VOGONS


Aliens vs. Predator Gold

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Reply 60 of 122, by Perth2008

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Damn spammers! I've reported our "friend" above to the moderators.

Apparent lack of alien lifeforms in Skirmish custom maps solved ... as per readme files for the custom map-packs in C:\Program Files\Fox\Aliens versus Predator\Readme_Pak#.txt:

"If you decide to play Skirmish mode always make sure you are setting the game to play on the level that has a (c) at the end of the name (for example - Bleak (c))."

Where "(c)" means co-op for multiplayer. Anyway custom skirmish maps with the "(c)" spawn aliens the ones without do not. Vanilla AVP Gold maps do not have "(c)" but spawn aliens.

I'll report back on any other observations/changes for better or worse in the next few days. Thanks, as always, for your dedication. 😎

Last edited by Perth2008 on 2013-01-30, 13:54. Edited 2 times in total.

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Reply 61 of 122, by sirlemonhead

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Thanks for doing all the testing for me 😀

Reply 62 of 122, by Perth2008

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Hi sirlemonhead

Did not notice anything unusual in recent plays except for the white lines around/above the text on the lower right hand side of the marine HUD mentioned earlier. I see them on the 1280 x 1024 resolution I use BUT it is not a problem at lowest resolution 640 x 480. Checked intermediate resolutions and the white lines are also apparent in 800 x 600 and 1024 x 768 resolutions (and presumably above) as well. Not sure if that info helps solve the "problem".

The ESC accessed menus are now looking way better than ever before for the video/audio options, joystick (not that I use one) and mouse settings, however the character key assignment menus (marine, alien and predator) are still skewed/misaligned.

Cheers

Perth2008
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Reply 63 of 122, by sirlemonhead

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Hey,

Yeah the white lines seems to be videocard dependent. Are you on Nvidia or ATI? I'll try sort that out..it just looks like it's getting the texture coordinates wrong and sampling parts of the other letters

I've been mucking about with the ingame menus a bit and they now more or less render as they do in the "main" menus - ie now aligned properly, a lot bigger text and ingame resolution switching is now possible. I can upload it sometime soon if you want to test it.

Thanks!

Reply 64 of 122, by Perth2008

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My card is an Nvidia GeForce 9800GT 1GB version (running without overclocking). Probably considered "old" nowadays but still works fine with most "newer" games on the XP SP3 32-bit rig I own.

At present I am using an older driver 190.62 which suits some of the older pre-2005 games better than more recent releases (or less buggy with some). While the newer Nvidia drivers are supposedly compatible, my experience is that beyond 285.96 not much is gained for the 9800GT and indeed CTDs and BSODs become more common for my set up with the newer graphically intensive games from about 2010+. For example Battlefield 2 is, for my rig, more stable with older than newer drivers despite the supposed performance boost.

Not sure how much "science" there is in my observations on the drivers BUT a lot of trial and error has gone into getting things running stable ... but it is very much game dependent ... what works for some does not for others. But the usual advice of making sure you have the latest video driver installed is NOT always for the best. I waxed a tad lyrical on this in my review of Splinter Double Agent http://au.gamespot.com/tom-clancys-splinter-c … 09/platform/pc/ ... but I digress! 😀

Last edited by Perth2008 on 2013-02-08, 17:05. Edited 1 time in total.

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Reply 65 of 122, by sirlemonhead

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Yeah it seems to be an Nvidia thing..I don't get it on my home machines (I use ATI cards) but it happens on my work PC so I should be able to fix it at least.

Reply 66 of 122, by sirlemonhead

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Getting close to implementing an OpenAL audio backend which will bring back the proper 3D audio positioning, as well as EAX reverbs. Should have another release soon I hope.

Reply 67 of 122, by Perth2008

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Great news looking forward to your newest APPX release version. 😀

No other "reportable" issues spotted by myself. Hopefully some other AVP fans visiting at vogons can provide some feedback on the current AVPX in case I/we have missed anything.

Currently playing AVP2 pending your update ... once released I'll go back for another look. Only outstanding issue for me are those lines around the HUD text (related to Nvidia) ... it's not really a sheep stations issue if hard to fix as it doesn't detract from the gameplay or visuals. 😖

Perth2008
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Reply 68 of 122, by Kerr Avon

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Sirlemonhead, is there any chance of you releasing a new XBox build, please? I know that nowadays there's not many XBox 1 users around, but there are still some of us loyal to the big, heavy box, and it would be great to see a new release of AvPX.

If you don't have the time (or the inclination), then fair enough mate, but please consider it.

Reply 69 of 122, by sirlemonhead

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I know, I do keep meaning to get back to it.. I realise it's been a few years now 😀

Reply 72 of 122, by Perth2008

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Hi sirlemonhead

Anything in particular I should be looking or listening out for tweaks-wise?
Any particular missions or characters (ie alien, marine or predator) you want me to play through as?

I'm playing with headphones on and the sound seems better, but that's after coming back to the game after a few weeks away.

Anyway, I'll have another go on the weekend looking at random missions for each character and playing a few rounds of skirmish as each as well. If anything of import I will report back. Nothing negative noticed so far. 😎

Cheers

Perth2008
http://au.gamespot.com/users/Perth2008

Reply 73 of 122, by sirlemonhead

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Nothing in particular to look out for really. Anywhere that the reverb sounds too powerful/overwhelming perhaps? It's a whole new audio backend so you might notice other audio related issues, which i'd like to hear about.

Thanks! 😀

Reply 74 of 122, by Perth2008

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OK, played for ~2hours mainly as marine and overall no major issues to report using external speakers and also stereo headphones.

I have an external 2.1 stereo speaker system (ie L & R speakers and "woofer") and I run VIA HD Audio software.

I "enhanced" treble and bass via VIA and noticed some crackle and popping in parts of the marine "Invasion" mission, usually in relation to using elevators when "heading down to the sub-structure" (well either that or specific to the soundtrack triggered in that particular mission).

Not really annoying, but noticeable even among all the audio effects in play at the time. Ran a number of skirmish missions which use a range of soundtracks ... also used a range of weapons with explosions, gunfire, tracking sounds etc no adverse sound issues to report that way.

Perth2008
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Reply 75 of 122, by sirlemonhead

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That's great, thanks! 😀 I'll look into the popping issues.

the 3D positioning was working well anyway?

Reply 76 of 122, by Perth2008

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Yes ... sounds from L & R speaker coincided with action on screen (best with headphones on for me without true "surround sound"). Venting steam on screen to right ... sound of hissing steam on R headphone speaker, etc Aliens scurrying from front sounds "feel" like from front and then from rear as alians scuttle from behind.

So yes, I guess that "3D' sound is working based on my "basic" sound system ... perhaps someone who has a 5.1 or similar would care to comment?

Apart from ESC-accessed menus being out of alingment and the Nvidia HUD issue I'm good ... but will test some more. The predator cloak seems to look better as does the alien jaw attack ... not sure if you tweaked those or whether coming back after a few weeks it all looks fresh again? 😀

Anyway sirlemonhead, it all seems to be coming together much improved from the AVPX version I started with late 2012. Thanks!

Perth2008
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Reply 77 of 122, by sirlemonhead

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Hmm I thought the menus were aligned properly!

Yeah I should have had the predator and alien jaw attack stuff fixed 😀

Reply 78 of 122, by Perth2008

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You are correct ... the jaw & cloak issues were indeed fixed by you a while ago ... they just seemed to look even better this time round ... perhaps my imagination! 😲 Probably sub-consciously comparing to AVP2 which I have been playing recently. [Aside: I will play AVP 2010 after completing AVP2 but Colonial Marines which had good pre-release promotional videos and announcemnts seems to have fallen flat so it may be a bargain bin acquisition in a year or two. 🤣 ]

Sorry, to be more specific: the character key assignment menus when accessed via ESC are misaligned for marine, alien & predator ... again it's a minor issue. The remainder of menus via ESC are fine. 😀

There are crackling (more so) and some popping sounds in various parts of the following skirmish maps: Neon, Last Stand, Piranesi, Jungle and Reactor ... so far checked. These are all Millenium Pack (ie custom) maps so perhaps that's the issue ... you may recall the level geometry rendering issues with those maps (23/1/2013). Of the standard skirmish maps I've replayed so far no sound issues to report ... mind you its hard to concentrate when aliens keep jumping out at you. 😮

Perth2008
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Reply 79 of 122, by SKARDAVNELNATE

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Perth2008 wrote:

Colonial Marines which had good pre-release promotional videos and announcemnts seems to have fallen flat so it may be a bargain bin acquisition in a year or two. 🤣

That game was pretty much a money grab con where they cash in on false hype before word got out.
Jimquisition
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