As of August 29, 2007, this page contains information for the English PR1, MP2.1a, and MP3.02b versions of the HDP for Mechwarrior 4: Mercenaries. The HDP will only run if your  Mercs autoconfig is set to High or Ultra-High.

Deutsche Version

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Click Below To View HDP Screenshots.

History

• The High Definition Patch began almost 4 years ago out of tests Mercstorm (our former name) was running on the Mercs engine. It is a patch which will update all the original 'Mechs and a few Mektek 'Mechs, weapon sound effects, as well as increase the image resolution of the images for most foliage, rocks, etc., and many buildings. If you are new to the Mechwarrior community, MP2.1a and MP3.02b are third-party mods available from http://www.mektek.net. If you are wondering which Mekpak (if any) to download, we suggest you use MP3.02b, as most players have migrated to this version.

Contents:

• Download Mirrors

• Installation/Uninstall Instructions

• FAQ

• 1) Does this change the version number of Mercs?
• 2) Can I still apply .TEK files via the HUDPatch program with the HighDef Patch installed?
• 3) Does this increase lag?
• 4) What are the minimum specifications you recommend for this?
• 5) I run your patch and get a "Files do not match" error.
• 6) Should I backup my files before running the HDP?
• 7) Why do some of the dashboard textures look all weird?
• 8) Is this supported by Microsoft and/or Wizkids Entertainment?
• 9) Does MekTek know about this?
• 10) What have you changed?
• 11) Are there any new maps?
• 12) Does the HDP affect maps that have new textures inserted into them via the Append tool?
• 13) Have there been any reports of games crashing once this is installed?
• 14) Is this compatible with Netmech IV, NBT-HC, Inner Sphere Wars, etc.?



• HighDef Patch Videos

• Mechstorm Forums

Installation Instructions:

Make note: You need at least 500MB of free space on your hard drive before trying to run the patch. This is because temporary files are made during the installation process, and if you do not have that room, the patch cannot execute properly. You will also need about 700MB free space on whatever drive MW4:Mercs is installed to for the backups you MUST create. You will need to backup your textures.mw4 and props.mw4 files in your Mechwarrior Mercenaries\RESOURCE folder.

    If you do not follow these instructions, then the only way you can uninstall the HDP is to completely uninstall Mechwarrior 4: Mercenaries. Simply use the backup option the patcher will present to you, and name the files .pr1BAK (if you are running PR1), mp21aBAK (if you are running MP2.1a), or .mp302bBAK (if you are running MP3.02b).

What version of the patch do I need to install? 

      PR1 version

        *  Visit http://www.mechstorm.com

      MP2.1a version    

         *  Visit http://www.mechstorm.com. Note there are 2 download options available: If you are on broadband, and using any OS other than Win98, download the MP21a_HDP_full.exe        

        * If you are running the Win98 OS, or are on dial-up, you need to download the HDP1-4.zip files on Mechstorm's download site. The HDP has been split into four separate archives. Simply create an empty folder on your hard drive, and unzip all four archives into it. It doesn't matter what OS you have; this patch version will work on all systems. Click on the exe file, and viola! You’re on your way to enjoying  Mercs in High-Definition!

      MP3.02b version

         * Visit http://www.mechstorm.com, or scroll down to our download mirrors.             

How do I uninstall the HDP? 

       PR1 version

     Thanks to Macabre, uninstalling the PR1 HDP is easy--if you've actually followed the install instructions. Simply open the High def_readme.doc in the Mercs root folder, and browse to the Patch Switcher section.

      MP2.1a version      

1. Browse to your Mechwarrior Mercenaries\Resource folder and delete the textures.mw4 and props.mw4 files. Then rename your textures and props backups textures.mw4 and props.mw4.

2. Browse to the Mechwarrior Mercenaries\Content\Movies\BAK folder which was created by the HD patch. Ignoring the overwrite warning, copy the mekteklogo3.mpg file up one level. Delete the BAK folder once this is done.

3. Browse to the Mechwarrior Mercenaries\Content\MercsShellScripts\Files\BAK folder and copy the nextmove_music.wav file up one level again ignoring the overwrite warning. Delete the BAK folder once this is done.

4. Browse to your root Mercs folder and find the folder named BAK. Inside you will see a file called 00000409.256. Copy this one level up while ignoring the overwrite warning. Delete the BAK folder once this is done.

5. That's it, the HDP is now fully uninstalled.

                MP3.02b version

1. Browse to your Mechwarrior Mercenaries\Resource folder and delete the textures.mw4 and props.mw4 files. Then rename your textures and props backups textures.mw4 and props.mw4.

2. That's it, the HDP is now fully uninstalled.

Download Mirrors: MP2.1a

Download Mirrors: MP3.02b

FAQ:

1) Does this change the version number of Mercs?

• No. You can still play with your friends who are not using this patch.

2) Can I still apply .TEK files via the HUDPatch program with the HighDef Patch installed?

• Yes. With a new HUD, minimaps, all of the original 'Mechs, and some of Mektek's 'Mechs, sporting new or tweaked images, you may find you will not need to, though.

3) Does this increase lag?

• No. Absolutely no additional lag was found during beta testing. The tests were performed on a wide variety of machines. However, if your system closely approximates the minimum specs for this patch, you may experience graphical slowdown both on-and off-line which is not the same as lag.

4) What are the minimum specifications you recommend for this?

• Windows 9x/ME/XP (if you currently run Mercs on NT or 2K systems, then this should run fine for you. No-one on the beta test team used NT, so it is not 100% positive that HDP works there); 800MHz CPU; 256 MB RAM (384 MB for WinXP); 32MB 3D video-card. If you run Mercs well now, you should be able to run this. The lowest system tested used a 1.2GHz Celeron, which ran the game fine, so the recommendations are actually tweaked estimates based on the original requirements of Mercs. You will also need approximately 700 megs for the backup files required to return Mercs to a pre-HDP state. I have no idea how Mercs runs under Windows Vista.

5) I run your patch and get a "Files do not match" error.

• This occurs for several reasons. The most common one is you have not unapplied .TEK files from your textures.mw4 file via the HUDPatch. If this occurs, the error message will mention the file textures.mw4. You do not need to uninstall the HUDPatch program, though, merely the files you applied with it. A few rare instances have occurred during beta testing where the HUDPatch did not uninstall files properly from the MP2.1a textures.mw4 file. In this case, you will need to revert to a backup of textures.mw4 and perhaps even reinstall MekTek's paks before you can use the HDP.

• Other possible errors will result if you have changed the main menu music, the intro videos or the splash screen. The MP2.1a version of the HDP expects to find the original mekteklogo3.mpg in the Mechwarrior Mercenaries/Content/ Movies folder. Both the PR1 and MP2.1a HDP's also require the original nextmove_music.wav file in the Mechwarrior Mercenaries/Content/MercsShellScripts/FILES folder and the file 00000409.256 in the Mercs root folder.

• IF YOU HAVE MODIFIED THESE FILES, YOU MUST RESTORE THEM TO THEIR ORIGINAL STATE IN ORDER TO INSTALL THE HD PATCH.

  • You can get the original nextmove_music.wav file off of Mercenaries Disk 2. Browse to the (drive letter):CONTENTMERCSS_1FILES folder, copy the video to the appropriate folder on your hard drive and rename it nextmove_music.wav.

  • The file 00000409.256 is on Mercenaries Disk 1.

  • If you have changed the mekteklogo3.mpg file, you will have to find someone who can send the original to you, reinstall Mercs or use a backup of the file. This applies only to MP2.1a.

  Back to the FAQ Or Top Of The Page

6) Should I backup my files before running the HDP?

• YES! This should always be done on any piece of software. The patch program gives you the option of backing up your files, so, USE THIS FEATURE!!

7) Why do some of the dashboard textures look all weird?

• This has been noticed on some MekTek mech dashboards and reflects their design of the dash. To be fair to them, while working with the original small images MS gave us, you really do not notice that much distortion. However, the HDP images are 4x larger than those. Unfortunately, without proper access, nothing can be done about this problem.

8) Is this supported by Microsoft and/or Wizkids Entertainment?

• No. This is an unofficial, fan-based mod to breathe new life into the game.

9) Does MekTek know about this?

• Yes. We like what MekTek has done thus far and so we took a different approach and made a mod that is compatible with MekTek's. The community is fragmented enough; we did not want to create yet another version of this game.

• Back to the FAQ Or Top Of The Page

10) What have you changed?

• A lot! Most of the tree, rock and other "cultural" images have been replaced with hi-resolution images.  The PR1 HDP and forthcoming MP3.xx HDP has overhauled every 'mech texture in the game, resulting in slightly increased detail and richer camo colours. MP2.1a has only a limited number of tweaked 'mech textures. We've also replaced many of the building textures with beautiful 1024x1024 textures--the stock size was only 256x256! So maps like Big City, Concourse, and especially Mechstorm's Avarice City, look truly stunning!  Additionally, almost every weapon has new graphics and sound effects, and the game has a completely new looking GUI. We have also ... ah, but why waste space describing it to you? Download it and see the best damn thing to happen to Mercs since MekTek modded it!
  
  Back to the FAQ Or Top Of The Page

11) Are there any new maps?

• Yes, for both the MP2.1a and MP3.02b versions! Avenger has made us a beautiful high-resolution map called Mechstorm Arena for MP2.1a. It supports 4 teams and has the following gametypes: Single Player, Battle, Team Battle, Destruction, Team Destruction, Steal the Bacon, King of the Pit, and Team King of the Pit (actually KOTH but his name better describes the map). MP3.02b also has this map, as well as the  Insurrection series : dropships and tanks work in these multiplayer games, increasing the challenge of completing objectives. See the Screenshot page for more map info.

• Back to the FAQ Or Top Of The Page

12) Does the HDP affect maps that have new textures inserted via the Append tool?

• No, it doesn't. If an objects texture has been changed in a map via the Append Tool, the HDP will not over-write those files.

HighDef Patch Videos

• Interested in seeing the High Definition Patch in action?

PR1 HDP teaser

MP3.02b HDP teaser

Mechstorm Forums

• Please use the Mechstorm Tech Support section of our forums for any and all comments on the HDP. Please specify which version you are using.

Site last updated June 17, 2008.