Dark Sector PC STEAM version FOV & Aspect Ratio Problems

[Alienware Gamer]

Please can someone help me out here. I just bought the EU Steam version and it has issues with the FOV & aspect ratio.I tried on both a 16:9 HDTV & 16:10 LCD monitor and it looks squashed and wrong. I also tried the console res of 1280x720 still no difference. I also bought this great game on PS3 & X360 and on those it looks fine. I got the PC version as well because it looks much better and has no screen tearing.

Please can someone alert the technical support as this needs looking at urgently as it means I am unable to play for long as it makes me feel sick looking at the screen.

[Alienware Gamer]

Ok guys here is an example of the problem.
1600x1200 screenshot.
http://i43.tinypic.com/k4hwlt.jpg

1920x1200 screenshot. Hayden is stretched vertically and FOV is strange. Also missing picture info from the top and sides.
http://i39.tinypic.com/4ub5z7.jpg

Heres some menu shots.
1600x1200
http://i40.tinypic.com/2w3xsuh.jpg

1920x1200
http://i43.tinypic.com/t7d8wn.jpg

As you can see 4:3 aspect ratios are correct but any other aspect ratios are not as Hayden is stretched vertically and the picture frame composition is different. Trust me this makes you feel sick after a while as it looks wrong compared to the 4:3 image composition. The way D3 handle this on the PS3/X360 versions is much better. Please can someone alert the tech guys to patch it so its the same.

Thank You.

[CameO73]

That's "normal" ... check out this depressing Widescreen Gaming report (http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15794).

[LordJuanlo]

Noticed it too, this must be fixed ASAP, how a 2009 title can ship without proper widescreen ratio support. Everything looks stretched and horrible on my 1920x1200 screen :mad:

[Forbidden]

I also noticed that too. I run on 16:10 and it is frickin cropped

[CameO73]

I also noticed that too. I run on 16:10 and it is frickin cropped
... and stretched! I REALLY hope there's going to be a patch. The weird thing is that this game was originally designed around 16:9 ... so this crop/stretch thing doesn't make any sense.

[Onden]

In the console version it's normally is letterboxed when you run 4:3 resolutions.

It appears that the lowest bidder, hack Russian developer that ported the game to PC changed the game so that 4:3 resolutions would be fullscreen and aspect correct. However, it looks like they completely broke widescreen resolutions in the process.

Being vertically cropped, while undesirable, is at least not completely unexpected since there are other games that do that. However being vertically stretched in widescreen resolutions is a whole new level of ineptitude I've never seen before.

------

Did a little research; "Noviy Disk" was responsible for porting the PC version of the game. Here's their website, but it's in Russian of course: www.nd.ru. Looks like Aspyr Media (http://www.aspyr.com/software/news/102/267) is responsible for publishing the PC version in North America. If there's any chance of getting this issue fixed, it's only going to happen if people submit support tickets about it to Aspyr ( http://support.aspyr.com/ )

[ATC 1982]

Thank You Onden for finding this information.

[CameO73]

Thanks Onden for the research. Just registered and created a ticket @ Aspyr. Let's hope we get their attention.

[Onden]

I also sent an email to Digital Extremes info box and got the following response:


Sorry, we didn’t do the PC version…this is a question for Aspyr Media, who published it.

I sent a follow up asking if they could at least notify Aspyr in some official capacity, but beyond that I don't think we can get much help on Digital Extreme's side. I suppose they might not even have access to the PC version source code.

[Onden]

So I got a reply from Aspyr tech support, but it seems pretty much like a shove off:

Thank you for contacting Aspyr Tech Support!

I figured out what your problem is. You're running Windows Vista 64 bit and that's an unsupported operating system. I'm going to check a Vista 64 system here and see if I can find a work around for the problem, although since you are not supported we can't guarantee it.

Aspyr Tech Support
The official system requirements do state that 64bit OSes are unsupported, but I strongly, strongly doubt the problem is specific to Vista x64. Usually x64 problems are just that the game won't run at all. I've never seen a 64bit compatibility problem manifest as the aspect being all messed up.

This seems a lot like the support rep was looking for any easy way out, noticed I listed Vista x64 as my OS - bam, instant excuse.

However, I can't claim with 100% certainty that 32bit OSes have the same problem since most people that have reported the problem don't list there OS. Can anyone who has this problem please list their OS so I can go back to them with some definite evidence?

Also, just in case, can you try running the game in XP compatbility mode (Right click on the executable -> properties -> compatibility)?

[Baloonatic]

Yup, I just got a similar response:

> Thank you for contacting Aspyr Tech Support!
>
> Unfortunately Dark Sector was not developed for Windows Vista 64 since 64 bit operating systems work quite differently than 32 bit PC operating systems. Games that were developed for a previous 32 bit PC OS, as this one was, have many problems running on Windows Vista and Windows XP 64 bit. Thus this game is not supported on Windows Vista 64.
>
> Please sign up for the Aspyr news letter for future updates about Windows Vista patches.
>
> https://www.aspyr.com/news/newsletter_signup
>
> Sorry we could not resolve your problem.
>
> We'll check some Vista 64 systems here and see if we can find a work around for the problem, although since you are not supported we can't guarantee we will find a solution.
>
> Aspyr Tech Support

I guess we need people with XP to confirm whether they have the problem or not.

[Frosty Grin]

I guess we need people with XP to confirm whether they have the problem or not.This issue has nothing to do with 64-bit versions of Windows. I had the same problem with XP. And other people had the same problem with the Russian (http://forums.ag.ru/?board=fps&action=display&s=0&num=1225915970&start=25#33) version of the game.

[Alienware Gamer]

I have 32 bit Vista Ultimate & also installed it on 32 bit Vista Home Premium. Same problem still its not OS specific its the coding needs changing so the 4:3 FOV is applied to non 4:3 aspect ratios. Geez how hard can it be for them to fix this!!!

[Frosty Grin]

Same problem still its not OS specific its the coding needs changing so the 4:3 FOV is applied to non 4:3 aspect ratios.Actually, the real issue is that the 4:3 aspect ratio is applied to non 4:3 aspect ratios. FOV is no big deal (in comparison to the actual issue).

EDIT: Had it been an issue with FOV, widescreen resolutions would have looked horizontally stretched. But they look vertically stretched, so it looks like the game is actually trying to correct the aspect ratio. But the programmers probably used the "Width/Height" quotient instead of the "Height/Width" quotient.

[CameO73]

I got the same reply. Since this is also an issue for "supported systems" (a very lame excuse in this case, IMO!), I'm creating a new support ticket. But this response confirms a nagging feeling I'm having: there's not going to be a patch ... ever. Not even for this blatantly obvious issue.

If so, then Aspyr is definitely going to be on my "never going to buy from again"-list. But let's wait and see first.

Btw, anybody an idea why Dark Sector isn't even in the games list when you open a support ticket?

[Onden]

Odd...I could have sworn that I made a post about a followup response from Digital Extremes, but now it's not here anymore.

Was that info that I wasn't supposed to share? If so, I sincerely apologize, I was just trying to get info to the community. I didn't think it contained anything of a sensitive nature.

[CameO73]

Fortunately this is the internet (http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15800&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0), which has never been kind on censorship. It looks like there's light at the end of the tunnel after all ... :p

[ATC 1982]

Odd...I could have sworn that I made a post about a followup response from Digital Extremes, but now it's not here anymore.

Was that info that I wasn't supposed to share? If so, I sincerely apologize, I was just trying to get info to the community. I didn't think it contained anything of a sensitive nature.


It was not deleted as this is page two and your quote was on the bottom of page 1. Hope you will stick around an continue to enjoy Dark Sector PC when you can. :cool:

[Onden]

It was not deleted as this is page two and your quote was on the bottom of page 1. Hope you will stick around an continue to enjoy Dark Sector PC when you can. :cool:
No this was different post from that, I made it after the post about my reply from Aspyr support. It's possible I'm mistaken, I've been discussing this issue on like 4 different forums so I'm probably just getting mixed up about what I posted where.

Anyway, I asked Meridith if should could talk to Aspyr since she'd probably have more headway there than average customers like you and me who are stuck having to deal with support reps and their canned responses. This was her reply:
An update…spoke to Aspyr and they said Noviy Disk is working on a patch. We’re forwarding this problem to include a fix if they didn’t know about it already.
So a little ray of hope there.

[ATC 1982]

Any ray of hope is better then no hope. Thank you for posting your information for other PC users.

[Alienware Gamer]

No this was different post from that, I made it after the post about my reply from Aspyr support. It's possible I'm mistaken, I've been discussing this issue on like 4 different forums so I'm probably just getting mixed up about what I posted where.

Anyway, I asked Meridith if should could talk to Aspyr since she'd probably have more headway there than average customers like you and me who are stuck having to deal with support reps and their canned responses. This was her reply:

So a little ray of hope there.Good news thanks for keeping us up to date. Hopefully this can be a quick fix. Not going to play this now until its fixed.

[Onden]

Hey I just got home (was posting from the office before) and the following was in my inbox:
I found out it will definitely be in the upcoming patch however they didn’t give me a timeline for the release of the patch. I expect it will be very soon though
Sweet! Now hopefully we don't have to wait too long, and hopefully there's proper communication so that a NA version of the patch comes out as soon as Noviy Disk puts out the Russion version.

[ATC 1982]

Great work job Onden. Also once again Sassy1 does a great job look out for gamers so thank you as well.

[CameO73]

Just for the record: I got a reply back from Aspyr on my second support ticket (where I used a supported system to report the problem).

Hello Jeroen,

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. I will look into this issue. I will also notify our development department.

Thank you.

I'm still not convinced that a patch is underway, but this issue does seem (at first glance) easy to fix. I can't imagine that it'll take weeks for this to be patched, honestly.

Must ... be ... more ... patient. ;)

[Onden]

My worry is that the patch will come out for the Russian version in a moderate amount of time but then it will take even longer for it to applied to the NA version, and then even longer after that to get it on the Steam version of the game.

[CameO73]

Since it's been a couple of months now without any news on a patch, it's safe to say that this isn't going to be fixed. I'm extremely disappointed, and have added Aspyr to my "avoid like the plague"-list.

The stupid thing is, is that this stretch problem doesn't look like it's hard to fix (especially considering it originated on the consoles which use a 16:9 ratio!) What a waste.

[ATC 1982]

Guys - I am sorry that this is happening to you all.

[Alienware Gamer]

Right this has been too long and is obviously not going to happen is it. Please can someone let the powers that be know there are a lot of PC gamers who are very unhappy that they have bought in good faith a broken product. As of now I will start looking into legal proceedings as it must be illegal for Steam to offer this game with broken FOV and you cannot even ask them for a refund as they do not give them. If you try to get your credit card company to refund your account Valve disable your account until you pay them in full which is outrageous.

Unless I hear some positive definite news by the end of this week I shall without further warning contact the EU monopoly commission and raise this matter with them as it must be illegal to offer broken software with no refunds.

[ATC 1982]

Alienware please contact Aspry Media who is the developer for this PC game or the publisher D3.

[Onden]

Alienware please contact Aspry Media who is the developer for this PC game or the publisher D3.
Banging your head on a wall would be a more productive use of one's time. Aspyr support is useless, and they make a policy of lying to their customers.

For example, they told one person who submitted a support request that the aspect was incorrect because their video card, a GeForce 9800 GTX, was below the minimum requirements for the game :rolleyes: Anyone running Vista x64, they said it was due to the OS being unsupported, even though it would be completely unprecedented (and ridiculous to anyone with even minor programming knowledge) for the OS to somehow influence how the game determines its FOV. Then finally when presented with evidence that it was occuring on 32bit OSes they said it was a known issue and was being patched.

Basically they look for any easy thing outside of their poorly researched requirements they can blame it on, and then when they've got nowhere to go, they'll say it's being worked on - but it's obvious that it's not, and they likely don't even have the source code for the game.

Digital Extremes must barely care about their IP to allow it to be handled like this.

[Alienware Gamer]

Alienware please contact Aspry Media who is the developer for this PC game or the publisher D3.I have many times and so have many others like me who bought this game in good faith. Surely you should flag this issue with D3 as it is after all their IP and good name being affected here as right now I doubt there are many people willing to buy a D3 product on trust again if you cannot even get 1 simple fix after almost 2 months. Passing the buck and saying somerone else handled the port is not acceptable as D3 decided to allow this so surely they must ensure their good name is not affected with a broken product.

I would just get a refund from my credit card company but if I do that Steam suspend your account so you cannot even do this which leaves little other course of action than legal.

Even after all of this if a patch turns up in the next few days or we are given a date I can live with that otherwise its time to go down the legal route!!

[ATC 1982]

I can not speak on the Behalf of Digital Extremes, but as a gamer I know that when it comes down to things like this. It is over responsiblity of the Publisher wanting to continue with the patch if they so desire. If you have not contacted D3 as of yet please do so as I will let the Community manager know of this as well.

[Alienware Gamer]

I can not speak on the Behalf of Digital Extremes, but as a gamer I know that when it comes down to things like this. It is over responsiblity of the Publisher wanting to continue with the patch if they so desire. If you have not contacted D3 as of yet please do so as I will let the Community manager know of this as well. Your joking right. This the the D3 forums is it not please advise how I am supposed to contact them if not flagging this issue here on their official support forums after having also flagged this with Steam (refer us to Aspyr) or Aspyr who say it is out of their hands. As you can see it would be much easier for you to flag this with someone @ D3 than me as you have the contacts which I do not. Otherwise please tell me who & how I contact about this.

Thank You

[ATC 1982]

As many people confuse DE for D3 due to the acronym. The D3 contact support can be located at this link http://www.d3publisher.us/Support.asp . I am still sorry for all the troubles you all are facing. Sorry for all the confusion.

Toby (ATC)

[Bart Tee]

Registered here just to spread the word;

After some frentic searching, I've found something that may suffice as at least a temporary fix on Gamespot's forums. The PS3 resolution.

Some dude figured it out; if you set the game to the PS3 resolution, you won't have the aspect ratio problem. The cost, though, is that it's quite a low, low resolution.

Go to the game folder, to the CONFIG folder, open the DS.cfg file, and change the resolution to:

1040 x 585

Tried it, works. Looks kinda uggy, but it's better than stretchy.

Also, I'm playing the game on XP home 32 bit. They're bollocksing about the 64 bit thing.

Happy shooting, bruvs.

[bokaj]

Hi guys. I have solved it this way. In the DS.cfg I have set the resolution to 1600x1200.

I get the high resolution but a stretched image as usual.

Then I simply adjust the screen on my monitor. First I zoom out then I maximize horizontal and minimize vertical. I am JUST able to get a normal view (perfectly circular "crossfire") with the screen filled out horizontal and small black bars at the top and buttom (don't have widescreen).

I know it is not a real fix and a kind of stupid solution but it is fast to do (like 10 sec and after gaming just reset the monitor to default), it works and at least know I am able to play and enjoy the game .. finally ..

[DorkOff]

Just for the record, this issue is why I didn't purchase Dark Sector