It seems that you're using an outdated browser. Some things may not work as they should (or don't work at all).
We suggest you upgrade newer and better browser like: Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer or Opera

×
Community
General discussion (archive)Microids and the strange overlay in re-releases of older adventures(13 posts)(13 posts)
(13 posts)
Pages:
1
This is my favourite topic
Posted May 23, 2014
I've discovered recently a strange effect: some contemporary re-releases of the older adventure games from Microids portfolio (namely Mystery of Nautilus, Dracula 3 - The Path of Dragon and Louvre: The Messenger) have some strange overlay applied to them. Those re-releases remove some clickable spots, add arrows for the transition spots and also apply some sort of yellowish filter that severely degrades the whole graphics.

At first I've thought it's a problem of Big Fish Games because of over-simplyfiyng for their core, casual gamers, but then I've bought CD version of the Louvre game from the German distributor Purplehills and there it it as well. The overhaul goes so far as to remove all of the PDAs and multifunctional devices the games used to have at the time of their first release around 2000.

I am only glad the GOG version of Dracula 3 is the original look and not the case of the overlay, since it irritates greatly. Did anyone else experienced this issue, are there more of such butchered re-releases from the Cryo/Arxel Tribe era?
Posted May 23, 2014
avatar
Fingon:
Haven't experienced it myself, but I think in the Amerzone subforum here, one person had a thread regarding something similar - about an enhanced edition released on disc. Perhaps its the same issue?
- I'll try to find it and edit it in.

Edit: two threads with similar goings on
http://www.gog.com/forum/amerzone_the_explorer_s_legacy/graphics_quality
http://www.gog.com/forum/amerzone_the_explorer_s_legacy/mac_vs_windows_version

Hope thats relevant
Post edited May 23, 2014 by Sachys
Posted May 23, 2014
avatar
Fingon:
avatar
Sachys: Haven't experienced it myself, but I think in the Amerzone subforum here, one person had a thread regarding something similar - about an enhanced edition released on disc. Perhaps its the same issue?
- I'll try to find it and edit it in.

Edit: two threads with similar goings on
http://www.gog.com/forum/amerzone_the_explorer_s_legacy/graphics_quality
http://www.gog.com/forum/amerzone_the_explorer_s_legacy/mac_vs_windows_version

Hope thats relevant
Amerzone I never played yet, so I don't know about this one. The thread also quotes Tex Murphy and here I am aware of the fact that DVD version offers superior graphics, but is nigh impossible to run novadays.

This seems to be different problem, though - as if the distributor (original or "inherited") decided to redo the interface and the difficulty as well (can't say if the new version of Nautilus keeps the time limits I've heard about... I should try and post some comparison pictures, maybe that would help to get an idea what I am talking about. Thanks anyway:-)
Posted May 23, 2014
avatar
Fingon: This seems to be different problem, though - as if the distributor (original or "inherited") decided to redo the interface and the difficulty as well (can't say if the new version of Nautilus keeps the time limits I've heard about... I should try and post some comparison pictures, maybe that would help to get an idea what I am talking about. Thanks anyway:-)
I'm sure thats what one of the threads (or both) mentions though... the interface etc - may well be wrong - long day and I was stood in a supermarket when I posted earlier.
Posted May 23, 2014
avatar
Sachys: I'm sure thats what one of the threads (or both) mentions though... the interface etc - may well be wrong - long day and I was stood in a supermarket when I posted earlier.
Impressive, the queue must have been horrendous.
Posted May 23, 2014
avatar
Sachys: I'm sure thats what one of the threads (or both) mentions though... the interface etc - may well be wrong - long day and I was stood in a supermarket when I posted earlier.
avatar
foxworks: Impressive, the queue must have been horrendous.
I was on the escalator
Posted May 23, 2014
avatar
foxworks: Impressive, the queue must have been horrendous.
avatar
Sachys: I was on the escalator
must be a nice supermarket :D
Posted May 23, 2014
avatar
foxworks: Impressive, the queue must have been horrendous.
avatar
Sachys: I was on the escalator
Wrong way? ;-)
Posted May 23, 2014
...so even when i'm trying to be helpful it derails...
GAGH!
Posted May 23, 2014
avatar
Sachys: ...so even when i'm trying to be helpful it derails...
GAGH!
I appreciate your help, only I think it's a different problem. The threads describe also the differences between PC and Mac versions, but here it is about two pc versions, where the re-release actually contains less and in worse graphics than before.
Posted May 23, 2014
avatar
Sachys: ...so even when i'm trying to be helpful it derails...
GAGH!
avatar
Fingon: I appreciate your help, only I think it's a different problem. The threads describe also the differences between PC and Mac versions, but here it is about two pc versions, where the re-release actually contains less and in worse graphics than before.
sorry i couldnt help more!
Posted July 19, 2014
avatar
Fingon: I've discovered recently a strange effect: some contemporary re-releases of the older adventure games from Microids portfolio (namely Mystery of Nautilus, Dracula 3 - The Path of Dragon and Louvre: The Messenger) have some strange overlay applied to them. Those re-releases remove some clickable spots, add arrows for the transition spots and also apply some sort of yellowish filter that severely degrades the whole graphics.

At first I've thought it's a problem of Big Fish Games because of over-simplyfiyng for their core, casual gamers, but then I've bought CD version of the Louvre game from the German distributor Purplehills and there it it as well. The overhaul goes so far as to remove all of the PDAs and multifunctional devices the games used to have at the time of their first release around 2000.

I am only glad the GOG version of Dracula 3 is the original look and not the case of the overlay, since it irritates greatly. Did anyone else experienced this issue, are there more of such butchered re-releases from the Cryo/Arxel Tribe era?
Yes, there are.
There is the butchered version of Versailles II for example: http://www.amazon.de/Purple-Hills-Versailles-Testament-K%C3%B6nigs/dp/B00AHCLA1O/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405789267&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=versailles+2+purple,
or the "simplified" version of Amerzone (the one available on gog is this version as far as I know. Enhanced graphics, but puzzles removed).
I'm sure there are more games.
Post edited July 19, 2014 by Xscape2041
Posted July 19, 2014
avatar
Xscape2041: I'm sure there are more games.
Well, I've been playing a version of Necronomicon that seems to have had puzzles and locations culled from the original game.
Pages:
1
This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussion (archive)Microids and the strange overlay in re-releases of older adventures(13 posts)(13 posts)
(13 posts)