It's kinda the last thing I have to say on this (in this thread).

THANK YOU

Praise Jebus.

Look as a former MSFT employee via acquisition (from their first OMG CLOUD acquisition no less, in 2005), to a MSFT shareholder, to a veteran of the motherfucking modern intranets... I know my shit.  My job is bridging the gap between actual tech and the world who thinks they know tech.  I'm paid handsomely to bridge this gap.  Clearly the guy bridging your gap should be paid more since he has you super convinced.  Kudos to him.

OUCH. I'll step in here in Purge's defense. The truth is we don't know exactly how the "cloud" will affect the Xbox One. The console isn't even out yet. So saying that it will do nothing more than Sony's current PS3 cloud is a bit premature, and I don't care how much you know about this technology, unless you work for the Microsoft team that is actually developing the technology then you don't know what they are planning or are capable of.

If they are capable of doing what Purge thinks then this could be a very cool thing.

Was Wizardry 8 on a short sale?  It is showing as $9.99 for me.

It shows for $9.99 but if you put it in the cart it is 50% off, same thing for the Wizardry 6 & 7 two pack.

I ended up getting Anachronox, Wizardry 8 (Really sweet game) and Torchlight for $8. I love Gog.

Anything more than Dial-up was simply not available in the area since I lived in a farming area of the boonies.  So I'm pretty sure I said exactly what I meant

I'm close to being in the same boat. My only option is a 1mgb DSL line. Sucks but it's better than dial up.

Good Old Games is having a DRM  free themed sale and Torchlight 1 is currently free. Just about everything else on the site it on sale too. I think I will finally pick up the digital version of Anachronox for $3.

Does anyone else find it suspicious that both Razgon and Ryse start with an R? I think Raz may be some long implanted Danish pastry slinging Microsoft spy.   

Hey, she has my iPad case!

Also, all this talk about plugging your 360 or PC into the Xbone begs the question: Can I plug my PS4 into it?

Or, even more interestingly, what happens if I plug another Xbone into the Xbone?

It's just a pass through, so I imagine anything with an HDMI output would work.

Also this is one of the things that Microsoft actually got right with this console. It's a cool addition.

Actually I think this is one of the things they have gotten horrifically wrong (or rather way too limited). 

The XBox One is supposedly going to be the HUB OF MY ENTIRE ENTERTAINMENT UNIVERSE.  How the hell can it do this with one HDMI input?  By my count, I'm going to need the following HDMI inputs:  XBox One, PS4, PS3, Xbox 360, AppleTV, DirecTV.  Am I to run my receiver through it and have it blast my receiver with input changes?  Does it then loop the HDMI output BACK to my receiver?  How much audio lag will this introduce?  Will this cause a disruption in the space/time continuum?

Really the only way I'm buying a XBone anytime soon is if they deliver HARD on the promise of a better AV experience that's unrelated to gaming.  They've shown very little on how this is going to work so my expectation is that we are a long ways off from this reality. 

I had the same thoughts in my head, but I was trying to find something positive to say about the Xbone so CeeKay and Purge don't explode.

Hey, she has my iPad case!

Also, all this talk about plugging your 360 or PC into the Xbone begs the question: Can I plug my PS4 into it?

Or, even more interestingly, what happens if I plug another Xbone into the Xbone?

It's just a pass through, so I imagine anything with an HDMI output would work.

Also this is one of the things that Microsoft actually got right with this console. It's a cool addition.

Sit and watch someone play a game. Totally ignore the screen. It takes advantage of motion that already exists. Also, do you want to have things which should be simple be complex? Raven Shields' voice commands were a welcome enhancement, and being able to affect the games outcome naturally is not a bad thing.

The big thing, once again, is that the control methods presented aren't fragmented anymore. Why hit LB to say "Archers, loose arrows!" when you could simply say it? Or respond to questions asked in an RPG with your natural speaking voice? It's not complicated to imagine - it's simply the execution I'm concerned about (looking at the horrid design of Steel Battalion for Kinect1).

This argument doesn't work for me. Remember the six-axis controller, every single PS3 has it, but developers quickly figured out that it sucks. Yes everyone tilts their hands when they are trying to make a hard turn in a racing game, but that doesn't mean that same tilting motion will translate into good gameplay. Hell I can't even remember the last game that actually used six-axis controls. The thumb-stick is king for a reason.

I'm also firmly in the camp that I don't want to yell at my screen to issue commands. This might be cool for some people, and I can see the attraction, but it does nothing for me.

I have to admit that the Kinect Minority Report possibilities are appealing.    It's one of the parts of the package that has me curious.

To be fair though, they said the exact same thing about the original Kinect though before it came out......and we all know how that turned out. I would love for the new Kinect to actually be something special, but color me highly skeptical at this point, given all the BS they seem to be spewing about the XB1 in general and the original Kinects track record.

But we were saying that about the first Kinect E3 announcement, where what was described seems to be on par (or even below) what the new Kinect seems capable of.  It all fell to shit during the pre-launch E3 after they'd neutered the hell out of the thing.

They should never have released that first version.  Imagine if our first glimpse of Kinect was this new version, and we hadn't already been let down by its baby brother.  I think folks'd be getting pretty excited for it, actually.

I have absolutely no interest in the Kinect or the new PS Eye (Whatever they are going to call it). So Sony's decision to leave it out of the base unit is a good one to me, I bet it was the final thing they needed to get the system in at $399. I'll take $399 over $450 any day, and I'll buy the camera eventually if I feel like I want some games that support it. It's all about choice.

Also, kinect 2.0 or no there is no way to make games like Star Wars Kinect any better than the total P.O.S. that it is. There are exactly two types of games that I prefer motion controls for, Golf and Light Gun Shooters, and when I want to play Tiger Woods 20XX then I will think about getting the kinect or eye.

You are the 2013 Hetz.

(no offense to Hetz)

no, you're the 2013 Hetz.

(I'm sorry Hetz)

Hey, I know a Hetz when I see one.

(sorry Hetz)

and I know an Auburn loving Hetz when I see one.

(apologies Hetz)

I know a crazy, post addicted, reverse Hetz when I see one. (Sorry Hetz, at least I didn't call you crazy or post addicted).

well damn, guess I'll skip getting a PS4 and get a Titan.

* CeeKay watches the collective aneurysm from that statement

Ceekay can you please let me know where you bought those Rose Colored glasses and that Vente sized cup of Denial. Because I really want to like the Xbone, but at this point I can't rationally do it. I would love to base my love on 5 exclusive games that will more than likely be nothing spectacular. I would love to compare proven AAA franchises to unknown Microsoft Exclusives but for some reason history is making it hard.

I signed up for gold for the first time ever yesterday because the first month is $1 and it allowed me to get Fable 3 for $1. You can bet your ass I will cancel before my month is up if the next free game is Halo 3. Considering you can get Halo 3 for about $7 at Gamestop. Why pay more for Gold than the free game sells for?

I've decided that you all should go with the PS4 for Gaming Trend multiplayer.

If I did I wouldn't let you on my friends list; I've got standards.

No trading PS4 games with Wonderpug then. Oh wait PS4 doesn't have that problem, never mind.

At this point Nintendo better have a damn good showing if they want to remain in the console discussion. A $50 to $100 price drop on the WiiU as well as some good game announcements will make me get one finally, but we'll see.

Does anyone have an AGP card lying around they would be willing to part with. I just put together a work comp that doesn't need anything special, but the Radeon 9600 I'm running it with just isn't cutting it for videos and the like. So I'm looking for something like an old Gefore 4000 series or so.

Let me know your terms.

PS4 is on pre-order through Amazon with same day shipping. Hopefully I ordered early enough to get a launch day system.

Honestly I went into the Sony conference expecting the worst (DRM, $599 price) but Sony fucking killed it. It's going to take Ceekay levels of rose colored  glasses to want the XBone over the PS4.

I know he keeps saying Exclusives, but I'm honestly trying to figure out if he's trolling with that. Sony will have more exclusives in the long run and their exclusives are historically way better games. SO I will hang my hat on Sony's PS2 and PS3 exclusives record.

All good games, too bad I own 4 out of 6 of the PS3 games already.

I don't understand this mantra of "pressure from publishers".      All Sony has to do in light of this firestorm over DRM and used games is come out and say:  "we aren't doing that sh**.   Go buy Microsoft if you want draconian DRM and used game policies".

The market would FLOCK to Sony, they would sell most of this generations of consoles, and the publishers would be FORCED to put games on the platform because of the money they would be losing if they didn't.    It's simple math.   They are NOT going to abandon something as significant as the PS4 over used games no matter how much posturing or threatening they are doing.

Sony -- do the right thing.   Tell them to get in line and follow the leader.   This is the chance to torpedo Microsoft One before it even gets out of the shipyard.

That's so crazy, it just might work.

I don't think it's crazy at all. It's a clear win if they do that. They have the exclusives, their hardware is the most powerful, they have the online infrastructure, now deliver a CONSOLE and not a DRM machine.

Well, E3 is almost upon us. Sony has been awfully quiet so far but they'll probably show their hand at E3. What do you think their news will end up being (regarding the console). Predictions?
Almost exactly the same thing as MS?

It's as simple as this for Sony:

1. Hit the PS4 exclusives hard.
2. Verify that there is no online connection required and a better DRM than Microsoft.
3. Sit back and watch the WINNING!

The fun part will be the outrage when someone does hack Microsoft if for nothing more than to force them to shut their servers down for more than 24 hours. Shit will hit the fan when that happens, and it will happen.

Here's the E3 trailer and impressions of the E3 demo.  Also, the game has been delayed from late this year to February 2014.

Lol, talk about missing a release window, by then I will be playing next gen games.

[Spoiler]

Went and watched this with my 7 year old yesterday. It's safe to say they upped the action to all new levels of impossible in this one, but the movie is entertaining and it works. They actually successfully tied the story up from all 5 previous films in this one. With cameos from characters that I didn't expect to see.

They also set up part 7 by finally answering when the hell part 3 takes place.

Spoiler for Hiden:

Jason Stathom makes a cameo at the Hahn death scene in part 3. And I would say he is going to make one hell of a bad guy in part 7.

PSN Plus is totally worth it.

I second Valkyria Chronicles, add Tales of Graces F for some nice JRPGing

Ditto this for PS Plus and Valkyria. Plus is awesome, you get a new game each week for a year for just $50. You can't beat it.

Yeah I'm sure this has nothing to do with nearly every single person in her presidential campaign either coming out against her or talking about campaign rule violations. (Please insert sarcasm).

That was crazy enough that I had to find the original film clip.  Here it is in case anyone wants to see it

Much better with full sound (although it's more obvious that the machete completely changes orientation).  Still don't know what movie it is, though!

My guess is it's one of those crazy Bollywood action movies where the laws of Physics don't apply.

I smell price drop announcement at E3. At least I hope so.

Just in case anybody has been under a rock. Brandon Hantz was pretty much the reason they axed the non-jury members showing up for the reunion. Maybe it would have been tried anyway, but they couldn't give that young man any more screen time. He needs real help, not publicity.

I missed the non-jury members less than I thought I was going to.

Yep they nixed it because of Brandon. Did anyone else catch that they didn't give Eric 1 second of talk time in the reunion. He didn't even get to explain his "injury". Weird for a guy that made it to the final 5.

When that episode with Eric gasping for life aired I had a funny feeling about it all. He seemed to be acting to me. As you all know Eric really has some self-esteem issues, always looking to be liked by everyone, and also seeking attention.
I believe once the med staff did a thorough examination they realized the scam.
That's why he sat on the back benches with a gag order on him. What else could it be?

Allegedly he had a cut on his leg that got infected early on in the game, it never healed properly and when combined with the lack of nutrition the infection got the better of him. At least that's what he said in an interview. He also said he was so out of it during that tribal that he didn't even know who got voted out.

Just in case anybody has been under a rock. Brandon Hantz was pretty much the reason they axed the non-jury members showing up for the reunion. Maybe it would have been tried anyway, but they couldn't give that young man any more screen time. He needs real help, not publicity.

I missed the non-jury members less than I thought I was going to.

Yep they nixed it because of Brandon. Did anyone else catch that they didn't give Eric 1 second of talk time in the reunion. He didn't even get to explain his "injury". Weird for a guy that made it to the final 5.

My 7 year old loves this series. He watches them non stop. So needless to say we will be there to see it in the theater. His obsession is all about the cars and the driving scenes.  I tolerate it for the "scenery" at the inevitable car parking lot party scene. Also, the one "weapons" chick in part 5 is pretty darn hot.

No!

I liked LoTro when I first played. I left when the first or second expansion was up for sale. I think something else was out around that time. 

If I were to pick this game up again, would I have anything other than the original cd to pay for?
Was there any kind of graphical update put out after the CD?

Is the community at a healthy level?

As Crawley said the game went free to play a couple of years ago and most of the early level content really is free. But the game has added a TON of content since its launch and most of that will cost you either in game earned currency or real life money. It is possible to play the game for free and unlock a lot of the content just by playing, but that is the long hard road. Your best bet would be to buy the content packs that group a bunch of the content areas together.

By content I mean questing zones. Once you unlock a quest zone you unlock most of the content in that zone.

Also, there is a healthy player base still, but some servers are definitely busier than others.

[Spoiler]

and for today's moment of randomness:

Spoiler for Hiden:

That is just terrible.   

personally I thought it was full of vin.

That Zelda is hot, but Mal needs to give her some implants.

I feel I need to apologize for taking my bad mood out on the people here. I happened to be browsing GT when my husband brought a letter from our health insurance in for me to read, and I just got  rather shocked, and yes, angry, so I typed what I did when I usually just read and get on with things.

I'll ditto Ron here and thank you for keeping it classy. When I read your first post I imagined you as a pissed off fire breathing dragon bashing away at her comp, now I see a nice person typing at their computer. 

Back on topic: I am not pleased, but probably for different reasons and when I imagine what the alternative option for President would have done instead I don't think they would have done things all that differently.

I wish one of these devs would just make a Diablo game and make us pay for the full game instead of creating IAP gameplay.  The IAP system doesn't look nearly as bad as DH4 so far, but it's still a disappointment.

I'm a little surprised Blizzard hasn't figured out how to clone D2 over the iPad yet.  Seems like that would be a license to print money.

Modern day Blizzard could probably do it but if they started today they probably wouldn't release it until sometime in 2016 and even with that amount of time it would be a stripped down version with a mandatory internet connection using up your data plan.

can't remember which thread, but somewhere mentioned this game was a bit sleazy.

Sleazy as in super perverted or sleazy as in bad?

Well this game came out of nowhere for me TIme and Eternity . It's a hand drawn RPG for the PS3. Think Ni No Kuni mixed with Sailor Moon style characters. It looks promising. Hopefully the storyline is somewhat decent and not off the wall crazy like a lot of NIS produced RPGs.

I always like his adult superhero name of Arsenal better. Of course anything is better than Aqualad.

I really hope they up the anti this time by offering even more scripted sequences and restricting progression through the game by using tight rail like level design. 

I watched the whole season. To me this is a show that would have been much better on a network like HBO or Showtime. Let them really go for the brutality. Still it was worth watching. I'll watch season 2 for sure.