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From: farren@well.sf.ca.us (Mike Farren)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.games
Subject: Re: FAUG demo of Powermonger by E.A. -- long review
Keywords: simply incredible
Message-ID: <22110@well.sf.ca.us>
Date: 11 Dec 90 12:16:02 GMT
References: <1950@unlisys.in-berlin.de> <1990Dec5.110344.6364@zorch.SF-Bay.ORG> <1787@seti.inria.fr> <1990Dec10.133123@avahi.inria.fr>
Lines: 31

colas@avahi.inria.fr (Colas Nahaboo) writes:
>PS: Just PLEASE stop bashing about non-use of OS resources. I think that by
>making it fast loading, without disk access during playing, and with no
>disk-based protection, Bullfrog is really trying to make life easier on the
>player, so I feel it a bit unfair to criticize them, especially from people
>who didn't try it!!! For instance, Marc Farren, instead of speaking of
>overlays, etc, did you realize there is no disk accesses during game?

That's Mike, not Marc :-)

So what?  There's also no multitasking, and no hard drive.  I enjoy a good
game as much as anyone, and will likely buy this one (I really liked Populous),
but that doesn't change the fact that it's just sloppy.  No disk accesses?
What the hell difference do disk accesses make, if you can limit them to
the times when there's going to be a break in the game action anyway?  I
presume that there are things like setup screens, option screens, and the
like, just like in Populous - so what do you lose by having those loaded
only when needed, since they are going to cause a break in the action
anyway?  And with the extra memory you've just gotten as a gift, you can
give me back my system, which is worth a few seconds delay any time, as
far as I'm concerned.

Hell, at the very least they could check to see if the system's already
up, and run with overlays if they need to, and otherwise take over everything.
Even DPaint gives you the option of overlays or not.  But no - Bullfrog has
to decide FOR me what's right and proper.  Not to mention the fact that
they're going to be sitting there, letting most of MY memory go to waste,
idling away its time, and probably getting into trouble :-)

-- 
Mike Farren 				     farren@well.sf.ca.us