[Flashman]

I have no idea if anyone has posted about this before, but here is how to got correct widescreen in IL2

As anyone who has a widescreen monitor will tell you, IL2 does NOT support widescreen. In order to use widescreen you have to make changes in your conf.ini file to manually change the resolution.

What some people may not be aware of is that this does not enable true widescreen, it actually just cuts off the top and bottom of your screen to give the effect of widescreen. Here is a youtube video which shows you what I mean. Note this uses a 16:10 widescreen for the example, if you have a 16:9 (like me!) then things are even worse!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XJ19qwP3KA

So, contrary to what people may think having a widescreen monitor is actually a disadvantage over a standard 4:3 monitor as you have less of the view on screen. This is especially true is a dogfight as you lose 'vertical' view and in turning fight (cockpit to cockpit) this might mean you cannot see your enemy when he can see you.

Widescreen has never been enabled for IL2 and never will be. However there is a workaround. A chap called San has produced a program called Sans IL2 FOV changer. This enables you to expand the FOV past 90 degrees which is the maximum FOV in IL2. Maximum FOV is gained when you have pulled back as far as you can as can see the maximum amount of cockpit.

With this program you can pull back past 90 degrees, in fact all the way to a ridiculous fisheye view! However if you restrict the FOV to around 106 degrees (101 degrees for a 16:10 monitor), this gives the equivilent vertical view for a 16:9 widescreen monitor of 90 degrees on a 4:3 monitor. Thus you have in effect proper widescreen as you get more vision to the sides.

Here is a link to the program.

http://il2fovchanger.byethost7.com/

It works quite well, but has some bugs. One of these bugs is occasionally the program fails to start and you get a standard micrsoft type message telling you it has encountered a problem. The only way I have found to deal with this is to delete the file and unzip it again. This means losing your settings. Anyhoo, I suggest you read the manual and try it out.

Personally I only use the default setting which is set at 106 degrees and it is assigned to one of my joystick buttons. I use standard IL2 views for gunsight and narrow FOV except for full wide where I use Sans FOV changer for a FOV of 106 degrees. Note, around 101 degrees is right for 16:10 monitors, have a look at screen shots on front of Sans webpage)

If I have time later I might produce some screen shots showing comparisions of normal 4:3 and widescreen (both 'normal' and with Sans program running. However its dinner time now!

Note: this also enables triple monitor setups if you have a Triplehead2Go.

[Flashman]

Here are some screen shots, note these are at 800 x 600 pixels

First, we have a standard 4:3 monitor view (1400 x 1050). This is the Spitfire IXc cockpit. You can see the mirror and both rows of major instruments. Basically, this is what you will see at maximum FOV (90 degrees or Wide view) in standard IL2 with a standard monitor.






Next we have the same view but with IL2 adjusted to 16:9 widescreen (2048 x 1152). This is done by simply making a few changes in the conf.ini file. Notice how you can only see a portion of the mirror and you can only see the top row if the main instruments. This is what I mean by widescreen users having a disadvatage over people with normal 4:3 monitors




And finally we have 16:9 widescreen (2048 x 1152) with a FOV of 106 degrees . Note this gives the same vertical height as the first picture at 4:3 but with more width.(note ignore the stick as it wa in a different position for each screeny as you have to reload IL2, compare via the instruments) This is how widescreen should look in IL2...if it was supported that is!



Note: if you have a 16:10 ratio monitor you would want a FOV of around 101 degrees.

[agracier]

You are quite right about this program - it is a little gem and adds so much to the visual enhancement of the game. Once you have it installed properly and have flown with it several times, you will not want to do without it.

[blomsky]

What some people may not be aware of is that this does not enable true widescreen, it actually just cuts off the top and bottom of your screen to give the effect of widescreen. Here is a youtube video which shows you what I mean. Note this uses a 16:10 widescreen for the example, if you have a 16:9 (like me!) then things are even worse!

Damned, I'm one of those who were not aware...:oops:
Thank You for clarifying this issue for me.
I will give this app a try an see how I will get along with it.

[Goblin]

Flashman, thank you for your good explanation of the SANS - 'mod' I D/L it and my problem is that I use Freetrack/camera panning 6 DoF with led-hat but if I activate the SANS program my 6 DoF-Freetrack don't work anymore because (I think) Microsoft.DirectX.DirectInput.Dll is in conflict with some .dll stored into freetrack

[akdavis]

Neat program, but causes massive stuttering for me.

[Stratodog]

Thanks for posting an explanation and demonstration of this wonderful enhancement. It really makes a big difference for me. I no longer feel like I'm flying with 'tunnel vision'. It's actually easier to fly the airplane now with a proper peripheral field, it's a lot more like sitting in a real airplane. It even creates a more natural feel and ease of use for the TrakIR. I'm simply stunned. Now I need a BIG screen to fly this thing on and I might even get air sick

[WilliVonBill]

Thanks for the 'heads up', Flashman. Works like a charm! BTW, I'm running at 16:10 aspect and I prefer a setting of 106 instead of 101. No 'fisheye' distortion from the cockpit at that setting and gives me a good FOV.

[Flashman]

Thanks for the 'heads up', Flashman. Works like a charm! BTW, I'm running at 16:10 aspect and I prefer a setting of 106 instead of 101. No 'fisheye' distortion from the cockpit at that setting and gives me a good FOV.

The 101 or 106 figures are just a guide as they give the same vertical height as standard 4:3, however theres no reason why you cant pull it back further though it does start to go wierd after around 110! Also there is no reason why 4:3 monitor users cant give this a go