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1st HL2 game memories from 2004...

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  1st HL2 game memories from 2004... ant@zimage.comANT (Ant) - 2024-11-16 03:31 +0000
    Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... Justisaur <justisaur@gmail.com> - 2024-11-16 06:11 -0800
      Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> - 2024-11-16 11:04 -0500
        Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> - 2024-11-16 12:01 -0500
          Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... ant@zimage.comANT (Ant) - 2024-11-17 01:03 +0000
            Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> - 2024-11-17 10:42 -0500
              Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... ant@zimage.comANT (Ant) - 2024-11-18 01:06 +0000
                Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> - 2024-11-18 10:43 -0500
                  Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... ant@zimage.comANT (Ant) - 2024-11-19 02:42 +0000
                    Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2024-11-18 22:33 -0800
                    Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> - 2024-11-19 12:35 -0500
                  Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... candycanearter07 <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> - 2024-11-20 17:50 +0000
                    Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> - 2024-11-20 13:36 -0500
                      Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... ant@zimage.comANT (Ant) - 2024-11-22 03:02 +0000
      Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... JAB <noway@nochance.com> - 2024-11-17 11:46 +0000
      Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... JAB <noway@nochance.com> - 2024-11-17 11:45 +0000
    Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... candycanearter07 <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> - 2024-11-20 17:50 +0000
      Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> - 2024-11-20 13:38 -0500
        Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... candycanearter07 <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> - 2024-11-20 22:00 +0000
          Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... Jhulian Waldby <wichitajayhawks@msn.com> - 2024-11-20 18:35 -0600
            Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... candycanearter07 <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> - 2024-11-21 22:00 +0000
              Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... Jhulian Waldby <wichitajayhawks@msn.com> - 2024-11-22 01:06 -0600
                Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... candycanearter07 <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> - 2024-11-22 20:50 +0000
                  Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... Jhulian Waldby <wichitajayhawks@msn.com> - 2024-11-25 14:03 -0600
        Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... JAB <noway@nochance.com> - 2024-11-21 09:15 +0000
          Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... Jhulian Waldby <wichitajayhawks@msn.com> - 2024-11-21 05:15 -0600
    Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... Zaghadka <zaghadka@hotmail.com> - 2024-11-22 15:34 -0600
      Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... JAB <noway@nochance.com> - 2024-11-23 11:42 +0000
        Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> - 2024-11-23 11:36 -0500
          Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... Zaghadka <zaghadka@hotmail.com> - 2024-11-23 13:26 -0600
          Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... JAB <noway@nochance.com> - 2024-11-25 10:09 +0000
            Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... Zaghadka <zaghadka@hotmail.com> - 2024-11-25 13:22 -0600
              Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... JAB <noway@nochance.com> - 2024-11-26 08:27 +0000
                Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2024-11-26 07:25 -0800
                  Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... JAB <noway@nochance.com> - 2024-11-27 09:59 +0000
                    Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2024-11-27 07:30 -0800
                      Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> - 2024-11-27 16:53 -0500
                        Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2024-11-27 18:25 -0800
                          Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> - 2024-11-28 10:51 -0500
                            Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2024-11-28 09:22 -0800
                        Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... JAB <noway@nochance.com> - 2024-11-28 09:20 +0000
                      Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... JAB <noway@nochance.com> - 2024-11-28 09:17 +0000
      Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... Xocyll <Xocyll@gmx.com> - 2024-11-23 07:02 -0500
        Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... Zaghadka <zaghadka@hotmail.com> - 2024-11-23 13:59 -0600
          Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> - 2024-11-23 17:50 -0500
            Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... Zaghadka <zaghadka@hotmail.com> - 2024-11-23 20:03 -0600
          Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... Xocyll <Xocyll@gmx.com> - 2024-11-24 17:22 -0500
            Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... Zaghadka <zaghadka@hotmail.com> - 2024-11-25 13:56 -0600
              Re: 1st HL2 game memories from 2004... JAB <noway@nochance.com> - 2024-11-26 08:49 +0000

Page 2 of 3 — ← Prev page 1 [2] 3  Next page →

#49090

Jhulian Waldby <wichitajayhawks@msn.com> wrote at 00:35 this Thursday (GMT):
> candycanearter07 wrote:
>> Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote at 18:38 this Wednesday (GMT):
>>> On Wed, 20 Nov 2024 17:50:05 -0000 (UTC), candycanearter07
>>> <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> wrote:
>>>> Ant <ant@zimage.comANT> wrote at 03:31 this Saturday (GMT):
>>>
>>>>> Since HL2 will be/is 20 yrs. old and we're all getting nostalgia! Let's
>>>>> talk about those days!
>>>
>>>> I got it in the modern day, and I remember enjoying it but not fully
>>>> seeing why people adore it so much?
>>>
>>> If the comments here are anything to go on, most people --even the
>>> ones who bought it back in 2004-- feel the same way.
>>>
>>> The original "Half Life" really was revolutionary; its success
>>> transformed the FPS genre. "Half Life 2"? It was an okay game but
>>> hardly a match for its predecessor.
>
> Maybe it's better if HL2 is the beginning of the series for you. 
> Stepping into HL2 with no prior experience it's who am I some kind of 
> celebrity or national hero; everybody knows my name.
>
> It was enough to draw me in.  I played until I was stuck and then went 
> back a few times (got a little further).

Same. Nova Prospekt really confused me.

> obgameExperience: Really like that pipe.  I played Rainbow 6: Raven 
> Shield for 400 hours and never once scored a knife kill.

What?
-- 
user <candycane> is generated from /dev/urandom

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#49096

candycanearter07 wrote:
> Jhulian Waldby <wichitajayhawks@msn.com> wrote at 00:35 this Thursday (GMT):
>> candycanearter07 wrote:
>>> Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote at 18:38 this Wednesday (GMT):
>>>> On Wed, 20 Nov 2024 17:50:05 -0000 (UTC), candycanearter07
>>>> <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> wrote:
>>>>> Ant <ant@zimage.comANT> wrote at 03:31 this Saturday (GMT):
>>>>
>>>>>> Since HL2 will be/is 20 yrs. old and we're all getting nostalgia! Let's
>>>>>> talk about those days!
>>>>
>>>>> I got it in the modern day, and I remember enjoying it but not fully
>>>>> seeing why people adore it so much?
>>>>
>>>> If the comments here are anything to go on, most people --even the
>>>> ones who bought it back in 2004-- feel the same way.
>>>>
>>>> The original "Half Life" really was revolutionary; its success
>>>> transformed the FPS genre. "Half Life 2"? It was an okay game but
>>>> hardly a match for its predecessor.
>>
>> Maybe it's better if HL2 is the beginning of the series for you.
>> Stepping into HL2 with no prior experience it's who am I some kind of
>> celebrity or national hero; everybody knows my name.
>>
>> It was enough to draw me in.  I played until I was stuck and then went
>> back a few times (got a little further).
> 
> Same. Nova Prospekt really confused me.
> 
>> obgameExperience: Really like that pipe.  I played Rainbow 6: Raven
>> Shield for 400 hours and never once scored a knife kill.
> 
> What?
> 

The HL2 melee weapon, a piece of pipe, has a good range that it reaches. 
  The Raven Shield knife covers an inappreciable distance.  Same with 
the Call of Duty knife.  HL2 is more "Skyrim-like".

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#49111

Jhulian Waldby <wichitajayhawks@msn.com> wrote at 07:06 this Friday (GMT):
> candycanearter07 wrote:
>> Jhulian Waldby <wichitajayhawks@msn.com> wrote at 00:35 this Thursday (GMT):
>>> candycanearter07 wrote:
>>>> Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote at 18:38 this Wednesday (GMT):
>>>>> On Wed, 20 Nov 2024 17:50:05 -0000 (UTC), candycanearter07
>>>>> <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> wrote:
>>>>>> Ant <ant@zimage.comANT> wrote at 03:31 this Saturday (GMT):
>>>>>
>>>>>>> Since HL2 will be/is 20 yrs. old and we're all getting nostalgia! Let's
>>>>>>> talk about those days!
>>>>>
>>>>>> I got it in the modern day, and I remember enjoying it but not fully
>>>>>> seeing why people adore it so much?
>>>>>
>>>>> If the comments here are anything to go on, most people --even the
>>>>> ones who bought it back in 2004-- feel the same way.
>>>>>
>>>>> The original "Half Life" really was revolutionary; its success
>>>>> transformed the FPS genre. "Half Life 2"? It was an okay game but
>>>>> hardly a match for its predecessor.
>>>
>>> Maybe it's better if HL2 is the beginning of the series for you.
>>> Stepping into HL2 with no prior experience it's who am I some kind of
>>> celebrity or national hero; everybody knows my name.
>>>
>>> It was enough to draw me in.  I played until I was stuck and then went
>>> back a few times (got a little further).
>> 
>> Same. Nova Prospekt really confused me.
>> 
>>> obgameExperience: Really like that pipe.  I played Rainbow 6: Raven
>>> Shield for 400 hours and never once scored a knife kill.
>> 
>> What?
>> 
>
> The HL2 melee weapon, a piece of pipe, has a good range that it reaches. 
>   The Raven Shield knife covers an inappreciable distance.  Same with 
> the Call of Duty knife.  HL2 is more "Skyrim-like".


Oh, I never noticed that. More invisible game design stuff.
-- 
user <candycane> is generated from /dev/urandom

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#49170

candycanearter07 wrote:
> Jhulian Waldby <wichitajayhawks@msn.com> wrote at 07:06 this Friday (GMT):
>> candycanearter07 wrote:
>>> Jhulian Waldby <wichitajayhawks@msn.com> wrote at 00:35 this Thursday (GMT):
>>>> candycanearter07 wrote:
>>>>> Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote at 18:38 this Wednesday (GMT):
>>>>>> On Wed, 20 Nov 2024 17:50:05 -0000 (UTC), candycanearter07
>>>>>> <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> wrote:
>>>>>>> Ant <ant@zimage.comANT> wrote at 03:31 this Saturday (GMT):
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Since HL2 will be/is 20 yrs. old and we're all getting nostalgia! Let's
>>>>>>>> talk about those days!
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I got it in the modern day, and I remember enjoying it but not fully
>>>>>>> seeing why people adore it so much?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> If the comments here are anything to go on, most people --even the
>>>>>> ones who bought it back in 2004-- feel the same way.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The original "Half Life" really was revolutionary; its success
>>>>>> transformed the FPS genre. "Half Life 2"? It was an okay game but
>>>>>> hardly a match for its predecessor.
>>>>
>>>> Maybe it's better if HL2 is the beginning of the series for you.
>>>> Stepping into HL2 with no prior experience it's who am I some kind of
>>>> celebrity or national hero; everybody knows my name.
>>>>
>>>> It was enough to draw me in.  I played until I was stuck and then went
>>>> back a few times (got a little further).
>>>
>>> Same. Nova Prospekt really confused me.
>>>
>>>> obgameExperience: Really like that pipe.  I played Rainbow 6: Raven
>>>> Shield for 400 hours and never once scored a knife kill.
>>>
>>> What?
>>>
>>
>> The HL2 melee weapon, a piece of pipe, has a good range that it reaches.
>>    The Raven Shield knife covers an inappreciable distance.  Same with
>> the Call of Duty knife.  HL2 is more "Skyrim-like".
> 
> 
> Oh, I never noticed that. More invisible game design stuff.
> 
What it is is that the perspective in Call of Duty and Rainbow Six isn't 
friendly to me and I can't judge the distance properly.  It's fine for 
shooting, but not for reaching out and touching someone with the 
included melee weapon.

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#49078

On 20/11/2024 18:38, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
> On Wed, 20 Nov 2024 17:50:05 -0000 (UTC), candycanearter07
> <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> wrote:
>> Ant <ant@zimage.comANT> wrote at 03:31 this Saturday (GMT):
> 
>>> Since HL2 will be/is 20 yrs. old and we're all getting nostalgia! Let's
>>> talk about those days!
> 
>> I got it in the modern day, and I remember enjoying it but not fully
>> seeing why people adore it so much?
> 
> If the comments here are anything to go on, most people --even the
> ones who bought it back in 2004-- feel the same way.
> 
> The original "Half Life" really was revolutionary; its success
> transformed the FPS genre. "Half Life 2"? It was an okay game but
> hardly a match for its predecessor.
> 

It's pretty rare that a sequel to a game* that was revolutionary, ground 
breaking, daring to be different etc. is ever going to be matched by 
it's sequel. You just can't replicate that feel of an original. BG:II I 
think is objectively a better game that BG:1 but I still enjoyed the 
latter more. HL:1 is definitely better though!

*Or a film come to think of it. Even with Blade Runner 2049 I thought 
they did a really good job of creating a film with it's own identity but 
still clearly Blade Runner but you still can't match scenes such as the 
interview or the death speech. Then we have Das Boot (the mini-series). 
I was looking forward to the reboot but managed two or so episodes 
before thinking, the whole point is it's about the crew of the 
submarine, their interactions and also how the mundane is punctuated by 
the terrifying. How could you get that so wrong. I dread to think what 
the later series turned into.

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#49080

JAB wrote:
> On 20/11/2024 18:38, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
>> On Wed, 20 Nov 2024 17:50:05 -0000 (UTC), candycanearter07
>> <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> wrote:
>>> Ant <ant@zimage.comANT> wrote at 03:31 this Saturday (GMT):
>>
>>>> Since HL2 will be/is 20 yrs. old and we're all getting nostalgia! Let's
>>>> talk about those days!
>>
>>> I got it in the modern day, and I remember enjoying it but not fully
>>> seeing why people adore it so much?
>>
>> If the comments here are anything to go on, most people --even the
>> ones who bought it back in 2004-- feel the same way.
>>
>> The original "Half Life" really was revolutionary; its success
>> transformed the FPS genre. "Half Life 2"? It was an okay game but
>> hardly a match for its predecessor.
>>
> 
> It's pretty rare that a sequel to a game* that was revolutionary, ground 
> breaking, daring to be different etc. is ever going to be matched by 
> it's sequel. You just can't replicate that feel of an original. BG:II I 
> think is objectively a better game that BG:1 but I still enjoyed the 
> latter more. HL:1 is definitely better though!
> 
> *Or a film come to think of it. Even with Blade Runner 2049 I thought 
> they did a really good job of creating a film with it's own identity but 
> still clearly Blade Runner but you still can't match scenes such as the 
> interview or the death speech. Then we have Das Boot (the mini-series). 
> I was looking forward to the reboot but managed two or so episodes 
> before thinking, the whole point is it's about the crew of the 
> submarine, their interactions and also how the mundane is punctuated by 
> the terrifying. How could you get that so wrong. I dread to think what 
> the later series turned into.
> 
It basicall-y became a watermelon-lime with 40 cal. a can.

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#49112

On Sat, 16 Nov 2024 03:31:13 +0000, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action, Ant
wrote: 

>Since HL2 will be/is 20 yrs. old and we're all getting nostalgia! Let's 
>talk about those days!
>
>IIRC during the first week of its release, I bought its retail from a 
>local Best Buy with a $10/10% sale or something back then. According to 
>my detailed https://zimage.com/~ant/antfarm/about/toys.html history, I 
>recently upgraded my Windows gaming PC with these parts: "... an AMD 
>Athlon 64 3200+ 2.2GHz 512KB Socket 754 single core CPU, ASUS K8V SE 
>Deluxe (VIA K8T800 Socket 754 ATX; VIA VT8237 South Bridge; Revision 2; 
>onboard sound disabled; onboard NIC not used/connected (using 3COM NIC 
>for network) and can't be disabled or else Promise Raid won't be 
>activate), a 3 fan HDD Peeze cooler, 1 GB of PC3200 Kingston RAM (CAS 
>3), and Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS." :) I think I also got 
>Windows XP OS too.
>
>Anyways, I remember playing this game over my Thanksgiving weekend. It 
>was amazing! Very smooth, pretty, and fun! I don't remember how long it 
>took me to finish it. It was a great sequel. Of course years later, 
>episodes 1 and 2 (The Orange Box -- will talk about that in three 
>years). I don't have and want a VR to play Alyx. :(
>
>What about the rest of you?

My first HL2 memory was Dan Adams' _second_ paragraph in his pc.ign.com
review:

>Before I really get into the review, you should know the background of 
>how this game was reviewed. Valve did not want to send out copies of 
>their game (for fairly obvious reasons) before it was released to the 
>public. In order to play the game, I, and several of my colleagues 
>throughout the industry, took a trip up to Seattle to visit Valve in 
>order to have some private time with the title. I was given a little 
>room to myself where I could close the door, turn off the lights, click 
>my little red slippers, and pretend that I was sitting at home. It worked 
>for the most part, largely because I was so engrossed with the game that 
>when I came out of my trance I often had to take a moment to get my 
>bearings. Obviously, Valve was happy to bring me into a controlled 
>environment for ideal playing conditions.

This is of course after the first paragraph, which gushed "[HL2 is] the
best single-player shooter ever released for the PC..." Yet strangely
claimed later in the same paragraph that "...[HL2] doesn't do anything
particularly new; it doesn't really innovate..."

Despite its touted physics and all the advertised eye candy. Hmm.

I thought, "That sounds like a conflict of interest." Reviewers,
apparently *all* of them, were being handled by Valve on their campus.
Ever been corporate handled? I have. Your objective opinions go out the
window, if you can even tell what is good information and what is spin. 

So I took "it doesn't really innovate" as the actual review.

I didn't download Steam for 7 years after HL2. I didn't buy Half Life 2
until 9 years ago for Black Mesa. I loved the _original_ Half-Life.

So my first memory of HL2 was, "Well, that's the absolute end of any
chance of independent reviews."

When Jeff Gerstmann was fired, some 3 years later*, for failing to give a
good review to a corporate partnership game, my opinion was sealed.

https://bit.ly/4fWpZmn

(The bookmark link on Wikipedia had problems with pasting. So bit.ly)

I thank Dan Adams for giving me the heads up.

-- 
Zag

No one ever said on their deathbed, 'Gee, I wish I had
spent more time alone with my computer.' ~Dan(i) Bunten
_____________________________________________________________________

* Jonah Falcon and I had quite the conversation about this. I even wrote
an article. Here's a paragraph:

>What we end up with is a thorough perception that the whole review 
>industry has been compromised by carrot-and-stick public relations 
>manipulation. There is a widespread belief, often unstated at the 
>publications themselves, that the materials for previews will suddenly 
>"dry up" if they give too harsh a review on a shipping product. You don't 
>bite the hand that feeds you, you can't. In an attempt to capture the 
>lowest common denominator to bring a large audience, these publications 
>have all but divorced themselves from what matters to the more discerning 
>audience. They are providing an entertainment product first, and critical 
>review second, a sort of *Nintendo Power* approach, but in the guise of 
>"independent" journalism. The perception is that there is no spoken policy 
>regarding these issues, just a tightening of the purse strings by overlarge 
>publishers when the playing field is not slightly tilted in their favor.

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#49119

On 22/11/2024 21:34, Zaghadka wrote:
> When Jeff Gerstmann was fired, some 3 years later*, for failing to give a
> good review to a corporate partnership game, my opinion was sealed.
> 
> https://bit.ly/4fWpZmn
> 
> (The bookmark link on Wikipedia had problems with pasting. So bit.ly)
> 
> I thank Dan Adams for giving me the heads up.

I'm pretty sure it does happen so to me the question is how prevalent it 
is and how explicit. So two examples from UK newspapers. Sources at The 
Times (Murdoch owned) have said although they wouldn't be told directly 
which stories where acceptable there was an understanding of no making 
the owner look bad. The court case involving another Murdoch title, The 
News of The World, was conspicuous underplayed in The Times even though 
it was headline news.

The Daily Mail is quite different in that there the editorial staff are 
told what they should be running with to create the whole narrative of 
baton down the hatches as society is collapsing so the only solution is 
to give more money to rich people.

I assume that this type of 'direction' also happens in games magazines 
and has only got worse since the balance between money from actual sales 
and the adverts in 'magazines' has shifted almost completely to the 
latter. It's one of the reasons I rely more and more on Steam reviews 
and not a professional review pointing out how mundane the game is, all 
the bugs, technical issues etc. but still giving it 8.5/10.

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#49124

On Sat, 23 Nov 2024 11:42:07 +0000, JAB <noway@nochance.com> wrote:

>On 22/11/2024 21:34, Zaghadka wrote:
>> When Jeff Gerstmann was fired, some 3 years later*, for failing to give a
>> good review to a corporate partnership game, my opinion was sealed.

<very interesting but long post snipped>

Although with the proliferation of user reviews, this has become less
of a problem. I honestly can't remember the last time I looked to a
'professional' review site to help me decide whether or not a game was
good enough to purchase. I _do_ look at user reviews for that purpose,
though. If I go to a website like PC Gamer or Kotaku to learn about a
game, it's literally that: what is the game about? But there's an
underlying assumption --founded by years of professional reviewers
sabotaging their own stories, as mentioned above-- that they're just
repeating marketing hype.

Not that user reviews are without their own problems, of course.
They're, individually, just as easily manipulated, and even the ones
that are written in earnest, a lot of them lack objectivity or any
sort of real analysis. But the sheer number of them means that _some_
of them are going to be honest and trustworthy. Which is more than you
can say about professional reviews.

But part of the problem also lies with the audience, who /demand/ day
one reviews. The only way this is possible is if the reviewers are in
direct contact with the publishers, which leads to a worry about
LOSING that contact if the reviewers say the wrong thing. And even if
the reviewers are trying to be objective and avoiding this sort of
conflict of interest, the very fact that they have to rush to get
their review out to meet the publisher's release date (often running
pre-release code to boot!) is problematic. Gamers' obsession with
getting the game right away is part of the problem. 

Although maybe this too will become less of an issue, as video game
libraries balloon and being able to get games for free if you just
wait a few years becomes more common. Who needs to rush out and get a
new game when you have a hundred others already waiting for you to
play them? ;-)

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#49130

On Sat, 23 Nov 2024 11:36:25 -0500, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action,
Spalls Hurgenson wrote: 

>But part of the problem also lies with the audience, who /demand/ day
>one reviews. The only way this is possible is if the reviewers are in
>direct contact with the publishers, which leads to a worry about
>LOSING that contact if the reviewers say the wrong thing. And even if
>the reviewers are trying to be objective and avoiding this sort of
>conflict of interest, the very fact that they have to rush to get
>their review out to meet the publisher's release date (often running
>pre-release code to boot!) is problematic. Gamers' obsession with
>getting the game right away is part of the problem. 

Exactly. In the afforementioned article I wrote about Gerstmann, this was
my primary point. The main problem was the audience, not the
publications. To wit:

>What is at issue is credibility and the collected ire of the 
>readership. The perceived integrity of the gaming publications 
>business is clearly not in good shape. This is independent of its actual 
>integrity, which is fine, given the audiences the publications are 
>serving. It seems that a large portion its audience is ready and 
>willing to believe that publications and editors have given up 
>integrity in the name of more profitable relationships with their 
>sponsors. When the public faith in game reviewers is at that sort of 
>low, it doesn't matter if there is journalistic integrity or not. 
>Readers will believe anything they want about the subject, _a priori_.

As you say, the audience demanded too much. Then they turned on the
publications when they couldn't keep up. Then they turned to Ben
"Yahtzee" Croshaw, who was constantly taking the piss but was thought to
give "honest" reviews.

I didn't get what I deserved, but the royal "we" sure did. Actual
corruption took root eventually.

-- 
Zag

No one ever said on their deathbed, 'Gee, I wish I had
spent more time alone with my computer.' ~Dan(i) Bunten

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#49158

On 23/11/2024 16:36, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
> Not that user reviews are without their own problems, of course.
> They're, individually, just as easily manipulated, and even the ones
> that are written in earnest, a lot of them lack objectivity or any
> sort of real analysis. But the sheer number of them means that_some_
> of them are going to be honest and trustworthy. Which is more than you
> can say about professional reviews.

That's kinda what I like about them. Yes there lot's of dross ones that 
don't really say anything but you still get ones that do expand on what 
they found was good/bad beyond awesome/complete pants. My least 
favourite review, ones that review it against this is what someone 
wanted the game to be and not this is the game that the devs. were 
trying to make. So no, you shouldn't give Shadow Gambit:The Curse Crew a 
bad review as it's not Commandos. I'm not even going to mention the I've 
never played the game but I saw a talking head on YouTube saying it's 
woke (whatever that actually means) crowd.

Possibly a failing of them is that if people on Steam are generally 
anything like me there's a bias towards reviews that either are this is 
just really bad or this is just really good. Who's going to spend time 
writing a page of text for well it's ok I suppose.

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#49164

On Mon, 25 Nov 2024 10:09:49 +0000, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action, JAB
wrote: 

>I've 
>never played the game but I saw a talking head on YouTube saying it's 
>woke (whatever that actually means) crowd.

"Woke" means, "You're tickling my well orchestrated cognitive dissonance
coping mechanisms. Stop that!"

-- 
Zag

This is csipg.rpg - reality is off topic. ...G. Quinn ('08)

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#49177

On 25/11/2024 19:22, Zaghadka wrote:
> On Mon, 25 Nov 2024 10:09:49 +0000, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action, JAB
> wrote:
> 
>> I've
>> never played the game but I saw a talking head on YouTube saying it's
>> woke (whatever that actually means) crowd.
> 
> "Woke" means, "You're tickling my well orchestrated cognitive dissonance
> coping mechanisms. Stop that!"
> 

I just find it weird that people can be so rabidly anti something when 
they can't really explain what it is beyond things I don't like. See 
also labelling something socialist, or even Marxist, when they don't 
even know what they are.

We even had our last government try and get in on the act when judges 
were ruling that a country doesn't just become classed as safe because 
the government say it is no more than they can pass a law that says the 
moon is made of cheese. That's not how laws work but that only cost 
£750mil so not a problem really.

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#49183

On 11/26/2024 12:27 AM, JAB wrote:
> On 25/11/2024 19:22, Zaghadka wrote:
>> On Mon, 25 Nov 2024 10:09:49 +0000, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action, JAB
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I've
>>> never played the game but I saw a talking head on YouTube saying it's
>>> woke (whatever that actually means) crowd.
>>
>> "Woke" means, "You're tickling my well orchestrated cognitive dissonance
>> coping mechanisms. Stop that!"
>>
> 
> I just find it weird that people can be so rabidly anti something when 
> they can't really explain what it is beyond things I don't like. See 
> also labelling something socialist, or even Marxist, when they don't 
> even know what they are.
> 
> We even had our last government try and get in on the act when judges 
> were ruling that a country doesn't just become classed as safe because 
> the government say it is no more than they can pass a law that says the 
> moon is made of cheese. That's not how laws work but that only cost 
> £750mil so not a problem really.
> 
"My <insert deity of choice> says 'That's Wrong!'"

-- 
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky 
dirty old man.

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#49198

On 26/11/2024 15:25, Dimensional Traveler wrote:
> On 11/26/2024 12:27 AM, JAB wrote:
>> On 25/11/2024 19:22, Zaghadka wrote:
>>> On Mon, 25 Nov 2024 10:09:49 +0000, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action, JAB
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I've
>>>> never played the game but I saw a talking head on YouTube saying it's
>>>> woke (whatever that actually means) crowd.
>>>
>>> "Woke" means, "You're tickling my well orchestrated cognitive dissonance
>>> coping mechanisms. Stop that!"
>>>
>>
>> I just find it weird that people can be so rabidly anti something when 
>> they can't really explain what it is beyond things I don't like. See 
>> also labelling something socialist, or even Marxist, when they don't 
>> even know what they are.
>>
>> We even had our last government try and get in on the act when judges 
>> were ruling that a country doesn't just become classed as safe because 
>> the government say it is no more than they can pass a law that says 
>> the moon is made of cheese. That's not how laws work but that only 
>> cost £750mil so not a problem really.
>>
> "My <insert deity of choice> says 'That's Wrong!'"
> 

 From the woke detector Steam Group. Honestly I'm just not sure whether 
it's an elaborate prank or not.

“Woke” content = any images, messages, characters, storytelling, 
dialogue, music, or game mechanics that include themes associated with 
the left-side of the political aisle in contemporary western politics.

These themes include things like:
pro-LGBTQ+ messaging
pro-DEI messaging
pro-climate action messaging
pro-communism/socialism messaging
pro-abortion messaging
pro-pedophilia messaging
pro-immigration messaging
pro-transhumanism messaging
anti-western society messaging
anti-human messaging
anti-colonialism messaging
anti-capitalism messaging
anti-heterosexual messaging
anti-patriarchy messaging
anti-white messaging
anti-family messaging
anti-free speech messaging
anti-gun messaging
etc.

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#49204

On 11/27/2024 1:59 AM, JAB wrote:
> On 26/11/2024 15:25, Dimensional Traveler wrote:
>> On 11/26/2024 12:27 AM, JAB wrote:
>>> On 25/11/2024 19:22, Zaghadka wrote:
>>>> On Mon, 25 Nov 2024 10:09:49 +0000, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action, 
>>>> JAB
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I've
>>>>> never played the game but I saw a talking head on YouTube saying it's
>>>>> woke (whatever that actually means) crowd.
>>>>
>>>> "Woke" means, "You're tickling my well orchestrated cognitive 
>>>> dissonance
>>>> coping mechanisms. Stop that!"
>>>>
>>>
>>> I just find it weird that people can be so rabidly anti something 
>>> when they can't really explain what it is beyond things I don't like. 
>>> See also labelling something socialist, or even Marxist, when they 
>>> don't even know what they are.
>>>
>>> We even had our last government try and get in on the act when judges 
>>> were ruling that a country doesn't just become classed as safe 
>>> because the government say it is no more than they can pass a law 
>>> that says the moon is made of cheese. That's not how laws work but 
>>> that only cost £750mil so not a problem really.
>>>
>> "My <insert deity of choice> says 'That's Wrong!'"
>>
> 
>  From the woke detector Steam Group. Honestly I'm just not sure whether 
> it's an elaborate prank or not.
> 
At least in the USA its not a prank.  Here all the "Anti-Woke" "Culture 
War" shit is based on religious beliefs with a dash of wishing for a 
society based on the imagined version of 1950s America, complete with 
massive racism.

> “Woke” content = any images, messages, characters, storytelling, 
> dialogue, music, or game mechanics that include themes associated with 
> the left-side of the political aisle in contemporary western politics.
> 
> These themes include things like:
> pro-LGBTQ+ messaging
> pro-DEI messaging
> pro-climate action messaging
> pro-communism/socialism messaging
> pro-abortion messaging
> pro-pedophilia messaging
> pro-immigration messaging
> pro-transhumanism messaging
> anti-western society messaging
> anti-human messaging
> anti-colonialism messaging
> anti-capitalism messaging
> anti-heterosexual messaging
> anti-patriarchy messaging
> anti-white messaging
> anti-family messaging
> anti-free speech messaging
> anti-gun messaging
> etc.


-- 
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky 
dirty old man.

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#49217

On Wed, 27 Nov 2024 07:30:03 -0800, Dimensional Traveler
<dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:

>On 11/27/2024 1:59 AM, JAB wrote:
>> On 26/11/2024 15:25, Dimensional Traveler wrote:
>>> On 11/26/2024 12:27 AM, JAB wrote:
>>>> On 25/11/2024 19:22, Zaghadka wrote:
>>>>> On Mon, 25 Nov 2024 10:09:49 +0000, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action, 
>>>>> JAB
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> I've
>>>>>> never played the game but I saw a talking head on YouTube saying it's
>>>>>> woke (whatever that actually means) crowd.
>>>>>
>>>>> "Woke" means, "You're tickling my well orchestrated cognitive 
>>>>> dissonance
>>>>> coping mechanisms. Stop that!"
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I just find it weird that people can be so rabidly anti something 
>>>> when they can't really explain what it is beyond things I don't like. 
>>>> See also labelling something socialist, or even Marxist, when they 
>>>> don't even know what they are.
>>>>
>>>> We even had our last government try and get in on the act when judges 
>>>> were ruling that a country doesn't just become classed as safe 
>>>> because the government say it is no more than they can pass a law 
>>>> that says the moon is made of cheese. That's not how laws work but 
>>>> that only cost £750mil so not a problem really.
>>>>
>>> "My <insert deity of choice> says 'That's Wrong!'"
>>>
>> 
>>  From the woke detector Steam Group. Honestly I'm just not sure whether 
>> it's an elaborate prank or not.
>> 
>At least in the USA its not a prank.  Here all the "Anti-Woke" "Culture 
>War" shit is based on religious beliefs with a dash of wishing for a 
>society based on the imagined version of 1950s America, complete with 
>massive racism.

I really debated whether nor not to get involved in this conversation,
because csipga is sort of my 'safe space' from that sort of
nonsense... but yeah. The entire anti-woke movement --and what's going
on in America in general-- is extremely dismaying. What is now called
'woke' used to be called common sense, fairness and social
responsibility, and to see an entire nation turn their back on that
ideal... it's heart-breaking. Terrifying and enraging too, but mostly
heart-breaking to see a country turn its back on what it used to stand
for.

But while I really didn't want to get into another discussion about
the topic --and especially not here-- neither did I want to sit on the
sidelines saying nothing, implying you're the only one upset about it.

That's really all I wanted to say.

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#49226

On 11/27/2024 1:53 PM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
> On Wed, 27 Nov 2024 07:30:03 -0800, Dimensional Traveler
> <dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:
> 
>> On 11/27/2024 1:59 AM, JAB wrote:
>>> On 26/11/2024 15:25, Dimensional Traveler wrote:
>>>> On 11/26/2024 12:27 AM, JAB wrote:
>>>>> On 25/11/2024 19:22, Zaghadka wrote:
>>>>>> On Mon, 25 Nov 2024 10:09:49 +0000, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action,
>>>>>> JAB
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I've
>>>>>>> never played the game but I saw a talking head on YouTube saying it's
>>>>>>> woke (whatever that actually means) crowd.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "Woke" means, "You're tickling my well orchestrated cognitive
>>>>>> dissonance
>>>>>> coping mechanisms. Stop that!"
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I just find it weird that people can be so rabidly anti something
>>>>> when they can't really explain what it is beyond things I don't like.
>>>>> See also labelling something socialist, or even Marxist, when they
>>>>> don't even know what they are.
>>>>>
>>>>> We even had our last government try and get in on the act when judges
>>>>> were ruling that a country doesn't just become classed as safe
>>>>> because the government say it is no more than they can pass a law
>>>>> that says the moon is made of cheese. That's not how laws work but
>>>>> that only cost £750mil so not a problem really.
>>>>>
>>>> "My <insert deity of choice> says 'That's Wrong!'"
>>>>
>>>
>>>   From the woke detector Steam Group. Honestly I'm just not sure whether
>>> it's an elaborate prank or not.
>>>
>> At least in the USA its not a prank.  Here all the "Anti-Woke" "Culture
>> War" shit is based on religious beliefs with a dash of wishing for a
>> society based on the imagined version of 1950s America, complete with
>> massive racism.
> 
> I really debated whether nor not to get involved in this conversation,
> because csipga is sort of my 'safe space' from that sort of
> nonsense... but yeah. The entire anti-woke movement --and what's going
> on in America in general-- is extremely dismaying. What is now called
> 'woke' used to be called common sense, fairness and social
> responsibility, and to see an entire nation turn their back on that
> ideal... it's heart-breaking. Terrifying and enraging too, but mostly
> heart-breaking to see a country turn its back on what it used to stand
> for.
> 
> But while I really didn't want to get into another discussion about
> the topic --and especially not here-- neither did I want to sit on the
> sidelines saying nothing, implying you're the only one upset about it.
> 
> That's really all I wanted to say.
> 
I understand fully and I actually do try to minimize my ... commentary, 
but what I see happening to my country makes me very angry.

-- 
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky 
dirty old man.

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#49240

On Wed, 27 Nov 2024 18:25:22 -0800, Dimensional Traveler
<dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:

>I understand fully and I actually do try to minimize my ... commentary, 
>but what I see happening to my country makes me very angry.

Please don't take my earlier comment as a criticism or taking you to
task for being a bit off-topic. That wasn't my intent. I've no
objection there.

I was just showing support without wanting to actually have to get
into it myself.

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#49242

On 11/28/2024 7:51 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
> On Wed, 27 Nov 2024 18:25:22 -0800, Dimensional Traveler
> <dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:
> 
>> I understand fully and I actually do try to minimize my ... commentary,
>> but what I see happening to my country makes me very angry.
> 
> Please don't take my earlier comment as a criticism or taking you to
> task for being a bit off-topic. That wasn't my intent. I've no
> objection there.
> 
> I was just showing support without wanting to actually have to get
> into it myself.
> 
No offense was taken.

-- 
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky 
dirty old man.

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