New Vegas, PC Gaming, and the smell of Maureen.

Dear Sir,

Although I am grateful that you chose my store to shop in, I do apologize that I wasn't able to assist you in the way you required. You see sir, PC gaming is on it's way out. It's not your system, it's not how much money you spent on your newest rig, honestly, it has nothing to do with you. PC Gaming is going the way of the PSP. It's dying, but no one wants to admit it. Look, sir, I understand that you're a "pc gamer from way back in the day". I get that. I am also that sort. However, I quickly realized that PC gaming was becoming more and more difficult with the passing time. I am throughly impressed that you spend $1200 on your desktop, and will refrain from mentioning that my laptop cost considerably more, and it's portable, and has internet. To simply answer your question, yes you will need internet if you want to use a PC to game.

Kisses,
Doug

bless his heart. The guy came in and wanted New Vegas for the PC. Alright. I asked him if his system specs matched what the game required, as Fallout (and most modern pc games) require a hefty rig. He said "probably". He went on to inform me that he didn't have the internet and he's getting tired of games that require online verification.

Well sir, them's the breaks. You see, PC gaming has become such a bastardized form of gaming that the companies have done everything possible to prevent pirating, to no avail. So, they went a bit overboard and forced gamers to plunder their games and hoist their flag proving the bounty was theirs. (I deeply apologize for every bit of that). Gaming companies basically said "alright, if you want to play a pc game, prove you have it. Use steam or another online verification system to prove that every single time you play the game, it's actually you playing it, and you actually have the disk".

Well this solved and problem and created another. The great part about it is now people don't need the disk to play the game....sometimes. Only if they buy the game online. However, it requires internet. Basically when Steam came on the scene, yours truly stepped out of the scene. I'm not much of a gaming pirate, since I know how much work goes into it, and it's not like a movie where some asshat is getting a half a milli for a role. (zing). So I never really pirated games, but I also never really liked online verification, and how steam had to run to play the game. Look, this isn't about anything other than PC gaming is dying.

So then the guy asks me if New Vegas is any good. Well, it's been out for a few days, I've gotten into it, and I gotta tell ya.... I'm on the fence.

As I've told numerous people by now, I put 250 hours into Fallout 3.
Yeah yeah, we get it. You're a champion. Not so, it's not me bragging, it's me proclaiming my love for that game. 250 hours, that's a ton. All into one single thing. For that time, it was my passion. My character lovingly crafted from start to finish. The storyline was embracing, the characters all individual and great in their own aspects. My first playthrough I could care less about the locals, I simply wanted to find my dad. It drove my character and my gaming. The 2nd time I wanted to explore the world, and learn all that I could about the town, and become their savior.

I put hours upon hours into that game. The experience was what drove me. This new world, the small groups of people simply trying to survive. It was a great design.

But this latest idea of yours....

Here's what I don't like about Fallout: New Vegas. The town and world are pretty much established. Ok, so take away the post apocalyptic aspects out. The whole world was exploration, now everyone pretty much knows everything in New Vegas. Ugh. Alright.

Basically, New Vegas is like War and Peace 2, Dr. Strangelove 2, Return to House on Haunted Hill, it's a sequel to something that didn't really need it.

The original work was in and of it's self, a masterpiece. I feel no obligation to New Vegas. No desire to give it copious amounts of my life. It's become a standard 20 hour shooter in my mind. It's a sad thing to see, but that's what happens nowadays. Art games become a product more than a piece.

Should you buy this game? Only if-
1. If you've never played Fallout 3
2. You played a little of Fallout 3 and liked the idea but weren't obsessed.
3. You like shooters, fast paced and very diverse.

Here's the thing, no matter what, you'll sell back this game. Do gamers look too often for the next game to become obsessed with? I'd say some do. I, for one, constantly look for the next game that will define a genre, or define a gaming culture. So standing listening to this guy ramble on about Fallout and his pc, I remembered the days of PC gaming when every title was prolific, every title was HUGE.

And I though, of what was easily one of my two favorite PC games ever. Two of the greatest games created by the same company.

Full Throttle and Grim Fandango

LucasArts and Tim Schafer. Amazing. Wikipedia quote!

"Schafer is best known as the designer of critically acclaimed games Full Throttle, Grim Fandango, Psychonauts, and Brütal Legend, and co-designer of the early classics The Secret of Monkey Island, Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge and Day of the Tentacle. He is known in the video game industry for his story-telling and comedy-writing abilities."
(if you click the colored titled, you get the wikis of the game, WIN)


It was unfortunate to look back at what PC gaming was, and how many epic games were released on it, to see that it's now become a haven of Farmville and run of the mill MMOs.

SO. To cheer myself up, I found a link. It walks you through Full Throttle, in a different format.

ENJOY!

Click Here For Full Throttle!