Birdhouse-OpenGL-Performance-Tips.md

+The Birdhouse mod has many performance fixes and improvements in OpenGL mode. But if you still need more frames, there are some settings that can be tweaked for an additional increase in frame rates.
+
+Note: Some of these options can suddenly change in later updates! This page may become out of date if I forget to update it.
+
+**How to access the console**
+
+Many of these settings require using the console. You can access the console during gameplay (not in time attack or menus) and also from the title screen. The title screen is the screen that appears before the main menu is opened, press Esc in the main menu to go back to the title screen.
+
+To open/close the console, press the key directly above the Tab key. (the name of the key depends on your country)
+
+**Reduced skywalls**
+
+This setting reduces "skywall" rendering in places where they are mostly hidden from view anyway. Type `gr_skywallmode 1` in console to activate it. Type `gr_skywallmode 0` to return to the default setting.
+
+**Disable screen textures**
+
+Type `gr_screen_textures 0` in console to disable screen textures. This can in some situations increase the frame rate dramatically! However, the following Kart features will stop working:
+*  Fullscreen scaling. Use windowed mode or use the native resolution in fullscreen to avoid issues.
+*  The intermission score screen background will turn gray.
+*  The heat wave and underwater screen waving effects won't work.
+
+This setting is not currently saved into the config file, so you will need to use `kartexec.cfg` or type the command every time the game is started.
+
+**Use mip mapping**
+
+Change the setting in `Options -> Video options -> OpenGL options -> Texture filter` to `NEAREST_MIPMAP`. This will reduce texture resolution on far away surfaces and reduce GPU load.
+
+**Disable 3d models**
+
+3d models can be disabled in `Options -> Video options -> 3d models`. The sprites are faster to render than 3d models.
+
+**Disable Hitfeed**
+
+NOTE: This only applies to playing on servers that have the Hitfeed mod!
+
+Hitfeed is an addon that shows recent Kart item hits on the screen. Hitfeed can however drastically decrease frame rates on lower end computers. While playing on a server that uses Hitfeed, it can be disabled by typing `hitfeed 0` on the console.
+
+**Disable shaders**
+
+Shaders can be disabled in `Options -> Video options -> OpenGL options -> Shaders`. Fog and lighting effects will be disabled and colours will be less accurate. Some old GPUs may perform better.
+
+**Disable weather**
+
+Setting `Options -> Video options -> Weather draw distance` to `None` can improve performance somewhat on maps with rain.
+
+**Disable skyboxes**
+
+Skyboxes can be disabled in `Options -> Video options -> Skyboxes`.
+
+**Disable infinite draw distance**
+
+`Options -> Video options -> Draw distance` controls the draw distance of sprites. (and 3d models) Reducing it to something less than `Infinite` can help on maps with large open areas and on maps that use fog/mist sprites.
+
+**Disable solvetjoin**
+
+Typing `gr_solvetjoin 0` can improve overall performance. *However there will be many ugly pixel artifacts on certain polygon edges!* This command will take effect when the map is changed. `gr_solvetjoin 1` returns to normal.
\ No newline at end of file