Review NetJak Dislikes Bloodlines

[Sol Invictus]

Tags: Troika Games; Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines

NetJak has <a href=http://www.netjak.com/review.php/812>reviewed</a> Bloodlines and found it wanting, giving it an overall score of <b>6.5</b>. The review is harsh, and there are some stupid parts. Here's one of the non-stupid parts:
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<blockquote> From various sources, it would appear that Activision simply refused to let Troika master the final code and get everything working smoothly. That is simply unacceptable when releasing what is otherwise a very good title.
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Ultimately, Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines had a lot of potential to be of game of the year caliber. It had the best story in a game in a long time and an incredible voice acting effort. Unfortunately, the worst engine coding I’ve seen in a long time, along with simple quality control issues, bog it down. I’d suggest holding out until all these problems are patched. Otherwise, this is a game that is worth playing through three or four times consecutively. It’s just a shame it is such a technical mess. </blockquote>
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I can't disagree with any of that, however I do not think that Bloodlines will be given any new patches at anytime, ever. The fate of Bloodlines is just as sealed as that of Troika's.
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Here's a bit of the dumb stuff, just for kicks:
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<blockquote>The loading and level designs are also abysmal. The game takes a long time to load between areas. Some of them simply do not make sense. For example, in Santa Monica, there are around 11 buildings you can go into. Each of them is a small area connected to the main Santa Monica strip. The issue is the developers could have simply just tied all these areas into the main level as one large level and probably not had any further performance issues while cutting down on the lost time due to loading.</blockquote>
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I don't think this guy realizes how big Santa Monica is in the game. It's fine to bitch about the load times as they are now, but imagine how long it would take and how much memory it would require to load the entire area at once.

 

[Fez]

The only place that game has a chance of getting any loving is from the fans now. I don't know if there are any determined groups working on fan patches though.

 

[bryce777]

The only place that game has a chance of getting any loving is from the fans now. I don't know if there are any determined groups working on fan patches though.

How can they work on a patch without the source?

The issues are not moddable type issues.

 

[Sol Invictus]

The performance issues are all hardcoded into the game. There's no chance of any mod revival.

 

[Fez]

That's a real shame if there is no chance of that even. Oh well. I was hoping against hope it wouldn't be so impossible, but it looks like that has been squashed too.

 

[kumquatq3]

I know there is a lot more things to worry about in a RPG, but level sizes and load times like Farcry would be excellent to see one day

 

[Fez]

I was always a fan of the continuously loading levels, like Soul Reaver or Arcanum did. Anything to minimise the immersion-breaking LOADING GAME screens that I had to suffer in DX is a good thing.

 

[Shagnak]

At least thats one thing that Dungeon Siege did well - continuously loading levels (or was that just for outside<->inside transitions? Cant remember).

As for fan patches, well, the best we can hope for are scripting bug fixes and the like. Any performance issues, for those that have em, we are stuck with. Buggerit

 

[Sammael]

Re: Rex's Santa Monica comment

Nonsense. There are plenty of games that feature continuous worlds (or at least seamless level transitions). The problem with Bloodlines is that it used the shitty Source engine - and yet it didn't even manage to deliver in the graphics department.

 

[DarkSign]

As long as it

LOADING

doesnt load all the time

LOADING

like

LOADING

Paradise Cracked

LOADING

after every turn...im cool with LOADING it.

 

[Fez]

Re: Rex's Santa Monica comment

Nonsense. There are plenty of games that feature continuous worlds (or at least seamless level transitions). The problem with Bloodlines is that it used the shitty Source engine - and yet it didn't even manage to deliver in the graphics department.

I don't think Ex said it was technically impossible to have a continuously loading area - I am the one who mentioned them - just that it Troika couldn't have made that all load in as one huge area without destroying performance on most PCs.

 

[Sol Invictus]

Yeah, don't put words in my mouth Sam. The only thing more annoying than the whole 'flip flop' business is when someone assumes I said something and 'calls me out' for it. I never said it wasn't possible for games to feature continuous worlds or worlds with seamless transitions. I just don't see Troika pulling something like that off, not with the Source engine.

 

[asa]

missing link

I think I've discovered the root of Rex's constant agetation and flip-floping:

He's displaying classic seminan beta male behavior -- acting out (e.g. trashing Troika) is his way of chalenging the local alpha males, and when he fails to acheive dominence he reverts back to subordinate behavior (I'm sooo soooowwwy Troika!).

 

[Sol Invictus]

I have observed, through your actions and words, a grand display of the base symptoms of an inferiority complex by attempting to highlight and remark upon self-projected 'deficiencies' upon the character of another. It's but a feeble, if not pathetic cry for help as you project upon my character, a series of your own shortcomings and flaws in order to bring recognition to your own laughable existence.

Your post is a stark contrast to something you wrote earlier:

Recap:

1) Troika does not suck as Rex suggests,

2) Rex's friend is stupid for believing his Geforce 4MX will play DX9 games,

3) Rex abuses his admin power on RPG Codex,

4) the rest of the staff are afraid of Rex,

5) In a few months Rex will be having conversations with himself on Codex as everyone else will have left.

So, which is it? If anyone is guilty of flip-flopping, you would be that indiividual. I have a hard time believing you to be anything more than a troll account for one of our more craven patrons who seems unwilling to speak what he or she thinks through his or her original account, or perhaps loves being nothing more than a 'shitstirrer'. Your account was, after all, created during the height of the "Is Troika Dead?" thread.

You were also clearly trolling when you made point number 2. Not once did I mention a Geforce 4 MX. I mentioned a GeForce 4 Ti4200. Neither Bloodlines, nor Half Life 2, are strictly DX9 titles, as they have DX7 and DX8 paths. Older graphics cards, like the aforementioned GeForce 4 Ti4200 can run these games, and Half Life 2 runs fine in most instances.

 

[asa]

Or we can go with the simpler explanation of I don't like you. I don't like how you piss on Troika, I don't like how you brag about stealing software, I don't like your stupid tantrums, your overbearing loudmouth ruining the tone of discussion, I don't like how you delete dissenting posts, basically I am sick to death of you.

 

[Volourn]

"basically I am sick to death of you."

Good. If you die, at least we won't have to read your stupidity and whining any longer.

 

[Sol Invictus]

basically I am sick to death of you.

Then do so. Leave, or kill yourself. It matters not, as long as we don't have to keep listening to you whinge and contribute little to nothing in all the stupid posts you've made thus far. You can keep whining as you do, and I can keep ignoring you because you're obviously somebody's pet account, and pet accounts don't deserve the attention I'm giving you right now.

You are being very petty about all of this cause celebre surrounding Troika's demise. By your reaction, it seems to have hit you on a very personal note. I would suggest resuming whatever medication you are prescribed to before resuming discourse. I would not want to break your obviously delicate, and fragile state of mind.

 

[asa]

By your reaction, it seems to have hit you on a very personal note. I would suggest resuming whatever medication you are prescribed to before resuming discourse. I would not want to break your obviously delicate, and fragile state of mind.

Let me get this straight, the fact that I take exception to some punk with no respect for intellectual property celebrating the death of a software house is indiciative of dementia and/or stupidity?

 

[Volourn]

"Volourn stop sucking Rex's dick."

That's right because everyone knows I'll side with Ex no matter what.

R00fles!

I'm siding with him here because youa re being a whiny moron. Period.

 

[jiujitsu]

I'm siding with him here because youa re being a whiny moron. Period.

So... hard.. to resist....

 

[errorcode]

how about you kids take your foreplay elsewhere?

 

[Sol Invictus]

Let me get this straight, the fact that I take exception to some gook punk with no respect for intellectual property celebrating the death of a software house is indiciative of dementia and/or stupidity?

Strawman arguments, argumentum ad hominem and ignorant racism to boot! That means you win the argument! Or perhaps not. What will you think of next?

I sense a lot of anger in this one. The fact that you're taking all of this issue to heart, as personally as you are, is clearly indicative of dementia and/or stupidity. Grow some thicker skin, don't wear your heart on your sleeve, and grow a brain while you're at it. Come back when you've matured or consider yourself ignored.

Volourn stop sucking Rex's dick.

Hmm? He's just indicating what would be obvious to anyone with a brain: that you're being a whiny, petulant child.

how about you kids take your foreplay elsewhere?

Tell that to asa. This thread was fine without his 'contributions'.

 

[asa]

I sense a lot of anger in this one. The fact that you're taking all of this issue to heart, as personally as you are, is clearly indicative of dementia and/or stupidity. Grow some thicker skin, don't wear your heart on your sleeve, and grow a brain while you're at it. Come back when you've matured or consider yourself ignored.

Thanks for the free psycho analysis!

Btw, stop sending me gay porn homo.

 

[errorcode]

oh no Ex, you raise to his bait and are adding just as much to the derailing. You may be doing it with style, pizzaz and logic, but you're still contributing by going back and forth with'em.

Just give him a "Douchebag" badge and move on.

 

[asa]

oh no Ex, you raise to his bait and are adding just as much to the derailing. You may be doing it with style, pizzaz and logic, but you're still contributing by going back and forth with'em.

Just give him a "Douchebag" badge and move on.

May Dr. Uwe Boll urinate on your unmarked grave.