Ni no Stutter - v 0.2.0 [Fixed-Time Step + ShimmerFix] - (4/28/18)

[Kaldaien]

Introduction

NiNoKuni2 has multiple timing issues that both cause and amplify the effects of any framerate stutter. I cannot eliminate all sources of stutter, but have prevented its limiter from stuttering as well as changed the timing mechanics from variable- to fixed-tick to cushion the visibility of stutter.

The result is silky smooth rendering as long as you have a generally stable framerate. Any area of the game that has massive framerate drops (probably due to too many pixels being filled) will run in slow-mo, but it's worth it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_BC02iifpI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ril0HH2Lw-o

Download and Install

Automated Install (recommended)

Download Special K Install Manager[github.com], and select "NiNoStutter" from Product List.

Manual

Download NiNoStutter 0.2.0[github.com] and extract it to your game's install directory.

NOTE: Manual installs require Visual C++ 2015 (or 2017) Redistributable (x64)

Usage

Open config menu (Ctrl + Shift + Backspace), turn on fixed-timestep

[Iorveth]

Praise our Lord Kaldaien
Thank you sir!
Just one small request/suggestion,is it possible to add in a dropdown menu the setings from the [CE difficulty mod ] ,in order to switch on the fly hero damage,enemy damage and exp gain ?
Camera automatically moving behind controlled hero during combat would be the proverbial icing on the cake.
Thanks in advance for your dedication!
Happy Easter to everyone!

[Honorable_D]

Does this address the very minor, but noticeable jittery-ness that seems to happen every 20 seconds or so?

[Kaldaien]

Originally posted by Honorable_D:

Does this address the very minor, but noticeable jittery-ness that seems to happen every 20 seconds or so?

That is the entire purpose of what I'm trying to do, yes.

I have already identified a way to remove that completely, but it causes the game to run at the wrong speed. That's the checkbox titled "Hyper-evan" :)

Don't use that option long-term, because your in-game play time will become invalid immediately (200+ hours instantly added). But if you can move around the world map without any stuttering in that mode, then you're suffering fromt he problem I'm trying to solve.

[Irish]

Thanks for your work, Kaldein. You saved Nier: Automata for me, too.

[MONZUN]

hey Kaldaien, is this a new version of your special k for ni no kuni compared to the other one you posted in the "bad framepacing" thread here or is it the same one ?

if its a new updated version i would test this one out too

[Kaldaien]

New

[MONZUN]

Originally posted by Kaldaien:

New

ah alright thanks, will try it out later :D

[Version213]

Better to overwrite the previous install or does it even matter? Thanks.

[SenMithrarin85]

Originally posted by version213:

Better to overwrite the previous install or does it even matter? Thanks.

best to purge the old files first I think.

[AndroidNutz]

The first version, didn't really make a difference for me. I tested it with the vsync -1 (game's) & 1 (the fix's).

This new version, did smooth out the frame pacing. It still stutters at the same points of the game as before. It won't catch and eliminate the stutter, however, it is smoothing and getting rid off it right after it is introduced. Using the frames widget I can see the spikes being smooth out with this new version. Again with the old version It would spike and wouldn't smooth out. I used the same settings too. VSync -1 & 1. Bordeless, no change as I can tell (was already playing smooth though). Full screen, however, is smoother. But again I can see it stutter at the same points in the game and then smooth out.

Anyway, looks like you're heading in the right direction. Keep it up and a big thank you.

[Kaldaien]

Yeah, that's a shame.

If this game had a constant framerate requirement like the Tales games do, then the Hyper-Even mode would have fixed stuttering for everyone and I could use my own limiter to prevent it from messing with gamespeed.

The game _can_ be made perfectly smooth, and Bandai Namco should have taken the time to do this.

[SenMithrarin85]

Originally posted by Kaldaien:

Yeah, that's a shame.

If this game had a constant framerate requirement like the Tales games do, then the Hyper-Even mode would have fixed stuttering for everyone and I could use my own limiter to prevent it from messing with gamespeed.

The game _can_ be made perfectly smooth, and Bandai Namco should have taken the time to do this.

since when have the japanese cared about performance when programming games? if they did, bloodborne would never have existed lol

there is a fine line between ignorance and stupidity and its safe to say that bamco likely just don't care. nobody could be so stupid to programme several games with the same issue.

[AndroidNutz]

If it helps here's a video of what I was trying to describe.

https://youtu.be/-hvhlP96OZ8

btw, I noticed that I have to switch to window in between full screen to bordeless and vice versa. Or it'll lock the frame rate to about 10fps and the overlay dissapears. EDIT: It's the game though, not your fix!

thanks again.

[MONZUN]

hey,

so i tried this new version out and for me it runs worse sadly :( i get more stuttering everywhere, be it the overworld map or towns like hydrop.. (forgot the name right now you all know what i'm talking about anyway).

also tried with vsync -1 and 1. -1 doesn't fix anything for me (in both versions of special k) whilst 1 fixes most problems but stutters still persist.

overall though the first version is much better for me so i will switch to that one right now xD

by now i've given up on this game in technical terms anway. will never be able to play it without the stuttering :( will play through it as it is now and won't buy new jrpgs anymore because its always the same ♥♥♥♥ -.- actually i won'T buy any asian/japanese games anymore until those devs finally start doing something about this abysmal quality of their games (which will most likely take a few years if not a decade rofl)

edit: @androidnutz: wow damn, your performance in fullscreen is even much worse than mine. i've the same stuttering as you, but much much less and not all the time.

in borderlesswindow it runs more or less same as in your video and its still too much stuttering -.- playing in borderless though ofc, its the best option for now :( (though as said, by the time this will be fixed (if ever, and i highly doubt it) i'll have played through the game anyway :(:(:( what a huge disappointement this game is. payed so much for it and its garbage. even gameplaywise its only mediocre at best (just look at the abysmal overworld graphics. this is more or less playstation 2 quality and its killing my immersion massively compared to the fantastic graphics otherwise besides the overworld)

[SenMithrarin85]

Originally posted by MONZUN:

hey,

so i tried this new version out and for me it runs worse sadly :( i get more stuttering everywhere, be it the overworld map or towns like hydrop.. (forgot the name right now you all know what i'm talking about anyway).

also tried with vsync -1 and 1. -1 doesn't fix anything for me (in both versions of special k) whilst 1 fixes most problems but stutters still persist.

overall though the first version is much better for me so i will switch to that one right now xD

by now i've given up on this game in technical terms anway. will never be able to play it without the stuttering :( will play through it as it is now and won't buy new jrpgs anymore because its always the same ♥♥♥♥ -.- actually i won'T buy any asian/japanese games anymore until those devs finally start doing something about this abysmal quality of their games (which will most likely take a few years if not a decade rofl)

edit: @androidnutz: wow damn, your performance in fullscreen is even much worse than mine. i've the same stuttering as you, but much much less and not all the time.

in borderlesswindow it runs more or less same as in your video and its still too much stuttering -.- playing in borderless though ofc, its the best option for now :( (though as said, by the time this will be fixed (if ever, and i highly doubt it) i'll have played through the game anyway :(:(:( what a huge disappointement this game is. payed so much for it and its garbage. even gameplaywise its only mediocre at best (just look at the abysmal overworld graphics. this is more or less playstation 2 quality and its killing my immersion massively compared to the fantastic graphics otherwise besides the overworld)

I see this quite often with ps4 ports. the thing is a piece of ♥♥♥♥♥ and developers love throwing in a framepacer for good measure.