Articles - TIE Fighter: Total Conversion (TFTC) mod for Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance

The 2023 Mod of the Year has just kicked off, so join us in celebrating some of the amazing creations released in the last 12 months and major modding news. Whether it was an amazing update to a long running total conversion mod, or a whole new overhaul for a classic game. This article is breaking down the biggest headlines for October, November, and December.

(Note: 2023 is not actually over yet so November has six features instead of four. We still managed to sneak in a pair of December featurettes though!)

What mods did you enjoy the most and who will be getting your vote this year? Are there any other mods that did a major release in Q4 this year that we missed? Let us know in the comments! Otherwise - now is the time to get your votes in for the 2023 Mod of the Year.

Hello everyone, Its been another minute since the last TFTC update but I'm pleased to announce the 1.3.4 patch release for TFTC. There's not a huge amount to say about this one other than A: I should never ever give a possible release date to anything because I always go past it and B: This patch is largely to bring TFTC up to date in line with XWAU v6.0 and to issue more fixes and balance updates to TFTC. That said, there are still a few notable improvements for this version which I'll cover in a moment. This is however intended to be the last patch we will release for TFTC until Reimagined is completed which I will tenuously dub TFTC v2.0. I will go into the details of this after I first go through what things you can expect to see with 1.3.4 starting with:

Vastly improved mission loading times and hangar transition times. Both of these were rather painful waits, mission load times in particular, but this has now been reduced by a staggering 60-70% at least if not more so they should all load a LOT quicker now. This is thanks to a new compression method for things like background and explosion textures which are often huge files. This does unfortunately mean the patch size is quite large as well but this is can't be helped. As for the hangar transition time, well thats more like a second or two instead of 10 seconds!

A fix has finally be introduced for the issue of high framerates and AI behaviour. This mostly affects things like ships trying to dock with another one causing them to circle around endlessly. This is caused by your ingame FPS being too high and the only real way to resolve it was to limit your FPS to 60. This fix introduces limit to the AI's behaviour calculation to 30FPS, regardless of your own inflight FPS, so this should resolve all such docking issues.

A new pilot backup system from the launcher is available. This is useful if you want to do a reinstall or make other copies of your game. Pilot files will be backed up to your Documents folder under X-Wing Alliance\Pilots Backup by default when using this feature.

Some new visual updates including new cockpits for the TIE Bomber, Advanced and Defender, some minor shader and texture improvements and the addition of ambient engine sounds to some capital ships - not just when you hit their engine wash - and will change in volume dynamically based on your distance to the ship. This is currently working for the stock Calamari Cruisers, Modified Frigate as well as the Victory and Imperial Star Destroyers.

Other than that, the rest is all about fixing various bugs including a couple of critical ones which left you unable to complete a mission.

So as I mentioned, it is our intention that this will be the final patch for TFTC until I have completed Reimagined and this includes any subsequent patches for XWAU in the meantime. The reason for this decision to not maintain compatibility with future XWAU until we are ready is due to one thing really - the installer. The installer we currently use is great and allows you to seamlessly install everything without fuss AND allows you to swap versions of TFTC and XWAU. However, this is becoming now extremely cumbersome to manage with each passing version, due to the sheer size and complexity of TFTC and the fact we essentially have two versions of the game you can choose to play. Several issues and bugs can stem from improper swapping of files, leading to bugs or other issues which can result in you having to reinstall from scratch.

How we will approach this in the future has yet to be decided for certain, but its likely we will instead split Classic and Reimagined into separate installs unless we can find a more efficient and effective method in the interim. Whatever happens, I will keep you informed!

Until then, I will continue to very slowly work on Reimagined and do at least a weekly let's play video if I can get the time anyway. Until next time though pilots, fly safe!

Hello everyone, I have a quick update on TFTC since we released the 1.3.3 patch. So far its been pretty successful and has certainly attracted the biggest interest of any patch we've released since v1.0 with Ars Technica giving us some love and over 25,000 views of the patch release update as of this video. Its always a pleasure to welcome new players to our mod and we hope you enjoy all our efforts.

Sadly though, 1.3.3 has thrown up some issues which we feel need addressing sooner than later so we will start working on a 1.3.4 patch to fix these issues. For example, B1M2 Classic is impossible to complete due to an error with the primary goal trigger and a vital setting was left enable instead of disabled which can make B7M3 Reimagined near impossible to win because the ISDII Majestic can be destroyed before you can even get there to defend it. I have already put up a zip file of quick fixes which should resolve most of this which you can find on our Discord server under the #quick-fixes section, or from our website which also has a quick fixes section under the installation category.

There were also some new advances made just as we released 1.3.3 which in particular address the rather long loading times of missions as well as launching/landing in a hangar causing a several second pause as the game transitions between inflight and the hangar screen so it is my hope we can include this for 1.3.4. I'm not entirely sure on the timeline for a patch release but I am hoping we can release something by the end of August and I may also make any beta's we test public so the entire community can help us if they wish to do so!

So stay tuned to our Discord, Twitter - sorry 'X' -, our website or my YT channel for future updates and until next time, fly safe.

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s been a very long time since I last posted an update but I finally have something new for you and its to announce the release of the 1.3.3 patch as well as other updates that have been happening since! This new patch will bring TFTC up to date with the recent XWAU 5.6.2 patch that was released back in May and will also introduce a bunch of bug fixes, balance updates and even some new updates. Let’s quickly go through what you can expect to see in this patch.

A brand-new main concourse screen - This was showcased some months ago but didn't make it into 1.3.2 at the time. Now though you can fully enjoy this updated visual feast in 1.3.3. The concourse will show new animations and backgrounds depending on your current progress in the campaign.

New models including the Imperial-I Star Destroyer and the addition of several new ships, including the Predator Star Destroyer, Zaarin's new flagship for TFTC Reimagined and the Valiant Cruiser which will serve as a flagship for the Nami faction. The inclusion of this new ship has meant some minor changes to Reimagined have been made to account for this wherever the ISDII Glory previously showed up. The Glory will instead be first introduced as this new ship in Battle 6, Mission 4 whereas previous appearances of the Glory will simply be a different Star Destroyer now. You will also find the new Valiant cruiser in B6M4-R as well, replacing the Venator that was previously there. Don't worry, Venators will still be showing up later in future Reimagined missions!

Ray Tracing - Yes, the wizards of the XWAU team have added Ray Tracing to the game! This further improves the visuals but at the expense of performance so make sure your system is capable of handling it. By default, it is disabled, but you can enable it by going to the Babu Frik Configurator from the launcher under the Ray Tracing checkbox.

Gimbal Lock Fix - This issue has plagued all versions of the engine from the original X-Wing to XWA. What is this gimbal lock issue you ask? Well, you may have noticed when flying directly up or down, particularly when chasing enemy targets, it suddenly feels like you're fighting your controls to stay straight and steady, almost as if a magnet is pushing you away. Basically, the game is programmed to use pitch, yaw, and roll as defined axes. Based on how the numbers crunch down, if any of the axes overlap on the same plane, gimbal lock will happen and so your craft ends up pushing away from the direction you're trying to go in. Well, I'm happy to say that this issue has been fixed by rewriting this function of the flight mechanics.

Along with these changes, you can also expect to see new explosion visuals and hopefully some noticeable improvements to both VR and non-VR performance levels.

A full list of all changes made can be viewed on our website via the changelog section which is also included in the patch download itself. A brand new, completely re-written installation tutorial video has also been posted along with this announcement. This tutorial should better address and explain things than previous versions, including a more expanded approach to VR and other more common issues people tend to face.

To install the patch, make sure you restore your current version of TFTC back to XWAU by using the Palpatine Total Converter to 'Restore the Light Side' and then run the installer and follow its instructions. If you are new to the mod and installing from a fresh copy, then make sure you first install v1.3. You don't need to install any of the older TFTC patches first as 1.3.3 contains all updates since the initial release of 1.3. If in any doubt, please take a look at the aforementioned new tutorial video that has also been posted to my channel for details.

So, what else has been going on these past few months? Well work is slowly continuing on finishing the Reimagined campaigns. Battles 9 and 10 are now fully playable in their entirety and have been under beta testing and Battle 11 is well on course to becoming fully playable by the end of August, this then just leaves Battles 12 and 13 to finish creating which I'm hoping will be done by late Autumn or at the end of 2023. Its slow going, but as my scope is much bigger than previous battles, the increased narrative complexity and the fact I'm the only one designing and making these missions, it will take time, but I hope the wait will be worth it.

Aside from mission creation, we have also been working on designing new HD concourse screens for every room. On your screen you can see examples of current WIP scenes including the new pilot's room and an updated briefing room, giving you even more immersion as we can also tie in more cutscenes and animations to them. We are also considering our options for remaking all cutscenes using in-game engine footage for exterior shots and then 3D interiors created specifically for the cutscene with some character interactions. If we think we can pull this off well enough, I will probably be adding a lot of new cutscenes as well as remaking the existing ones, as I believe its a much better way to give additional context and flavour to the narrative vs just relying on the giant walls of texts we're forced to use in the briefings. If and when we get a concept ready, I will post it publicly for further feedback from the community.

And that pretty much covers it for this update. I will be back in the future of course with new updates as I have them and I promise I'll try to get back to doing some development livestreams which I've not done for a few months now. So, until next time pilots, fly safe.

May 4th is here, and with it we can expect some Star Wars news and excitement from around the internet. ModDB's Star Wars modding scene has been going strong for decades, so today we've picked ten awesome Star Wars mods to take part in the fun!

Knights of the Old Republic III: The Jedi Masters

By Trex01

Whilst Knights of the Old Republic was a smash hit, its sequel didn’t perform as well, and the future of the series was thrown into doubt. Star Wars: The Old Republic picked up hundreds of years after the storyline in the KOTOR games and took many liberties with the source material as a result. This mod aims to be a successor to KOTOR II with a full set of new planets, stories, and characters to meet, as well as a vast swathe of new gear and quests to chase.

Darth Nihilus For SWBF2 (2017)

By DeggialNox

The heroes and villains of Star Wars are as numerous as they are legendary, gathered from all corners of the canon; from an old but well-loved comic to the newest Disney canon. KOTOR's characters hold a special place in many fans' hearts, especially with no sign of another entry in the series for conventional play even almost two decades later. Well, mods are all about fans making their dreams come true, and so if you wanted to wreck face in EA's newest Battlefront venture as the Lord of Hunger himself, this mod bringing Nihilus to the field will be just your cup of tea.

Star Wars: Movie Duels

By Movie Duels Team

Movie Duels is a remastered edition of the original, 2009 “Movie Duels 2” mod for Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, with updated maps, models, sounds, and various other improvements, to bring the mod into the modern age. This mod uses Jedi Academy to bring a whole bunch of classic movie fights into your hands - a perfect way to celebrate the history of Star Wars this May 4th as you take part in the Duel of the Fates, the Jedi Temple March, and the Death Star II confrontation; all bookended by encounters from the extended canon too!

LEGO Star Wars: Knight Of The Old Republic Character Pack

By Skulluse

Okay, okay, you've got us - we really love KOTOR as well, and we promise this is the last KOTOR-oriented mod on this list...buuuut whilst we're here, who doesn't love a bit (read: a lot) more representation of that once iconic era of Star Wars history? Lego Star Wars might not be the first game that comes to mind as a moddable Star Wars venture, but some of the older Lego titles have been the subject of passionate work by committed fans, introducing new characters en masse that, in the case of this character pack, transform the core cast into a whole different era of Star Wars.

Ultimate Outcast

By KiraImmortal

Jedi Academy might be the newer-age darling of those looking for classic lightsaber duelling, but before that, Jedi Outcast was the introduction to a lightsaber system that many still regard as the best representation of the weapon in media to date. If you've been looking for something new, with Ultimate Outcast, you're in luck - with a set of sixteen challenging maps that test your knowledge of the game against a variety of difficult opponents. Step back into the shoes of Kyle Katarn and prove why he's still one of the top dogs of the EU!

Rise of the Mandalorians

By the_Farseer

One of the bigger and most fondly received additions to canon by Disney are those made to the Mandalorian people - elaborated upon in The Clone Wars as part of a civil war arc, and then given physical iconic form with the titular show surrounding this enigmatic people, Rise of the Mandalorians gives you control of the combined might of the warrior people, assembling many of their most iconic elements from in and out of the Disney canon, combined with some liberal original concepts.

Empire At War Remake: Galactic Civil War

By The Empire at War Remake Team

Empire at War: Remake: Galactic Civil War is a mod that made a splash and continues to stoke hype whenever an update is announced. Transforming the graphics of the now fifteen years old Empire at War to an almost recognisable level of visual fidelity, this mod has placed in MOTY before as testament to its quality, tracking a meteoric rise of popularity on-site. With a massive 4.0 release early last year, it still bats with the very best that Empire at War has to offer and might be the best way to experience a vanilla-adjacent version of the game in 2023.

Antstafer's Enhanced Gameplay & Graphics Mod

By Antstafer

Getting back to Battlefront - the original, we mean, not even the 2004 sequel - might demand a little bit of retroactive thinking what with three successors to keep in mind since then, but for some, the simplified sandbox and nostalgic interface is where they learned to love large-scale battles in the galaxy far far away. Well, if you wanted to revisit this classic with something more than rose-tinted glasses, Anstafer's enhancement mod seems the way to go, with attention spent on making the game feel less sluggish and bat a little more independently in the shadow of its contemporaries.

Saga Edition

By Spiret

So popular they had to remake the entire franchise a second time, Battlefront is a name made legend in the Star Wars community. The newer titles haven't had such a productive time in regards to UGC - although there are still plenty of great examples of what is possible in the newer title on ModDB - but the classic Battlefront II has commanded modders for many years. Saga Edition is another addition to this modding saga of its own, with new factions, heroes, and units to explore across 18 converted maps that give you a whale of a time whether with a group of friends or alongside AI companions.

TIE Fighter: Total Conversion (TFTC)

By AngelTFTC

Some of the best games in the early Star Wars line-up were those putting you straight into the dog-fighting action of the movies, pitting you with and against the evil Empire. These days these games hold up well enough for a playthrough, but TIE Fighter: Total Conversion (TFTC) achieves a truly superb standard of visual fidelity considering how much of the underlying technology remains authentic. With engagements that look decades more engaging and more support on the way, TFTC has been a labour of love with a lot more to give!

And there you have it! Did you feel compelled to try any of the mods on this list? Are there any others you'd suggest to others looking to get in on the fun today? Let us know in the comments down below!