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Difference between revisions of "Blade of Darkness"

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
(Updated this obscure game a little.)
Line 13: Line 13:
 
|gogcom id    = 1207659184
 
|gogcom id    = 1207659184
 
|strategywiki =  
 
|strategywiki =  
 +
|mobygames    = blade-of-darkness
 
|wikipedia    = Severance: Blade of Darkness
 
|wikipedia    = Severance: Blade of Darkness
 
|winehq      = 4347
 
|winehq      = 4347
Line 19: Line 20:
  
 
'''Key points'''
 
'''Key points'''
−
{{ii}} Released as '''Blade: The Edge of Darkness''' in Spain, as '''Severance: Blade of Darkness''' in Europe and as '''Blade of Darkness '''in North America.
+
{{ii}} Released as '''Blade: The Edge of Darkness''' in Spain, '''Severance: Blade of Darkness''' in Europe and as '''Blade of Darkness '''in North America.
 
'''General information'''
 
'''General information'''
 
{{GOG.com links|1207659184|blade_of_darkness}}
 
{{GOG.com links|1207659184|blade_of_darkness}}
Line 30: Line 31:
  
 
==Essential improvements==
 
==Essential improvements==
 +
===Patches===
 +
[https://www.patches-scrolls.de/patch/3646/7 1.001] is the only patch. It is highly recommended.
 +
 
===Skip intro videos===
 
===Skip intro videos===
−
{{Fixbox|description=Skip intro videos|ref=<ref>{{Refcheck|user=Drat|date=2019-09-05}}</ref>|fix=
+
{{Fixbox|description=Instructions|ref=<ref>{{Refcheck|user=Drat|date=2019-09-05}}</ref>|fix=
−
# Go to <code>\Data</code> in the installation folder, and move, rename or delete the <code>\video</code> folder.
+
# Go to <code>{{p|game}}\Data</code>  
 +
# Rename, move or delete the following folder:
 +
<pre>
 +
video
 +
</pre>
 
}}
 
}}
  
Line 64: Line 72:
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
==Video settings==
+
==Video==
 
{{Video settings
 
{{Video settings
 
|wsgf link                  = https://www.wsgf.org/dr/severance-blade-darkness
 
|wsgf link                  = https://www.wsgf.org/dr/severance-blade-darkness
−
|widescreen wsgf award      = unsupported
+
|widescreen wsgf award      = limited
 
|multimonitor wsgf award    = unsupported
 
|multimonitor wsgf award    = unsupported
 
|ultrawidescreen wsgf award = incomplete
 
|ultrawidescreen wsgf award = incomplete
 
|4k ultra hd wsgf award    = incomplete
 
|4k ultra hd wsgf award    = incomplete
−
|widescreen resolution      = false
+
|widescreen resolution      = true
−
|widescreen resolution notes= Stretched
+
|widescreen resolution notes= Stretched.
 
|multimonitor              = false
 
|multimonitor              = false
 
|multimonitor notes        =  
 
|multimonitor notes        =  
Line 83: Line 91:
 
|windowed                  = true
 
|windowed                  = true
 
|windowed notes            = Available only for some renderers
 
|windowed notes            = Available only for some renderers
−
|borderless windowed        = unknown
+
|borderless windowed        = false
 
|borderless windowed notes  =  
 
|borderless windowed notes  =  
 
|anisotropic                = hackable
 
|anisotropic                = hackable
Line 101: Line 109:
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
==Input settings==
+
==Input==
 
{{Input settings
 
{{Input settings
 
|key remap                = true
 
|key remap                = true
Line 165: Line 173:
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
==Audio settings==
+
==Audio==
 
{{Audio settings
 
{{Audio settings
 
|separate volume          = true
 
|separate volume          = true
Line 230: Line 238:
  
 
==Issues fixed==
 
==Issues fixed==
−
==aunch===
+
{{ii}} Note that this game uses very problematic rendering methods.
−
{{ii}} Often this is due to video codec issues such as installed third party codec packs,{{cn|date=September 2015}} and the error for this is often MEM_RESIZE_FAILED.
+
{{ii}} To bypass most common issues it is highly advised to use [[dgVoodoo 2]].
  
−
{{Fixbox|description=Rename the "video" directory contained in the "Data" directory|ref={{CN|date=September 2015}}}}
+
{{Fixbox|description=Instructions|fix=
−
{{Fixbox|description=Convert the .mpg videos in the "video" directory and subdirectories to raw .avi while retaining the name to retain playback capability|ref={{CN|date=September 2015}}}}
+
# Install dgVoodoo (for Direct3D).
 +
# Choose '''D3d''' in the game's configuration setup.
 +
# Optionally choose '''Miles Fast 2D Positional Audio''' if other audio options cause issues.
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
===Cursor is missing/Black text===
 +
{{ii}} Generally caused by using Direct3D for output with modern graphics hardware.
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Use [[dgVoodoo 2]].}}
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Alternatively use rOpenGL or 3dfx for video output.}}
 +
 
 +
===Crash on launch===
 +
{{ii}} This is usually caused by video codec issues such as installed third party codec packs and the error for this is often '''MEM_RESIZE_FAILED'''.
 +
 
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Prevent the intro from playing. See [[#Skip intro videos|Skip Intro Movies]].}}
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Alternatively convert the .mpg videos in the "video" directory and subdirectories to raw .avi while retaining the name to retain playback capability.|ref={{CN|date=September 2015}}}}
  
 
===Crash after introduction video===
 
===Crash after introduction video===
Line 252: Line 274:
 
The mouse-camera control granularity is linked somehow to the framerate. Higher framerates lead to smoother and slower mouse-camera control. Lower framerates lead to choppy control that is "quantized", too fast and jumpy. I've encountered such problems on both old and new hardware. Besides framerate, part of the problem seems to be related to the audio renderer, of all things.  
 
The mouse-camera control granularity is linked somehow to the framerate. Higher framerates lead to smoother and slower mouse-camera control. Lower framerates lead to choppy control that is "quantized", too fast and jumpy. I've encountered such problems on both old and new hardware. Besides framerate, part of the problem seems to be related to the audio renderer, of all things.  
  
−
{{Fixbox|description=The game is most controllable when framerate is as consistent as possible. Improve framerate by disabling fancy driver-forced settings, such as anti-aliasing. Cap framerate by forcing v-sync|ref={{cn|date=December 2016}}}}
+
{{Fixbox|description=The game is most controllable when framerate is as consistent as possible. Improve framerate by disabling fancy driver-forced settings, such as anti-aliasing. Cap framerate by forcing v-sync.|ref={{cn|date=December 2016}}}}
  
 
===Game runs too fast===
 
===Game runs too fast===
Line 266: Line 288:
 
psexec -a 0 Blade.exe
 
psexec -a 0 Blade.exe
 
}}
 
}}
−
 
−
===Cursor is missing/Black text===
 
−
{{ii}} Generally caused by using Direct3D for output with modern graphics hardware.
 
−
 
−
{{Fixbox|description=Use rOpenGL or 3dfx for video output|ref={{cn|date=September 2016}}}}
 
  
 
==Other information==
 
==Other information==
Line 304: Line 321:
 
|linux 64-bit executable=  
 
|linux 64-bit executable=  
 
|linux executable notes =  
 
|linux executable notes =  
 +
}}
 +
 +
===Middleware===
 +
{{Middleware
 +
|physics          =
 +
|physics notes    =
 +
|audio            = Miles Sound System
 +
|audio notes      = 6.0i<ref>{{Refcheck|user=Nessy|date=2020-06-19|comment=Version number found in Mss32.dll in the game installation folder.}}</ref>
 +
|interface        =
 +
|interface notes  =
 +
|input            =
 +
|input notes      =
 +
|cutscenes        =
 +
|cutscenes notes  =
 +
|multiplayer      =
 +
|multiplayer notes=
 +
|anticheat        =
 +
|anticheat notes  =
 
}}
 
}}
  

Revision as of 22:34, 18 June 2020

This page is a stub: it lacks content and/or basic article components. You can help to expand this page by adding an image or additional information.
Blade of Darkness
Blade of Darkness cover
Developers
Rebel Act Studios
Publishers
Codemasters
Engines
Blade
Release dates
Windows February 21, 2001
Icon overlay.png
Blade of Darkness on MobyGames
Blade of Darkness on Wikipedia
Icon overlay.png
Icon overlay.png

Key points

Released as Blade: The Edge of Darkness in Spain, Severance: Blade of Darkness in Europe and as Blade of Darkness in North America.

General information

GOG.com Community Discussions
GOG.com Support Page

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
DRM details are not known
Windows
No longer available digitally due to issues with distribution rights.[1]

Essential improvements

Patches

1.001 is the only patch. It is highly recommended.

Skip intro videos

Instructions[2]
  1. Go to <path-to-game>\Data
  2. Rename, move or delete the following folder:
video

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
Windows <path-to-game>\Config[Note 1]

Save game data location

System Location
Windows <path-to-game>\Save[Note 1]

Save game cloud syncing

System Native Notes
GOG Galaxy

Video

Template:Video settings

Input

Template:Input settings

Audio

Template:Audio settings

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
French
Italian
German
Spanish

Issues fixed

Note that this game uses very problematic rendering methods.
To bypass most common issues it is highly advised to use dgVoodoo 2.
Instructions
  1. Install dgVoodoo (for Direct3D).
  2. Choose D3d in the game's configuration setup.
  3. Optionally choose Miles Fast 2D Positional Audio if other audio options cause issues.

Cursor is missing/Black text

Generally caused by using Direct3D for output with modern graphics hardware.
Use dgVoodoo 2.
Alternatively use rOpenGL or 3dfx for video output.

Crash on launch

This is usually caused by video codec issues such as installed third party codec packs and the error for this is often MEM_RESIZE_FAILED.
Prevent the intro from playing. See Skip Intro Movies.
Alternatively convert the .mpg videos in the "video" directory and subdirectories to raw .avi while retaining the name to retain playback capability.[citation needed]

Crash after introduction video

The game doesn't properly handle failure states for when DirectPlay is not installed. Not having DirectPlay also significantly slows down the opening of the initial game launcher as well.
Install DirectPlay[citation needed]

Blank screen when using rOpenGL for video output

Alt-Tab out of the application then go back to it[citation needed]

Mouse behaves erratically

This generally happens using Direct3D or rOpenGL for video output.
Force VSync through the GPU control panel[citation needed]

Camera/view moves choppily and unpredictably

The mouse-camera control granularity is linked somehow to the framerate. Higher framerates lead to smoother and slower mouse-camera control. Lower framerates lead to choppy control that is "quantized", too fast and jumpy. I've encountered such problems on both old and new hardware. Besides framerate, part of the problem seems to be related to the audio renderer, of all things.

The game is most controllable when framerate is as consistent as possible. Improve framerate by disabling fancy driver-forced settings, such as anti-aliasing. Cap framerate by forcing v-sync.[citation needed]

Game runs too fast

This typically happens in videos modes other than 3dfx and is due to the game not handling multiple processors properly.
Lock the game to a single processor[citation needed]

A popular way to automate this process is to create a .bat file, go to the game app's directory (using the cd command), then use either

StartAffinity Blade.exe 0

or

psexec -a 0 Blade.exe

Other information

API

Executable 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows

Middleware

Middleware Notes
Audio Miles Sound System 6.0i[3]

System requirements

Windows
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) 95 98, ME, 2000
Processor (CPU) Intel Pentium II 400 MHz Intel Pentium III 500 MHz
System memory (RAM) 64 MB 128 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 750 MB
Video card (GPU) 8 MB of VRAM 32 MB of VRAM

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 When running this game without elevated privileges (Run as administrator option), write operations against a location below %PROGRAMFILES%, %PROGRAMDATA%, or %WINDIR% might be redirected to %LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore on Windows Vista and later (more details).

References

  1. ↑ Removal of Blade of Darkness from the GOG.com catalog, page 1 - Forum - GOG.com
  2. ↑ Verified by User:Drat on 2019-09-05
  3. ↑ Verified by User:Nessy on 2020-06-19
    Version number found in Mss32.dll in the game installation folder.