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Burning Gundam
Kell Dragon
Joined: 28 Sep 2003
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 Posted: Nov 05, 2003 18:40 Post subject: Really Bad News |
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Well, it is the dawn of my time as a good DF editor, as well as my sunset.
Unfortunately, the computer that I now own ( A PowerMac G4 ) doesn't support anything OS 9 oriented very well under classic. As a result, Dark Forge and Dark Forces either runs really slow or crashes continually. And despite my please, I am unable to continue use of my old G3. So it gives me great regret to tell you all that I will be discontinuing all of my previous projects (Prelude to the Phantom, Spice Bust on Taloron, and Battle of Hoth). I'm sorry I wasn't able to get any of these out sooner, but I might be able to upload what I have done as demos, and maybe under special circumstances allow a select few to continue them for me.
However this is not the end for me as an editor. With Jedi Academy and Outcast out for G4 macintosh, I might be able to edit one of those when I get the chance to go out and buy a copy. From there, I'll pick up where I left off and create Spice Bust and others on that system instead.
So before I leave, I just want to thank a couple of people: Barry Brien, Nottheking, Kir Kanos, and a few others from the past for your help and support when I was getting started.
I will however still be coming here, and I might still edit (although I am heavily handicapped). So there is still hope. But I would really appreciate it if I could get any help before I won't be able to do it at all (I'll be getting a newer upgraded G4 in about a month or two that only supports OS X ).
What REALLY sucks is that I won't be able to play the Dark Tide 3 and 4 when they come out. 
_________________
I don't think outside the box... I customize it. |
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Nottheking
Kell Dragon
Joined: 29 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Nov 05, 2003 18:54 Post subject: |
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Well, this isn't neccesarily the end to using DF... There are ways around it:
1. There are many OS emulators out there, making it possible to even run any version of MAC OS under Windows, and vice versa, as well as emulators for running older versions under newer OSes (VDM comes to mind for Windows)
2. You could throw together your own DF rig, for either DOS or the Mac. Just search for used stuff; you could probably pick up an old PowerMac for less than $100. If I understand, any Powermac will have plenty of computing power to run DF well.
While I took a look for emulators for the PC environment, i came up with this search:
http://web.ask.com/web?q=VM+Ware&o=0&qsrc=0&askbutton.x=21&askbutton.y=16
...Note the sponsored web result! 
_________________
Wake up, George Lucas... The Matrix has you.. |
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Mattias Welander
Trandoshan
Joined: 27 Sep 2003
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Nottheking
Kell Dragon
Joined: 29 Sep 2003
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Taton
Trandoshan
Joined: 25 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Nov 05, 2003 22:12 Post subject: |
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You really should get some sort of computer dedicated to playing Dark Forces and other classics.
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"A fight should be clean and elegant, without waste"
-Asuka Langley Sohryu, Evangelion |
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Mattias Welander
Trandoshan
Joined: 27 Sep 2003
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Burning Gundam
Kell Dragon
Joined: 28 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Nov 05, 2003 22:59 Post subject: |
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Eh..Maybe I'll just buy the G3 from my Dad. He's the one who gave me that computer anyway.
_________________
I don't think outside the box... I customize it. |
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Brad Oliver
Ree-Yees
Joined: 30 Sep 2003
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j-dogg
Gamorrean
Joined: 29 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Nov 07, 2003 17:13 Post subject: |
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You have a Mac? I should have killed you in the flamewar when I had the chance!! And I know how to kill a Dark Gundam j/k but I do know how.
A Windows-based DF machine doesn't cost much. All u need to play would be between 400 and 500 MHz and 128 MB SDRAM if you were to play something like DTIII. But even then a crap Pentium 200 would play DF well.
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J-Dogg: Formerly known as Death_Blood_Fire 
Member since March 1999 |
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Darth Oosha
Trandoshan
Joined: 24 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Nov 07, 2003 17:38 Post subject: |
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You don't get away that easy.
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Nottheking
Kell Dragon
Joined: 29 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Nov 07, 2003 19:08 Post subject: |
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j-dogg wrote:
A Windows-based DF machine doesn't cost much. All u need to play would be between 400 and 500 MHz and 128 MB SDRAM if you were to play something like DTIII. But even then a crap Pentium 200 would play DF well.
A 500Mhz w/128MB would be overkill for DF... I have a 500Mhz w/192Mb, and I get 50-60Fps in JEDI KNIGHT! (Although, admittedly, I also have a RADEON 7000 64MB under the hood, too.)
I have played DF on a variety of systems... To get full framerate throughout, I would reccomend a Pentium 166, with mabye around 64MB, to ensure you have enough. Since just about everybody has a spare 15" (~37cm) monitor on hand, along with perhaps a mouse/keyboard (I know I have plenty of spares!), the whole rig should only cost arround $100-$200. Not to mention, that sets you up to run any old DOS games.
_________________
Wake up, George Lucas... The Matrix has you.. |
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Mattias Welander
Trandoshan
Joined: 27 Sep 2003
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Nottheking
Kell Dragon
Joined: 29 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Nov 07, 2003 19:35 Post subject: |
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Mattias Welander wrote:
While your use of international standard units in your posts are much appreciated (though it really is the American imperialistic units that should be in paranthesises), it is worth noting that monitor measurements live their own lifes. As a 15" monitor neither is 15" nor 37 cm, it is common practice - while a bit unfair to the unknowing end users - to refer to monitor sizes by "monitor inches" even outside the US. Other than that, keep up the good work.
I didn't know about "monitor inches"... I only knew that monitor size only referred to the distance between opposite cornes of the monitor itself, as opposed to the actual screen size, which is also a somewhat underhanded tactic...
As for the International vs. US Imperial measurements, I typically list the International measurement in parenthases because that's the original measurement, and I'm not certain that my converson is accurate enough. I'll see what I can do to improve, and thanks for the compliment.
_________________
Wake up, George Lucas... The Matrix has you.. |
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Mattias Welander
Trandoshan
Joined: 27 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Nov 07, 2003 20:09 Post subject: |
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Nottheking wrote:
I didn't know about "monitor inches"... I only knew that monitor size only referred to the distance between opposite cornes of the monitor itself, as opposed to the actual screen size, which is also a somewhat underhanded tactic...
I guess that depends on how honest the monitor manufacturer is. Some use the measurements quite loosely. Being from a country that actually follows ratified international treaties on use of measurement units, monitor and nail inches are the only kind of inches we ever encounter (well, I've probably forgot one or two more sales inches, but you get my point anyway...), thus it comes natural for us to take them with a grain of salt. I can understand that people from countries that violate those treaties and use inches for actual physical measurements might have a harder time seing through the manufacturers' deceptions.
Nottheking wrote:
...I typically list the International measurement in parenthases because that's the original measurement, and I'm not certain that my converson is accurate enough.
Assuming you meant "that's not the original", that is a perfectly acceptable reason, even though I would prefer it was the other way around.
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Brad Oliver
Ree-Yees
Joined: 30 Sep 2003
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Burning Gundam
Kell Dragon
Joined: 28 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Nov 07, 2003 20:44 Post subject: |
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Problems with Dark Forces:
The cutscenes and everything ork fine, but the actuall gameplay is excessively choppy, even after reducing the texture quality, turning the sounds off, and reducing the screen size. It's almost like Virtual Memory is on, but a G4 doesn't have that.
Problems with Dark Forge:
Nothing really, it's just slower to load everything and save everything. And texturing takes a little longer because of that. I don't think it has anything to do with the program, maybe my computer is just an utter piece of crap.
It may be just my computer because I played DF on our other Newer G4, and it worked fine, just the sound was off just a bit.
But nonetheless, I have made a certain arrangement so I can still edit. Though I still have to use the G4, I still have the G3. So I've made it so all I have to do is switch the moniter and turn off the previous computer. I tried it last night and it's kind of a pain in the neck, but it's a sacifice, I am willing to make (ain't that devotion for ya?  )
_________________
I don't think outside the box... I customize it. |
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Brad Oliver
Ree-Yees
Joined: 30 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Nov 08, 2003 20:49 Post subject: |
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Burning Gundam wrote:
The cutscenes and everything ork fine, but the actuall gameplay is excessively choppy, even after reducing the texture quality, turning the sounds off, and reducing the screen size. It's almost like Virtual Memory is on, but a G4 doesn't have that.
One thing to keep in mind is that with Classic, you're running inside a preemptive OS - OSX in this case. Under the real MacOS 9, you'd have full access to the machine while the game is running, and this isn't true inside of Classic.
One thing that may help is to make sure that no other tasks are running when you are playing a game in classic. This will allow classic to have more CPU time and bring things closer to real OS9 in terms of performance.
The other option, of course, would to be not play in classic and just reboot under 9. 
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Burning Gundam
Kell Dragon
Joined: 28 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Nov 08, 2003 23:07 Post subject: |
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You know, it's funny that you bring that up, because that's how I broke it last time 
But thanks for the explanation. How much longer until the OS X version of Dark Forge is out?
_________________
I don't think outside the box... I customize it. |
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Nottheking
Kell Dragon
Joined: 29 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Nov 10, 2003 21:02 Post subject: |
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[quote="Mattias Welander"]I guess that depends on how honest the monitor manufacturer is. Some use the measurements quite loosely. Being from a country that actually follows ratified international treaties on use of measurement units, monitor and nail inches are the only kind of inches we ever encounter (well, I've probably forgot one or two more sales inches, but you get my point anyway...), thus it comes natural for us to take them with a grain of salt. I can understand that people from countries that violate those treaties and use inches for actual physical measurements might have a harder time seing through the manufacturers' deceptions.
Aye, I would credit the use of the inch as a standard unit here as part of cause of the confusion... Also, I prefer to measure my height in Imperial units, as it makes me seem taller. 
I'm 6'1" (~198cm), or ~198cm (6'1"), whichever you prefer...
Mattias Welander wrote:
Assuming you meant "that's not the original", that is a perfectly acceptable reason, even though I would prefer it was the other way around.
Oops... 
I did mean to say it that way, that the original measurement cited was in Imperial units... Sorry.
_________________
Wake up, George Lucas... The Matrix has you.. |
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Burning Gundam
Kell Dragon
Joined: 28 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Nov 10, 2003 22:07 Post subject: |
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Yay!! I made it so I have a nice little set up, and it makes it so I only have to unplug the speakers and monitor cables !
I'm so brilliant.
James Milne is back in business!!
_________________
I don't think outside the box... I customize it. |
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Nottheking
Kell Dragon
Joined: 29 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Nov 11, 2003 21:49 Post subject: |
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Burning Gundam wrote:
Yay!! I made it so I have a nice little set up, and it makes it so I only have to unplug the speakers and monitor cables !
I'm so brilliant.
James Milne is back in business!!
Um... Exactly what do you mean by that? From what it sounds like, you won't get very much sound, or graphic quality...
_________________
Wake up, George Lucas... The Matrix has you.. |
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Burning Gundam
Kell Dragon
Joined: 28 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Nov 11, 2003 23:24 Post subject: |
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Ha Ha Ha 
I meant switching the monitors and speakers between computers. Not unplugging them all together.
_________________
I don't think outside the box... I customize it. |
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