South Park game for PC

Hello all,

I want to get the SP game for PC when it comes out, but I've been reading so for on this ng that I need a certain type of video card or something? How do I check if my computer has that? What's it called?

-Toni

Toni wrote:

Hi Toni.

First, the basics.

3D based games for Windows '98/95 typically run in three modes. 1: Direct3D, #2: Glide, or #3: software rendered.

Direct3D is the 3D rendering protocol used by Windows '98 to realize graphics on your system. You need a graphics card with 3D rendering capabilities for this to work.

Glide is the 3D rendering protocol used by the 3DFX company. To use this, you need a graphics card with a 3DFX chip for this to work.

Software Rendered means that you don't need a fancy 3D graphics card for this to work.

A 3D card is a graphics card that is specifically designed to handle 3D rendering for games like Quake 2 and South Park. Games like StarCraft and Worms 2 are 2D based games that only require a Direct X ver. 5.0 compatible graphics card (most cards on the market will do).

Most computers today are automatically installed with 3D cards of some sort. My computer's a year and a half hold and it has a 4MB ATI 3D-Rage card. It is rather slow and I'm thinking of upgrading (while the 3D stuff is rendered well, the frame rates are really slow).

For the last little while, the biggest thing in the 3D card was a product put out by the 3Dfx company known as Voodoo. Several companies (Diamond, Creative Labs, Hercules, Canopus) were contracted by the 3Dfx company to put out 3D cards including the Voodoo graphics chipset.

As a result, the only compatibility for games was for Voodoo based cards (utilizing a driver program known as Glide). But, because more 3D cards are gaining popularity (mostly because they offer comparable 3D performance to the Voodoo based cards with a lower price), games don't just support Voodoo cards.

Depending on how old your computer is, you may have some problems running South Park for PC (I know I will, hence I'm considering the upgrade). To check if you do have a 3D card, you can consult your the person who put together your system, or if you're a bit more technically minded, crack open your system and look at the card that your monitor is hooked up to.

You could also check your display drivers under Win '98/95...

But somehow, I get the impression you don't have one. In most cases, you can get by without a 3D accelerator card, but it will run extremely slowly or the graphics will look like crap (ie: nowhere near like they do on the box top). I played Need for Speed 3 on my system during a network gaming session. I first tried it out in the Direct3D mode, then Software rendered mode. Direct3D had nice graphics, but lousy frame rate (translation: jerky movement). Software rendered had lousy graphics but a better frame rate.

Graphics cards go by a zillion different names and checking your driver set won't necessarily tell you much. What you could do is borrow a game that is 3D based (for example: Quake 2, Carmageddon 2, Tomb Raider 2 or 3, Forsaken, Shogo, Total Annihilation) and try to play it under the Direct3D or Glide modes. If those modes fail, you don't have a 3D card. Or, you have a really, really slow one.

If you're in the market for a 3D card, the cheapest ones right now are the Diamond Monster 3D cards, which incorporate the Voodoo chipset from 3DFX (it costs $60 here in Canada, not including the mail-in-rebate). If you have a Pentium II system, you can take advantage of higher frame rates with a Diamond Monster 2 (uses the Voodoo2 chipset and costs a bit more).

Forgive me if this sounds too technical, (and forgive me if that last comment sounded condescending)

Peace, Vince Yim

Well said (saved me from typing it all) the only corrections I need to make is that Total Annihilation does NOT use a 3D card, Cavedog's web site states this somewhere. You also do not neccecerily need a Voodoo chipset to run glide games (other companys have glide drivers/wrappers for their cards). PC Gamer stated a frame rate of 70fps from a P233 (not P2) and a Voodoo1 so a dedicated 3D card may not be needed as anything above a constant 30fps is just icing on the cake.

Later

Mark R.

One correction in this: You DO need a 3dfx card to run glide games. You may be thinking about OpenGL games (which is totally different than glide). Some cards have OpenGL wrappers for their drivers (Matrox G200) if they don't have a proper GL driver.

Glide is a 3dfx ONLY programing language. If another company tried to make a glide wrapper for their cards they would get sued by 3dfx. Glide is owned by 3dfx.

-JLenn

Sabbath wrote in message ...

In article , "JLenn" wrote:

Damn y'all. Do you have to keep including the entire original post? I mean, I know it was informative, but reposting it again and again is only taking up bandwidth. Sorry if I sound like I'm PO'ed, I'm not. It's just that it is a waste of bandwidth to keep reposting it.

On Wed, 20 Jan 1999 16:23:21 -0600, "JLenn" wrote:

i'd just like to say that just about any game that will be coming out in the future will support d3d rendering, and opengl. that's about it though.

glide's glory days are over!!!
now all i have to do is save up for a decent 3d card.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"i love you guys... ah screw you guys!" (Cartman)
the ultimate quote: "                 " (Silent Bob)

Sabbath wrote:

I'm pretty sure they were talking about Myth: the Fallen Lords as it doesn't really work without a 3d card. Also before you (Toni) look into buying a 3d card you need to know your processor speed and what type of ports you have on your mother board (it suck when you buy something that you don't have a place for).

Craig Winckler writes this bit...which should follow...unless I [spipped it] or write directly under this......the following has been wittered by......

er...dumbass...have you played myth on a 266 without 3d accelerator....it rocks......sure not as much....but still!!!1

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" the lord awaits " " awaits what? " " his daily RUB DOWN "-me in all my wickedness!! " Kick My *BUCKET* " " Very shagadelic...it's not mine, baby, honest. ....someones playin' a prank on me[!] " __________________________________________________

goddamn that's one helluva long reply...

Toni writes this bit...which should follow...unless I [spipped it] or write directly under this......the following has been wittered by......

continuing what hiro said...if you're only gonna get the one game (which Is what it sounds like)...get a voodoo (1) chipset...they're �40(dunno how that'll translate to dollars) they're the same quality as voodoo (2)[no arugment please] except the voodoo two framerate (update of the screen) is 3 times better (but double the price)......hope to have helped....( i know my stuff.....sept hiro got to the post first<growls>)

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[email]

" the lord awaits " " awaits what? " " his daily RUB DOWN "-me in all my wickedness!! " Kick My *BUCKET* " " Very shagadelic...it's not mine, baby, honest. ....someones playin' a prank on me[!] " __________________________________________________

thallium_fishpie wrote:

Sorry, argument time. You're right...ish. Since the Voodoo2 is quicker, and even quicker still with 2 in SLI mode, you can now play a game in 1024x768 with a smooth frame rate, that you could only play at 640x480 with a voodoo1, so you do get smoother edges with a Voodoo2 running in hi-res, but that is nitpicking. I agree that there is no difference in the displayed image between 1 & 2. Also, on my Voodoo1 (stingray 128), the standard 2D desktop was a bit blurred, whereas on my Voodoo2 (Creative), it's razor sharp, so I think there's been an improvement there too.

didn't the stingray use the voodoo rush chipset? if so then technically it's not the same as a voodoo1 board. the difference in the blurring might have something to do with the pass through cable.

screw voodoo2!! i'm holding out for a pvrsg, or if i can't wait any longer, i'm getting a tnt card.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"i love you guys... ah screw you guys!" (Cartman)
the ultimate quote: "                 " (Silent Bob)

Mr Psycho writes this bit...which should follow...unless I [spipped it] or write directly under this......the following has been wittered by......

we got a banshee

____________________________
[email]

" the lord awaits " " awaits what? " " his daily RUB DOWN "-me in all my wickedness!! " Kick My *BUCKET* " " Very shagadelic...it's not mine, baby, honest. ....someones playin' a prank on me[!] " __________________________________________________

But, is voodoo 2 worth buying for those guys who seldom play 3D games? if playing SP game is just for fun, and u are not a 3D games lover, my suggestion is buying a voodoo 1 rather than voodoo 2 unless u have excess money. for voodoo 1, it costs $50 only while voodoo 2 costs $130. in most cases, voodoo 1 can make u satisfied.

and

1024x768

but

first<growls>)

On Wed, 20 Jan 1999 14:34:35 +0000, thallium_fishpie wrote:

i still say you won't need a 3d accelerator. i'm sure that the turok2 engine supports a SOFTWARE render mode. out of interest was turok on the pc, 3d card only?

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"i love you guys... ah screw you guys!" (Cartman)
the ultimate quote: "                 " (Silent Bob)

According to Zubanski, it was Tue, 19 Jan 1999 19:36:12 -0800 when Toni approached him in the old spaghetti factory. Zubanski then makes the dubious claim of being handed a letter containing the following text:

Assuming you have Win95 or Win98 (I'm pretty sure the same procedure follows for both of them):

-Right-click on "My Computer" -Go to "Properties" -The Computer panel should open up. At the top should be a series of tabs; click on the one that says "Device Manager." -Near the top of this panel, there should be two bubbles. Make sure the button with the phrase "View devices by type" is filled in. -Starting from the top, the third item on your list should say "Display Adapter." The position may be different, but look for something that says "Display Adapter." -Click on the plus sign next to "Display Adapters" and then see what it says. Post the name of the display adapter you have, and it'll be easy to see if that particular video card will run South Park PC.

Thierry Nguyen wrote:

Thanks for the info! :)

-Toni

On a semi-related note. Anyone know if a Mac port is planned?

According to Zubanski, it was Thu, 21 Jan 1999 02:53:47 GMT when "Ted D. Biggs" approached him in the old spaghetti factory. Zubanski then makes the dubious claim of being handed a letter containing the following text:

I wouldn't hold my breath. Acclaim has never ported to a Mac themselves, so it'd have to be some external porting firm. If you have a hotrod machine, you might try emulation. O_O