I just caught something interesting in some videos out of GC2008. They were showing off the map editor on the X360 and PC (separately), and they did appear to be exactly the same. Maybe a little too much the same. Now, there was no doubt which was which.. although the functions are the same, the interface is quite different, with the PC having a Windows-based menu system for selecting tools and such. The interesting thing was that there was a bug that caused the player to spawn without weapons when you enter the map to test it. So they didn't get to shoot up the trees or start a fire or anything. But the same bug was in both versions. What are the odds? The only thing I can think of, that I'm not even sure is possible, is that they're creating only a single core program that propagates across all three platforms. I was always under the impression there was more to it than that, that the code has to be tweaked for each platform before it's compiled. It seems unlikely that a glitch would make it across like that. Either way, I'm still torn as to which version to get. If I'm going to spend hours/days/weeks fiddilng with this map editor, which seems entirely possible, I'd much rather do it on my couch than in my office chair.
man kb and mouse is the only way to go. Don't betray PC gamers everywhere by supporting 360 fps', they're ruining the genre.
TBH that is not surprising to me at all. I always thought that they develop all the games on a PC dont they? And then what with XNA and all that if I understand correctly, the idea is that the code is the same for the xbox say and the PC but the libraries you use to compile for the different platforms is different? So the codebase being the same, I would think that the same bugs would be there? But then we think of the PC visuals being much better, I think that is the time when the art assests etc come in. Higher res textures and all that in the PC and so on? I could be wrong but this is definitely interesting. I would like to know more about it. I am sure someone from this forum can comment.
That's pretty much what I'm thinking with the PC version. High-res textures, higher-resolution render, faster framerate. Depending on how well the engine runs, I hope to be able to run it at 1680x1050 at 50-60fps at max settings. I'd call that "better", since I imagine the consoles will be at 1280x720 at 30fps, and possibly with lower-resolution textures and objects, depending on the size of it all (Xbox's DVD). On the one hand, I agree... if I were going to be playing the game itself more than anything else. After I upgraded my computer, I got to play a number of games, nearly all FPSs, and they all rock. But fact is, I'll probably be in the editor more than playing the game. A lot more, if my time with FCIredator taught me anything. I've spent weeks fiddling around in that editor, and only an hour or two playing the campaign. And it may not necessarily be the X360 version... After seeing the map editor videos of FC2, I went back and started fiddling with FCIredator's map editor. One thing I'd forgotten about on the X360 is how frikkin' loud the DVD drive is. Assuming the two console versions are truly identical, as Ubisoft claims, then I may end up getting the PS3 version instead so I can work in peace. Yes, games drown out the drive sound.. but the editor doesn't, it's dead quiet compared to in-game. As for playing online, the only guy I played FCIredator with is a friend of mine from work.. who also owns a PS3. Don't worry, guys.. I haven't made up my mind. Believe me, if I were that much of a console fanboy, I wouldn't be so worked up about the decision. But hey, the PC version's probably going to be twenty bucks cheaper, so that will probably help sway me back to the light side. Speaking of different platforms... One of the interviews about the map editor led some people to believe that they're going to offer cross-platform map sharing. That a X360 user can upload a map, and a PS3 user can download it, etc. Any thoughts on this? Me, I'm thinking not... I think they misunderstood the guy when he said that "everyone will be able to share".. I think he was just referring to all three platforms having the ability to upload maps and share within their own platform community. Especially when you bring the PC into it.. I've played all varieties of fan-made maps for Crysis, and there's quite a variance in what they do performance-wise... most run well, but a few are pretty heavy. And the PC version of the FC2 editor doesn't seem to have any kind of restrictions like the console versions, which limit the number of objects, etc.
New 15 min video! http://www.eurogamer.de/tv_video.php?playlist_id=13581&size=large So far I'm pretty impressed, I have to see something I don't like. Game looks really fun. Also some info from the official forum: Over 50 square kilometers Full free roaming, with non-linear missions Destructable Environs There is a day and night system. There is a dynamic weather system that adapts to how well you are currently doing. If you're shooting everything in site, and well too, the skies will be clear and sunny, but if you start getting owned, the sky will darken and become overcast. Weapons can take damage and begin to malfunction and wear out. It's up to the player to take care of his weapons and keep them in top condition for the journey. Running into a tree can cause it to break and fall down, just shake, or the player to crash to the floor, all depending on the size of the tree. Advanced and adaptive AI with +55 heads and infinate skin shading possibilities. AI has morale settings, the moral of the NPCs is a function of what is happening around them, shoot their commander and their moral gets worse, shot the man next to them and it becomes even lower. No Medi packs: COD2 style health up to Critical wounding, then you have to heal yourself. No Trigens or mad scientist. No feral abilities No Jack Carver Locations: River Network Africa Desert Crash site Shanty Town Dogon village Desert Water hole Savannah Jungle Factions: UFLL: United Front for Liberation and Labor APR: Alliance for Popular Resistance Characters: Warlord The Jackal Marty Alencar Warren Clyde Nasreen Davar Hakim Echebbi Paul Ferenc Flora Guillen Andre Hyppolite Josip Idromeno Frank Bilders Classes: Grunt Engineer Medic Sniper Weapons: +30 types and include reliability factors Flame Thrower Molotov cocktail Machete AK47 Equipment Compass Vehicles: +14 Glider I bolded the stuff that gives me a smile.
The dynamic weather system sounds screwed up, hell, I want to wreak havoc, run amok blowing everything up and THEN see heavy rain pouring on me as the gods themselves cry over my murderous rampage
Wow this is going to be a hotly anticipated game. It would be a bit ironic if it does better than Crysis considering how those Crytek boffins started the whole run around in a pristine rainforest and kill bad guys.
To reuse an already tired internet meme: Quoted for the M F'ing truth! FC2 has definitely hit my "will buy" radar, but that was kinda given since I'm a sandbox fanboi This, along with the new Crysis and GTA4 will keep my new wife pestering me for "us" time for the rest of the year!
Oh yeah good point. Never was into Turok and never heard of Trespasser so thats why they never crossed my mind.
Technical question: Why do you think Ubisoft left AI and animal life out of the editor? I'm assuming it's a restriction of the consoles. Do you think it's a power/memory issue, or a matter of being too complicated to configure using a controller? Having to set paths, boundaries, behaviors, etc. It just seems a little odd now that I think about it. I know they couldn't do it before on ye olde Xbox, but these new systems should be capable of it. I think it's safe to say that Ubisoft's editor on FC:Instincts was inspired by Crytek's editor on FarCry, and the discussion about AI and single-player levels must have come up at some point during the design phase. Since they're effectively "porting" the editor around between the three platforms, I'm assuming that the PC version won't include it either, although it does remove the object and memory limitations of the console versions.
Trespasser was a jurassic park game, with its defining feature being that you could throw chairs at dinosaurs or something. But still, considering Crysis played exactly like a Farcry sequel, it's be interesting to see how Far Cry 2 compares.
I remember Tresspasser and it's environmental manipulation. It was, however, completely broken. Picking up objects was tedious. I seem to remember it requiring rotation of your wrist, extension of your arm and actually grabbing things, actions all of which required key input. And this doesn't even include the aiming tragedy....So when the time came to scramble for a weapon on the ground, you could pretty much consider yourself dead. I'm happy this theme didn't repeat itself with other FPS'. It wasn't a complete failure, however. You could at least look down your own shirt .....you played a woman... Has anything been released about Far Cry 2's graphical comparisons between platforms? A lot of the recent multiplatform games have been really disappointing. The only example of a recent game that utilized the PC's enhanced graphical interface was Oblivion, in my opinion. It got pretty in depth with the settings and actually surprised me for a multiplatform game.
The game is now up for pre-order on Steam. No discount but you do get the original Far Cry for free. http://www.steampowered.com/v/index.php?area=app&AppId=19900&cc=US&cc=US
For whoever decides this is reason enough to buy FC2 over Steam: over here the FC promotion link ends in the now infamous "this product doesn't exist in your region" so I'm not sure that pre-order bonus is available worldwide.
Epic Fail for Steam: Steam $49.99 = £27.48 Play.com £24.99 Amazon UK £24.98 Both Amazon and Play are with free shipping. Better to pre-order the hard copy, you'll probably get it a day or two ahead of when Steam unlocks, it's cheaper, and you get backup media/manuals/box.