Why not 800x600?

[AustralianJeremy]

I don't get it. It's not like the buttons etc in Civ3 use a lot of screen real estate. Why couldn't there be an option to run it at 800x600? You'd just see less terrain at once.

It's annoying, because it means it can't be run on a whole lot of laptops. Why on earth not?

[Robert]

because only outdated systems and blind people still run 800x600

if they would've provided 800x600 someone would've asked "Why not 480x640 and black and white colors"

something must be the limit.
Why waste hours in developping something only a very small minority will use ?

[Rasbelin]

There has been a long discussion on this earlier. The mayor reason is that 1024x768 is the new standard of desktop monitors in these days. Like 800x600 replaced once 640x480. It's called technological progress of monitors.

[AustralianJeremy]

Rubbish. Plenty of systems, especially laptops, still run 800x600. They're more than capable of running the game - they meet all the other specs - so why the smeg make it impossible to run on them? It's not like it would be hard to leave it as an option.

It's just bloody-mindedness to just give up on so many people using laptops. SMAC let us use 800x600; Civ3 should have, too.

Come to think of it, why NOT 640x480? B&W would limit the functionality of the game, but on the Civ3 design it could OBVIOUSLY run easily at lower resolutions. You'd just be able to see less terrain.

[Rasbelin]

I appologise, Jeremy. I forgot to mention "desktop monitors". I'll add it to my posting.

[Th0mas]

Originally posted by Rasbelin
I appologise, Jeremy. I forgot to mention "desktop monitors". I'll add it to my posting.

...actually on a 17" desktop monitor The best reslolution is 800 x 600.

This is IMO - but is also backed up at my work (70,000+people world wide) as 800 x 600 is the corporate standard.

I am assuming that most home users will not just play CIV III on their computers (although it is a very good reason to get one on its own ).

In anything under 19" 1024x768 can be a real eyestrain for office work (Excel, word and the like). Most PC's come with 17" monitors as standard.

I am currently writing this in 1024X768 and the text has not got clear definition - this is on a high quality 17" monitor BTW.

....so I think Fraxis should have given the option to view CIV III in 800x600 as it is still the Standard!

[Risky]

Well I'm pretty happy as 1024 is the native resolution of my laptop and the running re of me (old) desktop monitor. However I think it is a mistake to fix the resolution as Turn-Based-Strategy is ideal for laptops and some smaller form-factors will be 800x600 and some high end models above 1024.

While we're on the laptop issue, I wish there was some allowance to eliminate CD access during gameplay, for the battery's sake. (Understandable copy-proctection allowing).

[Rasbelin]

Originally posted by Th0mas

This is IMO - but is also backed up at my work (70,000+people world wide) as 800 x 600 is the corporate standard.

Using 800x600 on 17" isn't the best possible option. Because the most used resolution on 17" is 1024x768.

In anything under 19" 1024x768 can be a real eyestrain for office work (Excel, word and the like).

Using 1024x768 on 19" is odd too. The current standard is 1280x1024 for 19".

Most PC's come with 17" monitors as standard.

That's true. The current new "standard" is behind that. Even if there's no real agreement on that.

....so I think Fraxis should have given the option to view CIV III in 800x600 as it is still the Standard!

Standard? Perhaps for 15", but not any new larger monitors. At least no one is currently selling 17" monitors for 800x600. Of course they can be used on other resolutions too, but that's the resolution most 17" monitors are intended for.

[Th0mas]

Rasbelin

I can't breakdown your post and reply to each point, as then this post would be a breakdown of a breakdown

...so I'll try and reply as a whole and hopefully will get all my responses accross...

In most office environments the desktop standards (if there are any) are usually 800x600. OTOH this may be an artifact of the fact that most organisations have a combination of newer 17"with a number of legacy 15" monitors and therefore have to work to the lowest common denominator.

It is certainly true that the assumption has been:

14" equates to 640x480
15" equates to 800x600
17" equates to 1024X768
19" equates to 1280 x 1024

....however the model does not fit reality...

It all depends on what role the PC is 'playing'. If the issue is one of screen space then you would attempt to use the monitor at its maximum 'readable' range/ minimum frequency settings. This tends to make things smaller on screen and results in 'blurring' of the image as the frequency drops.

However if you wish to be able to use the monitor for long periods of time (especially office work - or playing CIV) you would wish to have it set to make it as comfortable on your eyes as possible. Lower the screen size and increase the frequency.

This is all effected by the capacity of the graphics card and the quality of your monitor

...Of course it is a personal choice - each person has different eyesight and what may be comfortable for me, might give you headaches.

So in conclusion ... Fraxis should have allowed 800X600, recommended 1024X768, but given each player the choice.

[Zealot]

Originally posted by Th0mas
So in conclusion ... Fraxis should have allowed 800X600, recommended 1024X768, but given each player the choice.

True.

[Asesino_Virtual]

Well, i think a lower resolution option should be applied, just because a 800x600 game goes faster than a 1024x768. Its simply a performace solution.

[Rasbelin]

Originally posted by Th0mas

However if you wish to be able to use the monitor for long periods of time (especially office work - or playing CIV) you would wish to have it set to make it as comfortable on your eyes as possible. Lower the screen size and increase the frequency.

Yes, that's true and I agree with you. Just remember that it's still advisable to to buy a bit more expensive monitor, if you're using the PC for longer continual time periods (like many hours per day). By doing so, you will be able to use higher frequecies on larger resolutions.

BTW I haven't yet said my own opinion to the exclusion of free choice of resolution in Civ III. I think the player should be able to choose between 800x600, 1024x768 and 1280x1024. At least the 1280x1024 would become handy for me.