Descent 3
                              Patch  1.4.0a
                              Sept 26, 2000


This patch for Descent 3 for Linux contains the following
improvements upon version 1.4.0 of the game:

  - If the default libGL or user-specified libGL fails to load, 1.4.0a will
    try libGL.so.1 as a last resort...
  - Other minor GL tweaks.
  - The tech support number listed with --help has changed.
  - Added Jeff Slutter (Outrage) and Mark Bainter (beta tester) to the
    in-game credits.
  - Fix to allow Mercenary movies to play.
  - Multitexture fix: Whether the user requested multitexture extensions or
    not, and whether the game expected to find them or not, Descent 3 would
    try to load them, and would abort when it couldn't. Now Descent 3 only
    attempts to find the extension's symbols if needed.
  - Support for the COBRA chair. (--cobra on the command line).
  - Support for foreign keyboards. There are some 90+ keys (the SDL
    "world" keys) that are now available for use in Descent3.
  - The game now makes idle calls while waiting for a new CD to be inserted,
    so it won't eat up all available processor time.
  - Added "--timetest" and "--fastdemo" options for benchmarking.
  - Added "--tempdir" option for a few odd cases.
  - Newer SDL used, which fixes some various issues.
  - DRI-based systems no longer automatically crash.
  - Gamma support. Systems with xgamma support can change the game's
    brightness in the video options section off the main menu.
  - Added option to play at 1152x864 resolution. (You're welcome, Metz.)
  - Startup menu checks the rendering speed, and if it's too slow, the game
    aborts with a polite message explaining what's up.
  - Missions can now be placed in $HOME/.loki/descent3/missions/, and they
    will be detected with the other missions, and can be loaded.
  - Some people had problems with CD-ROM drives and strange directories
    being created. This is fixed.
  - Other minor fixes and tweaks.


IMPORTANT NOTES

This version should NOT break compatibility with the Windows clients and
servers. Save game, demo, and other file formats have not changed, either.


INSTALLING THIS PATCH

Either use the Loki Update Tool, or manually install the patch by
typing "sh <patchfile>" at the command line:

        $ sh descent3-1.4.0a-x86.run


CONTACTING LOKI SOFTWARE, INC.

For information about this and other products, visit our website at:
http://www.lokigames.com/

Technical support is available from Loki Software, Inc. at:

    FAQ:      http://faqs.lokigames.com/
    Website:  http://fenris.lokigames.com/
    Email:    support@lokigames.com
    Phone:    1-714-508-2140
              Telephone support is available between 9 A.M. and 5 P.M. PST

You can also communicate with other Descent 3 enthusiasts at:
Usenet: news://news.lokigames.com/loki.games.descent3


SPECIAL THANKS

- the beta crew
- andy mecham, finder of my printf debugging artifacts
- mike phillips, frenetic cyborg techie
- matt matthews, for unwitting patch testing under the mask of benchmarking

// end of README-1.4.0a ...