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Thursday, January 07, 2010

Infinity Ward pulls (Modern Warfare 2 Cole) Hamels video after Internet furor

Old, but I don’t think we ever discussed it.

Infinity Ward posted a short video on their YouTube account featuring an in-game version of Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels… In the vignette, Hamels advised Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 players that random grenades are “for pussies”; the “public service announcement” was provided by an organization called “Fight Against Grenade Spam.”

... Numerous Web sites and Twitterers condemned the PSA and Infinity Ward’s perceived endorsement of an anti-gay message… Infinity Ward has since taken down the video…

The District Attorney Posted: January 07, 2010 at 05:00 PM | 88 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: phillies

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1. Guapo Posted: January 07, 2010 at 05:19 PM (#3430871)

What the hell is an "Infinity Ward"?

2. Lassus Posted: January 07, 2010 at 05:24 PM (#3430881)

Internet furor! Hee!

That being said, I can't stand Hamels.

3. You Know Nothing JT Snow (YR) Posted: January 07, 2010 at 05:25 PM (#3430883)

Don't have the reflexes for Team Fortress 2 do ya Cole? That's OK, no shame in that.

4. Kid Charlemagne Posted: January 07, 2010 at 05:31 PM (#3430896)

I'm a GTA IV Multiplayer person myself.

5. Drew (Primakov, Gungho Iguanas) Posted: January 07, 2010 at 05:32 PM (#3430897)

Is Hamels actually a homophobe, or is this much ado about nothing?

6. Chris Needham Posted: January 07, 2010 at 05:33 PM (#3430900)

Doesn't this presuppose that he can spell?

7. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: January 07, 2010 at 05:34 PM (#3430902)

I've never thought of calling someone a ##### a homophobic slur. Anti-woman maybe.

8. The Original SJ Posted: January 07, 2010 at 05:35 PM (#3430904)

seriously though, people just throwing grenades blindly sucks ass.

9. PreservedFish Posted: January 07, 2010 at 05:36 PM (#3430905)

homophobe

How come homophobe is the term for people that don't like gays, and anti-semite is the term for people that don't like jews? One implies hate and the other fear.

10. Stately, Plump Buck Mulligan Posted: January 07, 2010 at 05:36 PM (#3430906)

I've been playing Modern Warfare 2 -- it's pretty enjoyable. I like the fact that each level is a totally different experience, in terms of where you are and what you have to do. I suppose the terrorist level is controversial, but you can skip it if you're offended by that sort of thing.

My preference is for games like Infamous and Uncharted and its sequel. Arkham Asylum as well.

11. Edmundo got dem ol' Kozma blues again mama

Posted: January 07, 2010 at 05:45 PM (#3430924)

That being said, I can't stand Hamels.

You probably hated Jim Eisenreich when he was a Phillie. :)

12. Shibal Posted: January 07, 2010 at 05:47 PM (#3430928)

Anyone who doesn't say they love gays is a homophobe nowadays.

13. Crispix Attacksel Rios Posted: January 07, 2010 at 05:48 PM (#3430930)

I've never thought of calling someone a ##### a homophobic slur. Anti-woman maybe.

I've never heard women referred to as F.A.G.S.

How come homophobe is the term for people that don't like gays, and anti-semite is the term for people that don't like jews? One implies hate and the other fear.

"Homophobe" used to have more of a connotation that a person was afraid of being near gays because he was afraid of being raped or objectified, or that he might become gay himself. Now it's just an inaccurate word for a prejudice like any other.

14. Stately, Plump Buck Mulligan Posted: January 07, 2010 at 05:51 PM (#3430937)

I like the word "homophobe" because it does a nice job of conveying the fear behind the dislike or hatred. (Not fear of gays themselves, but fear of being gay.)

15. Drew (Primakov, Gungho Iguanas) Posted: January 07, 2010 at 05:53 PM (#3430939)

I've never heard women referred to as F.A.G.S.

Me either. Also, calling someone a "fag" is definitely valenced towards derogatory.

I liked MW2, but the fact that you can't tailor the experience compared to MW isn't good. For instance, if you didn't like grenade spam, you could turn on friendly fire, or kick people who abused it. Not anymore.

16. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: January 07, 2010 at 05:53 PM (#3430940)

I've never heard women referred to as F.A.G.S.

Ah, I wasn't paying attention to the clever acronym.

17. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: January 07, 2010 at 05:54 PM (#3430942)

How come homophobe is the term for people that don't like gays, and anti-semite is the term for people that don't like jews? One implies hate and the other fear.

Guess nobody's scared of Jews.

18. Home Run Teal & Black Black Black Gone! Posted: January 07, 2010 at 05:55 PM (#3430945)

Queers.

19. Rally Posted: January 07, 2010 at 05:57 PM (#3430948)

Guess nobody's scared of Jews.

They will be once they see Inglorius Basterds.

20. Lassus Posted: January 07, 2010 at 06:00 PM (#3430951)

Anyone who doesn't say they love gays is a homophobe nowadays.

There's a call for you on line 1.

21. Hang down your head, Tom Foley Posted: January 07, 2010 at 06:26 PM (#3430983)

I think Crispix Attacks is right that "homophobe" implies the person is afraid that he might be gay. People who hate Jews are typically less afraid that they're secretly Jewish.

22. The Interdimensional Council of Rickey!'s Posted: January 07, 2010 at 06:33 PM (#3430991)

Homophobe is the word that sorted itself out as a descriptor for people who are irrationally upset by gays and/or lesbians. The latin etymology isn't particularly relevant any more, but the word's usage is the word's meaning, and common usage applies. If you have a problem with homosexuality, you're a homophobe. If your best retort to that is "but I'm not SCARED of faggots!!!" then your homophobia is actually closer to the traditional meaning of the term than previously assumed.

23. More Dewey is Always Good Posted: January 07, 2010 at 06:34 PM (#3430994)

I heard a story on NPR about the edited-for-Russia version of this game. Apparently there's a scene where Russian nationalists, dressed in American Army uniforms, start shooting innocent civilians in a Moscow airport. This scene is not in the version of the game sold in Russia.

24. Home Run Teal & Black Black Black Gone! Posted: January 07, 2010 at 06:37 PM (#3430997)

I heard a story on NPR about the edited-for-Russia version of this game. Apparently there's a scene where Russian nationalists, dressed in American Army uniforms, start shooting innocent civilians in a Moscow airport. This scene is not in the version of the game sold in Russia.

Annnnnnnnnnnd here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JHvkp3CWJw

25. Jesus Luzardo Maraschino Posted: January 07, 2010 at 06:51 PM (#3431015)

I thought fags were guys who rode Harleys.

Brrrrr rummmm rummmm brrrrrr rummm rummm rummmmmmmm!!!

26. Drew (Primakov, Gungho Iguanas) Posted: January 07, 2010 at 06:57 PM (#3431023)

Apparently there's a scene where Russian nationalists, dressed in American Army uniforms, start shooting innocent civilians in a Moscow airport.

I had no idea that level was going to happen before it did. It disturbed me. I tried to shoot over everyone's heads.

27. Paul D(uda) Posted: January 07, 2010 at 07:04 PM (#3431030)

I don't think this is Hamels' fault. There was a big uproar about a month ago about this. Not the Hamels thing, but the anti grenade spam thing Infinity Ward was doing.

28. More Dewey is Always Good Posted: January 07, 2010 at 07:05 PM (#3431032)

I had no idea that level was going to happen before it did. It disturbed me. I tried to shoot over everyone's heads.

Russian gamers, being gamers, are more offended that it was left out than that it was written in in the first place.

In the NPR story, a Russian government official pointed out a flaw in the logic behind that scene. I haven't played the game, so I could be wrong, but apparently the U.S. government (or at least the player character) is aware of the plot beforehand. Why wouldn't they simply warn the Russian government, so they could stop the plot?

29. Drew (Primakov, Gungho Iguanas) Posted: January 07, 2010 at 07:10 PM (#3431037)

but apparently the U.S. government (or at least the player character) is aware of the plot beforehand. Why wouldn't they simply warn the Russian government, so they could stop the plot?

There's later plot in the game that accounts for this. Though, that plot is equally far-fetched.

EDIT: The U.S. government knew, or some part of it did, but it is hardly an unanimous "yes, let the world think we gunned down hundreds on purpose". I'd say more but I'm avoiding spoilers. The player character knows *something* about the plot, but it isn't clear how much up until the player takes control.

30. Zonk is now Unified Posted: January 07, 2010 at 07:22 PM (#3431053)

Sigh...

I hate that I just cannot find any satisfaction in console games. I really feel like I'm missing out.

31. sardonic Posted: January 07, 2010 at 07:33 PM (#3431071)

My office has finally been transitioning to MW2 from Halo 3, and I have to say I enjoy that it's a more thoughtful FPS experience overall. Much more tactics involved.

32. Drew (Primakov, Gungho Iguanas) Posted: January 07, 2010 at 07:33 PM (#3431074)

I hate that I just cannot find any satisfaction in console games. I really feel like I'm missing out.

They make MW2 for PC, where it (and every other shooter) is way, way much better. The imprecision of analog sticks is incredible.

EDIT: Halo 3 might be the most overrated game of all time. Dated graphics, floaty controls...

33. drone1313 Posted: January 07, 2010 at 07:34 PM (#3431075)

The game's "plot" is laughable, and the controversial scene, being especially unbelievable, seems little more than shock content to me.

Sort of like this ad.

34. drone1313 Posted: January 07, 2010 at 07:37 PM (#3431082)

They make MW2 for PC, where it (and every other shooter) is way, way much better. The imprecision of analog sticks is incredible

Maybe, but PC diehards are hating the PC version of this game (mostly for multiplayer, but still). On Metacritic that version has around a 2/10 rating, I think.

35. Zonk is now Unified Posted: January 07, 2010 at 07:38 PM (#3431083)

They make MW2 for PC, where it (and every other shooter) is way, way much better. The imprecision of analog sticks is incredible.

Ehh... I guess - though, I don't think I've played a shooter since Doom.

36. Drew (Primakov, Gungho Iguanas) Posted: January 07, 2010 at 07:41 PM (#3431086)

On Metacritic that version has around a 2/10 rating, I think.

It's a smear campaign against the lack of dedicated servers and user-specific server administration. It's a valid complaint, but the 2/10 rating is a reflection of the campaigners' desire to bury the game over a couple of omissions like this.

Not to mention the bandwagon and sheep mentalities that unfortunately result from any sort of activism, whether that activism be valid or not.

37. sardonic Posted: January 07, 2010 at 07:43 PM (#3431087)

EDIT: Halo 3 might be the most overrated game of all time. Dated graphics, floaty controls...

Eh, we're all relatively casual gamers, as far as console gaming is concerned, and the game has provided us with a ton of fun after work gaming for the past couple years. I'm not gonna knock it.

38. Drew (Primakov, Gungho Iguanas) Posted: January 07, 2010 at 07:44 PM (#3431094)

Don't get me wrong, it's worth playing. But some people (including all of the major reviewers) laud it as the Third Coming of Christ.

39. You Know Nothing JT Snow (YR) Posted: January 07, 2010 at 07:46 PM (#3431096)

All the cool kids are playing Left 4 Dead 2.

40. sardonic Posted: January 07, 2010 at 07:48 PM (#3431102)

Yeah, we're mostly too busy to really do research into what games to play, and really only have enough time to play one game as it is. Plus, Halo 3 is something that appeals to the widest demographic of gamers in the office. That plus the good multiplayer (as far as I can tell) via XBOX Live made it an awesome office console game.

Switching to MW2 is basically the first change in games since I started working here, though I did pick up a copy of FIFA 10 and play that sometimes when others aren't around.

41. My guest will be Jermaine Allensworth Posted: January 07, 2010 at 07:56 PM (#3431117)

Is Hamels actually a homophobe, or is this much ado about nothing?

We had a thread in October about a Philly writer kinda sorta insinuating that Hamels was too gay for Philly. So I guess if he were, it would be fighting fire with fire.

42. hokieneer Posted: January 07, 2010 at 08:03 PM (#3431140)

Apparently there's a scene where Russian nationalists, dressed in American Army uniforms, start shooting innocent civilians in a Moscow airport

that's F*ckin messed up. Killing people in GTA and those types of games are one thing. Being a mercenary, an armed soldier, or whatever; and marching through a public place killing civilians is suppose to be fun? Plus the music (I assume that's in game music), adds to the disturbing nature of the scene.

My preference is for games like Infamous and Uncharted and its sequel. Arkham Asylum as well

Me too. never got a chance to play Infamous or the Batman game. Uncharted games are great. Playing Assassian's creed II right now, and enjoying it. I play some shooters, but I'm more in the casual shooter circle, then the hard core COD players.

43. Dock Ellis

Posted: January 07, 2010 at 08:17 PM (#3431163)

Killing people in GTA and those types of games are one thing. Being a mercenary, an armed soldier, or whatever; and marching through a public place killing civilians is suppose to be fun?

I'm failing to see the difference. You can kill innocent civilians in GTA, too. Or does your objection have to do with fictional soldiers (as opposed to fictional thugs) killing fictional civilians?

44. Select Storage Device Posted: January 07, 2010 at 08:22 PM (#3431173)

They make MW2 for PC, where it (and every other shooter) is way, way much better. The imprecision of analog sticks is incredible.

EDIT: Halo 3 might be the most overrated game of all time. Dated graphics, floaty controls...

This, of course, has been the PC-haterade-mantra for years, of which I personally think, especially with a game like MW, doesn't hold water anymore. It's a matter of preference of course, but MW on 360 vs. MW on PC is a different game, and I like the slower pace on the consoles much more.

45. Greg K Posted: January 07, 2010 at 08:30 PM (#3431187)

I've been waiting for a Napoleonic Call of Duty, with a complicated 20 second routine to reload your musket, and you have to stand in formation the whole battle, so getting shot is entirely out of your control.

I guess I exaggerate, but if you used Bernard Corwell's Sharpe series as a starting point you could have an entertaining game.

Or a WW1 Call of Duty, Verdun would be fun.

46. DCW3 Posted: January 07, 2010 at 08:31 PM (#3431188)

What the hell is an "Infinity Ward"?

It's what Montgomery Ward changed its name to in the '90s to update its image.

47. Select Storage Device Posted: January 07, 2010 at 08:34 PM (#3431190)

that's F*ckin messed up. Killing people in GTA and those types of games are one thing. Being a mercenary, an armed soldier, or whatever; and marching through a public place killing civilians is suppose to be fun? Plus the music (I assume that's in game music), adds to the disturbing nature of the scene.

The "No Russian" chapter is an attempt to top one of the missions in the original MW, a powerful and extremely well done (IMO, a banner moment in video gaming) scene wear you attempt to flee a city in a chopper as a nuke detonates. Your helicopter crashes, your squad is dead, and you are essentially given about a minute to roam the devastation before you stumble to the ground and bleed to death. There was no gameplay what-so-ever in the traditional sense, but the perspective and implementation was brilliant.

With "No Russian," they just sort of failed to capture that same feeling. You aren't supposed to enjoy it. Not at all.

48. More Dewey is Always Good Posted: January 07, 2010 at 08:38 PM (#3431202)

Or a WW1 Call of Duty, Verdun would be fun.

It would be a short game. Player goes over the top, gets tangled in barbed wire, gets shot 15 times by a machine gun, dies a slow death.

49. Greg K Posted: January 07, 2010 at 08:49 PM (#3431210)

It would be a short game. Player goes over the top, gets tangled in barbed wire, gets shot 15 times by a machine gun, dies a slow death.

Precisely what we need. It would put a generation of young kids off of war for good!

50. Paul D(uda) Posted: January 07, 2010 at 09:14 PM (#3431246)

I'm not a shooter fan, but Team Fortress 2 is a tremendous game.

I'm also working my way through The Saboteur right now, and I find it excellent. The reviews were middling, but I'm finding it fantastic.

51. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: January 07, 2010 at 09:17 PM (#3431248)

If you have a problem with homosexuality, you're a homophobe.

What if you just believe it's immoral and should be discouraged like other forms of immorality (e.g. adultery) but don't feel any sort of animus to people with homosexual tendencies?

52. cercopithecus aethiops Posted: January 07, 2010 at 09:17 PM (#3431249)

How come homophobe is the term for people that don't like gays, and anti-semite is the term for people that don't like jews?

Because homomise and semitophobe don't really roll tripingly off the tongue.

The latin etymology isn't particularly relevant any more

Especially the Greek part.

Player goes over the top, gets tangled in barbed wire, gets shot 15 times by a machine gun, dies a slow death.

You'd have to be pretty unlucky to take 15 rounds from a machine gun and not die a fairly quick death. Plus, you left out the part where the mustard gas rolls in.

53. Drew (Primakov, Gungho Iguanas) Posted: January 07, 2010 at 09:19 PM (#3431253)

Being a mercenary, an armed soldier, or whatever; and marching through a public place killing civilians is suppose to be fun?

When I went through it, it definitely *wasn't* fun. I can see people getting off on it though. Combined with the realistic mood of the game, it was much worse than GTA as far as feeling like you're performing acts you'd scar yourself by doing.

54. More Dewey is Always Good Posted: January 07, 2010 at 09:24 PM (#3431262)

Plus, you left out the part where the mustard gas rolls in.

Oh, yeah. That would be a fun simulation - stumbling around blind and horribly burned.

I actually find games that are realistic portrayals of combat to be somewhat troubling. I've never been in combat, but I don't know if it's supposed to be entertaining. Although I've played Hearts of Iron (which is essentially really complicated chess) for hours, so maybe I'm a hypocrite.

55. Alex_Lewis Posted: January 07, 2010 at 09:25 PM (#3431263)

You'd have to be pretty unlucky to take 15 rounds from a machine gun and not die a fairly quick death. Plus, you left out the part where the mustard gas rolls in.

ARG, MY FOOT!

I'll bet a game that depicted actual, hand-to-hand medieval warfare would be pretty cool.

56. Drew (Primakov, Gungho Iguanas) Posted: January 07, 2010 at 09:25 PM (#3431264)

This, of course, has been the PC-haterade-mantra for years, of which I personally think, especially with a game like MW, doesn't hold water anymore.

Maybe not, but my personal experience with using analog sticks to play shooters has been so negative that I have a hard time seeing how MW (or Halo 3) on console is at all preferable to playing on PC. It's not the fanboy in my nature saying this--it's the sheer frustration I have playing shooters on console.

I play lots of console games that are great--Gears of War, Assassin's Creed, God of War--but none of those are first-person shooters.

What if you just believe it's immoral and should be discouraged like other forms of immorality (e.g. adultery) but don't feel any sort of animus to people with homosexual tendencies?

I'd say it depends on what that belief is based in. If you believe it's immoral, you might believe that because you're afraid of the proliferation of homosexuality.

57. sardonic Posted: January 07, 2010 at 09:37 PM (#3431282)

Maybe not, but my personal experience with using analog sticks to play shooters has been so negative that I have a hard time seeing how MW (or Halo 3) on console is at all preferable to playing on PC. It's not the fanboy in my nature saying this--it's the sheer frustration I have playing shooters on console.

I play lots of console games that are great--Gears of War, Assassin's Creed, God of War--but none of those are first-person shooters.

To me, though analog stick is suboptimal compared to keyboard+mouse, I don't think that it's definitionally worse in terms of a game mechanic. It is more challenging to aim, but you could argue that that's just part of it. Regardless of what you think about that though, two advantages to console gaming in general that also apply to FPS are:

1) Bigger screen
2) More social

58. You Know Nothing JT Snow (YR) Posted: January 07, 2010 at 09:38 PM (#3431285)

I'm not a shooter fan, but Team Fortress 2 is a tremendous game.

It is indeed, and Valve has done a remarkable job of adding free new content over the last two years. It's awfully fast-paced though, you need some serious twitch skills if you want to be anything more than chaingun fodder, or an engineer.

I'll bet a game that depicted actual, hand-to-hand medieval warfare would be pretty cool.

Well, there's TCA's "Medieval: Total War 2", which is really a strategy game but a great one with serious tactical depth to compliment the graphics.

59. Lassus Posted: January 07, 2010 at 09:41 PM (#3431293)

What if you just believe it's immoral and should be discouraged like other forms of immorality (e.g. adultery) but don't feel any sort of animus to people with homosexual tendencies?

Do you have any homosexual friends that you know of, and is this what you tell them about their homosexuality?

I'd also echo Primakov's "Why?" question.

60. Drew (Primakov, Gungho Iguanas) Posted: January 07, 2010 at 09:46 PM (#3431303)

1) Bigger screen
2) More social

Bigger screen is true, though you get a higher resolution most of the time on PC. As for more social, sure, but I hate people anyway. :-p Actually, I don't think having it on PC is less social--the PC counterparts of console games have similar amounts of chat functionality on them.

61. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: January 07, 2010 at 09:47 PM (#3431305)

That would be a fun simulation - stumbling around blind and horribly burned.

Sounds like something out of Eternal Darkness.

62. Greg K Posted: January 07, 2010 at 09:48 PM (#3431308)

Although I've played Hearts of Iron (which is essentially really complicated chess) for hours, so maybe I'm a hypocrite.

I don't think it makes you a hypocrite, just means you'd rather be the person sending people to their deaths than the person being sent to their death. Which, if we're being honest, is probably true for all of us.

I've never played Hearts of Iron, but the same company makes a similar game set in the Victorian Period. One of my all time favourite games. The degree of detail in the economic and political aspects of the game is crazy. Plus there's a lot less killing than in the Second World War period so it's a bit easier on the conscience...(unless you're one of those weirdos who gets hung up on oppressing the working classes and subjugatng all of Africa to your will)

63. More Dewey is Always Good Posted: January 07, 2010 at 09:51 PM (#3431315)

I've never played Hearts of Iron, but the same company makes a similar game set in the Victorian Period. One of my all time favourite games. The degree of detail in the economic and political aspects of the game is crazy. Plus there's a lot less killing than in the Second World War period so it's a bit easier on the conscience...(unless you're one of those weirdos who gets hung up on oppressing the working classes and subjugatng all of Africa to your will)

I liked "Victoria" quite a bit, although that game had some serious AI problems when I played it. I think it's a bit too detailed for a computer to play it well.

64. sardonic Posted: January 07, 2010 at 09:51 PM (#3431316)

Bigger screen is true, though you get a higher resolution most of the time on PC. As for more social, sure, but I hate people anyway. :-p Actually, I don't think having it on PC is less social--the PC counterparts of console games have similar amounts of chat functionality on them.

I do think it's different playing with your friends setting around you though. Even in LAN party scenarios, people are still farther apart and have screens between them. It's subjective, but I find the console experience more social and fun.

65. Greg K Posted: January 07, 2010 at 09:54 PM (#3431320)

I actually find games that are realistic portrayals of combat to be somewhat troubling. I've never been in combat, but I don't know if it's supposed to be entertaining. Although I've played Hearts of Iron (which is essentially really complicated chess) for hours, so maybe I'm a hypocrite.

I've actually always wanted to play a WW1 war simulation from the individual's perspective to learn more about what a horrible experience it must have been. So I guess I'd agree with the comments about how it would be a dull game as that's kind of the point. I think it partly stems from me being too poor to afford good video games, and too unco-ordinated to be good at them, but I've had it in my mind for a while that a video game might be a useful medium for learning about what life was like in the past. Films have come close to really surrounding me in the war experience (Das Boot deserves a mention there) but after playing the older Call of Dutys a few times, I can definately see a similar game based in 1914-1918 being thoroughly enveloping...even if it wouldn't be entertaining per se.

66. Lassus Posted: January 07, 2010 at 09:56 PM (#3431322)

For all you gamers out there, are there any sci-fi/first person games/simulations that are more exploration and less fighting? First-person shooters in general never really interested me. I was excited about the new Star Trek online game, but even that has returned as combat-heavy.

If there were something good, I'd even install parallels to get it to run on my Mac.

67. Alex_Lewis Posted: January 07, 2010 at 09:56 PM (#3431323)

I've actually always wanted to play a WW1 war simulation from the individual's perspective to learn more about what a horrible experience it must have been. So I guess I'd agree with the comments about how it would be a dull game as that's kind of the point. I think it partly stems from me being too poor to afford good video games, and too unco-ordinated to be good at them, but I've had it in my mind for a while that a video game might be a useful medium for learning about what life was like in the past. Films have come close to really surrounding me in the war experience (Das Boot deserves a mention there) but after playing the older Call of Dutys a few times, I can definately see a similar game based in 1914-1918 being thoroughly enveloping...even if it wouldn't be entertaining per se.

You should read up on Rommell's exploits during WWI. He could make for a pretty good WWI protagonist.

68. Greg K Posted: January 07, 2010 at 09:56 PM (#3431324)

I liked "Victoria" quite a bit, although that game had some serious AI problems when I played it. I think it's a bit too detailed for a computer to play it well.

True, there are a few little tricks and loop-holes you can find in it.
If I ever get 187 similar minded friends it would be fun to set aside a weekend to have a massive multiplayer game. Though it would suck to draw the short end of the straw and be Bhutan.

69. You Know Nothing JT Snow (YR) Posted: January 07, 2010 at 09:59 PM (#3431327)

I liked "Victoria" quite a bit

Me too, it's my favorite part of "Tosca".

70. You Know Nothing JT Snow (YR) Posted: January 07, 2010 at 10:06 PM (#3431334)

For all you gamers out there, are there any sci-fi/first person games/simulations that are more exploration and less fighting?

Battlecruiser 3000AD!

71. drone1313 Posted: January 07, 2010 at 10:12 PM (#3431339)

Lassus: Mass Effect for xbox 360 has combat, but is also a near-ideal scifi game

also, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

72. Infinite Yost (Voxter)

Posted: January 07, 2010 at 10:20 PM (#3431353)

Guess nobody's scared of Jews.

Those people haven't seen the secret emails I get from Rahm Emmanuel and George Soros.

73. Paul D(uda) Posted: January 07, 2010 at 10:21 PM (#3431357)

My PC gaming is far more social than my PS3 gaming, simply because the games I have on PC (TF2, L4D) are ones that my Steam friends also have, while my console games (Batman, Uncharted, Saboteur) are ones that my friends aren't playing, and even if they were, the multi player holds no interest for me.

74. Lassus Posted: January 07, 2010 at 10:26 PM (#3431364)

I have heard that about Mass Effect, drome, I had already forgotten that one. I'm just not any kind of gamer, so my inquiry is very "maybe" - thanks!

75. hokieneer Posted: January 07, 2010 at 11:11 PM (#3431415)

I'm also working my way through The Saboteur right now, and I find it excellent. The reviews were middling, but I'm finding it fantastic.

The Saboteur fasicantes me, but I am scared by the up and down reviews, so I haven't tried it yet. If you have the time, do you care to give us a brief breakdown of it from your point of view? Might help to sway my fence setting.

76. Harry Balsagne

Posted: January 08, 2010 at 12:53 AM (#3431479)

I for one am counting the days till Bioshock2.

77. CWS Keith plans to [omitted] at [omitted] Posted: January 08, 2010 at 03:35 AM (#3431539)

Is that Team Fortress game relatively 'accessible' (meaning easy to pick up after several tries)? I have a 360 and have been looking for a multiplayer shooter to get into for a while. Halo is okay -- anyone have ODST? Is it worth picking up? -- but I think I want to give something else a try. Any suggestions?

I'll also ask -- did anyone here ever play Splatterball on (somewhat early) AOL? Gosh that game was the balls -- absolutely terrible graphics but the community was fantastic and extremely competitive. That, Age of Empires and Diablo are probably my three favorite computer multi-player games.

78. McCoy Posted: January 08, 2010 at 03:57 AM (#3431545)

If I recall correctly someone once did a FPS for WWI but they threw in an alternate reality twist into the middle of it where you got to have some futuristic weapons and such. But the whole game was mostly based on trench warfare.

About the only Hearts of Iron I can play is the first one since like almost all series they get increasingly more complicated after that. I think I tried playing HoI 3 or whatever the latest one is and I don't think I got passed the first turn. HoI always struck me as more of an economics major's type game than a war strategy guy's game.

Been playing Empire Total War and I am a bit let down. It isn't as fun as MTW and MTW2. They don't give you as many starting options as they used too. I know there are mods for it but I really don't want to go through all the hassle of loading one up.

Europa Universalis I and II were pretty fun games as well.

79. Paul D(uda) Posted: January 08, 2010 at 04:00 AM (#3431546)

I found Team Fortress 2 shockingly accessible. It's not like counterstrike, the class system means you can pick a class that won't get destroyed every 5 seconds. For anyone new to TF2, here's my suggestion:

Play as a medic
Look at the top of the leaderboard
FOllow one of the top 3 guys, as long as he's a heavy or pyro.

Do that for a while to learn the maps, learn the game, etc, then start playing other classes.

Hokieneer - I'll try to post something by the end of the weekend.

80. Tuque

Posted: January 08, 2010 at 05:38 AM (#3431576)

All the cool kids are playing Left 4 Dead 2.

Seriously. That game is so fun it makes my nuts quiver.

81. BrianBrianson Posted: January 08, 2010 at 06:21 AM (#3431587)

If I ever get 187 similar minded friends it would be fun to set aside a weekend to have a massive multiplayer game. Though it would suck to draw the short end of the straw and be Bhutan.

You really don't need that many. Yeah, the AI sometimes sucks, but you only need humans behind the civilised nations, or maybe even plausible great powers. Good AI, lousy AI, Bhutan isn't an influence and will just get steamrolled or left alone. Apart from Persia/China/Egypt/Japan, the uncivilised nations simply don't influence gameplay at all. Twenty friends should be enough.

But that game is super awesome. Well worth the cost, which I say as someone who usually pirates games on the criterion they're not worth the cost.

82. Daunte Vicknabbit! Posted: January 08, 2010 at 07:13 AM (#3431596)

I would heartily encourage you to play TF2...on the PC only. It is an absolutely terrible, terrible game on consoles for a large number of reasons. The one time I played it, they had not implemented even Medic achievements or unlocks. The number of maps is tiny. The control is shoddy, there was slowdown, and the community consisted of about 30 people. On the PC it is a bustling hive of stupidity, 4channers and all, but at least you can actually find a game. It's really fun, and if you play medic you don't need insane twitch as much as the intelligence to be patient and follow good people around.

MW2 is fun but I wish I was just slightly better. Every time I try and go for a nuke I get a harrier and then die before I can put down my Chopper Gunner. I routinely go 2.5 or 3 to 1 without ever getting a kill streak reward.

83. CFiJ Posted: January 08, 2010 at 09:26 AM (#3431610)

I wanna try this game.

84. IronChef Chris Wok Posted: January 08, 2010 at 03:22 PM (#3431768)

I can't wait for Homefront to come out

(North Korean invades the United States)

85. You Know Nothing JT Snow (YR) Posted: January 08, 2010 at 04:16 PM (#3431827)

BTF TF2 this weekend?

86. Paul D(uda) Posted: January 09, 2010 at 01:59 AM (#3432464)

Sounds fun. PC?

87. sardonic Posted: January 09, 2010 at 02:06 AM (#3432466)

Halo is okay -- anyone have ODST? Is it worth picking up? -- but I think I want to give something else a try. Any suggestions?

We got it. It's kind of lame as an expansion pack. It's not really a separate game.

88. sardonic Posted: January 09, 2010 at 02:10 AM (#3432468)

I've started playing some of the MW2 campaign and I like that the multiplayer is a lot more thoughtful than Halo. It doesn't hurt that so far after a few sessions I'm the best player in the office by far. Still only playing local as we get up to speed.

We're still definitely making the adjustment over from Halo 3. In yesterday's FFA I was able to get a number of killstreaks because our usual pattern in Halo (we play a lot of small maps like Cold Storage)is to always run toward the action in hopes of collecting a "BS" or "cleanup" kill, which seems much harder in MW2. So I'd take someone out from my covered position, notice someone else running toward me on the radar, turn around in time to set up, then cut him down as he bursts around the corner.

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