Minimum screen resolution?

[Scharlo]

Resurrecting this thread:


My main concern with 1024 x 768 is whether I'd get push-back from the portals on this. I have confidence that the number of users who CAN'T run 1024 x 768 or better is very low (<1%). I released a game back in 1998 that required 1024 x 768 (Railroad Tycoon 2), albeit for a somewhat harder-core audience. Still, the fact that I'm not aware of other popular casual games that REQUIRE 1024 x 768 makes me a bit nervous. Bejewelled 2 defaults to 1024 x 768, but it also has a 640 x 480 fallback.

So, is anyone aware of any popular casual games that require 1024? Would portals likely object?

Next week we are releasing the game that works in 1024x768 ONLY. Game is accepted and it will launch on all major game portals (MSN, AOL, Pogo...)
Flash version works in 640x480.

[Teq]

I know a few "business" users who happen to be casual gamers, the laptops (sub-note) they use are locked at 800x600

[Scharlo]

I know a few "business" users who happen to be casual gamers, the laptops (sub-note) they use are locked at 800x600

Good point, but I don't know of any subnotebook except Olivetti that would match the minimum game specs (recommended for PopCap framework) and have resolution limited to 800x600.

[dxgame]

"Next week we are releasing the game that works in 1024x768 ONLY. Game is accepted and it will launch on all major game portals.."

1024x768.. ONLY? I find that hard to believe the major portals would accept that game. It must be an excellent performer. Congrats!

[Scharlo]

Yes, it's a pretty decent game and everyone believes it will perform well. I still can't see the reason why 1024x768 would be an issue. PopCap framework specifies P3 500 as minimum. Is there a P3 machine out there that doesn't support 1024x768? Also, I don't know of any monitor limited to 800x600 that you would be able to buy in last 6-7 years (new one at least).
Did I miss something ?

[mash]

Yes. The windowed mode... and the default resoloutions of Win XP and 98.

[Scharlo]

Those two should be reasonable concerns ? Our game will allow windowed mode if desktop resolution is higher than required one.
XP/98 default resolution ? What about them ? I don't see how are they related to the resolution of the game.

[dmikesell]

Our game will allow windowed mode if desktop resolution is higher than required one.

Good idea. My game only supports 1024x768 as well, and currently I gracefully exit if they answer No to my "Run Fullscreen?" prompt.

[mash]

> Those two should be reasonable concerns ? Our game will allow windowed mode if desktop resolution is higher than required one.

I think those are resonable concerns. You will lost many potential user.

> XP/98 default resolution ? What about them ? I don't see how are they related to the resolution of the game."

XP default resolution is 800x600. Average casual gamer CAN'T change the resolution of desktop. If your game can't run on 800x600 (640x480 windowed mode) you will lost users.

[dmikesell]

XP default resolution is 800x600. Average casual gamer CAN'T change the resolution of desktop. If your game can't run on 800x600 (640x480 windowed mode) you will lost users.

The default or the maximum? The user doesn't have to change the resolution, the game will do it for them and then change it back upon exit.

[Scharlo]

Exactly. I do agree that many users don't know how to change the resolution, but why would they ?

[mash]

dmikesell: Would you like to change resolution of DESKTOP from your game in windowed mode? Fullscreen mode is different story...

[dmikesell]

Yeah, my game only supports fullscreen, so I guess that's not a concern for me. It's more of an action game. I don't see anyone wanting to play it windowed, but I could be wrong.

[Donavon Keithley]

OneStat.com just released some fresh stats on what screen resolutions web surfers are using.

The most popular screen resolutions on the web in the world are:

1. 1024 x 768 56.15%
2. 1280 x 1024 15.79%
3. 800 x 600 12.04%
4. 1280 x 800 4.09%
5. 1152 x 864 3.90%

[Bromoc]

If you want to target the New UMPC's at any time, then 800x480 is the minimum resolution you should consider. With all the headaches that come with it (non standard ratio and what not)

But for me I want to develop games for the UMPC so I'm taking the headaches.

[Scharlo]

This is a bit weird. They are listing minimum resolution (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/umpc/hardware.mspx)