New version (Oct 2, 2014):
http://www.wcnews.com/news/2014/09/30/the-darkening-s-enhancement-patch-gets-even-better

Changes:

- I tweaked the mouse DirectInput wrapper a bit, so it now re-acquires the mouse if it is lost for some reason. That should fix the sporadic mouse freeze.
- Added a toggle to enable / disable video de-interlacing (in darkfix_setup).
- It's now possible to change the default CD number the game assumes is in the drive when the game starts (in darkfix_setup). The nocd patch will still change the CD automatically if the game needs another CD in order to proceed.
- Added support for windowed mode (configurable in darkfix_setup). It seemed to work fairly well in the tests I made so far, but, think of it as experimental in any case, since a couple more tweaks may still be necessary. (known issue: ALT+TAB'ing away from the game while in a base sometimes caused the background music buffer to fill with static. This came up a couple of times and is being looked into. Workaround: Leaving the base room and re-entering should make the problem go away...)

ORIGINAL POST

Developed by a few codemonkeys at the Wing Commander CIC: Privateer 2 Unofficial patch 0.1

List of features:

- Random crashes which froze the game were solved.
- Mouse issues fixed: the mouse tended to become unresponsive in
some situations.
- More stable digital sound (fixes some sound crackling issues that
occurred often)
- Deinterlace patch: no horizontal black lines, which is a bit more
friendly towards modern displays
- Speed stabilization: the game plays at acceptable speeds, without
slowdowns when near a planet or ship. (game flow screen speed has also been adjusted)
- No-cd patch. (for CD users)

Our current package, when unzipped into the GOG install, turns it into
a Privateer 2 Win95 install. It also preserves the original GOG executable file.

The ultimate goal of this patch is to squash the not-so-great parts of Priv 2 and shine a light on what makes the game great. Fixing the AI is not part of this patch...yet.

Keep your eye on this thread for the release. Please give any feedback/comments/questions.

Technical Questions

Launching the game results in a black screen for a few seconds then goes back to desktop
Alter the DARK.FIX to change the install directory from C: to whatever drive on which you have installed Privateer 2.

In-flight music doesn't play
Change the DARKFIX.EXE file to run in Windows 95 compatibility mode.

Patch developer posts as "mbrito" on the GOG forums.

Something NEW or maybe the old way when only CD no. 1 was available...?

So will this keep a win95 version to one folder, rather than creating two privateer folders the one in gog directory and the one in the Dark directory?

Also will fix the cd switching issues, and allow access to all the missions, and in correct order?

It converts the DOS version to the Windows version. Testing has had no issues with Windows compatibility.

This fixes the CD swapping issue. All missions will be available.

Nice! Will you include a dos executable for 'just in case' situations?

Plus a way to switch on interlacing (if wanted 'retro' purposes)?

Is there also any work on converting the Higher Resolution VHS video masters to be used in a later fan patch as well? For a kind of HD version of the game?

Thanks for your comments!

Right now, the patch replaces the DOS EXE, but we can look into the possibility of a side-by-side install of both versions, sharing savegames.

Turning deinterlacing on / off should be doable, i'll add an option to a config file!

As for the possibility of integrating the higher-res videos from the recovered VHS tapes, that *is* something that I plan to do, but it's not likely to make it into the first couple releases of the patch. My idea is to prioritize fixes that will make the game more stable and fun to play.

Great stuff, I'll be keeping track of this!

Now, if only someone is able to make a mod to incorporate WC1 Sega CD voices to the PC versions of the game ;). One of the last few mods I've been waiting for!

Ya I know that would be difficult work, even if someone has a copy of the source code... and somehow got permission to be able use that code. Legal issues, and all that.

Well, we do have the source code for Wing I, III, and IV. No legal permission, though.

We can hope you can get that permission, someday!

Seriously, I would honestly would 'pay again' for a new release of the game, with true windows compatibility, and speech! Maybe incorporate the updated music from the Kilrathi Saga. GOG would be a great way to release a 'special edition' version!

This is great news. I'll hold off playing until this come out.

So I guess there is no point playing this game until the patch is out then ?

It won't hurt... you'll get varying mileage. Some people have very few issues with the game out of the box.. .

Also, the savegames will still work after the patch so you won't lose progress. I set up the release update (which needs some tweaking) so you guys should be able to download it really soon. This is a completely new patch.

Huzzah!

No black lines AND the game won't slow way the hell down when in space?!?

I actually got this game early (before everyone else 'cause my father knew a guy that knew a guy, etc.) and I had only touched the surface before I went into the military. Was too damned busy to ever try it out again. Then, of course, I couldn't play it after because of the damned machines, 'lo though I tried.

I still have the CDs.

Saw it on GOG and just about wept. Tried to play it and wept harder.

Please, PLEASE, fix this. I'm getting dehydrated.

OH MY GOD! I am waiting for this since...2002!!!

Any eta? I mean days, weeks, months?