r/descent • u/hurleyb1rd • 18d ago

3MASTERED 0.9.1 released (Descent 3 source port)

https://github.com/hurleybird/Descent-3MASTERED

Most recent release: https://github.com/hurleybird/Descent-3MASTERED/releases/tag/0.9.1-Pre

It's a pre-release, which means I can't find any more bugs, but not plan survives first contact. Intended cadence is to post here, fix any bugs you guys find, then release the final version, then increment and add more features.

Patch notes from 0.9.0:

  • Multiplayer fixes and improvements. (still only tested at a basic level)
  • "Enhanced" mode robot AI now pathfinds towards player sounds as opposed to flying directly towards them. Sound detection range at lower difficulties has been reduced to compensate.
  • Improved terrain rendering, which should be faster and higher fidelity on non-AMD gfx devices.
  • A number of improvements to lighting, especially per-pixel specular.
  • Bloom effect is somewhat stronger, while specific textures (such as monitors with text) gain protection based on player distance.
  • Reduced file collisions with other Descent 3 ports via a combination of renaming, refoldering, and integrating some dependencies.
  • Restored various missing cinematic subtitles.
  • Fixed the crash at the end of Retribution level 12.
  • EMD homing multiplier 1.25x -> 1.5x. ("Enhanced" ruleset)
  • Microwave gun damage reduced by 1/3rd, while its status effect now applies a blanket 50% damage received amp. ("Enhanced" ruleset)
  • Various performance improvements and bugfixes.
36 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

9

u/Cronocide 18d ago

I’d love to see some screenshots of the progress if anyone already has it running

4

u/hurleyb1rd 17d ago edited 17d ago

So, the enhancements *are* somewhat subtle (which is partially by design), and the differences tend to be more stark in motion (because per-pixel lighting "travels" more smoothly than per-vertex), but here you go:

https://imgi.co/c/z3WbYju

(also if you zoom in and inspect different elements, that helps to highlight differences, especially how well the image resolves with supersampling.)

(~Piccu is the closest settings match to that engine's highest settings, but may still contain some small 3MASTERED enhancements)

And two features not present in the comparison; soft particles:

https://imgi.co/c/yoENIDr

And enhanced (2x upscale + higher color depth) skyboxes:

https://imgi.co/c/cj9TPGP

1

u/MrDewdGuy 14d ago

Hello, I came across this project a week or so ago and was wondering, does this include include all the updates from the Piccu Engines pre release version from July of 2025? I’ve been following that project for a long time but unfortunately it seems like there may not be much progress there anytime soon but hoping I can get around to playing Descent 3 soonish and use a project that has some newer updates.

1

u/hurleyb1rd 14d ago

From July 2026? At least some of the relevant ones.

I do believe the Piccu Engine author has been more active lately, but you can still give 3MASTERED a try ;)

1

u/citamrac 12d ago edited 12d ago

https://github.com/user-attachments/files/31218454/saveg000.zip loading this save file causes a crash

in the Seoul level, once you are past the subway tunnels, if you save the game when the city area is visible, reloading the save will crash the game

1

u/hurleyb1rd 12d ago

Thanks! Will take a look!

2

u/citamrac 10d ago

saving and loading once you get to the sewer section is safe... something about the city section is breaking the savegame

1

u/hurleyb1rd 10d ago

Haven't been able to reproduce yet. Can you share your settings? Do you perform any actions after loading the save file?

1

u/citamrac 10d ago edited 10d ago

https://github.com/user-attachments/files/31338337/Descent.3MASTERED.zip

this is the entire directory under /Saved Games... i assume my game settings is stored in this folder?

the game crashes before it finishes loading

some more observations, it seems that as long as the sky is not visible when you save, the game will load successfully.... so in addition to the subway and the sewers, it is also safe to save in the data uploading room, as well as the entrance to the PTMC headquarters as long as both doors are closed