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Rank: Newbie
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Joined: 6/5/2009
Posts: 6
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@ScottJones: Consider this: some percentage of the dev team's efforts was devoted to making split-screen function in the game (no small task from a programming perspective).
That percentage of efforts might have been put towards, say, cooking up a less cliched environment, or towards making the game interesting beyond the initial three hour point.
Scott, you don’t REALLY believe that the guys who do the programming and QA are the same guys who design the environments and levels, do you? Do you honestly think they said, “Well, we’d love to flesh out this world some more, but then we won’t have time to test split-screen”?
Criticizing the availability of split-screen is pretty weak. What would you suggest they do instead? Enable online play? Yes, they have it. Split-screen is an option, not a requirement. It’s there for people who need it, and doesn’t interfere with those who don’t. For people with a single console and TV, it’s literally better than nothing.
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/22/2009
Posts: 3
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@ScottJones: Consider this: you're an idiot
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Rank: Advanced Member
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Joined: 8/1/2009
Posts: 65
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@Johnny Boobs:
Whoa. Chill out, Mr. Boobs.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/8/2009
Posts: 74
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It's good to see a review done by someone who did not enjoy the game very much. My friend's are going on and on about how amazing it is, it's starting to drive me insane.
Just one question, how much time did you put into single player compared to co-op? From what I have heard, this game is much better multiplayer.
@Johnny Boobs:
Kyle Orland's "TROLL ALERT" sirens are going off right now.
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Rank: Member
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Joined: 6/1/2009
Posts: 21
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There are a couple of things in the review I could take issue with, but, honestly, they all utterly pale in comparison to the reviewer's comment about split screen.
Is there some kind of competition going on here to produce the most ill-thought-out observation?
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: GameTrust
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Joined: 6/1/2009
Posts: 137
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@Johnny Boobs:
Glad you're here, Mr. Boobs. We need anarchists like yourself.
Hugs.
-jones
P.S. I admire your passion. Honestly.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/1/2009
Posts: 339
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I'm very much enjoying the game so far. It's 8:27 a.m. right now and I'm already thinking about getting home tonight to put some real time into it. I've been seeing a lot of consternation about Jones' review. From what I've played so far I really can't agree with anything he says in it, but I don't agree with those (not necessarily here) that are attacking it as uninformative or because it harps on "irrelevant" things.
As Gus Mustrapa and Ryan Kuo have said in the past, a review can be something other than consumer reporting. Jones gave his opinion on the game and focused on what he took from it. We're all free to agree or disagree, but saying the review "sucks" or whatever because it's not a traditional Gamespot-style rundown of every element of the game doesn't make any sense to me.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/21/2009
Posts: 47
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As for the split-screen topic, take into consideration this: the game is essentially a dungeon crawler done in first person. Dungeon crawlers are primarily multiplayer games. With consoles, its easy to use multiple players on one screen because dungeon crawlers are normally top-down view games. They obviously wanted to impliment this mechanic into Borderlands but with first person view, there's only one choice for sharing a console, split screen.
I agree with ScottJones on the point that split screen hampers your view and can lessen your experience, but usually it doesn't since you're playing with someone right next to you and that inevitably leads to "oh, sh**! did you see that!" moments that really amplify a gaming experience.
Case in point, Army of 2 is a perfect example of how a split screen game can be a ton of fun. I played through that with a buddy of mine and it was some of the best gaming fun I've had in recent times.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: GameTrust
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Joined: 6/1/2009
Posts: 137
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Few people know this but I actually have access to a time machine that allows me to travel three months into the future.
I used it before writing this review.
You know what I saw there?
I saw no one playing this game. (No, not even in the awesome split-screen mode.)
I saw people trading in the game at the store for $3.86 in store credit. I saw people wondering what they ever saw in Borderlands in the first place.
Basically, what I saw was a lot of people suddenly agreeing with my review.
If you're still playing Borderlands three months from now, inform me of this fact. I'll eat a big, heaping dish of crow followed by a second course of hat.
-jones
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Rank: Advanced Member
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Joined: 6/1/2009
Posts: 42
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@ScottJones:
Get your appetite ready - I don't plan on buying this game for another three months.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/1/2009
Posts: 339
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@ScottJones: I can't even imagine how people not playing the game three months from now relates to the quality of the game. You're free not to like it, but this defense of your opinion is pretty boneheaded.
Is the measure of quality now if a game is still being widely played after three months? By that measure almost no game could be deemed a success. Are you planning to still be playing R&C A Crack in Time three months from now? If not, does that lessen your opinion of the game or allow me to say that it's obviously not very good. I'm a little stunned that this is your defense of your review. Just stick by your guns and let the review speak for itself.
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Rank: Administration
Groups: GameTrust
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Joined: 6/1/2009
Posts: 580
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The reason the Internet sucks is because everyone takes everything so goddamn seriously.
Relax!
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: GameTrust
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Joined: 6/1/2009
Posts: 137
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@MSUSteve:
I do think that there's a rearview-mirror effect that applies to games.
There's inevitably this huge, rah-rah groundswell of excitement around whatever came out on Tuesday. But by the following Tuesday, that first flush of excitement has faded, and we're able to see something with clearer, more sober eyes.
Part of a game reviewer's job is to do his or her best to see beyond that initial thrill, beyond that groundswell.
Once the honeymoon is over, what then?
Borderlands is a honeymoon game. But after a few days, my guess is most people will wonder what he or she ever saw in the game in the first place.
Again, it's just a guess. Again, it's just my opinion.
But don't be surprised if in the deepest, darkest hour of the night, you find yourself agreeing with me, just a little.
Hugs.
-jones
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/1/2009
Posts: 339
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@ScottJones: I don't disagree about there being a honeymoon period of love for games, but I can't really agree that not continuing to play something after three months says much, if anything, about the quality of same.
You're certainly entitled to your opinion and I would never tell you not to express it. I just happen to think this particular opinion is wrong. I'm not trying to be all huffy or anything. I love your reviews even though a lot of the time I don't agree with them.
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Rank: Advanced Member
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Joined: 6/1/2009
Posts: 273
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@ScottJones:
I'm also a reviewer and I believe that if someone plays a game for 20 hours or more, which I'm not sure if you'll get that much out of A Crack in Time, then its probably worth it if it was enjoyable. How many games are ACTUALLY played three months after purchase? Fallout 3, for me.
What games are still played after 3 months?
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Rank: Advanced Member
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Joined: 6/1/2009
Posts: 273
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@ScottJones:
Honestly, though, I've thought about this subject a lot for some reason - what makes a game good. Really it comes down to enjoyment per set list of fulfilled desires in a game. I think this game is more up my alley than yours, honestly. I didn't like Scribblenauts but I'm sure there's a ton of people who did.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/21/2009
Posts: 47
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Scott's just mad because people like this game. RyanKuo reminds me of Chet from Bad Boys, Will Smith's little door man. Its kinda cute but mostly creepy.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: GameTrust
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Joined: 6/1/2009
Posts: 137
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@JasonMcMaster:
Scribblenauts stinks FYI. But I give you a BUY IT though, Jason. MSUSteve also gets a BUY IT.
-jones
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: GameTrust
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Joined: 6/1/2009
Posts: 137
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@Catastrophic1:
You also get a BUY IT, sir.
-jones
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
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Joined: 6/1/2009
Posts: 416
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@Catastrophic1:
Shit just got real.
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