Metro: Last Light adjustable FoV coming in patch

After a few rough years, first-person games have become a lot better at supporting different field of view settings in their PC editions, though some still use the same settings as their console counterparts. Metro: Last Light was one such offender but fear not, a new patch will expose config settings so you can poke about if you want. It may make things a bit wonky, though.

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After a few rough years, first-person games have become a lot better at supporting different field of view settings in their PC editions, though some still use the same settings as their console counterparts. Metro: Last Light was one such offender but fear not, a new patch will expose config settings so you can poke about if you want. It may make things a bit wonky, though.

Field of view, if you're not down with the lingo, is how wide a range we can see of the world before us. Human vision is around 180 degrees, and games simulate a far lower number to compensate from how far we sit from the screen--otherwise you get a nasty 'fisheye' effect. As PC gamers tend to sit far closer to their monitor than consoleers do to their TVs, we need a wider view and ideally can set it ourselves. Unfortunately, this means extra work and trouble for developers.

"The main reason for maintaining a fixed FOV is because we have 3D elements like the watch and weapon ammo that need to remain visible," developer 4A Games explained in a statement relayed by publisher Deep Silver's brand manager Huw Beynon (via PC Gamer).

"In addition, all the game's first-person cut scenes and cinematics and each and every animation involving Artyom's hands - idle weapon animations, reloads, ladder climbing, melee attacks etc, - were created assuming the same, fixed field of view. Changing the FOV would break all the cut-scenes and animations - you would be able to see inside Artyom's arms, or they would appear to float in the air in front of you. Or worse."

Performance, naturally, is also affected by showing more of the world.

4A says it had "considered" offering three FoV values to choose from, but decided against it as "this would still require significant work to re-do every animation, adjust the HUD and UI and other seemingly small but incredibly time consuming tasks."

Still, the developer understands that people still want the choice and will expose FoV settings for you to tinker with. "In the immediate term--the next title update, due in the next few days will allow you to directly change the FOV in the .cfg files," 4A said. Don't be surprised if you see any of the problems it warns about, though.

It's a nice video game, our John found in his review, and this'll make it a little nicer.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    May 15, 2013 8:00 AM

    Alice O'Connor posted a new article, Metro: Last Light adjustable FoV coming in patch.

    After a few rough years, first-person games have become a lot better at supporting different field of view settings in their PC editions, though some still use the same settings as their console counterparts. Metro: Last Light was one such offender but fear not, a new patch will expose config settings so you can poke about if you want. It may make things a bit wonky, though.

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      May 15, 2013 8:02 AM

      At least they're not authoritarian about it.

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      May 15, 2013 8:54 AM

      Cool that they care(great dev team and looks like Deep Silver cares too), you know I have to say FOV is very good compared to most of the other FPS's out there, but more options are always good.

      Nice.

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        May 15, 2013 8:59 AM

        I could use a slight adjustment personally. I didn't get sick or anything, but it seems a little bit too tight.

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          May 15, 2013 9:37 AM

          Same, I get some give with the extra screens it makes the low FOV much more bearable, still it could be father out for sure it will be nice when they add it and perfect.

          I get sick hard core if it is bad, FPS give me motion sickness, if it was not for the multi screen I could not play unless there was a large fov slider still on one screen I would not last long.

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      May 15, 2013 9:31 AM

      Hmmm, sounds like they should temporarily change the FOV for cutscenes, then change it back when the cutscene is done. That might be a worse experience, though... not sure.

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        May 15, 2013 9:32 AM

        This is entirely possible and I'm pretty sure some games already do this. Most devs (like this one apparently) just don't bother to put in the effort.

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        May 15, 2013 11:16 PM

        Best way is usually to plan for a wider FOV from the start and rig your cutscenes appropriately.

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      May 15, 2013 9:41 AM

      This game is amaaaazing.
      I have an Alienware M17XR3 laptop and the game takes full advantage of the keyboards ability to light up and change colours. The in game lighting shines in real time through the keyboard and gives the in game lighting/environment a very tactile and cool feel. This is the first time I have seen a good use of these lights for something other than, just lighting up your keys in the dark.

      People with Alienware laptops should try this!

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      May 15, 2013 10:10 AM

      [deleted]

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        May 15, 2013 10:37 PM

        Are you absolutely sure that that is the root cause?

        I'm using a Sharp 40" TV as my main monitor connected via HDMI to my Radeon HD 6970 (along with two other monitors acting as extended desktops - one via displayport and one via DVI) and have no CTDs at all. It could be something else causing it.

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      May 15, 2013 6:06 PM

      Surprised that FOV adjustment isn't day 1 paid DLC...

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      May 15, 2013 11:17 PM

      Better than The Witcher devs. When they released the enhanced edition of TW2 they reduced the FOV even further and won't give people the tools to change it.

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