Deus Ex on modern systems
Contents
First things first:
- The updated .exe
- Buy Deus Ex.
- The old fixer tool and problems faq/guide can be found on page 2.
- Got Vista or later and Direct3D 10 class hardware? Check out my Direct3D 10 renderer.
- If you've found a problem with the replacement exe, have an issue you can't manage to solve or know of a fix I missed? Please contact me about it!
Deus Exe
A launcher...
...that gives access to the options of the old dxfix tool.
Downloads
- Unfortunately, Deus Exe is NOT compatible with the Direct2Drive version of the game. My apologies, I can't do anything about this.
- Make sure you've got the Visual C++ 2012 runtimes (if the application gives an error about 'MSVCRT110.DLL' missing) download here. Note that this 32 bit version is also right for 64 bit operating systems, as the game is a 32 bit executable. This update is required even for Windows 8!
- Download latest version: Deus Exe version 5.2 (april 13, 2013).
- Place the files in your Deus Ex 'System' directory. For a Steam install this is '[Steam Directory]\steamapps\common\Deus Ex\System'. It's wise to make a backup copy of your old 'DeusEx.exe' first.
- Old versions
- Source code. Requires the game sources. For reference, Deus Exe is a rewrite based on the launcher from the Unreal 2.24 sources. Modified are the startup code, main loop and file writer class. I do not plan on supporting games other than Deus Ex.
Deus Exe is a replacement Deus Ex executable that attempts to deal with the game's issues at the source instead of relying on band-aid fixes. Works with the CD and Steam versions.
Features
- Built-in configurator.
- Built-in data directory / mod selector.
- Somewhat more modern default settings than the original game (32 bit color, Direct3D renderer).
- Custom resolution and field of view (widescreen) options.
- Ability to disable the ugly user interface scaling that appears when running at high resolutions.
- Speed fixes: forces the game to run on a single CPU, uses a more reliable timing method and to be extra sure hard limits to a user configurable FPS limit.
- Mouse acceleration can be disabled without breaking the user interface mouse cursor.
- Plays nice with Data Execution Prevention set to opt-out.
- Fixes an inability to save on hard drives with large amounts of free space.
- Saves configuration files and savegames in 'My Documents\Deus Ex'; this solves issues with some install locations (admin rights) and gives each Windows user its own settings.
Attention: As noted, this executable stores saves and configuration files in 'My Documents'. Don't worry, existing savegames in the old location will be detected and can be loaded. If you with to continue to use the original file locations, use the '-localdata' command-line option.
Command-line options
- -skipdialog (version 3 and later)
- Hides the startup dialog and immediately launches the game, like the original .exe did.
- -localdata (version 4 and later)
- Uses the standard directory structure to store configuration files, savegames, etc., instead of 'My Documents'. I.E. it acts like the original exe does. Make sure you've got write privileges in the Deus Ex directory!
Using mods
The data directory dialog.
For 'add-on'-like mods such as 'Shifter' and 'New Vision' it suffices to go into the 'Data Directories' dialog and pick the mod's directory. If you wish to use Deus Exe with mods like 'The Nameless Mod' and 'Redsun 2020', which come with their own executables, just replace that with a copy of the Deus Exe .exe file. Then run the mod using its installed shortcut.
Known issues
- Disabling mouse acceleration doesn't seem to work under Windows XP.
- With mouse acceleration disabled, leaving the game window when in a menu will disable the function and Escape keys upon returning. Just exit said menu using the mouse and all will return to normal.
- With mouse acceleration disabled, the Windows setting to swap the left/right mouse buttons does not have any effect.
Extra niceties:
- Alternative renderers: fix graphical issues or run the game with modern effects.
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- My own Direct3D 10 renderer aims to have the game look good and run well on modern systems. Always has 32 bit color and other quality settings enabled. Offers various quality improvements such as anti aliasing and anisotropic filtering. Obviously, this is my personal pick when it comes to playing DX.
- This site offers a number of alternative renderers for Deus Ex; OpenGL and Direct3D 9. Support anti aliasing, anisotropic filtering and various fixes.
- v2.0 Fan patch
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The v2.0 patch fixes a number of leftover bugs, such as the infamous one related to Paul's fate.
- Map fix
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This patch fixes up some GOTY edition maps that Eidos accidentally shipped old versions of.
- New Vision: updated textures
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New Vision is a very cool texture replacement project which overhauls the game with modern-quality textures. Definitely recommended. Requires an alternative renderer, a couple of which it includes. After installing New Vision, just go into the Deus Exe 'Data Directories' window and select 'NVTextures' to enable the mod.
Deus Ex in Direct3D 10 mode with New Vision. - Deus Ex Enhanced: further user interface fixes
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Deus Ex Enhanced fixes some niggles Deus Exe does not: it includes high-res fonts and user interface elements, and fixes scopes/binoculars at high resolutions. Especially recommended if you find the scaling-disabled text too tiny. Unfortunately, this patch is mutually exclusive with the v2.0 fan patch discussed above.
- High definition project: updated models
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The Deus Ex High Definition Project was an effort to update the game's models and textures; little activity in years but they did release a pack of improved decorative models such as phones, ATMs etc. Update: new site here but no updates as of yet. At this point there's not much reason to install it.
Note that the HDTP launcher shortcut does not work with 1. a standard steam DeusEx.exe 2. Deus Ex installation locations with spaces in them. Just install Deus Exe and pick the HDTP files in the 'Data Directories' dialog, this allows you to combine the HDTP models with the standard game or other mods.
Issues and solutions
- Deus Ex freezes/hangs/crashes in the LaGuardia airfield map
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Will mailed me saying that his game would hang a few seconds after entering the LaGuardia topside; he hadn't been able to find a solution, only more people with the same issue. Sure enough, when I tried his quicksave the game would just hang, requiring it to be killed from the task manager. After a few tries, it finally popped up an error message:
Evidently, some security bot's gone haywire. Not the most elegant solution, but what works is to just kill them off using the console:
- Start the game with the -hax0r command-line option to enable cheat mode. This can be done by creating a shortcut to deusex.exe and adding the command line option as shown:
- Press 't', delete the 'say' text and enter 'playersonly' to freeze all creatures. This will afford you enough time for the next step.
- Now enter 'killall deusex.securitybot3' to remove all offending bots from the map.
- Enter 'playersonly' again to resume normal play.
- Start the game with the -hax0r command-line option to enable cheat mode. This can be done by creating a shortcut to deusex.exe and adding the command line option as shown: