How would The Sims2 look & perform? & Is C++ difficult?

[Laogeodritt]

I'm planning on buying The Sims 2, but I'm a little concerned on the performance, since I've had a lot of lag in Age of Mythology despite this being a new computer, and the graphics, since my intergrated card isn't that good. I know my computer meets the minimum requirements.

Here's my computer's specs, with what would concern gaming:

P4 2.54 GHz, 400 MHz FSB (I believe)
256 MB RAM (PC2700)
SiS 661FX intergrated video (32 MB)


So, would that perform well? And could anyone tell me how good video cards with nVidea FX 5200 or ATi Radeon 9200 chipsets are? That's about the most I can afford.



I would also like to know how difficult C++ is to learn for someone knowing only HTML and a little BASIC, and how difficult it would be to make a turn-based RPG computer game (2-dimensional) using that language.


Thanks in advance.

 

[AFB]

I would also like to know how difficult C++ is to learn for someone knowing only HTML and a little BASIC, and how difficult it would be to make a turn-based RPG computer game (2-dimensional) using that language.


Thanks in advance.

Not horrible, but you probably could do it with some libraries.

 

[episodic]

The problem with you system and the sims 2 is the graphics you have now. Here is a Radeon 9000 that will beat the pants off othe 9200 or the 5200 and it is 40$ shipped from newegg.


http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=14-102-386&depa=0

Just because the 9200 is higher does not mean it is better.

Enjoy

 

[Laogeodritt]

Thanks, but newegg doesn't ship to Canada (where I live). I'll try to find it around here.


EDIT: The only thing I can find within my price range is the Diamond Stealth Readeon 7000, " " 9200 SE, " " 9600 SE, and ATi Radeon 9200.

 

[episodic]

Try for/sale for/trade forum.

You could probably pay someone for shipping costs and they could buy it here for you. There are alot of good members there like that

 

[yhelothar]

hmm first time I've seen someone put two completely unrelated topics in one thread.

 

[Laogeodritt]

Originally posted by: virtualgames0
hmm first time I've seen someone put two completely unrelated topics in one thread.

...I always do that. I prefer keeping my questions all in one thread if they pretty much belong on the same forum.

The only thing I can find within my price range around here is the Diamond Stealth Radeon 7000, Diamond Stealth Radeon 9200 SE, Diamond Stealth Radeon 9600 SE, and ATi Radeon 9200.

 

[episodic]

If it is a Radeon 9200 and NOT a Radeon 9200 SE that'd be the best.
Don't bother with the 7000 it is not T&L compliant.
If the Radeon is a 9200SE - go for the 9600SE instead.

 

[Laogeodritt]

This is the card.

 

[episodic]

Yea that is a full 9200, that'd be alright as compared to the rest.

 

[Laogeodritt]

Good. Thanks.

 

[kamper]

Oh geez, don't pay FutureShop prices for video cards. They're ridiculous. Where in Canada do you live? If you're in the Toronto area I can point you to some much better places.

 

[Laogeodritt]

Montreal area. Though I hardly know my way around, since I just moved last year and haven't went very far here.

 

[warcrow]

You cana djust the settings to cater, so will it run well? Sure. Will it look good once you get it running well, nope. I have a 2800XP, 1GB pc2700, and a 6800U. I still get slowdown sometimes when its busy on the screen.

1024x768x32

 

[episodic]

My wife is running it and having fun and it looks good with a GeForce 3.

 

[ArmchairAthlete]

There are easier languages to start with... Python + Pygame isn't hard to start making games with. I'm a lowly freshman CS major and I can.

 

[BFG10K]

and how difficult it would be to make a turn-based RPG computer game (2-dimensional) using that language.

Pretty easy as most of it would be standard stuff combined with drawing a few sprites here and there. The hardest part would probably be creating the sounds for it.

 

[WobbleWobble]

I'd buy used and would avoid Futureshop as their products are usually considerably more expensive than a small computer store.

RedFlagDeals' Buy, Sell, Trade forums are great for Canadians. Look for a Geforce 4 Ti 4x00 or even a Radeon 9500 Pro.

As for the C++ question, I'm assuming you want to make a graphics RPG. I'd have to put the difficulty level at moderately hard judging from your background. Suprise us with your RPG in the future

 

[VirtualLarry]

Here's a list of loads of free C++ compiliers: http://www.thefreecountry.com/compilers/cpp.shtml

If you want to code a turn-based game, C or C++ would be fine, but if you currently have some knowledge of BASIC, you might consider checking out the "MS VB.NET 2005 Express" free beta VB.Net compilier download. You could probably do some iconic graphics using the VB IDE, and code it that way. OTOH, if you are interested in learning a more "professional" way to code games, then look into something like SDL, long with the C/C++ compilier.

 

[Laogeodritt]

Originally posted by: BFG10K

and how difficult it would be to make a turn-based RPG computer game (2-dimensional) using that language.

Pretty easy as most of it would be standard stuff combined with drawing a few sprites here and there. The hardest part would probably be creating the sounds for it.

I see. Is it possible to use MIDI files? I've made a few music files suitable for certain situations commonly found in RPGs, and have many more in my head that I haven't written out or made into MIDI.

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
Here's a list of loads of free C++ compiliers: http://www.thefreecountry.com/compilers/cpp.shtml

If you want to code a turn-based game, C or C++ would be fine, but if you currently have some knowledge of BASIC, you might consider checking out the "MS VB.NET 2005 Express" free beta VB.Net compilier download. You could probably do some iconic graphics using the VB IDE, and code it that way. OTOH, if you are interested in learning a more "professional" way to code games, then look into something like SDL, long with the C/C++ compilier.

I can make a simple text-based program, some graphics, no moving sprites. That's about it.

I tried to make a random lottery-number generator for practice a while ago, but there seemed to be a slight glitch due to the part that was supposed to verify if the number was identical to a previous one, which appears to have caused an infinite loop. That was a few months ago, on my old computer. I never bothered to try again since that time.

Is this beta version of "MS VB.NET 2005 Express" stable? I sort of don't trust most non-final programs...

Erm... what does OTOH stand for? And what's SDL?


Hm... I haven't done any BASIC in quite a while...