BIOSHOCK PC BLOWOUT
You've heard a lot about BioShock in the past few months, and seen a ton of footage and screenshots from the Xbox 360™ version of the game. And while both PC and 360 look alike, Irrational has spent a ton of time (and used most of their Australia office staff) creating an amazing and unique experience for the PC gamer. Rethinking the HUD from the ground up and retooling the controls to work perfectly with a keyboard and mouse, the PC version of BioShock deserves its own moment to shine. Which I am now giving you.
This update includes a podcast talking about the PC version of BioShock, brought to you by the Aussie gurus who made this version a reality, a first look at PC screenshots including the HUD and other PC-specific features, and a rundown on the PC specifications you'll need to run this game, as well as some insight into how well different configurations will churn out the graphics and gameplay of Rapture.
EPISODE TEN: BIOSHOCK ON THE PC
Today I talk to the masterminds in Australia who have been working day and night to make BioShock the best shooter ever released for the PC. We discuss system requirements, graphics cards, and they talk about how they reworked the game from the bottom up to make it perfect for the PC.
Download .zip file now | Play in popup (12:26)
BIOSHOCK PC SCREENSHOTS
BIOSHOCK PC SPECS
Operating Systems:
Windows XP (with Service Pack 2) or
Windows Vista
CPU: Pentium 4 2.4GHz Single Core processor
System RAM: 1GB
Video Card: Direct X 9.0c compliant video card with 128MB RAM (NVIDIA 6600 or better/ATI X1300 or better, excluding ATI X1550).
Sound Card: 100% direct X 9.0c compatible sound card
Hard disc space: 8GB free space
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo processor
System RAM: 2GB
Video card:
DX9: Direct X 9.0c compliant video card with 512MB RAM (NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT or better)
DX10: NVIDIA GeForce 8600 or better
Sound Card: Sound Blaster® X-Fi™ series (Optimized for use with Creative Labs EAX ADVANCED HD 4.0 or EAX ADVANCED HD 5.0 compatible sound cards)
Important Note: Game requires Internet connection for activation
PC SPEC FAQs
How much will a single-core processor hold you back in playing this game?
A single core processor will reduce your frame rate compared to an equivalently clocked dual core processor. However the game is still perfectly playable on single-core processors using lower detail settings.
Will Athlon dual-core processors work with this game?
Yes, they get a similar speed boost to intel dual core over the equivalent single core processor.
Will a DX10 card also play the game in DX9 on XP?
Yes.
How does the DX10 version compare to the 360 graphics? And DX9?
The 360 and DX9 graphics are roughly equivalent. The DX10 graphics add a few additional features and image quality enhancements on top of this.
What kind of frame rates can you expect using an 8600 card and DX10?
Depends on what detail settings you use and what resolution as well as your CPU. Obviously this card will support the game pretty well though, so I would expect at least 30-40 FPS on high detail.
How high a resolution can you play this game at with recommended specs for DX9 and DX10? What will the frame rates be?
Pretty much whatever your monitor and card support. For a really good frame rate we would probably recommend 1280x1024, though you could go higher if you prefer higher resolution to super high FPS.
Will the game run fairly consistently at 30 FPS on the recommended system specs with medium graphical settings?
Definitely, and probably higher.
What does the internet activation entail? Why do you have it?
It's an anti-piracy measure that we unfortunately have to implement to curb illegal game distribution as best we can. It's a one time check and then you're done.
Is there another way to activate the game if you don’t have internet at home?
No, you must have an internet connection to install and activate the game. It is part of the system requirements because of this.
Can you play the game if you have to reinstall windows after you have installed it once?
Yes, this is possible.
