Posts by Serenius

Quote from Sentura

actually we threw away evolution when we started using the amount of technology we use today; the way we use medicine and computerization as aides present day makes us less susceptible to evolve further. why? because our bodies have determined that we don't need to. evolution only happens when there's a need for it, and even then, only over a period of thousands of years. without a direction or need, we effectively abolish any and all forms of evolution; and given that all our needs are more and more satisfied by machines, well, go figure.

from the above can then be said: we have 2 different poles, evolution (natural progress) and progress. the more we vest into progress, the less effect evolution will have. if at some point we come to a technological standstill, evolution will take over. having these two poles certifies that as long as there is a need, progress will manifest. there won't ever be a time where progress stops; because it, like entropy, can only expand over time.

my point here is: no matter what happens to us, no matter what we do, progress will continue. there's no reason to dwell on these issues, because the balance will always restore itself in the end. it is only up to us whether we want to be part of that balance, or not.

Evolution isn't something that is triggered, it's a natural development over a long time. Those who are better suited genetically to thrive and reproduce do so. Those who are not die off and are removed from the gene pool. While it doesn't invalid the claim that evolution can stagnate due to technology, I think it has more to do with society.

We prop up the lazy, the stupid, the weak, the sickly, and extend that to their children as well. So we have genetic strands that should have died off that continue to propagate because most governments believe in equality for all. Don't mistake me as saying this is a bad thing to do, but it's not good for evolutionary direction. I just hope it doesn't end up like the movie Idiocracy. It's scary how out of all the visions of the future presented in entertainment, that one seems the most likely to come true.

The last boss made me laugh (

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lol @ the T800 Reapernator

), but overall, I really enjoyed this game. Sure, the story and characters seemed to take a step backwards, but the gameplay made a huge leap forward, and that's what counts, right?

The video and audio refuse to stay synced for me. :ssj:

Quote from D3ads

Bingo! It's a personal preference, one that i should be allowed to keep with, Steamworks pisses me off for this reason.

Couldn't you just plug in your PC to validate the initial install, then play offline? I know I never had issues playing HL2 on my laptop without an internet connection after the initial validation.

Quote from Mazy

Haha, totally, it's like a new dimension, or direction :G. Although Civilization is still one of my all time favorite game franchises, then it is starting to get kinda ridiculous with these new editions.

If you compare it to other long-running franchises, it's not that bad. Look at Tomb Raider, Resident Evil, Ultima, Final Fantasy, etc.

Alpha Centauri remake would be amazing.

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":lkog34rc]That's pretty cool man, but palm trees don't grow in the mountains so place them only when they make sense!

I dunno, HP. It looks like there are palm trees mixed in here, and I'm pretty sure I saw a few in the mountainous areas of the Caribbean Islands when I visited Jamaica and St. Thomas. It was years ago, so I might remember it wrong.

http://www.kriyayoga.com/wallpapers/phi ... c00753.jpg

http://www.kriyayoga.com/wallpapers/mou ... c00102.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/167/4655 ... 1177256550

http://www.kriyayoga.com/wallpapers/tro ... c03178.jpg

http://www.affordable-cruises-tours.com ... icture.jpg

Getting ready for March. I was too wrapped up in MMOs to play the originals in the PS2 days.

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Quote from D3ads

(although let's face it, MGS4 is worth the purchase of a PS3 alone!)

I'm through most of Act 3 so far, and I definitely wouldn't go that far. Hideo Kojima crossed the line between genius and insanity with MGS4.

I really enjoyed the Heavy Rain demo. I normally abhor QTE gameplay, but they threw in enough variation on it to make it interesting. The hill climbing part was surprisingly impressive. I'm tempted to fire up the demo and see what happens if I fail the hotel room fight though.

Quote from Furyo

The only way you'd have got that PC version in the first place was via a 1-man-2-weeks port of the X360 version anyway, were you actually expecting Microsoft to publish a PC game still?

I don't expect it at all these days. Most of the people I know who buy a PS3 over the 360 is because they feel they can get all the "360 exclusives" on PC. Outside of MGS games, they're pretty much correct.

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":1y4t6hx0]lol, shut up you hatter!

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* There will be a hardcore mode where the character must drink water to stay alive, ammo has weight, and healing isn't instant. Said Sawyer: "A lot of the things in Hardcore mode are also things that I personally wanted to play the game with. I realize not everyone does, but it's the only way I play it."

Sounds like they hired the guy who did the Fallout 3 Wanderers Edition mod, or ripped off his work.

http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=2761

Quote from Jenn0_Bing

Bioshock is probably one of my favourite first 1-3 hours of a game ever though. The opening and the decent to rapture was great, and learning all the mechanics through this period was exciting. But after those first few hours the game seemed to run out of new things to throw at you, apart from new environments to effectively do the same thing as the last one in. I kept playing because i found the world engaging, i jsut don't think the actual game play didn't update itself as well as the environment art. That being said, Bioshock is still one of the few games I've managed to finish almost in one go without a break in between, somethign kept pulling me back to it. I jsut don't think I'm ready to do it all over again, unless number 2 offers some significant new game play features. Bioshock is still one of my favourite games just for the world it's created within. Same with STALKER really, gameplay wise it stagnates pretty quickly, but it's the environment that carries me through those games. Better than games like Far Cry 2, where both the gameplay (which isn't even as complex to begin with) AND the art just repeat themselves.

I think it's just a problem with scary games in general. After the first few hours and a few scares, the effect starts to wear thin on me. I had the same issues with Doom 3 and Dead Space. Maybe it's just a psychological reaction to reject the immersion to avoid being drawn in so that when monsters jump out, it won't give that same mental shock as the first few good scares did. Thankfully, Bioshock laid off the "GOTCHA!" monster closet crack pipe a few hours in, leaving you with the corridor shooter and creepy atmosphere for most of the rest of the game.

I think one horror game that did a great job with being scary, but not overdoing the startle moments were the first 2 Silent Hill games. Perhaps it's the continual transitioning from creepy but relaxing foggy town to total nightmare that keeps things from getting stale.

Since this map should be beta ready this week, I thought I'd stop spamming the WIP thread with updated images. This level is a survival horror "boss fight" level, and is a bit of a re-imagining of introducing the berserker from Gears of War 1.

The beta is now available for download at ModDB: http://%7boption%7d

I learned a lot more about using the Unreal 3 editor making this map, like how to edit materials, creating cinematics with Matinee, streaming levels and scripting with streaming in mind, and even got some private tutoring to improve the lighting. I will post a gameplay video tomorrow night for those who want to see it but don't have GoW for the PC.

As always, I'd love to get candid and brutally honest feedback on areas that are lacking or look wrong, along with any commentary on how it plays from anyone who has a copy of the game.

I apologize in advance for the extra loading screen. I could not publish the map via cooking due to having "Editor only" assets as part of the map.

Starting area - Subway Platform:

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Hallway to station:

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Bottom floor of station:

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Boss arena:

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Sega should change their slogan to incorporate their decades of poorly attempting to follow Nintendo's direction. Only in a manner more clever than I'm capable of coming up with right now.

After being disappointed by KOTOR2 and NWN2, I'm not holding my breath that this will be any good. I loved Fallout 3, and hope Obsidian can do this installment some justice.

Took a break from ME2 this weekend to do a little more work. Think I'm finally happy with how it looks and just have some minor detailing to do to finish this off. C&C welcome as always.

Caved in subway tunnel:

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Dead Stranded on the platform:

[Blocked Image: http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww189/Hadishi_Serenius/Gears%20of%20War%20-%20Subway/DeadStranded.jpg]

Tunnel from the platform to the station:

[Blocked Image: http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww189/Hadishi_Serenius/Gears%20of%20War%20-%20Subway/CorridorToStation.jpg]

Slaughtered COG soldier room:

[Blocked Image: http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww189/Hadishi_Serenius/Gears%20of%20War%20-%20Subway/SlaughterRoom.jpg]

Boss arena:

[Blocked Image: http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww189/Hadishi_Serenius/Gears%20of%20War%20-%20Subway/BossArena1.jpg]

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Quote from Ginger Lord

Black Rock Studios, ace place. Now the waiting begins.

Incidentally a top tip I got in my interview (and hopefully bonus points from), straight from the company design director and franchise director; Designer's CV's should be 1 page. If you can't make your CV onto one page you're not a very good designer.

Most HR people will tell you for any profession to keep your resume at 1 page.

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":e75qzuih]

What do you use the second one for?

It's actually prolapsed bowel syndrome. Pay him no mind.

Well that went about how I expected it.