Not sure if you all have seen this (I just happened to run across this myself), but there is an EXTREMELY simple fix to run at other 4x3 resolutions.

The only catch is you CANNOT be running XP Service Pack 2.

The other (minor but fixable issue) is that the F9, F10 & F11 keys (along with their Shift & Ctrl functions) no longer seem to work... so you have to remap those keys.

I uninstalled SP2, put these two tiny files in my SHIII directory... an no kidding... I'm running at 1600x1200 with 2xAA and it looks INSANE!!!

Here's the file:

EDIT: LINK BROKEN

Wazoo

Im not gonna remove a huge security patch like SP2 just to play a game. That's asking for virus, spams and hijacks.

To each his own.... but I have a gaming partition set up just for that purpose that I do not surf from. Further... I'm behind a hardware firewall.... so not too concerned.

Be that as it may... it is VERY cool at 1600x1200....

link directs me to microshaft website, try this one: http://koti.mbnet.fi/kegetys/dl.php?f=dx9res10&e=zip

Thanks for the heads-up Wazoo will try that, SP1a here handily

1600x1200 really? Drooling here

Ming

Thanks Wazoo thats grand.

You lost me there... What does your partition have to do with your OS ? Unless, of course, you have a separate OS on that partition.. So, are you running SP2 on your main PT ? Or is your gaming PT has a different OS on it ?

Technically I have two drives. During boot, I select which drive I want to boot off of; my "game drive" or my "work drive". Each is installed with its own OS (XP Pro on both).

For the game drive, I have a Raptor SATA 74g for ultra fast loading times. It also has minimum background tasks running so I don't have to use something like EnditAll before running games.

This way I don't end up with OS "bloat" on my game drive which forces a WinXP reinstall over time....

This week I might acutally use PartitionMagic and carve out a newboot partition with WinXP SP1 just for SHIII since I like running at this high resolution. Then I'll put SP2 back on my main gamedrive...

Wazoo

I'm not sure if you guys heard the word or not. A few years ago they developed something called anti-aliasing. It was conceived of when they thought affordable monitors were always going to be restricted to low resolutions. It's a pretty neat trick that graphic cards do in hardware, of all things! Anyway... it basically samples a line and smooths it out!

Contact you favorite neighborhood hardware supplier and ask about "anti-aliasing" and how it can help you.

zipfile is corrupted.

Ummm.... ooookkkkkk.....

But running at 1600x1200 with 4xAA & 8xAF on my Geforce 6800 GT looks LOTS better than 1024x768 @ 4xAA....

I *promise* I won't make you use this modification....

Wazoo

Send over an email address and I'll send it to you...

Wazoo

That's what I thought you were doing...I read some arguments against having two OS on two separate drives on one system, especially if these are two diferent OS.. SP1 and SP2 could be considered an older and newer, more secured XP Pro..

It had to do with a corrupt boot and manually changing the boot sequence in BIOS every time..

No problems... and I've been running it for about a year now. For awhile, I did not upgrade my work drive with SP2 as I was waiting for things to settle.

Personally, I think people overly worry about the security issues. A good hardware firewall and a good up-to-date virus scanner will pretty much cover you assuming you are not constantly surfing Russian Warez and Ukrainian porn sites...

Can you post it somewere...
or send it to
unkraut@sbcglobal.net

Until it sucks too much bandwidth... here is the file:

http://www.paulwasserman.net/SHIII/dx9res10.zip

Wazoo

The other 'catch' is that if you're running Win2K, this DLL won't work unless you run a cracked version of SH3. I'm stuck with retail version 1.0 right now because of this limitation. So yes I've got it working, but I can't installed the 1.2 patch.

I've found a way to get it working with SP2!
It takes a little bit of work, but it only needs to be done once.

Here's how:
Download and install the Application Compatibility Toolkit from Microsoft.
App. Compatibility Toolkit

After it is installed, on the start menu, go to "All Programs/Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit 4.0/Tools" and run the Compatibility Administrator.

When the program opens, make sure New Database is highlighted under Custom Databases, and click the Fix button.

In the "Name of program to be fixed" box, type SH3. Now, click the browse button, and select the sh3.exe in your SH3 install directory.

Click Next.

Under "Operating System Modes" select None.

Click Next.

In the "Compatibility Fixes" box, check DelayDLLInit, and click the Parameters button.
In the "Command Line" box, type d3d9.dll and click OK. (You can click the "Test Run" button to make sure it is working.)

Click Next.

Click Finish.

Click the Save button, name it SH3, and click OK.

On the File menu, select Install.

Close the Compatibilty Administrator.

Enjoy SH3.

Sartori23

Sartori23,
After I complete the steps in your post, how do I change resolution for the game? Is it in some SHIII config file?

Thanks in advance for the answer.

BusySilent, just dowload the zip in Wazooda's post, and follow the instructions in the readme.

It is pretty simple to set up. My fix just allows you to use it if you are running XP SP2.

Sartori23

One of the reasons that the devs said they didn't increase the resolution any higher was for the gauges and compass, as you couldn't read them at the bottom of the screen. I suspect these look miniscule now and trying to work out headings in degrees a right laugh-a-minute or a click-and-miss affair :p

Show us some screenies of the gauges at the bottom of the screen in 1600x1200?

Sartori23,

This is an INCREDIBLE find, THANKS! Can't wait to try this out with Windows 2000 tonight; looks like ACT V3.0 is for Windows 2000 SP3+ (which hopefully means it'll work with my SP4 install).

Could a high-res version of the gauges not be created?

Testing it now...report to follow!

He has cracked it!

This prcedure must be put in the tips/essentials thread! Screenies below (measly 1280 x 1024 'cause my old monitor cant handle more!)


Never noticed that hatch in front of the gun before...
No issues with the guages, either:


Can't wait for my new monitor to rrive so I can REALLY stress my machine!

Someone answered this a while ago after i myself questioned the limited 1024x768 resolution -before i bought SH3 i hasten to add.
They wrote back that it would need the 2D interface to be redone if the res was increased, which makes sense since the compass is barely readable as it is. I can imagine in 1600x1200 it's painfull on the eyes Not to mention the crew screen; handing out *tiny* promotions and so forth.

Skydoc, those pics look *stretched* Look at the size of those dials, Man they are HUGE!!

Reminds me of the days of getting 1024x768 out of Longbow 2 (640x480) with the 'Wicked' drivers for the V2 -sure it went to 1024x768 but the textures didn't.

Anybody post a 1600x1200?

yes, I agree might look worse if you go to higher res than 1280 x 1024, but for guys with LCD native resolutions in that range, this is a great fix without having to roll back to SP 1.

The mod community will likely be able to supply a nicer dial set and then we will be all set!

Here's a 1600x1200 shot from the scope:



Wazoo

Wow, doesn't look bad at all! I hope the developers are considering allowing higher resolutions after seeing this, even if it's a config setting to add. Would be nice. Thanks for sharing the pics guys!

Can someone post fps at 1024x768 and then at 1600x1200?

Thera, I just tried this at 1280x1040 and it worked superbly. My U-boat looks so beautiful, but there is an FPS penalty. I have a P4 2.0Ghz with 1Gb RAM and a FX5700 w/128Mb, not a top of the line system at all. I got Frame rates in the 40's-50's in normal res and I get in the 20's at 1280x1040. It's slower but not noticably so and no jaggies The higher resolution is really worth it

I'm using Windows XP SP2 and Sartori's fix A great big thank you to Sartori for finding this. It works really well with no ill effects, absent some unfunctional keystrokes.

S!
Edward

Sartori23,

Just PM'ed you regaring some help I need - thanks in advance if you can help me.

Thera, on my system, I noticed very little change in FPS.
In Wilhelmshaven I get about 35 fps at both 1024x768 and 1280x960.

At sea with four different iceburgs, a T3, a C3, and a passenger liner I get 120 fps. With the ships exploding, burning, etc it drops into the 90s. This is at 1024 and 1280 both at 4xAA 8xAF measured with Fraps.

System specs:
XP Pro SP2
P4 3.2 Northwood
ASUS P4C800E Deluxe
1024 Corsair TWINX 3200C2
Radeon X800XT PE
SB Audigy 2 ZS Platinum

Sartori23

The reason I ask is that I'd like to know if this actually changes the rendering or scales the image in software.

I have a 1280x1024 19" LCD (DVI in) and the LCD scales the game perfectly for me. The game automatically fixed the aspect ratio to 1024x800, although screens shots are still at 1024x768.

Maybe I'm missing on something but this looks great to me.

In case anybody else here is a few years behind and runs Windows 2000 like me, Sartori23 and I have essentially confirmed that an analagous fix for Win2K does NOT work. Therefore if you want to run the res fix, you have to use a SF-disabled retail version 1.0 install of the game. That's what I'm doing right now, and it looks gorgeous at 1920x1200.

Thera, I'm pretty sure that SH3 does NOT in fact properly scale to different aspect ratios. That 1024x800 number you talk about, if you found that in a .cfg file, it's not real - SH3 is not really using that. No one's really been able to determine what that number means.

As I said, I'm running 1920x1200 but the picture is stretched - yes my screenshots come out 1920x1200 but it's obviously a 1600x1200 image being stretched over 1920x1200. The elongation is obvious - not too extreme, but definitely noticeable. You may not be noticing any stretching because the change in aspect ratio between 1024x768 and 1280x1024 (1.33 to 1.25) is not very big - however at 1920x1200 (1.6), that's a big jump and is now noticeable.

As for why your screenshots still come out 1024x768 ... that I can't figure out.

just noticed that the map grids are much easier to read at 1280 x 1024...another benefit!

Interesting... Mine's not stretched and I'm using a 5:4 aspect ratio monitor. The configuration file in my "My Documents" folder says 1024x800. I thought the game automatically got that from my monitor drivers, but maybe not?!?

I'll run a test tonight. I'll take a screenshot and a photograph at the same time. That will certainly show the difference.

In IL2 the game simply adds a sliver of rendering to the top and bottom of the screen. The speed bar and text still appear in the 4:3 aspect though. Which is better than black bars so I'm not complaining.

Thanks very much Wazooda!

Looks amazing now at 1600x1200. Very fluid

Will try AA and AF later

Passed all my exams. Took bloody ages but worth it for the initial renown apparently. Tomorrow zeh vorld

Is there a more immersive sim? No really no pun intended I'm having a great time and the game will sit in Pause for hours without finding a rebooted machine next time it's my shift. That's impressive and makes up for the long "Papers, papers. Hmmm did you have that beard when this photo was taken? Oh sorry you're the Kapitan's wife roger that carry on" delay in getting to my boat to start with

I just noticed the sausage stowage talking about details. Nice big smoked ham there too. What's that suspicious yellow stuff anyway I'm not touching that with only the ChemSan available

Ming

There's a case of Beck's under the Captains bunk.

lol I just found the Kapitan's bed too it's like The Three Bears isn't it. Please don't let him eat porridge I'm strictly a toast and coffee man although I will admit to the odd Continental breakfast

Hmm oranges down there. Take two oranges and a tot of Grand Marnier four ounces of flour the grated rinds of the aforementioned oranges and...

Have you noticed that every thread eventually ends up in food

Ming

@Wazoo
"The other (minor but fixable issue) is that the F9, F10 & F11 keys (along with their Shift & Ctrl functions) no longer seem to work... so you have to remap those keys."

Forgive my ignorance, but how exactly is this remapping done? :rolleyes:

I'm running at 1600x1200 (SP2)and it's SOOO beautiful. However I'm missing those Function keys which I would like to get beck working.

Cheers & TIA

You don't need to remap anything.. You guys need to get out of this site more often...

Someone somewhere has found a solution.. Those keys work with Alt key.. Alt+F9, etc.. The readme file in the Dx9 tweak states that you can use Printscreen button for screenshots...It works...

Well lah-dee-bloody-dah

Ming

I wish I could get this Hi-rez work-around to work. I have followed the instructions posted here to the letter, but I get crash straight away as soon as I load SH3. If I remove the dll and dllconfig that is added in this process, the game starts up normally.(1024x768)
Will I ever get it to work in Hi-Res?

Anybody else had this problem?

regards

Dogzero1

After installing the .DLL and .CFG files in yuour SH3 directory, just follow these instructions posted earlier by Sartori, thanks again Sartori for the workaround!

It does not work for me

Works here, and in glorious 1600 x 1200 on my new 21.3 TFT (ok, I am bragging a bit)

Wonder why it does for some but not others: video driver related? Starforce/DVD drive related? DOubt monitor is an issue...just brainstorming, here...

The instructions are pretty spot on and I was able to follow them almost to the letter.

Anyone else have any ideas?

It does not work for me

Checked with dxdiag lately for DirectX version 9.0c Teddy? Just checking...

Ming

If it is still crashing after applying the compatibility fix, go back and double check that you followed the intructions to the letter. A few people have forgotten to install the fix from the file menu in the Compatibility Administrator.

If it still isn't working after that, let me know. The fix should work for everyone running XP SP2 and v1.0 of the d3d9.dll.

I've only tested this in XP Pro, but XP Home shouldn't have any problems with the possble exception of permissions.

Sartori23

I am using DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)

Maybe it is the version of CAT drivers? I am using version 5.1

I also have my Direct 3D set to 2AA and 8AF.

Ask any question I will not be offended... I just want to fill up my 22" monitor with SHIII.

PS I also only have one monitor attached at the moment... How did I ever live with one monitor before?

Now that could open up a whole can of worms! Are you sure nothing will offend you?

Ted-

I am on 6.14 dated 7/27/2004 driver (have not seen a need to upgrade) Maybe try an upgrade?
My 3d settings in the properties/advanced window is set "balanced" so no specific AA/AF.

What video processor do you have? I am running a 9800XT 256mb

HTH

I have followed it to the letter, its still a no go.
Never mind.
ps, I am using XP Home, direct 9c, Nvidea latest drivers on a 6800 card.

Thanks anyway.

JASQ: (just another stupid question)

you are all logged on as "Administrators", right?

Of the whole domain actually...

Teddy have you installed your monitor manufacturer's drivers for your monitor - or are you on generic Plug and Pray drivers?

Lots of info on your setup might be useful

There'll be DirectX version
and monitor drivers
and graphics card drivers

...mostly

DirectX version ruled out then

That leaves the other two: and you could check the hardware Groups (by searching within Google Groups - an option from Google searches) for people with similar kit - see if they have similar problems and/or fixes maybe

Obviously you will need to set your graphics card to default settings and not be pressing the issue while testing

Asking for more graphics goodness means that (possibly important) local/system RAM is set aside for buffers for FSAA and so on, so make it easy on yourself during this preliminary ranging artillery offensive. The shells begin to fall into an area over which you have some control and maybe even on the target eventually

Ming

Good find there on the SP2 workaround!

You don't actually have to DL the whole compatability kit to add these kinds of fixes though.

If you can create the database for us, it can be installed with a command line utility by anyone.
It's MUCH easier.

Just zip up the database along with sdbinst.exe and create a batch file to install your database.

For example;

REM - Install the fix.
@echo off
cls
sdbinst.exe sh3-rez-fix.sdb
exit


So a batch file, the install util (sdbinst.exe) and the database is around 40KB!

Good idea +G.
SP2 res fix

Just follow the instructions in the readme. Easy as pie, and a much smaller download.

Sartori23

It seems to have worked. How can i be sure its working correctly in the game?

I did the whole fix not just dl batch file.

take a screeny and then check the properties of the screenshot. should tell you the resolution; that's how I confirmed it.

Whole fix or DL batch file, end result is exactly the same, which is a good thing.

I run SHIII in window mode, does anyone else?

No, does it make any difference to performance? I run Football Manager in window mode. Where is the setting to do that?

The setting for windows mode is under the options. I did it so that I could write my review and run SHIII in the backgound because to test anything takes forever!

The great part about window mode is that it continues to run when not the active window. I can surf the net while I am searching for the 'pesky enemy'

You are running SH3 in a window Teddy and you are wondering why you can't run the sim at 1600x1200?

Well how big is your monitor

Being a man of few words only works in nightclubs mate

I just want to fill up my 22" monitor with SHIII

Ah

Big as in resolution I mean. No monitor knows how big it is, the pixels just get bigger or smaller. Bit like calling throttle values when one should be calling airspeed. Does that help?

Any standard-aspect resolution will fill up your monitor if your monitor is standard-aspect 1.33 but your native resolution is? That might explain it. Pulling teeth has nothing on this

Ming

Ming old mate,
I am currently using a resolution at 1792 x 1344 having just moved up from 1600 x 1280.

I had started using SHIII in 'window' mode so that I could write my review while testing. I must admit, I do like the option, ability, to surf the net etc whilst awaiting a contact.

Obviously I have turned off the single ship contacts and never chased them anyway.

Well . . I HAD been able to run this at a higher resolution. But since applying the patch (which required a compelte uninstall/reinstall) it is now crashing again.

So I dont spin my wheels too long . . has anyone been able to apply the new patch (1.3) and still run at a higher resolution?

And are you running XP SP2?

Kamikaze, I have the 1.3 patch installed and am running at higher resolution. I just followed the same instructions using the Windows application compatibility toolkit figured out by Sartori So it does work. I deleted the old files and did a complete reinstall.

I am running WindowsXP w/SP2

S!
Edward

Good idea for you to go window mode Ming

I'm running at 1600x1200 Teddy and the monitor's native resolution is 1600x1200 you bragger! I'm the country cousin in this scenario by the look of it. No I'm not blood-spitting jealous

Down-sizing is not an option mate

Plus I've forgotten what it is you can't do anyway. If we ever found out did we ever find out - see teeth option

Ming

Ming,
I am going to let you work out how to get me to be able to play SHIII in window mode at higher than 1024 * 768.

Dam I good to you

Wazooda,
thanks for the info. I just changed my resolution to 1280 by 1024 and it looks great. The only minor prob is that the in-game text is a little strange looking. Is there anyway to fix this? If not it doesnt matter because everything is still easy to read.

Hey, does this fix NOT work with patch 1.4b? I just finally upgraded to Windows XP, installed SH3 and the 1.4b patch, tried the res fix ... and I get an error message when I try to start the game up.

Anybody got this working with 1.4b?

I get the same error.

I've updated the res fix fix for 1.4b.
1.4b SP2 res fix

Sartori23

Wow that was fast!

Sartori23, I'm curious, what made this patch different? I d/l'ed the WCToolkit 4.0.1 for XP, went through the steps myself, and got the same error message.

Looking forward to trying it out tonight though - thanks!

Crop, Ming, Salute Mates!

I tried 3840X1024 res and my pov is streached out.

Anyway to change the POV in this title.

If not 1600X1200 should work fine.

BTW-Using Matrox Parhelia across 3 monitors,
17 inch left, 19 inch center, 17 inch right.

Unfortunately no, there's no way to change the aspect ratio, which is really what you want to adjust instead of POV.

Maybe we can hope for a patch.

Hello Bubbleheads,

Does the rez fix allow you to run 2048x1536?
Has anyone used tSHIII on a SLI system?
Has anyone used SHIII with a AMD Dualcore?

Thanks in advance

Monnie

Which files I have to put in SH3? A did not see any in your instructions...
Thank you for answer