Widescreen Gaming Forum

I downloaded and tried out the fix but it won't work for me (and the directions are pretty easy). I have a 20" widescreen but unfortunatly my video card isn't strong enough to run the game at 1680x1050 with a good frame rate (8600GTS). Therefore, I was hoping to play it in 1280x1024 and in 16:10 widescreen.

I run the fix and set my settings (0.84 for both), then I start the demo. However, it says to "Press Numpad * to enable new FOV settings" but when I press the * nothing happens.

Can anybody help? I have Vista Ultimate 64-bit but since I have v1.2 of the fix it should support it. I plan on buying the game this week but would like to see if I can make this fix work first in the demo. Thanks.

When do you press the *? It works for me, but you'll have to wait till you are actually playing the game (that is: having a gun/wrench/electric fist in your face :)) with pressing it. The FOV instantly changes then.
Also make sure you selected "Demo" and not "Retail 1.0 DX9" or "Retail 1.0 DX10"

Thanks for the response. Basically what I do is:

1. Run the hack and make sure it has the correct settings 0.84 and that it is the demo.

2. Launch the game.

3. While playing the game I press the * on the number pad.

It just isn't working for me. V1.2 does support Vista 64-bit correct?

Cranky:

Since the revised Racer_S hack supports Dx10, can we get a revised grade?

I think that the system must be weird if this deserves a "D+" when games with absolutely no widescreen support (i.e. hacks and stretching get "D"s).

This game has "decent" widescreen support. Aspect ratios are correct and it supports most resolutions under the sun. The FOV sucks, but it's better than other games of the same grade.

How is the grade quantified? Are we grading based on how the developers released it or how well the community "fixes" it?

Since the revised Racer_S hack supports Dx10, can we get a revised grade?

The raw points is higher, but the grade is still D+. Any game where the MGL solution is "hack" will have its grade capped at D+.

How is the grade quantified? Are we grading based on how the developers released it or how well the community "fixes" it?

Fan-made fixes are only factored in if they fundamentally improve widescreen support, such as is the case here.

Since the revised Racer_S hack supports Dx10, can we get a revised grade?

The raw points is higher, but the grade is still D+. Any game where the MGL solution is "hack" will have its grade capped at D+.

How is the grade quantified? Are we grading based on how the developers released it or how well the community "fixes" it?

Fan-made fixes are only factored in if they fundamentally improve widescreen support, such as is the case here.

I can see justification of a D+ on a game that requires a "hack" that does NOT support widescreen natively, but this game supports widescreen natively. It's just you need the hack if you want HOR+.

Shouldn't get a C+ like all of the other Native VERT- games? The HOR+ Racer_S hack is really just for preference.

[quote]

Since the revised Racer_S hack supports Dx10, can we get a revised grade?

The raw points is higher, but the grade is still D+. Any game where the MGL solution is "hack" will have its grade capped at D+.

How is the grade quantified? Are we grading based on how the developers released it or how well the community "fixes" it?

Fan-made fixes are only factored in if they fundamentally improve widescreen support, such as is the case here.

I can see justification of a D+ on a game that requires a "hack" that does NOT support widescreen natively, but this game supports widescreen natively. It's just you need the hack if you want HOR+.

Shouldn't get a C+ like all of the other Native VERT- games? The HOR+ Racer_S hack is really just for preference.

I agree. It's a bit strange if the game gets a lower grade while somebody made a piece of software that improves the widescreen support. It's a bit strange: if Racer did not improve the widescreen support of this grade, it would get a higher grade :?

I agree. It's a bit strange if the game gets a lower grade while somebody made a piece of software that improves the widescreen support. It's a bit strange: if Racer did not improve the widescreen support of this grade, it would get a higher grade :?

Exactly. If Racer_S had never made the hack, this game would have warranted a C+ (as I think it still should, or perhaps even higher as there IS a hack available that gives HOR+ widescreen support).

I guess we wait to see what cranky says.

Will this issue not be rendered moot when the next patch is releasesd?

Will this issue not be rendered moot when the next patch is releasesd?

It will be moot, but the patch may take many months and in the meantime I think the grade should be reflected correctly. I think that the grading system may need some caveats to account for games like this.

I also do not believe that they are rushing to get the patch out anytime soon.

Eh, it's your world. :)

Bioshock is good but not that good.

Eh, it's your world. :)

Bioshock is good but not that good.

I don't understand what you mean. It's not good enough to get a correct grade of its widescreen implementation?

And this is hardly my world. This DR thing is all cranky.

Well it is going to get proper support eventually. 8)

I meant that you can do whatever floats your boat. No hidden agenda. If the game was done properly to begin with then it would be getting the grade it deserved.

Of course most of my reports are Ds anyway. :D

This thread is about Bioshock. If you want to debate the merits of the system that was used to judge it, or propose changes to it, there are places appropriate for that. This is not one of them.

This thread is about Bioshock. If you want to debate the merits of the system that was used to judge it, or propose changes to it, there are places appropriate for that. This is not one of them.

If this thread is not the place to discuss the grading of the game... I don't know what is. You never respond to my PMs anyways.

You still haven't addressed my question regarding the grade either.

Hi Gabbo ...
I think cranky means ... the Bioshock DR thread should be just for info on the DR and perhaps a discussion of the grading system is best elsewhere in order to keep the DR clean.

I see what you are saying though about the grading system ...
Maybe it is punishment for the devs not doing it right when a third party can fix thins so quickly ... :twisted: ... (That was meant tong in cheek I don't know the real answer)

If this thread is not the place to discuss the grading of the game... I don't know what is.

Please spare me the indignant attitude. Frankly, it's getting tiresome. I'm more than happy to listen to suggestions, arguments, and to answer questions and to provide whatever information anyone asks for. But if you're just going to raise a stink, then I'm going to get the idea that you're not really interested in anything I have to say.

You never respond to my PMs anyways.

I always respond to questions in PM's from everybody. If I haven't answered yours lately, it's because I haven't gotten any from you lately.

You still haven't addressed my question regarding the grade either.

Yes I did. The game gets a D+, because its MGL solution is hack. If you're not satisfied with this answer, try asking a more specific question.

Maybe it is punishment for the devs not doing it right when a third party can fix thins so quickly ... Twisted Evil ... (That was meant tong in cheek I don't know the real answer)

You could think of it as punitive. I outline the grading system in my "list of games by grade" thread, and one of the notes under the "D grade" section is:

This grade is automatic for games that are Hor+, but require a fanmade hack to do so (if the fanbase can do it, why can't the developers?)

But you are avoiding my point that all other Native VERT- games get C+. If the hack never existed, it would have garnered a higher score?

That makes no sense. You are grading it as if it requires the hack to have widescreen support. This is not true.

And as far as being "indignant", your attitude towards anything I say has been quite negative for a few months. Ever since I dared to debate with you regarding Fallout 3, you have seemingly gone out of your way to live up to your moniker "cranky".

Seriously, I don't see how posting in the Detailed report that I wrote is off-topic when it was attempting to discuss the grade of the game. That is where we always have posted about things of this nature.

I will put it at a D+ even if it shows inconsistency in the grading system.

Fine, you win (even if it is through pure avoidance of my concerns).

But you are avoiding my point that all other Native VERT- games get C+.

Those games don't have hor+ hacks, and BioShock does.

If the hack never existed, it would have garnered a higher score?

Correct.

That makes no sense.

If you have a better idea, feel free to propose it in the places where site change propositions usually get made.

You are grading it as if it requires the hack to have widescreen support.

Correct. The rubric doesn't have a mechanism for handling multiple solution methods, so you use it by filling in the values for the "best" solution.

And as far as being "indignant", your attitude towards anything I say has been quite negative for a few months.

First of all, this is nonsense. Did I say anything "negative" about anything you said in what's left of the detailed report? Did I criticize your "Tallscreen" thread? All I can think of that you could be referring to as "negative" is my arguments about Fallout 3, and me recently asking for on-topicness in the thread of your BioShock DR. That hardly qualifies as anything and everything. Secondly, if you don't like me being "negative," then I recommend not getting into debates with me. It's not something you *have* to do, and saying something I disagree with and feel strongly about is a sure way to get me to explain why I feel what you are saying is wrong - something you deem "negative."

Seriously, I don't see how posting in the Detailed report that I wrote is off-topic when it was attempting to discuss the grade of the game.

I would explain if either I thought you cared to know my opinion, or if it were necessary to keep the thread on topic. The latter is no longer the case, and I suspect the former never was the case. If you actually *do* want me to explain my opinion on the matter, let me know and I will.

Fine, you win (even if it is through pure avoidance of my concerns).

The problem is that you were expressing your concerns in a manner I like to refer to as "bitching." If you're going to assume ahead of time that your arguments will fall on deaf ears and therefore deliver them in a jaded and generally uncooperative way, then they will fall on deaf ears no matter how good your points are.

I'm sure this hack works great in the demo, but in a later level (Point Prometheus and on 11, 12 & 13) I think it might break.

There is a visual effect used in these later levels, but I don't want to spoil the plot for anyone.

I don't think the widescreen issue is a bug, I think it's a deliberate compromise made by the developers so that these levels still work.

What happens with this hack on those levels?