Doom III - summer 2004!

[TheShadow]

It does get a bit too predictable when you've been playing for quite some time.

Still, it's a great SP game, but I've no doubt HL2 will better it.

[TheBlueRaja]

The thing is - this is classic doom with fancy graphics and sound. Nothing more nothing less.

IMO - thats good enough.

But HL2 will be better - was that in any doubt though (well it better be).

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by theblueraja

The thing is - this is classic doom with fancy graphics and sound. Nothing more nothing less.

IMO - thats good enough.

But HL2 will be better - was that in any doubt though (well it better be).

I'm looking forward to HL2 much more than I was looking forward to Doom III, I played the leaked alpha and was pretty impressed, more than I was with the Doom alpha, the beach environment even though it was missing a lot of textures was excellent, with far better physics than Doom.

[TheBlueRaja]

Originally Posted by Bifta

I'm looking forward to HL2 much more than I was looking forward to Doom III, I played the leaked alpha and was pretty impressed, more than I was with the Doom alpha, the beach environment even though it was missing a lot of textures was excellent, with far better physics than Doom.

Played the doom alpha and thought it was - well - an alpha... The graphics at the time blew me away though - even though my system at the time grinded to a hault running it.

HL2 Beta - never played it - didnt want too - i want that baby to be "fresh" the first time it loads.

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by theblueraja

Played the doom alpha and thought it was - well - an alpha... The graphics at the time blew me away though - even though my system at the time grinded to a hault running it.

HL2 Beta - never played it - didnt want too - i want that baby to be "fresh" the first time it loads.

If it's anything like the alpha, everyone is in for treat, it was excellent and ran superbly on lower spec hardware.

[jamesclarke555]

Originally Posted by Bifta

If it's anything like the alpha, everyone is in for treat, it was excellent and ran superbly on lower spec hardware.

The Half-Life 2 beta leak was alright, but I can't believe how unfinished it was though, missing textures everywhere, most levels wouldn't even load etc. Wasn't the leak date stamped in August 2003 or something? Yet Valve/Gabe Newell still claimed September 30th as a valid release date, when they knew it was never gonna be finished in time. And here we are almost a year later and where is it? Don't get me wrong, I would rather wait for a more polished product than a rush job, it's just the lies I can't stomach. Did anyone else notice in the leak, you could only select OpenGL from the drop down menu, yet the game is touted as DX9!

[Richard M]

Originally Posted by jamesclarke555

Did anyone else notice in the leak, you could only select OpenGL from the drop down menu, yet the game is touted as DX9!

So is Doom.
DirectX is more than just Direct3D - it's sound (for 5.1/7.1 support), DirectInput, DirectPlay (chat and multiplayer) and quite a bit more.
They probably mean it uses DirectX 9 hardware features like advanced Pixelshader, just like Doom does, but in the OpenGL API.

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by jamesclarke555

The Half-Life 2 beta leak was alright, but I can't believe how unfinished it was though, missing textures everywhere, most levels wouldn't even load etc. Wasn't the leak date stamped in August 2003 or something? Yet Valve/Gabe Newell still claimed September 30th as a valid release date, when they knew it was never gonna be finished in time. And here we are almost a year later and where is it? Don't get me wrong, I would rather wait for a more polished product than a rush job, it's just the lies I can't stomach. Did anyone else notice in the leak, you could only select OpenGL from the drop down menu, yet the game is touted as DX9!

Well from the net last week the game is finished and sent to the publisher for final checks then duplication. Also some show or other has a proper playable version at it this weekend I think. So maybe it will actually come out in september this year!!

[jamesclarke555]

Originally Posted by Richard M

So is Doom.
DirectX is more than just Direct3D - it's sound (for 5.1/7.1 support), DirectInput, DirectPlay (chat and multiplayer) and quite a bit more.
They probably mean it uses DirectX 9 hardware features like advanced Pixelshader, just like Doom does, but in the OpenGL API.

Yeah, I know what DirectX is

First off, Doom3 should not be classed as DX9 at all, it's OpenGL 1.5.

Secondly the finished version of Half-Life 2 will actually use both API's, but is Direct3D/DX9 by nature and default. Plus do you really think HL2 would be faster on ATI hardware if it were OpenGL only? The choice of DX9 just wasn't available for some reason on the leak.

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by jamesclarke555

Yeah, I know what DirectX is

First off, Doom3 should not be classed as DX9 at all, it's OpenGL 1.5.

Secondly the finished version of Half-Life 2 will actually use both API's, but is Direct3D/DX9 by nature and default. Plus do you really think HL2 would be faster on ATI hardware if it were OpenGL only? The choice of DX9 just wasn't available for some reason on the leak.

But it is DX9, it's just doesn't use the Direct3d component of DX9. (or something)

Well I'm not gonna say much, but I'm gonna have a look at doom 3 tonight.

I am not expecting much, fancy gtraphics etc dont impress me that much. If it is essentially doom 1 and 2 then I'll be much annoyed, a re-hash and sold at full price is in my oppinion wrong.

HL2, well it looks fancy, but I still say its also gimmicky. I wasnt that impressed with HL anyway so HL2 doesnt have much to beat.

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by timewarrior2001

Well I'm not gonna say much, but I'm gonna have a look at doom 3 tonight.

I am not expecting much, fancy gtraphics etc dont impress me that much. If it is essentially doom 1 and 2 then I'll be much annoyed, a re-hash and sold at full price is in my oppinion wrong.

HL2, well it looks fancy, but I still say its also gimmicky. I wasnt that impressed with HL anyway so HL2 doesnt have much to beat.

The graphics are amazing looking but also the atmosphere along with the music will keep you playing. I found my self getting scared but kept reaching the end of the level and having another go just to see what is around the next corner. This should keep me busy till HL2 any way.

As for it simply being Doom 1 & 2 'rehashed' this is un true. It is however a retelling of the doom story as though the first 2 did not exist.

[Jon M]

I've seen a lot of reports of big FPS lag reductions when changing these config values :
"seta image_cacheMegs" change the number value to roughly 1/4 of your available ram (512 = 128, or 1GB = 256)
†œseta image_useCacheâââ₠¬Ã…¡Ã‚¬Ã‚ÂÂÂ� to †œ1âà ¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚ÂÂÂ�
†œseta image_CacheMinKâââ₠¬Å¡Ã‚¬Ã‚ÂÂ� to †œ20480â € �

*Note it won't give you an increase in FPS.. it may however enable you to run a higher resolution/detail setting without stuttering. (lag spikes)

Anyone tried these yet? I'll be testing when I get home.

[jamesclarke555]

Originally Posted by Bifta

But it is DX9, it's just doesn't use the Direct3d component of DX9. (or something)

I'm talking graphically here, in reference to Richards post about pixelshaders etc.

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by jamesclarke555

I'm talking graphically here, in reference to Richards post about pixelshaders etc.

Don't look at me! I don't know what I'm talking about