Façade requirements... WTF?

Ninja Dodo · 08-02-2005, 12:27 PM

I've used my 1.52 GHz computer to run processor intensive shit like Softimage XSI 4, Half Life 2, Rome Total War and many other things and these guys have the gall to present me with this???

Quote:

We're sorry, the CPU of this computer is too slow to run Facade. It must be at least 1.6 GHz.

If this is a laptop running on a battery, plugging it in and restarting may increase the CPU speed.

Fine.

Consider yourself well and truly uninstalled.

Kolorabi · 08-02-2005, 01:24 PM

Ooh, that's quite lazy....

Ninja Dodo · 08-02-2005, 01:34 PM

What I don't get is why they put in an arbitrary threshold. Why not just let it run with a crappy framerate on lesser systems?

... and, really how much difference is 0.08 GHz going to make?

Haven't they ever heard of scalable settings? It's just stupid... lazy, as you say.

The nett result is that I'm probably never going to bother playing this. If the idea was to spread the word about interactive storytelling they have just failed to reach their audience.

Intrepid Homoludens · 08-02-2005, 01:40 PM

Hey, Ninsie, don't be sore. They're not necessarily Valve, Epic Games, or any of the top developers who have years of experience in the commercial field and all it requires. They're pretty much just academics exploring the applications of a very specific feature in games - artificial intelligence - and they've been working on this for years. So it's not surprising that they haven't considered scalability - yet. Besides, isn't the bulk of the CPU running the A.I.? Would it be scalable, like graphics?

Anyway, maybe a friend has a more powerful computer you can play it on for an hour or so, I'm sure they won't mind.

They might even wanna play it themselves. Ask them.

Ninja Dodo · 08-02-2005, 01:47 PM

We'll see. I might play it someday. Maybe.

Intrepid Homoludens · 08-02-2005, 02:03 PM

You're still sore. Let it go, Ninsie, and just be happy that at least they're exploring a major feature of games that has largely been ignored.

Ninja Dodo · 08-02-2005, 02:21 PM

I was really looking forward to playing it... now I can't.

Meh.

Anyway, you're right of course... no point wasting energy on being frustrated about anything. I think I'll go and do some animating tomorrow, and maybe play some more Night of the Raven, which, by the way, kicks ass.

Huz · 08-04-2005, 11:15 AM

It's really great when it says "Facade is running too slow! Try closing some stuff!" and then shuts itself down. Woo hoo.

Ninja Dodo · 08-04-2005, 11:44 AM

You have to wonder why anyone would want to make their software so completely patronizing...

***tabacco*** · 08-04-2005, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ninja Dodo

You have to wonder why anyone would want to make their software so completely patronizing...

Because the're developing it as an academic project and not a commercial product, and can pretty much do what they please because they don't have to worry about sales? They're having fun with it, lighten up.

timpooz · 08-04-2005, 12:27 PM

I wonder if there is a freeware utility out there to fake out the game into thinking your processor is at 1.6 GHz. It couldn't do any harm. I searched for a bit, but I couldn't find anything.

Ninja Dodo · 08-04-2005, 01:21 PM

I just don't understand why anyone would design such prompts and restrictions. It's more work putting them in than leaving them out, and it's easier for everyone without...

Of course they can do what they want, but it still seems silly.

Intrepid Homoludens · 08-04-2005, 01:31 PM

Ninsie, I thought you got over it. Go play other games for now or borrow a friend's more powerful PC to play Facade.

Ninja Dodo · 08-04-2005, 01:54 PM

I am. I just noticed that thing Huz posted about it actually shutting down when it's running slow and that just seemed even stranger than the CPU requirement.

Don't worry, I will play it sooner or later.

Ronnnl · 08-04-2005, 02:46 PM

Holding Shift+F12 while starting Facade does the trick for me with a 1.4 GHz computer.

sethsez · 08-04-2005, 05:28 PM

It's freeware created for academic purposes by a bunch of people who don't really expect anything in return. To not put too fine a point on it, don't complain.

Aj_ · 08-04-2005, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ninja Dodo

What I don't get is why they put in an arbitrary threshold. Why not just let it run with a crappy framerate on lesser systems?

What are you talking about? What has framerate got to do with it?

Ninja Dodo · 08-04-2005, 11:57 PM

Ronnnl: Interesting, I'll have to try that.

sethsez: true.

AJ: if you run a game that's too much for your system, the fps (otherwise known as framerate) tends to go down to a point where you can no longer see clearly what's going on cause the movement doesn't show smoothly enough (like say, 10 fps)... In some cases however having a slightly choppy framerate here and there is quite tollerable, leaving you able to play a game despite a slightly out of date system.

AFGNCAAP · 08-05-2005, 05:00 AM

I understand your frustration, Ninja Dodo. The product trying to be wiser than the player (about technical specification) is a pet peeve of mine. The most I should get in such a case is a warning. If I was told that I would risk getting reduced enjoyment out of the game (or even screwing up my computer), so be it. Let me try to run it, it's my decision alone! Especially when the difference between the actual and the required is as preposterously low as in said case.

To those who defend Facade as an academic product: well, it's a game all the same, so I fail to see why should I use different criteria for it. Also note that there are some people who even payed for ordering it on CD rather than downloaded it through Bittorrent.

Aj_ · 08-05-2005, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ninja Dodo

AJ: if you run a game that's too much for your system, the fps (otherwise known as framerate) tends to go down to a point where you can no longer see clearly what's going on cause the movement doesn't show smoothly enough (like say, 10 fps)... In some cases however having a slightly choppy framerate here and there is quite tollerable, leaving you able to play a game despite a slightly out of date system.

I didn't say I didn't know what frame rates were, I was asking you why you thought they were involved in the requirements of Façade?

08-02-2005, 01:24 PM	#2
Kolorabi Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 900	Ooh, that's quite lazy.... Share Share this post on Twitter

08-02-2005, 01:34 PM	#3
Ninja Dodo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,459	What I don't get is why they put in an arbitrary threshold. Why not just let it run with a crappy framerate on lesser systems? ... and, really how much difference is 0.08 GHz going to make? Haven't they ever heard of scalable settings? It's just stupid... lazy, as you say. The nett result is that I'm probably never going to bother playing this. If the idea was to spread the word about interactive storytelling they have just failed to reach their audience. Share Share this post on Twitter

08-02-2005, 01:40 PM	#4
Intrepid Homoludens merely human Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 22,309	Hey, Ninsie, don't be sore. They're not necessarily Valve, Epic Games, or any of the top developers who have years of experience in the commercial field and all it requires. They're pretty much just academics exploring the applications of a very specific feature in games - artificial intelligence - and they've been working on this for years. So it's not surprising that they haven't considered scalability - yet. Besides, isn't the bulk of the CPU running the A.I.? Would it be scalable, like graphics? Anyway, maybe a friend has a more powerful computer you can play it on for an hour or so, I'm sure they won't mind. They might even wanna play it themselves. Ask them. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ platform: laptop, iPhone 3Gs \| gaming: x360, PS3, psp, iPhone, wii \| blog: a space alien \| book: the moral landscape: how science can determine human values by sam harris \| games: l.a.noire, portal 2, brink, dragon age 2, heavy rain \| sites: NPR, skeptoid, gaygamer \| music: ray lamontagne, adele, washed out, james blake \| twitter: a_space_alien

08-02-2005, 01:47 PM	#5
Ninja Dodo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,459	We'll see. I might play it someday. Maybe. Share Share this post on Twitter

08-02-2005, 02:03 PM	#6
Intrepid Homoludens merely human Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 22,309	You're still sore. Let it go, Ninsie, and just be happy that at least they're exploring a major feature of games that has largely been ignored. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ platform: laptop, iPhone 3Gs \| gaming: x360, PS3, psp, iPhone, wii \| blog: a space alien \| book: the moral landscape: how science can determine human values by sam harris \| games: l.a.noire, portal 2, brink, dragon age 2, heavy rain \| sites: NPR, skeptoid, gaygamer \| music: ray lamontagne, adele, washed out, james blake \| twitter: a_space_alien

08-02-2005, 02:21 PM	#7
Ninja Dodo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,459	I was really looking forward to playing it... now I can't. Meh. Anyway, you're right of course... no point wasting energy on being frustrated about anything. I think I'll go and do some animating tomorrow, and maybe play some more Night of the Raven, which, by the way, kicks ass. Share Share this post on Twitter

08-04-2005, 11:15 AM	#8
Huz Kersal Massive Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Manchester Posts: 1,430	It's really great when it says "Facade is running too slow! Try closing some stuff!" and then shuts itself down. Woo hoo. Share Share this post on Twitter

08-04-2005, 11:44 AM	#9
Ninja Dodo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,459	You have to wonder why anyone would want to make their software so completely patronizing... Share Share this post on Twitter

08-04-2005, 12:27 PM	#11
timpooz Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 4	I wonder if there is a freeware utility out there to fake out the game into thinking your processor is at 1.6 GHz. It couldn't do any harm. I searched for a bit, but I couldn't find anything. Share Share this post on Twitter

08-04-2005, 01:21 PM	#12
Ninja Dodo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,459	I just don't understand why anyone would design such prompts and restrictions. It's more work putting them in than leaving them out, and it's easier for everyone without... Of course they can do what they want, but it still seems silly. Share Share this post on Twitter

08-04-2005, 01:31 PM	#13
Intrepid Homoludens merely human Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 22,309	Ninsie, I thought you got over it. Go play other games for now or borrow a friend's more powerful PC to play Facade. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ platform: laptop, iPhone 3Gs \| gaming: x360, PS3, psp, iPhone, wii \| blog: a space alien \| book: the moral landscape: how science can determine human values by sam harris \| games: l.a.noire, portal 2, brink, dragon age 2, heavy rain \| sites: NPR, skeptoid, gaygamer \| music: ray lamontagne, adele, washed out, james blake \| twitter: a_space_alien

08-04-2005, 01:54 PM	#14
Ninja Dodo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,459	I am. I just noticed that thing Huz posted about it actually shutting down when it's running slow and that just seemed even stranger than the CPU requirement. Don't worry, I will play it sooner or later. Share Share this post on Twitter

08-04-2005, 02:46 PM	#15
Ronnnl Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Eindhoven, Netherlands Posts: 6	Holding Shift+F12 while starting Facade does the trick for me with a 1.4 GHz computer. Share Share this post on Twitter

08-04-2005, 05:28 PM	#16
sethsez Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 622	It's freeware created for academic purposes by a bunch of people who don't really expect anything in return. To not put too fine a point on it, don't complain. Share Share this post on Twitter

08-04-2005, 11:57 PM	#18
Ninja Dodo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,459	Ronnnl: Interesting, I'll have to try that. sethsez: true. AJ: if you run a game that's too much for your system, the fps (otherwise known as framerate) tends to go down to a point where you can no longer see clearly what's going on cause the movement doesn't show smoothly enough (like say, 10 fps)... In some cases however having a slightly choppy framerate here and there is quite tollerable, leaving you able to play a game despite a slightly out of date system. Share Share this post on Twitter

User Name		Remember Me?
Password

08-05-2005, 05:00 AM	#19
AFGNCAAP Dungeon Master Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Poland Posts: 4,152	I understand your frustration, Ninja Dodo. The product trying to be wiser than the player (about technical specification) is a pet peeve of mine. The most I should get in such a case is a warning. If I was told that I would risk getting reduced enjoyment out of the game (or even screwing up my computer), so be it. Let me try to run it, it's my decision alone! Especially when the difference between the actual and the required is as preposterously low as in said case. To those who defend Facade as an academic product: well, it's a game all the same, so I fail to see why should I use different criteria for it. Also note that there are some people who even payed for ordering it on CD rather than downloaded it through Bittorrent. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ What's happening? Wh... Where am I?