Planetside review: The first 30 minutes...

[neuroking]

Hey all,

I need to vent. I bought Planetside, thinking it would be a nice Tribes replacement, since the servers for T2 are getting more scant.

I installed it (took about an hour on my NEW computer), and then applied the patches (taking about another hour). The graphics are okay, the sound is good, but the game is completely unplayable! There are literally SO MANY FRIGGIN BUGS that I posted to the support forums before even getting to do anything other than walk and jump.
Here is what I posted:

Okay, all excited about this game and what happens? I change my controls around so I'm comfortable, and then they don't save. Oh, that's a 'documented bug'. I decide to made do.

I continue to the first set of people in the first training mission. No "WAYPOINT" is ever set (going to map and clicking find waypoint does NOTHING). I walk up to the avatar. "Push G to interact with avatar." I hit G. Nothing. I hit every character that looks like G. Nothing. I try having the mouse active and hitting G. Still no go. What am I supposed to do?

And then I decide I would try another training mission. I load it and the program promptly crashes (instantly quitting).

This is F^%&ing ALPHA version! There is NO EXCUSE for this many bugs in the first 30 minutes of gameplay. Oh, and it's 30 minutes because there's no F%$^*&ing way to cancel out of the retardedly slow HUD walkthrough.

Oh, system specs, in case you need em. 3GHZ P4, 2 GB RAM, 320GB SATA RAID 0, SB Audigy 2 Platinum, GeForce FX 5900 Ultra.

So, in summary:
1) What do I do with the avatar in Training 1? (tell to hit 'G' and I'll fly over to Japan and smack you around)
2) Is ther a config file I can manually edit to save keyboard remapping? (did little Bobby not learn how to properly access file in Preschool VB programming 101?)
3) Who do I contact about refunds?

Brandon King

--- ahhh feels so good to vent.

[neuroking]

Oh, and for a laugh, looking at the tech support forums... the average interval to postings on the forum is 5 minutes. Every 5 minutes, someone if pissed.

I guess I will wait for them to get back to me, or call on Monday. If it isn't resolved by the end of the free trial that they have going on, I'll be getting a refund.

I've played with bad software, but man, the Doom 3 alpha is more stable.

Brandon

[Twobztwop]

Bring it back and get a refund if you can.

I got suckered into purchasing Planetside as well. I stuck it out for almost a month before I cancelled my subscription and uninstalled it from my computer.

The same bugs that were there in June were there at the end of July and are probably still there today. The game did have potential but in the end it wasn't worth the 40bucks for the game and DEFINITELY not worth 12bucks a month.

For a game to charge a monthly fee; it should NOT be filled with bugs, suffer from poor and inbalanced gameplay, and have servers that lag and crash (this is supposedly what you are paying for).

Planetside must not be meeting SOE's sales objectives because I am starting to see alot of advertisement for it, they are even letting people download it for free... Not to mention the last time I played (middle of july) their seemed to be less and less users logged. Alot of people, like me, probably aren't renewing thier subscription after the first free month.

(f spellcheck)

[Archon]

I tried to spread the word during the Beta that this game sucked, I guess I never got to say it to you.

[ECA]

RANT: PLZ excuse language.
Iv mentioned before.

The current method of making games SUCKS.
I have seen so many Alpha and beta versions, it is making me sick to pay for this crap.
1942, lags almost every machine its put on. Min cofig is a LAUGH, better have a GREAT machine and lots of Ram, and cache.
MOO3, Dont go there, as far as I know its still WAITING for a patch after 6 months. Lots of mods, and ppl are making adjustments to the game itself, but this isnt what I bought it for.
Galactic Civ. Patches patches patches.
I tried to talk the makers of Tribes 2, into updating it more. They want to release New T3.
AND, the current games take so much ram, even after an install from CD(compressed), and the Patches and updates off the net, you will loose (I would think) about 3-4+ gigs, not including Mods. And this mostly to graphics, and NOT into game play.
Screw the graphics, make a good game. If 1942 would cut 10% of the polygons, and STOP rendering every item for every frame they could save on ram and speed of game. WILL they, NO. THE desert combat Mod, is getting great for this game, and has been speeded up ALOT. But its still lacking in game play, and being an ideal game. Close, but not quite. Ever shoot a chopper with a artilery cannon, what happens, POOF. In the game, hit it twice, and what happens, it turns and kills you.

Iv been waiting 4 years for a new release of an old game.
ELITE 4. A true open ended, space sim. ALL I wish them to do, is to upgrade the OLD versions, fix a few bugs, and I will even play the SP version for the next 5+ years. The problem is the company, isnt really doing anything with it. They think they want a WHOLE new prog, and have MP version net play. It leaked 5 years ago that it was coming out, but they wont say anything except that they are working on it, and its harder then it seems.
Just give me an OLD version with newer graphics and about 1/2 those waiting will buy it and be VERY happy.

[Ioman]

I bought Star Wars Galaxies and I am a little upset with this game as well. The player driven economy is a joke, especially if you are on a fringe planet without a lot of people on it. Right now I have wounds, and battle fatigue and I cannot find anyone to heal me. You cannot just go and get healed by a computer player, you HAVE to have someone that chose to be a doctor or entertainer heal you.

I do love the whole Star Wars theme and everything seems smooth with no or little bugs. Plus they update it a lot. I just hate the player run economy.

[Twobztwop]

Originally posted by Ioman
I bought Star Wars Galaxies and I am a little upset with this game as well. The player driven economy is a joke, especially if you are on a fringe planet without a lot of people on it.

That is exactly why I didn't get it. Why would I/anyone want to play a character who dances in a bar healing people? I don't get it.

I want to shoot at people when I play games not make arrows.

Both Planetside and Galaxies produced by Sony Online Entertainment. Go figure.

[Ioman]

Originally posted by Twobztwop
That is exactly why I didn't get it. Why would I/anyone want to play a character who dances in a bar healing people? I don't get it.

I want to shoot at people when I play games not make arrows.

Both Planetside and Galaxies produced by Sony Online Entertainment. Go figure.

I noticed it took forever to do anything in SWG, my thoughts are that Sony wants you to play the game as much as possible so they can get that $15/mo fee from you. The longer it takes you to do anything, the longer you will be paying them.

[Archon]

every MMORPG is a joke in my mind. Earth and Beyond was interesting because of the story - but once you do everything (before they update the story), then it boils down to just warping around doing trade runs or killing asteroid spores.

[neuroking]

*sniff sniff*
I smell a talkback article. Who has teh most experience with these games? I stayed away for a while because I was either a) poor, b) too busy, or c)afraid that my 850MHz P3 woudl reach out and slap me for even trying.

As a review website, I think we're in a very good place to really lay down an article that has impact. Especially when you condier that DT's reputation is pretty damn good, and alot of sites will link to an interesting article like this.

So who's up? Or should we do a combination article, special feature type thing? We could each take 1 game and make it a damn good read. 1st person narrative, objective, with screen caps.

Brandon

ps-as for Tribes 2, there are a good number of issues left (unhandled Exceptions, laggy servers), but I have to admit that aside from those, it became a great game. Early versions were outright obnoxious, but since installing it on my new puter (obviously a clean install), I have had zero problems. Add to that the fact that I believe the staff was axed by half and they were working on the PS2 version (which sucks hard), and I give them the benefit of the doubt. With SOE I have absolutely NO patience.

[Archon]

would a review of MMORPGs really be something DT does?

..I hate ur avatar, neuro!

[Ioman]

Originally posted by neuroking
*sniff sniff*
I smell a talkback article. Who has teh most experience with these games? I stayed away for a while because I was either a) poor, b) too busy, or c)afraid that my 850MHz P3 woudl reach out and slap me for even trying.

As a review website, I think we're in a very good place to really lay down an article that has impact. Especially when you condier that DT's reputation is pretty damn good, and alot of sites will link to an interesting article like this.

So who's up? Or should we do a combination article, special feature type thing? We could each take 1 game and make it a damn good read. 1st person narrative, objective, with screen caps.

Brandon

ps-as for Tribes 2, there are a good number of issues left (unhandled Exceptions, laggy servers), but I have to admit that aside from those, it became a great game. Early versions were outright obnoxious, but since installing it on my new puter (obviously a clean install), I have had zero problems. Add to that the fact that I believe the staff was axed by half and they were working on the PS2 version (which sucks hard), and I give them the benefit of the doubt. With SOE I have absolutely NO patience.

Write it up Brandon and I will post it. I need a good picture from you to use on the front page though. :D

[Archon]

Originally posted by Ioman
Write it up Brandon and I will post it. I need a good picture from you to use on the front page though. :D
he will take any bad picture he finds!

[neuroking]

Originally posted by Archon
would a review of MMORPGs really be something DT does?

..I hate ur avatar, neuro!

Hey, we have a gaming section. Why not?

What's wrong with my avatar?!?! Oh, did you get siezures, too? Oops.

Originally posted by Ioman
Write it up Brandon and I will post it. I need a good picture from you to use on the front page though.

I don't think I'm qualified to write ths one, at least not alone. I have experience with Q3, T2, UT2003, and Planetside. We would need a bunch more, me thinks.

B

[ECA]

Iv done, Interstate 82, Nox, Moo3, BF 1942, Jumpgate, MW3, Tibes 2, Heavy gear 2, Nerf Arena,Half life w/56k(suck), Army men 1,2,3; Return to Castle Wolfenstein(56k) , and ground control. And alittle Starcraft.
And for Amiga, lets just say about 200 others.
Had Intell for 5 years, had Amigs 10 years.
I wont do the Article, but I will add to it.

[neuroking]

Oh muthaf$%^ hell yeah we are doing this. They just deleted my post! Fu^*&^*&(ers!

Can I do a Planetside review?
Pleeeeez!?!?!
Brandon

[ECA]

Parameters...
It would be nice to include....

56k access and highspeed playablity.

Do graphics REALLY make the game.

Why do I need High end machine to play this and is it worth it.

Who needs a stinking rating system. Just cause I say its good dont mean you will like it.

If a rating system:
Graphics..1-4 and a 5 for unnesesary Quality.
Playability..1-4 and a 5 if ya need the book.
Stratagy...1-4 and 5 for TO many keys to play
Complexability..1-4 and 5 for TO HARD
Basic Fun...1-4 and 5 for Addictive

Any other???

[neuroking]

Originally posted by ECA
Parameters...
If a rating system:
Graphics..1-4 and a 5 for unnesesary Quality.
Playability..1-4 and a 5 if ya need the book.
Stratagy...1-4 and 5 for TO many keys to play
Complexability..1-4 and 5 for TO HARD
Basic Fun...1-4 and 5 for Addictive


Maybe 0-2 for each. 0 for nothing, 1 for good, 2 for awesome.

Brandon

[ECA]

Originally posted by neuroking
Maybe 0-2 for each. 0 for nothing, 1 for good, 2 for awesome.

Brandon

1-crap
2-fair, needs improvement, or mod.
3, decent, ok, fine, good, no fixes needed as is.
4, Whopper, great, no fix, FINAL copy out.

5, New # 1 item. AWESOME, nothing better.
Like Quake with Myst graphics on High res.

But it would be best for at least 2 persons to grade a prog. 1 persons isnt enough. 1 to be super critical and the other to enjoy the game(if you can). Forget what other sites say. Rating games before release is stupid and esp if you are grading betas.

Most of those long term here, I can agree on most things and see what you say, but most sites its just crap.
So, let the buyer beware, and wait for the updates before you get the game.

[neuroking]

I got a reply from Sony... love this...

Hello,
Actually under the known issues thread at the top the issues with the training are listed there.

Regards,
Joel S.
Sony Online Entertainment

My response:

No, you don't understand. I am paying over time, not use, for a game that I cannot play at all. I cannot do the training (and I have read teh 'known issues') at all. I have absolutely no practise before starting, which I can't do either. None of the suggestions in the known issues helped.
Should I just deny the charge on my credit card when I get it, until these issues are fixed?


Here are the known issues posted:
3. Optional settings/keyboard mapping not saving, this issue is being worked on and we will update you as soon as we have a resolution.

4. The issue with the Training mode where missions cannot be completed is something we are working on. This includes the HART mission being broken.

TRAINING DOESN'T WORK!?!?! HOW F#$%^ing more basic does it get than training?!?!? I mean, what do you test first? maybe the first thing people will do?

F$%^&*ing idiots.

Sigh.

Brandon
Knowing that the issues are out there is fine. But why has this game been out this long with these issues? You can't just charge people and say, "Oh, well, we know nothing works. Keep paying us and eventually it might!"

Since the store I bought this from does not accept open software after 14 days, who do I contact about a refund for both the software and the subscription?

Also, who do I send a copy of the review that will be posted to our site to?

Brandon King
Senior Editor
Design Technica

[Twobztwop]

Originally posted by neuroking
I got a reply from Sony... love this...

Hello,
Actually under the known issues thread at the top the issues with the training are listed there.


Hah. That's great, when I purchased the game back in June that training bug was a "known Issue." Here it is almost the end of August and it still appears to be a "known issue." Well thank god they know about it at least.

[ECA]

http://www.ataricommunity.com/forums/index.php?

Look at the number of posts for Moo3. Only thing that surpasses it is Unreal tour. The rest it is about 10-100x's more postings. These are complaints. And to think that Atari bought out the distribution company, after release. Atari used to be a neet company. NOW they distribute only, and collect games they DIDNT make.

Im real tired of Alpha and beta ware. If I wanted beta I would be in the testing phase. DONT they test this stuff anymore. So, what give 1 free copy to 1000 persons for being testers, WHO cares if you got a great game. At least you know the bugs, and what systems work with it.

Im sorry, I just think that the US, is starting to get ALOT of crap. For those older folks. Remember the quality of stuff when we were younger, shouldnt it still be around? If not better stuff. NOT from those that bring this stuff into the US, and sell it to us(our own people). They want to sell us Crap, from Alot of money and there is NO real improvement on what was already out there... Its the same with everything (anymore). 90% of car parts are made in other countries, mexico, malasia, pango pango, brought to the US, and put together. the cost is 1/100 of what the US cost would be, and then we pay the US price for it. I LOVe the old steal cars. As your insurrance agent, STEAL cars are cheaper insurrance.