So how does one get into the .exe file? When I try, I just get a little pop up asking what application I want to use to open it, and suggesting I cruise the Microsoft Store to find one.
I can understand the developers wanting to keep the .exe secure, and not give easy access to just anyone, as I can think of few faster ways to screw up a game than messing with the .exe file.
Resolution Madness
Moderator: MOD_DW2
-
SirHoraceHarkness
- Posts: 522
- Joined: Sun May 17, 2015 5:29 pm
Re: Resolution Madness
If you are on steam go to the DW2 entry then right click and select 'manage' then 'browse local files'. Once inside you should see a file with the ringed planet icon named 'distantworlds2'. Right click that then select 'properties' then 'compatibility' and at the bottom of that tab 'change high dpi settings'. There should be an entry to 'override dpi settings' and to set it to 'application'. Save that then reboot for good measure and launch the game. Also if you find that those settings are already enabled then change the drop down from application to system or system(enhanced) and give those a try. The issue is that the os and app get confused about what scaling to do and you have to find a way to sync them back up.
Intel i9 11900k all core oc@5.3 - 32gb Crucial Ballistix 3600 DDR4 CL16 - EVGA RTX 3090 24gb FTW3 Ultra - MSI Z490 A-PRO Mobo
Re: Resolution Madness
Tried this, with mixed results. Setting it to Application changed nothing. Setting it to System did push the game to full screen, but it also turned all the text weird - all the light colored letters now had black pixels showing up randomly in them, making it essentially illegible. A significant problem, given the importance of the text in the game.
Setting it to System: Enhanced came the closest to success. The game did launch into full screen, mostly. Some elements remained in the smaller, top left mode, such as the Research screen, so that was weird. And the text, although improved, still looked 'fuzzy', not in very good focus, and still difficult to read. In fact, the text is much sharper and easier to read, even if smaller, in the 3440x2160 version stuck in the top left.
All things considered, I'm going to stick with the smaller version for now - it's in better focus. We'll just see if future patches resolve the issue.
This is the first game I've ever experienced this problem with, and I have a fair number on the system, both standalone and in Steam, so it doesn't seem to be a regular problem with my system.
Setting it to System: Enhanced came the closest to success. The game did launch into full screen, mostly. Some elements remained in the smaller, top left mode, such as the Research screen, so that was weird. And the text, although improved, still looked 'fuzzy', not in very good focus, and still difficult to read. In fact, the text is much sharper and easier to read, even if smaller, in the 3440x2160 version stuck in the top left.
All things considered, I'm going to stick with the smaller version for now - it's in better focus. We'll just see if future patches resolve the issue.
This is the first game I've ever experienced this problem with, and I have a fair number on the system, both standalone and in Steam, so it doesn't seem to be a regular problem with my system.
-
brucethemoose
- Posts: 46
- Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2022 6:14 pm
Re: Resolution Madness
While clearly not a Matrix-supported solution, SpecialK is designed exactly for this sort of thing. It can force alternative rendering modes and resolutions in games that don't want to cooperate:RClive wrote: Mon Mar 28, 2022 2:36 pm Tried this, with mixed results. Setting it to Application changed nothing. Setting it to System did push the game to full screen, but it also turned all the text weird - all the light colored letters now had black pixels showing up randomly in them, making it essentially illegible. A significant problem, given the importance of the text in the game.
Setting it to System: Enhanced came the closest to success. The game did launch into full screen, mostly. Some elements remained in the smaller, top left mode, such as the Research screen, so that was weird. And the text, although improved, still looked 'fuzzy', not in very good focus, and still difficult to read. In fact, the text is much sharper and easier to read, even if smaller, in the 3440x2160 version stuck in the top left.
All things considered, I'm going to stick with the smaller version for now - it's in better focus. We'll just see if future patches resolve the issue.
This is the first game I've ever experienced this problem with, and I have a fair number on the system, both standalone and in Steam, so it doesn't seem to be a regular problem with my system.
https://discourse.differentk.fyi/t/down ... ial-k/1461
Some users have been using it to get around the linear gamma rendering bug. But the Window settings are specifically what you'd want to tweak, and it seems to successfully force resolutions/rendering modes in my quick DW2 test.
Re: Resolution Madness
I tried rolling the game back to 1.0.1.6, to see if that would help. The game tried to start in full screen mode, but this just froze up my system. After rebooting, the game then started back in the small screen. So I put it back to the most recent patch, which continues to run in the small mode in the upper left.
I do have a physical, DVD version as well. I'm thinking of doing a standalone installation, without patching, and see if that keeps the game in full screen mode. Most of what's in the various patches relates to the crashes and freezes, relatively little on major gameplay changes, so I'm sure the game would run well without patches for now.
I'll post about what happens.
I do have a physical, DVD version as well. I'm thinking of doing a standalone installation, without patching, and see if that keeps the game in full screen mode. Most of what's in the various patches relates to the crashes and freezes, relatively little on major gameplay changes, so I'm sure the game would run well without patches for now.
I'll post about what happens.
Re: Resolution Madness
So Close....
The 3.3 update restored the full screen presentation of the game - once. The first time I started the game after this update, it started in full screen, which was wonderful. But of course I didn't have time to actually play then, so I reluctantly closed it out, looking forward to another session with a game finally at full screen.
So of course when I started it up again, still in 3.3, the game reverted to the smaller, top-left screen location. The game still apparently runs fine, I'm about 60 years game time into this one with no major issues in terms of game play. It's just all so very tiny...
It's almost like whatever is causing the problem has altered the core game code that way, and every time a patch fixes the problem, the game overwrites it back to the smaller version. Even more oddly, now when I start Steam, instead of it starting full screen like it usually does, now Steam also starts in that smaller, top left position, although because it's windowed, I can just enlarge it back to full screen.
It is a puzzlement, to be sure. Here's hoping it can be sorted out at some point. Still need to try installing from the DVD. I might try patching that and seeing if updating it causes the same problem, or if perhaps it's something specific to the Steam release.
The 3.3 update restored the full screen presentation of the game - once. The first time I started the game after this update, it started in full screen, which was wonderful. But of course I didn't have time to actually play then, so I reluctantly closed it out, looking forward to another session with a game finally at full screen.
So of course when I started it up again, still in 3.3, the game reverted to the smaller, top-left screen location. The game still apparently runs fine, I'm about 60 years game time into this one with no major issues in terms of game play. It's just all so very tiny...
It's almost like whatever is causing the problem has altered the core game code that way, and every time a patch fixes the problem, the game overwrites it back to the smaller version. Even more oddly, now when I start Steam, instead of it starting full screen like it usually does, now Steam also starts in that smaller, top left position, although because it's windowed, I can just enlarge it back to full screen.
It is a puzzlement, to be sure. Here's hoping it can be sorted out at some point. Still need to try installing from the DVD. I might try patching that and seeing if updating it causes the same problem, or if perhaps it's something specific to the Steam release.
Re: Resolution Madness
Further details on this odd issue.
I tried installing the game from the DVDs, to see how that worked. It installed perfectly, and even more excitingly, even with repeated starts of the game, it remained in full screen mode. Wonderful news.
So I decided to update it to the latest version to see if it remained in full screen. Upgraded to 3.3 via download from the website. And now, back to the same top left, smaller version of the game. Nuts and other comments.
So I deleted the game using the Windows Uninstall tool. Then I reinstalled from the DVDs. Install went the same. Only now, despite being back to 1.4, the game only displayed in smaller version in the top left corner, same as the earlier problems with the Steam version. So whatever is causing the problem got transferred to the overall Windows OS, at least as it relates to this specific game, despite the game being reinstalled afresh.
That's probably why the problem keeps coming back, despite being fixed temporarily by some of the patches. Whatever is causing it almost seems external to the game itself, more in the way Windows 10 interacts with the game graphically.
I tried installing the game from the DVDs, to see how that worked. It installed perfectly, and even more excitingly, even with repeated starts of the game, it remained in full screen mode. Wonderful news.
So I decided to update it to the latest version to see if it remained in full screen. Upgraded to 3.3 via download from the website. And now, back to the same top left, smaller version of the game. Nuts and other comments.
So I deleted the game using the Windows Uninstall tool. Then I reinstalled from the DVDs. Install went the same. Only now, despite being back to 1.4, the game only displayed in smaller version in the top left corner, same as the earlier problems with the Steam version. So whatever is causing the problem got transferred to the overall Windows OS, at least as it relates to this specific game, despite the game being reinstalled afresh.
That's probably why the problem keeps coming back, despite being fixed temporarily by some of the patches. Whatever is causing it almost seems external to the game itself, more in the way Windows 10 interacts with the game graphically.
Re: Resolution Madness
A new, and welcome, development.
Yesterday, despite not seeing anything about downloads or a new patch, the game reverted to full screen, and stayed that way throughout the entire playing session, which was wonderful.
Will need to see if it stays that way for the next / several playing sessions, here's hoping.
It was so nice to be able to see everything clearly again, hope it stays that way.
Yesterday, despite not seeing anything about downloads or a new patch, the game reverted to full screen, and stayed that way throughout the entire playing session, which was wonderful.
Will need to see if it stays that way for the next / several playing sessions, here's hoping.
It was so nice to be able to see everything clearly again, hope it stays that way.
Re: Resolution Madness
And we're back...
After one glorious session of playing in full screen, the game reverted back to the smaller, top left edition the next time I started it. The game is still running fine, no problems, crashes, or bugs that I can tell (aside from that one Ackdarian storyline issue I mentioned in another thread elsewhere in the general forums), so this continues to be an essentially cosmetic issues, albeit one that causes a bit of eye strain.
After one glorious session of playing in full screen, the game reverted back to the smaller, top left edition the next time I started it. The game is still running fine, no problems, crashes, or bugs that I can tell (aside from that one Ackdarian storyline issue I mentioned in another thread elsewhere in the general forums), so this continues to be an essentially cosmetic issues, albeit one that causes a bit of eye strain.
Re: Resolution Madness
And again....
The 3.7 patch pushed the game back to full screen - for one playing session. The next time I logged in, the game reverted back to the smaller, top-left size and orientation. This is just too bizarre...
The 3.7 patch pushed the game back to full screen - for one playing session. The next time I logged in, the game reverted back to the smaller, top-left size and orientation. This is just too bizarre...
Re: Resolution Madness
And back yet again...
3.7 pushed the game back to full screen. Then the next playing session reverted to the smaller, upper left mode. But then the session following that went back to full screen. Not sure what's going on here, exactly, but it's a promising trend, in any case. Have to see how the session today goes.
3.7 pushed the game back to full screen. Then the next playing session reverted to the smaller, upper left mode. But then the session following that went back to full screen. Not sure what's going on here, exactly, but it's a promising trend, in any case. Have to see how the session today goes.
Re: Resolution Madness
After many months, and even more updates, the game continues (mostly) to display in the reduced, top-left mode. Every so often, apparently randomly, it displays instead in full screen mode. I'm guessing this issue is specific to my particular set up: an iMac, running Windows 10 via Boot Camp. The only other person who has reported anything similar has the same hardware / software setup.
If the issue was limited to the game itself, that wouldn't be a problem. But it has apparently affected both Steam and Windows as well. Numerous other Steam games that have previously worked just fine now start freezing or crashing to desktop, and the Steam app now also starts in the same smaller, top-left size and position. Likewise, I'm now experiencing various problems with Windows, which include that when the system goes into hibernation, it also freezes, and will not come out of hibernation with key presses or mouse clicks the way it is supposed to. It also frequently freezes when I try to shut Windows down or re-boot to the Apple side.
As a result of all these other, systemic issues, I find myself needing to do a wipe and reinstall with Boot Camp and Windows, and then Steam and all the games. I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave DW2 uninstalled, as much as I enjoy the game, since it's infecting my entire Windows / gaming system. At least until such time as this issue with Mac / Boot Camp and the game are resolved.
If the issue was limited to the game itself, that wouldn't be a problem. But it has apparently affected both Steam and Windows as well. Numerous other Steam games that have previously worked just fine now start freezing or crashing to desktop, and the Steam app now also starts in the same smaller, top-left size and position. Likewise, I'm now experiencing various problems with Windows, which include that when the system goes into hibernation, it also freezes, and will not come out of hibernation with key presses or mouse clicks the way it is supposed to. It also frequently freezes when I try to shut Windows down or re-boot to the Apple side.
As a result of all these other, systemic issues, I find myself needing to do a wipe and reinstall with Boot Camp and Windows, and then Steam and all the games. I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave DW2 uninstalled, as much as I enjoy the game, since it's infecting my entire Windows / gaming system. At least until such time as this issue with Mac / Boot Camp and the game are resolved.
Re: Resolution Madness
Happened to me recently too. PC, Windows 10 Pro goes into hibernation mode. Resolution (4K) is reduced to the minimum, causing the File Explorer to shrink to fit in. Most apps can handle this and go back to system resolution. The File Explorer must be closed and reopened to return to its previous size. DW2 works like File Explorer...
Re: Resolution Madness
Hmm, interesting. Thanks for the information. I think it's more than that, though.
Whatever is causing it, it's in the Windows code now, not just DW2, as the hibernation issue happens regardless of whether I've had DW2 running or not. Same for the other Windows glitches, such as having other software open in the same reduced, upper-left position, or Windows itself freezing when I try to shut it down or reboot back into the Mac side. I haven't run DW2 in weeks, but these problems began almost immediately after the update that caused the game to do that smaller, upper-left thing, and have continued, and gotten worse, since then.
Whatever is causing it, it's in the Windows code now, not just DW2, as the hibernation issue happens regardless of whether I've had DW2 running or not. Same for the other Windows glitches, such as having other software open in the same reduced, upper-left position, or Windows itself freezing when I try to shut it down or reboot back into the Mac side. I haven't run DW2 in weeks, but these problems began almost immediately after the update that caused the game to do that smaller, upper-left thing, and have continued, and gotten worse, since then.
Re: Resolution Madness
DW2 runs in Full Screen. As expected this seems to be a driver problem. A quick check offered
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/win ... e8847443ae
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Fo ... on-changes
as explanations. Seems I myself am overdue updating drivers
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/win ... e8847443ae
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Fo ... on-changes
as explanations. Seems I myself am overdue updating drivers
Re: Resolution Madness
I did update my drivers as part of trying to sort this out. As noted in earlier posts, this wasn't a problem with the initial install of the game, the problems didn't begin until after the 1.1.8 patch. Whatever the problem was, it seems to have migrated into Windows very quickly, because while various later patches would temporarily restore Full Screen mode to the game, usually after one session at full screen, it would revert to the smaller size. And all the other problems are completely independent of DW2, occurring to various other games and programs even when I haven't run DW2 in weeks. And I power down my system completely every time I'm done with it, so the problems with other software are independent of the game.
That this problem is specific to the update, and not the game itself, was verified by the fact that I had also purchased the game on DVD. After it arrived, I deleted the Steam version, and installed it from the DVD. The base game installed perfectly, and repeatedly starting and exiting the game, as well as powering down the system and rebooting, always started it in full screen mode.
So I took a chance and updated the game. As soon as I did that, the version installed from the DVD also began displaying in the smaller, top-left position. Worse, even uninstalling that game, and reinstalling from the disc to get the original, base version of the game didn't change this - that too now only displayed in the smaller top-left mode.
So whatever is in that patch made some fundamental alteration to not just the game code, but my Windows operating system as well, almost certainly in conjunction with the Boot Camp installation, as the only other people who have reported this issue (just one or two) have said they have the same sort of Windows on a Mac setup.
The alteration to Windows itself is also probably why none of the fixes in later patches were more than temporary - they sorted the game out, but then changes made to Windows forced it back into the smaller version.
It's a baffling problem, and one I've pretty much given up on, since the larger underlying issues with Windows are screwing up many of my other games. A complete system rebuild on that side seems like the only way to get things working properly again, and unfortunately that also means that I don't dare reinstall DW2 when I do that, or it will start all over again.
That this problem is specific to the update, and not the game itself, was verified by the fact that I had also purchased the game on DVD. After it arrived, I deleted the Steam version, and installed it from the DVD. The base game installed perfectly, and repeatedly starting and exiting the game, as well as powering down the system and rebooting, always started it in full screen mode.
So I took a chance and updated the game. As soon as I did that, the version installed from the DVD also began displaying in the smaller, top-left position. Worse, even uninstalling that game, and reinstalling from the disc to get the original, base version of the game didn't change this - that too now only displayed in the smaller top-left mode.
So whatever is in that patch made some fundamental alteration to not just the game code, but my Windows operating system as well, almost certainly in conjunction with the Boot Camp installation, as the only other people who have reported this issue (just one or two) have said they have the same sort of Windows on a Mac setup.
The alteration to Windows itself is also probably why none of the fixes in later patches were more than temporary - they sorted the game out, but then changes made to Windows forced it back into the smaller version.
It's a baffling problem, and one I've pretty much given up on, since the larger underlying issues with Windows are screwing up many of my other games. A complete system rebuild on that side seems like the only way to get things working properly again, and unfortunately that also means that I don't dare reinstall DW2 when I do that, or it will start all over again.
Re: Resolution Madness
Thanks for a thouroughly explanation. I really hope they can find what's happening.
When I replied I had only read your last "After many months, and even more updates, ..." and I wanted to share, that it's not only a Mac problem. Since I'm using the beta, it most likely happened in 1.0.5.3, not before 1.0.5.1. My conclusion may be wrong, but it was only based on limited data. Normally I don't allow any program to make changes. With the last 1.0.5.1 update they asked for the https://dotnet.microsoft.com/en-us/down ... -installer which seemed to be a legit ask. Latest version is 6.0.6.
See
When I replied I had only read your last "After many months, and even more updates, ..." and I wanted to share, that it's not only a Mac problem. Since I'm using the beta, it most likely happened in 1.0.5.3, not before 1.0.5.1. My conclusion may be wrong, but it was only based on limited data. Normally I don't allow any program to make changes. With the last 1.0.5.1 update they asked for the https://dotnet.microsoft.com/en-us/down ... -installer which seemed to be a legit ask. Latest version is 6.0.6.
See
which is a bit faster than https://dotnet.microsoft.com/download, which need a few more clicks. Maybe this solves your problem. I'm going to uninstall NET in the game directory and install it as usual without any program deciding where to put it in the first place.TylerIN wrote: Fri Jul 08, 2022 12:25 am Most of you will likely already have .NET 6 installed, however, if you're prompted to install .NET 6 by the game upon first run, to ensure you get the right .NET Desktop runtime, here are some additional details.
Make sure you select the Download x64 button under Run desktop apps.
You can also go straight to the right download by clicking this link.
Below is a detailed preview of the page it refers you to with some additional markup.
Re: Resolution Madness
I shall try downloading and installing it, and see what happens. If that does somehow restore the full screen, I might be able to reinstall DW2 after the rebuild. I think I still need to do the rebuild, though, as Windows seems quite corrupted by this point. I'll let you know how it works.
Re: Resolution Madness
Probably not your problem, but at least related to it. It happened again and this time I've paid attention, took a closer look. Turns out DW2 was set to half my overall width. I run a dual monitor setup, 3840x2160 plus 1920x1080 and DW2 went from 3840x2160 to 2880x1620 with 2880 = (3840 + 1920) / 2. In setup it still showed 3840x2160, Full Screen. Since this resolution isn't even supported by my graphic card... but it was a thing in the early '10 for laptops. And it wasn't even related to hibernation as suspected before. Could be resolved by changing the resolution back and forth in-game.
Re: Resolution Madness
I've actually tried changing the resolution using the Settings menu. As can be seen in the screenshots I attached to an early post, all that did was shrink the game still further, always in the top left corner. At the lowest resolution, it was so tiny, despite the 27" screen, that I had to use a magnifying glass to be able to navigate the menus and change it back.
As noted, every once in a while, the game will manifest in full screen mode / size, but that only lasts for one or two game sessions, and then it reverts to the smaller top left size. Because this same reduced size, top left thing is happening to other programs (Firefox, the Steam home screen, other games), it's obviously become something that's part of Windows, and not just DW2.
As noted, every once in a while, the game will manifest in full screen mode / size, but that only lasts for one or two game sessions, and then it reverts to the smaller top left size. Because this same reduced size, top left thing is happening to other programs (Firefox, the Steam home screen, other games), it's obviously become something that's part of Windows, and not just DW2.