Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

A Processor Question

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • A Processor Question

    I recently picked up Shrak and installed it on a Cyrix 686 running DOS 6.20 (yes, an original Cyrix). I got to the third level and ran into a roadblock when I could not make a simple jump - I always come up short. It's not a difficult jump at all but necessary to continue the game.

    Thinking it might be because I was running a pre 2.0 version, I downloaded and updating Shrak to version 2.0. I had to restart the game and again got to the same point on level three and can not make the jump.

    I have played through original Quake and some other expansions with no problems on this machine.

    My question is: does the processor matter in terms of how the game performs? If I were to install the game on a Intel P233 (I have many old machines), would the game perform differently?

    Any ideas?

    Thanks...Joe

  • #2
    Originally posted by Grandcheapskate View Post
    My question is: does the processor matter in terms of how the game performs?
    Yes. Quake's physics are framerate-dependent. This article explains it well.
    Ph'nglui mglw'nafh mankrip Hell's end wgah'nagl fhtagn.
    ==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
    Dev blog / Twitter / YouTube

    Comment


    • #3
      Thanks. I get the main thrust of the article even though I don't exactly understand all the math.

      Bottom line is I will have to move the game to a faster processor.

      Joe

      Comment


      • #4
        If it's a new install, you might not be "running". The original game had a default of walking speed. I believe autorun is an option in the menu, and the default key binding for running was shift.

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by Zop View Post
          If it's a new install, you might not be "running". The original game had a default of walking speed. I believe autorun is an option in the menu, and the default key binding for running was shift.
          No, not a new install of Quake, just the addition of Shrak. I can run without problems, it's this one jump that is getting me.

          Is there a way to increase/set the frame rate on my existing Cyrix? I looked at the thread below and it mentioned a variable cl-maxfps. I tried adding it to the config.cfg file but when I start the game, I can see a message "unknown command cl-maxfps".

          https://www.gog.com/forum/quake_seri...ate_in_quake_1

          I've never played with setting any variables, so this is all new to me.

          Thanks...Joe

          Comment


          • #6
            I decided to try the level, but on walking speed. There was a jump from a platform that came down from the ceiling that wasn't too forgiving, but possible. But I think the jump you are having trouble with is over lava? I couldn't get this one done without running.

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by Zop View Post
              I decided to try the level, but on walking speed. There was a jump from a platform that came down from the ceiling that wasn't too forgiving, but possible. But I think the jump you are having trouble with is over lava? I couldn't get this one done without running.
              It sounds like you found the jump, which is the one onto the platform lowered from the ceiling. It is on level 3. I have tried it countless times without success; running and from a standing position. If it was possible, I figure I should have made it once even by accident.

              It could well be the Cyrix 120+ is simply not fast enough and I will need to install the game onto another machine. This machine has been good enough for Quake and all the add-ons. It's very possible (probable?) that since Shrak was released later than Quake, they were assuming the game would run on at least a Pentium 233.

              Joe

              Comment


              • #8
                I read a bit about your Cyrix on Wikipedia and, it's said at that time, developers started hand-coding for Pentium: "for example... Quake"!! This leaves your particular cpu unable to run Quake too well. I imagine you are already running on the lowest resolution.

                If you are sure that you are indeed running, then you can do a couple things... one is to turn on noclip temporarily, or lower the gravity (in the console, type: sv_gravity 750) Normally the gravity is 800.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by Zop View Post
                  I read a bit about your Cyrix on Wikipedia and, it's said at that time, developers started hand-coding for Pentium: "for example... Quake"!! This leaves your particular cpu unable to run Quake too well. I imagine you are already running on the lowest resolution.

                  If you are sure that you are indeed running, then you can do a couple things... one is to turn on noclip temporarily, or lower the gravity (in the console, type: sv_gravity 750) Normally the gravity is 800.
                  Turning down the gravity did the trick! I lowered it to 750 and made the jump once but couldn't repeat it. I then lowered it to 700 and made the jump easily. I think I'll leave it at 700-750 and see how the game plays.

                  Now the question is...can I make it permanent? It seems every time I load a saved game, the gravity goes back to 800. I tried inserting sv_gravity into the config file but it gets removed whenever I start the game. I have to do it from the console every time I load a game.

                  And yes, it is at one of the lowest resolutions although I can go a little higher. Some day I'll put it on a more powerful machine so I can try Darkplaces.

                  Thanks for the help. At least now I can continue the game without having to move it to another machine.

                  Thanks...Joe
                  Last edited by Grandcheapskate; 05-29-2017, 08:35 PM.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    The sv_gravity is actually set in the QC game code, in the file 'world.qc'. It basically tells the engine to set gravity at 800 for all maps except E1M8 (ziggurat vertigo). This means the gravity will reset to 800 each time you start the game or change a level.

                    You won't be able to undo this without making a small mod (that I'm aware of), but you could bind "sv_gravity 700" to a key, and just quickly press that key each level change.

                    EDIT: for future reference though, you will want to put custom cvar settings in a text file called 'autoexec.cfg' (you may need to make this file yourself). config.cfg is always overwritten/updated each time you quit the game with your most recent cvar settings.

                    So, for example, make the file 'autoexec.cfg' and add the line:

                    bind g "sv_gravity 700"

                    to it. Every time you press the g key, the cvar will update to 700.
                    Last edited by Dutch; 05-29-2017, 11:52 PM.
                    'Replacement Player Models' Project

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Dutch View Post

                      So, for example, make the file 'autoexec.cfg' and add the line:

                      bind g "sv_gravity 700"

                      to it. Every time you press the g key, the cvar will update to 700.
                      Thanks Dutch...I updated the autoexec.cfg in the Shrak directory and it's working.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        No problem, glad you got it working
                        'Replacement Player Models' Project

                        Comment

                        Working...
                        X