A small graphical question (sprites/textures)

[Raccoon]

Hi there!

I'm using the latest version of Pj64 and I can't help but notice that when textures compared to the textures seen while playing the actual console, they look kind of rough, pixelated.

Is this just how most ROM's were "ripped" (or whatever the process is called) or am I forgetting to toggle some tiny little switch somewhere in the config screen? I can barely understand most of the jargon used in there so it wouldn't surprise me if I had.

I'm using Jabo's video plugin and I have most possible options in the first config screen maxed out.

 

[Allnatural]

That's one drawback with emulation. Low-res sprites and backgrounds don't look very nice on high-res monitors. Most, if not all, video plugins contain some sort of filter that will help.

 

[PsyMan]

As Allnatural already said N64's games have low resolutions (usually 320*240).
TV screens have a special filtering method that make low-res graphics look good. PC monitors don't have that filtering method. N64 games are designed for TVs that is why textures look rough and pixelated on PC monitors.
If you try Rice Video Plugin or glN64 and enable filtering, textures will probably look better.

 

[Raccoon]

Hmmm, i just dl'd Rice's plugin.... Turned on a few 2xsai options and... nothing much happened. So I tried turning the rest of them on. That's when the FPS went to hell.

In fact (i'm using mario 64 to test this) I can no longer see his head after the title screen.

 

[PsyMan]

Have you considered connecting your video card with your TV? It is good for emulation but everything else will look like crap.
P.S: For Mario 64 you should try using glN64.

 

[Raccoon]

Hmmm Good Idea with the tv bit. I might just do that. And is glN64 a seperate emulator or a plugin? And why do you recommend it for Mario 64?

 

[PsyMan]

Hmmm Good Idea with the tv bit. I might just do that. And is glN64 a seperate emulator or a plugin? And why do you recommend it for Mario 64?

glN64 is a plugin, you can download it from here under the plugins section and see by yourself why I recommend it for Mario 64.

 

[Raccoon]

glN64 is a plugin, you can download it from here under the plugins section and see by yourself why I recommend it for Mario 64.

Well, thanks for your help. While it doesn't "exactly" solve my problem it has brought a few things into perpective.

But it appears however that I along with all others will have to await the day that an emulator emerges for Nintendo 64 which shall be as Zsnes is to Super Nintendo... Hyper-comfortable and simple

The Raccoon has spoken!

 

[PsyMan]

But it appears however that I along with all others will have to await the day that an emulator emerges for Nintendo 64 which shall be as Zsnes is to Super Nintendo... Hyper-comfortable and simple

That is quite hard to happen but we can always hope...

 

[Raccoon]

Heh, just give it a few years. I mean hey. A long time ago people wouldn't have dreamed of emulation. Todai we can actually use the 2xsai on old nintendo

 

[Tagrineth]

It isn't so much the fact that they're designed for TV...

The 2D overlays are designed to work in a specific aspect ratio, so any different ar will screw up the pixel alignment - even if it's only by a tiny pawful of pixels. Then there's the pixel ratio - a 320x240-optimised screen sprite can't be scaled accurately to an equivalent space at 1024x768.

Finally, the biggest hurdle, N64's native insanely good anti-aliasing which seems to work INCREDIBLY well on sprites.

 

[PsyMan]

Tagrineth you may not believe it but it is the fact that these games are designed for TVs. If you try to run a game on a PC monitor at 320*240 it will look like crap (it doesn't look perfect even at 640*480), on the other hand if you connect yout video card with your TV the game will look far better.
Believe me, I've done it many times .
If your video card has TV out try it and see by yourself.