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Difference between revisions of "Alien Swarm"

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
m (migrated template, replaced: {{SysReq_BaseTemplate → {{System Requirements, minOS_ → minOS, recOS_ → recOS, minproc_ → minproc, recproc_ → recproc, minmem_ → minmem, recmem_ → recmem, minHD_ → minHD, minGPU1_ → minGPU, minVRAM_ ...)
(Misc. Fixes to bring it up to the sample article standard. Still needs more improvement.)
Line 6: Line 6:
 
|publisher      = [[Wikipedia:Valve Corporation|Valve Software]]
 
|publisher      = [[Wikipedia:Valve Corporation|Valve Software]]
 
|engine        = Source
 
|engine        = Source
−
|release dates  = July 19, 2010
+
|release dates  = <sup>Windows</sup> July 19, 2010
 
}}
 
}}
 +
 +
'''Key Points'''
 +
{{++}} Runs on low-end hardware
 +
{{--}} Small community
 +
{{++}} Game is completely free
 +
 +
'''General information'''
 +
{{mm}} [http://alienswarm.wikia.com/wiki/Alien_Swarm_Wiki Unofficial Alien Swarm Wiki]
 +
{{mm}} [http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=930 Steam Users' Forum]
 +
{{mm}} [http://steamcommunity.com/app/630/discussions/ Steam Community Discussions]
  
 
==Availability==
 
==Availability==
 
{{Availability Table|
 
{{Availability Table|
−
{{Availability Table/row| [http://store.steampowered.com/app/630/ Steam] | {{ID|Steam}} |Free download.}}
+
{{Availability Table/row| [http://store.steampowered.com/app/630/ Steam] | {{ID|Steam}} | }}
 +
}}
 +
{{ii}} All versions require [[Steam]].
 +
 
 +
==Game data==
 +
{{Game Location Table|
 +
{{Game Location Table/row|Windows|}}
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
===[[Save game cloud syncing]]===
 +
{{Save Game Cloud Syncing|
 +
{{Save Game Cloud Syncing/row| [[Steam Cloud]] | true | Syncs save games. }}
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
==System requirements==
+
==Video settings==
−
{{System Requirements
+
{{Video Settings
−
|minOS = Windows XP
+
|wsgf_link                  =http://www.wsgf.org/node/18686
−
|recOS = Windows XP/Vista/7
+
|widescreen_wsgf_award      =gold
−
|minproc = Pentium 4 3.0GHz
+
|multimonitor_wsgf_award    =silver
−
|recproc = Intel core 2 duo 2.4GHz
+
|widescreen_resolution      =true
−
|minmem = 1 GB for XP / 2GB for Vista
+
|widescreen_resolution_notes=
−
|recmem = 1 GB for XP / 2GB for Vista
+
|multimonitor              =true
−
|minHD = 2.5 GB free
+
|multimonitor_notes        =
−
|minGPU = ATI X800, NVidia 6600 or better
+
|windowed                  =true
 +
|windowed_notes            =
 +
|fullscreen                =true
 +
|fullscreen_notes          =
 +
|anisotropic                =unknown
 +
|anisotropic_notes          =
 +
|antialiasing              =unknown
 +
|antialiasing_notes        =
 +
|vsync                      =unknown
 +
|vsync_notes                =
 +
}}
  
−
|minVRAM = 128
+
==Input settings==
−
|recGPU = NVidia 7600, ATI X1600 or better
+
{{Input Settings
 +
|key_remap                  =true
 +
|key_remap_notes            =
 +
|acceleration_option        =true
 +
|acceleration_option_notes  =
 +
|controller_support        =false
 +
|controller_support_notes  =
 
}}
 
}}
  
Line 39: Line 76:
  
 
=== Ping & Latency ===
 
=== Ping & Latency ===
−
 
 
* [http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1043281 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 [http://pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Framerate_%28FPS%29 FPS] also.
 
* [http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1043281 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 [http://pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Framerate_%28FPS%29 FPS] also.
  
Line 45: Line 81:
  
 
* [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.
 
* [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 ==
 
== Graphical Tweaks ==
−
'''Custom resolution (and multi-monitor/eyefinity/surround resolution):'''
 
−
 
  
 
'''For steam:'''
 
'''For steam:'''
Line 56: Line 89:
  
 
Replace "h"(height) and "w"(width) with the resolution such as "-h 1920 -w 1080"
 
Replace "h"(height) and "w"(width) with the resolution such as "-h 1920 -w 1080"
−
 
  
 
'''Without steam:'''
 
'''Without steam:'''
Line 108: Line 140:
 
Source: [http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1377239 Steam Forums]
 
Source: [http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1377239 Steam Forums]
  
−
= General Information =
 
 
== Console Commands ==
 
== 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]
 
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]
  
−
== Useful Links ==
+
==System requirements==
−
* [http://steamcommunity.com/games/AlienSwarm Alien Swarm Official Group]
+
{{System Requirements
−
* [http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=930 Alien Swarm Steam forum]
+
|OSfamily = Windows
 +
 
 +
|minOS = Windows XP
 +
|minproc = Pentium 4 3.0GHz
 +
|minmem = 1 GB for XP / 2GB for Vista
 +
|minHD = 2.5 GB free
 +
|minGPU = ATI X800, NVidia 6600 or better
 +
|minVRAM = 128
 +
 
 +
|recOS = Windows XP/Vista/7
 +
|recproc = Intel core 2 duo 2.4GHz
 +
|recmem = 1 GB for XP / 2GB for Vista
 +
|recGPU = NVidia 7600, ATI X1600 or better
 +
}}
  
 +
[[Category:Game]]
 
[[Category:Windows]]
 
[[Category:Windows]]

Revision as of 21:24, 19 March 2013

This page may require cleanup to meet basic quality standards. You can help by modifying the article. The discussion page may contain useful suggestions.

Template:Infobox

Key Points

Runs on low-end hardware
Small community
Game is completely free

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 And Fixes

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.
  • 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.

Graphical Tweaks

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

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 server.cfg to 

\Steam\steamapps\common\alien swarm\swarm\cfg

with the next content: 

//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

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): 

"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

I created a .bat 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: 

maxplayers
"maxplayers" is "5"
"mininum_maxplayers" is "1"
"absolute_maxplayers" is "6"
"default_maxplayers" is "4"
"max_splitscreen_players" is "1"

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: Steam Forums

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