bikerdude on 13/10/2009 at 14:55
Afternoon folks
I have some news!
The latest version of Vmware Workstation7.0 (build-197124) has sufficient 3D support to allow std thief2 to run, eureka! I here you say but there some caveats....
* The vmware video driver still need to be optimized, as going load times are extremely slow 2-3mins, this is down to the vmware driver not the vhd access speed.
* If the DDfix patch is applied you just get a black screen, but the game appears to play in the background.
* No fog
I would be interested to see how VmWs7 runs on other versions of windows(get testing people...), specifically Vista x86 to see if there is an improvement in the 3D speed and load times of Thief2.
Host system specs:
Windows7 x64
Qx9650@3.2Ghz
4GB DDR2 1066 ram
1.2TB Raid-0
GTX285-SC
Guest system specs:
Windows Xp sp3 x86
Qx9650@3.2Ghz(1 core)
1GB ram
10GB VHD
SVGA II
Anywhere here is a Youtube vid to wet those appetites.. Build-197124(10/10/09) has the best 3D support thus far. Just click on the picture below, and the crappy frame rate was down to the screen recording software.
(
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDaXYJaz8ZM)
Inline Image:
http://zflqtg.blu.livefilestore.com/y1pFpYRyYnfTiynl-6zHH8sp8rqz2_NNai4wVZq7NpBQnVAbcXH4wyt4fXj3Yud7LaSoRp8iPwWPZiig57D53oFWft-d6HoC-_s/ThiefVmware1.jpg<param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDaXYJaz8ZM"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDaXYJaz8ZM" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed>
:-)
Kerrle on 13/10/2009 at 23:18
VMWare Fusion 3 is coming out shortly on the mac and it actually has full shader support. I know some guys that have been beta'ing it and they've been fairly impressed by the performance.
bikerdude on 13/10/2009 at 23:31
Fyi, ws7 above comes with OpenGL and Shader Model 3.0 support
Brian The Dog on 14/10/2009 at 07:28
Forgive my ignorance, but don't you have to pay for VMWare software? I'm currently using the free VirtualPC2007 from Microsoft, which works well in general but has a terrible graphics card simulated. A free VMware that lets you play Thief with hardware graphics would be a really good thing.
bikerdude on 14/10/2009 at 09:55
Quote Posted by Brian The Dog
Forgive my ignorance, but don't you have to pay for VMWare software? I'm currently using the free VirtualPC2007 from Microsoft, which works well in general but has a terrible graphics card simulated. A free VMware that lets you play Thief with hardware graphics would be a really good thing.
correct, but it dosent cost much at £50. So when they sort the 3D support it will be something worth buying..
The Brain on 14/10/2009 at 14:33
Quote Posted by Brian The Dog
Forgive my ignorance, but don't you have to pay for VMWare software? I'm currently using the free VirtualPC2007 from Microsoft, which works well in general but has a terrible graphics card simulated. A free VMware that lets you play Thief with hardware graphics would be a really good thing.
VMWare Server (you need to get free serial number for it) and VMWare Player are free. However, trying to play 3D games at decent speed with them is quite impossible due to poor implementation of true 3D hardware emulation/virtualization.
Looks like that only Workstation/Fusion does 3D emulation/virtualization in decent way.
Kerrle on 14/10/2009 at 22:20
Quote Posted by Brian The Dog
Forgive my ignorance, but don't you have to pay for VMWare software? I'm currently using the free VirtualPC2007 from Microsoft, which works well in general but has a terrible graphics card simulated. A free VMware that lets you play Thief with hardware graphics would be a really good thing.
Virtualized 3D is a very significant development; none of the free virtualization products have great support there.
Your best chance for free support is probably VirtualBox, which does have some acceleration and is improving, but is still quite early. VMWare is pretty much the only player with good support right now - Parallels has 3D support, but it's closer to Virtualbox's level of quality than VMWare's.
I was actually really disappointed that Microsoft didn't include virtualized graphics with their "XP Mode" in Windows 7. They of all people have the resources to pull it off right.
bikerdude on 15/10/2009 at 09:09
Quote Posted by Kerrle
I was actually really disappointed that Microsoft didn't include virtualized graphics with their "XP Mode" in Windows 7. They of all people have the resources to pull it off right.
Youd think wouldnt you, but no. They are just using a rehash of Virtual PC which was and is shite. Vbox is way better than Vpc and its free, that should show you how little ms gives a shit.
Kerrle on 16/10/2009 at 02:25
Yeah, I know. But it's really in their best interest, too. If they provided a well virtualized XP built in they could drop a ton of archaic APIs and other support from the main OS.
That's what I get for getting my hopes up for an MS product, I guess.
