SOW File – What is .sow file and how to open it?
SOW File Extension
Descent ARJ Game Data Archive – file format by Interplay Productions
SOW is a file extension associated with Descent ARJ Game Data Archive, a game data format used by the Descent video game developed by Interplay Productions. It stores various game data, such as textures, models, and sound effects.
SOW File Format
A SOW file is a game data archive format used by the first-person shooter game Descent, developed by Interplay Productions in 1995. It contains various game resources such as level maps, textures, sounds, and music. The SOW file format is a proprietary format specific to Descent and is not used by any other games.
Technical Details
SOW files are binary files with a simple structure. They consist of a header followed by a series of resource entries. The header contains information about the number of resources in the file and the offset of the first resource entry. Each resource entry contains information about the type of resource, its size, and its offset within the file. The resources are stored in a compressed format using the ARJ compression algorithm.
Opening SOW Files with Descend
SOW files are game data archives used by the classic first-person shooter game Descend. To open a SOW file, you’ll need to have Descend installed on your computer. Once Descend is installed, you can open SOW files by following these steps:
- Launch Descend.
- Click the “File” menu.
- Select “Open…”
- In the “Open File” dialog box, navigate to the SOW file you want to open.
- Click the “Open” button.
The SOW file will now be open in Descend and you can access the game data it contains.
Opening SOW Files with Other Software
In addition to Descend, there are other software programs that can open SOW files. However, these programs may not be able to open SOW files in the same way that Descend can. For example, some programs may only be able to extract the files from a SOW archive, while others may only be able to view the files.
If you need to open a SOW file with a program other than Descend, you can try using one of the following programs:
- 7-Zip is a free and open-source file archiver that can extract files from SOW archives.
- WinRAR is a commercial file archiver that can extract files from SOW archives.
- PeaZip is a free and open-source file archiver that can extract files from SOW archives.
Descent: A Revolutionary Space Shooter
Descent, released in 1995, was a groundbreaking first-person space shooter that captivated players worldwide. Developed by Parallax Software and published by Interplay Productions, the game’s innovative gameplay, stunning graphics, and pulsating soundtrack revolutionized the genre. Descent introduced six-axis freedom of movement, allowing players to navigate through complex and claustrophobic 3D environments with unprecedented agility.
SOW: The Key to Descent’s Content
The .SOW (Descent ARJ Game Data Archive) file extension is an essential component of Descent. It serves as a container format for the game’s data files, including level designs, textures, sounds, and music. These files are compressed using the ARJ (Archived Repeat Junction) algorithm, which reduces their size while preserving their integrity.
The SOW archive is a crucial aspect of Descent’s design. It allows for efficient storage of the game’s vast amount of content, enabling fast loading times and smooth gameplay. Additionally, the use of compressed data files reduces the size of the game’s overall installation, making it more accessible to players with limited storage space.