Last 20 Posts Last 20 Forums Posts http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:04:28 +0000 1 FFXIV http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4808-ffxiv/ Updated New stuff. TLDR: Verdict is at the bottom.

THE GOOD
  • The controls have been updated... sort of. WASD movement and MOUSE camera - hooray! However, it's still not quite perfect. The camera is jerky, and there is NO hardware mouse. What does this mean? While your frame rates are acceptable (it is a very taxing game), your mouse will still lag like a pot head IRL. Game-breaker? Possibly, but it's still playable considering that this is not a twitch game. 80% of the western (american) audience have been screaming for a hardware mouse option (which would essentially kill any mouse lag). However, Square-Enix gives not even one fuck.
  • The graphics are gorgeous. You may see some repeated background textures, or some popping, or some stretching - they're still beautiful.
  • Physics. Character models lean when they turn; hair and other clothing flow in the wind; armor and equipment move and rattle against each other as you move. A nice touch
  • Story driven, though slow to start.
  • Great animations, but a little generic.
  • Nice sense of "realistic" art style. Nothing like WoW, but nothing too "Bryce-y" like EQ2.
  • Voiced intro.
  • Quick/hot bar for skills and macros!
  • Pretty and slick looking GUI and elements are movable.
  • Linkshells (guilds) require no money and are very very simple and quick to create. Which is awesome, imo. I've always hated giant guild creation fees.
  • Spells can be toggled from single target to AOE.
  • I have no seen any zone loading

THE BAD
  • Little direction. There are no quest NPC icons; no quest helper; no... nothing. Just a journal and a map that only seems to work sometimes.
  • Underwhelming intro. Although it's voiced, your character mostly acts like a huge dazed and confused idiot. It didn't get me pumped to play at all.
  • Still too many small critter mobs. Call me crazy but I don't feel very heroic when I'm barely able to defeat a squirrel or crab like creature the size of ... well, a squirrel or a crab.
  • Software mouse. Noted above.
  • Boring combat. Though sometimes fun to watch, the combat may put you to sleep in the earlier parts of the game - just like FF11.
  • No auction house. Whoa... it's like a step back in time.
  • GUI... other than looking pretty, it's about as un-intuitive as you can get. So many hoops to jump through just to do the most simple and mundane tasks, but hey - like I said - there is a hot bar at least
  • Taxing system requirements. There is no reason why games need to be so poorly/overly optimized for PC. You can achieve great performance and great graphics all the same.
  • Instances.
  • Your character stops when you sheathe/unsheathe your weapons, which gets much more annoying as time goes on.
  • No pvp.
  • No jumping. You might not thinking this is a big deal... but it is. Trust me. (see below @ invisible walls).
  • No mana regeneration. You must complete a LeveQuest and interact with the crystal to refill your mana. (or replenish it with a spell - if you have one).
  • Spell casting is one step too many. Select mob -> click spell -> confirm?
  • Invisible walls. While not as bad as FF11, they're are still annoying.

THE UGLY
  • Feels like a half-assed console-to-pc port... and as far as I know - it is.
  • The game breaking fatigue system.

THE OLD VERDICT
Too early to say right now, but if they add hardware cursor support (which they have said they won't), then it would up my desire to purchase and play the game two-fold. Square-Enix and Ignorance go together like Ruffles and ranch dip. There is no end to their ego and they won't do what they know is best most of the time. However, the fact that they've even changed as much as they have with the controls does give me some hope. If anything, at this point, it might be a good time sink until the other triple-A titles hit next year.

UPDATED 9/3 HANDS-ON NOTES
The game fails on such petty and simple design flaws. Let me just explain my experience so far.

First let me say the class system is pretty awesome. You only need one character and you change your class whenever you want by simply swapping your weapons. When I equipment my 1handed sword, I'm a Gladiator, and as I level up my sword I gain sword skills and abilities. Then lets say I wanna level up a caster, so I equip my staff and I start leveling up my Caster skills, and the best part is, in the end, I can mix and match skills I've learned from both classes. Basically, you're defining your own class.

The flow of battle itself is sort of different from other MMOs. There is no Auto Attack you might be used to. Instead you are constantly using your skills (you only start out with one, but you get more pretty quickly). As you're fighting you use your Stamina to preform certain attacks (which regens fairly quickly to keep the flow of battler "faster"), and while this is going on you're also building up your TP gauge from successful attacks - which is used to preform more advanced and powerful techniques and attacks, but you have to be careful on which you choose because TP can go away quick. I found it to be a lot of fun and even a little more tactical than most of the combat we've seen from other games already.

As stated above - the graphics are awesome. I love the armor design. It's subtle yet can get epic looking. You won't be seeing massive shoulder pads that are twice the size of your character like you would in WoW, but you also won't be wearing multi-colored pajamas complete with slippers like you might see all too often in LOTRO. Instead you get a nice subtle yet badass looking effect. Even the starting gear was decent on the eyes.

Now lets talk about the questing. The starting quest line introduced me to the basics of the game with a lot of cut scenes. It was your run-of-the-mill newbie quests - go here, check out this place, you can buy stuff here, etc. It got me up to level 5~ish, and netted me about 30,000 gil. It also showed me where I can start doing LeveQuests - one of the new "main features" of the game. LeveQuests are basically a set of tasks you are given that come with a reward for completing each. You go up to this big crystal thing, you select one of the LeveQuests, and you go do what it tells you to do. There are sets of tasks for each profession (crafters/fighters/harvesters/etc). As a fighter my tasks were to go and kill a bunch of baddies... no surprise there. You're able to see what the reward is before you begin, but there is no reason to say no really because you don't get many quests to begin with, and no matter what it's still good exp.

You are also able to pick the difficulty - if you're alone you can pick 1 star which is solo. Or if you're feeling risky you can pick 2 stars or maybe even 3 (which is considered a difficulty standard for a group of players). The higher the difficulty the harder it is (duh) but you also get better rewards and exp. Basically, LeveQuests are a great way to level up solo or with friends.

BUT there is a catch, and it's a pretty big one at that. From level 1-10, I've only seen roughly 7 LeveQuests in total for two regions, and once you complete each one you cannot repeat them for another 42 hours IRL. WHY?

Well, I'm not interested in crafting, and there are no more story quests at the moment, so that leaves me with one option - aimlessly grind mobs out in the wilderness. No bueno.

However I have no idea if I can tag along for someone else' LevelQuests and if that is possible then that could help fill the void some until I can start getting more of my own. I've asked around to see if it's possible but haven't gotten a real answer back yet. Obviously this would cut XP but you should be able to offset that by upping the difficulty, and this would basically give you 2x the LeveQuests. Throw in another person and you now have 3x... you get the idea.

This issue alone is a game breaker for me. I was willing to look past the software mouse issue. I was willing to look past the awful menu structure, annoying controls and the lack of PVP... but the sudden loss of what I consider CONTENT completely stops the flow of the game for me. It makes me not want to play until my LeveQuest cooldown timer is up and THAT makes me feel like I'm playing a chore.

If it were 10 years ago and this we were talking about EQ, I wouldn't expect anything other than mob grinding for hours on end... but let's face it, there is a reason why we don't see this sort of shit happening anymore in the newer MMOs - because the majority of players don't want it - at least the western players, anyway.


UPDATED 9/3 - THE VERDICT (TL;DR start here)
It's like I said about SE and their ego... I don't see any of the mass complaints being addressed soon - or at all, even. So close yet so far. Assuming you can group up for extra LeveQuests and there are enough of them added to go around? Then yeah, I'd buy it, but that means I won't be playing unless I have a core group of friends with me... and with all the small annoyances that really don't have any real reason of being there in the first place, (such as no hardware mouse and stupid menu structure)... it might end up being more of a headache than a good time.

PS:
This is Square Enix' idea of a raging ram.
: monthly_09_2010/post-15-049099500 1283564089.jpg

UPDATED 9/5 - THE BAD KEEPS GETTING ...BADDER. WE HAVE FOUND THE GAME BREAKER.
Did I mention the fatigue system? Oh, I didn't? Well let me tell you about this little gem.
I'm just going to copy and paste the summery.

  • Players earn XP at 100% for the first 8 hours.
  • For 7 hours over this limit the XP received decreases to 0%.
  • The time limit for the playtime counter to reset is 1 week.
  • The XP gain limit is not tied to any class/job but is per character.
  • Drops and loot are not affected by the XP "fatigue."

So there you have it. The game breaker. I'll let that soak in a bit.

You get 8 hours of full exp a week. After that, you're penalized for playing.

...I just... I can't... ... words escape me. ]]> Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:04:28 +0000 http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4808-ffxiv/ Fantasy Hox http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4799-fantasy-hox/
We doin it this year?

WHY THE HELL NOT?!?!]]> Tue, 07 Sep 2010 22:02:13 +0000 http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4799-fantasy-hox/ Duke Nukem Forever Being Made By Competent Developers http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4809-duke-nukem-forever-being-made-by-competent-developers/ The Wall Street Journal (along with everyone else) reports that DNF (heh) will be released sometime this year.

I've got balls of steel.]]> Mon, 06 Sep 2010 23:28:59 +0000 http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4809-duke-nukem-forever-being-made-by-competent-developers/ SC2 http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4805-sc2/ b.net id: rbrad@ionet.net]]> Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:35:47 +0000 http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4805-sc2/ MORE WORMS http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4758-more-worms/
Worms Reloaded. None of the 3d shitty games that came after Armageddon did it for me but this on the other hand. Super pumped. ^_^]]> Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:48:04 +0000 http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4758-more-worms/ Happy Birthday Tickif! http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4803-happy-birthday-tickif/ Happy birthday!! Hope you are having a good one! Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:19:29 +0000 http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4803-happy-birthday-tickif/ :O http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4739-o/ http://www.babynames.com/name/BRENNAN

holy crap, he was doomed to be an emo kid form the beginning! :P]]> Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:56:00 +0000 http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4739-o/ Old tech, AWESOME stuff http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4766-old-tech-awesome-stuff/
SPACE INVADERS!

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4112/4845990043_6f3ee915e4_b.jpg

http://www.bitmob.com/articles/space-invaders-love-seat-most-innovative-nerd-furniture-ever]]> Sun, 29 Aug 2010 04:59:10 +0000 http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4766-old-tech-awesome-stuff/ anti-virus http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4784-anti-virus/ Sun, 29 Aug 2010 04:25:59 +0000 http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4784-anti-virus/ World Community Grid http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4636-world-community-grid/ World Community Grid. Run by IBM, it's a SETI@Home type of setup that uses PC's idle time to compute large problems, help solve diseases, etc.

I made a rift-tek team, so if you feel like signing up, be sure to join! http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/team/viewTeamInfo.do?teamId=DKP516CBX1]]> Sat, 28 Aug 2010 17:46:06 +0000 http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4636-world-community-grid/ Dorms http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4800-dorms/ ]]> Sat, 28 Aug 2010 17:44:24 +0000 http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4800-dorms/ Tasker http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4778-tasker/
The whole crux of the app is that it listens for events to happen - for you to come into a certain location, plug something in, a certain time to occur, whatever, and it lets you do damn near ANYTHING to your phone.

Example, I currently have 3 ... event-units setup that do a multitude of things.

1: I come within 200m of the coordinates for my house. My wifi radio turns on, and my cell phone ringer and notifications volume all turn to max. Usually when I come home from work, I forget all of these things. When I leave the house, it turns off the wifi only (an exit task). I'll manage the ringers myself. Now vic can't bitch when he calls me 95 times and I don't answer because I forgot to turn my ringer on when I came home from work friday and don't notice until sunday morning.

2: It gets to be 10:30pm. My cell phone ringer gets turned to max (in case of any emergencies), but my notifications get turned off. Now when Spex sents me raunchy cat pictures at night, it won't wake the lady of the manor up (aside: we're utter opposites in that regard - as soon as i fall asleep, I am dead to the world until about 4am, when a fly alighting on a car 3 blocks away can wake me up; however before morning, any noise at all will wake her up, until it's about 6 or 7am and starting to get light out, and then you need a bulldozer to shove her out of bed.) At 5:30, they all get turned back on again.

3: It gets to be 10:30pm and my cellphone is plugged in to power. The screen turns off autodim (a new feature in Froyo), manually dims the screen to a very low light threshhold (VERY low, like 20 of 255, so under 10%), then fires up the Clock-slash-Alarm application. It then refuses to let the screen turn off. Software dock, without having to purchase an actual dock! Win! Then if I wake up and need to see the time, the alarm is already ready to go, i just need to glance at it, but the light is so dim an LED can outshine it. At 5:30, or on unplug, it turns autodim back on, allows the screen to turn off, and that's that.

That's just for starters. I am going to create another event-unit in a few minutes that, when you plug in headphones into the jack, it pops up a menu asking you which Music app you want to start (the actual music app or Pandora or what).

Seriously, this app was WELL worth 5$.

As a point of conversation, android users - what apps can't you live without?]]> Sat, 28 Aug 2010 02:01:44 +0000 http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4778-tasker/ LOL GG NWN http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4801-lol-gg-nwn/ http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/neverwinter/news.html?sid=6274162&mode=previews&tag=topslot;thumb;1

How such a shitty company like Cryptic keeps getting these amazing titles is beyond me. There goes the NWN series.

Although I am a fan of 4th ed.]]> Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:08:07 +0000 http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4801-lol-gg-nwn/ Everyone Chip In! http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4796-everyone-chip-in/ http://cgi.ebay.com/VIDEO-GAME-STORE-/300454929728#ht_1198wt_1138

Only $30k for the store :D]]> Sun, 22 Aug 2010 21:06:46 +0000 http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4796-everyone-chip-in/ Diablo III GDC 2010 Artisan Video http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4797-diablo-iii-gdc-2010-artisan-video/ http://pc.gamespy.com/dor/objects/714955/diablo-iii/videos/gc10_diablo3_presentation_81810.html?show=hi

As excited as I am so far about the SW MMO I think I'm maybe twice as excited about Diablo III. Maybe it's because I remember how many hours in and out of college I sunk into Diablo and Diablo II. I have feeling that maybe along the lines of Starcraft II the core gameplay isn't going to change but fuck it's Blizzard so we know level of polish the game will have. :)]]> Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:49:27 +0000 http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4797-diablo-iii-gdc-2010-artisan-video/ Epic is the Dragon Age 2 trailer http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4794-epic-is-the-dragon-age-2-trailer/ ]]> Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:57:17 +0000 http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4794-epic-is-the-dragon-age-2-trailer/ 6GB HD http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4788-6gb-hd/
I don't remember if Seagates are better used as paper weights than HDs, or even if that price is good for a 6GB 2TB HD.

SO! I consult the oracles of hardwarez!!!!

SPEAK TO ME MIGHTY ORACLZ!!!]]> Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:39:09 +0000 http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4788-6gb-hd/ Levelling a girlfriend http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4783-levelling-a-girlfriend/ http://forums.rift-tek.net/public/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif

Quote


Levelling a girlfriend is, in many ways like levelling in an MMORPG, like World of Warcraft for example. At first you start off with small simple tasks or 'quests' that you carry out in a safe and relatively danger free zone. These 'quests' can be something simple like gathering plants or flowers, and returning them to the quest giver (your girlfriend) in return for small, token rewards, occasionally a few silver or a small trinket or bracelet. Often these quests will grant 'reputation' with your chosen faction which, again, can be turned in at a later date for huge rewards in return for your diligent service.

As you continue to level your girlfriend, you will notice that quests seem to get harder and harder, and take more time. Soon you will find yourself running all over the place to complete quests but you will notice that the levelling speed which seemed incredibly quick and gratifying at first begins to slow down. Getting from level 1 to level 3 was all done in one busy afternoon, but by the time your girlfriend reaches level 40, progress seems almost almost nonexistent by comparison. Furthermore, in order to remain up to the task of levelling your girlfriend you will need to invest large amounts of gold in order to maintain momentum. At some point you will also find out in no uncertain terms that your weapon is just not powerful enough and you will be expected to upgrade but this can be time consuming, even painful. You can make life easier by levelling your cooking skills.

Perseverance is key. By the time you near level 80 you will have seen almost everything your chosen girlfriend has to offer. You will be aware of all of her special abilities and your rotation should be down to a fine art. You could even consider group questing, but make sure your girlfriend is willing and able to do a 5 man, they can be quite messy at first but a skilled healer will ease your girlfriends initial damage mitigation. Remember, if you find yourself wiping, you're doing it wrong. Some elixirs can be really effective when trying to reach the last few levels though.

Sadly, when you have reached max level, it is often the case that the amount of gold and time you have to spend on your girlfriend can become tiresome and repetitive. At which point you might consider levelling an alt girlfriend. If you decide to do so, remember that alt girlfriends will expect you go through the entire levelling process again and it can be tricky to gain reputation with a new faction with which you are unfamiliar. Also, trying to sell your old girlfriend is highly illegal and will result in a permanent ban.

Good luck!

]]> Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:06:02 +0000 http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4783-levelling-a-girlfriend/ Foxy http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4780-foxy/ Mon, 16 Aug 2010 02:07:29 +0000 http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4780-foxy/ SC2 http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4736-sc2/ Played the Beta the majority of the time it was out and thought it has some great potential to be even better than the orig if they actually listen to a lot of the very very good balancing suggestions from testers.

So yea, who's gonna be "nuclear launch detected" some zerg on the 27th?]]> Sun, 15 Aug 2010 00:15:52 +0000 http://forums.rift-tek.net/index.php?/topic/4736-sc2/