Toggling video resolution changes FPS...hmm

Posted By: Anonymous

Toggling video resolution changes FPS...hmm - 06/02/02 06:18

Hi,

I just noticed something I hadn't before, perhaps many already know this and I'm not observant [Wink]

, but when I run a level with the debug panel on and then hit F5 to change screen resolution, I notice the higher the resolution the lower the FPS gets. Thus a screen set to 800x600 has a lower FPS than if it were set to 640x480.

This being the case, it would seem better to set the video mode in main function to reflect a 640x480 resolution (video_mode = 6), correct?? Or am I missing something. Is there some reason why one would not do this?

thanks

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Toggling video resolution changes FPS...hmm - 06/02/02 06:27

quote:
I just noticed something I hadn't before, perhaps many already know this and I'm not observant

yup this is common in all game engines, makes sense really, there is not best resolution to use, it depends what target market you are aiming for, if they are likley to have high or low spec computers. Obviously higher spec computers can handle a higher resolution. I would suggest for todays computer however to use 800X600 as a default resolution, and you should consider the possiblility of making it possible for the user to change this "in-game"
Hope this helps
Chris

Posted By: Keith B [Ambit]

Re: Toggling video resolution changes FPS...hmm - 06/02/02 07:53

...Or you can use GS-Startup Manager to provide a setup panel for your game so that the user can select the resolution before they use the game, just as in Max Payne, Hitman, Tomb Raider etc. Eg:

GS-Startup Manager 2.0 (freeware) will be released later this month, keep an eye on User Contributions... (Never hurts to plug your program. [Smile]

)

Cheers,
Keith

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Toggling video resolution changes FPS...hmm - 06/02/02 23:08

thanks guys, so is it safe to assume that the typical user (player) is aware that if he/she changes the screen resolution in-game this will affect the FPS rate?

Nice looking appl. Ambit, I'll certainly be giving that a try later...

thanks again

Posted By: Keith B [Ambit]

Re: Toggling video resolution changes FPS...hmm - 06/03/02 00:04

Absolutely - as Cheets says, it's common to all engines. I believe the general practise is to set the default resolution as 800x600 (most systems used to play games can handle that well these days), and then let the user up it or lower it to what they like. (If you do decide to use GS-Startup Manager, you don't have to worry about this until your game is completed, as you just have to use one include and then set the default using the setup panel before distribution.)
Cheers,
Keith

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Toggling video resolution changes FPS...hmm - 06/04/02 01:42

I notice noone actually bothered to explain why resolution affects the framerate. It's pretty simple; it takes time to render (fancy word for "draw") each pixel, so the more pixels that have to be rendered each frame the longer it takes to render a frame.

Ambit, where are those images on the Startup Manager from? I recognize but cannot place them.

-Joe Hocking
www.3darteest.com

Posted By: Perro

Re: Toggling video resolution changes FPS...hmm - 06/04/02 03:58

@Ambit: does 3dgs really have anisotropic filtering?

Posted By: Keith B [Ambit]

Re: Toggling video resolution changes FPS...hmm - 06/04/02 04:03

@Perro: yup, anisotropic filtering has been introduced to the beta. Here is what it says in the beta section:

quote:
Anisotropic texture filtering
The d3d_anisotropy variable gives the maximum level of anisotropy
(default = 0 = no anisotropic filtering). Anisotropic texture
filtering is supported by some newer 3D cards and eliminates the
distortion visible in the texture whose surface is oriented at an
angle with respect to the plane of the screen. Set the variable
to a value greater than 1.0 for activating anisotropic texture
filtering. Example:

d3d_anisotropy = 2; // activate

The checkbox in GSSM just toggles it on or off...

@Jhocking: the pictures are from Fathom, a Top Cat comic (they of Witchblade fame).

Cheers,
Keith