SoW:BoB 64-bit/Multicore optimised?

[Igo kyu]

Originally Posted by dduff442

It looks like PC gaming is on the way out except for niches like flight sims. This is a pity because PC games allow much more interesting games than the clunky game-controllers permit.

I think some on the hardware side wanted this, but it isn't working out that way.

The bog-standard Laptop with the integrated graphics is dying, the netbook that replaced it is getting minimally game-capable graphics (nVidia Ion), and cheaper gaming capable laptops seem to be appearing.

All in all, there was a decline in PC gaming for a while, due in part to the competitive graphics on the new consoles. As the consoles have aged and PC graphics have overtaken them, PC gaming is coming back, not strongly yet, but I suspect that before the next generation of consoles arrive it will have recovered more substantially.

Then there will probably be another temporary decline, and if the new consoles come with upgradeable graphics, or PCs don't any more that might not be so temporary, but that's apparently two or three years off yet.

[Flyby]

"It is better to be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt." But here goes. Compared to most of you, I'm a babe in rough waters when it comes to any thing beyond just using a PC. I've been without a gaming PC for some time now (as well as without my beloved IL2). I understand, from what you've discussed, the limitations the coding has had on prior PC games, especially our flight sims. But hasn't it been already stated that SoW_BoB will support multi-core processors? I also wonder if the new generation of GPUs will be able to use their computing powers in SoW as well? Is that a coding issue too? Seems to me we are talking about how far ahead of the hardware curve Oleg's team is or is not. Meanwhile I'd be disappointed if my i7-920 processor is overkill when SoW is released (upon a trembling, unsuspecting world). Better for me to believe that in four years, when I'm more able to afford one, a six-core socket 1366 processor will finally tame SoW_BoB!!! Oh, let's not forget the video cards too (Crossfire, SLi, or Hydra configs may get some SoW love too).
Flyby out
PS I hope PC gaming is not in decline. Look at all the cash spent by AMD and Nvidia on product development. Look at all the hardware tech sites that still test CPUs and GPUs not only by running apps, but also PC games like Crysis to test the mettle of those components. Look at the companies that sell gaming PCs. Perhaps they know something we don't?

[Igo kyu]

Originally Posted by Flyby

I've been without a gaming PC for some time now (as well as without my beloved IL2).

IL*2 should run on pretty much anything PC. I noted elsewhere that FB ran on an Athlon (32 bit) 1GHz from 2000ad, and on a Geforce 2 GTS with 64M of ram on it. That was a top end GF2 at the time, but it's nothing now, a PCIe card to beat it would cost less than a month's internet connection.

I also wonder if the new generation of GPUs will be able to use their computing powers in SoW as well?

I wouldn't want that. If the GPU is doing calculations, or physics, it's not doing graphics, and I like graphics, it's what I buy GPUs for. If people are prepared to fund my graphics habit by buying GPUs to make supercomputers from them, that's fine, but it's not what I want from GPUs.

[Flyby]

Originally Posted by Igo kyu

IL*2 should run on pretty much anything PC. I noted elsewhere that FB ran on an Athlon (32 bit) 1GHz from 2000ad, and on a Geforce 2 GTS with 64M of ram on it. That was a top end GF2 at the time, but it's nothing now, a PCIe card to beat it would cost less than a month's internet connection.


I wouldn't want that. If the GPU is doing calculations, or physics, it's not doing graphics, and I like graphics, it's what I buy GPUs for. If people are prepared to fund my graphics habit by buying GPUs to make supercomputers from them, that's fine, but it's not what I want from GPUs.

My last system ran IL2 pretty well (p4-2.8, 1.5gig of HyperX DDR 3500, and Nvidia 6800 Ultra), but too much flak from ships, for example really slowed it up big time, and the Kamikaze trk hit a low of 7fps. I recall a COOP mission I made where the Allied objective was to shoot down 8 Ju-52 before they could reach their drop point for their paratroops. Well, what a slide show that was when those guys all jumped! LOL!! All this at 12x9 rez.
Good old AGP! But I agree with you about leaving the GPU to do graphics.
Flyby out