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System Shock 2

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
Revision as of 09:25, 19 March 2015 by Garrett (talk | contribs) (→‎Video settings: 4K true)
System Shock 2
Cover image missing, please upload it
Developers
Irrational Games
Looking Glass Studios
Publishers
Electronic Arts
Night Dive Studios
Engines
Dark Engine
Release dates
Windows August 11, 1999
macOS (OS X) June 18, 2013
Linux April 1, 2014
System Shock 2 on Wikipedia
System Shock
System Shock 1994
System Shock 2 1999
System Shock: Enhanced Edition 2015
System Shock (2023) 2023
System Shock 2 Enhanced Edition TBA
System Shock 3 TBA

Key points

Install SS2Tool to add widescreen/multi-monitor support and fix various compatibility and performance issues.
Install outside C:\Program Files (x86)\ to avoid problems.[1]

General information

Modding guide on The Port Report
SHODANPEDIA - A wiki for the System Shock series
TTLG Forums - System Shock Series
systemshock.org Forum
systemshock.org Forum - SS2 Troubleshooting Guide
GOG.com Community Discussions
GOG.com Support Page
Steam Community Discussions

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
DRM details are not known
Error: key type '{{{5}}}' not recognised
Error: OS parameter cannot be empty
GOG.com
DRM-free
Error: key type '{{{5}}}' not recognised
Error: OS parameter cannot be empty
GamersGate
Icon overlay.png
Error: key type '{{{5}}}' not recognised
Error: OS parameter cannot be empty
Humble Store
Icon overlay.png
Error: key type '{{{5}}}' not recognised
Error: OS parameter cannot be empty
Steam
Icon overlay.png
Error: key type '{{{5}}}' not recognised
Error: OS parameter cannot be empty

Essential improvements

SS2Tool

Essential patcher which integrates the NewDark patch and fixes various issues.
Use SS2Tool for all versions of the game.

Recommended mods

Modding guide available on The Port Report.
  • SHTUP - 'Shock Texture Upgrade Project' enhances object texture quality.
  • Rebirth Beta 03a - enhances polygons of enemies, gore and gibs.

OS X version

Modding the Wineskin version can be done by firstly installing the Windows version in a virtual machine, patching it and installing all desired modifications and then replacing the System Shock 2 installation within the Wineskin version with the custom version. If you are using the Steam version it may be necessary to deactivate Steam's "Keep up to date" function for this to work.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

Template:Game data/rowTemplate:Game data/rowTemplate:Game data/row
System Location
Steam Play (Linux) <Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/238210/pfx/[Note 1]
cam.cfg contains game settings.
cam_ext.cfg is the configuration file for the game once patched using SS2Tool.

Save game data location

Template:Game data/rowTemplate:Game data/rowTemplate:Game data/row
System Location
Steam Play (Linux) <Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/238210/pfx/[Note 1]
Save games are kept in multiple folders, e.g. \save_0\, \save_1\

Save game cloud syncing

System Native Notes
GOG Galaxy
Steam Cloud

Video settings

General settings.
FOV of 150.

Template:Video settings

Windowed

Instructions

Field of view (FOV)

Instructions

Vertical sync (Vsync)

Instructions

High frame rate

The game may run too fast at 120 Hz without this change.
Instructions

Input settings

Template:Input settings

Audio settings

Template:Audio settings

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
German
Italian

Network

Connection types

Type Native Notes
Peer-to-peer
Dedicated
Direct IP

Ports

Protocol Port(s) and/or port range(s)
TCP 2300-2400, 28800-28900
UDP 2300-2400, 28800-28900
Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support status is unknown.

Issues fixed

Random crashing

Instructions

Left-clicking or dragging does not work

Instructions

Small game window or black screen

Instructions

or

Instructions

UI too small on high screen resolutions

Instructions

Runs too fast at 120Hz

Instructions

System requirements

Windows
Minimum
Operating system (OS) XP, Vista, 7, 8
Processor (CPU) 1.8 GHz
System memory (RAM) 2 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 2 GB
Video card (GPU) DirectX 9.0c compatible
macOS (OS X)
Minimum
Operating system (OS) 10.7.0
Processor (CPU) Intel Core 2 Duo 2 GHz
System memory (RAM) 2 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 2 GB
Video card (GPU) 256 MB of VRAM

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 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>/238210/ in addition to or instead of this directory. The app ID (238210) may differ in some cases. Treat backslashes as forward slashes. See the glossary page for details.

References