HiResFix problem -time to ask the experts

[GreyBeard]

First off, let me say hi guys! Long time no see! Thought I'd dust off this old wargame and give it another go.

So I tried installing the Hi Res Fix and everything seems okay except for one problem, the F9, F10 and F11 keys cease to function. That's with or without any mods. Running Vista x64. Once uninstalled the keys function again. Wondering if anyone has any ideas why.

[GreyBeard]

Tonight I uninstalled and deleted the HiResFix files from a clean unmodded copy of SH3. Then I went into the Main.cfg file in F:\Ubisoft\SilentHunterIII\data\Cfg and changed the resolution to 1400 x 1050. Then I went into C:\Users\Poog\Documents\SH3\data\cfg and deleted the Main.cfg file so that SH3 would have to rewrite it. Next I ran SH3 and went into Naval Academy/Artillery to check my F keys. All is well. The Main.cfg file that SH3 rewrote showed a resolution of 1400 x 1050. Next I did the same thing with a copy of SH3 modded with GWX and got the same result. All this makes me think that in Vista the HiResFix is not needed. Anyone else have an opinion on this?

[GreyBeard]

Am running GWX 3.0 at 1400 x 1050 without a hiccup in vista x64. As a cya precaution I went into my Nvidia control panel and created a new custom resolution in that size, but my desktop is still set at 1680 x 1050. I got the idea for the custom resolution from this and this too.

[GreyBeard]

Last night I installed a program I've had for many years called PowerStrip. Naturally I d'loaded the latest. It allows me, among other things, to see on screen the actual in game resolution of SH3 with the use of a hotkey. SH3 was not running at 1400 x 1050, but was still at 1024 x 768. Installing the HiResFix changed the resolution to 1280 x 960, but I lost the use of the F9, F10 and F11 keys again.

[radcapricorn]

In regards to resolution with HiResFix, edit the d3d9.cfg file's ResX and ResY parameters to set the resolution you need.

As for F9-F11 keys, HiResFix indeed swallows them for some reason, although you can still access those stations using Alt+F9-F11 keys

PS. On my PC (Win7) in order to use HiResFix I had to create a custom 1400x1050 resolution in nVidia control panel (just as you did) and switch to it every time I launched the game. Prior to doing so, I was always getting that "Failed to initialize 3D engine" message (the infamous 59Hz issue).

[GreyBeard]

Originally Posted by radcapricorn

In regards to resolution with HiResFix........

Thank you so much for the help. I will check these things out tonight.

[Andreson]

Originally Posted by GreyBeard

Thank you so much for the help. I will check these things out tonight.

So, if I want to run this in 1920x1080 I need only the HiResFix and not the Widescreen mod?

[radcapricorn]

No, with HiResFix the GUI is always stretched to the set resolution. Basically, the game "thinks" that the screen is still 1024x768 when it renders the GUI.
Widescreen dll, on the other hand, allows the GUI to be rendered at specific resolution (changed via menu ini file): i.e. if you were to set it to run at 1920x1080, the original game's GUI would take up the lower left 1024x768 pixels of your screen.

In short, HiResFix is best played in 4:3 aspect ratio (1024x768, 1152x864, 1280x960, 1400x1050...) to avoid GUI stretching. For a proper widescreen, you'd need both the widescreen dll and a GUI mod.

[Andreson]

Originally Posted by radcapricorn

No, with HiResFix the GUI is always stretched to the set resolution. Basically, the game "thinks" that the screen is still 1024x768 when it renders the GUI.
Widescreen dll, on the other hand, allows the GUI to be rendered at specific resolution (changed via menu ini file): i.e. if you were to set it to run at 1920x1080, the original game's GUI would take up the lower left 1024x768 pixels of your screen.

In short, HiResFix is best played in 4:3 aspect ratio (1024x768, 1152x864, 1280x960, 1400x1050...) to avoid GUI stretching. For a proper widescreen, you'd need both the widescreen dll and a GUI mod.

So what do I have to do? The mod and change the file name?

[Seeadler]

Originally Posted by Andreson

So what do I have to do? The mod and change the file name?

For 1920x1080 you can use the HighResFix and life with the stretched images on widescreen monitors

or

use the widescreen dll and find a GUI mod which is which specifically created for 1920x1080. As far as I know, there has been no GUI mod created for this resolution.

[GreyBeard]

Thanks again radcapricorn, I know have true 1400 x 1050 res and all the F-keys functioning. Btw, I don't have to change my desktop res before loading SH3. Don't know if it made a difference, but I set the two main.cfg files and the d3d9.cfg to my preferred res before running the batch file to install the res fix.

is there any good news for 1400x900 rez. yet ?

[Andreson]

Originally Posted by Seeadler

For 1920x1080 you can use the HighResFix and life with the stretched images on widescreen monitors

or

use the widescreen dll and find a GUI mod which is which specifically created for 1920x1080. As far as I know, there has been no GUI mod created for this resolution.

So, basically HiResFix only.

That is sad.

[BigWalleye]

@Andreson: Sad? The game you bought runs at 1024x768, period. That is what you paid for.

Other gamers gave their own time and expertise to make a mod which allows some improvement on that. They have even made wide-screen mods which will let you use the full width of an HD monitor, albeit at less than the highest resolution your monitor (and mine) supports. They gave you this capability for free. It is not what you bought and paid for. It is an improvement.

If you really feel that this interferes with your enjoyment of the game, why not spend some time learning enough to create your own mod to give 1920x1280 resolution. Of course, it would take time and effort and might even challenge you to learn a new skill. Just as those other gamers who made the mod you are now using had to do. If you do this successfully, then you might consider whether you really want to make the product of your effort available to the community for free.

If you do not feel that you have the time, the motivation, or the talent to make a change which you seem to want, then you can use the game and mods as you have received them. But do not disparage the work of others because it does not meet your desires.

[GreyBeard]

Originally Posted by BigWalleye

Sad? The game you bought runs at 1024x768.........................

I think it is sad that Ubisoft, in the year 2005, failed to make the game run in a higher resolution than that, let alone widescreen, when clearly other games made at the same time did. I doubt anyone will disagree with that, particularly when so many players/modders have attempted to correct/improve it.