Friday, October 29, 2010

How to Install System Shock to a Windows XP (32-bit) PC

System Shock 2, a sci-fi survival horror PC game released in 1999, has been widely acclaimed as one of the greatest games of all time. However, installing the video game to a Windows XP-powered PC can be scarier than parrying the mad swings of a cyborg-zombie. These are some of the horrors it throws at you:

  • A black screen whenever you press ESC to save your progress
  • A frozen title screen (mouse not moving on the main menu)
  • System Shock 2 moving too fast
  • Stuttering
  • The Shoot - Use Modes Bug --- your character looks up at the start of each game (unresponsive mouse)

The guide after the jump.

Note: It's plain impossible to guarantee that one PC procedure that worked for one will always work for others without hitches. DO THE PROCEDURE AT YOUR OWN RISK. I WILL NOT GIVE TECH SUPPORT NOR WILL CLAIM ANY RESPONSIBILITY IF SOMETHING ADVERSE WILL HAPPEN TO YOUR COMPUTER.

Here's the procedure on how to install System Shock 2 to a Windows XP-powered gaming PC (this guide has been made under the assumption that you have uninstalled System Shock 2 and have already cleaned all traces of the game from your registry):

1. Copy-paste the "Shock" folder in your System Shock 2 CD into a directory of your choice. (No need to install the survival horror game from the CD).

Stop here and you will, in all probability, still experience: the black screen bug in which every time you press ESC, you will be greeted with a black screen, making the game unplayable if you aren't fond of the PC game's quick save feature (alt + s).

2. Install the SS2Tool, which provides (among other fixes) the DDFix tool, another godsend of all SShock 2 fans. If you follow the instructions in the link provided, it should eliminate nearly all the bugs mentioned in the list above. However:

Stop here and you will, in all probability, still experience: a frozen title screen where your mouse will be unresponsive, making the PC game's main menu just an attractive wallpaper.



3. Locate ddfix.ini and CTRL+F for the line "MenuUpdateDelay=" (without the quotes). Change the value (the default is 14) to 25. The System Shock 2 "Title Screen Freezes" bug should be fixed. (Kudos to Kolya and Wef, who provided the fix.)

However:

Stop here and you will, in all probability, still experience: 1.) The "Shoot and Use Modes" bug that renders the game unplayable; your character will still shoot his weapon even if you are in the PC game's Use Mode. 2.) Your character looking up at the start of each game, then freezing. You can walk around but your mouse will be unresponsive, making the survival horror video game unplayable.

4. Install the SS2 Modmanager, a freeware utility that lets you launch the sci-fi game's mods from a single UI. However, the utility comes with a nifty feature: under its "Tools" menu, you will find the fix for the System Shock 2 shoot-use modes glitch:


This eliminates the System Shock 2's "looking up" bug. However, this can be solved easily by ESCaping to the PC game's main menu and then going back to the game by pressing "Continue."

Hope this solves your problems. Have fun and good luck.


>>>Click here to read more...

Thursday, October 28, 2010

System Shock 2 Intro (PC Sci-fi Survival Horror)

I wasn't able to post the guide I promised last night [EDIT: I've already posted the guide. Click here: "How to Install System Shock to a Windows XP (32-bit) PC."] so here's something to tide you guys over: the intro to one of the best PC Sci-fi Survival Horror games of all time, System Shock 2. (Tweaked with VirtualDub. I may have bumped up the brightness too much though.)



Bought this one for a little over a dollar. :D Some dude RMA'd his disc thinking the CD was busted.

Nothing after the jump.This line is not shown in the main page


>>>Click here to read more...

Monday, October 11, 2010

Nvidia Forceware Version 260.89 (BETA) now out

I just learned from Tweakguides that Nvidia has just released a GeForce/Ion driver. Please take note that this version, 260.89, is a beta so install at your own risk.

The download link after the jump.

>>>Nvidia GeForce/Ion driver official page


>>>Click here to read more...

Realtek HD 2.53 now out

Realtek has just released version 2.53 of their HD drivers.

The link after the jump.

>>>Realtek HD official webpage


>>>Click here to read more...

Monday, October 4, 2010

Dwarf Fortress - How to Irrigate a Farm (Stopgap Solution to Produce Mud)

Have you just started out in this freeware strategy god game? Do you need a Dwarf Fortress guide on how to irrigate a farm in an instant? Check out the video below. It is perhaps the simplest, most unimaginative way to make a farm in this freeware sims-like god game, but it helps in a pinch.



There are of course, more complex and efficient ways of doing this but for beginners who are wishing to create a farm quick in this free sims-like game but can't find mud, this should be helpful.

Links to more guides and free-to-play PC games after the jump.

>>>More freeware PC strategy games HERE

>>>Free PC first-person shooter (FPS) games HERE

>>>Freeware PC RPG games HERE

>>>TinyPirate's Dwarf Fortress Tutorials

>>>CaptnDuck's Dwarf Fortress Video Tutorials


>>>Click here to read more...