Wednesday, December 16, 2009
post://624288174965906696/
Labels: 2009, games, games for windows, graphics, racing
posted @ 10:18
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Tuesday, December 08, 2009
post://2179114379212042377/
I had downloaded Battlefield 1942 for the PS3 a while back, shelled out the $15 and it's relatively good. Destructable environments basic gameplay on what Battlefield should be (not Bad Company) and decent graphics for a console.
I was especially excited about the prospect of battling cross-platform. PS3, XBOX, and PC all in the same realm? Sign me up to scalp them with my mouse! In any case the PC version was still forthcoming, but after trying the demo I am abhorred by what they provided for the PC version.
No widescreen resolutions, vile texture quality, simplistic scenes, it's like playing original Battlefield 1942, stunted! I don't even think it looks as good on the PC as the original Battlefield would look if I installed it right now, but enough of me hemming and hawing, let the pictures speak for themselves:
posted @ 20:21
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Saturday, September 19, 2009
post://1549686946649553205/PhysX has been added to the PC version of Batman with the v1.1 update. It does not ship with PhysX settings out of the box. Once installed you are provided several options for PhysX - Off, Normal, or High with various card recommendations.
The nVidia drivers allow you to change the PhysX settings - turning optimization on or off as well as the ability to choose which card handles the PhysX acceleration. I had thought offloading PhysX from my 2 x 285GTX2G cards working in SLi to the built-in 980a/780a would make things faster:
However, after applying the v1.1 w/ patch PhysX Batman, Normal PhysX was enabled. I was suddenly getting very low framerates (15fps). I turned on the "Show SLI Indicators" in the 3D settings menu so I could see how hard each of the video cards were working. They were both very low, indicating the cards were not working up to their ability, yet things were still slow. CPU usage hadn't spiked high enough to be a bottleneck and memory was free and clear.
It appeared having the PhysX on the older (and slower) chipset was slowing everything down. To test the theory I turned off PhysX and was getting framerates in the high 50s. It certainly was PhysX related.
I turned PhysX back on, normal setting and in the nVidia control panel I changed the setting to enable PhysX on the 285s instead of the 980a/780a. When I tried it again PhysX was visibily running, fallen leaves moving under your feet accompanied by smooth framerates between 55 to 60fps.
Based on this experience it appears that having PhysX enabled on an older chipsets may actually decrease performance over having PhysX enabled on the same video card(s) doing the graphics processing.
Here is a video of Batman running @ 2560 x 1600, Very High Detail, comparing PhysX - Normal to PhysX - High
Labels: games, games for windows, graphics, hardware, movie, screenshot, SLi
posted @ 19:49
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- Video will be updated - it cut me down to 16:9 so most of the leaf effects fell out of frame.
I'm also hoping for higher quality once I install the new codecs.
- Posted link to PhysX forum:
http://forums.slizone.com/index.php?showtopic=33559&st=0
Monday, September 14, 2009
post://2466185940127249611/Here are some pics of GTA before and after.
Both are playable at 40 to 45fps.
Vista is overclocked video chip / mem ~ 745mhz / 1265mhz
Win7 is stock video chip / mem ~ 705mhz / 1215mhz
Vista .5
-----------------------
Vista 1
Win7 1
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Vista 2
Win7 2
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Vista 3
Win7 3
-----------------------
Vista 4
Win7 4
Labels: 2009, games, games for windows, graphics, screenshot, vista, Windows7
posted @ 14:20
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Saturday, August 15, 2009
post://3422656839146403744/Batman Arkham Asylum DEMO doesn't launch correctly on 64 bit versions of Windows. You get an int32 error when launching which appears to be a misdeclared variable in the HTTP based launcher. The developers are aware of it but if you're looking to play the DEMO now here's a work around:
You may need to change your INI files around a bit, I tried to crank it with a 10 for the quality and a 5 for the effects, I don't like too much motion blur, I appreciate the cinematic effects but also like to see what's going on even when there is high motion.
In any case here are the files, you'll need to place them in your [Batman Demo]\BmGame\Config folder:
From what I've gathered UserEngine is your main INI:
[Configuration]
BasedOn=..\BmGame\Config\DefaultEngine.ini
[SystemSettings]
Fullscreen=True
UseVsync=True
AllowD3D10=True <- needed if you are running VISTA
ResX=2560
ResY=1600 <- this is your resolution, X by Y
EffectsLevel=5 <- I am not sure how high this goes, it might go to 10?
MaxMultisamples=1 <- this might be AA
DynamicLights=True
DepthOfField=True
LensFlares=True
Bloom=True
DynamicShadows=True
MotionBlur=True
Distortion=True
FogVolumes=True
DisableSphericalHarmonicLights=False
AmbientOcclusion=True
DetailMode=10 <- again, not sure how high this goes, I set to 10
MaxShadowResolution=1024 <- this was originally set to 512, I set higher to improve performance
IniVersion=5.8
[Engine.Engine]
PhysXLevel=1 <- I am not sure if a higher number (5? 10?) might improve PhysX, runs well as is but I didn't find much for a physics in the demo
Language=int
[DevOptions.Shaders]
bAllowMultiThreadedShaderCompile=True <- this appears to be only a debug option but I set to True to possibly increase multi-threaded performance
Here is the first pass I did with the default INI from the boards:
...and then with my current INI available for download:
Labels: games, games for windows, graphics
posted @ 18:36
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Saturday, February 14, 2009
post://5313472958211376515/I just downloaded the largest demo ever: 2.9 gigs, and it turns out that's because it also has the full game in it. When you go to install it you are presented with 2 buttons: Install Trial or Install Full Game, naturally I chose Install Full Game where it presented me with a spot to put in a registration code from EA. I didn't have one but I did see that it's $39 at the EA store so you can download the demo and turn it into the full game.
I thought game companies did away with this sort of thing. Isn't it a little too tantalizing to have a carrot dangled in front of a hackers face of being able to download the full game right out the box or are they confident that their downloadable game technology is safe?
In either case it's kinda cool to be able to download the demo, figure out if you like it and then click a button and input a code to get the full thing. Also cool if you know how to crack I suppose. If it's good I might just consider paying them the $39 though, I like to support good ventures and there's a shortage of racing games in the PC world that don't have hokey dialog (now that they've turned NFS into a bad 2Fast movie).
[Buy the Game]
[Download the Demo & See Screenshots]
Labels: consumerism, games, games for windows, graphics, SLi
posted @ 08:16
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Sunday, January 25, 2009
post://6816059569584533463/So I've spent the weekend... well, I guess that could be extended to the past month, doing computer stuff. I placed the hardware order on December 31st (so I could include it in the business costs for 2008) and received them on the 7th or so.
From there on it's been computers, computers, computers. I upgrade my own to free up a power supply and memory for my new Media PC for the living room. I took all the old stuff I had and got a brand new media pc case for it all. It's about the size (amazingly close in size) to my receiver and now have it all nicely arranged in the new entertainment center.
The original order started with Jamie. Her computer was up to the gill in spyware and antivirus and she was looking for a way to record TV. Since the existing setup couldn't quite pull that off I came up with a solution for her - a Media PC / desktop. That got me thinking about an actual media PC for myself and lead to me ordering the new case and replacement parts for my desktop so those old parts would be available for the Media PC.
In any case I came up with a really nice Thermaltake box case (like a shuttle case on steriods) and TV card arrangement. I waited on the TV card for myself until I could confirm if Comcast is QAM in my area. Per my experience with Jamie's PC being plugged into my cabe I can confirm it is not. They give me one digital channel in high quality off the line and it's always an add for a Wrestling PPV. So the only channels on my network are analog and most of those have that little known property that Comcast actually just got fined for - many of the channels say "this channel is still available on the digital teir" to try and entice the $13 a month-ers.
So I was working on 3 computers, more upgrading 1, making another from old parts in a new case and building a new system. Then Joe from Finishline called me. I haven't done business with him in a while - over a year in fact. It got where I was spending a lot of time supporting him over the phone with questions and the like and not getting anything from it. I finally started charging him for phone support and he didn't pay those invoices. I took the loss and moved on but he recently started calling me again when "his computer got stolen". He had taken it to a local shop for repair and they closed up and took his computer with them. They didn't return it and wouldn't return his calls. He ended up getting it back but it had been in the middle of a system refresh and was apart all over the place. He was in a bind and I'm planning on charging full price, so I agreed - that made the 4th.
So here I am in the office all weekend, with multiple computers on a KVM going back and forth between them, installing, downloading drivers, tweaking, and loving it. Of course, my ADD (or so the pamphlets would have me believe) never lets me focus for very long so I'm in and out of the office as things format and download so I'm not completely holed up the whole time. As a matter of fact I even had dinner with my wife last night, then we watched the office (had to resort to Hulu due to the cable issues) and then caught up on the Kyle XY finale from last year (we'll probably check out this season tonight). I then had Nicole try out Civ on the PS3. It's a pretty good game, and she didn't experience anywhere near the performance problems I had. She won via domination but to be fair she was building the United Nations... it just happened that Abraham Lincoln got his panties in a bunch before it could get completed.
So though I've been busy this weekend, but all in all it's been fairly enjoyable. The only thing I might like more is if the office was clean, but I can get around to that once I'm not using it to build. I so need to sort through my stuff and throw out the old parts(PIII and under). As it is I could never receive purely professional customers.
Side note - found this while browsing: The Unwanted Blog
It's got a lot of very cool general interest stuff as well as technological and historical items. A great blend of all things I'm interested in.
Labels: 3dmark, games for windows, graphics, hardware, link, technology, vista
posted @ 13:35
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- side note about the link - of course nothing is perfect and though this blog is great otherwise, he does seem a bit bitter about Obama. Just have a little hope, give it some time, and I'll welcome your point of view in a couple years.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
post://1480953871889639729/So this shows a few issues with Rockstar's "video editor" in GTA IV for PC.
You'll notice you don't see any fire after the first clip or two yet some vehicles tend to blow up for no reason. I'm a little disssapointed considering it took me over 40 minutes to encode this "web quality" video. Other options are 720p and 1080p. Last time I tried 1080p I crashed. Go fig.
Anyhow, take a look at my GTA 'fire storm' video here.
Labels: games, games for windows, graphics, video
posted @ 23:23
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Friday, December 05, 2008
post://2095755929140285485/| Latest Benchmark | 3DMark06 - 11059 |
| 2.0 PCI Ex Motherboard | 3DMark06 - 10879 |
| 1.0 PCI Ex Motherboard w/ 2 8800 GTX | 3DMark06 - 10674 |
Labels: 3dmark, graphics, hardware, SLi
posted @ 04:21
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Thursday, December 04, 2008
post://1960250936291300007/Ya know... sometimes I hate PC gaming and then other times.
I looooove it:
[ 1st Try, beloved MMA10 ERROR ]
[ GTAIV 01 ]
[ GTAIV 02 ]
[ GTAIV 03 ] *
[ GTAIV 04 ]
[ GTAIV 05 ]
* = driver upgrade mmmm hmmm
Labels: games, games for windows, graphics, screenshot
posted @ 21:44
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Saturday, November 08, 2008
post://2455176128710699342/I saw a link when I published for "add gadgets to your blog"
I'm still using a template and I like i that way. I have my own ways of adding things to the page but I don't have the time to do it. That's why the scrolling links page has been a white box slapped on top of everything else for so long. I know what I want to do with it, but haven't gotten around to it.
In any case I thought Google's new gadget APi looked like a pretty cool idea.
Labels: cool, graphics, programming, web
posted @ 12:34
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Monday, November 03, 2008
post://3136412013318335276/Hummina humina - Fallout 3 is fabulous. It's everything I wanted it to be. It plays similarly to Oblivion with all the awesomeness of Oblivion & Fallout combined.
The combat system is your run of the mill point and shoot... until you activate VATS which stops the action and allows you to choose which body part of which target you want to shoot, with a very RPG % likeliness of hitting each body part.
You can shoot the gun out of their hand - or blow the arm off completely - and to accompany these shots is an awesome (VERY bloody) camera shot in bullet time. Slice their head with a knife, break their leg with the bat, or shoot off their gun hand - it's great.
Here are some screenshots:
Here is a video montage (sans music?) I made of a few attempts at VATS:
Fallout3 Screenshot 01
Fallout3 Screenshot 02
I was limited to 30 sec with trial version of FRAPs but only took me like 10 takes, so here are the 3 best sequences :)
Fallout3 VATS System Preview Video
**UPDATE** I gave in and got the full version of FRAPs and it was TOTALLY worth it, check it out: Video: VATS Killshot
Coming soon - "killing in the name of" soundtrack
Labels: games, games for windows, graphics, screenshot, video
posted @ 12:29
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Monday, October 13, 2008
post://7660891626207946375/I've been loving 2560 x 1600 for all games lately with the latest version of nVidia drivers and now I took some video. First one is 25fps, other 2 are 60 fps but I belive Windows Movie Maker does 15fps for WMV 720p. They were originally recorded at 2560 x 1600 but the compression doesn't really do it justice.
In any case, have fun viewing:
Labels: fun, games, games for windows, graphics, racing, video
posted @ 21:58
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Thursday, October 02, 2008
post://2317820311472832986/nVidia has finally gotten around to upgrading their cards with PhysX. They bought Agea a while ago, and it's been a long time coming. Any nVidia card that is an 8 series or above is able to be upgraded, which means no separate PhysX process is required, the firmware update uses the GPU to do all the cachunking of the (previously) dedicated physics chip.
This means towers that can be taken down, realistic wall destroying, and many other items only possible with a physics engine. Just like GPUs advanced the graphics, Physics processing will advance the gameplay and realworld feeling of video games.
Labels: games, games for windows, graphics, technology, video
posted @ 19:44
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Thursday, June 26, 2008
post://8714019405679459031/I submitted a photoshop to'day. It's only using paint... so I guess it's a paint-shop. In any case check out the submission. I've also got the original.
Only 3 more days to watch "Back to You" on Hulu!
I found I really liked it once I checked it out - turns out it's because it comes from the creators of Frasier and Just Shoot Me, working together. Don't get too attached to Gracie... I still say they're mad for changing (ie: "...going in a different direction.")
Oh yeah... catch up on your ALF!
Labels: fun, graphics, photoshop, tv, video
posted @ 19:11
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Sunday, June 01, 2008
post://2279815248762638880/If you thought Crysis was cool:
Video: First look at FarCry2
They did it even better with FarCry 2, without aliens.
Top 100 Best Tech Products - top 10 are right on... minus a few (like Facebook, XP?!!). I had never heard of the SD card that turns your camera into a wifi device.
Labels: games, games for windows, graphics, video
posted @ 09:24
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Tuesday, August 28, 2007
post://2241580024027101468/This whole review is good, but this part about Bioshock DX9 vs DX10 screenshots is pretty apparent that it's not worth another $800.
posted @ 18:42
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Thursday, August 23, 2007
post://6468140070894410466/I played BIOSHOCK last night - loved it, in fact, here's another bioshock screenshot I got "on the way down".
I purchased it on the way home today. It is a very very nice looking game. I enjoy the concept, and I LOVE the art deco. The artists who created this masterpiece should be congratulated and hugged.
I'll be posting more of the interesting screenshots as I go. I'll be replaying the demo levels so I'll know when to snap. Hopefully XFire grabs them this time - last night it didn't want to work so I had to use print screen which doesn't always work how you want it to.
Oh... forgot something - XBox controller. It was designed around it - so I can sit back and I don't have to be all up in the piece that is the keyboard and mouse.
Love... it.
downsides:
Widescreen <-debunked via www.cultofrapture.com (official site)
Online Activation - can only activate 3 computers, must be online to activate
Labels: fun, games, graphics, vista
posted @ 17:47
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Wednesday, August 22, 2007
post://2239550656350973730/I downloaded the BioShock DEMO while I was at work today, just installed it and haven't even gotten around to a main screen yet - literally just got in the building and I have to post this screenshot of the Bioshock demo. I've got everything turned up, only DX9, and only 1280 x 800 resolution. I'll post a few later at full. The frame rate might give you an indication as to why I didn't start there right off. It's on VSYNC though for the LCD so it could be higher =)
posted @ 17:02
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Sunday, August 05, 2007
post://123123248514255889/Here's my latest web project. I'm doing it in trade, I get some electrial work (dishwasher circuit, gararge), and he gets a cool site for his Paintball event. It'll also be a really cool addition to my web portfolio.
posted @ 22:08
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post://7405376619541928568/
Hey, what in the world could that be?
posted @ 15:28
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(Almost) Daily Links for your perusal:
Links Updated at 11:38 AM
I had to put all the links here so they could still be robot'd since I was having issues with the whole dual click nature of the modern browsers.
music recommendations
links
discuss (no longer in service)
...mysterious
pictures
mobile
archive
music recommendations
links
discuss (no longer in service)
...mysterious
pictures
mobile
archive