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.

[guitarkid]

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..

[kee-lo_]

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

[spen]

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.

[robpaxton]

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

[guitarkid]

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..

[kee-lo_]

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

[guitarkid]

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...

[kee-lo_]

Hehe

[spen]

: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

[kee-lo_]

Great, glad it's working :smileygrin: