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Difference between revisions of "Age of Wonders II: The Wizard's Throne"

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
(→‎API: it seemingly does also use d3d7)
 
(97 intermediate revisions by 17 users not shown)
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−
{{Infobox
+
{{Infobox game
−
|cover         = Age of wonders ii.jpeg
+
|cover       = Age of wonders ii.jpeg
−
|developer     = [[Wikipedia:Triumph Studios|Triumph Studios]]
+
|developers  =
−
|publisher     = [[Wikipedia:Take Two Interactive|Take Two Interactive]]
+
{{Infobox game/row/developer|Triumph Studios}}
−
|engine        =  
+
|publishers  =
−
|release dates = June 12, 2002
+
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|Take-Two Interactive|Retail}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|Triumph Studios|Digital, original}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|Paradox Interactive|Digital, current}}
 +
|engines      =  
 +
|release dates=  
 +
{{Infobox game/row/date|Windows|June 12, 2002}}
 +
|reception    =
 +
{{Infobox game/row/reception|Metacritic|age-of-wonders-ii-the-wizards-throne|86}}
 +
|taxonomy    =
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/monetization      | One-time game purchase }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/microtransactions | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/modes            | Singleplayer, Multiplayer }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/pacing            | Turn-based }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/perspectives      | Bird's-eye view, Isometric}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/controls          | Multiple select, Point and select }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/genres            | 4X, Strategy, TBS }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/sports            | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/vehicles          | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/art styles        | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/themes            | Fantasy }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/series            | Age of Wonders }}
 +
|steam appid  = 61510
 +
|gogcom id    = 1207658884
 +
|hltb        = 282
 +
|igdb        = age-of-wonders-ii-the-wizard-s-throne
 +
|lutris      = age-of-wonders-2
 +
|strategywiki =
 +
|mobygames    = 6708
 +
|wikipedia    = Age of Wonders II: The Wizard's Throne
 +
|winehq      = 3277
 +
|license      = commercial
 +
|official site= http://www.triumphstudios.com/ageofwonders/
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{Introduction
 +
|introduction      =
 +
 
 +
|release history  =
 +
 
 +
|current state    =
 
}}
 
}}
−
{{Series|Age of Wonders}}
 
  
 
'''General information'''
 
'''General information'''
−
{{mm}} [http://www.triumphstudios.com/ageofwonders/ Official Website]
+
{{mm}} [https://discord.gg/SmbeaYnRGD Official Discord for game series]
−
{{mm}} [http://www.gog.com/forum/age_of_wonders_series GOG.com Community Discussions] for game series
+
{{mm}} [https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/forums/age-of-wonders-classics.1021/ Official Paradox Plaza forums]
−
{{mm}} [http://www.gog.com/support/age_of_wonders_2_the_wizards_throne GOG.com Support Page]
+
{{GOG.com links|1207658884|age_of_wonders_series|for game series}}
−
{{mm}} [http://forums.steamgames.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=991 Steam Users' Forums] for game series
+
{{mm}} [https://steamcommunity.com/app/61510/discussions/ Steam Community Discussions]
−
{{mm}} [http://steamcommunity.com/app/61510/discussions/ Steam Community Discussions]
 
 
{{mm}} [http://aow2.heavengames.com/ AoW2 Heaven] fansite
 
{{mm}} [http://aow2.heavengames.com/ AoW2 Heaven] fansite
  
−
== Availability ==
+
==Availability==
−
{{Availability Table|
+
{{Availability|
−
{{Availability Table/row| [http://www.impulsedriven.com/products/ESD-IMP-W699 GameStop] | {{ID|DRM-free}} | }}
+
{{Availability/row| Retail | | disc | {{DRM|SafeDisc}}. | | Windows }}
−
{{Availability Table/row| [http://www.gog.com/gamecard/age_of_wonders_2_the_wizards_throne GOG.com] | {{ID|DRM-free}} | }}
+
{{Availability/row| Publisher | https://www.paradoxinteractive.com/games/age-of-wonders-ii-the-wizards-throne/buy | Steam | | | Windows }}
−
{{Availability Table/row| [http://store.steampowered.com/app/61510/ Steam] | {{ID|Steam}} | }}
+
{{Availability/row| Gamesplanet | 3452-1 | Steam |  |  | Windows }}
 +
{{Availability/row| GOG.com | age_of_wonders_2_the_wizards_throne | DRM-free | | | Windows }}
 +
{{Availability/row| GMG | age-of-wonders-ii-the-wizards-throne | Steam |  |  | Windows }}
 +
{{Availability/row| Humble | age-of-wonders-ii-the-wizards-throne | DRM-free | | Steam | Windows }}
 +
{{Availability/row| Steam | 61510 | Steam | | | Windows }}
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
== Improvements ==
+
==Essential improvements==
−
=== Skip Intro Video (GOG.com) ===
+
===Patches===
−
{{Fixbox|1=
+
{{ii}} [https://www.patches-scrolls.de/patch/242/7/19163 v1.20.0.3100 patch] updates the game to the latest version.
−
{{Fixbox/fix|Settings}}
+
 
−
# Open the Age of Wonders II: The Wizard's Throne Launcher.
+
===Skip intro videos===
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Change settings|ref=<ref>{{Refcheck|user=Plok|date=2022-11-27}}</ref>|fix=
 +
# Open the game's setup executable ({{file|AoW2setup.exe}}).
 
# Uncheck the box labelled "Show Intro".
 
# Uncheck the box labelled "Show Intro".
 
# Press OK.
 
# Press OK.
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
== Game data ==
+
==Game data==
−
{{Game Location Table|
+
===Configuration file(s) location===
−
{{Game Location Table/row|Windows (GOG.com)|C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG.com\Age of Wonders II\Save\}}
+
{{Game data|
−
{{Game Location Table/row|Windows (Steam)|}}
+
{{Game data/config|Windows|{{p|hkcu}}\SOFTWARE\Triumph Studios\Age of Wonders II\}}
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
===Save game data location===
 +
{{Game data|
 +
{{Game data/saves|Windows|{{p|game}}\Save\}}
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
===[[Glossary:Save game cloud syncing|Save game cloud syncing]]===
 +
{{Save game cloud syncing
 +
|discord                  =
 +
|discord notes            =
 +
|epic games launcher      =
 +
|epic games launcher notes =
 +
|gog galaxy                = false
 +
|gog galaxy notes          =
 +
|origin                    =
 +
|origin notes              =
 +
|steam cloud              = false
 +
|steam cloud notes        =
 +
|ubisoft connect          =
 +
|ubisoft connect notes    =
 +
|xbox cloud                =
 +
|xbox cloud notes          =
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==Video==
 +
{{Image|age of wonders ii settings.jpg|General settings (external application)}}
 +
{{Image|Age of Wonders 2 gameplay settings.png|Gameplay settings (in-game)}}
 +
{{Video
 +
|wsgf link                  = https://www.wsgf.org/dr/age-wonders-2
 +
|widescreen wsgf award      = silver
 +
|multimonitor wsgf award    = unsupported
 +
|ultrawidescreen wsgf award = incomplete
 +
|4k ultra hd wsgf award    = incomplete
 +
|widescreen resolution      = true
 +
|widescreen resolution notes= HUD stretches from 4:3. DirectDraw mode only has non-widescreen resolutions.
 +
|multimonitor              = false
 +
|multimonitor notes        =
 +
|ultrawidescreen            = unknown
 +
|ultrawidescreen notes      =
 +
|4k ultra hd                = unknown
 +
|4k ultra hd notes          =
 +
|fov                        = n/a
 +
|fov notes                  =
 +
|windowed                  = true
 +
|windowed notes            =
 +
|borderless windowed        = unknown
 +
|borderless windowed notes  =
 +
|anisotropic                = false
 +
|anisotropic notes          =
 +
|antialiasing              = false
 +
|antialiasing notes        =
 +
|vsync                      = false
 +
|vsync notes                =
 +
|60 fps                    = unknown
 +
|60 fps notes              =
 +
|120 fps                    = unknown
 +
|120 fps notes              =
 +
|hdr                        = unknown
 +
|hdr notes                  =
 +
|color blind                = false
 +
|color blind notes          =
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==Input==
 +
{{Input
 +
|key remap                = false
 +
|key remap notes          =
 +
|acceleration option      = false
 +
|acceleration option notes =
 +
|mouse sensitivity        = false
 +
|mouse sensitivity notes  =
 +
|mouse menu                = true
 +
|mouse menu notes          =
 +
|invert mouse y-axis      = n/a
 +
|invert mouse y-axis notes =
 +
|touchscreen              = unknown
 +
|touchscreen notes        =
 +
|controller support        = false
 +
|controller support notes  =
 +
|full controller          = unknown
 +
|full controller notes    =
 +
|controller remap          = unknown
 +
|controller remap notes    =
 +
|controller sensitivity    = unknown
 +
|controller sensitivity notes=
 +
|invert controller y-axis  = unknown
 +
|invert controller y-axis notes=
 +
|xinput controllers        = unknown
 +
|xinput controllers notes  =
 +
|xbox prompts              = unknown
 +
|xbox prompts notes        =
 +
|impulse triggers          = unknown
 +
|impulse triggers notes    =
 +
|dualshock 4              = unknown
 +
|dualshock 4 notes        =
 +
|dualshock prompts        = unknown
 +
|dualshock prompts notes  =
 +
|light bar support        = unknown
 +
|light bar support notes  =
 +
|dualshock 4 modes        = unknown
 +
|dualshock 4 modes notes  =
 +
|tracked motion controllers= unknown
 +
|tracked motion controllers notes =
 +
|tracked motion prompts    = unknown
 +
|tracked motion prompts notes =
 +
|other controllers        = unknown
 +
|other controllers notes  =
 +
|other button prompts      = unknown
 +
|other button prompts notes=
 +
|controller hotplug        = unknown
 +
|controller hotplug notes  =
 +
|haptic feedback          = unknown
 +
|haptic feedback notes    =
 +
|simultaneous input        = unknown
 +
|simultaneous input notes  =
 +
|steam input api          = unknown
 +
|steam input api notes    =
 +
|steam hook input          = unknown
 +
|steam hook input notes    =
 +
|steam input presets      = unknown
 +
|steam input presets notes =
 +
|steam controller prompts  = unknown
 +
|steam controller prompts notes =
 +
|steam cursor detection    = unknown
 +
|steam cursor detection notes =
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==Audio==
 +
{{Image|Age of Wonders 2 sound settings.png|Sound settings (in-game)}}
 +
{{Audio
 +
|separate volume          = true
 +
|separate volume notes    = Sound effects, music
 +
|surround sound          = unknown
 +
|surround sound notes    =
 +
|subtitles                = true
 +
|subtitles notes          =
 +
|closed captions          = false
 +
|closed captions notes    =
 +
|mute on focus lost      = false
 +
|mute on focus lost notes = Using {{key|Alt|Tab}} from a fullscreen (non-DirectDraw) setting will render a black screen, forcing a hard exit from the game.
 +
|eax support              =
 +
|eax support notes        =
 +
|royalty free audio      = always on
 +
|royalty free audio notes =
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{L10n|content=
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = English
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = true
 +
|subtitles = true
 +
|notes    =
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = French
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = unknown
 +
|subtitles = true
 +
|notes    = Retail only.
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = German
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = unknown
 +
|subtitles = true
 +
|notes    = Retail only.
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Italian
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = unknown
 +
|subtitles = true
 +
|notes    = Retail only.
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Polish
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = true
 +
|subtitles = true
 +
|notes    = Retail only. [https://dubbingpedia.pl/wiki/Age_of_Wonders_II:_Tron_czarnoksi%C4%99%C5%BCnika Details]
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
=== [[Save game cloud syncing]] ===
+
==Network==
−
{{Save Game Cloud Syncing
+
{{Network/Multiplayer
−
|steam_cloud            =false
+
|local play          = true
−
|steam_cloud_notes      =
+
|local play players  = 8
−
|origin                =
+
|local play modes    = Hot seat
−
|origin_notes          =
+
|local play notes    =
−
|uplay                  =
+
|lan play            = true
−
|uplay_notes            =
+
|lan play players    = 8
−
|gamesave_manager       =true
+
|lan play modes      =
−
|gamesave_manager_notes =
+
|lan play notes      =
−
|gamestow              =
+
|online play          = false
−
|gamestow_notes        =
+
|online play players  = 8
−
|synctocloud            =
+
|online play modes    =
−
|synctocloud_notes      =
+
|online play notes    = Does not have a native online lobby; used [[GameSpy|GameSpy Arcade]] for matchmaking.
−
|square_enix            =
+
|asynchronous        = true
−
|square_enix_notes      =
+
|asynchronous notes  = Play by Email.
 +
}}{{Network/Connections
 +
|matchmaking        = false
 +
|matchmaking notes  =  
 +
|p2p                = true
 +
|p2p notes          =  
 +
|dedicated          = false
 +
|dedicated notes    =  
 +
|self-hosting       = true
 +
|self-hosting notes =  
 +
|direct ip          = true
 +
|direct ip notes    =  
 +
}}{{Network/Ports
 +
|tcp  =  
 +
|udp  =  
 +
|upnp =  
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
== Video settings ==
+
==Other information==
−
[[File:age of wonders ii settings.jpg|290px|right|thumb|General settings.]]
+
===API===
−
{{Video Settings
+
{{API
−
|wsgf_link                  =http://www.wsgf.org/dr/age-wonders-2
+
|direct3d versions      = 7
−
|widescreen_wsgf_award      =silver
+
|direct3d notes        = <ref>As odd as it may be for a pre-d3d8 2D game, it actually does seem to be using d3d7 for rendering in conjunction with ddraw. It might be for hardware-accelerated sprite rendering with alpha blending, since ddraw doesn't really support hardware blending.</ref>
−
|multimonitor_wsgf_award   =unsupported
+
|directdraw versions    = 7
−
|widescreen_resolution      =true
+
|directdraw notes      =
−
|widescreen_resolution_notes=Stretched
+
|opengl versions        =
−
|multimonitor              =false
+
|opengl notes          =
−
|multimonitor_notes        =
+
|glide versions        =
−
|windowed                  =true
+
|glide notes            =
−
|windowed_notes            =
+
|software mode          =
−
|borderless_windowed       =unknown
+
|software mode notes    =
−
|borderless_windowed_notes  =
+
|mantle support        =
−
|anisotropic                =false
+
|mantle support notes  =  
−
|anisotropic_notes          =
+
|metal support          =  
−
|antialiasing              =false
+
|metal support notes   =  
−
|antialiasing_notes        =
+
|vulkan versions        =
−
|vsync                      =false
+
|vulkan notes          =
−
|vsync_notes                =
+
|dos modes              =  
 +
|dos modes notes        =  
 +
|shader model versions  =  
 +
|shader model notes    =  
 +
|windows 32-bit exe    = true
 +
|windows 64-bit exe    = false
 +
|windows arm app       = unknown
 +
|windows exe notes      =  
 +
|macos intel 32-bit app =  
 +
|macos intel 64-bit app =  
 +
|macos app notes        =  
 +
|linux 32-bit executable=  
 +
|linux 64-bit executable=  
 +
|linux executable notes =  
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
== Input settings ==
+
===Middleware===
−
{{Input Settings
+
{{Middleware
−
|key_remap                  =false
+
|physics          =  
−
|key_remap_notes           =
+
|physics notes    =
−
|controller_support        =false
+
|audio           = Miles Sound System
−
|controller_support_notes  =
+
|audio notes      =
 +
|interface        =
 +
|interface notes  =
 +
|input            =
 +
|input notes      =
 +
|cutscenes        = Bink Video
 +
|cutscenes notes  =  
 +
|multiplayer      =  
 +
|multiplayer notes=  
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
== System requirements ==
+
==System requirements==
−
{{System Requirements
+
{{System requirements
 
|OSfamily = Windows
 
|OSfamily = Windows
  
−
|minOS    = XP/Vista
+
|minOS    = 98, ME, 2000, XP
−
|minproc  = 1 GHz
+
|minCPU  = Intel Pentium II 300 MHz
−
|minmem   = 256 MB
+
|minRAM   = 64 MB
−
|minGPU  = 3D graphics card compatible with DirectX 7
+
|minGPU  =  
−
|minHD    = 500 MB
+
|minDX    = 7
 +
|minHD    = 560 MB
 +
|minVRAM  = 4 MB
  
−
|recproc  = 1.4 GHz
+
|recCPU  =  
−
|recmem   = 512 MB
+
|recRAM   =  
−
|recGPU  = 3D graphics card compatible with DirectX 9
+
|recGPU  =  
 +
|recDX    =
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
[[Category:Windows]]
+
{{References}}

Latest revision as of 21:53, 22 September 2023

Age of Wonders II: The Wizard's Throne
Age of Wonders II: The Wizard's Throne cover
Developers
Triumph Studios
Publishers
Retail Take-Two Interactive
Digital, original Triumph Studios
Digital, current Paradox Interactive
Release dates
Windows June 12, 2002
Reception
Metacritic 86
Taxonomy
Monetization One-time game purchase
Modes Singleplayer, Multiplayer
Pacing Turn-based
Perspectives Bird's-eye view, Isometric
Controls Multiple select, Point and select
Genres 4X, Strategy, TBS
Themes Fantasy
Series Age of Wonders
Icon overlay.png
Icon overlay.png
Age of Wonders II: The Wizard's Throne on HowLongToBeat
Age of Wonders II: The Wizard's Throne on IGDB
Icon overlay.png
Icon overlay.png
Icon overlay.png
Icon overlay.png
Icon overlay.png
Age of Wonders II: The Wizard's Throne on MobyGames
Age of Wonders II: The Wizard's Throne on Wikipedia
Icon overlay.png
Icon overlay.png
Age of Wonders
Age of Wonders 1999
Age of Wonders II: The Wizard's Throne 2002
Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic 2003
Age of Wonders III 2014
Age of Wonders: Planetfall 2019
Age of Wonders 4 2023

Age of Wonders II: The Wizard's Throne is a singleplayer and multiplayer bird's-eye view and isometric 4X, strategy and TBS game in the Age of Wonders series.

General information

Official Discord for game series
Official Paradox Plaza forums
GOG.com Community Discussions for game series
GOG.com Support Page
Steam Community Discussions
AoW2 Heaven fansite

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Disc check (requires the CD/DVD in the drive to play)
 SafeDisc DRM[Note 1].
Windows
Publisher website
Icon overlay.png
Windows
Gamesplanet logo.svg
Icon overlay.png
Windows
GOG.com
DRM-free
Windows
Green Man Gaming
Icon overlay.png
Windows
Humble Store
DRM-free
Icon overlay.png
Windows
Steam
Icon overlay.png
Windows
SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see above for affected versions).

Essential improvements

Patches

v1.20.0.3100 patch updates the game to the latest version.

Skip intro videos

Change settings[3]
  1. Open the game's setup executable (AoW2setup.exe).
  2. Uncheck the box labelled "Show Intro".
  3. Press OK.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
Windows HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Triumph Studios\Age of Wonders II\
Steam Play (Linux) <SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/61510/pfx/[Note 2]

Save game data location

System Location
Windows <path-to-game>\Save\[Note 3]
Steam Play (Linux) <SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/61510/pfx/[Note 2]

Save game cloud syncing

System Native Notes
GOG Galaxy
Steam Cloud

Video

General settings (external application)
General settings (external application)
Gameplay settings (in-game)
Gameplay settings (in-game)

Graphics feature State WSGF Notes
Widescreen resolution
 
 HUD stretches from 4:3. DirectDraw mode only has non-widescreen resolutions.
Multi-monitor
 
Ultra-widescreen
 
4K Ultra HD
 
Field of view (FOV)
Windowed
Borderless fullscreen windowed
Anisotropic filtering (AF)
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Anti-aliasing (AA)
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Vertical sync (Vsync)
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
60 FPS and 120+ FPS

Input

Keyboard and mouse State Notes
Remapping
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Mouse acceleration
Mouse sensitivity
Mouse input in menus
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Controller
Controller support
Controller types

Audio

Sound settings (in-game)
Sound settings (in-game)

Audio feature State Notes
Separate volume controls
Sound effects, music
Surround sound
Subtitles
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost
Using Alt+Tab ↹ from a fullscreen (non-DirectDraw) setting will render a black screen, forcing a hard exit from the game.
Royalty free audio

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
French
Retail only.
German
Retail only.
Italian
Retail only.
Polish
Retail only. Details

Network

Multiplayer types

Type Native Players Notes
Local play
8 Hot seat
LAN play
8
Online play
8 Does not have a native online lobby; used GameSpy Arcade for matchmaking.
Asynchronous multiplayer
Play by Email.

Connection types

Type Native Notes
Matchmaking
Peer-to-peer
Dedicated
Self-hosting
Direct IP

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
Direct3D 7 [4]
DirectDraw 7
Executable 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows

Middleware

Middleware Notes
Audio Miles Sound System
Cutscenes Bink Video

System requirements

Windows
Minimum
Operating system (OS) 98, ME, 2000, XP
Processor (CPU) Intel Pentium II 300 MHz
System memory (RAM) 64 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 560 MB
Video card (GPU) 4 MB of VRAM
DirectX 7 compatible


Notes

  1. ↑ SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows 10[1] or Windows 11 and is disabled by default on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 when the KB3086255 update is installed.[2]
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Notes regarding Steam Play (Linux) data:
  3. ↑ When running this game without elevated privileges (Run as administrator option), write operations against a location below %PROGRAMFILES%, %PROGRAMDATA%, or %WINDIR% might be redirected to %LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore on Windows Vista and later (more details).

References

  1. ↑ Not Loading in Windows 10; this will break thousands of - Microsoft Community - last accessed on 2017-01-16
  2. ↑ Microsoft - MS15-097: Description of the security update for the graphics component in Windows: September 8, 2015 - last accessed on 2018-02-16
  3. ↑ Verified by User:Plok on 2022-11-27
  4. ↑ As odd as it may be for a pre-d3d8 2D game, it actually does seem to be using d3d7 for rendering in conjunction with ddraw. It might be for hardware-accelerated sprite rendering with alpha blending, since ddraw doesn't really support hardware blending.