WRUP: [Video game] is like the [prominent work from other medium] of gaming edition

by Alexander Sliwinski { Oct 9th 2009 at 11:00PM }

Sometimes we ponder:

Tetris is the Monet's Water Lillies of gaming.
God of War is the Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse of gaming.
Dante's Inferno is the Dante's Infern ... actually, it's the 13-year-old's vision of classical poetry of gaming.
Diablo is the Bobcat Goldthwait of gaming.
Dynasty Warriors is the Archie Comics of gaming.
Final Fantasy VII is the Steel Magnolias of gaming.

... oh wait, we got it ...

Metroid Prime is the Citizen Kane of gaming!

Somebody beat us to that one? Foiled, again! What's everyone playing this weekend?

[Thanks, Kyle!]

Alexander Sliwinski (@XanderSliwinski): Demon's Souls. Still don't know what to think about it. Also some Firefight with the Joystiq guys.
Andrew Yoon (@scxzor): Still catching up on PSP gaming. Now I have PixelJunk Monsters and Gran Turismo to deal with.
Ben Gilbert (@BigBossBgilbert): Continuing to enjoy God of War: Chains of Olympus on PSP despite Kratos' best attempts to make me hate the game (seriously, him and Marcus Fenix need to get shot into the Sun). And with any luck, I'll join the Joystiq Firefight Team for more UNSC glory.
Christopher Grant (@ChrisGrant): I've got three games in circulation, all of which I'm this close to finishing. For Resident Evil 5, my co-op buddy and I need to finish Chapter 6. And both Wet and Dead Space: Extraction it's all up to me. The best part is: I'm really enjoying all three!
David Hinkle (@DaveHinkle): My driving lessons in Need for Speed: Shift will likely continue, as well as my lessons in pwning nubs in the Halo 3. I think that's how the kids say it. Oh, and Firefightin' with the Joystiq crew. We likes the Firefight. We needs it -- our precious.
Griffin McElroy (@griffinmcelroy): I'm going to steal Justin's Dreamcast and play Shenmue all weekend. Please, don't tell him. He'd be so mad if he found out what I was planning to do. This is between me, you, and Ryo Hazuki.
James Ransom-Wiley: [Friend's wedding.]
JC Fletcher (@jcfletcher): Several different versions of Gunstar Heroes. Oh, thank you so much for existing, Gunstar Heroes Treasure Box.
Justin McElroy (@JustinMcElroy): I'll be playing "Try to convince the power company to shut off the electric before Griffin can sully my Dreamcast with his dirty, baby-sized hands."
Kevin Kelly (@gadgetguy): More Halo 3: ODST Firefight mode, just so I can hear Alexander's in-game commentary. Seriously, that game is freakin' addictive. Also some Halo Wars, which I finally just got (used, on the cheap), and looking at getting Wet. Chris Grant has pushed me over edge that the demo had me teetering on.
Ludwig Kietzmann (@LudwigK): I'm hoping to get some time in with ODST's Firefight (I haven't played it yet!) and ... this film tie-in game I have to review. Forget I mentioned it.
Randy Nelson (@DangerPenguin): The game I'm playing is a thing of legend, and man, its multiplayer can be brutal. Don't worry -- I'll be fine, and you'll get a review on the double. It's Brütal Legend.
Richard Mitchell (@SenseiRAM): Now that I've got a PS3 and a PS2, my gaming stores are very heavily stocked. In no particular order: Silent Hill 3, MGS4, Critter Crunch, Fat Princess, ODST, Lucidity and, hopefully, the first Uncharted.
Xav de Matos (@Xav): Nothing but Forza 3 and Rock Band Unplugged.
Justin Glow (@justinglow): (Is the Abba of web developers.)

Tags: what-are-you-playing, wrup

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

Dr. Bradwart @ Oct 9th 2009 11:05PM

Ironically, I just picked up Metroid Prime for my Cube, along with the Ocarina of Time/Master Quest disk, so I'll be playing those this weekend.

Cheesus Crust @ Oct 9th 2009 11:36PM

BEST. VIDEO. EVER.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWuS9L_jctg&feature=player_embedded

Sly @ Oct 10th 2009 1:01AM

that video was hilarious. i was expecting a rick roll from the downvotes, and i was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't one. but does the ending count as a mini-rick roll?

Residentevil72501 (PSN: rankore) @ Oct 10th 2009 1:21AM

IM playing some Demon's SOuls for about 30 more hours this weekend lol. Put 10 hours on it today!

THIS http://www.destructoid.com/why-comparing-metroid-prime-to-citizen-kane-is-ludicrous-151465.phtml

I'm glad someone called IGN out on their bullshit of a story to say Metroid Prime is OUR Citizen Kane of video games on a major news broadcast. That guy from IGN just took one big giant step back for video games in the main stream as something that should be respected and held to a higher standard.

Solace @ Oct 10th 2009 2:04AM

Markez @ Oct 10th 2009 3:43AM

"That guy from IGN just took one big giant step back for video games in the main stream as something that should be respected and held to a higher standard." Jesus, relax. Bit ludicrous to take it that far.

Solace @ Oct 10th 2009 4:56AM

@Markez

I felt embarrassed watching that video as someone who loves art in all medias, it's hard enough to convince people that video games are a valid art form but damn that guy just annoyed the shit out of me. Watching that made me literally want to puke. I've taken a few art classes and brought video games into the discussions and the look on peoples faces was as if I was crazy and even the professors.

We as a gaming community might think SotC is much more than a video game and an actual piece of art but to the world as a whole they're oblivious to that even with the rising popularity of video games. Video games are still depicted as just for children, killing simulators, and mindless entertainment in mass media. If this is ever to change it has to start somewhere and that wasnt how I'd imagined it. It was nice to hear something good about games for once in the media but the subject and discussion was all wrong.

Mr Khan @ Oct 10th 2009 12:07PM

He picked the right game to promote as the holy grail of our medium, at least.

Markez @ Oct 10th 2009 1:17PM

@ Solace - Fair enough, well put. I just really don't get the need people feel that videogames need to be respected as art comparable to some of the great movies, or that it's something we absolutely need to strive for and attain. Why exactly, do we really need gratification from acceptance into mass media?

@ Khan - I suppose I can respect it as one of the more important series, historically, but I've never personally cared much for the Metroid series and I don't really follow how it can be held up as some sort of holy grail of videogames. Personal opinion, I think the narrative and story is poorly told and really not deep or interesting when it comes down to it.

Sly @ Oct 10th 2009 2:13PM

i think most of us could agree that metroid ISN'T the holy grail. it's MGS4 in my opinion, but certainly everyone else has their own.

johnnynumber5 @ Oct 10th 2009 6:38PM

We all know Khan has an affinity for Metroid so don't take him seriously when he says it's the holy Grail of gaming. I would say that Bioshock or MGS4 are the closest things we have to a Citizen Kane esq experience.

The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 11th 2009 6:37PM

Fuck Citizen Kane. I'd rather watch Zombieland or Grindhouse any day

RageOverdose @ Oct 11th 2009 10:54PM

It's hard to give games a "Holy Grail" since, well, the whole industry seems to evolve at a constant rate. To call one game a holy grail is nigh impossible, in my opinion, beyond the first generations after the gaming crash.

But I'd say, if any, Metroid Prime (or even Metroid) would be a good one. Maybe not the whole of the trilogy, but they all have very artistic features to them that isn't far off from comparing to Citizen Kane's sense of loneliness and destruction. I have to say, however, that the guy who did that special did a poor job representing this.

This sort of analysis, though, could've come many years sooner.

Markez @ Oct 9th 2009 11:06PM

SH3, Rich, really? You get that schweet audio CD it originally came with? Don't think I could actually go back and play 3 again, the story was a little too bananas and disjointed. I think I actually liked The Room more :P

Uncharted or Dead Space are likely my weekend games this time around. The demo for Lucidity is actually pretty rad.

Markez @ Oct 9th 2009 11:06PM

rosebud...

PR0F3TA (PSN - PROPHETA) @ Oct 9th 2009 11:07PM

Uncharted 2 duh, if no one knows, Naughty Dog is giving out 30 Special Edition Uncharted 2 games if you play the demo/beta all this week.

other then that its, Skate to satisfy my bordom, Home to talk to some e-friends and Work, the annoying MMO

The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 9th 2009 11:08PM

I just need to get Deja Vu in firefight as well as Chasm Ten and Crater, but that seems unlikely as my friends are less than cooperative. I'll probably end up hunkering down for hours upon hours of Left 4 Dead as I try to get the 20,000 kills i need for the zombie genocidist before Left 4 Dead 2. Maybe some WET that I put off for a while, and if i take that route and finish it i'll try to rent flashpoint

Mr.ESC @ Oct 10th 2009 12:42PM

I just need endure.I can fukken believe we all died in the last wave of the last round of the 4th set.

If you want I can help you with Deja vu,I've done it 5 times with some friends already.

After that I guess I'll do all the firefight achievements and play Call of Duty some more.

RANDOM G [XBL: NYMZ777, PSN: NYMALICIOUS] @ Oct 9th 2009 11:09PM

Uncharted 2 beta...

Can't stop...

Help me...

Jtenma @ Oct 9th 2009 11:27PM

I lol'd.

No help for you, lol.

RANDOM G [XBL: NYMZ777, PSN: NYMALICIOUS] @ Oct 10th 2009 12:48AM

I got a fever, and the only prescription... is more Uncharted 2!

aaronx_x @ Oct 9th 2009 11:10PM

just bought Demon's Souls :D
totally worth it.

RANDOM G [XBL: NYMZ777, PSN: NYMALICIOUS] @ Oct 9th 2009 11:12PM

Everyone keeps saying that's good, but I've heard absolutely nothing about it.

Jtenma @ Oct 9th 2009 11:26PM

Yeah, IT IS GOOD. Coop is done extremely well.

On a side note, my friend got this yesterday and he said one of the most obvious things you could ever say about Demon's Souls: "This shit is too hard!" Funny thing was though, I got a call from him about an hour later that day saying, "Fucking thing sucks, I-I'll write it and we'll do it live! WE'LL DO IT LIVE, FUCK IT" as he was on his way to take the game back to the store.

I'm serious.

BananaBoat @ Oct 9th 2009 11:49PM

What store accepts video game returns? O_O

RiccochetJ @ Oct 10th 2009 12:32AM

Just managed to pick it up too based on the comments from people from an earlier post from Joystiq. It's insanely fun so far! Although I have absolutely no clue how coop works etc. I just see ghosts running around and blood splatters everywhere showing me how people died! I'll read the manual later to figure out what the hell is going on :P

Oh yea and I picked up Dead Space for my Xbox for 20 bucks. Going to see what all the hubub is about. I've heard it's a ton better on hard for the atmosphere and danger. Confirm or Deny.

Levi @ Oct 10th 2009 1:42AM

Riccochet: Confirmed. Also wayyy better on hard mode: Condemned 2. Hard mode makes those games wayyyy more tense, which can actually make them creepier.

Jtenma @ Oct 10th 2009 2:53AM

He absolutely hated the game...oh he traded it back in to the devil, aka, gamestop. (lol)

But yeah I think that was really stupid, not only did he lose money...he quite possibly missed out on one hell of a game.

Courtney @ Oct 10th 2009 4:34AM

@RiccochetJ, I played it on hard, and I wouldn't recommend it. I play a lot of games on hard, but Dead Space just got to me. About half way through the game, it stopped being entertaining. It was still gorgeous, engaging, well designed, and all that, but it turned into a chore. I put it down for several months and just finally finished it within the last couple of weeks so that I could trade it on Goozex.

Also, you can't change difficulty once you've started a game, so you're stuck with hard if you start there.

Lunastra78 (PSN: lunastra78) @ Oct 10th 2009 7:10AM

I will try to get the Platinum trophy for Dead Space soon. For the hard difficulty walkthrough I am also planning on only using the plasma cutter. I might buy the heavy weapons and tank packs for this as I feel its ok to give the developers a little extra cash for this awesome game and simultaneously not drive myself insane. ;)

WREturns @ Oct 9th 2009 11:12PM

Infamous!

PR0F3TA (PSN - PROPHETA) @ Oct 10th 2009 12:17AM

cool. did you just get it or trying for platinum? the game is so amazing, to bad there really is no replay value but nevertheless a very well done superhero game. The stunt challenges are the best thing ever

WREturns @ Oct 10th 2009 12:51AM

I've had it for a while but I haven't gotten around to it until recently. It's strange that you say it has no replay value because it's one of the few games that I want to play again just to see what happens if I'm bad.

Jesus (PSN: Luttdawg) @ Oct 10th 2009 1:08AM

I defs want to get the platinum, but Uncharted 2 will be taking my single player gaming up for a while. The stunt challenges seem pretty hard.

Levi @ Oct 10th 2009 1:45AM

Still haven't played InFamous other than the demo. I'm finishing up Prototype over the weekend though and I gotta say, it blows my mind.

PR0F3TA (PSN - PROPHETA) @ Oct 10th 2009 1:55AM

oh of course, i haven't played it since i beat both the good and bad scenarios. Its finding the damn shards that stopped me from getting that platinum.... anyways, bad karma is def has the best power ups.

Sly @ Oct 9th 2009 11:12PM

still playing pokemon platinum. tackling the elite four at the moment.

current team (i'm open to suggestions):

- Empoleon
- Lucario
- Garchomp
- Luxray
- Weavile
- Giratina

i have an electivire (thanks GTS trading glitch!) on hold at the moment. he's ready to replace luxray should the need arise. giratina is only a temp, and he's only in my team because he knows fly. if anyone can recommend a good flying type, i'm all ears. i have a lvl 27 staravia, but leveling it to the 50's is gonna take a long while, so i'm trying to find a flying type that i'll stick with. too bad i can't catch skarmory yet...

Sly @ Oct 9th 2009 11:14PM

also, i'll try and pick up pixeljunk monsters for PSP.

Sly @ Oct 9th 2009 11:16PM

also, i guess i should mention that my team destroyed the elite four, but cynthia's garchomp roadblocked my team. it took out my entire team. my garchomp could have killed it if it was at a higher level, but since it was considerably lower, the enemy garchomp got the speed advantage and dragon rushed for the 1 hit KO.

Mr Khan @ Oct 9th 2009 11:20PM

Staraptor is who i went with, but from the beginning. If you don't bog it down with too many HMs, (aside from Fly, which is formidable in its own right), it can be quite good.

Sly @ Oct 9th 2009 11:41PM

i suppose i'll go with staraptor too. it's just gonna be a pain leveling it up over 20 levels. and i still have to level up my main team considerably, especially empoleon, lucario, and garchomp.

INNUENDO 64 @ Oct 10th 2009 12:51AM

working on Pokemon red. im not too far in the game yet and im very about ocd my pokemon in my party being very close to the same level. not like that shit were the starter pokemon is 15 levels higher than everyone else.

lv 21 geodude
lv 19 wartortle
lv 18 clefable
lv 18 nidorino
lv 17 butterfree
lv 17 mewoth