Gorth

Unfortunately, the game engine did not age well. A number of issues I can remember is that it needs workarounds form anything running more than single core, it doesn't like Vista/7 (the Miles Sound System driver doesn't work) and a number of strange picky habits with gfx cards. Each individual issue having separate workaround or fixes. Some issues may not be fixable. This place may have the answer to one of the issues Besides that and checking the stickied FAQ thread, I'm afraid I don't have too many suggestions.

I clicked the link and then made the mistake of allowing scripts temporarily. Zoing!... my browser was oddly shaped, looking at a &^%%$$ Flash site. Hate the game already. If not because of the game, then because of their PR people

The latter. There are not enough products for even a semblance of a unifying style to form. I'll disagree with your reasoning. There's some commonalities between the likes of Risen, Gothic, Two Worlds, Divinity 2, and even The Witcher for a subgenre classification. ...no? You've cited wildly different titles, half of which aren't Eastern European anyway. Origin is irrelevant to the classification. You don't class games by origin, but by similarities of game content and/or play. If you have a better name for the class, I'd welcome it. And I'll disagree that they're wildly different. Though my play with a couple of the titles wasn't thorough. Because it's painful to admit just how few RPG developers aren't developing in that style. Three, and they're all American. Don't take away my denial! Well, then there's the diablo clones. Do you count Bioware as 'American'? I could have sworn they were 'Kanadian'

Suzi Quatro - Childhood memories

I'm not sure if PS:T really requires spoiler tags anymore... [spoiler]Best ending: You go to hell[/spoiler]

So the whole brouhaha is that Notch tried to trademark "Scrolls" for game purposes and Bethesda opposed it? Maybe it's me being a lawyer, but that seems like a pretty ****ing reasonable reaction from them. Don't think "scrolls" is/should be trademarkeable. If they can keep someone from trademarking it doesn't that mean they practically trademarked it themselves? I'm not a trademark specialist, but if I understand it correctly it means that you are the only one who can do a particular type of trade under that name (franchise/company name). If you can't get it trademarked it "just" means everybody else can use it too. There seems to be a growing resistance towards letting obvious common day items be registered as trademarks. There seems to be some weird rules about defending your trademarks too, sort of "use it or lose it" and possibly forfeiting it if you don't contest other entities' use of it (waiting for a lawyer to stop by and clarify). But the Bethesda trademark is "Elder Scrolls", how can they even propose to keep someone from using a general English term like "Scrolls"? I wonder if the objection is to them using it or to them trademarking it?

So the whole brouhaha is that Notch tried to trademark "Scrolls" for game purposes and Bethesda opposed it? Maybe it's me being a lawyer, but that seems like a pretty ****ing reasonable reaction from them. Don't think "scrolls" is/should be trademarkeable. If they can keep someone from trademarking it doesn't that mean they practically trademarked it themselves? I'm not a trademark specialist, but if I understand it correctly it means that you are the only one who can do a particular type of trade under that name (franchise/company name). If you can't get it trademarked it "just" means everybody else can use it too. There seems to be a growing resistance towards letting obvious common day items be registered as trademarks. There seems to be some weird rules about defending your trademarks too, sort of "use it or lose it" and possibly forfeiting it if you don't contest other entities' use of it (waiting for a lawyer to stop by and clarify).

Not really. I played "Another World" when it was new on the Amiga, but I haven't tried any of his games since. "Another Word" was a rather unique experience though.

What ending did you get? I stuck with the prince for this playthrough. Thought the outcome was hilarious and unexpected. Will do another playthrough next summer(too many games right now). Absolutely loved it despite the horrible combat and those 3 horrible minutes running around like a crazy madman. Wanted to break something at that point. Good man There are 3 rather distinct endings... might be more, but I only remember 3 (siding with Kuei Jin, The Prince and the Camarilla). I think there might also be a "side with yourself" option. You *can* kill the werewolf.

My English skills are failing me, not understanding 'moritoriums' in that context Would suspending capital gains taxes really be such a hot idea? It was reckless speculation that to some degree brought about the mess in the first place. I seem to remember once upon a time in the old country, they had different tax rules depending on how long you held onto your shares/stocks/whatever to encourage investment (long term commitment) and discourage speculation/manipulation of short term buying and selling. I seem to remember the discretionary spending being a not unsubstantial sum of money (yeah, followed the debate a bit on the news during that weekend before the deadline), but what exactly does it mean? Money that isn't "ear marked" for a specific purpose?

What ending did you get?

I always though discussion was okay, promotion and linking was not okay. The former can be useful, the latter two can have unfortunate consequences. Discretion is sometimes required to determine when something is 'promotion'.

Wait, you mean the Adamantine Golem isn't always in Firkraag's dungeon? That thing is immune to magic and to everything lower than +3 weapons, and it shreds melee characters as if they were made of paper. There are also the major werewolves or whatever they're called in english (I only ever played the game in french). Windspear, Umar, Planar Prison, That beholder cave of the cult of the eyeless etc. all have some added Oomph when you visit them later, at a higher level. So no, the golem isn't necessarily there when you visit Windspear. Nothing Jaheira can't fix with a staff +3 though, as the golem tend to get stuck in the doorway (and blocking the lesser golems in the process)

That quest where you recruit Mazzy is probably the first one I do after the slavers quest, the Thief Guild quests and the serial killer quest. It's clearly the easiest of all exterior dungeons, I'm surprised someone would need 'cheating' to get through it. If memory serves me right, Haer'Dalis requires a romp through an Illithid dungeon and then a quick visit in a planar prison that counts a few demons among its jailers. Definitely harder. The built in level scaling adjusts the npc/sidequest "dungeons", so the last ones will feel harder than the first ones. Not 'cheating' per se, but Daystar (was that the swords name?) makes the shadow lords minions a pushover. Of course you have to convince the lich to part with it first, which is no small task for a beginning party Since I just installed the GoG version of BG2, I feel like playing again. Might as well try out Pop's mod.

Yeah, he is there for the flavour and the conversations, not for the utilitarianism. Being a male protagonist, flirting with Aerie while having him in the party was an interesting (and unexpected) twist. @Pop: What do you mean, the longest to recruit? I know he isn't there for your starting party, but I found Mazzy more troublesome to recruit (without the cheating 'Daylight' sword at least). Cernd too for that matter. Reminds me I still need to finish a game with Cernd in my party

I would love to have given you an informed opinion, but the game was/is so boring that I didn't make it past the prologue I'll probably end up uninstalling it and write it off as a loss. It's trying too hard to be "contemporary" (interpret that as you will).

I would consider both among the more interesting characters... Edwin for his personal quest and Haer'Dalis for being incredibly annoying without being the farting, burping kind of annoying (yes, I hate Jan Jansen, never a scroll of Gnomicide around when you need it).

Bioware having a dedicated 2d studio has the potential to be either awesome, or the factory of saddest facebook franchise knock-off games in the history of mankind. Hey, DA2 looked like a japanese Manga, might as well turn it into a QTE franchise on iPhones! As for the Bethesda lawsuit... makes you wonder if they do it out of a sense of obligation (a google search by their lawyers came up with hits on keywords in their up coming game title) or they (the lawyers) are just trying to justify their payroll by appearing to be doing something. Their performance against Interplay hasn't exactly earned them much bonus I would guess.

One of the best things about buying the big box of all things IWD (except the effin Trial of the Luremaster for some reason) was getting the sound tracks

I actually agree with you here. It would be foolish in the extreme not to make some preperations to that end. I've cleared parts of my property to get two vegtable gardens going (even if the world does not collapse I still am trying to grow the perfect tomato) and I do have a pretty big store of canned and dry goods. Plus I have around 5000 rounds of ammo for my firearms. I live literally right next to a small river and less than a mile from a big one. An the Hatchee wildlife management area is just a few hundred yards from my back door. If I could just learn how to make moonshine I'd be totally self sufficient. I would lie if I didn't admit to just a little bit of envy

My effective tax rate wouldn't really be any different (compared to my current tax rate) if I were to use the numbers at the end of that wiki link. I wonder why there is a separate group for 'Single' and 'Head of Household'. I'm single AND head of my own household, do I get to pick which one I want to use?

I don't think it's as much Atton doesn't want to talk to you, as scripting in general from that point onwards is buggered, expecting that variable to be set. Symptoms may vary, but the game becomes impossible to finish. However, I can't say for sure, as I never ran into that particular bug (just a dozen other, not so game breaking ones). No way would I voluntarily give my gun to a bunch of girls (Han Solo syndrome)

Frankly, reading the latest news (as of a few hours ago), with stock markets plummeting, commodities too, I would probably start considering canned tuna a viable investment for a post collapse society. Only half joking

Sweden... everything has to be regulated through systembolaget Speaking of amusing science, Lego is sending three volunteer "astronauts" (Legonauts?) on the Juno mission (Lego in space)

I never understood how people could live as contractors... Not so much the time that is spent working hard on projects, but the uncertainty between projects spent searching for the next project. Regardless of how good you are and may be in demand, the one time where it is really inconvenient, the timing will suck, Hey, I just bought humble bundle 3, I've got more indie games than I can throw Goo at