D2X-XL Q&A

D2X-XL - Descent II update for modern systems with many new features and enhanced graphics. Home Page

Moderators: Grendel, Aus-RED-5

User avatar
Diedel
D2X Master
D2X Master
Posts: 5278
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Contact:

Post by Diedel »

Did you set #define RENDER2TEXTURE to 0 in include/ogl_init.h?

From all Linux distros Debian has the most problems with D2X-XL. Makes me believe that distro seriously sucks.
User avatar
ducon
DBB Cadet
DBB Cadet
Posts: 17
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2006 4:27 am

Re:

Post by ducon »

Diedel wrote: Did you set #define RENDER2TEXTURE to 0 in include/ogl_init.h?
Yes, of course.
From all Linux distros Debian has the most problems with D2X-XL. Makes me believe that distro seriously sucks.
Gah, no. Your source may not be very portable (your fault, your fault, not mine… :lol:)
a shell, an imp
User avatar
Diedel
D2X Master
D2X Master
Posts: 5278
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Contact:

Post by Diedel »

It's not my fault if Debian supports neither OpenGL 2.0 nor the 1.4 extensions.

Next read time read the entire compilation instructions. :P
User avatar
ducon
DBB Cadet
DBB Cadet
Posts: 17
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2006 4:27 am

Re:

Post by ducon »

Diedel wrote: It's not my fault if Debian supports neither OpenGL 2.0 nor the 1.4 extensions.
Is it Debian or the nVidia 7174 driver?
Next read time read the entire compilation instructions. :P
Ouch, not in the teeth!
a shell, an imp
User avatar
Diedel
D2X Master
D2X Master
Posts: 5278
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Contact:

Post by Diedel »

No, it was the nose. The teeth are too hard. ;)

It's not the driver. The driver is interfaced by a library that has to be installed on your OS.

Often, if OpenGL 2.0 isn't installed, 1.4 is and you can access the functions missing for you by loading them with explicit calls to SDL_GetProcAddress(). Enabling the code bracketed in #ifdef _WIN32 ... #endif does exactly that (on MS Windows, there is only OpenGL 1.4 available).

You can also try to replace includes of <GL/GLext.h> by main/glext.h in include/ogl_init.h.
User avatar
ducon
DBB Cadet
DBB Cadet
Posts: 17
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2006 4:27 am

Post by ducon »

Descent 2 really needs OpenGL 2?
a shell, an imp
User avatar
Diedel
D2X Master
D2X Master
Posts: 5278
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Contact:

Post by Diedel »

Only for rendering to textures, which will speed up camera rendering. For standard levels, you can do without that. Just #define RENDER2TEXTURE 0 in ogl_init.h. You will still have camera views, just with some pretty hefty impact on framerates (if camera view in sight).
User avatar
Peter
DBB Ace
DBB Ace
Posts: 71
Joined: Fri Sep 20, 2002 2:01 am
Location: Austin, Texas
Contact:

Post by Peter »

Hey, I think I remember there being iTunes support in D2X that if you had a certain playlist called something (like maybe \"D2X\") you could play the music in there from the game. Is there something like that in D2X-XL? Was there even something like that in D2X and I am just getting confused with something else?
User avatar
Diedel
D2X Master
D2X Master
Posts: 5278
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Contact:

Post by Diedel »

iTunes support was implemented in the OS X branch of D2X. D2X-XL contains SDL_mixer support which allows me to add mp3 and ogg vorbis playback, but I haven't come around to implement that yet.
User avatar
Escorter
DBB Ace
DBB Ace
Posts: 253
Joined: Wed Nov 30, 2005 4:50 am

Post by Escorter »

What the hell is the \"Fusion power\" slider in the gameplay options menu? It seems to have no effect. :?
User avatar
Diedel
D2X Master
D2X Master
Posts: 5278
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Contact:

Post by Diedel »

It should increase the damage the Fusion cannon does. At least it did that a long time ago, when I implemented it.
User avatar
Yogi
DBB Ace
DBB Ace
Posts: 26
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2006 1:12 pm

D2X-XL file structure for D1 and D2

Post by Yogi »

Hello,

As best as I could, I placed my D2 and D1 files in the folders config, data, demos, missions, movies, profiles, savegames. Where should I place my D1 files *.HOG ,*.MSN, and *.MVL files?

Also, is it correct to place my D2 *.MSN2 files in the MISSIONS folder? Sorry for asking - it's been too many years since I played D1 and D2!

Thanks!

:)
User avatar
Diedel
D2X Master
D2X Master
Posts: 5278
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Contact:

Post by Diedel »

Place the D1 data files in the data folder too. Missions go into the missions folder. :)
User avatar
Yogi
DBB Ace
DBB Ace
Posts: 26
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2006 1:12 pm

Re:

Post by Yogi »

Diedel wrote:Place the D1 data files in the data folder too. Missions go into the missions folder. :)
Thanks Diedel for D2X-XL! OK, I don't know what are data files and mission files in Descent - it's been too many years since I had this game on my PC. My files/folders are organized as shown:

Folders:
config => all *.INI, *.CFG files
data => all *.256, *.HAM, *.HOG, *.PIG, *.S11, *.S22 files
demos => all *.DEM files
missions => all *.MSN, *.MN2 files
movies => all *.MVL files
profiles => all *.PLR files
readme => all *.TXT, *.DOC files
savegames => all *.SG# files
screenshots => all *.TGA files

Root folder:
all *.ADV, *.EXE, *.B50, *.M50, *.HXM, *.PHX, *.DLL, *.BAT, *.PL, *.RDL, *.386 files.

Note that my *.HOG and *.MSN (*.MN2) files are not in the same folder, even though Parallax Software places these together in the same folder by default.

I am having the following problems:
1) In D2 (and probably in D1 too), I can fly right through the mine walls! It becomes pitch dark and renders this game unplayable! :(

2) I can play Descent 1 First Strike, save a D1 level, but can't reload the D1 level!

3) After ALT-TAB or using the keyboard's START button to minimize D2X-XL (Descent game), I try to get back into the game but my screen is totally blank! I hear the sound effects, and that's it.

EDIT:
4) (Added) Descent 1 and 2 have these exact filenames: EREGCARD.EXE, PCXVIEW.EXE, DESCENTG.INI, EREGCARD.INI. Does D2X-XL care which Descent game those files come from?

I appreciate any help I can get!

Thanks!

:)
User avatar
Diedel
D2X Master
D2X Master
Posts: 5278
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Contact:

Post by Diedel »

All hog files except descent.hog and descent2.hog have to go to the missions folder. Same for hxm files.

descentg.ini and eregcard.ini are ignored by d2x-xl.

eregcard.exe is a registration program. You can delete it. pcxview.exe is for viewing images in pcx format. Not required for playing Descent 1/2.

Please repost the bug reports in the appropriate bug report thread.
User avatar
Yogi
DBB Ace
DBB Ace
Posts: 26
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2006 1:12 pm

Re:

Post by Yogi »

Diedel wrote:All hog files except descent.hog and descent2.hog have to go to the missions folder. Same for hxm files.

descentg.ini and eregcard.ini are ignored by d2x-xl.

eregcard.exe is a registration program. You can delete it. pcxview.exe is for viewing images in pcx format. Not required for playing Descent 1/2.

Please repost the bug reports in the appropriate bug report thread.
Diedel,

Do you mean the *.HXM, *.MSN, *.MN2 files go to my "missions" folder too ?

And, you meant to say descent2.hog and descent.hog go to my "data" folder?

Since you did not comment on my other files and their locations, can I conclude their locations are correct?

I'll post my other issues in the bug report - after I correct some of my file structure....

Thanks again!
:)
User avatar
Diedel
D2X Master
D2X Master
Posts: 5278
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Contact:

Post by Diedel »

Oops, that was ambiguous. hxm -> data. Apart from that, correct interpretation.
User avatar
Yogi
DBB Ace
DBB Ace
Posts: 26
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2006 1:12 pm

Re:

Post by Yogi »

Diedel wrote:Oops, that was ambiguous. hxm -> data. Apart from that, correct interpretation.
Thank you for your help Diedel! Now, could you update your installation page with these details so others like me will know better!

:D
User avatar
Yogi
DBB Ace
DBB Ace
Posts: 26
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2006 1:12 pm

D2X.ini

Post by Yogi »

Diedel,

Within the D2X ini file, do you allow spaces between switch commands? I want to \"organize\" my ini file so that I can locate items faster - :)

thanks!
User avatar
Diedel
D2X Master
D2X Master
Posts: 5278
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Contact:

Post by Diedel »

Do you mean blank lines? If so, yes.
User avatar
Escorter
DBB Ace
DBB Ace
Posts: 253
Joined: Wed Nov 30, 2005 4:50 am

Post by Escorter »

After I exited from Descent 1 Level 27 (the final level), the end \"movie\" not played. Why?
User avatar
Diedel
D2X Master
D2X Master
Posts: 5278
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Contact:

Post by Diedel »

Exit sequences turned off anybody?
User avatar
Escorter
DBB Ace
DBB Ace
Posts: 253
Joined: Wed Nov 30, 2005 4:50 am

Post by Escorter »

I mean the final movie (\"Craft lurches when I spark the subluminal engine...\")
User avatar
Diedel
D2X Master
D2X Master
Posts: 5278
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Contact:

Post by Diedel »

Escorter,

the D1 support of D2X-XL is by no means perfect. It doesn't use the original AI, it doesn't use the original sounds, not even all textures are right. It never even will due to technical reasons. Maybe you simply don't have the movie file in the proper folder. I don't even know how D1 movies are stored.

D2X-XL is about being able to play D2, and particularly multiplayer. Most of my efforts have gone into that - see UDP/IP support, automatic level download, new game modes.
User avatar
Escorter
DBB Ace
DBB Ace
Posts: 253
Joined: Wed Nov 30, 2005 4:50 am

Re:

Post by Escorter »

Diedel wrote:I don't even know how D1 movies are stored.
Movies? It's not a movie. It's a text sequence, like D2 Vertigo's end sequence.
User avatar
Diedel
D2X Master
D2X Master
Posts: 5278
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Contact:

Post by Diedel »

How exciting. :P
User avatar
Escorter
DBB Ace
DBB Ace
Posts: 253
Joined: Wed Nov 30, 2005 4:50 am

Post by Escorter »

Okay, I'm understand. D2X-XL is for D2, the D1 support is just a little improvement. It's sad to hear, because there are no usefull D1 win32 ports. :(
User avatar
Diedel
D2X Master
D2X Master
Posts: 5278
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Contact:

Post by Diedel »

If you think, a scrolling text at the end of the D1 mission is the essential feature of Descent 1, well ... shrug.
User avatar
Escorter
DBB Ace
DBB Ace
Posts: 253
Joined: Wed Nov 30, 2005 4:50 am

Post by Escorter »

No I don't think it's an essential feature. But you said:
Diedel wrote:It doesn't use the original AI, it doesn't use the original sounds, not even all textures are right.
In a nutshell: the D1 support in D2X-XL is just a D1 "mod" for D2. :cry:
User avatar
Diedel
D2X Master
D2X Master
Posts: 5278
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Contact:

Post by Diedel »

Yes.

Imho, D2 >> D1. :P
User avatar
Aus-RED-5
DBB Friend
DBB Friend
Posts: 1604
Joined: Fri Apr 23, 2004 7:27 am
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Contact:

Re:

Post by Aus-RED-5 »

Diedel wrote:Yes.

Imho, D2 >> D1. :P
heh
Don't you mean D2 >> D1? :P
User avatar
Diedel
D2X Master
D2X Master
Posts: 5278
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Contact:

Post by Diedel »

Ooh, 1337 gfx sk1llz0r strike again! Yessir, of course! :mrgreen:
User avatar
Top Gun
DBB Master
DBB Master
Posts: 8099
Joined: Wed Nov 13, 2002 3:01 am

Post by Top Gun »

Escorter, if you're looking for a D1 upgrade, try the DXX Project.
User avatar
Escorter
DBB Ace
DBB Ace
Posts: 253
Joined: Wed Nov 30, 2005 4:50 am

Post by Escorter »

Thanks! I never heard of it, but it's cool!

Now another D2X-XL question: how can I edit the .fnt font files? Is there any font editor for this format?
User avatar
Diedel
D2X Master
D2X Master
Posts: 5278
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Contact:

Post by Diedel »

I don't know.
User avatar
Escorter
DBB Ace
DBB Ace
Posts: 253
Joined: Wed Nov 30, 2005 4:50 am

Post by Escorter »

Great! :D
User avatar
Diedel
D2X Master
D2X Master
Posts: 5278
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Contact:

Post by Diedel »

I replied to let you know that your question didn't go unnoticed or got ignored. ;)
User avatar
Escorter
DBB Ace
DBB Ace
Posts: 253
Joined: Wed Nov 30, 2005 4:50 am

Post by Escorter »

No problem. I found a guy in the DXX-Rebirth forum, who started to translate both D1 and D2 to german. I think he can help me with the font editing.
User avatar
Diedel
D2X Master
D2X Master
Posts: 5278
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Contact:

Post by Diedel »

You don't need to edit fonts for such a translation.
User avatar
Escorter
DBB Ace
DBB Ace
Posts: 253
Joined: Wed Nov 30, 2005 4:50 am

Post by Escorter »

But I want to translate Descent to hungarian, and I need special characters (é, á, ő, ú, ű, etc.).
Post Reply