Originally Posted by zillionandnine Ever since I installed my new video card on Friday I've been tempted to buy a bunch of new games just to celebrate the fact I can actually play moderately graphically-demanding games. I keep reminding myself I already have a bunch in my backlog... But that's just not the same. :P

Dig out the receipts and recreate the experience! Seriously though, sometimes I look at the hard copy boxes on my shelf and get that new-game (for me) yearning. Similar but less intense feeling when I use Grid View on my Steam backlog. I own that? Ooh... shiny...

Agreed on SD. I think it beats GTA4 in a LOT of ways. Excellent game.

Disagreed on Borderlands 2. BL1 was awful.

Imo, the GTA4 storyline was too grim and serious. GTA:VC had the storyline/setting that most appealed to me, 1980s Miami, a minor thug working his way to the top. GTA:SA didn't appeal to be as much but was still better than GTA4, early 1990s LA/SF/LV a wronged victim/gangster trying to set things right, gangsta style. I haven't played GTA4:EEFL yet.

GTA4's episodes don't fix it but they're nice enough if you like the Rockstar rambling writing even half as much as Rockstar itself likes their own writing.

The problem about GTA4 wasn't NECESSARILY the grim and seriousness of it. SD is serious as hell and mixes in the right amount of camp and just good writing to carry the game. My problem, and this carries over to Max Payne 3 and RDR too, is just the Houser writing has this affectation it can't rid itself of. Writing incessant gibbering monologues of parties, drunks, drugs, etc all with a sort of stoned college freshman's wannabe counter-culture rambling... I can't even put it properly into words but it is the sort of writing that thinks itself much, MUCH better than it actually is.

Like, for instance, I challenge any of you in the thread to name two things of consequence that happened in any GTA4 episode, RDR, RDR:UN, or Max Payne 3 that did not happen in the last two missions of either game, from memory (CAGs who JUST BOUGHT MP3 I almost think to exclude from this challenge but I dunno, it's almost even money.). Sleeping Dogs, you do not have that problem.

I also have some issues with the consequences and power levels and what not in each game. Why was that neurotic loser in GTA4 anything approaching a denouement for the game? WE FINALLY DID IT ITS OVER CUZEEN. Because you killed THIS inconsequential beta male? Good grief. And yet for all the people you murder, all the powerful, powerful friends you have made and have dirt on, that Russian you completely ignored still makes you piss your pants? Oh wait, no, he was saved for the episodes where he was another terrible final boss. SA had a similar issue with Tenpenny but at least he was voiced by Samuel L. Jackson. I won't even get started on how hard they nerfed Max. Bah, I could keep ranting for another couple of pages but I still wouldn't make sense.

Originally Posted by RollingSkull Disagreed on Borderlands 2. BL1 was awful.

In what way was Borderlands awful?

Originally Posted by emwearz I think the story utterly smashes GTA, regardless of era. GTA had many mandatory missions that had no meaning to the story and were boring as all hell. Side missions in Sleeping Dogs at least are related to characters in the universe or are involved in there own mini story arcs.

Yeah your right. I love the side missions in SD because unlike GTA, they are not just pointless filler. Every side mission feels meaningful, even if it's just collecting some car for some guy, you really feel the impact from the world.

I really think the only reason I like the PS2 GTA games more was when I bet the game I can spend hours screwing around doing nothing but killing peds in hilarious ways. But for sheer story and world, SD takes it.

I wonder if we'll get a Sims 3 Midweek Madness; the new expansion comes out tomorrow.

Originally Posted by hal In what way was Borderlands awful?

There wasn't a single part of the game that wasn't boring, even in couch co-op I found myself pining for better games. Loot collecting, questing, shooting, traversing, none of these were strong enough to keep me at the table no matter how many times I tried to like it

Originally Posted by samuelcole Really, I've only played it for a couple minutes (Darksiders 2 grabbed me way harder), but the dialogue and plot seemed a little ridiculous? Just cheesy stuff (says the guy playing Darksiders 2). Maybe it gets better as it goes along.

The basic storyline is kinda meh, but the DLCs are really good. Even the base story has a lot of funny stuff (are you reading the quests?).

Originally Posted by M_F_A_H Waveform has a demo that's less than a GB. I played it and my conclusion is that it's not worth $2 so I'll wait for a bundle.

yeah, my wife told me it was crap when I got home from work.

Originally Posted by kitara91 saw this deal on steam forum FREE Dirt Showdown https://www.pugetsystems.com/pax/ (limited keys left)

work gets in the way of more free stuff. my son has been wanting this since it was released

Originally Posted by Severose Wait for the complete pack, this is a troll price.

thank you, I almost caved on the half life 2 deal. I'll wait for now.

I really don't see how many of the side missions in Sleeping Dogs are related to the characters. 9 times out of 10 they're for random people who MAYBE appeared in the far background of one scene. And when they do involve the characters, they're kind of awful. What the hell was with that stalking mission? Why am I creeping on this chick I've had a single date with and acting like a jealous boyfriend out of nowhere? When I took that mission I thought he was tailing her because she works at a criminal hotspot, and thought he could work her/the dude she was meeting from a police angle. Nope, just creepily obsessed over a chick I sang karaoke with.

It's actually one of my bigger gripes with the game. The main story escalates so quickly, and characters disappear for random amounts of time for no apparent reason, that I think they missed a good opportunity to involve some of the characters. Instead of the random Face Missions involving random weirdos, make it a mission for Jackie, or Winston. Have that meathead that's always harrassing you in the early game lead you to the fight clubs or something.

Originally Posted by RollingSkull I challenge any of you in the thread to name two things of consequence that happened in any GTA4 episode

I agree with you on the writing and would add that it is lacking in that it rarely builds up to something in story. GTA4 main story line: when my annoying cousin's Taxi Depot gets bombed (thus necessitating the move from the starter pad to Roman's GF's apartment on the northside. Later one when taking out some two-bit gangster (part of the mission set from the guy released from prision) and if you make a choice you keep his luxury pad. Both are pad-location related, no confidence, (I was trying to remember the story that lead to Niko being able to purchase the place mid-town and move out of Roman's GF's place. The other memorable bits are the neurotic FBI snitch you date for a while and the rasta dude, "Clucking Chicken, I love tha shit rasta".

Originally Posted by Sir_Fragalot Yeah your right. I love the side missions in SD because unlike GTA, they are not just pointless filler. Every side mission feels meaningful, even if it's just collecting some car for some guy, you really feel the impact from the world. I really think the only reason I like the PS2 GTA games more was when I bet the game I can spend hours screwing around doing nothing but killing peds in hilarious ways. But for sheer story and world, SD takes it.

Oh yes, GTA side missions tend to have the (in character) "why am I doing this shit?" GTA 1, VC, & SA, I could just play for a bit causing mayhem, robbing/killing/cop chases and have a blast. (Never played GTA III)

Originally Posted by RollingSkull There wasn't a single part of the game that wasn't boring, even in couch co-op I found myself pining for better games. Loot collecting, questing, shooting, traversing, none of these were strong enough to keep me at the table no matter how many times I tried to like it

Everything? Well, ok. I figured you didn't like the story or something. To each his own.

Originally Posted by asheskitty Imo, the GTA4 storyline was too grim and serious. GTA:VC had the storyline/setting that most appealed to me, 1980s Miami, a minor thug working his way to the top. GTA:SA didn't appeal to be as much but was still better than GTA4, early 1990s LA/SF/LV a wronged victim/gangster trying to set things right, gangsta style. I haven't played GTA4:EEFL yet.

I loved VC, I love Scarface (and I am a massive Al Pacino fan, hence the avatar), and the many elements the game borrows from it, the characters were enjoyable, etc. The problem I had with Vice City was that when you get close to the end, they force you to do so many shitty and boring (A to B) side quests before you can do the finale. They have NOTHING to do with the games story, Rockstar just throw in so much bullshit filler missions it makes you bored hardcore. That was a complete grind and broke the game to me.

"a minor thug working his way to the top" Pretty much all sandbox "GTA-Esque" games center there story around this.

I also really enjoyed in SD, that there was not that much emphasis on gunplay, even though I feel it one uped GTA's sloppy gun play in most ways.

As a minor thug myself, I can relate to the GTA:VC storyline. It gets me bro.

Originally Posted by Umair56 As a minor thug myself, I can relate to the GTA:VC storyline. It gets me bro.

I lol'd

I loved GTA3. It was one of the first games I got when we finally got a PS2. Beat the game, got most of the side missions done, spent days just goofing around.

Later borrowed Vice City from a friend. Couldn't stand it. For the four or five hours I played, Vercetti just kept complaining about everything. I much preferred the silent protagonist of 3, made it easier to immerse myself, I guess. I'd rather be playing it cool than whining about everything that happens and insulting everyone behind their backs.

Never played SA or 4. No real desire.

Originally Posted by Severose I lol'd

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sV6Asn3y43A

Originally Posted by RollingSkull GTA4's episodes don't fix it but they're nice enough if you like the Rockstar rambling writing even half as much as Rockstar itself likes their own writing. The problem about GTA4 wasn't NECESSARILY the grim and seriousness of it. SD is serious as hell and mixes in the right amount of camp and just good writing to carry the game. My problem, and this carries over to Max Payne 3 and RDR too, is just the Houser writing has this affectation it can't rid itself of. Writing incessant gibbering monologues of parties, drunks, drugs, etc all with a sort of stoned college freshman's wannabe counter-culture rambling... I can't even put it properly into words but it is the sort of writing that thinks itself much, MUCH better than it actually is. Like, for instance, I challenge any of you in the thread to name two things of consequence that happened in any GTA4 episode, RDR, RDR:UN, or Max Payne 3 that did not happen in the last two missions of either game, from memory (CAGs who JUST BOUGHT MP3 I almost think to exclude from this challenge but I dunno, it's almost even money.). Sleeping Dogs, you do not have that problem. I also have some issues with the consequences and power levels and what not in each game. Why was that neurotic loser in GTA4 anything approaching a denouement for the game? WE FINALLY DID IT ITS OVER CUZEEN. Because you killed THIS inconsequential beta male? Good grief. And yet for all the people you murder, all the powerful, powerful friends you have made and have dirt on, that Russian you completely ignored still makes you piss your pants? Oh wait, no, he was saved for the episodes where he was another terrible final boss. SA had a similar issue with Tenpenny but at least he was voiced by Samuel L. Jackson. I won't even get started on how hard they nerfed Max. Bah, I could keep ranting for another couple of pages but I still wouldn't make sense.

What is your aim with this challenge?

I found plenty of "things that happened" throughout RDR contained consequence, but that doesn't mean I expect others to place the same importance on them. Also, I don't begrudge others if they feel moved by something that doesn't strike me. People have different taste and value in art.

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Originally Posted by DPsycho I loved GTA3. It was one of the first games I got when we finally got a PS2. Beat the game, got most of the side missions done, spent days just goofing around. Later borrowed Vice City from a friend. Couldn't stand it. For the four or five hours I played, Vercetti just kept complaining about everything. I much preferred the silent protagonist of 3, made it easier to immerse myself, I guess. I'd rather be playing it cool than whining about everything that happens and insulting everyone behind their backs. Never played SA or 4. No real desire.

I lasted a couple more hours than you. Got to the horrendous rc helicopter mission and called it quits.