AMD Announces GAME!: Raising the Bar for Mainstream Gaming PCs
by Anand Lal Shimpi on May 19, 2008 12:00 AM EST- Posted in
- CPUs
Final Words
Ever since the introduction of Intel's Centrino brand, manufacturers have attempted to duplicate its success by pushing the importance of a platform. Today AMD has come the closest I've seen since then by, at least with its AMD GAME Ultra specification, putting together a list of components that can actually guarantee a good experience.
The initial goal of Centrino was that users could go out and purchase a notebook with the Centrino logo and know that they were getting a decent machine, regardless of who made it. It would have wireless, good performance and good battery life, all things that are very important to notebook users. The AMD GAME! program has similarly lofty goals; AMD wants anyone who purchases a GAME! PC or a GAME! Ready peripheral to have a good overall gaming experience.
These are the only logos AMD was allowed to use in support of AMD GAME! but we're told to expect retail avability of GAME! PCs in the second half of 2008. Online system builders like Alienware and Velocity Micro should be shipping GAME! PCs immediately.
However, Centrino was successful not only because of good hardware choices, but a multi-billion dollar marketing campaign by Intel. The concern is that AMD won't have what is necessary to make AMD GAME! a success. The logo program is a good starting point, but I can't help but wonder if something like this won't truly take off until Intel tries its hand at it. Wait for Larrabee and we may see just that.
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Locutus465 - Monday, May 19, 2008 - link
If AMD works more closely with Microsoft's games for windows inititive actually I think the majority of the real pc gaming issues will be solved (regardless of our personal opinion's about DRM)....One interesting solution might be, extend the Vista DRM system to include game content protection, make sure there's a good disaster recovery senerio in place. Something akin to what microsoft does with Zune or apple does with iTunes, i.e. DRMed content can be (re)activated on your PC as long as you can authenticate that your PC is an autherized machine. That way you don't loose all your save games etc should you decide to upgrade your motherboard (as I did recently) there by invalidating your system's DRM.
brian_riendeau - Monday, May 19, 2008 - link
Well they already shot themselves in the foot with this one by designating one of the specs to already be "ULTRA". I think they would have been better off with simple AMD Game 1.0, 2.0... Also I think everyone can remember how AMD Live was supposed to be a good idea and that failed too.Staples - Monday, May 19, 2008 - link
Windows Vista's hardware assessment numbers are still a much better indication of performance than AMD's certification. I think Vista's performance numbers should include more detailed info than they currecntly do but as small as they are now, they still provide better info than "AMD Game Ultra."chick0n - Monday, May 19, 2008 - link
AMD Game? no Thx, After they screwed me over in the 4x4 crap?AMD has this problem as they just do some paper launch, get the media attention they want, then they will turn around and completely ignore their promises. Look at 4x4.
Im still using my 4x4 but, not gonna count on anything AMD announce.
Locutus465 - Monday, May 19, 2008 - link
I'm sorry... But you're complaining about paper launches due to how you were screwed with 4x4 and then talking about how you're actually still using the platform? Comon now... If you're using the HW in your home right now then it wasn't a paper launch was it?tayhimself - Monday, May 19, 2008 - link
AMD is now a chartware powerhouse. The merger with ATI has taken their chartware to unprecedented heights.DO NOT WANT!!!
Noya - Monday, May 19, 2008 - link
I wish Anandtech would disclose how much they're paid for each "article"...right next to the "authors" name. Just like presidential candidates should have to disclose every bit of cash they get.chizow - Monday, May 19, 2008 - link
To be fair, AT also did a piece on NV's ESA certification branding, which isn't much more exciting.Anand is certainly entitled to any perks he gets from running a great site, but ya I would've rather seen this space filled with RV770 specs and discussion.
JarredWalton - Monday, May 19, 2008 - link
It's something pertinent to computer enthusiasts, so we discussed it. If Intel comes out with their alternative to "GAME!" tomorrow, we'd likely have an article on that as well. It's part of covering the computer technology market.I can tell you how much companies have paid me for my articles since starting with AnandTech: $0. The same goes for the rest of us. Advertising is totally separate, and I don't even pay attention to what's there (like most readers I'm sure). About the only perk (other than paychecks from AnandTech) is getting to play with some of the latest and greatest hardware -- and working from home. Those are, of course, pretty huge perks. :-)
Personally, static definitions for the gaming market are way too complex IMO. What would be far better is if gaming companies would get on board with these definitions. Then we could have AMD (or Intel) release basic levels like "Game! - Mainstream 2007", "Game! - Performance 2007", etc. and update those each year. "Game! - Performance 2007" may end up being about the same as "Game! - Mainstream 2008", but as long as the box points at a specific specification users should be better off.
Frankly, the current "This game requires a DX9 card with 128MB RAM" is woefully inadequate. I like the theory of what AMD is doing; it's getting representation for lots of other games into the mix that concerns me. HL2 EP2 isn't nearly as demanding as Crysis or World in Conflict - or several other titles we could list. Don't even get me started on including WoW, Zoo Tycoon 2, Sims 2, and Sins of a Solar Empire -- those are fine games for a lot of people (although I only play Sins much), but all should run fine on pretty moderate hardware. We also don't know what settings they're using; Sins at minimum details is different than Sins at maximum details for example.
What I'd really love is to see CrossFire and SLI support that actually fully work out of the box without a driver update and without tweaking any profiles or renaming an executable. But that's a different market segment.
ap90033 - Thursday, May 22, 2008 - link
You go Jarred! You guys do a wonderful job and I appreciate all the information you pass along to us.