Empire: Total War

[pullmyfoot]

bit-tech.net | Preview - Empire: Total War hands-on preview

I am so so so so so getting this game. It looks just completely awesome and I love massive battles. Wonder why I never picked up any of the previous Empire games, though I am a big fan of Company of Heroes and Empire Earth. This game looks like a combination of the scale of Empire Earth, plus better control over your troops, and the realism of Company of Heroes. Awesome


How do you think my 5200+X2 (which is basically a 6000+X2) will handle it? The review mentions that every musket ball and soldier is modeled individually (even wind is a physical element that actually affects things) and there can be as many as 20,000+ little objects flying around at once so it seems that its going to be incredibly taxing on my CPU. Dang I want a NVIDIA card with some CUDA technology now.

Wind strength and direction is modelled as a physical force in Empire, so it’s entirely possible to draw alongside a ship and steal its wind. With the extra manoeuvrability, you could then sweep around the bow of that ship and send a lethal broadside down the full length of its gun deck, likely killing most of the crew and then crippling the firepower of the target ship

If you fire roundshot into a weak hull at point-blank range, there’s a good chance that the balls will travel all the way through the hull and emerge the other side to potentially damage another ship.

That is so completely awesome

My goodness this looks. Its just beautiful

[tony_j15]

How do you think my 5200+X2 (which is basically a 6000+X2) will handle it?

Gosh, I only have a dual core CPU running at three gigahertz, I don't think my computer is enough for this game.
That's what you just said...wanna think about it for a moment?

[pullmyfoot]

Lol . Did you read the article? 20,000 plus little objects all individually rendered flying around at once. And its running at 3Ghz but the architecture is getting pretty outdated - came out more than 4 years ago didn't it?

[tony_j15]

I'd be more worried about my GPU than my CPU for rendering.
Hopefully they'll drop a demo or spec list in the next month or two.
I'd guess you'll do fine, although a bump from 2 gigs o' RAM to 3 wouldn't hurt.

[pullmyfoot]

But my GPU doesnt do Physicx which is why I'm worried bout my GPU. Guess I'll do a nice upgrade to 4gigs soon.

[tony_j15]

GPU physx not required. nVidia says CA is using their PhsyX app, but CA denies, saying it's an in-house blend. I think down the line they could patch it for official Physx, but right now it'll work just fine, similar to HL2's home blend physics.
So yes, some of the strain is shifted towards the processor, but with a dulie 3 gigger I wouldn't worry.

[xelnanga]

This game looks sexy!!!!

[tony_j15]

Xel, I can only imagine what you'll do with it.

[pullmyfoot]

Glad to hear. I'm so getting it. I've always wanted a really good massive game to come out and this looks to be it.