Cigol

Bethesda didn't use securom to its full extent, though even if they had a crack would be easy to come by and they work for both STEAM and non-STEAM versions.

Yes, that's it! Thanks. I figured it wanted me to wall run there, I just didn't put it together with a jump to the other side of the room. Answer was (as always) staring me in the face - but jesus, how do I get that time back!? It is sort of weird you only do one 'runner' type mission, and even that has combat in it. Maybe they were scared of its marketability without combat shenanigans.

DAMNIT I'm stuck! Chapter 7. Trying to jump from off a vent to an open ventillation shaft but there's a huge gap and slopey wall in the way. No idea how to get across and I keep falling down and having to climb all the way back up. Has anyone completed this part and vaguely remember it? Because if you have any answers I'm all ears. GameFAQ's is empty. There's a ledge at the beginning where if you walk across it shows the opening you're supposed to get to but there's fencing in the way. Makes me hate the game when I get in ruts like this, a better help system would have been nice - for example the guy on comms could chime in with something useful for a change. Frustrated with singleplayer I tried out time-trial now I have my internet back and tried to beat Ben's time trial run on the intiial level. My first few attempts had me nearly 30 seconds off the pace and I was like; wtf?! But hanging back and watching his 'ghost' shows he goes a completely different way that cuts out nearly half of the jumping crap. I wonder whether that's in the singleplayer game, because it's pretty amazing if it is. Still couldn't beat his time, a couple of seconds off the pace, but it's addicitive and I was faster in a couple of areas so it's not like you run a single path and get a mechanical win.

Stealth was broken in the original Oblivion, and from what I tried of it in Fallout it doesn't seem much better. I can look at a locked door on the second floor of a house for example and people a floor below will suddenly chime in telling me "It's locked for a reason you know!" It's as if they have super-duper-senses. And just going into stealth mode doesn't guarantee you'll remain hidden for the duration of the action. There are hidden dice rolls that'll expose you without a moments thought. It's a little jarring considering it's played as a first person shooter. Oh and don't play Mirrors Edge before Fallout 3. Those splashes of red colouring will confuse you no end

Well, I'm just hoping the talk of it being a satisfying conclusion to the series as a whole turns out to be the case. I don't want the equivalent of the Sopranos in BSG... won't work half as well I don't think, we want answers... well, I do. Spoon fed to me.

If this is going to be a regular occurrence are you able to get this on iTunes as well? I hate manually downloading stuff, then manually adding it and then manually transferring it to my iPod.

Does anyone remember Charlie Brookers prank phone calls to various games companies in PC Zone? One included calling up EIDOS about Tomb Raider 2 ("green about the gills", "you have a touch of mystique about you")... although his call to Activision was good as well

Just get it on the PC. You'll be missing out on all the user made modifications if you don't anyway.

STEAM has a nice reminder for events if you use their group calendar. Just saying...

...but Mirrors Edge is polished? The only negatives I can think of are the supposedly weak narrative, and its trial and error gameplay. On the former most games are guilty, and on the latter I find no real solution beyond the regular auto-saving they already implemented. What's actually wrong with the game to warrant the negativity though.

Maybe, maybe not; I think the associate oft-stated standard caveat - "as a teamwork game, it's no fun playing with random people" - is far less true than you'd expect. In fact, throwing a group of strangers in a strange situation and then one of them acting strange is the kind of random chaos that Left 4 Dead thrives upon. Things going wrong is glorious. And when things go gloriously wrong, it's the sort of thing you happily blow 500-word intros on. Left 4 Dead is the zombie apocalypse trapped safely inside your computer. Take a holiday in their misery. Check out the rest of the review by Kieron Gillen here. A renegade Bill with a French accent running ahead of the pack, blissfully unaware of how he's damaging our chances of survival - or a health kit hoarding, cowardly Francis who you think twice about rushing to rescue. A rag-tag bunch of characters trying to survive together is often just as fun as playing with a group of friends mechanistically trying to do things right. I've had a couple of bad experiences (people idling at random only to shoot you all to death on the penultimate level ) but more often than not - like Team Fortress 2 - you'll come across those good folk interested in playing the game properly. But I have to say, unlike Team Fortress 2 the players (on release) are definitely not as mature across the board I'm also not sure if it's the same for everyone else, as it could just be a coincidence I'm reading too much into, but I think it's a game you have to play a fair bit to appreciate. My first few games, beyond the initial excitement, were pretty tepid and boring but it eventually started ramping up both the excitement levels and challenge - so I would suggest anyone who finds it all a bit 'huh' at first don't leave it at that.

As an outsider I've looked upon the update rather enviously - but then I'm one of those people who'll install a new operating system just because it's different and end up gawping at all the new features. It looks nice anyway.

Hilarious

If the list is as big as suggested then what's saying this isn't a publicity exercise? It also forces people to 'man up' if they've been keeping it quiet.

I'm experiencing some really depressing bouts of lag which affect everyone (and therefore appear to be linked to the server/game) - happens during those intense scenes, naturally, and it destroys the atmosphere Not all servers are like that thankfully, but I do hope they come up with a solution. Fast. As for the game... well it's sort of what I expected. Great, but not 'oh shit oh shit, OMGZ, is awesome', it sort of feels dated in a couple of respects and the reliance on multiplayer leaves a dull singleplayer component. It's a little straightforward I thought too. There's the last stand situations - where you push a button and defend yourself from a horde of zombies, and you can man a couple of stationary gun emplacements and throw around some petrol cannisters - but is that it? So far, and I've only completed the first two chapters fwiw, there's not a lot of variety in the gameplay. I mean as good as it is, and as replayable as it is I would have liked a little more. Where are the puzzles for example or scenarios which require splitting up or something? You never seem to deviate from the run around as a group shooting as fast as possible and at as many monsters as possible shtick - I'm not saying I don't enjoy that, I do, but it seems like something Valve could have easily expanded upon. It's going to be what modders do, so why not Valve? Seems strange, and a bit disappointing on reflection. Still the strength of feeling as I tried to rescue a comrade as the helicopter was in its holding pattern, that sinking feeling as the horde beings to overwhelm me, and the sudden realisation that neither of us will make it... well, nothing like it. Very exciting, tense and enjoyable game.

It surprised me because from what I'd seen of the hype it was primarily focused on its level building tools - so that there was a singleplayer component worth playing at all was a pleasant surprise. I've pretty much completed it myself (just the last area to get through) and thoroughly enjoyed every minute. I only got stuck trying to manoeuvre the dynamite around, but there's a knack to it that once you know quickly renders all your previous frustration trifling. Charged with creative energy I find myself routinely jumping into the editor full of hope and promise only to find myself lost and out of my depth. It's very easy to use, and abuse, I'll give them that, but there's still a natural barrier for those us cursed with ordinary'ness. ...looking back on Spaff's first level. Cripes. Well done sir! Being without the internet the past week or so I was crushed to learn you had to actually be connected online in order to play community levels? I mean as fun as the core game is that's a bit of a poor show for those who can't get online (for whatever reason).

So whilst it's supremely frustrating in regular intervals, and the trial and error format teeters on the edge of 'game breaking' - I found the experience more than satisfying. Very good in fact. The sense of scope and believability of the game world is amazing, especially when combined with its naturalistic movement and controls. It's not all perfect, the combat is frustrating to the point of madness, and sometimes it's not clear at all what you're supposed to do, but it does eventually click and things start picking up pace. I stormed through most of the single player campaign but I feel compelled to play through again simply because it never feels like an 'on the rails' experience. For that reason the (somewhat) sandbox time trial feature (with online leaderboards) looks to be a worthwhile addition as well.

That's what all the websites are saying anyway, but they are surely referring to the social & creative elements rather than the game itself. Watching the video compilation ( ) and taking it at face value I have to say I'm impressed. It has a lot of potential if the wide variety of gaming genres shown are anything to go by. Obviously, it depends on how easy it is to use the tools and how much freedom they give you, but it sounds promising no?

Anyone worried about how dawdling and soul sappingly boring the platforming looks needn't worry - it's so much more fun once you've got the controller in your hands. The depth controls can be a bit wonky at times but it never feels 'broken' it's just something you cope with. All in all I'm very surprised with how much fun it is to just run around jumping (and making faces). I honestly thought it would be pretty shitty, believing the levels would be what prop it up - not the platforming elements. So glad I was wrong as it's such a charming, well rounded game! Happy customer here, though the online mode doesn't work as of yet

I've not experienced any crashing myself, but that's the problem with PC games. It's like a box of chocolates, never know what you're gonna get. That said, ThunderPeel, unless you want to end up paying for dog armour I suggest that's the version you get. Even if they don't release the mod tools, people are already busy doing stuff to the game. I can't really answer that to be honest, people might steal my ideas. Okay, but seriously it's just too difficult to qualify in words. I only know my perfect Fallout sequel isn't an improved Oblivion - no matter how good it is in that respect. More than that I find difficult to write. I actually had a 512MB X850 XT, you'll see a massive improvement with a 7/8/9 series NVIDIA. You can cure someone's drug addiction one minute and ask them literally the next how they have been holding up. It's a small thing to point out, but it would have been nice to have those options appear anew as it feels cheap seeing them and then compulsively clicking.

I don't think you can pull off sneaking unless you've wasted all your initial skill points on the sneak skill itself, and unless I'm mistaken you can't talk your way out of combat as they appear as enemies not NPC's. You might be lucky to avoid them by chance, and if you run outside of the Vault the last two you meet won't pose a threat, but other than that it was shoot, or be shot for me. I didn't kill the overseer mind, I just left him there standing like a dork. Hopefully we meet again, especially now I have a minigun. Maybe I'm alone in thinking this (here at least), and perhaps I'll come off as some angry internet man who is complaining for complainings sake - but I just don't think Fallout 3 is anywhere near as good as it could have been if we are talking about it in terms of Fallout 1 & 2. If we are discussing it as the sequel to Oblivion, with an atmosphere and tone similar and somewhat faithful to the original Fallouts then yes; it's very successful, and very good. But as a true sequel to Fallout 1 & 2 I completely disagree because as great as Fallout 3 is; its greatness isn't analogous to the originals. It barely touches upon what made the originals so brilliant and to my mind does literally nothing to advance the genre. These are games 7 or 8 years old, basic even in comparison to something like Baldurs Gate 1 & 2 which amongst other things featured NPC relationships. Fallout 3 is a great game, but not in the way Fallout 1 & 2 were great games and certainly not in the way I'd expect a sequel of those to be great. ...I wonder also, cynically, whether the lack of focus on the RPG and dialogue elements that was extremely prevalent pre-release was a concious effort to lower expectations? Anyway, can't stop, got to go out and buy some tin foil for my new hat. That's right Remo, waterproof. Just try and piss on me now!

Boku is also a PC title from reading the articles so it's a moot point anyway.

Yeah I wanted something similar but in the end decided it wasn't worth the hassle. What happens when you want to use your headphones for example? Just get a Creative Fatal1ty headset for the PC. It's cheap (maybe a little flimsy) and the microphone can be taken off when you don't need it.

Very cool, obviously. Pretty soon STEAM will be wiping our asses, well, most of our asses. Not everyone's.