******************************************************************************
|   Descent 1 3DFX Voodoo patch    | Matt Kellner (Dorsola the Dolphin)      |
|      Code by Stefan Wiegand      | dorsola@lightspeed.net                  |
|Published in 98 by Descent Network| http://www.descent2.com/dorsola/        |
|----------------------------------|                                         |
|           Documentation          |     Written at the request of the       |
| FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions |         Descent Network Team            |
******************************************************************************


                                                        Last Updated: 08/29/98


   Please visit the following URLs for the latest and most up-to-date FAQ
                updates and announcements concerning D1_3DFX:

                 http://www.descent2.com/dorsola/d1_3dfx.htm
                 http://www.descent2.com/patches/d1_3dfx/faq



Table of Contents
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
General Questions
Multiplayer Issues
Single-Player Issues
Controller Issues
Graphics Issues
Sound Issues
Legal/Copyright Info
Contact Information


General Questions
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Q: What is D1_3DFX?

A: D1_3DFX, similar to D2_3DFX (http://www.descent2.com/dorsola/d23dfx.htm) is
   an update to Descent 1, optimized for 3D accelerator cards using the 3Dfx
   chipsets Voodoo Graphics, Voodoo Rush and Voodoo2 chipsets.  It allows you
   to play Descent 1 like NEVER before!  It provides 640x480 and 800x600
   support with blazing speed and clarity, even on a Voodoo1-based card.

   In addition to the higher resolutions, D1_3DFX also offers another neat
   new feature: Transparent objects!  This includes most explosions, weapons
   and some powerups.  (You should see the shield orbs!)  This is an option
   that can be toggled on and off via the new "Rendering Options" menu in
   D1_3DFX.

   This release is Beta 1 - the first public release.  As a result, there are
   lots of bugs and this documentation isn't complete, either.  If you have
   a question that isn't covered here, or you find a serious bug to report,
   let us know.  Our e-mail addresses are listed at the end of this file.


Q: What do I need in order to use D1_3DFX?

A: To play D1_3DFX, you need the following:

   * A Pentium, Pentium Pro or Pentium-II computer.
   * 16 MB of RAM.
   * A 3DFX card using the 3DFX Voodoo, Voodoo Rush or Voodoo2 chipset.
     (Such as the Diamond Monster3D)
   * Windows 95, 98 or NT 4.0 with Service Pack 3.
   * Descent 1, REGISTERED, v1.4a or above.
   * The latest drivers for your 3DFX card.  (GLide v2.43 or higher)
   * A good soundcard and joystick are recommended.
   * Lots of patience, since there are lots of bugs lingering about.


Q: Did you say I NEEDED to have Win95/98/NT?

A: Yup.  D1_3DFX has been rewritten for Win95/98/NT using DirectX
   services.  As a result, it simply won't work in DOS anymore.  A big
   apology to those of you who don't like this, or who are still using
   Windows 3.1.


Q: Since this is just a Beta, what are some of the known bugs so
   that I don't send you guys a bunch of reports you already know
   about?

A: * No mouse support yet.
   * MIDI music sounds strange at times.
   * Some corrupted graphics here and there.
   * Framerates and controller responsiveness may suffer greatly when
     doing some things such as looking through windows, blowing up
     lights or enemies, and passing through energy centers.
   * Sound effects don't locate properly - either come from 100% left,
     100% right or direct center.
   * Transparent objects can be difficult to see at times, particularly
     when up against a wall.  Also, some objects are transparent that
     shouldn't be.
   * Credits scroll by WAAAAY too fast on some systems.

   Please see the included file "D1_3DFX.BUG" for a complete list of
   known bugs and issues.


Q: Will D1_3Dfx run under Windows NT?  Do I need that unofficial DirectX 5
   Beta?

A: D1_3DFX has been successfully installed and tested under Windows NT 4.0
   with Service Pack 3 and GLide v2.43.  You don't need the unofficial
   DirectX5 Beta Patch.

   However, it doesn't appear that D1_3DFX will run properly under WinNT 5
   Beta yet.  This is due to NT5's new driver system and the fact that 3DFX's
   GLide drivers don't support it yet. We haven't yet tested it under the new
   Beta 2 however.


MultiPlayer Issues
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Q: Can I play multiplayer games with people using other versions of Descent1?
   (eg. DESCENTR, D1X, D1OpenGL, D1DJGPP, etc...)

A: Yes.  There are no known compatibility issues in this version, although
   some of the advanced features present in DDR_D1, such as pinging and
   variable packets-per-second settings, are not present in D1_3DFX.  (These
   extra features will be implemented in a future release.)

   You can start and/or join games on Kali, Kahn, The Internet Gaming Zone,
   or any other service that allows you to play Descent over the Internet.
   It will also work just fine on your LAN. :)


Q: Hey!  D1 is almost unplayable in multiplayer because the controls are
   sluggish!  What gives!?

A: This is a known issue.  We're working on it.  This seems to be most
   prevalant with people using the SpaceOrb 360, although I'm sure there are
   other controllers with sluggish responses in D1_3DFX as well.


Single-Player Issues
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Q: I have a custom mission that has its own custom briefings, but when I
   start it, I see the standard briefing pictures.  What's wrong?

A: In order to see the custom briefing pictures, you need to convert them to
   640x480 PCX files, rather than the low-resolution ones used with DESCENTR.
   These hi-res versions can be created using any graphics editing program
   (or stretched from their original form), and the name of the file must 
   have an H appended to it. (example: BRIEF01.PCX becomes BRIEF01H.PCX).
   Save the new file in your HOG same as before.

   If you're wondering about the Orion Nebula Project, a special release of
   this mission is being released together with D1_3DFX Beta 1.  This
   release, v1.02, includes the new hi-res pictures.


Q: What's wrong with the briefings?  (Strange colors, robots don't rotate
   smoothly, some graphics are corrupted, music doesn't play correctly,
   etc...)

A: These are known bugs that will be fixed in a later release of D1_3DFX.
   Keep in mind that this release (Beta 1) is a BETA release, and it has a
   lot of unfinished work.  We're working on it, though. :)

   If you find a serious problem, that is not yet listed in the D1_3DFX.BUG
   file, please don't hesitate to let us know about it. See the end of this
   file for contact information.


Q: Why do the demos that came with D1 (and/or my own demos I recorded with
   DESCENTR) look so bad?  (Everything's jumping bad, slow/jerky playback,
   etc.)

A: Any demos that were not recorded using D1_3DFX were recorded under slower
   conditions.  One of the things that D1_3DFX has over DESCENTR (and any
   other version of Descent that uses a software renderer) is the fact that
   it is HARDWARE-accelerated.  This means that you get much higher frame-
   rates, even on lower-end systems.  Unfortunately, because of the lower
   framerates when the demos were recorded, the demos will look jumpy.

   Any new demos you record under D1_3DFX will play back smoothly, though,
   since their recorded framerates are significantly higher.

   I believe the original D1 demos were recorded on a 486 DX2/66, so you can
   expect rather funny-looking playback on a P2-400 with a Voodoo2. :)


Controller Issues
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Q: I can't use my joystick in D1_3DFX. My only controller choices are
   "Keyboard" and "No Joystick".

A: Because D1_3DFX is now a Win95/98/NT program, your controller is now
   configured via Windows' Game Controllers Control Panel (aka the Joystick
   Control Panel).  Refer to the documentation for your controller to find
   out how to install it in Windows (special instructions for NT: see below).

   Once your joystick is setup in Windows, it will show up simply as
   "Joystick" in D1_3DFX.  You should have access to all of your stick's axes
   and buttons once this is done properly.

   Also, remember to calibrate your joystick!  This is also done via the
   Control Panel.  You can access the Calibrate function by hitting F4 in the
   game, or selecting "Calibrate" from the D1_3DFX Controls menu.


Q: Where's this Game Controllers/Joystick Control Panel you pointed me to?
   (I'm using WinNT)

A: If you don't already have this applet installed, you can install it by
   following these steps:

   * Go "Start >> Control Panel >> Multimedia >> Devices", then hit the
     button marked Add.
   * Select the Joystick driver in DRVLIB\MULTIMED\JOYSTICK\I386 - this is
     on your NT4 CD.
   * Restart your computer.

   Once you've done that, you can install and calibrate your joystick as
   described above.


Q: I can't use my joystick's hat to slide!  What happened to it?

A: When we converted the D1 code to work with Windows DirectPlay for the
   controllers, we lost a few things in the translation.  The hat on most
   sticks (which defaults to a slide control) was one of these things.

   To set up your hat, pull up the menu within D1_3DFX, then go "Options >>
   Controls >> Customize Above" (ensuring that your joystick is installed
   as described above).  Then assign your hat directions manually.  This
   should fix the problem.


Q: Can I use the mouse?

A: As of Beta 1, no.  This support hasn't been implemented yet.  Mouse
   support is slated for a later release.


Q: Can I play with the SpaceOrb 360?

A: Yes, but you must setup your SpaceOrb software to work with D1_3DFX.
   For this, you need to be running SpaceOrb Software 4.80 or later.

   (1) Go into the SpaceOrb Customizer and hit the button marked "Add New
       Game Configuration."  Use the dialog to select D1_3DFX.EXE as your
       game, and select "6-Axis Generic" or "1st-person Shooter" as the
       type of game.  Call this configuration D1_3DFX.

   (2) Set up your axes as follows:

       TY: Joystick Up/Down               
       RZ: Motion 6 Pos/Neg
       TX: Joystick Right/Left
       RY: Motion 5 Pos/Neg
       RX: Motion 4 Pos/Neg
       TZ: Motion 3 Pos/Neg

   (3) Note that it says your buttons are defined within the game.  This
       is done via D1_3DFX - "Options >> Controls >> Customize Above".

   (4) VERY IMPORTANT: Make sure you invert ALL of the axes!  Do this
       either in the SpaceOrb Customizer or in D1_3DFX.  Otherwise, your
       game won't feel right. :)

   (5) Customize your axis sensitivity settings to your liking.  Note that
       unlike the Orb's behavior in Descent2 (any version), you do NOT
       have unlimited turning ability.  The Orb will behave much more like
       a standard joystick in this respect in D1_3DFX.


Q: When I hold down several keys at once, some or all of my actions don't
   happen.  What's wrong?

A: DirectX restricts you to being able to hold down only 3-5 keys at once.
   (Depends partially on which keys are being pressed.)  Also, keep in
   mind that many keyboards are also built with this limitation.


Graphics Issues
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Q: Is 800x600 mode supported?

A: Yes!  D1_3DFX has support for 800x600 rendering, even on a Voodoo1-based
   card!  To activate it, go "Options >> Rendering Options" and switch your
   resolution there.

   Most games don't work at 800x600 on Voodoo1 cards because they use what's
   called a Z-buffer (which increases the card's on-board memory usage.)
   However, since Descent doesn't use a Z-buffer, we can take advantage of
   the extra RAM and play at 800x600 no problem. :)  (The same is actually
   true of D2_3DFX, but unfortunately the option was never implemented.)


Q: Is anything HIGHER than 800x600 supported by D1_3DFX?

A: Not right now.  Perhaps in a future release we can implement 1024x768 and
   higher, for Voodoo2-based cards.


Q: Can I play D1_3DFX on a Rendition Verite with the BigRRed wrapper?

A: Actually, you can if you're using a Verite 2100 or 2200 card.  This isn't
   officially supported, however.  You can get more details about this
   unofficial support at http://www.descent2.com/patches/d1_3dfx/bigrred .

   Note that this support does NOT extend to the Verite 1000.

   In general, you will receive better performance on Rendition cards by
   using the upcoming D1OpenGL patch.  Keep your eyes on
   http://www.descent2.com for more information.  Also, using the BigRRed
   wrapper is not recommended, since you will be introducing a lot of
   extra graphics and playability bugs to the game, but for experimentations
   its fine.


Sound Issues
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Q: I don't get any sound in D1_3DFX, but it worked fine in DESCENTR.  Running
   SETUP.EXE in my D1 directory doesn't help.  What can I do?

A: D1_3DFX is now a Windows program, so it uses your Windows sound drivers
   and settings rather than any of the info provided by SETUP.  Therefore,
   check your sound drivers to make sure they're properly installed and
   functioning correctly.  Consult the documentation for your soundcard for
   more information.


Q: The music sounds funny in D1_3DFX as compared to DESCENTR.  (Instruments
   are totally screwed up, drums are pianos, etc...)

A: You'll notice this especially if you're using FM Synthesis rather than a
   wavetable-based card.  Admittedly, the sound support in D1_3DFX Beta 1 is
   still buggy, but there are a few other factors to consider as well:

   If you use DTX to listen to some of the FM-mixes of the D1 level music,
   you will most likely hear something totally different than what you hear
   in the game.  DESCENTR maps the MIDI channels differently than Windows
   does, so this is to be expected.  This same problem now rears its ugly
   head in D1_3DFX by virtue of the fact that D1_3DFX uses Windows to play
   the music instead of interfacing directly with your soundcard, as
   DESCENTR did.

   Unfortunately, there isn't anything you can do about this right now.
   If the messed-up music annoys you, I suggest turning it off.  You can
   adjust the MIDI volume all the way down to make D1_3DFX stop playing
   music entirely.

   NOTE: I (Dorsola) just released a new Windows program that you can use
   to play MIDI files in the background while you play D1_3DFX.  This
   program, called FoxPlay, can play any or all of the MIDI files on your
   hard drive while you play D1_3DFX or any other game that doesn't
   provide its own music.  While it probably won't feel the same (like
   when you exit the mine and you get that great exit music), it will be
   able to provide the background music that would otherwise be missing. :)

   You can download FoxPlay at http://www.descent2.com/dorsola/fplay.htm


Q: The music in the briefings, at the end of the level and the game ending
   music doesn't loop correctly and sounds really strange.  What's up?

A: This is a known bug.  It wasn't considered a "critical bug" at this
   writing, so we decided to release Beta 1 with this in mind.  It will
   be corrected in a later release.


Copyright and Legal Information
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
D1_3DFX is based on the Descent 1 source code, which was released to the
public by Parallax Software (http://www.pxsoftware.com).  However, this
does NOT mean that the game is free.  Rather, this is a free update to
what is still a commercial game.  The source code entitles you to make
your own modifications to the game for your own uses, so long as these
modifications don't include cheats and hacks that give you an unfair
advantage over other players.

Descent and Descent 2 are registered trademarks of Interplay Productions,
and were created by Parallax Software.  D1_3DFX is an UNOFFICIAL release
of an update to Descent.  It is not being supported by Parallax Software,
Interplay Productions, Volition Inc. or Outrage Entertainment.  Please do
not contact any of these companies for help with D1_3DFX - they will not
help you.  Instead, you can contact Heiko and myself.  Our e-mail
addresses are listed below.

D1_3DFX is released with NO WARRANTY WHATSOEVER, either express or
implied.  While we are doing our best to make sure we get all the bugs
out of this program, we cannot guarantee that it'll work 100% of the time
for everyone.  We do not take responsibility for any damage this program
causes to your computer, hardware, software, data, sanity or the hamster
wheel that's powering your system.  You use this program AT YOUR OWN RISK.

We will do our best to provide prompt technical support and handle bug
reports when and where we can.

If you wish to contact us, feel free to e-mail us.


How To Contact Us:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Once again, please take a look at D1_3DFX.BUG before reporting a bug. If it is
already known that sending it in again will only waste our time. Now to the
eMail-adresses:

  Heiko Herrmann <HHSoft@descent2.com>
  Dorsola <dorsola@lightspeed.net>
  Stefan Wiegand <Stefan.Wiegand@golive.de>
