topic Re: V1 - 'Rome Total War' Compatability in PCs & Accessories

V1 - 'Rome Total War' Compatability

spen — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 16:20:48 GMT

Just recieved 'Rome Total War' Game from my Dearest for my Birthday.

One problem the Minimum System Requirements States I need 3D hardware Accelerator Card - 100% DirectX 9.0b compatable 64MB hardware Accelerated VIDEO card.

The spec for the V1 is a 32MB Graphics card SIS651. (Shame on Sony).

Are the Graphics card and VIDEO the same thing (different suppliers using different words for the same thing.)

If I try and run the game I suspect it won't work!

Would it be possible to run it with reduced functionality?

I am not too bothered about zooming right in to the thick of the action.

Game still sealed. so should be able to take it back if needs be.

Noted others talking about USB Graphics cards anyone know if these are on the horizon.

Maybe all us V1 owners should contact Vaio-Link and demand they develop Upgrades.

Re: V1 - 'Rome Total War' Compatability

TygerTyger — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 16:29:20 GMT

I doubt it will work I'm sorry to say. Graphics card and video card are indeed the same thing. I must admit I see your point, the video cards that come with Sony's computers are really quite dated compared with other manus.

Re: V1 - 'Rome Total War' Compatability

spen — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 17:10:22 GMT

Trying to find out if the Game is going to be available for PS2.

Re: V1 - 'Rome Total War' Compatability

guitarkid — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 17:54:28 GMT

the graphics cards sure is the biggest let down of the vaios in my opinion, and being P4's you would have thought they would have had the intel extreme onboard 64mb chip which adequately plays halo in low quality mode on my wifes dell, but on my w1, nope......

have you at least tried running it?

Re: V1 - 'Rome Total War' Compatability

kee-lo_ — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 18:20:03 GMT

Thats a real shame, damn V1.

Re: V1 - 'Rome Total War' Compatability

v23 — Fri, 08 Oct 2004 05:16:50 GMT

The V1/W2 were never meant to be used as games machines. More media PCs I believe, that's certainly whay I bought my V1.

Having said that I managed to get the latest Monkey Island to work which apparently requires some form of 3D graphics card. I basically messed about with the settings in the game and it runs OK on low quality. I'm not sure your game will work though as "Total War" sounds a bit more involved than "Monkey Island"!!!

Re: V1 - 'Rome Total War' Compatability

TygerTyger — Fri, 08 Oct 2004 09:40:45 GMT

I agree guitarkid, I notice that most of the new A-series models coming out soon are using the 64Mb Radeon 9200 card. I mean come on Sony get your act together.

Re: V1 - 'Rome Total War' Compatability

kee-lo_ — Fri, 08 Oct 2004 14:36:05 GMT

Putting high spec graphics cards into such a small space is troublesome, thats why Sony are waiting for better cooling techniques, which to me is a good idea.

Re: V1 - 'Rome Total War' Compatability

TygerTyger — Fri, 08 Oct 2004 14:40:42 GMT

Yeah good idea but they have the 9700 in the higher-spec models. I really think the same should go for all of them I just noticed as well the the K-series is now into a K-3--- from a 1-- or 2-- and STILL it has the old 64mb 9200 card. And a 3.06 Ghz P4? It doesn't make sense to me, although unless you are playing games it won't matter anyway.

Re: V1 - 'Rome Total War' Compatability

kee-lo_ — Fri, 08 Oct 2004 14:50:00 GMT

True, the power is only really needed for DVD authoring and games.

Re: V1 - 'Rome Total War' Compatability

guitarkid — Fri, 08 Oct 2004 20:24:02 GMT

v23, i agree it is not a games machine as such, most off the shelf pcs arent, but its not just gaming that demand or are improved by the likes of a decent graphics chip.

I wonder if photoshop cs would be better if I had better 3d technology inside, not that its slow or glitchy or anything, its fine, but im sure it would enhance the experience with a better card.

I just think they should have left it to intel to provide the onboard intel extreme 64 chip that the inferior sis 32 one..

Re: V1 - 'Rome Total War' Compatability

kee-lo_ — Fri, 08 Oct 2004 20:46:50 GMT

They should have used a mobility chip in the V1 so they could have had better graphics.

Re: V1 - 'Rome Total War' Compatability

spen — Fri, 08 Oct 2004 22:27:07 GMT

Downloaded the demo version which also states that you need 64mb graphics chip to play it. This seems to play ok.
Beat it on the Default level easily enough but on the hardest level it kicked my butt!

Think I'll just have to bite the bullet and give it a try.

Re: V1 - 'Rome Total War' Compatability

robpaxton — Fri, 08 Oct 2004 22:33:51 GMT

If the demo worked then I would guess that the full version would work as well.

Re: V1 - 'Rome Total War' Compatability

guitarkid — Sat, 09 Oct 2004 05:53:14 GMT

hope it works spen..

you would think that is the case rob.....

but let me just point this out, and im not saying this is all games.. my bro in law was in a similar situation when champ manager 4 came out so he got a demo and it ran fine, but when he installed the full game the extra database power needed for all the teams and stats etc... his machine just couldnt handle it..

Re: V1 - 'Rome Total War' Compatability

kee-lo_ — Sat, 09 Oct 2004 13:40:33 GMT

Is there no way it will run OK on the lowest settings?

Re: V1 - 'Rome Total War' Compatability

guitarkid — Sat, 09 Oct 2004 13:50:18 GMT

i think he said it was not too bad if you play 1 div from 1 league, which he said was pointless, playing the prem say, but not being able to snap up the cheap youngsters from the lower leagues...

Re: V1 - 'Rome Total War' Compatability

kee-lo_ — Sat, 09 Oct 2004 14:00:14 GMT

Hehe

Re: V1 - 'Rome Total War' Compatability

spen — Sat, 09 Oct 2004 20:04:22 GMT

:smileygrin: Sorry I have taken a while to reply to all your encouragement.

But I have been a bit busy dealing with a load of rampaging Greeks and Gauls.

Yes the full version seems to work. The main fighting scenes with thousands of figures run smoothly. The main map through which you do strategic planning and run your cities is very slow to pan around on(surely this bit should use the least amount of graphics and processing).

Still very glad I didnt take the game back.

As before thanks again everybody!!

Cheers

Re: V1 - 'Rome Total War' Compatability

kee-lo_ — Sat, 09 Oct 2004 21:40:37 GMT

Great, glad it's working :smileygrin: