Seriously, this is the minimum?
August 29, 2007
I heard about Microsoft releasing ShadowRun, and I was interested. I loved the series of books based in the ShadowRun world, and thought the game might be interesting.
I was blown away by the minimum requirements. To the left, you can see them. Maybe I haven’t looked at a set of minimum requirements for a game recently, but I remember they used to be pathetic.
One note though, the minimum requirements are exactly the same as the recommended requirements.
Although I am shocked, I am happy that they have realistic requirements. I always thought it was bad customer service, and bad marketing to list low minimum requirements. If I purchase a game I expect the game play to be decent, and responsive, if my system is at or above the minimum requirements. I think that is a reasonable expectation.
If I start playing, and the quality is bad, or if the game is jerky or unresponsive, then I start to get angry. That is the customer service aspect of it.
I also will tell my friends, which ties in the marketing aspect, since we all know that the best advertisement in word of mouth. This is also the reason I will not buy the “Age of Empires” titles until they are in the bargain bin.
Back to ShadowRun, one thing that that is pretty neat is that Microsoft released the game for both the Xbox 360 and Windows, I know that isn’t a big deal, but wait, there’s more.
They also introduced new features in Windows Live Messenger, and released Live Messenger for the Xbox 360. This means that PC players and Xbox players can play together. This is the first time I have heard of a game which allows console systems to play with home computers, and I thought it was pretty neat.
Are you going to get it Mike?
To be honest, no. I’m a big cheapskate, and there isn’t a demo to play. Right now retail is about $50, and I would hate to shell that out, and find out I don’t like the game.
I don’t own a Xbox, but my machine at home meets the minimum requirements, so if I hear a lot of good things about the game, and it comes down in price some, then I may buy it. Still, there is the question of time, mainly that I don’t have any to play with.
Questions for you
What is the last game you bought, and how did you like it? Was it worth the money?
My last game was Half Life 2, and I bought it about 4 months ago (yes, it has been out for years). I really like the game, but I don’t have a lot of time to play it. I it was only $20 or $30, so yes, it was worth the money.
Also on Port 16:
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August 29th, 2007 at 10:37 pm
I’m a cheapskate myself, especially when it comes to games. Most of the time I barrow from a friend. He loaned me Outcast II and I played through it twice, all 24 levels. Yeah, it’s been out like forever but it was still fun. I need another good one to sink my teeth into (or maybe I don’t), but in any case, $50 is way outside my price range.
Good thought on the customer service aspect of giving folks realistic system requirements. That seems like a must to me.
August 30th, 2007 at 12:43 am
I usually need pretty minimal system requirements too, I think this is the first time in my life that I have had a really good machine.
I was thinking about loading Diablo II again, but then I decided I didn’t need to, I remember how much time it took.
Outcast II? That shows you how out of touch with games I have become, I haven’t heard of it!
August 30th, 2007 at 4:49 am
I want to say Outcast II is like 4 years old or something, maybe a little newer. It’s a Star Wars first person shooter. The graphics were okay, obviously not like todays games. But I enjoyed working through the levels.