If this is a proportional thing, and close enough will suffice, can I just use a multiplier?
Sure, ultimately if you knew the correct answer for FOV2 and you know your starting FOV1, then there has to exist a simple muliplier (namely FOV2/FOV1) that you could simply multiply FOV1 by to get FOV2. Unfortunately, the exact equation is not simple and that multiplier depends on both the starting FOV1, the starting aspect ratio (part of W1) and the desired ending aspect ratio (part of W2). In other words, there is no single multiplier that would work universally going from a 4:3 aspect ratio to say a 16:9 aspect ratio. Strange as it seems, the starting FOV1 also affects the needed multiplier.
Take a look at this thread I wrote awhile ago. It goes through some examples that may help.
http://htpcnews.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=8444
Now, could someone make this easier for everyone? I suppose. Someone could go through the calculations for many different starting FOVs, the most common starting aspect ratio of 4:3 and the most common ending aspect ratios of 16:9 or 16:10 and then put these in a table. Or better yet, someone with programming skills could create a web application that would allow you to simply input the needed variables and get the immediate answer for FOV2. But then, that scientific calculator would continue to collect dust and have no meaning in life. :wink:
So far I've played Far Cry, Painkiller, and MOH Pacific Assault on this TV, and Pacific Assault is the worst for losing HUD info.
For the most part, if you're doing things correctly, you shouldn't lose any HUD information. Now I know this isn't true for a game like TRON 2.0 which is why I don't try to play it in a widescreen ratio. But for games like Painkiller, UT2004, COD Single Player, Half-life 2, or Doom 3, you can see the entire HUD. The HUD may be stretched (round radar maps look oval), but you're not missing parts of the HUD and the game world is absolutely not stretched.
May I make two suggestions. First, make sure that you are seeing the entire Windows desktop at 1280 x 720 on your TV. You must see the taskbar and all icons. If not, you have some overscan issues and first need to correct that. You might need to create a custom resolution with PowerStrip or you might be able to adjust the desktop size using the advanced display controls from nVidia or ATI. If you're not seeing the entire desktop, then you also won't see the entire HUD in game at 1280 x 720. Second, as a test, try this for Painkiller. Painkiller modification is easy and works great at 16:9 and 1280 x 720. I just want to be sure you've done it correctly.
Open the config.ini file using WordPad. The default file location is here: C:Program FilesDreamCatcherPainkillerBin. Change "Cfg.FOV = 95" to "Cfg.FOV = 111.002536". Click File>Save. Close WordPad. Start Painkiller. If you already have 1280 x 720 available as an option for your desktop (i.e. it is a valid resolution choice for your video card) then 1280 x 720 should be a resolution choice in game for Painkiller. Choose that and frag away! (Other games, such as UT2004 or Doom 3 require .cfg or .ini file entries for your desired resolution, but not Painkiller.)