FSAA and Halo
A few complaints I've read about MacSoft's just-released Mac conversion of Halo have focused on Full-Scene Anti Aliasing (FSAA). More specifically, the complaints have noted that FSAA doesn't work on some systems that should be able to support it. As I understand it, the problem isn't in the game itself, but it's in the drivers that the video cards use to display their 3D graphics.
It's one of those tricky issues that is really easy for a casual user to blame on the game itself, and lord knows Halo is going to be a magnet for criticism -- but it's one of those things that clear-thinking people need to separate from the game when they start thinking about it objectively. At least the hook is there to make FSAA work once drivers are up to snuff.
Comments
I just got finished reading those comments in the MC forums about the Halo story that went up a few days ago. An interesting thread to read, rife with conspiracy theories. I didn't realize how retarded some people were.
Posted by: Alex | December 14, 2003 01:18 PM
I guess I forgot to tie in how I was surprised they didn't blame this issue on Microsoft as well. At least FSAA is an option on the Mac version. It isn't even supported in the PC game.
Posted by: Alex | December 14, 2003 01:19 PM
OMG HALO SUCXXXXXXXX!!!!!@@ BOYCTEOTE TEH HALO!!!!!@@@ PETAR COHAN SI TEH SSUCK A... ah, I can't do this. I don't have the energy. As you were.
Posted by: Corey Tamas | December 14, 2003 10:01 PM
Corey, next time, use the AOLer translator, it'll make it easier. http://ssshotaru.homestead.com/files/aolertranslator.html ;-)
Posted by: Alphax | December 14, 2003 11:58 PM
This is obviously a hotly debated issue, one which is completely overblown considering a fix is on the way.
ATI told me this morning that their January driver update will fix the driver problem that's preventing FSAA in Halo. Both Westlake and MacSoft told me last week that the ATI driver fix and a small patch for the problem will fix the problem. Once that news gets out, I'm sure tempers will calm and Mac gamers will become a kindler, gentler, not-so-paranoid bunch of people....
or not.
Posted by: Jean-Luc Dinsdale | December 15, 2003 03:37 PM
you could all just get a real computer (PC)
Posted by: Brandon | December 17, 2003 03:46 AM
"you could all just get a real computer (PC)"... You make a good point: If there's one thing that's more fun than playing Halo (which runs slower on comparably clocked PCs, btw), it's hunting down driver conflicts, trying to understand why Windows doesn't recognize my ethernet card or figuring out which PCI slot the Soundblaster will and will not work in. (Thumbs up) Windows all the way!!!
Posted by: Corey Tamas | December 17, 2003 09:57 AM
Brandon, does the term "Not while I have breath" ring a bell?
Posted by: Alphax | December 17, 2003 07:13 PM
"you could all just get a real computer (PC)"
I do, I have a Mac, the original PC. Not coincidentally, Halo runs faster on a Mac and also supports FSAA where Windows PC does not.
Posted by: stingerman | December 31, 2003 12:34 PM
A PC fucks up the mac kid, you gotta calm down with this mac, that other sick kid Jean-Luc said FSAA does work ho! No one wants to play halo on a mac. It's better on PC, and you know it ho!
Posted by: Neo | April 6, 2004 05:12 AM