@Riot: since you are reworking SummonersRift, plz allow "lower resolution/no particles" for old PCs.

Cardbox frog·Sep 29, 2014·2 votes·2,013 views

"A game that looks awesome but plays badly is not as engaging as a game that looks bad but plays awesome"

I think the title is self explanatory, so this topic shouldn't take too long.

As you are probably aware know, many people play league with old computers, which can make their League experiences underwhelming. The game may look beautiful, but if it runs at 35fps (15fps during team-fights), then the whole thing becomes frustrating and unenjoyable. I am fully aware this is not Riot's fault, but you could easily make the situation much better.

The new summoner rift map is going to have less polygons, which should result on a similar or better experience for those who have older computer, why not enable options for even lower texture resolutions and to remove ambient particles? After all, people on older computers won't be able to enjoy them anyways, and that would greatly improve the game's performance on said systems.

This could also be VERY helpful on Treeline, a map that runs worse than Summoner Rift on virtually all computers. (possibly due to particle effects)

Yours faithfully, cardbox.

5 Comments

RiotRiotForScienceSep 30, 20149 votes

This is part of our optimization strategy for SRU. Culling certain types of particles that we do not feel are crucial to gameplay. So far our performance numbers are coming back in a very positive way. I hope you are pleased with the results!

Angry MonsterSep 30, 20141 votes

Particle effects are important to knowing who is hitting you and what is happening. To allow players to play with out them is literally allowing players to handicap themselves and hurt their team mates/

At some point people need to upgrade their machines. Most CPUs over the last 6 years can run this game fine. If your machine is a decade old it is time to get a new one.

redniwediSSep 30, 20142 votes

While I agree with your latter point, I think Riot should allow people to use options that are not always helpful. I mean this in two ways, that particles and such should be able to be turned off, and additional auditory and visual effects should be options as well.

I personally would take a small hit to my ability to see/hear what's coming in order to have a nicer time between fights.

Cardbox frogSep 30, 20142 votes

Bare in mind this is not about me, my computer is fairly power and can easily play LoL at 60fps. (8GB ram, core i7) As a matter of facts, I was able to run 2 LoL games at once using a virtual machine and hooking an additional set of mouse/keybord/monitor (we were doing a LAN party and a guy forgot his computer, we had to improvise).

But many of my friends want to play League and can't do it because their machines are just too old. Just in case you didn't know, technology is fairly expensive outside USA/Canada/Europe/Japan, particularly for people with low income, so for some people buying a new PC is not really an option.

Besides, I am talking about "ambient particle effects", those that are not needed to play the game. Just look at Twisted Treeline or Summoner's rift map update and you will see tons of those. They provide no useful feedback and take RAM from your PC.

Reducing the amount of particle effects for certain champions (I am looking at you Karthus) would also be great, but that would probably take more work that Riot is willing to invest on this.