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JJFFE for Linux - compiled binaries


Here you can download compiled binary file for JJFFE - currently version 2.8. The first file contains the executable along with some configuration files (you need to edit them to match your system - mainly the allegro.cfg file, but it might not be necessary). The second file contains libraries needed to run jjffe. Watch out, these archives are gonna spit all those files into the current directory!

Binary file & config

Libraries

NEW! Aniso ver. 0.9c

JJFFE is a project maintained by John Jordan, it is a reverse-engineered version of Frontier: First Encounters. Link to his page below:

JJFFE Central



What you need to get all this working neatly:

1. Download the packages (Aniso is optional, but you need JJFFE and libraries)

2. Put them in a suitable directory (e.g. ~/jjffe) and decompress them with

$ tar -xjf *bz2

(the $ character is your shell, don't type that!)

3. Take the time and go through the allegro.cfg file, to ensure it suits your system. *Should* be working as it is, but there might be some differences between my system and yours.

4. You need to create directories "commandr", "music" and "fx".

5. Put all sound files (either from shareweare FFE or your own full version) into the "fx" directory. Ensure they are all lowercase.

6. Put all music files into the "music" directory. I strongly advise you to download the reverse-engineered music files from FFE music site. Again, all files have to be lowercase.

7. Put the cabin backgrounds in the same directory with the executable file(s). They should begin with a CAPITAL letter, otherwise they will not work!

8. If you are using SVGAlib, you need to play as root. Otherwise, all it will produce will be a segmentation fault. And btw. you need to be in a virtual terminal to run it like this! In case you don't know how to "get" into one, press Ctrl-Alt-F1 from your X windows, and log in in text mode! After you finish playing, log out (it's not good to have root wandering around). You can get back to X anytime by pressing Ctrl-Alt-F7.

9. If you have a decent computer (erm, I don't know exactly how fast it should be), you can play under X in a window. Edit the allegro.cfg file, choose the desired x-driver. Then try to run the run script from a shell. JJFFE should run in a 320x200 window. That's pretty small, but check the framerate (Ctrl-f). If it shows 60 or more (if it shows less, you'll either have to run it as it is, 320x200, or play it in a virtual terminal as root), edit the ffelnxal.cfg file - assign a value of 2 to Scale. Run it again, it should now be in 640x400 window, which is quite reasonable for gameplay. On my computer (Intel Celeron 433 MHz), the X version produces around 35 fps in 320x200 window and around 15 fps in doublesize mode (640x400). Since my comp probably cannot be compared to your machines, your computers should be able to handle it in doublesize with some 30 fps without any problems.
But for the real experience, it's best to play under VT as root, and have the game run in fullscreen! (And get 100 fps even on 266 or 300 MHz!)

I hope this all is of some use to you, have fun!
In case of any comments/suggestions/questions send me an e-mail.


Appendix 1 - sample directory structure:

.:
allegro.cfg
Aniso*
AnisoFFE*
bld_info.cfg
Cabin0.bmp
Cabin1.bmp
Cabin2.bmp
Cabin3.bmp
Cabin4.bmp
Cabin5.bmp
commandr/
ffelal*
ffelnxal.cfg
fx/
jjffe*
jjffe28.txt
langrc.res
liballeg.so.4.0@
libvgagl.so@
libvgagl.so.1@
libvgagl.so.1.4.3*
libvga.so@
libvga.so.1@
libvga.so.1.4.3*
log
log_err
mission.dat
music/
resource.cfg
tree.txt

./commandr:
Beinin
Cobra
Harris
Harris2
liftr
liftr2
thargoid

./fx:
airopen.raw
bip.raw
bong.raw
boom.raw
camera.raw
clunkit.raw
damage.raw
ecm.raw
hype.raw
chime.raw
laser1.raw
laser2.raw
laser3.raw
laser4.raw
launch.raw
missexpl.raw
necm.raw
nowt.raw
roar.raw
shipexp.raw
siren.raw
station.raw
wind.raw

./music:
babayaga.mid
barem.mid
bluedan.mid
ggofkiev.mid
hallking.mid
intro.mid
jupalt.mid
qqatmosp.mid
qqdrama.mid
qqescape.mid
qqfront.mid
qqfront2.mid
qqparadi.mid
qqrock.mid
qqsuspen.mid
qqtravel.mid
valkries.mid

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