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IDProjectCategoryLast Update
0003716AI War 1 / ClassicSuggestion - Interface Ideas - Video and Audio SettingsAug 8, 2011 1:02 pm
Reporterdoctorfrog Assigned ToChris_McElligottPark  
Status closedResolutionwon't fix 
Product Version5.014 
Summary0003716: "Fake fullscreen" and autopause
DescriptionI've been playing me some Atom Zombie Smasher, by Blendo Games, and it's really good. And here's something that I really like, a good improvement on AI War's default behavior.

Whenever AZS loses focus, it doesn't disappear. It falls to the background and pauses, showing an escape menu. This happens if I ALT-TAB, or if something else steals focus. I don't have to pause it, it does this automatically, knowing that it is a game and that I do other things on my computer. It's nice, it's professional, it's considerate behavior.

Essentially, this is 'fake' fullscreen, the game certainly takes center stage and fills the screen, but allows other apps to pop up on top of it. It's almost like it reduces itself to desktop wallpaper when not in use, patiently waiting for me to get back to it.

AI War is a long-term game. When I play it fullscreen, I occasionally get interrupted by IM's, reminders, etc. When this happens, there's the jarring disconnect that occurs when my AI War vanishes completely, to be replaced by my desktop, and whatever popped up to steal my focus. Similar feeling when I decide to change the type of music playing on iTunes or Spotify. A modern app should more gracefully handle ALT-TAB, and since I know AI War is already capable of functioning properly in windowed mode, I believe it can handle being a fake-fullscreened app.

Yes, AI War offers a windowed mode, but this isn't the same thing. I want my fake fullscreen, please.
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doctorfrog

Aug 8, 2011 2:31 am

reporter   ~0012823

Obviously this should be a toggle for those who are happy with the current behavior, good for 'boss button' moments.

Chris_McElligottPark

Aug 8, 2011 8:56 am

administrator   ~0012825

Yep, this is a much-trodden topic. The basic explanation is that the engine we are on does not support either thing -- when it comes to focus, we can't tell if the game is focused or not, which is pretty frustrating and something that hopefully they will fix in the future.


Quoting from here, which is an old topic: http://www.arcengames.com/forums/index.php/topic,5602.0.html

Things We Lose By Going To Unity With AI War (As of AI War 4.0, compared to 3.x and before)

Faux-Fullscreen Support: Right now, AI War usually looks fullscreen but it's really actually just a window. That makes for fast window switching, etc. That actually isn't possible with Unity, but if you look at Tidalis you can see what is possible: the windowed mode support is really good, and the true fullscreen support has a number of other benefits. I will miss the support for this, but the other benefits vastly outweigh this drawback. To clarify: you'll still be able to run in windowed mode at whatever resolution, so you can use it to fill your screen if you want. But, you'll have a thin little toolbar across the top, and those little window border edges along the sides.

doctorfrog

Aug 8, 2011 1:01 pm

reporter   ~0012831

Thanks, Chris. I searched for "fake fullscreen" and even "full screen," but I didn't think to search for "faux-fullscreen." I appreciate the explanation, and it looks like if this limitation is ever removed, it'll soon make into the game.

Chris_McElligottPark

Aug 8, 2011 1:02 pm

administrator   ~0012832

Last edited: Aug 8, 2011 1:02 pm

No worries! And yes, definitely. That's the number 1 feature I miss from the old engine, too.

Issue History

Date Modified Username Field Change
Aug 8, 2011 2:30 am doctorfrog New Issue
Aug 8, 2011 2:31 am doctorfrog Note Added: 0012823
Aug 8, 2011 2:32 am doctorfrog Description Updated
Aug 8, 2011 8:56 am Chris_McElligottPark Note Added: 0012825
Aug 8, 2011 8:56 am Chris_McElligottPark Status new => closed
Aug 8, 2011 8:56 am Chris_McElligottPark Assigned To => Chris_McElligottPark
Aug 8, 2011 8:56 am Chris_McElligottPark Resolution open => won't fix
Aug 8, 2011 1:01 pm doctorfrog Note Added: 0012831
Aug 8, 2011 1:02 pm Chris_McElligottPark Note Added: 0012832
Aug 8, 2011 1:02 pm Chris_McElligottPark Note Edited: 0012832