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Post by Gendo Ikari on Oct 6, 2012 0:53:59 GMT -5
www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=140085Apparently there was a leak of the source code through shady means some time ago, which explains the equally shady way whoever made these patches used to post them (and for this reason more than someone thought it was an hoax at first): he registered to some French forum and left them there. Other rumors say there's some of the original programmers behind. Whatever happened, I tried the SS2 patch (you first have to use the original v2.3 patch and then put in the contents of this one). Until now, you had to use a lot of fixes and workarounds to make the game run, there's the excellent SS2Tool but still. The new executable runs on all Windows version up to Seven, and no more playback problems with the movies too. I immediately set up a widescreen resolution (32 bit color is now supported) and noticed no problems with how the interface adjusted to it, and there's full mousewheel support too. There's still more to find - the new cfg files have explicative notes but they're not always clear of the range of values for some options. On top of that, the archive contains the source code, and modified versions of the editors to accomodate all the engine improvements. While these games have always got active fanbases, they could have been given a new youth now. If only the problems with SS2's rights were resolved.
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Post by X-pert74 on Oct 6, 2012 2:53:18 GMT -5
I'm really glad these patches were released. When I get around to checking out the Thief series, I'll be sure to use these patches (the Thief 2 patch apparently can also work with the first Thief game). And, if System Shock 2's rights ever get cleared, it's good to know that a working version of the game can be had  |
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Post by Gendo Ikari on Oct 6, 2012 4:54:36 GMT -5
Among other things, the patches now allow the games to be run under Win emulation environments in Mac and Linux with little problem, and modders are already enthusiastic for the new features and the many limitations that don't apply anymore; it helps that the new editor's documentation is incredibly rich. Also, it seems most of the pre-existing cosmetic enhancement mods work with it already, to the point this mysterious Le Corbeau released "showcase" demos for both titles - and reappeared just for a quick editor fix. I'll have to check in the next days and weeks because I'm sure there will be even more developments.
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Post by susanismyalias on Oct 6, 2012 10:04:25 GMT -5
This is delightful.
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lightingman
Full Member
Shh I'm hunting Zekes
Posts: 162
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Post by lightingman on Oct 6, 2012 21:10:44 GMT -5
Is there a specific way you need to install it I have all of the other stuff to run SS2, but I do not know if this needs to be installed in a specific way as it is all in FRENCH.
I appreciate it.
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Post by Gendo Ikari on Oct 7, 2012 4:14:25 GMT -5
The included documentation is all in English. I installed the game (although you may also just copy all the "SHOCK" folder from the game CD on the disk, I heard), applied the official V2.3 patch (it's easy to find), then I extracted the contents of two of the smaller archives inside the patch archive, contrib.zip and new_dark.zip, in the game's folder. After that, the game runs fine.
By the way, the SS2Tool I mentioned in the OP has been updated to support the 2.4 patch too.
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lightingman
Full Member
Shh I'm hunting Zekes
Posts: 162
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Post by lightingman on Oct 7, 2012 17:33:30 GMT -5
alright just wondering I used it and it seems fine. I thought everything was going to be in french my bad.
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lightingman
Full Member
Shh I'm hunting Zekes
Posts: 162
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Post by lightingman on Oct 7, 2012 17:43:27 GMT -5
Just got word the old sound artist for SS2 has released all the original dual audio tracks. The music originally had two parts two the audio. From what I read the audio can be implemented into the game and SS2 will be complete. www.robotkid.com/systemshock2/ |
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Post by retr0gamer on Oct 7, 2012 18:33:58 GMT -5
Does this patch make the Fog work in Thief 2? I had trouble getting fog working previously. Must give this a try, I hope it allows EAX sound on newer sound hardware.
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Post by aganar on Oct 7, 2012 21:57:09 GMT -5
Very nice! Having bought the Thief games but never played them, I am delighted that I will be able to give them a go with these improvements.
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Post by jorpho on Oct 9, 2012 0:14:14 GMT -5
I look forward to when the Mysterious Details regarding the provenance of this patch come to light. (Maybe by the time that happens I'll actually have played either of these. There's bound to be further revisions coming up in the near future, anyway.)
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Post by Gendo Ikari on Oct 9, 2012 4:50:34 GMT -5
One great option I found in the cam_ext.cfg file is the one to set the HUD at a lower resolution than the 3D view (you have to remove the semicfolon at the beginning of the line to activate it). This way the text is more readable - and you can also scroll text windows with the mousewheel now.
I also tried some mods (SS2Tool to make the game mod-ready and the Mod Manager tool to easily install and remove them are really useful) but as I feared their level of completion is often just partial and while the efforts are appreciable the end results are often jarring, so much I'll probably end up using the vanilla game anyway - or the humand models pack at least (the originals are bad even for 1999 standards).
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Post by jorpho on Oct 9, 2012 10:43:24 GMT -5
or the humand models pack at least (the originals are bad even for 1999 standards). Is that Rebirth? (Was that ever even finished?) |
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Post by Snarboo on Oct 9, 2012 10:52:13 GMT -5
Is that Rebirth? (Was that ever even finished?) It wasn't, no. I seem to remember the author wasn't able to finish it because he was hired by Arkane Studios. Might be misremembering, though! |
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