Windows 64-bit may be a requirement for some future EA games

[koimayeul]

Being restrictive with supported systems is their loss in the end of the day. Using a Windows 7 64 bits from my recent rig upgrade here.

 

[qlum]

All CPU's capable of not running amd64 are to weak to even try and run modern games with so really that would not be an issue here.
I know quite a few people who have not gone to 64 bit windows because they have 4gb of ram, with 4gb of ram its better to just have a windows version that uses less ram and thus run on 32 bits because 64 bit windows and 64 bit programs in general just use quite a bit more memory than their 32 bit counterparts would do.

 

[Creqaw]

All CPU's capable of not running amd64 are to weak to even try and run modern games with so really that would not be an issue here.
I know quite a few people who have not gone to 64 bit windows because they have 4gb of ram, with 4gb of ram its better to just have a windows version that uses less ram and thus run on 32 bits because 64 bit windows and 64 bit programs in general just use quite a bit more memory than their 32 bit counterparts would do.

Exactly my reasoning. With only 4GB of RAM I just can't justify installing x64 Windows.

 

[elgarta]

All CPU's capable of not running amd64 are to weak to even try and run modern games with so really that would not be an issue here.
I know quite a few people who have not gone to 64 bit windows because they have 4gb of ram, with 4gb of ram its better to just have a windows version that uses less ram and thus run on 32 bits because 64 bit windows and 64 bit programs in general just use quite a bit more memory than their 32 bit counterparts would do.

This is where I sit. I am on 32 bit Windows and have an appropriate CPU. My PC build is also sub-par and I am not playing current EA games, so this phases me very little. If you are on a reasonably futureproofed system (as much as a PC can be futureproofed really) then you should be on 64 bit anyway since it is capable of more power, but again, I am not and am happy to upgrade parts every 4 years or so.

This does have the potential to alienate their market if people who want to play their games are a majority of 32 bit users, but I don't have the numbers to even know what the average EA gamer uses. In the end, much like with current gen consoles, if the people want to play it badly enough they will just pay the extra to be part of the gaming experience.

 

[RupeeClock]

I don't think this is a good move at all.
It's inevitable that everyone will need to stop using 32bit, that's the plan for my next system, but at this stage you stand to lose too many customers or cause too much frustration.
Watch this shit happen, people will buy their game and then find out their PC can't play it because of their 32bit OS.

Wait for more people to make the leap, we haven't quite reached that same stage as Windows XP yet.

Besides that EA keep behaving like they're at the top of the industry or something when they god damned aren't.

 

[air2004]

haha windows 8. not after what i've read and heard about it.

-another world

Read and heard ? You should really check out the consumer preview verison of Windows 8 before making such statements .
Windows 8 is really much worse.
;-)

 

[TheRedfox]

Hmm, i have 16GB DDR III RAM @ 1666MHZ.
64-bit arch linux , i don't think i will notify the difference.
Btw, the only game that got more than 2GB memory usage(32-bit is limited to 2GB/ process) is minecraft with 27 mods at my PC

 

[SifJar]

Makes sense, the only way progression is made is if people are encouraged strongly to adopt a new standard. People get used to what they have and don't bother to change it, limiting the capabilities of computers. If people still want 32-bit software etc., 32-bit software will still be written, instead of potentially more powerful, faster, and generally better 64-bit software. If 64-bit software is all that is available, people will upgrade and stop depending on 32-bit software, so more 64-bit software will be produced. It's really win-win.

 

[RupeeClock]

Makes sense, the only way progression is made is if people are encouraged strongly to adopt a new standard. People get used to what they have and don't bother to change it, limiting the capabilities of computers. If people still want 32-bit software etc., 32-bit software will still be written, instead of potentially more powerful, faster, and generally better 64-bit software. If 64-bit software is all that is available, people will upgrade and stop depending on 32-bit software, so more 64-bit software will be produced. It's really win-win.

EA aren't in the position to lead this change though. They're in NO position frankly, they've had so many screw ups in the past year and aren't doing so hot.
Restricting their revenue even further with this move is only going to make their predicament even severer.

 

[Foxi4]

haha windows 8. not after what i've read and heard about it.

-another world

You mean the immediate boost of performance and the possibility to disable Metro if you're a traditionalist? Try the consumer beta before you establish your opinion, it's pretty cool once you get used to it.

As for the switch to x64 - bold but a necessary move, if the rumour is to be believed then finally someone steps up their game. Most of us already have a compatible processor yet we can't use our rigs at their peak performance. If you don't have an x64 CPU then it's about time to get rid of your wooden calculator and buy an actual computer.

 

[chartube12]

How's this restricting anything? In the us at least, you can't even buy a brand new pc with windows 32bit.

 

[shakirmoledina]

then again, if u look thru a pirate's eye, there was a game that required windows xp sp3 to play it... dont remember the name.
then ppl said u can fool the game by changing the registry key and i tried it and it worked.

now this is a cpu issue. its unlikely tht it will run at all. besides the title says "MAY" and not must.

AND dont judge windows 8 by its first public build. windows 98 was problematic but 98 SE was great bcz they hadnt put it to the public (the former build). The reason for this build was for ppl to give their opinions and if i can quote correctly from engadget, there are 200,000 changes with the release to be made in june a few weeks away.

 

[Jamstruth]

Given the amount of time we've had access to 64-bit processors in the consumer market (I had an old Pentium D 5 years ago and that was 64-bit) this was bound to happen sooner or later. EA have just announced that its a possibility. Anybody who owns a gaming rig just now has a 64-bit processor and likely already has 64-bit Windows. If they don't then WTF HAVE THEY BEEN DOING? 64-bit is the standard for basically every computer sold now. So anybody bashing EA over this: Why?

And those wondering if the programs could be hacked to run on 32-bit Windows: No. THe opcodes for 64-bit vs 32-bit are entirely different. A 64-bit CPU has stuff in it to run 32-bit programs (i.e. back compatibility. Its like asking if there's a way to ahck my GBC to run GBA games.

 

[Deleted member 473940]

Doesnt affect me.
But its not coming directly from EA o.o

 

[Youkai]

Well lucky i myself never actually had 64bit windows installed but two of my friends had they they happily downgraded to 32bit even thaught it meant the loss of some usable ram.

So many programms be it legal or illegaly obtained do not work propperly or at all with 64bit windows and i still can't understand why because as you said there was more than enough time to get experience with 64bit systems.

 

[NekuSoul]

Well lucky i myself never actually had 64bit windows installed but two of my friends had they they happily downgraded to 32bit even thaught it meant the loss of some usable ram.

So many programms be it legal or illegaly obtained do not work propperly or at all with 64bit windows and i still can't understand why because as you said there was more than enough time to get experience with 64bit systems.

MANY Programs?
On my Laptop there was only ONE Program (from around 2002) which refused to install, but with some minor modifications it worked. Even if it didn't worked there are many other options like Compatibility Mode or Virtual Machines to get it running.
You have more Problems using a 32Bit Windows today because there are already some Programs out there for x64 ony like some Adobe Products (e.g. Premiere). And who really downgrades his Windows to 32Bit, even with a loss of RAM: Just go away and install Windows 3. I mean there are so many Programs everyone still uses that aren't working today because it's a 16-Bit Application.

 

[Deleted User]

I am reading this topic using an HP Mini 5103 with a 64-bit operating system, so EA requiring was just the inevitable. Imagine this crappy netbook running 64-bit then, PC Gamers should always have 64-bit to take advantage of 4GB+ of RAM.

 

[FireGrey]

haha windows 8. not after what i've read and heard about it.

-another world

I'm using it right now and i beg to differ.
I'm using it with a trackpad and it's perfect, you just need to get used to it.

 

[Shoat]

If this is true, it is simply a bad decision from every possible viewpoint, you will always want to make your product available to as many people as possible.
I doubt that the (obvious) bribe from Microsoft is large enough to compensate for 46% of gamers never buying their games.

 

[codezer0]

I would totally understand if there was a technical reason why it couldn't run on a 32-bit OS... RAGE was probably the closest to validating that, with the whole mega-texture thing, but they managed to figure out how to get it to work with 32-bit too.

I would have no objection, if there is a solid, technical reason to require a 64-bit OS environment. But you're only screwing yourself if you arbitrarily limit it so. For example, see Microsoft trying to require Vista for Halo 2, when we all know that game does not require DX 10-class graphics.