Leviathan:Warships, turn based naval combat.  Not sure if it's any good but the trailer is grooovyy.  I lol a few times., great trailer.
http://www.slidetoplay.com/news/big-game-night-star-command-leviathan-warships-and-more/#more-657986

So let's say that only 5% of forum members join, or about 150 members. That's $300/month extra that you can use towards the site. It's less than a cup of Starbucks coffee per month, and if a forum member really appreciates the forums, it's a price they'll more than likely be willing to pay.

How quickly would only 150 users posting kill the forums?  (hmm though there are probably not that many more than that that post regularly anyhow) Plus that could also be a big deterrent on attracting new posters.

I'm much less interested in having a bunch of news sites to visit, which sadly is why I never visit the front page of this site.  On my RSS feed I have a ton of them in there and honestly am about to pare them down because it's just too repetitive.  Notable sites that are excluded from this would be Penny Arcade Report and Giant Bomb.  Both of those provide much more than just spitting out press releases and I think if you really want to drive traffic to the site, you should work on coming up with something that makes you stand out from the crowd.  You can continue to do news and reviews, but I'd love to see you guys succeed and would be willing to kick in Kickstarter money if you offered something more than just the message board I'm used to hanging out at.

That's exactly the direction we are going in- Thanks to David we've been going away from the PR monkey bullshit that every site has (though we still have some) and posting more editorials and journalistic pieces (like this one for instance). We know this is what readers want and we plan to do more of it.

He's right.  I have really enjoyed the non fluff articles on the front page as of late.  There have been some interesting well written pieces.  Merrying the forums with this content should be the #1 priority.  Same logins for the comments section on articles would be a good start.  That one baffles me.  Linking those comments with a forum post would help stimulate the forums which are in dire need of fresh content.  And for the love of god can we separate the gaming forum somehow, it's a garbled mess since the merger.  I have very little interest in reading about the vast majority of console stuff but most people do not flag their post one way or the other.  IMO the post have gone down since they were merged.  May not be true but it sure seems that way.

I am currently pirating GOT season 3.  I do own the first two seasons on DVD so I don't feel too bad.  It's a helluva show and I can't wait till it's released before watching.  I would gladly pay $1-$2 per episode If they did it that way to watch it streamed.

As for games, I do occasionally do the try before you buy.  I have an aging rig so performance is a concern and game demos are mostly a thing of the past.  Borderlands 2 was my most recent one and I promptly bought it after trying for a half hour or so.  It's not right because I am helping others with more scrupulous intentions by torrenting but my gaming budget these days is mostly spent on keeping my daughter in Dance classes, soccer, day care, clothed, and full of ice cream.  It's been 25 + years since I pirated with sole intent of playing a game and never paying for it.  C-64 days.  I'm not sure how I feel about the monetary effect it has on gaming.  On one hand it has to lead to at least some lost revenue but how much and what amount that is offset by the cost of DRM/anti pirating initiatives just does not seem trackable.  Plus in some ways it is a form of marketing. Look at HBO, they are almost bragging about how much GOt is pirated.

Instead of focusing on what ATB DOESN'T like, how about he tells us what women he DOES find attractive.

There's a momma joke in there somewhere....


I kid


I think she is just about close to as hot as a none brunette woman can be but hey different strokes and all.

The more time I have to think about the season finale, the lamer it seems.   <=to AMC


It felt cheap and lazy.  

Hate to say it but I'm in agreement.  Watched it again and it did not age well...hehe.  If next season is not the Carl and Daryl show I'm gonna be pissed.

Good write up.  I am very intrigued.  I don't have the gaming to really justify MMORPGs anymore but this seems like it could be geared to my more casual playtime nowadays. 

World of Tanks and MechWarrior Online in space is what describes Star Conflict the best. 

And downloading now.

This felt just like backyard monsters on facebook to me.  Not really my cup of tea

Uhhhh seriously are we talking about the same game(s)?  Backyard monsters looks like a sim-city 2.5D builder game.  H&C is a 3D 3rd person action-RPG plus tower defense.  Whatever you're smoking, can I have some too lol?

Yea, I don't get that one either.  It's a more intimate Dungeon Defenders without the loot pinatas but with more rpgishness.  The last free 'patch' more than doubled the content.  There is a whole lotta game for little money here.  I played for a good 2 hours last night before my phone died.

If you could stream from consoles I might be interested.

If you can do that while someone else plays on the pc for coop action they will make a crap ton of money.

Galaxy on Fire 2 HD and Great Big War Game are free at the moment.

GOF2 is $6.99 normally so free is quite the deal.   

I would be willing to bet the NFL had a chat with the refs to remind them that the game is not about them....nudge nudge wink wink.  There was a lot of contact from both players but I think another contributing factor was that the pass was not really catchable.  It looked a bit high to catch and bring feet down in the endzone.  Probably close enough to call holding in a regular game. 

Lame pass interference no call in the endzone and lame holding no call on the safety.  But niners put themselves in this situation in the first half and letting Jones score on the kickoff


Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk HD

Actually it was Defensive holding on the last play because the infraction occurred before the ball was thrown iirc.  The (offensive)pass interference no call was when the receiver threw the defender down.  So they were both guilty but the first one should have negated the second.   Zero chance they make that call in that situation though unless it's just blatant.  I thought the bigger no calls were all the punches being thrown during the numerous mix ups.  Regular season game and at least 2 players would have been tossed. 

Yep, that is how to works.  If you have a script blocker running you will not see it.  I have mine running on here now but no help for surfing with my iphone so I guess Ill just stop doing that.  I'm sure there is a way to disable it for mobiles but I just can't be bothered to be honest.

My biggest gripe is the hyperlinking (viglink or whatever)on key words on the forums.  I miss click those obnoxious things all the time and find them incredibly annoying, especially while surfing on my phone.  Why would you want to direct your readers to a different site?  I guess monetary reasons but hot damn I hate those things.

Are you sure that's not something on your end?  'Cause I have no idea what you're referring to.

Certainly possible, but this is the only site I visit that has it.  I suppose I need to add crappy performance/security issues to my list of reasons
I don't visit as often.  

edit: just flagged GT as untrusted via No script and it went away.  So yea, don't visit as much  LOL.

Edit2:  Nope definitely not on my end.  As Suspected it is a revenue stream for GT.  http://support.viglink.com/forums/20361846-general-questions

Less gaming + The lame forum merger + too many topics started with just links elsewhere = less posting/visiting.  The last one has gotten better but those are the big three reasons I don't frequent as much.  However, I have always set GT to go to the front page first instead of the forums to at least give Ron some hits.  I must say that the content/design of it has gotten so much better over the last 6+ months that I frequently spend as much time there as browsing the forums.  The quality of writing has gone up on the reviews as has their longwindedfanboyishness gone down (new word!).  I actually find them useful and a good read now.  Not meant as a slight as these things take practice to get good at I am sure.  Plus I am really digging the 'industry' type articles that have been going up with more frequency.  Looking forward to the new changes and applaud the staffs dedication to the site even if I do get a little put off on their tone when defending it at times.  It is their baby though.  My biggest gripe is the hyperlinking (viglink or whatever)on key words on the forums.  I miss click those obnoxious things all the time and find them incredibly annoying, especially while surfing on my phone.  Why would you want to direct your readers to a different site?  I guess monetary reasons but hot damn I hate those things.


edit:  LOL vigilink auto linked itself.  I hate it!

Well, I hear you all. I guess the next step for these consoles to go to is complete photorealism. Also, faster frame rates and 3D gaming.

I didnt know PC gaming had surpassed the consoles in the graphics department. I saw 'Guild Wars 2' running at full-throttle months ago on a new PC and I thought it looked fantastic. Guess that's what's missing on the current console generation.

Physics Physx is the next big thing imo.  Look at Borderlands 2 with a top notch Nvidia card and then without. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZFRLpz5mYk.  That is something that can't be done on this gen's consoles.

I stand by my statement. That article talks about the overall success of this generation of consoles, but the reality is the Sony hemorrhaged money just to maintain their market share, as opposed to MS which just grew and grew.

Except MS did not.  In fact apparently both companies lost a metric shit ton of money this gen.
http://xbox-techzone.com/?p=1809

Granted Sony did lose more, Ill give you that.  PC's making a huge comeback.  Consoles are DOOMED!  

Ok Maybe not but that sure is eye opening if true.

Let's just hope Sony has actually learned something from this overall horrific generation for them. If not for the amazing first party games they had put out, the PS3 would have been a complete bust. Here's to hoping they understand now that software, third party developer support, internet capability, as well as a robust marketplace is the way to recapture their market.

If Sony had a horrific generation and very close to a complete bust as you claim than poor Microsoft should just get out of the console business.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-01-09-idc-game-consoles-discs-to-remain-revenue-mainstays-for-years-to-come.

That's while launching a year later even.  Plus I would venture that the PS3 had at least a decent part in Sony winning HD format war.

I got it this morning and played around with it a bit. It seems like there could be a pretty decently deep and interesting game there, but so far it hasn't been so promising: playing on my iPod 5 the game has already crashed twice and given me low memory warning. This all in about 10 minutes of game time.

From Itunes review:
IMPORTANT: The game needs a lot of memory due to its bitmap graphics. If you encounter memory issues (app crashing), please use the "low resolution" settings in the app settings.

I've done that and turned off the wireless and other background apps and since then no crashes. I think my iPod 5 is fairly similar in specs to the iPhone 4s, so you'll probably be ok. It's a fun game and definitely worth $1.99.

Sigh, downloading now.

Between this and your Undercroft Recommendation last page I am drowned in classic RPG goodness.  I should return the favor.

Have you tried Knights of Pen and Paper?  It just recently got updated again with new characters, classes, quest etc.  Top 5 IOS game for me and I would imagine from your suggestions you would dig it to.  Not exactly in the same classic style as the above but more akin to....Well can't really put my finger on it but it's damn good.

I tried as well.  Here was my response to the why pick me section. 
"Played Elder Scrolls games since Daggerfall and have always dreamed of an MMORPG version.  I might not have as much time to dedicate to this genre as I used to (I used to be a hardcore MMORPG player...till I took a keyboard to the knee) but I'm willing to point out bugs and make suggestions in a polite and non flaming way .  Plus by choosing me you will be guaranteed to get test results on a low end system! Wait, it will run on this thing right?  "

Surely my witty knee joke will win them over!  Only above average chance:(

Ritt, I sent a friend request on Game canter, definitely interested in Coop.  Great game people and very impressed with the continued development.

I got it this morning and played around with it a bit. It seems like there could be a pretty decently deep and interesting game there, but so far it hasn't been so promising: playing on my iPod 5 the game has already crashed twice and given me low memory warning. This all in about 10 minutes of game time.

From Itunes review:
IMPORTANT: The game needs a lot of memory due to its bitmap graphics. If you encounter memory issues (app crashing), please use the "low resolution" settings in the app settings.

I am so tempted to get this game, SilverSword. The few reviews it has are good and I like the screenshots, but it is obviously a one man operation and it's $5, so I'm hesitant. If it were only $2, I'd take the chance.

Right up my alley, price be damned but.... It says it is optimized for the iphone5.  I got a 4s so I am a little hesitant.  I just need to get an Ipad already.

Finally got this last night and played about a hour.  Lot's of fun and gets to be quite challenging after a few missions.  Can't just button mash to win as I soon found out.  I find myself playing more ios games than anything else lately.  They reward my impulsive gaming habits with their cheap price and quick to play style.  Anyhow, any gamer who likes ARPG and/or castle defense type games need to grab this.  It needs a little more fleshing out and variety but it seems like the Dev is still working on it and as always the price is cheap.

Yeah, he was about as open as you could expect.

It was probably in the contract for the interview that he had to be. 

Looks cool but $1000 for PC with limited GPU upgradeability means no sale for me.  I would not call going form a  GT660 to a GTX670 an upgrade path.  Sure it is slightly better but you are being locked into a single generation of GPU.  I don't see any chance of it running video cards in the next generation with the wimpy PSU.  I need my PC's to go 4+ years to justify the $, this won't do that.  Lastly, I would imagine that the next generation consoles rumored to be around the corner will match it performance wise and be half the cost.  However, it does look like a neat piece of hardware and you do get some solid components for the price in a nice little package.  In other words I want one

Damn Sorry I missed this until now.  I have multiple friends who are of the totally non geeky variety who will creep up behind me and say "I am the Merlin".  The kind of guys who don't play video games, have never read a comic book and have no idea who Joss Whedon is.  I insisted they watch this movie when we are at school and 10+ viewings later every single one of them can quote it and name it as one of their favorites.  Funny enough a few of us were finalist in this sports trivia contest at our local bar last Thursday and we pregamed at my house.  When we were getting out of the car to go in my friend turned around and said "Any man who would be a Knight and follow a King, follow me!" and jumped up and ran into the bar  .  I made them geeks and they don't even realize it.  Great film.

AMC leadership must be a bitch to work for if the Showrunners keep leaving over the industry catch-all "creative differences".  They were on a good roll for Season 3.   

Yea I wonder if when they walk on the set for the first time the cast doesn't say "Dead man walking".....

Uh, at 1:32 is he beer bonging in to his anus?

Well the leprechauns made him do it.  Those poor little bastards can't hold their liquor though.

Just the nature of the sport ala Nascar.

?

http://nascar.about.com/od/teams/a/punishcheats.htm
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/news/vintage-speed/top-nascar-engineering-cheats
http://machinedesign.com/article/how-to-cheat-in-nascar-1023

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/shortcuts/2012/jul/15/scandalous-history-tour-de-france


Essentially, the best teams all cheat.  The sport has a long history of it.  Constant game off circumventing the latest rules/test.  

I suppose the refs could've penalized the Falcons for a delay of game? Or unsportsmanlike conduct? Not that they ever would in that sort of situation, but they probably have that right. Apparently the Ravens kicker also got in a practice kick(s?) between the 1st and 2nd OTs before the refs saw him and kicked him off the field.

I think they should call a delay of game on the dumbass coaches that keep trying to ice the kickers when it has statistically proven to be a negligible advantage at best and in most cases detrimental.
http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/34217/icing-the-kicker-remains-ineffective-practice. 

I would guess that anyone finishing in the top 10 of cycling events consistently is doping something.  Just the nature of the sport ala Nascar.

I think it's been mentioned briefly in this thread once, but I just started playing Undercroft yesterday and think it's pretty good. It's more or less a Might and Magic style, party based, RPG. The game is light on story and is fairly generic, but there's a bit of customization in character creation/leveling up. And best of all, it's free. As an additional bonus, since it's an older game, I can play for hours on my iPod without seeing much battery drain. I'm not sure how long the game is or whether I'll get bored of it before I finish, but so far (~3 hours in), it's been a nice diversion.

Thanks for this mention.  I'm liking this as well. 

Remember the "What Not to Play in Front of Your Girlfriend" article?

Yeaaaaah....

Seriously, I'm kinda surprised it's even being considered.

I enjoyed Pen and Paper knights and just got Battle for Wesnoth.  Both would fit your needs.

Wow keep um coming and I will fill up my phone!  Seriously just added about 15 games the last two days, most of them free. 

I can't really remember any Superman stories where he does mope or feel sorry for himself so I hope the don't try to introduce that into the character.

Superman 2?

Yea he gave up his powers and went to a bar to get hammered, or was that 3?

If I had a weight problem I would pin pictures up of the McRib everywhere I went. No better way to put me off food for a few hours.
Disgusting, revolting, and I'm sure that its immoral in some degree or another. 

And yet it's magically delicious!

Oh no that is literally what he sounds like.  I watched him play basketball in Atlanta for years, post game interviews were always entertaining.