Episode 8 - Pre-Show

[Canis Firebrand]

Tonight we'll be recording Episode 8 after about a month hiatus.

One of the topics for the show is picking winners for our Gaming Pet Peeve contest.

Haven't really had a large number of submissions, so I wanted to get in a last call.

Feel free to post your own examples of things that drive you nuts in video games.

I will take submissions until 7pm EST tonight. Those that already posted one in a previous thread, you are entered into the contest.

I will draw three random names and a prize that they will win.

The prizes are:

Halo Wars: Strategic Options DLC
Super Puzzle Fighter HD XBLA game
and a new addition
PopCap games code for Plants vs Zombies PC game.

[BANE the Insane]

I'm sure some of these have already been posted, but I'm too lazy to look up the old thread, so here goes:

Bad Camera - It's either too close to the character or too far away, easily get's stuck on objects in the environment, or has poor controls like only being able to bring it right behind your character.

Cheap Replaces Difficult - Mostly in fighting games where, instead of harder difficulties actually being more challenging, they just spam the same move over and over and over and over again.

Lack of Save/Check Points - Go through a tough part of a level and then end up dying only to realize that it didn't keep your progress and now you have to re-do that tough part all over again.

Locked Controls - Games that don't let you customize your controls. Sometimes you get lucky and one of their pre-sets will be decent, but it's just not the same as being able to map the buttons exactly where you want them. The fact that some games do this means every game should do this.

Lousy Unlockables - You work and work to meet the requirements for the mystery unlockable and it ends up being something like Blue Armor. Does it give you ice powers? Protect you from ice magic? Play some Vanilla Ice? Does it even keep your health potions nice and frosty? NO!!! It's just the same armor only now it's blue. Or maybe you unlock a new character which is just one of the original characters with a mustache or a funny hat.

To Be Continued - Do I need to say anything else? I guess so, because I'm gonna. Games where the story ends with a cliffhanger. Especially if you're that poor sap who has been researching the game, checking every game site for articles on the game, crowbaring the game into every conversation, and were waiting at the store before it opens the day of release. Congratulations! Now you have to wait another year or two before finding out what happens.

Short Games - Let me be more specific. Short games with a full $60 price tag. If you have a short game, at least give us a break on the price.

I think I'll stop here on lucky number 7. Besides, I can't think of anything else.