I post over there more because I am not a console gamer and the Off Topic is a bit more active on OO, but I visit both. The double posts do get old though. I wish the community would have moved as a whole instead of splitting.

I'd say 90% of my posts are on OO.  Their R&P and EBG section has some very interesting folk and there is a lot of content.  I'm also primarily a PC gamer, so those forums make the most sense for me.  I do stop in over here to visit the gaming sections, but I've found that most of the posts are just duplicated and thus spend more time at OO.

That and there are some folk that are welcome here (and not there) that honestly... drive me to a murderous rage.  It's best I just avoid them altogether

gellar

Update:  I got the Phillips DVD player above and am not entirely happy with the picture quality.  After doing some research on the AVS forums (which I should've done in the first place, but I was just excited to get everything in) it appears it's great for what it does best and that's playing DivX and burned discs.  The price was great on it though so I'll eventually just move it to my upstairs SDTV and get a higher-end upscaling player for my HD set.

Another note for gellar, I was reading on the AVS forums that people are having problems with image ghosting on this set, specifically using the HDMI jack.  I'm ordering satellite HD soon and really hope that it won't be noticable for me.  Have you had any issues with it?

I read about those issues too, and honestly I haven't come across them.  I don't know why, but apparently the "newer" sets don't have the issue.  Strange as that is, I guess I'll just consider myself lucky

gellar

Lucky bastard.  Which mountain?

gellar

You know... I'd actually play this if you guys could make it West Coast (PST) friendly.

If you think that's possible, I call the Kings.

gellar

gellar I have Madden too, but I still have a frame of reference I'm goign by and that's Sierra's Front Page Sports Football.  Now bugs aside and the last one they had to recall, that game had the best simming engine around.  I just don't understand why a game 10 years old could simulate stats better than Madden?  Or maybe, why the developer's don't care enough to have realistic simming.  They go the extra mile to put in features no one asked for (create-a-fan, player cards), yet neglect the most basic fundamental of football.  Errr like Earth-bound physics...  Or a running game that isn't utterly broken.  They improved the defense this year by making the defensive players cheat.  I mean, it's like put your resources where it counts...  make the game itself great, then once you have that down, then add all the extra fluff.

If your reference point is FPF, you'd absolutely HATE any extended period of time with ESPN.  ESPN's franchise mode is horribly borked.  I could go further on it, but suffice it to say... ESPN is a fairly good "single game" simulator, but not a whole lot further.  That's the main reason I went with Madden this year.  They spent time to hone in on a great franchise engine, but with only a "good" on the field engine, and absolutely shitty graphics model.

Also, Madden's running game isn't broken, you're just not good at it.  I'm better at running in Madden than I am in ESPN .

gellar

Well I guess its too bad gaming is all about marketing, and not at all about the actual fricking game huh?

Geez, and to think, I purchased games based on cumulative review scores, and not the marketing.

You do?

Cumulative Review Scores for ESPN for PS2 (most common gaming system:  89%

Cumulative Review Scores for Madden on PS2: 90%

You buy games based on what YOU like about the game, same as the rest of us.  Scores be damned, you buy the game because you like it, or because people tell you you should like it (marketing).  Marketing is why great games (IL2, for example) get the shaft, and why mediocre/good games (Sims 2, Doom 3, nearly every Star Wars game ever made) sell like hotcakes.  Sure sometimes we get a nice combination of both (Blizzard, Half Life 2), but let's be real here.  This isn't "Shiney Happy World (tm)" where everything is right and all is just.  Things happen because they can.  Why does Company X charge X amount for shitty product X?  Because you will buy it and because they can.  That's capitalism.  If you don't like it, don't buy it.  Call the rest of us who do morons if it makes you feel better, but it's not changing anything.

Finally, as a guy who actually LIKES Madden football, I get the shaft on this just as much as you do.  Madden 2005 was the first time in years that Madden actually improved a good deal of their game, and I gotta believe that was due to the inferior (IMHO) ESPN offerings.  Hopefully they'll continue to do the same, but they certainly have less motivation to do so now.

gellar

Facts are facts:

Papyrus made a better game Nascar game, but had less money.  EA has more money.  So we get a crappier product because EA is wealthy.

Sega/ESPN made a better football game than EA.  EA has more money, so we will be stuck with a crappier football game.

Sega/ESPN makes a HUGELY superior game of hockety to EA.  EA is trying to buy that license as we speak.  if they do, we will be stuck with a horrendous veriosn of hockey because once again EA has more money.

See this is a case of talented people losing their jobs, and us discerning gamers losing a better product.  This is anti-competitive tactics and is supposed to be illegal.

So, the more talented/better  programmers lose their jobs, and you think that's fair?  That "that's the American way?"  Well I don't agree.


I'm sorry about calling you an a-hole, but I get tired of people saying, "Who cares?"  "It doesn't matter!" "Get a Life!"  :wink:

I just see this as having very negative consequences down the road for us gamers, and it disturbs me people can't see that trend.  It goes beyond sports gaming...

When you have better development studios, making a BETTER game, and MAKING money - and they get forced OUT of the industry - there's something wrong.

Most of your "facts" above are opinions.  Some I agree with, some I don't, but they're still just "opinions".  Facts are things like these:

EA sells more than Sega.

EA makes more than Sega.

EA could afford to do this, while Sega couldn't.

It's a case of one, well managed and well marketed company utterly destroying a less well managed and a piss poor marketed company.  The very competition you are crying about has happened here, and one company has won.  It's just not the company you wanted, nor has that company won in the manner you wanted.  But it still won.  It was, without a shadow of a doubt, the better overall company.  That is fact.

gellar

[UNPLUG THE WEBCAM??!?!?]

I like that Logitech one that runs about $80. I want that one. Its really clear and fast and comes with a shade to pull down over the lens so those people that hack into cams cant see when ya dont want them to.

Or you could just turn it off...  :roll:

Thats what I mean by hacking into it. They turn on webcams that you supposedly have off and see whats going on in your room...hence thenew cams coming with a blinder.

Call me crazy, but why not just UNPLUG THE WEBCAM??!?!?

gellar

Thanks for the heads up.  I'm still in the stone age using chisels and marvelling at fire but I'm sure there are some here who frequent #gonegold.

If you marvel at fire, you'd fit in just fine at #gg!

gellar

24.

I know that's a big surprise given my mature, thoughtful posting style.

I'm with stupid.

gellar

EA also had this done to them with the Formula 1 license. EA actually made a great F1 PC game, but some console publisher forked over the bucks for the license, and the EA F1 series was no more.

That also sucked.  I was a big fan of their Formula 1 games.  I didn't realize that they quit making them because of the liscence being lost.  That sucks too.

I don't care what company it is that loses the liscence, if they were making good games, or even the best on the market, it sucks for the gamers.

Yep I was a huge fan of both games.  Especially the Papyrus once, since I was actually good at those.

The good news regarding the EA F1 engine is that it's been licensed by a company to make a GTR game, which looks awesome.  Also, if you still have F1C, there are a lot of mods to bring that game current to the 2004 season.  Those are done pretty well.

Anyway, enough off topic stuff.  Fanboys can commence the EA bashing

gellar

Next question for me is will EA start charging $75-$100 for the game?  They could probably do it and I wouldn't be shocked.

Nah probably not, unless they manage to snatch up the licenses for the rest of their signature sports games.  It'd be hard to justify to the public that NFL costs $75, while NBA costs $40 or $50.  EA makes quite a lot of money at the $50 price point, there's no need to risk the negative PR of their fanbase by raising the price.

Now if they get all the other licenses... all bets are off.

gellar

Let's play a little role reversal here.  Supposedly the NFL and NFLPA put out the request for bids and 5 companies bid on the exclusivity.  You can guess the companies:

EA
Sony
Microsoft
Midway
Sega/Take Two

Would you guys be reacting the same way if one of the other 4 got the exclusive deal and not EA?  I have a feeling you wouldn't, but I could be wrong.  Most of you would probably be glad if Sega/Take Two got it, but what about the others?

Excellent point.  This is more the NFL's doing than anyone elses.  Regardless of who won the license, it's a bad thing for gamer's in general.  EA just had the deeper pockets this time.

They already ran Papyrus out of their NASCAR series  Those were my favorite racing simulations but when EA bought up the NASCAR liscence Papyrus had to quit making them.

EA also had this done to them with the Formula 1 license.  EA actually made a great F1 PC game, but some console publisher forked over the bucks for the license, and the EA F1 series was no more.

gellar

Except you'll be playing in fictional stadiums for fictional teams. Further little bits of chrome such as the halftime show and the crib are down the toilet.

Not if it goes like I think it could. Sega's game will now allow for "user made" rosters and MS/Sony would need to allow them to be used online. Seems like a way to get around this.

It's EXACTLY what happens in most college sports games where fan sites create 'real' downloadable rosters. The only issue was that you couldn't use them online. MS/Sony might be more willing to let this happen now that they lost the bidding...

Either that or Sega takes the engine and asks the NCAA if they can play there.

Either option = not enough sales, IMHO.  Sega ain't in good shape right now.

gellar

Wow... brilliant move by EA.  Absolutely pwn the competition in a way they can't pwn you: with money.

I gotta say I'm impressed, whoever's running the ship at EA nowadays knows what they're doing.

gellar

Mark my words... in a few years (hell, maybe now), Kobe will have the same rep as Barry Bonds.  Good player, absolute dickhead.

gellar

As for sports, my favorite by far is Sunday Night Football on ESPN. I personally feel like the HD ESPN broadcast is the best one out there.

I used to think the same thing... but currently CBS HD Football broadcasts have won my heart over.  The colors just look better.

gellar

I'm about to take the plunge and pick up a 52" Toshiba DLP set.

Hey I think I just recently bought the TV you're looking at.  I love the thing.  Let me know if you have any questions about it specifically

gellar

Aha!  (as an exclamation, not the band)  I knew someone around here had talked about purchasing one.  I am planning on swinging by Best Buy tomorrow to pick one up.  How is the standard def picture quality?  And do you use the stretch mode as well?  The TV I do watch is usually football or the occasional sitcom so I'm not overly concerned about it.  What (and how) do you have hooked up to it?  I obviously have an X-Box and am going to pick up a DVD player as well.  I little confused on the HDMI input.  Is that one just for a HD cable box?  Nothing I've read has mentioned that this unit has a DVI input which is the only drawback as I'd like to hook up a media center PC eventually.

I was thinking of snagging the Samsung 50" DLP set but I've read some issues with fan noise and the bulb burning out quickly.  I've read almost nothing but good things about the Toshiba set.  The biggest draw on the Samsung was the price and the DVI input.  Have you had any problems or do you know of any common issues people have had with the Toshiba set?  Any forums you've found?

Overall I'm just really excited about this holiday gift to myself.  Hey, I'm single, someone has to take care of me.  Thanks!

SD Quality is actually quite good, considering its an HDTV set.  I've seen some TVs where I cannot stand watching SD because it looks so grainy, but whatever Toshiba did to get SD to display at an acceptable level... it worked.

I do actually use a stretch mode, and it's one of the reasons I bought this particular TV.  The Toshiba Theater Wide 1 stretch mode is the absolute best I've ever seen in any widescreen TV.  The "Full" mode for 4:3 material is crap, but Theater Wide 1 is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

I'm using the current inputs:
Component 1: DVD Player
Component 2: Mad Catz Switchbox running Xbox/PS2/Gamecube
HDMI: Cable Box

Here's the funny thing about HDMI... it's DVI for all intents and purposes, just in a nice friendly USB like cable.  In fact, my Cable Box only has a DVI out and is connected to the TV using a DVI -> HDMI Adapter.  They're the same thing.  For some reason though, Toshiba states that you shouldn't hook a PC up to this TV.  I can't figure out why, and I know some of the folks at the avsforums have hooked up their PC.  It's something I've been meaning to try myself.  The DVI -> HDMI Cable only cost me $25.

The *only* issue I've ever heard about the Toshiba's is in regard to the HDMI input on earlier units, which apparently had some "ghosting" of the text.  Mine has no such issues, and there have been no recent reports of them either.  Kind of strange and slightly troubling, but it was a non issue for me.  The Toshiba 52HM84 (the one I have now) uses the HD2+ chip Vs. most current Samsungs using the HD3 chip for DLP.  The HD2+ is the superior chip and provides better color/contrast, while the HD3 chip was really designed for budget and cost cutting reasons.  That's not to say the Samsung is a bad set... I almost bought it myself.  It's just that the Toshiba is a better set.

gellar

I'm about to take the plunge and pick up a 52" Toshiba DLP set.  Does the X-Box put out a progressive scan signal when playing DVDs?  Do I need to pick up a separate player as well?  I already have the X-Box Hi-Def pack for the 5.1 audio so all I need there are the component cables.  The set has 2 component inputs and an HDMI input.  What kind of jack am I looking for on a DVD player and what kind of cables do I need?  Thanks!

Hey I think I just recently bought the TV you're looking at.  I love the thing.  Let me know if you have any questions about it specifically

gellar

It's not technically trading, sir, if I'm just giving it to you

gellar

Fucking hell, dude...haven't you ever heard of stuff like a book or a GBA to pass your time?

If I cant use the internet what the fuck makes you think I can use a GBA? They just want me to sit there as a statue. And its not dumb, I don't see how my decision to fake an illness to get a few days off equates with unintelligence.

If you can't see the stupidity of the action, then you're doomed to repeat it.  Again and again.  But please, do keep posting about your antics

gellar

Anyhow, any advice yet?

Stop doing dumb things?

gellar

Sweet ride coop, and an absolutely bitchin deal for $26k.  Don't think you'll find more bang for the buck than that right there.

I do agree that the rear end is just a *hair* too long though.  Small gripe, but it's definitely an upgrade over your old wussified Lexus

gellar

Any Mazda commercial is pretty shitty, but their most recent one drives me fucking insane.  As if "zoom, zoom" wasn't bad enough, they added the fantastic annoyance of making it sound like a cell phone ring.  Christ almighty, worst idea ever.

Then they go and play the stupid thing IN FRONT OF MOVIES AT THE MOVIE THEATRE.

I will never buy a Mazda due to this damn commercial.

gellar

Nice topic.

Favorites:
Stella Artois
Newcastle Brown Ale
Guinness
Dos XX Amber
Harp

Do Not Like:
Heineken
Corona
Anything Light
Anything with "Honey" in the title

I'm leaving off any microbrews because a) most people can't get it anyway and b) I don't want to seem snobby.

I'll happily drink Budweiser and other American macrobrew though... I've got no problems with that.  Some of my best times were with buddies in Mammoth pounding back case after case of Bud.

gellar

Expect a post on the R&P decision by COB today.

Honestly, I think an R&P forum handled the way you guys handle things would work out really well, or die quickly in a blaze.  I dig the no bullshit policy here, but think that a lot of R&P posters would hang themselves with that rope fairly quickly.

I sure as hell wouldn't want to moderate it.

Anyway, nice work on what you've done so far here.  It's not secret that I'm not a big fan of CG in general, but I do think you guys have done an excellent job in handling the "migration."

gellar

19 more posts and you will.

Dude that's not much better... and it's a bit presumptious

I KEED, I KEED.

gellar

Hey!  I have that thong!

But do you have that ass?

[instant]

WhitePride is memorable for me, simply because he was the worst poster ever to appear on GG. That's saying a lot too.

Wasn't Whitepride just another login for Kahless and Bplotkin?  That was implied in the "who is Kahless anyway?" thread.  I never experienced that person directly until this weekend, but hated it the instant it reared its head here.

Hmm, GG's worst posters?

whitepride
bplotkin (scammer)
kahless
Tony72
TSS (long winded scammer)

IIRC, it was pretty much proven that bplotkin = kahless.  He may also be behind whitepride and Tony72 as well.

Don't forget Thomas Covenant/High Lord Elena, a single entity who briefly joined a #GG chat session just for the purposes of later posting lies about #GG on GoneGold.

#gonegold has basically proven that whitepride=kahless=bplotkin=Thomas Covenant/High Lord Elena

In other words, that's one seriously bored dude to come up with all that shit.

gellar

I had XM in my old car and have not yet transplanted it into the new ride... and I'm going bloody nuts without it.

I need to buy a new receiver though, as there's no reasonable place to mount the old Delphi unit in the new car.  I'll probably get one that's built into the head unit, as that's cleaner anyway.  Don't know if I'll go XM or Sirius this time though... I kinda like the Sirius lineup a bit better.

We'll see.

As naednek mentioned, I'm around.

gellar

It's been mouse control for a while now (I think back to Tiger 2002).  As someone who golfs, I found the mouse to be much easier and more realistic than an analog stick.  The range of motion is far greater and you're pretty much using your whole arm instead of just your thumb.

TW for the PC allowed me to turn all aids off and just swing/putt with no meters or bars.  I could never do this in Links because the thumbstick didn't feel right for me.

And yes, they do also have triple click.

gellar

I buy PC Tiger every year.  It's way, WAY better than the console version.

The gameplay is drastically different.

gellar

My biggest issue with this comes in playing as the Niners.  In the Dime package, I'd MUCH rather have Julian Peterson as my left end than Brandon Whiting.  It's actually what the Niners do in real life.  Can't do it in ESPN though.

gellar

You should talk to the guys in GGIRC.

I'm all about the old school suburban white ghetto.

gellar

If I want a great franchise mode I go with Front Office Football.  I play console based football games to play against other people.  I still think the on-field gameplay in ESPN is superior.  Hey Tebunker, what don't you like about the depth chart manipulation in ESPN? Personally I kind of like the way they did it.

Ever want your Defensive End to learn how to play Defensive Tackle?  Not gonna happen in ESPN unless you do it per formation.

Want a TE to double as your backup FB?  No dice, home fry.

You can see the frustration.

gellar

See, I'd rather have ESPN's on the field gameplay and Fluff presentation combined with Madden's easy to use interface and deep franchise.

Sega has yet to figure out a simple way to eidt and use rosters and playbooks. Their substitution system is borked as is the depth chart. It's one thing that they MUST rip off Madden. It's just so easy to do things off the field in Madden.

The only on field change I really want in ESPN is to get rid of the really slow animations, especially when they're not necessarry. Why did the receiver just dive backwards six yards like he was reaching for the ball when I led him on a fade? Doesn't happen all the time but enough to be disparaging.

I'd want bits and pieces of both from the gameplay side.  I really enjoy Madden's momentum running game, as it's so fluid.  However it is frustrating to get your back stuck onto a lineman.  Some combo of the two would be nice... Madden's momentum and flow with ESPN's animations (minus the long and unnecessary ones) would be cool.

On the passing side... I'd pretty much want all things Madden.  The Madden passing game is infinitely more rewarding for me, though there's absolutely nothing wrong with the ESPN game.

Defensively, I'd want the linebackers from ESPN with the DBs and D-Line from Madden.

Obviously I'd want the ESPN graphics, license, and damn near everything from the presentation side other than the sound effects.  Madden's crowd was better this year, though NCAA still pwnz them both.

To dream...

gellar

ESPN hasn't seen the inside of my XBox since the day Madden was released.

Madden's franchise mode is excellent.

Sergi

Kings

[KNOW]

Cheese is a hard thing.  I think everyone cheeses a little bit... I mean shit, if I'm down by 7, in the 4th quarter, 3rd and 10, and have a play that I KNOW will get me 10 yards every time... how do I not call it in that situation?

gellar