Problem with cutscene borders

[vb1990]

Since this last update (thank you so much, by the way), I can't get rid of letterboxing during in-game cutscenes. I used the Configuration Tool and I've changed to "hide", "show" or "auto", but none of them change anything. All of this options always show the black bars on top and bottom on a 16:9 monitor.

The file d3d8.ini shows "DisableCutsceneBorders: 1", but every time I try to play, the letterbox is there. I also noticed that the file d3d8.log shows "DisableCutsceneBorders = 2", for some reason, which is not even an option on the Configuration Tool (Show = 0, Hide = 1, Auto = 3)

[Polymega]

Can you attach your d3d8.log file here?

[vb1990]

d3d8.log

[Polymega]

Couple other questions: Do you play in windowed or fullscreen mode? And what is the native resolution of your display? It is 1920x1080 or something different?

[Polymega]

The file d3d8.ini shows "DisableCutsceneBorders: 1", but every time I try to play, the letterbox is there. I also noticed that the file d3d8.log shows "DisableCutsceneBorders = 2", for some reason, which is not even an option on the Configuration Tool (Show = 0, Hide = 1, Auto = 3)

Actually, I might have an idea of what's happening. This is set to 2 for some reason in your INI and, despite you changing its value, it's not overwriting/saving this change in the INI. I think this is because you have the game saved in your Program Files directory, which is an admin-protected directory, and files need explicit "write" permissions in this directory in order to make changes to their data.

There's a couple options you should try:

1. (Recommended) Move the game files to a non-admin protected directory. SH2 PC can be moved anywhere without issue. So take the entire Silent Hill 2 folder and move it to a local directory such as My Documents or My Games.
2. Allow the INI to have write access by you, the user. Right click d3d8.ini, go to Properties, select the Security tab, and give your user account write (or full control) permissions for this file. Always be careful editing permissions for files within your Program Files directory.

SH2 PC was released in a different era of PC gaming. Nowadays, it's not recommended to install PC games into admin-protected directories.

[vb1990]

Sorry for the late response!

Do you play in windowed or fullscreen mode?

Fullscreen.

And what is the native resolution of your display?

1920x1080.

I think this is because you have the game saved in your Program Files directory, which is an admin-protected directory, and files need explicit "write" permissions in this directory in order to make changes to their data.

This is weird, because I always had SH2EE saved on my Program Files since this project started, and I never had that issue. For some reason it appeared after the last update.

1. (Recommended) Move the game files to a non-admin protected directory.

I moved it to My Documents, same results.

2. Allow the INI to have write access by you, the user.

Same results again. :(

[EDIT]
I forgot I had a backup (v2.1.2070.0) prior to the last update (v3.0.2210.0). When I run the game there, I don't get the cutscene borders. Both the d3d8.ini and d3d8.log files show "DisableCutsceneBorders: 1" on that version.

[Polymega]

I'm sorry to say I'm out of ideas as to what's going on. Maybe try deleting your d3d8.ini file from the game's main directory and seeing if that resolves it? The next time you launch the game, our project should create a new d3d8.ini for you.

[elishacloud]

I recommend also deleting the d3d8.cfg file. It will be auto created when needed again.