graphics question: fps, "automatic quality control"?

[username-1]

Hi,

how do you make the game display the framerate? What does the "automatic quality control" option of the launcher do?

BTW, is it possible to make the game use larger fonts? Is there a way to move and resize information windows?

[CBJ]

The game doesn't have a facility to display the framerate; use a standard external tool such as Fraps. The AQC option improves LOD management for better performance on lower-end systems. No, you cannot change the game font. No, you cannot move things around within the user interface.

[Doktor Teufel]

No, you cannot change the game font.

There is a way to change the game font: Font Replacement Thread

It can't be done through the normal game configuration, though, which I'm sure is what you're referring to (i.e., I'm not out to "prove you wrong").

[username-1]

Thanks! I wasn't looking for a way within the "normal" configuration of the game, though Whatever works would be fine.

The problem is that the font used is very tiny and thus hard to read --- and I have lots of room on the screen to use larger fonts and larger displays (like station details or the list of properties).

Hm, I can't seem to download the x3fontmaker: The page only reloads itself when I try. Anyway, is that the source code or a Linux version of that program?

If not, what kinds of fonts does the game use? If I know that and which files are involved, I might find another way to replace them. But if I get a bigger font, do the pseudo windows automatically scale to the font size, or is that something the programmers were too lazy to implement?

If the pseudo windows do not scale to the font size, is there a way to make them larger (i. e. longer)? Or are they "hardcoded" somewhere in the binary?

[username-1]

The game doesn't have a facility to display the framerate; use a standard external tool such as Fraps.

Hm, they don't seem to have a Linux version of that. And how could the framerate be displayed when the game is running in fullscreen?

The AQC option improves LOD management for better performance on lower-end systems.

Would this affect the framerate in sectors that are filled with fog? I noticed that it's getting a bit unsmooth sometimes in such sectors. I found that it does help to turn off the target monitor. I changed some kernel settings that affect scheduling/throughput, and that made it almost unnoticeable. (I have a NVIDA 9800GT with 1GB RAM on it, playing in 1920x1200.)

No, you cannot change the game font. No, you cannot move things around within the user interface.

They should have made the font configurable and the windows moveable and resizeable ... I always hate displays that are ridiculously tiny. It's not like everyone runs the game in 640x480 on a 40" screen or has a magnifying glass around to ease the reading. What do they think who they are to force people to strain their eyes like that? And the highlighted horizontal bars in the station dialogs that show how much is on stock make the tiny numbers almost unreadable ...

[CBJ]

Hm, they don't seem to have a Linux version of that. And how could the framerate be displayed when the game is running in fullscreen?

Since this is the Tech Support forum for a Windows game, whether or not there is a Linux version isn't something that would really have crossed my mind as being relevant. And it is perfectly possible for an external application such as Fraps to show an overlay in a full-screen game.

Would this affect the framerate in sectors that are filled with fog? I noticed that it's getting a bit unsmooth sometimes in such sectors. I found that it does help to turn off the target monitor. I changed some kernel settings that affect scheduling/throughput, and that made it almost unnoticeable. (I have a NVIDA 9800GT with 1GB RAM on it, playing in 1920x1200.)

AQC would not make much difference in that situation.

[BugMeister]

the AQC is only there as an aid to bottom-end cards

- your 9800 shouldn't need it all..

- what game-settings have you applied via the start-up GUI..??

- I assume you have patched up-to-date..

[eladan]

Are you running the native linux version, or running the windows version under WINE?

Hm, I can't seem to download the x3fontmaker: The page only reloads itself when I try. Anyway, is that the source code or a Linux version of that program?

You'd have to ask the author of that tool. Egosoft has no involvement with it.

[username-1]

the AQC is only there as an aid to bottom-end cards

- your 9800 shouldn't need it all..

Good

- what game-settings have you applied via the start-up GUI..??

- I assume you have patched up-to-date..

I'ts patched --- but there only was a small patch that should prevent a crash when ATI cards are used. However, it sometimes freezes when entering a sector, so another patch for NVIDIA cards seems to be needed.

I'm using the highest settings --- reducing antialiazing and filtering doesn't seem to make a difference. I suspect it's a CPU problem because the kernel settings make a difference --- and an Intel dual core isn't the fastest when running 32bit code, using only one core. Unfortunately, they failed to make a 64bit version of the game ... stupid closed source software ... In three years or so it probably won't run at all anymore once CPUs don't support 32bit mode anymore. That would be a pity.

[username-1]

Are you running the native linux version, or running the windows version under WINE?

It's the native version.

Anyway, it's fast enough now so it's not really an issue. I have encountered problems with the gameplay itself, like my factory complex self-destructing for no apparent reason, but that's something for another section of the forum.