[Switch_Designs]

i got access to a faster machine but it's graphics card does not support pixel shader 3.0 so I was looking for a fix and found that users playing bioshock had the same issue that the game would only work with pixel shader 3.0 supported graphics cards. So some other users made a patch that allows the game to run with pixel shader 2.0 and I want to know if this can be done for gta4.. below are 3 links to some of the info I found:

link 1 Download link to bioshock patch for reference.
link 2 Read about 8 posts down.
link 3 This one was old but talks about the guys who did it (posted before they were fully successful with a perfect patch which they are now.)

If it can be done with one game it should work with other games right?

If a simple patch for the game that would allow it to run on pixel shader 2.0 graphic cards was made then many people who have these cards would now be able to play it and it would open up more sales for the game and less returns from customers that have good cards and don't feel that they should have to upgrade their hardware.

This post has been edited by Switch_Designs on Wednesday, Dec 31 2008, 09:13

[logitechdog]

probably can do it but I tryed opening the .fxc files in fx composer... get a error on line 1... so either protected or used a different software...

but basicly it will be either changing the files with vs_2_0, ps_2_0, technique pass's with the 2_0 ones


or just change the vs_3_0, ps _3_0, to 2_0...

I am too much of a noob, to even say if it can be as they is a hell of a lot of .fxc files, and also maybe a .ini you need to mod...

[Switch_Designs]

QUOTE (logitechdog @ Dec 31 2008, 07:48)

probably can do it but I tryed opening the .fxc files in fx composer... get a error on line 1... so either protected or used a different software... but basicly it will be either changing the files with vs_2_0, ps_2_0, technique pass's with the 2_0 ones or just change the vs_3_0, ps _3_0, to 2_0... I am too much of a noob, to even say if it can be as they is a hell of a lot of .fxc files, and also maybe a .ini you need to mod...

Well hell if it would work then someone needs to make it work so I can love them forever and so can thousands of other people too. I see this as something Rockstar should do or rather should have done in the first place. I'm so close to playing it on my pc I can taste it. I finished the game on my ps3 but zomg I want to mod so bad.... Can't wait till there is a .wft filter for zmodeler2.

edit: you can kinda view them by opening them in notepad

This post has been edited by Switch_Designs on Wednesday, Dec 31 2008, 08:14

[logitechdog]

works better in wordpad

Microsoft ® D3D10 Shader Compiler 9.23.949.2378

The DirectX SDK ships with the FXC compiler...


funny when I did a search on how to open .fxc files, could not see anything

[Switch_Designs]

QUOTE (logitechdog @ Dec 31 2008, 08:17)

works better in wordpad Microsoft ® D3D10 Shader Compiler 9.23.949.2378 The DirectX SDK ships with the FXC compiler...   funny when I did a search on how to open .fxc files, could not see anything

That's awesome so now we know what to use to edit the files.

I was also wondering if cards that can run the game but slowly used this kind of a patch if they would run the game better seeing as the card doesn't have to work as hard to do the things that pixel shader 3.0 makes it do. If a 3.0 card can run 3.0 games well and can run 2.0 games very well then if you turn this game into a 2.0 it would run better right? That would mean this kind of patch would be awesome for everyone that wants better performance rather than slightly more stunning graphics.

If someone makes this happen i'll be willing to test it on my pc with a 2.0 card in it for you.

EDIT: Anyone else got any ideas feel free to speak up! This post is slowly falling down the forums and this is something we could all benefit from.

This post has been edited by Switch_Designs on Wednesday, Dec 31 2008, 13:45

[Kimd41]

Reinstalling IV and will mess with this.

[Switch_Designs]

QUOTE (Kimd41 @ Dec 31 2008, 13:50)

Reinstalling IV and will mess with this.

Anyone having any luck with this this.

[ICU954]

I have tried to reinstall but no luck. I have dl'd the latest drivers, sp3 etc and still cannot run the game. From the Google searches that I have done, most people with ATI cards are having the same issue. Mine is a Radeon 9800 pro but only supports 2.0 shader. Its not the greatest card by any means but decent and I don't feel that I should have to update it just to gain 3.0. A patch should be issued in my opinion.

[Switch_Designs]

QUOTE (ICU954 @ Jan 1 2009, 18:23)

I have tried to reinstall but no luck. I have dl'd the latest drivers, sp3 etc and still cannot run the game. From the Google searches that I have done, most people with ATI cards are having the same issue. Mine is a Radeon 9800 pro but only supports 2.0 shader. Its not the greatest card by any means but decent and I don't feel that I should have to update it just to gain 3.0. A patch should be issued in my opinion.

I feel the same way... The game minimum specs say a 256 mb graphics card I have a 512 card but it does not support pixel shader 3.0 to i'm screwed unless this patch is made or unless rockstar buys me a new graphics card..... I think it would be cheaper for them to just make the patch lol.... I still do think this patch should be something that can be made expecially if it worked for bioshock....

[benfp]

QUOTE (ICU954 @ Jan 1 2009, 18:23)

Mine is a Radeon 9800 pro but only supports 2.0 shader. Its not the greatest card by any means but decent and I don't feel that I should have to update it just to gain 3.0. A patch should be issued in my opinion.

All due respect, it is beyond sane to expect a 6 year old graphics card will run a 3D action game as complex as GTA IV (Wikipedia states ATI Radeon 9800 got released on 2003).

[Slim Shady III]

And have someone a fix for this problem ?

[logitechdog]

Nope beyond me how to get it open, don't know if you need the original .fx file, as the syntax only shows output commands & they all compile, or someone who knows how to get the file back to a .fx by decompiling it or reading it...

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb509709(VS.85).aspx for not using .fx

[Elvis1991]

Hi all, I'v downloaded the file and I'v read the readme:

QUOTE

Shader Model 2 - Asankel Fix Istructions by prophetfp (http://www.shadershock.tk) * Replace shader.spk in Bioshock's folder with the one provided. * Open Default.ini in a text editor and find this line: UseSpecCubeMap=True; * Change it to "False", save and close. * Delete the Bioshock.ini file from your \Application Data\Bioshock\ folder

but on my pc there isn't a Default.ini and not even a Bioshock.ini or a shader.spk ... someone has done this ?
If i'm do wrong, someone can explain me how I can fix it?

This post has been edited by Elvis1991 on Friday, Jan 2 2009, 19:50

[ICU954]

QUOTE (benfp @ Jan 2 2009, 05:48)

All due respect, it is beyond sane to expect a 6 year old graphics card will run a 3D action game as complex as GTA IV (Wikipedia states ATI Radeon 9800 got released on 2003).

I've ran DoD source, CSS, TF2, BF2 etc on this card. I'm sure a newer card would create a smoother gameplay but atleast I could run those games. With GTAIV I can't even run it.

[logitechdog]

QUOTE (Elvis1991 @ Jan 2 2009, 19:47)

Hi all, I'v downloaded the file and I'v read the readme: QUOTE Shader Model 2 - Asankel Fix Istructions by prophetfp (http://www.shadershock.tk) * Replace shader.spk in Bioshock's folder with the one provided. * Open Default.ini in a text editor and find this line: UseSpecCubeMap=True; * Change it to "False", save and close. * Delete the Bioshock.ini file from your \Application Data\Bioshock\ folder but on my pc there isn't a Default.ini and not even a Bioshock.ini or a shader.spk ... someone has done this ? If i'm do wrong, someone can explain me how I can fix it?

Thats for bioshock the game , not gta4 is an example... lol if you do mean bioshock... then run the Default.ini through the search feature in windows on the bioshock folder

This post has been edited by logitechdog on Friday, Jan 2 2009, 23:15

[Switch_Designs]

Yes the files i linked to were for bioshock i wanted someone to be able to see how it was done in one game in hopes that it could be done in gta4... I really need this patch to be created..... my card can handle the game if it were a pixel shader 2.0 game.... also everyone could run the game faster.....

[Switch_Designs]

is anyone working on this? it only took the bioshock guys a few hours to make their patch, we are a smarter community aren't we?

[Kimd41]

I've been messing with this with no results. I've tried some of these pixel shader hardware "emulators" but they are so old they only can emulate pixel shader 2. I think it was possble in Bioshock because it's engine was pixel shader 2 compatible in another game. But I'll still try to make it run. Damn you R*.

[Switch_Designs]

QUOTE (Kimd41 @ Jan 4 2009, 23:13)

I've been messing with this with no results. I've tried some of these pixel shader hardware "emulators" but they are so old they only can emulate pixel shader 2. I think it was possble in Bioshock because it's engine was pixel shader 2 compatible in another game. But I'll still try to make it run. Damn you R*.

Thanks for helping to keep this alive it would be so cool if it ever gets made. And an emulator hmmmm that sounds like a good direction to move into too~

[Switch_Designs]

I found a neat looking pixel shader 2.0 emulator but i wonder if changes could be made to it so that it would emulate 3.0 too. If so it would not only be great for running GTA IV but other 3.0 games as well.... I'll try and contact the developer and see if they are working on a 3.0 version. You can see the page with the emulator here!

Edit: I think this is the developers contact page but the links will not work for me >.< http://www.tommti-systems.de/start.html

This post has been edited by Switch_Designs on Tuesday, Jan 6 2009, 10:31