All Posts by Signe

I agree with a lot of this review.  (nice review, by the way, HashBrick)  The one thing I'll mention is that I'm playing on a mediocre system which is just a tad above the required.  I'm getting very good FPS with very little lag, stuttering or stopping.  I tend to crash a lot but only ever on exit, which is annoying but certainly not game breaking.  The game still looks great even though I've tweaked the death out of it in addition to playing on low settings overall.  Pushing the slider for the texture system cache and turning off the grass made the most dramatic improvements for me. I also now have a decent video card, XFX GeForce 8800 GT, which vastly improved my performance from my older 7800 GT.  You might have some luck, like I did, but it seems to be a crap shoot.  Some people with better systems, more ram and better video cards are having problems running it.  If you CAN run it on a mediocre system, be prepared to sacrifice some of the eye candy for performance.

I enjoy the combat but I agree about most of the quests.  Their saving grace is reading the story.  When playing a character that uses combos, I tend to use the Combat Rose, which makes it a wee bit more interesting.  I agree that there is a lot of same button spamming which makes me wonder if it would actually be a better game on the 360.  I might give it a go if I'm still interested by then.  (I'm so fickle when it comes to games!)  I also find the game just a bit too linear, but it's still very good fun so far.

If you're using a laptop then turning the System Memory Texture Cache up all the way to max is especially important.  It's the reason they included it in the options.

I had a terrible time running this game in beta.  I would get 20 - 30 fps or so, which is playable, but I'd also get stuttering and huge drops in my fps from time to time (constantly dying because of it), especially if there was a bit of action around me.  Since the launch, it's much, much better.   I still get a tiny bit of loading lag but that's my so-so processor.  My husband gave me a Geforce 8800 gt (the one with the wee cute fan!) and it improved even more.  (I had a 7800 gt in it)  It runs fine even with this processor which is barely above the minimum requirements but well below the recommended.

I will, however, agree that the official forums are horrible.  Worse than WoW, even.  And that's bad!  I only go there if I am looking for something specific and then I run away as soon as I find it.  A person makes one criticism and the people over there pounce.  Although thing's are much better in the game and the forums reflect that, there are a lot of people still having issues, both in game and with their accounts.  It doesn't seem to be a small number of people with problems, either.  Funcom fails at customer support, in my opinion.  They've made some bad decisions regarding business practices, too.  That doesn't, however, detract from the fact that they've put together a good, fun game.  I'm glad I can play it but I recognise that there are a lot of issues and Funcom isn't particularly good at addressing them in the forums.  People get angry when they feel ignored.

I don't know what sort of system you have but some things I found to be helpful:

Turn shader model version down and grass off. 

Shadows from character only.

Water from ground only.

And the thing that made the biggest difference, nearly doubling my fps was:  System Memory Texture Cache - turn it all the way to the max.  I was shocked at the difference that made to my performance. 

These things are all in Video settings, Advanced.

The forums seem to be one massive error, too.   I have to wonder if that's accidentally on purpose.

Don't you create the forum login on the subscription page at register.ageofconan.com?

oopsie.  I'm too slow!  :)

Originally posted by Entreri28

 

Originally posted by Signe

Originally posted by Entreri28

Everyone loves pvp, no matter what they say.  It just might not be direct pvp.  People may just strive to have the best gear, higher rank in guild, higher level, whatever.  It is because all humans are competitive no matter what they say or what they think, they are.  That is why there is such thing as character advancement, so you can accomplish something and thus having a feeling of being better than lower levels.  Character advancement really just exists to boost people's self-esteem, it really doesn't serve any other purpose besides creating an unrealistic imbalance between players.  This is where the whole nerd in parents basement stereotype comes from.  This is why there is WoW, you can't ever fail, it really is nothing except a self-esteem booster game.

What it comes down to is most indirect pvp just doesn't require player skill, assuming you are playing a real pvp game.  That's why some people are attracted to pvp, there is actually a chance they will fail.  Otherwise it would be like playing a sport without the chance of losing.  Some people have just played character vs character games where time played is more important than player skill and thus ganking can occur.  Those arn't real pvp games though.  That's why UO was good, you could play a few days and at least stand a chance against a maxed out character.  If DF has the combat system they promise (similar to mount and blade) it will be the truest pvp game to date.

No, not everyone loves PvP, no matter what you say.  And no, not all humans are competitive no matter what you say or think.  Geez, I have to wonder where some people got their Psychology degree.  They should absolutely be asking for a refund.

You prove my point perfectly.  Do some research, competitiveness is one of the three factors that drives acheivment.  I don't have a pschyology degree, but you don't really need one to know facts.  Everyone loves pvp, it just differs in how they do it, even if it is just to best themselves.  Notice how you had to respond without even having basic facts on the matter.

 

I don't know what sort of broad definition you're trying to apply to the phrase PvP, but it's certainly not a scientific one and it doesn't even seem very accurate to me.  I'll wager money that I've done more research in this sort of thing and other related subjects than you have.  Just because you and even mainstream psychologist and sociologists say something is a fact doesn't make it a fact.

Originally posted by afoaa

I am getting slightly annoyed that they place these server takedowns right in the middle of the European prime time. Today it was 20 to 23+ CET.

Well, if they do it much later tonight it'll push in to the US prime time.  Then you'll be hearing some complaining.  Oh yes. 

Originally posted by Entreri28

Everyone loves pvp, no matter what they say.  It just might not be direct pvp.  People may just strive to have the best gear, higher rank in guild, higher level, whatever.  It is because all humans are competitive no matter what they say or what they think, they are.  That is why there is such thing as character advancement, so you can accomplish something and thus having a feeling of being better than lower levels.  Character advancement really just exists to boost people's self-esteem, it really doesn't serve any other purpose besides creating an unrealistic imbalance between players.  This is where the whole nerd in parents basement stereotype comes from.  This is why there is WoW, you can't ever fail, it really is nothing except a self-esteem booster game.

What it comes down to is most indirect pvp just doesn't require player skill, assuming you are playing a real pvp game.  That's why some people are attracted to pvp, there is actually a chance they will fail.  Otherwise it would be like playing a sport without the chance of losing.  Some people have just played character vs character games where time played is more important than player skill and thus ganking can occur.  Those arn't real pvp games though.  That's why UO was good, you could play a few days and at least stand a chance against a maxed out character.  If DF has the combat system they promise (similar to mount and blade) it will be the truest pvp game to date.

No, not everyone loves PvP, no matter what you say.  And no, not all humans are competitive no matter what you say or think.  Geez, I have to wonder where some people got their Psychology degree.  They should absolutely be asking for a refund.

Originally posted by TheGreyMan

Originally posted by Signe

Not many if they don't sort out the servers, which were due up an hour ago.  Hopefully, they won't keep postponing until the pre-order launch is over! 

every game get delayed a few hours in the first day...why are people makeing out as its the first time for this to happen...i mean...whats a few hours

  Don't be silly.  I never made out that it was the first time for anything.  I was teasing, hence the smiley.  Don't be so touchy.  It's only a game.  It doesn't need you to defend it's bugger ups.

I doubt the vast majority of people think about items at all when they decide whether to PvP or not.  That's something you think about much later in the game.  Most of those who don't PvP are probably not interested from the start or after they've tried it. a few times.  It never gets to the gear question.

Not many if they don't sort out the servers, which were due up an hour ago.  Hopefully, they won't keep postponing until the pre-order launch is over! 

You just blurt stuff out, don't you?  No offense, it's very cute.  People just like different things, you know that.  Not everyone is competitive, in life or in games.  I love PvP in some games (I was quite addicted to Shadowbane) and in others I don't.  I enjoyed WoW for a while but didn't like the PvP at all.  Same with CoX... I'm still subbed to that but dislike the PvP.  Even competitive people don't have to compete in everything, or be competitive 24/7.   In fact, it seems as if there might be a majority who enjoy PvE rather than PvP. 

Waking up next to a beautiful woman would be scary.  I'd wonder what happened to my husband.

The game is rated "M" so I think it's 17+, not 18, at least in the US.  I'm not sure about Britain.  They don't really have a 17+ rating.  They have a 15+ and an 18+.  That used to cover just film but they've widened it to include games, too.  I'm not sure if the ESRB is even observed outside of North America.   Hehe... surely not in Norway!  Maybe someone knows?

BAH!  I'm not playing if I have to bang Zorvan!

Originally posted by Tnice

I just don't see how AoC is going to be able to get enough subs to keep a development team actively employed.  Even if they are able to get it in somewhat of a working order, the high end specs mean than only a handful of Gamers will be able to play it.  I am sure they paid a lot to develop it so they need a blockbuster.  The crazy zones and loading screens, the spam combat, and the super high system specs may not make AoC a total flop but it will be close.

It will not be as much of a debacle as Vanguard because I don't think many people will even try it as they know their machine can not handle it.  If I had to guess I would say AoC will have about 100k box sells and maintain around 10-15k subs.

These games are failures because these companies do not understand that graphics and high system specs are not what people want.  They want fun.  Look at Team Fortress 2.  It has low system specs and big fun.  We need the MMO equivalent to TF2.  I don't really care if the graphics look like Everquest1 as long as the game is fun.

After the last update, before OB ended, I was able to run the game pretty well.  There were still some buggy bits but my performance was pretty good.  I don't have anything close to a high end system.  AMD Anthlon 64 3200+, 2 GB RAM and a GeForce 7800 GT.  I think the game will do okay.  Having said that, I'm sure it still leaves behind a lot of people.  Hopefully, it'll work well for enough people to support siege wars.  The last thing you want in a large scale war game is a low population.

Oh dear.  Who gets the one girl? 

Oh, and you are a strange boy, Vendayn! 

Originally posted by _Kyle_

Originally posted by Signe

Yeah, yeah... men say they play females because they have to look at the arse so why not make it a nice one... I'm not buying it.  It goes waaaay deeper than that, all the way back to who was breast fed and who wasn't.  You might be fooling your fellow gamers, but you're not fooling the shrinks! 

 

Anyway, I'm female and I always make female characters.  My female characters seriously don't care what gender you are IRL.   She will regard you based on what you roll in the game. 

So like we can talk about our frilly underwear and like like like my new braw.. like yeah! and like we can dance all day for free loot! CHYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Yes, of course, if that's what you like to chat about, then knock your little socks off!    You might get killed a lot, but you'll make an adorable corpse! 

Yeah, yeah... men say they play females because they have to look at the arse so why not make it a nice one... I'm not buying it.  It goes waaaay deeper than that, all the way back to who was breast fed and who wasn't.  You might be fooling your fellow gamers, but you're not fooling the shrinks! 

Anyway, I'm female and I always make female characters.  My female characters seriously don't care what gender you are IRL.   She will regard you based on what you roll in the game.