4:3 vs 9:6

[xelnia]

When I first started streaming I had the DK aspect ratio set to 4:3 (default) in WolfMAME106. After watching several streams (including a hilarious session on Allen's channel) I "learned" that 9:6 is the correct aspect ratio. Can I get a confirmation on this? Also, any other tips that MAME streamers have to offer regarding settings that might have slipped by us relatively new streamers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[danman123456]

I have to look but I believe Jeff W said to use 4:3 and not 9:6 for Pauline. 4:3 is what I use and it looks fine to me but not sure what the "official" would be.

Make sure Frameskip is set to 0 if you haven't done that.

[stella_blue]

I've been using 4:3 (the default), and I have frame skipping set to "Automatic" (also the default).

Should I override the default, and change the setting to "Draw every frame" ?

[JNugent]

There was a mention during my stream earlier today that my stream made DK look 'stretched'.  Jeremy recommended switching to 9:6, which I did.  I actually like this aspect ratio better, but it would be nice to hear from some more players regarding correct MAME settings.  Anyone?

[xelnia]

Pauline works just fine for me with 9:6.

[ChrisP]

Actual pixel aspect (8:7) for the win.

I can't stand narrow Kong!

4:3 is bad enough, but this 9:6 makes me grimace.

[Scoundrl]

ChrisP is right. The CORRECT aspect ratio is 8 by 7. The game is 224 x 256 pixels giving us an even 8x7 ratio.

-Ken

[ChrisP]

Some say that, while the game runs internally at 224x256 (8:7), it's "intended" to be displayed at 4:3, but I don't know about that.

The H-SIZE and V-SIZE pots on the DK monitor are free-adjusting, so it's really whatever aspect ratio the user wants.

All I know is that if you adjust a real DK to fill the horizontal space, it always ends up looking much closer to the MAME 8:7 than the default 4:3.

This is actually a significant issue. Whatever you've gotten used to really affects gameplay if you have to switch, especially on springs. Even a minor aspect ratio difference can totally throw things off and take hours to adjust to.

In any case, I don't know where anybody's getting the idea that 9:6 is correct.

[xelnia]

Chris, I just remember being in a stream where people were trying to get Allen to change his aspect ratio to 9:6, so I might be trying too hard to spread false information. 

I'm having trouble displaying DK at 8:7 unless I run it fullscreen. I prefer to run it in a window and at 8:7 it looks far too wide. I've tried playing with all the Display/Advanced tab setting with no luck. So I might just stick with 9:3 until I can figure it out.

[ChrisP]

8:7 definitely takes some getting used to if you're accustomed to 4:3, and the truth is, people should play however they're comfortable. I don't think there's a right answer.

But I'll tell ya, once you go fat, you never go back!

[ChrisP]

It's worth considering that, if nothing else, the pixel art would have been designed at 8:7, since that's the "native" ratio, making a pretty strong argument for it being how things were intended to look.

[danman123456]

Pauline "works" at 9:6 but will have issues sometimes and you will notice "-" numbers. Jeff said it was designed for 4x3 and when I set that up it works flawlessly.

Scott (Stella) you have to have it set to Draw Every Frame for TG settings. Frame Skip Auto isn't allowed. That's the only reason I do it. For this contest I don't think it matters either way.

Dan

[SQUIIDUX]

just asked chris about this in the stream, didnt notice this thread 9:6 works well for me on this 1920x1080 monitor looks less squished.

[acrjoey]

Ok I just got a new 1920X1080 monitor in today and 4:3 looks crazy on it. 4:3 looked perfect on my old 1600X1200 but this widescreen monster squishes the hell out of 4:3 I had to switch it over to 9:6 and the same is true for reversing it 9:6 looks horrible on my old monitor. I am wondering if the native resolution of your display plays a factor in how mame stretches games. If I sober up some I will set both monitors up side by side in 4:3 and show you the difference

[John73]

I somehow lost my copy of Pauline, and after several tries early today, I managed to download it again.

But I'm getting some really wacky results with it - incorrect board scores, sometimes reports a score of 1000 less than what I go, and it's then added on (most times) to the next board.  And then other boards it reports I score 30,000+

I never had this problem when I had it installed previously.

I'm running Wolf .106, and have "enforce aspect ratio" ticked. 

Any ideas?