Descent: Freespace - The Great War - Page 3

Fiery Phoenix · 29 March 2021, 19:21

Bummer - on the list to play as well

Due to the above gave it a go, got through the training missions ok, mine actually crashes on the first proper mission (stage 1 of 5 - finding 12 hostiles) music carries on playing fine, but screen freezes

Tried various option in the setup too, before the game loads in the WB options, max memory, low-scale options for animation, etc - always crashes for me

Zarnal · 29 March 2021, 19:58

To those who have problems:

which RTG card are you using?

UaeGfx, PIV, other?

Which version for the 68040.library or 68060.library?

What is the version of your Workbench?

A save of your game (where the problem appears) would be useful for me to test.

DamienD · 29 March 2021, 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zarnal

To those who have problems:

which RTG card are you using?

UaeGfx, PIV, other?

Which version for the 68040.library or 68060.library?

What is the version of your Workbench?

A save of your game (where the problem appears) would be useful for me to test.

I haven't played enough to get to Mission 2 as yet...

My setup is via WinUAE:

68040 / FPU - CPU internal / Fastest possible / JIT
KS ROM v3.1 (A1200) rev 40.68 (512k)
2MB Chip and 64MB Z3 Fast RAM
UAE Zorro III / 8MB RAM
Amiga OS 3.1 standard install.

DamienD · 29 March 2021, 20:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daedalus

Hmmm, if I get a chance tonight I'll fire up my A1200 and get whatever details I have from it.

That would be appreciated Daedalus

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daedalus

But, from memory, software rendering is only supported for the PPC version, so it might not fully work in the 68k version. I only ever used the Warp3D version, so it's also possible that it was fixed in the update for 3D hardware but not for the software renderer. In that case, Wazp3D, or emulating a 3D accelerated card might help...

Never setup Wazp3D or a 3D accelerator card before so would need to work out how...

Can this be done under OS 3.1? If not and only OS 4.x then that's a no go for me.

Fiery Phoenix · 29 March 2021, 20:26

Same as yours Damien - you actually got it working for me!

Yeah sailed through training missions without a hitch. First problem I encountered

Patrickx1989 · 29 March 2021, 20:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by DamienD

Patrick; as you have the game and are able to get to Mission 2... are you willing to test for me?

I'll send you an archive with 2 x .HDFs:

"FreespaceUpd68k_1" & "Memory increase via Setup".
"FreespaceUpd68k_1" & "Freespace68k Beta 2".

The problem no longer appears for me with Freespace68k Beta 2, I was able to complete mission 2 now without any freeze

jPV · 29 March 2021, 20:55

Zoned the PPC version of the Beta 2 too, just in case.

DamienD · 29 March 2021, 21:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrickx1989

The problem no longer appears for me with Freespace68k Beta 2, I was able to complete mission 2 now without any freeze

Awesome news, thank God for that

Many thanks for testing Patrick

I really have to wonder why Hyperion don't provide the "Freespace68k Beta 2.lha" file on their website then?

jPV · 29 March 2021, 21:42

Probably because it's still beta

Daedalus · 29 March 2021, 22:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by DamienD

Never setup Wazp3D or a 3D accelerator card before so would need to work out how...

Can this be done under OS 3.1? If not and only OS 4.x then that's a no go for me.

I've never done it under WinUAE, but I believe you can indeed emulate a Voodoo 3 if you have the correct ROM image, and once that's the case, install Picasso96 and the Voodoo driver, and Warp3D. That's how it goes on real hardware anyway...

Quote:

Originally Posted by DamienD

I really have to wonder why Hyperion don't provide the "Freespace68k Beta 2.lha" file on their website then?

I wonder if it wasn't an official release, maybe compiled for an individual to fix some issue? But good that it's available one way or another now anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrickx1989

The problem no longer appears for me with Freespace68k Beta 2, I was able to complete mission 2 now without any freeze

Excellent! I never had this fix back in the day, but I've found out how I got around it back then...

Looking at my files now, my Freespace.exe is 2747016 bytes, which appears to match the update 1 version. It would appear that I installed the original game 12-Dec-2001, and the update 15-Mar-2002 (just for interest). But it's probably the same update that Hyperion have listed with the later date now.

Now, I'm a bit of a digital hoarder and rarely delete anything. So I fired up YAM on my A1200 and found the emails between myself and the developers back in 2002. Apparently someone else was having the problem and it turned out to be damaged texture files for the asteroids. They sent out a fixed copy of the file, and it fixed the problem for them but not for me it seems. Instead, it looks like I simply renamed the three files:

asteroid01a.pcx
asteroid01b.pcx
asteroid01c.pcx

so the game didn't try to load them, and all was well, or at least, well enough to get past that point and play the rest of the game. I've attached the file they sent me anyway, just in case you wanted to try it? The three files are actually identical, so just copy and rename the file in the archive.

DamienD · 29 March 2021, 22:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by jPV

Probably because it's still beta

You would hope after sooooo many years that it's been tested thoroughly though; and good for release.

If you didn't have the file then Patrick and myself would have been definitely stuck

Plus surely others must have reported this "Mission 2 asteroid" issue?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daedalus

Excellent! I never had this fix back in the day, but I've found out how I got around it back then...

Looking at my files now, my Freespace.exe is 2747016 bytes, which appears to match the update 1 version. It would appear that I installed the original game 12-Dec-2001, and the update 15-Mar-2002 (just for interest). But it's probably the same update that Hyperion have listed with the later date now.

Now, I'm a bit of a digital hoarder and rarely delete anything. So I fired up YAM on my A1200 and found the emails between myself and the developers back in 2002. Apparently someone else was having the problem and it turned out to be damaged texture files for the asteroids. They sent out a fixed copy of the file, and it fixed the problem for them but not for me it seems. Instead, it looks like I simply renamed the three files:

asteroid01a.pcx
asteroid01b.pcx
asteroid01c.pcx

so the game didn't try to load them, and all was well, or at least, well enough to get past that point and play the rest of the game. I've attached the file they sent me anyway, just in case you wanted to try it? The three files are actually identical, so just copy and rename the file in the archive.

Interesting

Good to know that the "Freespace68k Beta 2.lha" file fixed this issue when Patrick tested though

Many thanks to jPV for that... and to all that assisted in thread

Patrickx1989 · 30 March 2021, 08:29

Yes, thanks a lot, guys! I'm at mission 10 now and no more problems. It's good that a solution was found, because there's another mission later with LOADS of asteroids that you have to blow up

DamienD · 30 March 2021, 11:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrickx1989

Yes, thanks a lot, guys! I'm at mission 10 now and no more problems. It's good that a solution was found, because there's another mission later with LOADS of asteroids that you have to blow up

Great news

DamienD · 30 March 2021, 13:32

Just as an FYI:

"FreespaceUpd68k_1.lha" only updates the "Freespace.exe" file.

"Freespace68k Beta 2.lha" contains an updated "Freespace.exe" file and "ajoy.library".

So really you can skip applying "FreespaceUpd68k_1.lha", and just apply "Freespace68k Beta 2.lha" to have a working / bug free game

DamienD · 30 March 2021, 14:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrickx1989

I'm at mission 10 now and no more problems.

Seems there are 30 single-player missions in campaign mode

A shame that when I purchase this Hyperion they don't give links to a manual... I guess I can just use the one for the PC version.

Also, would be nice if they released the Mission Packs.

Daedalus · 31 March 2021, 11:41

There was no manual with the physical release either unfortunately, though at least there was a reference card cheat sheet on the CD which I printed for the controls. Especially later on, having quick access to lots of different functions is important. The in-game tutorials and briefings seemed to be enough to get a good idea of the story and controls though - further training missions crop up later on IIRC, for dealing with the more complex aspects of the game.

As for the mission packs, I haven't tried them but it appears that someone has ported them: http://www.amigalien.de/freespace/mods.php

Bit of an aside, but I also played through Freespace 2 under OS4, and it's excellent as well

very similar in gameplay with a couple of new features and some updates to the engine. It was open sourced - I wonder it it could be ported to OS3 at some point... The hardware requirements were higher but emulation should handle it no problem.

DamienD · 31 March 2021, 12:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daedalus

As for the mission packs, I haven't tried them but it appears that someone has ported them: http://www.amigalien.de/freespace/mods.php

Coolio, need to try these out

Zarnal · 31 March 2021, 14:47

I just tested it in 68K + Voodoo 3 emulation.
It works but with the usual flickering seen in 68K games with or without JIT / V-sync (Payback for example). It can be reduced but not deleted.
Everything is OK in PPC or 68K full software mode.

Zarnal · 31 March 2021, 15:25

[ Show youtube player ]

DamienD · 31 March 2021, 15:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zarnal

I just tested it in 68K + Voodoo 3 emulation.
It works but with the usual flickering seen in 68K games with or without JIT / V-sync (Payback for example). It can be reduced but not deleted.
Everything is OK in PPC or 68K full software mode.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zarnal

[ Show youtube player ]

Damn, I wouldn't be able to stand that constant flickering

30 March 2021, 13:32	#54
DamienD Banned Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: London / Sydney Age: 47 Posts: 20,420	Just as an FYI: "FreespaceUpd68k_1.lha" only updates the "Freespace.exe" file. "Freespace68k Beta 2.lha" contains an updated "Freespace.exe" file and "ajoy.library". So really you can skip applying "FreespaceUpd68k_1.lha", and just apply "Freespace68k Beta 2.lha" to have a working / bug free game

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29 March 2021, 19:21	#41
Fiery Phoenix Registered User Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Bury, Lancs Age: 47 Posts: 664	Bummer - on the list to play as well Due to the above gave it a go, got through the training missions ok, mine actually crashes on the first proper mission (stage 1 of 5 - finding 12 hostiles) music carries on playing fine, but screen freezes Tried various option in the setup too, before the game loads in the WB options, max memory, low-scale options for animation, etc - always crashes for me

29 March 2021, 19:58	#42
Zarnal Registered User Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: France Posts: 510	To those who have problems: which RTG card are you using? UaeGfx, PIV, other? Which version for the 68040.library or 68060.library? What is the version of your Workbench? A save of your game (where the problem appears) would be useful for me to test.

29 March 2021, 20:26	#45
Fiery Phoenix Registered User Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Bury, Lancs Age: 47 Posts: 664	Same as yours Damien - you actually got it working for me! Yeah sailed through training missions without a hitch. First problem I encountered

29 March 2021, 20:55	#47
jPV Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: RNO Posts: 1,009	Zoned the PPC version of the Beta 2 too, just in case.

29 March 2021, 21:42	#49
jPV Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: RNO Posts: 1,009	Probably because it's still beta

30 March 2021, 08:29	#52
Patrickx1989 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Austria Posts: 50	Yes, thanks a lot, guys! I'm at mission 10 now and no more problems. It's good that a solution was found, because there's another mission later with LOADS of asteroids that you have to blow up

31 March 2021, 11:41	#56
Daedalus Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Dublin, then Glasgow Posts: 6,393	There was no manual with the physical release either unfortunately, though at least there was a reference card cheat sheet on the CD which I printed for the controls. Especially later on, having quick access to lots of different functions is important. The in-game tutorials and briefings seemed to be enough to get a good idea of the story and controls though - further training missions crop up later on IIRC, for dealing with the more complex aspects of the game. As for the mission packs, I haven't tried them but it appears that someone has ported them: http://www.amigalien.de/freespace/mods.php Bit of an aside, but I also played through Freespace 2 under OS4, and it's excellent as well very similar in gameplay with a couple of new features and some updates to the engine. It was open sourced - I wonder it it could be ported to OS3 at some point... The hardware requirements were higher but emulation should handle it no problem.

31 March 2021, 14:47	#58
Zarnal Registered User Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: France Posts: 510	I just tested it in 68K + Voodoo 3 emulation. It works but with the usual flickering seen in 68K games with or without JIT / V-sync (Payback for example). It can be reduced but not deleted. Everything is OK in PPC or 68K full software mode.

31 March 2021, 15:25	#59
Zarnal Registered User Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: France Posts: 510	[ Show youtube player ]

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