Doom III (Screenies and optimization)

[Saurdaukar]

Im sure plenty of you are attempting to play this game on less than optimal computers, like me.

Got a fix for that right out of the old DOS boot disk realm.

-Following installation of Doom 3, you know that the game is basically packed into 5 pk4 files.  Thats great for ease of file navigation, but horrible for performance considering that the game must decompress the information while youre playing.

::applause:: How we fix it, Saur?

-Its simple really.  Let me show you.

::applause::

1.)  Do a Google search for "WinRAR 3.3" which is a file extraction program.  There are plenty of download sites and the software is free.  

2.)  Install said extraction utility.

3.)  Go into Doom 3 installation directory and find the folder marked "Base."  This folder houses the 5 pk4 files.

4.)  Open WinRAR and extract each pk4 file individually back into the Base folder.

5.)  Once all five pk4 files have been extracted and their contents displayed in the Base folder, delete or otherwise remove the original 5 pk4 files from the folder so that the game doesnt use them and instead reverts to the decromessed files.

End result?  Expect to be able to play the game one step up on the resolution and detail level with an increase over your old frame rates.  Load times are also significantly reduced.

I was playing on 800x600 and medium detail with the occassional slow down and now Im on 1024x768 and high detail with no slowdown.  Silky smooth.

This is on a P4 2.0Ghz with 768 DDR and a 128M Ati 9800.

::applause::  How does he do it?

Couple screenies I took, BTW.  Have fun.

[Wanker]

Bravo! Nice head shot, there.

Oh yeah, thanks for the tech tips.

[midnight Target]

Is that one of lazs' zombies?

[Charon]

Very cool, saur, thanks!

I'm waiting for my "brand new" 9700 pro to arrive from e-bay and be overclocked to 9800 levels (currently have an OC'd 9500 pro). With my OC'd AMD @3.2 I hope to have comfortable gameplay at 10/7 "high" settings with maybe x2/x4 as.

Also just ordered some "MedUSA 5.1" headphones from a company in England for $90 including shipping. Four speakers in each cup with excellent base and real surround (and a used Audigy 2 for $40 from "computergeeks"). Also bought a used 21" SGI/sony monitor on e-bay for the game. Can't wait to be scared off my bellybutton

Charon

[AKS\/\/ulfe]

Oh boy! Zombies!

You'd think demons could conjure up something scarier... and deadlier.
-SW

[Saurdaukar]

Originally posted by AKS\/\/ulfe
Oh boy! Zombies!

You'd think demons could conjure up something scarier... and deadlier.
-SW

Tough getting the camera out for those moments.  

Actually - its tough not to run away.  lol

[Edbert]

Originally posted by Edbert MOL
Im only about 3 levels into it, died once since I was not quicksaving when I could and let my health get too low. But I am starting to wonder if I should have pre-ordered it and all. It is not as good as the orginal yet, but I'm still hopefull.

The best way I could describe it at this point is to call it a "top-notch flashlight
simulation."

I mean c'mon, here we are, interplanetary travel, permanent bases (although the one I am on is not looking all that permanent right now) on Mars and the cutting edge of scientific discovery in the 22nd century. Yet they seem to have uninvented duct-tape!

Flashlight mounts are standard issue for many police and military arms today (there's even some home owners who have them on their firearms but I'm not naming names here) yet here I am with my choice of flashlight or firearm. I can see what is shooting me very well with the light, or I can return fire and guess where the monster is in the dark...BUT NOT BOTH! Sheesh, I'm only on the 3rd level and its already pissing me off.

[Wanker]

LOL Edbert, a guy I work with said exactly the same thing you did earlier today. He's on level 3, too, and is about ready to give it up.

[Torque]

Originally posted by Charon
Very cool, saur, thanks!

I'm waiting for my "brand new" 9700 pro to arrive from e-bay and be overclocked to 9800 levels (currently have an OC'd 9500 pro). With my OC'd AMD @3.2 I hope to have comfortable gameplay at 10/7 "high" settings with maybe x2/x4 as.

Also just ordered some "MedUSA 5.1" headphones from a company in England for $90 including shipping. Four speakers in each cup with excellent base and real surround (and a used Audigy 2 for $40 from "computergeeks"). Also bought a used 21" SGI/sony monitor on e-bay for the game. Can't wait to be scared off my bellybutton

Charon

I don't think you should have a problem, i have a 9800 Pro @ stock speed and an AMD @2.6, play Battlefield @1600 rez 2x 4x np, the lowest the fps drop is to maybe the low eighties during intense mutliple explosion scenes.

Btw the 21" trinitron monitors are the catz anus, all 70 lbs of her. Make sure you have a beefy puter desk or it will warp the surface.

1G of Ram is a must tho.

I'm gonna check into those head phones.

[narsus]

*sigh*

so which of the 10 weapons would you like your 1 flashlight on

it is supposed to be dark to bring out the "horror" of the game, movies like aliens, halloween, etc are all dark on purpose. Wouldn't be nearly as fun with all the lights turned on.

[Charon]

I'm gonna check into those head phones.

They have great -- really great --  reviews and are made by a German company, but you can only get them in Europe. They also have a mic, and can be used with both PCs and DVD players.

You get a discount from the place I found if you buy two or more. They run (with 3 day shipping) $120 US ea. for 1, $90 US ea. for 2 and $80 US ea. for 3. I just ordered two today and should have them by monday. I'll post how they work next week sometime after I get them and give them a run.

Charon

[Torque]

Curious Charon, are you running your headphones from a surround card now? Currently i am and find it excellent for precisely locating the direction (360 degrees both axis) in which incoming targets are approaching from.

Just wondering how much better it can get, but if they're German i can guess there must be alot.

When you get the big monitor (if not provided) download the ICC profile from the manufacturer for the windows setup, do a gamma correction as well. The big screens are great when it comes to digital photography and also for watching movies and dvds and that other ting dat makes yous goes blind.

cheers...

[Overlag]

theres alot of fus about this game, and its great gfx but where? most of the screenshots ive seen are BLACK

[Edbert]

Originally posted by narsus
*sigh*

so which of the 10 weapons would you like your 1 flashlight on

it is supposed to be dark to bring out the "horror" of the game, movies like aliens, halloween, etc are all dark on purpose. Wouldn't be nearly as fun with all the lights turned on.

I like the darkness and the overall creepy feel, no problem with that. I just wish I could shoot and use the light at the same time is all.  At this point I've only got three guns plus my fists (and they say the light is a weapon too), and I should be able to hold each of them and the light at the same time without a mount and without duct tape. I mean I hold the pistol in my right hand and in order to pull out the flashlight I have to holster the sidearm and use my weapon hand for the light?
The PDA dialog bit is alittle droll and incessant, I'm spending a lot of time listening to stuff that has no bearing on the game that I can see at this point.

I'm also getting very accustomed to doing a quick 180, about 40% of the monstaers come at you from behind. Sometimes through doors you just came through or from rooms you just cleared. Kind of irritating and gamey but certainly keeps the tension levels high

I'm not gonna quit yet though, haven't met a FPS I didn't finish except for the totally lame ones. This is just frustrating is all, it is very well made.

[hawker238]

Originally posted by Overlag
theres alot of fus about this game, and its great gfx but where? most of the screenshots ive seen are BLACK

Yeah....  I know its pretty, but its just you shooting gory monsters.  Just doesn't do it for me anymore.