User information for Justin Grote

Real Name
Justin Grote
Nickname
Da Stylin' Rastan
Email
Concealed by request - Send Mail
Description
Homepage
None given.

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Signed On
July 18, 2002
Total Posts
673 (Apprentice)
User ID
13651
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673 Comments. 34 pages. Viewing page 1.
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73.
 
Re: Hmmm
Jul 15, 2006, 16:46
73.
Re: Hmmm Jul 15, 2006, 16:46
Jul 15, 2006, 16:46
 
I'm not really sure that integrated graphics are killing gaming. PC gaming is an expensive hobby to begin with, and the integrated graphics really don't add THAT much of an expense to a mobo, probably 20-30 bucks at the most. On a 500-1500 dollar PC, that's not really worth getting your knickers in a twist over.

That's not Mark's argument. His argument is that people who aren't hardcore are buying computers, and they all come with those integrated graphics that aren't anywhere close to a decent Nvidia/ATI card. As a result, the installed base is that integrated graphics crap, and publishers push developers to design to those low requirements (by and large, of course the Quake/Crysis/etc. are exceptions) which in turn stifles creativity into a downward spiral and THAT is what is killing PC gaming.

I don't agree, but that's his point.

-DSR

This comment was edited on Jul 15, 16:46.
24.
 
Re: In the minority
Jun 13, 2006, 11:15
24.
Re: In the minority Jun 13, 2006, 11:15
Jun 13, 2006, 11:15
 
But you get enough people killed through ineptitude and then people start wanting the government to step in.

Good points, and I don't disagree that it is of course people who demand this intervention that causes it to become law in the first place (thats how our system works after all, for the most part), but there's no reason people can't demand the opposite as well, which is the good thing about our system.

they are also entitled to the same protection the government should afford them as anyone else.

That's assuming we all agree that the role of government is to provide this protection, and many don't. This is one point I agree with Republicans on (traditional ones, not these ass-backwards ones currently in office) in regards to limited government. The federal government should be a limited body, focusing on national defense, and federalism should apply for most if not all other aspects. Insurance is, in my opinion, *NOT* one of these aspects and should be left to the private sector, lassie fare style. Insurance companies who insure frequent and expensive offenders have their rates go up, and lose their business to more efficient companies who are more careful and can offer lower premiums. Of course, there will also be a niche market company for those high offenders, provided they pay the higher premiums. This system works for credit institutions and banks, and yet its not good enough for insurance?

Believe me, I understand your angle, and I totally see that it looks like I was throwing out the "idiots" argument the way people throw around "support the troops" or "don't burn the flag", but I assure you there has been at least some semblance of internal debate over the subject

So yeah, enough of the deep, enthralling discussion of politics on a *gaming* message board (I hate it when discussions go this way)

-DSR

19.
 
In the minority
Jun 13, 2006, 01:45
19.
In the minority Jun 13, 2006, 01:45
Jun 13, 2006, 01:45
 
I know it's a free country and all, but since so many people are apparently just TOO stupid to be trusted with their own safety, isn't it about time the government step in and make helmets and leather riding suits mandatory?

No. Haven't you ever heard of Darwin's theory of natural selection? I think George Carlin summed it up best: "The kid who eats too many marbles doesn't get to grow up to have kids of his own"

Now the flipside to this argument is the same as the seat-belt law and smoker argument: These people raise all of our insurance rates. That's BS, insurance is such a protection racket and scam already, theres absolutely no reason they should get compensated for insuring these people. If I lose my job because I didn't anticipate that it was going to be outsourced, do I get to be hired at a higher salary somewhere else? Why not, thats exactly the break that insurance companies get.

Don't get me wrong, I don't smoke, wear my seatbelt and helmet, and self-insure whenever possible, but legislating personal responsibility is just wrong. It IS a free country, and the idiots are free to be weeded out.

-DSR

2.
 
Deadwood
Jun 11, 2006, 17:32
2.
Deadwood Jun 11, 2006, 17:32
Jun 11, 2006, 17:32
 
Lets just hope those notorious cocksuckers put on a good show

-DSR

Note: It's a reference, not a troll, for those who haven't seen Deadwood.

3.
 
Snow Crash
Jun 6, 2006, 22:40
3.
Snow Crash Jun 6, 2006, 22:40
Jun 6, 2006, 22:40
 
The title of the game is just "Snow", but the clever headline is all Blue Nice work!

-DSR

27.
 
Re: No subject
Jun 3, 2006, 11:32
27.
Re: No subject Jun 3, 2006, 11:32
Jun 3, 2006, 11:32
 
Goodbye EA, and good riddance.

Not to troll, but come on Street, I've heard this a million times, and I've never seen anyone actually go through with it. The same people who bitch now will be bitching about another EA game down the road

-DSR

6.
 
Re: No subject
May 28, 2006, 20:02
6.
Re: No subject May 28, 2006, 20:02
May 28, 2006, 20:02
 
Jagged Farm - I thought is was another Jagged Alliance sequel. Turn-based pigs mmmmmm

The sad thing is that this one may actually see the light of day, unlike the other two JA sequels "in development" right now.

32.
 
Re: BF2 is DONE
May 23, 2006, 17:30
32.
Re: BF2 is DONE May 23, 2006, 17:30
May 23, 2006, 17:30
 
Far as I know that's not an exploit, and is genuinely useful and strategic. If you can disable the enemy's toys, he can't supply the troops, or vice versa. Gives the commander a choice

I agree, not to mention any half-aware special-forces guy can just reload from the dropped crate and blow it up again. This was an issue back when you didn't get points for it, but now that you do, all the more power to them I say

-DSR

53.
 
Re: No subject
May 22, 2006, 22:35
53.
Re: No subject May 22, 2006, 22:35
May 22, 2006, 22:35
 
Okay, Neo, time to jack out...

Well not literally Creston, see Sepharo's post for examples

Besides, if we had it your way, all we'd be doing is assassinating Khaak

-DSR

This comment was edited on May 22, 22:35.
46.
 
Re: No subject
May 22, 2006, 21:51
46.
Re: No subject May 22, 2006, 21:51
May 22, 2006, 21:51
 
If you are not a perfectionist, you shouldn't be playing Hitman.

Which pisses me off about the demo, because you can't beat it without killing no less than 12 people and still remain undetected. Note that the tutorial has you off around 17, but I found ways around killing a lot of people by using the coin, etc. rather than what the tutorial states. However, the snipers, two guys in the room, elevator guy, etc. you have to kill, no way around it. Hopefully its not reflective of the game, because all previous games you could make it all the way thru levels without killing anyone but the target with a few exceptions (there were sometimes one guy that you had to kill to get through, but rarely more than 1 and often just two if that).

In any case, I'm just pissed that the highest I can get is Eraser in the headlines for the demo

38.
 
Re: No subject
May 22, 2006, 21:10
38.
Re: No subject May 22, 2006, 21:10
May 22, 2006, 21:10
 
Why can't this amazing genetically engineered assassin, with his tailored suits and sniper rifles afford a silenced pistol when we start the game?

Because only pussy hitmen actually go in armed. Manly hitmen bend the environment to their will.

n00b

-DSR

P.S. It's a joke, laugh...

34.
 
Re: Joy and Rapture
May 22, 2006, 20:33
34.
Re: Joy and Rapture May 22, 2006, 20:33
May 22, 2006, 20:33
 
RTF headline

It'll say SILENT ASSASSIN ASSASSINATES SWING KING. In my case, it's usually THE CLEANER SHOOTS THE HOLY FUCK OUT OF EVERYTHING.

-DSR <---dumbass, and ROFLing

Thanks. Oh, and yes, I can't believe I totally neglected Jesper. I want him to bear my children, his music MAKES Hitman. It brings such an endearing sophistication to the game that would be completely absent if done with some generic rock soundtrack and whatnot. Kyd's music more than anything else sells the atmosphere of the Hitman universe.

Yeah, the Ave Maria intro just sucked me in hardcore. I have to say my favorite hitman theme of recent memory is the one that plays in the background on the Contracts site:

http://www.eidos.co.uk/gss/hitmancontracts/

-DSR

32.
 
Joy and Rapture
May 22, 2006, 18:47
32.
Joy and Rapture May 22, 2006, 18:47
May 22, 2006, 18:47
 
Well I got my chance to play through the demo, and I am very excited (bet you didnt see that coming!).

The graphical facelift makes a tremendous difference over the previous games, especially in the characters. They don't feel as wooden and stiff, although I think they're taking ol' cueball's look in the wrong direction (Silent Assassin was perfect I thought, and the cutscenes for Blood Money are very much in that style of Tobias too, but the ingame model seems a little too chubby).

The first person perspective is a nice option, although it feels incredibly loose and just seems to be tacked on for those run-and-gun losers. Hitman is and always should be third-person, it just doesn't work in first most of the time, although it did come in handy during the window sniping.

They moved the controls around a little, and I think it's a little unintuitive that you can't hit fire to pull your weapon anymore. That's just a learning curve thing, but it's still a little annoyance.

The addition of throwing skills is FRICKIN AWESOME, god I love hucking that knife. Having coins makes getting past guards much easier than having to just memorize the guard routes, and makes it that much more likely to "get it right the first time".

I do kind of wish they included at least one other level so you could try it out unchained to the tutorial. The first level felt *way* too much on rails, although there were multiple aspects if you dug through the level a little, they weren't anywhere near as varied or readily apparent as the Silent Assassin demo. Hopefully this is just a symptom of the tutorial level.

I *love* the notoriety system, getting to read the paper and actually getting all sorts of details about what happened, although it's not quite as clear cut for rankings. How am I supposed to preserve my "Silent Assassin or equivalent on every Hitman level ever without using any FAQs" streak?

All in all, they're sticking to what works, with more tuning and refining to add depth without changing the gameplay dramatically. The story looks like it'll be a lot tighter than SA (I'm in the minority that thought Contracts had a good story), so I'm all hyped up.

Now the pain of waiting a week....

WTG IO! Get some rest

-DSR <--Rabid unabashed Hitman fanboi for life

EDIT: Oh, and to hell the lame marketing guy who said "Ultra-realistic AI". The AI isn't much improved over any other Hitman as far as I could tell, most of the core behavior was the same from contracts. There is a *lot* more scripted behavior though (There's a great Reservoir Dogs-esque scene if you wait long enough with the first gangster) but SCRIPTING != AI.


This comment was edited on May 22, 18:53.
17.
 
Re: No subject
May 19, 2006, 18:57
17.
Re: No subject May 19, 2006, 18:57
May 19, 2006, 18:57
 
However, thanks to the wonders of piracy, I can now get a proper taste of the game before spending my money.

Yeah, I'll believe that when I see the receipts...

-DSR

1.
 
das w00ten!
May 17, 2006, 23:34
1.
das w00ten! May 17, 2006, 23:34
May 17, 2006, 23:34
 
*joygasm*

...that is all...

-DSR <-- The ultimate Hitman fanboi

42.
 
Impressions
Apr 26, 2006, 19:47
42.
Impressions Apr 26, 2006, 19:47
Apr 26, 2006, 19:47
 
Just finished the demo, and I have to agree with a lot of the points here. It's great fun, and its good to see the AI actually be useful. They are extremely good at finding appropriate cover by themselves, but its funny how they run out in the middle of the street if you manually order them to cover :}. My gripes about not having multiple-stage-execute plans aside, it works pretty well. I actually am kind of glad my team didnt stay close when following too, because I had gone silencer and I hate it when stupid teammates blow your cover in other games.

Overall not bad, but I have to say that not having a rich tactical menu really turns me off, I hate micromanaging my team while trying to fight at the same time, its just not agile enough.

24.
 
Another Thing
Apr 26, 2006, 15:47
24.
Another Thing Apr 26, 2006, 15:47
Apr 26, 2006, 15:47
 
The command interface could have been so much better. I LOVE the tac map, but it would be great if you could issue stage1, stage2, stage3 orders, etc. so that all you have to do is order "Execute", and they'll all go to their stage 1 positions, then hit "Execute" again to move them to stage 2. It would make a full plan much more effective and satisfying rather than the in-game micromanagement you have to do now.

That being said, I was able to get the game running decently at bare-minimum settings, and it sure is fun, although I feel more satisfaction from Full Spectrum Warrior for the team combat.

EDIT: See above. Good to know they at least considered it, thanks for the info.


This comment was edited on Apr 26, 16:37.
19.
 
GRAW
Apr 26, 2006, 15:01
19.
GRAW Apr 26, 2006, 15:01
Apr 26, 2006, 15:01
 
I really want to like this game, but I am getting somewhat poor performance considering my hardware (it runs Oblivion well, so this game has no excuse). Of course, the fact that Intel and ATI logos show up on startup when I'm running AMD and NVidia may be that problem :).

I did install the Physx driver (yes, that is really weird). Other than that the game looks like a lot of fun, I just wish I could get the framerate up to acceptable (at least 25-30) levels.

-DSR

9.
 
That's it, I'm ditching my TV!
Apr 26, 2006, 02:22
9.
That's it, I'm ditching my TV! Apr 26, 2006, 02:22
Apr 26, 2006, 02:22
 
As soon as 24, Sopranos, Big Love, West Wing, Boston Legal, NCIS, The Unit, South Park, Daily Show, Colbert Report, and Robot Chicken are over.

-DSR <--Slave to MythTV's automatic commercial deletion

5.
 
Re: No subject
Apr 18, 2006, 12:30
5.
Re: No subject Apr 18, 2006, 12:30
Apr 18, 2006, 12:30
 
Raging Ryan was all that Raging, just kind of prickish with a touch of Flaming there. It was funny, but that wasn't really rage.

No kidding, sounds to me like someone has inadequacy and/or sexuality confusion issues...

-DSR

673 Comments. 34 pages. Viewing page 1.
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