Can you alt-tab while playing NWN?

Started by ExileStrife, January 20, 2009, 04:32:43 AM

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RIPnogarD

Quote from: Letsplayforfun;105955When i alt-tab, it's fine to access another application, but getting back to NWN is a pain: i usually loose control of the keyboard, or crash.
Ditto for me as well… (I had a PC (Tanner Brown) die because of this once.)


Quote from: The Beggar;106003consider as well that a portion of the server may not be present to vote on this as well, placing mandatory alt-tab to gain insight IMO would lock people out of the experience and create an "elitism" for those that know about it and can use it vs. those that do not / can not.
This is a very good point, I agree that this could be a problem...
Not that any of the people that play here would ever have "elitist" issue though.
:???: ;)

Egon the Monkey

If it locks up, I find alt-tabbing out and back again fixes it.
Although it's enough to make me want to get a spare monitor, since I can get an old CRT one free :P.

Metro_Pack

If your screen glitches up, you need to alt-tab around to your NWN a second time to fix it.

Like from NWN glitchy screen around X many times directly back to NWN screen.

derfo

i think there should be some things you could alt tab for but it shouldn't really be mandatory like in a linear scripted dungeon puzzle or something

Conan The Conqueror

How many people have issues taking screenshots while in windowed mode?

I was curious as to whether or not this is a related issue to people glitching/crashing when trying to alt-tab while in full screen.

bob7el

I can alt-tab out fine, but when I alt-tab back in, the screen gets broken up into chunks and mixed around like scattered puzzle pieces.  But if I switch in from the the task manager, I can usually get it fixed after one or two tries.

Aside from the technical issue, I think this would be an interesting implementation.  I'd prefer it more for flavor, however, than any necessity.

Ommadawn

I've no trouble taking screenshots from windowed mode at all, and the only thing that's ever happened to me when I alt-tab out and in again (and only rarely) is one of my main quickslots being toggled. Again, it's a rare thing but it does happen.

Aldrick Tanith

Something that hasn't been brought up is what happens for those not on high speed connections.

I voted for option two.  I like the idea, and already play in windowed mode.  However, unless I get satellite, I can't get a high speed connection where I live.

Luke Danger

I can alt tab to a degree, I do it often, I plant my char in a (hopefully) safe spot and alt-tab to check forums and letters, stuff like that. Though I HAVE been ganked once when I alt tabbed, and I lost a char to a perma, but I got over that fast

Pup

I can alt-tab, but it is somewhat unreliable.  As long as I don't have IRC or anything else running in the background, I'm usually fine.
"So what else is on your mind besides 100 proof women, 90 proof whisky, and 14 karat gold?"
"Amigo, you just wrote my epitaph."

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~The Professionals

Cruzel

Quote from: Cruzel;105999A third party overlay which shimmies it's way into the openGL of the nWN window is possible. Examples; Xfire.   By making a similar such program (Not easy, btw) one could have it interact with the server, completely eliminating the need for alt+tabbing altogether. by making an additional+optional Overlay.

Eh?

(I am not willing to make this. I do not know enough about OpenGL programming to comfortably do this.)

This is easily the best decision for something like thia IMO. It's a bit more work and somewhat toughter to do, but the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.

Pros;  No Alt+Tabbing required, meaning with a semi-transparent interface, this can pop up IG using a hotkey like alt + P or something. This means you will always be able to see your PC and who is talking to them, if they are being attacked, and quickly close the interface to respond, without losing your work.

There is no issue with graphics glitches, since your PC is not being forced to redraw the openGL like it is when you alt+tab out of fullscreen mode.

Cons;  It would require a download of a 3rd party program made by one of the EFU members, rather than being browser based. Some people don't like to download programs.  There may be operating system issues too, unless the program is made with compatibility in mind.

Linking it up to the EFU system that would use it may be a bit of an issue.


--

Summary ; Bit more work this way, but so much better in the long run.

dragonfire9000

'fraid that when I alt-tab, minimize or what-have-you, it takes me at least thirty seconds to get back IG, normally more like a full minute. Windowed... we'll see.

johanmaxon

I can Alt-tab, although if I do it too quick up and town, my graphic card gets messed up, guess it can't change so fast, and I've got to restart the computer.

eliff

I can't Alt-Tab at all I have to use the windows key not sure why. Only happens on NWN.

Anonymous Bosch

I alt-tab all the time and believe anything that adds flavour beyond what the game engine allows is Good Thing.
 
Alt-tabbing out to another, game-related, screen will hardly break immersion. There are plenty clunky NwN intrinsics that would do that already if players weren't capable of suspending disbelief a bit.
However, it might suck if it had to be done in an area where monsters spawn. >_>