BSK PC demo Shader Model 2.0 patch

[6750a426ed332Kolya]

°bioshockBioshock needs a videocard supporting Shader Model 3.0. Many ATI cards (X700/X800/X850 series) can run modern games without problems but do not support SM3.0 and therefor can't play Bioshock. Unfortunately 2K/TDFKAI didn't go out of their way to highlight this fact, eg by mentioning it in the official specifications for Bioshock.

The gamers ScottJG and WarAnakin from the 2K forums are trying to develope an unofficial patch for graphics cards that only support shader model 2.0 . It's still very much work in progress and you're still better off buying a SM3.0 capable card at the moment.

You can find the latest version of this patch on the SM2.0 patch page, part of a forum devoted solely to this problem and named ShaderShock.


Related Links
* SM2.0 patch discussion on the 2K forums
* Joel Hruska from Ars Technica has written a very good and informative article on the problem
* Related thread on TTLG

[6750a426ed4cfKolya]

Okay, I just tested this, as I have the very problem of a graphics card that only supports Shader Model 2.0.
It looked better than running without the patch (where I saw nothing but fire and blackness) but it didn't look like in the second screenshot above. Lots of visuals were still broken, textures flickered in neon colors...

To cut this short: It's probably not worth your time. A half-broken game is not the way to start this game. For me, it only left me wanting more.

[6750a426ed613IGORR]

hell yeah! it worx! the UE3 is realy fuckin great! but the neon colors realy suck! possible 2 fix it?

and whats the difference between the first and the second download in effect?

[6750a426ed730Kolya]

I updated the first post to reflect the fact that they have their own forum now, named ShaderShock.

EDIT: I added an installation guide for the latest patch.

[6750a426ed843Kolya]

A note on these patches: I have recently managed to melt the fan from my Radeon X700 graphics card, while running the Bioshock demo with a Shader Model 2.0 patch. I don't blame it on the patch makers, no one forced me to use their patch after all. But be advised that a new graphics card may be in order either way.

[6750a426edb28Chandlermaki]

hell yeah! it worx! the UE3 is realy fuckin great! but the neon colors realy suck! possible 2 fix it?

and whats the difference between the first and the second download in effect?

BioShock runs on UE 2.5, not 3.