"Some may have FPS problems"...

[blkmgc]

I see this crop up (maybe by those who would have problems?) in many discussions when talking of game improvements. Now dont get me wrong I hate seeing anyone left out. But the fact of the matter is that games have to grow and advance, or they become unattractive and die. I have a mid range PC which works ok with just about any current game out there, and there are many who have much better systems. Do I expect any game developer to delay graphic advancemant or any feature because "I" cannot run it? Of course not. AHII's requirements for decent playability are well below the standard of today. If HTC decided to throw in different more deatiled clouds and weather effects tomorrow, I'd be shopping for the upgrades I've been putting off for a while now on Monday. Lets face it, PC's become outdated. And upgrading is inevitable.

Ya think?

[Krusty]

No.


HTC made several changes a while back that made even "good" computers, things that could run Doom3, choke and chug. I remember because I was forced to upgrade. I didn't upgrade so I could play AAO better. I could already play that. I didn't upgrade so I could play HL2 better. I could already play that. The game code alone in AH2 changed to the point that my already-adequate system was unable to play the game properly.


There's a point when you have to say "No, no more bogging down my computer, it does everything else fine why are YOU making your program so needy and all-consuming when nobody else requires this power"


By your logic, Windows Vista minimum requirements' bloat are required, expected, and nay NECESSARY to force everybody in the nation to upgrade to a dual-core with 1GB ram just to run the OS by itself, not counting programs on top of that.

So you see, code bloat that forces hardware upgrades is not a good thing. Not when everything else out there runs fine and only this one game slows down. There's a point when you just have to say "no."


So,


"No."

[trax1]

If it aint broke don't fix it....we see what that thinking did to TT.

[ROC]

Not when everything else out there runs fine and only this one game slows down

Every Single Last Wagon worked just fine with wooden wheels also.  One Guy used Rubber, and all bets were off after that.

At some point in time, Someone has to break the mold and force the next level, why NOT this game, it's gotta be someone

I'm of the Push it until it breaks, then step it up some more crowd.

Heck, Air Warrior worked Just Fine with 256 color......All the games at the time did as well, then Someone tried 3d, and alot of systems had to upgrade.

[Gryphons]

While upgrading the graphics of a game is essential the more inportant thing in an online game is to make sure that your PAYING customers can PLAY the game.  You don't want an update that will cause half the community to be unable to play. While some may be able to run out and upgrade their systems on the next bussiness day, i'd guess that most of us couldn't.  On the other hand it's also important not to let the competition outclass the game or people will leave on their own accord.  HTC has done an incredable job keeping this balence   One thing I'd like to see are more clouds, they can be great fun to fight in

[Fulmar]

Originally posted by Krusty
No.


HTC made several changes a while back that made even "good" computers, things that could run Doom3, choke and chug.  

For a while, Doom 3 was used in a lot of benchmarking reviews across the interland.  That was in 2004.  Nearly 3 years ago.  I think it would be okay to update the eye candy.  Lets be honest here, a lot happens in the computer world in 3 years.  

Granted, massive online multiplayer games cut back on graphics for performance (look at WoW and Star Wars Galaxies).  You'll have to draw the line somewhere as to whats appropriate for the majority of users, not a minority.

As much as I hate to use Steam and Valve as an example, but when they launched CS Source they did a poll through Steam to see what speed everyone's computer was at.  The poll results were available (still are I think) online.  This way they could estimate what kind of system the majority had and design to game to run best for them.

[Fulmar]

Here's Steam's Hardware Survey

http://www.steampowered.com/status/survey.html

This survey began on May 30th, 2007. This page last updated: 12:33pm PST (20:33 GMT), July 14 2007

Roughly 35% of all CPUs are Intel at a rated speed above 2.3Ghz

Roughly 38% of all CPUs are AMD at a rated speed above 1.7Ghz

This type of data can be easily collected by HTC in the form of a poll, like we did with plane voting.

[blkmgc]

Originally posted by Fulmar
For a while, Doom 3 was used in a lot of benchmarking reviews across the interland.  That was in 2004.  Nearly 3 years ago.  I think it would be okay to update the eye candy.  Lets be honest here, a lot happens in the computer world in 3 years.  
 

Kinda what I was driving at. 3 years ago, this was a kick bellybutton system. Now its only so so, and just about all of the folks I game with have dual core machines (the standard now) with 2 gigs of ram and a GF 7300 card or better (also the standard now). And they play in much higher graphics settings, at much higher frame rates than I. I kinda figgure that they would not be the ones whining about performance when a game updates, when in reality they are the ones with current standard systems.

You play RO Fulmar?

[WaRLoCkL]

Well I had a system with athlon 1.2 gig 1 gig of ram and a geforce 4000, it ran aces high 2 befor the update at a fair 35fps, but I dont know what it would run it at now. But my new system is way more advanced than that.

All I have to say is, if you think all games graphics need to stay at the level of your computer, your sadly mistaken.

Last time I checked, if they update or come out with a game in 2007 expect it to have 2007 technology and maybe understand your 2003 comp wont run it.

It is all about keeping up with technology, even DVDs are old news now.

[Fulmar]

Originally posted by blkmgc
You play RO Fulmar?

I've only played it for like the free weekends.  Didn't like the game 'that' much.  I enjoyed the tank simulation part of it but the infantry part of the game needs work.

I played Day of Defeat for about 5 years.

[Major Biggles]

i agree, AH2's graphics are pretty sucky next to most games nowadays. holding back because of a few ancient computers is going to lose more people than putting out something not totally insane, but fairly pretty, which a small %age of the customers can't run.


AH's graphics need to be updated, moreso than just terrain tile updates.

[thndregg]

Originally posted by Gryphons
While some may be able to run out and upgrade their systems on the next bussiness day, i'd guess that most of us couldn't.  

<----Definitely in the "couldn't" category.

[Krusty]

The example was an old one, so I gave old specifics. A "while back" means a while back. Not recently.

I'm against bloat for sake of inflating PC hardware sales. If the bloat BRINGS something with it, sure. However the big update I was talking about was mostly behind the scenes, with relatively little external changes.

[blkmgc]

I suppose what we have now could be called "bloat" compared to say...WB's 1.11. Dont see many folks playing that much anymore either.




And the money we paid back then at 2 bucks an hour, would have easily built a new system now for 2-3 months worth of play:lol

[Fulmar]

Originally posted by blkmgc
And the money we paid back then at 2 bucks an hour, would have easily built a new system now for 2-3 months worth of play:lol

$134.00 one month did me in