Is out.
http://www.splintercell.com/uk/downloads.php
Who wants to try and play this with me?
(And aren't you glad I didn't entitle this thead "SC:PT MP PC demo"?)
I got it to compare to the Xbox version (it's basically identical though I didn't check to see if it had voice support) but couldn't seem to connect to the Ubi server. Not sure if that's still the case. Anyway, that's not my favorite level (though it's hard to judge yet), but it looks like it should be every bit as fun as the Xbox, just a lot harder to communicate effectively if you have to type.
Like a lot of people (judging by posts on Blue's at least) I can't connect; it dumps me to the desktop. I refuse to tool around in the my router opening up the bajillion ports they demand; so much for trying this one out.
Not that I have any time to do it anyhow....
Bit of a SNAFU with Punkbuster, apparently. Give this a shot and see if it helps with the crashes.
Is there a dedicated server option for the demo? I'd like to set one up to test with a few friends, but there's nothing in-game and the readme file doesn't address it, either. I've checked the official forums and a few others and have come up empty so far. It would be very odd to release a mp demo without a dedicated server.
UPDATE: There are lots of reports about people having crash to desktop issues when trying to join a server (both demo and full version, apparently) and I experienced the same tonight, as did a friend. Another friend managed to dodge the bullet and could join a server I hosted. It certainly doesn't make you want to run out and grab the PC version if you're interested in the multiplayer portion.
Not quite sure about the mouse option, either. ;)
Update to the update: Still not sure what causes the occasional CTD's (could be related to the "lobby" the game is hosted from or the phase of the moon or something, who knows) but we managed to get a game going with everyone and played for a few hours. It is a nice twist on typical shooter multiplayer and we all had a blast. This will definitely be going into rotation as one of our regular multiplayer picks, alongside UT2004 and Raven Shield/Athena Sword.
But does it crash when browsing for online games?
The xbox one sure does!
Can people with ATI and Nvidia cards who have seen the Xbox version of the game comment on whether the shadows work or not? The original SC used proprietary Nvidia hardware shadows and if you used an ATI card you would not get them which killed the atmosphere of the game. Apparently in a fit of fair play Nvidia broke the shadows in SC a few driver iterations back and still haven't fixed them to my knowledge. So you get the same craptastic no shadow look with Nvidia now.
I will probably just buy the game for the Xbox anyway but I am really curious to see if they bothered to do use a different method of doing shadows this time around so it looks good on all cards.
-- Xaroc
With a Radeon 9700, the shadows look the same on the Xbox to me. I can only compare the multiplayer demo, I haven't gotten to the level in single player that was released on PC as the demo. Also, the depth of field blurring in night vision mode works on the PC now, which I don't seem to recall working in the first Splinter Cell on my Radeon. Actually, I don't remember it being present in the single player demo for Pandora Tomorrow either, but goofing off with the multiplayer demo the blur worked.
Well, I tried the single player demo and just like the first game, I've got massive sound problems with my NForce1 audio. All the sounds save the footsteps just disappear. No changes to sound settings fix the problem. I've seen this happen in other games, notably Simpson Hit & Run.
Annoying as shit really. I put another sound card in my PC and am switching to that one, but blah.
I had sound issues with the first Spinter Cell on my onboard AC97 audio, Asus A7V8X motherboard. It was always dropping to sounds playing at some really slow speed. Everyone's voices got deep and ridiculous and effects stopped syncing with actions. Had the same problem when I first tried the Pandora Tomorrow demo, but checked and found there were some newer drivers for my onboard audio that finally seem to have cleared it up. It was a real pain for all of Splinter Cell 1 though.
I haven't tried the demo yet.
Does multiplayer turn Splinter Cell from a sneak-fest into a frag-fest? Because single-player Splinter Cell was all about the sneaking. I can't imagine the sneakering translating well to a multiplayer environment.
That is what I want to know too. My guess there is a little bit of sneaking but it mostly run & gun.Originally Posted by Roger Wong
If you guys are planning on playing this again today or something, let me know. I'd be interested in trying it out.
Not as much as you'd expect. This isn't some Counter-Strike knock off that goes "Hey, we're 'strategic"" before giving you a spray and pray weapon. This is "sneak up on that commando and only knock him out so he can't respawn with full gear, then move on". The spy side allows for some clever gadgetry, especially if you're verbally working together with another spy.That is what I want to know too. My guess there is a little bit of sneaking but it mostly run & gun.
No, it's still almost all about sneaking if you're the spy. Possibly I gave a wrong impression detailing the vision modes and how they affect encounters between Mercs and Spies. The best course of action as a spy is to remain hidden until the last possible moment when disarming the bombs (unless you're the decoy, trying to draw attention away from your partner). In the event of a skirmish, you want to be the one who saw them first though. The mercs are certainly trying to turn things into a firefight, but the spies aren't.
Even just running isn't really an option with the spies. If your plan is to just blitz to the objectives, you'll definitely be shot. The spies have their duct work and ways to climb around the levels that the mercs can't get into, and the mercs have security doors that spies can't use; in a race to the objective the merc will win though. The only time the spies can blitz past you is if you're doing a horrible job of navigating the level or if you're playing in a match where the spies outnumber you.
Ubi is claiming the crashes are a NAT/firewall issue. I'm skeptical because some people have reported crashes when not running behind a firewall at all (maybe the host was?). In any case, they have said a mp demo patch will be available at some point today at the official SplinterCell website.
As for run and gun, the spies don't really have the means to do that with any effectiveness, so you pretty much have to be sneaky. The mercs get guns but they have to be careful not to make themselves stick out too much, lest spies drop from behind and break their necks. It really is a fun, different way of playing multiplayer. I've heard some people compare it to the AvP games, but I've not played those, so I can't offer a comparison.
Or what Wholly Schmidt said above. ;)
I think right now people are still trying to get a feel for the game. Mercs are running and gunning, and the spys are trying to kill the mercs. Soon enough people will get the idea that if a spy is never seen then he's doing well. I bow to any spy team who can win a map without having to use one grenade.
Yes, this game can be played non-sneaky and can still be fun, but I'm looking forward to when people get to the next level of play where the teams work together, the spys make full use of the terrain, and everyone makes full use of the gadgets. I have yet to be fooled by a noisemaker or gassed by a sticky camera as a merc.
Also I'm pretty sure that the arrows and pie wedges on the merc reticle are sound events. those should help you get into the general vicinity of a noisy spy.
You have to tell me what settings you are using because this shadow:
looks like crap compared with this shadow:
Different scenes but you can clearly see how sharp the shadows are in the 2nd picture. Before you say they are different lighting situations that first picture is taken with a very bright light no more than 3 feet away from the character.
-- Xaroc
*shrugs*
Maybe you're right. I didn't spend as much time comparing the two. I'll look into it again tonight. I just didn't notice any big difference (obviously yes I see the difference in those shots, I mean I didn't notice a difference from memory of the games).
I love Thievery so I would probably love this too.
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