h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I couldn't agree more, Mr D. Dead Island is an excellent, fun zombie killer. With a plot.

Shadows of The Damned is also a little rude and very, very funny.


I enjoyed Duke Nukem Forever.

I did decided to have a go on the DNF demo after getting my shiny new graphics card so I could make a Properly Informed Decision about the game but it's not available any more for some reason.

Dara O'Braiaiaiiannnn, stand up comic, theoretical physicist and craic dealer observed that games are the only medium where you are denied access to content you've paid for until you can pass a test.

Books don't stop a third of the way in and require you to give an analysis of the themes so far and the motivations of the protagonist before they'll let you read any further.

Isn't it kind of wrong that DNF was released in the end? I always thought it shouldn't. I think gamers were used to it not being released, if you know what I mean.

I think one problem with DNF is that after ten years of hype everyone's expectations were pretty high. I know a lot of people were really disappointed with it.

As an aside, I'm quite looking forward to the evenutal release of Dudebro: My S*** is ed Up So I Got To Shoot/Slice You II: It's Straight-Up Dawg Time.

For years I didn't watch "Revenge of the Sith" on the basis that i I didn't watch it it oculd be a Schroedingers good new Star Wars flick. It gave me the illusion that Lucas hadn't totally lost the plot and would please his fans.

I wish I hadn't broken this policy, and I therefore might notplay DNF in a similar vein.

FB

I know what you mean. I watched the first of the new Star Wars movies and thought it was a bad mistake plot-wise.

>> One other thing worth saying is that games offer a unique new
element that isn't available to books and films: interactivity. <<

Aye! There's the rub. They do involve us at an emotional level
which we are not hard-wired to resist. Participation is real and
the effects will soon be known as Post-Dramatic-Stress-Disorder.

"Old gamers never die, they'll just end up on medication."


~jwf~

"Participation is real..."

Somebody would have to have a pretty tenuous grip on reality already to regard playing any existing game as 'real'. I do not dispute that there's a level of emotional involvement but when I quit the game and get back to real life I'm not emotionally affected by it any more than I am by a film or good book. The exact emotions triggered might be different (i.e. one can't really feel slightly guilty over the actions carried out by a film character, but it's quite possible when playing a game because even though it's a fictional character you still made the choice to do whatever it was) but how they affect my life in general is about the same.

I dunno I was in Morrisons at lunch with loads of annoying slow walking idiots everywhere and I really wished I had Ezio's hidden blade!

FB

I wonder if I started a thread called 'Good At Games' and raved about how awesome some of them are, would I get loads and loads of posts from people who don't play games?

Well, that's what seems to happen with any 'Ask' conversations about

I don't play computer games because I just can't imagine having the spare time.

There's a whole catagory of 'stuff' which is done because it is enjoyable and it passes the time, but doesn't give any long term benefit other than being enjoyable at the time. Computer games is one of them. Also included is watching TV, (unless I have something else to do), and doing crosswords or jigsaws.

I do stress once more that I don't have any problem with games, or any of that stuff.

>> Someone mentioned addiction. For me that word would be a bit strong...<<

It is addiction, in the truest sense, affecting emotional and
body chemistry that creates a dependence. Like the most
serious chemical addictions it causes a downgrading of our
basic sense of caution and caring and compassion. It is really
quite frightening to imagine hordes of young men bent on getting
their daily fix of killing. It's beyond brainwashing, it's a form
of bleaching that will white out all moral foundations.

~jwf~

Evidence?

>> It sucks you in with early success, and keeps you in by
progressively rationing that success..<<

That's what drug dealers and pushers do.
But I'm glad you went on to say it did have a reward system
that allowed you achieve new levels. Usually addiction is a
one way dead end street.

And while I admire Mr.D's ability to shrug it off and walk away
I have to point out that his testosterone levels and aggression
are already way out of whack.

And when adrenalin breaks down...


~jwf~

>> Evidence? <<

Which recent high school massacre would you like to examine?

The present state of affairs with casual killing leaves only the hope
that the smell of real gunpowder will change the sense parameters
of the shooter. Or, worse, the games will start emitting that acrid
aroma to precondition against any hesitation.


~jwf~

Many of the most 'addictive' games are not agressive, jwf...

And in any case, surely an addiction is where you can't stop, and/or your habit causes you to do bad things.

When I go on holiday, or away for work, I don't play at all. Cold turkey, no sweats, vomiting or the shivers...

sprout

>>Which recent high school massacre would you like to examine?

Evidence that a single one of them was linked to gaming? A shred?

I thought it was meant to be satanic pop music. Or whatever the convenient scapegoat du jour was.