Out of the Blue

"Do not inject opinion." The Elements of Style - Strunk and White.

I recently promised to discuss why games are almost never the topic of the rambles in this Out of the Blue section, so here goes: First a little background to point out that I never really intended to create this section as a daily feature, it was meant to be something that popped up when needed, it just turned out that once I started it, popular demand dictated I couldn't skip one unless I wanted to ignore the death threats (something that can be tough on those occasions when my muse eludes me). Anyway, once it became law that there'd be a daily Out of the Blue, the games I was playing would indeed be the topic sometimes, but as has been noted, this has become a less and less common subject. There are two main reasons for this: One is that my time is constrained. Not, as some have suggested, to the point where I can no longer find the time to play games at all, but enough that I rarely get the feeling that I've really captured the essence of a game before it reaches old age, and I think it's unfair to offer opinions on games that I haven't really properly evaluated. This would actually probably be more unfair to anyone reading this than to the games, because my early impressions tend to be favorable (what can I say, I like games), and no one needs me repeating "It seems like fun, what little I've played so far" over and over. The other reason is objectivity. Even for the games where I've formed enough of an impression to consider valid, I fear that sharing them has the potential to do more harm than good. Games do not earn greater or lesser coverage here based on my preferences, but my concern is that saying something positive about game A and something negative about game B will cause attempts at correlating whether game A is getting preferential treatment over game B because it's the teacher's pet or something. I know this is not automatically the way everyone would interpret this, but it's hard to deny the likelihood that many folks would, as it's pretty much human nature to try and divine causes and effects. There are plenty of people writing enough good game reviews that the world is not going wanting for lack of me adding my opinions to the pile, and with the potential that doing so could harm the site's credibility, choosing to keep my opinions to myself becomes an easy decision to make.

Sorry that this all is not nearly so dramatic as it may have seemed it was going to be when I forestalled discussing it, as it's pretty straightforward, but it is a mouthful, and I wanted to make sure I managed to get that all covered.

Play Time: Atari Adventure (Flash required). Thanks Cholma. Following the theme in our latest logo.
Story of the Day: Man Accused in Wedgie Case. Thanks Ratty R.
Flight Circles Swedish Airport After Traffic Controller Fails to Show Up After Vacation. Thanks dbodine.
Goose Tracked for Research Found in Hunter's Freezer. Thanks theAntiELVIS and Chris Thomas.
'Star Trek' captains boost Ohio candidate's campaign. Thanks Mike Martinez and dbodine.
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Media of the Day: The Zelda Commercial on UnknownPlayer.com.
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Follow-up: Primed for a Math Breakthrough. The prime directive. Thanks Mike Martinez.
As Multinationals Run the Taps, Anger Rises Over Water for Profit (NY Times free registration required).
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51 Replies. 3 pages. Viewing page 1.
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51.
 
Re: Gaming
Aug 31, 2002, 06:40
indiv
 
51.
Re: Gaming Aug 31, 2002, 06:40
Aug 31, 2002, 06:40
 indiv
 
And time to learn how to spell license.

Haha! That's just classic right there. Sounds like I had the same experiences with the classic adventure games as you did.

50.
 
Re: Gaming
Aug 31, 2002, 06:33
pob
50.
Re: Gaming Aug 31, 2002, 06:33
Aug 31, 2002, 06:33
pob
 
Police Quest 1 and Space Quest 1 (c:\sq1 on my dad's 10mb hard disk) are the reason i learned to type fast. It was Type or die. And time to learn how to spell license.

PQ1 was the best. Telling my mum how i, her not-a-teen-yet-Son, was having a conversation with a prostitute called "Sweet-Cheeks Marie"...and typing "take off" [or something], which summarily removed all the clothes on my little policeman. Currently having recollections that I used my PR-24 Nightstick on the drunk, but i might be imagining that.

[Me, circa 1987(?)]
"wow, that woman looks...looks...she looks kind of attractive."

49.
 
Re: Gaming
Aug 30, 2002, 17:27
49.
Re: Gaming Aug 30, 2002, 17:27
Aug 30, 2002, 17:27
 
That is too frikkin funny. I remember Police Quest, Space Quest (my favorite), Kings Quest and Leisure Suit Larry. Oh yes, the days of my Tandy computer and Sierra On-Line. Woot. Did anyone ever play a game called Thexder. That game rocked.

48.
 
No subject
Aug 29, 2002, 20:22
48.
No subject Aug 29, 2002, 20:22
Aug 29, 2002, 20:22
 
"P.S. Cheaters/code users/trainer users/and game guide readers are all ruining what could be a great experience for themselves.
Um and they suck."

Oh golly, I didn't expect to see that kind of jejune crap in your post. Oh well, some people never learn.

-----

"My mountain teacher speaks, pleased at this brief insight, telling me that every person of every race and every partaker of every outlook has a way that is judged by that person as right."

"Suddenly I see the obvious, which for so long has eluded me. Lasting fulfillment can only come from setting goals that do not lose their luster with time. I must perceive and select changeless values to serve as the basis for my personal goals."
_____

The possible pain, suffering and sacrifice of discovery are by no means an excuse to remain ignorant.

The bartering of things sought earned are by a means which only little men can abide by and hope to achieve.
47.
 
Gaming
Aug 28, 2002, 19:40
47.
Gaming Aug 28, 2002, 19:40
Aug 28, 2002, 19:40
 
Ah the nostalgia.
Im not quite as old as some of you talking about the good old days, I hit gaming about the time of the atari. My brother had a nasty hand me down PC that we played text adventures on. Some of that old blocky or non graphical adventure is still some of my fondest gaming memories. Anyone remember the frustration on games like Police Quest 1 or anything like that?
TYPE "Give breathalizer test."
Game "Im sorry you cannot give her a breathalizer test."
TYPE "Use breathalizer."
Game "Use it for what?"
TYPE "Use breathalizer on woman."
Game "Surely you don't want to do that do you?"
TYPE "Use breathalizer on woman to preform a breath test"
Game "Do what now?"
TYPE "Use the breathalizer to give the woman a test that will tell me the exact percentage of alchohal in her body"
Game "You cannot do that at this time"
TYPE "Give test"
Game you successfully give the woman a drunk driving test and she fails miserably

I have been following gaming since I can remember both through PC and consoles (you can be a total game geek without both!) I have played hundreds and hundres of games. Some have taken my attention for long periods others, a couple rounds was plenty. I have enjoyed each and every experience though and plan on playing games forever.
Someone mentioned halflife and knocked its many awards of best game ever. Personally to me it is the best game I have ever played (the single player). It was the first game to ever actual get real emotion out of me rather than just being pissed that I couldn't find some dang key or couldn't jump up to some stupid platform. Not even fragging someone who repeatedly killed me earlier got the same reaction. To me that is what games should be about. An intricate series of fully interactive scenarios or scenes that bring about an emotional response in reaction to the events, characters, actions etc that you and your character share.
Its all about quality entertainment.
Well anyway my structural post has lost all integrity and I have to go so later.
P.S. Cheaters/code users/trainer users/and game guide readers are all ruining what could be a great experience for themselves.
Um and they suck.

46.
 
Re: VE
Aug 28, 2002, 05:04
46.
Re: VE Aug 28, 2002, 05:04
Aug 28, 2002, 05:04
 
<pointing at stack of money I would gladly donate to Blue's>

Shhhh, leave me alone; I am trying to beat Mario Sunshine.

Not at all eclectic with my tastes :D,
Ray

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am thankful for all the cranky folks on Usenet, who keep us humble every single day by reminding us that we suck. -Jeff Green
Everything is awesome!!!
http://www.kindafunny.com/
I love you, mom.
Avatar 2647
45.
 
Re: cool ass blue
Aug 28, 2002, 03:32
45.
Re: cool ass blue Aug 28, 2002, 03:32
Aug 28, 2002, 03:32
 
^^ cough wicked cough.

dave snider
comicvine.com
44.
 
cool ass blue
Aug 28, 2002, 03:06
44.
cool ass blue Aug 28, 2002, 03:06
Aug 28, 2002, 03:06
 
Blue, you run a great site. You've probably watched many of the people (who no longer are vocal/active) in the Quake community self-implode in their own opinionated posts and updates, replying online to 100 emails we never saw. You are a smart bastard for keepin it real! ROCK ON!!!


The gold dragon is about to get it...

43.
 
No subject
Aug 28, 2002, 01:59
43.
No subject Aug 28, 2002, 01:59
Aug 28, 2002, 01:59
 
warthog, you wrote: "I keep The Elements of Style on my desk for daily leafing. It is clear you have been reading it for some time, as well. It put a smile on my face to know another Webmaster has been applying ___it's___ use to the most modern medium."

Um... That's okay, I haven't managed to beat that mistake out of myself. Lord knows I've tried. Still happens now and then.

Liquid: I was at a party a few weeks ago with several game developers -- first time that ever happened. Anyway, I got to hear some inside dirt on people and companies that I'd been following from the sidelines. Anyway, what was my point? Oh, yeah, my point. Well, I mentioned to them that I've had this weird interest in the gaming industry that dates back many years. I mentioned that I kept up with Hank Leukhart's "Doom" FAQ, like many others did, and that that signaled a sea change in the industry in terms of fan interest for games <i>before</i> they've been published. Anyway, amazingly, neither of these guys knew or remembered Leukhart's FAQ. Weird.

I never played games so much as I bought and sampled them and had an inexplicable interest in the industry. But all my interest is waning -- some things have piqued my interest only to ultimately disapoint me when I finally play them. I've played about ten hours of "Neverwinter Nights", and I'm bored. I'm exited, in theory, about the community playing and DMing that it makes possible, but...

I dunno. Maybe I'm finally getting too old. Forty is staring me in the face. I know that Blue is approximately the same age -- I don't know how he does it.

But I salute you, Stephen, for easily the most consistently excellent, unassuming, and intelligent gaming site on the 'net. Thanks.

This comment was edited on Aug 28, 02:00.
42.
 
Re: No subject
Aug 28, 2002, 01:21
42.
Re: No subject Aug 28, 2002, 01:21
Aug 28, 2002, 01:21
 
So what games are you actually playing these days Blue? I realize that telling us might seem like an indirect promotion of said games, but I'd still like to know what you are into at the moment.

Yeah let us know what you're playing, so I can go frag your ass.

41.
 
Re: Rrrm
Aug 27, 2002, 22:42
41.
Re: Rrrm Aug 27, 2002, 22:42
Aug 27, 2002, 22:42
 
*raises hand* Know that map by heart.

My 2600 still works too

40.
 
Re: VE
Aug 27, 2002, 21:35
40.
Re: VE Aug 27, 2002, 21:35
Aug 27, 2002, 21:35
 
but it would take some programming and time.

Yeah, and I'm guessing that there's no extra time available right now for the powers that be.

who is going to do it,

Not me, if you need a pipefitter, call me. Programming? Next!

or pay for it?

Hmmm...sounds like an additional service that an active community might be interested in contributing to. C'mon Ray, help me out here!



-TPFKAS2S
-TPFKAS2S
Avatar 10139
39.
 
Just what is Blue Playing ?
Aug 27, 2002, 21:05
39.
Just what is Blue Playing ? Aug 27, 2002, 21:05
Aug 27, 2002, 21:05
 
I am with Holmes and Snide - I am curious as to what Blue is playing. Maybe a periodic "Now Playing: foo" comment in OotB - no commentary, no endorsement, just a thread to let the community thrash it out. Something to throw comments at without Blue possibly jeopardizing his journalistic integrity or offending the esteemed Strunk or White.

my two cents, your mileage may vary...

38.
 
Re: VE
Aug 27, 2002, 20:50
38.
Re: VE Aug 27, 2002, 20:50
Aug 27, 2002, 20:50
 
bronco i would never shoot down any idea like that, sounds fine to me, but it would take some programming and time. who is going to do it, or pay for it?

as for nastalgia i know exactly what you mean liquid. personally i just feel so out of date in the whole community. becoming a decent player on the FPS servers these days requires some serious time and effort. I dunno if my reflexes just suck since the q1-2 days or what but my interest is waining as well. the industry is becoming so hollywoodesque. But whatever, im still addicted to games and probably will be forever. im just waiting for one of these MMORPGS to introduce some active gameplay instead of just hitting the "attack" button. planetscape could be it, who knows.

where is grim fandango 2?

dave snider
comicvine.com
37.
 
No subject
Aug 27, 2002, 17:59
37.
No subject Aug 27, 2002, 17:59
Aug 27, 2002, 17:59
 
Hmm, the gaming community at times depresses me. Calling HL the best game ever, and the amount of cheats for games nowadays if ridiculous.

I have a negative view of the gaming community, because the good ol' days were far better than the current ones.

I wish I could write more, but I have to go now.

-----

"My mountain teacher speaks, pleased at this brief insight, telling me that every person of every race and every partaker of every outlook has a way that is judged by that person as right."

"Suddenly I see the obvious, which for so long has eluded me. Lasting fulfillment can only come from setting goals that do not lose their luster with time. I must perceive and select changeless values to serve as the basis for my personal goals."
_____

The possible pain, suffering and sacrifice of discovery are by no means an excuse to remain ignorant.

The bartering of things sought earned are by a means which only little men can abide by and hope to achieve.
36.
 
No subject
Aug 27, 2002, 17:59
36.
No subject Aug 27, 2002, 17:59
Aug 27, 2002, 17:59
 

This comment was edited on Aug 27, 18:00.
_____

The possible pain, suffering and sacrifice of discovery are by no means an excuse to remain ignorant.

The bartering of things sought earned are by a means which only little men can abide by and hope to achieve.
35.
 
Integrity
Aug 27, 2002, 16:51
35.
Integrity Aug 27, 2002, 16:51
Aug 27, 2002, 16:51
 
Blue:

Thanks for having some journalistic integrity. It's a shame that you have to justify yourself.

And for the naysayers, let me offer a quote from another gaming-news site:
In personal gaming news, I surpassed 1 million realm points in Dark Age of Camelot, making my skald a rank 6 player. I’m only the 4th person to do that in Midgard on my server. Yay me!

34.
 
Re: Rrrm
Aug 27, 2002, 16:36
Ras
34.
Re: Rrrm Aug 27, 2002, 16:36
Aug 27, 2002, 16:36
Ras
 
The interface is great, and it's cool playing Adventure again, but I wish he had gone the extra mile and included the other variations. I never played variation 1, as it just wasn't very fun. The others were where it was at.

33.
 
Re: Liquid
Aug 27, 2002, 15:39
33.
Re: Liquid Aug 27, 2002, 15:39
Aug 27, 2002, 15:39
 
Yeah--<grandpa Simpson voice>I remember the days when you could outrun your own rocket in QuakeWorld...and still have time to watch Matlock


Frottage

32.
 
Liquid
Aug 27, 2002, 15:31
Xil
 
32.
Liquid Aug 27, 2002, 15:31
Aug 27, 2002, 15:31
 Xil
 
-= Xil sits down on the seat next to Liquid in the shade and starts to mumble about the good old days of gaming =-

Avatar 12935
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