First step is to image the disc. I don't think I've mentioned yet why.
Using PowerISO, try to create ISO, get crc errors. I'll try making a DAA. Nope, CRC error again.
OK, let's try Daemon Tools. Immediately hit an unrecoverable block. Copy protection, or bad disc?
I can just try and install straight from the CD, see what happens.
g:\setup.exe
This product doesn't not support Windows 2000? continue? Yes.
Wants to install to C:\Sshock2, don't argue with 16-bit installers.
select Full install.
While I sit here staring at the install percentage number increasing, I'm thinking there must be any number of places I can download this game, legit or not. I didn't see it on Steam, which would have been great, and probably helped with compatibility issues. There's a probably a ways to go before I can actually start playing.
select Program Folders, .\Games\System Shock 2, ok.
Register? I don't think so.
Setup is complete.
OK, I'm still in Windows, at the desktop, and there's a window open; version number is 2.3. Let's see if we're current. The readme says it has multiplayer, which I think was the bulk of the last patch. This also means I must have the re-issue edition of the game box. A brief glance at Wikipedia (avoiding spoilers) shows that to be the last version. Let's hit Play.
Disc is verified... and... System Shock 2 has stopped working.
Up pops the Program Compatibility Assistant, offering to Reinstall using recommended settings. OK, I'll humor this.
Back to the same window (but much faster this time), hit play again... and same error after disc verification.
I find the SS2 Technical FAQ [ http://www.systemshock.org/index.php/topic,106.0.html ]. These people seem hardcore about SS2; I trust them. I need the SS2Tool; I install it. I see something called "ZylonBane's Newbie Guide to System Shock 2", supposedly spoiler free. OK, that seems handy.
I use the start menu shortcut, and I'm in! I can move around the setup options just fine, I start a new game on Normal difficulty, and just like that I'm in a 3D environment, and I can move around using the mouse and keyboard. Shouldn't there be an intro movie of some kind? Even System Shock had one, and there's a folder of them in the SS2's install.
Anyway, I'm in a tram, and there's a disembodied voice speaking to me - just like the start of Half-Life (1998). OK... I'm surprised to see that Half-Life came out a year before System Shock 2 (1999). Back to the game. Moving around the starting area, this doesn't seem like Half-Life, but more like Deus Ex (2000).
The keyboard mapping is off for me. I don't need A and D to turn left and right, that's what the mouse is for. I restore strafe left and strafe right to their rightful places. I also don't want S to be crouch, and now C is freed up to be crouch. I like how crouch is a toggle, and you don't have to keep it held down.
Its nice to see NPCs, even as robotic as they are. One screen shot method, Control+F9, produces unreadable PCX files. Just hit the Print Screen button, and you get decent BMPs.
I'm still annoyed at the failure of the cut scenes to work. I should resolve that before going much further. While searching, I find there is support for EAX audio (my sound hardware is Creative SB X-Fi), and that I can have it by adding a DLL. Not sure if I want it, game sounds fine. Oh, it enables better sound effects, ambience, etc. I want that. With Windows 7 I can't just use the DLLs, I need something called Creative ALchemy. Checking their site, System Shock is not on the game list. Maybe I'll try researching that later.
Back to the videos. Looks like maybe the K-Lite Mega Codec Pack [ http://codecguide.com ] can help. Comes with some crapware, uncheck. Where's my codecs? Retry with just Basic install (to get ffdshow). More crapware to dodge. At least now its installing Ultimate Codecs. Next time just find a ffdshow installer. Who knows what's on my system now. I should probably re-install Windows.
Let's see if any of this was worth it. Restarting SS2.
