Windowed mode request

[James Son]

Currently i'm playing E: D in Windowed mode. I'm not very fond of it, games are meant to be played fullscreen but i need access to other programs in which i'm keeping various E: D data. Always having fullscreen would not be very convenient either (constantly Ctrl+ESCaping), so an idea came to mind.

In Graphics section of Settings, "FULLSCREEN" could be renamed to something else (Screen Mode perhaps). In addition to its current list entries, another one could be added (perhaps "FLYING FULLSCREEN") in which when flying (not docked) the mode would be fullscreen but when docked in a station, the mode would turn to windowed. The window would be maximized (and maybe borderless) so that it would take the size of the whole screen minus the size of the taskbar (vertical or horizontal). That way other programs would be accessible when docked and the user would be able to enjoy fullscreen while flying.

I have some more ideas on it but let's just see what others think first...

 

[sbdags]

Just use ALT-TAB. That is what I do.

 

[James Son]

Not very elegant if you have used a resolution smaller than what the monitor can support, not to mention the fact that it takes some time to swap between E: D and the other app, flashing the screen, etc. Perhaps the best way would be to just have a window mode in which the resolution wouldn't be fixed but it would be dynamic and by that, i don't mean the window should be resizeable. It should be maximized so that it would take the whole screen (minus the Windows taskbar of course, which would always be visible) and the resolution would be automatically calculated based on the size of that window (the relevant field in Graphics config should be locked to "automatic"). The user should only be able to minimize the window by clicking on the icon on the taskbar, not resize it.

 

[stereoBear]

So i take it there's a reason why you don't want to use borderless (fullscreen) window mode? (called "fullscreen: borderless" in the graphics options)?
You are speaking of resolution so your PC is not able to render your monitor's native resolution at a desirable framerate?

Why not set supersampling to a value < 1.0? This means that the engine is rendering a lower resolution than is displayed. That way you can use borderless windowed mode and easily alt+tab without the monitor having to switch modes.

 

[xondk]

Currently i'm playing E: D in Windowed mode. I'm not very fond of it, games are meant to be played fullscreen but i need access to other programs in which i'm keeping various E: D data. Always having fullscreen would not be very convenient either (constantly Ctrl+ESCaping), so an idea came to mind.

In Graphics section of Settings, "FULLSCREEN" could be renamed to something else (Screen Mode perhaps). In addition to its current list entries, another one could be added (perhaps "FLYING FULLSCREEN") in which when flying (not docked) the mode would be fullscreen but when docked in a station, the mode would turn to windowed. The window would be maximized (and maybe borderless) so that it would take the size of the whole screen minus the size of the taskbar (vertical or horizontal). That way other programs would be accessible when docked and the user would be able to enjoy fullscreen while flying.

I have some more ideas on it but let's just see what others think first...

Errmmm. huh?
Under graphics, there's the full screen option, it gives you three different versions of full screen.
Windowed: which has borders.
Borderless: which does not have borders.
Fullscreen: Standard fullscreen mode where game controls the display.

I am very confused about your suggested 'flying fullscreen' because borderless would seem to be what you want, and there is no real performance loss on borderless now a days, borderless allows you to use everything else on your computer, tab between it, whatever, since the game does not own the display. The way you describe it makes well very little sense? because in itself there's nothing special about fullscreen (fullscreen) mode?

 

[NewYears1978]

Just use Borderless mode, Alt-Tabbing is flawless in this game. Keep a browser window half of your monitor when you alt-tab to it you can still see your game to make sure you are not being shot or anything else.

Not sure why anything else is needed.

I have never seen any game where the mode changes based on conditions in the game. So no Flying Fullscreen and Docked Window mode as you suggest. While it seems cool, I just don't think it is necessary nor have I ever seen this done before.

 

[James Son]

So i take it there's a reason why you don't want to use borderless (fullscreen) window mode? (called "fullscreen: borderless" in the graphics options)?
You are speaking of resolution so your PC is not able to render your monitor's native resolution at a desirable framerate?

Why not set supersampling to a value < 1.0? This means that the engine is rendering a lower resolution than is displayed. That way you can use borderless windowed mode and easily alt+tab without the monitor having to switch modes.

Borderless: which does not have borders.

I am very confused about your suggested 'flying fullscreen' because borderless would seem to be what you want, and there is no real performance loss on borderless now a days, borderless allows you to use everything else on your computer, tab between it, whatever, since the game does not own the display. The way you describe it makes well very little sense? because in itself there's nothing special about fullscreen (fullscreen) mode?

Just use Borderless mode, Alt-Tabbing is flawless in this game. Keep a browser window half of your monitor when you alt-tab to it you can still see your game to make sure you are not being shot or anything else.

Not sure why anything else is needed.

Thanks to all of you for the pointer. I must admit, i did not use this mode because i thought it's just like fullscreen. I tried it once and then changed to fullscreen at first, windowed later. I did not think of the benefits you all described. There is a reason for that though. My aim was to have the windows taskbar visible (only when docked though - as soon as the ship touches the station pad) because i'm used to using the mouse. I find ALT+TAB very confusing sometimes. I guess what i asked in my first post is 90% covered by BORDERLESS. I'd just like a similar mode which would resize the window to be like a normal maximized window, so that the taskbar becomes visible and i can switch with the mouse between E: D and other apps...

Anyway, for the time being, i think i will try Borderless. It will probably be more convenient and pretty than windowed. Thanks again to all of you.

 

[Stocker]

i did have 3 monitors and i had that annoying bezels in the way. so to get rid of the problem i got a rift. solved all problems. and the pewpew is more intense