Overheated.

Another post, another Stargate episode.
by AC - permalink

I've been running into some weird graphics anomalies recently in a few games. Specifically, it's GTA San Andreas, Half-Life 2: Episode 1, and Far Cry. After over a week of merciless troubleshooting, I think I've nailed it down as video card overheating. Moving my box from its little tower cubbyhole to on top of my desk has helped, but the problem is still coming up occasionally in Far Cry. Taking off a panel only disrupts circulation and makes things worse, so I think I'll just need faster fans. But for that, I'll need a better power supply. I'm pushing mine as it is, which is probably part of the problem. Anyway.

Getting back to San Andreas, I've been taking a different approach this time. At the first opportunity, I went around collecting all 100 tags, then all fifty snapshots, then all fifty oysters. It's an easy way to boost a number of stats (and the extra 200 grand doesn't hurt) and getting those oysters has made dating so much easier that I've actually been able to get past date 1 with Michelle, who's driven me crazy on my first two plays. Staying fat as hell helped, too. I haven't tried that girl at the Ammunation in the backwoods yet (I forget her name), but I'm at 100% muscle and I might need to use the "skinny" cheat for her. In any case, without any money cheats, I've got over $700,000 at this point (just before the flight training mission) despite buying all but two available properties and without finishing even the first vehicle export list. Not really sure how I managed that, but I'm looking for cool shit to buy.

I'm having more fun than ever on my third Far Cry play-through. Yet another testament to that game's depth. Again, I've found routes I hadn't thought of before. You know that level early on where you have to get past the huts then make your way to the communications tower to destroy it? I finally managed to sneak around from the left to man that mounted grenade launcher without alerting the entire battalion below. I took a speedboat around to the little bay on the left and cut down the defenders from offshore. After that there was just one merc on patrol to take down with the silenced MP5 (hope you picked one up on the last level). Then I hugged the cliffside and got within spitting distance of the guys guarding the launcher. Killing them will alert a bunch of guys, but you can kill them and still have time to use the launcher to wipe out the camp below before all the mercs in it can rush you. The hardest part is getting to that launcher and killing that one merc when he's far enough from his buddies not to alert them.

Almost every level in Far Cry is like that, and that's why I love the game. That, and the fact that it looks incredible and still runs over 60fps at almost any resolution I throw at it. And Jolene Blalock just showed up on Stargate, blonde hair and all, which is another reason to love that show. Unfortunately, my old Duron box is the one by the TV, so I'm going to have to settle for some Quake III while I watch.