Comments on: The Sunday Papers

By: Oak

Oak — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:37:40 +0000

I’m sure she’s a nice person, but the writing in Mirror’s Edge was heartbreakingly bland.

By: IanAetch

IanAetch — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:22:19 +0000

I like Rhianna Pratchett.

By: suibhne

suibhne — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:58:23 +0000

@Sam C: I was actually referring to Oblivion with that comment, which simplified a bunch of stuff from Morrowind, which simplified a bunch of stuff from Daggerfall. It’s harder to argue that FO3 simplified SPECIAL from FO2. I mean, yes, it kinda did…but it’s such a totally different game that it’s a less substantive charge to really level against Bethesda, even tho their changes to the SPECIAL system tend to reduce character variety and collapse distinctions in character skill level.

By: Gap Gen

Gap Gen — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:24:57 +0000

We also live in a world where Mac hardware is too expensive for most consumers. Although so is Office (in the UK, at least).

By: Tei

Tei — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:10:46 +0000

Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office Clipart and Microsoft Comic Sans are things that lack taste, and put broken funcionality over everything. Is like how Windows render fonts, if theres pixel over, or under the draw box, are removed. On a Mac, these pixels are painted on the screen. The result is that good fonts looks nice on Mac, but looks broken (are broken) on Windows.
But we don’t live on a world where everybody has a Mac. We live in a world where the brokeness/uglyness of windows/comic sans rule the world.
This is a strange world, more strange than any artist can dream off. I know, because I have see it.

By: Kieron Gillen

Kieron Gillen — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:45:24 +0000

As, I think, Orwell put it: “Exclamation marks are like laughing at your own joke”.

As my first production editor put it: “Exclamation marks are for wankers”.

By: Gap Gen

Gap Gen — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:11:42 +0000

Part of it is that it’s a rather blunt tool, a bit like using exclamation marks to signify humour, or using canned laughter in an unfunny TV show.

By: Rich_P

Rich_P — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 05:55:35 +0000

Powerpoint + comic sans + generic clipart = my face + conference table

By: SofS

SofS — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 04:12:49 +0000

My main problem with Comic Sans is that people sometimes get the bright idea to use it in place of actual lettering in comic strips. Even something totally out of place like Times New Roman looks good compared to Comic Sans in that context. It’s like the uncanny valley of typefaces when that happens.

By: Gap Gen

Gap Gen — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 20:57:38 +0000

If Comic Sans hadn’t been invented, people would probably just use more clip art.

By: Dreamhacker

Dreamhacker — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:27:37 +0000

I must say it, sooner rather than later:

Thanks RPS, you guys made me cancel my PCG subscription!

By: Sam C

Sam C — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:39:20 +0000

@suibhne:
Which “gameplay mechanics” were simplified? I agree with your points on how things like voice acting, animations – hell, pretty much anything involving NPCs, could use a lot more polish. I’ve been replaying it (since I ended up stumbling on the ending the first time through, and missed out on about half the game), and almost every time I have to interact close up with an NPC, holes start showing up. For example, on Rivet City, all the NPCs had for some reason drawn their weapons, and shopkeepers were going about their business with pistols in hand, knocking items off the shelves when they tried to inventory their goods. Then there’s the people clustering in the halls to “chat”, other NPCs running against them, then offering to sell to me even when they were on their way to work. But besides the lack of polish and the combat being imprecise at best and an unfair mess at worst, what mechanics were simplified?