Kaz

All right gamers, it’s time to talk about something we all fear and despise: time to talk about love.

Specifically, I’ve been thinking about how romance is handled in video games. At its worst it is a goal, a feather to place in your cap, an objective a gamer heartlessly conquers. At best: it’s an awkward subject. I’m thinking about how games display affection based on our comments in last week’s podcast, and my experiences finishing Metal Gear Solid 4. 

Last week I said that while it was nice that Mass Effect tried to handle a relationship in a realistic way, it improperly rewarded you with points for getting your character laid. When I thought about the action in that light; I became kind of disappointed in Bioware. After defending them in the “Sexbox” scandal I feel kind of betrayed in retrospect. 

Is there a way accurately represent a romantic relationship between characters in games? Surely every JRPG under the sun has tried, but in those games you don’t control the story so much as you ride along with them. And last October’s RPG The Witcher probably wasn’t much of a step forward in allowing you to control what you sexed. 

Ironically, last summers’ The Darkness has probably come the closest a game has to accurately portraying a relationship; with its early mini-game of sit on the count and watch a movie with your in-game girlfriend. Yep that sure was a lot of fun. 

But that’s the point really, the whole scene in first person made you realize just how much your character (and you, subsequently) cares about his girlfriend. There was no overly melodramatic love scene, and the time you spent with your girlfriend was completely determined by the player. 

Sure some players probably skipped the whole sequence as fast as possible, but if you wanted to, there was something a little more serious than an achievement in it for you. 

God forbid.

1 comment

I was disheartened by my experience at the used car lot. It seemed I would have a difficult time ever finding a used car I could get excited about that also fit my budget. I resigned myself to prepare for a long journey to find a car.

 I consoled myself by retreating to my parent’s house for some comforting words and free dinner. But it was there that I found the solution to my problem.

I was lamenting that I could never find a used car that I wanted because it was a stop gap solution. I was only getting a used car to bridge the gap between now and my future new car when I had an apartment with safer parking. I was dejected and just wished I was in a better situation so I could get the car I wanted. Of all the people to present a solution; my mother told me what to do.

She said: “Your sister purchased the car she wanted when she graduated college and got stuck with car payments for a long time, she didn’t put anything down on the car and it was a mistake. Your father purchased his Trans Am as soon as he graduated and ended up paying for getting what he wanted.”

I was biding my time to interject that I didn’t care about dealing with the financial mess for a little happiness, but she continued:

“I didn’t get the car I wanted straight of of college, I had my father help me purchase a used Dodge Dart that we got a really good price on. The payments were low and the car wasn’t perfect but it saved me a lot of money at the time, which was important.”

I started to reply but was interrupted, “But I won’t be paying too much on–”

“–And it was the worst decision of my life. I never got the car I wanted and I never will. Don’t make the same mistake. Get the car you want, get a car cover, and deal with the dings and scratches.”

…

I’m not sure who she was at that moment, and I don’t know what she did with the mother I knew. But I wan’t about to ignore that advice. With my nerves steeled I set out to get the car I wanted.

 I remembered a sage warning my salesperson imparted on me while I was bartering for the Dodge Stratus R/T. He said: “Now don’t be going to Pat O’Brien Chevrolet on me. I’ll get you a deal…” So I decided to order my car from Pat O’Brien out of spite, that, and the associate I had talked to for used cars was honest to me (a rarity in the used car business).

So at this point several facts are obvious about the car I was ordering. It’s a Chevy, it’s what I want, it’s a manual and it’s not too expensive.

It’s a Cobalt.

Yes, I know, it’s not the most prestigious car in the world, but it’s not without it’s merits. For one, it’s got quite the 260bhp engine, and has gotten rave reviews. And I’m getting more than just a regular Cobalt. I’m getting an ‘09 Cobalt SS Turbocharged. And my order was confirmed today, so I’m getting it soon. Expect more on it later, now back to your regularly scheduled nerd’s-blog.

P.S. Performance Highlights(From MotorTrend):

Base Price                    $22,995

Vehicle Layout             Front-engine, FWD, 5-pass, 2-door coupe

Engine                          2.0L turbocharged DOHC 16-valve I-4

Transmission                5-speed manual

Curb Weight                3000 lb (mfr)

Wheelbase                   103.5 in

0-60 mph                     5.5 sec

Quarter Mile                13.9 sec @ 102.5 mph

Braking, 60-0 mph       116 ft

Lateral Acceleration      0.91 g (avg)

EPA City/Hwy Econ     22/30 mpg (est)

CO2 Emissions             0.78 lb/mile (est)

1 comment