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Napalm, if you really have been just hanging around waiting to hear what to do, why haven't you contributed to the recent discussions about the menus? The following issue in particular was directed right at you: If/when you're around, you need to speak up. Projects like this require continuous communication. The relevant thread: http://forums.thedarkmod.com/index.php?showtopic=3549

Maybe you can look around in an animator or 3D forum? MD5 is IMO rather popular, so there should be some converters to reconstruct it, or some app that can read and play it natively and export to other formats. Don't know wether some forums exist specifically for animators, but I would be surprised it not. At least in 3D forums they should know about it.

Whoa... http://forums-fr.ubi.com/groupee/forums/a/...2234#7911042234 A guy translated it, and it can be roughly read with babelfish, but supposedly it says that Ubi is dropping starforce for future games. Damn, starforce is in deep shit.

I don't know much about the series, I've never followed it (pics from the next one reminds me of NWN a bit though), but according to this http://forums.ubi.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc...3234#5521023234 Ubi won't be putting starforce into HoMM5. That is pretty darned significant. Ubi is the starforce bitch of the gaming world. Maybe they're finally hearing the fans and dropping it. I hope they make it company policy before Dark Messiah comes out.

I am building a low-end/mid-range PC with a target price of $550. My goal is to build something that will be satisfactory for the time being, but substantially upgradable in the future. So far, I think I've done pretty well (much more credit to those on the steam forums and hardware IRC channels that have assisted me), but I'm trying to get as much input as possible. Therefore, if my fellow DarkModders would be so kind as to analyze the configuration I have below, your criticisms would be very welcome . MB: ASUS A8N5X Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $77 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16813131569 CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice 1GHz HT 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor - Retail $120 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16819103537 PSU: Antec TRUEPOWERII TPII-550 550W Power Supply - Retail $90 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16817103931 RAM: pqi TURBO 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail $66.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16820141152 GFX: GIGABYTE GV-NX66T128D-SP Geforce 6600GT 128MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail $114.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16814125015 CASE: CHENMING 301KEB-0-0 Black Computer Case - Retail $35.50 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16811125450 HD: Western Digital Caviar SE WD400JD 40GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM $49.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16822144173 (I know I don't have a CD/DVD drive selected...I'm hoping one might just "pop up" at one time or another...it could happen...) Total: $553 In addition, what are your opinions on cheap vs. expensive Power Supply Units? Do I really need to spend >70 to get a quality PSU? I'm seeing the same stats of $90 units on $50 units, but I'm warned that the $50 units are prone to die and kill your whole system. And then there are others that say the $50 units are perfectly fine--even for a person who plans on making a substantial upgrade in the future. One part of me wants to go for a $50 unit--in place of a $90, and spend the difference on a higher quality video card, and the other part of me wants to ensure stability and upgradability for the future. I'm torn to say the least.. Also, how much of a difference is there between CAS2 and CAS2.5 DDR ram? Thanks

Haha, this is so cool - just go to the starforce forums, and there are plenty of threads on the front page with people with undeniable problems with starforce - one of them Starforce tried to test and didn't even test it properly. http://www.star-force.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=826 And this one is gold - here we have 2 people, who, while fighting, are putting Starforce in a bad light no matter what side you're on http://www.star-force.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=857 Also on the front page are these 2 complaints http://www.star-force.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=672 http://www.star-force.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=866 This is my own personal problem that I posted. Actually in truth its my brother's computer we're talking about but I can write it better than him so I just worded it for him. I also ask them why they closed their competition. http://www.star-force.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=868 When I say they have a smarmy attitude when describing how their "contest" proves everyone wrong, i'm talking about this attitude (under the heading "The truth about starforce drivers"); http://www.onlinesecurity-on.com/protect.phtml?c=55

Has anyone tried this blackjack mod? http://www.elderscrolls.com/forums/index.p...howtopic=341499

You've been doing you homework, Zylon. Well, for me (the author) it's often. This FM was mentioned 66 times in different threads (as OCOD). For you (the player) it might be a rather poor number. The search for "Old Comrades, Old Debts" gives me 128 results in Thief Series and Game Editing forums. 128 + 66 = 194. Maybe I'm so blind and egoistic that I counfused the word "often" with pitiful numbers. Yes, that must be it. BTW, thanks for making me visit TTLG. I did not know there is a birthaday thread there for me.

I am truly saddened by the elderscrolls.com forums. At first I was excited that so many posts were flying by so fast - wow so much activity! - you can just load one page of posts, and perhaps 11 of 20 displayed will be from the last minute. But then I realized the why. Most of them are one line responses, or "LOL" posts, and it seems everyone on the forum is 12. So much for that. It's also saddening to think of all the children playing the game, who will have zero appreciation for what is put into such a thing, how things used to be one or two decades ago at the birth of gaming, and how far things have come - but that's just the old grinch in me coming out. Guess I go back to looking for info tidbits, here and there, while I sit out the long wait for Oblivion. How long, you ask? Ugh. What I MUST do first: get a new PC What I SHOULD do first, in a related-game sense: finish Gothic (almost there), play Gothic II (oops), finish Morrowind (double oops)

That Oddity likes it, and admits so, is certainly a bonus. Also I must say, that I trust this forums opinion more then the game reviews.

I couldn't give a fuck about others negativity, there's a bunch of whiners on the bethesda forums as well. As long as I'm enjoying it. that's all that matters, becasue my own opinion is the only one that interests me. I'm not saying it's perfect, because it's not, but the things that are wrong aren't enough to spoil the game, and they will be addressed with user mods quite quickly. It's impossible to please everyone at every point in a game like this, and the parts some hate, other people like the most. Anyway, If you dont' like a game, don't play it and forget about it, that's what I do, I don't hang around shooter forums whining on about how much I don't like them. What's the point?

If you need some negativity to temper the surprise, I suggest going over to nma-fallout forums and read what they're saying about the game. 99% of the people there absolutely hate it.

It's an acronym (used often in TTLG forums) for this.

Are any of you guys having stability problems with this game? I';m getting regular crashes, maybe as much as every half hour, and it seems from looking at the bethesda forums there is a lot of people experiencing the same, and it's a stability problem with the game, not just my computer.

So far, I've certainly been enjoying it. Yeah, there are a few problems - the inventory is rubbish (check the official forums as I saw a possible fix, but then the forums died and i need sleep). I've had some graphical glitches - dissapearing npc bodies mostly - conversing with a floating head or disembodied eyeballs is always fun if nothing else. No crashes or plot breaking stuff though. My PC is pretty close to the minimum - 2.4ghz, 512 ram, radeon 9600 pro. Graphics card sems to save me and with the exception of stuttering when it loads a new area it runs fine on medium detail. For my thief it plays infinitely better than morrowind so far. Yeah, its not as indepth as certain other games, but there's enough player involvement to keep you interested. I've suffered badly with the main quest and particually the first oblivion gate though. My level eight character entered having pretty much exclusively raised non comabt skills, expecting to maybe be able to sneak through. Oops. Hopefully the rest of the main quest will improve to allow more stealth or other approaches than combat, but in the meanwhile there's still the thieves guild and excellent dark brotherhood (designed by a former Thief 2 guy I think) to play with...

That doesn't work with me (nothing does), because unlike zylon 'I enjoy sucking moderators cocks, the bigger the better' bane, I dont' back down. He acts all big and brash and then when a mod slaps his wrist, he goes of and has a cry, and returns acting like a good little boy so he won't be banned. He actually cares, whereas I dont give a shit, which is why I've been banned from at least 10 forums.

As for the lockpicking, how does it work? I've read there's apparently a mini-game ruining exploit, see here: http://www.elderscrolls.com/forums/index.p...pic=291211&st=0 The poster says, "Smack up twice, and click. Then it gets jammed." ?

Strange. I haven't tried it myself yet, btu people on the official forums seem to think it works. You're editing the ini file in the "\my documents\My Games\Oblivion\" directory?

Hmm? Oh, I got temp-banned until Monday. I guess one of the Editor's Guild mods finally got enough sand up their vagina to nag an admin into approving it. This is what it says when I go to the forums: Heh. That definitely doesn't sound like Dave.

Zylon, what are you doing over here when I need you at TTLG? http://ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=104978&page=2 For some reason, I feel compelled to argue with some posters who are adamant that Garrett having no scar in Thief 1 and Thief 2, then suddenly having one in Thief 3, is not a continuity error. I really don't know why I'm arguing with them, it's such a pointless thing to tango over, but I just can't stop myself. I find that I'm infuriated by the arrogance and the ignorance.

whoah.. now that looks decent odd.. something like that would really look nice on the mission/loading screen.. what program you use to animate? lightwave? also.. i mentioned that a progress bar is to doomish.. but i spoke to soon.. i can see that a progress bar of some style would fit into that sort of scheme well. and about the roq's.. i read in the doom3world forums where they have to be in powers of 2 to play in doom3 guis.. but im hoping that isnt true.. otherwise it would be a pain to make something like that work. im going to check more into that, but from what i can see.. its a very simple thing to add video.

Well, that question, who we are to determine this, is quite simply answered. We are the creators of The Dark Mod. We decide what goes in and what not. We are doing the work, and therefore we decide where we need and want to spend time on. Apparently you don't understand how a free project works. It's not as if we are getting payed for and the one who pays is in command. We have to make sure that it will be finished and that, first and foremost, WE are satisfied with it. I know this is a fairly minor item on the big scale of things, but in the end I wonder what sort of development beliefs lie in motivation of the project. Does this mod say; LOL! You sound as if you had any rights to demand something. You have not. You can join anytime and create it yourself, if you think it so important, but you have no right at all to demand any asset or tool to be in- or excluded as long as you are not doing any work. You can ask us if we can or want to do it, and if it is a good idea, we may consider it for inclusion, but as long as you are not doing anything yourself you have to be satisfied with what you get, or motivate somebody to do it for you. That's how free projects work. You remind me a lot of the people you often can find on mod and game developer forums. "I have this REALLY GREAT IDEA and I'm looking for people who can do it. What? What do you mean, what can I do??? I had this REALLY GREAT IDEA and this should be enough for you to accept me as your project leader and make all the real work the next four years! Geez, that lousy guy really expected of me to put some additional work into this mod, after spending at least one hour to come up with this REALLY GREAT IDEA" Yes, we are gratefull beyond believe. People like this can be found by the dozen, on any forum. Why should I use the search button? *I* just registered and had this question. Why should I bother to read the FAQ? *I* just registered and expect somebody to answer my question NOW! Why should I wait for three hours before I bump my thread? *I* just registered and expect that others answer my question as soon as I sent it, after all *I* need the answer!!! ...

Hmm, see it was this sort of attitude that confused me about the dark mod to start with... At first I considered the "professional" approach to the mod a bit OTT, but I think i get it now. I hope that it works for the mod but I also hope that the inner workings of the team are a bit less... stalwart(?). After reading these forums and ttlg it seems somebody must be monopolising the fun factor, if the joy is not shared around then people will burn out and not feel the love of the project enough to pull through the long development journey you guys have ahead of you. I am not saying that the love isn't shared internally, but the PR machine seems kinda cold, all I'm saying is that I hope it isn't indicative of the inner workings. As I said, I think I understand the professional approach *and* the cautious PR management but don't take yourselves too seriously to the point you sound arrogant; a great portfolio or a great person to work with, who would you hire? So I get the uber professional approach but I am still concerned about what you guys see as the final result of this project. There is talk about priorities, which I also understand, you have to stay on task, but is this going to turn out as a toolset that you guys are really proud to show off; an excellent Doom 3 mod showing of your leet modding skills, or, a really cool "toolset" that can create great thief levels with? If you are aiming to create a great toolset for 21st century thief levels, then who are you to say that scouting orbs, slowfall speed inv potions aren't essential thief? Apparently LGS thought they were and dismissing them off hand seems kind of arrogant. I know this is a fairly minor item on the big scale of things, but in the end I wonder what sort of development beliefs lie in motivation of the project. Does this mod say; "Look at me, look at me, pleeeeaaase use me, I am a great toolset, and this is going to rock. You are going to have so much fun --- HEY Mister! Yeah, you with a precious small amount of spare time. Devote it to meeeee, cause the pay off? MASSIVE!" Or "Look bud, you are lucky to have this. i am clever, i am great and I've sweated blood and tears to be so - you are so privileged to be using me, you just don't have a clue." I know that this may sound very harsh, but this is why the love of the project (and any project/map/hack/mod/... non-commercial game) has to be there, self sufficient, within the team. Who are you doing this for? no really it is a serious question. I know your time is precious, but IMHO mine is more so, so why should I give a care about this project if it is only your pet bunny and yous can't even be bothered to put in scouting orbs. This is exactly the same problem level editors have, "Who am i making this map for? Why should someone even care to download the map and waste their precious time on it? I should be thankfull that they spent time playing my humble little map". If you can brush these ideas off with the belief that you are self sufficient and you don't have to win over anyone else's attention then good luck! but a little friendliness and flexibility to outside ideas and influences will go a long way to getting people to cheer on your cause. --now aren't you gratefull i took the effort and time to register and rant

http://forums.thedarkmod.com/index.php?showtopic=3400

Yeah I remember saying exactly that in another thread http://forums.thedarkmod.com/index.php?showt...=database&st=50 This is the thread where I first pointed out the misleading idea instilled by the "Cyberdeamon in new york" Doom 3 screenshot. and on that page I said this; Just one of many tricks you can use.