Sheesh. Time was, when 320x240 was king. Now with technology moving forward, we're talking multiple resolutions and the practicality of higher res operation.
The question here is, just how many machines "out there" have limited graphics capabilities? I don't know of any definitive way of determinging that, so I think compromises are in order.
Yes, we as programmers can shoot for the LCD (lowest common denominator of 640x480), for maximum sales (I assume we want to SELL our Blitz games), but there really ARE games out which go at much higher resolutions, too.
Maybe the best thing is to make sure the final product can play to the LCD, perhaps with one set of lower-end graphics, and then a better graphics set to the higher res cutting edge players with monster advanced PCs. Of course, with two sets of graphics, the game gets HUGE for download purposes (unless we take the pain-in-the-butt approach of making different versions, i.e. MyFunGame_lowres, MyFunGame_midres and MyFunGame_hires).
There's no simple, one-shot approach, is there? Like it or not, any compromises we make will be based on what market we are going after.
The question here is, just how many machines "out there" have limited graphics capabilities? I don't know of any definitive way of determinging that, so I think compromises are in order.
Yes, we as programmers can shoot for the LCD (lowest common denominator of 640x480), for maximum sales (I assume we want to SELL our Blitz games), but there really ARE games out which go at much higher resolutions, too.
Maybe the best thing is to make sure the final product can play to the LCD, perhaps with one set of lower-end graphics, and then a better graphics set to the higher res cutting edge players with monster advanced PCs. Of course, with two sets of graphics, the game gets HUGE for download purposes (unless we take the pain-in-the-butt approach of making different versions, i.e. MyFunGame_lowres, MyFunGame_midres and MyFunGame_hires).
There's no simple, one-shot approach, is there? Like it or not, any compromises we make will be based on what market we are going after.