800x600 maximum res. in vertical mode

**shbon** · May 25, 2006

Hi There!

Question:

Is the 800x600 max res. in vertical mode a permanent restriction or is it going to be engineered-out at some point? How about the 16-bit color stipulation in vertical mode? What are the issues?

Regards

Shaun

**headkaze** · May 25, 2006

The main issue I believe is speed. Rotating the screen adds quite a performance hit, and the goal was to allow fullscreen video playback in the background. Me and Tom tried a few different methods for rotation, and I'm not even sure which one ended up being used, but it would be possible to add higher resolutions, but I'm not sure if it's on the cards.. Tom?

EDIT: I think I should mention that I'm not co-developing with Tom on GameEx, so it's still all his work! I just helped a little on the rotation stuff. Just thought I should make it clear so people don't get confused and think I am co-developing on GameEx - it's still Tom's baby and full credit goes to him!

**shbon** · May 25, 2006

The main issue I believe is speed. Rotating the screen adds quite a performance hit, and the goal was to allow fullscreen video playback in the background. Me and Tom tried a few different methods for rotation, and I'm not even sure which one ended up being used, but it would be possible to add higher resolutions, but I'm not sure if it's on the cards.. Tom?
EDIT: I think I should mention that I'm not co-developing with Tom on GameEx, so it's still all his work! I just helped a little on the rotation stuff. Just thought I should make it clear so people don't get confused and think I am co-developing on GameEx - it's still Tom's baby and full credit goes to him!

So, if you have a fast P4 computer and only intend to use GameEx in a cab as a 'lite-ish' menuing FE (PNG only, some MP3, no video), then it'll probably have acceptable performance? Would it be possible to have some 'heavy' parts like full screen video playback disabled and then derestrict the 800x600 limit / 16 bit color using some configuration settings?

What do you reckon Tom?

Shaun

**Tom Speirs** · May 25, 2006

The main issue I believe is speed. Rotating the screen adds quite a performance hit, and the goal was to allow fullscreen video playback in the background. Me and Tom tried a few different methods for rotation, and I'm not even sure which one ended up being used, but it would be possible to add higher resolutions, but I'm not sure if it's on the cards.. Tom?
EDIT: I think I should mention that I'm not co-developing with Tom on GameEx, so it's still all his work! I just helped a little on the rotation stuff. Just thought I should make it clear so people don't get confused and think I am co-developing on GameEx - it's still Tom's baby and full credit goes to him!

I would like to say he's right GameEx is my baby, but folks HeadKaze has been a HUGE help on several things in GameEx, and is really valued by me. I hope to involve him more in the future too. He is deffinitly my number 2 as far as I am concerned, and also a very decent bloke!

I don't think the rotation is going to change for now, although believe me I am actively looking at it. At some stage I'm probably going to make the display code more object based maybe even plug in based. This will allow GameEx to use Direct3D, WinFX, or SDL (possibly for Linux in the future), and when that happens the rotation will improve and we may see the GUI looking even a little more flash. I'm currently looking at developing or getting developed a 2d library using Direct3d instead of DirectDraw.

Shaun, I will post an updated exe that has no restrictions on the roataion in this thread shortly. Perhaps you can test it for me, and see how the speed looks?

Headkaze, I ended up just modifying the surface memory in a C++ routine. I got over the main speed issue by loading the surfaces in System Memory rather than video memory.

Thanks,

Tom

**headkaze** · May 26, 2006

I'm currently looking at developing or getting developed a 2d library using Direct3d instead of DirectDraw.

Thanks for the kind words Tom If you are seriously looking at moving to Direct3d, let me know. I can probably save you some time with my recent work on it. Shoot me off an e-mail if you are looking to go in that direction. I can definately help with the video playback on a quad and various other things. This would also open the possibility of making an XBox 360 Blade type interface. Also rotation in Direct3D is very easy, you just rotate all the quads and it wouldn't even cause a performance hit. I already have the XBox 360 background effect (looks like water dropping) imitated in Direct3d

**Vynce** · May 26, 2006

Here's a few related articles that I dug up on doing 2D in Direct3D:

http://www.gamedev.net/reference/articles/article1972.asp

http://www.gamedev.net/reference/articles/article1434.asp

http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20010629/geczy_01.htm

**shbon** · May 26, 2006

Shaun, I will post an updated exe that has no restrictions on the roataion in this thread shortly. Perhaps you can test it for me, and see how the speed looks?

Hey Tom,

No hurry, as my 'fast' PC is still in bits...waiting for a part. So maybe a few days away...

As someone who's planning to use GameEx's rotation features extensively on a 3-sided custom cocktail cab (again, when I finish building it!), I'd be glad to help with any alpha testing, if it's helpful to you.

Regards

Shaun

p.s. Only just realised that you're based in the UK. That dollar registration fee sure threw me!

**Tom Speirs** · May 28, 2006

Hey Tom,
No hurry, as my 'fast' PC is still in bits...waiting for a part. So maybe a few days away...
As someone who's planning to use GameEx's rotation features extensively on a 3-sided custom cocktail cab (again, when I finish building it!), I'd be glad to help with any alpha testing, if it's helpful to you.
Regards
Shaun
p.s. Only just realised that you're based in the UK. That dollar registration fee sure threw me!

The dollar reg stings a lot but it's to make it easier for the majority of folks to understand.

In the latest version theres a hidden undocumented setting you can add to \config\GameEx.ini

Add the following under: [GENERAL] (Can be at the top as long as under General)

NoRotationRestrictions=True

I think youll find anything above 1024X768 16 bit colour is going to be slow on any system

**shbon** · June 6, 2006

The dollar reg stings a lot but it's to make it easier for the majority of folks to understand.
In the latest version theres a hidden undocumented setting you can add to \config\GameEx.ini
Add the following under: [GENERAL] (Can be at the top as long as under General)
NoRotationRestrictions=True
I think youll find anything above 1024X768 16 bit colour is going to be slow on any system

Tom

I've built my new PC now and tested 90 deg rotation in higher resolutions using the undocumented feature!

Surprisingly, I don't really have a problem with the menuing system speed! I can quite easily have the GameEx menus in 1600x1200 with 32 Bit color and anti-aliasing on, and it still performs pretty well. Certainly well acceptable to me. In fact it's only marginally slower than 1280 or 1024. (1024 is v. fast!). And launching a game like Metal Slug with hwstretch and 75% scan lines in 1600x1200, I can get 60/60 fps no problem both horiz & vertically.

I only use 2D menus (I don't care much for the 3D menu effect) and the default GameEx theme, but I did try the Galaxian theme and that worked fine aswell with the video playing in the background.

So, I'm mystified as to why you signalled doom and gloom above 1024 and 16-bit color? Certainly for simple game launching it seems to work well in any resolution.

My PC spec is reasonable but not OTT (it only cost 350 quid buying parts on Ebay!) :

Pentium P4 2.8Ghz, 1GB memory, GeForce 6200 256MB AGP graphics card, Barracuda 7200 160Gb HDD...

Edit: Passmark Rating = 385.4 (CPU/2D/MEM/3D/DISK/CD = 447/422/396/55/398/536)

Could you release the tab rotation to work above 800x600 for me aswell?

I'm interested in what I can run to make the PC grind?....

Shaun

**shbon** · June 18, 2006

Bump. Sorry...

Hi Tom

Any more thoughts in this area??

Shaun

**Tom Speirs** · June 18, 2006

Bump. Sorry...
Hi Tom
Any more thoughts in this area??
Shaun

I don't plan to reduce the restrictions, but will make the TAB feature work with the undocumented setting in the next release.

**shbon** · June 18, 2006

Good enough for me. Thanks!

**shbon** · June 21, 2006

I don't plan to reduce the restrictions, but will make the TAB feature work with the undocumented setting in the next release.

Tom,

Did you manage to implement this? Tried it, but couldn't get it to rotate...

Thanks

Shaun

800x600 maximum res. in vertical mode

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