AgamemnonV2

Japanimoo!

"Large" then. Or "big." Anything to apparently avoid the word "fat."

I'm sure that's what the Tsars said too.

Not internationally. This is not about "who did it first." This is about who popularized it.

He's "vertically challenged." He's "big-boned." Nothing is safe from political correctness, even the animoos.

Simple in concept as it was a simple mod from Half-Life, i.e. there's not much depth to the game (it's Half-Life multilayer with a pretty face lift). Its popularity, however, comes from its famous 1.6 version, which I'd bet on being the most pirated game internationally (and also why it's still played extensively internationally).

Counter-Strike probably wins for international exposure (in regards to ANY game, not just as an FPS). It's ridiculous how wide-spread Counter-Strike has gone (i.e. Brazil, Germany, Russia) to become popular. However, Counter-Strike is multiplayer only and it's pretty simple in concept.

BF2, in my experience at least, was popular amongst 'gaming' crowds but didn't have the same impact amongst 'casual gamers'. MW reached a much larger audience thanks to it being released on consoles, whereas FPS gaming on the PC tends to be a bit more 'gamer' exclusive or hardcore. Again this is just from my own experience, and could be specific to my age group or whatever. It is also possible that the rise of social networking has contributed to the increased popularity (both perceived and actual) of MW and CoD in general, what with all the CoD related statuses flying around facebook and so on. I also think gaming is generally accepted amongst a wider audience now, contributing to the apparent higher popularity of MW over the older BF2. I wouldn't attribute that to MW2 at all. Halo was the titular game that "generalized" gaming to bring in the "casuals." It sold the Xbox and therefore solidified its position. Halo 2 only reinforces that. Gears of War and the Modern Warfare/Call of Duty infighting were just riding the waves of that tsunami. Generally when I talk about that "casual" generation that popped up in 2004 I mention the "Halo generation."

Saying MW2 popularized the "modern" setting is a bit like saying Halo popularized the sci-fi setting. I'm a little surprised that he didn't put forth Battlefield 2 as the titular game that did it. It was certainly the hit of its time and its competitors in Medal of Honor and Call of Duty followed suit shortly afterward. I specifically remember that much because the WWII titles in the years afterward (like Red Orchestra and Brothers in Arms were small fish titles and hailed by the WWII historical nuts as the "true" FPSes that did not make the switch to modern era). However, note I say "popularized." The modern setting had always been well-known for shooters. SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs definitely comes to mind as a hit modern FPS title. Still, the hat goes off to Battlefield 2 for its massive online counterpart (as well as the whole "unlockables" phenomenon).

Being able to tell DA:O and FFXII are vastly different games from a screenshot is a "strong" opinion? My bad on my comparison of Source Code to Deja Vu, although never having seen Source Code. Hopefully no one was offended. My Internet pet peeve? People who think you can't have an opinion on something unless you've intimately poured over every detail on the subject. I had to apparently buy and waste two hours on Portal before I could legitimately call it a two-hour tech demo. Some still claim I have not given it a "proper chance" because I haven't read the hundred-page theory threads on the game or the "clever tie-ins" to Half-Life.

I didn't say I haven't played TBRPGs. : \ About the only thing that's obvious is that I haven't played FFXII. I have, however, played various Final Fantasies (including the first) and my last one was FF9 when I decided I was tired of playing the same game but with simple graphic updates. So seeing as things apparently have changed (at least better than they have beetween FF1 and FF9) I retract my previous statement: it took TWENTY years for JPRGs to change. I don't get into "which is better" arguments, especially with WRPGs and JRPGs, considering I've got plenty of criticism for both, but I don't do consoles any more anyways, so that's pretty a moot point. Anyway, I don't even know what this has to do with the topic any longer. I'm generally not a fan of much of anything from Japan considering little changes in that market (Mario is still Nintendo's poster boy for "progress").

I don't own a console, so that's not happening. And explain this screenshot to me: http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2006/270/459841_20060928_screen015.jpg In regards to multiple pieces of armor. I didn't mean one piece of armor and an accessory. And you of course knew that, so which pretty much tells me you're still just trying to sell crazy to me. I'm sorry, I'm not buying.

Now I just think you're being purposely obtuse. Does FFXII have an inventory system that allows you to equip multiple pieces of armor? Does FFXII have a persistent world where all action is real-time, i.e. no "random encounters"? Does FFXII have directional combat, traps, and an open battlefield for its battles? Does FFXII have a way to conduct simple combat without inputting commands? So please, until FFXII is ACTUALLY as identical to DA:O as FPS clone is to another FPS clone, then don't try to insult my intelligence.

Could you supply a link for that? http://hellforge.gameriot.com/blogs/Hellforge/Bioware-RPG-Cliche-Chart Patrick Weekes flips out. That's not nearly the same thing and you absolutely know it. That's like saying Mario and Call of Duty are practically the same because they both have a jump function. I'll punch a baby seal if I see one priced at $50, but I certainly don't expect it to make head waves.

That's not nearly the same thing that I'm talking about. You had, what, six or seven plays to make in sports games twenty years ago? The moves and gameplay has changed since then. When I talk about ATB, I'm talking about what ever guy decided little scrolling blue timer bars and the "ATTACK MAGIC ITEM" menu system was all that needed to be done for JRPGs. THAT hasn't changed in thirty years. Where would we be if every NA RPG had Baldur's Gate UI and gameplay still?

Give us back the gorram inventory system damnit!

Ahhhh. Don't you just love public domain? Sometimes I wish I could go back in time and punch Walt Disney in the neck.

I made this point in a writeup of mine (although not nearly as passive-aggressively). http://agdom.wordpress.com/2010/12/17/a-critical-look-at-the-american-gamer-easily-entertained-easily-amused/ Essentially what ever phenomenon is going on in Japan that dictates everything needs to be cute and under-age there is not transferring successfully to the American market. Indeed, the biggest-selling genre in the American market happens to be (wait for it) sports games. You know, the very definition of a recycled product? And people wonder where the sentiment comes from in America that if you still play video games you're a kid. Given Nintendo's vast majority of console-exclusive titles and we have no one to blame but ourselves. Whut? That's like saying 2D sidescrollers should die. You haven't played Ar Tonelico, Grandia or Mana Khemia have you? Those games made turns super fun. ATB is a thirty-year-old concept that needs to DIE. That seems to be the other crux to the PlayStation line: JRPGs apparently refuse to change (this includes character designs as well).

Get. Out.

Heh! If you only knew that old texts were my preference (I'm big into classical philosophy and literature). Thanks for the site!

Well, it makes sense. Bioware is a Canadian. Also, it proves the theory that all good sci-fi comes from Canada. Case-and-point: Stargate: SG-1. And anything that gives us Amanda Tapping AND Tricia Helfer is awesome.

I agree, and on a semi-related note, I think Bioware has used the same formula for their stories long enough now. http://gza.gameriot...._1257581825.png It was illegible when embedded. Some of those points are a bit of a stretch, and yes, they fit the hero's journey story archetype, as most fictional works do. But Bioware has deviated from their methods so little that it has become too obvious. Even some of their puzzles and riddles carry over from one game to another with very few changes. EDIT: Thanks Dean, but I was originally trying one from my Photobucket. Lesson learned. Yeah, I know that graphic. : \ I actually know the guy who created it. And honestly, I don't think I have a single nice thing to say about him. Long story short: we go back a ways. Anyway, yeah, I was surprised when he made the chart, considering he's such a huge Bioware fan. I loved it when Bioware's writer got flustered when he saw it and felt the need to defend his recycled writing.

Note that I say I got one, not purchased one. It was a gift. Anyway, I've learned some basic stuff about it, but I was wondering if there are any specific kinks to it that I should know about it? What about free books? And I don't mean "arr-I-sail-the-seven-seas" free, but actual free books for the Kindle?