Bioshock widescreen botched on PC and 360?

[peril]

check it out.....

http://forums.2kgames.com/forums/showthread.php?p=113784#post113784

[KingBroly]

Wow...
That is surprising.

[zewone]

I didn't even know dude had a sleeve.

[peril]

I didn't even know dude had a sleeve.

who knows what sort of things are missing in your sig pic...

[Ugamer_X]

who knows what sort of things are missing in your sig pic...
:applause:

Nicely done.

[PenguinMaster]

I can't see how it matters that much. The game doesn't have any cutscenes so everything can be seen just by looking up and down (except your sleeves).

[Vanigan]

Except that we really shouldn't have to what with widescreens being more common.

We should be seeing more to the sides, which can let us spot that nasty splicer about to gut us, or perhaps see more of an in-game scripted sequence.

[PenguinMaster]

We should be seeing more to the sides, which can let us spot that nasty splicer about to gut us, or perhaps see more of an in-game scripted sequence.

That really has nothing to do with widescreen. If you feel you can't see enough then the game is too zoomed in no matter what aspect ratio you use.

[mr ryles]

meh.

[Vanigan]

Actually it's a matter of Field of View/Vision. For most games it's around 75-90 degrees. For real widescreen (as in the difference between widescreen movies and pan and scan) is that you see more around the sides so it goes higher.

In this case, and it's a problem with quite a few games, is that the developers just didn't support it properly by upping the field of view so that you see the same amount on the top and bottom, and see more on the sides.

[2Dskillz]

Interesting, but in no way damages the presentation of the game.

[PyroGamer]

When you think of it, if they had stretched out the screen, it would have made the game less fun to play. You'd have been able to see way too much, taking the scare factor out. The only problem for Widescreen users are the few times when there's verticle action going on.

It's not much of a problem, and it seems to me it would be worse the other way.

Hell, it's like The Shining: some art is filmed in fullscreen.



Either that, or Widescreen users are seeing the game as it's intended, and fullscreen users have unwanted stuff on the top and bottom. Hardly what I'd call a benefit.

I wish more games used letterbox Widescreen on 4:3 screens, so we wouldn't have this discussion.

[seanr1221]

Pretty disappointing. Not a deal break, but disappointing nonetheless.

[Apossum]

uh oh, goodbye GOTY :roll:

[Puffa469]

Those screencaps are from the PC Demo. We dont know if this applies to the full game on the 360 yet.

[pop311]

I'm somewhat confused...

[Apossum]

I'm somewhat confused...


2 inches of the screen are missing and it's inhibiting some angry nerd's enjoyment of bioshock.

[camoor]

2 inches of the screen are missing and it's inhibiting some angry nerd's enjoyment of bioshock.

LoL Good call.

I bought the game for the elaborate ceilings - game ruined!

[guyver2077]

i laugh at some of the comments..

no widescreen=no buy..

lmao

[A Happy Panda]

Oh wow. Before clicking the link I didn't think it'd be too bad. But that IS a lot of screen to be missing...

The forums seem to confirm that this is also a problem with the 360. Pretty disappointing.

I remember playing through the demo and complaining to my friend about the FOV, but didn't think much of it.

[munch]

uh oh, goodbye GOTY :roll:

I've also heard it only runs at 38 FPS. Everyone should definitely run away from this game.

[torifile]

I waded through half that thread and I didn't find the answer to this question: Is the 360 version even patchable? Are 360 games able to be patched after the fact?

[A Happy Panda]

I waded through half that thread and I didn't find the answer to this question: Is the 360 version even patchable? Are 360 games able to be patched after the fact?

Yes. Assuming you have a broadband connection and at least a silver Live account.

[torifile]

Yes. Assuming you have a broadband connection and at least a silver Live account.
Thanks. :) That's reassuring. Hopefully they'll fix it soon.

[Strell]

I've had a theory for a while now that the current generation of gamers are spoiled brats that are much more obsessed with the specs behind a game than the actual game itself.

This is just another small piece of the puzzle.

[Apossum]

I've had a theory for a while now that the current generation of gamers are spoiled brats that are much more obsessed with the specs behind a game than the actual game itself.

This is just another small piece of the puzzle.



I think you may be on to something...no, you're definitely on to something. :)

[A Happy Panda]

I've had a theory for a while now that the current generation of gamers are spoiled brats that are much more obsessed with the specs behind a game than the actual game itself.

This is just another small piece of the puzzle.

Sorry gamers expect their games to work the way they're advertised?

It might not be an issue to you, but to others it is.

It's like a game is supposed to output in 5.1 surround, but you turn it on and it's mono.

[Apossum]

Sorry gamers expect their games to work the way they're advertised?

It might not be an issue to you, but to others it is.


where was "extra inch of screen space" advertised?

[A Happy Panda]

where was "extra inch of screen space" advertised?

Nowhere. But 16:9 certainly was.

[Strell]

Sorry gamers expect their games to work the way they're advertised?

It might not be an issue to you, but to others it is.

It's like a game is supposed to output in 5.1 surround, but you turn it on and it's mono.

So are you the type that goes into Subway and throws a fit that the sandwich doesn't look exactly like it does in the commercial? That pickle should be over there! OVER THERE GODDAMMIT! No not there, THERE!

This isn't game breaking in the least. It's not even game annoying.

Your analogy doesn't work either. I don't know much about audio, but the difference between 5.1 and mono isn't comparable because you can't do anything about that if the entire game is coded for mono. Whereas you can look up and down in about .3 seconds. It also doesn't help that I'm guessing 2K could fix this pretty easily with a patch, where as changing the audio would require an entire remastering of everything. One requires a patch of coding, the other requires an entire sound remixing studio.

[PenguinMaster]

Sorry gamers expect their games to work the way they're advertised?

It might not be an issue to you, but to others it is.

It's like a game is supposed to output in 5.1 surround, but you turn it on and it's mono.

What the fuck are you talking about? The game was advertised as widescreen, and it's widescreen! You're not missing anything, you can look around during the game and see absolutely everything.

[wizard341]

Here is a good image to show what people are talking about...

http://images.pikapuff.com/games/bioshockws.png

It sucks because the game is clearly going to look better in 4:3.

[A Happy Panda]

What the fuck are you talking about? The game was advertised as widescreen, and it's widescreen! You're not missing anything, you can look around during the game and see absolutely everything.

Huh? Of course I can look around and see everything. It's called looking. Jeez, people are defensive about the game.

I'm just commenting on the fact that to me, a lot of the top and bottom is chopped off. A lot of you think it's not much, but to me and others it is. Not a deal breaker at all, but I'd like to see a patch.

Also Christ Strell, can you go two seconds without belittling someone? I was simply trying to have a discussion on the matter.

I also never said about a game being coded entirely in mono. My analogy may be extreme, but instead let's say a game is coded for 5.1, but for some reason, sound doesn't come out in the 2 rear speakers. It's just a glitch. This widescreen issue is also hopefully just another issue that can be patched up quickly.

Also Wizard, where'd you get those screens? There's no way the Bioshock widescreen is like that.

[Strell]

Also Christ Strell, can you go two seconds without belittling someone? I was simply trying to have a discussion on the matter.

That depends. Are we talking two seconds or Earth time, or two seconds of time at my home planet, which is also called Zarzonibia?

There is a huge difference, not unlike this widescreen issue!

For example, on Zarzonibia, we don't call them seconds. We call them sekonds.


I also never said about a game being coded entirely in mono. My analogy may be extreme, but instead let's say a game is coded for 5.1, but for some reason, sound doesn't come out in the 2 rear speakers. It's just a glitch. This widescreen issue is also hopefully just another issue that can be patched up quickly.

Well I'm very procedurally-minded, so the first thing I'd do is check to make sure the 2 rear speakers work. Assuming they do, then yes, your example makes more sense.

But even something like that doesn't overwhelmingly diminish my appreciation of the game. I'm playing the game to play the game, not marvel at the fact that I'm totally running widescreen, like a pimp.

[torifile]

I've had a theory for a while now that the current generation of gamers are spoiled brats that are much more obsessed with the specs behind a game than the actual game itself.

This is just another small piece of the puzzle.
Sometimes I think you're right, but in this case, I don't think so. Have you played yet? I was playing earlier and there were times the splicers were so up close to me that I couldn't see them. I thought that was the way it was supposed to be, but if I had the full field of view that full screen players have, I wouldn't have had a problem seeing them.

[A Happy Panda]

That depends. Are we talking two seconds or Earth time, or two seconds of time at my home planet, which is also called Zarzonibia?

There is a huge difference, not unlike this widescreen issue!

For example, on Zarzonibia, we don't call them seconds. We call them sekonds.



Well I'm very procedurally-minded, so the first thing I'd do is check to make sure the 2 rear speakers work. Assuming they do, then yes, your example makes more sense.

But even something like that doesn't overwhelmingly diminish my appreciation of the game. I'm playing the game to play the game, not marvel at the fact that I'm totally running widescreen, like a pimp.

I'll agree. Issues like my sound example, or this widescreen issue certainly don't overwhelmingly diminish my appreciation for whatever game, but I would still be disappointed. But if you look at Wizard's picture, which even I question the validity of, that's a lot of game you're not seeing that you should be...if those pictures are even to scale. Of course all of this might be moot by next week if/when 2K patches the game.

I was referring to Earth time BTW. Your alien language disgusts me. Sekonds . Pfft.

[wizard341]

Huh? Of course I can look around and see everything. It's called looking. Jeez, people are defensive about the game.

I'm just commenting on the fact that to me, a lot of the top and bottom is chopped off. A lot of you think it's not much, but to me and others it is. Not a deal breaker at all, but I'd like to see a patch.

Also Christ Strell, can you go two seconds without belittling someone? I was simply trying to have a discussion on the matter.

I also never said about a game being coded entirely in mono. My analogy may be extreme, but instead let's say a game is coded for 5.1, but for some reason, sound doesn't come out in the 2 rear speakers. It's just a glitch. This widescreen issue is also hopefully just another issue that can be patched up quickly.

Also Wizard, where'd you get those screens? There's no way the Bioshock widescreen is like that.

Got the screens from the 2k forums, one of the last pages.

[Strell]

Your just mad all the pandas on my home planet are genetically engineered to never be happy.

They constantly want for nicer cars and expensive hot air balloons, but we artificially lower their pay such that they could never afford such things, thereby ensuring that any potential genetic anomalies do not overcome their innate conditioning.

[slyguy]

I had the 360 version since yesterday and have no problems with wide screen looks great on my TV

[Strell]

I thought that was the way it was supposed to be, but if I had the full field of view that full screen players have, I wouldn't have had a problem seeing them.

I'm sorry, I come from an era of blind jumps, badly programmed AI, puzzles with absolutely no rhyme or reason, powerups that don't help, one-shot/touch deaths, and no mapping system of any kind. Back in a time when wild beasts made the games I enjoyed, their black hearts screeching at full moons and perversely corrupting the game into a form of dark magic.

So I guess it's hard for me to care about something this tragically tragic.

Shit. Enemies used to just pop the fuck up out of nowhere and slap me with their cocks. I think I can deal with some enemy on the ground that's nibbling on me toe before I blast him away.

But you're right. That's just me.

[A Happy Panda]

Your just mad all the pandas on my home planet are genetically engineered to never be happy.

They constantly want for nicer cars and expensive hot air balloons, but we artificially lower their pay such that they could never afford such things, thereby ensuring that any potential genetic anomalies do not overcome their innate conditioning.

I don't see how they're different from Earth pandas. Ours won't even fuck to save their own race. I believe the reasoning is the same. They can't afford nice things such as hot air balloons, or to a lesser extent, dune buggies. As a result, of course they wouldn't want to shame their children with their financial inadequacies.

[PenguinMaster]

I thought that was the way it was supposed to be, but if I had the full field of view that full screen players have, I wouldn't have had a problem seeing them.
So the splicers were slightly above or below your FOV?

[dallow]

I had the 360 version since yesterday and have no problems with wide screen looks great on my TVI know it does, just coulda looked even better with real widescreen.

[torifile]

I'm sorry, I come from an era of blind jumps, badly programmed AI, puzzles with absolutely no rhyme or reason, powerups that don't help, one-shot/touch deaths, and no mapping system of any kind. Back in a time when wild beasts made the games I enjoyed, their black hearts screeching at full moons and perversely corrupting the game into a form of dark magic.

So I guess it's hard for me to care about something this tragically tragic.

Shit. Enemies used to just pop the fuck up out of nowhere and slap me with their cocks. I think I can deal with some enemy on the ground that's nibbling on me toe before I blast him away.

But you're right. That's just me.
Yeah, and people used to walk uphill both ways through 5 miles of snow to get to school. Gimme a break.

[PenguinMaster]

Got the screens from the 2k forums, one of the last pages.
Obviously the person that made those images didn't get a picture with a larger FOV. The top screen is really "Bioshock widescreen" and "normal widescreen" would show a lot more around that, which probably isn't necessary. The game isn't nearly as zoomed in as that stupid mock-up makes it seem. The game was designed for 4:3 and then cropped to 16:9, it wasn't designed for 16:9 then cropped to 4:3 then cropped again to 16:9 as that mock-up shows.

[torifile]

So the splicers were slightly above or below your FOV? They were "in my grill" so to speak. I could see them but not as well as I should have if the bottom of the screen weren't cut off. Also, there are times when they're coming down the stairs and you can't see them coming down. Yes, I suck at video games so I need all the forwarning I can get. :lol:

[Strell]

Yeah, and people used to walk uphill both ways through 5 miles of snow to get to school. Gimme a break.

You're right. The nanoseconds it would take to look down at an enemy that's meant to kill you is so much less convenient than, say, there not being any enemies at all, which would apparently also enhance the experience.

[dallow]

C'mon Strell.

Stuff like this just shouldn't happen anymore, especially since it is so minor.
I thought the end of it was last gen.

God of War 1 and RE4ps2 did the same thing.
But their excuse was tiny engines and pixel limitations.

[Strell]

Shouldn't happen anymore? That's for the devs to decide.

Actually, it's not even the devs to decide. It's whoever is paying the devs, since they are the ones frontin' the bill, and they want to get it out as fast as possible to try and get profit as soon as possible.

Gamers like to think they get any say on the matter. In a brilliant dichotomous nature, they get to fully decide it, and yet have no say in the matter at the same time.

[PenguinMaster]

God of War 1 and RE4ps2 did the same thing.
But their excuse was tiny engines and pixel limitations.
Wasn't RE4 letterboxed when played in 4:3? So cutting off the top and bottom would cut off the black bars?

It's a bigger problem with God of War though due to a fixed camera.

[dallow]

Shouldn't happen anymore? That's for the devs to decide.

Actually, it's not even the devs to decide. It's whoever is paying the devs, since they are the ones frontin' the bill, and they want to get it out as fast as possible to try and get profit as soon as possible.

Gamers like to think they get any say on the matter. In a brilliant dichotomous nature, they get to fully decide it, and yet have no say in the matter at the same time.It would have been no trouble at all to just render it correctly.

What this mistake does is take away just a little, JUST A LITTLE, from the grand scope of the game by limiting the view.
It wouldn't have taken them much to just make their game, that much better and more beautiful.

It's what makes the Wii version of Twilight Princess so much more than the GC.
The wide view adds so much.

[zewone]

You make it sound like there is no widescreen support (comparing it to the Wii/GC versions of Zelda).

[Strell]

It would have been no trouble at all to just render it correctly.


I don't know anything about rendering, and I'm willing to guess few people around here do, so I'm trying to figure out how you are absolute on this.

[dallow]

I don't know anything about rendering, and I'm willing to guess few people around here do, so I'm trying to figure out how you are absolute on this.Actually, I don't.
I said that because you said it'd probably just take a little patch to fix.
I'm not sure about that either.

It's not widescreen Zew.
It's God of War 1 and RE4ps2 widescreen.

It's widescreen, Barry Bonds style.

[dallow]

I take that back.
It's a step up from the PS2 games I mentioned in that it's still cropped, but at least it's "anamorphic" and fills the screen correctly.

Whatever, game looks bad ass either way.

[Ikohn4ever]

from the 2k forums from the lead programmer Chris Kline

The game will render in full 16:9 aspect ratio, with no letterboxing unless your resolution is not true 16:9.

You will see more in widescreen. We use a different projection matrix; there is no squashing or stretching of the image involved.

http://forums.2kgames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=659

these comments were from may, don't make promises in games especially towards the release of the game until you intend on keeping it.

I am sure there will be some sort of patch, but that just contributes to the problem of developers relying on live to fix the problems in their games after their release.

I will still get the game its just annoying that 4:3 people get more picture than the 16:9 crowd.

Oh and all the apologists please stop posting the same drivel, we get it you love the game that came out today and everyone else is wrong

[torifile]

Shouldn't happen anymore? That's for the devs to decide.

Actually, it's not even the devs to decide. It's whoever is paying the devs, since they are the ones frontin' the bill, and they want to get it out as fast as possible to try and get profit as soon as possible.

Gamers like to think they get any say on the matter. In a brilliant dichotomous nature, they get to fully decide it, and yet have no say in the matter at the same time. The devs or whoever was paying DID decide - they decided that it would support true 16:9 and said as much prior to the game's release. It's a *bug* and a fairly large one as far as they go since it affects the entire game.

I don't know what you're actually arguing about. That people want to get what they were told they were getting or that people are just complaining at all. If it's the former, you're an ass. If it's the latter, ummm, you're still an ass. And doing the same thing yourself.

[Strell]

I don't know what you're actually arguing about.


Mostly that gamers are pussies who can't possibly ever be satisfied.


If it's the former, you're an ass. If it's the latter, ummm, you're still an ass. And doing the same thing yourself.

K. We can all be relegated to be classified by various body parts.

Then we can form Voltron, except it won't be nearly as cool, mostly because none of us are robotic.

Well I'm robotic but that's neither here or there.


That people want to get what they were told they were getting


Well I don't give a shit about useless specs, so I don't care if the flavor of widescreen I get - which is entirely usable - isn't this magical golden ratio of widescreen everyone apparently expected. Technically you got widescreen, but in a manner that is apparently better left off to the lesser according to all these gamers-up-in-arms, which I find astonishing.

Beyond all of that, if you're armed with this knowledge at this time, then take the game back and get a refund. That's the best solution and sends the clearest message, rather than throwing a fit on a message board. If you support this kind of stuff - which I guess is so unbearable - then you're really not backing yourself up by buying the damn thing. Or, rather, but not taking it back after the fact (which is another viable solution), when you've been so deviously tricked that the 2K devs might need to be considered viable enemies on your enemies list.

Watch out, they might toilet paper your house tonight!

[dallow]

Well I don't give a shit about useless specs, so I don't care if the flavor of widescreen I get - which is entirely usable - isn't this magical golden ratio of widescreen everyone apparently expected. Technically you got widescreen, but in a manner that is apparently better left off to the lesser according to all these gamers-up-in-arms, which I find astonishing.
That isn't widescreen, it's chopping off the top and bottom to make a rectangle.

[Apossum]

*looks at TV*


looks widescreen to me. maybe it isn't wider-screen to keep the framerate up? I'm not seeing the problem here at all...yes, I saw the comparison shots.

[Rei no Otaku]

*looks at TV*


looks widescreen to me. maybe it isn't wider-screen to keep the framerate up? I'm not seeing the problem here at all...yes, I saw the comparison shots.
But you can't see the sleeve! How are we supposed to enjoy the game if we can't see the man's sleeve!

[dallow]

Yarp, it's faux-widescreen.
Television gets filled up, I guess that's all that matters.

[torifile]

Or, rather, but not taking it back after the fact (which is another viable solution), when you've been so deviously tricked that the 2K devs might need to be considered viable enemies on your enemies list. Nice changing your argument there. First you said it's for the devs to decide, then when you realized they DID decide and tell us of their decision, that it must be ok to be deceptive.

I don't think it was intentional deception, else I would take the game back. I think it's a freaking bug, as the thread on the 2k forums suggests.

[Strell]

Nice changing your argument there. First you said it's for the devs to decide, then when you realized they DID decide and tell us of their decision, that it must be ok to be deceptive.

I don't think it was intentional deception, else I would take the game back. I think it's a freaking bug, as the thread on the 2k forums suggests.

I'm not changing my argument at all, because you obviously fail to see the sarcasm. I called them devious tricksters. It's sad you think I'm being serious, being that the handle to the left of this post says Strell next to it.

I mean how in the hell else do I need to phrase it to highlight that I'm bein hyperbolic about their level of delicious evil?

Here. I'd like to suggest that 2K Games form an evil supergroup of villians. By day they will tour as a rock band, and at night, they will gather Garzonium crystals to power their laser drill, which they will use to drain the oceans by making gigantic sinkholes in the bottom of the ocean.

Way to go, 2K Games! Your nefarious plans to undermine all of humanity will not go unnoticed or unheeded!

There. Is that clear for you? Or do I need to add that they might also suck all the clouds out of the sky, and ruin all those afternoons little children lay on hilltops, gazing at the cumulus formations, and saying what animals they look like?

Goddamn 2K developers! Always scheming!

[SpecTrE3353]

I'm not changing my argument at all, because you obviously fail to see the sarcasm. I called them devious tricksters. It's sad you think I'm being serious, being that the handle to the left of this post says Strell next to it.

I mean how in the hell else do I need to phrase it to highlight that I'm bein hyperbolic about their level of delicious evil?

Here. I'd like to suggest that 2K Games form an evil supergroup of villians. By day they will tour as a rock band, and at night, they will gather Garzonium crystals to power their laser drill, which they will use to drain the oceans by making gigantic sinkholes in the bottom of the ocean.

Way to go, 2K Games! Your nefarious plans to undermine all of humanity will not go unnoticed or unheeded!

There. Is that clear for you? Or do I need to add that they might also suck all the clouds out of the sky, and ruin all those afternoons little children lay on hilltops, gazing at the cumulus formations, and saying what animals they look like?

Goddamn 2K developers! Always scheming!

I think it is extremely rude of you to make such accusations of the 2K team.

[hufferstl]

2K Games' drill is years behind EA's in their journey to the center of the earth!

[Apossum]

Wait, guys, it's okay. I've confirmed that you can use the toilets and sinks in the game.

[FaintDeftone]

Seriously, who cares?

[dallow]

Seriously, who cares?Not you.

[peril]

for me, this problem boils down to credibility. they promised something they didn't deliver. i don't care if that particular feature was a dealbreaker, if it's supposed to be there in a particular form, it should be. for a game that leans heavily on its appearance, how does a FOV error slip through the cracks, and what else has? i don't give a crap about the guy's sleeve, but why didn't the artist who designed it notice you couldn't see it? and if it was intentional, tell me, don't make me find out like this.

personally, i'm already skeptical about the game. i must be playing a different demo than everyone else because, as far as gameplay is concernced, i don't see any evolution. it's linear, you kill stuff with a gun or various powerup, you regenerate health by eating stuff, whatever. maybe it's the story everyone's looking forward to.

[Apossum]

for me, this problem boils down to credibility. they promised something they didn't deliver. i don't care if that particular feature was a dealbreaker, if it's supposed to be there in a particular form, it should be. for a game that leans heavily on its appearance, how does a FOV error slip through the cracks, and what else has? i don't give a crap about the guy's sleeve, but why didn't the artist who designed it notice you couldn't see it? and if it was intentional, tell me, don't make me find out like this.

personally, i'm already skeptical about the game. i must be playing a different demo than everyone else because, as far as gameplay is concernced, i don't see any evolution. it's linear, you kill stuff with a gun or various powerup, you regenerate health by eating stuff, whatever. maybe it's the story everyone's looking forward to.


--maybe they didn't think people would care that much
--it's the atmosphere and gameplay
--Enjoy whatever it is you're playing in place of Bioshock



I still don't understand the line between WS and "true" WS. The shots that show "true" WS-- couldn't they pan out even more to show an even wider FOV? so what separates the "true" WS shot from one with a larger FOV?

[pop311]

So there are going to be black bars, or is there just a smaller image stretched?

[mr ryles]

So there are going to be black bars, or is there just a smaller image stretched?

it is meant to be widescreen and fill the TV with no stretching and no black bars.

[Apossum]

So there are going to be black bars, or is there just a smaller image stretched?


no black bars, the image isn't stretched.

[ogbaka]

wow, so much commotions for this... i don't recall having any problems with WS or being zoomed in too much... and i'm very picky... this game is very satisifying :D

hmm... if there is a problem, i hope 2K provides a patch soon or sales will be low... I'll replay it again when patch is up on xbox live and...

ps
I hope 2K don't botch Fallout... cause then, i'm really gonna be mad.

[peril]

--maybe they didn't think people would care that much


most won't. but surely they didn't think everyone wouldn't.


--it's the atmosphere and gameplay


i'll give you atmosphere, but what's so special about gameplay?


--Enjoy whatever it is you're playing in place of Bioshock


i will!


I still don't understand the line between WS and "true" WS. The shots that show "true" WS-- couldn't they pan out even more to show an even wider FOV? so what separates the "true" WS shot from one with a larger FOV?

i don't think it's a matter of how far you're zoomed in or out, it's just the fact that they set that point differently for the two formats, giving the 4:3 the better vantage point.

[Chris in Cali]

Well, I hate to say it, but this stopped me from buying the game today.

[Apossum]

i'll give you atmosphere, but what's so special about gameplay?



it gets better after the events in the demo. You get different plasmids (telekinesis ftw!), power ups, there's a fun hacking mini-game, you have to strategize to take out enemies. It's not typical fps crap. There's some fun shooting, some survival horror, and it's not linear at all. I've spent most of my time exploring so far. You are enclosed based on what powers you have, but its a large enough space to be interesting. Doesn't feel like point A to point B at all.

well, when it gets to a price you like, check it out! I thought the demo was awesome, but the actual game gives you a lot more.

[javeryh]

I would have never noticed this "problem" if it hadn't been pointed out to me but now that I know something is wrong there's no way in hell I'm buying Halo 3... wait, what are we talking about?

[dallow]

Well, I hate to say it, but this stopped me from buying the game today.You know what, I actually commend you for that.
You should let 2K know.

And I'm not being at all sarcastic.
I don't have your will power, and I'll probably get it, but hopefully used.

[mr ryles]

can't believe something so minimal like this is stopping people from wanting/buying this game.

[dallow]

can't believe something so minimal like this is stopping people from wanting/buying this game.We shall overcome We shall overcome

[Setzer]

Well, I hate to say it, but this stopped me from buying the game today.

It's not going to stop me from picking up my copy after work but I'm not going to open or play it until the problem has been fixed.

[zewone]

Well, I hate to say it, but this stopped me from buying the game today.
:lol:

[Brak]

I get the feeling, from other boards I've looked at, that some people think that the HUD is cut off.

Being that you can actually control the camera, I don't think that this hinders the experience, whatsoever.

[seanr1221]

Anyone not buying this game because of this phailz at life.

[mr ryles]

I get the feeling, from other boards I've looked at, that some people think that the HUD is cut off.

Being that you can actually control the camera, I don't think that this hinders the experience, whatsoever.

http://media.xbox360.ign.com/media/793/793105/img_4800402.html

all looks to be there.

[dallow]

This is the telling picture:

http://wsgfmedia.com/uploads/paddywak/screenshots/bioshock/BioshockFOV.jpg

Instead of being cropped at the top and bottom as you see there, it should have extended more to the left and right for widescreen.

You're basically getting less of the picture when you play in widescreen. (it doesn't cut off the HUD of course, because that moves depending on what settings you have the game on)


When I get this game, I'm playing in 4:3 like God of War.

[mr ryles]

This is the telling picture:

http://wsgfmedia.com/uploads/paddywak/screenshots/bioshock/BioshockFOV.jpg

Instead of being cropped at the top and bottom as you see there, it should have extended more to the left and right for widescreen.

You're basically getting less of the picture when you play in widescreen. (it doesn't cut off the HUD of course, because that moves depending on what settings you have the game on)


When I get this game, I'm playing in 4:3 like God of War.

I understand that, but cutting off an inch on the top and bottom isn't an issue. In a game where you are constantly moving the camera, or your view around this is really no sort of issue at all.

[Aleryn]

That sucks. If I wanted the game though, it wouldn't prevent me from buying it.

[zewone]

I understand that, but cutting off an inch on the top and bottom isn't an issue. In a game where you are constantly moving the camera, or your view around this is really no sort of issue at all.
That point seems to not be getting through people's heads.

[seen]

This game is rediculously good, regardless of your silly widescreen woes. The problem your talking about happens on the 360 as well, its the native resoultion that makes you get more or less screen. This isn't the fault of 2k, so I'm really confused why some people are nitpicking, when they should be picking up this game.

[peril]

it gets better after the events in the demo. You get different plasmids (telekinesis ftw!), power ups, there's a fun hacking mini-game, you have to strategize to take out enemies. It's not typical fps crap. There's some fun shooting, some survival horror, and it's not linear at all. I've spent most of my time exploring so far. You are enclosed based on what powers you have, but its a large enough space to be interesting. Doesn't feel like point A to point B at all.

well, when it gets to a price you like, check it out! I thought the demo was awesome, but the actual game gives you a lot more.

fair enough.

[terribledeli]

After much soul searching, I've decided to play BioShock with a horse blinder on. And maybe induce tunnel vision.

[dallow]

I've never said it was a bad game, or that this is a bad game because of the BS widescreen.

I'm just saying the widescreen is BS.

The game is good.
Play it everyone.

[zewone]

We're saying that calling the widescreen BS is exaggerating.

It's such a small detail, this thread, and every other one on the internet about it, is ridiculous.

[Chris in Cali]

Well, I rented it today at Blockbuster with a free coupon! HA! I'll buy it when it gets patched, but now that I know.... it just bugs me. The last game I felt this way about was RE4 on the Gamecube.... Letterboxed widescreen, no thanks! That's essentially what this is, zoomed in letterboxed wide-screen.

[KwanzaaTimmy]

Some pretty intrepid people believe this to be "endemic" (new gaming buzzword plz) to Unreal Engine 3. All of the games developed with it support widescreen, but use Vertical Minus (The type you see demonstrated in the photo, where the 4:3 image is sliced at the top and the bottom to create the rectangle), as opposed to Horizontal Plus (Where they add more to the right and left.

People are saying this also is effecting mouse-look control on the PC as essentially you're looking through a zoomed in cropped 4:3 image. I really don't care, and I'll find something to make it look good-- but still some food for thought.

[dallow]

We're saying that calling the widescreen BS is exaggerating.

It's such a small detail, this thread, and every other one on the internet about it, is ridiculous.It's a fucked up aspect ratio is what it is.

People are up in arms when they do this to what is supposed to be 4:3 anime, or 4:3 movies, why shouldn't say something when it's done to next gen games.

Yeah yeah, you can move the camera aroundmorethanyoushouldhaveto

[zewone]

It's a fucked up aspect ratio is what it is.

People are up in arms when they do this to what is supposed to be 4:3 anime, or 4:3 movies, why shouldn't say something when it's done to next gen games.

Yeah yeah, you can move the camera aroundmorethanyoushouldhaveto
You just proved why your own example was invalid.

[dallow]

See spoiler.

[zewone]

See spoiler.
I saw.

I also know you don't own the game (maybe haven't even played the demo) to even know if you have to actually move the camera more.

So...maybe you should try it, and see if it actually matters, or if it's all in your head and if you would have noticed had the internetz not told you.

[dallow]

So I'm correct then? Obviously from the pics and posts, you do have to. Even if only slightly.

It matters to me enough that I'll be playing the game in 4:3. That's the advantage the game has over static stuff like the anime and movies.

Haha, I should add that I'm a HUGE WHORE about playing and watching stuff in their original aspect ratio.
So it's small, but it matters to me.

[zewone]

So I'm correct then? Obviously from the pics and posts, you do have to. Even if only slightly.

It matters to me enough that I'll be playing the game in 4:3. That's the advantage the game has over static stuff like the anime and movies.

Haha, I should add that I'm a HUGE WHORE about playing and watching stuff in their original aspect ratio.
So it's small, but it matters to me.
I don't know where I said you were correct, maybe technically, but like I said, would you have even noticed if it wasn't mentioned?

And, since you say you are a whore for OAR, would you agree that your side of this "issue" is the minority?

[dallow]

I don't know where I said you were correct, maybe technically, but like I said, would you have even noticed if it wasn't mentioned?

And, since you say you are a whore for OAR, would you agree that your side of this "issue" is the minority?I would definitely agree with that Zew as the majority of people are happy with stretching old games into widescreen.

To the average joe, this ain't a big thing.

[Apossum]

hey, you can bump the game up to 60fps...haven't seen the option to do that in a console game before. thought that was pretty cool. if that's part of the reason why they shrunk the screen space, I'm all for it. frame rate> all.

[zewone]

I hear they cancelled the PS3 port because it could only run in 15:9 and 30fps.

[-Never4ever-]

I've had a theory for a while now that the current generation of gamers are spoiled brats that are much more obsessed with the specs behind a game than the actual game itself.

This is just another small piece of the puzzle.

Theory? It's pretty much fact.

[-Never4ever-]

I'm not changing my argument at all, because you obviously fail to see the sarcasm. I called them devious tricksters. It's sad you think I'm being serious, being that the handle to the left of this post says Strell next to it.

I mean how in the hell else do I need to phrase it to highlight that I'm bein hyperbolic about their level of delicious evil?

Here. I'd like to suggest that 2K Games form an evil supergroup of villians. By day they will tour as a rock band, and at night, they will gather Garzonium crystals to power their laser drill, which they will use to drain the oceans by making gigantic sinkholes in the bottom of the ocean.

Way to go, 2K Games! Your nefarious plans to undermine all of humanity will not go unnoticed or unheeded!

There. Is that clear for you? Or do I need to add that they might also suck all the clouds out of the sky, and ruin all those afternoons little children lay on hilltops, gazing at the cumulus formations, and saying what animals they look like?

Goddamn 2K developers! Always scheming!

:rofl: :applause: Ah Strell, always good for a laugh.

[paz9x]

fucking strell. that was good.

[Kendro]

Even a hyped up game like Gears of War had a similar fudged up FOV when playing the game on a widescreen PC monitor with the VGA adapter. Instead of having true widescreen, they took the FS image and stretched it. Even if you played letterbox on a 4:3 PC monitor, the letterboxed image was a FS image that was stretched to fit widescreen. It was easily fixed with a patch so perhaps 2K will do the same thing.

[dallow]

There was a patch just released for the PC demo and full game that fixes this issue.
(good call strell)

Glad all the complaints prompted them to do something about it.

No word on 360 patch yet.

This pic shows what the fix does:
http://dot50cal.the-horror.com/gaf/Bio-1.jpg

[dallow]

This isn't exactly fix per se, just gives you the choice to play with a wider view.
Game still crops itself.

They intended it this way they say.
I say it's a copout, but whatever.

They made a 'fix' for their "non-mistake".

We understand there has been some concern about the implementation of widescreen mode in BioShock. Hopefully, we can clarify how we’ve chosen to do this.

The first thing we want to make clear is the mode we developed the game on and the optimal mode for playing the game is the widescreen mode. 90% of our development stations were widescreen displays: artists, programmers and designers.

- BioShock was primarily developed and tuned for widescreen mode. Artists and designers worked with widescreen displays and chose a field of view (FOV) that best reflected their intentions with respect to the way the world is perceived, the perceived speed of movement of the player relative to the world and the amount of the world they wanted to be viewed for the best game-play experience. We went through dozens of iterations and finally settled upon a widescreen aspect ratio that best suited the gameplay experience.

- When playing in widescreen modes the game makes use of the full screen resolution, and does not crop or stretch a lower resolution image into a wide screen one. For example, at 720p the game renders natively to the full 1280x720 resolution.

- Once this FOV was established, we chose to keep exactly the same horizontal FOV for standard def displays, so as not to in any way alter the gameplay experience.

- Instead of cropping the FOV for 4:3 displays and making all 4:3 owners mad in doing so, we slightly extended the vertical FOV for standard def mode: we never wanted to have black bars on people’s displays. (This way, everybody is happy…) This does mean that people playing on a standard def display see slightly more vertical space, but, this does not significantly affect the game-play experience and, we felt that it best served our goal of keeping the game experience as close as possible to the original design and art vision on both types of displays. Reports of the widescreen FOV being a crop of the 4:3 FOV are completely false.

One thing we can assure you that all these decisions were made with the best interests of the game in mind. We didn’t save any money or development time by choosing this set of parameters. We did what we thought was the best thing for the game: developing and optimizing it for widescreen displays, and making the decision not to do the usual crop for 4:3 displays. As a consumer, you certainly have the right to disagree.

We understand that not all users might not be happy with these choices and we will be looking into options for allowing users to adjust FOV settings manually. But as we mentioned earlier, changes to video game code do not happen in minutes or hours. We appreciate your understanding.


http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/home.html

[Strell]

Whoa whoa whoa. What's that written near the guy's hand??

SOMEONE ZOOM IN AND CHECK IT OUT (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/Einzell/BioShockPatch2.jpg)

[KaneRobot]

I've gone back and forth on the PC version of Bioshock more than your mom swinging from my crank. With 4:3 being "better" and the "only install twice" thing cleared up (and the demo running fine on my PC) I guess I'm more inclined to pick up the PC version again.

[javeryh]

Whoa whoa whoa. What's that written near the guy's hand??

SOMEONE ZOOM IN AND CHECK IT OUT (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/Einzell/BioShockPatch2.jpg)

I <3 Strell. I can't believe how out of control this got.

[PyroGamer]

Sucks that the folks at 2K Boston can't release a game as it is originally intended without jackfuck morons bitching about it online.

All I know is I'm not downloading any patch for this game if they make one available.


Widescreen mode SHOULD be the mode games are designed specifically to play on, and full-screen mode should just add unwanted stuff on the top and the bottom. Those with widescreen get to see it as intended, and fullscreen players don't get pointless black bars on the screen where they could easily just heighten the FOV.


I applaud 2K Boston for how they originally handled this, and I hope that a future patch doesn't fuck things up.

[Sideswiper]

The current widescreen patch is made by the folks (specifically Racer_S) at widescreengamingforum.com.

2K has now admitted they have a widescreen problem, right after saying they didn't. They're giving Racer_S a free 8800 card for his troubles.

http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/home.html

...And as for widescreen, we also want to say we completely understand a user's desire to augment their FOV. BioShock is a harrowing experience, but we don't want anyone to feel limited (or motion sick!). So we are in the process of working on an official PC patch to give widescreen PC users a choice to expand their horizontal FOV, and are investigating creating a similar update for the 360.
And finally, I want to personally congratulate Racer_S from the Widescreen Gaming Forums, and his awesome user patch to expand the widescreen FOV in BioShock. I'm currently tracking him down via email, but hopefully, he'll accept my gratitude, and maybe an Nvidia 8800 to boot.

[Rei no Otaku]

Where do they admit they have a problem? All that's said is they understand if some people want a different view.

[Owen]

It is funny when the Cult Of Rapture site first mentiond the Widescreen problems and say that

We understand that not all users might not be happy with these choices and we will be looking into options for allowing users to adjust FOV settings manually. But as we mentioned earlier, changes to video game code do not happen in minutes or hours. We appreciate your understanding.

Yet Racer_S was able to pull it off by himself with the demo/full game rather quickly so giving him a $400 videocard actually is saving them much more money since they will just repackage his fix into the first patch.

[benjamouth]

I've heard that Bioshock is rubbish, check out this review from a completely unbiased reviewer.

http://www.sonydefenseforce.com/?p=83

[dallow]

I've heard that Bioshock is rubbish, check out this review from a completely unbiased reviewer.

http://www.sonydefenseforce.com/?p=83What was the point of that in this thread?

I thought it'd be a joke review but it didn't make me laugh.

[benjamouth]

What was the point of that in this thread?

I thought it'd be a joke review but it didn't make me laugh.

Yeah sorry dude, I guess it wasn't that funny, the whole site made me laugh though.

The bit with the interpretation of sales numbers was classic.

[KingBroly]

I just wonder how big a patch like this is going to be. It seems like they're adding to the game. It doesn't seem like a thing to me that could be fixed.

I went back to Oblivion while playing Bioshock, but I'll be heading back to it later today as I got the first 1000 achievement points in it.

[A Happy Panda]

Yeah sorry dude, I guess it wasn't that funny, the whole site made me laugh though.

The bit with the interpretation of sales numbers was classic.

It's been posted before. I still thought it was funny regardless. A completely pro PS3 fan-community site reviewing a 360 exclusive game. IDK. The reviewer seemed fair and just, and not bias at all.........