How NS2 should be played? Not yet...
PsYcH0_Ch!cKeN
Join Date: 2009-12-11 Member: 69601Members
Join Date: 2009-12-11 Member: 69601Members
<div class="IPBDescription">Ultrawide resolution support</div>Just saw a recent NS2 tweet showing off a photo of NS2 being played on two monitors:
<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/NS2/statuses/81748104763801602" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/#!/NS2/statuses/81748104763801602</a>
So I thought I'd give that a try myself (3 x 24" Eyefinity). Unfortunately though, there isn't actually any widescreen support in NS2 atm, it's Vert- all the way. See below for 1920 x 1200 vs 5760 x 1200 for the same scene.
<a href="http://www.ragequit.com/misc/2011-06-18_00003.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.ragequit.com/misc/2011-06-18_00003.jpg</a>
<a href="http://www.ragequit.com/misc/2011-06-18_00002.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.ragequit.com/misc/2011-06-18_00002.jpg</a>
So seeing as it obviously got the attention of someone at UW, I was wondering if we're going to see proper support for widescreen resolutions with a dynamic FoV calculation in use rather than a hardcoded value? Are there many (any?) other players who would also run multi-monitor setups if the game supported it properly?
It'd also be nice to have the HUD position dynamically adjusted to always sit on the centre monitor, but that's a little more difficult and time consuming, so I'd understand if that never got done (might be able to take a crack at that myself, thank you .lua scripting!).
<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/NS2/statuses/81748104763801602" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/#!/NS2/statuses/81748104763801602</a>
So I thought I'd give that a try myself (3 x 24" Eyefinity). Unfortunately though, there isn't actually any widescreen support in NS2 atm, it's Vert- all the way. See below for 1920 x 1200 vs 5760 x 1200 for the same scene.
<a href="http://www.ragequit.com/misc/2011-06-18_00003.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.ragequit.com/misc/2011-06-18_00003.jpg</a>
<a href="http://www.ragequit.com/misc/2011-06-18_00002.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.ragequit.com/misc/2011-06-18_00002.jpg</a>
So seeing as it obviously got the attention of someone at UW, I was wondering if we're going to see proper support for widescreen resolutions with a dynamic FoV calculation in use rather than a hardcoded value? Are there many (any?) other players who would also run multi-monitor setups if the game supported it properly?
It'd also be nice to have the HUD position dynamically adjusted to always sit on the centre monitor, but that's a little more difficult and time consuming, so I'd understand if that never got done (might be able to take a crack at that myself, thank you .lua scripting!).
Comments
I remember this being brought up some time ago. There were may discussions about how the multi-monitor player has more advantage over the single monitor player and so on. While I understand those arguments, the industry seems to be leaning towards multi-monitor gaming. Just taking the Battlefield series, BFBC2 had great implementation of multimonitor support. According to a guy on the Widescreen Gamers Forum (WSGF), he stated, after test playing BF3, he talked to the Exec Producer and they stated that they "will have the SAME support as Bad company 2." (http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=23644)
BF3, without a doubt, will have some sort of tourny aspect to it with the community. I don't think that there will be some punishment for multi-monitor users in competition (sadly, I could not navigate through the CPL to find rules and such on this). TF2 and CS:S (along with other Source engine games) are other games that allow multi-monitor support.
And having multiple monitors doesn't give you God-like abilities. You still have to avert attention to another monitor, even with the best of peripheral vision. It is no more cheating that surround sound speakers/headphones which allow you to hear behind or to the side of you. Allowing for multi-monitor support just helps future-proof the game a bit.
*Semi pro stereo Sennheisers of course
Also, hardware wise, my 5850 only has 2 dvi slots and 1 hdmi. Do you guys use two graphics cards? Or could I have three monitors with this card? Im guessing I could do center - Hdmi and the two side monitors - Dvi.
Either way, I like the trip setup and dont find it as an advantage really. ######, if I could afford it I would do it.
BTW is the skulk field of view a little strange or are my eyes not ok? I know they probably want to make a "alien vision feel", but I don't like that.
Newest cards mostly only use displayport and hdmi though, so just getting one hdmi monitor would be the cheapest solution for you, instead of 1-2 displayport and 1-2 hdmi monitors in addition to another card.
BTW is the skulk field of view a little strange or are my eyes not ok? I know they probably want to make a "alien vision feel", but I don't like that.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Not all of us are high school students. Besides, who needs jeans when there's three monitors and two hot video cards keeping my study warm? ;)
The thing about FoV is that it's not that difficult to change to be dynamic. I had a quick look through the scripting and I think I could probably put something together in a day or two (I'm not familiar with lua but it doesn't look too difficult) that would handle it. Not too sure about the commander view it has to be said, I'd have to think about that a little. And as I said before, having the HUD elements automatically positioned on the centre monitor takes a bit more work. Fortunately though, the weapon-based HUD means that there's not as much to worry about (unlike the Unreal game I've been working on that has 1986324652 HUD elements, fun fun fun!).
At the end of the day though, it's not about what I can mod into the game, it's about what will be added officially. There's little point in making adjustments myself if I can't use them online.
FYI, the skulk FoV is 110 rather than 90.
Also, hardware wise, my 5850 only has 2 dvi slots and 1 hdmi. Do you guys use two graphics cards? Or could I have three monitors with this card? Im guessing I could do center - Hdmi and the two side monitors - Dvi.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
As for the setup, the triple screens are pretty much considered one giant monitor (so right now, my PC thinks it has a monitor 4320x900, I think... doing the math at off the top of my head). Games, like L4D2, TF2, and so on, center in on the screen like any other monitor.
<img src="http://www.simoncoffman.com/pics/hal9000-1.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
My setup, taken last year. Purchased a better desk since then.
<img src="http://www.simoncoffman.com/pics/hal9000-2.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
Running L4D2 on it to show how the HUD/Crosshair is displayed. The heathbars are far on the left, and ammo info is on the right. (WSGF has a fix to put it on the center screen, but I like it out of the way.)
As for the card, I think you can have three monitors with that card. I don't know personally, though. I would check ATI and see if it has Eyefinity support. Personally I have the 5870 Eyefinity 6 version (enables me to have up to 6 monitors on one card). Now, the problem I have with my card is I have to have adapters because all the connections on my card are mini-dvi. So right now I have two dvi to mini-dvi connectors and one vga to mini-dvi (because any dvi to mini-dvi connectors after two need some power to assist it, so I chose to use a cheap $30 Apple vga to mini-dvi which does not require external power instead of an expensive powered dvi to mini-dvi).
<!--quoteo(post=1854381:date=Jun 18 2011, 09:08 PM:name=countbasie)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (countbasie @ Jun 18 2011, 09:08 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1854381"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->3 Monitors is just a strange gap-technology, like the Iphone. The real stuff will come in 5 years or so (bendable displays etc.). When 30% of the gamers can afford some of that real stuff, yes, then we can ask UWE to make a patch. Until then, better sell two of your monitors and buy your first car, or some jeans that keep you warm in winter.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Alienware either has a curved monitor out or will be coming out soon. Lord knows how much that will cost. Plus, as I bought these three monitors staggered over time, it will be cheaper for me to replace one old monitor than one costly curved monitor.
Multi-monitor setups are just great for work and productivity. I know people from computer techs to CAD designers to musicians who use a multi-monitor setup for their work. If you look at the Steam Hardware survey, it says under Multi Monitor Desktop Resolution that 77.24% said yes (I could be reading/understanding that all wrong, though). This probably includes 2+ monitors (and FPS'ing with two monitors is a pain), so people still say they have at least more than one monitor hooked up in used, whether or not they use it for gaming. And while I do not have the problem of needing to buy jeans or my first car (mine is sitting outside my home, all safe and sound, with freshly cleaned jeans from the laundromat), it is not like monitors are a grand a piece. As of writing this, newegg.com has a 20" monitor for 109.99. If you are younger, and you really wanted a similar setup, you could do what I did in grade school; set money aside from work/allowance/summer job/whatever and purchase them when you can afford it.