Unsure Of what Things Mean In game Config. Please Help.

[Snowball]

Hi all.

I left FFXl for a while and had to have my PC formatted, and now that I have reinstalled my game again, I almost feel as if everything is so new to me, like the first time I got to know my way around, if you see what I mean.

So anway, I'm just sorting out the "FFXl Config" and there are a few check boxes on there, and I don't know what they mean, or what they do.
So if I just make a list of them, then some kind person could help me out a bit.

On the "General Tab" there is a check box for "Enable MIP mapping"
What does this mean, and what does it it do?

On the "Effects Tab" there is a check box for "Enable bump mapping"
What does this mean, and what does it do?

On the "Misc. Tab" where there are check boxes for : "Enable hardware mouse cursor" - I presume this one is basically so that anyone using a PC to play FFXl (me included) can use their mouse without or aswell as a controller.
Is this correct?.......

And also "Simplified character creation visuals"
I'm not quite sure what this one does, so maybe if anyone could explain this one to me too, it would help.


Secondly.... (and finally) on the FFXl Gamepad Config Tool for Gamepad Settings, there are 3 check-boxes up at the top right - "Enable Slider" "Enable hat switches" and "Enable force feedback"
What do these mean please?

Thanks.

[AgentBrownEye]

Re: Unsure Of what Things Mean In game Config. Please Help.

did you ever mess with the those config item's when you had it installed the first time? the default settings are ok if you have a so so computer, but if you have a beefed up comp you could change the background size and the screen size to something a lil bit larger. the rest i've never played with, sorry i couldn't help out.

[Jei]

Re: Unsure Of what Things Mean In game Config. Please Help.

"Enable MIP mapping"
- mapping is the image on any 3D object's surface.
Mip mapping is multi-resolution of the same map based on distance. For example, a goblin right infront of you will use the biggest map. As it goes far and far away, it will switch to smaller and smaller map. This usually will make the over all picture looks better because objects far away will not be as detailed.

"Enable bump mapping"
- i don't really see real time bump mapping in FFXI. Supposedly the game would look better with it enabled. Disable will give you more frame rate

"Enable hardware mouse cursor"
- I'm not sure what this does in full-screen. But in windower, without it you can't drag your mouse pointer out of FFXI windows.

"Simplified character creation visuals"
- When you first start the game and creating characters, FFXI uses a nicer version of character. If you simplified it, it will use the in-game version instead.

"Enable force feedback"
- force feed back is what makes your controller shake.

not sure about the other 2. But im sure they explain it in the manual you should take a look.

[Crowzukin]

Re: Unsure Of what Things Mean In game Config. Please Help.

Enable hardware mouse cursor

I'm pretty sure this makes your mouse cursor the less-animated one. Mostly cosmetic.

[Pai Pai Master]

Re: Unsure Of what Things Mean In game Config. Please Help.

Moved to Setup/Game Tweaking forums.

[Snowball]

Re: Unsure Of what Things Mean In game Config. Please Help.

Thanks a lot for the helpful feedback.
I looked through my manual like you suggested, and found the info on what those checkboxes were. A lot of it explained just about the same as you had already said too, so it's a good thing you mentioned it.

"Enable MIP mapping"
- mapping is the image on any 3D object's surface.
Mip mapping is multi-resolution of the same map based on distance. For example, a goblin right infront of you will use the biggest map. As it goes far and far away, it will switch to smaller and smaller map. This usually will make the over all picture looks better because objects far away will not be as detailed.

"Enable bump mapping"
- i don't really see real time bump mapping in FFXI. Supposedly the game would look better with it enabled. Disable will give you more frame rate

"Enable hardware mouse cursor"
- I'm not sure what this does in full-screen. But in windower, without it you can't drag your mouse pointer out of FFXI windows.

"Simplified character creation visuals"
- When you first start the game and creating characters, FFXI uses a nicer version of character. If you simplified it, it will use the in-game version instead.

"Enable force feedback"
- force feed back is what makes your controller shake.

"Enable Force Feedback" - I presume this would work if you had something like a Rumble Pak (or whatever you would call one for FFXl) added.

I don't have one on my controller, so I presume I wouldn't get this effect ingame.

not sure about the other 2. But im sure they explain it in the manual you should take a look.

No, I'm not really sure of those other 2 myself either.
I had a look through the manual and couldn't find any description of them.
Ahh well..... nevermind. Not to worry.

[Macht]

Re: Unsure Of what Things Mean In game Config. Please Help.

Secondly.... (and finally) on the FFXl Gamepad Config Tool for Gamepad Settings, there are 3 check-boxes up at the top right - "Enable Slider" "Enable hat switches" and "Enable force feedback"
What do these mean please?

Thanks.

If those mean what I think they do then, they are going off the Joysticks and the few functions that are on them.

The PC joysticks have what's called a "Slider" generally in flight simulations or racing games it controls throttle. Then on top of the Joystick will be something of a button that you can push forward, backwards, left, and right. That button on top is called a "Hat".

Both of those from the joystick also exist on some PC controllers that are designed out to something similar to the game console controllers.

[Snowball]

Re: Unsure Of what Things Mean In game Config. Please Help.

If those mean what I think they do then, they are going off the Joysticks and the few functions that are on them.

The PC joysticks have what's called a "Slider" generally in flight simulations or racing games it controls throttle. Then on top of the Joystick will be something of a button that you can push forward, backwards, left, and right. That button on top is called a "Hat".

Both of those from the joystick also exist on some PC controllers that are designed out to something similar to the game console controllers.

Ahh, I see. Thanks for that.

For some reason, they weren't noted in the game manual..... but then FFXl isn't really a flight simulation game either, and doesn't require a Joystick (but rather, a Joy/Game 'PAD') with a slider and/or Hat Switch to be played.

It seems to me to be rather pointless that SE provided these 2 options, especially for FFXl at all. What is the need of something this useless to FFXl?

Ahh well...... nevermind.

[Kafeen]

Re: Unsure Of what Things Mean In game Config. Please Help.

Some joypads have the DPad mapped as a Hat switch, so it could be used for them.

Really don't see the point in a slider for FFXI though.