Messages

16

General Chaos / Re: What Vidja games are you playing?

« on: May 31, 2013, 01:22:14 AM »

Got Expeditions: Conquistador on Steam today. Just started playing it, but so far it's awesome: old school tactical turned-based rpg, overlooked setting, interesting characters and dialog, and pretty nice art. Also has an Oregon Trail feel. If you like those things, you might want to consider giving it a try.

17

RPGs / Re: BADASS!

« on: March 10, 2013, 08:37:14 PM »

Haven't played it, or heard about it till now, but I'll definitely check it out. Looks like to might be perfect to simulate 80's action cheese.
I really love 80's action cheese. I wish there was more of it in the world.
Been thinking of one day running a 80s action/horror mashup cheesefest campaign. A rules set like this might be perfect. Plus it's free, can't go wrong there. Thanks for the heads up.

18

RPGs / Re: Kuro?

« on: March 09, 2013, 03:30:40 PM »

Just ordered it also. Couldn't resist, just looks too cool. Also, not to judge the whole book by it, but that is one totally awesome cover.

19

RPGs / Kuro?

« on: March 08, 2013, 06:24:42 AM »

Found out about a new RPG called Kuro from Cubicle 7 that looks interesting:
http://www.cubicle7.co.uk/our-games/kuro/

Been thinking of picking it up. It looks like it combines cyberpunk with asian horror, which might be an intriguing mix, IMHO. Has anyone else tried or heard about it?

Also, speaking of horror in an asian setting, just wanted to say I can't wait to hear RPPR's Night's Black Agents game set in Tokyo. Sounds like it will be very cool.

20

Role Playing Public Radio Podcast / Re: What should Caleb run next?

« on: February 20, 2013, 10:55:38 AM »

Very cool! Looking forward to giving it a listen. 2099? Maybe the singularity would have occurred by then and I'll be listening to it sleeved into some ultra awesome yet fucked up looking morph! Can't wait!

21

Role Playing Public Radio Podcast / Re: What should Caleb run next?

« on: February 19, 2013, 07:55:16 PM »

Don't know if it's a little late to throw in my vote, but I'd really like to hear an actual play of Night's Black Agents. That game looks rather badass. It also gives me faith in vampires as cool monsters again which is a good thing. Of course, lame vampires might actually work well in it too. Would love to hear a game where agents have to assassinate the Twilight vampires and werewolves. preferably in the most brutal manner possible:)
I'd also have to vote for an Unknown Armies game, or Over the Edge, or both. Don't know many games that can beat those two as far as occult and  general weirdness go. Would be interested in hearing an AP of Apocalypse World too. I've heard good things.
And there's my vote(s).

22

RPGs / Re: Eclipse Phase

« on: February 16, 2013, 11:22:32 PM »

Hey all,
I've been getting back into Mass Effect in a big way. I think there was mention of a Mass Effect conversion for Eclipse Phase. I've been thinking that in many ways the Eclipse Phase rules would be perfect for ME. Was curious to see if anyone on these boards has tried it with either a scenario or a full fledged campaign. If so, how well did it work out?

23

General Chaos / Re: What Vidja games are you playing?

« on: February 16, 2013, 10:26:58 AM »

In regards to Aliens: Colonial Marines...
No, it's not the best game ever. Yes, many aspects of it are disappointing, especially since I had high hopes for the game, being that I'm such an Aliens fan.
However, I don't believe it's anywhere near as bad as it is being made out to be. I know the trolls are in a feeding frenzy over the game, but I'm actually enjoying it quite a bit. Really, I'm having fun with it. What I'm most disappointed in is that they didn't have many cooperative multiplayer modes. Hopefully those will come with future DLCs, but it really should have been the primary focus of the game instead of the versus modes they have, which I don't think are too fun at all.
But anyhows, while I can't recommend it whole heartily at the current price, I think it's worth considering if the price comes down, and a lot, during a steam sale or something.
Speaking of a cooperative game that is awesome, though is Syndicate from EA, which I also got recently. While I was leery at first, since I loved the original back in the early 90's and they made this a shooter instead of an isometric strategy game, I gotta say it's pretty great, IMHO, especially the coop mode. Only problem is that not many people are playing it, unfortunately, so that finding other players isn't always easy on the servers. Also, it's not on Steam since EA is fascist.
But, they do make some great games. I got Mass Effect 3 as well. Haven't played it yet, but I'm looking forward to the multiplayer coop on that also.
Really, I loves coop shooters. Wish there were more.

24

Role Playing Public Radio Podcast / Re: Violence in gaming.

« on: January 29, 2013, 06:39:38 PM »

Yeah, I wondered about the mainstream acceptance of violent sports, as opposed to the way the same supposed mainstream demonizes video games, as well. I think a part of it might come down to what clockworkjoe mentioned earlier in the discussion regarding criticism of certain types of media being a form of class warfare. I guess in this case, it could be seen that sports, even or perhaps especially, violent sports such as football are viewed as reinforcing the value system of the social class, order, or whatever, that wields power, while other entertainment, such as video games, rpgs, comics, are seen as different, strange, and/or somehow undermining what's is considered socially normal. I mean, look at the jock vs. geek thing in high schools and even afterward. Old, tired, and cliched, sure. But also pretty well established and consistent. Jocks, athletes, cheerleaders, what have you are held in high esteem and regard. Nerds and geeks are looked down on or teased with perhaps some people feeling sorry for them, etc. Granted, that may be changing now with video games and the internet becoming more popular as a past time than ever before, but even so gaming will never be as unquestioned or unconditionally accepted in the US as much as football ever will. Just my take.
Kind of sucks.

25

Role Playing Public Radio Podcast / Re: Violence in gaming.

« on: January 15, 2013, 03:26:51 PM »

Yes, I have to agree. Good points.

Also, Journ-O-LST-3: yes, the article was kind of lazy in that sense. The damn lies and statistics thing. They can be made to say whatever you want them to. Just posted it because in my experience its kind of rare, needle-in-a-haystack rare, to find any kind of article on a main stream news site saying that it's actually not the games fault, for whatever reason. As for the validity of the article's arguement based on the figures referred to, I have absolutely no idea. Personally I believe it is not the games' fault. But then, I'm a gamer, so I'm biased.

Clockworkjoe, I do agree that the "war on piracy" is probably benefiting large corporations, business, and so on over the individual artist. That being said, does piracy benefit those said artists? I can't say I agree with that completely. I mean, artists should be paid for their work and effort, right? Or at least compensated somehow.
For example, I have a pretty large number of rpg PDFs at this point. If I really wanted to, I probably could have downloaded them for free somewhere. People who can and do regularly would probably say that I'm a sucker. Maybe. But I feel strongly enough about it that I'd rather pay the artists and authors for their creative work, somehow.
Guess I'm getting off topic from my original post. But whatever. This is an interesting subject as well.

26

Role Playing Public Radio Podcast / Re: Violence in gaming.

« on: January 12, 2013, 02:21:01 PM »

Found this article interesting:
http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/12/dont-blame-the-video-games/?hpt=hp_t2

Was kind of surprised to find an article on a news website that's actually not blaming games for everything.

27

Role Playing Public Radio Podcast / Re: Violence in gaming.

« on: December 21, 2012, 11:33:26 PM »

Thanks for the book recommendation. Looks interesting. I'll add it to my reading list. Whether violence in the world today is actually increasing, or if it is only perceived to be more prevalent due to things like modern communication technology, is something I've wondered about. The whole "things were always better before" thing always came across as BS to me. Things were actually probably a lot fucking worse.
I mean, sure, I'd like to play an RPG set in medieval Europe, but would I have actually liked to live in medieval Europe? Like really? Hell no.
Well, then again, maybe it was better. After all there weren't any video games back then, so I guess there couldn't have been any violence.

28

Role Playing Public Radio Podcast / Re: Violence in gaming.

« on: December 21, 2012, 08:39:37 PM »

Interesting that a tragedy of such magnitude occurred back in 1927. Way before the "corrupting shadow industry" of video games and entertainment warned of by the NRA's executive vice president, Wayne LaPierre, in a press conference today.
I can't say I know much about the NRA, but after hearing some clips of that conference, I'm inclined to think that it's full of batshit crazy people. No offense to any responsible gun owners out there. But still: Batshit. Crazy.

29

Role Playing Public Radio Podcast / Re: Violence in gaming.

« on: December 19, 2012, 12:10:48 PM »

Good points. And I think it also shows how some media is labelled "good" or "bad" by certain groups based on their values. Yet, if you take away the context of a war movie for the sake of this example, as far as acts of violence committed, their number, their gruesome nature, and so on, those movies have just a much violence and gore as movies or games without the same perceived value systems. Leads me to think that it is not necessarily the violence that is being disapproved of, for all the anti-violence and morality talk, but more the reason it is being committed. Violence is good if it is being perpetrated for the right people, for the right reasons, against the right people. Yet, I can't help but wonder that a mass shooter might also thinking that he is committing his act for the right, justified reasons as well. Scary and distrubing thought.

30

Role Playing Public Radio Podcast / Re: Violence in gaming.

« on: December 19, 2012, 01:24:19 AM »

Hey all, thanks for your responses. It is an interesting topic on a distressing problem.

Clockworkjoe: I realize, as you point out, that it's also a very complex problem having many facets including mental health, gun laws, and with no simple solution. The links provided fascinating reading. I do feel that censorship is definitely not the answer. Also, if I'm understanding it correctly,  the view that the "blame media" thing is actually a form of class warfare is an interesting point, which I haven't really considered before, but it does make sense. For example, proponents for less gun control(usually conservative) point out that's it's not the guns but the entertainment media causing the violence. Proponents for more gun control(usually liberal) point out that it is the guns, and also the entertainment media. I guess both can be seen as saying, we value a gun culture, or a progressive culture, or a whatever culture etc. but your "video game" culture is inherently wrong and should be banned, and you are somehow wrong for liking it.
Nice to know that even though liberals and conservatives can't agree on anything else whatsoever, at least they agree that video games are bad.
Incidentally, sometimes it seems to me people who defend guns and blame video games also seem to be the people who can't get enough of war movies. None of them are saying that WWII movies might be a problem though. Don't get me wrong, I'm not necessarily for or against gun ownership, and I'm all for well done WWII movie. Just an observation that seems to be an example demonstrating how one group says its media is ok, while other media isn't, even though both are equally violent. I wonder if it's more of an American thing. Fan of violent sports? Great! Fan of horror movies? There's something wrong with you.

Mckma: Yeah, research studies can be readily misinterpreted, especially when brought up in the context of tragic events such as a mass shooting. And I also agree with many of your points. However, the news does cites these sorts of studies frequently. Several I watched recently have all but stated that violent video games and movies have directly caused the shooting. Not very good journalism, probably. Actually, I'm starting to wonder lately if there is  such a thing as good journalism?

Quickrelease: No worries that you're not a member of RPPR, I'm really interested what all my fellow gamers think about this subject:) You bring up a good point: why RPGs are usually focused on murder, violating the law, etc? Could there be an interesting RPG game, or at least scenario, that could be run without including anything violent? And this can also be asked about gaming as a whole. Looking at my Steam game library, I don't think I have a single game that doesn't have one violent aspect or another. Is it because it's thrilling, more interesting? Probably part of the reason. I don't really know. That's a complex topic as well. What I do know is that most (though certainly not all) of the gamers I have known are the friendliest, most considerate people. Actually I think that goes for most fans of sci-fi, fantasy, horror, etc. The way the news media tells it though, we're all ticking time bombs. And to put it simply, I think that is untrue and unfair.

Anyway, sorry if I started rambling. Just my thoughts.