Feedback:User/Jarak/Netbook Mode
Netbook Mode | |
|---|---|
| User | Jarak |
| Categories | Mechanics |
Well, it's probably a big ask and I'm 90% that it's not do-able, but it would be great to include a 'netbook mode' in the graphics options in the game, which changes the game to be more playable on a small screen with lower-end hardware.
It could change the following:
- UI scaled down to maximise visible area.
- Reduce graphics settings significantly to better accommodate lower end hardware.
Taking a Samsung NC10 netbook as an example; Guild Wars could be run at around 15fps with everything on low, making it just about playable. Ideally Guild Wars 2 in netbook mode should aim to match this by sacrificing as many visual 'trills' as possible to improve performance, without giving players any major disadvantages from a gameplay perspective (I.e. Character/NPC draw distance reduction would be a major disadvantage in PvP, but lowering terrain draw distance would not be as much.)
My reasoning for suggesting this is mainly that I know many people that enjoy games and most own a games console of some sort, but find that it's too costly to buy a mid range pc, so instead bought a <$200 Netbook. There have been many times that, after seeing an upcoming game trailer they are disappointed that it is pc-only, as their netbook is (generally) incapable of running it adequately. My reasoning follows that: there must be many more people in this situation, and having seen many indie games released recently with a netbook mode become popular with netbook owners, surely an MMO like Guild Wars 2, if it was playable on a netbook, would be very popular among netbook users, being nearly the only game of its type to be playable.
Just a thought, anyway - as unlikely and as improbable as it is to be implemented.
