Aspect Ratio

Unity Engine
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1

With windows tablets now supporting multiple aspect ratios, what resolution or aspect ratio are you using when uploading your app to the Windows store?

Is there a way to upload 2 versions to support both?

Surface 1 RT = 1366 x 768, AR = 16 : 9 = 1.78
Surface 2 RT = 1920 x 1080, AR = 16 : 9 = 1.78
Surface Pro 1 = 1920 x 1080, AR = 16 : 9 = 1.78
Surface Pro 2 = 1920 x 1080, AR = 16 : 9 = 1.78
Surface Pro 3 = 2160 x 1440, AR = 3 : 2 = 1.5

Thanks,

Vanz

2

Hi,

Windows Store has supported many, many resolutions from the beginning, as PCs go from lowly 1024x768 (4:3) to massive resolutions like 7680x1600 (24:5). One basic rule of thumb applies: it should look good regardless of the user aspect ratio, as you will probably not be able to guess it for majority of cases.

3

You need to support all ratios. You will not pass certification if you don’t.

Also, a 16:9 device could be playing the game using half the screen, as a Windows Store app is not always guaranteed the full screen. You need to account for this.

In my game I handle a screen resolution change (including when the game first launches) and check the screen ratio and width available. If the width is smaller than ~800 I display an overlay telling the player to widen the screen to play. When there is at least 800 pixels of width I zoom out the camera to ensure the entire screen is visible (there will be black bars on my screen if the game ratio is wider than the current screen space).

What ratio to design your game for depends on several factors. Are you planning to port to other platforms (e.g. Windows Phone is typically 16:10 ratio)? Does your game need specific boundaries around the play area? For multiple ratios (e.g. on Android) you could round to the nearest ratio and support the main ones (4:3, 16:10, for example).

My game (it’s called Clowntraptions, and you can find it in the Windows and Windows Phone stores for free at the moment) was designed for 16:10, with a little bit of extra visible play area to the sides so that it would fit on 16:9 correctly (so when played on a Surface RT in full screen the game is slightly zoomed out compared to the phone 16:10 version). When the game screen is not full screen (or is on a 4:3 monitor) I zoom out to take up the full width but have blank space above and below the play area because my game needs a specific top and bottom.

4

Thanks pumpkinszwan, that’s great info…