Best game to display a new computers graphics?

[NoTiG]

Hey im building a new computer top of the line specs... 2GB ram, SLI, Dual core amd etc.... I was wondering what game would be the best (visually speaking) to demonstrate its graphical prowess. Any suggestsions ? Playability is also a factor iguess too :P .

Ps. this is in regards to windows. i still game on there.

[henriquemaia]

Maybe it's better to have this posted on the Gaming Central (http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=93) forum.

[arsenic23]

I may be a little out of date.... I'm not very hip on the gaming. But I'd say more then likely Oblivion, Fear, or Black and White II. In that order.

Ok I'm almost certainly out of date... there must be something newer. Aw, I don't care untill the new Unreal comes out.

[Cherry Popper]

The Elder Scrolls 4 - Oblivion.

OK, I'm complete graphics ***** and thus far Oblivion is the prettiest (and largest single player) game I've ever played. Distant texture aren't so hot - some say this due to a certain console not being able to handle hi-res distant textures - but there plenty of texture replace mods available to make the game prettier.

IMHO, it's gonna be a while before it's possible to enable everything and set all graphic options to the highest possible while still getting playable FPS. I'm playing on a 4800+/2GB/X1900XTX and FPS will occasionally dip to single digits.

A few non-spoiler pics to convince you. :p

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/61/1oi1.th.jpg (http://img134.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1oi1.jpg) http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/8353/2nu7.th.jpg (http://img152.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2nu7.jpg) http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/3126/3om7.th.jpg (http://img237.imageshack.us/my.php?image=3om7.jpg) http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/2161/4js9.th.jpg (http://img237.imageshack.us/my.php?image=4js9.jpg)

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/5043/5zx3.th.jpg (http://img175.imageshack.us/my.php?image=5zx3.jpg) http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/961/6ej3.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=6ej3.jpg) http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/5013/7kj4.th.jpg (http://img98.imageshack.us/my.php?image=7kj4.jpg)

[NoTiG]

hey thanks cherry. i will look into that. Are you using SLI ? and were you using max settings in those screens ? Is oblivion fun ? and did you install any texture add ons ?

[cord]

ATI (which is the manufacturer of his video card) has an SLI type technology called Crossfire but I am sure if he had 2 of those cards he would have said so :D

Oblivion with max settings, the graphics packs and HDR is probably the most beautiful game I have ever seen.

[Cherry Popper]

hey thanks cherry. i will look into that. Are you using SLI ? and were you using max settings in those screens ? Is oblivion fun ? and did you install any texture add ons ?

SLI? - Nah, ATI's version is Crossfire. I got my card early this year and back then they were going for about USD-600 a pop. I couldn't afford to pay 1200 just for graphics so I figured I'd get one now and a second one later but I never did, I'll just wait till Vista and those DX10 cards come out.

Max settings? - Nah, those screenshots were taken without AA, Shadows and Grass. Object (rocks,etc) are at medium distance. Too slow to play with all those goodies on.

Texture add ons? - Yep. character and distant textures replacer mods. Apart from map borders you can go anyway you want. None of the invisible wall crap here.

Fun? - C'mon, I can't answer that. ;) Different strokes for different folks ya know? Check out the reviews.

Give me a few minutes, I go get a few OMG MAX SETTINGS screenshots for you.:p

[NoTiG]

ATI (which is the manufacturer of his video card) has an SLI type technology called Crossfire but I am sure if he had 2 of those cards he would have said so :D

Oblivion with max settings, the graphics packs and HDR is probably the most beautiful game I have ever seen.

What is HDR?

and btw in anyones opinion... is it better to get 1 X 250$ video card.... or like 2 in SLI/crossfire mode at around 125(ish) for performance........ Also im leaning towards nvidia because they are linux friendly (not that i plan on playing games in linux) but just to financially vote for them because of better drivers.

edit: hdr = high definition resolution (max settings?) ? :P

[Cherry Popper]

OK. Some pics showing the stuff I had disabled earlier. Now showing framerate counter.

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/4941/1lz3.th.jpg (http://img86.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1lz3.jpg) http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/9168/2oq7.th.jpg (http://img152.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2oq7.jpg) http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/5769/3jo6.th.jpg (http://img179.imageshack.us/my.php?image=3jo6.jpg)

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/6945/4ym3.th.jpg (http://img152.imageshack.us/my.php?image=4ym3.jpg) http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/6623/5cr1.th.jpg (http://img178.imageshack.us/my.php?image=5cr1.jpg) http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/9831/6pb9.th.jpg (http://img178.imageshack.us/my.php?image=6pb9.jpg) http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/1048/7yx8.th.jpg (http://img178.imageshack.us/my.php?image=7yx8.jpg)

I tried to get some pics while fighting, but I couldn't do it. Too slow, I kept dying and it made me look lame. Also, some stuff doesn't translate well into pics, transition from day-night, weather effects, tree leaves and grass swaying, water ripples, etc. Stuff like that.

[NoTiG]

Wow... nice. but you only get 13fps with settings maxed with the top of the line radeon card ? :o

[ubuntu_demon]

I think Enemy Territory Quake Wars will be a very cool game with great looks. It's very likely that you will be possible to play it native on Ubuntu.

[Carrots171]

I think the best game to show off graphics right now is F.E.A.R. Oblivion may be more graphically demanding but in my opinion F.E.A.R. looks better. Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, too. (Once it comes out).


EDIT: If you aren't convinced, look here (http://media.pc.ign.com/media/681/681912/img_3093740.html) and here (http://media.pc.gamespy.com/media/748/748377/img_3409421.html). (Warning, links to high-resolution images).


What is HDR?

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. It's a lighting effect that's similar to Bloom. You can find more about it here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_dynamic_range_rendering).

[NoTiG]

omg :o

i dont see a release date for quake wars though ><

[drucer]

Wow, it's BEAUTIFUL! The forest looks very real and the snow coming down the sky looks beautiful too! It's been 15 years since I've played role playing games (we used to play real RPGs like Cthulhu and Advanced Dungeons&Dragons 2nd edition) - now I feel like I could get sucked into this! Hope it sounds as good as it looks and hopefully it has a good story in it.

http://chorrol.com/files/324/elder_scrolls_oblivion_trailer_screenshot_0014.jpg

http://www.waiting4oblivion.com/images/trailer/elder_scrolls_oblivion_trailer_screenshot_0003.jpg

http://www.ixbt.com/games/images/oblivion_pre/oblivion_pre2.jpg

http://www.oblivionfocus.com/oblivion-screenshots/elder-scrolls-4-minotaur-1024x768.jpg

http://www.paparra.net/imatges/posts/oblivion2.jpg

http://guides.gamepressure.com/theelderscrolls4oblivion/gfx/gallery/large/Screenshots/Oblivion%202006-03-23%2013-26-45-46.jpg

[NoTiG]

wow enemy territory looks badass. After reading about the technology used to make it , it seems real interesting too. Looking forward to it.

[Carrots171]

omg :o

i dont see a release date for quake wars though ><

It's going to be released in 2006. Since there are less than 3 months left in 2006, it's probably going to be out soon.