DescentBB

Does anyone know if a proper 3D card compatible version or patch was ever released and where it can be got? I would love to play it in 1024x768 with 16 bit textures yum!

Hm ... another disciple ... welcome to the wonderful world of Descent 2 OpenGL!

Just one SMALL issue, I am talking about the all time classic, the FIRST Descent!!

You can play D1 with D2X-W32. Or you can use D1X (Google).

If you are still looking.
Try here.
They have just about everything, including D1x files.

http://www.planetdescent.com/site/files/d1/patches/

That has all the D1 patches, including D1X 1.43 - which has OpenGL support.

It runs quite nicely in Windows XP to my experience, although I'm not positive how stable it is. Still, the mouse handling is quite nice if you use that. The USB joystick handling isn't, but IF you have a 3D Pro...

D2X-W32 should work for most people, regardless of equipment. I have heard of some problems with some though, but not any common reason for it. I haven't tried it out with D1 to date but it sounds like it has all the essentials.

Just tried the patch, does not work! Flashes the following error:

"Error: Not enough strings in text file - expecting 621, found 555"

What on earth is going on??

What is the real killer is I have it working in XP but I cannot get any sound!!

Which patch exactly did you try?

dx143mw.exe
also tried the _oglmw same result strange error message

Last attempt by me to help you here: Get D2X-W32, copy descent.pig to the D2 folder (make sure you have installed the latest D2 patch), and happily play D1.

If you don't want that, good luck with the other Descent versions' bugs.

Uh... what version of Descent are you installing over? You should have version 1.5.

DescentAkuma wrote:Just tried the patch, does not work! Flashes the following error:

"Error: Not enough strings in text file - expecting 621, found 555"

What on earth is going on??

What is the real killer is I have it working in XP but I cannot get any sound!!

Thats because you forgot to patch Descent properly. Download the 1.0 -> 1.4a patch as well as the 1.4x to 1.5 one. Patch the game, and then you'll be able to run D1x.

Lastly, D1x is NOT a patch! It is a third-party PROGRAM. Patches actually modify program data, this doesn't.

Just ran the D1-14a.exe patch got this unusual message when running PATCH.EXE:

"error ept0036: Old File not found. However, a file of the same name was found. No update done since file contents do not match."

What on earth is happening to me??

Forgot to mention the file it could not update was:

DESCENTR.EXE

DescentAkuma,
What Descent package do you have?
Original Descent Package, The Definitive Collection, or The Infinite Abyss?
The last 2 packages.... Descent installs version 1.4a from the CD. So maybe you only need to install the 1.5. However. I did not install the 1.5 patch. Dx143 works well with Descent v1.4a.

P.S.
Look in the Descent folder and open the README.txt file and see what version it says it is.
My README reads something like this:

RELEASE NOTES FOR
DESCENT
REGISTERED/COMMERCIAL 1.4a

Akuma,

descentr.exe being the only file that could not be patched should not pose a problem as it gets replaced by an OpenGL version of D1/D2 anyway. Copy d1x or whatever version you want to try into your Descent folder and try to run it. Then you'll see whether you need to fix that patch problem or not.

DescentAkuma wrote:dx143mw.exe
also tried the _oglmw same result strange error message

Diedel wrote:Akuma,
descentr.exe being the only file that could not be patched should not pose a problem as it gets replaced by an OpenGL version of D1/D2 anyway. Copy d1x or whatever version you want to try into your Descent folder and try to run it. Then you'll see whether you need to fix that patch problem or not.

Diedel.... From memory.... D1x has to be updated to version 1.4a or 1.5 for dx143mw/ oglmw.exe to work. So something isn't right.

DescentAkuma,
The files you d/l..... did they come with a d1x.ini file? If not. Create one (name it d1x.ini) and place the following in the .ini file:
-pps 10
-shortpackets
-noredundancy
-playermessages
-cockpit 2
-msgcolorlevel 3
-GL_MIPMAP
-gl_voodoo
-fullscreen
Save that to the .ini file in your Descent folder.
Then try lanching the dx143.exe or the ogl.exe files to see what happens.

Aus-red,

All in all, the patch fixes a lot more stuff than the just the exe, and as the exe gets replaced, if patching the exe is the only problem, it should not be a hindrance for d1x to work.

I really don't understand why Akuma so stubbornly insists on using d1x, when d2x offers a largely identical D1 experience. Oh well, it's his life.

Do you have to have D2 installed to use D2x-w32 for D1? If so, maybe he doesn't have D2 and thats why he's going the D1x option.
Myself... I use D2x-w32 for my D1 fun.

Aus-RED-5 wrote:Myself... I use D2x-w32 for my D1 fun.

Hm ... looking at your avatar ... that was pretty clear.

Its all abit confusing why does everyone keep going on about D2? I only have d1!

Checked the readme and guess what? yep its 1.4a DOH! hilariously I tried the 1.4a->1.5 patch and got this familar message:

"error ept0036: Old File not found. However, a file of the same name was found. No update done since file contents do not match."

And guess what file thatt was? Yep DESCENTR.EXE again, now considering I have re-installed from scratch before attempting this, what is going on ??

Akuma,

pls read your PM.

Followed instructions EXACTLY when running d2x-32.exe the screen oes blank the returns to windows, is there something I need to setup?

Akuma,

PM pls.

*buries head in hands*

The drama...

Hey Hey!
I got it to work! Yahoo etc. Did a fresh install not from the CD version I got free but from the original floppy disks I bought when Descent first came out.
Patched upto 1.5 used the d1_143_mw patch in XP and hey not only do I get Descent in 1024x768 WITH sound in fullscreen I also got my Saitek Cyborg 3D USB joystick to work with it as well.

Ah the bliss of Descent, all I need know is a level editor I am in complete heaven

Thanks guys for all your help, very much appreciated

Wait; your USB stick works fine in D1X? I was never able to make my Cyborg Evo work properly; the ship turns very sporadically with every motion I make. Did you do anything tricky beyond what you described in your post, or was that just about it? If there's a chance that it can work, then I'll have to try fooling around with the setup again; I want to finally be able to say that I've legitimately beaten D1, even if it is on trainee.

As for a level editor, I believe that Diedel's own DLE-XP is what you're looking for.

Top Gun wrote:As for a level editor, I believe that Diedel's own DLE-XP is what you're looking for.

Umm if I'm not mistaken.... Don't you have to have the full version of Descent Mission Builder 2 to use DLE-XP? If thats the case. Then you'll need to get your hands on the FULL version of Descent Mission Builder 2.
Oh and yes. Diedel's DLE-XP is the REAL DEAL!

In the dark and somewhat cobwebby recess of my mind I seem to remember a editor called Devil?? I think I still have the manual printed out somewhere..

As for the USB joystick, I had the same problem, ship spinning out of control etc. Simply went into the control panel->game controllers deleted all other controllers then re-calibrated the joystick. Ran Descent, still some slight co-ordination problems so re-calibrated again now works fine. Set the joystick sensitvity to full, and assigned only 6 fire buttons because one of the hat directions and 4 of the base switches Descent could not recognise and would assign them to LEFT or RIGHT!

Also the twist function does not work, but hey who cares??

You don't need DMB2 to use DLE-XP. DLE-XP is completely stand-alone.

Devil is still around as well, and someone posted how to make it work under WinXP on this board a while ago -> forum search.

Diedel wrote:Devil is still around as well, and someone posted how to make it work under WinXP on this board a while ago -> forum search.

Devil XP patch availabe!