Adding scanlines to KOF98

With SweetFX

Introduction

While I do love the pixel art on KOF games, KOF98 can look a bit... blocky on higher resolutions.

Click the picture for full size!


However, we can use post-processing to make the game look softer.

Adding Scanlines

There's about a dozen ways to soften the image, but I chose scanlines. They go pretty well with older 2D games and it has been a requested feature, so it's two flies with one stone.

Click the picture for full size!

Installation

To install them, take my SweetFX preset from my Dropbox.[www.dropbox.com]
Unzip the contents into your KOF98UM installation folder. Default path is Steam/steamapps/common/The King of Fighters'98 Ultimate Match.

After that, it's ready for use. You can use "Scroll Lock" to toggle the effect on or off. Pressing Print Screen will take a screenshot into the KOF98 folder. The scanlines don't work too well, so you might want to toggle them off before opening the Steam Overlay.

Adjusting the Effects

You can freely edit the effects for your own liking. To edit the scanlines, go to the KOF98 folder and edit the SweetFX_settings.txt. Scanline options are defined in "Advanced CRT settings".

#define CRTAmount sets the intensity of the effects. Putting this too high will make you feel like you need glasses.

#define CRTResolution affects the quality. I recommend keeping this in 2.0.

#define CRTgamma
#define CRTmonitorgamma
#define CRTBrightness These should be pretty self-explanatory.

#define CRTScanlineIntensity affects the amount of scanlines and their thickness. Feel free to play around with this one.

#define CRTScanlineGaussian this is an ON/OFF toggle (0/1). When enabled, the scanlines become more visible. Disabled is better in my opinion.

"Barrel Effect"

This will be a short chapter as the only real use for this is "for the giggles". Setting the #define CRTCurvature value to 1 will make SweetFX emulate CRT-monitor's curved screen. It's good for the nostalgia, but doesn't really increase image quality.

[Agatha Crispie]

I'd love to use your mod but unfortunately it doesn't work with the GOG version. Can you help me with it ?

[Diosmo]

There is no option to add scanlines like in KOF 97 but this patch works great. Thanks.

[Danquew]

should work with reshade too...got a lot of shaders.

[rayculz]

Thanks for this mod.

[Bing]

Just tried it with KoF 2002 UM and it worked beautifully. Thank you so much for this.

[Rumble]

Since SweetFX standalone wasn't working for me (DirectX failed to initialize) when going full screen, I used Miggoh's settings in latest version of Reshade and works great. Since I'm usng 1440p, I set the CRTResolution to 6.5.

[Rumble]

I used this mod over the last few years and it was working fine, recently it failed with DirectX crash upon fullscreen, even when I re-install everything. Anybody else experience this?

[Netanel]

hi. i use it but the game not running, when i delete it the game working again, any help?

[Netanel]

Thank You! i may try it!

[samuraimuerto13]

Thank you for this addon @Miggoh, I don't know if you can help me with this, I added your scanline feature but when I activate it, it slows the performance way too much, normally the game runs in 1080 resolution and full fps without any trouble, is there a way to make smoother or is it just my computer? thanks in advance...