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AMD initiates new program to simplify PC game requirements
Kevin Spiess - Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 | 12:51PM (PT)


General aim is to make PC gaming as easy as console gaming

AMD initiates new program to simplify PC game requirements Image 1

AMD has been spreading details of a new program called AMD GAME! this week.

The primary goal of the AMD GAME! program is to make the hardware requirements for PC gaming easier to understand for non-tech savvy PC gamers. System vendors and PC builders will feature a AMD GAME! logo on their computers if they meet the regularly updated hardware specifications set by the AMD GAME! program. So, if a computer is advertised as a AMD GAME! capable system, it should reliably be able to deliver 30 frames-per-second or over at 1280x1024 in current games. For faster computers, there will also be AMD GAME! Ultra level of performance, which should signify a system is capable of running games at over 30 frames-per-second at a 1600x1200 resolution.

It does not look like AMD GAME! stickers will be adorning game boxes -- for now. At the start of the program, it looks like this initiative is solely aimed at computer retailers. But in the future, this may change, and the AMD GAME! logo could become something like the Microsoft's Games For Windows marketing campaign. 

While the AMD GAME! program does not look like it will be of any help to committed PC gamers or hardware enthusiasts, it could help out the less experienced PC purchaser. From personal experience, on more than one occasion I have talked to someone who was disappointed that their brand new computer was incapable of playing a game -- they did not realize that their new machine did not come with a gaming-worthy video card.

Source: Press Release

Section: PC Games

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Comments:

May 20th, 2008 1:03PM(PT)
JT gAnGstA
This would be great. It would also be cool if it showed up on your computer. You could download a program to see if your computer is AMD GAME certified. If it is, the program could tell you what level of certification are you- from not certified to certified to ultra. They could use a bar, not halfway is not certified, halfway would be certified and all the way could be ultra. If they are not certified,there could be a link to get information how to upgrade to get certified. Maybe even a few links to websites where you could go buy what you need to get certified. Same would go for getting ultra certified. That way, you could know when your computer needs to upgrade, AND you know how to upgrade it.
May 20th, 2008 2:05PM(PT)
DeathMonkey
I still think that what Microsoft started in vista with the computer score is a good idea too. If it was picked up by more games and retailers showed the score of the computers they are selling then people can know if they are capable or not of running the games. Also the scores could tell people what they're computer is lacking, as in ram, processor or graphics card.

The AMD GAME certificate is also a pretty good idea however being certified is only relevent to the time the computer was made. If the computer was certified a while ago it wouldn't actually be able to play games at 30fps.
May 20th, 2008 3:02PM(PT)
VeGiTAX2
I think it's a good step for them, the company is pushing a lot of value products to the masses and it helps them create a landscape where someone can have a value pc that is a value but it still spanks something even a few years older. Instead of buying midrange cards that lack you can have a dual core maybe running a 3850 for not a whole lot of money.

I mean it's pretty insane, my friend used a limited coupon on newegg and got a 3850 PCI-E 512 for $109.
May 20th, 2008 6:47PM(PT)
kspiess
Good points DeathMonkey -- I sort of think the Vista score is under-utilized as well. It actually works alright.

Secondly, the aging problem is a factor with AMD Game for sure. In an interview, they stated that they will not be labeling things differently as time goes on, either with aribitary numbers or dates (i.e AMD GAME 2008, AMD GAME 2, etc.) So it does make you worry about older products for sale that will not meet the present AMD GAME specifications.
May 20th, 2008 6:53PM(PT)
Bill Gates03
Intel's sticker slogan:

"Don't worry, this game will run, fast!"
May 20th, 2008 9:18PM(PT)
THM
I would cautiously welcome as long as AMD Game Technology does not require insane priced graphics cards and insane amounts of HDD space to play real decent PC games.
May 20th, 2008 10:47PM(PT)
VeGiTAX2
Well seeing as it would probably start on the Spider platform it wouldn't be that insanely high to begin with. You can score a lot of their cards for sub $200 these days which is pretty far below insane pricing (see 8800GTX/Ultra pricing).

Seeing as AMD has no investment in storage they'll be hard pressed to control what happens there. Just as long as games don't end up like stranglehold for their temporary install pack.
May 21st, 2008 9:24AM(PT)
chautemoc
Seems like a great move on their part, and hopefully it'll invigorate the PC gaming scene a bit more, hey?

The labelling thing is a bit of an issue, but I understand if they don't want to bother. It probably won't affect many people anyway (those who want to play older games).
May 21st, 2008 11:32AM(PT)
VeGiTAX2
The labeling should be revised really, the cards these days seem to jump quite a bit once they get rolling. Someone with a 3850 would probably feel robbed all over again thinking they could stand on par with a 4850.

I just wish there was something out there to help people realize that things like the Intel X3100 are awful and should just be scrapped in favor of existing IGP's from discrete chip makers.
May 21st, 2008 3:07PM(PT)
DeathMonkey
Intel's IGPs should just burn in hell -.-

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