23 replies to this topic

[Zaptruder]

Triple monitors.

I've had a triple monitor (for productivity reasons) setup for a while now. But recently, after having picked up a new videocard (7970 OC edition), I'm now in the position to take advantage of the 3 monitors for gaming.

Having tried it across a number of games... I have to say without a shadow of a doubt that the game that benefits the most from such a setup is MWO.

I mean... we complain about Pay 2 Win on this forum... but really, if there's any efficacy to paying to win, it'd be in buying a triple monitor setup: You have a far greater awareness of the battlefield on an intuitive level; and you can see mechs popping up in your field of view before a normal player could.

Which also helps to up the immersion factor dramatically; it does a good job of making you feel like you're actually in a mech. And it gives each mech a good degree of personality via their cockpits; because a large portion of it is taken up by the internal space. As an example, hunchbacks feel roomy and really visible; because you can see from all sides of the cockpit. Jagermechs feel like you're driving a truck; the 2 shield plates block your peripheral vision like nobody's business. The Atlas of course feels like you're staring out a porthole; which you are - the two side monitors are essentially taken up by the cockpit space.

The great thing about investing in such a setup is... it's not that expensive nowadays - can be achieved easily with under a grand for all necessary parts (on top of the PC). Even the desk if yours is too small.

Also it's going to last a while; even when VR takes off and leaves the FOV of normal monitors behind; triple monitors provides a greater horizontal FOV and much higher resolution than will be available with HMDs for a while.

Head tracking is much less important when you have a wide field of view arrayed infront of you; by its nature, moving your head will allow you to see the left and right parts of the cockpit.
Probably the only thing I'd do to improve the immersion factor is get larger screens to triple monitor with; I think having 3x40" screens @ 2.5 feet would provide for a close to orthostereoscopic view for the player (i.e. where objects on the screen appear roughly the same size as they would in real life).

[TehSBGX]

I'm not exactly sure most people would do a triple monitor set up just for this game. Besides any time I've used a double monitor set up it was for media editing. So I'd be like.... Enough fun Time I'm gonna pull a double shift at work.

[Zaptruder]

TehSBGX, on 08 April 2013 - 08:25 PM, said:

I'm not exactly sure most people would do a triple monitor set up just for this game. Besides any time I've used a double monitor set up it was for media editing. So I'd be like.... Enough fun Time I'm gonna pull a double shift at work.

Triple monitor setups are benefits unto themselves for anyone that does anything productive on their computer. Which still leaves a great deal of users without a pressing need for such a setup; but a lot more people can benefit from it than just people that play MWO. Just having the best MWO experience that money can buy is a very nice bonus to the setup.

[ShadowDrake05]

I tried the same thing (same video card too heh). Used 3x 27" 1080p displays and sit like 2 feet away. Really amazing (first time trying eyefinity) and does give a definite advantage. Not huge but certainly would help you spot someone off on the side. With the old blue heatvision it was super easy to pick up anyone within your field of view. This game definitely favors those who run higher screen resolutions.

[Ghogiel]

Out of your peripherals, if you turn on thermal, can you also see like waaaaay further than most people on city night?

Perhaps I shouldn't let people know this... oh well, at least they have to look at you side ways to get a bead.

[FunkyFritter]

I only own 1 monitor, so this feature wouldn't improve my immersion in the slightest.

[Zaptruder]

FunkyFritter, on 08 April 2013 - 11:16 PM, said:

I only own 1 monitor, so this feature wouldn't improve my immersion in the slightest.

Feature is already in the game, in case you misunderstood my post.

Just *you* will have to go out of your way to get a triple monitor system setup. But if you're one of those hardcore mechwarrior nuts that spend money on a rig and videocards for a single game, this is the way to go.

[rustyk]

I agree that surround (5760x1080) is fantastic on this game.

It probably gives you a benefit depending on your FOV settings, but I agree that it adds to immersion because every mech has a very different feel from within the cockpit.

[Kaspirikay]

lol, OP may as well tell us to get Northrop Grumman to build each of us a room sized simulator complete with hydralics and cockpit.

[Zaptruder]

Kaspirikay, on 08 April 2013 - 11:51 PM, said:

lol, OP may as well tell us to get Northrop Grumman to build each of us a room sized simulator complete with hydralics and cockpit.

Three monitors and a video card is sub $1000.
Room sized simulator with complete hydraulics is $500,000... and tens of thousands per annum in running costs.

And yet the jump from Single monitor to Triple monitor is less than the jump from Triple monitor to said room sized simulator. It's a pretty ideal point of cost vs benefit.

[Wizard Steve]

Removing the startup sequence would restore the immersion it destroyed. That would be a good start.

[ThinkTank]

Wizard Steve, on 09 April 2013 - 12:06 AM, said:

Removing the startup sequence would restore the immersion it destroyed. That would be a good start.

Are you that guy that thinks watching your avatar start up the mech is immersion breaking? Dont be that guy.

[Wizard Steve]

ThinkTank, on 09 April 2013 - 12:09 AM, said:

Are you that guy that thinks watching your avatar start up the mech is immersion breaking? Dont be that guy.

I am that guy.

[Corwin Vickers]

Zaptruder, on 09 April 2013 - 12:01 AM, said:

Three monitors and a video card is sub $1000.
Room sized simulator with complete hydraulics is $500,000... and tens of thousands per annum in running costs.

And yet the jump from Single monitor to Triple monitor is less than the jump from Triple monitor to said room sized simulator. It's a pretty ideal point of cost vs benefit.

Deja Vu. Is that a direct quote from somewhere? I swear I read this exact post like a year ago.

[Dr Killinger]

Cost barrier of entry is high, and thus uptake on consumer end would be low, and would bring balance into question regarding FOV advantages. Just makes more sense for them to focus on other things.

That said. I want a triple monitor Mechwarrior experience more than I want my next breath. If my rig could actually handle it. And if I had 3 monitors of equal resolution.

[Zaptruder]

Dr Killinger, on 09 April 2013 - 01:12 AM, said:

Cost barrier of entry is high, and thus uptake on consumer end would be low, and would bring balance into question regarding FOV advantages. Just makes more sense for them to focus on other things.

That said. I want a triple monitor Mechwarrior experience more than I want my next breath. If my rig could actually handle it. And if I had 3 monitors of equal resolution.

Oh god. Why do you guys do this to yourself? Any time someone even brings up the topic of peripheral or non-standard item support, someone will nay-say it with the good old "it'll take too much work for too few players" line...

EVEN WHEN THE FEATURE IS ALREADY THERE AND BEEN USED.

This thread is really just here as a little community service notice. If you can, play this game in triple monitor! It's worth it!

[Kurayami]

yeh its all good but mostly for diehards. seriously for example i have sensitive eyes and just getting another 2 monitors will launch me way higher than 1k$, and that is not to mention new video card. for this amount i can just grab rift and upgrade my whole rig.

[MrTarget]

rustyk, on 08 April 2013 - 11:45 PM, said:

I agree that surround (5760x1080) is fantastic on this game.

Bah, unless its 1200 not worth having

[Thomas Covenant]

This is something you want to do or are doing? Can you make a video? Lower your settings if you have to.

Edit: I guess it would have to be an off screen recording to be meaningful for youtube.

Edited by Thomas Covenant, 09 April 2013 - 01:48 AM.

[Zaptruder]

Thomas Covenant, on 09 April 2013 - 01:47 AM, said:

This is something you want to do or are doing? Can you make a video? Lower your settings if you have to.

Edit: I guess it would have to be an off screen recording to be meaningful for youtube.

There are plenty of videos on youtube.

http://www.youtube.c...le+monitor&aq=f

But something to note is that when looking at the videos: The side screens will look quite distorted... and indeed they are.

Your eyes primarily focus on the primary monitor, and drift occasionally to the halves of the side monitors closest to the main monitor.

In that sense, the displays seem quite natural; only when you look at the edges of the left and right monitor do you really pick up on the distortion.

But that's ok - it doesn't diminish the utility nor immersion of the setup.