There is finally a (mostly) fixed version!

[celestion1384]

Well, I've waited about 25 years for this.

I downloaded the latest version of M.A.X. Port, a fan-made rebuild of the game in an attempt to fix all the errors. (I learned about this from a couple of helpful people on this forum)

https://klei1984.github.io/max/about/

I have to say I am incredibly impressed with the work this person has done. I was able to complete a full game (right to the victory screen), on a large map in 232 turns with three computers on the hardest difficulty. I don't think I've ever been able to finish a full game of M.A.X. without game breaking bugs, despite playing it on and off for almost a quarter century.

At the largest point of the game, I estimate about 1,500 units active on the map and several hundred buildings, plus connectors, roads, bridges, all that. During this game, I experienced only five crashes/errors, none of which were game breaking. Two of the errors were simply debugging popups, and i was able to hit ignore and carry on.

What's more, there was little to no performance drop throughout the game. Playing with 1,500 units had roughly the same game performance as playing with 20 units at the beginning.

Finally, I am not sure but he must have made some tweaks to the enemy AI. The enemies not only fought each other (though this took about 50 turns to start happening), but they attacked me aggressively as well. While the AI is not exactly a genius when it comes to base design (though it was building these interesting hard-points of 8-10 turrets in pods around their base), it seemed to hold back on attacks to amass a large force, and then came at me in waves. The AI would still try to avoid the range of my weapons, but it actually went on the offensive and performed reasonably competent attacks (sometimes with dozens of units). Compared to the 1.04 patch, I was pretty impressed with the amount of action happening around the map on many turns. I particular enjoyed watching the AI's go at each other with dozens of fighter jets battling it out.

My hats off to this person. The project is still a work in progress, but I consider it quite playable even by normal standards, and *extremely* playable in comparison to the original patches.

I highly recommend checking it out! It's easy to install.

[Zenek Jaro]

if You are fan of M.A.X. try this macsgame.com, developing project.

[jesperkjensen]

OMFG, this patch is amazing. I just finished my third game with 150+ turns each without any errors at all and it even runs directly from Windows 11 making it run super fast compared to emulating through DosBox. This is amazing work !

[Cortex_Reaver]

Does anyone know how to play this on Linux?

[klei]

Linux build instructions can be found here: https://klei1984.github.io/max/build/
Just download the v0.6.1 tar ball and follow the instructions.
The deb installer on the downloads page is not self contained currently (it is somewhat useless for end users).
The latest master branch is work in progress, the build instructions referenced above will probably not work with that and the folder structure have changed since v0.6.1 which requires further configuration steps to do.
If you need further info or help easiest is to reach out to us on our discord server. Link can be found e.g. in this article: https://klei1984.github.io/max/install/ .

[maciej20100]

Hi, any info about multiplayer in MAX Port? Yesterday did try IPX multiplayer (DOSBOX) in original 1.04 but it kept desyncing making the game impossible to play.

[klei]

v0.6.1 does not implement the network play. The work in progress version available on GitHub master branch implements the network code and fixes some of the original v1.04 desync issues. E.g. see defect 211 on the defect list here: https://klei1984.github.io/max/defects/ .

Original M.A.X. implements an input-synchronous, lockstep peer-to-peer networking model. The Port uses the same approach but replaces the IPX protocol with with reliable IP/UDP.

This means that there is no central server, there is no online match making, nor online lobby. Players have to connect to a host player's IP address and listening UDP Port. An UPnP client library can be optionally enabled in the software build configuration (on by default) which can manage a compliant router to open the required port.

Keep in mind that currently the rule enables the port until revocation, and if the game client crashes, this revocation will not happen.

Please note that the feature is not thoroughly play tested, and nobody knows how lag could affect the game experience. The original lockstep peer-to-peer networking model was designed for LAN play not for Internet play so it will either work or not... reliable UDP hopefully helps in case of lag.

There is currently no tutorial for the network play setup. The next release should come with such a documentation. There is no ETA for a release though.

[A]

I feel like my IQ keeps getting lower as I read the fixes.
I just want a step by step guide on how to fix it.

[klei]

Diposting pertama kali oleh A:

I feel like my IQ keeps getting lower as I read the fixes.
I just want a step by step guide on how to fix it.

Could you please explain what you refer to under "it"? Original MS-DOS M.A.X. or M.A.X. Port?

[A]

Well it's the M.A.X. sold on steam ( how would I check to see which version I have?

Crashes alot after 200 turns.
Some how made it to 249. No more crashes but now I am unable to end a turn. I push the button & nothing happens.
It takes a while for anything to move & I cannot shoot targets.

I have DL the zip files in the links but dont understand what I need to do with them

Ooook I have just flown a plane all over the map without using any of the "speed". Can take it anywhere without being shot or being able to shoot.
I am soooo frustrated to be playing against god & almost finishing it... god is such a bad looser!

[klei]

Diposting pertama kali oleh A:

Well it's the M.A.X. sold on steam ( how would I check to see which version I have?

Crashes alot after 200 turns.
Some how made it to 249. No more crashes but now I am unable to end a turn. I push the button & nothing happens.
It takes a while for anything to move & I cannot shoot targets.

I have DL the zip files in the links but dont understand what I need to do with them

Ooook I have just flown a plane all over the map without using any of the "speed". Can take it anywhere without being shot or being able to shoot.

This is the step by step guide on how to improve stability of the steam version:
https://klei1984.github.io/max/fixdos/

Most of the errors you observe will not go away though, the game contains tons of defects and you cannot do anything against most of them in the MS-DOS version that is shipped by Steam or any other gaming platform:
https://klei1984.github.io/max/defects/

The "infinite" air unit movement speed points issue, or more like exploit, is documented as defect 136 on that list.

You can read about what version of the original game is actually shipped by Steam and the other gaming platforms here if you are curious:
https://klei1984.github.io/max/install/

Diposting pertama kali oleh A:

I am soooo frustrated to be playing against god & almost finishing it... god is such a bad looser!

If you are on Windows, you could try out M.A.X. Port's v0.6.1 version that you can download from here: https://klei1984.github.io/max/download/

Please note that since that release dozens of issues were fixed, but work in progress versions are not allowed by GitHub to be downloaded without a free user account. If you have Discord, you can get help on installing the latest version on various linux or windows platforms, then you do not need to register on GitHub. The discord server link can be found on the project page e.g. here: https://github.com/klei1984/max/releases

Hope this helps.

[A]

Wow you did not half arse this! Thanks for the effort :)

[DeafSniper]

Yep, gotta echo that sentiment. Klei - thanks a ton for the (mostly-fixed) version of M.A.X!

I've actually been able to play actual games this past year instead of having the game crash suddenly early on :)

[zaphanath]

Thank you so much for this fix! Been waiting awhile for this, as we all have. Got it up to turn 589 before getting an error message, but the cool thing is we can ignore it, save, quit, then reload it and continue the fun!
Thanks again, Cheers!!!

[Zasso]

This is an insane patch!
Never got this far with such stable computer players and bases.
Thanks a ton for making my long standing wish for a working MAX1 happen!

[The Slender Man]

Worked great until turn 20 or so when the Units stopped moving & just had Lightbulbs over thier heads... the light bulbs clear when you hit next turn but the they dont move.. each unit you click just gets a light bulb and doesnt move... damn.. I have such high hopes too.. smdh... fkkin STEAM.. I WANT MY FKKIN MONEY BACK Grrrrr