Coffee Talk #2: Fantasy Games vs. SciFi Games

Posted on October 13th, by raymond padilla in Coffee Talk, PC Gaming, Today's Specials, Videogames. 215 comments

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the Toy Story 3 trailer, the upcoming “Super 6″ middleweight tournament, or Rob Schneider’s birthday, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Fantasy vs. SciFi — it’s a debate that will last an eternity. Most gamers I know enjoy both settings, but strongly lean towards one or the other. Some folks dig games with swords and sorcery, others prefer laser rifles and warp drives. Personally, I’m way more of a fantasy guy than a sci-fi guy. Space battles are cool and all, but I rather jump into an adventure filled with mystical spells, magic weapons, and cool frickin’ dragons. I liked Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, but I loved Baldur’s Gate.

Dragon Age Origins chicky Coffee Talk #2: Fantasy Games vs. SciFi Games

My reasoning is simple; fantasy settings are more ridiculous, ergo more imaginative. Science fiction — good science fiction anyway — is often based on…(get this) science. Sure, it might be theoretical, but in many cases it’s plausible and not a huge leap from reality. Even though a lot of sci-fi features alien races and futuristic weaponry, it’s just too “real” for me. At the end of the day I see science as cold and clinical (I’m sure a psychiatrist would tell me that I’m just afraid of death).

Fantasy is more fun for me. A sword of sharpness? Ludicrous. A bag of holding? Preposterous. A race of miniature creatures that live inside trees and bake cookies? Waitaminute…those actually exist. So many elements in fantasy games, books, etc. are just impossible. Call me a romantic, but I enjoy dreaming about the impossible.

I’d love to hear about your preference. Are you SciFi or fantasy? Pick a side and explain your choice (please)!

Coffee Talk PC Gaming Videogames

Shockwave562

not off work yet but I'm off to get Uncharted 2. can't wait to get it home
Hrolf

I didn't like the way he looked. I thought the suit was plain and unimaginative though I did not know the suit could be upgraded.

I read reviews of all games i consider for a purchase, and play the demo when available to get an idea of what it will be like to play. The only time I go on a score is usually DS games, but even then, I will read as many reviews as I can before making a purchase decision.

I have had a few purchases I wish I never made (Looking @ you Fable and Fable II Glitchy game Of The Year)
oOcornflakeOo

@shockwave

thats committed
oOcornflakeOo

@hrolf

his suit? his suit?! awe man dude, you're missing out! even the story explains his suit.. he's an engineer and that suit was upgradeable depending on the engineer's needs and his tasks at hand. the game is great, really. on ray's buy it, rent it, @#$% it scale its definitely a buy.
Hrolf

ill check it out if i get the chance, too many people have said its a great game.
Shockwave562

it is good, 5.1 surround and the lights down will definitely make you a little edgy playing it though.

I'm never scared during movies, I rarely see one that doesn't make me laugh when something scary happens but when I'm so in to the experience of a good scary game there are times my heart skips a beat or two
Xsnipe2KillG4Feed

I have to agree with RROD on the review score. If the game comes out the same day and the reviews score is the same I think it is unfair for the team that work so hard on it to get the same score as the one that only at 80% complete and was rush out. The game should be review on how well polish it is. The game play, acting, and the graphics. Now a day the review is what hit and breaks a game company. A game that takes 1year to develop vs. a game that took 2-3 years in develop should be look at. The length of the actual game itself should be in consideration. Some people say that the length doesn’t matter as long as it’s a good game. But after you beat it in 3hrs and say that is the best game ever! What do you do the rest of the day? I have to say heavenly sword was the best game I ever play but to me it was a bite too short. I don’t want to pick up a game that they just throw it out knowing that people will pick it up. To me there should be a limited to the sequel and should stop at 4 the most.
Xsnipe2KillG4Feed

Some of us just can't pick up 2 games at the same time. To me its one or the other Brutal Legend or Uncharted2….So the reviews are very important to me because I can only pick one but try and rent the other one
Shockwave562

if it's one or the other snipe I'd go with Uncharted (waiting in my car now) I agree that Heavenly sword was short but I can't think of any 3 hour games I've played. I know a lot of people got some replay value out of it though. the sister missions with aftertouch really bugged me but other than that I liked it. fact of the matter is for me most games these days are only good for one play through. it's the standout titles that I put in over and over again
Shockwave562

I should say I can't think of any 3 hour games within the last 6 years that I've played. I can think of a few games that I bought and didn't like after 20 min to an hour and I think Brutal Legend would fall in that category to me.
http://rpad.tv raymond padilla

@Xsnipe2KillG4Feed How does an arbitrary number help you? For the things you said you want in a review, words are more meaningful.

@Everyone After 32 hours, I can finally take a nap! I shall dream about this story having at least 227 comments when I wake up…and maybe a hefty PayPal donation from Jennifer Aniston too.

See you in a bit!
Shockwave562

I gotta admit Ray the last thing I ever thought I'd want from Jennifer Aniston is money but I still think it's clever.

enjoy your rest. stay off the crack
http://twitter.com/Sandrock323 Sandrock323

I don't know about a PayPal donation from Jennifer Aniston, but I gave you a small one last night. I'm not going to bother with the adds, so I'm just going to drop money your way when ever I can.
tokz_21

I think giving rpad pay pal donations and clicking on some ads will help him out greatly. Hmm i wonder if can write off my donations to Rpad. I can say he's some kid i'm sponsoring like the Worldvision commercials.
Smartguy

@tokz

Your donations to RPad would have to be more than your standard deduction in order for you to go into itemized deductions. It is either one or the other.

@review scores

Whether a game is good, great, awesome, bad, mediocre, plain crap is very relative to the enduser. I think assigning a number to a game is a bad way to go. Too many people just go straight to IGN or their favorite site and look at the final score and base a purchasing decision off of that. If you are going to assign a number to certain aspects of the game then those numbers should be indicative of standards. Not just how the reviewer is feeling or his man crush on the the sound guy for said game or if he thought the innovation outweighed dated gfx.

A definite standard would eliminate the inflated scores of some titles. That way the intangibles are what will stand out and be written about.
N8R

Can there be a 3 Star system set up here where we the users review the games via popular vote?

Even just a list of games to NOT buy might get alot of site traffic.
Tokz_21

@smartguy

thanks for the heads up. I have no idea what you just told me though.
Tokz_21

@n8r

I'm with you on the do not buy list
N8R

@ Tokz

It could be called the F*cket List.

I also vote for a Worst Games of the Year awards ceremony with awards like:

Worst Of The Year

Biggest Disappointment

Worst Gameplay

Worst Sound

Worst Gameplay

Best use of the "shovelware" genre

Worst FPS

Worst RPG

Worst Sports title

etc.
Smartguy

Worst of the year: Indie Games on Live

BIggest Disappointment: Shadow Complex. (aiming)

Worst Gameplay: dunno

Worst Sound: Aion

Shovelware: IronChef Wii or EA sports titles

FPS: Darkest Days

RPG: Tales of Vesperia (my opinion only)

Worst Sports: Madden (cause it hasn't changed in 10 years and is full price)
N8R

@ Smartguy

Though I agree that Darkest Days makes no sense what so ever (If I have an uzi during the Civil War, it will definitely be a pwnfest while they take 5 minutes to load their muskets) I didn't really like Call Of Juarez either.
Iceman

I always thought science fiction and fantasy were one in the same since all science fiction is fantasy and fantasy (and everything for that matter) has to have some type of science (i.e., physics) in it as a foundation.

Consider my mind blown.

-M
N8R

It's official…

Just about everyone I care about talking to at G4 is here.
Tokz_21

@ n8r

it's official let's start the f**ket list for every week's releases or maybe for the month. Some of us may not have time to try or play the games.
Smartguy

I can't get over how awesome that mug shot avatar is. I laugh every time i see it.

An uzi or a box of grenades would have been a pwnfest in the civil war.
N8R

@ Tokz

I'm with it. I like monthly because it allows more time.
Smartguy

Dude, this forum, blog, site, get together is great now that Iceman is here. I like his input on damn near everything tech or game related.
N8R

@ Smartguy

That pic provokes so many questions for me.

1) How many cops did it take to bring him in?

2) Did regular handcuffs do the job? If so, how many pairs?

3) Did they have to call in the paddy wagon just for him?

4) What was the holding cell like?

The list goes on. If you see the whole shot (http://www.thesmokinggun.com/mugshots/andregiantmug1.html) he doesn't even fit in the shot.
Smartguy

@N8R

To be honest, it looks like he went out and got himself into trouble after shooting some Princess Bride. That shirt looks like the one he wore in the movie.
N8R

@ Smartguy

I originally thought it was a drunk & disorderly, but smokinggun says it was assault for "roughing up a cameraman".

Dude… he could of done some serious damage just by bumping into the guy. After all, He is the brute squad.
oOcornflakeOo

now, you see, I've always have wanted to do something like a worst GOTY type of thing but i thought i was just being a debby downer! lol you guys are awesome..

RPADTV.COM FTW!!
Smartguy

@N8R

Indeed. The cameraman thing lends itself to jacking someone up on the Princess Bride set as well. I'm sure a sucker punch would land me in the ER
N8R

@ Smartguy

A sucker punch from Andre could land someone in the morgue.

He could shake an adult to death.

If they tazed him, would they have to do it more than once?

How much would he have to drink to fail a breathalizer?
Smartguy

Once should be enough.

Half a fifth? I don't think he could drink enough beer to get the job done. He'd get tired before enough was in his system.
Tokz_21

Man this is one big cup of coffee. 840 p Chicago time and it's still going strong.
http://rpad.tv raymond padilla

Alrighty, what did I miss?!?

@Shockwave562 Well, the fantasy is that Jennifer Aniston is paying to sleep with me, similar to Beavis' dream: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZcn7ubEFy8

@N8R @tokz_21 Can we call it the Phuket list? It's family friendly and I do miss Thailand.
N8R

@ R Pad

Phuket List sounds good to me.
Smartguy

I bought uncharted and brutal legend just now. Damn bestbuy for putting them next to each other.
N8R

@ Tokz

I usually go through a pot or 2 myself daily.
Tokz_21

@rpad

it's okay with me. It's not my idea more n8r's than mine. I just suggested monthly reviews.

@ n8r

wow that's a lot. I don't even drink coffee haha.

@smartguy

why didn't you go to toys r us. They have a buy 2 get the 3rd game free special.
Smartguy

None close to me.
Tokz_21

Oh man that sux smartguy
Smartguy

Yeah and no. I didn't plan on getting both initially. I had decided that I'd grab the first one I saw when I went in the store. Bestbuy had them on the same display.

Bestbuy 1 Smartguy 0
N8R

I'm waiting for a check my wife and I are expecting before I hit up Toys R Us. I'm not sure if it will come in time however.

I've been watching Law & Order: SVU all day on USA. Man, that show is screwed up.
Tokz_21

@smartguy

damn best buy and their stocking procedures.

@n8r

I can't stand watching law and order. Oh well I gotta go heroes replay is on g4 right now.
http://rpad.tv raymond padilla

Hrmmm. What shows do you guys watch in general? I don't watch a ton of TV — mostly WWE, boxing, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, and American Idol.
SkullOne360

Monday: WWE Heroes, The Big Bang Theory, Greek, Castle.

Tuesday: Warehouse 13 in the summer

Wednesday: New Comic Book Wednesday :)

Thursday: Bones, Supernatural, and Ace of Cakes

Friday: Smallville, Dollhouse, Eureka (in the summer), and I try to watch Stargate Universe.

That's my tv schedule for the week :)
N8R

@ R Pad

Red Dwarf

Lost (can't wait until January)

Heroes

Dexter

L&O:SVU (I really can't get in to the other ones)

TUF

Fringe

… and many, many documentaries.

I miss Carnivale. How are they gonna cancel it on a cliffhanger like that?
Smartguy

Football.

I netflix a few things. I do not watch tv at all.
Tokz_21

I try to watch shows I've already committed to like

smallville lost heroes big bang theory how I met your mother the office and 30 rock.

My friend is trying to get me to watch flash forward but idk.

I'm disappointed in this heroes episode even the lesbo kiss with Hayden was disappointing.

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Coffee Talk #2: Fantasy Games vs. SciFi Games

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