NC> I believe you, thousands wouldn't. :)
Not really. Quake II's environments are a lot more detailed than its
predecessor's brethren. They're also bigger, with more subtle lighting
effects, and the enemies look more intimidating and less goofy.
And of course, if you have a GL 3D card, the point is moot!
NC> But its still the same base PSX hardware, with better,
NC> more effient code, so my arguement does hold, you've
NC> just backed it up! To add those extra effects on the PC
NC> you'd need another upgrade of memory, a vast pool of HD
NC> space and probably a new whizz-o-card :)
Actually, the main reason PSX games are looking and running better is
because the system has actually been undertaxed up until recently. I think
Formula 1 used about 60-70% of the system's power; Tobal No. 2 (which isn't
even available over in the US) uses 90%.
And you don't need much hardware at all to do many of the PSX effects;
they're largely cleverly done translucencies, for the most part, and the PC
can still do more. There's no perspective correction on the PSX, and its max
resolution is 512x512; the upcoming game Virus 2000 is supposed to use that,
but its designer (David Braben of Elite fame) isn't sure if the PSX can
handle it. He sees no qualms with the PC, however!
NC> Well, you've had to wait for the console custom chip
NC> technology to get plonked onto a PC card in order to
NC> give a none-game platform some game-related hardware.
Believe it or not, not one PC 3D chip right now was ever intended for
consoles. The Voodoo chipset spawned from some SGI work that was being done.
In fact, the Voodoo chipset ended up in arcades - ever played San Francisco
Rush or Mace?
NC> If the code is the same size, uses the same amount of
NC> memory and CDrom space, then yes. I doubt it very much
NC> though, the PC version will certainly use more, due to
NC> the inherent flaws in trying to get a glorified spread
NC> sheet machine playing games. It /can/ do it, but it
NC> needs a lot of muscle, memory and HD space in order to
NC> do it: sloppy code! :)
Any real "inefficiencies" usually stem from the necessities of
compatibility, enhanced features, and/or improved graphics. G-Police on the
PC usually runs at 640x480 (though you can go above that, I think); on the
PSX, it's at 320x240 or so. And what about texture detail? If you have the
AGP version, the billboards are much more animated, and the city seems alive.
--- Maximus 3.01
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* Origin: BitByters BBS, Rockland ON, Can. (613)446-7773 v34, (1:163/215)
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