2020-05-24 Jovi

UT99 StrikeForce 1.84 client FIX patch 2
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This package includes news files and it patches your StrikeForce.ini. It includes Server Browser Fix (v1.2 by Jovi), Direct3D9 renderer (v1.3 by Chris Dohnal) and OpenAL Audio (v2.4.7 UT by Smirftsch, restores 3D-surround sounds) and
as an option for OpenAL there is as well ALchemy by Creative Labs.

Unzip all files to UnrealTournament\System folder and Execute UT99_StrikeForce_1.84_FIX_batch_2.cmd PowerShell script. Your original StrikeForce.ini is saved before patching with name StrikeForce-backup-patch2.ini

I was lazy, ini modifications for renderer and audio are done simply by appending class sections and variables in the end of StrikeForce.ini file. Once game is launched it removes variable and class section duplicates.
How ever if variable value was originally different, there will be same variable more than once in StrikeForce.ini after all this. The line/variable value that is lower in it's class section is made by this patch and
is valid. A bit ugly fix but works.

If your native screen resolution is something else than Full HD (1920x1080), you may want to change these values in SF_ini-fixes file before executing UT99_StrikeForce_1.84_FIX_batch_2.cmd:
FullscreenViewportX=1920
FullscreenViewportY=1080

If you have problems with OpenAL sounds, you may try Universal ALchemy that emulates EAX and should work with non-Creative Labs/Sound Blaster sound hardware too. if you try it, you have to remove OpenAL and restore
back original sound device in StrikeForce.ini by changing class variable "AudioDevice" like shown below and just in case REMOVE all occurances of (OpenAL) line AudioDevice=ALAudio.ALAudioSubsystem in same class section.

[Engine.Engine]
AudioDevice=Galaxy.GalaxyAudioSubsystem

Install Universal ALchemy by executing ALUNI_PCVTAPP_LB_1_00_8.exe. Once done, launch it from Windows Menu -> Creative -> Creative ALchemy Universal.
Add SF to ALchemy Enabled Games: Add -> Game Title: <write> SF , Location: Use Game Path: <write> C:\UnrealTournament <or what ever path your UT is installed to>, <tick> Intall into Sub Folder,
and modify subfolder name to <write> System. There are some settings there like Buffers, Duration, Maximum Voice Count, I have not touched these (changing these might help if you have problems).
Press OK button and you are done! <You can close ALchemy now>. If wrapper works, once you lauch the UT, the ALchemy creates dsoundlog.txt file into your UnrealTournament\System,
it's a log file that tells when ALchemy was activated last time for your game.

I believe that "Universal ALchemy" is user made modification of Creative Labs ALchemy to make ALchemy work with Non-Creative Labs hardware too. To get Creative Labs own version that officially works with non-Creative Labs hardware,
you may consider buying Sound Blaster X-Fi MB3 software (https://software.store.creative.com/software/mb3). Universal ALchemy seems to work atleast with my Asus motherboard's integrated Realtek audio ALC1150 (with wired Sony headset),
and with Creative Lab's headset (Sound Blaster Tactic3D Rage wireless that is shipped with USB dongle as sound card).

I you have problems with either of these sound renderers you can try to change the OutputRate and SampleRate to something lower than 48000Hz that I set it to improve sound quality.
If your hardware does not support 48000Hz it will cause problems. You can try atleast values OutputRate=44100Hz/SampleRate=44100Hz, OutputRate=22050Hz/SampleRate=22050Hz

[Galaxy.GalaxyAudioSubsystem]
OutputRate=48000Hz

[ALAudio.ALAudioSubsystem]
OutputRate=48000Hz
SampleRate=48000Hz

Easy way to see if 3D surround sounds are working is to compare sounds in offline bot game with map, like SFDM-Afterthefall_180, that has lot's of environmental background sounds, difference is so obvious with/without 3D sounds.

Cheers,
Jori Virolainen aka Jovi
jovi@iki.fi