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Video Games Thread - New Layout!!
Member Since: 5/13/2007
Posts: 3,866
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Video Games Thread - Mass Effect Preview!!
Seeing that this is one of the most Anticipate games of year, today's post will be dedicated to Mass Effect.
Source - ign.com
Quote:
PAX 07: Mass Effect Preview
BioWare shows off the latest build to the crowd in Seattle.
by Eduardo Vasconcellos
August 27, 2007 - With just a few months left until Mass Effect's launch, BioWare is scrambling to make sure the game is the best it can be. With audiences gathering around the Microsoft booth, curious for what's in store for the fate of the galaxy, BioWare brought the latest build of the RPG to this year's Penny Arcade Expo. The demo that we were given was the same as seen at previous events, but since it was literally a build completed a few days prior to the show, it was a lot smoother than before.
The demo picks up as Commander Shepard is in the bridge of his ship, the Normandy, which allows players to travel throughout the galaxy using a slick 3D map of the Milky Way in the boat's navigation room. As you wander around the ship, you'll find various service men and women going about their business and conversing with each other. On top of that, as you're their commander, they'll salute you as you walk by. There look to be all sorts of small touches like these strewn throughout the game, helping with the organic world that BioWare is trying to create, and it's things like this that really help the game be as appealing as it is.
After a quick introduction, the Normandy receives a distress signal from Eden Prime, as it's under attack from an unknown alien force. The message shows a chaotic battle breaking out on the planet's surface, as the human forces are being decimated by the attack, with the signal eventually being broken entirely. BioWare tells us that this is especially important as Eden Prime is the first success story of mankind, as it's the first colony that mankind managed to create and nurture into a system worthy of the attention of the galactic government known as the Citadel Council.
Your crew arrives on Eden Prime, and you soon find that whoever attacked the colony turned it into a slaughterhouse, as you'll run into the corpses of the fallen as you explore the area. It turns out an alien race called the Geth have attacked, but for what purpose is unknown. While you further scout the area, you'll run into a pair of survivors and this is where we got a chance to see the conversation wheel in action. The conversation wheel allows for players to steer the tone of what's being said, while customizing what sort of characteristics Shepard will have. You'll be able input your response even before another person is done speaking and your response won't necessarily be the exact words that you choose. Rather, this wheel decides the tone of your response rather than the actual dialogue.
When dealing with a panicked doctor, you can choose a more diplomatic response, as you'll try to talk him down from his manic state, or you could take a more aggressive route. If you choose a response along the lines of "this guy's going to get us killed," you'll simply knock him out, and when another NPC questions your actions, you can either try to calmly explain why you punched him, or you can take a gruff route and choose the "he had it coming" response, which had Shepard say "it would have happened eventually ma'am." This dialogue wheel will also act as the morality scale throughout the game, as your character can either take on the characteristics of a harsh, no-nonsense jerk, or a silver-tongued champion. It certainly sounds like an interesting dynamic and we're really curious as to how it will play out over the span of the game.
As the team continues to scout the area, we were treated to a taste of combat, which is a quick, fun mesh of strategy and action. Taking bits from games like Knights of the Old Republic, Rainbow Six, Resident Evil 4 and even some GRAW, the action of the game looks like it will be a rather dynamic experience. Players can command their crew to take cover and target specific enemies, or even specify which attacks they'll use, and they'll follow your orders to the letter. When you're participating in the fray, you'll be able to zoom in on a mark, which will bring you into an over the shoulder view, as you bead in and take your shots. You'll be able to use a cover system, similar to what was found in recent shooters like Gears of War or Rainbow Six Vegas, and it's looking like it will work rather well, as you'll press up against a rock or a building with the push of a button. Armed with both guns as well as your biotic powers, you'll be able to really stick it to your foes in some really amusing ways.
Of the six classes available at the start of the game, the class used for the demo was the Vanguard, as it offered a nice balance of both gunplay and biotic abilities, showing everyone in attendance just how formidable Shepard can be. You'll also be able to customize your weapons, creating new items specific to your evolving needs as you progress through the game. As you pick up new parts when exploring, you'll have the option to swap out any part on a weapon, from the barrel of a shotgun, right down to the specific ammunition that the situation calls for. You'll also earn ability points as you advance through the levels, similar to what's found in past BioWare titles, allowing you to specialize in one thing or become a balanced soldier. Equipped with a shotgun, pistol and the lift and barrier abilities, the commander laid waste to the enemies in the zone with relative ease. As small drones draw near, you'll can just take aim and demolish them with your shotgun. If want a balance of your weapons and your biotic powers, you can use your lift ability on an enemy which will pick them up, rendering them helpless, and as they struggle to get free, you can take your shot and dispose of them. It's all your decision in how you play it.
The demo that BioWare gave displayed just a small fraction of the scope of Mass Effect, with a lot of surprises in store for us when we get started on the final game. With its massive story, quick gameplay and stunning amount of customization, we're really excited to get our hands on the final game. Keep an eye out for a full review when Mass Effect launches this November.
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Enjoy!!
Mass Effect ships exclusively to Xbox360 in November.
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 11/6/2002
Posts: 10,641
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Just wanted to bump this up since Halo 3 was released today. I got the game at midnight last night and it has met every expectation I had.
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Member Since: 1/19/2006
Posts: 4,466
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^Lucky!, I should be getting mine sometime this week, hopefully.
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Member Since: 5/13/2007
Posts: 3,866
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Video Games Thread - Your Thoughts on Halo3!! Please Post them!!
So Halo 3 is out, and with an average of 95, this game looks like it means business!!!
I got the game yesterday and I'm still on the first jungle level (I'm playing on Heroic difficulty) but I can assure that this game is great. I'm lovin it!
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 1/15/2002
Posts: 1,940
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Halo 3, much like everything the past game is EXTREMELY overrated. It's a great game, don't get me wrong, but not as good as they claim it is. The story is still extremely cliche and the gameplay mechanics are almost exactly like the sequel. Good game but definitely not Game Of The Year....even though it'll be crowned that in most places.
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Member Since: 5/13/2007
Posts: 3,866
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^I think Bioshock will win the awards this year.
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ATRL Administrator
Member Since: 8/27/2006
Posts: 5,277
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I preordered Halo 3 and paid in full. Till this day I still haven't picked it up from the store. I guess i'm not that much of a gamer and I only got it because i'm a sucker for hype.
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Member Since: 10/21/2005
Posts: 19,258
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OMFGGGG
http://www.gamespot.com/video/929198...cial-trailer-3
Is it just me or is Resident Evil 5 gonna be another hit like the 4th one? The gameplay looks HARD, extremely hard.
BUT WTFFFFF at the plot? Why is it taking place in Africa or something and affecting all them? Where did this come from? Is this gonna be a spin-off off RE4 or is this gonna introuduce a whole new theme as in not being affected with the T-Virus. Did that even happen in the 4th one? But anyways, I'm not feeling the plot and setting, it's just random. I don't get it. But it has the same feel as RE4, people throwing objects at you and moving faster toward you. I see that the infected victims now CHARGE at you? Wow, this will be hard. I've played RE4 and beat it more than once. I can't wait. No release date as of yet, but it's gonna be released on Xbox (no Wii? ) and some other system, I forgot
I hope this lives up to the past RE series. From the looks of it, I don't get why they are in Africa, but that will be part of the plot I assume.
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Member Since: 10/21/2005
Posts: 19,258
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Oh since Halo 3 flopped on ATRL, could you be so kind of yourself to update this thread to the RE5 official trailer (that is 3 minutes long )
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Member Since: 5/13/2007
Posts: 3,866
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Video Games Thread - Resident Evil 5 Trailer
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 11/6/2002
Posts: 10,641
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This very well could be the best in the series. The gameplay looks top-notch with a cutting edge story. The rumored release date is now to be sometime in 2009.
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Member Since: 10/21/2005
Posts: 19,258
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2009?
Ummmmm......isn't it 2007?
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Member Since: 5/13/2007
Posts: 3,866
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Video Games Thread - ATRL VG Awards (U decide the Nominees!!!)
So, 2007 is coming to a close with only 1 month and a half left.....with Mass Effect being the only big thing left.
So it's AWARDS Season!!!
Contrary to other awards, here, u shall decide the nominees.
These are the categories.
Best Adventure Game
Best Sports Game
Best Fighter Game
Best Multiplayer Game
Best Innovation
Best Xbox360 Game
Best Wii Game
Best PS3 Game
Best PC Game
Best Sound
Best Graphics
Best Lasting Appeal
Best Game
Choose a minimum of 1 game per category.
Post or PM to me your nominees by December 5th. Nominees will be announced later. Have fun posting!!
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Member Since: 10/28/2006
Posts: 19,048
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Video Games Thread - Resident Evil 5
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 9/26/2001
Posts: 22,475
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The problem is that there's so many award shows going on and being pitched. This one's just going to get lost in the shuffle. v_v
I'll support it as much as I can, though.
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Member Since: 5/13/2007
Posts: 3,866
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The important thing is that u all send me your choices, before the nominees will be chosen.
These will be 75% your choice, and about 25% Critics' choice.
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Member Since: 2/14/2007
Posts: 15,229
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THE SIMS 2 = pc
RESIDENT EVIL 5 = all consoles
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 1/15/2002
Posts: 1,940
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Game Of The Year is officially Super Mario Galaxy. That is all.
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Banned
Member Since: 2/5/2007
Posts: 7,024
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why are we having video game awards again?
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Member Since: 5/1/2007
Posts: 15,659
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I hate most VGs
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