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DNF #1
Duke 3D #1
We play through a set of maps/mods during the month, and use this thread to discuss it as we're still all fresh with our comments/opinions/feelings about the maps.
What's the purpose?
Basically, there are 4 purposes:
- Showcasing some of the older mods/maps to wider public - they definitely deserve the attention!
- Getting more people to actually enjoy and appreciate the user content - because let's be honest, over the past 28 years this was really what kept Duke alive after all.
- ...and while we're at it - keeping Duke alive by still enjoying it, as there's no new games in the franchise on the horizon (and let's be honest, they wouldn't be as good as some of this stuff!).
- Having a more structured discussion on maps than what's going in "Last map you played" thread - which is great, but it's basically a monologue most of the time.
Can I join?
Sure, as long as you find some spare time during the month to play the stuff that's on the table!
Why a month?
Because people have lives, jobs or other stuff to do (like mapping). For smaller maps, this could be shorter time - it's all up to debate in the future!
What port should I use? Are mods allowed? Where to get the maps?
It's entirely up to you how you play the game, so you can use whatever port or mod allowed - it would be cool to state in your posts what you're using too, as there might be some slight differences between the ports! As for the maps, they should be always linked within the first post.
How should I play the maps or post about them?
Again, it's up to you. You can finish them all in one go or play them one by one whenever you feel like. On Doom forums, there's a rule that you should keep the pace by not posting about a map that has a higher number than the day of the month, so e.g. on 6th you shouldn't post about map 7 etc. I think that might be a good practice if there's a large interest in this, but first let's see how active the thread is for a start - so if there's nothing going on, feel free to post about whatever map you want to.
Previous 2024 Editions
Spoiler
Previous 2023 Editions
Spoiler
Previous 2022 Editions
Spoiler
Previous 2021 Editions
Spoiler
For this month, Fernando Marquez' two more recent releases (FM4X and FM7X) have been chosen!
FM4X: The Uprising is Fernando's own take on The Birth. It was released back in March 2020. This release also included updated versions of the previous three episodes.
FM5X: DukeMatch Bonus is a Dukematch episode, included as bonus in the package since FM3X & FM4X. 8 maps are available for all versions, 3 maps are only for the Atomic Edition.
FM6X: FlashBack Bonus is another Dukematch episode, this time the included 11 levels are reinterpretations of the campaign levels, with further changes to make them better suited for multiplayer. Just like the above episode, 8 maps are available for all versions, 3 maps are only for the Atomic Edition.
FM7X: Continental Odyssey is Fernando's own take on Alien World Order. It was released in June 2024. Unlike the actual AWO episode, this 7-level episode is fully playable in the DOS version of Duke Nukem 3D: Atomic Edition! Additionally, 4 multiplayer levels made for Duke-Tag are included as bonus.
As already mentioned, FM5X and FM6X are bonus episodes made for multiplayer, they aren't required to be played and reviewed for this month but feel free to take a look at them if you want.
As bonus, the first three episodes (FM1X, FM2X and FM3X) are also included in this whole package with further bug-fixes compared to the previous releases. So if it's your first time playing these series, you can just download FM7X and start playing!
And as if that wasn't enough, the whole package is compatible with all DOS versions of Duke Nukem 3D! Though due to the game's hardcoded episode limit (3 episodes in v1.3D, 4 episodes in v1.4/v1.5), you have to load up the mod separately using the extra batch files to get the FM5X-FM7X episodes displayed in the main menu! This means starting up the FM5Y-SP.BAT or FM7Y-SP.BAT, depending on what version of the game you have. Otherwise, if you want to just play the first 3-4 episodes, use FM5X-SP.BAT or FM7X-SP.BAT file. See the installation instructions for more information!
But if for some reason you don't want to play this mod in DOS, then good news! This mod is also fully playable in source ports such as EDuke32! It is up to you to decide what version of the game to use to play this mod!
What are you waiting for? Download the FM7X mod right here at the following links:
Downloads
FM7X (Latest Version) (Last Updated 17th June 2024)
OneDrive https://1drv.ms/f/s!...AKPao_?e=8LuwPW
MEGA https://mega.nz/fold...DZdsLnvQ_zeF6Gw
OneDrive requires to log in your Microsoft Account in order to download the mod, so just choose the MEGA mirror for the best experience.
Note that if you want to get the whole package in a single download, all you have to do is only download FM7X. All the previous releases, from FM1X to FM4X, are included in the package with further bug-fixes. However, if you want to experience the initial release of FM4X, then you can download it from the MSDN link below. That version uploaded is compatible with EDuke32, so if you are interested in an old DOS compatible version of FM4X, well that version is no longer available since last summer! But if you happened to download FM4X while it was still available, then you can keep that version for historical purposes.
As bonus, here are the original release topics for FM4X and FM7X respectively:
https://forums.duke4...x-the-uprising/
https://forums.duke4...el-balled-pack/
Mikko Sandt's reviews for FM4X and FM7X:
https://msdn.duke4.net/revfm4x.php
https://msdn.duke4.net/revfm7x.php
Installation Instructions
The mod comes with its own README file if you want to read about the exact steps you have to follow, so I will supply a quick and easy way to install the mod in the original DOS versions of Duke Nukem 3D. Please follow the steps carefully!
1) Go to the MEGA link above and download the FM7X-FULL.ZIP package. This is the complete package and is the one that always worked for me the best.
2) Make a copy of your clean install of the DUKE3D folder. If you are interested in only playing the first three episodes (and maybe checking the bonus episodes), then you can use the original Registered 1.3D release, as FM4X and FM7X are ONLY for the Atomic Edition. If you are interested in the complete package, then use the Atomic Edition 1.5 for the best experience, which is the recommended way to play this FM7X package.
3) After you made a copy of your DUKE3D folder, rename it to FM7X for now and delete the included demos (DEMO1.DMO, DEMO2.DMO, etc) so that the new demos will playback instead. Also see below for the exact folder names that the Duke folder should be renamed, if you want to have multiple Duke versions installed.
4) Depending on the version of the game, copy and paste the contents of the correct folder into your directory. For example, if you have Duke3D 1.3D, then copy and paste the contents of FM5XREG folder into your directory and if you have Duke3D 1.5, then copy and paste the contents of FM7XATOM folder into your directory.
5) Before starting the mod, select all the FMX files, right click on them, select Properties, then uncheck the Read-Only attributes of all the FMX files in the directory and apply. For some reason, the mod won't start if the files are set to Read Only, which they are by default.
6) Load up DOSBox and select the proper batch file (FM7X for the first four episodes, FM7Y for the rest episodes). When the game starts, you should see a couple new demos playing in the background. This means the mod has loaded correctly. Don't worry if the demo doesn't make sense while the later episodes are loaded, no new demos are included for those additional episodes. And don't worry if episode names are not replaced in 1.3D, they are hardcoded into the executable!
The episode selection should look like this if you are playing in the Atomic Edition:
NEW YORK REBELLION
ORBITAL OBLIVION
ANARCHY VILLAGE
THE UPRISING
This means the mod has loaded correctly and you are playing the main package. If you have loaded the additional episodes using FM7Y batch file, then the episode selection will look like this:
CONTINENTAL ODYSSEY
FLASHBACK BONUS
DUKEMATCH BONUS
NULL
Ignore the "Null" placeholder episode and don't bother with the multiplayer episodes if you don't play Dukematch, the main highlight of this selection is the Continental Odyssey episode!
Also, if you aren't sure what to rename your new DUKE3D folder to, then use the same name as the folders included in the FM7X package, depending of the version of the game:
Duke Nukem 3D v1.3D -> FM5XREG
Duke Nukem 3D v1.4 -> FM7XPLUT
Duke Nukem 3D v1.5 -> FM7XATOM
This should make the installation more clear. And if you have every version of Duke Nukem 3D installed, you can have all these three folders inside one called FM7X. This mod should keep you busy for a while!
Additionally, FM4X & FM7X are included in the pre-release 4.00 version of the EDuke32 Addon Compilation. So if you want to play the mod in a source port, then use the addon compilation version!
Have fun!
