SplitScreen PC Tool v1.3 BETA

[helen of troy]

I've made a program to make it easy for playing Offline SplitScreen on the PC, I have posted it on http://forums.gearboxsoftware.com/showthread.php?t=156994 .

Hi guys! I'm an experienced .NET programmer, and really got angry because they didn't include a Split-screen option on the PC version of the game.
So, I searched the internet, and found several ways of running the game on split-screen or multi-monitor, but all of them involved having several programs, and are not easily modified for playing with different number of players.
Here's my tool, for playing Borderlands 2 on the PC on Split-Screen, easily!

Cool stuff:
- Runs 4 players on only 1 monitor!
- Runs on multi-monitor perfectly
- Runs on Split-Screen (with no issues!)

Supported Games:
- Borderlands 2
- Borderlands: The Pre Sequel
- Left 4 Dead 2 (WIP, doesnt work properly)
- Resident Evil 5

Link to download of newest version, 1.5 BETA:
http://splitplaypc.codeplex.com

I'd like to remember this is a BETA version, I'd reallly appreciate feedback, so I can fix it, and make it perfect!

This works with the Steam Version!

Image: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/14675887/splitplaypc%201.2.png
Video of it working: Video

Instructions of usage:
1. Click on [+ Add a Game]
2. Click on [Browse...]
3. Search for your Borderlands2.exe file. If you have the Steam Version, it's on "C:\Program Files(x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\borderlands 2"
4. Click on Borderlands 2.
5. Select the number of players.
6. Set the players screens.
7. If you want to change Game ID and other options, click NEXT.
8. If not, you can already start the game by clicking "PLAY".
9. WAIT for all the screens to position! Be patient, this takes the delay time (10 seconds) times the amount of players + the delay time.
10. Set Network to LAN.
11. Open a Game on any Player.
12. Join the LAN game on other players.

Known issues:
- If your PC can't handle the game at your screen`s resolution, set your Windows`s resolution to lower BEFORE opening the App.
- DON`T modify the resolution in-game.
- You have to press START on the menus in order. Player 1, Player 2 and it goes. Or else 1 gamepad may control 2 screens (thanks for the tip, handakes! - http://forums.gearboxsoftware.com/member.php?u=61490)

How it works:
- The app modifies the WillowEngine.ini based on user input and resolution of the screen.
- Then, the app starts Borderlands, and monitors the Process and sets the Window`s locations to the appropriate area.

[Beebo]

Thank you so so much for making this program man. It has been working perfect for weeks (for Borderlands 2) but today when I tried to start it up. Everything worked fine when player 1 set the network to LAN and continued his game, but when player 2 found the game and tried to join it, that second instance crashed on the loading screen. I have tried multiple times and downloaded your newest version of the software and restarted my PC with nothing fixing it. Any idea what may be wrong? 

[downtime9]

Publicado originalmente por Kez:

Publicado originalmente por downtime9:

Why is it that I can play multiplayer online but I cannot connect to player 2 using this tool. This splitscreen tool is brilliant but my LAN times out every time so I havent been able to use it. Except playing two seperate games side by side.

Did you change the network setting to LAN?

YES. There is some problem connecting. I dont know what. I tried deleting network adaptors and stuff but nothing helps. I say it again, I choose LAN for both players and it find them. It will not connect though. It times out after 30 seconds. I am using the same STeam account but different characters. This is on one PC. I can connect fine to public multiplayer. I just cannot connect to myself.

[Beebo]

Earlier today I could not get my girlfriends character to connect through LAN with me. I just wanted to give an update to anyone else who is having an issue with the 2nd player connecting all of a sudden. If you happen to be playing Borderlands 2, and you are currently in the Tiny Tina DLC (in the Mines of Aravice) than this is an issue with that area of the game. On a few other forums I found other people had issues with this specific area also. The fix is to fast travel your first play to sanctuary and then have player two join the game when you are there. Then you can teleport back and continue the DLC. For some reason though while in the Mines of Arivice you cannnot join through LAN. Thanks again for all the work you have done to make this program!

[downtime9]

Publicado originalmente por Bebommib Okinn:

Earlier today I could not get my girlfriends character to connect through LAN with me. I just wanted to give an update to anyone else who is having an issue with the 2nd player connecting all of a sudden. If you happen to be playing Borderlands 2, and you are currently in the Tiny Tina DLC (in the Mines of Aravice) than this is an issue with that area of the game. On a few other forums I found other people had issues with this specific area also. The fix is to fast travel your first play to sanctuary and then have player two join the game when you are there. Then you can teleport back and continue the DLC. For some reason though while in the Mines of Arivice you cannnot join through LAN. Thanks again for all the work you have done to make this program!

Both my characters are in The Souther Shelf. I can find the game in FIND GAMES under LAN but it always times out. It has never worked for me ever. The only game I can connect to are online games.

[Arts Of The Ging]

Publicado originalmente por downtime9:

Publicado originalmente por Bebommib Okinn:

Earlier today I could not get my girlfriends character to connect through LAN with me. I just wanted to give an update to anyone else who is having an issue with the 2nd player connecting all of a sudden. If you happen to be playing Borderlands 2, and you are currently in the Tiny Tina DLC (in the Mines of Aravice) than this is an issue with that area of the game. On a few other forums I found other people had issues with this specific area also. The fix is to fast travel your first play to sanctuary and then have player two join the game when you are there. Then you can teleport back and continue the DLC. For some reason though while in the Mines of Arivice you cannnot join through LAN. Thanks again for all the work you have done to make this program!

Both my characters are in The Souther Shelf. I can find the game in FIND GAMES under LAN but it always times out. It has never worked for me ever. The only game I can connect to are online games.

You probably already know this and your problem is something else, but make sure the player who starts the game 1st has set their network to LAN (think you press "back on the xbox controller) and then the other players search LAN.

[downtime9]

Thanks. I have both set to LAN before I try to connect.

[Stofen]

Publicado originalmente por ᾊdѵiӯa シ:

Publicado originalmente por Stofen:

So I tried this bad boy out and it actually kind of works. The kind of part that's messing me up is that second instance of the game is basically using a new save file. So this results in completely new characters that I can't use with my original game.

Go to C:\Users\USER\Documents\my games\borderlands 2\willowgame\

And make an entire back up of the savedata folder so you don't lose anything.


After that I made a copy of my characters by going to my folder "76561197999638305" and copy/pasting the contents into folder "2"

Anyway to do this in reverse? IE: I create a new characters on the player 2 file and want to bring them over to my player 1 file.

[Shad0wlife]

You probably need to check which slot of your saves it uses and maybe change it if the slot to be used is already occupied.

[Spectrum Twist]

I just wanted to drop a line here as I really do appreciate the work involved and frankly i think thousands of people would love it if steam/valve would hire you, or get some cooperation in working with you to develop this tool further. Would be great to see it in the steam store as a software package that could be added and maintained.

There is an issue i did run into though.

Resolutions exceeding 2560x1440 appear to result in the split screen working improperly, on for example a 4k display, for 2 player horizontal split screen, when the windows auto resize the first sticks to the top left corner and it appears to measure out to about 2560 across and about 770 height (which is quite a few hundred short of the 4k's 1/2 height 1080). Where the center of the screen on the left again the 2nd window appears and also seems to extend to 2560 in width but only extended down the 770pixels before ending.

This occurs on display port displays and HDMI 1.4/2.0 connected displays.

The games however in these modes play completely fine, they obviously don't fill the entirely display.

This also applies to 4 player split screen, the automatic size appears to know where the positions of every start location is, but then assumes to think the real resolution is 2560x1440 divided into 4.

[Vamatti™]

i'll try this out, see if i can find a use for my second screen

[Arts Of The Ging]

Yep i think it should be an officical tool on steam, people would buy it, id buy then creator has more money and can work on adding more games. :D

Publicado originalmente por Judas:

I just wanted to drop a line here as I really do appreciate the work involved and frankly i think thousands of people would love it if steam/valve would hire you, or get some cooperation in working with you to develop this tool further. Would be great to see it in the steam store as a software package that could be added and maintained.

There is an issue i did run into though.

Resolutions exceeding 2560x1440 appear to result in the split screen working improperly, on for example a 4k display, for 2 player horizontal split screen, when the windows auto resize the first sticks to the top left corner and it appears to measure out to about 2560 across and about 770 height (which is quite a few hundred short of the 4k's 1/2 height 1080). Where the center of the screen on the left again the 2nd window appears and also seems to extend to 2560 in width but only extended down the 770pixels before ending.

This occurs on display port displays and HDMI 1.4/2.0 connected displays.

The games however in these modes play completely fine, they obviously don't fill the entirely display.

This also applies to 4 player split screen, the automatic size appears to know where the positions of every start location is, but then assumes to think the real resolution is 2560x1440 divided into 4.

[phthora]

I'm having the same problem that at least a few others have reported in this thread; as far as I can tell a solution has not been documented. I cannot get the second instance of the game to recognize my wired xbox controller. I have tried with the keyboard player 'box' both checked and unchecked. When it's checked there is no support at all for the controller. When it is unchecked the controller is linked to player one, as I would expect. Is there a way to have player 1 as kb/mouse and player 2 as controller? I can only seem to get the controller linked to player 1 using this tool.

[SucksAtThisGame]

I got a new router today. The game shows up in LAN mode, but the other players cannot connect. There is not firewall blocking that I can see, or at least it makes no note of such. Do you have any ideas of what sorts if settings I should look for?

[Dreamlinker]

Publicado originalmente por Kez:

Yep i think it should be an officical tool on steam, people would buy it, id buy then creator has more money and can work on adding more games. :D

You can donate through the download page via pledgie or something. I did it exactly for the reason you describe :)

[downtime9]

Publicado originalmente por Ninjaman Joe:

I got a new router today. The game shows up in LAN mode, but the other players cannot connect. There is not firewall blocking that I can see, or at least it makes no note of such. Do you have any ideas of what sorts if settings I should look for?

Sounds like the same issue I had. I'm not joking, but I got this tool over a year ago and I could never connect the two players over LAN in all that time. I screwed with everything. and eventually gave up. Finally this weekend it connected!!! I I was trying to fix my internet which was not working. I rebooted my router a few times and also reset my Ceton InfiniTV Cable Card. Im not sure which one did it, but since Windows recognized my cable card as a 2nd Network Adapter its possible that the LAN on my main adapter was getting overlooked. Wish I could tell you exactly what is was that fixed it but I am not a computer whiz and I messed with so many settings I cannot pinpoint what fixed it. Just glad it finally works.