*UPDATE Nº2 (03/01): Okay, it seems that no one else is going to offer their opinions or specs, so I think it's time to make a decision.
Since the majority voted against Java, the game will be implemented natively on Windows. Also, the target platform will be an approximate average of the specifications that were posted. Concretely, this means the game will be made so it will run well on:
CPU: 1.8 Ghz
RAM: 512 MB
Video Card: GeForce 2 minimum; if time allows, there may be optional pixel shaders for you people with cards that can handle them.
HD: Kind of irrelevant in light of the kind of computers you all have. There's no way I can fill up that much space.

*UPDATE: Now that I see there are members with OS other than Windows I decided to pose the question of whether the game should be implemented in Java or, instead, a native language (C++).
The advantages/disadvantages of using Java can be summarized as follows:
+ Quicker development as far as programming is concerned (about 20%)
+ Runs on all OS with a Java VM (i.e Windows, Linux, Mac OS)
- Less performance (about 20% slower)


Greetings, fellow BLAME! fans. Some of you may remember that I once said I would be working on a BLAME!-inspired game but I needed to study plenty of stuff for it to be feasible. I'm pleased to say that I am now knowledgeable enough to make something worthwhile. My plan is to make a 2D side-scrolling action/rpg kind of game; the gameplay will be pretty experimental, but I will try my best to make it fun for everyone.
And now, to explain the purpose of this thread: I intend to make this game as widely playable as possible for the members of this forum. Therefore, I would like you to tell me the specifications of your system so I can figure out how complex I can make this thing.

As an example I'll offer my own:
OS: Windows XP SP2
CPU: Athlon XP 2000+
RAM: 512 MB
HD: 60 GB, 7200 rpm
Video Card: ATi Radeon 9500 PRO


I'd appreciate it if you follow this format. However, if you don't know this information you can collaborate by telling me if your system can handle 3D games (examples of those that run well would be useful).

PS: It sounds contradictory to ask about 3D performance when you're making a 2D game, but it's really not. You can make cool 2D stuff with 3D hardware that you just can't do with the CPU alone.

I've just arrived to this forum, so I didn't know about your plan...it sounds like a real cool idea to me! But for me, I don't think my laptop/notebook (don't know if it's called laptop in English too? ) can operate such a game. When I try to play games, things work out very slow anyway (it's a common problem for notebooks I guess), so it messes up my actions...For what I know, it runs Windows ME and it only has RAM: 56 MB...mwhoehahahaha...snif.

Notebook:
OS: Windows XP SP2
CPU: Centrino 1600
RAM: 512 MB
HD: 80 GB, 4200 rpm (about 20mb/s)
Video Card: ATi Radeon 9700 mobility, 128mb

Workstation:
OS: Windows 2000 sp4
CPU: athlon xp 2400+
RAM: 512 MB
HD: 160 GB, 5400 rpm (about 40mb/s)
Video Card: ATi Radeon 9600 XT, 128mb

my Brother's:
OS: win 2k sp4
CPU: athlon 1400
RAM: hmmm something around 265 afair
HD: 40 GB,
Video Card: nvidia geforce 3 ti afair

btw i don't think you can actually use all of today's computers ressources with a 2d game

sceadu: I totally agree with you on the genre thing, but the reason why I am not going to attempt making that sort of game is that they are much more complicated to implement by a single person (bordering on impossible for someone with the amount of free time I have). Thus the game is going to be a 2D sidescroller, even if it has some 3D graphics for added coolness.

Also, I'd like to clarify one thing. I said BLAME!-inspired game for a reason. The point is that I think a game that is reminiscent of BLAME! in style and plot could attract a wider audience than BLAME! fans alone, and I could concievably profit from it without getting in trouble. This means that you won't see Killy, Sanakan, Safeguards, etc. in there. But fear not, because once it's done I'll release an editor (which I have to make anyway to make my own life easier) and you guys can put them in there, and change whatever you like.

OS: Windows XP SP1
CPU: Athlon XP 2800+
RAM: 1024 MB
HD: 200 GB, 7600 rpm
Video Card: ATi Radeon 9700 PRO

What do you think, how much time do you need to finish the game?