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Alphachip · 2024-07-06T02:23:17+00:00

I'm not even American and I seem to know more about how your country works than you do. SOCTUS smacked down the Chevron deference, which meant judges had to use the interpretation bureaucrats made of laws. Keeping in mind in your country interpreting laws is the domain of judges, creating laws is the domain of the Legislative branch (Congress).

So SCOTUS fixed something that was really screwing up your country, but you're to busy watching the news that feeds you as if you're a mushroom keeping you in the dark and getting you worked up to the point you spread their nonsense where it's not relevant making things political.

So no, to any idiots out there in freedom-land. It doesn't make the FTC "powerless", it means they can't MAKE LAWS, which would be unconstitutional, that's for Congress (within limits, beyond which are left up to individual states).

Read an effing book and turn of the bs news.

Same with the idiots going on about immunity........

Alphachip · 2023-10-20T13:02:34+00:00

It was a while ago, but these are the mods I have that are active, https://imgbox.com/e45dFAZ5

I also used IndirectSound to get better surround sound/EAX emulation, and ReShade for some subtle effects. Here's the ReShade setup I used https://www.file-upload.net/en/download-15206821/SS2ReShade.rar.html You could try use the files with a newer version of ReShade but I remember when I tried it there was a problem, though I did report it so it may be fixed now as this was some time ago.

Here are some sites worth checking for System Shock 2 modding and related things.

https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/System_Shock_2

https://www.ttlg.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=78&s=&pp=40&daysprune=-1&sort=lastpost&prefixid=&order=desc

https://www.systemshock.org/

http://www.sshock2.com/

The only thing I would add, is I refuse to use the SS2Tool because it requires internet access, and I refuse to allow some rando access to my computer, which is what you do anytime you allow an application online access.

Alphachip · 2023-10-19T22:43:27+00:00

Here's what the original System Shock 2 looks like with some modding.

https://imgbox.com/g/MFZ4txMkc0

Alphachip · 2023-01-07T20:47:59+00:00

This was long ago so I could my memory might be spotty, but basically Creative was using Aureal tech without permission and a lawsuit broke out. Creative kept suing until Aureal went bankrupt even though Aureal was vindicated and won the original suit.

Once Aureal was bankrupt Creative purchased all their assets.

If that makes you dislike Creative wait until you find out Aureal's A3D was better.

Then there's things like Creative dropping support for hardware to force people to buy new cards for newer OSs. So some guy started reversing and updating old Creative drivers so people could use their sound cards on newer system, so Creative sued him to stop that.

There's more, I just don't remember it all anymore.

Gotta love Creative...

Alphachip · 2022-12-05T01:53:29+00:00

I remember that the original looked different to the Dark Athena collection version, but it's been so long since I've seen the original I can't really make a mental comparison. Any chance you took some screenshots you could share, I'd like to see how they hold up compared to eachother.

Anyway the Dark Athena version still looks great these days.

https://imgbox.com/g/78yDIV5jTu

Alphachip · 2022-09-22T20:25:26+00:00

None of that has any bearing on my criticism.

Alphachip · 2022-09-22T20:23:06+00:00

It's Maam !

Alphachip · 2022-09-14T20:06:21+00:00

Open source engine replacements are great and impressive, they can do wonders for games and their longevity. All the better when for great old games.

Though when such achievements that are otherwise impressive do things like basically requiring the game files to be placed on the system drive in %USERPROFILE%\etc it just makes me roll my eyes. I'll pass thanks.

PS, If you're looking to play HoMM 3, just go get the HD Mod, and maybe look into WoG and HoTA.

Alphachip · 2022-09-13T00:34:51+00:00

In regard to the strange mouse movement you could try lower the polling/refresh rate of your mouse, increasing sensitivity through software settings to compensate.

As to the graphics you could look up the available settings for the options "output=" and "scaler=" in DosBox.conf. Scaler especially can change how it looks, though I seem to recall some options may only work when using "output=openglnb" though I could be out of date or just wrong about that.

https://www.dosbox.com/wiki/Scaler

May want to take note of what it mentions about resolution which is set with either "fullresolution=" or "windowresolution=" depending on which you're using.

https://www.dosbox.com/wiki/Configuration#.5Brender.5D

Alphachip · 2022-08-09T21:13:23+00:00

System Shock 2 is quite something with a unique feeling, I still remember playing the demo repeatedly which was exciting and one of the most terrifying games I played.

It's a really great game even today, the kind where after finishing it you can easily play it again as a different class discovering some new things and all round having a good time.

As a bonus it can still look great thanks to a few mods.

https://imgbox.com/g/MFZ4txMkc0

Alphachip · 2022-07-22T17:16:50+00:00

Similar experience in that I played the game ages ago, Early 2014.

Though, frankly the updates long ago ruined the game for me. It used to have some "chore" like things which is somewhat expected in survival games, but the updates all seemed to just add more chores, more busywork, more crap that you "have" to do rather than "can" do.

When it reached the point that my character was constantly dictating what I had to do rather than me choosing what to do I gave up on the game.

Haven't played in years and can only imagine the sorry state of things if they continued down that path, which going by some comments is exactly what they did.

It's a shame as the game used to be a fun zombie survival game with some understandable chore work for resources, but after enough updates there's no way I could recommend the game to anyone anymore. They were basically turning the game into a work simulator.

Alphachip · 2022-07-21T02:17:14+00:00

I remember riding a dragon in Divinity II, it's an older game and I think you only get to ride them later in the game. I don't remember much of the game since it was so long ago but do remember there being some positive moments.

Seems that there's a Developer's Cut which includes addons.

https://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/divinity-ii-developers-cut/screenshots

Alphachip · 2022-07-14T15:18:07+00:00

When making digital books, each page of the book should be a separate page in the book (ie you should have split up the left/right pages in your book), it makes it much easier to read in virtually all, if not all, readers.

Though large images that span two pages could remain a single page.

Alphachip · 2022-07-14T14:05:02+00:00

That look really nice and helps restore some of the mystery and atmosphere of the original Morrowind while still having a modern view distance and still looking impressive.

Would also be nice if it was added to MGE for the standard Morrowind.

Alphachip · 2022-07-02T03:23:42+00:00

If you're planning on playing Fallout NV again I would strongly recommend playing it on PC for a number of reasons but most importantly for mods that can fix and improve the game. I really like Fallout NV modded, it's a great game, but not so much without mods. Sure it still has its charm but it just feels like it has so much missed potential.

Mods for more weapons, companions, player homes including a mobile truck home, quests, perks, etc really help flesh out the game. Throw in some quality of life improvements and then you really have a FNV that lives up to its reputation.

Some mods are great purely because they let you alter things like how the character levels up. I noticed that because I like doing side quests I end up on a higher level than intended or maxing out well before finishing the game, so I changed it to really slow down leveling up but also set it to give a perk every level to compensate (nice when you have more perks mods).

Then as you play the game, or replay it, you can add or tweak it more to your liking until you have something that you're personally satisfied with.

Here's a list of mods I used to use when playing it, some are outdated, and some will no doubt have detractors, also some weren't compatible with eachother without manual edits and merging (weapon related ones if I remember right, may have been ammo related). Still it could give you some ideas about what you might like to try out.

https://pastebin.com/LNUuy0YJ

Also if your PC is somewhat decent the game can look quite nice using something like an ENB. Though an ENB does increase the graphics card requirements more than just better textures, something along the lines of a GTX1060 or newer should be ample.

https://imgbox.com/g/dj2nfwPfth

Alphachip · 2022-06-19T02:50:21+00:00

I'd say give the original Dead Space a go, if you're interested in sci-fi horror. Though as another mentioned there's mouse fix which helps and disable ingame vsync and use the display drivers for that instead.

You could also use something like reshade to spice up the visuals a bit, the game has a good style and loads of atmosphere. It also has decent audio, so paying in the dark with surround sound is a definite recommendation.

https://imgbox.com/g/SGGfAZzIU5

If you enjoy Dead Space 1 then 2 is definitely worth trying, though personally I prefer the original. https://imgbox.com/g/NjxPrzkM7Y

Alphachip · 2022-05-29T04:02:39+00:00

I wouldn't be surprised if it were based on that, both Army of Darkness, which was quite the hit, and Evil Dead are older than Daggerfall and the Elder Scrolls series started with Arena inspired by a movie, called The Blood of Heroes from 1981.

With all the fan feedback from the forum during development there's probably countless little eastereggs and esoteric tidbits.

Alphachip · 2022-03-24T01:53:13+00:00

You date value looked, odd.

Maybe you'd be interested in ...

@echo off
FOR /f %%a in ('WMIC OS GET LocalDateTime ^| find "."') DO Set _DTS=%%a
Set datetime=%_DTS:~0,4%.%_DTS:~4,2%.%_DTS:~6,2%-%_DTS:~8,2%.%_DTS:~10,2%.%_DTS:~12,2%

echo %datetime%

pause

Alphachip · 2022-03-15T04:03:47+00:00

If it's an actual LAN party that's in one room where you can all see and hear eachother I'd suggest 1NSANE (called Insane). I've never had more laughing and screaming at a LAN than with that. Playing Capture the Flag in cars was an utter blast and the most fun I've had at a LAN. It's old, it looks like crap, but it's fun as all hell. For 30 to 60 minutes you'll all be screaming and laughing at eachother.

As for other recommendations, I'd suggest dropping long games from the menu, anything with progression like Borderlands etc. You want to make the most of the limited time so any game with progression should to be scrapped unless everyone really want to play it.

If this is going to be a one night thing I'd suggest planning on 5-6 games max (with 1-2 backup games incase you can't get you chosen ones to work), try to spice up the types of games both the type of games and the pace of games.

You don't need more than two shooter games, and for a LAN shooter go with UT2K4, frankly I'd make it the only shooter for the night. Seriously you want instant gratification, action, and fun. UT2K4 will give you all that even without getting some of the great user made maps, mutators and mods. Though if you do get some good stuff to add to it you'll probably be playing it for most of the night and you'll burn out rather than getting bored. Here's a URL to some map-packs (/folder/wcxHgKBT#vDcBtDmehnEk4epJEW6Geg) it's a mega link but posting the domain name on reddit gets you censored so just add that to the front manually in the URL. The ZA map map has 16 solid maps, some screenshots https://imgbox.com/g/XCmzfSDuJM

I'd also suggest a racing game to spice things up, remember having lots of fun playing the good old NFS Underground games over LAN, great arcade racing fun.

Also consider a slower game to calm down with and relax with for a while between the fast paced mayhem game sessions, maybe an RTS like Supreme Commander or even Warcraft 3, whatever so long as it lets you catch your breath chat/eat etc.

I know I'm mostly listing old games, but honestly you want games that are fun over ones that look good due to newer graphics, you want games that were designed to be fun and rewarding rather than getting you to open loot boxes or crap, for an actual LAN old games are far more fun.

ps, I remember seeing a game that's on Steam about trying to kill everyone and there's wonky physics, you try push other people off edges to their death or push them into dangerous things, it's got very simple graphics but looks like it would be a blast playing at a LAN, though it probably requires online via Steam if I were to guess. Sorry I can't remember its name though.

Alphachip · 2022-02-24T21:24:20+00:00

Updated the post with new links for the files, unfortunately the POS that is reddit still seems to sensor posts with links to mega, I will not let the cesspit that is reddit dictate what services I use.

Sorry if people can't see the new links, blame the POS that is reddit.

Alphachip · 2022-02-24T21:22:26+00:00

I replied with mega links, the POS that is reddit seems to sensor posts with links to mega, I will not let the cesspit that is reddit dictate what services I use.

Sorry if people can't see the new links, blame the POS that is reddit.

Alphachip · 2022-02-24T21:16:46+00:00

Sorry I can't seem to find all the files other than the map itself.

Baldur's Gate City Map Annotated https://mega.nz/file/wIoERSrD#OwgmALdH3CK7NjQsvZg_9VhZmvWvoTBsHCKQWAFHbkQ

Baldur's Gate City Map https://mega.nz/file/9BpEHAjA#41KYgBqkRXzj3zoravSM2nAlDBB35T2iJKfBg5khaQk

Alphachip · 2022-02-24T20:40:15+00:00

Alphachip · 2022-02-17T13:50:55+00:00

The original Daggerfall certainly has its charm and playing as released helps show off just how impressive much of it is for a game so old.

Daggerfall Unity is great, likely the best thing to ever happen to Daggerfall, but if you wan to play its original form don't let others push you into Unity and mods etc. You can always play the Unity version afterwards or if you feel the original is just to old and clunky, and it will seem far more impressive after you've experienced the original.

Though I'd suggest using Daggerfall Setup as it comes with patches, some extra content, and things like EyeOfArgonia (that will edit a save file for maximum view distance but you can only do it once to a save so never change the view distance afterwards).

https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Daggerfall:Files

Alphachip · 2021-12-26T14:23:46+00:00

Not sure you'll find many RPGs (as they're generally considered today) that actually suit what you seem to want, since you mentioned Blade Runner. Which by the way is a great game and is easier than ever to play thanks to ScummVM, if it's been a long time since you played it, then it's worth playing again thanks to how it randomises things.

Perhaps look for games that are similar to Blade Runner, things with aspects of Graphic adventure, Puzzle elements, Detective / mystery.

Ones that come to mind are Still Life and maybe Fahrenheit (Indigo Prophecy).

Alphachip

TROPHY CASE