Flashing - Try turning down your antialias setting. That seemed to fix it on the machine we're testing on in the office.

While investigating this, we also found another issue that we've been trying to track down. When we use video memory, we first query to find out how much is left. On some systems with Vista it's been returning the exact same value (essentially full) no matter how much memory we have. So, rather than unload memory (which is a performance hit) we just keep on piling in more, until the card runs out, and then you start losing visual pieces, and the game goes to white.

Or, as we say, "D'oh!" We're looking for a more valid way of checking video memory on Vista.

Actually, if you have 4 gigs, you won't get any slow down even though the OS only addresses 32 bit.

HI PantsdownDavy, can you attach your DXDiag here, and also make sure you file a bug? We've been working on the graphic card issues pretty intensely right now, and more information always helps.

Let me put it in a non-technical way: If you don't want to play Raid content, you won't feel like a schmuck as you get wiped by everybody who played Raid content and got some goodies.

We have progression rewards through the game. This used to be a source of controversy, as people feared that we'd put in all sorts of "I win" skills. And while you can create mismatch battles that are untenable, for the majority player skill is still the primary tool in the arsenal.

As for the idea raised earlier that "every other MMO company goes down this path but winds up in hell, why would you be any different", I'd point out that most MMOs are all about items. Which, as has been proven, is an extremely effective strategy. We de-emphasized items in lieu of player skill. Frankly, I don't think this tunnels into the primal monkey brain that loves to play ProgressQuest, but in exchange, we create what I think is a more fun game.

Actually, we test on that machine config on a regular basis. Admittedly, at times we've found we've broken it's performance, but it's quite real. The biggest difference between 1-2 gigs is load time, and load time is also affected by your hard drive speed and defrag state.

Welcome aboard!

Just a quickie bit of help but I know many of our awesome community members will follow up to your specific questions.

Check out these stickied threads:

New Player FAQs

Where to find more in-depth information?

Read this first!

Merged together two threads on the same topic.

Forget the big squid. I'm shooting for Poseidon himself! KERSPLOOOSH ! and up he comes and SMASHES your ship with one giant fist!!!! AHA! BEWARE Ttobey on Poseidon's shoulder!!

I hit 21 today! Yay!

Again, there might be a technical issue. There could be a variety of issues. I'll move this to the Known Issues / Troubleshooting section. It would be really helpful if you could post screenies or give the mission names where you are experiencing issues. (Some of what you described actually sounds like some lag or latency issues)

Make sure to do a bug report, please. Thanks!