[Release] Warcraft II Widescreen / High resolution patch

[fois]

Warcraft II Widescreen / High resolution patch

Download and extract all files into your game folder, open Warcraft_II_HD.ini in notepad to change your resolution.
Run the game via Warcraft_II_HD.exe. Do not use the old Warcraft II Config.exe anymore since it will revert some changes, use the new Warcraft_II_HD_Config.exe now instead.

Please report any bugs you find in here or on discord: https://discord.com/invite/b7gttyy


Download (Tested with GOG.com version and War2Combat): https://ftp.war2.ru/war2/Other/Warcraft_II_Widescreen.zip


Note: Linux/macOS users need to add a dll override for ddraw for Warcraft_II_HD.exe


Live Streaming

For live streaming/recording with OBS the preferred way to capture the game is now "Game Capture". It's also possible to use "Display Capture" or "Window Capture" but to make those two options working you'll need to open "dd-hd.ini" in notepad and change the line "nonexclusive=false" to "nonexclusive=true".

Full tutorial for live streaming is here: https://forum.war2.ru/index.php/topic,6211.0.html



High quality scaling

The patch is configured by default with low quality upscaling just to make sure that it also works fine on older hardware.

To enable high quality upscaling you'll have to open Warcraft_II_HD_Config and choose the following settings:

Presentation       = "Fullscreen Upscaled" (fullscreen lobby) OR "Borderless" (windowed lobby)
Renderer            = "OpenGL"
OpenGL Shader = "xbrz-freescale.glsl" OR "lanczos2-sharp.glsl"



Plugins + InSight

Lambchops fixed his lc.dll and lobby_map plugin to make it working with the patch, you can download it here:
https://forum.war2.ru/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=6461.0;attach=4236

I also updated InSight to make it working with the patch, you can download it here:
https://forum.war2.ru/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=6461.0;attach=4235





Original (640x480)


Widescreen (832x480)


Widescreen (960x544)


Widescreen (1280x704)


4:3 (800x608)

[tk[as]]

cool stuff.

definitely not for multiplayer. not even the option. leave 640x480

[Szwagier]

Why not? Finally we will remove black bars in modern monitors

You are not even playing tk

[Player]

Nice.  Multiplayer it!

[shesycompany]

a name player i would listen to it

[maciek]

It looks very good. Looking forward to play 960x544 on multiplayer

[fois]

cool stuff.

definitely not for multiplayer. not even the option. leave 640x480

I was also concerned about multiplayer hence why I made it for it for single player only at first. I tried out high resolutions like 1280x720 but I didn't like it, you can see way too much. 832x480 is not that much higher than the original so I thought at least this resolution would be fine for multiplayer.

danny tried out the 960x544 patch yesterday on his stream, anyone who's interested in how it plays with a higher resolution can check out his video here: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1190669661

[dannyldd]

cool stuff.

definitely not for multiplayer. not even the option. leave 640x480

I was also concerned about multiplayer hence why I made it for it for single player only at first. I tried out high resolutions like 1280x720 but I didn't like it, you can see way too much. 832x480 is not that much higher than the original so I thought at least this resolution would be fine for multiplayer.

danny tried out the 960x544 patch yesterday on his stream, anyone who's interested in how it plays with a higher resolution can check out his video here: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1190669661

and available on youtube:

Testing up NEW Warcraft 2 higher resolution feature - 960x544 pixels. Orc04 Insane Edition - YouTube

[tk[as]]

1) would it affect scrolling at all? if so it'd be bad for multiplayer.

2) if everyone is not forced to/able to use widescreen it will mean some players have more vision than others.


#2 is the biggest concern imo ... but both would change the mechanics of the game in my opinion. even if scroll speed was the same, time needed to scroll from Point A to point B l(left to right) would be slightly affected simply because it appears to be at least 30% larger field of vision
 

[tk[as]]

Say you're 12 o clock and you make your altar closer to s12. It's typically out of vision. There is a "skill gap" that requires a better player to remember/time the mage/lust upgrade.. Even though your viewfinder has no other reason to look over there, other than to make the upgrade. With wider field of vision you are more likely to see the altar and make the upgrade without having to remember it.. if that makes sense.


The widescreen does change the mechanics of the game...in more ways than the very simple example i just mentioned.

[Player]

Say you're 12 o clock and you make your altar closer to s12. It's typically out of vision. There is a "skill gap" that requires a better player to remember/time the mage/lust upgrade.. Even though your viewfinder has no other reason to look over there, other than to make the upgrade. With wider field of vision you are more likely to see the altar and make the upgrade without having to remember it.. if that makes sense.


The widescreen does change the mechanics of the game...in more ways than the very simple example i just mentioned.

Lol

[maciek]

1) would it affect scrolling at all? if so it'd be bad for multiplayer.

if you dont want to adjust to different scrolling stay at 640x480

2) if everyone is not forced to/able to use widescreen it will mean some players have more vision than others.

If people don't care to download it why would I care. Its their concern

Say you're 12 o clock and you make your altar closer to s12. It's typically out of vision. There is a "skill gap" that requires a better player to remember/time the mage/lust upgrade.. Even though your viewfinder has no other reason to look over there, other than to make the upgrade. With wider field of vision you are more likely to see the altar and make the upgrade without having to remember it.. if that makes sense.


The widescreen does change the mechanics of the game...in more ways than the very simple example i just mentioned.

That's probably the most stupid thing you have ever written xDDD

[Harrywangs]

Yeah, you're changing the game.

[justinschmidt]

I want to say thank you to fois, mistral, and everyone else for all that they you have done. It really means a lot. You guys have done such an incredible job with the game. [as] 4 life

[Shotgun]

TK is right for a change, even though he explained it like TWN-Cancel after 27 beers