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I'm thinking of setting up a website where you can make a profile with your system specs, then upload screens from games - to give others an impression on how it will run on their machine and similar systems. Has this been done before? I can't find anywhere that does it to compare (reads "steal") ideas. Good/bad idea?
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I personally don't see any problem with this idea, it's actually a damn good one.
The user could also specify a "recommended resolution" to play the game at.
Anyway, people who say "upload a file", that wouldn't really work. Potential visitors for monkey_mans site would probably be hardcore computer users anyway and would know the specification of their machine without having to consult a special file.
The user could also specify a "recommended resolution" to play the game at.
Anyway, people who say "upload a file", that wouldn't really work. Potential visitors for monkey_mans site would probably be hardcore computer users anyway and would know the specification of their machine without having to consult a special file.
The problem with the idea in general is that screenshots dont tell the whole story do they? In that respect I really think you need to be storing framerate (as Chippxero mentioned) and graphic settings in the game too. And possibly in the end thats going to be where the real interest for people will be, seeing how/where they can trade off settings for framerate and still have things looking pretty.
The only real downside I can think of is that you're going to have to keep massive images, ie 300k-1meg as theres no point in uploading screenshots at all unless you keep them at maximum quality.
The only real downside I can think of is that you're going to have to keep massive images, ie 300k-1meg as theres no point in uploading screenshots at all unless you keep them at maximum quality.
dxdiag has all this information, but also alot more.
i like the idea, i expect to be able to upload by 12 tonight.
You need a FPS box remember so people can input their average.
i like the idea, i expect to be able to upload by 12 tonight.
You need a FPS box remember so people can input their average.
No, no, no.
I'm pretty sure there is a file that holds the information about what components you have in your system and what drivers you are using.
Its not vital information, just the information about what components you have on your system.
For GTA:SA and GTA:VC someone made a script which allowed you to upload your stats file onto a server where it would be processed into a page that holds detailed information about your save-file for the game.
Basically what I am saying, IF there is a file that holds information about what components you have in your system, and if someone was able to upload this to your site where it would get entered into a database it could save you alot of time. Then from then there system details are entered into the site and they can upload the screenshots from games.
If a system like this could be put in place it could stop people putting in false system specs and putting pictures from games that are from a lower-spec machine than the one listed.
Sorry again about the way I have written this, I am not very good at expressing myself over these forums.
I'm pretty sure there is a file that holds the information about what components you have in your system and what drivers you are using.
Its not vital information, just the information about what components you have on your system.
For GTA:SA and GTA:VC someone made a script which allowed you to upload your stats file onto a server where it would be processed into a page that holds detailed information about your save-file for the game.
Basically what I am saying, IF there is a file that holds information about what components you have in your system, and if someone was able to upload this to your site where it would get entered into a database it could save you alot of time. Then from then there system details are entered into the site and they can upload the screenshots from games.
If a system like this could be put in place it could stop people putting in false system specs and putting pictures from games that are from a lower-spec machine than the one listed.
Sorry again about the way I have written this, I am not very good at expressing myself over these forums.
That's a bit of a long-winded and unrealistic approach: would you upload system files from your computer? Nope.
All you'd need to collect would be the CPU speed and make/type, amount of RAM and make/type, graphics card, hard drive, motherboard, etc - just the general system specs that you would look for when buying a game.
All you'd need to collect would be the CPU speed and make/type, amount of RAM and make/type, graphics card, hard drive, motherboard, etc - just the general system specs that you would look for when buying a game.
Surely there is a file on computers with Windows that lists the components you are using and what drivers you have installed etc.
If you were able to get people to upload this file and then you have a script that sorts the info out into a record in a database, you could then get over the problem of having to get the names of components.
People would not have to list all of there components, they would just have to upload this file.
^ Sounds a bit garbled, but typing on a laptop is a pain in the a**.
If you were able to get people to upload this file and then you have a script that sorts the info out into a record in a database, you could then get over the problem of having to get the names of components.
People would not have to list all of there components, they would just have to upload this file.
^ Sounds a bit garbled, but typing on a laptop is a pain in the a**.
I know enough about it to start off with, and I work as a web designer so I wouldn't need any help there lol w/e \o/
Obviously suggestions welcome, but I'd rather think about how the database should be designed to make it as simple as possible.
Obviously suggestions welcome, but I'd rather think about how the database should be designed to make it as simple as possible.
I like the idea, but it sounds like one of those projects that you would start but your interest would slowly dwindle.
Perhaps you should do it with more people helping out.
Merm and people like that know alot about the component side of computers perhaps they could help you?
Perhaps you should do it with more people helping out.
Merm and people like that know alot about the component side of computers perhaps they could help you?
gamesfreak wrote:
> EDIT: I'd be interested to see how you'd do this, because comparing
> systems and what not would be quite difficult as there is so many
> types of components and combinations available. You'd have to
> implement some sort of "similar" feature of some sorts.
Yeah, I've been thinking about that. I suppose the easiest way to do it would be having search options that let you set your system spec (pre-logged if you have a profile), then search for game titles and select nearest option.
The components could be listed by quality, rather than make, so an increment or decrement would make it easy to searchP: i.e. searching for "4" instead of "Nvidia GFx 7200", or whatever - the components might have to be preset because a string search through a database like that would be inaccurate.
Adding a screenshot would have to be by title, with a "We already have this title on our system, is this the game your screenshot is from: Yes/No?", then if not they can add a new game title to the database.
Not an incredibly difficult setup, but yeah it could be a massive database very quickly.
> EDIT: I'd be interested to see how you'd do this, because comparing
> systems and what not would be quite difficult as there is so many
> types of components and combinations available. You'd have to
> implement some sort of "similar" feature of some sorts.
Yeah, I've been thinking about that. I suppose the easiest way to do it would be having search options that let you set your system spec (pre-logged if you have a profile), then search for game titles and select nearest option.
The components could be listed by quality, rather than make, so an increment or decrement would make it easy to searchP: i.e. searching for "4" instead of "Nvidia GFx 7200", or whatever - the components might have to be preset because a string search through a database like that would be inaccurate.
Adding a screenshot would have to be by title, with a "We already have this title on our system, is this the game your screenshot is from: Yes/No?", then if not they can add a new game title to the database.
Not an incredibly difficult setup, but yeah it could be a massive database very quickly.
I've done it before, erm yeh.
*Steals idea*
*Starts coding*
Nah, nice idea. You should call it spec-check.com or something like that.
*Steals idea*
*Starts coding*
Nah, nice idea. You should call it spec-check.com or something like that.
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