Topic: Batman: Arkham Knight

[MysterD]

Polygon -> Batman: Arkham Knight announced for PC, PS4, and XB1...with Rocksteady (makers of Batman: Arkham Asylum + Arkham City) developing it.

[Xessive]

Hallelujah! I'm glad Rocksteady is back at the helm. Let's hope they revolutionize some paradigms, think outside the box.

[MysterD]

Batman: Arkham Knight PC requirements are up

    

   Minimum System Requirements
        OS: Win 7 SP1, Win 8.1 (64-bit Operating System Required)
        Processor: Intel Core i5-750, 2.67 GHz | AMD Phenom II X4 965, 3.4 GHz
        Memory: 6 GB RAM
        Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660
        Graphics Memory: 2 GB
        DirectX®: 11
        Network: Broadband Internet Connection Required
        Hard Drive Space: 45 GB


    Recommended System Requirements
        OS: Win 7 SP1, Win 8.1 (64-bit Operating System Required)
        Processor: Intel Core i7-3770, 3.4 GHz | AMD FX-8350, 4.0 GHz
        Memory: 8 GB RAM
        Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760
        Graphics Memory: 3 GB
        DirectX®: 11
        Network: Broadband Internet Connection Required
        Hard Drive Space: 55 GB


    ULTRA System Requirements
        OS: Win 7 SP1, Win 8.1 (64-bit Operating System Required)
        Processor: Intel Core i7-3770, 3.4 GHz | AMD FX-8350, 4.0 GHz
        Memory: 8 GB RAM
        Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980
        Graphics Memory: 3 GB
        DirectX®: 11
        Network: Broadband Internet Connection Required
        Hard Drive Space: 55 GB

[gpw11]

I remember when I first got into PC gaming it seemed like developers would understate the requirements.  Now they totally overstate them it seems.   Honestly, the CPUs listed for "Recommended" and "Ultra" are weird.  There's also a huge performance gap between the AMD model and the Intel one.

[MysterD]

Let's add this to my list of games that I really need a new video card for:

The Evil Within - owned; runs like garbage on my rig at 1080p.
ACU - owned. It wants NVidia GF 680 minimum (2GB VRAM).
The Witcher 3 - don't own. It wants 2GB GeForce 660 for a minimum.
Ryse - don't own it; but that certainly looks like I'd rather run it with a better vid-card, since it's recommended specs + beyond are much higher.
Middle-Earth: SoM - See my thoughts on Ryse.
Batman: Arkham Knight - 2GB VRAM card for minimum requirement.

[gpw11]

I don't know if anyone is interested or has used Nuveem before, but AK is pretty cheap on Nuveem right now.  My first time using it so I took a bit of a risk but word from reddit is that it works fine and your Steam keys aren't region locked unless Nuveem is (which in this case it isn't) as it's by request from the publisher.

[MysterD]

I don't know if anyone is interested or has used Nuveem before, but AK is pretty cheap on Nuveem right now.  My first time using it so I took a bit of a risk but word from reddit is that it works fine and your Steam keys aren't region locked unless Nuveem is (which in this case it isn't) as it's by request from the publisher.

B/c they're in Brazil, they often have sales beating everybody else. I haven't bought anything from them - but a lot of PC gamers on CheapAssGamer outside of Brazil buy from there regularly.
Just, yes - make sure the version you buy from them not region locked. Usually, Nuuvem's good enough to tell us if it is.
Also, if you're using Nuuvum - use Google Chrome b/c it has a English translator built into it.

Since I've never bought from them - did you use the Hola extension via Chrome or some kind of VPN? Did you use a USA Address?

[gpw11]

No apparently you only have to use the Hola extention or VPN for some games.  I really just went onto the site, no extensions or vpn, paid with paypal and that was it.

[MysterD]

No apparently you only have to use the Hola extention or VPN for some games.  I really just went onto the site, no extensions or vpn, paid with paypal and that was it.

Nice. Thanks for the info.

Good to know, in case I do find a deal from Nuuvum that I feel I have to take the risk on.

[gpw11]

I think it totally depends on the publisher whether or not the game is region locked though, so I'd still look into it before pulling the trigger on a specific game (for instance, GTA V was originally not region locked but the newer keys they sell are).

[MysterD]

IGN -> "Opinion: Batman: Arkham Knight's Season Pass is Absurd."
For those who didn't know, Batman AK's Season Pass will be $40.

[Xessive]

IGN -> "Opinion: Batman: Arkham Knight's Season Pass is Absurd."
For those who didn't know, Batman AK's Season Pass will be $40.

Call of Duty's season pass is $50. Battlefield's Premium pack is $50. Those are absurd.

If the content the Season Pass is worth more than the cost of the pass, then it's not so absurd. Then it becomes a matter of perspective.

[MysterD]

CinemaBlend -> Batman: AK PC requirements updated; AMD cards will now require 3GB VRAM Radeon HD 7950 for a minimum.

OS: Win 7 SP1, Win 8.1 (64-bit Operating System Required)
Processor: Intel Core i5-750, 2.67 GHz | AMD Phenom II X4 965, 3.4 GHz
Memory: 6 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 (2 GB Memory Minimum) | AMD Radeon HD 7950 (3 GB Memory Minimum)
DirectX: Version 11
Network: Broadband Internet connection required
Hard Drive: 45 GB available space

[gpw11]

This also seems to be getting really good reviews.   I preloaded it on Steam since I got it in that great Nuvuum deal (or whatever).  Now I really have to put some Witcher 3 time in.

[gpw11]

...except on Steam.  Don't buy the PC version of this game as of yet.  All kinds of complaints about terrible optimization, crashes, and the game deleting itself (!!)

[MysterD]

Destructoid -> Another Warner Bros. game's PC version strikes again at launch with issues - Batman: Arkham Knight.
PC Gamer -> Batman: Arkham Knight PC port appears to be a disaster.
RockPaperShotgun -> Batman: AK PC is a mess.
Youtube - RockPaperShotgun -> Batman: AK PC video.

[MysterD]

Who the hell did the Batman AK PC version?

Rocksteady speaks:
http://community.wbgames.com/t5/Support-for-PC/PC-Performance-issues-we-hear-you/m-p/571341#M7537

Hi all

We're aware that some users are reporting performance issues with the PC version of Batman: Arkham Knight. This is something that Rocksteady takes very seriously. We are working closely with our external PC development partner to make sure these issues get resolved as quickly as possible.

We'll update this thread when we've got more info to share.

Thanks
CODA

[Xessive]

It's a mess on PC, especially with the 30fps lock. With some ini tweaking I got it running smooth (unlocked framerate) and with relatively good performance.

That said, the PC version feels like a port. I'm not ticked about it because I'm using a gamepad though.

[MysterD]

Looks like Iron Galaxy (a mostly console studio) handled Batman AK PC.
They also did the Batman: Arkham Origins PC version, as well - which had its share of issues at launch, as well.

[gpw11]

Someone looked into it somehow in Steam DB and the rumor is that they only had two months to do the port.  I don't know if it's true or not but if so, holy shit.

I prebought the game through Nuvuum because it was super cheap, so no Steam refund for me (I think), but I'm fine with that - I'm pretty confident the problems will be worked out before I get into the game. 

My experience was mixed:  Overall FPS was a little lower than I'd like in benchmarks and in the game - I was averaging just above 35fps with everything on during the benchmarks and that's fine, higher would be great but I can definitely enjoy a game like this in 30fps without any complaints.   In game was roughly the same until I jumped into the Batmobile, where all of a sudden things were all over the place (I'd guess due to the particles/physics involved in all the rubble, sparks, and smoke).  Make a turn or hit an object and it would drop dramatically - this is pretty much what everyone was experiencing and it doesn't sound like turning the Nvidia Gameworks effects off help this at all, it's a bug of some sort.

I'm still heavily involved in The Witcher 3 so fingers crossed they hammer this all out and the game runs better once I'm done that.   I will, however, say that the game seems completely awesome - it looks great (ditching the last gen of consoles was a great idea) and seems really fun. 

[scottws]

It sucks what is going on with this game on PC, but right now I have a PS4 sitting in a shipping box by my door and it is the one that comes with this game.

[gpw11]

It sucks what is going on with this game on PC, but right now I have a PS4 sitting in a shipping box by my door and it is the one that comes with this game.

Honestly, I should have done that. My plan was to buy a PS4 when The Witcher 3 came out but then all of a sudden I decided I needed a better CPU (to replace my early core2duo) to run a Plex server, etc when I cut cable.  And then I might as well buy a new graphics card because it comes with The Witcher 3 anyways.  Plus, I still have a lot of games to play on the PS3 and I'm not going to hook both up, right?

As much as PC Master Race is a thing, console gaming is just easier in some ways. We're in the age now where a company can still release a shit console version and hope to patch it but you can't deny that a lot more resources go into console version development. 

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go back to googling how to make Steam Streaming force the resolution of my 46" TV screen instead of the server monitor.   I'll be back in a few hours.

[MysterD]

Gary Lake-Schaal of WB put up a post on Steam of what PC users currently should be setting Batman AK PC at, depending on their hardware/system specs.

In short, 30 FPS cap at...
Min specs = 720p w/ Most Stuff listed on either Low or Off.
Rec specs = 1080 w/ V-Sync + AA On; Textures, Shadows and LOD at Normal; and Special Effects stuff are OFF.

[MysterD]

If you bought Batman AK PC from GMG - looks like GMG might will be accepting refunds, after a fix patch is issued if their PC gamers ain't happy w/ Batman AK PC still:
http://blog.playfire.com/2015/06/batman-arkham-knight-pc-guidelines.html

[MysterD]

Eurogamer -> Looks at Batman AK PC version performance + also says it lacks some of the console visual features - such as Bokeh DOF + AO.

Just as baffling is the fact PC lacks key visual effects seen on PS4 even at its top settings. Ambient occlusion is cut from the game, bokeh depth of field is noticeably dialed back, and the transparency layer used for raindrops is cut from all surfaces as well. Gotham City is stripped of a great deal of atmosphere as a result, with areas appearing lighter without SSAO in place - despite this setting clearly being enabled in the .ini file.

Likewise, rain doesn't appear on Batman or the Batmobile as it does on PS4. The reflective, dewy sheen is missing across the city, though specular and normal maps remain identical to the console release. The PC's highest settings show very little difference otherwise to Sony's console, barring a tweak to motion blur velocity settings.

[W7RE]

PC sales suspended until the game is fixed:

https://community.wbgames.com/t5/Support-for-PC/June-24-Update-on-PC-Version-of-Arkham-Knight/m-p/575332#U575332

We take these issues very seriously and have therefore decided to suspend future game sales of the PC version while we work to address these issues to satisfy our quality standards.

[gpw11]

PC sales suspended until the game is fixed:

https://community.wbgames.com/t5/Support-for-PC/June-24-Update-on-PC-Version-of-Arkham-Knight/m-p/575332#U575332

That's good PR and a good move overall. Realistically they're not getting many sales until the problems are sorted out anyways but this at least instills some confidence that they WILL fix the issues rather than just pretend to look into it.

[MysterD]

Destructoid -> Rocksteady supports delisting of Batman AK PC & they are working on fixing it.

[MysterD]

Kotaku -> Benchmarking Batman: AK PC on 24 different video cards.

[gpw11]

Kotaku -> Benchmarking Batman: AK PC on 24 different video cards.

What the fuck is the point of this? Game is no longer being sold while they fix it - it's off the market for all intensive purposes and these benchmarks are completely irrelevant as I don't imagine it will be released without optimizations to increase performance across the board. 

Like, I could understand if they released this article a day after the announcement and said that it was teed up and ready to go, why not release it, but they must have put a shitload of work into this AFTER the announcement was made.  Hell, they might not have even started until after.


As a side note, the methodology is also weird.   Two sets of benchmarks, one with Gameworks on and one with Gameworks off - that's what everyone fucking wants. If you're time constrained just do 1080p and 1440 with both sets, no need for other resolutions when the big question is the performance hit from the Nvidia features.

Kind of a shitty, pointless article

[Xessive]

for all intensive intents and purposes

Sorry, the grammar gnome in my head would not allow it.

Anyway, the article feels like its reaching due to the buzz around the game and its botched PC release. I can understand the curiosity to see how the game performs with the various hardware but, as you said, it's pointless now.

[gpw11]

Sorry, the grammar gnome in my head would not allow it.

Ahahahaha.  That wasn't even a mistake - I just somehow thought that's how they saying goes and now that I think about it, it really doesn't make sense that way.   I'M A FUCKING MORON.

[Quemaqua]

Pointless drivel from the gaming press? *gasp* Pointless drivel from Kotaku? Say it ain't so!

 ... clearly I'm already a bit jaded here.

[Cobra951]

Sorry, the grammar gnome in my head would not allow it.

. . .

Thanks for being the bad guy.  I so fought my nature last night.  

[MysterD]

First Batman: AK PC issued last night along w/ Rocksteady's plans for future patches.

Progress Update and Patch: June 27, 2015
JUNE 27   - GARY.LAKE-SCHAAL

Rocksteady is leading our team of developers and partners as we work on the PC performance issues that players have been encountering. The work is significant and while we are making good progress on improving performance, it will take some time to ensure that we get the right fixes in place.


Below is the list of the key areas where we are dedicating our resources to improve the experience for our loyal fans:
Support for frame rates above 30FPS in the graphics settings menu
Fix for low resolution texture bug
Improve overall performance and framerate hitches
Add more options to the graphics settings menu
Improvements to hard drive streaming and hitches
Address full screen rendering bug on gaming laptops
Improvements to system memory and VRAM usage
NVIDIA SLI bug fixes
Enabling AMD Crossfire
NVIDIA and AMD updated drivers

While we work on improving performance, we will also continue to make interim patches available to address issues for those still playing the game on PC.

The first patch is being released now and the updates include:
Fixed a crash that was happening for some users when exiting the game
Fixed a bug which disabled rain effects and ambient occlusion. We are actively looking into fixing other bugs to improve this further
Corrected an issue that was causing Steam to re-download the game when verifying the integrity of the game cache through the Steam client
Fixed a bug that caused the game to crash when turning off Motion Blur in BmSystemSettings.ini. A future patch will enable this in the graphics settings menu

We would like to thank our fans for their patience and invaluable feedback. We will continue to monitor and listen for any additional issues.

[Xessive]

Ahahahaha.  That wasn't even a mistake - I just somehow thought that's how they saying goes and now that I think about it, it really doesn't make sense that way.   I'M A FUCKING MORON.

Haha dude, you're awesome I've had to correct management e-mails and press releases with similar phrasing stuff like "one in the same" when they actually mean "one and the same."

My OCD to correct people does not stem from some desire to appear superior, it is merely a correction, and in some small way to make you superior! GP-Dubya!

Anyway, it's good they seem to be making progress. I would not be shocked if Rocksteady got into the nitty-gritty of the PC port and just did it themselves instead of letting Iron Galaxy resume work on it.

[MysterD]

PC Gamer -> Batman: AK PC mod unlocks 10 characters as playable.

[scottws]

Ahahahaha.  That wasn't even a mistake - I just somehow thought that's how they saying goes and now that I think about it, it really doesn't make sense that way.   I'M A FUCKING MORON.

It's okay.  This one as well as "nitch" (niche) and "Wallah!" (Voila!) are really common.  There are others too, but I can't think of any offhand.

Thanks for being the bad guy.  I so fought my nature last night. 

I'm the same way.  One one hand you want to correct the person so they use the correct spelling and phrasing but, on the other hand, people generally hate the criticism and look down on it, even those that aren't being corrected.  It's seen basically the same as someone telling you, "You know, you are supposed to stop a full three seconds before turning right on red," after you do a slow rolling right turn on red.  That's a shame, because the spelling/phrasing issue is one of ignorance while the latter is just one where someone simply does not care.

Nowadays, I only do it if I see the same person make the same mistake over and over.  I've been corrected on "wierd" (weird) and "helarious" (hilarious) myself.  Of course, that was before spell check in the browser would have caught it for me.

I've had to correct management e-mails and press releases with similar phrasing stuff like "one in the same" when they actually mean "one and the same.

Ah, yes! That's another one!  This one's a little different, but I knew a guy that would always say, "It's six of one, a dozen of the other".  After him saying it thousands of times, I finally had to correct him.

[MysterD]

Eurogamer on the Batmobile + the troubles with it being in Batman AK

[Quemaqua]

I always thought the more "racecar" Batmobiles were pretty stupid, actually (especially the Burton Batmobile ... to be honest, I hated basically everything about those films). The Tumbler was the first concept that actually made any real sense to me, even if I have grown exceedingly tired of the Nolan films, so I disagree with this dude's assertion from the ground up. Either way, I do wish the new game didn't spend so much time and attention on the car ... but I guess maybe it'll end up being a good thing since there are 2 other Rocksteady Arkham games and the WB Arkham game which already have you spending the whole time on foot.

I haven't picked this up yet, but just watching a video of it made me want to play the others again. I never could get into City the first time around, so I decided to replay Asylum and then try City again. I think I'll have better luck this time, as while I'm thoroughly enjoying Asylum again, I'm definitely ready to take Batman into the bigger context now. I even ordered a cheap copy of Origins because I heard the story is actually quite good ... so I may just try to rush through that one to see the story stuff. If and when I actually complete all this (yeah, right), maybe Arkham Knight will be cheap enough for me to bite.