[Episode 49] To the Face

[Voodoo]

It is an energetic installment of the PC gaming podcast gentlemen prefer. Our regularly scheduled first segment is somewhat interrupted by a special report on the Portal 2 ARG. We briefly editorialize about some of the reactions to the way the ARG played out.

Not to worry; what we've been playing discussion is still intact with Sins of a Solar Empire mods and spacefaring MMOs Black Prophecy and Battlestar Galactica Online, not to mention Portal 2 proper. (Spoiler free, of course.) We also squeeze in comments on Bulletstorm, and a first impression of the Razer Onza 360 controller.

For our main topic, we discuss our favored ways to play in terms of time. From as much as possible or even all at once, to savored, bite-sized increments. Opinions divide along perhaps predictable lines, but you can hear some confessions of a game marathoner, and Clayton's keys to fulfillment

Share your preferred playtimes with us at the Colony of Gamers discussion thread, through our Twitter feed, or via email. As you can learn in this episode's wrap-up, it could win you a free game.

Hosted and summarized by James [Vigil80]
Participants are Eric [Ravenlock] and Robert [Trebor]
Produced by Clayton [Voodoo]

Direct Download

[Ravenlock]

Looking forward to listening to this so I can remember what the heck we talked about.

[Xerxes]

Hey... I have a Onza!

[Vigil80]

Star Trek SoaSE mod
BattleStar Galactica Online
Black Prophecy
World of Tanks

Kotaku - "Did Valve Just Take Everyone for a Ride?"

Tested - Razer Onza Quick Look

nabokovfan's Razer Onza review

[Doogie2K]

You're alive! Huzzah!

*streamers*

[Xerxes]

Weird. I like the onza well enough. Haven't had an issue with buttons. o_O

[Vigil80]

I can definitely see how it could boil down to preference. I'm leery of trying to play something like a platformer or fighting game with the Onza, but the longer I use it, I can see how it could be swell for console shooters.

For use with a PC, however, I'd have to say buyer beware. The genre I think the Onza probably does best is the domain of its older and wiser m+kb counterpart on the PC. A vanilla 360 controller or even dualshock 3 & adapter might be a better all around choice. As I think I mentioned in the recording, shoppers should try to get their hands on one to get a feel for it before purchasing.

[Xerxes]

I've been using the Onza Tourny on PC. So far just testing it in xpadder, but seems fine. I'm sure the PC has it's own controller beast that might be better. Haven't really looked into it. Then again probably not. KB and M and all. But playing with those too long cause hand cramps for me. :/

[nabokovfan87]

Thanks for the video mention/post, I didn't expect it at all. Here is another one with some scientific measurements to sort of demonstrate what I am talking about.

Originally Posted by Xerxes

Hey... I have a Onza!

I got a new Bluetooth wifi and am using my ps3 controller now for the witcher.

Not the best solution because it is my old sixaxis from years ago and it is beat up, but I got a d-pad now!

If anyone wants an onza cheap, pm me. I will gladly sell it for cheap.

[Xerxes]

Whoa... that's smart. If I liked the dual shock more, I'd use mine with the built in bluetooth on my PC.

But the way you said the buttons didn't click every time, I did the same thing and had no such issue. I set my tension sticks and just left them. There isn't really any need to change them. Mostly middle of the road. I like the shallow xyab buttons. And those click every time you pres them as well. Feels easier when games call for rapid taps. The extra shoulder buttons are mostly pointless though. Would be awesome if you could program them to be like combo buttons like A+B. Also they should of made the D-Pad mechanical (I think I mean that right) as well. As is they are too squishy. They work, but not great.

Thing is feel of missed opportunities really.

[nabokovfan87]

The d-pad would be amazing if it was the abxy buttons but just left right up down and they were mechanical. Those buttons are insanely precise in terms of tracking rapid presses just by the nature of a mechanical switch.

The issue with buttons (call it the computer engineer in me coming out, but..) it just doesn't work when it comes to something that you often need to have held down or where you need analog movement. mechanical is a single pull-single throw type switch where it is either on or off and that action happens extremely quickly. When I was playing SMB with the onza, I would be running, go to jump, and then every so often I would lose the run speed because my finger slightly went off and the button switch came to off position.

It's an easy fix, make the buttons have longer throw until they hit the switch, add a millimeter, problem solved. The dpad, shave off the sides, problem fixed (somewhat), but also make the throw less and lower the height of the buttons and it would be MUCH better. move the start/select buttons and it is fixed. The bumpers need mechanical switches as well, those buttons are great for the super precise setup, and the switches currently used are worse then the psp, which is shit when it comes to the L/R buttons. The "triggers" need to be analog like the ps3, these ones are not, which makes having them have so much throw until active a pain in the ass.

I don't know, my favorite thing about the onza is the sticks (when all the way open) feel a lot better then my 360 and ds3/sixaxis, but I just wish the rest of the controller wasn't completely ass backwards designed. Maybe the engineer in me won't allow myself to tolerate it, lol.

--------------------------------

So, I am halfway through the ep. I just want to say that I heard the spoilers of portal on another pod, what I heard was kind of interesting, but not so effing amazing that I feel like I will lose my shit when I see it. Portal 2 might be fucking amazing, the first was, and then the last level happened, so I can't say I am extremely invested in the portal franchise, but time will tell.

When it comes to gaming feast/famine playthroughs, I tend to do both. If I love a game to death, all I will do is think about that game, want to play it, and play it whenever I can. I have literally 2 days a week to play games normally, so that is around 8-12 hours a week, which means I play a lot and then take a long break pondering the game and so forth for 5 days at a time. come thursday/friday when I get home I cannot wait to get in and play for hours on end.

While it is nice to not have to put a game down, I equate it to rushing through a good meal. Went to a nice Italian restaurant and was done with my plate before the other 10 people had gotten theirs. Yeah, it was that fucking good and the meal was filling, but it isn't like taking your time and really investigating what is going on.

[nabokovfan87]

I was listening to Robert talk about not being able to play as late, and discussing how he was up until midnight and then had to go to work. I kind of feel like this needs to be sent for some reason, but the way I play things is if I like them, I won't stop. I won't rush through them, but I will never not play if I feel like it, and am physically/mentally able to do so. Gaming isn't just something I enjoy, it is my form of entertainment.

That being said, I go to work like most people and I couldn't ever fathom staying up stupid late in order to play a game. I might play an extra 30 minutes and take time from my "relax and calm down for the night" time and go to bed a bit later. I get the feeling if someone is playing a game they enjoy, they haven't eaten, slept, and don't know if it is dark/light outside, then they are what most would call "addicted". It isn't good for the eyes nor the rest of the body to sit that long. Get a good chair, a footrest, and ensure everything is ergonomically sound, as well as take breaks when you beat a level, when a map loads, or something.

That being said, when I go to take my break, and it has been 8 hours and I haven't had lunch, dinner, and it is now midnight, I know the gaming session I just had was good, but I also know my eyes hurt, my ass is fucking numb, and I am hungry as hell. I had fun, but again, rushing isn't nearly worth it in my opinion, even though I love to do it Friday/Saturday evenings.

[Xerxes]

How are the triggers not analog? I'm playing Alpha Protocol. And they rock for the lock picking sections. With the normal controller I was over shooting the picks. The tension in the Onza is great.

I think my 360 controller needs to be replaced though. Mike will just start walking on his on and the net blames Obisidian for making it to sensitive. I swap controllers with ones I don't normally use and the Onza and he's still. So my black controller maybe a little played out. Works fine for all other games. Main reason I bought this controller though.

Still I'd get it a B- or like 3.5 stars.

[nabokovfan87]

They are not analog because they don't work on degrees of pressure and operate like a gas pedal or a trigger, but a button. They aren't pressure sensitive just activated when pressed to a certain point.

[Xerxes]

Originally Posted by nabokovfan87

They are not analog because they don't work on degrees of pressure and operate like a gas pedal or a trigger, but a button. They aren't pressure sensitive just activated when pressed to a certain point.

The triggers? The things you shoot people with? On the back of the controller? With the elongated plastic when compared to a normal controller? Are you saying they are just on or off? I mean xpadder even shows degrees of pressure so I'm confused.

[nabokovfan87]

Originally Posted by Xerxes

The triggers? The things you shoot people with? On the back of the controller? With the elongated plastic when compared to a normal controller? Are you saying they are just on or off? I mean xpadder even shows degrees of pressure so I'm confused.

Lol, I don't want to have to actually take the controller out to test it, I will just agree and say your right. Perhaps they are lose so they feel like they are just a normal button.

I could swear they arent. I know xbox 360 controller (difference between xbox and ps3) is that the xbox triggers report as a z-axis while the ps3 reports as buttons, but they are analog.

I don't know. I tried dirt and a few other racers and it seemed on/off.

No worries, not even worth discussing it, off to CS:S.

[peterr77]

Looking forward to listening to this so I can remember what the heck we talked