Thread: Four Unaccelerated Megabytes

  1. 08-19-2003 #1
    Speedy5
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    Four Unaccelerated Megabytes

    My laptop is amazing. No doubt about it. For me to be still using it after 4 years and not complain about its speed is incredible for my IBM Thinkpad 770Z (titanium model). Never had a problem, never had to call IBM.

    It has a P-II MMX 366 MHz and a pretty big L1 and L2 caches. But grrrrrrrrrrr it has a stupid 4 MB unaccelerated video card.

    Thats what really sucks. Here I am, begining to make a game. I have a game engine going, and using DirectDraw for some real cool 2D effects (a full partical engine) and real-time rotation of the terrain (2D of course).

    But I am so wanting to do OpenGL... seems so easy and powerful. I already used D3D and it was awesome... in VB6 lol! I pushed it as far as I could go in VB6 but its over now. Making a real 3D terrain would be awesome for my game in C++.

    I can't use my brand new super duper (really lol) gaming rig to do programming cause time there is limited (I have to share it). Battlezone II > Programming, any day. So when I get to use it, I play.

    I primarly chose to do a 2D game because on the limited system specs I have, I would have to stretch my programming skills to make it: a) look good; b) play good; c) run fast. But 3D is calling me... **I mean, who wants to play a 2D shooter/strategy** (the map rotates though, so you always point forwards) ?

    Man I wish my laptop's 4 little megabytes were 3D accelerated... Just venting a bit.
  2. 08-20-2003 #2
    Perspective
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    you could still develop on the lap top, you just couldent test anything, hehe. Youd have to run the tests on your other comp. or buy a new laptop.
  3. 08-21-2003 #3
    -=SoKrA=-
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    The same happened when I only had access to the PII laptop. I did a lot of programming because I couldn't run any games in it. Except when I broke the partition table and only Linux worked and I was using KDE for some school-work. I spent most of the time playing KTron.
    You could buy a new laptop. But just enough power so you can test what you're developing, but not enough to play Battlezone II.
    Another option would be to self-discipline yourself not to play that much and develop more. Although that may be too much for you.
    SoKrA-BTS "Judge not the program I made, but the one I've yet to code"
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  4. 08-21-2003 #4
    Speedy5
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    I just can't not play bz2, too much fun and its real intense

    I wish there was a way to upgrade the video but I bet its integrated on the mobo. Funny thing is that it runs Quake 2 and BZ1 (both 3D) without hassle. Granted its on low resolutions (512x384) in software mode but with details and everything all the way up.

    Anyone know of fast 3D software engines? Cause maybe I could use those. Its capable of doing it.
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