Topic: Spreadfire and Helix overheating-like effect?

[Naphtha]

Something I only started noticing after rebuying Descent 2 was that the Helix Cannon sometimes produces fewer than five shots per round in a dogfight, and I think it's mostly because I'm strafing left and right a lot.  I didn't really get to notice it much with the Spreadfire because I usually only use that for one or two levels in "Counterstrike," but I definitely remember parts in "The Lost Levels" where even the modded Spreadfire Cannon created only one or two shots instead of three.

Thing is, I'm not sure if that's a glitch in the programming (if it helps, I've noticed it with both DOSBox and Rebirth) or an intended side effect to make it seem like the ship is on the verge of overheating.  Has anyone else noticed this, and is there a way to fix it?

[CrazyEnzo03]

I've never heard of it.

Unless there are just so many objects in the level that only a few shots are making it out?

[TechPro]

I've been trying to duplicate this problem and that has proven difficult ... Without artificially adjusting the keyboard or mouse/trigger repeat rate.  Get the wrong repeat rate and bingo! The helix and spreadfire start 'stuttering'.  It also happens when whatever you're using for the trigger (key on keyboard, mouse button, joystick trigger) has a flakey switch.

Check your Dosbox keyboard setting, Rebirth settings, your OS keyboard settings, etc. and somewhere there is something messing with the repeat rate, be it software, OS, or program settings ... Or physical switch issue.

[Wraith-1]

I've seen this while using the "WILDFIRE" cheat, it looks like it's caused by too many objects in the level. Not too surprising considering the age of the engine.

More RAM might lessen the problem, but even my computer with 1GB of ram has a ridiculous amount of memory compared to the machines of 1996.

[Kaiaatzl]

I remember having this problem when I play the game in Dosbox.  The sounds for really rapid firing weapons (like vulcan or plasma) also occasionally cut out for about 2 seconds and then it tries to catch up resulting in a deafening boom .

I've never had the problem in D2X-XL or Rebirth.

[Scyphi]

Oh, okay, I think I know what you guys are talking about. If so, then I think it is just a rendering thing, and will vary from computer to computer, as that's how it's worked for me when I've (infrequently) seen it. I think my old laptop did this fairly often, in fact, but I haven't played Descent on it in quite awhile.

[TechPro]

Oh, okay, I think I know what you guys are talking about. If so, then I think it is just a rendering thing, and will vary from computer to computer, as that's how it's worked for me when I've (infrequently) seen it. I think my old laptop did this fairly often, in fact, but I haven't played Descent on it in quite awhile.

Unless I'm mistaken, you haven't turned it on in quite a while, either.

[Kaiaatzl]

Hmm... this comment is intruiging... it brings a question to mind... a question that is none of my business but my curiosity demands it anyway.
Must.... resist... must not... let... it... eat me...

[-<WillyP>-]

The answer to that question is 42.

[Scyphi]

Actually, the real answer is 'yes, I haven't turned on said old laptop in awhile now.' Why need to when I've got this much faster, better, new laptop?

I keep it around though, because every now and then I remember there's something on it that I need that I forgot to transfer off of it. That, and it'll run a few old programs (namely Wave Lab Light, but I haven't needed that recently either, thankfully) that the new laptop won't, or isn't likely to run it very well.

[Kaiaatzl]

Actually, the real question was, "who paid for the old laptop?" .

[TechPro]

Actually, the real question was, "who paid for the old laptop?" .

Really?  Is that all?  Scyphi paid for both laptops.

[Scyphi]

Out of my own pocket.

First one I got preowned as part of a surplus sale though, for only like seventy-five bucks (if memory serves...it was definitely less than a hundred). With that in mind, that first laptop preformed well, considering. It was just that the time came that I needed a better system, so I got laptop #2.

Not that any of this is relevant to the topic...