Chrome Engine Widescreen and Performance Tips

I’ve got a number of Chrome Engine racing games that have been going cheap on Steam (Xpand Rally, GTI Racing, GM Rally, Classic Car Racing) as well as a boxed version of shooter Chrome. I’m want to run them on a 720P projector but I’ve been running into two problems.

Widescreen

These early Chrome Engine games only allow 4:3 resolutions to be selected in-game but you can use custom resolutions by editing the \Data\VideoSettings.scr file. Update the Resolution() line to the resolution you want; for me that would be Resolution(1280,720).

However, when I ran the game, the projector couldn’t display what the game was asking. Eventually, I realised that there was another setting further down the configuration file I needed to change: MaxRefresh(85). This is the refresh rate and because the projector was connected using a VGA interface, it couldn’t tell my PC that it couldn’t cope with the refresh rate of 85. I changed it to MaxRefresh(60) and got native resolution widescreen gaming from the Chrome Engine.

However, that wasn’t the biggest problem I was having.

Performance

From the initial install, the game ran fine; my PC was more than capable of running these games on full everything. After a couple of games, though, performance became horribly, unplayably jerky. Reducing resolution or graphical effects or audio quality didn’t make any difference and attempts to do so were even ignored at times. Eventually, I came across a TweakGuide for Call of Juarez which also runs on a version of the Chrome engine. This highlighted a problem with the shader cache which was fixed by deleting sub-folders in the \Shaders\ folder. I renamed my \Shaders\ folder and the performance issues were gone and the game ran perfectly. I didn’t notice any difference to the graphics either.

Doctor Who 32.10 Vincent and the Doctor (2010, Period Science Fiction Adventure) – 8/10 TV review

Cast / crew Matt Smith: The Doctor Karen Gillan: Amy Pond Writer: Richard Curtis Producer: Tracie Simpson Producer: Patrick Schweitzer Director: Jonny Campbell Tony Curran: Vincent Line Producer: Patrick Schweitzer

Doctor Who 32.10 Vincent and the Doctor (2010) The Doctor takes Amy (who has absolutely no conscious memory of Rory at all) on a series of wonderful trips and their latest is a visit to a Vincent Van Gogh art exhibition. While there, the Doctor spots something odd about one of Van Gogh’s paintings: a monster in a church window. 8/10 It’s clearly something of a coup when you have one of the world’s most successful writers pen an episode for you and Richard Curtis provides a little gem. While it boasts all the traditional elements of the adventure side of the show with Matt Smith’s brilliant Doctor armed with "overconfidence, this and a small screwdriver," it’s true impact comes from a climactic scene where the Doctor gives something extraordinary to artist Vincent Van Gogh; something Van Gogh can add to his life’s pile of "good things." It’s an amazingly emotional sequence and has nothing to do with saving the world or slaying the beast and, as I’ve said before, pulling these stories back from never-ending Armageddons and connecting emotionally to the audience is the key to a great episode. This does, and this is. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance. Links Previous: The Hungry Earth / Cold Blood Next: The Lodger

Max Payne (2008) – 3/10 revenge thriller movie review

Cast / crew Director: John Moore Writer (Screenplay) Based upon the Max Payne video game Published by Rockstar Games: Beau Thorne Producer: John Moore Mark Wahlberg: Max Payne Mila Kunis: Mona Sax Beau Bridges: BB Hensley Chris “Ludacris” Bridges: Jim Bravura Chris O’Donnell: Jason Colvin Donal Logue: Alex Balder Kate Burton: Nicole Horne Olga Kurylenko: Natasha

Max Payne (2008) After the murder of his wife and child cop Max Payne uses his time in the cold case department to help him uncover clues as to the identity of the murderer. Finally, a chance meeting with the beautiful Natasha Sax causes events to be set in motion that, unfortunately, start with Max being suspected of murder. 3/10 Remarkably dull crime thriller that makes the typical mistake of not making it’s protagonists recognisably human. And that’s before our lead character takes the drug (that always causes psychosis and / or death) for a finalé which he strides forward looking like Frankenstein’s monster. Occasionally, the movie is good-looking and the sound designers had a field day (your subwoofer will get a neighbour-hassling workout). Appropriately, Mark Wahlberg uses a single facial expression throughout the film. This movie contains sexual swear words and fictional substance abuse and strong violence, graphic gun violence, unpleasant and gory scenes and nudity. Classified 15 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 15 years and over.

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951, Science Fiction Classic) – 9/10 movie review

Cast / crew Michael Rennie: Klaatu Patricia Neal: Helen Benson Writer (Screenplay): Edmund H. North Writer (Original Stories): Harry Bates Music Composer: Bernard Herrmann Producer: Julian Blaustein Director: Robert Wise

Day the Earth Stood Still, The (1951) A mysterious spaceship from an unknown planet approaches Earth carrying an intelligent humanoid called Klaatu and a giant robot. They have come to warn the world that it will have no future if it persists with nuclear testing. 9/10 Truly superb science fiction movie which is thoughtfully constructed and presents a common idea in a thought-provoking manner – that we are not alone and that should make a difference to us. The direction is perfect, the design iconic and the music is brilliant. This movie contains mild unpleasant scenes. Classified U by BBFC. Universal: Suitable for All. Links The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)

The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008, Science Fiction) – 6/10 movie review

Cast / crew Keanu Reeves: Klaatu Jennifer Connelly: Helen Benson Jaden Smith: Jacob Benson John Cleese: Professor Barnhardt Jon Hamm: Michael Granier Kyle Chandler: John Driscoll Kathy Bates: Regina Jackson Producer: Erwin Stoff Producer: Paul Harris Boardman Writer (Original Screenplay): Edmund H. North Writer (Screenplay): David Scarpa Director: Scott Derrickson

Day the Earth Stood Still, The (2008) Earth is stunned when a spectacular globe arrives from outer space and lands in Manhattan’s Central Park. The American’s welcome their visitor by shooting him and carting him off to be prodded by boffins. After stabilising him, a human form emerges and requests dialogue with the world’s leaders at the United Nations. 6/10 This is a barely satisfactory version of a near-perfect science-fiction movie (made in 1951 by Robert Wise) that doesn’t make any sense as Keanu Reeves comes to Earth to speak to the world leaders (though he was misinformed, apparently John Cleese is the king of the world) and gets told he can’t. Without the option of dialogue, he has to instigate plan B (from outer space) and destroy humankind so they can’t destroy Earth. Of course, he SPOILER changes his mind but without reason. Without reason, the story collapses. One critical decision that ’50′s movies understood is that giant robots are brilliant (because we can identify with their recognisable shape). We get the giant robot but then we get a giant cloud for a weak climax. It is good / interesting that the kid isn’t the preternaturally wise, understanding innocent, Keanu’s casting was a great call and the director paces the movie very well but the makers would have done much better telling the exact same story as the original. It had reason. This movie contains one unexpected gory scene, violence, unpleasant scenes and non-sexual nudity. Classified 12A by BBFC. Persons under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Links The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)

Doctor Who 32.08,09 The Hungry Earth / Cold Blood (2010, Science Fiction Adventure) – 6/10 TV review

Cast / crew Matt Smith: The Doctor Karen Gillan: Amy Pond Writer: Chris Chibnall Producer: Peter Bennett Director: Ashley Way

Doctor Who 32.08,09 Hungry Earth, The / Cold Blood (2010) After a science project hits the milestone of drilling 21 kilometres into the Earth, the Doctor, Amy and Rory arrive just as the Earth fights back. 6/10 Seemingly not really knowing what to do with the characters (though Amy does get a fun "did you just shush me?" moment), writer Chris Chibnall delivers an inconsistent double-episode where he keeps pulling things out of thin air to help the plot along and yet another end-of-the-world situation. When will writers realise that end-of-the-world drama generally isn’t dramatic at all. While harder, it is always much more interesting to focus on smaller problems. How do we get out of this locked room is always more involving for an audience than how do we save the world. However, there is an interesting backbone as the Doctor demands his cast members ‘be the best that humanity can be,’ and has to cope with his crushing disappointment when they don’t. Matt Smith takes the challenges of the script and makes them work while the homo-reptilians look great and the climax points to an intriguing season end in a couple of episodes time. This Doctor Who episode contains extremely unpleasant scenes, fantasy violence.   Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance. Links Previous: Amy’s Choice Next: Vincent and the Doctor

Monster Jam (2007, Monster Truck Racer, 360) – 3/10 game review

Cast / crew Producer: Kevin McIntosh Game Designer: Ben Evans Lead Level Designer: Van Ricketts Lead Programmer: Stuart Cameron

Monster Jam (2007) Race some of the world’s most famous monster trucks around fictional locations causing spectacular carnage and performing fantastic stunts. Unlock more events, trucks and videos as you progress through the championship mode which includes races around large outdoor fantasy tracks, indoor (more realistics) stadium tracks and freestyle stunt events. 3/10 Technically deficiency (on 360, a hopeless frame-rate, embarrassing texture work and a physics engine that is untuned for the mass carnage and obstacles caused by the gameplay) mean that what should be a fun, spectacular, unusual racing experience is something you want to end as quickly as possible. The game design is largely fine (with the exception of the unexplained scoring and stunt system in Freestyle events) with races rewarding both finishing position and chained carnage caused. Freestyle events concentrate on stunts (such as crushing cars) and help add some variation. Sadly, the physics are simply incapable of allowing the player to have fun because it almost always is taking control away from you. You never have any idea where your monster truck is going to go when you turn the wheel or hit an obstacle or touch the boost or drive along a clean bit of road in a straight line (hint, you probably won’t). This is a technically half-hearted (or half-budgeted?) effort and a missed opportunity to add another regular franchise to the racing game oeuvre.

Xbox 360 vs PS3 Head-to-Head Face Off: Round 26

Every so often, Eurogamer publish a series of technical comparison reviews by Digital Foundry for games released on both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

This is the latest update to the full list.

• Backbreaker
• Green Day: Rock Band
• Lost Planet 2
• Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands
• skate 3
• Split/Second: Velocity

The Mentalist 2.18 Aingavite Baa (2010, Light Crime Drama) – 6/10 TV review

Cast / crew Creator: Bruno Heller Simon Baker: Patrick Jane Robin Tunney: Teresa Lisbon Tim Kang: Kendall Cho Owain Yeoman: Wayne Rigsby Amanda Righetti: Grace Van Pelt Rosa Evangelina Arredondo: Dolores Brinton Gil Birmingham: Markham Willis Sean Bridgers: Ranger Tisdale Tracy Middendorf: Jane Doe K.T. Thangavelu: Doctor Wes Studi: Joeseph Silverwing Aunjanue Ellis: Madeleine Hightower Co-Executive Producer: Tom Szentgyorgyi Producer: Charlie Goldstein Writer: Tom Szentgyorgyi Writer: Erika Green Swafford Director: Stephen Gyllenhaal Executive Producer: Bruno Heller

Mentalist, The 2.18 Aingavite Baa (2010) 6/10 Links Next episode: Blood Money Previous episode: The Red Box

The Mentalist 2.17 The Red Box (2010, Light Crime Drama) – 6/10 TV review

Cast / crew Creator: Bruno Heller Simon Baker: Patrick Jane Robin Tunney: Teresa Lisbon Tim Kang: Kendall Cho Owain Yeoman: Wayne Rigsby Amanda Righetti: Grace Van Pelt Kevin Alejandro: Victor Bandino Aunjanue Ellis: Madeleine Hightower Consulting Producer: John Mankiewicz Executive Producer: Chris Long Producer: Charlie Goldstein Writer: John Mankiewicz Director: Chris Long Executive Producer: Bruno Heller

Mentalist, The 2.17 Red Box, The (2010) 6/10 Links Next episode: Aingavite Baa Previous episode: Code Red

The Mentalist 2.16 Code Red (2010, Light Crime Drama) – 6/10 TV review

Cast / crew Creator: Bruno Heller Simon Baker: Patrick Jane Robin Tunney: Teresa Lisbon Tim Kang: Kendall Cho Owain Yeoman: Wayne Rigsby Amanda Righetti: Grace Van Pelt J.C. Mackenzie: Griffin Welks Matt Malloy: Scott Price George Newbern: Dr. Cliff Edmunds Amy Price-Francis: Dr. Alicia Seberg Casey Strand: Lilith Nash Tony Curran: Dean Harken Producer: Charlie Goldstein Writer: Bruno Heller Director: John F. Showalter Executive Producer: Bruno Heller

Mentalist, The 2.16 Code Red (2010) Jane gets a phone call: “Please come immediately. I’ve been murdered.” 6/10 Links Next episode: The Red Box Previous episode: Red Herring

The Mentalist 2.23 Red Sky in the Morning (2010, Crime Drama) – 7/10 TV review

Cast / crew Creator: Bruno Heller Simon Baker: Patrick Jane Robin Tunney: Teresa Lisbon Tim Kang: Kendall Cho Owain Yeoman: Wayne Rigsby Amanda Righetti: Grace Van Pelt Carrie Finklea: Ruth Jack Plotnick: Brett Partridge Stephen Sowan: Dylan Cameron Van Cleave: Wesley Blankfein Kathleen Wilhoite: Margo Leslie Hope: Kristina Frye Aunjanue Ellis: Madelaine Hightower Executive Producer: Chris Long Producer: Charlie Goldstein Writer: Bruno Heller Director: Chris Long Executive Producer: Bruno Heller

Mentalist, The 2.23 Red Sky in the Morning (2010) Jane goes on a date with Kristina but just as he is about to flee, Red John interrupts by posting a video to the internet showing a point-of-view of his latest killing. 7/10 Being a Red John episode this is much more intense than most of the show and it’s good to see Simon Baker step up and convey that tension brilliantly. The know-it-all is still there (decrying the other know-it-all, Kristina, of course) but he also delivers genuine fear, panic and horror at the unfolding events. We get the voice of Red John in this episode but Jane’s calmness and lying about Red John speaking to him afterward is a bit perplexing. As expected, would-be girlfriend Kristina becomes a target though the way it happens is interesting, resonant and convincing. This Mentalist, The episode contains gory and unpleasant scenes, graphic gun violence, extremely unpleasant inferred scenes. Links Previous episode: Red Letter

The Mentalist 2.22 Red Letter (2010, Crime Drama) – 5/10 TV review

Cast / crew Creator: Bruno Heller Simon Baker: Patrick Jane Robin Tunney: Teresa Lisbon Tim Kang: Kendall Cho Owain Yeoman: Wayne Rigsby Amanda Righetti: Grace Van Pelt Eugene Byrd: Russell Bigelow Alice Evans: Ilsa Engels Melissa Fumero: Carmen Reyes Rick Hoffman: Christopher Lynch Shaun Duke Moosekian: Tariq Sharif Nick Searcy: Sheriff Andy Burnside Leslie Hope: Kristina Frye Aunjanue Ellis: Madelaine Hightower Supervising Producer: Eoghan Mahony Producer: Charlie Goldstein Writer: Eoghan Mahony Director: John F. Showalter Executive Producer: Bruno Heller

Mentalist, The 2.22 Red Letter (2010) CBI investigate the murder of a anti-human trafficking campaigner but Jane has conflicting emotions when a real psychic consultant for another police force, Kristina Frye, is brought on board. 5/10 This poorly plotted episode sees Jane magic solutions out of thin air and has a conclusion that negates his own comments on the initial murder scene. The introduction of a possible romance is also terrible as the person in question is a real psychic and, therefore, Jane and her could never have such a relationship. Her re-introduction is clearly to put her in peril in the season finalé next time. This Mentalist, The episode contains unexpectedly extreme beating with a fire extinguisher. Links Next episode: Red Sky in the Morning Previous episode:: 18-5-4

The Menalist 2.21 18-5-4 (2010, Crime Drama) – 6/10 TV review

Cast / crew Creator: Bruno Heller Simon Baker: Patrick Jane Robin Tunney: Teresa Lisbon Tim Kang: Kendall Cho Owain Yeoman: Wayne Rigsby Amanda Righetti: Grace Van Pelt Lucy Davis: Daphne Rich Hutchman: Rafe Scott Menville: Adrian Mosca Evan Peters: Oliver Fisher Stevens: Tolman Consulting Producer: Leonard Dick Writer: Leonard Dick Writer: Ken Woodruff Director: Charles Beeson Executive Producer: Bruno Heller

Mentalist, The 2.21 18-5-4 (2010) A brilliant but penniless mathematician is shot to death by a clown who then steals his finger. 6/10 Opening with a more graphic than usual murder (we don’t normally see them), Jane is beginning to seriously suffer from a complete lack of character development; there’s no sense that he’s a real person. The identity of the murderer, however, is brilliantly done because the main clue is given to both Jane and us and the director even lingers on it; but neither Jane nor us pick up on it. Jane, of course, gets there eventually. I’m always impressed when a mystery drama manages to give the audience the same clues and information as the investigator. This Mentalist, The episode contains brief, graphic gun violence, brief,extremely unpleasant scene of finger amputation, other unpleasant scenes. Links Previous episode: Red All Over Next episode: Red Letter

The Mentalist 2.20 Red All Over (2010, Light Crime Drama) – 6/10 TV review

Cast / crew Creator: Bruno Heller Simon Baker: Patrick Jane Robin Tunney: Teresa Lisbon Tim Kang: Kendall Cho Owain Yeoman: Wayne Rigsby Amanda Righetti: Grace Van Pelt Malcolm McDowell: Bret Stiles Michelle Clunie: Tara Harrington Steven Hack: David Robyn Lively: Sadie Cardoza Harrington Tanc Sade: Edward Harrington Joseph Will: Steven Wench Virginia Williams: Heather Evans Bob Gunton: Alexander Harrington Producer: Charlie Goldstein Writer: Carolyn Ingber Director: Roxann Dawson Executive Producer: Bruno Heller

Mentalist, The 2.20 Red All Over (2010) The CEO of a major international media group is murdered and his under-achieving brother is prime suspect. 6/10 The final solution is pretty interesting (father kills son who had an affair with his wife and sired a daughter; only he kills the wrong son) but how we get there is, frankly, unexplained. Jane wanders around for a bit, there’s an astoundingly ridiculous bomb-cultist story branch then he sets up the killer. It’s fun enough and Malcolm McDowell is always good for a bit of sliminess, but the formula is wearing thin. Links Next episode: 18-5-4 Previous episode: Blood Money

The Mentalist 2.19 Blood Money (2010, Crime Drama) – 6/10 TV review

Cast / crew Creator: Bruno Heller Simon Baker: Patrick Jane Robin Tunney: Teresa Lisbon Tim Kang: Kendall Cho Owain Yeoman: Wayne Rigsby Amanda Righetti: Grace Van Pelt John Ales: Cale Sylvan Dwayne L. Barnes: Jayden Flower K. Callan: Annabelle Draber John Kapelos: Hank Draber William Lucking: Judge Franklin T. Hildred Mia Riverton: Dana Munn Stephen Spinella: ADA Marc Odenthal Aunjanue Ellis: Madeleine Hightower Co-Executive Producer: Ashley Gable Producer: Charlie Goldstein Writer: Ashley Gable Writer: Jordan Harper Director: Adam Kane Executive Producer: Bruno Heller

Mentalist, The 2.19 Blood Money (2010) CBI investigate the death of an Assistant District Attorney but identifying the killer isn’t too much of a problem. Because he’s a professional killer, though, catching and convicting him is going to be the hard part. 6/10 There’s some good fun here but this is a slightly more serious episode than most as the baddie is a psychopath and is clearly presented as such and, well, psychopaths are disturbing. Additionally, the series is beginning to struggle under the weight of Jane’s recklessness as he deliberately upsets an armed smuggler, a psychopathic hitman, a murderer and a judge. Though it’s still fun. Links Next episode: Red All Over Previous episode: Aingavite Baa

House M.D. 6.19 The Choice (2010, Black Comedy Medical Drama) – 6/10 TV review

Cast / crew Hugh Laurie: Dr. Gregory House Lisa Edelstein: Dr. Lisa Cuddy Omar Epps: Dr. Eric Foreman Robert Sean Leonard: Dr. James Wilson Jesse Spencer: Dr. Robert Chase Creator: David Shore Peter Jacobson: Dr. Chris Taub Olivia Wilde: Thirteen Cynthia Watros: Sam Carr Adam Garcia: Ted Eva Amurri: Nicole Jennifer Crystal Foley: Rachel Taub Jonathan Murphy: Cotter Macklin Producer: Marcy G. Kaplan Producer: Sara Hess Supervising Producer: David Hoselton Supervising Producer: David Foster Executive Producer: Hugh Laurie Writer: David Hoselton Director: Juan J. Campanella

House M.D. 6.19 Choice, The (2010) A man collapses speechless at the altar before he can say ‘I do’ but his symptoms miraculously clear up in House’s presence at the end of a sharp pointy needle. House team take it in turns to ask their boss out for the evening while House attempts to get Taub back into his marriage. 6/10 There’s fun in this episode but the conceit that homosexuality cannot be circumvented when you’re born with it and must be allowed it’s free expression seems foolish. Does this mean that a sociopath must be allowed to kill? That a person with any inescapable predilection should be allowed, even encouraged, to follow through? That said, the fact that the episode has broached this intriguing issue again is worthy. It always strikes me as fascinating that homosexuality is largely labelled in contemporary drama as uncontrollable and genetic. If it is, and you believe that evolution and genetics are the only key to all life, then aren’t homosexuals evolutionarily redundant, at best, a way of depopulating the planet? That aspect is never mentioned… Links Previous: Open and Shut

The Day After Tomorrow (2004, Roland Emmerich Disaster Movie) – 7/10 movie review

Cast / crew Dennis Quaid: Jack Hall Jake Gyllenhaal: Sam Hall Ian Holm: Terry Rapson Emmy Rossum: Laura (Chapman) Sela Ward: Dr. Lucy Hall Dash Mihok: Jason (Evans) Kenneth Welsh: Vice President Becker Producer: Roland Emmerich Writer (Story): Roland Emmerich Writer (Screenplay): Roland Emmerich Writer (Screenplay): Jeffrey Nachmanoff Director: Roland Emmerich Writer (Original Book) Inspired by The Coming Global Superstorm: Art Bell Writer (Original Book) Inspired by The Coming Global Superstorm: Whitley Strieber

Day After Tomorrow, The (2004) Scientist’s around the world are forever warning of major climate change but Jack Hall is going one step further and saying that in the next couple of centuries the world could enter another ice age. Then data starts coming in which demonstrates that he is, catastrophically, both right and wrong. 7/10 Despite the spectacular scenes of mass destruction, this superbly sustained disaster movie is more subdued than usual for the genre and contains a positive, thought-provoking message. Remarkably, there are no melodramatically emotional death scenes (no "Stay with me" rubbish) and nobody descends into reckless hysteria. That’s not to say the story isn’t a bit of stretch but, critically, disbelief is entirely suspended for the running time and that is probably co-writer / director / producer Roland Emmerich’s true skill. His movie’s are good-looking, well-acted and truly spectacular, for sure, but it’s his ability to consistently suspend disbelief and keep it there that makes these movies work, and work well. This movie contains a mild swear word, (commentaries contain sexual swear words) and unpleasant scenes. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance.

Miracles aka Ji ji (1989, Feel-Good Period Jackie Chan Gangster Action) – 6/10 movie review

Cast / crew Producer: Leonard Ho Koon-Cheung Writer: Jackie Chan Director: Jackie Chan Jackie Chan: Cheng Wah Kuo Writer: Edward Tang Writer (Original Movie) A Pocketful of Miracles (1961): Hal Kanter Writer (Original Movie) Lady for a Day (1933): Robert Riskin Writer (Original Movie) Lady for a Day (1933): Damon Runyon Writer (Original Movie) A Pocketful of Miracles (1961): Harry Tugend

Miracles aka Ji ji (1989) After inadvertently becoming boss of a major city gang, Wah Kuo knows he doesn’t want to be involved in the typically illegal activities and redirects their efforts toward setting up a nightclub. Attributing his good luck to a rose he buys from an old flower lady every day, he finds that his newfound wealth and power may be able to be put to good use when the flower lady receives a letter from her daughter. 6/10 This is a muddled but ultimately good-hearted Jackie Chan movie that features typically astonishing, deliriously entertaining and intricate fight scenes but the main plot concerns accidental puppet gangster boss Jackie Chan attempting to perform a good deed for an old flower lady. Surprisingly, the plot works emotionally but the extended and somewhat frantic farce doesn’t really play to western sensibilities. This movie contains martial arts violence. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance.