Brightness issues when streaming Watch Dogs to my laptop.

[Iraj]

When streaming Watch dogs to my laptop i can't see a thing. I have the brightness setting on my laptop and the in-game setting all the way up and it still feels like im playing outside with the sun shining directly onto my screen, eventhough im playing in complete darkness. I stream from my pc to my laptop via cable. Watch Dogs is a non-steam game from Uplay.

Pc specs:
i5 4670 3.4 Ghz
8gb ram
gtx 760
windows 7

Laptop specs:
I5 2410m 2.3 Ghz
4gb ram
Gt 525m
windows 7

[EviLFazZ]

I could be wrong, but in my experience with this type of fault, it's to do with DirectX 11 and full screen usage. I've seen the same problem with Saints Row IV, Daylight and many other DirectX 11/11.1 games

So you and others reading this understand...

I and a couple friends have the same problem with Watch_Dogs and they use it in the standard launch mode through Steam, as they bought theirs through Steam, where as I bought mine through Origin (it cost me almost nothing, otherwise I would never do that). Anywho, I've added mine to Steam, so I can use it via Big Picture mode (I play in Stereo 3D on a large TV)

So, back to your issue more ...we all use GTX cards (PCI-E, not laptops) and in DirectX 11 mode of course. Even if the game 'starts' in full screen, the Gamma is way too dark and even changing the Brightness setting will do and show nothing (no logo is seen no matter what you do to the slider)

So to get round this ...you need to come out of full screen mode (switch to Windowed or Borderless) and then go back into full screen after, this will then set the game back to full screen and the Brightness will also be back to as it should and also fully configurable

You will need to probably do this every time and I doubt they (Ubisoft) will fix this issue, as I don't 'think' it affects everyone, just higher-end GTX and DirectX 11 users. However, as you're using Windows 7, I wouldn't image this being a problem, as DirectX 11 isn't fully support and only forced compatible and doesn't even use DirectX 11.1 which Watch_Dogs actually uses when set to maximum and with TXAA enabled

Anywho, I'm no expert, just explaining my experience and my work around ...it's annoying, but easy enough and work for now without crashing it at all ...Uplay though ...that's whole new horror story

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If this works for you or anyone else out there, feel free to add me on Uplay (vomit): http://uplay.ubi.com/en-GB/profile/FazZ_Ltd / Or search FazZ_Ltd within Uplay (double vomit)

[BreckyFast]

I've found no evidence online that says W_D uses 11.1 so I'm going with that isn't accurate, because I can set W_D to ulta with TXAA on Windows 7 just fine.

[Iraj]

EviL FazZ' solution has worked and i can now see what im doing, thanks alot! :)

[EviLFazZ]

Great stuff 'Obese Manatee' and glad my random findings and experiments became of some used to someone out there

Off-topic: FAO Brecky

It's a bit too long to explain it all and is also a bit off-topic too, but I'll try a little...

DirectX 11.1 and even DirectX 11.2 are like Windows OS service packs, giving better performance and stability, and in 11.1/11.2's case, even lower power usage. I use almost half of what my older DirectX 10 system used to burn, yet output is more than double. These particular functions only seem to work within Windows 8, supporting hardware (of course) and you also won't necessarily know unless you look deep into the application running, as it will probably just say DirectX 11 on face

How I personally know when games that say they are DirectX 11, but are actually using the DirectX 11.1/11.2 improvements, updates, etc, is it will work in Stereo 3D immediately, without 3rd party software. Of course your hardware also needs to be compatible too, which I think started with high-end Nivida 500 series, but I could be wrong on that part and was since the Nivida 600 series ...I skipped a generation (sensibly)

Just because a game only supports DirectX 11, does not mean it won't use the additional features available to it. Watch_Dogs so far (along with Thief, Titanfall and Daylight) has the best Stereo 3D I've seen. Another example (if a bad one) is Resident Evil 4 HD, which though has been textually updated, still looks as ropey as ever. However, the frame rate is always at or above 60fps and also works in Stereo 3D. I tried this on a friends system, that has similar specs and the exact same graphic card as me, but with the older Windows 7 OS. However, no Stereo 3D options were available and the frame rate hovered near 60fps, but not stable or above. Of course a great deal of 'minor' differences can cause this, but I don't personally care for the minor differences, but the great differences such as loosing out on fun/great features, like Stereo 3D, a far more environmentally friendly running system, and a hugely improved multi-monitor usage

I still don't understand why so many do not like Windows 8, but then we live in a world where Cr'Apple is literally loved by millions and the majority of humans still drive cars that run on fossil fuels

[Mendozacheers]

Originally posted by EviL FazZ:

I still don't understand why so many do not like Windows 8, but then we live in a world where Cr'Apple is literally loved by millions and the majority of humans still drive cars that run on fossil fuels

Word.

To OP: I have the exact same issue, and thanks Evil Fazz for bringing up the DX11 compability issues!

[EviLFazZ]

All KooL Mendozacheers

Off-topic: I see you have Watch_Dogs too ...me on Uplay: FazZ_Ltd

[Ueberlappen]

I have the exect same issue with Thief

[slouken]

@Ueberlappen, does updating to the current beta client on both computers fix it for you?
https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Betas

[EviLFazZ]

Have you tried my random workaround method above, as it worked for the OP?

[Ueberlappen]

@ slouken
No it did not but I found a workaround.
If I deavtivate the exclusive fullscreen option the brightness on the client is ok.

[skyczy]

same problem with the brightness for me when i stream this game to my laptop. it sucks. i cannot play some missions because its SOO dark. Toggling full screen DOES NOT fix my issue.