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*nods* I suspected as much, but had no first hand experience confirming it. Joel Send a noteboard - 14/09/2012 04:03:15 PM
Final Fantasy VII on the other hand as a game of similar vintage I find near unplayable.

Of course, those were people who are still pretty active gamers, and any graphics from the late '90s will look pretty lame by modern standards. Personally, I thought they hold up pretty well considering how old they are, but anyone accustomed to well-marbled Porterhouses naturally turns their nose up at even the best hamburger.

I am no active gamer, so cannot say if this is still the case, but for a long time there was wide gulf between PC gamers seeking strategy and plot vs. console gamers seeking big 'splosions. PCs have every bit as much graphics capability as consoles (over time, more, since they can be upgraded with new technology,) but consoles are optimized for it since they are dedicated gaming platforms and thus do not need to make cost tradeoffs for other things vital to versatile PC functionality. Conversely, consoles historically lacked the processing power and memory to juggle complex scripting, branching plotlines and game customization as well as PCs.

Consequently, people most familiar with one platform were inevitably disappointed by the other, because it rarely had the capability to support high quality in areas they took for granted. Even when the hardware was up the challenge, the software usually was not, because it had to be marketed to other people whose hardware could not run top of the line software. Put it this way: How often do console games list their video and sound requirements? And how big a deal was it when Sony announced that the next PlayStation would allow internet access (though I am not sure how far that extends beyond multiplayer support)?

It's serviceable but not great.

My impression was that Sony and Co. were mainly trying to cash in on the explosive but relatively ignorant mid-nineties interest in the internet while offering little functionality beyond online multiplayer options. "Email" as a trendy new word-of-the-day and the designers probably figured piggybacking minimal browser function on the online multiplayer ability that was their primary focus added marketability: "Our new gaming console is the only computer you need!" Of course, such a slogan was and is patently absurd, but plausible enough to those who know no better.
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Baldurs Gate Enhanced Edition: Edit 2 with added video & launch delay - 07/09/2012 09:48:16 PM 2540 Views
!!!!! - 07/09/2012 10:49:47 PM 1227 Views
are they created kindly or cruelly? - 08/09/2012 05:34:36 PM 1193 Views
Lol! Realistically, if exaggerated to heroic levels. - 09/09/2012 07:56:32 PM 1207 Views
I played the hell out of BG2, but only played BG1 once - 08/09/2012 06:07:15 AM 1324 Views
BGI is a lot more fun because a lot more challenging, IMHO. - 08/09/2012 02:33:17 PM 1213 Views
*revelation* - 08/09/2012 05:45:28 PM 1155 Views
fireballs are so epic in BG1 - 08/09/2012 05:41:34 PM 1205 Views
I disagree about it being the only good third level spell;lighting bolt and haste are also excellent - 08/09/2012 06:26:08 PM 1294 Views
Yeah, I loved Lightning Bolt. - 08/09/2012 06:44:59 PM 1141 Views
it was such a liability - 08/09/2012 07:11:36 PM 1182 Views
Bouncing is what makes lightning bolts great, because you get to hit people more than once. - 08/09/2012 08:59:10 PM 1124 Views
There's an unfortunate Wizard in the Firewine Bridge Ruins... - 09/09/2012 12:58:18 AM 1209 Views
Oops. - 09/09/2012 01:43:23 AM 1200 Views
that's why BG1 was so awesome. exploration=rewards - 09/09/2012 09:09:22 AM 1183 Views
Yeah, got to keep one of each on hand. - 08/09/2012 08:57:31 PM 1096 Views
Multi-player was actually pretty simple if you just used it to create your whole party. - 08/09/2012 02:19:35 PM 1172 Views
well yeah, because there was no connection to figure out - 08/09/2012 06:59:49 PM 1291 Views
Right; I was never a big multiplayer fan anyway, but customized parties were nice - 08/09/2012 08:53:45 PM 1296 Views
Where's the fun in having a customized party and losing all the character interaction, though? - 09/09/2012 04:03:10 PM 1246 Views
I dislike most of the BG NPCs anyway, so I do not much feel the lack. - 09/09/2012 04:45:12 PM 1362 Views
Re: I dislike most of the BG NPCs anyway, so I do not much feel the lack. - 10/09/2012 01:23:44 PM 1208 Views
Agreed. - 11/09/2012 07:01:07 PM 1240 Views
Suggestion since you're not using the NPCs anyway... - 15/09/2012 11:34:28 PM 1262 Views
That is a good thought; I never played IWD. - 16/09/2012 03:31:01 AM 1176 Views
Where did you think I just got it? - 16/09/2012 04:39:43 PM 1124 Views
How would I know you just got a game released in the late nineties? - 17/09/2012 06:57:19 PM 1123 Views
Re: How would I know you just got a game released in the late nineties? - 17/09/2012 11:08:09 PM 1311 Views
I still like GURPS' character points best. - 17/09/2012 11:40:12 PM 1164 Views
Heh, I'm not surprised. - 18/09/2012 01:47:55 AM 1163 Views
If you want to avoid hyperspecialization, avoid classes. - 18/09/2012 07:36:43 AM 1372 Views
I've never played GURPS, so I don't know how its system works. - 18/09/2012 03:32:21 PM 1253 Views
I recommend it, but it is a bear to run. - 19/09/2012 03:37:19 AM 1592 Views
Re: I recommend it, but it is a bear to run. - 19/09/2012 08:35:24 AM 1209 Views
It is the difference between "what if...?" and "whatever...." - 19/09/2012 10:58:31 PM 1258 Views
Re: It is the difference between "what if...?" and "whatever...." - 20/09/2012 12:31:10 AM 1185 Views
AD&D cannot avoid one-sided encounters without restricting epic characters to epic encounters. - 24/09/2012 05:53:39 AM 1478 Views
Re: AD&D cannot avoid one-sided encounters without restricting epic characters to epic encounters. - 24/09/2012 07:03:39 AM 1169 Views
Things are a little different if you are the GM, yes. - 24/09/2012 08:33:23 AM 1384 Views
Re: Things are a little different if you are the GM, yes. - 24/09/2012 07:24:51 PM 1301 Views
My point is no one should be at any level. - 25/09/2012 01:23:21 AM 1399 Views
Re: My point is no one should be at any level. - 25/09/2012 03:41:42 AM 1403 Views
I know no more about AD&D 3rd Ed. than I retain from skimming the book a few times in a store. - 25/09/2012 05:16:49 AM 1212 Views
Re: I know no more about AD&D 3rd Ed. than I retain from skimming the book a few times in a store. - 25/09/2012 06:05:39 PM 1332 Views
Re: [Insert relevant subject line here.] - 26/09/2012 08:12:05 AM 1355 Views
Re: [Insert relevant subject line here.] - 26/09/2012 05:48:34 PM 1217 Views
Re: [Insert relevant subject line here.] - 27/09/2012 10:26:16 AM 1830 Views
Re: [Insert relevant subject line here.] - 27/09/2012 05:23:13 PM 1157 Views
I can't speak for IWD I, but II is okay on the story front so far. - 18/09/2012 06:36:16 PM 1124 Views
Nah, IWD I barely had any story at all. - 18/09/2012 08:16:49 PM 1054 Views
agreed - 19/09/2012 09:42:28 AM 1319 Views
I've still only played about 4 hours of BG1 - 08/09/2012 03:59:49 PM 1218 Views
If you have not yet, you should look into the Weidu mods. - 08/09/2012 06:12:20 PM 1111 Views
But what's the point in playing the game if you don't use the NPCs? - 08/09/2012 06:47:38 PM 1123 Views
agreed the NPCs are half the fun - 08/09/2012 07:02:22 PM 1156 Views
Not having a bunch of potentially useful but AI ruined incompetents constantly fumbling. - 08/09/2012 08:55:53 PM 1244 Views
Yeah, but optimising the whole group sounds ridiculously easy. - 09/09/2012 01:03:51 AM 1131 Views
Well, there are always mods for that. - 09/09/2012 01:37:42 AM 1079 Views
For talking to pretty much anyone, really. - 09/09/2012 03:20:29 AM 1163 Views
True. - 09/09/2012 03:46:24 AM 1169 Views
Well, I usually don't have thieves in my party. - 09/09/2012 04:56:21 AM 1112 Views
there wasn't a good enough thief option in bg2/ToB - 09/09/2012 09:15:21 AM 1072 Views
I noticed that also; another argument for creating a party via MP even if you move it back to SP. - 09/09/2012 11:45:12 PM 1186 Views
storyline man! - 10/09/2012 01:43:51 PM 1138 Views
I make my OWN storyline. - 10/09/2012 06:35:43 PM 1213 Views
Just how many thieves do you even need? - 10/09/2012 06:22:58 PM 1150 Views
The stealth skills come in very handy though. - 09/09/2012 04:11:40 PM 1153 Views
Any suggested parties for beginners? *NM* - 10/09/2012 01:13:38 AM 649 Views
I plan to do custom characters for the other 6 slots - 10/09/2012 01:42:41 AM 1121 Views
There are no "other" six slots - there are six slots, period. - 10/09/2012 06:24:33 PM 1098 Views
well, absolute standard would be: - 10/09/2012 01:35:15 PM 1190 Views
My own recommendation would be: - 10/09/2012 07:36:04 PM 1140 Views
I am completely stoked about it. - 10/09/2012 07:07:09 PM 1192 Views
TotSC made BGI a LOT more fun. - 10/09/2012 07:46:03 PM 1075 Views
all the kits/races/dual wielding etc will be available in bgee - 11/09/2012 09:02:35 AM 1109 Views
Ah; nice. - 11/09/2012 06:57:14 PM 1220 Views
i'm not sure they were even state of the art at the time - 12/09/2012 09:26:05 AM 1121 Views
Remember, BGI was released only about two years after Doom. - 13/09/2012 12:05:11 AM 1183 Views
If by "two" you mean "five," then yes. DOOM was released in 1993. - 13/09/2012 03:22:58 PM 1157 Views
Ah, 1998. The golden year. Ocarina of Time. Starcraft. Half-Life. *NM* - 13/09/2012 04:16:21 PM 661 Views
Can't believe I forgot about HALF-LIFE. *NM* - 13/09/2012 09:06:55 PM 644 Views
That just reminds me of how sad it is that StarCraft died this year . *NM* - 13/09/2012 11:55:28 PM 638 Views
I don't mind the graphics in it - 12/09/2012 04:38:47 PM 1175 Views
Good, me neither, but I have heard others criticize them. - 12/09/2012 11:51:16 PM 1088 Views
I used the PS3 web browser as my primary browser for about 3 months - 13/09/2012 01:13:22 PM 1115 Views
*nods* I suspected as much, but had no first hand experience confirming it. - 14/09/2012 04:03:15 PM 1175 Views
Re: I don't mind the graphics in it - 13/09/2012 01:55:24 AM 1098 Views
I'm going to ask this here rather than start a new topic as its somewhat related. - 10/09/2012 07:42:32 PM 1120 Views
I remember Wisdom being important - 14/09/2012 04:28:23 AM 1065 Views
And it now has been delayed till Nov *NM* - 15/09/2012 03:52:41 AM 637 Views
On another note, shame on all of you for not telling me Jon Irenicus is Ra's Al Ghul - 15/09/2012 04:19:21 AM 1162 Views
Among many many others. - 17/09/2012 06:45:33 PM 1123 Views

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