Posted on 08/02/2004 6:48:50 AM PDT by Skooz
Sometime in 1993 I noticed a dramatic decline in my personal productivity. Also affected were my sleeping habits and personal hygiene. Same thing happened in 1996. It may or may not be a coincidence that 1993 was the year id Software released a video game called Doom, and 1996 was the year they put out Quake. Maybe there's a connection, maybe not. But I have a feeling it's going to happen all over again in about three weeks when id releases Doom 3.
If you've read this far, you probably already know what Doom 3 is the next big game from id and who id Software are the spiritual and technological fathers of the modern video game as we know and love it. From the title you'd think Doom 3 was a sequel to the earlier Doom games, but you'd be wrong: It's actually a wholesale reimagining and retelling of the original Doom scenario. You're a Marine posted to a fancy-pants research facility on Mars. You show up, something goes really, phenomenally wrong, and suddenly you're squaring off against a crapload of demons.
The similarities to the original Doom end there. Doom 3 runs on all-new technology, and let's not mince words: there has never been a game that looks this good. I'm not sure what does it the highly detailed textures, the fancy colored light and shadow-play, the all-new physics models, the "normal mapping" (whatever that is) but id has created a virtual environment that's more compelling and immersive and realistic than really seems possible. Get up close to one of the demons and look at his skin: it gleams with a dull, matte, scaly sheen that's disturbingly lifelike. Warning: staring at demon skin up close may result in you being gutted like a fish.
Doom 3 is scary: A couple of times embarrassing but true I physically jerked my head back from the screen. But there's other good stuff in there, too: The id team has paid a lot more attention to storytelling and voice-acting in Doom 3 than they have in past games. This isn't just a run-and-gun scenario; there's actual plot points and stuff. There's a more cinematic sensibility at work too watch for some nice virtual camerawork in the cut scenes. And of course, the creature design has that signature sick flair that one expects from id's artists, who almost certainly were badly mistreated as children.
More than this I can't say. id is keeping Doom 3 tightly under wraps until its release the week of August 2. But sit tight and you won't be disappointed. As for me, I've been to Hell and I survived, and I'll be going back just as soon as I possibly can. Hold my calls.
Did it myself. Got the processor on ebay for about $150, new motherboard from newegg.com for another $100, installation took most of an evening including a full reinstall of Windows, which I prefer to do when changing the motherboard.
I share Gunner's issue. Gaming ain't gaming without a very refreshing beverage.
True but one must make sacrifices to play before or during work. I'm sure I'll be doing the former with Doom 3.
So starting Wednesday, it would be safe to call you somewhat early, like say before noon?
It's a distinct possibility.
Newegg is the best. I just did the same thing last month. I went to an nforce2 chipset and AMD 2500+, with memory for around 200. We tried an nforce chipset mobo when they came out and we'll never go back to VIA (or others) with the AMD chips.
I are jealous.
Really.
Oh yea Nvidia has really done a good job with the nforce2 chipset. I've always been a VIA guy but I went with the nforce2 ultra 400 this time around and it's not disappointing me.
Hey new Doom3 trailer out! A bunch of new in game footage in it. I can't wait till tomorrow evening.
http://www.fileplanet.com/files/140000/143755.shtml
Xena's Guy says his PC can handle it! Woohoo!!!
About what, the upgrade? Gotta keep the game machine up to snuff. I upgrade either the cpu/motherboard or the video card at least once a year or when I notice game quality start to suffer.
Well I hope so! He and I are running the same cpu and video card. :)
Poor guy has to go back to Fort Worth tonight . . . his plane doesn't leave until seven.
Again? Well he told me he wasn't gonna buy it until Friday anyway because he didn't want it distracting him from studying for his certification test.
A good point that does not result in the game getting to our house tomorrow.
I need a new computer.
My ancient system features a 5 gig HD, Windows 98, 64 megs of RAM, a Pentium II processor, DOS 6.0, a twisted and mangled modem port, and a DVD-ROM drive that hasn't worked since I punched it in about a year ago.
Good thing I never tire of Axis & Allies and Aces of the Deep... Too bad I didn't keep DOOM on my system before rendering it incapable of installing new games.
The long awaited game is finally here (well, almost here)...and guess what? My computer, my sister's computer, my brother's computer, and my dad's computer will NEVER run it. Yeah. :-(
All well, I could always wait for the Xbox version. But by then, I would probably be playing Halo 2. So many great games coming out, so little time.
At least I'm not waiting for Duke Nukem Forever! Hehehe.
I got the game this evening from GAme Spot. The Best Buy had already sold out by 8 pm. My son has it installed and with a Athalon 1700 and Nvidea Gforce4 5200. The game runs, but my son complains it is jerky. He now says he has to get a better processor. My son is now 14 and he started playin DOOM 1 when he was 2 years old.
Normal mapping is a way to make a 1,000 polygon model look like it has 10,000 polygons. This is definitely the future.
I think your son's right about the need for a processor upgrade. 1700 has gotta be too slow for this game. I intend of picking it up after work today assuming they're not sold out already. I'll let you know how it runs on my system (Athlon 3200 with an ATI All-In-Wonder 9800 Pro).
Been playin since he was 2? He's probably one of those kids that kicks my butt in multiplayer online and I've been a game addict for 20 years. :)
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