Originally by: Lianti

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The only thing I'm really worried about now (have a SM 2.0 laptop), is the performance and visual quality of the low end graphics that will feature in the 'Lite' client.
If you're just downscaling textures/meshes (and maybe even normal maps) you're likely going to end up with a far worse looking solution than the models and textures used in the Classic client, maybe even ending up with worse performance with the added shader effects.

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Originally by: Elysarian

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I do have to wonder if the same people on this thread moaning about their ancient computers (yes - 6 years+ is ancient in PC terms, we've only had the Web for 16 years, 3D acceleration for 12 years) not supporting SM2.0 are the same groups who complain loudly about lag?

It's a common misconception that all lag is server-bound, quite a bit is network-bound and some is client bound (especially if you have a lower-end processor, graphics card, amount of ram or a software sound card.

CCP are, at the end of the day, a business. They have to keep up with other MMOs out there or die, updating the graphics is just one way of acheiving this and that is becoming increasingly hard for them as they (up to now) have been saddled with having to support hardware that gamers in other areas would laugh at (try playing any other modern game with a PC from 2003).

As an example:

World of Warcraft (vomits, then OCD hand-washes), which was released in November 2004 needs, as a recommended spec (anyone who considers themself a "gamer" knows to ignore the minimum specs unless you like playing a powerpoint presentation):

Dual-core processor, such as the Intel Pentium D or AMD Athlon 64 X2.
1 GB RAM (2 GB for Vista users).
3D graphics processor with Vertex and Pixel Shader capability with 128 MB VRAM Such as an ATI Radeon X1600 or NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT class card or better.

Of course, WoW hasn't had a major graphical overhaul unlike Eve.

Eve's requirements can be located on the Eve website

Disclaimer: I have never and will never actually play WoW.

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Originally by: Dagda Morr

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The thing about eve is that a good many older players like myself play it. Players with families, bills and mortgages to pay. I have a cheap laptop that will run SM2 ok, but I'd need to buy a new one if CCP switch to SM3. There's no way I'm going to get rid of a perfectly servicable machine and buy a new one just to play Eve. I love the game (more than is probably natural) but I can't justify spending the amount of cash required to buy a new machine and continue to pay a subscription. At the end of the day, if CCP switch to SM3 as the minimum in the next couple of years I won't subscribe. Not a rage-quit, simple fact - my subscription will just have to sit idle till I upgrade.

I think it's great that CCP have decided not to implement SM3 this year, but if they go ahead and do it Jan 2010 it's pretty much the same thing. Tbh why not just upgrade the premium client and leave those of us with lower-end machines on stripped down SM2. Last time I looked the things people were griping about were not the graphics.

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Originally by: Mene Ya

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well i will see what the light version will change to me... i buy 10 months ago a special 200$ boost Ati Saphire 2600 XT /512ram special for AGP platforms (have Direct X10 if you put Vista) running on Barton 2,6 GHz/1 G ram - to see premium... and? i can't see even now some constructions bunkers or sentry in missions in game. I send to CCP my directx and what they want. They say to me to disable the anti-aliasing... But heyyyoooo this graphic card DON'T HAVE the disable option, in fact have 4 option Smoothvision HD anti-aliasing and another Adaptive Anti-aliasing supersampling and multisampling so dear CCP ??... what i choose? heheheheheh

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Originally by: Dagda Morr

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Originally by: Seishi Maru

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so cancel your sub now. Because you may be sure SOMEDAY they will do this move. Its simply ilogical to not do so. Would you think is sane to keep support for Glide3D when the last implementation in hardware of that API was in 1999 ? Hell no! Same will happen to SM2 someday

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That's an absolutely stupid comment - but since I've got time to waste I'll reply anyhow.

I fully appreciate that the client will be updated - I expect it and welcome it to an extent. If you see my earlier post you will see that I think the upgrade to SM2 is going to be good. My objection is to then upgrade to SM3 six months later.

I will be buying a new PC when the one I have is no longer fit for purpose - but bear in mind that one of the unique fetures about eve is that is always has and should (in my opinion) run on older machines. My older machine is perfectly good for everyting else that I use it for so why change it?

If the change is so vital, why was the upgrade from SM1 to SM2 so late in the day? Everything changes and everything upgrades in the end but the move to SM3 was a little too soon IN MY OPINION. It's very simple, no ragequit or whining - if Eve switched to SM3 before I do I won't play EVE till I upgrade.

For those of you with newer, better machines - why do you even care since you can just run premium regardless?

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