Method:

This method assumes you have the latest patch. It involves setting a game var that did not exist in the earliest retail versions.

Go to <gameDir>\base, and edit DoomConfig.cfg.

Find these lines:

seta r_customHeight "xxx"
seta r_customWidth "xxxx"

Change the x's to set your resolution. Now find this line:

seta r_mode "x"

Change the "x" to "-1".
Find this line:

seta r_aspectRatio "x"

If your screen aspect ratio is 16:9, change the "x" to "1".
If your screen aspect ratio is 16:10 or 15:9, change the "x" to "2".

As with any .ini solution, if you cannot find any of these lines in your DoomConfig.cfg file, just add them in manually.


Screen change:

The horizontal FOV is increased by setting the r_aspectRatio var correctly.


1024x768, r_aspectRatio "0"


1280x800, r_aspectRatio "2"


Supported resolutions:

I have successfully run this game at every significant widescreen resolution. This includes 1280x720, 1280x768, 1280x800, 1440x900, 1680x1050, 1920x1080, and 1920x1200.


Singleplayer anomalies:

The gameplay is almost entirely from the standard 3D first person point of view. The only exception I can think of is when using the PDA. However, using the PDA reveals an oversight - the PDA's screen is stretched in widescreen mode.


1024x768, r_aspectRatio "0"


1280x800, r_aspectRatio "2"


Multiplayer support:

The r_aspectRatio var is all you need for Hor+ in multiplayer mode. I am unaware of any server setting that would prohibit you from using r_aspectRatio.


Aspect ratio support:

The r_aspectRatio var can be set to 1 for 16:9 displays or 2 for 16:10 displays. You have to set it to the correct one in order for the aspect ratio to look right.


1280x720, r_aspectRatio "1"


1280x800, r_aspectRatio "2"


HUD stretch:

The HUD elements stretch in this game. This is most easily identified by comparing the health counter in the first set of screenshots.


Cut-scenes:

Thanks to DuncanR2N for pointing out an inaccuracy in this section.

When in widescreen mode, the prerendered cut-scenes are stretched.


1024x768, r_aspectRatio "0"


1280x800, r_aspectRatio "2"

But the cut-scenes that are rendered on the fly become Hor+.


1024x768, r_aspectRatio "0"


1280x800, r_aspectRatio "2"

It's worth noting that the vast majority of the cut-scenes are rendered ingame. And most of the ones that appear to be pre-rendered are actually rendered ingame by proxy (for example, the ingame engine renders a computer monitor up close that is displaying a prerendered video).


Calculated grade: B

Major unresolved issues:
None

Minor unresolved issues:
None

Summary of widescreen-related flaws:
.ini solution.
Stretched PDA screen.
Stretched HUD.
Stretched FMVs.

Cranky's coverage estimate: 100%

This is an amazing amount of work that Cranky has done. Not only did he report out on this game, but he developed the report and the format.

I have asked him to post a template in this section, so that everyone can begin posting in this new format. This will go a long way to providing better answers to just "yes/no" and will allow us to "grade" and certify games for widescreen support.

If you've previously posted a solution, please consider going back and writign a detailed report.

is there any chance to change the antialising manually to 16x, couse every time when i try to change it, the seta r_mode returnes to 3

Why not just force 16x in your video card drivers?

Howdy all, looking for some help.

Using the directions provided I am unable to get Doom 3 to go wide. I am pretty sure I'm doing everything correctly with the config file, but all I get on my Dell 2007 is a box about 4 by 5 inches.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

Did you by any chance get the height and width mixed up? That seems to be a common mistake on games where the height appears above the width in the config file.

Excellent question, but no. I tried to invert the settings to see if it mattered. And it's not just an issue of resolution, it's also an issue of scale. The frame of the display is very small, again, 4 or 5 inches. I'm attempting to use my desktop setting of 1680 by 1050.

I appreciate the help, please continue to offer it. I'm really dying to get this going. Thanks.

Got it.

I was not adding the "-" to the seta r_mode "-1".

It's great now though... like a different game. Thank you for your help.

not working for me either. After making changes to the DoomConfig.cfg, I'll load up the game only to see it at default 640x480. I'll go back to the cfg, height and width values are still set to what i put them, but seta r_mode is now at 7, and the seta r_aspectRatio is missing altogether.

Do you have the latest patch?

yup. everything patched and updated.

What happens if you bring down the console and type "r_AspectRatio" ?

I am having the same problem running this game on my 8800 GTS. I thought I'd reinstall this game just to run it on Ultra settings and was disappointed they never patched this for widescreen resolutions.

I already tried editing the cfg file in the Doom 3 folder, and every time I save the changes and run it, the game keeps reverting back to its default 640 x 480 settings. Not only that, but I can't seem to change it to any other resolution besides the 640 x 480. For instance, if I wanted to change it to 1600 x 1200 let's say, the game will tell me to restart and when I run it again its still at 640 x 480. This is also the same when I want to set it to 16x AA. Any solutions?

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600
2 gb RAM
320 GB HD
EVGA 640mb 8800 GTS
Dell 2007WFP 20.1" LCD

I'm also running on an 8800GTS. However it's 1440x900 when i start the game (what i want), however it says that it's "640x480" when i start the game, even though it's in the correct format.

Your monitor can't handle 1600x1200. Your monitor is 1050 pixels tall, and 1600x1200 is 1200 pixels tall. Try using 1680x1050 instead.