Mercenaries and 3dfx
David Forster
Does anyone have ANY information on the future of Mercs? I read in the
FAQ that a Direct3D was 'probably' in the works...I know from John
Camrack's comments on Direct3D that D3D is a bitch to program for
(compared to OpenGL), but they've had since September and there has (as
far as I know) no mention of it.
Or what about just new patches? Are there any plans for a Windows
version of MercNet (or at least a version that doesn't have to go
through that piece of utter crap KLOS PPP stack?)
-Dave
Ashton Szabo
> Does anyone have ANY information on the future of Mercs?
>I read in the FAQ that a Direct3D was 'probably' in the works...
Hrmm... I'll ask some people around here and get back to you on that one =)
Andrew Rendall
In article <01bc30a8$627b0680$946c...@aszabo.activision.com>, Ashton
Szabo <asz...@activision.com> writes
>> Does anyone have ANY information on the future of Mercs?
>>I read in the FAQ that a Direct3D was 'probably' in the works...
>
>Hrmm... I'll ask some people around here and get back to you on that one =)
>
>
almost a year ago. Mercs was the last from Activision and Microprose are
releasing some time later this year. (This came from someone on the
periphery of the industry, so it may be inaccurate).
Since MP are renowned for their excellent strategic simulations, there
should be something more along the lines of the original Battletech
game. If it's a graphical shoot-em-up then I fear that MP may not be
able to better the work already done.
I'm just waiting to see ...
Sparx.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If it is, smack it.
David
Mercs uses DirectX but not Direct 3D. Your diamond Monster isn't doing
anything for Mercs, and it won't unless they add Direct 3D support.
David
Space|Man <Space|M...@earthlink.net> wrote in article
<01bc3331$c5b7c360$022c1b26@micron-p200-mmx>...
> ??? Mercs is using DirectX. After you install the Win95 version it
> installs DirectX. My Monster 3D card loves Mercs since it has DirectX
> support.
>
> David Forster wrote in article
> > Does anyone have ANY information on the future of Mercs? I read in the
> > FAQ that a Direct3D was 'probably' in the works...I know from John
> > Camrack's comments on Direct3D that D3D is a bitch to program for
> > (compared to OpenGL), but they've had since September and there has (as
> > far as I know) no mention of it.
> >
> > -Dave
> >
> >
>
J.M. Capozzi
Space|Man wrote:
>
> ??? Mercs is using DirectX. After you install the Win95 version it
> installs DirectX. My Monster 3D card loves Mercs since it has DirectX
> support.
>
> David Forster wrote in article
> > Does anyone have ANY information on the future of Mercs? I read in the
> > FAQ that a Direct3D was 'probably' in the works...I know from John
> > Camrack's comments on Direct3D that D3D is a bitch to program for
> > (compared to OpenGL), but they've had since September and there has (as
> > far as I know) no mention of it.
> >
> > -Dave
> >
> >
You know, my newly installed Monster 3d gives me approximately the same
frame rate at the same rez in the same missions as my stand alone
Stealth 3d did.(15-22 at 640x480, all details on, Win 95 version. I got
a couple Frames higher running in DOS)..which leads me to believe that
either; A:My Stealth is still running the show in Mercs, or B:I've got
something configured wrong with the Monster drivers.
Space|Man
J.M. Capozzi
Andrew Rendall wrote:
>
> In article <01bc30a8$627b0680$946c...@aszabo.activision.com>, Ashton
> Szabo <asz...@activision.com> writes
> >
> >Hrmm... I'll ask some people around here and get back to you on that one =)
> >
> >
> I heard that MicroProse now have the franshise since Activision lost it
> almost a year ago. Mercs was the last from Activision and Microprose are
> releasing some time later this year. (This came from someone on the
> periphery of the industry, so it may be inaccurate).
>
> Since MP are renowned for their excellent strategic simulations, there
> should be something more along the lines of the original Battletech
> game. If it's a graphical shoot-em-up then I fear that MP may not be
> able to better the work already done.
>
> I'm just waiting to see ...
> Sparx.
> If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If it is, smack it.
Anyone remember Crescent Hawks Revenge? Heck, can't remember who
published that, but it was a lot of fun, if you liked the tatical end of
things. Turn based, but fast moving. I'd like to see more of that.
Croak
David Forster
Space|Man wrote:
??? Mercs is using DirectX. After you install the Win95 version it
installs DirectX. My Monster 3D card loves Mercs since it has
DirectX
support.
Get with the program. =] DirectX is the blanket term for all the little
Direct APIs Microsoft has running around. WinMercs uses DirectDraw,
DirectSound and DirectInput. The one I want
support for is Direct3D, or really any 3D api...I'd prefer OpenGL
because that would mean it would
be more likely that I could run Mercs with future cards (Microsoft's D3D
is is going to need upgrading, and I don't know how flexiable it is.
OpenGL all ready supports some very advanced features such as 3D texture
maps, and I do know that it's flexiable.)
You are getting no speed boost from your M3D card with Mercs. Your M3D
card is being put to waste when you play WinMercs....as a matter of
fact, so is your CPU. The DOS version is faster, even if run in a Win95
DOS box. Activision needs to do some optimizing, among many other
things.
-Dave
David Forster wrote in article
> Does anyone have ANY information on the future of Mercs? I read
in the
Zyzyg
Howdy, folks.
I'm Dave Georgeson. I'm the Producer at Activision that is handling:
a) The Mercenaries Patch v.1.1
b) The Mercenaries GOLD product
c) The MechWarrior 2 GOLD product.
I'll add gobs of info in the days to come on these products, but right now
we're doing the design docs on this stuff and the features aren't set.
However, I CAN SAY, that you will be blown away by the graphics
improvements and the net enhancements. And, yes, Mercs (and Mech2 and GBL)
WILL be D3D capable.
More later.
-MWS-
Greetings, DG!
I'll assume by the naming convention that the GOLD products are the D3D ports.
Goody goody goody! If you're going to use the Mercs networking engine for
the BattlePack and the subsequent GOLD releases, here's a request for porting
this network/modem code back into NetMech/DOS. This way ALL of the versions
will talk to each other. Very useful in competition play.
Hauptmann
Jake Schu
-MWS- <haup...@concetric.net> wrote in article
<5hq63g$d...@chronicle.concentric.net>...
> In article <19970401011...@ladder01.news.aol.com>, zy...@aol.com
(Zyzyg) wrote:
> >Howdy, folks.
> >
> >I'm Dave Georgeson. I'm the Producer at Activision that is handling:
> > a) The Mercenaries Patch v.1.1
> > b) The Mercenaries GOLD product
> > c) The MechWarrior 2 GOLD product.
> >
> >I'll add gobs of info in the days to come on these products, but right
now
> >we're doing the design docs on this stuff and the features aren't set.
> >
> >However, I CAN SAY, that you will be blown away by the graphics
> >improvements and the net enhancements. And, yes, Mercs (and Mech2
andGBL)
> >WILL be D3D capable.
> >
Hi, the new GOLD versions of the game... will there be patches for them, or
do we have to buy new ones. I have a mystique version of MW2, is that a
GOLD version? Can people who've had the game since it came out upgrade to
the gold version for a discounted price?
Thanks
Jake Schu
ja...@moran.com
Zyzyg
Okay...I'm talking out of my hat a bit here. But here goes...
1) There will probably NOT be a patch to upgrade your current Mercs to a
D3D-capable Mercs. Why? The code changes are vast and sweeping. Also, the
art assets are going to be completely different. This would mean that the
"patch" you'd be downloading would be AT LEAST 60-70 MB in size. Hmmm...a
bit awkward, don't you think?
2) The idea of a discount for registered owners is a good one and I'll
bring it up with Marketing. There is precedent for this, because we did
the same thing with Battlepack. (Anyone bringing in their old CD-ROM of
Mech2 could get $10 off the price of Battlepack.)
Thanks for the idea.
-- Dave.
Trouble
Zyzyg wrote:
>
> Howdy, folks.
>
> I'm Dave Georgeson. I'm the Producer at Activision that is handling:
> a) The Mercenaries Patch v.1.1
> b) The Mercenaries GOLD product
> c) The MechWarrior 2 GOLD product.
>
> I'll add gobs of info in the days to come on these products, but right now
> we're doing the design docs on this stuff and the features aren't set.
>
> However, I CAN SAY, that you will be blown away by the graphics
> WILL be D3D capable.
>
> More later.
WARNING!!!! Please note the date of the post....
--
(IH1) Trouble Grey
Clan Ice Hellion
--> (Remove the '*'s to e:mail me.)
My cockpit is my window. My laser is my point and click interface.
fred a. berganio
On 1 Apr 1997 19:19:22 GMT, zy...@aol.com (Zyzyg) wrote:
"..."
Will the 3D Mercs just be Direct3d or will there be a DOS
version with 3dfx and/or Verite support? For that matter is
Battlepack executable in DOS or is it D3D (win95) only? Thanks!
regards,
===============
fre...@tdl.com
===============
JRB
I'd rather pay 5 cents for the two-four hour download (cost of call)
than $39-$59 for a full version. I like the price break as long as you
guys keep the products separate. Problem is that you have to send in
your cd and either pay your price direct (at least $10 more than the
stores) or wait for months for a rebate. To be quite honest... for only
a $10 savings... I'd rather sell/give my copy to a friend and buy
another. Charging us $15 for the new version and sending in our disk is
a much more fair deal (like the $15 DOS to Win95 upgrade).
You would be doing more harm than good by offering only a $10 break as
I'm sure that most people will sell/give the old version away to friends
who might otherwise buy the full version. -JB
Jean Claude Bureau
JRB wrote:
Charging us $15 for the new version and sending in our disk is
> a much more fair deal (like the $15 DOS to Win95 upgrade).
Let`s put what you say here on an other field (car) You`re car is a year
old, the new model is out and >YOU< want the dealer to take you`re
trade-in and >YOU< want to pay only a 1/3 of what the new model cost?
If you find a company that so stupid in doing this please let us no?
I'll move there ASAP!
<sight>
--
Jean-Claude "Frenchie(c)" Bureau
Nova Colonel
Fighting Touman
Clan Ghostbear
Grand Council
Zyzyg
Battlepack (and the future GOLD) products are Win95 only. (No DOS
support.)
-- Dave (bracing for the shockwave) Georgeson.
RDClark
>>> Charging us $15 for the new version and sending in our disk
>>> is > a much more fair deal (like the $15 DOS to Win95
>>> upgrade).
>
> Let`s put what you say here on an other field (car) You`re
> car is a year old, the new model is out and >YOU< want the
> dealer to take you`re trade-in and >YOU< want to pay only
> a 1/3 of what the new model cost?
Poor analogy. Cars cost the same to manufacture no matter who the
customer is. Forget analogies; we're talking about computer software
here, where low-cost upgrades to incrementally newer versions is (read
this carefully, now) standard industry practice.
I won't pay $40 for a new copy of Mercs. I will pay $15 for a 3D-enhanced
copy. It costs Activision two bucks to make the CD. They can make money
selling me an upgrade. That can make no money selling me nothing. It's
in THEIR best interest to offer me an upgrade.
This is why software upgrades exist. It has nothing to do with cars,
which aren't substantially upgradeable, and therefore have no place in
this discussion, unless you're talking about Interstate '76, a wonderful
game which is being upgraded to Direct3D by the very same company,
Activision, which is going to offer the patch as a free download. <g>
> If you find a company that so stupid in doing this please
> let us no? I'll move there ASAP!
Gee, last time I got mail from Microsoft they were offering me a cheap
upgrade for Office 97. I guess you should pack up for your move to
Redmond, eh? <g>
|--RichC-------------------------Interfacing is Easy--|
|--RD...@aol.com----Compatibility Takes a Lifetime--|
Mike Roberts
On Thu, 03 Apr 1997 11:16:29 -0500, in alt.games.mechwarrior2, you wrote:
*********************************
Let's see:
You buy a new car = $20,000
1 year old trade price = $16,000
The new model is now = $20,600
You pay 20600/3+16000 = $22,867
Dealer gain on your deal = $ 2,267
**********************************
Your car analogy is not sound. Did you forget to think about it before posting
it? When are you coming to Colorado Springs? ANY car dealer would take your
offer.
Look at my chart and try to follow along. The actual profit to the dealer would
most likely be higher, because I don't think the average car depreciates a full
20% in the first year.
Another reason the car analogy is a poor choice is because the dealer has an
EXCELLENT chance of selling that one year old car, listed above, for MORE than
$16,000. This would make his profit even greater.
Activision can't sell your trade-in CD at all, it's value is nil to them. So,
instead of using half-baked analogies, what exactly was it that you were trying
to say?
>Let`s put what you say here on an other field (car) You`re car is a year
>old, the new model is out and >YOU< want the dealer to take you`re
>trade-in and >YOU< want to pay only a 1/3 of what the new model cost?
>If you find a company that so stupid in doing this please let us no?
>I'll move there ASAP!
*Mike Roberts - mi...@microspan.com
*North American Internet, Ltd. - http://www.nail.net
*Colorado Springs, CO - (719) 635-NAIL
*Offering Affordable Dedicated Internet Access
*to the Colorado Front Range and Beyond...
Morton Chalom
zy...@aol.com (Zyzyg) wrote:
>2) The idea of a discount for registered owners is a good one and I'll
>bring it up with Marketing. There is precedent for this, because we did
>the same thing with Battlepack. (Anyone bringing in their old CD-ROM of
>Mech2 could get $10 off the price of Battlepack.)
Wait a minute... we paid $50 for the game and now you'll only give us
$10 off to buy it *again*?? That is hardly going to engender customer
goodwill.
It's the same game and you don't have to supply packaging or
documentation, just a CD!
Charge us $20 for it from you direct for just the CD and you'll have
everyone saying you're a fair and reasonable company. Charge more and
we'll say you're gouging us.
And how about different music please? As I have bleated before, I love
the Mech2 music but can't stand the Mercs music and there seems to be
a body of opinion that agrees with me...
--Morton
-Kryten-
A FREE downloadable patch for D3D enhancements for Mercenaries is vastly
preferable for those of us that have flat-fee unlimited-usage internet
accounts & so I think Activision should make the large patch available for
download (in 1.4 MB chunks for contingency) to those of us that can handle it
& there are a significant number of us that will want this.
Please make this option available to us so we do not have to buy yet another
whole version of Mercenaries & GBL. (Will GBL actually be ported to Direct3D?)
I sometimes do massive all-night downloads so this is not a problem for me.
Most ISPs offer unlimited access now days so I don't see any reason why these
FREE huge patches should not be available via FTP.
A downloadable large FREE patch is better, IMHO, than a $30-$50 CDROM upgrade.
RSVP.
Regards,
-EB
P.S. Is Direct3D the only port that will be done for Mercs & GBL, or
will the 3Dfx GLIDE version also be available, & when???
JRB <qw...@interaccess.com> wrote:
>Zyzyg wrote:
>>
>> Okay...I'm talking out of my hat a bit here. But here goes...
>>
>> 1) There will probably NOT be a patch to upgrade your current Mercs to a
>> D3D-capable Mercs. Why? The code changes are vast and sweeping. Also, the
>> art assets are going to be completely different. This would mean that the
>> "patch" you'd be downloading would be AT LEAST 60-70 MB in size. Hmmm...a
>> bit awkward, don't you think?
>>
>> 2) The idea of a discount for registered owners is a good one and I'll
>> bring it up with Marketing. There is precedent for this, because we did
>> the same thing with Battlepack. (Anyone bringing in their old CD-ROM of
>> Mech2 could get $10 off the price of Battlepack.)