Curse

Lawnmower · Jan 02, 2008, 05:20 AM // 05:20

In Japan they say that the PC is dying. The Japanese who are completely obsessed with small things, are starting to use their mobile phones, and palm computers for web browsing, messening, email and so on.
Even in the game spectrum, it seems like they favor the small portable devices like Nintendo DS and PSP, over the bigger and stationary and powerful machines like 360 and PS3.

In the west its not not like that. We do like small things, and things do get smaller. But we havent quite found the golden spot. Laptops are getting cheaper, but they are still to big, bulky, heavy and power consuming for really being mobile.
And devices like black berry and certain mobile phones are still not well suited for gaming.

Guild Wars on a portable. There is no way that it can run on a DS right? Or a PSP? I guess it could run on a laptop, but I dont really think it would be that mobile.
Imagine if you could take guild wars with you. On the toilet, in the car, on the job, in your pocket. everywhere. It would be like a dream, yes?

I recently(and by recently I mean right now) stumbled over this cool mini laptop, from Asus, called EEE. I thought that it was just another little gadget that had no real need, but this actually is a real computer, in an incredible small size, and it comes for an affordable price, from what I have heard.

the specifications:

-900 gram
-7" screen with 800*480 resolution
-webcam
-wifi
-512/1024 DDR2 667 MB RAM (upgradeable up to 2GB)
-2/4/8 GB Flash HDD (upgradeable via SD cards)
-700mhz Celeron M (overclockable to 900mhz at this moment)
- 3 hours of battery life while watching movies/surfing wireless
- Xandros Linux / XP version coming soon but can be installed already ofc.

Now of course this does not sound like enough to run GW! But I saw this video of some guy freaking playing HL2 on it and it looks great: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UixLlpMgJqA

It just made me think about how wonderful it would be to have GW with you.. litterly everywhere. wireless online around the house or on the job or in a cafee.
its the size of an DVD box. its incredible:O

I heard that its actually out in stores in america. I wonder if anyone has one, or if they have tried it?

But furthermore, I actually wanted to ask something else with this topic - Would you even want to play GW in public or be able to carry it everywhere with you(if you could)? I mean... I think I would be kinda embarrased to play it on the job or while I was waiting on the buss or something. Im not sure.

what do you think? is gaming something you do at home in front of the old big computer or is it cool to play everywhere?

Zeek Aran · Jan 02, 2008, 05:24 AM // 05:24

*will read after this post*

Asian woman: EVERY TING SO TINY! *looks in shirt*

Thank you Family Guy.

Okay, so what's this reasonable price you speak of? And that drink is interesting. If the battery life is actually three hours, it's worthless for gaming.

Selket · Jan 02, 2008, 05:25 AM // 05:25

The EEE's battery life barely hits 3 hours.

You're not going to be able to play guild wars for any period of time, not to mention that you basically don't even have enough space to install guild wars on a 4G.

Not to mention that guild wars is barely playable at 1024x768 so playing it at 800x400 with a terrible frame rate would be basically useless unless you're just walking into mobs and letting 7 other people do the work for you.

Nittle Grasper · Jan 02, 2008, 05:26 AM // 05:26

brings new definitions to the words cry and creepy

arcanemacabre · Jan 02, 2008, 05:40 AM // 05:40

I am all for portable computers, but this just doesn't cut it. I'm looking forward to wearables, actually. Being able to attach the screen to your glasses is the way to go, IMO. Some of those tiny lens-screens have relatively high resolution, up to 1024x768, IIRC.

Diddy bow · Jan 02, 2008, 05:42 AM // 05:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lawnmower

But furthermore, I actually wanted to ask something else with this topic - Would you even want to play GW in public or be able to carry it everywhere with you(if you could)? I mean... I think I would be kinda embarrased to play it on the job or while I was waiting on the buss or something. Im not sure.

what do you think? is gaming something you do at home in front of the old big computer or is it cool to play everywhere?

I think they will need to be a bit more powerful yet to kill desktops

Not a fan of gaming on the move, i wouldnt even take my DS on a bus or w/e. This thing just screems "rob me" in a Scottish city tbh -.-.

Zeek Aran · Jan 02, 2008, 05:42 AM // 05:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by arcanemacabre

I am all for portable computers, but this just doesn't cut it. I'm looking forward to wearables, actually. Being able to attach the screen to your glasses is the way to go, IMO. Some of those tiny lens-screens have relatively high resolution, up to 1024x768, IIRC.

I want a wrist one... like Leela. Or any other generic sci-fi thing. I'm sure someone in Japan has made one already. Why can't they start making ones in the size we have better?

arcanemacabre · Jan 02, 2008, 05:49 AM // 05:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeek Aran

I want a wrist one... like Leela. Or any other generic sci-fi thing. I'm sure someone in Japan has made one already. Why can't they start making ones in the size we have better?

Yeah, I wouldn't mind a wrist-thingy like Leela has for generic uses (PDA, phone, messenger, browser, etc), but for gaming and other multimedia, I'm all about the eyepiece.

6am3 Fana71c · Jan 02, 2008, 05:50 AM // 05:50

When I'm home, I'm probably in my room, on PC. So I can play GW if I want to. If I'm not home, there is a reason why I'm not home. So I won't have time to play GW or any other game. Especially not on something so small as that EEE thingy (I allready have problems with all the panels when I'm monking, playing on that would be major fail).

Zeek Aran · Jan 02, 2008, 05:52 AM // 05:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6am3 Fana71c

When I'm home, I'm probably in my room, on PC. So I can play GW if I want to. If I'm not home, there is a reason why I'm not home. So I won't have time to play GW or any other game. Especially not on something so small as that EEE thingy (I allready have problems with all the panels when I'm monking, playing on that would be major fail).

Lunch break at your restaurant you're eating at, planes/cars when going somewhere for vacation, basically any time you could use a gameboy.

I Phoenix I · Jan 02, 2008, 05:57 AM // 05:57

EEE PCs are about $300-$400 dollars IIRC.

Zeek Aran · Jan 02, 2008, 06:00 AM // 06:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by I Phoenix I

EEE PCs are about $300-$400 dollars IIRC.

IIRC? And that's not bad.

DarkSpirit · Jan 02, 2008, 06:04 AM // 06:04

I dont think we are there yet, as far as all technological fronts are concerned.

The EEE notebooks maybe cheap but they are still quite low end. Its use would be very specific and I dont think they are suitable for GW1 as it is today.

The software and universal wireless broadband has to be there. If you want to play a complicated interface game like GW on a small computer, you would also need a way to easily interface with the software. If the screen is so small, you are not going to be happy trying to click on a small UI control. Some natural interface like voice recognition would be more suitable.

Chicken Ftw · Jan 02, 2008, 06:11 AM // 06:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeek Aran

IIRC?

If I recall/remember correctly.

I'd consider one, but I already has a laptop that goes with me everywhere. No real need for more portable goodness.

Oofus · Jan 02, 2008, 06:26 AM // 06:26

Once the 45nm chips start rolling out you'll be able to play games like GW on your wrist watch. The question is though; would you want to? Personally I need a big-ass screen or it's just not worth it. Smaller isn't always better.

DarkSpirit · Jan 02, 2008, 06:30 AM // 06:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oofus

Once the 45nm chips start rolling out you'll be able to play games like GW on your wrist watch. The question is though; would you want to? Personally I need a big-ass screen or it's just not worth it. Smaller isn't always better.

I disagree, I think smaller is where the main stream technology is heading towards. But as you pointed out, the interface needs also to be usable. For example, if I can easily use voice controls/motion controls on GW, and can see through special Virtual Reality 3D glasses, I'll go for it, why not?

But like I said, all these software/hardware/networking technology have to all advance to a state that it becomes a common reality to the "man on the street".

Halfcut · Jan 02, 2008, 06:48 AM // 06:48

I don't understand, personally I find the idea of playing a game like guild wars, wow, HL2 or any other game of this magnitude on a hand held device rather stupid. Look at the screen size of your average cell phone, PDA, gameboy, PSP and you have your answer, look at the button sizes. With something that small controlling the game is almost impossible, how are you gonna move, orient your line of sight, and cast spells and select people at the same time like you can with a desktop or a decent laptop. Japan doesn't have any say over what technology is dieing or not, I mean I can say cell phones are dieing, people are gonna start using chips implanted in their head to communicate, and play games. I would put money on it, that you will see absolutely no change in the way we play games as a whole, the computer itself may get smaller, the way we interact may change, but what we see probably wont, in fact im willing to bet it would get bigger in the future. Also I think the reason japanese people use smaller gadgets and stuff is becuase of the lack of space over there, and not having a desk and stuff just for a computer, tv, ect... saves valuable space.

I'm not trying to sound like an ass hole so if I come across that way forgive me.

Ranger Rog · Jan 02, 2008, 07:19 AM // 07:19

As neat and compact as the EEE laptop is, are you really gaining much by having it that small? You will still want to carry it around in a bag that also has room for your mouse, charger and cables, extra storage and software etc, you might as well buy a second hand normal size laptop and have something a bit more powerful.

Winterclaw · Jan 02, 2008, 08:07 AM // 08:07

I don't see PCs dying... I see people owning a PC and a laptop. There's a lot of things you can't do on the portables as they don't have the power. Even something like the EEE is underpowered and needs another 5-10 years before it can run today's stuff. The small stuff is fine for simple things, but you need the big powerhouses as well for everything else.

OI-812 · Jan 02, 2008, 08:24 AM // 08:24

If it happens, when it happens, portable GW will be awesome as long as:
Whatever platform it runs on doesn't use that idiotic little gray touchpad to replace mouse functions. (Gawd I <3 my DS and its infinitely more intuitive touchscreen, WYPIWYG FTW)
Whatever platform it runs on has awesome wireless capability (though there are many other factors beyond the platform's wireless capability, I must admit)
Whatever platform it runs on can be used comfortably without setting it down on a desk or table.

They can cram a fair amount of power into a small package these days. I could see shelling out 500+ dollars for a portable that can be a handheld, with processing power sufficient enough for Guild Wars and a few other things, if you try to think more along the lines of a gaming/internet machine and not a swiss army knife jack-of-all-trades master of none laptop like you see today.