What are the QAs testing on?
A1. (S.M. 1/16) We currently have a machine that we play the builds on for estimation of what min spec will be “like”. It is a Dell Dimension 4100 /w a GeForce2 GTS. I think it has a 700MHz P3 cpu in it. We play with the amount of memory in it (in order to see what will happen if we reduce it) but overall it plays reasonably well. A2. (T.C. – Game Banshee – 2/3) We keep a min spec machine running a current build of the game on a desk outside our conference room. The programmers regularly check to see how well the game is running on that machine, and the artists check their work as well. Our lead artist made many of the spell effects with variable fidelity, so they can run on lower end machines at low fidelity (read, fewer particles and emitters) and still look good.
