ORIGINAL POST on OcUK circa 30 July, 2005
Ok, I've padded this post out quite a bit with additional infomation on the 64-bit content and some links to gameplay videos, etc, so if you want to get down to the nitty gritty (how to get the FarCry 64-bit content running on a 32-/64-bit CPU/32-bit OS ) head for the Step By Guide I put in the quote.
What is FarCry 64-bit content?
The AMD64 Enhanced Content Update was released as an optional download in May 2005 to showcase improvements in FarCry made possible by AMD's 64-bit architecture.
These AMD 64 update additions include:
* Optimised and refactored code to take advantage of 64 bit architecture.
* Two AMD64 exclusive multiplayer maps – MP_Stronghold and MP_Gorge
* Added Offset bump mapping support.
* Added higher resolution textures and objects.
* Increased some viewing distances
* Updated the Pier level with new content
When released, these updates required an AMD Athlon 64 processor and Windows Professional x64 Retail Version to be installed, otherwise the updates could not be applied. However, it has since been discovered that is possible to apply these updates to FarCry on a system with a 64-bit CPU/32-bit OS (Win XP) and even a 32-bit CPU/32-bit OS (Win XP).
How to install the AMD64 updates:
Firstly, thanks to unstrain1969 from the Far Cry forums for originally getting this to work, as well as Moth from the 3DGPU forums and the guys at Beyond3D, where I picked this up.
Quote:
STEP BY STEP GUIDE:
1. Download the AMD64 Upgrade (486MB) and AMD64 Exclusive Content Update (422MB) -- see below for download links.
2. Before installing the files, make sure that you have the Windows Installer 3.1 package on your system -- if you keep your system regularly updated via Windows Update it should already be installed, alternatively download and install the redistributable from Microsoft.
3. Extract each upgrade to a separate directory, e.g. C:\FC64U for the upgrade and C:\FC64ECU for the exclusive content.
4. Select the START menu and then Run... and in turn, browse to the directory to where the update/content executable was extracted, but don't run it yet. It doesn't matter in which order this is done.
5. So, for the upgrade, you would select C:\FC64U and select the farcry_amd64upgrade_us_uk.exe file and press Open, but do not press OK yet. Add /a to the line present in the Run... command and then press OK, i.e. you should have the following in the Run... command before pressing OK:
"C:\FC64U\farcry_amd64upgrade_us_uk.exe" /a
Press OK and the extraction process will now begin.
6. Do the same thing for the exclusive content update -- so, using the directories listed above, the following path would be indicated in the Run... command:
"C:\FC64ECU\farcry_amd64_ecu.exe" /a
Press OK and wait for the extraction to complete.
7. While extracting, both processes may appear to hang/stall, but you should notice that the HDD will be very active during the extraction and it will take a couple of minutes for each one to complete.
8. After both extraction processes have completed, go to each directory (again, it doesn't matter in which order this done) where the files have been extracted and then select all files and folders within ...\Far Cry folder and copy them over to your Far Cry install directory.
So, for the upgrade you would navigate to
C:\FC64U\Program Files\Ubisoft\Crytek\Far Cry
and for the exclusive content update you would navigate to
C:\FC64ECU\Program Files\Ubisoft\Crytek\Far Cry
and in turn select all the files within the ...\Far Cry directory and copy them over to your Far Cry game install directory, e.g.
D:\Far Cry
Ignore any warnings and select yes, overwrite all if prompted.
9. When done, run the game. If it has worked you will see an AMD64 animated video before the Far Cry menu appears.
10. Enjoy!
Where to download the AMD64 Upgrade and Exclusive Content Update:
3DGamers (Both)
GamersHell (AMD64 Upgrade)
GamersHell (AMD64 Exclusive Content Update)
FileFront (AMD64 Upgrade)
FileFront (AMD64 Exclusive Content Update)
FarCry 64-bit Screenshots & Gameplay Videos
Offset Mapping on the Catacombs level
Increased view distances and objects
GAMEPLAY VIDEOS
The additional 64-bit content and features are probably most prevalent in the Offset Mapping and Foliage videos. These videos require the DivX or XviD codec to be viewed.
FarCry 64-bit Offset Mapping - FileFront (40.5MB / 1m:42s)
FarCry 64-bit Foliage - FileFront (39.1MB / 1m:45s)
FarCry 64-bit Archive - FileFront (16.2MB / 0m:42s)
FarCry 64-bit Factory - FileFront (45MB / 1m:54s)
FarCry 64-bit Fort - FileFront (45.5MB / 2m:01s)
EDIT: FarCry was rendered at 1024x768x32 with 2xMSAA and 8xAF enabled by the application. All in-game graphics options were at the maximum (highest quality) setting. The scene was captured on a separate pc and automatically downsampled by the capture card to 720x576 and encoded with a lossless (HuffyUV) codec. The video was then filtered (area-based de-interlace, cropped, resized to 640x480) via VirtualDubMod and re-encoded with XviD 1.0.3 with a custom matrix at 3000kbps (2-pass). The audio was captured uncompressed and then encoded at 192kbps CBR with the LAME mp3 codec.
There is a documented bug with the 64-bit content whereby some of the textures occasionally disappear while zooming with the binoculars or a weapon, however this isn't as noticable as it sounds. Running the new content on a 32-bit system does reduce performance in particular areas. In the Archive gameplay video I posted above, you will notice that on my ageing system (XP2400+, 1GB RAM, 9800Pro all at stock with WinXP-32) the frame rate drops to about 8fps at one point, although on the whole most of the game was still playable at the same settings I was using before I installed the 64-bit content.
At a guess after replaying sections of a few levels with the 64-bit content, I would say there's a 10-20% performance penalty for running the content on a 32-bit CPU/32-bit OS, although this is likely far less on a more high-end 64-bit system running Windows XP (32-bit). Anyway, if you still have the game installed, this is a great excuse to give it another go!
Cheers,
BrynS
and an opteron so will it be able to use the textures?
