I miss old SSI games and all the beauty and wonder they brought me as a child. Perhaps it’s more of the feeling of playing old MS-DOS games and that no worries feeling of playing games all summer long when your parents are out working; no cares in the world but that of the evil dragons and goblins of an RPG world. Secret of the Silver Blades arrived in May of 1990, developed and published by Strategic Simulations Inc (SSI), a company we covered in our gaming history back in TD Gaming Podcast Episode 9.
Secret of the Silver Blades is actually the third in a four-part game series which was eventually packaged in the Gold Box editing of the SSI games. It was a continuation of the game Curse of the Azure Bonds and the first in the series: Pool of Radiance. The cool part of the series was the leveling system where each would let you level to a certain limit just like most modules in D&D games, this game let you get to level seven which means a Mage could use the cool Delayed Blast Fireball spell which was one of my favorite magic spells in D&D (yeah, I’m a dork.)
The graphics were a whopping 16-colors, with slight graphical improvements over the other two prior games. This game didn’t have an overworld map like the others, going full first person for the length of the game. Another great enhancement was the ability to use the arrow keys to navigate menu’s without the need for “hot keys” like older SSI titles, given the game is very much menu-based for combat, equipment and inventory management it was very handy to have the use of those nice little arrow keys.
You create your party and start adventuring in a game engine very similar to all the games before it, so introduction to game mechanics was minimal, you could advance your characters further in level and, most importantly, import characters from previous games. The D&D world is really a character-driven game environment and you grow fond of your characters and understand the best ways to battle with them, importing is key and still, today, is a big part in well done RPG expansions (Guild Wars is a great example). Unfortunately, many games fall short of character import and it kind of blows away some of the magic of an RPG.
One of the frustrating issues with Secret of the Silver blade is the limitation on levels for the Cleric, because they can’t level up past 7 they can’t get the good ressurection spell, only allowed to use Raise Dead which lowers your characters constitution by 1 (much like the traditional D&D rules). However, given its a video game and not a paper-dice based game, the raise dead penalty is annoying, so it was easier to save often and re-load when you died to try again and avoid the penalty. I do recall their being some scrolls or something to get back your constitution penalty… but it’s been awhile I might be making that up.
Anyway, a well done series, classic RPG and helped build a foundation for games like Morrow Wind and Oblivion in my opinion.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Apple cutting into console sales?
Well im not going to admit to having a LCD Headset but my one of my good mates riley has one and you know wants strange…. he wears it on his head. He finds it practical, i just find it really dorky. But don’t let that scare ya off he’s a good lad. As for the Question of the week i was gonna say Crysis. My answer is Mine Sweeper for Windows XP/2000. It was an awesome game with game with your system, but really took the system to its limits. the game generated lag and Caused system crashes. i hope they remake it for Windows 7 because the OS must be betta then the name. hmmm it would be pretty funny to send to friends if some1changed the game to generate a fake Blue screen message When you lose. Well that’s all from sorry I didn’t really have an answer I just want Microsoft to have More Stable Systems
Oh BTW He doesnt like wear it Often i just remember him Wearing a few times walking up the driveway and stuff & know he has 1
lol, my LED headband is awesome. Something like this but with a few more features:
http://www.amazon.com/Energizer-HD33AIEN-Led-Headbeam/dp/B00081GATG/ref=sr_1_29?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1254286211&sr=8-29
It’s not the economy so much as the fact that Gamescom stole a TON of fire away from TGS. There were no surprises in TGS. None. Everything had already been announced at Gamescom, and just an FYI, it was a massive convention that will be bigger next year.
The other thing is that Japan has a population of 127,288,416. Europe and North America dwarf that.The fact is, videogaming has become mainstream in the West – before, it had been a niche in the West and mainstream in Japan.
My answer to the Question of the Week? Space Shuttle for the Atari 2600. That, according to EA at the time, filled every nook and cranny that the 2600 could possibly muster to make a REALISTIC space shuttle simulation – even getting real star constellations in the sky. Otherwise, no game on any system ever FELT like it was stretching a system to its limits.
More on Space Shuttle: Space Shuttle was truly a technical achievement for the Atari 2600 in the sense that it introduced a fairly sophisticated technical simulation to the Atari 2600, and it required the user to make use of just about every switch on the console. Special overlays, one for the six switch model and one for the four switch model, were included with the game, as well as a reference sheet and a rather thick manual. Simply put, the objective of just launching the shuttle is a very big task in that the player must monitor several item, make sure everything is set up properly, and then make sure they don’t make any critical mistakes, otherwise the launch will be aborted. Once the player successfully makes it to space and into orbit, the game’s excellent graphics are really shown to the fullest.
Your goal once in orbit is to dock with a satellite one or more times before returning to Earth. The player needs to take care that their shuttle is properly configured for reentry to avoid burning up in the atmosphere or crashing upon landing. A player who managed to complete four dockings and return with at least 4,500 units of fuel would earn a Space Shuttle Pilot patch from Activision upon submitting a photo demonstrating said requirements were met. If a player was truly good enough, and completed six dockings and returned with at least 7,500 units of fuel, they would get a special message, and sending a photograph of that would allow them to receive a special Space Shuttle Commander patch.
Jesus Juice
1 fancy bottle
Heap of left over sweet vermouth
Bit of vodka
Splashes of tequila
Some raspberry cordial or liqueur
Fair amount of lemonade
Add some crushed Ice
Then Shake, Shake, SHAKE
Share bottle wit friends or serve in a tall glass with ice. =]
Warning this drink may have been created while under the influence of alcohol
-Ivan
@Ivan:
“Warning this drink may have been created while under the influence of alcohol”… Surely all the best drinks are invented whilst under the influence of other drinks… Its a circle of inebriation!
On to the question of the week. I do not think I have ever played a game that truly pushed a system to its limits. I shan’t include my many attempts to play games such as Far Cry and Crysis on woefully underpowered gaming computers, because in actuality, all would be needed would be a singular upgrade and things would run quite smoothly, one cannot do this on consoles however (my biggest gripe with consoles and console gaming revolves around this problem).
I cannot even think of any game that would push the current consoles to their limits, mainly because I do not know how games are designed for consoles and what limiting factors consoles have. I assume its similar to computers, as thats what they are, but I can’t quite work out how games are wrapped around these systems. What is clear, is that consoles have games wrapped around their hardware to fit… Whereas with gaming on the PC, its more likely you have to do the exact opposite and build/upgrade a computer to fit the game.
Thanks for yet another great podcast chap and chapess, hoping the third leg of the tripod gets well soon, cheers and peace!
eni
Its my Disclaimer for any 1 that thinks it sucks
oi Schommer Whats the Craziest Shot for a party?
@Ivan, that depends, you looking for crazy potent or crazy looking or layered…
Im into Whiskey, Rum and Wine but in my group of friends there is alot of variety in what they really like to drink. So im looking for some nice neutral cocktails that i can make for every 1 to enjoy. Lately its been alot of Jägermeister, Bundy And Vodka.
Cheers
Red Headed Slut is tasty:
http://everydaydrinkers.tv/recipe/red-headed-slut
This is a great party drink for its shock factor:
http://everydaydrinkers.tv/recipe/chocolate-cake-shooter
Another fun one:
http://everydaydrinkers.tv/recipe/chocolate-covered-cherry-recipe
Alright mate i’m hosting this weekend ill try some of these out and i’ll give ya my verdict, If every 1 likes ill tell em to check out a sweet website ay.
Cheers
Alright mate i’m hosting this weekend ill try some of these out and i’ll give ya my verdict, If every 1 likes ill tell em to check out a sweet website ay.
Cheers
@ alcohol discussion LOL!! Alcohol and games are a spectatuclar mix!
-Question of the Week
Everytime a new Sims game my computer is always painfully low. I still have yet to purchase the Sims 3, i’m waiting to upgrade this time.
@ alcohol discussion LOL!! Alcohol and games are a spectatuclar mix!
-Question of the Week
Everytime a new Sims game my computer is always painfully low. I still have yet to purchase the Sims 3, i’m waiting to upgrade this time.
Is this Everyday Gaming Podcast Drinkers?
Is this Everyday Gaming Podcast Drinkers?
Well i like to mix it up a little. I love to game and drink up, so on the weekends I often combined the two. Halo Comps are much more epic if you’re drunk.
Well i like to mix it up a little. I love to game and drink up, so on the weekends I often combined the two. Halo Comps are much more epic if you’re drunk.
=/ I never got into the Sims; life can be boring enough I don’t need a simulation of it lolz. I did get into Civilization though.
=/ I never got into the Sims; life can be boring enough I don’t need a simulation of it lolz. I did get into Civilization though.
@Ivan:
“I never got into the Sims; life can be boring enough I don’t need a simulation of it…”
That’s exactly why I never got into it too! Same for Second Life, although the main reason I didn’t get into Second Life is because it’s just as addictive as Crack Cocaine!
And there’s nothing better than chilling out playing a bit of Medieval II: Total War with a G&T and some relaxing music and/or a audio-book of some form! Christ I sound like an old man…
@Ivan:
“I never got into the Sims; life can be boring enough I don’t need a simulation of it…”
That’s exactly why I never got into it too! Same for Second Life, although the main reason I didn’t get into Second Life is because it’s just as addictive as Crack Cocaine!
And there’s nothing better than chilling out playing a bit of Medieval II: Total War with a G&T and some relaxing music and/or a audio-book of some form! Christ I sound like an old man…
Don’t we play games to escape reality for a little while? I don’t want to enter a simulation which is just as frustrating. but i guess why games are so popular is cuz you can pretend reality is something else something epic, the biggest factor in gaming is you can walk away at anytime. In real life this is not always the case. You can’t always walk away from things in life because you’re trying to be supportive and don’t want to hurt any1 in doing so.
Don’t we play games to escape reality for a little while? I don’t want to enter a simulation which is just as frustrating. but i guess why games are so popular is cuz you can pretend reality is something else something epic, the biggest factor in gaming is you can walk away at anytime. In real life this is not always the case. You can’t always walk away from things in life because you’re trying to be supportive and don’t want to hurt any1 in doing so.
Oh, and I’ve never used an LED headset… I’ve got a mini-Mag Light which gets the job done 90% of the time… Plus, you have to admit, there is something quintessentially ‘dorky’ about LED headsets haha. Don’t let that stop you though Derrick!
Oh, and I’ve never used an LED headset… I’ve got a mini-Mag Light which gets the job done 90% of the time… Plus, you have to admit, there is something quintessentially ‘dorky’ about LED headsets haha. Don’t let that stop you though Derrick!