Did i17 increase minimum system requirements?

Hi. I know it's only been a couple days since i17 came out and there are some bugs that need to be fixed, but I'm wondering if i17 (which includes new graphics settings) has caused an increase in the minimum system specs required to run the game? I've been playing for 2 years on a computer that just barely runs the game even with minimum graphics settings (which I use). In fact, teaming and co-op zones are not really an option for me because they make me lag so bad. But I still enjoy playing the game.

Since the i17 patch, I have massive (about 2 second) delays with character movement and typing in chat window, funky black lines on screen (are they shadows?), and a flickery glitchy cursor. Interestingly, these problems are present even on the game log-in screen. I'm still set at minimum graphics so I don't understand why the new "ultra" graphics are screwing me up.

So anyhow, I'm not asking for 100 ways to trouble-shoot my problems (been there, done that - pretty sure I can search the forums if I want to do that again). I'm just wondering if they've increased the system requirements to the point that my computer can no longer handle it. And please don't suggest I buy a new computer. I would if I could.

Thanks!

You should make sure you have the current video drivers for your card. That solved most of my problems.

What are some of your system specs?

Have you tried running the game in safe mode (via a check box next to the EULA agreement)?

I have an old laptop that I use as well and I basically dialed down the "extra" as much as possible. Low detail, no bump maps, etc, etc. It takes me forever to load into a zone but it is still very playable afterward.

YMMV.

No I would say not.

I am running two clients on a system with a card with only 128 megs on it and it runs them both smooth enough before and after.

The minimum requirements haven't changed officially. However, they did make a few system-wide adjustments (like the overall fix for wide-screen monitors) that may be affecting you somewhat.

Since you mention that you're using an integrated video chip, is it an Intel graphics chip?

Apparently, one of the changes was to remove some of the kludge fixes that were in place making things work OK for integrated Intel graphics chips. (I doubt it was a deliberate thing, more of a side-effect of changing some of the OpenGL calls to the modern versions).

Check around on some of the threads about the Intel graphics chips. I honestly don't know if there's any fixes/workarounds in place for them yet.

I can run the game just fine on minimum settings on my aging work laptop with an nVidia Quadro NVS110M with a driver from 2008 (the last one published by Dell, the nVidia generics can't install). Client works for me just like it did before Wednesday. YMMV, apparently.

<Previous bit redacted due to my lack of reading comprehension>

It should also be pointed out that Ultra Mode is optional. You can turn all those settings off if they happen to be on, although with your card I'm guessing they aren't and your problems are being caused by other changes.

Just because nobody else has linked it yet...

System Requirements for City of Heroes updated 04/21/2010

Looks like minimum specs didn't change except the addition of Win7.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dispari I don't know why Dink thinks she's not as sexy as Jay was. In 5 posts she's already upstaged his entire career.

Whoa... thanks everyone for all the comments. I AM using an integrated Intel card - Mobile Intel 915GM/GMS, 910GML Express Chipset Family. Although I'm not able to update the drivers using Windows or the HP site, I WAS able to update the "Intel Graphics Media Accelerator Driver for Mobile" program that I downloaded a few years ago. Admittedly, I have no idea what this program does or even if I'm using it. But I WAS able to update the graphic drivers for it. I guess I need to start at square one and defrag, clean up computer, run with services disabled, experiment with different settings, etc. I was hoping to avoid all that.

Who knows - maybe this is just a simple case of porn-clog.

I don't think I'm having the same problem as the OP but my graphics have also taken a hit with the new patch download. My performance is still the same but graphically the game looks pretty bad. Where I used to have great shading and beautifully rendered graphics I now have bland coloring and pretty basic graphics. If this was back when the game first came out (I remember those days well) then I would just accept it but I have seen how the game can look and I want that look back. By the way, my computer is a little more than a year old (Dell Inspiron 530s) and I opted to use a 32" tv for my monitor. It ran nicely and looked beautiful until the patch.

Didn't today's patch also address some issues with the integrated Intel graphics chipset? Maybe that will help the OP.