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| What do you think of the Dark Messiah demo? |
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| Wednesday 29.11.06 Dark Messiah multi-player patch info |
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Full list of fixes included in the upcoming multiplayer 1.02 patch:
Patch 1.02 changes and bug fixes
New Content
- New game mode - Capture The Flag
- Significant optimisations for sounds, textures and particles on lower-specification hardware
- New Map - CTF_1
- New Map - CTF_2
CTF RULES
- Defend your team's flag while stealing the enemy flag.
- You must have both flags at your own base to score.
- Scoring a flag will give XP to all players on the scoring team.
- Returning your own flag also gives personal XP.
- Flags will not appear until there are players on both teams, and the 'battle begins' timer has finished
- Picking up a flag will slow you down, disables your weapon and briefly highlights you to the enemy team.
- Pressing fire when holding a flag will drop it and allow you to fight (be careful not to pick the flag up again when fighting)
- Dropped flags return to their base when touched by their team, or after 20 seconds.
Optimisations
- These can be found in the Options->Gameplay tab, and will generally require a restart of the game engine to use.
- Character LOD values lower by default (can be returned to higher quality by users in config files)
- Option to use alternative particles - New high performance particles for all spell effects. Total particles reduced, 'distort' effects removed, dynamic lights reduced. (This replaces the particle sliders)
- Option to disable streamed sounds - prevents sound being streamed from the hard drive during play. May improve framerates, but will disable some ambient noise.
- Option to use lower quality texturemaps - reduces load times and increases framerates for almost all users.
- Option to force simplified texture surfaces (this disables Normal mapping and Specular mapping). Will speed up loading times, especially for low RAM users, but the visual quality is reduced.
Map Changes
- MP1 - Recompiled - spawn point error fixed
- MP2 - Recompiled - ambient sounds improved, framerate optimised, spawnpoint error fixed
- MP3 - Recompiled - framerate optimisations (detail models now fade earlier)
- MP5 - Portcullises at final Undead point now lock open for last flag. New route added to final quadrant. Ambient sounds optimised.
Character Changes
- Assassin Backstab improved
- Assassin Triggered Poison Orbs - Recharge time added, Mana cost added
- Mage Lightning Orb - no longer instant-fire, must be charged, will not hit behind caster when cast.
- Mage Flame Arrow & Lightning Shock damage adjusted for maxed elemental alignments.
- Mage FireBlast - Projectile flight speed reduced
- Priestess is now informed how many team-mates have been mass resurrected or healed
- Warrior Leaping Attack fixed
- Warrior Safeguard now defends only in an arc in front of the character (you will need to track lightning orbs/fireballs to be protected)
- Warrior Safeguard now costs mana to create, and takes mana if it is hit by a spell. If mana is depleted, the Safeguard will fall.
- Warrior Safeguard now emits a noise telling players it is active
- Warrior shield no longer interferes with the movement model with when hit by an arrow
Miscellaneous
- Smoothed Spectator Cam
- Game Timer now shown on main screen and it highlights when time is short.
- Teamkill menu now available for 15 seconds after a teamkill
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| Wednesday 29.11.06 Dark Messiah single player patch info |
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The new patch is on the way and here is a full list of fixes found within the 1.02 patch.
Patch 1.02 changes and bug fixes
- - Combat Difficulty has been raised for "Hard" mode
- - Added a new "Hardcore" difficulty mode
- - Re balanced NPCs strength & health on the second half of the game for all difficulty modes
- - Added an intermediary "Texture" setting between "Medium" & "High". "High" could create an overload with some video card memory, so to offer more scalability, it has been renamed to "Very High" and the "High" option now offer "Medium" textures for the scenery but "High" textures for the NPCs.
- - No More Crash on NPCs behead (that happened with the “head_link” error message)
- - Fixed the black BINK playback problem with GeForce FX video cards
- - Fix FPS drops with GeForce 6800
- - No More graphical glitch on GeForce FX cards when player is under water
- - No More graphical glitch on GeForce FX cards when player is being hit or is almost dead
- - No More graphical glitch on GeForce FX cards equipping a Magic Weapon.
- - If you still have trouble, please set GFX Detail to “Low”
- - Fixed additional stuttering problems, linked to Expression files being
- - Saved Game system changed to the new Async System to prevent too much stuttering when the game is auto saving (if you’re still experience problem, you may want to disable the Auto Save feature in the “Gameplay” options menu)
- - GFX Option is now properly Saved
- - Avoid Rope Bow to disappear under the world surface before getting it
- - Fixed inconsistency with the way Xana behaves during “City of the Flames” chapter events depending on player’s choices
- - Fixed a bug where the giant spider was not spawned at all.
- - Fixed a bug with some potions being destroyed on map spawn in the “Temple of the Spider” chapter
- - GFX Detail level Option is now properly translated in the french version
- - Avoid user from being stuck in the walls while using the Rope Bow
- - Final Boss has been re-balanced
- - Removed some dev button that could be found behind some walls in the Epilogue
- - Fixed the way some objectives were badly managed with the Pao Kai in the last chapter
- - Removed an improper “use” flag on some wooden beams in “Gleam of a Cold Knife”
- - NPC immune to Telekinesis can't be grabbed using Telekinesis Spell when they are in ragdoll behavior
- - Arrows that are out of the Game world are now Removed properly to prevent Framerate to slowly decrease to zero
- - Max number of potions/food you can stack in your inventory is now properly checked
- - Avoid the Ghoul script to be broken in some cases if player used the bow to attack the creature in “Dead Man's Trail”
- - Remove small memory leak on the Particle System
- - Remove small memory leak on clear value
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| Wednesday 22.11.06 Hammers of Fate |
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Just bought the new expansion? Feel like talking about the game? List your thoughts over in the forums.
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| Wednesday 22.11.06 Dark Messiah character guide part 3 |
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Next up is the evil Orc leader Aratrok.
Aratrok
- Aratrok is an Orc shaman, cheiftain of the Orcs who dwell on the island where the skull is hidden. He is a devoted and fair leader to his own people, and a dangerous enemy to anyone who he considers to be a threat.
- Hatred for demons and wizards flows in his veins like in any orc's, aware of his kind's origins and past sufferings. He resents the intrusion of Menelag's expedition and will order his people to fight against them to the death.
Traits
- fanatical, unswerving, indomitable, devoted.
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| Wednesday 22.11.06 Ubisoft gives away soundtrack CDs at VGL London |
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Video Games Live, the immersive concert event featuring music from the most popular video games of all time, comes to London this Saturday (25th November).
To celebrate, Ubisoft will be giving a free soundtrack sampler CD to the first 3000 visitors, featuring 12 tracks from the likes of Beyond Good & Evil, Dark Messiah, Splinter Cell Double Agent, Red Steel and Rainbow Six Vegas.
For more details and to book tickets, click here!
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| Friday 17.11.06 Hammers of Fate released! |
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The Heroes V expansion: Hammers of fate has been released and is available to buy. As a little treat we have the Hammers of Fate wallpaper for you to download:
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| Tuesday 14.11.06 Hammers of Fate trailer |
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Incase you missed the trailer for the soon to be released (this Friday) Heroes V Hammers of Fate expansion here it is again. Check it out below:
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| Tuesday 14.11.06 Multiplayer class guide part 4 - The Priestess |
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Next up in the Multiplayer class guide is the Priestess:
The Assassin
- Strong in ranged offensive magic and defensive manoeuvres
- physically weak
- Priest will support his team by launching spells dealing damage over time and spotting otherwise invisible threats
Assassin's skills
- pinpoint assassins
- healing spells
- status effects
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| Tuesday 14.11.06 Character information - Master Phenrig |
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Today we have Sareth's master the mage Phenrig.
Phenrig
- Phenrig is Sareth's tutor and mentor. Having raised the orphan boy since his childhood, Sareth owes all he knows of weapons and magic to the severe but patient tutelage of Phenrig. The boy has grown, however, to be a strong man. The time has come, therefore, when Phenrig can entrust his young apprentice with a mission of great importance....
Traits
- wise, cool-headed, arrogant, loyal
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| Monday 13.11.06 Dark Messiah Files and the Maps and Mods Dark Messiah forum |
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Those of you looking for Dark Messiah files from the latest skins, maps, mods and wallpapers (be sure to check our download section first!) will find a host of Dark Messiah files all in one place. Check it out here.
Speaking of maps and mods head over to the newly created forum specifically created for this. |
| Thursday 09.11.06 Heroes V 1.4 patch released |
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A nice little treat for all you Heroes V owners out there we have the 1.4 patch. The download links are as follows:
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| Wednesday 08.11.06 Dark Messiah 1.01 Patch is live |
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It's finally here the patch you have all been waiting for! The single player Dark Messiah patch is here and ready for you to download! Check out the download links below:
Finally, please note that there's still an issue with high settings. The devs are working to fix it and hope to have it fixed soon. In the meantime, if you still have crash problems after using the patch, please lower your settings to improve performance. A future patch will address this issue. |
| Wednesday 08.11.06 Hammers of fate gold annoucement |
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The Heroes V expansion: Hammers of Fate has gone gold!. A quick summary of what to look forward to is as follows:
- New faction: Introducing the brand-new Dwarves faction, made up of heroic warriors and rune magic adepts who stalk Ashan’s deepest mountains and most hostile regions.
- A brand-new adventure: Featuring 15 new missions, new heroes, and improved cut-scenes, the new campaign will lead players even deeper into the dramatic events that began with Heroes of Might and Magic® V.
- Extended game experience: Includes a wealth of new spells and abilities, 5 new single-player maps, 10 new multiplayer maps, new buildings, new artefacts, and new neutral creatures, Heroes of Might and Magic® V: Hammers of Fate gives players the tools to develop new tactics, and further their game experience both online and offline
- Improved mechanics and gameplay: Thanks to new features such as Caravans and a random map generator, players will enjoy unlimited replay ability and an even smoother gameplay experience. In addition, the simultaneous turn feature will speed up online games.
For more information check out this unofficial site which has more details on the expansion.
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| Tuesday 07.11.06 What to expect from the Dark Messiah Single Player patch |
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The following is from the readme file of the soon to be released SP Patch.
- Crash fixed on Save/Load if player has an object in their hands.
- Health and poison effects are no longer displayed during credits.
- Player’s hands don’t appear behind the credits when you combine the Skull of Shadows with an equipped spell.
- All game menus are hidden when a video starts.
- Problem fixed when the player tries to switch between Xana mode and an equipped scroll.
- Indestructible shields are now really indestructible.
- Crash fixed when the player tries to throw a dagger, then immediately jumps and parries.
- Crash fixed when the player tries to switch between casting a fireball and taking an object.
- Bug fixed. Player cannot re-use a scroll multiple times after switching to Xana mode.
- Saving is now disabled during end game credits to avoid system anomalies.
- The player now dismounts correctly from the top of ladders, even when moving backward.
- Instantaneous spells (Magic Protection, Heal, Wizard Eye) no longer break other spells like Firetrap.
- Climbing NPCs can't be charmed and fall if shrunken.
- Fixed getting stuck on door on Level 11, when jumping on a rope attached to it.
- Fixed weapon being unequipped after jumping in certain conditions
- Fixed when pressing E multiple time in certain conditions would quicksave the game
- Fixed when pressing E very quickly to get his backpack back at a specific location, backpack was recovered but all objects were missing
- Fixed not being able to take any objects under certain conditions
- Fixed game crash after de-equipping a weapon in certain conditions
- Fixed a potential first person hands animation problems
- Fixed being stuck sometimes in some specific locations close to stairs
- Fixed looping dagger and staff sound when doing a power attack and parrying in the middle.
- Fixed some scrolls that could be used several times (much like a spell)
- Fixed teleporting that could occur when using lockpick
- Fixed Fireball staying stuck to the player until it explodes
- Fixed, shrinked enemies are now sensitive to melee weapon
- Fixed a crash when killing a NPC with a fire weapon when he is knee deep in the water
- Fixed invisible wall present on level 7
- Fixed lockping becoming a weapon (melee animations played)
- Fixed Lighting bolt scroll not working
- Fixed issue with telekeninesis not always working as intended
- Fixed issues with "Adjust Brightness Level" still being in game after using it in the menu.
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| Tuesday 07.11.06 Dark Messiah multiplayer patch info |
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Those of you wondering what the latest Multiplayer Dark Messiah patch does here is a complete list of fixes:
- Can’t find background image 'materials/console/startup_loading.vtf' error fixed
- 3/4 Loading Progression lockup fixed
- Loading bar now displays progress information
- When a player reconnects to a server the game should return him to his previous level. This will not work across campaigns.
- Changed the scoreboard to ensure it displays 32 players at low resolutions
- We have made sure the main menu displays even at low resolutions
- Battle Begins Message Flicker fixed
- We have made yet more improvements to the backstab system, making it smoother to trigger and preventing 'lockup' situations
- Now the action of taking a point is considered an 'aggressive' act and will de-cloak an assassin
- Stoneskin now lasts less long on priestesses than other characters. Stoneskin will slow a staff user's attacks.
- Knights will need to have a minimum speed before Leap Attack is triggered.
- Nvidia antialiasing code prevents users selecting an antialiasing mode their card does not support
- Alt-Tab is now re-enabled: This is officially unsupported and the users’ mileage will vary depending on drivers/cards etc.
- Windowed Mode: Entering a command line parameter of ‘-window’ will enable the game to be played in a window. Mileage may vary.
- Game Servers in Steam Browser: Should now be visible in the standard out-of-game server browser
The patch has already been released and is automatically downloaded through Steam. |
| Monday 06.11.06 Multiplayer class guide part 3 |
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Next up in the Multiplayer class guide is the Assassin:
The Assassin
- Strong in clandestine activity and some melee combat
- weak in physical force
- Assassin would rather hide in the shadows to strike swiftly
Assassin's skills
- stealth (invisibility, silent movement)
- poisons
- trap installation
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| Friday 03.11.06 Dark Messiah Saturday Night Fun |
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This Saturday see's the popular fun night's return. The theme for the night will be Mage Wars. For full details head over to this forum topic. Be sure to come along to enjoy a fun filled evening. See you there! |
| Friday 03.11.06 Final Dark Messiah Wallpaper |
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A quick follow up to the class wallpapers posted over the last week or so. We have a nice Dragon wallpaper for you to download:
1600 x 1200
1280 x 1024
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| Thursday 02.11.06 Hammers of Fate trailer |
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The Heroes V - Hammers of Fate trailer is here and ready for you to watch. Check it out below:
Stream
Download
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| Thursday 02.11.06 Dark Messiah Review roundups |
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Next up is a round up of all review scores out so far for Dark Messiah. Be sure to check out each one. All reviews out so far are as follows:
Reviews
- Game Informer - 93%
- Pc Format - 88%
- Pc Gamer UK - 88%
- IGN - 88%
- Pc Zone UK - 84%
- Euro Gamer - 80%
- Games Radar - 80%
- Yahoo Games - 70%
For more information head over to the gamerankings site. Future review scores will appear there also. |
| Thursday 02.11.06 Multiplayer class guide part 2 - The Warrior |
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Today we have the next installment of the Multiplayer class guide. Read on if you want to know more about the Warrior.
The Warrior
- A strong melee fighter
- a true force of nature
- The Warrior will rush at the enemy, protected by his shield and a natural resistance to damage
Warrior's skills
- strike harder
- run faster
- last longer
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| Wednesday 01.11.06 Cork Dark Messiah LAN tournament |
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If you live in Ireland and are a Dark Messiah fan we have a cool LAN event for you to attend. The event will take place in Cork at the gaming cafe Area51. Full details of the event are as follows:
Ubisoft Entertainment has teamed up with AREA51, Cork’s premier multiplayer gaming café, to launch the latest incarnation of the award winning Might and Magic® franchise. On November 4th at 5pm, a mammoth five hour tournament will determine who will become Cork’s Might and Magic® Overlord.
AREA51 was established in December 2004 and is the first multiplayer gaming café in Cork. It boasts 28 high performance Alienware systems and a fun and competitive atmosphere where players can chat and help each other out during team games.
Situated on Cork’s North Main Street, AREA51 provides value-for-money entertainment, 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Participants must be over 18 and should register with AREA51 (info@area51.ie) in order to take part. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
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