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[Q] Graphics Settings the Pros Use

Forum Index > StarCraft 2 Strategy
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1 2 Next All
Emo
Profile Joined June 2010
40 Posts
November 05 2010 20:31 GMT
#1
Hello everyone!

2000 Diamond Toss here constantly working on my fundamentals and trying to go pro. I have noticed, both in person at blizzcon and through casts, that pros often have very specific graphics settings that are lower than maximum. They do this so they can easily see cloaked units and other things. I think my observational skills are quite limited and would love to make them better by lowering my graphics settings. I currently have everything on ultra, what do the pros typically always set their graphics to?

Thank you!
Silmakuoppaanikinko
Profile Joined November 2010
799 Posts
November 05 2010 20:34 GMT
#2
Just my advice, set it to what you think works best instead of immitating the pros.

Immitating pros is usually a bad habit, because they tend to differ. And their strategies possibly require reflexes and APM that us mortal souls don't have. Like you can go like 'Ohh, HuK went zealot+sentry against zerg and totally owned the place.', but I could never pull off such brilliant force field usage so I'd refrain from that.

Other than that, I guess that lower graphics settings do make things clearer. I wouldn't be surprised if a 2D view also made things clearer in the end.
Workers and town centres are the ultimate counter to turtles.
Emo
Profile Joined June 2010
40 Posts
November 05 2010 20:36 GMT
#3
I have pretty good APM and all that, and I do understand emulating the pros is not the best way to master the game... but still I think unanimously they change a few of their graphics settings specifically to low. I could be wrong, either way thank you for your post!
Moody
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States750 Posts
November 05 2010 20:39 GMT
#4
There are several threads about this. I can't find them right now, because I'm at work and it takes like 5 minutes to load a page and I don't feel like waiting that long. Also if you click around on MLGpro.com you can find out how the computers are going to be set up when you sit down to play at MLG. I would recommend playing on those settings if you are actually trying to go pro.
A marine walks into a bar and asks, "Where's the counter?"
449
Profile Joined October 2010
United States53 Posts
November 05 2010 20:42 GMT
#5
On November 06 2010 05:36 Emo wrote:
I have pretty good APM and all that, and I do understand emulating the pros is not the best way to master the game... but still I think unanimously they change a few of their graphics settings specifically to low. I could be wrong, either way thank you for your post!


Put everything on low/off except "Texture Quality" and "Effects."
Emo
Profile Joined June 2010
40 Posts
November 05 2010 20:42 GMT
#6
Thank you 449, I'll be trying this out
SlapMySalami
Profile Joined August 2010
United States1060 Posts
November 07 2010 09:41 GMT
#7
On November 06 2010 05:42 449 wrote:
Show nested quote +
On November 06 2010 05:36 Emo wrote:
I have pretty good APM and all that, and I do understand emulating the pros is not the best way to master the game... but still I think unanimously they change a few of their graphics settings specifically to low. I could be wrong, either way thank you for your post!


Put everything on low/off except "Texture Quality" and "Effects."



Day[9] said TLO told him he(TLO) sets it to those settings (all low except ultra texture quality and effects) to see cloaked units. I do not remember which daily it was in nor do I feel like looking it up but anyhoo thats the word on the street
marineking will u huk my bigtt1 ilu
enemy2010
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
Germany1972 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-11-07 09:56:25
November 07 2010 09:56 GMT
#8
On November 07 2010 18:41 SlapMySalami wrote:
Show nested quote +
On November 06 2010 05:42 449 wrote:
On November 06 2010 05:36 Emo wrote:
I have pretty good APM and all that, and I do understand emulating the pros is not the best way to master the game... but still I think unanimously they change a few of their graphics settings specifically to low. I could be wrong, either way thank you for your post!


Put everything on low/off except "Texture Quality" and "Effects."



Day[9] said TLO told him he(TLO) sets it to those settings (all low except ultra texture quality and effects) to see cloaked units. I do not remember which daily it was in nor do I feel like looking it up but anyhoo thats the word on the street


Yeah, actually you can see cloacked units better than on other settings. But i for me find that quite confusing. Cause the cloacked units are now very visible, and i don't know which one is now cloacked and which not o.O

I am fine with my settings on medium
1on1 auf azze no he no flash no awp only holztor. | Ja, da meint der ich hätt' abgeschmatzt, aber dat is Quatsch, verstehste?
CortoMontez
Profile Joined October 2010
Australia608 Posts
November 07 2010 09:59 GMT
#9
Seeing cloaked units isn't too difficult on most settings, but I wonder what sort of settings would be required to make burrowed roaches/infestors more noticable...
"Creator was doing a really good job trying to win without storm but it was like eating spaghetti with a screwdriver." -Severian
Panoptic
Profile Joined September 2009
United Kingdom515 Posts
November 07 2010 10:00 GMT
#10
On November 07 2010 18:56 enemy2010 wrote:
Show nested quote +
On November 07 2010 18:41 SlapMySalami wrote:
On November 06 2010 05:42 449 wrote:
On November 06 2010 05:36 Emo wrote:
I have pretty good APM and all that, and I do understand emulating the pros is not the best way to master the game... but still I think unanimously they change a few of their graphics settings specifically to low. I could be wrong, either way thank you for your post!


Put everything on low/off except "Texture Quality" and "Effects."



Day[9] said TLO told him he(TLO) sets it to those settings (all low except ultra texture quality and effects) to see cloaked units. I do not remember which daily it was in nor do I feel like looking it up but anyhoo thats the word on the street


Yeah, actually you can see cloacked units better than on other settings. But i for me find that quite confusing. Cause the cloacked units are now very visible, and i don't know which one is now cloacked and which not o.O

I am fine with my settings on medium


Strange, I've tried this and for me I swear it's harder to see cloaked units.
"Crom laughs at your four winds!"
mouzSyck
Profile Joined September 2010
Germany29 Posts
November 07 2010 10:11 GMT
#11
Try the "esport mode" i love it
u get faster shadows, alot more fps and the best of all the colors are alot easier to see

jus open Variables and copy paste this

hdr=0
parallaxshadow=0
shadowmapsize=512
softshadows=0
softshadowTaps=6
transparentshadows=0

got it from this german hardwarehp
http://www.pcgameshardware.de/aid,766455/Starcraft-2-Verbesserte-Extreme-Optik-cleverer-E-Sport-Modus-plus-Radeon-Probleme-geloest/Strategiespiel/Test/
I would rather do something I can't explain, then explaining things I cannot do.
Sarang
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
Australia2363 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-11-07 10:41:02
November 07 2010 10:38 GMT
#12
I was under the impression that they'd patched the 'seeing cloaked units' exploit?

Someone should test it - I'd be happy to if someone wants to jump on the NA server now. (pm me if you want to)

I think the main reason the pros use lower graphical settings is simply because less shiny graphics = less distractions.
"Killer helped me feel better before coming to the arena. He told me to say that." - Bomber
Xavv
Profile Joined October 2010
Canada168 Posts
November 07 2010 10:52 GMT
#13
I supposed common sense from their point of view would say that it really doesn't matter at all how nice the game looks, they're playing to win. After all, Its MUCH better looking than Sc1.
Just try playing a BW match after a few months of grinding Sc2, you'll see haha.

I'd imagine that the computers being used at most notable tournaments are using top of the line PC's that are overkilled with unnecessary amounts of hardware, at least that would make sense if you are sponsored by Intel and shit, so its not like graphics lag would be an issue.


Things do look a bit less shiney on low settings too, it can help.

wxwx
Profile Joined May 2010
527 Posts
November 07 2010 12:31 GMT
#14
i tried low and putting texture/effects on ultra. The rain and foggy stuff distracts me.
craz3d
Profile Joined August 2005
Bulgaria856 Posts
November 07 2010 12:41 GMT
#15
On November 07 2010 19:52 Xavv wrote:
I supposed common sense from their point of view would say that it really doesn't matter at all how nice the game looks, they're playing to win. After all, Its MUCH better looking than Sc1.
Just try playing a BW match after a few months of grinding Sc2, you'll see haha.

I'd imagine that the computers being used at most notable tournaments are using top of the line PC's that are overkilled with unnecessary amounts of hardware, at least that would make sense if you are sponsored by Intel and shit, so its not like graphics lag would be an issue.


Things do look a bit less shiney on low settings too, it can help.



Actually low setting SC2 graphics are uglier than SC1 graphics... In fact the SC1 graphics look more crisp in general even when you compare them to ultra SC2 graphics.
Hello World!
deathly rat
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
United Kingdom911 Posts
November 07 2010 12:47 GMT
#16
On November 07 2010 21:41 craz3d wrote:
Show nested quote +
On November 07 2010 19:52 Xavv wrote:
I supposed common sense from their point of view would say that it really doesn't matter at all how nice the game looks, they're playing to win. After all, Its MUCH better looking than Sc1.
Just try playing a BW match after a few months of grinding Sc2, you'll see haha.

I'd imagine that the computers being used at most notable tournaments are using top of the line PC's that are overkilled with unnecessary amounts of hardware, at least that would make sense if you are sponsored by Intel and shit, so its not like graphics lag would be an issue.


Things do look a bit less shiney on low settings too, it can help.



Actually low setting SC2 graphics are uglier than SC1 graphics... In fact the SC1 graphics look more crisp in general even when you compare them to ultra SC2 graphics.


I can't tell if you are being serious
No logo (logo)
SlapMySalami
Profile Joined August 2010
United States1060 Posts
November 07 2010 22:47 GMT
#17
On November 07 2010 19:11 Syck wrote:
Try the "esport mode" i love it
u get faster shadows, alot more fps and the best of all the colors are alot easier to see

jus open Variables and copy paste this

hdr=0
parallaxshadow=0
shadowmapsize=512
softshadows=0
softshadowTaps=6
transparentshadows=0

got it from this german hardwarehp
http://www.pcgameshardware.de/aid,766455/Starcraft-2-Verbesserte-Extreme-Optik-cleverer-E-Sport-Modus-plus-Radeon-Probleme-geloest/Strategiespiel/Test/


assuming those are good settings is that modifying a game file in which blizzard will rage on you? I'm willing to test the settings but I don't want surprise buttsex from an admin

On November 07 2010 19:38 Moonloop wrote:
I was under the impression that they'd patched the 'seeing cloaked units' exploit?

Someone should test it - I'd be happy to if someone wants to jump on the NA server now. (pm me if you want to)

I think the main reason the pros use lower graphical settings is simply because less shiny graphics = less distractions.



I think they may have because I personally don't see a difference in them. Also to test it you can just make an observer float around a computer's base and have it stand still and have it walk around on visible grass and then visible buildings and whatever other tests and then just watch the replay from his point of view.
marineking will u huk my bigtt1 ilu
SubPointOA
Profile Joined November 2010
United States183 Posts
November 07 2010 22:59 GMT
#18
Does this really go in strategy? I use low for everything, except high texture. MOST pros use ultra because I mean, they're gamers... Shaders is really what affects the overall graphics
Just stick with the flow to rock the whole globe
Geovu
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
Estonia1344 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-11-07 23:25:59
November 07 2010 23:23 GMT
#19
The thing I want to know is, yeah maybe the pros put their settings on low, but does it even matter in the first place? Everyone goes on about how units are more 'clear' and that you can tell the composition of huge masses of units better and stuff like that, but when I put my settings on low its just like "OK, so his ugly looking gray and blue ball of units is attacking my ugly looking orange and red ball of units." If I put my settings on medium or higher then at the very least I can take the word 'ugly' out of my though process.

The only disadvantage you could possibly have would be if you get very distracted by all the shiny doodads and the lights your zealots make from their shiny lasors. Putting your settings on low to improve your gaming ability seems akin to putting weights on your hands to increase your APM.

PS: Modifying your game files is illegal and goes against the T&C's, so yeah don't do it, ESPECIALLY if you want to go pro.
uberdeluxe
Profile Joined June 2009
Canada306 Posts
November 07 2010 23:27 GMT
#20
I heard about this a few days ago from a friend, but I really don't think it matters all that much... and I don't want to give up my ultra graphics
No mules, no collosi, no PFs, just LOVE!
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