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[MrPing1000]

http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=140085

Holy crap some of the changes are amazing for the modders. This is essentially a huge upgrade to the Dark engine.

And I'll take widescreen high res support and steam overlay fuck yeah!

 

[Croc]

Never played this before but I got everything working perfectly fine and I'm having a blast. It looks great too.

 

[jim-jam bongs]

xerxes would like to remind you that there are only 246 shopping days remaining until Christmas

 

[apana]

The Lost History of System Shock

System Shock 2 is a masterpiece, easily in the top ten games of all time. Too bad we will never get a sequel, this series would sell well in the modern day considering the success of Bioshock but I fear what changes they would enact in order to make it more mainstream friendly. "I will float in the air and strike at the enemies of our biomass". Imagine what it would look like in one of those fancy next gen engines like Unreal 4.

 

[To Far Away Times]

Even as a self-proclaimed graphics whore, I feel like my definition of what constitutes "good" graphics is so different from everyone else's. I still think System Shock 2 looks absolutely beautiful, largely because of the art. It NAILS the clean, sterile spaceship look, and while TECHNICALLY it may not be impressive anymore, the level of detail and composition of the art and everything else is still wonderful.

The layout of the Von Braun is one of the best designed areas for a game ever. Everything feels so natural, and everything is meticulously placed. The game does a wonderful job of "selling" that there were living, breathing people who lived there and now everything has gone to hell.

 

[Sentenza]

Still beautiful after all these years.

 

[To Far Away Times]

I thought that's what Dead Space was originally going to be. I mean, the levels seem like they're straight-up homages to System Shock 2's general progression.

I would be absolutely, um, shocked if Dead Space didn't start out as System Shock 3.

 

[jim-jam bongs]

I would be absolutely, um, shocked if Dead Space didn't start out as System Shock 3.

eh I'd be more inclined to believe it was an HD remake given that it is note for note the same story for roughly 90% of the game.

 

[epmode]

xerxes would like to remind you that there are only 246 shopping days remaining until Christmas

Xerxes doesn't get enough credit. I really love his voice and dialogue.

 

[jim-jam bongs]

Xerxes doesn't get enough credit. I really love his voice and dialogue.

my favourite clip of him is probably when he starts questioning the player's allegiance to

Spoiler

the machine mother

before you're supposed to know that

Spoiler

polito is actually shodan

despite that fact that he's an AI himself.

overall I think my favourite voice-over is the many:

we hear your thoughts
they rage for the ones you believe dead
but they are not.
they sing in our symphony of life...

 

[Deadbeat]

Do you not trust the feelings of the flesh?

 

[Sub_Level]

I don't remember having much trouble at all getting System Shock 2 to run, but this is still good news!

Highly recommend everyone get System Shock 2 Mod Manager and play the game with a high-res texture pack. And I know there's a bug fix pack or two around as well. I can't recommend modding the game anymore than that on a first playthrough, however.

Also, play on Easy or Normal and go Navy or Marine. That makes the game challenging without being overwhelming. You will probably still have lots of trouble anyways, potentially having to restart your playthrough entirely

EDIT: Also this is only tangentially related, but this is the best System Shock DOS review I've seen on the internet, recommend watching this as well!

http://www.pixelships.com/adg/ep0010.html

 

[jim-jam bongs]

Do you not trust the feelings of the flesh?

<3

 

[DocSeuss]

To quote Diego, news of this means my cup runneth overrrrrrr...

I would be absolutely, um, shocked if Dead Space didn't start out as System Shock 3.

I remember there were rumors prior to Dead Space's announcement that System Shock 3 was in the works from EA. Given that EA was not able to obtain the rights to System Shock from the insurance company, my theory would be that there was sort of a FEAR 2 situation going on ("oh, we can't make a sequel? alright, we'll change a bunch of details and basically tell the same story"). Of course, FEAR 2 ended up becoming FEAR 2, rather than the new Project Origin IP, which kinda made it a shitty sequel.

 

[MrOogieBoogie]

Never played this before but I got everything working perfectly fine and I'm having a blast. It looks great too.

God, I can't even begin to describe how much I fucking love the look of this game.

 

[DocSeuss]

God, I can't even begin to describe how much I fucking love the look of this game.

Whenver someone says this, I'm baffled, because the first image in my head is of the living quarters/mall level area.

Then I remember the sort of serene beauty of hydroponics.

 

[MrOogieBoogie]

Whenver someone says this, I'm baffled, because the first image in my head is of the living quarters/mall level area.

Then I remember the sort of serene beauty of hydroponics.

Which living quarters/mall level? Do you mean the Recreational deck (#5)?

 

[SparkTR]

Has there been any new on who made this, and why now? Also are the source codes of these games public?

 

[DocSeuss]

Which living quarters/mall level? Do you mean the Recreational deck (#5)?

The purple and turquoise shit with the floor that must be carpeting. I don't actually remember the level names all that well, despite System Shock 2 being my favorite game. I feel kind of embarrassed now.

 

[Messofanego]

I'm sorry, I don't want to go through the hoops of finding a physical copy of this game on Amazon for £40 USED and then have to install mods.

I can play all the PC classics now like Planescape Torment, but just not this game thanks to some IP bullshit.

PM me when it comes on Steam or GOG.

 

[angular graphics]

Has there been any new on who made this, and why now? Also are the source codes of these games public?

The source code for the engine was leaked 2 years ago. http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/12/14/shipping-receiving-dark-engine-source/

These patches surely have worked with the leaked source.

It may not be exactly legal, and this is probably why whoever fixed this worked in the dark, but who cares?

 

[jim-jam bongs]

I'm sorry, I don't want to go through the hoops of finding a physical copy of this game on Amazon for £40 USED and then have to install mods.

I can play all the PC classics now like Planescape Torment, but just not this game thanks to some IP bullshit.

PM me when it comes on Steam or GOG.

some things are worth the trouble. this is one of those things.

 

[subversus]

It may not be exactly legal, and this is probably why whoever fixed this worked in the dark, but who cares?

this. Finally I can replay the game I barely remember without being stuck with inventory bug or some other shenanigans.

 

[subversus]

oh, my heart is weeping

 

[jim-jam bongs]

oh, my heart is weeping

:O

 

[Lancehead]

oh, my heart is weeping

the elegance of thief and the depth of system shock 2.

!

Who could ask for more?!

 

[pa22word]

Has anyone figured out how to toggle windowed mode? I can't seem to find an option in game and didn't see anything in the readme included.

EDIT: Nevermind, I toyed around with the new files and edited a line in cam_ext.cfg to enable it.

 

[Glass Rebel]

If there ever was a game needing the Black Mesa treatment its System Shock 2. The original is still playable to this day but getting a copy is either difficult or expensive. I think there was even someone who started porting it to the Source engine...

 

[PuppetMaster]

In my mind SystemShock2 is still one of the best games ever created.
I'm afraid replaying it again in 1080 is going to ruin my memory of it.

 

[pa22word]

If there ever was a game needing the Black Mesa treatment its System Shock 2. The original is still playable to this day but getting a copy is either difficult or expensive. I think there was even someone who started porting it to the Source engine...

No matter what anyone says I still consider BioShock to be a much more 'accessible' reimagining of System Shock 2, and given the state of the IP I think that's as close as we're ever going to get.

 

[whalleywhat]

No matter what anyone says I still consider BioShock to be a much more 'accessible' reimagining of System Shock 2, and given the state of the IP I think that's as close as we're ever going to get.

Bioshock is a shooter and SS2 is an RPG. There's really nothing 'inaccessible' about SS2.

 

[subversus]

if you want a proper hardcore Shock game you'll have to wait for "1999" difficulty mode in Infinite or wait for somebody's Kickstarter if Irrational don't deliver. I think this kind of game isn't possible with major pubs now, even Dishonored looks very accessible. The tools are there but these games are still very expensive to make... I think somebody should do a modular release - a purely gameplay-focused level with notes as a plot-delivery device and then grow it from there through preorders to the major campaign funded through Kickstarter.

I personally think that the structure of these games is really archaic. They still rely on fixed level layouts and fixed enemy respawns (types of enemies, I mean). To make this kind of game being really desirable for masses while retaining its single-player core they need to increase interactivity and replayability in a major way.

Bioshock is a shooter and SS2 is an RPG. There's really nothing 'inaccessible' about SS2.

lol no

 

[Rickenslacker]

"... Nah."

 

[pa22word]

Bioshock is a shooter and SS2 is an RPG.

Not entirely accurate, but I'll say this: if BioShock is a pure shooter then it is a complete failure as a game, as the mechanics are not conducive for it. They're the RPG mechanics from System Shock 2 stripped to their barest level and thrown together because stat management and permanence through leveling makes some peoples head hurt, or so Take2 and/or Irrational Games thought.

There's really nothing 'inaccessible' about SS2

You entirely missed the point of why I phrased it like I did

Spoiler

I agree with you

 

[whalleywhat]

lol no

You want to get into a semantic argument? SS2 is more of an RPG than most games which claim to be.

Not entirely accurate, but I'll say this: if BioShock is a pure shooter then it is a complete failure as a game, as the mechanics are not conducive for it. They're the RPG mechanics from System Shock 2 stripped to their barest level and thrown together because stat management and permanence through leveling makes some peoples head hurt, or so Take2 and/or Irrational Games thought.

Sure, but games like RE4 and Dead Space also incorporate these elements to a similar degree. I think it's largely about doling out expanded abilities in a manner that gives the illusion of player agency, when it's really just tailored to the games difficulty curve and doesn't impact your available options in any significant way.

 

[Glass Rebel]

It's hard to classify SS2.

Let's agree on Horror FPS RPG.

 

[Rickenslacker]

It's hard to classify SS2.

Let's agree on Horror FPS RPG.

It's along the same vein of the rare few hybrids like Deus Ex and Vampire Bloodlines, but far more desolate.

 

[subversus]

You want to get into a semantic argument? SS2 is more of an RPG than most games which claim to be.

I don't do any role-playing there. For me it's just a shooter with options.

 

[whalleywhat]

I don't do any role-playing there. For me it's just a shooter with options.

You're role-playing a guy who hacks things, or a guy who shoots things, or a guy who uses psionics, and these choices are meaningful to how you're able to progress through the game.

 

[subversus]

You're role-playing a guy who hacks things, or a guy who shoots things, or a guy who uses psionics, and these choices are meaningful to how you're able to progress through the game.

it's not role-playing to me. All these choices describe me as a soldier, not as a person. There is not a single thing that makes me able to express my personality through gameplay or stats+gameplay. Solving combat/environmental puzzles in a different way =/= expressing myself. It's just some preset character dealing with stuff in different ways.

 

[Stallion Free]

I really hope they put out something similar for Thief Gold. I can get my copy of OG Thief running fine, but both my disk and Steam copies of Gold give me issues on Win 7.

 

[subversus]

I really hope they put out something similar for Thief Gold. I can get my copy of OG Thief running fine, but both my disk and Steam copies of Gold give me issues on Win 7.

if you read the thread there you'll find the way to apply this patch to T1. You'll have to rename executables afaik + some other stuff.

 

[Lancehead]

it's not role-playing to me. All these choices describe me as a soldier, not as a person. There is not a single thing that makes me able to express my personality through gameplay or stats+gameplay. Solving combat/environmental puzzles in a different way =/= expressing myself. It's just some preset character dealing with stuff in different ways.

SS2 is a roleplaying game because you build your character. That is your expression, in gameplay. What do you mean by "express my personality"? You want to have dialogue options to consider it an RPG?

Solving combat/puzzles is not expression, yes, but you're solving them based on how you built your character. That is expression.

 

[Stallion Free]

if you read the thread there you'll find the way to apply this patch to T1. You'll have to rename executables afaik + some other stuff.

Oh, I'll have to look into that.

 

[subversus]

SS2 is a roleplaying game because you build your character. That is your expression, in gameplay. What do you mean by "express my personality"? You want to have dialogue options to consider it an RPG?

yes, or any option to express my will by interacting with another character. Solving combat/environmental puzzles is not an expression for me. The way I deal with stuff can partially describe as a character but only if there is other "social" side. If there is no social side I'm just a faceless soldier.

 

[Lancehead]

yes, or any option to express my will by interacting with another character. Solving combat/environmental puzzles is not an expression for me. The way I deal with stuff can partially describe as a character but only if there is other "social" side. If there is no social side I'm just a faceless soldier.

Not sure why you're fixated on "social" side; it's just one facet of interaction, not indispensable. This "another character" is just one part of the world. As long as I can express myself in how I interact with the world, that is roleplaying.

 

[subversus]

Not sure why you're fixated on "social" side; it's just one facet of interaction, not indispensable. This "another character" is just one part of the world. As long as I can express myself in how I interact with the world, that is roleplaying.

well, that is you and that is me. Different people, different expectations when it comes to things. Social interaction is a must for me to consider it a role-playing game. Anything else is just an action game or a puzzle game.

 

[Lancehead]

well, that is you and that is me. Different people, different expectations when it comes to things. Social interaction is a must for me to consider it a role-playing game.

Sure, I see your position on this.

Anything else is just an action game or a puzzle game.

This doesn't sound right. I'm not sure what exactly you mean by it, but there are many types of interaction where skill of the character takes precedence over skill of the player, and making that distinction is important to actually separate action/puzzle games from RPGs (or whatever you may want to call them). Solving a puzzle in Portal is different from solving a puzzle in SS2 where you use the skills of the character. Using weapons in Half Life is different from using weapons in Fallout where you use them because of and up to your character's skill.

You may not consider the latter cases in the above examples roleplaying, but to put them all under "just an action game or a puzzle game" is neglecting important characteristics of player - player-character - world interaction.

 

[Stallion Free]

The "tfix" for Thief 1/Gold has been updated to include the relevant files from this new Thief 2 patch:

http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=134733

It worked perfectly for me on my Steam copy of Thief Gold.

 

[subversus]

You may not consider the latter cases in the above examples roleplaying, but to put them all under "just an action game or a puzzle game" is neglecting important characteristics of player - player-character - world interaction.

the difference is that I look at core mechanics first and categorize a game by them. For example Diablo is not an RPG for me, it's a dungeon crawler. I consider social interaction to be a totally different mechanic which has nothing to do with combat, puzzles and may do nothing in the game except making it easier for a player to pretend he's a person. For example Mass Effect 1-2 is an RPG for me even though SS2 shits on it from gameplay mechanics perspective and it is a much deeper game. You decisions don't matter in ME 1-2 but you may choose your avatar and act in three emotionally different ways and by doing that I can see my character being somebody, not just some dude who can hack or shoot. For example I've built a dude with criminal past who grew in Earth slums. This past determined how he looks (like a wounded gorilla). His face showed no trace of intellect so I made him into a soldier (the dude is too agressive and totally not subtle to master biotics in any major way unless he had some major talent which was nurtured in biotic academy and there was no such background). And since he is a simple stupid prick, he's mysoginist, racist, hot-tempered in interactions with other people.

If I wanted to change his combat specialization from soldier ro engineer I had to change his past and looks too and therefore the way he acts. Any game where changing combat specialization doesn't have any effect on protagonist's personality isn't a role-playing game for me. If I'm playing a stealthy build I will never act agressively in dialogues because it would feel wrong - this guy isn't a cold-blooded patient killer if he tries to kick ass in dialogues as soon as there is an option or acts agressively overall. So, games which don't let me express myself by interacting with other people in some way lose this part and protagonists become a faceless machines.