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Surface Pro 3

Started by Jarhead0331, December 24, 2014, 11:04:00 AM

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Jarhead0331

So I got a Surface Pro 3 for the holidays and so far I really dig it.  However, I am struggling with the touch interface on a lot of the games I am trying to play.  Does anyone else have one of these and if so, what games do you play? What games work best?
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Semper Grog
"No beast is more alpha than JH." Gusington, 10/23/18


Staggerwing

I don't have a surface but I have a touch monitor hooked to a win8 box I've been experimenting with and I find that most programs are hard to work with just a finger and the touch screen due to the very small size of many menu items. I'm thinking a stylus might be required for many wargames due to the many of the clickable areas being too close together.
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bbmike

I don't have one but look forward to feedback from your experiences with gaming on it. Is it possible to use a mouse with the Surface Pro 3?
"My life is spent in one long effort to escape from the commonplace of existence."
-Sherlock Holmes

"You know, just once I'd like to meet an alien menace that wasn't immune to bullets."
-Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart

"There's a horror movie called Alien? That's really offensive. No wonder everyone keeps invading you!"
-The Doctor

"Before Man goes to the stars he should learn how to live on Earth."
-Clifford D. Simak

Jarhead0331

Quote from: Staggerwing on December 24, 2014, 11:08:01 AM
I don't have a surface but I have a touch monitor hooked to a win8 box I've been experimenting with and I find that most programs are hard to work with just a finger and the touch screen due to the very small size of many menu items. I'm thinking a stylus might be required for many wargames due to the many of the clickable areas being too close together.

It does come with a very nice stylus that has two buttons on it that act as traditional mouse buttons. 

So far, I've installed CMANO, Advanced Tactics Gold, Warsaw to Berlin, Case Blue, War in the Pacific, War in the West, WinSPMBT and WinSPWWII, EUIV and a couple other strategy classics.  They all run well and look superb on the 12" screen, but I have had some difficulty in scrolling and zooming on the map. So far, I do not have the keyboard for the Surface Pro. It is an optional accessory that should really come with the device.  I will get it though at the earliest possible time.  I think it will be a big help since I'll be able to use the keyboard short cuts.
Grogheads Uber Alles
Semper Grog
"No beast is more alpha than JH." Gusington, 10/23/18


DoctorQuest

Quote from: Jarhead0331 on December 24, 2014, 12:24:07 PM
Quote from: Staggerwing on December 24, 2014, 11:08:01 AM
I don't have a surface but I have a touch monitor hooked to a win8 box I've been experimenting with and I find that most programs are hard to work with just a finger and the touch screen due to the very small size of many menu items. I'm thinking a stylus might be required for many wargames due to the many of the clickable areas being too close together.

It does come with a very nice stylus that has two buttons on it that act as traditional mouse buttons. 

So far, I've installed CMANO, Advanced Tactics Gold, Warsaw to Berlin, Case Blue, War in the Pacific, War in the West, WinSPMBT and WinSPWWII, EUIV and a couple other strategy classics.  They all run well and look superb on the 12" screen, but I have had some difficulty in scrolling and zooming on the map. So far, I do not have the keyboard for the Surface Pro. It is an optional accessory that should really come with the device.  I will get it though at the earliest possible time.  I think it will be a big help since I'll be able to use the keyboard short cuts.

Ouch. I did not realize the keyboard was optional. They certainly make it look like standard equipment on the commercials (of course). But then I am also fairly certain that Microsoft is really SPECTRE.

I'm with bbmike. Please keep us apprised of your experiences with it.
"Everything you read on the internet is true." - Benjamin Franklin

"Zero-G and I feel fine....." - John Glenn

"I reject your reality and substitute my own." - Adam Savage, inventor of the alternative fact.

Jarhead0331

I've been running games like CMANO and Master of Orion 3 really well without the use of a keyboard or mouse. The UIs seem to flow very well with the touch screen and stylus. I am very pleased so far that surface pro is able to run all of my favorite strategy games both new and old without a hitch. It's going to be a dream come true next time I travel. I usually struggle with whether I want to bring my work lab top (a Mac) and my personal gaming laptop (a PC). It's a big pain. Now I can bring my MacBook for work and the surface pro for leisure without the hassle of too many bags.

So far, it is everything I hoped it would be.
Grogheads Uber Alles
Semper Grog
"No beast is more alpha than JH." Gusington, 10/23/18


W8taminute

This is really good to hear that you can run games like MOO3 and Advanced Tactics Gold on the Surface Pro.  I'm really intrigued by this device.  Sounds like this is the way to go for mobile gaming vs. an iPag or Galaxy Tab.   O0
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Romulan Commander to Kirk

Jarhead0331

Quote from: W8taminute on December 26, 2014, 10:37:09 AM
This is really good to hear that you can run games like MOO3 and Advanced Tactics Gold on the Surface Pro.  I'm really intrigued by this device.  Sounds like this is the way to go for mobile gaming vs. an iPag or Galaxy Tab.   O0

100%. Microsoft and Windows haters will hate, but its a PC strategy gamer's dream as far as mobile gaming goes.

If there is any downside so far, its that there is no CD drive. The only way to get data onto the machine is with a USB flashdrive or direct download. The download rate is tolerable, but it is not the fastest. Anyway. I have a lot of John Tiller and HPS titles that I would love to load onto the device, but I only have them on CD. I wonder if the data on the CD can be copied onto my desktop and then transferred over on a flashdrive...
Grogheads Uber Alles
Semper Grog
"No beast is more alpha than JH." Gusington, 10/23/18


DoctorQuest

#8
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on December 26, 2014, 11:29:49 AM
Quote from: W8taminute on December 26, 2014, 10:37:09 AM
This is really good to hear that you can run games like MOO3 and Advanced Tactics Gold on the Surface Pro.  I'm really intrigued by this device.  Sounds like this is the way to go for mobile gaming vs. an iPag or Galaxy Tab.   O0

100%. Microsoft and Windows haters will hate, but its a PC strategy gamer's dream as far as mobile gaming goes.

If there is any downside so far, its that there is no CD drive. The only way to get data onto the machine is with a USB flashdrive or direct download. The download rate is tolerable, but it is not the fastest. Anyway. I have a lot of John Tiller and HPS titles that I would love to load onto the device, but I only have them on CD. I wonder if the data on the CD can be copied onto my desktop and then transferred over on a flashdrive...

You should be able to. I have done this with a bunch of games to transfer them to my netbook. Create a folder on your flash drive and copy all files and folders from the CD to that folder. Insert the flash drive into your SP3 and navigate to the game's folder, open it and execute the setup program (usually SETUP.EXE).

Of course this all assumes there is no "CD required" DRM for the game. Tiller and HPS seem to have moved away from that sort of hardware level DRM. You may need to patch the game to the latest version. The patches can either be downloaded directly onto your SP3 or copied to the flash drive.

Another option to try is to simply zip up the game's folder on your current gaming rig, copy the zip file to your flash drive, and unzip the folder onto your SP3. A lot of games do not necessarily require a true reinstall to work. Your mileage may vary.
"Everything you read on the internet is true." - Benjamin Franklin

"Zero-G and I feel fine....." - John Glenn

"I reject your reality and substitute my own." - Adam Savage, inventor of the alternative fact.

bbmike

Quote from: Jarhead0331 on December 26, 2014, 11:29:49 AM
100%. Microsoft and Windows haters will hate, but its a PC strategy gamer's dream as far as mobile gaming goes.

That's what I needed to hear! I wasn't even considering a Surface Pro 3. Until now.  ;D
"My life is spent in one long effort to escape from the commonplace of existence."
-Sherlock Holmes

"You know, just once I'd like to meet an alien menace that wasn't immune to bullets."
-Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart

"There's a horror movie called Alien? That's really offensive. No wonder everyone keeps invading you!"
-The Doctor

"Before Man goes to the stars he should learn how to live on Earth."
-Clifford D. Simak

endfire79

Thanks Jar this helps.  I was considering one as a new mobile replacement.  Iit might be hard to use my desktop in the office once the baby comes around.
"I will return before you can say 'antidisestablishmentarianism'."

"A man may fight for many things. His country, his principles, his friends. The glistening tear on the cheek of a golden child. But personally, I'd mud-wrestle my own mother for a ton of cash, an amusing clock and a sack of French porn."

Jarhead0331

Quote from: endfire79 on December 26, 2014, 01:37:07 PM
Thanks Jar this helps.  I was considering one as a new mobile replacement.  Iit might be hard to use my desktop in the office once the baby comes around.

Funny you should say that. I find myself wanting to play games on the Surface Pro in various locations around the house, rather than going into my office to play the same games on my desktop!
Grogheads Uber Alles
Semper Grog
"No beast is more alpha than JH." Gusington, 10/23/18


bbmike

Quote from: Jarhead0331 on December 26, 2014, 02:46:04 PM
Quote from: endfire79 on December 26, 2014, 01:37:07 PM
Thanks Jar this helps.  I was considering one as a new mobile replacement.  Iit might be hard to use my desktop in the office once the baby comes around.

Funny you should say that. I find myself wanting to play games on the Surface Pro in various locations around the house, rather than going into my office to play the same games on my desktop!

Which is what I do right now with my 9lb Alienware notebook!  :o
"My life is spent in one long effort to escape from the commonplace of existence."
-Sherlock Holmes

"You know, just once I'd like to meet an alien menace that wasn't immune to bullets."
-Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart

"There's a horror movie called Alien? That's really offensive. No wonder everyone keeps invading you!"
-The Doctor

"Before Man goes to the stars he should learn how to live on Earth."
-Clifford D. Simak

Bison

Did you put steam on it?

Jarhead0331

Quote from: Bison on December 26, 2014, 05:11:55 PM
Did you put steam on it?

Yep. Probably the first thing I did.
Grogheads Uber Alles
Semper Grog
"No beast is more alpha than JH." Gusington, 10/23/18