My take on Bioshock using XP/HD 2900XT vs Xbox 360

[Eastcoasthandle]

Here is my take on the demo Bioshock on both XP SP2 and xbox 360:

Frame Rate
The PC version using a HD 2900 XT offers frame rates over 100 FPS and averages around 70 FPS. Although I do not know the exact frame rate on the xbox 360 it was slower. This had an overall negative effect on fast moving situations were quick reflexes are needed. For example when splicers try to hit you with a pipe or flash light I found it difficult to dodge or attempt to strike first with the xbox 360. However, this is not the case for the PC version

Visuals
I found the PC version just as good as the xbox 360 version. However, I did find better lighting on the PC then xbox 360. The lights on Big Daddy's head and other objects light up much better (often giving off a flare effect) more so then what I experienced from the xbox 360. I take this with a grain of salt because this was viewed on 2 different monitors.

Audio
I found the audio on the PC version (using the best setting possible) offer more sound then the xbox 360. However, the close caption wasn't on par with the audio at times for the PC. Not sure if that's my PC or the game.

Overall
I found a bit more immersion out of the PC version then the Xbox 360 version however both are very stunning and fun to play. The reasons are a bit bias because I was able to use a keyboard and mouse and the frame rates were much higher (higher then I originally thought). It appears that as long as frame rates are higher then 60 FPS the game's immersion, responsiveness and overall player reaction makes any higher frame rate none existent. Therefore, even if you are running at 110+FPS it's really no different then running at 70+ FPS, IMHO.


Side Note:
I found it a bit odd that some of the weapons that the Splicers, etc were using were not selectable. I am not sure if that's just me but It would have been nice to pick up items like the flashlight or the machete for example

Below are some pic of the PC version for you to review. All taken at 1680x1050. There was not AA/AF options in game. AA for this game is only supported when running DX10. I found no real reason to enable it via CCC. Bare in mind although these are only still moments in time it doesn't reflect the actual game play. Anyone spotting anomalies in a screen shot adds very little for actual in game immersion. Frame rates throughout the demo were over 110 FPS at times and averaged around 70 FPS at 858/900.


http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/th_Bioshock_1.png (http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/Bioshock_1.png)

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/th_Bioshock_2.png (http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/Bioshock_2.png)

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/th_Bioshock_3.png (http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/Bioshock_3.png)

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/th_Bioshock_4.png (http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/Bioshock_4.png)

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/th_Bioshock_5.png (http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/Bioshock_5.png)

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/th_Bioshock_6.png (http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/Bioshock_6.png)

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/th_Bioshock_7.png (http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/Bioshock_7.png)

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/th_Bioshock_8.png (http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/Bioshock_8.png)

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/th_Bioshock_9.png (http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/Bioshock_9.png)

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/th_Bioshock_10.png (http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/Bioshock_10.png)

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/th_Bioshock_11.png (http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/Bioshock_11.png)

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/th_Bioshock_12.png (http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/Bioshock_12.png)

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/th_Bioshock_13.png (http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/Bioshock_13.png)

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/th_Bioshock_14.png (http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/Bioshock_14.png)

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/th_Bioshock_21.png (http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/Bioshock_21.png)

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/th_Bioshock_22.png (http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/Bioshock_22.png)

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/th_Bioshock_23.png (http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/Bioshock_23.png)

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/th_Bioshock_24.png (http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/bioshock/Bioshock_24.png)




Click on the thumbnail then click on the image to enlarge it

[DilTech]

Nice write up and screen shots.

Could you attempt to enable AA eastcoast? It works fine on my 8800GTX with the latest beta driver(in windows xp), and as such I'm curious if it works on the HD 2900's.

[zerazax]

I thought AA/AF cannot be enabled in XP? Only DX10? Or is there some other way to force it

[Tibu]

For some reason, every time I enable EAX the game insta crashes when I click the exe. I have an X-Fi with the latest drivers and Vista.

[afireinside]

The dx10 version has no AA option either.

[Yukon Trooper]

What kind of monitor is it running on?

[NKD]

yea want to know what resolution were u playing at on ur pc with the hd 2900xt, would be nice to know the quality settings as well, 70fps average is no good for me if i dont know the resolution, nice post though.

the reason i am asking is because i will be getting 2 hd 2900's with in this week. thanks alot for any info in advanced man.

[Yukon Trooper]

yea want to know what resolution were u playing at on ur pc with the hd 2900xt, would be nice to know the quality settings as well, 70fps average is no good for me if i dont know the resolution, nice post though.

the reason i am asking is because i will be getting 2 hd 2900's with in this week. thanks alot for any info in advanced man.
He said he was running 1680X1050, I just wanted to know what model of monitor he is using. As far as quality goes it would be nice if he would have activated is through CCC as it the game itself only supports it through DX10.

[zanzabar]

For some reason, every time I enable EAX the game insta crashes when I click the exe. I have an X-Fi with the latest drivers and Vista.

u need to wait for an alchemy patch or dont enable eax

[Bigchrome]

Running at 1920x1200 everything maxed XP SP2, cats 7.8, HD2900XT at stock I get a frankly terrible low 40s average....Not sure what's going on.

[IV0]

Runing at 1680x1050 (dx10) with 2900XT 512MB with around 60-70FPS everything maxed out.
@Bigchrome Try the new ATI HOTFIX for the game (i saw also 7.9 beta drivers or they might be the same thing as hotfix, becouse it wheys 90MB:rolleyes: )...

[Bigchrome]

Hmm, I tried to install the hotfix as my main driver and it didn't work, so on went the 7.8s then the hotfix....I threw in an OC for good measure....Getting around 60fps now but still not happy.

[NKD]

60fps average at 1920x1200, i would be pretty damn happy man, but hey may be ur not, also dont give up on the hotfix, try to install the whol package, after all the only reason it was released was for bioshock.

[Truckchase!]

u need to wait for an alchemy patch or dont enable eax

You can add your own games to alchemy, just edit the .ini file.

edit: Scratch that:

http://forums.creative.com/creativelabs/board/message?board.id=Vista&message.id=23376

Bioshock is OpenAL, so no need for alchemy.