90% of the time, all anyone literally wants is "release this game in a functional state on modern hardware (PC usually)." Maybe some graphical settings and controller mapping to make it comfortable.
I only ever want it to go as far as what GOG does. Just patch things to run on modern systems and leave the content itself completely untouched. Not even controller mappings or graphical settings. Literally just let me play my old potato games on non-potato systems.
Not even controller mappings or graphical settings.
I've found far too many games basically unplayable on modern systems without these, however.
I'm not asking for a passover to make it run on 4k at 120 FPS, but many older games require technology that doesn't exist anymore in your PC, are hard locked into certain once great settings, and physically tie game functionality to performance levels of the time to work around/with the lag. I just want it to roughly function as it did, without needing to edit files or tweak my system like an emulator might require, something I'm willing to do because its free, not a paid product.
The controller mapping is just because a lot of certain older games have mind boggling controls that I simply cannot go back to. Jap games using O for confirm instead of X, inverted anything, etc. I can live without, but again if I'm paying you for it I want something above the level of emulation.
I suppose that's the heart of this discussion. Emulation is easy and free, and is hugely configurable. If you expect me to pay for something I already likely own again, I want something that's better than the two options I have.
I've found far too many games basically unplayable on modern systems without these, however.
That's what XPadder or similar third party tools are for. Let me tell you, there's so many janky control schemes out there that have become super comfy and easy to work with on account of my Logitech G600's ability to just map everything to some side buttons. Doesn't matter what the original keys are, just replicate the keystroke via mouse buttons and you're golden.
Re:Emulation: we see once again that piracy is simply a service problem. Companies aren't providing what customers want, but emulation largely does.
Companies aren't providing what customers want, but emulation largely does.
It does for console stuff pretty handily, but older PC titles are where the problem remains and where GOG does shine in some ways but still feels less than I feel is acceptable for a sold product.
I bought the original Legacy of Kain through GOG and still had to do a forum hunt to get it operational, and that's a complete failure on what they are claiming to sell me. I appreciate now having it with the standard GOG no-drm, offline available but the principle remains.
At that point I'd rather just find it on the various abandonware sites, that come with the "here is how to get it working" as part of the package instead of charging me, letting me sit down to enjoy something and realize I'm an hour away from actually playing.
but older PC titles are where the problem remains and where GOG does shine in some ways but still feels less than I feel is acceptable for a sold product.
This is where we disagree I guess. GOG has an excellent track record in my experience and nominally provides exactly the service I'm looking for, just patching old games to run as is on modern systems. Hell, I've had better luck with getting even not so old games on GOG to run rather than Steam. I had to reformat a couple years back and when I went to reinstall XCOM: Enemy Within from Steam it just straight up would not launch and no amount of scouring the forums yielded a working fix. I see GOG has it for sale so I throw down a couple bucks to pick it up there and within ten minutes I've got it installed and am directing my squad to take out some sectoids.
I'm not going to sit here and pretend they have a perfect track record, but GOG is pretty damn good.
I'm not saying they aren't good. They are literally doing the work to get games out of complete obscurity and unplayability and do so pretty well in a lot of cases. The problem I'm saying is that their pretty well is still below what I'm willing to pay in some cases. But I'm also a miser so if you ask me for money you best be putting up a lot.
went to reinstall XCOM: Enemy Within
Literally had to do the same thing with the same game, its something 2k broke within their launcher that they forced into a bunch of games and then left broken when they removed it.
I swear there was one essayist (i think it was this guy) who started sounding more and more feminine in his videos. I know it's not raycevik or nakeyjakey but they musta known each other.
90% of the time, all anyone literally wants is "release this game in a functional state on modern hardware (PC usually)." Maybe some graphical settings and controller mapping to make it comfortable.
I only ever want it to go as far as what GOG does. Just patch things to run on modern systems and leave the content itself completely untouched. Not even controller mappings or graphical settings. Literally just let me play my old potato games on non-potato systems.
I've found far too many games basically unplayable on modern systems without these, however.
I'm not asking for a passover to make it run on 4k at 120 FPS, but many older games require technology that doesn't exist anymore in your PC, are hard locked into certain once great settings, and physically tie game functionality to performance levels of the time to work around/with the lag. I just want it to roughly function as it did, without needing to edit files or tweak my system like an emulator might require, something I'm willing to do because its free, not a paid product.
The controller mapping is just because a lot of certain older games have mind boggling controls that I simply cannot go back to. Jap games using O for confirm instead of X, inverted anything, etc. I can live without, but again if I'm paying you for it I want something above the level of emulation.
I suppose that's the heart of this discussion. Emulation is easy and free, and is hugely configurable. If you expect me to pay for something I already likely own again, I want something that's better than the two options I have.
That's what XPadder or similar third party tools are for. Let me tell you, there's so many janky control schemes out there that have become super comfy and easy to work with on account of my Logitech G600's ability to just map everything to some side buttons. Doesn't matter what the original keys are, just replicate the keystroke via mouse buttons and you're golden.
Re:Emulation: we see once again that piracy is simply a service problem. Companies aren't providing what customers want, but emulation largely does.
It does for console stuff pretty handily, but older PC titles are where the problem remains and where GOG does shine in some ways but still feels less than I feel is acceptable for a sold product.
I bought the original Legacy of Kain through GOG and still had to do a forum hunt to get it operational, and that's a complete failure on what they are claiming to sell me. I appreciate now having it with the standard GOG no-drm, offline available but the principle remains.
At that point I'd rather just find it on the various abandonware sites, that come with the "here is how to get it working" as part of the package instead of charging me, letting me sit down to enjoy something and realize I'm an hour away from actually playing.
This is where we disagree I guess. GOG has an excellent track record in my experience and nominally provides exactly the service I'm looking for, just patching old games to run as is on modern systems. Hell, I've had better luck with getting even not so old games on GOG to run rather than Steam. I had to reformat a couple years back and when I went to reinstall XCOM: Enemy Within from Steam it just straight up would not launch and no amount of scouring the forums yielded a working fix. I see GOG has it for sale so I throw down a couple bucks to pick it up there and within ten minutes I've got it installed and am directing my squad to take out some sectoids.
I'm not going to sit here and pretend they have a perfect track record, but GOG is pretty damn good.
I'm not saying they aren't good. They are literally doing the work to get games out of complete obscurity and unplayability and do so pretty well in a lot of cases. The problem I'm saying is that their pretty well is still below what I'm willing to pay in some cases. But I'm also a miser so if you ask me for money you best be putting up a lot.
Literally had to do the same thing with the same game, its something 2k broke within their launcher that they forced into a bunch of games and then left broken when they removed it.
Oh yes. Yes I do. I hate the entire triple a industry and I hate anyone who plays triple a games.
Did Whitelight untroon himself?
I swear there was one essayist (i think it was this guy) who started sounding more and more feminine in his videos. I know it's not raycevik or nakeyjakey but they musta known each other.
Kacey?
Could be... Old noggin's getting poorer...
Definitely not this guy.