Crysis demo: Vi$ta unneeded for DX10 effects

[Occulus]

Do the following to make your XP installation of the Halo 3 killer Crysis demo display the visual quality Micro$oft wants you think can only be achieved via DX10:

If you tweak the configuration files in \Game\Config\CVarGroups by copying and pasting the "very high" settings (1st paragraph) IN PLACE of the "high" settings (last paragraph) the game will load the highest possible settings even though the drop-down menus display "high."

The difference between "high" settings and the tweaked settings is immense: shadows are deeper, more realistic; the leaves have better reflective properties, better textures; the colours are better; and the level of detail is simply stunning.

FOR EXAMPLE: (all brackets changed to < and > )

"sys_spec_Particles.cfg"


<default>
; default of this CVarGroup
= 4

e_particles_quality=4
e_particles_lod=1
e_particles_max_emitter_draw_screen=32
r_UseSoftParticles=1
e_water_ocean_soft_particles= 1
e_particles_object_collisions=1

<1>
e_particles_quality=1
e_particles_lod=0.75
e_particles_max_emitter_draw_screen=4
r_UseSoftParticles=0
e_water_ocean_soft_particles=0
e_particles_object_collisions=0

<2>
e_particles_quality=2
e_particles_max_emitter_draw_screen=8

<3>
e_particles_quality=3
e_particles_max_emitter_draw_screen=16

The text block immediately beneath the "default" line are the "very high" DX10 settings. You want to copy these first text blocks, in each file in the stated directory, to the settings under <3>, which are themselves the "high" settings. After doing this to each file in \Game\Config\CVarGroups, you'll be able to see the 3D ocean, volumetric lighting, and shaders reserved for DX10 when you select the "high" options ingame.

The above example would now read:

<3>
e_particles_quality=4
e_particles_lod=1
e_particles_max_emitter_draw_screen=32
r_UseSoftParticles=1
e_water_ocean_soft_particles= 1
e_particles_object_collisions=1

Keep in mind, your framerate will- not might, but most likely will- plunge. But, my my my, it sure is purty....

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

1. The waves....the waves...

I could sit on the beach and watch the ocean all day with those effects turned on.

[Occulus]

2. It's just gorgeous

but I have to wonder: Micro$oft tied DX10 to Vi$ta "because they had to".

This proves that isn't quite the case, no?

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

3. Quite. Rumors abound about a "Service Pack 3" for XP...

since Vista isn't doing so hot. Actually, that massive sucking sound you hear off in the distance is Vista.
The rumors also mention Microsoft biting the bullet and enabling DirectX 10 in XP with this "Service Pack 3".

Now, that's just a rumor, so don't put too much stock in it. But I wouldn't be surprised if they did it.




Of course, when they released Halo 2 on PC, they made it Vista-only because they said you needed DirextX 10 to get all the effects.
Most people who reviewed the game said that Halo 2 PC looked like crap. And there certainly weren't any special DirectX 10 effects there. Hell, there weren't any on the XBox version.
Turns out Microsoft's gamble that that the PC community needed Halo 2, so they'd all be forced to upgrade hasn't turned out quite the way they'd planned. :shrug:

[Occulus]

6. Here's to hoping there's truth to your words.

I wonder if they realize that doing so just might open them up to a threat of being broken up again. Last time, it was over an integrated browser. This time, it's something that affects a whole other industry- gaming. And it's nothing but the truth that the gaming industry is what has been the prime mover for advances in desktop video hardware. Without gamers, the need for two video cards, for example, would have been relegated to only the hardest of the hard core users.

Come to think about it, the common desktop PC applications found in use by the vast majority of PC owners don't require the huge system resources we're seeing being sold today. Nothing infuriates me more than seeing someone with a $2500 PC using it to just websurf, email people, and maybe- maybe- do some online video, or downloads of the same.

But that hardware is not only used, but pushed to its limit, by the gaming industry. No wonder Micro$oft sought to tie the entire industry to DirectX- it's a multi-billion-dollar industry, and will likely only increase in popularity as time goes on. But for Micro$oft to tie its next release of that same 'hook' to an overpriced, bug-riddled, unfinished pile of dung such as Vi$ta really shows an arrogance that simply should not be tolerated.

What I've previously read has indicated that Service Pack 3 is not only a rumor, but actual fact, because of Vi$ta's poor reception (and let's face it- Beryl does Aero better and did it sooner, and unlike Vi$ta, it's free, but you also have to have linux). Your news of a possible release of DX10 included in that comes as a delightful (if as yet unconfirmed) surprise.

Vi$ta will end up being the Windows ME of the new millennium, but as a gamer I want them held accountable for trying to collectively swindle us all.

[rAVES]

7. I played Halo 2 on XP..

God I hope you're right about the SP3!

[Steven_S]

4. oh crap, I just deleted the demo...

I would have tried it. Guess I'll wait till the game is released and try it then.

Thanks for this.

[Occulus]

5. Heh- as it turns out, there's more about the demo

You can sample all of the weapons in the game and play with one of the aliens if you download the file linked on this page (copy the blue text into the box and click 'start download'; this file is around 45Mb).

If you want what very well may be the biggest game spoiler ever, go here. I won't put it in on this site, because although I myself don't at all mind spoilers, this just goes way way way too far, even for me. And no, this isn't something a fan cooked up- it's something already in the demo.

:D