NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

Attached is the latest version of the fullscreen beta test that had been posted last December


I need a few people who are running the game using Win7 OR VISTA in fullscreen mode to act as beta testers for us

The attachment contains a new GameOptions.exe and a .cmd file that will emulate and expand on what NCrawler did with his fix but will allow players to start the game from GameOptions.

I would ask that anyone who takes the time to DL this please take the time to report back on how it worked for you.

You will need to do the following

1/ Ensure you have SHOW INTRODUCTION already set to NO with your existing GameOptions. That's the first line on the first page when it loads.


2/ Go to wherever you have your game installed and rename your existing GameOptions.EXE to XXGameOptions.EXE to ensure if this does not work you still have a copy of GameOptions that works.


3/ Extract the attached ZIP file to where ever you have the game installed. It needs to be extracted to the main winSPMBT folder that your existing GameOptions.exe is already in.


4/ Start up GameOptions then press PLAY WINSPMBT. If you are running the game fullscreen and the NCrawler fix solved your palette issues with fullscreen mode this should work as well. If not, let us know

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

Don,

I have the CD version of both WinSPMBTv5.0 and WinSPWW2v4.25. I am running Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit. I have them set for the classic fullscreen 640 x 480 Direct X. Started right up from the Game Options screen and closed done and reactivated explore.exe. Worked perfectly for me. I will continue to test it and if I come up with anything else I will report it.

Joe

PS. If you need any other things, just let me know. Testing, icons, whatever.

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

Don,
I too have both CD versions and the NEW gameoptions file is working correctly now, where as the pervious version would not "Refire" explorer this version is working GREAT! Will let you know if anything pops up, I am running FULL screen at 1280x1024 on my 25.5" LCD, it's native is 1920x1200, but the setting I use gives me the best screen for text read ability. Will this also be coming out for WinSPWW2 soon?
-James

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

Naturally.

Andy

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

Thanks Guys, keep the feedback coming please. We invite anyone who normally runs windowed mode uing Vista or Win7 to give this a try as well IN FULLSCREEN MODE to increase the data we have to work with

Thanks again

Don

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

Also, try showing the introduction on and off and let us know how both work for you

Don

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

One vote here for working fine with and without showing of INTRO! :)

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

Nope, doesn't work.
Fullscreen, the game takes up to a minute to start into the main menu, starting an actual battle takes more than that with extremely sluggish controls (talking a reaction time of 10-20 seconds per click).
Windowed to desktop size doesn't work at all, all I get is a small distorted game window across the middle third of one monitor instead of monitor-filling window. This has always been this way, I suppose the game simply can't cope with two monitors at different resolutions.

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

You mention 2 monitors - a configuration not ever tested, to my knowledge. Nor is it likely to be anything the DirectX 5 or 6 based third-party WinVFX graphics engine would know of.

2 identical pixel-size monitors just might return a rectangle that works, but I have absolutely no idea what 2 differently sized ones would return.

Does it work properly on one (or other) monitor when the other is disconnected?. If so, it is working as developed and designed i.e. on a single monitor.

Cheers
Andy

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

After further testing. Switching the intro screen on and off. No change, works as it should.

One thing I just picked up on. There seems to be a slight lag/delay on the sound corresponding with the graphics. For example, the weapon shot graphic, hits, misses, whichever, then the sounds plays, instead of both at the same time? Don't know if this is already known or something new?

Joe

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

I'm running Windows 7.

When using this patch in Full Screen mode, I experience a short lag eg between a left click and the unit actually moving or pressing spacebar and getting the unit info screen.

In windowed mode it all works fine and intro screen on or off made no noticable differance.

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

I just tried the new Windows 7 Dell with the sound on (It's normally off on my machines, as with most games). Even the annoying (to me :)!) mouse click.

No delays with sounds, they are played as normal. ie when the sparkler goes off in the impact hex - not when the firing animation starts (ex missiles).

Cheers
Andy

Regarding the sound delay issue

Did the lag start after running the new game options or did it exist before that ?

Does this affect fullscreen mode or windowed mode a well ?

Have you tried adjusting any of the delay controls found under MISC to see if that helps?


Don

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

Try turning all sound options to off and see if the problem goes away.

- Mouse click OFF in the Game Options Misc tab
- Both sound options in the game preference screen to off.

If the lag goes away - it was something to do with your sound drivers.

The other thing to do is to play with the delay options on the Misc tab of the Game Options screen, esp the unit move delay.


Andy

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

Andy,

I noticed the delays when the explosions would happen. Example: Fire at a target, you get the shot graphic over or around the target, then the sound. Its not a big deal to me. I was just reporting what I have been experiencing.

Don,

I altered the scrolling speed, the graphic speed. It made it not as noticeable but still there. As far as if its in windowed mode too, don't know. I have not ran it in windowed mode since the fixes came out. :). As far as before, again, I don't know that either. I don't like windowed mode. My resolution makes everything so small, my native desktop res is 1920 x 1200. So I have not been playing. The fixes got me back to playing. :D. My applause gentlemen.

Joe

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

It works if I downgrade to a one monitor setup.

I'm aware that running two monitors at different solutions (1280x1024 / 1650x1080, so it's even one 4:3 and one widescreen) can be problematic (for older games at least), which is why I mentioned the issue only now, because I hoped that maybe this fix would work.
I'll try again when I finally get around to replacing the older one so I have identical resolutions (2x 1650x1080).

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

I am running Windows 7 64 bit with an ATI 5700 graphics card, an AMD Phenom II dual core processor running at 3100 MHz and 4 GB of ram. I've never played MBT before (just downloaded it a few minutes ago). I tried it with and without the new options program. The menus display perfectly at 800x600 full screen with the intro on and DirectX selected. I tried the tutorial and I didn't get any lag problems with the sound or graphics. However, I'm afraid I have to report a more disturbing bug. Playing as the Americans I found that every time I moved a tank the Iraqis destroyed it. It was bloody depressing.

Didn't you guys win that war?

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

/off topic/
You guys?

I am Scottish, and Don is Canadian...

/-off topic/

Andy

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

Interesting to hear that the game worked for you OK without the new GameOptions program. That's good news.

You're running Windows 7 64 bit . Which version exactly ? ( look under System Properties )

Don

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

Windows 7 Home Premium Edition Media Centre Version 6.01.7600

Processor
3.10 gigahertz AMD Phenom II X2 550
256 kilobyte primary memory cache
1024 kilobyte secondary memory cache
6144 kilobyte tertiary memory cache

Main Circuit Board
Board: ASUSTeK Computer INC. M4A785T-M Rev X.0x
Bus Clock: 200 megahertz
BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. 1002 01/07/2010

Memory Modules
4096 Megabytes Installed Memory
Slot 'DIMM0' has 2048 MB
Slot 'DIMM1' has 2048 MB
Slot 'DIMM2' is Empty
Slot 'DIMM3' is Empty

Display
ATI Radeon HD 5700 Series [Display adapter]

As I said above, the new options program works perfectly for me.

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

Sorry, when I read that the first time I thought you were saying the game worked for with or without using the new gameoptions.exe

Don

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

I can see now that my post was a litte unclear. I tried it without the beta game options exe and I got the crazy menus. With the new game options exe the game played flawlessly except I kept getting blown up by those damn Iraqi sharp shooters.

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

Playing full screen in Windows 7 with latest video drivers on an ATI 4870 card. When exiting, the windows task bar (at bottom) is gone and no apparently way to get it back except going to the task manager and doing a log/off and log/on. This seems to happen everytime I use full screen since downloading this full screen patch. Otherwise, it works fine.

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

CTRL+SHIFT+ESC -> task manager -> new task button -> "explorer.exe"

Do you get the problem if you run the CMD file from the game directory directly?.

Andy

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

I'm not sure what changed becasue I can't duplicate the problem today, but this is what I am noticing now:

1. When launch from the shortcut that takes you to the Game Options screen, you lose the task bar whether using full screen or windows.

a) Either way, you can control-alt tab to other programs and then back to to the game.

b) I used the "new" task button to recreate explorer.exe as suggested. That returned the task bar even while the game was still running.

c) However, if I did this while in full screen mode, the color palette was all messed up and could not be fixed.

d) If I do this while in Windowed mode, then the color palette is not destroyed.

2. When launch directly from Win7SPMBT.cmd, I get same results as above.

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

Only launch explorer after exiting the game batch session - since aero is nuked, deliberately, to avoid palette problems.

Do you have a non-English version of windows, or is the \windows folder installed elsewhere than C:\windows, or renamed?.

Are you running as a user with administrator privileges (the default for most folks who just use the one account), or as a lesser status user?.

Cheers
Andy

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

I have USA version of Windows 7 Professional (live in California) installed in the normal Windows folder. I am running in admin mode.

I was just testing to see what would happen if I restarted explorer.exe and have experienced the message "Windows is using basic color" or something like that proving Aero has been nuked.

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

The batch file had to be edited to include a change directory (CD) command to actually change to the windows directory before restarting explorer. Otherwise, Windows 7 would simply launch an explorer window, rather than restarting the desktop, if the CMD file was called from another programme (Game Options in this case).

The CD command line was not required if you started the CMD file directly from explorer since the current directory is changed to that by the navigation in Windows Exploder itself.

At the moment - 99% of Windows 7 users have no problems with loss of the desktop, post the batch file session completing.

You seem to be one of the the exceptions. I have absolutely no idea why your set-up does not do what the other 99% do.

Not unless you are trying to relaunch the windows desktop while the full screen game session is current. That is an absolute no-no of course!.

The full-screen game batch session must be the only application of any type that you are doing. The batch session might let you alt-tab to any applications that were open when you started the session (with palette problems for them perhaps) - but the results of that are indeterminate.


Cheers
Andy

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

I just tried this fix with Vista 32 and i still get the lag in full screen mode.

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

Have you tried making adjustments in the MISC screen of Game Options ?

Don

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

What - precisely - is the apparent problem?

Cheers
Andy

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

We need to know exactly what you are seeing happen as best you can describe it and we need to know what your settings are in the MISC tab of gameoptions

Don

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

I am using Vista 32 and the free download versions of WW2 and MBT.
All my settings are set to default.
The only thing i changed after clean install was INTRO OFF.

In full-screen mode after starting a scenario, there is considerable lag in both games.

For example, right clicking a unit to bring up the unit info, will take about 10+ seconds, same when moving units, ending turns or just exiting the scenario.

The patch does not change anything about this for me.
I have also tried the win7 fix but to no avail.

The game (both WW2 and MBT) runs smoothly in windowed mode though.

I hope this was helpful.

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

How much RAM do you have on your machine - if only 1MB, then perhaps a few more would help. (Apparently, you should really have a minimum of 2MB of RAM on Windows 7 machines, unless you have the starter edition (no aero) offered on netbooks).

It may also be a problem of your video driver trying to run 800 mode on a large monitor? - try setting the actual windows desktop to 800x600 mode then launch the game in full screen and see if it speeds up.

Also - try turning all sounds off.
- mouse interface click in the game options misc tab
- both Sound FX options in the game itself, in the options menu.
(If the latter works, then you have drivers that do not handle the older model Directplay/DirectShow interface, and are likely only optimised for whatever replaced it in DirectX 10 I think. The same is apparently true if your vista or windows 7 machine messes up the introductory splash screen - which you have set to off).

Andy

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

I have tried turning off the click and sound fx, and i have also tried setting to a lower resolution and/or changing desktop setting to 16bit.

I do have 2 mb RAM.

I have seen on the forums that others get the sluggish performance in fullscreen as well with vista and win7.
Personally i think it must be DX10 or gfx card (nvidia geforce 8800gts) related.



You dont plan by any chance to make the windowed mode resizable for non CD users, no?
Because if i could max out the window, i could just forget about fullscreen...:angel

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

The easy way to check the graphics card drivers - is to try it on a friend or relatives machine with a different set-up.

There will be no changes to resolutions offered in the free download version since it is the game's demo. I only really added 800 mode as well as 640 for the free download as a 'freebie' - it nearly did not make it.

Andy

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

To clarify:

Are you saying 99% of Win7 users don't lose the taskbar once they start the game or just that the task bar automatically comes back for them once they exit the game session

If you are saying the former, I question that. But if you are saying the latter, I agree the reason mine does not automatically come back is due to the fact I control-alt switch so I can reference the game manual in PDF. But I agree usually when I exit out of the game, then my task bar comes back.

So I just make sure any program I may need while playing the game is already open. I have 6GB of RAM so memory is not an issue.

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

You are not, repeat not supposed to try to re-establish the windows task bar (and therefore aero which messes up the 256 colour palette) manually while playing the game full-screen under the batch file session.

The full screen game session under the control of the batch file should be the only thing you are doing on the PC at that time.

Removing explorer, the task bar, and hence the Aero interface which nukes the 256 colour palette is the entire point of the batch file session.

If you want to look at your email or do some word processing while the batch session is running, save the current game, exit WinSPXX, and do that. Then restart WinSPXX, load the save game and continue, once done with whatever it was you stopped it for.

If you need to multi-task, then you should probably be using windowed mode at 'desktop' resolution. Though any programmes open at the point you ran the batch file may be available to ALT+TAB to, even if the palette is reduced.

Andy

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

Alright, i solved my lag problem by downloading the newest NVIDIA drivers 266.58...i was not aware they are out :doh:

This brought me right to messed up graphics problem, that many Vista and Win7 users describe.

So i applied this fix and the WW2 fix respectively.

Now everything works perfect, just as it had under XP.

After 2 years i can play this in full screen mode again.

Thank you very much!
:up:

Re: NEW gameoptions Beta test
 

We're happy you're happy.

Don