Support NeoGAF

[Diseased Yak]

Yep, launching the FOV fix first, firing up the game, then hitting * to activate it, drops me straight to the desktop. The game doesn't even crash, it just disappears. I'll keep checking widescreengaming forum's for suggestions. So far nothing is making it work.

I think I figured it out, maybe. If you go into the multiplayer menus and create a profile, it makes you create a ubi.com account and then login. When you do this, it updates the game somewhat without incrementing the version (still shows 1.00 at the main menu). However, the menus are changed so that you can select what machete you want under the game options and (unless i'm remembering wrong) it changes it to where you can't quit to desktop after hitting ESC to go to the menus. The option is there but only "quit to menu" works, which is annoying.

Anyway, I believe that changed my game enough that the FOV program isn't able to access the correct point in memory. I've since found a link to another FOV fixer that works for it just fine.

 

[Nikorasu]

So...*mid game spoilers*

Spoiler

is it actually possible to save my friends during the raid on Mike's bar? Everyone I met in the first half of the game is dead. Journal says they're "missing," but I'm pretty sure last I saw they were corpses on Mikes' floor

It's like you're damned if you do, damned if you don't.

EDIT: stupid tag error

 

[BladedExpert]

So...*mid game spoilers*

Spoiler

is it actually possible to save my friends during the raid on Mike's bar? Everyone I met in the first half of the game is dead. Journal says they're "missing," but I'm pretty sure last I saw they were corpses on Mikes' floor

It's like you're damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Same thing happened to me I was just getting to know them too

 

[Nikorasu]

Also, what exactly is the point of buddy missions? I'm not sure you get diamonds from them, but you get 'reputation' and 'history,' of which the effect on the game is rather dubious.

 

[Shake Appeal]

Some cool things I've noticed the guards do:

-shoot a flare to call for reinforcements at night

-they like to fish

-at night they'll just be sleeping in the grass instead of patrolling

They also take cigarette breaks and naps. And piss in the bushes (I macheted someone in the middle of his release once).

 

[okrim]

I've not played or seen the 360 version live, but I'm assuming it has a smoother framerate overall and consequently less tearing than the PS3 version (going by Ubi's previous efforts with multiplat games). Anyways, I can only speak for the PS3 console version, so I tried to make people aware of the tearing.

Well to be honest this time the differences are really minimal, the story of assassin's creed not has been repeat fortunately...on the framerate I haven't notice differences, but maybe, tearing on 360 is less frequent (just watching the video) however it's present too , but apart that now ubisoft has done a great job. Although I'll have appreciate just less more tearing.

 

[BobFromPikeCreek]

I haven't seen one instance of screen tearing in the 360 version and I've been playing for 20ish hours.

 

[Warm Machine]

I haven't seen one instance of screen tearing in the 360 version and I've been playing for 20ish hours.

I've seen it but is extremely rare. Madness has to be going on for it to start tearing.

 

[okrim]

I haven't seen one instance of screen tearing in the 360 version and I've been playing for 20ish hours.

...on the gamersyde first 10 minutes of gameplay on the jeep walktrough there was...but after during gameplay session I admit is very rare.

 

[Vaporak]

Well GAF, I got my steam copy and have played for a few hours, and I'm really liking it so far. Not as good as STALKER or Clear Sky imo, but still far more enjoyable than almost all the corridor shooters out there.

Some of you guy's complaints just don't make any sense to me though. "Bullet Sponges"? really? Enemies die in like 3 AK bullets in my game at the second highest difficulty setting.

 

[KGKK]

Terrific, tomorrow Fallout 3 comes out and I really really want to play that. I am enjoying this game a lot and have so far put about 16 hours into it and am only in Act1 still. Not to mention LBP is also there I am playing right now. Guess I will hold out on Fallout 3 although by that time Resistance 2 will be out. I'm hurting here

 

[Tr4nce]

Well I have just played far cry 2 on ps3 and after to have read more complain about texture etc etc I'm the first to appreciate the goodness of the graphics, really, awesome...but just one thing I can't suffer and I'm surprise nobody mention that...how texture? tearing; tearing everywhere...beautiful engine but what's going on to vsync in this game? Christ...I hate so much tearing in a game ...

That's weird. I haven't had a single bit of tearing, not once. And I effing hate tearing, so I think I would have noticed.

 

[Hellsing321]

God, trying to read the map on a SDTV is a chore.

 

[Kibbles]

Heads up to the 360 users out there, I'll be releasing Canals later tomorrow. I think it turned out very well. I spent a lot of time on each side, trying to make it equal... the copy and paste thing is cool, but I wish it had a mirror effect, because I could've really used that. I just have to add some more small details, spawns, and things like that.

 

[Apharmd Battler]

Also, what exactly is the point of buddy missions? I'm not sure you get diamonds from them, but you get 'reputation' and 'history,' of which the effect on the game is rather dubious.

Excerpts taken from the Far Cry 2 Strategy Guide hope this helps:

"During your adventure you’ll meet a number of foreigners
who can assist you in various ways—these are your buddies.
The buddy you first encounter in each district automatically
becomes your best buddy. Your best buddy contacts
you during faction missions, offering ways to subvert the
objective, sometimes making the mission easier. The second
buddy you meet in each district becomes your second best
buddy. This buddy can often be found hanging out in safe
houses—interact with him or her there to make your buddy
rescue-ready. This buddy will save you whenever your health
meter is completely depleted, pulling your body to safety
while fighting off any hostiles. Once you’ve been rescued, all
your weapons (except the machete) are lost, but your buddy
hands you a pistol to help you defend yourself. Your buddy
also remains in the area and helps you eliminate any hostiles.
But before fighting, heal yourself with a syrette—if you have
any. Otherwise your health meter will remain dangerously
low, but above the critical state. In addition to your best and
second-best buddies, you can meet other buddies. These
buddies hang out at Mike’s Bar and provide buddy quests
when you interact with them. Buddy quests are side missions
that improve your reputation but don’t pay any diamonds."

"When you first enter the country you’re a nobody, and
treated as such by other mercs and the factions. But as you
complete missions, your reputation grows, and you gain
more respect—or do they just fear you? Once you complete
a critical path mission or buddy quest, your reputation
increases by a small amount. Each increase takes you
closer to the next reputation level. There are three reputation
levels that affect how others perceive your character. As you
increase in level, the AI responds differently during combat.
Not only can you hear the fear in people’s voices, but they
may take a more defensive posture when they know who
they’re facing, running away and seeking cover. So increasing
your reputation has a positive impact on the gameplay. To
optimize your reputation, complete every subverted mission
(within the faction missions) and all the buddy quests, in
addition to every critical path mission.
No Reputation: Nobody knows me here. I’m just another
stiff with a gun. Think I’ll shake things up a bit.

Reputation Level 1: These guys look at me with
contempt. They think they can take me on? I look forward
to that debate.

Reputation Level 2: I get lots of looks—and they ain’t
happy ones. Guess I’m supposed to be dead by now, but
that’s not on my schedule.

Reputation Level 3: People are scared. Rumors are
spreading about me. No one can believe I’m just one
man. Time to raise that terror up a notch."

 

[bee]

managed to actually stealth a few missions, only killed 1 guy in a whole village for one of them, silenced pistol, midnight, camo suit and crouching all the way

almost finished it, its certainly gotten better than i expected although i'd still only rate it as good not great. it could of been though, i'll probably go into some detail after i finish it but the ai for me is a real game killer, shooting through bushes at midnight and hitting bang on with every shot, firing out the side of guns constantly, the truly comical 3 point turns in jeeps, the way they seem to move too fast at times and animate horribly, the list goes on

 

[Tr4nce]

Excerpts taken from the Far Cry 2 Strategy Guide hope this helps:
As you increase in level, the AI responds differently during combat. Not only can you hear the fear in people’s voices, but they may take a more defensive posture when they know who
they’re facing, running away and seeking cover. So increasing your reputation has a positive impact on the gameplay. To optimize your reputation, complete every subverted mission
(within the faction missions) and all the buddy quests, inaddition to every critical path mission. No Reputation: Nobody knows me here. I’m just anotherstiff with a gun. Think I’ll shake things up a bit.

That sounds actually very cool!

 

[Loudninja]

Increase in level?

 

[Nikorasu]

Excerpts taken from the Far Cry 2 Strategy Guide hope this helps.

That's pretty cool. Guess It's worthwhile then. I'm at rep 2 and definitely noticed a shit in tone from the enemies.

 

[madmook]

That's weird. I haven't had a single bit of tearing, not once. And I effing hate tearing, so I think I would have noticed.

The PS3 version has a lot of screen-tearing. Are you playing at 480i/p? I've only played at 720p.

 

[Warm Machine]

WOW at Goka Falls. Just arrived there for the first time. I'm tracking a dude way up on the suspension bridge with my sniper rifle.

Just went through a village off mission and rescued that blond girl buddie. Love all the little hideaways on the map and had no idea that off mission you can find people to help you.

 

[flipswitch]

I hate it when you get shot by an enemy when they are not even looking at you.Happened to me a few times, I don't know what UBI were thinking, but they need to patch it up.Yesterday I updated but I have no idea what it fixed.

What scares me is when you think you're hiding from a jeep that's passing by but as it goes past it 'revs its engine, and then you know they've seen you! I just thrown a grenade onto them then BOOM.

AI is probably the thing that pissed me off the most and should be patched (if possible) asap. From spotting you from a mile away, shooting at you while not facing you, alerting one enemy then the whole of them know where you are...and so on.

 

[Justin]

WOW at Goka Falls. Just arrived there for the first time. I'm tracking a dude way up on the suspension bridge with my sniper rifle.

Just went through a village off mission and rescued that blond girl buddie. Love all the little hideaways on the map and had no idea that off mission you can find people to help you.

Goka falls was amazing and that mission was great. The first time I did it I got trapped in the cabin and tried to make a running jump off the cliff into the water but hit some rocks on the way down and died.

 

[Warm Machine]

After the falls I did a pass through of the Fort. Then bus'd it down to near the chemical factory in the south.

I crept in through the long grass in the blowing wind and rain by the chemical factory about 150 meters from the first train. I scoped a guy through my sniper rifle and shot him. His friend beside him heard the shot, saw the fall and got freaked and started looking for me but I was on the move. He was tracking to my last heard position and watched him as I traveled. I made my way into the large warehouse and took up position in the rafters above watching and waiting.

The enemy was searching the encampment for me but had no clue where I had gotten to. One guy started moving around a building nearby by away from me. I lined him up and put one right in his back. Three guys rushed out from a nearby building looking in all directions but it was too late for them as they were engulfed in fire from a explosive barrel that I targeted. Awesome.

After that encounted I did some more scounting and found another hang glider. It is near the chemical plant up on the multitiered waterfall. There is a really tight walking path that leads up to it. Really cool stuff if you want to do an explore.

 

[Rainy Dog]

The PS3 version has a lot of screen-tearing. Are you playing at 480i/p? I've only played at 720p.

Yep, definitely a spot of tearing in the PS3 version at 720p. I'm not noticing it nearly as much now I'm nearly 50% complete though and seldom distracted by it. Also, it's odd that it seems worse to me during basic interior areas...or at least more noticeable. You can slowly pan around the most beautiful and detailed vista and see no tearing or framerate hiccups whatsoever. Yet I notice it most of all when I go upstairs inside each factions building to sign-up for new missions. Also stumbled across a part where the framerate desolved into a slide show. Near the beginning of the second map

Spoiler

when you have to use the grenade launching turrets to defend the feeder vessel from enemy boats as it docks.

Is nit picking though imo, as the game looks utterly mesmerizing for the most part. Almost photo realistic on occasions...well, if you squint a bit It's transfixing at times and I haven't felt this captivated by a game world in a long time.

 

[Shake Appeal]

Goka falls was amazing and that mission was great. The first time I did it I got trapped in the cabin and tried to make a running jump off the cliff into the water but hit some rocks on the way down and died.

I jumped off the rope bridge into the water below and lived. Good times.

 

[AgentOtaku]

Excerpts taken from the Far Cry 2 Strategy Guide hope this helps:

"During your adventure you’ll meet a number of foreigners
who can assist you in various ways—these are your buddies.
The buddy you first encounter in each district automatically
becomes your best buddy. Your best buddy contacts
you during faction missions, offering ways to subvert the
objective, sometimes making the mission easier. The second
buddy you meet in each district becomes your second best
buddy. This buddy can often be found hanging out in safe
houses—interact with him or her there to make your buddy
rescue-ready. This buddy will save you whenever your health
meter is completely depleted, pulling your body to safety
while fighting off any hostiles. Once you’ve been rescued, all
your weapons (except the machete) are lost, but your buddy
hands you a pistol to help you defend yourself. Your buddy
also remains in the area and helps you eliminate any hostiles.
But before fighting, heal yourself with a syrette—if you have
any. Otherwise your health meter will remain dangerously
low, but above the critical state. In addition to your best and
second-best buddies, you can meet other buddies. These
buddies hang out at Mike’s Bar and provide buddy quests
when you interact with them. Buddy quests are side missions
that improve your reputation but don’t pay any diamonds."

"When you first enter the country you’re a nobody, and
treated as such by other mercs and the factions. But as you
complete missions, your reputation grows, and you gain
more respect—or do they just fear you? Once you complete
a critical path mission or buddy quest, your reputation
increases by a small amount. Each increase takes you
closer to the next reputation level. There are three reputation
levels that affect how others perceive your character. As you
increase in level, the AI responds differently during combat.
Not only can you hear the fear in people’s voices, but they
may take a more defensive posture when they know who
they’re facing, running away and seeking cover. So increasing
your reputation has a positive impact on the gameplay. To
optimize your reputation, complete every subverted mission
(within the faction missions) and all the buddy quests, in
addition to every critical path mission.
No Reputation: Nobody knows me here. I’m just another
stiff with a gun. Think I’ll shake things up a bit.

Reputation Level 1: These guys look at me with
contempt. They think they can take me on? I look forward
to that debate.

Reputation Level 2: I get lots of looks—and they ain’t
happy ones. Guess I’m supposed to be dead by now, but
that’s not on my schedule.

Reputation Level 3: People are scared. Rumors are
spreading about me. No one can believe I’m just one
man. Time to raise that terror up a notch."

so awesome!

 

[Rainy Dog]

I jumped off the rope bridge into the water below and lived. Good times.

Sporny sod...how'd you manage that then? :lol Only reason I'm so curious is because it took me a few goes to complete that mission, kept failing miserably and probably took me an hour or so in the end. But on about my third attempt, had just about dealt with the influx of enemies that turn up after you've polished off the initial main objective and I backed up along the rope bridge to take out the last few from the other side... But managed to crouch under the rope and land on one of the rocks immediately below. Of course there was no way back up to the bridge from there, nor was there anyway to drop from rock to rock to safely reach the bottom again... >_<

 

[okrim]

Yep, definitely a spot of tearing in the PS3 version at 720p. I'm not noticing it nearly as much now I'm nearly 50% complete though and seldom distracted by it. Also, it's odd that it seems worse to me during basic interior areas...or at least more noticeable. You can slowly pan around the most beautiful and detailed vista and see no tearing or framerate hiccups whatsoever. Yet I notice it most of all when I go upstairs inside each factions building to sign-up for new missions. Also stumbled across a part where the framerate desolved into a slide show. Near the beginning of the second map

Spoiler

when you have to use the grenade launching turrets to defend the feeder vessel from enemy boats as it docks.

Is nit picking though imo, as the game looks utterly mesmerizing for the most part. Almost photo realistic on occasions...well, if you squint a bit It's transfixing at times and I haven't felt this captivated by a game world in a long time.

Well probably you don't take care about tearing but really ps3 version to suffer; I mean, graphically is great, and it's true, tearing isn't awful or so 'perceptible' how for example Assassin's creed ps3 version, but with a 42' screen and own perfectionist character you notice that.

 

[web01]

Just have to say this game is amazing.

The graphics are absolutely beautiful, best I have seen on a console this generation especially when you take draw distance, realtime lighting/shadows and the worlds huge size into account. Just traveling around the world and taking in the jaw dropping sunrises and the amazing vistas is a great experience.

Also setting fire to a enemy camp with the flaregun then sniping the enemies in the chaos is so damn satisfying.

To anyone reading this thread and on the fence buy this game you wont regret it just play through the first three crappy missions and buy some awesome guns after that the experience is amazing.

 

[Shake Appeal]

Sporny sod...how'd you manage that then? :lol Only reason I'm so curious is because it took me a few goes to complete that mission, kept failing miserably and probably took me an hour or so in the end. But on about my third attempt, had just about dealt with the influx of enemies that turn up after you've polished off the initial main objective and I backed up along the rope bridge to take out the last few from the other side... But managed to crouch under the rope and land on one of the rocks immediately below. Of course there was no way back up to the bridge from there, nor was there anyway to drop from rock to rock to safely reach the bottom again... >_<

As soon as I completed the main objective I hared it back to the middle of the bridge and jumped off to avoid fighting the new wave of guys. It's a long fall, but if you hit the water you don't take any damage.

 

[Rainy Dog]

As soon as I completed the main objective I hared it back to the middle of the bridge and jumped off to avoid fighting the new wave of guys. It's a long fall, but if you hit the water you don't take any damage.

Well, I hit the rocks so that explains that then :lol

 

[Crab Milk Mickey]

So I just started playing this game, but is it me or did Ubi Montreal cut some A.I. behaviours in the 360 version? I could've sworn that you could shoot enemies in the leg from a distance so that fellow guards would try to treat their wounds or carry them to safety, but every time I shoot them in the leg, they just stand perfectly still and run away shortly afterwards. I can even see the blood smoke / splatter almost every single time, and yet I can't cripple them. Is this a bug or does it depend on the sniper rifle you're using?

Also: what's a relatively easy way to earn diamonds? Collecting the cases isn't exactly reliable nor is it efficient obviously, since I mostly only earn one or two diamonds per briefcase.

I haven't seen one instance of screen tearing in the 360 version and I've been playing for 20ish hours.

It's pretty easy to spot when you're inside dark buildings where the light's turned on. You can always see it at Mike's Bar, for example. There's also some occasional screen tearing when driving around in a jeep.

 

[Rainy Dog]

Well probably you don't take care about tearing but really ps3 version to suffer; I mean, graphically is great, and it's true, tearing isn't awful or so 'perceptible' how for example Assassin's creed ps3 version, but with a 42' screen and own perfectionist character you notice that.

I understand where you're coming from, but if we were striving for pefection with this game, let's face it...we'd be playing on the PC And I'm using a 55" screen so there's no hiding from visual deficiencies for me.

To be fair, the tearing is pretty much the only area where game loses a few technicality points, graphically. Ubisoft have done a sensational job with the console versions, and there's no taking that away.

 

[Diseased Yak]

Also: what's a relatively easy way to earn diamonds? Collecting the cases isn't exactly reliable nor is it efficient obviously, since I mostly only earn one or two diamonds per briefcase.

Do the cell phone tower missions, they pay nicely. Also doing main missions for the 2 factions in Pala pay up front diamonds usually. I've unlocked a bunch of weapons and upgrades doing nothing but the cell phone tower stuff though.

 

[Warm Machine]

I've noticed the rep level makes a change in the soldiers attitudes toward you in Pala. Just walk up to them and try to push them around and their demeanor will be much meeker the more rep you have.

 

[Zabojnik]

Am I right in assuming that there's not really much fun to be had with the paraglider? I'm in the second part of the game already, I came across maybe three gliders and ... Well, you take off and then you slowly glide down for a minute or so. That's it. You can't really use the wind currents to glide up again, right? Or am I doing something wrong?

 

[BravoSuperStar]

The Camo suit owns. Well worth saving up 45 diamonds. Now guard posts, etc are just fun encounters to mess around with. So much easier, and more freedom when they can't see you as easily.

And ya, the hanglider seems more like a novelty than an actual means of travel. Just doesn't have much lift. Though the one up on the waterfall by the trainyard in the first area is pretty fun, you can glide a fair distance there.

 

[sparky2112]

Beginning of game question that has been bugging me (I'm not very far): When you get your first faction mission, you get paid up-front. But the second you leave the faction hq, you get a call from your buddy, and you're given a choice to go to him or do the faction mission. I went with the buddy, but that resulted in the faction mission basically going away. Uh, what's up with that? So that mission is no longer available? That was confusing, and the strategy guide doesn't mention anything about it...

 

[Tr4nce]

Wow, this sounds totally noob, and usually I find stuff like this out myself, but how does one go about taking on one of those cell tower missions? Just drive up to one and you get a phone call or something? Also, are these missions more varied than the missions the weapons dealers offer you? Seems to me that the latter are only exist of 'convoy missions'.

 

[Mister D]

Well the multiplayer is complete shit in this game. Fucking sniperfest. The maps are so open that if you don't play as a sniper you are gonna get raped from across the map. Plus it takes forever for me to find a game and for some reason, the only games I could get into were team deathmatch. I'll probably mess around in it from time to time but I don't see me sinking much time into that.

I started the single player and this game is friggin beautiful. I'm playing on a 65 inch screen and dusk and night time are ridiculously good looking. I can see where the complaints about checkpoints are coming from and I can see it getting on my nerves since there are a lot of unscalable cliffs that push you in a certain direction, but taking the river routes and I guess the buses should alleviate some of that. Plus the boat trips put me in an Apocalypse Now frame of mind. I played until about 3 am this morning creeping around and wrecking dudes. I can see it becoming a lot more fun once I get a sniper rifle. This might be one of those games I play for extended bursts and then take a break from but so far it's pretty solid.

 

[VictimOfGrief]

I've noticed the rep level makes a change in the soldiers attitudes toward you in Pala. Just walk up to them and try to push them around and their demeanor will be much meeker the more rep you have.

Yup--- Point the gun at them and they back up pretty quickly.

 

[JBuccCP]

Wow, this sounds totally noob, and usually I find stuff like this out myself, but how does one go about taking on one of those cell tower missions? Just drive up to one and you get a phone call or something? Also, are these missions more varied than the missions the weapons dealers offer you? Seems to me that the latter are only exist of 'convoy missions'.

There should be a glowing box thing. Go up to it and press Y or whatever button it says and you'll get a phone call telling you to go kill someone.

 

[Houston3000]

Wow, this sounds totally noob, and usually I find stuff like this out myself, but how does one go about taking on one of those cell tower missions? Just drive up to one and you get a phone call or something? Also, are these missions more varied than the missions the weapons dealers offer you? Seems to me that the latter are only exist of 'convoy missions'.

Look on your map, if one of the towers (they're little satellite dish icons) has an exclamation mark next to it you simply run up to it and use the box attached. Your cell phone will ring and, at least in the ones I did, you will get an extraordinarily creepy sounding person who will usually tell you to assassinate someone.

 

[bee]

just finished it, was a cool last mission and a good game overall

switched to ar-16, uzi and saw machinegun for the last third or so which gave me a total of 540 bullets at full loadout needed them all at times

 

[Ledsen]

Fuuuuuck, this cannot be overstated:

The game becomes about 100 times more fun when you get awesome weapons

I've done all the missions for the weapons dealer on both maps now, and I can't believe how insane these weapons are... an AR16 with perfect accuracy, high damage and fire rate and an ACOG scope! Also, a grenade launcher on the SECONDARY SLOT. This leaves me with the Dart Gun for the special slot. With this combo, I can do it all. Short range (AR16 or grenade launcher), medium range (same), long range (Dart Gun), stealth (Dart Gun), explosive assault (grenade launcher then storm in with AR16) etc etc. It's so much fun you guys.

This:

this

and this

equals this

 

[KrawlMan]

So I just started playing this game, but is it me or did Ubi Montreal cut some A.I. behaviours in the 360 version? I could've sworn that you could shoot enemies in the leg from a distance so that fellow guards would try to treat their wounds or carry them to safety, but every time I shoot them in the leg, they just stand perfectly still and run away shortly afterwards. I can even see the blood smoke / splatter almost every single time, and yet I can't cripple them. Is this a bug or does it depend on the sniper rifle you're using?

One of the main things I still have a problem with in this game is that enemies don't really react accurately when they are shot. If you shoot people in the knees they won't always fall to the ground, and like you stated, sometimes they just stand there for a second and start running.

Another NPC will come pick up another NPC who is wounded on the ground, but getting them on the ground is more a matter of shooting them until they are almost dead , rather then shooting their legs.

 

[madmook]

just finished it, was a cool last mission and a good game overall

I'm nowhere near as far as you, but seeing the buddies deceased, buddies abandoned and blank best buddy line gave me a good laugh. :lol

 

[JBuccCP]

guns and stuff

That's the exact loadout I'm using right now. First I'll soften them up from long range with the dart rifle, then run in guns ablaze and start blowing shit up.

 

[bee]

I'm nowhere near as far as you, but seeing the buddies deceased, buddies abandoned and blank best buddy line gave me a good laugh. :lol

screw the buddies let em die! they replace my sidearm uzi with a piss weak handgun, quickload > buddies