Azurephile | Cheerful Ghost

Jimmy Kimmel Responds to Video Gamer Backlash

Since I visit GameFAQs.com every day to participate in the daily poll, I also tend to check out the latest in video gaming news. When I see something interesting, I like to share it here with you. Today, I found an interesting news piece about Jimmy Kimmel posting a video about the "avalanche" of backlash he received from gamers about a joke he recently made.

It was probably a few days ago that I saw that Jimmy Kimmel said, "[t]o me, watching another person play video games is like going to a restaurant and having someone eat your food for you." Although I mostly disagree with his statement, I think it's funny. It's obvious that a lot of the gaming community doesn't agree. Some wished death and disease upon him and his family, which I think is going completely overboard.

I do enjoy watching people play video games on YouTube, like Paul Soares, Jr. Sometimes watching people play helps us figure out how to play a game or beat a difficult challenge. Sometimes it's also good to watch someone else play a game that we're unsure about buying or just one we've never heard of before. I can tell you I've found out about a few games just by watching Paul's channel alone, which I'm very grateful for. Maybe Jimmy isn't a gamer and he doesn't get it, that's ok with me. He watches football, which I don't get. We all have our own preferences, we're all unique, and that is why we should have some tolerance for others.

I bring this "controversy" here because we are not YouTube. We are a small and tight gaming community comprised of adults. I'm going to "go out on a limb" and assume no one here was offended by his joke. I believe that the Cheerful Ghost response to the joke is going to be quite different than the backlash he received, especially since we know how to spell and write.

What do you think of Jimmy's joke? Were you offended by it? Did it make you laugh? What do you think about the backlash he received? Was that fair?

http://www.gamespot.com/articles/jimmy-kimmel-responds-to-avalanche-of-gamer-backla/1100-6430226/?utm_source=gamefaqs&utm_medium=partner&utm_content=news_module&utm_campaign=homepage

jdodson Admin wrote on 09/01/2015 at 11:48pm

Promoting this to main.

We talked about the Internet Hate Factory in an early episode of the Cheerful Ghost Roundtable and since then gaming has gotten even more toxic, which is a feat in itself.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/02/2015 at 12:01am

Sweet, I figured it would get promoted (like nearly everything I post to the forum section). Again, I wasn't sure, so I thought I'd post it there. I remember that Roundtable discussion.

So, Jon, what are your thoughts on this?

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 09/02/2015 at 01:38am

I want to see a flame war between Kimmel and Conan now! ;)

Travis Admin wrote on 09/02/2015 at 01:53am

Honestly, I mostly agree with him. I'll watch videos to get an idea of what a game is like, or watch a video if I get really stuck (though I prefer text for those), but generally I'm happy for you that you have a 374 part Let's Play of Skyrim, and I'm glad people enjoy watching it, but I'll pass.

Going back to the Skyrim example, I loved seeing early gameplay videos before launch. And if something truly unique, funny, or interesting happens, I enjoy that. But an 30 minutes of someone walking through the snow and fighting bandits, or 30 minutes of someone mining out cave walls looking for gold ore for their pickax? Nah. That's time I could be spending PLAYING the game. The analogy of having someone eat food in front of you is pretty apt, for me.

As for the backlash, nobody ever deserves death threats, period. But he didn't even deserve flaming for this. He's a comedian and he shared an opinion in an amusing way. Maybe people didn't find it funny, but that's their business.

Travis Admin wrote on 09/02/2015 at 02:00am

One caveat: If it's like a Starcraft 2 tournament, or something like that, then it can definitely be fun to watch. Even Halo matches can be fun to watch. Videos of people playing single player are useless to me as a form of entertainment.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/02/2015 at 02:52am

I enjoy watching people play video games, especially (as I often mention) Paul Soares, Jr. The first series of his I watched was his Minecraft tutorial series. I watched the entire 30+ episode playlist before playing. I loved watching him play and explain how to do this and that in the game. He also adds a role playing aspect of it and it's really entertaining to me. I've watched some of his other series (10 or 20+ videos) and have thoroughly enjoyed them. I did watch someone else play some Stranded Deep, which was cool, too. In fact, (as I've already told Travis) part of my nightly routine before I fall asleep is what I call my Kindle time. That's when I get on and play a few games with friends (like Words With Friends) and then I go to Paul's channel to see if he's posted something I want to watch (like his ARK series). Sometimes I'll look for other things that I'm interested in.

Vinny, my son, on the other hand watches people play games on YouTube all the time. Although, he also watches game related music videos and cartoons as well (he's watched some of the classic Ghostbusters cartoons, some Dragonball Z, and others).

I respect Jimmy and his opinion. I think he's a funny guy, I like him. I don't think he was trying to be offensive, just funny, and he actually has a good point. He may not understand that some of us like to watch those videos because it helps us learn to play or play better or even that they can be entertaining. But that goes back to his football analogy, he doesn't get watching people play video games and I don't get watching people play football. That's ok to me, not everyone fully understands why everyone else likes certain things.

I don't know the ages of the people who gave him that huge amount of backlash, but my guess is that they were probably teens or younger, immature, and unable to take a joke. I'm sure none of us (adults) here was at all offended by what he said and I think that kind of speaks for itself.

jdodson Admin wrote on 09/02/2015 at 03:00am

I think so too Greg. That said there are a ton of adults on all sides of whichever issue that can't take a joke either. Personally I enjoy laughing at myself but some people are very self serious.

I watch a handful of "people playing games" videos but not many. I agree with Jimmy, I'd rather play it myself. I might watch a Hearthstone video to see something or learn something but I think the best way to learn Hearthstone is to play it.

With all that, if people want to watch hours and hours of gameplay videos that's fine by me. Not like anyone needs anyone's approval to do anything, which might be part of the problem here.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/02/2015 at 04:47am

Yeah, I agree with you, too, Jon. America loves to hate and that's what many of them seem to think the Internet is for. If you don't believe me, post something on Facebook about religion or politics and you're sure to get some negative comments. Everyone has their own opinion about things, we all see everything with different perspectives. We need to be more tolerant and respectful with that, I think. Jimmy's a comedian, not a gamer, and he was clearly making a joke. I don't think what he said was really all that bad. It's not like he said something like, "all gamers are lazy and stupid and deserve to die a long and horrible death." So, he wasn't really attacking anyone, just stating his own preference with a funny example. One could also say something about cooking shows like, "why watch someone make dinner when you could be doing it yourself?" Obviously there are good reasons to watch those kinds of shows, if that's what you're into.

I would often rather play a game than watch someone else play, too. But, as I've said, there are times when I want to watch someone play so I can learn from them. YouTube really helped me tackle tough challenges I came across with Hyrule Warriors, for example. Speaking of which, I'd like to see Travis play Assassin's Creed so I can figure out how the heck to play the demo I downloaded for my PS3.

I like that Jimmy showed us examples of the "avalanche" of hate he received, calling out all those hateful gamers. It's not like he really said anything bad about gamers, but now that so many people have expressed such negativity towards his joke, he could easily get the impression that most gamers are angry and don't know how to spell.

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 09/02/2015 at 05:56pm

I don't find it funny nor offensive. Seems like an opinion.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 09/02/2015 at 06:07pm

Part 1 of 2

Kimmel's satire of YouTube Gaming, or game streaming in general, is about as relevant as making fun of Colorado for legalizing pot. It's been going on long enough now, that pointing it out just makes you look out of touch. YouTube Gaming is Google's answer to Twitch, which exists because viewership of game streaming was outpacing general content on Justin.tv. This has been going on for near half a decade. The Wall Street Journal reported in January of this year (2015, for posterity), that Twitch viewership had reached 100 million per month, globally. Kimmel heard about it YouTube's "new thing", doesn't know anything about it other than the basest bullet point "watch other people play games" and makes a derogatory joke about it, calling it stupid. He then carries the stereotype further by telling these viewers to "go outside and play," which carries the usual insinuations of gamers being lazy, over-weight, cave-dwellers.

I don't watch Jimmy Kimmel's show, so his comments mean very little to me, and probably would have never known his opinion on the matter if they weren't brought to our humble site. Jimmy Kimmel is to me what game streaming appears to be to him.

Not everything on Twitch, or YouTube Gaming, is quality content, I think that's fair to say (maybe an understatement), but it doesn't need to be. Not everything on TV or the Internet, or life for that matter, is a quality experience. I enjoy watching League of Legends tournaments on Twitch. I also watch people play games that I haven't purchased, to see what it's all about. Sometimes I'll watch someone because I like their personality and love to hear their banter, despite the game they are playing. Watching game streams is exactly like watching an NBA game, or NCAA game, or any sporting event, or social event that you could just as easily recreate yourself. You don't have to be in the NBA to play basketball, as Jimmy implies. Get off the couch, pick up a basketball, and go to the park: it works the same way. It's a double standard to think otherwise.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 09/02/2015 at 06:07pm

Part 2 of 2

Sometimes a joke isn't "just a joke." Otherwise, Jon Stewarts career at The Daily Show was just a big laugh-fest, and not the poignant satire that a lot of us looked forward to in shedding light on the political landscape of the country. This Kimmel joke about YouTube Gaming is irrelevant, and hardly clever satire. It's a backhanded comment about a very large group of people's pastime, given by someone from the outside looking in, and not understanding any of it. Who cares? Jimmy Kimmel isn't going to affect game streaming the way Jon Stewart shutdown Crossfire. The fact that this is garnering attention is stupid. The fact that he made a response in a following episode, reiterating the fact that some people on the internet have anger issues (or simply don't care, and gladly say whatever they want to say under anonymity), is even more stupid. Now I'm commenting on all of it, which feels stupid, but I've been sick in bed for days and am having a claws-out moment. Or maybe it's because I just got back from PAX, surrounded by the people that Jimmy is making fun of, being one of those people, and finding the whole thing ignorant and unfunny.

The moral: People shouldn't fire cheap shots into a void of their own ignorance, and then highlight the consequences. The ones that get hit shouldn't lash out in a flailing fury, and instead shrug it off (albeit, annoyingly), realizing that they were just hit with a Nerf ball.

jdodson Admin wrote on 09/02/2015 at 06:22pm

"People shouldn't fire cheap shots into a void of their own ignorance, and then highlight the consequences. The ones that get hit shouldn't lash out in a flailing fury, and instead shrug it off (albeit, annoyingly), realizing that they were just hit with a Nerf ball."

Absolutely.

jdodson Admin wrote on 09/02/2015 at 06:24pm

That said, I do enjoy a few cheap shots among friends. But I heard something from the Daily Show without Jon Stewart podcast where they talked about how they approached jokes. When they were being punchy with humor they always wanted to punch upward. So taking a swing at power systems, oppression, suffering, war, etc. In this case Kimmel is punching downward or across and the joke is that he doesn't get it. Which can be funny if you are attached to the presenter but like all of you, Kimmel isn't my go to for anything except the occasional mean tweets video.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 09/02/2015 at 06:45pm

"In this case Kimmel is punching downward or across and the joke is that he doesn't get it."

The joke to us may be that he doesn't get it, but that's not the joke that he was trying to deliver.

jdodson Admin wrote on 09/02/2015 at 06:50pm

Fair enough, does anyone have a link to the original joke that spawned this? I haven't seen it, just the response.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 09/02/2015 at 07:10pm

https://youtu.be/Ji9KmXwrA5Y

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 09/02/2015 at 07:37pm

That reminds me of The Onion's video "Newsroom : Warcraft Sequel Lets You Play A Character Playing Warcraft " https://youtu.be/Rw8gE3lnpLQ

It's a slightly different premise, but similar :)

Travis Admin wrote on 09/02/2015 at 07:49pm

I dunno, the whole point of the joke is that he doesn't get it. He doesn't understand why people would watch people playing video games. To a point, I totally agree with him, with a few exceptions. From the way he presented it I gather he *does* play video games, at least, and if that's the case he's not making a joke about a community he doesn't have any attachment to.

jdodson Admin wrote on 09/02/2015 at 07:49pm

The Onions video is funny but it was done YEARS ago and was pretty original back then.

OK I just watched Kimmels bit and it was kind of ho hum until God was watching people, I liked that part. So after watching Kimmels original it seems he "doesn't get it" and is pulling the "old man, back in my day we didn't do that" sort of joke. Which is fine, but yeah it's not top brow or anything. That said, it's not that uncommon for comedy shows and if I had a nickel every time Bill Maher did that particular line i'd have a few bucks. Which isn't that big of a deal as I already have a few bucks in my wallet.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/02/2015 at 07:59pm

What a great reply, scrypt, thank you! I see your points and agree with you, pretty much. It's clear that he doesn't "get it" like I don't "get" football. Some people watch people play sports, video games, cooking, etc. Not all of us "get" others preferences. I read something about YouTube's new Gaming service that showed how big video gaming is on YouTube. If it wasn't for video gaming, YouTube just wouldn't quite be the same, I think. Anyway, thanks for the great reply!

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 09/02/2015 at 07:59pm

The Onions video is funny but it was done YEARS ago and was pretty original back then.

I don't get your "but."

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/02/2015 at 08:08pm

Here is the article I mentioned in my last reply about the new gaming service.
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/youtube-gaming-launches-tomorrow/1100-6430014/

scrypt Supporter wrote on 09/02/2015 at 08:51pm

@Travis, I guess I don't know how it's not obvious that the joke is that game streaming is stupid, and people that spectate are stupid. People in the audience aren't laughing at Jimmy being out of touch. They are laughing because he's calling this particular activity stupid. The punchline of the joke is God watching a daisy-chain of streamers, commenting on how he made a "race of idiots" and then getting into it himself, thus making God an idiot. Humans can be idiots, no doubt, and I can be King Idiot from time to time. This idea doesn't offend me. Kimmel's joke doesn't offend me. His parading of angry tweets in the subsequent episode is stupid, in my opinion, because it doesn't do anything but perpetuate further animosity toward gamers, but I don't find it particularly offensive. However, to gather that he's subjugating himself because of his lack of understanding regarding "what the kids are doing", seems to miss the point entirely. Whether or not he has a particular attachment to the gaming community is irrelevant, in this case, because, in telling this joke, he is publicly setting himself apart from that community. Which is fine. You can be an American and still think Texas is crazy. But if you proclaim it in public, don't expect Texans to be peaceful about it ;).

scrypt Supporter wrote on 09/02/2015 at 08:58pm

I doglegged a little with the "that doesn't offend me" tangent, and it seems out of place. I was thinking/writing this because I meant to say that I was trying to dissect the joke analytically, and not particularly taking offense to any point of it. It made sense in my cold-ridden brain.

jdodson Admin wrote on 09/02/2015 at 09:02pm

@AdamPFarnsworth

I mean't that the Onions joke was made quite a long time ago and much more original because it was a sort of fresh concept. Kimmels joking about it is kind of like joking about the Internet loving cats. It's way past it's prime and totally obvious at this point.

Travis Admin wrote on 09/02/2015 at 09:12pm

Sure, that's the ultimate joke, but it comes out of him not understanding why anyone would want to watch it. I don't think he literally thinks everyone who watches game streaming is stupid, that's just an extension of the joke to absurdity, which is common in those kinds of late night talk show segments. Yes, the joke is "look how stupid this is," but many jokes are "look how stupid this is." George Carlin's entire catalog is "look how stupid this is." That doesn't mean he literally thinks everyone who doesn't think like him is stupid, it's just exaggeration for comedic effect.

People just don't have a sense of humor about themselves anymore.

As for "Whether or not he has a particular attachment to the gaming community is irrelevant, in this case, because, in telling this joke, he is publicly setting himself apart from that community" I disagree, he's only setting himself apart from the the portion of the gaming community who watch other people play games on youtube.

jdodson Admin wrote on 09/02/2015 at 09:29pm

"George Carlin's entire catalog is "look how stupid this is." That doesn't mean he literally thinks everyone who doesn't think like him is stupid, it's just exaggeration for comedic effect."

Perhaps, but Carlin was very harsh on people he disliked and often times that was the "dumb masses." I love Carlin and think his comedy is hilarious even if it crosses into territory I enjoy, which isn't often. Damn I miss Carlin.

PS I also love RedLetting Media because they mock everything including video game culture, which is odd that they don't get this kind of backlash. That said they also run a video game show too.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 09/02/2015 at 09:53pm

"People just don't have a sense of humor about themselves anymore."

To whom are you referring?

Carlin was like Leary or Black, or Louis CK to some extent. Their hook is that they are angry/frustrated at the stupid things that people do. I find some of it funny, but it's not entirely my cup of tea. I think what Carlin did came easier for him, because he was genuinely angry at stupidity. Just like Jon Stewart is genuinely frustrated with politics, or how Kinison was genuinely frustrated with religion. The funny stuff doesn't just come from nowhere. They may not be speaking literally, but I believe there are speaking genuinely, which is what makes most of the jokes relatable.

Of course Kimmel's joke comes from him not understanding, but that's not the joke. He's banking on an audience agreeing that "This stuff is stupid, right? What kind of idiots want this crap?"

Travis Admin wrote on 09/02/2015 at 10:11pm

To whom are you referring?

The people who flamed him or got legitimately offended

He's banking on an audience agreeing that "This stuff is stupid, right? What kind of idiots want this crap?"

He's banking on the audience finding it funny, which I did, even though I wouldn't say watching video games "stupid." A youtube channel where you watch people watch video games *is* stupid. A channel where you watch people watch people play video games is even stupider. He's extending the premise to absurdity.

Travis Admin wrote on 09/02/2015 at 10:16pm

For example, if you make a joke about dentists being sadistic, you aren't banking on an audience thinking "Yeah you're right, dentists ARE sadistic!" you're just hoping they'll find the way you're presenting it amusing enough to laugh at it. Of course dentists aren't sadists, but if you highlight certain characteristics of their job you can make them seem that way for humorous purposes.

Travis Admin wrote on 09/02/2015 at 10:25pm

That comment two up should say the following, I didn't proofread it well enough:

A youtube channel where you watch people watching people play video games *is* stupid. A channel where you watch people watching people watching people play video games is even stupider. He's extending the premise to absurdity.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 09/03/2015 at 12:13am

"He's banking on the audience finding it funny, which I did, even though I wouldn't say watching video games "stupid.""
Your first post: "Honestly, I mostly agree with him."

That's what he's banking on.

Generally speaking, if topical jokes aren't relatable, they won't be found funny. Your analogy to dentists being sadistic proves the point (contrary to your argument), because most people will agree that a person standing over your pried, gaping mouth with power tools in their hand, is one step away from Jason Voorhees. Again, they don't literally think dentists are sadists (maybe some do...), but it's very easy to imagine that proposal, because people can relate with experiencing pain at the hands of a calm, casual-speaking dentist. If someone had never gone to a dentist, or know what a dentist is, they would likely not find such a joke very funny. They might smile and nod at everyone else's camaraderie, but they would doubtfully enjoy the actual joke.

Kimmel couldn't have told that joke at a con like PAX or E3 or Comic-Con, because it would have fallen flat, or worse, he would have gotten booed off the stage. I would think that he feels safe telling a joke like that on his home turf, because he's been in the business long enough to know what his audience, or the general unknowing public, might appreciate. The public already thinks that 'gamers' are a joke, wasting time participating in an activity that's tantamount to watching paint dry. Making fun of gamers is like making fun of Trump's hair. It's easy.

Travis Admin wrote on 09/03/2015 at 12:27am

My "honestly I mostly agree with him" was from the single sentence about the restaurant which is all I had heard at that time. Before I had watched the video. I agree with the sentiment that he doesn't get the appeal, and I'd rather play the game than watch it, not that it's stupid.

In fact, in the video segment, there's nothing to agree with because it's all satire.

I'm not saying it isn't an easy joke, or that it's a good joke, just that it's not malicious at all. Poking fun of things and exaggerating for effect is old hat in comedy.

Travis Admin wrote on 09/03/2015 at 12:33am

To put it more clearly, Greg presented this as gamers rioting over that single statement. I thought that was the end of it until you posted the link to the original segment. I would have qualified my "mostly agree with him" with some conditions if I'd known the rest.

I still think the whole thing is funny, though.

jdodson Admin wrote on 09/03/2015 at 12:48am

"Making fun of gamers is like making fun of Trump's hair. It's easy."

Yeah, that's a good point.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/03/2015 at 01:02am

For the record, I want to state that this is the second time today I came to CheerfulGhost and have/had 15 notifications. Wow! Is that good?

Travis Admin wrote on 09/03/2015 at 01:04am

I have an interesting email from an obvious throwaway address.

"I hope you and Kimmel both choke on each other's dicks and die."

Not one of you, I assume ;)

scrypt Supporter wrote on 09/03/2015 at 01:06am

@Travis, Now I think I'm mostly agreeing with you :).

Maybe ;).

You can agree with satire. Depending on context, of course, it's probably more appropriate to agree with the underlying point of the satire. The whole thing that makes satire work is that it's poignant. Like Swift's Modest Proposal. It's not slapstick or dick jokes. Not that I think Kimmel was being malicious, but I felt he was being ignorant and intentional (or his writers were), due to the fact that they build a skit around it...

https://youtu.be/Z9oZplyzDKc?list=PLs4hTtftqnlA-DrZlPTpbCbYzhVHRLPCU

aaaand this proves my point :)

Travis Admin wrote on 09/03/2015 at 01:19am

Which point does that prove? And how? I'm not sure which one you mean :)

Travis Admin wrote on 09/03/2015 at 01:19am

Also you wouldn't happen to be the one who hopes Kimmel and I choke while fellating each other are you?

Sorry, I can't get over that.

Travis Admin wrote on 09/03/2015 at 01:25am

(that was a joke, I know that wasn't you :D)

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/03/2015 at 01:32am

"The public already thinks that 'gamers' are a joke, wasting time participating in an activity that's tantamount to watching paint dry.

Scrypt pointed out something that I think is definitely serious and that is the stereotype that gamers are just wasting their lives away, fat, and lazy. You know how when you talk to people and they ask what you're doing, well there have been times when I've told the person I was playing a video game and they either said something negative or something in their tone or whatever contained a good hint of disapproval. Yet I'd say that playing video games all day is probably at least a little better than watching TV all day. I'd say it's more intellectually stimulating, but I'm also biased. At least we're not out in the real world causing chaos, killing each other, or doing other worse things (granted there are those that are out there doing those things). It just seems to me that gamers are still not taken very seriously by the general public. It may take some time. In the scope of time, you could say that video gaming is still perhaps young. But, it seems people still associate video gaming with kids, without realizing that adults play video games, too, and lead "normal", healthy, and productive lives.

The backlash, though. It's not like he came out and said something like Trump's message that Mexicans are rapists and murderers, etc. The backlash that Jimmy received is what I would expect for something like what Trump said, which was clearly racist and not meant to be funny. Jimmy on the other hand, while perhaps showing his lack of understanding of watching people play video games on YouTube, was just trying to get a laugh, which worked.

There was another piece of gaming news I thought about sharing, which could perhaps also lead to some discussion....

Travis Admin wrote on 09/03/2015 at 01:36am

Greg, leave it to you to make it about a Republican presidential candidate :D

But yeah, I agree. The backlash is what brought us here, and I think we all agree it was ridiculous.

Also, don't leave us hanging man, what's that gaming news? POST IT! POOOOOST IIIIIIIIT!

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/03/2015 at 01:41am

Well Trump was already mentioned, so I just dived further into that example. I'll post the other bit here soon.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 09/03/2015 at 01:43am

Sorry, @Travis, the point that he was being intentional, trying to get a rise out of gamers. Basically, he was trolling :)

Travis Admin wrote on 09/03/2015 at 01:48am

Oh hell yeah. At this point, he's definitely totally trolling. I'm not sure he was to begin with but now he's trying to milk this for all it's worth. I imagine he's gotten more youtube hits than he has in ages, so he's going to troll the hell out of us for as long as he can keep it up.

I find it amusing, still, but it could wear thin if he doesn't know when to stop.

Travis Admin wrote on 09/03/2015 at 01:49am

(and I'd say now would be a good time to stop, probably)

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/03/2015 at 01:55am

Thanks for the link, scrypt, showing that this has continued. I still find what he says humorous and the comments he received as way over board. I don't think Jimmy's fat, in fact I think he looks slimmer than whatever it was I saw him on before, which I can't recall at the moment. I like that he said he'd sit down with some gamers to judge whether for himself whether or not he still agrees with his joke. Yes, he said if he disapproved he'd shut down Twitch and YouTube, he was clearly joking about that, which I also thought was funny. I don't know the ages of the people who sent him so much hate and I'm sure they all weren't 12 year old boys, but I bet they were mostly people around that age.

I strongly disagree with what he said about not being a part of a community because you don't leave the house. You don't need physical contact to be a part of a community anymore as the Internet is full of them, even if only one of them really matters (Cheerful Ghost), hahaha how do you like that joke?

Travis, you really got an email saying that? How? Did you post a comment some where like on YouTube? Those guys are mad! I mostly find what Jimmy said humorous and I find the comments he received were too extreme. But, I'm not going to post that where I know I'll get flamed. LOL

Travis Admin wrote on 09/03/2015 at 02:00am

@Greg

Yeah I disagree with him saying the bit about never leaving the house, but that was obvious trolling. He's trying to get a rise out of the people flaming him.

And yeah I got an email saying that. this is the only place I've discussed it, so maybe this showed up from a google search about "Jimmy Kimmel game streaming" or something. Or maybe one of the ghosts here doesn't want to voice things publicly. I dunno. I find it amazingly amusing.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/03/2015 at 02:30am

That is strange. I didn't get an email (thank goodness). I did check my spam folder which looks really nasty, but it doesn't seem like any flaming is in there. Did anyone else get an email like that?

scrypt Supporter wrote on 09/03/2015 at 02:34am

@Travis - Oh, wow! No, that wasn't me! :D I didn't realize you actually got that. I thought it was another of Jimmy's comments.

I couldn't find the original clip, because it seems to have disappeared, but here is a response video to an incident last summer, when Kimmel was harassing cosplayers at Comic-con: https://youtu.be/s9yNq0UXVcU

Comments from Leno regarding Kimmel's "mean streak": http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jay-leno-jimmy-kimmel-mean-streak_55ccfc75e4b0cacb8d336802

Interesting perspective on the Kimmel/Comic-con incident:
http://www.salon.com/2014/07/29/jimmy_kimmels_comic_con_stunt_reveals_the_limits_of_man_on_the_street_comedy/

scrypt Supporter wrote on 09/03/2015 at 02:39am

*the original Kimmel/Comic-con video from 2014 has been marked "private", and is not accessible. Convenient!

scrypt Supporter wrote on 09/03/2015 at 02:47am

It's hard (for me, at least) not to come to a conclusion that Jimmy Kimmel prides himself on being a dick and a bully. With that, and the way he's milking the "attacks" on him, I'd say that he's actually, almost literally, asking for it. To that extent, I wish him success, and I hope he gets everything that's coming to him. Forgiveness is always around the corner, but if the man wants to be abused and threatened by attacking other people, then why should he be deprived of his pleasures :).

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/03/2015 at 03:16am

My reply to the first Comic-con video:

Was it "inappropriate" for him to ask a COSPlay person if they have sex in costume? That is someone's personal life and really none of anyone else's business. So, I guess that makes it inappropriate. I do wonder why someone would even care about whether or not someone has sex in costume. Sure it may not be the "norm" or largely socially acceptable but that norm is obviously not what everyone else practices. Is having sex in costume really that odd? Some people enjoy role playing, some don't. We all have our own preferences. I think the real question here isn't what Jimmy's trying to ask, but why would you even ask that of someone? I think the answer is so that you can poke fun at them and get a few laughs.

I kind of disagree with the guy talking about comedy (see about 1:50 in the video for what he says). Basically, he says that comedy ceases to be comedy when it's not funny, but a painting is still a painting even if it's ugly. In this he clearly deems what happened as not comedy just because he didn't think it was funny. Yet, some people thought it was funny, so isn't it still comedy? I personally don't think the whole thing was funny, but I'm not going so far as to agree that it's not comedy just because some of us didn't find it funny.

I didn't like the insinuation that Jimmy said that since the guy said he's had sex in the costume he was wearing when asked the question that it was by himself an hour ago. That clearly seems to say something negative about him or perhaps the stereotype of cosplayers. So, I do agree with the guy in this video that it was disrespectful. I also agree with his final statement in that if someone with a camera asks you a question that you find inappropriate, just walk away.

Travis Admin wrote on 09/03/2015 at 03:17am

Of course most of his comedy comes from rubbing people the wrong way. He was a total dick on Loveline back in the day and has actually gotten better since then.

He pushes people's buttons. Many great comedians do. I'm not saying Kimmel is great, he's kinda mediocre overall, but that doesn't mean he deserves fucking death wishes.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 09/03/2015 at 03:28am

"but that doesn't mean he deserves fucking death wishes."

Not what he deserves, but it is what he's looking for. We disagree on whether that was his plan all along.

@GregoPeck: If your kid gets bullied at school, but other kids laugh, is that comedy? Just because a comedian says something doesn't make it a joke, nor does that make it comedy. To some people, bullying is funny, but that doesn't mean the bully gets a pass because of comedic license. I think that's what that guy in the video meant.

Travis Admin wrote on 09/03/2015 at 03:59am

I removed a comment because it didn't adequately say what I wanted to say, so I'm sorry if that disrupts the flow. There weren't any replies when I made it.

This conversation is taking things into an analysis of his previous jokes, which doesn't necessarily inform this one. He had no chance whatsoever to bully anyone in that first bit about streaming, and he hasn't had a chance since then, though if he goes through with his plan to talk to someone about game streaming he'll have ample opportunity.

We agree that he's egging people on *now*, after things started ramping up, and we agree he's been a dick to people in the past, but initially he was making a joke about game streaming, which has gotten kinda lost in the conversation. There's no bullying going on, and the worst things he's said (which have been pretty mild) have been when he's making fun of people wishing things upon him like cancer, aids, and apparently death by fellatio by proxy. The conversation is getting muddled significantly.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/03/2015 at 03:59am

I didn't really notice Jimmy's trolling until you guys pointed it out with video proof. Leno says Jimmy has a mean-streak and that seems to be showing, which makes his things less funny.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/03/2015 at 04:04am

I wouldn't think it's funny, I don't think bullying is funny, I was a victim of it in my school days. I think bullying is a serious issue. So, then how do we define comedy? Maybe what's comedy to one isn't comedy to another. Maybe a painting to one is trash to another. I'm not sure, but good point.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 09/03/2015 at 04:32am

I think the fact that he's feeding off the frenzy is evidence enough that he doesn't mind hurting people to get a laugh. He's used nerddom as a target more than a few times in the past. I would argue that he knew exactly what was going to happen (hoping would happen?), based on similar jokes/bits that he's done, and the fact that he has a running bit called Celebrities Read Mean Tweets. Oh, and the fact that he shares the little not-so-secret "I love making people mad." He knows that the Internet is a gold mine for vitriol. To some degree, I think he's counting on it.

Regardless, again, it's irrelevant and people are overreacting and feeding the troll. Honestly, at this point, I think it would be every young man's dream to have their best insults read on live TV. I think that's another danger that's being perpetuated there.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/03/2015 at 04:39am

Yeah, that seems clear to me now, especially since he said, "I love making people mad." Maybe initially I didn't take that seriously, but you've shown good proof of that being the case. In which case, well I think that sucks and yeah if he's asking for it, which seems to be, then it's no surprise at the response he's gotten. Still, death threats and such? That seems to be a bit overboard. I'd expect Trump to be the one getting those. Personally, I don't "love making people mad," which is why I don't post every opinion I have on Facebook (I have other venues for that).

scrypt Supporter wrote on 09/03/2015 at 04:51am

"He had no chance whatsoever to bully anyone in that first bit about streaming"

Do you think that someone has to be physically present in order for bullying to take place?

In the original post, Greg was asking what we thought of the joke and the subsequent backlash. The second video is the header. I brought in the first video later. Then I used research on previous jokes for character reference, to help inform my opinion of the comedian's motivation and the joke in question. I don't see any muddling going on, but maybe I'm bad at forumming! :D

(You can tell me I'm bad at forumming. I won't get offended :)

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/03/2015 at 05:01am

I don't think you have to be physically present for bullying. I think messages (email, texts, FaceBook posts, tweets, comments, etc.) are used to bully others.

I do thank you for posting the original video and further videos showing Jimmy's style. In the end, you see, I feel much more enlightened as to what was really going on with this story, not just the top, most visual layer of it. Seeing that he pretty much instigated it just makes his "comedy" much less funny than I initially thought.

I don't think you're "bad at forumming," in fact I think you've done a fantastic job of showing that this story has more than what "meets the eye." I think you've done a great job expressing your opinion and have successfully enlightened me.

It wasn't my intention to stir any controversy here and I think we've all been discussing this issue, which is great because, as you noted, that's pretty much what I asked for. I got more than I expected, sure, but it's made Cheerful Ghost quite active today, which I think is good for the site. It's also good for us as we are a close (not opposite to open) and tight gaming community. And yes, Jimmy Kimmel, you can be in a community without leaving your house, in fact you could say you are part of a community in your house (especially if you live with others like I do).

scrypt Supporter wrote on 09/03/2015 at 06:29am

I hope I didn't come off sounding like I thought there was any conspiracy or anything. I guess sometimes I'm more interested in why someone is saying something, rather than just what they are saying. A what's-in-it-for-them, follow-the-money kind of thing. I knew little to nothing about Jimmy Kimmel before this thread, and I still don't. I typically don't like comedy that picks on the little guy. I don't think Kimmel should be reprimanded or banned, or anything like that. I do think, however, that his actions and words, should they continue in this manner, will manifest consequences that aren't worth the laughs that they bring.

You guys are my community, and I'm sorry if I get argumentative, or nit-picky, or go off on rabbit trails.

I don't think there has been any real controversy here, @GregoPeck. Maybe I should pace myself more? Am I posting too quickly with my responses? I don't want to be exhausting!

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/03/2015 at 11:35am

I'd say that's what's happened here is that I saw something and noticed what was said and didn't look any deeper. You looked deeper and found a connection, it seems. It's clear who here did the most analytical thinking between the two of us. I'd say that's a good thing, a sign of intelligence. I'd say more people should view things more analytically instead of always just accepting something at face value.

Yeah, if he keeps it up, he could end up making the wrong person mad. These days, it seems, you have to be really careful about that, especially since a lot of people are proudly carrying their guns around.

You guys are my community, too, and I have nothing but love for Cheerful Ghost. I've been really enjoying getting to know you guys, along with finding out about some awesome video games I might not have known about if I wasn't here. I kind of fit Kimmel's stereotype as I mostly stay indoors and I don't go out or socialize very much at all. I think Cheerful Ghost is pretty much the extent of my social life. Hahaha.

I don't consider what we've done here to be argumentative. We've had a good discussion and, as I said, I feel like my eyes have been opened a bit regarding this story, something I wasn't expecting. It's good to discuss things, even if there may be differences in opinion. And, even though we all may have had a difference of opinion on some of the things we've discussed here, we've been able to remain civil, like true mature adults. Plus, I don't recall seeing anything that was misspelled, we obviously have a firm grasp on how to write. LOL

Personally, I'd rather you be as open as you want. I wasn't complaining about having so many notifications here. I think it's been good for the site (even though Travis received some hate mail). It's good to discuss things, as I think we've done here. I don't think any of us had the attitude of "I'm right and you're wrong." So, I'd say it's been a healthy discussion. =)

Travis Admin wrote on 09/03/2015 at 01:38pm

You don't have to be present for bullying but taking shots at an entire group of people isn't bullying, and heckling hecklers isn't bullying (unless you're Michael Richards).

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/06/2015 at 12:57pm

There is an update to this story as Kimmel joined a couple of YouTubers. In the end, I don't think it really ended all that well.

http://www.gamespot.com/articles/jimmy-kimmel-educates-himself-about-video-games/1100-6430318/

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Windows 10 Released (Edited)

*Update 12/2019*
Edited, removed links no longer relevant as free upgrade is no longer available

Recently, Windows 10 was released. I decided to take up the free upgrade offer and so I upgraded from 8.1. I think it's common (and not a bad idea) that many people hesitate upgrading Windows as soon as a new version is released. This is because there may be bugs and other issues, so people tend to prefer to wait a while until many of those issues are worked out. I'm not one of those people, obviously.

Before it was released, I noticed an icon in my notification tray for the upgrade. That little piece of software made it so that you could sign up for the upgrade and it would download the files when ready and notify you. It didn't tell me that the upgrade was ready, instead I told it to begin.

I can't tell you how long it took because I started it, watched it for a bit, and then went to bed. However, I can tell you that I ran into a few issues, which I was able to work out. Therefore, I highly suggest checking with your computer manufacturer for Windows 10 drivers or software updates. That is how I was able to resolve the issue I was having with my computer's thermal controller software.

I think Windows 10 looks better than 8. The icons on the Task Bar are smaller. The metro styled apps have been moved to the Start Menu, which I think makes sense. These are currently my favorite things about Windows 10 as I didn't use 8's metro style app menu that took up the whole screen.

Performance: As with every new version, under the hood, Windows 10 performs better than 8, or so it's supposed to and it has been reported that it indeed does. I, however, don't really seem to notice a difference, but I attribute that to the hardware I have in my PC.

Windows 10 introduces a new upgrade system in which they plan to roll out updates in a way that sounds similar to Linux. This OS is also free for the life of the PC. This is perhaps one of the most significantly major changes to the OS. I like it and am looking forward to seeing how Microsoft continues to develop Windows in the future.

Cortana is also a new feature. It's a “personal assistant” that gets to know you from what you type or speak into a microphone. You can, of course, change some of the privacy settings so that Cortana doesn't learn from what you type or speak. I tried using it once to find the Settings icon, which I overlooked on the Start Menu. It didn't help me and I couldn't seem to get it to search for what I wanted.

Microsoft has also released a new web browser called Edge. I can't personally report on how it's different from Internet Explorer, since I've hardly used it. However, I believe it's supposed to perform much better than IE.

Another interesting thing I noticed was the Xbox Live App. I created a handle and added some of my Xbox Live friends, although I do not own an Xbox 360 or One. I can still apparently play some games with it and see what some of my friends are up to.

Along with the release of Windows 10, Mojang offered a Windows 10 edition of Minecraft.This version of Minecraft is now up-to-date with Java Edition! In some ways it’s better, in other ways it’s not.

Although my upgrade had a few post-upgrade issues, I was able to resolve them easily. Otherwise, Windows 10 hasn't disappointed me, in fact I'm pretty much impressed with it. So, if you're looking for an upgrade recommendation, you now have mine.

jdodson Admin wrote on 08/26/2015 at 05:20am

I think i've finally decided that when I get a new PC it will run Windows 10. I might build custom so i'll have to buy it, which should be fine.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 08/26/2015 at 05:57am

That's awesome, I see no reason not to get Windows 10 on a new PC. Getting some new hardware would be good because it might be able to make use of DirectX 12. ARK: Survival Evolved will soon support it and boasts up to 20% performance. I'm not sure how much Windows 10 is selling for, but I always thought it was a bit expensive and much cheaper to buy a PC that already has it. I think you definitely save some money that way. When might you buy or build? I assume before Fallout 4 is released.

I'm surprised no one else, especially Travis, has chimed in with their thoughts and experiences with Windows 10. I know not everyone had a pleasant experience.

jdodson Admin wrote on 08/28/2015 at 04:40am

"When might you buy or build? I assume before Fallout 4 is released."

That's a good question. I am definitely considering a new PC for Fallout 4/New Doom/Starcraft LoTV. Starcraft LoTV should run fine as is on my current setup but the other games will need to have adjustments made to get them to run well. I don't want to go for something ultra-bling but something solid I can build off.

I'll be moving to a new place this weekend so it's not in the cards right now but I have been looking.

http://www.build-gaming-computers.com/gaming-desktop-computer.html

The budget build is a 6 core AMD and the price is very reasonable. The 1k build seems solid as well. I think this time I'll build my own. I've done it before, it's not too bad.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 08/28/2015 at 04:50am

That looks cool, Jon!

jdodson Admin wrote on 08/28/2015 at 05:09am

Yeah it does. I'll keep everyone updated with what happens in regard to building it.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/02/2015 at 05:27pm

I'd like for Travis and Scrypt to chime in on this, too. From what I understand, Travis had a smooth transition, while I ran into some slight bumps. Scrypt seem to have had a completely different experience.

Since you mentioned upgrading, I asked Travis when he might. He said at least not until he finishes his current AAS work, which sounds like about next summer (2016). I thought, like you, he might upgrade for Fallout 4, but he's still waiting for the system requirements, which I'm surprised we haven't seen by now. As for me, yeah I'm quite happy with my beast, but she could be better. I was coveting a Titan X, but then Scrypt or Travis showed me the new dual-GPU Titan, which I now covet. I also wish I had a SSD hard drive, so I may upgrade that some time in the future. I may eventually decide to double my RAM, I have 16 gigs.

Yes, my PC is a beast, but I've come across two games that have made me think that she's not all that. GTAV was the first, but I changed one setting and that made it run smoothly. ARK, on the other hand, isn't optimized yet, so even on a beast it can be quite demanding. Luckily, I found some guides about the various graphical options in the game that could or should be reduced or turned off. One guide was from someone who was using a Titan GPU. Now the game runs much better, although it still has it's moments of low frame rates.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 09/02/2015 at 06:41pm

My experience is probably very unique, and shouldn't be taken as a precaution against Windows 10, but rather one possibly problematic driver, which may have been installed improperly by the user :).

The installation of the OS went smoothly, and I was as giddy as a kid with a new toy could be. Two things bothered me after playing with it a bit: 1) The lack of real customization in the Start Menu, and 2) the forced resolution drop in desktop wallpapers. I was looking for workarounds, when I realized that my external drive wasn't showing as a connected drive. What normally wouldn't be a problem for anyone else, was a troublesome problem for me, because my external drive is formatted to HFS+ from my Mac days. I was using a third-party driver to make it read/write accessible on my Windows machine, which was working flawlessly under Windows 7. The third-party site (http://www.paragon-software.com/home/hfs-windows/) says that it's fully compatible with Windows 10, and it may very well be. I didn't have an easy time of installing/updating the driver, and it ended up crashing my machine, so much so that I had to revert back to Windows 7.

What I should do is dump the data from that external drive, reformat, and not deal with the band-aid driver at all. When I have access to 1.5 Tb of space for that swap, I'll do that. Until then, I need that driver to access that hard drive, as far as I've researched.

Other than that, Windows 10 seemed nice. I only spent a couple of hours in it, but they were nice hours, despite the resolution and UI issues stated above.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/02/2015 at 08:03pm

Thanks for replying, scrypt! I knew you had a different experience and I wanted that to be shared along with mine and Travis's. My issues weren't driver related, but definitely software related, which I was able to resolve by downloading an update. I'm still looking forward to ARK using DirectX 12, which is supposed to give about a 20% increase in performance. I'm just not sure how significant that will be.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/03/2015 at 04:59pm

"20 Must Know Keyboard Shortcuts For Windows 10"

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2975931/windows/20-must-know-keyboard-shortcuts-for-windows-10.html#tk.nl_pwr

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Ark: Survival Evolved An Early Access Sandbox Survival Game

Azurephile gives this a solid "Rad" on the Ghost Scale

This is fun, with very few issues, and is well worth your time.

Azurephile gives this a "Rad" on the Ghost Scale

This is fun, with very few issues, and is well worth your time.

Review

Recommended, especially if you have a PC that can run it

Survival, crafting, and taming dinosaurs and other creatures!

*Update 12/2019*
This was written during Ark’s Early Access period, which is now over. The game has multiple expansions and at least two more coming. It’s also now available on PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Today’s hardware is also much more suitable for running it and the game is better optimized.

How I found out about Ark: I can't seem to recall playing any kind of sandbox survival game before Minecrat and Terraria. My son was playing Minecraft before me and it took me a while to jump in. Before doing so, I watched a series on YouTube called “How to Survive and Thrive” (in Minecraft) by Paul Soares, Jr. Apparently, he was the first (or one of the first) to post a Minecraft guide series on YouTube. It was excellent and afterwards I thoroughly enjoyed playing Minecraft.

I kept watching Paul's videos and have learned about a few cool games because I've watched him play them. I previously wrote about two Early Access games, which fit the “sandbox survival” genre, called Salt and Stranded Deep. In those games you need to survive out in the ocean among groups of islands. However, I have just experienced a new one called ARK: Survival Evolved.

What is Ark? Ark can be best described as a survival game that includes dinosaurs mostly, but also other creatures from millions of years ago such as Dodos and Trilobites. Some of the currently featured creatures include Trikes (Triceratops), Raptors, Dilos (just like in Jurassic Park), Mammoths, many more, and more to come.

Creature taming: Perhaps one of the things that sets ARK apart, too, is that you can tame these animals and ride them, fight with them, or give them some of your inventory to carry around. Hunting and taming is a challenging process, especially among things that are trying to eat you. However, you can tame your own small army and take over!

Single and multiplayer PVE and PVP: While the game contains a single player mode, it also features quite an extensive multiplayer mode. Players can connect to official or unofficial ARK servers and join others by creating Tribes (teams). Tribes can go PVP or PVE and it sounds like an interesting experience that I have not yet tried.

Video settings: The wiki contains a link to a great guide on Steam. I also found other guides on Steam quite helpful in setting my video settings so that the game ran smoothly. There are presets and each one lists the name of a GPU that users may need for those settings to work properly. I ended up finding a guide and changing many of the game's settings along with some other minor out-of-game configurations. Now the game seems to be running much more smoothly. The thing to remember is that this is an Early Access game and may not yet be fully optimized.

The game is coming soon to PS4 and Xbox One. Paul Soares, Jr. said that it was the highest rated game on the Steam Store the day it became available for download. So, it does seem to be quite popular even though it has mixed reviews. Some players have complained of the difficulty. While it seems the map is not yet randomly generated, the creatures and item placements are. Therefore, you can most certainly spawn in a place and be instantly eaten to death by something dangerous. Still, I think with experience and “research,” the game is actually fun.

ARK: Survival Evolved
http://store.steampowered.com/app/346110/

Paul Soares Jr.'s ARK playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEbtIY4p_ltrbjNaWut_a6enJfFOmnSnl

scrypt Supporter wrote on 08/09/2015 at 04:17pm

Both of the games that I've backed because of dinosaurs (The Stomping Land, and Orion: Dino Beatdown), ended up flopping, so I'm wary. ARK does look interesting, though, and I might give it a chance at some point. That Unreal Engine is awful pretty :). Good review!

jdodson Admin wrote on 08/09/2015 at 04:38pm

Nice thing about ARK though is that it's out in some form and can be played. I had another friend that backed The Stomping Land, I think more than a few people were upset about that one.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 08/09/2015 at 05:26pm

Well, yeah, Stomping Land was pulled from Steam eventually, but it was playable before the dev went silent. Orion: Dino Beatdown was playable for quite some time, but has since been re-established as Orion: Prelude, which is apparently doing relatively better (at $.99, the expectation/risk isn't that high). ARK looks like it has much more polish than both, and the price seems reasonable.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 08/09/2015 at 11:38pm

Thanks for the comments! The devs of ARK seem to be serious, new content comes out frequently. The game is popular and the multiplayer aspect of it is huge, so I'd be very surprised to see this game not complete Early Access. The fact that it's coming out on current gen consoles seems to support that.

One of the things I really liked about a trailer I saw was someone riding a Pteranodon. Paul also met up with a T-Rex in one of his videos. Those would be awesome to have!

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 08/11/2015 at 01:54am

I've taken two screen shots of the two families I've been able to capture on screen together. My son said he's impressed. I'm happy to have a Dilo, Trike, and Parasaur. The Dodo's a little added bonus, although the Dilo attacked me when I was away from camp (camp=also where I was taming trike) and so ended up joining me (it was tamed quickly being such a low level).

http://steamcommunity.com/id/gawoodruff/screenshots/?appid=346110

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 08/11/2015 at 11:42pm

My curent dino family includes 2 Trikes, 2 Dilos, 2 Dodos, 2 Parasaurs, 2 Philomia, 1 Raptor, and 1 Sarco (croc). Doubles mean I have mates, which means those get mate bonuses. Changing some of the world settings really helped. I did die w/ this character and world a few times, but this is currently as far as I've been able to progress. I do have a lot of Engrams unlocked, so I can make things like wood and stone housing.

I was careful in an area where there was a Sarco, but I eventually found it or one again stuck on a tree trunk or so. It was only level 4 and I was able to tame it. So, now I'm not so afraid of the area where I found him.

I also wrote a Steam review for the game, because I believe it's an excellent game despite some negative reviews. So, I thought I'd help with a small and positive review.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 08/17/2015 at 03:44am

Oh, I really love this game! I have been fully immersed in it for a while now. There are a few things I thought I'd mention.

I do strongly recommend the game. Maybe there will eventually be a demo, that would be great because then people could at least give it a try. If you want a smooth out-of-the-box experience, it's probably best to wait until some time after it gets released, or even just get it for a new console. Otherwise, you're going to want to (easily) research settings to use to optimize the game's graphical settings to reach the balance between performance and quality you want. Just look on Steam, there are some helpful guides there that show the game's settings and what someone recommends you set them to.

I saw another recommendation that adding "-USEALLAVAILABLECORES -d3d10" to the launch options really helps. It was also recommended to put the game on High priority in Windows Task Manager, which is easy enough to do. However, I thought it'd be cool to be able to launch the game automatically on High priority, and so I set up a new shortcut for the game that does that and includes the game's optional launch options I was using.

I must say now the game loads a lot quicker. It runs pretty well, not 100%, but still pretty well. I expect the game to be more optimized upon graduating from Early Access and being released.

The really game scares me and keeps me anxious, which isn't something I'm used to while playing a game. I've seen some really big and nasty dinos that can tear me and my dino pets apart in a matter of seconds. I've been watching a Tyranosaurus (not Rex) take out multiple Brontos. I've also seen a Spinosaur tear into some dinos. I have been killed plenty of times, too. The game is about survival and being careful is usually a good idea, so always watch your back!

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 08/17/2015 at 04:47am

Here's the guide I used to help configure the game for my PC. I strongly recommend this guide for any PC as it contains some important in-game configuration settings as well. Also, even though the person who wrote the guide is using a Titan GPU, I've found these settings to be excellent even on my 690.

I also created a new shortcut for the game which looks like this, which opens the game with recommended launch options and as a High priority process:
Target: C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /c start "ShooterGame.exe" /high "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ARK\ShooterGame\Binaries\Win64\ShooterGame.exe" -USEALLAVAILABLECORES -d3d10

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 08/25/2015 at 01:19pm

I'm so excited right now. I noticed that, in his videos, Paul was using a whistle to tell his dinos to eat what they killed and I couldn't figure out which one he was using. So, I posted a comment on his latest video asking. Google didn't help me find the answer I was looking for, but later I found an answer in the Steam community forums. Still, someone replied with what I needed to know. No only that, but Paul did, too! Wow!

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 08/27/2015 at 10:55pm

An free weekend for ARK comes along with a tournament. Some in-game prizes include Steam keys for a discounted or free game. Further details: http://steamcommunity.com/games/346110/announcements/detail/111816487013236272

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/26/2015 at 12:07am

33% Off! Humble Sale! I already have 268 hours of game play! I look forward to the new stuff!

https://www.humblebundle.com/store/p/ark_survivalevolved_storefront?utm_source=Humble+Bundle+Newsletter&utm_campaign=ffee807f43-Humble_Store_September_25_ARK_Rockstar&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_990b1b6399-ffee807f43-124208569&mc_cid=ffee807f43&mc_eid=11a5591a8d

jdodson Admin wrote on 09/26/2015 at 04:47am

Damn. That's intense. How long have you owned it now? People at work have been raving about it. Definitely going to pick it up at some point!

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/26/2015 at 11:50am

July or August. There's a big update coming this weekend, which adds new dinos and biomes.

jdodson Admin wrote on 09/26/2015 at 05:03pm

Are you playing this single player or online? Looks like it's pretty hard on shared severs with others.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/26/2015 at 06:48pm

100% single player. I'm kind of stuck right now because I want SCUBA gear so I can go looking for a Plesiosaur, but that gear requires level 75 to unlock and I'm only about 70. So, I'm not really sure what else to do to get extra XP (although I am using options that have increased that multiplier). Right now I'm waiting on that big update. The new biomes are going to change a few places and I'm concerned that my dino pen may be affected. I have a home in one place w/ some dinos, but a pen I made for other dinos in an area that is receiving a change and thus my structure (pen) in the area may be destroyed.

Anyway, I think it's a great game!

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 06/03/2018 at 07:48am

Ark turns three today!! What an amazing three years of gaming with Ark, it's been. I've spent much more time playing Ark than any other game ever and I'm still loving it and playing it! I'm so grateful! I'm looking forward to what's to come and reflecting on what has come.

It's funny looking back at these old comments when I was happy to have 268 hours of gameplay. My current logged hours are actually 2687!!!! This just has to be my favorite game!

jdodson Admin wrote on 06/03/2018 at 01:41pm

Yeah with that kind of playtime I’d say so.

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Square Enix and Microsoft Team for Awesome Tech Demo

This article is from April. I regret that I did not share it then. This is truly an awesome tech demo that is worth taking a look at. The PC running the demo is showcasing four Titan X GPUs and featuring DirectX 12.

http://www.gamespot.com/articles/square-enix-reveals-stunning-final-fantasy-pc-tech/1100-6427022/

Travis Admin wrote on 08/07/2015 at 02:23am

FOUR Titans.

It's really impressive, but this isn't something we're going to get any time soon.

Still, we're getting close to photorealistic games. What's next? Honestly once games achieve the best graphical quality possible, what's the Playstation 7 going to do, for instance?

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 08/07/2015 at 02:39am

Yeah, so that's a $4,000+ set up. It is very impressive. How long before this becomes mainstream or even obsolete? It might take a few years for those Titans to become obsolete. It's fascinating to think of what's in store for the future. What about this kind of quality (or better) for virtual reality? How long before those technologies and qualities meet and become mainstream? It might not be as far away as we think.

jdodson Admin wrote on 08/07/2015 at 05:49am

Wow. Cool to see this is where we are headed. I'm going to promote this to main so more people can see this.

Thanks for sharing Greg!

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 08/07/2015 at 10:17am

How'd I know that was coming, Jon? LOL

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Starship Rubicon Review

Azurephile gives this a solid "Rad" on the Ghost Scale

This is fun, with very few issues, and is well worth your time.

Azurephile gives this a "Rad" on the Ghost Scale

This is fun, with very few issues, and is well worth your time.

Review

Recommended :1:

Fun, retro-looking, good controls, similar to Asteroids

Pros: Fun, retro, great control scheme (and in-game reminders of how to control your ship).

Cons: I can't really think of any. The game's difficulty could go here, but it's not horrible. Many improvements have been made over the course of development to ease the game's difficulty.

Tips: Collect as many blue orbs as you can, they are currency. Repair ship in-between battles

Synopsis: Starship Rubicon is a fun and challenging game, which was inspired by Asteroids. This takes many players back to their childhood playing classic games, something that's missing from many modern day games. However, this is not simply a clone.

Essentially, the player is a lone pilot out to defeat an alien nemesis in space. At the beginning, the player is given the option of a few different ships to use, each with it's own attributes. Over the course of the game, these ships can be upgraded by purchasing parts at a ship or by finding equipment stashes on the map. Other ships can also be unlocked.

The game is challenging, but by participating in the progress of the game, I've seen vast improvements to help make the game a bit more easier. While defeating enemies, the player will notice blue orbs dropping from defeated enemies or by shooting blue asteroids. These are the currency for the game and it is best to collect as many of them as possible. Luckily, the Steam version has made these center toward the exit upon completion of battle.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Announced at E3

http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1197/11970954/2886251-ff7_remake_01.jpg

I just found out that Sony announced at E3 that Final Fantasy VII Remake was going to be released, at least for the PS4. Remember that Final Fantasy VII teaser/technical trailer we saw for the PS3? I think I still have it on my system. I think fans have been wanting to see a remake of the game that was more true to the original game.

What are your thoughts? (see link below)

This just adds to my list of reasons to get a PS4, which already includes Final Fantasy Type-0 HD that includes a demo for Final Fantasy XV. I saw a FFT-0 PS4 bundle on Amazon, which is tempting to get. There's also the new Batman and Fallout 4. I'm also waiting for some Kingdom Hearts news.

Here's a link to the announcement and video: http://www.gamespot.com/articles/final-fantasy-7-remake-announced-by-sony-at-e3-201/1100-6428174/

Blizzard Issues Cowpocalypse Warning

http://bnetcmsus-a.akamaihd.net/cms/blog_header/3n/3N5HVF5GP9BM1431467641578.jpg

To celebrate the third anniversary of Diablo III, an in-game event is going on now until the 21st! Cows can be found throughout Sanctuary. Upon their death, they will open a portal to a secret realm filled with cows, dead farmers, and plenty of treasure! Farmer corpses give lots of gold when activated.

Check out the news link below:
http://us.battle.net/d3/en/blog/19083832?utm_content=external-sso&utm_medium=other&utm_source=App

Break the Bank Giveaway

http://bnetcmsus-a.akamaihd.net/cms/blog_header/3l/3LHB2AXEOOCC1431124732112.jpg

From Blizzard:
"Diablo III's third anniversary is on May 15, and we're opening up the Blizzard Gear Store vault to celebrate. Join in on the fun and enter to win 1 of 10 Treasure Goblin Banks today!

Designed by the clever swagmasters over at ThinkGeek, the Treasure Goblin Bank is the perfect companion for any loot-hungry nephalem. This battery-powered trickster giggles gleefully with one of six different sounds when you give him your hard-earned gold. Need your loot back? No problem; unlike the garden-variety goblin, this one features a handy coin removal door for swift, slay-free withdrawals.

We'll be randomly selecting 10 lucky winners to take home their very own Treasure Goblin Bank. In addition, everyone who participates in the giveaway will receive a unique, one-time-use code for free global shipping* from the Blizzard Gear Store on their next order.

Entering is easy, so what are you waiting for? Just click the button below, fill out the form, and you're good to go!"

That's right! Blizzard is giving a few lucky winners an awesome Treasure Goblin Bank. I think this is pretty cool. I like Treasure Goblins, but hate it when they get away. I still haven't had one leave a portal open upon their death, except for Rainbow Goblins. Anyway, check the link below and enter to win this cool Diablo III loot!

http://us.battle.net/d3/en/blog/19061428/break-the-bank-giveaway-now-live-5-11-2015

Optimal PC Gaming

I'm curious if any of you have, in any way, optimized your PC for gaming. If so, let me know.

After buying my Alienware PC over a year ago, I was quite confident that it was a beast of a machine. I'm running a 3,7GHz Intel i7-4820, 16 GB RAM, 3TB HDD, and a GTX 690 (a 4GB dual-GPU card). I was able to play Skyrim on "ultra" settings and I never noticed any lag in the game whatsoever. Although, there seemed to be some physics issues, though I suspect that was an issue with the game, not my hardware. However, once I got GTAV for the PC and letting Geforce Experience optimize the game for me, I noticed some lag. I'm not sure if it's because my hardware can't handle some of the settings or if it's because of the game. I still suspect that both may be the case, after all GTAV just came out and although it's been optimized for multiple kinds of hardware, there is likely some bugs that haven't been worked out yet.

Because of this issue, I've done a lot of "research" ("Googling") on how to optimize my PC for the game. Ultimately, I think I found a good solution just by changing some simple settings. I've know for a while now that Geforce Experience can "optimize" games for you based on your hardware. Since I've had this PC, I've let it do that and it seems to often increase settings from their game defaults. I've also learned about settings in the Nvidia Control Panel.

I've been aware of PC and GPU over-clocking, but I haven't actually done that nor do I think I've used any kind of over-clocked hardware. I think it's a bit too risky and seems like a bit of a task with a lot of trial and error. I know there are multiple tools and guides out there to help you do this. So, I wonder if any of you have done any over-clocking? If so, please share your experience.

I'm also aware of different tools that can help you optimize game settings. Nvidia Inspector is one of these tools that I found. It's much like GPU-Z, which helps you monitor your hardware and has game profiles that can be set. Do you have any experience with these or similar tools? Let me know.

Feel free to also share your PC specs, if you wish.

Travis Admin wrote on 05/01/2015 at 03:25am

Be a little skeptical of Geforce Experience. It tells me that I don't meet the minimum requirements for the recent Assassin's Creed games and won't even offer to optimize, but I can nearly max out the settings (not including Unity). In some games it sets it to way lower than I can comfortably run.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 05/01/2015 at 04:04am

I seem to recall you telling me that before, which I forgot until now. My experience with Geforce Experience has been the opposite, at least with this PC, as I said. Luckily, I found out that I can run GTAV with the optimized settings GE set for the game, but turning off High Resolution Shadows seems to have greatly improved the game's performance. On my older PC, I was mostly using an older card, a GTX 8800 I think, and didn't meet the minimum hardware requirements for GE.

One of my friends mentioned how crappy one of the Assassin's Creed games is on the PC. He said it was a bad port. I don't recall which it was, though. I've never played any of those games.

What about overclocking and other utilities? Have you tried any of those?

Travis Admin wrote on 05/02/2015 at 06:42am

I haven't overclocked since the turn of the century really, but you can get a bit of a boost.

And I'd say that none of the AC ports are great, but they aren't bad either.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 05/06/2015 at 02:38am

I tend to focus optimization on a game-by-game basis. Most games that I play seem to work well on the system I have. The ones that I have ended up tweaking, so far, have been either older games (Planescape: Torment), or games that were never really optimized by the developer, where the community has taken such matters into their hands (Dark Souls). I'm not one that necessarily frets about getting the state-of-the-art absolute best graphical experience. A respectable resolution and smooth frame rate are usually all I want. As Travis says, I am wary of third-party applications that claim to make gaming experiences better. They seem like more bloat than is necessary. As long as I kill all secondary processes that don't need to be running while I'm playing a game, I usually don't have any issues. Again, I'm not running on a top of the line system, so this is all relative to my experience.

My specs, for posterity:

Intel Core i5-2500K processor @ 3.30GHz

Sapphire AMD Radeon HD 6870 1GB GDDR5

Corsair Vengeance Blu 8GB (2x 4GB) PC3-12800 1600mHz DDR3

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 05/06/2015 at 03:55am

Awesome, scrypt, thanks for the feedback. I pretty much agree with you about gaming quality, even if my PC specs seem to speak differently. It took me a very long time to upgrade to video that wasn't coax or the standard A/V cables (white, yellow, red). I remember when a friend showed me the difference from that and S-video, which was amazing. It also took me a long time to upgrade to HD, which is even better. Yet again, I'm slightly lagging behind as my plasma TV is over 5 years old and I have yet to experience 4k resolution.

Anyway, what I mean is that I agree that I want a smooth gaming experience. I don't have to have top-of-the-line hardware. Although, when I decided it was time to upgrade or get a new PC and after doing some research, I decided to go all out with this Alienware PC. I've had it for over a year now and it hasn't disappointed me until GTAV came out and I tried to run it with the GeForce Experience optimized settings. It was ok for a while, but then it got less smooth, so I had to make a couple software adjustments. Now, it's pretty good.

The thing that kind of sucks about this now is that I'm finding out about newer and better hardware, like the GTX Titan X, and wishing I had it. I probably won't upgrade for a while though. I feel extremely confident about my CPU (an i7). I'm kind of tempted to upgrade my monitor, though. It's a 24-inch kind of standard Dell monitor that I got along with my Alienware PC. It's refresh rate is only 59 or 60hz, but apparently the human eye doesn't really see a difference above that.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 05/06/2015 at 02:03pm

Don't get me wrong, I totally appreciate the high-end gear and the experiences they afford. When I started playing WoW, the only computer I had at the time was an iMac. It was decently powered, but the game wasn't optimized for the system. When I moved to a PC, it was like playing a brand new game. That same PC, however, is not handling Photoshop as well as my iMac was, so I'm torn, and maybe it's because I built my PC and haven't configured it correctly (probably). If I could, I'd probably upgrade my processor to an i7, then think about upgrading the GPU. The conflict I have is that my PS4 is already a more powerful gaming rig than my PC, plus it was a quarter of the cost. For what I invest in new upgrades, I could be on the road to getting a Mac, which is what I'd prefer to work on. I suppose I could just wait until Windows 10 comes out...

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 05/06/2015 at 03:30pm

I had been building my own PCs instead of buying them for the last 15 years. I built a few of them. This Alienware one was the first one I actually bought. The main reason I bought this one was because I REALLY wanted and i7 and a GTX 690 after finding out how awesome those pieces of hardware were. The thing is that they're not cheap. By adding up the cost of the hardware I wanted from NewEgg, I realized I'd save some money by buying this Alienware instead, even though I spent a lot of money on it. I was building AMD CPU based PCs, but from what I read, the i7 seemed like an awesome CPU.

I've been seeing a lot of specs that use or require an i5.

I really don't have any experience with Macs. I know that they are usually pretty good, especially with creating media.

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/07/2015 at 03:21am

The thing that shines about Apple products is integration with amazing software, fantastic build quality and value. I'd say whereas they are a bit expensive(though they haven't gotten much more expensive lately) what you get(phone, laptop, mac mini) will last you quite a long time and be very nice to use. The only place they fall down a bit, and it's not as much of a deal anymore if you don't mind missing the latest and greatest is gaming. If a majority of your time is web surfing, photo editing, video editing or music creation, the mac shines. Not to say other OS's can't do this, but the built in Mac tools are far and away superior to any native tools anywhere else(iLife is incredible). I run my Mac laptop a ton and it's great for Hearthstone and mostly all Indie games but if you want a max resolution Bioshock Infinite experience you ain't gonna get at, at least not on my monitor. 👻

Since we are all talking specs, here are mine:

Intel I7-2600 @ 3.4GHZ

8 GB DD3

GeForce GTX 750

1 TB & 4TB HD

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 05/07/2015 at 03:56am

Yeah, Apple seems to have a reputation for expensive, but quality products. I think I may have had to use a Mac in college, but it wasn't anything major. Otherwise, my experience is from the Apple IIc, seriously old school.

I thought you got an awesome monitor a while ago.

That's cool that you're running an i7, too.

Travis Admin wrote on 05/07/2015 at 04:07am

Generally, if you compare the actual hardware, not just the numbers, MacBooks don't come out much more expensive than other laptops. Sure it may have a 500gb hard drive, but what's the quality of that hard drive? And so on.

And even on my MacBook with a meager Intel HD 5000 (or maybe 4000) I can get decent performance from Bioshock Infinite. It isn't as good as my gaming rig, which is itself not top-of-the-line, but it's good.

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/08/2015 at 02:30am

"but what's the quality of that hard drive?" No idea but SSD's are fast and my not SSD drives are pretty slow. I've never really had an issue with hard drive quality but I have multiple backups so it wouldn't matter much anyway.

"And even on my MacBook with a meager Intel HD 5000 (or maybe 4000) I can get decent performance from Bioshock Infinite. It isn't as good as my gaming rig, which is itself not top-of-the-line, but it's good.

Totally. It works fine in a pinch but when I want more FPS and a bit more glitz, my Desktop is way better for that too.

Travis Admin wrote on 05/08/2015 at 03:39pm

Yeah I was just using the hard drive as an example. A lot of the sub-$500 laptops people say are "as good as a MacBook" have identical specs on paper but use cheap parts that aren't as reliable.

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/09/2015 at 04:04am

That seems to be true for sure. We bought a $300 Lenovo laptop and it came with a 720p monitor and meager specs but it's lasted quite a long time. My partner doesn't need much horsepower to run a web browser. My only minor gripe with it is the build quality but at $300 my expectations are a bit lower.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 05/13/2015 at 01:43am

How many displays do you have connected to your gaming computers? What are their specs? Do you have your computers hooked up to a TV?

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/14/2015 at 01:17am

When I use my Mac laptop I have two displays, the laptop screen and my monitor. My PC is just hooked up to my one monitor.

My display resolution is 2560x1600.

I don't currently have a computer hooked up to the TV, but I had a Mac mini on it for many years. I replaced it with the Nexus Player and I really love that. The Nexus Player handles Chromecast so I can fling whatever is in Chrome to the TV, plus it has apps that can do Netflix and stream media off my NAS. I plan on getting a Steam Machine so I will have a PC under the TV this year sometime.

Travis Admin wrote on 05/14/2015 at 02:59am

I have the same two monitors connected to my Mac and gaming rig. The mac uses the HDMI ports on the monitor, and the PC uses the DVI ports. So I can do dual monitors on one or the other, or have one monitor each, which is my usual setup.

Travis Admin wrote on 05/14/2015 at 02:59am

Oh and I have a PC connected to the TV but it's kinda not good.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 06/03/2015 at 01:35am

Travis, it seems the entire Assassin's Creed series is on sale on Steam for MidWeek Madness. What do you think about the PC version of the game? How many have you played? Do you recommend it? I haven't played it at all, but I do see some of them for $5 or less, so it wouldn't be too expensive to try now.

Travis Admin wrote on 06/03/2015 at 02:46am

I haven't played Rogue or Unity but I've played all the others, and I love all of them. The plot is continuous, which is somewhat unfortunate, since the first game is the weakest in the series. AC2 is incredible, though, and you can just catch up on the plot with youtube.

But the PC versions are solid. They aren't the best ports but my somewhat meager PC could play AC 3 and 4 just fine.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 06/03/2015 at 11:33pm

There are so many of them, what do you recommend? Do you recommend getting one of the earlier and cheaper games to try it out or one of the newer ones, perhaps even a bundle?

Travis Admin wrote on 06/04/2015 at 03:04am

I'd honestly recommend trying 1, and see if you like it. I thoroughly enjoyed it but there are some legitimate complaints that could ruin it for you. If it's cheap (GOG has it for $5 right now) and you don't mind potentially blowing your money, try it. If you hate it, watch a youtube video to catch up on the story and move on to AC2. The Ezio trilogy (AC2, Brotherhood, and Revelations) are incredible. AC3 is a big change, some for better, some for worse, but still good. AC4 may be my favorite, tons of fun, but not where I'd start, as you miss the point of the present-day plot, or what Abstergo even is. From what I gather they're trying to just end that plot altogether though, which I'm not a fan of. I'd like to see more of it.

But yeah, start with 1, and if you dig it, awesome. If not, start with 2. I wouldn't start any later than that.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 06/04/2015 at 02:12pm

I'd recommend starting at 1, too, because that really sets the pace for the series. Viewing a synopsis on YouTube wouldn't be the same. The play mechanics are certainly inferior to where the games are now, but it's not a horrible experience, and it's such a beautiful game (they're all beautiful). Skipping AC1 would be like skipping Mass Effect 1: it can, at times, be a painful experience, but it's worth toughing it out for the bigger picture.

I've only played up to somewhere in Revelations, so I'm lagging quite a bit in the story. I really wish they would stop releasing a game (multiple games) every year! I feel like I'll never catch up at this point. A year or so ago, I picked up AC3 in a Steam sale, and I'm anxious to get into it, and the rest, but I'm afraid my Wall of Shame is too big.

Travis Admin wrote on 06/04/2015 at 05:44pm

I've just come to accept my wall of shame.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 06/05/2015 at 05:58pm

That's unacceptable, Travis.

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Batman: Arkham Knight PC System Requirements

Below you will find the PC System Requirements for Batman Arkham Knight. I'm wondering if any of you are planning to get the game. If you are, I'd like to know what you plan to play it on. This is one game that I think might make getting a new current generation console for (for me that would be a PS4). I'm not sure which option I may end up choosing. So, let me know what you think. Details are listed below.

Here are the PC System Requirements for Batman Arkham Knight:

Minimum System Requirements

OS: Win 7 SP1, Win 8.1 (64-bit Operating System Required)
Processor: Intel Core i5-750, 2.67 GHz | AMD Phenom II X4 965, 3.4 GHz
Memory: 6 GB RAM
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660
Graphics Memory: 2 GB
DirectX: 11
Network: Broadband Internet Connection Required
Hard Drive Space: 45 GB

Recommended System Requirements

OS: Win 7 SP1, Win 8.1 (64-bit Operating System Required)
Processor: Intel Core i7-3770, 3.4 GHz | AMD FX-8350, 4.0 GHz
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760
Graphics Memory: 3 GB
DirectX: 11
Network: Broadband Internet Connection Required
Hard Drive Space: 55 GB

Ultra System Requirements

OS: Win 7 SP1, Win 8.1 (64-bit Operating System Required)
Processor: Intel Core i7-3770, 3.4 GHz | AMD FX-8350, 4.0 GHz
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980
Graphics Memory: 3 GB
DirectX: 11
Network: Broadband Internet Connection Required
Hard Drive Space: 55 GB

News Source: http://www.gamespot.com/articles/batman-arkham-knight-pc-system-requirements-reveal/1100-6426830/

Travis Admin wrote on 04/28/2015 at 01:07am

We are getting to the point where I can't play new games :(

scrypt Supporter wrote on 04/28/2015 at 02:10am

Same here. I don't meet the minimum. Looks like a Ps4 purchase. Say what you will about consoles; you never have to deal with that stuff.

Travis Admin wrote on 04/28/2015 at 03:08am

Well yeah, but the PCs that could run last gen's games were around at the beginning of the generation too. My meager PC spilled over into this generation too, so I think I got a good run.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 04/28/2015 at 04:26am

Since I have a GTX 690, I "Googled" the GTX 690 vs. the 760 and the 980. It seems to be better than the 760, but the 980 seems to be better than it. My experience with GTAV on the PC has me wondering just how great my PC is. It ran Skyrim just fine on Ultra settings, but I've had to do some research aka "Googling" to get GTAV running more smoothly. I ended up changing a couple of settings.

I am interested in the PS4. In fact, I was very tempted to buy one when I noticed that there's a Final Fantasy Type-O HD bundle. That game also has a demo for FFXV. GTAV for the PS4 made me tempted to get one, but I didn't bite on that one. My PS3 is still running, even though it shuts down sometimes on its own. It's an older model, but not the oldest. I haven't really been gaming on it, but my son has. I've done some media streaming from the PC to the PS3, which was really great. I think I've been waiting for FFXV or FF-whatever and the new Kingdom Hearts to get a PS4. I think I've also been waiting on my PS3 to die, which I'm surprised hasn't happened yet despite it's issue. Still, I think Batman: Arkham Knight might be another game that might make it worth getting a PS4 to play it. Still, I'm sitting on it, not sure when I'll get one, though I imagine I will eventually. I think I've pretty much decided not to get anymore PS3 games, although I honestly can't think of any PS games that I want anyway. That seems to ultimately be the reason why I haven't bought a PS4 yet.

I haven't considered getting an XBox 360 or One. I had the original back around when it was released and loved it. I think the GTA games for it were great, especially since you could use your own music in-game that you had stored on it. Eventually, I let it go and only recently bought another for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer game. That's the only game I have for it now, I'm not sure if I'll get anymore for it. So, some time, I guess I just lost interest in the XBox, perhaps especially due to issues the 360 had (ring of death).

The only current generation console I have is the Wii U, which I've probably had for about a year and I'm honestly really happy with it. I have a few games for it, one of which is Hyrule Warriors, which I've spent a lot of time playing. I have all but the latest (and last) DLC for it. Unlike the other consoles, it's backwards compatible with it's previous generation (the Wii), which I think makes it a little more valuable. I think the Wii U is also the cheapest of the new generation. It's probably also the most unique, just like it's predecessor.

I know the PS4 is doing some kind of streaming service for older PS games, but I don't know much about it. I recently saw an article that stated all the games on the service, but I didn't read it.

What are your thoughts on the current generation consoles?

scrypt Supporter wrote on 04/28/2015 at 05:28am

The PS4 is the bees knees! I've had one since the system launched, and I've only grown to like it more and more. I was a huge fan of the XBox 360, mostly because of the then superior XBox Live service, but Microsoft started making decisions with the UI and the whole spirit of the system started to change. What once was a raw gaming rig, was slowly turning into a playground for advertisers. I hated it, and began to migrate my library over to the PS3. Because of that transition, I never really gave the XBox One any serious thought (although, now that Halo 5 is on the horizon...), especially because of how poorly Microsoft handled the presentation of that machine prior to release. What a nightmare.

Spec-wise, the PS4 is technically more powerful than the XBox One, but I've heard that it's not really noticeable during gameplay, unless you have the systems running side-by-side. Resolution and frame-rate on the XBox One seem to take a hit, whereas the PS4 gets closer to PC quality performance. But then you have to take into consideration the exclusive games. The PS4 may be a beast, but it ain't gettin' the Halos. I feel like they make up for it with Uncharted and games like Bloodborne, Last of Us, etc. The PSN (Sony's counterpart to XBox Live) has grown tremendously, and is much more stable and feature-rich than it used to be on the PS3.

I've only played on the XBox One very briefly. If you are a current fan of the XBox environment, you probably won't be disappointed there. However, I prefer the simplicity of the PS4 interface, the Dualshock 4 controller (an amazing improvement over the DS3, and, in my opinion, the best console controller out there), and the library of games out now, and lined up to release in the future.

If you have any specific questions, please feel free to ask!

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 04/28/2015 at 06:07am

That's great, scrypt, thanks for sharing! What you said kind of ties into my "somewhat of an issue" with gaming lately. FPS games are apparently extremely popular, yet I don't have any interest in them. I seem to see mention of them frequently. I know what Halo is and I have played it, but I wasn't very good at it, especially against friends. I feel like my gaming "scope" is quite limited. I think it's also gotten even more limited in recent years. I remember years ago when I felt like a very serious Final Fantasy fan, but after a while that seems to have faded a bit. After playing Minecraft and Terraria a bit, I started looking for more games that were similar, but I haven't run into many.

So, I think my lack of interest in Halo and other FPS games has also made me less interested in the new XBox consoles. I haven't even played on a 360 or One, so I don't have any experience with them. I haven't played on the PS4 either, for that matter.

I'm glad you mentioned the controller because this is where I feel weird. I've been playing GTAV on the PC with an XBox 360 controller and I absolutely love it (using the controller). I think it's weird since I don't really have an interest in the XBox consoles.

What do you think about the PS streaming service (PS Now, I think it's called)? I did take a look at that article I mentioned, but didn't really see much of anything for me. The reason being my limited gaming scope and knowledge of the many games that are on it and out there generally. I did notice that some of the games I own are on that list (like Batman and Final Fantasy games).

Travis Admin wrote on 04/28/2015 at 01:39pm

I think it's weird since I don't really have an interest in the XBox consoles.

It isn't, not at all. That controller is amazing whether you want the console or not.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 04/28/2015 at 04:48pm

Seriously! I think that if I play this new Batman game on my PC I will probably certainly use this awesome controller of mine.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 04/28/2015 at 08:15pm

Regarding PS Now, I'd say don't let that factor into your decision. Unless you have very fast bandwidth, you can't even use it. I have no idea what the quality is like, since my internet speeds are much too slow, but the rates (prices for the service) alone make it a turn off, for me. If you want to play PS3 games, keep your PS3 and go find used games for significantly cheaper.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 04/29/2015 at 12:01am

That explains why your part in the round table discussions is so laggy. I still have a PS2 and don't plan on getting rid of my PS3. That is a good recommendation, though. I believe I have a fast Internet connection, but it's not fiber.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 07/16/2015 at 02:22am

The game is out and I still haven't bought it. It's probably because I'm already playing something and I have games to play from the Steam Summer Sale. Also, I've seen news that the PC version of this game has been plagued with bugs. It was apparently pulled from the store until some of the bugs were fixed.

So, has anyone jumped in the game yet? Why or why not?

Travis Admin wrote on 07/16/2015 at 03:15am

Not on PC. You can't even buy it. It was such a hack job they pulled it from Steam.

Travis Admin wrote on 07/16/2015 at 03:33am

I must be losing my mind. I just said what half of your previous message was. I didn't see that detail at all on the first read.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 07/16/2015 at 03:40am

Yeah, I wasn't sure if they put it back, I haven't seen anything about it recently.

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Azurephile27

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