Anonymous edits have been disabled on the wiki. If you want to contribute please login or create an account.

Batman: Arkham Asylum

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
Revision as of 15:37, 31 May 2019 by DrCat (talk | contribs) (Removed redudant information on anistropic filtering)
This page may require cleanup to meet basic quality standards. You can help by modifying the article. The discussion page may contain useful suggestions.
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Batman: Arkham Asylum cover
Developers
Rocksteady Studios
macOS (OS X) Feral Interactive
Publishers
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Prior to 2010 Eidos Interactive
OS X Feral Interactive
Engines
Unreal Engine 3
Release dates
Windows September 15, 2009
macOS (OS X) November 19, 2011
Batman: Arkham Asylum guide on StrategyWiki
Batman: Arkham Asylum on Wikipedia

Warnings

For Games for Windows - LIVE on Windows 8 or later, install the latest Games for Windows - LIVE software.
Batman: Arkham
Subseries of Batman
Batman: Arkham Asylum 2009
Batman: Arkham City 2011
Batman: Arkham Origins 2013
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate Deluxe Edition 2014
Batman: Arkham Knight 2015
Batman: Arkham VR 2017
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League 2024

Key points

Play as the Joker and Prey in the Darkness DLCs have been ported to the OS X GOTY version.[1] The Windows version still requires manually downloading the files and patching the game's executable.
Steam version DRM switched from Games for Windows - LIVE and SecuROM to Steam.[2]

General information

Developer minisite
Arkham Wiki
Batman Wiki
Steam Community Discussions
Square Enix Batman: Arkham Asylum Forums

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Icon overlay.png
Other DRM: SecuROM DRM
Icon overlay.png
Windows
Developer website
Icon overlay.png
Game of the Year Edition.
macOS (OS X)
Amazon.com
Icon overlay.png
Windows
Amazon.com
Requires online activation
macOS (OS X)
Amazon.co.uk
Icon overlay.png
Windows
macOS (OS X)
GamersGate
Icon overlay.png
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Gamesplanet logo.svg
Icon overlay.png
Game of the Year Edition.
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Green Man Gaming
Icon overlay.png
Windows
Green Man Gaming
Requires online activation
macOS (OS X)
Humble Store
Icon overlay.png
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Mac App Store
Icon overlay.png
Requires online activation
macOS (OS X)
Origin
Icon overlay.png
Included with EA Play.
Windows
Steam
Icon overlay.png
Game of the Year Edition.
Windows
macOS (OS X)
A demo is available here
All non-Steam Windows versions require Games for Windows - LIVE DRM.[Note 1][2]
The non-Steam OS X version uses Feral Interactive's DRM which requires online activation on their website.
The non-GOTY version upgrades to GOTY when activated on Steam.[2]

Essential improvements

Patches

The normal version of Arkham Asylum is currently at version 1.1. It is highly recommended to update to the latest version.
The GOTY edition of the game does not need any patches and already has all the fixes.
Batman Arkham Asylum - Rigid Bodies Patch[citation needed]
  1. Download Rigid Bodies patch
  2. Drop cudart32_60.dll and RRB.dll in <path-to-game>\Binaries\ (overwrite when asked)

Skip intro videos

BIK Method
  1. Go to <path-to-game>\BmGame\Movies\
  2. Delete or rename baa_logo_run_v5_h264.bik

Notes

Deleting or renaming the file in step 2 should be enough. If not, then proceed to delete or rename: Legal.bik, Legalus.bik, nvidia.bik and utlogo.bik in the same folder.
INI Method
  1. Go to <path-to-game>\BmGame\Config\
  2. Open DefaultEngine.ini
  3. Find StartupMovies and replace with ;StartupMovies

HD Texture Pack

Updates many low resolution textures
Texture pack can take a while to load

Game data

In-game general settings.
In-game general settings.

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
Windows %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Square Enix\Batman Arkham Asylum GOTY\BmGame\Config\
macOS (OS X)
Steam Play (Linux) <Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/35140/pfx/[Note 2]

Save game data location

System Location
Windows %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Square Enix\Batman Arkham Asylum GOTY\SaveData\
macOS (OS X) ~/Library/Application Support/Feral Interactive/Batman Arkham City GOTY/Save Data/
Steam <Steam-folder>/userdata/<user-id>/35140/remote/
Steam Play (Linux) <Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/35140/pfx/[Note 2]
The save subfolder is named with a long string of letters and numbers.
For non-goty version, path for both configuration files and save data start with %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Eidos\Batman Arkham Asylum\ instead.

GFWL save files compatible with Steamworks version

Save before editing
Save before editing
Modified save
Modified save
Prepare to replace saves[citation needed]
  1. Start the game
  2. Accordingly to the name of your GFWL saves, make sure the corresponding slot is also occupied in-game
  3. Close game and Steam
  4. Delete <Steam-folder>\userdata\<user-id>\35140\remotecache.vdf
Use GFWL-stripper[citation needed]
Remove old GFWL file header[3]
  1. Go to GFWL save game data location.
  2. Open your desired save#.sgd with a hex editor such as HxD.
  3. Search for the first hex 00 00 01 instance not located in the initial part of the file where all values start with 0
  4. Delete everything before this.
  5. Save files over the corresponding ones in <Steam-folder>\userdata\<user-id>\35140\remote\

Save game cloud syncing

System Native Notes
OneDrive
Requires enabling backup of the Documents folder in OneDrive on all computers.
Steam Cloud
Approx. 954 MB available.

Video settings

External video settings.
External video settings.
Video settings can only be changed in the launcher

Template:Video settings

Field of view (FOV)

Default field of view is somewhere between 86 and 86.5.
Edit BMInput.ini[4]
  1. Go to the configuration files location.
  2. Open BmInput.ini
  3. Add the line Bindings=(Name="xx",Command="fov yy") in the [Engine.PlayerInput] section.
  4. Save the file

Notes

xx is the button/key you want to assign to switch to the new FOV, while yy is the FOV value

Anisotropic filtering (AF)

Anisotropic filtering (AF)[citation needed]
The game defaults to 4x Anisotropic Filtering. Use the graphics driver control panel or the game's ini file to force 16x Anisotropic Filtering.
  1. Go to the configuration files location.
  2. Open BmEngine.ini.
  3. Under the [SystemSettings] section, add line MaxAnisotropy=16

High frame rate

Raise frame rate smoothing[citation needed]
  1. Go to the configuration file(s) location.
  2. Open BMEngine.ini.
  3. Search MaxSmoothedFrameRate. Best value should be your monitor refresh rate +2 so e.g. with 144hz monitor value should be 146. Change configs value to this. There may be multiple instances so change them all.
  4. Save file and make it "read only".
For more information, see the Unreal Engine 3 page.

In addition to the above if that does not work:

  1. Open BMEngine.ini (make sure the file is not read-only again so that it can be re-saved)
  2. Search for MinAllowableRefreshRate and MaxAllowableRefreshRate and change both values to your monitor's refresh rate, for example 144
  3. Save file and make it "read only".
For more information, see the Unreal Engine 3 page.

Input settings

External movement commands key map settings.
External movement commands key map settings.
External action commands key map settings.
External action commands key map settings.
The gamepad layout for Batman: Arkham Asylum
The gamepad layout for Batman: Arkham Asylum

Template:Input settings

Mouse sensitivity

Change Mouse sensitivity[citation needed]
  1. Go to the configuration files location.
  2. Open BmInput.ini.
  3. Change the value of MouseSensitivity to your desired value and save it (overwrite).
  4. Right click BmInput.ini go to Properties and set the file to Read-only.

Notes

The game will overwrite your sensitivity values when launched, unless the file is set to read-only.

Disable Mouse Smoothing

Disable Mouse Smoothing[citation needed]
  1. Go to the configuration files location.
  2. Open BmInput.ini.
  3. Change the value of bEnableMouseSmoothing to false

Audio settings

In-game audio settings.
In-game audio settings.

Template:Audio settings

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
French
German
Hungarian
Fan translation.
Italian
Brazilian Portuguese
Fan translation, download.
Russian
Retail version, download.
Spanish
Turkish
Fan translation, download.

VR support

3D modes State GG3D Notes
Native 3D
Nvidia 3D Vision
Issues with glass effects; to fix use Helix Mod: Batman Arkham Asylum.
TriDef 3D
iZ3D

Issues unresolved

Saved game selection screen in Steam GOTY version always queries and prioritizes Cloud synchronized files regardless of Steam settings. If it is indeed disabled or savegames have been externally altered (e.g. GFWL saves conversion), this may create conflicts that lead to general protection faults[5]
Deleting savegames in Steam GOTY version will still refer to the old GFWL saves path. Together with the previous bug this imply you can only delete them manually while the game is running and Steam Cloud is enabled

Issues fixed

QA_APPROVED_BUILD_OCTOBER_2008 whatever error just after title screen

Trigger Steam Cloud sync conflict[citation needed]
  1. Make sure Steam Cloud sync is enabled
  2. Start the game
  3. Before doing anything, Alt+Tab and disable Steam Cloud sync.
  4. Close the launcher/game
  5. Quit Steam
  6. Go to the save game data location.
  7. Edit every file with a hex editor such as HxD.
  8. Delete <Steam-folder>\userdata\<user-id>\35140\remotecache.vdf
  9. Start Steam and re-enable Steam Cloud sync.
  10. Launch the game.
  11. Delete <Steam-folder>\userdata\<user-id>\35140\remote\ folder.
  12. In the Steam Cloud sync conflict dialog select Download to this machine button.

Microsoft.NET Framework error

Uninstall and re-install .NET Framework 4[citation needed]
Instructions[6]
  1. Install the latest NVIDIA PhysX System Software.
  2. Copy all of the files from C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA Corporation\PhysX\Common\ to <path-to-game>\Binaries\

Keyboard not working

Sometimes the only thing you can do in-game is pan the camera; the keyboard will not work at all.
Delete your config files[citation needed]
  1. Go to the configuration files location.
  2. Delete the whole config folder.
  3. Navigate <path-to-game>\Batman Arkham Asylum GOTY\BmGame\Config\ and delete the whole config folder.
  4. When launching the game, the config files should be re-created with their defaults, if not, verify the game cache.

Notes

If you have edited your configuration files, you will need to set them back to how you want them.

Game crashes when leaving the Morgue

Disable PhysX[citation needed]
  1. Save and exit the game.
  2. Turn off PhysX in the launcher.
  3. Start the game.
  4. After the next checkpoint you can restore your previous settings.
Set lowest resolution[citation needed]
  1. Set resolution to 640x480 in the launcher.
  2. Start the game.
  3. After the next checkpoint you can restore your previous settings.

Second cutscene before Joker boss battle (Jack Ryder Show clip) is skipped

Right before the Joker boss battle at the end of the game, there are 2 cutscenes. The first one (Joker talking to Batman) will play, but the second one (a clip of the Jack Ryder Show) may be skipped.
Restart from Checkpoint[citation needed]
  1. If the second cutscene does not appear normally, pause the game as soon as the game loads again.
  2. From the pause menu, select "Restart from Checkpoint" and confirm. The second cutscene should then play.

Extreme lag in second Scarecrow level

Even on an otherwise capable machine this section can run at sub-20 fps.
Turn PhysX to normal or off (the issue occurs on high)[citation needed]

Notes

If you have previously edited BMEngine.ini for high frame rate, you will need to edit it manually. Set PhysXLevel=2 to 1 (normal) or 0 (off).

Failed to initialise NVIDIA PhysX error

When trying to start the game from the launcher you get an error message that reads: "Failed to initialise NVIDIA PhysX. Please install the latest NVIDIA PhysX system software."
Install the version of PhysX that is included within the game's redist folder[citation needed]
  1. If you already have a version of PhysX installed on your computer, uninstall it or the installation of the older version of PhysX that this game needs will fail.
  2. Go to <path-to-game>\Batman Arkham Asylum GOTY\redist\
  3. Inside this folder you will find a file called PhysX_9.08.14_9.09.0814_SystemSoftware.exe. Double click on it to start the installation of the PhysX version that this game uses.
  4. If the installation finished successfully, you should now be able to launch the game without getting this error message.

Game doesn't launch after clicking "Play", no error

After clicking "Play" in the launch menu, the launcher closes and Steam says you are in-game, and the process "ShippingPC-BmGame.exe" is running, but the game doesn't actually launch.
Delete your config files[citation needed]
  1. Go to the configuration files location.
  2. Delete the whole config folder.
  3. Navigate <path-to-game>\Batman Arkham Asylum GOTY\BmGame\Config\ and delete the whole config folder.
  4. When launching the game, the config files should be re-created with their defaults, if not, verify the game cache.

Notes

If you have edited your configuration files, you will need to set them back to how you want them.

PhysX effects are not present in game despite setting being on "normal" or "high"

Effects such as cloth physics (other than Batman's cape), smoke, and small objects such as papers and leaves are not active despite PhysX being enabled.
Install latest PhysX System Software[citation needed]

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
Direct3D 9
OpenGL 2.0 OS X only.
Shader Model support 3
Executable 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows
macOS (OS X)

Middleware

Middleware Notes
Physics PhysX 2.8.1
Audio FMOD
Interface Scaleform
Cutscenes Bink Video 1.9i

Ex-exclusive PS3 DLCs

This only works with Steam GOTY version of the game.
You need to acquire the DLC files from the OS X version of the game.[7] The files are also available for download directly from PCGamingWiki.
Use xdelta patch[citation needed]
  1. Extract the DLC files into <path-to-game>.
  2. Extract these patch files into new folder.
  3. Copy <path-to-game>\Binaries\ShippingPC-BmGame.exe into patch folder.
  4. Start patch.bat for automatic patcher.
    • Alternatively simply use batmanps3dlc.xdelta with Xdelta.
  5. Copy ShippingPC-BmGame.exe and ShippingPC-BmGame.exe.bak into <path-to-game>\Binaries\.

Notes

For more information, see Xdelta.
Manually hex edit executable[8]
  1. Extract the DLC files into <path-to-game>.
  2. Open <path-to-game>\Binaries\ShippingPC-BmGame.exe with a hex editor such as HxD
  3. Search for 25 00 00 08 00 31 86 80 (offset 12153C6)
  4. Replace it with 0D 00 00 08 00 89 86 80

System requirements

Windows
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) XP, Vista, 7
Processor (CPU) AMD Athlon 64 3500+ 2.2 GHz
Intel Pentium 4 3.0 GHz
System memory (RAM) 1 GB (XP)
2 GB (Vista/7)
Hard disk drive (HDD) 8 GB
Video card (GPU) ATI Radeon X1300
Nvidia GeForce 6600
256 MB of VRAM
DirectX 9 compatible
macOS (OS X)
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) 10.9.5
Processor (CPU) 2.0 GHz
System memory (RAM) 4 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 10 GB
Video card (GPU) 256 MB of VRAM

Notes

  1. Games for Windows - LIVE DRM features: Legacy activation, local profile support unknown.
  2. 2.0 2.1 File/folder structure within this directory reflects the path(s) listed for Windows and/or Steam game data (use Wine regedit to access Windows registry paths). Games with Steam Cloud support may store data in ~/.steam/steam/userdata/<user-id>/35140/ in addition to or instead of this directory. The app ID (35140) may differ in some cases. Treat backslashes as forward slashes. See the glossary page for details.

References