More clear FPS label

[Clawbug]

Right now the current FPS label shows the frames drawn during the last second. This is bad in situations where the so-called frame delay fluctuates a lot within that one second and as such causes stuttering. When there's only a handful of such frames during a second then the FPS label shows a bit lower FPS than usually, even though the gameplay is stuttering a lot more. What I suggest is that the FPS is being calculated and updated every frame. Considering the recent changes of the new and much better FPS limiting(microsecond accuracy vs. old millisecond accuracy), this should go very well in hand with it.

Oh, and moving all that info down to where the rest of the GUI is would be cool too, especially if it was somehow possible to integrate the information to the interface and make it moddable! Just eyecandy though.

[zakath]

when I changed the fps limiting code I changed the fps label as well to update every frame however it then becomes impossible to see what fps you currently have as it updates so often so I changed back to an average over 1 second.

[Clawbug]

when I changed the fps limiting code I changed the fps label as well to update every frame however it then becomes impossible to see what fps you currently have as it updates so often so I changed back to an average over 1 second.

How about average from 100ms or 500ms. Or better yet, let the user decide! Other option would be to have min/max numbers visible too, from the last second for example. Or the last update(and the update interval would be user-defineable. )

[L[0ne]R]

Is it really THAT big of a deal that it needs several new option settings just for the measely FPS counter?

[Clawbug]

Is it really THAT big of a deal that it needs several new option settings just for the measely FPS counter?

More the better. Thats no problem really at all, config.exe has plenty of space and so does soldat.ini too.

[Bistoufly]

I second your request Clawbug.

[12th_account]

Is it really THAT big of a deal that it needs several new option settings just for the measely FPS counter?

More the better. Thats no problem really at all, config.exe has plenty of space and so does soldat.ini too.

The game is clogged up as it is with tons of useless options. Please stop requesting new ones.

[Clawbug]

Is it really THAT big of a deal that it needs several new option settings just for the measely FPS counter?

More the better. Thats no problem really at all, config.exe has plenty of space and so does soldat.ini too.

The game is clogged up as it is with tons of useless options. Please stop requesting new ones.

I fail to see how any single option could be useless. Care to elaborate?

[12th_account]

From the config:
Bitrate - should be forced to 32-bit
Animated scenery - should be forced to on
Vertical sync - should be forced to on
Dithering - not compatible with 32-bit bitrate
Antialiasing - should be forced to on
Window mode resize % - should be combined with Resolution option
FPS Limit - should be forced to screen refresh rate
Refresh rate - should be forced to screen refresh rate
Sound quality - should be forced to High
Teamspeak - integration with Soldat is pointless
Sound output type - should be forced to the primary sound driver
Sound driver list - should be forced to DirectSound
Bot seeing quality - should be forced to Normal/Great
Render bullet trails - should be forced to on
Render weather effects - should be forced to on
Render smooth polygons - should be forced to on
Render background scenery - should be forced to on
Show death console - should be forced to on
Internet connection speed - useless metadata
Game port - already available in in-game Options
Max player ping - should only be available to dedicated servers
Server greeting message - should only be available to dedicated servers
Server link - should only be available to dedicated servers
Backbuffer count - not implemented, but the game should force triple buffering
Texture filters - should be forced to Linear/Anisotropic
Resolution filters - should be forced to Linear/Anisotropic
ActionSnap - stupid feature

In-game Options:
Bots difficulty - same as Bot seeing quality, should be forced to Normal/Great
Explosions effect sound - should be forced to on
Distant battle sound - should be forced to on
MP3 music - not needed, people should use Winamp/ITunes/Spotify/whatever instead
Maps background colors - should be forced to background colors

[Bistoufly]

From the config:
Bitrate - should be forced to 32-bit
Animated scenery - should be forced to on
Vertical sync - should be forced to on
Dithering - not compatible with 32-bit bitrate
Antialiasing - should be forced to on
Window mode resize % - should be combined with Resolution option
FPS Limit - should be forced to screen refresh rate
Refresh rate - should be forced to screen refresh rate
Sound quality - should be forced to High
Teamspeak - integration with Soldat is pointless
Sound output type - should be forced to the primary sound driver
Sound driver list - should be forced to DirectSound
Bot seeing quality - should be forced to Normal/Great
Render bullet trails - should be forced to on
Render weather effects - should be forced to on
Render smooth polygons - should be forced to on
Render background scenery - should be forced to on
Show death console - should be forced to on
Internet connection speed - useless metadata
Game port - already available in in-game Options
Max player ping - should only be available to dedicated servers
Server greeting message - should only be available to dedicated servers
Server link - should only be available to dedicated servers
Backbuffer count - not implemented, but the game should force triple buffering
Texture filters - should be forced to Linear/Anisotropic
Resolution filters - should be forced to Linear/Anisotropic
ActionSnap - stupid feature

In-game Options:
Bots difficulty - same as Bot seeing quality, should be forced to Normal/Great
Explosions effect sound - should be forced to on
Distant battle sound - should be forced to on
MP3 music - not needed, people should use Winamp/ITunes/Spotify/whatever instead
Maps background colors - should be forced to background colors

You're joking right?

Or maybe you think your preference should be forced on all other players? Kinda egoistical!

[12th_account]

Most are just related to performance. Any computer capable of running XP can run Soldat with max settings.

And are there people who actually want to not see the death console, or prefer to use the built-in MP3-player, or uses ActionSnap? There can't be an option for every little thing in the game. Sometimes the developers has to choose for us.

[Fryer]

Bitrate - should be forced to 32-bit
Dithering - not compatible with 32-bit bitrate
Window mode resize % - should be combined with Resolution option
Sound quality - should be forced to High
Teamspeak - integration with Soldat is pointless
Sound output type - should be forced to the primary sound driver
Sound driver list - should be forced to DirectSound
Bot seeing quality - should be forced to Normal/Great
Backbuffer count - not implemented, but the game should force triple buffering
Texture filters - should be forced to Linear/Anisotropic
Resolution filters - should be forced to Linear/Anisotropic
ActionSnap - stupid feature
Explosions effect sound - should be forced to on
Distant battle sound - should be forced to on
MP3 music - not needed, people should use Winamp/ITunes/Spotify/whatever instead

All those I agree with.

Animated scenery - should be forced to on
Antialiasing - should be forced to on
Render bullet trails - should be forced to on
Render weather effects - should be forced to on
Render smooth polygons - should be forced to on

Should all be combined into one option imo, like the "Graphics" option in minecraft. (Maybe with the exception of weather effects)

Vertical sync - should be forced to on
FPS Limit - should be forced to screen refresh rate
Refresh rate - should be forced to screen refresh rate

I have never understood why ppl would want 3 different options for this. Should be "Vertical sync" only...

Max player ping - should only be available to dedicated servers
Server greeting message - should only be available to dedicated servers
Server link - should only be available to dedicated servers

Care to explain why? Especially "Max player ping"; I don't se any reason why it should be left out.

Bot difficulty is not the same as seeing quality and should absolutely not be forced.

(None of the above is decided or final, just my own opinions.)

[Bistoufly]

Don't force the V-sync.
I beg you!

[Fryer]

Oh, I meant that I think Vertical sync should be the only option left. Maybe I was a bit unclear, sorry 'bout that.

[zakath]

Oh, I meant that I think Vertical sync should be the only option left. Maybe I was a bit unclear, sorry 'bout that.

the problem is that vertical sync(the one enabled by dx) only seems to work for some ppl, same goes for forcing a fps limit which works differently depending upon the quality of timers and such.

But in an ideal solution I would also prefer just to have the vertical sync.

[thegrandmaster]

Bot difficulty is not the same as seeing quality and should absolutely not be forced.

All the things mentioned in your post I agree with.. I agree with anything that simplifies the options, for it is needed.

As for bot seeing quality, I would suggest integrating it into bot difficulty?
E.g. the harder the difficulty of the bot, the further/better they can see.
Does that not make sense to do?

[homerofgods]

Bitrate - should be forced to 32-bit
Dithering - not compatible with 32-bit bitrate
Window mode resize % - should be combined with Resolution option
Sound quality - should be forced to High
Teamspeak - integration with Soldat is pointless
Sound output type - should be forced to the primary sound driver
Sound driver list - should be forced to DirectSound
Bot seeing quality - should be forced to Normal/Great
Backbuffer count - not implemented, but the game should force triple buffering
Texture filters - should be forced to Linear/Anisotropic
Resolution filters - should be forced to Linear/Anisotropic
ActionSnap - stupid feature
Explosions effect sound - should be forced to on
Distant battle sound - should be forced to on
MP3 music - not needed, people should use Winamp/ITunes/Spotify/whatever instead

All those I agree with.

I also agree with all this. I like to turn off deathconsole for video purposes, and I don't like rendering bullet trails.

[bhs]

when I changed the fps limiting code I changed the fps label as well to update every frame however it then becomes impossible to see what fps you currently have as it updates so often so I changed back to an average over 1 second.

How about average from 100ms or 500ms. Or better yet, let the user decide! Other option would be to have min/max numbers visible too, from the last second for example. Or the last update(and the update interval would be user-defineable. )

This is one of the silliest requests I've seen. There is simply no reason to change the update interval, there are much more important things to focus on. Why would you want to see your fps every 100ms anyways?

From the config:
Bitrate - should be forced to 32-bit
Animated scenery - should be forced to on
Vertical sync - should be forced to on
Dithering - not compatible with 32-bit bitrate
Antialiasing - should be forced to on
Window mode resize % - should be combined with Resolution option
FPS Limit - should be forced to screen refresh rate
Refresh rate - should be forced to screen refresh rate
Sound quality - should be forced to High
Teamspeak - integration with Soldat is pointless
Sound output type - should be forced to the primary sound driver
Sound driver list - should be forced to DirectSound
Bot seeing quality - should be forced to Normal/Great
Render bullet trails - should be forced to on
Render weather effects - should be forced to on
Render smooth polygons - should be forced to on
Render background scenery - should be forced to on
Show death console - should be forced to on
Internet connection speed - useless metadata
Game port - already available in in-game Options
Max player ping - should only be available to dedicated servers
Server greeting message - should only be available to dedicated servers
Server link - should only be available to dedicated servers
Backbuffer count - not implemented, but the game should force triple buffering
Texture filters - should be forced to Linear/Anisotropic
Resolution filters - should be forced to Linear/Anisotropic
ActionSnap - stupid feature

In-game Options:
Bots difficulty - same as Bot seeing quality, should be forced to Normal/Great
Explosions effect sound - should be forced to on
Distant battle sound - should be forced to on
MP3 music - not needed, people should use Winamp/ITunes/Spotify/whatever instead
Maps background colors - should be forced to background colors

I generally would agree, and this would free up space in the config gui. How about leaving these settings in soldat.ini and simply excluding them from the gui? That way if people have to tweak Soldat they can just open up soldat.ini for advanced unlisted cvars(documentation would help here). This would allow for more space on the settings menu, and would allow only important settings to be shown.

Also remove all unnecessary integration such as: ActionSnap, MP3 Support, and Teamspeak

[12th_account]

Max player ping - should only be available to dedicated servers
Server greeting message - should only be available to dedicated servers
Server link - should only be available to dedicated servers

Care to explain why? Especially "Max player ping"; I don't se any reason why it should be left out.

Whenever you host a game from the Soldat client, you just want to quick-duel a buddy or two. So you probably don't want them to get ping kicked no matter what their ping is.

Bot difficulty is not the same as seeing quality and should absolutely not be forced.

My bad.

[L[0ne]R]

One thing that I strongly disagree on is merging anti aliasing with other graphics options. AA is a serious FPS killer. Before I upgraded my videocard (I had GeForce 7300 GS) a few months ago I could run the game just fine with all the effects enabled except AA. If I enabled it too - my FPS would drop down to 5. And yes, I can run XP just fine, and so do many others who have "business" computers or netbooks with crappy on-board videocards.

A few comments about other things:
~ Vsync - should be kept separate because it might be bad depending on what kind of monitor you've got. For me vsync generally does nothing but reduce performance in most games. It shouldn't be forced.
~ Animated sceneries - shouldn't be forced atm, since they cause access violations for some people and disabling this feature is the only way for them to run the game.
~ BG sceneries - don't know about performance, but at least for the sake of those who like simplicity this option should be kept.
~ Bitrate - should be set same as your screen's bitrate. (also, isn't "bit depth" the correct term here?)
~ Sound output type, Sound driver - why would you force those? What if there are multiple ones and the game picks a wrong one?
~ MP3 music should be kept for the sake of those who run Soldat off their USB sticks at school where they can't install itunes and such (but you also shouldn't have to register to use it), or if global hotkeys don't work for some reason. I suggest just merging it with default music, so that both default and mp3 appear in the same drop-down menu.
~ Death console - should be forced on, but with the ability to set console's length to 0. Havent tried it myself, so it might actually be possible already.