Sciece fiction has a way of becomeing scientific fact. Like how I could of only dreamed of a machine as fast and advanced as the one I'm using now when x2 brought my computer to it's knees and I killed it overclocking my Pentium processor so I could play the game at 5 FPS.
And I was very happy to play at 15 FPS. I wasn't able to fight anyone. But I quickly moved into capital ships through tradeing and built a series of factories. I destroyed my compition useing the AI to do my fighting and by giveing rocks a little push into stations.
I enjoyed the cutscenes because the cutscenes were the only thing that would play at a decent framerate. I got past the mines that guard this remnant I was supposed to scan. Eventually my computer died and started smoking but the experiance of playing this advanced game on my inferior machine was worth it. Because at the time I though my machine was fast. And haveing any game bring my computer to it's knees gives me hope that one day I'll be able to play that same game at 80-120 FPS.With my current machine Deep Though, a referance to the computer from The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galexcy, I hope to be impressed by the graphics at max settings. Deep Thought consists of a Asus Sapertooth Mobo, watercooled 2600K at 4.4 ghz, and gtx 275/265 in sli, 16 gigabytes DDR3 G-skill 1.5 volt ripjaws ram, 1200 watt inwin commando powersupply, and in a HAF 932 case I have been able to run all my games maxed out at about 30 FPS which is very playable.
And I hope the AI will not slam me into a large rock. My last computer was a duo core rig and the computer was named AutoPilok after the horrid auto pilot in the previos games.
With chipsets like P67 being so affordable there is no limit to what can be put into a computer game anymore. Processor speeds don't seem to go up as fast as they used to and there has not been a new direct x release talked about in over a year. So unless the PC market runs with it's one sole advantage over the console the market will become a stagnent pond of old equipment. Games that push the envelope and bring enthusiest machines to their knees also drive the need for hardware manufacturers to innovate more advanced chips. But if there is no demand generated by benchmarking games like Crysis and such as that then there will be no Direct X 12 and we will not get to see what full 3d games without the need to wear dorky glasses looks like.
So I'm very excited about the pretty picture X reunion will put on my screen. Even if it runs at 5 FPS it will be worth every penny to me as a Enthusiest machine builder.
