--
[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
Dunno of you all like to read the hardware survey results from the
1.1.0.9 update, but I do. See http://valve.speakeasy.net/
Stuff I see that catches my eyes...
* People with fast connections get the patch first (hence the huge
skew towards high speed with only 14,000 responces :^)
* A lot of ppl are still using what you'd call "crappy" video cards.
Voodoo 3 + TNT2 accounts for 10.4%. of all responses
* Most ppl have around 256 MB of RAM. You'd think it would be more
like 512 because it's cheap.
* Double peaked bell curve for processors. Lots in the 800-900 mhz
camp, and another bunch in the over 1 ghz range
* Most ppl run video at 1024x768, but there's a pretty surpising #
at 800x600. And who are these morons running 320x200? :D
So what's that make me think? We (as game developers) need to be
careful we don't unconciously make our games unplayable by what we
consider the "fringe" of low end users - who are actually a pretty big
percentage. Of course one can clearly decide "Minimum specs are Geforce
2, 512 MB of RAM, 1 gig processor" and go from there.
The other thing that comes to mind is this: don't waste time
complaining about all those old vid card users, or ppl who don't upgrade
their RAM, because that isn't going to make them upgrade (unless you're
willing to pay). It's not about how you think it should be, it's about
what it really is.
I know with DoD we kinda have been pushing the "minimum configuration"
limits, but not necessarily by planning. DoD's next release (2.1) is
going to include a big revamp of all our maps with this in mind. We
asked all the mappers to reduce their texture usage down to 5 meg or
less. Testing shows us they run MUCH faster now on the "lower end"
video systems. Made some mappers (ok, just one) really really mad, but
I think it was worth it for the players.
So anyone else have any observations/conclusions/etc. from the stats?
--
I think...I think it's in my basement. Let me go upstairs and check. -M.C. Escher
--
_______________________________________________
To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, please visit:
http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlcoders
