Wing Commander Prophecy: Unlimited + HD Movie Support

Note for GOG users: if you have the MUP installed, replace the wcpunl.dll only. The exe in the UNL package is from Gold CD and you'll be asked to insert a CD. I'll see if I can update the unl to detect which is installed and work with either in any installation.
 
There is a memory leak I've found. As long as you don't keep playing movies over and over you'll be ok for now. I've mostly sorted it, but there's still a slight leak i can't seem to find. Might not worry about it as only small.

I've also noticed i left the alternate barrel turrets feature (a la WC3 turrets) hard coded on.

I'll do another release within the next few days.
 
Updated to B6.0. DLL only in this post, previous full announcement post contains full package.

Code: 
### WCPUNL Beta 6.0
* Fixed memory leak in the new Movie Player
* Turret barrel fire respects wcpunl.ini setting again
* File loading priority changed so directory has priority over tree file (no need to patch data.tre anymore)
 
My suggestions on the internal GoG Discord to "upgrade" certain Wing Commander games, most notably Privateer 2, with much needed fanfixes have saddly not produced a positive response. Aside from that, many thanks to gr1mre4per for continued great work.
 
B6.1 released to support GoG installs where no CD/ISO file is mounted. DLL is available here, the full package on page 4 is updated. Backup and replace the prophecy.exe in your GoG install with the one from the package and use this new B6.1 dll.

Code: 
### WCPUNL Beta 6.1
* Support for both CD and GoG installations using the prophecy.exe supplied in this package.
    A CD check is done, if no CD is found a local file check is performed.  If no local files found, Change CD screen will appear.
 

Attachments

gr1mre4per said:
Time to blow the dust off this thread. Wow 2019 BC (before covid)...

(...)

Pedro has also asked I release the OpenGL 1.3 update at the same time. The new WCPUNL movie player will work with older versions of the GL, but the new version will allow the full screen FMVs to scale up to fit your screen, instead of sticking to the original 4:3, and take advantage of higher quality movies. Also some additional update are included...

Code: 
OpenGL Patch - v1.3

This patch is an additional optional graphics library (GL), compatible with both Prophecy and Secret Ops, and is ported from the release of Standoff Episode 5.
(...)
Click to expand...
I have just done a fresh WCP install.
* installed Game via GoG Installer
* installed "OpenGL-WCP_setup.exe" and configured game to run at 4k fullscreen when prompted
* replaced the one DLL in the game's main folder with the one from "OpenGL.zip"
* installed "WCPUNL B6.1.zip" per instructions inside the ZIP
* tweaked the game's FPS inside "wcpunl.ini" to 120FPS
* copied all movies from "wcp_hdpack_4.0.zip" into a folder "movie" inside the game's directory

It seems to work fine and looks great on my 4k TV.

Feedback:
I strongly recommend to expand the instructions regarding the OpenGL DLL. I originally just used the ZIP from your post and, unsurprisingly, it did not do a thing. Essentially, you have released v1.3 and you require it to be installed on top of the old v1.2.2 but that fact is communicated nowhere.
In a similar vain, I think the readme of WCPUNL should elaborate on the exact effects of the available INI-Tweaks.

Will try installing the MUP on top in the next few days, after playing the game a bit.

I noticed that I am now seemingly locked to a 4:3 aspect ratio during gameplay. Can this still be changed somewhere?
 
Thanks for the valuable feedback it is appreciated.

Regarding the Open GL, as it isn't made by me I'd missed that you need some extra dlls for it to work. So it is a requirement that a previous version should be installed first. I'll update post soon, I'm working on a couple more minor updates on the unlimited dll so I'll do it when I post that.

I can update the read me for unlimited to include info on the ini settings. I did try to name the options in a way that describes their functions but I'll see what i can do.

WCP and SO have always been 4:3, it's not so simple to make it fit 16:9 or 2:1 or whatever because of how the game culls off screen objects, ships end up disappearing before going off the edge of the screen.

But... as has been mentioned i have been working on a new renderer, using what I've learned working on unlimited, that gives true widescreen support for space flight.. so things are in motion regarding this. I'm also looking into VR and track ir, I've implemented a basic mouse look that seems to work to look around the "cockpit". Might need someone to make some cockpits to replace the 'struts'...
 
For OpenGL I suppose the expectation was you'd actually install in on top of MUP but next release I'll mention it in the readme (it'd be nice if we could get a new full MUP release with it baked in).
Depending on how Grim implements 16:9 I may add support to OpenGL as my hope is to keep this around as a nostalgic '00s alternative (although won't be adding support for any thing like VR, wouldn't be able to if I wanted to).
 
Pedro said:
For OpenGL I suppose the expectation was you'd actually install in on top of MUP but next release I'll mention it in the readme (it'd be nice if we could get a new full MUP release with it baked in).
Click to expand...
Ah yes, I recall... The MUP installed the OpenGL renderer and had the models as a preview feature, right?

Yes, a full MUP soon would be very cool indeed.
 
gr1mre4per said:
But... as has been mentioned i have been working on a new renderer, using what I've learned working on unlimited, that gives true widescreen support for space flight.. so things are in motion regarding this. I'm also looking into VR and track ir, I've implemented a basic mouse look that seems to work to look around the "cockpit". Might need someone to make some cockpits to replace the 'struts'...
Click to expand...
I will gladly put my PSVR2 + Adapter to use and test this when it is ready.
Although I suspect it will be nauseating, considering the speed of WCP gameplay... maybe the cockpit is a stomach-safer here 😇.
 
This patch doesnt work. I installed and re-installed Prophecy and SO for testing .

On a fresh clean GOG Prophecy install :
I apply MUP CANDIDATE , opengl and hd pack 4 , all work smoothly with only problem I cannot skip the Cutscenes.
When I apply Unlimited , I have black screen on Cutscenes and only sound .
I tried every combination of codecs I could think off , but that shouldnt be it. Without applying your patch the Cutscenes play just fine .

On a fresh clean GOG SO install :
I apply MUP Candidate , opengl . All Good the game runs fine (only problem is some off textures on Panther but that is irrelevant)
I install Unlimited SO-WEB and the game wants me to re-register my callsign and then it says that this callsign doesnt exist or something.

Too bad I would really love to play with this WCPUNL but so far no luck
 
TCSTigersClaw said:
This patch doesnt work. I installed and re-installed Prophecy and SO for testing .

On a fresh clean GOG Prophecy install :
I apply MUP CANDIDATE , opengl and hd pack 4 , all work smoothly with only problem I cannot skip the Cutscenes.
When I apply Unlimited , I have black screen on Cutscenes and only sound .
I tried every combination of codecs I could think off , but that shouldnt be it. Without applying your patch the Cutscenes play just fine .

On a fresh clean GOG SO install :
I apply MUP Candidate , opengl . All Good the game runs fine (only problem is some off textures on Panther but that is irrelevant)
I install Unlimited SO-WEB and the game wants me to re-register my callsign and then it says that this callsign doesnt exist or something.

Too bad I would really love to play with this WCPUNL but so far no luck
Click to expand...
What is your os? I know there's been problems on Linux with Proton.

Turn on movie subtitles. If the subtitles are sharp high def fonts then it's still using HCLs hd movieplayer. If subtitles looks like in game fonts then it is the unl and it's failing to find the right codec. Odvs v4 pack uses h.264 and the original dvd uses mpeg2. Never tested older versions of odvss hd packs.

Just on a family vacation at the moment, will have a new release after I'm back that simplifies some stuff internally and fixes a few things.

For SO use the gold cd exe instead of the Web release exe. If you installed mup release with high def models you won't need this version of unl anyway as it only adds hd movie support for wcp.
 
gr1mre4per said:
What is your os? I know there's been problems on Linux with Proton.

Turn on movie subtitles. If the subtitles are sharp high def fonts then it's still using HCLs hd movieplayer. If subtitles looks like in game fonts then it is the unl and it's failing to find the right codec. Odvs v4 pack uses h.264 and the original dvd uses mpeg2. Never tested older versions of odvss hd packs.

Just on a family vacation at the moment, will have a new release after I'm back that simplifies some stuff internally and fixes a few things.

For SO use the gold cd exe instead of the Web release exe. If you installed mup release with high def models you won't need this version of unl anyway as it only adds hd movie support for wcp.
Click to expand...
Thanks a lot ! my OS is windows 10
I will test and report back !
 
The good news is after the Unlimited patch I can skip movies smoothly. The bad news is that even Subtitles doesnt work. Complete black screen , just sound. I Installed K-lite mega codecs but still the same.
Anyway I guess I will play the game and look the cutscnes through vlc
 
This is weird. Having thought about it, it sounds like the unl is trying to play the movie because the subtitles rely on frames being received out of the player. If the player isn't sending out frames then subtitles won't work.

What is weird is somehow the movie player is initialising successfully, thinking it has found a codec, but play back had failed.

Will see if the next version has any luck, I'll rework the subtitles too so they don't rely on frames directly.

Perhaps you could try the original dvd movies as its a different codec?
 
gr1mre4per said:
This is weird. Having thought about it, it sounds like the unl is trying to play the movie because the subtitles rely on frames being received out of the player. If the player isn't sending out frames then subtitles won't work.

What is weird is somehow the movie player is initialising successfully, thinking it has found a codec, but play back had failed.

Will see if the next version has any luck, I'll rework the subtitles too so they don't rely on frames directly.

Perhaps you could try the original dvd movies as its a different codec?
Click to expand...
Original DVD movies with the old codecs suggested here , works ok! I just have a problem skipping the videos .
All patches installed without your unlimited patch , make the ODVS V4 work ok , I still cannot skip them and most of the times the mouse cursor is in the middle and cannot hide it :P .
Only with Unlimited Patch , I can skip the Black movies smoothly , cursor is unseen but I only have sound .
It is weird yes
 
TCSTigersClaw said:
Original DVD movies with the old codecs suggested here , works ok! I just have a problem skipping the videos .
All patches installed without your unlimited patch , make the ODVS V4 work ok , I still cannot skip them and most of the times the mouse cursor is in the middle and cannot hide it :P .
Only with Unlimited Patch , I can skip the Black movies smoothly , cursor is unseen but I only have sound .
It is weird yes
Click to expand...

I am guessing the original dvd are also failing in the unl and it's actually 'successfully' falling back to HCLs player. You wouldn't get problems with skipping the video if wcpunl was playing.

To confirm, can you delete or rename wcphr.dll in the wcp directory and try again please? This removes HCLs player completely. If the unl fails to play the dvd, it should fall back to the original cd playback. I guess ODVSs will still give you black screen though.

I've done a little research and there may be a subtle difference between the win11 I tested on and win10. I didn't have a win10 to hand at the time. I can add a setting that should make both 10 and 11 work. I'm back in the saddle this weekend so I'll have a go.
 
TCSTigersClaw said:
Original DVD movies with the old codecs suggested here , works ok! I just have a problem skipping the videos .
All patches installed without your unlimited patch , make the ODVS V4 work ok , I still cannot skip them and most of the times the mouse cursor is in the middle and cannot hide it :P .
Only with Unlimited Patch , I can skip the Black movies smoothly , cursor is unseen but I only have sound .
It is weird yes
Click to expand...
gr1mre4per said:
I am guessing the original dvd are also failing in the unl and it's actually 'successfully' falling back to HCLs player. You wouldn't get problems with skipping the video if wcpunl was playing.

To confirm, can you delete or rename wcphr.dll in the wcp directory and try again please? This removes HCLs player completely. If the unl fails to play the dvd, it should fall back to the original cd playback. I guess ODVSs will still give you black screen though.

I've done a little research and there may be a subtle difference between the win11 I tested on and win10. I didn't have a win10 to hand at the time. I can add a setting that should make both 10 and 11 work. I'm back in the saddle this weekend so I'll have a go.
Click to expand...
The videos may not be failing... on some systems and with some versions of the patch the high res movies take a very long time to load for some inexplicable reason. I thought that had been fixed, but you could test it by just letting it sit with the black screen for a while and see if the movies eventually plays after an uncomfortably long time.
 
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