Anyone bought Condemned?
pc games
Released last week...
It is one of the games I'm most anxious to play due to FEAR
being my favorite Action FPS of 2005.
I know Condemned has a different gameplay but nevertheless
the prospects are very appealing.
Rob
wrote:
>Anyone bought Condemned?
>Released last week...
My copy arrived in yesterdays post. I've played about an hour of it.
The first few minutes are the gameplay seen in the demo.It's
absolutely brilliant.
Already this year we have had some fabulous releases. Call of Cthulhu:
Dark Corners Of The Earth is excellent too.
--
Rob
Spalls Hurgenson
wrote:
>Anyone bought Condemned?
Yes. It is currently sitting on my shelf because of a "feature
transfer error: not enough space on hard-drive" message I get trying
to install the damn thing.
<grumble>
I hate installation bugs.
Trimble Bracegirdle
"...Weapons and ammunition are scarce, leaving the player vulnerable to a
gallery of mentally deranged criminals. Careful detective work and precision
reflexes are a player's primary means of survival."
Reviews (mixed);
http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/condemnedcriminalorigins?q=condemned
mouse
@@@
pc games
> Yes. It is currently sitting on my shelf because of a "feature
> transfer error: not enough space on hard-drive" message I get trying
> to install the damn thing.
>
> <grumble>
>
> I hate installation bugs.
I've always defended PC Games should be able to be installed
manually with a simple copy/paste when these kinds of trouble
happen.
With so much space in a DVD there is no reason to compress it
unless in manufacturing they pay by MB and not by disk.
(I'm presuming Condemned US has also a DVD version like in EU)
pc games
> My copy arrived in yesterdays post. I've played about an
> hour of it. The first few minutes are the gameplay seen
> in the demo.It's absolutely brilliant.
Fantastic! again Monolith doesn't disappoint
> Already this year we have had some fabulous releases.
What FPS released this year have you bought?
I have bought the following FPS released in 2006
Splat Renegade Paintball
SWAT 4 The Stetchkov Syndicate
Advent Rising
Yes only 3 that is short...
The reason why I have only bought 3 leaving out many is
cause I'm still buying games released last year like
San Andreas and Battlefront 2
> Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners Of The Earth is excellent
RPG is not my type of game but when they are played in a
first person perspective I end up buying and trying them
out, although I never end up getting too much into them.
I'm counting of buying Cthulhu this month...
BuckFush
> Already this year we have had some fabulous releases. Call of Cthulhu:
> Dark Corners Of The Earth is excellent too.
AFAIK this hasn't even been released yet in the US - is it out in EU or
anywhere else already?
The few screenshots I've seen looked really awful and discouraging, I've
preordered but starting to wonder whether I've made a mistake.
John Lewis
wrote:
FYI:-
Not enough temporary space on your C: drive could be the problem, if
you are installing to a different partition and appear to have plenty
of space in that partition.
John Lewis
John Lewis
wrote:
>Anyone bought Condemned?
From the Gamespot review:-
"Raw, savage beatings are the order of the day in Condemned: Criminal
Origins, an original first-person action game from the makers of
F.E.A.R. The game was originally released for the Xbox 360, but has
now been faithfully adapted to the PC. You play as an investigator
who's struggling to keep his own sanity while tailing a serial killer
and facing off against what seems like an army of depraved sociopaths.
Condemned's impressive graphics and bone-crushing hand-to-hand combat
sequences make for a visceral, highly atmospheric experience that's
quite unlike anything you've ever played before. But as great as that
may sound, Condemned is something of a one-trick pony, whose
monotonous gameplay doesn't quite live up to the quality of the
presentation and underlying concept. Don't you dare let that stop you
from taking the plunge if the concept intrigues you, though. "
An echo of the problems with FEAR.. boring repetitive play after the
initial (er) "novelty" wears off. Seems as if the demo is about the
right length and maybe you should save your money. Unless you
are a closet psychopath, of course...
John Lewis
Spalls Hurgenson
wrote:
>Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
>> <grumble>
>> I hate installation bugs.
Yes, it does, much to my surprise. The industry is moving towards DVD
- just very, very, very slowly (ultimately, the sheer size of the
games will force the move but they're dragging their heels here in the
'States).
As for copy'n'paste installs, isn't that how it works on the
Macintosh?
In any event, loathe as I am to defend buggy software, the
installation fault in part seems to lie with Windows. Something
apparently got kicked out of spec on my machine and it's confusing the
installer. I've tinkered and futzed and installed a lot of crud on
this computer, so I'm not surprised its innards are getting a bit
gloppy.
I expect that when I wipe-n-reinstall Windows (just as soon as I get
buy a new machine ;-), Condemned will install without any problems.
On the other hand, other programs install without problems, so
Condemned isn't totally off the hook.
Rob
wrote:
>AFAIK this hasn't even been released yet in the US - is it out in EU or
>anywhere else already?
Yes, it's out in many EU countries.
>The few screenshots I've seen looked really awful and discouraging, I've
>preordered but starting to wonder whether I've made a mistake.
Are you sure we're talking about the same game? It's from the makers
of F.E.A.R and seems to be using the same engine. Very nice graphics
and a very spooky atmosphere to boot.
I uploaded a short video of the gameplay a few weeks ago. If you're
interested you can download it and see the graphics for yourself.
http://files.filefront.com/Condemned_Gameplaydivx/;4934979;;/fileinfo.html
--
Rob
pc games
> I expect that when I wipe-n-reinstall Windows (just as soon as I get
> buy a new machine ;-), Condemned will install without any problems.
Have you ever thought about a dual boot system?
I personally can't live without dual boot.
Since I can remember all my PCs have had dual boot.
If the OS is the same you don't pay more for it and the extra
HDD space you need is worthy.
At this point I have a dual boot system with XP Home two times
One is for net and work, fully patched.
The other is for games only, really exclusively for gaming and
with the less possible stuff installed so it can be very fast
for gaming.
You are a veteran gamer so giving you advice is strange but I
really recommend you thinking about a dual boot system.
The only thing you must do is never forget each OS in its own
partition. I have the first two partitions (C: and D: both
with 10GB and both with each XP Home boot installation)
pc games
>> AFAIK this hasn't even been released yet in the US - is it out in EU or
>> anywhere else already?
>
> Yes, it's out in many EU countries.
The problem with switching subjects in a thread... I think
he has talking about Cthulhu and not Condemned...
Cthulhu is already available in Europe... as for the US I
don't know... probably the difference in releases has to do
with in Europe Ubisoft releasing it and in the US it being
a self published title by Bethesda...
Interesting to notice Bethesda choose Take2 to distribute
Oblivion and not published themselves alone... and it payed
off... it is a big seller and very easy to get... not like Cthulhu
Rob
wrote:
>What FPS released this year have you bought?
To be honest with you, I'm having trouble remembering which games I
got at Christmas and which ones I've bought since (old age is creeping
up on me!)
I've certainly bought Ubersoldier, Call of Cthulhu, Oblivion,
Commando's: Strike Force and Condemned in the last month or two.
>> Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners Of The Earth is excellent
>
>RPG is not my type of game but when they are played in a
>first person perspective I end up buying and trying them
>out, although I never end up getting too much into them.
>I'm counting of buying Cthulhu this month...
It's in first person, but it's not an RPG. It's more of a
Survival/Horror type game with a reasonable sprinkling of FPS mixed
in. It's not a "run and gun" type game, but if you use the available
ammunition sparingly, you can have a ballistic weapon for quite long
periods.
It is very atmospheric and immersive. Well wroth a play in my opinion.
--
Rob
Rob
<NOs...@spam.not> wrote:
>Rob can you say if the demo gives a good sample of the full game please ..
In my opinion, the demo is an excellent representation of the full
game.
In fact, the demo itself is actually the opening sequence of the full
game. After that, it actually gets a little more chilling and even
more frantic.
I think this is going to be one of the best games of 2006. To have
this game, Oblivion and Call of Cthulhu in the first 3rd of the year
is an amazing start to 2006.
--
Rob
Memnoch
And what does "faithfully adapted to the PC" mean? Do they mean its a straight
port with all the console limitations and design elements left in or what?
Andrew
<mem...@nospampleaseimbritish.ntlworld.com> needlessly quoted umpteen
lines before he actually got to the point with:
>And what does "faithfully adapted to the PC" mean? Do they mean its a straight
>port with all the console limitations and design elements left in or what?
No, it has keyboard and mouse control.
--
Andrew, contact via http://interpleb.googlepages.com
Help make Usenet a better place: English is read downwards,
please don't top post. Trim replies to quote only relevant text.
Check groups.google.com before asking an obvious question.
Rob
>And what does "faithfully adapted to the PC" mean? Do they mean its a straight
>port with all the console limitations and design elements left in or what?
It's a natural PC game. Nothing about it so far makes me think
"console port".
It's an all round good release in my opinion.
--
Rob
Memnoch
If its a natural PC game then why did they say its faithfully adapted to the
PC?
pc games
> "feature transfer error: not enough space on hard-drive"
> message I get trying to install the damn thing.
>
> I hate installation bugs.
UPDATE:
I think I found why you are having this error and I do not
see it as an installation bug, at least I don't see it so
Just bought Condemned and guess what... the same error...
Do you have by any change your HDD formatted with FAT32?
I had and I had to change to NTFS cause the DATA file
of Condemned has a size of more than 6GB which is more
than the FAT32 limit of 4GB for each single file.
If you have a NTFS partition try to install Condemned
in it and I bet like me it will install fine.
Should we (the ones still using "legacy" technology) be
mad at Monolith for this? I'm a little bit divided... a
part of me says they could divide the DATA into multiple
files just like they did with FEAR but the other part
says I should start thinking in moving along and leave
FAT32 behind... (until today all my partitions remained
in FAT32 format... now I have one NTFS due to Condemned)
Rob
<mem...@nospampleaseimbritish.ntlworld.com> wrote:
>If its a natural PC game then why did they say its faithfully adapted to the
>PC?
It plays just the way that you would expect a PC game to play. No
frustrating camera angles and no awkward control issues. It has
flawless keyboard and mouse controls.
It's a "natural" PC game in as much as that you would never guess that
it had an older console sibling.
--
Rob
Spalls Hurgenson
wrote:
>Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
Yeah, that fixed it. CONVERT H: /fs:ntfs did the trick.
Whilst the reasoning behind this issue is sound (e.g., 4gb filesize
limit), I find it harder to forgive the publisher for the problem than
before.
The installer should check for this (and gracefully cancel if the
requirement is not met), the box should mention an NTFS is needed, and
in any event the game could well have been developed without needing a
massive 6GB file. I certainly can't believe this bug wasn't caught by
Q&A, as I still see a good many WinXP PCs runninging with FAT32
partitions.
Having said all that, at least the game is now installed and running.
Having played F.E.A.R. some months back, Monolith's touch is quite
evident - there are lots of similar looking levels, slow paced
exploration interupted by brief frantic (and - as far as I'm
concerned- unfulfilling) combat... and a total lack of spookiness. I'm
sorry; run-down buildings filled with crazed bums just don't strike
terror in my heart. There are a number of neat visual effects, but the
main effect of all these (especially the enforced 16:9 view-ratio and
no periphal vision) is that it's hard to generate a mental map of the
surroundings. I suppose this is to keep the player unbalanced and
easily startled, but mostly it's just pissing me off.
Like F.E.A.R., while playing Condemned I feel as if I'm JUST about to
get to the part of the story where everything starts coming together
and all the slogging through the tepid gameplay is finally going to
pay off. In the case of F.E.A.R., though, that's all there ever was;
eager anticipation of a climax. I'm hoping (but not really expecting,
given what I've seen already) that Condemned will be different.
pc games
> The installer should check for this (and gracefully
> cancel if the requirement is not met), the box should
> mention an NTFS is needed, and in any event the game
> could well have been developed without needing a massive
> 6GB file. I certainly can't believe this bug wasn't
> caught by Q&A, as I still see a good many WinXP PCs
> runninging with FAT32 partitions.
I agree with you. It is obvious they made a mistake.
Things should have been done differently.
> effects, but the main effect of all these (especially the
> enforced 16:9 view-ratio and no periphal vision) is that
Totally agree on you in this.
I have a 4:3 monitor and I don't like seeing the "forced"
16:9 widescreen view ratio with black strips of top and on
the bottom...
If you have a widescreen monitor will it fill full screen
and not have any black strips on top and bottom? (I don't
have a widescreen monitor to test this)
rms
> I have a 4:3 monitor and I don't like seeing the "forced"
> 16:9 widescreen view ratio with black strips of top and on
> the bottom...
This however can work in car racing games, where you don't need to look
up.
rms
pc games
> This however can work in car racing games, where you
> don't need to look up.
Even so I always prefer full screen or at least the option to
toggle between full screen and widescreen
That is what I would want in Condemned is having the option
to take off the top and bottom strips.
pc games
> Yes, I played the 360 demo of Condemned on my widescreen
> HDTV at 720p and it fills the full screen. I can't get
And do you know about the PC version how does it look in a
widescreen monitor?
Johnny Bravo
>Anyone bought Condemned?
>Released last week...
>It is one of the games I'm most anxious to play due to FEAR
>being my favorite Action FPS of 2005.
>I know Condemned has a different gameplay but nevertheless
>the prospects are very appealing.
I'm slogging through it, it's got both good and bad.
Good:
Interesting storyline so far
Bad:
Extremely linear gameplay
Non existant ammo
Inability to crouch behind cover in firefights
Extremely weak firearms (point blank shotgun blast to the head unable to kill
someone in normal difficulty more often than not)
Counter intuitive weapon use (tasering someone and taking their weapon - as the
game reccomends - is stupid, unarmed crazies are far more dangerous than armed
ones due to their ability to jump 20 feet, put you in a bearhug and headbut you,
which you can escape by shaking your mouse but only after taking damage roughly
equal to being hit by a sledgehammer and then the crazy just jumps at you again)
Horrendously inefficient blocking - you raise your weapon to block and half a
second later you take it back down so you actually have to perfectly time your
blocks, which is pretty useless in one on one combat much less two on one.
Silly gameplay due to no ducking or jumping - at one point you are prevented
from getting to a door on the far side of a room by a string at head level with
pictures hanging from it. You can't jump 12 inch high obstacles or duck under 4
foot high ones unless the level design has the action built into that spot. I
was prevented from jumping down from a ledge to the floor 3 feet below, I had to
walk to a stairway to go down.
Rather than deal with the pathetic blocking and trying to get all tactical in
a fight; I've killed every enemy in four chapters just by walking around with
the biggest weapon I can find (fire axe or sledgehammer) and just tasering a
crazy and then just smashing them when stunned.
All the "tactical" combat options are reduced to zap and smash, then backing
up while the taser recharges so I can do it again; it's very efficient and
doesn't take much health at all. Not to mention that some crazies just die when
tasered, especially the fast jumping types. And since, to a large extent, the
taser is self aiming and will correct over a pretty wide target cone it's the
most effective attack method in the game.
The only time I'll taser a suspect and try to take their weapon is when they
have a firearm to reduce my chance of getting shot. After killing them with it
before they can jump at me, the weapon will have too few shots remaining to use
in another fight so I end up dropping it and picking the axe back up.
Craig Hulett
> On 22 Apr 2006 23:32:08 -0700, "pc games" <pcgame...@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>
>> And do you know about the PC version how does it look in a
>> widescreen monitor?
>
> version does not provide resolutions for widescreen. Really strange
> considering that all 360 games must support 720p so why they wouldn't
> provide 1280x720 on the PC is kind of weird considering the game is
> capable of widescreen res. I don't see any file in the Condemned
> folder that I can edit to give me widescreen resolutions either.
In the retail release, in the install directory, there is a shortcut called
'View the player data folder'. It will take you to the same Monilith folder
in your Shared Documents that FEAR uses. There you'll find a settings.cfg
text file which has, amongst other things, the current resolution. For
example:
"BitDepth" "32"
"HardwareCursor" "1.000000"
"ScreenWidth" "1920"
"VSyncOnFlip" "1.000000"
"Gamma" "1.000000"
"ScreenHeight" "1200"
-craig
pc games
> Inability to crouch behind cover in firefights
<snip>
You are trying to make Condemned something it is not.
Condemned is not a traditional FPS
Condemned is not a tactical game
Condemned is what you could call a new kind of First
Person Game... a Horror/Survival type which for me is
simply BRILLIANT.
The only criticism I have is the FAT32 thing although I
can like with it but mainly the "letterbox" aspect ratio
There must be a way to get rid of those damn black bars
Spalls Hurgenson
wrote:
>Johnny Bravo wrote:
>
>> Inability to crouch behind cover in firefights
>
><snip>
>
>You are trying to make Condemned something it is not.
>Condemned is not a traditional FPS
>Condemned is not a tactical game
>Condemned is what you could call a new kind of First
>Person Game... a Horror/Survival type which for me is
>simply BRILLIANT.
The best description I've heard of this game is "first person whacker"
(which sounds pretty raunchy, now that I think about it ;-). I don't
consider it innovative in anyway, though. It's basically Doom3 with an
over reliance on melee weaponry.
Nor do I consider the game particularly brilliant. I enjoyed it far
more than I did F.E.A.R. (not hard to do), but it had a number of
shortcomings, including all the above mentioned by the grandparent
poster.
Other problems include the inability to run for more then ten seconds,
which annoyed me incredibly anytime I had to backtrack for to scrounge
for ammo or meds. I get that the designers want to make the players
feel vulnerable and defenseless, but that was a really stupid way of
doing it. Or how about the absolutely stupid "1 weapon only" rule; if
Doom3 didn't have ducttape, I gues Condemned doesn't have a belt to
shove a pistol into. Then take Condemned's -like F.E.A.R.'s- overuse
of grey, drab, decaying infrastructure as the primary levels. Nine out
of ten chapters played out in more-or-less interchangeable sewers,
train-stations, and slums. Monolith must have over-ordered on grey and
brown pixels, 'cause it's the main feature of their games these days.
I also found the whole "forensic tool" thing a complete waste of time;
since I could only use them when it was certain there were clues
around, all pretense of detective work went out the window and that
part of the game became nothing more than detective work. Better had
the tools been available at all time, and maybe allow the player to
discover non-plot critical clues on his own. But no, it's restricted
solely to moving the plot forward, making it as innovative as Doom3's
PDA.
So, what are we left with? Downsides: a game with some uninspired
gameplay that becomes dull after the first ten brawls, underpowered
weapons, an annoying movement system (can't jump, crouch, barely can
run, can't walk off ledges), uneven interaction, pointless "forensic"
minigames, and a bunch of redundant levels. Upsides: sometimes spooky,
decent (but not awe inspiring) graphics, and an okay story (even if it
does leave you hanging at the end, but I guess that's par for the
course for the genre). Add it up and you get an average game. Hardly
brilliant in any aspect, but maybe worth a look if you're into horror
titles.
Oh, Condemned does deserve praise for one other thing, though: your
flashlight never runs out of batteries. Monolith must also own stock
in Duracell ;-)
Johnny Bravo
>Johnny Bravo wrote:
>
>> Inability to crouch behind cover in firefights
>
><snip>
>
>You are trying to make Condemned something it is not.
>Condemned is not a traditional FPS
That much was obvious, Shooter implies shooting and lots of it. Not "Wow, I
just found a rifle in a shack, how much ammo is in it? 5 rounds. What a
coincidence, two guys are now right outside the shack that require 4 of those
bullets to kill. It also implies things other than "Hey, I just found a human
and shot him FIVE times in the face with buckshot from a 12 guage shotgun from a
range of roughly 3 feet. Now I only have to hit him 20 more times with a
fireplace poker before he drops."
>Condemned is not a tactical game
Duh!
>Condemned is what you could call a new kind of First
>Person Game... a Horror/Survival type which for me is
>simply BRILLIANT.
This isn't a new kind of anything; see also:
6 Alone in the Dark Games
14 Resident Evil Games
4 Silent Hill Games
and 2 System Shock Games
pc games
> Nor do I consider the game particularly brilliant. I enjoyed it far
> more than I did F.E.A.R. (not hard to do), but it had a number of
> shortcomings, including all the above mentioned by the grandparent
> poster.
Spalls wouldn't it be simpler if you say... I do not like
Horror/Survival games?
You didn't criticize Condemned itself but rather the type
of game it is.
It's like me trying to criticize a RPG... I can do what
you just did with Oblivion... but I will not cause it is
a total waste of time... I do not like RPG so I do not
criticize them based on gameplay type.
pc games
>> Condemned is what you could call a new kind of First
>> Person Game... a Horror/Survival type which for me is
>> simply BRILLIANT.
>
> This isn't a new kind of anything; see also:
> 6 Alone in the Dark Games
> 14 Resident Evil Games
> 4 Silent Hill Games
> and 2 System Shock Games
But none of this are in First Person perpective?
Can we consider Condemned the first First Person Survival
Horror PC Game made?
(I'm excluding both System Shock games cause they are RPG)
Johnny Bravo
>Can we consider Condemned the first First Person Survival
>Horror PC Game made?
No.
See also:
The Thing
Nosferatu: The Wrath of Malachi
Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth.
pc games
>> Can we consider Condemned the first First Person Survival
>> Horror PC Game made?
>
> No.
> See also:
> The Thing
> Nosferatu: The Wrath of Malachi
> Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth.
I have to be honest with you... since now I really didn't
follow Horror/Survival type of games cause I thought it
wasn't a kind of game I would like, but all the examples
you gave me are either pure Third person games or Third
person games with the possibility although limited to
switch to first person... and that is very far away from
what Condemned is... a pure First Person Perspective game.
You haven't gave me any example of what Condemned really
is, a Horror/Survival game in First Person Perspective.
System Shock is a Futuristic Sci-Fi Cyber-Punk RPG
And Nosferatu is a First Person Shooter Horror game which
I feel is different from what Condemned is.
Another very famous example is Undying... and I do not see
Condemned in the same genera... Undying is a First Person
Shooter with a Horror theme... Condemned is a First Person
Horror/Survival games with a Horror/Thriller theme.
That is why I continue to see Condemned as a "First" and a
truly innovative breakthrough game.
PS: as for Cthulhu I do believe we must start talking about
it and it deserves a thread of its own... Cthulhu is a game
we should have an eye on...
Werner Spahl
> PS: as for Cthulhu I do believe we must start talking about it and it
> deserves a thread of its own... Cthulhu is a game we should have an eye
> on...
In my opinion it started promising but then went downhill fast, mostly
because of the missing quicksave option which made later parts of the game
very tedious.
--
Werner Spahl (sp...@cup.uni-muenchen.de) Freedom for
"The meaning of my life is to make me crazy" Vorlonships
Johnny Bravo
>Johnny Bravo wrote:
>
>>> Can we consider Condemned the first First Person Survival
>>> Horror PC Game made?
>>
>> No.
>> See also:
>> The Thing
>> Nosferatu: The Wrath of Malachi
>> Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth.
>
>I have to be honest with you... since now I really didn't
>follow Horror/Survival type of games cause I thought it
>wasn't a kind of game I would like, but all the examples
>you gave me are either pure Third person games or Third
>person games with the possibility although limited to
>switch to first person.
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/nosferatu/screenindex.html?page=1
http://www.callofcthulhu.com/art/coc_pcscreens.html
I don't know what you're smoking, but it's seriously screwed up your ability to
even tell first from third person. When you get back to reality, I'll give you
a call.
pc games
> In my opinion it started promising but then went downhill fast, mostly
> because of the missing quicksave option which made later parts of the game
> very tedious.
How can the lack of quick save ruin a game?
Do you need to continuously save? Does that mean it is too
difficult so you need constant saves?
Btw... Cthulhu features something not gameplay related which
is fantastic and I personally was very surprised with it,
now have you already made Bloodlines having the same thing?
pc games
> even tell first from third person.
I wasn't refering to either Nosferatu or Cthulhu cause both
are First Person... but even First Person I think Nosferatu
is not a Horror/Survival but more of a Horror/Shooter and
as for Cthulhu it was released almost at the same time as
Condemned so nothing Cthulhu has can make Condemned less
but for Cthulhu I was hopping new threads would be created
for it only to discuss it...
Werner Spahl
> How can the lack of quick save ruin a game?
It can if the game forces you to do difficult time-based seqments all
over again until you finally get them right with no seconds to spare.
> Btw... Cthulhu features something not gameplay related which
> is fantastic and I personally was very surprised with it,
> now have you already made Bloodlines having the same thing?
What do you mean by this? Maybe I _can_ include it in Bloodlines ;).
Dr. Dickie
"pc games" <pcgame...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1146212647.9...@j73g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Werner Spahl wrote:
>
> > In my opinion it started promising but then went downhill fast, mostly
> > because of the missing quicksave option which made later parts of the
game
> > very tedious.
>
> How can the lack of quick save ruin a game?
>
Simple as pie.
If there is no quick save, and I have to complete a very difficut section
(especially if it has some stupid jump, twist, jump crap), I'll give it is
couple of shots, then break out the cheat codes to get by.
I don't buy games to frustrate myself (my wife has that job all sewn up), I
buy them for entertainment.
If you buy games strickly for a grueling, mind numbing, hour-after-hour
challenge to get past some silly boss battle, get a freaking job! You'll
see.
> Do you need to continuously save? Does that mean it is too
> difficult so you need constant saves?
>
Sometimes, yea. See above.
--
Dr. Dickie
Skepticult member in good standing #394-00596-438
Poking kooks with a pointy stick.
Repeal the 17th amendment; let's restore intended checks and balances
and remove mob rule from the United States in my lifetime!
Xocyll
entrails of the porn spammer to utter "The Augury is good, the signs
say:
>On Fri, 28 Apr 2006, pc games wrote:
>
>> How can the lack of quick save ruin a game?
>
>It can if the game forces you to do difficult time-based seqments all
>over again until you finally get them right with no seconds to spare.
Worse yet, a game like Indy Jones and the Emperors Tomb, that will show
a long cutscene immediately after the last save point, then have a long
series of jumps while being chased, and when you inevitably miss a jump
and die, you have to watch the cutscene again and again and again.
Quicksave would let you at least skip the cutscene.
Xocyll
--
I don't particularly want you to FOAD, myself. You'll be more of
a cautionary example if you'll FO And Get Chronically, Incurably,
Painfully, Progressively, Expensively, Debilitatingly Ill. So
FOAGCIPPEDI. -- Mike Andrews responding to an idiot in asr
pc games
> What do you mean by this? Maybe I _can_ include it in Bloodlines ;).
No need for CD to be inserted when playing.
Hadron Quark
> How can the lack of quick save ruin a game?
>
> Do you need to continuously save? Does that mean it is too
> difficult so you need constant saves?
Oooo : you are so tough!
Hint: including a quick save pleases those of us who want/need them. Big
hardcore gamers such as yourself can simply not use it.
Simple really.
Memnoch
wrote:
Ah, but the big hardcore gamers have no willpower and absolutely have to use
it if its available. And then moan about it being there to the developers.
Werner Spahl
Ok, I can' do that but there is a crack around if you need it...
pc games
> Ok, I can' do that but there is a crack around if you need it...
I'm very sorry you can't...
I don't use cracks... I simply don't trust cracks... call me
paranoid but it is the way I am...
I don't believe as a buying customer I should use cracks to
make the game playable the way I want.
So you know what that means?
I bought Bloodlines almost a year ago... I haven't played much
but with the need for CD to be inserted I don't feel the desire
to start...
Now do you have any modern (less than 4 years old) RPG played
in First Person mode that is not very complicated with the no
need for CD to be inserted (no cracks please) that is still
being sold so I can buy it that you can recommend me?
Now that I finished Condemned and it left me extremely satisfied
I think I will start with Cthulhu unless you have a recommendation
that fits what I asked.
Hadron Quark
> Werner Spahl wrote:
>
>> Ok, I can' do that but there is a crack around if you need it...
>
> I'm very sorry you can't...
> I don't use cracks... I simply don't trust cracks... call me
> paranoid but it is the way I am...
Yet you use cheats? Generally unsupported, unQA'd : anything could
happen.
> I don't believe as a buying customer I should use cracks to
> make the game playable the way I want.
> So you know what that means?
> I bought Bloodlines almost a year ago... I haven't played much
> but with the need for CD to be inserted I don't feel the desire
> to start...
How sad. Do you not toast your bread because you have to push the lever
down too?
"One Punch" Mickey
>> but with the need for CD to be inserted I don't feel the desire
>> to start...
I remember loading C64 games from tape, before turboloaders, when it
took half an hour and often didn't load properly anyway. You youngsters
don't know you're born, having to lift a poxy little CD into a CD drive
when you want to play a game. And it were all fields round here when I
were a lad.
Hadron Quark
Tsk. You youngsters. In them olden days (when you could leave your front door
open), we used to type in 8K of hex from a rain splashed computer
magazine which only printed a facsimile of a zx81 thermal printer
listing : and that were when we could afford the heat to do the
printing. And that were if you were lucky enough to be able afford the
hex keys ...
Aye. It were all primeval swamp round ere then. Still got all me own
teeth though.
Werner Spahl
> Werner Spahl wrote:
>
> > Ok, I can' do that but there is a crack around if you need it...
>
> I'm very sorry you can't...
I could just include the crack in my unofficial patch and you wouldn't
even notice it, or wouldn't you trust any unofficial patches either?
> I bought Bloodlines almost a year ago... I haven't played much but with
> the need for CD to be inserted I don't feel the desire to start...
You miss out then on the best modern FPS/RPG ever. I'm sorry for you.
> Now that I finished Condemned and it left me extremely satisfied
How did you manage to insert the CD for playing Condemned if you couldn't
do the same for Bloodlines? I know Condemned does come with a protection.
BTW, I finally got around playing the first Condemned level and I have to
say, that while the atmosphere is great, several details are spoiling the
immersion for me big time, more than any CD protection could do! How come
that you can't jump or duck? Thus low tables become unmountable barriers
and crime scenes can't be inspected closer from a crouched position :(.
Also, as realistic as the levels look with that cool lighting, again the
immersion vanishes as fast as the bodies of fallen enemies right before my
eyes. I don't know about latter levels, but the few bodies in the first
level probably wouldn't have slowed the game down. Also locking some doors
behind you, is another bad design decision making the game more linear.
Last not least I found the whole setup-for-murder scene ridiculous. I may
believe that you as a scientist could be overwhelmed and your gun stolen,
but that two other police officers let themselves be killed that easily in
the way shown just looks not believable. If the bad guy had used you as a
shield okay, but in the way it was done, no. I hope the rest is better...
Sketch
> in First Person mode that is not very complicated with the no
> need for CD to be inserted (no cracks please) that is still
> being sold so I can buy it that you can recommend me?
Oblivion. It's quite a streamlined step up from Morrowind, which I only
played for about two hours.
You do have to insert the DVD, however. Go figure...developers trying to
protect their hard work.
Memnoch
wrote:
I remember waiting about an hour for Mercenary to load on my mates Atari
800/XL. And sometimes it would just die and you would have to start over!
<scream>
pc games
> I could just include the crack in my unofficial patch and
> you wouldn't even notice it, or wouldn't you trust any
> unofficial patches either?
Totally different.
You release unofficial patches but they are announced by the
gaming press almost like "official"
Do you ever see gaming press announcing noCD cracks for any
kind of game?
Also we know you, and we trust you.
As for cracks... I don't use them for many reasons...
Who does them? can we trust them? Were do we get them? do we
get them from known trusted mirror sites like the ones we get
all the patches including yours unofficial Bloodline patch?
No.
To get cracks you have to go to underground usually warez and
piracy associated sites which most of the times have virus.
And do we really know what a noCD crack does? ...will it only
remove the need for CD or will it mess with other things? We
never know...
And then there is the legality about cracks...
And besides the main issue is not that... the main issue is
convenience for us PC Gamers.
Not requiring the CD to be inserted to play is a convenience
for us PC Gamers and I want developers and publishers to give
us that convenience without we having to resort to illegal
and dangerous cracks.
As btw don't get me wrong Werner... but for sure you have
some kind of access to some of the Bloodline developers, so
why didn't you simply ask them: can you remove the need for
CD and with the consent of Activision give the executable to
me so I can include it in the next unofficial patch?
It will be "unofficial"
And Bloodlines is now almost 2 years old and not only sales
will be now much weaker but in many places we no longer see
it on sale...
And besides I personally don't believe CD checks do fight
piracy
And lets not forget Activision with id games has to accept
the no need for CD patches so why should they create any kind
of problem for a game that is almost no longer being sold?
Come on Werner I really can't believe if you made some kind
of effort you could make Bloodlines not require the CD to
play and with no need for illegal cracks but rather the
developers themselves helping you out!
You must have connections and using them you could make it
happen, but the issue is probably does it matter to you?
Probably not...
For me no need for CD to be inserted is a must, and such I
will very soon create a list of PC Games that have it.
> How did you manage to insert the CD for playing Condemned
> if you couldn't do the same for Bloodlines? I know
> Condemned does come with a protection.
First let me say, no CD copy protection even SF made me not
buy a PC Game. Never.
I will continue to buy PC Games with CD copy protection like
I've being doing for years now...
Also never no CD copy protection even SF made me not finish
a PC Game I bought if I really liked the game and wanted to
play till the end.
I have a fairly big collection of games including some with
SF and the vast majority of games all have somekind of CD
copy protection, so never CD copy protection made me not buy
a game, and that will not change in the future...
But that doesn't mean I like CD copy protection or CD checks,
cause the truth is I do not like.
The way I like a PC Game is installing from the CD and then
no need for the CD to be used again except for backup.
Now as for Condemned...
Have you ever saw me praising Condemned about the copy
protection it uses? Never will you see me cause I do not
like the need for CD to play it uses.
Ok the majority of games have the same, but for me it really
doesn't matter... cause what is important is improving PC
Games and that means removing the so much used CD checks.
So if you ask me a negative about Condemned I will say:
The need for CD to be inserted.
And did you see me creating a thread only to recommend others
buying Condemned? No you didn't, but you probably saw me
doing it for Cthulhu.
I created a thread about buying Cthulhu cause I do feel its
system of not requiring CD inserted to play should be praised
something Condemned doesn't have so it should not be praised
I do not have any problem saying Monolith and Sega are wrong
when they require PC Gamers like me and you and every others
to insert the DVD each time I do want to play Condemned.
I admire Monolith very much... but there are issues I do
feel they do it wrong...
for example why after 6 years SIX years NOLF still requires
the CD to be inserted to play?
Why hasn't Monolith removed the need for CD to be inserted
from NOLF when the game is almost 6 years old?
That is why I will always praise id.
id are unique and are the best in that regard
For id CD checks or copy protections do not fight piracy.
For id our convenience is important.
All id games with no exception do not require the CD to be
inserted... and the last game they released Quake 4 had a
patch removing it after 1 month of the game being on sale.
In that regard no doubt... id are the BEST
> BTW, I finally got around playing the first Condemned
> level and I have to say, that while the atmosphere is
> great, several details are spoiling the immersion for me
> big time, more than any CD protection could do! How come
> that you can't jump or duck? Thus low tables become
Why do all games need to have the same gaming system?
Why should you have a key for each single move... like a
key to jump... a key to crouch... a key to prone... a key
to use... a key to open... and so on...
So many keys? why?
Ok in some game yes but why in all games?
Why can't gamers play games with different game systems.
For me a single key for every interaction in Condemned is
a system that totally works in its particular context.
Now do I want all games with the same? Off course not but
with Condemned it works and I think it is a plus.
> unmountable barriers and crime scenes can't be inspected
> closer from a crouched position :(.
I don't see it as a problem... cause you have lots of tools
and some of them have ZOOM capabilities
Werner seriously overcome what you are used, and try play
the game... but obviously no game can satisfy everyone...
Condemned did in fact totally satisfy me but probably it
will not with you...
pc games
> I could just include the crack in my unofficial patch and
> you wouldn't even notice it, or wouldn't you trust any
> unofficial patches either?
Totally different.
> How did you manage to insert the CD for playing Condemned
> if you couldn't do the same for Bloodlines? I know
> Condemned does come with a protection.
First let me say, no CD copy protection even SF made me not
> BTW, I finally got around playing the first Condemned
> level and I have to say, that while the atmosphere is
> great, several details are spoiling the immersion for me
> big time, more than any CD protection could do! How come
> that you can't jump or duck? Thus low tables become
Why do all games need to have the same gaming system?
Why should you have a key for each single move... like a
key to jump... a key to crouch... a key to prone... a key
to use... a key to open... and so on...
So many keys? why?
Ok in some game yes but why in all games?
Why can't gamers play games with different game systems.
For me a single key for every interaction in Condemned is
a system that totally works in its particular context.
Now do I want all games with the same? Off course not but
with Condemned it works and I think it is a plus.
> unmountable barriers and crime scenes can't be inspected
> closer from a crouched position :(.
I don't see it as a problem... cause you have lots of tools
Werner Spahl
> Who does them? can we trust them? Were do we get them? do we get them
> from known trusted mirror sites like the ones we get all the patches
> including yours unofficial Bloodline patch?
I get my cracks from GameCopyWorld and I never had problems with cracks
containing a virus or similar. To me they are as trustworthy as any other
game site as they have to defend their reputation.
> but for sure you have some kind of access to some of the Bloodline
> developers, so why didn't you simply ask them: can you remove the need
> for CD and with the consent of Activision give the executable to me
Sorry, but I never had any contact to Activision or any of the Bloodline
developers which clearly shows to me that they don't give a damn about the
unofficial patches and therefore I don't think asking them would help.
> Why should you have a key for each single move... like a key to jump...
> a key to crouch... a key to prone... a key to use... a key to open...
Because like in real life you could then perform that actions whenever and
wherever you like and not totally dependent on the game like in Condemned.
> For me a single key for every interaction in Condemned is a system that
> totally works in its particular context.
If this really was intended as the new concept for Condemned they didn't
follow it through themselves, as as the Ready Tool key could be replaced
by the use key as well or the Kick key if enemies are in front of you.
Anyway, this concepts turns Condemned into little more than a completely
linear succession of press use/tool now with some stupid melee combat in
between compared to the freedom of a less on rails game like Bloodlines.