Redguard:Extracting game data

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While Redguard can be played with DOSBox, the game's data files can only be extracted with a Windows-based installer. This article attempts to act as a how-to for extracting said files with alternative tools so those unable or unwilling to use the installer can nevertheless access the files contained within the installation archive and get off on the right foot playing Redguard in DOSBox.

In Linux

Linux systems vary wildly in their make-up, and thus it is impossible to tailor this article to every possible set-up. Instead, this guide will assume, for the sake of simplicity, a typical system with common tools (namely either apt-get or yum) and adequately-populated software repositories. This guide also assumes DOSBox is already set up properly with game files kept under ~/DOS/ and assumes the Redguard install disc is mounted at /media/cdrom/.

If this guide does not work for you, consult your operating system documentation and search the Web before asking for help here.

Using unshield

unshield is a terminal-based tool for extracting InstallShield archives. Thus, you will first need to open a terminal window. Some sort of terminal emulator is usually installed by default, such as xterm, kterm or gnome-terminal.

1. Open a terminal window.
2. Install unshield:
   • sudo apt-get install unshield (for APT)
   • sudo yum install unshield (for yum)
3. Create a temporary directory for Redguard and change to it: mkdir ~/redguard && cd ~/redguard
4. Extract the Redguard data files: unshield -g "Common Files" x /media/cdrom/DATA1.CAB
5. Copy the Redguard executables: cp /media/cdrom/Rg*.exe ./Common_Files/
6. Move data to DOSBox directory: mv Common_Files ~/DOS/redguard
7. Clean up: cd .. && rmdir redguard

NOTE: This method extracts both the software and Glide versions of Redguard. Users wishing to save space may wish to remove the artwork directory for the version they do not intend to use: "3dart" contains the software renderer files and "fxart" contains the Glide files.

In Mac OS X

This guide will assume, for the sake of simplicity, DOSBox is already set up properly with game files kept under ~/DOS/ and assumes the Redguard install disc is mounted at /Volumes/Redguard/.

Using unshield

1. Download and install unshield.
2. Open Terminal.app (/Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app).
3. Create a temporary folder for Redguard and change to it: mkdir ~/redguard && cd ~/redguard
4. Extract the Redguard data files: unshield -g "Common Files" x /Volumes/Redguard/DATA1.CAB
5. Copy the Redguard executables: cp /Volumes/Redguard/Rg*.exe ./Common_Files/
6. Move data to DOSBox data folder: mv Common_Files ~/DOS/redguard
7. Clean up: cd .. && rmdir redguard

NOTE: This method extracts both the software and Glide versions of Redguard. Users wishing to save space may wish to remove the artwork folder for the version they do not intend to use: "3dart" contains the software renderer files and "fxart" contains the Glide files.

In Windows

For simplicity's sake this guide assumes DOSBox is already set up, that game data files are kept in C:\Documents\DOS\ and that your CD/DVD drive is D:.

Using i5comp

1. Download i5comp and extract it to somewhere in the path (e.g. C:\Windows\).
2. Open a terminal window: press Win-R and run cmd.
3. Create directory for Redguard and switch to it: md "C:\Documents\DOS\redguard" && cd /d "C:\Documents\DOS\redguard"
4. Extract common files: i5comp x -r -g"Common Files" D:\data1.cab
5. Copy executable and extract art files:
   • copy D:\rg.exe && i5comp x -r -g"Xngine Art" D:\data1.cab (for software renderer)
   • copy D:\rgfx.exe && i5comp x -r -g"3DFX Art" D:\data1.cab (for Glide renderer)