Another system to report in: Intel Core i7 2600K + AMD Radeon HD6970:
The good: No microfreezes on spell casts (contrary to my AMD Phenom II x4 965 + nVidia GeForce GTX470) The bad: Partial Transparency glitches, see here:
Is it just me or does the pathfinding seem slightly worse than before. I commanded my party to walk from within the FAI to outside, west of the walls and one of my party members seemed to think he could climb right over the wall and didn't change his mind right up until he hit the edge of it.
- no graphical glitches when using the intel integrated video card, neither on my monitor in 1920x1200 nor on my TV in 1920x1080 (this is really good news)
- managed to crash the program by opening the map, shift+right clicking to add a note and writing a very long "ddddddddddd..." string and random enters to it, it would redirect to this page after stopping: http://www.beamdog.com/support/764?error=-805306369&lang=en
- the world map is the only screen that looks bigger than the others (map, inventory, etc.) as it hides the left/right menus, this doesn't look too well - the world map features an 8 directions control in the upper right corner, the left and right buttons are not really useful as the map can't be scrolled those ways
- num pad enter doesn't work while writing user notes to the journal - scrolling doesn't work while writing user notes to the journal (netiher by dragging, nor by using the scrollbar, thoug typing works and after saving, in view mode, scrolling works)
- report/customize/biography lets you edit your bio and scrolling doesn't work here either
- the options/gameplay, options/gameplay/feedback and options/gameplay/auto pause menus are very similar, yet, they feature different decorations (either make them the same or more different)
- i would kill for a "close" button on all these screens, preferably in the upper right corner
- the behavior of scrolling in options/gameplay/assign keys menu differs from the behavior of scrolling on other screens (it is more "tablet-ish" when using the scrollbar, seems like it features acceleration/bouncing on the scrollbar while the other screens only feature these while dragging, not when using the scrollbar)
- the help menu should display shorcuts for the actions (i know, both the close button and this, ugh, too many feature requests!)
- the instant screen transitions are a blesing, however i think it would look better if there was a dim/brighten effect while transitioning screens (especially when the day/night cycle changes while travelling from one screen to the other.
- i would kill for a "close" button on all these screens, preferably in the upper right corner
This ! how could we not want this.
Since it feels all fancy and windowed now, I keeping finding myself pressing (e.g.) "M" for map and then pressing "M" again to dismiss the map--except it doesn't work. Would be great if a keypress that would normally bring up a certain view would instead dimiss that view if it was the current view.
While we're on the subject of windowed interface: I'd like the windows to close if you click somewhere outside the interface. That would negate the need for a close button.
If you're ever going to redesign the portrait interface, I'd like the option to just select one file and have Baldur's Gate figure out the other portrait files (i.e. replace the S/M/L suffix with the appropriate one). If no alternate files are found, I'd like Baldur's Gate to just resize the portrait to the appropriate size.
Tiny observation: Gold picked up off the ground via the inventory screen rather than the search box makes a small 'clink' when clicked instead of being silent like it's always been.
Is that a problem?
Hah, of course it isn't. This is already the patch to end all patches, but its the little things like that that make me think, "Wow, they really DID think of everything!"
Since it feels all fancy and windowed now, I keeping finding myself pressing (e.g.) "M" for map and then pressing "M" again to dismiss the map--except it doesn't work. Would be great if a keypress that would normally bring up a certain view would instead dimiss that view if it was the current view.
This is a feature that really needs to be added because its very common functionality in current games. Having to use the 'R' key instead is annoying. But I felt that way before it was all fancy and windowed.
I found a little bug while checking out new color palettes for kits (by the way, why all mage kits are blue? unfair, they're only kits I care about in long term ).
So, I went to create new character, built it up until I got look at appearance screen, then returned back to kit selection, then again... So when I finally hit "Done" button and found myself in Candlekeep, I discovered about 10 quarterstaves in my inverntory! Apparently, you get one quarterstaff for each round of this trick.
I've never had a problem with this. I've gotten used to hitting ESC to return to the main view. I don't think I would change my ways even if I had other options.
I really like the compromise that the new patch has found between "an independent Map page" and "windowed look". The often transparent windowed solutions that are used in many other games (like Neverwinter Nights or Diablo 3) feel fragile somehow. I guess I just prefer the feel of what we have in Baldur's Gate.
I played about an hour yesterday and the game ran very smoothly on my laptop with Intel HD Graphics. I didn't run into any gameplay bugs, but had slight problems with water in Nashkel. When zooming in and out the water is kind of flickering and it actually looks a bit different with every level of zoom. You could also see horizontal black lines running across the water every now and then when zooming closer. Other than that I love the new UI with clearer font and transparency.
I know this is not hardware related but before I forget... BGQE (Baldur's Gate Mini Quest and Encounters) was working ok with the non beta release... However, with the beta, Linda (at the Candlekeep inn, right at the beginning, easy to test) makes the game crash... No errors, no reports, just long game hang/crash (ctrl-alt-del needed). To note, I tried even with a clean install, no mods but BGEE, and it still didn't work...
When minimizing the left hand GUI bar, you can still see the timekeeping device down in the corner which I think looks a lot nicer now than before. However it seems to disappear upon reloading the game and the only way to get it back is to unhide and rehide the left hand GUI bar.
The nice timekeeper can be seen in the lower left corner:
Do you have any test setups with Core 2 Duo and Intel X3100 IGP (OpenGL 1.4) or X4500 (OpenGL 2.0)? I can test with Windows 7 32bit (X4500) and 64bit (X3100) if necessary.
IIRC, the above + various Atom setups were the most problematic with the old renderer...
@wojtek Maybe they didn't think of an idea until after launch. Seeing as some changes are bug-fixes, they probably didn't know some of the changes were necessary until after the game went live. Maybe they already had some ideas, but it couldn't be implemented right away because of potential and obvious issues, and there's these little things called deadlines that can't always be pushed back. Anyway, how many games are actually released in it's final state these days? A game without various patches following its release is practically unheard of now.
Frankly, there are many reasons why, some of which we won't ever know about. Be glad that the changes are coming at all.
I just notice this little mess in the journal, last entry suppose to be last no ? instead it in one before last
That problem was present in the old builds as well. It's caused by the fact that the journal entries arrange themselves alphabetically, rather than by date. I created a thread asking about this some time ago, and the solution we came up with was to start your own entries with a date (month-day-hour), and edit the game-generated entries to add the date in the first line as well. Not a perfect solution, but it works for me.
@Syntia13 Yeah I know it was a bug in the old builds as well, and I think it should be fix don't you ? tho thx for the tip really nice of you
@kaguana and @Synthia13 : have a look at this and let me know if that is consistent with what you are seeing.
I have a question, though it has nothing to do with hardware. Is it normal for some characters to act like they've been dismissed from the party and leave the area if they get petrified, and you cast Stone to Flesh on them? I fought a few basilisks without Protection from Petrification cast on my PC and party members, and that led to Jaheira and Rasaad being petrified. When I used Stone to Flesh scrolls on them and talked to them to have them rejoin the party, Jaheira came back easily enough, but Rasaad acted like I had just dismissed him and high-tailed it back to Nashkel.
I can't recall anything I could compare this situation against, because the last times someone got petrified in my party, it was Jaheira again (on multiple occasions, and she behaved just as I described above, except for the times she got shattered), Minsc and Khalid (on separate occasions, and both ended up getting shattered), and my PC (Game Over!) So, anyone know?
I'm sure it has less to do with petrification and more to do with how they act when you remove them from the party. (by any means) Most of the original companions just stay put when you dismiss them. But the New Guys are coded to return to default spots instead.
If that's so, the new companions need a BG2-style parting dialogue. They should ask if they should leave or not, and if yes, they should ask whether to return to their favorite place or to stay put.
I see. That is... not nice at all. I wish it weren't like that, because getting off that map was a pain with one party member missing on top of having no protection.
Comments
You'll want to grab the latest driver from here.
Intel Core i7 2600K + AMD Radeon HD6970:
The good: No microfreezes on spell casts (contrary to my AMD Phenom II x4 965 + nVidia GeForce GTX470)
The bad: Partial Transparency glitches, see here:
Where's the glitch you're seeing?
There's a strange quadratic glow below the fireplace. Location: Shank's encounter, Candlekeep
So far my experiences:
- no graphical glitches when using the intel integrated video card, neither on my monitor in 1920x1200 nor on my TV in 1920x1080 (this is really good news)
- managed to crash the program by opening the map, shift+right clicking to add a note and writing a very long "ddddddddddd..." string and random enters to it, it would redirect to this page after stopping: http://www.beamdog.com/support/764?error=-805306369&lang=en
- the world map is the only screen that looks bigger than the others (map, inventory, etc.) as it hides the left/right menus, this doesn't look too well
- the world map features an 8 directions control in the upper right corner, the left and right buttons are not really useful as the map can't be scrolled those ways
- num pad enter doesn't work while writing user notes to the journal
- scrolling doesn't work while writing user notes to the journal (netiher by dragging, nor by using the scrollbar, thoug typing works and after saving, in view mode, scrolling works)
- report/customize/biography lets you edit your bio and scrolling doesn't work here either
- the options/gameplay, options/gameplay/feedback and options/gameplay/auto pause menus are very similar, yet, they feature different decorations (either make them the same or more different)
- i would kill for a "close" button on all these screens, preferably in the upper right corner
- the behavior of scrolling in options/gameplay/assign keys menu differs from the behavior of scrolling on other screens (it is more "tablet-ish" when using the scrollbar, seems like it features acceleration/bouncing on the scrollbar while the other screens only feature these while dragging, not when using the scrollbar)
- the help menu should display shorcuts for the actions (i know, both the close button and this, ugh, too many feature requests!)
- the instant screen transitions are a blesing, however i think it would look better if there was a dim/brighten effect while transitioning screens (especially when the day/night cycle changes while travelling from one screen to the other.
If you're ever going to redesign the portrait interface, I'd like the option to just select one file and have Baldur's Gate figure out the other portrait files (i.e. replace the S/M/L suffix with the appropriate one). If no alternate files are found, I'd like Baldur's Gate to just resize the portrait to the appropriate size.
So, I went to create new character, built it up until I got look at appearance screen, then returned back to kit selection, then again... So when I finally hit "Done" button and found myself in Candlekeep, I discovered about 10 quarterstaves in my inverntory! Apparently, you get one quarterstaff for each round of this trick.
I've never had a problem with this. I've gotten used to hitting ESC to return to the main view. I don't think I would change my ways even if I had other options.
I really like the compromise that the new patch has found between "an independent Map page" and "windowed look". The often transparent windowed solutions that are used in many other games (like Neverwinter Nights or Diablo 3) feel fragile somehow. I guess I just prefer the feel of what we have in Baldur's Gate.
I just love it when people are playing the game and staying on the forum at the same time.
Other than that I love the new UI with clearer font and transparency.
The nice timekeeper can be seen in the lower left corner:
Here is after I quick-loaded my quick-save:
Do you have any test setups with Core 2 Duo and Intel X3100 IGP (OpenGL 1.4) or X4500 (OpenGL 2.0)? I can test with Windows 7 32bit (X4500) and 64bit (X3100) if necessary.
IIRC, the above + various Atom setups were the most problematic with the old renderer...
Frankly, there are many reasons why, some of which we won't ever know about. Be glad that the changes are coming at all.
I can't recall anything I could compare this situation against, because the last times someone got petrified in my party, it was Jaheira again (on multiple occasions, and she behaved just as I described above, except for the times she got shattered), Minsc and Khalid (on separate occasions, and both ended up getting shattered), and my PC (Game Over!) So, anyone know?