Comments on: Targeting Older Systems http://orangeriverstudio.com/monksbrew/2009/02/targeting-older-systems/ Anecdotes on the adventure of indie game development Sun, 30 May 2010 04:48:47 +0000 hourly 1 By: El Clérigo Urbatain http://orangeriverstudio.com/monksbrew/2009/02/targeting-older-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-216 El Clérigo Urbatain Sun, 22 Mar 2009 09:01:00 +0000 http://orangeriverstudio.com/monksbrew/?p=91#comment-216 Well, the average indie gamer will have a graphic card for sure (not the casual one). And integrated peripherals are more advanced day by day. You can check portable ones, that have massive processing both in CPU and graphics. So I think that that is not an issue.<br/><br/>Regards, Well, the average indie gamer will have a graphic card for sure (not the casual one). And integrated peripherals are more advanced day by day. You can check portable ones, that have massive processing both in CPU and graphics. So I think that that is not an issue.

Regards,

]]> By: Rubes http://orangeriverstudio.com/monksbrew/2009/02/targeting-older-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-214 Rubes Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:52:00 +0000 http://orangeriverstudio.com/monksbrew/?p=91#comment-214 I think the real issue stems from the fact that the game will need a dedicated graphics card -- integrated graphics chips are probably not going to cut it. The problem is that a lot of new systems include the integrated chips because they're cheaper and draw less power, and are pretty good at handling most graphics applications except the more demanding 3D games. So even if people are exchanging their older systems for newer ones, that still can be an issue (for me) if the new system uses integrated graphics chips. I think the real issue stems from the fact that the game will need a dedicated graphics card — integrated graphics chips are probably not going to cut it. The problem is that a lot of new systems include the integrated chips because they’re cheaper and draw less power, and are pretty good at handling most graphics applications except the more demanding 3D games. So even if people are exchanging their older systems for newer ones, that still can be an issue (for me) if the new system uses integrated graphics chips.

]]> By: El Clérigo Urbatain http://orangeriverstudio.com/monksbrew/2009/02/targeting-older-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-209 El Clérigo Urbatain Tue, 17 Mar 2009 11:20:00 +0000 http://orangeriverstudio.com/monksbrew/?p=91#comment-209 I think indie market is plague with old machines, so, maybe you should keep worrying about the good old ones.<br/><br/>For me, I have a P4 1800 and an AMD 1800+. It has served me quite well through this years (more than 5), and now is when I feel it is being old for some indie games. Flash games lately are being quite CPU demanding, and now we are seeing top noch 3D indie games like The Path, so I think it's time for me to buy some new hardware. But man, I can play 90% of indie games of today with my slow and old machine, and I'm quite happy about.<br/><br/>So you must think about potential buyers. I think most indie gamers are like, but I could be wrong... I think indie market is plague with old machines, so, maybe you should keep worrying about the good old ones.

For me, I have a P4 1800 and an AMD 1800+. It has served me quite well through this years (more than 5), and now is when I feel it is being old for some indie games. Flash games lately are being quite CPU demanding, and now we are seeing top noch 3D indie games like The Path, so I think it’s time for me to buy some new hardware. But man, I can play 90% of indie games of today with my slow and old machine, and I’m quite happy about.

So you must think about potential buyers. I think most indie gamers are like, but I could be wrong…

]]> By: Rubes http://orangeriverstudio.com/monksbrew/2009/02/targeting-older-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-203 Rubes Fri, 20 Feb 2009 05:15:00 +0000 http://orangeriverstudio.com/monksbrew/?p=91#comment-203 Thanks, Mike. Those were both very helpful links. Thanks, Mike. Those were both very helpful links.

]]> By: Mike Rozak http://orangeriverstudio.com/monksbrew/2009/02/targeting-older-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-202 Mike Rozak Fri, 20 Feb 2009 05:05:00 +0000 http://orangeriverstudio.com/monksbrew/?p=91#comment-202 I have some actual numbers for you:<br/><br/>Hardcore gamers - http://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey<br/><br/>More casual - http://unity3d.com/webplayer/hwstats/ I have some actual numbers for you:

Hardcore gamers – http://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey

More casual – http://unity3d.com/webplayer/hwstats/

]]> By: Rubes http://orangeriverstudio.com/monksbrew/2009/02/targeting-older-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-201 Rubes Thu, 19 Feb 2009 06:00:00 +0000 http://orangeriverstudio.com/monksbrew/?p=91#comment-201 I would like to see it running on Linux, too. TGE does run on Linux, but that flavor stopped being supported by GarageGames a while back and I'm not sure where it currently stands. I don't know much Linux myself, so I'd probably need some help with that.<br/><br/>As for Unity, I've run the development environment without much trouble, but I don't recall playing any games written in Unity to know how it runs. I should probably try that out.<br/><br/>I think most systems with dedicated video cards that were made within the last five years should be able to run Vespers fairly well. It's the integrated graphics chips that I think will cuse problems. I would like to see it running on Linux, too. TGE does run on Linux, but that flavor stopped being supported by GarageGames a while back and I’m not sure where it currently stands. I don’t know much Linux myself, so I’d probably need some help with that.

As for Unity, I’ve run the development environment without much trouble, but I don’t recall playing any games written in Unity to know how it runs. I should probably try that out.

I think most systems with dedicated video cards that were made within the last five years should be able to run Vespers fairly well. It’s the integrated graphics chips that I think will cuse problems.

]]> By: indigostatic http://orangeriverstudio.com/monksbrew/2009/02/targeting-older-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-200 indigostatic Thu, 19 Feb 2009 03:39:00 +0000 http://orangeriverstudio.com/monksbrew/?p=91#comment-200 I upgraded from a Pentium 2 300Mhz to a 2.53Ghz celeron about 3 years ago... yeah, I know.<br/>Now it's kind of dated, but I can run most indie games released recently (except a few ones which require some shader mumbo jumbo).<br/><br/>Speaking broadly, the mayority of the people I know (who aren't tech geeks) have integrated graphics cards. But I think it's safe to say that the audience interested in Vespers are tech savvy, so the mayority of them are going to be equiped with reasonable computers. <br/><br/>The casual market would be the one really affected by minimum requirements.<br/><br/>Optimizing never hurts though. I upgraded from a Pentium 2 300Mhz to a 2.53Ghz celeron about 3 years ago… yeah, I know.
Now it’s kind of dated, but I can run most indie games released recently (except a few ones which require some shader mumbo jumbo).

Speaking broadly, the mayority of the people I know (who aren’t tech geeks) have integrated graphics cards. But I think it’s safe to say that the audience interested in Vespers are tech savvy, so the mayority of them are going to be equiped with reasonable computers.

The casual market would be the one really affected by minimum requirements.

Optimizing never hurts though.

]]> By: georgeolivergo http://orangeriverstudio.com/monksbrew/2009/02/targeting-older-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-199 georgeolivergo Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:20:00 +0000 http://orangeriverstudio.com/monksbrew/?p=91#comment-199 I've owned only laptops, and so far I get a 'newer' one (I get a new used one) about every four years. <br/><br/>I've had the current laptop for about two years, WinXP, 1.5 ghz and 1 GB RAM (which I upgraded from 512), and the original Radeon 7500 video card -- this is pretty decent for most older 3D games but obviously fails on anything with shaders or more intense cpu requirements. <br/><br/>Nevertheless I think I won't fully upgrade for another two years or so. I’ve owned only laptops, and so far I get a ‘newer’ one (I get a new used one) about every four years.

I’ve had the current laptop for about two years, WinXP, 1.5 ghz and 1 GB RAM (which I upgraded from 512), and the original Radeon 7500 video card — this is pretty decent for most older 3D games but obviously fails on anything with shaders or more intense cpu requirements.

Nevertheless I think I won’t fully upgrade for another two years or so.

]]> By: DavidMB http://orangeriverstudio.com/monksbrew/2009/02/targeting-older-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-198 DavidMB Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:17:00 +0000 http://orangeriverstudio.com/monksbrew/?p=91#comment-198 My G5 is only slightly newer than yours. I would be interested to know if yours can actually render games in Unity. Unity hard-locks my Mac and I have to force a power-down by holding the power button until it dies.<br/><br/>I usually try to upgrade every 4 or so years as I can afford it, though my machines (especially my Macs and laptop) are getting long in tooth. My G5 is only slightly newer than yours. I would be interested to know if yours can actually render games in Unity. Unity hard-locks my Mac and I have to force a power-down by holding the power button until it dies.

I usually try to upgrade every 4 or so years as I can afford it, though my machines (especially my Macs and laptop) are getting long in tooth.

]]> By: Anonymous http://orangeriverstudio.com/monksbrew/2009/02/targeting-older-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-197 Anonymous Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:13:00 +0000 http://orangeriverstudio.com/monksbrew/?p=91#comment-197 i'm on my 2nd pc in twelve years... and have no plans of ditching this one in the near future. i’m on my 2nd pc in twelve years… and have no plans of ditching this one in the near future.

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