Video Display Size Small

[Akmatov]

Just discovered this great game and am in the early stages of developing an understanding of how things work.

However, there is one techical issue I didn't notice addressed in the FAQ. I have a non-3DFX system with a variety of display possibilities, different resolutions and color options. However, none of the varieties seem to use more than about 50% of my screen. It would be nice to work with a larger image. Am I missing something obvious or is this just part of how things work with the program? Any advise would be appreciated?

[Wold]

It should be full screen.....

It would be much easier to help you if we knew your system specs.... Operating system, Battlecruiser version, Video card mfg, computer mfg, sound card, etc.

[Akmatov]

Thanks Wold. I was hoping this wasn't the normal 'game screen', it is hard to catch all the detail with a presentation that only uses 60% of the monitor landscape.

SYSTEM: Gateway 2550 laptop

OS: Win 98

PROCESSOR: Pentium III 500MHz

BIOS: Phoenix

MEMORY: 96 MB

DISPLAY ADAPTER: Silcon Motion Lynx EM

SOUND, VIDEO & GAME CONTROLLER: ESS Device Manager, ESS Multi-Device Enumerator, Maestro DOS Games/FM Devices, Maestro MPU401 Devices and Maestro Wave/Wave Table Synthesis Devices (pulled this off the System Properties of Control Panel, don't see something that I recognize as a known video board, probably due to it being a laptop. I was able to get the sound working using the parameters of these devices.)

BC3000AD: was version 2.07 patched up to 2.09

ChipInfo: SVGA chipset: VESA (1)

video memory: 4096 KB

Reading the FAQ suggests that since the BC3K.BAT auto-detect routine is the same as that of CHIPINFO.EXE, there is no need to add the /v1 parameter. I did try adding /v1 and got exactly the same performance.

The Problem: Regardless of the video setting the game gives me a 'game screen' that is 6.75 inches wide on a monitor screen that is 11 inches wide. I have tried 256, 16 bit and 24 bit color with identical results. At 640x480 and 800x600 the 'game screen' is located in the top left corner of the monitor screen. At 1024x768 the 'game screen' is centered. None of the resolution or color changes affects the 'game screen' presented, just its location on the monitor.

Sorry if this got long winded, but not sure what info might be helpful. Hopefully this is something simple. Thanks.

[Gallion]

Try changing the shortcut propeties and Run bc3000ad.exe Maximized instead of Normal Window.

TTFN

[ 04-20-2001: Message edited by: Gallion ]

[Akmatov]

Tried changing the Properties to set screen as Maximixed. No change. Tried Window at default and at 50 lines. This changed the appearance of the boot up text as the program loaded, but not the 'game screen', still the same 60% area in the center of the monitor. Odd.

[Tyrn]

quote:

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Originally posted by Akmatov:

Tried changing the Properties to set screen as Maximixed. No change. Tried Window at default and at 50 lines. This changed the appearance of the boot up text as the program loaded, but not the 'game screen', still the same 60% area in the center of the monitor. Odd.

---

The game needs to be run full screen, not in a window (we are talking about BC3K and not the BCM demo right?)

[Akmatov]

I'm running BC3K v2.09.

Yes, I'm running as Full-Screen under the Screen Tab of Properties. Just mentioned the other things I had tried. Program seems to ignore every changed parameter and displays the same 60% 'game screen'. Only parameter change that results in a program change is to set resolution below 1024 x 768, then the same 'game screen' comes up, just in the top left corner of the monitor rather than centered.

Help and suggestions are greatly appreciated, I'm going blind out here in the outer void.

[Wold]

Silcon Motion Lynx EM video card could be your problem. Laptop video cards tend to be modified and take oem drivers. Do you have the latest driver from gateway?

I haven't heard of this video card, has anyone else?

[Akmatov]

I'll check on the status of drivers later today (I'm at work now).

So far this is the only program to display odd behavior, but I have heard that laptop sometimes aren't set up quite the same. Sigh. . . .

Thanks for all the advise gentlemen. I'll get back once I verify the status of my video drivers.

[Cmdr Nova]

Go into your display properties and check settings-> advanced and look for something in there that says composite sync. and disable or enable it if you have it on/off. it affects dos programs on my computer so i turned it off. reply soon, i'll be waiting.

[Cmdr Nova]

On my ATI graphics card, it has some other options on 5 extra tabs on the advanced box. check your documentation (either system or graphics card).

Also, for technical reference, your display adapter is your graphics board/video board.

Also, you could also try to check for any special display programs from your manufacturer (in the system tray, start menu, or control panel). If you see some option like synchronization or monitor sync or something of the like, then try to toggle the setting and check if that helps. Most newer video cards have some optimizations, which can affect full screen dos programs. You should be able to find something about your card from Winfiles and going to the drivers section; they have links to the manufacturers' site, or (if the company is out of business) a 3rd party developer site that makes drivers for it.

You can email me if you want more technical help. I'm usually available from 3:30-9 PM Eastern Time, and can set aside some time to get back the same day. If you send it at other times of day, I'll reply ASAP.

[Cmdr Nova]

Okay. Akmatov, I searched Winfiles/Cnet and they have nothing on your Video Board/Card (Silicon Motion). But, I was able to find something for your computer.

Here is a Gateway support page for your Gateway Solo 2550 Laptop Computer.

Solo 2550 Support

Here are official Gateway driver pages for your Video and Bios chipsets.

Gateway.com - Drivers - Solo 2550 Video

Gateway.com - Drivers - Solo 2550 Bios

According to the Gateway Support page, your chipset is a/an SMI Lynx EM4 Video Graphics Accelerator (Built In AGP). Try to look up on Winfiles for SMI.

Having so much time on my hands comes in handy sometimes; Glad to Help.

[Emmett.hendrick]

Some Gateway laptops when running Dos programs only display a small screen when running, the way to check this is to check what % of your screen is used during the Dos section of your O/S boot up. the problem is rectified when Windows finishes booting and you switch to another RES. The main thing I can suggest is check what your monitor type is set to it should be something like laptop display 800x600 you can easily change this to something with a bigger display and can use safe mode if your screen goes all fuzzy. Definalty change it if it is set to plug and play monitor

[Akmatov]

Many thanks gentelmen for your attention to my problem.

Cmdr Nova:

1) Control Panel -> Display -> Display Properties = no reference to any thing resembling "composite sync.".

2) The Silicon Motion Inc (SMI) LynxEM card does have a utility in the system tray. However, it is exactly the same at what is available via Control Panel. There was one setting that appeared promising, something called 'stretch'. However, that only worked with a window. I set resolution at 600 x 800, set properties for BC3K to 'window', set stretch on and tried BC3K. The initial boot into BC3K was in a window, then it went full-screen and reverted to the usual 60% 'game screen', this time because it was at a resolution other than 1024 x 768 the 'game screen' was set to the top left corner of the monitor.

3) I tried Winfiles and boloed there, but hotboted to the manufactures website. They have a number of driver updates, but none for my card.

4) I checked in with Gateway and my video driver is the most recent. There are two newer BIOs updates available, however I'm not sure if they are for Win98 or Win2000. Before I risk really screwing things up with the wrong BIOs I'm going to e-mail thier tech support to be very sure about them.

Cmdr Nova, I really appreciate your efforts on this. I normally only access the i-net when I'm on campus and can use a T-1 line. Spoiled!!! I'll check with Gateway and see if my BIOS should be upgraded. Who knows maybe that will do something. I think the video driver is as up-to-date as possible, at least according to Gateway. Once again thanks for the help.

Ensign Hendrick:

During my Win98 boot I don't see it as being in a screen size smaller than full.

When I change the resolution to either 640 x 480 or 800 x 600, I get the same 'game screen' as always, just relocated up into the top left corner of the screen. With the resolution at 1024 x 768, I get the same 'game screen', just centered in the monitor. Tried turning off plug and play, no change. Thanks for the ideas.

Got to run, will check in tomorrow. Thanks

[Guest Vaipa]

Well then you should play the game in dos mode.. (press F8 when Starting windows... appears and choose command prompt only). You'll need to use the dos mouse and dos sound card drivers (I don't remember if win98 has dos mouse drivers included, but they can be downloaded)..

[Rico Jansen]

Never use bc3k v2.0x in DOS-mode. Only v1 was intended to be used in Dos-mode. Or just DOS, as that was still a viable option at the time. Like the faq and/or version control file says. ONLY start bc3k 2.0x from WITHIN windows. As it was designed (actually, the SC re-designed) to work in that OS.