Warning: I started the EQW project in June 2000, and had developed a working prototype by December 2000. I have since stopped working on it, so this page is available for historical reasons only. There appears to be another program called EQWindow which is based on my original source code, but I don't have a current link to it.
The latest version is 1.0b4, if you would like to be a beta tester please contact: eqw@wadeb.com.
EQWindow is a small utility that lets you run EverQuest in a window on your desktop, as shown in the screenshots below.
EQWindow Screenshots:
Two copies at once:
How does it work?
Basically, EQWindow traps calls by EverQuest to Windows that initialize full screen display and converts them to calls that initialize windowed display. It then handles messages to the EverQuest window and manages things like resizing, etc.
It also traps keyboard messages so that it may toggle features. The next version should include more options that require keyboard commands (specifically fullscreen-mode toggle).
Are you stealing my Screen Name and Password?
No. If you don't trust it, download a packet sniffer and watch the data leaving your computer. I expect lots of people will be doing this anyway. If you have any questions or comments related to security and EQWindow, please contact me at eqw@wadeb.com.
Will I get banned for using EQWindow?
Consider the relevant section of the license agreement:
9. You may not use any third party software to modify the Software to change Game play. You may not use our intellectual property rights contained in the Game or the Software to create or provide any other means through which the Game may be played by others, as through server emulators. You may not take any action which imposes an unreasonable or disproportionately large load on our infrastructure. You may not sell or auction any EverQuest characters, items, coin or copyrighted material.
Since EQWindow in no way modifies Game play, it doesn't violate the license agreement. It's really nothing more than a custom display driver, and could easily be extended (if I had the time) to work with any Direct3D game.
However, since it's impossibe for us to determine the exact reason why someone was banned, we cannot offer refunds to banned players. If Verant decides to start banning players solely for using EQWindow, they will likely make an announcement. Until then, enjoy the software =)
What kind of system requirements will I need? Will running EverQuest in the background kill my performance?
EverQuest uses between 40mb and 90mb of RAM depending on what the game is doing. EQWindow runs quite well on my Pentium II 466, running Win2000 with 128mb RAM and a Voodoo3 2000 and lots of other programs.
When EverQuest doesn't have mouse focus, EQWindow forces it to give up most of it's processing time by slowing down to 3-5fps.
Downloads will be available here when version 1.0 is released to the public, the link is currently broken.
The following versions are currently available for download:
Installation
EQWindow has been tested and is supported under Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows 2000 using 3dfx (Voodoo3 or better) and NVidia graphics cards. Other configurations may work, please let me know what your results are so I can post them here.
To install and run EQWindow, simply extract the zip file using a program such as WinZip, to a folder on your computer. Start the EQWindow program and click the Launch EverQuest button.
Registration
EQWindow is free to download and try out. The trial version is completely functional, however after 30 minutes of play it will start displaying 'please register' type messages. The free download is intended to allow you to try it out and get it working.
If you decide to keep using EQWindow, please register your copy. It's only $10, will eliminate the message and will also encourage me to add new features. Registered users receive all future updates to EQWindow for free.
Online registrations are accepted through PayPal. You will receive a confirmation by email immediately, and your registration key will arrive within 24 hours.
Click the button to the left to register EQWindow using PayPal.
For snail-mail registration by check or cash, send me an email at eqwreg@wadeb.com and I'll respond with instructions.
Troubleshooting
EQWindow uses some tricky coding to accomplish what it does. However, I have found it to be very stable under most circumstances. Things to remember include:
Set your desktop to 16bit color. Go to Control Panel, then Display, then Settings and where it says Color select High Color (16 bit).
Always use the latest video card drivers, particularly for those with NVidia graphics cards (Riva TNT, TNT2, GeForce, GeForce2, etc).
Make sure you have the latest version of DirectX (7a) installed. You can download it here (~6mb).
3dfx users make sure you have selected 'Primary Display Driver' in your video settings, rather than your 3dfx card. This forces EverQuest to use Direct3D as opposed to the Glide API.
If you've recently switched from a 3dfx graphics card to another graphics card, and are getting an empty Error message box when you start EverQuest (regardless of whether or not you are using EQWindow), do the following:
The error is the result of a bug in EverQuest, where EQ still sees the 3dfx drivers on your computer and thinks that you still have the graphics card in your PC.
If you're still having trouble getting it to work, please contact me at eqwtech@wadeb.com and I'll try to help you out.
On the other hand if it does work and you decide to keep using it, please show your appreciation and register the software! EQWindow has taken a lot of time to produce, I'm sure I'd be level 60 by now if I hadn't ever started making it =P Besides, it only costs $10..
Any questions/comments/complaints, please send me an email at eqw@wadeb.com, or send me a tell as Kilamon or Jarz on Quellious.
