Risen 2: Tweaks & Tuning

to minimize flickering and pop-in effects:

1) goto c:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\risen 2\data\ini
2) backup ConfigDefault.xml
(example for ViewRangeQuality="High")

<Scene
ProcessEntitiesEnabled="true"
TemplateLoading="1"
ViewRangeQuality="High"
>
<Low
Item_Small="2000.0"
Item_Medium="4000.0"
Item_Large="6000.0"
NPC_Small="2000.0"
NPC_Medium="4000.0"
NPC_Large="6000.0"
Level_Small="7000.0"
Level_Medium="12500.0"
Level_Large="18000.0"
Object_Small="1500.0"
Object_Medium="4500.0"
Object_Large="7000.0"
SpeedTree_Small="3000.0"
SpeedTree_Medium="7000.0"
SpeedTree_Large="12500.0"
Events_Small="3000.0"
Events_Medium="5000.0"
Events_Large="7500.0"
Effects_Small="3500.0"
Effects_Medium="7500.0"
Effects_Large="12500.0"
Lights="7000.0"
Terrain="100000.0"
>
</Low>
<Medium
Item_Small="2000.0"
Item_Medium="4000.0"
Item_Large="6000.0"
NPC_Small="2000.0"
NPC_Medium="4000.0"
NPC_Large="6000.0"
Level_Small="7000.0"
Level_Medium="12500.0"
Level_Large="18000.0"
Object_Small="1500.0"
Object_Medium="4500.0"
Object_Large="7000.0"
SpeedTree_Small="3000.0"
SpeedTree_Medium="7000.0"
SpeedTree_Large="12500.0"
Events_Small="3000.0"
Events_Medium="5000.0"
Events_Large="7500.0"
Effects_Small="3500.0"
Effects_Medium="7500.0"
Effects_Large="12500.0"
Lights="7000.0"
Terrain="100000.0"
>
</Medium>
<High
Item_Small="2000.0"
Item_Medium="4000.0"
Item_Large="6000.0"
NPC_Small="2000.0"
NPC_Medium="4000.0"
NPC_Large="6000.0"
Level_Small="7000.0"
Level_Medium="12500.0"
Level_Large="18000.0"
Object_Small="1500.0"
Object_Medium="4500.0"
Object_Large="7000.0"
SpeedTree_Small="3000.0"
SpeedTree_Medium="7000.0"
SpeedTree_Large="12500.0"
Events_Small="3000.0"
Events_Medium="5000.0"
Events_Large="7500.0"
Effects_Small="3500.0"
Effects_Medium="7500.0"
Effects_Large="12500.0"
Lights="7000.0"
Terrain="100000.0"
>
</High>
</Scene>

3) edit bold text to:

Code:

Item_Small="6000.0"
Item_Medium="6000.0"
Item_Large="6000.0"
NPC_Small="6000.0"
NPC_Medium="6000.0"
NPC_Large="6000.0"
Level_Small="18000.0"
Level_Medium="18000.0"
Level_Large="18000.0"
Object_Small="7000.0"
Object_Medium="7000.0"
Object_Large="7000.0"
SpeedTree_Small="12500.0"
SpeedTree_Medium="12500.0"
SpeedTree_Large="12500.0"
Events_Small="7500.0"
Events_Medium="7500.0"
Events_Large="7500.0"
Effects_Small="12500.0"
Effects_Medium="12500.0"
Effects_Large="12500.0"
Lights="7000.0"
Terrain="100000.0"

So in addition to Beta testing for PB with this release, it is up to the community again to fix their games! I have seen all these pop-ins and growth graphical problems in the beta videos on youtube, so PB knew about these problems long ago and yet have not fixed them. I guess PB's moto is 'In our community we trust to fix our games' - or is it 'show us the other cheek'!

Originally Posted by SpoonFULL
So in addition to Beta testing for PB with this release, it is up to the community again to fix their games! I have seen all these pop-ins and growth graphical problems in the beta videos on youtube, so PB knew about these problems long ago and yet have not fixed them. I guess PB's moto is 'In our community we trust to fix our games' - or is it 'show us the other cheek'!

Wasn't it blatantly obvious that there was no public beta? It was an early demo, nothing more.

I've put even more extreme values and graded them by 500 increments (I have not started to play but I don't mind tweaking). Pop in is not an issue anymore and FPS stay above 38-40 (jungle).

Just please don't tell me that DOF distance and the balloon plant transition effect distance is hardcoded Can't seem to find a value for them… Untill then DOF at least stays off…

Another hint: While Risen 2 doesn't suffer from tunnel vision there is always room for improvement so if you have a beefy system then you can change the field of view to a higher value by editing this entry under the 'Render' section in the INI. The default is 75. As you can see I changed it to 90 which works well and does not cause a fish eye effect yet. It's nice and more natural in my opinion to be able to see more of your surroundings…

For NVIDIA gfx-cards use the newest BETA Driver:

http://www.nvidia.com/object/win7-wi…ta-driver.html

-> disable 3DVision

I play to many games in 3D to disable 3d vision for 1 game.

Not sure how it works but why does 3d vision affect risen 2 if you not playing in 3D?

Originally Posted by Gorath
Wasn't it blatantly obvious that there was no public beta? It was an early demo, nothing more.

I don't think that it matters what it is called, the important issue is that the current problems were present then and developer had so much feedback (see comments from members of the watch with access to this 'demo') on this early 'demo' - in fact reading current reviews and opinions about the problems is like reading the previews that were published months ago! A decent developer would have addressed these obvious issues with a day-one patch.

Anyway, this talk makes no difference - moving on please.

Playing with the Speedtree distances even further:

SpeedTree_Small="12000.0"
SpeedTree_Medium="22000.0"
SpeedTree_Large="32000.0"

This doesnt seem to be working for me. I changed the Default one, is this correct?? i also followed advice to change low, medium and high to the same. im using an Nvidia card and still have all this pop-in etc

Thanks!

None of it works, looked for the configuser file too and it isnt even the same as the default one.

woeful game.

The ConfigUser.xml has a higher priority than the ConfigDefault.xml.

Here's is an even more agressive setting that improves all but the morphing vegetation.
(you have to to edit the High section if you use the High setting)

<High
Item_Small="5000.0"
Item_Medium="10000.0"
Item_Large="16000.0"
NPC_Small="2000.0"
NPC_Medium="4000.0"
NPC_Large="6000.0"
Level_Small="12000.0"
Level_Medium="23000.0"
Level_Large="30000.0"
Object_Small="3500.0"
Object_Medium="10000.0"
Object_Large="18000.0"
SpeedTree_Small="12000.0"
SpeedTree_Medium="22000.0"
SpeedTree_Large="32000.0"
Events_Small="2500.0"
Events_Medium="8000.0"
Events_Large="11000.0"
Effects_Small="6000.0"
Effects_Medium="11000.0"
Effects_Large="21000.0"
Lights="7000.0"
Terrain="100000.0"

PS:
The ConfigUser.xml is here:
C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Local\Risen2\Config

Thanks, is that entered in User or Default?

Originally Posted by HiddenX
to minimize flickering and pop-in effects…

Any insight into the performance impact of this? I have a modest system and Risen 2's performance is pretty ordinary.

Edit ConfigDefault.xml and make sure these sections are not in the ConfigUser.xml.

Originally Posted by Dhruin
Any insight into the performance impact of this? I have a modest system and Risen 2's performance is pretty ordinary.

I have a GeForce GTX 560ti - and no problems with these settings.

I have done config default and it does not work. how come??

gtx 580 sli

Originally Posted by kbshadow
I have done config default and it does not work. how come??

gtx 580 sli

Risen 2 seems to have some problems with SLI cards:
Discussion and solution.

->
301.24 BETA

Well here are my values, they push the pop in far enough to a distance that I consider unobtrusive. Oh you will still see it if you go looking for it but it should not be noticeable under actual gameplay… FPS took a somewhat nasty hit on my 5870 though (15 fps on average with a min of 30 measured). But I consider them acceptable for this sort of game…

I think the game looks pretty good really (with DOF off). I'll hold out a bit in the hope (against hope) that they do something about the bizarro plants, but I am sure I am going to have no trouble "training" myself to not see them if it comes down to that in the end

I've seen that growing plant effect before but not right in front of my eyeballs, there's gotta be a way to push it back! The GFX engine in the first Risen was fine, as was combat - if it ain't broke…

Anyway the PB magic is still there, but as usual you gotta work for it.

Another tip that was posted by PB's Quy here. Anyone who would prefer a fixed chase cam instead of the free cam can edit the configdefault.xml and add this entry directly under the 'Game' tag:Note that this is an unofficial and unsupported feature (like the Retro Quest Message System that can also be activated in the INI like with Risen 1).