Search found 319 matches

by AlexanderBorisov
Thu Jan 11, 2018 9:49 am
Forum: Descent Level Spotlight
Topic: Descent 1 1/2
Replies: 2094
Views: 910818

Re: Descent 1 1/2

BTW this level 4 probably has too much Vulcan ammo, did not checked it on cold-start however.
by AlexanderBorisov
Thu Jan 11, 2018 2:33 am
Forum: Descent Level Spotlight
Topic: Descent 1 1/2
Replies: 2094
Views: 910818

Re: Descent 1 1/2

That's how Phozon put the placeholder robots in, static mode practically always. I could probably throw in some more advanced lifters in free roam mode and a bit more random power-ups here and there. I'll definitely go ahead and do it when I get the chance, also gonna have that supervisor drop some...
by AlexanderBorisov
Wed Jan 10, 2018 3:20 pm
Forum: Descent Level Spotlight
Topic: Descent 1 1/2
Replies: 2094
Views: 910818

Re: Descent 1 1/2

I played the fourth level (not cold-start because I had very limited time), took me around 50 min do it without deaths on Insane. This one really has the deadly surprise factor (especially the matcens, and Smelter 2 robots), but should be quite easy if you know the robot placement in advance, and ho...
by AlexanderBorisov
Tue Jan 09, 2018 5:46 am
Forum: Descent Single Player
Topic: Impressions on Descent: Insane, cold start, no-death, 100%
Replies: 298
Views: 426842

Re: Impressions on Descent: Insane, cold start, no-death, 100%

Whats a good program to record my demo to youtube. I've beaten the level many times now. Level 6 isn't that hard once you have a solid route down. But going in blind that level is hell, theres a Driller litterly behind every corner lol. I am also getting less sloppy with my tricording. I'm happy I ...
by AlexanderBorisov
Sun Jan 07, 2018 10:51 pm
Forum: Descent Multiplayer
Topic: Do people still play this game?
Replies: 21
Views: 14788

Re: Do people still play this game?

I don't have D3 unfortunately, so there is also a question whether it is worth buying.
by AlexanderBorisov
Sun Jan 07, 2018 10:49 pm
Forum: Descent Single Player
Topic: Impressions on Descent: Insane, cold start, no-death, 100%
Replies: 298
Views: 426842

Re: Impressions on Descent: Insane, cold start, no-death, 100%

BTW I am now doing Apocalyptic Factor on Insane, how exciting it is! However have to record some level in parts with a save point, for now allowng one save point when the level grows above an hour of continuous play (although managed to record one such level no save), and sometimes a save before the...
by AlexanderBorisov
Sat Jan 06, 2018 10:45 am
Forum: Descent Level Spotlight
Topic: Descent 1 1/2
Replies: 2094
Views: 910818

Re: Descent 1 1/2

Did it myself to record ONP with the MIDI tracks I liked, duplicate names surely work - I selected 3 tracks I like most and assigned them to the levels via my own sng file the way I liked. Unfortunately you need an install/uninstall bat file to copy and restore the sng file, and the other missions m...
by AlexanderBorisov
Sat Jan 06, 2018 7:27 am
Forum: Descent Level Spotlight
Topic: Descent 1 1/2
Replies: 2094
Views: 910818

Re: Descent 1 1/2

Either duplicate them or use sng file, to my knowledge, but I still don't know how the tracks for secret levels are assigned based on the sng file.
by AlexanderBorisov
Sat Jan 06, 2018 2:47 am
Forum: Descent Multiplayer
Topic: Do people still play this game?
Replies: 21
Views: 14788

Re: Do people still play this game?

Sirius wrote: Thu Jan 04, 2018 11:04 am There are two types of people who play this game... those who forget D3 is a thing, and those who forget D1/2 are a thing.
Do you speak multiplayer only? What I am driving at, is it worth for Type 1 guy (who is deep in D1/2) to try D3 SP campaign? Or maybe try it's MP occasionally for fun?
by AlexanderBorisov
Sat Jan 06, 2018 2:20 am
Forum: Descent Single Player
Topic: Lou Guards vs Super Medium Hulks
Replies: 75
Views: 14646

Re: Lou Guards vs Super Medium Hulks

The main reason I can think of is that it makes the in-built missions significantly harder than they were designed to be by Parallax. Rebirth historically has been very reluctant to mess with existing gameplay. Since the in-built missions didn't use the D1 bosses, that change has less impact. If do...
by AlexanderBorisov
Sat Jan 06, 2018 2:09 am
Forum: Descent Level Spotlight
Topic: Descent 1 1/2
Replies: 2094
Views: 910818

Re: Descent 1 1/2

I'm sticking with the robot setup as it is, robots matching the level coloristically was never a concern in D1, with the possible exception of the Mars levels. Even D2 didn't go all the way with it, putting e-bandits in Puuma Sphere, ITSCs in Brimspark etc. To me it seemed that D1 robots matched th...
by AlexanderBorisov
Sat Jan 06, 2018 1:48 am
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: Global warming?
Replies: 27
Views: 1558

Re: Global warming?

Here in Russia we had temp above 0C for whole Dec and beginning of Jan and nearly no snow! When it is should be -5 to -10 C in the day on average and yet colder in the night! Don't think it can be ignored or treated as "exaggeration by alarmists", and this is not the first winter like that...
by AlexanderBorisov
Sat Jan 06, 2018 1:43 am
Forum: Tech Forum
Topic: Massive CPU design flaw
Replies: 7
Views: 1791

Re: Massive CPU design flaw

I don't care. The vulnerability means that a program can get a kind of read access to kernel memory (in it's own address space). I don't see how it can harm me. As a person interested in sytem programming some time ago I found about another vulnerability like this, also concerned with memory caching...
by AlexanderBorisov
Mon Jan 01, 2018 12:50 pm
Forum: Descent Single Player
Topic: Lou Guards vs Super Medium Hulks
Replies: 75
Views: 14646

Re: Lou Guards vs Super Medium Hulks

Ok, well that one part is definitely not something we'll be tweaking. I'll settle for 50 damage on Insane and D1's 40 degree acquisition cone, not sure how to achieve the latter though. Probably setting the acquisition cone isn't possibel without code modifications (it is hardcoded value, but diffe...
by AlexanderBorisov
Sat Dec 30, 2017 7:43 pm
Forum: Descent Single Player
Topic: Lou Guards vs Super Medium Hulks
Replies: 75
Views: 14646

Re: Lou Guards vs Super Medium Hulks

In my version D1X 0.58.1 even continuous Vulcan fire does not prevent Red hulk from repeatedly firing missiles at you when it sees you. Even when you are cloaked! It does decrease it's turn rate significantly however, so if you attack it from the back you have a chance to kill it before it completes...
by AlexanderBorisov
Sat Dec 30, 2017 7:23 pm
Forum: Descent Level Spotlight
Topic: Descent II: First Strike -Beta 4.0-
Replies: 35
Views: 25366

Re: Descent II: First Strike -Beta 3.3-

WRT to L27, even the platformer and Vulcan driller in the right room are extremely dangerous here. THe driller starts running around like crazy at the moment it sees you, or you hit it with your laser, probably wrong AI settings? So your chance to hit it with anything is very slim, and it methodical...
by AlexanderBorisov
Sat Dec 30, 2017 2:58 pm
Forum: Descent Level Spotlight
Topic: Descent II: First Strike -Beta 4.0-
Replies: 35
Views: 25366

Re: Descent II: First Strike -Beta 3.3-

LightWolf, I tried it, first two levels are more or less OK, though nothing special, in L3 getting to the energy center on cold-start should be next to impossible on Insane, dual matcens in the yellow-red door room are nasty but doable at least. Placing sidearms in tight quarters is bad idea for lev...
by AlexanderBorisov
Fri Dec 29, 2017 6:28 pm
Forum: Descent Single Player
Topic: Descent videos
Replies: 57
Views: 16976

Re: Descent videos

What are you using for midi? It sounds like a Yamaha keyboard more than anything else I know of. In fact it is the same Yamaha S-YXG2006LE software synth that I use myself. Actually Yamaha is my fauvorite brand of synthesizer even "in hardware" (liked it way better than Casio for example)...
by AlexanderBorisov
Fri Dec 29, 2017 10:43 am
Forum: Descent Single Player
Topic: Lou Guards vs Super Medium Hulks
Replies: 75
Views: 14646

Re: Lou Guards vs Super Medium Hulks

Some more findings on red hulks and their homers in D1 vs D2. I looked at homing missile algorithm in D1 and D2 and found it to be the same. Not even affected by any physics in fact (that used mass, drag, thrust, etc). Every frame homing missile direction (velocity vector) is rotated halfway toward ...
by AlexanderBorisov
Fri Dec 29, 2017 4:22 am
Forum: Descent Level Spotlight
Topic: Descent II: First Strike -Beta 4.0-
Replies: 35
Views: 25366

Re: Descent II: First Strike -Beta 3.2-

3 boarsheads in the beginning is no problem :evil: You will have more in CS levels 21 and 22 (being armed with L1 lasers only, of course). But I also think the mission should be made coldstartable, especially being the "classic" mission like FS. And of course, beatable on Insane. At least ...
by AlexanderBorisov
Wed Dec 27, 2017 2:27 pm
Forum: Descent Level Spotlight
Topic: Descent II: First Strike -Beta 4.0-
Replies: 35
Views: 25366

Re: Descent II: First Strike -Beta 3.2-

Would be interesting to take a look (on New Year holidays maybe), but running through all levels would be like a chore as I already did them in D1, not a bif fan of replaying levels with the same geometry. At least I plan recording AF before playing any other big mission. So I think I will also just...
by AlexanderBorisov
Tue Dec 26, 2017 7:07 am
Forum: Descent Single Player
Topic: Impressions on Descent: Insane, cold start, no-death, 100%
Replies: 298
Views: 426842

Re: Impressions on Descent: Insane, cold start, no-death, 100%

This one is not dark, definitely. I just wanted to illustrate that dark Puuma Sphere level is possible.
by AlexanderBorisov
Mon Dec 25, 2017 7:25 am
Forum: Descent Single Player
Topic: Impressions on Descent: Insane, cold start, no-death, 100%
Replies: 298
Views: 426842

Re: Impressions on Descent: Insane, cold start, no-death, 100%

Puuma Sphere is a great system for sure, it's also rather brightly lit though. Still, its whites and bright greens wouldn't work that well with low lighting levels I suppose. The last Entropy level is exactly of that kind (Puuma sphere textures + dark), IMO it is very good. https://www.youtube.com/...
by AlexanderBorisov
Sun Dec 24, 2017 4:31 pm
Forum: Descent Single Player
Topic: Orion Nebula for D2 - lost?
Replies: 2
Views: 1286

Orion Nebula for D2 - lost?

Seems it was deleted from everywhere and it is not even on DMDB! If someone still has the mission, could you please share it?
Also what is your impression whether D1 or D2 version is more interesting to play, better balanced, etc?
by AlexanderBorisov
Sun Dec 24, 2017 4:28 pm
Forum: Descent Single Player
Topic: Descent videos
Replies: 57
Views: 16976

Re: Descent videos

Another playlist added - Entropy (by Luke Schneider) - Insane no death no save, secret level included.
by AlexanderBorisov
Fri Dec 22, 2017 6:25 am
Forum: Descent Single Player
Topic: Lou Guards vs Super Medium Hulks
Replies: 75
Views: 14646

Re: Lou Guards vs Super Medium Hulks

In fact you ship size is ~4.7, it is "rad" property of polymodel. Another interesting thing, your missiles deal twice as much damage to robots. For example you kill 270 HP Lou guard with 3 guided (damage 55 each). That is because it does both direct hit damage + splash damage (it is clear ...
by AlexanderBorisov
Thu Dec 21, 2017 8:18 pm
Forum: Descent Single Player
Topic: Lou Guards vs Super Medium Hulks
Replies: 75
Views: 14646

Re: Lou Guards vs Super Medium Hulks

Ok, I saved it for later, now I am ok with only viewing it. BTW it still does not show some info like ship and weapon sizes (that are used in collision computation for example), also we still don't know how to view D1 data so writing a reader/writer program is still useful... Some interesting info o...
by AlexanderBorisov
Thu Dec 21, 2017 1:34 pm
Forum: Descent Single Player
Topic: Lou Guards vs Super Medium Hulks
Replies: 75
Views: 14646

Re: Lou Guards vs Super Medium Hulks

I have UAC turned off, and of course always work under admin (Win 7 64). Only if it needs "SYSTEM" account :twisted: which only can be used through hacks... Wait a bit, I'll try the new installers however... EDIT : in fact, you need an installer in DMTools to set correct paths. I first run...
by AlexanderBorisov
Thu Dec 21, 2017 6:18 am
Forum: Descent Single Player
Topic: Impressions on Descent: Insane, cold start, no-death, 100%
Replies: 298
Views: 426842

Re: Impressions on Descent: Insane, cold start, no-death, 100%

Played this level in order to remember what is happening there, btw I chosen a bit different strategy for a number of places that definitely made this level even easier, on the other side ignored many of the secrets and some cloaks, too. Sorry for stupid mistakes such as forgetting to take the blue ...
by AlexanderBorisov
Wed Dec 20, 2017 8:29 pm
Forum: Descent Single Player
Topic: Lou Guards vs Super Medium Hulks
Replies: 75
Views: 14646

Re: Lou Guards vs Super Medium Hulks

Not succeeded with haxmedit still, no, reg files in STIF folder are just file associations and don't help a lot, probably I should modify the ini files (obviously there should be some kind of installer for that but it seems to be missing), I tried to do it by hand (to make sure the Descent/Descent2 ...
by AlexanderBorisov
Wed Dec 20, 2017 10:23 am
Forum: Descent Single Player
Topic: New player
Replies: 5
Views: 1412

Re: New player

I use the variation of SumOBeatz scheme, but "Space" = slide down, "Shift" = up, "Caps Lock" = afterburner, middle mouse = bombs (probably I should consider using it for afterburning), "F" - flares, "T" - converter, "C" - duplicate for bomb...
by AlexanderBorisov
Mon Dec 18, 2017 2:45 pm
Forum: PTMC Cafe
Topic: Cruelty to cats...
Replies: 6
Views: 2061

Re: Cruelty to cats...

This cat is fully justified to murder it's owner after this execution, I guess. However we have a cat that became too fat to wash itself properly, and, well... having serious problems because of it. We are still thinking how to wash the cat, it is very nervous and afraid of everything...
by AlexanderBorisov
Mon Dec 18, 2017 10:45 am
Forum: DXX Rebirth
Topic: Cannot register at dxx-rebirth forum
Replies: 2
Views: 16038

Re: Cannot register at dxx-rebirth forum

it worked for me yesterday, seems they fixed smth...
by AlexanderBorisov
Thu Dec 14, 2017 9:11 am
Forum: Descent Single Player
Topic: Impressions on Descent: Insane, cold start, no-death, 100%
Replies: 298
Views: 426842

Re: Impressions on Descent: Insane, cold start, no-death, 100%

I seem to have forgotten D2 CS levels 14, 15 completely, so decided to replay this one too. In fact easy (less than ten attempts including practice runs), unless you choose the wrong path through the level. Only difficult spot is blue key room, seekers can surprise you, and the Lou guard is unpredic...
by AlexanderBorisov
Wed Dec 13, 2017 5:43 pm
Forum: Descent Single Player
Topic: Descent videos
Replies: 57
Views: 16976

Re: Descent videos

New playlist for Obsidian (Insane no death no save as usual). All vids are recorded, will upload regularly.
by AlexanderBorisov
Wed Dec 13, 2017 5:41 pm
Forum: Descent Single Player
Topic: Impressions on Obsidian campaign on insane no-death no-save.
Replies: 9
Views: 2096

Re: Impressions on Obsidian campaign on insane no-death no-save.

I am uploading my no-death no-save Insane run for Obsidian (replay except level 15 which uses the old demo). With music rendered by good software synthesizer - it is really worth it, Obsidian music is like a bomb!
by AlexanderBorisov
Wed Dec 13, 2017 4:16 am
Forum: Descent Single Player
Topic: Question About Obtaining Alternate Missions
Replies: 6
Views: 1281

Re: Question About Obtaining Alternate Missions

For D1, just create the "missions" folder. About Vertigo, yes you need it, but I don't remember whether it was in my original package (from GoG) already or I installed it from DMDB, or it came with Rebirth. Use stable version of Rebirth (yes, it is the right place), like 0.58, not the nigh...
by AlexanderBorisov
Tue Dec 12, 2017 6:14 pm
Forum: Descent Single Player
Topic: Question About Obtaining Alternate Missions
Replies: 6
Views: 1281

Re: Question About Obtaining Alternate Missions

All missions are here : http://www.enspiar.com/dmdb/ Find (by name or author), download, unpack and put to the MISSIONS dir in the game folder. You can use Rebirth or DX-XL source port for better gaming experience (better graphics, higher res, some minor bugs fixed, etc). Start with Vertigo, TEW, my...
by AlexanderBorisov
Tue Dec 12, 2017 5:09 am
Forum: Descent Single Player
Topic: Does anybody know how to use software synthesizer for the Descent 1, 2 built-in MIDI music?
Replies: 6
Views: 1213

Re: Does anybody know how to use software synthesizer for the Descent 1, 2 built-in MIDI music?

Big thanks Alter-Fox! VirtualMIDISynth works just nice, allows to redirect MIDI output to MIDIYoke and then to the VST plugin host. Unfortunately it has no direct support for VST plugins, but at least it is not in Japanese... I am now thinking about re-recording some of my newer Descent vids with be...
by AlexanderBorisov
Mon Dec 11, 2017 4:09 pm
Forum: Descent Single Player
Topic: Does anybody know how to use software synthesizer for the Descent 1, 2 built-in MIDI music?
Replies: 6
Views: 1213

Re: Does anybody know how to use software synthesizer for the Descent 1, 2 built-in MIDI music?

Download foobar and MIDI player plugin for it http://www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_midi read the instructiions carefully. Then search for Yamaha VSTi plugins (plugin is a DLL). The best synth for me - both for classical music scores and for karaoke songs - happened to be the one I listed ab...