Difference between revisions of "Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition"
(→Monitor refresh rate: Removed advice that applies to a prohibitively unique hardware and software configuration. Improved clarity of some existing advice, and added one more tip.) |
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====General fixes==== | ====General fixes==== | ||
{{Fixbox|1= | {{Fixbox|1= | ||
− | {{Fixbox/fix| | + | {{Fixbox/fix|DATA.exe Priority}} |
{{ii}} Reportedly working with Nvidia cards.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/ys0jc/amd_users_having_trouble_running_dark_souls/c5yehq9?context=3 Reddit: AMD Users Having Trouble Running Dark Souls?]</ref> | {{ii}} Reportedly working with Nvidia cards.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/ys0jc/amd_users_having_trouble_running_dark_souls/c5yehq9?context=3 Reddit: AMD Users Having Trouble Running Dark Souls?]</ref> | ||
# Open [[Task Manager]]. | # Open [[Task Manager]]. | ||
− | # Set priority of <code> | + | # Set priority of <code>DATA.exe</code> to a higher value. |
}} | }} | ||
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# Go to Nvidia Control Panel (Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > NVIDIA Control Panel). | # Go to Nvidia Control Panel (Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > NVIDIA Control Panel). | ||
# Go to Manage 3D Settings > Program Settings. | # Go to Manage 3D Settings > Program Settings. | ||
− | # Add both executables (<code> | + | # Add both executables (<code>DARKSOULS.exe</code> and <code>DATA.exe</code>), and set the preferred graphics processor for both to Nvidia graphics instead of auto. |
}} | }} | ||
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# Open CursorLockSetup.exe | # Open CursorLockSetup.exe | ||
# Shortcut > Program Mode. | # Shortcut > Program Mode. | ||
− | # Set <code> | + | # Set <code>DARKSOULS.exe</code> in the 'Open Program' field. |
− | # Set <code> | + | # Set <code>DATA.exe</code> in the 'Lock Program' field. |
# Click 'Create Shortcut', and run the game using this shortcut. | # Click 'Create Shortcut', and run the game using this shortcut. | ||
}} | }} |
Revision as of 22:10, 5 February 2016
Developers | |
---|---|
From Software | |
Publishers | |
Namco Bandai Games | |
Release dates | |
Windows | August 23, 2012 |
Warnings
- For Games for Windows - LIVE on Windows 8 or later, install the latest Games for Windows - LIVE software.
Dark Souls | |
---|---|
Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition | 2012 |
Dark Souls II | 2014 |
Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin | 2015 |
Dark Souls III | 2016 |
Dark Souls: Remastered | 2018 |
Key points
- Games for Windows - LIVE was removed from the Steam version on February 16, 2015; product keys activate on Steam.[1]
- Using a controller is highly recommended over keyboard and mouse controls.
- If using keyboard and mouse controls, apply the DSMfix to improve mouse control issues.
- A terrible port of the console versions of the game with few configurable options.[2] Use DSfix to increase rendering resolution along with many other options.
General information
Availability
Source | DRM | Notes | Keys | OS |
---|---|---|---|---|
Retail | Completely optional Steam unlock.[3] | |||
Amazon.com | ||||
GamersGate | ||||
Incorrect store name. See here for available options. | ||||
Steam |
- All non-Steam versions require Games for Windows - LIVE.[1]
- All product keys activate on Steam.[1]
Essential improvements
- High-resolution textures, fonts, and controller button prompts are available to download.
DSfix
- A GUI for DSfix is available for inexperienced users
- DSfix increases the rendering resolution for better visual quality; without it the game outputs anamorphic 1024x720. It also allows the 30fps lock to be lifted, HD or other alternate textures to be used, as well as giving options for anti-aliasing (AA), Screen space ambient occlusion (SSAO), Depth of Field (DOF) blurring, anisotropic filtering (AF) and many other features.
- Raising the FPS cap may introduce clipping problems such as occasionally falling through elevators. You can avoid most of these issues by capping the FPS at 59.
Instructions |
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Skip intro videos
Instructions |
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DS PVP Watchdog
- Dark Souls PVP Watchdog is a tool designed to prevent some common forms of cheating and tampering in online sessions, and gives the player the ability to ban offenders from their worlds.
- Disclaimer: read the overview in the first link.
Instructions |
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Game data
Configuration file(s) location
System | Location |
---|---|
Steam Play (Linux) | <SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/211420/pfx/[Note 1] |
Save game data location
System | Location |
---|---|
Steam Play (Linux) | <SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/211420/pfx/[Note 1] |
- For the Games for Windows - LIVE version
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\XLive
must also be backed up.
Save game cloud syncing
System | Native | Notes |
---|---|---|
Steam Cloud | Syncs up to 100 MB of save data. |
Video settings
Borderless fullscreen windowed
Instructions |
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High frame rate
Instructions |
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Nvidia Inspector
Anti aliasing may be forced with the compatibility flag 0x004000C0. Sparse Grid Supersampling gives a blurry effect. Multisampling combined with transparency supersampling seems to work well (this author uses 4x on each). Some dark diagonal line artefacts are visible on my system occasionally with these settings but aren't obtrusive. DSfix's antialiasing should be turned off for this.
Ambient occlusion can supposedly be enabled with either 0x00000029 (Skyrim, soft AO) or 0x00000003 (Fallout 3, stronger AO effect). DSfix's AO should be turned off if you're forcing it here.
Input settings
Keyboard
- Unintuitive default keyboard scheme, for example, 'End' brings up menu (and 'Escape' does nothing).
Instructions |
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Mouse
- Mouse controls feel very jittery, with very unintuitive results when the camera collides with a wall or the floor.
Instructions |
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Controller support
- 'Hot swap' between keyboard and mouse controls and controller is available.[2]
- Use of controller is highly recommended.[2]
Audio settings
Localizations
Language | UI | Audio | Sub | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
English | ||||
Traditional Chinese | ||||
French | ||||
German | ||||
Italian | ||||
Korean | ||||
Polish | ||||
Russian | ||||
Spanish |
Network
- Online features in non-Steam versions require a Microsoft account (optional for offline play).
Multiplayer types
Type | Native | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
LAN play | |||
Online play |
Ports
Protocol | Port(s) and/or port range(s) |
---|---|
TCP | 53,80,443,3074 |
UDP | 53,88,3074 |
- This game supports Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) for automatic port configuration.
- UPnP is working in the Games for Windows - LIVE version if the Games for Windows - LIVE Network Settings says "UPnP is available, in use"; if not, refer to this guide.
VR support
3D modes | State | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Nvidia 3D Vision | See Nvidia 3D Vision. |
NVIDIA 3D Vision
- The game suffers from poor Nvidia 3D Vision support.
Instructions |
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Issues fixed
Performances issues
General fixes
Instructions |
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Instructions |
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Lower-spec machine fixes
Instructions |
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Instructions |
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- Certain areas of the game are more demanding on your hardware causing slowdown in-game. It seems that the engine, when faced with an area where it struggles to render 30 FPS, will cut down to 15FPS. The most famous is Blighttown, but large animated characters can also produce this slowdown.
- Unlock the FPS cap with DSfix (unlockFPS 1), set the frame cap at 30 (FPSlimit 30) and enable Vsync (enableVsync 1) For the most part you will have the same experience, but where the game would usually dip to 15FPS it will only drop as far as it needs to (results depend on your machine).
- Unlocking the FPS cap may result in issues involving broken physics and animations. Falling through elevators, corpses sinking through the ground, choppy creature animations are all observed issues.
ATI/AMD-specific fixes
- Appears that ATI/AMD graphics cards are underutilised.
Instructions |
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Instructions |
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Nvidia Optimus-specific fixes
Instructions |
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Crashes
Lifting FPS-cap using DSFix
Instructions |
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VSFilter.dll
- Crash occurs after start screen.[5]
Instructions |
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Monitor refresh rate
- The crash only happens when trying to access the in-game
PC Settings
; it is safe to use any frequency after you have finished adjusting in-game settings.
Instructions |
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Windows 7
- Crash on startup
Instructions |
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Windows 8
Instructions |
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Instructions |
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Instructions |
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Controller issues
Controller not working
Instructions |
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Instructions |
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DirectInput controllers have wrong mapping
Instructions |
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Miscellaneous
Black Screen on startup
- The game's window remains black after launching and is "Not Responding" if clicked on.
- The issue occurs when a Xbox 360 Controller is plugged in.
Instructions |
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Instructions |
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Minimize with multiple monitors
- Fix binds the mouse to a single screen (DSFix has this feature built in).
Instructions |
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Progress bar stuck during installation
- Problem may be caused by setup utility getting stuck whilst installing DirectX and Games for Windows - LIVE.
Instructions |
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Manual Save Game conversion from GFWL version to Steam version
Useful if the automatic conversion fails. However, this will only transfer your game state WITHOUT your achievements.
Instructions |
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Steam requesting UAC on every launch
The issue is that Steam is trying to install Gfwlivesetup.exe but Steam also stopped supplying the executable with new downloads.
Instructions |
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Other information
API
Technical specs | Supported | Notes |
---|---|---|
Direct3D | 9 |
Executable | 32-bit | 64-bit | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Windows |
Middleware
Middleware | Notes | |
---|---|---|
Physics | Havok | |
Audio | FMOD | |
Input | XInput | |
Cutscenes | Bink Video | |
Multiplayer | Steamworks, Games for Windows - LIVE | Steam version uses Steamworks, non-Steam uses GFWL.[1] |
System requirements
Windows | ||
---|---|---|
Minimum | ||
Operating system (OS) | XP, Vista, 7 | |
Processor (CPU) | AMD Phenom II X2 545 3.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 3.0 GHz |
|
System memory (RAM) | 2 GB | |
Hard disk drive (HDD) | 4 GB | |
Video card (GPU) | ATI Radeon HD 4870 Nvidia GeForce 9800 GTX+ DirectX 9.0c compatible |
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Notes regarding Steam Play (Linux) data:
- File/folder structure within this directory reflects the path(s) listed for Windows and/or Steam game data.
- Games with Steam Cloud support may also store data in
~/.steam/steam/userdata/<user-id>/211420/
. - Use Wine's registry editor to access any Windows registry paths.
- The app ID (211420) may differ in some cases.
- Treat backslashes as forward slashes.
- See the glossary page for details on Windows data paths.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 HOW TO: Replace Games for Windows Live functionality with Steamworks functionality in Dark Souls™ Prepare To Die Edition for PC :: Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition General Discussions
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 GameSpy: Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition Review - Page 1
- ↑ Retail version can now be added to Steam library - Steam Users' Forums
- ↑ To the Dark Souls pc players. I made this out of frustration - thought I'd share... : gaming
- ↑ Crashed on Press start screen. - Steam Users' Forums