This page is for the 1998 game. For the 2014 reboot, see Thief.
Key points
- TFix helps run the game on modern systems.
General information
- A Wiki for the classic Thief games
- TTLG Forums - Thief Series
- TTLG Forums - modding & mission design
- GOG.com Community Discussions for game series
- GOG.com Support Page
- Steam Community Discussions
Availability
- An updated version of the original demos is available.
Version differences
- Thief: Gold includes extra missions and some other enhancements. The original content can be played using GoldToDark.
Essential improvements
TFix
- TFix updates the game with NewDark for modern systems. Also contains mission fixes and optional texture mods. The GOG release has an out-of-date, stripped-down version of this patch.
- Restart the current mission (or progress to the next one) after patch installation. Otherwise you may encounter various issues, such as torches that don't properly go out when extinguished.
Skip intro videos
Tell intro not to play[citation needed]
|
- Go to the installation folder.
- Open
cam.cfg using Notepad.
- Add the line
skip_intro to the file and save it.
|
Texture mods
Enhancement Pack 2.0
The Enhancement Pack 2.0 is an updated version of the original Enhancement Pack (which is included in TFix and is much less comprehensive). This contains higher quality reproductions of original textures and objects. Also works with Thief II: The Metal Age.
The Necro Project
The Necro Project pack is very similar to the Enhancement Pack 2, but focuses on giving the game a slightly darker, noir look. Somewhere between the EP2 and HD Mod in lore-accuracy. Also works with Thief II: The Metal Age.
Thief Gold HD Texture Mod
The Thief Gold HD Texture Mod adds new textures, effects and enemy skins to all original missions. Significantly alters the game's graphical style (far more than the two packs above). The mod is compatible with Thief: The Dark Project and Thief Gold. Includes a tool to configure advanced graphics settings (Anti-Aliasing, Bloom, etc.). An FAQ with installation steps is available.
Game data
Configuration file(s) location
- Configuration files are:
cam.cfg
(basic settings, resolution), cam_ext.cfg
(NewDark advanced settings), cam_mod.ini
(Mod and fan mission options), install.cfg
and user.bnd
(key bindings).
Save game data location
- Fan mission saves are kept in the mission's folder.
Video settings
Template:Video settings
Set FOV[citation needed]
|
- Install TFix and set the resolution you want in-game.
- If your FOV is not detected correctly go to the installation folder and edit
cam_ext.cfg .
- Change
;fov 90 to fov ## with the FOV you want.
- Save your changes and relaunch the game.
|
Set windowed mode[citation needed]
|
- Install TFix.
- Go to the installation folder.
- Edit
cam_ext.cfg .
- Change
;force_windowed to force_windowed .
- Save your changes and set your chosen resolution in-game.
- For borderless fullscreen windowed mode choose the desktop resolution in-game.
|
- Installing TFix enables Vsync by default. Vsync can be disabled.
Disable Vsync[citation needed]
|
- Go to the installation folder.
- Edit
cam_ext.cfg .
- Change
;vsync_mode 0 to vsync_mode 0 and save your changes.
|
Set frame rate and correct game speed[citation needed]
|
- Go to the installation folder.
- Edit
cam_ext.cfg .
- Change
framerate_cap 100.0 to framerate_cap ### with the FPS you want.
- Change
;phys_freq 60 to phys_freq 60 and save your changes.
- For more than 250 FPS change
SlowFrame 4 to ;SlowFrame 4
|
Input settings
Template:Input settings
Audio settings
Template:Audio settings
EAX support
- Thief features enhanced 3D sound effects that originally required a Creative sound card with special EAX drivers. To use EAX effects on modern systems, do the following:
Install patch and OpenAL[citation needed]
|
- Install NewDark using TFix.
- Install OpenAL 2.1.0.0.
- In the game go to Options, Audio, and change Hardware Acceleration to OpenAL. EAX can now be used.
|
Localizations
VR support
Issues fixed
- A detailed forum thread for technical difficulties is available on the Through The Looking Glass forum.
Crashes on multi-core systems
Install TFix[citation needed]
|
Install NewDark via TFix.
|
Videos do not play
Install TFix[citation needed]
|
Install NewDark via TFix.
|
Gamma slider has no effect on gamma/brightness
TFix and config tweak[citation needed]
|
Install NewDark via TFix.
If you still can't change gamma:
- Go to the installation folder.
- Open
cam_ext.cfg .
- Change
;d3d_disp_no_rgb10_buf to d3d_disp_no_rgb10_buf .
- Save the file.
|
Retail version won't install
- Owners of the original disc version may encounter problems when attempting to install on modern operating systems.[1]
Run setup.exe in Windows 95 compatibility mode[citation needed]
|
- Go into the disc contents and find
setup.exe .
- Right-click it and choose Properties.
- On the Compatibility Tab, enable Windows 95 compatibility mode and save your changes.
|
Low frame rate in fullscreen mode
- Thief has frame rate issues in fullscreen mode on Windows 8 and later.
Install TFix[citation needed]
|
Install NewDark via TFix.
|
Other information
Fan Missions
- A large number of Fan Missions, many of very high quality, have been produced for the Thief games. A categorised list is available here.
- Some of the older FMs for Thief Gold and the Dark Project suffer compatibility issues when played with TFix/NewDark. An ongoing effort to preserve, test and fix these missions has resulted in a series of patches.
Running Fan Missions[citation needed]
|
- Install TFix and ensure the installer option to create a shortcut to the FM Selector is checked. If you did not check this option, add the command line argument
-fm on a Thief desktop shortcut or in the Steam interface.
- Start FM Selector using this shortcut.
- Select a folder for installed missions and an FM .zip archive path when prompted. Do not put the archive path inside the FMs folder or vice-versa, otherwise things will not work correctly.
- To install a mission, drop its .zip file (do not extract it) into your chosen archive path, start the selector, double click the mission/zip file name and select 'Ok'. It has now been extracted to the installed missions folder.
- Launch the mission by double clicking the name again. To launch the original game select 'Skip FM' in the lower-left corner.
|
Sound effects enhancement pack
This mod provides cleaned up and resampled sound files for Thief Gold and Thief II: The Metal Age. The quality difference is particularly noticeable when wearing headphones.
GoldToDark
GoldToDark is a patch that will convert Thief Gold into the original Thief: The Dark Project. This must be used on a clean installation of Thief Gold. TFix can be installed thereafter and should correctly detect that you are using The Dark Project instead of Thief Gold.
View bob
- By default, Thief: The Dark Project has view bob that may cause motion sickness.
Edit the configuration file[citation needed]
|
- Open
<path-to-game>\cam_ext.cfg with a text editor.
- Find the line ;bob_factor 0.3.
- Remove the semicolon and set the value to 0.
bob_factor 0.0
|
API
Technical specs |
Supported |
Notes |
Direct3D |
6, 9 |
DirectX 9 requires NewDark/TFix. |
Software renderer |
|
|
Executable |
32-bit |
64-bit |
Notes |
Windows |
|
|
|
Middleware
|
Middleware |
Notes |
Audio |
DirectSound, OpenAL |
OpenAL requires NewDark/TFix. |
System requirements
Windows |
|
Minimum |
Recommended |
Operating system (OS) |
95 |
98 |
Processor (CPU) |
Intel Pentium 166 MHz
| Intel Pentium 266 MHz |
System memory (RAM) |
32 MB |
64 MB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
210 MB |
230 MB |
Video card (GPU) |
SVGA video card 1 MB of VRAM DirectX 6 compatible
| SVGA video card and a 3D accelerator card 4 MB of VRAM |
Sound (audio device) |
100% DirectX 6.0 compatible sound card | |
Other |
4x CD-ROM drive |
8x CD-ROM drive |
- The system requirements for NewDark/TFix- and by extension those for the GOG.com release- are higher than the original requirements listed here.
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Notes regarding Steam Play (Linux) data:
References