Dunenerd

Terribly sorry if you call this a bump, and I will admit is has been over a year since I posted here. I've decided to abandon this mod for a while. I'll hope to get back into this next year. Unfortunately Year 12 is extremely hard and I really don't have time to work on it this year if I want to get into a good university. However, if all goes to plan I want to take a gap year next year to finish up a few things, this included. Until my return, Vale. Dunenerd

In the Order Of The Stick (webcomic) the heroes rescue some traders from beetle monsters in the desert. One of the traders gives Belkar a box of a strange substance that produces a sensation described with a vulgar paragraph. It causes his eyes to turn blue, then a sandworm attacks them. Elan also references someone (can't remember the name) saying "Talk without rythm and you won't distract the worm. I'll look for the links tomorrow. Also, there is a scene in the Vicar of Dibley, during a prolonged drought where one charecter is mentioned to have spat on the table when the water ministry came to propose a solution.

Sorry, I misunderstood about the frame dumper working. Somehow I thought UnHSQ was supposed to do the job. Now I've reread it, I understand. Mental Note: do not attempt to read forum posts at quarter to two in the morning. If I knew enough about C, I would join in. Unfortunately, I don't. So I'll just cheer as much as is possible through text. (trust me. It's better than me singing David Bowie) ;)

Thanks for linking me to the old version. I was actually having trouble with that.

I had a toshiba Vista 32 bit and a dell XP 32 bit. I had the same problem. Aparrantly, they hate each other. If this is your situation, your better off using a router. I tried wifi adhoc networks too and it didn't work. Stuff Microsoft and their lack of backwards compatibility.

Hi, When this remake is released, will it be open-source? I'm learning objective-C so I can program on Iphone, and I don't have any time to contribute to the project yet, but I would like to port it to Iphone/Ipod Touch when it's done. The idea literally came to me in a dream. Also, I have an interesting idea: If you can manage to extract the flight video (flying over the dunes) could someone please upload it? I'd like to try it as a desktop background in Dreamscene for Vista Ultimate. Anyway, this sounds like it's getting along a bit.

Maybe I'm dreaming again. Thanks for the advice, I've been busy with school, but I'm starting holidays this friday so I'll do my best to get something done, unlike the last term or so. If/When I get over my minecraft addiction... It can't be good for me. :-[

In fact, I used a t-probe on him. Turns out I was dreaming :(

Thanks for that, Mr Flibble. It's working better now. And I think I have worked out how to make the sounds for the units too.

Yes. If I can work it out, I might make Daleks use that as their catch-cry, I mean when they say "reporting" and stuff like that. I had one or two of the images done, but now my computer with the pictures crashed, so I have everything but. I'm going to get it up and running in a week, hopefully. I'll post then. EDIT My hardrive was corrupted and I can't afford to get it repaired and data recovered. Fortunately, I have the code I had edited on a flash drive. Now I have to try again with the pictures, I remember Reading that Mr Flibble had used .gifs to replace the animations in his Super Dune II mod. I was wondering if anyone could please give me some advice on how I can get the small pictures that appear beside the mentat to appear in the new files? Also, is there a certain frame rate I need to keep the file at so the game plays it properly? Thanks

Sorry for bumping, but I just wanted to ask how you were doing. I was going to do this when I finished my Dune WHo mod for Dune II, but you beat me too it. I have RTW so I might be able to help with something if you need some. Or if you've stopped, I'd like to see some more of your work if you don't mind so I could use it in my own mod, but I'd include your name in the credits. Of course, that's if you don't mind. Dunenerd

Sorry, I had a very bad dose of flu that week. Very Sorry. But I'm hoping it won't happen again. Well, I'm going to get around to finishing that Dune Who mod oneday, and I'm hoping I can use this in my maps. One map should have massive amounts of damage (like after a massive battle) so this should be nice.

Oops, I missed that page with the source code on it. I agree, the remixed tracks on Spice Opera suck. I managed to get my hands on a copy at a garage sale,($70 AUD) and I wish I hadn't wasted my money. I've got a real 98 install disc, which I run in a virtual machine on my computer. Somehow RDOSplay thinks it's running on Adlib Gold, From what I've seen. But I was told the emulator didn't emulate good cards like that. Let's all annoy Nerdsguy... ARGH! WHO GAVE HIM THAT LASGUN!!. Lol. Anyway, I was searching through my Dune folder (where I keep all my Dune related stuff) and I found a few files that seemed to be opened graphics files, converted to .BMP. There was also a way I could change the pallet frame by frame and get the sunset. Unfortunately, my brother thinks it's very funny to hide my stuff on the myriad of hard drives and cds we have, so I have to track them down again.... :'( I just hope he hasn't deleted them, like he deleted the only copy of the book I'm writing. I'll kill him this afternoon and work out what happened. Dunenerd

Ok, thanks. Sorry I havn't been on more often, I lost the internet dongle and had to wait for my cousin to find it and post it back to me. :P I've nearly finished the Atreides Mentat, to make him look like The Doctor. Next I'll do the Harko mentat, who will look like a Dalek, and the Ordos mentat will look like a Cyberman.

Wait.... I thought we were still looking for UNHSQ. Do you actually have it?

Whoops, my spoler effort failed ??? Is that the correct spoiler code for these forums? http://cd.textfiles.com/scene96-2/player/rdosplay/ MUST VISIT!!!! I seem to have found RDOSplay, not sure if anyone else has, but not UNHSQ. However, RDOSplay includes a form of UNHSQ which could possibly be stuffed around with to extract files. I'm not sure.

Ok, I found this site. cd.textfiles.com/scene96-2/player/rdosplay/rdosplay.doc To open that document, use Korean encoding. I'll include the text in spoilers here. <spoiler> 쩟컴?쩟컴?敏컴?敏컴?쩟컴?悶 敏컴?悶 ? 敏컴? 悶 敏컴? 납 ?납 ?납 ?납 납 ?납 납 ?납 ? 납 ? 캑? 납 ? 냉컫?납 ?납 ?읒컫?냉컴?납 냉컴?냉컴? 납 ? 납 냉컴? 납 읏 납 ?납 ? 납 납 납 납 ?납 납 ?悶 납 납 ? 잎 ?좋컴?읒컴?읕컨?잎 읒컴?잎 ?잎 읒컴?잎 컨좔 읒컴? 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴? Written by Roman Dolejsi (RDOS of DIMENSION) August 27, 1996 Last update: September 5, 1996 This is the documentation belonging to and explaining the use of RDOSPLAY version 0.17e OPL2/OPL3 music module player for MS-DOS TOPICS covered in this document: DISCLAIMER APOLOGIZE PURPOSE OF RDOSPLAY REQUIREMENTS INSTALLATION OF RDOSPLAY RDOSPLAY IN ACTION PROGRAM KEYS AND DIALOG LINE CURRENTLY SUPPORTED MODULE FORMATS MODULE GRABBING FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS COPYRIGHT WHERE TO FIND RDOSPLAY THANX CONTACTING ME DISCLAIMER: ----------- Although RDOSPLAY has been tested on several systems, I cannot guarantee that it is bugless. Therefore I do not take responsibility for any damage directly or indirectly caused by RDOSPLAY as a result of known/unknown errors in it or errors caused by its access to your devices. APOLOGIZE: ---------- Sorry, english is not my native language. However, I wrote this nice docy in english without any help. I APOLOGIZE for any mistakes in the document. Take it easy... Nobody is perfect.. :-) PURPOSE OF RDOSPLAY: -------------------- RdosPlay is a OPL2/OPL3 music module player for IBM PC compatible computers running MS-DOS operating system. This means that you can use it for playing your favorite melody from some music editor, demo or game. It is FIRST known generic OPL player. I've coded it because of lack of any player of this type in PC-world. REQUIREMENTS: ------------- RdosPlay is coded in pure 286-assembler with no 386+ optimalizations. This means you can use your old 286 and Adlib card for background playing while doing some work. So The only required things it needs is OPL2/3/4 compatible card (Adlib or higher), 286 or higher and about 192kB of free mem. For graphic analyzers you would probably need at least 386-sx (not tested). The other thing you need is some music module of course :-) INSTALLATION OF RDOSPLAY: ------------------------- - first you have to make some directory on your drive. Then you have to unpack there archive file RPLYxyyz.ZIP. Don't forget to unpack it WITH directories otherwise you would get a pretty nice garbage :-) (you probably did all this when you read these lines :-) - RDOSPLAY pack should consist of these files: RDOSPLAY.EXE - Main file - OPL player RDOSPLAY.DOC - Documentation for RdosPlay (this file) RDOSPLAY.REV - RDOSPLAY changes/revision history file FILE_ID.DIZ - bbs file_id header FILES* - music module examples - now you have RdosPlay successfully installed :-) RDOSPLAY IN ACTION: ------------------- Rdosplay uses your sound card's OPL chip for producing synthetic music typical for these chips. For OPL2 (mono) musics it can also simulate stereo by distributing channels in left/right speakers. It's not possible with OPL3 musics which do their own (precise) panning. OPL2 stereo and OPL3 modes are both possible only on OPL3 chip of course. When producing music RdosPlay also shows some analyzers to make world brighter :-). This can be supressed when using slow computers or slow OPL2 emulation (GUS users). PROGRAM KEYS AND DIALOG LINE: ----------------------------- While RdosPlay is running, you can use these keys: PgUp - increase track of music (for ADL only) PgDn - decrease track of music (for ADL only) Dialog line looks as following: RDOSPLAY.EXE [/p] [/t] [/l] <musfile.ext> options: /pXXX:Y - specifies port and type of OPL chip (avoiding autodetection) XXX: hexadecimal base port of the chip Y: 1 = OPL2 (Adlib compatible) 2 = OPL3 (Yamaha YM262 stereo chip) 3 = OPL4 (Yamaha OPL4 stereo chip) /tXXX - specifies track to be played (for ADL format only, 1-118) /s - enables OPL3-stereo for OPL2 musics (omitted with OPL3 musics) /lX - enables LED-meter on LPT port X: port number, where: 0 = 3BC (EGA's LPT port) 1 = 378 (standard LPT1 port) 2 = 278 (standard LPT2 port) CURRENTLY SUPPORTED MODULE FORMATS: ----------------------------------- RdosPlay now supports these formats (where are they and how to get them you can read in another section): ?ADL (Adlib format similar to XMI) ?AGD (Herad system - DUNE game) [OPL3] ?AMD (Amusic tracker packed files) ?CAL (ShadowLands game) ?D00 (JCH / Vibrants ver 1, 2 & 4) ?FXM (Fuxoft AY music chip language) ?HSC (HSC music composer) ?LDS (Loudness system - Zeppelin game) ?LEM (SI system - XMasLemmings game) ?MUS (First Samurai game) ?PLX (Palladix system - Logical game) ?RAD (Reality ADlib tracker) ?RAW (raw adlib data - Starport demo) ?SAT (SAdT music composer) ?SDB (Herad system - DUNE / KGB games) ?SIG (SI system 2 - DIZZY games) ?VIB (JO/Vibrants player) RdosPlay also supports some internal file packers. They are: ?HSQ (mainly with SDB,AGD - Dune game) ?SQX (mainly with SDB - KGB game) ?ICE (mainly with CAL - ShadowLands game) MODULE GRABBING: ---------------- ?ADL This is format used in many games. Each file can consist of up to 118 "tracks" and every track can contain separate music. Default track for RdosPlay is track number 1. Track can be selected with parameter /t. RdosPlay will pack all used tracks so unused tracks won't be in selection field. ?AMD This extension covers files from Amusic tracker by Elyssis. There are two types of them. Packed and non-packed. RdosPlay currently supports packed files only. ?CAL This standard is used in ShadowLands game. Look there and find file TUNE.CAL. It's ICE-packed file and RdosPlay has internal ICE-unpacker. ?D00 These files are for JCH / Vibrants player. They are created in Vibrant's editor named EdLib by packing standard *.EDL editor's files. Look for them in intros or in that editor. Files for player ver 2+ begin with 'JCH' sign. Example: intro KUKKO2.EXE, offset B2A (module named CROONER.D00). ?FXM These files are special blocks of music code used in Fuxoft SoundTrack on ZX Spectrum computer. This computer has 3-channel sound chip named AY3-8910. RdosPlay has FXM interpreter and AY->OPL2 convertor. All the files that exist in this format are supplied with RdosPlay standard distribution. ?HSC HSC files are commonly used in short demos and intros. The source from where they came is mainly HSC composer which is available on anonymous FTP's on I-net. There you can get most of these files (about 100 modules). If you grab some file its extension must be HSC otherwise RdosPlay won't recognize it! ?LDS These files are used in LOUDNESS system. Look in ZEPPELIN game's SOUND directory and take all *.DAT files. ?LEM These files are used in X-Mas Lemmings game. Grab them yourself. Their sign is [0]=1C 52. ?MUS This standard is used in FIRST SAMURAI game. Take file ADLIB.MUS. ?PLX This standard is used in LOGICAL game. All music files are stored in file LOGICAL.EXE. You have to grab them from this file. Here are file positions: 13310, 165C0, 1B160, 1F320, 50360, 50550, 50730, 50990, 50B90, 50D10, 50FA0, 510F0, 51310, 56620, 59F90. ?RAD This format came with Reality ADlib Tracker. Tunes often have RAD extension and if not, there is a 'RAD' sign at the beginning of the file. ?RAW This format is very simple. It consists of commands directly sent to OPL port. RAW format is used in STARPRT2.EXE intro (for example). format: [0]=db 'RAWADATA' ... file identifier [8]=dw clock ... clock (int8) speed [10]=dw data_size dup (data) ... adlib data [..]=dw 0ffffh ... end of file data: parameter, command. command==0: data==n ... wait n times. command==2: data==0 ... set speed (next word) command==2: data==1 ... set OPL3 port A default command==2: data==2 ... set OPL3 port B default This format is also generated by RAC (Rdos Adlib Catcher). ?SAT These files are made in SAdT music composer. They begin with 'SAdT' sign. ?SDB, AGD These files are used in DUNE game. Look in game's directory and search for *.SDB or *.AGD files. These are HSQ-packed. You can unpack them with UNHSQ (RDOS production) or use them as they are. RdosPlay has internal HSQ unpacker and recognizes both packed or unpacked modules. *.AGD files have to be played on OPL-3 stereo music chip (that's why /s parameter doesn't work with them), *.SDB are for standard AdLib (OPL-2) card. ?SIG These files are used in DIZZY games. They are stored in main .EXE file and you have to grab them. Here are their respective filenames, offsets and sizes: FFOOD=6464E,3B38 KWIKSNAX=73C2E,2BC4 MAGICLND=689EE,4508 YOLK=6571E,33FD ?VIB This is standard used in player by JO / Vibrants. Example: intro COPPER.EXE, offset 8990. RDOSPLAY FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: ------------------------------------ * RdosPlay have not detected my soundcard although I have OPL2 compatible card. - You have to set sound card manually (ie. /p parameter). - GUS users with SBOS running may use /p388:1. * RdosPlay sounds HORRIBLE on GUS ! - That's the fault of OPL2 emulation on GUS, not mine. You have to stay with it or to wait until REMUS (Rdos Emulation Sound system) is released. It will bring a brand new OPL3 emulation for your GUS (hopefully). * I have D/A converter (PC Speaker), does RdosPlay support it ? - No, It does not. You have to wait until REMUS is released. * I have some SAT modules and it seems some of them aren't played correctly with RdosPlay. - Yes, it's the fault of RdosPlay's SAT playing routine. I have to improve it. * What about a fileselector in RdosPlay ? - It's currently in development, wait for new RdosPlay release. * Why are sometimes FXM modules played incorrectly (i mean drums) ? - Not 100% right FXM interpreter initialization causes that noise channel of adlib card is not initialized at all. FXM player is undergoing recontruction now. Wait for another release. WHERE TO FIND RDOSPLAY: ----------------------- Each time I have a new version of RDOSPLAY available, I'll upload it to this place: ftp://sorry.vse.cz/dimension (Dimension FTP site in Prague, Czech Republic) http://sorry.vse.cz/dimension (Dimension Inet HeadQuarters, Czech Republic) RdosPlay will be probably also available at ftp.cdrom.com and ftp.sunet.se FTP archives. Ask your local Internet or FTP expert on how to reach them. Another way is to visit RdosPlay's homepage at address: http://sorry.vse.cz/dimension/rdos/rdosplay (Http site in Prague, CZE) THANX: ------ Although I did all the programming, there are few friends which helped me with some things about this program. Thanx go to: Ondrej Stasek (Ondar/Dimension) - testing, suggestions, new formats delivery David Voracek (Assassin/Dimension) - - || - and other friends for their (mostly) betatesting and suggestions.. CONTACTING ME: -------------- If you want to contact me, write to address listed below. If you want to send me suggestions, tips or simply greets, send it freely. Also some money would be good as a power and motivation for further work :-) If you find any new module format with its player you can also send it to me. You can also send me any module you want to be in new version of RdosPlay. My address: E-Mail: (non-commercial) Roman Dolejsi (RDOS) roman@sorry.vse.cz Husova 419, Vcelna roman@romeo.pf.jcu.cz 37382 Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic Please do not send me E-mails longer than 150kB (because of our local smtp server limit). *** end of RDOSPLAY documentation *** </spoiler> I think that works. There is an email address no-one seems to have found right at teh end.

Thanks for the clarification :D I have a few tile types I've got a friend to help me test for personal use already. When I finish it if no-one beat me to it I will upload. Which utility opens the files so they can be edited this way? Oh, and why would the default corpse color be red? Dunenerd

Ok then, I stuffed up, not you Mr Flibble. I realised I stuffed up something very simple. I have a Vanilla Dune II folder as well as my Dune Who folder, I was very tired when I tried it and I accidently installed the fixed exe in the wrong location. I really should get more sleep ;) Thanks for the info on sound, Nyerguds. I noticed that the block of code you used for "Sound Blaster Pro" has "Prp" instead of "Pro". I doubt it would change anything but, if nothing else worked.

Ok then, I'll get back to my experimenting until I work out the answer. Those fixed EXEs don't seem to work for me. I've tried all the fixed EXEs, especially the EU one since Abandonia's version seems to be EU, but I'm still getting the copy protection. What are the other improvements in the Fixed EXE pack? Thanks, Dunenerd

I know how you feel, but if noone minds my use of a quick cross-over, Wolf will take KJA and BH to the end of the Universe, also known in the Whoniverse (Dr Who) as Bad Wolf, and destroy them. By doing this, he will save us from their prequels. A quick prayer to Wolf: Wolf, Who art most powerful, Hallowed be thy name Thy powers come, Thy destiny unfold, Here to save us from THEM. Forgive us our purchases and forgive those who purchase for us. Lead us not into purchasing, and deliver us from THEM. Amen. ;D

Brilliant! Exactly how I thought of it! Frank Herbert didn't want another heroes vs vilans story, he wanted a story where the so-called hero was really possibly the villian. By usurping a government and causing massive bloodshed, is Paul any better than the Harkoneens? I think the idea of Paul's grandfater being Baron Vladimir is an extention of that. Paul didn't want to be a hero. I believe he said that in Messiah, but I'm not sure. The fallen moon vision was exactly like his treatment of the other houses during the Jihad of Maud'Dib. Paul could have killed the u imperium by destroying the spice with the water of liffe. But he didn't. Not because hwanted power, but because he wanted to keep Humanity alive. That's the whole point of the Golden Path which Leto II saw in his vision, not to keep him as emperor, but to follow on Paul's legacy of keeping humanity evolving.

I would ask Dr Who for his TARDIS. Then I would give FH a cure for cancer, then he would keep writing books for a while. I would have changed history... And saved us from the Bane of the Prequels!

Brilliant! I'm going to try this for my Mod. Is it Dune II, 2000 or Emperor? Thanks, Dunenerd

With this 20kb limit on sounds, is there a workaround, or can I compress .Voc files into the right size for the game in some way? I want to edit the Intro voices, but I can't get the sizes small enough. Any ideas? Thanks, Dunenerd