Difference between revisions of "Thief II: The Metal Age"

Revision as of 00:51, 23 November 2017

Thief
Thief: The Dark Project	1998
Thief II: The Metal Age	2000
Thief: Deadly Shadows	2004
The Dark Mod (unofficial spin-off)	2009
Thief	2014

Key points

Tafferpatcher improves compatibility with modern systems.

General information

A Wiki for the classic Thief games

TTLG Forums - Thief Series

TTLG Forums - modding & mission design

GOG.com Community Discussions for game series

GOG.com Support Page

Steam Community Discussions

Availability

Source	DRM	Notes	Keys	OS
Retail		SafeDisc DRM^{[Note 1]} (use Tafferpatcher to remove).
Amazon.com
GOG.com		Soundtrack, manual, "making of" video, reference card, avatars.
Green Man Gaming
Humble Store
Steam		Manual can be found in the installation folder.

SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see above for affected versions).

A demo pre-patched with NewDark is available.

Essential improvements

Tafferpatcher

Tafferpatcher installs NewDark, which improves compatibility on modern systems. Also contains mission fixes and optional texture mods. The GOG release has an out-of-date, stripped-down version of this patch.

Fan Missions

A large number of Fan Missions, many of very high quality, have been produced for the Thief games. A categorised list is available here.

A pre-patched version of Thief2X, the fan-made expansion pack for Thief 2, can be downloaded here (choose the 'ZIP-archive' link).

Running Fan Missions^{[citation needed]}

Select the option to create a shortcut to the FM Selector during Tafferpatcher installation. If you did not check this option, add the command line argument -fm on a Thief desktop shortcut or in the Steam interface.
Start FM Selector using this shortcut.
Select a folder for installed missions and an FM .zip archive path when prompted. Do not put the archive path inside the FMs folder or vice-versa, otherwise things will not work correctly.
To install a mission, drop its .zip file (do not extract it) into your chosen archive path, start the selector, double click the mission/zip file name and select 'Ok'. It has now been extracted to the installed missions folder.
Launch the mission by double clicking the name again. To launch the original game select 'Skip FM' in the lower-left corner.

Skip intro videos

Tell intro not to play^{[citation needed]}
Go to the installation folder. Open `cam.cfg` using Notepad. Add the line `skip_intro` to the file and save it.

Texture mods

Enhancement Pack 2.0

The Enhancement Pack 2.0 is an updated version of the original Enhancement Pack (which is included in Tafferpatcher and is much less comprehensive). This contains higher quality reproductions of original textures and objects. Also works with Thief Gold/The Dark Project.

The Necro Age

The Necro Age pack is very similar to the Enhancement Pack 2, but focuses on giving the game a slightly darker, noir look. Somewhere between the EP2 and HD Mod in lore-accuracy. Also works with Thief Gold/The Dark Project.

Thief 2 HD Texture Mod

The Thief 2 HD Texture Mod adds new textures and effects to all original missions. Includes a tool to configure advanced graphics settings (Anti-Aliasing, Bloom, etc.).

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

Template:Game data/row

System	Location
Steam Play (Linux)	<SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/211740/pfx/^{[Note 2]}

Configuration files are: cam.cfg (basic settings, resolution), cam_ext.cfg (NewDark advanced settings), cam_mod.ini (Mod and fan mission options), install.cfg and user.bnd (key bindings).

Save game data location

Template:Game data/row

System	Location
Steam Play (Linux)	<SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/211740/pfx/^{[Note 2]}

Fan mission saves are kept in the mission's folder.

Save game cloud syncing

System	Native	Notes
GOG Galaxy
Steam Cloud

Video settings

In-game video options (With Tafferpatcher)

Template:Video settings

Field of view (FOV)

Use NewDark^{[citation needed]}
Install Tafferpatcher and set the resolution you want in-game. If your FOV is not detected correctly go to the installation folder and edit `cam_ext.cfg`. Change `;fov 90` to `fov ##` with the FOV you want. Save your changes and relaunch the game.

Windowed

Set windowed mode^{[citation needed]}

Install Tafferpatcher.
Go to the installation folder.
Edit cam_ext.cfg.
Change ;force_windowed to force_windowed.
Save your changes and set your chosen resolution in-game.

For borderless fullscreen windowed mode choose the desktop resolution in-game.

Vertical sync (Vsync)

Installing Tafferpatcher enables Vsync by default. Vsync can be disabled.

Disable Vsync^{[citation needed]}
Go to the installation folder. Edit `cam_ext.cfg`. Change `;vsync_mode 0` to `vsync_mode 0` and save your changes.

High frame rate

Set frame rate and ensure correct game speed^{[citation needed]}
Go to the installation folder. Edit `cam_ext.cfg`. Change `framerate_cap 100.0` to `framerate_cap ###` with the FPS you want. Change `;phys_freq 60` to `phys_freq 60` For more than 250 FPS change `SlowFrame 4` to `;SlowFrame 4`

Input settings

Template:Input settings

Audio settings

Audio options (With Tafferpatcher)

Template:Audio settings

EAX support

Thief II features enhanced 3D sound effects that originally required a Creative sound card with special EAX drivers. To use EAX effects on modern systems, do the following:

Install patch and OpenAL^{[citation needed]}
Install NewDark using Tafferpatcher. Install OpenAL 2.1.0.0. In the game go to Options, Audio, and change Hardware Acceleration to OpenAL. EAX can now be used.

Network

Use T2 Multiplayer Beta for multiplayer support.

T2 Multiplayer is not compatible with NewDark or Tafferpatcher; use the included thief2.exe and patch with DDFix.

Multiplayer types

Type	Native	Players	Notes
LAN play		8	Co-op
Online play		8	Co-op

Connection types

Type	Native	Notes
Peer-to-peer
Dedicated
Self-hosting
Direct IP

VR support

3D modes	State	Notes
Nvidia 3D Vision		See install/setup instructions.
iZ3D		See install/setup instructions.

Issues fixed

Crashes on multi-core systems

Install Tafferpatcher^{[citation needed]}
Install NewDark via Tafferpatcher.

Videos do not play

Install Tafferpatcher^{[citation needed]}
Install NewDark via Tafferpatcher.

Gamma slider has no effect on gamma/brightness

Tafferpatcher and config tweak^{[citation needed]}

Install NewDark via Tafferpatcher.

If you still can't change gamma:

Go to the installation folder.
Open cam_ext.cfg.
Change ;d3d_disp_no_rgb10_buf to d3d_disp_no_rgb10_buf.
Save the file.

Other information

Sound effects enhancement pack

This mod provides cleaned up and resampled sound files for Thief Gold and Thief II. The quality difference is particularly noticeable when wearing headphones.

View bob

By default, Thief II: The Metal Age has view bob that may cause motion sickness.

Edit cam_ext.cfg^{[citation needed]}

Go to the installation folder.
Open <path-to-game>\cam_ext.cfg with a text editor.
Find the line ;bob_factor 0.3.
Remove the semicolon and set the value to 0.

bob_factor 0.0

API

Technical specs	Supported	Notes
Direct3D	6, 9	DirectX 9 requires NewDark/Tafferpatcher.
Software renderer

Executable	32-bit	64-bit	Notes
Windows

Middleware

	Middleware	Notes
Audio	DirectSound, OpenAL	OpenAL requires NewDark/Tafferpatcher.

System requirements

Windows
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating system (OS)	95	98
Processor (CPU)	Intel Pentium 233 MHz	Intel Pentium II 400 MHz
System memory (RAM)	48 MB	64 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD)	250 MB	600 MB
Video card (GPU)	4 MB of VRAM DirectX 7 compatible	16 MB of VRAM
Sound (audio device)	100% DirectX 7.0 compatible sound card	Creative EAX 2.0-compliant sound card Aureal A3D 2.0-compliant sound card
Other	4x CD-ROM drive	8x CD-ROM drive

NewDark's system requirements - and by association those for GOG.com's Windows release - are higher than the original requirements listed here.

Notes

↑ SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows 10^[1] or Windows 11 and is disabled by default on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 when the KB3086255 update is installed.^[2]
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1
Notes regarding Steam Play (Linux) data:
- File/folder structure within this directory reflects the path(s) listed for Windows and/or Steam game data.
- Use Wine's registry editor to access any Windows registry paths.
- The app ID (211740) may differ in some cases.
- Treat backslashes as forward slashes.
- See the glossary page for details on Windows data paths.

References

↑ Not Loading in Windows 10; this will break thousands of - Microsoft Community - last accessed on 2017-01-16
↑ Microsoft - MS15-097: Description of the security update for the graphics component in Windows: September 8, 2015 - last accessed on 2018-02-16

[3] SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows 10^[1] or Windows 11 and is disabled by default on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 when the KB3086255 update is installed.^[2]

[Proton_path_note-4] 2.0 ^2.1 Notes regarding Steam Play (Linux) data:
File/folder structure within this directory reflects the path(s) listed for Windows and/or Steam game data.
Use Wine's registry editor to access any Windows registry paths.
The app ID (211740) may differ in some cases.
Treat backslashes as forward slashes.
See the glossary page for details on Windows data paths.

[3] File/folder structure within this directory reflects the path(s) listed for Windows and/or Steam game data.

[4] Use Wine's registry editor to access any Windows registry paths.

[5] The app ID (211740) may differ in some cases.

[6] Treat backslashes as forward slashes.

[7] See the glossary page for details on Windows data paths.

[1] Not Loading in Windows 10; this will break thousands of - Microsoft Community - last accessed on 2017-01-16

[2] Microsoft - MS15-097: Description of the security update for the graphics component in Windows: September 8, 2015 - last accessed on 2018-02-16

[Note 1]

[Note 2]

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 {{ii}} A pre-patched version of [http://www.thief2x.com/about/ Thief2X], the fan-made expansion pack for Thief 2, can be downloaded [http://translate.google.com/translate?depth=1&hl=en&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=ru&tl=en&u=http://darkfate.org/view/details/files/fan-missions/thief2/t2x here] (choose the 'ZIP-archive' link).
-{{Fixbox|1=
+{{Fixbox|description=Running Fan Missions|ref={{cn|date=July 2016}}|fix=
-{{Fixbox/fix|Running Fan Missions|ref={{cn|date=July 2016}}}}
 # Select the option to create a shortcut to the FM Selector during [[#Tafferpatcher|Tafferpatcher]] installation. If you did not check this option, add the [[Glossary:Command line arguments|command line argument]] <code>-fm</code> on a Thief desktop shortcut or in the Steam interface.
 # Start FM Selector using this shortcut.
@@ Line 57: / Line 56: @@
 ===Skip intro videos===
-{{Fixbox|1=
+{{Fixbox|description=Tell intro not to play|ref={{cn|date=July 2016}}|fix=
-{{Fixbox/fix|Tell intro not to play|ref={{cn|date=July 2016}}}}
 # Go to the installation folder.
 # Open {{file|cam.cfg}} using Notepad.
@@ Line 77: / Line 75: @@
 ===Configuration file(s) location===
 {{Game data|
-{{Game data/row|Windows|{{p|game}}}}
+{{Game data/row|Windows|{{p|game}}\}}
 }}
 {{ii}} Configuration files are: {{file|cam.cfg}} (basic settings, resolution), {{file|cam_ext.cfg}} (NewDark advanced settings), {{file|cam_mod.ini}} (Mod and fan mission options), {{file|install.cfg}} and {{file|user.bnd}} (key bindings).
@@ Line 138: / Line 136: @@
 ===[[Glossary:Field of view (FOV)|Field of view (FOV)]]===
-{{Fixbox|1=
+{{Fixbox|description=Use NewDark|ref={{cn|date=July 2016}}|fix=
-{{Fixbox/fix|Use NewDark|ref={{cn|date=July 2016}}}}
 # Install [[#Tafferpatcher|Tafferpatcher]] and set the resolution you want in-game.
 # If your FOV is not detected correctly go to the installation folder and edit <code>cam_ext.cfg</code>.
@@ Line 147: / Line 144: @@
 ===[[Glossary:Windowed|Windowed]]===
-{{Fixbox|1=
+{{Fixbox|description=Set windowed mode|ref={{cn|date=July 2016}}|fix=
-{{Fixbox/fix|Set windowed mode|ref={{cn|date=July 2016}}}}
 # Install [[#Tafferpatcher|Tafferpatcher]].
 # Go to the installation folder.
@@ Line 160: / Line 156: @@
 {{ii}} Installing [[#Tafferpatcher|Tafferpatcher]] enables Vsync by default. Vsync can be disabled.
-{{Fixbox|1=
+{{Fixbox|description=Disable Vsync|ref={{cn|date=July 2016}}|fix=
-{{Fixbox/fix|Disable Vsync|ref={{cn|date=July 2016}}}}
 # Go to the installation folder.
 # Edit <code>cam_ext.cfg</code>.
@@ Line 168: / Line 163: @@
 ===[[Glossary:Frame rate (FPS)|High frame rate]]===
-{{Fixbox|1=
+{{Fixbox|description=Set frame rate and ensure correct game speed|ref={{cn|date=July 2016}}|fix=
-{{Fixbox/fix|Set frame rate and ensure correct game speed|ref={{cn|date=July 2016}}}}
 # Go to the installation folder.
 # Edit <code>cam_ext.cfg</code>.
@@ Line 232: / Line 226: @@
 {{ii}} Thief II features enhanced 3D sound effects that originally required a Creative sound card with special EAX drivers. To use EAX effects on modern systems, do the following:
-{{Fixbox|1=
+{{Fixbox|description=Install patch and OpenAL|ref={{cn|date=July 2016}}|fix=
-{{Fixbox/fix|Install patch and OpenAL|ref={{cn|date=July 2016}}}}
 # Install NewDark using [[#Tafferpatcher|Tafferpatcher]].
 # Install [https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/10-openal/ OpenAL 2.1.0.0].
@@ Line 316: / Line 309: @@
 ==Issues fixed==
 ===Crashes on multi-core systems===
-{{Fixbox|1=
+{{Fixbox|description=Install Tafferpatcher|ref={{cn|date=October 2016}}|fix=
-{{Fixbox/fix|Install Tafferpatcher|ref={{cn|date=October 2016}}}}
 Install NewDark via [[#Tafferpatcher|Tafferpatcher]].
 }}
 ===Videos do not play===
-{{Fixbox|1=
+{{Fixbox|description=Install Tafferpatcher|ref={{cn|date=October 2016}}|fix=
-{{Fixbox/fix|Install Tafferpatcher|ref={{cn|date=October 2016}}}}
 Install NewDark via [[#Tafferpatcher|Tafferpatcher]].
 }}
 ===Gamma slider has no effect on gamma/brightness===
-{{Fixbox|1=
+{{Fixbox|description=Tafferpatcher and config tweak|ref={{cn|date=October 2016}}|fix=
-{{Fixbox/fix|Tafferpatcher and config tweak|ref={{cn|date=October 2016}}}}
 Install NewDark via [[#Tafferpatcher|Tafferpatcher]].
@@ Line 345: / Line 335: @@
 {{ii}} By default, Thief II: The Metal Age has view bob that may cause motion sickness.
-{{Fixbox|1=
+{{Fixbox|description=Edit cam_ext.cfg|ref={{cn|date=September 2016}}|fix=
-{{Fixbox/fix|Edit cam_ext.cfg|ref={{cn|date=September 2016}}}}
 # Go to the installation folder.
 # Open <code>{{p|game}}\cam_ext.cfg</code> with a text editor.

Developers

	Looking Glass Studios
Publishers
	Eidos Interactive
	Square Enix
Engines
	Dark Engine
Release dates
Windows	March 21, 2000