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[mattiewheels]

I thought the goatee was a phase for him, but I guess it's permanent now.

 

[ArjanN]

Jeff said he almost gave GTA a 4, don't see that being GOTY for him. Hell, he liked Bioshock more.

I think everyone cooled on GTAV pretty quickly after the initial buzz. Even more so when the MP was so broken.

I thought the goatee was a phase for him, but I guess it's permanent now.

I generally don't like goatees but the problem is Patrick looks 15 years old without facial hair.

 

[demidar]

I thought the goatee was a phase for him, but I guess it's permanent now.

I think he looks more rugged with the goatee, then he doesn't look like a 15 year old.

 

[LackingSaint]

Jeff Gerstmann: "Stealth gameplay is the professional wrestling of video games."

Again I will say: If you think The Last of Us is a Stealth game, you haven't played more than the first couple of hours of it.

Also Patrick's beard looks great, if only for the fact that it represents a definite change in my mind from Patrick being kind of forgettable to being a very charming dude.

 

[Antiwhippy]

He follows the Wolpaw law though, so if he doesn't like the first few moments he won't stick the rest of the way through.

 

[LackingSaint]

He follows the Wolpaw law though, so if he doesn't like the first few moments he won't stick the rest of the way through.

As much as I love Erik Wolpaw, that law is the stupidest thing. If you made snap judgements on slow-burn media, you'd end up missing out on half the great content that is out there. The first episode of The Wire isn't exactly mindblowing.

 

[Kerned]

As much as I love Erik Wolpaw, that law is the stupidest thing. If you made snap judgements on slow-burn media, you'd end up missing out on half the great content that is out there. The first episode of The Wire isn't exactly mindblowing.

True that. In fact, I would say that the first 4 or 5 episodes of The Wire are pretty dull, but once you get past that hump... holy shit.

 

[derFeef]

He follows the Wolpaw law though, so if he doesn't like the first few moments he won't stick the rest of the way through.

He does that a lot. "I played an hour of **** and I don't want to paly any more of it"

 

[Lunzio]

I love GOTY stuff but I really wish I didn't get the feeling that most of the crew loathes doing the content.

Wolpaw law is interesting. I think it would be kind of ignorant to say that after putting a couple of hours into TLoU that it's not satisfying, meanwhile DoTA 2 requires much, much more time to ever feel like a worthwhile investment of time - and even then we know how disparaging that can be (Hey, Daily DoTA?).

 

[funkystudent]

Stealth in TLOU is probably one of the few times I didnt hate it.

It has that Batman Arkham thing of making you feel like a badass more then anything. It was a smart move on ND's part to make the zombies blind and make it more about sound.

I guess if you are a crazy person and are trying to stealth your way through it or you only played the first 3 hours and saw that one stealth sequence hiding from humans and thought the rest of the game was like that...

 

[NumberThree]

As much as I love Erik Wolpaw, that law is the stupidest thing. If you made snap judgements on slow-burn media, you'd end up missing out on half the great content that is out there. The first episode of The Wire isn't exactly mindblowing.

I think passive media like TV is much easier in that sense, as you can get through the slow start while doing something else (such as browsing NeoGAF). A game requires - at least from me - full attention, so if a game doesn't do anything to grab me in the first hour or so I'm very likely to just not bother with it anymore.

I love GOTY stuff but I really wish I didn't get the feeling that most of the crew loathes doing the content.

The content of Giant Bomb's GOTY stuff is all the weird shit they do, and I doubt they loathe doing that.

 

[erawsd]

I just listened to the Podcast and I don't get why everyone thinks Vinny is in love with TLOU. Everytime I've heard him talk about it, its all love for the story but he doesn't seem to have enjoyed the gameplay.

Considering all the butthurt and accusations of him being an "xbot" over the past few months, its pretty funny that Brad may end up being the guy to go to bat for TLOU.

 

[Kelas]

If a game has some quirky aspects to it, chances are Jeff won't like it, and chances are he'll call you a crazy person for liking it. That has been the case since I started following GB. Calling him out on his opinions isn't going to win him over, and also who really cares? I think it would be cool if he took Pat's approach and sunk hours into a game like Monster Hunter or something else he doesn't think he likes, to challenge his own ideas about those types of games, but it also doesn't really matter if he doesn't.

 

[LegoArmo]

Papers, Please needs to win Game of the Year. Not even just to be hipster.

 

[Ghost]

I thought the goatee was a phase for him, but I guess it's permanent now.

Once you goatee you never go back?

 

[denshuu]

Again I will say: If you think The Last of Us is a Stealth game, you haven't played more than the first couple of hours of it.

I've played it to completion. It's a stealth game. The only reason it stopped being a stealth game for me halfway through was because I got bored with the stealth mechanics and just wanted to bulldoze through the encounters to see more of the story.

 

[Haunted]

I despise slow-paced stealth games so I put TLoU on easy after a couple hours and shot everyone; you get enough ammo throughout the game to make that viable.

I thought it was great, but didn't like it as much as Uncharted. Had I played it as a pure stealth game, I'm sure I would have enjoyed it less/ranked it lower.

 

[Jintor]

I liked it well enough as a stealth action game, it was fun to mess dudes up, blind zombies were cool.

 

[Goldmund]

I generally don't like goatees but the problem is Patrick looks 15 years old without facial hair.

Since his facial hair is rather sparse, he upgraded to looking 16 this way.

 

[kiyomi]

I love GOTY stuff but I really wish I didn't get the feeling that most of the crew loathes doing the content.

I think it's more to do with the way they have to grind out a few games at the end of the year when they realise there's stuff they haven't played. I'm not sure I'd want to force myself to finish a bunch of games in the span of a month either, honestly.

 

[Brewster's Wallet]

True that. In fact, I would say that the first 4 or 5 episodes of The Wire are pretty dull, but once you get past that hump... holy shit.

Damn right. I keep having to say (a little bit like you and Saint with TLOU) to get through the early part because the pay off down the road is sublime. Still the only TV programme where I have marathoned whole series in a day. (Archer doesn't count)

 

[Zaph]

As much as I love Erik Wolpaw, that law is the stupidest thing. If you made snap judgements on slow-burn media, you'd end up missing out on half the great content that is out there. The first episode of The Wire isn't exactly mindblowing.

But how often do you play a game and completely do a 180 after the first few hours of play? Sure some otherwise great games might not have a fantastic opener, but if you really aren't into it, it's rare for a game to win you over. Plus, with so many other great games out there, you have to draw the line somewhere and move on.

Binary Domain is the only game in recent history I can think of where I really disliked the first hour(ish) but went on to love the game.

Wolpaw might not be a constant, but it's a pretty good law.

 

[Jintor]

Wolpaw is right almost every time. It's that "almost" that'll getcha

 

[Risible]

Again I will say: If you think The Last of Us is a Stealth game, you haven't played more than the first couple of hours of it.

Also Patrick's beard looks great, if only for the fact that it represents a definite change in my mind from Patrick being kind of forgettable to being a very charming dude.

The problem with his goatee is that it looks like something a 15 year old grows to appear older. Dude would be better off just embracing the fact that he has a puppy face.

 

[Recall]

GOTY podcasts are just highlighting the bad points and which ever has the most tolerable or least amount of flaws, wins. When it comes down to picking the actual game of the year it sounds like they hate the games rather than love them then the more they berate the other choice the less they sound like worthy games.

 

[Hot Coldman]

ALBW is probably the one choice for GOTY this year that I don't think anyone would fuck with. I've yet to see any different opinion emerging on that game, really.

 

[Kerned]

The problem with his goatee is that it looks like something a 15 year old grows to appear older. Dude would be better off just embracing the fact that he has a puppy face.

Yeah, I think that as he gets older he may start to appreciate how young he looks. I'm 37 and look much, much younger (people often think I'm in my early to mid twenties). I love it, and I'm certainly not trying to do anything to look any older. People being visibly surprised when they check my ID for alcohol will never get old.

I am starting to rather rapidly go grey though, which definitely breaks the illusion somewhat.

 

[Zornack]

ALBW is probably the one choice for GOTY this year that I don't think anyone would fuck with. I've yet to see any different opinion emerging on that game, really.

Isn't Vinny the only one to have beaten it? At most only Patrick and Vinny.

 

[Hot Coldman]

Isn't Vinny the only one to have beaten it? At most only Patrick and Vinny.

Pretty sure Brad did too. And Jeff seemed taken with it on a conceptual level at least.

 

[LCfiner]

If Patrick wants to look older (not saying he does) he only needs to change the hair. it’s curly and youthful looking. dude would need to shorten it, throw a ton of shit in it and comb it back.

but, really, who wants to do that?

 

[Zaph]

Oh wow, no idea Rich Gallup had a new podcast with Ben Coello (guy who used to animate Time Trotters). About dad stuff, like the Tested one.

Rich's intro instantly brought back the Hotspot days.

 

[Incandenza]

I mean, unless they pick Animal Crossing it'll be the wrong choice anyway, so no pressure.

 

[CzarTim]

I mean, unless they pick Windjammers it'll be the wrong choice anyway, so no pressure.

ftfy

 

[sonicmj1]

Again I will say: If you think The Last of Us is a Stealth game, you haven't played more than the first couple of hours of it.

The only thing Jeff hates as much as stealth games is shaky RE4 style aiming.

The gameplay in The Last of Us has absolutely nothing to offer him.

 

[Antiwhippy]

Based on playtime alone pokemon X Y would be GOTY for me.

Also holy crap, antichamber came out this year? How time flies...

 

[Teddified]

The only thing Jeff hates as much as stealth games is shaky RE4 style aiming.

The gameplay in The Last of Us has absolutely nothing to offer him.

I can see that, though I suppose I didn't notice it too much since it was the first Upgrade I finished, that and Health were probably the ones I found most important.

 

[mattp]

Drew - Submarine Radar Repairman Simulator 2013

dammit haha

 

[Dragon]

The only thing Jeff hates as much as stealth games is shaky RE4 style aiming.

The gameplay in The Last of Us has absolutely nothing to offer him.

Jeff likes Motorbike better than The Last of Us confirmed.

 

[SteveWinwood]

id be totally fine with a big video just shitting on end of year awards and how theyre just the pr departments getting free advertising and box art from the press for free and just awarding the whole thing to windjammers

 

[Zocano]

I thought the goatee was a phase for him, but I guess it's permanent now.

I really hoped he wouldn't keep it. I honestly think it doesn't look very good on him (but then again I don't think goatees look very good in general). Embrace the baby face, Patrick. Join us.

 

[ryanmac]

Oh wow, no idea Rich Gallup had a new podcast with Ben Coello (guy who used to animate Time Trotters). About dad stuff, like the Tested one.

Rich's intro instantly brought back the Hotspot days.

There is nothing more deflating than firing up my podcast app to find out this week's Tested show is a DadCast. Ah man!

 

[LackingSaint]

But how often do you play a game and completely do a 180 after the first few hours of play? Sure some otherwise great games might not have a fantastic opener, but if you really aren't into it, it's rare for a game to win you over. Plus, with so many other great games out there, you have to draw the line somewhere and move on.

Binary Domain is the only game in recent history I can think of where I really disliked the first hour(ish) but went on to love the game.

Wolpaw might not be a constant, but it's a pretty good law.

I don't often experience a complete 180 on a game. The Last of Us is one of those games. In fact, almost every single person i've talked to fits in to two categories: "I don't like it, and I haven't played past the first section" or "I love it, and I played the whole thing". I know a few people genuinely didn't enjoy it, but honestly it has become such a common trend to see people give up entirely on TLoU because they're not immediately stoked.

I've played it to completion. It's a stealth game. The only reason it stopped being a stealth game for me halfway through was because I got bored with the stealth mechanics and just wanted to bulldoze through the encounters to see more of the story.

How is it a Stealth game if you didn't utilize Stealth for half of the game? Past the first couple of hours, it's an action game that allows players to use stealth if they want to.

 

[NumberThree]

In fact, almost every single person i've talked to fits in to two categories: "I don't like it, and I haven't played past the first section" or "I love it, and I played the whole thing".

So what you're saying is, people who like a game play it longer than people who don't? Shocking.

Seriously, if I'm not getting paid for playing games I don't see a single reason to keep playing a game I don't enjoy, even if that means not being able to play the bit at the end that I would enjoy. I could be playing a game I like the whole time instead.

 

[phuturist]

I also do not think calling The Last Of Us a stealth game is correct. I would descripe the gameplay as survival.

Wether human or infected enemies, you always try to survive using everything you have, that is sneaking, melee, shooting or bottles to the head or any combination.

 

[razgriz417]

I thought the goatee was a phase for him, but I guess it's permanent now.

I'm guessing his wife likes it, pretty much all that matters lol

Spoiler

would be funny if he had to shave it off for a GOTY skit

 

[EmCeeGramr]

i hate how the internet has turned every game that gets better over time (sometimes for design reasons) into "terrible game that suddenly 180s into good after a trillion hours, i don't have time for that"

i haven't even played last of us, but it's annoying to see every game with even the slightest learning curve or burn treated like final fantasy xiii or dark souls

 

[LackingSaint]

So what you're saying is, people who like a game play it longer than people who don't? Shocking.

Seriously, if I'm not getting paid for playing games I don't see a single reason to keep playing a game I don't enjoy, even if that means not being able to play the bit at the end that I would enjoy. I could be playing a game I like the whole time instead.

Nice job completely misinterpreting my point and then getting snarky about it. I didn't like the first section of TLoU, and now I love the game. Brad didn't like the first section of TLoU, and now he loves the game. Most of my friends didn't like the first section of TLoU, and now love the game. The only friends i've talked to who don't like The Last of Us were too stubborn to push through the first section.

I'm guessing his wife likes it, pretty much all that matters lol

Spoiler

would be funny if he had to shave it off for a GOTY skit

Holy shit, what if there's a skit where a beardless Patrick shows up and it turns out the evil-beard-Patrick has kept good-shaven-Patrick locked up in his basement since he broke his collarbone?

 

[Can Crusher]

Surprised and at the same time not that giantbomb crew was so down on Last Of Us. I bet they are all shit at stealth games.

 

[Hot Coldman]

i haven't even played last of us

 

[eot]

i hate how the internet has turned every game that gets better over time (sometimes for design reasons) into "terrible game that suddenly 180s into good after a trillion hours, i don't have time for that"

i haven't even played last of us, but it's annoying to see every game with even the slightest learning curve or burn treated like final fantasy xiii or dark souls

It's annoying to see that dark souls is treated like dark souls.

In other news, Jeff has pretty odd taste at times, imagine that.