[Resolved] Remove screen size option

simulacra · Wed 25/08/2004 11:30:42

Is there a way to prevent the player from selecting a lower resolution than the game was intended for? It looks crap in 320x200.

Alynn · Wed 25/08/2004 13:22:50

Dont give them the setup program... then they can't change a thing

Jay · Thu 26/08/2004 02:10:49

Removing the setup program would make it impossible to run the game in a window, choose sound drivers, or use alternate translations.
A better idea is to check the system.screen_width and system.screen_height variables on game_start, however the manual clearly states:

QuoteThe AGS engine is designed to allow players with varying speeds of computer to enjoy the game at a playable speed; people with a 486 would rather see blocky graphics at 320x200 than be forced to run very slowly at 640x400.

Edwin Xie · Thu 26/08/2004 03:03:01

It may look crappy on your screen but some other people might not think the same.

Ben · Thu 26/08/2004 04:08:43

The lower resolution is just for slower computers. I don't see why someone with a faster computer would want to use the lower resolution anyway (since, as you say, it looks crappy).. So I wouldn't worry about it.

Gilbert · Thu 26/08/2004 04:40:38

Recommendation: The setup launcher MUST be present when you distribute your games.

Note that current versions of AGS will show a warning if you attempt to set a game to run in resolution other than that set in the editor, so people running the setup should know about that already, I think that's enough and don't see the need to limit the resolution.

Edwin Xie · Thu 26/08/2004 04:54:18

And um, the setup is for setting the settings anyone wants but uses safe resolution. Anything other might not be good.

simulacra · Thu 26/08/2004 19:39:02

Well, I want people to be able to access the other options but not change the resolution. I know that backward compability is desireble, but the 640x480 VGA format has been around quite a while and I don't think it's too much to ask from a computer nowadays. I know that some people are very keen on using low resolutions and always want to be able to, but I think it should be something that the game author decides ultimately.

Mr Jake · Thu 26/08/2004 19:51:17

why? You're making the game for people, I cant see why you want to remove it in the first place -_-;

simulacra · Thu 26/08/2004 20:01:33

I was interested in getting an answer to a technical question, not discussion the ethics of using various screen resolutions. I see your point (have a 486 myself), but I have noticed that my game does not work properly in low res and would like to do something about it for the sake of usebility without having to remake all the graphics. I don't want to test the patience of the poor minority of people who still (for reasons unknown) use 320x200 (and refuse to use a higher resolutions) through a horrible game experience.

Believe me, it is. I have tried and it would take a complete remake of the graphics to make it playable, and it simply not worth the time. I'm sorry.

Gilbert · Fri 27/08/2004 02:30:13

I just want to repeat:

Quote from: Gilbot V7000a on Thu 26/08/2004 04:40:38
Note that current versions of AGS will show a warning if you attempt to set a game to run in resolution other than that set in the editor, so people running the setup should know about that already, I think that's enough and don't see the need to limit the resolution.

I know how crappy it'll look after the graphics were scaled to low res. (and I'm not talking about setting to low res. just for running the games with a low end computer, as most of the time setting such a game to low res render the game from ugly to even unplayable), but then is it really that important to force end users not to use low resolution? Players may setup the game to low res. just because of curiosity, when they try that out they'll know how it look already, some may continue to play the game they can stand it, but I'll bet most of them will just resetup the game and play with high res. instead.

simulacra · Fri 27/08/2004 12:48:27

Perhaps. But it looks more than an error than a feature in my game.

Ishmael · Fri 27/08/2004 15:09:53

I have an old laptop as my main computer. Hi res games sometime's run slowly on it, and in those cases I prefer to set to lo res, as long as the game don't get unplayable. You could just put a noticement, about the game becoming nearly unplayable on lo res, in the readme file...

simulacra · Sat 28/08/2004 12:06:05

Quote from: Ishmael on Fri 27/08/2004 15:09:53
I have an old laptop as my main computer. Hi res games sometime's run slowly on it, and in those cases I prefer to set to lo res, as long as the game don't get unplayable. You could just put a noticement, about the game becoming nearly unplayable on lo res, in the readme file...

Yes, I will do that. Good suggestion.