Changing resolutions for games with config files?

So awhile ago dumbdumb told me that you can edit the config file in old games to add additional resolutions. I asked him how that is possible but he never got back to me...assuming he is just busy.


anyone here know if that is true and how it can be done? there are a bunch of older games i want to resize. Also is there any limits on that?

Thanks HF

EDIT: it appears to be possible but it is different for each game. RCT3 has no config file and i see mentions online about the options.txt but when i open it, it has no info besides:

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FirstTime 1

I think i figured out RCT3 there is some random option.txt file in another folder. The game installs in 4 or so locations -_-

C:\Users\HOPELESSLYFAITHFUL\AppData\Roaming\Atari\RCT3


So what was the point of AOEII HD...couldn't you just change the config file?

 

It's true. You can set resulution through *.ini or *.cfg files (prolly missed some other one too) via Notepad or something similar.
If you are trying to get a widescreen resolution to an old game you might want to look at something like this:
Universal Widescreen (UniWS) Patcher | WSGF

 

why does it matter? what does it exactly do or fix?

RCT3 has 4:3 and 16:9 so does setting 1080p or 4k matter? i only currently have 1920:1200 so that might make a little bit of an issue but meh

 

That link was just posted as an example.

After some digging it seems like RCT3 has some troubles with 16:10.

 

Usually changing non-supported resolutions in older games resulted in awkward FOV or zoom levels that were really only designed for 4:3 screens. Plus the UI would frequently be out of place or even not in line with the actual mouse cursor location.

 

interesting. I'll have to try it out later

 

'Tis true. I once set SWAT 4 to 16:9 later to get back to 4:3, since some of the interface was gone. And that's not something you would like not to have during an online play. Black bars seem to be a fare trade-off.

 

Right. That's why I like it when they officially release dynamic resolutions and FOV like in AoE II.

 

so how does RCT3 act weird on 16:10? I tried 1920x1200 and it ran fine. Buttons worked all all. Granted i only worked with terrain real fast so maybe something else is messed up but all the buttons on the left worked fine so i am kind of excited. Now all i need is a new desktop that has an actual k processor. This game runs like a dog on my 3720qm at 3.8ghz -_- Kinda looking forward to my next desktop 4k plus maybe a 10 or 14nm CPU overclocked to like 6ghz....maybe RCT3 will actually run smooth ^^