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| News Link » /news/newsarticle.asp?searchid=14755 |  Droniac (108) Mar 21, 2007 - 10:02 am
| Bah. They really should stop releasing the PC Gamer magazine at such a weird time in the month - now I'll be reading all about it even before my magazine featuring a Guild Wars 2 & Eye of the North special arrives. (at the normal - end of the month - magazine publishing time)
Anyway as for the details that have been revealed by PC Gamer readers so far - I dunno. Much of the GW2 info sounds very cool and would be exactly what Guild Wars needs... but some of it sounds dodgy and could turn it into just another generic MMO (insane level cap, weird PvP system that sounds like numbers > skill, etc). Ah well, at least it'll be free and DX10-supported :) Flag this | Edit this post |
| Cluster Shout Box Link » /matrix/cluster.asp/15 | Droniac (108) Mar 19, 2007 - 08:43 am
| Actually I thought this round was rather downvote-free! In the previous round all the scores were incredibly low - even for the absolutely amazing entries that were amongst them, because there was sooo much downvoting. This round seems a lot different, with a much higher average score. Although I did notice nearly all entries dropped several points in the final few hours, it sucks that people do that, but it's not going to affect much when just about every entry dropped some points.
Every entry this round is awesome in it's own right - and deserves a place in the next round... unfortunately only about half of us get to advance. I wonder who will get to advance, because I have absolutely no idea. I'd be hard-pressed to pick 10 people out of these entries to advance, simply because they're all so good. Flag this | Edit this post |
| Matrix Blog Link » /matrix/blog.asp/61707/308 | Droniac (108) Mar 18, 2007 - 03:37 pm
| The DeathAdder is the latest Razer mouse and actually resembles the G5 in terms of design. It is slightly smaller and does appear to be a lot less heavy, but it's fully ergonomically designed for right-handed people. It does indeed use infra-red optical sensor technology, which is essentially the third generation in optical sensor technology. So it looks like Razer has abandoned Laser technology, at least for now.
So far in benchmarks, the Razer DeathAdder scores best of any and all mice - although it's also one of the most expensive ones you can get. Still, it's performance is unmatched - so far... Flag this | Edit this post |
| Matrix Blog Link » /matrix/blog.asp/61707/308 | Droniac (108) Mar 18, 2007 - 05:52 am
| Yeah the Razer DeathAdder and Diamondback are better choices (in terms of performance) than any Logitech mouse right now. Not the Copperhead though, because it uses the same laser technology the Logitech G5 does.
Personally I vastly prefer the design of Logitech mice over Razer mice, if only because the Razer mice are sooooo tiny. And the G5 is much more comfortable to use because it's an ergonomic mouse for right-handed people. Flag this | Edit this post |
| Matrix Blog Link » /matrix/blog.asp/19453/317 | Droniac (108) Mar 17, 2007 - 03:22 am
| Ah good, so it's a bit like Starlancer then? I still remember the keyboard map that came with it - literally every single key on the keyboard was mapped with a function, many even with two or three! Don't worry, I'm not a CS or CoD player, but more of a RtCW/Savage/UT player - so I'm used to having just about every key mapped to something important.
Anyway it sounds like this game has a hefty learning curve, so it should be worth playing - I like a challenge :p Flag this | Edit this post |
| Matrix Blog Link » /matrix/blog.asp/61707/308 | Droniac (108) Mar 17, 2007 - 03:08 am
| Convoy eh? I haven't played Assault in a long time, but it was (in my opinion) the best Assault map in UT2004. Nice gamemode too, but a little underrated.
This (the G5) is actually my first Logitech mouse and I have to say I like it (especially after overclocking and whatnot) but I can also see what other people might not like about it: it's heavy, big and made for right-handed people only. That kind of limits the user-base to people who are right-handed, have big hands, strong arms and generally use high sens (because a heavy mouse & low sens doesn't work very well) - such as myself. Flag this | Edit this post |
| Matrix Blog Link » /matrix/blog.asp/62001/311 | Droniac (108) Mar 16, 2007 - 02:07 am
| After reading your entry I was wondering... how can a German team be from The Netherlands? They're two different countries! (I should know, I live in The Netherlands ;)) But apparently one of the two people is Dutch and the other German, so it's probably just poor wording?
Nice entry anyway, although it could have benefited from some consistent spacing between paragraphs to make it read a little easier. Flag this | Edit this post |
| Matrix Blog Link » /matrix/blog.asp/19453/317 | Droniac (108) Mar 16, 2007 - 02:00 am
| | Can't you simply bind stuff to your keyboard? I'm used to having all my binds on my keyboard around movement keys from FPS games. I'd play with esdf for movement and all my weaponry and necessary binds around that. Is that possible in Allegiance too? Flag this | Edit this post |
| Matrix Blog Link » /matrix/blog.asp/61707/308 | Droniac (108) Mar 16, 2007 - 01:56 am
| | You guys have actual UTComp TDM pub servers!? The only decent UTComp powered (t)DM server I know in Europe is KPlay, the rest are all demo servers, non-UTComp and usually locked to 25 frags with a way too high player limit. I wish I could play DM or TDM on pubs, but there's no place to play it at... :( (KPlay is always full or overcrowded) Flag this | Edit this post |
| Matrix Blog Link » /matrix/blog.asp/61707/308 | Droniac (108) Mar 15, 2007 - 05:34 pm
| Thanks for commenting on my entry :)
It seems that both SetPoint and hidusbf only overclock the USB port your mouse is attached to, although I haven't been able to confirm it with hidusbf - because the G5 has some issues with non-Logitech overclocking software.
I played on differing teams during the various matches to try and eliminate the factors of being in the winning/losing team. Usually in TAM the winning team is comprised of experienced players, because the amount of servers is low and the amount of experienced players is (relatively) high. The servers I tested on were my regular servers, which ordinarily see only the better players in the European TAM community - as was the case during testing. In both 3-map sessions, only a handful of players left/joined during play, so the playing field remained roughly the same throughout. The level of play on both days was roughly the same - which can be attributed to these (European) servers being known for attracting skilled players.
I would indeed have tried to increase my sample size some more if I had the time, but this was actually my third article (the other two - SupCom and LotRO - had already been posted) idea and I only had a few days to pull it off. If it's any consolation: after turning the polling rates up to 1000HZ, my performance in clanmatches increased significantly as well. I actually had a 2v2 match yesterday and broke personal accuracy records all over the place (on the first map anyway, the second map saw a bit of a dip due to external factors (whining sister & telephone) interrupting my play).
So yeah, I do play with a clan, two actually (beMEAN and TuF). I haven't noticed my performance to be all over the map in publics, but then the servers I frequent are home to a returning playerbase with whom I've become familiar over time.
There is a benefit to testing this on public servers, namely strategic deterrent fire (spam). Spam is common in clanmatches, because people are playing to survive and win - so they'll spam choke points when they're running or chasing, all of which is non-aimed fire and skews accuracy statistics. Now this doesn't matter for the lightning gun or shock primary fire (which usually see increased accuracy during matches, compared to pubs, for me anyway), but it does for just about any other weapon (rockets, flak, mini, link, combos) in TAM. Public servers are casual and tend to be more crowded, which results in less spam - because otherwise you wont have enough ammo in the end to kill everyone - every shot has to count. Flag this | Edit this post |
| Matrix Blog Link » /matrix/blog.asp/18766/276 | Droniac (108) Mar 15, 2007 - 05:51 am
| | Supreme Commander is largely a CPU-hog. Upgrading your video card shouldn't have as dramatic an effect as upgrading your CPU would. Only if you're playing in very high resolutions or dual-monitor setups does upgrading your video card really help. Flag this | Edit this post |
| Matrix Blog Link » /matrix/blog.asp/19453/317 | Droniac (108) Mar 15, 2007 - 01:12 am
| | Hehe, I was actually interested in buying Allegiance when it was first released, but Microsoft's multiplayer pricing was what put me off. I really liked playing Natural Selection and Savage (also a freely downloadable game now) so I'll be certain to try it again sometime. I just hope a joystick doesn't turn out to be mandatory, because my joystick is from the old Descent 2 times: 3 massive buttons (or was it 2?) - it doesn't get much more basic than that :p Flag this | Edit this post |
| Cluster Shout Box Link » /matrix/cluster.asp/15 | Droniac (108) Mar 15, 2007 - 12:10 am
| No problem and good luck.
I understand being a bit defensive over something you worked so hard to write. It's not like you just wrote a piece in 20 minutes - you obviously spent a lot of time writing it. Flag this | Edit this post |
| Matrix Blog Link » /matrix/blog.asp/62074/300 | Droniac (108) Mar 14, 2007 - 04:55 pm
| The human eye can distinguish between 30 and 60 fps, in fact - research has shown that a fighter pilot's eye can distinguish and identify a plane on a single frame out of 280. So we're able to perceive a heck of a lot more than 60 fps.
That's also why playing a game like UT2004 in 30 fps feels exceedingly slow and choppy, whereas 60 fps is decent and 85 fps is yet several more notches up the ladder of comfort. Oh and most PC games are only truly enjoyable at a steady 60 FPS or more, 30FPS is the low-end minimum - lower than that and you need to upgrade.. Flag this | Edit this post |
| Matrix Blog Link » /matrix/blog.asp/44675/307 | Droniac (108) Mar 14, 2007 - 03:46 pm
| It's a problem because the two are completely unrelated.
Lag is a connection issue.
Poor FPS is a client issue.
When you're experiencing a low framerate, then this (ordinarily) means your PC cannot handle the game you're trying to play. It has nothing to do with your internet connection, the server you're playing on or the quality of your ISP.
When you're experiencing lag, this means you're experiencing slowdowns due to connectivity issues. This could be caused by a poor ISP or server, simply poor routing to a specific server, or any other number of non-system-related issues... but should NOT affect your framerate in any game. Flag this | Edit this post |
| Cluster Shout Box Link » /matrix/cluster.asp/15 | Droniac (108) Mar 14, 2007 - 02:43 pm
| Ooh finally finished mine as well. Took a fair amount of time to write up and turned out a wee bit longer than I expected... ;o
I would have done an earlier post, but my initial topics were Supreme Commander and Lord of the Rings Online tbh. I had already covered a bit of SupCom performance issues on my own blog after all... although I suppose my current topic is slightly more unique ;)
I'm wondering one thing though... are we allowed to promote our articles on our own blogs? So say I repost it on my blog (The Game Drone) with a link to the FiringSquad entry encouraging people to vote - is that allowed? Flag this | Edit this post |
| Matrix Blog Link » /matrix/blog.asp/61849/302 | Droniac (108) Mar 14, 2007 - 07:06 am
| | Wouldn't the G5 Gaming Mouse also be considered ergonomic, since it's shaped to be very comfortable for right-handed people? Anyway nice test, although it would've been nice if you had included a fast-paced FPS (Quake/UT/WarSow) rather than another RPG in the end. I'd assume the difference would've been most noticeable in games like that, because just about any move and/or weapon requires fast response and high accuracy from your mouse. Flag this | Edit this post |
| Matrix Blog Link » /matrix/blog.asp/61831/198 | Droniac (108) Mar 05, 2007 - 04:09 am
| How can someone possibly have an advantage with a brightskin mod that is enabled by default for everyone who enters the server? I don't see a problem with mods that alter game settings if it's the same for everyone on the server - it's still equal grounds for competition.
In fact, many such mods greatly enhance the competitiveness of a game. Try playing vanilla Enemy Territory and then the same game on an ETPro server, you'll see what I mean. That's the reason no one plays vanilla ET in competitions, it's futile when ETPro is a superior competitive arena in every regard. Flag this | Edit this post |
| Matrix Blog Link » /matrix/blog.asp/61804/153 | Droniac (108) Mar 05, 2007 - 03:59 am
| | Yeah but the truth is that WoW doesn't even "try" to appeal to all people. It's just like a tv-show that "tries" to appeal to all people, there is no such thing. Every game, every movie, every story tries to appeal to a specific group of people - WoW is no different. Flag this | Edit this post |
| Matrix Blog Link » /matrix/blog.asp/62195/217 | Droniac (108) Mar 02, 2007 - 03:21 am
| Hehe, an entertaining read.
A more in-depth look would've been nice. Enemy Territory with ETPro is probably amongst the best possible games for a test like this: it automatically tracks data, including such things as hit percentages with weaponry. The same goes for UT2004. Hit percentages would be nice in a test like this. It'd be interesting if bawls were to improve your lightning gun accuracy by 10% on average ;) Flag this | Edit this post |
| Matrix Blog Link » /matrix/blog.asp/61942/132 | Droniac (108) Mar 02, 2007 - 03:13 am
| | There are already games that cater to both RTS and FPS players. I'm thinking of such titles as Allegiance, Natural Selection and Savage. One player on each side commands their troops, builds bases, orders NPCs and players around, provides troops with support and equipment. The remaining players are playing an FPS, waging war with ranged and melee weaponry and upgrading their abilities as they perform better. In Savage there was even an extensive elements of NPC-fighting and very differing classes (light scouts, heavy warriors, massive siege weaponry) to choose from. Flag this | Edit this post |
| Matrix Blog Link » /matrix/blog.asp/61804/153 | Droniac (108) Mar 02, 2007 - 03:07 am
| | There is no such thing as a game that appeals to all people - and even if there were such a thing, WoW certainly isn't it! There are many people who don't like WoW - and there are many people WoW doesn't cater for. You might like it Kessandra, but that doesn't mean it's a game that appeals to everyone. Flag this | Edit this post |
| Matrix Blog Link » /matrix/blog.asp/61831/198 | Droniac (108) Mar 01, 2007 - 03:02 am
| Ok, I've competed in UT2004 in the past - and still do so now... and I have to disagree with most of what you're saying, at least about your UT2004 experience.
I can't see the problem with disabling your own footsteps. Just about every competitive mutator allows you to do so in it's menu in-game(UTComp, TAM).
Additionally, it doesn't even provide much of an advantage, because you'll hear your enemy everywhere on the map regardless of whether you have your own footsteps disabled or not.
When someone makes noise like a freight train passing by, then it shouldn't come as a surprise that they get comboed when dodging around a corner. It's their fault for playing stupidly and underestimating their opponent (or, more commonly: the game).
Similarly I see no problem with utilizing brightskins, hitsounds or forced models, simply because they're commonly available options - and - the advantage given isn't necessarily all that great. (ok brightskins and hitsounds do help loads, but any server with competitive mutators has them turned on by default anyway)
I've never heard of players changing their field-of-view on the fly. That does sound like cheating - and can matter quite a lot when used properly. Then again, I've never noticed anyone use something like this...
The lightning gun and shock rifle aren't overused because of fov hacks. They're overused because they're overpowered. UT2004 is a hitscan game, it's a game that largely plays at medium to long range, not close range. Which nerfs the effectiveness of close-ranged weaponry and boosts that off long-ranged weaponry. Besides, shock combos have always been overused in any UT game.
On another note. The UT2004 community is amongst the friendliest and most forgiving towards newbies. Most good players will help newcomers with tips and perhaps even a training session.
Granted, in public servers most player go all-out - and newbies don't stand much of a chance, but that's the environment those "good players" had to learn in as well. It's also the best possible environment for learning how to play: you learn more from getting 'wtfpwned' 10 times than from winning 50 times. Which is the reason why most players go all-out on public servers: good players want to get better as well and they need to play at their maximum against similarly or more skilled opponents to improve.
As for proof of that: when I joined my first TAM clan I was constantly ranked lowest in our matches. After 3 weeks of competing against far more experienced players I basically became our star player - and still am to this day (except in two different clans).
No I wouldn't really complain about customization of files until it gets to the level of Return to Castle Wolfenstein prior to OSP. Yikes, now that was horrible - all top players had configs that made the game look like Wolfenstein 3D. You couldn't compete otherwise. Fortunately the community fixed that themselves by limiting the amount of tweaking that could be done - this has also carried over into it's less enjoyable semi-sequel: Enemy Territory. Flag this | Edit this post |
| Matrix Blog Link » /matrix/blog.asp/25422/128 | Droniac (108) Feb 26, 2007 - 12:59 pm
| Heavy Storm... Black & White wasn't a commercial failure. It sold well over 2 million copies and was a huge financial success for Lionhead. It just scored really low & disappointed a lot of people - still, it was undeniably a huge financial success.
No if you really want to quote a game that had massive potential, was totally original, scored incredibly high in the press and was extremely enjoyable - but fell flat on it's face because no one bought it... then talk about games like Sacrifice or better yet: Messiah... (coincidentally both games were from the same developer)
Shiny published two incredibly innovative, beautiful & enjoyable games called Messiah and Sacrifice around the year 2000. Both games scored incredibly high in the press and received masses of praises from fans. Yet neither of them sold well.
Just a few years later, Shiny releases a horrible game, loaded with bugs due to a pushed release, sub-par graphics, poor gameplay, not innovative in ANY way, low ratings in the press and loathed by fans... yet it was a MASSIVE commercial success, because it's name was Enter the Matrix - and that sold.
Now that's one heck of an example to use in an article like this ;) Flag this | Edit this post |
| Matrix Blog Link » /matrix/blog.asp/12941/131 | Droniac (108) Feb 26, 2007 - 12:50 pm
| FlyinBrian, you seem to be misunderstanding BucNew's (correct!) statement that Neverwinter Nights was the first MMORPG. He isn't talking about the BioWare RPG that featured modding tools, he's talking about a 1991 release!
Look at his wikipedia link. The game boasted well over 2000 players simultaneously in peak hours - and sported over 100,000 players. RtCW cannot be compared to that by ANY means, although it certainly would've been great to have had 100,000 RtCW players right now.
There were plenty of MMOs prior to Ultima Online. In fact, there's one older than Ultima Online that is still running: Meridian 59. Flag this | Edit this post |
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