Widescreen Gaming Forum

Stranglehold PC demo came out today.

Amazingly (amazingly stupid that is) it includes no in-game resolution adjustment. In fact, it includes no graphics options other than brightness. The demo is locked* to 1024x768 and the other graphics options are either similarly hard locked to certain levels or they may autodetect appropriate levels, but I'm willing to bet largely on the former.

*The resolution can be changed via the command line. By adding the following arguments to the game's shortcut: -ResX=1360 -ResY=768 Replacing the values as appropriate of course.

However when I used 1360x768, the 2D elements were messed up. The hud showed only in a small space in the upper left quadrant of the screen and menus where similarly offset and messed up. These problems did not occur at 1024x768.


I didn't bother checking whether or was Hor+ or Vert-. My guess, just based on the engine (UE3) and the lack of care put in the rest of the PC version, is that it's vert-; but it wasn't blatently obvious if it was. Given that it's 3rd person, the default FOV is reasonably wide, and it was presumably developed for 1280x720 on consoles it's not a huge detrement to this game if it is vert- (in other words, may be a case of "4:3 vert+"). Still it looks like it's one sloppy hack job of a PC port - I mean how can they not include any resolution adjustment? I'd steer clear of the PC version.

-----update-----

Apparently only the demo is a quick, crappy port of the console demo. On the developer's blog they say the retail version has the settings you'd expect for a PC game.

I also was in a bit of concern after noticing the lack of resolution changes, probably the ONLY game I've ever seen to have such a vital feature out, besides '98 games like StarCraft.

I tried 1280x720 and the hud problem did not occur, so now I'm concerned that it's specific to 1360x768.

Yeah, I've seen 1920x1200 shots without a HUD problem.

I'm starting to think my 7900 GT KO won't need to be upgraded after all.... let's see what the Crysis demo will determine in 10 days.

Another U3 engine game with horrible FOV closeness. Anyone find a way to change FOV at all?

the FOV is like that with 4:3 and 5:4 too
but none the less is still Vert-

but even in 4:3 feels like the camera is in the players back all the time
so thats not the fov per-say but just the camera being to close
the camera is tight but its tight regardless
the FOV isnt bad over all

Just tried this demo on my TV with 1360x768, the HUD is screwed. I also tested it on my monitor with 1440x900, no problems there. It really looks like a resolution specific problem, cool game, but if theres no widescreen support in the retail version, then theres no way I'm paying for the game. I hope the OP is right about the full version.

Sorry pals, but i just read in the official midway PC support forum that 1360x768 is not a supported resolution "due to menu interface and HUD problems". It's in the "Stranglehold (PC) Known Issues/FAQs" section
No gamepad and joystick support too.
Another bad PC conversion i fear. Shame to Midway!
Hope they'll fix this in a future patch (yeah, always patches)
And, yes, you can choose your resolution in the retail game: 640x480-800x600 and 1024x768. Wow! Looks like you need to use a DVI cable to show more resolutions, but not 1360x768.
I had to edit the desktop shortcut to force 1360x768, like in the demo and the screen is screwed up, with 2 huge nice black bars.

Hmm, is it 1998 again?