screen size

[Fidel]

did anyone notice that 1024x768 is unplayable on 15' screens? i just realized that it will pretty much look like sudden strike (where i did not have to meddle with lots of written data). i thought solver was just whining until i realised that even my nice 3M 15' monitor'll make my eyes hurt

[yin26]

Feel free to come over and use my 21' monitor. The price of admission is 6 dark beers (preferably some of the local Stout...yes, the local stuff so it'll be cheap). The plane tickets might set you back, though.

[Fidel]

bastard can i take solver with me too?
btw the laptop playing will be even worse. still better than reading law journals in the train

[Bkeela]

Now that we are getting closer to release, I have also been thinking about the size of the screen. I would have thought that a majority of people have a 15" monitor, so why has Firaxis insisted on making the resolution 1024x768?

I wouldn't go so far as saying that 1024x768 is unplayable, but it certainly is not optimal.

Will it all work out so that it does fit a 15" monitor nicely, or will such people be doomed to a permanent squint when playing?

I changed the resolution of my monitor to 1024x768, and then checked out one of the supposedly real size screen shots: is this what the game will be like on a 15" monitor?

I'm afraid that I will have to sample the game first before I buy an uncomfortable configuration [no, not pirate, I will demand a demo in the store], for damned if I am going to buy a new monitor to play this game.

Bkeela.

[Grim Legacy]

Oh no not this monitor whining again...

Sorry people, but the game requirements are extremely low-end. Now quit crying about them.

[Bkeela]

If you are referring to me, I am certainly not whining - merely trying to understand the necessity of this set resolution, and what impact it will have for me with a 15" monitor.

Thanks.

Bkeela.

[Grim Legacy]

Originally posted by Bkeela
If you are referring to me, I am certainly not whining - merely trying to understand the necessity of this set resolution, and what impact it will have for me with a 15" monitor.

Thanks.

Bkeela.

The resolution is chosen so as to accomodate the game best. As you will realize, a game of this type is best served with some screen real-estate to provide a good overview of your lands. Also evident is the small size of interface menu's in Civ3 -all to maximise your view on your empire. With a lesser resolution, you would be looking at your empire through a straw as it were. This would also have consequences for the artwork, which would look coarser.

And yes -on a 15" monitor 1024*768 is not optimal. You might consider a 17" at least -a common and cheap purchase that will not only allow you to play Civ3, but also yield potent ergonomical benefits.

[Ozymandous]

Originally posted by Bkeela
Now that we are getting closer to release, I have also been thinking about the size of the screen. I would have thought that a majority of people have a 15" monitor, so why has Firaxis insisted on making the resolution 1024x768?

Where is the statistical proof that "the majority" of people have a 15" monitor? Everyone I know of has at least a 17" monitor if not bigger.

Monitors are relatively cheap, I have seen several 17" monitors less than $175 on-line.

Compared to the >$300 price of several years ago this is cheap.

BTW, 1024 X 768 on a 15" monitor is not unplayable is you have a good monitor with a decent (<= .26 dot pitch) resolution on the screen.

For folks who have some P3 800 MHZ system or greater still using a 15" monitor, it's time to upgrade, a larger monitor places less strain on your eyes and it's ergonomically better anyway.

[Bkeela]

Where is the statistical proof that "the majority" of people have a 15" monitor? Everyone I know of has at least a 17" monitor if not bigger.

Boy you lot are so pedantic. I said I only "THOUGHT" based upon the fact that in my area 15" is the standard size monitor to buy, and upgrading to a 17" is usually is extra money.

I am not dedicated enough to Civ III to warrant buying a new monitor.

Bkeela.

[Fidel]

Originally posted by Ozymandous


Where is the statistical proof that "the majority" of people have a 15" monitor? Everyone I know of has at least a 17" monitor if not bigger.

hm, prove statistically that you are alive

i also tried to check out what the game will look like on that res and the screenshot was much smaller than the screen...that got me confused....

[drake]

Is this really that big an issue?

1024 X 768 on a 15" isnt that bad..........if it is, you probably should have some sort of corrective lense. (No I'm not trying to be a jerk or insult anyone.)

[FrostyBoy]

Here's another question, can you go HIGHER than 1024x768?

[Ozymandous]

Originally posted by LaRusso


hm, prove statistically that you are alive

i also tried to check out what the game will look like on that res and the screenshot was much smaller than the screen...that got me confused....

Prove I am alive? Hmm, brain activity easily measured on a machine, heart rate, breathing, etc, all easily measured on machines. Should prove that I am alive.

I believe the screenshots are 800 X 600 resolution so they may look weird when resized to 1024 X 768, not sure about that however.

Also, as I mentioned earlier if you have an old 15" monitor with poor/"low" dot pitch then higher resolutions will look fuzy and blurred regardless.

The lower (.26 or better) the dot pitch on your monitor the better quality picture you will have.

[Blacksurf]

Originally posted by Sn00py
Here's another question, can you go HIGHER than 1024x768?

as far as I am aware you can only play at 1024x768 - could be wrong though, but any bigger and you may well go blind

[Alex]

Well, I have a 15" monitor, and I tried playing SMAC both in 800x600 as well as in 1024x768. Although the 1024x768 resolution was in no way unplayable, I still think that the 800x600 resolution looked much better: more graphic detail, plus the game ran smoother.

Of course, my 15" monitor determines this preference, and I must say that, at least in SMAC, there are some graphic differences between the two modes: with a higher resolution, you can see TWO information screens, and the diplo screens are somewhat more detailed. But these are minor issues, so I am happy playing SMAC in a lower res.

On the other hand, it seems that Civ3 have been developed with a higher res in mind, so it may be that if it would allow a lower res, there could be a loss of graphical quality. But I'll have to play Civ3 in less than optimal conditions.