SYSTEM.INI

Primary engine configuration file controlling rendering, gameplay, camera, dialog, debug, and 3D subsystem parameters.

Shipped sample path: /Redguard/SYSTEM.INI (e.g. .../GOG Galaxy/Redguard/Redguard/SYSTEM.INI).

File Structure

Standard Windows-style INI file with 10 sections:

[screen] — display resolution and palette settings
[system] — core engine paths, audio, physics, and HUD layout
[debug] — developer diagnostics and logging flags
[game] — gameplay physics thresholds and interaction radii
[cyrus] — player character movement and control parameters
[3dmanager] — 3D object cache and memory budget
[xngine] — renderer texture memory, clipping planes, and sky behavior
[camera] — camera rig offsets, distances, and glide factors for each mode
[dialog] — dialog menu layout and speech settings
[3dfx] — Glide/GOG-specific resolution and font scaling overrides

`[screen]`

Display mode and palette initialization settings.

Key	Default Value	Description
`candle_mode`	`2`	Candle/torch lighting mode index.
`colour_bits`	`8`	Color depth in bits per pixel (8 = paletted).
`resolution`	`1`	Software renderer resolution index.
`Palette_red`	`0`	Red component of the initial palette background color.
`Palette_green`	`0`	Green component of the initial palette background color.
`Palette_blue`	`0`	Blue component of the initial palette background color.
`smk_interlace`	`0`	Smacker video interlace mode. `0` = disabled.

`[system]`

Core engine paths, audio configuration, physics constants, HUD element positions, and subsystem enable flags.

world_ini and item_ini point to WORLD.INI and ITEM.INI respectively, which the engine loads for world and item definitions.

Key	Default Value	Description
`game_bitmap`	`system\powerup.gxa`	Path to the startup/powerup UI bitmap (GXA format).
`pointers`	`system\pointers.bmp`	Path to the cursor sprite sheet.
`system_font`	`fonts\redguard.fnt`	Path to the primary system font.
`icon_font`	`fonts\arialvs.fnt`	Path to the icon/small font.
`gui_font`	`fonts\arialbg.fnt`	Path to the main GUI font.
`gui_low_font`	`fonts\arialvb.fnt`	Path to the low-resolution GUI font.
`animation_drive`	`D:\`	Drive letter used for animation streaming.
`back_texture`	`0`	Background texture index. `0` = none.
`volume`	`255`	Master sound volume (0..255).
`sound`	`1`	Sound system enabled. `1` = on.
`fast_sound`	`1`	Fast sound mixing mode. `1` = on.
`fidelity`	`0`	Sound fidelity level.
`redbook`	`on`	CD audio (Red Book) playback enabled.
`redbook_volume`	`200`	CD audio volume level.
`sound_distance`	`64`	Maximum distance at which sounds are audible.
`post_collide_height`	`50`	Post-collision step height for ground snapping.
`hpost_collide_height`	`50`	Post-collision step height for hanging/climbing.
`pre_validate`	`no`	Pre-validate collision geometry on load.
`normal_frame_rate`	`12`	Target frame rate for normal gameplay.
`use_smooth_fps`	`yes`	Enable frame-rate smoothing.
`use_smooth_divisor`	`yes`	Enable frame-rate smoothing divisor.
`min_frame_rate`	`6`	Minimum allowed frame rate.
`max_frame_rate`	`300`	Maximum allowed frame rate.
`jump_time`	`6`	Duration of a jump in frames.
`jump_height`	`80`	Jump height in engine units.
`sphere_object_scale`	`256`	Scale factor for sphere collision objects.
`standing_height`	`-2`	Vertical offset for the player standing position.
`disable_text`	`yes`	Disable on-screen text rendering.
`disable_debug_text`	`yes`	Disable debug text overlay.
`normal_ink`	`1`	Normal ink/outline rendering mode.
`slide_range`	`-60000`	Slide detection range threshold.
`statics_load`	`yes`	Load static objects.
`flats_load`	`yes`	Load flat/billboard objects.
`objects_load`	`yes`	Load dynamic objects.
`lights_load`	`yes`	Load light objects.
`ropes_load`	`yes`	Load rope objects.
`task_system`	`yes`	Enable the task/AI system.
`animation_system`	`yes`	Enable the animation system.
`floating_point_physics`	`yes`	Use floating-point physics calculations.
`rtx_filename`	`ENGLISH.RTX`	Path to the dialogue/voice container file.
`world_ini`	`WORLD.INI`	Path to the world definitions INI.
`item_ini`	`ITEM.INI`	Path to the item definitions INI.
`start_fade`	`on`	Fade in on game start.
`compass_xco`	`546`	Compass HUD element X coordinate.
`compass_yco`	`396`	Compass HUD element Y coordinate.
`candle_xco`	`12`	Candle HUD element X coordinate.
`candle_yco`	`8`	Candle HUD element Y coordinate.
`logbook_xco`	`540`	Logbook HUD element X coordinate.
`logbook_yco`	`20`	Logbook HUD element Y coordinate.
`pickup_xco`	`12`	Pickup prompt HUD element X coordinate.
`pickup_yco`	`386`	Pickup prompt HUD element Y coordinate.
`pickup_text_yco`	`436`	Pickup text HUD element Y coordinate.
`game_xco1`	`576`	Game UI element 1 X coordinate.
`game_yco1`	`6`	Game UI element 1 Y coordinate.
`game_xco2`	`576`	Game UI element 2 X coordinate.
`game_yco2`	`96`	Game UI element 2 Y coordinate.
`lock_windows`	`no`	Lock window position/size.
`disable_drive_check`	`yes`	Skip CD drive presence check on startup.
`disable_cpu_check`	`yes`	Skip CPU speed check on startup.
`disable_svga_check`	`yes`	Skip SVGA capability check on startup.
`report_machine`	`no`	Log machine hardware info on startup.
`max_active_objects`	`32`	Maximum number of simultaneously active objects.
`max_effects`	`32`	Maximum number of simultaneous particle effects.
`max_particles`	`512`	Maximum number of simultaneous particles.
`max_remap_objects`	`64`	Maximum number of palette-remapped objects.
`disable_effects`	`no`	Disable particle effects.

`[debug]`

Developer diagnostics, logging, and display flags. Most are disabled in the shipped build.

network_marker_file=g:\PROJECTS\REDGUARD\DEMO\NETWORK.MRK is a build-time artifact: a hardcoded developer machine path left in the shipped file.

Key	Default Value	Description
`final_version`	`1`	Marks this as a final/release build. Suppresses some developer output.
`enable_logs`	`0`	Enable runtime log file writing.
`map_log`	`no`	Log map loading events.
`console_error`	`yes`	Print errors to the console.
`software_interrupt`	`yes`	Enable software interrupt handling.
`software_break`	`yes`	Enable software breakpoint handling.
`attempt_recover`	`no`	Attempt to recover from errors rather than aborting.
`object_log`	`no`	Log object system events.
`video_log`	`no`	Log video/renderer events.
`node_marker`	`no`	Display navigation node markers.
`task_debug`	`no`	Enable task/AI debug output.
`memory_manager`	`0`	Memory manager debug level.
`monitor_object`	(empty)	Name of an object to monitor for debug output.
`display_masters`	`no`	Display master object markers.
`display_slaves`	`no`	Display slave object markers.
`display_edges`	`no`	Display edge/collision markers.
`ignore_errors`	`yes`	Continue running on non-fatal errors.
`disable_family`	`no`	Disable object family grouping.
`disable_master_slaves`	`no`	Disable master/slave object relationships.
`disable_slaves`	`no`	Disable slave objects.
`family_log`	`no`	Log object family events.
`script_log`	`no`	Log script execution events.
`show_manager`	`no`	Display the object manager overlay.
`display_node_map`	`no`	Display the navigation node map.
`display_nodes`	`no`	Display individual navigation nodes.
`display_markers`	`no`	Display world markers.
`network_marker_file`	`g:\PROJECTS\REDGUARD\DEMO\NETWORK.MRK`	Path to the network marker file. Build-time developer path; not used in the shipped game.
`object_system_log`	`no`	Log object system events.
`convert_static_angles`	`no`	Convert static object angles on load.
`def_checksum`	`yes`	Verify SOUP386.DEF checksum on load.
`render_log`	`no`	Log renderer events.
`idebug`	`0`	Interactive debug level.
`idebug_refresh`	`no`	Refresh interactive debug display each frame.
`memory_monitor`	`no`	Enable memory usage monitoring.

`[game]`

Gameplay physics thresholds, fall damage, and interaction radii.

Key	Default Value	Description
`fall_bounce_height`	`100`	Fall height (engine units) below which the player bounces without damage.
`fall_death_height`	`568`	Fall height at which the player dies.
`fall_hurt_height`	`300`	Fall height at which the player takes damage.
`fall_hurt_zap`	`10`	Damage amount applied at `fall_hurt_height`.
`slide_hurt_height`	`1024`	Slide distance at which the player takes damage.
`slide_hurt_zap`	`10`	Damage amount applied at `slide_hurt_height`.
`rope_jump_add`	`18`	Velocity added when jumping from a rope.
`rope_attach_angle`	`512`	Angle threshold for rope attachment (engine angle units).
`slide_speed`	`36`	Player slide speed in engine units per frame.
`rtx_pickup_override_time`	`24`	Duration (frames) of the pickup text override display.
`swim_depth`	`40`	Depth threshold for switching to swim mode.
`player_dead_time`	`3`	Time (seconds) before respawn after death.
`player_fall_dead_time`	`12`	Time (frames) before death is registered after a fatal fall.
`old_combat`	`off`	Use legacy combat system.
`lineup_distance`	`128`	Distance at which enemies line up for combat.
`dialog_radius`	`512`	Radius within which NPCs can initiate dialog.
`combat_sphere_scale`	`200`	Scale factor for combat hit sphere.

`[cyrus]`

Player character (Cyrus) movement, control, and camera-follow parameters.

Key	Default Value	Description
`sheath_sword_delay`	`6`	Frames before the sword auto-sheathes after combat.
`auto_defend`	`1`	Enable automatic defense. `1` = on.
`walk_mode`	`1`	Walk mode index.
`turn_speed`	`12`	Base turning speed.
`turn_max_speed`	`48`	Maximum turning speed.
`mouse_turn`	`0`	Mouse-driven turning. `0` = disabled.
`joy_tolerance`	`60`	Joystick dead-zone tolerance.
`camera_distance`	`200`	Default camera follow distance.
`tap_time`	`12`	Maximum frames between taps for a double-tap input.
`poly_push_units`	`16`	Distance (engine units) the player is pushed out of geometry on collision.
`auto_grab`	`off`	Automatically grab ledges and ropes.
`smooth_post_min`	`2`	Minimum smoothing steps for post-collision position.
`smooth_post_max`	`10`	Maximum smoothing steps for post-collision position.
`smooth_post_divisor`	`2`	Divisor for post-collision position smoothing.

`[3dmanager]`

3D object cache, memory budgets, and manager behavior.

Key	Default Value	Description
`buffer_kbytes`	`800`	Size of the 3D streaming buffer in kilobytes.
`heap_kbytes`	`22000`	Size of the 3D object heap in kilobytes.
`max_objects`	`255`	Maximum number of 3D objects loaded simultaneously.
`compress`	`1`	Enable compressed object loading. `1` = on.
`save_compressed`	`0`	Save objects in compressed form. `0` = off.
`cache_objects`	`yes`	Cache loaded 3D objects in memory.
`cache_lifetime`	`64`	Number of frames a cached object is retained after last use.
`dummy_manager`	`0`	Use a dummy (no-op) 3D manager. `0` = off.
`in_view_enabled`	`yes`	Enable in-view culling for 3D objects.
`shutdown_mode`	`yes`	Perform full shutdown cleanup on exit.

`[xngine]`

Renderer memory budgets, clipping planes, perspective settings, and sky behavior.

Key	Default Value	Description
`texture_kbytes`	`12000`	Texture memory budget in kilobytes.
`gfx_kbytes`	`256`	General graphics buffer size in kilobytes.
`front_plane`	`7`	Near clipping plane distance.
`back_plane`	`3800`	Far clipping plane distance.
`perspective_low_x`	`190`	Perspective correction X extent at low detail.
`perspective_low_y`	`190`	Perspective correction Y extent at low detail.
`perspective_med_x`	`400`	Perspective correction X extent at medium detail.
`perspective_med_y`	`400`	Perspective correction Y extent at medium detail.
`perspective_high_x`	`800`	Perspective correction X extent at high detail.
`perspective_high_y`	`800`	Perspective correction Y extent at high detail.
`perspective_ultra_x`	`800`	Perspective correction X extent at ultra detail.
`perspective_ultra_y`	`800`	Perspective correction Y extent at ultra detail.
`detail`	`8`	Renderer detail level.
`ambient_light`	`32`	Global ambient light level (0..255).
`screen_scale`	`256`	Screen-space scale factor.
`haze_depth`	`768`	Distance at which atmospheric haze begins.
`sky_disable`	`0`	Disable sky rendering. `0` = sky enabled.
`sky_move`	`1`	Enable sky scrolling. `1` = on.
`sky_xrotate`	`3`	Sky X-axis rotation speed.
`sky_yrotate`	`40`	Sky Y-axis rotation speed.
`game_detail`	`2`	In-game detail preset index.
`exclusion`	`0`	Exclusion zone rendering mode. `0` = off.

`[camera]`

Camera rig configuration for all gameplay modes: normal follow, combat, hanging, rope, and debug. Coordinates and angles use engine units. Floating-point glide factors control camera lag.

Key	Default Value	Description
`static_rope_threshold`	`5`	Velocity threshold below which a rope is considered static.
`obstacle_size`	`20`	Radius used for camera obstacle avoidance.
`camera_size`	`10`	Camera collision sphere radius.
`camera_scape_size`	`5`	Camera collision sphere radius in scape/exterior areas.
`target_offset_x`	`-6000`	Target point X offset from the player.
`target_offset_y`	`-14000`	Target point Y offset from the player.
`target_offset_z`	`0`	Target point Z offset from the player.
`offset_pos_x`	`0`	Camera position X offset.
`offset_pos_y`	`-14000`	Camera position Y offset.
`offset_pos_z`	`0`	Camera position Z offset.
`offset_angle_x`	`0`	Camera angle X offset.
`offset_angle_y`	`0`	Camera angle Y offset.
`offset_angle_z`	`0`	Camera angle Z offset.
`camera_distance`	`250`	Default follow camera distance.
`camera_min_distance`	`120`	Minimum allowed camera distance.
`camera_right_pos`	`5000`	Camera right-side position limit.
`camera_left_pos`	`5000`	Camera left-side position limit.
`camera_combat_angle_offset_x`	`134`	Combat camera X angle offset.
`camera_combat_angle_offset_y`	`245`	Combat camera Y angle offset.
`camera_combat_angle_offset_z`	`0`	Combat camera Z angle offset.
`camera_combat_distance`	`260`	Camera distance in combat mode.
`camera_hang_angle_offset_x`	`256`	Hanging camera X angle offset.
`camera_hang_angle_offset_y`	`0`	Hanging camera Y angle offset.
`camera_hang_angle_offset_z`	`0`	Hanging camera Z angle offset.
`camera_hang_distance`	`250`	Camera distance in hanging mode.
`camera_rope_max_vel`	`18000`	Maximum camera velocity when following a rope.
`camera_rope_angle_offset_x`	`96`	Rope camera X angle offset.
`camera_rope_angle_offset_y`	`128`	Rope camera Y angle offset.
`camera_rope_angle_offset_z`	`0`	Rope camera Z angle offset.
`camera_rope_distance`	`300`	Camera distance in rope mode.
`camera_rope_above_angle_offset_x`	`96`	Rope-above camera X angle offset.
`camera_rope_above_angle_offset_y`	`128`	Rope-above camera Y angle offset.
`camera_rope_above_angle_offset_z`	`0`	Rope-above camera Z angle offset.
`camera_rope_above_distance`	`300`	Camera distance in rope-above mode.
`camera_rope_above_aim_x`	`-512`	Rope-above camera aim X offset.
`camera_rope_above_aim_y`	`0`	Rope-above camera aim Y offset.
`camera_rope_above_aim_z`	`0`	Rope-above camera aim Z offset.
`camera_rope_below_angle_offset_x`	`96`	Rope-below camera X angle offset.
`camera_rope_below_angle_offset_y`	`128`	Rope-below camera Y angle offset.
`camera_rope_below_angle_offset_z`	`0`	Rope-below camera Z angle offset.
`camera_rope_below_distance`	`300`	Camera distance in rope-below mode.
`camera_rope_below_aim_x`	`512`	Rope-below camera aim X offset.
`camera_rope_below_aim_y`	`0`	Rope-below camera aim Y offset.
`camera_rope_below_aim_z`	`0`	Rope-below camera aim Z offset.
`camera_debug_angle_offset_x`	`128`	Debug camera X angle offset.
`camera_debug_angle_offset_y`	`256`	Debug camera Y angle offset.
`camera_debug_angle_offset_z`	`0`	Debug camera Z angle offset.
`camera_debug_distance`	`300`	Camera distance in debug mode.
`max_x_angle`	`1692`	Maximum camera X angle (engine angle units).
`min_x_angle`	`400`	Minimum camera X angle (engine angle units).
`max_vel`	`8000`	Maximum camera velocity.
`max_y_vel`	`5000`	Maximum camera Y-axis velocity.
`max_acc`	`5000`	Maximum camera acceleration.
`player_control_x_inc`	`70`	Player-controlled camera X increment per frame.
`player_control_y_inc`	`-70`	Player-controlled camera Y increment per frame.
`glide_x`	`0.9`	Camera position X glide (lag) factor.
`glide_y`	`0.2`	Camera position Y glide (lag) factor.
`glide_z`	`0.9`	Camera position Z glide (lag) factor.
`glide_angle_x`	`0.7`	Camera angle X glide (lag) factor.
`glide_angle_y`	`0.1`	Camera angle Y glide (lag) factor.
`glide_angle_z`	`0.7`	Camera angle Z glide (lag) factor.
`cam_prox_up`	`70.0`	Camera proximity upward adjustment distance.

`[dialog]`

Dialog menu layout, line limits, and speech settings.

Key	Default Value	Description
`menu_start_x`	`35`	Dialog menu X start position in screen pixels.
`menu_start_y`	`25`	Dialog menu Y start position in screen pixels.
`dialog_max_menu_items`	`20`	Maximum number of items in a dialog menu.
`dialog_max_dialog_lines`	`20`	Maximum number of lines in a dialog text block.
`dialog_max_text_width`	`500`	Maximum width of dialog text in pixels.
`dialog_print_text`	`1`	Display dialog as on-screen text. `1` = on.
`dialog_use_speech`	`1`	Play voiced speech audio during dialog. `1` = on.
`dialog_max_distance`	`1600`	Maximum distance at which dialog audio is played.
`menu_traverse_delay`	`4`	Frames of delay between menu cursor movements.

`[3dfx]`

Glide renderer overrides, active in the GOG release which runs via the Glide/3dfx code path. These settings take precedence over the software-renderer equivalents where applicable.

Key	Default Value	Description
`resolution`	`12`	Glide renderer resolution index.
`text_scale`	`1, 1`	Text scaling factors (X, Y) for the Glide renderer.
`anim_text_scale`	`1, 1`	Animated text scaling factors (X, Y) for the Glide renderer.
`font_sel`	`255,255`	Font selection color values (foreground, background) for selected menu items.
`font_norm`	`125,255`	Font color values (foreground, background) for normal menu items.
`font_used`	`125,128`	Font color values (foreground, background) for used/visited menu items.

External References

UESP: Mod:SYSTEM.INI Info

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