Video Game Recording Programs and Potential Issues Seen (Version 20200209)

Sorry I'm not feeling great at the moment, but I wanted to just quickly share something I've been working on for a while - and I figured instead of waiting to 'perfect' it, I'll share it 'as is' and just Update it as I go, sharing the Updates as they come - since that will still be helpful to fellow gamers, now and as it is updated over time... and so

Game Recording Programs and Issues Seen

This is an image I actually started a while ago, showing some Game Recording Programs and the Games and Applications that they might have issues with - these are some games and programs that I found were either incompatible or had an issue of some sort, in my personal experience(s). This image was originally created as a PowerPoint Slide, but exported to a PNG formatted image for sharing:

(Click to see Larger Size)

The three game recording programs shown for now, are MSI's Afterburner (which is similar to EVGA's Precision and ASUS's GPUtweak) and Playclaw and Mirillis' ACTION. Next to each one, is a list of issues and occurrences that I have found when trying to record with them (eg. the videogames or applications that it did not work with, or had problems recording). 

I actually use a few game recording programs [and purchased a few more, using Donations from The Blog, for Game Recording Comparisons I've always wanted to do for The Blog here]. I am constantly switching between them, finding that some work better with certain games/types, etc. 
Note that I have nothing against any of the programs listed, and will likely use them all again, at different times, in the future. Some of the game recording programs I deal with will be Free, such as MSI Afterburner, above.

This will be "Version 20200209" of this listing, and I will Update this as I add to it, increasing the Version number as I go. Perhaps others will find this helpful, to see if any issues they are running into with various game recorders are 'just them' or if it is something that others (like me) have found happens. It might be comforting to someone, to let them know that 'it's only this one game that has problems' (so they don't have to feel as bad about a game recording program purchase) or 'if I can't record that with this program, I can try this one', and so on...

Hope That Helps!
 ~Tesityr of The Game Tips And More Blog

It's Not Just You™ - Mirillis' ACTION Crashing On Startup After 2.2.0 Update [My Issue Fixed with 2.2.1]

Just a quick post, to let those of you using the game and desktop recording application ACTION! by Mirillis know that a few days ago (on February 10th, 2017) the program was Updated to version 2.2.0. I enjoy testing out ACTION! as it has good performance - I purchased a License for it a while back and I want to do a 'Game Recorder Comparison' for The Blog which includes it as 'one of the contestants' here someday "Soon™" - but for now, I wanted to let other users of it know that ACTION! currently seems to be crashing after this latest Update...

Example of ACTION! currently crashing on Startup as of the date of this post.
GFX (GeForce eXperience, my abbrev.) shown in the background as having the Latest Drivers.
Click to see Full Size.

Now, this may only be NVIDIA GPU owners - I recently received a shiny new GTX 1060 GPU for Christmas from Santa and was testing out some game recording applications off and on - and found that ACTION! is crashing. Steam users are talking about it as well, as they seem to be having the same issue [my version of ACTION! is the Standalone version]. *Note, I am not "Joker5", one of the users mentioning this issue, in the Screenshot containing the Steam Activity Feed about it, I did not make a comment on the Feed at this time

While I am sorry to say that I do not have a Solution or Fix at the moment (I usually put "[Fix]" or something similar in the Title if I do), this is just a quick post to let other users of Mirillis' ACTION! know that - if you are having 'crashing-on-startup' issues at this time - It's Not Just You™...




Update 1 (2017-02-14):
I did eventually get the application to start, but it took six tries/restarts to do so. I will Update this post when a more permanent fix/update is known

Update 2 (2017-02-15 AM):
There is a new version of NVIDIA drivers released (378.66 dated 2017-02-13), but after installing them, now ACTION gives an Error 104 about half the time when starting it up... I purchased a Commercial Use License for ACTION a while ago, and made no changes to my firewall (the error is related to those aspects) so this should not be happening. I may contact Mirillis or post in their forum, etc. to see if this is related and/or notify them of this

Example of an Error that was occurring with ACTION version 2.2.0 showing NVIDIA Driver version in GeForce Experience
Click to see Full Size

Update 3 (2017-02-15 PM):

There was just now an Update released for Mirillis' ACTION (version 2.2.1, released today, 2017-02-15)

Update 2.2.1 notification message at the bottom of the ACTION! interface
Click to see Full Size

I have installed this new version and tested it - and it runs without issue - I have closed it an opened it numerous times now, without any problems. Here is a Screenshot of it starting up:

Screenshot of ACTION! version 2.2.1 starting up in Windows (including a wide-angle Desktop Wallpaper I compiled from multiple screenshots, with customized logo, I will make these available in the future)
Click to see Full Size

Using this version now, I went and looked at the Changelog for it (History of Changes and Updates to the program). Here is the Changelog for this version:

It is the first item that I find interesting, as I recently was testing out a 'Razer Surround Pro' audio device that came with my Gamepad - and as a result of porting audio through that device, there are no longer any Audio Devices listed as operational in the Recording tab of sound devices in Windows. Here is what my list of input devices look like now:

I only mention this because it is interesting to me [I wonder how related having no Input Devices was, to the issue I was experiencing (along with others, according to their forum and Steam Feeds), with ACTION - prompting this Update? I don't know the answer, of course, I am not a Developer or Programmer for Mirillis... I am merely thinking out loud. Wondering, heh].

Regardless, if you have run into this issue, it seems to have been solved by this update that 'just' came out - go get it - hopefully it will fix any issues for you too. Way to go, Mirillis - keep it up!



[Personal Note/Declaration: I am not affiliated with Mirillis or any of their products in any way (look at the links, there are no 'affiliate links' or 'tags' in them) and have not and will not receive any compensation in any form, for talking about ACTION here. I am merely a user of their program and wanted to share this information to help others. I have also utilized other similar programs in the past (such as FRAPS and Bandicam, free recording programs like OBS and MSI's Afterburner and more) and will use any of these products in the future]

Quick Tip: Getting ACTION, Dxtory, FRAPS and More Working With Battlefield:Hardline [Fix/Workaround]

I have been doing some Recording Tests over the past while with Mirillis' ACTION - for those who aren't familiar with it, ACTION is a game recording application, similar to MSI's Afterburner, Bandicam, Playclaw and others - and I was reminded that it does not automatically "work" with Battlefield: Hardline [that is, 'hook onto it' or 'detect-it-and-get-ready-to-record']. I actually remember running into this issue during the Beta, but at the time I merely used another recording program and didn't think much of it since. To find out more about this issue recently (since reminded of it) I dug around a bit and did a few tests, trying to find a solution and/or conditions it did work under - and wanted to share my few findings as a 'Quick Tip' for others, here.


Looking around, I found out that this is still an ongoing issue with Battlefield: Hardline - and before that, it was to some extent with Battlefield 4, even causing BF4 to 'crash' on Startup for some people. I also found out that these issues occurred not only with ACTION, but also with other similar programs, such as FRAPS and Dxtory, according to the Battlelog Forums and the main Mirillis Forum. In many places, I found the same solution stated again and again by helpful posters... So, I tried it out - and it worked perfectly! I repeated testing with it a few times - and once I was satisfied it solved the issue and was repeatable (for others to use), I wanted to share it here, with you.

Here are the steps of what to do [with a shortcut I figured out, to type it in faster/easier, near the end of this post]:

• In the game, hit the Tilde key ("~", which looks like a 'squiggly' line - the key is in the upper-left of Standard keyboards, to the left of the Number 1 and above the Tab key), which should bring down the Console. In here, you can type in commands for the game.
• Type the following in one line:
  
  RenderDevice.PresentAsync 0
  
  (That is, "render device dot present async", then a space, then a "zero")
• Hit enter and then you can close the Console by hitting the Tilde key (~) again.

That's it!

As long as that is all you want to do in the Console (you don't want to enter in any more commands), you can then just close it, as it is done - those are all the steps to do. You should then see the HUD (indicator) for ACTION pop up on the screen in the corner you chose in the "HUD Settings" section, in ACTION.

Note that this may not always be needed... For example, if you launched BF4 in Windowed or Borderless modes, it may not be required. In Battlefield: Hardline, it seems to be needed no matter what mode you run the game in [for the interface of these programs to be shown and able to record without issues]. For example, I just started up Hardline in Windowed mode a couple of times as a test - with ACTION and FRAPS - and those steps were still needed to get these ready to record (their little hud/ui/interface did not show up at all until the above command was entered. 

Another way I saw suggested in Forums, was to enter in the command via a User Configuration file (User.CFG), created in the game directory. For those who don't know, a User Configuration file is simply a text file that the game will 'run' when it starts up - and this text file can have commands listed in it, so that you don't need to manually type the command each time you play the game.

Although even a Battlelog Moderator suggested it at one time, here, it seems it is possible that this process can be "detected" or "seen as" a hack - and you can effectively be Banned, Blacklisted from Ranked Servers, and other negative actions taken against you - as seen in this thread at the Mirillis' Forums, here... Although I am sure there are many people out there using this command in a Configuration/Startup File without issue, as it has happened to some people in the past...I personally would suggest against going this route, for now, and merely type it in whenever you want to use ACTION/Dxtory/FRAPS/etc to record your gameplay in Battlefield games.

On my own, I figured out a faster way of typing this command into the Console and wanted to share it here - apparently the Tab key will try to 'guess' at the terms you are typing in (much like the Command Line or Terminal in Unix, Windows, and other operating systems [black box screens that you open to enter commands]) and by using the Tab key, you can quickly enter the command above by using these steps, after opening the in-game Console with Tilde (~):

Hit "r" then the Tab key

Hit "d" then the Tab key again

Hit "p" then the Tab key one more time

Hit "0" (zero) and hit Enter

That's it! 

R-tab-D-tab-P-tab-Zero. Done! Now, the same command as above has been entered even faster and you should see the HUD/indicator for your preferred recording program pop-up on the screen - and you can now record your battles once again. Here is an example/reminder GIF of using the Tab input method for this command, in Hardline:

GIF Example/Tutorial/Reminder of How To Get ACTION, Dxtory, FRAPS And More to Work With Battlefield:Hardline
(Click to see Full Size - Save and Share with others!)

Hopefully the above gets these programs working with Hardline for you too, dear reader, as easily as it did for me.


See You In The Game!

[Personal Log TwoZeroOneSixPointSix: I could not find the 'original' bearer of this wonderful information, to give Credit to them - and to find out "why" it solves the issue with these few recording programs (as I am not a programmer, the reason is not immediately obvious to me) and I always like to try and share the "why things work" of solutions I present, to others as well. I eventually assumed it was a developer at some point in time, but in the vast posts of passed-on knowledge, their name has become lost into the aether... Regardless, I want to say 'thank you' to whomever this helpful dev is - and I want to pass on that thanks to all the other anonymous sharers of this tip [about this issue with Hardline] on Forii everywhere. This QuickTip is merely a culmination of, or passing on yet again of, this great bit of information on this issue with these few game recording programs and Hardline. Enjoy]

Diablo 2 - Ladder Reset October 2011 - with Wallpapers and Screenshots

For those of you still playing Diablo2 off and on, a new season of Ladder starts next week! I actually didn't even see the March Season. I haven't played for a while and felt like some D2 goodness, installed it, and lookee here, a reset is-a-comin'.

I didn't make this Motivator, but I wholeheartedly agree

Every ladder reset I am both excited and saddened. All my previous efforts for Ladder-Only Runewords are for naught (if I didn't get to them) and now all my Uber Characters are relegated to General Population. I know, I could never survive emotionally if I played Hardcore...I couldn't stand putting in all the effort and excitement to have it all washed away one night in the rain..as the dark blood of my druid pools among the cool grass of the night.. ah well - a chance to make another character - or at least that's I would tell myself!

At one time, I had about 40 'accounts' going [on my own key], some for my own personal use/playing, some for trading (so they couldn't bug my 'regular' characters for items if I didn't trade something they wanted), some for runes and gems (mmm Perfects), some for all the Uniques, a sets collection (of course) and some temp account just to have sitting in a game on the other system, so that I could 'pop in' and drop the treasures of Diablo/Baal/Blood Runz and get right back into the next numbered game without missing a beat and losing track of a nice 8-player crowd that was burning through the levels. Good times.

These characters used to hold tons of gear from Runz, temporarily. Now they hold Off-Ladder Fodder. Time to make new!

Diablo2 is one of those games, for me, where if someone asked me "What is your favorite character?", I wouldn't be able to give one that stands out beyond the rest. I love them all. Most games, like most people I assume, I have a preference for what I want to play, generally. In Battlefield games I play Medic, in MMORPGs I tend to play ranged classes (hunter, mage), but for D2 I don't really have one class that I 'mostly play'. I play all of them and rotate as the feeling for the type of game I want to play changes. Do I want to melee and feel powerful? A Barb or Pally or Bear Druid can handle that. Do I want to stand back and let my minions fight, while I command them and heal and control the mobs? A Summoner Druid or Necro is what I'll load up. In any case, there's always a class and game to have fun with, no matter what mood I'm in, and that's one of the great things about Diablo2.

My Boner Necro vs. WSK Fetishes
[Great now this post may be auto-flagged as "Adult" for that last term... no?]

I was going to call this a Game Tip, as I suggest how to play something, but I think I'll just share this, as everyone plays different and there aren't too many combinations of 'styles' that are so different that one stands out far beyond the rest, in D2. It is how I play a Hammerdin (a Paladin with Blessed Hammers as the main attack, for the newbies). This is short and only one encounter [looped], but it shows the general controls that I use and I'm sure there will be players that match it or have better ideas, out there.

[This Flash Animation appears to no longer work here, sorry. 

I will update with a different animation or create a video, Soon™]

This is one engagement of a small mob with my Merc and here's the steps I take and controls I use:

• Running along with Vigor aura (looking for trouble or getting to where I want to go), I have my auras (passive skills, right side) mapped to the mouse wheel, so I can just spin it to what I want. Blessed Hammers is selected as my Main Attack (active skills, left side) so that it is cast automatically, as below
• Encounter! Switch to Concentration aura (spin the mouse wheel one notch and begin combat sequence). Begin casting Blessed Hammers by: Mouse is held down and pointing to where I want to go, pally is moving in that direction. Tap SHIFT to stop on the spot and cast some Hammers. Drag mouse around in the direction I want to walk in (away from the mobs, towards my Merc if possible) and intermittently tap SHIFT to throw some more Hammies into the sky. Hopefully, mobs get pulled into hammers as I lead them on [not in that way] and towards my merc just in case I need him to take them over. Moving in this manner, casting Hammers off and on, assures that they will hit at least some of the time, as opposed to a mob getting into a nice safe spot in the gap in their trajectories and not getting hit at all. (Yes, there is a 'sweet spot' for hammerin but I prefer this method as it controls the mobs to go where I want, as well)
• When monsters are dead, spin the mouse to Redemption aura to redeem nearby corpses as Health and Mana. Walk away Like A Boss with full health and mana globes. Spin mouse wheel to Vigor aura. Rinse And Repeat.

That's about it, at least how I play, and for a Hammerdin. You can still get into tough spots but you can pretty much wade around Hell without too much trouble as long as you have some resists and keep your Holy Shield up. It's not my favorite class or spec, but it's nice to MF with. I prefer Necromancer, Druid or Assassin, if I was forced to pick a 'Top 3'. I just find their playstyle interesting, more than their abilities being over the top above all the others.

And Now... Some Wallpapers!

(Screenshots to follow)

And Now... Some Screenshots!

Poisonmancer vs Hell Andariel

Not my screenshot, but a good example of what sometimes happens on Battle.Net

Just going through my gear, another example of what sometimes happens on BattleNet
I wish there were more advertisements, sometimes I see way too much of my screen
[I am not affiliated with, in any degree, the website captured in this screenshot]

Hopefully this won't happen to you

This was my Low Rune Holder in the last ladder I played in.

On my Gem Holder, I traded some Perfects for an Occy. Woot!

I've sort of giving away something here, but I made this Tip site to help you guys out after all, so here: On some Boss Runz, ones that seem to be led.. 'automatically' lets say.. the runner sometimes sells things and doesn't realize that his pockets are already full. Hence, the dropped money. If you can stick with a runner like this (being the only one along on the runs is perfect) you can almost refill your bank by the end of the night.

Following another 'automatic' runner, this one does Countess Runz as part of it's travels [and it didn't seem to care about these Runes - good!]

My Summoner Necro Build (Skill Tree and Stats), last ladder on Battle.Net

My Summoner Necro walking through Hell Durance on BattleNet. "Full Contact. No Protection. No Problem".

Oops, some of the crowd was a little too young that night. Sorry, Parents.

Diablo 2 Normal Credits Background

Diablo 2 Expansion Credits Background

You are now aware that these statues look at you
[they turn their heads in the game to face you at all times]

 
Looking forward to gettin' into some more Diab next week! See you in there!