[Rubbercookie]

In the lack of a "noob's faq" I'm posting here to ask two questions of a quite simple nature.
I've spent quite a few hours in the FreeSpace wiki, in this forum, and using the forum's search function, but I have not yet found answers to these questions.

Question 1:
How do I force a custom screen resolution in FSOpen?
The FSOpen launcher automatically shows all valid screen resolutions 4:3 and 16:9, yet it does not show the resolution I want. I've confirmed that people have played the game at 1920x1080.

My computer is connected to my HDTV via VGA cable and I'm currently running the computer desktop at 1080i, or 1920x1080 if you will. My problem is that the screen (TV) does not "announce" it's capability of showing this resolution, in spite of it being it's native. It needs to be forced. Since the resolution is not "announced", the FSOpen launcher does not recognize it as valid. I've seen some option somewhere in the launcher to "set specific resolution" but I don't know how to use it.

Question 2:
In this post on the FSOpen forums there's a download link for the Post-Processing mod described in that post's thread.
The download however does not contain any .txt files describing how to implement or use it.

This is how far I am:
I've loaded the executable that came with the download and checked "enable post processing". I'm running the mediavps mod and trying to play the "postprocessing" mission (that came with the download) in the tech room's mission simulator. I put all data and the mission in the mediavps folder.
I did see a patch file amongst the files but I've no idea what to do with it. Help with this would probably fix stuff.

The actual question: How do I load this mod? I really want to try playing the game with one or more of the bloom/distortion/motionblur effects. Just running the mission was not enough to make it work.

[Zacam]

You mean after posting over at GoG?

And you haven't been here long enough to not find what you are looking for.

The post processing builds are multiple parts. The exe, obviously. The past-f and post-v SDR files go into data\effects. The Mission in to \data\missions. But the mission is really just a show case proving it works. And there is no Readme with them, as they are HIGHLY experimental. So much so, that we're still scratching our heads over them. So, stick with the 3.6.10 Release EXE, or something from the Nightly Builds if you really must. For now at least.

The patch file? Only useful if you plan on compiling your own executable.

Oh, and you have the MediaVP's right?

And resolutions? In custom flags, type in -res 1920x1080

And you are right. They are basic questions, but thank you for taking the advice to post over here so that we could answer them.

[The E]

Well, a custom resolution can be set by entering -res 1920x1080 in the Launcher's custom flags field, and checking the "run at specified resolution" checkbox.

[Herra Tohtori]

Answer 1:

-Go to Launcher's "Features" tab
-Locate the "Custom flags" line
-type in "-res 1920x1080" (along with other stuff that may or may not be there)

The -res option is selectable in the list for unknown reason as it doesn't do anything alone, it needs the resolution specified with it and that needs to be typed in manually. You don't need to check the checkbox if you have it on the custom flags. Enabling both would make something like "-res -res 1920x1080" on the command line and while the empty -res would likely not harm anything it's not good either.

Answer 2:

Haven't tried the post-processing yet, but standard means of activating a mod are with the MOD tab or with "-mod MOD1,MOD2,...,MODN" command line. Goes to same place as the previous one, Custom flags. MOD1,MOD2 etc is a list of mods activated, in order of descending priority (first ones supercede the latter ones).


This information (about mods) can be found in the Command-Line Reference (which is linked on the main page of the wiki).

[Rubbercookie]

You mean after posting over at GoG?

Indeed. I found it highly likely that people from this place frequented the store that revived sales of FreeSpace.
I was right too. Main reason for picking GOG is that a low level of knowledge is more accepted, if not expected there.

And you haven't been here long enough to not find what you are looking for.

I've known about FSOpen for some time, but I didn't really start looking through these sites before I bought the GOG copy of FS2 at January 8th 2009.
After seven months and fifteen days I figured I should probably ask for directions.

Oh, and you have the MediaVP's right?

Yup. Got "the works" from an online installer.
I always figured you could put something like a "res" flag in the custom flags, but...

This information (about mods) can be found in the Command-Line Reference (which is linked on the main page of the wiki).

...I never knew those flags were typed into something called a "command line".
I figured that (the command line) was something like an in-game console and overlooked the article completely. Instead browsing completely different articles and challenging the search function.
Either way I should have thought of just putting 1920x1080 behind that flag. Valve games have height and width separated in their flags, wich had me wrongfully thinking there might be all sorts of weird formatting in this one.
Thanks for the help on that matter, all of you.

As for the mission, I was somehow under the impression it contained something that would change the bloom, motionblur and distortion values over time, showcasing the effect.
If it doesnt, I imagine you need to jam in something somewhere to define those values (and then they'll act as constants, I guess)... Unless that's part of the past-f and post-v SDR files, wich I've yet to put into data\effects.
I saw screens of at least three people managing to have it (postprocessing) running at all, and that's really all I want. See how it looks in motion.
I never expect homebrew* to be any less experimental than the postprocessing mod, wich is why the mediavps, fsport-mediavps and fsport-str blows me away.
I dun't suppose any of you can walk me (and other bypassers) through having it/parts of it run /runandthencrash?

* This is beyond "homebrew" by now, isn't it?

[The E]

When did you use the installer? If you have used it recently (like, less than two weeks ago), everything should be fine, if you used it before then, you should use it again to get the latest updates.

And we are quite tolerant of newbies here; And as I said on GOG, the questions you have cannot be answered there in a timely and efficient manner.

Now, to use the shaders Hery's build enables, you need to put them in your mediavps\data\effects directory. Anywhere else, and the engine won't read them. As for the bloom effects, Hery posted an updated bloom shader here.

Now, the engine will not use these shaders if your gfx-card is unable to handle Shader Model 3 shaders, or GLSL 1.2.

[Zacam]

You HAVE to put the SDR into data\effects, otherwise there is NOTHING to process in the mission.

Also, enabling the tick box in the launcher that says "Use Post Processing" helps.

Also, this doesn't go under modding. Sounds counterintuitive, doesn't it? It should be in Support. The MOD is already made, you are requesting SUPPORT for how to implement it's operation.

And if you plan on just being a by-passer.....well, then your in for missing a lot and in for a lot of headaches.

While this may be a simple game to play, it's not a simple game to enhance. And unless you decide to take at least an active interest in sitting down and reading some of what's here (The Wiki, the Support Forum) you are not likely to stay long. And that would be a shame.