Honestly, I don’t want to paint every line of changes. First of all, there are a lot of them. Secondly, I don’t remember everything at once.
But here two approaches are used. The first to tighten up everything that is possible and does not lead to problems (And there a lot leads to problems). The second is to tighten up the levels of the graphics that are automatically set when identifying which video card is installed. There is really a lot to write.
You can download winmerge and compare the default ini files with the files that this mods changes. The are a quite a few changes and you can pick and choose which ones you want to implement. I'm running with all the mod's changes and have noticed an increase in DOF and Bloom quality without much of a performance impact (and I'm running 10 texture mods and about 25 other mods). Just make a copy of the default files and if you don't like the changes just roll back.
Nice work @loriendal these are two ini files that I've never looked into before, and now I'm messing around with them.
I am highly doubtful this makes any difference to the quality of the graphics. There was a similar mod on nexus xcom a while ago that uses many of the changes you have in the ini files and it was debunked as snake oil. You will note that the actual game file .ini's are created in the user Documents folder and if you compare these game generated files (based from you modified game files) to your files they are different, so putting your files in the game install folder has no effect on the actual .ini files that the game creates and uses.
This is not entirely correct. Although there is some truth. Files in documents are created on the basis of these (although they may differ slightly in the end for some reason). And they are partially used anyway. For this to work, I had to change more than 1 file as in a mod, about which I think you're talking about. And immediately 3 files that are comprehensively responsible for the graphics.
If it does not work for you. Delete the settings files in the document and enter the game again. Then the new settings will be registered.
Yes, I have cleared all files in the My Documents folder, then added your changed .ini files into the install folder. When I start the game the generated files are different to your ini files in the install folder. Using Beyond Compare proves this. I've done this multiple times with the same result. I did exactly the same procedure with the previous graphics mod that was once found here on Nexus, with the same results. Your ini changes are not translated into the generated ini files that the game actually uses. Shrugs The files generated differ not just slightly but quite a lot. Also you present no before and after images showing any difference in graphic quality. At best this mod is placebo at worst it's snake oil.
niche99 i see what you do not understand, how it works. And you expose your opinion as true. I opened 3 files in winmerge (previously i renamed them a little). File from documents. And 2 files from the game folder. In the last revision of the important motion blur did not turn on. Almost everything else has changed just as I planned. And even lines appeared which were not there before. Which I myself created.
This file is created from at least 4 files in the game folder. He will always be different.
How are you going to make the accusation that this mod is 'at best, placebo' without even trying it. All the answers are one 'get off your lazy ass' away, but you'd rather sit there and lay judgement without even caring to gather proof. Etiquette of life is: if you take the effort to make an accusation, you take the effort to show that you're right.
Enjoying this mod with LW 1.1(thank you also for that great mod) but I have 2 questions please if you can.
1. What is the install order if using LW 1.1 & this mod, do we do example (A) or (B) below please?
Ex: (A) Ex: (B) - Install LW or - Install LW - Install LW 1.1 - Install this mod - Install this mod - Install LW 1.1
2. I am having this issue in game with black lines on textures it appears to do with shadows. Have you ever seen before and do you know of any fix for it?
https://imgur.com/a/3nPzZS1
Please look at the staff members behind Bradford, the lines on their backs are the issue. Also is on the soldiers face in the barracks (one of female has sweetfx disabled to show issue still there).
These lines appear on anything in game from people to meld canisters to aliens etc.
This mod has long been included in LW 1.1. Even a slightly newer version.
You have not indicated that you are using Tex mod. His work I see in the images. It's all about replased textures. Also, you did not specify which of the settings was included in Reshade.
Thanks for the reply/update. Will keep using LW 1.1 on it's own since it includes this mod already :) (just saw v36.2 went up so very happy).
Apologies, I did not mention I was using both SweetFX & TexMod. However, with both SweetFX removed and without using TexMod I still get these issues on a fresh install of XCom EW, files re-validated through steam, Nvidia graphics panel reset to defaults etc. It is single handily destroying my enjoyment of this wonderful game.
Thank you for this mod loriendal. It does feel the game can use graph improvements, even at this long time after its release. I tried your "UltraGraphics_XCOM - EW_and_LW1.0" version, as I am running EW + LW 1.0 + Ucross' LW Rebalance v1.23.18 on a Mac, but the image becomes slightly flickery and the sound disappears! Maybe you'll fix it?! Also, I'd like to drop you a suggestion: to integrate/update the Weapons art and model Fixed (for long war) mod (https://www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/698) here. It does not work for me. Should you decide for integration, the mod few changes should be universal and uncontroversial enough. Cheers!
Hey. There used to be problems with jerky textures, but everything seems to be done now. What about the sound? The mod does not change anything in the sound. I did not check on Rebalance mod and I can’t tell you now why this is.
Weird indeed. Don't know how to proceed. Lemme know if you wish me to test and revert some file/info to you. What do you think about Weapons art and model Fixed (for long war) mod?
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or should i just use the LW 1.0 versions (even if those two mods are widly different at this point )
What changes are made on the ini files related to graphics?
First of all, there are a lot of them. Secondly, I don’t remember everything at once.
But here two approaches are used. The first to tighten up everything that is possible and does not lead to problems (And there a lot leads to problems).
The second is to tighten up the levels of the graphics that are automatically set when identifying which video card is installed. There is really a lot to write.
Nice work @loriendal these are two ini files that I've never looked into before, and now I'm messing around with them.
You will note that the actual game file .ini's are created in the user Documents folder and if you compare these game generated files (based from you modified game files) to your files they are different, so putting your files in the game install folder has no effect on the actual .ini files that the game creates and uses.
Files in documents are created on the basis of these (although they may differ slightly in the end for some reason). And they are partially used anyway.
For this to work, I had to change more than 1 file as in a mod, about which I think you're talking about. And immediately 3 files that are comprehensively responsible for the graphics.
If it does not work for you. Delete the settings files in the document and enter the game again. Then the new settings will be registered.
Also you present no before and after images showing any difference in graphic quality.
At best this mod is placebo at worst it's snake oil.
I opened 3 files in winmerge (previously i renamed them a little). File from documents. And 2 files from the game folder. In the last revision of the important motion blur did not turn on. Almost everything else has changed just as I planned.
And even lines appeared which were not there before. Which I myself created.
This file is created from at least 4 files in the game folder. He will always be different.
Enjoying this mod with LW 1.1(thank you also for that great mod) but I have 2 questions please if you can.
1. What is the install order if using LW 1.1 & this mod, do we do example (A) or (B) below please?
Ex: (A) Ex: (B)
- Install LW or - Install LW
- Install LW 1.1 - Install this mod
- Install this mod - Install LW 1.1
2. I am having this issue in game with black lines on textures it appears to do with shadows. Have you ever seen before and do you know of any fix for it?
https://imgur.com/a/3nPzZS1
Please look at the staff members behind Bradford, the lines on their backs are the issue. Also is on the soldiers face in the barracks (one of female has sweetfx disabled to show issue still there).
These lines appear on anything in game from people to meld canisters to aliens etc.
You have not indicated that you are using Tex mod. His work I see in the images. It's all about replased textures.
Also, you did not specify which of the settings was included in Reshade.
Apologies, I did not mention I was using both SweetFX & TexMod. However, with both SweetFX removed and without using TexMod I still get these issues on a fresh install of XCom EW, files re-validated through steam, Nvidia graphics panel reset to defaults etc. It is single handily destroying my enjoyment of this wonderful game.
The graphics are slightly improved.
Fixed path to save files.
I tried your "UltraGraphics_XCOM - EW_and_LW1.0" version, as I am running EW + LW 1.0 + Ucross' LW Rebalance v1.23.18 on a Mac, but the image becomes slightly flickery and the sound disappears! Maybe you'll fix it?!
Also, I'd like to drop you a suggestion: to integrate/update the Weapons art and model Fixed (for long war) mod (https://www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/698) here. It does not work for me. Should you decide for integration, the mod few changes should be universal and uncontroversial enough. Cheers!
What do you think about Weapons art and model Fixed (for long war) mod?
Made separate archives for different versions of the game. for those who have personal folders for saving to drive C.