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BFME2 & RotWK Widescreen and Triplehead Mods--Released
Posted: 23 Jul 2008, 21:34
by GeneralAdmission
It looks like 600 should be the upper limit (without requiring additional tweaks). I tested the game at 1024x768 (4:3) to see how it would look without the game applying Vert - for a widescreen res:
Since a 4:3 res at cam height 600 starts clipping the terrain, I don't think I can push any higher in WS resolutions without the same effect. I know the
DrawEntireTerrain or
Oversize Terrain settings can resolve this, but such a mod would only be useful for those running ultra-high resolutions on high-end rigs & screens.
This find is pushing me more towards a 600 setting since that seems optimal for WS resolutions--and you guys are the priority! Should any 4:3 users employ the mod, one roll of the mousewheel will bring down the camera enough to avoid the clipping.
Keep the feedback coming!
BFME2 & RotWK Widescreen and Triplehead Mods--Released
Posted: 23 Jul 2008, 21:43
by skipclarke
I know the DrawEntireTerrain or Oversize Terrain settings can resolve this, but such a mod would only be useful for those running ultra-high resolutions on high-end rigs & screens.
I haven't played these yet, and would love to my TH2Go. Would these settings help problems for Surround? If so, why not go ahead and enable them?
BFME2 & RotWK Widescreen and Triplehead Mods--Released
Posted: 23 Jul 2008, 23:03
by GeneralAdmission
Interesting question. I hadn't thought about surround, yet. Let me do some investigating...
BFME2 & RotWK Widescreen and Triplehead Mods--Released
Posted: 24 Jul 2008, 18:52
by GeneralAdmission
Triplehead resolutions work:
With HUD:
Without HUD
As you can see, the 2D hud elements stretch horribly. Also, the engine's fetish for all things Vert - comes into play in a big way for surround resolutions. The wider the AR, the more screen gets chopped off. Perhaps EA considers this "super widescreen compatibility" :wink:.
I've had no luck with the DrawEntireTerrain or Oversize Terrain settings. For some reason neither works. The screenshots above are at camera height 900, which is the highest possible without terrain clipping. If I'm going to do a surround version of the mod, I might have to experiment with camera pitch or focal length settings to try recovering more of the vertical fov. As is, the vertical fov is superior to the default setting of 300; I would say its equal to or slightly greater than a 16:10 res at 400.
The horizontal fov is fantastic, of course. I might have to cook up a large scale battle in this resolution just to see how it looks. :D
Are you triplehead users interested?
BFME2 & RotWK Widescreen and Triplehead Mods--Released
Posted: 24 Jul 2008, 19:48
by scavvenjahh
I sure am 8)
I didn't install this game in a long time, I don't even own the expansion but surround support would be a good excuse...
I'm glad there's a BFME2 mod specialist here, thanks for the fog trick !
(Now would you per chance have any idea how to switch between the standard and Collector's Edition's dragons ?? I have the CE but would love to be able to use the regular thick-headed badass beast every once in a while, and I never found a way to do this...)
BFME2 & RotWK Widescreen and Triplehead Mods--Released
Posted: 24 Jul 2008, 21:52
by Mergatroid
Voted 600 now that the fog is removed. Much more than that and you will be able to see your enemies. :)
I think I might reinstall this when you finish it.
BFME2 & RotWK Widescreen and Triplehead Mods--Released
Posted: 25 Jul 2008, 02:14
by GeneralAdmission
Did somebody order a FOV increase? :)
Surround gamers rejoice:
Tweaking the camera's pitch and focal length regained a substantial amount of vertical fov. I'd say it's now equal to a 500+ camera height setting at 16:10 resolution, and the horizontal fov is so wide you can almost see the curvature of the earth! :D
I think this is as far as I can push the fov for th2go resolutions. As it is, a 0.1 change to the camera's focal length will start producing clipping at the upper border. Also, at maximum fov the extreme left and right sides of the map are actually not clickable. Either it has something to do with the fog of war, or the game engine just doesn't like the fact that I exposed so much of the map to the camera. :wink: I suppose being able to single-click move your army to the enemy base without scrolling the map wasn't in the design docs. :)
Is this enough real estate for you "surrounders" to work with? One thing's for sure--if I can get this working for all maps then somebody owes me a cheeseburger :lol: .
BFME2 & RotWK Widescreen and Triplehead Mods--Released
Posted: 25 Jul 2008, 06:02
by GeneralAdmission
I sure am 8)
I didn't install this game in a long time, I don't even own the expansion but surround support would be a good excuse...
I'm glad there's a BFME2 mod specialist here, thanks for the fog trick !
(Now would you per chance have any idea how to switch between the standard and Collector's Edition's dragons ?? I have the CE but would love to be able to use the regular thick-headed badass beast every once in a while, and I never found a way to do this...)
Glad to help. :) Thanks for the complement...though I wouldn't claim the title of specialist, yet. I'm still astounded at the work that guys like
Deezire can do.
About the dragon: offhand I don't know how to change it. For what I've read it seems to be the same basic unit but with a different skin. Is that accurate? If that's the case, it can probably be changed by swapping a few asset references in the .ini files. I'd have to get more details to know for sure.
BFME2 & RotWK Widescreen and Triplehead Mods--Released
Posted: 25 Jul 2008, 09:59
by scavvenjahh
Not quite, I think the models differ too. The CE dragon looks like a grown-up version of the dragon spawn "hero", and it's the one with the short thick head actually; the "normal" version looks more like the average dragon so to speak, with a long head. Guess I'll have to reinstall both the CE and demo and take screenies... That last picture of yours was a definite incentive :)
BFME2 & RotWK Widescreen and Triplehead Mods--Released
Posted: 25 Jul 2008, 19:47
by GeneralAdmission
Not quite, I think the models differ too. The CE dragon looks like a grown-up version of the dragon spawn "hero", and it's the one with the short thick head actually; the "normal" version looks more like the average dragon so to speak, with a long head. Guess I'll have to reinstall both the CE and demo and take screenies... That last picture of yours was a definite incentive :)
Screenshots would help. Here's some other data I would need:
What is the unit named?
Which data files in the game directory contain references to the unit? (I don't have the CE)
Which unit does it replace?
Which faction(s) have access to the unit?
Is it utilized in-game just like the other dragon?
You don't have to put time into this now. I probably won't have time to work on this until the camera mods are done, but I'd be happy to help.
RotWK runs $9.99 at Fry's. Other shops should have it at the same price point, and Amazon has the Anthology for <$20. PC gaming has the best bargain bin in the biz. :)
Remember that I will be doing widescreen and surround mods for
both BFME2 and RotWK, so you don't have to pick up the expansion. I would, though.
Yeah, I'm pretty happy with that latest surround screenshot. Even playing it in FauxTH2Go on my little 1440x900, the feeling of perspective it creates is impressive. Spinning the camera around battles is awesome.
BFME2 & RotWK Widescreen and Triplehead Mods--Released
Posted: 25 Jul 2008, 20:40
by Mergatroid
Remember that I will be doing widescreen and surround mods for both BFME2 and RotWK...
Yay! Now I'm happy in the pants.
But totally in a platonic way, really. :shock:
BFME2 & RotWK Widescreen and Triplehead Mods--Released
Posted: 25 Jul 2008, 20:43
by DaFox
I just wanted to say That I've never even heard of this game but now I cant wait to check it out.
BFME2 & RotWK Widescreen and Triplehead Mods--Released
Posted: 29 Jul 2008, 03:52
by GeneralAdmission
Yay! Now I'm happy in the pants.
Positive response accepted. Beyond that...no comment :wink: :P
I just wanted to say That I've never even heard of this game but now I cant wait to check it out.
Never? :shock: Well, if you like RTS games or LotR even a little, check it out.
Demo.
BFME2 & RotWK Widescreen and Triplehead Mods--Released
Posted: 01 Aug 2008, 19:01
by GeneralAdmission
Test releases should be available today for BFME2 and RotWK widescreen mods. Currently I'm writing up a brief readme, then it's just a matter of zipping and uploading.
Check the first post later for download links.
BFME2 & RotWK Widescreen and Triplehead Mods--Released
Posted: 01 Aug 2008, 21:16
by GeneralAdmission
In the words of Steve Martin... RELEASE!
Happy Friday :).
BFME2 & RotWK Widescreen and Triplehead Mods--Released
Posted: 01 Aug 2008, 23:17
by skipclarke
I'm going to make a Wiki page for this, and link to the downloads. Can you give me some comparison screenshots?
BFME2 & RotWK Widescreen and Triplehead Mods--Released
Posted: 02 Aug 2008, 00:17
by Mergatroid
Doh! 404 on the links.
BFME2 & RotWK Widescreen and Triplehead Mods--Released
Posted: 02 Aug 2008, 00:29
by GeneralAdmission
Doh! 404 on the links.
That's weird. The filenames got truncated for some reason. :? Links should be fixed now.
BFME2 & RotWK Widescreen and Triplehead Mods--Released
Posted: 02 Aug 2008, 00:44
by GeneralAdmission
I'm going to make a Wiki page for this, and link to the downloads. Can you give me some comparison screenshots?
For now you can pull these 2 shots from my other posts:
Camera at height of 300 (default)
Camera modded to height of 600:
Those shots are fairly plain but they work. I might cook up some more exciting screens when I have time to actually play the game. :wink:
I also intend to produce a short demo video that will highlight the dramatic FOV difference the mod provides. It will probably be a few days before I can do that--this weekend is shaping up to be crazy busy in 'real life'. :)
Eventually I'll need to write up a full-fledged readme file, as well.
As always, please provide feedback!
BFME2 & RotWK Widescreen and Triplehead Mods--Released
Posted: 02 Aug 2008, 01:34
by skipclarke
Looking forward to the video. Hopefully you will let us include it in our collection. I've yet to play the games, and this will be my push - especially in Surround.