SHOW&TELL-OCTOBER

[OldsterHolster]

New month, new game, so let me get us started with a few shots and comments. I'm just starting Red Faction-Guerrilla, and I'm afraid I need to start off with a rant. It's my own damned fault, but I looked at a couple shots taken by DavidP, I think it was, and I read a preview, somewhere, and ordered it without realizing it was another damned Games for Windows Live.

It installed OK, and I activated it, but I didn't sign in to Live and just started playing. The first irritation was setting my key-bindings and preferences. As you are all probably aware of by now, I like to set right mouse button for "move forward," but when I did that, I had to set "move backward" on the same input device, the mouse, and use up my middle mouse button. I normally still use the "S" to move backward and just swap the middle mouse button with right click for alt-fire or zoom, but they wouldn't let me just map move forward by itself. It will work, because I mapped the move forward and backward as secondary choices, so I can still use the "S" to move backward, but now I had to make other arrangements for what I normally use the middle mouse button for.

OK, next problem. On the default settings, the game looked like a slideshow. I know my Alienware is two years old, now, and my dual-core and two 8800GTX's are no longer top of the line, but I didn't expect this. I lowered the resolution and turned down a bunch of settings and got it to play right, but it doesn't look nearly as good as other games I've been playing recently. After I get into the game a little further, I'll experiment with dialing back in some of the features to achieve the best balance, but this is the first time I've had to turn down anything just to get a good framerate.

Next up, I played through the first two or three objectives and quit. There is no quicksave, and I noticed the "save game" box was greyed out and couldn't be used, but I assumed the checkpoint save was working. Wrong! The next time I started the game, there were no saves or checkpoints or "continue" option, and I had to start all over from scratch. It turns out you HAVE to sign in to Live before you can save games, period. Not only that, even my key-bindings weren't saved, and I had to go through that whole process, again. Obviously, I'm signing in to Live, now, but the whole business has left a decidedly bad taste in my mouth, and, as far as I'm concerned, Games for Windows Live just sucks. It just doesn't have to be this complicated, and they just can't get it right. I guess it's all the more irritating because Wolfenstein was just an excellent shooter without any of this bulls**t, and you would think these Live yo-yo's could get it right if they would just look at how it should be done.

All right, end of rant, I guess. It's a third-person shooter, which is not my favorite, but I can live with that; even though there is a definite lag between control input and reaction of the character. It's also irritating to look around by moving your mouse, but the character stays in a fixed position until you hit a move control. Like many others, I'm coming to hate console ports.

Here I am arriving on Mars. I wonder why these shuttles always look blocky and ugly, these days, instead of aerodynamic and sleek? Mars has been Terraformed and has an atmosphere in this game, and this shuttle has all the aerodynamic sleekness of a brick. Heh, heh.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg1.jpg


The environment is pretty impressive. Lots of activity and noise going on, everywhere, and you really get the feel of being in a large place with lots going on.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg2.jpg


Knocking down towers, whole buildings, and stuff with just a sledgehammer is very unrealistic, but it is fun; and they have done an excellent job with the destruction sequences. I'm impressed.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg3.jpg


Excellent explosions, too. No red barrels, so far, but lots of propane cylinders and gas tanks, not to mention some fine explosives you carry and can throw and detonate, yourself. Here's a green one.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg4.jpg


And a red one.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg5.jpg

http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg6.jpg


And down comes the building.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg7.jpg

That's all I've got, so far. In spite of the Live crap, I think it might turn out to be a fun game. It's got a few rpg elements, like collecting salvage and ore to buy upgrades, and a morale factor that supposedly affects gameplay, along with a nice map and "safe houses," and whatnot. I'm still learning the ropes and will let you know more after I've played a while. Like DavidP said, it just might turn out to be a long game, especially if you do all the side missions and insist on wiping out every last bad guy, which I always do. Oh yeah, it's got lots of vehicles you can hop in and drive, too, which is a plus.

So, OldsterHolster here on Mars reporting in. More, later. Edward.

[Joe Cool]

That's all I've got, so far. In spite of the Live crap, I think it might turn out to be a fun game. It's got a few rpg elements, like collecting salvage and ore to buy upgrades, and a morale factor that supposedly affects gameplay, along with a nice map and "safe houses," and whatnot. I'm still learning the ropes and will let you know more after I've played a while. Like DavidP said, it just might turn out to be a long game, especially if you do all the side missions and insist on wiping out every last bad guy, which I always do. Oh yeah, it's got lots of vehicles you can hop in and drive, too, which is a plus.

So, OldsterHolster here on Mars reporting in. More, later. Edward.

Hmmmm, maybe cause there is less friction in space, or something....

Looks good Edward, I'll be keeping an eye on this one......could be something I would be into.



Batman-Arkham Asylum (Demo)

If the demo is anything to go by this will be a hell of a game!

The seen is set very well; very dark and moody.
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/ShippingPC-BmGame2009-10-0117-52-45.jpg
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/ShippingPC-BmGame2009-10-0117-53-32.jpg
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/ShippingPC-BmGame2009-10-0117-53-45.jpg

Combat is very fast, very fluid and lost of fun.
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/ShippingPC-BmGame2009-10-0117-55-54.jpg

Sometimes Batman will do a slow-mo fininshing move!
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/ShippingPC-BmGame2009-10-0117-56-17.jpg
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/ShippingPC-BmGame2009-10-0117-56-59.jpg
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/ShippingPC-BmGame2009-10-0117-57-04.jpg

Hmmmm, seems like this guy is gonna kill the guard if I get involved. Time for some stealth!
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/ShippingPC-BmGame2009-10-0118-04-04.jpg

The "detective" mode shows you routs you might go.
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/ShippingPC-BmGame2009-10-0118-05-36.jpg

I get up high and behind him and then BOOM! Flying rodent men-1 Batshit crazy dude-0 (0 teeth that is!!)
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/ShippingPC-BmGame2009-10-0118-06-05.jpg

After that some guys with guns come in. Stelath is the way to go.
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/ShippingPC-BmGame2009-10-0118-14-25.jpg

Have to say, it was so much fun picking them off one by one. The last guy was screaming at me to come out and face him. I did'nt.
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/ShippingPC-BmGame2009-10-0118-22-08.jpg

Ah, the Joker. Already some of his lines made me laugh.
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/ShippingPC-BmGame2009-10-0118-27-41.jpg

The demo pretty much ends there. I am deffo gonna buy it though. I urge you to download the demo and give it a whirl.

[Mr. Natural]

From what I've read the games you fellows mention are both very good games. I may have the Batman game on my holiday list depending on what else is available at that time.
I'll be posting something after I get my new video card installed which is supposed to arrive tomorrow.

[tonofclay]

Couple of shots from a forum L4D game...I'll try to get better ones and more next time.

The gang
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/5884/left4dead20091002174917.png (http://img36.imageshack.us/i/left4dead20091002174917.png/) http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/left4dead20091002174917.png/1/w1920.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img36/left4dead20091002174917.png/1/)

My handy-work with the dual pistols
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/7324/left4dead20091002180131.png (http://img27.imageshack.us/i/left4dead20091002180131.png/) http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/left4dead20091002180131.png/1/w1920.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img27/left4dead20091002180131.png/1/)

[Rob]

This could be a LFD post month. I know this thread has been going on for sometime, but is there any way we can shrink the pics to a certain size to make loading and viewing easier?

Edward, would you be interested in joining us in LFD?

[OldsterHolster]

This could be a LFD post month. I know this thread has been going on for sometime, but is there any way we can shrink the pics to a certain size to make loading and viewing easier?

Edward, would you be interested in joining us in LFD?



A "definite maybe" on the Left for Dead multiplayer thing. I don't have the game, but if you guys get something going, I might consider it. I kind of enjoyed my very first foray into online multiplayer gaming with you all when we did our brief WET thing, a while back. I'll pay attention to what happens.

Yeah, Rob, I've been thinking the same way about the size and number of shots some of us are posting, including myself. There is always that danger of "too much of a good thing," so maybe we shoud have a discussion about what would be best for all. I would hesitate to try to make hard and fast rules, but maybe a discussion and a little self-regulation is in order.

The size is probably more of a problem that the number, so what is everyone's thoughts on that? The shots I take with the free version of FRAPS in their default .bmp format are usually a little over 2mb, but when I change them to .jpeg, they are only usually between 200 and 300 kb, and then PhotoBucket reduces everything to 1740 X 656 pixels. (or something like that) I would think files in this range should be OK. I have noticed, however, that some of the shots are over 2mb, and sometimes as much as 4mb, and even with my cable connection, they sometimes take a while to load. What do you guys think would be a reasonable size for everyone to shoot for?

I have an older copy of PhotoShop (thank you, Gen-X) so I can manipulate the shots any way I want, but I would imagine everyone can change the format and size using Paint, their hosting site, or some other free program.

As far as the number of shots goes, I would hate to discourage anyone from posting shots they think others would like to see, but maybe we all should lean more towards quality rather than quantity. Personally, I find I really enjoy short sequences with comments and explanations more than a lot of generic shots of the gameworld. I've gotten into the habit of taking a lot of shots, myself, and then I go through them and delete about two-thirds of them, but I still end up with what seems like too many for any one post. I will make a renewed effort to edit a little more harshly and post fewer shots at any one time.

On a personal note, Joe Cool you might want to consider copying and pasting text between quote tags, rather than just hitting the quote button and repeating a whole series of screen shots from an earlier post.

You guys share your thoughts, and maybe we can make the thread even better. I still think it's a good idea, and I still enjoy it, but Rob does have a valid point.


Well, since I'm here, I might as well do a little more Red Faction-Guerrilla. Folks, this game is a hoot! I'm really having a good time with it. I'm not quite through with the first of six maps, and I'm learning all the little things you need to know about how the game works, and it just gets to be more fun as I go along. Being able to destroy almost everything, and, indeed, you are rewarded for doing so, is just a blast. (pun intended, heh, heh) The explosive charges you carry are like super grenades, the weapons are effective, and the good ol' sledgehammer reminds me of Gordan Freeman's crowbar on steroids. I'm really impressed, so far. By the way, I put everything back to the default settings, and it's playing fine and looks really good, now. Maybe my computer was doing something in the background, before, who knows?

So, here's the demise of a smokestack. Bringing down large structures is very realistic, with creaking and groaning and crumbling, followed by total collapse, and it is most rewarding to watch.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg8.jpg

http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg9.jpg

http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg10.jpg

http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg11.jpg

[shizakapayou]

For a quick resize, there's an image resizer in the XP Powertoys set. For Vista, Prish (Google it) does the job the same. Both are a right-click on the pictures and tell it the size type thing, fast and simple.

I'd agree with toning it down just a bit, and watching what we quote so as not to repeat images. It does get to be a big thread, and there are times I check it at work - where I'm stuck on DSL ;)

Edward, L4D is on sale for $15, don't know how long that'll last so you may want to grab it soon.......scratch that, it's back to $30.

[Rob]

I definitely do not want to discourage the number of shots, the more the merrier in my opinion. For the last month, I have been trying to find a way to do thumbnails, but haven't found a good way to do them. I will keep looking though.

LFD is much easier to get up and going Edward since the max number of people is 4 and there are no sides, which makes it much easier to get a game going. $15 on Steam through the weekend.

[EDIT] Damn, Shiz is right, it is back up to $30. I almost bought the 4 pack license this morning, and now I am regretting not doing it.

[Contagious Rage]

Picture Size: I don't really mind the resolution but some size guidelines would be fine. I usually have FRAPS output to PNG in case I want to make a graphic/wallpaper out of it later. But if I'm posting some on a forum I batch them to JPG to try and make them around ~300KB each--unless the simplicity of the graphics causes the PNG to be similar-to or smaller in size already.

But if you're eager to share a low-compression JPEG(s) at 2560x1900 (or whatever) or a lossless PNG(s), you could always just post thumbnails that link to them as Rob was saying. I know PhotoBucket lets you do this fairly easily if you just put a check in each picture you want to share then click the "Generate HTML and IMG Code" at the bottom. It brings you to a page that has several textboxes of output code and you can just copy the one with the message-board ready thumbnail code. It'd be nicer (IMO) if they direct linked you to the pics but what can you do.

[Mikell]

Alright, who's on dialup?:D:

[Joe Cool]

Spoiler tags seem to be the way to go.....

[Mr. Natural]

I had a brainstorm. I was so annoyed with the DRM in Bioshock that I vowed to never play the game again. It took a boot into an alternative OS to finally clear all the crap that was installed with the game at that time.
I realized I would be installing W7 soon and with the new video card realized this was a good time to replay.
What a shame because I realize at this early stage that this is likely one of the best games of all time.

http://webpages.charter.net/tjdowney/pics/b1.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/tjdowney/pics/b2.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/tjdowney/pics/b3.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/tjdowney/pics/b5.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/tjdowney/pics/b6.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/tjdowney/pics/b7.jpg

[Nyghtfall]

I was so annoyed with the DRM in Bioshock that I vowed to never play the game again.

DRM does suck donkey dick, but I'd rather own a legit copy of my favorite games than not buy it at all - or worse, download an infected copy.

So, which is worse? Secur-ROM, or a virus? Hmmm... let me think about that... :P

Bioshock was a huge winner in my book. I finished the 360 version, and am currently replaying it on my PC. I'm very excited about the sequel.

[OldsterHolster]

Bioshock was definitely a good game, and pretty, too. I played through it, twice, because the first time I screwed up and sacrificed a Little Sister, and I wanted to see the other ending after saving them all.

I'll tell you what, though, folks, This Red Faction-Guerrilla is more fun than I've had in a while, and even though I'm only just through the first of six maps, I highly recommend it. I just finished Wolfenstein, and it was about as good as a shooter gets, in my opinion, but I swear I'm having more plain fun playing this one. I just finished the first big boss-battle to get to the second map, and, instead of the usual fist pounding and cussing, I found myself laughing thoroughout the three or four tries it took me beat it. I'll see if it lasts, but so far, it's just great! Edward.

[Lou Cypher]

Bioshock was a huge winner in my book. I finished the 360 version, and am currently replaying it on my PC. I'm very excited about the sequel.

The sequel has been pushed back a year.


Lou :globe:

[Nyghtfall]

The sequel has been pushed back a year.

Ouch. Well, more time for me to finish the PC version of the first one.

[shizakapayou]

The sequel has been pushed back a year.


Lou :globe:

To when? Everything I see says it's still coming out February 2010.

I played some Left4Dead with Rob and tonofclay tonight, but didn't grab many screenshots - it's way too chaotic to get many!

We were at an airfield, trying to get on a plane. Walk out of the terminal to the runway, and see this, can't be good....
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e311/shizakapayou/screenshots/left4dead2009-10-0421-05-23-53.jpg

I'm a certified zombie killer:
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e311/shizakapayou/screenshots/left4dead2009-10-0420-05-03-63.jpg

[tonofclay]

Some Left 4 Dead shots from tonight. Was playing with Rob and Shiz, went pretty well. Putting them in thumbnail format for convenience

I didn't even kill this guy I just found him like this
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/7785/left4dead20091004203900.th.png (http://img19.imageshack.us/i/left4dead20091004203900.png/)

The end result of holding off a wave of zombies
http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/2513/left4dead20091004211931.th.png (http://img30.imageshack.us/i/left4dead20091004211931.png/)

A nice scene with lots of zombie blood, and a Smoker (special class of zombie) using his ranged tongue attack to pull someone towards him
http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/347/left4dead20091004211959.th.png (http://img195.imageshack.us/i/left4dead20091004211959.png/)

If you say so
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/4629/left4dead20091004220000.th.png (http://img19.imageshack.us/i/left4dead20091004220000.png/)

Aftermath of a plane crash that had just happened
http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/1323/left4dead20091004220533.th.png (http://img30.imageshack.us/i/left4dead20091004220533.png/)

If you look carefully you can see me leaving all the infected (and all my dead companions) in the dust in the rescue plane
http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/2916/left4dead20091004221336.th.png (http://img34.imageshack.us/i/left4dead20091004221336.png/)

[Rob]

I had a great time, hopefully we can get another game going soon. Looking forward to some others joining in as well.

[Joe Cool]

What time is good for you guys to play?

I might get it, if the time suits me; what with me living in Ireland and all.

[Rob]

Last night we started gaming at 8pm EST, which is probably a good indicator of when we will be on to game. Weekends of course should be much more flexible.

[shizakapayou]

Yep, 8 or 9 EST (I'm on CST, an hour behind that) is probably the best time for me too. I'll likely be on tonight around then.

[tonofclay]

I'm also usually around at those times, Massive Effect and Peter Bond are 6 hours ahead of US I think so you could meet up with him at times potentially. On weekends I think the US players and Euro players could potentially all find a time to meet (afternoon for US players, evening for Euros for example).

[Joe Cool]

See, thats the problem for me. I work 9-1am all weekend. 8pm EST is 1am GMT.

Dont know if it would be worth my while.....

[Nyghtfall]

It occurred to me, today, that I don't own a single XBox 360 title that I haven't finished, but I can't say the same thing about my PC games. That just doesn't sit well with me, so I'm committing myself to finishing all of them. My unfinished titles include:

Doom 3
Quake 4
Half Life: Source
Half Life 2
Half Life 2: Episode One


I spent most of the afternoon replaying Quake 4, and finished up where I last quit before giving up on it a couple months ago. I'm still not happy that my Marine buddies managed to save me before my transformation into a Strogg was complete, but I intend to finish this damn game once and for all.

Here's a screenshot of my new look. Ain't I purdy? :)

http://i709.photobucket.com/albums/ww95/Nyghtfall/Quake%204/Quake42009-10-0601-43-52-29.jpg

[OldsterHolster]

Being an old man, and all, I sometimes wonder about myself having so much fun with these games I play; but then again, who cares? Heh, heh. This one I'm playing now keeps it perfectly clear in my head. It's noisy, and busy, and immersive, and a little confusing, and challenging, and pretty, and funny, and most of all, FUN, and I find myself looking forward to my sessions, each night! Of course personal preferences differ greatly, but I'm telling you, folks, this is shaping up to be the most fun I've had with a game in a long time.

I don't think any of the following would qualify as a spoiler, but I'll wrap it all, anyway. Maybe it will make the page load faster if folks don't open it when they return to the thread, later on.

I love it when a game has a super GPS so you never get lost. There's no doubt where the path is in this game, and it's really helpful when you are tearing around the huge Martian landscape in one vehicle or another.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg12.jpg


The extreme immersiveness comes in large part from the shear "energy" of the game. Lots of people walking around, the roads are full of vehicles, machinery running, wind blowing, dust and other effects, and just a lot going on, everywhere. I took this shot just to show the smoke from this guy's cigarette.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg13.jpg


Here is what the ore deposits look like.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg14.jpg

You smash them any old way and collect the pretty little shiny thingies to fatten your wallet for upgrades. I think there are like 300 of these things scattered throughout the game, and they make exploring a rewarding endeavor.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg15.jpg


I mentioned the explosives charges in my first post, so I'm repeating myself; but they are just great. You carry a bunch of them, (and can carry more with upgrades) and you can throw them accurately, have them stick, and then detonate a bunch of them at once. The little map shows the three tanks in red, so they are targets I've stuck three charges to.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg16.jpg

KA-BOOM!
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg17.jpg

Time to stomp through the rubble and collect salvage.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg18.jpg


And finally, this might give you some idea of just how hectic some of the battles become. There are a slew of different vehicles, including armored personel carriers, turrent-equipped attack vehicles, huge ore-moving dump trucks, dune buggys, SUV's, and more, and you can hop in any of them and drive. They all drive according to their size and use, and they are a blast. It's not particularly realistic, since you can fly through the air over bumps, crash into virtually anything, and run right over smaller vehicles, but I don't think I've ever had so much fun driving things in a game. I've seen hints that tanks and airplanes might be in the works further along in the game, too. In the larger battles, such as this one, bad guys and good guys come barreling in driving all manner of vehicles, and the resulting pile-ups are truly spectacular.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg19.jpg


My shots don't do justice, and I'll try to do better. There are a lot of crazy things happening all the time, and the fact that virtually everything is destructible, makes this game different from anything I've played, before. It's going to last a while, too, I think. There is a lot to do. Edward.

[gridiron whirlwind]

I am really liking what you are saying about this game Edward.

I think I will have to put this on my "To Do" list.

[MassiveEffect]

I'm also usually around at those times, Massive Effect and Peter Bond are 6 hours ahead of US I think so you could meet up with him at times potentially. On weekends I think the US players and Euro players could potentially all find a time to meet (afternoon for US players, evening for Euros for example).

Yeah,

It seems i will only be able to play in the weekend. I just started a new job that requires me to get up at 5 a.m, so i don't stay up that late anymore.

But count me in in the weekend though!! :):
I had tons of fun last time.

[Joe Cool]

I just finished Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway. I did not bother with pics, you have all seen Edward's and GW's.

Over all I liked it, though it was kinda easy and kinda short; I finished it in two sittings. I really liked the fact that Baker is clearly crazy, and at times not fit to lead.

Good game. Looking foward to the next one.

[OldsterHolster]

Well, I haven't changed my mind, yet. This game is just loads of fun, and I can't wait to see if you guys agree with me when you get around to playing it. I know I must have twenty or more hours into it, and I'm not even through the second of six maps. It just gets better and better as I go along.

I didn't realize at first how much driving the multitude of different vehicles played into the game, but it does, and I think it's the best keyboard and mouse driving that I've ever come across.

Again, there are not any real spoilers here, but I'll wrap the pics anyway to save space and loading times as the thread is re-visited.

I launched from a hill, and here I am on final approach. Heh, heh.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg20.jpg

A little correction for the crosswind.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg21.jpg

And a perfect landing....ON THE ROOF!
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg22.jpg


I love this in a game. Instead of hitting dead ends or obstacles, you just blow the stuff up and move on.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg23.jpg

http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg24.jpg


More ka-boomin'. Excellent explosions, and a lot of them.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg25.jpg

http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg26.jpg


This is the first time I've seen one of these vehicles. The guy's a snappy dresser, too, don't you think? Heh, heh.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg27.jpg


As you fight and kill bad guys, the guerrilla morale rises, and they come to your aid. As shown here, they show up both on foot and in vehicles, and they just run over the enemy. How nice!
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg28.jpg


Here, I've just laid waste to a convoy. These convoy missions, along with chasing down couriers, rescuing hostages, driving targeted vehicles back to the safe house, and doing timed demolition exercises, are all available to do at will; and, along with the mining and salvage collection and main missions, you always have a wide variety of things to do.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg31.jpg


Whaddaya mean I failed the parking part of my license test?
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg29.jpg


And finally, here's the latest, new, "vehicle" to operate. It's actually a mech you can use to destroy stuff in one of the timed demolition tests, and this thing has jets and can fly. Super cool!
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg30.jpg

I'm not even mentioning several areas of the game that are just right on, like the weapons that become available as you progress, and the morale and resistance levels that vary with your actions. You have to do the main missions to "liberate" each map, but you have to wear down the bad guys with a bunch of smaller missions, first, otherwise it's impossible. The game is well put together, and now that I'm familiar with how everything works, it's just more fun than I've had in a long, long, time. Play it, guys, you'll like it. Edward.

[Contagious Rage]

Been playing some Risen for the past week or so.

http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/rr139/Itangir/Risen/Risen2009-10-0321-16-45-03.jpg
Humble beginnings. Washed up on the shore with nothing but the rags on my body. Looted unlucky corpses on the beach for a hunting knife, plundered a grave for a shield. One thing Piranha Bytes does well is make you feel like an insignificant nothing in the beginnings of their games--it'll take a good while for you to just to get a foothold in the game. Until then you have to really pick your battles since without armor, training, and experience, you're going to be an easy kill for pretty much everything on the island.

http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/rr139/Itangir/Risen/Risen2009-10-0419-14-06-25.jpg
Sitting on a tree stump. This is the main character which doesn't have a name in the game. I choose to believe he's really a castaway Ewan McGregor.

http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/rr139/Itangir/Risen/Risen2009-10-0600-21-26-75.jpg
Caught this nice picture of a sunset in the harbor. I somehow managed to pickpocket this big shield off a guard just up the way.

http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/rr139/Itangir/Risen/Risen2009-10-0723-47-48-09.jpg
Climbing on top of rocks to get a view. Actually found a bow and arrows up here. Seems like someone was safely picking off animals from up here. Even though I was playing on medium/low graphics settings, the landscapes in this game are still nice. One thing I really loved about Gothic 2 and now Risen are the way their worlds and landscapes always look like something you want to explore. Big mountain trails, chasms, etc. If there was a bow hidden on top of this humble spire, it makes you wonder what treasures are tucked on those precipes that can only be reached with a lot of effort and maybe a levitation spell.

http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/rr139/Itangir/Risen/Risen2009-10-0723-50-47-79.jpg
More landscape. Here I am climbing up the volcano trail to reach the monastery.

http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/rr139/Itangir/Risen/Risen2009-10-0822-40-15-10.jpg
Talking to my ogre friend, Drok. Who is tragically mis-named Dork.

http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/rr139/Itangir/Risen/Risen2009-10-0920-27-41-89.jpg
Testing out my new crossbow with some wolf hunting.

http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/rr139/Itangir/Risen/Risen2009-10-0921-49-05-10.jpg
And, of course, transforming into an ashbeast at the town brothel.

Damn, just noticed I didn't have any pictures of combat. Takes a good bit of concentration in combat in Risen, though. Missing a block or not timing a dodge right can really set your health back or kill you outright. Not always an easy time to snap pictures.

[Rob]

I am a big tower defense nut, and one of the best to come out is Defense Grid on the PC (it is also out for XBox Live). Balanced and well made, it has been sucking up some hours. The yellow line shows the air units flight path. It can be turned off, but I leave it on to help with tower placement.

Kicking ass and taking names with tons of particle effects:
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj34/RQuinton/DefenseGrid.jpg

Just about finished with the level:
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj34/RQuinton/GridDefense2.jpg

Next level without any towers built. This one contains two tracks, with different heights, which requires a lot more strategy:
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj34/RQuinton/Grid3.jpg

[shizakapayou]

I am a big tower defense nut, and one of the best to come out is Defense Grid on the PC (it is also out for XBox Live). Balanced and well made, it has been sucking up some hours. The yellow line shows the air units flight path. It can be turned off, but I leave it on to help with tower placement.

Awesome game - I played the heck out of it when it came out on XBLA. It works very well with the controller, they did well with the port. I got most of the way through the campaign and hit a huge map I just can't make any progress on, so I put it down for a bit.

Some Left4Dead:

I'm not too fond of the hunting rifle, but it's very effective:
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e311/shizakapayou/screenshots/left4dead2009-10-1020-42-14-33.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e311/shizakapayou/screenshots/left4dead2009-10-1020-53-29-43.jpg

[OldsterHolster]

There are several rolling turrent levels in the game that I find I really have fun with. That "snappy dresser" in the funky, three-wheeled, vehicle I showed in my last post turns out to be 'Jenkins', and you meet him and then man the turrent on the back as he drives wildly around enemy installations.

In this series of shots, you have had to fight your way into a structure and man a huge mech, and then you smash your way to a waiting truck and load him up. Then the rest of the level is protecting the truck from a turrent as it makes it's way back to a safe house. It's lots of fun, and, since it's a mouse-only fight, I had a free hand to take lots of shots.

http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg32.jpg

http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg33.jpg

http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg34.jpg

http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg35.jpg

http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg36.jpg


What's this, something new? It's the game's first portal. Kinda pretty, too. Every time I start to think the game might be getting repetitive, they introduce something new.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg37.jpg

I like this game. Edward.

[Joe Cool]

So, I got the downed plane that I showed in the last lost of pics. However, I still had to get the pilots. My Captian Bannon protects the flank with his tanks as I look for them.
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-1616-26-53-89.jpg

They are been held at a factory. It was very well defended and I may have dropped the bombs a little too close. Got my boys out though!
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-1616-22-23-10.jpg

Job done! But we now here that the Russians have a sub pen near by. I have to fight my way to the subs and then destroy them.
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-1616-54-57-35.jpg

It is tough going; lots of Russian snipers pick off my men. And as you can see in this pic they are getting lots of air drops.
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-1617-14-42-48.jpg

After some hard fighting for he second sub I am down to just one unit of troops.
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-1617-16-10-53.jpg

I get renforced with some tanks though and push on for the last sub!
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-1617-18-53-41.jpg
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-1617-29-51-65.jpg

We get it wired and boom! Another job done! You think the reds would get tired of getting their butts kicked!
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-1617-33-40-33.jpg

[gridiron whirlwind]

I just received Stalker Clear Sky...I got it for $14.90 from gogamer.com

My wife is playing it before me, she just loved the first Stalker game.

I took a few screenshots to share, just because the game looks so stunning :eek:

I won't have much info on the gameplay itself, at least not for awhile, as she is playing the game first.

I will report on the game more, when I start playing.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2463/4036075906_89f0bd6c54_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2511/4035324973_046d03d8cb_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2484/4036076608_55b5a2cc46_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2713/4036076090_d1bc0444e2_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2763/4035325115_57d81b1dde_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2506/4035325447_65800d361b_b.jpg

[Joe Cool]

I just received Stalker Clear Sky.

I have it. It does look great. I stopped playing it though, it is stupitly hard! Way harder then the first one.

[OldsterHolster]

Those are good graphics, Gridiron. I liked the first Stalker all right, but it didn't really excite me, so I've never really thought of playing Clear Sky. Maybe I should. I'll look forward to your reports when you get around to playing it. The graphics in Red Faction are good, but different. They are a lot less distinct, or precise, with lots of smoke and dust, etc., but, then again, the gameworld is huge, with LOTS of action and things going on, and it plays without a hitch, so it's pretty impressive.

You start the game in a territory called "Parker," and then you have to liberate "Dust," and then "Oasis" is next.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg38.jpg

Driving around is just a hoot in this game, and, as you can see, I'm still learning. I hit the Oasis sign on one of my trips. Heh, heh. Virtually everything is destructible in this game. I've never seen anything like it.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg39.jpg


This is a little stationary turrent mission. Fairly easy, and enough explosions to keep even the most extreme "blow 'em up" junkie happy. It really gets hectic during some of these battles. One cannon shot blows the enemy vehicle off course or into the air, and they run into other vehicles and explode, and the noise and mayhem is unbelievable. A second shot to the same vehicle results in an extreme explosion, and it's sometimes fun to shoot at them after they are already up in the air.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg40.jpg

http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg41.jpg



My first tank ride.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg42.jpg

http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg43.jpg

http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg44.jpg

http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg45.jpg



These EDF "flyers" show up at random times, and they can be a pain.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg46.jpg

http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg47.jpg



This was a fun mission. I've played many games where you could move or destroy lots of smaller things, but you can do the BIG stuff in this game. I started off by destroying a portion of the roadbed, but that wasn't good enough.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg48.jpg

I then went after the support points of the bridge.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg49.jpg

Now we're talking!
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg50.jpg

I'm mentioned before that it is a noisy game, and the sound effects are really impressive. This sounds like a bridge coming down! Cool!
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg51.jpg



And finally, oh joy of joys, I got hold of a jetpack. I fell in love with jetpacks when I played Tribes-Vengeance, and I thoroughly enjoyed the Jumpak in Armed and Dangerous, so this was an unexpected pleasure. It's a little short on duration in it's first configuration, but it recharges, indefinitely, and I've been just playing with it. The Martian landscape is full of mountains, so I've been jetting up to the tops and then jumping off cliffs and breaking my fall with the unit. You can blip the trigger and travel a couple hundred yards floating six or eight feet off the ground, too, which is fun. I like it a lot!
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg52.jpg



I know I must have thirty to forty hours into this thing, already, and I'm going to really hate to see it end. I suppose there are things to bitch about, but I'm still feeling like this is one of the most fun games I've ever played. It will also have tremendous replayability, because many of the missions have different levels of success. For instance, you can complete a hostage rescue mission by only saving one hostage, but finding a way to save all of them is a different story; and I've left many of them behind. Heh, heh.

OK, that's all for now. I have absolutely no idea how much game is left, but I hope it's substantial. I'm just having too much fun for it to end. Edward.

[gridiron whirlwind]

Wife is at work....I have spent a couple hours modding the game.

I can't wait to give it a go.

Here are a few more screenshots

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2720/4037582774_e27f2d6982_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2756/4036833379_4cc812c546_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3526/4037582978_b266e1a9ac_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2486/4037583150_8a5a048f77_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3520/4036833187_c620bbe1ba_b.jpg

[MassiveEffect]

After a somewhat nostalgic mood, I decided to reinstall Divine Divinity.
It is just as good as I remembered it to be!

Will post some pics later on.

[Rob]

Gridiron, the first picture reminded me of Kumbaya.

I got most of the way through the campaign and hit a huge map I just can't make any progress on I have completed Grid Defense, which level can't you beat? And they do become incredibly difficult in the end.

I purchased Left4Dead 2 last night, which comes out in November, and I will have some Borderlands pics for next months Show and Tell.

[gridiron whirlwind]

Stalker Clear Sky....with a few mods installed.

I have started the game now....I am having fun, even though it is fairly hard.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2628/4040109069_d5e2814576_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3500/4050108431_67cb72f121_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2619/4050108205_d5e044b511_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3591/4050108633_d99a719224_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2778/4050107901_2d2319f9ff_b.jpg

[MassiveEffect]

Well picture time,

http://i643.photobucket.com/albums/uu153/geert_vdm/div2009-10-2516-27-08-71.jpg

The loading screen, looks a bit funky because of the wide screen fix, the rest works though.


http://i643.photobucket.com/albums/uu153/geert_vdm/div2009-10-2719-36-21-85.jpg

Exploring the catacombs.


http://i643.photobucket.com/albums/uu153/geert_vdm/div2009-10-2719-44-53-01.jpg

Little hint, always read everything!


http://i643.photobucket.com/albums/uu153/geert_vdm/div2009-10-2719-47-51-60.jpg

Back in town and .......


http://i643.photobucket.com/albums/uu153/geert_vdm/div2009-10-2719-50-24-18.jpg

Ready for some trading.

[NotSoFast]

I just ordered Divine Divinity yeasterday upon reading that you were playing it. I downloaded and played the demo years ago and from trhe little I remember, I liked it. I think I payed $10 including shipping on Ebay for my copy (new).

[tonofclay]

Some Borderlands shots

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/142/borderlands200910271308.th.png (http://img24.imageshack.us/i/borderlands200910271308.png/)

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/9928/borderlands200910271330.th.png (http://img200.imageshack.us/i/borderlands200910271330.png/)

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/7168/borderlands200910271337.th.png (http://img21.imageshack.us/i/borderlands200910271337.png/)

Made it to the first boss and played a little further but forgot to take more screens.

[OldsterHolster]

What a great game! I've got forty hours into it, and I'm nowhere close to getting tired of it, yet. I've liberated Parker, Dust, Oasis, The Badlands, The Free-Fire Zone, and now I'm working on the last territory, Eos. DavidP started the game, but I haven't heard anything else from him, and I can't believe nobody else has checked out this shooter hybrid. Maybe it's just me, but, from the standpoint of plain old fun, this thing is one of the best games I've played, ever.

I know I'm repeating myself, both with my praise and my screenshots, but, if there are any shooters left out there, I'd sure like to hear their reactions and opinions of this game. For sure, I feel like I've really gotten my money's worth, and I sure hope they make another sequel sometime soon.

I'm sure you've noticed that I immediately spot and rate exploding barrels and flowers in all these shooters I play, and here's the first flowers I've come across on Mars. The game does get a little prettier as it goes along.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg53.jpg


Here's my buddy, Jenkins, at an Eos safehouse, and notice the rock bridge. Have I mentione I love the jetpack? I couldn't resist jetting out to it.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg54.jpg

http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg55.jpg


Here comes Jenkins to pick me up for another Collateral Damage mission where I man the turrent and he drives wildly around while I shoot things.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg56.jpg

The main targets are clearly marked, and the objective is to cause a minimum level of monetary damage. It's fast-paced and hectic, but it rarely takes more than two or three tries to succeed, and it's just a lot of fun.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg57.jpg

In between shooting at the marked targets, you have to shoot the pursuing vehicles.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg58.jpg

http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg59.jpg

http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg60.jpg

http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg61.jpg

http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg62.jpg

Here we are at the end of the mission arriving back at the safehouse.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg63.jpg



Here's Jenkins waving goodbye and telling me how much fun he had. He's a riot. He keeps up a running commentary as you are shooting stuff during the mission, and he's funny. There are two, three, or more, Jenkins missions in each territory, and they are some of my favorites.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo206/OldsterHolster/Screen%20Shots/rfg64.jpg



I get into playing the game so much that I forget all about taking shots, but I'm going to try to get a greater variety since I'm nearing the end of the game. While the main theme is killing bad guys and blowing things up, there is a much greater variety than I'm showing in my shots. I've got an awesome Thermobaric Rocket Launcher, now, and I just love the jetpack, and just driving around the widely different landscapes and looking for salvage is a fun time. I'm telling you guys, this is a good one. Edward.

[Joe Cool]

@ ToC, those shots ate great! Love the style. Tell me though, what it the first pic of??

@Edward, Red Faction looks great, you have put it on my to-do list.

Anyhow, back to the war!!

(Note, there are some spoilers in here, but I have put more spoiler tags round them.)

So, after I destroyed the subs the game kicks back months to after the invasion Seattle. The Russians pushed deep into the North and were stopped only when the US dropped a nuke on them!!

Here I am battered but alive just outside the blast zone. Note the scramble effect on the screen.
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-1718-15-01-69.jpg

This bit is pretty cool, I fight scatterd Russian forces and gain tanks by repairing some of theres! Once I'm across the river I'm safe. I bomb the crap out of the far bank to be sure!
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-1718-48-53-19.jpg

On no!! China has joined the Russians and are steaming for the beach head at Seattle!!
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-1718-53-37-04.jpg
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-1718-53-49-69.jpg

We have to take Seattle back before they come! Other wise....
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-1718-53-14-03.jpg

Attacking a satellite town of Seattle. My objective is this church.
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2722-48-15-91.jpg

I start to shell it with my mortars as my tanks attack. Note the shell burts round the church in the second pic.
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2722-49-37-28.jpg
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2722-50-07-88.jpg

Ermmmm..... My first attack did not go well! Here I am fixing my tanks. See the middle on is on fire?
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2722-52-05-34.jpg

This time I take the church but the dam Russins decide to bomb it and I have to hall-ass out of there!
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2722-55-48-30.jpg
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2722-56-00-28.jpg
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2722-56-04-91.jpg

Next objective is this part of the town. Again I take it, but the Russians bomb it, and the bridge, forcing me to go around.
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2723-03-46-17.jpg

I have to flank the town ad take this sawmill. As is my way I bomb the crap out of everything, including the woods to make sure no Russians are hiding there. Note the jet on the lefthand side.
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2723-12-52-72.jpg

I take it with out too much bother. Note the tree stumps and log lifter; its details like this that make this game.
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2723-14-54-64.jpg

Now the final assult on the town. I use my rocket arty to blast the Russian tanks.
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2723-19-50-85.jpg

They really dont wanna give it up though!!
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2723-21-45-33.jpg

In the end though, the might of the US shines through.
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2723-27-03-73.jpg

[gridiron whirlwind]

Edward, I will be getting that game for sure! :yes:

[tonofclay]

Joe - First pic is of this little robot guy that introduces you to the controls and stuff, and generally hangs around and tells you what to do from time to time.

[Joe Cool]

Joe - First pic is of this little robot guy that introduces you to the controls and stuff, and generally hangs around and tells you what to do from time to time.

I have just seen a video of the wee robot dancing!! Worth the price alone!:D:

[Joe Cool]

Conflict Conclusion!

This post contains spoilers but I have added extra spoiler tags for them.

After taking the town near Seattle that I showed in the last set of pics, things go back to the Russians. All is not well! After the the US nuked them the Russian commander (the guy with out the hat) knows he is defeated.
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2723-29-40-41-1.jpg
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2723-28-27-36-1.jpg
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I have to protect the convoy that has wounded and is heading back to Seattle.
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2816-36-03-93.jpg

To do this I only get choppers. I dont like 'em! While they do dish out alot of pain they are very weak.
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2723-31-51-02-1.jpg
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2816-38-32-92.jpg

While I'm doing that the Americans send in A-10 Tankbusters! BEST-PLANE-EVER!
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2816-52-45-92.jpg

The convoy escapes after I call in the bombers! No change so!
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2817-05-50-60.jpg

Things go from bad to worse for the Russians though! They have been ordered back to Seattle to stop the American attack so the Chinese troops can land. The commander knows that it is suicide and says he will get the army home instead.
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2816-58-29-02.jpg

Pity not everyone agrees with him.....
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2816-58-52-05.jpg
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2816-59-06-38.jpg

The Russian story ends there.

Meanwhile, things are heating up for the Yanks!
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2823-43-26-84.jpg

This preist seems pretty happy the US are back and does a little dance and sings a song, which was nice!
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2823-45-19-62.jpg

The attack begins and the Russians warships do alot of damage to my troops untill I take 'em out!
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2823-57-33-00.jpg
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2823-59-21-39.jpg

The Russians put up massive resistance and we both just throw men and tanks into the fray! Despite this I take their main base! Looks like they are done!!
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2900-23-43-29.jpg

HELL YEAH!! YIPPIE KI-AY!!!!
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2900-24-11-67.jpg
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2900-24-22-24.jpg

W-w-what!!! The Russians are counter-attacking!! Thier mad!! I just hang on! In the confusion, with all the smoke and fire it is very hard to tell what is going on!
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2900-29-12-15.jpg

The city, whats left of it, is mine.
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2900-33-32-55.jpg

The game ends with these two National Guards men rocking out on their brand new CD player! Leave a smile on your face!
http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq111/NoLeftTurn81/wic2009-10-2900-34-56-92.jpg

Phew! What a game! Right from the start it sucks you in! Sure the graphics and action are top draw but, for me, it was the quality of the storying telling and voice acting that really got me. There were many funny parts, like the guy showing his mates the CD player and a French soilder thrying to explane to the Yanks that the church they were about to bomb was a 13th Century National treasure! There were also more intresting issues; like the battle at Cascade Falls, the Russian Commander belived he had been defeated because his army was scatterd. However the the American Commander also counted the battle as a defeat. When asked why by a trooper the replys "When I'm forced to drop a nuclear weapon on my own country and my own men I call that a defeat." So, the presntation, graphics, story, music and all that are fantastic.

Where the game lacks abit in gameplay. It is not the most tactical of RTS. The way to win is get a load of tanks, line 'em up and shoot anything that moves. The real winner of a battle is the off map wepons. You just bomb the crap out of everything. It is not like, say, Company of Heros where a well place A/T gun can make a huge difference. Though maybe it reflects the nature of modern warfare.

All in all a great game and should be played by everone.:thumbup:

[gridiron whirlwind]

Stalker Clear Sky

I love the sun rays in this game.
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This screenie shows the new weapon skins from a weapon mod...they look much better than the originals.
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