ETW, a New Beginning: for me at least!

[verity_blues]

When I bought the game I stood in best buy looking at it, considering if it was worth attempting without a new PC. But, my love for total war overtook me and I bought it! Well, weeks went buy with CTD's and all the other crap that came in the game box. Then, last week, my old HP PC finally went on to PC heaven. At about four in the morning I helped it get there with a few swift kicks to the chasis! Not to mention many choice words as well... So sunday morning I woke up and went to my buddies house to use his computer to browse the computers I have been desiring to purchase for some time now. First, of course, Alienware. I have been noticing the model that they have advertised for $999. So, I clicked it, eager to FINALLY buy a PC specificly designed for gaming! Such a dream. But, low and behold the $999 model is actually $1600!!!! Talk about pissed off. So I went to HP.com. HP has finally realized that designing a rig strickly for gaming is A GOOD INVESTMENT, hence, the HP FIREBIRD. I have looked into the Firebird many, many times, it has always been listed for around $1600. But, Sunday they were offering this bird-O'-Prey with a sweet $350 instant rebate! Ka-ching! Two minutes later, FIREBIRD in the cart... I threw in a 22in widescreen 1080p monitor as well, for kicks. Today I come home for work and there she is... begging me to open the box. I have wanted to buy a gaming PC for so, so, long but could not afford it. But, then the recession hit, not me though, and suddenly the PC sellers are dropping their prices, and so I'm in. I'm in!

So, ETW is now installed on my new sweet looking machine, but how does she play?.... Freaking awesome! When I auto detected my graphics setting, everything on "high." The graphics are so much sweeter like this. I can't believe it! The first time I saw the reflections of my ships on the campaign map waters I didn't know what I was looking at!!!! The water was ok during sea battles before, now, simply AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!

Final thought. ETW is a great strategic game for mediocre graphics PC's, but it is an AMAZINGLY great graphics game with a powerful gaming-in-mind-designed PC.

Also, I have had zero crashes with this PC so far.

Long live the FIREBIRD!!!!

[ManKinD]

Good to hear! Could you share with us the system specs of your first PC and new PC?

Cheers ManKinD

[Gezoes]

I have days without crashes. So will you

CTRL-S often... it'll crash eventually. There is no-one without a crash or glitch.

[sabana]

Once you get past that frickin awesome feel things start to change. You start to notice all those imperfections thousands of gamers talk about on this forum. Its like an initial adrenalin rush then a waht next feeling.

[The Librarian]

You start to notice all those imperfections thousands of gamers talk about on this forum.

Hundreds ok, but thousands? And how many people bought the game you think? A million? So X00/100 000 000 = ... ? You get the point .

[Dogbert]

I also felt invincible for like 3 weeks. No CTD at all. Noooothing. Then finally..the end turn CTD..ruined me 100%.

Enjoy it while you can..sooner or later..it will all come crashing down..

[Draksen]

I also felt invincible for like 3 weeks. No CTD at all. Noooothing. Then finally..the end turn CTD..ruined me 100%.

Enjoy it while you can..sooner or later..it will all come crashing down..

Same story here.

[cracks2]

It's not guaranteed to crash, there lots of people that are not experiencing problems with CTD's etc..

Personally I built my dream machine for this game and I have experienced:

a couple of CTD's (what's normal for any PC game IMHO)
After turn 100 a couple of "insufficient memory errors" (used the workaround by madborris, solved)
Random sound errors ( usually in fort battles or larger battles, usually comes back after a couple of mins)

And that's it, all minor problems. My only Issue is the Game play patch for naval invasions amongst other things.

[Anbar]

It's not guaranteed to crash, there lots of people that are not experiencing problems with CTD's etc..

a couple of CTD's (what's normal for any PC game IMHO)

[Rooie]

I agree its an awesome graphics game!!! The game is playing on high settings on my 4 year old computer....upgraded 1 to 2 Gb RAM and videocart 256 to 512 Mb and i have no crashes at all and the graphics still take my breath away even after one month of playing!!!! Ans all the bugs and minor or major faults in the game will be fixed by CA cuz its "only" their reputation and the reputation of the TW series on the line here.

And seabattles and the landscapes are just MINDBLOWING!!!

[Plank of Wood]

*optimists grabs new player*

HE'S OURS NOW! Nothing you say can make him dis-satisfied!

[Evil_Dane]

Alienware sux only cool design on the case... Well they dont suck, but they aint the best and with HP, its not an ultimate gaming PC neither... Aslong you can play your favourite games im happy on your ways...

[Pink Beard]

Cool. Somebody who doesn't get a CTD during a CTD...

[A_Dying_Wren]

I think you overexaggerate your firebird's capabilities and indeed value but up to you. It is a sweet looking rig and congrats on it.

Not everyone gets CTDs... I haven't had one and I'm using a laptop... not exactly mainstream hardware.

[stabiz]

I have done two full campaigns now without a single CTD.

[MehemtAli_Pasha]

i got to say..Empire on ultra settings, and of course with noooo CTD, is sweeeet! of course the AI one way or another will be fixed with a patch or even with an expansion. OP lucky bastard