Netbookist: Netbook Games, Tweaks, Challenges » the sims http://netbookist.com Netbook Games, Tweaks, Challenges Thu, 09 Jan 2014 15:15:54 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.8.1 The Sims 3 on a netbook http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/07/22/the-sims-3-on-a-netbook/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-sims-3-on-a-netbook http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/07/22/the-sims-3-on-a-netbook/#comments Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:34:34 +0000 http://netbookist.com/?p=772 After writing on The Sims, I felt that it was important to test out the latest iteration too – The Sims 3. The game was designed for 2009 computers, and as a result was extremely challenging to get it to run on a netbook… after all, a netbook is [...]]]>

Hmm... will it run?

After writing on The Sims, I felt that it was important to test out the latest iteration too – The Sims 3. The game was designed for 2009 computers, and as a result was extremely challenging to get it to run on a netbook… after all, a netbook is a like a mid-range PC of 2002. However, there is a modicum of chance, since the minimum specs are…

  • 2.6 GHz Pentium D CPU, or 1.8 GHz Core 2 Duo, or equivalent
  • 1.5 GB additional RAM
  • Intel Integrated Chipset, GMA 3-Series or above
  • The latest version of DirectX 9.0c
  • At least 6.1 GB of hard drive space with at least 1 GB of additional space for custom content and saved games

Ouch? With the stock HP Mini 110-3500 that I’m on, it seems to fall a bit short of the requirements – 1.50Ghz dual-core Atom, 1Gb RAM. This doesn’t bode well. Although Youtube suggests that people have been able to get the game to run well on a single-core N450.

Tweaks

In order to get The Sims 3 to run, you will need to enable custom resolutions that allow you to get resolutions higher than 1024×600. Follow this guide to do so, assuming you are using an Intel GMA chip, then set your resolution to 1024×768. With that, you can start up The Sims 3 and configure it to run in windowed mode at a lower resolution.

Some say that you need 2Gb of RAM to play it well. It might be true because I’m on 1Gb and it is just unplayable. 5fps, 1.5 seconds of wait time for a click to respond, and then the most unsightly worlds you’ve ever seen with all the settings at its lowest, and resolution at 640×480. Not good at all.

However, that was during the first run of the game. After I exited and tried again, with the help of Gamebooster, I seemed to be able to get the game to run moderately. While FPS ranged from 8 – 12 fps, it was still quite playable, since this game doesn’t require quick wits. However, it’s still gonna be hard on your eyes as the texture detail really suffers at the lowest settings.

In the end, this game is somewhat playable, though you’d have to prepare for some slowdowns, long load times and ugly graphics. It gets worse as you have more and more objects or head into the city with a lot of other Sims around, but hey, you’re playing a 2009 game!

Like

The best iteration of The Sims – thorough, involving and varied

Extremely addictive

Dislike

Struggling graphics – low-res, low texture detail, low FPS

Painfully long load times

Verdict

If you found The Sims too basic, and The Sims 2 a bit too halfway, then you could try your luck with The Sims 3. It is playable, though barely, given that the graphics is just not up to par, and what’s worse is the load times, and frame rates. Much of what irks me has to do with the performance related to the netbook rather than the gameplay.

Gameplay: Great!

Graphics: Barely (5 – 15fps)

Work needed to get game to play: Moderate (15 minute)

]]> http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/07/22/the-sims-3-on-a-netbook/feed/ 8 The Sims on a netbook http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/07/22/the-sims-on-a-netbook/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-sims-on-a-netbook http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/07/22/the-sims-on-a-netbook/#comments Fri, 22 Jul 2011 08:48:18 +0000 http://netbookist.com/?p=743 READ: Review for The Sims 3

After three iterations of The Sims, which gets increasingly interesting and varied, revisiting the original game that started it all is a bit of a difficult task to take up. Unfortunately, if you have played through The Sims 2 and 3, you’ll [...]]]>

True Story

READ: Review for The Sims 3

After three iterations of The Sims, which gets increasingly interesting and varied, revisiting the original game that started it all is a bit of a difficult task to take up. Unfortunately, if you have played through The Sims 2 and 3, you’ll find the original version to be not as fun, not as varied and not as interesting.

Yes, there’s still the censored showers, censored defecating and WooHoos, but the effects are less pronounced, the stages in life is less pronounced, you can go by your whole Sim life uneducated because there’s no university. There are no shops either. You can’t set up your own business either. You might as well forget this game, in other words.

Unless you want a simple game that plays well on a netbook… or if you haven’t played the Sims 2 and 3, which you’ll have no idea whatsoever of what I’m talking about above.

Credit is due to the deserving and it is The Sims that got many ladies into gaming, as it was a game that piqued the interest of many men. The game is basically a sandbox game where you’ll have to construct your own house, get into a relationship and do your biological duty of producing a child. The cycle repeats. At the same time, you’ll have to go out looking for dough by doing jobs in the security line or living the life of crime, and in order to climb up the ladder of success and start raking in the Simoleons, you’ll need to upgrade your skills by working on the various machines.

Of course, you could just be an irresponsible person who sets the kitchen on fire and kills your spouse. Or you can drown her. And your baby. Single life never has been so easy to re-achieve.

Though the expansions have given it a lot of life, the original Sims cannot do what its newer siblings can, and therefore, you’ll need to be steadfast that you can forgive these lackings when you decide to install the game.

Performance

The game runs excellently on a netbook, with no graphical issues. FPS is high and the game is smooth and responsive, as you would expect from a game from Y2K. Unfortunately, you’ll have to play it at a resolution of 800×600, which will mean you’ll see letterboxing on the two edges of the screen.

Like

Still the original game that started it all

The little Sims world with the Goths, Newbies and other noobs.

Still fun…

Interesting god-game concept

Dislike

Still fun, just don’t dread that it’s lacks what you’re used to in The Sims 2 and 3.

Y2K graphics… nothing like The Sims 3

Inevitably, you’ll compare it to The Sims 2, or worse, The Sims 3.

Verdict

While The Sims still possess everything that you like from the series, it lacks everything that comes with The Sims 2 and The Sims 3. The severe limitations might inspire you to try The Sims 2, or play with fire by installing The Sims 3 on your netbook. Let me know how it goes, if you do.

Gameplay: I’m ambivalent

Graphics: Excellent (25 fps)

Work needed to get game to play: Minimal

 

Screenshots: Wikipedia
]]> http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/07/22/the-sims-on-a-netbook/feed/ 0