Borderlands PC Tweaks

[Kyodan]

Here are tweaks I've come across and created that might help people with 'deconsolizing' Borderlands. I'm going to assume you all know where the location of these INI files are (Usually in USER NAME\Documents\My Games\Borderlands\WillowGame\Config in Vista).

These tweaks were tested with the retail DVD version in mind, unfortunately I have not tested these with the Steam version, and am unable to.

Please back up your INI files before trying these, there have been reports of lost key bindings after doing so.

*NOTE: This forum sometimes inserts erroneous spaces within lines, verify that there aren't any when you copy and paste lines and/or use them to modify your own.

Originally Posted by Goofball

The Steam version still uses the "USER NAME\Documents\My Games\Borderlands\WillowGame\Config" path. You just have to launch the game at least once and save your config by doing something like changing your screen resolution to create all of the files.

Originally Posted by Nogard

Before pasting code for keybindings - OR - If pasting keybindings disables your controls

When pasting code below the "WillowGame.WillowPlayerInput" section, it is important to paste it BELOW all the other bindings that are there. There should be a massive wall of text with all your key bindings. HOWEVER - This does not show up by default, and therefore pasting your code in the empty area breaks all your bindings.

The fix to this is simple: Open Borderlands, go to the Options, and change a control (any key binding). Close Borderlands and check the "WillowInput.ini" file again, you should now see the MASSIVE wall of text with all the bindings. Place your code underneath that wall of text.

UPDATE: Obli's awesome Borderlands PC Configuration Editor does a majority of the following tweaks for you within a neatly contained app. Follow the link to learn more:
http://gbxforums.gearboxsoftware.com...ad.php?t=85874


To disable the startup movies:
-----------------------------
Within WillowEngine.ini:

Find:

[FullScreenMovie]
StartupMovies=2K_logo
StartupMovies=Gearbox_logo
StartupMovies=NVidia
StartupMovies=Loading
SkippableMovies=2K_logo
SkippableMovies=Gearbox_logo
SkippableMovies=Attract
SkippableMovies=NVidia

and comment out lines like so:

[FullScreenMovie]
//StartupMovies=2K_logo
//StartupMovies=Gearbox_logo
//StartupMovies=NVidia
//StartupMovies=Loading
SkippableMovies=2K_logo
SkippableMovies=Gearbox_logo
SkippableMovies=Attract
SkippableMovies=NVidia

If that doesn't work, replace the // with ; or #



Disable story intro, bus credits sequence, and "guardian angel" intro videos (courtesy of Rehevkor):
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Originally Posted by Rehevkor

1. Locate your Borderlands install directory
2. Go to borderlands\WillowGame\Movies
3. Rename Prelude.bik to Prelude.bik_
4. Rename Attract.bik to Attract.bik_
5. Rename VoG_Transition_Movie.bik to VoG_Transition_Movie.bik_

When you create a new character, you'll go directly to the character selection part. After you choose a character, you'll go directly to meeting claptrap. This makes rolling a new character much quicker.

To disable ALL movies:
----------------------
This can be done in order to skip the prologue when starting a new game. However, this is a drastic measure since it apparently kills all movies! Cutscenes, loading screens, etc. Don't say I didn't warn you!

Within your shortcut for Borderlands, right-click -> properties. Within the shortcut line, add this parameter AFTER the link to your Borderlands exe file:

-nomoviestartup

E.G:

C:\Program Files\Borderlands\binaries\Borderlands.exe -nomoviestartup

To adjust FOV (Field of View):
-----------------------------
Within WillowInput.ini:

Search for [WillowGame.WillowPlayerInput]. Below the chunk of bindings, add the following:

Bindings=(Name="F10",Command="FOV 90",Control=False,Shift=False,Alt=False)
Bindings=(Name="F11",Command="FOV 110",Control=False,Shift=False,Alt=False)

You can change the keys (F10 and F11) to whatever you'd like, as well as the FOV values.

TIP: It's being reported that the FOV gets reset whenever you sprint in an online game. As a workaround, you can add the FOV command to one of your movement keys, like I have. Example - my MoveForward binding looks like this (my forward key is E):

Bindings=(Name="E",Command="MoveForward | Axis aGas Speed=+1.0 | FOV 96",Control=False,Shift=False,Alt=False,LeftTrigge r=False,RightTrigger=False,bIgnoreCtrl=False,bIgno reShift=False,bIgnoreAlt=False)

To disable mouse smoothing:
----------------------------
Within WillowInput.ini:
Search for "bEnableMouseSmoothing" and you should come across the following line:

bEnableMouseSmoothing=True

Change to FALSE. This tremendously improves the feel of the mouse when looking around in-game and navigating the UI.



To disable/adjust weapon view bob:
----------------------------------
Within WillowGame.ini:

Search for "bWeaponBob" and you should come across the following lines:

bWeaponBob=TRUE
Bob=0.005

Edit accordingly. They should be pretty self explanatory. I can confirm the Bob numerical adjustment does work.



To enable VSync:
-----------------
Within WillowEngine.ini:

Search for "UseVsync" and you should come across the following line:

UseVsync=False

Change to TRUE.



To disable voice chat:
---------------------
Within WillowEngine.ini:

Search for "bHasVoiceEnabled" and you should come across the following line:

bHasVoiceEnabled=True

Change to FALSE.



To enable console:
------------------
*NOTE: This currently doesn't work correctly, it outputs all commands as 'SAY' commands*

Within WillowInput.ini:

Search for "ConsoleKey" and you should come across the following line:

ConsoleKey=

Add 'Tilde' after the equal sign to enable the console (should look like ConsoleKey=Tilde)



Enable Drop Weapon Key:
-------------------------
Within WillowInput.ini:

Search for [WillowGame.WillowPlayerInput]. Within that section, search for "ThrowWeapon". By default, it's bound to "Underscore" - I changed mine to V, so it looks like:

Bindings=(Name="V",Command="ThrowWeapon",Control=F alse,Shift=False,Alt=False)

To make zoom a toggle (courtesy of Miker):
--------------------------------------------------
*NOTE: This has been reported to break turret fire while in a vehicle, as well as Brick's right click punch*

Within WillowInput.ini:

Add the text below under [WillowGame.WillowPlayerInput]

Bindings=(Name="ZoomIn",Command="StartAltFire | setbind RightMouseButton ZoomOut",Control=False,Shift=False,Alt=False,LeftT rigger=False,RightTrigger=False,bIgnoreCtrl=False, bIgnoreShift=False,bIgnoreAlt=False)
Bindings=(Name="ZoomOut",Command="StopAltFire | setbind RightMouseButton ZoomIn",Control=False,Shift=False,Alt=False,LeftTr igger=False,RightTrigger=False,bIgnoreCtrl=False,b IgnoreShift=False,bIgnoreAlt=False)

Then, edit the preexisting RightMouseButton binding to reflect the change:

Bindings=(Name="RightMouseButton",Command="advance dbutton bAdvancedButtonAux5",Control=False,Shift=False,Alt =False,LeftTrigger= False,RightTrigger=False,bIgnoreCtrl=False,bIgnore Shift=False,bIgnoreAlt=False)

to

Bindings=(Name="RightMouseButton",Command="ZoomIn" ,Control=False,Shift=False,Alt=False,LeftTrigger= False,RightTrigger=False,bIgnoreCtrl=False,bIgnore Shift=False,bIgnoreAlt=False)

To make crouch momentary (instead of toggle, courtesy of siberx):
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Within WillowInput.ini:

Search for the following line under [WillowGame.WillowPlayerInput]:

advancedbutton bAdvancedButtonAux1 | SwitchSeats

and change to

Duck | SwitchSeats

You can remove the SwitchSeats variable if you do not wish to have the key switch seats as well.

If this doesn't work, make sure this line exists under [WillowGame.WillowPlayerInput], otherwise add it:

Bindings=(Name="Duck",Command="Button bDuck | Axis aUp Speed=-1.0 AbsoluteAxis=100",Control=False,Shift=False,Alt=Fa lse,LeftTrigger=False,RightTrigger=False,bIgnoreCt rl=False,bIgnoreShift=False,bIgnoreAlt=False)

To enable scroll wheel in text boxes:
-----------------------------------
*NOTE: This seems to only work within the Player Mission Log window (default key is L), and not the Mission window (when you receive missions from NPCs)*

Within WillowInput.ini:

Search for all instances of the following (there should only be two instances):

InputKeyName="MouseScrollUp",ModifierKeyFlags=42
InputKeyName="MouseScrollDown",ModifierKeyFlags=42

remove the ",ModifierKeyFlags=42" so they look like:

InputKeyName="MouseScrollUp"
InputKeyName="MouseScrollDown"

To make jumping feel less "floaty":
---------------------------------
*NOTE: This does affect Multiplayer games - the gravity setting of the server host affects all players*

Within WillowGame.ini:
Search for [Engine.WorldInfo] and look for the following line:

DefaultGravityZ=-500

and change to

DefaultGravityZ=-700

If this doesn't work, try making the changes within DefaultGame.ini located in your Borderlands install folder (Borderlands\WillowGame\Config)



Third Person Camera (courtesy of [BoX]SteroidFreud):
----------------------------------------------------
*NOTE: This has been confirmed to not work online.*
Original Post: http://gbxforums.gearboxsoftware.com...ad.php?t=80533

Within WillowInput.ini:

Search for [WillowGame.WillowPlayerInput]. Below the chunk of bindings, add the following:

Bindings=(Name="F3",Command="Camera ThirdPerson",Control=False,Shift=False,Alt=False)
Bindings=(Name="F4",Command="Camera FirstPerson",Control=False,Shift=False,Alt=False)

F3 goes into third person, F4 switches back to first person. As such, you can swap out the keys (F3 and F4) to the keys of your liking.



Fix for hidden weapon bonus stats (courtesy of The_Shadow):
----------------------------------------------------
Original Post: http://gbxforums.gearboxsoftware.com...ad.php?t=80932

Apparently, the large font used in the UI makes it impossible to see all of the stats applied to weapons within the game. 4 lines of stats are visible, but the actual number of stats can exceed the number of lines. As such, here is a way to shrink the text:

1. Go to where Borderlands is installed and navigate to the following directory:
Borderlands\WillowGame\Localization\INT\

2. Find the gd_globals.INT file and *BACK IT UP*.

3. Open the gd_globals.INT file with Notepad and find the following line:

AttributePresentationTranslation="$NUMBER$ $CONSTRAINT$ $DESCRIPTION$"

4. Replace it with:

AttributePresentationTranslation=<font size="14">$NUMBER$ $CONSTRAINT$ $DESCRIPTION$</font>

(You can modify the font size to your liking, however, size 14 does well to show up to 5 lines, which is the current hardcoded limit.)

5. Save and exit.


To view your FPS (frames per second):
-----------------------------
Within WillowInput.ini:

Search for [WillowGame.WillowPlayerInput]. Below the chunk of bindings, add the following:

Bindings=(Name="F12",Command="stat fps",Control=False,Shift=False,Alt=False,LeftTrigg er=False,RightTrigger=False,bIgnoreCtrl=False,bIgn oreShift=False,bIgnoreAlt=False)

Hitting F12 will show you a readout for your current FPS. It also displays your ping in MS, but I'm unsure if it is accurate.

[crushinator]

Thanks for this, very helpful

[Carbonyl]

Is this for the Steam version too? I heard there's a different path to the INI files for Steam vs. Retail. Any truth to that?

[Kyodan]

From what I've seen, follow to where your Steam directory is (e.g. \Steam\steamapps\common\borderlands\Engine\Config) and edit the Base ini files. I haven't tried this myself, so let us know if it works.

[Goofball]

Originally Posted by Carbonyl

Is this for the Steam version too? I heard there's a different path to the INI files for Steam vs. Retail. Any truth to that?

The Steam version still uses the "USER NAME\Documents\My Games\Borderlands\WillowGame\Config" path. You just have to launch the game at least once and save your config by doing something like changing your screen resolution to create all of the files.

[capable heart]

Originally Posted by Carbonyl

Is this for the Steam version too? I heard there's a different path to the INI files for Steam vs. Retail. Any truth to that?

Nope, not true. Whoever said that probably just didn't know where to look. It's slightly different depending on whether you have XP or Vista, but Unreal Engine games always have the same directory for configs on the Steam version. (They HAVE to, it's because progams only have permission to create files in certain places for security reasons.)

The first post also mentions a totally wrong way to disable the intro movies. Despite what it is named, the nomoviestartup command usually disable all movies, including the intro cinematics. If the loadin screens are moviees then you might crash instead of loading.

If you delete them and you have Steam, Steam will sometimes try to re-download them.

Comment out the files in the ini,

My Documents\My Games\Borderlands\WillowGame\Config\WillowEngine.i ni

Find:
[FullScreenMovie]
StartupMovies=2K_logo
StartupMovies=Gearbox_logo
StartupMovies=NVidia
StartupMovies=Loading
SkippableMovies=2K_logo
SkippableMovies=Gearbox_logo
SkippableMovies=Attract
SkippableMovies=NVidia

Change To:
Quote:[FullScreenMovie]
;StartupMovies=2K_logo
;StartupMovies=Gearbox_logo
;StartupMovies=NVidia
;StartupMovies=Loading
;SkippableMovies=2K_logo
;SkippableMovies=Gearbox_logo
;SkippableMovies=Attract
;SkippableMovies=NVidia

[garath]

Huge help. Thanks!

Vsync and mouse smoothing really made an impact. I'm looking at lowering my sensitivity too. The lowest slider is still too high. Found a few settings for that though. Will play around with it.

[Kyodan]

Cheers, updating first post with new skip movie method

[Marcelo]

Can't find the WeaponBob on steam, I'm looking in Basegame which I think it should be in..

[InFlux]

wow the mouse smooth off made a HUGE difference. doesnt feel like a ****** console game. might have to go back and try that for BIA:HH.

thanks