Updated visuals for Arena Commander - FPS improvements and enhanced appearance
Updated visuals for Arena Commander - FPS improvements and enhanced appearance
Arena Commander - Visual Tweaks Hi there, I wanted to share a small update here. This config file is meant to enhance shadows, deepen environments, and improve SSAO. It doesn’t need any shader tools—just console commands. The changes are subtle, but they boost immersion. You can tweak it to your liking or save the settings by replacing values in the console. Before and after each shot you’ll notice differences, especially around the fish tank walls and the 300i body. The SSAO effect is more visible in-game than in these images, though. Curious? Great! Download it now. Click the link to get started. Extract goes here: GamePathHere\StarCitizen\CitizenClient; changes are saved by updating the config.
For those who like it, check the RSI forum for more info. Gamma and shadow resolution are personal choices—feel free to adjust them.
Shadow detail should be powers of two (64, 128, 256, etc.) for smoother results but less clarity. Higher numbers like 512 or 1024 give crisper shadows but can cause pixelation near edges.
See the full guide at http://starcitizen.wikia.com/wiki/Console_commands.
Basic settings: cl_fov=90, movement power = 95, draw near FOV = 95.
Anti-aliasing: r_TexMinAnisotropy=8, r_TexMaxAnisotropy=8.
Post-processing: depth of field = 0, motion blur = 0, VSync=0.
FPS cap: 120, mouse sensitivity 0, cl_sensitivity=10.
Advanced: hud_bobHud=1 for crouch toggle, etc.
Effects: r_SSAO=3, r_ssdo=1, r_Gamma=0.86, HDR brightness 0.5, shadows max 256, no particles.
Adjust as needed for your style!
It's not a full mod—it's just a small file change. If it doesn<|pad|>, it won't boost performance much, so I'm not keen (no offense). EDIT: Early mods often aim for smooth gameplay, like in KSP where a few developers were brought on board.
The main problem with the "examples" is the varying sizes of the pictures, which doesn’t really matter to me. But I think this could be helpful?
Bad wording on my part I did not call this a mod on the RSI forum but I did here for lack of a better term for it. It is essentially just a "user.cfg" file you place it in the game dir it won't be overridden and it it overrides your level of detail (game quality settings) with what is in the code source which is just a bunch of pre tuned console commands saved to file so it auto executes. Not a tweak of files, no original files were modified, this is a custom user.cfg config file you drop into the install location which auto executes a bunch of consoles commands when the game is loaded. Which A. means you have the flexability to set a level of detail in game higher than what would normally run well or do the reverse for more FPS without having to choose between low quality shading with no motion blur and lower texture quality or a higher setting with FPS eating post processing effects for little to no gain in quality beyond the level of detail pop in and texture increase. What this tweak does pre set a some quality settings and fine tune settings which RSI are not even using even on ULTRA such as correct SSAO quality setting and gamma control as well as the ability to toggle on or off various post processing effects like motion blur, radial blur and so on. It also comes pre-set with the field of view at 90 so when RSI update the game and re-enable these console commands your FOV will be set to something reasonable from the time you load the game TL;DR No game files are modded, this is a simple console command auto execute stand-alone file that allows you to choose any level of game detail you like via the pre-set in game without sacrificing excess FPS on post processing or shading quality. In most cases you will gain FPS regardless which quality pre-set you use in-game. I spoke to an RSI forum moderator and the person said they would passed the tweaks up the chain as they also found it looked better than what they currently were using. Only suggestion I tell people are to fiddle with the " r_Gamma = 0.86" and " e_ShadowsMaxTexRes = 256" I have an explanation for this on the RSI forums. Well it is very easy to try it out, it is a stand-alone file that touches none of the games original files you just extract the single file plop it into the dir mentioned in the OP and launch the game you will gain FPS and it should in most cases look better as well. In some cases you might wish to adjust the gamma variable to suit though that is really dependant on your software and hardware current gamma setting. Hope this help you decide.
I'm on the same page but some users might use this atm. If it truly boosts FPS and enhances shadows, it looks well-made. Ledhead900 is a nice touch. I plan to experiment with sweetfx soon since the colors seem too flat, though that could change.
This approach won't always succeed since the client typically needs to be restarted for certain updates. Avoid relying on sys_something settings or LOD commands, as they can interfere with features like SSAO and motion blur, rendering optimizations ineffective.
It's worth noting that launching a config file with an additional command-line parameter might work, and I'm exploring this further.
Client updates won't impact these adjustments because they use a custom configuration file that bypasses default settings. This means changes like setting RSI's "r_HDRBrightLevel" won't apply unless you remove the custom file or move it from your games directory.
None of these modifications will permanently alter the game installation files; simply delete the custom config to revert.
Others might find this point unhelpful, as alpha is incorrect due to how the system handles custom settings.
Running existing console commands in Cry Engine can override RSI's default expectations, which usually means better graphic quality at launch.
Some commands are disabled by RSI edits, but they're likely to be reinstated when the command is re-enabled.
The in-game visuals will change significantly, offering much improved shadow shading with minimal performance loss.
Disabling motion blur and post-processing effects boosts FPS and immersion, as artificial blur can confuse the brain and reduce realism.
In certain scenarios, motion blur is misused, which lowers FPS and distracts from the experience.
This adjustment enhances overall visual quality without affecting core game files.
I made the necessary changes before you responded. Please let me know if you need anything else.