Weird night graphics

[norris_edgar 1]

I've got a strange one for you guys, would really appreciate some help with it.

I've just upgraded my comp to Windows 7 and put in a new graphics card. After reinstalling SimCity and putting all my plugins back, I've come across a strange graphical glitch when using either SimFox's Day Nite Mod or Gizmo's DarkNite Mod.

The graphics at night are odd they almost look like the game has reverted to 16bit colours. The graphics during the day are fine though.

Maxis night is fine by the way.

I've tried install DirecX 9.0c which made no difference. I haven't installed any new plugins since it was working fine so it's not a conflict problem.

Sorry but I'm having trouble trying to attach a screenshot at the moment, I'll try again later.

Thanks in advance, Dan

[norris_edgar 1]

Here you go,

Day:

Night:

[emperordaniel 1,281]

I could be wrong, but I think Darknite is supposed to be that dark

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I could be wrong, but I think Darknite is supposed to be that dark

Shows what improved graphics will do for you. Dark-night is supposed to be as black as a black cat in a coal bin.

[norris_edgar 1]

The fact it was dark isn't what I was getting at.

These two screenshots show up the problem bettter,

Day:

Night:

Notice how the the textures on the road look screwed up at night.

[norris_edgar 1]

Actually I checked again and the same problem does show in Maxis night just not quite so bad.

So it's definitely a problem caused by it getting 'dark' not by the night mods.

It must surely be something to do with how the new graphics card renders night shots.

  Edited December 3, 2011 by norris_edgar  

[jakehh 52]

You're zoomed in quite close, i don't think night shots would be super high quality on a game like this, that close in.

[mrbisonm 1,620]

If this is actually a problem, which I doubt very much, I have the same with my Gizmo's Dark nite mod, Hm.......I still have windows XP though.

mrb

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

If that zoom is at level 6, it is a fake zoom anyway for UDI. The actual zooms are really only 1 to 5. 6 is just an enlargement, so some pixelization is to be expected.

[norris_edgar 1]

I promise the graphics were not like this before I upgraded Windows and my graphics card. The 'screwed up' textures are noticeable at every zoom level. I could post some more screenshots but to be honest it doesn't come out very well cause the mods make it so dark.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I promise the graphics were not like this before I upgraded Windows and my graphics card. The 'screwed up' textures are noticeable at every zoom level. I could post some more screenshots but to be honest it doesn't come out very well cause the mods make it so dark.

Check your hardware graphics control center. All options should be set to "program selected" or equivalent language. SC4 does not understand nor use any of them.

[norris_edgar 1]

Thanks for the suggestion Nonny Moose but I've just tried this with no change.

Here's a better screenshot on Zoom 5, the lights show up the funny texturing more clearly:

Notice the poor quality texturing on the 6 lane avenue. It's still visible on Zoom 4 as well.

[jakehh 52]

Take out all plugins and see if it really is your graphics card. Try updating your driver (DirectX might need an update)

[norris_edgar 1]

Take out all plugins and see if it really is your graphics card. Try updating your driver (DirectX might need an update)

I tried taking out all the plugins and it made no differece. I tried the newest drivers and that made no difference either. Thanks for reminding me on the drivers though, I had been meaning to do that.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I think we have exhausted all possibilities. What happens if you remove darknite? If the textures remain bad in Maxisnite, then it is a bug in the game and you are probably stuck with it.

[norris_edgar 1]

I think we have exhausted all possibilities. What happens if you remove darknite? If the textures remain bad in Maxisnite, then it is a bug in the game and you are probably stuck with it.

Thery're nowhere near as bad in Maxis Night to be honest. It seems the darker it is the worse the effect. I agree I can't think of anything else to try it must be some something related to modern graphics cards. I've noticed a few other peoples screenshots have the same problem so I guess it is not just me.

Thanks for your help anyway, I'll let you know if I find some miracle solution .

Best Wishes

Dan