Hardware requirements checker

[GlobalWarming]

I was wondering how difficult it could be to develop an standalone program that could check if your current hardware is capable to run Unvanquished. We are thinking on developing a common launcher/installer for Trem and Unv, but if the computer hardware is not enough to run Unv it will notify the player. If it is capable, it will ask the player if he/she wants to download and install Unv. automatically.

The launcher could send some hardware details to a server to be checked. There may be a gray area in which it is not sure if the hardware may support it. In that case it will be notified that Unv. may not run smoothly. If installed, and after closing the game (one time only), it may ask how was the experience. Depending on that feedback it may suggest to lower some quality settings and will notify to the server. In that way, you would start creating a database of supported and unsupported hardware.

You can apply the same code for Unv. only. which could also be used to install (web install) and update Unv. automatically.

What do you think?

[kharnov]

At the moment, we actually have plans to make an auto-updater/launcher for our game. I suppose something like that could be incorporated into it when we get around to doing it in a month or so?

[Ishq]

Probably simple, though definitely overkill... Especially we don't really have hard hardware requirements and these are bound to change with added and removed features. A better project would be an in-engine thing that would detect the user's hardware and disable/enable effects to give them the greatest performance.