Strategy Informer  

Might want to stop using the winner's screenshot for the frontpage.

But yeah, I agree with this :)

Why Roderick?

Cause it gives things away :)

Those are some really bright colors on that CK map. Which build is that?

Your article has encouraged me to take a look at Dear Esther... seems wonderful.. It's a game that I totally missed.. probably the name?... I'm buying it today on Steam. THANKS

@nocutius: I don't get it. lol I'm kidding, ok yeah we need a graphic... we'll get something sorted for that.

@novapaddy: Yeah would be kind of weird if somebody asks you what you're playing. [I'm playing Battlefield 3 and Dear Esther. Ah yes... wait what?? Dear Esther??] A bit weird cute name. I didn't played it but it seems that people love the game.

Dear Esther... 8 euros of WOE!

I'm running Win7 32 Premium, and I haven't had game install problems since XP, and that must be 2 or 3 years ago...

Dear Esther installs, verify files fails. I delete and install again. Verify files passes. I go to run the game: I get "failed to make a D3D device". So I upgrade my video drivers, do Windows Update, go into msconfig and stop all services as demanded in the Steam Support section... and try again... same.

I give up. I'm NOT spending a whole day trying to get a game to work... like I'm sure, we all used to years ago..

So, Dear Esther will remain unplayed. Pity.

D3D, is that directX? I don't know really, just tossing a thought. Bummer man... Awfully dear Esther...

Yeah, I even tried extra settings that Steam suggested for my ATI card. .. this error only happens with ATI cards!!. But I just don't have the energy right now to go through the forums etc etc. It's just that with Windows 7, I've not had any problems with any games. This is the first.

Seems Esther will remain a lonely wallflower...

Thanks to UTube, I was able to get Dearest Esther to play. You go into Steam, pick the game, go properties, and set Launch Options to your display parameters. Mine was: -w 1366 -h 768. And it played no problems.

@novapaddy
Better switch to Nvidia card m8, it'll save you from a lot of frustration. I know, I used to have an ATI card myself...

Can't let that one pass djole :)

There's nothing wrong with ATi, most of my cards in the last 10 years were ATi, all problem free. The only card I had issues with was an Nvidia one but that doesn't mean i will advise agains Nvidia in general cause I know it all comes down to chance.

Well... I've "played" Dearest Esther... What can I say? It took about 2 hours from start to finish. I wandered about a lonely island, which was in many ways beautiful to look at, but.... .... .... there was no interaction, no action, no anything, just wandering..

My advice to you is to buy something else mate!

EDIT: and as for an ATI card. I've had this rig for about 3 years? I've never had a problem playing anything before. I used to care a lot about pc hardware n stuff, but I got over it... I used to build my own rig etc etc... but nowadays, I buy "off the shelf" and spare myself SO much stress and worry ... LOL

@noctius
ATI cards themselves are great but have shoddy drivers. Numerous times I couldn't play certain games because of them. Then I got my GTX 560 and haven't had a problem since.

I know what you meant, when people complain about ATi they usually mean the drivers. But like I said, it all comes down to chance, to some weird combination of hardware and drivers and it effect a very small portion of people, it obviously sucks when you fall into that group yourself so I get you.

But things are not even close to being bad enough to be advising against ATi in general, that's the only point i'm trying to dispute.

So it's a total trash Novapaddy? How can it be trash and amongst the games we mentioned for the game of the month (not a question).
http://xbradtc.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/facepalm.jpg
Anybody else tried it?

Well I'll explain myself a bit better:
Graphics were good and very pretty in parts. I took some screens for my desktop.
I wouldn't even call it a game. There is NO interaction. Nothing happens. You can do nothing except wander around the cliff paths, the beach a little, caves and between caves. You cannot pick up anything, or look at anything like a book or whatever. ALL you do, is wander about. I won't spoil the ending, just in case there is an absolute idiot (besides me!) who will buy this "game".

No... this "game" was a demo of some graphics for possibly someone's CV for a real game company. This "game" was a total waste of money.

I won't complain as to how this became among one of your "games of the month" BUT I will be much more selective and not take your word for it ever again...

EDIT: Do you think I'm being unfair? OK, then you go and spend your money and let us know all about what you think about it afterwards. Let's see you put your money where your mouth is...

I think you'll be back and you'll agree with me...

I had the same feelings as novapaddy the first time I played Dear Esther, but after looking back now the game is much more deep than you think. Here's a review: http://gamingpoint.org/game-review/dear-esther-review

But for those who have played the game read on because there will be spoilers ahead. Along with the symbolism, there are 'ghosts' in the game, have you noticed them? There's also some secret writings on the walls, and also when you look at the candles in the river near the end, you will see a shadow of a person. There's a lot more to the game than meets the eye, but I can totally see why people hate the game. The game isn't for everybody.