Homm3hd-vita

Heroes of Might and Magic III HD Edition
General
Author	Northfear
Type	Strategy
Version	1.2.3
License	MIT License
Last Updated	2024/02/24
Links
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This is a wrapper/port of HoMM III: HD Android for the PS Vita.

The port works by loading the official Android ARMv7 executable in memory, resolving its imports with native functions and patching it in order to properly run. By doing so, it's basically as if we emulate a minimalist Android environment in which we run natively the executable as is.

Note: This software does not contain the original code, executables, assets, or other non redistributable parts of the game. The authors do not promote or condone piracy in any way. To launch and play the game on their PS Vita device, users must provide their own legally obtained copy of the game in the form of an .apk file.

Installation

Requirements:

• Game Data Files: Android (only v1.1.6 has been tested)
• kubridge.skprx v.0.3 or higher
• fd_fix.skprx OR repatch_ex.skprx

Install the required plugins:

• Install kubridge and FdFix by copying kubridge.skprx and fd_fix.skprx to your taiHEN plugins folder (usually ur0:tai) and adding two entries to your config.txt under *KERNEL:

 *KERNEL
 ur0:tai/kubridge.skprx
 ur0:tai/fd_fix.skprx

• Note Don't install fd_fix.skprx if you're using the rePatch plugin.
• Note 2 You no longer need to install libgpu_es4_kernel_ext.skprx with version 1.0.1 or higher (since it's already bundled with the game).

Install the game + game data files:

• Legally obtain your copy of Heroes of Might and Magic III HD Edition for Android in form of an .apk file and .obb files (main.1113.com.ubisoft.mightandmagic.heroesiii.obb and patch.1110.com.ubisoft.mightandmagic.heroesiii.obb are located inside the /sdcard/android/obb/com.ubisoft.mightandmagic.heroesiii/) folder. You can get all the required files directly from your phone or by using any APK extractor you can find on Google Play.
• Open the .apk with any zip explorer (like 7-Zip) and extract it. Copy libhomm3.so file (located in the lib/armeabi-v7a folder inside the apk) into ux0:data/homm3hd/.
• Open the main.1113.com.ubisoft.mightandmagic.heroesiii.obb with your zip explorer (.obb files are zip files just like .apk files so just rename the .obb to .zip) and extract the contents to ux0:data/homm3hd/.
• Same as before, open the patch.1110.com.ubisoft.mightandmagic.heroesiii.obb with the zip explorer and extract the contents inside the zip to ux0:data/homm3hd/.
• Install HOMM3.vpk (from Releases).

User guide

Only original touch controls are supported.

Custom maps are supported, but only from the "The Restoration of Erathia" version, copy the them into ux0:data/homm3hd/data/maps/<your_language_folder>/ folder (ux0:data/homm3hd/data/maps/en/ for example).

Screenshots

Known issues

• Sprites are sometimes rendered in the wrong order on the world map.
• Unit movement speed is a bit too fast during combat.
• The game can crash sometimes due to running out of vram.
• Visual bugs may appear after some time (dark UI elements, weird looking rectangles in the place of fading out UI elements). It's recommended to save the game and restart it at that point.

Changelog

v1.2.3

• Added libshacccg check
• Improved startup time (updated to the latest vitaGL version with file caching support)

v1.2.2

• Improved performance (updated to the latest vitaGL version)

v1.2.1

• Fixed gamepad controls while moving artifacts between heroes
• Improved controls during mixed gamepad/touchpad usage
• Added an option for smoother cursor movement during battle (may cause unit flickering)

v1.2.0

• Switched to vitaGL by default
  • Fixed wrong sprite rendering order on the world map
  • Fixed wrong unit speed during combat
  • Fixed wrong projectiles direction during combat
  • Improved performance (especially during combat)
• Added trophies (requires NoTrpDrm Vita plugin)
• Added left analog deadzone option to the configuration utility

v1.1.0

• Added gamepad controls (cursor movement with left analog stick, map scroll with the right one).

v1.0.3

• Increased delay between taps for ranged attack to 1.6s (making it way easier to trigger during the big battles).

v1.0.2

• Fixed not working savegames with missing "pref" folder.

v1.0.1

• Added libgpu_es4_kernel_ext.skprx to the VPK. There's no need to install it manually anymore.

v1.0

• First Release.

Credits

• TheOfficialFloW for the original .so loader.
• GrapheneCt for the PVR_PSP2, gpu_es4_kernel_ext and lots of tips.
• TheOfficialFloW, Rinnegatamante and v-atamanenko for all of the previous work on Android wrapper ports.

External links

• GitHub - https://github.com/Northfear/homm3hd-vita
• VitaDB - https://vitadb.rinnegatamante.it/#/info/928
• GBAtemp - https://gbatemp.net/threads/release-heroes-of-might-and-magic-iii-hd-edition-port-of-android-version-of-homm3-hd-to-ps-vita.619043/
• Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/r/vitahacks/comments/xhgfur/release_heroes_of_might_and_magic_iii_hd_edition/