Internet (and other things) of the 2000s as portrayed in Grand Theft Auto IV

[UCyborg]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaTfps2zOzQ

Just watched this recently. On the topic of the internet, some web design back then really was cringe.

Going online, I don't remember it being something to go out the way to do. Perhaps I've been an addict since a long time.

[Mæstro]

I enjoyed exploring the web as a child. Children’s and general websites both displayed a healthy variety of designs, and I love visiting them again in the Internet Archive and appreciating them as an adult. Although there is much to be said against Flash designs respecting technical and accessibility interests, I found them charming, and I would eagerly revert to them instead of the JavaScript-based designs which have succeeded them. We had a family computer which had its own room in the house, adjoined to the living room. I freely involved my parents in my online activities, and going online, whether for games or research (I was always a boffin), was just one activity among many for me. I have many fond memories reading books in the local library or bookshop after school, drawing and writing, playing outside … Television was there also, but in a rather minor role; I knew what series I liked and was always able to record them in advance, but did not watch for watching’s sake.

Except for business, where I sign on only for that purpose and off once it is done, without distractions, I only use the internet after I have gone to my bedroom for the night, which might be 7p or an hour or two later. When I have, out of my own curiosity, filled out the regular internet addiction questionnaires, I confirm what I knew: I am firmly in control of my internet usage. The factors today which promote my internet use today are two: I like conversing with my friends, who are geographically distant, about niche interests, which we develop actively, and I like being able to access books and anime which I could not if I were limited to the library’s resources. (The need to keep my nest clean, as discussed elsewhere, means alternating between my physical and digital libraries is impractical.) Moonbat, I think, commented on how most people today stay confined to just a few SNS, and treat this as the full extent of the net. Just this evening, I have visited about thirty distinct sites in the natural course of events.

[UCyborg]

I remember using bookmarks a lot, today, not so much. I read books back then too, but it's all a distant memory now. Computer was a shared thing, I hated that.

IDK, I feel I've seen everything that was there to see. Now just spinning in the loop, waiting for the end.

[XanderZane]

I feel much the same, early web exploration, diverse site designs, and balanced offline life made it special. Today’s internet feels narrower, though access to niche communities and media remains invaluable.

[UCyborg]

Any excitement for Grand Theft Auto VI around these parts?

[Gemmaugr]

Any excitement for Grand Theft Auto VI around these parts?

I enjoyed both GTA 1 and GTA 2, but when it was shown that GTA 3 would be using an Over-the-Shoulder camera, I completely lost interest. To be frank, I despise OTS cameras. They're off-center, skewed, always in the wrong place (both shoulder-wise and looking at walls), and blocking much of the view. I have no problem with any other Third Person camera like the other Behind View one, Over-the-Head. Nor Eagle-Eye's Top-down and "isometric". Or Sidescrollers. Ok, I'm not a fan of fixed static cameras either, but they're still better than OTS ones.

[UCyborg]

I mostly played the games of the III era and some IV, but never got around finishing the story of the latter. Pre-III aren't my cup of cake, just too primitive for me.

I only found camera in GTA: San Andreas annoying, it makes driving difficult as it doesn't stay fixed when you're making turns. I played it couple of months ago with several mods, including one that can change camera behavior, that made it much better.

I got V for free at some point, but again, never got around even trying it.