

Message 1 in thread 
From: Christopher Bolin (cbolin@teleport.com)
Subject: PowerSlave... Not Bad! 
  

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Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action
Date: 1995/11/01 
 

First off, this game uses the Build engine from 3DRealms and is the
first Build Engine game available that even holds an ounce of interest
IMHO. 

Secondly, the "beta/demo" is really more like an Alpha.  It is really,
really buggy.

I made the mistake of purchasing Witchhaven, solved the entire game in
~3hours play and was left with a hatred for the experience.   I
enjoyed a few elements of both WH and TekWar, but they just don't play
like other 1st person 3D games out there.  (and WH was *clearly* not
ready to ship.  The differences between the documentation and the
actual interface alone were enough to rethink releasing...)

Anyway, Powerslave seems to have "potential".  Fast action, easy to
aim, PROJECTILE weapons.  The few monsters in the demo behave in
interesting ways, and don't jerk along like WH or TW.  Check out the
pirahna when you are underwater, or the jumping spider/bug things...
Even the people in the game look and feel better than the other Build
engine siblings.

Like I said, it needs serious work still.  I consider it worth a look.
If they continue with the few ideas in the beta/demo, it just might
fly.

Find it:
http://www.playmatestoys.com/pages/pie/pwrslave.htm

=====================================================================


Message 2 in thread 
From: Mark Jurisevic (bimaj@flinders.edu.au)
Subject: Re: PowerSlave... Not Bad! 
 
  
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Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action
Date: 1995/11/09 
 

cbolin@teleport.com (Christopher Bolin) wrote:
>
> First off, this game uses the Build engine from 3DRealms and is the
> first Build Engine game available that even holds an ounce of interest
> IMHO. 

I had a look at the demo and think it has potential also. I think the
graphics need to be refined a little, such as the weapons graphics
(need to be a little more realistic) and possibly the sound effects 
for the pistol to give it more punch but like you said it's only an
early demo. The characters move and react realistically morso than in WH
and Tekwar. 


MAJ

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Message 3 in thread 
From: Andrew Paul (skrewdri@usa1.com)
Subject: Re: PowerSlave... Not Bad! 
  

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Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action
Date: 1995/11/12 
 

cbolin@teleport.com (Christopher Bolin) wrote:

>First off, this game uses the Build engine from 3DRealms and is the
>first Build Engine game available that even holds an ounce of interest
>IMHO.  
>Secondly, the "beta/demo" is really more like an Alpha.  It is really,
>really buggy. 
>I made the mistake of purchasing Witchhaven, solved the entire game in
>~3hours play and was left with a hatred for the experience.   I
>enjoyed a few elements of both WH and TekWar, but they just don't play
>like other 1st person 3D games out there.  (and WH was *clearly* not
>ready to ship.  The differences between the documentation and the
>actual interface alone were enough to rethink releasing...) 
>Anyway, Powerslave seems to have "potential".  Fast action, easy to
>aim, PROJECTILE weapons.  The few monsters in the demo behave in
>interesting ways, and don't jerk along like WH or TW.  Check out the
>pirahna when you are underwater, or the jumping spider/bug things...
>Even the people in the game look and feel better than the other Build
>engine siblings. 
>Like I said, it needs serious work still.  I consider it worth a look.
>If they continue with the few ideas in the beta/demo, it just might
>fly. 
>Find it:
>http://www.playmatestoys.com/pages/pie/pwrslave.htm

I hope Lobotomy, Apogee, Intracor and whoever else this concerns are
reading these articles. All of the Build games so far have sucked.
The graphics are nice, but what about performance and gameplay fun?

Hexen proved that hand 2 hand combat didn't have to be bad, but
Witchaven made it a chore.  The crabs in powerslave get my vote for
the worst enemy ever.  Is it no surprise that I am no longer looking
forward to Duke Nukem 3D?  Prove me wrong, Apogee (3D Realms
actually).....

=====================================================================


Message 4 in thread 
From: CORY W BERRY (cberry@mail.utep.edu)
Subject: Re: PowerSlave... Not Bad! 
 
  
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Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action
Date: 1995/11/16 
 

Christopher Bolin (cbolin@teleport.com) wrote:
: Anyway, Powerslave seems to have "potential".  Fast action, easy to

I agree, I checked it out yesterday.  A couple things I saw new in it
where the swimming and point of view options.
You can dive into a pond and swim around, but watch out for the pirannas.
This is a nice new feature, the swimming.  
Another thing is the 'c' key which goes from 1st to 3rd person and back
again on another press.  It shows you the soldier in 3rd person, really
interesting.  
The weapons are also hip, grenades are fun...



--
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( oo  /  Cory Berry  \/ cberry@mail.utep.edu  \
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        `'^`'~=-.,__,.-=~'`^`'~=-.,_,.-=~'`^`'~=-.,__,.-=--^'~=-.-=~'    |_/\

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Message 5 in thread 
From: William Lane (wlane@csulb.edu)
Subject: Re: PowerSlave... Not Bad! 
 

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Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action
Date: 1995/11/17 
 

I too liked the PowerSlave demo, MUCH better than
Tekwar or Shithaven demos. Just goes to show you that
SVGA does NOT a GOOD game make. Grenades were cool, liked
the POV toggle, swimming feature and all of the monsters!
While the monsters don't show much AI they do have interesting
"moves" I've seen the DogFaced monsters suddenly run at me or
around me at hyperfast speed and the jumping spiders were also
cool (although the jumping didn't do them much good against
the M-60 or the pistol). The moving blocks are also very cool.
The atmosphere was also cool. One thing though the flamethrower
needs help and the sound the M60 makes when shooting is weak,
it should be, at least, MUCH louder. Aside from that, if they
ever come out w/the game I'll probably buy it...
   -Bill Lane

=====================================================================  

Message 6 in thread 
From: Bill (bill@nowhere.net)
Subject: Re: PowerSlave... Not Bad! 
 
  
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Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action
Date: 1995/11/18 
 

William Lane (wlane@csulb.edu) wrote:
:  I too liked the PowerSlave demo, MUCH better than
: Tekwar or Shithaven demos. Just goes to show you that
: SVGA does NOT a GOOD game make. Grenades were cool, liked
: the POV toggle, swimming feature and all of the monsters!

I found the control in the water a little difficult.  I moved so
slowly, the fish ate me very quickly.

: While the monsters don't show much AI they do have interesting
: "moves" I've seen the DogFaced monsters suddenly run at me or
: around me at hyperfast speed 

The DogFaced guys did present a problem.  You couldn't always stand there
and try to blow them away.  They rushed you and slashed at you.

: and the jumping spiders were also
: cool (although the jumping didn't do them much good against
: the M-60 or the pistol). 

But I couldn't see a way to kill them with the sword which to me was
rediculous.

: The moving blocks are also very cool.
: The atmosphere was also cool. One thing though the flamethrower
: needs help and the sound the M60 makes when shooting is weak,
: it should be, at least, MUCH louder. Aside from that, if they
: ever come out w/the game I'll probably buy it...

Wish I could agree with you.  But you had to aim a little better than you
do in Doom, and since I was only using the keyboard, I found it a little
crude to aim.

Perhaps I'm just a little bored with all the 3D games.

-- 
+-------------------+----------------------------+------------------------+
| Bill Poitras      | Molecular Simulations Inc. | Tel (408)522-0116      |
| bill@ba.msi.com   | Sunnyvale, CA 94087-40237  | FAX (408)522-0199      |
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+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+

=====================================================================  

Message 7 in thread 
From: Mark Jurisevic (bimaj@flinders.edu.au)
Subject: Re: PowerSlave... Not Bad! 
 


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Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action
Date: 1995/11/23 
 

wlane@csulb.edu (William Lane) wrote:
>
>  I too liked the PowerSlave demo, MUCH better than
> Tekwar or Shithaven demos. Just goes to show you that
> SVGA does NOT a GOOD game make. Grenades were cool, liked
> the POV toggle, swimming feature and all of the monsters!
> While the monsters don't show much AI they do have interesting
> "moves" I've seen the DogFaced monsters suddenly run at me or
> around me at hyperfast speed and the jumping spiders were also
> cool (although the jumping didn't do them much good against
> the M-60 or the pistol). The moving blocks are also very cool.
> The atmosphere was also cool. One thing though the flamethrower
> needs help and the sound the M60 makes when shooting is weak,
> it should be, at least, MUCH louder. Aside from that, if they
> ever come out w/the game I'll probably buy it...
>    -Bill Lane


I like the game as well. I agree with the comment about the M60 in that
it needs better sound. Also there seems to be no real power difference
in the pistol, M60 and flame thrower. This needs some work. I also
think that the way enemies die needs to be unique for each of the 
aforementioned weapons. Having mummies etc running around on fire
and screaming in agony (aka Crusader) would be a nice touch. The weapons
graphics are cool except for the pistol which needs a little more
definition. The enemy weapons are also good, i.e. the blue projectile
fire balls are better than the ones out of Doom.

This game will be worth buying and makes Duke 3D and Shadow Warrior look
promising. Now if only they'd make an updated demo with a save feature.


MAJ


=====================================================================


From: Paul R. Lange (lobotomy_software@msn.com)
Subject: Build Vs Powerslave/Exhumed 
 
  
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Newsgroups: rec.games.video.sega
Date: 1996/10/17 
 

There seems to be a lot of confusion on what 3D engine was used in the
Saturn and PSX versions of Powerslave and Exhumed.

Just for the record, the Slave Driver engines are not in any way related to
the Build engine from 3D Realms!  Slave Driver is a superior, true 3D
polygonal engine, developed by Lobotomy specifically for the Saturn and
PSX.  The Build engine is a raycasting derivitive that draws the world in
strips (like Doom) and is very well suited for a semi-3D game on the PC. 
If the Build engine were ported to a console system it would be slower than
Slave Driver and wouldn't be able to do the light source shading and
dynamic lighting found in Powerslave and Exhumed.

Some of the confusion may have drived from the fact that we are using the
Build engine in the DOS version, but the DOS version only!  Even our Win'95
engine is an original Lobotomy technology.

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