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Sheldon
Gamorrean
Joined: 03 Dec 2003
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 Posted: Mar 04, 2011 17:41 Post subject: Error msg trying to run DarkXL |
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Hi people!  So glad this board and community is still up. I get "A required .DLL file, D3DX9_32.DLL was not found".
I would appreciate it if anyone could help!
Also, is there any chance anyone will ever come with with a savegame feature for Dark Forces? I would sure like to pick up where I left off.
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sheepandshepherd
Trandoshan
Joined: 01 Apr 2008
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| Posted: Mar 04, 2011 22:06 Post subject: |
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Mmmm, it's a DirectX problem. Have you tried redownloading the newest version? Here is the link from lucius's DarkXL blog post.
In-game saving is planned for DarkXL, IIRC. One of the things I'm most looking forward to, especially for some of the longer custom levels 
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Sheldon
Gamorrean
Joined: 03 Dec 2003
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| Posted: Mar 04, 2011 22:27 Post subject: |
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Hmmmm.. I just went there, and it looks like you need windows XP or higher. Right now, I'm playing Dark Forces on my new W98 gaming machine in pure DOS. So I would assume that DarkXL must be played in DOSBOX with an XP machine or higher.
I do have an XP computer too, but I had joystick problems with the hat under DOSBOX. I just love playing Dark Forces with my old gameport Top Gun Thrustmaster joystick.
I am SO GLAD to hear about a possible save game.. if the creater of DarkXL sees this PLEASE PLEASE make a savegame.
I guess I'll see what happens on my XP computer with DarkXL later.
BTW, it seems the projects area is kapoot. Are there any new projects in the works? I remember years ago when the projects area was full of life with upcoming new levels.
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lucius
DarkXL Developer
Joined: 17 Feb 2008
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sheepandshepherd
Trandoshan
Joined: 01 Apr 2008
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| Posted: Mar 04, 2011 23:12 Post subject: |
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Mmm, it may be a problem anyway if you want to play it with a joystick, since DarkXL doesn't have joystick support yet. Lucius definitely has classic DF controls planned, so joystick support might make it in as well.
There hasn't been much going on here other than DarkXL lately, but I do know there are a still a few projects going. I'm working on my first one, but some of the older forum members will probably finish theirs sooner.
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The MAZZTer
Death Star
Joined: 25 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Mar 05, 2011 03:30 Post subject: |
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DarkXL is a native Windows application, and it requires DirectX9. The latest version of DirectX to support 98 is 8.1 or something.
You're running a 13 year old operating system; lots of new software won't even run on anything older than 2000 or XP. Not to mention Microsoft no longer patches 98, there's probably plenty of known exploits in a fully-patched install. You should upgrade.
[Edit: Oh it's your special legacy OS box... why not run Windows 98 in a VM, unless you're running Windows games or something? Anyways don't do anything on the Internet with it.  ]
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http://www.mzzt.net/ | I am a respectable admin with a respectable sig. |
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Sheldon
Gamorrean
Joined: 03 Dec 2003
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| Posted: Mar 05, 2011 03:36 Post subject: NO joystick??? Darn. |
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I was just ready to try out DarkXL on my XP computer, seeing that it seems to be an alternative to DOSBOX, when I read there is no joystick support.
Lucius, PLEASE make full joystick support. I don't play computer games without a joystick. To me, using the hat to see up and down, strafe left and right makes the game, as well as moving and using the fire button.
As for the savegame, here is a compromise that preserves the value of extra lives: allow saves ONLY when you lose a life.
That way, the original intent of Dark Forces is preserved, and at least you can resume the game a limited number of times.
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lucius
DarkXL Developer
Joined: 17 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Mar 05, 2011 04:24 Post subject: Re: NO joystick??? Darn. |
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Sheldon wrote:
I was just ready to try out DarkXL on my XP computer, seeing that it seems to be an alternative to DOSBOX, when I read there is no joystick support.
Lucius, PLEASE make full joystick support. I don't play computer games without a joystick. To me, using the hat to see up and down, strafe left and right makes the game, as well as moving and using the fire button.
As for the savegame, here is a compromise that preserves the value of extra lives: allow saves ONLY when you lose a life.
That way, the original intent of Dark Forces is preserved, and at least you can resume the game a limited number of times.
For in-level saves there are plenty of alternative options that can be explored, I just meant that it would wait until after the Beta is released. Ideas include:
* Spend extra lives - whenever you save it takes one life away.
* Save anytime, but only at checkpoints.
* Quicksave when you quit, quick restore when you come back. This way you can continue where you left off but otherwise the gameplay is exactly the same.
* And the obvious one, just allow save and load anytime like most FPSs. But leave it as an option that must be enabled, so people can experience the vanilla behavior if desired.
As for joystick support, that can be added in the future. I don't actually own a joystick anymore so it'll have to wait a while though.
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DarkXL....http://darkxl.wordpress.com |
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Sheldon
Gamorrean
Joined: 03 Dec 2003
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| Posted: Mar 05, 2011 14:10 Post subject: |
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Hi again Lucius! I do think the save game feature should preserve the whole concept of extra lives. To me spending a life to save a game would be more than enough - as long as I have some means of starting a level besides the beginning. I was just playing Jungles, one of my favorites, but I didn't finish it. To have to start from the beginning .... GRRRRRR 
About the joystick, would it speed things up if I sent you one or made a donation for the amount? (I remember though it wasn't working for you yet when I sent a $50 donation and it went to Fenwar. He wrote me and I think he sent half to you after I told him make it half and half for his past work).
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lucius
DarkXL Developer
Joined: 17 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Mar 06, 2011 02:28 Post subject: |
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Sheldon wrote:
Hi again Lucius! I do think the save game feature should preserve the whole concept of extra lives. To me spending a life to save a game would be more than enough - as long as I have some means of starting a level besides the beginning. I was just playing Jungles, one of my favorites, but I didn't finish it. To have to start from the beginning .... GRRRRRR
About the joystick, would it speed things up if I sent you one or made a donation for the amount? (I remember though it wasn't working for you yet when I sent a $50 donation and it went to Fenwar. He wrote me and I think he sent half to you after I told him make it half and half for his past work).
You can donate anything you want of course, use the donate buttons on either blog http://darkxl.wordpress.com/. However making a donation is not required to get a feature you want, though is always helpful to the project. I have a friend with a joystick who is willing to lend it to me, so no troubles there. However it will have to wait until after the initial Beta release - I already have enough to do for that still.
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DarkXL....http://darkxl.wordpress.com |
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Sheldon
Gamorrean
Joined: 03 Dec 2003
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| Posted: Mar 06, 2011 03:03 Post subject: |
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Sob Sob SOb  I would of liked to play Dark Forces when your Beta is released.. but I'm glad at least you will keep it in mind. I just can't enjoy playing DF without the joystick.
But hey, I've just been playing DF96 and how wonderfull to play the mission pack again... I just love the game. It plays great on my W98 gaming machine with my trusted Top Gun Thrustmaster joystick!
Best of luck with your DarkXL project, and I hope many people really appreciate it.
(And woops.. that $50 split was between Fenwar and the manager of DF-21.. may of been someone else.)
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Burning Gundam
Kell Dragon
Joined: 28 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Mar 06, 2011 08:09 Post subject: |
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May have been TheMAZZter that went to.
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I don't think outside the box... I customize it. |
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The MAZZTer
Death Star
Joined: 25 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Mar 07, 2011 01:51 Post subject: |
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I think you mean lucius, IIRC he's paying for the server now, so he should probably get it.
My contributions have been to help manage the user activation, and I also hacked in a fix during a particularly nasty bot registration swarm to help filter them out.
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http://www.mzzt.net/ | I am a respectable admin with a respectable sig. |
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Burning Gundam
Kell Dragon
Joined: 28 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Mar 07, 2011 04:04 Post subject: |
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I misread Sheldon's last post, my bad.
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I don't think outside the box... I customize it. |
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Sheldon
Gamorrean
Joined: 03 Dec 2003
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| Posted: Mar 07, 2011 15:13 Post subject: Just made another donation.. |
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Lucius I just went to your DarkXL site, and used penpay to donate another $50, this time directly to you.
But PRETTY PLEASE WITH SUGAR think about the joystick support and a savegame that preserves the value of extra lives.
To me, the savegame is far more important than upgraded graphics, and I only play with a joystick.
In Dark Forces, when you die you lose a life, so restarting if you die at the previous checkpoint without losing a life would ruin the true intent of the game.
I do think that spending a life to save the game would really preserve the original intent of Dark Forces while allowing to save at any point. Sort of the same idea as saving when you lose a life, except you don't have to bother find a cliff to jump off!
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Burning Gundam
Kell Dragon
Joined: 28 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Mar 08, 2011 03:39 Post subject: |
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I don't think he was intending to remove it completely, I think he was just planning on implementing it as an option to keep up with the way most FPSs are doing checkpoints. If I remember correctly it was one of 3 options or something.
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I don't think outside the box... I customize it. |
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klasodeth
Trandoshan
Joined: 03 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Mar 08, 2011 05:44 Post subject: Re: Just made another donation.. |
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Sheldon wrote:
Lucius I just went to your DarkXL site, and used penpay to donate another $50, this time directly to you.
But PRETTY PLEASE WITH SUGAR think about the joystick support and a savegame that preserves the value of extra lives.
To me, the savegame is far more important than upgraded graphics, and I only play with a joystick.
In Dark Forces, when you die you lose a life, so restarting if you die at the previous checkpoint without losing a life would ruin the true intent of the game.
I do think that spending a life to save the game would really preserve the original intent of Dark Forces while allowing to save at any point. Sort of the same idea as saving when you lose a life, except you don't have to bother find a cliff to jump off!
Since you're waiting for joystick support before playing, I guess you aren't aware of this, but DarkXL already supports the same checkpoint system used by Dark Forces. When you die, you lose a life and start at the last checkpoint. When you run out of lives, you have to start all over from the beginning of the level. Any save system will be optional. Since the original checkpoint/lives system will be in place by default, I don't think there's much point in worrying about what save system gets incorporated. The system that is intended to be 100% faithful to Lucasarts' original intent has already been implemented, and so far is the only option available to players. No matter what additional save system(s) get implemented, the original system that is faithful to Dark Forces will remain available for players to use if desired.
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Sheldon
Gamorrean
Joined: 03 Dec 2003
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| Posted: Mar 08, 2011 17:02 Post subject: |
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Oh boy  that was paypal of course.
And yeah, any kind of savegame where you just can't go back to a checkpoint without losing a life. To me, if you press "save" and a screen comes up "spend a life to save the game?" that would be just fine.
The thing is, what I can't stand about Dark Forces is the lack of any save feature whatsoever. If you are playing a long brilliant level like Mt. Kurek, you just GOTTA be able to save once or twice.
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Burning Gundam
Kell Dragon
Joined: 28 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Mar 09, 2011 04:59 Post subject: |
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I think it's because Lucas Arts never intended their levels to be made in such size and magnitude to need such a feature. Average DF level created by users has anywhere between 2x - 10x the size of a regular DF level. I'm sure if Lucas Arts had anticipated community content to be created as such it would have been implemented long ago. Fortunately as the levels got larger in their later games (Jedi Knight comes to mind) they did have the sense to add a save-game feature since the levels had now become longer and more intricate.
Honestly with the lives and checkpoint system in place for DF I don't see an issue with leaving it as is.
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I don't think outside the box... I customize it. |
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