System support

[ikarus]

Just wondering if there were any things that I could do to make a game work better on anybody's computer. Any libraries that I probably should send off with it or anything or the like? Cause I just tested a game on my brother xp machine and it wasn't working too good. It was a bit slow and the sound was skipping very horribly. But it did work on two other windows systems, one windows 7 and another xp and worked flawlessly. I don't know if it's something on his computer or what. Are there certain graphics cards the engine doesn't work well on?
I should mention it's very odd since my computer is very very old and while his system isn't as new as it used to be, it can play oblivion at least, It's a lot newer than mine and more pumped up.

[Game A Gogo]

GE is very CPU dependent. The graphic card plays no role in the performance, unless you're using the bios graphic driver....
so GE seems to slow down severely on certain CPU, especially if they are broken. I have a dual core with a broken core (Probably due to wear), and it runs GE games slower than my parent's computer that is older in gear.
But there are also other CPU's that are sold broken (Strange isn't it?)
Like Celerons (Any kind), they are a broken prototype of Intel. A chip that was suppose to handle much more than what it does, hence why you'll have difficulty over-heating one, but it got sold anyway so intel wouldn't lose money as much by throwing away an architecture they spent money on.

So it's possible your brother's CPU might be defective, either from wear or due to manufacturer.
Also the processing speed alone does not determine how fast a CPU performs. There are many other attributes like how many registers there are, it's precision. It's front side bus speed, etc...

If you're looking for a magic formula to get better performance even on these CPU... You're in luck because there is one! Well one that improves stability.
Often you'll place a maximum FPS that is either: 30 or 60. These numbers seem logical... enough. Most games will run on those refresh rate, even if the human eye can see things up to 70fps.
Now the magic formula is to change this FPS number to a power of 2... so use any of these numbers: 2,4,8,16,32,64,128,256 and 512 as a maximum FPS and you'll notice your game is a lot more stable in FPS.

Pretty magic huh?

[ikarus]

Never would of guessed it!! D:
Thanks Game a Gogo! Is there a particular reason for this?

[Game A Gogo]

Well it's a general logic. 1bit = 2, 2bit=4,3bit=8,4bit=16, etc...
Since the computer world relies on bits, having "round" (Or rather full-bits) numbers are always more friendly to your cpu, he will like them.

[ikarus]

Wow I actually notice a little difference! Did have to remake my main character sprite but that's actually a good thing since I wasn't too sure about the original's quality and it gave me a chance to do it differently

[Game A Gogo]

Hopefully someone can get this tip into the info-box about the FPS... People need to know about this because it's something that can make some great games work better! I know it gave me hopes in one of my demo that I was going to quit

[skydereign]

I'd like to see that tip actually work. Can you post a ged of it? Most of my games haven't experienced lag since I restrict things that would prevent it, and generally avoid canvas work. But, when I do come across it, I've often tried this trick, and haven't noticed any difference. Maybe it is just the computers I've tried it on... Anyway, I can probably add the tip if need be.

[Game A Gogo]

Post a GED of it? Like I said, it's on the demo forum: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=8832 Before the FPS trick, my computer was begging to die, after the fps trick, my computer still ran a bit choppy, BUT the fps stayed at 40-50 instead of going from 10-50. Maybe others will get different results

[skydereign]

Well, I don't think you actually mentioned it... but, I meant a more standalone version. That game doesn't lag for me at all though, and the ged I downloaded a while back uses 60 as the fps. But, when I have had games that lag, changing the fps has done nothing to help it, definitely nothing as drastic as increasing the low fps by 30.

[Game A Gogo]

Well if that game doesn't lag for you... I don't think I have anything else that will make your computer lag.
I suspect it doesn't help with script lag, but rather too much actor lag.. or the like. But all I know is it makes my games more stable, not necessarily faster. I guess I might be false advertising here, but I rather be corrected than stand wrong!

[skydereign]

Well I rather you be right, but I haven't found an example of it working for me. I'll try making the game lag, and see what happens.

[Game A Gogo]

Perhaps you could try that benchmark thing from hblade (If I recall correctly...)

[skydereign]

Tried that, and the difference between 60 and 64, or 30 and 32, is 2-3 fps average increase. The increase though is the same even if I set it to 33 or 65, so at least for me the increased performance is due to the increased fps. Still could have to do with the difference in computers, as it clearly has worked for you and a few other users.