DXWnd made easy

[MarkShot]

A standard HDMI cable which I think most video cards support these days. However, my NEC 21" LCD is quite old. That is using a DVI-D cable (you can get an adapter for HDMI===>DVI-D as it the same video signal, but without the sound track).

[Zovs]

Got it, thanks, +1 and all that lol

Will still have to wait on the TV thing for while...

[OldSarge]

Got it going, thank you for the instructions!

I did have to set the DxWnd executable to run in admin mode to get it to clear the Compatibility Flag and be able to get the games serial number. Now to figure out how to get the mouse speed toned down a bit.

[MarkShot]

Although not simple, DXWND is the DOSBOX of older DirectX games.

The more you go back to revisit legacy titles, you realize is that game concept and execution was just as good. Mainly, the difference is UI and graphics.

EDBTR is very rich, but lacks the modern touch of WITE-2. Hopefully, Richard plans to keep the kernel engine and complete redo UI, resolution, and graphics. I am waiting buy my to buy first title from Simo Sims!

Go, Richard, go!

[simovitch]

Hopefully, Richard plans to keep the kernel engine and complete redo UI, resolution, and graphics.

The only way that would happen is if the developers of 2by3/WITE-2 take it on, in which case I would maybe consider being part of the team but not the lead.

[MarkShot]

Richard,

I watched this video about two weeks ago.

An Entire Computer Science Degree in 12 Minutes

https://youtu.be/EJiVWoFk8GA

It was surprisingly well done. Could 12 minutes be equal to a 4 year degree? Absolutely not. But it was an excellent topic survey of most of the curriculum. Based on how much you recognize in the video, you can measure what percentage your self education compares to a formal education.

The Web and open source is a fantastic educational resource. Everything from LINUX to 30 years of chess engine development is open source. It is a chance to see hardcore code examples in the wild, and not toy problems which appear in books and classes.

We are in the age of AI and robotics. People speak of the AI Singularity (see Ray Kurzweil for coining the term). Not since the industrial revolution will any event be so disruptive to the labor force. Your best insurance to not get completely blind side is to surf evolving and tech, and not have it wash over you.

Thank you for your EDBTR efforts!

[demyansk]

I had this working at one time and just re installed the game. I get a large screen and nothing. I have to control alt delete. not sure if its my monitor at 2560x1440 but I cant even get to options
what do you think?
\

[simovitch]

try re-setting the path to the btr.exe and see if that works. right-click the stuka icon and select modify.

[markvacc1]

Why don't they patch and fix the game so we don't have to do any of this? That is what a designer does to support his game.

[MarkShot]

The game is neither supported by Matrix/Slitherine (publisher) or 2by3 (developer).

The team like Mr. Simonvitch above are generous volunteers who have been granted access to the source to improve it. It is not open source, and IP rights and right of sale has not changed. It is sold "as is". You can think of it as an END OF LIFE game which has group of modders working on; and the publisher has agreed to bundle the mods.

So, in fact, if you are a fan of the title, you are very lucky. I personally know Mr. Simonvitch, and he is not a professional software engineer; learning as he goes, and doing quite well I might add.

[Zovs]

The game is neither supported by Matrix/Slitherine (publisher) or 2by3 (developer).

The team like Mr. Simonvitch above are generous volunteers who have been granted access to the source to improve it. It is not open source, and IP rights and right of sale has not changed. It is sold "as is". You can think of it as an END OF LIFE game which has group of modders working on; and the publisher has agreed to bundle the mods.

So, in fact, if you are a fan of the title, you are very lucky. I personally know Mr. Simonvitch, and he is not a professional software engineer; learning as he goes, and doing quite well I might add.

Well said Mark.

Same goes for quite a few titles from MG that have reached 'end of life', namely TOAW IV, WITP-AE, WITE-1, WITW, GG-WAW, etc.

[warshipbuilder]

For the record, there is a grand total of 4 of us trying to keep this game going/improving. We are not professional game designers or developers, just fans of ED/BTR, with lives outside of a computer.

[simovitch]

The team like Mr. Simonvitch above are generous volunteers

For the record, it's "Simonitch" but believe me we've been called worse.

[MarkShot]

Richard,

Sorry. I have become scared of using names. On Reddit, to use a first name not published, is a "doxing" banning offense. But I suppose "Mr." is also problematic these days as well.

Each day the USA's culture becomes more Alice in Wonderland. I am really too old.

[MarkShot]

For the record, there is a grand total of 4 of us trying to keep this game going/improving. We are not professional game designers or developers, just fans of ED/BTR, with lives outside of a computer.

I will tell you the biggest shock to me of my career as a professional. It was the arrival of the WWW after 1995. I always designed & developed for captive corporate users. Could they complain about the system? Of course. BUT GOOD LUCK!!!

But when the WWW came in human factors took on a whole new importance. You had all of 10 seconds to capture eye balls or they clicked off into space. THIS WAS A CHANGE!!! The consumer experience had a big impact back on corporate users and their sense of empowerment vis-a-vis the corporate IT departments developing for them.

I imagine the arrival of AI is a similar shock for those in the field, but then I have been retired for years already.

[simovitch]

If the game still runs sluggish after doing all the above, try this:

Don't double click the BTR icon in Dxwnd. Just single click (highlight) the icon, minimize Dxwnd and then start the game normally.

I was having problems on my laptop and this worked. Apparently as long as you highlight the BTR icon in Dxwnd, the injector thingy is set to automatically "hook" to btr.exe, so you can run EDBTR from the matrix game menu.

In fact, I would think this is the best way to run the game; with Dxwnd residing in the background.

I can't guarantee anything though.

[MarkShot]

I was doing that, but you need to still start DXWND first.

So, DXWND monitors and senses the launch of a target compared to something RESHADE which I think does alter the EXE to contain some form of bootstrap.

Good to see you are still working on it.

Richard since we last spoke, I built my first PC. An accomplishment I am very proud of. Not only for what I needed to learn and solve, but it was challenge my age with vision of small parts and with tremors in my hands. But I did it.

[sardou]

Hi simovitch and everyone , happy new year !

——>I purchased the game on september 2009!
I project to re-install the game on a new PC under Windows 10 …
And i have read several times this thread
But I found two methods for using DXWnd
Version 1
-apply the 1-5 points from your post Tue Mar 12,2019 11:16 pm which indicates clear the compatibility flags

Version 2
-proceed to clear the compatibility flags
-then use directly the tip with the settings according your picture in attachment below

What do you recommand version 1 or 2
Maybe one or the other is more interesting ?

——>I also take this opportunity to ask if we can install the VIP 1.0 on the game patched with the last version 1.06.77 ??


Thanks for your help

And here are the settings in Dxwn :

[simovitch]

Hi sardou,
I would first load the edbtr dxwnd settings file that comes with the patch and see if that improves things (version 1)

If it works, keep it as a base setting and either "leave well enough alone" or apply version 2 changes.

Each machine is different so its hard to get a "one size fits all".

Once you have dxwnd working, remember that you just need to have the EDBTR icon highlighted on the dxwnd panel, don't double click it.

[sardou]

Hi again simovitch
Great ! It’s ok i will follow your advise

And for the second point, maybe could you enlighten me ??
——>I also take this opportunity to ask if we can install the VIP 1.0 on the game patched with the last version 1.06.77 ??

Many thanks indeed