Discovery of Far Cry Development Build
- Over the weekend, a significant discovery was made on the original Xbox subreddit regarding a development kit containing a debug build of Far Cry for the original Xbox.
- This information was shared by a Reddit user named New Strategy 5261, who stated that they had acquired an Xbox development kit and found the Far Cry build on it.
- The user noted that the build lacks audio and experiences frame rate drops when viewing trees.
- After being contacted by multiple individuals interested in preserving the game, the user reached out to the video creator via Twitter to facilitate the preservation process.
- As a result, the development build of Far Cry is now preserved and available on archive.org and is also being sent to the Hidden Palace.
Preservation of Game Files
- In addition to preserving the executable and game files for Far Cry, the hard drive image was also fully backed up, which is significant for potential recovery of deleted or hidden files.
- A preliminary examination of the hard drive revealed additional executables for the game, although they were found to be corrupted.
- The preservation of the hard drive image raises the possibility of uncovering more hidden files, which may provide further insights into the game's development.
Technical Specifications and Compatibility
- This development build is designed to run exclusively on an Xbox with 128 MB of RAM, which poses limitations for standard retail units.
- Testing on a development kit was successful, but the build could not be launched on a standard retail unit without modifications.
- However, it was noted that retail units with a RAM mod could potentially run the build.
- For those without compatible hardware, the build can be run using the Xbox emulator known as ZMU, along with the preserved hard drive image.
- Running the build via emulation may result in graphical issues that do not occur on original hardware.
Gameplay Features and Performance
- The build represents an early development stage of the game, showcasing a vertical slice with four separate levels and additional test levels, although one level crashes upon launch.
- A multiplayer option is included, allowing players to create matches and potentially free roam around maps, although system link functionality was untested.
- Performance metrics indicate that frame rates can drop significantly in certain areas, particularly near water and trees, as shown by the on-screen FPS counter.
- The game operates at the Xbox's native 480p progressive mode, contributing to its visual fidelity despite performance issues.
Comparison with Far Cry Instincts
- There is a common misconception that this build is simply a version of Far Cry Instincts, which was released for the original Xbox in 2004, but there are notable differences between the two.
- Far Cry Instincts is more narrative-driven with set objectives, while this build retains the open-world sandbox elements of the original Far Cry.
- Evidence supporting the notion that this is a distinct Far Cry game includes the presence of specific weapons and enemy models that differ from those found in Instincts.
- The build's size is approximately 1.6 GB, and its folder structure resembles that of modded Far Cry games, indicating a connection to the original title.
Development Timeline Insights
- The timestamp on the executable file header of this build indicates it was created on October 27, 2005, which is after the retail release of Far Cry Instincts in September 2005.
- This timeline suggests that the development of this build may have been an attempt to port the original Far Cry to the Xbox after the Instincts release.
- The debug file name, Far_Cry_xbox.exe, further supports this theory of an attempted port rather than a simple rehash of Instincts.
- The discussion also raises questions about whether the limitations of the original Xbox's hardware influenced the decision to pivot towards a game like Far Cry Instincts instead of a full open-world adaptation.
Importance of Hard Drive Preservation
- Preserving the entire hard drive image is crucial because it allows for the recovery of deleted or hidden files, which can provide further context about the game's development.
- The tool FATX Recover can be used to analyze Xbox hard drive images and recover files, including hidden or deleted content.
- While a specific folder related to Far Cry Instincts was found empty, the tool managed to recover two additional Xbox executables for Far Cry, though they were corrupted.
- There is potential for discovering more interesting files within the hard drive image, including those in the save partition.
Recommendations for Xbox Hardware Owners
- For those with Xbox hardware looking to back up their hard drive, the OGXBDM dumper tool is recommended for creating a complete hard drive image.
- This image can then be analyzed using FATX Recover to extract necessary files and conduct deep scans for any recoverable deleted content.
- Links to both FATX Recover and OGXBDM dumper tools are provided in the description for those interested in utilizing them.
Community Acknowledgment and Outreach
- The video creator expressed gratitude to the original Xbox subreddit community for bringing the discovery to their attention and for facilitating the preservation efforts.
- The creator also encouraged anyone with access to Xbox development kits to reach out for assistance in preserving their builds.
- The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to engage with the content by liking and subscribing for future updates.
