Woot! Got it in on time.

Cue Warren Spector and Ion Storm bashing ....

You cannot make anything fool-proof. The fools are too inventive

So far it's getting good feedback on the TTLG forums so I think I'll pick it up today. Fry's is selling it for $27.99.

Does firing an arrow hard and direct into the face of a guard still just startle him?

...Shacknews says old Warren has left Ion Storm...

$27.99?? Woot! I need to go buy it.

Well, DX2 was a real mess and Deadly Shadows is hardly the game LGS would have made (although still good.)

Overally, from start to finish, IonStorm really has not been worth it for Eidos.

Here is to hoping Spector can actually get to making some good games or, if Spector really only cares about generic, simplified sequels, that some other team can bring a real passion to these games.

R.I.P. IonStorm

R.I.P. Anachronox

R.I.P. Thief, Thief: Gold, and Thief 2.

R.I.P. Deus Ex

Watching two great series falter; hoping somebody can salvage System Shock,
Ray

-----------------------
A Poster is Me!
http://users.ign.com/collection/RayMarden
http://www.dvdaficionado.com/dvds.html?cat=1&sub=ANF&id=ray_marden
I love you, mom.

Demo is up:

ftp://ftp.eidos.co.uk/pub/uk/ThiefDS/demo/Thief_Demo.exe

or

http://www.giga.de/dl/frame.php?refid=140&fileid=3814&ebene1=56&lang=de%3CBR%3Egiga

Here is my review of the full game from a long time thief fan:

So far I'm really liking it. It is definetely Thief. I take back what I felt about the 3rd person perspective. I never found myself switching to the 3rd person perspective, and 1st person feels just fine.

I briefly tried the 3rd person perspective, and well, I really don't like it. It's not Thief. Thankfully the default view is 1st person, and there doesn't seem to be any comprimises made by including a 3rd person view. It seems as if it is an "extra" that will never be used by most PC gamers.

The graphics are very nice, the lighting and such. There are a few low resolution textures here and there though, but thats mainly nitpicking. But the graphics are definetely very nice. I'm playing them maxed out on my system, and Get 40-50 fps. Definetely much smoother than DuesEx 2. The AI is pretty decent actually, and I rarley hear a guard say the same line twice. The physics are nice, but the ragdolls could use some work, they seem to end up in the oddest of positions. I have no clue what game the reviewer was playing in the Gamespy review.

The gameplay is very good and reminisent of older Thief games, the only problem I am having is it is a little confusing trying to understand where you need to go next, the default map they give you isn't of much help. Thankfully the strategy guide that I picked up with it can help some. Lockpicking can be frustrating at times, but once you get the technique down, its really not too difficult.

Whats really cool is looking down, you can see your body, your feet, your shadows, etc. It's kinda neat, as opposed to the "floating head" we are so used to in FPS.

It is a break from the standard FPS, and I'm really loving it. Thief is back!
This comment was edited on May 28, 13:11.

that's just stupid. Why the hell would they cut themselves out of the 98 market? They lost a sale yesterday because of that.


"If you're not ready to die for it, put the word 'freedom' out of your vocabulary."
- Malcolm X

The eidos link is only 99 meg.
Maybe they're still uploading it.

If anyone sees it on a BT site, please link to the torrent.

...Deadly Shadows is hardly the game LGS would have made (although still good.)

Well, that's your opinion Ray, which I do respect, but in this case don't share. The more I play this game, the more I love it, and now consider it to be better than Thief 2. Thief Gold is going to be hard to top though.

Reading ttlg and the opinions of many hardcore thief fans, it seems quite a few agree with me. Others agree with you

So, I guess the worst we can say so far, is that it's a good game worth playing. Does it live up to the LGS legacy? Everybody make up yer own damn mind

I agree completely about DX2 though. Now where's my damn coffee.

I'm waiting for it to be out on an english site.

-Tony!!!;)

Does firing an arrow hard and direct into the face of a guard still just startle him?

Only if he is already aware someone is about. Just like the original 2.

that's just stupid. Why the hell would they cut themselves out of the 98 market? They lost a sale yesterday because of that.

That's probably one of the only sales, it's not worth maintaining 98 anymore. Sure if it works, then woo, but if it means sacrificing speed or adding code for compatibility, it's not worth it.

Well, this is no DX2 - that was a major screw up.

As for DS, I am really annoyed with some of the stupid decisions that have been made. No ropes, third-person that destroys immersion, the day-glo effect, sparkles, questionable AI, etc. I literally laughed while playing earlier - I could not get past how ridiculous one particular NPC looked with a sparkling head, sparkling arm, and sparkling waist.

The game is on par with the series; I do not like some of the stupid things listed above, but it is faithful.

However, the more I think about it and play through this game, this engine is utter shit. I hate to be so rude, but that is the fact of the matter. I get about half the framerate I do in Far Cry with smaller levels, lower resolution textures, jerky animation, rough mouse input, etc.

Engine woes aside, it is not the third-coming of Thief, but it is very good and faithful game.

Still hunting for a good CRPG :(,
Ray

-----------------------
A Poster is Me!
http://users.ign.com/collection/RayMarden
http://www.dvdaficionado.com/dvds.html?cat=1&sub=ANF&id=ray_marden
I love you, mom.

"that's just stupid. Why the hell would they cut themselves out of the 98 market? They lost a sale yesterday because of that. "

Dear Halsy,

Please join us in the millenia. We're all having a great time with our new fangled 3d accelerators and plutonic wireless mice.

Your friend,

2004

Maybe this is why they fired Mr. Spector.

www.shacknews.com

Minimum tech spec: "INTEL PENTIUM® IV 1.5GHZ "
I'm quite sure that winXP had been released by the time this was on the market. Wich means that the only consumer they're loosing are those that build their own PC and didn't upgrade their OS. They sure are loosing 4% of their market. Oh noes!

This comment was edited on May 28, 13:27.

...Shacknews says old Warren has left Ion Storm...

Shit. Man, I haven't been happy with what Ion Storm (Austin) has done since Deus Ex (my #1 all-time favorite game), but I'd hoped they'd come back and reclaim their former glory. With Harvey gone and now Warren, it looks like that dream is dead.

Best of luck, Warren.

Actually the only reason the upgrade past Win98 is probably because Microsoft is forcing everyone. Win98 SE is one of their most stable and safe OS's. Not to mention it doesn't spy on every move you make and hog tons of hard drive space and RAM.

There is a certain beauty to efficiency and simplicity, and Win98 is a great OS for both. Just because it's old doesn't mean it's bad. I think more intelligent PC users would probably agree with that, as opposed to having "the next greatest thing" in the spirit of better, faster, more... etc. etc.

Win98 SE is one of their most stable and safe OS's

Oh, PUH-lease. I must respectfully disagree.

Good Lord man, how much did your nose grow just typing that?

Jesus...built my car. It's a love affair (mainly Jesus and my hotrod).