Patch Doesn't Fix Quick-Load FPS-hit.

[Hurin]

Well, the patch doesn't fix the problem where loading a few quicksaves suddenly causes the FPS to drop by more than half. . . and stay there until you completely quit the game and restart (thus enduring the long level-load time). Considering this happens so often, and on some levels you *need* to load saves quite a bit, this has rendered the game unplayable for me.

 

Normally, I'm pretty understanding about bugs in games. . . but this is just too sad. I'd return the game if I could for the following reasons:

 

1. Absolutely no feedback from the developers (despite emails and posts here) that says: "thanks for letting us know about this, we're working on it".

 

2. Rather, we get: "Turn down the settings. Your computer isn't fast enough".

 

3. No word that a patch is even on the way (despite begging). . . then when it arrives, it doesn't fix the problem. . . and now I don't even expect a: "well, we'll get it next time." Rather, now, they've just conditioned me to accept silence. Before, I could at least hope that a patch would solve the problem. Being ignored is the surest way to generate anger.

 

Anyways, here's my original email to LucasArts (posted here in the forum as well at http://www.lucasforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=37684 and at http://www.lucasforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=35985&perpage=40&pagenumber=1):

 

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Hi there,

 

There seems to be a widespread problem with the performance of Jedi Outcast that cannot be simply attributed to users setting the video/performance options too high.

 

I'm going to use the term "we" below because quite a few of us on the lucasforums.com site have noticed this odd behavior.

 

I hate to jump to conclusions, but it's apparently a bug in the game because, for a while, everything runs *great*. . . we're getting 70-90 frames-per-second (fps). . . but as soon as we load a quicksave, the performance drops to 40-50fps (and as low as 20fps in outdoor areas).

 

Now, if the game were always slow, I'd assume that it was something wrong with my computer. But because a somewhat routine and normally trouble-free action causes the performance hit, it would seem to be a problem with the software itself.

 

I noticed this most prominently on the level where I am fighting AT-STs while trying to destroy the ion cannons (while the prisoners wait for pickup).

 

Some say that using the light-amplification goggles often brings frame rates back up (two or three times, then this fix stops functioning until the game is fully exited and restarting). Others use the scope in a similar fashion. Again, not to be pushy, but does this odd behavior not point to a pretty severe performance-sapping bug? I mean, why would loading a saved game cause this behavior. . . and perhaps more importantly, why would momentarily looking through a weapon's scope fix it?

 

Anyways, there are at least three posts on the lucasforums about this issue with multiple people reporting it. And, unfortunately, there are probably a lot more people who don't realize the *source* of the slow-down, and just assume that the game is more technically demanding than it actually is. (not that the game isn't beautiful and incredibly good! It is! But we want to experience it in all the glory that our hardware is apparently able to provide. . . were it not for this bug).

 

Here are two threads on the lucasarts forums, please take a look!

 

http://www.lucasforums.com/showthre...&threadid=35985

 

http://www.lucasforums.com/showthre...&threadid=37684

 

There are a *lot* of posts there from various users with all sorts of different graphics cards (though I think all those reporting this problem have the titanium version of the GeForce 3 & 4). I'm sure you guys could get a lot more info form those threads directly than I am able to provide here. It would be great if you could browse on over there.

 

Might this problem also have something to do with the reports of there being little-to-no difference in FPS for those with powerful systems who try everything between 640x480 to 1600x1200. . . and the framerates don't change by more than 5-10fps? Just hoping. . . cuz that has been somewhat frustrating as well.

 

My System Configuration:

 

(All drivers were downloaded today prior to machine wipe. . . so all should be newest except the NVidia ones which I purposefully left at v23.11)

 

P4 2Ghz (Northwood)

Asus P4B266-C Motherboard (newest Intel Chipset Drivers)

512 MB DDR RAM (Corsair 2400)

GF3 ti500 (Detonator Driver v23.11. Hercules Brand.)

SB Live X-Gamer (non-5.1) (Driver v3509.2.0.0 --Newest--)

Adaptec 29160N SCSI Controller

Quantum Atlas 10K III 18GB

Plextor UltraPlex 40

Yamaha 4x2x16x CDRW

3Com 3C905C-TX Network Card

DirectX 8.1 freshly downloaded from WindowsUpdate.

 

I hope you will pass this email on to those who can fully investigate it. Personally, I've given up on the game and am really anxious to have a fix so that I can play it (with optimal performance). This really is an incredible game!

 

Please let me know if you are aware of this issue, and if so, is there any fix in sight?

 

Thanks!

 

Brian