JJFFE

Latest Version
JJFFE 2.8

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About JJFFE

Binary Distribution Info
Source Distribution Info
Optional Files
Credits

What is JJFFE?

JJFFE is set of recompiled replacement executables for the 1995 Frontier Developments game Frontier: First Encounters. There are currently versions that run under Windows 95/98/ME, Windows 2000, Windows NT4, OS/2 and Linux. As well as running on many more operating systems than the original, JJFFE also includes minor improvements and bugfixes.

Credits

Credits go to Ralf Brown for writing the interrupt guide, the NASM people for the ndisasm source, NASM et al, Paul Roberts for Win2k and Win32 version testing, hints and DirectMusic code, Tom Ford and Jan Knutar for DOSEMU testing, Tom Morton for Linux version testing and info, Serguei 'Snaar' Narojnyi for Win32 framework and config file code, Mark Hetherington for symbol file work, Mark Larsen for Savage 4 testing and bugspotting, Peter Pablowski for HMP->MID conversion code and David Braben & co for writing the game.

Disclaimer

JJFFE is a hacked and reverse-engineered version of a commercial game, therefore it's probably illegal to download it even if you own the original legally. It will be removed rapidly if anyone complains. FFE has recently been re-released as shareware by Frontier Developments as part of the Elite Club.

Current versions

The current version of JJFFE for all platforms is 2.8. See the FAQ for information on which version to download for your operating system.

JJFFE version 2.8 files

  • Win32/DirectX5: Info Download
  • Win32/DirectX3: Info Download
  • DJGPP/Allegro: Info Download
  • DJGPP/HMI: Info Download
  • Source including Linux/Allegro: Info Download

Important

JJFFE is only a replacement executable and config files for FFE, not the complete game. It will run on its own, but will not have music, sound effects, journals or the cabin backgrounds for the larger ships. It should be unzipped over a complete FFE installation for full functionality. Note that if installing over the shareware version of FFE, you should extract into the directory containing mission.dat, not firstenc.bat. JJFFE should be run directly by running the new executable, not by running firstenc.bat.

The full shareware version of FFE can be obtained from the Elite Club site. This contains the music, sound effects, journal and cabin background files.
    

Binary distributions: (jjffexxb.zip)
dosjjffe20b.zip ffedos20.exe
ffedos.cfg
joycal16.exe
mouseacc.exe
setup.exe 
Replacement DOS executable for FFE
Example config file for the above
Joystick calibration file generator
Mouse accelerator (for raw DOS)
Hacked version of sound config program
daljjffe20b.zip ffedal20.exe 
ffedal.cfg
Replacement DOS/Allegro executable for FFE
Example config file for the above
winjjffe21b.zip ffewin20.exe
ffewin.cfg
Replacement Win32/DirectX executable for FFE
Example config file for the above
nt4jjffe21b.zip ffent20.exe
ffewin.cfg
Replacement WinNT4/DInput 3 executable for FFE
Example config file for the above
laljjffe20b.zip Not present, pending install of linux
Source distribution: (jjffexxs.zip)
  
ffemisc.c Miscellaneous C functions
ffecfg.c
ffecfg.h
Config file functions
ffeapi.h Low level API header
ffe.asm Decompiled source code
ffedat.asm
ffebmp.asm
Decompiled source data
srctools/ffesym.txt Symbol relations file by Mark Hetherington
srctools/ffedis.cpp  Decompiler source
srctools/convdata.cpp ASM binary to string data converter source
srctools/bmpconv.cpp BMP to ASM data converter source
srctools/funcloc.cpp Mapfile sorter source
alleg/allegapi.c
alleg/allegsnd.c
Source for Allegro API versions
dos/maccmain.c
dos/macc.asm 
Source for mouseacc.exe
dos/joycalib.cpp Source for joycal16.exe
dos/doshmi.asm
dos/dosinp.asm
dos/dossound.asm
dos/dostime.asm
dos/dosvid.asm
dos/dosapi.c
dos/dosdir.c
Source for DOS versions of API
linux/linuxdir.c  Source for Linux versions of API
linux/lnxconv.c Source for underscore converter
win32/win32api.h
win32/w32dir.cpp
win32/w32input.cpp
win32/w32sound.cpp
win32/w32time.cpp
win32/w32video.cpp
Source for Win32 versions of API
win32/w32inpnt.cpp Alternative NT4/DI3 input code
ffedos.cfg
ffedosal.cfg
ffelnxal.cfg
ffewin.cfg
Example config files for various versions
ffedos.mak
ffedal.mak
ffelal.mak
Makefiles for various versions
jjffew32.dsp
jjffew32.dsw
Project files for Win32 version
Optional FFE files not included in either distribution:
     
hmidet.386
hmidrv.386
hmimdrv.386
setup.ini
test.hmp
test.raw 
HMI Sound files only required for ffedos version.
music/*.hmp
music/*.mid
music/*.raw
music/*.hmp - MIDI files for ffedos version
music/*.mid - MIDI files for all other versions
music/*.raw - Digital sound files for all versions
data/*.avi
cabin%i.bmp
mission.dat
Bulletin board videos from CD version 
Background bitmaps
Journals file

.mid files can be obtained either by converting the original .hmp files or downloading the following file:

ffemidi.zip or ffemidi.zip 

Unzip the contents of this file into the music/ directory. All other files should come with an original version of FFE, but beware of older versions of the *.386 files and mission.dat.

 

Disclaimer

JJFFE is a hacked and reverse-engineered version of a commercial game, therefore it's probably illegal to download it even if you own the original legally. It will be removed rapidly if anyone complains. FFE has recently been re-released as shareware by Frontier Developments as part of the Elite Club.

Contact info

If you have problems with JJFFE, you should first check that you've installed it correctly and read the FAQ. If that doesn't solve your problem, you can email me at john@jaj22.demon.co.uk.

Alternatively you can find me on the newsgroup alt.fan.elite, the web forum EBBS or on the IRC channel #gamedev on irc.starchat.net.