Half-Life 2 NVidia Unfriendly? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Quadraton · 07-26-2003, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Pick a card, either card
<I>Greg Shortall, Game Guru
Rogers Communications</I>

Valve, the developer of this year's most highly anticipated PC game, Half-Life 2, announced on the game's official site, that gamers with computers equipped with Nvidia graphics cards can expect some serious problems running the game when it's released later this year. Valve added that there will be "practically no workaround" for those running Nvidia GeForce and GeForce FX-series graphics cards on their PCs.

When the story broke there were many industry analysts who believed the news was nothing short of scandalous. Has Valve picked sides in the graphics chip war between ATI and Nvidia? Why would they do that? Well, it's possible Valve might want to throw their weight behind ATI because if their chips become the de facto standard, Valve could potentially lower their development costs, only having to test on one graphics chip. It is possible, but doubtful. One developer is unlikely to tip the balance in the graphics chip war, even if their game is the hottest title of the year. On the contrary, Valve is likely working overtime to get their game to run properly on Nvidia's chips — not everyone is going to be anxious to replace their graphic chip just to play Half-Life 2 (though many ardent gamers doubtlessly will). My guess is Valve or Nvidia will come up with a way to circumvent the problem before the game's release, or Nvidia will release a new chip compatible with Half-Life 2 after the game's release. The latter would provide little solace to gamers currently running Nvidia chips — they'll have to replace them anyways.

Funny, considering a few months back Nvidia was boasting that the game would run exclusively on their graphics card. Could this have ticked off someone at Valve? Maybe the scandal-mongers are on to something...

I got a pre-order down at the local EB the other day, and all I have to say is thank God I have an ATI Radeon. I feel for all of those that have to deal with NVidia chips. I really do hope that either Valve or NVidia come up with a solution before the release date, because this game promises to be one of the best FPS games since Metroid Prime (sorry Halo lovers, that's my humble opinion) :P

To me, this is nothing more than a big 'oops' that was thankfully caught early on. To suggest that Valve has 'picked sides', and is trying to mold the market is laughable at best. While NVidia did kind of stick its foot in its mouth by claiming that HL2 would be an NVidia exclusive, that just wouldn't be enough to convince me that Valve is doing this out of spite. NVidia still owns a fair share of the market, and no red-blooded corporate capitalist would dare think of shrugging off such a large and lucrative portion of the market simply because they wanted to 'settle a score'.

All in all, I don't think NVidia owners have anything to worry about yet. I'm thinking either Valve will fix the problem, or NVidia will come out with a new driver just in time for release, but at this stage, only time will tell.

Edit: Incidentally, <a href="http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/video/display/20030718155730.html" target="_blank">here's</a> a link to another article with a few more details.

charlesesl · 07-26-2003, 06:01 PM

finally, a game that favours ATI

Mr.Deflok · 07-26-2003, 06:23 PM

DooM3 seems to me to be angling towards nVidia cards now due to id software's fall-out with ATi late last year when ATi leaked the DooM3 Alpha onto the net.

Jakejake · 07-26-2003, 06:46 PM

Er...I don't think that is a very reliable report. For a start, I can't find the official HL2 site it says the news was given on. Anyone got a link? 2, they wouldn't be stupid enough to alienate half the market. 3, the other report you linked to then linked to a forum where a supposed quote from a Valve employee said that there were problems but only at this stage.

Quadraton · 07-26-2003, 06:56 PM

Sorry. I neglected to copy some of the links that were embedded within the story.

<a href="http://www.halflife2.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3074" target="_blank">Here</a> is the link that was being referred to as the "official site".

The other link I provided in the Edit portion of my first comment.

GakFace · 07-27-2003, 02:48 AM

better fix it.. I just got me a GFX 5900!!!!!!!!!!!!...

StiNg · 07-27-2003, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GakFace
better fix it.. I just got me a GFX 5900!!!!!!!!!!!!...

/me kisses ati radeon 9700 pro

Tickford · 07-27-2003, 05:42 AM

I cant see them doing that...... Nvidia has got to have the largest percentage of the vga market. Why would Valve turn their back on that....

seretogis · 07-27-2003, 07:20 AM

I'm willing to bet that this "report" is just as full as shit as the reports that Doom3 was not going to have any multiplayer capability. To alienate a market majority would be suicidal, and Valve is smarter than that.

Nefir · 07-27-2003, 07:46 AM

Nobody said that Half Life won't work on NVidia cards. Its just that FSAA won't work properly. I am sure the game looks gorgeous even without FSAA, so its not like NVidia users are not going to play and enjoy this game. I am really not too worried.

Seriously, is it so unbelieveable that its a genuine design flaw in NVidia cards? Doesn't sound too far-fetched to me.

/me kisses his ATI Radeon 9700 Pro

extalin · 07-27-2003, 07:48 AM

There will be a workaround.

http://www.halflife2.net/forums/show...&threadid=3071

edit: nevermind it was already posted above.

It was not a rumor, someone decided to email gabe newell when they noticed there is no FSAA in any of the videos released yet.

juanvaldes · 07-27-2003, 02:51 PM

NVidia has the source, you know they will be working their asses off with Valve to fix the problem.

Phaenx · 07-27-2003, 05:46 PM

nVidia is nVidia unfriendly. Fix the loop error, bitch faces.

GakFace · 07-27-2003, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by StiNg

/me kisses ati radeon 9700 pro

AUGH!!!! don't kiss that poison!!!!!

hehehe, j/k.. I'm just an NVidia fan.

Gortexfogg · 07-27-2003, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GakFace
better fix it.. I just got me a GFX 5900!!!!!!!!!!!!...

Same here. Plus all the parts that go around it... I sure do not want to have to spend any more money on graphics cards.

Krycheck · 07-27-2003, 09:11 PM

That's nonsense. At the most HL2 will be "optimised" for ATI cards. Like everyone else stated, Valve isn't stupid enough to alienate Nvidia users.

I'm still looking to buy a FX5800 soon.

The.Lunatic · 07-28-2003, 01:05 AM

will it run on my matrox parhelia? I got a lot of 256 ram on it it should be great right?

No but serioulsy now when does HL2 come out, cause right now i don't think anything can tear me away from wc3 the frozen throne

Soda_BoB · 07-28-2003, 03:50 AM

eeeep...but what about my GF4 Ti4800 *sniff*

Mr.Deflok · 07-28-2003, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Soda_BoB
eeeep...but what about my GF4 Ti4800 *sniff*

What about MY nVidia GeForce 4 ti4200 128MB! LOL, I'm looking to change soon though.

extalin · 07-28-2003, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The.Lunatic
will it run on my matrox parhelia? I got a lot of 256 ram on it it should be great right?

No but serioulsy now when does HL2 come out, cause right now i don't think anything can tear me away from wc3 the frozen throne

sept 30

07-26-2003, 06:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
charlesesl Psycho	finally, a game that favours ATI __________________ It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. Dr. Viktor E. Frankl

07-26-2003, 06:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
Quadraton Addict Location: Ottawa, ON, Canada	Sorry. I neglected to copy some of the links that were embedded within the story. <a href="http://www.halflife2.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3074" target="_blank">Here</a> is the link that was being referred to as the "official site". The other link I provided in the Edit portion of my first comment. __________________ "A witty saying proves nothing" - Voltaire

07-27-2003, 02:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
GakFace Go Ninja, Go Ninja Go!! Location: IN, USA	better fix it.. I just got me a GFX 5900!!!!!!!!!!!!... __________________ RoboBlaster: Welcome to the club! Not that I'm in the club. And there really isn'a a club in the first place. But if there was a club and if I was in it, I would definitely welcome you to it.

07-27-2003, 05:42 AM	#8 (permalink)
Tickford Insane Location: Australia	I cant see them doing that...... Nvidia has got to have the largest percentage of the vga market. Why would Valve turn their back on that.... __________________ Anyone who goes to a psychiatrist ought to have his head examined. Samuel Goldwyn

07-27-2003, 07:20 AM	#9 (permalink)
seretogis Huggles, sir? Location: Seattle	I'm willing to bet that this "report" is just as full as shit as the reports that Doom3 was not going to have any multiplayer capability. To alienate a market majority would be suicidal, and Valve is smarter than that. __________________ seretogis - sieg heil perfect little dream the kind that hurts the most, forgot how it feels well almost no one to blame always the same, open my eyes wake up in flames

07-26-2003, 06:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mr.Deflok Blood + Fire Location: New Zealand	DooM3 seems to me to be angling towards nVidia cards now due to id software's fall-out with ATi late last year when ATi leaked the DooM3 Alpha onto the net.

07-26-2003, 06:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jakejake Crazy	Er...I don't think that is a very reliable report. For a start, I can't find the official HL2 site it says the news was given on. Anyone got a link? 2, they wouldn't be stupid enough to alienate half the market. 3, the other report you linked to then linked to a forum where a supposed quote from a Valve employee said that there were problems but only at this stage.

07-27-2003, 07:46 AM	#10 (permalink)
Nefir Junkie Location: Louisville, KY	Nobody said that Half Life won't work on NVidia cards. Its just that FSAA won't work properly. I am sure the game looks gorgeous even without FSAA, so its not like NVidia users are not going to play and enjoy this game. I am really not too worried. Seriously, is it so unbelieveable that its a genuine design flaw in NVidia cards? Doesn't sound too far-fetched to me. /me kisses his ATI Radeon 9700 Pro __________________ You do not use a Macintosh, instead you use a Tandy Kompressor break your glowstick, Kompressor eat your candy Kompressor open jaws, Kompressor release ants Kompressor watch you scream, Because Kompressor does not dance

07-27-2003, 07:48 AM	#11 (permalink)
extalin Upright	There will be a workaround. http://www.halflife2.net/forums/show...&threadid=3071 edit: nevermind it was already posted above. It was not a rumor, someone decided to email gabe newell when they noticed there is no FSAA in any of the videos released yet. Last edited by extalin; 07-27-2003 at 07:59 AM..

07-27-2003, 02:51 PM	#12 (permalink)
juanvaldes Banned Location: shittown, CA	NVidia has the source, you know they will be working their asses off with Valve to fix the problem.

07-27-2003, 05:46 PM	#13 (permalink)
Phaenx The Northern Ward Location: Columbus, Ohio	nVidia is nVidia unfriendly. Fix the loop error, bitch faces. __________________ "I went shopping last night at like 1am. The place was empty and this old woman just making polite conversation said to me, 'where is everyone??' I replied, 'In bed, same place you and I should be!' Took me ten minutes to figure out why she gave me a dirty look." --Some guy

07-27-2003, 09:11 PM	#16 (permalink)
Krycheck Sultana ruined my evil persona Location: Los Angeles	That's nonsense. At the most HL2 will be "optimised" for ATI cards. Like everyone else stated, Valve isn't stupid enough to alienate Nvidia users. I'm still looking to buy a FX5800 soon. __________________ His pants are tight...but his morals are loose!!

07-28-2003, 01:05 AM	#17 (permalink)
The.Lunatic Psycho Location: Somewhere just beyond the realm of sanity...	will it run on my matrox parhelia? I got a lot of 256 ram on it it should be great right? No but serioulsy now when does HL2 come out, cause right now i don't think anything can tear me away from wc3 the frozen throne

07-28-2003, 03:50 AM	#18 (permalink)
Soda_BoB Psycho	eeeep...but what about my GF4 Ti4800 sniff __________________ Just because you paranoid.don't mean they're not after you...- Kurt Cobain-Chopper Read Project Dolphin: Join the TFP Typing Team!