Archimedean Dynasty

[TotalAnarchy]

Feel free to comment and discuss this game here. Also, if you have any useful tips or tricks don't hesitate to share them with the others! Thanks!

Review and Download (if available) (http://www.abandonia.com/en/games/27183/Archimedean+Dynasty.html)

[Professor Oak]

Yet another game joins the pile, looks promising.

[Sajaki]

Yet another game joins the pile, looks promising.

OMFG!!! this game ruled my life when i first got my grubby teenage mits on it.. its an amazing game and i reccomend it to anyone that likes shooters trading or mission orientated simulations. but this is so much more than that.

everyone should try it.

[_r.u.s.s.]

woah, i loved this one

i got a demo of this back then on the incubation game cd and wanted the full game so badly, but they didn't sell this stuff in here

[Scatty]

You might also want to install the 3Dfx patch here (http://www.bluebyte.net/eng/products/archimedean-dynasty/p_updates.htm), in case it would be able to work with this ripped version.

[hunvagy]

You might also want to install the 3Dfx patch here (http://www.bluebyte.net/eng/products/archimedean-dynasty/p_updates.htm), in case it would be able to work with this ripped version.

Well, that actually made my last version crash :D But this (http://dlh.net/cgi-bin/dlp.cgi?lang=eng&sys=pc&file=adupdate.zip&ref=ps) is recommended. Though It's doubtful it'll work with the rip.

[Scatty]

That patch is actually on the same linked page I posted, further below. After you install it, the game shouldn't crash anymore if the 3Dfx patch is installed :)

[hunvagy]

That patch is actually on the same linked page I posted, further below. After you install it, the game shouldn't crash anymore if the 3Dfx patch is installed :)

How does the 3DFX version perform under DOSbox? And I think you'd need a self compiled version for that, right?

[Scatty]

You need a special version of DosBox for the 3Dfx support to work, that's correct.
I'm using this one - Gulikoza's DosBox (http://www.si-gamer.net/gulikoza/) (click on DosBox on the left side once there) for Dos-games with 3Dfx / Glide support. You might also try this one - Link (http://ykhwong.x-y.net/cvs/frame.html).

[legalmumbojumbo]

This is a great game, had it when I was a little kid.

The sequel Aquanox, is pretty good too. Some people don't like the voice acting, but I liked teh game.

[Gordon Overkill]

After having read the review I am really wondering how I could have missed this one when it was released... this game seems to be totally my cup of tea! Just one thing before I download it: Of which kind are the videos that were cut out? Are they essential to understand the plot? If so, I'd rather search for a full version.

Greetings & long live the loud,
Gordon

[_r.u.s.s.]

After having read the review I am really wondering how I could have missed this one when it was released... this game seems to be totally my cup of tea! Just one thing before I download it: Of which kind are the videos that were cut out? Are they essential to understand the plot? If so, I'd rather search for a full version.

Greetings & long live the loud,
Gordon
we have the full image version in the iso cellar :)

you need to be registered in order to access it though

[Over Gordonkill]

Hmmm, I've got some problems with the registration. Seems as if my standart mail adress has already been used - most likely by myself and I just can't remember. So I tried to register with my secondary adress last night, but I didn't get any confitmation email. Still something must have changed, because I can't use the name Gordon Overkill in the forum anymore. Do you know who could help me with this problem?

Thanks & geetings,
Gordon

[The Fifth Horseman]

I can. Give me a few minutes.

EDIT: Done. Check your e-mail.

[GordonOverkill]

Thanks for the help! Worked perfectly!

[GordonOverkill]

Next problem on the list: Could anyone please show me the way to the iso cellar?

Found it myself... hey stupid! :wall:

[_r.u.s.s.]

it's inside the "games" subforum section
here: http://www.abandonia.com/vbullet/forumdisplay.php?f=43

edit: hah, posted at the same time

[GordonOverkill]

Thanks for your help, anyway!b:thumbs:

[GordonOverkill]

Definitely a good game! I started playing yesterday night (after quite some trouble getting it to run - thanks again to everybody who helped me!) and really enjoyed the first missions! Looking forward for the rest of the game :)

[deepthought2]

I found a poor quality manual in the net and downloaded it.
If anybody wants it, just tell me.

[deepthought2]

By the way, I tried to register too, but I recieved no message although I could not use my original username (deepthought) because system says it is already in use...

[The Fifth Horseman]

Check your e-mail.

[deepthought]

Thank you. :)

[GordonOverkill]

Slowly but surely I reach a state of the game where the missions are actually challanging! Great, even more fun!

[_r.u.s.s.]

I found a poor quality manual in the net and downloaded it.
If anybody wants it, just tell me.
share away, post a link in this topic

[deepthought]

Here it comes- low resolution scanned manual- but still readable.

http://www.replacementdocs.com/download.php?view.3683

...and a walkthrough if necessary. ;)

http://www.bluebyte.net/eng/products/archimedean-dynasty/walkthru.pdf

[stilgar-82]

But it is possible to play the game and follow the story without the videos?

PS: i tried to register for the forum whith the username stilgar82, but the notification e-mail is not arrived..

[The Fifth Horseman]

PS: i tried to register for the forum whith the username stilgar82, but the notification e-mail is not arrived..
Known problem. Some things are badly broken right now and our techs are going bald from trying to figure out WHAT exactly is wrong with them.

[alukrad]

um wich exe shuold i use in dosbox? i dont realy know witch one to use and play.

[_r.u.s.s.]

why don't you try all of them one by one?

[alukrad]

why don't you try all of them one by one?
ther exe in difrent folders in that folder i cant do them all and remember them all becuse i only do it in full screen.why whould i d that it would take maby 16 days?

[alukrad]

ther exe in difrent folders in that folder i cant do them all and remember them all becuse i only do it in full screen.why whould i d that it would take maby 16 days?
i fergot the dir sary

[azrael300]

how to shoot a torpedo?

[_r.u.s.s.]

ther exe in difrent folders in that folder i cant do them all and remember them all becuse i only do it in full screen.why whould i d that it would take maby 16 days?
what the hell? is that english?

anyways.. i just downloaded the game... there is only one excutable if you don't count those in the subdirectory. and why would you launch an excutable in subdirectory if there's only one in the main directory ??? the excutable is, ofcourse, AD.BAT

and even if you were to try all the excutables in the subdirectory one by one..16 days? i tried them all, just for you. and i put on timer, just for you. do you know how much time did it take me? exactly 32 seconds. and it took that long only because 2 of them actually worked and i had to turn the game off. but who knows, maybe it's 16 days somewhere in a time warp hole

@azrael- tab. also, press H key for all the commands

[styer]

when i start this game in dosbox the mouse pointer moves extremely slow, anyone know a way to fix this?

[Luchsen]

If you are sure that it isn't the game itself which is slow, increase the mouse sensitivity in your DOSBox configuration (under section [sdl] - and yes, values above 100 are possible).

An in-game configuration would be better, but I don't know if there is one.

[_r.u.s.s.]

nope, archimedean dynasty is known with having terrible mouse sensitivity settings

[Guest]

Hi I registered since yesterday and hav not receive a confirmation email...can anyone help me on that?Btw i gt this game to work fully with sound and smooth graphics but the music tracks are not available despite using the 'alt+1-4' buttons. I installed the game from my original old AD cd that used to have music. Can anione help?

My username is dasdasd213

[_r.u.s.s.]

did you register with hotmail? hotmail is a retarded service, i had to register with different mail because it was simply blocking it or something

[Guest]

did you register with hotmail? hotmail is a retarded service, i had to register with different mail because it was simply blocking it or something

Hi _r.u.s.s,

I did register using hotmail lol...thanks for telling me about it..btw do you know of any solution for having the music to be played in the game? I played this game on Win95 and it was perfect with the music and the ambience and everything..

[_r.u.s.s.]

it's prolly because you're playing the rip off the main site. we have a full iso inside the iso cellar .. and you can see that part of the forum only once you're registered=/

just use another service than hotmail and everything will be fine

[eugene425]

what the hell? is that english?

anyways.. i just downloaded the game... there is only one excutable if you don't count those in the subdirectory. and why would you launch an excutable in subdirectory if there's only one in the main directory ??? the excutable is, ofcourse, AD.BAT

and even if you were to try all the excutables in the subdirectory one by one..16 days? i tried them all, just for you. and i put on timer, just for you. do you know how much time did it take me? exactly 32 seconds. and it took that long only because 2 of them actually worked and i had to turn the game off. but who knows, maybe it's 16 days somewhere in a time warp hole

@azrael- tab. also, press H key for all the commands
perhaps the author * alukrad * Russian and it is difficult to find words in a foreign language:-))

[_r.u.s.s.]

nope, it is a teenage american=P

[eugene425]

nope, it is a teenage american=P
Well, I say Probably.:OK:

[Guest]

it's prolly because you're playing the rip off the main site. we have a full iso inside the iso cellar .. and you can see that part of the forum only once you're registered=/

just use another service than hotmail and everything will be fine


Hi _r.u.s.s,

I signed up again using hushmail.com but my activation mail is still unreceived. May I know what email you used to register?

[_r.u.s.s.]

gmail, fastmail, both of those worked o_o

have you tried looking into spam?

[Oskatat]

ad exe works for me atm. sorry for not sending the screenshots i have, laptop got lost and various other issues arose

actually, for most missions, especially in the later part when you have a fixer, patience solves most problems. I think i once screwed up the ending because i killed everything and everyone, which i wasnt supposed to to get the lady with the bomb to the brain safely.......

enemies never have a fixer

flash sharks may look bad, but a FS I or II will take out any scout, and a II or III has a good chance at taking out bombers

cluster bombs aint only good against tanks. stationary targets like em too. otherwise they're lame

Big Bangs are BAD
before they reach the target, they are either intercepted by noise sensitive defences or by that time you are cheese from the other defenders

there are some trade routes early game to make extra creds. its boring but make a few hundred million billion or so, it makes buying upgrades later on much easier (maybe not that much, but you get the point, do it untill you get really sick of it. do some missions and do it again untill you are really sick of it) You NEED cash, trust me.

anti torpedo turrets are your best asset in the beginning. those torpedoes can kill you or take you out of the main fight for precious seconds while you make it explode on the sea bed or dodge it. with the bionts, fighting turrets are good, while you dodge enemy fire

[Guest]

gmail, fastmail, both of those worked o_o

have you tried looking into spam?

Hi,

Thanks for your help...I looked into junk mail but it isnt there..i guess hushmail doesnt work..okay i try other emails..thanks..and does your AD has cd music played during battles besides the sound effects from the movies?

[dasdasd213ag]

gmail, fastmail, both of those worked o_o

have you tried looking into spam?

Hey thanks i managed to finally get activated..looks like hushmail doesnt work..thanks a lot _r.u.s.s...btw i dled frm the isocellar the 700+mb .bin for AD..but there is still no music during in-game battles...do urs hav music?I can hear the in-game voice commands and sound effects from all the gunfights though..

[dasdasd213ag]

ad exe works for me atm. sorry for not sending the screenshots i have, laptop got lost and various other issues arose

actually, for most missions, especially in the later part when you have a fixer, patience solves most problems. I think i once screwed up the ending because i killed everything and everyone, which i wasnt supposed to to get the lady with the bomb to the brain safely.......

enemies never have a fixer

flash sharks may look bad, but a FS I or II will take out any scout, and a II or III has a good chance at taking out bombers

cluster bombs aint only good against tanks. stationary targets like em too. otherwise they're lame

Big Bangs are BAD
before they reach the target, they are either intercepted by noise sensitive defences or by that time you are cheese from the other defenders

there are some trade routes early game to make extra creds. its boring but make a few hundred million billion or so, it makes buying upgrades later on much easier (maybe not that much, but you get the point, do it untill you get really sick of it. do some missions and do it again untill you are really sick of it) You NEED cash, trust me.

anti torpedo turrets are your best asset in the beginning. those torpedoes can kill you or take you out of the main fight for precious seconds while you make it explode on the sea bed or dodge it. with the bionts, fighting turrets are good, while you dodge enemy fire



hAhah thanks for the good walkthru..it helps a lot..i do agree with you..at the last stages of the game..no more enemy torpedoes esp from the Bionts who dont use them at all lol..

btw does ur A.D has music setup?i miss the great soundtracks that adds to the ambience of the game..

[francescobaro]

Hello there!

First and foremost, congratulations for the wonderful site and community!
I'd like to download the ISO Cellar version of this intriguing game but it looks like I'm not able to register!

I tried this morning but still can't see the mail from abandonia in my mail box (my provider is www.libero.it).

Any suggestion?

[The Fifth Horseman]

We have issues with notifications not being received by users of certain e-mail services. Trying to find a way to solve this.

[Saryos]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone have had success running this game with dosbox and a glide wrapper? I tried with gulikoza's version, and got 3d graphics playing correctly, but all 2d elements were missing. It's not fun trying to play without waypoint markers and sonar... So the question is, has anyone had better success?

[francescobaro]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone have had success running this game with dosbox and a glide wrapper? I tried with gulikoza's version, and got 3d graphics playing correctly, but all 2d elements were missing. It's not fun trying to play without waypoint markers and sonar... So the question is, has anyone had better success?
I run it in dosbox on WindowsXP and it works fine.
But playing this gem without the missings videos/animations & audio tracks is a crime so I'm looking for a way to register myself with Abandonia to download the iso cellar image of this game.

Perephas you should try different glide wrappers, for example Glidos, that run on top og OpenGlide.
In any case, I found a list of glide wrappers on the web, here it is:
http://www.sierrahelp.com/Utilities/DisplayUtilities/GlideWrappers.html

[francescobaro]

I'm struck at this mission: I always dies!
I can pass the canyon undetected, turning off active sonar and the generator, but the problems start to rise once arrived to the other side, in pirate's base.

As soon as you stop for whatever reason for more than 8-10 seconds you are kikked in the ass by enemy [fast] torpedoes (and you have only two buzzer to spend).

What are your tactics? To move as fast as possible and hit as hard as possible the two main targets (north control tower & gas tank controller)?

Or is better to kill some/all enemy fighter first?
A (stupid) question: enemy tank can also fire torpedoes?

I'm playing with the medium difficul setting.
Thank you very much.

[Oskatat]

the real trick to missions like this: there are several places, well, just a few, where enemy ships and turrets cant hit you. There is another mission just like it, same kind of situation. basically, there is one spot to disable the defences, after that its just a matter of dodging bullets and torpedoes and firing both untill you win

a pretty good walkthrough can be found here:
http://www.gamefaqs.com/pc/196622-archimedean-dynasty/faqs/1727

theres a save place, somewhere


since i'm a bit bored.....
torpedoes:
as i said before, i consider bigbangs utterly useless, as they take ages to get anywhere. Even the slowest bomber outruns them, so they can only be used at stationairy targets such as controll centers and the huge cargo ships. However, even then they are usually intercepted by gun turrets hunting anything that moves, since they make a lot of noise.

if you want to take out an enemy fast, in the beginning you can safely use tiger sharks I or II, or maneaters I or II. They are fast, maneuvrable and hard to shake off. Dont use anything that can be distracted by buzzers unless you have no other option. On that, in the previous mentioned mission, you could use a torch and a buzzer to create some distraction, as well as the buzzer equivalent torpedo, forgot the name. Hammerheads are great: unshakable, agile and fast. They cant destroy anything except the lightest scouts though.

Flash sharks are definately prize winners: they are fast, hard to shake and disable some ships at I, many at II and most at III. Against the bionts you may want to switch to leeches. Leeches will disable pretty much any standard ship you'll encounter. Except for the fanatics near the pole (you'll know what i'm talking about when you get there)

traderoutes in the beginning often involve shipping torpedoes to outposts and bringing back guns or software (or was it the other way around?)

Turrets, your own and enemy:
its worth getting a turret even without software, it doubles your firepower
In the beginning your most likely used turret is on the bottom. Check the controlls, theres a switch to make you go around the sea upside down. Since the best survival strategy is similar to flight similators (hug the ground), going upsode down will protect your vulnerable top.
As mentioned before, in the beginning you'll want to use turrets to hunt torpedoes. Better software is more important than a better gun. Also, dont forget, every new mission, to set the turret on S&D, and dont forget to set it to sync fire when you need it. Use the F- shortcut keys
No matter how good the software, or if they are ship or stationairy turrets, they dont detect anything further than 100m. Getting longer ranged turret weapons is only important for sync firing. On that, make sure your main guns have a good range. That is more important than EMP or damage, since it allows you to take out turrets, including those on battleships, without being targeted. Biont turrets, if i remember correct, have a slightly longer range. Counter this by drifting in range, fire some shots and reverse. The turrets have a slower reaction time and only occasionally manage to hit you, once or twice, while you should get in a good ten to twenty.

Important upgrades also include the silencer, or however it was called, for more torpedo security and the turbo. In some missions it will be your task to keep alive or save someone, which will be near impossible with the regular speed you have.

Kill first:
what to kill first: obviously, whatever threathens your objectives most. Curiously, tanks seem to be one of the most dangerous units, having massive firepower and being pretty hard to hit. Your allies also tend to ignore them, which means tanks have a field day of it. Now, scouts or bombers. A good tactic is often to send a torpedo or 2 after some weaker scouts. Why? it means 2 less guns firing at you. After that, bombers obviously. Again, the main problem is the turrets. They track you way before they fire at you, and any torpedo fired directly at the enmy will be intercepted. However, you can safely move over or under the enemy and, while moving, fire the torpedo. they are almost always trackers, so they'll just swerve round to bite em in the back, while, hopefully, the turrets continue tracking you. The best for this is a flashshark, better even a leech: hard to shake and one or two will do it. Usually it will take you some time to destroy a bomber, at least untill you get a better weapons array. Dont feel bad about destroying a couple of scouts while giving the bomber a wide berth while you look for a new angle of attack.

Biont bombers are unique: they are so damn fast, they can outrun anything, usually even torpedoes. Why fire torpedoes at them anyway? because its the only thing that will get it to get off your tail when one has decided to take you out.

further thingies:

If you are relatively inexperience or want to try a new trick, use the enemies at the start to practice on. Make the fight last. Dodge, evade and trick him untill you feel completely proficient in your new maneuvre or with the controlls. Trying something new that might not work is not good against the shogunate

find a lone torpedo turret and practice shooting down torpedoes. The practice pays off.

When you get acces to energy powered weapons, try a few times which combination of weapons works best. The huge cannon looks cool, but if you have 3, you can at most shoot once every second, while a lower gun could shoot 10, or 2 of them 20, doing more damage including EMP than the 3 cannons, or at least more reliably: if you have one big shot, its bad to miss. If you have a lot smaller ones, you can more easily track a target. Also, its bad to find out, just when the real big enemy fleet shows up, that your energy reserve is gone and shooting speed is drastically slowed down.

As mentioned before, many missions have a few hiding spots where you can shoot at your target, but cant be shot at. Between buildings, or just behind, on a ridge or in a cave (yes, in a few missions there are cave like places) where only someone directly in front of you or at some other place where noone comes can hit you, or at least where you cant be hit by defensive turrets.

On some missions where you cant seem to win, you could try moving around a bit, find these places, without trying to actually complete the mission, which would only distract you


final notes: the attack and witdraw tactic was perfected with them huge cannons, only got in a couple of shots before energy was gone, but you didnt need many shots. they were more than useless against many scouts, or bombers. at the biont missions, choose a torpedo mag that takes most, not the fastest

[francescobaro]

Thank you, Oskatat.
That's a pity I currently have no time to play, but your post will come in handy!

[Oskatat]

i almost forgot....
when you get missions like "prevent x from being destroyed", fire a torpedo at anything attacking it. any ship with a torpedo on it gets a move on and doesnt fire on, whatever, anymore. good use for cheap torpedoes

[EMM386]

Hello, folks. First time posting here. Thanks so much for putting this game up!

I grabbed the ISO files (the 3-part .RAR one), downloaded and extracted/combined it. So far so good.

Installation seemed to go ok, but when I run the AD.EXE from DOSbox I get this weird error message:

FILE OPEN ERROR: sfx\snd\bground\b02.pcl ERRNO: 1

Any idea what this is?

[dosraider]

Installation seemed to go ok, but when I run the AD.EXE from DOSbox I get this weird error message:

FILE OPEN ERROR: sfx\snd\bground\b02.pcl ERRNO: 1

Any idea what this is?
Wrong mounts and/or wrong game setup.
As you don't give any details, I have no idea, my crystal bulb is broken, sorry.

[Oskatat]

i forgot all steps to run it. its been a while, but it must be something you have to do ;)

actually, i checked. I ran it in dosbox and the only thing is maybe you should run the setup first, after that it should be ok, though the insanely slow mouse is not a bug but a game feature, makes you enjoy the scenery...

[baracus]

i just know it under the name "schleichfahrt" - but i have to say its ok game, but it has nothing on PRIVATEER 2 , which is faaaaaaaar better. p2 is pretty much a godgame - perfect story and graphic and atmopshere and gameplay

[Oskatat]

privateer 2 is not availablke here, neither is privateer 1. Nor is the game actually a sequel or anything to this game, Nor did anyone ask for other comparable games. In short, your post borders on spam and advertizing. please dont do it again

[Ironlion]

The download link for this game seems to be broken.

[DarthHelmet86]

That is due to our FTP being down, untill it is reset none of the downloads will work.

Never fear we are hunting down the person who let the monkeys out of the FTP and getting them back into it as fast as we can.

[niedziak]

As a geek I need to adress two things to the review. Not the first inderwater simulation, first was Subwar 2050 by Particle Systems published by Microprose.
Secend, not simulation but shooter.
That said - this game is freaking awesome! One of my favorite games ever. They should makeremake of it with opion of being trader. I didn't play Aquanox yet but I'm looking forward to it. Althought I don't know if I will like it as much as original, it has great atmosphere and story that is hard to match.

[Luchsen]

The first of a series of "Sub-Surface Simulations," it set the benchmark for future games such as AquaNox and Sub Culture.

That sentence is fully correct, Mr Geek, sir. ;)

Archimedean Dynasty is the first game of the series, and the games are simulations. :facts:

And you shouldn't dare to declare things like "first underwater simulation". Geeks know that there could always be an older one. ;)

[DavianQuintaine]

That sentence is fully correct, Mr Geek, sir. ;)

Archimedean Dynasty is the first game of the series, and the games are simulations. :facts:

And you shouldn't dare to declare things like "first underwater simulation". Geeks know that there could always be an older one. ;)

Whoop! Validation for my efforts! I knew someone would eventually come along and try to find fault...

[DeadSomething]

i loved the idea adn the atmosphere, but after only a few minutes, i resignated because i'm not used to steering anything with keyboard anymore.
so if anyone would make a muse-aiming-patch, i'd absolutely play it :)

[janm.l]

Although Archimedian Dynasty seems to have the same Game Engine or at least AI like Privateer it is absolutely not comparable.

The Career is totally linear und dull.

It seems, that you can choose your Equipment, but actually the advancements are totally equivalent to the career. If you don't spend your money in an exact way, you won't succeed the next missions unless they are much more difficult.

There are no optional missions or trading options so you can fulfil in order to upgrade your ship.

You cannot choose a Ship by your own.

The fights are also stupefying, just shooting hundred of rounds on a single target, no shields, no info on enemy dmg, just lower armor...

------------------------------------------------------------------------
These facts make Archimedian Dynasty a full Arcade game comparable to Xenon 2, which I consider much more sophisticated.

================================================== ======

A good to be named as predecessor of Privtaeer is Space Rogue, which also has a very nice Role play element and career as also a lot of freedom in trading and improvements of your Ship as also freedom of travel in the galaxy.