How will the widescreen image be displayed?

[Laser Eyes]

Can one of the dev team on the PC version please explain the image adjustment from the standard 4:3 screen resolution to a widescreen resolution? Will it be the most desirable horizantal plus or the less attractive vertical minus? It surely wouldn't be a stretched image if it has native support.

What I mean by this is will the picture displayed on a widescreen monitor at a resolution of say, 1680x1050, show all of the image that would appear on a 4:3 monitor plus additional field of view on the sides? Or will the widescreen picture simply have the top and bottom cut off and show less image than what would appear on a 4:3 monitor?

If you don't understand what I mean then have a look at this excellent article which discusses these concepts:

http://www.techwrighter.com/index.ph...59&Itemi d=44

[ckline]

The game will render in full 16:9 aspect ratio, with no letterboxing unless your resolution is not true 16:9.

- Chris Kline, Lead Programmer, Bioshock

[Laser Eyes]

That's good Chris, but it doesn't really answer my question.

Unless the image is stretched then there must be a different image between a 4:3 display and a 16:10 (typical ratio for PC) widescreen monitor.

Going to a widescreen resolution there will either be additional image displayed on the sides - ie horizontal plus (the best); or the width of the field of view will remain the same but image will be lost from the top and bottom - ie vertical minus (not as good). Can you say which it will be?

Let me ask in another way. My question relates primarily to the PC version of BioShock. Since it's a "Games for Windows" branded game it must support normal 4:3 resolution, and also 16:9 and 16:10 widescreen resolutions, according to Microsoft's GfW technical requirements.

Let's say I run the game on a 4:3 monitor at 1024x768. If I stand in a certain position in game and look in a certain direction I will see a certain image. Now let's say I run the game on a widescreen monitor at 1680x1050; I stand in exactly the same position and look in the same direction. What do I see? On the widescreen monitor do I see everything I saw on the 4:3 monitor plus more on the sides; or have the top and bottom parts of the normal 4:3 image been cut off to produce a widescreen image?

[ckline]

You will see more in widescreen. We use a different projection matrix; there is no squashing or stretching of the image involved.

[Jeff]

-froths- That's awesome, so many times I've seen widescreen end up being more agitating than anything.... Now there's absolutely no excuse for me to not get a new t.v. specifically for bioshock.

[Laser Eyes]

Originally Posted by ckline

You will see more in widescreen. We use a different projection matrix; there is no squashing or stretching of the image involved.

Perfect! Thanks for doing widescreen resolutions right in this game!

[borgdrone89]

Originally Posted by ckline

The game will render in full 16:9 aspect ratio, with no letterboxing unless your resolution is not true 16:9.

- Chris Kline, Lead Programmer, Bioshock

so, what you're saying is that if i have a 4:3, there will be a letterboxed game displayed? kinda like playing dvds at their native aspect ratio on a 4:3 tv? cool

[lurchibald]

Originally Posted by borgdrone89

so, what you're saying is that if i have a 4:3, there will be a letterboxed game displayed? kinda like playing dvds at their native aspect ratio on a 4:3 tv? cool

What? i dont want mine letterboxed, but i doubt they will it will most be that we will see less at the sides of the screen

[borgdrone89]

including the hud...?

[lurchibald]

Originally Posted by borgdrone89

including the hud...?

well im sure that will be made to fit