“Need For Speed III: Hot Pursuit” is the first 3D game of my life. When I've seen the game first time, I was extremely amazed because I'd never seen 3D games before. It was in 2000. I can't count hours which I've spent in the Split Screen mode with my cousin. And the music... it's so awesome, so I'd recorded it on an audio cassette, and listened it hundreds of times.
And now, years later, I had tried to play this game. But the game refused to run on modern hardware. So, I had tried to investigate how to fix it. I had a little carried away by this. As the result I've created an impressive patch. 25000+ lines of assembly code, 150+ days of reverse-engineering and coding, 40 sheets of A4 paper were covered with writing during development, a huge list of changes...
Hometown in widescreen resolution
Key Features
- Full widescreen and HD resolutions support. You can easily use resolutions like 1920×1200. Now the game supports all aspect ratios from the 5:4 to 16:9, inclusive 4:3 and 16:10. HUD will be adopted automatically for every aspect ratio.
- Improved graphics. No more cars with non-rotating wheels, better textures and models for other's cars (original game reduces size of textures even on maximum graphics settings), better graphics in the rear view, etc.
- New graphics settings: Rear View Detail (High/Medium/Low), Rear View Camera From (In Car Camera/Active Camera, it decreases the blind spot), Fog (On/Off, like in the NFS4), Wide View Angle setting (useful for the widescreen resolutions).
- Fog effect and light beams support in DirectX 6/7 (they were exclusive effects for the 3dfx Voodoo).
- Portability. All system settings are loaded from the ini file. No more registry!
- Compatibility. Most problems with modern Windows were fixed. Full support of multi-core processors. Original game can work properly only on one core. This change dramatically improves performance of the nGlide and the dgVoodoo.
- Alt+Tab support. You can safely minimize the game when nGlide or dgVoodoo driver is used.
- Built-in screenshoter. Just press Print Screen key, and a screenshot will be saved into the screenshots subdirectory in the JPG/PNG/BMP format.
- Improved keyboard support in the menu. Now it is much more consistent. You can also use the Tab and Shift+Tab to switch between elements.
- Better modding abilities. The game doesn't crash when high-poly cars are used. Also it possible to use huge textures up to 2048×2048 (original limit was 256×256).
- Optimizations. 10 times faster gameplay loading on modern systems. To skip loading animation just press any key.
- Bugfixes. More than 200 changes at all!
Screenshots
Before and after: cars have better textures, side mirrors don't disappear
How to install
- Copy FEDATA and GAMEDATA directories from the NFS3 CD to a new empty directory.
- Extract contents of the nfs3_modern_patch.7z (1.6MB) into that directory with replacement of files.
- Done!
Join our Telegram group chat!
Join this Telegram group chat. You also can find other NFS3 fans for network multiplayer games.
If you are a server, ports 1030 and 9803 have to be accessible from the network, so you have to add the appropriate permit rule in your firewall for the nfs3.exe and configure a port forwarding properly. If you're a client, port forwarding isn't required.
Plans
Donated: $270.
Status: suspended.
Planned features:
- [Done]
Sharp fonts and other elements in menus on D3D renderers, just like when Glide renderers are used. - [Done]
The problem with visible black polygons (e.g. near the Old Church) on the DX7 renderer will be solved. - [Done]
Movies support for the DX8 renderer. - [Done]
32bpp rendering for movies. Menu will also work in 32bpp video mode and it will look better. Now it works in 16bpp. - Simple windowed mode for the DX6/DX7/DX8 renderers. It will be possible to enable it using ini file.
- Investigation about how to add an ability to restore minimized game when it works in fullscreen mode.
- Separate “Frame Size” and “Frame Cropping” graphics settings instead of the current combined one.
- Rewriting of the code which uses the mouse cursor in the exclusive mode. The game will use the default system behavior of the mouse cursor. It will solve many small problems with the mouse cursor in this game. For example, your cursor will be able to leave the window of the game (when it works in a window) without pressing any keys. Also it will solve problems with mouse lagging on some computers.
- Solving of the problems with loading of ghost and replay files from other players (when the other player has a little bit different set of cars in his game).
- An optional ability to change structure of the game directories using the ini file. It may be useful for modding. It will be more flexible than the install.win from the original versions. For example, you will be able to move all save files to some separate directory (e.g. "savedata").
- An optional ability to load a thrash driver from the root directory, as it was in the original version of the game.
These features are planned for the v1.6.1, v1.6.2 and v1.6.3. A beta version is here.
Man, AVG hates the nfs3.exe thinking it's a virus. After installing it on my XP Dual-boot and not being detected as a virus, I tried the patch on my Windows 7 Main OS and instead, AVG detects it as a virus. Just wow. But, most likely it's just a false positive (meaning that it's totally safe) I'm positive because I use this website called VirusTotal and it checks the files you given and checks the ratings of the file based on the Antivirus ratings. Here's the report that I got and it reports that nfs3.exe (The one provided with the patch) is 100% safe. It even says that AVG detects it as safe! https://www.virustotal.com/en/file/07e987193ebeb4b30ac3912f90d8b98f2a34b37632dbad232ecfcea12fdb7c0a/analysis/
When I restart the race, the sound effects disappear. I can only hear the background music and the caster. When I change the audio in the main menu, sometimes it works, but when I restart the race the sound effects (engine) are gone again. Also, if I change the volume while in-game, the changes are not saved. Video example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uVRl6s6ZrM (It's not mine)
Gergely, I can't reproduce it. Can you record a video with demonstration of the problem?
Maybe the author of the video just disabled sound effects.
Oh, sorry, my bad. I use F9 to record a video, and I just checked the options in need for speed, and turns out F9 is also the hotkey for deactivating sound effects. Sorry for causing you trouble
First of all, thank you very much for this patch. It allows me to play my favourite NFS game even in my crappy netbook, and it allows me to go crazy with my mods with little to no performance penalty on my old desktop PC. I'm starting modding again thank you this patch.
I do have a couple of request/suggestions that I don't know if they are possible, but if it is possible, you're the man for doing it. Is it possible to remove the medium, low and tiny detail objecrs requeriment to have funtional pop-up lights? For example, stock NFS4 doesn't require your car's FCE (3D model) medium and low detail objects to show the pop-up lights. However, in NFS3 you have to put medium, small and tiny detail objets. This is a problem because it raises the total polycount of the object. I know it's not a huge deal anymore since your patch allows you to use more memory, but it can help since it doesn't have to load a lot of unused parts.
Is it possible to improve the 3D models with moving parts just like NFS2 SE does? For example, in NFS2 the McLaren raises its spoiler at high speeds (even different angles at different speeds in a 97s game!) and braking. However, in NFS3 this is not possible, even though Scighera has a moving spoiler and side intakes. Another feature that NFS2 has that NFS3 doesn't is the option of digital car's dashboard.
Is it possible to make the game use a new image for back viewing on inside's camera? Pretty much like NFS5 does, but using an image. Maybe theese perks could get loaded from a separate file to retain backwards compatibility or maybe I'm just talking bullcrap, but theese features would revitalize the game even more than you already did.
Is it possible to make the game actually add more tracks instead of just replacing them?
Sorry if this request/suggestion bombarding get's annoying to you. I just want to say again that thank you very much for doing this! You're already doing magic on this game. I would happily aid you if I knew something about coding. (I can do a hello world at least :p)
@VEG Hey, I have one question about nGlide. I already have it installed it and I also ran NFS 3 Modern Edition so if I uninstall it now, will NFS 3 Modern Edition work properly still or will it not run until I install nGlide again? And also, is it fine if I delete the patches for the other Glides such as dgVoodoo, etc. since I don't use dgVoodoo and only use nGlide? Thanks in advanced!
@VEG Hi! I love what you've done with this version. I only have one problem. All the menu's still display in 640x480 and the game itself in 1920x1080. Now, for playing this is not a problem... but for recording it is. I like to record my gameplay, but when I record either the game crashed (during loading) or it records everything in 640x480. Is there a way to stretch the menu's to 1920x1080 or something? Hope to hear from you!
If you run on nGlide, you can force the resolution and refresh rate from the configurator.
thanks a lot man. appreciate you
Holy tamales! This game was my absolute childhood alongside Age of Empires II. Sadly both perform really badly, if at all, on Win7. I bought AoE HD on Steam so I could play it on modern systems but all my previous attempts to play NFS would end up with a really unstable, crash-happy game with NO MUSIC! Unacceptable! So I finally found this today and it works beautifully, with widescreen support and, most importantly, THE MUSIC PLAYS! This is so wonderful, thank you so much! This is incredible work! <3
Hi VEG, any plans for version 1.5.4? You mentioned to add a bit wider proportions for the cars.
Hello, I'm running Windows 7 but don't know where to put the new folder.
Many thanks
Lloyd
Walter, everything is possible, but such features require enormous amount of time for implementation without the source code.
NawtchyM19/NotchMC, Modern Patch uses own copy of the nGlide. You can remove all unused renderes in the "drivers" directory.
Predatorace, set NGLIDE_RESOLUTION=1 and NGLIDE_ASPECT=1 in the ./drivers/nglide/thrash.ini, it will solve your problem with recording.
Tuurngait, you can download a new beta version here: http://veg.by/files/nfs3/nfs3_modern_patch_beta.7z
1. Extract all files to game directory with replacement of files.
2. Open pause, Head-Up Display → Positions..., and press Reset.
It includes Automatic View Angle (FOV H+, as you asked) and much more accurate vertical view angle.
Lloyd, you can put it in any place. You can even use your desktop :)
Hey VEG, this is great! I will test this new features tomorrow. Thank you again for your excellent work!!!
Okay, I tested your new beta and the proportions are definitely better. There is just one thing I dislike. The cockpit camera is higher so that some parts of the cockpit (the beautiful Lamborghini emblem of the Diablo, or parts of the speedometer of the F355) are missing. The other camera views are much better than before!
@Tuurngait: Did you know you can change the driversposition using fcefinish.Open your dash.fce and go to dummies.
Tuurngait, maybe I'll add some extended settings for the “In Car Camera” in next versions. I have some ideas about it, but time is very limited at the moment, so it will not be soon.
Thank you VEG to mention this and for your plans to add new extensions later.
Thank you for your excellent upgrade VEG - without going into much detail, I can safely say that you have made it possible for us to rediscover this magnificent game and provided us with many, many days of excellent multiplayer fun.
There are a couple of things me and my friends would like to ask you about, though - just how difficult it would be for you to look at the following aspects of the game and fix them. We are already extremely happy with what you have created, but if these would actually be an option, they would make great improvements to the game.
1. Number of laps: Currently, you are limited to 2, 4 or 8 laps per race. What if you could set any number between 2 and 8, like 5 or 6? Adding this option might not be too difficult, but it might cause issues with the track records, so that might be a problem...
2. Number of (npc?) vehicles: Currently, you can't play full grid on Hot Pursuit, and playing Hot Pursuit in multiplayer with 5 players, all as racers makes no real sense because npc police cars will be limited to a few (3?) vehicles only. It would be great if this limit could be raised so that there would be more police officers in general. This might be a lot more difficult, but we can always hope - and this issue might also be related to why you can't select Full Grid opponents in Hot Pursuit mode.
3. Number of traffic vehicles: Traffic seems to be unrelated to the issue above, they appear to be handled under a different counter. Having an "extra traffic" mode would be a lot of fun, similar to the "RUSHHOUR" cheat code, which, unfortunately, doesn't seem to do what it claims to, at least to me.
4. Default npc police officer: The default Corvette is a good all-arounder, but it is just way too slow for fun in A and even B class races. Now you can replace the corvette by overwriting its folder in GameData\CarModel\traffic\ with another police car, like the Diablo or El Nino even, but doing that for all players in multiplayer is just tedious. If there was some solution to select a different default officer (perhaps by redirecting the game to load the car from a different folder), that would add a whole new dimension to the game.
Please understand that we are already extremely happy with the modifications you have provided - we don't want to give you extra work, but we see this as a unique and special opportunity to fix all the little shortcomings this magnificent game had (and you have already fixed 90% of everything).
Thank you for your great work!
Oh sorry, forgot to mention this one:
5. It would be great to have "Unrestricted" modes for multiplayer knockouts and tournaments as well.
Thanks again for your time :)
Fantastic...
@VEG: What? You are doing all this WITHOUT a disassembly? Are you doing all this on HEX hacking? Are you some kind of god then? I suggested all that beccause I assumed that you had a disassembly for making all those changes.
Walter, I disassembled and replaced only some parts of the code.
Tuurngait, I've added an ability to revert old vertical position, using Frame Size setting. Choose Frame Size: Full, Shifted.
Modern Patch v1.6.0 [2016/09/22]
I'd like to mention that this release was sponsored by Russian users of this patch on donate page.
Does this Modern Patch include all of the addon cars and added traffic cars from Rejzor here: https://rejzor.wordpress.com/nfs3-patch/
Because that would be great if it did. Thank you for all of your work on this project. Also is this the best option when installing this game on Windows 7?
Also what is the best installer for this game?
Because there are many installers out there, here are a few:
http://www.nfsplanet.de/en/nfs3/files/
Vista & Windows 7 Installer: https://rejzor.wordpress.com/nfs3-patch/
This installer includes your patch: http://www.replaying.de/files/need-for-speed-iii-patch-windows-vista-7-8-1-x64/
If you could tell me which is the best or most updated one, that would be great!
Also I have Windows 7 Professional, I could install it using Windows XP mode and then copy the files over to Windows 7. Then install using the Modern Patch by applying to all of the files. I think this would be the best strategy for installing.
NFS III Fan, Modern Patch doesn't add any new content. So, no new cars or new tracks. Only original gameplay with a lot of bugfixes and nice new settings. If you wish to add some new cars, you can do it manually, as in the original version of the game.
Modern Patch is intended for using on all Windows versions, from Windows 98 to Windows 10. Some of retro gamers use it even on Windows 98, all my fixes compatible with it =) So, it will work on Windows 7 also.
The game doesn't need installation, it is fully portable now. Just follow the instructions =) Copy FEDATA and GAMEDATA to a new empty directory, and extract contents of the nfs3_modern_patch.7z into that directory.
The most updated version of the patch is always on this page. Rejzor's NextGen is based on the Modern Patch v1.4, but current version is Modern Patch v1.6. I don't know which version is used in the installer from the nfsplanet.de, but I think that it will be v1.5.3, because 1.6.0 was released only 2 days ago.
Alright! So I don't even need an installer, well maybe. Ok so I think that Rejzor's NextGen version still includes all of the bonus cars right? So theoretically I could install Rejzor's NextGen version of NFS 3 and then copy the files from your 1.6.0 patch and overwrite them. Would this work? Because I don't know where to get all of the cars that were added in Rejzor's packs manually. Thanks for all of your help.
NFS III Fan, as far as I can see, Rejzor's installer doesn't have official addon cars. You can download my Modern Bundle. It includes all official cars (inclusive addons), all official languages, Modern Patch v1.5.3, and nothing more. To upgrade it to v1.6.0 just extract nfs3_modern_patch.7z into game directory.
For addon cars I mean it has the traffic cars included and all official EA addon cars. Can you provide a direct link to your Modern bundle? Because I don't use Pirate Bay or torrents anymore. It's easier to just download off of Mediafire, and a lot safer too.
NFS III Fan, http://veg.by/files/nfs3/nfs3_modern_bundle.torrent
Is there any way you could upload the files to Mediafire or a dropbox for easy downloading. I don't like to use torrents, because they are a security risk. Don't know what computers they are downloading from. If you can't then I'll just download the addon cars manually.
NFS III Fan, BitTorent is a reliable technology for downloading large files. When you have a torrent file, you may be sure that only original files will be downloaded. This thing is smart enough to guarantee it.
I used to use BitTorrent, but since I got a virus from a torrent file that completely wrecked my last machine and deleted my system bios, I am not inclined to trust ANY torrent file. Better to be safe than sorry, especially in this day and age where hacking is on the incline. If you cannot reupload to Mediafire or some other FREE uploading service (Google Drive, Dropbox), then I will just use Rejzor's installer then or find the addon cars manually.
I mean common, it can't be that large, it's a game from 2000. It's got to be at least less than 3 GB, just re-upload it please. Most people will agree that torrent files are not safe and would prefer a single relatively SAFE download from Mediafire. I always scan files that come from any source. No more viruses for me Thank You.
NFS III Fan, it's not a problem of the technology. You can download a virus from any website with the same result. It doesn't mean that HTTP is dangerous, it just means that you had downloaded wrong file. The same with torrents. Some bad guy created a torrent with dangerous content, you had downloaded it. But it is not a problem of BitTorrent. I know that it is absolutely safe to download files using BitTorrent (when you have a proper torrent file), and I know why it is safe. And I'm not going to do some unnecessary things just because you are afraid of torrents. I have other things to do. Sorry.
Ok, that's fine, I won't argue with you. I will just download it elsewhere then. It's not the torrent file that I am concerned with, it is the peer-to-peer exchange between the files that can be harmful. This might change your mind about torrent files. Read this: https://www.techprobex.com/2014/05/torrents-are-harmful.html/
I am safe when downloading a file off the web, Mcafee Antivirus scans files while I download them. I cannot scan these files while downloading with BitTorrent. Security is not an unnecessary thing, it is a necessity. It is not paranoia when you care about your machine's security. Don't take it personally, I just don't trust people anymore. If you cannot EASILY upload to another file host service then I will download elsewhere. Thanks for your help with the patch info though.
That's fun when a guy without any experience in security and with weak experience in general PC usage tells me how to be secure =)
Ok, well have fun with your torrents. But don't say I didn't warn you. I was just like you once, until I realized how stupid I was downloading from torrents. You will learn your lesson someday. Anyhow, thanks for all your help and hopefully your patch doesn't have viruses too. I'll have to scan it thoroughly now, since you are acting kind of suspicious. Not uploading to a commonly used and SAFE download site like Mediafire and persuading people to use torrents is not being secure, it's just irresponsible.
Guy, as I said, I know how torrents work. If some guy uploads harmful software to the Mediafire, it is the same when he creates a torrent with this harmful software. It's not a problem of BitTorrent or HTTP, it's not a problem of technology.
There is nothing suspicious that I don't want to upload it somewhere else. I have slow internet (512kbit outbound) and I'm not going to waste two hours of my time just because some user are afraid of some technology for some imagined reason. But now you're wasting my time on senseless arguing about things that you do not understand. So, I'm off.
Denial . . .
It is not a imagined reason, I gave you proof that torrents are a POTENTIAL security risk. You are wasting your own time arguing against hard facts. I would call that sucpicious. In fact you are wasting my time with your bullshit. I don't care what you think about torrent files. I will NOT download torrent files, PERIOD. Your slow internet is no excuse for not uploading, go to the library, or buy yourself a Big Mac at Mcdonnlads and upload it there. There are plenty of outlets for FREE and FAST internet. If viruses are found on that MYSTICAL and supposedly ''SAFE'' torrent file, you could be held liable. I am just trying to protect my machine, I don't have time for your shitty attitude.
So for the last time, please upload a SAFE version on another file hosting service like Mediafire, or I'M OUT. To all of the user's reading this, DO NOT DOWNLOAD THE TORRENT FILE!!! You are opening your computer to possible hacking and viruses that could seriously damage your machine. I would also be very careful when installing this Modern patch. It is nice to know that your TIME is more valuable than the safety and security of our machines, asshole.
NFS III Fan, get out of my blog and please do not use my patch at all. Thanks.
Why? Hiding something? Still in denial? I know you are just going to delete these posts and try to hide it.
Need more proof?
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/pirate-bay-closure-security-nightmare-waiting-happen-priority/
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/9-easy-ways-virus/
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/dangers-torrents-70661.html
I don't appreciate insensitive assholes like you. Believe me if you are a hacker, you will be caught!
I don't even want to use your virus ridden shitty patch anyways! Thanks for nothing, Seriously F you.
HELP! I found a Trojan.Agent/Gen-Dropper in the Glide3X.dll!
Path: NFS3_Modern_Patch\Drivers\DGVoodo\Glide3X.dll
Virus Total Scan: https://www.virustotal.com/en/file/9b06129d8afcf934f51676f1b8ce3a240fbb5ee0723eaf5de27735516e051d54/analysis/1474742694/
http://www.mediafire.com/view/9i557q53rhdoo0f/Untitled.png
I scanned your patch with Super Anti-Spyware and Virus Total and it says it is a Trojan dropper. I took NFS III Fan's advice and I guess there really is a trojan.
Hopefully this is a false positive, don't want my system to get infected!!! :(
Joe, it's a false positive. drivers/dgvoodoo/glide3x.dll is a general dgVoodoo Napalm wrapper. You can obtain the same file here: http://dege.fw.hu/dgVoodoo2.html
Also it is not required and it will be not used if you're not using dgVoodoo renderer. nGlide renderer is used by default.
Oh, ok. So just in case I can remove it? Since I will be using nGlide by default.
Yes, you can remove it if you wish.
Okey Dokey Then. ;)
Thanks for all of your hard work! This is the best patch I have seen for NFS 3. Lots of added settings! Do you know when you are going to finish the NFS High Stakes patch? Because if you could update that patch, that would be great. Because I think Widescreen still isn't supported yet.
What does the dgvoodooconf.exe file do that is in the drivers dgvoodo folder? I don't think I need this file either, since Virus Total is finding 7 detections on it as well, what gives?
https://www.virustotal.com/en/file/e0aaadabd31519e4454dc274db36e374588e31aee1dc5e6b41a8a2106f4b5aa9/analysis/1474744936/
Joe, I've posted a link to the dgVoodoo's website. Is it hard to you to download latest version of dgVoodoo and check these files? It's just a configuration utility for the dgVoodoo.
dgVoodoo uses some tricks to have small executables. Some stupid AV software don't like such techniques. As the result we have false positives.
Just wondering that's all. Didn't want to download something I don't need. I probably will remove these files as well, correct? Since I will be using nGlide. This program wasn't in the other version of your patch by Rejzor.
Yes, you can remove it, as I said before. Rejzor's version uses old version of the patch, and I already had told you about it. So, it doesn't include all files of the latest version of the patch.