Mirror's Edge

[Canai]

I'm enjoying the game quite a bit. I just wish PhysX hadn't sold out to nVidia... now it's like, sure, we can play the game on competitor's video cards, but to really *play* the game, we have to buy something specific, which is utter bullshit. Especially if the PhysX gives a direct benefit to players, as I've read it does with certain destructible environment objects. It's almost like nVidia feels they are not putting out a good enough product to compete with ATi, so they are looking for other ways to connive people into buying their cards.

You know what I'd like? The ability to purchase a reasonably priced nVidia PhysX card that I could stick in my comp to do nothing but handle PhysX, and retain the use of my 4870 for rendering. Now THAT would be a smart move on nVidia's part.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: Azn
I've done all of it except step 5. Why would I want to delete dll from the game folder? What does that have to do with game freezing?

My physx version is 8.12.02.0 in the system32 folder and game folder says 8.9.18.0

While I was searching the web for game fix I updated my physx drivers. Is this the latest physx drivers?

Do I need to copy it from system32 folder to game folder too?

You want to delete the dll from the game folder and not replace it because the one in the NVIDIA drivers offers better performance.

The dll will be in an upcoming patch as well. I did nothing with my system files.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: Canai
I'm enjoying the game quite a bit. I just wish PhysX hadn't sold out to nVidia... now it's like, sure, we can play the game on competitor's video cards, but to really *play* the game, we have to buy something specific, which is utter bullshit. Especially if the PhysX gives a direct benefit to players, as I've read it does with certain destructible environment objects. It's almost like nVidia feels they are not putting out a good enough product to compete with ATi, so they are looking for other ways to connive people into buying their cards.

You know what I'd like? The ability to purchase a reasonably priced nVidia PhysX card that I could stick in my comp to do nothing but handle PhysX, and retain the use of my 4870 for rendering. Now THAT would be a smart move on nVidia's part.

If PhysX had not sold out to NVIDIA, we would not have PhysX titles for the PC launching this year.

NVIDIA and their TWIMTBP program are the driving force behind PhysX.

 

[RaTaSuM]

looks and runs great at 4xaa on my 9800gtx + windows 7 64. really nice graphics and art direction but the actual game is slower paced than i expected and therefore not much fun

 

[BFG10K]

Originally posted by: nRollo

Here you go BFG since you don't seem to take my word for it:

I think you missed a bit when you quoted them:

The additions are rarely anything dramatic ? mainly curtains or banners made of physically modelled cloth ? but there are a few notable benefits.

Now contrast this to your sensationalist claims about the game?s PhysX:

It's the first game that incorporates PhysX throughout to this extent with glass, cloth, smoke, wind, and debris/particles.

In other words, NVIDIA and EA have done more with this game to further levels of immersion than any other game in history.

Do you see why nobody takes your nVidia marketeering and salesmanship seriously? Again, those that actually pay for hardware and games have to consider the actual benefits before we drop cash on something.

Your claim of ?further levels of immersion than any other game in history? would imply something like destructible terrain and walls which impact other areas and players with more just than eye candy when they?re destroyed.

A few curtains and banners are absolutely trivial given these effects have far been exceeded in titles using software Havok at least five years ago. If you?re excited about a few banners and curtains then you have extremely low standards, probably because you get your hardware for free.

As far the rest goes, I think I'll stay on topic personally. I only noted you used to care about image quality enhancements a lot more than you seem to now.

You brought up past comments so don?t play the moral high-ground card now. Specifically, don?t try to pin something on me without evidence given your comments are a constant walking contradiction.

 

[TheInternet1980]

Rollo is no better than the ShamWOW guy, or the guy selling Kinoki foot pads. BEST PRODUCT EVAR!!!

 

[Grooveriding]

Originally posted by: MTDEW
I finally had a chance to try the game on a friends pc.
His specs.
Q6600@ 3.6ghz
8GB DDR2
GTX 280
Vista 64 SP1
180.48 Nvidia drivers
(pretty much the same pc specs as mine, since i built his machine for him)

It ran great, with no crashes and/ or lockups as reported here.
It actually ran flawless and that was without those "new drivers".
I didnt have FRAPS running, but i can say it wasnt 60fps or anything at 1920x1200.
More like 30-40fps, but it never slowed to crawl like others described, even with lots of shattered glass.
It was a smooth playing experience throughout all effects.

Now the game itself, i didnt think was that exciting, but thats my personal opinion.

But as far as physx is concerned, it worked well with no issues.
I played for over 4hrs just to see if he was telling the truth that it ran great with no issues and as i said , it ran flawless on his pc.

Do i think the game is worth the $$$ - No, i didnt care for it. But that will come down to personal tastes.

Do i think PhysX added anything major to the game - No, not really. It adds some effects, but nothing to the gameplay.

Do i think physx is anything to be excited about? Not yet, but i could see how it could be if implemented into gameplay instead of just being "added".
It certainly added some nice effects that are noticable and could at the very least help with making games more immersive.

I'd like to see how Cryostasis turns out as a game when its finished, since i think the effects shown in the tech demo were a bit more impressive than the effects Mirror's Edge has.

Refer to my thread here http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2266177&enterthread=y.

I have Cryostasis retail, it runs like crap maxed out at 1920x1200 on a GTX 280. The PhysX effects are also nothing special, like Mirror's Edge. But at least Mirror's Edge actually plays smoothly. Check out my screenshots, that's at the game's max settings. Looks not so great considering the game is not playable on those settings.

Pretty underwhelming unfortunately.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: BFG10K

A few curtains and banners are absolutely trivial given these effects have far been exceeded in titles using software Havok at least five years ago. If you?re excited about a few banners and curtains then you have extremely low standards, probably because you get your hardware for free.

Do you have links to the Havok physics you claim are superior?

When I think of Havok games like HL2, Bioshock, Painkiller, Oblivion all that comes to mind for me is rag doll physics.

None of them have weather that interacts with the environment, parts of the environment you can destroy and effect other characters in game (like shooting stairs or walkway out from under, throwing them through windows, destroying cover they're behind)

The Havok effects to date have been far more primitive than the GPU PhysX effects, simple because CPUs lack the power to run good effects.

Please show us different in a link if you are going to make this claim.

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: nRollo

Originally posted by: BFG10K

A few curtains and banners are absolutely trivial given these effects have far been exceeded in titles using software Havok at least five years ago. If you?re excited about a few banners and curtains then you have extremely low standards, probably because you get your hardware for free.

Do you have links to the Havok physics you claim are superior?

When I think of Havok games like HL2, Bioshock, Painkiller, Oblivion all that comes to mind for me is rag doll physics.

None of them have weather that interacts with the environment, parts of the environment you can destroy and effect other characters in game (like shooting stairs or walkway out from under, throwing them through windows, destroying cover they're behind)

The Havok effects to date have been far more primitive than the GPU PhysX effects, simple because CPUs lack the power to run good effects.

Please show us different in a link if you are going to make this claim.

Of course he doesn't, if Havok physics was superior to PhysX in any way or capable of similar effects, we would've seen these effects years ago. Its not a software thing, its very clearly a hardware thing, as CPU simply cannot compete with GPGPUs when it comes to floating point calculations. As it is now CPU physics is a non-issue as it'll run on any modern x86 CPU and even runs on the non-x86 CPUs on consoles.

 

[CP5670]

I don't know what the PhysX effects in this game are like, but the Splinter Cell games (starting from 2002) have curtains that look pretty believable when you move through them.

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: Grooveriding
I have Cryostasis retail, it runs like crap maxed out at 1920x1200 on a GTX 280. The PhysX effects are also nothing special, like Mirror's Edge. But at least Mirror's Edge actually plays smoothly. Check out my screenshots, that's at the game's max settings. Looks not so great considering the game is not playable on those settings.

Pretty underwhelming unfortunately.

Given your screens look nothing like the Tech Demo (which were verified as an accurate representation of the retail's graphics in that Rage3D thread), I'd have to chalk it up to user-error or an unpatched/incomplete bootleg copy causing the discrepancy. I have no doubt it'll run poorly, much like Crysis on a single GTX 280, but that's because the game's visuals are just a notch below what's seen in Crysis.

Originally posted by: CP5670
I don't know what the PhysX effects in this game are like, but the Splinter Cell games (starting from 2002) have curtains that look pretty believable when you move through them.

Mirror's Edge PhysX Comparison Trailer
edit: higher quality video

I don't recall the curtains looking or reacting anything like that in the original SC on the XBox.

 

[BFG10K]

Originally posted by: nRollo

When I think of Havok games like HL2, Bioshock, Painkiller, Oblivion all that comes to mind for me is rag doll physics.

Yeah? Then look harder.

I mean shit, Undying had curtains influenced by the wind and that game came out on 2001. It also had flames that would react to external wind and explosion effects such as skullstorm and molotov cocktails. It also had liquids that could completely change shape in reaction to artifacts, and you could still swim inside them when they had changed shape.

Does Mirror?s edge have any of that, something Undying had in 2001?

None of them have weather that interacts with the environment, parts of the environment you can destroy and effect other characters in game (like shooting stairs or walkway out from under, throwing them through windows, destroying cover they're behind)

Uh, what? Red Faction did all of that, minus the weather, and more.

You could destroy bridges, walls and other solid cover. Red Faction had destructible terrain and walls so you could dig your own tunnels and pathways with explosive weapons and vehicles. You could also blow out parts of bridges to make enemies fall through the holes, and it also had quite detailed glass destruction.

Can you make your own tunnels and pathways in Mirror's edge? Can you dig holes in the floor and use them as fox-holes (cover) in Mirror?s edge? And again Red Faction came out on 2001.

As for weather, what are you referring to? The stupid tornado map in UT3, or something erlse?

In UberSoldier you can throw a grenade into a room and any unfixed object there such as dead bodies, weapons and other loose items (including stuff on dead soldiers like helmets, food containers, ammunition containers and water canteens) will fly out from the explosion individually and realistically. Does that happen in Mirror?s Edge when you throw grenades at dead bodies?

Of course you wouldn?t know any of this, because you only play nVidia sponsored titles.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: BFG10K


Of course you wouldn?t know any of this, because you only play nVidia sponsored titles.

They're the only ones that matter BFG.........

 

[TridenT]

TURN OFF PHYSICS. That's all I can say.. Because, OMG GLASS SHATTERING=2FPS if I am lucky.. >_< If you have an nvidia card, nevermind... but all us ATI users, we need to turn it off to make it playable.

 

[TridenT]

Just beat this game and I recommend you all DO NOT BUY IT. This is a $10 game. It was fun, and easy(even on normal), but it was way too short. Killing the bad guys is really easy once you figure out that you need to SLIDE KICK LIKE A MOFO! Seriously, I was slide kicking and jump kicking the whole damn game on every baddie. I also used guns though, I lit them up like it was any FPS "BOOM HEADSHOT!"

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: TridenTBoy3555
Just beat this game and I recommend you all DO NOT BUY IT. This is a $10 game. It was fun, and easy(even on normal), but it was way too short. Killing the bad guys is really easy once you figure out that you need to SLIDE KICK LIKE A MOFO! Seriously, I was slide kicking and jump kicking the whole damn game on every baddie. I also used guns though, I lit them up like it was any FPS "BOOM HEADSHOT!"

http://www.gogamer.com/viewpro...24115&extid=9000011308

Well, it has been a short time since it has been out; there is no playable demo for PC and it is *already* on sale

it must not be selling well

Special Price $35.90
Regular Price $49.99
(Save 28%)

i will wait for bargain bin to see ME's PhysX
- couple of months? that long?

 

[Canai]

Originally posted by: TridenTBoy3555
TURN OFF PHYSICS. That's all I can say.. Because, OMG GLASS SHATTERING=2FPS if I am lucky.. >_< If you have an nvidia card, nevermind... but all us ATI users, we need to turn it off to make it playable.

You'd think the game would automatically disable PhysX for us inferior ATi owners... I kept crashing at one spot over and over and over, and it was due to the PhysX.

Oh, I also had to tweak a config file AND set it to read-only to get the stupid thing to launch in anything other than a 640x480 box that covered the top left corner of the main screen.

Protip: don't try to change any of the config files in the install dir... It brings up a message saying that your files have been modified and you have to reinstall (?!?!?) the game, even if you change the values back to default.

If I buy an nVidia card, will the game magically stop being a clunky console port?

Actually, I'm enjoying the freedom of movement and no HUD.

If DICE makes a new BF21XX game with a similar movement system, I'll never leave the computer :thumbsup:

But yeah, nRollo, serious question... I don't follow nVidia all that closely, but I was wondering if they have any plans to offer a standalone nVidia branded PhysX card, or if they're just going to stick to the GPU rendering. I'd really like to be able to use PhysX, but my semi-recent purchase of a 4870 means that a new video card is out of the question for a long while.

 

[JoshGuru7]

Originally posted by: TridenTBoy3555I also used guns though, I lit them up like it was any FPS "BOOM HEADSHOT!"

The combat was definitely the worst part of this game in my opinion. The game is trivially easy if you use weapons, but you're encouraged not to and then it turns into the slide-kick fest you mentioned.

My other complaint with this game was the frantic enemies-one-step-behind-you gameplay succeeded at making the actions feel desperate and important but at the same time ruined any chance to explore the levels. You're too busy hitting your hint button and hustling to the next point to appreciate what you're doing and that turns the game into a very short (6 hours?) ride on rails instead of a more leisurely paced game where you figure out your own path across the levels. Sure you can play the time trials later at your own pace, but that didn't have much replay value for me.

Mirror's Edge was actually a lot like Prince of Persia with a more interesting story, the same terrible combat, but worse platforming jumping gameplay.

 

[TridenT]

The combat had potential to be awesome if it just had more moves in it. Instead it was very simplistic.

 

[NYHoustonman]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: TridenTBoy3555
Just beat this game and I recommend you all DO NOT BUY IT. This is a $10 game. It was fun, and easy(even on normal), but it was way too short. Killing the bad guys is really easy once you figure out that you need to SLIDE KICK LIKE A MOFO! Seriously, I was slide kicking and jump kicking the whole damn game on every baddie. I also used guns though, I lit them up like it was any FPS "BOOM HEADSHOT!"

http://www.gogamer.com/viewpro...24115&extid=9000011308

Well, it has been a short time since it has been out; there is no playable demo for PC and it is *already* on sale

it must not be selling well

Special Price $35.90
Regular Price $49.99
(Save 28%)

i will wait for bargain bin to see ME's PhysX
- couple of months? that long?

Wouldn't necessarily say that, I've not seen much of a connection between a game's success and GoGamer having it on sale.

Either way, anybody else who's played care to comment on whether or not it's worth it at this price? I'm very much on the edge...

 

[geoffry]

My 9800 GX2 runs it at a solid 50-60 FPS (v-sync enabled) at 1920 with 4 X AA.....until the first level with lots of shattering glass where I got 3-10 and had to turn PhysX off.

 

[shortylickens]

Having looked at the videos and read the reviews, the PhysX stuff is the only reason for even playing this, and that may not be enough if you want some fun gameplay.

When they make a game with physX that actually matters, instead of an overpriced tech demo, I will care.

 

[TridenT]

Originally posted by: NYHoustonman

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: TridenTBoy3555
Just beat this game and I recommend you all DO NOT BUY IT. This is a $10 game. It was fun, and easy(even on normal), but it was way too short. Killing the bad guys is really easy once you figure out that you need to SLIDE KICK LIKE A MOFO! Seriously, I was slide kicking and jump kicking the whole damn game on every baddie. I also used guns though, I lit them up like it was any FPS "BOOM HEADSHOT!"

http://www.gogamer.com/viewpro...24115&extid=9000011308

Well, it has been a short time since it has been out; there is no playable demo for PC and it is *already* on sale

it must not be selling well

Special Price $35.90
Regular Price $49.99
(Save 28%)

i will wait for bargain bin to see ME's PhysX
- couple of months? that long?

Wouldn't necessarily say that, I've not seen much of a connection between a game's success and GoGamer having it on sale.

Either way, anybody else who's played care to comment on whether or not it's worth it at this price? I'm very much on the edge...

Not worth the price... I said it already! I played the game and it is not worth even $30!

 

[Canai]

Originally posted by: TridenTBoy3555

Originally posted by: NYHoustonman

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: TridenTBoy3555
Just beat this game and I recommend you all DO NOT BUY IT. This is a $10 game. It was fun, and easy(even on normal), but it was way too short. Killing the bad guys is really easy once you figure out that you need to SLIDE KICK LIKE A MOFO! Seriously, I was slide kicking and jump kicking the whole damn game on every baddie. I also used guns though, I lit them up like it was any FPS "BOOM HEADSHOT!"

http://www.gogamer.com/viewpro...24115&extid=9000011308

Well, it has been a short time since it has been out; there is no playable demo for PC and it is *already* on sale

it must not be selling well

Special Price $35.90
Regular Price $49.99
(Save 28%)

i will wait for bargain bin to see ME's PhysX
- couple of months? that long?

Wouldn't necessarily say that, I've not seen much of a connection between a game's success and GoGamer having it on sale.

Either way, anybody else who's played care to comment on whether or not it's worth it at this price? I'm very much on the edge...

Not worth the price... I said it already! I played the game and it is not worth even $30!

I'd disagree with that. $30 seems fair for it, and I'm enjoying the new movement system. I've already found myself replaying areas to see what kinds of crazy stuff I can pull and still make it to the end of the level even though I haven't finished the game yet.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: Canai

I'd disagree with that. $30 seems fair for it, and I'm enjoying the new movement system. I've already found myself replaying areas to see what kinds of crazy stuff I can pull and still make it to the end of the level even though I haven't finished the game yet.

http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1476&pageID=6254

Without PhysX you've got a decent game that's entirely playable. With PhysX you've got an interactive environment where things don't happen in a cinematic manner. They happen and you interact with them. Say your standing beside a window and someone shoots through the window but doesn't hit you. With PhysX you need to dodge the glass because you can be hurt by the interactive glass, in most games it just falls and fades away. With PhysX it becomes a part of the environment and you interact with it. Without PhysX you walk across a pipe, with PhysX you walk across a pipe but because the wind hits you in a realistic manner you have to balance to keep from falling off.

Affecting, and being affected by, the environment give this game a level of immersion others lack.

Canai- I don't know of any plans to build dedicated PhysX accelerators.