Hell Kitty

Nope, it's still a terrible argument, because it misses the point completely. I actually enjoyed HL2E1, more than HL2 and I'm not a big enough fan to care when HL2E2 is released. The issue isn't how much time goes by between playing episodes, it's the difference between a sequel and an episode. Gah, that's just my point, episodes should be released quicker, and if the episodes can't be delivered in a timely manner then it defeats the purpose. Rubbish, sequels have always been criticised when they don't offer enough "new stuff" compared to the original. Besides, it's not just the reuse of assets, it's the limited content and story. RPGs like KOTOR2 (and the BG & IWD series) focus more on characters and story and less on flashy graphics so the reuse of assets isn't as noticeable compared to an FPS.

What elements are you looking for in regards to realism? Rainbow Six: Vegas and SWAT 4 both get my vote. SWAT 4 is a nice change from most shooters with the ideal situation being arresting the enemy rather than simply killing them.

That's a terrible argument for, well, anything. "You don't like our faulty product that causes injury, it's not hard to simply not buy it." I don't have a problem with episodic gaming, my issue is as I said before that once enough time has passed a game stops being an episode and becomes another sequel. Except that as an episode the developer doesn't have to deal with what customers expect out of a sequel. Someone (I think it was Kaftan) said in an earlier thread that like tv shows you need to have the episodes ready to air. Airing a single episode then making the audience wait several months while you film the next one is not a good business model.

I understand what you mean, but assuming it's just whining because he used a particular word just misses the point. Two games I recently played that left me hanging were Runaway 2 (which ends right in the middle of the story), and Rainbow Six: Vegas (bad guy gets away, but we'll go after him, end of chapter one type deal) but what separates these two games from so-called episodic games like the HL episodes and (the now dead) Sin Episodes? The latter two games feature less content compared to typical games in the genre (less levels, enemies, & weapons; recycled content), and that's it. Both games failed to live up to the deadlines they set (SE was overdue before it was killed off) which seems to be the point of episodic gaming. A stand alone game might leave itself wide open for a sequel but there's no guarantee when it will come or even if it will be made at all. I think when a developer makes an episodic game, they are offering a kind of guarantee that more will follow (tune in in x amount of time for the next exciting episode). As it is it just feels like a way to make a sequel without needing to meet the audiences expectation of what a sequel is. I don't think this is what Valve planned, I just think it's a failed attempt. So far Sam & Max is the only series that has delivered. That argument doesn't do episodic gaming any justice at all. I mean why buy one Tomb Raider game in 1996 when you can wait ten years and buy a whole bunch of Tomb Raider games!

? Who's whining?

I think once enough time has passed a game stops being an episode and becomes another sequel.

The blood of 15 newborn babies. At least I think they were newborn babies, they might have been oranges.

You can also find a grenade launcher in the basement of one of the houses in the village north west of the Freedom base.

For some reason it was renamed for North America. Secrets of the Ark

If by awkward you mean creepy then yes. He doesn't actually move, he just materializes behind you. Walk away from him backwards so he's off in the distance then turn around and... HOLY CRAP!

That has to be the worst straw man I have seen in ages. Incidentially, I heard John Howard, the Australian PM, comment that he was determined that Australian gun culture should never become the negative that it has become in the US. I believe he is conservative. He's also anti death penalty.

What a wanker.

I always liked the Soul Blade intro. Most of what is in the MGS games. I particularly like the "who said I was on your side?" moment in MGS2.

I have a Intellimouse Optical, and after installing whatever is on the CD that came with it, in the Mouse Properties there is a place for button assignments. You can assign functions or specific keys to the left & right buttons. I have Delete assigned to the left button, so in a game I just assign delete to whatever I want to use the left side button for.

D'oh! Too slow. Another pic

It's like something out of a cartoon.

No Sand is better than bad Sand.

Was Arcanum anything like Fallout? I'm tempted to play it. Have the CDs here. I dunno, I hadn't played a Fallout game before.

I enjoyed all three Troika games (though ToEE only after heavy modification) and have never considered myself a fanboy. Maybe I would have to deny all the bugs to be considered a fanboy?

Amen. The only thing worse than manuals taking up space were manuals with little pictures on every page that needed to be used as copy protection. Blergh.

How are ultima underworlds or the tes series different from this? They aren't, which is why they're shooters too. You use the keyboard to move, the mouse to look around and it's in first person, it's a goddamn FPS, just deal with it man.

The worst game I've ever bought, at least recently, would be Age of Pirates: Caribbean Tales. 20 minutes in and I knew I would never play it again. That'll teach me to make an impulse buy.

I didn't use stealth much, but I was occasionally able to sneak up behind folks and use the knife for a one hit takedown. I took out much of the Freedom camp doing that.

Stolen from Gamespot:

I found NWN1 boring as bat****. NWN2, however, was fab. Hugz 4 Obz. Double hugz 4 Adam Brennecke.