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| 27 JUL 2005 at 2:09am |
IviniaGuild Master
Posts : 4459
Joined: 7 JUN 2003
Location: US
Status : Offline | D'oh!!! Looks like I'm not alone:
http://www.justadventure.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=TechHelp;action=display;num=1121123777
Just when my opinion of TAC was starting to become favorable again....grrrr >
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| 27 JUL 2005 at 2:39am |
SirDaveGuild Master
Posts : 4953
Joined: 17 OCT 2002
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Ivinia (27 JUL 2005 2:09am)
D'oh!!! Looks like I'm not alone:
http://www.justadventure.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=TechHelp;action=display;num=1121123777
Just when my opinion of TAC was starting to become favorable again....grrrr >
Or maybe the problem lies more with Kheops -I would think that the developer would have tested their game on enough WinXP systems to make sure this doesn't occur. I'm no expert on how this is supposed to work, but my guess would be that TAC's main job is to advertise, market & distribute the game not be primarily responsible for having tested it. That doesn't mean I'm letting TAC off the hook, but I can't help but think that Kheops is the main culprit here.
The future ain't what it used to be!
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| 27 JUL 2005 at 5:19pm |
Gameman007Space Cadet
Posts : 145
Joined: 19 OCT 2002
Location: US
Status : Offline | Hey JB don't mind Sir Dave!! think of it as sort of a newbie innitiation. Check out my Myst Games should be consideredpuzzle games and not adv. Heck he told me I had and I quote: Subtle Plot Deficiency syndrome!! Good one Sir Dave, Gotta remember that one.LOL. Really getting to like this site and expect to be here a long time, and for those who know me, stirring things up a little.
Bill
Would the oceans be deeper if there weren't any sponges?&&If the world didn't suck would we all fall off&&&&Currently playing Secret files:Tunguska, Paradise, The DaVinci Code and Dreamfall
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| 27 JUL 2005 at 8:08pm |
Jenny100Guild Master
Posts : 3510
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By SirDave (27 JUL 2005 2:39am)
Or maybe the problem lies more with Kheops -I would think that the developer would have tested their game on enough WinXP systems to make sure this doesn't occur.
Closing down background programs is a pretty common solution, since some people have all sorts of background programs running, including some utilities that aren't standard with Windows. It wouldn't surprise me if they close background programs when they do their testing.
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| 27 JUL 2005 at 11:36pm |
SirDaveGuild Master
Posts : 4953
Joined: 17 OCT 2002
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Jenny100 (27 JUL 2005 8:08pm)
Closing down background programs is a pretty common solution, since some people have all sorts of background programs running, including some utilities that aren't standard with Windows. It wouldn't surprise me if they close background programs when they do their testing.
But that apparently wasn't the problem or the fix. According to the referenced thread, TAC was suggesting (via msconfig) disabling win.ini, system.ini & microsoft/windows services. The *.ini programs have been part of windows forever & the 'services' are various functional sub-routines in WinXP. Something is very wrong if they have to be 'turned off' to run a game!
But what if the suggestion was to disable other running programs. Again, although there are some programs that may later on be found to conflict with a game (eg. firewalls, spyware programs & various sound/cd/dvd editor programs) and have to be shut down, it is not reasonable to have a game crashing because of other programs running. After all, the OS is called Windows for a reason & it was designed to run several programs at once.
In either case, testing of the game has been poorly done (IMO).
The future ain't what it used to be!
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| 28 JUL 2005 at 3:46am |
CarolineJA+ Overseer
Posts : 16553
Joined: 28 JAN 2007
Location: AU
Status : Offline | There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG with using a w/t to play parts or all of a game. However, it does shorten the experience because you don't have to spend days and days wandering around looking for something that you know is missing but you haven't a clue what it can be. :-/
I'm playing Return to Mysterious Island with a w/t. I simply cannot do inventory puzzles and this game has no other type. It's not a game I intend to keep either.
A friend is playing and enjoying Echo and it seems that these two games are both very similar. I'm rating Mysterious Island as below Syberia on all counts. Don't know if I'll play Echo but I'll probably use a w/t if it's such a similar game.
On a side note, this new disease, Subtle Plot Deficiency Syndrome - not catching by any chance is it? [smiley=angel_smiley.gif]
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| 28 JUL 2005 at 3:49am |
| Deleted User | Well said SirDave!
I started the post in the Technical Section and slowly but surely more & more people are experiencing the same problem. See my latest posts under Echo in the tech. section with feedback from TAC.
Mike
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| 28 JUL 2005 at 1:10pm |
JohnBoyIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 31
Joined: 26 JUL 2005
Status : Online | Hi Caroline, I absolutely hated Return to Mysterious Island, and loved Echo. Go figure!
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| 28 JUL 2005 at 6:02pm |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By Caroline (28 JUL 2005 3:46am)
I'm playing Return to Mysterious Island with a w/t. I simply cannot do inventory puzzles and this game has no other type.
There will be non-inventory puzzles in the third and last part of the game.
I liked RtMI, as a light snack between meals. I didn't care much for Echo, although it had a few really nice, enchanting puzzles.
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| 28 JUL 2005 at 9:00pm |
Jenny100Guild Master
Posts : 3510
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By SirDave (27 JUL 2005 11:36pm)
But that apparently wasn't the problem or the fix. According to the referenced thread, TAC was suggesting (via msconfig) disabling win.ini, system.ini & microsoft/windows services. The *.ini programs have been part of windows forever & the 'services' are various functional sub-routines in WinXP. Something is very wrong if they have to be 'turned off' to run a game!
Check TAC's support site
http://www.adventurecompanygames.com/tac/support/index.php
Look up several games. You'll find their description of the "Clean boot" procedure as a troubleshooting tip for almost every game under crashing/freezing/errors:
RESTART YOUR COMPUTER USING A CLEAN-BOOT PROCEDURE
1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. Place your cursor in the Open box, type msconfig and click OK.
3. Under the General tab, click Selective Startup.
4. Below the Selective Startup option, click to clear the following check boxes:
* Process SYSTEM.INI File
* Process WIN.INI File
* Load Startup Items
5. Under the Services tab, click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box, and then click Disable All.
6. Click OK, and then click Restart.
7. Once your computer restarts and the notification window for the System Configuration appears, place a checkmark in the box next to "on't show this message or launch the System Configuration Utility when Windows starts" and click the OK button.
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| 28 JUL 2005 at 9:04pm |
trudysgardenSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 312
Joined: 19 JUL 2005
Status : Online | At first I didn't care much for Echo but it kind of grew on me by the time I was about half way through. I did love some of the puzzle innovations, in particular I liked the slider ducking tomatos here). I think one of the problems I had was that even though I had the Objectives I wasn't always clear on the mechanics and/or the objective. A couple of times it took me way longer to figure that out than do the actual puzzle. The slider was an example of that . An interesting little game.
happy trails,
Carolyn
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| 28 JUL 2005 at 9:09pm |
Jenny100Guild Master
Posts : 3510
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Betje (28 JUL 2005 6:02pm)
Caroline:
I'm playing Return to Mysterious Island with a w/t. I simply cannot do inventory puzzles and this game has no other type.
There will be non-inventory puzzles in the third and last part of the game.
I loved the way the game allowed multiple inventory solutions. I had fun putting things together to see what I could make. The only part I had trouble with was actually finding some of the inventory.
I liked RtMI, as a light snack between meals. I didn't care much for Echo, although it had a few really nice, enchanting puzzles.
I felt the same way about Echo. It's probably more interesting for people who enjoy reading the encyclopedia.
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| 28 JUL 2005 at 10:07pm |
RevliskciPrivate Detective
Posts : 724
Joined: 9 NOV 2002
Status : Offline | Most reviewers have deadlines in which to get their reviews in. Think of the monthly magazines. If they did get stuck in one place, they don't have the luxury of thinking about it and leaving it for a while and then coming bak to try severl other routes.
That's why most review copies includes walkthroughs/hints. Not only for adventure games, but the huge strategy/RPG games which boast 100+ hours of gameplay. Do reviewers really have time to go through a learning curve each time one of these games come out? The WT/Hint guide is included as a way to explore all of the games variety and breadth in a way to show all that is contained in the game to potential readers.
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| 29 JUL 2005 at 2:38am |
SirDaveGuild Master
Posts : 4953
Joined: 17 OCT 2002
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Jenny100 (28 JUL 2005 9:00pm)
Check TAC's support site
http://www.adventurecompanygames.com/tac/support/index.php
Look up several games. You'll find their description of the "Clean boot" procedure as a troubleshooting tip for almost every game under crashing/freezing/errors:
What's your point? You're simply repeating what's in my post. Once again, v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y: if you have to do this sort of procedure as a regular solution to run a game then the game was not debugged appropriatedly. I've been using boot disks and 'clean boot' procedures since Windows was an infant; games under WinXP should not require clean boots including disabling of the *.ini programs or Windows services in order to run!
The future ain't what it used to be!
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| 29 JUL 2005 at 4:10am |
Jenny100Guild Master
Posts : 3510
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By SirDave (29 JUL 2005 2:37am)
What's your point? You're simply repeating what's in my post.
No I'm not.
If using "Clean boot" doesn't fix the problem, it proves the problem is not caused by something someone might have installed on their computer. And it means TAC has to find out what's really causing the problem, which means they have to collect the specs of computers that are having the problem so they can try to reproduce it and solve it. TAC's games are certainly not the only games that have conflicts with other software. Nor are they the only ones that have suggested something like "Clean boot" when troubleshooting.
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| 29 JUL 2005 at 5:19am |
RckaseaIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 28
Joined: 9 JAN 2005
Status : Online | Loved the game,
I must say, you guys do ......
Shoot from the hip and ask questions later.
Echo, looks ok for kids, save killing a fish, to eat.
Lots of in game help.
Now looking for Center of the Moon game.
Later days,
Arok
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| 29 JUL 2005 at 1:50pm |
JohnBoyIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 31
Joined: 26 JUL 2005
Status : Online | "Echo, looks ok for kids, save killing a fish, to eat. "
I thought we were kids!
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| 29 JUL 2005 at 10:57pm |
SirDaveGuild Master
Posts : 4953
Joined: 17 OCT 2002
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Jenny100 (29 JUL 2005 4:09am)
No I'm not.
If using "Clean boot" doesn't fix the problem, it proves the problem is not caused by something someone might have installed on their computer. And it means TAC has to find out what's really causing the problem, which means they have to collect the specs of computers that are having the problem so they can try to reproduce it and solve it. TAC's games are certainly not the only games that have conflicts with other software. Nor are they the only ones that have suggested something like "Clean boot" when troubleshooting.
Okay, now I understand your point- but, as I would have appreciated with some other cryptic responses of yours to my posts in the past, it might be a good idea to explain things more fully as you do above.
Back on topic: Yes, what you're saying above makes sense as far as theoretically helping TAC solve the problem goes, but the original subject matter of the problem with TAC (as described in the post) was that they had suggested shutting down system & win.ini & the microsoft windows services as a solution to running the game. Now if what they were really suggesting was to do that for trouble-shooting purposes only then that's a whole other matter....isn't it.
The future ain't what it used to be!
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| 30 JUL 2005 at 6:02am |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By SirDave (29 JUL 2005 10:56pm)
but the original subject matter of the problem with TAC (as described in the post) was that they had suggested shutting down system & win.ini & the microsoft windows services as a solution to running the game
I dont mean to keep on dragging this through the mud but he's right. They offered this as a solution after examining my msinfo32 and dxdiag reports. Even then, as Taffingabout reported in his post in the Tech section under Echo Problems, that did not work. Upon TAC's request, I just sent them my Echo disks which they are replacing with what they state as "disks that will work." What do you think that means?
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| 30 JUL 2005 at 5:17pm |
IviniaGuild Master
Posts : 4459
Joined: 7 JUN 2003
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By papabrody (30 JUL 2005 6:01am)
Upon TAC's request, I just sent them my Echo disks which they are replacing with what they state as "disks that will work." What do you think that means?
To me it sounds like its a known bug and they fixed it. Apparently putting out a patch won't work and they need to completely replace the disk.
EDIT: On a side note, I still haven't received a response to my inquiries from earlier this week.
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| 31 JUL 2005 at 6:11pm |
Sandy_SleuthPrivate Detective
Posts : 556
Joined: 22 JUL 2005
Status : Online | Hi Everyone!!
I just finished this game today!!! I LOVED it!!!!! What fun!! I didn't want it to end!!! That was so different from any game I have ever played!! The scenery was just beautiful!!
(Thanks to Rckasea for your help with the stone puzzle!)
I must confess, i was a little disappointed in the end. After all that, shouldn't the old guy of placed the headdress on Aroks head and annointed him the new wall spirit wizard guy, or something? Or it would have been really cool that as the pictures are dancing, suddenly Arok's picture is there too, and when the old guy turns around, Arok is gone?? Walking with the cave spirits for eternity??!! There was no great reward there. But the whole "getting there" was lot's of fun!!
I did use the walk through too, but I had no technical problems at all. Worked great. Fun game!
I have Return To Mysterious Island too. I haven't played it yet. Are they similiar? I hope so! that was just to FUN!
Sandy Sleuth
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| 31 JUL 2005 at 8:30pm |
DenMacIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 3
Joined: 30 JUN 2005
Status : Online | Originally Posted By JohnBoy (28 JUL 2005 1:09pm)
Hi Caroline, I absolutely hated Return to Mysterious Island, and loved Echo. Go figure!
Hi JB, Carolyn,Sandy and Rick..Nice to see all of you
I have to agree with you JB...I couldn't wait for RTMI to be over and really liked ECHO.
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