After enjoying a Thanksgiving holiday of playing tons of games, we return with a new installment of "What We're NOT Playing."
To any new readers out there, this is where we talk about new releases we're avoiding for our own particular (and idiosyncratic) reasons. This week, Totilo talks about how he won't be playing any one of the six versions of "Smackdown Vs. Raw 2008" he received, even though he likes real (fake) wrestling:
StephenTotilo: I don't enjoy fighting games in general.
StephenTotilo: But the bigger issue is that just because I like something in one medium doesn't mean I'll like it in the other
StephenTotilo: Like just because I like Star Wars doesn't mean I'll really like Star Wars games, you know?
StephenTotilo: What I like about wrestling (when it's good) are the crazy storylines and a well-choreographed match
GeraldFlannory: yeah, the stories in wrestling are a little to silly now for my taste
StephenTotilo: For storyline, I might as well watch some real (fake) wrestling rather than play along to a storyline of some fake (fake) wrestling
GeraldFlannory: ha
GeraldFlannory: you losing me there on that one
TraceyJohn: You just blew my mind, Totilo
We also gang up on "Cruis'n," Gerald for not wanting to touch "The Simpsons" game and yours truly for not caring about "Geometry Wars." Read on to find out why...
Photo Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
StephenTotilo: So I know you all love to talk 'rasslin. So I have a bomb to drop on you.
StephenTotilo: THQ sent me six copies of "Smackdown Vs. Raw 2008." Different platforms
StephenTotilo: And I'm not planning on playing any -- not for fun
GeraldFlannory: I'd like to try the Wii version
StephenTotilo: And this is coming from someone who likes watching pro wrestling and had a lot of fun going to the developers' studio in Yokohama one April afternoon in 2006
TraceyJohn: Why? Did you play any of the other iterations from previous years?
StephenTotilo: I haven't played a wrestling game since the N64!
JasonCipriano: i heard there was a good one on the 64
JasonCipriano: but that was the last one no?
GeraldFlannory: that version on 64 was fun
StephenTotilo: I don't enjoy fighting games in general.
GeraldFlannory: i used to play the 64 version 4 player all night with my friends
GeraldFlannory: it was the first wrestling game I had gotten hooked on
StephenTotilo: But the bigger issue is that just because I like something in one medium doesn't mean I'll like it in the other
StephenTotilo: Like just because I like Star Wars doesn't mean I'll really like Star Wars games, you know?
JasonCipriano: what's Star Wars?
JasonCipriano: ... i kid ... i kid
TraceyJohn: True, you can still eff up Star Wars in any form. Like Episode 3
GeraldFlannory: that's 'cause there really hadn't been a good Star Wars game.
StephenTotilo: Indeed. What I like about wrestling (when it's good) are the crazy storylines and a well-choreographed match
GeraldFlannory: except "KOTOR" and the "Rogue Squadron" games
TraceyJohn: Lego Star Wars too
GeraldFlannory: that too, indeed
JasonCipriano: yeah - that helps ... all licensed games kinda have that problem
JasonCipriano: "The Simpsons" is a great example
GeraldFlannory: yeah, the stories in wrestling are a little to silly now for my taste
StephenTotilo: For storyline, I might as well watch some real (fake) wrestling rather than play along to a storyline of some fake (fake) wrestling
"For storyline, I might as well watch some real (fake) wrestling rather than play along to a storyline of some fake (fake) wrestling." |
GeraldFlannory: ha
TraceyJohn: ha fake fake wrestling
GeraldFlannory: you losing me there on that one
TraceyJohn: You just blew my mind, Totilo
StephenTotilo: Cip, aren't we on the same page on "Simpsons"? We both are playing that game more to watch it than to play it, right?
JasonCipriano: right - but at the same time it's a matter of that franchise not being supported with quality games worth playing
JasonCipriano: like Star Wars
JasonCipriano: not like fake fake wrestling
GeraldFlannory: i'm mad that people are playing that "Simpsons" game
TraceyJohn: why?
TraceyJohn: I'm mad at you for being mad at me!
GeraldFlannory: joint is all kinds of broken
GeraldFlannory: heh heh heh
TraceyJohn: your mind's broken!
JasonCipriano: yeah, cuz in terms of playing that game ... that makes you the minority in the room
StephenTotilo: but Gerald the game is funny.
TraceyJohn: Gerald doesn't like funny!
TraceyJohn: (I'm just bustin' your chops, G)
GeraldFlannory: it's all good
GeraldFlannory: i know it is
StephenTotilo: so what are you all not playing?
JasonCipriano: and it's not all kinds of broken - its mainly the camera
GeraldFlannory: but don't make fun of other games when yours is no better!
"Don't make fun of other games when yours is no better!" |
TraceyJohn: The camera is wack
GeraldFlannory: wack as sin!
JasonCipriano: it's actually kinda fun when you're playing co-op and half as frustrating
TraceyJohn: Yeah, but sometimes in co-op I have to drop out to make Jesse's life easier
TraceyJohn: so co-op is only good sometimes
TraceyJohn: others, he wants me to dropout because of the wonky camera
JasonCipriano: well, we see who wears the blue pants in that relationship
TraceyJohn: but I eat all the donuts...
GeraldFlannory: i'm just tired of EA focusing on presentation and nothing else
JasonCipriano: they presented some pretty interesting ads in europe earlier this week
StephenTotilo: when's the part when any of you answer my question?
TraceyJohn: I'm not playing
TraceyJohn: Um....
JasonCipriano: oh i got one
GeraldFlannory: i'm not playing that new "Crusi'n" game for Wii
JasonCipriano: damnit ... G got it out first
GeraldFlannory: man does that game look wack!
JasonCipriano: yeah im not playing "Cruis'n" either
TraceyJohn: Why G? Why is it wack?
TraceyJohn: Too funny?
GeraldFlannory: i was a huge fan of the series back in the arcade
JasonCipriano: the arcade games were amazing
GeraldFlannory: i know it's not right to judge a game without playing it
TraceyJohn: but that is what we do in WWNP
TraceyJohn: we're discriminating against games we haven't played!
JasonCipriano: c'mon - it looks bad
GeraldFlannory: but, them kats at Midway look like they farted out the game
TraceyJohn: ... you said farted.
JasonCipriano: it's like no one cared about it enough to put an effort into it
StephenTotilo: Gerald, we are providing a service to game companies, letting them know the irrational reasons people might avoid their products
"We are providing a service to game companies, letting them know the irrational reasons people might avoid their products." |
GeraldFlannory: the series was pretty huge man
GeraldFlannory: the game looks like no improvements to the franchise was made
TraceyJohn: but it's on the Wii! That makes it special and different (duh)
GeraldFlannory: games like "Crusi'n"' have come a long way
JasonCipriano: that one didn't
JasonCipriano: sadly it'll sell
GeraldFlannory: "Burnout" is the prime example
JasonCipriano: some group of soccer moms will mistakenly think that's what their bratty suburban kids want for christmas
JasonCipriano: and it'll sell 250,000 units
JasonCipriano: and they'll make 4 more
StephenTotilo: so cynical
StephenTotilo: so jaded
TraceyJohn: a jaded cynic
GeraldFlannory: it's just hard for me to believe that Midway as a company would not even consider how the genre has changed
JasonCipriano: really?
JasonCipriano: that's hard for you to believe?
GeraldFlannory: especially being that the "Cruis'n" series was sort of the forefather of "arcadey" type racers
JasonCipriano: the market is flooded with crap
"The market is flooded with crap." |
TraceyJohn: crap, farts... this WWNP is down the toilet
TraceyJohn: (note to self - use toilet for WWNP main image)
StephenTotilo: oh, please, Cip. the market is full of wonderful games. so what if so many games stink. there are so many good games. I can't relate to comments like the ones that Kotaku ran from Keita Takahashi about gaming having lost its way
JasonCipriano: no it is
TraceyJohn: yeah if there's so many crap games, why are we overwhelmed? oh wait, you inundate your to-play list with crap games for Achievements!
JasonCipriano: i'm not saying there arent great games out there right now
JasonCipriano: but the B and C level games are out in droves as well
StephenTotilo: If you live the luxurious lifestyle I do and get every game sent to you, you see there are so many wonderful games. Like "Geometry Wars: Galaxies," the little Wii game that could
JasonCipriano: yeah - i'm considering picking that up now ... someone should have mentioned earlier that you can play it with the classic controller
GeraldFlannory: but it stuff like "Cruis'n" that rains in on the parade
JasonCipriano: ya hear that, sierra? make sure people know they don't have to sacrifice something that makes the game playable .. just because it's on the wii
GeraldFlannory: anyway
GeraldFlannory: what else are you guys not playing?
TraceyJohn: Speaking of "Geo Wars," which I suck at, it's like "Puzzle Quest" for me on the Wii, which came out this week. I don't need the same game on every platform
StephenTotilo: Oh Tracey, and I had such high hopes for you...
StephenTotilo: "Geometry Wars" on the Wii is a new game!
StephenTotilo: tons of new levels and the wonderful addition of a partner-character that you can level up. it's great stuff
TraceyJohn: i know that, but it's the same gist. i suck at that game anyway and I don't think any new feature is going to make me like it any more
GeraldFlannory: it's more of a fully fleshed-out game
JasonCipriano: ya - "Geo War"s on the wii is like "Geo Wars 1.5"
JasonCipriano: "Puzzle Quest" on the wii ... is just "Puzzle Quest" on the wii
StephenTotilo: well technically the Wii one would be "Geo Wars 2.5" at least, but Cip speaks the truth
StephenTotilo: There was "Geometry Wars" on Xbox, and "Geometry Wars Retro Evolved" on XBLA and now this one on Wii. Hence 2.5
JasonCipriano: i'm not going to argue about my numbering
GeraldFlannory: so we all agreed we're not touching wrestling.
GeraldFlannory: Anything else?
GeraldFlannory: i'm sure some fps game came out!
StephenTotilo: well I'm done with you fine folks for this week. now everyone get back to Not Working
TraceyJohn: Sorry, but I just don't care about "Geometry Wars" that much *shrugs*
JasonCipriano: you could try and establish some retro cred and say its really just "Robotron" over and over again
"['Geometry Wars' is] really just 'Robotron' over and over again." |
JasonCipriano: wait ... i think i just stole the retro thunder
TraceyJohn: I don't need to establish retro cred like you just blatantly did
JasonCipriano: hehe
TraceyJohn: i'm comfortable with my lack of caring about "Geometry Wars"
GeraldFlannory: okay guys, i have to leave for a bit
GeraldFlannory: it was fun as always.
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