User talk:Hoogovens

I've noticed you've done a number of API edits, adding Direct3D or changing the version for a number of games.

Did you perform personal tests or based them on other test sources, or simply based them on system requirements?

All my edits were based off system requirements. Either from the physical game box/case or "read me" files from the disc(s), and a few from the Steam product page I believe. I apologize if this isn't the preferred practice.

Yea, requirements are a very bad source for determining the API, specially for older games.

https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/PCGamingWiki:Editing_guide/Other_information#Direct3D_versions

Hi,

The Editing Guide has a relevant section on this:

As the direct3d versions parameter is meant to specify the actual Direct3D API version used by a game, it is recommended to use a third-party tool such as MSI Afterburner, Special K, or Bandicam to identify the exact Direct3D version a game makes use of. For games with unknown Direct3D versions which are unavailable for detailed testing, it is acceptable to fill out the field based on the DirectX version(s) listed in the system requirements as this allows the article to be populated within PCGW's various graphics APIs lists before it becomes available for detailed testing, though it is imperative that an appropriate {{Citation needed}} is used as well, and that the game is tested as soon as possible to confirm the assumption made.

For older games -- especially well-known ones -- it is generally safe to assume that the current listed render API is accurate. Especially if e.g. MSI Afterburner/RTSS is not used to state the opposite.

Mainstream engines, such as id Tech, are also almost always used by game devs without implementing an alternative render API. For id Tech games, pretty much all of them (except one or two rare exceptions) use OpenGL (or Vulkan for newer engines).

"For older games -- especially well-known ones -- it is generally safe to assume that the current listed render API is accurate."

Actually, based on my tests, a lot of older games have wrong API listings. I've been slowly going through them.

For example, the Direct3D 8 list had quite a lot of 2000 games; ALL of them were wrong.

For 2002 D3D8 games, ~21% were wrong. 2001 was quite higher but I don't have a percentage right now.

EDIT: Looked it up. ~59% of 2001 D3D8 games were wrong!

I wrote that sentence with your work in mind ;)

I am not disputing that a lot of games are wrong, especially lesser known ones. But the well-known ones, and in particular a huge number of the D3D8 games can be assumed to be correct due to your work the last couple of years.

As a result of your work, I think it is better for editors to not question the existing data (in particular for well-known games) unless they are sure of their claim and can back it up with a tool that reports the API being used.

Ah, yea, I didn't really look at it that way. Those years were probably the worst offenders. I expect to find as lot of errors in the D3D 2-7 list though, where a lot of games could be DDraw only.

Also a lot of older games that were rereleased on steam or GOG potentially have wrong D3D9 or 11 listings.