--------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 240 APOGEE GAMES Ref: F2K00006 Date: 02/15/98 From: JONATHAN FINGAS Time: 07:43pm \/To: KEN PRETTY (Read 0 times) Subj: Re: Number of enemies KP> now *that* idea i like, i've been waiting for that sort of thing to be KP> introduced into a game for quite awhile, or even just the option of KP> just being able to actually *see* the rest of your body, i felt KP> a little let-down when quake didn't have that.. Of course, you have to consider just what horsepower Quake needed (for its day), and how it handled things. Obviously, the weapon model and the player model were two different things altogether, and allowing the computer to render your own player would have messed things up. They could have created unique weapon animations, but the character system (vertices, not skeletons) would have required much more memory, like 16 MB (as opposed to 8). Perhaps the Prey team should try and use the actual player model for those kinds of animations! (hint to 3D Realms people within earshot) KP> maybe, and while that's awesome you have to wonder if thats what people KP> *really* want.. KP> sure it sounds cool but it might get fustrating if the KP> grenade launcher you KP> need to blow open a door on the 15th floor of a hotel is lying on the KP> checkout desk way down in the lobby. i love the idea of being 'limited' KP> just like a real person but i hate it at the same time, i imagine it KP> has something to do with being somewhat 'coddled' by KP> all the 3D games released KP> so far... But then, you could probably just take the elevator down to the lobby! Ah, modern convienience. :-) KP> and when a game comes out where you can die from hypothermia and KP> only carry as much as a normal person could then many people who are KP> used to the seemingly endless stamina of the 'doom-guy' are going to KP> take a step back and say: 'wow... im going to die because i just fell down KP> a hill and broke my ankle and i cant walk and it's 20 below out here..' KP> i guess what im trying to say is most people's first impression when KP> they hear of a game where it's realistic is 'cool! i can do stuff like n KP> real life!'. but then, if the game is too realistic they may throw it in KP> the garbage because when it comes right down to it KP> people like un-realistic KP> games, realistic very rarely = better.. Actually, I think there have already been a couple of "super-real" games, of sorts: Robinson's Requiem and Deus. Unfortunately, they relied too much on their vast repertoires of medical ailments (including infection from wounds!), and didn't focus on making a FUN game. But what I'm thinking of is one that is a more realistic EXPERIENCE, where you feel like you've been dropped into a scary, unforgiving world. In Trespasser, you'll probably run for the hills when you encounter your first Velociraptor; but in a game like Turok, your first instinct is to fire a grenade at it. Where's the realism there? Prey should, at the least, have more formidable enemies. --- Maximus 3.01 * Origin: BitByters BBS, Rockland ON, Can. (613)446-7773 v34, (1:163/215) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 240 APOGEE GAMES Ref: F2K00007 Date: 02/15/98 From: JONATHAN FINGAS Time: 08:01pm \/To: LEE JACKSON (Read 0 times) Subj: Sound cards & speakers LJ> Sorry for the delay. I've been quite seriously ill LJ> over the past week, and LJ> this is the first time I've touched a computer since the 6th. I'm still LJ> not 100% healthy (probably closer to 75%), so don't expect length. Ooh, I don't envy you. Surprisingly enough, I seem to be fairly resistant to flus and such. I got sick for a couple of days in October, and that's pretty much been it for awhile. You can take as little time as you want! :-) LJ> Altec Lansing is okay. Caimbridge Soundworks might LJ> have been better, since LJ> Creative Labs owns them (can you say "tuned system"?). As for the AWE64 LJ> Gold, it's good for today's gaming. Give it a while, and it'll be out f LJ> date - the SoundBlaster Live may squish it quite hard. I'm pretty sure that Cambridge might have been better, but it would be pretty hard to beat the price I got for the ACS-55s. In Canadian dollars, it was $225; the Soundworks were $350. And since my parents spent a lot of their "budget" on the computer itself, it's doubtful I could have squeezed much more out of them. But I'm still quite satisified with what I got. There's some nice bass, the sound is clear. My setup doesn't really let me notice the Dolby sound, but it's certainly good enough. And of course, that funky look helps add a sense of futurism to my computer. LJ> I read 'em when I find 'em. They all come into the office. As for the LJ> reviews of SW, I liked what they had to say about music and sound, so they LJ> made me happy at least. As for unbiased, I don't know and can't say for LJ> sure. The only unbiased magazine I know of, Consumer LJ> Reports, doesn't rate LJ> games. Yes, one of the definite highlights of Shadow Warrior was its sound; nice bass and not very generic at all. It was also obvious that you did some real searching and/or tweaking to get the right sounds. The music... well, since it was largely ambient, I don't know if it would win some awards; but it was well done. In my opinion, most computer magazines aren't really biased. I've seen them be harsh on even the companies which would seem most able to afford "compensation" or other influences. I know that some magazines tend to lean towards one value in gaming or another (CGW liked G-Police a lot; PCG didn't), but that's about it. PS I think you're probably mandated by law to include some lounge lizard music in Duke Nukem Forever, it taking place in Vegas and all. Tom Jones, perhaps? And of course, at some point Duke will HAVE to say "Viva, Las Vegas!" --- Maximus 3.01 * Origin: BitByters BBS, Rockland ON, Can. (613)446-7773 v34, (1:163/215) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 240 APOGEE GAMES Ref: F2K00008 Date: 02/15/98 From: JEFF FOY Time: 04:54pm \/To: JOE SIEGLER (Read 0 times) Subj: apogee JS> -> JB> i have for a long time pondered how ur pronounce apogee JS> -> I usually pronounce it as "Joe Siegler" but sometimes I shorten that o JS> -> "Dopefish"... :-) JS> Fnord. Oh, I pronounced it wrong too. Drat! (scribble, scribble) There. Now I'll get it right. :-) * RM 1.31 3223 * But he has such *good* ideas! --- Platinum Xpress/Win/Wildcat5! v2.0 * Origin: Memory Alpha - (253) 859-6200 (1:343/311) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 240 APOGEE GAMES Ref: F2L00000 Date: 02/17/98 From: JOE SIEGLER Time: 01:18am \/To: STEFAN STOECKL (Read 0 times) Subj: DN3D network-master? |-----------------| Regarding DN3D network-master? |In our German Spiele.Duke3d.Ger were some questions which PC Duke would |choice as the "master" in network-play. |What is the criterion? |-------------------------------------------------------------------------| Whomever has the lowest network ID number as assigned by your network hardware/software. Joe C:\>gler ... Vomiting Unplanned examination of recent food choices. --- * 1st v2/TagX v1.4 * --- QScan/PCB v1.19b / 01-0074 * Origin: Apogee Software - Garland, TX - 972-271-5410 (1:124/9006) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 240 APOGEE GAMES Ref: F2M00000 Date: 02/15/98 From: SIMON STONE Time: 01:37pm \/To: JOE SIEGLER (Read 0 times) Subj: What is ??? Hi, Joe! 12 Feb 98 20:20, Joe Siegler wrote to Simon Stone: JS> It's our new game, a Pinball game. One of the 5 tables in the full JS> version is a Duke Nukem table. ->> And where can I get it ??? JS> http://www.pinballwizards.com. Kwel cheers m8ty... Anyone on fido got a copy ??? Seeya Who Dares....Wins ! Internet == simon.stone@pacific.trak-one.co.uk ... OPERATOR ERROR: Nyah, Nyah, Nyah, Nyah, Nyah! --- GEcho 1.00 * Origin: Death Gate BBS, 10pm to 8am, 01622-891475 (2:440/624) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 240 APOGEE GAMES Ref: F2M00001 Date: 02/15/98 From: SIMON STONE Time: 01:38pm \/To: JONATHAN FINGAS (Read 0 times) Subj: What is BOS? Hi, Jonathan! 13 Feb 98 20:07, Jonathan Fingas wrote to Simon Stone: SS>> What is "Balls of steel" ???? JF> Easy. It's a pinball game, and based on the demo I've tried I'd say JF> it's worth it. I'm sure that you'll be pleased to know there's a Duke JF> 3D table. SS>> And where can I get it ??? JF> www.3drealms.com will probably do it for you. Just look in their JF> downloads section. It's a 13 MB download, but it'll last awhile. Me thinks i'll look for a fido link to get it ;)) Seeya Who Dares....Wins ! Internet == simon.stone@pacific.trak-one.co.uk ... It depends on which end he tries to light... --- GEcho 1.00 * Origin: Death Gate BBS, 10pm to 8am, 01622-891475 (2:440/624) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 240 APOGEE GAMES Ref: F2P00000 Date: 02/20/98 From: LEE JACKSON Time: 02:12am \/To: JONATHAN FINGAS (Read 0 times) Subj: Sound cards & speakers -=> Quoting Jonathan Fingas to Lee Jackson <=- JF> Ooh, I don't envy you. Surprisingly enough, I seem to be fairly JF> resistant to flus and such. It wasn't flu - it seems to have been some bacterial infection that is running rampant through the area. My wife was hit rather hard, and my son put up with 2 days of mid-level fever (both still cough). Lucky me seems to have been hit the hardest. Multiple bouts of 103+ fever, IV fluids and antibiotics, injected/pill/inhaled steroids to help me breathe - suffice it to say that I wasn't in good shape. After having a brief setback a couple of days ago, I'm now finally recovering. JF> And of course, that funky look helps add a sense of futurism to my JF> computer. Looks, shmooks. You should see the Event 20/20bas set in the studio - you've never seen a boxier-looking pair of monitors. However, you've never *heard* a pair of monitors like these, either - they tend to stun. I've repeatedly told people at the office that I could give a flying leap less about how things look - it's how they work that impresses me. JF> Yes, one of the definite highlights of Shadow Warrior was its sound; JF> nice bass and not very generic at all. It was also obvious that you JF> did some real searching and/or tweaking to get the right sounds. Thanks. Low frequencies 'R' us. JF> music... well, since it was largely ambient, I don't know if it would JF> win some awards; but it was well done. It hasn't won anything, and probably won't. C'est la guerre. JF> In my opinion, most computer magazines aren't really biased. I've JF> seen them be harsh on even the companies which would seem most able JF> to afford "compensation" or other influences. Live and learn - the more you see, the more you'll think there's a bias. One subtle bias that's harder to catch is the silence bias. While the magazines may appear to trash a company, at least they're talking about them - other competitors to the company are merely ignored. Happens all the time. -Lee ... Insert dynamite in drive b: and press any key when ready... --- Blue Wave/Max v2.30 * Origin: Hack Central Station * Garland, TX (1:124/9005.5) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 240 APOGEE GAMES Ref: F2Q00000 Date: 02/20/98 From: JONATHAN FINGAS Time: 02:27pm \/To: LEE JACKSON (Read 0 times) Subj: Sound cards & speakers LJ> It wasn't flu - it seems to have been some bacterial infection that is LJ> running rampant through the area. My wife was hit rather hard, and my son LJ> put up with 2 days of mid-level fever (both still cough). Lucky me eems LJ> to have been hit the hardest. Multiple bouts of 103+ fever, IV fluids and LJ> antibiotics, injected/pill/inhaled steroids to help me LJ> breathe - suffice it LJ> to say that I wasn't in good shape. After having a brief setback a couple LJ> of days ago, I'm now finally recovering. Yaah! Thank goodness things seem to be getting better for you. Just don't run around the 3D Realms offices, coughing all the way... :-) Unless, of course, you have a grudge against a particular person. LJ> Looks, shmooks. You should see the Event 20/20bas set in the studio - LJ> you've never seen a boxier-looking pair of monitors. LJ> However, you've never LJ> *heard* a pair of monitors like these, either - they tend to stun. I've LJ> repeatedly told people at the office that I could give a flying leap ess LJ> about how things look - it's how they work that impresses me. I know that looks don't really make a difference; it's just a nice touch on my particular speakers. They certainly fulfill their actual duties (putting out sound) admirably! LJ> Thanks. Low frequencies 'R' us. You're welcome. By the way, for Duke Forever and/or Prey... I know this might seem like heresy for you, but do you think you could shoot for Quake-level sound effects? While your work is certainly good (some of the better work in the industry), you have to admit that Trent Reznor & Co. did some astounding work with Quake. The "swamp" sounds are very peaceful if you turn the music off, and the clatter of nails to the ground is a satisfying end to a shooting spree. Actually, one thing I think has been missing from EVERY game I've played has been a true gun sound. I think most pistols fire off with a "pa-chink" (or maybe, "pa-chak") as they fire. While I can't verify the accuracy of that, I know that most pistols in games don't sound like they would. Also (I know, I'm getting finnicky), I understand most chainguns often sound like loud drills; the 30 mm "Avenger" cannon on the A-10 is supposed to be so forceful that you NEVER get used to it. While the sounds of Duke's chaingun served their purpose, the weapon sounded more like a rapid-fire silencer. And this isn't a criticism, but a potentially-useful experience. Have you ever heard the music to Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain? That is simply some of the most sorrowful work I've ever heard in a game. I would imagine that listening to it for too long might get you depressed. Perhaps, if you're asked to do music for a particularly sad and/or lonely level in a game, you could fire that game up (even if it's just the demo) for inspiration. LJ> It hasn't won anything, and probably won't. C'est la guerre. You DID have some awfully stiff competition this past year, didn't you? Interstate '76 won PC Gamer's award, and who could blame them for liking that retro funk? --- Maximus 3.01 * Origin: BitByters BBS, Rockland ON, Can. (613)446-7773 v34, (1:163/215)