Author Topic: Reducing Graphics.  (Read 713 times)

Gravelbreaker

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Reducing Graphics.
« on: April 19, 2007, 12:47:19 pm »
Hey, I'm new here. I just wanted to know how to make the graphics of PlaneShift to minimum so that I can play. I don't mind if it looks quite bad either. I just want to be able to play until I get my computer upgraded.
I'm asking for this because my computer now has a 64MB Graphic card(On-board I think) and 448MB RAM. I'm also using Windows XP.

Thanks.

Nilrem

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Re: Reducing Graphics.
« Reply #1 on: April 19, 2007, 03:48:34 pm »
Greetings Gravelbreaker,

before just aiming to the lowest graphical settings achievable... why not include a screenshot of your current conditions while playing?
Maybe it's not that bad that you've a 64MB graphics card... and, even if it is, it is always of use to have something graphical as to make ideas clearer.

To take a screenshot you can use the command /screenshot while in game.
It should then be saved on program files/planeshift crystal blue/screenshots
just upload it to imageshack.us (or another hosting service) and post the link to the image in your next post.

Well...
now to answer your question.

The first thing that comes to mind is texture downsampling.
To do that, go to your PSsetup utility (start-all programs-planeshift-pssetup)
There should be a bar there named texture downsampling. Move the slider just opposite where it is by default, to have the "less quality" setting.

There was also that fullbright option, but I won't be the one to, besides suggesting you that downsampling, add to it the fullbright suggestion. But if you really aim for it, you can do a search in the forums and find out on your own. Just, don't do it if you don't want the game to look ugly (since you've also downsampled the textures already)

It can also be, though, that what you've is graphical lag, more than visualization issues.

To that end, and to try to improve your situation, two things to try:

On Pssetup, deactivate music. It should free some resources.

While in game, go to options (I think you can press the "o" key) then graphics->details

there should be there something named "fps cap". Its value should be somewhat high.
Lower it. I had it at 25, and it was alright for me. No noticeable difference to my eyes, but certainly less cpu usage. It can be of use for you.

Are there any MoonSeekers left?

Gravelbreaker

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Re: Reducing Graphics.
« Reply #2 on: April 21, 2007, 11:58:26 am »
Hello Nilrem,

Thanks for all your help, but guess what suddenly happened, lol. I got myself a new graphic card(256mb). And since its not on-board my RAM is 512MB. Everything is fine, though I don't understand the game that well! :D

Nilrem

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Re: Reducing Graphics.
« Reply #3 on: April 21, 2007, 02:15:31 pm »
Good that you've now a graphics card that will surely give you more performance than one built in on the board.  :thumbup:

Now you can safely forget about the texture downsampling. Although, the last recommendation regarding fps cap might still be of interest for you (and anyone playing the game) since it's not a fully polished game, and its cpu & memory consumptions tend to be unnecessarily high under certain conditions. Just, if you see your cpu is majority of the time at 100% load while you're playing, give that fps cap value change a try.

I even suggested changing the default value that comes out-of-the-box to a lower value, since there's no perceptual loss, and there's a gain in terms of cpu stress, but it is yet to be seen if that default option will be changed on future releases.
Anyway, you've always the chance of changing it manually.
Are there any MoonSeekers left?