POG File – What is .pog file and how to open it?

Definition of a POG File

A POG file, with the file extension .POG, denotes a Descent 2 Texture Modification. As the name suggests, this file format stores modifications to the textures used in Interplay Productions’ Descent 2 video game. It primarily contains altered versions of the original game’s textures, which can be applied to enhance the visual appearance of the game environment.

Technical Details

POG files are relatively straightforward in their structure. They consist of a header section followed by the modified texture data. The header contains information such as the number of textures, the size of each texture, and the palette used. The texture data itself is stored in a compressed format, which allows for efficient storage and retrieval. When a POG file is loaded by the game, the texture data is decompressed and used to replace the original textures, resulting in a customized visual experience for the player. POG files are typically created using third-party texture editing tools, such as Descent Texture Editor (DTE) or Descent Texture Viewer (DTV). These tools enable users to modify the colors, patterns, and transparency of the game’s textures, allowing for a wide range of customization options.

Using the Game Engine

Descent II is a first-person shooter video game released in 1996. The game uses a proprietary engine that supports the .POG file format for storing texture modifications. To open a .POG file in Descent II, you can follow these steps:

1. Launch the Descent II game on your computer.
2. Click on the “Options” menu at the top of the screen.
3. Select the “Texture Modifications” tab.
4. Click on the “Add” button to browse for the .POG file you want to open.
5. Once the file is added, it will be applied to the game’s textures.

You can also use the command line to open a .POG file with Descent II. To do this, open the Command Prompt and type the following command:


descent2 -data pogfilename.pog


Using a Third-Party Software

If you do not have Descent II installed or you prefer to view the .POG file outside of the game, you can use a third-party software. There are several tools available that can open and extract the contents of .POG files. One popular option is the POG Texture Viewer.

To open a .POG file with the POG Texture Viewer, follow these steps:

1. Download and install the POG Texture Viewer on your computer.
2. Launch the POG Texture Viewer.
3. Click on the “File” menu and select “Open.”
4. Browse for the .POG file you want to open.
5. The POG file will be opened in the viewer, and you can view the textures contained in the file.

POG File Format

The POG file format is associated with Descent 2, a first-person space shooter game released in 1995 by Interplay Productions. POG files contain texture modifications for the game, allowing players to customize their gaming experience. These files are typically used to replace the original game textures with new ones, providing a more personalized and immersive gaming environment.

To use POG files, players need to install them in the game’s texture directory. Once installed, the game will automatically load the modified textures from the POG files. This allows players to create their own unique texture packs or download and use pre-made packs created by other gamers. Texture modifications can range from minor changes to complete overhauls, giving players the freedom to tailor the game’s visuals according to their preferences.

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