Conflict of Interests: A Gaming Discussion

Isaac Dodgson

The Mad Hatter
May 11, 2008
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Over the last few months something has become very, very apparent to me.

I go to college in a little rural town in the middle of New Hampshire. Plymouth to be exact, maybe you've heard of it if you're interested in skiing and climbing, and hiking and other outdoor activities of the such, as the town has been listed and mentioned in a few magazines and websites, NatGeo to name one. Now, despite the atmosphere, i'm not an outdoorsy person, and infact i've always considered myself, and others have labeled me as a gamer.

Now I live with three other roommates in a nice school owned apartment (kinda like a condominium), and the four of us game, but the four of us have very, very different tastes in games, and different gaming habits.

I've always enjoyed a broad variety of games. FPS, RPG's the occasional JRPG, platformers and adventure games to name a few. However I've never enjoyed sports games, like Madden or NHL. One of my roommates enjoys any game that gives you a gun and to quote him "Lets me fuck someone's world up" The bigger the gun and explosions the better, which is why he enjoys games like halo, or farcry (one of the few people i know who enjoyed the mutants), or any game with a bow and arrow, like Turok. Another roommate enjoys any and all sports games, and is an avid Madden player, and football fan/name dropper. (though the Lions are his favorite team...go figure). The third and last roommate is a bit of a closet gamer, who enjoys story driven games, which are typically platformers or rpgs, and loves the half life series.

Needless to say arguments start, over games every now and then, and conflict ensues when I want to use MY XBox on the TV to finish Fable II, when another is deep into their seventh madden game. Or, when I'm in the middle of playing AC4A, I get some taunting from the other three about all the ridiculous customization there is, and how they'd rather just play COD4 or something instead of watching me.

So, to the point of this topic. I know that discussion threads about one's favorite game types have been done, but i'd like to see an in depth discussion about how your favorite game type is different or not different from your friends, and what conflicts have been sparked between you and your friends, or roommates, or family, or just people you know in general. Share, discuss, spark a conversation with fellow escapists if you must, I'm interest in seeing how your tastes affect others you know.
 

captainwillies

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Feb 17, 2008
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i hate HATE HATE!!! sports and driving games, I'd rather play "viva pinata" than even watch someone play "project gotham". i was raised in the early 90's at the end of the cartridge era meaning i have good memories of the N64 and very vague memories of a SNES that broke when i was 5. i enjoyed halo 1 for the story "not" the multiplayer which is why halo 2 is on my forsaken list. mostly i love story driven games like Half-life, Kotor, conkers bad fur day.

to me it doesn't really matter what game genre RPG, FPS, RTS if it has a good story i can easily drown myself. strangly though games like splinter cell and hitman never appealed to me. I don't hate them but... meh
 

Good morning blues

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Sep 24, 2008
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It doesn't. At all. Sometimes I'll have a disagreement over a particular game, and I have a couple of friends that try to convince me that it is possible for RTS to be fun, but video games aren't a large enough concern in any of our lives to cause any real conflict, and I sure as hell wouldn't want them to be.
 

fix-the-spade

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Feb 25, 2008
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I can't stand sports games. Partly because there has never been a decent cycling game (nor will there ever be) and partly because for all GT1-4's depth, none of them get even close to the sensation of going sideways in a Go-kart at 70mph. There just isn't the tactility.

With regards to this, most of my friend are into multplayer games liks Smash bros Melee and most FPS's (Goldeneye especially). I've never really mixed with people who don't want to sit around on chairs playing games and shooting the breeze, so gaming affects my social life directly. Never really got into fights with anyone over them though.
 

PersianLlama

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Aug 31, 2008
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All my friends only play Halo/Madden/Gears of War. I hate all those games, especially Madden. It results in arguing every morning on the bus.
 

Helmet

Could use a beer about now...
May 14, 2008
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A good friend of mine is obsessed with FPS games. Specifically, those you can got online and "Fuck some guy's shit up." (Direct quote)

While I do enjoy playing the "It-moves-shoot-shoot-shoot!!!" category of games, as a general rule I prefer games that have more of a story, which leads to some good humored arguments every once in a while.

Usually I just agree with him and play Gears or Halo with him, but it's not my first preference.
 

Trace2010

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Aug 10, 2008
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Dude, be wary of two rules:

1) He that owns the XBOX COULD make the rules...but

2) HE THAT OWNS THE TV DOES MAKE THE RULES.

I recommend you buy another television for your room. Then when you don't want to hear any complaints you simply take your XBOX into your room and lock the door.

If you're not that extreme, here are a few compromises:

1) Between 4-9PM (3-10 on Sat and Sun), ONLY TEAM gaming is allowed. NO SEASON PLAY, no ONE PLAYER PLAY, ETC. Make sure that everyone who wants to play plays. This covers most of the hours where everyone is home and wants to veg. If someone is playing Madden and 4 falls BEFORE HALFTIME- shut the console off...he can make it up later. If the team wants to go past 10...fine.

2) Reserve nights for different genres of games. If you have roommates who don't want to play a particular type of game, have the day anyway. They'll find something else to do on that night, and won't be as much of a pest. Plus, it gets rid of you always/you never arguments.

3) Don't be the ass that plugs in a one player RPG during these times. Yes, it is your system...yes, it may even be your TV. But these guys know where you sleep at night, and blanket parties hurt. Also, your benevolence WILL pay big dividends later if you need them for something important. Play your individual games when you have alone time.
 

Isaac Dodgson

The Mad Hatter
May 11, 2008
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Three of us can be found from time to time playing Team Swat on Halo3, but recently CP (i'll just use their names now it's easier) has proposed a Madden tournament with us and the guys who frequent the apartment.

Me: That's retarded! Only three of you play the bloody game
Keith: So if you like football, who cares if you suck you could still play
Jette: I'd be down...and why do you say bloody all the time You're not british
Me: ... habit, had a british friend as a kid, but that's not the point, the damn TV will be tied up for the day while all of you pick plays and run them for seven some odd hours
CP: So? It'll be fun
Me: Count me out

I've suggested a SCIV tourny instead but no one besides me and Jette play

EDIT: Trace, it's not that big a deal, we all don't game alot in favor of watching movies or TV, or we have class...like right now we are all watching the football game, while Keith frys up some food...
 

josh797

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Nov 20, 2007
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well i personally love stealth action games, like the famed splinter cell or theif series. these games cater to a very specific person, and most people find waiting for the gaurd to come around the corner dull, but i find it exhilerating, i enjoy that experience of extreme power, were the balance can shift at any point, but at that point, my goal is to have absolute control over whether this person lives or dies, without him knowing im even there. i love that feeling of control. its subtle and some find it boring but i dare them to hide in the shadows, jump out at some unsuspecting sap, put a knife to his throat and not get a high.
 

josh797

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Nov 20, 2007
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bump!!! no but seriously guys, please respond, im genuinely interested in what everyone thinks. come on this thread is better than the other trash we've had of late
 

Stringytank

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Oct 8, 2008
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josh797 said:
well i personally love stealth action games, like the famed splinter cell or theif series. these games cater to a very specific person, and most people find waiting for the gaurd to come around the corner dull, but i find it exhilerating, i enjoy that experience of extreme power, were the balance can shift at any point, but at that point, my goal is to have absolute control over whether this person lives or dies, without him knowing im even there. i love that feeling of control. its subtle and some find it boring but i dare them to hide in the shadows, jump out at some unsuspecting sap, put a knife to his throat and not get a high.
Stealth action is kind of dying though, but it will be missed. :(
 

Erana

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Feb 28, 2008
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Me and my sister coordinate beautifully when playing Halo together, but our Morrowind characters are (were, my poor Xbox died...) completely different. She went about doing all the quests and optimizes her character, while I just roam the land loving to explore. I hate quests, and have a hard time with a lot of RPGs, while she loves that aspect of 'em.
 

Altorin

Jack of No Trades
May 16, 2008
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One of my roommates enjoys any game that gives you a gun and to quote him "Lets me fuck someone's world up" The bigger the gun and explosions the better
"You know me, I'm an twitchy instant gratification kind of gamer. The sort who isn't happy unless there's a gun the size of a motorbike in his hands and a severed alien willy bouncing off the front of his space helmet.."

I smiled.
 

sheic99

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Oct 15, 2008
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My taste roam a lot with how I'm feeling. I play fps mostly, but the occasional sports game or rpg can be fine too. I still enjoy stealth games, and any game with a good puzzle because that is fun. I need a good story to keep me enthraled for awhile in a game, so most jrpg are out. Most of my friends are addicted to MMORPGs. But they still join me for a frag fest or two in css once in awhile.
 

josh797

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Nov 20, 2007
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Stringytank said:
Stealth action is kind of dying though, but it will be missed. :(
dont count it out yet, theres still velvet assasin, and splinter cell is hopefully coming at some point. also assasins creed might be able to come back with a better stealth mechanic. they did ok the first game, but im really counting on them to kick it up a notch.
 

Avatar Roku

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Jul 9, 2008
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I have a friend who hates single player games and any games with any form of RPG elements (unless you count the Cod4 create-a-class), and he hates mirror's edge because of the lack of combat. Meanwhile, I got into gaming online less than half a year ago, and my favorite games are Mass Effect and Bioshock and I'm really excited for Mirror's edge and I might go for the no-kill achievement my first try. Also, he hates any game more than a year old, while I still go back to play the original Perfect Dark and the like every now and again. Arguments ensue.
 

Gotham Soul

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Aug 12, 2008
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If people dislike what I like to the degree where they force it to become an issue then they're probably not my friends or I already have a contract killing with their name on it.
 

Isaac Dodgson

The Mad Hatter
May 11, 2008
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Glad to see this still kicking

I know heated debates can ensue amongst gamers, I've seen it. Either on forums like this or in person.

Why me and my friends back home argue over which final fantasy series is better. The only consensus we can reach is that we all hate 9