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Difference between revisions of "M.A.X.: Mechanized Assault and Exploration"

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
m (replaced: http://www.gog.com → https://www.gog.com)
m
 
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{{stub}}
 
 
{{Infobox game
 
{{Infobox game
 
|cover        = MAX Coverart.jpg
 
|cover        = MAX Coverart.jpg
Line 8: Line 7:
 
|release dates=  
 
|release dates=  
 
{{Infobox game/row/date|DOS|1996}}
 
{{Infobox game/row/date|DOS|1996}}
{{Infobox game/row/date|Windows|September, 2008}}
+
{{Infobox game/row/date|Windows|September 2008|wrapper=DOSBox}}
|steam appid  =  
+
{{Infobox game/row/date|OS X|July 12, 2018|wrapper=DOSBox}}
|gogcom page  = m_a_x_m_a_x_2
+
{{Infobox game/row/date|Linux|September 25, 2021|wrapper=DOSBox}}
|wikipedia   = M.A.X.:_Mechanized_Assault_&_Exploration
+
|reception   =  
 +
{{Infobox game/row/reception|Metacritic|link|rating}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/reception|OpenCritic|link|rating}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/reception|IGDB|m-a-x-mechanized-assault-exploration|rating}}
 +
|taxonomy    =
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/monetization      | One-time game purchase }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/microtransactions | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/modes            | Singleplayer, Multiplayer }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/pacing            | Real-time, Turn-based }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/perspectives      | Top-down view }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/controls          | Multiple select, Point and select }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/genres            | RTS }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/sports            | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/vehicles          | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/art styles        | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/themes            | Sci-fi }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/series            | M.A.X. }}
 +
|steam appid  = 615250
 +
|gogcom id    = 1207663773
 +
|gogcom id side = 10
 +
|hltb        = 5466
 +
|mobygames    = 2180
 +
|strategywiki =
 +
|wikipedia    = Mechanized Assault & Exploration
 
|winehq      =  
 
|winehq      =  
 +
|license      = commercial
 +
}}
 +
 +
{{Introduction
 +
|introduction      =
 +
 +
|release history  =
 +
 +
|current state    =
 
}}
 
}}
{{Series|M.A.X.}}
 
  
 
'''General information'''
 
'''General information'''
{{mm}} [http://www.rumaxclub.ru/ Russian Maxclub] - A fan site for M.A.X. (Russian only)
+
{{mm}} [http://www.rumaxclub.ru Russian Maxclub] - A fan site for M.A.X. (Russian only)
{{GOG.com links|m_a_x_m_a_x_2|m_a_x_series|for game series}}
+
{{GOG.com links|1207663773|m_a_x_series|for game series}}
 +
{{mm}} [https://steamcommunity.com/app/615250/discussions/ Steam Community Discussions]
  
 
==Availability==
 
==Availability==
 
{{Availability|
 
{{Availability|
 
{{Availability/row| Retail | | unknown | | | DOS }}
 
{{Availability/row| Retail | | unknown | | | DOS }}
{{Availability/row| GOG | m_a_x_m_a_x_2 | DRM-free | Bundled with [[M.A.X. 2]]. Pre-packaged with [[DOSBox]].<ref>[https://www.gog.com/forum/general/list_of_gog_games_using_dosbox/page1 List of GOG games using DOSBox, page 1 - Forum - GOG.com]</ref> | | Windows }}
+
{{Availability/row| Epic Games Store | max-mechanized-assault-and-exploration-0722cb | unknown | | | Windows, OS X }}
 +
{{Availability/row| GOG.com | m_a_x_m_a_x_2 | DRM-free | Bundled with [[M.A.X. 2]]. Pre-packaged with [[DOSBox]].<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://www.gog.com/forum/general/list_of_gog_games_using_dosbox/page1|title=List of GOG games using DOSBox, page 1 - Forum - GOG.com|date=May 2023}}</ref> | | Windows, OS X }}
 +
{{Availability/row| Steam | 615250 | Steam |  |  | Windows, OS X, Linux }}
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
==Essential improvements==
 
==Essential improvements==
 +
===DOSBox===
 +
====Run in DOSBox====
 +
To improve DOSBox performance make the following changes to the DOSBox configuration file:
 +
* Change <code>memsize=16</code> to <code>memsize=64</code>
 +
* Change <code>prebuffer=20</code> to <code>prebuffer=10</code>
 +
* Change <code>rate=44100</code> to <code>rate=22050</code>
 +
* Change <code>mpu401=intelligent</code> to <code>mpu401=none</code>
 +
 +
====Patches====
 +
The latest official patch, 1.04, can be found [https://archive.org/details/MAXE104 here]. 1.03, which some argue to be better than 1.04, can also be found [https://archive.org/details/M.a.x.MechanizedAssaultExplorationV1.03Patch here]. There is also an unofficial 1.56 available [https://archive.org/details/M.a.x.MechanizedAssaultExplorationV1.56Patchunofficial here], though not much is known about it and some say it is rather glitchy and arguably worse than the originals (a translated thread discussing the patch's origin can be found [https://translate.google.com/translate?tl=en-US&u=https://www.maxr.org/showtopic.php?id=14&page=1 here]).
 +
 +
====[http://dos32a.narechk.net/index_en.html DOS/32A]====
 +
DOS/32A is a more advanced extender and open source replacement to DOS4GW. It can improve both performance and stability of M.A.X. greatly.
 +
{{ii}} Delete (or backup) the original ''DOS4GW.EXE'' file then bind with the command <code>sb /r maxrun.exe</code> and <code>setup.exe</code>. Simply replacing the executable does not solve the problem.
 +
 +
====Disable annoying "register" message====
 +
Delete the files ''MAX.BAT'' and ''MAXRUN.BAT'' and download [http://tauronr.netii.net/dl_bse/fnc_dl/downloads/tools/maxrun.zip this] file which will replace their functionality, but without the annoying messages. You can also delete ''EREGCARD.EXE'' and ''EREGCARD.INI'' as they will no longer be used.
 +
 
===Mechanized Assault & eXploration Reloaded===
 
===Mechanized Assault & eXploration Reloaded===
 
A open source remake of M.A.X., it provides modern system support along with updated networking. If a full copy of the original game is available, the original game textures can be used. Otherwise, free texture packs are available to make the remake standalone.
 
A open source remake of M.A.X., it provides modern system support along with updated networking. If a full copy of the original game is available, the original game textures can be used. Otherwise, free texture packs are available to make the remake standalone.
Line 37: Line 88:
 
===Configuration file(s) location===
 
===Configuration file(s) location===
 
{{Game data|
 
{{Game data|
{{Game data/row|DOS|}}
+
{{Game data/config|DOS|}}
{{Game data/row|Windows|}}
+
{{Game data/config|Windows|}}
 +
{{Game data/config|OS X|}}
 +
{{Game data/config|Linux|}}
 
}}
 
}}
 +
{{XDG|unknown}}
  
 
===Save game data location===
 
===Save game data location===
 
{{Game data|
 
{{Game data|
{{Game data/row|DOS|}}
+
{{Game data/saves|DOS|}}
{{Game data/row|Windows|}}
+
{{Game data/saves|Windows|}}
 +
{{Game data/saves|OS X|}}
 +
{{Game data/saves|Linux|}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
==Video settings==
+
===[[Glossary:Save game cloud syncing|Save game cloud syncing]]===
 +
{{Save game cloud syncing
 +
|discord                  =
 +
|discord notes            =
 +
|epic games launcher      = false
 +
|epic games launcher notes =
 +
|gog galaxy                = false
 +
|gog galaxy notes          =
 +
|origin                    =
 +
|origin notes              =
 +
|steam cloud              = false
 +
|steam cloud notes        =
 +
|ubisoft connect          =
 +
|ubisoft connect notes    =
 +
|xbox cloud                =
 +
|xbox cloud notes          =
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==Video==
 
{{Image|MAX Options.png|In-game options menu.}}
 
{{Image|MAX Options.png|In-game options menu.}}
{{Image|GOG.com DOSBox Configurator v2.png|Graphics settings (GOG.com version)}}
+
{{Video
{{Video settings
+
|wsgf link                  =  
|wsgf link                  =
 
 
|widescreen wsgf award      =  
 
|widescreen wsgf award      =  
 
|multimonitor wsgf award    =  
 
|multimonitor wsgf award    =  
|ultrawidescreen wsgf award = incomplete
+
|ultrawidescreen wsgf award =  
|4k ultra hd wsgf award    = incomplete
+
|4k ultra hd wsgf award    =  
 
|widescreen resolution      = false
 
|widescreen resolution      = false
 
|widescreen resolution notes=  
 
|widescreen resolution notes=  
Line 66: Line 139:
 
|fov                        = false
 
|fov                        = false
 
|fov notes                  =  
 
|fov notes                  =  
|windowed                  = true
+
|windowed                  = false
|windowed notes            = Toggle with {{key|Alt|Enter}} (when using [[DOSBox]]).
+
|windowed notes            =  
 
|borderless windowed        = false
 
|borderless windowed        = false
 
|borderless windowed notes  =  
 
|borderless windowed notes  =  
Line 80: Line 153:
 
|120 fps                    = unknown
 
|120 fps                    = unknown
 
|120 fps notes              =  
 
|120 fps notes              =  
 +
|hdr                        = unknown
 +
|hdr notes                  =
 
|color blind                = unknown
 
|color blind                = unknown
 
|color blind notes          =  
 
|color blind notes          =  
 
}}
 
}}
  
==Input settings==
+
==Input==
{{Input settings
+
{{Input
 
|key remap                = false
 
|key remap                = false
 
|key remap notes          =  
 
|key remap notes          =  
 
|acceleration option      = false
 
|acceleration option      = false
 
|acceleration option notes =  
 
|acceleration option notes =  
|mouse sensitivity        = unknown
+
|mouse sensitivity        = false
 
|mouse sensitivity notes  =  
 
|mouse sensitivity notes  =  
|mouse menu                = unknown
+
|mouse menu                = true
 
|mouse menu notes          =  
 
|mouse menu notes          =  
|invert mouse y-axis      = unknown
+
|invert mouse y-axis      = n/a
 
|invert mouse y-axis notes =  
 
|invert mouse y-axis notes =  
 +
|touchscreen              = unknown
 +
|touchscreen notes        =
 
|controller support        = false
 
|controller support        = false
 
|controller support notes  =  
 
|controller support notes  =  
Line 106: Line 183:
 
|invert controller y-axis  = unknown
 
|invert controller y-axis  = unknown
 
|invert controller y-axis notes=  
 
|invert controller y-axis notes=  
|touchscreen               = unknown
+
|xinput controllers        = unknown
|touchscreen notes        =  
+
|xinput controllers notes  =
|button prompts           = unknown
+
|xbox prompts              = unknown
|button prompts notes     =  
+
|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        = unknown
 
|controller hotplug notes  =  
 
|controller hotplug notes  =  
 
|haptic feedback          = unknown
 
|haptic feedback          = unknown
 
|haptic feedback notes    =  
 
|haptic feedback notes    =  
|light bar support        = unknown
+
|simultaneous input        = unknown
|light bar support notes   =  
+
|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 settings==
+
==Audio==
{{Audio settings
+
{{Audio
 
|separate volume          = true
 
|separate volume          = true
 
|separate volume notes    =  
 
|separate volume notes    =  
Line 132: Line 237:
 
|eax support              =  
 
|eax support              =  
 
|eax support notes        =  
 
|eax support notes        =  
 +
|red book cd audio        =
 +
|red book cd audio notes  =
 +
}}
 +
 +
{{L10n|content=
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = English
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = true
 +
|subtitles = false
 +
|notes    =
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
Line 144: Line 262:
 
|lan play modes      =  
 
|lan play modes      =  
 
|lan play notes      = IPX/SPX; use [[DOSBox]] for UDP/IP.
 
|lan play notes      = IPX/SPX; use [[DOSBox]] for UDP/IP.
|online play          = hackable
+
|online play          = false
|online play players  = 4
+
|online play players  =  
 
|online play modes    =  
 
|online play modes    =  
|online play notes    = Using [[DOSBox]]; the GOG.com version is already configured for this.
+
|online play notes    =  
 
|asynchronous        =  
 
|asynchronous        =  
 
|asynchronous notes  =  
 
|asynchronous notes  =  
Line 165: Line 283:
 
|udp  =  
 
|udp  =  
 
|upnp =  
 
|upnp =  
 +
}}
 +
 +
==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  =
 +
|vulkan versions        =
 +
|vulkan notes          =
 +
|dos modes              = SVGA
 +
|dos modes notes        =
 +
|shader model versions  =
 +
|shader model notes    =
 +
|windows 32-bit exe    = unknown
 +
|windows 64-bit exe    = unknown
 +
|windows arm app        = false
 +
|windows exe notes      =
 +
|macos intel 32-bit app = unknown
 +
|macos intel 64-bit app = unknown
 +
|macos app notes        =
 +
|linux 32-bit executable= unknown
 +
|linux 64-bit executable= unknown
 +
|linux arm app          = false
 +
|linux executable notes =
 
}}
 
}}
  
Line 171: Line 323:
 
|OSfamily = DOS
 
|OSfamily = DOS
  
|minOS    = MS-DOS 5.0
+
|minOS    = 5.0
 
|minCPU  = Intel 486-66
 
|minCPU  = Intel 486-66
 
|minRAM  = 8 MB
 
|minRAM  = 8 MB
|minGPU  =
 
 
|minHD    = 32 MB
 
|minHD    = 32 MB
 +
|minGPU  = SVGA
  
|recOS    = MS-DOS 6.2/Windows 95
+
|recOS    = 6.2
 
|recCPU  = Intel Pentium
 
|recCPU  = Intel Pentium
 
|recRAM  = 16 MB
 
|recRAM  = 16 MB
 +
|recHD    = 40 MB
 +
|recGPU  =
 +
}}
 +
 +
{{System requirements
 +
|OSfamily = Windows
 +
 +
|minOS    = XP, Vista
 +
|minCPU  = 1.0 GHz
 +
|minRAM  = 512 MB
 +
|minHD    = 40 MB
 +
|minGPU  =
 +
|minDX    = 7
 +
 +
|recOS    =
 +
|recCPU  = 1.4 GHz
 +
|recRAM  = 1 GHz
 +
|recHD    =
 +
|recGPU  =
 +
|recDX    = 9
 +
}}
 +
 +
{{System requirements
 +
|OSfamily = OS X
 +
|minOS    = 10.6.8
 +
|minCPU  = Intel Core Duo 2.0 GHz
 +
|minRAM  = 1 GB
 +
|minHD    = 500 MB
 +
|minGPU  =
 +
|minVRAM  = 64 MB
 +
 +
|recOS    =
 +
|recCPU  =
 +
|recRAM  =
 +
|recHD    =
 +
|recGPU  =
 +
|recother = Two-button mouse or Apple mouse with secondary button/click enabled.
 +
}}
 +
 +
{{System requirements
 +
|OSfamily = Linux
 +
|minOS    = Ubuntu 16.04
 +
|minCPU  = 2.0 GHz
 +
|minRAM  = 1 GB
 +
|minHD    = 500 MB
 +
|minGPU  = OpenGL compatible
 +
|minVRAM  = 256 MB
 +
 +
|recOS    =
 +
|recCPU  =
 +
|recRAM  =
 +
|recHD    =
 
|recGPU  =  
 
|recGPU  =  
|recHD    = 40 MB
 
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
{{References}}
 
{{References}}

Latest revision as of 20:10, 8 October 2023

M.A.X.: Mechanized Assault and Exploration
M.A.X.: Mechanized Assault and Exploration cover
Developers
Interplay Entertainment
Release dates
DOS 1996
Windows (DOSBox) September 2008
macOS (OS X) (DOSBox) July 12, 2018
Linux (DOSBox) September 25, 2021
Taxonomy
Monetization One-time game purchase
Modes Singleplayer, Multiplayer
Pacing Real-time, Turn-based
Perspectives Top-down view
Controls Multiple select, Point and select
Genres RTS
Themes Sci-fi
Series M.A.X.
M.A.X.: Mechanized Assault and Exploration on HowLongToBeat
M.A.X.: Mechanized Assault and Exploration on IGDB
M.A.X.: Mechanized Assault and Exploration on MobyGames
M.A.X.: Mechanized Assault and Exploration on Wikipedia
M.A.X.
M.A.X.: Mechanized Assault and Exploration 1996
M.A.X.: Mechanized Assault and Exploration 2 1998

M.A.X.: Mechanized Assault and Exploration is a singleplayer and multiplayer top-down view RTS game in the M.A.X. series.

General information

Russian Maxclub - A fan site for M.A.X. (Russian only)
GOG.com Community Discussions for game series
GOG.com Support Page
Steam Community Discussions

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
DRM details are not known
DOS
Epic Games Store
DRM details are not known
Windows
macOS (OS X)
GOG.com
DRM-free
Bundled with M.A.X. 2. Pre-packaged with DOSBox.[1]
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Steam
Icon overlay.png
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux

Essential improvements

DOSBox

Run in DOSBox

To improve DOSBox performance make the following changes to the DOSBox configuration file:

  • Change memsize=16 to memsize=64
  • Change prebuffer=20 to prebuffer=10
  • Change rate=44100 to rate=22050
  • Change mpu401=intelligent to mpu401=none

Patches

The latest official patch, 1.04, can be found here. 1.03, which some argue to be better than 1.04, can also be found here. There is also an unofficial 1.56 available here, though not much is known about it and some say it is rather glitchy and arguably worse than the originals (a translated thread discussing the patch's origin can be found here).

DOS/32A

DOS/32A is a more advanced extender and open source replacement to DOS4GW. It can improve both performance and stability of M.A.X. greatly.

Delete (or backup) the original DOS4GW.EXE file then bind with the command sb /r maxrun.exe and setup.exe. Simply replacing the executable does not solve the problem.

Disable annoying "register" message

Delete the files MAX.BAT and MAXRUN.BAT and download this file which will replace their functionality, but without the annoying messages. You can also delete EREGCARD.EXE and EREGCARD.INI as they will no longer be used.

Mechanized Assault & eXploration Reloaded

A open source remake of M.A.X., it provides modern system support along with updated networking. If a full copy of the original game is available, the original game textures can be used. Otherwise, free texture packs are available to make the remake standalone.

Note that it is currently multiplayer only and there is no single player support.

It can be found here.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
DOS
Windows <path-to-game> (mounted in DOSBox)[Note 1]
macOS (OS X) <path-to-game> (mounted in DOSBox)[Note 1]
Linux <path-to-game> (mounted in DOSBox)[Note 1]
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
Windows <path-to-game> (mounted in DOSBox)[Note 1]
macOS (OS X) <path-to-game> (mounted in DOSBox)[Note 1]
Linux <path-to-game> (mounted in DOSBox)[Note 1]

Save game cloud syncing

Video

In-game options menu.
In-game options menu.

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
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Controller
Controller support
For DOSBox use the DOSBox Mapper (see the glossary page for other workarounds).
Controller types

Audio

Audio feature State Notes
Separate volume controls
Surround sound
Subtitles
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost
For DOSBox change the priority background value in the DOSBox configuration file.

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English

Network

Multiplayer types

Type Native Players Notes
Local play
4 Hot seat
LAN play
4 IPX/SPX; use DOSBox for UDP/IP.
Online play
For DOSBox use DOSBox IPX/modem emulation.

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
DOS video modes SVGA

System requirements

DOS
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) 5.0
Processor (CPU) Intel 486-66
System memory (RAM) 8 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 32 MB
Video card (GPU) SVGA
Windows
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) XP, Vista
Processor (CPU) 1.0 GHz
System memory (RAM) 512 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 40 MB
Video card (GPU) DirectX 7 compatible
macOS (OS X)
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) 10.6.8
Processor (CPU) Intel Core Duo 2.0 GHz
System memory (RAM) 1 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 500 MB
Video card (GPU) 64 MB of VRAM
Other
Linux
Minimum
Operating system (OS) Ubuntu 16.04
Processor (CPU) 2.0 GHz
System memory (RAM) 1 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 500 MB
Video card (GPU) OpenGL compatible
256 MB of VRAM


Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 File/folder structure within the installation folder reflects the path(s) listed for DOS game data.

References