SUGGESTION: Force an option for DirectDraw5 or Direct3D in the game's setup

[Snake]

I've noticed that some games have an option for either DirectDraw5 or Direct3D and some games do not have an option at all.

Since December, before first posting here, I've been searching for an answer and solution as to why DirectDraw is garbling graphics since my new video card was installed. I've searched and searched to NO AVAIL. I've even posted in two seperate forums, one being here, at home.

You will see an example picture in each thread:
Here

TweakForce (as suggested by ProgZ)

I was just wondering if it would be at all a bother to "force" that option for each game's setup file for jokers like me who can't find the solution? Otherwise AGS games or any other game that uses DirectDraw5 is unplayable (as you'll see).

[Gilbert]

Actually I don't quite understand what you want.
For games that do not have an Direct3D opion in the setup, they're probably just compiled with an engine earlier than V3.1, i.e. before that mode was even implemented.

So, for users who may not be able to run a game under DX5 and want to run it under D3D mode they may try to run the game with a newer version of the engine instead (unless the game authors re-compile the games using a never version of AGS).

Note that it's currently a known fact that the results may be different when a game is run using these two different drivers (consider the recent discussions about colour tinting and screen shaking; also, plugins matter too). If the creator of a game wants to recommend players to play his game in a specific mode he may write in the game's manual to recommend players to choose the preferred mode. I think there is currently no ways to force people to play in one of the modes (which is opposite to what you think). This is because some people may not be able to run a game in DX5 properly (like you) and others may not be able to use the D3D9 driver instead (like with this office comp. I'm using, AGS games NEVER work with its awfully crappy Intel onboard video under D3D9 mode).

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

Gilbet's right about the D3D not being available.  I'm sorry to see tweakforce didn't work out for you, but at least the people there were helpful and really tried to get you working again. 

Looking through the advice on the tweakforce thread they pretty much cover everything I'd suggest.  If you ran driver cleaner and installed a new set of drivers I'd say it's not driver related at all but a hardware issue.  I can't run games in 320x200 fullscreen because my card literally does not support the resolution but I can run it windowed without a problem (I have an 8600 gt).


One possibility you may not want to hear is that your video card is running too hot and what you're seeing is artifacting.  It's a bit of a longshot, and it's not likely that the overheating is caused by an AGS game, but the card could be crapping out on you.  Also, I'm sorry I didn't notice your questions in the thread, but I don't visit General Discussion very much.  Next time just private message me so that doesn't happen again .

A few questions:

1.  Does this happen with ALL AGS games?  If not, please list the specific ones where you get the lines (Ben Jordan 1, etc).
2.  If the answer to the first question is no, are you having a problem only with pre-3.0 games (games made before D3D support was added)?
3.  Do ANY AGS games run properly fullscreen at 640x480, either in DDraw, D3d, or both?  Which ones?
4.  If you are only having problems with older AGS games, have you tried running them without the 'letterbox' option in either a window or full screen?  Do they have the same problem when run that way?

[Snake]

Sorry for not responding quicker, I posted this and then forgot all about it

What I meant about "forcing an option in the setup", is no matter what the creator selects, there will ALWAYS be an option for the player to select either DirectDraw5 or Direct3D9. Since some new games' setups don't have an option AT ALL.


ProgZ: I've made a list of 10 AGS games:

Note: The resolution or Letterbox mode does NOT have an effect on the lines...

V=Lines on screen
X=No lines on screen

5 Days a Stranger SE:
No option for DirectDraw 5 or Direct3D9

Window:
V
Fullscreen:
V

A G-G-GHOST!:
DirectDraw5
Window:
X
Fullscreen:
V

Direct3D9
Window:
X
Fullscreen:
X

A Night to Remember:
DirectDraw5
Window:
X
Fullscreen:
V

Drect3D9
Window:
X
Fullscreen:
X

Atapi:
DirectDraw5
Window:
V
Fullscreen:
V

Direct3D9
Window:
X
Fullscreen:
X

NOTE: 320x200 will work in Direct3D9. Don't know why this is happening, but cool anyway. Usually get the error messege that my graphics card can't initialize that resolution. VERY STRANGE.

Backdoor Man:
DirectDraw5
Window:
X
Fullscreen:
V

Direct3D9
Window:
X
Fullscreen:
X

Colorwise:
DirectDraw5
Window:
X
Fullscreen:
V

Direct3D9
Window:
X
Fullscreen:
X

Prodigal (ver1.1):
No option for DirectDraw 5 or Direct3D9

Window:
V
Fullscreen:
V

NOTE: Game will not initialize 320x200. This I do not understand. If there are lines, that must mean that it is utilizing DirectDraw5. Why won't it initialize 320x200?

RoadRacer:
DirectDraw5
Window:
V
Fullscreen:
V

Direct3D9
Window:
X
Fullscreen:
X

The Oracle (ver1.1):
No option for DirectDraw 5 or Direct3D9

Window:
V
Fullscreen:
V

The Vacuum:
DirectDraw5
Window:
X
Fullscreen:
V

Direct3D9
Window:
X
Fullscreen:
X

NOTE: 320x200 will work in Direct3D9. Don't know why this is happening, but cool anyway. Usually get the error messege that my graphics card can't initialize that resolution. VERY STRANGE.

There you go. I hope this helps answer your questions.

\\--EDIT--\\
I've just realized that I've failed to mention that splash screens (ie; The AGS editor splash screen) will have these lines in them as well.

[Gilbert]

As I mentioned, as far as I know there is ALWAYS an option to select the mode when the games were compiled with AGS engine V3.1 or later. These "new" games your're referring are probably just not using V3.1+. Did you read my whole reply?

[Snake]

Yes, I did read your whole reply. Just misunderstood, that's all.

Oh, shutup, Gilb! 

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

Interesting.  So we can make a few observations:

1.  D3D mode always seems to work.

2.  Windowed mode with Direct Draw almost always works.

3.  Fullscreen with Direct Draw never works.

If it doesn't matter which resolution then I'm kind of stumped.  Do you have another video card laying around that you could hook up and see if the same thing happens?

[Snake]

Unfortunately, no, I don't have another one. The only other one I've got is the one that's in my older computer running Win98... which is currently on the fritz.

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

If it's not a driver issue then it's either a problem with the video card or a problem with the monitor in fullscreen mode.  That's really all I can come up with, sorry.  What refresh rates does your monitor support?  Try changing it from 60 to 70-75 (or the reverse) and trying some of these games again.  The Change Resolution section of the Nvidia Control Panel will show you what rates your monitor actively supports.

[Dualnames]

Direct Draw Fullscreen is the way I've always played AGS games and by the day only a few had a problem, but nothing had to do with lines on the screen. I'm using XP Service Pack 3 (couple of months ago 2), so perhaps its that. My graphics card is really recent and my desktop resolution is set to 1024x768.