System Requirements

[decaro]

Couldn't find any system requirements for this game. Do I need a high-end graphics card? In other words, if my computer can play HTTR, can it play COTA?

[MarkShot]

Unofficially - I would say if you can play HTTR, then you should be able to run COTA ... especially if your machine is not strained to the breaking point to run HTTR.

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Myself, I am running COTA on a Dell laptop with:

2.8GHz Mobile P4
512 RAM
NVidia GeForce Go5200 (that's 64Mb VRAM and downclocked by DELL to lower heat)

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RDOA/HTTR/COTA are all primarily CPU bound as opposed to video bound. I don't mean to say that video updates are not a significant load on your system, but rather most of the video updates are also handled by the CPU due to the manner in which screen updates are rendered.

COTA is definitely going to run somewhat slower than HTTR. It does more work behind the scenes. Unfortunately, improved realism and new features don't come for free.

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I am in the middle of testing at the moment. I'll try downstepping my CPU speed to 1.6GHz (battery speed) and see how it runs.

[MarkShot]

Okay, downstepped to 1.6GHz with about 50 friendly units on the map (hard to say how many the enemy has without cheating at this point, but you can probably assume in the area of 50). COTA is smoothly playable. However, I do notice the clock running slightly slower than at 2.8GHz.

I hope that helps.

[JeF]

FWIW,

HttR runs fine, though not smoothly on big scenarios, on my 5 years old 800 MHz Duron (128MB RAM, 32 MB TNT2 card). I expect CotA to run on it anyway. I've the impression that doubling these sepcs (1.6 GHz CPU, 256MB RAM) should be the recommended requirements for smooth and enjoyable play, as Mark trial seems to indicate.

As far as video is concerned, any card supported by DirectX 8 (or 9?) and able to display in 1024x768 24 bits colors will do fine.
As Mark said, the engine is mainly CPU bound, due to it's real time nature. Having some RAM left can help as well.

Regards,

JeF.

[Arjuna]

Just as HTTR could run on really slow machines so will COTA. However, that's not to say the average gamer will find it acceptable. We have tested it here on an 800 Duron with TNT2 card and it chuggs along albeit slowly. Personnaly I would not recommend it. I develop on a 2.4 P4 with Hyperthreading and that runs fine. But then again that's what I am used to. You don't need a high end graphics card.

With all the additional processing going on COTA is slower than HTTR. So if the machine you are now on is struggling to run HTTR at an acceptable speed, I would recommend you upgrade to a faster processor.

[ravinhood]

Ahhhh the decisions go out and spend $200+ to play a $40 game. Chances are the mother board and power supply in an 800mhz isn't compatible with the upgrade required, so will need more than likely new case, new power supply, new mother board and processor and new memory sticks as well (1gig recommended nowadays). A nice chunk of change to play a $40 game. hehe Just musing. [8|]

[JeF]

ORIGINAL: Arjuna
With all the additional processing going on COTA is slower than HTTR. So if the machine you are now on is struggling to run HTTR at an acceptable speed, I would recommend you upgrade to a faster processor.

[:)]
I know. It's in the works.

ORIGINAL: ravinhood
A nice chunk of change to play a $40 game. hehe Just musing.

Yeah. The dilemna of the computer gaming hobby. [;)] I always refused to upgrade a computer and/or to buy a new one because of games. But nowadays, games are the main use of my computer. Serious stuff are done on a Mac at home. I might be better playing on console, but the games I like are only on PC. I'll buy a new one soon. I give myself (and my wife) the excuse that the other is too old anyway. [:'(]

Cheers,

JeF.

[decaro]

I'm currently running a Gateway Solo 5350 with a mobile 1.06 GHz processor, 256 MB memory module and an 8 MB, 32 bit (2D) video card. This works well enough with HTTR, though the game can briefly "hang" during some scenarios.

However, this may be a mute point since I've finally decided to get a desktop with the lastest MS Professional operating system.

In any even, I like HTTR because (1) it's not a "click fest" and (2) I can watch the news -- or even the History Channel -- while running a game. In fact, I sometimes play an HTTR scenario while watching "A Bridge Too Far."

Query: Aside from the intro, any music with COTA? Actually, HTTR reminds me of an old Koei (Sega Genesis) game that also used rectangular units traversing a battlefield. But Koei always had background music, and when you clicked on a unit in combat, you got more -- although primitive -- graphics. Perhaps these features can be incorporated into latter Panther games.

Thanks,
Joe D.

[MarkShot]

Music - same approach, but different sound track for intro video. This can easily be disabled by deleting or renaming.

Ambient - same approach and I think same sounds as HTTR only in the top level main menu.

Effects - same approach and I think same sounds as HTTR. Also, I tried the Tactics sound mod and it works fine.