The perils of PC gaming

Vikingod · May 3, 2005, 01:36 PM

When the PC game "Guild Wars" from NCSoft launched at 2:00 a.m. last Thursday, NCSoft's director of studio services John Erskine was ready.

"Guild Wars" had been already thoroughly tested. The in-house hardware compatibility lab had measured the game against a battery of PC configurations and video cards. Volunteer testers had hammered away at alpha and beta versions documenting how mundane Windows programs like virus scanning software interfered with game play.

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dpagan · May 3, 2005, 02:40 PM

One thing they forgot to mention and that is as or more important is "the price of pc gaming". While the visuals are far better then consoles (for now). That is only achieved by purchasing the increasing in price GFX. While pushing for better visuals is great, many have failed to realize that keeping up with it requires a lot of money. Money that most of us are getting tired of spending (sadly may i add). Next gen consoles will have great visuals, no bugs (as usual) and no need to upgrade for another 5 years. If the trend continues of making it hard for pc gamers to get the hardware to game with. And software companys keep releasing bug filled games with great visuals but lack of gameplay. The already decreasing pc gamer will keep decreasing. Once again this is just my opinion.

aaronbond · May 3, 2005, 04:17 PM

Started playing CS in late 2001 (1.3) and have upgraded many times since then. I believe my favorite part is being able to add more helpings of AA and AF into the mix. I'm soo happy to be @ 8xAA and 8xAF now. I also haven't given up on StarCraft which I play sporadically.

CS on Xbox was a POS. No AF and I couldn't see anyone across Aztec.

I personally like being able to upgrade. Who wants a product cycle of 5 years? I laughed when Xbox came out. I was like what is that POS. OMG look @ the jaggie's! No AA. Massive FPS drop hahahha! 500Mhz wth that was like 2 years ago(when it first came out)? I've always hated the thing and am glad I have a PC.

dpagan · May 3, 2005, 04:49 PM

True, but as you said that was a few years ago. last i heard xbox360 will have embed dram memory on a separate frame buffer for AA. And with it's dual core i doubt they'll have any frame issues. You have to remember that was Microsofts first time in the console market. I believe this round of consoles will have more pc graphic features like AA and maybe AF. Since ATI and Nvidia are now involved with more advance and specific console graphics chips. I do agree there's nothing like installing parts on your own and play a game with satisfaction knowing you made it work. But if things don't change on the pc side more gamers will take the console route. Then what developer will spend millions making a pc game that won't get to as many gamers. This will be the problem.

*UPDATE* Already EA's BF2 will be a DX9 only game, which makes since but considering valves survey. Gamers that want to play will have to upgrade. What's the downside you say! Once EA sees that sales for this game aren't as good as they had hoped, why would they develope another one for the pc? Why not just move it to the Xbox360 and xboxlive?

May 3, 2005, 01:36 PM	#1
Vikingod Int'l Fish Liaison Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: By the light of lamp I sit and type... Posts: 16,197 Rep Power: 112 System Specs	The perils of PC gaming When the PC game "Guild Wars" from NCSoft launched at 2:00 a.m. last Thursday, NCSoft's director of studio services John Erskine was ready. "Guild Wars" had been already thoroughly tested. The in-house hardware compatibility lab had measured the game against a battery of PC configurations and video cards. Volunteer testers had hammered away at alpha and beta versions documenting how mundane Windows programs like virus scanning software interfered with game play. Read More

May 3, 2005, 02:40 PM	#2
dpagan DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 249 Rep Power: 0	One thing they forgot to mention and that is as or more important is "the price of pc gaming". While the visuals are far better then consoles (for now). That is only achieved by purchasing the increasing in price GFX. While pushing for better visuals is great, many have failed to realize that keeping up with it requires a lot of money. Money that most of us are getting tired of spending (sadly may i add). Next gen consoles will have great visuals, no bugs (as usual) and no need to upgrade for another 5 years. If the trend continues of making it hard for pc gamers to get the hardware to game with. And software companys keep releasing bug filled games with great visuals but lack of gameplay. The already decreasing pc gamer will keep decreasing. Once again this is just my opinion. __________________ Spec's Abit NF8 Amd Athlon64 2800@2.25ghz 1GB GeIL Ultra Platinum PC4000 @7-4-4-2.5 160GB WD Caviar 7200RPM 8MB Cache Chaintech 6600GT@ 550/1000 SB Audigy2

May 3, 2005, 04:49 PM	#4
dpagan DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 249 Rep Power: 0	True, but as you said that was a few years ago. last i heard xbox360 will have embed dram memory on a separate frame buffer for AA. And with it's dual core i doubt they'll have any frame issues. You have to remember that was Microsofts first time in the console market. I believe this round of consoles will have more pc graphic features like AA and maybe AF. Since ATI and Nvidia are now involved with more advance and specific console graphics chips. I do agree there's nothing like installing parts on your own and play a game with satisfaction knowing you made it work. But if things don't change on the pc side more gamers will take the console route. Then what developer will spend millions making a pc game that won't get to as many gamers. This will be the problem. UPDATE Already EA's BF2 will be a DX9 only game, which makes since but considering valves survey. Gamers that want to play will have to upgrade. What's the downside you say! Once EA sees that sales for this game aren't as good as they had hoped, why would they develope another one for the pc? Why not just move it to the Xbox360 and xboxlive? __________________ Spec's Abit NF8 Amd Athlon64 2800@2.25ghz 1GB GeIL Ultra Platinum PC4000 @7-4-4-2.5 160GB WD Caviar 7200RPM 8MB Cache Chaintech 6600GT@ 550/1000 SB Audigy2 Last edited by dpagan; May 3, 2005 at 04:57 PM.

May 3, 2005, 04:17 PM	#3
aaronbond DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 86 Rep Power: 0	Started playing CS in late 2001 (1.3) and have upgraded many times since then. I believe my favorite part is being able to add more helpings of AA and AF into the mix. I'm soo happy to be @ 8xAA and 8xAF now. I also haven't given up on StarCraft which I play sporadically. CS on Xbox was a POS. No AF and I couldn't see anyone across Aztec. I personally like being able to upgrade. Who wants a product cycle of 5 years? I laughed when Xbox came out. I was like what is that POS. OMG look @ the jaggie's! No AA. Massive FPS drop hahahha! 500Mhz wth that was like 2 years ago(when it first came out)? I've always hated the thing and am glad I have a PC.