@spiroyster: I didn't get offended really, no problem.
I agree that like games, there are also certain apps with a system requirements that needs to be met to be run. But my point was specifically graphics cards for games only.
My complaints towards some programmers with whom I worked together IMO are justified, because some think that its just a matter of throwing some framework, libraries and call it a day. No, it's not. I know for a fact that writing optimized, slimmer code is way better for performance than just throwing other libraries on it. I mean, for example, from my experience as a front-end web designer, it's better to write something in vanilla javascript instead of throwing a jQuery library and call it a day, because some days later, my client will come back complaining that "the site is too slow"...
I knew I was generalising, and I admit it, mostly because I am currently working in a project for a big brazilian company, where I have to deal with legacy code, terribly written by other programmers before me and I have a deadline to met, to make it work with our modern, well written code. We ended up doing pretty much the same (write it badly, if it works, just works) and this is the reason why I am very pissed.
I'll also admit that I actually wanted to point the finger to some developers of the racing games I've played such as rFactor (ImageSpace Inc. & Studio 397), Assetto Corsa (Kunos Simulazioni) and iRacing (Motorsport Simulations). The demand for high end graphics cards is the reason why I had to quit competitive online racing championships.
Actually, rFactor's engine is based on another ISI title, F1 Challenge 99-02 (ISI built, EA Sports published, actually) while iRacing is based on Papyrus NASCAR Racing 2003. While the original titles ran very well, the modifications they did actually don't cut it for me. I can give that iRacing does way better than any other simulation with regards to physics and tyre model, and has good graphics, but their system requirements and business model just don't. When a simple racing game requires the most expensive graphics card available to run, I always have to think "their code must be terrible", because from my experience, ISI's rFactor 1 ran well at ~120fps here; when they handed the development of rFactor 2 to Studio 397, things have gone wrong. First they switched from DX9 to DX11, in a way both versions can't coexist in an online competition; second, the new version, with many updates under the hood and DX11, on the same hardware just gets about less than 50fps! How come? The engine is the same; the game settings are the same and whole game experience is the same; It just runs slower and has no big visible graphics improvement. And the DX9 version of the game was slightly better, but no one runs this version in online competitions.
To sum up, I think I have a legitimate reason to be gutted with certain game devs when they make a new version of the games I play or used to play. The Grand Prix series, mentioned here in this topic, is another example; You would think that you don't need a graphics card to play an heavily updated Grand Prix 4 locked at 60 fps, but you do. Geoff Crammond's GP series were well and fantastically developed by MicroProse on the first two versions (to this date, his AI is regarded as the best ever written for a racing game), then they handed GP3 and GP4 development to Hasbro and InfoGrames, respectively. GP3 wasn't bad actually, its just GP2 with improvements and its definitely a very good update - but GP4 was a completely new thing. To me, 1996's Grand Prix 2 was the best racing game ever, although it was based on 1994 season.
"Design isn't just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works."
JOBS, Steve.
READ: Right to Repair sucks and is illegal!