General Discussion

I keep hearing all the hype regarding AoC.  To all intents and purposes it sounds like a really great game.  I personallly would like to see a MMORPG that does not base everything on the combat, which nearly every MMO does.  However, AoC with their innovative combat, would at least mean that I would not grow bored of it so quickly.  I love the idea of actually having to have some skill to fight, rather than just press a button.  It's one of the things I detest, combat in MMO's = pressing a button or two.  Repeat.  Over, and over, and over, and over...  You know what I mean.

However, no matter how good AoC turns out to be, the reason I think it will do little to dent WoW's numbers is simply down to specs.  My pc currently runs WoW like a dream, even in the most crowded of areas.  Very rare that I get lag.  That is not saying much though, as the famous quote goes, 'WoW will run on a toaster'.  Now, I can get EQ2 to work, but I have to sacrifice a lot of the beauty of this gorgeous-looking game in doing so, and even then I get issues, and often crash.  Vanguard; I am not sure if it was a problem with the beta-launch, but after I spent about 12 hours downloading the client, I got nothing, a black screen.  So I doubt that works on my machine.  Even Oblivion does not look that good on my pc.

So I am doubting that AoC will run on my current specs.  Granted I am thinking of upgrading my cpu, which is the only stumbling block on my machine, well that and a newer graphics card.  But I am also thinking of using that many to buy a next-gen console, as I see the glorious graphics on offer on some of those systems and I want them!

Simply put; will AoC require high-end pc's to run it properly?  Even mid-to-high?  If so, then I doubt it will get the numbers to touch WoW, at least not for a couple of years.

I don't really have much to add, but for a reference point for average computer specs, I recommend taking a look at the Steam hardware survey results. Seems to be the best data point out there for what the average gaming computer looks like.

http://www.steampowered.com/status/survey.html

Try this site

http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/referrer/srtest

Hope it helps

No one said AoC will dethrone WoW... that's just dumb....

I'm running the game fine on Medium settings with an average computer.  The game is enjoyable even if you can't have the highest graphics.  Which is fine.  Graphics aren't the reason I play games, art style is and gameplay.

Sure it won't do much damage to WoW.  But that's fine.  The pop culture doesn't always like the best.  Music wise, tv wise, movie wise, beer taste, food.

Welcome to pc gaming’s greatest asset and biggest problem – variety of hardware specs.

My recommendation to any pc gamer (seriously) is to build your own computer.  Build a very good rig for 1k – 1.5k.  And be able to upgrade it for about $300 every other year.  Keeping yourself up to date in the most cost effective way.  Much better than getting a 10k system that can be outdone by a 2k system in 2 years.

And if you really don’t want to do it your self, find a small computer shop in your area that will do custom builds.  They will give you a warranty and are usually very very customer service friendly.

Honestly people, if you are going to be a pc gamer get yourself in an upgradeable habit.  It’s not that hard or pricy (less pricy in the long run) and you won’t have any of these issues.

Originally posted by GreenChaos

Welcome to pc gaming’s greatest asset and biggest problem – variety of hardware specs.

My recommendation to any pc gamer (seriously) is to build your own computer.  Build a very good rig for 1k – 1.5k.  And be able to upgrade it for about $300 every other year.  Keeping yourself up to date in the most cost effective way.  Much better than getting a 10k system that can be outdone by a 2k system in 2 years.

And if you really don’t want to do it your self, find a small computer shop in your area that will do custom builds.  They will give you a warranty and are usually very very customer service friendly.

Honestly people, if you are going to be a pc gamer get yourself in an upgradeable habit.  It’s not that hard or pricy (less pricy in the long run) and you won’t have any of these issue.

Good suggestions. I got a small shop to do it for me since I know jack all about comps. Worked out very well.

Who said aoc would dethrone wow ????  please i want to see who ever said this not funcom that for sure,

the way wow was made and set-up, it pleases all and every kind of player hell even my little brother has a lv70 .see my point , set aside most  wow players dont know much about the other mmo's, the ones i have met you ask them what other mmo you have played and 80% of the time they will answer you this is my first.so this isnt about dethroning any other game aoc will have enough subs to be healthy trust me , and even you dont have a good computer well in a years you can play on console xbox360 , how much will a xbox be at that time 200$ ~~ about .

Am sure aoc will be able to play on alot of med , high computers at long as you dont have a toaster like you said . I have a buddy that plays wow on a really really old computer all setting to a min , but he cant raid but has fun leveling characters to 70 solo . beats me what fun in that , that just an exemple.

by the way AOC has a great storyline but alot of players dont read quests anyways , they just click through the quest quickly but you see aoc has it voice narrated even easier to get into the lore.

last thing you say you hate mmo's combat that ask to press buttons over and over , what else do you want beside that it's a computer game ?? i dont understand when people say this of course you ganna mash buttons , depends really how you are doing and when . in aoc you will have to have timing . i have played alot of mmo''s tell me which does not involve button mashing ? even eveonline need it .

I am currently writing my review of my experience with AoC. IN the end, I wager the specs needed to run the game smoothly could be AoC's fatal flaw.