Comments for Power Cords

Comment on The return of the old-school RPG by Brendan

Brendan — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:40:00 +0000

The problem with Mass Effect is that, while it definitely offers the player options, they are all binary. There is usually only a “good” and “bad” option, and perhaps a neutral option that usually just filters you back into the binary decision. Only the first game really offers you the ability to really manipulate the story; 2 was almost all binary options that affected 3 in ansilary ways, and 3 was essentially a linear narrative withe a 3-pronged fork at the end. Plus, combat is a must in the game; most old-school RPGs usually offer non-violent methods of play (Fallout, Planescape: Torment, etc).

When I decry Mass Effect for not being a great RPG, it isn’t because it’s a bad game. The entire trilogy is fantastic, and perhaps one of the biggest triumphs of this generation. However, compared to other games in the genre, Mass Effect comes up short in almost every respect aside from polish and gameplay. That said, I will agree the series does allow for perhaps the most role-playing of any other major AAA franchise today. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find far great examples of a modern RPG.

Comment on The return of the old-school RPG by 99octane

99octane — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:11:13 +0000

Funny that you’d classify Mass Effect “not really an RPG” when it’s one of a very few computer games which is actually, indeed, an RPG, i.e.: a game where you play a role.
Most so-called RPGs are just action-adventures where you manage differently skilled assets to overcome challenges and go through the game. There’s no playing of a role, at all.
But with Mass Effect you actually play a character: you have ethical and moral choices to make (will you act ruthlesy to pursue your goal, or do you think that there’s more than ends and goals, and people deserve respect and justice? Will you choose duty over love? Vengeance over justice?), you may choose how you interact with other people (will you be mean? Gentle? Will you help others even when you have nothing to gain at the moment? Will you keep your word? ).
It’s not like an actual role playing game where you interact with real people to create a story, granted. The A.I. is still not that good, but it’s surely the best attempt at the real deal I’ve seen up to now.

Comment on Why We Could Use a (Small) Collapse of the Gaming Industry. by Things are so different than the were 30 years ago…or are they? | United We Game

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 02:17:55 +0000

[...] an interesting take on the state of the gaming industry, check out Why We Could Use a (small) Collapse of the Gaming Industry from Power [...]

Comment on Why We Could Use a (Small) Collapse of the Gaming Industry. by In Other News – 27 March 2013 | Lazygamer .:: The Worlds Best Video Game News ::.

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:01:11 +0000

[...] posters and propaganda Taking cosplay into the wild, wild west – Quite literally Why we could use a small collapse in the gaming industry All the Valve concept art that you could ever [...]

Comment on Return of the Old School RPG Part THREE!? — Richard Garriott and Shadowrun Returns by Shootin’ the Shit: March 8, 2013 — Angry Mobs – Power Cords

Shootin’ the Shit: March 8, 2013 — Angry Mobs – Power Cords — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 00:16:04 +0000

[...] the Shit. On the site itself, I posted two features, The Return of the Old School RPG parts 2 and 3, both of them follow up to my original from a few months ago. But that’s not all that happened [...]

Comment on The return of the Old School RPG part 2 — Torment: Tides of Numenera by Shootin’ the Shit: March 8, 2013 — Angry Mobs – Power Cords

Shootin’ the Shit: March 8, 2013 — Angry Mobs – Power Cords — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 00:16:02 +0000

[...] the Shit. On the site itself, I posted two features, The Return of the Old School RPG parts 2 and 3, both of them follow up to my original from a few months ago. But that’s not all that [...]

Comment on The return of the old-school RPG by The return of the Old School RPG part 2 — Torment: Tides of Numenera – Power Cords

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 06:11:12 +0000

[...] written in the past about my love for various RPGs, as well as my excitement that the genre is making a comeback in a big way. By that I don’t mean in terms of games like Mass Effect or Skyrim selling [...]

Comment on New M13 Planeswalkers by magic the gathering

magic the gathering — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 05:32:26 +0000

|In Yugioh the new decks just pummeled the older ones, and I’m afraid that with Gatecrash out, my Return to Ravnica/Avacyn deck will be rendered useless. Can old cards still compete with new ones%3

Comment on Moonrise Kingdom Review by Marty

Marty — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 19:22:17 +0000

“Moonrise Kingdom Review | Power Cords” ended up being in fact engaging
and helpful! Within todays universe that is challenging to
deliver. Thx, Windy

Comment on Marshal’s Top 10 Movie Villains by two Person Desk;

two Person Desk; — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 23:15:55 +0000

Thanks for every other informative web site. Where else could I get that kind
of information written in such an ideal manner? I’ve a project that I’m simply now running on,
and I have been at the look out for such info.