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Hitman: Contracts

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
(Redirected from Hitman 3: Contracts)
Hitman: Contracts
Hitman: Contracts cover
Developers
IO Interactive
Publishers
Former Eidos Interactive
Former Sold Out Software
Former Square Enix
Current IO Interactive
Russia Noviy Disk[1]
Engines
Glacier
Release dates
Windows April 20, 2004
Reception
Metacritic 74
Taxonomy
Monetization One-time game purchase
Modes Singleplayer
Pacing Real-time
Perspectives First-person, Third-person
Controls Direct control
Genres Stealth
Art styles Realistic
Themes Asia, Contemporary, Eastern Europe, Europe
Series Hitman
Hitman: Contracts on HowLongToBeat
Hitman: Contracts on IGDB
Hitman: Contracts guide on StrategyWiki
Hitman: Contracts on MobyGames
Hitman: Contracts on Wikipedia
Hitman
Hitman: Codename 47 2000
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin 2002
Hitman: Contracts 2004
Hitman: Blood Money 2006
Hitman: Sniper Challenge 2012
Hitman: Absolution 2012
Hitman GO 2015
Hitman 2016
Hitman 2 2018
Hitman World of Assassination 2021

General information

GOG.com Community Discussions for game series
GOG.com Support Page
Steam Community Discussions

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Disc check (requires the CD/DVD in the drive to play)
SecuROM 5 DRM.
Windows
Retail
DRM-free
The version included in the retail 'Hitman Collection' (Eidos, 2009) is entirely DRM-free.
Windows
Amazon.com
Icon overlay.png
Windows
GamersGate
Icon overlay.png
Windows
Gamesplanet logo.svg
Icon overlay.png
Windows
GOG.com
DRM-free
Windows
Humble Store
Icon overlay.png
Windows
Steam
Icon overlay.png
Windows
Green Man Gaming (unavailable)
Icon overlay.png
Windows
The European release of the Hitman Collection is DRM-free, already patched to the latest version and have the cheats enabled by default.

Essential improvements

Patches

Patch v1.74 is the latest retail patch.
Steam version is v1.75 and comes with widescreen support.

Unofficial Patch

Adds bug fixes and general improvements.
Works only on the English version.

Character Overhaul

Retextures Agent 47 and other characters in higher quality.
Adds the uncensored textures from the remastered version.[2]

Skip intro videos

Skip intro[3]
  1. Go to <path-to-game> and open HitmanContracts.ini.
  2. Find the line DefaultScene=AllLevels\Logos.gms and replace it with DefaultScene=mainmenu.gms.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
Windows <path-to-game>\HitmanContracts.ini[Note 1]
Steam Play (Linux) <Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/247430/pfx/[Note 2]

Save game data location

System Location
Windows <path-to-game>\Save[Note 1]
Steam Play (Linux) <Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/247430/pfx/[Note 2]
Maximum of 99 save files.
Save states contain system information. Loading a mid-mission save file from a different computer or operating system may result in severe broken game timing.

Save game cloud syncing

System Native Notes
GOG Galaxy
Steam Cloud
Added on September 11, 2020.[4]

Video

Graphics settings.
Graphics settings.

Graphics feature State WSGF Notes
Widescreen resolution
Vert- in Steam version.[5] See Widescreen resolution.
Multi-monitor
See Widescreen resolution.
Ultra-widescreen
See Widescreen resolution.
4K Ultra HD
Vert- in Steam version.[5] See Widescreen resolution.
Field of view (FOV)
See Widescreen resolution or the WSGF entry.
Windowed
See Windowed.
Borderless fullscreen windowed
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Anisotropic filtering (AF)
Force in GPU control panel for better results.
Anti-aliasing (AA)
Nvidia users can force AA using Nvidia Profile Inspector. 0x000020C0 for MSAA and 0x000000C0 for SGSSAA. Ensure the AA fix is enabled.[6]
Vertical sync (Vsync)
Vsync does not work when running the game on Windows 10 or later. See the Vsync fix.
60 FPS and 120+ FPS
The game doesn't run properly at higher than 60 frame rates. See High frame rate issues

Widescreen resolution

Steam version supports widescreen (including 4K Ultra HD) natively, but has a Vert- FOV, and horizontally stretches the image.[5]
Widescreen fix (Hor+)
  1. Download Widescreen fix for Hitman: Contracts, unzip it and copy the contents to <path-to-game>.
  2. (Optional) To change the resolution, go to <path-to-game>\scripts\, open h3.ini and change the Width and Height values.
  3. (Optional) If you set the resolution to lower than your display's resolution, open the video driver control panel and set the scaling to fullscreen or maintain aspect ratio.

Notes:

Correct widescreen aspect ratio while maintaining the original vertical field of view (FOV).
It is recommended not to change the in-game resolution setting to avoid conflicts.

Combining the Widescreen fix with dgVoodoo 2

Specify the path to the dgVoodoo 2 dll
  1. Apply the Widescreen fix.
  2. Open d3d8.ini, find RealDllPath, and change AUTO to scripts\d3d8.dll.
  3. Copy over dgVoodoo 2's d3d8.dll to scripts.

Note:

dgVoodoo.conf and dgVoodooCpl.exe can be in either folder.

Too small UI elements at higher resolutions

Set a lower game resolution and force a higher one with dgVoodoo 2
  1. A. If using the widescreen fix, go to <path-to-game>\scripts, open h3.ini and change the resolution to 1280x720.
    B. If not, pick a resolution in-game that offers a UI size you like, e.g. 1024x768.
  2. A. If using the widescreen fix, use this method to apply dgVoodoo 2.
    B. If not, simply apply dgVoodoo 2.
  3. Run dgVoodooCpl.exe, go to the DirectX tab, and in the Resolution box select your desired high resolution.

Note:

Post Process effects don't seem to scale to the forced higher resolution.

Windowed

Enable windowed mode[5]
  1. Go to <path-to-game> and open HitmanContracts.ini.
  2. Add Window 1 on a new line.
  3. Change StartUpperPos 2,2 to StartUpperPos 0,0.

Input

Keyboard and mouse State Notes
Remapping
Mouse acceleration
Mouse sensitivity
Mouse input in menus
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Controller
Controller support
Use this file for full Xinput support.
Full controller support
See above
Controller remapping
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Controller sensitivity
When the above fix is applied the "mouse speed" option in control setup will control the analog stick's sensitivity
Controller Y-axis inversion
Controller types
XInput-compatible controllers
Controller supports with this file.
Xbox button prompts
Impulse Trigger vibration
PlayStation controllers
Generic/other controllers
Additional information
Controller hotplugging
Haptic feedback
Digital movement supported
Simultaneous controller+KB/M

Audio

Sound settings.
Sound settings.

Audio feature State Notes
Separate volume controls
Surround sound
Up to 7.0 output, based on Windows speaker settings.[7]
Subtitles
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost
No option to disable it.
EAX support
EAX 3.[8]
Royalty free audio
May require DirectSound3D restoration software to restore proper sound functionality on Windows Vista and later.

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
French
Retail and steam only. Patch for the GOG release here.
German
Retail and steam only.
Hungarian
Fan translation. Available to download.
Italian
Retail and steam only.
Japanese
Retail only.
Polish
Retail only. Patch for digital release here.
Brazilian Portuguese
DVD Game release (CD Editora, 2009).
Russian
Retail only. Patch for digital release here.
Spanish
Retail and steam only.

VR support

3D modes State Notes
Nvidia 3D Vision
See Helix Mod: Hitman: Contracts.
vorpX
G3D, Z3D
User created profile, requires DGVoodoo2 v 2.6, see profile introdution.
Note: Profile may not work with the latest wrapper, in case of issues please report to the vorpx forum.

Issues unresolved

Enable OpenGL effects in the Direct3D renderer

Certain graphical effects are only available when using Direct3D whilst others only available with OpenGL.[9][10] Also post-processing injectors typically cause heavy artifacts and graphical glitches.
Restore the raindrop, fog, and water effects[11]
  1. Open hitmancontracts.exe with a HEX editor.
  2. Find the 1st hex string 53 6A 18 53 50 FF 92 FC 00 00 00.
  3. Replace it with 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90.
  4. Find the 2nd hex string 6A 00 6A 18 6A 00 50 FF 92 FC 00 00 00.
  5. Replace it with 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90.


A pre-made version of this fix is available here. 2nd hex string still needs to be replaced manually.
Restores the raindrop effect in most levels along with other effects.
Not all OpenGL effects have been restored.

Issues fixed

Vsync doesn't work on Windows 10

The built-in Vsync requires a wrapper to function on Windows 10 and later.
Apply the built-in wrapper of the Widescreen fix
  • Open dxwrapper.ini, find d3d8to9 and change 0 to 1.
Use the standalone d3d8to9
Redundant when using the Widescreen fix.
  1. Download d3d8to9.
  2. Copy d3d8.dll to <path-to-game>.
Use dgVoodoo 2 by itself, or combine it with the Widescreen Fix.

High frame rate issues

The physics and logic of the game are linked to 60 FPS, so playing at high fps can cause significant problems.
Apply the Vsync fix
  • Set the display's refresh rate to 60 Hz.
Cap the frame rate to 60 FPS or lower
Both Nvidia and AMD control panels cannot cap the frame rate, unless a wrapper is applied.

Game runs in slow motion

Apply the High frame rate fix[12]

Game doesn't save

Create <path-to-game>\Save if it doesn't exist yet[13]

Jerky/Uneven mouse movement

Edit HitmanContracts.ini[14]
  1. Go to <path-to-game> and open HitmanContracts.ini.
  2. Add the line UseDirectInputMouse 1.

Game crashes in some integrated Intel Graphics cards

Run the game in compatibility mode for Windows XP (SP3)[15]
  1. Go to <path-to-game>.
  2. Turn on Windows XP (SP3) compatibility mode in the Hitman.exe properties.

Low framerate on modern systems

The post filter option in the graphics settings is poorly optimized for modern systems. Disabling it will boost the framerate significantly, but will also remove several atmospheric effects such as fog.
Disable the post filter option in the graphic settings[16]

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
Direct3D 8
Executable 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows

The OpenGL renderer

It has serious graphical problems.[17]
Not compatible with the Widescreen fix.
Manually edit the game settings file
  1. Open HitmanContracts.ini.
  2. Locate DrawDll and change its value to RenderOpenGL.dll.

Middleware

Middleware Notes
Audio DirectSound3D

System requirements

Windows
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) 98SE/ME
Processor (CPU) Intel Pentium III 800 MHz or AMD Athlon equivalent
System memory (RAM) 128 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 2 GB
Video card (GPU) GeForce 2
32 MB of VRAM
DirectX 8.0 compatible


Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 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).
  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>/247430/ in addition to or instead of this directory. The app ID (247430) may differ in some cases. Treat backslashes as forward slashes. See the glossary page for details.

References

  1. Hitman. Контракты - last accessed on 2023-02-18
  2. Hitman Forums - last accessed on 2022-07-10
  3. Verified by User:Fiery soul on 2023-04-24
  4. Hitman: Contracts - SteamDB Depot Changelog - last accessed on 2020-09-12
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Verified by User:Suicide_machine on 2018-03-23
  6. https://forums.guru3d.com/showpost.php?p=5457050&postcount=4024
  7. PC Gaming Surround Sound Round-up - last accessed on May 2023
  8. Killer EAX® ADVANCED HD™ Audio in Hitman Contracts™ - SoundBlaster.com (retrieved) - last accessed on 9 June 2023
  9. Vogons Forum - last accessed on [unknown]
  10. Hitman Forum - last accessed on [unknown]
  11. Vogons Forum - last accessed on 2022-06-21
  12. gog.com - last accessed on May 2023
  13. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=371890450
  14. Verified by User:AlphaYellow on 2023-01-28
  15. Steam Community - last accessed on May 2023
  16. Verified by User:Shrimpsofthecoast on 2023-10-02
  17. Verified by User:Fiery soul on 2023-04-25
    Primitive lighting, no rays at light sources, characters do not cast shadows, reflections on wet surfaces and decals are missing or visible through objects, no reflections in all mirrors, videos and cutscenes are not displayed.