Oh hai! Just thought I'd come and check in on you guys, here. What's up? Gearing up for the long weekend? Are you going to be going outside and grilling animal flesh with the rest of the US, or perhaps you will shun the sunlight as I do and partake of some games? Here's what I've been playing recently, what are you playing this weekend?
GTAIV - Of course, this game really doesn't leave my Xbox. I haven't had much time to devote to gaming this week (hence the lack of game diary posts) but when I do get a chance I like to sit down and envelop myself in the trials and tribulations of one Niko Bellic. I'm a good 70% through the game now, just got all my friends to over 90% and I'm spending a fair bit of time just messing around with the side quests, whereas a week ago I was completely into the main storyline. The main storyline continues to amaze, don't get me wrong, but I really appreciate how I can just sit down and do a few side quests in a short period of time. Very good for the hard-casual gamer such as myself.
The World Ends With You - Seriously, you guys need to be playing this game. I have no idea why the gaming press hasn't covered it more because it is completely brilliant. It's the perfect commuter's game, great for short bursts of satisfying play, and is as deep as you want it to be. I want all games to be this thoughtful, precise and engaging. There's little sense in explaining it. You have to experience it for yourself.
Penny Arcade Adventures: On The Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness - Episode 1 - Like any good PA fan, I downloaded the shit out of this game and proceeded to devour it. It's a gorgeous game and genuinely hilarious, though the battle system took me a REALLY long time to figure out. I'm still not sure I understand it. I'm playing the XBLA version, which apparently was designed last as the controls are horrible. It's difficult to target things for one, but it also doesn't help that the UI is slightly confusing at times. It took me a while to make sense of the battle UI and it took me even longer to realize which player was highlighted. I'm also having conflicting thoughts about the massive amount of dialog for every single little thing. On one hand it's consistently hilarious, and on the other hand I feel compelled to check every trash can and mailbox, which feels like a shallow gameplay device. I'd rather the locations I can investigate be a bit more hidden instead of right there in my face. But maybe it will pick up? At the very least, congratulations you guys. It's awesome to be able to say "this dude I know made his own video game". Despite any niggling concerns, you guys did a fucking fantastic job.
posted by Chris on May 12, 2008 5:03 PM in Podcast
It's ladies night on The Weekly Geek, as Colette and Jinny join the very manly Chris and the always testosterone-heavy Mack in what is possibly the ladiest podcast ever. Is Guitar Hero IV going to rock Rock Band? Is Lost Winds Colette's favorite game evar? (Protip: it is!) Other topics include mini map dependence, Emerald City Comic Con, Crisis Core, and more great TV. Enjoy the brisk flavor of this special podcast... ladies.
I've avoided making Game Diary posts this last week because A) I've been taking a "vacation" as it was my last week of unemployment and 2) I've just been playing Grand Theft Auto IV. That's not to say I haven't had any fun, I've been enjoying the crap out of it. The story, the game play, everything about this game is a love letter to the video game industry as a whole and if you haven't checked it out for whatever reason, at the very least rent it. You'll most likely enjoy the sandbox as much as I have. Niko, as a character, is one of the most compelling I've seen in a game, right up there with Gordon Freeman for me. He is a criminal, sure, but his motivation for his actions is something you can actually relate to. The dialog wanders from funny to poignant, surprising you in its serious tone.
I'm only about 50% through, as well. The game is just plain massive. I can see it's going to stay in my Xbox for quite some time. I haven't even taken the shrink wrap off of Mario Kart Wii...
What have you guys been playing? Anything interesting I've missed out on?
This week isn't ALL about Grand Theft Auto IV, though it's hard to talk about anything else this week as its been ruling most gamers' lives. In a good way. Chris and Qais discuss the greater value of Grand Theft Auto as a piece of high art, completely without sarcasm! No, seriously! Why don't you believe me?! We then move on to Guitar Hero's brand being diluted, and Qais talks about insomnia and what kind of snacks he likes when he's pulling an all-nighter.
posted by Chris on April 30, 2008 8:03 AM in Games
Like most socially under-developed geeks, my mood is directly affected by the weather outside. While I don't like to go outside (I hear there are bears?) when the sun shines brightly through my apartment windows it lifts my spirits immensely and gets me motivated. Besides other activities such as painting and website stuff, I've been playing...
Call of Duty 4 - Still slowly progressing through the single player campaign and still being blown away by the production value. I've avoided online multiplayer like the plague, but a friend of mine suggested just shutting off voice chat, which seems to work like a charm!
Rez - Nothing like sitting down early in the morning to play through Rez in beyond mode. I like the fact that they give me a bunch of bonus modes and options to tweak things like my starting form and beam type. I've been messing with the sound and visual filters too, just for a little variety
Grand Theft Auto IV - Like everyone else in the world. It came early Tuesday morning and I played it into the night. I'm essentially a GTA virgin, though I did play a ton of the old top-down GTA 2 back in the day. I'm really enjoying GTAIV, way more than any of the previous titles. It has its flaws - visuals are often hit and miss, voice acting is dubious in parts (why does everyone sound like Triumph the Insult Comic Dog?) and your character controls like some sort of tank. Other than that, the story is fed to you in even enough intervals where you don't get overwhelmed by the amount of stuff you can do in the game, and the cell phone menu system is clever and very well integrated. I'm noticing little moments where Niko rests one foot on the curb while the other is on the street while chatting on the phone, or small details about the city that make it feel alive such as pedestrians getting phone calls themselves and having full conversations. I imagine I'll be discussing it more as I progress.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to try and make my in-game girlfriend not hate me anymore.
posted by Chris on April 28, 2008 6:02 PM in Podcast
It's Grand Theft Auto week and Chris, Qais and Ross express various levels of excitement at the prospect of hijacking cars and shooting hookers. Love it or hate it, the internet is atwitter with GTA coverage and we shamelessly feed into it in this week's podcast. But this week isn't just about GTA, no! Also discussed is the prospect of awesome crashes with motorcycles in Burnout, whether or not the Guinness Book of Records Gamer Edition is worthwhile, how movie directors can use misdirection to their advantage, and Qais reveals he has a horrifying disability: Stupid fingers.
Subscribe to the feed here to get updated on new podcasts as they are posted! Show notes after the jump.
posted by Chris on April 1, 2008 11:18 AM in Games
There's been a dearth of articles on the interwebs recently about the suspected leaked Grand Theft Auto IV achievements, and while they *seem* valid, we here at The Weekly Geek have received a list of rejected GTAIV achievements which you may be interested in checking out.
20g - Patience
Avoided the long pre-order lines and purchased the game later like a sane person.
10g - Salvation
Accepted Jesus (our Lord and Savior) into your heart.
60g - Can I get a receipt for that?
Had sex with 50 prostitutes, paid and left (without shooting her in the head afterwards).
15g - Nice guy
Was pleasant to play with during multiplayer and didn't cuss once.
50g - Boy Scout
Helped an old lady cross the street (without shooting her in the head afterwards).
10g - They All Float Down Here
Find a child character in a world where there aren't any, and feed it to a clown in the sewer.
10g - Milk and Cookies
"Service" an elderly woman in her home after watching an Antiques Roadshow marathon.
10g - Join Us
Bit a child and threw him in the basement.
15g - Cringing Caucasian Urbanite
Go buy an iPod and keep it from being stolen for 20 minutes.
0g - Doesn't Even Own an Xbox
Gone outside to play instead of wasting your life on meaningless Microsoft mental incentive programs.
posted by Chris on March 31, 2008 7:22 PM in Podcast
We here at The Weekly Geek loathe gimmicks. That's why we aren't trying to draw you in by posting some wacky April Fool's Day version of the podcast. Because we love you. This week Chris, Qais, Colette and Mack scrape the bottom of the barrel of geek news this week to discuss the Portal song in Rock Band, Bawls' G33K B33R, Grand Theft Auto IV, and Microsoft's lawyers being very un-lawyery. We wrap it up with a cool, crisp and refreshing discussion about gimmicky control schemes.
First and foremost I'd like to apologize for the subject, I know I know, there is no redemption for a man such as myself, a repellent shell of a human barely able to even make polite conversation without making oblique references to bodily functions. However my references to pokemans should be forgiven as I bring you what is easily the best game mod to grace our luscious tubes.
At some point someone decided that combining all the stereotypes of anime with GTA would be a good idea, and how right they are. In the video you can see a hydrocephalic anime schoolgirl run rampant through San Andreas (listen for CJ) fighting off motorcycle cops turned hoverbike riding Pokémon, tank straddling mechs, and driving around town on a scooter towing a vending cart which if true to the original storyline of GTA has a veritable cornucopia of pharmaceuticals and weapons on hand for when you finish your surreal rampage.
Overview: Accused of being a tag-along for the Halo 3 beta, Crackdown is at first glance a Grand Theft Auto clone. It has strikingly similar gameplay (open-ended sandbox-style) and even gets as close as a lack of a soundtrack except when in a vehicle. Reviewers all over the interwebs are saying it stands on its own, and DESTRUCTOID's own Rob Summa can't stop gushing about it. Personally I was never a fan of the GTA series. I appreciated the concept and respected it for that it brought to the genre, but it just bored me. I love a good story, and I love deep immersive gameplay. Crackdown seems like a game I would pick up, play for 15 minutes, and fall asleep bored. This actually ends up not being the case. I just can't put it down.
The storyline is simple: there really is none. You are a super agent sent on a mission to get rid of the three different gangs in Pacific City. After that, there is little in the way of fleshing out what you would call a plot or a narrative. Is this a good or a bad thing? How's the replay value? Multiplayer? Hit the jump for a full review.
Oh hai! Just thought I'd come and check in on you guys, here. What's up? Gearing up for the long weekend? Are you going to be going outside and grilling animal flesh with the rest of the US, or perhaps you will shun the sunlight as I do and partake of some games? Here's what I've been playing recently, what are you playing this weekend?
Overview: Accused of being a tag-along for the Halo 3 beta, Crackdown is at first glance a Grand Theft Auto clone. It has strikingly similar gameplay (open-ended sandbox-style) and even gets as close as a lack of a soundtrack except when in a vehicle. Reviewers all over the interwebs are saying it stands on its own, and DESTRUCTOID's own Rob Summa can't stop gushing about it. Personally I was never a fan of the GTA series. I appreciated the concept and respected it for that it brought to the genre, but it just bored me. I love a good story, and I love deep immersive gameplay. Crackdown seems like a game I would pick up, play for 15 minutes, and fall asleep bored. This actually ends up not being the case. I just can't put it down.