Stranglehold PC specs

[Kalbrecht]

http://kotaku.com/gaming/strangleshock/stranglehold-pc-minimum-specs-are-wow-287130.php

Holy moly. 2 Gigs RAM minimum, and 15 Gigs Hard Drive space...

So I'm guessing the recommended specs will be a 64-bit OS?

[OldsterHolster]

Well, if I realize my plans for a new computer, I will be in great shape for this one. I've already decided that 4 gigs of memory will soon become the standard for gaming rigs, and one or two 8800GTX's with a 6850 processor should play this one with ease.

It really is amazing how new game requirements are climbing to unheard of levels. Personally, I feel that they are reaching a natural ceiling, and I hope that things level off for a few years. I mean, just how pretty do we need these things to look? I would be perfectly happy if they would just make more present-level games instead of always pushing the limits of technology, and our pocketbooks. Edward.

[Kalbrecht]

Same here Edward. I've been predicting that 2GB will be the sweet spot (edit: sweet spot as in a good balance of recommendations, NOT the minimum!) for a while to come, especially with the current constraints on memory in 32-bit OSes.

If 2 gigs is the minimum, it does make it the whole thing a bit ridiculous unless we see a massive market-wide overhaul of people's computers!

I'd rather see more effort made to make better, interesting games, than pretty games with physics and textures galore, but not as much substance.

[Terry Penrod]

.

I agree Edward. It's time to take a tech break and see what today's developers can do to create some innovative new gameplay combinations, to tell great original stories and to establish a true interactive artform.

Fact is that the vast majority of all great art, literature and music was created using the same basic tools with very few refinements for many centuries. Plain old pen and paper have served writers since the alphabet was invented. Paint and canvas still work just fine for creating wonderful art and classcial music is still played with acoustic instruments that were designed a long time ago.

The underlying technology used for making interactive games simply doesn't need to advance any farther to achieve greatness in this new genre of entertainment. And like many other gamers who have seen system requirements climb higher and higher while the basics of gameplay and storytelling have not advanced to any significant degree are tired of eyecandy substituting for substance.

Forget the cheap gimmicks and give us some deep, artfully crafted, beautifully written games that are still fun to play and don't require a whole new system every few years. Give us some perfected examples of games in all the main genres that have already been established. Relegate creative thinking, innovative design talent and financial resources to combining, polishing and balancing these existing elements.

Then, once a new level of artistry has been reached across the board, we can all ascend further into the technological stratosphere.

Cheers, Terry

[Rafal Dudek]

Damn, thats pretty hardcore. Are you sure those are minimum specs and not recommended ones?

[yummyzebra]

...tired of eyecandy substituting for substance.

Thats true, developers set a higher prioriety these days for getting their products noticed by new technological advancements than the actual gameplay and content of the game as it used to be.

*sigh* thats why the old classics never die or can be replaced, eye candy cant substitute for story.

[Gunney]

Damn, thats pretty hardcore. Are you sure those are minimum specs and not recommended ones?
The moderator on the midway games forums said MINIMIUM, however I heard that Pc gamers called midway and they said these specs are wrong.

The specs doesn't even make sense. How can an x1300 play this game but my 7600GT not?(mines blows that out of the water). 15 gigs? meh FSX was 15 gigs. 2gigs? wtf as the bare minimium to play the game, something is wrong there.

If these specs are true, then they are worse than what the expect Crysis minimium reqs to be. This game doesn't even look that demanding! Isn't running on the unreal engine 3? You would think it would scale back way more than that. I suspect this is a screw up or a result of a poorly coded game.

[Ojnod]

For anyone that is interested, the demo hit the XBox 360 Marketplace yesterday, I haven't tried it out yet but at least you can get a good taste before you shell out any money for upgrades.

[Karlsweldt]

A limit of advancements will be reached, and then what? The x86 platform was never intended to reach the performance level we now have. Moore's Law is proven!
I will be very content with my present setups.. for several years! Only when/if the present 32-bit systems are declared obsolete, will I consider going to the 64-bit platform.
We are told we MUST have such advanced systems.. or be declared misfits! I'll keep my own pace and be declared an outsider, thank you! When the crusades fail, I will still have my 'spoils of war' as my own.

[Kalbrecht]

So are you predicting a collapse of the current rate of graphics/physics reliance and a move back to real gameplay, Karlsweldt?

I'm with you on that one!

[yummyzebra]

I think there will now always be a strong reliance on physics in game because it adds to the gameplay and immersion in the game, but i agree that graphics have got to the point where there isnt much advancement to be made, i mean they already look amazing and realistic, whats left to do, smellivision anyone?

[Karlsweldt]

The old saying, "What goes up.." rings true. If the stock market has a good run, then there is always an "adjustment" to make.
With computer advancements, there has to be a logical end to improvement.. and then there will be a different venue to proceed on. Every aspect of the x86 platform has been accelerated to its near-limit. Just how far can it go? The only logical route would be an entirely different platform, intended to run at 4 Ghz or higher.. with an OS that is not bloated beyond 2 Gb!! And we don't need more than 2 Gb of RAM for an efficient operation.
With advances in holography, the next field may be true 3-D viewing.. but that would take up some real estate on the desktop!

Look at the rise of civilization.. prosperity brings wealth and joy, and rival nations want those "spoils". War ensues, destroying most of those advancements. What is left? Basic reality, and primordial tools and techniques. A full rebuild is the only way back to the present.
Not saying we will go back to the older AT platform, but the true limit of our present computing is nearing its final phase. No, it won't collapse in a total disaster.. but it will have to be abandoned in favor of newer technology.

The DVD movies require little in the way of processing power.. but with a game, there is more than a five-fold increase for computing power. Those game files need to be reconfigured for every "nth" degree of movement by the player.

Sorry if I sound like a Techno-boffin!