Random Madness: Micro Doom

This post marks the return of Random Madness here on AAA. I had some inspiration recently.

Windows XP has been around for a long time. I was just reading on Joystiq the other day in an article where it was said that it is in fact ten years old as of last month. After so many years of using Windows XP myself, I recently made the jump to using another version of Windows. On the laptop I acquired recently, I have installed on it Windows Vista. True, it’s not the latest Windows, or the best. Some call it the black sheep in the family.

Anyway, I had read about a feature that was first introduced in Vista that obviously wasn’t in any previous Windows that we know of: User Account Control, or UAC. Basically it ensures that programs run only when you want them to and that any sort of malware that attacks your system doesn’t have full control over what goes on, even if you’re running an administrator account.

Now the gamer in me instantly thought of something else when I read that acronym. The UAC is instrumental in the storyline of the Doom series. It stands for Union Aerospace Corporation. Now while the UAC’s background was only really expanded upon in Doom 3, it existed all ready in the original games in the early-mid 90’s.

Now knowing my inquisitive mind like I do, my thoughts started to wander if there was some sort of link or is it just coincidence? This wouldn’t be the only time there was a possible link between id Software’s Doom and Microsoft. More than a decade and a half ago, Bill Gates promoted Windows 95 by superimposing himself in to Doom and blasting some zombies. Doom was originally programmed to work in MS-DOS when released in 1993, but was still massively popular even years later.

Maybe this UAC feature was an homage of sorts to Doom. Windows UAC tries to limit malware attacks, much like Doom’s UAC tried in all Doom games to date to prevent the demonic invasion from hell – ultimately (get it? The Ultimate Doom?) it failed every time.

But seriously, don’t quote me on this. It’s all rubbish. Interesting to think of, though.

Random Madness: Micro Doom

How to Fix it: Metro 2033 [Problems, Glitches etc.]

After experiencing some problems with Metro 2033 post-install and in-game, I googled some of these errors and so on to see if anyone else was experiencing them. And I did find some ways to overcome them. I thought I would post a collection  of methods to overcome them in a post as part of a potentially new series for the blog.

I’ve dealt with Quake II and Deus Ex in the past, though.

Okay, so the problems likely start after the install, like with most people.

The first error I came across was this one that reads: “This application has failed to start because X3DAudio1_7.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem.”

How to fix this? Update your DirectX drivers. With Windows XP you’d obviously need DirectX 9.0, and with Vista, DirectX 10; Windows 7, DirectX 11.

So, you then start the game and it crashes. I would have taken a picture of this but I forgot. What to do? Install Nvidia PhysX drivers which the game needs.

Okay, now the third problem I encountered with the game was a glitch in the game. You’ll encounter this in the one Market place with Bourbon. He tells you to buy some filters for your gasmask, and when you come back, he starts to talk to you, and afterwards, turns his back and just stands there.

This doesn’t happen to everyone, as my brother, whose also played the game, didn’t encounter this glitch. If you do, what should do is walk up to Bourbon, and as he starts talking, stay close to him and move around him so his body follows you and he is facing the other direction. If you move to far away from him, then he will stop talking and just stand there.

The aim is to get him to face the area with the turnstile, and get him to walk over there so he can chat with the one guard and eventually the both of you go through the big doors and up to the surface.

There may well be more errors, glitches, and so that will crop up. If I experience any more, I will post them here. If you experience any, then post them in the comments, and I will follow it up after trying to find a solution, and add it to the post as well as possibly in the comments section.

How to Fix it: Metro 2033 [Problems, Glitches etc.]

Just Cause 2 for PC Won’t Support Windows XP

I find it quite funny that although this is all over the internet just lately, it’s actually old news. Square Enix confirmed last year that Just Cause 2 wouldn’t support Windows XP [1], seeing as the game is designed to take advantage of DirectX 10 technology, and we all know XP doesn’t support DirectX 10, only up to DirectX 9. Only Vista and Windows 7 do, in addition to DirectX 11.

"Just Cause 2 is an incredible looking title with one of the most richly detailed landscapes ever seen in a computer game, and to achieve this on the PC, the minimum specification includes a DirectX 10-compatible graphics card and operating system. The DirectX 10 and 10.1 APIs have allowed us to achieve an unparalleled level of visual quality, adding features and routines that simply would not be possible under DirectX 9. As a result, the graphical and performance gains have allowed us to create a game which raises the bar significantly in PC gaming and offers the player one of the most immersive and enjoyable gaming experiences."

And I’ve also noticed how on many forums and websites, those people who support Windows XP and haven’t upgraded to either Vista or Windows 7 are getting ridiculed now, because they won’t be able to play this game.

I for one still use Windows XP, even though I can easily get both Vista and Windows 7, but I haven’t made the switch yet, seeing as I’m waiting until I upgrade this year to do so. And even then I will likely still have a hard drive with Windows XP on it. I’m not really into Just Cause anyhow. I played the demo of the first game, but skipped buying it, and I’ll likely do the same with this one. Plenty of others out there that you can play on XP.

But it just goes to show that this is another step in the demise of the Operating System. Last year Microsoft reached the end of it’s free guaranteed service period for XP. Before that they tried to kill it with Windows Vista and failed. But I think that games are where it’s going to end up dying a slow (or quick) death, seeing as there will be more games like Just Cause 2 that won’t support XP, only Vista and Windows 7 (or just Windows 7), as they move on to newer, better technology, and that will see most of us switching to Windows 7. Not much of a hassle, but there you have it.

There have of course been other titles that have gone with later OSs, but this is just the latest one, and one big game that probably many are looking forward to.

Remember when games would support XP and 2000 with Windows 9X tagging along on the System Requirements? Then Windows 9X went out, then Windows 2000, and it looks the same way for XP now.

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Sources: [1] Eurogamer

Just Cause 2 for PC Won’t Support Windows XP

TrailerBlazer: Aliens vs. Predator Heritage Trailer

Aliens vs. Predator: Heritage

On The Verge recently, they showed an Aliens vs. Predator dev diary of sorts which showed a lot of in-game footage. But not only was it in-game footage of the latest game by Rebellion, but there was also plenty of footage from 1999’s AvP, which some call “Aliens vs. Predator Classic” or “AvP Classic 2000” (this refers more to the Gold edition).

It was great seeing some of this, because at the time, more than ten years ago, it was considered to be cutting edge stuff, in graphics too. I once read that AvP could be compared to the id Tech 2, or Quake II, engine. I mean, the game featured beheading and dissection of enemies, and stuff, even before Soldier of Fortune came along and made it popular.

But seeing what the new AvP is like (what should we call this? AvP 2010?), graphics, technology, and gameplay wise, it looks as though it’s going to be a worthy addition to this popular series. Even though some say it’s been in development for just over two years, the one guy in the film claims that it was basically coming together, at least in their heads, since the last game (AvP Classic 2000).

By the way, I was reading the other day, that you can get AvP Classic or 2000 or AvP Classic 2000 (you get the idea) from Steam, the digital distribution kings. And it has widescreen support too. So, if you’ve tried getting the game to work on modern systems without much luck (I once read that nVidia was trying to sort out the problem with drivers), then this version should work on XP, Vista, and Windows 7.

TrailerBlazer: Aliens vs. Predator Heritage Trailer

How to Install Quake 2 on Windows XP

Since it’s the 12th anniversary of id’s Quake II, I thought I would install this classic on my system, along with all my other 90s games. The first time I tried, the installer has some message about not being able to run on my OS. I’m currently running Windows XP SP 3 (I still haven’t switched to Windows 7). Now I remember a few years ago I installed Quake II on XP, but I was using SP 1. That seems to make a big difference.

Then I came across a site after using good old Google where I found some easy to follow steps in order to install Quake II on XP manually, without using the installer, but instead the command prompt.

I’m going to reproduce it here, with a few amendments, but I can say that it does work as long as you follow it to the letter:

1) Click on START / Run / and type “CMD” and press enter.

2) In the DOS Session type the following:

cd\ (press the Enter key)
md quake2 (press the Enter key)
cd\quake2 (press the Enter key)
xcopy d:\install\data\*.* /s/e/v (press the Enter key) (if you’re using another drive like I did, the E: drive, then it would be xcopy e:\install\data\*.* /s/e/v, etc.)

3) After it's done copying the files, type "Exit" and then press the Enter key. You should now be back in Windows.

4) Now Double-click on the My Computer icon, then your C: drive and then the "Quake2" folder.

5) Right-click on the file called: Quake2.exe from the menu that pops up, choose "Copy" (or “Create Shortcut”).

6) Now close all the windows and right-click on the Desktop of Windows and select "Paste Shortcut" (or drag the shortcut to the desktop).

10) To run Quake 2, double-click on the "Shortcut to Quake2" icon.

thanks in part go to wireplay.com/.

Another step that I did on my own was copying and pasting the quake2 folder to another destination. You don’t have to worry about it not working, because it still does afterwards. I like having all my classic games in one folder, under separate folders for each game, of course.

Right, now you can either run the game vanilla style, or you can try out some of the many ports and HRPs for Quake II, to give it some flavour. See here for some of them. At the moment I’m running it with Quake2Max, but it’s an outdated version, and I’m looking at downloading a later one as well as some High Resolution packs with updated textures or something.

I’m not sure if you’d be able to use the above method of manual installation for Windows Vista or Windows 7, but you can use Google, or maybe if I find out, I’ll put some links here.

How to Install Quake 2 on Windows XP

Windows 7 Available for Preorder

As of June 26 2009, Amazon, among other outlets is allowing consumers to preorder Windows 7.

This deal will last through July 11, or while stocks last. Windows 7 Home, Premium and Professional editions will be made available for 50% off or more during this period. I've learned from a pricing guide that this means $50 for Windows 7 Home Premium (instead of $120) and $100 (instead of $200) for Windows 7 Professional.

There isn't a deal for Windows 7 Ultimate, and it's going for about $220.

Windows 7 is being claimed by many to be the proper successor to Windows XP, which I'm still running, with Service Pack 3. I'm one of the many people who didn't go for Windows Vista.

Microsoft is looking at an October 22 release for Windows 7.

To learn about more of the features available with Windows 7, go here, to the Windows 7 Resource Center.

Click here to go straight to the Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade page.

Click here to go straight to the Windows 7 Professional Upgrade page.

Windows 7 Available for Preorder

Windows XP: The seven year itch is over

I read an article in the Techno Times supplement of the Cape Times recently, and apparently Windows XP is now being edged out slowly, and Vista's coming in. Microsoft allegedly gives each operating system about a ten year span. The first five years is for free guaranteed mainstream support, and that apparently comes to a close in April 2009. After this, it enters the extended support period which will last until 2014. If you add it up, it’s actually thirteen years since its release in 2001 to 2014, so XP has had quite a long run so far, and will continue for the next five years it seems, and software and hardware companies will have to continue supporting it for the duration.

If this is the case with every Operating System, then there’s little one can do. When Vista first came out, there were some very mixed reactions, with many judging that it did not differ so greatly from XP to merit it as a new OS. Even on performance benchmark tests, XP SP3 is on a level with and even outperforms Vista. Many have stuck with XP, and according to statistics, out of more than one billion computers worldwide, approximately 700 million of them have XP, with the remaining 300 million using Vista or another OS.

How desperate is Microsoft anyway? It’s a multi-billion dollar company; it’s not like they need the money.

It started off with Microsoft only letting Direct X 10 be compatible with Vista, boycotting XP users, and making them upgrade to Vista- and a new OS isn’t cheap. Then they come with this nonsense about now not having free support for us anymore.

I stuck with XP after I read and heard many arguments that Vista isn’t worth it, even one by John Carmack of id Software. In fact, I like playing classic games so much, and I’ve just got them working with XP, and I have everything the way I want it. I don’t need to switch right now, and most likely I won’t switch for the next five years until nothing supports it anymore, and I’m forced into it.

Windows XP: The seven year itch is over