How does one record Alpha Centauri?

[Alfapiomega]

@Alfapiomega: i seem to remeber that CamStudio was succesfully used for recording video and in-game audio.

regarding playing the game in a window, you should try this:
- start the game and wait for the game to load the main menu
- alt-tab to windows
- start the game a second time and wait for the game to load the main menu
- close one of the two games you have started (i close the second one usualy)
- now you should have the game in a window; you can't move or resize the window, but it's still a window.
please note that i never tried this in Vista, but in WinXP is always working.

HTH

Regarding the CamStudio I saw that post too so I got it and tried it but that is a thing is both shockingly incompetend and annoying at the same time. As I record a lot I tried out quite a few of recording devices and CamStudio seems to be (by far) the worst one of all.
With that said the post was not very helpful too as he said something like: "Interesting program, does not work UPDATE: I managed to make it work" with no other info. But I see no reason why others would not work and CamStudio did (more likely none or all works at the same time, he just had only CamStudio). On the other hand real of computers is a mysterious one so I keep it at my computer and whenever I try something I check it in CamStudio as well

The window tip I will definitely use though it seems weird that one would have to do that. How big is the second window? Is it fullscreen or has some predefined resolution? Because it seems to me that the game scales itself down when it loads itself.

[sisko]

The window tip I will definitely use though it seems weird that one would have to do that. How big is the second window? Is it fullscreen or has some predefined resolution? Because it seems to me that the game scales itself down when it loads itself.

you'll have to try it as i never bother with such details. all i know is that it's less than a fullscreen and is always aligned to the upper left corner.

[Alfapiomega]

The window tip I will definitely use though it seems weird that one would have to do that. How big is the second window? Is it fullscreen or has some predefined resolution? Because it seems to me that the game scales itself down when it loads itself.

you'll have to try it as i never bother with such details. all i know is that it's less than a fullscreen and is always aligned to the upper left corner.

That is enough for me Sometimes games have weird behavior and for recording you need window to be smaller than the desktop resolution, otherwise it would overlap. But actually if it scales down to a window Camtasia studio should be able to "stick to the window".

I'll try it tonight and post results!

[Alfapiomega]

@Alfapiomega: i seem to remeber that CamStudio was succesfully used for recording video and in-game audio.

regarding playing the game in a window, you should try this:
- start the game and wait for the game to load the main menu
- alt-tab to windows
- start the game a second time and wait for the game to load the main menu
- close one of the two games you have started (i close the second one usualy)
- now you should have the game in a window; you can't move or resize the window, but it's still a window.
please note that i never tried this in Vista, but in WinXP is always working.

HTH

IT WORKS! IT REALLY WORKS!!!! 

I don't know how and why and what but IT WORKS!

[sisko]

 

so, this means you will be able to record some Let's Play?

[Alfapiomega]

yes! Exactly and I most definitely will!

One thing may be an issue though (but I am sure it won't be for you guys) - the final resolution is a bit weird. Can I somehow change that? I mean I get "a box" which is probably a preset old resolution of SMAC.

I would need something 16:9 so it would fit nicely on youtube.

[sisko]

it could be possible if you alter the Alpha Centauri.ini file, but i'm not a specialist of that either. Petek is though.. 

[Buster's Uncle]

I'll prod/heads up Petek is he doesn't show up soon...

[Alfapiomega]

I am actually checking other forums at the moment where the discussion about resolution is. They explain it in a quite detailed way but they all say one thing: it does not look good.

I did a small recording and I will test upload it to youtube to see how bad the graphics show in 1024x768.

[JarlWolf]

What is your Youtube channel name? I'd like to watch any upcoming video.

[Alfapiomega]

I'll prod/heads up Petek is he doesn't show up soon...

So from a quick check the same problem appears to be in every single LP of Alpha Centauri on the interwebz.

But I'll wait what Petek has to say about it I would like it to be in 16:9. But as I have 1280x800 laptop screen I don't think it is possible. But again let's wait what he says and then I'll go ahead and record

[Alfapiomega]

What is your Youtube channel name? I'd like to watch any upcoming video.

The channel is www.youtube.com/alfapiomega But no worries, I will announce when the LP starts (probably Monday as I have a recording set for tommorow of EU3).

[JarlWolf]

You're channel is well established. Watching your Dragon pass playlist currently, played that thing ages ago.

[Alfapiomega]

You're channel is well established. Watching your Dragon pass playlist currently, played that thing ages ago.

Thank you very much. I hope you will enjoy yourself I dedicate my channel to the grand strategy games and "good content" alltogether. That is why I want SMAC there. Another one for the books to not forget

[Petek]

Hi alfapiomega,

I don't have anything to add regarding the issues raised in this thread. Have you seen the LPs recorded by quill18? For example,

Let's Play - Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri - Episode 1

The screen resolution on that one and others he recorded looks fine to me.