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Difference between revisions of "Beneath a Steel Sky"

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
(Might as well help out with the GoG project.)
 
(Removed DLC PCGamingWiki does not cover.)
Tag: Undo
 
(149 intermediate revisions by 31 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
{{Infobox
+
{{Infobox game
−
|cover         = Beneath_a_Steel_Sky_Box.png
+
|cover       = Beneath a Steel Sky Box.png
−
|developer      = [[Wikipedia:developer|Revolution Software]]
+
|developers  =  
−
|publisher      = [[Wikipedia:publisher|Virgin Interactive]]
+
{{Infobox game/row/developer|Revolution Software}}
−
|engine        = [[Wikipedia:engine|Virtual Theatre]]
+
|publishers  =  
−
|release dates = March 1994
+
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|Virgin Interactive}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|Sold Out Software|Retail re-release}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|Revolution Software|Digital}}
 +
|engines      =  
 +
{{Infobox game/row/engine|Virtual Theatre|Original}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/engine|ScummVM|Re-release}}
 +
|release dates=  
 +
{{Infobox game/row/date|DOS|March 1994}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/date|Windows|December 18, 2008|wrapper=ScummVM|ref=<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://www.gog.com/news/free_games_beneath_a_steel_sky_and_lure_of_the_temptress|title=Free games: Beneath a Steel Sky and Lure of the Temptress - GOG.com|date=May 2023}}</ref>}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/date|OS X|October 18, 2012|wrapper=ScummVM|ref=<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://www.engadget.com/2012/10/18/gog-launches-mac-support-50-games-available-now/|title=GOG launches Mac support, 50 games available now|date=May 2023}}</ref>}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/date|Windows|April 7, 2013|wrapper=DOSBox|ref=<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://www.gog.com/forum/general/the_what_did_just_update_thread/post709|title="The "what did just update?" thread" post #709|date=9 June 2023}}</ref>}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/date|Linux|March 20, 2015|wrapper=ScummVM|ref=<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://www.gog.com/forum/general/the_what_did_just_update_thread/post6577|title="The "what did just update?" thread" post #6577|date=9 June 2023}}</ref>}}
 +
|taxonomy    =
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/monetization      | Freeware, Sponsored }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/microtransactions | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/modes            | Singleplayer }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/pacing            | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/perspectives      | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/controls          | Point and select }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/genres            | Adventure }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/sports            | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/vehicles          | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/art styles        | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/themes            | Cyberpunk, Oceania }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/series            | Steel Sky }}
 +
|steam appid  = 1368340
 +
|gogcom id    = 1207658695
 +
|official site= https://revolution.co.uk/games_catalog/beneath-a-steel-sky/
 +
|hltb        = 1005
 +
|igdb        = beneath-a-steel-sky
 +
|lutris      = beneath-a-steel-sky
 +
|strategywiki = Beneath a Steel Sky
 +
|mobygames    = 386
 +
|wikipedia    = Beneath a Steel Sky
 +
|winehq      =
 +
|license      = former commercial
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{Introduction
 +
|introduction      =
 +
 
 +
|release history  =
 +
 
 +
|current state    =
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
'''Key points'''
 
'''Key points'''
−
{{ii}} Officially available as freeware.
+
{{++}} Can easily be run on modern systems with [[Engine:ScummVM|ScummVM]].
−
{{++}} Can easily be run on modern systems with [[ScummVM]]
 
  
 
'''General information'''
 
'''General information'''
−
{{mm}} [http://www.revolution.co.uk/hints/sky/ Revolution Software Hints page]
+
{{mm}} [https://discord.gg/revolutionsoftware Developer Discord server]
−
{{mm}} [http://www.gog.com/forum/beneath_a_steel_sky#1369171786 GOG.com Community Discussions]
+
{{mm}} [http://www.game-nostalgia.com/bass/sky.html Game Nostalgia] - Detailed game information, developer interviews and game-related media
−
{{mm}} [http://www.gog.com/support/beneath_a_steel_sky GOG.com Support Page]
+
{{GOG.com links|1207658695|beneath_a_steel_sky}}
 +
{{mm}} [https://steamcommunity.com/app/1368340/discussions/ Steam Community Discussions]
  
 
==Availability==
 
==Availability==
−
{{Availability Table|
+
{{Availability|
−
{{Availability Table/row| Retail | {{ID|DRM-free}} | Availible as a floppy disc or CD. Unnecessary due to being re-released as freeware. }}
+
{{Availability/row| Retail | | physical, DRM-free | Available on floppy disk (manual-based copy protection) or CD (no [[DRM]]). The CD-ROM version has full voice acting and a substantial introduction sequence. | | DOS }}
−
{{Availability Table/row| [http://scummvm.org/downloads/#extras ScummVM website] | {{ID|DRM-free}} | Only includes the data files. }}
+
{{Availability/row| GOG.com | beneath_a_steel_sky | DRM-free | Pre-packaged with ScummVM. | | Windows, OS X, Linux }}
−
{{Availability Table/row| [http://www.desura.com/games/beneath-a-steel-sky Desura] | {{ID|Desura}} | Windows, Mac, and Linux. Prepackaged with ScummVM. }}
+
{{Availability/row| Steam | 1368340 | Steam | Pre-packaged with ScummVM. | | Windows, Linux }}
−
{{Availability Table/row| [http://www.gog.com/gamecard/beneath_a_steel_sky GoG] | {{ID|GOG}} | Windows and Mac. Prepackaged with ScummVM.}}
 
−
{{Availability Table/row| [https://apps.ubuntu.com/cat/applications/beneath-a-steel-sky/ Ubuntu Software Center] | {{ID|USC}} | Linux only. Requires [https://apps.ubuntu.com/cat/applications/scummvm/ Scummvm to be installed through the software center.] CD release. }}
 
 
}}
 
}}
−
{{ii}}All of the prepackaged versions use the CD release.
+
{{ii}} All of the prepackaged versions use the CD release.
 +
{{ii}} The data files are available for free from the [https://www.scummvm.org/games/#games-sky ScummVM website].
  
−
==Game Data==
+
==Monetization==
−
===Save Game Data Location===
+
{{Monetization
−
{{Game Location Table|
+
|ad-supported        =  
−
{{Game Location Table/row|GOG.com (Windows)|}}
+
|dlc                =  
−
{{Game Location Table/row|GOG.com (Mac)|}}
+
|expansion pack      =
−
{{Game Location Table/row|ScummVM (Windows)|C:\Users\[user]\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files (x86)\ScummVM\SKY-VM.SAV}}
+
|freeware            = Originally sold commercially, but now completely free to own.
−
{{Game Location Table/row|ScummVM (Mac)|/users/[user]/Documents/ScummVM Savegames/SKY-VM.SAV}}
+
|free-to-play        =
−
{{Game Location Table/row|ScummVM (Linux)|/home/[user]/.scummvm}/SKY-VM.SAV}}
+
|sponsored          = A {{W|Foster's Lager}} label is shown during the CD-ROM introduction.<ref>{{Refcheck|user=Baronsmoki|date=2021-06-29}}</ref> It is the eponym of the protagonist's surname "Foster".<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beneath_a_Steel_Sky|title=Wikipedia - Beneath a Steel Sky|date=2021-06-29|snippet=...they name him Robert Foster, partly due to him being fostered by them, but also because of the discovery of an empty can of Foster's Lager found near the crash site.}}</ref>
 +
|subscription        =
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
=== [[Save game cloud syncing]] ===
+
==Essential improvements==
−
{{Save Game Cloud Syncing
+
===Running the game through [[Engine:ScummVM|ScummVM]]===
−
|steam_cloud            =
+
{{ii}} Just use the prepackaged versions if you want the CD release.
−
|steam_cloud_notes      =
+
 
−
|origin                =
+
{{Fixbox|description=Playing the game with ScummVM|ref={{cn|date=July 2016}}|fix=
−
|origin_notes          =
+
# Download the floppy or CD data files off ScummVM's download page
−
|uplay                  =
+
# Extract it into an empty folder
−
|uplay_notes            =
+
# Open ScummVM and select <code>Add Game</code>
−
|gamesave_manager      =true
+
# Select the folder you just added the data files to.
−
|gamesave_manager_notes =
+
{{ii}} To display the original floppy disk version's intro instead of the CD version's comic book intro, go to the launcher, select <code>Edit Game...</code>, and under the <code>Engine</code> tab select <code>Floppy intro</code>, then <code>OK</code>.
−
|gamestow              =
 
−
|gamestow_notes        =
 
−
|synctocloud            =
 
−
|synctocloud_notes      =
 
−
|square_enix            =
 
−
|square_enix_notes      =
 
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
==Video settings==
+
===[https://www.pixelrefresh.com/product/beneath-a-steel-sky-soundtrack/ James Woodcock's remastered soundtrack]===
−
[[File:ScummVMSettings.png|290px|right|thumb|ScummVM settings.]]
+
{{++}} Original game soundtrack in MIDI format, rearranged and re-recorded using modern studio equipment.
−
{{Video Settings
+
{{ii}} Requires ScummVM 1.4.2 or later (the ScummVM versions included with the GOG & Steam releases will work).
−
|wsgf_link                  =
+
 
−
|widescreen_wsgf_award      =
+
==Game data==
−
|multimonitor_wsgf_award    =
+
===Configuration file(s) location===
−
|widescreen_resolution      =False
+
{{Game data|
−
|widescreen_resolution_notes=
+
{{Game data/config|DOS|{{p|game}}\config.dat}}
−
|multimonitor              =False
+
{{Game data/config|Windows|{{p|game}}\beneath.ini}}
−
|multimonitor_notes        =
+
{{Game data/config|OS X|}}
−
|fov                        =False
+
{{Game data/config|Linux|}}
−
|fov_notes                  =
 
−
|windowed                  =Hackable
 
−
|windowed_notes            =ScummVM runs the game in a window by default.
 
−
|borderless_windowed        =False
 
−
|borderless_windowed_notes  =
 
−
|anisotropic                =False
 
−
|anisotropic_notes          =
 
−
|antialiasing              =False
 
−
|antialiasing_notes        =
 
−
|vsync                      =False
 
−
|vsync_notes                =
 
 
}}
 
}}
 +
{{XDG|unknown}}
  
−
==Input settings==
+
===Save game data location===
−
{{Input Settings
+
{{Game data|
−
|key_remap                  =false
+
{{Game data/saves|DOS|{{p|game}}\}}
−
|key_remap_notes            =
+
{{Game data/saves|Windows|{{p|game}}\SKY-VM.***}}
−
|acceleration_option        =false
+
{{Game data/saves|OS X|{{P|osxhome}}/Documents/ScummVM Savegames/Beneath a Steel Sky}}
−
|acceleration_option_notes  =
+
{{Game data/saves|Linux|}}
−
|controller_support        =false
 
−
|controller_support_notes  =
 
 
}}
 
}}
 +
{{ii}} DOS savegames are labelled <code>SKY.???</code>, where ??? represents a number between 000 and 999. Savegame descriptions are stored in <code>SKY.SAV</code>.
  
−
==Issues fixed==
+
===[[Glossary:Save game cloud syncing|Save game cloud syncing]]===
−
===Running the game through ScummVM===
+
{{Save game cloud syncing
−
{{ii}}Just use the prepackaged versions if you want the CD release.
+
|discord                  =  
−
{{Fixbox|1=
+
|discord notes            =
−
{{Fixbox/fix|Playing the game with ScummVM}}
+
|epic games launcher      =
−
1) Download the floppy or CD data files off ScummVM's download page
+
|epic games launcher notes =
 +
|gog galaxy                = true
 +
|gog galaxy notes          = Requires <code>Internal Update (25 April 2018)</code> or later.
 +
|origin                    =  
 +
|origin notes              =  
 +
|steam cloud              = false
 +
|steam cloud notes        =  
 +
|ubisoft connect          =  
 +
|ubisoft connect notes    =
 +
|xbox cloud                =  
 +
|xbox cloud notes          =
 +
}}
  
−
2) Extract it into an empty folder
+
==Video==
 +
{{Image|Beneath a Steel Sky built-in options.png|In-game menu ({{key|F5}})}}
 +
{{Image|ScummVM settings.png|ScummVM settings.}}
 +
{{Video
 +
|wsgf link                  =
 +
|widescreen wsgf award      =
 +
|multimonitor wsgf award    =
 +
|ultrawidescreen wsgf award =
 +
|4k ultra hd wsgf award    =
 +
|widescreen resolution      = false
 +
|widescreen resolution notes=
 +
|multimonitor              = false
 +
|multimonitor notes        =
 +
|ultrawidescreen            = false
 +
|ultrawidescreen notes      =
 +
|4k ultra hd                = false
 +
|4k ultra hd notes          =
 +
|fov                        = n/a
 +
|fov notes                  =
 +
|windowed                  = false
 +
|windowed notes            =
 +
|borderless windowed        = false
 +
|borderless windowed notes  =
 +
|anisotropic                = n/a
 +
|anisotropic notes          =
 +
|antialiasing              = n/a
 +
|antialiasing notes        =
 +
|upscaling                  = unknown
 +
|upscaling tech            =
 +
|upscaling notes            =
 +
|vsync                      = false
 +
|vsync notes                =
 +
|60 fps                    = unknown
 +
|60 fps notes              =
 +
|120 fps                    = unknown
 +
|120 fps notes              =
 +
|hdr                        = unknown
 +
|hdr notes                  =
 +
|color blind                = unknown
 +
|color blind notes          =
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==Input==
 +
{{Input
 +
|key remap                = false
 +
|key remap notes          =
 +
|acceleration option      = false
 +
|acceleration option notes =
 +
|mouse menu                = true
 +
|mouse menu notes          = Menu can be open with {{key|F5}}
 +
|mouse sensitivity        = false
 +
|mouse sensitivity notes  =
 +
|invert mouse y-axis      = n/a
 +
|invert mouse y-axis notes =
 +
|touchscreen              = unknown
 +
|touchscreen notes        =
 +
|controller support        = false
 +
|controller support notes  =
 +
|full controller          = unknown
 +
|full controller notes    =
 +
|controller remap          = unknown
 +
|controller remap notes    =
 +
|controller sensitivity    = unknown
 +
|controller sensitivity notes=
 +
|invert controller y-axis  = unknown
 +
|invert controller y-axis notes=
 +
|xinput controllers        = unknown
 +
|xinput controllers notes  =
 +
|xbox prompts              = unknown
 +
|xbox prompts notes        =
 +
|impulse triggers          = unknown
 +
|impulse triggers notes    =
 +
|dualshock 4              = unknown
 +
|dualshock 4 notes        =
 +
|dualshock prompts        = unknown
 +
|dualshock prompts notes  =
 +
|light bar support        = unknown
 +
|light bar support notes  =
 +
|dualshock 4 modes        = unknown
 +
|dualshock 4 modes notes  =
 +
|tracked motion controllers= unknown
 +
|tracked motion controllers notes =
 +
|tracked motion prompts    = unknown
 +
|tracked motion prompts notes =
 +
|other controllers        = unknown
 +
|other controllers notes  =
 +
|other button prompts      = unknown
 +
|other button prompts notes=
 +
|controller hotplug        = unknown
 +
|controller hotplug notes  =
 +
|haptic feedback          = unknown
 +
|haptic feedback notes    =
 +
|simultaneous input        = unknown
 +
|simultaneous input notes  =
 +
|steam input api          = unknown
 +
|steam input api notes    =
 +
|steam hook input          = unknown
 +
|steam hook input notes    =
 +
|steam input presets      = unknown
 +
|steam input presets notes =
 +
|steam controller prompts  = unknown
 +
|steam controller prompts notes =
 +
|steam cursor detection    = unknown
 +
|steam cursor detection notes =
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==Audio==
 +
{{Image|ScummVM audio sliders (Beneath a Steel Sky).png|ScummVM audio sliders. Access in-game by pressing {{key|Ctrl|F5}} and clicking options.}}
 +
{{Audio
 +
|separate volume          = true
 +
|separate volume notes    = Speech and FX have only an on/off toggle. Music can be adjusted with a slider.<br/>Use [[Engine:ScummVM|ScummVM]] for Speech and SFX sliders.
 +
|surround sound          = n/a
 +
|surround sound notes    = Uses MIDI driver.
 +
|subtitles                = true
 +
|subtitles notes          = Menu can be accessed through {{key|F5}}. Not subtitles in the intro cutscene.
 +
|closed captions          = false
 +
|closed captions notes    =
 +
|mute on focus lost      = false
 +
|mute on focus lost notes =
 +
|eax support              = false
 +
|eax support notes        =
 +
|royalty free audio        = unknown
 +
|royalty free audio notes  =
 +
|red book cd audio        =
 +
|red book cd audio notes  =
 +
|general midi audio      = hackable
 +
|general midi audio notes = Use [[ScummVM]].
 +
}}
 +
{{++}} This game supports the Roland MT-32 for music, and takes advantage of the additional sound effects provided by the CM-32L/LAPC-I.{{note|note=[[ScummVM]] adds proper General MIDI support.|name="MIDI"}}
 +
{{ii}} While this game has very few native settings, it can run on [[Engine:ScummVM|ScummVM]] which adds some additional settings.
 +
 
 +
{{L10n|content=
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = English
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = true
 +
|subtitles = true
 +
|notes    = Speech in CD version only.
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Traditional Chinese
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = false
 +
|subtitles = true
 +
|notes    = Retail only.
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = French
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = false
 +
|subtitles = true
 +
|notes    =
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = German
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = false
 +
|subtitles = true
 +
|notes    =
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Italian
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = false
 +
|subtitles = true
 +
|notes    =
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Polish
 +
|interface = hackable
 +
|audio    = false
 +
|subtitles = hackable
 +
|fan      = true
 +
|notes    = Fan translation, [http://grajpopolsku.pl/download/beneath-a-steel-sky/ download].
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Portuguese
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = false
 +
|subtitles = true
 +
|notes    = Available in the GoG release. Mistaken as Brazilian Portuguese.
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Russian
 +
|interface = hackable
 +
|audio    = false
 +
|subtitles = hackable
 +
|notes    = Fan translation by «Бюро переводов Old-Games.Ru», [https://www.old-games.ru/game/download/get.php?fileid=9224&modal=1 ScummVM-build] and [https://yadi.sk/d/50LoAw3BhWWzz localization files]
 +
|fan      = true
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Spanish
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = false
 +
|subtitles = true
 +
|notes    =
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Swedish
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = false
 +
|subtitles = true
 +
|notes    =
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
}}
  
−
3) Open ScummVM and select <code>Add Game</code>
+
==Other information==
 +
===API===
 +
{{API
 +
|direct3d versions      =
 +
|direct3d notes        =
 +
|directdraw versions    =
 +
|directdraw notes      =
 +
|opengl versions        =
 +
|opengl notes          =
 +
|glide versions        =
 +
|glide notes            =
 +
|software mode          =
 +
|software mode notes    =
 +
|mantle support        =
 +
|mantle support notes  =
 +
|metal support          =
 +
|metal support notes    =
 +
|vulkan versions        =
 +
|vulkan notes          =
 +
|dos modes              = VGA
 +
|dos modes notes        = 320x200
 +
|shader model versions  =
 +
|shader model notes    =
 +
|windows 32-bit exe    = true
 +
|windows 64-bit exe    = false
 +
|windows arm app        = unknown
 +
|windows exe notes      =
 +
|mac os x powerpc app  = unknown
 +
|macos intel 32-bit app = unknown
 +
|macos intel 64-bit app = unknown
 +
|macos arm app          = unknown
 +
|macos app notes        =
 +
|linux 32-bit executable= unknown
 +
|linux 64-bit executable= unknown
 +
|linux arm app          = unknown
 +
|linux executable notes =
 +
}}
  
−
4) Select the folder you just added the data files to.
+
==System requirements==
 +
{{System requirements
 +
|OSfamily = DOS
 +
|minOS    = 3.30
 +
|minCPU  = 386
 +
|minRAM  = 2 MB
 +
|minHD    = 10 MB (floppy) <br/> 93 MB (CD)
 +
|minGPU  = VGA 256-color
 +
|minaudio = Supports Roland, Sound Blaster, and Ad Lib cards
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
==System Requirements==
+
{{System requirements
−
{{System Requirements
 
 
|OSfamily = Windows
 
|OSfamily = Windows
 +
|minOS    = XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10
 +
|minCPU  = 1.0 GHz
 +
|minRAM  = 256 MB
 +
|minHD    = 87 MB
 +
|minGPU  =
 +
|minDX    = 9.0c
 +
 +
|recOS    =
 +
|recCPU  =
 +
|recRAM  =
 +
|recHD    =
 +
|recGPU  =
 +
}}
  
−
|minOS    = Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7.
+
{{System requirements
−
|minproc  = 1 GHz Processor
+
|OSfamily = OS X
−
|minmem   = 512MB RAM
+
|minOS    = 10.6.8
 +
|minCPU  = Intel Core Duo 2.0 GHz
 +
|minRAM   = 1 GB
 
|minHD    = 78 MB
 
|minHD    = 78 MB
−
|minGPU  = 3D graphics card compatible with DirectX 7
+
|minVRAM  = 64 MB
 +
}}
  
−
|recOS   = Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7.
+
{{System requirements
−
|recproc  = 1.4 GHz Processor
+
|OSfamily = Linux
−
|recmem   = 1 GB RAM
+
|minOS   = Ubuntu 14.04, Linux Mint 17
−
|recHD   = 78 MB
+
|minCPU  = 1.0 GHz
−
|recGPU   = 3D graphics card compatible with DirectX 9
+
|minRAM   = 256 MB
−
}}
+
|minHD   =  
−
{{System Requirements
+
|minGPU   =  
−
|OSfamily = Mac
+
|minVRAM  = 128 MB
  
−
|minOS   = OS X 10.6.8 or later 
+
|recOS   =  
−
|minproc  = Intel Core Duo 2GHz+
+
|recCPU  = 1.4 GHz
−
|minmem   = 1 GB RAM
+
|recRAM   = 512 MB
−
|minHD   = 78 MB
+
|recHD   =  
−
|minGPU   = 64MB of video memory
+
|recGPU   =  
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
[[Category:Windows]]
+
{{References}}
−
[[Category:Mac]]
+
{{GOG.com Enhancement Project}}
−
[[Category:Linux]]
 
−
[[Category:DOS]]
 

Latest revision as of 21:18, 18 February 2024

Beneath a Steel Sky
Beneath a Steel Sky cover
Developers
Revolution Software
Publishers
Virgin Interactive
Retail re-release Sold Out Software
Digital Revolution Software
Engines
Original Virtual Theatre
Re-release ScummVM
Release dates
DOS March 1994
Windows (ScummVM) December 18, 2008[1]
macOS (OS X) (ScummVM) October 18, 2012[2]
Windows (DOSBox) April 7, 2013[3]
Linux (ScummVM) March 20, 2015[4]
Taxonomy
Monetization Freeware, Sponsored
Modes Singleplayer
Controls Point and select
Genres Adventure
Themes Cyberpunk, Oceania
Series Steel Sky
Icon overlay.png
Icon overlay.png
Beneath a Steel Sky on HowLongToBeat
Beneath a Steel Sky on IGDB
Icon overlay.png
Icon overlay.png
Icon overlay.png
Icon overlay.png
Icon overlay.png
Beneath a Steel Sky guide on StrategyWiki
Beneath a Steel Sky on MobyGames
Beneath a Steel Sky on Wikipedia
Steel Sky
Beneath a Steel Sky 1994
Beyond a Steel Sky 2020

Beneath a Steel Sky is a singleplayer adventure game in the Steel Sky series.

Key points

Can easily be run on modern systems with ScummVM.

General information

Developer Discord server
Game Nostalgia - Detailed game information, developer interviews and game-related media
GOG.com Community Discussions
GOG.com Support Page
Steam Community Discussions

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Prompts for answers from manual, code wheel, etc.
DRM-free
 Available on floppy disk (manual-based copy protection) or CD (no DRM). The CD-ROM version has full voice acting and a substantial introduction sequence.
DOS
GOG.com
DRM-free
 Pre-packaged with ScummVM.
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux
Steam
Icon overlay.png
 Pre-packaged with ScummVM.
Windows
Linux
All of the prepackaged versions use the CD release.
The data files are available for free from the ScummVM website.

Monetization

Type Notes
Freeware Originally sold commercially, but now completely free to own.
Sponsored A Foster's Lager label is shown during the CD-ROM introduction.[5] It is the eponym of the protagonist's surname "Foster".[6]

Essential improvements

Running the game through ScummVM

Just use the prepackaged versions if you want the CD release.
Playing the game with ScummVM[citation needed]
  1. Download the floppy or CD data files off ScummVM's download page
  2. Extract it into an empty folder
  3. Open ScummVM and select Add Game
  4. Select the folder you just added the data files to.
To display the original floppy disk version's intro instead of the CD version's comic book intro, go to the launcher, select Edit Game..., and under the Engine tab select Floppy intro, then OK.

James Woodcock's remastered soundtrack

Original game soundtrack in MIDI format, rearranged and re-recorded using modern studio equipment.
Requires ScummVM 1.4.2 or later (the ScummVM versions included with the GOG & Steam releases will work).

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
DOS <path-to-game>\config.dat
Windows <path-to-game>\beneath.ini[Note 1]<path-to-game> (mounted in DOSBox)[Note 2]
macOS (OS X)
Linux
It's unknown whether this game follows the XDG Base Directory Specification on Linux. Please fill in this information.

Save game data location

System Location
DOS <path-to-game>\
Windows <path-to-game>\SKY-VM.***[Note 1]
<path-to-game> (mounted in DOSBox)[Note 2]
macOS (OS X) $HOME/Documents/ScummVM Savegames/Beneath a Steel Sky
Linux
DOS savegames are labelled SKY.???, where ??? represents a number between 000 and 999. Savegame descriptions are stored in SKY.SAV.

Save game cloud syncing

System Native Notes
GOG Galaxy
Requires Internal Update (25 April 2018) or later.
Steam Cloud
ScummVM 2.1+ supports cloud saves on third-party cloud storage services. See the ScummVM documentation for details.

Video

In-game menu (F5)
In-game menu (F5)
ScummVM settings.
ScummVM settings.

Graphics feature State Notes
Widescreen resolution
Multi-monitor
Ultra-widescreen
4K Ultra HD
Field of view (FOV)
Windowed
For DOSBox toggle with Alt+↵ Enter (see the glossary page for other workarounds).
Borderless fullscreen windowed
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Anisotropic filtering (AF)
Anti-aliasing (AA)
Vertical sync (Vsync)
For DOSBox use an unofficial build (see the glossary page for other workarounds).
60 FPS and 120+ FPS

Input

Keyboard and mouse State Notes
Remapping
For DOSBox use the DOSBox Mapper (see the glossary page for other workarounds).
Mouse acceleration
Mouse sensitivity
For DOSBox set in the DOSBox configuration file.
Mouse input in menus
Menu can be open with F5
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Controller
Controller support
For DOSBox use the DOSBox Mapper (see the glossary page for other workarounds).
Controller types

Audio

ScummVM audio sliders. Access in-game by pressing Ctrl+F5 and clicking options.
ScummVM audio sliders. Access in-game by pressing Ctrl+F5 and clicking options.

Audio feature State Notes
Separate volume controls
Speech and FX have only an on/off toggle. Music can be adjusted with a slider.
Use ScummVM for Speech and SFX sliders.
Surround sound
Uses MIDI driver.
Subtitles
Menu can be accessed through F5. Not subtitles in the intro cutscene.
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost
For DOSBox change the priority background value in the DOSBox configuration file.
Royalty free audio
General MIDI audio
Use ScummVM.
This game supports the Roland MT-32 for music, and takes advantage of the additional sound effects provided by the CM-32L/LAPC-I.[Note 3]
While this game has very few native settings, it can run on ScummVM which adds some additional settings.

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
Speech in CD version only.
Traditional Chinese
Retail only.
French
German
Italian
Polish
Fan translation, download.
Portuguese
Available in the GoG release. Mistaken as Brazilian Portuguese.
Russian
Fan translation by «Бюро переводов Old-Games.Ru», ScummVM-build and localization files
Spanish
Swedish

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
DOS video modes VGA 320x200

System requirements

DOS
Minimum
Operating system (OS) 3.30
Processor (CPU) 386
System memory (RAM) 2 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 10 MB (floppy)
93 MB (CD)
Video card (GPU) VGA 256-color
Sound (audio device) Supports Roland, Sound Blaster, and Ad Lib cards
Windows
Minimum
Operating system (OS) XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10
Processor (CPU) 1.0 GHz
System memory (RAM) 256 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 87 MB
Video card (GPU) DirectX 9.0c compatible
macOS (OS X)
Minimum
Operating system (OS) 10.6.8
Processor (CPU) Intel Core Duo 2.0 GHz
System memory (RAM) 1 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 78 MB
Video card (GPU) 64 MB of VRAM
Linux
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) Ubuntu 14.04, Linux Mint 17
Processor (CPU) 1.0 GHz 1.4 GHz
System memory (RAM) 256 MB 512 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD)
Video card (GPU) 128 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).
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 File/folder structure within the installation folder reflects the path(s) listed for DOS game data. For the GOG.com release, file changes in DOSBox are redirected to <path-to-game>/cloud_saves/ even if GOG Galaxy is not used (this folder contains all redirected files, so some files in the cloud_saves folder might be temporary files or other files that do not contain saves or settings).
  3. ↑ ScummVM adds proper General MIDI support.

References

  1. ↑ Free games: Beneath a Steel Sky and Lure of the Temptress - GOG.com - last accessed on May 2023
  2. ↑ GOG launches Mac support, 50 games available now - last accessed on May 2023
  3. ↑ "The "what did just update?" thread" post #709 - last accessed on 9 June 2023
  4. ↑ "The "what did just update?" thread" post #6577 - last accessed on 9 June 2023
  5. ↑ Verified by User:Baronsmoki on 2021-06-29
  6. ↑ Wikipedia - Beneath a Steel Sky - last accessed on 2021-06-29
    "...they name him Robert Foster, partly due to him being fostered by them, but also because of the discovery of an empty can of Foster's Lager found near the crash site."