Hi Flashboy
Wow! I didn't think I had any credibility to lose :) Thanks for that,
I'm flattered.
I doubt what little credibility I have is going to suffer, you have to
understand that you and I are describing the same thing from different
viewpoints.
A few months ago one of the test team made a comment pertinent to this
discussion. He said that one of the test drivers was playing the game
very happily on a 486-66 (true), and that he was delighted with this
until he saw the game on a P-166. Only then did he think it was poor on
the 486.
The point is your expectations are really high with a very well put
together high-spec computer. Mine are also high, with a similar spec
system to yours. Having played on your P-166, I can see why you would
think people will be upset running on a P-120 or less - heck it'll be
nothing like as good as yours.
However, these guys have never seen it on a P-166, and their
expectations will not be as high. There is no point in me saying that it
runs at 10fps in SVGA full detail at Monaco on my P-200, that will only
cause people to be depressed. A friend Georg Naujoks over on CompuServe
is delighted with the performance on his P-90. He can run full detail
VGA, or no detail SVGA with good frame rates. On the other hand, another
guy Michael Wollenschein is not so happy since his (top spec) P-166
system can't do all details. Each person configures as their system
allows, and makes up their own mind.
You and I may be unhappy with SVGA full detail performance, but do you
think anyone will avoid buying the game because we say so? I'm not that
full of myself, whatever I say people will go and buy it for themselves
to test. 486 users shouldn't be able to play the game at all according
to the specs, so if a 486-66 runs the game smoothly in VGA with no
detail, 486 owners won't give a rat's ass what I think of SVGA on a P-
166.
No, the game configuration (although BIOS configuration comes into it a
lot). As for proving you wrong, there is nothing to prove. If you can
show me anywhere in anything that I have said Monaco can be run at 20-
25fps in full detail, I will personally buy you a nice new P-200. It was
never said, and I don't know why you chose that as an example.
Sure - with EVERYTHING on in SVGA a P-90 can occasionally hit 0.5/fps
around Monaco - that's scary! However, turn off the "biggies" like track
and sky texture, knock down the mirror detail and some other textures,
and you're playing with good frame rates. If you go for all textures,
the occupancy will be horrible - of course.
Actually we're having a contest over on CompuServe - one of the guys has
a 486-66, and we're trying to guess the occupancy figure he will get at
Monaco in SVGA with full detail! :)
To reiterate WHAT I SAID, "We managed to get excellent frame rates even
on a P-120" - that is "excellent", not "FLY". You may not get 25fps, but
you will get 18-20fps as Marc has had. Is that not better than sitting
watching "the *** elite" playing it on their P-166/200 machines while
most can't play it? I think so.
The point is that this is a totally personal thing to each individual,
what combination of frame-rate/graphics is acceptable to them. You
obviosly have different expectations of graphics from myself, Marc, and
some others who have played already. Others have a similar opinion to
you.
The game will be available to everyone soon, let them form their own
opinions - they're not going to avoid buying it simply because you or I
said so!! :)
Cheers!
John
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