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DarkBASIC Professional Discussion / Choosing the display size

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Qoheleth
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Posted: 2nd Oct 2011 14:42
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This is such a simple question that it almost feels embarrassing, but once again my search results did not turn up anything. How do you decide which display size to use for your game as you obviously don't know what screens other people use. Should I just go for the lowest possibility (like 800x600); should I determine the desktop size and then try to resize everything accordingly; or is there a better way?
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Pincho Paxton
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Posted: 2nd Oct 2011 15:12
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Pick a size that a lot of computer can handle, and that keep your game running fast. 1024 * 768 is usually the best.

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Indicium
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Posted: 2nd Oct 2011 17:54
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In most games, the player can pick their own resolution.

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Qoheleth
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Posted: 2nd Oct 2011 20:22
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Pincho, thanks for the reply.

Indicium says:
[quote]In most games, the player can pick their own resolution.

Thanks, I realise that, but it reverts back to my question, which can be restated as: how do I write my program so that the graphics (2D) can work on any chosen resolution?
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zenassem
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Posted: 2nd Oct 2011 20:28 Edited at: 2nd Oct 2011 20:32
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If you want to ensure that your game displays "exaclty" as YOU intended... My suggestion is to look at current statistics compiled by websites to target the largest audience. Scroll down to look at the charts (The Steam chart is a good indicator IMHO.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Display_resolution

or

http://www.screenresolution.org/

That gets you a good base.

Otherwise... as Indicium stated, it's probably best to allow users to choose resolutions. Just make sure your program isn't hardcoded to a particular resolution.

Your signature has been erased by a mod please reduce it to 600 x 120.
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Qoheleth
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Posted: 5th Oct 2011 16:43
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Sorry, I've been overworked for a few days. Thanks for the replies - the statistical approach sure makes sense.
zenassem said:
Quote: "Just make sure your program isn't hardcoded to a particular resolution."

That actually comes back to my question. How do I *not* hardcode my program to a particular resolution?
To be more specific (everything is 2D): I simply want to arrange a number of images (sprites) of similar size and shape in a grid-like pattern. I can't figure out how to do that so that it would work (look right/similar) on different screen sizes without some intricate scaling.
If anyone can explain that to me, I'd really appreciate it.
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WLGfx
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Posted: 5th Oct 2011 21:39
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To not hard-code the resolution is to simply use Desktop Width() and Desktop Height(). Although as you say you're using sprites and 2d, many laptops and netbooks can safely run always at 800x600 but 1024x768 is also a standard nowadays. So picking one of those would be your choice really. If working in 3D then any resolution will do as they're always a work around.

Mental arithmetic? Me? (That's for computers) I can't subtract a fart from a plate of beans!
Warning! May contain Nuts!
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