V1 - 'Rome Total War' Compatability

[spen]

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.

[TygerTyger]

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.

[spen]

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

[guitarkid]

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?

[kee-lo_]

Thats a real shame, damn V1.

[v23]

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"!!!

[TygerTyger]

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.

[kee-lo_]

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.

[TygerTyger]

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.

[kee-lo_]

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