Need help with widescreen resolution fix for BF2!

[BOLt]

Hey all. I've had BF2 for awhile now and discovered the command line "hack" awhile ago online. I've been happily playing on my Dell 2005FPW for some time now at 1680x1050@60. I went home for spring break recently and elected to use the 17" CRT I had at home instead of taking my 20" widescreen LCD. Problem is, when I came back to the dorm and fired up BF2 (using my modified shortcut), it wouldn't go to 1680x1050!

My command line is as follows:

"C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\Battlefield 2\BF2.exe" +menu 1 +fullscreen 1 +restart +szx 1680 +szy 1050

I have tried deleting the cache files in C:\Documents and Settings\Samir\My Documents\Battlefield 2\mods\bf2\cache, I have tried reverting to 1024x768 and then reapplying the shortcut trick, rebooting, letting the shaders optimize countless times, using a new shortcut made from the BF2.exe file, deleting the C:\Documents and Settings\Samir\My Documents\Battlefield 2 folder, and I have tried reinstalling BF2 (twice).

I think it is reading the Video.con file and disregarding the command line for some reason, even though I don't think that's how it's supposed to work. I am using a legit version of BF2 (Deluxe Edition) with the original CD. Editing the Video.con file to use 1680x1050 resolution yields a CTD upon login.

Please help me get my high resolution back!

 

[MBrown]

I don't think the +restart is supposed to be there. This is what I have "C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\Battlefield 2142\BF2142.exe" +menu 1 +widescreen 1 +szx 1680 +szy 1050 (its 2142 but it should be the same)

And you are supposed to replace fullscreen with widescreen.

 

[BOLt]

I've tried +widescreen 1 instead of +fullscreen 1 with no change to the predicament. Moreover, from the forums that I've visited to troubleshoot this problem, people tend to agree that +widescreen does nothing as compared to +fullscreen. I have a feeling it is a command that EA will implement in the future (if ever), but it does nothing now. My FOV was cropped when things worked properly with or without +widescreen. +restart just skips the intro movies. It is a legitimate command and has no bearing on this problem (it was there before when things worked too).

Thanks for your input, though. Guys, I'm dying here! I have like 5k points until 2nd Lieutenant and I really want to hit that mark! Please help meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

 

[BOLt]

bump

 

[Thor86]

Backup and delete the video.con file, and it should work.

 

[Markbnj]

This hack has never worked reliably, and in any event it isn't a true widescreen mode. You gain field of view on the sides and loose it on the top.

Not worth it, imo.

 

[Auric]

Just set to 1400x1050 in-game and disable GPU & FPD scaling. Voila, perfect IQ with no loss of view. Still crave WS? Apply duct tape accordingly.

 

[PingSpike]

I know everyone knows this already, but it kind of bears repeating...its absolute bullsh|t that a game this new doesn't support widescreen resolutions.

 

[BOLt]

Originally posted by: Markbnj
This hack has never worked reliably, and in any event it isn't a true widescreen mode. You gain field of view on the sides and loose it on the top.

Not worth it, imo.

It worked fine for almost 6 months. Then I changed monitors for a week, used a different shortcut (with 1024x768 parameters), came back and tried to use the 1680x1050 shortcut and it stopped working. It worked perfectly everytime when it worked.

The game looks infinitely better with the high resolution, in my opinion. So much so, that I am willing to deal with the FOV cropping. I can't stand the stretching of 1280x1024 on the widescreen monitor.

Also, I don't want to play in windowed mode, so I really need to get this fixed!

Originally posted by: Auric
Just set to 1400x1050 in-game and disable GPU & FPD scaling. Voila, perfect IQ with no loss of view. Still crave WS? Apply duct tape accordingly.

I don't see an option in Video Settings to enable a resolution higher than 1280x1024. I am running version BF2 1.41. Can you point me in the right direction?

Originally posted by: PingSpike
I know everyone knows this already, but it kind of bears repeating...its absolute bullsh|t that a game this new doesn't support widescreen resolutions.

Agreed.

 

[HannibalX]

IMO the guys over at Valve got it right with HL2 and it's companion games. Native support for multiple aspect ratios.

 

[Auric]

Originally posted by: BOLt

The game looks infinitely better with the high resolution, in my opinion. So much so, that I am willing to deal with the FOV cropping. I can't stand the stretching of 1280x1024 on the widescreen monitor.

Originally posted by: Auric
Just set to 1400x1050 in-game and disable GPU & FPD scaling. Voila, perfect IQ with no loss of view. Still crave WS? Apply duct tape accordingly.

I don't see an option in Video Settings to enable a resolution higher than 1280x1024. I am running version BF2 1.41. Can you point me in the right direction?

1280x1024 would look awful before even filling a 16:10 (or even 5:4) display because the game is only capable of rendering 4:3 correctly (commonly 1600x1200, 1280x960 and 1024x768, but intermediate resolutions as well). That's why the ideal for your display is 1400x1050.

The game should offer those resolutions available in Windows so if it does not exist there then make sure the display is correctly installed with its own INF if applicable and then if still necessary add 1400x1050 as a custom resolution from the graphics control panel. Also, remove the size commands from the shortcut and disable all GPU and FPD scaling.

As a last resort -if that does not do the trick for some reason, you could try directly replacing the existing resolution in the video.con for each profile with 1400x1050@60Hz:

C:\Documents and Settings\Primary\My Documents\Battlefield 2\Profiles\0001\Video.con

Good luck and let us know how it goes

 

[BOLt]

Originally posted by: Auric

Originally posted by: BOLt

The game looks infinitely better with the high resolution, in my opinion. So much so, that I am willing to deal with the FOV cropping. I can't stand the stretching of 1280x1024 on the widescreen monitor.

Originally posted by: Auric
Just set to 1400x1050 in-game and disable GPU & FPD scaling. Voila, perfect IQ with no loss of view. Still crave WS? Apply duct tape accordingly.

I don't see an option in Video Settings to enable a resolution higher than 1280x1024. I am running version BF2 1.41. Can you point me in the right direction?

1280x1024 would look awful before even filling a 16:10 (or even 5:4) display because the game is only capable of rendering 4:3 correctly (commonly 1600x1200, 1280x960 and 1024x768, but intermediate resolutions as well). That's why the ideal for your display is 1400x1050.

The game should offer those resolutions available in Windows so if it does not exist there then make sure the display is correctly installed with its own INF if applicable and then if still necessary add 1400x1050 as a custom resolution from the graphics control panel. Also, remove the size commands from the shortcut and disable all GPU and FPD scaling.

As a last resort -if that does not do the trick for some reason, you could try directly replacing the existing resolution in the video.con for each profile with 1400x1050@60Hz:

C:\Documents and Settings\Primary\My Documents\Battlefield 2\Profiles\0001\Video.con

Good luck and let us know how it goes

Things looked fine with 1680x1050 when it used to work. The HUD was stretched and the FOV was cropped, but I could deal with these things because the picture was fine. No stretching or anything for the models (e.g. the scope for a rifle was round).

I am willing to try 1400x1050, but BF2 only lists 800x600, 1024x768, and 1280x1024 at 60 and 75Hz respectively.

In the NVIDIA control panel, there are profile options for games, and I can include the BF2.exe, but resolutions are not available (just AA, AF, image quality, etc.). The monitor has a native display adapter of some sort (i.e. it is recognized properly in the display properties and appears to have a driver of some sort installed).

Modifying the resolution in the Video.con file for a resolution other than 800x600, 1024x768, or 1280x1024 yields a CTD (crash to desktop).

Am I not understanding what you were saying?

 

[BOLt]

bump

 

[BOLt]

bump

 

[Auric]

Get 1400x1050 working for Windows desktop first. If it is not an option then add it from Nvidia CP.

Using the new CP may be easiest. Go to Display - Manage Custom Timings - Create... and enter the appropriate values. Under Advanced select Scaling type: Centered.

Likewise set the display's own hardware options so that it does not scale.

Then see if Windows desktop can be set to 1400x1050 and that it is displayed centered. Then reset to normal 1680x1050.

Before running BF2, perhaps change the video.con values to a valid 800x600@60. Then run and see if 1400x1050 is now offered as an option.

-
Actually, if the panel scaling options work correctly, then you may want to set it to fixed aspect ratio scaling to allow the lower-resolution menus to fill the maximum vertical area rather than be centered and thus small. Alternatively the panel scaling could be left disabled and the GPU scaling could be set to fixed aspect ratio scaling.

 

[BOLt]

Originally posted by: Auric
Get 1400x1050 working for Windows desktop first. If it is not an option then add it from Nvidia CP.

Using the new CP may be easiest. Go to Display - Manage Custom Timings - Create... and enter the appropriate values. Under Advanced select Scaling type: Centered.

Likewise set the display's own hardware options so that it does not scale.

Then see if Windows desktop can be set to 1400x1050 and that it is displayed centered. Then reset to normal 1680x1050.

Before running BF2, perhaps change the video.con values to a valid 800x600@60. Then run and see if 1400x1050 is now offered as an option.

-
Actually, if the panel scaling options work correctly, then you may want to set it to fixed aspect ratio scaling to allow the lower-resolution menus to fill the maximum vertical area rather than be centered and thus small. Alternatively the panel scaling could be left disabled and the GPU scaling could be set to fixed aspect ratio scaling.

I got frustrated and uninstalled BF2 (for the foreseeable future, I thought). I will re-install and try this. Thank you for your advice, whether or not it works!!

I will report back when I have something to report (good news, I hope).