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]

Battlefield Play4Free - PlayTesting The AEK-971 Assault Rifle (One Full Round - Myanmar - Raw Gameplay [Unedited] Video)

Battlefield Play4Free and The Daily Draw

Just a quick primer for those that don't know; Battlefield Play4Free is a Free-To-Play title, which means it doesn't cost anything to join in, but you can purchase weapons, armor, clothing and other items for Real Money. In this game, you do so by purchasing "Play4Free Funds" that you can then use in the in-game Store. There is also a nice feature offered where you can win 'prizes' (weapons, armor, clothing, etc) from a game called The Daily Draw at the main Battlefield Play4Free website. You can play once every day, choosing a card from a random draw of eight and the card you choose will be an item 'underneath'.

The items possible to win range from temporary one-day-use-only weapons and clothing, to seven-day-use ones, to permanent items your character (Soldier) can use in the game forever (for example, a scope that can be attached to a gun for that soldier for all time). This is great for those who can't afford to purchase many in-game items, as it not only offers the possibility of getting some great gear 'forever', it also gives a nice preview of a weapon, mod or clothing, so that you can see what it will look like/feel like, if you decide to splurge and purchase it for yourself (supporting the game and developers as well) sometime in the future. The Daily Draw also gives a chance to win 'Boosts', where you can earn extra Credits [for instance], as seen in the screenshot below:

The AEK-971 Assault Rifle

I recently won the AEK-971 in The Daily Draw on my Assault class soldier and thought I'd try it out and see how it felt and quickly write a post about it [I call these 'PlayTests']. Now, I am not a gun expert or know a lot about the statistics of the guns, so I will mainly be discussing briefly here how the gun 'feels' and 'plays', especially compared to the default G3A4 Assault Rifle.

The AEK-971 unlocks nice and early at Soldier Level 3, but the main reason for this seems to be that it isn't supposed to be very different from the Default Assault Class Rifle. As you can see from the comparison above, which is the main Store/Inventory screen information for the weapons, the only real difference is the amount of damage it can do. It has the same accuracy rating as the G3A4, the same range, and the same amount of ammo in the mags. After winning it in The Daily Draw, I played a few rounds with AEK-971 and originally recorded a couple of full matches. Here is one full match, shared unedited for you [a 'Raw Gameplay' video], testing out the AEK-971:

I was also testing out the Trial of CyberLink's PowerDirector 12 for editing.

A Review article about that application - with Tips - Coming Soon™!

Despite not being listed as any more accurate than the G3, I felt more 'capable' with the AEK (as though I could 'put up a fight' a lot better), probably due to the increased damage. It feels a little more accurate too, even though it isn't really supposed to be, according to the Store/Inventory info for the gun. So, I figured this is a great time to do some testing! [Yay, tests! lol]

AEK-971 Accuracy Analysis

I did some basic analysis on the recoil pattern of this rifle and it is indeed similar to the default assault rifle, but the AEK is ever-so-slightly more accurate, in my opinion. Here is an example of a test I did, a screenshot of the spread patterns, collecting the bullet markings, below:

Coloured spray paint marking the AEK-971's Bullet Spread, on average
(Click to see Full Size)

• The left side is the spread while 'shooting from the hip', not using the sights, just standing there holding down the trigger  [the spray painted arrow is red-coloured as in, 'try not to do this at all if you can, unless in very close quarters combat']
• The right side is the spread while 'zoomed in', that is, using the sights on the gun (it would use a scope if there was one), still just standing there holding down the trigger  [the spray painted arrow is yellow-coloured as in, 'try to avoid this']
• In the middle is the spread while zoomed in/using the sights, crouching down, still holding down the trigger though - but also now compensating for the recoil of the gun (attempting to contain the spread into a small area) - in this case, slowly pulling DOWN the mouse while firing since the recoil of this gun pulls the barrel UP  [the spray painted box is green-coloured as in, it is recommended to do this (even better if you can tap the trigger instead of holding it down)]

As you can see, even though the rated accuracy for this gun is "Low", you can get a pretty decent containment of the spread, by kneeling down, using the sights, and compensating for the recoil by moving the mouse accordingly [this little tip helps with all guns].

In most games, you can try to compensate for the recoil of a gun by slowly moving the mouse in the opposing direction to where the barrel travels. For instance, if the recoil pulls the barrel of the gun left, when shooting, moving the mouse to the right then, will cancel out some of the recoil and make for a smaller spread of bullets and easier/faster repositioning for the next shot. Try to remember that each gun will be  different in it's recoil and which direction you should compensate, when using each weapon though. 
[Note that due to game programmers making bullets 'miss' (no matter what), in an attempt to imitate reality (which has imperfections in the gun and bullets, air changes, etc), it will never be possible to fully compensate/correct for the 'spread' of bullets in a gun (this goes for most games)]. 



In my tests, the Assault Default G3A4 seemed to pull up and away to the left slightly, when shooting it. Holding down the trigger longer, the gun climbs way up into the sky easily (hence the "Low" Accuracy rating, I assume). For the AEK-971, it does still pull up, but it does not pull to the left in the same way as the G3A4, especially when using the sights. It sort of does a light 'stepping' to the left and then to the right, somewhat randomly [whatever the algorithm is in the programming]. This, to me, makes it ever-so-slightly more accurate in the 'feel' of the gun, because while it still 'goes all over the place' when shooting, it sort of compensates for itself just a bit, and the end result is more of a direct climb up in the recoil, something that felt, to me, easier to compensate for than with the Assault default G3. (I assume this very slight change in the spread/recoil is not enough to win this gun a "Medium" rating in Accuracy, but it is enough to make you have to Level to 3 in order to be able to purchase it..).

Close-To-Medium Range Kill with the AEK-971 in Myanmar. Even with the 'side-stepping' that the gun does (and the enemy strafed around as he ran out towards me from behind the rock in the center of the screen) I still got the kill, mostly due to the Very High Damage Rating of the weapon
(Click to see Full Size)

In Conclusion

Overall, the AEK-971 was similar to the default Assault class rifle, the G3A4, when playing. To me, it did feel slightly more accurate, but not by much. If you are having a really hard time hitting people with the G3A4, your accuracy won't increase very much at all if you purchased this rifle. However, if you are getting used to the default Assault gun, this one packs a lot more punch, and you'll be getting more kills overall if you upgrade to it. Because I recently won this gun Permanently [during the course of compiling this article, yes it does happen in The Daily Draw! woot] I can't see the current price for this rifle anymore, to purchase it from the in-game Store; but last time checking, it was only 300 Credits to try it out for one full day. It was also listed as [what I call] 'Earnable' because, if you can rack up 45,000 Credits, you won't have to pay for upgrading to this rifle with any Real Money at all (you can just use the Credits). If you did buy some Play4Free Funds and have 1,250 to spare, you can purchase it at anytime (not having to wait until Soldier Level 3), permanently. So in closing, PlayTesting the AEK-971, I found it slightly better than the Default Assault Class Rifle, even if it only 'felt' that way due to the higher damage it does.

Long Range Kill with the AEK-971 in Myanmar. The thin iron sights of the gun (default sights) help a lot with targeting farther away. With the Very High Damage Rating - even though the gun has a Low Accuracy Rating - single-shot/tap shooting can still make it lethal at range, when needed
(Click to see Full Size)

Have fun trying it out for yourself sometime and See You In The Games!

Gameplay Disclaimer: Any gameplay videos or animations uploaded are only one example of one possible path of game play and is not representative of the gameplay experience of the entirety of the game material as it is non-repeatable in exactness (movements, actions, viewpoints, etc) to a high degree of accuracy (especially in regards to online multiplayer play and interactions) and therefore is not a representation of a large portion of the game content (this includes complete Walkthroughs/Playthroughs, Raw Gameplay Footage and Tutorials). All material and content uploaded attempts to respect copyright and is presented for Educational and Entertainment purposes only, utilized under Fair Use and can be construed as Free Advertising. No copyright infringement is intended and cannot be inferred. Any possible representation approaching any infringement, to those seeking infringement action, requires double notification and will be honoured by permanent removal of the infringing material. This information exists for entertainment and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical attention.