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I need a 8-inch monitor to play AE!
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 12:08 am
by fbs
I've found I have the wrong system to play AE -- my monitor is 23 inches, too big for the game!
On the manual, page ii (just before the Table of Contents) it says quite clearly: "Use as small a monitor as possible". Just look at your manual, on "Precautions During Use" -- that the developer's recommendation.
Or perhaps that means the ships... hmmm.... [:D]
Cheers
fbs
RE: I need a 8-inches monitor to play AE!
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 5:16 am
by castor troy
ORIGINAL: fbs
I've found I have the wrong system to play AE -- my monitor is 23 inches, too big for the game!
On the manual, page ii (just before the Table of Contents) it says quite clearly: "Use as small a monitor as possible". Just look at your manual, on "Precautions During Use" -- that the developer's recommendation.
Or perhaps that means the ships... hmmm.... [:D]
Cheers
fbs
same problem here, went from a 19 incher to a 24 incher and ever since WITP looks awful. Same goes for AE. You have to play in "windowed mode", makes it somewhat better. But then you have a window the size of a 14 or 15 inch monitor which sucks too. A pity you can´t play AE on 24 (well, people will chime in and say "sure you can") as it really would be an advantage to have more than "a couple" of hexes on your display. You´re stuck with an ancient screen resolution in both WITP and AE... while it was somewhat ok I guess when WITP came out, for nowadays it´s pretty much a joke.
RE: I need a 8-inches monitor to play AE!
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:53 am
by Salamandra
i play on a 42" now ,
it works fine imo:P
RE: I need a 8-inches monitor to play AE!
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 8:38 am
by PawnPower
I sometimes play on a 42" with no problems.
Not all games look great. For example CCMT and COTA look great but Harpoon 3 ANW does not.
The watts used restricts how much I will use the 42" compared to the smaller monitor.
RE: I need a 8-inches monitor to play AE!
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 8:43 am
by Mistmatz
If you play full screen mode on a large display increase the distance between eyes and screen to improve the look. Or play windowed mode and have tracker, xls sheets or whatever else you use to play to fill the remaining surface of the screen (thats the way I do it on my laptop).
But of course a higher resolution is an absolute must for any further installments of the game. Never really understood why it wasn't implemented for AE but I believe its the work on all the map symbols that would be required and scalable graphics instead of fixed size.
EDIT: To the original poster, wait a year or so and you can play AE as an app on your iPhone. Should be safe then...

RE: I need a 8-inches monitor to play AE!
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 9:07 am
by treespider
ORIGINAL: Mistmatz
Never really understood why it wasn't implemented for AE
Because it would have required rewriting (not just tweaking) just about every line of code related to displaying and interacting with the game...
RE: I need a 8-inches monitor to play AE!
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 9:21 am
by Historiker
ORIGINAL: castor troy
ORIGINAL: fbs
I've found I have the wrong system to play AE -- my monitor is 23 inches, too big for the game!
On the manual, page ii (just before the Table of Contents) it says quite clearly: "Use as small a monitor as possible". Just look at your manual, on "Precautions During Use" -- that the developer's recommendation.
Or perhaps that means the ships... hmmm.... [:D]
Cheers
fbs
same problem here, went from a 19 incher to a 24 incher and ever since WITP looks awful. Same goes for AE. You have to play in "windowed mode", makes it somewhat better. But then you have a window the size of a 14 or 15 inch monitor which sucks too. A pity you can´t play AE on 24 (well, people will chime in and say "sure you can") as it really would be an advantage to have more than "a couple" of hexes on your display. You´re stuck with an ancient screen resolution in both WITP and AE... while it was somewhat ok I guess when WITP came out, for nowadays it´s pretty much a joke.
I pre4fer windowed anyway. Its much better if you use Staff and Tracker.
RE: I need a 8-inches monitor to play AE!
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 9:41 am
by castor troy
ORIGINAL: Salmandra
i play on a 42" now ,
it works fine imo:P
where do you sit? In a cinema?
RE: I need a 8-inches monitor to play AE!
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 10:41 am
by Jaroen
ORIGINAL: fbs
I've found I have the wrong system to play AE -- my monitor is 23 inches, too big for the game!
On the manual, page ii (just before the Table of Contents) it says quite clearly: "Use as small a monitor as possible". Just look at your manual, on "Precautions During Use" -- that the developer's recommendation.
Or perhaps that means the ships... hmmm.... [:D]
Cheers
fbs
Hehe, and some prescription glasses to go with that little screen!
There is a way to profit from your large screen although it doesn't offer you a better resolution. Your video driver (usualy ATI or Nvidia) offers a setting to prevent the stretch and keep the normal aspect ratio (4:3). That setting fills the full screen but adds some some black bars on the sides. Or maybe your monitor offers such settings. Just check the Tech Support forum which has more threads on the subject.
See also:
tm.asp?m=2161992
or:
tm.asp?m=2280310
I prefer that setting over using WitP:AE in windowed mode but your mileage may vary.
Anyway, to prevent any dissatisfaction, it helps to be less demanding on the video presentation of the game and you will do great! Not so hard to do actually since gameplay is top priority and eye candy is just extra fluff in my opinion. As with any other game!
Have fun,
Jaroen.
RE: I need a 8-inches monitor to play AE!
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 11:22 am
by bretg80
Remember everyone, AE is an enhancement, not a new game. It sounds like the original developers did not build the game with an extensible graphics system, so it was just not feasible to update the maps to a higher resolution.
I play on a large monitor and it works. I wish it had better resolution, but it works. Has anyone played Grigsby's new game? Does it support higher resolutions? I sure hope they have improved their graphics development skills.
One other thought, AE is simulator, who needs good graphics, we should be playing with tables and charts [8D] LOL.
Anyway, the AE maps and scale are much better than WITP. Praise to the AE team for taking an existing piece of code and retro fitting it. This is no easy task and they deserve a lot of credit.
RE: I need a 8-inches monitor to play AE!
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 12:21 pm
by Czert
So, onlyest hope for bigger resolution, better graphick and few more features is to wait for WitP II in cca 2012. (hopping it will not be later than that, wish is in 2011).
RE: I need a 8-inches monitor to play AE!
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 2:35 pm
by CMDRMCTOAST
Im using 28" widescreen with vista and it looks fine too me..[:D]
RE: I need a 8-inches monitor to play AE!
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:43 pm
by fbs
You guys took this thread seriously... I was just making fun that the manual actually recommends to use as small a monitor as possible -- that's the first time I noticed that from a software manual
Cheers [:D]
fbs
RE: I need a 8-inches monitor to play AE!
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 3:36 pm
by wworld7
Of course they took it seriously, we try to help each other here.
Perhaps you would have gotten the repsonse you expected in THE THREAD?
RE: I need a 8-inches monitor to play AE!
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 3:57 pm
by Buck Beach
ORIGINAL: flipperwasirish
Of course they took it seriously, we try to help each other here.
Perhaps you would have gotten the repsonse you expected in THE THREAD?
With an 8" Monster I could seriously rule the world or did I misread the post.
RE: I need a 8-inches monitor to play AE!
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 3:58 pm
by Mistmatz
ORIGINAL: treespider
ORIGINAL: Mistmatz
Never really understood why it wasn't implemented for AE
Because it would have required rewriting (not just tweaking) just about every line of code related to displaying and interacting with the game...
... which would have been a really good thing to do taking into account the year the calender shows.
But I think there were even better things to do and generally I agree with the decisions the design team did. Just couldn't resist to put a little motivational thorn into their side and hoping for a better graphics engine soon. [;)]
RE: I need a 8-inches monitor to play AE!
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 7:35 pm
by ckammp
ORIGINAL: fbs
You guys took this thread seriously... I was just making fun that the manual actually recommends to use as small a monitor as possible -- that's the first time I noticed that from a software manual
Cheers [:D]
fbs
The manual recommendation is for people who suffer from epilepsy.
While I don't believe you were trying to "make fun" of people with epilepsy, please be aware that epilepsy is a serious disease. My cousin had a seizure and died.[:(]
BTW, the same epilepsy warning is found in most, if not all, PC/console game manual.
RE: I need a 8-inches monitor to play AE!
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 7:52 pm
by fbs
ORIGINAL: ckammp
The manual recommendation is for people who suffer from epilepsy.
While I don't believe you were trying to "make fun" of people with epilepsy, please be aware that epilepsy is a serious disease. My cousin had a seizure and died.[:(]
BTW, the same epilepsy warning is found in most, if not all, PC/console game manual.
I'm sorry for your loss, ckammp. Duly agreed, epilepsy is a serious subject. Actually, I was concerned about it, and only posted when I found that the recommendation for small monitors, as written, seemed to me to be general. The page gives specific precautions for epileptics (consult a doctor), additional ones for children, and then gives advice that look aimed for the general population (sit comfortably and not too close to the monitor), including the part about small monitors.
Thanks,
fbs