Something about all the newest games...

IndianaJones · 07-06-2005, 07:24 AM

As anyone can see, the graphics on the new and most recent games look pretty darn good (except for a few that have a very rubbery feel), and everyone expects to need all the newest hardware... maybe not. I have an nVidia geforce FX 5500, which I know isnt the newest thing on the market, but it seems to work fine for any of the newest games, but newer cards dont always work so well on running older games. If everyone already suspects this and have already discussed it, then I'll look pretty stupid, but it seems that newer games are getting easier for computers to run-- not easy. but easier. Know what I mean?

ILoveYou · 07-06-2005, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IndianaJones

As anyone can see, the graphics on the new and most recent games look pretty darn good (except for a few that have a very rubbery feel), and everyone expects to need all the newest hardware... maybe not. I have an nVidia geforce FX 5500, which I know isnt the newest thing on the market, but it seems to work fine for any of the newest games, but newer cards dont always work so well on running older games. If everyone already suspects this and have already discussed it, then I'll look pretty stupid, but it seems that newer games are getting easier for computers to run-- not easy. but easier. Know what I mean?

I hate the fact that new games need the newest possible graphics cards, processors etc. But when it comes to AG's they don't always require the newest hardware and I'm glad for that. Sooner or later the game industry will notice that everyone doesn't wanna upgrade their computer once a year and hopefully they'll lower the minimum requirements.

squarejawhero · 07-06-2005, 07:45 AM

Somehow, I think that isn't going to happen. Although I feel we're in for a tech slowdown in the next few years as realism in graphics is only a goal, not a need.

ILoveYou · 07-06-2005, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squarejawhero

Somehow, I think that isn't going to happen. Although I feel we're in for a tech slowdown in the next few years as realism in graphics is only a goal, not a need.

Well when u look at games like HL2 or Doom3 you can basically make a conclusion that the graphics in game are everything and the story is nothing.

insane_cobra · 07-06-2005, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILoveYou

Well when u look at games like HL2 or Doom3 you can basically make a conclusion that the graphics in game are everything and the story is nothing.

What do you mean? HL2 had a great story and even Doom 3 was light years ahead of its predecerssors in that department.

I think we're not nearing the technological slowdown just yet. Maybe things willl calm down a bit on the graphics front, but PPUs are around the corner and the new pissing grounds open up.

sethsez · 07-06-2005, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILoveYou

Well when u look at games like HL2 or Doom3 you can basically make a conclusion that the graphics in game are everything and the story is nothing.

Play HL2 before you complain that the story is nothing. It's a pretty ridiculous complaint... one of the things the game was most lauded for was the plot and its presentation.

So what's the lesson we've learned today? Jumping to conclusions for things we haven't tried is never a good idea.

gillyruless · 07-06-2005, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sethsez

Play HL2 before you complain that the story is nothing. It's a pretty ridiculous complaint... one of the things the game was most lauded for was the plot and its presentation.

So what's the lesson we've learned today? Jumping to conclusions for things we haven't tried is never a good idea.

Completely agreed. Sort of like calling MOS and Still Life boring without having played them, don't you think?

Intrepid Homoludens · 07-06-2005, 10:09 AM

This seems more like a discussion for General Gaming so I'll move it accordingly.

IndianaJones, welcome to the community!

gillyruless · 07-06-2005, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intrepid Homoludens

This seems more like a discussion for General Gaming so I'll move it accordingly.

IndianaJones, welcome to the community!

Why buy why did you move the thread? I did so suavely turned the thread into a discussion on AGs. Now, people will not see my suave skillZ.

Intrepid Homoludens · 07-06-2005, 10:20 AM

Discussion on AGs along with discussion on the latest graphics and hardware? I don't think so, sweetie.

samIamsad · 07-06-2005, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intrepid Homoludens

Discussion on AGs along with discussion on the latest graphics and hardware?

Then again, it's really sad at times. Look at the character models in the Silent Hill games or HL2. This isn't about simple eyecandy, it's about becoming emotionally attached to a character. Or not. Oh, well.

Hey, Indy, nobody forces you to buy into the newest shit on the block. And you'll save a lot of money by not doing so (cheapo games and cheapo hardware a year after their initial release).

Intrepid Homoludens · 07-06-2005, 10:44 AM

Also keep in the mind that when a new bleeding edge graphics card comes out most games usually can't take advantage of the card's strongest features. It's typically another year or so before some new games come out that do, and by that time the new card won't be so new anymore. I'm baffled by the tech sluts who must absolutely buy the latest cards, they're wasting their money on features they can't take advantage of yet for a long time.

It's actually wiser to invest in a card that's one or even two years old - it's a lot cheaper and you're able to use all its functions.

sethsez · 07-06-2005, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gillyruless

Completely agreed. Sort of like calling MOS and Still Life boring without having played them, don't you think?

I own and have beaten Still Life, and played the MoS demo. I'm more than qualified to judge SL, and at least I gave MoS a chance (if anyone wants me to give it more of a chance, feel free to buy it for me, since I don't buy games whose demos completely underwhelm me).

samIamsad · 07-06-2005, 10:56 AM

Yes. Especially since a graphics card can easily be the most expensive component in your system these days. I haven't spent more than 100 Euros on a graphics card for ~four years now.

Crunchy in milk · 07-06-2005, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intrepid Homoludens

I'm baffled by the tech sluts who must absolutely buy the latest cards, they're wasting their money on features they can't take advantage of yet for a long time.

It's actually wiser to invest in a card that's one or even two years old - it's a lot cheaper and you're able to use all its functions.

This is becoming less true, lately. Games like Doom 3 and BF2 have ultra settings that either only support bleeding edge cards, or in the case of BF2, have settings that aren't supported by any card yet on the market. Half life 2 in its initial release didn't support a particular dynamic light setting that mimics the filtering of light through an iris as it opens/closes to adjust to changes in light intensity. An upcoming expansion (or a patch?) is supposed to add it and all future games from valve will have the feature too. The particular doodad only runs on newer video cards.

Tech heavy pc gaming is nothing new however. Boundry pushing effects are the only thing keeping pc's ahead of the console pack. I imagine the majority of pc gamers prefer it this way, the culture certainly seems to emphasise it as the main strength in any pc vs console discussion.

Its and interesting catch 22. Improved graphics in today's games certainly make them more approachable to less obsessive gamer's but the technology to achieve them is rarely justified by anyone *but* obsessive gamers.

Intrepid Homoludens · 07-06-2005, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crunchy in milk

Its and interesting catch 22. Improved graphics in today's games certainly make them more approachable to less obsessive gamer's but the technology to achieve them is rarely justified by anyone *but* obsessive gamers.

That's what I was thinking exactly. The titles that demand more up-to-date hardware can only be played at their optimal settings (thus the best their best presentation possible) by those who spend upwards of $200-300 every couple years or so on graphics hardware. But how many copies of Doom 3 (PC version) sell to hardcore hardware fetishists compared to Halo 2 for plug-n-play Xbox owners?

SoccerDude28 · 07-06-2005, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intrepid Homoludens

That's what I was thinking exactly. The titles that demand more up-to-date hardware can only be played at their optimal settings (thus the best their best presentation possible) by those who spend upwards of $200-300 every couple years or so on graphics hardware. But how many copies of Doom 3 (PC version) sell to hardcore hardware fetishists compared to Halo 2 for plug-n-play Xbox owners?

Half life 2 supports up to Direct X 7, so you can play it even with an NVIDIA 4X series (which costs around 70 bucks) at lower settings. It's true you will lose most of the visual beauty, but just take a look at the Half Life 2 port on the XBOX and you'll see that you aren't getting much better quality there than an old PC card on low settings. You really get what you pay for.

squarejawhero · 07-06-2005, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Quote:
Originally Posted by gillyruless
Completely agreed. Sort of like calling MOS and Still Life boring without having played them, don't you think?

I own and have beaten Still Life, and played the MoS demo. I'm more than qualified to judge SL, and at least I gave MoS a chance (if anyone wants me to give it more of a chance, feel free to buy it for me, since I don't buy games whose demos completely underwhelm me).

Intrepid Homoludens · 07-06-2005, 10:49 PM

o/\o

Ha ha ha ha ha!!

samIamsad · 07-07-2005, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoccerDude28

Half life 2 supports up to Direct X 7, so you can play it even with an NVIDIA 4X series (which costs around 70 bucks) at lower settings. It's true you will lose most of the visual beauty, but just take a look at the Half Life 2 port on the XBOX and you'll see that you aren't getting much better quality there than an old PC card on low settings. You really get what you pay for.

Hm. The only thing I noticed was, that I couldn't activate the newest DX9 shader effects. DX8: Fine. I encountered some slowdowns in the later city levels (you and your squad vs giant striders) which were caused by my old board and sloooow SD RAM, though.

07-06-2005, 07:24 AM	#1
IndianaJones Junior Member Last Online: 07-06-2005 07:28 AM Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 4	Something about all the newest games... As anyone can see, the graphics on the new and most recent games look pretty darn good (except for a few that have a very rubbery feel), and everyone expects to need all the newest hardware... maybe not. I have an nVidia geforce FX 5500, which I know isnt the newest thing on the market, but it seems to work fine for any of the newest games, but newer cards dont always work so well on running older games. If everyone already suspects this and have already discussed it, then I'll look pretty stupid, but it seems that newer games are getting easier for computers to run-- not easy. but easier. Know what I mean?

07-06-2005, 07:45 AM	#3
squarejawhero Epinionated. Last Online: 06-07-2010 10:54 AM Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: London Posts: 5,841	Somehow, I think that isn't going to happen. Although I feel we're in for a tech slowdown in the next few years as realism in graphics is only a goal, not a need. __________________ Starter of Thread Must Die.

07-06-2005, 10:09 AM	#8
Intrepid Homoludens merely human Last Online: 05-17-2012 02:26 AM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 22,309	This seems more like a discussion for General Gaming so I'll move it accordingly. IndianaJones, welcome to the community! __________________ platform: laptop, iPhone 3Gs \| gaming: x360, PS3, psp, iPhone, wii \| blog: a space alien \| book: the moral landscape: how science can determine human values by sam harris \| games: l.a.noire, portal 2, brink, dragon age 2, heavy rain \| sites: NPR, skeptoid, gaygamer \| music: ray lamontagne, adele, washed out, james blake \| twitter: a_space_alien

07-06-2005, 10:20 AM	#10
Intrepid Homoludens merely human Last Online: 05-17-2012 02:26 AM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 22,309	Discussion on AGs along with discussion on the latest graphics and hardware? I don't think so, sweetie. __________________ platform: laptop, iPhone 3Gs \| gaming: x360, PS3, psp, iPhone, wii \| blog: a space alien \| book: the moral landscape: how science can determine human values by sam harris \| games: l.a.noire, portal 2, brink, dragon age 2, heavy rain \| sites: NPR, skeptoid, gaygamer \| music: ray lamontagne, adele, washed out, james blake \| twitter: a_space_alien

07-06-2005, 10:44 AM	#12
Intrepid Homoludens merely human Last Online: 05-17-2012 02:26 AM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 22,309	Also keep in the mind that when a new bleeding edge graphics card comes out most games usually can't take advantage of the card's strongest features. It's typically another year or so before some new games come out that do, and by that time the new card won't be so new anymore. I'm baffled by the tech sluts who must absolutely buy the latest cards, they're wasting their money on features they can't take advantage of yet for a long time. It's actually wiser to invest in a card that's one or even two years old - it's a lot cheaper and you're able to use all its functions. __________________ platform: laptop, iPhone 3Gs \| gaming: x360, PS3, psp, iPhone, wii \| blog: a space alien \| book: the moral landscape: how science can determine human values by sam harris \| games: l.a.noire, portal 2, brink, dragon age 2, heavy rain \| sites: NPR, skeptoid, gaygamer \| music: ray lamontagne, adele, washed out, james blake \| twitter: a_space_alien

07-06-2005, 10:56 AM	#14
samIamsad capsized. Last Online: 06-28-2010 09:16 AM Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5,534	Yes. Especially since a graphics card can easily be the most expensive component in your system these days. I haven't spent more than 100 Euros on a graphics card for ~four years now. __________________ Look, Mr. Bubbles...!

07-06-2005, 10:49 PM	#19
Intrepid Homoludens merely human Last Online: 05-17-2012 02:26 AM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 22,309	o/\o Ha ha ha ha ha!! __________________ platform: laptop, iPhone 3Gs \| gaming: x360, PS3, psp, iPhone, wii \| blog: a space alien \| book: the moral landscape: how science can determine human values by sam harris \| games: l.a.noire, portal 2, brink, dragon age 2, heavy rain \| sites: NPR, skeptoid, gaygamer \| music: ray lamontagne, adele, washed out, james blake \| twitter: a_space_alien