Default to full screen or windowed?

[xDan]

You download + install a game from the internet... What do you prefer as the default screen setting?

[Brkopac]

Default to Windowed Mode - but fit the entire screen (so you can't tell it's in windowed mode)

[Eigen]

Default to Windowed Mode - but fit the entire screen (so you can't tell it's in windowed mode)

A window same size as the whole screen? What's the point of it? Still makes managing other windows behind it a nuisance. I also hate when games (these made by hobbyists usually) are defaulted to 1024x768 in windowed mode. My laptop screen is 1280x800, so it just cuts the top and the bottom (due to the window title bar and the Windows Taskbar) of the window a little and the game looks utterly unprofessional. Of course, in these games there is no option to change the screen size anyway, so usually I delete them pretty quickly -_-

So I believe it's better to start in a windowed mode, preferably a small one (why not 800x600 .. fits most of the screens) OR even before running the game, ask for the player's preferences.

[Brkopac]

Default to Windowed Mode - but fit the entire screen (so you can't tell it's in windowed mode)

A window same size as the whole screen? What's the point of it? Still makes managing other windows behind it a nuisance. I also hate when games (these made by hobbyists usually) are defaulted to 1024x768 in windowed mode. My laptop screen is 1280x800, so it just cuts the top and the bottom (due to the window title bar and the Windows Taskbar) of the window a little and the game looks utterly unprofessional. Of course, in these games there is no option to change the screen size as well, so usually I delete them pretty quick -_-

So I believe it's better to start in a windowed mode, preferably a small one (why not 800x600 .. fits most of the screens) OR even before running the game, ask for the player's preferences.

When I play a game, I'm there to play the game. I really don't micro manage windows while playing, I have macro keys and audio control keys on my keyboard.

[Eigen]

That's my personal preference, that is, the whole reason of playing in windowed-mode is that I can can quickly see my MSN messages, or check the browser or whatever. That works for most games unless of course I play a first person shooter or something else very attention demanding, which I do in full-screen mode.

[CuteAlien]

Default to Windowed Mode - but fit the entire screen (so you can't tell it's in windowed mode)

You can tell by the lower framerate - fullscreen is faster.

[loki1985]

depends on the game. for casual games i would say windowed, for regular games fullscreen which is automatically set to the current desktop resolution, and there must be an option to set to windowed.

another idea would be to provide a launcher, like seen in max payne games for example.

[Brainsaw]

I prefer to leave the choice to the user: when the game is started for the first time a small dialog appears letting the user select a resolution and fullscreen mode, this value is saved and used next time (unless the user changes these values inside the "options" dialog).

For playing I prefer fullscreen mode, but for coding definetely windowed so I can see the console output.

[kazymjir]

As Brainsaw, user should choose mode.
Almost all old games (like Baldurs Gate) have this option and that was great solution.


(btw, i can't play this game above 800x600 - we don't have finest computer available )

[kazymjir]

(oops, posted same thing two times by accident, please delete this post, sorry)

[CuteAlien]

For me it depends on the game. Casual games windowed and games like shooters and racers I want to be fullscreen.

[Kalango]

If a casual/indie game->windowed
If a hardcore/professional game->fullscreen
Dont know why but that just seems right... maybe because most of the indie games are windowed and most of the professional are fullscreen...so i got used to it..
*imagine playing quakeII on windowed...nah

[kazymjir]

Not always.
Some years ago I often played Fallout 2 while working.
I always ran Fallout in windowed mode, so I had access to Word and other programs needed in work.
Some working, some Fallout
Switching windows in this case is more better solution that switching between fullscreen mode to desktop.

[lazerblade]

Detect best settings and run fullscreen. Windowed is for failsafe or preferences like aek. That is my opinion anyway.

[Adler1337]

Have a main menu in windowed and have options for windowed and fullscreen along with a bunch of other preferences/settings. Forcing the user to stay in one or the other is just being lazy. People like the option to choose.