The official Piss All Over Everyone's Top 20 Thread

[HaemishM]

The friends I made in EQ weren't really the reason that game got on the Top 20 for me. It was the depth of the world lore (as stolen and hackneyed as it was) along with the first real multiplayer RPG thing in 3D that did it for me. EQ did a lot of things right at the exact right time in my gaming life. It showed me the potential of what could be done with Internet gaming, even if it pissed all over that potential eventually.

[Sky]

I agree with Haem. It was pretty exciting, because it was like being your AD&D character, no DM required. The smaller beta community, which I followed onto the live server, was pleasant. Then it became what is now standard for mmo when we all hit the level for Cazic and rubicite. Drama, backstabbing, killstealing, training. The genre never recovered imo. Too popular, LCD.

[Rasix]

I can't put any game on my list that I ended up walking away from in complete disgust or where entire aspects of the game were NOT FOR ME.  I also have a hard time putting a game on where if I were to play it again, I don't think I'd last more than a day before being reminded why I don't like it anymore.  My list is for games I still like.

I played EQ for a longer than just about any other game I've ever played.  Yet the amount of "OMG, that was awesome" points during that time period could probably be eclipsed in the 5 hours it took to beat Portal (a game that didn't make my list). 

It just came along in a period of my life where I had a lot free time and where it was the only graphical DIKU around (I'm also pretty much OCD when it comes to hobbies, so that contributed).  It's funny though, because it (along with UO) caused a lot of the 1999/2000 games on my list to be played years later.  Heck, I don't think I played SS2 until maybe 2004-2005.

[HaemishM]

It just came along in a period of my life where I had a lot free time and where it was the only graphical DIKU around.  It's funny though, because it (along with UO) caused a lot of the 1999/2000 games on my list to be played years later.  Heck, I don't think I played SS2 until maybe 2004-2005.

I was the same way. I didn't play Deus Ex until years later, when I got the GOTY edition for dirt cheap.

[Azazel]

Any MMOG on the list probably has more to do with friends made while playing the game rather than the game itself.

Not really, EQ1 had that "holy shit" factor to it, in that "You see that guy there in the robe? That's another person. A real person, also playing, probably from America."
I'd played PNP RPGs for years and years, always liked CRPGs, and combining that with a huge 3-d world to explore (I loved Everfrost) and the fact that you were constantly building on your character (even though death, which is (usually) much more final in PNP), no GM needed, and my friends could follow on and play (and many of them did).

And yes, I still have many unplayed games sitting around here from my EQ days. Deus Ex, Thief 2, Vampire: Bloodlines. Then again, I only got my first PC because of EQ1, so there you go...

[schild]

Not really, EQ1 had that "holy shit" factor to it, in that "You see that guy there in the robe? That's another person. A real  person, also playing, probably from America."

Yea, MUDs really disillusioned me on that part.

[Velorath]

And yes, I still have many unplayed games sitting around here from my EQ days. Deus Ex, Thief 2, Vampire: Bloodlines. Then again, I only got my first PC because of EQ1, so there you go...

The Pile of Shame as they call it on places like GAF and 1up.  Major games that you want to play but just haven't gotten around to yet.  The term can also be stretched to include stuff that you've never played that maybe you don't have a lot of interest in, but other gamers will call you crazy for not trying.  Half Life 2 and Vampire Bloodlines are two games I've managed to recently take off of the pile.  Someday I'll get around to playing System Shock 2 and Dues Ex, and more recently I'd still like to play CoD4 at some point.  I have never played a single GTA game, nor have I ever tried Guitar Hero.  I can't say that I have a lot of interest in either, but I feel like as a gamer, I'm almost obligated to at least try both of those series at some point.

[schild]

I have never been able to get over the horrible controls in GTA. But I'm going to give it one last chance in GTA4.

[Yegolev]

There's a lot of fun in it once you get over that barrier.  It's all about the lockon and target switching.  The autoaim isn't horrible, but that lockon needs to be put into more games.  I can almost remember that it was probably L1 to lock and L2/R2 to move to next target.  I would never have been able to take over San Andreas without it.

[Samwise]

I have never been able to get over the horrible controls in GTA.

You're playing it with a console controller, amirite?   

[Endie]

The controls ruined GTA for me, too, and I tried both console and PC.  It was the driving, most of all, though.  The game has the word "auto" in the title but the driving was awful.

[Azazel]

I have never been able to get over the horrible controls in GTA. But I'm going to give it one last chance in GTA4.

Play them on the PC. 3rd-person, WASD + Mouse FTW. Plus your own MP3s for customs radio stations.

Seriously.


I found the driving to be fine with WASD. Seriously, though you can also plug in a gamepad and use analog sticks for it if you prefer then switch to WASD + Mouse when you get out of Le Vehicle. I did that for awhile but eventually just found it easier to WASD it all the way.

[Rasix]

Heh, the shooty parts are easier on a PC but the driving sure isn't.  I had only played GTA3 on a PC and GTA3 San Andreas on the Xbox.  San Andreas mostly did away with difficult shooting parts as I never had any problems with the combat missions.

I wouldn't dream of touching the radio stations, that's just part of the charm for me.  I rarely change the station on any cars I steal just to experience them all.  That did make jacking pickups somewhat painful.

[Yegolev]

Would it make any of you cry if I said you all just sucked at GTA?

[Rasix]

Would it make any of you cry if I said you all just sucked at GTA?

Not here.  I'm pretty terrible at the game.  Even with a controller I couldn't finish the driving school missions.  Never could pass the race around town.

I never finish them because they just end up taking too long (long drives + failure ftl) or I get stuck on a mission I can't beat.

[Samwise]

WASD all the way, baby.  I even golded all the driving school things.   

The one time I tried it with a gamepad I kept driving into trees.  Screw that.

[Sky]

I used the gamepad on the pc, but used the mouse for the precision shooting missions.

[Strazos]

I do fine on the Xbox. I really liked GTA SA, but never got around to finishing it. I actually really liked cruising across the "state" on a chopper motorcycle at high speed. I even tried to stay in the proper lanes.

[WayAbvPar]

I played GTA III and Vice City on the PC; only used a gamepad for that godforsaken mini-helicopter mission (HATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). WASD+ mouse ftw.

[Endie]

I do fine on the Xbox. I really liked GTA SA, but never got around to finishing it. I actually really liked cruising across the "state" on a chopper motorcycle at high speed. I even tried to stay in the proper lanes.

Filthy RPer.

[Sky]

That's one of the many things I liked about Mafia, you had to somewhat obey traffic laws, no running lights or speeding, and the cops coming after you was much harsher than GTA. Maybe GTA was a better system for the type of game it was, but I really enjoyed Mafia, kinda wish they'd have made a sequel to that one.

[Rasix]

I really enjoyed Mafia, kinda wish they'd have made a sequel to that one.

http://www.2kgames.com/mafia2/home.html

Looks like it's going to be PC, 360 and PS3.

[Sky]

Now there's some good news.

[Rasix]

Dev house that's working on it just got bought by Take Two. 

http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/01/mafia-devs-join.html

[Samwise]

That's one of the many things I liked about Mafia, you had to somewhat obey traffic laws, no running lights or speeding, and the cops coming after you was much harsher than GTA. Maybe GTA was a better system for the type of game it was, but I really enjoyed Mafia, kinda wish they'd have made a sequel to that one.

I'm intrigued by this "Mafia" game you speak of.  I remember dutifully stopping for red lights the first time I played GTA3, and being mildly disappointed upon learning that the cops didn't enforce real-world traffic laws.

[lesion]

I remember dutifully gunning my motorcycle over a car carrier, bailing mid-jump and punching some guy in the head. My expectations: met.

[Azazel]

http://www.2kgames.com/mafia2/home.html

Looks like it's going to be PC, 360 and PS3.

Nice trailer, looks like they have some Goodfellas fans there. Wonder what the actual game is like...

[Sky]

I'm intrigued by this "Mafia" game you speak of.  I remember dutifully stopping for red lights the first time I played GTA3, and being mildly disappointed upon learning that the cops didn't enforce real-world traffic laws.

It's hit and miss. I really enjoyed it, but I can see some flaws and I know a lot of people wouldn't put up with some parts that I can forgive pretty easily. The worst part was that the controls could get a little quirky. I only had one tough shootout, working through some building.

There was some big deal about the race scene ... SPOILERS INBOUND .... you steal an early indy car to juice it up and sabotage a competitor's car. Then you have to drive it in the race because they take out your driver. People apparently couldn't finish the race and there were save games from just after the race floating around. I saved beforehand, raced it once to learn the track and then destroyed the competition. In fact, I went back to replay the entire section a few times because it was so much fun.

One thing that could grate is the slow speed of the early cars. This game starts you on Model A and whatnot, so you're literally putting along for the first sections. I thought it was pretty good because it worked in the game, but some folks are gamers before roleplayers, eh? You can save cars in your garage from all periods. It's kinda funny taking out a clunker from the 20s in the 40s.

The soundtrack is stunning period music, great big bad to gypsy jazz. The guitar playing alone made it a worthy game.

[Zetleft]

I had read beforehand that people hated the racing mission in Mafia but I finished it in one try and I'm not a racing gamer at all so I figure it was all exaggerated, or they patched it when I played to make it easier.  Damnit, how I have to reinstall the game and finish it this time.... wonder if I have my old save files somewhere. 

[Yegolev]

I'm pretty impressed with those of you who played GTA on PC, unless you steered your car with the mouse as well.  I can't imagine driving with WASD being anything other than "Half-Life 2 car" style frustration.  The driving is something I have loved about the GTA games.  The cars all handle differently and I have my favorites.  It's a huge thrill to shoot down a busy street in a hotrod with cops on your ass, weaving between traffic and hearing the cops slam into the other cars due to their non-god-like driving skills.  I enjoy this even more than beating hookers to death and taking their/my money, or gunning down entire police squads and stealing their cars.

Obeying traffic laws in a game is not fun.  You people are weird.

[DraconianOne]

I am totally into the PC version of the GTA games - more so than the console versions because of better accuracy with the mouse.  I got stuck on an early mission on the PS2 version (bike chase with Terminator style truck crashing through the bridge?) but breezed it first time on the PC.  Don't find driving to be too much of a problem - although controlling the boats in VC is fucking impossible.

I think "The Getaway" is another game where you can get busted for not following rules of the road and the police will chase you if you go the wrong way down a one-way street.  In fact the only good thing about that game is that's an accurately mapped version of London which is fine, as long as you know you're way around.  I used to put the go anywhere cheat mode on, wonder to where my old companies offices were and shoot everyone coming out of the doors. 

[Sky]

I'm pretty impressed with those of you who played GTA on PC, unless you steered your car with the mouse as well.

[Tebonas]

I must be an abnormality. I play basically all PC racers with my keyboard. Even though I have an Xbox360 controller (had to buy it for the Longest journey).

[Wolf]

I played GTA III and Vice City on the PC; only used a gamepad for that godforsaken mini-helicopter mission (HATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!).

I beat that with the keyboard. WASD and the numpad. Took me something like 6 or 7 hours. Man if I can't beat something in 20 minutes these days I get frustrated. I miss the old me.

Also Mafia was awesome. In that different European developer type of awesome, like Stalker and The Witcher.

[DraconianOne]

I played GTA III and Vice City on the PC; only used a gamepad for that godforsaken mini-helicopter mission (HATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!).

I beat that with the keyboard. WASD and the numpad. Took me something like 6 or 7 hours. Man if I can't beat something in 20 minutes these days I get frustrated. I miss the old me.

Was that the one in the construction site?  I don't remember it taking that long and I definitely did it.  I never tried all the RC missions though.