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README.md

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+# Hellfire Source Code Modernization
+
+Experimental modernization work for the **Hellfire** source code, focused on restoring buildability on modern Windows systems and replacing legacy rendering paths with a small compatibility shim.
+
+## Overview
+
+This project contains work-in-progress updates around the leaked Hellfire source code that appeared on archive.org, including:
+
+- A `ddraw` compatibility shim
+- Rendering redirected through **Direct3D 11**
+- Early cleanup for modern Visual Studio builds
+- `scroll.asm` converted/ported to C
+- x86 assembly reduction for future x64 compatibility
+
+## Goals
+
+- Preserve the original game behavior as closely as possible
+- Replace legacy DirectDraw usage with a D3D11-backed renderer
+- Remove dependency on hand-written assembly where practical
+- Make the code easier to debug, maintain, and eventually port
+- Keep the original software-era rendering assumptions intact
+
+## Current Features
+
+### DirectDraw Shim
+
+A custom `ddraw` layer has been added so the original code can continue using its old DirectDraw-style calls while internally rendering through Direct3D 11.
+
+The goal is not to rewrite the renderer from scratch, but to provide a compatibility layer that lets the original code path survive while targeting a modern graphics API.
+
+### `scroll.asm` Ported to C
+
+The original `scroll.asm` routines have been ported to C.
+
+This helps with:
+
+- x64 compatibility
+- easier debugging
+- removing legacy calling convention issues
+- reducing dependency on MASM/x86-only build paths
+
+## Status
+
+This is an experimental source restoration and modernization project.
+
+Expected issues:
+
+- Rendering bugs
+- Palette/lighting mismatches
+- Missing or incomplete DirectDraw behavior
+- Timing differences
+- Unported assembly routines
+- Build configuration problems
+
+## Legal Notice
+
+This repository is for historical preservation, research, and compatibility work only.
+
+No original game assets are included. You must own a legitimate copy of the game to use any required data files.
+
+The original Hellfire source code and related assets remain the property of their respective copyright holders.