v1.25, 21 November 2003
________
/________
HH HH AAAAAA RRRRRR DDDDDD WW WW WW AAAAAA RRRRRR
HH HH AAAAAAA RRRRRRR DDDDDDD WW WW WW AAAAAAA RRRRRRR
HHHHHHH AA AA RR DD DD WW WW WW AA AA RR
HHHHHHH AA AA RR DD WW WW WW AA AA RR
HH HH AAAA AA RR DDDDDDD WW WWWWW AAAA AA RR ..
HH HH AAAA AA RR DDDDDDD WW WWW AAAA AA RR ..
__________
T H E F U T U R E I S G R E E D Y \________/
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hardwar Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
==============================================================================
CONTENTS
==============================================================================
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Preface
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 1.1 Notes
- 1.2 Credits and Legal
- 1.3 Version
- 1.4 Is this FAQ official?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Introduction
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 2.1 What is Hardwar?
- 2.2 Who made and published Hardwar?
- 2.3 Where did the Software Refinery go?
- 2.4 What are the minimum system requirements to run the game?
- 2.5 Can I run Hardwar on Linux, BeOS or MacOS?
- 2.6 What versions/patches are there and what features do they add?
- 2.7 Where do I get official patches?
- 2.8 Are there patches in other languages?
- 2.9 Where can I download the demo?
- 2.10 Where can I get the game?
- 2.11 Will there be a re-release?
- 2.12 Will there be a Hardwar 2?
- 2.13 What happened to the PlayStation release?
- 2.14 Where did everyone go?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Gameplay
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.1 Combat
- 3.1.1 Why do I keep getting killed?
- 3.1.2 Who is killing who?
- 3.1.3 How do I tell who has a bounty?
- 3.1.4 A faction has asked me to attack a building. How do I do that?
- 3.1.5 Can I avoid paying fines?
- 3.1.6 What is an enforcer and how do I get rid of one?
- 3.1.7 How do I get "double amnesty"?
3.2 Piloting and Equipment
- 3.2.1 What moths are available?
- 3.2.2 What equipment is available?
- 3.2.3 How do I dock? Can I speed up docking?
- 3.2.4 How do you target salvage dropped on Titan's surface?
- 3.2.5 Why can't I salvage Origin Unknown?
- 3.2.6 How do I get power?
- 3.2.7 Where do I repair?
- 3.2.8 Can I change the order weapons cycle?
- 3.2.9 What differences are there between starting options?
3.3 Hangars
- 3.3.1 How do I find buildings?
- 3.3.2 What do different hangars do?
- 3.3.3 How do I buy a hangar?
- 3.3.4 Can I buy pirate/scavenger hangars?
- 3.3.5 Can I get a loan?
3.4 Economy
- 3.4.1 How can I find where to buy or sell a particular item?
- 3.4.2 How does the economy work?
- 3.4.3 How do I get rare moths (Deaths Head, Police, Swallow)?
- 3.4.4 How do I get a fusion cell?
- 3.4.5 How do I get rare missiles (Tac Nuke, Big Bob)?
- 3.4.6 How do I get a Death Ray?
3.5 Transport
- 3.5.1 Can I run my own taxi firm?
- 3.5.2 Can I ride the monorail?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Walkthrough
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.1 Crash
- 4.1.1 Overview
4.2 Port Decoy
- 4.2.1 Overview
- 4.2.2 How do I target the Mass Driver Part?
- 4.2.3 What are the garbled messages about?
4.3 Mystery Package
- 4.3.1 Overview
- 4.3.2 What does the Cloaking Device do?
- 4.3.3 Can I remove the Cloaking Device?
- 4.3.4 How can I tell I have the Cloaking Device?
4.4 Secret Bases
- 4.4.1 Overview
- 4.4.2 What do the secret bases look like?
4.5 Procure Trigger and Matter
- 4.5.1 Overview
- 4.5.2 Why do the gang transports only ever carry one thing?
4.6 Base Attack
- 4.6.1 Overview
- 4.6.2 Can I attack both bases?
- 4.6.3 How do I sell surplus Origin Unknown?
4.7 Gang Boy
- 4.7.1 Overview
4.8 More Trigger or Matter
- 4.8.1 Overview
- 4.8.2 Can I use Trigger or Matter I have already?
4.9 Port Clearance with Tac-Nuke
- 4.9.1 Overview
4.10 Port Clearance with Big Bob
- 4.10.1 Overview
4.11 Psycho Bobs Closure
- 4.11.1 Overview
4.12 Rescue Syd and meet Xavier Lazarus
- 4.12.1 Overview
- 4.12.2 Why do I have a cargo of BodyParts when I leave the Prison?
- 4.12.3 How do I get into Lazarus Hightower?
4.13 Final Run
- 4.13.1 Overview
- 4.13.2 I keep on dying before I reach Port. Any hints?
- 4.13.3 Can I use the Monorail to complete the final run?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Cheating
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 5.1 What is God Hangar?
- 5.2 What are the startup cheat codes?
- 5.3 Are there any other hidden features or Easter Eggs?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Online
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.1 Gameplay
- 6.1.1 How do I play online (client)?
- 6.1.2 Does the online game have a plot?
- 6.1.3 Is there an online etiquette? Can I kill other players?
- 6.1.4 Why can't I buy any engines or pods when playing online?
- 6.1.5 Why am I not added to the Police's wanted list when I kill innocent
pilots in an online game?
- 6.1.6 I disconnected and now my character is dead. What should I do?
6.2 Technical Issues
- 6.2.1 Why can't I connect to an online game?
- 6.2.2 How do I play online across a firewall? What TCP and UDP port do I
need to open?
- 6.2.3 In an online game, when I buy and sell, the server crashes. What am I
doing wrong?
- 6.2.4 The frame rate in online games seems very low. Online games seem to
lag a lot. There are some small graphic corruptions. Is that normal?
- 6.2.5 When launching a dedicated server session I get an error message
saying that the VFX COM class is not registered. What should I do?
6.3 Hosting
- 6.3.1 What are the technical requirements for hosting an online game?
- 6.3.2 What is the difference between a dedicated network server and a
network game?
- 6.3.3 What should I tell people connecting to my game?
- 6.3.4 I am hosting an online game, but I need to know my IP address to allow
other people to play. How do I tell what my IP address is?
- 6.3.5 How do I stop people using God Hangar to cheat in my online game?
- 6.3.6 Nobody joined my game. Am I wasting my time?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. General Technical Issues
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7.1 Installation and Patching
- 7.1.1 When installing the game on Windows 2000 or XP I get a message "not
enough free space on target drive" - how do I install?
- 7.1.2 I have just patched the game and now I cannot reload a save. What is
wrong?
- 7.1.3 On startup I get an error message saying that the VFX COM class is not
registered. What should I do?
- 7.1.4 Why does the game crash when I enter Hardwarp FM? What about "FixVhID:
Error!" during play?
7.2 Video
- 7.2.1 How do I stop the game crashing when moving the mouse?
- 7.2.2 Is OpenGL video mode supported?
- 7.2.3 How do I stop the game crashing in 3DFX, particularly on Voodoo
Banshee cards?
- 7.2.4 How do I stop the screen jittering in flight, particularly when using
a Microsoft Sidewinder Precision Pro joystick?
- 7.2.5 Why does the game crash with "ResOpen - could not find Internal
resource data - the resource has been freed" when trying to play video in the
patched version?
- 7.2.6 I don't have a version that includes the video. Why can't I finish the
plot?
- 7.2.7 How do I take a screenshot?
7.3 Sound
- 7.3.1 The sound inside hangars is getting on my nerves. Can I remove it?
- 7.3.2 Why does the music stop playing after I dock for the first time?
7.4 Gameplay 'Bugs'
- 7.4.1 My taxi driver is drunk and/or won't get me to my destination. What
should I do?
- 7.4.2 Why does the game crash with "no more police enforcers can be
generated"?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. Editing and Customising
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8.1 Setup
- 8.1.1 Can I run Hardwar without a CDROM?
- 8.1.2 Can I change the music?
8.2 Skins
- 8.2.1 How do I skin a moth?
- 8.2.2 Why are my custom moth skins are not working?
- 8.2.3 How do I change the look of craters?
8.3 Utilities
- 8.3.1 What is HardLuck.exe and how do I use it?
- 8.3.2 Are there any modifications to change game balance?
- 8.3.3 Where can I get the Hardwar font?
8.4 Editors
- 8.4.1 Are there any editors or Software Development Kits for Hardwar?
- 8.4.2 Where can I find the game's sound/graphics files?
- 8.4.3 How can I read .spr files?
- 8.4.4 Can I edit .shp files (moth models)?
- 8.4.5 Can I create custom maps?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. Upgrade 3
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9.1 History
- 9.1.1 What happened to U3?
- 9.1.2 Why was U3 released?
- 9.1.3 Where can I get U3?
- 9.1.4 What differences are there between U3 versions?
- 9.1.5 Which version is best?
9.2 Terminal Commands and Scripting
- 9.2.1 What does the Terminal Interface do?
- 9.2.2 What does the Terminal Server do?
- 9.2.3 How do I connect a telnet client to the Terminal Server?
- 9.2.4 What terminal commands are there?
- 9.2.5 How do Admin permissions work?
- 9.2.6 Can I script events and 'bots? Can I redesign the game world?
- 9.2.7 How do I build rooms?
- 9.2.8 How do I get market/economy information?
- 9.2.9 What are framesy, newmothsw, and similar?
- 9.2.10 How are items cited in the economy commands?
9.3 Setup
- 9.3.1 What does the Persistent Game option do?
- 9.3.2 What is Phil's Ending?
- 9.3.3 What's the difference between high and low speed links?
- 9.3.4 Can I unpatch U3 betas? Do I have to patch each of them one at a time?
9.4 Gameplay
- 9.4.1 How do I manufacture things?
- 9.4.2 Why doesn't Central Industrial make a Narcotron?
- 9.4.3 How do I find and hire staff?
- 9.4.4 Can I give staff multiple orders?
- 9.4.5 If I can order my staff to sell, why can't I order them to buy?
- 9.4.6 How do I walk around?
- 9.4.7 What are Air Filters, Pleasure Cubes, and Servant Droids, and where
can I get them?
- 9.4.8 How do I get Fumblers, Disablers and Blasters?
- 9.4.9 Where did the Debriefing Zone/Vacant 0006/0007/0008/0038 go?
- 9.4.10 Who is Brother Kahuna?
9.5 Bugs and Modifications
- 9.5.1 Are there any patches for the U3 betas?
- 9.5.2 How can I stop beta 5 games crashing after reloading?
- 9.5.3 I logged a beta 5 game and I'm running out of disk space. Why?
- 9.5.4 Why won't my joystick throttle work?
- 9.5.5 What is wrong with the beta 5 economy?
- 9.5.6 Why won't Downtown Moths sell moths? Why won't Shears Yard fit pods?
- 9.5.7 How can I get my staff out of limbo?
- 9.5.8 Are my thugs supposed to do _that_?
- 9.5.9 Why don't custom hangar names display?
- 9.5.10 Why don't AI pilots sell to my hangar?
- 9.5.11 There is a stack of AI moths waiting to enter a hangar. How can I get
rid of them?
- 9.5.12 Why do AI pilots get stuck in the Alpha-Downtown tunnel?
- 9.5.13 Can faction moths be made to respawn?
- 9.5.14 Why won't the plot advance? How do I get Trigger, Matter or Fusion
Parts?
- 9.5.15 Can I remove the beta 5 negative deposit cheat?
- 9.5.16 I am experiencing video related crashes. Any hints?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. And Finally...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 10.1 What's the deal with BodyParts?
- 10.2 Origin Unknown
- 10.3 It's art, mate
- 10.4 Fooling the AI
- 10.5 Final tip
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appendices
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- A. Hangar List
- B. Non-Moth Production Requirements and Locations Table
- C. Moth Production Requirements Table
- D. Plot Video Transcripts
- E. Non-Plot Video Transcripts
- F. Modifications
- G. Hacking
- H. CD Music Track Listing
==============================================================================
1. PREFACE
==============================================================================
1.1 Notes
Many gameplay tips and technical fixes are available in the game's readme.
More detailed, illustrated information is generally available from fan sites.
This FAQ is designed to primarily provide quick answers to some of the most
common questions. It mostly contains answers to actual questions asked on
forums and usenet. It does not specifically aim to hold your hand and guide
you step by step through the game, although I have added a few entries that
provide an introduction to key areas like moths, equipment and hangars. This
style reflects the nature of the game, which contains a lot of hidden depth
and, in spite of its storyline, is very open ended. The FAQ includes large
sections dealing with parts of the game that have been changed by subsequent
upgrades, notably online play and upgrade 3. Currently the U3 section is split
from other sections because U3 is unofficial and unstable, and so you might
not be running it. If you are running U3 please consider referring specific
questions to the both the U3 section and topic area elsewhere in the FAQ.
Sorry for the confusion this will cause.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.2 Credits and Legal
This FAQ was written by Tim Howgego (also known as timski), copyright 2000-
2003, unless otherwise stated. Errors and suggestions should be reported to
tim (at) capsu (dot) org . Please put "Hardwar" somewhere in the email subject
field. The information contained in this FAQ comes from a pool of knowledge
built up between a large number of Hardwar players over the last 5 years.
Without the ideas of Jeff, Zedo, Wez and Solidox, this FAQ would be much
shorter than it is. Particular thanks also to Ouch, Hammer, smurph, Arago
Fett, Kazymyr, Fedor von Bock and Sniper; and Max for some fantastic U3 beta
patches. This FAQ is in the public domain: You may copy and repost this FAQ,
but the content of the document, including the credits, must remain unchanged.
Informing the author that you are hosting it is appreciated, but not
mandatory. Ensuring you host the most recent version is also appreciated, but
not mandatory. The original game Hardwar (TM) Copyright (c) 1998-2000 Gremlin
Interactive Ltd. Technology Copyright (c) 1993-2002 Software Refinery Ltd.
Other trademarks and copyright are owned by their respective trademark and
copyright holders.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.3 Version
This is version 1.25, 21 November 2003. This update has been long over-due -
sorry for the delay. I have rewritten large parts related to Upgrade 3
(notably dealing with bug work-arounds and use of the Terminal Server), added
a list of all known Modifications to the appendix, a huge Hacking appendix, CD
Music Track Listing, and made various other small alterations.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.4 Is this FAQ official?
No. This is not an official FAQ. It is not endorsed by the game's former
developers or publishers.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
==============================================================================
2. INTRODUCTION
==============================================================================
2.1 What is Hardwar?
Hardwar is a futuristic combat flight simulator. It is set in 'Misplaced
Optimism', a series of craters on a neglected corporate mining moon, Titan.
Players fly moths, which are tiny craft capable of flying at low altitude. The
game features a complete economy, and can be played as a trading game. The
combination of flight combat, trade and a futuristic setting led many players
to draw similarities with the Elite series of games. Hardwar is sometimes
written Hardw[a]r - this reflects the design of the name on the game box.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.2 Who made and published Hardwar?
The game was developed by The Software Refinery Ltd, formerly based in Leeds,
England. Development was led by Mark Griffiths, Ciaran Gultnieks and Ian
Martin. Ade Carless designed the game. Warp Records provided the sound track,
with additional design by the Designers' Republic. The game was published in
Europe and Asia by Gremlin Interactive Ltd and released in September 1998.
Interplay subsequently published the game in North America.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.3 Where did the Software Refinery go?
The Software Refinery were actively developing patches for Hardwar until mid-
2002. Things then went very quiet. In December 2002 the content of their
website disappeared, leading to further speculation. In January 2003, Zedo
received a credible message that "The Software Refinery Ltd went into
voluntary liquidation in December 2002."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.4 What are the minimum system requirements to run the game?
Microsoft Windows 95 or greater; Intel Pentium 166 (or equivalent); 16Mb
memory or greater; 1Mb DirectX 5 compatible video card; DirectX 5 compatible
soundcard; 2X CD-ROM; hard disk with approx 35Mb free space. It will probably
play on a slightly slower processor. Patched versions U1.0 and U2.0x require
Direct X 6 or greater. Certain patch video setting, such as far fog depth,
require video cards with more onboard memory, perhaps as much as 8-16Mb.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.5 Can I run Hardwar on Linux, BeOS or MacOS?
No. The game relies too heavily on DirectX to handle network play, sound, and
in most cases, graphics.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.6 What versions/patches are there and what features do they add?
The release version of Hardwar was almost bug-free. The worst bugs related to
3DFX support. Subsequent patches have tended to add further features, and
improve video or multiplayer support. Only a brief summary is given below of
the important changes:
- D1.6: 1998 : Demo version - 20 minutes play in Alpha Crater only (including
the "Dibsey" mission).
- F2.0: 1998 : European release version.
- F2.1: 1998 : North America release version.
- U1.0: 2000 : Added clones; new starter options; improved video performance
and options, although some 3DFX and DirectX support was buggy.
- U2.01: 2001 : Added swallows; further video improvements and bug fixes.
- U2.02: 2001 : Opened the monorail to the public; greatly improved online
multiplayer; added custom moth skins; added Trojan; added 'Dealer' starting
option.
- U2.03: 2001 : Bug fixes from previous patch.
- U2.04: 2001 : Bug fixes from previous patches.
There is no 'Hardwar 3' - sites advertising it are thought to be selling a
standard release version. There was however a U3 under development - see What
happened to U3? and What differences are there between U3 versions? below.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.7 Where do I get official patches?
Download the latest U2.04 patch from http://zedo.hardwar.org.uk/dexdown.htm .
You do not need to apply older patches first. For the latest unofficial patch,
see Where can I get U3? below.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.8 Are there patches in other languages?
No. However non-English versions of the game can be patched, patching
apparently turns most of the text to English.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.9 Where can I download the demo?
Try http://www.hardwar.info/downloads/ftp/list.php?dir=demo/ ,
http://david.hedbor.org/hardwar/downloads.html , or
http://www.gamesdomain.com/demos/demo/30.html .
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.10 Where can I get the game?
New copies of Hardwar can occasionally be found lurking in game shop bargain
bins. The most reliable source of copies is probably eBay, which normally has
new boxed or jewel-cased US release versions available for around $5. The full
game CD ISOs can be found at certain fan sites and have been posted (mid March
2003) on usenet in alt.binaries.old.games (total size is about 0.5GB). These
ISOs can either be burnt to CDs, or extracted to your hard drive using
utilities such as WinISO or WinImage (from kazymyr). A lite version of the
full game is available at the Underdogs, http://www.the-
underdogs.org/game.php?id=4234 and
http://www.hardwar.info/downloads/patchdemo.htm . This version has been
created by patching the demo and adding missing files to hardwar.res - videos
and music are omitted, but the game is playable. The only real limitation is
the difficulty in following the plot, which relies on videos to introduce most
missions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.11 Will there be a re-release?
Gremlin Interactive's ownership of the name and game transferred to
Infogrames, although sources within Infogrames suggested they no longer owned
it and that nobody did. Infogrames has since disappeared into Atari. Interplay
had marketing and distribution rights in North America. Neither has shown any
interest in re-releasing the game. The developers retained technology
copyright until they went into liquidation - see Where did the Software
Refinery go? above.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.12 Will there be a Hardwar 2?
It is unlikely that there will be a Hardwar 2 because the developers do not
own the rights to the name, they only own the technology. The developers have
actively continued to add features to Hardwar in the form of upgrade patches.
They have stated that, "the long term goal for the game is to have a permanent
online internet game running. It won't be 'Hardwar' ... but it will use the
Hardwar engine." This aspiration now looks unlikely - see Where did the
Software Refinery go?. From Anon: "According to one beta tester, there was a
concept for subsequent Hardwar games. The aliens would drop you off on another
planet. This would be a new game using the same basic 3D engine and gameplay,
but different ships, weapons, economics, and politics. And, of course, new
places to go. You would be able to escape this new planet as well and continue
to Hardwar 3 and so forth. The final game would return you to Earth."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.13 What happened to the PlayStation release?
A Sony PlayStation version was originally thought to be in development during
1996. Early in 1997 Gremlin (?) decided to make the game PC only, citing lack
of PlayStation gamer interest.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.14 Where did everyone go?
The most popular community board remains Captain Zedo's, here:
http://web16.denver010.server4free.de/hwboard/ . On Internet Relay Chat (IRC):
irc.cocytusuk.org #hardwar .
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
==============================================================================
3. GAMEPLAY
==============================================================================
For things specifically related to U3, see Upgrade 3 section.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
______________________________________________________________________________
3.1 Combat
______________________________________________________________________________
3.1.1 Why do I keep getting killed?
To quote David Hedbor, "When I first started playing Hardwar, I quickly got
very frustrated. I almost returned it to the store twice. Both times I played
it, I gave up after about half an hour of death and mayhem." You are not
alone. You will be attacked either because you have made an enemy of someone,
or because you are carrying a cargo that a pirate wants to take from you. The
starter moth and equipment is not particularly good for combat. Initiating
combat will give you the edge, but finish the fight quickly because the
opposition will probably be better equipped. Do not engage more than one moth
at a time. Avoid the caves initially - Haven and Midway. Avoid attacking
faction (Lazarus or Klamp-G) and gang (Skinner or Scrubber) moths initially.
Make use of tunnels to escape and evade: Computer controlled pilots stop
before entering a tunnel, where you can probably curve into them at full
throttle. Alternatively, find a relatively safe crater, such as Riverside,
trade and run away using counterme
