Search found 574 matches

by Drakona
Sat Sep 26, 2015 11:16 am
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: Open-mindedness and critical thinking
Replies: 19
Views: 1457

Re: Open-mindedness and critical thinking

But you know, to go back to the meta stuff . . . Krom is a lot more likely to put energy into finding an alternative explanation to the flatness problem -- a solution if you will -- than I am. In fact, given what I believe about where the universe came from, that flatness problem isn't even a proble...
by Drakona
Sat Sep 26, 2015 11:08 am
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: Open-mindedness and critical thinking
Replies: 19
Views: 1457

Re: Open-mindedness and critical thinking

Krom, the idea that life could exist in any condition and grows to depend on what it finds . . . that's certainly true about some things, but it sounds like sophistry applied to other things. The one that really gets me is the flatness problem . The solutions that don't involve God sound pretty lame...
by Drakona
Fri Sep 25, 2015 2:20 pm
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: Open-mindedness and critical thinking
Replies: 19
Views: 1457

Re: Open-mindedness and critical thinking

Those videos are all right as far as they go. The approach is a bit one sided when it comes to subject matter, though. It is common to oppose belief in science and belief in the supernatural, but these are really orthogonal. Science is a method; the natural or supernatural is a topic. There are rati...
by Drakona
Wed Apr 29, 2015 4:31 pm
Forum: Descent: Underground
Topic: Random Q
Replies: 33
Views: 21294

Re: Random Q

That said, I'm not sure I agree that doing it "after the fact" would work well. It would be a noticeable change for players who have a good sense of timing for leading their shots. A change like that could be frustrating for some players, particularly if the gameplay "feel" has ...
by Drakona
Tue Apr 28, 2015 8:41 am
Forum: Descent: Underground
Topic: Random Q
Replies: 33
Views: 21294

Re: Random Q

It sounds pretty server-based from everything I've heard so far. But we'll see. I have some technical suggestions that may get most of the benefit of p2p without the security drawbacks. The main one is: Spawn shots on the server for each player with a delay that corresponds to their ping to the serv...
by Drakona
Sun Apr 05, 2015 2:15 pm
Forum: Descent: Underground
Topic: Questions about Descent: Underground?
Replies: 145
Views: 99428

Re: Questions about Descent: Underground?

I have literally believed in nothing else between then and now, not even Sol Contingency. Sorry to detract from the conversation, but I've seen you say this a few times.How come? O.o How come I haven't believed in anything else? Or how come I am still skeptical about Sol Contingency specifically? O...
by Drakona
Sat Apr 04, 2015 4:25 pm
Forum: Descent: Underground
Topic: Questions about Descent: Underground?
Replies: 145
Views: 99428

Re: Questions about Descent: Underground?

Yeah, you're dead right, Krom. If they manage to make that 8 ship team v team mode into something I want to play for longer than a week, I'll eat my hat. As impressed as I am with the game design chops of this team, I just don't think it can be done. Here's what I was told that brought me around in ...
by Drakona
Sat Apr 04, 2015 1:48 pm
Forum: Descent: Underground
Topic: Questions about Descent: Underground?
Replies: 145
Views: 99428

Re: Questions about Descent: Underground?

No kidding.

I've got Revenge of Dravis in the mean time, though. Have I mentioned I like Revenge of Dravis? If you're into D1 single player, you really should check out Revenge of Dravis. Revenge of Dravis is pretty good.
by Drakona
Sat Apr 04, 2015 12:39 pm
Forum: Descent: Underground
Topic: Questions about Descent: Underground?
Replies: 145
Views: 99428

Re: Questions about Descent: Underground?

Back to Valin . . . For what it's worth, when I first got involved with the project, my attitude was also, "Can I buy enough control to personally ensure this turns out ok?" Or like, failing that, I need strong assurances that this will not suck, or you're getting no money out of me. It's ...
by Drakona
Sat Apr 04, 2015 12:24 pm
Forum: Descent: Underground
Topic: Questions about Descent: Underground?
Replies: 145
Views: 99428

Re: Questions about Descent: Underground?

Wow -- well said, Krom. I couldn't agree more. A few people over on the DU forums have said something similar -- "I loved what Descent's single player was, can't you just make that?" Yeah. I feel the same way. Don't worry so much about how you look, you know? Make something awesome as you ...
by Drakona
Fri Apr 03, 2015 11:21 pm
Forum: Descent: Underground
Topic: Questions about Descent: Underground?
Replies: 145
Views: 99428

Re: Questions about Descent: Underground?

But if you want a high level overview of what they're trying to do -- this is a really good place to start.
by Drakona
Fri Apr 03, 2015 11:13 pm
Forum: Descent: Underground
Topic: Questions about Descent: Underground?
Replies: 145
Views: 99428

Re: Questions about Descent: Underground?

If you care that much, you should go get involved on their forum / with their community. The team has been extremely responsive to Lotharbot and myself when we reached out to them, and we went all the way from "very skeptical" to "putting up an awful lot of money and telling everyone ...
by Drakona
Thu Apr 02, 2015 8:55 pm
Forum: PTMC Cafe
Topic: question about weapons
Replies: 24
Views: 2478

Re: question about weapons

Homers didn't track proxies in DescentR. They did in Descent 2. I think they might have in D1x, but I'm not sure. They do in D1 and D2 Rebirth. They don't in D1 Retro. They do in D2 Retro. Diedel alone knows what happens in XL. ------------ In all versions of the game (except possibly XL, I have no ...
by Drakona
Thu Apr 02, 2015 8:20 pm
Forum: Descent: Underground
Topic: Questions about Descent: Underground?
Replies: 145
Views: 99428

Re: Questions about Descent: Underground?

But yes. Listening to pilots is even more important that being pilots. It's best if you can have both, but they have nailed the important one.
by Drakona
Thu Apr 02, 2015 8:18 pm
Forum: Descent: Underground
Topic: Questions about Descent: Underground?
Replies: 145
Views: 99428

Re: Questions about Descent: Underground?

I do tend to think it would benefit Descendent Studios a lot if they could watch a few top-tier pilots, in person, navigating Descent and their game. As it so happens, we've extended invitations to the team to join us for the 20th Anniversary LAN in Denver this July -- and they seemed interested. A...
by Drakona
Thu Apr 02, 2015 7:42 pm
Forum: Descent: Underground
Topic: Questions about Descent: Underground?
Replies: 145
Views: 99428

Re: Questions about Descent: Underground?

Re: Expert v expert piloting . . . I did send them this. They did puke, but only because the graphics were so bad by modern standards. ;)
by Drakona
Thu Apr 02, 2015 6:34 pm
Forum: Descent: Underground
Topic: Questions about Descent: Underground?
Replies: 145
Views: 99428

Re: Questions about Descent: Underground?

No offense, but the piloting in that video was horrible. This is Descent we are talking about here; if you aren't using slides/strafes pretty much at all times when you are moving or turning, you are very much doing it wrong. These guys desperately need some direct experience flying with and watchi...
by Drakona
Thu Apr 02, 2015 5:06 pm
Forum: PTMC Cafe
Topic: So... about this Descent Underground kickstarter
Replies: 7
Views: 1210

Re: So... about this Descent Underground kickstarter

Descent: Underground is the last, best hope for the Descent franchise. For the name, maybe. Between Freespace and D3, I think most of us are long past caring whether something has the name. If Sol Contingency has the magic, we'll play that. DU and SC both have the magic, we'll play both. I'm not to...
by Drakona
Fri Mar 27, 2015 7:54 pm
Forum: Descent: Underground
Topic: Descent : Underground. Did anyone here knew about this?
Replies: 166
Views: 227186

Re: Descent : Underground. Did anyone here knew about this?

On the off chance that it might tempt some of you out of retirement, I'll just mention that I'm looking at an 8-player KFF game on the tracker right now. The pilots are Jackeh, Yagar, Roncli, Lotharbot, DJCJR, Jediluke, Spud, and Kiln. That is all. You may return to your regularly scheduled DU discu...
by Drakona
Thu Mar 26, 2015 9:19 pm
Forum: Descent: Underground
Topic: Descent : Underground. Did anyone here knew about this?
Replies: 166
Views: 227186

Re: Descent : Underground. Did anyone here knew about this?

When people new to Descent jump into multiplayer and encounter one of the old school pilots, they aren't going to think "Wow, how do I learn to do that?" what they will think will be more along the lines of "This is ****, the game is dumb and these jerks are cheating!". Modern a...
by Drakona
Thu Mar 26, 2015 9:00 pm
Forum: Descent: Underground
Topic: Descent : Underground. Did anyone here knew about this?
Replies: 166
Views: 227186

Re: Descent : Underground. Did anyone here knew about this?

On the other hand, keyboards are of much higher quality than they were before. Gaming KB+gaming mouse is a very competitive setup. There's essentially an even split between joystick players and kb+mouse players among the top active pilots. (Come play with us: http://descentchampions.org/new_player....
by Drakona
Sun Mar 22, 2015 8:14 pm
Forum: Descent: Underground
Topic: Descent : Underground. Did anyone here knew about this?
Replies: 166
Views: 227186

Re: Descent : Underground. Did anyone here knew about this?

I get it now. I'm in.

If you want to read my reasoning, it's on the DU forums: http://descendentstudios.com/community/ ... -believer/
by Drakona
Sun Mar 15, 2015 12:02 pm
Forum: Descent: Underground
Topic: Descent : Underground. Did anyone here knew about this?
Replies: 166
Views: 227186

Re: Descent : Underground. Did anyone here knew about this?

After seeing Lothar and Drakona's words, I'm feeling much better about sending some money their way. Ok, I was a little worried about that, so I want to be very clear about what I do and don't mean. It may seem like splitting hairs, but this is an important point: I am backing the game because I wa...
by Drakona
Thu Jan 29, 2015 7:23 pm
Forum: Descent Old Skool
Topic: Where are the levels?
Replies: 11
Views: 8076

Re: Where are the levels?

DMDB really only works for newer levels -- things that came out after 2011 or so. For an old classic like Minerva, you should be able to get it at Pooterman's: http://www.pooterman.com. Unfortunately, Poot doesn't stock very *new* levels. I don't think he has anything that came out after about 1999....
by Drakona
Fri Mar 21, 2014 9:19 am
Forum: PTMC Cafe
Topic: SM @ work, FPV
Replies: 2
Views: 623

Re: SM @ work, FPV

:D
by Drakona
Tue Feb 18, 2014 9:01 am
Forum: PTMC Cafe
Topic: Looking for some old LAN pics
Replies: 4
Views: 915

Re: Looking for some old LAN pics

Your best bet for finding old LAN pics and connecting to old school pilots in general is the Old School Kali/Kahn group on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/kalikahn/ I'm not enough of a Facebook expert to know how to add you cold, so you'll have to ask to join it. But once that's done, if yo...
by Drakona
Thu Nov 21, 2013 11:16 pm
Forum: Descent Multiplayer
Topic: How do I play in 2013
Replies: 60
Views: 19405

Re: How do I play in 2013

Birdseye: I am trying to "unwreck" Rebirth's mouse. Your AIM contact doesn't work for me -- can you contact me (catherine.e.darrow@gmail.com and/or Rangers mumble) and give me some feedback? I have a build that Behemoth seems to think is fixed . . . but I want your feedback, too.
by Drakona
Thu Nov 07, 2013 7:49 pm
Forum: Descent Multiplayer
Topic: Descent Champions Ladder
Replies: 6
Views: 2880

Re: Descent Champions Ladder

Oooh, I seriously hope you come and play with us all, Birdseye. That would be awesome . Behemoth and I were just talking about you. He says you didn't appreciate the broken net code when you played in April. You'll be happy to know it's fixed now. Send me a note with what you think is broken about m...
by Drakona
Sun Jun 23, 2013 4:32 pm
Forum: Descent Old Skool
Topic: So, I'm playing Descent! r u?
Replies: 24
Views: 6622

Re: So, I'm playing Descent! r u?

Ahhhh . . . sweet! I haven't played D1 in so long. :)
by Drakona
Sun Jun 23, 2013 11:58 am
Forum: Descent Old Skool
Topic: So, I'm playing Descent! r u?
Replies: 24
Views: 6622

Re: So, I'm playing Descent! r u?

Rangers, huh? They're still around? Somehow that figures. :)

How do you even play Descent online in 2013? Do I have to find my old Kali keys somewhere? I think I printed them out . . . somewhere . . . half a lifetime ago.
by Drakona
Tue Jun 04, 2013 11:41 pm
Forum: PTMC Cafe
Topic: Super Descent
Replies: 24
Views: 8194

Re: Super Descent

Hi, Ferno. :) Yeah, I didn't realize this place was still around. Foil had to send me a note on facebook, and then I had to remember a password I haven't used in several years. I'm glad it's still here. :) I'm also glad you like the game. I'd always kind of hoped that I would finish it, and that may...
by Drakona
Mon Jun 03, 2013 2:55 pm
Forum: PTMC Cafe
Topic: Super Descent
Replies: 24
Views: 8194

Re: Super Descent

Not to hijack the thread too much -- it would be fun to make a top-down shooter version. With like, levels and line of sight and sound and stuff. Maybe mouse controls? Music? Save games? Could be a great weekend project. Unfortunately, I've recently had a kid, bought a house, and started a home busi...
by Drakona
Mon Jun 03, 2013 1:15 pm
Forum: PTMC Cafe
Topic: Super Descent
Replies: 24
Views: 8194

Re: Super Descent

Hehe. It's been so long, I can't still beat it. LotharBot can, though. He just did.

We made some of those levels MEAN. And the boss, too! I forgot!

And I was mistaken -- twenty levels and a secret. Not twenty-seven.
by Drakona
Mon Jun 03, 2013 10:41 am
Forum: PTMC Cafe
Topic: Super Descent
Replies: 24
Views: 8194

Re: Super Descent

Wow, Descent 0. Yeah, I haven't touched that in the last . . . eight years. Foil was trying to get me to add sound five years ago, and I was meaning to port the whole thing over to javascript last summer, since it's using some ancient Java web technology that works now even less than it ever did. It...
by Drakona
Sat Jul 02, 2011 10:49 am
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: Thoughts Blowing in the Dust
Replies: 96
Views: 5353

Re: Thoughts Blowing in the Dust

By contrast, violent entertainment is not addictive... Foil: You're certain of that? Seems to me it can be addictive to some extent. I'd be curious to see if any reputable studies have been done about this "Everyone generalizes from one example. At least, I do." ;) I don't have studies, j...
by Drakona
Wed Jun 29, 2011 9:28 am
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: Thoughts Blowing in the Dust
Replies: 96
Views: 5353

Re: Thoughts Blowing in the Dust

I think it is inappropriate to group porngraphy and violence together simply because both are offensive. Pornography is addictive by nature, and has a dramatic and obvious effect on one's present and future relationships. It is appropriate to restrict its access to those who understand the consequen...
by Drakona
Wed Oct 27, 2010 1:28 pm
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: The Death of Capitalism?
Replies: 52
Views: 4791

Re:

Still disagree; Altho admittedly my view is skewed by the particular niche I write software in (OS's, real time systems & process control.) -- in my eyes Stuxnet is a program, an iPhone app is a script at best. Well, you're certainly entitled to your opinion. But iPhone apps are definitely real...
by Drakona
Tue Oct 26, 2010 12:43 am
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: The Death of Capitalism?
Replies: 52
Views: 4791

In other fields, though, increasing technology makes it easier to enter. How hard was it to write software in 1970 vs today? A lot of people nowadays start businesses using nothing but their PC and a little bit of web space. Uh, it was very easy in the 70s compared to today, you should know that. A...
by Drakona
Mon Dec 14, 2009 12:10 am
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: In the End
Replies: 267
Views: 20540

The story was published on Sept. 18, 2009. As an amusing bit of prophecy (and to steer the thread back toward the main topic), the author of the article cautions (in his second addendum, item 12) Problems like those that I encountered are a proverbial ticking time bomb for science. What if those opp...
by Drakona
Sun Dec 13, 2009 5:11 pm
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: In the End
Replies: 267
Views: 20540

Re:

Also, the confirmation bias is IMHO more than counterbalanced by the science being extremely competitive. Scientists make their careers by disproving others' work --- the rewards for challenging others' work are extremely high. I am a scientist. When I see a paper for which I think "oh come on...