FarCry V1.4 HDR & AA

[Anoobis]

I messed around with it and have a few screen shots if anyone is interested. It looks real spiffy with an X1800XT![/drunk]

 

[pauldh]

Still the Farcry 1.4 leaked beta right, or did official 1.4 come out? What level HDR do you like best? 7 is nice but has a huge performance hit. 2&3 have alot less of a hit, less effect too.

Leaked beta 1.4 only seems to work with 2X fsaa. When I have tried 4X and 6X, there is no aa and back come the jaggies and 0xaa performance too. I'd be very interested to see if anyone ever gets 4xaa+HDR to work as I think even FS botched that one in their aa+HDR testing.

 

[Anoobis]

Sorry, it's the pre-release I DLd from Guru3d.

HDR at 7 looks great, but there's about a 10FPS difference between 2 and 7. However, both were playable at 10x7. I know, but I only have a 17" monitor and bad eyesight. I'll mess around with 12x10 later. All other details were set to their highest available settings for this.

This is the first time I've just tried to mess around with a game's settings just to judge it's IQ and performance, as opposed to just playing it with the highest settings I can and leave it at that. I'm not sure how I should proceed with getting good screenshots to help show and recognize the differences and would appreciate some advice on it.

I do know that when I set the game menu settings to 4AA, and then tried \r_FSAA 4 instead of 2, the game would more or less crash but when I set the game menu setting to 6AA and then tried \r_FSAA 4 it worked fine. Hell, even \r_FSAA 6 didn't crash the game then. However, I'd like some help on the best way to obtain a screen shot that will show the differences. Just because I can change the settings without the game crashing, doesn't mean it's working. I'm only asking because the screenshot I have from \r_FSAA 2, 4, & 6 really don't look all that different, which makes me think I'm most likely doing something wrong.

Also, could you toss in a link the FS review of the patch? I couldn't find it on their website.

Thanks.

 

[pauldh]

Official 1.4 was rumored for long ago, but still MIA. The unlimited ammo bug of beta 1.4 annoys me.

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/hdr_aa_ati_radeon_x1k/

That's their aa+hdr link. Unfortunately no good AA+HDR photos. Problem is in farcry they ran 4xaa + hdr with no performance hit. I tested it for a long time and know I could not get 4xaa to actually work with HDR. But, even 2xaa had a performance hit. 4X had no performance hit, but also no aa working, same with 6x. I never had any crashes trying any of these settings. 4xaa + HDR does work in Oblivion though.

For screenies, I use Fraps to capture a shot at the same load point. Capturing the framerates helps too. I'd love to see some of your screenies if you run some tests. I'll freak if you get 4X or 6X aa to work with HDR in farcry as I am nearly convinced it won't.

I know I posted these ages ago. I have more but not on this system. Best if you play with no fsaa and find a load point where jaggies are noticed. Anyway I have better ones, but check out these pics and notice that only 2Xaa actually worked. The jaggies can be seen on the gun handle, sites, sand at base of shack, and shack roof. Also note, I only got a performance hit at 2xaa (the one where aa worked).

0xaa no HDR

0xaa + HDR7

2xaa + HDR7

4xaa + HDR7

6xaa + HDR7

 

[Anoobis]

Thanks Pauldh. Yes the ammo bug is annoying but I'm just doing this for the hell of it right now. I lost interest in FarCry when the strange creatures started showing up but it's the only game I have that supports HDR and AA at once. I never bothered to finish the game. Sooner or later I'll get Oblivion.

Thanks for the link. I remember reading that article now.

I see what you mean in your pics. It's easiest to spot on the gun sight. LOL, I've been making this too hard as I've been loading the game and going to the same spot to try to re-create the same screen and then capture it. It never occured to me to just look at the gun. I'm using FRAPS too, but I just use FarCry's built-in screen capture.

I need to really keep messing with the settings. When I'm indoors I get issues with the lighting as walls will flash in and out. It's as if the HDR effect that could possibly be coming from outside or another room will transposes on the inside wall. I'll get a screenshot to show you what I'm talking about.

 

[sojrner]

on the subject of oblivion which i picked up at the weekend so forgive my droning on. i wish they had the kind of draw distance that farcry has. i don't thinking any game has beaten farcry for outdoor environments and it has been 2 years which is a shame. i hate building just appearing out of nowhere ffs.

Agreed, the popup in Oblivion sucks, and the texuture filtering (or lack thereof) at long (but still sub-FarCry) distances sucks even more. FarCry really was a definitive game that other devs should strive to mimic in quality. (voice acting aside 😉 )

Most of Oblivions problems I blame on bastard/consol-ization of games today. Even "next-gen" consoles can't cope w/ large outdoors. More memory is still key there, and regardless of how cool the procs are in them, the consoles still lack memory. They just spent next to no time on the PC version to optimise it for the platform. Just a straight "port". If you can call it a port as both were dev'd at the same time but you get the idea.

 

[sojrner]

i'm sure lots have had this thought but how much you want to bet as soon as nvidia finally release a card that can do AA+HDR a patch for oblivion and far cry and other games will mysteriously pop up to support it.

lol, time to break out the tin-foil hats and start the conspiracy mill a-turnin' 😉


j/k, I would actually believe you on that one except that the 360 chip is also ati and Nv has no pull there. I just think that they put no time into the PC dev is all... of course I have been wrong before. 8)

 

[pauldh]

While definately not as annoying as 10x7 no AA, yeah I do often notice it at 16x12 in some games. Not like it would bother me in a tense multiplayer BF2 match, but in the single player enjoy the beauty as you play type games, I do notice it.

Actually the only other farcry pics I have on this machine I'm on are these 16x12 pics. pretty lousy fsaa examples, but you can at least still look at the gun and see a difference even just viewing at 100%.

16x12 no AA HDR7

16x12 6xaa no HDR

 

[pauldh]

i'm sure lots have had this thought but how much you want to bet as soon as nvidia finally release a card that can do AA+HDR a patch for oblivion and far cry and other games will mysteriously pop up to support it.

lol, time to break out the tin-foil hats and start the conspiracy mill a-turnin' 😉


j/k, I would actually believe you on that one except that the 360 chip is also ati and Nv has no pull there. I just think that they put no time into the PC dev is all... of course I have been wrong before. 8)
Hey, he brings up a good point. Maybe official farcry 1.4 will launch with G80. 😀

 

[Synergy6]

http://www.gamershell.com/news/33253.html

Strangely though, the changelog doesn't mention HDR.

Patch 1.4 change log

? This patch supports 32 bit only.


General changes

* Added remakes of assault maps (Project FiXit)
* Closed several security holes
* Joypad support has been added
* Several console commands have been deactivated and are only available in DEVMODE


Multiplayer General changes

* Added automatic kicking of team killers for violating default limit (integrated with Punkbuster)
* Added broadcast and spawn message capability
* Added center red dot to the scope of the sniper rifle
* Added command which allows the gameplay to start at a specific flag for training
* Added first person spectator view. It is considered beta and will not be officially supported
* Added GUI buttons for players to easily vote
* Added GUI voting panel to initiate votes for map changes and kicking players
* Added ingame server administrator panel for real time GUI admin capability
* Added ingame text flood kicking (integrated with Punkbuster)
* Added IP and server name to scoreboard
* Added Join server by IP function
* Added option to disable voting
* Added option to remove enemy nametags from cross-hair
* Added team kill punish and forgive system
* Fixed "CD Key In Use" issue with automatic server kick
* Fixed binocular/sniper rifle bug
* Fixed bug in mp_airstrip which lead to a server crash
* Fixed bug where players were missing their scoreboard (getting refreshed automatically now)
* Fixed gameplay issues on mp_jungle
* Fixed grenade bug
* ?Fixed scoreboard so that it now properly shows ping
* Increased amount of damage inflatable boat can take
* Server browser list updated for easy navigation. Many filters and a favourite server section added


Multiplayer Gameplay changes

? Added MP5 and Shocker to Assault game mode
? Added occlusive damage to vehicle explosions (player cannot die due to an explosion while behind a solid object any more)
? Fall damage reduced
? General weapons balancing
? Health and armor adjusted amongst the classes to give the Grunt the most, Engineer medium and Sniper least.
? New OICW grenade launcher interface
? New RL fire mode
? Server and client optimizations for smoother gameplay
? Stamina increased 50%
? Sticky bombs replaced with "Beta" C4
? Wrench now has melee capability


Documentation

? Features Manual for FarCry(tm) Patch 1.4 (A detailed description about the newly added features)
? Server Command Table (Lists all the new commands available for FarCry(tm) multiplayer with explanations)
? Project Fixit (A detailed explanation of changes to the stock assault maps)


Special Thanks fly out to all test teams, especially [00] Die Doppelnullen, [22nd SAS], -=UBW=-, W]M[D and Sÿ /)

Synergy6

 

[pauldh]

Hey, you da man. I don't play multiplayer Farcry, so I'll be researching the AA+HDR bit before installing this patch. I have a feeling since I installed beta 1.4, I'll have to uninstall/reinstall the game to get official 1.4 installed.

 

[Anoobis]

Thanks for the link Synergy. Ubisoft doesn't list this patch, but the official FarCry site does. Strange how this just came out as we were discussing it.

 

[Synergy6]

Yvw. I used the beta patch, but with a stock 6800GT HDR isn't much of an option 😛 That new patch means little to me, but popped up on my radar so I thought I'd mention it.
Synergy6

 

[pauldh]

but with a stock 6800GT HDR isn't much of an option

I hear that. It was not much of an option with a 6800U OC either. Lousy framerates at 10x7 with no fsaa! no thanks, especially when the card played 12x10 4xaa so well, HDR was too big a tradeoff to lower the res and give up fsaa.