Blues Forum Lounge (Home of All Things OT) - Part 2018

[Dbrownss]

There's a glitch you can abuse that kicks everyone out of your lobby and then you just invite your buddies and you have it all to yourself and can play all the content.

The best part is that isn't illegal or bootleg in any way. Just go into your settting and check your NAT after getting in the lobby.

Is that still working? By the time I found out, none of my friends play GTA anymore

 

[Evocable Manager]

Is that still working? By the time I found out, none of my friends play GTA anymore

Yea it works, do it every time I hop on GTA.

 

[Dbrownss]

I despise GTA, although some more than others. Its a bunch of horrifically bad game-play systems haphazardly thrown together, but people love it because it appeals to the lowest common denominator with over-the top sex and violence. Take the driving out and compare it to any half-way competent driving game. Its terrible. The driving in the last need for speed was better than GTA, much less comparing it to Forza. If you made a driving game with the GTA engine without the GTA name and everything associated with it, the game would get reviews below a 5/10. Same with the shooting mechanics. Same with the character/stories which are just silly and stupid (at least the ones I have forced myself through). Mission structure is generally repetitive and dull (although V's heists were kind of neat in how you could plan them). The driving is clunky, the computer basically aims for you because the controls suck so bad, its a chore to run. But I can pick up a hooker and I can board a plane in mid-air by crashing my other plane into it, so who care if driving the car and plane used in those activities control like crap.

I'm not expecting Forza's driving, with Halo shooting, and Last of Us's story (or whatever your version of really good examples of those elements are). But at least make it competent. I mean, GTAV easily sold more than the latest version of all 3 combined, maybe of all the games in those franchises period. That's fine, its just not my cup of tea. It sucks that I end up trying it every year because the reviews talk about how improved the various aspects are. GTA V was a good step toward respectability in a few of these areas. Its still not there. That's my fault for letting the reviews dupe me year after year. So no, I do not like the single player. I'd rather play games that nail one thing really well rather than something that has a whole bunch of awful stuff to do. Anyway /rant. That probably far more than answered your question.

 

[Oberyn]

I recently grabbed Franchise Hockey Manager for $10 and really enjoyed it. How does EHM compare? I’m waiting for the new season rosters to come out, and if neither fits the need, I’ll grab NHL19 so I can play Be A Pro and GM. If ether EHM or FHM can produce a game that flows smoothly (FHM’a biggest problems should be simple to fix: lack salary retention options, less than optimal interface, lots of depth to the game but lack of clarity), they’ll really start to put the squeeze on EA when it comes to the share of GM mode players.

I tried FHM and wasn't a fan at all, but that was when it was initially released. I haven't played it since and I'm sure there have been a lot of improvements made to the game, but from what I remember I didn't like the UI and a lot of the player ratings were off the mark. If I were to choose between EHM 2015 and FHM, I'd go with EHM. I'm still an EHM 2007 fanboy though but I don't think that version is sold anymore, which is a shame.

 

[Evocable Manager]

I'm in large agreement with @Majorityof1 of one, I find GTA very underwhelming given the hype built around it.

Though I didn't pay full price, I got it on sale.

It's nice to be able to do practically whatever you want but in GTA it's hardly rewarding and there's nothing that drives you to do any missions be it in solo or online. That's my issue with the game is it's hardly compelling. You don't really care for any of the characters and there's zero backstory and a lack of customization with your online guy doesn't entice me to care in any way shape or form for my character. It just feels like a random guy doing crime for the sake of doing crime.

Looking at another open world game, like any Arkham game, the game is actually very compelling. You begin playing and the game is open world and you can do/go anywhere anytime and there are plenty of side missions and challenges open to for you to explore and complete. But the game has focus, the story is compelling and you instantly think "okay I'm Batman, I have to do this" (this being whatever the story leads you towards).

That's my rant. Nowadays I really only play when my friends wanna screw around on GTA which is a fun time but it doesn't last very long before we all wanna do something else and we don't get on GTA more than about once or twice a month.

 

[wannabebluesplayer]

I'm in large agreement with @Majorityof1 of one, I find GTA very underwhelming given the hype built around it.

Though I didn't pay full price, I got it on sale.

It's nice to be able to do practically whatever you want but in GTA it's hardly rewarding and there's nothing that drives you to do any missions be it in solo or online. That's my issue with the game is it's hardly compelling. You don't really care for any of the characters and there's zero backstory and a lack of customization with your online guy doesn't entice me to care in any way shape or form for my character. It just feels like a random guy doing crime for the sake of doing crime.

Looking at another open world game, like any Arkham game, the game is actually very compelling. You begin playing and the game is open world and you can do/go anywhere anytime and there are plenty of side missions and challenges open to for you to explore and complete. But the game has focus, the story is compelling and you instantly think "okay I'm Batman, I have to do this" (this being whatever the story leads you towards).

That's my rant. Nowadays I really only play when my friends wanna screw around on GTA which is a fun time but it doesn't last very long before we all wanna do something else and we don't get on GTA more than about once or twice a month.

I agree about the Arkham series. Rocksteady (I don't count the one Warner Bros released, it wasn't good) made some pretty awesome Batman games. I disagree on GTA as far as the single-player goes. I thought the story was quite compelling actually. You have a former thief turned state's evidence and a faked death. You have a certified psycho who feels betrayed by the person who he perceived to be his best friend. You have the relative up and comer who tries to learn from the seasoned thief but probably has the best moral compass of the three. There is a good backstory behind at least two of the characters. It's the online that's not really driven. I don't get the appeal of the online. I can't wait for Red Dead Redemption 2. That will be such an awesome game.

Currently, I still play a lot of Ghost Recon Wildlands. Even without friends, it's still challenging, especially if you play no HUD or limited HUD. Ghost mode is quite interesting, at least to me. I do think they need to dial back the perma-death. But the overall strategy of how to take down one of the larger Unidad or Santa Blanca installations is fun, especially if you turn off AI teammates. You're basically having to be Sam Fisher at that point.

 

[Dbrownss]

My only gripe with GTA is the always stereotypical thug black guy.

 

[bleedblue1223]

My only gripe with GTA is the always stereotypical thug black guy.

I've played it very sparingly in recent years, but there have been plenty of non-black main characters in it. Am I wrong on that?

 

[Dbrownss]

I've played it very sparingly in recent years, but there have been plenty of non-black main characters in it. Am I wrong on that?

I'm just burned out on the Thug life black character. I get it that it's supposed to reflect that culture....but idk.....like a change of pace from the San Andreas and GTA 5 character narrative.

 

[bleedblue1223]

I'm just burned out on the Thug life black character. I get it that it's supposed to reflect that culture....but idk.....like a change of pace from the San Andreas and GTA 5 character narrative.

I don't disagree. I lost interest in that series a long time ago. You can only go on so many murder sprees.

I'm honestly surprised that main stream media hasn't demanded a boycott of the game for a variety of different reasons.

 

[Dbrownss]

I don't disagree. I lost interest in that series a long time ago. You can only go on so many murder sprees.

I'm honestly surprised that main stream media hasn't demanded a boycott of the game for a variety of different reasons.

They have here and there, which I find silly. I've heard parents complain about GTA and video game violence in general. Funny story, STOP BUYING THEM THE GAMES. They games are rated appropriately. Back when I worked retail, I had to inform the parents as to what the game is about and point out the ratings.

The very few times I played the game in open lobby not in party chat....I cant believe how many young kids I hear.

 

[wannabebluesplayer]

I'm just burned out on the Thug life black character. I get it that it's supposed to reflect that culture....but idk.....like a change of pace from the San Andreas and GTA 5 character narrative.

So, what about Mafia 3? It wasn't a thug style black guy but more of a true Italian mafia style. Are you wanting more of that style in GTA? I mean, truthfully, they've always done the stereotypical style of their main characters. Vice City was an 80's mafia man. Russian mob in GTA IV. GTA III was traditional organized crime. I mean, they don't really go out of the norm when it pertains to their main characters because typically, those are the ones in real life committing those types of crimes. I get wanting them to step away from the norm, but I think that's harder because it could break the immersion aspect. They could try a full-game of maybe a biker gang member, but again, they kind of did that already with Lost & The Damned or whatever it was called.

I don't really know of another style of character where you could basically take over all organized crime in an area.

 

[bleedblue1223]

They have here and there, which I find silly. I've heard parents complain about GTA and video game violence in general. Funny story, STOP BUYING THEM THE GAMES. They games are rated appropriately. Back when I worked retail, I had to inform the parents as to what the game is about and point out the ratings.

The very few times I played the game in open lobby not in party chat....I cant believe how many young kids I hear.

Yeah, that's on the parents for the most part. It's harder now that you can just download the game without going to the store and getting a hardcopy, but a parent should still be a parent and know what their kids are playing.

Media and Hollywood are also very hypocritical on this. I don't agree that video games lead to actual acts of aggression in real-life, but lets say they did, where is the outrage for movies coming out of Hollywood. People in Hollywood love to push gun control politics, but they are the ones creating essentially gun and bomb porn in their movies.

 

[Dbrownss]

So, what about Mafia 3? It wasn't a thug style black guy but more of a true Italian mafia style. Are you wanting more of that style in GTA? I mean, truthfully, they've always done the stereotypical style of their main characters. Vice City was an 80's mafia man. Russian mob in GTA IV. GTA III was traditional organized crime. I mean, they don't really go out of the norm when it pertains to their main characters because typically, those are the ones in real life committing those types of crimes. I get wanting them to step away from the norm, but I think that's harder because it could break the immersion aspect. They could try a full-game of maybe a biker gang member, but again, they kind of did that already with Lost & The Damned or whatever it was called.

I don't really know of another style of character where you could basically take over all organized crime in an area.

I never had time to play Mafia 3, so I cant really comment.

I just feel the black community has more to offer then slang speaking, weed smoking low intelligence characters. Man that sounds funny given the context of our conversation lol.


Look at the movie black panther, they broke from the tradition and harrolded African Culture and made it cool for the most part instead of a novelty. I see movies where various European cultures are praised and revered but rarely black culture.


Is any of this making sense? Lol

 

[Dbrownss]

Yeah, that's on the parents for the most part. It's harder now that you can just download the game without going to the store and getting a hardcopy, but a parent should still be a parent and know what their kids are playing.

Media and Hollywood are also very hypocritical on this. I don't agree that video games lead to actual acts of aggression in real-life, but lets say they did, where is the outrage for movies coming out of Hollywood. People in Hollywood love to push gun control politics, but they are the ones creating essentially gun and bomb porn in their movies.

Agreed, xbox has done a very good job on content restrictions....if you want to use it. My boys cant do anything without my permission. People cant even talk to them unless I approve them adding someone as a friend.



My mother in law suggested the whole "video games are too violent". I reminded her that shes a big western movie fan and that glorifies the outlaw nature of the old west. She stopped talking. People are always willing to criticize something that doesn't affect what they like to do

 

[wannabebluesplayer]

I never had time to play Mafia 3, so I cant really comment.

I just feel the black community has more to offer then slang speaking, weed smoking low intelligence characters. Man that sounds funny given the context of our conversation lol.


Look at the movie black panther, they broke from the tradition and harrolded African Culture and made it cool for the most part instead of a novelty. I see movies where various European cultures are praised and revered but rarely black culture.


Is any of this making sense? Lol

I understand what you're saying. That's why I said Mafia 3. He's definitely not that typical character you're describing. I don't disagree that they could do that more in games. However, almost every game now allows you to design your own character, so, make them whoever you want. I mean hell, EA decided a woman with a robotic arm probably fought on a special forces squad in WWII.

 

[bleedblue1223]

I understand what you're saying. That's why I said Mafia 3. He's definitely not that typical character you're describing. I don't disagree that they could do that more in games. However, almost every game now allows you to design your own character, so, make them whoever you want. I mean hell, EA decided a woman with a robotic arm probably fought on a special forces squad in WWII.

Well, EA is run by a bunch of morons.

 

[wannabebluesplayer]

Agreed, xbox has done a very good job on content restrictions....if you want to use it. My boys cant do anything without my permission. People cant even talk to them unless I approve them adding someone as a friend.



My mother in law suggested the whole "video games are too violent". I reminded her that shes a big western movie fan and that glorifies the outlaw nature of the old west. She stopped talking. People are always willing to criticize something that doesn't affect what they like to do

There have been research papers done that show a correlation between desensitizing kids to violence and playing violent video games. There's also been research papers that show the opposite. Violent video games don't necessarily make a kid violent. I mean, my dad would tell me stories of him and his brother or friends shooting BB guns at each other. They played cowboys and "indians" all the time. Toys were built around tanks, GI Joe, transformers, etc. Glorified violence and heroism is everywhere. It's not just video games. Comics, movies, shows, books, the news, plays, toys, games, all show it. Hell, look at the classic games Clue or Mouse Trap, or that stupid pie to the face game. Isn't that glorifying violence?

 

[Dbrownss]

I understand what you're saying. That's why I said Mafia 3. He's definitely not that typical character you're describing. I don't disagree that they could do that more in games. However, almost every game now allows you to design your own character, so, make them whoever you want. I mean hell, EA decided a woman with a robotic arm probably fought on a special forces squad in WWII.

I've seen video clips of M3 and I was interested. It's not that I want to see a complete shift in character. As you suggested Mafia 3 may be that. In GTA Franklin is portrayed as a petty thug and fairly dumb until he gets hooked up with the criminal mastermind white character. He couldn't do it on his own.


Lets take the mob for instance....they are largely celebrated outside of people who's actually dealt with them. Some of the worse are portrayed as folk heroes even though they were mass murderers and killed law enforcement(even funnier when the back the Blue people ignore this).

So having a black mob boss would be a step in the right direction....of people who shouldn't be role models

 

[wannabebluesplayer]

Well, EA is run by a bunch of morons.

You'll get no argument from me. Thanks EA for Battlefront and Battlefront II. Where the hell did 1313 go? Stupid Disney giving EA exclusive rights.

 

[wannabebluesplayer]

I've seen video clips of M3 and I was interested. It's not that I want to see a complete shift in character. As you suggested Mafia 3 may be that. In GTA Franklin is portrayed as a petty thug and fairly dumb until he gets hooked up with the criminal mastermind white character. He couldn't do it on his own.


Lets take the mob for instance....they are largely celebrated outside of people who's actually dealt with them. Some of the worse are portrayed as folk heroes even though they were mass murderers and killed law enforcement(even funnier when the back the Blue people ignore this).

So having a black mob boss would be a step in the right direction....of people who shouldn't be role models

Didn't a comic or version of Spiderman do this with Kingpin? Why am I thinking they did?

 

[bleedblue1223]

You'll get no argument from me. Thanks EA for Battlefront and Battlefront II. Where the hell did 1313 go? Stupid Disney giving EA exclusive rights.

I hate that I'm such a sucker for any Star Wars game. Battlefront 2 is just a guessing game at what are the devs going to screw up next.

 

[Dbrownss]

There have been research papers done that show a correlation between desensitizing kids to violence and playing violent video games. There's also been research papers that show the opposite. Violent video games don't necessarily make a kid violent. I mean, my dad would tell me stories of him and his brother or friends shooting BB guns at each other. They played cowboys and "indians" all the time. Toys were built around tanks, GI Joe, transformers, etc. Glorified violence and heroism is everywhere. It's not just video games. Comics, movies, shows, books, the news, plays, toys, games, all show it. Hell, look at the classic games Clue or Mouse Trap, or that stupid pie to the face game. Isn't that glorifying violence?

Its the American way...... I have no idea what spurs random violence. Some people are just ostracized at critical points in development and may cause them to channel their hurt or hatred in horrible ways.

I always tell my kids to be inclusive with everyone. If you see someone shunned at lunch, go sit with them. You don't have to be their best friend but show them not everyone is mean

 

[Dbrownss]

Didn't a comic or version of Spiderman do this with Kingpin? Why am I thinking they did?

I remember Kingpin was played by a black actor in a few movies.

I hate that I'm such a sucker for any Star Wars game. Battlefront 2 is just a guessing game at what are the devs going to screw up next.

I love starwars but I didnt even let Battlefront finish downloading....it was so bad

 

[Davimir Tarablad]

Been in the betas for both of the EA battlefronts, both left a massive feeling of an empty game that I didn't buy either of them. Just been hopping back on the old school battlefronts to get my Star Wars fix.