Messages

166

Video Game Chat / Re: Does the last-gen ports hold back games on current gen?

« on: September 06, 2015, 08:10:04 PM »

Depending on what you mean, this could be something interesting to talk about. I think you're asking if games being developed for both last-gen and current-gen tech is preventing amazing stuff only current-gen tech is capable of, and we haven't seen yet. If that's it, I'm inclined to disagree. I like good graphics, but, in my opinion, last gen really was capable of some pretty spectacular stuff that still holds up and probably will age well, and the real problem with those games is that they ran at 30fps. I think new games made for current-gen consoles should aspire to look as good as the best-looking last-gen games, but run at 60fps (and have shorter load times if that's not too much to ask).

The problem with that, I guess, is that it's hard to market a good framerate and hard to talk up like it's a good thing to anyone who doesn't already know it. People with consoles are used to games that run at 30fps. A lot of people can't even tell the difference. Reviewers almost never talk about the framerate but do always talk about the graphics. Probably no streaming service plays video at 60fps--whether a game does or doesn't, you're going to see its trailer at 30fps on YouTube and in TV commercials. Screenshots run at 1 frame per forever. Even I couldn't really tell you how much better 60fps feels to play unless I've played the same game or a very similar one at 30 before (but man, it is, going from Dark Souls 1 to 2 is really something, playing Dead Rising 2 on my PC instead of my 360 is glorious). It's not something you can observe until you feel it, and you can't feel it until you're playing, and you can't play until you pay. So I guess, realistically, I think we should ask for console games to be like their PC counterparts in one simple way: have graphics quality options. Because by now, the worse options should still be good enough.

But if the topic is supposed to be about something else, then I have no idea lol

167

Mario Chat / Re: Super Mario Maker

« on: September 05, 2015, 07:40:47 PM »

I guess the physics do differ. That could be kind of great but kind of a problem too, sometimes... I like SMB1's physics and inability to backtrack, they give the gameplay a heavy leaning on inertia. You can't always make a long or high jump without some speed and you can't brake and turn around from a run, so you have to decide how to deal with what's coming at you quickly and chew on your mistakes. Cool levels could be made to capitalize on that. But any level possible in SMB1 physics would probably be much less dangerous in SMB3 and World's... Can you force or recommend a mode?

I think the deal breaker here, for me, is that it's on Wii U. We've had easy-to-use level editors for Mario games for years. I've used 'em. I probably have Reggie! and Lunar Magic. You know how often I'm at home and have access to those and think, "I'm gonna make and play some Mario ROM hacks!"? Very rarely. I think this one is a way obvious match for the 3DS instead. You're on a bus, or waiting to have your teeth drilled or something--THAT'S when you'll want some Mario levels that you'll only play once.

I don't think Nintendo is doomed or stupid or anything, but, this seems to be the theme for why I don't have or play a whole lot of 3DS or Wii U games. They're on the opposite machine from what would have made them the best they could have been. Mario Maker and Game & Wario should just trade places with the Zelda remakes and Luigi's Mansion. Kid Icarus Uprising too, probably. I mean sure it's episodic enough to play in short bursts but it comes with a stand, so it clearly wants you to hold still while it gives you carpal tunnel

168

Video Game Chat / Re: Pokemon Topic

« on: September 05, 2015, 11:50:52 AM »

Protean is nuts and it has access to moves that can take out other ubers. But it's also got crazy stuff for setting up hazards that other ubers don't. It's just got a humongous amazing movepool and great stats. Frogadier even has some attention for NU, which doesn't mean it's really great, but is still somewhat of a rarity for not-fully-evolved pokémon, especially ones who were never fully evolved to begin with.

169

Video Game Chat / Re: Pokemon Topic

« on: September 05, 2015, 12:52:22 AM »

My Doubles team has been drastically improved by the addition of Mega Mawile (Molgera) and Aegislash (Fi--I already had her from long ago, so, [dukar]ty ghost story sequel oooOOOOO). They are in Smogon's uber tier, but, the banlist for doubles is much smaller. I'm not smart or skilled enough to talk about the competitive rules, really, but it still feels a little shady to break 'em. I see why there's some leeway for doubles, though, it is much harder to plow through with a really good individual. I quickly defeated the only Mega Kangaskhan I've fought in Doubles. Mega Mawile and Aegislash are tough cookies, but, you'll choke on your own cookies if the other player can take away your milk.

170

Mario Chat / Re: The Silly Mario Fan Theories Thread

« on: September 03, 2015, 12:44:31 AM »

Here's Bird Person saying the caged Thwomp is green because of the light nine years ago:

Nice memory. The earliest talk about the green thwomp I could dig up with Google was from 2007, already older than I expected (I didn't dig that much though, I got stuff to do), but I guess it must have been around even longer than that. But I still think the belief that it was special or was hiding something wasn't as common as is reported and is more of something the internet created.

171

Video Game Chat / Re: Pokemon Topic

« on: September 01, 2015, 06:12:26 PM »

Octillery was in brief consideration for my rotation team, which is about spamming STAB Hydro Pump with a 100% critical hit ratio and Sniper in the rain, made perfectly accurate by Gravity. Very brief. Kingdra has the speed to sweep while Octillery does not, plus superior defensive typing and STAB Draco Meteor.

It's a good team but no one really plays Rotations. Free Battle is all uber-tier legendaries with no synergy and whether I win or lose Rating Battles (if I can get into one) depends solely on whether or not the opponent has a Mega Kangaskhan. Which has me considering using an Ability Capsule on the Kingdra. Sniper might be overkill, while Swift Swim would give me an edge on anything that would normally be too fast.


My doubles team is terrible.

172

Video Game Chat / Re: Pokemon Topic

« on: September 01, 2015, 03:29:27 AM »

Shabom, Azumarill; Moosh, Pangoro; Sentrobe, Magnezone

173

Video Game Chat / Re: Pokemon Topic

« on: August 31, 2015, 07:53:58 PM »

And now a true and real ghost story that happened to me today.

I was getting started on a proper Doubles team. I knew I wanted to make it a Trick Room team, and naturally wanted a Reuniclus on it. A Marowak was lined up to be in it, so I thought I'd name them Morpha and Stallord, and give the rest of the team Zelda names too, like how my Rotations team all has Mario names.

It would be a good idea to have a second Trick Room setter besides Reuniclus, too, and so I scrolled around the list of who could learn it for good candidates. Bulky Pokémon with awful Speed and decent Attack or Special Attack. Supersize Gourgeist stood out, with huge HP, nice defenses and pretty bad Speed and very high Attack. Unfortunately, its movepool is pretty terrible, hardly making any use of its high Attack, and its abilities are nothing special... but Trevenant has very similar stats and great options to use its Attack.

I checked my boxes for Phantump or Trevenant with good IVs so I could begin breeding one with a Relaxed nature. And I had one... a Relaxed Trevenant with IVs of 31 in everything except Special Attack, which I had received in a Wonder Trade from a player in Germany a few weeks ago. It could only be better if it had a low Speed IV, but at level 50 with a Relaxed nature and no EVs, it would only be a difference of 14, so this one is acceptable to me. But what about the team's Zelda-themed nicknames?

Well... the player who bred this Trevenant gave it a nickname for me...

Deku.

174

Mario Chat / Re: The Silly Mario Fan Theories Thread

« on: August 31, 2015, 01:02:23 PM »

I can't be the only one who saw the caged thwomp in MK64 and thought, "It looks green because of the lighting, as many things can appear to be different colors under different light, and it's behind bars to add scenery, much like the billboards everywhere or the penguin stranded on the ice floe in Sherbet Land" like even at age 7, right? Not only did I not imagine something was special about it on my own, but any time I got to spend on the Internet was usually spent looking for cheatcodes and glitches, for every game I owned, and I never heard anything about playable green thwomps. I'm not saying it's implausible that enough people would think there was something significant about it and a popular foregone conclusion couldn't have grown from it, as popular untrue methods to deal with the truck and get Mew in Red and Blue exist, and there are plenty of rumors involving that star statue in the courtyard being the key to unlocking Luigi in SM64. But I'm pretty sure there was nothing about that thwomp going around at all until recently.

Is the green thwomp thing something that started with one guy who was like "I always thought it was special and tried to unlock it!" and a bunch of people lied "Yes, I too was a child who played this game once and spent time thinking about that instead of driving around Peach's Castle's couryard! Oh the nostalgia!" until it became a meme, with everyone convincing themselves it was a big childhood mystery that they and only they missed out on, when in reality it is a recent idea?

175

Forum Games / Re: You Laugh, You Lose

« on: August 25, 2015, 10:51:49 AM »

176

Video Game Chat / Re: Pokemon Topic

« on: August 22, 2015, 07:33:17 AM »

In the Generation VI games, the GTS is accessible via the Player Search System. Unlike in previous generations, the player may now ask for or seek Pokémon not yet registered in their Pokédex by selecting "What Pokémon?" at the end of the alphabetical options and typing out a Pokémon's name, though the gender of the Pokémon cannot be selected in this kind of search.

You're right. Too late now, oops.

177

Video Game Chat / Re: Pokemon Topic

« on: August 21, 2015, 10:28:23 AM »

I hate mega evolution too. I like knowing that items never cross generations anymore. All those stones? Yeah, they're anchored to your gen 6 games. You don't know if they'll be handed out like the legendaries' special items, or withheld like pinch berries were in BW1 and Gems are in gen 6. Whether all, any, or only certain megas come back is a crapshoot. Have fun when your favorite one who still isn't any good is axed and all the overpowered ones you hate are still in!

But, my prediction is that Z will happen and the marketing will be about Mega Chesnaught, Delphox, Greninja, Xerneas, Yveltal, Zygarde and others. I just want my move tutors again without having to get OR, because I just played through Hoenn and I hate it, and nothing I've heard about ORAS makes me think I missed out. Except the move tutors. I finally got a Jirachi and can't teach it Iron Head >:(

178

Video Game Chat / Re: Pokemon Topic

« on: August 21, 2015, 06:53:40 AM »

It was a little easier than expected. From what I already had lying around in Bank, X, White 2, HeartGold and Platinum, the main thing I had to do was get legendaries, which required me to play through Ruby again to get the golems, Groudon, Latios and Rayquaza. I already had the birds, Ho-oh and the gerbils, got Mewtwo and Lugia in HeartGold, Conveniently, Kyogre and Latias were in HeartGold, so Ruby got me the complete set of Hoenn legendaries. I'd played Platinum to the end and therefore had access to Dialga, Palkia and Giratina, while Heatran, the Lake Redundancies, Regigigas and Cresselia were available in White 2. I had Zekrom, Reshiram, and Kyurem already because the fusion concept was one I had to see in action at least once, and I had the genies already from the Dream Radar, and so the last thing was the Musketeers, who were waiting for me in White 2. BW2 is really kind of ridiculous with how much is available. Besides starters and a couple of bizarre outliers, I probably could have done almost everything with just W2 and X.

What was most difficult for me to get were Vullaby/Mandibuzz, because I played White and White 2 and it was Black/Black 2 exclusive, and I didn't have a friend safari with it, and... wait for it... Glameow. Glameow is ****ing insane. It was version-exclusive to Pearl, with its Diamond counterpart being Stunky. Neither was in Platinum. Neither was in HeartGold or SoulSilver. Both were available in the Dream World for gen 5 but the dream is dead. Stunky was available in Hidden Grottoes in B2 while the same was true for Glameow in W2... briefly. It was some kind of event. Stunky was in X and Y, and Glameow finally sees the light of day again in ORAS, which I don't have, but you can't even get Glameow on GTS with X and Y alone because you never see one in-game. Holy crap. Nothing else has absences this long except for legends and myths. If even. I got Vullaby and Glameow by changing my profile message in X to fish for trades. Not before some idiot read "Glameow please?:)" and took it to mean "this guy wants a Volcanion egg!" No, I don't want illegitimate eggs containing unreleased mythical pokémon, thanks, also suck my combusken

179

Video Game Chat / Re: Pokemon Topic

« on: August 20, 2015, 08:14:37 PM »

I've completed the national dex for the first time since Crystal. It is also very nearly a living pokédex, meaning I have one of everything in person, too. One of everything with a unique number, every stage of every evolution line. The only two I'm missing are Xerneas, whom I traded it for a Protean Froakie before they were common, and Yveltal, because I don't have Y. I mostly expect a typical Z version to come out, make Zygarde the center of a slightly altered storyline (maybe one that makes a little bit more sense) and Xerneas and Yveltal both catchable, like Emerald and Platinum did. But I can't really fully count on that, as Game Freak has gotten less and less predictable, maybe nothing will come out before gen 7, maybe Red and Green re-remakes will come out, maybe X and Y will get X 2 and Y 2 despite having nothing to work off of, it's all a mystery

This doesn't include mythical Pokémon--yeah, I'm on board with the term--or Deoxys, who don't count in X. I have Meloetta and Jirachi though.

Must obtain each of 'em!

180

Video Game Chat / Re: Final Fantasy

« on: August 20, 2015, 09:16:42 AM »

My other favorite JRPG is Punch-Out!!. It's really unorthodox as far as JRPGs go but I feel a lot of its radical decisions were good ones. All of the slow world-traveling is done offscreen, there are no random encounters, all the level grinding is done for you in cutscenes after you beat bosses, all of the enemies are either bosses or mini-bosses, you can break the turn-based nature of the combat by doing counters to enemy attacks, armor upgrades don't do anything to save you from dying in five hit, but they do change your appearance, and your cleric is a black guy instead of a white wizard.