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Introduction

Syndwarsfx is a fan-made open source port of the Bullfrog Productions game Syndicate Wars for modern operating systems. The objective of the project is to make the game playable on modern operating systems as well as fix legacy game bugs, and introduce some new features and improvements to the original game.

This project is a continuation of the original Syndicate Wars port created by Unavowed and Gynvael Coldwind. However, they are not involved with development of this project, so please do not contact them for support.

This project is entirely fan-led and non-profit, and has no connection to Electronic Arts Inc.

Features Overview

An overview of some of the features and improvements compared to the original releases of the game:

• Runs on Windows, Linux, and MacOS
• Windowed support
• Support for higher resolution graphic rendering, including HD screen modes
• Integrated support for pre-alpha level formats, allowing another 72 levels that came with the game to be played
• Unique levels from the PlayStation version ported and available to play
• Preliminary restoration and expansion of the cut Unguided campaign
• Support for modifying the game:
  • Tweak item purchase and research costs and times
  • Customise what sounds you'd like to hear from which version of the game
  • Modify existing and create custom campaigns with the mission order and rewards you want
• Many original game bugs fixed, including explosives inventory issues, the ability to hear the second MIDI tension tune, and several game text and mission briefing errors

Getting Started

Installing the game

Syndwarsfx does not include Syndicate Wars' data files. To install the game you will need an original copy of the game for its data. At this point it's believed all released versions of the game on PC are supported, including the following:

• GoG Download version
• Original European/USA/Taiwanese DOS release CD
• German DOS release CD
• Japanese Windows release CD - only English and French languages from this release are supported, Japanese text is not yet supported.
• Korean DOS release CD - Choose English language only if using

The GoG and European/USA releases are the recommended versions to install from. The Japanese and Korean versions are not recommended due to the removal of some content from both versions, and many balance changes to the latter. For German language you will need either the GoG version of the game, or the specific German CD. The standard European release of the game does not include German language files.

Note that if you want to install from the GOG version, you must have fully installed the GOG DOS version files to your computer using the GOG installer first. The fan port installer then picks up the files and copies them to the Syndwarsfx directory from here, it cannot extract them from the GOG installer directly.

If you are installing the game for the first time on Windows, please download the Setup file from the releases page. This will guide you through the process and make sure everything is setup for the game to work correctly. If you are upgrading an existing installation the recommended process is to use the update option of the installer, as it will download the required external resources for you automatically.

Patches and the port itself can also be downloaded and installed by hand, just extract the contents of Syndwarsfx in the zip file over your existing game installation. Note however at this point the port also requires additional files to run correctly, and if patching manually, the requisite packages from the Syndwarsfx Levels, Syndwarsfx SFX and Syndwarsfx GFX repositories must be downloaded and extracted over the main install for the game to work correctly. The port will not start unless these additional steps are complete.

If you are installing the game from an iso image running from a virtual drive in Windows, please do NOT choose to install the music. The current audio ripping tool will fail on virtual drives. Instead please rip the audio tracks manually yourself to a directory called Music in the root of the install directories. The ripped tracks need to be in Ogg Vorbis format, with the file names track_1.ogg, track_2.ogg, and track_3.ogg.

Portable Install

Linux installations are portable by default. However, Windows installs of the game default to storing their user data (saved games, etc) to the appdata folder. If you would prefer a portable installation, choose this option in the installer, and instead saves will be stored in the game's own qdata\savegame directory. Note that this setup is not compatible with running the game from Program Files in Windows which needs a non-portable install. Portable Mode is initiated if the registry key Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Syndicate Wars\CurrentVersion\InstallPath is not present.

Starting the Game

As with the original DOS release, the port supports several command line arguments. These are mainly for debugging purposes, but also enable the ability to replay favourite missions, and even levels that were cut from the game. See the Command line arguments page for full information.

Note the port supports new configuration options that must be set in config.ini. This includes the ability to set HD screenmodes. See the configuration file values page for valid options.

It's also recommended to setup a user login profile in-game to preserve your preferences and key bindings between campaigns.

Bugs and Troubleshooting

If you have a problem with the port, please check the FAQS-&-Troubleshooting page first in case it is a known issue. If it is not mentioned there, please also check existing open issues for the project. If there is not an existing issue for your problem, please make a new one. When logging issues, check and include the following if possible before posting:

• Is this a bug that actually happens in the original DOS version of the game?
• What are the exact steps needed to reproduce the problem? Which campaign/which mission (if applicable)?
• Does it happen in older versions of the port? If possible please try older versions to pin down exactly when a problem arose, if it's a regression of a previously working feature. This will greatly help with finding a potential fix.