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Alpha Protocol: Old Thread

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Posts

  • l337CrappyJackl337CrappyJack Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Spoit wrote: »
    But really, when has steam actually ever released a game exactly when the counter says? Plus, it's memorial day. Plus, it's after working hours, even on the west coast

    I've never understood why that would even be an issue. Shouldn't this shit just be set to some kind of timer?

    They just hire one guy to hit the button when the clock strikes, but his only joy in life is watching the internet rage the longer he doesn't activate it.

    l337CrappyJack on
  • SpoitSpoit *twitch twitch* Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Monger wrote: »
    Spoit wrote: »
    But really, when has steam actually ever released a game exactly when the counter says? Plus, it's memorial day. Plus, it's after working hours, even on the west coast
    None of these things you're saying involve me playing this game. I would appreciate it if you said things that involve me playing this game.

    The VPN 'trick' has worked for steam since friday? But at this point, you might as well just wait

    Spoit on
    steam_sig.png
  • MongerMonger I got the ham stink. Dallas, TXRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Spoit wrote: »
    Monger wrote: »
    Spoit wrote: »
    But really, when has steam actually ever released a game exactly when the counter says? Plus, it's memorial day. Plus, it's after working hours, even on the west coast
    None of these things you're saying involve me playing this game. I would appreciate it if you said things that involve me playing this game.

    The VPN 'trick' has worked for steam since friday? But at this point, you might as well just wait
    I'm too lazy for networking voodoo anyway.

    MOVE FASTER, TIME.

    Monger on
  • KiTAKiTA Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Wait? VPN trick? Fuck, wish I had realized that. Were you guys using Hamachi or something to do it?

    KiTA on
  • HozHoz Cool Cat Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    So, apparently it's released because it's in the "new releases" tab, but it's not unlocking for me.

    Hoz on
  • MorvidusMorvidus Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    "Mike and Sean, FUCK YEAH!!!"

    Kinda wish I stayed aggressive with that guy...

    Morvidus on
  • KiTAKiTA Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Hoz wrote: »
    So, apparently it's released because it's in the "new releases" tab, but it's not unlocking for me.

    If it's anything like the previous Steam releases, it'll be unlocked within the hour.

    KiTA on
  • SpoitSpoit *twitch twitch* Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    So yeah, the ending. A little bit preachy and heavy handed. These are your choices, that you did. But I liked it, but then again, I liked Dantooine too, and would have been fine if they cut to black after it.
    I especially liked being able to turn Marburg and Parker, just wish that you had a chance to do the same to Yancy. Or even gotten some comment on the 3 dossier slots they wasted on that one op of his.

    Spoit on
    steam_sig.png
  • MetallikatMetallikat Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Goddamn slow, clunky file decryption.

    Metallikat on
  • MentisMentis Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    My play button lit up!

    Mentis on
    Minecraft & XBL name: TheCJX
    Steam: Ashengor
  • MetallikatMetallikat Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Mentis wrote: »
    My play button lit up!

    Cool, you'll be decrypting in no ti... wait, what? You wanna PLAY the game right now? Hahaha!

    Metallikat on
  • CronusCronus Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Steam just crashed when I double clicked play. woo hoo

    Cronus on
    camo_sig.png
    "Read twice, post once. It's almost like 'measure twice, cut once' only with reading." - MetaverseNomad
  • TanolenTanolen Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Looks like it is going to take over an hour just to decrypt.

    Tanolen on
  • MentisMentis Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Metallikat wrote: »
    Mentis wrote: »
    My play button lit up!

    Cool, you'll be decrypting in no ti... wait, what? You wanna PLAY the game right now? Hahaha!

    :'(
    I just wanna be Jason Bourne

    Mentis on
    Minecraft & XBL name: TheCJX
    Steam: Ashengor
  • Delta AssaultDelta Assault Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Mentis wrote: »
    Metallikat wrote: »
    Mentis wrote: »
    My play button lit up!

    Cool, you'll be decrypting in no ti... wait, what? You wanna PLAY the game right now? Hahaha!

    :'(
    I just wanna be Jason Bourne

    Have you heard of this new game called Splinter Cell ConViction?

    Delta Assault on
  • Raoulduke20Raoulduke20 Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Mentis wrote: »
    Metallikat wrote: »
    Mentis wrote: »
    My play button lit up!

    Cool, you'll be decrypting in no ti... wait, what? You wanna PLAY the game right now? Hahaha!

    :'(
    I just wanna be Jason Bourne

    Have you heard of this new game called Splinter Cell ConViction?

    Conviction was ok, but it doesn't satisfy the itch to play a Bourne-like character as well as AP does. I used the engineer start and pumped my martial arts up to get the flying knee, after that it was all about being a genius that can beat the fuck out of dudes.

    Raoulduke20 on
    signatureih.jpg
  • CronusCronus Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Mentis wrote: »
    Metallikat wrote: »
    Mentis wrote: »
    My play button lit up!

    Cool, you'll be decrypting in no ti... wait, what? You wanna PLAY the game right now? Hahaha!

    :'(
    I just wanna be Jason Bourne

    Have you heard of this new game called Splinter Cell ConViction?

    The game with the magic "Simultaneously headshot everybody in the room button?" Seeing that in the previews killed any interest I had in the game. I really hope AP doesn't have anything like that.

    Cronus on
    camo_sig.png
    "Read twice, post once. It's almost like 'measure twice, cut once' only with reading." - MetaverseNomad
  • SpoitSpoit *twitch twitch* Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Cronus wrote: »
    Mentis wrote: »
    Metallikat wrote: »
    Mentis wrote: »
    My play button lit up!

    Cool, you'll be decrypting in no ti... wait, what? You wanna PLAY the game right now? Hahaha!

    :'(
    I just wanna be Jason Bourne

    Have you heard of this new game called Splinter Cell ConViction?

    The game with the magic "Simultaneously headshot everybody in the room button?" Seeing that in the previews killed any interest I had in the game. I really hope AP doesn't have anything like that.
    It's the active pistol skill

    Spoit on
    steam_sig.png
  • Delta AssaultDelta Assault Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Cronus wrote: »
    Mentis wrote: »
    Metallikat wrote: »
    Mentis wrote: »
    My play button lit up!

    Cool, you'll be decrypting in no ti... wait, what? You wanna PLAY the game right now? Hahaha!

    :'(
    I just wanna be Jason Bourne

    Have you heard of this new game called Splinter Cell ConViction?

    The game with the magic "Simultaneously headshot everybody in the room button?" Seeing that in the previews killed any interest I had in the game. I really hope AP doesn't have anything like that.

    Guess you won't like AP or Red Dead Redemption then.

    Delta Assault on
  • KiTAKiTA Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Wow. This runs like shit.

    KiTA on
  • SpoitSpoit *twitch twitch* Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    KiTA wrote: »
    Wow. This runs like shit.

    Try restarting your computer. I don't think it released the stuff in memory properly when starting up, so it ran worse if I launched it after using the computer for a while, especially firefox

    Spoit on
    steam_sig.png
  • KiTAKiTA Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Spoit wrote: »
    KiTA wrote: »
    Wow. This runs like shit.

    Try restarting your computer. I don't think it released the stuff in memory properly when starting up, so it ran worse if I launched it after using the computer for a while, especially firefox

    Will give that a try. The opening cinematic was stuttering on me. It also defaulted to the highest graphics and max screen resolution (but lacks the "send it over to the 32" monitor #2 not 19" monitor #1, you stupid twat" option). Rebooting and will be right back.

    (I've heard it's the DRM that causes the slowdown, but... ugh...)

    KiTA on
  • CronusCronus Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Cronus wrote: »
    Mentis wrote: »
    Metallikat wrote: »
    Mentis wrote: »
    My play button lit up!

    Cool, you'll be decrypting in no ti... wait, what? You wanna PLAY the game right now? Hahaha!

    :'(
    I just wanna be Jason Bourne

    Have you heard of this new game called Splinter Cell ConViction?

    The game with the magic "Simultaneously headshot everybody in the room button?" Seeing that in the previews killed any interest I had in the game. I really hope AP doesn't have anything like that.

    Guess you won't like AP or Red Dead Redemption then.

    So what is it in AP? Please tell me it doesn't have the same thing where you can insta kill several people without aiming by a single button press.

    Cronus on
    camo_sig.png
    "Read twice, post once. It's almost like 'measure twice, cut once' only with reading." - MetaverseNomad
  • SpoitSpoit *twitch twitch* Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Cronus wrote: »
    Cronus wrote: »
    Mentis wrote: »
    Metallikat wrote: »
    Mentis wrote: »
    My play button lit up!

    Cool, you'll be decrypting in no ti... wait, what? You wanna PLAY the game right now? Hahaha!

    :'(
    I just wanna be Jason Bourne

    Have you heard of this new game called Splinter Cell ConViction?

    The game with the magic "Simultaneously headshot everybody in the room button?" Seeing that in the previews killed any interest I had in the game. I really hope AP doesn't have anything like that.

    Guess you won't like AP or Red Dead Redemption then.

    So what is it in AP? Please tell me it doesn't have the same thing where you can insta kill several people without aiming by a single button press.

    Well, I guess you do aim, but you get several seconds to do so with everyone frozen in place

    Spoit on
    steam_sig.png
  • MorvidusMorvidus Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Username: Mthorton

    Password: M1LFLuv3r

    Classic.

    Morvidus on
  • KiTAKiTA Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Ok, after the hiccup at the start of the opening, it seems to be running fine.

    First annoyance is that apparently I actually have to use my mouse to pick a conversation stance? Ugh.

    I'm going Field Agent on Hard. I take it Recruit is the challenge mode? Is there a point to taking it other than making the game hard as hell and unlocking the silly Veteran mode afterwards?

    KiTA on
  • FaffelFaffel Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Spoit wrote: »
    Cronus wrote: »
    Cronus wrote: »
    Mentis wrote: »
    Metallikat wrote: »
    Mentis wrote: »
    My play button lit up!

    Cool, you'll be decrypting in no ti... wait, what? You wanna PLAY the game right now? Hahaha!

    :'(
    I just wanna be Jason Bourne

    Have you heard of this new game called Splinter Cell ConViction?

    The game with the magic "Simultaneously headshot everybody in the room button?" Seeing that in the previews killed any interest I had in the game. I really hope AP doesn't have anything like that.

    Guess you won't like AP or Red Dead Redemption then.

    So what is it in AP? Please tell me it doesn't have the same thing where you can insta kill several people without aiming by a single button press.

    Well, I guess you do aim, but you get several seconds to do so with everyone frozen in place

    So far I get 5 shots and 15 seconds to place them. It's even easier than Splinter Cell's, since I never had to use SC's in the first place.

    Faffel on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • KlatuKlatu Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi OiRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    KiTA wrote: »
    Ok, after the hiccup at the start of the opening, it seems to be running fine.

    First annoyance is that apparently I actually have to use my mouse to pick a conversation stance? Ugh.

    I'm going Field Agent on Hard. I take it Recruit is the challenge mode? Is there a point to taking it other than making the game hard as hell and unlocking the silly Veteran mode afterwards?

    You should be able to WASD your convo stances.

    I'll also use this space to add my voice to the chorus of people bitching about the hacking minigame WASD + mouse bullshit (more so the mouse). Putting 3 points into Sabotage helps though, gives plenty of time to find the codes and move to them.

    Klatu on
    Steam id:Klatu - PS id: Klatu_PA - 3DS FC: 0920-0528-6680
  • SpoitSpoit *twitch twitch* Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    KiTA wrote: »
    Ok, after the hiccup at the start of the opening, it seems to be running fine.

    First annoyance is that apparently I actually have to use my mouse to pick a conversation stance? Ugh.

    I'm going Field Agent on Hard. I take it Recruit is the challenge mode? Is there a point to taking it other than making the game hard as hell and unlocking the silly Veteran mode afterwards?

    You can use WASD to choose dialogue too

    There's a few lines of new dialogue, and it's only about 2 levels worth of points difference.

    Also, if you want to exploit to get lots of XP, go sabotage to get remote hacking, and use it on all the cameras and turrets, as it gives 25 xp for each, as opposed to only one thing of 25 for shutting them down from a computer

    Spoit on
    steam_sig.png
  • KiTAKiTA Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Spoit wrote: »
    KiTA wrote: »
    Ok, after the hiccup at the start of the opening, it seems to be running fine.

    First annoyance is that apparently I actually have to use my mouse to pick a conversation stance? Ugh.

    I'm going Field Agent on Hard. I take it Recruit is the challenge mode? Is there a point to taking it other than making the game hard as hell and unlocking the silly Veteran mode afterwards?

    You can use WASD to choose dialogue too

    There's a few lines of new dialogue, and it's only about 2 levels worth of points difference.

    Also, if you want to exploit to get lots of XP, go sabotage to get remote hacking, and use it on all the cameras and turrets, as it gives 25 xp for each, as opposed to only one thing of 25 for shutting them down from a computer

    Does Recruit work otherwise like Freelancer? I.e., pick 3 skills to max out and you don't end up as good as a specialist?

    KiTA on
  • SpoitSpoit *twitch twitch* Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    KiTA wrote: »
    Spoit wrote: »
    KiTA wrote: »
    Ok, after the hiccup at the start of the opening, it seems to be running fine.

    First annoyance is that apparently I actually have to use my mouse to pick a conversation stance? Ugh.

    I'm going Field Agent on Hard. I take it Recruit is the challenge mode? Is there a point to taking it other than making the game hard as hell and unlocking the silly Veteran mode afterwards?

    You can use WASD to choose dialogue too

    There's a few lines of new dialogue, and it's only about 2 levels worth of points difference.

    Also, if you want to exploit to get lots of XP, go sabotage to get remote hacking, and use it on all the cameras and turrets, as it gives 25 xp for each, as opposed to only one thing of 25 for shutting them down from a computer

    Does Recruit work otherwise like Freelancer? I.e., pick 3 skills to max out and you don't end up as good as a specialist?

    I don't know, I did the stealth/pistols/MA character, but when it came time to choose specialties, I removed all my points in MA and put them (and it's specialty point) in sabotage for easier minigames

    Spoit on
    steam_sig.png
  • KiTAKiTA Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Already noticing a lot more dialogue as a Recruit. For one, the main character's dazed and confused and slightly sarcastic on the table in the opening, whereas as a Field Agent, he's, well, not.


    Gotten through to the end of the mandatory tutorial part as a Field Agent. Going to do it again as Recruit real quick, just to see the differences in dialogue.

    KiTA on
  • SpoitSpoit *twitch twitch* Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Just remember that it only keep 1 (2 if you're in the middle of a mission) autosaves, so if you want to go back to the other file, you need to do a manual save

    Spoit on
    steam_sig.png
  • Amikron DevaliaAmikron Devalia I didn't ask for this title. Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    A reminder now that this is officially out in the USA, the FIRST skill on the Sabotage tree lets you use EMP charges to bypass the minigames. There is 0 reason to "suffer" through them if you don't like them. You get 20k just for doing one of the extra missions in the beginning tutorial, and the EMPs are rather cheap considering what they do.

    Regardless of which class you pick, if you are having trouble with the minigames, or just don't like them, don't do them!

    I now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.

    Amikron Devalia on
  • KiTAKiTA Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Major beef right now: In windowed mode, the hacking mini game lets your cursor go off the screen. This makes it quite literally impossible to do the mouse bits without alt-tabbing back in and praying you do so fast enough.


    Edit: Interesting. When you finish the tutorial as a Field Agent, he talks about, well, you being a field agent, and they throw you into a spy suit. When you finish it as a Recruit... they mock how tiny your resume is and throw you into a shirt and jeans.

    KiTA on
  • SpoitSpoit *twitch twitch* Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    KiTA wrote: »
    Major beef right now: In windowed mode, the hacking mini game lets your cursor go off the screen. This makes it quite literally impossible to do the mouse bits without alt-tabbing back in and praying you do so fast enough.

    You don't actually have to have the cursor on the box, you can just move it in the direction you need it to go. Unless you mean it's completely unresponsive if it's outside the window.

    Spoit on
    steam_sig.png
  • SoundsPlushSoundsPlush yup, back. Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    So, I've been playing this for a few hours now (just finished Saudi Arabia entirely), and it's not as bad as it looks in videos. There's a lot of unwieldiness, but I'm enjoying it. The gunplay isn't as bad as it looks, although at a full (non-recoiling) circle guns are still goofy inaccurate. Having played the missions in the 1UP video, it's baffling how someone who works at a company that writes about videogames and chose (or was chosen) to play one could be so goddamn horrible.

    I started stealthy, and then changed my mind and decided to play against type and habit and go for an aggressive, gun-blazing douchebag with razor sunglasses, backwards cap, and circle beard. Assault rifle is pretty solid, although thanks to this thread I took pistols as secondary in anticipation of chain shot on bosses. I mostly use the AR but being able to line up a shot out of cover is valuable. It feels like the sensitivity goes way the fuck up when using chain shot, though. I'm using a 360 controller so maybe that wouldn't happen with mouse, but everything else feels about right on the pad so I think I'll stick to it. The usefulness of the active pistol skill is contrasted with the apparently useless AR active skill, so I guess they were taking tips from ME1 in that regard.

    Gameplay in general is...cumbersome. Controlling Thorton sometimes feels a little sluggish. I often want for a "center camera" button or toggle; Mass Effect nailed it with free cam while roaming and locked cam while guns out. Sometimes geometry is problematic. I got stuck on a wall, but after jiggling around a bit, a melee attack freed me, so that's tolerable. Sneaking past a derelict tank, suddenly I was on top of it, and the guards were all FFFFUUUUUUU. Someone said they vaulted over cover in training, but I haven't been able to do so. Sometimes I see some crates leading up to a roof or a hole in the wall and think, "ah! another path, like Deus Ex!" but invariably it isn't. On minigames, since I'm using a pad, hacking isn't so bad. My main annoyance is the code segments move so damn slow; sometimes I'll find the second code but simply won't have enough time to get it from the corner to allll the waaaayy ovveerrr theerrrreee...and will have to find it again. The lockpicking game is the one that I dislike so far.

    I don't know what Thorton's enemies get up to in their spare time, but judging by the way they drop sights and sprint into the guy unloading an AR on them, juking like linebackers, I'd wager: cocaine. These lunatics rush into melee like it's Highlander and you're destined to meet on the field of battle. At any other range, combat would be improved if they could carry no more than 1 grenade (is there a limit?). Stay light on the sprint key.

    Graphics are fine, animations are laughable. Someone said Thorton looks like he's trying to hide a boner while sneaking. To that, I would like to append it also appears that he has Parkinson's. Doesn't bother me, although it provides an occasional laugh. Enemies spawning from thin air in your line of sight is pretty amateurish, though.

    Can't comment much on story or writing since I've only really seen the "intro planet." Responses could use another second or two of time, or down-to-the-wire changes, since the last few words to appear onscreen are sometimes the meat of what you're replying to. I like the reputation system and the responses, although there's sometimes a want of clarity. When it said "mission" as a choice, I assumed I would be asking about details, not demanding to go on one right now. The three JB positions serve double roles during information gathering, so it's not like I can just assume. So far it seems like I'll just have to get accustomed to where the game uses one or the other: past the opening, information seems confined so far to post-mish handler conversations.

    My biggest complaint though, something I can't believe hasn't been brought up more (although not apparent in gameplay videos), something that boggles my mind in a 2010 narrative game encouraging multiple playthroughs...there's no character profiles to arrange saves under!? Are you fucking kidding me? You can't even name saves, all you can do is save a previous checkpoint which will list the area and the timestamp. This is a completely ridiculous oversight. Someone, please tell me I'm overlooking something and there's actually a better way to organize saves, because this vastly eclipses any other issue with the game for me.

    That said, I'm enjoying it and the gunplay (with AR and pistol) ain't so bad as it looks (it's not good, but it's not bad either). Guys aren't nearly so bullet spongey (so far) as they appeared to be. Unless the game tanks all of a sudden, 66 is too low. I'm expecting it to feel like a 75-85 so far.

    Also, a reminder for anyone getting this on PC stateside
    : You can get it for around $36 on D2D's British page, no hassle. I don't regret the cash thus far.

    SoundsPlush on
    s7Imn5J.png
  • KiTAKiTA Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Spoit wrote: »
    KiTA wrote: »
    Major beef right now: In windowed mode, the hacking mini game lets your cursor go off the screen. This makes it quite literally impossible to do the mouse bits without alt-tabbing back in and praying you do so fast enough.

    You don't actually have to have the cursor on the box, you can just move it in the direction you need it to go. Unless you mean it's completely unresponsive if it's outside the window.

    Once it's outside the window, I can't left click to trigger the thing. Upon doing so, the game minimizes.


    I'm enjoying Recruit, although I can see why this would be a NG+ -- basically, you're running around as a complete idiot. Imagine every "wacky sidekick" pencil pusher on a cop show, looking naive against the backdrop of Sgt. Badass. That's you on recruit.

    KiTA on
  • SpoitSpoit *twitch twitch* Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Also, since this is now out in NA steam, some suggestions to deal with stuttering (though, I haven't tried them myself so I can't comment on how well they work)
    In APEngine.ini (C:\Users\username\Documents\Alpha Protocol\APGame\Config), change the following settings:

    MinSmoothedFrameRate=20
    MaxSmoothedFrameRate=30
    UseBackgroundLevelStreaming=false
    OnlyStreamInTextures=true
    OneFrameThreadLag=false

    Spoit on
    steam_sig.png
  • WotanAnubisWotanAnubis Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    I don't know what Thorton's enemies get up to in their spare time, but judging by the way they drop sights and sprint into the guy unloading an AR on them, juking like linebackers, I'd wager: cocaine. These lunatics rush into melee like it's Highlander and you're destined to meet on the field of battle. At any other range, combat would be improved if they could carry no more than 1 grenade (is there a limit?). Stay light on the sprint key.
    :lol:

    You have no idea how funny and tragic this comment is.

    WotanAnubis on
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