They're still patching Vampire Bloodlines!?

[Bateluer]

http://www.patches-scrolls.de/patch/4647/61625

Unofficial Patch 9.0 - 23.04.14
Since getting released in 2004 this game is STILL getting patched which keeps improving the game by fixing bugs and restoring new content
It also comes with a custom resolution patcher for widescreen support.

For more. And an ENB.
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=646159

I might have to reinstall and play through this again.

 

[surfsatwerk]

Every couple years I give it a playthrough and I'm never dissapointed.

 

[DaveSimmons]

$5 on Steam this week. The graphics engine is dated (beta version of Source 1.0) but the music, art direction and atmosphere are excellent.

Tip: a good first character is a Toreador with the Celerity power and focusing on melee. Sneak also is useful and fun. Conversation (persuade) is also good.

 

[WiseUp216]

Yep, been on sale a couple times recently.

I started a new game with 9.0 last week but I keep getting distracted.

 

[mizzou]

never played it, always teased to buy it though....

 

[Revolution 11]

BUY IT, mizzou, BUY IT!

Seriously, it is a excellent game that the years have not affected, easily GOTY in 2004. I have played it six times now and every time is different with each community patch. Wespe5 and whoever else is involved with patching really deserve a medal.

For $5, you will get one of the best games in its decade.

 

[JamesV]

Are any of the patches compatible with the Steam version?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Are any of the patches compatible with the Steam version?

Yes, the Wesp 9.0 one is. That's the only one you want or need. Don't try mixing it with other mods / patches.

During installation you can choose between "basic" (fixes only) or "plus" for gameplay changes and restored content. For a first playthrough you might stick with Basic.

 

[TheVrolok]

One of the greatest RPGs of all time.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

I always play the crazy ones. Was the first ones I picked and after that playing any other race just doesn't feel right to me.

 

[BladeVenom]

Malkavian's have the best dialog options.

 

[HeXen]

I thought this game sucked compared to Redemption. Bloodlines was completely different and the story wasn't as good as the first imo. The haunted hotel or whatever was a fun mission but seriously, what a bland game. It's a shame Redemption didn't get the credit this one got, was a really good game for it's kind.

 

[TheVrolok]

I thought this game sucked compared to Redemption. Bloodlines was completely different and the story wasn't as good as the first imo. The haunted hotel or whatever was a fun mission but seriously, what a bland game. It's a shame Redemption didn't get the credit this one got, was a really good game for it's kind.

I loved Redemption.. and I think (it's been quite some time) I liked it more, but both are fantastic. I do recall thinking that the story from the first was much better.

 

[HeXen]

I loved the soundtrack. You guys should have a listen if you never played Redemption. The song "haven" is so relaxing.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4A35190895EB9F76

 

[TheVrolok]

I loved the soundtrack. You guys should have a listen if you never played Redemption. The song "haven" is so relaxing.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4A35190895EB9F76

Funny you say that, I remember the OST from when I first bought the game. Loved that song.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Redemption is $6 at GoG, so for $11 you could stay busy for a month or six. heheh

 

[Dannar26]

Loved me some bloodlines. I noobed out and went with a degenerate with celerity. Op as hell. Got as far as fighting the prince's bodyguard, and never got past that, as it was my room mate's game and I moved out...

But hats of to the Malkavian dialogue options. They were awesome. I tried to do a Gangrel melee character with max transformation powers, but whenever I transformed I got frozen in place. The game was pretty buggy.

But if they're still fixing it...

Bloodlines had great atmosphere and writing. Was redemption in the same vein (puns)?

 

[Elixer]

I think it is very silly to buy this game, since, 'AS IS', it is very broken.
If it wasn't for the unofficial patches, the game would have died a long time ago.

So, if you buy this game, you are sending a message to the publisher, sure, we support your broken game!

 

[Revolution 11]

Eh, there are plenty of people buying "broken" games in hordes. Bloodlines was especially broken but that's because of the tight development schedule, a mistake that studios are still making.

IMO, buying the latest CoD despite its intentional flaws sends a much worse and forceful message to the publisher than buying a decade-old game with flaws that were unintentional.

Doing the former means you are supporting the franchise in the direction it is going. Doing the latter means you support the franchise despite its bugs.

Not all games have epic bugs but many games have bad direction or goals and those are far more damaging and prevalent. Developers try to avoid bugs since they damage reviews but simplifying games and removing mechanics rarely gives bad reviews and often improves them.

In short, if there are more games like Bloodlines, fantastic games with horrible bugs, that is better than horrible games with no bugs.

 

[Morbus]

It's very silly to buy this game because Troika (the developers) are long gone. It's still one of the best RPGs ever, despite the flaws.

If you want to support the developers, go and buy Wasteland 2, when it comes out (that's Jason Anderson's work), or Pillars of Eternity, when it comes out (that's Tim Cain's work). Boyarsky's at Blizzard (though he's not a game designer anymore, and isn't working on old-school RPGs anymore), and Mitsoda's at Obsidian (though, to my knowledge, not working on Pillars of Eternity).

 

[Pr0d1gy]

I read one of the guys who made Morrowind said there is no way that game should have worked...lol

Nothing is perfect, the best are enjoyable in multiple replays.

 

[DaveSimmons]

It's very silly to buy this game because Troika (the developers) are long gone. It's still one of the best RPGs ever, despite the flaws.

If you want to support the developers, go and buy Wasteland 2, when it comes out (that's Jason Anderson's work), or Pillars of Eternity, when it comes out (that's Tim Cain's work). Boyarsky's at Blizzard (though he's not a game designer anymore, and isn't working on old-school RPGs anymore), and Mitsoda's at Obsidian (though, to my knowledge, not working on Pillars of Eternity).

I did back Wasteland, Eternity and Torment but I disagree with this.

Activision helped made this game exist at all by supplying the money. When people keep buying it a decade later, the message they send is that they want publishers to make more games like this not just DudeBro Shootah IX. It also thanks Activision for losing a bunch of money to bring you a great game.

 

[Morbus]

Activision was the single biggest reason Troika went bust. Not only did they force Troika to release Bloodlines on the same day as Half Life 2 (basically ensuring it as a sales disaster), but they cut the development time by more than six months (basically ensuring it was buggy as hell, and actually unfinishable in the state it was originally released).

Activision may have many good people working for them, but they are the biggest reason we don't have a true Fallout sequel (cause Troika were in very advanced talks to buy the franchise and already had a working tech demo).

TL;DR Activision is up there with EA and Atari in terms of evil in the gaming industry.

 

[Bateluer]

Activision helped made this game exist at all by supplying the money. When people keep buying it a decade later, the message they send is that they want publishers to make more games like this not just DudeBro Shootah IX. It also thanks Activision for losing a bunch of money to bring you a great game.

Activision gave Troika the shaft. Recall what happened with Bloodlines' development. Contractually, they couldn't release Bloodlines until after Half Life 2. 6 months prior to HL2's release, Activision slashed Troika's staff down to just a handful of people. For 6 months, next to no development was done with Bloodlines. Once HL2 launched, Activision shipped Bloodlines and fired the remaining Troika staff. A few stayed on without pay to create the game's single official patch.

Bloodlines is a textbook example of corporate stupidity.

 

[Markbnj]

It doesn't matter to me whether Activision and Troika didn't get along, Bloodlines is still a great game and one of my favorite Steam bargain buys of all time.