Old School Gamer -- a Little Overwhelmed - Page 2

I'm 32, and I have been gaming since the NES came out...

After you get the controller to feel natural to you, which could take some time because you haven't grown into all the additional buttons over time like many of us have...you will find that most of the games of today are much EASIER than the Genny and SNES games of the past. A lot of those games were really, really tough. If you beat something like Ghosts and Goblins, you can handle today's games!

Something like Gears of War is great, because planning your moves and choosing cover, etc. is more important than the pure "twitch factor" that is needed for other shooter games.

I thought my gaming skills had not eroded over the years at all...until I played Guitar Hero with my 17yo little brother, and got pwned bigtime. Little punk...but I have my own house and car and he doesn't

I was getting hand fatigue from Rainbow Six: Vegas this morning. You have to hold the left trigger in to stay in cover, and after a while of doing that along with working the analog stick, my hand started to hurt a bit.

Another good game, btw...although not as good as Gears, IMO.

36 years young....lol.I bought the 360 just to play GOW...I am stuck on the car/tank part of the game! So kevin you are not alone!ADD ME...quickfire99 to your friends list and we'll play CO OP.Any of you guys can put me on your friends list.I have played online and have been told I suck at this game.I want to play GOW...with people on par with my skill level.I could be great at this game.If I played it more often. I just don't have enough time.

If you think GoW isn't about quick fingers, wait until you get into multiplayer games and one-on-one shotgun matches Quickly dodging while keeping the camera centered on the other player is quite fun.

BTW, if you need help on some co-op stuff, let me know. My GT is Arapino and won't mind helping people out on some missions. I'll only be online for another week though (360 stays at home with my younger bro while I'm at school).

Can you get me to the next checkpoint?The Kryll are killing me on the hard left turn in the tank scene.

I wil be 32 this year and took several years off between 21-28 to chase skirts. Got married last 01-01-06, bought the 360, now I am a casual gamer.

I like a game that is fun, not too easy, but not challenging to the point it will take me a year to complete. I play maybe 3 hours a week. I would like to play Oblivion, but it may take the rest of my life to complete it. So I won't play it, but I want to badly.

Back in the days of Doom, Quake, etc I used to spank lots of players. At 31-32, I am getting spanked and loving it.

The other night on CoD3 Multiplayer, a 12 year old was ragging a 20 year-old because his girlfriend, who was talking to us, was just sitting there watching her boyfriend play. A 20 year-old, with a 19 year-old girlfriend already on the bed, and he is playing games!!!! The 360, helping establish the Pussification of America!!

I don't understand your logic. That sounds like the perfect scenario to me - a game I love playing, that never actually ends. I can't speak for you, of course, but I always feel a certain amount of disappointment when I actually finish a game that I really enjoy playing. I wish it would last forever, but it eventually ends. You've found a game you want to play, but you won't because you'll get to enjoy it for a long time...?

I can see your point, but lets say Oblivion was released on the Sega Genesis. Based on what I understand as Gameplay, I would still be playing it and several new releases to the Elder Scrolls series would have already been released with improved gameplay better graphics and sound. I would rather be playing the new versions with new eye candy.

I still may do it, but I dunno if I will buy the PC version or 360 version. Considering it isn't multi-player, I may buy the PC version.

34 years old here, and just got the 360 for Christmas. The last console I owned was the Nintendo 64, so I skipped the PS2/Gamecube/Xbox generation.

I've been playing through Lego Star Wars II (The Original Trilogy) with my 5.5 year old for a few days now. Pretty simple old school controls (jump, shoot, special ability), plus it's a funny game (Legos rock!)

I also have tried Moto GP '06 which came with it. Apparently I suck at it as I can't keep the bike on the road. Might pick up the steering wheel, which might help.

We also bought Cars for my kid, and even he can control it. Nice simple car-based adventure driving game.

Finally, since I loved HL2 and Doom 3 on the PC, I thought I'd give GOW a shot, but they were sold out so I got Call of Duty 3 instead. I can't control a FPS with that controller at all (mouse/keyboard combo it is NOT). I gave up after about 20 minutes of dying 30 seconds into it, but I did find that I was getting a little more used to the dual stick controls. I figured I'd revisit it after I mastered a couple of the easier games. Oh how I long for the simple joystick/one button days of that Atari 2600. Those were simpler times....

I am also intimidated by XBL, for the same reason. I'm actually hooking up to the internet for the first time tonight, but am debating on whether or not to pony up the cash to play against other people. I do not need 12 year olds swearing at me telling me how much I suck because they've spent the last 6 months playing a game 10 hours a day and I manage about 1/2 hour a week. For others here though, it's supposed to have some kindof skill matching. I wonder if it actually works well. Everyone raves about it, but I guess I'm more about single-player stuff.

Anyhoo, the 360 sure is purty to look at. Now if only I didn't feel like I was playing the same old games I was 10 years ago but with better graphics. Guess I shouldn't complain though.

That's certainly a good point. Maybe wait a few months to see if it comes down to the lower price point. Of course, by the time the price comes down, there probably will be a new version at the high price point, and then you'll really have a tough decision...

At least do Xbox Live Silver. Its free, allows you to update the Xbox as well as game patches and you can chat with friends, etc. A close friend moved away and now we all communicate via Xbox Live. I can play one game while they watch a movie or do something else. You can also leave voice or text messages if they are out.

However, I downloaded Doom just for some old school fun and wow. When playing Multiplayer, mostly people in their 30's and 40's were online, I met old schoolers from ALL over the globe. It was great playing Co-op and telling stories. I haven't played Multiplayer in a few weeks, so I dunno if it is still being played or not. Friends and usually get together and create our own game and play like we did back in the 486 days.

What are these "friends" you speak of?

Actually, I'm the only one in my circle who has one....most of my friends think videogames are for kids. I'm also the only one who watches Battlestar Galactica. Man, I need new friends...

Anyways, I will be hooking it up to the internet tonight (had to rewire some things to plug in the ethernet cable to save myself cash for the wireless adapter) and will do the silver thing to check it out. I'm also picking up the HD-DVD add-on, and maybe Gears of War, but I really need to get used to that dual joystick thing.

Does DOOM arcade allow you to look up and down, etc? How are the controlls? I saw that on LIVE and almost pulled the trigger the other night (pun intended).

btw... 41 yr old gamer here!

50 year old novice gamer here. My daughter and I love playing Burnout Revenge, well we did until my son took his 360 back. Cosidering purchasing another unit for myself. Games are awesome on my Sony 50a10 TV with 5.1 surround sound.

I am 34 years old and my wife bought me a 360 for Christmas. The last console I owned was a Sega Genesis. I am also having a hard time figuring out all of the controls on the 360, but it's coming. Part of the problem is fiding the time to game and get used to the complicated controller. I also have the wireless racing wheel for project gotham 3 and need for speed carbon. Am I the only one who finds NFSC incredibly difficult? I also have gears of war, though I've barely touched it. my favorite so far is Dead Rising (though the extremely limited save areas is frustrating).

Anyways, it's good to hear that I'm not alone!

Mark

LOL... Same deal here. We are now a "multi-360" household.

That's exactly what I was thinking. Old, senile gamers, unite!

Now, if I can just garner up enough nerve to try playing against people on XBL. That might be a bit too much social interaction for me though. Plus if someone insults me I cry easily

40 year old here. Have not had a console since Sega. I go all the way back to Vic 20 days. I play alot of PC games and am very use to the mouse keyboard play. I just picked up a 360. Did the gold thing online. PLayed some Tony Hawk. GOW. PGR3. a jet game, but I find I go ack to the sports games, madden BBall, baseball. I play them on my PC and have a projector and a 50 inch Panny tv. The PC games look great, and I cant see the 360 looking any better.

So I dont know if I will keep it. I hear you guys talk about all the great games but man using that controller for GOW was hard. And I like all the COD games but on the 360 it was tough for me as well.

So help me decide.

Just setup my xbox 360 and played GUN. The only game I had at the time. Man getting used to that controller is a bitch. But, I will give it time. Just got GOW. So this should be interesting.

(37yr old pc gamer)

Try this site for like-minded, adult gamers (well, some of 'em anyway): www.geezergamers.com

Games don't have to use all the buttons to be fun. As someone else mentioned, games like Geometry Wars and Mutant Storm are loads of fun with only two analog sticks and a trigger. Assault Heroes is in the same vein, with the addition of weapon-selection. If you were a fan of old-school vertical shooters and/or Robotron/SmashTV, you'll probably like these as the next evolution of shooters.

KevinP8192
The entire game can be played with a friend. All you do is press the X on the pad, goto friends list, select a friend and select invite. Walla. I will add you my list. I'm HomerVhato. We can play anytime and you'll have a blast. It will be exactly like single player, but whomever plays takes the place of Dom your partner.

Dogmanky To answer your question, no. It is a direct port of versions 1.666 w/Xbox Live support. Back in the day a mod was available to free look, but Id Software I guess just didn't feel like adding that while coding Live. Weird at first, but the game is so fun you really don't miss it.

MProper, The friends I am speaking of are guys who bought computers just for DOOM, back in the day.

To give ya an idea of who my friends are since ya asked.

The first is myself, 31 y/o, married a year ago on New Years Day, no kids. Director of IT for a local Parish Government (County for most of you) as well as the Sheriff's Office. Fully commissioned Officer.

Next is a 47 y/o. Married w/5 kids. Owns a large Lumber Supply company.

The 3rd is an SSGT. in the Marine Corps, 37 y/o. Never married no kids.

Fourth is a 39 y/o Network Administrator in the Mortgage Industry. Married, two kids.

Fifth is a 57 y/o Laboratory Supervisor, Married, 4 kids, all gone.

And I will stop here at six, 35 y/o female, married, no kids, no job. Works out all day and cooks great. So I let her slide on being lazy.

My wife doesn't like the 360 as a game device. SHe only likes Video Market Place and the HD-DVD Player. She only plays her Super Nintendo.

Young guy here.. but I thought this would help. I was a little hesitant to play over xbox live at first seeing as how I was terrible at shooters. What I found that helps is joining a game with lots of people in the room. That way if you suck, no one will really notice. At the same time, it will help you build your skills. It also helps to play games in teams as opposed to just running out by yourself. You'll be able to learn how people play online, and you'll be able to stay alive and maybe get some kills!

Also, you don't always have to talk and you don't always have to respond. If someone is talking crap then just mute them and move on. XBL is a fun experience that I'm sure you would all enjoy.

VanMark, Rent Burnout Revenge, it's a blast. Ended up buying it from BB, $29

A) I had the same problem as well but you will get use to it.

B) Yup, same here. As others have mentioned, the racing games and shooters are fairly easy to pick up. If you are having problems, don't skip the training most games offer in the beginning. Also, it's OK to read the manual (just don't tell anyone you do).

C) This is the one area that REALLY bothers me. I have a thick skin and I can trash talk with the elite trash talkers...that is not the issue. The issue is all the racism, sexism, and anti-semitism out there. Thank God there are on-line gaming communities. Check out the ones that have already been posted by AVS members in this thread. All are top notch and you can see which one is the best fit for your specific tastes. I belong to seasonedgamers.com and I love it.

Oh, before I bought the xbox, the only console I played as a kid was Intellivision. My neighbor had it and I was addicted to the baseball game.

I just turned 38.

I'm 44. (Do I win?)

I had a Pong machine back in the late '70s, but never owned any of the consoles until I bought a 3DO in, I dunno, '85-ish? After that less-than-successful purchase, I skipped all the modern consoles up until the 360. So yeah, there was a bit of a learning curve, controller-wise.

I flailed around a bit, to be sure. Perfect Dark Zero on that first night was all but uncontrollable. But I eventually buckled down and started playing COD2. By the time I finished that game, I was pretty comfortable with the controller. The 120 hours in Oblivion didn't hurt either. I'm completely helpless in a fighting game, but I really don't care.

I'd recommend Mutant Storm as a good download. It starts off pretty easy, and gets you used to the idea of moving with one stick, while aiming with the other. It doesn't even have a fire button, just a superbomb on one of the triggers.

Call of Duty 2 is pretty easy on the Easy setting. It's not bad on the next level up either. (And the next step up, Hardened - the second hardest level - feels about right for me now, even though I'm not good at it.) Veteran (the hardest level) is pretty hard, but I've been able to complete missions on the Veteran level too, and the last console I owned was the Atari 2600. Seriously.