Stranglehold set to strangle PCs

[Miktar]

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=41551


MODERATORS on the official forum for John Woo's Stranglehold, the upcoming next-gen shooter on the PC, have announced the minimum spec required for PC users to get in the game.

And it's a big one.

Sure, it will run on Windows XP, thus avoiding an upgrade to Vista. And, yes, 15GB is a lot of disk space to use, but you do get some John Woo-directed video clips.

But here's the big one. 2GB of RAM is the bare minimum. A dual core CPU is a bare minimum. A GeForce 7800 is the bare minimum. Ouch.

Here's the weird thing. The specs say that the graphics card needs to be GeForce 7800 or ATI X1300. Now those are cards from different ends of the power spectrum, and we wonder if the lower requirement for the ATI card is the result of some positive spin induced by the Canucks, who have been playing some Nvidia-esque games with the development team.

The specs were posted by an official Midway moderator on the official forums, who maintains they are, well, official. But until we see these on the back of a box somewhere, we're going to hold off on the upgrades. I mean, 2GB minimum? That's virtually commercial suicide.

But then, with the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions in the bag, perhaps the PC version is virtually a commercial write-off anyway?

[Chevron]

I saw that. I really, really doubt it's true.
All intel integrated GFX people won't be able to even smell the game. It wouldn't be worth making the game for pc as very few people would be able to play it.

[GeometriX]

Or they're finally adjusting the term "minimum requirements" to actually include getting the game to run at good framerates at high details - so that the PC gamers don't feel so left out next to the console players when comparing games (which will happen). If they chase away the super-entry-n00b PCs, it'll make the game look good all-round, which would be fine for them, provided the console sales are going to be their main focus.

[Miktar]

I saw that. I really, really doubt it's true.
All intel integrated GFX people won't be able to even smell the game. It wouldn't be worth making the game for pc as very few people would be able to play it.

It is 100% true, I believe.

The BioShock system specs are very similar.

[Toi]

That's a bit daunting don't you think? This isn't going to help the PC market either. You know, I wonder sometimes.........TR:Anniversary is REALLY forgiving on you're GPU yet some places really do look jaw dropping beautifull so why this then? Ja, it's probably because of all the destruction and stuff going on but surely some gamers are willing to sacrifice that in favore of being actually able to play it.

I for one don't think that this game is going to be so great anyway. I know that we can't judge a game until we've played it but that camera is just all over the place from what I've seen in the videos. Looks like I'll get sick from playing for more that an hour.

[Miktar]

TR:Anniversary is REALLY forgiving on you're GPU yet some places really do look jaw dropping beautifull so why this then?

Because it is a PlayStation 2 game? o.o

And no, Stranglehold is cool. Played it.

[Toi]

Because it is a PlayStation 2 game? o.o

And no, Stranglehold is cool. Played it.


Oh ok, still think it's really pretty.

Anyway, so the camera is no problem?

[Miktar]

Nah - it's just one of those things you need to pay attention to controlling.

[FoX]

so i can play this game on low Whooo hoooo!!!! now i only need another gig :)

[ReinHer]

Sounds to me the devs are just getting lazy. They don't even try to optimize for different PCs, its the same thing with Lost planet, you can't play it well without having the best and newest even though it doesn't look THAT great.

[Miktar]

Sounds to me the devs are just getting lazy. They don't even try to optimize for different PCs, its the same thing with Lost planet, you can't play it well without having the best and newest even though it doesn't look THAT great.

"Getting"?

In case you missed it, game developers have gotten lazy. The last time I saw the developmental scene as a whole, actually pull it's weight, was pre-1994.

[ReinHer]

Yeah, after thinking about it I agree. Only a few devs still seem to be doing their part for gaming in general.

[dangarratt]

The guys at valve do. They even optimised the HL2 engine to run faster on older machines with the release of Ep1.
Yes, I know that Source is getting old (but we wait to see Ep2....), but at least it still keeps those of us who can't upgrade to the best of the best in the loop.
Hooray for Valve!!!

[ReinHer]

Source might be getting old but CSS with HDR and Dark Messiah of might and magic are still some of the prettiest games I've ever seen. Crytek is also optimizing Crysis to run well on rigs up to three years old. I checked out the Stranglehold trailer and it looks good but not THAT good.

[dammit]

Do you think this kind of level for "bare minimum" specs is about to become the norm very soon?

[ReinHer]

I think that by bare minimum they mean that they are too lazy to make lower quality settings or to optimize the engine for pc and that all its meant to be is a cash-in on the title's console success.

[dammit]

Yes, but will other games follow this pattern soon?

[X-Ploding_Shoes]

This is why God/Satan/Thor./Odin/Allah/Buddah/Ninjas invented the Xbox 360/PS3

[ReinHer]

Yes, but will other games follow this pattern soon?

Well, corporations love their huge profits. The gaming industry consists mainly of corporations... sad.

As for Exploding shoes, you are a minority. Most Console gamers just want to be treated equal (because they are) or they flame PCs for costing too much. I have NEVER heard of a person saying, "PCs are too high end... Their hardwarez is too powerful!"

[X-Ploding_Shoes]

I own a PC and a Xbox 360, and quite simiply put it costs way less for me to buy the Xbox 360 than pay for my PC to be upgraded to those ridiculouse specs...:)

[ReinHer]

Then you fall under Majority B. I don't care that much about the cost arguement, I agree that pc parts are outrageously pricey. Especially here in SA. The only arguement that gets my goat is the 'PCs r 4 nerds' arguement.

[X-Ploding_Shoes]

Yes but I own a PC, and play PC games! Im neutral in the PC vs Console...as Miktar said "I just go where the games are"..if in the future they invent a console that looke exactly like a Mongoose I will buy it if it has good games and the price is justified.

[H1TMAN]

I still think you can get a good pc then buying a console because a ps3 cost R6000 and u NEED an HDTV to enjoy your games so that will come to about another R10000 for the screen. I think for +-R16000 you can get a monster rig. So do not be so hard on yourselfs felow pc gamers :)

[ReinHer]

Yeah, I guess. As a whole gaming is a pricey hobby. Also if you see that console games cost more then the price ground is pretty even.

[Sir)Kickasselot]

Well,a pc might be a much bigger initial cost,but if you pirate games,copy them,or just borrow your mates game when he's finished with then get the crack, on the whole its going to work out much cheaper than a console and having to buy all those games.

[X-Ploding_Shoes]

I still think you can get a good pc then buying a console because a ps3 cost R6000 and u NEED an HDTV to enjoy your games so that will come to about another R10000 for the screen. I think for +-R16000 you can get a monster rig. So do not be so hard on yourselfs felow pc gamers :)

Um I got my Xbox 360 for about R2500 and you can enjoy it on a standard TV, so unless you are a graphics whore its all rather good.

[Boggle24]

Well,a pc might be a much bigger initial cost,but if you pirate games,copy them,or just borrow your mates game when he's finished with then get the crack, on the whole its going to work out much cheaper than a console and having to buy all those games.

If you go rob a Toys R us for a PS3 and a 360 then pirate all of your games on those systems I bet you'd use even LESS money.

Your logic is supreme.

gg.

[Sir)Kickasselot]

Yup,and a large number of people go out and rob toys R us and THATs how they get their consoles.It's not like your chances are exelent to end up in jail.Myself and all my friends pirate games,and we have never, and will never, be caught,I was suggesting a viable option pirating games is one.
Robbing a store is just stupid and will get you in kak,you cant even try and compare that with pirating,done by most pc gamers.ditto on your logic.

[Azimuth]

Well,a pc might be a much bigger initial cost,but if you pirate games,copy them,or just borrow your mates game when he's finished with then get the crack, on the whole its going to work out much cheaper than a console and having to buy all those games.



Yup,and a large number of people go out and rob toys R us and THATs how they get their consoles.It's not like your chances are exelent to end up in jail.Myself and all my friends pirate games,and we have never, and will never, be caught,I was suggesting a viable option pirating games is one.
Robbing a store is just stupid and will get you in kak,you cant even try and compare that with pirating,done by most pc gamers.ditto on your logic.

I'd suggest shutting up about your less savoury habits. We don't approve of piracy around here.


E. Emulation/Piracy

The topics of emulation and piracy, including the technical nature of emulators and ROM images, hardware modification technology, as well as their effect on the industry as a political topic are deemed to be generally acceptable.

Linking to pirate download sites, directions on how to get pirated software to work, reviews or impressions of pirated software will all result in the banning of the user in question.

[ReinHer]

I don't support piracy or anything but if you're at a lan and you don't have the games that are being played, you don't say, "Aw shoot, I guess I will pack up and go home.". You ask, "Hey can I copy from someone?". Other than that piracy is wrong, Movie piracy obviously the bigger issue.

[someoneelse]

xomg it's the pc versus console thread is it?

Enniewayz. I find strangleholds minimum specs to be quite absurd. Especially because I dont meet them... I really cant believe you need 2GB of RAM when the majority of PC owners are stuck with a gig still (which has become the norm quite recently, eh?)

And a dual core cpu minimum?? Psh, are they on CRACK or just incredibly stupid? But wait, they probably just dont give a flying fack about PC owners anymore... yet in a couple of years they'll be touting the PC as the ultimate gaming platform again...

Stupid stranglehold, now i'll just have to play it on a console I guess.

[Garson007]

I cannot believe that this is the minimal required PC specs, unless they don't give you the option to change the graphical settings, which means it's a very bad port.

Maybe I'm alone on this but at the same resolution I don't really see much of a difference between high and low graphical settings, other than the obvious like reflective water. So if the game does have the ability to set everything to low I’d do it so that I can play it, with a minimum resolution of 800x600 of course and hopefully 1024x768.

[someoneelse]

I cannot believe that this is the minimal required PC specs, unless they don't give you the option to change the graphical settings, which means it's a very bad port.

Maybe I'm alone on this but at the same resolution I don't really see much of a difference between high and low graphical settings, other than the obvious like reflective water. So if the game does have the ability to set everything to low I?d do it so that I can play it, with a minimum resolution of 800x600 of course and hopefully 1024x768.

Oooh no I'm completely obsessed with little things like normal maps and motion blur... I cant believe games still come out in boring old 32 bit colour.

sigh I'm gonna google this issue it's ****ing me off. 2 gigs. #%&*!!!