No Shadows in Chrome Engine Games (Nail'd, Call of Juarez 2, Sniper Ghost Warrior)
  1 / 2    
Techlands Chrome Engine 4 offers very nice graphics. But the games using this engine are not very suitable for S3D as the shadows are rendered in 2D and You cannot turn them off in the in game settings. So their profiles declare them as "not recommended".
There is a workaround by using low depth and suitable convergence settings. But the games get quite "flat" by this way and the shadows still cause some irritation.

Now I've found a way to turn off the irritating shadows.
You have to edit the file [b]Video.scr [/b]in the folder
- ...\Program Files\Deep Silver\Nail'd\Haste\Out\Settings for [b]Nail'd[/b]
- [user]\Documents\Call of Juarez - Bound in Blood\Out\Settings for [b]Call of Juarez - Bound in Blood[/b]
- ...\Program Files\Sniper Ghost Warrior\Game\out\Settings for [b]Sniper Ghost Warrior[/b]
You can't turn off the shadows by changing the vallue Shadows("...").
But changing ShadowMapSize(...) to [b]ShadowMapSize(1)[/b] removes the shadows /biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':biggrin:' />

Now You can use every depth and convergence setting You like.
Of course removing the shadows affects the atmosphere of the games. It depends on the scenery how disturbing this effect is. And there are still some shadows (textured and character shadows)in the game. To me a perfect S3D impression is more important than the shadows /wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' />

There remain some problems with special light effects (torch light, etc.). And the laser sight doesn't work correctly. But meanwhile I've got used to use shoot between the two sights... /unsure.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':unsure:' />
Techlands Chrome Engine 4 offers very nice graphics. But the games using this engine are not very suitable for S3D as the shadows are rendered in 2D and You cannot turn them off in the in game settings. So their profiles declare them as "not recommended".

There is a workaround by using low depth and suitable convergence settings. But the games get quite "flat" by this way and the shadows still cause some irritation.



Now I've found a way to turn off the irritating shadows.

You have to edit the file Video.scr in the folder

- ...\Program Files\Deep Silver\Nail'd\Haste\Out\Settings for Nail'd

- [user]\Documents\Call of Juarez - Bound in Blood\Out\Settings for Call of Juarez - Bound in Blood

- ...\Program Files\Sniper Ghost Warrior\Game\out\Settings for Sniper Ghost Warrior

You can't turn off the shadows by changing the vallue Shadows("...").

But changing ShadowMapSize(...) to ShadowMapSize(1) removes the shadows /biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':biggrin:' />



Now You can use every depth and convergence setting You like.

Of course removing the shadows affects the atmosphere of the games. It depends on the scenery how disturbing this effect is. And there are still some shadows (textured and character shadows)in the game. To me a perfect S3D impression is more important than the shadows /wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' />



There remain some problems with special light effects (torch light, etc.). And the laser sight doesn't work correctly. But meanwhile I've got used to use shoot between the two sights... /unsure.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':unsure:' />

My original display name is 3d4dd - for some reason Nvidia changed it..?!

#1
Posted 12/08/2010 10:04 AM   
Nice info, I'll try that thank you..
Nice info, I'll try that thank you..

#2
Posted 12/08/2010 12:43 PM   
great find, thanks a lot. Does call of juarez 1 benefit from this too?
great find, thanks a lot. Does call of juarez 1 benefit from this too?

#3
Posted 12/08/2010 03:25 PM   
Oh yeah it worked perfectly (don't change just comments like me at first lol)
I'm even able to change max refresh rate to 120hz (game only has the option of 100 for max..) and whatever I want in the settings file...
Thank you very much :)
Oh yeah it worked perfectly (don't change just comments like me at first lol)

I'm even able to change max refresh rate to 120hz (game only has the option of 100 for max..) and whatever I want in the settings file...

Thank you very much :)

#4
Posted 12/09/2010 12:33 AM   
Hi, i have a problem for Nail'd. There is no folder "out", i can't sucess to find this folder or another like it.
Any one have the same problem ?
Hi, i have a problem for Nail'd. There is no folder "out", i can't sucess to find this folder or another like it.

Any one have the same problem ?

#5
Posted 12/09/2010 02:50 PM   
[quote name='Kashran' date='09 December 2010 - 02:50 PM' timestamp='1291906245' post='1158450']
Hi, i have a problem for Nail'd. There is no folder "out", i can't sucess to find this folder or another like it.
Any one have the same problem ?
[/quote]

There must be.. I have the folder in both Nail'd and Call of Juarez 2 in installation folders.. Did you find the folder "Haste" first?
[quote name='Kashran' date='09 December 2010 - 02:50 PM' timestamp='1291906245' post='1158450']

Hi, i have a problem for Nail'd. There is no folder "out", i can't sucess to find this folder or another like it.

Any one have the same problem ?





There must be.. I have the folder in both Nail'd and Call of Juarez 2 in installation folders.. Did you find the folder "Haste" first?

#6
Posted 12/09/2010 03:32 PM   
[quote name='Kashran' date='09 December 2010 - 02:50 PM' timestamp='1291906245' post='1158450']
Hi, i have a problem for Nail'd. There is no folder "out", i can't sucess to find this folder or another like it.
Any one have the same problem ?
[/quote]
Kashran, you probably downloaded it from Steam so the folder "out" is in "my documents/nail'd/settings/out"
[quote name='Kashran' date='09 December 2010 - 02:50 PM' timestamp='1291906245' post='1158450']

Hi, i have a problem for Nail'd. There is no folder "out", i can't sucess to find this folder or another like it.

Any one have the same problem ?



Kashran, you probably downloaded it from Steam so the folder "out" is in "my documents/nail'd/settings/out"

#7
Posted 12/09/2010 03:40 PM   
Thank You for the feedback!
@oblivioner
I don't have Call of Juarez 1 installed on my PC any more. I can't remember that there had been problems with shadows. The profile for the DX10-Version declares it as excellent...
@Kashran
It obviously not only depends on the game but also on the version where the Video.scr is located... Try a general search on Your PC for this file.
Thank You for the feedback!

@oblivioner

I don't have Call of Juarez 1 installed on my PC any more. I can't remember that there had been problems with shadows. The profile for the DX10-Version declares it as excellent...

@Kashran

It obviously not only depends on the game but also on the version where the Video.scr is located... Try a general search on Your PC for this file.

My original display name is 3d4dd - for some reason Nvidia changed it..?!

#8
Posted 12/10/2010 09:35 AM   
Hi, i tried to looking for Video.scr by th research but nothing /blarg.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':/' />

When i try to change some graphics, the game asks to reboot, i do "yes" to do the modification but the game didn't reboot /blarg.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':/' />
Anybody has an idea ?
Hi, i tried to looking for Video.scr by th research but nothing /blarg.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':/' />



When i try to change some graphics, the game asks to reboot, i do "yes" to do the modification but the game didn't reboot /blarg.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':/' />

Anybody has an idea ?

#9
Posted 12/10/2010 10:12 PM   
[quote name='Kashran' date='10 December 2010 - 10:12 PM' timestamp='1292019133' post='1159055']
Hi, i tried to looking for Video.scr by th research but nothing /blarg.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':/' />

When i try to change some graphics, the game asks to reboot, i do "yes" to do the modification but the game didn't reboot /blarg.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':/' />
Anybody has an idea ?
[/quote]
What folder is your Nail'd game in Kashran? Did you buy a disc of the game or did you download it?
[quote name='Kashran' date='10 December 2010 - 10:12 PM' timestamp='1292019133' post='1159055']

Hi, i tried to looking for Video.scr by th research but nothing /blarg.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':/' />



When i try to change some graphics, the game asks to reboot, i do "yes" to do the modification but the game didn't reboot /blarg.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':/' />

Anybody has an idea ?



What folder is your Nail'd game in Kashran? Did you buy a disc of the game or did you download it?

#10
Posted 12/11/2010 08:25 AM   
ok i tried it and it worked great with coj:bnb and naild,thanks!

Remember to change ShadowMapSize(number) to ShadowMapSize(1), not the ShadowMapSize(i)
ok i tried it and it worked great with coj:bnb and naild,thanks!



Remember to change ShadowMapSize(number) to ShadowMapSize(1), not the ShadowMapSize(i)

#11
Posted 12/11/2010 09:00 AM   
Hi,
I just reinstalled it to another place, and now it's good :)

Thks
Hi,

I just reinstalled it to another place, and now it's good :)



Thks

#12
Posted 12/11/2010 02:35 PM   
Call of Juarez 2 got a "not recommended for S3D" rating but offered good S3D after switching off the shadows (see above).
Unfortunately [size="6"]Call of Juarez The Cartel[/size] seems to deserve the "not recommended for S3D" as it suffers from several serious issues. You can turn off shadows again by setting ShadowMapSize(1) in Video.scr (..\Program Files\Ubisoft\Call of Juarez - The Cartel\MD\out). But now there are more issues than the shadows:
- using the Nvidia 3DVision driver the game suffers from a kind of "motion blur" effect that makes it almost unplayable. I don't know if a certain post effect causes this issue. Unfortunately You can't turn off post effects neither in the game options nor by editing Video.scr.
Using the combination of iZ3D driver and 3DVision glasses solves this issue (see http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=198856 ). There is a kind of motion blur during the prologue but it didn't appear during the following 3 chapters.
But unfortunately there are other serious issues:
- using iZ3D after the first chapter the background (not only the sky but the complete landscape!) is rendered at wrong depth. So outside the buildings You have to reduce depth to a minimum. Not only iZ3D but also TriDef suffered from this issue.
- inside the buildings there are some ligthing issues caused by spotlights.
- especially in cutscenes depth of field effects are often used and quite irritating.

Update:
After some more testing I regard the 3DVision motion blur effect caused by fast movements as the lesser evil compared to the background issues with iZ3D. So I use the 3DVision driver and turn off S3D during the car driving missions. I also reduced the sensibility for the joystick so I can't turn around fast enough to cause the blur effect.
If there would be a profile for iZ3D that solves the issues with the background similar to the Nvidia driver and still prevents the blur effect then the game could offer at least a fair S3D experience.
Call of Juarez 2 got a "not recommended for S3D" rating but offered good S3D after switching off the shadows (see above).

Unfortunately Call of Juarez The Cartel seems to deserve the "not recommended for S3D" as it suffers from several serious issues. You can turn off shadows again by setting ShadowMapSize(1) in Video.scr (..\Program Files\Ubisoft\Call of Juarez - The Cartel\MD\out). But now there are more issues than the shadows:

- using the Nvidia 3DVision driver the game suffers from a kind of "motion blur" effect that makes it almost unplayable. I don't know if a certain post effect causes this issue. Unfortunately You can't turn off post effects neither in the game options nor by editing Video.scr.

Using the combination of iZ3D driver and 3DVision glasses solves this issue (see http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=198856 ). There is a kind of motion blur during the prologue but it didn't appear during the following 3 chapters.

But unfortunately there are other serious issues:

- using iZ3D after the first chapter the background (not only the sky but the complete landscape!) is rendered at wrong depth. So outside the buildings You have to reduce depth to a minimum. Not only iZ3D but also TriDef suffered from this issue.

- inside the buildings there are some ligthing issues caused by spotlights.

- especially in cutscenes depth of field effects are often used and quite irritating.



Update:

After some more testing I regard the 3DVision motion blur effect caused by fast movements as the lesser evil compared to the background issues with iZ3D. So I use the 3DVision driver and turn off S3D during the car driving missions. I also reduced the sensibility for the joystick so I can't turn around fast enough to cause the blur effect.

If there would be a profile for iZ3D that solves the issues with the background similar to the Nvidia driver and still prevents the blur effect then the game could offer at least a fair S3D experience.

My original display name is 3d4dd - for some reason Nvidia changed it..?!

#13
Posted 09/07/2011 09:04 AM   
Finally I found a solution to solve or at least reduce the motion blur issue with the Nvidia driver!
Edit [b]Video.scr [/b](in ..\Program Files\Ubisoft\Call of Juarez - The Cartel\MD\out) and change the entries to:
ShadowMapSize(1)
SpotShadowMapSize(1)
MaxRefresh(120)
Save the file and set it to read only.
Also set 120 Hz as refresh rate for 3DVision in the Nvidia system settings.

ATTENTION: When the game starts there used to be a start screen telling You to press any button to start the game. Now I've got a blank screen when I start the game. But frequently pressing a button causes the game to start and then the main menu appears.
120 Hz reduces the motion blur to a level that even the driving missions are playable now in S3D.

With turned off shadows and reduced blur I would rate the game now at least as fair and playable with S3D.
Finally I found a solution to solve or at least reduce the motion blur issue with the Nvidia driver!

Edit Video.scr (in ..\Program Files\Ubisoft\Call of Juarez - The Cartel\MD\out) and change the entries to:

ShadowMapSize(1)

SpotShadowMapSize(1)

MaxRefresh(120)

Save the file and set it to read only.

Also set 120 Hz as refresh rate for 3DVision in the Nvidia system settings.



ATTENTION: When the game starts there used to be a start screen telling You to press any button to start the game. Now I've got a blank screen when I start the game. But frequently pressing a button causes the game to start and then the main menu appears.

120 Hz reduces the motion blur to a level that even the driving missions are playable now in S3D.



With turned off shadows and reduced blur I would rate the game now at least as fair and playable with S3D.

My original display name is 3d4dd - for some reason Nvidia changed it..?!

#14
Posted 09/07/2011 11:53 AM   
Now there is even a better way to turn off the motion blur. This graphic tweaks for Dead Island also work for CoJ The Cartel:
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showpost.php?p=24976003&postcount=247
I tried the tweaks that change motion blur, bloom, dust and fog with success. I made the changes manually but I think You even can use the files offered for download in the post. You only have to put them in ..\Program Files\Ubisoft\Call of Juarez - The Cartel\MD\out\ instead of My Documents\DeadIsland\out\.
Whereas the new settings for bloom, dust and fog are a matter of taste I strongly recommend to use the motion blur tweak.
Now there is even a better way to turn off the motion blur. This graphic tweaks for Dead Island also work for CoJ The Cartel:

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showpost.php?p=24976003&postcount=247

I tried the tweaks that change motion blur, bloom, dust and fog with success. I made the changes manually but I think You even can use the files offered for download in the post. You only have to put them in ..\Program Files\Ubisoft\Call of Juarez - The Cartel\MD\out\ instead of My Documents\DeadIsland\out\.

Whereas the new settings for bloom, dust and fog are a matter of taste I strongly recommend to use the motion blur tweak.

My original display name is 3d4dd - for some reason Nvidia changed it..?!

#15
Posted 09/13/2011 02:34 PM   
  1 / 2    
Scroll To Top