Graphics for old eyes

from GalCiv4 Forums

My eyes will soon start their 72 year of trying to view the world for me.

The do a decent job as one eye is 20/20 and the other may achieve same when the cataract that is troubling it is removed.

Now to the point of the post even when this happens, I will still have trouble seeing the grid on the map as it is barely one shade lighter than the black background.

This is mandatory to my enjoyment of the game, at least in long sessions as straining to see the grid causes me to have ocular migraines rendering the map into visual hash.

I cannot explore a map unless I do it systematically and the auto explore option is anything but systematic.

Thus, I must guide each Probe/Explorer through each hex, I can if I can see the grid, but with the current grid color this is a chore.

I know this is or at least was back in the days of Civilization II an easy fix as even I was able to make the irrigation graphic darker. I have since lost the ability to mod as Developers have gone to assuming all players who wish to mod are programmers. Not true but off-topic.

To see what I am seeing set grids to show both far and near then zoom out (larger view of map) to the point where the graphics change to the Icons then look to where a probes vision enters the fog of war. I try to go in a straight line from the ship to the FOW most times I can barely see the "border" hexes.

I was going to be snarky and say change the transition point from graphics to icons closer to max zoom in but know that many peeps play using them.

That got me to thinking if the fix might just be a graphics or an icon setting. I can see the grid way better at a click or two further in.

I totally appreciate the work the Graphics Team puts into the game, however I cannot play the game using them. 

galactic civilizations iv
42,314 views 11 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv4 Forums Top

Way back in GalCiv3 I had to make a mod for the graphics after they were "enhanced" in an update.  I couldn't handle the new version, so I fixed it with a mod.  I've had to do similar things in GalCiv4.

I have three mods that change the brightness of the grid lines.  One includes the name "Darker" and makes the grid lines slightly darker.  Another includes the name "Neutral" and makes the grid lines slightly brighter.  The third includes the name "Brighter" and makes the grid lines much brighter.  I normally use the "Neutral" version.

They all also do some other things that help me see things better.

  • All the sector borders are now bright red
  • The line that shows the range of a ship is now bright yellow
  • The area of effect line for constructors, starbases and ranged attacks is brighter and thicker
  • The galaxy shown in the background when zoomed out a lot is a lot dimmer

The best thing about these mods is that the changes they make are not included in saved games.  If a save is made while using one of these mods, it can be loaded into a game without the mod, and everything will return to the defaults.  If a save is made without using one of these mods, it can be loaded into a game using one of these mods, and it will have the changes the mod makes.  That means you can add one of these mods to GalCiv4, load the save of your current game and see the graphics changes in your current game.

It will be no problem to change a mod to adjust the brightness of the grid lines, if needed.  You can probably do it yourself.  The file to change is GraphicsDefs.xml.  The values to change are close to the beginning of the file and have comments before them giving the default value and some other advice.  I think the maximum allowed value is 1.0.  If you don't want to try it, I will do it.

Only one of these mods should be used at a time.

A zip file containing these mods is available here.

Reply #2 from GalCiv4 Forums Top

This sounds like what I want, forgot to mention the Starbase range graphic. 

I will use it with thanks.

The reason I ask for this to be included in the game as part of the game is the tendency of mods to become obsolete with new patches. If I had a nickel for every time "My game is not working" thread in Steam turns out caused by mods that have not been upgraded I might not have a lot but likely could buy my groceries for the month. I am talking all games not just GC.

If I read correctly this mod is not affected by this.

I still would prefer a graphics or icon option as the grid also is as I stated one or two clicks too small at the changeover.

 

Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from GalCiv4 Forums Top

Thanks very much for the post and the mod, guys. gypsy isn't the only one with old eyes :D  

+1 Loading…
Reply #4 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

These mods can become obsolete and cause problems if the right files are changed in an update to the game.  The files in these mods haven't been changed in a long time, but they have been changed in the past.  The mod names end in 1 11 to indicate I've verified they work with version 1.11 of the game.

Each time the game is updated, I always check my mods to see if they need to be updated, then update them as needed.  I may just have to change the name to indicate they still work with the current version of the game.  Updates can be made available as needed.

+1 Loading…
Reply #5 from GalCiv4 Forums Top

Old Spider, do you have any idea whether mods like this will eventually be able to be managed by the GC4 Workshop? As far as I know it currently only supports civilizations and ships, but it would be great if it could handle UI and other mods someday.

Reply #6 from Stardock.net Forums Top

I also have the same issues as gypsy2299 has stated. Being 3 years younger I have a hard time seeing grid along with the highlighted background "sky." Love this game but is getting harder to navigate space with the lighted background in some areas. Will hopefully wait for possible changes that are more easier on older eyes. :rolleyes:  

Reply #7 from GalCiv4 Forums Top

Quoting Publius, reply 5

Old Spider, do you have any idea whether mods like this will eventually be able to be managed by the GC4 Workshop? As far as I know it currently only supports civilizations and ships, but it would be great if it could handle UI and other mods someday.

The workshop screen shows a place for Mod Packs.  I think that means mods like this.  It still shows as "Coming Soon" like it did when the workshop was added to the game.  I hope GalCiv4 Next will include Mod Packs in the workshop.  I have some mods I would like to put in the workshop, but some of the information I've read about Next indicates some of the mods may not be needed.

There is a problem with updates in the current workshop, so adding Mod Packs may have to wait until the problem is fixed.  I reported a problem with an update to the Tywom in the workshop in this post.

 

Quoting tasgilt, reply 6

I also have the same issues as gypsy2299 has stated. Being 3 years younger I have a hard time seeing grid along with the highlighted background "sky." Love this game but is getting harder to navigate space with the lighted background in some areas. Will hopefully wait for possible changes that are more easier on older eyes. :rolleyes:  

There is a setting for the background nebula in the options.  I tried setting it to completely off (black), but that didn't work for me.  Here is the setting I use.

Changes to these sliders will be updated immediately.  There is no need to restart the game.  This makes it easy to try different settings to see what works best for you.

 

For everyone, I need to point out that the brightness of the grid lines also depends on the race.  Different races have different colors, including the color of the grid lines.  The Arceans have bright yellow grid lines, and the Onyx Hive have brown grid lines that are rather dark.  That's why I have 3 mods.  I use the Brighter mod to make the darker grid lines easier to see and the Darker mod so the bright grid lines don't bother my eyes.  I use the Neutral mod when grid lines aren't too dark or too bright.  This applies only to the race I am playing since I am around them most of the time.  The grid lines for the other races in the game I'm playing may be too dark or too bright, depending on the other races and the mod I'm using.  There is no way avoid that.

 

+1 Loading…
Reply #8 from GalCiv4 Forums Top

yeah my eyes give me trouble too so i custom a race so the colors are better I have a darker blue I like but can not use it in GC4 for not being able to see grid or influence to dark!!! I`ll have to try the mod and I have been wondering if and one was working on mods.,,,,,,,, unfortunately I have very limited internet connection so updates I get after they been out awhile,,,,, I have to Wait till the next month UGH ! 20 gs don`t go very far.

Reply #9 from Stardock.net Forums Top

Thank you Old-Spider for revealing the nebula opacity slider option. It was a big help. Got it adjusted to my liking. :congrat:   

Reply #10 from GalCiv4 Forums Top

Thank you Old Spider for providing such a well guided solution. I will say though, I feel like this still speaks to the opportunity for accessibility and should be noted

 

Reply #11 from GalCiv4 Forums Top

Quoting tonerudez, reply 11


 

 

 


Thank you Old-Spider for revealing the nebula opacity slider option. It was a big help.

This is an interesting comment.  It is an exact duplicate of tasgult's comment 2 above yours.  Since you joined just before making this duplicate comment, I take that to mean you are a future spammer trying to establish credibility before beginning the spamming.  Am I right?