Tigranes

Trying various things to solve the slowdown for Gothic II on modern computers, I managed to get G1 going after a while but still very laggy in cities.

Every time I look at Onyx I just love the lighting, this is going to be a far cry from KOTOR2 or NWN2 days. Pretty lowish textures for characters, but that's to be expected since you're slicing dozens of them. Interesting to see you still get details like arrows on the ground after being fired.

I definitely agree that it'd be nice to clear up. We do get devs hanging around and talking when they can, but concrete 'info' tends to be restricted to official channels. It's partly due to the fact that Obsidian's games have an external publisher (in this case, Sega), who are usually in charge of PR/marketing.

It is correct that while there is a lot of speculation / claims out there, there is zero official confirmation about how co-op will work, how many modes there are, how XP works, etc. I wouldn't believe 100% anything at the moment, as devs have said 'wait for official info'. Of course questioning the game's various features is fine, what is 'unfounded' is "DS3 co-op has no XP gain".

What you want topeira should actually be better if the 'co-optimus' description is true. You and your wife could play together and you could jump in with any character, and you wouldn't have to be there the entire way through to make sure you're not underlevelled or not in the same place.

Thanks for the quote rafoca. Yes, they're not sure about it - and on these forums devs have said that we shouldn't believe everything he hear abuot co-op until they clarify it sometime (when they can). My best bet is that there would be two modes of co-op; first is pretty much a "LAN-ish" co-op where it's really the host's game, it stays on the hosts's computer, and other people can jump in and play at whatever level. So you know, it's really good if you're just over to a friend's place, he's halfway through the game, and you want to jump in and play a little bit. In other games you'd have to start a whole new game together, then save it, then probably abandon it. But then I'm also confident there'd be another, 'online-ish' co-op where it works normally (it's tied to character not game, you have your own character with its own loot, xp, etc). Of course, all that is just guessing, we will see.

As far as I know, Dungeon Siege 3 doesn't feature "press A to win", and you can actually die, so it's nothing like Fable. Reviewers compare it with Fable because reviewers feel that they need to compare every game with the top 10 sellers of last year. You realise reviewers also call Obsidian Oblivion, for instance? I feel like a bloody tape here, but completely unfounded rumour based on a random journalist misunderstanding/making things up - nothing confirmed. Anyway, yes, Torchlight and Diablo I feel would be the best comparisons for DS3 at this stage, from the info that we have: single character control, fast paced, lots of blazing through mobs in frantic action, lots of dungeon delving, not a large but well balanced set of abilities used to clearly define a character's playstyle, less character customisation but very clearly defined character roles, lots of loot.

Nude Bethany + Bethany Companion Mod + Bethany Romance + Bethany Alternative Appearances Pack

Sometimes I feel that we are trying way too hard to account for and understand/analyse the 'casual gamer', to the point that we self-deprecate our own opinions and perceptions and experiences and devalue ourselves as a demographic. By the way, sometimes it's not only replay value as it is fulfilled, but the knowledge that a game is open ended and COULD be replayed for different outcomes enhances the experiences for gamers, and it entices them to play in the first place - so it is with several of my IRL friends that are now playing FO3/FNV for the first time. They're loving the fact that it's so massive and they can go around and there aer choices & consequences, even if they doubt they'll end up finishing their first playthrough because they're just not used to holding on to a game that long.

To quote myself only a few hours ago... there is NO credible info that says local co-op chars don't earn XP. Love how effective some random rumours can be..

..... Okay, screw that then. I think I've been leaning towards just not bothering with DA2 over the last few weeks, with the thought that - well, if I'm going to have all these restrictions and camera and 'actiony' combat and everything, I might as well get Dungeon Siege III, Divinity II, Diablo III, The Witcher 2, Risen 2... games that actually are ARPGs from the start and do that well. I doubt DA2's mixture would prove more enjoyable than either a real ARPG or a real squad tactical RPG. I might still try the demo later if I'm bored, but... yeah, it's weird, that decision itself isn't that horrible. With the lower camera and the faster combat the field of battle is much smaller, so it's not like you'll have your warriors shoot off more than a couple of arrows anyway. It's a combination of things though.

I've got no bandwidth this month, but I'm curious. I heard warriors can't use ranged weapons? Really? Hard to believe, but it's been said... and now that I think about it I don't remember seeing any ranged weapon talents for warriors?

Gothic II Gold, after Divinity II is done (LP will continue). Stupid as hell controls but damn good.

Empire wasn't a rubbish game, not at all, and CA have the balls to keep making these massive games. All credit for that. I just think it's sad that they won't work on the AI which is unashamedly broken, but just on making cool and pretty things, then the game is so pretty and has so many cool things people excuse the fact that it is really really broken. For 3 games. Would absolutely love a Shogun TW2 that had a halfway decent AI, will try this next week and see, since on most other departments you can trust CA to do a good job.

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/02/22...emo-is-also-go/ I think CA are a good team gone rubbish who are up to their neck and making cool eyecandy stuff and can't be arsed fixing their AI since 3 games ago, but a new game means one must test before one condemns. Of course, the demo only features autoresolved battles, tutorial battles and a historical scenario. Can we judge the AI on that, or will CA once again obfuscate their miserable failure? (The eye candy, by the way, is brilliant)

I don't know what "co-optimus" is, but this is again speculation with no basis in confirmed fact. You shouldn't take anything about the co-op / xp issue as having any credibility at the moment, because there's no credible information out there.

Fair enough if you think the game is too short, though I've played many "40 hour" games where the story was rubbish because it just kept dragging out. But you shouldn't make your decisions based on slight misunderstandings: Don't those two contradict themselves, though? Think about it. If you can't max out everything that any one character can have, that means you have to make choices about where to spend your points. Which means even when you are fully levelled up, your character won't have the same stats/points as another player, because you've made different choices. That's like saying all Amazons were the same in Diablo 2. Are you referring to the oft-quoted, but definitely baseless, rumour that co-op buddies won't get XP? Because that was pretty much made up / misheard by one journo and then parroted by everyone in a global game of Chinese whispers. Until we hear otherwise, safe to assume that (3) is possible. (Or do you just mean off-line co-op on a console? Because uh, that's definitely possible.)

Shryke's in Wellington, same as me, and there's another NZer here (who was it?) but also not in Christchurch. So all fine unless they went travelling.

The alpha male stalks the jungle, aware that any sign of weakness, any sign of compassion risks the authority upon which his life and that of his clan rests. He circles his prey slowly, making quick, surreptitious swipes before returning to his prowl...

Argggh. It would have been an instant buy before but enthusiasm's wslightly waned now and 10USD is pretty expensive (how big is it?). Maybe I'll wait till bundle, but that'll take months... arrgggh.

I shrugged it off as just an aftershock (yeah, that's pretty bad in itself) but yes, there seem to be dozens dead.

No, this was a baseless rumour that one site made up / got wrong and everyone else repeated. We don't know exactly how it will work yet but I'd bet money this won't be the case. But as C2B says, I think we'll know in the next couple of months.

There is at least some form of 'hardcore'-ish mode/difficulty that is meant to be extremely challenging. All I need, really.

When I had to use Steam for FNV I noticed that on offline mode I wouldn't get any achievements. They are pointless anyway, so I was just glad I wasn't bombarded with obnoxious in-game YOU HAVE ACHIEVED! messages. If you mean tying achievements to tangible benefits, yes, I hope they don't do that.

Oh, my name is Guy, I love to fly, I'm free like a butterfly... Spectre: Greetings, Manny. I am Deus Ex Machina, Ph.D., LLB, MBA, FBI. You might have seen my work from other video games such as Jade Empire and Fallout 3. I am here... to help you. Manny: That's an awful lot of degrees you have, Mister Machina. I know an alchemist that would probably want to meet you. Shake your hand, and all. Do you do book signings? Spectre: What? No, listen. I am here to help you. Specifically, the whole trapped-in-a-glass-prison-until-end-of-time business. I'd have thought that was pretty high up on your agenda here. Manny: Oh, I don't know, Mister M. I kind of like it here. Spectre: What? Manny: Well, the view is quite nice. Spectre: You are gazing out at a vast horizon mainly composed of ominous clouds, floating rocks and the reminder of your inglorious end. You can't even turn your head in there. Manny: Well, that's true, but while I've been here I've had a lot of time to think about my life, Mister M. You know what they say about prison. It changes you. Spectre: You've been here for two days. Manny: I'm a quick learner. Spectre: .... So what have you learnt from a 24-hour panorama of supernatural geology? Manny: Well, you see, I killed a lot of people in my old life. And undead. And animals. And other miscellaneous things. I think I chopped apart about three hundred crates throughout Rivellon. Once found a turkey dish inside a barrel. Spectre: ...And? Manny: I was also a bit of a capitalist, Mister M. I loved profit. I would rob magic hot dog carts owned by merchants for twenty-five gold. I would not turn in quest items if they were more valuable than quest rewards. I would mindread people just so I could get cheaper prices at shops! Spectre: Don't tell me you're treating this imprisonment as some sort of divinely ordained punishment. I've had it with self-deprecatory retcon justifications of failure, I got enough of that talking to Aribeth at the ****tail party last week. Manny: Oh, no. What I mean is that if I got a second chance, I'd be a different person, you know? Help the poor. Protect the weak, and all that. I'd be a champion of justice! A justice of champion! Spectre: So you would like to get out of here? Manny: Oh, sure. Spectre: Very well. Here's the deal, Manny the Adventurer: I will return you to Aleroth, now besieged by the forces of Damian, if you will promise to find a way to free me from this dimension as well. You will return with all your equipment and knowledge, previously accumulated. Manny: You can do that? Spectre: Oh, sure. I do have a Ph.D, you know. Manny: I'm back, baby. Not that I've ever had a love interest in my life, so the 'baby' is rather ambiguous in its- Spectre: MOVE! General Augustus: Manny! Where have you been all this time! Manny: Oh, um, just... here! Why, I'm surprised you haven't noticed! Augustus: Well, I generally don't inquire as to what people do for days at a time in secluded bushes. Anyway, Damian is hot on our arse and we need your help, Manny. Augustus: You see, we have learnt of the Giant MacGuffin To End All MacGuffins, or as we call it, the Big Mac . Your old boss, Commander Rhode, has gone off to look for it, but now you're here, you could look for it too! Manny: Well, I promised to change my ways and become a hero for good, Auggy. I accept your quest and shall set out forthwith! Spectre: Actually, that... Big Mac is also the key to freeing me from here, as well. So you are in fact questing out of sheer selfishness, paying back the price of your own freedom. Manny: For Aleroth, and for all the crates whose lives I have callously taken in my past life! Spectre: Oh, bloody hell. Spectre: Aleroth, by the way, is full of people and sidequests now. You should look to pick up some cash on the way. Hansel: Please, good sir, please find my diary! Manny: Never fear, my good man, Manny is here to save the day! I shall set out for your diary forthwith and prove my good intentions to the world. Manny: I will also help this ghost clear his old residence of evil abominations that took his life! Spectre: But he's already dead. His assets would probably be seized by another party, most likely the city authorities. What does he want to do that for? Manny: Question not the deeds of Good, my friend! It is not our place to question, only to do hero-y things. Manny: What is that you say, man lying on his deathbed? You would like a memento from your home to ensure you can find your wife in the afterlife? But of course! Manny is here to help. Manny: We'd be delighted to help you recover your stolen food, Bernard! Such is the life of Manny, Do-Gooder Reborn! Spectre: You know, I'm beginning to think I've made a mistake...