Comments on: Challenge #2: Use Windowed or Fullscreen? http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/04/14/use-windowed-or-fullscreen/ I bake games. Indie style. Thu, 16 May 2013 13:23:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Juuso - Game Producer http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/04/14/use-windowed-or-fullscreen/comment-page-1/#comment-93725 Juuso - Game Producer Sat, 23 Jun 2007 12:05:31 +0000 http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/04/14/challenge-2-how-to-please-everybody/#comment-93725 I'd suggest checking that out from some technical forums such as gamedev.net - it depends on how you are making your game (what tools you have). I’d suggest checking that out from some technical forums such as gamedev.net – it depends on how you are making your game (what tools you have).

]]> By: Xtof http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/04/14/use-windowed-or-fullscreen/comment-page-1/#comment-93332 Xtof Fri, 22 Jun 2007 11:10:21 +0000 http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/04/14/challenge-2-how-to-please-everybody/#comment-93332 Guys, Hope you are still running this forum. Is there a way you can actually force a game that launches itself in full screen, to launch or switch to windowed. (having pbs with default graphic settings with Anno 1503 implying an "out of Range" ) Guys,

Hope you are still running this forum.

Is there a way you can actually force a game that launches itself in full screen, to launch or switch to windowed.

(having pbs with default graphic settings with Anno 1503 implying an “out of Range” )

]]> By: Gabriel http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/04/14/use-windowed-or-fullscreen/comment-page-1/#comment-9785 Gabriel Fri, 25 Aug 2006 13:40:35 +0000 http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/04/14/challenge-2-how-to-please-everybody/#comment-9785 With an option in the preferences section that will allow the user to set wether to open the game in windowed or in fullscreen modes. With an option in the preferences section that will allow the user to set wether to open the game in windowed or in fullscreen modes.

]]> By: Kevin Fields http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/04/14/use-windowed-or-fullscreen/comment-page-1/#comment-2150 Kevin Fields Sat, 13 May 2006 12:30:16 +0000 http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/04/14/challenge-2-how-to-please-everybody/#comment-2150 My personal preference would be to have a small application that's accessible through the game's listing in the Start menu. The app would give you the options for screen resolutions and settings. Then, the app would store the results in a configuration file that the engine could load. Max Payne made good use of this method. My personal preference would be to have a small application that’s accessible through the game’s listing in the Start menu. The app would give you the options for screen resolutions and settings. Then, the app would store the results in a configuration file that the engine could load. Max Payne made good use of this method.

]]> By: Juuso - Game Producer http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/04/14/use-windowed-or-fullscreen/comment-page-1/#comment-1103 Juuso - Game Producer Thu, 20 Apr 2006 05:42:29 +0000 http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/04/14/challenge-2-how-to-please-everybody/#comment-1103 See how much great variety there is in opinions... some people want game to start in windowed, some full screen, some with launchers... and some people are strongly against any one of these options. Here's a brief summary what's suggested: - depends on game - casual: windowed - launcher - launcher (where you can mark 'show launcher on startup') - launcher should also ask resolution, and bit depth - no complicated launchers (especially for casual games) - two separate shortcuts - two separate shortcuts would annoy - change in game menu - change using keyboard shortcut - change mode in small corner-art icon (minimize, window, close) - installer should ask and store the settings - go fullscreen without asking is annoying - box that asks windowed or fullscreen I don't have the correct answer, but I'm leaning into the following ways: - Casual games in windowed - Other games in fullscreen - or all games have easy-to-use game launcher where you could also tick 'show launcher on startup' It depends on the game. Some games could use corner art, some could use shortkeys, but a minimum would be in-game options screen (or launcher) where you could change settings. I would never use more than 1 desktop shortcut icons. If there would be need for additional 'launcher' icon, I'd put it in the start menu. See how much great variety there is in opinions… some people want game to start in windowed, some full screen, some with launchers… and some people are strongly against any one of these options.

Here’s a brief summary what’s suggested:
- depends on game
- casual: windowed
- launcher
- launcher (where you can mark ‘show launcher on startup’)
- launcher should also ask resolution, and bit depth
- no complicated launchers (especially for casual games)
- two separate shortcuts
- two separate shortcuts would annoy
- change in game menu
- change using keyboard shortcut
- change mode in small corner-art icon (minimize, window, close)
- installer should ask and store the settings
- go fullscreen without asking is annoying
- box that asks windowed or fullscreen

I don’t have the correct answer, but I’m leaning into the following ways:
- Casual games in windowed
- Other games in fullscreen
- or all games have easy-to-use game launcher where you could also tick ‘show launcher on startup’

It depends on the game. Some games could use corner art, some could use shortkeys, but a minimum would be in-game options screen (or launcher) where you could change settings. I would never use more than 1 desktop shortcut icons. If there would be need for additional ‘launcher’ icon, I’d put it in the start menu.

]]> By: Jeff Groves http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/04/14/use-windowed-or-fullscreen/comment-page-1/#comment-975 Jeff Groves Tue, 18 Apr 2006 16:25:42 +0000 http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/04/14/challenge-2-how-to-please-everybody/#comment-975 Personally, I enjoy World of Warcraft's method the best. It doesn't let you choose at the beginning, but it has a "Switch Windowed/Full Screen" hotkey listed under the controls. I press Ctrl-M and it painlessly goes from full screen to windowed and back. Better yet, if I quit the game in one mode, it restarts it in that same mode. Personally, I enjoy World of Warcraft’s method the best. It doesn’t let you choose at the beginning, but it has a “Switch Windowed/Full Screen” hotkey listed under the controls. I press Ctrl-M and it painlessly goes from full screen to windowed and back. Better yet, if I quit the game in one mode, it restarts it in that same mode.

]]> By: Michael Cordner http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/04/14/use-windowed-or-fullscreen/comment-page-1/#comment-964 Michael Cordner Tue, 18 Apr 2006 11:48:14 +0000 http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/04/14/challenge-2-how-to-please-everybody/#comment-964 And I should add, these settings are obviously saved across sessions :) And I should add, these settings are obviously saved across sessions :)

]]> By: Michael Cordner http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/04/14/use-windowed-or-fullscreen/comment-page-1/#comment-963 Michael Cordner Tue, 18 Apr 2006 11:47:31 +0000 http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/04/14/challenge-2-how-to-please-everybody/#comment-963 Pick one or the other. Don't confuse people with popups and complex launchers where you don't have to, especially if your game is for a casual audience. Personally, my games start full screen and have the option to change to windowed mode via a very simple settings screen which contains only: Music Volume FX Volume Fullscreen/Windowed Toggle This way, if a user really wants the game windowed, the option is very, very easy to find. Pick one or the other. Don’t confuse people with popups and complex launchers where you don’t have to, especially if your game is for a casual audience.

Personally, my games start full screen and have the option to change to windowed mode via a very simple settings screen which contains only:

Music Volume
FX Volume
Fullscreen/Windowed Toggle

This way, if a user really wants the game windowed, the option is very, very easy to find.

]]> By: Kal_Torak http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/04/14/use-windowed-or-fullscreen/comment-page-1/#comment-935 Kal_Torak Sun, 16 Apr 2006 12:52:33 +0000 http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/04/14/challenge-2-how-to-please-everybody/#comment-935 <blockquote> Thomas White Says: For casual games which can run in a window or fullscreen I would suggest having two separate shortcuts. </blockquote> As a gamer, that would really tick me off. I'm quite picky about my icons, and having 2 just for one game sucks IMO. Some games have 2-3 and it is very cluttering, I usually delete the ones I don't use. As a programmer I would probably either, 1. Pop up a dialog with Windowed/Fullscreen options, or 2. Start fullscreen and have options for starting in prefered mode from then on.

Thomas White Says:

For casual games which can run in a window or fullscreen I would suggest having two separate shortcuts.

As a gamer, that would really tick me off.
I’m quite picky about my icons, and having 2 just for one game sucks IMO.
Some games have 2-3 and it is very cluttering, I usually delete the ones I don’t use.

As a programmer I would probably either,
1. Pop up a dialog with Windowed/Fullscreen options, or
2. Start fullscreen and have options for starting in prefered mode from then on.

]]> By: Greg Sarhadian http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/04/14/use-windowed-or-fullscreen/comment-page-1/#comment-913 Greg Sarhadian Sat, 15 Apr 2006 04:59:39 +0000 http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/04/14/challenge-2-how-to-please-everybody/#comment-913 I would let the user decide by poping up a box that lets him/her to choose Windowed or Fullscreen. I would let the user decide by poping up a box that lets him/her to choose Windowed or Fullscreen.

]]>