Talk:Descent (computer game)
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Doom was released in 1993, not several years before then. Mobygames.com says Descent was released in 1994, not 1993. Mobygames states Descent's minimum requirements as being a 386 DOS-based PC, not a DX2-66 which nearly state of art at the time - is this some kind of joke? :) Crusadeonilliteracy 17:50, 10 Aug 2003 (UTC)
- Go ahead and correct any mistakes you see. :-) —Frecklefoot 16:00, 11 Aug 2003 (UTC)
- I'm happy to, but I wasn't sure whether Wikipedia is at error or Mobygames is :-)
I doubt Descent required a 486/66. I seem to recall it was a 386/25 or 386/33 or so. (A 486/66 might be required if you turn all the graphics features up to max.)
- I have a copy of the game; excuse me whilst I go check. :) -- Grunt ҈ 22:17, 2004 Sep 3 (UTC)
- Quote:
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IBM PC or 100% compatibles running DOS 5.0 or higher. 386/33 or faster. 4 Megs RAM required. Hard disk required. Hayes compatible modem, 90600 baud or faster required for modem play. Supports (removed long list of joysticks and soundcards). Recommend 486/33 or faster with 8 Megs or more RAM.
- So it requires a 386/33 but runs best on a 486/33. -- Grunt ҈ 22:20, 2004 Sep 3 (UTC)
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- So primitive...yet so fun. It's too bad I don't have the (original) game anymore...*relishes in lost memories*
[edit] Release date
The release dates listed on this page are not consistent within the article, or with other sources. The infobox says Feb. 28, 1995, but the article states it was released in 1994. MobyGames.com lists it as being released on March 17, 1995. Does anyone have any sources that back up the other dates, or should it be changed to match MobyGames? Mimir 00:06, 28 September 2006 (UTC)
The retail version was released in February 1995, and the shareware demo was released in December 1994. Spartan 234 01:36, 30 September 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Shareware edition?
The very first release of Descent, Shareware version 1.0, was in December 1994. I can't seem to find a date more precise than that. There's not very much discussion of the shareware edition of Descent in this article, do you think it would be a good idea to come up with some?
- Here's what I have on the Mac version: It contained the first 3 levels of the game, unlike the PC version, which also contained the 7th level. It was networkable, although only on anarchy mode. Maximum weaponry in the Mac version was Laser/Vulcan/Spread in energy weapons, and Concussion/Homing/Bomb for secondary. -tangent 04:27, 26 Jun 2005 (UTC)
[edit] Game Anyone?
I will be happy to play on-line if u have this game (or even better - D2). I play on Kali - www.kali.net - and some other ppl play there too. email me @ yonidebest@walla.co.il
- Joined Kali2 sounds like fun if I can get my framerate fixed somehow . The game runs too fast - it makes me dizzy!! --Nerd42 15:44, 27 January 2006 (UTC)
- It may be running on the lowest graphical setting. And yeah, it's dizzyness inducing. Amp up the graphics and you'll be fine. Though if you play with higher speed, you'll have an advantage over the other players, as you will appear to 'phase out' and 'warp' around the room. --RedZion--
[edit] Some discussion of D1/D2 Internet play on Kali?
Hi, I added just a brief mention that Descent and Descent II were popular online over Kali. I wanted to see it in the article as I spent years of my life obsessing on playing D2 on Kali. I'd like to expand the multiplayer section of the article at some point.
[edit] Descent 3
I can't believe that there's so little information on Descent 3 in here. That was such a fun game! I know it was a complete flop, but it was almost as fun as the original. I think I'm going to add more info on Descent 3 and create a Descent 3 article. bob rulz 22:30, Jun 20, 2005 (UTC)
- If you do/did that, please point us to it. Shadowfury333 19:16, 12 August 2005 (UTC)
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- I didn't end up putting a lot of information in. I did put in the Descent 3 weapons thing, but I realized that I didn't know as much about Descent 3 as I thought I did, and I really didn't know what else to put in there. I also decided against a Descent 3 article, partly for the same reasons, and partly because Descent II didn't have its own article either. bob rulz 01:43, August 13, 2005 (UTC)
[edit] Sci-Fi Channel, Descent movie?
What is the entry regarding the Sci-Fi Channel making a movie based on Descent about? Is it true?
- If you google "descent movie sci-fi", imdb shows that there is a "descent" movie being produced by sci-fi, but it is unrelated to this title. I'm removing this information from the article. Timbatron 23:00, 28 October 2005 (UTC)
[edit] Split into Descent 1 / Descent 2 / Descent 3?
This page has become rather cluttered because it tries to handle a discussion of all three Descent titles. May I suggest that we break this article into three sections? Each of the three pages would have a box at the bottom (i.e. "Descent Trilogy" linking all three pages).
Descent Contains information on Descent 1, the PlayStation port, along with weapons, robots, and themes relevant to Descent 1.
Descent 2 Information on Descent 2, its cousin Descent Maximum on the PlayStation, new features (Guidebot, Thiefbot), items, weapons, and locations.
Descent 3 A more in-depth treatment of Descent 3. The storyline therein, weapons, robots, maps, background on the Fusion Engine.
Although I can see how D1/D2 are closely related, Descent 3 was quite different technically. When this page delves into the technical aspects of the games, it's difficult to track if it means the original engine or the Fusion Engine.
- i think this is a good idea. i could probably even provide some help with descent 1 article. Tani unit 08:25, 1 January 2006 (UTC)
- I could do stuff with the Descent 3 article. It's been a long time since I played it but I think I remember enough...bob rulz 08:27, 1 January 2006 (UTC)
I've tagged the article; I support article-splitting in this case. It's up to rest of you now...whether you want a 40KB+ page, or three slightly smaller articles and one disambiguation page. If you do, then I'll help out with Descent 3. - A. Exeunt 04:25, 1 May 2006 (UTC)
- We seriously need to split this article soon. The current version seems to centre more on Descent and Descent II. In the meantime, very little attention seems to be given to Descent 3. Come on, people! I know Descent 3 was not successful and all that, but can't we even give it its proper share of attention? You people are making it as though Descent 3 never even existed in the first place! It is still a great game! -- A. Exeunt 05:45, 23 May 2006 (UTC)
Why not simply rename the article from Descent (computer game) into Descent (computer game series)? Then article could then be divided within the page
I can see splitting Descent 1 and 2 from 3, mainly because 1 and 2 are so alike. 3 uses a different engine altogether, creating a different look. Madd the sane 05:56, 22 July 2006 (UTC)
- I was the one that originally called for the split in this comment. Since it hasn't happened yet, I believe it may be worthwhile to discuss how we may split this article. It is over 52 KB and literally festering with superfluous content. If I find time, I might wind up doing the split, but trimming a lot of the fat while I'm at it. In general, I believe we should split into three articles, Descent, Descent II, and Descent 3.
Descent contains anything related to Descent 1 and things that apply to the series as a whole, such as the Telep novels, the alledged movie, and so forth. Its main purpose should be to present the story of Descent 1, cover the gameplay (including weapons and notable mechanics), etc. This is also where the PlayStation version should be discussed, along with D1X. Similar to the "Mega Man" article, this should be a springboard page that provides the summary for what the series as a whole is about.
Descent II is all about Descent 2. Again, it continues the above as it applies to this game. It would also cover Descent Maximum and the Vertigo Series, along with the D2X and D2X-XL projects.
Descent 3 should, of course, talk about Descent 3. But specifically call out differences from the other two (most notably the engine), reliance on objective-based gameplay, etc.
I would also move to strike anything more than passing references to FreeSpace and Red Faction. These games have their own sections. Here is not the place to speculate to why FreeSpace 2 was a commercial flop. Kyouryuu 04:22, 14 August 2006 (UTC)
- The charge has begun! -- A. Exeunt 03:31, 19 August 2006 (UTC)
- The change continues! Basically, it's the same article as this one with the Descent I and 3 parts cut out.Madd the sane 00:56, 13 October 2006 (UTC)
[edit] IPX
There needs to be a tutorial on how to play D1 or D2 on IPX or something... I mean, if someone's looking up Descent on Wikipedia, then they obviously don't know that much about it. So, they would have NO IDEA what you mean when you say 'Kali' or IPX or 'Kahn'.
-68.64.175.222 16:35, 10 January 2006 (UTC) (Hotdog003, Whitecat on Kali)
[edit] Still playable?
I am having problems running this game in Windows XP. Yes, I have tried DosBox. I can get the game to run in DosBox but it's slow and the music doesn't play. If running Descent requires some special setting in DosBox, I think maybe the article should mention that. --Nerd42 02:20, 27 January 2006 (UTC)
- Somebody told me there was a patch to get the game to quit running at super-speed without DoxBox, but I tried it and so far it no workee --Nerd42 15:43, 27 January 2006 (UTC)
- Descent3 should work in Windows XP. As for Descent and Descent II, I highly recommend that you download D2X-XL [1], a port of Descent II to OpenGL. It is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. It will play the original Descent levels if you put their data files into the program's folder. Of course, the original Descent II data files are needed as well if you wish to play the full version of the game. (D2X-XL comes with the demo files: levels 1-3.) OneofThem 13:36, 1 February 2006 (UTC)
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- Descent 3 works on my computer, which is running Windows XP, so no worries. If you get any problems with extra levels, then delete them. The original levels, as well as Mercenary, and even some extra levels like the five WindMine levels by TrueLightGuild, work fine. - A. Exeunt 04:29, 1 May 2006 (UTC)
I've got them all - when I get home I know what I'm gonna be doing :) --Nerd42 15:41, 1 February 2006 (UTC)
Dude! This stuff ain't workin. I can see the menus crashes when I try to start a game. :( --Nerd42 18:24, 2 February 2006 (UTC)
- I dunno if you'll believe this, but I actually managed to install both 1 and 2 on Windows XP Home Edition using Windows 95 Compatibility Mode. The only issue I have is that the music becomes this awful fuzzy crackle, and I can't save. I mean, it'll record which Level I'm on, but I can't, say, save my progress right in front of some reactor or something. So music and save doesn't work, but the rest is awesome. Considering the last time I played I was like 2 and sitting on my dad's lap to control the weapons, I'm pretty pleased with what I did. Oh, and the weirdest thing is that 3 won't run. The music doesn't work and it crashes every time you try and shoot. To use a boring phrase, 'They sure don't make them like they used to.' --RedZion--
- Amazing, RedZion. Descent 3 works on mine. You could try visiting PlanetDescent for help. -- A. Exeunt 09:13, 12 May 2006 (UTC)
Actually I must recommend D2X for playing Descent and Descent II. I've tried D2X-XL but I think that guy just added too much stuff and at least for me some of it causes crashes and such. For the truly original experience, get D2X!
D2X is outdated, buggy and not maintained any more. Apart from that, a few features of the original game are missing. So much for the 'truly original experience'. D2X-XL on the other side is very stable, and you can hide all features you don't want by turning off 'expert' options display. D2X-XL is the way to go. The author reacts very fast to bug reports, so if problems occur, approaching him first instead of dumping the program wouldn't be the worst idea.
Alternatively you can try D2X-Rebirth, which is less feature rich.
—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 217.233.203.231 (talk • contribs) 09:10, 29 May 2006 (UTC2)
[edit] Star Trek tech
"Descent technology vs. Star Trek technology"? What the [expletive deleted]? Am I the only one to consider that chapter a worthless case of pure personal speculation? - 194.89.3.138 12:40, 4 February 2006 (UTC)
- Probably, because it's not POV. There are alot of other things covered on WP that are alot more speculative. I think the section helps people get an understading of the Descent universe. --Nerd42 14:31, 4 February 2006 (UTC)
I gotta agree, i also think that a chapter about descent vs. star trek is making the whole article longer than it has to be, without adding something really important about the game. it seems like it's not even reflecting any major discussion in the fanbase. i'd remove that whole section! --PeeAeMKay 15:09, 5 February 2006 (UTC)
- oh shoot for a second there I thought you were agreeing with me. :( --Nerd42 18:33, 5 February 2006 (UTC)
It doesn't really add anything informative, I vote for its deletion. 80.186.36.122 16:27, 11 February 2006 (UTC)
- I'm glad someone has already brought up the issue. Sorry, but I really can't see the relevance of this chapter. It reads as a huge stretch of speculation which doesn't do anything for the game. I've got no problem with discussing the technology in the Descent universe, but trying to compare it to Star Trek.... it doesn't work for me. -Kazashi
It's pointless, probably counts as original research or speculation, and (most importantly) Descent is a freaking FPS shoot-em-up. The original game's technology has almost nothing to do with the plot and doesn't need to be explained. AustinZ 03:10, 2 March 2006 (UTC)
- I'm deleting that section. It might not violate WP:NPOV, but it does violate WP:NOR and WP:CITE. --Bletch 14:17, 2 March 2006 (UTC)
That's a load of crap. All research is original research. --Nerd42 15:34, 9 March 2006 (UTC)
- Perhaps, but that doesn't change Wikipedia policy. If you don't like that policy, you should probably discuss it on the relevant talk page. --Bletch 03:23, 10 March 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Flares
"Descent 3 flares cost 1 energy per 20 fired. They are not a free-fired tool..."
- I doubt that. I can fire Flares on the Pyro-GL and Black Pyro-GX when these ships have 000 energy, but on the Phoenix and Magnum-AHT, it appears to be one energy per 5 fired. I'm not too sure, because I now use the GL a lot. - A. Exeunt 04:34, 1 May 2006 (UTC)
However, if I remember correctly, in all of the Descent games, if you get to zero energy, you can still fire flares. This was done deliberately so that while playing the single player game, you would still be able to open doors, shoot control panels (D2), and access various switches.
Flare Wars were a pretty hilarious way to kill an hour or so, especially in Descent 3. I can remember a few good ones I had playing "Stadium" and "The Veins."
I can't remember if killing someone with a flare generated a weapon specific message. If you killed someone with the mass driver, for instance, it'd say "so-and-so targets so-and-so for mass destruction" but whether there was a similar announcement for flare deaths, I can't recall.
- I think it was something like "[attacker]'s flare has ignited [target]'s fuel leak!". 68.64.175.222 23:56, 28 February 2006 (UTC)
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- Correct. If you visit PlanetDescent, they have some PotDs that portray this message. - A. Exeunt 04:34, 1 May 2006 (UTC)
There is a mission in D3:Mercenary where you are stripped of weapons and energy when infiltrating a base. To continue, you must blow up some barrels on the floor to make an opening. Barrels can be blown up with flares (tested) but you cannot fire them (the game replies "not enough energy to fire flare) unless you find some energy and a superlaser(?) weapon somewhere past the barrels. My question: is that fact a localised in-level state, a global level state, a "Mercenary-global" state or a D3 State?
[edit] POV and OR issues
There is a ton of fanboyism in this piece. I love descent, but we need a better article about it. For instance, this paragraph:
Descent's continued success stems mostly from multi-player, online play where the ability to "trichord" (sliding in 3 directions at once, which gave the player a speed boost of approximately 77%) made ship movements unique and challenging to predict. The game continued to be popular 10 years after its release in small pockets of online players due to "trichording". The decline of the series with the release of the third, Descent 3, is widely considered to be the fault of the loss of "trichording" (which is still possible, but much less effective or necessary) and other important differences between Descent 3 and the first two games in the series. The Descent series never continued into the planned Descent IV due to name ownership issues that arose.
is seriously inappropriate and speculative. It's full of unsourced, unverifiable assertions that really sound of out place in an encyclopedia. The rest of the article also has problems with second person voice ("you", instead of "the player"), tone, and language. Night Gyr 14:12, 20 May 2006 (UTC)
- In that case, we will need the cleanup tag. Either that or we could try article splitting. -- A. Exeunt 07:58, 22 May 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Article Size
Imo the article contains a lot of overly detailled information, like the exact weapon descriptions, making it look more like a manual in parts.
—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 217.233.173.211 (talk • contribs) 00:11, 29 May 2006 (UTC2)
Agreed. The most sensible choice would be to simply split the article into a Descent, Descent 2, and Descent 3 article. Are there any active editors who would be willing to assist in such a division? --tjstrf 06:29, 30 May 2006 (UTC)
- I would be willing to assist the creation of articles for Descents II and 3.--Esuriat Corinths 21:17, 13 July 2006 (UTC)
Count me in. On a 'weekly basis', though. -- A. Exeunt 05:48, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
- The charge has begun! -- A. Exeunt 03:32, 19 August 2006 (UTC)
[edit] System Requirements, anyone?
Okay...I've thrown in the minimum system requirements for Descent 3. Can someone else do the system requirements for Descent and Descent II please? -- A. Exeunt 09:19, 13 July 2006 (UTC)
- Added minimum system requirements for Descent 1 and II; source: the Official Descent I and II FAQ v3.1 (from Wayback Machine)
[edit] Descent 3: Retribution
I've updated the section with details regarding the name of the player in the game and the ending of Descent 3. --KSweeley 12:45, 16 July 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Name: Horus
Can anyone give solid evidence that the Material Defender was called Horus? I express my doubts as he was only known as either 'Material Defender' or 'MD1032' in Descent 3, and as far as the Descent II intro is concerned, he was known simply as 'Material Defender'.
- The claimed link in FreeSpace 2 seems extremely tenuous. It is initially stated as "rumor" (Material Defender missions in FreeSpace) and then treated as fact ("Horus"). I never heard of this until now and I've been playing these games for years. This seems like nothing more than fanboy speculation. This is further refuted by the Descent novels, where he is called Benjamin St. John. If the MatDef had an accepted real name from the games, it would have been used in the novels. Kyouryuu 04:26, 14 August 2006 (UTC)
I'll remove them then. Until we can get a reliable source for these two links, they will remain out (besides, this page is 50 kilobytes long already). -- A. Exeunt 09:30, 16 August 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Into Cerberon
Even though Into Cerberon's a Doom 3 mod, I felt it should be listed under the Descent Fan Sites heading because it uses the Doom 3 engine for Descent gameplay. Granted, it's a work in progress, but there's been a lot of progress since it was started. --SpecOp Macavity 22:38, 26 July 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Screenshots
Maybe there should a a picture of descent 3 ingame? The cover of Mercenary isn't looking good all by itself. Xsaii 23:29, 18 August 2006 (UTC)
- It will be done. -- A. Exeunt 01:26, 19 August 2006 (UTC)
It is done. -- A. Exeunt 01:41, 19 August 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Vertigo series levels
- An add-on for Descent II containing twenty user-made levels (and three secret levels) from a Computer Gaming World level design competition,
Really? Levels 2 and 4 were done by Dan Wentz. [Interview with Dan Wentz.] I removed all mention of the level design competition, but if someone can find a ref for that, please add it back. --Kjoonlee 07:58, 19 October 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Soundtrack information for Descent II--
Could somebody please post the soundtrack information for Descent II (the s3d ViRGE version, I dont know if it's the same) I know that some of the artists are Type O Negative and Skinny Puppy, but (for the life of me) I can't figure out what the track names are. I could use some help, thanks.
Jaimez Bling -
```edit - found track names:
Descent II Soundtrack:
Track 2 (Vi 1): Title by Brian Luzietti
Track 3: Crawl by Brian Luzietti
Track 4 (Vi 2): Glut by Ogre of Skinny Puppy & Mark Walk
Track 5 (Vi 3): Gunner Down by Brian Luzietti
Track 6: Cold Reality by Larry Peacock & Brad Cross & Leslie Spitzer
Track 7: Ratzez by Ogre of Skinny Puppy & Mark Walk
Track 8: Crush by Brian Luzietti
Track 9 (Vi 4): Untitled by Mark Morgan
Track 10: Haunted (Instrumental Remix) by Type O Negative - Original version available on their album "October Rust", published by Roadrunner Records
Track 11: Are You Descent? by Ron Valdez
Track 12 (Vi 5): Techno Industry by Johann Langlie
Track 13: Robot Jungle by Johann Langlie
- (Vi #) indicates which track number is on S3 ViRGE Descent II Promo Disc.
[edit] Challenging trichording...
The article states: The series has a strong following due to its unique type of gameplay, particularly its 6DOF and challenging trichording. I'm a little confused as to what the article writer meant by "challenging trichording" as Wikipedia's definition of the word "trichord" doesn't mesh with Descent's gameplay. It's a musical term, if I'm not mistaken. Someone like to clarify this? Peter1968 11:26, 8 November 2006 (UTC)
- It's Descent jargon for travelling along three axes, instead of one or two. --Kjoonlee 12:39, 8 November 2006 (UTC)
- Never heard of it, and I played all three games to death. Nonetheless, it's not clear what the term means to the average punter that'd drop on by to this article. So, the jargon aspect of it probably should be explained in the article. Peter1968 06:26, 9 November 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Player named "rio"
FTA: "One player, "rio", developed a system in which he used two joysticks." I've never heard of "rio" and neither has google, so without any source for this, it seems like some random player decided to add this about themselves. Using two joysticks always seemed kind of obvious to me. If someone can cite a source, please add it back. Timbatron 18:20, 19 November 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Material vs. Materiel
On the main page, as well as in most places, the player is reffered to as "Material Defender". This is not in accordance, to the game where the player is known as "Materiel Defender". Note that the "E" in place of the "A" changes the meaning of the word.
(from Dictionary.com):
Material -
- the substance or substances of which a thing is made or composed.
- anything that serves as crude or raw matter to be used or developed.
- any constituent element.
Materiel -
- the aggregate of things used or needed in any business, undertaking, or operation.
- (Military) arms, ammunition, and equipment in general.
The second definition of "materiel" seems to make the most sense for the game.
The player was called "materiel defender" throughout the first two installments of the game, I'm pretty sure of that. At this point, however, I do not modify the main article, because I am not familiar with later installments, and I cannot be sure whether the title was changed to "material defender" later on. Can someone elaborate? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Drst (talk • contribs) 2006-11-20T13:01:51 (UTC)
