I think what they are getting at is that those are *not* a true indication of how well a game is running. I have a Ti4600 that is both running in an overclocked system and overclocked itself, yet I do not have any problems with the game. Does this mean that anybody that does have problems surely screwed up their computer or does not know how to maintain their computer? Absolutely not.

Unfortunately, there are times where the things simply do not work, irregardless of what you try and do. Why? There are so many possible reasons-everything from a corrupt entry to having just a little too much thermal grease on your processor. Heck, maybe a spider built a web in your heatsink's fan; I have seen that on more than one occasion.

As for the boards, there have already been a number of changes to the retail game (although, admittedly, the general user would not have a way of knowing about or using these unless they had the retail version) and most people do not post on the boards unless they specifically have a problem. Heck, take a look at something like Quack Quake 3; this game has been out for a long time, has been patched repeatedly, and is (essentially) the standard for OGL applications/driveres, yet I am sure the message boards are full of people having problems with the game.

I think that UT2K3 could use some more tweaking and they have already fixed a number of bugs/crashes for the retail release, but it does not appear that there are any rampant problems...

Thinking that I may pick up B1942 today, still having yet to play the demo,
Ray

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just say no to anonymous posting registered trolls!

I've never bothered responding to trolls before, but you, sir, are an arse. I have played both games, and enjoy both games. Is that so hard to comprehend?

Fook'n UT 2003 SUCKS...... Spend your cash on Battlefield 1942! Fook'n UT 2003 SUCKS...... Spend your cash on Battlefield 1942! Fook'n UT 2003 SUCKS...... Spend your cash on Battlefield 1942! Fook'n UT 2003 SUCKS...... Spend your cash on Battlefield 1942! Fook'n UT 2003 SUCKS...... Spend your cash on Battlefield 1942! Fook'n UT 2003 SUCKS...... Spend your cash on Battlefield 1942! Fook'n UT 2003 SUCKS...... Spend your cash on Battlefield 1942!

Mmm... <drooling>

Alas, the price is too high for how little I would use it. I generally do not need to transport things physically. If and when I do, I usually need some type of re-write ability; as embarassing as it is to admit, my Zip 250 more than covers everything.

Likewise, I have looked into using the memory cards for transport and writing, but I already have the zip drive as do most of my associates.

I am looking at either waiting another year or two so that the multi-format drives are cheaper or, similar to your case, picking up a cheap CD-RW. Last time I checked Mwave, they had some nice ones for only $50 or so...

Shrugging, but still dreaming :D,
Ray

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just say no to anonymous posting registered trolls!

All I have to say is FOOK UT2K3 !! GO out and purchase Battlefield 1942, it rocks anything and everything on the market.

UT was shiet, UT2K3 is shiet and the Epic staff are a bunch of a$$holes....

UT2K3 is nothing more than UT on steroids and a port over from Quake3.

Guess it is time for Unreal Tournament 2004 speculation. I am guessing it won't come out until 2005.

Moonbender .. why not take a quick look at the troubleshooting section of the official forums. This is hardly a problem that just I am having. Otherwise I would not have posted like I did.

So, your impression could be quite wrong. My point was that using a common part, on a common OS, in the exact manner described by the author of the game should not cause crashes for such a wide range of users (take a look at the PC specs listed in the forums for the crashing bugs) in the mode preferred by that author.

As far as whether the game is in general full of bugs. I didn't say that. I have had no crashes in OpenGL. The crashes could be due to problems with Nvidia's drivers, but then Epic shouldn't recommend those drivers to us.

For what its worth, I am very impressed with the game and how well it plays on older systems like my brother's.

I'm annoyed because movies are the only reason to have a DVD-rom, and that shouldn't be the case.

Those of us who are in software development get a LOT of material on DVD - MSDN subscriptions, for example. I'd prefer DVD myself, actually - especially if there were exclusives to it.

Somebody has to take the "risk" of doing a limited DVD run of a game, and find out if it's a viable solution.

Wasn't on of the Baldur's Gates released on DVD (a couple years ago now)? How did that do in acceptance?

Devster

Having both a CD-ROM and DVD-ROM, going to get a CD-RW soon

If you've got the $350 to spare, check this Sony burner:

http://www.sonystyle.com/home/item.jsp?hierc=9683x9714x9715&catid=9716&itemid=50044&telesale=null&hidden=null&cps=null&type=s

Burns CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R and DVD+RW. Burns everything except for DVD-RAM, which is pretty much dead right now anyway. You'll have all the bases covered no matter which format wins. Of course you're paying extra for features which will ideally render themselves useless eventually, but oh well.

(I'm the proud owner of a $60 Lite-On CDRW, so I can't vouch for this burner)

Schnapple

http://members.tripod.com/schnapple99/

NWN needed paper sleeves because they couldn't possibly fit a 3-CD jewel case in the new boxes with that bigass manual in there too.
The european version had a case, but no paper manual at all.


This comment was edited on Sep 20, 11:07.

For example, I have no reason to own a DVD drive. Why? I have an expensive Sony DVD player with a builtin hardware decoder and a nice 27" sony tv in the frontroom. Why the heck would I need a DVD drive on my computer? I don't.

Yeah, people said the same thing about CD's. The reason why they needed one is because people started selling CD-only software, due to how many people happened to have CD-rom's, as they came standard with new computers.

3 CDs don't bother me if they ship it in a real jewel case. I am getting sick of buying games that come in paper sleves, ie. Neverwinter Nights! Talk about trying to cut costs. I am always tryting to find one of them because they get lost in between other games on my rack!

-Nighthawk

The problem is, that most american consumers do not have DVD-roms. They could make a DVD version alongside the CD version, but that would be a bit of a gamble.
It will take a little while longer for DVD-rom's to catch on enough.

"For example, I have no reason to own a DVD drive"

That is exactly my point. You don't need one because developers won't use them. I'm sure when the CD-ROM came out, nobody needed them either. How did they find their way into every computer shipped today? Anyway, you hit the nail on the head. I'm annoyed because movies are the only reason to have a DVD-rom, and that shouldn't be the case. Tell me how long it'd take you to pick up a $60 DVD-ROM drive if every major game or application release started shipping in DVD format.

The reason people don't have them is because the people putting out software aren't pushing the new format.

And to some of the other replies... I've considered all of that. I never mentioned "exclusive DVD-ROM release." In fact I specifically mentioned the option of having a DVD-release. I'm not familiar with manufacturing costs, but would a single DVD disc cost less than 3 CDs? Shipping weights are reduced, etc. Somebody has to take the "risk" of doing a limited DVD run of a game, and find out if it's a viable solution.

GF2MX here, not one single crash ever under D3D.

DVD-ROMs aren't nearly as widespread as you would think. From a business standpoint, you'd be shooting yourself in the foot by distributing something like this on DVD only. I would venture to guess that over half of their potential buyers wouldn't have DVD drives. Besides, I'm sure it's not that much more expensive to ship with 3 CDs... In fact, the DVD might be more expensive.

And since you never have to swap CDs out when playing... there's really no problem at all.

To Saturn:

Most people don't have DVD drives. Yes, I know that's hard to believe, but it's true. So why would they bother shipping a DVD version when the majority of customers don't have a DVD drive?

For example, I have no reason to own a DVD drive. Why? I have an expensive Sony DVD player with a builtin hardware decoder and a nice 27" sony tv in the frontroom. Why the heck would I need a DVD drive on my computer? I don't.
This comment was edited on Sep 20, 10:47.

Unfortunately, it is still a matter of market penetration and acceptance.

That CD plays on both the CD-ROM and the DVD-ROM, simple enough. Occasionally, a company will offer you the option for both, but that is a figurative pain in the butt.

Having both a CD-ROM and DVD-ROM, going to get a CD-RW soon,
Ray

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just say no to anonymous posting registered trolls!

Let's just say I'm in favor of moving ahead with technology. DVD-ROM tech has been around for long enough. It's about time that developers started using it before we start installing our games from small spindles of discs. Where would we be if game developers decided to stick with software rendered sprite games because not everyone has a 3D GPU yet? Catering to people stuck 5 years behind is a bit frustrating, and trust me... I know what it's like because I have to do it at my company.

People shouldn't be running servers unless they have a fat DSL / ISDN or Dedicated Line. Cable modems are not reliable or fast enough upstream (in most cases) to run a server from. That's their mistake for doing it.