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☖ Forums → Discussion Forum → Mmm, San Andreas PC goodness...
Mmm, San Andreas PC goodness...
2005-06-08, 4:33 PM #1
Haven't gotten a chance to play it much yet, but so far it seems definitely better than GTA3, and probably better than Vice City.

Whoever designed the "box" for the game deserves some credit... It's actually a hard cover book with the manual in it and a DVD (yes, game's DVD-ROM only I believe) holder in the back. Really neat.

Looks pretty nice (no HL2 quality models obviously) and gets the atmosphere down really well. And no fog and nice far view distance on the PC, mmm...

Only thing I don't get is why a clothing store in the middle of the ghetto is playing Freebird on the radio...
2005-06-08, 4:36 PM #2
Hehe...freebird. Reminds me of a story my friend told me.

/reminisce

So yeah, I hear it's got sound issues though, and the mouse controlling the vehicle's view is awkward. Just what I hear.
D E A T H
2005-06-08, 4:36 PM #3
SA is deeper and much more invovled than VC.
Pissed Off?
2005-06-08, 4:39 PM #4
It doesnt come out here til friday, but i preordered it and i'm getting a "Limited Edition with Novella" anyone know what that is?
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2005-06-08, 4:40 PM #5
The PC version adds a "smog" effect and a 'heat haze' effect via shaders. I'm not sure what else besides higher quality models and textures (which is a joke, 'cause rasing the texture size from 128x128 to 192x192 isn't exactly high quality IMO, nor is adding 2 more polys in the foot)
Got a permanent feather in my cap;
Got a stretch to my stride;
a stroll to my step;
2005-06-08, 5:30 PM #6
so it's more or less a straight console port with just a few upgrades? damn. I was hoping for more. IMO, modern consoles are where pc gaming was 5 years ago, why can't they do better on pc ports?

I'm still going to get it, just not right away.
2005-06-08, 5:32 PM #7
Got it on PS2 for Christmas. Played it for 20 minutes. Haven't touched it since - not out of dislike, but of greater interest in school, job, and CS:S.
the idiot is the person who follows the idiot and your not following me your insulting me your following the path of a idiot so that makes you the idiot - LC Tusken
2005-06-08, 5:42 PM #8
No sound issues that I've seen, and you don't have to use the mouse for car view stuff if you don't want to.

And it looks way better than any console version. No distance fog, pop up not so bad, etc.

You can't cram extremely high res textures and high polygon count models into a game that's got such a large environment. It'll kill a system easily.
2005-06-08, 5:57 PM #9
Quote:
You can't cram extremely high res textures and high polygon count models into a game that's got such a large environment. It'll kill a system easily.


No it won't, look at STALKER, or for a game that is released, Boiling Point. Theres an ENTIRE 25kmx25km COUNTRY with NO LOADING throughout this environment.
Got a permanent feather in my cap;
Got a stretch to my stride;
a stroll to my step;
2005-06-08, 6:09 PM #10
Doubtful that it's got a large number of things on screen. A dozen people walking around, cars driving by, all of that stuff. The GTA games were never about graphics anyway. They're about the amazing gameplay. Anyone who snubs the game on graphics alone is moronic.

It's not a bad port at all. For comparison's sake:

PC version

Xbox

PS2

Want to complain about bad ports, go play Halo PC.
2005-06-08, 6:24 PM #11
Quote:
Originally posted by Darth
Doubtful that it's got a large number of things on screen. A dozen people walking around, cars driving by, all of that stuff. The GTA games were never about graphics anyway. They're about the amazing gameplay. Anyone who snubs the game on graphics alone is moronic.


Well, STALKER has better graphics then HL2, plus a realtime shadow renderer. Not to mention the creatures and the other 100+ STALKERS are all living in this world, even if you cannot see them, they don't just dissapear after 30 ft.. So, it can be done but due to the PS2's incapable hardware, that cannot be done.

But yes, you are right, graphics do not make a game.
Got a permanent feather in my cap;
Got a stretch to my stride;
a stroll to my step;
2005-06-08, 6:45 PM #12
Quote:
Originally posted by Sol
Well, STALKER has better graphics then HL2, plus a realtime shadow renderer. Not to mention the creatures and the other 100+ STALKERS are all living in this world, even if you cannot see them, they don't just dissapear after 30 ft.. So, it can be done but due to the PS2's incapable hardware, that cannot be done.

But yes, you are right, graphics do not make a game.


STALKER also isn't released, so no one knows just how well it works. For all we know, the thing that's holding it up is the problems with graphics and the current power of the technology.

So yeah, stop comparing everything to something that's still on indefinite hold. :\
D E A T H
2005-06-08, 7:27 PM #13
I also mentioned Boiling Point. Foo.
Got a permanent feather in my cap;
Got a stretch to my stride;
a stroll to my step;
2005-06-08, 7:43 PM #14
Quote:
Originally posted by Darth
It's not a bad port at all. For comparison's sake:

PC version

Xbox

PS2


Dude, that looks ghetto.

...

Hachachacha chacha!
2005-06-08, 8:11 PM #15
Quote:
Originally posted by Darth


Want to complain about bad ports, go play Halo PC.


halopc isn't a BAD port... just a weak port...

a bad port would be Nightfire... performance issues, control issues, AND ALL VEHICLE MISSIONS REMOVED

then there are half-assed ports like Winning Eleven 7 which has PS2 button images in the menu and a weird thing where EVERYTHING goes into slow-mo if the framerate drops below 60fps
eat right, exercise, die anyway
2005-06-08, 8:33 PM #16
I think how good the Halo port is depends a great deal on your point of view. The Xbox version owns it hands down though. PC was worth it for the campaign again and for the fact that I can run around cheating by having a shotgun that fires 30 Fuel Rod blasts in one shot. You can't do that with the Xbox version easily. =P

Multiplay, as far as I'm concerned, is poo 80% of the time.
"In the beginning, the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and has been widely regarded as a bad move." - Douglas Adams
Are you finding Ling-Ling's head?
Last Stand
2005-06-08, 8:37 PM #17
Halo PC has TERRIBLE performance. For a game that was designed for a 733 celeron, 64mbs of ram and a slghtly modified GF3, you would think a machine 20 times more powerful would be able to enjoy a solid 60fps? Hah.
Got a permanent feather in my cap;
Got a stretch to my stride;
a stroll to my step;
2005-06-08, 8:42 PM #18
Already beat it...but still looks tempting to buy.
2005-06-08, 8:45 PM #19
you can't base a PC game's performance on a console's specs in the way that you are...

with a console they have ONE set of specs for the game to run on and the hardware is dedicated to running the game

sure halo has performance issues... but IT'S A CONSOLE PORT many console ports have performance issues
eat right, exercise, die anyway
2005-06-08, 9:17 PM #20
Any idea why my computer doesn't recognize the San Andreas CD?

I put it in, no install thing comes up.

I check explorer, no CD is registered in the drive.

I put it in my laptop, it comes up
My laptop is an HP pavilion ze 5300
if that helps

My PC is pentium 4
2.99 Gh
Nvidia 5700 LE
764 or some odd MB of ram

.help?

(and yes... I did 2 hours of googling before this)

[edit] after another hour of googling[edit]
Turns out I need a DVD reading drive... I'll have to buy one :(
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2005-06-08, 9:47 PM #21
Doncha hate it when the problem/solution is THAT simple? So simple it's staring you in the face?
"In the beginning, the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and has been widely regarded as a bad move." - Douglas Adams
Are you finding Ling-Ling's head?
Last Stand
2005-06-08, 9:56 PM #22
Quote:
Originally posted by Veger
[edit] after another hour of googling[edit]
Turns out I need a DVD reading drive... I'll have to buy one :(

Man, I'm sorry. :(

That's weird how that happened though. When I bought the UT2k4 Editor's Choice Edition DVD, the guy behind the counter asked me if I realized this was a DVD. I did realize, but thanked him for reminding me anyway. I thought most retailers were still under obligation to do that?
My JK Level Design | 2005 JK Hub Level Pack (Plexus) | Massassi Levels
2005-06-08, 11:29 PM #23
I've never been told I was buying a DVD game.
2005-06-08, 11:32 PM #24
yeah i think it would be obvious that it's a DVD when it's well known the game is much larger than VC and you only have ONE DISC
eat right, exercise, die anyway
2005-06-08, 11:33 PM #25
Yea, people round here dont even check for M rated games. And thats the way I prefer it, it's just a game anyways get over it soccer moms...
America, home of the free gift with purchase.
2005-06-09, 12:38 AM #26
Getting it on Xbox first but will definately pick it up on PC when the price goes down a bit.

Both have different pros and cons. The PC has the nicer graphics and mouse control. The Xbox version lets me play it on my widescreen TV. Already own III and VC on both systems.
Xbox Live/PlayStation Network/Steam: tone217
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2005-06-09, 1:00 AM #27
I, myself, am impressed with San Andreas. The visuals are much better than it's console siblings, and yes the camera angle is kinda weird. But, after monkeying with it for a while, it's actually not bad to use. Sound is quirkey with the bicycle, pretty much. Overall, I'm GLAD I waited for this port. Plus; Multi-Player, anyone? It JUST came out here in Superior, WI. I work at Wal-Mart, so I got an early heads up, and bought it A.S.A.P. I thought for a second that 53 bucks was going to be wasted again, but I am happy with my purchase. :) :) :D


Oh yeah, and the hard-cover book thingy is t3h r0><0r!
"Staring into the wall does NOT count as benchmarking."


-Emon
2005-06-09, 4:45 AM #28
Quote:
Originally posted by DrkJedi82
you can't base a PC game's performance on a console's specs in the way that you are...

with a console they have ONE set of specs for the game to run on and the hardware is dedicated to running the game

sure halo has performance issues... but IT'S A CONSOLE PORT many console ports have performance issues


Yeah, I know how consoles run their games, but even still, its just unacceptable for the performance to be that bad.
Got a permanent feather in my cap;
Got a stretch to my stride;
a stroll to my step;
2005-06-09, 6:06 AM #29
On the topic of graphics and big games, I remember Mafia, being a full blown city, had some -very- nice graphics. How does the new GTA game compare to it?
2005-06-09, 7:06 AM #30
Mafia is still better
eat right, exercise, die anyway
2005-06-09, 7:32 AM #31
I want pics.
2005-06-09, 7:50 AM #32
Quote:
Originally posted by DrkJedi82
Mafia is still better


That it is. But that's because Mafia is a 9.9 whereas San Andreas is about 9.8.
The Massassi-Map
There is no spoon.
2005-06-09, 10:46 AM #33
You know.. I played Halo PC.. and I never had performance problems...

And the PC I played it on was way slower than this..
2005-06-09, 10:54 AM #34
I get higher framerates in Doom 3 than I do in Halo PC. I have an Athlon 64 3400+, 1.5 gigs of DDRRAM, a GeForce 6800GT - at 1280x1024 it *barely* breaks the 30 fps mark. That's just unacceptable.
Stuff
2005-06-09, 11:50 AM #35
Quote:
Originally posted by Rob
You know.. I played Halo PC.. and I never had performance problems...

And the PC I played it on was way slower than this..


Yes, but considering the graphics, a 9800 Pro should get 90fps solid without any slow down. But no, most (not all) gamers barely muster 40-50fps even with this gens high-end cards. See above. HL2, Doom3, and Farcry all run better then Halo on my PC.

Buuut, Catalyst 5.6's are out which is boosting Halo PC performance by 20%. Thats huge. Doom3 and Ridick also get a boost of 7% and 5% respectfully.
Got a permanent feather in my cap;
Got a stretch to my stride;
a stroll to my step;
2005-06-10, 2:35 AM #36
I got the PC version of San Andreas and like it so far, lots of fun, interesting things to do - missions from your gang, taxi driving, pimping, or just driving around listening to the awesome soundtrack.

Anyone else have problems with freezing though? Maybe I play too much, but every few hours or so it freezes. I'm hoping the patch comes out soon. From what I hear, Take2 games puts them out a few days after a release for PC games.

(And I have seen far, far, far worse console ports than this one. Runs smooth (apart from the random freeze) with highish settings on my computer and my graphics card is not too hot.)
2005-06-10, 7:11 AM #37
Also, a little secret to superjumping on the bmx bike. As soon as you hit your apex, fire a bullet (must have a gun of some sort. Mac 10, whatever.) and you'll basically do another really high jump. Clear two story buildings, and almost ALL walls and fences (including the one to the airport :D)
D E A T H
2005-06-10, 9:28 AM #38
Quote:
Originally posted by Masq

Anyone else have problems with freezing though?


yeah this is a well known problem... when it happens alt-tab out of the game then go back
eat right, exercise, die anyway
2005-06-10, 12:18 PM #39
Yeah, I've ran into the freezing. It's definitely a software bug, but it's not common enough to really annoy me.
2005-06-11, 9:32 AM #40
Quote:
Originally posted by DrkJedi82
bad port would be Nightfire... performance issues, control issues, AND ALL VEHICLE MISSIONS REMOVED


Nighfire isn't a port. It's a "James Bond" game made off Half-Life's engine and follows the storyline of Nightfire.
All is fair in love and war.

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