General Discussion [ Page 66 ]

Site Development: Comment Sharing & Gaming Events

comment sharing

After Travis posted about the new XBox One I commented in that post and realized I wanted to share the comment on Twitter. I didn't want to make up a post and then share that, I just wanted to share the comment in Travis post. So this evening I added a share button to the comments that allow anyone to get a URL that links back to any post comment. This lets you share any comment on the site you find useful. I have read some really epic comments on Slashdot and Reddit I have linked to and this allows you to do the same. But don't take my word for it, head into an active comment stream and check it out.

new event system - coming soon

For quite some time... Read All comment sharing

After Travis posted about the new XBox One I commented in that post and realized I wanted to share the comment on Twitter. I didn't want to make up a post and then share that, I just wanted to share the comment in Travis post. So this evening I added a share button to the comments that allow anyone to get a URL that links back to any post comment. This lets you share any comment on the site you find useful. I have read some really epic comments on Slashdot and Reddit I have linked to and this allows you to do the same. But don't take my word for it, head into an active comment stream and check it out.

new event system - coming soon

For quite some time people have told me they want it to be easier to play games with the Cheerful Ghost community. In the past, someone had to create a post and then people commented if they wanted to play. When the time came to play, sometimes people forgot or didn't join in because of timezone strangeness. Needless to say, it works for some but its not awesome.

For the last month I have been working on an awesome new system for Cheerful Ghost to schedule gaming events with the community. The new Event section will allow anyone on the site to join and create events easily on the site.

If you want to schedule a session of Left 4 Dead on Steam Saturday @ 1pm you will easily be able to do that. Since we all live all over the world the new event system will automagically translate the event times for you. So if I create an event in Portland with a start time of 1PM, when Travis looks at the event in New York he will see 4PM. It doesn't matter where you live, Cheerful Ghost will automagically translate the event time for you to your timezone.

Left 4 Dead 2 only supports 4 players so the new event system has a mechanism to hard limit the amount of people that can join if you say it should.

Events in many ways act like posts and as such after you create your event you can comment in it and share it easily on Twitter, Facebook & Google+.

I am pretty busy and as such use my calendar to schedule my life. Once you join an event you can easily add it to your Smartphone, Desktop or Google Calendar. This is a really hot feature and I just added it this evening. Its so magic seeing the event get added to your iPhone calendar :D

I am still in deep development on this but its already working well. I plan on doing a soft beta launch very soon and plan on releasing a teaser video in the next few days so keep a look out for the new goodness.

New XBox called XBox One

EDIT: Putting this at the top because it's a hot-button issue that people have been wondering about. CVG is reporting that installing games is mandatory, and that installing the same game by a second user will be behind a paywall. It isn't exactly blocking used game sales, but there will be some sort of fee.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/407912/microsoft-confirms-pre-owned-fee-for-xbox-one/

It's a pretty slick looking box, but can we just talk a sec about the name? How many kids are going to get a used original XBox for Christmas?

It boasts a lot of interesting features. Here are a few:

THEY FIXED THE D-PAD

It will be all in one system, has TV capabilities, and will... Read All

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/21/2013 at 06:44pm

Watched the stream up until half way and then it cut out. Not a bad thing, it was interesting up until the EA stuff and I sort of got bored. I don't really care much about hearing from EA personally.

That said, objectively this looks like a really wicked sweet console. Won't be perfect, but it looks like it handles the TV, Movies, Music and lastly games workflows well. I think that important to note because it seems like Microsoft isn't making games the larger focus. Not condemning it, just noting.

I have an outstanding thought that next gen consoles will suffer because everyone has enough magic in their living room in terms of stuff under the TV. Plus Smartphones. So will people buy yet another thing that is more better? Some obviously, but I wonder if the poor Wii U sales are just how this next console generation will be? Just a question really.

Again, looks like a cool system but not aimed at me. I can Netflix, DVD and BluRay to my entertainment satisfaction and I don't watch live TV. But I could see where this would be a insta-purchase for some and the first consoles some actually get, the use-cases are quite striking for who they are targeting.

hardeyez wrote on 05/21/2013 at 10:05pm

Here's the microsoft site for it http://www.xbox.com/en-us/xboxone/meet-xbox-one

scrypt Supporter wrote on 05/21/2013 at 10:30pm

From Microsoft's Xbox One site: "Xbox One gets to know you. It learns what you like and what you don’t."

Pretty sure it won't pick up on the fact that I hate advertisements on my paid-for product, but whatever. This is pretty much what I was afraid of, more of the same. Microsoft is moving the Xbox further away from a pure gaming experience, and they can keep it. The ability to play games after installing, without a disc, is something I've always wanted, but not in this package. And a fee for used games? Forget it.

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/22/2013 at 04:48am

Yeah, if you are not keen on Microsoft's design choices I don't think the XBox One is going to be for you scrypt.

Hey Travis, are you going to pick this up?

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 05/22/2013 at 01:38pm

It depends on their plans for used games that they haven't disclosed yet, how backwards compatibility works, and how fully-functional the Windows install is.

With used games, I generally don't bother anyway. It's only $5 cheaper at Gamestop, and if you want to get it cheaper you have to go to Craigslist or eBay or something like that. So I prefer getting new anyway. I may not like the decisions MS makes here, but really when is the last time you played a used PC game? I think this is the way things are headed whether we like it or not, and it doesn't affect me greatly anyway.

But if their Windows install will let me install VLC and connect to a server where I have all my media shared, and especially if I can use Steam on it, then it's probably going to get my money. I can effectively replace two machines.

That is, of course, assuming I can still play my 360 games. Since it's on different hardware I'm assuming there would have to be some kind of software emulation here, and I don't know if they'll have that.

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/22/2013 at 05:07pm

Yeah, it looks like it won't be backwards compatible with 360 games. http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/21/4350662/new-xbox-has-no-backwards-compatibilty

I do the used thing on consoles, generally with older titles that are $10-$20. Its a nice way to try something I wouldn't have otherwise and got a few ps3 games that way. Its how I got into the Elder Scrolls series, picked up Oblivion for $10 on PS3.

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 05/22/2013 at 05:56pm

"Xbox and the NFL are partnering to shape the future of football — forever changing the game. Xbox One will transform the way fans experience the NFL from the living room, through an unparalleled, integrated fantasy experience on the television that is truly social and personal, and new innovations in connected experiences with Skype and Xbox SmartGlass. Xbox is proud to be the Official Interactive Content Provider of the NFL."

I saw this paragraph on Best Buy's site. It might have just tipped the scales from PS4 to One. But I'll wait and see of course.

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/22/2013 at 05:58pm

Yeah in the reveal video the fantasy integration looked pretty good. If you watch live TV and play fantasy football on ESPN this might be your jam :D

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 05/22/2013 at 06:31pm

Adym-- http://i.imgur.com/h6CI5Gc.png

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 05/22/2013 at 06:35pm

LOL! Good call Travis :D

I still need to watch the revel video. It's blocked at work, and last night I was busy, but I look forward to it!

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/22/2013 at 07:12pm

Hahaha. Both. I have a Mac Mini, Wii & PS3 under the TV. Id have to start tossing out systems to add another one and each one serves a purpose. Only one new system (as of now) will be compatible with all the gear of the old one and thats the Wii U. Say what you will about Nintendo, but they do that part right.

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More PS4 announcements teaser

http://webassets.scea.com/ps4/media/fw_20may_bg_header.jpg

Sony is emailing today that there will be a "big announcement" about the PS4 at their E3 presentation. You can live stream it...

http://us.playstation.com/ps4/

There is also a teaser trailer showing an out of focus black box...

Card Hunter - FANTASy tacTICal browser goodness

See what I did there, with the word within words? I know... *sigh

The first time I got to play Card Hunter was at PAX Prime last year, and it was a polished treat. Turn-based, tactical RPG, designed as a board game, but played in your browser. It runs on Flash, and it's silky smooth. The team at Blue Manchu have been in closed beta since January this year, and are currently accepting beta applications.

www.cardhunter.com

I love the digitization of physical board games, but only when developed with great care. Card Hunter isn't a physical game (yet, I'm assuming), but it has that same tangible presence. The hand drawn, 3-Dimensional game pieces, and the pen & paper... Read All

The Firehose: Wolfenstein, Crawl + Risk of Rain

Kotaku released some very detailed images of Wolfenstein World Order. They look great and one image of a robot dog thing kind of reminds me of the mousers from Ninja Turtles, it might just be me though. :D

http://kotaku.com/new-wolfenstein-screens-show-that-life-is-hell-when-naz-505599439

Crawl is a interesting and free new Minecraft meets Legend of Grimrock style game. You play a physician put into someone's mind to help treat trauma thus proving that geek minds really are a maze of dungeons.

http://www.indiedb.com/games/crawl

Chucklefish is now publishing the new 2D sidescrolling rouge-like "Risk of Rain." Interesting to see the Starbound team take on the role of... Read All

A Boatload of Free PC Games

I'll admit, I am a sucker for free stuff. Not that free is always good mind you, but the price is right. Recently I stumbled across a game site that catalogs all the good free games on PC called Freeware Games. I wanted to share it with you because I had forgotten about some of the games on the list and I know some of you somewhat new to PC gaming and might want to try a few games on the list.

Some awesome games of notes:

Black Mesa(The Fan Recreation of the original Half-Life.), CaveStory, Super Mario Bros. X, Team Fortress 2, The Original Grand Theft Auto, DOTA 2, League of Legends, Dwarf Fortress, Lord of the Rings Online, Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall & Kings... Read All

Watch Out For Fireballs Kickstarter

Back this on Kickstarter!

Are you in Portland? We're going to do a live show at the PRGE! We need help to do it! I won't be obnoxious about this but consider helping out!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/53695366/watch-out-for-fireballs-live-at-prge

Steam trading cards are a thing now

http://media.steampowered.com/steamcommunity/public//updates/tradingcards/02.png?v=2

It's been joked about for years that Steam is a game in and of itself-- much like Pokemon, you gotta catch em all. They had little contests around the major sales that helped support this claim, but now that's being kicked up a notch.

Currently in beta, Steam Trading Cards are virtual cards you earn while playing Steam games. Once you collect a set, you can turn them into a profile badge (like the "Pillar of the Community" badge from one of last year's sales) that will get you virtual items and XP toward your Steam level. Leveling up earns you other virtual items. Also, you can win coupons for other games, which is what's driving my interest.

It looks interesting. Steam... Read All

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/16/2013 at 01:02am

I think this is pretty neat. At some point hopefully you can play a game with these?

vdogmr25 wrote on 05/16/2013 at 01:39am

I'm not too big on the idea of a gamerscore. I generally don't care either way, but the ability to turn that into coupons or in-game items now and then actually makes me willing to work for these a bit.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 05/16/2013 at 03:28pm

This is something along the lines of what I thought Microsoft was initially going to do with their Gamerscore system. My local friends are very much completionists, though they aren't on Steam much, or at all. In either case, I don't think this would be something that would attract them, or compel them to play more. It seems a definite progression toward their living room experience, and if someone was to play toward 'leveling up' their profile, why not play on the system that gives you something for that, rather than just a number?

I think it's a cool idea, but will have to spend some time with it.
(just updated my Steam with a beta token/invite thingy. Nice that they assign a level based on what you've already accomplished, so you don't have to start from scratch. About to jump into Team Fortress 2 to see if any magic happens...)

scrypt Supporter wrote on 05/21/2013 at 04:46am

Okay, I've collected a few cards in the games that are available for collecting. Traded, and purchased from the Steam Market, some cards that I needed to complete a set... The whole system seems pretty damn cool. Play the games, and cards "drop" into your inventory while you are playing, up to a certain limit. Trade extras that you have, or sell on the Steam Market. When you have collected enough to have a set, you push a button to craft a badge for that card set. This crafting unlocks other items, such as graphic backdrops for your Steam profile, chat emoticons, even coupons for discounts on Steam games. I don't know if this will show up properly, but I'm linking a copy of my profile here, as a preview (check the "Favorite Group" unlock!):

http://steamcommunity.com/id/neverhouse/

Very interested to see what else they do with this. If (when) other developers jump on board with cards for their games, it's going to explode. So far, I'm impressed.

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/21/2013 at 06:37am

Awesome scrypt, what games does it drop cards for to start? Half-Life and Portal 2 only?

scrypt Supporter wrote on 05/21/2013 at 07:25am

Half Life 2, Portal 2, Counter Strike:GO, Team Fortress 2 and Don't Starve. For now, at least.

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/21/2013 at 03:02pm

Don't Starve huh? That may accelerate my acquisition of that one...

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 05/21/2013 at 05:32pm

Don't Starve is interesting. It's a roguelike-like survival world-building game.

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/21/2013 at 06:48pm

Yeah, I played it on a friends computer, it really is fun.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 01/25/2014 at 05:16am

It is interesting. I'm probably a bit of a newb when it comes to Steam as I only have two games, Portal and Terraria. Guess how much I paid for both games.....that's right $0. I got Portal when I found out it was free. I spent 3 hours on it, I think, that's it. Terraria on the other hand, well I spent 159 hours on. It was interesting once I started playing Terraria that I noticed I had earn some of these cards based on Terraria. I may have but a few and it doesn't seem like I've earned any since. I'm really not sure what they're for, but it is interesting.

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 01/25/2014 at 02:31pm

How did you manage to only spend 3 hours on Portal?

jdodson Admin wrote on 01/25/2014 at 04:04pm

I think the game can be completed in three hours. That said, my first play through was much more than that.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 01/25/2014 at 10:06pm

Hahaha, Travis, probably because I got so frustrated with it. Sometimes puzzle games make me feel so stupid.

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The Firehose: Planetary Annihilation, NES & PS2

Uber recently posted a livestream about the upcoming Planetary Annihilation. They talk about the game and show it off if you were interested in how it was shaping up!

http://uberent.com

To celebrate 25 years of Mega Man, Platinumfungi built a special tricked out backlit NES with the Blue Bombers theme.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.517465208290043.1073741828.305139316189301&type=1

Gamestop won't take any more PS2 trade-ins after June 1st. My only question is why they take them now, surely the used market on the PS2 is lessened or is it now a retro system?

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/05/gamestop-will-stop-taking-ps2-trade-ins-as-of-june-1/

scrypt Supporter wrote on 05/12/2013 at 05:54pm

Planetary Annihilation has been on my radar since the Kickstarter campaign. It just looks like so much fun, and I love that stylized art. Can't wait!

That NES looks pretty sick, too. I've been jonesing for classic Nintendo games lately, but only have access on the Wii, at the moment. Just isn't the same without that old controller in your hands, after blowing on the cartridge to get the game to load.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 05/12/2013 at 08:08pm

NES cart blowing, good thing digital gets around that :D

I tossed in a about $10 for a nice USB gamepad a while ago from Gamestop. I am just kind of allergic to rebuying games on the latest platform. I keep my old carts though, never get rid of that stuff. Always want the gold Zelda cart in my collection as well as the Power Glove.

The Power Glove, is so bad...

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 05/12/2013 at 08:08pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ya0F83Bmbl4

scrypt Supporter wrote on 05/12/2013 at 08:27pm

I never had a Power Glove, but always thought it was pretty cool. I think the coolest thing I had, controller-wise, was the NES Advantage, but it's long gone now, along with all of that collected gaming history.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 05/12/2013 at 08:30pm

NES Advantage wasn't too bad. Joytick style controller that worked pretty well. I think I played it a few times as a kid, but always loved it in Ghostbusters 2 :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6NhfRFSaFo

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An experiment: Best game of all time?

I'm going through a bit of a gaming funk. I honestly think I blame Bioshock Infinite for that a little bit for setting the bar too high. I just can't seem to get into any game I try to play these days.

So I ask you. What is your favorite game of all time? And please elaborate on why it's your favorite. I'll then start going down the list, playing each of your favorites that I can get access to. Even if I've just played it recently I'll replay it. I'll try to get the original version of anything that's been remade, and avoid emulators when possible to recreate the original experience. I also invite you all to join in the fun and play these with me, then we can have a... Read All

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/11/2013 at 04:52pm

E.T. heh. I had that on Atari, it was kind of fun except it only held my interest for minutes. Still, kind of a crappy charm to it.

I have thought much about the best game of all time, for me. I think the best game of all time has to be Tetris but I don't love Tetris, its only very good.

I guess it would have to be a game I come back to with regularity. Something that hit me and left and impression I can't shake. I guess... it would have to be.

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. Its like a good blend of short and good. Had some awesome bugs that let you warp around, the whole Thief/stealing items business was cool.

Second place is Final Fantasy IV. Same ish reasons for the most part.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 05/12/2013 at 07:57pm

This question (all time favorite game/music/book/movie...) always gives me a case of mild anxiety, in as much as I can never really decide, because of taste changes and my desire to focus on the present rather than the past. Then I think, "A favorite all-time game should be able to transcend change in taste/time," but I don't know if that's something I can cope with :). It's much easier for me to try to isolate games of a specific genre that stand out as favorites, but even then, the list would be too long for this project.

Uuuuuaaaaagh...! I'm going to have to go with Journey, as a singular all-time favorite. It embodies everything that I love about what video games can give. It gives you a sense of spacial freedom and discovery, and it wraps it all up in an eternal, unspoken story of time and community. Journey also has this great impression of classic games that I grew up with, while offering an absolutely beautiful, high-definition landscape. That, tied with Austin Wintory's musical scores, make this game very much a living, breathing thing.

Some of the games that I was weighing against, for the sake of perspective, in no particular order:

Fable 2
X-Wing
Bionic Commando (original NES, not the crappy remakes)
Ico
Beyond Good & Evil
Portal
World of Warcraft
Civilization (I or V)
Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
Warhammer 40K: Space Marine (seriously, I love this game)
Halo 3: ODST & Halo 4 (for multiplayer)
Skyrim

scrypt Supporter wrote on 05/12/2013 at 08:13pm

I forgot MYST!! Dammit! I had intentionally left off Bioshock Infinite, but that should be in there, too. And EVE online...

Thanks, Travis!!

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 05/12/2013 at 11:07pm

So, I may pick a few more out of your list because now I want to replay Portal, but so far Link's Awakening and Journey. I'm looking forward to those.

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 05/12/2013 at 11:07pm

I've played Journey before, but I'd certainly welcome replaying it. Such a beautiful game.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 05/13/2013 at 12:20am

I'll be going back to play it again, too. I also want to tackle Link's Awakening somehow. Don't think I ever actually played that one.

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/13/2013 at 12:24am

scrypt: Do it, Link's Awakening is great. Let me know how it turns out when you do :D

scrypt Supporter wrote on 05/13/2013 at 03:09am

Forgot that Link's Awakening was a Gameboy game. Is the 3DS version just as good?

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/13/2013 at 03:12am

I bet its based on Link's Awakening DX, which added a color dungeon and some other special stuff.

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 05/13/2013 at 04:53pm

Yes, the version on 3DS is a direct port of Link's Awakening DX.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 05/13/2013 at 11:06pm

Cool. I've been thinking of picking up a 3DS anyway!

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 05/15/2013 at 11:31pm

I had to think about this for a while, but one of my favorite games that I had forgotten about is Goldeneye 007 (for the 64). Really for the multiplayer though. The game was good enough, but the 4 player deathmatch games were so much fun back in the day!

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/16/2013 at 01:00am

Its a good game Adym!

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