PCGP Episode 96: Adios Vede®man
On this bittersweet episode we say goodbye to long time staffer, Editor-in-chief Greg Vederman, as he leaves for other pastures (hue TBD). After his brief but heartfelt farewell we turn our attention to the BioShock release. Writer/Designer Ken Levine chats with Chuck about the game’s success, perceived shortcomings, and upcoming fixes. Add some playlists, and you have yourself a podcast.
August 25th, 2007 at 12:20 am
:(
August 25th, 2007 at 12:34 am
Sorry to hear Greg is leaving he was always one of my favorites on the podcasts and I always enjoyed his opening column in each months mag.. But good for you hope whatever endeavor you pursue works out well for you. Good Luck Vede-Man!!
August 25th, 2007 at 12:46 am
Why God, why?
August 25th, 2007 at 1:04 am
An honorary “Bye Greg” lolcat.
I request this to be placed on his desk on his last day.
http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/1869/ymrveedurmansnt1.jpg
August 25th, 2007 at 2:18 am
Vede nooooo!!!!!
August 25th, 2007 at 3:36 am
WTF? why is he leaving? so who’s the new editor in chief? Dan?
August 25th, 2007 at 7:04 am
August 25th, 2007 at 7:04 am
so i have a question about the Nvidia beta drivers. Will there be new drivers for the GeForce go 7900 gtx? I can’t find them anywhere.
August 25th, 2007 at 8:43 am
:(
:(
:(
WHY VEDE WHY!!!!
Nobias: Dan EIC. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Ild say chuck
August 25th, 2007 at 8:54 am
There is no god
August 25th, 2007 at 9:26 am
Why is Greg leaving???
August 25th, 2007 at 10:52 am
First the awesome Dan, now this?!?
August 25th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
It is a sad day.
I’m guessing Chuck is going to be the new EIC.
(Which I can’t wait for!
)
August 25th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Godspeed Vede, best of luck.
August 25th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
First God (Dan Morris) leaves, then the Devil (The Vede) leaves…
August 25th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
he was way to console friendly
August 25th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
at least we still have dj.
(some whispering) what?
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
August 25th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
Dang it, I was about to let him preview Diablo III! Oh well…
August 25th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
well at least that means no more pics of him in his boxers in the mag anymore….:)
August 25th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
:( first Dan and now Greg. You will be sorely missed.
August 25th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
all the best Vede. you did a fantastic job and it I’ll sure miss the enthusiasm you brought to the mag and the podcast. peace-out
August 25th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
Don’t be a dick, Zuljin.
August 25th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
OMG GREG… NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooo
August 25th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
um i sry to say it but i have dad a flawless expericence with bioschok and sadly i dont even have athe min proc here are my specks
Processor:
AMD Sempron(tm) Processor 3000+ overclocked to 2.2GHz
Memory:
1022MB RAM
Hard Drive:
2 80GB Seagate Drive, 3 320GB Western Digital Drive, 1 40GB Western Digital Drive, and 1 120GB Maxtor External Hard Drive
Video Card:
Radeon X1600 Series
Monitor:
westinghouse 19in widescreen
Sound Card:
SB X-Fi Audio [AC00]
Speakers/Headphones:
Logitech Gaming Headset, and Logitech X-530 5.1 Surround Sound System
Keyboard:
Logitech G15
Mouse:
Logitech G5 laser
and im getting a 8600gt on wed
August 25th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
tell me about it gaz, ive been playing the game since launch and while i have had a good time till now, i havent had the game close normally on me yet, everytime i finish a day of bioshock, its always because it crashes, or does the annoying thing where it minimizes or alt tabs out of the game automatically and i cant go back in. and EVERYTIME i go back in, i have to reset all my options.
i run Vista 32, e6600, 3gb ram and 8800gtx, game bought/installed through steam.
also when i enable the xbox controller, i lost all my pc specific options for video and audio, and the whole menu shifts to the xbox360 version. does that mean im not even using the advanced dx10 effects??? just because i chose the controller?
i usually hate controllers for fps, but since this game lacks a walk function for keyboard for some odd reason, i feel obliged to use the controller where i can walk/run with the pressure sensitive joystick. i feel that using a keyboard and being obliged to just run through the maps instead of creep and tiptoe around ruins most if not all of the ambiance.
So yeah, summary is even after the patch im still having the game minimize/ alttab on me and all i can do is ctrl-alt-delete. this might be a problem with my vista though, who knows, i mainly happens when the game loads from one location to another, and at random.
btw, shotgun is the most satisfying game weapon ive used in a while, especially when modified.
August 25th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
really, you actually like that shotgun?
I hated using it… I basically used the pistol the whole game, saving nade launcher for big daddies, and using my Machinegun when the pistol ran dry. Although once i got near the end, I pretty much stuck with the cross bow.
August 25th, 2007 at 9:03 pm
um i had the same thing happen when i activated the 360 controller i run xp n i have no problem closing
August 25th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
yeah it feels so visceral when you shotgun a splicer in the chest just as they are middair about to tackle you, sending them on a barrel roll of death.
August 25th, 2007 at 10:32 pm
kind like when you get a head shot wit da shotty in sin episodes n da dudes crainum just shatters
August 25th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
Bye Greg, you did some interesting experiments peeps don’t give you enough credit for, but the magazine was far too left side catering–even though a good deal of your readers are actually serving in Iraq.
It’s not just liberals who enjoy PC Games.
But my regards, I hope you are successful whatever you’re doing, don’t forget to have fun.
August 25th, 2007 at 11:20 pm
And why do you characters always have to interview people that really don’t have anything interesting to say?
August 26th, 2007 at 1:27 am
Happy trails, Greg; may your aim be true and your wagon not break a wheel!
August 26th, 2007 at 6:30 am
I have just finished a 2 hour session playing Bioshock. Man, can’t think of anything else at the moment, my world is at a standstill. Its even made me want to write on this board. If this game represents what we are going to look forward to in DirectX10 gaming, we are in for a treat. Roll on Crysis and Hellgate!
Ohh, and I have only got a 8600 GTS and the game looks great! (2GB RAM, Vista, Core 2 Duo).
August 26th, 2007 at 9:45 am
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooo! That’s terrible news. Reading the magazine won’t be the same without the Vede :*(
August 26th, 2007 at 11:44 am
=(
On another note, haven’t had one issue with Bioshock. Got it off steam which seems was the best way to go. Only problem I have is that I can’t really find the best audio settings for my Xfi/Headphones combo. First game I’ve had misdirectional problems.
August 26th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
It is a sad day for PC Gamer. Bye bye “The Vede”. We’ll miss you!
August 26th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
I don’t think it’s fair to call the widescreen issue(s) “nit picky”, as for some people this type of Field of View causes motion sickness and other sorts of problem (headaches, vertigo etc).
Whether or not the game was designed for widescreen first, then expanded (or standard then cropped) the end result is that the WS game has a “zoomed” in field of view, which regardless of the “missing” screen information, causes things to appear a bit too close. It’s akin to the zoom used in the gun-scopes in other games. (Eg. walking around in bf2 while zoomed in with the grenade launcher. It just feels a bit “off”).
Personally, I’m not that sensitive to it, and I couldn’t tell until I was shown. But Bioshock even in standard 4:3 uses a rather “up close” Field of Vision, and when you switch to Widescreen it reduces it even more probably “too far”.
Aggies
August 26th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
NOOOOOOOOO….. Why, Greg, why? You make me cry… It’s like the end of an era…
Wait, will he still be able to do the podcast, like Gaz…?
PLEASE, GREG, PLEASE!
(TT)
Frodiddlious Maximus
August 26th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
@ Nadder,
Yes i also had serious directional audio problems, and played the whole game with headphones… I just assumed the plasmids ravaged my character’s ability to hear properly…
August 26th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Who knows maybe Greg will pop in and say hi every once in a while. Just like Dan.
Still its said. Dan, Billy Harms, the guy who did the war collum, the asian girl whose name i cant spell, joe mitch, the lay out guy (dont worry kristen i like you better), and now greg.
August 27th, 2007 at 1:54 am
I think I must be the only person who doesn’t dig Bioshock.
Just as with Doom3 i just absolutly can’t get into games that are shrouded in gloom and darkness and shadows.
I don’t mind a bit of darkness now and then but when you are basically seeing a black screen that is punctuated in areas by a glowing neon sign etc that gives you a glimpse of the edges of some surfaces then i just feel frustrated, never knowing if i’m gonna bump into something or how much space I have around me.
I know that darkness is used for atmosphere etc but after a while i just feel that it’s a kind of enforced blindness.
Despite it not being my type of game I do appreciate the craft of the thing. I’d love it if they followed it up with a sci fi version, a well lit one that is. Even an update to system shock would rule just as Creative assembly re did Medieval Total war.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:17 am
I guess I’m just blessed but I’ve been running Bioshock without a problem on my Vista dual-core with an 8800GTS and it’s absolutely perfect. It’s the best looking game I’ve ever seen with sound design that is nothing short of spine-chilling, literally.
The design is superb, the story is the best I can recall in a game, and the atmosphere is movie-quality.
Unfortunately, the interwebs is the home of misplaced angst and apparently everything has to suck.
August 27th, 2007 at 11:50 am
I’ve read the magazine since day one and actually still have every single issue (a fact my wife has a severe problem with since we’re moving tomorrow), and I am sad to see Greg go. I always enjoyed reading the articles and editorials that he put together, and of course there is all of the behind the scenes things that he did as EIC. Good luck Greg.
I thought the podcast was great. I especially like the fact that Ken took the time to do the interview. The game is selling great and will be a big success, but he still took time out to address the shortcomings in what I thought was a very frank and honest manner. He didn’t have to do that, and it shows a lot of character that he did.
Now if only I could free up the money for the necessary upgrade to my PC so I can play the freaking game!
August 27th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
Good luck Greg….I think that themagazine did well under you reign. I hope they let you come back to at least give us the review of Diablo 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please let him come back and do that
August 27th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
This is why more and more I find PC gaming less atrractive. Yes I prefer PC games over a console any day. But this PC crap is annoying and just expensive.
You buy a new computer lets say with Vista and a DX9 card and what happens? Boom DX10 comes out so you buy a new DX 10 card. There goes half you bank account then what happens. BOOM DX 10.1 comes out. And you need ANOTHER card. What the heck. Yeah consoles may be one set of specifications but at least I am not going broke.
I just can’t afford to keep up with computers anymore. I’ve been wanting to buy a new computer for years now but every time I think I have enough or know what I want I listen to the podcast or see news of some new part that you need for new games and renders old stuff useless. Mind you the old part had 6 months earlier rendered the stuff before it useless.
I’m all for pushing technology but it moves way to fast and its way to expensive to constantly buy new stuff every week.
August 27th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
We all know the pitfalls of PC gaming, but that’s part of the hobby. You get out what you put in I guess.
I don’t remember who made the comment, I believe it was Logan at some point, saying that one day consoles and PCs are going to merge. That being, gaming will be more seamless and universal, and will be a seperate component of the PC itself, though they are within the same rig. You just flip between the gaming console and the workstation. I think this is the closest thing we can expect int he future.
August 27th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Gaz, instead of using the cursor keys, try using IJKL.
August 27th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
Assassin X - you do not need a DX10.1 card. No game currently out, or slated to be out in the near future, will make use of it, and those that will make use of it will still not require it. You probably won’t even notice a difference if you ARE using it.
And the system I have now, which I got about eight or nine months back, is still at the top of its game and in no need of an upgrade. Besides, if you absolutely must stay at the forefront of tech, your old parts will still have some significant resale value.
In short, the situation is not quite as bleak as you seem to think.
August 27th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GREG IS LEAVING!!! The ironic thing is that his first issue as EIC was also the first issue that I ever read. And it soon became my favorite magazine ever.
August 27th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
ay, it’s the end of an era…
BAM! It’s TheVede! is no more…
August 27th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
im having the worst experience ever with bioshock’s technical problems its pissing me off so effing much, basically i double click the shortcut through steam and all i get is ‘application stopped working’. period. vista and steam together are the worst shits in the world.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:27 pm
a newly built top of the line PC will still meet system requirements for (normal) games in the next 3 or 4 years. a developer would have to have an utter lack of market knowledge to require DX10 right now, or in 2-3 years. hell, crysis is coming out, and its a dx9 game. dx9!! who’da thunk it? sure, it has a dx10 renderer, but for some time after launch, I’ll bet that the majority will run it in dx9.
August 27th, 2007 at 11:33 pm
from The Book of General Ignorance:
Solids are categorized as either crystalline or amorphous. Glass is an amorphous solid.
August 28th, 2007 at 2:16 am
Mmmm…liquid glass :p
August 28th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
As a subscriber for many years, I will miss TheVede and his off the wall writings. A toast to you, Greg.
August 28th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
Here, Here. A toast to Greg. Good Luck with all your future endeavors.
Now maybe you guys can do a round of Catfantastic to determine the next EIC?
Nothing short of brilliant if you ask me.
August 28th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
The Vede!, I forbbid you to go!
I feel like some friend is moving to Qatar
August 28th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
Greg…you sir…you ROCK! I wish you all the best. Keep us posted on your adventures!
I bet Dan’s gonna get the promotion…or Andy.
I’ve played the BIOSHOCK demo and LOVED IT. As soon as I finish STALKER I’ll pick it up. It seems like DEUS EX to me and that is my all time favourite game.
August 28th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
I’m here to ask you a question. Is man not entitled to the game he buys?
NO, says the man at Securom. It belongs to 2K.
NO, says the man at 2K. It belongs to us.
NO, says the man at Microsoft. It belongs to our license purchasers.
I rejected those answers.
Instead, I chose something different. I chose the impossible. I chose…piracy! Where the gamer would not be censored, where the PC owner would not be bound by petty encryption, where the buyer would not be constrained by corporate greed. And with the downloading of your torrents, piracy could become your salvation.
(I do not express the opinions found in this and merely posted it here because I found it humorous.)
August 28th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
It would be really cool if Greg would get the promotion. Or even if Gary comes back if only for a little while. Does anyone know what Gary does for a living now or where Greg is going.
August 28th, 2007 at 11:10 pm
Good luck Greg, I just wished we could’ve seen you raid the house of that guy who traded his PS3 for the PC to make sure he was sticking to his word.
Show 100 is coming up, maybe Dan’ll be back?!
August 29th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
The very best of luck to you, Vede. You were a good EIC. I quite enjoyed the mag makeover you oversaw when Dan Morris stepped down. I hope you’ll make guest appearances on the podcast!
August 29th, 2007 at 8:37 pm
“The very best of luck to you, Vede. You were a good EIC. I quite enjoyed the mag makeover you oversaw when Dan Morris stepped down. I hope you’ll make guest appearances on the podcast!”
i thought Rob Smith was in charge before Greg, wait lemme check my PCGamer cupboard.
August 29th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
Maybe his is going to work for Blizzard on the Diablo III team
Okay, if that is it….Greg u may leave us
Assure us a great game
August 30th, 2007 at 8:38 am
Greg, I hope you’ll come grace us with your presence from time to time in the future on the podcast. You’ll be missed… thanks for making the magazine so great and the podcast so entertaining, and good luck in your next endeavor.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:08 am
Later Greg, Have fun at whatever your doing..
August 30th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Have to agree with Ratface, it was spot on that Ken L. spoke to Chuck and addressed serious issues around the game. However, I wish Chuck had sneaked in a request for turning off some of those annoying console addons such as the “What is it?” prompts constantly wrecking the joys of exploring around in the dark. I want the immersive experience Ken promised. Don’t stop on the widescreen patch, let us tweak the GUI interface, please.
September 6th, 2007 at 10:17 am
# Mac Says:
August 25th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
……….but the magazine was far too left side catering……..
……….It’s not just liberals who enjoy PC Games.
_________________________________________________________________
The Foxnewsification of America is a very ugly thing indeed. I curse the internet for giving you zombies a voice.
September 6th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
COME BACK TO ME VEDE!
/Thinks back to chuckling at the old hardstuff column
September 7th, 2007 at 9:05 am
ROFL B-Welk