Comments on: Poll Question 140 – How did you play Strider Mountain? http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/ Finishing Half-Life is just the beginning! Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:05:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: s.anchev http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-222166 s.anchev Sun, 06 Jun 2010 19:38:12 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-222166 Oh my god, this is like Coastline to Atmosphere... the overall quality (with many cutscenes, voice acting, etc etc...) has increased but overall it is the SAME annoying defaults : 1) The vehicle only SLOW YOU DOWN, like in Coastline... There are ZERO moments of high speed, just going five or ten meters, then you make a biiig turn and then a door and/or Combine... 2) The system of going from point A to point B : you have to wait the hundredth rush of 100 Combine and/or Manhacks for this door to open, sometimes you have to go to point C (you don't know why you have to go there, but still...) for Combine to go through the blocked door... This starts to really to piss me off... I'm at level 5, Outpost, it's the 20th time I open the game, and it's exactly the same as Coastline, not counting the ameliorations of designs... I think I will go to the end, but this is gonna take me the whole month as I'm busy all day... In fact, the whole point is : for a "simple" mod which tell us a simple side-story, why giving the mod a lifetime as long as HL1, OpFor, HL2, Ep1, Ep2, all at once??? I think the some excellent moments dispersed throughout the mod should be condensed in something more short... Seriously... Oh my god, this is like Coastline to Atmosphere… the overall quality (with many cutscenes, voice acting, etc etc…) has increased but overall it is the SAME annoying defaults :

1) The vehicle only SLOW YOU DOWN, like in Coastline… There are ZERO moments of high speed, just going five or ten meters, then you make a biiig turn and then a door and/or Combine…

2) The system of going from point A to point B : you have to wait the hundredth rush of 100 Combine and/or Manhacks for this door to open, sometimes you have to go to point C (you don’t know why you have to go there, but still…) for Combine to go through the blocked door…

This starts to really to piss me off… I’m at level 5, Outpost, it’s the 20th time I open the game, and it’s exactly the same as Coastline, not counting the ameliorations of designs… I think I will go to the end, but this is gonna take me the whole month as I’m busy all day…

In fact, the whole point is : for a “simple” mod which tell us a simple side-story, why giving the mod a lifetime as long as HL1, OpFor, HL2, Ep1, Ep2, all at once???

I think the some excellent moments dispersed throughout the mod should be condensed in something more short… Seriously…

]]> By: Rikersbeard http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-220124 Rikersbeard Sat, 17 Apr 2010 12:38:02 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-220124 The opening movie stuttered on my old Dell PC quite badly, but I struggled on until the first water hazard. I spent five or six sessions trying to get through alive! Then my PC died! Two months later, after building my first PC, I was back on ‘Strider Mountain’ playing in 1280x1024, everything on and no stutter. It still took five sessions to get past the first water hazard! About 15 or so sessions later I reached the end portal and ended up in the clink! I was one portal download short. I went back to a game save in ‘The Source’ level, invoked ‘god’ mode and went on the hunt. I found the portal data point that I had downloaded before, but I guess I must have died the first time and gone back to an earlier save point and then missed it. So I replayed the whole level again and the remaining ones until I reached the final portal and escaped, taking another four or five sessions. I did the great bonus level in three long sessions. It was worth the hassle of repeating the last five levels. I played this epic mod on easy, which it was not! The opening movie stuttered on my old Dell PC quite badly, but I struggled on until the first water hazard. I spent five or six sessions trying to get through alive! Then my PC died!
Two months later, after building my first PC, I was back on ‘Strider Mountain’ playing in 1280×1024, everything on and no stutter. It still took five sessions to get past the first water hazard!
About 15 or so sessions later I reached the end portal and ended up in the clink! I was one portal download short.
I went back to a game save in ‘The Source’ level, invoked ‘god’ mode and went on the hunt. I found the portal data point that I had downloaded before, but I guess I must have died the first time and gone back to an earlier save point and then missed it.
So I replayed the whole level again and the remaining ones until I reached the final portal and escaped, taking another four or five sessions.
I did the great bonus level in three long sessions. It was worth the hassle of repeating the last five levels.
I played this epic mod on easy, which it was not!
]]> By: Andrew http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-211744 Andrew Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:04:30 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-211744 I turned 60 years old this year and finished this in two sittings, so I'm guessing around 16 hours ish. It's like taking a trip somewhere and you don't want to stop until you reach the destination. It helps to be on the obsessive-compulsive side of the spectrum too :). It's a real drag to get off the train (which is how HL2 started anyway). What kept things moving was the consistently decent framerate, and the also decent load times for levels. Either of these being poorly designed might have caused me to stand up and walk away for a bit. [ Side note: I can imagine a sequel to this where all the remaining striders gang up in an epic finale, and of course get exterminated if all goes well. ] I turned 60 years old this year and finished this in two sittings, so I’m guessing around 16 hours ish. It’s like taking a trip somewhere and you don’t want to stop until you reach the destination. It helps to be on the obsessive-compulsive side of the spectrum too :) . It’s a real drag to get off the train (which is how HL2 started anyway).

What kept things moving was the consistently decent framerate, and the also decent load times for levels. Either of these being poorly designed might have caused me to stand up and walk away for a bit.

[ Side note: I can imagine a sequel to this where all the remaining striders gang up in an epic finale, and of course get exterminated if all goes well. ]

]]> By: SPY-maps http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-211594 SPY-maps Sun, 18 Oct 2009 14:31:52 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-211594 i hardly ever, or better say never play on Hard, for me its always Normal, (easy is way to easy). and i don't know why but i never thought about playing my own maps on hard. just today i have started playing SM on hard, to see how that is and it amazes me that it isn't even that hard, (although i don't play these maps ofcourse for the first time, by now i know each npc's to find blindly). thanks for the nice comments! leon i hardly ever, or better say never play on Hard, for me its always Normal, (easy is way to easy). and i don’t know why but i never thought about playing my own maps on hard.
just today i have started playing SM on hard, to see how that is and it amazes me that it isn’t even that hard, (although i don’t play these maps ofcourse for the first time, by now i know each npc’s to find blindly).

thanks for the nice comments!

leon

]]> By: jjawin118 http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-210988 jjawin118 Sat, 03 Oct 2009 20:08:58 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-210988 I played it as a free time diversion for my "down time".I work on average,60-70 hrs. a week and often travel in the course of my work too.White slavery is very real my friends. Had I been able,I probably would have sat and knocked in out in 3 sittings.I really enjoy getting caught up in the atmosphere and storyline (which were both done well in the mod) same as in a good book. I'm currently having a second run on hard and it's still working for me.Kudos to the entire team!Great Mod! I played it as a free time diversion for my “down time”.I work on average,60-70 hrs. a week and often travel in the course of my work too.White slavery is very real my friends.
Had I been able,I probably would have sat and knocked in out in 3 sittings.I really enjoy getting caught up in the atmosphere and storyline (which were both done well in the mod) same as in a good book.
I’m currently having a second run on hard and it’s still working for me.Kudos to the entire team!Great Mod!
]]> By: Sirocco http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-210944 Sirocco Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:06:58 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-210944 A lot of players have bagged SM for having more combat than they prefer. That's fine, it's individual preference after all. For me, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I played it on normal first time in about 4 or 5 long sittings depending on the time I had available. I would make sure I had at least 2 or more hours to play each time. I would play each map or level and get inevitably get killed a few times while working out the layout and best path to take or best strategy for getting through with maximum health and energy remaining. I got thru the first 5 maps fairly quickly as I had played them when they were released a few months ago and knew where to go and what to do. That didn't detract from the experience at all. The anticipation of what was to follow kept me interested. As I am a part time mapper as well as a player, I always like to check out the construction of the maps and the elements used to create the scripted sequences so tend to linger when something grabs my attention. I like Leons maps for the detail and efficient use of space. I will play it again on hard sometime in the near future when I get time. The only problem will be that Assassins Creed Two will be out in November when I foresee having some spare time. A lot of players have bagged SM for having more combat than they prefer. That’s fine, it’s individual preference after all. For me, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I played it on normal first time in about 4 or 5 long sittings depending on the time I had available. I would make sure I had at least 2 or more hours to play each time. I would play each map or level and get inevitably get killed a few times while working out the layout and best path to take or best strategy for getting through with maximum health and energy remaining. I got thru the first 5 maps fairly quickly as I had played them when they were released a few months ago and knew where to go and what to do. That didn’t detract from the experience at all. The anticipation of what was to follow kept me interested.
As I am a part time mapper as well as a player, I always like to check out the construction of the maps and the elements used to create the scripted sequences so tend to linger when something grabs my attention. I like Leons maps for the detail and efficient use of space.
I will play it again on hard sometime in the near future when I get time. The only problem will be that Assassins Creed Two will be out in November when I foresee having some spare time.
]]> By: SPY-maps http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-210892 SPY-maps Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:58:43 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-210892 let me start with telling that i am o so glad that this question is the poll this time ! because ofcourse are we too interested in this, i know i am for sure. when my brother tested SM (he played about 12 maps while i did sit next to him) it took him around 6+ hours to play 5 maps. based on that i always counted on that it would take around 20+ hours raughly for someone to play SM for the first time on setting Normal. as allready is said above is the amount of time needed different when you play on Easy or Hard. i too do believe that gameplay of a game or mod will indeed decide how long and often you will need to finish a game or mod. above is suggested by some that because of the lack of many puzzels in SM they couldn't play many hours after each other. personaly as you now probebly will well know do i not like puzzels, should i therefore play a mod with many in them i too wouldn't play many hours behind each other. i play about 2 to 5 hours each day i guess, during the day a bit, and late at night before bedtime i like to play for another 2 hours in generel. for those late night hours i always save a special game or mod. there are games that are 'just' ok to play, and there are that are really liked very much by the player. these last game sort i keep for late at night, i then like to sit behind a screen in a fully dark room to enjoy it at the most. after 2+ hours i always notice that the fun starts to go a bit away, the fun is not that big anymore as it was in the first hour. then is stop, because i don't like to rush through a mod or game that i do like very much. thanks for this poll Phillip and Stuart C. Wardlaw’s ! the outcome till now of this poll is what i raughly expected would be the case, although it does really surprice me that there are still so many people that do play it in one take !! leon let me start with telling that i am o so glad that this question is the poll this time ! because ofcourse are we too interested in this, i know i am for sure. when my brother tested SM (he played about 12 maps while i did sit next to him) it took him around 6+ hours to play 5 maps. based on that i always counted on that it would take around 20+ hours raughly for someone to play SM for the first time on setting Normal. as allready is said above is the amount of time needed different when you play on Easy or Hard.
i too do believe that gameplay of a game or mod will indeed decide how long and often you will need to finish a game or mod. above is suggested by some that because of the lack of many puzzels in SM they couldn’t play many hours after each other. personaly as you now probebly will well know do i not like puzzels, should i therefore play a mod with many in them i too wouldn’t play many hours behind each other.

i play about 2 to 5 hours each day i guess, during the day a bit, and late at night before bedtime i like to play for another 2 hours in generel. for those late night hours i always save a special game or mod. there are games that are ‘just’ ok to play, and there are that are really liked very much by the player. these last game sort i keep for late at night, i then like to sit behind a screen in a fully dark room to enjoy it at the most. after 2+ hours i always notice that the fun starts to go a bit away, the fun is not that big anymore as it was in the first hour. then is stop, because i don’t like to rush through a mod or game that i do like very much.

thanks for this poll Phillip and Stuart C. Wardlaw’s !
the outcome till now of this poll is what i raughly expected would be the case, although it does really surprice me that there are still so many people that do play it in one take !!

leon

]]> By: Da Fat Cat http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-210853 Da Fat Cat Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:31:21 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-210853 I didn't finish it and I dont plan to. It isn't a very good mod. I didn’t finish it and I dont plan to. It isn’t a very good mod.
]]> By: Armageddon http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-210790 Armageddon Wed, 30 Sep 2009 03:28:09 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-210790 This mod wasn't very good. The pictures looked better. But in-game it was crap. And the FPSBanana content was even worse... It was to long. That's why I didn't finish it. This mod wasn’t very good. The pictures looked better. But in-game it was crap. And the FPSBanana content was even worse… It was to long. That’s why I didn’t finish it.
]]> By: paddyL http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-210783 paddyL Wed, 30 Sep 2009 02:39:05 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-210783 I stayed up late to download it and then fell asleep playing the first level :) Played in approx. 2/3 hour sessions over a week. Used the walkthrough on three occasions though two of them I shouldn't have needed to - it was obvious when I saw it. Did anyone else use the walkthrough? My divorce papers are in the mail. I stayed up late to download it and then fell asleep playing the first level :)
Played in approx. 2/3 hour sessions over a week. Used the walkthrough on three occasions though two of them I shouldn’t have needed to – it was obvious when I saw it. Did anyone else use the walkthrough?
My divorce papers are in the mail.
]]> By: AnonEntity http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-210772 AnonEntity Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:32:08 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-210772 It was just a hang. Loaded PROPAGANDA correctly today. It was just a hang. Loaded PROPAGANDA correctly today.
]]> By: TB Biggs http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-210761 TB Biggs Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:21:28 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-210761 @ Robspace1. ***semi-spoiler*** We decided not to "rob" anyone if map16 told them they had missed an Easter Egg. So we decided at the last minute to unlock chapter17 once the player had completed map16. Just go to menu, New Game, and look through the chapters to the last one, the bonus map. You will see that map 17 is now 'open'. Just double click on it and 17 will start. @ Robspace1. ***semi-spoiler***

We decided not to “rob” anyone if map16 told them they had missed an Easter Egg. So we decided at the last minute to unlock chapter17 once the player had completed map16.
Just go to menu, New Game, and look through the chapters to the last one, the bonus map. You will see that map 17 is now ‘open’. Just double click on it and 17 will start.

]]> By: Robspace1 http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-210752 Robspace1 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 06:20:27 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-210752 I played SM in fairly short sessions. With a game this big, there's no reason to rush it. I treated it like any other full length game. I take a week or more to go through it. In this one I made a mistake and forgot to download one of the portals and now I need to start it over. I made it to the end just to be told I cannot play the bonus without the missing download. Fine-I can handle going through it again. It's a great game! I played SM in fairly short sessions. With a game this big, there’s no reason to rush it. I treated it like any other full length game. I take a week or more to go through it. In this one I made a mistake and forgot to download one of the portals and now I need to start it over. I made it to the end just to be told I cannot play the bonus without the missing download. Fine-I can handle going through it again. It’s a great game!
]]> By: Robspace1 http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-210751 Robspace1 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 06:16:19 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-210751 Hey Rolando-Try installing this free program to your computer. It shuts down background programs while you play games and diverts all resources to your game- http://www.iobit.com/gamebooster.html Hey Rolando-Try installing this free program to your computer. It shuts down background programs while you play games and diverts all resources to your game-
http://www.iobit.com/gamebooster.html
]]> By: C:16937 » Podcast17 http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-210745 C:16937 » Podcast17 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 03:23:41 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-210745 [...] How did you play Strider Mountain? Click here to read the post at PlanetPhillip and vote. [...] [...] How did you play Strider Mountain? Click here to read the post at PlanetPhillip and vote. [...]
]]> By: AnonEntity http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-210738 AnonEntity Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:31:15 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-210738 Does SM end with the KeyCard? If yes, then I've completed it. Otherwise...???? No crosshair though! Does SM end with the KeyCard?
If yes, then I’ve completed it. Otherwise…????
No crosshair though!
]]> By: staberas http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-210713 staberas Mon, 28 Sep 2009 07:08:43 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-210713 i didnt finished , i closed it after the second level , very low fps for me.It needed more optimization i didnt finished , i closed it after the second level , very low fps for me.It needed more optimization
]]> By: Fred Carver http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-210710 Fred Carver Mon, 28 Sep 2009 04:31:44 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-210710 Very good English except replace I didn’t played it... with I didn't play it... Very good English except replace

I didn’t played it…

with

I didn’t play it…

]]> By: Fred Carver http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-210709 Fred Carver Mon, 28 Sep 2009 04:29:43 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-210709 I checked my save game folder to see the stats. 1-2 hours a night except for two nights with no playtime at all. prerelease was played on 2/20, 2/22-23. Started on remainder on 9/12 and ended on 9/23. Also checked Offshore and found I took the same number of days. I checked my save game folder to see the stats.

1-2 hours a night except for two nights with no playtime at all.

prerelease was played on 2/20, 2/22-23.

Started on remainder on 9/12 and ended on 9/23.

Also checked Offshore and found I took the same number of days.

]]> By: TB Biggs http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-210705 TB Biggs Mon, 28 Sep 2009 01:38:22 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-210705 Barnz played SM in one setting and posted quite a detailed review as well. Barnz played SM in one setting and posted quite a detailed review as well.
]]> By: planetphillip http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-210698 planetphillip Sun, 27 Sep 2009 19:39:46 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-210698 WOW, can you remember how many hours it was? WOW, can you remember how many hours it was?
]]> By: Barnz http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-210696 Barnz Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:57:50 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-210696 One sitting. What can I say, it was a long day. One sitting. What can I say, it was a long day.
]]> By: Armageddon http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-210694 Armageddon Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:50:14 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-210694 Too many to count. I still haven't finished it... Too many to count. I still haven’t finished it…
]]> By: planetphillip http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-210688 planetphillip Sun, 27 Sep 2009 15:59:19 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-210688 That's surprising because if your PC runs HL2 then it should run SM. That’s surprising because if your PC runs HL2 then it should run SM.
]]> By: Rolando http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-210683 Rolando Sun, 27 Sep 2009 14:52:29 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-210683 I didn't played it because my computer can't handle it. But if I would have played it, I would have chosen the first or second option. Do I speak a good English? I didn’t played it because my computer can’t handle it. But if I would have played it, I would have chosen the first or second option. Do I speak a good English?
]]> By: Badfrog http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-210677 Badfrog Sun, 27 Sep 2009 10:08:18 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-210677 I found the beta to be just another very large map, then I started to play this final version. Although it's not really different yet (I'm past the gravel dump), I'm beginning to grasp the atmosphere. I'm enjoying it much more this time. Will it last with what comes next ? Nothing to say about the realisation: plain perfect. just a locking bug in the red corridor. Disappears if you restart and stay clear of the walls when saving. I found the beta to be just another very large map, then I started to play this final version. Although it’s not really different yet (I’m past the gravel dump), I’m beginning to grasp the atmosphere. I’m enjoying it much more this time. Will it last with what comes next ?

Nothing to say about the realisation: plain perfect. just a locking bug in the red corridor. Disappears if you restart and stay clear of the walls when saving.

]]> By: Jasper http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-210674 Jasper Sun, 27 Sep 2009 09:14:09 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-210674 In easy about 10 sittings. It's important to get the geography sorted and start thinking about your strategy for the next skill. About the same in normal when you have to nail your tactics down and glad I did because: In Hard - wow. About 5 sessions in about 5 hours and I've only just arrived at Propaganda! This is going to take a while. In easy about 10 sittings. It’s important to get the geography sorted and start thinking about your strategy for the next skill.
About the same in normal when you have to nail your tactics down and glad I did because:
In Hard – wow. About 5 sessions in about 5 hours and I’ve only just arrived at Propaganda!
This is going to take a while.
]]> By: planetphillip http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-210671 planetphillip Sun, 27 Sep 2009 05:29:55 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-210671 That's a very good point; the type of gameplay effects how long we play it. That’s a very good point; the type of gameplay effects how long we play it.
]]> By: planetphillip http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-210669 planetphillip Sun, 27 Sep 2009 05:26:17 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-210669 Yeah, me too, but how you play has probably already been fixed. Yeah, me too, but how you play has probably already been fixed.
]]> By: planetphillip http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/poll-question-140/comment-page-1/#comment-210667 planetphillip Sun, 27 Sep 2009 05:24:40 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=6843#comment-210667 Use the last option. I can't claim credit for the poll idea, it was Stuart C. Wardlaw's suggestion. Use the last option. I can’t claim credit for the poll idea, it was Stuart C. Wardlaw’s suggestion.
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