Alpha Protocol - Help & Advice Thread

[Clumsyorchid]

If you hare having Technical problems with the game, please contact our support team at http://help.sega.com/

Alpha Protocol is out today in the UK and will be releasing in the US shortly on June 1st. This thread is a place where you can post your helpful tips and advice on puzzles, relationships, or just offer generalized advice.

This thread will be a bit more moderated than others, so we can consolidate feedback into a more concise format. Please feel free to post any helpful advice or tips!

I'll start - I've noticed that the word search style hacking mini-game has caused some confusion and I would like to offer some support for those looking for a leg up:

Hacking Mini Game (word search)
This mini game gave me some trouble when I first hit it and I've seen others struggle with it when you get to it in the tutorial. I have a few tips to make it easier:

- If you find you can't find you can't complete the puzzle, back out to cancel the attempt and try again. This shouldn't set an alarm and allow you another stab at completing, but the numbers an placement will change.

- You can move both sets of numbers independently, so I find it useful to move both number sets at the same time. I find if I focus on a single number string, then I'll usually come across the wrong set, and miss the opportunity to line it up. If you move both, there's a better chance of getting it secured.

Gear and Skill Advantages
The puzzles will start out hard and get harder, but there are ways to offset the difficulty.

- The Sabotage skill track will give you access to a few methods to make this easier. First rank gives you an option to use EMP grenades to short out any mini-game instantly to gain access. You must have EMP grenades in your inventory to perform the bypass.

- The second rank in Sabotage, Breaking & Entering, will make the puzzle easier, making the number string longer and easier to spot as well as extending the timer. Over time, the puzzles will get harder, so you'll have to keep investing in this Skill track to get the benefits as you get later into the game.

- Equipment can also be purchased that will increase your effectiveness in all mini-games. I believe it's called Printed Circuitry, which grants a medium bonus, with a more advanced version offered later in the game (length depends on who you ally with and what missions you play).

[Clumsyorchid]

Alpha Protocol Wiki

Thanks to Wikia, there's a helpful page available for anyone looking for advice or help along the way in their Alpha Protocol play through. Head on over and check out the information, or add some of your own:

Alpha Protocol Wiki

[Clumsyorchid]

Possible solution for Alpha Protocol not starting properly

Thanks to Judas Gryphon for the finding a solution for this issue. If this does not work for you, please contact http://help.sega.com to get into the official support queues.

Okay, I am starting to notice a pattern here with games that use the Unreal Engine. It appears they are having problems with the version of OpenAL they are being shipped with. My Mass Effect 1(Steam) did not work until I updated these files and it took me forever to finally find the solution to the problem. If you update your OpenAL files the game will launch right away. The files and versions you need are as follows.

OpenAL32.dll - v6.14.357.24
wrap_oal.dll - v2.2.0.5

The website you need to go to is:
http://connect.creativelabs.com/open.../AllItems.aspx

Instructions:
1.) Download "oalinst" from the link above.
2.) Install the files.
3.) Got to "Windows\System32" and locate the OpenAL32.dll and wrap_oal.dll files.
4.) Copy these two files to your "Sega\Alpha Protocol\Binaries" folder.
5.) Enjoy the game.

This worked on my system. This may not work on all systems. I have all of the lastest drivers and firmware installed for all of the components of my system. My system specs are as follows.

OS: Windows Vista 64-bit
Motherboard: Asus Maximus Formula
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600(OC'ed @ 3.3GHz)
Video: nVidia GTX 280(Driver: v197.45)(OC'ed)
Memory: 8GB's DDR2 1066
Sound: Razer Megalodon 7.1 Headset(Firmware: 64-bit v2.12)

[Judas Gryphon]

Yah! I feel special! lol

[ciben]

Just got Alpha Protocol and the game gets stuck at the first Alarm bypass.
When it says to 'left click to cut pin' ,, Nothing happens with any key. I have to reboot computer. Please help.

[__S__]

-----------------I have not any problem with Alpha Protocol-------
-----------except he is fighting in arabic world against US-----
----As moslem I promise to use ALL my power to seve the world ---
------------------------------S----------------------------

[__S__]

-----i'm Arabic man ,I wish if Alpha Protocol Understad me------
----------------ALL we Adam Son's ,should we fighting Against the Criminals only-----
-------SEGAAAAAAAAAAA I LIKE YOU -----------------------
--------------Super Fan ((SAMMAN))---------------------
----------------------------S--------------------------------

[__S__]

------My message To SEGA ((DO you knoe ,ADam ,Mosa ,Jesus ,Mohmmed From Arabic world ,That meaing we are your Grand Father HAHAHAHAH, yes Believe me ----
-------------------------------------Thank you SEGA,((Samman will be Super FAN )).
-------------HAHAHAHAHAHAHA,----------see you Friend-------------
------------------------------------S-----------------------------------------------