Over the past few days we have been working to add the proper data elements to our games database, so that we can log support for 21:9 2560x1080 monitors. We have also added elements for testing the 2560x1080 resolution, as well as fields for the 21:9 support method (native, .ini edit. etc), HUD placement and whether the 21:9 aspect ratio introduces any unique anomalies into the game play.
I had the great fortune to sit down with the fine folks from True PC Gaming and talk about the origins and future of the WSGF. I also sound like an old man, and believe I actually said, "Get off my lawn". Also, after the second mention of using Macs at home, they threatened to throw me off the show and shut it down. If you can handle listening to me talk for the better part of an hour, then please give it a listen.
On a serious note, we do talk about creating a mature and welcoming community. We talk about how reputations are built, how they can precede you, and how they've helped us build the WSGF. Of particular note is how Paddy the Wak's (one of our first Moderators/Editors) reputation helped secure our relationships with both Matrox and scan.co.uk.
I just wanted to take a few moments out from the Steam Sales and Christmas Coma to thank our entire volunteer staff here at the WSGF. Our Editors do a great job of policing content on the site, and moderating the forums. Thank you all.
The three folks that make up our admin staff (AussieTimmeh, CrackerJackMack and Delphium), volunteer with the never-ending task of not only keeping the WSGF up and running, but also continuing to make it better. Thanks guys for all you do. The cheques are in the mail, or more appropriately - the codes.
In a recent news post, we told you that a call had gone out to release the source code to SoftTH as open source. We are pleased to announce that the code has indeed been released under GNU GPL v3.
WSGF Supporter Scan Computers (scan.co.uk) has just released a PC case replica of the Dr. Who TARDIS phone box. Amazing, and a Merry Christmas indeed.
I am happy to announce a couple of new accessories that we have available in the store, to make your WSGF Edition or HD Triple XL Stand even more enjoyable. If you spring for the ICE Cube, we now offer a Short Cable Kit with two 2' cables, and two 3' cables. This will leave you with far less cable mess behind your monitors, and make good cable management easier. We've also added an Alignment Kit to help you properly align your multi-monitor setup. The alignment kit includes a spirit level and protractor, to help you align your monitors to each other and set the angle.
For a holiday sale we are offering the ICE Cube at half off, with the purchase of a WSGF Edition Stand, HD Triple XL Stand, or the 1+3 Upgrade Kit. Enter the code "COOLIO" at checkout, and it will take $25 off the total. We've also launching the new kits free for this week, for users purchasing one of the above stands/kits and an ICE Cube. This deal will run through the entire month of December. The two new option kits will cost $10 each, starting next week. Purchase before the end of the year and you'll save almost $50 on your total purchase.
I received my Dell U2913WM just before Thanksgiving, and spent some time running a handful of games on it to see how they fared. Used the NVIDIA GTX670 for testing, and looking at how each game performed at 2560x1080. We looked at gameplay, menus, HUD and cut-scenes. See the full article for the list of games, and their location in the video.
We've got a quick follow-up to our survey. We've got four questions about Steam Game Night and what you'd like to see for reviews and benchmarks. Thanks for your feedback, and we appreciate your help.
Update: I lied, it now has five questions.
I got wind that the Dell U2913WM 21:9 Ultra Widescreen was available for sale this morning, by way of a tweet this morning. It pointed out the DP 1.2 OUTPUT on the panel, and linked to the product page. In addition to the DP 1.2 output, it also has a Mini-DP input. This would be welcome to all the AMD users who have Mini-DP outputs, and the MacBook Pro users (like myself) who have Thunderbolt outputs.
I've got a panel on order, and will start testing games (and playing) as soon as it gets here. Expect a lot of news, videos and updates once we get the panel in house.
WSGF member Thebutcher has posted an interesting thread here outlining a possible open source future for SoftTH. If you're not familiar with SoftTH, it is a software multi-monitor solution that dates back to the days of the Matrox TripleHead2Go (TH2Go). Hence the name "SoftTH" (Software TripleHead). It was originally a software solution that allowed gamers to enjoy multi-monitor without the pricey investment of a TripleHead2Go.
Fast forward a few years, and AMD and NVIDIA both offer native hardware solutions for multi-monitor. However, SoftTH still offers one key unique feature - it allows for "non standard" configurations beyond 3x1 with identical monitors. SoftTH is known specifically for it's support for "PLP" (Portrait-Landscape-Portrait), which many users with a 20" - 30" - 20" configuration. All three monitors are 1200px tall, with the horizontal resolutions being 1200-2560-1200 pixels. It also allows for 1+3 configurations, and for all three monitors to be included in the gaming desktop. In fact, SofTH can support basically any configuration of monitors you can throw at it.
The one downside is that it only supports DX9, which is a little long in the tooth now. Thebutcher has broached the idea of making SoftTH open source, so that the WSGF and SoftTH communities can support the future development. He has posted a forum thread outlining this idea. If you are interested in supporting this effort, please hit up the source link and reply to Thebutcher.
