Gizmo

There is an Ubisoft release? @Topic: Bloodlines today Disciples 3 tomorrow (bugs and all )

I still have my Planescape box... *(And Baldur's Gate 2, and even the original sideways, flip open Fallout box). Agreed, but my guess is that if [in the future] Steam is expecting to shutdown permanently, that they have the ability to disable all protections. (So provided you have your games downloaded; I'd bet there would be a final Steam patch to either remove it from the games completely or to remove its online dependency). *Just a guess of course, but this is in fact Adobe's stated policy for protected products like Photoshop.

I definitely lean the same way, and prefer the disc, but I have found it to be, that (as a very close second) I'm okay with just the ability to install on demand. Steam does this also, but you are still forced to ask them to allow you to install what is supposed to be yours (though that's not likely how the publisher sees it). IMO steam is [so far] the best ~by default (Certainly better than say... The DRM EA used on Mirrors Edge; that essentially calls you a thief unless told otherwise). By far the DRM-less installer on one particular sight has recently become my favorite, and I don't miss the CD for any title that I've bought there... (but they won't have any new releases).

I will use Steam if I cannot find the game elsewhere, (or if the hard-copy DRM is onerous).

Possibly... but was it really playable like that? (I didn't think so myself).

My guess is that it can... but only because they appear to use the engine for in-game cutscenes ~See the Wizard trailer. (These may not actually be in-game... but I get the impression that your PC wears their current outfit in the cutscenes). ~Won't know 'till it comes out. (Could also be that they have double graphics sets too. MIP's & mesh) It'd be neat (I think), if Fallout Online were not an FPP shooter, and more closely resembled that Troika clip; So long as its not taking the WoW route. (this includes the optional FPP) Cool! I remember they did that in Diablo 1 as well.

Do they need to be? It works, and well. I mean why have pop-up cutscenes when you can just have cutscenes without popup windows? Obviously Diablo 3 is doing it because of the forced perspective and because Blizzard has more money than Scrooge McDuck. It may be true, but that's news to me... Diablo 3 is fixed view? Dawn of War is Fixed view by default, but the camera can swing 360o if the player wants. I'd be very surprised if D3 is not similar; but I certainly don't know that it is. Of course ~I have a 9800GTX wasting watts. I have nothing against good graphics, but I do believe that a game need not have them to be a good game ~Gameplay does not hinge on the graphics (if its a good game). Having to do two different sets of graphics sounds like a monumental waste of resources. It's easier to just have nice looking models in the first place, which I suggested a page or two ago. Fallout 3 has two sets of graphics on plenty ~and the heads are separate from the bodies. Every time you swap helmets you swap heads, and a super detailed head would be no big deal to make. ** To clarify though... It might be a hassle if you had not planned it from the beginning. What I was saying was, that this could have been done had they intended a closer final product.

Its not Fallout related (though it actually uses Fallout menu art it seems ) There are no points, other than did you notice that the demo did FPP if the player chose? This is not a game, its a lighting demonstration that looks a heck of a lot like Temple of Elemental Evil, and IceWind Dale 2 ~except done fully 3d, and with Post Apocalyptic artwork. What it gives the past Fallout player, is a glimpse of what they had in mind ~even if they would have started from scratch and not used that demo as a base. *Having played both Fallout and ToEE, I can imagine (in the same ballpark) what they might have produced, and I would have been very happy indeed if it was even close. [bugs and all ]

This was a real strength , and fluke luck... Its part of why the originals were so incredible ~and why Fallout 3 could not be... (in the same exact way) ~Ultimately its the budget. Watch these if you have not seen them and want to understand a bit of the other side of the coin. (Its an interview with the lead designer on Fallout 1) ** I certainly agree that Bethesda's way is the path to more sales... but IMO its a path that abandons the series in favor of a mutation. In truth, I love the art design in Fallout 3, and use the GECK a lot, and like wandering the wastes... but I avoid the towns entirely, and the gameplay of FO3 holds nothing I want, or that would draw me back to the series (except the art). ~Yes I've pre-ordered NV Do they need to be? It works, and well. Of course ~I have a 9800GTX wasting watts. I have nothing against good graphics, but I do believe that a game need not have them to be a good game ~Gameplay does not hinge on the graphics (if its a good game).

As one... I would say that it was the developer's choice to clone their previous title draped in the Fallout setting that did it. ** This was not Fallout 3, but it... "coulda been a contenda" back when Bethesda out bid them.

Not like that exactly.. What you see in the released videos is a pop-up menu center screen with a portrait. (Pop-up like the popup in my aimed shot clip from a few posts before.) **scrambles off to Youtube to make sure **Edit: Here is what I meant...

I have to disagree with it being a necessity of the times; Especially since they did not do it that way with Stonekeep ~but also because it looks to be somewhat how they will do it with Diablo 3. If you mean the Interface along with the talking face... Well that was pure character and setting, practically a prop. (and could have been done something like this in Fallout 3 ~Had it not been primarily an FPP shooter...) *youtube links

Of course it looks crappy ; whadya expect from an hours [unpaid] work. It was just a concept proof. (using Dawn of War screen captures) Imagine a Witcher style TPP game, done post apoc, with NPC dialogs like Fallout 1 had, but in this kind of facial quality. When FO3 enters a menu/dialog, everything else stops cold... and they have only one NPC on-screen ~ this could have been a single animated head (of the GPU taxing type), and really impressed the fans. Fallout 3 (IMO) should have been Fallout 2 made fully DX9 3d-rotatable ISO, in the style of Witcher and NWN, and improved every single thing about it... the heads, the animations, the depth of story, and interactivity. ~Everything that made FO2 fun, but improved. Not everything that made Oblivion fun, but improved. [ btw, the face is a youtube link]

True, but that wasn't really my point, my point is that Fallout is tied to the United States. Keep it out from the USA and it's not the same game, like it or not. It's not as if it will ever be "the same game" anymore anyways. So , hum, let's make it as different as possible for **** and giggles? Can't say I like the strategy. , but it has irrevocably/undeniably, already happened

If by "Justin Bieber fiasco" you mean epic trolling and by "havoc" you mean hilarity, then I agree wholeheartedly. Both (but I really meant the more malicious [ and character defaming] 'pranks' that some would commit if they had a grudge ~and a real name to pin it to.)

Bad idea (as we all know). I'd be surprised if their forum moderators would be comfortable with that. Just look at the Justin Bieber fiasco (never heard of him before yesterday), but just imagine the havoc this will cause.

Imagine a Fallout (V1) game purposely (and humorously) designed as the "other side" of the war, not set in America (still based on 50's idealism ~just not the US's). Could it have worked? Maybe with the right folks making it. I think it could have been neat, and would likely have it installed now had it been made.

King's Bounty Portal (began, and completed last night). Vampire: Masquerade (the one before Bloodlines) Psychonauts (still at the Butcher & Dad fight) Mark of Chaos (just begun) Myth 2 (Just begun ~again) Homeworld (when I can get it to work) MOTB as soon as I can (Had it for years, and never played ) ~then likely Fallout New Vegas.

POR2 had another nasty bug in the installer (IIRC It can reformat your C drive if you uninstall without patching).

Certainly... but it (meaning D2 atm) has enough RPG elements in my book to consider it an RPG, and its graphics alone class it in the AAA league IMO. (I've seen AAA titles with worse). Not AAA in terms of marketing or relevance, unless that changes between now and it's release. What's an AAA title really entail? What defines it.~Cursory look finds this definition as one among many... http://www.troelsfolmann.com/blog/?p=30 Good question. I've never given it thought before... First off though, I expect that my definition of "better" is not mainstream ~so to speak. In this case "better" [for me] means a title that delivers the equivalent experience I've come to expect in a series, while expanding upon the past installments; and adding new twists that still fall within the plausible bounds of that series... ~long winded def. sure. What company would tackle a sequel with that in mind ~and paramount? Don't know; (possibly none). A few come to mind as "could have been cool if they tried"... They are Shiny, Planetmoon, Relic, and CDProjekt ~Bear in mind this excludes Troika, Obsidian, & BlackIsle (and Blizzard, and Carbine Studios). Each of those first four companies would have lent great strengths (and great weakness) to a Fallout sequel. Strengths found in Troika/Obsidian. I believe I'd see something in each company's version that would please and amuse ~but If I had to risk it all on one of them.... Relic & Shiny would have the mechanics tick like a top of the line Swiss movement; but none of their games hold a candle to BlackIsle when it comes to dialog and events ~ and Shiny is gone. Planetmoon's Fallout would kill and put you in stitches, but not look the part, nor be harsh enough. So I'd have to go with CDprojekt, and hope for a Post Apoc. Witcher [V1.] with a hybrid 3d/ISO FO:Tactics style combat system (with no magic and also no timed clicks ~even though I enjoyed it in Witcher ~its not appropriate in Fallout IMO).

Certainly... but it (meaning D2 atm) has enough RPG elements in my book to consider it an RPG, and its graphics alone class it in the AAA league IMO. (I've seen AAA titles with worse). No, it didn't. There was no atomsphere. It was a tech demo. Hard to believe we watched the same clip... Too broad a definition to touch with a 10' pike. What's fun (defined)? ~and what arrogance? Foolishness?Seriously? Not the games... That's for sure.

Yes! I played it when it came out, and I recently bought it again to to replace it. And Temple of Elemental Evil too!These are two of my top games (on a list of around 70 or so). Though I'm pretty sure Troika's Fallout would have been fully 3d, and most likely have looked quite a lot like this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2kNTGYdKu8 I'd have this in hand right now but for TAGES being used to protect the digital retail copies that I've found for purchase. Hopefully it comes out in the States using something else ~Steam or something less onerous.

Two come to mind as utterly fantastic (actually 4)... but I don't know where you can get them. , Homeworld:Cataclysm , . If you find either of the Myths, visit http://projectmagma.net/ for the patch. **Well, Amazon does have them... http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url...amp;x=0&y=0 http://www.amazon.com/Homeworld-Pc/dp/B000...ref=pd_sim_vg_4 http://www.amazon.com/Homeworld-Cataclysm-...ref=pd_sim_vg_1

I can't help but wholly agree. The [non-Fallout] tech demo had more FO atmosphere in it's 4 minutes, than Fallout 3 had in its entirety [iMO] ~with the exception of the landscaping (due credit where credit is due). I like FO3 for many reasons, but fidelity (on any level), isn't one of them. I'd have gladly seen FO pass to Troika ~whatever the result, (even none at all). Whatever they would have created, I think it would likely have stood the test of time, and kept it's core fanbase long after FO3 fades away.

Realms of Arkania = turn-based combat. Wouldn't that be an automatic win? Not to mention, one actually loses the main quest if one takes too much time on the dark, heroic quest against the Big Bad Evil. Imagine if Dragon Age had something like that today. I was impressed by way the taverns worked in ROA; Functional, stat/skill dependent, and it made even sense. I'll have to check it out. ~I'd all but given up on Disciples 3, but they released more screenshots last week, so I eagerly awaiting it's release in the States. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2kNTGYdKu8