mothra on 24/4/2008 at 08:23
that's the thing for me as well. they gotta give me a little something (called story) to hang on to. I wouldn't make friends with CJ either. and only driving around running over people gets boring quick. well, now we got the russians to piss all over :)
Scots Taffer on 24/4/2008 at 08:31
Quote Posted by Aja
Scots I don't understand your post.
I persist in explaining because I love. :D
Quote Posted by Aja
Why do you think skate sold so many more copies than the new Tony Hawk? (I know I'm running this example into the ground, but it seems apt here)
It's actually a horrific example as you're comparing a new franchise to a relatively run into the ground one so it's not so much a case of straight comparisons between products as much as comparing a new product on the market (innovation) to an existing reiterated product (which, I'd like to add, has probably sold a fuckton of units since its inception). Other than the physics sidebar to skate, it's got nothing really new to bring to the table - whereas the GTA games have - for better or worse - brought new elements into their gameplay repetoire among all the drivin' and shootin' and shit.
Quote Posted by Aja
Have you ever played a game where the main character has no shadow, and as a result it feels like they aren't actually in the gameworld?
Have you ever played a game where the main character seems to have no real motivation, and as a result it feels like you're just going through the motions of the gameworld for the hell of it?
Obligatory Bioshock joke aside...
Quote Posted by Aja
I was just having a discussion, and then you, for some reason, decided to take it personally.
It happens. :(
june gloom on 24/4/2008 at 16:06
Quote Posted by mothra
my opinion of this game concerning ethics stems from dicussions with friends from ethnic minorities in Austria and the USA and are a little deeper going than "oh my gosh: black dudes poppin' white dudes or fuckin' their women". but since GTA aint high-brow you could say: oh my gosh: all those blacks are criminals
(and asians, and latinos, ....)
GTA is supposed to be parody/comedy. That means all those black, Hispanic, Asian, white/Italian gangs are exaggerations. It has nothing to do with "highbrow" or "lowbrow".
Aja on 24/4/2008 at 18:14
Quote Posted by Scots Taffer
It's actually a horrific example as you're comparing a new franchise to a relatively run into the ground one so it's not so much a case of straight comparisons between products as much as comparing a new product on the market (innovation) to an existing reiterated product (which, I'd like to add, has probably sold a fuckton of units since its inception). Other than the physics sidebar to skate, it's got nothing really new to bring to the table - whereas the GTA games have - for better or worse - brought new elements into their gameplay repetoire among all the drivin' and shootin' and shit.
I'm assuming you haven't played skate, because it does bring quite a bit to the table.
There's a reason why it's so popular, and physics is only a part of it. Like GTA, they've fleshed out a real world and placed emphasis on exploration, only skate's is more detailed, and the player can interact with it in more meaningful ways. The difference comes down the subtle and nuanced controls, which respond intuitively and naturally -- whereas Tony Hawk chooses the more GTA-style artificiality and twitchiness that allows you perform outrageous (but ultimately empty) maneuvers.
In skate, there is actually a programmed relation between the character's feet and the board, such that the two react to the world independently of each another. Minor details like this lend a great sense of satisfaction to controlling the character, much in the way that the headbob and mantling in Dark Engine games do.
GTA's controls feel two steps away from a flash game, and as a result, I just can't get into them, regardless of whatever other innovations it brings (which I don't deny).
SubJeff on 24/4/2008 at 19:02
Quote Posted by Aja
GTA's controls feel two steps away from a flash game
I'm not taking anything "personally" mang (how could I? I didn't make the frikking thing!) but this is just stupid nonsense. You don't like it. We get it. I don't like celery but I don't try to justify it by saying it tastes a little bit like shit.
Aja on 24/4/2008 at 19:49
Play Jak and Daxter, or Mario Sunshine, or any other 3rd person game with solid controls and get back to me. If you can't tell the difference, that's fine, but it is not stupid nonsense -- a real difference exists.
SubJeff on 24/4/2008 at 20:42
I've played Mario Sunshine. I like the controls. It's Mario, the controls are the point. You're doing jumping stuff. In GTA you aren't doing jumping stuff. It's not a platformer. It's not the same.
Jak and Daxter are primarily platfomers too.
Look, I agree that the controls in GTA aren't great. But it's got so many different styles in one that I don't expect the driving bit to be as honed as in a driving game that only does driving. I also don't expect the shooting to be like a good FPS. It's not about that. IF, and that's a bit if, GTAIV DOES get all that right it will be even more awesome. But it's not strictly necessary and that's why I think you're missing the point.
How old are you? If you're over 25 (preferably over 30) play Vice City. There are things you'll hate (I did) but overall it's pure <3 <3
van HellSing on 24/4/2008 at 20:53
There's no point arguing with Aja on controls/movement anyway. Aja on Bioshock:
Quote:
This game has the most natural movement since Thief
Mr.Duck on 24/4/2008 at 22:01
I'm still surprised they haven't made a GTA with a Mexican gangster starring as the main player :)
van HellSing on 24/4/2008 at 22:21
Total Overdose does that kind of, except you're an undercover cop.
