Difference between revisions of "Alien Swarm"

Revision as of 02:19, 7 July 2013

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Template:Infobox

Key points

Runs on low-end hardware

Game is completely free

Small community

General information

Unofficial Alien Swarm Wiki

Steam Users' Forum

Steam Community Discussions

Availability

Template:Availability Table

All versions require Steam.

Game data

Template:Game Location Table

Save game cloud syncing

Template:Save Game Cloud Syncing

Video settings

Template:Video Settings

Input settings

Template:Input Settings

Issues fixed

Crashes and overheating

CPU Overheating Issues: This threads walks you through running a simple stress test on your CPU to help you identify whether your cooling equipment is doing it's job.
Fix for temp problems/crashing: This threads dictates how VSync and multi-core rendering can be adjusted to eliminate problems relating to overheating and crasing. This tip can also increase performance.
Swarm.exe has stopped working: If you're having problems with Swarm.exe crashing, this Steam Support thread may help you if the problem's related to Shaderapidx9.dll. You can check if Shaderapidx9.dll is the cause of the problem by following the instructions on this thread.

Ping & Latency

Windows 7 Ping Spikes (Fix): This thread explains how to disable a network-throttling feature shipped with Windows 7. It's more likely to fix ping-related problems, but has been reported to assist in FPS also.

WLAN Optimizer: If you play over a wireless connection, you may occasionally experience 'lag spikes' due to Windows checking periodically for new wireless networks. Using this program, you can disable the 'background scan' and improve your gaming wireless experience.

Hosting? Do everyone you meet a BIG favor. PLEASE!: When people connect to your listen server, their client has a "rate" setting. By default it is set at 20,000 (bytes/second). If you're home internet cannot upload 60,000bytes/second (3 people connected) then you're going to have to set a sv_maxrate, to limit each player's rate so that everybody gets their own dedicated chunk of bandwidth, instead of their computers fighting for a piece.

General Information

Console Commands

Games running on the source engine can utilize Source Engine Console Commands for various tasks. Also check this list of useful Alien Swarm console commands

System requirements

Template:System Requirements

@@ Line 56: / Line 56: @@
 |widescreen_resolution_notes=
 |multimonitor               =true
-|multimonitor_notes         =
+|multimonitor_notes         =21:9 resolutions are selectable under the 16:9 resolution options. Position of HUD elements is incorrect.
 |windowed                   =true
 |windowed_notes             =
@@ Line 79: / Line 79: @@
 }}
-== Issues And Fixes ==
+== Issues fixed ==
 === Crashes and overheating ===
 * [http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1374709 CPU Overheating Issues]: This threads walks you through running a simple stress test on your [http://pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Processor_%28CPU%29 CPU] to help you identify whether your cooling equipment is doing it's job.
 * [http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1375184 Fix for temp problems/crashing]: This threads dictates how [http://pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Vertical_Sync_(Vsync) VSync] and [http://pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Graphics_Card_(GPU)#Multiple_GPU multi-core rendering] can be adjusted to eliminate problems relating to overheating and crasing. This tip can also increase performance.
 * [https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=4168-TLZB-4976 Swarm.exe has stopped working]: If you're having problems with <code>Swarm.exe</code> crashing, this Steam Support thread may help you if the problem's related to <code>Shaderapidx9.dll</code>. You can check if <code>Shaderapidx9.dll</code> is the cause of the problem by following the instructions [http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1374578 on this thread].
@@ Line 95: / Line 92: @@
 * [http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1384923 Hosting? Do everyone you meet a BIG favor. PLEASE!]: When people connect to your listen server, their client has a "rate" setting. By default it is set at 20,000 (bytes/second). If you're home internet cannot upload 60,000bytes/second (3 people connected) then you're going to have to set a sv_maxrate, to limit each player's rate so that everybody gets their own dedicated chunk of bandwidth, instead of their computers fighting for a piece.
-== Graphical Tweaks ==
+== General Information ==
+=== Console Commands ===
-'''For steam:'''
-Right click the game, click "set launch options", enter "-h #### -w ####"
-Replace "h"(height) and "w"(width) with the resolution such as "-h 1920 -w 1080"
-'''Without steam:'''
-Right-click the games short-cut, go to properties, in the target box after the path and "", enter the above.
-== Mods And Utilities ==
-[http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1388728 Custom Mod/Map/Addon Release-Thread]
-== Improvements ==
-=== Multiplayer (5-6 players) ===
-When there are 6 players, 6th can not choose a class, so 5 players will be used in this guide.
-Create a file <code>server.cfg</code> to <pre>\Steam\steamapps\common\alien swarm\swarm\cfg</pre> with the next content:
-<pre>
-//Name of the server
-hostname "aliens on a plane"
-//You know what this does
-rcon_password <password here>
-//Set the rate for your server (mine doesn't go above 45 in game)
-sv_maxupdaterate 60
-//this command is not a must
-sv_unlag 1
-//self explanatory
-sv_allow_lobby_connect_only 0
-//this will set the maxplayers
-maxplayers 5
-//set this the same as maxplayers (NOTE: this will revert after your server is up!)
-default_maxplayers 5
-</pre>
-After this is done, you need to start the server. Do so, by opening CMD and then starting the server from there (you do NOT want to run the server from the .exe, it will not load the server.cfg!). In CMD, type the following (change it according to your likings):
-<pre>"C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\alien swarm\srcds.exe" -console -game swarm +ip xx.xxx.xxx.xx -port 27015 +exec server.cfg +map lobby -autoupdate</pre>
-I created a <code>.bat</code> file on my desktop, so it's easier to run and you don't have to remember anything.
-After your server is running you can check by typing "maxplayers" into the CMD window. The output should look something like this:
-<pre>
-maxplayers
-"maxplayers" is "5"
-"mininum_maxplayers" is "1"
-"absolute_maxplayers" is "6"
-"default_maxplayers" is "4"
-"max_splitscreen_players" is "1"
-</pre>
-If you can't use that window for any reason at all, you can also check the serverbrowser. Open your game and in the console, type "openserverbrowser" and navigate to LAN.
-Source: [http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1377239 Steam Forums]
-== Console Commands ==
 Games running on the source engine can utilize [https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Console_Command_List Source Engine Console Commands] for various tasks. Also check this [http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1371124 list of useful Alien Swarm console commands]