Descent 3 - works ok @ 800x600 resolution, default detail settings (although you can raise them even further)
the game has an annoying quirk that it leaves a file/program called MAIN.EXE running after you have quit the game. this results in the game not working again until you have ended that process in the task manager.
directx mode results in graphical corruption for the ingame menus and mouse pointer.
opengl mode results in quite a bit of gradual texture corruption in the game. (something id normally attribute to an overheating gpu on other machines - but descent 3 is nowhere near as demanding as morrowind and that game runs flawlessly)
so, i would purchase this game with some reservations if you solely are going to use it on a netbook. it will work, it just might or might not have some flaws big and small.
update - running the game using direct3d fixes the texture corruption whilst playing but the fonts and mouse cursors are corrupt instead. problematic game on netbooks it seems.
freespace 2 - works very well. the games menus default to 1024x768, with scrolling on netbooks,mode and cannot be changed by default. the actual ingame flight engine can be set to 800x600 from the launcher menu in the games directory. (the launcher menu wont appear if you just use the desktop/start menu shortcut)
the game can be modified to allow all sorts of new effects and better resolution support. check out
http://www.fsoinstaller.com for more info as a start.
update - using the aforementioned fsoinstaller i can now set the game resolution to native 1024x600 and it works for ingame engine and the game menus etc. superb.
Sacred Gold - Works using 3rd party tools and some fiddling around...
Heres how..
-Download the 1.3.7 version of Astray
http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=18260&p=1 -Follow the instructions for using it and make sure you switch off the services that it tells you to once youre happy with how it works. (certainly turn off the igfxtray program in task manager to start with.)
-You will need to alter the Astray.ini file to add the 1024x600 resolution because it does not come with that resolution as standard.
i also advise turning off downscaling in the ini file, or in the astray programs options menu.
- Go into the properties of Sacred.exe and set the compatibility to windows 98/me. disable visual themes.
- run astray if you havent already done so, quick switch to 1024x768 resolution.
- run sacred. the game will run, the screen will require scrolling to see everything.
bad things to note -
- with downscaling on you will be able to see all the screen but your performance will nose dive into the center of the earth and the game will be unplayable.
-the audio is terrible. theres a real problem with the sound on my netbook which uses realtek audio. the sound is choppy and repeats constantly as if its lagging behind everything else.