PLEASE modify the wiki for quake 2!! (or show me how to!)

triplesick · Post by **triplesick** » 27 Oct 2009, 04:31

FINAL UPDATE: Knightmare, the fellow behind KMQuake, has released an unofficial quake 2 patch with perfect widescreen support. This renders a patched exe obsolete.

Previous stuff, disregard:
EDIT: idiocy removed. polite summary: aprq2 is not ideal for single player as it can break enemy AI. I think the cranky hermit was correct to list it as a solution, though, because even now, no simpler solution exists.

UPDATE: I made a fixed exe with widescreen video modes, which is essentially the same as nnsdev's exe, except that you can set the correct FOV up to 180 without the gun disappearing. Otherwise, no changes are made; completely compatible with mission packs, as well as r1gl.

UPDATE3: Actually, I want to take the time to do this properly. Do not bother testing this yet. I've contacted knightmare, and I'm hoping to implement his autoscaled-fov code so that widescreen gamers would have a minimalistic and ridiculously straightforward widescreen solution. I expect to have a final version in a week or so. Until then, my existing file is linked below.

Tanuki · Post by **Tanuki** » 27 Oct 2009, 04:50

We all knew about this but we had a pool going to see how long it was going to take before someone would notice.

I think DaFox won. Maybe he can help you?

triplesick · Post by **triplesick** » 27 Oct 2009, 05:17

We all knew about this but we had a pool going to see how long it was going to take before someone would notice.

I think DaFox won. Maybe he can help you?

:lol: that's really funny. why didn't anyone change it? there are a bunch of threads on the steam forums about people installing the apr engine, or the r1gl renderer, or some foolishness that breaks something else, when all they want is widescreen.

Tanuki · Post by **Tanuki** » 27 Oct 2009, 06:34

why didn't anyone change it?

It was in jest.

Solutions can change and update in a lot of different places in the site over time. There are no definite responsibilities for working on the wiki. It is considered a community effort. So in short, no one knew, so no one updated it.

I will try and get to it tomorrow if no one else does.

Post by **ctrlsteef** » 27 Oct 2009, 08:49

RANT

I urge you to keep the tone a bit down. Just because people didn't know about a changed solution doesn't make them dumb.
If you have extra information like you did you can post it in a normal way and leave all the namecalling away. You are not making
a good impression of yourself by signing up and ranting like this from the start. Thanks.

triplesick · Post by **triplesick** » 27 Oct 2009, 20:23

(edited to correct my idiotic mistakes.)

You are not making a good impression

Yes, I agree. Sorry.

Will something be done, though? If I start behaving better, can you show me how to fix the wiki?

ERR, EDIT.
@TANUKI: If you're able to change the wiki, here is some additional information.
1. The simplest solution for just playing quake 2 is the hacked .exe hosted in your downloads section. However, you're stuck with 90 degree FOV, or your gun disappears.

2. If you want a proper FOV, use one of the following engines (which do not break gameplay):
KMQuake 2
Quake 2 XP

Post by **Paradigm Shifter** » 27 Oct 2009, 21:55

Someone with wiki access get on this please... it's in everyone's best interests to get this updated. :)

triplesick · Post by **triplesick** » 28 Oct 2009, 01:43

update, i'd like to explicitly clarify that i'm an idiot.

1. the fixed .exe from the downloads allows does work with the mission packs. but, while it allows widescreen resolutions, it keeps a 90 degree FOV. increasing to 100 makes your gun disappear, and there is no native command to bring it back. r1gl has this problem too. therefore, r1gl is of no use at all.

2. r1gl has this problem too. therefore, r1gl is of no use at all.

3. anyone who wants to play single player in widescreen with proper fov should use kmquake engine, though the eye candy will overwhelm those with integrated graphics.

Post by **The_cranky_hermit** » 28 Oct 2009, 04:17

stop telling people that the solution is to download THE ACTION QUAKE II ENGINE.

Where on the website does it say we should?

HERE IS THE REAL SOLUTION:
get nnsdev's recompiled QUAKE2.EXE from 2005, which is HOSTED on your DOWNLOADS PAGE. It's exactly the same as regular quake 2, but with widescreen resolution options.

Aprq2 and KMQuake2 have both been found to be better for widescreen, because you can increase the FOV.

to see some of the damage you've done, do a google search for "quake 2 widescreen steam."

The first item I'm seeing is a thread where someone recommends KMQuake2. The second item I'm seeing is this thread. I don't see any results on the first page that indicates we have caused "damage."

Anyway, the first part of the wiki anyone should look at when searching for widescreen solutions is the MGL. You will note that it lists KMQuake2 as a widescreen certified Quake II engine. Before discovering KMQuake2, aprq2 was believed to be the best WS engine for Quake 2. The Quake 2 page itself still reflects that. There's nothing horribly wrong with Aprq2, nor was there since I made that page in 2006, but it is out of date, since KMQuake2 is better.

And I updated it to KMQuake2.

triplesick · Post by **triplesick** » 28 Oct 2009, 04:38

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=723827

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=782557

however, you're right, i definitely was exaggerating, and you seem to have known a lot more about this than i did. i beg your forgiveness. i think i need to grow up. good work.

triplesick · Post by **triplesick** » 28 Oct 2009, 16:45

OKAY!

At this point, I am in some major politeness debt. I believe I can make up for it.

I have made a hacked exe! I did it! I'm so happy! Allows POV up to 130 without the gun disappearing, with widescreen resolutions. If you will forgive me my initial misbehavior, I think you should host this, because, as far as I know, it's as yet the only way to get true widescreen without changing other parts of the game. Also, it's infinitely simpler than other solutions. The only changes are the video modes and the FOV at which the gun disappears.

Post by **The_cranky_hermit** » 28 Oct 2009, 17:11

What's wrong with KMQuake2? I've played through the entire game and both expansions with it, and didn't notice anything wrong. And it has an automatic FOV scaler, making it unnecessary for WS users to mess with the FOV. Also, though this isn't related to widescreen, it works with the Music Patch, and I can't imagine playing Quake 2 without the music.

triplesick · Post by **triplesick** » 28 Oct 2009, 20:03

What's wrong with KMQuake2? I've played through the entire game and both expansions with it, and didn't notice anything wrong. And it has an automatic FOV scaler, making it unnecessary for WS users to mess with the FOV. Also, though this isn't related to widescreen, it works with the Music Patch, and I can't imagine playing Quake 2 without the music.

I agree; there's nothing wrong with KMQuake2. KMQuake2 does not effect the gameplay, and it has a bunch of other cool features in addition to widescreen support. It's an excellent engine. For the vast majority of quake 2 gamers, kmquake is superior.

However, here's why someone would want a widescreen-enabled exe instead.

1. It's simple. No need to change the crosshair. No need to create and run a quake2.bat if you want the mission packs; they work immediately. Supposing you want to add other mods, they'll work too; the R1GL renderer can now used with custom FOV.

2. A fixed .exe does not change the system requirements. On my laptop integrated graphics, KMQuake 2 drops to ~5fps when something explodes. The fixed exe does not have this problem.

3. A complete engine overhaul is a very roundabout solution. It changes the particle effects, lighting, menus, etc., and these changes cannot be disabled.

4. You're right, my exe doesn't support the ogg soundtrack. People find your site, however, because they're looking to play games in widescreen resolutions, not because they're looking for a way to get music without the CD. People can still burn the CD if they want to.

5. Simply put, in my case, creating this exe was the only way I was able to get Quake 2 working in true widescreen. I downloaded half a dozen other solutions and all of them had some significant problem that made the game unenjoyable. It's a 12 year old game; it shouldn't be such a hassle. A fixed exe allows you to play the game exactly as you played it 12 years ago, just with widescreen support. My personal frustration that no simple solution existed was the reason I came onto these forums acting like a jerk.

I'm linking it the first post of the thread and including instructions. I request you provide it as a secondary solution in the wiki; obviously, it's your call.

Post by **Paradigm Shifter** » 28 Oct 2009, 21:09

Have you hosted that fixed .exe somewhere so we can test it? :)

triplesick · Post by **triplesick** » 28 Oct 2009, 23:34

Have you hosted that fixed .exe somewhere so we can test it? :)

Yes :) I've edited the link into the first post of the thread.

Post by **Paradigm Shifter** » 29 Oct 2009, 10:43

Cool. When I find my Quake 2 CDs, I'll give it a shot.

triplesick · Post by **triplesick** » 30 Oct 2009, 15:08

Thanks a lot--actually, though, don't hurry to test it out. I've come to believe that a good widescreen-enabled exe would actually be an important contribution, and I should take the time to do it right. Accordingly, I've been in touch with knightmare (the guy behind kmquake ii, who is making an unofficial patch which includes widescreen support), and I'm hoping that we can together come up with a simple, complete, and minimalistic widescreen solution.

Ideally, I'm hoping to make an exe with an extensive list of video modes, support for custom resolutions, and an automatically-scaled FOV. This would allow gamers who just want widescreen to work (ie, folks who just recently got quake 2 off of steam rather than old community members) would be able to enable widescreen with in a single, 0.2mb download, without touching the console or changing other parts of the game.

I expect such an exe, if it's possible, will be ready in a week or less.

Thanks for not banning me yet :)

Post by **The_cranky_hermit** » 30 Oct 2009, 15:28

I think that EVERYONE who plays Quake 2 should enjoy the music, widescreen users or not. Especially people who just got the game off Steam. Personally, I wouldn't even consider using or recommending a solution that didn't enable the music as long as a solution which does exists.

triplesick · Post by **triplesick** » 30 Oct 2009, 15:49

I think that EVERYONE who plays Quake 2 should enjoy the music, widescreen users or not. Especially people who just got the game off Steam. Personally, I wouldn't even consider using or recommending a solution that didn't enable the music as long as a solution which does exists.

I certainly agree. And my version DOES enable the music, the way it's always been enabled. As illustrated by this thread, at least as many casual gamers would prefer burning the music to a CD instead of using kmquake. The ogg soundtrack is cool, but people have been playing the music off the CD for over a decade. (i, too, would prefer an ogg soundtrack though).

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=813280

The case I would make is that, if/when a simple widescreen solution is created, by either knightmare or myself, you should list it as a SECONDARY solution. To provide a counterpoint, I think that EVERYONE who owns Quake 2 should be able to play it, period. Again, as cool as kmquake is, it just doesn't run well on my integrated graphics. Having to choose between 5fps and a stretched fullscreen resolution, I'll go with...not playing it at all.

By the way, I formally apologize. Your solutions--kmquake and the other engine--have both truly been the best possible solutions. I was not only rude, but also incorrect, to criticize them. I still think, of course, that an additional, simpler solution is needed for anyone who has trouble with kmquake.

Post by **Paradigm Shifter** » 30 Oct 2009, 15:49

I really liked the Quake 2 music. Made the game 100x better. :D

Widescreen Gaming Forum