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Difference between revisions of "Commander Keen in The Earth Explodes"

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
m (→‎Availability: Adding the 3D Realms website.)
(29 intermediate revisions by 10 users not shown)
Line 5: Line 5:
 
|publishers  =  
 
|publishers  =  
 
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|Apogee Software}}
 
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|Apogee Software}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|Precision Software|Europe}}
 
|engines      =  
 
|engines      =  
 
|release dates=  
 
|release dates=  
 
{{Infobox game/row/date|DOS|December 14, 1990}}
 
{{Infobox game/row/date|DOS|December 14, 1990}}
{{Infobox game/row/date|Windows|August 3, 2007}}
+
{{Infobox game/row/date|Windows|August 3, 2007|wrapper=DOSBox}}
 
|steam appid  = 9180
 
|steam appid  = 9180
|gogcom page  =  
+
|gogcom id    =  
 
|strategywiki =  
 
|strategywiki =  
 +
|mobygames    = commander-keen-2-the-earth-explodes
 
|wikipedia    = Commander Keen in Invasion of the Vorticons
 
|wikipedia    = Commander Keen in Invasion of the Vorticons
 
|winehq      =  
 
|winehq      =  
Line 22: Line 24:
  
 
'''General information'''
 
'''General information'''
 +
{{mm}} [http://www.shikadi.net/keenwiki/Main_Page Commander Keen wiki]
 +
{{mm}} [https://pckf.rigeltechnical.com Public Commander Keen Forum]
 
{{mm}} [https://www.commander-keen.com/ Commander Keen Fan Site]
 
{{mm}} [https://www.commander-keen.com/ Commander Keen Fan Site]
{{mm}} [http://steamcommunity.com/app/9180/discussions/ Steam Community Discussions]
+
{{mm}} [https://steamcommunity.com/app/9180/discussions/ Steam Community Discussions]
  
 
==Availability==
 
==Availability==
 
{{Availability|
 
{{Availability|
{{Availability/row| Retail | | unknown | Commander Keen in Invasion of the Vorticons | | DOS }}
+
{{Availability/row| Retail | | DRM-free | Commander Keen in Invasion of the Vorticons | | DOS }}
{{Availability/row| Steam | 9180 | Steam | Commander Keen Complete Pack. Pre-packaged with [[DOSBox]].<ref>[https://steamdb.info/app/9180/config/ Commander Keen Complete Pack · Commander Keen · AppID: 9180 · Steam Database]</ref> | | Windows }}
+
{{Availability/row| Publisher | https://3drealms.com/catalog/commander-keen-invasion-vorticons_12/ | DRM-free | Commander Keen in Invasion of the Vorticons. Pre-packaged with [[DOSBox]]. |  | Windows }}
 +
{{Availability/row| Steam | 9180 | DRM-free | Commander Keen Complete Pack. Pre-packaged with [[DOSBox]].<ref>[https://steamdb.info/app/9180/config/ Commander Keen Complete Pack · Commander Keen · AppID: 9180 · Steam Database]</ref> | | Windows }}
 
}}
 
}}
  
Line 41: Line 46:
  
 
==Essential improvements==
 
==Essential improvements==
 +
===Patches===
 +
Unfortunately Keen was from an era of computing before downloadable patches were a norm. Instead, a fully patched version of the game would be sent in the mail. The old version had to be uninstalled and deleted and the updated copy installed in its place. As the update is already the full game, it would be illegal to distribute it. Luckily, Several dedicated fans have made [http://dosclassics.com/keen/dl.php?id=of homebrewed patches] to update (or downgrade if you want) every official keen game. These patches edit the files to make the changes, no warez used! The original discussion thread for them can be found [https://pckf.rigeltechnical.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=21&sid=90a04012cef1c483fba6131d8da5e810 here].
 +
{{ii}} An unofficial fan fix that fixes additional issues not addressed in the latest official patch can be found [https://pckf.rigeltechnical.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3746 here].
 +
 
===Episode launcher===
 
===Episode launcher===
{{ii}} A launcher for the entire Keen series can be found [https://gist.github.com/maxlefou/e6fe35739a1ffad1b85543eb800c36f4#file-keenstrt-bat-L15 here] (runs in [[DOSBox]]). For a modified version of this same launcher that also supports [[Commander Keen in Keen Dreams|Keen Dreams]] (for people whom don't have the native Steam version), try the following:
+
A launcher for the entire Keen series can be found [https://gist.github.com/maxlefou/e6fe35739a1ffad1b85543eb800c36f4#file-keenstrt-bat-L15 here] (runs in [[DOSBox]]). For a modified version of this same launcher that also supports [[Commander Keen in Keen Dreams|Keen Dreams]] (for people whom don't have the native Steam version), try the following:
  
 
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
 
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
Line 223: Line 232:
 
</pre></div></div>
 
</pre></div></div>
  
===Source Ports===
+
{{ii}} The executable names (keen*.exe etc.) may have to be edited to fit your particular version of Keen. There are many versions. You could also replace the executable calls with CKPatch scripts if you wish to keep a customized aspect of the game always that way when you run it.
Two reversed engineered source ports are available.
+
 
 +
===[http://www.shikadi.net/keenwiki/CKPatch CKPatch]===
 +
CKPatch is essentially a tool needed to load some mods (such as total conversions, or even just simple hacking) into the Keen engine. It does so by "patching" the engine in memory, hence it's name. For simple single script patches for Keen 2, look [http://www.shikadi.net/keenwiki/Category:Keen_2_patches here].
 +
{{ii}} If loading of a mod/script fails, you may have to uncompress the keen executables using [http://www.shikadi.net/keenwiki/UNP UNP] or [http://www.shikadi.net/keenwiki/UNLZEXE UNLZEXE].
 +
 
 +
===Source ports===
 +
Three reversed engineered source ports are available.
 
{{ii}} [http://clonekeen.sourceforge.net CloneKeen]
 
{{ii}} [http://clonekeen.sourceforge.net CloneKeen]
 
{{ii}} [http://clonekeenplus.sourceforge.net Commander Genius]
 
{{ii}} [http://clonekeenplus.sourceforge.net Commander Genius]
 +
{{ii}} [https://pckf.rigeltechnical.com/viewtopic.php?t=2536 Chocolate Keen]
  
 
==Game data==
 
==Game data==
 
===Configuration file(s) location===
 
===Configuration file(s) location===
 
{{Game data|
 
{{Game data|
{{Game data/row|DOS|}}
+
{{Game data/config|DOS|}}
{{Game data/row|Windows|{{p|game}}\base2}}
+
{{Game data/config|Windows|{{p|game}}\base2}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
===Save game data location===
 
===Save game data location===
 
{{Game data|
 
{{Game data|
{{Game data/row|DOS|}}
+
{{Game data/saves|DOS|}}
{{Game data/row|Windows|{{p|game}}\base2\SAVED*.CK2}}
+
{{Game data/saves|Windows|{{p|game}}\base2\SAVED*.CK2}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
===[[Glossary:Save game cloud syncing|Save game cloud syncing]]===
 
===[[Glossary:Save game cloud syncing|Save game cloud syncing]]===
 
{{Save game cloud syncing
 
{{Save game cloud syncing
|origin               =  
+
|discord                =
|origin notes         =  
+
|discord notes          =
|steam cloud           = true
+
|epic games store      =
|steam cloud notes     =  
+
|epic games store notes =
|uplay                 =  
+
|gog galaxy            =
|uplay notes           =  
+
|gog galaxy notes      =
 +
|origin                 =  
 +
|origin notes           =  
 +
|steam cloud           = true
 +
|steam cloud notes     =  
 +
|uplay                 =  
 +
|uplay notes           =
 +
|xbox cloud            =
 +
|xbox cloud notes      =  
 
}}
 
}}
  
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|4k ultra hd wsgf award    =  
 
|4k ultra hd wsgf award    =  
 
|widescreen resolution      = false
 
|widescreen resolution      = false
|widescreen resolution notes=  
+
|widescreen resolution notes= 320x200 only.
 
|multimonitor              = false
 
|multimonitor              = false
 
|multimonitor notes        =  
 
|multimonitor notes        =  
Line 282: Line 306:
 
|120 fps                    = false
 
|120 fps                    = false
 
|120 fps notes              =  
 
|120 fps notes              =  
 +
|hdr                        = unknown
 +
|hdr notes                  =
 
|color blind                = unknown
 
|color blind                = unknown
 
|color blind notes          =  
 
|color blind notes          =  
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|touchscreen              = false
 
|touchscreen              = false
 
|touchscreen notes        =  
 
|touchscreen 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=
 
|button prompts            = false
 
|button prompts            = false
 
|button prompts notes      =  
 
|button prompts notes      =  
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|haptic feedback          = false
 
|haptic feedback          = false
 
|haptic feedback notes    =  
 
|haptic feedback notes    =  
|light bar support        = unknown
+
|simultaneous input        = unknown
|light bar support notes  =  
+
|simultaneous input notes  =
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
===Make space-bar fire===
 +
In the earlier keen games you had to press both the jump and pogo buttons in order to fire, some find that inconvenient.
 +
 
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Use a CKPatch script|ref=<ref>http://www.shikadi.net/keenwiki/Patch:Keen_shooting_(Vorticons)</ref>|fix=
 +
Copy the following into a plaintext editor and when saving be sure to give it a <code>.pat</code> extension.
 +
<pre>
 +
%ext ck2
 +
#Change the controls to: Space, shoot; Enter, status.
 +
 
 +
%patch $120B  $5024W
 +
%patch $83A2  $5024W
 +
%patch $6965  $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $80 $3E $5041W  $00
 +
%patch $6A90  $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $80 $3E $5041W  $00
 +
%patch $6BFB  $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $80 $3E $5041W  $00
 +
%patch $6C0E  $90 $90
 +
%patch $6CAF  $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $80 $3E $5041W  $00
 +
%patch $6E3E  $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $80 $3E $5041W  $00
 +
%patch $6EEC  $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $80 $3E $5041W  $00
 +
%end
 +
</pre>
 +
{{--}} Some Keeners consider this cheating as it makes firing much easier, removing challenge from gameplay.
 +
{{ii}} If you wish to utilize these changes in mods you will have to integrate this script into the mods' included script.
 
}}
 
}}
  
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  |notes    =  
 
  |notes    =  
 
  |fan      =  
 
  |fan      =  
|fan notes =
 
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
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|mantle support        =  
 
|mantle support        =  
 
|mantle support notes  =  
 
|mantle support notes  =  
|vulkan support        =  
+
|vulkan versions        =  
|vulkan support notes   =  
+
|vulkan notes           =  
 
|dos modes              = EGA
 
|dos modes              = EGA
|dos modes notes        = Compatibility with certain SVGA cards can be enabled using the <code>/COMP</code> parameter. Can also use the <code>/HIDDENCARD</code> parameter to force the game to accept the card if it doesn't detect a supported model.
+
|dos modes notes        =  
 
|shader model versions  =  
 
|shader model versions  =  
 
|shader model notes    =  
 
|shader model notes    =  
|64-bit executable     = false
+
|windows 32-bit exe    = unknown
|64-bit executable notes=  
+
|windows 64-bit exe    = unknown
 +
|windows exe notes      =
 +
|macos 32-bit app      =
 +
|macos 64-bit app      =
 +
|macos app notes        =
 +
|linux 32-bit executable=  
 +
|linux 64-bit executable=
 +
|linux executable notes =  
 
}}
 
}}
  

Revision as of 06:56, 4 April 2020

Commander Keen in The Earth Explodes
Commander Keen in The Earth Explodes cover
Developers
id Software
Publishers
Apogee Software
Europe Precision Software
Release dates
DOS December 14, 1990
Windows (DOSBox) August 3, 2007
Commander Keen in The Earth Explodes on MobyGames
Commander Keen in The Earth Explodes on Wikipedia
Commander Keen
Commander Keen in Marooned on Mars 1990
Commander Keen in The Earth Explodes 1990
Commander Keen in Keen Must Die! 1990
Commander Keen in Keen Dreams 1991
Commander Keen in Secret of the Oracle 1991
Commander Keen in The Armageddon Machine 1991
Commander Keen in Aliens Ate My Baby Sitter! 1991
Commander Keen: Keen Dreams Definitive Edition 2023

Key points

Also known as Commander Keen: Episode 2
Use F5 to save in-game

General information

Commander Keen wiki
Public Commander Keen Forum
Commander Keen Fan Site
Steam Community Discussions

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
DRM-free
Commander Keen in Invasion of the Vorticons
DOS
Publisher website
DRM-free
Commander Keen in Invasion of the Vorticons. Pre-packaged with DOSBox.
Windows
Steam
DRM-free after installation through Steam client (notes may include more details)
Commander Keen Complete Pack. Pre-packaged with DOSBox.[1]
Windows

Version differences

Commander Keen in Invasion of the Vorticons

The retail release of the game, which includes the first 3 episodes of the series: Commander Keen in Marooned on Mars, Commander Keen in The Earth Explodes, and Commander Keen in Keen Must Die!.

Commander Keen Complete Pack

A compilation pack containing the entire Commander Keen series (excluding the final episode Commander Keen in Aliens Ate My Baby Sitter! and the "lost" episode Commander Keen in Keen Dreams).

All games in the pack are pre-configured to run with DOSBox.

Essential improvements

Patches

Unfortunately Keen was from an era of computing before downloadable patches were a norm. Instead, a fully patched version of the game would be sent in the mail. The old version had to be uninstalled and deleted and the updated copy installed in its place. As the update is already the full game, it would be illegal to distribute it. Luckily, Several dedicated fans have made homebrewed patches to update (or downgrade if you want) every official keen game. These patches edit the files to make the changes, no warez used! The original discussion thread for them can be found here.

An unofficial fan fix that fixes additional issues not addressed in the latest official patch can be found here.

Episode launcher

A launcher for the entire Keen series can be found here (runs in DOSBox). For a modified version of this same launcher that also supports Keen Dreams (for people whom don't have the native Steam version), try the following:

Episode launcher
@ECHO OFF

:MENU

CLS


REM All episodes must be in the same folder contrary

REM to the original launcher this one was based on.


ECHO.

ECHO  ===========================================================================

ECHO  ======================= COMMANDER KEEN COLLECTION =========================

ECHO  ===========================================================================

ECHO.

ECHO         Invasion of the Vortices (1-3):

ECHO.

ECHO     1 - Commander Keen 1 Marooned On Mars (1990)(Apogee Software)

ECHO     2 - Commander Keen 2 The Earth Explodes (1990)(Apogee Software)

ECHO     3 - Commander Keen 3 Keen Must Die (1990)(Apogee Software)

ECHO.

ECHO         Goodbye, Galaxy! (4-6):

ECHO.

ECHO     4 - Commander Keen 4 Secret Of The Oracle (1991)(Apogee Software Ltd)

ECHO     5 - Commander Keen 5 The Armageddon Machine (1991)(Apogee Software Ltd)

ECHO     6 - Commander Keen 6 Aliens Ate My Baby Sitter (1991)(Formgen)

ECHO.

ECHO         Other (The Lost Episode):

ECHO.

ECHO     7 - Commander Keen Dreams (1991)(Softdisk Publishing)

ECHO.


CHOICE /c1234567q/n Choose a number (Press Q to Quit):

IF ERRORLEVEL 8 GOTO EXIT

IF ERRORLEVEL 7 GOTO KEEN7

IF ERRORLEVEL 6 GOTO KEEN6

IF ERRORLEVEL 5 GOTO KEEN5

IF ERRORLEVEL 4 GOTO KEEN4

IF ERRORLEVEL 3 GOTO KEEN3

IF ERRORLEVEL 2 GOTO KEEN2

IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO KEEN1




:KEEN1

CLS

ECHO Starting Commander Keen 1...

call keen1.exe

GOTO MENU




:KEEN2

CLS

ECHO Starting Commander Keen 2...

call keen2.exe

GOTO MENU




:KEEN3

CLS

ECHO Starting Commander Keen 3...

call keen3.exe

GOTO MENU




:KEEN4

CLS

ECHO Starting Commander Keen 4...

call keen4e.exe

GOTO MENU




:KEEN5

CLS

ECHO Starting Commander Keen 5...

call keen5e.exe

GOTO MENU




:KEEN6

CLS

ECHO Starting Commander Keen 6...

call keen6c.exe

GOTO MENU




:KEEN7

CLS

ECHO Starting Commander Keen Dreams…

call kdreams.exe

GOTO MENU




:EXIT

CLS

exit
The executable names (keen*.exe etc.) may have to be edited to fit your particular version of Keen. There are many versions. You could also replace the executable calls with CKPatch scripts if you wish to keep a customized aspect of the game always that way when you run it.

CKPatch

CKPatch is essentially a tool needed to load some mods (such as total conversions, or even just simple hacking) into the Keen engine. It does so by "patching" the engine in memory, hence it's name. For simple single script patches for Keen 2, look here.

If loading of a mod/script fails, you may have to uncompress the keen executables using UNP or UNLZEXE.

Source ports

Three reversed engineered source ports are available.

CloneKeen
Commander Genius
Chocolate Keen

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
DOS
Windows <path-to-game>\base2[Note 1]<path-to-game> (mounted in DOSBox)[Note 2]
Steam Play (Linux) <Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/9180/pfx/[Note 3]

Save game data location

System Location
DOS
Windows <path-to-game>\base2\SAVED*.CK2[Note 1]
<path-to-game> (mounted in DOSBox)[Note 2]
Steam Play (Linux) <Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/9180/pfx/[Note 3]

Save game cloud syncing

System Native Notes
Steam Cloud

Video settings

Template:Video settings

Input settings

Template:Input settings

Make space-bar fire

In the earlier keen games you had to press both the jump and pogo buttons in order to fire, some find that inconvenient.

Use a CKPatch script[2]

Copy the following into a plaintext editor and when saving be sure to give it a .pat extension.

%ext ck2
#Change the controls to: Space, shoot; Enter, status.

%patch $120B  $5024W
%patch $83A2  $5024W
%patch $6965  $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $80 $3E $5041W  $00
%patch $6A90  $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $80 $3E $5041W  $00
%patch $6BFB  $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $80 $3E $5041W  $00
%patch $6C0E  $90 $90 
%patch $6CAF  $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $80 $3E $5041W  $00
%patch $6E3E  $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $80 $3E $5041W  $00
%patch $6EEC  $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $90 $80 $3E $5041W  $00
%end
Some Keeners consider this cheating as it makes firing much easier, removing challenge from gameplay.
If you wish to utilize these changes in mods you will have to integrate this script into the mods' included script.

Audio settings

Template:Audio settings

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
DOS video modes EGA

System requirements

DOS
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) 1.0
Processor (CPU) Intel 286
System memory (RAM) 640 KB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 3 MB
Video card (GPU) EGA
Windows
Minimum
Operating system (OS) XP, Vista
Processor (CPU)
System memory (RAM)
Hard disk drive (HDD)

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.
  3. 3.0 3.1 File/folder structure within this directory reflects the path(s) listed for Windows and/or Steam game data (use Wine regedit to access Windows registry paths). Games with Steam Cloud support may store data in ~/.steam/steam/userdata/<user-id>/9180/ in addition to or instead of this directory. The app ID (9180) may differ in some cases. Treat backslashes as forward slashes. See the glossary page for details.

References