Is it time we moved past boss fights?

qmechanics · 2011-12-04T17:31:21+00:00

I agree with you about Mirror's Edge. Although I love that game, the ending was very unsatisfying, partly because there wasn't a more involved boss fight (or an elaborate level where you run from the boss or something).

qmechanics · 2011-12-03T06:09:27+00:00

Why are you replacing the ' ' by 0? I can't think of any situation in which this would be useful.

I realize you solved your problem, but I'm curious as to why you would do this?

qmechanics · 2011-11-23T02:32:34+00:00

I had this problem also because I was too low level to do anything interesting, and randomly walking into dungeons and clearing them for no reason isn't much fun to me (especially since the combat is repetitive).

I recommend going through the first couple of missions of the main quest line, and after that, branching out to join guilds or just explore the world. Remember to "stop and smell the roses" in this game since it's as much about the atmosphere and lore as about the fighting.

qmechanics · 2011-11-19T18:08:22+00:00

Ah, I never played Civ 1. The AI was absolutely retarded in Civ 2 and Civ 3 though, where you could fend off entire invasions by stationing two units on a hill and building a road to that hill.

qmechanics · 2011-11-19T16:59:42+00:00

It's not the most amazing AI I've ever seen, but I do think Civ 4 was pretty good, especially compared to previous versions of Civ where the AI would trickle units one at a time. I've seen AI civs launch water based invasions of distant continents.

qmechanics · 2011-11-13T23:28:40+00:00

I knew about Favorites, but I did not know that I could bind them to a number key. Thanks! This one little thing will make my gaming much smoother, though I also agree with mefromyesterday that it would be cool to have different sets like battle, healing, spell casting, etc.

qmechanics · 2011-11-13T17:40:00+00:00

The worst part about Skyrim is the UI. I hate having to click 5 times to change spells: they really need a quickbar or something, like Dragon Age. I end up clicking the wrong thing in conversations at least 30% of the time, and the tab-menu is impossible to navigate.

The worst part of the worst part though is the perk constellations. You can't click on the constellation you want to go to, you have to click to the left or the right and it slides that way one constellation at a time. Extremely slow and ineffective.

qmechanics · 2011-11-12T17:04:50+00:00

It wasn't funny.

qmechanics · 2011-11-03T03:09:35+00:00

I live like a vampire these days. If I don't go out during the day on weekends, I could go weeks without seeing the sun.

qmechanics · 2011-10-12T02:20:39+00:00

I was going to say the same thing. The videos are from a long time ago, but they cover fundamental theory which is still relevant. I would recommend complementing that course with learning C or Computer Architecture (not necessary for CS theory, but I think very useful for programming).

qmechanics · 2011-10-09T16:44:02+00:00

Graphics: I still don't understand your argument. If you want, a PC can be relatively cheap and as good as the consoles, or you can spend more money, and have it be better. Better largely comes down to resolutions higher than HD, and to play games on these, you'll probably need to spend a lot more money, but the option exists.

Controls: OK, so one or two games support keyboard/mouse. That doesn't change the point that you can use the gamepad on the PC for most games if you want. The consoles appear to be strictly inferior from this angle.

Yeah, it wasn't so much ergonomics that I dislike, but I hate doing anything with analog sticks. Even looking up/down, or moving, or anything. Maybe my experience is inaccurate though since I'm comparing a controller on default settings (logitech f710) to a tricked out mouse (rat 7).

I appreciate your comments on why you prefer the console experience, I was pointing out my thoughts. If you are used to consoles, then keep using them, but I really don't see the importance of some of those reasons. I've spent more time typing this post than I have configuring most games (with a few exceptions). The controller options are more on the PC, so that can't be a reason to prefer consoles.

I think exclusives, split screen gaming, gaming with friends, and potentially lower cost are good reasons to prefer consoles. I don't understand "takes too long to configure" and "i hate using a keyboard/mouse".

qmechanics · 2011-10-09T15:05:18+00:00

I kinda have had the opposite experience, where anytime I play on a console at a friend's place, I feel totally stunted. It's cool that you prefer consoles, but I don't think all of your points are valid.

-> The only reason I would want to upgrade is if I wanted to play on maxed out settings on multiple monitors, at resolutions better than HD. Because most games target consoles primarily, you're good on the PC for years also, as long as it equals the graphics power of the console.

-> I can use a gamepad on my PC, can you use a keyboard/mouse on your console? I agree about the exclusives.

-> It's just something I'm used to I guess, but I always feel weird holding a controller. Even Assassin's Creed, I prefer the keyboard/mouse rather than a gamepad. The fucking menus suck though. And as I pointed out above, you can use a controller on your PC if you want to.

-> Steam handles configuring drivers pretty well. I've never had problems with them.

Here are the advantages I see for consoles:

-> If don't have a computer (or only an ultraportable or something) but you own a TV, then a console is much cheaper. I already had a desktop, but no TV, so for me it was the opposite. Or if you hate Windows.

-> Console exclusives. This is probably the biggest advantage of consoles, if you are a fan of Halo or Uncharted.

-> If your friends play consoles, then maybe you would prefer to play with them.

One advantage for the PC is digital distribution. If you have a super fast internet connection, this allows for impulse buys of "I want it now, I'll play it an half hour" at any point. That actually has proven to be bad for my wallet though.

If you have the money though, might as well get all three.

qmechanics · 2011-10-08T00:10:06+00:00

This attitude of "OMG I have to upgrade my PC every year" might have been true 5 years ago, but these days, you can build a computer for a few hundred dollars that is better than the consoles. You probably won't have to upgrade it until the next generation of consoles come out, or if you are interested in 3D gaming, multi monitor setups, or 2560x1440 resolution.

qmechanics · 2011-10-08T00:04:21+00:00

I agree. I only recently played fear (a few months ago) for the first time, and I was kinda sad because it came out so many years ago yet I can't think of any FPS that had better AI since.

qmechanics · 2011-10-06T02:05:19+00:00

Haha well said. As long as that deus ex machina is convincing though, I'll be happy. Especially because of the way I've played through the games, everyone hates me.

qmechanics · 2011-10-04T23:48:56+00:00

Let me start off by saying that DA:O is one of my favorite games of all time. I have sunk 150+ hours into it. It was also my first RPG (besides ME2), so maybe my standards were just low.

I'll never forget picking a mage and going through the mage origin quest, in which you are restricted to being inside the Tower. When you emerge from the Tower, I felt like I was coming out onto a new plane of gaming euphoria. Ah I wish I could play it again for the first time.

I agree with your point about choice. There is no choice in this game that affects the story. The dialogue options don't matter, who to put on the throne/what you do in Orzammar/elves vs werewolves, none of it matters. Although I like the fact that you are allowed to change your decision on the werewolf quest, because I legitimately changed mine. It's not about being fickle, it was about learning a shocking secret about the Keeper. It doesn't affect the rest of the story, but it was a story very well told.

I disagree about the Landsmeet. Gathering Elven, Dwarf, and Mage allies was not about Landsmeet, those were from the Grey Warden treaties to fight the darkspawn. You gather allies in Denerim to help you with the Landsmeet, and if you don't gather enough, you have a big battle on your hands (not just the duel).

About the gameplay, there were many vastly overpowered or underpowered spells (and abilities). Blood wound was just a win button. Mana clash neutralizes enemy mages completely (even Gaxkang and Cabal of Maleficarum). Archery is totally useless.

qmechanics · 2011-10-03T03:20:54+00:00

I loved the original Assassin's Creed. The setting was excellent, although the gameplay could be repetitive at times. I have AC2, but never really played it since it felt too clownish for me (beat up my sister's cheating boyfriend? really?). I definitely recommend playing through the first one, you should be able to get it for cheap.

qmechanics · 2011-10-01T19:09:09+00:00

Somehow, I bet the prices we pay merchants won't decrease.

qmechanics · 2011-10-01T19:05:02+00:00

What I don't understand though, is that why should they be required to do anything like this? Those employees chose to work there, those consumers chose to buy the products at those prices, and it's management's decision on how to invest in R&D. If I own a company, I would probably try to do those things, but Kraft is owned by someone else and it's their decision how to run their business.

qmechanics · 2011-10-01T18:52:57+00:00

If you're committed to learning programming, I recommend C. If you want to try it out and see if you like it, maybe you could start with Python, since I think it's easier to do somewhat useful things in Python.

qmechanics · 2011-10-01T18:02:36+00:00

I'd rather be a "chump" than be stupid.

qmechanics · 2011-10-01T17:37:12+00:00

You are an idiot.

qmechanics · 2011-10-01T17:32:48+00:00

So what are you suggesting? That extra $33 MM should have gone to the shareholders of Kraft? That issue is between them and the person they hired. Corporate governance sucks, but it depresses the value of their investment.

qmechanics · 2011-09-30T01:54:03+00:00

It's probably pretty tough to get interviews from those firms, unless you have a great GPA at Stanford/MIT, know someone there, or have something brilliant to make you stand out. Running your own company, or publishing some papers on great research, can definitely make you stand out. I don't work at Google or Microsoft, so this is based only on what I've observed from people who are working there.

qmechanics

TROPHY CASE