Topic: The Chit Chat Thread

@Jimmer-jammer Very true. For me that would be MGS5. Although I honestly felt the ending was pretty great and I was blown away by it, but so many people didn’t like the rushed ending so it soured the game for them. For me it was one the best games all of last gen. Another would be Mass Effect 3 — much maligned for its ending, I still quite liked the game even if the ending disappointed. Many people let the ending ruin the entire epic series for them.

@nessisonett For sure, especially from the larger player base and casual (non-enthusiast) market. Bound comes to mind for me, since it’s not been long since I played it. It’s about as ‘artsy’ a game as I’ve played in the last few years, …or maybe ever. And almost no one played it. I assume because it was just too creatively different that people never gave it a look. See also Concrete Genie, the Team Ico / Ueda games, Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture, etc, etc.

@RogerRoger ah man, I really don’t know what is going on in this world. On one hand society seems more diverse and inclusive than ever… but then you experience things like this that are just plain ridiculous in this day and age. Sorry you had to deal with that dude… but from our chats you seem more than balanced enough to deal well in situations like this.

Out of interest what game were you playing?

@RogerRoger I really struggle to understand behaviour like that. I can only assume that anyone that shares that view hasn't got the capacity to think for themselves and must have been conditioned to hate people that don't look like them for that reason alone. Hopefully that won't put you off playing a game you enjoy as I feel that's what these people are really trying to achieve!

@RogerRoger never played it tbh but toxicity is never nice. The only time I experienced any was on The Last of Us multiplayer and it did make me feel more uncomfortable that I would’ve expected. I guess us predominantly single-player gamers don’t know the half of it… thank gawd!

@RogerRoger Sorry to hear that’s happened to you. I’ve had it far too many times to count, dunno why they think sending PSN messages after the fact is acceptable, I just instantly block them. It’s actually scary just how many gamers online instantly jump to racist, homophobic or sexist abuse. It’s noticeable on every online game I’ve ever played which speaks to a massive problem in the general community rather than just one specific game. It’s one thing to be frustrated but if that frustration instantly makes them think of that exact abuse, similar to PewDiePie, it probably just means that deep down they’re a racist.

@colonelkilgore @RogerRoger Yikes, that is disappointing about the toxic and abusive behavior in the online MP community.

I’ve steered clear of MP in recent years but I actually made a specific goal this year to engage in online gaming a little. I feel like I need to expose myself to the ever growing trend of online gaming in order to further my pursuit of being a well-rounded gamer. Now I’m having second thoughts.

@Th3solution well I’ve only experienced it the once, out’ve quite a few games that I’ve engaged with online over the years… so not too bad a strike rate. My advice would simply be, if there is a multiplayer game that you fancy dipping your toe into, just do a bit of research into whether there has been any toxicity reported in the past. if not, you ‘should’ 😅 be good to go bud.

@LN78 I actually haven’t seen that episode yet (I watched the one about the rappers) but it doesn’t surprise me at all. Some of the rhetoric thrown about in these games is sickening.

@RogerRoger See, I wouldn’t say that I play loads of multiplayer games but if I find one I enjoy then I play far too much of it. That was Counter Strike about 10 years ago now and I played that for a solid 4 or 5 years until the toxicity got too much for me. The worst part was how dreadfully anybody with a slightly feminine voice was received by your own team, ranging from rapey threats to ‘send nudes’ to telling them to get back in the kitchen. I played Rainbow Six on and off for a while as well which again, ended the same way. Worrying amount of people who could reasonably be described as Nazis there, screaming obscenities and conspiracy theories about the Holocaust.

Then Overwatch lasted a few years until the Activision Blizzard stuff all came out. That game baffles me. For a game with a genuinely diverse cast and forward-thinking extended media, the player base are horrible. I’ve had people throw slurs in all online games but targeted harassment was a new one for me, with one match in particular resulting in dummy accounts messaging my account for a few days afterwards until I locked my messages temporarily. All because I ‘sounded gay’ whatever that means. The problem with their in game system is that reports have zero indication if they’ve been listened to, you could be shouting into the void. Also, I basically had to continue playing that game or I’d be penalised. And then when I used the global chat function to tell the other team exactly what was being said in the hopes that they would report the person too, players in my team unrelated to the abuser stood up for him and told the other team that nothing had happened.

The entire gaming community needs burning to the ground and starting again. The ‘old guard’ are actively putting off whole groups of people (especially women) from wanting to engage with the community. Games media has moved in a positive manner in even the last couple of years, which can be seen in certain sites’ articles in the last few days regarding the recent State of Play and their coverage of several developers’ sexual harassment cases. And not just covering those stories, but actually hiring journalists who reflect the wider community who are affected by these issues. It’s one thing for somebody who sees abuse in online games to report on it, it’s another for actual victims to be given the chance to lay out exactly how badly it affects them. One look at Twitch and other streamer sites shows that there’s a vibrant, diverse community who love games and the culture around it. Either the hardcore fandom need to catch up or they need to be left behind.

@RogerRoger @nessisonett It’s disheartening to hear these stories. I’m not a online gamer so I’m speaking from a point of ignorance, but isn’t the current status quo you describe more an issue of the ‘new guard’ and younger generation of gamers? I know very little beyond Push Square and my own circle, but in my mind I see the average online shooters and multiplayer servers filled with mostly teens and maybe college aged boneheads with their oodles of free time and lack of social graces. The ‘old guard’ of gamers are more like us here, right? Gamers who’ve played for years, who go back to the retro consoles, are in their mid twenties and upward — heck, one of our regulars is over 50. Maybe BAM, and that rejr person. Not to say the Push Square community type of user base is perfect, or that more “seasoned” gamers aren’t capable of prejudice and idiocy. I’ve just held a certain hope that most of the true enthusiast crowd is typically more progressive. I might be completely wrong though.

I was wondering why the price of PS5 machine is still insane?
Even there are some PS5 machines already stocked in my country Indonesia at local game stores, the price is still inflated. (14,000,000 IDR)

Bloody hell that Wales Italy game was something wasn’t it! Apologies to all Welsh people but I can’t help but be chuffed for Italy finally getting a win!

@RogerRoger That’s a fair assessment. I think Push Square is a bubble that defies the odds. When I found this place (geez, nearly 5 years ago!) I was comforted by the civility and camaraderie on display, and when I noticed that one of the common threads that runs through the forums is a slightly older than average demographic I associated the two things together, but it’s plausible that there isn’t a co-relation. Unfortunately, I think stupidity and intolerance know no specific age, nationality, or socioeconomic background.
I will certainly report on my experiences in the quagmire of online gaming when (and if) I ever venture out. 😄

@Th3solution I’d say judging from voices that most of the people who have been horrible range from their mid 20s through to some guy who sounded like 40 (probably the Brummie accent).

You only have to look at some of the people throwing abuse at footballers and officials every week to see they don't fall into one age group. I know it is not gonna be the same people, they have same yobish mentality as the ones hiding behind a keyboard or game pad.

@JohnnyShoulder I do wonder if some of that in the football is due to horrible old blokes exposing their kids to that from an early age, creating a gross cycle where they then take their kids too when they grow up. It’s clear and obvious to see where I grew up, kids that would play with each other when they were young ended up fighting cause of the sectarian division. That doesn’t come out of nowhere, more so from parents instilling that in their kids.

@nessisonett Oh yeah, it is defo got a lot to do with how people are brought up. Its kinda like what some kids are like in the school play ground, then are perfectly fine when with mummy and daddy. Some situations bring out the worst in people. And I think being in lockdown for so long hasn't helped matters.

Oh dear. I'm really sorry to hear about that Kyle 😦

I wouldn't recommend you get it digitally either on PS4. Past the first chapter it's got extremely unstable and I'm surprised it was put past certification if I'm being honest.

There is a good game there I feel but after further playing... Yeah I'd definitely only say get it on PC.

Sorry I couldn't/didn't inform you about it earlier.

@HallowMoonshadow 😂 it’s ok just kidding. It, er, looks great on the shelf. Really ties the living room together. Yesyes.

Oh sorry @kyleforrester87 I wasn't quite sure whether you meant that in a teasing manner or not! I assumed it might've been the case (seeing as it is you) but better safe then sorry and all that.

My bad

You'll be pleased to know I've bought both Divinity Original Sin 1 & Pillars Of Eternity II Deadfire whilst I was away... So I'm good for the next year on the CRPG front 😅

Sure... Scotch tape. Totally not Scotch whisky

I've had a Husky before & a Jack Russel myself (and my parents had a corgi when I was a kid) but yeah... Ash is a handful and her teething phase has been really rough. She's gouged the hell out of my wooden bedposts and loves eating kitchen roll and toilet paper 😅

Thanks Rog.

You can still call me Foxy if you like but just Hallow is fine too!

@crimsontadpoles, @nessisonett, @Diamond_Dog, @JohnnyShoulder

Seeing as everyone likes her so much...

... Ash is so big she can already wear the coat I made for my previous dog (A Jack Russel) and it's a bit tight on her 😂