The Gamer's Quarter

Lackey · . Joined: 11 Jul 2005 Posts: 1107 Location: Canada

I had decided, foolishly I might think, to preorder Oblivion (Morrowind 2, Daggerfall 3, or The Elder Scrolls IV) about a month ago. Well, it came in a day early! I was -for the first time in what seems like years- actually excited to hear about the release of a video game. I got the special Collector's Edition with a Real Pewter Septim (that is, a coin) and 112 page Pocket Guide to the Empire. The Pocket guide is really quite nice, though the illustrations are underwhelming. The whole package has that charming "RPG of Olde" flavour to it. I don't consider myself a collecter, and usually spending more than $70 (Canadian) on anything makes my gut tighten, but this is really a nice purchase.

Not sure I'll talk too much about the game yet, since I doubt anyone else has played it. In general it seems like a tighter, prettier (although all the beast races are ugly as sin now, unfortunately), and smaller version of Morrowind. The landscape, from the small bits I've seen of it walking around the capital city, is very lush and welcoming. This is totally unlike the dreary, opressive barrens of Morrowind (which honestly, I miss a little) but equally valid. The game inspires an overwhelming desire in me to stroll.

Oh, and I almost forgot. My character is a Redguard Bard. He likes his sword and wears a silly looking fur hat.
_________________
| Little bird fighting against a bat sect game |

Lestrade · Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:25 am Post subject:

My wife was extremely excited to play this game for a while. I'd love to hear of any interesting stories you may have about this.

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

I know some really really interesting things about this game. I am waiting to get approvail to make them publicly known now that the game is out.

And... damnit. I really want to play this game, but know I won't be able to for a while.
_________________
“The average man has a secret desire to be a swaggering, drunken, fighting, raping swashbuckler.”
-Robert E. Howard in a letter to a friend circa Decmber 1932

"There is no place in this enterprise for a rogue physicist!"

Lackey · . Joined: 11 Jul 2005 Posts: 1107 Location: Canada

The NPCs have random conversations while wandering about. Some times these are pretty amusing, just out of how stilted they are. One is below (paraphrased):

"Hello."
"Stonewall shields has the best selection of shields."
"Tell me about it."
(long pause)
"Farewell."
"Be seeing you."

Also, the mudcrabs in Cyrodil are tough. It was embarassing to hunt a wolf and then shortly after be taken down by a couple of crabs on the beach. You can block them though, which is great. I like the idea of seeing this adventuring warrior kind of leaning down to put his shield in front of a crab's claws. You can also block rats in mid-lunge. They just sort of bounce off.
_________________
| Little bird fighting against a bat sect game |

dhex · Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2006 11:21 am Post subject:

i should have my copy tonight. twas a gift from the wif fer our anniversary. (she got earrings, and i got oblivion. frankly, that's a damn great trade.) assuming amazon didn't fuck me, that is.

!NADA SPOILEROS POR FAVOR!
_________________

DaleNixon · . Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Posts: 179

(08:55:07) DaleNixon: i played oblivion for 13 hours straight yesterday :o
(09:00:16) Sunfall[werk]: That's, uh.
(09:00:18) Sunfall[werk]: Something.
(09:00:28) DaleNixon: to be proud of?
(09:00:30) DaleNixon: Or IS IT?
(09:01:29) Sunfall[werk]: I would say "no" :p

dhex · Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 8:17 am Post subject:

sunfallwerk is WRONG!
_________________

ryan · . Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 999

I'm having a serious problem with my game freezing. I'm around 70 hours in now and every time a section or saved game loads the game nearly freezes. Up until a few hours back (of game time) I had it freeze only once or twice. My friend remarked that I was lucky since he was having problems progressing because his kept locking up on him. It turns out that he had played quite a bit more than me, and when I hit around the hour mark when problems started happening to him they happened to me. I beat the game, I just want to beat every side quest now, but I don't like going back into it because it gets annoying having it flake out so much.

Beettthheeesssddaaaaa!!!
_________________
Come to me, Mordel. We shall depart.

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

Is this on the 360? Have you downloaded all the patches? Have you also (if it is the 360) tried clearing the cache?

I am just going off of Xbox morrowind similar problems.

Also, I started playing this last night. I am an Argonian Assassin/Theif. I am having a lot of fun even though I am only about 3 hours in. I can see this sucking a lot of time out of me, but I am really glad that I finally have it.
_________________
“The average man has a secret desire to be a swaggering, drunken, fighting, raping swashbuckler.”
-Robert E. Howard in a letter to a friend circa Decmber 1932

"There is no place in this enterprise for a rogue physicist!"

DaleNixon · . Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Posts: 179

I think I'm going to invest in one of those Nyko Intercoolers to see if it solves my freezing problems. I have a feeling the problem is mostly software though.

The last time a console had hard freezing problems and forced me to buy third party cooling I was playing Grand Theft Auto on a Playstation 1.

Edit: WOW

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

ryan · . Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 999

The Great Unwashed · Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 10:33 am Post subject:

If I can just get on my soapbox for a moment... I borrowed Oblivion off my friend recently, installed it, played it for four hours, uninstalled it and gave it back. I couldn't get into it, at all. I appreciated greatly the graphics, the seeming open-endedness of the landscape and Patrick Stewart drawling directly into my earphones, but... the whole game was so, so.. awkward.

Third person combat is nearly impossible. And maybe it's just me, but I can NOT play an RPG in first person. However, since there's no targeting cursor in Oblivion when you're no in first person, this dilemma is neatly solved for me. Melee combat makes no sense and feels clumsy. Sometimes you block, sometimes you don't. It felt really disjointed.

Also, it's far too hard to pick up the things you want to pick up, like chests, and too easy to pick up things you don't want to pick up, like, say, other people's things. To open a chest, I had to bend down, aim at the chest, THEN the open dialog would appear. To steal someone's pen I had to hit space bar reflexively. No dialog came up saying "This isn't yours, are you sure?" - my only indication was when fatso the merchant had a heart attack and the city guards violated me faster than I could say worst interface ever.

Also, what's with the interface - so painfully, painfully old school with its "ye olde" script and its stupid parchment. And the jumping! Oh man. Worst looking jumping, ever. Horses don't steer properly and travelling everywhere seems to take ages. Every single NPC looks like they were stung in the face by bees and then hit by a car on the way home. Of course you can only find this out if the camera happens to zoom out enough, because as far as Oblivion is concerned "ultra-close-up-on-the-eyes" is the optimum conversation camera angle.

Anyway, yeah. Sorry. Bad memories. I actively disliked the game. I think it may be one of those games you have to want to like before you can actually get into it. And I just could not do it.

True story.
_________________

dhex · Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 11:44 am Post subject:

yer first elder scrolls game?

Harveyjames · the meteor kid Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 3636

My Dad has this on his 360. I played it for about thirty minutes and I didn't get out of the first dungeon. It was boring-looking, though. And no fun to play. I take it it comes into its own once you're out and about roaming the landscape. I hope so, since I'm going to be living with my Dad soon and the only other games there are Call of Duty 2 and FIFA and Vin Diesel's Hardcore Underground (I think that's the title).

ryan · . Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 999

Only game Vinnie is in is a pretty badass one. It's an original Xbox title though.

I can see why some people wouldn't like Oblivion, but as a swordmage I had a great time. I really got into the rhythm of combat, blocking and shoving enemies back, following through with a few swipes or a a knockdown blow. All you really need is feather and invisible though. With those two you're pretty much gold.
_________________
Come to me, Mordel. We shall depart.

The Great Unwashed · Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 1:00 am Post subject:

dhex · Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 8:57 am Post subject:

yeah, fps skills probably help quite a bit with oblivion. i play mostly fps games so i don't find jumping and the like to be an issue. third person is probably best for jumping, though there's not a whole lof ot that to be necessarily found in the game.

it's too bad they removed climbing.

the combat is, believe it or not, vastly improved over earlier installments. some of the missing is a function of your character's skill levels as well, which can be annoying at first.

and sneak is your friend.
_________________

Dracko · . Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 2613

Dark Messiah of Might and Magic looks promising for a hoarde of reasons, but I most definitely hope that the one thing it gets rights is first person melee combat.

From the gameplay trailers, they seem to be on the right track.

Either way, first person view is best for everything, if only for the immersion factor.
_________________
"This is the most fun I've ever had without being drenched in the blood of my enemies!"

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

dhex · Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 9:56 am Post subject:

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

The Great Unwashed · Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 10:26 am Post subject:

Dracko · . Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 2613

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

dhex · Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 12:16 pm Post subject:

DaleNixon · . Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Posts: 179

3rd person is for traveling across the vast lands hopping around while listening to Dr. Dre.

Also it helps you identify where attackers are coming from.