Running SEIV from Hi Resolution Desktop

[geoschmo]

Short answer: No it doesn't, and no it won't.

There was a recent patch fix that had to do with the intro screen not fully using the higher resolution window. I don't know if it will do 1600x1200 (sidebar WOW! What kind of monitor you run that on? Big screen HDTV? ) since my own monitor will only go up to 1280x1024. But this has no effect on the actual game itself, only the intro screen.

It's not the simple matter that you suppose to make the game handle the larger screen. If it had been written that way to begin with, perhaps, but all of the visual game elements in Se4 are bitmap files. There are two sets of game screen elements to handle either 800x600 or 1024x768 size desktops. Changing that at this point would require either a extensive rewrite, or creating a whole lot more bitmaps. Neither is going to happen since we have most likely seen the Last patch for SEIV.

SE5 will use 3d rendered graphic elements, and I expect will be coded to handle the larger resolutions.

[Thufir]

geoschmo said:
Short answer: No it doesn't, and no it won't.
...

It's not the simple matter that you suppose to make the game handle the larger screen.
...

That's too bad.

I'm not suggesting that SEIV be extended to support new resolutions, I'm sure that would be a lot of work to add in support for additional resolutions. And, yes what I am suggesting is a simple matter.

What I am suggesting is that the game itself use the user's preference (either 800x600 or 1024x768) and set the video mode on startup. It's been a while since I wrote DirectX/DirectDraw code, but Last I checked this was one line of code (ok, so in the years that have intervened since I Last coded DirectX, maybe complexity has doubled - resulting in all of two lines of code). No new bitmaps, no new resolution support is required.

Anyhow, be that as it may, if anyone out there has successfully implemented the batch files, I'd love to get a pointer on what I've done wrong.

[Thermodyne]

I like to run it from a 1024x768 window on a 1600x1024 desktop.

http://Groups.msn.com/ThermodynesPla...oto&PhotoID=33

[Phoenix-D]

The thing is SE4 doesn't -use- DirectDraw. Or DirectX for that matter..Starfury does, and as you say it supports changing resolution on startup.

[Thufir]

Phoenix-D said:
The thing is SE4 doesn't -use- DirectDraw. Or DirectX for that matter..Starfury does, and as you say it supports changing resolution on startup.

Hard for me to imagine, but obviously must be true. I certainly have noticed that Starfury has the feature I am looking for.

Anyhow FWIW, I've found a batch file that does work on Windows XP, although at least with the demo, it still borks my desktop. The real game should arrive early next week, and I still have hopes I can make it work with the real game, while leaving my desktop clean.

Here's the reference where I found my batch file, it also requires downloading and installing a freeware program called Multires. Multires' purpose in life is to replace the functionality of deskcp16.dll (referenced in the original post), which apparently is only available in some Versions of Windows 9x.

Batch File:
http://jeffwalso.tripod.com/batch.htm
Company that provides Multires:
http://www.entechtaiwan.com

Here's my current Version of "RunSE4.bat":

"C:\Program Files\MultiRes\MultiRes.exe" /1024,768,32 /exit
se4.exe
"C:\Program Files\MultiRes\MultiRes.exe" /restore
pause


Edit:
Added Entech link
Corrected batch script (needs the "pause" at the end)

[AMF]

One possible workaround might be to use two monitors? I have three hooked up to my Xp machine, and each can use different resolutions, I generally have SE4 going on one, and have other stuff on the other two...with an open PCI slot it's quite easy to add a monitor (that is, if you have an extra monitor...)

EDIT: clipped extraneous quotes

[Deth B0y]

My solution to this (since i'm computer rich and pci-slot poor) is to use VNC to run the SE IV on another box remotely. This gives me some signifigant advantages:

1. it's free (tightVNC is free, at least)
2. It leverages my network
3. I can run SEIV windowed

I'ts a little jerky, but not to bad, it's certainly playable and all that.

[Sivran]

jerky? Quit cheatin* and use simultaneous movement.

*The computer always plays as if it were a simultaneous movement game. After playing simultaneous for a while, you won't want to go back anyway.