» Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:11 pm Apparently a wider resolution in fact does net you an extended view within Crysis 2. I was initially under the impression it was using the same views as a normal 1920x1080 resolution and stretching out the left and right sides to fill the left and right screen. I was going to ask how we could get a wider viewing angle with a larger resolution. However when I went to do the comparison I realized that the larger resolutions are in fact viewing wider areas of view.
I went in-game, took a screenshot at 5980x1080, hit ESC, then changed the resolution to 1920x1080 and went and resumed game and took a screenshot of the same exact view at the lower resolution. What I found was interesting.
A 1920x1080 Screenshot:
Image Here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/frank2011/5582316332/in/set-72157626411851756
5980x1080 Screenshot with the 1920x1080 framed in:
Download full sized image here: http://www.2shared.com/photo/6iWVKP5y/Crysis2_5980x1080.html
Here I have shrunk it down as much as possible so you can see. These forums really hose up a thread when something larger than 600px wide is inserted, so please download the images above to see the real comparison.
HORIZONTAL: Here we see a dramatically extended view over the 1920x1080 resolution. This means that those of us who can play at these resolutions actually have an advantage over the 1920 and below resolutions because we can see more happening around us which IMO is closer to actual peripheral vision, the advantage I was hoping to gain with a wider FOV.
Where the horizontal does give 5980x1080 resolution players problems is in depth perception. I have tried to spin and melee a Cell guy in campaign that appeared next to me in the far left screen, only to turn and find him actually a distance away from me. So even though the view gives us more in a 5980x1080 resolution, it also distorts the depth perception as well and can cause false reactions thinking enemies are within range of a melee or something.
VERTICAL: Now this was also interesting to see that Crytek actually had to back up a tad trying to keep things in perspective by giving a higher resolution a tad more to see vertically. It really is not by much but is it obvious in this comparison. There is about a ?” more viewing towards the bottom of the screen as it shows the additional box on the weapons digital camouflage pattern. This is how I actually noticed the additional vertical viewing area.
Some may cry this is an unfair advantage; however those who are able to play at these resolutions obviously have the hardware to do so, in a sense, they already have that unfair advantage with superior hardware to begin with, so this argument is mute IMO. Wider field of view, able to see more around you also does not automatically make you a better player. I can attest to that. I may be able to see more, but I am not at the top of the leaderboards either and do not boast being the best player on the net. I play more for the fun the game is supposed to deliver than top rankings that in the end mean nothing to me. I have also found that playing all three screens is TOUGH. I am still trying to find that right mouse setting that is not too fast and not too slow. Trying to move that much video around when in the middle of a firefight, keeping track of everything going on in the visual senses while attacking the enemy in front of you, determining where you are going to spin and attack or run to recharge while processing all the things going on around you takes some effort. Three screen gaming can wear you out actually if you get totally into the game.
Oh and did I mention it is much harder than a single screen gaming? OMG it is, I can cruise through Crysis 2 Campaign without issue single screen. Sure I have the occasional “oh ****” moments and have to restart a level, but overall it is pretty easy to game on a single monitor. Three monitors are much harder to control and digest all at once. Those who have issue with a lot of motion and/or motion blur – do not get three monitors, it will tear you up.
What this did for me is encourage me to go back through the campaign at the higher resolution and LEARN how to play the game all over again with three screens. In the end I expect I will find increased advantages once I get used to controlling that much information at once. I just had to share that tid bit of info that I found interesting that higher resolutions in fact do net you a wider viewing area. Now I just wish that Crytek could tackle the fish eye lens effect on left and right monitors and get the depth perception corrected – that would be cool.
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