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From our multipage discussion in January: http://forums.thedarkmod.com/index.php?showtopic=3244&st=0 Virtually everyone thought the hieght difference between the thief and guards was too high. In fact the only people arguing the heights were ok were you and Oddity.

Well, unless you changed something Spar, I don't think I can adjust the values without affecting the players eye height. Aside from that, you told me NOT to change the values, becuase you were going to find a way to 'scale' the light gem while the player crouches. The lightgem is tied to the player view height, and I already made the adjustments to put the tip of the gem in the players head months ago, but the problem happens when the player crouches. Upon crouching, the eye height drops to the player models chest. Here is where you discussed scaling the model. http://forums.thedarkmod.com/index.php?showtopic=2890&hl=

Well, two things: I was flicking throught the the nVidia website where it (somewhere) claimed that the 7900 supports a realtime global illumination solution (photon mapping or radiosity, it didn't eleborate on what kind of model they used or anything - the implication was that it rendered radiosity lightmaps in realtime in hardware though). Two, the tech demo from Crytec showed an editor view where a light was being moved around in real time, with shadows and diffuse ambient light consistent with some kind of real time global illumination model, and there has been numerous reports of next gen engines supporting real time global illumination of some sort on the horizon. Whether or not all of this is true or not I can't say, but the Crysis demo videos didn't look like any lighting model I've seen in a game yet, it looked like much higher quality lighting than in Doom 3 or any other currently available game engine. OpenGL 2.0 supports realtime radiosity in hardware BTW. Here are some links for you to consider: http://www.gamedev.net/reference/articles/article918.asp http://www.cs.unc.edu/~coombe/research/radiosity/ http://dee.cz/rri/ http://www.gamedev.net/community/forums/to...topic_id=381120

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

Oops! Make that *Don* Ross ... I didn't have the book in front of me when I wrote the post and just did it by (bad) memory. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/026218246...glance&n=283155 Thanks for your suggestions Max. The Ross book starts of distinguishing just what economics is the study of ... utility-optimization in the face of scarcity. I don't think it ever claimed to cover *all* behavioral patterns, but then again it also took pains to say that no particular behavioral patter could be a priori left out of the "machine" either, e.g., religious, artistic, political behavior, etc. So there you go. But I haven't got to the really interesting chapters at the end that talk about the actually links between econ and cogsci, so I'm anxious to know where he's going in that regard. I know right now he's focusing on just what "utility" really amounts to, what it is to "want" something that prompts you to action, and how the maximizing of satisfying that desire lets you choose among options, theoretical stuff like that. The Glumcher book "Neuroeconomics" looks at it in the reverse direction, how evolution actually "designed" neural-areas to be optimizing-machines, so the lessons of economics could actually be used to understanding the wiring, and uses the example of the (LIP) system which directs your eye muscles, that is, visual focus, what you want to look at, how you want to look at it, when, for how long, etc ... and the case is really pounded home that it uses a simple method of relative expected utility to weigh various "look at me!" options and choose among them, at least in part. And then it goes on to suggest that this sort of thing is a general feature in a lot of behavioral decisionmaking and should color how we look at these sorts of brain areas, at least for low level, more "reflex" like behaviors. The higher-level/more reflective decisionmaking you go, maybe the more things get complicated. This has got to be one of the more meandering threads ... anyway, I like it; sort of a grab-bag of what's interesting in the world right now. And it's not like you guys police OT so much in these "undisciplined" forums to stave off the overly-curious masses...

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

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.

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.

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.

More: http://www.elderscrolls.com/forums/index.p...howtopic=272868