JA2 Modding Guide for Steam to 1.13 (and functional intro video)

[Myll]

This is a current How-To walk through to mod your game with the unofficial 1.13 version of the game to the 2014 standard. I ran into problems with existing sites at existing Guides here in Steam, as you must cross over to alternate sites due to some prior download sites being dead links, but I will do my best to keep this simple as possible. Bear in mind, you will end up with 3rd party sites/files that I have nothing to do with, nor am I promoting them, but I would caution you on some Steam members who practically spam their files/solutions at you. I will show where 3rd party actions are taking place in this process.

1. You need to first install the game in Steam and change a file in the vanilla version default build, for Windows 10, to run the game successfully one time to tag your Steam game as having run at least once on your PC. So, “Install” the game but do NOT try to run it yet.
2. Change file task. Go to your default folder for JA2 in your files, at: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Jagged Alliance 2 Gold and at this location, then enter the “Data” folder, and locate the file named “Intro.slf” and right click over that file and “Rename” it to “Intro.dll”
3. Start the game in steam, wait a few seconds, then quit out of the game, and Steam now recognizes that you’ve played the game. If you choose to play the unmodded vanilla game in Windows 10, you at least have that set also, at this point. It’s important to consider that you now have your “master file” for JA2, so do NOT further mod or mess with these files in your Steam folder, as you may need to copy/paste this master file, if your modding attempts result in corrupted files or if you accidentally delete anything in your modding attempts. Worst case, you can fully delete your Steam files and download again to become a Master file as source for modding.
4. Begin the 1.13 mod process by copy/pasting your entire JA2 folder from the Steam common folder, to a folder that is NOT under your Program Files folder structure. Best to create a “Games” folder directly under your C: drive location, as a peer folder to the Program Files(x86) folder. Paste in the “Jagged Alliance 2 Gold” folder into the new Games folder you have created.
5. 3rd Party site notice: Download and update game to Build: 7435, 28 August 2014. Download at: http://area.xrmb2.net/area?DownloadID=ja2v1.13-7435en
6. File will end up at your Downloads area by default, copy/paste the downloaded file into your newly copy/pasted Jagged Alliance 2 Gold folder, not as a peer to the JA2 Gold folder, but open the folder and dump that downloaded file inside it, and then double click the downloaded file and let it execute, and overwrite any files that it gives option for.
7. 3rd Party site notice: Download and update game to Build: 7609, 25 October 2014. This step is where most current instructions break down, because the sites that used to host the download for this file, have been discontinued, and you may end up at a confusing German language website. Don’t bother, just go here instead, go to site: https://storage.rcs-rds.ro/links/4729f8d6-f44b-42b7-aa3e-e0ddc6deead6?path=%2FJA_2%2Fv1.13_Releases%2FOfficial%2FEnglish%2Fv7435%2FUpdate
8. At that link, you will see a long-named .exe file for download, with the “7609” identifier. Download that file (as far as I can tell, it’s a Romanian website).
9. From your Downloads folder area, once again – copy/paste your newly obtained file into your Jagged Alliance 2 Gold folder, and inside it (not a peer), and execute the file and allow it to overwrite all files.
10. Ensure your “Intro.dll” file is moved directly under the Jagged Alliance 2 Gold folder, and no longer inside the Data folder as it was in the vanilla version.
11. File movement task. Go to folder location at: C:\Games\Jagged Alliance 2 Gold\Docs\Windows Compatibility Fixes\Windows 8 Fix.zip/GameDir
12. Copy the 3x files listed there, “ddraw.dll” “libwine.dll” and “wined3d.dll”
13. Paste those files directly under your Jagged Alliance 2 Gold folder.
14. Find the INI file in your Jagged Alliance 2 Gold folder, which should be named “INI Editor”
15. Right click over INI Editor, and click Properties, and then Compatibility tab, and click button “Run compatibility troubleshooter” and accept the default recommendation (usually Win XP Service Pack 3).
16. Now you’ll want to place that same INI Editor file to your Desktop as a shortcut, or wherever you want it to start the game up, as you’ll only start the game outside Steam.
17. Once you execute the INI file, you aren’t booting up the game yet, as this provides an area where you can alter the norms of the game. Let me give you the Easy Button “vanilla” of the mod so you quickly get into the game without changing anything yet.
18. At top dropdown, “Select JA2 v1.13 MOD” pick “vfs_config.JA2113.ini”
19. Leave the CD/DVD drive at default C.
20. Win 98 Compatibility, leave at default FALSE.
21. Start Executable-File, select “ja2.exe”
22. Play Intro, set for TRUE (because we’ve fixed the Intro.dll file so disregard other guides that tell you to not play intro video – you’re about to finally get to see the intro video that helps make the beginning of the game and your laptop – more immersive and it will make more sense to you).
23. Select INI-File: change to “Data-1.13\Ja2_Options.INI”
24. Game Screen Resolution, ensure at 1024x768
25. Editor Screen Resolution, ensure at 1024x768
26. Custom Screen Resolution, I recommend you change from default, to Width 1024, Height 768.
27. Windowed Mode: recommend “FALSE” so you get the Full Screen experience this first time out, although you can use TRUE to go windowed mode later.
28. Don’t touch any of the settings below this top header/dropdown area, although you can mess around and tweak those things later, once you’re more familiar with the game and the potential INI adjustments you could make, but for now leave them default.
29. Click that START button, you’re finally going to see and hear introductory sounds, video, like you haven’t experienced before (or since 1999), in JA2.
30. There’s a 30th step just to say – thanks for reading through and following along, in what shouldn’t be a 30 step process but currently is, to mod your Steam purchased copy of JA2 Gold.

Last, some but not all of this, was obtained from the "club" that has been loving on JA2 for 21+ years now, although I am not a registered member there, is worth referencing at http://thepit.ja-galaxy-forum.com/

[Doug]

I haven't played in a while and my build is rather behind, but there's a lot more here than there was when I did it.

This is seriously getting out of hand. I complained once some years ago that the mod lacked some 'ease of use' polish that was keeping it from broad acceptance. But if all this is currently required just to get the game modded, it's almost guaranteed that it's a sufficient barrier that most interested people will either never bother trying or never successfully get the mod up and running.

Are the modders seriously not interested in attracting more players?

[Myll]

Originally posted by Doug:

I haven't played in a while and my build is rather behind, but there's a lot more here than there was when I did it.

This is seriously getting out of hand. I complained once some years ago that the mod lacked some 'ease of use' polish that was keeping it from broad acceptance. But if all this is currently required just to get the game modded, it's almost guaranteed that it's a sufficient barrier that most interested people will either never bother trying or never successfully get the mod up and running.

Are the modders seriously not interested in attracting more players?

Full Disclosure - I am not a registered User/Member of The Bear Pit that helps produce and edit these mods for JA2. However, I would appreciate any critique and suggested changes to the steps that I detailed above.
Sure, it's a 20-30 minute process to mod this game, but it's worth it in the end. I get it, many players will be turned off, but if The Bear Pit does create an Easy Button or there is one that I missed - by all means tell me here, but I don't plan to register for yet another 3rd party website to discuss it there - as we need Steam related mod instructions left here on the Steam platform (so people don't have to go chasing ghosts).

[CrimsonKing]

Im sure the initial post is actually a bad joke.

[MagikGimp]

This is essentially what you need to do to use the 'stable' version of 1.13 on modern computers but bear in mind that this version is from 2014 so quite old now. Check out this thread[thepit.ja-galaxy-forum.com] and especially the link to here- http://thepit.ja-galaxy-forum.com/index.php?t=msg&th=4996 for the development builds of 1.13. Things have changed a lot in the years following build 7609 including better compatibility.

Be warned that there will be bugs and that old saves likely won't work with a new version. Choose a build and stick to it for that playthrough is my advice. And yes, you should copy out your original Steam download to a separate folder for each modded version of the game you play (including 1.12 vanilla game mods). Steam (unless told otherwise) will just try to overwrite your original folder if you modify it otherwise.

Oh, and I almost forgot that you'll need the latest modded JA2.exe (which can't be included with in the SVN for legal reasons) so you'll need to get them from the link found in this guy's forum signature. Yes I know this is convoluted. http://thepit.ja-galaxy-forum.com/index.php?t=showposts&id=11083&

Use the Stracciatella mod for better modern computer compatibility for the original game. https://ja2-stracciatella.github.io/

[MagikGimp]

So apparently things have moved on since when I last played 18 months ago. You can read this thread too which might be a bit simpler- http://thepit.ja-galaxy-forum.com/index.php?t=msg&th=24648

This guide too- https://github.com/aimnas/1.13_starter_documentation

You really have no excuses for not at least trying this real work of love, sweat (and flesh- wounds) now! ;D

[Myll]

The problem with the process (especially in the prior 2 posts before this) is that you must enable Steam to handshake the game and go through some of those initial steps that I listed here, or you aren't actually using the Steam copy (and you really shouldn't be posting here if you are referring players to obtain a copy of the game from outside the Steam platform, as reminder).

There are many requests/threads asking about the "how to" yet again, and Steam put the game on sale, so I'm ensuring this post is easier to find, further up the list (it's fallen from grace over time).

Having said all of that, I cannot confirm 100% that the links used in my post, are still accurate with appropriate version control, and if you do attempt this lengthy process, please give me feedback if it still works.

Just know that once you go outside this, outside The Pit's (modders') own advice (that is now dated), then you're going to a 3rd party to the 3rd party, so any/all advice to visit "Stracciatella" or any other further removed download site, is even further removed from The Pit's actual directions (and buyer beware).

[Mono II]

Originally posted by Myll:

The problem with the process (especially in the prior 2 posts before this) is that you must enable Steam to handshake the game and go through some of those initial steps that I listed here, or you aren't actually using the Steam copy (and you really shouldn't be posting here if you are referring players to obtain a copy of the game from outside the Steam platform, as reminder).

There are many requests/threads asking about the "how to" yet again, and Steam put the game on sale, so I'm ensuring this post is easier to find, further up the list (it's fallen from grace over time).

Having said all of that, I cannot confirm 100% that the links used in my post, are still accurate with appropriate version control, and if you do attempt this lengthy process, please give me feedback if it still works.

Just know that once you go outside this, outside The Pit's (modders') own advice (that is now dated), then you're going to a 3rd party to the 3rd party, so any/all advice to visit "Stracciatella" or any other further removed download site, is even further removed from The Pit's actual directions (and buyer beware).

I just bought the game and used your guide to mod to 1.13. Haven't played yet, but I'm looking forward to it. All links seemed to work correctly, and I followed the steps to the letter. Thanks!

[Myll]

Originally posted by Mono II:

Originally posted by Myll:

The problem with the process (especially in the prior 2 posts before this) is that you must enable Steam to handshake the game and go through some of those initial steps that I listed here, or you aren't actually using the Steam copy (and you really shouldn't be posting here if you are referring players to obtain a copy of the game from outside the Steam platform, as reminder).

There are many requests/threads asking about the "how to" yet again, and Steam put the game on sale, so I'm ensuring this post is easier to find, further up the list (it's fallen from grace over time).

Having said all of that, I cannot confirm 100% that the links used in my post, are still accurate with appropriate version control, and if you do attempt this lengthy process, please give me feedback if it still works.

Just know that once you go outside this, outside The Pit's (modders') own advice (that is now dated), then you're going to a 3rd party to the 3rd party, so any/all advice to visit "Stracciatella" or any other further removed download site, is even further removed from The Pit's actual directions (and buyer beware).

I just bought the game and used your guide to mod to 1.13. Haven't played yet, but I'm looking forward to it. All links seemed to work correctly, and I followed the steps to the letter. Thanks!

I was glad to hear that this process still works.

[Lord Zarun]

Thank you so much for this guide. You're a star.

[spetznas]

This guide is a bad joke you need only four or six steps max.

24. Game Screen Resolution, ensure at 1024x768
25. Editor Screen Resolution, ensure at 1024x768

you dont need to select a res. for editor when you dont use it and it´s better when you use 1280x720(for 16:9) i don´t think anyone play this time on a 4:3 display.

Sorry i don´t understand how anyone can make a such complicated guide.

[Yorbihtter]

I am very sorry for probably a very stupid question, but...

There's this dude, Flugente, who has his own section in the forums, where he describes his "new features" that he codes into the game. And there are a lot of different interesting game mechanics, like espionage, building fortifications, etc. etc.

However, in spite of it all, I wasn't able to find a way to download any of his files. Maybe I am missing something - I don't know - but can you please tell me how to do this?

Here's the link to his section in the forums, please explain how to download any of this - https://thepit.ja-galaxy-forum.com/index.php?t=thread&frm_id=283&

[󠀡󠀡󠀡󠀡󠀡󠀡]

Or just unpack the latest 1.13 build into the game folder...

[Doug]

Originally posted by 󠀡󠀡󠀡󠀡󠀡󠀡:

Or just unpack the latest 1.13 build into the game folder...

Which has several good reasons NOT to do, which at least used to be laid out in the instructions for upgrading to the modded version.

[󠀡󠀡󠀡󠀡󠀡󠀡]

tl;dr

[mondonihilissimo]

Release of latest 1.13 (so, not 7609 which is from 2014) is now on gitHub instead of SVN
https://github.com/1dot13/source/releases

One benefit of using latest 1.13 is that it contains cnc-ddraw
That's a neat little application that allows to set things like windowed/borderless fullscreen, fps-rate, shaders, etc
It'll also ensure to run smoothly on more modern OS, like Win10
(without deleting Intro, adding dll, etc)

A good chunk of mods is also working with that version, but some still will need the 7609 version

cnc-ddraw can be used with 7609 as well, just put it into the 7609 installation
it's also on gitHub
https://github.com/FunkyFr3sh/cnc-ddraw

For 7609, there's also an already assembled version avaialbale (7435+7609-update+zBatch)
link in this thread at Bear's Pit Forum
http://thepit.ja-galaxy-forum.com/index.php?t=msg&th=24652&start=0&

The Straciatella version is multi plattform and will work smoothless on modern OS as well
Straciatella is aiming for being closer to a vanilla JA2, but has also an increasing number of available mods