Comments - MicHaeL_MonStaR

Hi - Why is it that there are double the number of files in this, with every file having another copy of itself? Every second one with the same name also has an extra '.xml' in it (making it "name.xml.xml") and all of those with the same name have different file-sizes.

Are both needed or should I use one set of them?... I don't even know if those with the double ".xml" will work. Perhaps those are backups or something.
Then again, none of them seem to have the exact same size as the originals I have, so perhaps those extra files are connected or something.

I tried the first three mods and they seem to work, but I'm confused about the ReShade-instructions...

6. Download ReShade from the link provided.
7. Run ReShade and point it at grid.exe in the main directory.
8. Select DX9 rendering API in ReShade setup GUI.

Sure, I did those first two and then clicked "Direct3D 9" for the third step, but then it brought up a prompt with "Select effect packages to install" and I don't recognize any of the next step.

9. Agree to download shaders, check the box next to the following shaders: AmbientLight, AdaptiveFog, DPX, LiftGammaGain, Tonemap, FakeMotionBlur

It just has the first "Standard effects" selected, which you can't de-select, and also the next one being SweetFX. I just hit next and it downloaded that, but then in the options of which effects to install it didn't show those in step 9.
Do I need a different shader-pack in the list?... I'm confused.

I just tried that "Ultra High" mod on its own and it seemed to be fine. - Don't you think that some of these might overlap?
I'm thinking this because for one, I had downloaded a pack before that didn't have this one, and also some of the same files seem to be modified by multiple of these mods.
So, I mean, if one is modified for one mod and the same file is also modified in another mod, it might conflict. But I honestly don't know if that IS the case or if it even CAN be.

Oh, it is needed. - The visuals on this game are genuinely depressing compared to something like 'DiRT 2'. - I have these periods that I play both and kinda go back and forth. But for some reason they look like they're 5 years apart instead of just 1.
Anyway, I had already played the game without the "**** overlay", which was already a big improvement, but I'll be trying these other things now. :)

The weird thing is that 'DiRT 2', only released a year after 'Racedriver GRID' and made on the same engine, has aged MUCH better. Particularly in terms of textures, lighting, geometry, physics, etc. - I don't know why it seems like there's like almost a generation of technology in between when there's not, but then 'DiRT 2' was also quite amazing when it was first shown. - I'm just sad that "GRID" didn't hold up as well, but that's why I'm here, to try this...

Portal/Metro-crossover.

Yea, that's the most interesting part about Portal (2) to me as well. I liked the first game when I played it, but that was about it, until the second came out and suddenly you went through the history of the facility, doing the whole "environmental storytelling" thing in overdrive.
But how long until going back in Aperture's history is overdone? At some point it will need new stories in the present or future again. :P

Gotta love how this engine ages. Gracefully, that is. Especially with the clear-cut visual style the sort of "Valve Universe" has.
As long as the right objects and materials are used, the textures are good, the design is well done, it just works. - Oh wait, that's a different company and engine. But anyway...

Why not? It's just the Source Engine, which has always been pretty easy to run. - Unless they're doing stuff with it that will freak out the engine, which is a matter of the engine's capabilities and optimization, the vast majority of people should be able to run this once it's released or even today.

Sure would be cool. But I think using the same engine helps retain consistency, instead of an updated version of it. As long as something is designed well, the graphical fidelity shouldn't matter too much.