[PA Comic] Monday, May 19, 2014 - The State of Play

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[PA Comic] Monday, May 19, 2014 - The State of Play

The State of Play

http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2014/05/19

Read the full story here

DoctorEars

Is that a Tychpo I see in panel two?

nxmehta

Child's Play thanks you for you generous donation, Tycho!

darleysam

I've found myself hitting this kind of problem with games now, and I hate how stupid it is. I've got so many in my library that I want to play more because they're fun, but I don't because I also feel like it won't be working towards any kind of progress. I hate that I somehow feel like time spent grinding towards some kind of goal or achievement is worth more than time spent simply enjoying the mechanics of the game.

Maz-

DoctorEars wrote: »

Is that a Tychpo I see in panel two?

It sure it sure is.

Kagera

That's some fruity pebbles right there.

No it's fruit loops tycho whyyyyy

LieutenantDan

The illustration sequence of Tycho eating froot loops made me lol hard

upon reflection I believe it's the increasing volume of milk froth that does it
or maybe the incredible bolus in his cheek that clearly indicates he's hoarding bites - that's 2-3 spoonsful right there

Actually, I looked harder at the cereal - I'm going to suggest that it's jellybeans and life savers.

rcxb

"Were you trying you trying"...

Pretty bad typo there. Surprised I'm the first to mention it.

darleysam

rcxb wrote: »

"Were you trying you trying"...

Pretty bad typo there. Surprised I'm the first to mention it.

You would have been, if you were.

Dark Raven X

wonder if it's semi intentional, just missing a pause. Like "were you trying... you trying to get a... mandible?"

Soul Sanctum

I was really excited for Wildstar, but then found myself incredibly underwhelmed once I played it. The UI seemed really counter-intuitive, there was way too much text for frivolous starting quests, the combat didn't seem fun to me, my tradeskill as a Scientist seemed to be just going around scanning things. The game's humor didn't appeal to me. The stat system doesn't really make sense.

I don't see how PA can say TESO was boring and pointless where as Wildstar is actively fun. TESO had a lot of problems but was pretty immersive and fluid in it's presentation especially with all the voice acting. Wildstar kind of seems like a clusterfuck of mish-mashed elements thrown together.

YoungFrey

rcxb wrote: »

"Were you trying you trying"...

Pretty bad typo there. Surprised I'm the first to mention it.

I had to read the panel multiple times to see it after somebody said there was one.

The Mantiz

That orange juice is trying to leave the glass.

Hugh B. Hayve

"Your surrounded Mike and Jerry, come out with you're hands in the air...this is the police, Special Spelling and Grammer Squad!"...."Youse guys thoughtchad get away with it and you woulda too......if it wasn't for thems medalling kids!"

doctajonez

nxmehta wrote: »

Child's Play thanks you for you generous donation, Tycho!

I'm pretty sure he does a few of these on purpose so he's got a reason to donate more. People would be disappointed if he had a perfect year.

DirtyDirtyVagrant

Yesss I so want to play this game.

Pony

wildstar has one problem

and that problem is it's made by ncsoft

Delzhand

Pony wrote: »

wildstar has one problem

and that problem is it's made by ncsoft

published, not developed.

Pony

Delzhand wrote: »

Pony wrote: »

wildstar has one problem

and that problem is it's made by ncsoft

published, not developed.

don't matter

ncsoft is poison

forty

The Mantiz wrote: »

That orange juice is trying to leave the glass.

Another theory is that their house's foundation is giving away, so their entire house is leaning to one side. The "camera" of the comic is flush with the floor, so you don't see evidence of the angle in anything but the liquid. It might also explain why some of the cereal is shifting across the table.

Doomneto

Soul Sanctum wrote: »

I was really excited for Wildstar, but then found myself incredibly underwhelmed once I played it. The UI seemed really counter-intuitive, there was way too much text for frivolous starting quests, the combat didn't seem fun to me, my tradeskill as a Scientist seemed to be just going around scanning things. The game's humor didn't appeal to me. The stat system doesn't really make sense.

I don't see how PA can say TESO was boring and pointless where as Wildstar is actively fun. TESO had a lot of problems but was pretty immersive and fluid in it's presentation especially with all the voice acting. Wildstar kind of seems like a clusterfuck of mish-mashed elements thrown together.

I'm with you, TESO surprised me in a lot of ways-- it was the first MMO that didn't feel like a WoW clone to me. It felt like a genuine Elder Scrolls experience. I did have a bad beta experience, so I'm glad I gave it a second shot.

I was also underwhelmed by the Wildstar beta, so I'm hoping the release will surprise me in the same way as TESO.

Eat it You Nasty Pig.

tycho appears to be eating a bowl of rubberbands in the second two panels

histronic

Eat it You Nasty Pig. wrote: »

tycho appears to be eating a bowl of rubberbands in the second two panels

Reading this with your username gives me great joy

metroidkillah

I've had times like this with Fallout 3. Just wandering the wastelands looking for, new places, loot, and things to kill is surprisingly amusing.

Fiaryn

Wildstar's wacky humor is trying too hard for me. Just feels forced and off putting. C'est la vie.

Lucascraft

The art is too "world of warcraft in space" for me. Like, they didn't even try to disguise the fact that the art is an exact 100% ripoff.

shahryar

Is there any news on if there will be a PA guild and what server it would be on?

zerzhul

shahryar wrote: »

Is there any news on if there will be a PA guild and what server it would be on?

http://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/189815/wildstar-see-you-may-31st-space-cowboy

Drewscifer

I didn't expect much from Wildstar which is probably why I enjoy it. It's a fun silly game that doesn't take itself too seriously. I loved their trailers and they have hired on some great voice actors and actresses. You can pretty much just go around and enjoy yourself.

That being said there are areas for improvement.

RatherDashing

Lucascraft wrote: »

The art is too "world of warcraft in space" for me. Like, they didn't even try to disguise the fact that the art is an exact 100% ripoff.

I don't see that at all, except that it's cartoony instead of realistic. It reminds me a lot less of big-head RTS games (like WoW does) and more like animation, especially movies like Treasure Planet or Titan: AE.

Mono

Sadly this game would be pretty much unplayable for people NOT in the US.

Lining up and dodging telegraphs would be nigh impossible with 200+ ms latency.

I have seen the screen shots and videos, not sold on it's graphics. Everything is "flat" shaded, draw distance is low and much like WoW everything is exaggerated.

GDT1985

Mono wrote: »

Sadly this game would be pretty much unplayable for people NOT in the US.

Lining up and dodging telegraphs would be nigh impossible with 200+ ms latency.

I have seen the screen shots and videos, not sold on it's graphics. Everything is "flat" shaded, draw distance is low and much like WoW everything is exaggerated.

It's really not that bad, I played the beta with around 600ms(Satellite Internet) and most of it was manageable. I'm would not think PVP would be very fun(Unless you don't mind losing), and that video of their raids showed sequences that would probably end in crispy demise. I really like the art style though, and I think Guild Wars 2 looks a little bland now, in comparison.

Tazuras

If anyone is interested you can see the Wildstar folks (publicity guy and i think lead producer?) reading this comic out loud as Christopher Walken and Arnold Schwarzenegger here on twitch. They Start at about 7:15. It's pretty funny.