16:9 ratio on Bitfighter

[sam686]

Want to make new version of Bitfighter to use 16:9 ratio, or keep at 4:3 ratio?

[watusimoto]

I'm not voting, only noting that we could make a 16:9 version of BF that would still be playable on older hardware. It seems really just a preference thing -- which monitors get the better full-screen experience?

That said, I've always thought the ideal window shape for the game would be square -- why should horizontal dimensions be privileged over vertical ones? But then, that's not the world we live in.

I'd be open to this if there was consensus.

If bitfighter is supposed to resemble a retro arcade game, and most if not all arcade cabinets (probably?) had a 4:3 screen, then shouldn't this stay classy by keeping this to a 4:3 thing? And wouldn't a bigger screen allow you to see more of the map?

[sam686]

And wouldn't a bigger screen allow you to see more of the map?

Mostly no on Bitfighter, because higher resolution does not let you see more in bitfighter, it only gets sharper, and easier to see tiny stuff in game. If a 4:3 ratio is stretched to 16:9 fullscreen, or any other ratio conversion, then that is stretching, and may cause a few people to think ships go faster left and right, and slower up and down, as well as some other side effect.

[ZoombeR]

I don't really have an opinion here. Its fine now the way it is, do we really need to put more time, and push back the release date even further just for this?

[sam686]

do we really need to put more time, and push back the release date even further just for this?

Easy, that ratio could be changed to 16:9 for 017, depending if the vote says so, without pushing back the 016 release. Also, it is easy to change the ratio in bitfighter C++ code, simply change the width and height, if most people want 16:9 or different ratio.

And wouldn't a bigger screen allow you to see more of the map?

Mostly no on Bitfighter, because higher resolution does not let you see more in bitfighter, it only gets sharper, and easier to see tiny stuff in game.

That's not what I'm trying to say. If the larger screen is to get un-stretched, would there, or wouldn't there be any black bars covering the extra space?

[sam686]

If the larger screen is to get un-stretched, would there, or wouldn't there be any black bars covering the extra space?

Full screen not stretched is black bars on the sides for 16:9 ratio monitors, which seem to make the screen smaller. In 16:9 ratio, adding black borders at the left and right side to make it 12:9 (or 4:3) makes 25% of screen area unused.

Either way, Bitfighter still won't let you see more on bigger screen, bigger screen only helps see tiny things on big screen.

[watusimoto]

If we were to switch to 16:9, there would be no black bars on a 16:9 monitor, but there would be black bars across the top and bottom of a standard monitor.

If we were to make the change, you would be able to see a little further left-and-right, or a little less far up-and-down, or both, depending on exactly how we implemented it.

[ZoombeR]

actually, i'm all for it now that watusimoto reminded me of that.

Please, give me my 16:9 ratio

[karamazovapy]

Think about how much further that would throw vertical and horizontal viewing ranges out of whack. And consider how it would change gameplay on virtually every existing map.

[sam686]

And consider how it would change gameplay on virtually every existing map.

It probably won't hurt over half of existing level maps, as many maps didn't look at the exact ship's viewing ranges. Also, most level maps didn't look at ship sensor's viewing ranges.

The Instant Action version of Zap had it 16:9 ratio.

[karamazovapy]

InstantAction is irrelevant, but I said "change", not "hurt".

[Little_Apple]

But didn't everyone agree instant action zap was crud?

[raptor]

I find it is difficult to pay attention to everything the wider the field gets. Like reading a paragraph on a standard landscape page instead of two-column portrait - it slows down my mental absorption of information.

But maybe that's just me.

[Little_Apple]

/agree

Why not just implemant an option menu entry for it?

For example a 1024x764 user could choose 4:3 while a 16:9 user could choose 16:9 and a 1440x900 user could choose 16:10 ratio.

Everyones happy then! .

[Little_Apple]

Not everyone. The fairness people could say that the wider ratio can give an advantage due to seeing more on the sides of the screen.

[ZoombeR]

...which balances out when the 3:4 ratio guys see more at the top of the screen.

[karamazovapy]

...which balances out when the 3:4 ratio guys see more at the top of the screen.

Wow...that interpretation leads to so many problems...

[watusimoto]

On further reflection, I'm not sure that a slightly wider-field-of-view would be that huge of an advantage. Yes, you can see a little further, but in most levels, you would be seeing beyond a wall, not the types of immediate threat that would lead to an actionable advantage.

Get a screen the size of a tv screen and you will be PRO in bitfighter!
Ratios matter cuz if you do the math, people will win more with ratios because they are smarter to have a bigger ratio!

Get a screen the size of a tv screen and you will be PRO in bitfighter!
Ratios matter cuz if you do the math, people will win more with ratios because they are smarter to have a bigger ratio!

yup. I feel like a pro already.

TOO PRO MAN!!!

[ZoombeR]

...which balances out when the 3:4 ratio guys see more at the top of the screen.

Wow...that interpretation leads to so many problems...

welcome to my extremely wry sense of sarcasm.