3D Acceleration Comparison Ep11: Mechwarrior 2 - 3DFX / PowerVR / S3 Virge / ATI Rage / Matrox Mys

Mechwarrior 2: 31st Century Combat. Comparison of the 3D enhanced OEM versions bundled with early 3D acceleration cards in 1996. This video only focuses on the 3D accelerated OEM versions, not the retail DOS/Windows, Battlepack & Titanium releases. Please check my bonus video (coming soon!) for a comparison of those versions.

The PowerVR version is arguably the best of the bunch as it has the best graphics and best overall framerate. The 3DFX version does have the benefit of a higher resolution (800x600) option, but lacks textures on the mechs, as well as shorter draw distance, no fog and don't have the same stable framerate. Due to what I think is a bug in the game, moving the torso with the mouse in the 3DFX version can cause framerate drops from a steady 35-37 to below 20. If you turn you mech just by moving the legs the framerate stays as normal. This have been tested on two different computers with various Voodoo cards. My bonus video (coming soon!) with Voodoo 1 and 2 framerate benchmarks shows this issue more in depth.


-How to run the 3DFX version on Windows 7 64bit (and other Windows versions)

1. If you don't have the 3DFX version please skip this whole section and see below
2. Download nGlide and install it. http://bit.ly/ZmbtbR
3. Install MechVM http://www.mechvm.org/
4. Set Windows 95 compatibility on mechvm.exe
5. Install Mechwarrior 2 through MechVM
6. Copy dplay.dll from your Mechwarrior 2 disc /directx folder to the Mech2 installation folder.
7. Set Windows 95 compatibility on mech2.exe
8. Run the game with mech2.exe and enjoy!


-How to convert Windows retail version to 3DFX and run on Windows 7 64bit:

1. Download nGlide and install it. http://bit.ly/ZmbtbR
2. Copy all the files from your Mech2 CD to a folder on your harddrive. Call it Mech2Setup.
3. Download http://toastytech.com/files/Is3Engine... and extract into Mech2Setup.
4. Set Windows 95 compatibility on setup32.exe, run it and install the game.
5. Copy dplay.dll from Mech2Setup/DirectX to the game installation folder.
6. Download the 3DFX conversion files (those on Vogons don't work for converting!) So please use these: http://www.mediafire.com/?l6wp13inn80... .Extract the files into the game installation folder.
7. Set Windows 95 compatibility on mech2.exe
8. Run the game with mech2.exe and enjoy!
9. If you want the music to play, you need to have the disc in the tray.


-If you have the hardware for the other 3D accelerated versions, conversion files are available here: http://bit.ly/Q50UJZ


-How to run the game on a Voodoo 2:

1. FastVoodoo drivers does NOT work. Install these from 3DFX (3.03): http://bit.ly/RM62kJ
2. Copy Glide.dll and ss1init.dll from the driver to the game installation directory.
3. Make a .bat file using notepad with the following: http://bit.ly/SXxAo1
4. Enjoy!



Captured with Avermedia GameBroadcaster HD on:
Asus P3B-F v1.03 (Intel 440BX chipset)
Intel P3 1050mhz w/ Slot 1 adapter (10.5x100mhz)
1024MB SDRAM CL2
Techworks Aureal Vortex2 SuperQuad
Windows 98SE

With these cards:
Orchid Righteous Voodoo1 4MB PCI (Glide - 640x480)
Diamond Monster II Voodoo2 8MB (Glide - 800x600)
PowerVR PCX2 4MB PCI (PowerSGL)
S3 Virge GX2 4MB AGP (S3D)
ATI 3D Rage II 4MB PCI (ATICIF)
Matrox Mystique 220 4MB PCI (MSI)