mortal kombat 1 resolution help required

[Apollo]

this is probably the wrong section of the forum but...
I've just about got everything sorted as far as my games displaying properly but i still have a problem with mk1.
I'm using an arcadevga card and mamewah and all the ini files have auto resolution written in them. can i just go and manually write a resolution in the ini file for mk1 and if so how would i write it and what resolution works for other people?
Thanks

[Zebidee]

The MK series native mode needs a screen refresh rate that is difficult for many monitors.  But many others will do. 

If using windows, the simplest way is to change the resolution for MK1 et al through Mame32 (select game, right click/properties/screen I think).  Your changes will be saved to the game's .ini file.

You can also edit the [romname].ini file in the ..\mame\ini\ folder.  It is a text file. 

[Apollo]

thanks Zebidee, I need a little more info though. How exactly do I edit the rom ini file. I know where to find it and that it is a text file but what do I write in there?

[Zebidee]

Use windows notepad.  change "resolution auto" to something like:

resolution0  401x256@0

or if that doesn't work on your monitor try

resolution0  384x288@0

You'd probably be better off using mame32 to change the resolution etc though.  The settings changes will be saved and accessed from mamewah when you run it next.

Also, I recommend that you download and use the arcaderes software tool by Gavin Benson from http://www.ultimarc.com

There is also a "mamewah resoution tool", but that is a little trickier to set up.  Look on the forum:

http://www.mameworld.info/ubbthreads/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=arcadeospc2jamma

 

[Apollo]

thanks i have both the ulitmarc res tool and the mamewah res tool (that might be a bit of the problem) i'll give your res advice a whirl.

[Zebidee]

mamrestool has more flexibility, but to use you need to install the system files supplied with it (system.zip) and you also need to download Krick's xml2info.zip and unpack it into your mame directory.  Get it here:

http://mame.3feetunder.com/xml2info/

[DeLuSioNal29]

Hi,

Can someone please tell me what resolution works for them for MK3?  I'd like to see a copy of their .ini file if possible.  I ran the MAME res tool and it still did not help.

My specs:
AVGA2 PCIe card
Betson 27" monitor

** edit:  Added some more info!!
My current resolution for umk3.ini is 401 x 256.  The image still appears squeezed and there are black bars on the left and right.  I tried stretching the image using my monitor controls but it does not help, it only stretches it slightly, but I still have huge black bars on left and right.
The same goes for Street Fighter II.  My .ini file for that says 384x288.

It seems like my settings match other people with the same hardware, yet for some reason it is not working right.

Thanks in advance!  This is really frustrating.

~ DeLuSioNaL

[Zebidee]

Hiya Del,

I can't be sure, but I wonder if you have forgotten to check the "Switch resolutions to fit" box (referring to MameUI32 here).  If not, then Mame will fit your selected res into your desktop res which, depending upon your desktop res, may result in big black sidebars.  If that doesn't work, then you could post your ini file and tell us what res your desktop runs at.

Unfortunately, I can't test this as I don't currently have access to my cabs with AVGA2 cards at the moment - they are locked away in a container in the Land of Oz (Australia), as the Land of the Free (Thailand) doesn't let me bring them into the country without paying hefty bribes (which I am ideologically opposed to).

So, not to be deterred, I've hacked an old Panasonic TV with SCART inputs, soldered up a VGA-SCART cable. I'm currently using an ASUS ATI-9550 chipset video card with Soft15khz for my mame machine.  Except I don't have any joysticks, so Time Pilot will have to wait for a little while.

Back to your post - on my Panasonic/ATI setup, I got big sidebars when trying to run MK3 under 640x288.  Try ticking the swithc resolutions box, or editing the MK3 ini file and adding "switchres=1".  On MameUI32, make this your default setting.

[DeLuSioNal29]

Here's some more info:

My resolution in Windows XP  is at 800 x 600.  My available modes are:


My Ultimate MK3 ini file (umk3.ini):

Code: [Select]

## umk3 ##

screen0 \\.\DISPLAY1
switchres 1
hwstretch 0
bezel 0
backdrop 0
resolution 401x256
resolution0 401x256@0

My SF2 ini file (sf2.ini):

Code: [Select]

## sf2 ##
screen0 \\.\DISPLAY1
switchres 1
hwstretch 0
bezel 0
backdrop 0
resolution 384  x
resolution0 384x288@0

My Mame ini file (mame.ini):

Code: [Select]

<UNADORNED0>             

#
# CORE CONFIGURATION OPTIONS
#
readconfig              1

#
# CORE SEARCH PATH OPTIONS
#
rompath                 c:\mame\roms
samplepath              c:\mame\samples
artpath                   c:\mame\artwork
ctrlrpath                 c:\mame\ctrlr
inipath                 ini
fontpath                  .

#
# CORE OUTPUT DIRECTORY OPTIONS
#
cfg_directory           cfg
nvram_directory         nvram
memcard_directory       memcard
input_directory         inp
state_directory         sta
snapshot_directory      snap
diff_directory          diff
comment_directory         comments

#
# CORE FILENAME OPTIONS
#
cheat_file              cheat.dat

#
# CORE STATE/PLAYBACK OPTIONS
#
state                     
autosave                  0
playback                 
record                   
mngwrite                 
wavwrite                 

#
# CORE PERFORMANCE OPTIONS
#
autoframeskip           0
frameskip               0
seconds_to_run            0
throttle                1
sleep                   1

#
# CORE ROTATION OPTIONS
#
rotate                    1
ror                     0
rol                     0
autoror                 0
autorol                 0
flipx                   0
flipy                   0

#
# CORE ARTWORK OPTIONS
#
artwork_crop            0
use_backdrops           0
use_overlays            0
use_bezels              0

#
# CORE SCREEN OPTIONS
#
brightness              1.00
contrast                  1.0
gamma                   1.00
pause_brightness        0.65

#
# CORE VECTOR OPTIONS
#
antialias               1
beam                    2.00
flicker                 0.00

#
# CORE SOUND OPTIONS
#
sound                   1
samplerate              48000
samples                 1
volume                  0

#
# CORE INPUT OPTIONS
#
# ctrlr                 <NULL> (not set)
mouse                   1
joystick                0
lightgun                0
multikeyboard             0
multimouse                0
steadykey               0
offscreen_reload        0
joystick_map              auto
joystick_deadzone         0.3
joystick_saturation       0.85

#
# CORE INPUT AUTOMATIC ENABLE OPTIONS
#
paddle_device           mouse
adstick_device          keyboard
pedal_device            keyboard
dial_device             keyboard
trackball_device        mouse
lightgun_device         keyboard
positional_device         keyboard
mouse_device              mouse

#
# CORE DEBUGGING OPTIONS
#
log                     0
verbose                 0

#
# CORE MISC OPTIONS
#
bios                      default
cheat                   1
skip_gameinfo           1

#
# WINDOWS DEBUGGING OPTIONS
#
oslog                   0

#
# WINDOWS PERFORMANCE OPTIONS
#
priority                  1
multithreading            1

#
# WINDOWS VIDEO OPTIONS
#
video                     ddraw
numscreens                1
window                  0
maximize                1
keepaspect              1
prescale                  1
effect                  none
waitvsync               0
syncrefresh             0

#
# DIRECTDRAW-SPECIFIC OPTIONS
#
hwstretch               0

#
# DIRECT3D-SPECIFIC OPTIONS
#
d3dversion                9
filter                    1

#
# PER-WINDOW VIDEO OPTIONS
#
screen                    auto
aspect                    auto
resolution              auto
view                      auto
screen0                   auto
aspect0                   auto
resolution0               auto
view0                     auto
screen1                   auto
aspect1                   auto
resolution1               auto
view1                     auto
screen2                   auto
aspect2                   auto
resolution2               auto
view2                     auto
screen3                   auto
aspect3                   auto
resolution3               auto
view3                     auto

#
# FULL SCREEN OPTIONS
#
triplebuffer            0
switchres               1
full_screen_brightness  1.00
full_screen_contrast      1.0
full_screen_gamma         1.0

#
# WINDOWS SOUND OPTIONS
#
audio_latency           1

#
# INPUT DEVICE OPTIONS
#
dual_lightgun           0

#
# CORE COMMANDS
#

#
# CONFIGURATION COMMANDS
#

#
# FRONTEND COMMANDS
#

Any ideas?

~ DeLuSioNaL

[ahofle]

That's odd.  The AVGA should include a 401x256@53 Hz resolution specifically for Mortal Kombat.  It seems to be missing from your list.
http://ultimarc.com/avgainst.html

[DeLuSioNal29]

Hmm, maybe I should re-install the AVGA2 drivers?

[ahofle]

It appears that you're also missing 321x240, probably the most common/important 15khz resolution (the 320x240 one you have listed there is most likely a VGA line-doubled 'fake' low resolution).  To find out if that's the case, launch a game in 320x240 and then press the menu OSD button on your Betson.  If the OSD says 31Khz, then it's a line-doubled resolution.  If it says 15.something khz, then you are good.  You should email Andy and see what he has to say.

It's funny, I am having almost the exact same problem with Soft15khz and a Radeon 9600XT.  Those stupid fake resolutions are getting in the way and I am also missing 321x240, 321x256, and 401x256 just like you (which Soft15khz also tries to install).  I'm curious to know if you figure out a solution.

[Zebidee]

Ahofle - I have exactly the same situation with my setup using Soft15khz on an ASUS A9550 videocard (ATI chipset).  Curious.

[DeLuSioNal29]

Well - I solved my dilemna,

Uninstalling the drivers helped.  For good measure I ran a free utility from ATI that completely removes all remnants of the drivers on your system.

Then I re-installed the AVGA2 drivers from scratch (including tri-sync) and voila, every was as it should be.  Couldn't be happier.

My Betson monitor needs adjusting though, which is another story, and deserves a separate post in the video forum in the future.  But for now I'm loving it.  Finally!

~ DeLuSioNaL

[ahofle]

Uninstalling the drivers helped.  For good measure I ran a free utility from ATI that completely removes all remnants of the drivers on your system.

Do you have a URL for that utility?  I went ahead and ordered an ATI 9800 Pro off ebay for $50 (which is apparently on the Soft15khz checklist), but it would be nice to know if this is a card or driver issue with Soft15khz. 

[DeLuSioNal29]

Uninstalling the drivers helped.  For good measure I ran a free utility from ATI that completely removes all remnants of the drivers on your system.

Do you have a URL for that utility?  I went ahead and ordered an ATI 9800 Pro off ebay for $50 (which is apparently on the Soft15khz checklist), but it would be nice to know if this is a card or driver issue with Soft15khz. 

Sure thing.  Here you go:  http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=1275

The file is hosted by guru3d.com but the utility was created by ATI.

~ DeLuSioNaL

[Zebidee]

That Catalyst uninstaller program is good - it ensures a blank slate on which to do a fresh install.  I've used it in the past to get around AVGA driver problems, but I've never seen this one, with resolutions missing.  But then, I've always used AGP versions of the AVGA2 cards, which use the ATI 9250  chipset, and other ATI 9250 chipset based video cards.  The missing resolutions may be a new problem specific to the ATI9550/9600 chipset series.

I'll try it on my ATI / soft15khz setup when I get the chance.

Thanks, Zeb. 

[ahofle]

I tried the uninstaller tool, but the lame line-doubled resolutions are still there after a fresh install.  I think they must be part of the 9600XT I have. 

[DeLuSioNal29]

I tried the uninstaller tool, but the lame line-doubled resolutions are still there after a fresh install.  I think they must be part of the 9600XT I have. 

There is a program called "Refresh Force" that allows you to remove resolutions.  It's recommended by Retroblast.  See the article here (and the link to download):  http://retroblast.arcadecontrols.com/articles/monitor2.html

I've never used it so I can't vouch for it.  But it looks like it may solve your problem.

~ DeLuSioNaL

[ahofle]

Ahofle - I have exactly the same situation with my setup using Soft15khz on an ASUS A9550 videocard (ATI chipset).  Curious.

Just an FYI, it appears that SailorSat (the author of Soft15khz) now has a card with this same problem and is going to look into a fix:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=66402.msg823238#msg823238