The Dark Souls PC version controversy.

[Stavros Dimou]

Come now, is the game unplayable? Is the game bad? Is it broken? I've yet to encounter a problem that utterly breaks the gameplay compared to the console versions and many haven't. Most people ***** about the stupidest smallest stuff. And yes, changing the frame rate WOULD changing timings on the attacks. If you have ideas for FROM Software to improve the PC Version or tips for future PC versions of games, do so. But most people just ***** and ***** and ***** and offer no real feedback and are just downright annoying. So many in this thread or around the internet. And then they wonder why people get frustrated with PC Gamers and the "entitled gamer" term used. It's because of people like you that complain about a game that runs perfectly well for the most part. There's always room for improvement, but do so in a constructive and non-offensive way. The reason I'm being offensive with you guys is because, fuck you guys basically. I'm just sick of seeing people ***** about small things that's not a problem. And there are FAR worse PC Ports of games. Either you're not a real gamer and haven't seen them, or you're just forgetful.

The game still is fine. Better with a controller, but they said they've never done PC Games before and it would be better to play it with a controller. Give them some damn understanding. It's not that hard to use a controller and it definitely is a game that feels better with a controller. Some games feel better with a controller. Some are better with a mouse and keyboard. Deal with it.

Btw, fuck the captcha bs to post.

For me the game is unplayable.It got strange bug called "GFWL not aviable in your country"
And BTW thats not their first PC game , they ported Ninja blade to pc in 2009 with the same problems so dont try to justify they incompetence.

It's not a bug. The game is only playable at countries where Microsoft supports xbox live,even if the game is on PC and doesn't uses xbox live.

The list with countries where Microsoft supports Xbox Live,and thus Dark Souls can be played on PC is this:

Australia: International English
Austria: German
Belgium: Dutch, French
Brazil: Brazilian Portuguese
Canada: English, French
Chile: Spanish
Colombia: Spanish
Czech Republic: Czech
Denmark: Danish
Finland: Finnish
France: French
Germany: German
Greece: Greek
Hong Kong: Traditional Chinese, English
Hungary: Hungarian
India: English
Ireland: International English
Italy: Italian
Japan: Japanese
Korea: Korean
Mexico: Spanish
Netherlands: Dutch
New Zealand: International English
Norway: Norwegian
Poland: Polish
Portugal: Portuguese
Russian Federation: Russian
Singapore: International English
South Africa: International English
Spain: Spanish
Sweden: Swedish
Switzerland: German, French
Taiwan: Traditional Chinese
United Kingdom: International English
United States: English

If you are not living in one of those countries you can't play the game from your country legally,you can only pirate it.
Don't ask me why they decided to only make their game playable in countries with xbox live,even if the game is to be played on PCs,where Xbox Live doesn't even exist as a service.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

It's not that hard to use a controller

Let me break both your hands in 9 places each (I'll be generous and forgo the extra 6 breaks in the right hand) so you can experience the same 'fun' I do when using a controller for more than an hour, when it becomes not only hard but somewhat painful.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

For me the game is unplayable.It got strange bug called "GFWL not aviable in your country"
And BTW thats not their first PC game , they ported Ninja blade to pc in 2009 with the same problems so dont try to justify they incompetence.

It's not a bug. The game is only playable at countries where Microsoft supports xbox live,even if the game is on PC and doesn't uses xbox live.

I think you'll find that you just failed Sarcasm Recognition 101.

 

[Stavros Dimou]

I decided to put my skepticism away and try out that game.
Here are my first impressions having the game in my hands:


1) It took me 1 hour to make Games For Windows Live. The installer is bugged and wouldn't install the program properly,so I had to look for fixes on the internet and apply the different ones I found one by one to even make it work.

2)With the resolution fix the game's graphics look awesome.

3)I have a huge frame rate issue probably because the brand of my graphics card is an AMD and not nVidia. My overclocked HD 6850 that can play Crysis and Battlefield 3 at 1080p on Ultra gets below 30fps on this game. There was a monster with a bow on a narrow corridor where I was supposed to block the arrows with my shield,but the frame rate was slow the game was like it was in slow motion so I had plenty of time to see the arrow coming,move aside to my right or left,and watch it slowly moving until it passes behind me.

4)Menus are awkward and perhaps the tutorial is lacking. I picked up my shield but cannot equip it. I got to the Equipment Menu,and the blocks where my shield was supposed to be so I could select it where all empty and while I had picked it up it wasn't on my inventory and thus I couldn't equip it. Any help with that ?

5)The game saves only automatically and there isn't a manual save option. Problem is that it seems the game doesn't tell you when it saves or not.So I exited the game so I can search on the internet on how to equip my shield,but I don't know if the next time I run the game I will have to start it all over or not.

6)YOU CAN'T PAUSE. That's not a problem,it's a design choice,but I thought it would be interesting to know for anyone considering buying the game. Even when you are on the objectives screen,the inventory,or the options menu trying to bind your keys or change the sounds options,monsters attack you!

7)It seems you have to press the Lock button to lock to your enemies all the time if you want to survive. If you haven't locked on an enemy,about half of more of your attacks will land in the air,even if you are right in front of the enemy perfectly aligned to him.

 

[Rylot]

4)Menus are awkward and perhaps the tutorial is lacking. I picked up my shield but cannot equip it. I got to the Equipment Menu,and the blocks where my shield was supposed to be so I could select it where all empty and while I had picked it up it wasn't on my inventory and thus I couldn't equip it. Any help with that ?

5)The game saves only automatically and there isn't a manual save option. Problem is that it seems the game doesn't tell you when it saves or not.So I exited the game so I can search on the internet on how to equip my shield,but I don't know if the next time I run the game I will have to start it all over or not.

6)YOU CAN'T PAUSE. That's not a problem,it's a design choice,but I thought it would be interesting to know for anyone considering buying the game. Even when you are on the objectives screen,the inventory,or the options menu trying to bind your keys or change the sounds options,monsters attack you!

7)It seems you have to press the Lock button to lock to your enemies all the time if you want to survive. If you haven't locked on an enemy,about half of more of your attacks will land in the air,even if you are right in front of the enemy perfectly aligned to him.

4.) Yeah the tutorial is bare bones at best. I'd suggest reading online guides to get the whole picture about equipment loads, how sorcery, pyromancy and miracles work, how shield stability works and everything else. The game doesn't do a good job of showing anything. Never encountered an item not showing up, sorry.

5.) The game will restart you right where you quit.

6.) Yep, this game doesn't hold your hand at all in any way, and in fact hates you.

7.) Always lock on. There are a few larger bosses and enemies later on that you'll not want to lock onto but for the most part always lock on.

 

[TheDutch3Z]

Come now, is the game unplayable? Is the game bad? Is it broken? I've yet to encounter a problem that utterly breaks the gameplay compared to the console versions and many haven't. Most people ***** about the stupidest smallest stuff. And yes, changing the frame rate WOULD changing timings on the attacks. If you have ideas for FROM Software to improve the PC Version or tips for future PC versions of games, do so. But most people just ***** and ***** and ***** and offer no real feedback and are just downright annoying. So many in this thread or around the internet. And then they wonder why people get frustrated with PC Gamers and the "entitled gamer" term used. It's because of people like you that complain about a game that runs perfectly well for the most part. There's always room for improvement, but do so in a constructive and non-offensive way. The reason I'm being offensive with you guys is because, fuck you guys basically. I'm just sick of seeing people ***** about small things that's not a problem. And there are FAR worse PC Ports of games. Either you're not a real gamer and haven't seen them, or you're just forgetful.

The game still is fine. Better with a controller, but they said they've never done PC Games before and it would be better to play it with a controller. Give them some damn understanding. It's not that hard to use a controller and it definitely is a game that feels better with a controller. Some games feel better with a controller. Some are better with a mouse and keyboard. Deal with it.

Btw, fuck the captcha bs to post.

For me the game is unplayable.It got strange bug called "GFWL not aviable in your country"
And BTW thats not their first PC game , they ported Ninja blade to pc in 2009 with the same problems so dont try to justify they incompetence.

It's not a bug. The game is only playable at countries where Microsoft supports xbox live,even if the game is on PC and doesn't uses xbox live.

The list with countries where Microsoft supports Xbox Live,and thus Dark Souls can be played on PC is this:

Australia: International English
Austria: German
Belgium: Dutch, French
Brazil: Brazilian Portuguese
Canada: English, French
Chile: Spanish
Colombia: Spanish
Czech Republic: Czech
Denmark: Danish
Finland: Finnish
France: French
Germany: German
Greece: Greek
Hong Kong: Traditional Chinese, English
Hungary: Hungarian
India: English
Ireland: International English
Italy: Italian
Japan: Japanese
Korea: Korean
Mexico: Spanish
Netherlands: Dutch
New Zealand: International English
Norway: Norwegian
Poland: Polish
Portugal: Portuguese
Russian Federation: Russian
Singapore: International English
South Africa: International English
Spain: Spanish
Sweden: Swedish
Switzerland: German, French
Taiwan: Traditional Chinese
United Kingdom: International English
United States: English

If you are not living in one of those countries you can't play the game from your country legally,you can only pirate it.
Don't ask me why they decided to only make their game playable in countries with xbox live,even if the game is to be played on PCs,where Xbox Live doesn't even exist as a service.

I know that , i was cynical about "Game is perfectly playable" statement
The reason they used GFWL is because they were too lazy to create new netcode and copypasted xbox's netcode

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

If it seems like I'm ragging on From in particular, it's because I'm saving time. After a dozen of times writing "whoever is responsible for the deadlines" or some variation of that, it gets really boring to write it out again and again until this thing blows over.

That second paragraph was aimed at everyone not you in particular.

 

[Lovely Mixture]

Where are we in the discussion so far? At the moment. At the moment I'm too tired to go through 6 pages riddled with both legitimate argument as well as strawmanning.

 

[Fr]anc[is]

Where are we in the discussion so far? At the moment. At the moment I'm too tired to go through 6 pages riddled with both legitimate argument as well as strawmanning.

I think this post from the news article thread sums it up nicely

This post will sound a lot like I am defending the game ( I agree that it's a bad port) however;

1024x720 - Bad
30 Fps - Bad
keyboard/mouse integration and use of 360 symbols - bad
GFWL - lazy, bad

expansion pack (Artorias) developed along with the port - good
openly admitting the frame rate/display problems before release - good
charging less than full price - good
the quality of the game to begin with - good (PS3 for me)
no stutter in blightown - Fuck yeah!

never ported a game before - understandable
30 fps frame rate hard coded meaning mods at 60 fps play the game at 2 seconds to 1 IRL - requires complete engine rewrite - understandable (this was on durante's neogaff forum did not confirm)
GFWL net code the same as Xbox 360 net code meaning no multi-player code rewrite - lazy definitely, understandable

use of usb connected xbox360 controller sidesteps the keboard problem - extra money but worth it

the .dll mod from durante day one - helped a lot, possible lazy/stupidity on From Software

the game being built for console with computer not even an after thought - important point

If From Software had waited to tell the frame rate and resolution until the initial reviewers found out I would be calling for their heads on pikes, however I think they handled themselves properly considering the product they delivered.

Most of it is understandable and reasonable. The only one I have a real problem with is the 360 buttons. That knocks it down from acceptable port to asking $40 for an emulator.

 

[FieryTrainwreck]

When I see PC-only gamers refusing to muddy their hands with a controller, even when a controller is clearly the best possible input device for this game, I can't help but think of the console-only gamers refusing to acknowledge the superiority of m+k for FPS.

Man, it sure is fun not having any platform loyalty whatsoever.

As for the port? It's mediocre, bare bones, etc., and GFWL is giving people the usual hissy-fits. Once you get the game online and install the latest version of Durante's mod (assuming your machine is up to it), Dark souls looks and plays great. The 30fps lock is actually a massive improvement over the console versions. The textures are definitely rough in some places, but the overall artistry and aesthetic hold up remarkably well at higher resolutions.

If they'd dumped GFWL and included most of Durante's fixes at launch, this would have been a solid port. Those expecting uncapped fps and m+k functionality on par with a controller are, I think, being unreasonable.

Of course, setting unreasonable expectations for a game is always the best way to insure it doesn't meet your expectations - and then you're totally good to pirate, right?

Most of it is understandable and reasonable. The only one I have a real problem with is the 360 buttons. That knocks it down from acceptable port to asking $40 for an emulator.

What do you mean by "360 buttons"?

 

[Fr]anc[is]

Most of it is understandable and reasonable. The only one I have a real problem with is the 360 buttons. That knocks it down from acceptable port to asking $40 for an emulator.

What do you mean by "360 buttons"?

I have heard on here that the button prompts in game on the PC version are xbox 360 buttons, regardless if you actually have a controller plugged in.

 

[FeloniousMonk]

Question:

If a film director makes a film, says it will be shit, and it is shit, then is gets panned by critics, are the critics 'entitled'?

 

[Fishyash]

Question:

If a film director makes a film, says it will be shit, and it is shit, then is gets panned by critics, are the critics 'entitled'?

I normally greatly dislike analogies, but...

I would say that the film was good, but the blu-ray release was in the quality of a VHS tape.

 

[Lovely Mixture]

anc[is]snip

Alright, thank you. I agree that From handled it well, but it still reflects badly because it shows that they are kind of behind the times

Question:

If a film director makes a film, says it will be shit, and it is shit, then is gets panned by critics, are the critics 'entitled'?

I'd say no. Preconceived notions of a product are illogical regardless of them being positive or negative. Cautionary mention should not interfere with the final judgement.

I'd say the film analogy is lacking ONLY because this is an issue of audience and optimization that can easily be foreseen.

The film director situation is:
"I am new at directing films. Please go easy on me."
"We may not go easy on you, but we will acknowledge that you need more experience in this field. It's hard to make films that appeal to everyone after all"

This situation is:
"We are new at PC development. Please go easy on us."
"If you were inexperienced in this and knew it, why didn't you consult people who were better at it than you?"

I'm saying basically.... broading technological appeal is a pretty exact science. Give people more options and it will work out for the best.

I say this with no disrespect to From. They have been generous to us.

 

[The Lunatic]

They were upfront and honest about this.

I respect that, but, It wasn't something I wanted to buy immediately.

I might buy it down the line, but, it seems a bad idea right now.

 

[Louzerman102]

anc[is]

Most of it is understandable and reasonable. The only one I have a real problem with is the 360 buttons. That knocks it down from acceptable port to asking $40 for an emulator.

What do you mean by "360 buttons"?

I have heard on here that the button prompts in game on the PC version are xbox 360 buttons, regardless if you actually have a controller plugged in.

The game is made off of the Xbox 360 version of the game because 360 to PC is easier than PS3 to PC. In game the button prompts are the xbox controller buttons. Green A, Blue X, RB to attack, etc.

 

[Guilherme Zoldan]

Eh, its a bad pc port but to be honest, Id still consider buying it just because the game is so fucking good, and on PC its cheaper and you get beter performance then consoles...sorta, it wont stutter in blighttown.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

Does anyone know how many PC copies it sold?

 

[lapan]

I dont have any problems with the controls as i have no problem with just connecting my xbox controller to the pc. The fps is fine too, although i noticed it slightly stuttering in one small spot in Blighttown, nothing serious though.

GFWL was a pain in the ass, mainly because i forgot my password and had to wait for it to send me confirmation mails for 15 minutes.

 

[KoudelkaMorgan]

It could come with a voucher that pays all my bills for a year and I still wouldn't touch it due to GFWL.

The unofficial res fix makes it look sweet though. Anyone else ONLY know of, or watch twitch.tv due to Dark Souls? Its original release had me glued to the screen flipping between players and having a weirdly awesome time.