pubs
Actually. The Metal Gear Solid games are pretty
damned comedic, in what they allow the player to do, in terms of the
environment. And in terms of how they subvert the expected form of
interaction, for a game of that sort and for videogames in general.
It’s similar to the way that a pun subverts language. Those who aren’t
impressed with subversion, and just want people to speak plainly, tend
to hate puns, while those who like playing with the nature of
communication take some delight in them. I suppose it takes some level
of virtuosity with the medium of communication at hand (as well as a
playful sense of humor to start with) to appreciate them, rather than
to be puzzled and annoyed.
The best subversive humor comes with a straight face, of course.
Okay since you saved about 26$ then. Here’s what you do. A) Take that 26$ and deposit it into paypal. B) Load up your favourite web browser and paypal me $20. C) Take the other $6 and buy yourself something nice, you deserve it after supporting a young mans exchange to Germany. Good for you!
Nice price.
I dislike this analogy.
The nature of language is to communicate, and the “rules” of language leave open things that sound silly, ie, a pun (far from subverting language, a pun exists because of the nature of language). But language is a medium and does nothing by itself.
Similarly, we come to expect the weird jokes from Metal Gear games. Even as far back as the first MGS the player could observe self-referencing jokes and other clues that let the player know The Authors will be Fucking With You. (Ie, the whole Mantis fight.)
Of course, finding frogs that jiggle when shot at in a game like Splinter Cell would be a little more off-setting.
Woo, yes, I love that game
You should try to do.. stuff.. with Grenades and Crocodiles.
On the one hand it’s damn funny, on the other hand, seeing that the game allows such foolery shows how _much_ Kojima cares.
It makes the game world so much more immersive.
Its like Raiden slipping on bird droppings. It looks stupid, but you know that things like that happen in real life too.
I know someone whose talent for punnery (and critical theory) would knock your socks off.
I do enjoy me some playfulness with communication, but I also find it problematic when it’s fetishized and ultimately becomes a barrier to understanding something that *could* be expressed more plainly. Not everyone has the time, attention, and energy to devote to an intense process of deciphering that only specialists could do with comparative ease, and playfulness can needlessly close off the discourse.*
* I’m speaking primarily of academic texts.**
** Not sure what the context was for this post, so this is just me blabbering.
Sometimes puns just suck, though.
On “House, MD” last night:
“My car’s been stolen!”
(camera pans out revealing a new sporty convertible)
“Or it’s been reincarnated…”
Where did you order that? I still have yet to play MGS3…
And have you read Kojima’s comments in this article: http://www.gamespot.com/features/6120427/index.html
He claims to care about gameplay more than story, but his games are still 80% story. I found myself playing MGS2 for the story parts, not the gameplay parts. The game itself was actually somewhat of an annoyance that pulled me out of the movie.
Again, its so hard to tell if he is really just a mediocre designer with full control over his product and a lot of good people working for him or a bona-fide genius. I still haven’t made up my mind. I think it will take a non-Metal Gear game to swing me one way or the other.
That sounds like a good deal.
I never got Otacon to get upset over my crawling on his sister’s body, though.
Of course
I like how the characters have character instead of three green lights and some neck snapping move. I was kind of iffy on it at first, when I got it, but fighting The End is one of the videogaming’s greatest moments.
spoiler ahoy but anybody who cares probably already knows
I did like the bit in MGS2 (I think?) where you had to defeat a telepathic enemy by swapping controller one into port two. Hadn’t encountered anything like that before. I guess that’s also an example of breaking the fourth wall; I could see it be annoying to someone who thinks it’s unfair (being outside the boundaries of the game) but it does tie in to the idea that MGS2′s nonsensical plot is actually postmodern literature in the vein of Murakami. I read some review that argued that; I wasn’t entirely convinced but it’s definitely a generous stance to take.
Deal is. The story in MGS2 is one of the biggest parts of the gameplay.
I really had trouble playing the first two games. I didn’t enjoy them at all as videogames. Frankly, I think they don’t really work except on the commentary level — which is what I like about them. The third game, though — yeah. I like to play it. It’s actually enjoyable for its own sake, and not just for the giggles.
Re: spoiler ahoy but anybody who cares probably already knows
That was MGS1, actually. Yeah, that was Tim’s first piece for Insert Credit. For what it’s work, Kojima has… pretty much confirmed all over the place that that was his intent, at least, with the second game. Whether you want to take it that way is up to you.
I already played to the Ninja Gaiden moment overlooking the compound, when I rented it several months ago. I wonder if Snake has a beard now. Have yet to put it back in the PS2.
It is a good deal. It’s over now, though. One of those cheapass gamer things.
I agree in theory, of course. I don’t know if Kojima goes that far, though; I spend most of my time either frustrated with the controls or giggling at his cleverness. I kind of relate the Metal Gears to the Marx Bros.
Re: Woo, yes, I love that game
I prefer talking to people on a radio while sitting in a box, with my shirt off.
Re: Nice price.
THIS ANALOGY DISLIKES YOU
Actually. I think I’ll go watch some Doctor Who.
Yuk, yuk.
Sometimes chocolate does, too.
rouse cof!
Oh yeah, I’m not sure if Kojima goes that far either. I had somehow managed to forget that the controversy over Metal Gear was what the post was about, which I think is thanks to the sleeping pills I chewed on in an attempt to knock myself out quickly.
Not going to do that again.
Don’t eat any of your food.
Well I guess that works. IF YOU SUPPORT PIRACY, OMF!
I SUPPORT NETFLIX THX
I drink tea!
I now have a fork and a camera.
What else, really, does a man need?
YOU LIE YOU DIRTY PIRATING MAN YOU!
This is pretty great.
Re: Nice price.
Only in Soviet Russia, I assume.