Matrix Games Forums

First, let me say that I'm running Windows 7 Release Candidate (64 bit) and the game installs and plays just fine (as has Forge of Freedom and even older games like WiTP).

My problem is actually monitor related. I've got a Samsung 2233SW 21.5 inch LCD monitor that apparently only runs in it's "Optimal Resolution" of 1920 X 1080. COG and the other games I've tried start up and display beautifully, however, the monitor keeps flashing a message box that says "Not Using Optimal Resolution 1920X1080 and then blanks the screen in about 20 seconds. Hitting the reset button on the monitor brings back the screen and things run fine for another 30 seconds or so and then the message pops up again, followed by the blackout and the need to hit the refresh button again and again. I did this enough to determine that the games are running fine and displaying perfectly except for this message. I've checked the internet and found numerous reports of others having the same problem, but no solutions except for the one that I've found: Go the game configuration and set the resolution to the requested 1920 x 1080 resolution. All of the AGEOD games work fine after making this Option change - as did Civilization IV.

The problem, of course, is that the Matrix games do not include a screen resolution setting or a configuration file to run that make this necessary change.

Is there any way to go into a game configuration file that would allow me to make this change directly?

If not, I would certainly suggest that all Matrix developers include such a configuration option in all future games that are released and in patches to older games, if possible. I can't believe that this problem is restricted to this one particular monitor model.

Thanks

Swapped the monitor out and onto a very similar PC running Win XP 32 bit and no problem.

I would guess that this is a glitch related to Vista/Windows 7. The Acer LCD that I swapped onto the original Windows 7 PC runs everything fine.

Very weird.

Unfortunately the game won't run at arbitrary resolutions.  I develop on a widescreen 1920x1280 monitor, albeit with Vista, and haven't seen any problems like this, so I'm not sure what to make of it.  If the monitor doesn't support 1024x768, I'm not sure whether you can play the game on it.

ORIGINAL: ericbabe

Unfortunately the game won't run at arbitrary resolutions.  I develop on a widescreen 1920x1280 monitor, albeit with Vista, and haven't seen any problems like this, so I'm not sure what to make of it.  If the monitor doesn't support 1024x768, I'm not sure whether you can play the game on it.

Thanks for responding. This problem was definitely specific to that Samsung monitor but why it balked at running in anything but native resolution under Windows 7 was the craziest monitor issue I've ever seen. I might mention that setting the resolution to 1024x768 made the problem appear for every application I tried to run including displaying the desktop! Once I get the official version of Windows 7 installed in October I may move the dang thing back over and see if it still has the problem. I may do the same if ATI updates the Windows 7 drivers too and see if that makes a difference. It's got to be one or the other that caused the problem. I'm just happy that it runs OK on my XP box. I'm making that one the primary gaming machine anyway and using the Windows 7 box for video and sound editing and recording. The Acer monitor runs just fine. I just noticed that it has a little "Certified for Windows Vista" sticker on it while the Samsung doesn't have any indication of Vista compatibility either on the monitor or on the box that it came in... Something everyone should be looking for when buying a new LCD monitor it seems.

Sorry to keep beating a dead horse, but I found this additional bit of information last night while browsing the Windows 7 support forums. Some other people are having problems with Samsung monitors or HDTV's running with Windows 7 RC. Different message but the same blanking out of the screen issue.

Bottom line... I'd avoid any Samsung monitor that doesn't specifically gurantee Windows 7 Compatibility! They've got some kind of issue that needs to be resolved so don't take the chance until you know the problem has been resolved. A driver fix is one thing, but if there is something in the Samsung electronics or firmware you might be screwed as I haven't seen a monitor with an "upgrade firmware" option [:D]

Thanks for the tip.  I've had good luck with Samsung monitors in the past, but I'll look for Windows 7 compatibility.