Display and picture
The game draws a fixed 1024×768 picture at 30 frames a second, as it did in 2008. The launcher's Game window setting decides how that picture reaches your screen. Here is what each choice does, and why some things can't change.
Which setting should I use?
Automatic (recommended)
The launcher looks at your screen. On screens at least 1536 pixels high it shows the game at an exact multiple (2048×1536 on a 4K screen): the sharpest result. On 1080p and similar screens it fills the height (1440×1080). Smaller screens get the game's own 1024×768. The sides stay black.
Borderless – sharp (whole multiples)
The picture is enlarged by a whole number only (1×, 2×, 3× …), centred on a black background. Every game pixel becomes a clean block of screen pixels. On a 1080p screen this is 1×, so the game looks small.
Borderless – fill
The picture fills your screen's height and keeps its 4:3 shape. Because the size isn't a whole multiple, your graphics driver smooths it a little: text looks slightly soft.
Window 1× and Window (largest)
A normal window with a title bar, at 1024×768 or at the largest whole multiple that fits next to your taskbar.
Game's own (the original fullscreen)
The original mode: your monitor switches to 1024×768 at 60 Hz. Expect a black screen for a moment, other monitors going dark, and desktop icons that may move. Alt-tab can take long, and if the graphics card can't reset, the game closes. We recommend a borderless mode instead.
Common questions
The game looks blurry on my laptop or 4K screen
Windows is set to scale (125 %, 150 % …), and it stretches older games a second time. Turn on Sharp picture on scaled displays (experimental) in the launcher's Game window settings. The launcher checks that it works on your PC and turns it off again if it doesn't.
The game is tiny on my big screen
Choose Automatic or a borderless mode: the game is enlarged to fit your screen.
The picture is squashed or stretched
The original window can't fit a 1366×768 laptop screen (or 1080p at 150 %), so the game squeezes its picture. The borderless modes keep the shape. For Game's own, set your graphics driver's scaling to "maintain aspect ratio" or "centred".
Why can't text get sharper?
The game's text is drawn into the 1024×768 picture with small pixel fonts. Enlarging can make it bigger, not more detailed. Whole multiples keep it crisp and blocky; other sizes make it soft. Some players like the free tool Magpie (its own website) for smoother enlarging; the launcher can start it if you have it.
Why no 60 fps? Why does the pointer feel laggy?
The game runs at 30 frames a second, and it draws its own pointer as part of the picture, so the pointer moves 30 times a second too. That's how the original works, and a launcher can't change it.
The picture judders on my 120/144/165 Hz monitor
30 frames don't divide evenly into 144 or 165 Hz, so some frames stay up longer than others. 60 or 120 Hz shows the game evenly. Variable refresh (G-Sync, FreeSync) doesn't apply to games this old.
Colours look washed out with HDR on
Windows shows non-HDR games through its "SDR content brightness". Raise that slider in Windows' display settings, or turn HDR off while you play.
"Initialization of Direct3D Device failed"
The game couldn't start its graphics. Common causes: playing over Remote Desktop, no graphics driver (Microsoft Basic Render Driver), or Game's own without a 1024×768 mode. Use a borderless mode, install your graphics driver, or play at the PC itself. The launcher's checks before Play name the cause they find.
Intel Arc, Intel Xe and ARM laptops
These graphics chips run games this old through a translation layer. Most of the time that works; if you see wrong colours, missing pictures or crashes, tell us with !bug in the game and say which chip you have.
Crashes or black frames with overlays
Overlays and tools that hook into games (audio suites such as Nahimic, frame-rate counters, screen recorders' game capture, vendor overlays) can crash a game this old. Turn them off for the game first. The launcher's checks list files next to the game that change how it draws.
The game is on the wrong monitor
Game's own always uses your main monitor. In the borderless and window modes, move the window to the monitor you want; the launcher keeps the layout there.
Music keeps playing when I switch to another program
That's how the original works. Turn on Mute the game while it's in the background in the launcher's settings if you prefer silence.
Screenshots
Press Ctrl+Shift+S while the game is in front. Pictures go to your Pictures folder, under "Revived Online".