COD4 and Riddick

On Fri, 28 Dec 2007 23:45:03 +0000, Shawk <shawk RemoveThis @clara.co.uk.3guesses>
wrote:

>
>Then I'm going along my game shelves wondering what I fancy playing and
>come across Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay. Haven't played this for a
>very, very long time - it's not even installed anymore.
>

>Quick Google showed the Starbreeze beat Doom3 in bump mapping and had
>soft shadows a long time before anyone else. Don't recall it being used
>for anything else though (other than the Darkness for 360)


Doom3 was hardly the first game to use bump-mapping though; heck,
didn't Dungeon Keeper 2 do bump mapping? And even that probably wasn't
the first.

I'm not sure; didn't NOLF2 do soft-shadowing?

Still, I did enjoy Riddick. I always went for the stealth kills.
 >> Stay informed about: COD4 and Riddick 

Spalls Hurgenson <yoinks.DeleteThis@ebalu.com> writes:

> On Fri, 28 Dec 2007 23:45:03 +0000, Shawk <shawk.DeleteThis@clara.co.uk.3guesses>
> wrote:
>
>>
>>Then I'm going along my game shelves wondering what I fancy playing and
>>come across Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay. Haven't played this for a
>>very, very long time - it's not even installed anymore.
>>
>
>>Quick Google showed the Starbreeze beat Doom3 in bump mapping and had
>>soft shadows a long time before anyone else. Don't recall it being used
>>for anything else though (other than the Darkness for 360)
>
>
> Doom3 was hardly the first game to use bump-mapping though; heck,
> didn't Dungeon Keeper 2 do bump mapping? And even that probably wasn't
> the first.
>
> I'm not sure; didn't NOLF2 do soft-shadowing?
>
> Still, I did enjoy Riddick. I always went for the stealth kills.

Nice potted history here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bump_mapping
 >> Stay informed about: COD4 and Riddick 

"Shawk" <shawk.TakeThisOut@clara.co.uk.3guesses> wrote in message
news:JYWdnRyaArP0F-janZ2dnUVZ8tChnZ2d@bt.com...
> So I finished COD4 tonight. What a great game - pretty realistic graphics
> while still running great on lower spec machines (I started it on a
> 7900GT), great sound effects, decent storyline and loads of fun, And just
> as challenging as the others. Well worth full price.

*** minor spoilers ***









I just finished COD4 last night. Incredible atmosphere and effects. I did
die A LOT, usually until I figured out a better way to do things. For
instance, the part where you have to take out the tanks with the rocket
launcher, I kept trying to go out the back door of the barn, thinking this
was the only way to get a view of the last few, and I would get shot to
death in seconds by the tanks' machine guns. But then I found out I could
go to the extreme other side and see them at a sharp angle, and this time
with cover.

I'd say my favorite part was when I had to carry my Sgt. after he is injured
by the crashing helicopter in Chernobyl. Then having to make your stand by
the ferris wheel while waiting for the extraction is just exhilirating.
Swarms and swarms of soldiers coming for you, and you're bunkered down
sniping them by the dozens, with support from your crippled superior officer
from high ground. That scene was just intense! Also, getting to the
asssassination attempt, hiding in high grass in your brush camo suit mere
feet from marching soldiers and armor as they walk by. And the end cut
scene/action was really impressive. Very satisfying. I was running it on
an e6700 and an 8800GTX 2GB RAM with effects at High and 4xAA. No
stuttering whatsoever.

Only problem with it, and it's a big problem, the single player is
SHORT!Admittedly, it made up for it's briefness in quality, but I would have
hoped it would be longer than say an Episode pack for HL2. It isn't. I
think I took longer to finsih Ep 2 than this. I hope that there are some
expansions out quick. I'm not sure if it has a MOD community working yet or
not. I haven't heard if the source code is out there. Ah, well, I'll have
to try the multiplyer, but I prefer the single player.

turk
--
"I don't particularly like it when people put words in my mouth, either, by
the way, unless I say it." --George W. Bush, Crawford, Texas, Nov. 10, 2007
 >> Stay informed about: COD4 and Riddick 

"turk" <turk96.RemoveThis@noway.nohow> wrote in message
news:n56dneBfU7CVT-vanZ2dnUVZ_rqlnZ2d@comcast.com...
> Only problem with it, and it's a big problem, the single player is
> SHORT!Admittedly, it made up for it's briefness in quality, but I would
> have hoped it would be longer than say an Episode pack for HL2. It isn't.
> I think I took longer to finsih Ep 2 than this. I hope that there are
> some expansions out quick. I'm not sure if it has a MOD community working
> yet or not. I haven't heard if the source code is out there. Ah, well,
> I'll have to try the multiplyer, but I prefer the single player.
>
> turk
> --

This is why I'm waiting for the price to fall on this game. I'm not into
multiplayer games, and the single player part just seems way to short. JLC
 >> Stay informed about: COD4 and Riddick 

turk wrote:
> "Shawk" <shawk RemoveThis @clara.co.uk.3guesses> wrote in message
> news:JYWdnRyaArP0F-janZ2dnUVZ8tChnZ2d@bt.com...
>> So I finished COD4 tonight. What a great game - pretty realistic graphics
>> while still running great on lower spec machines (I started it on a
>> 7900GT), great sound effects, decent storyline and loads of fun, And just
>> as challenging as the others. Well worth full price.
>
> *** minor spoilers ***
>
>
>
>








Bit more for the posh folk with large screens...










>
>
>
>
>
> I just finished COD4 last night. Incredible atmosphere and effects. I did
> die A LOT, usually until I figured out a better way to do things. For
> instance, the part where you have to take out the tanks with the rocket
> launcher, I kept trying to go out the back door of the barn, thinking this
> was the only way to get a view of the last few, and I would get shot to
> death in seconds by the tanks' machine guns. But then I found out I could
> go to the extreme other side and see them at a sharp angle, and this time
> with cover.


Didn't find that one too bad - popped a lot of smoke. But then I played
on regular - need to try it on harder difficulties before I brag...


> I'd say my favorite part was when I had to carry my Sgt. after he is injured
> by the crashing helicopter in Chernobyl. Then having to make your stand by
> the ferris wheel while waiting for the extraction is just exhilirating.
> Swarms and swarms of soldiers coming for you, and you're bunkered down
> sniping them by the dozens, with support from your crippled superior officer
> from high ground. That scene was just intense! Also, getting to the


Enjoyed that a lot. Fell first time but placed the claymores better
second time around and made it through. The part just before that was
frustrating as hell (just took the shot and suddenly there's guys coming
at us from everywhere) until I suddenly realised I was being a dickhead
and swapped my pistol for a fallen MP5. Much easier after that


> asssassination attempt, hiding in high grass in your brush camo suit mere
> feet from marching soldiers and armor as they walk by. And the end cut
> scene/action was really impressive. Very satisfying. I was running it on
> an e6700 and an 8800GTX 2GB RAM with effects at High and 4xAA. No
> stuttering whatsoever.


Seems to be a really well optimised game. That part is almost
photorealistic with everything on highest and still plays great. As
someone with a love for sniping this was gaming heaven for me.

Also loved the part manning the guns in the plane. Brilliant.


> Only problem with it, and it's a big problem, the single player is
> SHORT!Admittedly, it made up for it's briefness in quality, but I would have
> hoped it would be longer than say an Episode pack for HL2. It isn't. I
> think I took longer to finsih Ep 2 than this. I hope that there are some
> expansions out quick. I'm not sure if it has a MOD community working yet or
> not. I haven't heard if the source code is out there. Ah, well, I'll have
> to try the multiplyer, but I prefer the single player.


Games are definitely getting shorter though I'm very satisfied with what
I got.

Did you let the credits roll at the end? If you can stand the rap song
with weird lyrics there's an additional (very) short level on a Boeing -
sweet

BTW - what's Arcade Mode? I know I've unlocked it now but haven't had
chance to delve.
 >> Stay informed about: COD4 and Riddick 

"Shawk" <shawk DeleteThis @clara.co.uk.3guesses> wrote in message
news:s9SdnY4ozqq7nuranZ2dnUVZ8surnZ2d@bt.com...
> turk wrote:
>> "Shawk" <shawk DeleteThis @clara.co.uk.3guesses> wrote in message
>> news:JYWdnRyaArP0F-janZ2dnUVZ8tChnZ2d@bt.com...
>>> So I finished COD4 tonight. What a great game - pretty realistic
>>> graphics while still running great on lower spec machines (I started it
>>> on a 7900GT), great sound effects, decent storyline and loads of fun,
>>> And just as challenging as the others. Well worth full price.
>>
>> *** minor spoilers ***
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Bit more for the posh folk with large screens...
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> I just finished COD4 last night. Incredible atmosphere and effects. I
>> did die A LOT, usually until I figured out a better way to do things.
>> For instance, the part where you have to take out the tanks with the
>> rocket launcher, I kept trying to go out the back door of the barn,
>> thinking this was the only way to get a view of the last few, and I would
>> get shot to death in seconds by the tanks' machine guns. But then I
>> found out I could go to the extreme other side and see them at a sharp
>> angle, and this time with cover.
>
>
> Didn't find that one too bad - popped a lot of smoke. But then I played
> on regular - need to try it on harder difficulties before I brag...

Ah, I didn't even think of smoke. As soon as I went out the door, I got
gunned down quick by those tanks. I kept thinking there would be a back
window I was missing, but there wasn't one. Eventually, I figured out I
could go farthest away from them on the farm and see them from a tight
angle.

>> I'd say my favorite part was when I had to carry my Sgt. after he is
>> injured by the crashing helicopter in Chernobyl. Then having to make
>> your stand by the ferris wheel while waiting for the extraction is just
>> exhilirating. Swarms and swarms of soldiers coming for you, and you're
>> bunkered down sniping them by the dozens, with support from your crippled
>> superior officer from high ground. That scene was just intense! Also,
>> getting to the
>
>
> Enjoyed that a lot. Fell first time but placed the claymores better
> second time around and made it through. The part just before that was
> frustrating as hell (just took the shot and suddenly there's guys coming
> at us from everywhere) until I suddenly realised I was being a dickhead
> and swapped my pistol for a fallen MP5. Much easier after that

Yeah, I had taken the habit early in the game of ditching the pistol for a
better gun. I went with the AK in that stage. I initially started sniping
from the bumper cars, then moved on to the middle behind the ticket booth,
then behind the ferris wheel. I figured out early on that the Sarge was
basically invincible as near as I could tell, so I felt no inclination to
protect him.

>> asssassination attempt, hiding in high grass in your brush camo suit mere
>> feet from marching soldiers and armor as they walk by. And the end cut
>> scene/action was really impressive. Very satisfying. I was running it
>> on an e6700 and an 8800GTX 2GB RAM with effects at High and 4xAA. No
>> stuttering whatsoever.
>
>
> Seems to be a really well optimised game. That part is almost
> photorealistic with everything on highest and still plays great. As
> someone with a love for sniping this was gaming heaven for me.

Best looking outdoor environments I've ever seen. Of course, I wasn't
exactly playing it on a slow rig, either. Personally, I'm not much of a
sniper, but I certainly got into it. And by the end of the game, the sniper
rifle was my favorite gun.

> Also loved the part manning the guns in the plane. Brilliant.

Yeah, I forgot to mention that. That was cool as hell, if a bit too easy.
I did get scolded for shooting the wrong troops early on, though. I didn't
notice the blinking.

>> Only problem with it, and it's a big problem, the single player is
>> SHORT!Admittedly, it made up for it's briefness in quality, but I would
>> have hoped it would be longer than say an Episode pack for HL2. It
>> isn't. I think I took longer to finsih Ep 2 than this. I hope that
>> there are some expansions out quick. I'm not sure if it has a MOD
>> community working yet or not. I haven't heard if the source code is out
>> there. Ah, well, I'll have to try the multiplyer, but I prefer the
>> single player.
>
>
> Games are definitely getting shorter though I'm very satisfied with what I
> got.

Yeah, it was easily one of the best games I've played in recent memory. But
damn, I wanted more!

> Did you let the credits roll at the end? If you can stand the rap song
> with weird lyrics there's an additional (very) short level on a Boeing -
> sweet

I just watched it and it seemed to do everything itself. Didn't know you
could take command.

> BTW - what's Arcade Mode? I know I've unlocked it now but haven't had
> chance to delve.

Arcade mode is just going over the same levels with points for your shots
(more for headshots, grenade kills, etc.) and you get extra points for lives
left and how quick you finish it. It's ok, but really just a time killer.
You can also enable cheat codes at that point, if you enjoy that kind of
thing.

turk
--
"I don't particularly like it when people put words in my mouth, either, by
the way, unless I say it." --George W. Bush, Crawford, Texas, Nov. 10, 2007
 >> Stay informed about: COD4 and Riddick 

JLC wrote:

>
> This is why I'm waiting for the price to fall on this game. I'm not into
> multiplayer games, and the single player part just seems way to short. JLC


Can't get better than free from Santa..
 >> Stay informed about: COD4 and Riddick 

This message is not archived
 >> Stay informed about: COD4 and Riddick 

Steve Evans wrote:
>
>
> I've dipped into the MP arena a couple of times. It was painful and
> chaotic, and I didn't really get what was going on. I was constantly
> getting one-shot killed from nowhere, and the only kills I got were a
> couple of lucky grenade lobs.
> Not a lot of fun really!
>
>

That's because COD4 MP is almost a RPG kind of thing. Players level up
and get more powerful weapons and abilities. Since the game has been
out awhile, you're probably getting into games with level 50+ players
who can easily take you out. As you play more and level yourself,
things will start to get easier. For now, try to find servers with
lower level players...
 >> Stay informed about: COD4 and Riddick 

Shawk wrote:

> Then I'm going along my game shelves wondering what I fancy playing
> and come across Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay. Haven't played
> this for a very, very long time - it's not even installed anymore.
>
> I load it up expecting to hate the graphics of this 3yr old game (even
> if I enjoy the gameplay) and get a very pleasant surprise. The
> graphics have really held their own. Still look very good. Decent
> graphics, great voice acting, decent story, decent gameplay, surely
> one of the first games with commentary. And you can see your legs! But I
> don't think it did that well did it?

It was criminal how badly that game was over looked. IIRC it came out about
the same time as Doom 3.

Doom 3 had game play that wasn't far ahead of Wolf3D and certainly behind
System Shock 1. But it had nice graphics

Riddick had diverse game play and let you deal with fight's in different
ways. I also think it had nicer graphics than Doom 3.

Doom 3 is hyped to buggery and cleans up with some mid 90s scores in
reviews. Riddick is largely overlooked and get mid 80s ones.
 >> Stay informed about: COD4 and Riddick 

turk <turk96 DeleteThis @noway.nohow> wrote:
> *** minor spoilers ***
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I'd say my favorite part was when I had to carry my Sgt. after he is injured
> by the crashing helicopter in Chernobyl. Then having to make your stand by
> the ferris wheel while waiting for the extraction is just exhilirating.

i think that's the first time i've seen someone say they actually liked
that part. i played the game on the highest difficulty and didn't
exactly find it exhilarating.

luckily, i discovered a very easy way to survive the endless swarms
without even taking a hit. but still, it was a bit much.

--
"(HL2) Ep2 is non linear .... multiple ways to achieve the same goals"
-Walter Mitty
 >> Stay informed about: COD4 and Riddick 

turk <turk96.RemoveThis@noway.nohow> wrote:
> "i own a yacht" <me.RemoveThis@privacy.net> wrote in message
> news:13neo402bfco3bf@corp.supernews.com...
>> turk <turk96.RemoveThis@noway.nohow> wrote:
>>> "i own a yacht" <me.RemoveThis@privacy.net> wrote in message
>>> news:13nemfhe2k1c0c2@corp.supernews.com...
>>>> turk <turk96.RemoveThis@noway.nohow> wrote:
>>>>> *** minor spoilers ***
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
> You mean the far back corner? I'm not sure what you're referring to. I
> hung out actually on the bumper car platform, using the railings as cover.

you can go around the platform and lay just on the corner so your back
is to the dead-end and you're facing the back line of the area making
it easy to pick off anyone who tries to come behind, and you can also
pop your head up and shoot through the railings. the only way they can
get at you is by tossing grenades but you can just run away towards the
dead-end and then return.

besides cheesing it like that, i don't think many people would be able
to beat it on their first few tries, at least on the highest difficulty
level. i think cod4 is excellent but that's one of its major flaws; the
trial-and-error gameplay in some areas.

another tedious part is during the truck chase at the end when you have
to take out the guys in the other trucks while you're bouncing around,
which to me is just lazy, oldschool design that should be done away
with. i guess some people find it exciting but i hate the feeling that
no matter how good i am there's still a good chance i'm going to fail
one of the sequences just because it's so random. it is exhilarating if
you manage to pull it off first go, but a lot of the time that's not
going to be the case, and there won't necessarily be anything you can
analyze to make sure you do better next time.. you just have to get a
bit lucky.

--
"(HL2) Ep2 is non linear .... multiple ways to achieve the same goals"
-Walter Mitty
 >> Stay informed about: COD4 and Riddick 

i own a yacht wrote:
> turk <turk96.RemoveThis@noway.nohow> wrote:
>> "i own a yacht" <me.RemoveThis@privacy.net> wrote in message
>> news:13neo402bfco3bf@corp.supernews.com...
>>> turk <turk96.RemoveThis@noway.nohow> wrote:
>>>> "i own a yacht" <me.RemoveThis@privacy.net> wrote in message
>>>> news:13nemfhe2k1c0c2@corp.supernews.com...
>>>>> turk <turk96.RemoveThis@noway.nohow> wrote:
>>>>>> *** minor spoilers ***
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>> You mean the far back corner? I'm not sure what you're referring to. I
>> hung out actually on the bumper car platform, using the railings as cover.
>
> you can go around the platform and lay just on the corner so your back
> is to the dead-end and you're facing the back line of the area making
> it easy to pick off anyone who tries to come behind, and you can also
> pop your head up and shoot through the railings. the only way they can
> get at you is by tossing grenades but you can just run away towards the
> dead-end and then return.


Thanks - I'm playing on hardest now and I'll probably need this.


> besides cheesing it like that, i don't think many people would be able
> to beat it on their first few tries, at least on the highest difficulty
> level. i think cod4 is excellent but that's one of its major flaws; the
> trial-and-error gameplay in some areas.


Always been part of the COD series though. I quite like that I can try
something different if my first idea doesn't pan out (i.e. popping
smoke). Much prefer it to the games where everything is exactly the
same and I just have to shoot quicker time after time until I luck through


> another tedious part is during the truck chase at the end when you have
> to take out the guys in the other trucks while you're bouncing around,
> which to me is just lazy, oldschool design that should be done away
> with. i guess some people find it exciting but i hate the feeling that
> no matter how good i am there's still a good chance i'm going to fail
> one of the sequences just because it's so random. it is exhilarating if
> you manage to pull it off first go, but a lot of the time that's not
> going to be the case, and there won't necessarily be anything you can
> analyze to make sure you do better next time.. you just have to get a
> bit lucky.


Were the overturning trucks on that level scripted? I intend to look at
this again on this run-through but I did aim for tyres and the trucks
did crash (one of my favourite tactics in Crysis). No idea if this was
down to me or they'd have crashed anyway though

The shooting from a vehicle is pure COD and I can't see them losing it
from the games. The good thing this time was that the modern setting
with a lot more traffic did make it more cinematic but these type of
levels will never be my favourite part of the games
 >> Stay informed about: COD4 and Riddick