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[Eagle of Fire]

A lot of people if Spore manage to get the title of "classic"... Which could very well happen, although I won't hold my breath for it...

[pookie0703]

It's only cuz the games are made specifically for the next gens and our pcs need to be upgraded constatnly $$$

[Icewolf]

Recently a good friend of mine, who used to be a big time overclocker and modder, said when I asked him, when we can hang out and gamble the next time:
"Gambling on the PC is an expensive thing. I won't spend 300€ for graphic cards no more, I just play consoles by now.(WII and XBOX in his case)."

And that's exactly the point. The only games-genres that can score agains console-games are FPS and sims (SimCity or similar). And the FPS are requiring exactly these expensive GraCas and loads of RAM and Dual-Core and stuff whereas the all good sims already have been produced and don't need expensive hardware.

I know that this is a rather drastic view, but like they say:
"Representativeness by exaggregation!"

[Japo]

EoF, even if there's a problem that the game can't stand a ZA popup and it should, perhaps the problem can be averted if you make it so that the popup doesn't happen. Try creating a rule to block the game (or allow if it's necessary) and if it's a non obvious EXE which is trying to connect, look in the log as I said. It's worth trying if you can finally play the bug-ridden game you paid for.

[Icewolf]

I still think the problem is with the code and not with your firewall settings.
A game shouldn't interfere with ANY of your securiy-instances.
You can't ALWAYS blame yourself... I think EoF is right.

[Japo]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Icewolf @ Sep 5 2007, 10:59 AM) [snapback]308951[/snapback]</div>

I still think the problem is with the code and not with your firewall settings.
A game shouldn't interfere with ANY of your securiy-instances.
You can't ALWAYS blame yourself... I think EoF is right. [/b]

True, but. If the game can't live with ZA's normal operation there's nothing to do besides turning ZA down. BUT if the game can live with ZA's normal operation and crashes only after ZA's popups, it's still the game's fault but EoF could sort this out in a satisfactory way.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tulac @ Sep 5 2007, 11:36 AM) [snapback]308956[/snapback]</div>

I remember before Sims came out, most of the press was talking - "Who the hell is going to play this game?"[/b]

+1, even today games are made as innovative and rich as in the old days, regardless of eye candy (it doesn't substitute gameplay but it doesn't hinder it either). Only not so many.

[gregor]

hmm why not right clisk the ZA and block all internet traffic before playing the game? then i think it shouldn't op up any windows and computer is also safe (i mena since the game doesn't really need the connection...

[Tito]

Well, I think the problem here may be that you're paying too much attention to big blockbusters (such as the aforementioned Hellgate London, Spore, Stalker or Star Wars games) and that is a perfect way for finding all those issues you hate (brilliant graphics, impressive sound, poor gameplay, inexistent originality).

Search a bit more, there are plenty of games with interesting concepts and fresh ideas behind all those marketing campaigns. If you hope the game everyone's been talking about for the last two years of developement to be a gem, you'll suerly be dissapointed.

[Blood-Pigggy]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tito @ Sep 5 2007, 08:47 AM) [snapback]309004[/snapback]</div>

Well, I think the problem here may be that you're paying too much attention to big blockbusters (such as the aforementioned Hellgate London, Spore, Stalker or Star Wars games) and that is a perfect way for finding all those issues you hate (brilliant graphics, impressive sound, poor gameplay, inexistent originality).

Search a bit more, there are plenty of games with interesting concepts and fresh ideas behind all those marketing campaigns. If you hope the game everyone's been talking about for the last two years of developement to be a gem, you'll suerly be dissapointed.
[/b]

That's not really what matters, everyone knows System Shock and its sequel's name now because of Bioshock, but who's really played it? Tons of people probably downloaded it from HotU or something and played it for 30 minutes before the atmosphere or lack of direction got to them.
I don't think it applies to discussion when it's about the biggest games in general.
If you have to shift through the mainstream junk to find a decent game that's a problem, I don't want to go online to some small developer's site to buy their game for $60.

As for Spore and Hellgate London I mentioned both of them because their graphics aren't causing any waves in the industry but people are genuinly interested in the gameplay, be it Spore's expansiveness or London's Diablo action on a closer level with tons of cool things that set it apart.

There are very few titles that are still hyped for their concept, or much less, actually played.
There are practically three factors that go into the popularity of a game, its presentation, marketing, and popularity of its brand (IE the Elder Scrolls or Starcraft).

[Eagle of Fire]

EoF, even if there's a problem that the game can't stand a ZA popup and it should, perhaps the problem can be averted if you make it so that the popup doesn't happen. Try creating a rule to block the game (or allow if it's necessary) and if it's a non obvious EXE which is trying to connect, look in the log as I said. It's worth trying if you can finally play the bug-ridden game you paid for.[/b]

I've thought about that, but the troubleshooting guy didn't paid attention to this. He said he don't know, and why would he bother anyways since he already know how to fix the problem: turn ZA off...

hmm why not right clisk the ZA and block all internet traffic before playing the game? then i think it shouldn't op up any windows and computer is also safe (i mena since the game doesn't really need the connection...[/b]

I think you missed the point... The point is that I want to be able to play the game and be online at the same time. Blocking everything is exactly the same than getting offline, closing ZA and playing the game. Which I already can do... Furthermore, I have no problem imagining that the game itself try to connect to the internet on loading... Hey, Civ III Complete (only Atari versions do that) install a spyware everytime it boots, which I know about for a long while now...

Search a bit more, there are plenty of games with interesting concepts and fresh ideas behind all those marketing campaigns. If you hope the game everyone's been talking about for the last two years of developement to be a gem, you'll suerly be dissapointed.[/b]

Been there, done that... I've purchased City Life exactly for that reason... Not too costly, didn't hear much about it but know fairly well what the game was about and I was expecting it to be good. That, and there was really nothing else on the shelves at the time...