Matrix Games Forums

Posted: **Wed Nov 15, 2023 5:30 pm**

Hi - I've owned WITP-Admirals Edition since it was released. I haven't installed/played it though in 10 years. I reinstalled it today, as well as the last update. I guess I am getting stupider as I get older because I am not able to run the game... I am using the following executable that I slapped together after reading through a few threads. Trying to play in widescreen mode. "C:\Matrix Games\War in the Pacific Admiral's Edition\War in the Pacific Admiral Edition.exe" -pxf2560 -py1440 -f -deepColor -dd_sw - multiaudio -noFire -altfont -skipVideo -archive

I get the following message - "Error can't get exclusive control of screen"

I'm hoping someone here can help me this figure out. Thank you in advance.

Posted: **Wed Nov 15, 2023 6:24 pm**

What version of windows are you running?

Posted: **Wed Nov 15, 2023 6:33 pm**

windows 11

Posted: **Wed Nov 15, 2023 6:39 pm**

you might want to add a -w switch to run it in windowed mode and see if that works....there are possible conflicts on how windows runs and controls your monitor display so you might want to check what is selected there...

Posted: **Wed Nov 15, 2023 7:54 pm**

Hi - the w switch didn't work... Thanks for the suggestions. It looks like I will be uninstalling...

Posted: **Wed Nov 15, 2023 7:59 pm**

Give it a day for some windows nerds to check in....

Posted: **Wed Nov 15, 2023 8:24 pm**

When you put the-w switch in, did you take out the-f switch?....GP

Posted: **Wed Nov 15, 2023 8:34 pm**

Hi - no I didn't. So I removed the f switch as you instructed and tried it again, but still not working. Seems that the game doesn't like my using a larger gaming monitor with the laptop...

Posted: **Wed Nov 15, 2023 8:39 pm**

Could be. Setup the laptop for the game. If the big screen is the second monitor then it won't work. Use the laptop. Use the other monitor for tracker....GP

Posted: **Wed Nov 15, 2023 8:54 pm**

I was afraid of that. Since my other games work without any issue with the large gaming monitor, I'm not sure I want to play it on the smaller laptop screen at this point. Spoiled, I guess. Thanks for the suggestions.

Posted: **Thu Nov 16, 2023 7:06 am**

Suribachi wrote: ↑Wed Nov 15, 2023 5:30 pm Hi - I've owned WITP-Admirals Edition since it was released. I haven't installed/played it though in 10 years. I reinstalled it today, as well as the last update. I guess I am getting stupider as I get older because I am not able to run the game... I am using the following executable that I slapped together after reading through a few threads. Trying to play in widescreen mode. "C:\Matrix Games\War in the Pacific Admiral's Edition\War in the Pacific Admiral Edition.exe" -pxf2560 -py1440 -f -deepColor -dd_sw - multiaudio -noFire -altfont -skipVideo -archive

I get the following message - "Error can't get exclusive control of screen"

I'm hoping someone here can help me this figure out. Thank you in advance.

-py1440 is an error. Should be -pyf1440. I'd also tell it to use the last CPU you have. e.g. -CPU4

Posted: **Thu Nov 16, 2023 11:29 am**

Suribachi wrote: ↑Wed Nov 15, 2023 8:54 pm I was afraid of that. Since my other games work without any issue with the large gaming monitor, I'm not sure I want to play it on the smaller laptop screen at this point. Spoiled, I guess. Thanks for the suggestions.

I don't have a laptop, but I do have a desktop system with multiple monitors.

For me, WitP-AE will only run on the what windows considers the main display. But I tell Windows which monitor is my main display, which lets me run it on the appropriate monitor.

On windows 11 opens Settings->System->Display. You should see both monitors shown. You now have a few options you can try. On my system I have the option to extend, duplicate or show windows on either monitor 1 or monitor 2.

If you wish to use the extend option then you should be able to change which monitor windows considers your main display by clicking on the image of the monitor you want to use as your main display, then click the "Multiple displays" option just underneath and choosing "Make this my main display".

If you choose to show windows on only the external monitor, then hopefully that will allow WitP-AE to run there. Duplicating is also an option, especially if the two screens are the same resolution.

If all else fails, there is also the option to create a virtual machine, and run WitP-AE inside the VM.

Good Luck

Posted: **Thu Nov 16, 2023 1:26 pm**

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and identifying any switch corrections. I added the f to the resolution switch but it is still not working... I checked the windows monitors in the settings-system-display and it is recognizing only one display - not identifying the second display. Multiple attempts with no success. I believe it is recognizing the RPOG 28" monitor and not the laptop monitor, but not entirely sure. When the game starts, the display is the size of the laptop screen and doesn't display the entire screen, it's cut off. My gaming monitor is connected (HDMI wire) directly to the laptop and not through a dell docking station. Not sure if that is maybe part of the problem?
I am more bent now on figuring this annoying issue out and playing the game than I was yesterday. I really appreciate the help, suggestions and ideas. Always has been a great forum for a great game!
Bill

Posted: **Thu Nov 16, 2023 2:16 pm**

I opened the laptop while still connected to the gaming monitor and the game started fine. Going into settings it now identifies two monitors. The game's screen size is the same on both monitors - quite small, but centered and nothing cut off the screen... So having the laptop closed is part of the problem I guess? Now I need to figure out why it isn't wide screen even though I have included the -w switch. I also need to figure out what resolution to use. I had it on 2560 x 1440 which is the max for the gaming monitor. The laptop can go to 3840 x 2160.
I guess I need to get a docking station to plug the gaming monitor's HDMI cable into. that should allow me to keep the laptop closed while playing and surfing the net?

Posted: **Thu Nov 16, 2023 4:12 pm**

It works! I have to leave the laptop open but I can now pick monitor 2 in settings which is the gaming monitor. I cannot run the game in the gaming monitor's highest resolution which is 2560x1440 for some reason, the game screen is distorted and not centered. I get full wide screen using 1600x900. Now I will try all the other available higher resolutions and hopefully find a sharper image that works.
I remember there being a ton of available upgrades that enhanced the game both graphically as well as gameplay. Can I please get a few ideas on which ones you feel are the most popular after all these years? I'll start reading through the threads again as well.
My executable is currently: "C:\Matrix Games\War in the Pacific Admiral's Edition\War in the Pacific Admiral Edition.exe" -pxf1600 -pyf900 -CPU1 -deepColor -dd_sw - multiaudio -w -noFire -altfont
If you see anything that I should add or remove please let me know. I would like to remove some of the attack display info as it adds a lot of time and the sound/visual effects get somewhat annoying as the game progresses.

I really want to thank everyone again who stuck with me to help figure the issue out! I'm so excited to have this game back on my computer and working. I just retired so I am looking forward to spending a lot of time playing it again. I came so close to deleting it... Would have been an epic failure.

Posted: **Thu Nov 16, 2023 7:17 pm**

Congratulations!

There are a lot of graphical mods; scenario mods; and stand alone support programs to explore.

Of course where to go first is up to you and how you play although the map mods are pretty universal..even with combat animation off the graphical mods of planes and ships will still show up in the game as you issue orders or scan the databases.

Posted: **Fri Nov 17, 2023 10:14 pm**

Suribachi wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 4:12 pm It works! I have to leave the laptop open but I can now pick monitor 2 in settings which is the gaming monitor. I cannot run the game in the gaming monitor's highest resolution which is 2560x1440 for some reason, the game screen is distorted and not centered. I get full wide screen using 1600x900. Now I will try all the other available higher resolutions and hopefully find a sharper image that works.
I remember there being a ton of available upgrades that enhanced the game both graphically as well as gameplay. Can I please get a few ideas on which ones you feel are the most popular after all these years? I'll start reading through the threads again as well.
My executable is currently: "C:\Matrix Games\War in the Pacific Admiral's Edition\War in the Pacific Admiral Edition.exe" -pxf1600 -pyf900 -CPU1 -deepColor -dd_sw - multiaudio -w -noFire -altfont
If you see anything that I should add or remove please let me know. I would like to remove some of the attack display info as it adds a lot of time and the sound/visual effects get somewhat annoying as the game progresses.

I really want to thank everyone again who stuck with me to help figure the issue out! I'm so excited to have this game back on my computer and working. I just retired so I am looking forward to spending a lot of time playing it again. I came so close to deleting it... Would have been an epic failure.

You can adjust the time for those messages at the initial screen for preferences, you can also adjust things in the game by going to preferences.

I also suggest using Seabee from the Technical forum for installation purposes.

You can also hit "z" to speed things up during the game execution.

Posted: **Thu Nov 23, 2023 11:43 pm**

Suribachi wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 4:12 pm I cannot run the game in the gaming monitor's highest resolution which is 2560x1440 for some reason, the game screen is distorted and not centered.

I experienced something similar trying to run 2560x1440 on 3440x1440. I had to disable Win11 zoom (in display tab) from 150% back to 100% to get the game properly centered.

And then I had to go to 1600x900, as I couldn't see the tiny text in 1440p.

-dd_sw was causing glitches (black screen) so had to use nvidia driver, which is slower than software rendering for some reason. Audio is still glitching even with switches, not a big deal.

Oh well.

Posted: **Fri Nov 24, 2023 12:32 am**

testarossa wrote: ↑Thu Nov 23, 2023 11:43 pm -dd_sw was causing glitches (black screen) so had to use nvidia driver, which is slower than software rendering for some reason. Audio is still glitching even with switches, not a big deal.

I recall this switch worked fantastic in Win 7. But now that I'm in Win 11 the -dd_sw switch seems to be a constant source of unpredictable freezes and lockups.

Posted: **Fri Nov 24, 2023 7:01 pm**

testarossa wrote: ↑Thu Nov 23, 2023 11:43 pm
Suribachi wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 4:12 pm I cannot run the game in the gaming monitor's highest resolution which is 2560x1440 for some reason, the game screen is distorted and not centered.
I experienced something similar trying to run 2560x1440 on 3440x1440. I had to disable Win11 zoom (in display tab) from 150% back to 100% to get the game properly centered.

And then I had to go to 1600x900, as I couldn't see the tiny text in 1440p.

-dd_sw was causing glitches (black screen) so had to use nvidia driver, which is slower than software rendering for some reason. Audio is still glitching even with switches, not a big deal.

Oh well.

One of the things that really slows down map rendering during movement of the whole frame is redrawing the overlays like range circles, search vectors (z), weather, hex details (F6) and hex ownership (w), etc. Those features are only needed for setting up your next turn and should be turned off for turn execution.

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