Topic: WRUP - What are you playing?

[RossRoy]

If at L.A. Noire was out already (it's available in North America, but Europe and Asia only get it on May 20.

It's not out in Canada yet  (well Amazon hasn't shipped it yet anyway ... and says it'll ship May 20th ... so no L.A.Noire for me until next week at the very least))

[Achim]

It's not out in Canada yet  (well Amazon hasn't shipped it yet anyway ... and says it'll ship May 20th ... so no L.A.Noire for me until next week at the very least))

Sorry to hear... I assumed it's North America, but apparently it's just US today then

I hope to get it Friday (5/20). I'd then play the hell out of it Saturday as I will be on vacation for 5 days from Sunday... Saw a video of somebody playing the first 10 minutes today, but didn't watch it as I'd rather experience it myself.

[RossRoy]

I read in a review that the first 30 minutes are some of the most enjoyable "first 30 minutes" of any game.

[Rogmeister]

Last night (early this morning?) I played the last game of You Don't Know Jack on my DS.  They have about 37 different games in there...each with it's own trivia questions.  Since it took me a few months to get through them all, I guess I can start over...I would likely have forgotten the right answers to many of the questions.  Still, it seems they'd have more than 37 different games...

[RossRoy]

Now this is just cruel ..

I had to leave my car at the dealer (some problem in the direction) and took the "limo" back home while they work on it. We were 2 on the limo. The other had a disc in hand ... L.A. Noire!!!

That'll teach me to pre-order online, when I could just get up off my fat ass and get to EBGames to preorder 

[Achim]

Now this is just cruel ..

That is like torture.


I just remembered from that video...: At one point (I was skimming it a little) the guy said "hmmmm, this is all a little slow" (while investigating on screen) "but I think I may be running and gunning soon".  I think he might be on for a surprise.

[RossRoy]

Oh yeah, sure, keep the torture going! Send the "shipped" email for LA Noire at 7:43PM on a Thursday .. thereby pretty much confirming I won't get it before next week ... 


O... M... G... CanadPost lists expected delivery to be .... TOMORROW!! :fingerscrossed:

[Achim]

Oh yeah, sure, keep the torture going! Send the "shipped" email for LA Noire at 7:43PM on a Thursday .. thereby pretty much confirming I won't get it before next week ... 


O... M... G... CanadPost lists expected delivery to be .... TOMORROW!! :fingerscrossed:

They haven't called yet (they do that when I made pre-orders), but I should get it from "my shop" tonight. ... 


Tried to finish Half-Life 2: Episode One last night, but it kept on going... Just checked online and it seems I am actually just 2 minutes plus boss-fight from the end Think I'll wrap that up before popping in that L.A. Noire.

[Najemikon]

I'm partway through a re-run of Half-Life. Just about finished it. It's still fascinating how Half-Life is still one of the best games ever made, but the Xen levels have always been spectacularly shit!

[RossRoy]

Think I'll wrap that up before popping in that L.A. Noire.

I've been jumping from game to game ever since finishing Dragon Age II .. probably unconsciously waiting for Noire to get here. And it's a long weekend (I'm off Monday) - it better get here!

[Achim]

I'm partway through a re-run of Half-Life. Just about finished it. It's still fascinating how Half-Life is still one of the best games ever made, but the Xen levels have always been spectacularly shit!

I have never played Half-Life. I do watch Freeman's Mind with great enthusiasm though

Just finished Episode One. I quite liked Half-Life 2, although I found the two driving levels less than enjoyable (the boat less than the car) and some sections rubbed me the wrong way. I do acknowledge it being a great game overall though. Episode One was not at the same level to me, at least the first half of it. Once you get into town it's a bit better, but I found myself more often wondering what needs to be done next (particularly annoying in the levels with those green über-sized bugs, the ones that eventually helped you the previous game).


I can now put my full attention to L.A. Noire (until tomorrow at least , since I'll go on a short vacation then) Picked it up earlier tonight, but decided to watch a movie first. As pre-order bonuses I received "The Naked City AND The Badge Pursuit Challenge" (the former an additional case, not clear what the latter is), which was in the box itself; more of early buyers, not just pre-orders. Then they had also taped "The Broderick" (detective suit, which magically makes some things easier somehow...? ) to the outside of the box. Of course I'll need PSN to activate them, which still isn't back in Asia

Sebastien, I hope you get yours today too! What add-ons do you get?

[RossRoy]

Sebastien, I hope you get yours today too! What add-ons do you get?

I have gotten it! I have it in my hands right now! Now all I want to do is go home and play ... but I'm stuck at work!

There's a code for the "Broderick Detective Suit" in the box ... and that's it. But there must be an error, because I'm supposed to have gotten something for preordering from Amazon.

I'll have to investigate that

Edit: Nevermind. Investigations are complete. No more bonus. Amazon ships with Broderick and that's it.

[Achim]

Edit: Nevermind. Investigations are complete. No more bonus. Amazon ships with Broderick and that's it.

Seems I got lucky getting two things... The shop I use is good like that...


I have played for about 2 hours now. First 60-90min are all training. If feels like actual gameplay, but in fact they are just training you. Then Cole gets transferred to traffic and that is where the real thing starts; I am working the first case now (unfortunately it seems painfully obvious what the solution will be). My first real questioning ended with 3/4 correct; now I wonder which question the bastard lied on

The game is quite good so far.

• The acting really is that good. In my first training interview I failed to mistrust on a certain question because I thought what I saw was typical "stiff" videogame acting/animation. Turns out I was actually seeing the actor/actress playing as if she was trying to hide the lie
• Character animation looks very good and controls are mostly fine. Apparently nothing can be remapped and the layout is not available for viewing in the menu. Will have to consult the printed booklet how to reload the gun... Few things works "automatic", like jumping over stuff or climbing; different, but can get used to it.
• Voice acting is good too and so far the dialog seems well written. As always, I occasionally find it difficult to follow the dialog while concentrating on other game mechanics.
• I miss the "GPS". I understand it doesn't make sense with the time setting, but heck, in RDR we had the path indicated on the mini-map, why not here? Makes you stop the game and look at the map way too often. BTW, that map is huge.
• I read in a review that cases will eventually feel somewhat repetitive, I'll have to see about that.

[RossRoy]

• The acting really is that good. In my first training interview I failed to mistrust on a certain question because I thought what I saw was typical "stiff" videogame acting/animation. Turns out I was actually seeing the actor/actress playing as if she was trying to hide the lie

One of the reviews I read mentionned that. It said that one of the hardest part of the game has nothing to do with the actual game mechanic. They said that as you play the game, you have to get out of the "game mentality" and rely more on the "human intuition" when reading people's non verbal language.

[Achim]

Some tips for negotiation.

They expand on the stuff we said here ("You're gut feeling is probably right."), explain a little about using intuition and point out at the end: if you fail to discover a lie you might sometimes actually get more gameplay, since you have to find more evidence...