SkullTag uses GZDoom for OpenGL support. In support of OpenGL from GZDoom, you have abilities to use 3D Models, high resolution textures, smoother environment feel, dynamic lights, 3D floors, and much.

• Note: Skulltag uses GZDoom r323 renderer

However you might have reached a few problems or concerns with OpenGL. If you were directed here, please take a moment and see how you can be able to resolve your issue.

How to update your VGA Drivers

Updating your drivers can sometime be the ultimate resolver to many issues. Though if you don’t know how, I will try to help guide you through it.

Finding your VGA brand and current drive info

Before we go searching for newer drivers, we first have to find out what VGA device we are using. To do this, we will look at DirectX.

To load DirectX, go to your Start Menu, and click on Run.

• Note: For an alternative way, if you can not find Run on the start menu; just press the Windows logo key, and the R key at the same time.

Then type:

Dxdiag

This will take you directly to DirectX. Once DirectX successfully finish loading, you will want to go to “Display” that is shown from the taps.

On the display, you will see information about your VGA driver, device information, and tests. We are mainly looking at the information soon from the “Device” and “Drivers” section shown from the top of the window.

On the Device section, we know what device name we are using, because it is shown from the “Name:” field, and we also know who the manufacturer is, because it is shown on the “Manufacturer:” field.

So we now know, what the device name is, and who was the manufacturer of that device. Now, we need to find out what version is currently installed. So, we look at the right side of the section for “Drivers”, and look for “Version:”. This will tell us, what is the current installed drivers for that device. This will come in handy, when we look for updated drivers.

So, from the example shown above, I have a:

• Device Name: Intel 82915G/GV/910GL Express Chipset Family
• Manufactured from: Intel Corporation
• Driver Version: 6.14.0010.4764

Now, I will look at the Intel website, and check for driver updates for my VGA (graphics) device.

You are pretty much on your own from here. However, be sure that you read the instructions carefully before and during the installation.

Common VGA Manufacturers:

• NVIDIA
• ATI (AMD)
• Intel
• S3

Microsoft Windows Direct X

Both GZDoom and ZDoom uses DirectX. This allows additional support for sound, video performances, and other abilities. However, keep in mind, that if you use an outdated Direct X program, you might see a few oddities or problems occurring.

The latest version of DirectX, is version 11. Though, version 9.0c works aswell. If you use a DirectX version that is earlier than 9.0c, it is recommended that you consider to update it, unless your OS does not support it. (Windows 95 for example)

With an updated DirectX, you should experience better game play, and runtime performance.

To know what version of DirectX you have installed, go to Run that is located on the Start Menu.

• Note: For an alternative way, if you can not find Run on the start menu; just press the Windows logo key, and the R key at the same time.

At the Run window, type:

Dxdiag

You will be able to find out what version of DirectX you have, by looking at the “DirectX Version:”.

DirectX downloads and information.

When to use OpenGL 1.0

If your card does not support OpenGL 2.0, you can use OpenGL 1.0; however some features from OpenGL 2.0 will not work with OpenGL 1.0.

To enable OpenGL 1.0 compatibility, you can type this command on your console:

Gl_vid_compatibility true

Or you can enable it easily when you access SkullTag’s Welcome screen.

FAQ

Below, is a list of commonly asked questions. Find the appropriate section that you are facing, and follow the instructions that are listed; this will help guide you to resolve your issue.

I get a Blue Screen Of Death (BSOD) when using OpenGL

When you receive a BSOD, it generally means there was a critical error from the Hardware. Ways to help resolve this issue:

• Besure you have the latest VGA Drivers for your VGA device.
  • Note: Only download from the manufacture site, never from a third-party site, unless it is trusted by the manufacturer.
• Besure that you have the latest DirectX version, that your OS can support.

If the problem continues, be sure that your VGA device and drivers is not outdated, and that it can handle OpenGL version 1.0 and/or 2.0.

If your VGA device can not handle OpenGL, you can play on Software Mode. You can type this command on your console to enable Software Mode the next time you execute SkullTag.exe.

Vid_renderer 0

Or you can enable Software Mode on the SkullTag’s Welcome screen, under the video settings.

If you really wish to play SkullTag using OpenGL, you will possibly need to upgrade your VGA device, depending on your form factor.

I receive a message that I’ am missing files

If you receive a message that you are missing files, and it happens on nearly every other application aswell with the same message, this issue is commonly a problem with the device drivers. To resolve this issue, you can update your VGA drivers. See “Upgrading VGA Drivers” on how to prepare for updated drivers.

If the problem continues after the updated drivers, you will need to contact your Manufacturer on how to resolve this issue.

I see strange abnormal wall textures and sprites

This could be in relation from two sides:

• Graphics card utility manager settings
• SkullTag OpenGL settings.

Be sure that you check the Graphics card utility manager, and SkullTag’s OpenGL settings.

OpenGL is slow at certain areas

Sometimes on large wide area maps, you might experience an FPS spike. This will happen when SkullTag’s OpenGL is renderering a lot details from the map (sprites, flats, textures, GL features, etc…). You can try to make it less intensive with SkullTag is rendering:

• Disable Dynamic lights
  • Note: This usually resolves a lot of issues, and a lot of users benefit from this. Though, if any map uses Dynamic as solid base for light (Whodunit, for example), you will not be able to see, whereas other users can.
• Set “Rendering Quality” to “Speed”.
• Disable High Resolution textures
• Disable 3D Models (THING’s / SPRITES)
• Disable Fog Mode
• Disable Fake contrast
• Disable High Quality Resize Mode
• Disable the Anisotropic Filter.
• Set the Texture Filter Mode to “None (mipmapped)“

3D Models are nice, but the game is slow with it

This could be a matter of how your VGA device renders the models; though if it is really slow, you can be able to remove them from your skins folder.

My screen is black, but I still here sounds and music

There is two things that could affect this, either Screen Resolution is not supported on your monitor, or VGA Driver issue.

We are going to first change the screen resolution, though we will do this manually. Locate your SkullTag INI file. The file name will have your user account name, with skulltag.

For example:

Skulltag-MyUserAccount.INI

The INI file will be located with your SkullTag folder. If you used the SkullTag Installer, Skulltag will be located at:

C:\Program Files\Skulltag

Once you have found your INI file, open the file with Notepad. With notepad, we are going to use the Search function, to make things easier. On the EDIT menu, select Find...

• Note: You can also use the hot key aswell: CTRL + F

The first thing we are going to search for is:

vid_defheight

We are going to change the value to:

vid_defheight=600

Now, the next search is:

vid_defwidth

We also going to change this value to:

vid_defwidth=800

The Screen Resolution we have just set it to, is 800x600. This Screen Resolution is a SuperVGA standard, so alot of (if not all) monitors are going to support this standard. Now try to run Skulltag, and see if this has helped resolve your issue.

• If your issue was resolved, no more steps need to be done.
• If not, please continue reading.

If this continues after the Screen Resolution change, this could be a problem with your current drivers. Check to see if there is any driver updates for your graphics device.

If you have the latest drivers, but your device is outdated, you might have to use Software Mode, in order to play.

Either type this on your console:

vid_renderer 0

or select Software Mode on the Video Options.

I see abnormal colors from the sky

This is an issue with how your VGA and VGA drivers are handling with the processes and memory. If updating your drivers does not help resolve this issue, this could be a problem with your VGA device.

Dynamic Lights abnormally appear oddly all over the map

This can be an issue with your VGA device, and drivers. If updating your drivers does not help resolve the issue, then you can be able to disable Dynamic lights.