STARSHATTER

Mod Repository

A repository for the space sim Starshatter: The Gathering Storm. Here you will find a collection of avaialble tools, source code and MODS for this small and quirky space sim from 2004.

About Starshatter

Starshatter was a flawed but ambitious space sim from a one man developer studio in th early 2000's. It allows player to fly fighters all the way up to capital ships in both space and planetary atmosphere through mission based as well as ever changing dynamic campaigns. Unlike other space flight sims such as Freespace, it was often criticised for its more slow pace, questionable AI, and its not always successful attempt to be more than it was capable of being. However for all its quirks and flaws, it has a charm and a tone that is not available in a lot of space sims that drew in a small but passionate base of fans. Much of that was due to the games high modability. Even with the sometimes difficult and incomplete tools, and the lack of detailed documentation, a surprising number of Mods appeared for the game during its limited life.

Over time those Mods and the game itself quietly slipped away into the corners of the internet. There are still places like SpaceSimCentral where you can find many of these mods in there original forms, but collecting all the avaialble content for the game can be challenging. When the original creator released the source code, there was brief resurgance in interest in updating and poking around to see what could be done with the game at sites like Hardlight Productions (home to the Freespace Open Project), but ultimately the lack of interest and techincal limitations of the original game never quite grabbed a foothold. The hope of this site is to be a simple online repository where people can find the content availble for the game and have some fun (albiet sometimes frustratingly) with Starshatter and interesting small area of space it tried to carve out for itself.

About the downloads on this page

All of the downloadable MODS on this page have been rebundled and attempted to be given attribution to the authors where information could be found. Because it is an older game and many of the mods were made between releases of the original game and the new game. there will be quirks and bugs that for some will be an annoyance and in some cases make the game unplayable. Some fixes have been done where applicable to try and make them at least loadable, and in cases where there are work arounds the read me's will make reference to them.

Source Code

In September 2011, a post in the Starshatter Mods modding forum announced that Starshatter was being released as open source by the game's original creator.

  • Original Source Code - The original Source was originally hosted on Google code. With it's closing, several people have forked it over to Github. Because there is no official repo, this link is to the repo that seems to have the most commit history and information from Google Code.
  • The E "Experimental" Branch - At one point Hardlight Productions member TheE was going to take a stab at updating the code and getting it up to modern standards. While some maintenance work was done, it ultimately didn't go anywhere.
  • "Rearmed" version - One of the branches that has done the most updating with new features and fixes. This was the version that was found to be the easiest to get modifed to work with current versions of Visual Studio, however your mileage may vary.

Tech Notes

These are some basic Tech notes that should help the game run better and aleviate some headaches.

  • Cursor not hitting the edge of the screen: This is an issue with modern systems where the cursor in game hits the invisble edge and some buttons cannot be clicked. This simple fix is to adjust the compatibility settings in the game executeable:
    • Right Click the Executeable and select "Properties"
    • In the window that opens go to the "Compatibility" Tab
    • Set the program to run in cmpatibility mode for "Windows XP - Service Pack 2"
    • Check the boxes to disbale "Visual Themes", "Desktop Composition", and "Display Scaling"
  • Framrates with some MODS are horrible: Because its an old un-optimized game engine, performance can always be a trick. Playing MODS that have low poly content can help, but it seems that shadows are often the major culprit. Disabling shdows in the game settings can greatly increase frame rates and prevent stutter if you are experiencing it.
  • Game crashes when loading ________ MOD: This can occur for a multitude of reasons seemingly random. It will happen most of the time with Larger MODS that have higher poly models or lots of content (See Babylon 5 Mod). Is several cases, this can be fixed by switching out the "Shatter.dat" file form one of the minimal replacement ones from the site. By compiling versions that have the default ships and weapons removed, this can free up the available resource limits the game engine seems to get bogged down on. The downside in these situations is that you cannot use the content from the base game at the same time as the mod, and in come cases there may be some missing content that causes other issues. But it can help.

Base Game Dat Files

  • Original Default DAT's

    The original default DAT files that shipped with the game. Contains all vanilla game assets.

    Download Mod

  • Starshatter DAT's minus ships

    Contains everything but the default Ships. This version can be used with MODS that rely on default weapons/assets but still have issues loading.

    Download Mod

  • Starshatter DAT's minus ships/Weapons

    Contains the UI, Sounds, and environment FIles but wth the default Ships and Weapons removed. Use this version is you are experiencing problems loading large Mods such as Babylon5 or some of the Star Wars ones.

    Download Mod

Downloadable MODS

  • Battlestar Galactica New Series

    Battlestar Galactica (New)

    Version: 2.0.0

    Author: BSG Productions

    Description

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✘
    • Missions: ✔
    Download Mod
  • Battlestar Galactica New Series

    Achilles Fleet

    Version: 1.6.7

    Author: BSG Productions (updates by R. Tucker)

    Released: 2008

    Some updates and additions tothe BSG mod done by achilles.

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✘
    • Missions: ✘
    Download Mod
  • Battlestar Galactica Original Series

    Battlestar Galactica (Original)

    Version: 0.0.7.1

    Author: Starbuck

    Description

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✔
    • Missions: ✔
    Download Mod
  • Babylon 5

    Babylon 5

    Author: ??

    Description: The complete Babylon5 Mod. This is a slightly modified version broken up in to 5 individual DAT files to try and fix some of the quirks and allow it to be loaded. Will likely require the use of a minified DAT file to load without crashing

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✔
    • Missions: ✔
    Download Mod
  • Star Wars

    Star Wars HD

    Author: WBoyd

    Description: Star Wars HD 2 features dozens of highly detailed models with Virtual Bridges and Cockpits along with custom missions to take command in. Some of the models are fairly high poly, so performance issues will probably arise.

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✔
    • Missions: ✔
    Download Mod
  • Star Wars

    Star Wars Destiny

    Author: Matthias Baratoux

    Description: A "mini" star wars mod which includes ships and locations form the original trilogy

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✔
    • Missions: ✔
    Download Mod
  • Star Wars

    Clone Wars

    Author: BraddW25

    Description: Contains several capital ships and fighters from the clone wars animated TV series along with a custom mission.

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✘
    • Missions: ✔
    Download Mod
  • Star Wars

    Rebel Assault

    Author: Someone

    Description

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✘
    • Missions: ✘
    Download Mod
  • Starlancer

    StarLancer

    Version: 0.2

    Author: Admin

    Description: A conversion of Ships from the game Starlancer into Starshatter. Currently only contains some of the star fighters

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✘
    • Missions: ✘
    Download Mod
  • Battletech Battlespace

    Battlespace (Battletech)

    Version: 1.0

    Author: R. Tucker

    Description: A conversion of the Battletech based tabletop game Battlespace into the Starshatter Game engine.

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✘
    • Missions: ✔
    Download Mod
  • Star Trek

    Star Trek

    Author: ??

    Description: A collection of Star Trek ships done by the community at the time and compiled along with a sample mission set in the star trek universe.

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✔
    • Missions: ✔
    Download Mod
  • Star Trek

    Wrath of Khan

    Author: CaptBlanc

    Description: A mini Mod featuring 3 ships from star trek featured in the Film Wrath of Khan.

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✘
    • Missions: ✘
    Download Mod
  • Starblazers

    Starblazers

    Version: 1.6.8

    Author: R. Tucker

    A MOD of the popular Starblazers Anime. This is a large and challenging mod with lots of custome missions.

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✔
    • Missions: ✔
    Download Mod
  • Mass Effect

    Mass Effect 2

    Version: 1.3

    Author: R. Tucker

    Description: A higher poly collection of ships from the Mass Effect Universe.

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✔
    • Missions: ✔
    Download Mod
  • Freespace Mod

    Freespace Mod

    Version: 1.0

    Author: ?

    Released: ?

    Ships ported from the volition Space Sim game Freespace

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✔
    • Missions: ✔
    Download Mod
  • Battletech/Mechwarrior Mod

    Bloodfang Mod

    Version: 1.2 Final

    Author: R. Tucker

    Released: 2009

    There are 18 warships and aerospace from the MECHWARRIOR universe. I have made some changes to most of them to reflect the upgraded classes. The weapons in this mod do light damage in comparrison with ingame weapons, to allow the player to have prolonged combat in missions. No mission, just a few cutscenes with Clan Coyote vs Clan Predator.

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✘
    • Missions: ✔
    Download Mod
  • Andomeda Ascendant Mod

    Andomeda Ascendant

    Version: 2.2.2d

    Author: R. Tucker

    Released: 2019

    500 years after Captain Dylan Hunt restores the Commonwealth, the Nietzschean attack again, but this time the Commonwealth is ready! The Andromeda Ascendant from the TV series.

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✔
    • Missions: ✔
    Download Mod
  • Starshatter Mod

    Solcom

    Author: WBoyd

    Description

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✘
    • Missions: ✔
    Download Mod
  • Starshatter Mod

    Starshatter 1950 Pack

    Version: Beta 2.0.3

    Author: CaptBlanc

    Released: 2009

    Atomic Rockets vs. Doom Saucers!

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✘
    • Missions: ✔
    Download Mod
  • Starshatter Mod

    Adonnays Fleet Mod

    Version: 1.0.0

    Author: Adonnay

    Released: 2008

    Two complete fleets. Arcade play mode recommended

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✘
    • Missions: ✘
    Download Mod
  • Starshatter Mod

    Aegean Mod

    Version: 1.0.0

    Author: R. Tucker

    Released: 2009

    The Aegean are a humanoid race that stumbled into Ravager territory while exploring. Without waiting for an apology, the Ravager (acutal name is Raa'vgr) aliens began a bloody war that has lasted for over eight hundred years. The Raa'vgr have refused all diplomatic apprpaches

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✘
    • Missions: ✔
    Download Mod
  • Starshatter Mod

    Archonites Mod

    Version: 1.4

    Author: R. Tucker

    Released: 2009

    The Archonites and the Vongarians...The mod has 16 ships for each side, and 6 cutscene missions so that you can decide how the war will unfold. Credit for many of the models here goes to 'Sol Commnd', whom excitedly gave me permission to use them.

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✘
    • Missions: ✔
    Download Mod
  • Starshatter Mod

    The Cartel

    Version: 4.5.0

    Author: WDBoyd

    Description: Secretive, wealthy and powerful. The Cartel. Includes entire fleet.

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✘
    • Missions: ✔
    Download Mod
  • Starshatter Mod

    Deltan Mod

    Version: 1.0.0

    Author: R. Tucker

    Released: ?

    Deltan includes Dark Victory, Seacrest, Prometheus, McKenna, Striker, Manta, Starfire X3, Starfire X4, the Star Wolf missile frigate and the Boyd BB, in thanks to the man who helped me understand modding in Starshatter

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✘
    • Missions: ✔
    Download Mod
  • Starshatter Mod

    Deltan Refits Mod

    Version: 2.2.2

    Author: R. Tucker

    Released: ?

    These are ships built and or refitted near the end of the Deltan/Dartain war. They are the DN Freya, BC Palamino, & CA Seacrest and the F/A Striker, as well as the Xavier II Mothership, Deltan freighter and the Frontier Police Cruiser, and Tallon DN. Also included is the AWACS and a few others. There are no missions in this mod, but there are new weapons and effects.Also included is the Magellan DD, also the Cor Carolon CVN and Blackwidow II starfighter.

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✘
    • Missions: ✘
    Download Mod
  • Starshatter Mod

    Gillbos Campaign Mod

    Version: 0.1

    Author: Gillbo

    Released: ?

    This lets you play the standard campaign with some of Gillbos ships. Ships by Gillbo, campaign modifications by Adonnay to allow Gillbo ships to be used in the campaign.

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✘
    • Missions: ✔
    Download Mod
  • Starshatter Mod

    Gundam Mod

    Version: 1.3

    Author: R. Tucker

    Released: 2009

    Mod created to play around with a Gundam Heavy Arms Custom model, RX-88, RX-78, and RX-91, and VF-1s There are also three Gundam carriers, 2 from Gundam Seed. Each one uses roughly the same weapons, except RX-91.

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✘
    • Missions: ✔
    Download Mod
  • Starshatter Mod

    Honor Harrington

    Version: 1.0.2

    Author: CaptBlanc

    Released: 2009

    Eight ships from the Honor Harrington universe! With 5 scenarios

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✘
    • Missions: ✔
    Download Mod
  • Starshatter Mod

    Renegade Legions

    Version: 0.6.5

    Author: Braddw25 and Wdboyd

    Released: 2009

    Imperial and Renegade Fleet from the tabletop game Renegade Legions

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✘
    • Missions: ✔
    Download Mod
  • Starshatter Mod

    United Earth (UWG v2.0)

    Version: 1.0

    Author: R. Tucker

    Released: 2020

    An updated versiopn of the origional United World Government MOD from a short story written by the author of the mod

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✔
    • Missions: ✔
    Download Mod
  • Starshatter Mod

    United World Government

    Version: 1.5.5

    Author: R. Tucker

    Released: 2009

    An origional design from a short story written by the author of the mod

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✔
    • Missions: ✔
    Download Mod
  • Starshatter Mod

    User Ship Collection

    Version: 1.0

    Author: Admin

    Released: ?

    A compilation mod of all the individual and stand alone ships found on the internet and not part of any larger mod.

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✘
    • Missions: ✘
    Download Mod
  • Starshatter Mod

    Starshatter Reborn

    Version: 0.1.5

    Author: ?

    Released: ?

    A Collection of visual enhancements fixes and texture to improve and enhance the game.

    • Ships: ✘
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✔
    • Missions: ✔
    Download Mod
  • Starshatter Mod

    Starshatter Rearmed

    Version: 0.1.5

    Author: ?

    Released: ?

    Another Collection of visual enhancements fixes and texture to improve and enhance the game. This is a larger mod than Reborn and includes upgraded weapons and ships. The balance is thrown off, but has a more frantic arcade feel.

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✔
    • Missions: ✘
    Download Mod
  • Starshatter Mod

    EEV Pack

    Version: 1.0

    Author: Derick(Extension), Light_Gemini(Effects), Variants(Magitek)

    Released: ?

    Fixes/balance, visual effects, ship variants.

    • Ships: ✔
    • Weapons: ✔
    • Environment: ✔
    • Missions: ✔
    Download Mod
  • Starshatter Mod

    Starbucks Galaxy

    Version: 2.2.2d

    Author: Starbuck

    Released: 2012

    Galaxy mod that includes the Sol system for additional locations

    • Ships: ✘
    • Weapons: ✘
    • Environment: ✔
    • Missions: ✘
    Download Mod
  • Starshatter Mod

    Vyllis Sound Mod

    Version: 2.0

    Author: Vyllis

    Released: ?

    Updates and changes to the games sound effects

    • Ships: ✘
    • Weapons: ✘
    • Environment: ✔
    • Missions: ✘
    Download Mod

Tools

  • Magic

    This is the modelling tool for creating and editing the game's proprietary custom ".mag" 3D files. Version 1.5 is stable for basic editing, while version 2 should be used for texture mapping and odel conversions. Given its limited and hard to use interface and features, a 3rd party tool such as Blender or Wings3D should probably be used for modeling and texturing and Magic should be used as the final step for converting into the game format.

    Download Tools

  • Datafile

    Command line tool for extracting and editing the games dat files.

    Download Datafile

  • Modfile

    Command line tool for Bundling up a MOD's assets into a dat file useable by the game. While Datafile can be used for the same function, modfile has some additional logic to only bundle up valid mod file types hence reducing the size of a mod.

    Download Modefile

  • Starmod

    A GUI based frontend for editing Dat files. Similar functions of Datafile.

    Download Starmod

  • Shatner

    A command line tool for converting ".mag" 3D files into ".obj" files. Rarely works as expected and many models will not convert (May have been made for the original version of Starshatter). Its easier to use Magic's export function rather than this tool, but the download is here for completeness.

    Download Shatner