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Make quakespasm display in-game messages properly in new expansions?

Atanti-ql-Paneu · 9 Sep 2026 at 21:35 · permalink

I am playing the new Dawn of the Machine expansion on quakespasm, and just like with other MachineGames expansions, in-game messages (e.g. "This hall is easy mode" or intermission text) are improperly displayed (e.g. "$mg3_start__normal_hint"). Everything else works perfectly fine, I just don't know what affects this.

Dakota_Makoshi · 9 Sep 2026 at 21:36 · permalink

I can’t help but what I can say is it works on Ironwail if you’re willing to try that sourceport rather than Quakespasm

backlashgg · 9 Sep 2026 at 21:36 · permalink

This happened to me:

Make sure you’ve copied all of the files and folders from the updated re-release folder.

Also, look at the stickied thread in this forum because there are some tips relating to this issue (different source port but they still apply) - you will need to create a “localization” folder.

You will fix it but it’ll take a bit of tinkering.

Atanti-ql-Paneu · 9 Sep 2026 at 21:36 · permalink

From what I can tell, it pulls localization from the QuakeEX.kpf file; with other MG expansions, the text works normally if I put the right .kpf file in the basedir, but the same does not appear to be the case when I put in the new QuakeEX.kpf file (for Dawn of the Machine) instead. I can't tell why.

Fr33manMBSC · 9 Sep 2026 at 21:37 · permalink

DotM changed how the Quake rerelease handles text and localisation. QuakeEX.kpf is no longer used. All of the source ports need to be updated to support the rerelease (which includes supporting DotM). Ironwail has been publicly updated to work with the latest version of the rerelease, not sure about vkQuake yet.

Neinsprot · 9 Sep 2026 at 21:37 · permalink

The localization strings have been moved from QuakeEX.kpf file into rerelease\\id1\\pak0.pak

You have to wait until Quakespasm will be updated for this change or extract the localization .txt file manually

xKittyhawk · 9 Sep 2026 at 21:37 · permalink

It does? The build from last week didn’t work.

Dakota_Makoshi · 9 Sep 2026 at 21:38 · permalink

Working fine here, at least from the very little I tested

merenclktn35 · 9 Sep 2026 at 21:38 · permalink

That used to be true. Now the localisation is inside pak0.pak in the id1 folder.

Atanti-ql-Paneu · 9 Sep 2026 at 21:39 · permalink

SOLVED: As others have noted, localization is in the rereleased id1/pak0.pak, however quakespasm currently (v 0.95.1) does not support this file, so I extracted localization files in basedir/localization/ and now it works!

prostojr · 9 Sep 2026 at 21:39 · permalink

These instructions for playing Dawn of the Machine on Mac might also work for Quakespasm

https://swissmacuser.ch/macos-game-steam-quake-30th-anniversary-dawn-of-the-machine-mg3/

They should no longer be necessary for Ironwail since Ironwail has been updated to look in the pak file for the localization strings.