Patched: Age of Empires 2 Conquerers

[boekabart]

I have not managed to get the game to run on 2560 x 1600. The installer .msi seems to do its work correctly, creating the expected files, for the 1.0c version that I downloaded... but no gameplay (menus work correctly).

Did you use the provided batch files? If so, strange, can you press printscreen and post the screenshot?
If you've ran it before with an old version, maybe you should delete an old 25601600.drs in the data folder, it doesn't re-create if it exists... So if you have a broken or old version, that might be the cause.
If you didn't use the provided batch file, I think you have to go to the 'options' screen every time and select (in your case) 1280x1024 again (change away to 800x600 then to 1280 again, in order for AoE to set everything up correctly. IF you use the batch file, it will FORCE to the right resolution, for me that works every time.

[Paranoid]

I think there's something wrong with my version of the game. The .msi installer posts 2 warnings in yellow for versions 1.0c and 1.0e, and there's messages about the files not being the expected size.

What I did was: install AOEII and AOEIITC (from e: to c:, I no longer have the cds), install patch 1.0c, dl your .exe and place it in main AOE installation folder, dl your .msi, run the .msi, and run the 2560x1600.exe from the folder. The game ctds with an error message when I try to enter gameplay - menus work fine @ low res.

Also, take a look at the attached screenshot from the report the installer gives.



(heh, I created a Photobucket account for this image alone!)

I don't remember what I did to get the broken interface.

And thank you for the time you take with me, man!

EDIT: it seems Photobucket displays a lower resolution image... I uploaded a cropped version showing the window.

[boekabart]

I think there's something wrong with my version of the game.

Correct: You've installed 1.0c patch, that means you don't need MY exe (it's 1.0!) but the 1.0c BsK exe or the (voobly) 1.0e version.
Delete my exe, it's not compatible with your data files.
Get one of the ones above, and Go.
Yes, I should make version detection in the patcher so it will tell users about this...

[Paranoid]

I downloaded the 1.0c exe, and the game still ctds after running the 2560x1600 exe. However, I came across this mention of a reward for whoever fixes this game, maybe you should claim it?

http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/39309975/m/358004522731

[boekabart]

However, I came across this mention of a reward for whoever fixes this game, maybe you should claim it?

Thanks, but that topic is years old and closed - I just hope for some respect and maybe some donations.

I downloaded the 1.0c exe, and the game still ctds after running the 2560x1600 exe.

I'd really like to help you out. Lets retrace your steps:
After downloading age2_x1.exe 1.0 BsK, you should:
[list]* delete all previously created widescreen exes[/list:u]
[list]* delete all previously created widescreen batch files[/list:u]
[list]* delete all previously created 'numbered' drs files in the data subdirectory[/list:u]
[list]* run age2wide again[/list:u]
[list]* run the batch file created[/list:u]
IF you decide to run the exe directly instead of using the batch file, you will have to go to options and select 1280x1024 as resolution again!! I really advise to use the batch file, since it runs the widescreen exe with the '1280' parameter, FORCING the new resolution (2560x1600) to be used...
Let me know how it goes!

[emperorsfist]

Works great! I have been waiting for something like this a long time. One question though. Does it work with SW Galactic Battlegrounds? It's the very same engine only with different models.

[boekabart]

Works great! I have been waiting for something like this a long time. One question though. Does it work with SW Galactic Battlegrounds? It's the very same engine only with different models.

Still the executable is totally different. It would be possible to create a patch file, I'm sure, that might even work with the unmodified patcher, but I won't be the one doing it...

[Paranoid]

So I had this great idea: set my monitor to other resolutions and try to play!

1920 x 1080 and 1920 x 1440 worked fine with the fix, but 2048 x 1536 did not (this is my older CRT monitor max resolution).

Can you please take another look at the fix? Thank you in advance!

[boekabart]

2048 x 1536 did not (this is my older CRT monitor max resolution).

I don't have the hardware to try this, but if you would please elaborate what did not go right, I can try to help.

I've tried 1680x2100, and 3360x1050 succesfully, and I've seen a report of 2560x1600 with good results... So what goes wrong exactly in your case?

[Jarhead-Tti]

Hello boekabart !
I'm really happy about these news =)
I was always looking to find a solution to use my 1920x1080 screen.
Now I found you patch and i allready tried on my netbook and it works =)
But on my computer i got some problems: I'm using 2 screens (1920x1080 and 1280x1024) and the patch was not working. So i got a resolution of 1280x1024 like I used before.
Now I realized the problem and I disabled my 2. screen and now it works. But I'd like to use my 2. screen as well, because I don't want to disable it everytime for playing AoE.
The Widescreenpatcher says:

Is there a possibility to use my 2. screen without turning off? (I use Win 7 64x)

Jarhead

[boekabart]

@JarHead: Set your external screen (1920) as MAIN DISPLAY in 'Screen Resolution' settings. Old DDraw apps only use the MAIN screen. Nothing I can do about that...

[pokeman7452]

I would very much like to see this for Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds as well.

[maxep]

i try 1900 x 1080 and is too lag
is problem in my graphic procesor ?

[maxep]

dude this is for 1.0 we need 1.0c pls fix for 1.0c i will donate to you. and i use 1900 x 1080 and was too lag is because of my graphic or something else? i use intel 965 mobile graphic adapter. thanks

[maxep]

we cant use this because is for 1.0 version. can you make for 1.0c?? i will donate for your job. and i have lag in 1900 resolution, because of my craphic card??

[boekabart]

we cant use this because is for 1.0 version. can you make for 1.0c?? i will donate for your job. and i have lag in 1900 resolution, because of my craphic card??

I'd say, donate! because as it reads in the first post, it works for 1.0, 1.0c and 1.0e - as longa s you have a known NoCD version.
Re the lag: I'd think that it should work fine even on a modern day IGP, since the game was developed for 'normal' 1999 graphics cards, and the resolution is only about 200% higher....

[gabsman]

Hello boekabart, first of all thanks for the great work you do!

I have a somehow crazy problem with the widescreen mode:
I have a 16:10 notebook with 1280x800 ratio.....in erlier posts i read something about that there is an issue with that resolution and that it`s not fully supported..is that true for the actual files?
I have Win7 32 bit and i play with the conquerors files in the main directory of the game all on 1.0c (otherwise it doesnt work on win7 as you know), i use the self created 1280x800 batch file to quit the explorer.exe (I use the 1.0c version from bsk and there is no error when installing the widescreen patch on 1.0c).
Everthing fine for now....but when i play a random game with the teutons or saracens for example the game crashes..BUT as chinese everything works fine with widescreen gaming! there is no logic behind that for me...maybe you know more. It also doesn`t matter which setting i use on random game, and i tested it several times with these 3 civilizations, always the same ending. Also only a few campiagn missions work.As a test, when i play 4:3 everything works fine (campaigns, multi, random..).

The thing is that on 1280x800 in 4:3 mode, age of empires is very tiny :lol:

Thanks and Greetings,
gabsman

[geepeetee]

Hi,

I also can't get it working on my 16:10 1280x800 notebook, running XP.
I have tried with 1.0 and with 1.0c (with the BsK patch).
I notice that the mouse cursor changes to 1280x800 when loading in to a game, but then it crashes without going further than the black loading screen.

Cheers, I very much appreciate what you have done

[boekabart]

1280x800 crash confirmed. Working on a fix!

[boekabart]

1280x800 crash confirmed. Working on a fix!

Fixed: The problem was that resizing the background image horizontally was sometimes wrong.
Broken were all resolutions 1280 x (smaller than 960), but also (amongst others):
1536 x all, 2048 x all, 2560 x all. So you people with huge resolutions now can play again!

Another improvement in r40: It's no longer killing explorer to fix the palette, but using a (included) program to suspend and resume it. Less artefacts to be expected, and it works for everyone I suppose since it's included!

Files now available at a 'real' domain:http://www.boekabart.net/aoe2wide/
Latest installer: http://www.boekabart.net/aoe2wide/AoE2WideSetup_r40.msi