Overwritten.net
Games => General Gaming => Topic started by: idolminds on Wednesday, May 30, 2012, 09:03:42 AM
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Hmmmm... (http://www.theverge.com/2012/5/30/3052191/doom-3-bfg-edition-announced-for-the-fall-we-try-it-with-john)
As for the game itself, Doom 3 BFG Edition will be available this fall for the Xbox 360, Windows PCs, and the PlayStation 3 — the first time a Doom game has been available for Sony's console. It'll include Doom 3 and the Resurrection of Evil add-on, both completely optimized for 3D, with 5.1 surround sound, Xbox 360 achievements and PS3 trophies as well. There's also seven new missions that Id's calling "The Lost Mission" which also is getting the full remaster treatment. To round out the package, Id is throwing in the original Doom and Doom 2 — making Doom 3 BFG Edition a comprehensive look at the franchise. There's no release date or pricing yet, aside from a planned fall launch.
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But perhaps most importantly, Xbox 360 players will be able to use their flashlight and gun at the same time, something that was not possible when the game was originally ported to the console, and which fans let id know was a problem.
http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/5/30/3051918/doom-bfg-edition-details
Not sure why it says specifically Xbox 360. Maybe they're considering it the lead platform for this release, and just throwing in PS3 an PC to cover everyone.
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I learned some Doom scripting just to add a flashlight to my weapons, complete with toggle switch. I remember I made the pistol's narrower and red. Wow, it has been long.
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With bringing Quake 4 back and Doom 3 back, Id Software must be looking to see if people are looking forward to Doom 4 & Quake 5...
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The answer is no.
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The answer is no.
There might be something wrong with me, but I am.
I actually still haven't played Doom 3 or Quake 4 (didn't even buy Q4), but am looking forward to Doom 4 and Quake 5. I don't know why. Even after Rage (which I sort of forgot about after the demo) I still somehow find myself excited about any id release.
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Meh for this and meh for any game id releases at this point.
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I can't say I'm not interested.
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I have tried a bunch of times to finish Doom 3, but I would always get distracted by something else. I wouldn't mind checking this out and maybe finally playing through the whole thing.
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I have tried a bunch of times to finish Doom 3, but I would always get distracted by something else. I wouldn't mind checking this out and maybe finally playing through the whole thing.
I finished Doom 3...
But for some reason, never played much of ROE expansion...
Even though I've had ROE [from retail] for a LONG time.
EDIT:
Seems as appropriate as anywhere to place this...
GameSpy -> A bunch of mods they recommend for Doom 3 PC. (http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/doom-3/1224919p1.html)
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Doom 3: BFG Edition coming October 16th. (http://www.gamespot.com/news/doom-3-bfg-edition-releases-october-16-6383359)
PC Version = $30
Console Versions (X360 and PS3) = $40.
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GameTrailers -> PC version of Doom 3: BFG Edition will NOT have any MP included for this edition's versions of Doom 1 & 2. (http://www.gametrailers.com/side-mission/28436/doom-3-bfg-editing-makes-a-very-strange-multiplayer-choice?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook)
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I'm willing to bet that the versions of Doom I and II that come with the BFG edition are pretty much the same thing you got on disk back in the day when you bought them. They probably DO support multiplayer, but over LAN or modem. To have those 2 games easily playable over the internet would require adding on internet support, or dealing with a third party to license something used in one of the source ports. None of this is baffling to me, it just means they didn't want to put in extra effort for those 2 older games, just like how they didn't build support into them for the Occulus Rift.
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They probably still use the old IDX protocol. As long as it has some form IP connect multiplayer people can make it work. Maybe id meant they won't officially support any multiplayer for them.
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Maybe id meant they won't officially support any multiplayer for them.
Yea this is what I'm thinking the case will be. The reason there's official support for MP on those two for PS3 and Xbox is that they've been released on those platforms digitally. I wouldn't be surprised if the copies that come in this package are downloadable codes and not actually on the disc.
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Hmm. I could potentially be interested in this. I already have everything, but if the remastered stuff is actually worthwhile, it might be less clunky than the mods I've been using. And I do want to go through it all again.
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Bumpity with interesting article: http://www.vg247.com/2012/09/05/doom-3-bfg-edition-not-a-rehash-id-not-a-fan-hd-collections/
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Man, I am wanting that.
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Me too. Especially at 30 bucks. New levels, updated graphics, engine and design tweaks? Yay!
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So I just got my Xbox 360 copy. I installed to the hard drive, launched it, and decided to start up Doom 1 to see if it was the same as the XBLA version. I got this message:
This content cannot be accessed when DOOM 3: BFG Edition is installed on your Xbox 360 HDD. To access this content, please uninstall this game from your HDD and play it from the game disc. :troll:
WHAT?! How does that make ANY sense at all?
So in the interest of thoroughness I uninstalled it to try again. It launched Doom, which seems identical to the XBLA version. It even has my saves from playing the XBLA version. It also uses the same achievement list as the XBLA version, as I've got some unlocked already. It has an "exit game" option on the main menu just like all XBLA games, and exiting takes me to my Xbox dashboard, not back to Doom 3 BFG. So yes, the copies of Doom 1 and Doom 2 are the XBLA versions, just with the extra step of putting a disc in and starting that up to launch them. Now I can reinstall since I know I'll probably never run them from the disc.
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I'm confused. Are you saying you can't play Doom 1 & 2 unless you uninstall Doom 3 BFG? Or are you saying you can still play the Xbla versions regardless? But are those freely accessible, or do you have to buy them additionally? Playing a full game from DVD is no longer desirable to me. I'm too spoiled by the install option.
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Let us know how it is. I've only seen one review thus far, and it... wasn't positive. He particularly lamented that on 360 the audio was completely fucked, but didn't seem to be reviewing any of the other versions. He did say that Doom 1 and 2 have no multiplayer of any kind of PC, and that the coop version of Doom 3 that came with the game on 360 originally is gone from *all* versions. Which is fucking retarded.
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Doom 3: runs regardless of install
Doom 1 and 2 from BFG disc: only run if the game is not installed to the HDD
Doom 1 and 2 XBLA versions: run regardless of BFG disc install, but you have to have bought them separately
I was on Minecraft for a while (new update for the XBL version today) so I'm just now starting a game up on D3. So far it's Doom 3. Same graphics, same intro areas and dialogue. The movement is definitely ripped straight from Rage. The weight of your character and the feel of looking around with the controller feels exactly like Rage.
The reason for the lack of co-op is because the original had no co-op. Vicarious Visions ported it to Xbox and changed a bunch of stuff around to make co-op work. for the BFG edition, id took the original PC code and ported it themselves, with some stuff from Rage (like the player movement). To include co-op they would have had to either rework a bunch of stuff like Vicarious Visions did, or use the VV versions of the levels. I can see why they didn't include co-op. I do wish they had, but I sort of get why they didn't. Using drastically altered levels wouldn't be faithful to the original. The biggest complaints I've heard about the BFG edition so far is that they didn't improve the graphics for Doom 3, but I never expected them to. I expected something true to the original, and that's what this is.
EDIT: They did say they updated the game to make it slightly more playable (which either means easier, or less annoying, depending on how you look at it). One thing they mentioned was more ammo lying around in better places. One thing I just noticed, and this may be a one time hint: I got to the first storage cabinet that you need a code to open, and a tip popped up telling me whose log to listen to for the code. EDIT: Nevermind, it only did it with the first one.
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(http://i.imgur.com/XTIkF.png?1)
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The flashlight is off-center. It's driving me batty.
(http://i.minus.com/ib1mpWrBrHGHuT.png)
Also, there's still plenty of flashlight management. It's got a draining battery so you have to turn it off from time to time. I timed it. It takes 30 seconds to run out, and fully recharges in 2.5 seconds. Somehow I still feel like I need to manually switch it off all the time so it's got juice when I really need it though.
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Doom 3: runs regardless of install
Doom 1 and 2 from BFG disc: only run if the game is not installed to the HDD
Doom 1 and 2 XBLA versions: run regardless of BFG disc install, but you have to have bought them separately
. . .
Bummer! Thanks for clarifying anyway.
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Bethesda suggests NOT installing it to HDD on 360. (http://www.nowgamer.com/news/1637645/bethesda_we_recommend_not_installing_doom_3_bfg.html)
Not only does it make it so you cant play Doom 1 or 2, there are apparently no performance enhancements for doing so either. Seems like a weird setup.
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No optical-drive spin and grind is a huge hardware saver, and as I said above, I can't see playing games that way anymore. I'm too spoiled by the install option. They say there's no performance enhancement, but that sounds like a company line to me, to smooth over the problem involving the other games. One real solution here would be to give out codes so we can acquire the XBLA versions freely.
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Or patch it. Why would installing it make those unplayable? Its such a weird issue.
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Or patch it. Why would installing it make those unplayable? Its such a weird issue.
Must be the megatextures.
[shrug]
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Must be the megatextures.
[shrug]
I was reading earlier that the textures in the BFG edition use the same file type as the megatextures from Rage. this is one of the reasons mods for vanilla Doom 3 don't work with the BFG Edition.
Also, I just read that you can launch Doom 1 and 2 even if the BFG Edition is installed, by launching them from your games library. You'll probably have to run them each once from the disc to get them into your games history, install, then run them from the library. I can't really test this because I own both XBLA versions which are the same as the BFG versions.
EDIT: Also apparently Doom 1 and 2 are slightly edited for the BFG release. The health packs have a pill on them instead of a plus, because the Red Cross doesn't like people using anything that looks like their symbol. Also, the Wolfenstein levels in Doom 2 have had all their nazi imagery removed and replaced with mostly blank walls, and nazi troops have been replaced with Doom enemies.
Doom 1 XBLA still has red crosses and an Activision splash on startup, since it was released before Bethesda bought id. Doom 2 has red pill icons and a Bethesda splash. I'm assuming Doom 2 XBLA does have the Wolfenstein levels edited as well.
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I just read the same thing re the install problem in the comments to the story at vg247.
No Problem here. Just install Doom 3 BFG on HDD, leave the DVD in the X360 and start Doom 1+2 over the Dashboard at “My Games”. Only the Doom 3 Launcher is broken.
That makes some sense at least. I can't see why the simple act of installing D3 would innately affect the behavior of D1 & 2. I guess it doesn't. Only the package's launcher for the older games has issues.
Edit: Doom 2 has pills instead of crosses in the trial version I've had on my drive for a long time. I think I even commented about it in here, somewhere.
Edit 2: Found it.
Yeah, I saw that earlier. Not surprised. And my version predates pussification, so I don't care.
Did anyone notice that the crosses on health boxes in XBLA Doom II were replaced with some oval bullshit? Pussies, all of them business types.
Pussies! :D
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Haha!
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GiantBomb -> 45 min Quicklook on Doom 3: BFG Edition. (http://www.giantbomb.com/quick-look-doom-3-bfg-edition/17-6701/)
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Wait, wasn't it a medical cross? What the fuck? That doesn't even make sense.
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Wait, wasn't it a medical cross? What the fuck? That doesn't even make sense.
What is the significant Section of the U.S. Legal Restriction?
It is contained in Section 706, Title 18, U.S. Criminal Code, part 18 which reads as follows: "Whoever, whether a corporation, association or person, other than the American National Red Cross and its duly authorized employees and agents and the sanitary and hospital authorities of the armed forces of the United States, uses the emblem of the Greek red cross on a white ground, or any sign or insignia made or colored in imitation thereof or the words ‘Red Cross’ or ‘Geneva Cross’ or any combination of these words- "Shall be fined..."
Source: redcross.org (http://chapters.redcross.org/ok/okc/OKCBombingRecovery/emblem.htm)
There's a lot in the link. Basically the red cross symbol and name are supposed to be an international symbol of mercy. To maintain it as such, it is not allowed to be used without permission. though I think it's odd that a medkit in a game can't have a red cross on it. Isn't that promoting the use of it as a symbol of healing the ill/injured? Of course, I guess you do just grab a health pack and then continue blasting baddies.
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So you change the color to brown? Too close? How about blue? There's more to it than that, not that I think it's OK to be restricted like that on such a simple symbol. (If there was anything unique about the design, I could see some TM-type protections.) The cowardice surrounding crosses in games is something I really didn't want to see again after the Castlevania-4 alterations for the US version.
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Master Disks for Doom 1:
(http://yfrog.com/scaled/landing/859/o42ak.jpg)
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<joke about 5 inch floppy>
Interesting tidbit: Steam no longer sells the original Doom 3 by itself. The only way to get it on there now is via the big Super id Pack.
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<joke about 5 inch floppy>
Interesting tidbit: Steam no longer sells the original Doom 3 by itself. The only way to get it on there now is via the big Super id Pack.
WTF??!?!
They should sell BOTH versions!
Doom 3 (Old) has mods galore out for it!
Good thing I own original Doom 3 + ROE from Retail already.
Doom 3: BFG doesn't support many mods, hell if any mods - since it's on the new Id Tech 5 (RAGE's Engine).
Is Doom 3 original not being sold b/c of the issues w/ Red Cross?
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BFG Edition should have been a free gift for anyone who already bought Doom 3, or at least give them a huge discount like 75% off or something.
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IGN's -> 7.6 (out of 10). (http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/10/25/doom-3-bfg-edition-review)
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GiantBomb -> 3 stars (out of 5) for Doom 3: BFG Edition - reviewed by Brad Shoemaker. (http://www.giantbomb.com/doom-3/61-14537/reviews/)
The Lost Mission is not the reason to own the BFG Edition. In addition to the ubiquitous monster closets and red-flash teleporter spawns, the two previous games featured just enough custom-designed action moments and unique enemy entrances to keep things entertaining. Hell, Doom 3 was pretty much the first game to have enemies tearing their way through level geometry in the first place. The Lost Mission has none of that. Its levels feel boxier, more generic, one room of enemy spawns after another stitched together in a fairly uninteresting way. There's a shred of boilerplate story with a few minutes of new voiceover and one character who appears briefly, but none of it is engaging. It's also well on the short side, as it took me only around three hours on the hardest difficulty to get through--though, as repetitive as even I found the enemy encounters toward the end, maybe that's a blessing.
The flashlight also bafflingly doesn't cast any shadows off the environment, enemies, or anything else, which may sound like an obscure technical thing but was also instrumental in establishing the visual mood of Doom 3. These changes don't destroy the tension--I still let out a couple of involuntary yelps here and there when a maggot snuck up behind me--but why there's not at least a menu option for classic flashlight mode, I have no idea. There are hardly options for anything, even basic functionality like subtitles, and on the PC, where you expect a healthy set of graphics options but will find none, that's especially damning.
I had planned to end this review with a recommendation that, if you don't need 3D or Rift support, you just stick with the regular Doom 3, which is highly moddable and which any modern PC will run perfectly fine. But the original game is no longer available for sale on Steam outside of the hundred-dollar id collection, meaning the BFG Edition is the best you're going to do right now if you want to buy a new copy of a shooter that, for better or worse, ranks among the most hyped video game releases of all time.
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I honestly have no idea why we are talking about this game so much.
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I honestly have no idea why we are talking about this game so much.
Yeah, you do!
It's from the legendary Doom series & legendary Id Software.
Need we say much more than that?
[shrug]
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Yes, it is legend-ary.
"ary" (pronounced airy) in colloquial Arabic means "my dick." So, yeah id are trying really hard to milk it since they can't come up with anything else. How long did it take them to come up with RAGE? And they still fumbled that one!
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Yes, it is legend-ary.
"ary" (pronounced airy) in colloquial Arabic means "my dick." So, yeah id are trying really hard to milk it since they can't come up with anything else. How long did it take them to come up with RAGE? And they still fumbled that one!
I live just outside a town called Mount Airy. I don't think I'll ever NOT think of it as Dick Mountain now.
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I live just outside a town called Mount Airy. I don't think I'll ever NOT think of it as Dick Mountain now.
Hahaha awesome! ;D Even "Mount My Dick" :P
I'd like to apologize/be content for ruining/enhancing that landmark for you.
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Haha! My first apartment was in Mount My Dick Forest then.
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LMFAO @ the last 4 posts ;D
EDIT:
GiantBomb -> Id Software is "looking into" possibly getting Doom 3 (original) back up on Steam. (http://www.giantbomb.com/news/vanilla-doom-3-to-be-available-for-purchase-again/4429/)
Unfortunately, the ability to purchase the original DOOM 3 was removed from Steam and other services with the launch of DOOM 3: BFG Edition. You can technically still purchase the original DOOM 3, but that requires ponying up $100 for the complete id Software collection on the service.
It's not something that will change in the next few minutes, but id Software told me it’s working on a fix.
“We do realize that there are fans that would like to purchase the original version of the game, and we’re looking into options for them,” said the company in a statement. “When there’s new info to share, we’ll let everyone know.”
If you already own the original DOOM 3, you can still access that in your Steam library.
One of the primary reasons you’d want the original DOOM 3 is because it’s moddable, whereas DOOM 3: BFG Edition is not. That will be an option when the DOOM 3: BFG Edition source code is released “in the near future.”
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Github -> Doom 3: BFG Edition (PC) - GPL Source Code Released. (https://github.com/id-Software/DOOM-3-BFG)
BethBlog -> New Title Update released for Doom 3: BFG Ed. (http://www.bethblog.com/2012/11/26/source-code-and-title-update-for-bfg-edition/)
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I'm gonna randomly bump this super old thread just to say that the regular, non BFG edition of Doom is is available on Steam again, and so is the Resurrection of Evil addon. They can be bought separately, or as a bundle together: http://store.steampowered.com/sub/425/
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I'm gonna randomly bump this super old thread just to say that the regular, non BFG edition of Doom is is available on Steam again, and so is the Resurrection of Evil addon. They can be bought separately, or as a bundle together: http://store.steampowered.com/sub/425/
Would be nice to get a killer sale or a killer Id Humble Bundle with say a lot of the old Doom + Quakes for Steam...or hell, GOG if they so desire.
Sure, I have all or most of this stuff already from Retail on discs and all - but would be nice to stick it right onto Steam or GOG. I don't always want to deal w/ multiple disc installs, any CD protection (if it's still there and still not patched-out), or any other nonsense.
One good thing about owning Doom 3 BFG is it comes w/ Doom 1+2 - so yeah, you can play those as is and/or use those WADS for Source Ports, if need be.
I'm glad Doom 3 Non-BFG versions of the base-game + RoE are back up. It really annoys me when companies decide to de-list OLD versions of their games and no longer sell them on Steam, just like what Deep Silver is planning to do with original versions of Dead Island + Riptide, once the Definitive Editions come out.
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At some point I picked up all the Doom and Quake games on Steam. Probably during one of the Bethesda sales. The only things I'm missing are the original Doom 3+RoE, and the new Doom (I got it on Xbox). Oh and Quake 4, because it's not on Steam.
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At some point I picked up all the Doom and Quake games on Steam. Probably during one of the Bethesda sales. The only things I'm missing are the original Doom 3+RoE, and the new Doom (I got it on Xbox). Oh and Quake 4, because it's not on Steam.
Actually, Q4 is on Steam. Did you miss it?
QUAKE IV is over here on Steam:
http://store.steampowered.com/app/2210/
Cheapest Q4 Steam-version has been is $5. Keep your eyes peeled, in case it hits again:
ITAD (IsThereAnyDeal.com) page for Q4's history on pricing. (https://isthereanydeal.com#/page:game/info?plain=quakeiv)
Also, Bundle Stars has had in the past a Quake Pack (which has everything from Q1 to Q4) on sale for $10 before:
https://isthereanydeal.com/specials/#/search:%23%3A2768;/scroll:%23gamelist
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I'm not sure how I missed that. I even have it on my wishlist, hahaha.
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@W7RE
LOL at that. :)
Hey, nobody's perfect. I have like around 900 games on Steam wishlisted, so I don't always remember what I have for wish-listed games! :)
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GameInformer -> "Opinion: Doom 3 Is a Bloody, Forgotten Gem." (http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2016/05/19/in-defense-of-doom-3.aspx?utm_content=bufferd944d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer)
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They basically say the issue with Doom 3 is that it's a Doom game in name, and I agree. It's a good game, and pushed tech for it's time, it's just not close enough to what the other Doom games were. I highly recommend watching "In Defense of Doom 3" by Noah Caldwell-Gervais. (and all his other videos too)
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I only had one main problem with Doom 3: despite all the technological advancement it never occurred to anyone in its universe to provide any form of illumination to the security forces beyond supplying them with an 80's era massive flashlight. Even then, none of them, NONE, thought to duct-tape this flashlight to anything (helmet, shoulder, gun, etc.).
The obvious reason is that Id decided to implement a flimsy gampley mechanic to enhance the fear factor. Instead of adding to my experience it just forced me to increase my screen brightness, until someone made a mod that turns the flashlight into a shoulder lamp and can be activated while wielding any weapon.
Other than that, it's an awesome game.
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Back when Doom 3 came out people thought the flashlight limitation was a performance thing, but id insisted that it was a gameplay decision. Then when BFG edition came out, suddenly they lightened the whole game up, gave an "anytime" flashlight, and I'm pretty sure I even remember someone from id (maybe Carmack) confessing that the original flashlight stemmed from performance issues with the flashlight and shadows. Changing the mechanic for the new release is in my opinion evidence that it wasn't a purely gameplay driven thing. Add to that the fact that they changed the flashlight to not cast shadows for the BFG edition. They also removed the muzzle flashes, which lit up the environment when you shot your guns. (Though they didn't cast shadows, at least for enemies. Maybe environmental shadows.)
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Was the BFG Edition done in IdTech 5?
Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
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Was the BFG Edition done in IdTech 5?
Yes, or at least partially: http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Tim-Willits-Doom-3-BFG-Edition-FPS-PC-Gaming,17415.html
"It’s not just Doom 3 – that’s what we’re keen to make sure everybody knows," Willits said. "We’re doing more with Doom 3 BFG than just re-releasing the original. We’ve actually put a heck of a lot of Rage tech into the Doom 3 engine to kind of modernize the game."
As an example, the team tossed in the Rage input control and checkpoints. They also updated the lighting so it's brighter throughout the game, changed the annoying flashlight, tweaked the ammo, and even implemented the Rage network layer to make it run faster at low latency. There's also 3D support, and multi-display support for the PC platform.
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I have never understood the complaints about the flashlight in either direction. I played original Doom 3 vanilla, I played through BFG, those games play almost identically. Maybe you lose some tension in BFG because it makes the game easier than it already was (let's face it, the enemy AI in Doom 3 is fucking terrible), but my experience with both those versions is pretty well the exact same thing.
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It just seemed like a silly limitation. Any decked-out marine is going to be able to shine a light into the darkness, with or without a ready weapon. I know we've discussed it before. I modded the duct-tape mod back when, to produce different-sized and different-colored light spots, depending on the weapon held. Pistol had a smallish red spot, IIRC.
Edit: No results here for previous conversations, and after looking up the game's initial release date, I can see why. We weren't here yet. Makes sense too. My last upgrade to PC-gaming standards was in 2005. Doom 3 may have been one of the last big games I played on PC.
Edit 2: Took me a while to find, but here is the invisionfree thread (http://z7.invisionfree.com/The_Minds_Eye/index.php?showtopic=1784) I was vaguely remembering. If anyone wants to see all the Doom 3 topics from 12 (!) years ago, go to the last page of the gaming forum there (April 2004) and work your way back to July (Page 98 for me).
Edit 3: And here (http://z7.invisionfree.com/The_Minds_Eye/index.php?showtopic=2005). It's a shame none of my links work anymore. Damn Warner Cable for taking away the user storage, and me for relying on a dodgy ftp server at home. I can't find any of those images, and the modded mod--which I remember worked great--now is probably gone forever.
One more good thread. (http://z7.invisionfree.com/The_Minds_Eye/index.php?showtopic=1830&st=0)
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Ah the memories :) I miss those old message boards.
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Man, trip down memory lane. Thanks Cobra. Except for the part where you reminded me of what an idiot I was a decade ago. haha ... I do hope I've done some growing.
We really have been together a long time, haven't we?
I distinctly remember that conversation about sound there, and your comments on stereo depth, Cobra. I'd never thought about stereo sound methods of that nature at that point, where it's such an obvious thing to me now. Devil Daggers is a great example, a game that requires good use of audio cues to pinpoint enemy positions, and I've never played it with surround sound. In fact, I really didn't use those surround headphones I had all that much and eventually just went back to good 'ol stereo. And I never have any inclination to do otherwise these days.
My thoughts on Doom 3 remain similar. The gameplay really hasn't aged well at all (I just went through BFG like a week before the new one came out), but the tension and atmosphere are still great, and I still really like the more self-serious take on Doom. It's not what I wanted from a new game, so I'm glad the new one went back to the well, but I enjoyed the Doom 3 experience for what it was. At the time, it truly did set a new level of immersion. I may have told the story in one of those threads, but it was the first game I ever had a true panic attack in during a setup where imps warp in after you pick something up. It's totally obvious, and I saw it coming even then, but I was so bought in to the environment and atmosphere that I literally panicked and started flailing at the controls trying to get to a safer position. Despite its age, the game still looks good and one can appreciate the parts that do hold up better.
Still was never bothered by the flashlight thing, and BFG felt a bit like it was missing something without it, especially given that the core shooting doesn't hold up so well now. I agree that it was always conceptually silly, but I thought it was an interesting and fun design choice.
But yeah, the game doesn't play much differently either way. I used a mod that improved the enemy AI a bit and made the game a bit harder, but the gunplay still felt pretty weak. Yet I had a great time going through it again even despite that.
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Looking at what I wrote on surround sound, I don't think I can blame you for not knowing what I was on about. Although I mentioned phase cancellation early on, I didn't really get into any details about how manipulating the phase of a sound played on properly phased stereo speakers (they push air at the same time on mono content, pull it at the same time) leads to the brain interpreting its location, including in front or behind.
I also noticed with some dismay that I was sharper back then. I could form sentences to express myself more quickly and confidently than I can now. I was cognizant of more details at any given time. I'm going to take the blame for most of that. I think it's more letting myself go (intellectually) than aging, not that I'm sure. I used to exercise my mind a lot when I was working in software development. Now, it sort of just loafs along.
As W7RE says further up (in this current thread), it turns out alternating flashlight and shooting was a decision influenced more by performance limitations than gameplay design. Now, of course, it no longer matters, and it's a question of preference. Hardware has gotten immensely more powerful.