Now That SC:S Is Out

[John-SJ 13]

People who have SC:S are complaining about the fact that with 3d, even on a pretty beefy machine they can't play at higher than medium graphics, even though SC:S regions are small even compared to a SC$ small city tile.

Is Monte Cristo really sure they want to give us a 3d game?  Would a game with a SC4 type engine but souped up maybe be a better direction until computers and video are powerful enough for 3d in a large region?

[Tropod 144]

If you take a read at one of the articles on their site, it explains that they're using a different technique with the 3D Graphics; least, as far as the Terrain goes. Whether the same is used for structures or not, not sure (don't remember if it was in the article). So it may not be as big a problem for them?

[The_Dalai_Llama 15]

3D is the way to go this day and age... MC is going at the genre in a different way so we shouldn't be worried at all.

[Kevin 101]

I don't know anything about 3D engines, but CU slowdown is a concern for me. So its the type of engine used, not the user's computer?

[amdinside 2]

CU sounds like a good reason to upgrade the computer.

[MrCinatit 30]

I had run both City Life and SimCity Societies at the highest graphics settings on the same machine. It seemed the City Life graphics ran a lot smoother, even when I had things built up quite a bit.

[John-SJ 13]

Well, I know I can run CL pretty well, not on highest settings, but high enough to look good anyway.  My video card won't even meet the minimum requirement for SC:S, it an FX5500.

So, I hope you guys are right about this and that MC knows what its doing.

[dasilva 3]

We know this is something that may scare a few people around (especially those who didn't upgrade their machines since SC4 went out ).

In regards of going back to 2D, well, first answer is that going back would mean getting everything we've done so far in to the trash... That won't happen.

Then, if we moved on 3d with City Life, there were a game play reason: we wanted to get rid of the grid system to lay out roads at any angle and get multiple buildings crossing each other: getting back to 2D would forces us to implement a grid system. (and no more user made curved roads...).

Getting a working 3d engine on low end systems is a tricky part of the developer role but it is easier when you are starting from scratch as the CU team is doing now. There are a lot of technics around to make that happening and some tricks that the team will have to find out to allow you to make this big jump ahead in graphism...

We'll share more about that on the dev blog as we move on...

Cheers,

[masochist 111]

Originally posted by: dasilva Then, if we moved on 3d with City Life, there were a game play reason: we wanted to get rid of the grid system to lay out roads at any angle and get multiple buildings crossing each other: getting back to 2D would forces us to implement a grid system. (and no more user made curved roads...).quote>

3D, it is, then!!!

[SimRabbit123 6]

I will probably have a new computer by the time CU comes out. Right now, I don't care about SCS.

[BurroDiablo 222]

Yeah, i'll have a new graphics card by the time it comes out... hope CU's engine is nicely polished and isn't as laggy as SCS is with the Larger cities. Also hope we're capable of making semi-realistic sized cities... even if it means a Regional system like SC4

[Callbat 8]

dasilva, whatever coumputer you Monte Cristo people recommend for Cities Unlimited I will buy ASAP!!!

It just looks like such a great game i think its worth it

I mean, come on!!! Curved roads!!!!!

[Jazzmaster 716]

Originally posted by: amdinside CU sounds like a good reason to upgrade the computer.quote>

 

That could be a problem, because some here can't just go out an buy souped up memory, graphics cards, etc; those are expensive!  But it seems like Monte Cristo has had us in mind from the start so I'm not worried.

-Yoshiisland

PS: My SC4 already lags because of the plugins, so yeah...

[John-SJ 13]

Callbat,

If MC could recommend system requirements today, which they probably can't because they don't know yet, it would still make sense to hold off on buying that system as long as possible.  The longer you wait, the cheaper it will be.

[JaLooN 0]

I hope proper multicore support will be in.

[Cleaner475 150]

MC say they will be able to make a good graphics game without to many requirements needed - i think its in their FAQ at their official site - i'll have to check again.

but yeah 3D is the future now for the simcity time game, i think that has become apparent even if lots of people don't like it, there are only a few ways you can change a game with a viewpoint like sc4 and you can't really make the graphics to much better

Richard

[doorknob60 11]

Man...I hope it works with my Nvidia FX 5200 lol that's like the best I can get for crappy old PCI :'( Oh well I could figure something out if it doesn't