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Comments
Okay, maybe I'm counting combat and walking between places together, but nevertheless.
I'm counting walking around as well. Like I said. Walking around which doesn't add to the narrative and is just annoying.
If you count walking around time, then that would include walking around in potentially safe areas as part of "combat", whether you actually run into baddies or not. So I don't think it's fair to count that, especially if your goal at the time wasn't combat-oriented by information-oriented.
In any case, I don't think The Witcher's walking-around-stuff is any more or less annoying than what's in other games.
No, it would count it as "mindless padding between the good bits."
Oh, don't think I'm letting other games off the hook. TOR is the king of mindless padding.
pretty much this:
I guess this is a good opportunity to discuss why we even have that walking around stuff in the first place, outside the context of The Witcher. I mean, it's obvious why we have it in context of action, puzzle-solving, exploration and whatnot. But there are also games that use menus to move you between different places, which would seem like the optimal solution if your goal is to simply move the player from one point of interest to another quickly and efficiently.
A lot of games use this menu method outside of their core gameplay sequences as a catch-all management tool for the player, and it works well in terms of keeping things neat, accessible and above all, moving. But I often find myself wondering what these places are actually like as a whole, which is the information navigational menus inherently lack. The advantage of not using a menu and making the player walk everywhere, I think, is actually narrative. Not in terms of linear plot, characterisation or anything, but in terms of describing the world to the player and giving them a sense of space within its more domestic confines. The Witcher certainly isn't the best at this; that award probably goes to The Legend Of Zelda, which imbues its towns and villages with overflowing character.
I mean, think about how different it would be to play any Zelda game without the capacity to walk freely and at will between points of interest in its civilian population centres. You'd lose a lot when it comes to frame of reference, at the very least, but it's often a pleasure to simply observe the society around you and all the enigmas you stumble across.
So yeah, I do feel you when it comes to the tedium of walking about. It's probably one of the toughest (if not the toughest) things to balance when it comes to an overall game experience. But it does exist for good reason, and a game that nails keeping a state of player interest while they're simply walking about in a town has done well for itself.
HEY GMH GUESS WHAT'S ON SALE NOW
Daily Deals for December 29th, 2012:
Flash Sales:
Great. Just a few days after I paid full price to finally have my own copy of Skyrim.
WHY DOES NO ONE EVER LISTEN.
Well, at least I can get Morrowind and Oblivion (neither of which I've ever played before, at all) on the cheap today...
NOOOOOOOOO
I MISSED IT
IT ENDED AT 5 PM
I WAS OUT THE ENTIRE DAY
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
WHAT AM I SPENDING FOOOOOOOR
Didn't they just do this a few days ago?
^That was a flash sale.
^^Given that it WAS a flash sale, it might come up again as a Daily Deal later.
Ugh. I'm just gonna play some 1, 2, 3, Kick It to try and cheer myself up.
And I'm going to FINALLY start Binding of Isaac since everyone keeps saying it's so great.
Also I'm gonna play Jade Empire
There is this, though:
I'm not getting my hopes up. But do tell me if it does go -75% again.
Okay Painkiller is basically Serious Sam + Devil May Cry and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone whole likes those even a little bit.
Dangit, Steam, now I have to decide once again whether to buy Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion Deluxe.
As opposed to regular, or just in general?
In general.
Eh. Both have Knights of the Nine and Shivering Isles, you're not really missing much with just the GOTY edition.
No, we're trying to convince him to buy Oblivion at all, and the Deluxe Edition is his edition of choice if he does, I think.
If you think it'll be fun and you'll actually play it, then buy it. Otherwise don't.
Since you never actually get around to playing any of your games, it's probably a waste of money.
Daily Deals for December 30th, 2012:
Flash Sales:
Normally I try to stay objective with listing sales but, seriously, do not buy DOOM 3.
Quick Mount and Blade question, which version should I get.
Warband.
I had fun with Doom 3. And it's only 2.50, which isn't a huge investment.
The 2.50 DOOM 3 is fine, DOOM 3: BFG is not.