First step was the full reverse to assembler, second step is to convert the assembler to binary equal compiled C code, all this still on DOS until no assembler code is left, then the porting to Linux,Windows will start
Reversing tends to bring in new bugs and its not easy to find all bugs in such old and reversed code - but so far everything seems to work
try finding open bugs if you got version 451.03 of F-15 around combined with Dosbox or a real DOS
I’m not sure you should beat yourself up too much for a Linix* port, emulators are so well supported and ubiquitous, if it works there (not everything does), call it a win!
its mostly the combined work of AJenbo, neuviemeporte and others - my part is very small, fixing some compilation problems with newer compilers and spreading the news
C source needs to get compiled on every platform reachable - that is a must :)
You could do “clean room engineering” approach where the reversing agent generates a specification from its findings, and then have a separate agent reimplement the code without seeing the original binaries/code.
You’d just have to make sure the specification doesn’t include actual source snippets (the AI will try this if you don’t specify). Pseudo code would be sufficient I guess where necessary.
Unless you develop your AI agent from scratch or you clone a never-released game, it would be extremely easy for the rightholders to claim that both agents have most certainly ingested the binary during their training phase, since it's well known that the hyperscalers have pirated everything that could be pirated to train their LLMs. Which is why malus.sh is a parody, not a real service.
One should be honest about what one builds. The F-15 project does that: the aim is the reconstruction of the original game, down to the opcodes; on the other hands it requires the user to provide the original game assets.
Oh, this was one that I played a lot as a kid! (Alongside F-19 Stealth Fighter, F-117A Nighthawk Stealth Fighter - the two that apparently came before and after this game - TIL, and to a lesser extent F-14 Tomcat)
I think, this needs the original game files to run, if I read things correctly. So probably just gonna read the dev journals, rather than fly this particular bird again...
Does AI fit well in trying to reason about the structure of a decompiled project when you lack symbol names?
This isn’t my wheelhouse but I was surprised just how well AI could figure out the intent of the structure of some JavaScript where I had no source maps.
Many hours expended on building up doppler maps in flight to use to shoot SLAMs with. An excellent sim along with Digital Integrations' Tornado which really needs a reboot.
If it's the game I'm thinking of, floppy copies were going around my middle school in France at the time but this was a game that without the manual, good luck even getting the plane off the ground. I seem to recall a mode where you started out in the air. Fun times.
Playable DOS version available
First step was the full reverse to assembler, second step is to convert the assembler to binary equal compiled C code, all this still on DOS until no assembler code is left, then the porting to Linux,Windows will start
Reversing tends to bring in new bugs and its not easy to find all bugs in such old and reversed code - but so far everything seems to work
try finding open bugs if you got version 451.03 of F-15 around combined with Dosbox or a real DOS
find latest DOS release here: https://github.com/neuviemeporte/f15se2-re/releases
the f15_se2-*.zip file contains the replacement executables for the DOS game
The airforce needs YOU!
Nice work!
I’m not sure you should beat yourself up too much for a Linix* port, emulators are so well supported and ubiquitous, if it works there (not everything does), call it a win!
I use Lutris (https://lutris.net/) for its ease of use.
I can see your a “low level mahn” and this may be more of a quest for you than playing a cool retro game.
Any which way, GREAT WORK!!!!
its mostly the combined work of AJenbo, neuviemeporte and others - my part is very small, fixing some compilation problems with newer compilers and spreading the news
C source needs to get compiled on every platform reachable - that is a must :)
I'm currently reverse engineering a few games too. It's quite easy with AI now. But I'm worried about the legality of it all. Any thoughts on this?
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Oh yes, of course. I was talking about reverse engineering the code only. Requiring the official assets is a no-brainer.
Largely it is legal, but it's complicated. https://www.eff.org/issues/coders/reverse-engineering-faq
You could do “clean room engineering” approach where the reversing agent generates a specification from its findings, and then have a separate agent reimplement the code without seeing the original binaries/code.
You’d just have to make sure the specification doesn’t include actual source snippets (the AI will try this if you don’t specify). Pseudo code would be sufficient I guess where necessary.
Unless you develop your AI agent from scratch or you clone a never-released game, it would be extremely easy for the rightholders to claim that both agents have most certainly ingested the binary during their training phase, since it's well known that the hyperscalers have pirated everything that could be pirated to train their LLMs. Which is why malus.sh is a parody, not a real service.
One should be honest about what one builds. The F-15 project does that: the aim is the reconstruction of the original game, down to the opcodes; on the other hands it requires the user to provide the original game assets.
> it would be extremely easy for the rightholders to claim that both agents have most certainly ingested the binary during their training phase
Ingested the binary?
Just no, this isn't a thing at all.
If they try to claim that then they need proof, right? Good luck getting that.
Yeah, that approach makes the most sense.
It’s ridiculously easy to port games now.
https://robin.tooclever.org took less than a day in API time
Oh, this was one that I played a lot as a kid! (Alongside F-19 Stealth Fighter, F-117A Nighthawk Stealth Fighter - the two that apparently came before and after this game - TIL, and to a lesser extent F-14 Tomcat)
I think, this needs the original game files to run, if I read things correctly. So probably just gonna read the dev journals, rather than fly this particular bird again...
The dev blog is one of the best retro-reversing journals you can find. Happy reading!
Aren't these names trademarked? I can imagine lockheed selling the rights for a side income lol
Same as for any game that uses real car brands or gun manufacturers, quite a few of these companies are willing to license for certain types of game
Does AI fit well in trying to reason about the structure of a decompiled project when you lack symbol names?
This isn’t my wheelhouse but I was surprised just how well AI could figure out the intent of the structure of some JavaScript where I had no source maps.
Yes it's very helpful
Many hours expended on building up doppler maps in flight to use to shoot SLAMs with. An excellent sim along with Digital Integrations' Tornado which really needs a reboot.
I never played this, but I did play Janes F/A-18, was a great game
Is this game similar to retaliator?
Afaik Retaliator is more arcade.
Man I loved this game. My friend and I would split responsibility and share the keyboard. One did the firing other the navigating
I've played this game so much on a Laser (Dutch computer brand) 286 with VGA monochrome screen, in the early '90s.
If it's the game I'm thinking of, floppy copies were going around my middle school in France at the time but this was a game that without the manual, good luck even getting the plane off the ground. I seem to recall a mode where you started out in the air. Fun times.
I posted this to twosopbts.com so that one more retro gaming community will know of the call
> twosopbts.com
I'm not getting DNS NX results.
https://twostopbits.com/item?id=9081