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#DarkSoulsDowngrade and #YOULIED \\ a.k.a You got some splainin' to do, Namco

pa22word

Member
Wait, "enemy despawn"? The fuck is that?

Most enemies in the game despawn after 10 kills. You can get around it by using an item at a bonfire, or so I've been told.


EDIT: Beaten and apparently wrong (about the number). I've never despawned a uh, spawn before but 15 sounds okay-ish. I wish it was that and they reset after you lose a soul'd bloodstain, had tiered soul counts based on number of times killed, etc. The way it is now just seems so bleh =\

Just because the demo stations ran on PS3 well enough, does not mean the whole game ran at an acceptable framerate.
That's probably why they cut it.

The problem is in them keeping the false promotional material, in my opinion.

tumblr_inline_mkhlu5TtUN1reb72v.gif


It's nice to see someone come in here and not just damage control their ass off for this...
 

Grief.exe

Member
In my opinion you've got a bigger chance of the old textures returning than lighting/shadows, as that would be the easiest, most logical scaling downgrade. Removing specular/normal maps from textures and decreasing resolution would save a lot on processing cost. It's why when you take a PC/console game the boost to textures and effect layers is immediately noticeable.

I don't actually think that will happen though. A lot of that data probably doesn't exist or wasn't made for the full game, so they've settled on this quality.

Lighting is a huge one because it seriously seems like the light rendering engine itself was totally overhauled. Not a case of simplifying, but basically going "fuck it" and baking a ton of shadows instead of rendering everything in real time. I figure Dark Souls 2 PC will ship in the same state.

Hypothetically if Dark Souls 2 PC does launch with both the old textures and old lighting/shadow system, it will probably be the most impressive port quality turnaround from any developer ever :p.

EatChildren, one thing I have noticed after following all this quite extensively is there are three distinct versions of Dark Souls 2 that have been shown to the public.


The vertical slice is just that, a vertical slice of gameplay that was created to show off the game. It has completely different geometry and textures from the other two versions, but has the same lighting effects and darkness mechanic that we see in the PC version.
Its obvious that From did use assets and general level design from this vertical slice for the final PC and console versions though.

The PC version is identical to the console retail version in geometry and textures, but with a few exceptions. Higher resolution/frame rate, high-resolution textures, more particle effects, better lighting, and the darkness mechanic.

My hypothesis, From wasn't lying when they said that the PC was lead platform and the engine was developed for PC/next-gen.
All of these graphical effects and features were stripped from the PC version for performance reasons on consoles. From needs the extra 6 weeks to finalize all the extra effects for the PC version.
Its also a win/win for Bandai as they will secure the key 'double-dipper' demographic for the PC version as it is considerably better in performance and graphical effects.

If you are interested, I posted a more in-depth analysis here.

Screenshots taken from the PC trailer:
idQf74JSP5NiF.jpg
 

RK9039

Member
Going OT for a bit, but I still don't understand why they did this. I mean ffs you can warp to any bonfire anyways so what's the point in forcing us to sit through 2 loading times to get back there to level up?

It's probably because they wanted to create a nexus-like area this time. People complained about the original Dark Souls that there wasn't really a hub area in the game, like the nexus in Demon's Souls, where you would level up, buy spells and items.

I actually like that they went for a hub/town area which changes as you progress in the game, and Majula looks like a really nice place. Loading screens will be a problem but I'm guessing, on PC at least, loading times won't be a huge issue.
 

Cday

Banned
I think what I said flew over your head. Because they were targeting the platform, as in, tweaking FOR the platform. All I'm saying is just because it was 10 FPS higher doesn't mean it absolves it from being the cause of all this. That's it.

Because Dark Souls ran so well on PS3.
 
I may build a PC just to max out Dark Souls 2. I have a 7970 I can probably get for cheap and a few other parts to build a nice rig. I'll be looking with interest at reports on the PC version.
 
Oh man. I'll gladly wait to see how the PC version turns out, but for now there's no way I'll buy this on consoles. The sequel to my 2011 game of the year deserves better.
 

Grief.exe

Member
You seem to be missing the mirror knight PS3 build that was present at events and on PSaccess a few weeks before launch. That is, if it ever was actually running on a ps3.

I just used that particular trailer to represent the PC version and that fight was not in that trailer.

The PC version has been shown off more than once, but the amount of evidence in that trailer alone is overwhelming. I didn't think I had to dip into other sources. Alternatively, the image is already quite large, no need to make it larger.
 
EatChildren, one thing I have noticed after following all this quite extensively is there are three distinct versions of Dark Souls 2 that have been shown to the public.


The vertical slice is just that, a vertical slice of gameplay that was created to show off the game. It has completely different geometry and textures from the other two versions, but has the same lighting effects and darkness mechanic that we see in the PC version.
Its obvious that From did use assets and general level design from this vertical slice for the final PC and console versions though.

The PC version is identical to the console retail version in geometry and textures, but with a few exceptions. Higher resolution/frame rate, high-resolution textures, more particle effects, better lighting, and the darkness mechanic.

My hypothesis, From wasn't lying when they said that the PC was lead platform and the engine was developed for PC/next-gen.
All of these graphical effects and features were stripped from the PC version for performance reasons on consoles. From needs the extra 6 weeks to finalize all the extra effects for the PC version.
Its also a win/win for Bandai as they will secure the key 'double-dipper' demographic for the PC version as it is considerably better in performance and graphical effects.

If you are interested, I posted a more in-depth analysis here.

Screenshots taken from the PC trailer:
http://i2.minus.com/idQf74JSP5NiF.jpg[IMG][/QUOTE]

Not getting my hopes up. Will believe it when I see it.
 

pa22word

Member
Okay, those screen shots from the video are just weird considering the both the steam and GMG pages have screen shots of the "PC Version" up that include specular reflections on light sources.

Who the fuck knows what the hell we end up with on PC. I just wish from/namco would come clean with us to end this carnival of stupid so us PCgafers can quit pulling out hair out =\
 

Amir0x

Banned
Why should they compare it to demos? I think they should review the game for what it is. Not that they shouldn't point out false advertising, but I don't think the review is the place for that.

Because part of these websites duty is to perform the service of informing your customers about what they are about to purchase.

IF you know that every single day up until the actual release date From and Namco were touting this radical lighting system that impacts actual gameplay, and suddenly that feature is no longer there, it is absolutely your obligation to bring this up in the review. To tell your audience that what you've been sold was a bill of goods that does not exist.

Dark Souls II is stripped of features, lighting engine, texture downgrades all over the place, aspects of the game dumbed down from initial promises. We're talking a catastrophic downgrade, one of which they have failed to deliver on the promises they made virtually across the board, and intended to keep us in the DARK about it until after the game was well out into market!

Therefore, it is the editorial responsibility of all game websites to inform consumers that nothing they have seen is accurate, and that if they still intend to buy the game, they need to understand how fundamental the core changes actually were to the package. Because they were massive.
 

RK9039

Member
EatChildren, one thing I have noticed after following all this quite extensively is there are three distinct versions of Dark Souls 2 that have been shown to the public.


The vertical slice is just that, a vertical slice of gameplay that was created to show off the game. It has completely different geometry and textures from the other two versions, but has the same lighting effects and darkness mechanic that we see in the PC version.
Its obvious that From did use assets and general level design from this vertical slice for the final PC and console versions though.

The PC version is identical to the console retail version in geometry and textures, but with a few exceptions. Higher resolution/frame rate, high-resolution textures, more particle effects, better lighting, and the darkness mechanic.

My hypothesis, From wasn't lying when they said that the PC was lead platform and the engine was developed for PC/next-gen.
All of these graphical effects and features were stripped from the PC version for performance reasons on consoles. From needs the extra 6 weeks to finalize all the extra effects for the PC version.
Its also a win/win for Bandai as they will secure the key 'double-dipper' demographic for the PC version as it is considerably better in performance and graphical effects.

I'm hyped now. You've been looking at this very carefully as well, I hope you're right.
 

Easy_D

never left the stone age
Maybe predowngrade it ran better on PS3? Unlikely I guess.

That's a real mystery then. Purposefully downgraded to sell a future next gen version is my last theory.

I have the craziest theory of them all.


Before the downgrade, the PS3 version actually ran better than the 360 one. Which is why they only demoed the PS3 version of the game. Now, post downgrade, whatever bottleneck was hindering the 360 from running better is gone. So it now outperforms the PS3 version.

My crazy theory is therefore; They got rid of it because the 360 couldn't run it!

(Which would be kind of crazy, since the 360 has a stronger GPU, does it not?)
 

pa22word

Member
I have the craziest theory of them all.


Before the downgrade, the PS3 version actually ran better than the 360 one. Which is why they only demoed the PS3 version of the game. Now, post downgrade, whatever bottleneck was hindering the 360 from running better is gone. So it now outperforms the PS3 version.

My crazy theory is therefore; They got rid of it because the 360 couldn't run it!

(Which would be kind of crazy, since the 360 has a stronger GPU, does it not?)

I think the main reason we saw the PS3 version all the time is because it was main focus of Fromsoft's development as they published the PS3 version in Japan.

I just used that particular trailer to represent the PC version and that fight was not in that trailer.

The PC version has been shown off more than once, but the amount of evidence in that trailer alone is overwhelming. I didn't think I had to dip into other sources. Alternatively, the image is already quite large, no need to make it larger.

EDIT: I went back and checked and I think I'm wrong, sadly =\
 

Grief.exe

Member
I have the craziest theory of them all.


Before the downgrade, the PS3 version actually ran better than the 360 one. Which is why they only demoed the PS3 version of the game. Now, post downgrade, whatever bottleneck was hindering the 360 from running better is gone. So it now outperforms the PS3 version.

My crazy theory is therefore; They got rid of it because the 360 couldn't run it!

(Which would be kind of crazy, since the 360 has a stronger GPU, does it not?)

This is the only thing that doesn't add up.

So you watch the play throughs of people at TGS and they are playing a game with the exact same visuals as the PC trailer shown at that show. I remember people specifically citing solid performance as well.

Fast forward to February, and we see a completely different game on PS3 with absolutely neutered visual effects across the board and performance problems. This same build was actually released just a month later.

Literally the only way to explain this is Namco had the game running on PCs with PS3 button prompts. I know people saw PS3s on the table at these events, but, considering the evidence, there is no way the game was actually running on PS3.

Remember, Microsoft did the exact same thing at E3, Xbox Ones on the table, PC hidden away underneath.
 
D

Deleted member 22576

Unconfirmed Member
Because part of these websites duty is to perform the service of informing your customers about what they are about to purchase.

IF you know that every single day up until the actual release date From and Namco were touting this radical lighting system that impacts actual gameplay, and suddenly that feature is no longer there, it is absolutely your obligation to bring this up in the review. To tell your audience that what you've been sold was a bill of goods that does not exist.

Dark Souls II is stripped of features, lighting engine, texture downgrades all over the place, aspects of the game dumbed down from initial promises. We're talking a catastrophic downgrade, one of which they have failed to deliver on the promises they made virtually across the board, and intended to keep us in the DARK about it until after the game was well out into market!

Therefore, it is the editorial responsibility of all game websites to inform consumers that nothing they have seen is accurate, and that if they still intend to buy the game, they need to understand how fundamental the core changes actually were to the package. Because they were massive.
I don't disagree.
But it does make me question the "if a tree falls in the forest does it make noise" part of this. Percentage-wise most people who will ever play Dark Souls2 probably don't even know its out yet. I'm as hardcore about videogames as anyone could ever expect to be I had only seen the very first trailer for it back at the VGAs like two years ago. Sadly, 95% of my exposure to Dark Souls2 has been the gifs in this thread. This is a story as old as videogames themselves. Obviously I'm not going to argue someone out of their emotional response to something but I'm failing to see what makes this situation so unique. It truly is the Dark Souls of unmet expectations. Actually, that'd be Halo2.
 

Sentenza

Member
You seem to be missing the mirror knight PS3 build that was present at events and on PSaccess a few weeks before launch. That is, if it ever was actually running on a ps3.
Is there any *actual* confirmation of this or people keep assuming that's the case just because "Hey, it had the PSX button prompts so it was surely running on PS3"?
 

Easy_D

never left the stone age
This is the only thing that doesn't add up.

So you watch the play throughs of people at TGS and they are playing a game with the exact same visuals as the PC trailer shown at that show. I remember people specifically citing solid performance as well.

Fast forward to February, and we see a completely different game on PS3 with absolutely neutered visual effects across the board and performance problems. This same build was actually released just a month later.

Literally the only way to explain this is Namco had the game running on PCs with PS3 button prompts. I know people saw PS3s on the table at these events, but, considering the evidence, there is no way the game was actually running on PS3.

Remember, Microsoft did the exact same thing at E3, Xbox Ones on the table, PC hidden away underneath.

I bet the practice is more common than we want to believe. But didn't someone state that the demo units could load the XMB? Was that part ever confirmed?
 
This is the only thing that doesn't add up.

So you watch the play throughs of people at TGS and they are playing a game with the exact same visuals as the PC trailer shown at that show. I remember people specifically citing solid performance as well.

Fast forward to February, and we see a completely different game actually being played on PS3 with downgraded visual effects across the board and performance problems.

Literally the only way to explain this is Namco had the game running on PCs with PS3 button prompts. I know people saw PS3s on the table at these events, but, considering the evidence, there is no way the game was actually running on PS3.

Remember, Microsoft did the exact same thing at E3, Xbox Ones on the table, PC hidden away underneath.

My guess is on that closed enviroment and build they manage to run the game fine, but they probably ran with RAM and other problems trying to translate that graphical quality on the full game.
 

pa22word

Member
This is the only thing that doesn't add up.

So you watch the play throughs of people at TGS and they are playing a game with the exact same visuals as the PC trailer shown at that show. I remember people specifically citing solid performance as well.

Fast forward to February, and we see a completely different game on PS3 with absolutely neutered visual effects across the board and performance problems. This same build was actually released just a month later.

Literally the only way to explain this is Namco had the game running on PCs with PS3 button prompts. I know people saw PS3s on the table at these events, but, considering the evidence, there is no way the game was actually running on PS3.

Remember, Microsoft did the exact same thing at E3, Xbox Ones on the table, PC hidden away underneath.

As I posted earlier, I really think it's because the main team was working on the ps3 build as From was publishing the game themselves in Japan with a smaller team working on porting it to the 360.

Is there any *actual* confirmation of this or people keep assuming that's the case just because "Hey, it had the PSX button prompts so it was surely running on PS3"?


Not afaik.
 

JimmyRustler

Gold Member
Anyone else thinks it baffeling how much better the game looks once you lit a torch and are running around with it? Its a real shame that there is no real reason to do that.
 

UrbanRats

Member
Individual enemies will stop spawning after about 15 repeated kills.
That is.. interesting.
I'm curious to see how it will work in the long run.

Because part of these websites duty is to perform the service of informing your customers about what they are about to purchase.

IF you know that every single day up until the actual release date From and Namco were touting this radical lighting system that impacts actual gameplay, and suddenly that feature is no longer there, it is absolutely your obligation to bring this up in the review. To tell your audience that what you've been sold was a bill of goods that does not exist.

Dark Souls II is stripped of features, lighting engine, texture downgrades all over the place, aspects of the game dumbed down from initial promises. We're talking a catastrophic downgrade, one of which they have failed to deliver on the promises they made virtually across the board, and intended to keep us in the DARK about it until after the game was well out into market!

Therefore, it is the editorial responsibility of all game websites to inform consumers that nothing they have seen is accurate, and that if they still intend to buy the game, they need to understand how fundamental the core changes actually were to the package. Because they were massive.
I agree with this.

In times like these, it almost feels like the gaming press (generalization) has a deep contempt for their audience (and vice versa), with all the "Aw, shut up you people are crazy" "stop bitching" "entitled cry babies" "just enjoy the game" etc etc.
Which is depressing to see.
 

pa22word

Member
Anyone else thinks it baffeling how much better the game looks once you lit a torch and are running around with it?

Yeah it's got some dynamic shadow casting shenanigans going on when you light the torch which looks really cool. Mechanically it reminds me of Carmack's Reverse back in the doom 3 days, just nowhere near as nice looking :p, and uh, no real reason to use it =\

In times like these, it almost feels like the gaming press (generalization) has a deep contempt for their audience (and vice versa), with all the "Aw, shut up you people are crazy" "stop bitching" "entitled cry babies" "just enjoy the game" etc etc.
Which is depressing to see.


Basically they think they're better than us because they get to regurgitate press releases all day and get paid for it.
 

Foffy

Banned
Individual enemies will stop spawning after about 15 repeated kills.

This sounds very King's Field, but potentially very bad. What if you want to farm to build up stats for weapons, or to use boss souls? I know you can reset areas, but I fear that there could be ways that the player can really, easily roadblock themselves from really building up things.
 

pa22word

Member
This sounds very King's Field, but potentially very bad. What if you want to farm to build up stats for weapons, or to use boss souls? I know you can reset areas, but I fear that there could be ways that the player can really, easily roadblock themselves from really building up things.

From what I've been told, you can reset the spawn rate in an area with a one use item.


Are people still defending this shit? This is so fucking wrong...

That gif....whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
 
D

Deleted member 22576

Unconfirmed Member
In times like these, it almost feels like the gaming press (generalization) has a deep contempt for their audience (and vice versa), with all the "Aw, shut up you people are crazy" "stop bitching" "entitled cry babies" "just enjoy the game" etc etc.
Which is depressing to see.

I think it just comes from a vastly different perspective. I feel like most super super hardcore people who live/breath this stuff just know it deep in their bones to literally never trust anything anybody says about a game until its installed your own actual harddrive. And even then a patch could come along and change your favorite feature. Its an irreconcilable difference in perception that definitely breeds contempt.
 

Kingduqc

Banned
Again...why should that matter at all in a review score? They are reviewing the finished product. They felt it was good. It's like a movie reviewer going back to a trailer and saying, "man, that trailer really made the movie look good, especially with that one scene that didn't even wind up in the movie...I better pull two stars off my review." Or, it would be like taking a game that had all kinds of development trouble, but turned out pretty good (like Metal Gear Rising) and then knocking the score down just because they had some issues.

The way this should be handled is you report on the issue separately and your review score is independent of it.


The difference with dynamic light on and off plays a great role into the atmosphere of the game. Immersion is tied to what you are seeing and hearing and the game would be better if it was in it. The slap in the face is that we'Ve seen it working not so long ago and now it's all gone. I just hope it was the PC version since the consoles can't handle it but otherwise I will feel really disappointed because the game could be better then it is.
 

Future

Member
This sounds very King's Field, but potentially very bad. What if you want to farm to build up stats for weapons, or to use boss souls? I know you can reset areas, but I fear that there could be ways that the player can really, easily roadblock themselves from really building up things.

I'm afraid I already screwed myself by venturing too far from a bonfire and losing a bunch of souls. :( Now I'm encouraged to just farm an area until they stop spawning and inch forward away from the bonfire to ensure I don't lose valuable souls
 
Anyone else thinks it baffeling how much better the game looks once you lit a torch and are running around with it? Its a real shame that there is no real reason to do that.

I love lighting up areas as I progress. it just changes the atmosphere a little bit and is optional, which IMO is far preferable to pitch black areas that people in this thread are for some reason disappointed not to have.
 

JimPanzer

Member
I hope if the PC versions turns out to be that good looking FROM spent some time optimizing it. don't want to upgrade my gtx 760 already.
 

ElfArmy177

Member
Playing the game I actually think the game is designed well around warping. You still have to explore areas for the first time to get to the bonfire to warp with, but if the game didn't have warping I would honestly be pissed off with the way they designed the levels.

The enemies are tougher than before and slogging through an enemy ridden area each time you need to backtrack would drive me crazy (it's different than DeS and DS1, it really is). Plus, you have to go back to Majula each time you want to level up or reinforce your estus flask so you basically need warping since each of the locations in the game spiral away from Majula.

As for despawning, I also hated it at first but find it to be kind of well-implemented here. The enemies, like I said, are tougher. After a certain point early in the game you might be pissed slogging through 10 difficult enemies just to reach the boss gate. The game also uses this as a way to force you to fight for your right to grind. You can reset the enemy spawns at a bonfire using an item you get in-game, which will let you grind. Otherwise, you have to be mindful of your enemies and not bask in the luxury of being able to grind whenever you want.

They're new mechanics and I was extremely hesitant to accept them, but so far from playing, they work well enough.

I haven't had to grind once and I'm already at a higher level than I ever was in DS1.

Thank you for this response :)
 

Easy_D

never left the stone age
Man, I hope the PC version is well optimized. My E8500 C2D is really starting to show its age. It lasted the entire 360 gen tho, so it's definitely pulled its weight.

IF the PC version has all the fantastic effects that they showed when they demoed it, I hope that you can adjust the settings so it looks like the console releases, because I'd be really bummed out if my PC didn't run it properly :'(
 

masterkajo

Member
EatChildren, one thing I have noticed after following all this quite extensively is there are three distinct versions of Dark Souls 2 that have been shown to the public.


The vertical slice is just that, a vertical slice of gameplay that was created to show off the game. It has completely different geometry and textures from the other two versions, but has the same lighting effects and darkness mechanic that we see in the PC version.
Its obvious that From did use assets and general level design from this vertical slice for the final PC and console versions though.

The PC version is identical to the console retail version in geometry and textures, but with a few exceptions. Higher resolution/frame rate, high-resolution textures, more particle effects, better lighting, and the darkness mechanic.

My hypothesis, From wasn't lying when they said that the PC was lead platform and the engine was developed for PC/next-gen.
All of these graphical effects and features were stripped from the PC version for performance reasons on consoles. From needs the extra 6 weeks to finalize all the extra effects for the PC version.
Its also a win/win for Bandai as they will secure the key 'double-dipper' demographic for the PC version as it is considerably better in performance and graphical effects.

If you are interested, I posted a more in-depth analysis here.

Screenshots taken from the PC trailer:
idQf74JSP5NiF.jpg

I choose to believe you. Don't let me down.
 

Screaming Meat

Unconfirmed Member
This sounds very King's Field, but potentially very bad. What if you want to farm to build up stats for weapons, or to use boss souls? I know you can reset areas, but I fear that there could be ways that the player can really, easily roadblock themselves from really building up things.

Co-op is always available.
 

Grief.exe

Member
760 is better than what's in the PS4. You probably won't need to upgrade for years if that's what you're worried about.

Even just grabbing a used 760 for SLI down the line is a perfectly viable option.

I picked up a used 560 ti for SLI on the cheap and I am still playing next-gen games at 1080p/60 FPS with solid settings.

I choose to believe you. Don't let me down.

I generally tend to lean towards the optimistic in my speculation, but the evidence is there.
 
I don't get how people can think even if the pc port looks as pretty as the demo that it's going to have the darkness brought back. Seems to me like making the game brighter was a design decision. It's not like you need some crazy tech to have areas where you need a torch. You're literally expecting them to make an area play differently for the pc version because it looks cooler.
 

pa22word

Member
I don't get how people can think even if the pc port looks as pretty as the demo that it's going to have the darkness brought back. Seems to me like making the game brighter was a design decision.

Considering all the scones are still in the game I'd say it comes off more as a last second "OH FUCK WE NEED TO SHIP THIS IN THREE MONTHS SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT" decision, personally.
 

Grief.exe

Member
I don't get how people can think even if the pc port looks as pretty as the demo that it's going to have the darkness brought back. Seems to me like making the game brighter was a design decision. It's not like you need some crazy tech to have areas where you need a torch. You're literally expecting them to make an area play differently for the pc version because it looks cooler.

I mean, if you watch gameplay videos where dynamic lighting is present, you see a frame rate drop.

Not to hard to extrapolate why they toned down the torch necessity last minute. Requiring people to take a frame rate hit in order to progress is just bad design.
 
I think it just comes from a vastly different perspective. I feel like most super super hardcore people who live/breath this stuff just know it deep in their bones to literally never trust anything anybody says about a game until its installed your own actual harddrive. And even then a patch could come along and change your favorite feature. Its an irreconcilable difference in perception that definitely breeds contempt.
Very well said.
 
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