What We're NOT Playing - Volume 7 (Sorry "TimeShift," "Hellgate: London")

This week, in an all-new edition of "What We're NOT Playing," regulars Stephen Totilo and Jason Cipriano bow out due to excessive "work," but Jason M., Gerald and I take time to talk about some of the games we're avoiding.

There were plenty of great releases this week, so it was a tough one. But what we decided on boiled down to personal preferences. No one around here likes MMOs except for me. Why? Here's Gerald's reason:

GeraldFlannory: with no end, it feels like im running an endless marathon
GeraldFlannory: i'd like to have some closure to a long quest because, i just won't have the time to play something forever
GeraldFlannory: thats why I pretty much won't be playing mmo's
GeraldFlannory: until they have an ultimate goal that everyone has to reach to bring some closure or something
TraceyJohn: An MMO that ends?
GeraldFlannory: yeah
GeraldFlannory: i think it can be done

Photo Credit: Scott Olson/ Getty Images

TraceyJohn: Totilo and Cip are out because they're too "busy" (even though they covered for us slackers last week)
TraceyJohn: But there were a lot of good releases that came out.
TraceyJohn: So what is everyone NOT playing?
GeraldFlannory: I'm not playing "Zack & Wiki" because I havent had time to get the game! LOL!
GeraldFlannory: it's that new puzzle game for Wii that's been getting tight reviews
TraceyJohn: True, true. Me neither. But time to buy the game aside, what's a game you don't plan to pick up at all? Like ever?
GeraldFlannory: hmmm
JasonMitchell: I don't think I'll be playing "Guitar Hero 3."
GeraldFlannory: i know i'm going to play that for sure
JasonMitchell: i haven't quite jumped on the "GH" bandwagon yet but having "Rock Band" around has gotten me really into the whole genre. but i think i'll just wait til "Rock Band" come out instead of buying "GH3"
JasonMitchell: and i'm not just saying that because i work at mtv and it's an mtv game. i just feel like with "Rock Band" why do i need "Guitar Hero"?
TraceyJohn: Mitch, do you not want "GH3" because you plan on playing drums or mic more?
TraceyJohn: I love playing guitar, so I've gotten "GH3." Just because it has some new songs, I'm psyched to play it
GeraldFlannory: i'm not counting "Guitar Hero" out yet
GeraldFlannory: everyone seems to be hating on the original just for the sake of it
GeraldFlannory: "Rock Band" to me seems like "Guitar Hero" expanded
JasonMitchell: i do love the idea of the drums but they are harder than the guitar. if i could sing i would be all about the mic, and if dreams do come true maybe "Rock Band" will actually make me a better singer
GeraldFlannory: ha
GeraldFlannory: well i won't be playing "Castlevania" for PSP
GeraldFlannory: because I don't have one!
TraceyJohn: Even though you are a huge "Castlevania" fan? We've definitely had this discussion before...
GeraldFlannory: yeah
TraceyJohn: Not even gonna try to ask me to borrow my PSP?
GeraldFlannory: unless I borrow one
GeraldFlannory: ahh there ya go
GeraldFlannory: so maybe I will get to play it
GeraldFlannory: "TimeShift" came out, but it looks like another generic FPS game with time-changing abilities
TraceyJohn: That was my pick actually
GeraldFlannory: well I agree with ya on that one
TraceyJohn: I think you know by now that FPS aren't my thing
GeraldFlannory: yeah, but it don't take an expert to see something looks generic and uninspired
TraceyJohn: Ha, true, true
TraceyJohn: And that game's been in development forever, right?
GeraldFlannory: yup
GeraldFlannory: makes me feel bad for the devs because it looks like nothing special
GeraldFlannory: also, I wont be playing "Jericho"
GeraldFlannory: that looks generic as well
GeraldFlannory: it looks like every other "demon" shooting fps game
TraceyJohn: Right. But you liked "Undying" right?
GeraldFlannory: "Undying" was cool because it had an interesting story and characters
GeraldFlannory: and some scary parts
GeraldFlannory: heroes clad in leather, talking all macho while shooting undead monsters
JasonMitchell: i think you just saying that because you are too scared to play it
GeraldFlannory: i wish I was

GeraldFlannory: the last game to really scare the s--t out of me was "Resident Evil 4"
GeraldFlannory: Horror games should be scary to be good
GeraldFlannory: if not, don't stick Clive Barker on it or call it a horror game
TraceyJohn: Though Clive Barker worked closely with the game-makers and penned the story. Do you think Clive's losing his touch or the game-makers failed to execute his vision?
GeraldFlannory: probably both
TraceyJohn: Ouch.
GeraldFlannory: since having freaky looking monsters nowa days dosen't cut it anymore
TraceyJohn: What about you, Mitch?
JasonMitchell: does anyone think "Napoleon Dynamite" is coming out way too late? I think they really missed the window here
TraceyJohn: Yeah totally, and I know you were a huge fan of the movie
JasonMitchell: i think most people are already over it.
JasonMitchell: i would've picked it up when i did care about the movie but now it's even less appealing
TraceyJohn: True. It definitely missed its 15 minutes...
TraceyJohn: Will anyone else be trying any MMOs besides me? "Tabula Rasa" and "Hellgate: London"?
TraceyJohn: Or am I alone on those?
GeraldFlannory: yeah you are

GeraldFlannory: i don't even have time to go pick up a game
GeraldFlannory: so I don't think I can play an mmo
JasonMitchell: i choose life
JasonMitchell: like my real one not a digital one
TraceyJohn: What about the other Halloweeny type games coming up... (Happy Halloween by the way). No one's touching "Hellgate" we established, but that's supposed to have elements of FPS in it.
TraceyJohn: And then there's "The Witcher," the action RPG from Atari that's supposedly to be kinda creepy
GeraldFlannory: "The Witcher" looks like it may be somewhat interesting
GeraldFlannory: as for "Hellgate"
GeraldFlannory: i won't be touching that
GeraldFlannory: it doesn't seem scary to me because your characters seem like they can stop the devil himself
GeraldFlannory: so I get no sense of fear from the enemies
JasonMitchel: it's like superman, he's not really brave because he's nearly invincible.
GeraldFlannory: but gamers like playing as bad ass "i can stop anything" heroes
TraceyJohn: But wait... "The Witcher" is allegedly a 60-80 hour game which you said sounded interesting. How is that totally different from playing an MMO, time-wise?

TraceyJohn: Does having a definite end to a game make you more likely to commit to it?
JasonMitchell: it does for me, but 80 hours is still a pretty big commitment
JasonMitchell: i'd have to love it
GeraldFlannory: yeah
TraceyJohn: Are there any lengthy games that you love that you would actually commit the time to?
TraceyJohn: I know G likes "Final Fantasy"
GeraldFlannory: with no end, it feels like im running an endless marathon
GeraldFlannory: i'd like to have some closure to a long quest because, i just won't have the time to play something forever
TraceyJohn: Blizzard hopes you do!
GeraldFlannory: i know
TraceyJohn: I obviously have weeks in "World of Warcraft"... and the new level cap to 80 kind of depresses me
TraceyJohn: which is why i haven't played it as much. I'm at 68
GeraldFlannory: it just kinda feels like there is no point to playing sometimes
JasonMitchell: i live to win

JasonMitchell: if i can't win, then what's the point?
JasonMitchell: but i do like feeling like there is a conclusion to the story and an end goal i'm trying to reach
TraceyJohn: I guess it depends on what your definition of "win" is. For me, that's reaching 70 (and then 80 if I still commit)
GeraldFlannory: i lose interest because there is no ultimate goal i'm working towards
GeraldFlannory: if I'm thrown into this world we ever thing is shot to hell
GeraldFlannory: and I'm supposed to make things right
GeraldFlannory: I need some closure so as to know I made a difference
JasonMitchell: but if your end goal is to build up your character then you don't play any more then why build him up in the first place
GeraldFlannory: you build up a character, just to build him up some more
JasonMitchell: now if you're building him up to 70 so you can slay a dragon and rescue a princess then it makes sense
TraceyJohn: You are building up to boss battles in instances. And I like playing with other people
GeraldFlannory: are you making a difference in the game world?
GeraldFlannory: or story for that matter?
TraceyJohn: Wow G, you are opening a whole big can of worms
GeraldFlannory: ha
GeraldFlannory: let me calm down
GeraldFlannory: but yeah
GeraldFlannory: that's why I pretty much won't be playing mmo's
GeraldFlannory: until they have an ultimate goal that everyone has to reach to bring some closure or something
TraceyJohn: An MMO that ends?
GeraldFlannory: yeah
GeraldFlannory: i think it can be done
TraceyJohn: Interesting...
TraceyJohn: But I am so late for another meeting right now... Let's wrap this up: we're not playing "Jericho," "TimeShift," "Napoleon Dynamite," and some of us -- "GH3" and "Hellgate"
TraceyJohn: Until next time!