherland has that gravely older voice that a man like Big Boss would have after decades of constant war and smoking.

Richard Doyle in MGS4 was perfect, because Big Boss by that point was 79 and rebuilt.

Regardless TPP wasn't what I'd hoped but it's what I got. As a continuation as Big Boss as the legendary soldier, it helped show how that reputation was built.

[TheodoricFriede]

They only got rid of him because he was basically the last person at Konami still making Triple A games.

That is certainly the narrative most people decided to believe.

[TTTX]

That is certainly the narrative most people decided to believe.

There is evidence for it, as Konami wanted to go over to making those Japanese gambling machines and they promoted a guy to position the director who was an expert of mobil games (because that's where the easy money is.)

[TheodoricFriede]

I believe that, as always, the situation is more complicated then what everyone decided on.

[TTTX]

I believe that, as always, the situation is more complicated then what everyone decided on.

true enough, still I look forward to whatever Kojima comes up with, if nothing else it'll be an experience.

[Dragaros]

[Dragaros]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoI4beQtb6w

[Dragaros]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF99utFEfk4

[Dragaros]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lb-tlY6ytk8

[Alienmorph]

Never gonna happen, but I'd pick Shantae in an heartbeat.

[Azint]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lb-tlY6ytk8

But will it also be an unexpectedly incredible emotional roller coaster like the first game?

[Sinekein]

Rayman, Sora, Azura, Crash, Gardevoir, Toad, Shadow, Funky in that order of priority.

[TheodoricFriede]

Never gonna happen, but I'd pick Shantae in an heartbeat.

(real)Paper Mario, Geno, Crash, and anyone else on that list is irrelevant.

[TheodoricFriede]

true enough, still I look forward to whatever Kojima comes up with, if nothing else it'll be an experience.

My prediction for Death Stranding is that its going to be the most expensive video game ever made, and despite selling alright, Sony will ultimately lose money on the whole deal.

As far as how it plays, it will be weird, and confusing, and you watch and hold "up" more then you actually engage in the game.

[Vol]

OoOoOOOoh, Spooktober is heEeEere.

Man I wish I still had my old setup when I lived down south, had 2 TVs, one just for movies/cable, all my horror DVDs, plus the on demand service had a good spread. On the plus side, artists I follow tend to get into the theme and put out more consistent work, so there's that to look forward to.

[Dragaros]

Never gonna happen, but I'd pick Shantae in an heartbeat.

Yeah, if she did appear in-game, it'd probably be as an assist trophy like Shovel Knight.

All the same, going by the rules of this, I'd go with Paper Mario, Skull Kid, Banjo-Kazooie, Dixie Kong, Shantae, and Rayman.

[Dragaros]

[Dragaros]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSkvbNlgBI8

[Dragaros]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBtO-pAXVA4

[Dragaros]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNBOdjSYo3w

[Dragaros]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laJR6qnqLoI

[Dragaros]

OoOoOOOoh, Spooktober is heEeEere.

Man I wish I still had my old setup when I lived down south, had 2 TVs, one just for movies/cable, all my horror DVDs, plus the on demand service had a good spread. On the plus side, artists I follow tend to get into the theme and put out more consistent work, so there's that to look forward to.

I love me some October. October-November-December is my favorite time of the year.

I had a nice summer all things considered, but I'm so ready for that Autumn weather and eager to watch the leaves change colors. And its fun seeing how creative some people can be with the Halloween decorations.

I got my selection of favorite horror movies and Super Ghouls N' Ghosts already to go when it gets closer to All Hallows' Eve.

[TheodoricFriede]

So now that my blistering rage at Metal Gear Solid 5 has cooled off a bit (and I may wait a bit to do Rising), I would just like to take a moment to sum up my feelings for the series.

With the exception, perhaps, of 1 at the time, no single game is actually that good of a game. They're incredibly clunky. They have dramatic and strange shifts in tone. The story from game to game is a confusing mess.

And somehow, despite all of this, the series is such an incredible thing to experience. It is definition of something that is greater then the sum of its parts. It is almost shocking that it works at all. Somehow, someway, every thread of the series (sans unfinished, but viewable, content in 5) is not only connected, but connected in a way that makes sense. Including the MSX games.

That is ASTOUNDING. Bioware can't even keep its lore straight within individual games, let alone game to game.

So with all that being said, if I had to give a final and ultimate rating for the series, I would say...

"Pretty good."

[TTTX]

So now that my blistering rage at Metal Gear Solid 5 has cooled off a bit (and I may wait a bit to do Rising), I would just like to take a moment to sum up my feelings for the series.

With the exception, perhaps, of 1 at the time, no single game is actually that good of a game. They're incredibly clunky. They have dramatic and strange shifts in tone. The story from game to game is a confusing mess.

And somehow, despite all of this, the series is such an incredible thing to experience. It is definition of something that is greater then the sum of its parts. It is almost shocking that it works at all. Somehow, someway, every thread of the series (sans unfinished, but viewable, content in 5) is not only connected, but connected in a way that makes sense. Including the MSX games.

That is ASTOUNDING. Bioware can't even keep its lore straight within individual games, let alone game to game.

So with all that being said, if I had to give a final and ultimate rating for the series, I would say...

"Pretty good."

Yep and that's it's why one of the best gaming series of all time.

[TheodoricFriede]

As a side note, I super want a statuette of Solid Snake as he appears in Metal Gear Solid 1. Which is to say, polygonal and with a shitty pixelated texture.

[Alienmorph]

As a side note, I super want a statuette of Solid Snake as he appears in Metal Gear Solid 1. Which is to say, polygonal and with a shitty pixelated texture.

http://www.goodsmile.info/en/product/45 ... Snake.html

This one comes with an alternate head based on the game's pixelated face:

[TheodoricFriede]

Sure, but who the hell wants chibi Snake? ...Aside from Snake, who I think would find it hilarious.

Besides, its not cool unless the whole thing is polygonal and pixelated.

[Alienmorph]

Fair enough. But it's the first thing I came across when looking it up, and I don't think there's much else.

I did see some action figures of old fighting games characters done in full pixelated PS1 glory tho, so never say never, I guess.

[TheodoricFriede]

Im sure someone has made a 3d printable model. I saw one for Super Mario 64 Bowser once.

It would just also involve painting though, and i cant do that at all.

[Vol]

"The first 1,500 customers at each Toys "R" Us store around the United States received a special 'Peel & Win' sticker card on November 26, 1999. 200 at each store contained the text "Caught Me!" underneath, which allowed players to receive a Mew from December 8 to 12, 1999."

I've held a grudge against Toys R Us for nearly 20 years over this. My dad took me to 3 different stores to try and win one that day, all duds.

Turns out my odds were still under 50%, but still. I wanted a fucking Mew and it was a bonding moment, dammit.

[NCLanceman]

Boy, the last thing I won in a big drawing like that was a year's worth of free Blockbuster rentals. Suffice it to say by now I've gone to Wendy's way more times than I've gone to Blockbuster.

[Vol]

There's one Blockbuster left open, you should go see if they'll honor it!

[Dragaros]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Epz-8dA4i3I

[Dragaros]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbV0dsEuoVE

[Dragaros]

XCOM Retrospective - Legacy Devs: Justin Rodriguez

XCOM Retrospective - Legacy Devs: Chris Sulzbach

XCOM Retrospective - Legacy Devs: Piero Macgowan

XCOM Retrospective - Legacy Devs

XCOM: Enemy Unknown - Prototype Evolution

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bkTJAZM4i4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii706BEiCVw

[TheodoricFriede]

Looks like the former developers of Disney Infinity are working on a Harry Potter RPG for Warner brothers. Morality system, multiple classes, decisions, all that sort of thing.

That sounds real fuckin cool, but I QA tested Disney Infinity.

Keep. Expectations. Loooow.

[Someone With Mass]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lb-tlY6ytk8

For every video I see of the protagonist, the more I think he's an irredeemable dick.

[Alienmorph]

Looks like the former developers of Disney Infinity are working on a Harry Potter RPG for Warner brothers. Morality system, multiple classes, decisions, all that sort of thing.

That sounds real fuckin cool, but I QA tested Disney Infinity.

Keep. Expectations. Loooow.

It's a WB game. Unless it's being made by Netherealm Studios, I am ALWAYS keeping expectations low.

[TheodoricFriede]

It's a WB game. Unless it's being made by Netherealm Studios, I am ALWAYS keeping expectations low.

Its not Rocksteady, that was confirmed. The current rumor is Avalanche (Disney Infinity). WB can make good games, the problem is they do micro-transactions and open world. It takes place in Hogwarts, so it CANT be open world. That alone is a partial victory.

[Alienmorph]

It can't be open world? Hogwarts itself is easily bigger than Arkham Asylum from the first Rocksteady's Batman. Add the surrounding locations, like the fringe of the forbidden forest, the train station and so forth and you easily have something big enough to be put in an opeworld game. At least it shouldn't be a craftng 'n survival one ala Ubisoft tho, so there's that.

[TheodoricFriede]

Arkham Asylum was the good one!

Besides, open world changes a bit when its not just a sprawling, endless open area full of nothing. An "Open World" Hogwarts? THAT'S cool. The school is all anyone cares about anyway.

Anyway, as I said, Avalanche isnt great. But I did see some of the leaked gameplay before it was pulled, and I admit I got chills.