Lets gather some toughts about possible reasons: Streamlining, graphical downgrading, performance balance in Rome 2

[alQamar]

Hello guys I made some thoughts about the cpu bottlenecking. These are only opinions based on my freaking mind (which does good things sometimes) and it does not essentially mean those toughts are correct.

I think the most of you can remember the video where CA praised the Intel HD graphics optimizations can you? I think there is a link somewhere in this forums.

My intentions to start thinking about it were:

- why have the most graphical features been "moved" to the processor off the graphics card, which we were already able to proove by load meters
- why Rome 2 lacks a some special of graphical features that would unlikely to be moved to the processor, like HDR lighting, tesselation
- why low and mid end computers are now better situated in case of performance with mid and low settings, as high end computers are with high and "higher" settings, running much less fast as in Shogun 2
- why have so many complex features been dropped and the game underlays a compacting and streamlining.


Here are some possible answers:

1. TW is moving to consoles or proprietary (non Windows) platforms
CA did not fail to make a proper design decision for the game by "unsupporting" high end computers. It is all about the aim.
If we take into account that the classical gaming computer is going to "die" and the Windows PC market as whole is shrinking (refer IDC etc), there are only two future markets for CA:

consoles or other proprietary platforms (upcoming Steam Box). In case of the graphical features this would make much sense as they do not support DX10/DX11 (afaik). They actually declined that but I do not think this topic is all closed and in case of financial reason (shrinking PC game market) this could be even a very last anchor for this franchise. Though I do not like this scenario.

or


2. The market share of high end computer users is neglible compared to other users
The high end computer owners are compareable to the other PCs very minor faction. The fact Rome 2 is optimized for low end and mid class computers and especially non gaming laptops may be a valid reason to make this game available and interesting to play for far more people. Imho this would be a fatal development in the long run.

or


3. CA is driving on a future lane, trim the game for integrated graphics
The game is optimized for the "future" of integrated graphic cards, named Intel HD, AMD APUs etc. Currently they are quite slow compared to high end discrete GPUs but their undergoing development proceeds very fast.

I am sure that it will not take a long time till these integrated solutions are comparable fast to a nowadays mid range GTX 660TI, or similar. Especially when we see the next years boosters for them in CPU architecture like, smaller iteration process (more space on the same die, lower wattage and heat, at higher performance), and not least DDR4 as system RAM which actually serves all iGPUs (intel HD, AMD AGPU) as memory. The much higher bandwiths possible would even boost the existing models if they would be compatible as we can expect a doubled bandwith, which is actually the slowest chain in comparison the dedicated GPUs.



As already said: the current Warscape engine we have to reuse for every TW since Empire is chewed out. But still there is no explaination why CA is cutting graphical and game features for no "visible" reason.

Make your own conclusions. If I should be right with one of these I will recall you cheers al Qamar

[Szlachta]

TW isn't coming to consoles and their dated hardware (yes even the "next gen" consoles) anytime soon (AKA ever).

[alQamar]

well I thought I would get more feedback but just concentrating on reason 1 Of course when I talk about consoles I do not consider outdated Xboxes and Playstations...

[Szlachta]

The One and 4 won't have them either. They already said that Rome II won't come to consoles and since the next gen consoles have old hardware, a new TW 3 years down the road will be even worse on them. The next gen consoles have mobile CPUs that are weaker than a 955 Black. Their GPUs are 7850 equivalents with no dedicated VRAM. Unless console players are down for a game with lowest unit size and the lowest graphics options (which they are not, not consciously at least). The reason I didn't respond to the other two options is because they very well may be true.

[Fanest]

another thing is that those who are stating that PC sales are dropping (and market) are not taking into account that in recent years hardware development of PC components isnt as steep as in previous ones, and therefore the need for new PCs is decreasing. Also recent game developers aren't making games which would require high end PCs. this could also be due to consoles which cant run on high specifications.

[Humble Warrior]

lol. It`s funny. I think most TW veteran players are in a state of posthumous thinking about RTW2 as if it`s already dead. I just made a similar thread myself.

Goes to show that much faith that was in CA is dying or dead.

[karamazovmm]

1. unless you are talking about steambox, which isnt a console. NO. there is no way no possible way and they have already denied that

2. yes, desktops are falling hard in sales each year, high end desktops? even harder, notebooks, less but its still falling continuously

3. to load more the cpu instead of the gpu, even an igpu, isnt a smart way in any way you cut it. I would bet its a matter of how much ram and vram the game is using