Dierk...you must have a helluva lot faster computer than I do...my 2.54 Gig old machine is still pretty quick BUT when I got the game I had only 512MB and it took almost 15 minutes to actually load all the graphics and come up to the the main menu AND THEN it took about 2 to 3 minutes to go from one menu choice to another and then again...ran torpidly slow between functions once in the game...they recommend a minimum of 1 GB and recommend more....so you must have something different than I in the way of either a video card or chip speed.
Also for people looking to buy...note that NWS purposely doesn't advertise or list the computer requirements...platform, speed and ram...why? Straight from a conversation with them on the phone...because they expect that people will write them or call them and ask that question before they buy...I didn't...and why do that have that policy?...because they say that all computers have different performance and they would be :damned if they did and damned if they don't" list the requirement. That would be OK if it didn't require 2 GIG to really run well without turning off any ram hungry features...HOWEVER who but the most fanatic 3D first-person shooter fanatic would even dream that some games require 2 GIG for optimum performance?...again...I didn't...I was stupid. I'll not make that mistake with ANY game again...oh..they also couldn't guarantee that it will run on VISTA...I asked them.
You know..I am not trying to condemn the game...it is obviously popular and there are people who clearly love it...I am sure I will learn to love it. However, that being said, AND GIVEN that the many varied uses of colors and combinations of color, and varied sized fonts and masks of colors for this and that and elaborate 3D terrain images, and various font sizes and typefaces...to me it almost amounts to so much chrome...what comes to mind is "Very pretty but does it work well." (Remember the Dirty Dozen...Very pretty General, but can they fight!") Myself, would rather have a simpler, easy to run game without all the intense graphic demands. There are many many beautiful 3D games out there that need no where close to even 1 GIG of ram to run optimally well. Frankly I think the Digit Artist on the project won out over the math programmers.
I don't care what anyone says...you have to be prepared to "work" to play this game...and it may well be worth it...at least to play it well and not just drag troops from one area to another...so just be prepared to spend a lot of time first getting used to the interface and the many different ways to access the same information...but not even be able to find a town without stumbling upon it...and then to learn how to really play the game well enough to win against someone who has learned all those things.
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="3" face="book antiqua" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by D.S. Walter</i>
<br /><blockquote id="quote"><font size="3" face="book antiqua" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">(...) learned it required 2 GIG of ram (...)<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
It runs fine for me with 1 GB. Actually it worked with 512 MB, before I decided to upgrade. But yes, it takes a while to load. Just get a beer while it's doing that ...
Gen. Walter, USA
<i>The Blue Blitz</i>
3/2/VIII AoS
West Point Class of '01
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Major General
Tom Ciampa
Commanding Officer
1st Cav Division
XIV Corps, AoC
Games: TS/BG: AN, BR, CH, GB, SH - HPS: AT, CTH, GB, OZK, SH, VK