Graphics problem

Stirge · Post by **Stirge** » Sat Aug 31, 2002 11:27 am

I'm not far in the game yet, but one thing is already annoying me: I have a decent machine and graphics card, but for some reason, when anything is in half-shadow or when my party walks behind something, it really looks like crap. I have the color depth set to 32 bits and translucent shadows on, but I still keep getting this rough "plaid" pattern instead of just smooth darkening like I remember from BG2. It really looks ugly (especially around the edges of the explored part of the map) and I find myself unable to take the game very seriously. I'm playing in XP. Any ideas?

TIA

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Sat Aug 31, 2002 3:01 pm

Dump Windows XP and get 98SE. Just kidding.

What kind of graphics card are you using? Do you have the latest drivers for your video card? What are the other specs for your computer? You might also try dialing back the video options on the configuration program to see if the problem goes away.

Stirge · Post by **Stirge** » Fri Sep 06, 2002 10:51 am

My card is a Geforce2 MX 400 and yes, I have the newest drivers installed. My chip is an Athlon 650 on the old KT133 chipset. I know it's not a super system anymore, but BG2 played great on it.

In my original post I don't think I described the problem correctly. It's my impression that the explored areas not within the viewing range of my characters should look smoothly darkened, and they did in BG2, but in IWD2 they instead look as though they're under a fine black mesh or netting. The same effect happens to the party when characters walk behind something, and in the "fog of war" at the edge of my vision when I'm walking somewhere I haven't explored before.

I don't mean to sound shallow, but this ugliness is really bumming me out, and I've had no urge to play the game when it looks so ugly. Are there configuration files I could edit? Should I try to reinstall?

BlackJesus666 · Post by **BlackJesus666** » Fri Sep 06, 2002 11:24 am

Don´t know if this helps, but keep everything checked in

Graphics->Game Options and leave "Sprite Mirroring" unchecked

I also play on XP and with MX400 and I´ve got no problems.

Stirge · Post by **Stirge** » Fri Sep 06, 2002 2:19 pm

I take it back

You know, I'm beginning to think that the "problem" I am reporting is not really a problem but simply the way the game is. I still hope I'm wrong, but you can help me: please look at the edge of the explored area in this screenshot (concentrating on the top right corner) and tell me whether the dithering looks this grainy on your computer. I was sure that the very rough trasition from the visible to the "shaded" region was a result of my misconfiguring my machine. Now I'm not so sure.

The reason this surprises me so much is because this effect was handled so much better by the infinity engine in BG2. So is IWD2 a step backwards in this regard? Is there a way to turn the proper BG2 shading back on? Please say yes....

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Fri Sep 06, 2002 2:29 pm

That's how it looks on my computer and I'm running an Athlon XP 1800+ and GeForce4 Ti 4200, so I think it's part of the game's design. IWD is supposed to look rougher and darker than BG2 (it's the being on the edge of civilisation thing).

BlackJesus666 · Post by **BlackJesus666** » Fri Sep 06, 2002 4:04 pm

Well yes, just how it´s supposed to look...

Nothing wrong with that for me, I just like the rulez, the fights, char development, the story....and just the way all this is put together.