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Post by Redbirdy on Feb 9, 2005 1:07:50 GMT -5
Trainz 2004 is like model railroading only on your computer. You can create all sorts of layouts and have numerous trains running at the same time. Day/night/weather are all portrayed and there are industries you can create which actually work in-game. For example, connect log cars to your train and run it to the logging camp where you'll see the logs placed on the cars. Next stop the sawmill where you dump the logs and change cars to carry lumber and/or woodchips. Take lumber to the factory where you then haul chairs to the warehouse. You can also choose to run the train from inside the cab, where all the real levers and guages are available. They also have a steam option so you can run the old "Iron Horses." It can get pretty complex and although I've never been a huge model-railroading fan the game is a fun diversion.
Sacred is a lot like an updated Diablo 2. Better graphics, more areas and items, and different character classes to choose from. Unlike Diablo you can advance a character to level 250. (Yeah like I'll be doing that...the highest Diablo character I have is still "only" 81.)
Yes I'm sure some more classics will find their way to the new machine. You can bet that Civ 3 will be on it soon, as well as Call To Power 2...among others 
-J
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Phil Walker
Scharfuehrer
VERY opinionated. Best stay away from. You've been warned!!!
Posts: 251
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Post by Phil Walker on Feb 10, 2005 15:30:21 GMT -5
Well, I'll say both do SOUND interesting. I WAS a model railroading "nut", but since my eye problems, haven't been able to enjoy it. So, that MAY be a way to get back into it  ;D!
As to Sacred, what kind of different classes are there?! I do like role-playing, which it sounds like, but need a bit more if you can provide. Before I make decisions on whether to buy or not, do like to know what's included  !
I'm also sure you'll get your classics installed sometime. When I first got mine, spent the whole day doing just that myself. Even though I've added many since, what I did have on the other was no small chore   ! But now that I have "ROOM", I can take some of them off the other one so I can make room for business files and programs. So, all in all, is suiting! Just keep plugging away as you have the time!!! Afterall, Civilization 3 is one you'll definitely miss if you don't  !
Sincerely,
PHil
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Post by Keith Heitmann on Feb 10, 2005 19:07:45 GMT -5
When Trainz came out I was considering buying it but my old P2 just didn't seem to have the horses at the time so I put it off and it just sort of faded off my scope.
I have still been considering buying it, but so many other things have come up that I wanted more.
I know they are working on a new improved version of Trainz. I should check in on the Auran website and see what's up.
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Post by Redbirdy on Feb 10, 2005 22:01:35 GMT -5
Latest version of Trainz is Trainz 2004 Service Pack 4 I believe. The last download to update was around 135mb so it was a big one. They have tons of customized scenery and trains on their site too although I've always run into trouble trying to get things from their "Download Station."
-J
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Post by Redbirdy on Feb 10, 2005 22:08:32 GMT -5
Sacred has 6 different classes available:
Gladiator (pure melee fighter and good at what he does).
Seraphim (supposedly a semi-angel from the Demon Wars, she mixes magic with fast-pasted sword attacks...ironically when she starts the game she looks like she just got off work from Hooters, lol).
Wood Elf (female bow-oriented character who also possesses a fair amount of woods magic).
Dark Elf (an offshoot from the Elves, he mixes battle magic with martial arts fighting).
Battle Mage (your classic spell-caster though he also has the ability to be a fairly good melee fighter).
Vampiress (by day a very good melee fighter and by night she can kill as a vampire and bring those she killed back to life to fight by her side).
Gotta run now but I'll post a bit more on the game tomorrow...
-J
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Post by Keith Heitmann on Feb 11, 2005 13:34:25 GMT -5
Latest version of Trainz is Trainz 2004 Service Pack 4 I believe. The last download to update was around 135mb so it was a big one. They have tons of customized scenery and trains on their site too although I've always run into trouble trying to get things from their "Download Station." -J Ouch, those huge downloads are murder on a dialup. I've been downloading a 435MB video clip for the past few days using GetRight. You almost have to have such a program if you are dial up now. Even demo games are huge. |
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Post by Redbirdy on Feb 11, 2005 17:12:22 GMT -5
I also agree about the poor old dial-up modem. That's what I have as well and it took a good 10 hours to get that Trainz SP4 pack. However, you CAN opt to order the upgrades on a CD, which they will send to you for just the S&H charges once you're registered.
As for Sacred, well the Vampiress isn't really EVIL in the pure sense of the word. She has a soul, thus the ability to adventure as a regular human during the daylight hours. She's basically a GOOD character (as are they all) who was just unfortunate enough to have been bitten by a vamp in the past. I really haven't played much of this game, never having passed the first chapter with any character as yet. Although Sacred has much more depth and is graphically superior, I find myself always going back to Diablo 2. I played D2 for a few hours today, testing a new Amazon build...I've always run out of mana with the Amazon so this time I'm building one that relies almost entirely on Passive Magic. She's done much better than I'd expected so far and is currently 25 and in the middle of Act 3.
-J
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Post by Keith Heitmann on Feb 11, 2005 17:34:43 GMT -5
As for me, I am not so much into the "fantasy" type games like Diablo 2 etc. I prefer my FPS games to be a little more reality based like Counter Strike Condition Zero (which I would highly highly recommend.) I've been playing deathmatches against the bots all afternoon waiting to see if a tech support guy is going to contact me. So far he hasn't. Love that magnum sniper rifle in CSCZ.
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Phil Walker
Scharfuehrer
VERY opinionated. Best stay away from. You've been warned!!!
Posts: 251
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Post by Phil Walker on Feb 11, 2005 18:55:09 GMT -5
Well, the reviews and recommendations ARE appreciated although I won't say as I agree. Let me clariy!
First as to Sacred. Yes Redbirdy, I understand the "vampire" can choose not to be evil but can be as well. It IS a fantasy game, so this is possible. I'm also into reality with what I believe though. So, what is a vampire SUPPOSED to be?! An "undead" creature, right out of a "Halloween Movie" ! In all seriousness as to what one is though. It is an undead in "reality" and ONLY created by unnatural means (from a spiritual sense). That comes right out of the "pit of hell", which is basically Satanic. So, for that reason alone, NO THANKS! Just MY opinion of course.
Now Keith, as to CSCZ. I too enjoy a bit more realism, but I do also enjoy SOME fantasy. We all have our preferences afterall. I must ask though. Is it a TRUE FPS?! Or the vaguer description of such?! You know what I mean as it IS discussed in another string ;D. In any case whether it be or not, how about some details?! From the title and weapon you mentioned, it IS up to date shall we say, but what is the "Theme" or how do you go about whatever goals there are? That says enough on both counts for now and will await your replies!
Sincerely,
Phil
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Post by Keith Heitmann on Feb 12, 2005 3:43:45 GMT -5
Counter Strike Condition Zero is a true FPS game. It is a first person shooter.
It has three modes of play, multiplayer online, deathmatches (on or offline (against bots)), and the "Deleted Scenes" segment where you must work your way through a mission against bot enemy players, such as being part of a Russian Spetnaz team sent to deactivate a missile silo and to capture it from a renegade general and his troops in Siberia. Or the jungle dope lab, or the high rise skyscraper mission against Irish terrorists, etc.
The missions are the typical Half-Life/Half-Life 2 type solve the puzzle while avoid being killed type, but without the monsters.
The death mission section you can play has about 12 seperate missions and you play them in a set of three. When you complet the first three the next three become unlocked. The types of deathmatch maps differe greatly from a Pyrennes castle, to a Aztec style fortress, to a Chateau, and a Subway station to name a few. In these missions you must kill X number of enemies, you must kill X number with a certain weapon, and usually you must defeat the enemy within a certain time limit as the three goals. Example: Kill 18 terrorists, Kill 5 with the Mangum 550 Sniper Rifle, and Win one round in 60 seconds or less.
I have already playe through both the Deleted scenes missions, and the deathmatch missions on normal, and I have played through all but the last mission of the deathmatch maps on the hard level. On the hard setting the enemy shooting is very accurate and they are quick on the trigger, almost too quick.
The game has a few quirks, like the enemy bots know just where you are even if you have been carefully hiding. The lines of fire are a bit buggy, in that the bots can often seem to shoot your through the corner edges of doorway before you can even see them or from below when you are on the roof near the edge when they can see you but you can't for some reason see them below.
There is a wide variety of modern weaponry, from about 7 different types of pistols from various countries around the world, and two types of shotguns, 4 types of submachine guns, six differen types of rifles (including 3 sniper rifles), a M248 heavy machinegun, kevlar vests, flashbangs, HE grenades, smoake greades, bomb defusing tool, nightvision googles, or a SWAT style shield and 45 caliber pistol.
In some of the deathmatch missions you either defend against bots or the human players trying to plant a bomb. You must either stop them or defuse the bomb in 4 minutes or less.
The other type of deathmatch mission is where you must be on the offenstive so you can rescue up to 6 bot hostages and get them to one of several safe areas aound the map...these tend to be the hardest to do.
There is much to CSCZ to keep you busy whether you play online against humans or by yourself against bot players. The Delete Scenes missions are very well put together and inventive. One involves climbing up through a elvevator shaft and trying to figure out how to make jumps through open elevator doors to get medic packs or ammo or to take out bot terrorists and then get back into the elevator shaft and continue climbing upward to the top floor where the terroist leader is.
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Post by Redbirdy on Feb 12, 2005 10:29:01 GMT -5
Phil: I totally agree...to each his own. That's why there are so many different styles of games available
Keith: I haven't tried the game you mentioned but I did try Rainbow Six and the expansion. It was a bit TOO realistic for me (i.e. it got downright depressing). I did enjoy Jagged Alliance 1 and 2 though so do like some in that genre. Fallout Tactics was fun too, though not quite as "realistic" as the others. Sounds like we prefer the same type of equipment...when I have a little time to kill I fire up Unreal Tournament and my favorite weapon has always been the Sniper Rifle
-J
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Phil Walker
Scharfuehrer
VERY opinionated. Best stay away from. You've been warned!!!
Posts: 251
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Post by Phil Walker on Feb 12, 2005 11:43:32 GMT -5
Yes Redbirdy! I think we can all agree on to each their own AND that is why there are so many anymore. We all have our "quirks" !
Now, as to FPS "shoot 'em ups", let's say I do like but am not really able to enjoy. If they are the TRUE FPS games, I have a VERY hard time seeing what is going on even with my magnifierss. It isn't that I don't enjoy them, but too difficult in my current position to attain what is needed to complete, so why I stay away from them. I prefer the SECOND player revisions in this case as I can see the WHOLE spectrum to an extent, such as games like the Command and Conquer series. The only one in that series I stay away from is Renegade as it is a FPS rather than a SPS as things also happen too quickly for me to be able to keep up with and also why I don't play them. So, when in the mood to "blast away", I stick with those.
All in all we do have our pleasures and by my list, you can tell my style(s). So, that is where I'm coming from and looking seriously into CotN now as my next to get and MAYBE I'll add Trainz to my "to get" list. Thanks guys!
Sincerely,
PHil
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Post by Keith Heitmann on Feb 12, 2005 18:29:44 GMT -5
I forgot to mention that you have bot teammates and can issue a number of orders and calls for help.
CSCZ can be pretty fast paced with 8 enemy bots and 5 teammates all running around. Sometimes you have to make snapshots on a enemy that suddenly appears without really aming.
The Deleted Scenes section and be a bit hectic too, but it's not all go-go-go all the time.
SWAT 3 is a slower paced games. You have two teams, red and blue of two men each. You pick their weapons and can pick replacements from a menu of available men. In this game Swat 3 it is not all about shooting and killing. Alhtough there is quite a bit, you actually gain more experience and command points if you caputer the bad guy instead of killing him.
The game is very tactics oriented. You hae to give your teams orders almost constantly via a simple set of keyboard menues. You give ont team orders to cover whatever direction you are facing then issue the other team orders to search an area, or drop a glow stick marker, or pop a flash bang, or toss in a tear gas grenade. You have keys to issue orders to hostages and bad guys you spot. You order them to surrender and only then if they open fire or refuse to comply you fire.
Shooting does not always result in a kill either. You can wound or be wounded. If you are wounded you leave a blood trail that the bad guys can follow and hunt you down.
In some missions you rescue hostages and others you are out to serve warrantt. In one you have to race against time and find a portable nuke to disarm.
The ballistics of this game are very realistic, steel jacketed rounds can pass through walls and you can be killed by them.
This game was developed with the help of the LA SWAT teams.....you'll also notice a minor credit to yours truly in the credits too. I was the moderator of the prerelease SWAT 3 board while the game was in development.
Swat 3 requires good tactics and a lot of thinking.
IT's a little on the old side now and a SWAT 4 is under development.
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;D!
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! But now that I have "ROOM", I can take some of them off the other one so I can make room for business files and programs. So, all in all, is suiting! Just keep plugging away as you have the time!!! Afterall, Civilization 3 is one you'll definitely miss if you don't 
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!!!