View Full Version : "Value" based games, sometimes interesting?
Static_Fred
03-08-2004, 10:57 AM
Hello guys, this thread is meant to discuss the concepts in many of the lower priced "deer hunter" type bargain bin games that you often see in stores like Wal-Mart. For the purpose of this thread, what i consider "value" based software does not include dated games that have been "discounted."
I have a friend that buys these so called "valuesoft" games from time to time and I always tell him that it is a waste of his money. But despite my biased opinions surrounding these cheap titles, there has been a few titles that have had very interesting concepts, but lacked the execution. For example:
18 Wheels of Steel Across America-
I laughed when i saw this on his hard-drive, it just seemed like the perfect stereotypical hick game that is expected from a Wal-Mart shopper. But I must admit that the gaming concept is interesting. This is a trucking game with the "sim" emphasis and lacks any "arcadish" game play. You drive around without a trailer at first, going around finding "bids" in the numerous manufacturers for transportation fees to various cities anywhere in the U.S. The game has a huge map consisting of many major interestate freeways and a network of smaller rural highways. It took me about a half hour just to drive from Seattle to Pittsburg, adding to the so-called "realism." The streets are filled with road-raging drivers and other truckers whom you can talk to on your CB. As a trucker you have to make sure you hit all weigh stations, get gas, fix your truck, and later hire on other truckers to become a part of your personal fleet.
Street Legal-
I played this game many months ago, and even though it was filled with bugs to the state that it was almost unplayable, i must give credit to the developers for trying such a "open-ended" game play concept for a value game. This game allows you to buy cars, trick them out with countless parts, and go driving around a non-tracked city looking for opponents to race. It was entertaining to "roam" the cities with a car that you created from scratch, even letting you to draw your own decals on the body. (I made a Lightning Swoosh with the letters FRED in the middle on all the hoods... LOL!) The interesting part is how you have to physically drive to the parts store, then back to your garage, adding to the realism... (i can't believe i just used the word "realism" for this game... lol)
I'm not trying to say that these are good games, they are far from that! I just feel that these smaller devs are more willing to try new and unique gaming concepts than the bigger and more profitable gaming devs that usually stick to the cookie-cutter formulas for profit stability. For example, what if Microsoft decided to make MS Truck Simulator? That would probably be interesting, and most importantly DIFFERENT.
What do you guys think? Anyone have any similar experiences with other value games?
As said, topic is about value, bargain titles.
This is a neat game for pocket change [can be found for $5 to $10!].
Deadlly Dozen 2 : Pacific Theater is a basic WW2 squad shooter. In SP, there are 12 missions.
Squad commands are minimal: Hold podition, follow, fire, cease fire. You can set their positon from prone, crouch or stand. Load out of equipment can also be manipulated prior to mission start. Squad has about a dozen different field formations to be selected from. Like many other military squad shooters, you can take over control of an one member @ anytime, assuming they are alive. Speaking of member mortality, if you let one of your squad die, that man will be unavailable for remainder of campaign. All squad members are specialized, so you need to select proper units for each mission requirement. Theres a "dozen" possible units to select from for each mission.
What vehicles Ive operated thus far are easy to navigate & include personal carrier & a tank. These models are crude in detail. I hope there are more vehicles in future missions.
Graphics are good for a budget title. [Im playing w/G4 ti 128mb/P4 2.6] Opening scene of first mission [a prison break out] reminds me of Vietcong. The vegetation is lush, up close grasses blow naturally. Weapon effects are good, though so far Ive noticed structure models dont reveal much damage after attacks. Soldiers themselves are well detailed. Overall, graphics are dated, reminds me of a polished original H&D.
Missions so far are straight forward, simple objectives. Use of special equipment like lock picks & timed explosives are overly simple to use. Interface in general easy.
Sounds pretty cool too, birds & the flies buzz'n around, water flow in rivers realistic, music intensity increases warning of possible enemy encounter [maybe not a good thing?]
All controls can be remapped, theres a quick load/quick save , in game intel screen. Realistic tracer option, AA & a few other options are surprising also to find in a budget title like this. Damage [hit points] realism can be adjusted independently of the difficulty setting. I hope the game plays out well, offers some challenging missions. Like I said, Im just getting started, so can only hope for the best.......
Overall, nothing new found yet[& no real bugs either]. DD2 is like many other military shooters that have come before, but fun none the less. I mention this game as simply a good value for those starting out in PC gaming, or those who are looking for something to fill in the void while they wait for the next "latest & greatest" game to arrive.
E.T.
Friend_Bear
03-09-2004, 12:13 PM
Don't knock the Deadly Dozen series, there actually *very* good for co-op network/internet games since you play the full single player game ~ FULL co-op, an option vastly lacking these days.
Don't knock the Deadly Dozen series, there actually *very* good for co-op network/internet games since you play the full single player game ~ FULL co-op, an option vastly lacking these days.
Im 8-10 missions into the DD: Pacific Theater.
Its close in style to Vietcong [which wasnt a "value" title].
I was surprised DD wasnt even discussed on these forums.
I recommend it as good gaming value for the $.
Static_Fred
03-09-2004, 04:41 PM
I've seen DD in stores in the past for very cheap prices, i wish i would've picked it up!
I'll keep an eye out for it from now on.
Off topic: I recently downloaded the Vietcong multiplayer demo and was very impressed.
How is the single player? I remember reading somewhere that it had some "RPG" elements... is this true?
I've seen DD in stores in the past for very cheap prices, i wish i would've picked it up!
I'll keep an eye out for it from now on.
Off topic: I recently downloaded the Vietcong multiplayer demo and was very impressed.
How is the single player? I remember reading somewhere that it had some "RPG" elements... is this true?
No real RPG elements, but a very good squad shooter.
I enjoyed the SP, played on hard dif. Saves are limited depending on level of difficulty choosen.
The AI in 'Cong isnt perfect, but when combined with Vietcong's realistic motion-captured animation, the AI puts on a convincing show. You'll observe squadmates signaling to each other when the coast is clear, leaping over or trees, or crawling to take cover under shrubs when fired at.
A shooter worth picking up.
Re: DD, check out dirtcheapsoftware, they had it a month ago for $10...
Suicides-by-Steve
03-09-2004, 07:03 PM
Silent Storm has some RPG elements... I don't know if you thought this was the game or not though. It's based in WWII.
Static_Fred
03-10-2004, 10:07 AM
You know, i was looking at silent storm the other day at the mall... it reminded me of Jagged Aliance, but with better graphics. Is the game any good?
I must of been really confused about Vietcong having RPG elements...
You know, i was looking at silent storm the other day at the mall... it reminded me of Jagged Aliance, but with better graphics. Is the game any good?
I must of been really confused about Vietcong having RPG elements...
You may have been confused about 'Cong having RPG elements, but dont be confused about buying the game. If you like sniping fun & a challenging AI, get it!
Especially now thats it can be had for $19.
You may have been confused about 'Cong having RPG elements, but dont be confused about buying the game. If you like sniping fun & a challenging AI, get it!
Especially now thats it can be had for $19.
What's up with VC: First Alpha? I can't find it in any stores. Yet, I saw VC: Purple Haze (original game plus First Alpha) in CompUSA. And lots of copies of VC as well. Who's in charge of distribution for this game? They should be fired.
Suicides-by-Steve
03-10-2004, 01:41 PM
Is the game any good?
Hell yes. This game is due to get Strategy Game of the Year, for certain. It's the bomb!
http://forums.videogamereview.com/showthread.php?t=2152 Near the bottom of the list are some nice screenies of the game. This game can really crank out the details. I'm surprised Moya doesn't pimp the game a bit more, I believe he's played it too.
What's up with VC: First Alpha? I can't find it in any stores. Yet, I saw VC: Purple Haze (original game plus First Alpha) in CompUSA. And lots of copies of VC as well. Who's in charge of distribution for this game? They should be fired.
Regarding the original expansion for 'Cong, [First Alpha] its available here:
http://www.gogamer.com/cgi-bin/GoGamer.storefront/404fadef0731b886273fd0fedee20726/Search/Run
Average retail is $20.
I was in GameStop yesterday picking up Rise of the Elves & seen 'Congs expansion there as well.
Notice also 'Cong's Purple Haze is offered in mature version [as original was].
I'm surprised Moya doesn't pimp the game a bit more, I believe he's played it too.
LOL! I did pimp it! Two threads (http://forums.videogamereview.com/showthread.php?t=1567), man, two threads (http://forums.videogamereview.com/showthread.php?t=1194)... (Although the latter got kind of derailed into a wedding discussion, but still..)
Suicides-by-Steve
03-11-2004, 08:01 AM
Hey speaking of the game, I just enabled the spiffy glass effects, simply by changing the bit depth from 16 to 32... I have a couple other lighting tricks as well, it's just a shame that I can't crank this game. It's a knock-out.
Oh BTW, you like The Smiths? It's a wonder you're married now that I think of it! It's to a woman, right? LOL ;) I remember hearing What Time Is Now? and thinking- oh cool. Needless to say, my buddies are still bothering me about the rest of that album! LOL
Hey speaking of the game, I just enabled the spiffy glass effects, simply by changing the bit depth from 16 to 32... I have a couple other lighting tricks as well, it's just a shame that I can't crank this game. It's a knock-out.
Oh BTW, you like The Smiths? It's a wonder you're married now that I think of it! It's to a woman, right? LOL ;) I remember hearing What Time Is Now? and thinking- oh cool. Needless to say, my buddies are still bothering me about the rest of that album! LOL
The Smiths had some good songs.
If I remember, your system isn't too shabby. Is this game that demanding?
Suicides-by-Steve
03-11-2004, 09:28 PM
The Smiths had some good songs.
If I remember, your system isn't too shabby. Is this game that demanding?
Yes, they had some good tunes. But in their latter years, they turned, kinda... gay! LOL ;)
My current comp now is a 1.5 GHz, 384 Mb RAM, 64 Mb RAM graphic card comp- WAY overdue for a upgrade to at LEAST 2.5 GHz, 1024 RAM, 128 graphic card. I need a 64 bit MoBo too!
The differences in pics/settings? Here goes... there's a big difference.
http://www.lotekk.com/files/s2-rez1.jpg
http://www.lotekk.com/files/s2-rez2.jpg
http://www.lotekk.com/files/s2-rez3.jpg
Oh BTW, you like The Smiths? It's a wonder you're married now that I think of it! It's to a woman, right? LOL ;)
LOL. I love the Smiths. Everyone should appreciate a bit of unashamedly British, self-deprecating depresso-rock now and again! I like the Cure, too. And I'm secure in my sexuality.
But that Morrissey is rather foxy...
Suicides-by-Steve
03-12-2004, 07:13 AM
LOL. I love the Smiths. Everyone should appreciate a bit of unashamedly British, self-deprecating depresso-rock now and again! I like the Cure, too. And I'm secure in my sexuality.
But that Morrissey is rather foxy...
LOL I was despondent with the fact that you'd like that stuff! Like I said, I like that one tune... but the rest of that album was pretty bad. Doesn't make them all bad mind you. Cure Eh... try Puppy...then again, you have an old lady now.... no use scaring her away. If you want a cool album... try The Crow...based on the flick of the same name... wicked...
http://deadman.crowfans.com/lyrics.html
I'm sure you're more than aware... just in case... ;)
Some interesting tunes on there. I like The Cure, RATM, J&MC, but I'm not too keen on NIN or Pantera - especially the former: Trent's just too self-consciously, self-indulgently goth for my liking.
Big jump from low to medium and medium to high, but not much of a difference going from high to very high on the graphics settings, looks like.
Suicides-by-Steve
03-13-2004, 04:28 AM
Taken from the SSHQ-
low = no shadows, no light sources, no nothing.
medium = basic shadows, single overhead lightsource (sun/moon)
high = advanced lighting and shadow subengine. This is where you get the extra light sources (burning wreckage, fires, etc). It also enables all the extra realtime shadows that occur inside buildings, cast by extra lightsources, etc. Interestingly enough, you'll notice a somewhat reduced apparent resolution. This seems to be the result of some kind of filter which I'll attempt to explain later in this post.
very high = everything from high, in addition to anti-aliasing the shadows.
It's when I get into the high settings that my game comes to a crawl. However, it's a stable game, regardless, and being able to turn on or off every single feature is nice, anyhow. If I can get the bullet-holes and gore, with the sweet looking glass effect.... then I'm happy! This game is really cool... Except now I'm meeting the Russian Elite Commando's. Damn, they like blowing your characters heads off often... and they do it with frightening ease...
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