http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/finalfantasy11/ss-02.jpg
Picture above is an idea how FFXI should look on a decent pc.
To change the graphics settings you have to edit the FFXI registry settings.
http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Graphics
Click on start in the bottom left hand corner of windows, type regedit in the search bar and it will run, navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PlayOnlineUS\SquareEnix\FinalFantasyXI
or
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PlayOnlineEU\SquareEnix\FinalFantasyXI
Each value there is listed below (bold items are the most important).
Quote:
0000 MIP mapping
0001 Screen resolution width (in pixels)
0002 Screen resolution height (in pixels)
0003 Background resolution width (in pixels)
0004 Background resolution height (in pixels)
0007 Music and Sound effects (0=Off, 1=On)
0011 Environmental Animation (0=Off, 1=Normal, 2=Smooth)
0017 Bump Mapping (0=Off, 1=On)
0018 Texture Compression (0=High, 1=Low, 2=Uncompressed)
0019 On-Screen Maps (0=Compressed, 1=Uncompressed)
0022 Intro Movie (0=Disabled, 1=Enabled)
0034 Window Mode (0=Full Screen, 1=Window Mode)
0001 Screen resolution width (in pixels)
0002 Screen resolution height (in pixels)
0003 Background resolution width (in pixels)
0004 Background resolution height (in pixels)
0007 Music and Sound effects (0=Off, 1=On)
0011 Environmental Animation (0=Off, 1=Normal, 2=Smooth)
0017 Bump Mapping (0=Off, 1=On)
0018 Texture Compression (0=High, 1=Low, 2=Uncompressed)
0019 On-Screen Maps (0=Compressed, 1=Uncompressed)
0022 Intro Movie (0=Disabled, 1=Enabled)
0034 Window Mode (0=Full Screen, 1=Window Mode)
---
Mip mapping has a kind of blur effect to background scenery, it helps to counter sparkle effect.
Values are 1-4, I have mine set to 3 currently which seems to work pretty well.
Quote:
0001 Screen resolution width (in pixels)
0002 Screen resolution height (in pixels)
0002 Screen resolution height (in pixels)
List of normal screen modes below, whichever of these you pick you need to put into value 001 and 002 (ie. if you use 1920 x 1080 it will appear like this 001=780(1920), 002=438(1080)). Enter the amount shown in brackets using the decimal button.
Standard (4:3)
* 640 x 480
* 800 x 600
* 1024 x 768
* 1280 x 1024
* 1600 x 1200
Widescreen (16:10)
* 720 x 576
* 800 x 480
* 1280 x 768
* 1440 x 900
* 1680 x 1050
* 1920 x 1200
HDTV (16:9)
* 720 x 480
* 1280 x 720
* 1920 x 1080
If you change from one monitor type screen res (Standard (4:3), Widescreen (16:10), HDTV (16:9))to another you will have to change the aspect ratio within the FFXI menus (config>misc2) to the numbers above in brackets, if you don't everything will look distorted and stumpy. Make sure you actually have the monitor type for the screen res you are trying to use also, using 1920 x 1080 if you don't have a HDTV 16:9 monitor won't work too well.
Quote:
0003 Background resolution width (in pixels)
0004 Background resolution height (in pixels)
0004 Background resolution height (in pixels)
You will want to set this to double whatever settings you use for the above, so for instance.
1600 x 1200 = 3200 x 2400
1920 x 1200 = 3840 x 2400
1920 x 1080 = 3840 x 2160
If you used 1920 x 1080 then you enter 3840 and 2160 in 003 and 004.
Texture compression should always be set to 2 (uncompressed).
If you use Windower you can also download one of the plugins (drawdistance), this boosts the amount of scenery you can see in the distance. It basically removes the fogging feature FFXI uses to use less resources.
Some pics below.
http://www.staronion.com/maiev/nfblog/?p=2155
Edited, Feb 26th 2011 5:30am by preludes