🚀 go-pugleaf

Quoth The Raven; Andy McArdle <amcardle60@hotmailNOSPAM.com> in
<450977a4$0$27204$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au>

darkstar one looked interesting, however my machine ground to a halt and 
every time i fired a weapon my system hung. doom3 games run fine on mu 
machine, darkstar one seems to want more than i can afford.

the game might be worth playing though.

-- 
Remove the _CURSING to reply to me

If you look like your passport photo, you're too ill to travel. - Will
Kommen 

X3 - Reunion

After the recent patch (1.4 I think), it's pretty playable and I think it's 
very sim-like.

Oh, and please don't say you play Deus Ex just to kill things, it makes me 
weep. 

"Highlandish" <ckreskay1_CURSING@dodo.com.au> wrote in message 
news:4509c83a$0$97379$c30e37c6@ken-reader.news.telstra.net...
> Quoth The Raven; Andy McArdle <amcardle60@hotmailNOSPAM.com> in
> <450977a4$0$27204$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au>
>
> darkstar one looked interesting, however my machine ground to a halt and 
> every time i fired a weapon my system hung. doom3 games run fine on mu 
> machine, darkstar one seems to want more than i can afford.
>
> the game might be worth playing though.
>
> -- 
> Remove the _CURSING to reply to me
>
> If you look like your passport photo, you're too ill to travel. - Will
> Kommen
>
Yeah, DSO is a pretty good game.  Nothing deep, but entertaining.  One thing 
really good about the "space-sim" game genre is that it hardly exists 
anymore.  You don't have to pick and choose as with other genres.  You can 
simply buy every space-sim that's published (that amounts to about one game 
every one or two years). 

Michael Albertsen wrote:
> X3 - Reunion
> 
> After the recent patch (1.4 I think), it's pretty playable and I think it's 
> very sim-like.

Yea, this one is decent. I just downloaded it from Steam yesteray for 
only $19.99. Make sure to get the Steam version as it has no Starforce 
CP. I wish X3 used a better physics model though. Too many space sims 
have arcade physics. I would even like Universal Combat if it had a 
better physics model.

In article <5anOg.555054$IK3.156987@pd7tw1no>, no1@home.today says...
> 
> Yea, this one is decent. I just downloaded it from Steam yesteray for 
> only $19.99. Make sure to get the Steam version as it has no Starforce 
> CP. I wish X3 used a better physics model though. Too many space sims 
> have arcade physics. I would even like Universal Combat if it had a 
> better physics model.

Question: does it come with a useful tutorial/manual? I tried the X2 demo, ages 
ago, wasn't too impressed with the space stations and the trading/equipment 
system either and the 'tutorial' was more like a quiz: Now open the cargo doors 
... ... ... Open the cargo doors! ... ... ... Open the cargo doors!!! (with no 
explanation ever given how to actually DO that). Found it so frustrating I 
wiped the demo and never felt inclined to try the game after. Nor its successor 
for that matter.

-Peter

-- 
=========================================
firstname dot lastname at gmail fullstop com

On Fri, 15 Sep 2006 01:16:49 GMT, Garrot posted to
comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.space-sim:

>> X3 - Reunion
>
> Yea, this one is decent. I just downloaded it from Steam yesteray for
> only $19.99. Make sure to get the Steam version as it has no Starforce
> CP.

Supposedly, the release (later this year) of the Bala Gi Research Missions
update to X3 will remove the Starforce protection from the game. So those
with the regular storebought versions can enjoy the same benefit.
Supposedly; I'll believe it when I see it.

-- 
... A feather is erotic; a whole chicken is kinky!

Andy McArdle wrote:
> preferably is a space SIM, not just a fancy FPS.

Orbiter is a simulator - not a game at all.

http://orbitersim.com

The physics is so accurate that the sun moves around the solar system's
barycenter, ships experience torque toward the planet they're orbiting,
orbits perturb naturally, you can do gravitational slingshots and
aerobraking - I could go on and on.  It really is the most realistic
space simulator ever made.  You'll learn a lot about orbital mechanics
and navigation.

The graphics are beautiful too.

And it's free.

Peter Huebner wrote:

> Question: does it come with a useful tutorial/manual? I tried the X2 demo, ages 
> ago, wasn't too impressed with the space stations and the trading/equipment 
> system either and the 'tutorial' was more like a quiz: Now open the cargo doors 
> ... ... ... Open the cargo doors! ... ... ... Open the cargo doors!!! (with no 
> explanation ever given how to actually DO that). Found it so frustrating I 
> wiped the demo and never felt inclined to try the game after. Nor its successor 
> for that matter.
> 
> -Peter
> 

Yes, the tutorial should actually say what keys to press but it doesn't. 
Just print out the keyboard chart and you will be fine. It has a manual 
but I haven't read it yet.

> Oh, and please don't say you play Deus Ex just to kill things, it makes
> me weep.

OK, OK, so I took some literary license.  ;)

Deus Ex & System Shock (1 & 2) are my favourite FPS's, they're more than
just meat-grinders.

But hardly on-topic.  (Sorry for the digression...)

-- 
- Andy
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bugs?  That's what happens when you leave Windows open...

> Orbiter is a simulator - not a game at all.

Hmmm...  thanks for that!  It looks... intriguing.  :)

-- 
- Andy
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So much wood, so little time.   [sigh]

>> darkstar one looked interesting, however my machine ground to a halt and
>> every time i fired a weapon my system hung. doom3 games run fine on mu
>> machine, darkstar one seems to want more than i can afford.
>>
>> the game might be worth playing though.
>>
>> --
>> Remove the _CURSING to reply to me
>>
>> If you look like your passport photo, you're too ill to travel. - Will
>> Kommen
>>
> Yeah, DSO is a pretty good game.  Nothing deep, but entertaining.  One
> thing really good about the "space-sim" game genre is that it hardly
> exists anymore.  You don't have to pick and choose as with other genres.
> You can simply buy every space-sim that's published (that amounts to
> about one game every one or two years).

The DSO demo is 1GB?  :eek:

I don't particularly  want to buy something that may throw me back into the
HW upgrade loop but I think in this case discretion suggests /buying/ to
try...  I can always resell.  ;)

Wish I knew someone nearby
-- 
- Andy
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We'll be restoring normality just as soon as we're sure what normal is
anyway.

Quoth The Raven; Andy McArdle <amcardle60@hotmailNOSPAM.com> in
<450c1e3b$0$5111$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au>
>>> darkstar one looked interesting, however my machine ground to a
>>> halt and every time i fired a weapon my system hung. doom3 games
>>> run fine on mu machine, darkstar one seems to want more than i can
>>> afford.
>>>
>>> the game might be worth playing though.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Remove the _CURSING to reply to me
>>>
>>> If you look like your passport photo, you're too ill to travel. -
>>> Will Kommen
>>>
>> Yeah, DSO is a pretty good game.  Nothing deep, but entertaining.
>> One thing really good about the "space-sim" game genre is that it
>> hardly exists anymore.  You don't have to pick and choose as with
>> other genres. You can simply buy every space-sim that's published
>> (that amounts to about one game every one or two years).
>
> The DSO demo is 1GB?  :eek:
>
> I don't particularly  want to buy something that may throw me back
> into the HW upgrade loop but I think in this case discretion suggests
> /buying/ to try...  I can always resell.  ;)
>
> Wish I knew someone nearby

anyone tried "sword of the stars"?

-- 
Remove the _CURSING to reply to me

"A witty saying proves nothing." - Voltaire (1694-1778) 

>> Orbiter is a simulator - not a game at all.
>
> Hmmm...  thanks for that!  It looks... intriguing.  :)

DL'd it late last night, put off running it 'til this arvo.  Spent the last
4 hours turning craft into atmospheric fireballs.  :D

Orbiter is GREAT!  Who says it's not a game?  Steeper learning curve than
most flight sims I've come across, but Whoa!  What a ride!  :)

-- 
- Andy
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Decrease moderator unemployment:  Post off-topic messages.

On Fri, 15 Sep 2006 07:23:04 +1000, "Highlandish"
<ckreskay1_CURSING@dodo.com.au> wrote:

>Quoth The Raven; Andy McArdle <amcardle60@hotmailNOSPAM.com> in
><450977a4$0$27204$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au>
>
>darkstar one looked interesting, however my machine ground to a halt and 
>every time i fired a weapon my system hung. doom3 games run fine on mu 
>machine, darkstar one seems to want more than i can afford.
>
>the game might be worth playing though.

I have been following the posts on DSO, and have not replied before
now. This demo lasted about 5 minutes on my system. It would lock up
hard whenever I ran it. I got the demo when it was first released, so
I don't remember where exactly it locked up, but I do know I never
made it to space.

My system is rock solid. No other games have this issue. While aging,
it still runs most games just fine (P4 3.1GHz, ATI 9800Pro, newest
drives, Audigy 2 (newest drivers), and is 100% patched).

For me, DSO was a dud...

"Joe Granto" <joe.granto@NoSpam.com> wrote in message 
news:jobtg25a1t5df9n44l63phfg9vocj628q1@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 15 Sep 2006 07:23:04 +1000, "Highlandish"
> <ckreskay1_CURSING@dodo.com.au> wrote:
>
>>Quoth The Raven; Andy McArdle <amcardle60@hotmailNOSPAM.com> in
>><450977a4$0$27204$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au>
>>
>>darkstar one looked interesting, however my machine ground to a halt and
>>every time i fired a weapon my system hung. doom3 games run fine on mu
>>machine, darkstar one seems to want more than i can afford.
>>
>>the game might be worth playing though.
>
> I have been following the posts on DSO, and have not replied before
> now. This demo lasted about 5 minutes on my system. It would lock up
> hard whenever I ran it. I got the demo when it was first released, so
> I don't remember where exactly it locked up, but I do know I never
> made it to space.
>
> My system is rock solid. No other games have this issue. While aging,
> it still runs most games just fine (P4 3.1GHz, ATI 9800Pro, newest
> drives, Audigy 2 (newest drivers), and is 100% patched).
>
> For me, DSO was a dud...

Yeah, DSO seems to be a mixed bag....depending on your hardware/software 
combination.  Some peeps, like yourself, have no end of trouble with it, 
while for others it plays OK.

As an aside, the publisher/developers may be playing an interesting game 
with patching the game.  The release version of DSO was cracked almost 
immediately; however, the crack caused problems in the game.  Shortly 
thereafter the hackers issued a "proper" crack which resolved the problem. 
However, just before the "proper" crack was issued, the developers issued a 
"beta" 1.2 patch to solve some major problems, mainly that the release 
version was rendered unplayable (unless you used a crack) by the disc 
protection which constantly accessed your DVD drive.  The beta patch 
resolved this problem, but several weeks have passed and there's been no 
"final" 1.2 patch.

My question:  Are the developers/publisher not releasing a "final" patch 
because they know hackers will not bother cracking a "beta" patch?  Or have 
they simply abandoned the game....as I don't think DSO has turned into "the 
next big thing."  If I understand correctly, most games are expected to make 
back their cost and deliver a profit during the first couple of months after 
release.  So the idea is to reduce theft as much as possible during this 
initial period.  Personally, I didn't use a crack with DSO (no longer 
playing it.  Didn't finish the storyline before the "ho hum" factor set in), 
but I'm kind of curious if the "endless beta patch" might not be a new strat 
in the war against hackers. 

Garrot wrote:
> Michael Albertsen wrote:
> > X3 - Reunion
> >
> > After the recent patch (1.4 I think), it's pretty playable and I think it's
> > very sim-like.
>
> Yea, this one is decent. I just downloaded it from Steam yesteray for
> only $19.99. Make sure to get the Steam version as it has no Starforce
> CP. I wish X3 used a better physics model though. Too many space sims
> have arcade physics. I would even like Universal Combat if it had a
> better physics model.

I agree about the physics models.  Terminus and IWar were my favs.  I
got a good 50 hours out of X2.  I liked it for what it was.  I'd even
give X3 a try except I gave up gaming and replaced it with learning to
play guitar.  My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner.

I played UC for a while.  It was worse that not having a physics model.
 It seemed that UC made ships zig-zag in a totally unrealistic way when
in dog fights just to avoid you hitting them.  And on top of that I
feel certain that the game was programmed so that shooting the ship had
little or no effect during certain periods.  I believe that this was
done because the developer simply couldn't figure out how (or didn't
want to take the time) to play balance the game in a somewhat realistic
(given it's a fantasy game) fashion.

"FLY135" <fly_135@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1158615388.420927.248660@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> And on top of that I
> feel certain that the game was programmed so that shooting the ship had
> little or no effect during certain periods.  I believe that this was
> done because the developer simply couldn't figure out how (or didn't
> want to take the time) to play balance the game in a somewhat realistic
> (given it's a fantasy game) fashion.

Surely not.  Not Dr. Smart.  You just aren't realizing the complex AI
involved.  Millions of lines of code!

"Jim Vieira" <WhiplashrAT@wiDOT.rrDOT.com> wrote in message 
news:nHEPg.8755$RN2.2230@tornado.rdc-kc.rr.com...
> "FLY135" <fly_135@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1158615388.420927.248660@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>> And on top of that I
>> feel certain that the game was programmed so that shooting the ship had
>> little or no effect during certain periods.  I believe that this was
>> done because the developer simply couldn't figure out how (or didn't
>> want to take the time) to play balance the game in a somewhat realistic
>> (given it's a fantasy game) fashion.
>
> Surely not.  Not Dr. Smart.  You just aren't realizing the complex AI
> involved.  Millions of lines of code!
>
>
And this is definitely a case where the Ph.D. really does stand for "Pile it 
Higher and Deeper". 

Quoth The Raven; Joe Granto <joe.granto@NoSpam.com> in
<jobtg25a1t5df9n44l63phfg9vocj628q1@4ax.com>
> On Fri, 15 Sep 2006 07:23:04 +1000, "Highlandish"
> <ckreskay1_CURSING@dodo.com.au> wrote:
>
>>Quoth The Raven; Andy McArdle <amcardle60@hotmailNOSPAM.com> in
>><450977a4$0$27204$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au>
>>
>>darkstar one looked interesting, however my machine ground to a halt
>>and every time i fired a weapon my system hung. doom3 games run fine
>>on mu machine, darkstar one seems to want more than i can afford.
>>
>>the game might be worth playing though.
>
> I have been following the posts on DSO, and have not replied before
> now. This demo lasted about 5 minutes on my system. It would lock up
> hard whenever I ran it. I got the demo when it was first released, so
> I don't remember where exactly it locked up, but I do know I never
> made it to space.
>
> My system is rock solid. No other games have this issue. While aging,
> it still runs most games just fine (P4 3.1GHz, ATI 9800Pro, newest
> drives, Audigy 2 (newest drivers), and is 100% patched).
>
> For me, DSO was a dud...

same with me, i dumped it after a week of trying to get it to play.

-- 
Remove the _CURSING to reply to me

"I've had a wonderful time, but this wasn't it." - Groucho Marx
(1895-1977) 

Quoth The Raven; DocScorpio <DocScorpio@strupra-spammeros.com> in
<lVCPg.4293$wU4.3695@trnddc06>
> "Joe Granto" <joe.granto@NoSpam.com> wrote in message
> news:jobtg25a1t5df9n44l63phfg9vocj628q1@4ax.com...
>> On Fri, 15 Sep 2006 07:23:04 +1000, "Highlandish"
>> <ckreskay1_CURSING@dodo.com.au> wrote:
>>
>>>Quoth The Raven; Andy McArdle <amcardle60@hotmailNOSPAM.com> in
>>><450977a4$0$27204$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au>
>>>
>>>darkstar one looked interesting, however my machine ground to a halt
>>>and every time i fired a weapon my system hung. doom3 games run fine
>>>on mu machine, darkstar one seems to want more than i can afford.
>>>
>>>the game might be worth playing though.
>>
>> I have been following the posts on DSO, and have not replied before
>> now. This demo lasted about 5 minutes on my system. It would lock up
>> hard whenever I ran it. I got the demo when it was first released, so
>> I don't remember where exactly it locked up, but I do know I never
>> made it to space.
>>
>> My system is rock solid. No other games have this issue. While aging,
>> it still runs most games just fine (P4 3.1GHz, ATI 9800Pro, newest
>> drives, Audigy 2 (newest drivers), and is 100% patched).
>>
>> For me, DSO was a dud...
>
> Yeah, DSO seems to be a mixed bag....depending on your
> hardware/software combination.  Some peeps, like yourself, have no
> end of trouble with it, while for others it plays OK.
>
> As an aside, the publisher/developers may be playing an interesting
> game with patching the game.  The release version of DSO was cracked
> almost immediately; however, the crack caused problems in the game. 
> Shortly thereafter the hackers issued a "proper" crack which resolved
> the problem. However, just before the "proper" crack was issued, the
> developers issued a "beta" 1.2 patch to solve some major problems,
> mainly that the release version was rendered unplayable (unless you
> used a crack) by the disc protection which constantly accessed your
> DVD drive.  The beta patch resolved this problem, but several weeks
> have passed and there's been no "final" 1.2 patch.
>
> My question:  Are the developers/publisher not releasing a "final"
> patch because they know hackers will not bother cracking a "beta"
> patch?  Or have they simply abandoned the game....as I don't think
> DSO has turned into "the next big thing."  If I understand correctly,
> most games are expected to make back their cost and deliver a profit
> during the first couple of months after release.  So the idea is to
> reduce theft as much as possible during this initial period. 
> Personally, I didn't use a crack with DSO (no longer playing it. 
> Didn't finish the storyline before the "ho hum" factor set in), but
> I'm kind of curious if the "endless beta patch" might not be a new
> strat in the war against hackers.

afaik they're busily working on the sequel

-- 
Remove the _CURSING to reply to me

If the #2 pencil is the most popular, why is it still #2? 

In news:450f2e7a$0$97373$c30e37c6@ken-reader.news.telstra.net,
Highlandish <ckreskay1_CURSING@dodo.com.au> typed:

>> Personally, I didn't use a crack with DSO (no longer playing it.
>> Didn't finish the storyline before the "ho hum" factor set in), but
>> I'm kind of curious if the "endless beta patch" might not be a new
>> strat in the war against hackers.

> afaik they're busily working on the sequel

Crikey, they haven't finished the first one yet!

D.

"Dunny" <paul.dunn4@ntlworld.com> wrote in message 
news:_dPPg.27991$cx.20307@newsfe1-gui.ntli.net...
> In news:450f2e7a$0$97373$c30e37c6@ken-reader.news.telstra.net,
> Highlandish <ckreskay1_CURSING@dodo.com.au> typed:
>
>>> Personally, I didn't use a crack with DSO (no longer playing it.
>>> Didn't finish the storyline before the "ho hum" factor set in), but
>>> I'm kind of curious if the "endless beta patch" might not be a new
>>> strat in the war against hackers.
>
>> afaik they're busily working on the sequel
>
> Crikey, they haven't finished the first one yet!
>
> D.
>
>
Does it make more sense financially to put resources into developing a 
sequel rather than fix an existing game?  I'm not talking about DSO here 
(which played without a problem for me), but pose this as a general 
question.  Lets say game X provides a good gaming experience to 75% of 
purchasers, but a bad experience to the remainder because of code glitches 
and gameplay issues.  Doesn't it make more sense to develop a sequel for the 
the 75% fan-base you now have so you can rake in new sales, rather than 
fixing the original game for the 25%...who've already bought the game.

Granted it's easier to patch an existing game rather than develop a whole 
new game (of course, in some instances a "whole new game" is not what is 
developed.  It's simply the old game gussied up a bit and called a new 
game). 

While patrolling  news:OAXPg.6492$uj3.6274@trnddc08,
DocScorpio <DocScorpio@strupra-spammeros.com> was heard to mutter::

> "Dunny" <paul.dunn4@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
> news:_dPPg.27991$cx.20307@newsfe1-gui.ntli.net...
>> In news:450f2e7a$0$97373$c30e37c6@ken-reader.news.telstra.net,
>> Highlandish <ckreskay1_CURSING@dodo.com.au> typed:
>>
>>>> Personally, I didn't use a crack with DSO (no longer playing it.
>>>> Didn't finish the storyline before the "ho hum" factor set in), but
>>>> I'm kind of curious if the "endless beta patch" might not be a new
>>>> strat in the war against hackers.
>>
>>> afaik they're busily working on the sequel
>>
>> Crikey, they haven't finished the first one yet!
>>
>> D.
>>
>>
> Does it make more sense financially to put resources into developing a
> sequel rather than fix an existing game?  I'm not talking about DSO here
> (which played without a problem for me), but pose this as a general
> question.  Lets say game X provides a good gaming experience to 75% of
> purchasers, but a bad experience to the remainder because of code
> glitches and gameplay issues.  Doesn't it make more sense to develop a
> sequel for the the 75% fan-base you now have so you can rake in new
> sales, rather than fixing the original game for the 25%...who've already
> bought the game.
>
> Granted it's easier to patch an existing game rather than develop a whole
> new game (of course, in some instances a "whole new game" is not what is
> developed.  It's simply the old game gussied up a bit and called a new
> game).

I don't suppose any-one has a general idea of any common ground for the
unlucky buyers of DSO?  Any particular HW or SW combo that DSO doesn't like?

I haven't seen it in our local shops (not that I've done any serious hunting
yet) but I'm fairly confident I could find it on the high seas.  I'd rather
buy (less hassles in the long run) but I'm wondering if I should, perhaps,
do a "try before I buy"?

-- 
- Andy
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Where is human nature so weak as in the toolstore?

Quoth The Raven; Andy McArdle <amcardle60@hotmailNOSPAM.com> in
<4511740e$0$386$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au>
> While patrolling  news:OAXPg.6492$uj3.6274@trnddc08,
> DocScorpio <DocScorpio@strupra-spammeros.com> was heard to mutter::
>
>> "Dunny" <paul.dunn4@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
>> news:_dPPg.27991$cx.20307@newsfe1-gui.ntli.net...
>>> In news:450f2e7a$0$97373$c30e37c6@ken-reader.news.telstra.net,
>>> Highlandish <ckreskay1_CURSING@dodo.com.au> typed:
>>>
>>>>> Personally, I didn't use a crack with DSO (no longer playing it.
>>>>> Didn't finish the storyline before the "ho hum" factor set in),
>>>>> but I'm kind of curious if the "endless beta patch" might not be
>>>>> a new strat in the war against hackers.
>>>
>>>> afaik they're busily working on the sequel
>>>
>>> Crikey, they haven't finished the first one yet!
>>>
>>> D.
>>>
>>>
>> Does it make more sense financially to put resources into developing
>> a sequel rather than fix an existing game?  I'm not talking about
>> DSO here (which played without a problem for me), but pose this as a
>> general question.  Lets say game X provides a good gaming experience
>> to 75% of purchasers, but a bad experience to the remainder because
>> of code glitches and gameplay issues.  Doesn't it make more sense to
>> develop a sequel for the the 75% fan-base you now have so you can
>> rake in new sales, rather than fixing the original game for the
>> 25%...who've already bought the game.
>>
>> Granted it's easier to patch an existing game rather than develop a
>> whole new game (of course, in some instances a "whole new game" is
>> not what is developed.  It's simply the old game gussied up a bit
>> and called a new game).
>
> I don't suppose any-one has a general idea of any common ground for
> the unlucky buyers of DSO?  Any particular HW or SW combo that DSO
> doesn't like?
>
> I haven't seen it in our local shops (not that I've done any serious
> hunting yet) but I'm fairly confident I could find it on the high
> seas.  I'd rather buy (less hassles in the long run) but I'm
> wondering if I should, perhaps, do a "try before I buy"?

i got a decent system, pci-e 6600gt, 1gb ddr400 ram, amd64 +3500. the 
game was impossible to play. it loaded fine, i take off into space, i 
try to pilot, but very quickly the game bogs down and crashes.

-- 
Remove the _CURSING to reply to me

Make it idiot-proof and someone will make a better idiot. 

Highlandish wrote:

> i got a decent system, pci-e 6600gt, 1gb ddr400 ram, amd64 +3500. the 
> game was impossible to play. it loaded fine, i take off into space, i 
> try to pilot, but very quickly the game bogs down and crashes.
> 

Athlon 64 3400+, 6800GT AGP, 1gb RAM, XP SP2. Game worked ok. Demo or 
1.0 version is kinda sluggish in some situations. Joystick support is 
aweful. Patched version solves the speed problem (but one has the 
feeling that the machine still works on the limit) and the joystick 
support is improved (a mouse is still the better option however.

Regarding crashing. There are some instances where the game is quite 
unstable. In particular this happens halfway into the game in a specific 
system which is very unstable and tends to corrupt savegames. Also for 
me the game likes to crash when the keyboard buffer is very full (5+ 
keys pressed repeatingly at the same time due to a programmabe joystick).

All in all I'v seen better and worse games.

-- 
Avoid reality at all costs.

[Delete the karl after the @ to avoid my spam trap]