Iconic game characters

[Popcorn]

Chris sucks. So does Tomb Raider.

[Tsuyoshi-kun]

Since Crsytal Dynamics is making the newst Tomb Raider, I wonder if Lara will make random comments during gameplay a la Gex?

Don't stay they won't do it, because they've fucked up the franchise every other way possible without resulting to cel-shading or GTA stuff.

[Tsuyoshi-kun]

To my knowledge, videogame journalism had died with Next Generation, but would that I could dare to hope there are still people writing intelligently about games and the game industry.

I never honestly cared about Next Generation. They focused too much on PC and PlayStation stuff for me to care (considering I didn't buy a PlayStation until 2000, and I despise and avoid PC gaming completely). And their reviews were (in my opinion) badly written for the most part; Game Players' were much more informative and funnier. There was some cool stuff, though, like that one issue where they listed a bunch of video game terms, but honestly, a few decent articles about games I'll never buy didn't really interest me. I can read whole issues of EGM back and forth even today...I could barely read half of the 3 issues of Next Generation I owned. Feel free to comment.

[Delphine]

On a similar note, The new Tomb Raider looks absolutely fantastic

The shots for AOD before the game came out looked good, too. And we know what happened there.

[chriscaffee]

Then again I suppose I should just be greatful they aren't gold or nickle-plated Deagles, .50AE of course.

[Baba O'Reily]

Deagles are overrated and jam, IIRC.

[chriscaffee]

Well everything jams. The Deagle's biggest problem is that it is a niche weapon. The main reason it is popular is, well, because it's big and a bit stylish, I suppose. I'd say the number one reason for owning one should be fun. If you are actually trying to use it for something, perhaps hunting, then you might be better served with a wheel gun, but to each his own.

As for combat? Going into a battle with nine rounds per magazine best case isn't terrific. If you're going for lack of firepower you might as well stick with a single-stack 1911.

[Dunjohn]

I don't know, I think that article is pretty funny, and quite on the mark. The only statement I'd disagree with is the suggestion that Master Chief and Halo are anything remotely resembling iconic.

There are parts of the article I agree with, I wasn't saying everything they say is wrong. It's their attitude I can't stand, they seem to believe that the gaming universe revolves around them. I for one don't revere them as much as they themselves do.

[Kishi]

I've said this before, but yes, Game Players was the best that late 90s gaming "journalism" had to offer--chock-full of in-jokes, smarmy derision, and juvenile randomness.

The Deagle's biggest problem is that it is a niche weapon.

Caffee, what do you think about the Fabrique Nationale Five-seveN? I'm writing a book about great thinkers of our time.

[Light Speed]

How about the Plasma Rifle?

[Chikochamp]

Edge is pretty much the only magazine I still think is worth buying. It's the only one that doesn't feel the need to go after EXCLUSIVE PREVIEWS!! and WORLD FIRST REVIEWS!! or to brag about them on its cover. Its articles are genuinely interesting, especially the ones by the three named guest columnists (like the one above, by Mr. Biffo). It's reviews are probably the fairest around, and perhaps most surprisingly of all its letters section is usually filled by people who can actually string a coherent thought together.

[Green Gibbon!]

Game Players was decent - that was the first game magazine I started reading - but more often than not the random silliness was just that (ie, lacking any qualities that might be mistaken for humor). Eventually it got out of hand to the point that their dubious idea of comedy took focus away from the game coverage, not to mention the fact that the layouts were cluttered and ugly. Most of their best writers ended up migrating over to Next Gen, and Game Players really only went downhill from there.

Not that Next Gen was perfect - their matter-of-fact attitude towards everything ended up making them look a bit ridiculous when their fanboy instincts took over. (For example, they were quite staunch in their declaration that Ocarina of Time was the best game ever made, as a matter of mathematical fact.) Regardless, the writing was, for the most part, insightful and intelligent, the layouts were clean and easy to follow, and they were critical and often ruthless (they had a knack for getting their interview subjects foaming at the mouth). Of course it was too smart for its own good, and in its last year lost all the charge and wit that once defined it. I think in trying to dumb the magazine down to appeal to a wider readership, they alienated the only audience they had.

Maybe there are still smart gamers in England. I've noticed that British magazines tend to be much higher quality than their American counterparts in general though, regardless of subject matter...

[Majestic Joey]

I'm sick of magazines that make best game countdown bullshit because everybody pretty muchs knows who's going to be number 1 on the list, mario or zelda.

I think nintendo has brainwashed the media.

[Omni Hunter]

Nonsense, but do look into Mario's eyes, very closely...

[chriscaffee]

Well the Five-seveN is not a very effective combat pistol in my estimation. The SS190 round is all well and good coming out of the P90's 10-inch barrel, but when you shave that down to four-point-eight inches it's going to hurt the ballistics, particularly the velocity, which is integral to the effectiveness of the 5.7mm cartridge.

The 5.7mm x 28 round's best characteristics are that it can penetrate most modern body armor out to 200 meters and it offers very little recoil. This means that a moderately skilled user can put consistent bursts into a target's center of mass. When you have 50 rounds per magazine and a weapon with a fire rate of 900 rounds per minute then this is a very effective weapon for vehicle crews and rear-line troops that aren't likely to see combat.

However when you take a round with such little stopping power and you feed it through a pistol with only 19 other buddies, then there is a problem. One might as well simply get some of those copper AP 9-millimeter rounds and use a Baretta. Sure you only get fifteen rounds, but 9-millimeter hits harder the the 5.7.

Ultimately I would say that the Five-seveN is an interesting weapon (like the Deagle) but has minimal utility on the field. Besides "The point of a pistol is to fight your way back to wherever your dumb ass left your rifle."

---

The Plasma Rifle was better in the first Halo where it was actually a useable weapon. As it is in Halo 2 the only way it can be effectively used in Halo 2 is in close quarters where you fire a burst or two to lower your opponents shields and them finish him off with a club to the head. In the original Halo the plasma rifle was a much more interesting beast. Most players don't realize that the plasma rifle actually is capable of doing extra damage on head shots. Headshots would do three times the damage of a body shot making well aimed shots very deadly. The only draw back in comparison with the Assault Rifle is the fact that the projectiles are not instantious. Because of their accuracy, head shots, and additional damage on shields, proper leading can make the plasma rifle a much deadlier weapon.

Again, in Halo 2 it's primary use is to be married up with an SMG which will very quickly end your opponent in close quarters, but will do almost nothing at range since the bullet velocities are different if you properly aim the PR the SMG rounds will be missing and the reverse is also true.

[Ritz]

Even furry porn can't compete with Caffee's gun fetish. Look, the whole discussion came screeching to a halt.

way to go man, what happened to your morals

[chriscaffee]

You're a large caliber idiot.

[Popcorn]

Maybe there are still smart gamers in England.

Yeah, right. Have you seen any of our game sales charts?

[chriscaffee]

I agree. There probably aren't any intelligent gamers in England.

[Frieza2000]

Even furry porn can't compete with Caffee's gun fetish. Look, the whole discussion came screeching to a halt.

But Chris's articles are both informative and can be perceived as sarcastic. That's much more GHZesque than a page of eye-gouging furry genitals.

[chriscaffee]

I don't know. Sexuality, even gross sexuality, is a big thing around here. We do have an archived thread devoted (almost) entirely to breasts.

By the way Frieza, you just reminded me, I need to look up some prices on AR15s and 1911s.

[Delphine]

Sexuality, even gross sexuality, is a big thing around here.

"Here" being planet Earth?

[Light Speed]

The Plasma Rifle was better in the first Halo where it was actually a useable weapon. As it is in Halo 2 the only way it can be effectively used in Halo 2 is in close quarters where you fire a burst or two to lower your opponents shields and them finish him off with a club to the head. In the original Halo the plasma rifle was a much more interesting beast. Most players don't realize that the plasma rifle actually is capable of doing extra damage on head shots. Headshots would do three times the damage of a body shot making well aimed shots very deadly. The only draw back in comparison with the Assault Rifle is the fact that the projectiles are not instantious. Because of their accuracy, head shots, and additional damage on shields, proper leading can make the plasma rifle a much deadlier weapon.

Again, in Halo 2 it's primary use is to be married up with an SMG which will very quickly end your opponent in close quarters, but will do almost nothing at range since the bullet velocities are different if you properly aim the PR the SMG rounds will be missing and the reverse is also true.

I was joking... Oh and they weakened the Plasma Rifle/SMG combo in Halo 2, but it will still drop you in about 2 seconds if your opponents aim is good.

[Nova]

You know, in a totally unrelated question about game icons …whatever happened to Wonder boy? 3D killed him?.

And yeah, you can say anything you want, that I’m crazy, than I’m a idiot, than Sonic can go fine without Naoto Oshima, but even in Sonic adventure 2, at least you had the felling Sega knew what they where doing. Nowadays I get the felling all they do is add new characters and forget to make good Sonic games. Sure Rush isn’t bad, but is a 2D Sonic game!, even a fan can make a good 2D Sonic game(Sonic time attacked), so, is programming in 3D so hard?. Sonic physics are impossible in 3D? maybe, but if you cant do a good game about your company mascot, what the heck are you doing working in the game industry?.

[Light Speed]

Making money.