RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones

Matrix Games Forums

Forums Register Login Photo Gallery Member List Search Calendars FAQ

My Profile Inbox Address Book My Subscription My Forums Log Out

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >> [General] >> General Discussion >> RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones

Page: << < prev 1 [2] 3 next > >>

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/4/2014 5:34:33 PM

Kuokkanen

Posts: 3545
Joined: 4/2/2004
Status: offline

Cut the flame wars already! So MrsWargamer doesn't need/want storage capacity to back up video DVDs, but I've got 4 TBs of external hard disks for that purpose and 1 TB drive for CDs, floppy disks (some were already corrupted, including original Civilization), and downloaded games (I should get Pandora installation file there too...). It seems MrsWargamer doesn't want/need PC to watch TV and DVD/BD videos, but I'm happy to do it with my 24" monitor and better speakers than what TV alone is equipped with. But I'd like to have more portability than what my laptop provides, which has dead battery by the way (warranty has expired but I could have it replaced for a fee...).

MrsWargamer, I ask you not to diss desktops and their extensive peripheral equipment like large monitors (possibly several), high quality speakers, BD drive, and TV tuner, which all together can replace even more bulkier TV equipment & peripherals (like BD player). aaatoysandmore, you better not diss portability of tablets any further! Both kinds of machines can have good and valid use.

Now MrsWargamer & DI7: have you played Pandora and/or Age of Wonders 3 with your tablets? Any problems with those games? MrsWargamer, what hardware (processor and the likes) does your tablet have?

< Message edited by Matti Kuokkanen -- 12/4/2014 6:35:01 PM >

_____________________________

You know what they say, don't you? About how us MechWarriors are the modern knights, how warfare has become civilized now that we have to abide by conventions and rules of war. Don't believe it.

MekWars

(in reply to aaatoysandmore)

Post #: 31

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/4/2014 5:34:37 PM

MrsWargamer

Posts: 1655
Joined: 6/18/2014
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: aaatoysandmore

quote:

My tablet though holds 64 gigs of data.

talk about going back into the dark ages of computers. No thank you I'll stick to my 2TB rig that holds my "whole" wargame collection and all of the older ones as well clear back to the 80's. I just knew it had a rinky dinky storage system. You didn't want to bring that up I'm sure. Cause it makes the tablet as I said just look like a toy.

But, to each their own. As I said Tablets are just a fad. It will be replaced with something else not far down the road. Just like 8 tracks and beta max and a few other things along the road of technology.

Well, if you really feel a need to compete, my laptop rules over 10 TB of data. But none of it is crap from 1980 :) Well maybe some of the songs. Well I suppose The World at War is also old.

But if you think 64 gigs is inadequate, then you are a funny chap indeed :)

I would not wait for the tech to go anywhere though. Sales figures don't say anything. Once you have a few millions of items on the market, you hardly need to continue mass producing them at maximum pace indefinitely.

_____________________________

Wargame, 05% of the time.
Play with Barbies 05% of the time.
Play with Legos 10% of the time.
Build models 20% of the time
Shopping 60% of the time.
Exlains why I buy em more than I play em.

(in reply to aaatoysandmore)

Post #: 32

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/4/2014 5:45:21 PM

MrsWargamer

Posts: 1655
Joined: 6/18/2014
Status: offline

Actually Matt, I use my laptop to watch tv via my television to some extent. HDMI cables were a great development.

I haven't played Age of Wonders in a while though. I have it, just have not played it. Might install it on the tablet and see how it is like.

No experience with Pandora. I have also taken a pass on indulging the new Civ extension Beyond the Earth. Just not interested in Steam to be honest. I have uninstalled Steam. Not saying anything against it, I've just gotten bored of Civ lately, and without Civ Steam is more intrusion than I feel like. All the other games I have on it, nah, couldn't care less if I'm not playing them to be honest. Just because I bought it, doesn't make it valuable.

My new tablet hardware is, if I can figure it out.

7-inch HD touchscreen
Intel Atom Z3735G (which is a quad core)
1GB memory/32GB expandable to 64 (which I did)
Up to 8 hours battery life

Copy pasted that from a web page. It looks like the correct specs. I bought the thing on the advice of my boyfriend. I don't know from squat about buying electronics for the most part :) He on the other hand is a complete genius with the stuff.

_____________________________

Wargame, 05% of the time.
Play with Barbies 05% of the time.
Play with Legos 10% of the time.
Build models 20% of the time
Shopping 60% of the time.
Exlains why I buy em more than I play em.

(in reply to MrsWargamer)

Post #: 33

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/4/2014 5:49:53 PM

zakblood

Posts: 22687
Joined: 10/4/2012
Status: offline

quote:

http://cpuboss.com/cpu/Intel-Atom-Z3735G

speed check for you

faster than a dual core Intel-Celeron-N2830

< Message edited by zakblood -- 12/4/2014 6:51:12 PM >

(in reply to MrsWargamer)

Post #: 34

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/4/2014 5:50:10 PM

Kuokkanen

Posts: 3545
Joined: 4/2/2004
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: MrsWargamer

My new tablet hardware is, if I can figure it out.

7-inch HD touchscreen
Intel Atom Z3735G (which is a quad core)
1GB memory/32GB expandable to 64 (which I did)
Up to 8 hours battery life

How much did it cost?

_____________________________

(in reply to MrsWargamer)

Post #: 35

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/4/2014 5:52:06 PM

zakblood

Posts: 22687
Joined: 10/4/2012
Status: offline

�100 online in the uk for that spec, but more for the upgrades

8 inch tablet from Acer has a 64GB flash memory, runs Intel Atom Z3740 Quad-core (4 core) 1.33GHz, 8 inch screen, has Windows 8.1 and Microsoft Office Home and a 2MP camera.

�250, so top end and a great spec

�160 for a mid range Blackberry Playbook 64GB Tablet with 7" screen

high end is the Microsoft Surface 2 64GB Tablet with 10.6 inch screen at �400

so total cost is less than i spent on my latest vga card, with money left over to buy a game here tbh, one of the WITW ones even :)

< Message edited by zakblood -- 12/4/2014 7:00:33 PM >

(in reply to Kuokkanen)

Post #: 36

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/4/2014 5:59:36 PM

MrsWargamer

Posts: 1655
Joined: 6/18/2014
Status: offline

Got mine for 99 bucks CAD at Staples on idiot Friday. No I didn't need to endure cold in a line, nor crazy people. This is Canada :)
I walked to the mall, asked the sales person for one, and he brought it to me. No problems.

_____________________________

Wargame, 05% of the time.
Play with Barbies 05% of the time.
Play with Legos 10% of the time.
Build models 20% of the time
Shopping 60% of the time.
Exlains why I buy em more than I play em.

(in reply to zakblood)

Post #: 37

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/4/2014 6:01:13 PM

zakblood

Posts: 22687
Joined: 10/4/2012
Status: offline

job done then, sorted, and thanks for the reply for combat mission btw, ty

(in reply to MrsWargamer)

Post #: 38

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/4/2014 6:01:13 PM

histgamer

Posts: 1455
Joined: 11/30/2006
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: DI7
There is really no limiting factor in terms of "tablet" vs desktop or laptop that makes them unplayable, the limiting factor is the CPU and integrated videocards and limited memory - but they are making tablets nowadays that are as powerful as many desktops.

Not really true, ARM architecture is very different from X86, do not look at the GHZ or RAM and compare them directly because you can't when the system architecture is entirely different.

The only place I've really seen "desktops" be comparable with tablets in terms of capabilities might be on some of the lower end integrated all in ones because they are designed more as a tablet but that isn't really the point of this thread so I'll leave it there.

That in of itself doesn't mean some tablets aren't powerful enough to play a lot of the type of wargames we like because many of them are.

(in reply to d714)

Post #: 39

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/4/2014 6:57:42 PM

d714

Posts: 111
Joined: 4/11/2007
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: flanyboy
Not really true, ARM architecture is very different from X86, do not look at the GHZ or RAM and compare them directly because you can't when the system architecture is entirely different.

ARM? I think those are used for Android/WindowsRT tablets. We are talking intel core tables. Atom, but also some now with I5 and I7 CPUs. Perhaps I don't understand your reference.

< Message edited by DI7 -- 12/4/2014 7:58:31 PM >

(in reply to histgamer)

Post #: 40

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/4/2014 7:27:36 PM

aaatoysandmore

Posts: 2848
Joined: 9/11/2013
Status: offline

Do you always have to play them or use them with batteries? Can you plug them into a wall socket and they will play while charging like my netbook?

(in reply to d714)

Post #: 41

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/4/2014 7:38:26 PM

zakblood

Posts: 22687
Joined: 10/4/2012
Status: offline

batteries tbh and as they are made to be low powered devices so are long life than most laptops, but can be used while plugged in charging as well, but you gain nothing from it, but can if you like :)

(in reply to aaatoysandmore)

Post #: 42

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/4/2014 7:47:43 PM

MrsWargamer

Posts: 1655
Joined: 6/18/2014
Status: offline

I tend to use some of my tablets while plugged in. I have one that functions as a small TV or a radio for me periodically.

I also never use my laptop on battery mode much either.

Granted, while out of the home, carrying around the battery charger tends to suck enough to not be worth it.

I rarely find myself needing more than 30 minutes of charge though.

_____________________________

Wargame, 05% of the time.
Play with Barbies 05% of the time.
Play with Legos 10% of the time.
Build models 20% of the time
Shopping 60% of the time.
Exlains why I buy em more than I play em.

(in reply to zakblood)

Post #: 43

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/4/2014 10:16:54 PM

aaatoysandmore

Posts: 2848
Joined: 9/11/2013
Status: offline

Lord I would need all day as I'd stay in dah bed and play games. But, as long as it works while charging I might look into one if it's just $99 like you say. I would never pay $300-$400 for one though. I can get a brand new desktop for that with loads of goodies.

(in reply to MrsWargamer)

Post #: 44

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/5/2014 3:49:40 AM

Kuokkanen

Posts: 3545
Joined: 4/2/2004
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: aaatoysandmore

I would never pay $300-$400 for one though. I can get a brand new desktop for that with loads of goodies.

Does such desktop play Crysis?

_____________________________

(in reply to aaatoysandmore)

Post #: 45

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/5/2014 9:46:05 AM

aaatoysandmore

Posts: 2848
Joined: 9/11/2013
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Matti Kuokkanen

quote:

ORIGINAL: aaatoysandmore

I would never pay $300-$400 for one though. I can get a brand new desktop for that with loads of goodies.

Does such desktop play Crysis?

Is that a turn based wargame?

(in reply to Kuokkanen)

Post #: 46

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/5/2014 12:55:56 PM

MrsWargamer

Posts: 1655
Joined: 6/18/2014
Status: offline

I had to google Crysis just to find out what it even was :)

Yes, some of us actually don't know. Which I suspect should say enough about the program's worth to some of us.

So what a computer might be able to run it. I used to think the only useful yardstick was whether a machine could run autocad. But, I've yet to meet anyone that actually needs autocad, even though I know there are some that do.

When marketing a device, the only number that matters, is how many will you sell. And considering how many machines can run how many cliche wargames, the most valid point in this thread is that just about ANY machine will run just about ANY wargame. Whether or not the experience will be an enjoyable one is then next on the list of data points worth mention.

Whether or not my tablet will run Crysis, means nothing. The fact it will run War in the East is the only detail that will matter around here. My tablet likely run most of the industry's shooters, but they likely would be as 'enjoyable' as playing War in the East on it too.
I have not really found even a 10 inch tablet to have a big enough screen for some experiences. And once you go past a 10 inch screen, you've thrown away the reason you are carrying it around :)

_____________________________

Wargame, 05% of the time.
Play with Barbies 05% of the time.
Play with Legos 10% of the time.
Build models 20% of the time
Shopping 60% of the time.
Exlains why I buy em more than I play em.

(in reply to aaatoysandmore)

Post #: 47

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/5/2014 12:58:45 PM

zakblood

Posts: 22687
Joined: 10/4/2012
Status: offline

MrsWargamer, how you getting on with WITW?

and btw i have 7/8 and a 10.1 tablet, and agree, 7 and 8 are fine, 10 needs to be it's caddy as you get arm ache after too long using it...

(in reply to MrsWargamer)

Post #: 48

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/5/2014 2:18:07 PM

d714

Posts: 111
Joined: 4/11/2007
Status: offline

Crysis used to be the benchmark, "yes but can it play Crysis" used to be the gold standard. But damn that's a 7 year old game now - yes many tablets now probably can play Crysis since it only needs a dual core 2.2 ghz CPU and 2GB of RAM.
But that's not our gaming genre of choice - fortunetly from a power perspective our games move around basic sprites or little square boxes with NATO symbols. A basic tablet made in 2013 and 2014 should play just about everything in Matrix's product list. I will say I tried Rome Total War and it worked, but it was just too slow to be an enjoyable gaming experience. Wanted to try the more basic 1st Medieval Total War but it seems that game doesn't work on Windows 8.

(in reply to zakblood)

Post #: 49

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/5/2014 2:39:39 PM

zakblood

Posts: 22687
Joined: 10/4/2012
Status: offline

all Total War games work on windows 8.1 64bit, well they do on mine

(in reply to d714)

Post #: 50

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/5/2014 3:18:57 PM

d714

Posts: 111
Joined: 4/11/2007
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: zakblood

all Total War games work on windows 8.1 64bit, well they do on mine

Hmmm, off topic, but this includes the 1st Medieval War (not MW2)? To be frank I never tried it, I just read threads in various TW forums that no one has had success with the first one. Any special tweaking that you needed to do?

(in reply to zakblood)

Post #: 51

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/5/2014 3:25:01 PM

MrsWargamer

Posts: 1655
Joined: 6/18/2014
Status: offline

I've not tried WitW yet. Yesterday saw a great load of shuffling around of things in the apartment :)

My experience with WitE though suggests it is likely more work than Crysis. Crysis only had to manage run of the mill video demands. Running WitE I was able to see just how much is going on under the hood. Your graphics card won't be the one sweating, the processor is what will be doing the heavy lifting, as the graphics are not quite the job. But processing the moves of all of that stuff can slow down anything not up to the task.

I have put The Longest Day away for the moment (ie I have it finally all set up on the board, now it is hiding in storage away from wind). It likely will take me another serious session just to sort out the pre game charts next. It's no small task sorting out a 10 thousand counter game when you use all 10 thousand counters at the beginning more or less.

I think what sold me on WitW, was it somewhat nullifies my need to spend any energy on all my Sicily, Italy, Normandy, Bulge based games. I can essentially either play it, or not, but not need to fret over using the other ones. It's a pain having to recall, and keep track of the interfaces of differing designs of competing wargames.

I don't see myself needing a unified experience though with WitE and WitW although I'm sure some nutball will ask for it :)

_____________________________

Wargame, 05% of the time.
Play with Barbies 05% of the time.
Play with Legos 10% of the time.
Build models 20% of the time
Shopping 60% of the time.
Exlains why I buy em more than I play em.

(in reply to zakblood)

Post #: 52

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/5/2014 3:27:08 PM

zakblood

Posts: 22687
Joined: 10/4/2012
Status: offline

ah, didn't read that bit, so will have to reload it and see, mw2 loads, not sure tbh about 1 :(

got the whole lot on a steam sale a bargin tbh, sorry about that, but not really has any real problems with older games as yet, and i still play some dos ones as well

(in reply to d714)

Post #: 53

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/8/2014 6:46:45 PM

Kuokkanen

Posts: 3545
Joined: 4/2/2004
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: MrsWargamer

I haven't played Age of Wonders in a while though. I have it, just have not played it. Might install it on the tablet and see how it is like.

Have you done that yet? How does it go? Oh, and is it AoW3?

quote:

I have also taken a pass on indulging the new Civ extension Beyond the Earth.

Have you played CivV with your tablet?

quote:

Intel Atom Z3735G (which is a quad core)

I've looked through some tablets, and it seems 1,33 GHz Atom processors are very dominating at 300-500 � price tags (more expensive ones being hybrid machines). More GHz means 500 � and more with Microsoft Surface Pro 2 (without anykind of keyboard) costing 649,90 � on the list I'm looking at now. Are good display, 1,6 GHz i5, and 4/128 GB worth that price for wargames like Pandora and Age of Wonders 3?

[edit]
Are there any significant performance differences between different models of 1,33 GHz Atom processors?

[edit2]
I just checked AoW3 requirements. Recommended processor is Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600, 2.4 Ghz. What are equivalent performance Core i and Atom processors for tablets, does anybody know?

< Message edited by Matti Kuokkanen -- 12/8/2014 8:15:00 PM >

_____________________________

(in reply to MrsWargamer)

Post #: 54

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/8/2014 7:42:20 PM

MrsWargamer

Posts: 1655
Joined: 6/18/2014
Status: offline

I'm likely going to throw a few games on to it just for the sake of seeing I suppose.

Games I will check

Heroes Chronicles
AoW 1 (didn't care for the others)
Hearthstone (not sure if this is realistic)
Baldurs Gate
Command Ops Bulge
Close Combat Last Stand Arnhem (no particular reason this one though).

Games I have already checked out.
Panzer Corps
Battle Academy
Conflict of Heroes
Strategic Command
Unity of Command
WinSPWW2 and WinSPMBT

They all function fine but sometimes you benefit from having a bluetooth mouth, And all things considered, if you can't sit down to play, you are probably not going to have the time to play a serious wargame anyway :)

_____________________________

Wargame, 05% of the time.
Play with Barbies 05% of the time.
Play with Legos 10% of the time.
Build models 20% of the time
Shopping 60% of the time.
Exlains why I buy em more than I play em.

(in reply to Kuokkanen)

Post #: 55

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/8/2014 9:52:10 PM

MrsWargamer

Posts: 1655
Joined: 6/18/2014
Status: offline

Life is funny.

Just because you can do a thing, doesn't mean you should do that thing, or that it will even be of any real value :)

Installed Hearthstone on the tablet. I get told prior to running the game, that the installer advises I will want 2gig of ram, and I have less than 1. I am warned the game experience might suffer. I then went and played a test match vs the innkeeper and won the match in addition to the game running just fine actually. And I was not in need of external controllers.

Now, I installed WitW, and it runs almost as well as it does on my laptop, a bit slower though. But really, it's WitW on a 7 inch screen. Do I really want to do that to myself? Just because it runs, doesn't mean it's a solid good idea.

Installed Command Ops Battles From The Bulge. Ok it installs fine, and then you are treated to perhaps one of the more brutal examples of 'there is a limit to how small a screen size you can expect to play some games on'. The menu function buttons well, I didn't even bother trying long on this one :) I don't think using the mouse was going to help much. The game's interface colour scheme and imagery are not what I would call optimized for ease of viewing when small. This is a game you likely will regret insisting on playing on anything less than a laptop screen. I ran out the juice, so I will amuse myself checking out the non wargame and Close Combat hopefuls tomorrow.

_____________________________

Wargame, 05% of the time.
Play with Barbies 05% of the time.
Play with Legos 10% of the time.
Build models 20% of the time
Shopping 60% of the time.
Exlains why I buy em more than I play em.

(in reply to MrsWargamer)

Post #: 56

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/9/2014 5:44:34 PM

MrsWargamer

Posts: 1655
Joined: 6/18/2014
Status: offline

So I have done the survey as much as in my capacity.

I have not tried to do MMOs, or shooters as I don't play them to begin with.

Baldur's Gate looks not too bad, but eventually scrolling without a mouse is a nuisance.

Played some Heroes Chronicles. It actually responds well to touch input. Screen graphics are border line small. It is the only fantasy title I have tried that I might actually put on it later (used up a lot of my data space on wargames :) ).

I have essentially learned one big truth with Windows on a tablet. If the game was NOT designed for a tablet, it often will be inherently hard to see as the screen view will not be optimized for the size of the screen. If the game is not normally able to be scrolled in or out, then of course it won't be on the tablet as well and again, the view might be sufficiently small, as to reduce your thrill level.

When I compare the games I have on my Android using device, the games are made more likely to be able to contend with a reduced screen size. So just because you can put windows on a tablet, is no reason to be excited, if windows is really no perk.

I suspect 90% of the things I do on my Windows tablet, will be non game tasks that are not really at a disadvantage. For instance, I find I can type word documents on it reasonably well. It does though work best when I am sitting with the keyboard out and the mouse ready. The screen size though is not an issue.

To me, Windows on a tablet, is more about being able to carry an incredibly small computer on your person. But it only seems to be good for non gaming functions unless the games just coincidentally work out well.

So far it seems that Panzer Corps is the top dog for functions without need of added input devices.
Hearthstone is great as long as you have an internet connection of course.

I think the only area for me to explore left, and I am not sure I will do it immediately, is seeing how many of my Steam games like it. This is one area though, where Steam being installed without need of a hard copy present might be an advantage. I had no trouble installing Hearthstone direct from the internet.

_____________________________

Wargame, 05% of the time.
Play with Barbies 05% of the time.
Play with Legos 10% of the time.
Build models 20% of the time
Shopping 60% of the time.
Exlains why I buy em more than I play em.

(in reply to MrsWargamer)

Post #: 57

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/9/2014 10:16:13 PM

d714

Posts: 111
Joined: 4/11/2007
Status: offline

7 inch is pretty damn small. For gaming on a tablet I wouldn't pick up anything under 10 inch, which my tablet is. No problem with size except for the one Paradox game I play, and Paradox seems to love small walls of text on it's EU3-type game engines (I'm probably the only one still playing the much ignored "March of Eagles"). Fortunetly easily fixed with mods.

I have several Steam games, it works fine. Be aware it loads the entire game (as far as I can tell) onto your hard drive. I have some of the games loaded on a data card. Really, to see what works or not on ones hardware, be it a tablet or PC, one only needs to look at the hardware requirements stated for the game.

< Message edited by DI7 -- 12/9/2014 11:21:28 PM >

(in reply to MrsWargamer)

Post #: 58

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/10/2014 8:53:18 AM

aaatoysandmore

Posts: 2848
Joined: 9/11/2013
Status: offline

I just want to see a Total War game play on one of them.

Is that even possible? I can just see MrsWargamers lil ole fingers running around that tablet window trying to play one of those real time battless out.

(in reply to d714)

Post #: 59

RE: Matrix games on Windows tablets & phones - 12/10/2014 11:03:09 AM

MrsWargamer

Posts: 1655
Joined: 6/18/2014
Status: offline

Well Total War series games are not even new, and as such, likely wouldn't even challenge the processor.

But it likely would be more a visual challenge than a tactile one.

_____________________________

Wargame, 05% of the time.
Play with Barbies 05% of the time.
Play with Legos 10% of the time.
Build models 20% of the time
Shopping 60% of the time.
Exlains why I buy em more than I play em.

(in reply to aaatoysandmore)

Post #: 60