Hard Light Productions Forums

Off-Topic Discussion => Gaming Discussion => Topic started by: jr2 on April 23, 2010, 08:20:50 am

Title: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: jr2 on April 23, 2010, 08:20:50 am
GOG.com (http://www.gog.com) is running a promo (https://www.gog.com/en/promo/scifi_sim).  FS1 + ST; FS2; Descent 1 + II; Descent 3 + Mercenaries Expansion $4.19 each

In other words, to buy all of the titles mentioned above (the marbles are included in your :headz: ), the total would be $16.76 (instead of the regular $23.96 for $5.99 each)

So, vote away!  And if you buy any of these, don't forget to come back and change your vote!  :P

(https://www.gog.com/upload/images/2010/04/0a1fefa6d23c92544512fd702e0da9a14d17b63a.jpg)

EDIT:  Just in case anyone gets stupid ideas, I'm not affiliated with GOG.com :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Commander Zane on April 23, 2010, 08:31:03 am
I did have every game installed in the hard drive at one point, though I don't actually have Mercenaries, it was a friend's disk I used.
Like every single game on the list, except Descent 3 and Mercenaries.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Sushi on April 23, 2010, 09:11:02 am
I did have every game installed in the hard drive at one point, though I don't actually have Mercenaries, it was a friend's disk I used.
Like every single game on the list, except Descent 3 and Mercenaries.

I voted for the ones I've had at some point, even though I've lost the disks to most of them by now. I borrowed Mercenaries once, but never finished it (it got boring).
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Klaustrophobia on April 23, 2010, 09:56:47 am
i have all of them, except only ever had the shareware D1.  i must admit to never having completed any of the descent series.  i was really young when i played 1 and 2, and didn't understand the concept of saving :/.  for d3 i think ADD kicked in when i started getting to the really long levels where objectives seemed to fade into "figure out where the hell to go".
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: mister J on April 23, 2010, 10:18:45 am
I have everything except the D3 expansion pack (or maybe I did have it but I didn't play) Finished everything, but I didn't play online except for FS1.

I bought the three pack back in the day that had D1, D2 and the Descent Levels of the World Level Pack. Anyone remember that?
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Sushi on April 23, 2010, 10:31:07 am
I have everything except the D3 expansion pack (or maybe I did have it but I didn't play) Finished everything, but I didn't play online except for FS1.

I bought the three pack back in the day that had D1, D2 and the Descent Levels of the World Level Pack. Anyone remember that?

Yep, I got that one too.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Timerlane on April 23, 2010, 11:37:22 am
i have all of them, except only ever had the shareware D1.
+1. I also bought a used copy of Descent Maximum for the PS1, but found the controller too limiting for proper Descent-playing.

Honestly, I thought D2's levels felt longer than 3's, or at least more convoluted and harder to memorize, though in D3, when the mission end score/stat screen comes up, I do find myself looking back and thinking, "That was all part of one level?"
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Commander Zane on April 23, 2010, 12:07:38 pm
I'd get Levels of the World if I could get D2X-XL to run with ****ing SOUND. :doubt:
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: CP5670 on April 23, 2010, 01:20:16 pm
I got all of them when they were released, as well as the D1 and D2 expansions. Although I actually played through the Levels of the World (the singleplayer ones, at least) for the first time only a few months ago.

Quote
Honestly, I thought D2's levels felt longer than 3's, or at least more convoluted and harder to memorize, though in D3, when the mission end score/stat screen comes up, I do find myself looking back and thinking, "That was all part of one level?"

It depends on the level. The D3 levels varied in a lot more in size. Some such as level 13 or level 3 of Mercenary were much larger than anything in D2, while others were very short.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Mongoose on April 23, 2010, 04:08:31 pm
Lessee...sitting on my shelf behind me, I have the Descent Definitive Collection (1, Levels of the World fan-pack, II, and Vertigo), two copies of D3 (the original release and the dual-jewel pack for Mercenary), two copies of FS1 (the original and another copy with Silent Threat as a pack-in), and FS2 (the Interplay 20th anniversary release).  I have the good ol' huge boxes for all of them except the Definitive Collection, which I greatly regret.  I'd totally take advantage of this deal too, just to get everything as a convenient digital copy, but I don't exactly have any spare cash at the moment.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Galemp on April 23, 2010, 05:07:32 pm
I've had all these for as long as I can remember. It's probably part of Interplay's promoting Descent for the Wii.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Klaustrophobia on April 23, 2010, 06:48:12 pm


It depends on the level. The D3 levels varied in a lot more in size. Some such as level 13 or level 3 of Mercenary were much larger than anything in D2, while others were very short.

that damn nomadic cave level *grumble*
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Blue Lion on April 23, 2010, 07:07:38 pm
Never played Descent but it looks like gog is getting enough money from selling FS games eh?
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Commander Zane on April 23, 2010, 07:12:40 pm
THEY HAVE BLOOD! :D

I'm still waiting for Wing Commander and Battlezone.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Galemp on April 23, 2010, 09:42:55 pm
I still have to finish the games I have before I buy any more.

Planescape: Torment, I'm looking at you.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Aardwolf on April 25, 2010, 01:05:04 pm
I have all but the expansion for D3.

Also, you left out Vertigo :P

Also, I like marbles.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on April 26, 2010, 01:49:29 pm
I have Descent 3 v1.0, which came with an old Compaq Presario that no longer exists. While at a computer fare, I came across Mercenary, which I found inside a junk heap of other games, being sold for S$6. It was the only copy of Mercenary I saw, and it was dirt cheap, so I decided not to take any chances and buy it.

In recent months, I've started seeing Interplay's old titles showing up in redesigned covers. This includes Descent 3, which apparently includes Mercenary. The box looks a bit like this one below:

(http://www.xcel.on.ca/web_pics/16772.jpg)
 /me visits www.descent3.com.

Oh hello, they're still active.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Det. Bullock on April 27, 2010, 10:37:15 am
I have the PCGamer version of Descent 1 (never completed though), Conflict: Freespace and Freespace 2 both in boxed edition.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Ace on April 27, 2010, 01:42:00 pm
Ever bought or played Mercenary, but still have everything else. Including my Silent Threat copy from Volition.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Cyker on August 17, 2010, 08:24:52 pm
I still have to finish the games I have before I buy any more.

Planescape: Torment, I'm looking at you.

For the love of smeg, don't go near that unless you're on either a gap year or are unemployed!! :nervous:

It is probably one of the most epic games ever written, and I mean that in terms of awesomeness as well as... um... timesink...ness.  ;)

Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Fenrir on August 18, 2010, 02:34:56 am
Lost my copy of Silent Threat somewhere along the line, but I still have the discs for FS1 and FS2. Never owned or even played any of the Descents. Maybe I'll pick them up.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Klaustrophobia on August 18, 2010, 09:45:18 am
it all started with descent.  play you must.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on August 18, 2010, 11:09:29 am
I still see D3 + Mercenary being sold at my retailer.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Shivan Hunter on August 18, 2010, 12:06:57 pm
Descent = awesome.

Also, Freespaces > Descent 1 >= Descent 2 > Descent 3.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Mongoose on August 18, 2010, 02:57:25 pm
Psh.  At least D3 had you doing more in singleplayer than getting the same damn keys 30 times in a row. :p
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Klaustrophobia on August 18, 2010, 03:54:32 pm
i did enjoy d3's story and objectives outside of the doom-style levels
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Unknown Target on August 19, 2010, 02:56:32 am
I have them all. And I like Marbles.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on August 19, 2010, 12:51:20 pm
Psh.  At least D3 had you doing more in singleplayer than getting the same damn keys 30 times in a row. :p

The weapons were terrible, though. Most of my time in SP and Merc SP was spent spamming Plasma/Vauss/Super Laser.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Commander Zane on August 19, 2010, 12:54:59 pm
And it wasn't like that on Descent or Descent 2?
I beat Descent 2 using only the Gauss (Obviously first starting with Laser, then using the Vulcan when I found it).
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on August 19, 2010, 01:01:29 pm
The thing about the weapons in Descent and ][ is that they are quite different, but all of them have almost the same killing rate. I've tried both games before, and I'm forever switching weapons between kills. In Descent 3, though, I usually use only the Super Laser, Vauss and Plasma.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Klaustrophobia on August 19, 2010, 07:37:51 pm
i rather enjoyed sniping with the mass driver.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Timerlane on August 19, 2010, 09:48:59 pm
My outlook:
D2: Supers, Gauss, Helix(Oh, the sweet, sweet DPS; why couldn't we have kept this instead of Napalm/Microwave?), situational Fusion.

IMO, Plasma wastes energy compared to Supers, and up close where the damage rate could really matter, I'd rather cut loose with Helix. Now and then, maybe I'll use the Omega on the Thief out of boredom/annoyance.

D3: Supers, Vauss, Plasma(energy efficient spam/for stationary targets), Mass Driver, Napalm for random fun/Sickles, EMD for occasional Orbot, occasional Fusion.

While I do like D3's mission-objective variety(and not wasting several minutes killing off the Thief at the beginning of most levels), I think I like slower-speed D2 combat better. On any difficulty above Rookie, there really is no such thing as long/mid range combat in D3, unless you're using Vauss/MD(or wasting energy on EMD). With the exception of Tubbs and Sparky, even the weakest bots almost effortlessly dodge most guns unless you're practically ramming the barrel down their(proverbial) throats.

Also, I kinda like how D2's bots don't automatically come running when they hear you shooting. While it means they don't gang up on you as much, I think individual D1/D2 bots are generally more capable of causing real "oh crap" moments whenever you stumble upon them(apart from the super-Stingers/Tailbots and 'Blackjack' MD troopers EDIT: And the Napalm Gyro), and you can't as easily 'drag' them away to a more convenient spot to finish them off.

OTOH, D3 does have some more fun/creative missiles(Frags, Impact Mortars), and the Vauss was a lot more balanced(and arguably cooler-sounding) than the Gauss.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Klaustrophobia on August 20, 2010, 07:33:15 am
i honestly can't remember what the vauss sounds like, but i do remember the gauss sounds wicked awsome.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on August 20, 2010, 11:33:19 am
The Vauss doesn't sound as heavy as the Gauss, that's for certain. The best way for me to describe it is "low-pitched pop".
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Timerlane on August 20, 2010, 03:14:10 pm
I think the Vauss is a good bit more loud/bass-y(the fact that I used to have a subwoofer hooked up to my computer, back in the day, might have something to do with my perceptions, but still).

The Gauss sounds more like a shotgun/cannon(kind of a 'chunk-chunk-chunk'), while the Vulcan is probably the most tepid minigun to ever exist in the history of FPS/demi-FPS gaming.

I don't know; I'd say the Vauss has 'more dakka'(so to speak), where the Gauss is a somewhat more muted cannon that somehow reloads way too fast for a gun that kills most bots in 3-4 'bursts'.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Klaustrophobia on August 20, 2010, 07:35:02 pm
the gauss was essentially a heavy gatling gun if i remember correctly. 

the first time i ever played D2, i remember the vulcan sounding a lot different from the one in D1, and more like an actuall machine gun.  almost exactly like those tiny robots that are armed with one.  after reinstalling it later on a different PC, that sound was gone and it sounded like the D1 kind of static sound again.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Timerlane on August 20, 2010, 09:40:08 pm
It definitely looks like a gatling gun. The way it functions(and given it's called a Gauss cannon), I have a weird little Fanon concept of it being some sort of automatic coil-volley gun (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volley_gun): rather than fire them, it hurls Vulcan ammo out of multiple coilgun barrels at once; the now-unused propellant charge in the shells detonates on impact, attempting to explain why a) Gauss bursts have an minor explosive area effect when the Vulcan has none at all, and b) Gauss bursts do so much more damage with the exact same ammo(and yet are still more ammo-efficient).

Just my Wild Mass Guessing, though.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: CP5670 on August 21, 2010, 12:04:53 am
I like both the Gauss and Vauss sounds. The Vulcan does sound lame though.

I have the D2 strategy guide and recall that it describes the Gauss as the "world's largest shotgun." :D The Gauss is really too ammo efficient given how powerful it is. I changed this and some other weapon stats in my D2 install that balance out the weapons better for singleplayer.

Quote
Also, I kinda like how D2's bots don't automatically come running when they hear you shooting. While it means they don't gang up on you as much, I think individual D1/D2 bots are generally more capable of causing real "oh crap" moments whenever you stumble upon them(apart from the super-Stingers/Tailbots and 'Blackjack' MD troopers EDIT: And the Napalm Gyro), and you can't as easily 'drag' them away to a more convenient spot to finish them off.

The D3 bots are generally much more mobile and dodge your fire more aggressively than the D2 ones. I like this better since it feels more like a multiplayer game and makes the fights more elaborate and drawn out.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on August 21, 2010, 02:07:14 am
For reference, I've attached the Vulcan, Gauss and Vauss sounds to this post.

I have the D2 strategy guide and recall that it describes the Gauss as the "world's largest shotgun." :D

Huh. I thought that was a better description for the Helix Cannon.

[attachment deleted by ninja]
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: watsisname on September 02, 2010, 01:02:40 pm
I own all of them.  (Got Mercenary from a friend though).
I also own Vertigo.
And the Descent Novels. :D
I LOVE MARBLES.  I LOVE TO ROLL THEM ON MY HARDWOOD FLOORS.

D1 >= D2 > D3.  However, multiplayer in D3 is A1-supar.  Easily the most fun multiplayer experiences I've ever had.

Gauss >> vulcan.  THUMP THUMP THUMP (robot suddenly jerks to the side, spins, then pops with a satisfying burst of flame and swirling debris).

D3's "Vauss" cannon is decent, seems to lean more toward the gauss side of the equation.

D2's flash missiles were hilarious to use in multiplayer.  I miss them in d3. :(  Also D3 doesn't have the WILDFIRE cheat. :(

D2 + Multiplayer + enable cheats for everyone + invuln+rapidfire+allweapons+homingweapons+bouncyweapons = LOL WUT

WTF D3's omega cannon!?  What were they thinking?! :hopping:

FS1 > or < FS2 ?  That might deserve its own thread.

Screw Silent Threat.  My cheese farts are quieter and more threatening.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on September 02, 2010, 02:12:48 pm
I find that the Vulcan Cannon is quite the ammo eater. No other weapon I've encountered in any other game chews through thousands of rounds as quickly as it does. And keep in mind that I play on Rookie, so I can store several thousand rounds of Vulcan ammo to expend in about tenfive minutes of continuous Vulcan fire.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Commander Zane on September 02, 2010, 02:17:59 pm
The Vulcan always has ten thousand (Twenty with ammo rack) rounds. Always.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on September 02, 2010, 02:19:22 pm
Doesn't it start off with 5000?
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: watsisname on September 02, 2010, 02:24:40 pm
Vulcan starts you off with 2500 in both games, as far as I can tell.  (Tried different difficulty settings, too.)  
Unless the value has changed with the D1/2X-Rebirth module I use. <.<
/me tests with original version of the game

edit:  Yep.  2500 in the original d2.  *is dizzy from game running 5x faster than normal*
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Glowhyena on September 02, 2010, 09:35:36 pm
I almost have all of 'em. Except PlayStation 1 version.

You missed one more... Descent II: Vertigo Series. ;)
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Mongoose on September 02, 2010, 11:06:39 pm
Ah, thanks for reminding me...I have Descent and Descent: Maximum for the PS1 too. :D
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Glowhyena on September 02, 2010, 11:19:20 pm
I had them but I didn't like Descent Maximum much because levels are short and boring.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Mongoose on September 02, 2010, 11:48:43 pm
They were short, but they were actually very well-designed for what they were.  Someone managed to port them to the PC version a few years back.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: watsisname on September 03, 2010, 12:01:21 am
So about 40 people are claiming to own any of the Descent games.  Why aren't we doing any multiplayer of it anymore?  I think maybe we ought to organize a time for that, for old-times-sake. :)  D3 still runs pretty well despite its age (holy crap 11 years), and there are things for hosting d1/d2 like D1-oots and d2x-rebirth which I have found are remarkably stable.

(Probably through IRC to avoid the mess that was the old d2x-xl-hosting thread.) :P
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Mongoose on September 03, 2010, 12:05:36 am
People are still playing all three games (though mostly D3). :p
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Glowhyena on September 03, 2010, 12:19:29 am
Descent 3 was awesome. But for me, I stopped playing this game because its deadzone for joystick wouldn't go 1%, it was annoying.

I love Descent REBIRTH so much. By the way, FreeSpace is more trill and fun than Descent but both of them are great to play as enjoyable.

I don't use FreeSapce Open for my FreeSpace series, I'm okay with black sides in left and right in my 16:9 widescreen LCD.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on September 03, 2010, 02:33:15 am
I stopped playing Descent 3 when my IBM no longer had a stable Internet connection. Even though I can now plug in this wireless USB adapter on my desk to it, the connection never appears to be stable enough.
 /me attempts to quote Glowhyena 21847135376451782 times.

...like today, for instance.

I don't use FreeSapce Open for my FreeSpace series, I'm okay with black sides in left and right in my 16:9 widescreen LCD.

You should get it, you know. You won't be able to play a lot of the current user-made campaigns if you don't. If you want to retain the look and feel of the original, you can do so, even if you have FS2_Open. Case in point...
 /me points at his IBM/Lenovo Thinkcentre 8294, which runs FS2_Open without any eye-candy.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Klaustrophobia on September 03, 2010, 04:03:10 am
d3 multi was fun for the occasional play for me, but too fast paced for me to play seriously.  i never got d2 multi to work. 
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on September 03, 2010, 09:00:23 am
My main issue with D3 multi was lag and the fact that I pilot my ship like a car (i.e. utilising only up to four degrees of freedom instead of six). I thought that was a big problem. And then I started playing FS2 multiplayer, which is arguably a shade worse.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Glowhyena on September 03, 2010, 06:50:11 pm
You should get it, you know. You won't be able to play a lot of the current user-made campaigns if you don't. If you want to retain the look and feel of the original, you can do so, even if you have FS2_Open. Case in point...

I know, FreeSpace Open is very good. But it crashes and medals don't appear.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: General Battuta on September 03, 2010, 06:50:55 pm
You should get it, you know. You won't be able to play a lot of the current user-made campaigns if you don't. If you want to retain the look and feel of the original, you can do so, even if you have FS2_Open. Case in point...

I know, FreeSpace Open is very good. But it crashes and medals don't appear.

wut

It shouldn't crash! Why is it crashing?

And you should get medals just fine.
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Whitelight on September 03, 2010, 09:29:38 pm
Still own FS1 and the expansion and FS2.
All bought many years ago, and all in perfect condition.  :p
Still the best games.. ever...  :D
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Hades on September 03, 2010, 11:23:32 pm
I've had my FreeSpace 1 and ST disks in near-mint condition since I first bought them when I was six. Too bad I don't have any cases for them. :(
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on September 04, 2010, 12:04:03 am
I know, FreeSpace Open is very good. But it crashes and medals don't appear.

If you're getting crashes or problems, try checking for driver updates to your graphics card. If that doesn't work, consider taking your queries to the support board on this forum, because unlike a number company tech support boards where they make you go around in circles, we (mostly The E) stuff you into a cannon and shoot you straight at where you need to go (for the most part).
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Mongoose on September 04, 2010, 12:50:23 am
I've had my FreeSpace 1 and ST disks in near-mint condition since I first bought them when I was six. Too bad I don't have any cases for them. :(
I still have the cardboard fold-out sleeves for FS1, but since my copy of FS2 came in those crappy little paper envelopes, I grabbed a few slim jewel cases for them.  Have to keep those babies in good condition. :yes:
Title: Re: Who has FreeSpace or Descent?
Post by: Klaustrophobia on September 04, 2010, 08:43:30 am
My main issue with D3 multi was lag and the fact that I pilot my ship like a car (i.e. utilising only up to four degrees of freedom instead of six). I thought that was a big problem. And then I started playing FS2 multiplayer, which is arguably a shade worse.

i started out on FS1 multiplayer, so it was all uphill from there :P