Was TH2GO the right choice?? Extremely bad fish-eye on WoW!

gabbadude · Post by **gabbadude** » 22 May 2009, 22:39

Hey All,

I have done a lot of reading on the fish-eye effect. I have finally received my TH2GO and 3 monitors and must say it is awesome!

However, I am yet to come across a fix for the fish-eye effect for WoW. I read on one of the threads, that after patch 3.0, it got worse!

Has anyone managed to improve this at all?? I bought the TH2GO to play wow on 3 monitors but now I am wondering whether it wasn't a bad buy! :(

Can someone help me?

See examples of my situation below.

This is where the Horde char is to the left of my right lcd.

And this is where I moved the camera view ever so slightly to the right so put the horde char on the center lcd. The Fish-Eye is really terrible. as this was simply a very slight move of the camera from one lcd to the the next.

bsoder · Post by **bsoder** » 23 May 2009, 18:47

you can modify the viewport so that it's not as wide as the whole screen. This is what I use.

/script WorldFrame:ClearAllPoints(); WorldFrame:SetPoint("TOPLEFT", 1000, 0); WorldFrame:SetPoint("BOTTOMRIGHT",-1000, 0);WorldFrame:SetUserPlaced(true);

this one will set it back to full, wide picture.

/script WorldFrame:ClearAllPoints(); WorldFrame:SetPoint("TOPLEFT", 0, 0); WorldFrame:SetPoint("BOTTOMRIGHT",-0, 0);WorldFrame:SetUserPlaced(true);

I use the black areas on each side for chat, maps, etc etc etc. the ultrawidescreen view isn't that helpful in this game, but it's really nice to have the extra space for everything you don't want right in front of you. Plus, it will bump your framerates up quite a bit. Unfortunately, WoW doesn't take advantage of all that video card power, it puts a lot of the load on the CPU.

gabbadude · Post by **gabbadude** » 23 May 2009, 20:05

Thanks for your reply. :) But its so irritating that I spend all this money to see this terrible effect.

Is it true that t got worse after path 3.0?

Post by **g00seberry** » 23 May 2009, 21:01

You said you've read up about the distortion already, but just in case I'll link you to this ... http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/node/7185

It's something that you have to expect with very wide ratios, whether it's worse on WoW or not, I'm not sure. Just cover them in addons :)

gabbadude · Post by **gabbadude** » 23 May 2009, 21:39

Thanks but to be honest, although it is already there even in 4:3, there have been games that have been corrected. We should have the choice between peripheral vision for immersion and then just straight normal viewing. A game like wow requires no need for immersion. you play your character in third person. Not first person.

See here:
[url]http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/node/7310]

Or am I still misunderstanding this?

Dem Pyros · Post by **Dem Pyros** » 23 May 2009, 22:30

Thanks but to be honest, although it is already there even in 4:3, there have been games that have been corrected. We should have the choice between peripheral vision for immersion and then just straight normal viewing. A game like wow requires no need for immersion. you play your character in third person. Not first person.

See here:
[url]http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/node/7310]

Or am I still misunderstanding this?

Well...the way games are actually made produces the 'fisheye' effect that you so utterly hate.

The example you posted is one game...and one game only. I don't think there have been others.

Notice in that thread, while there is no distortion on the outer edges, the perspective is skewed, as it's (in effect) rendering three different viewports, not simply rendering the triplewide image "correctly."

I.E. it would be like running three WoW windows side-by-side as one seamless image, with the two peripheral characters turned 45* to the left or right (respectively).

gabbadude · Post by **gabbadude** » 24 May 2009, 00:43

I.E. it would be like running three WoW windows side-by-side as one seamless image, with the two peripheral characters turned 45* to the left or right (respectively).

Agreed, but that's what people are expecting when they buy the TH2G. Sure, I completely agree with the whole 'Peripheral' vision idea, but for world of warcraft, that would be better without peripheral vision. IMO at least.

That's why I say, we should have the choice like in rfactor. It should not be the rule.

Well...the way games are actually made produces the 'fisheye' effect that you so utterly hate.

Now I understand that it is just the way it always was from the beginning, but times have changed and people are expecting the option now. Why would the developers have taken the effort to allow the option to enable three viewports if they didn't think it was something worth looking into? Why did so many people praise them when they did look into it and provided the option? It might look skewed but it definitely looks better and again, it's only in my opinion. However, from what I read in that thread, those people's opinion's were also favoring it.

More game developers should start looking into this. If the 'fish-eye' effect is not supposed to be a problem because "it's just normal", then why are so many people complaining about it? It doesn't seem natural. People go out and spend a lot of money on these TH2G devices but almost 90% of people only realise afterwards that the fish eye effect is terrible. When you watch those videos that show it off, people don't notice it. I don't know why they dont, but they don't. Everyone thinks, "WOW! What an experience it must be to play games like that", but when they go out and buy it, they are dissapointed. Now I know it's not everyone but the general consensus is that most people hate the fish-eye.

I have read some posts that say that the fish eye effect in WoW became worse after patch 3.0. Why would this be the case? Why would Blizzard make it worse? It doesn't make sense to me...

Just one last thing, for FPS's like HL, Oblivion etc, the peripheral vision is great. But for games that have third person views such as WoW, those games we should have the option of switching the peripheral view off. Please remember, that it's only my opinion. But it seems that it is also the opinion of many others.

Post by **g00seberry** » 24 May 2009, 03:17

It seems that 70% of your statistics are made up, with the remaining 55% appearing incorrect. :lol: Your assumption that everyone 'hates' the fisheye effect and only realise this after they buy it is unfounded. From memory at least, you are the first person I've seen complaining about it since I joined these forums.

As Dem said, rFactor is pretty much the only game I've heard of which produces multiple FOVs. It's something pretty specific, if you consider how rare TH gaming still is (although getting more popular, as reflected in our grading system), at the moment we're pleased when support is even present in the game.

It's a shame you have remorse about getting the TH2Go, but as you said yourself, you've seen the videos and saw it was present, so I don't know what you were expecting really :D

Give it time and you might get used to it.

Post by **MobsterOO7** » 24 May 2009, 04:45

The fisheye effect shouldn't really be a problem if you are sitting close enough to your monitors. If you are sitting too far away from them then the side monitors wont be in your periphery like they should be and the fisheye effect will definitely be more of a problem for you.
I sit at a distance of about 3 feet away from my screens, maybe 4. Any more than that and your missing the point of Triplehead.

Dem Pyros · Post by **Dem Pyros** » 24 May 2009, 06:56

From memory at least, you are the first person I've seen complaining about it since I joined these forums.

Second that.

I have a SoftTH setup, and the fisheye doesn't bother me at all.

In your 'rant,' note that you have a TH2Go. And you don't like the graphical implementation (it stretches on the periphery). That makes you a small subset of an already extremely small minority.

If you look at our games database, you'll notice how difficult it is to get developers to make games TH2Go compatible to begin with. Forcing a game to render three separate viewports and render them together seamlessly to please an extremely small portion of their audience is not a task that many developers would even consider doing.

Besides, immersion is important no matter what game you're playing. Otherwise you're missing out on the experience :wink:

gabbadude · Post by **gabbadude** » 24 May 2009, 09:59

Well, I'm clearly fighting a losing battle here and it seems that nothing I say makes any impact. But hey, thats how it goes in forums.

It seems that 70% of your statistics are made up, with the remaining 55% appearing incorrect.

When I started this thread I was not trying to start a spat war and get into nilly willies about hypothetical numbers and have someone be nit picky about everything I say. Whether I am the first one in a long time that has mentioned this, it has on relevance at all on the fact that the fish-eye is still present. From what I have read, and this IS a fact, there are many people that don't like it. When I said 90%, it's like a "passing comment" based on all the threads I have read. ie "The majority". Show me how many people have said they LOVE the fisheye effect in third person gaming??

If you look at our games database, you'll notice how difficult it is to get developers to make games TH2Go compatible to begin with.

Imagine how difficult it is to actually write the whole game in the first place. But they get that right...

Again, I will still maintain, there are games that call for the peripheral views for immersion and then there are games that don't. Hence why rfactor investigated the Multiple Viewports and they were praised for it. I'm just saying that Blizzard should do the same because FPS games are quick changing gfx which make you focus on your center screen all the time calling for immersion. WoW doesn't require that because you go into a mob, you kill kill kill and stand in 1 spot until the mob is dead. During this time, your character can still continue fighting while you can look around to anticipate your next move and then move on. Totaly different experience! WoW isn't the only game, LOTR, AoC etc. all the same.

mattsimis · Post by **mattsimis** » 24 May 2009, 11:23

Youre posting this in the wrong place. Post on the WoW forums and see if anyone can advise on a FOV adjustment or similar. You can adjust the FOV in Fallout3 to almost completely remove fisheye at the cost of feeling like you are were binoculars all the time. I prefer only a very minor adjustment.

Left4Dead has very noticeable fisheye, but it sits perfectly in the peripheral vision and almost adds to the game (the fisheye, obviously TH2G itself immensely adds to the game).

gabbadude · Post by **gabbadude** » 24 May 2009, 11:27

Thanks Matt, you're probably right. I should probably have gone to the WoW forums. :)

I just figured that I would ask the experts on the surround gaming. I really appreciate this site and all the information it provides. Where would we be. I was not actually trying to slate TH2G and I'm sorry if it came across that way. I happen to love my th2g but I just feel that it is only good for FPS games and games that call for immersion. When I play those games, I am on love! :)

Dem Pyros · Post by **Dem Pyros** » 24 May 2009, 17:58

....So you can't look around to anticipate a move with distortion on the outer edges?

I think you would have much greater problems if your perspective was skewed than if there was distortion, because while you would see the whole of an enemy or an object clearly, they would appear to be in a different location relative to the location of your character (center vs. side-screen).

I.E. it's removing your rear-view mirror with blind-spots on the sides and forcing you to play with only your side mirrors. Objects in game may be closer than they appear.

gabbadude · Post by **gabbadude** » 24 May 2009, 19:35

....So you can't look around to anticipate a move with distortion on the outer edges?

Of course I can but it looks horrible.

Objects in game may be closer than they appear.

Actually, at the moment it's exactly the opposite. The objects look almost right next to me but they are miles away. That's why it is so bad...

Dem Pyros · Post by **Dem Pyros** » 24 May 2009, 23:02

....So you can't look around to anticipate a move with distortion on the outer edges?

Of course I can but it looks horrible.

Objects in game may be closer than they appear.

Actually, at the moment it's exactly the opposite. The objects look almost right next to me but they are miles away. That's why it is so bad...

Look at the rFactor thread. The cars look much farther away then where they are.

If you hate playing the game in such a wide resolution, don't. It's a simple fix. Another potential fix could be looking on the WoW forums to greatly decrease the field of view. That should eliminate the distortion.

Your point about companies working so hard to make the game should push them to make the game support such a wacky implementation for games is irrelevant. WoW has millions of customers. The number of people it would attract by creating a new TH support system is a comparatively extremely small amount.

gabbadude · Post by **gabbadude** » 24 May 2009, 23:23

That may be so but its becoming more and more evident that you are hellbent on discrediting anything I have said or will say. (Potential fanboy maybe?) Sorry, im only saying this cause you seem to be the only one who is adamant to debate rfactor with me or constantly points out that i am a small minority. pfff

I have already acknowledged that I will rather ask on the WoW forum and bsoder has already told me to reduce my fov with a script.

So...I don't see the need to continue debating it. We can just agree to disagree. ;) Kapeesh? 8)

Thanks for your input anyhow.

Dem Pyros · Post by **Dem Pyros** » 25 May 2009, 00:00

Potential fanboy maybe?

Now that's just downright insulting. I don't even own one :wink:

My point is that you spent several hundred dollars and are unimpressed with the result due to what is mostly a gaff on your part. You failed to look the 'issue' before you bought it.

You're vastly overemphasizing the number of people in your predicament, and blasting the game developers over something that is certainly not their fault.

Your solution is that developers should step far out of their way to fix something that affects less than a few thousand of their audience, out of which you are apparently the only one we've (on this forum) seen concerned about it. It's a relatively work-intensive thing for a developer to update a game with, and they have no initiative to do so.

Even your solution, which gets rid of object distortion, distorts your perspective.

the ideal solution (which makes perfect sense) is to reduce the horizontal FOV and stand away from your monitors, so that there is no distortion at all (you'll see less, but there won't be any distortion).

Here's an example of Battlefield 2 like that:

It's not that I'm a fanboy, it's just that you don't seem to get it. In the real world, money drives everything.

Break open your piggy bank and pay Blizzard a couple grand. That may get them to respond to your questions ;)

gabbadude · Post by **gabbadude** » 25 May 2009, 00:48

You sure have a lot to say for someone who doesn't even own a th2g.

It's not that I'm a fanboy, it's just that you don't seem to get it. In the real world, money drives everything.

Gee, I would never have guessed. Thanks again for your insight.

Your solution is that developers should step far out of their way to fix something that affects less than a few thousand of their audience, out of which you are apparently the only one we've (on this forum) seen concerned about it. It's a relatively work-intensive thing for a developer to update a game with, and they have no initiative to do so.

This implies that you agree it is something that can be looked at by the developers but they won't cause money talks and there isnt a wide enough audience?? Interesting change of heart there.

what is mostly a gaff on your part. You failed to look the 'issue' before you bought it.

Again, why are you soo concerned when you yourself have admitted that it is something that the developers "COULD" look into if their coffers were fuller. ;)

Even your solution, which gets rid of object distortion, distorts your perspective.

It might distort the perspective but as I already mentioned, specifically for WoW, it would be better than the immersion.

Now please leave this thread so we can move on? I will follow different avenues...unless you REALLY REALLY need to have the last word you can post "word" in your next post. ;)

Dem Pyros · Post by **Dem Pyros** » 25 May 2009, 04:09

Lookout cranky, you have a rival here. Watch after him closely :wink:

Honestly, the developers could look into making the game run in only blue-tones, or they could look into delivering a pile of horse crap with every game purchased. Just because it's something they could consider doesn't mean something's "wrong." I never changed my mind once. It's a "solution" that could be implemented by the developers, but that doesn't mean it's any better than the current implementation, nor that the current implementation is wrong.

You're really preaching to the wrong people here. Contact Blizzard and get their opinion on the topic, if you make a good enough case they might actually respond with their perspective on the topic.

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