Screen Size Limitations?

What screen sizes are GC2 Compatible with?

from GalCiv2 Forums
Will Galactic Civilizations support a screen size of 800X600, or will it only support larger screens?
16,500 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
1024x768 will be the minimum. It will support higher resolutions (unlike the first GalCiv), but not lower ones.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Am I going to have to buy a larger moniter? How much are they? Because I think it'd be annoying to play a game that's twice the size of my screen. Or is it the size of this website? (Is the highest resolution 1600X1200?)
Wish they'd make 800X600 the minimum. (But of course I do, with that being my screen size.)
Elemental: Reforged
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
There's no limit on resolution for the game. Maybe it's time to upgrade your monitor
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Don't worry about it requiring 1024x768--you most likely won't need a new monitor (though if your video card is very old, you may need a new one of those).

Firstly, because games generally ignore your desktop resolution (you can merrily run 640x480 on your desktop, and play games in 1600x1200), and secondly, because a higher resolution just means more stuff crammed onto your screen at once (it will look smaller, but it will all be on the screen). If you're using a CRT monitor, it will almost definitely support resolutions far higher than 800x600, even if it is quite old.

Realistically, the only way you would genuinely be limited to 800x600 is if you're using an old, small laptop (LCDs can physically support a specific resolution, and others than that one will look very bad... but anything over 15" will support 1024x768). Other than that, it should work out just fine for you as far as resolution support goes.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
you need to upgrade. It's the same reason they don't make the game for windows 95.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
So, if I keep my current moniter, does it mean I have to scroll back and forth over and over again, or can I see it all without touching the keyboard?

What video cards will work? I've never needed to know this in the past, so I've got no idea where to find that information. I'll start my search in Help and Support. (By the way, I've got a Windows XP.)
Found it.
Video Card
Model: S3 Graphics ProSavage Compaq
Driver: s3gnbm.sys

Found this to, might not make any diffrence but I added it anyway.
Sound Card
Manufacturer: Analog Devices, Inc.
Model: SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio
Driver: smwdm.sys

Is there a minimum requirements page somewhere around here?
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
So, if I keep my current moniter, does it mean I have to scroll back and forth over and over again, or can I see it all without touching the keyboard?


You will see it all at once, but it might appear a little small.

I at least need a minimum requirements!


I don't think there are any as yet, although if your machine running windows XP I suspect your processor etc is up to it. The main issue seems to be peoples video cards. You need to support DirectX 9c I belive, you could test that before you buy the game by (after creating a windows restore point) installing the current Direct X9 and trying it out.
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

I'm not sure if the S3 will work.  I seem to remember people having trouble with the S3 when The Political Machine came out, and GalCiv2 uses a lot more 3D features than The Political Machine does.  If it's the one that only has 8 MB of VRAM, it definitely won't work.

We haven't finalized the minimum requirements for GC2, but I think that they will be something like this:

1 GHz CPU, 256 MB of RAM, a video card that supports DirectX 9.0c with 32 MB VRAM, Windows 98 or higher. 

You can check www.pricewatch.com for a newer video card if you need your computer to last you for a few more years before upgrading.  I recommend getting an ATI Radeon from the 9000 series or a Geforce from the FX series.