diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 95c5335..3eadb37 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -53,6 +53,9 @@ Thumbs.db
 desktop.ini
 .DS_Store
 
+# Packaged runnable game (pack-dist.ps1 output)
+/dist/
+
 # Local cockpit-launcher experiments — deliberately untracked
 assets/RP411/startrp-800x600.bat
 assets/RP411/startrp-800x600.ps1
diff --git a/BUILD.md b/BUILD.md
index 4b33782..28be5dc 100644
--- a/BUILD.md
+++ b/BUILD.md
@@ -50,6 +50,11 @@ The solution is [WinTesla.sln](WinTesla.sln) with four v143 projects:
 Build order is resolved by `ProjectReference` (RP_L4 and RPL4TOOL both reference
 Munga_L4).
 
+**Packaging:** [pack-dist.ps1](pack-dist.ps1) assembles a runnable game into
+`dist\` (exe + PDB, game data, OpenAL/libsndfile runtimes, desktop
+`environ.ini`, `start-windowed.bat`, README). Pass `-Zip` to also produce
+`dist\RedPlanet412-prototype.zip` for handing to someone else.
+
 ## 3. VS2022 migration notes (what changed and why)
 
 Settings preserved from the VC9 projects: **`/Zp1` struct packing** in Munga_L4
diff --git a/pack-dist.ps1 b/pack-dist.ps1
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..753accc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pack-dist.ps1
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+# ============================================================================
+#  pack-dist.ps1 — assemble a runnable Red Planet 4.12 package into dist\
+# ============================================================================
+#
+#  Collects everything the game needs at run time:
+#    - Release\rpl4opt.exe (+ .pdb for crash debugging)
+#    - game data from assets\RP411 (AUDIO, GAUGE, VIDEO, INIs, RPL4.RES,
+#      TEST.EGG) — but not the arcade launch scripts or the old 4.10 exe
+#    - libsndfile-1.dll beside the exe; OpenAL32.dll copied from the system
+#      when installed, with oalinst.exe included as the fallback installer
+#    - a desktop environ.ini (PAD;KEYBOARD controls, on-screen plasma)
+#    - start-windowed.bat and a README
+#
+#  Usage:  powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File pack-dist.ps1 [-Zip]
+#
+param(
+    [switch]$Zip
+)
+
+$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
+$root   = Split-Path -Parent $MyInvocation.MyCommand.Path
+$dist   = Join-Path $root 'dist'
+$assets = Join-Path $root 'assets\RP411'
+$exe    = Join-Path $root 'Release\rpl4opt.exe'
+
+if (-not (Test-Path $exe)) {
+    throw "Release\rpl4opt.exe not found - build first (see BUILD.md 2)."
+}
+
+Write-Host "Packing into $dist"
+if (Test-Path $dist) { Remove-Item -Recurse -Force $dist }
+New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force "$dist\SPOOLS" | Out-Null
+
+# --- game binary -----------------------------------------------------------
+Copy-Item $exe $dist
+$pdb = Join-Path $root 'Release\rpl4opt.pdb'
+if (Test-Path $pdb) { Copy-Item $pdb $dist }
+
+# --- game data -------------------------------------------------------------
+foreach ($dir in 'AUDIO', 'GAUGE', 'VIDEO') {
+    Write-Host "  copying $dir..."
+    Copy-Item -Recurse (Join-Path $assets $dir) $dist
+}
+foreach ($file in 'RPDPL.INI', 'JOYSTICK.INI', 'RPL4.RES', 'TEST.EGG',
+                  'libsndfile-1.dll', 'oalinst.exe') {
+    Copy-Item (Join-Path $assets $file) $dist
+}
+
+# --- OpenAL runtime --------------------------------------------------------
+# The exe links OpenAL32.dll (32-bit). Prefer shipping the already-installed
+# runtime beside the exe; oalinst.exe covers machines where that misses.
+$openal = "$env:WINDIR\SysWOW64\OpenAL32.dll"
+if (-not (Test-Path $openal)) { $openal = "$env:WINDIR\System32\OpenAL32.dll" }
+if (Test-Path $openal) {
+    Copy-Item $openal $dist
+    $wrap = Join-Path (Split-Path $openal) 'wrap_oal.dll'
+    if (Test-Path $wrap) { Copy-Item $wrap $dist }
+    Write-Host "  OpenAL runtime copied from $(Split-Path $openal)"
+} else {
+    Write-Warning "OpenAL32.dll not found on this system - dist relies on oalinst.exe"
+}
+
+# --- desktop configuration -------------------------------------------------
+Set-Content -Path "$dist\environ.ini" -Encoding ascii -Value @"
+L4CONTROLS=PAD;KEYBOARD
+DPLARG=1
+L4DPLCFG=RPDPL.INI
+L4GAUGE=640x480x16
+L4PLASMA=SCREEN
+TARGETFPS=60
+"@
+
+Set-Content -Path "$dist\start-windowed.bat" -Encoding ascii -Value @"
+@echo off
+rem Red Planet 4.12 - desktop prototype (windowed, local test mission)
+cd /d "%~dp0"
+start rpl4opt.exe -windowed -res 800 600 -egg TEST.EGG
+"@
+
+Set-Content -Path "$dist\README.txt" -Encoding ascii -Value @"
+Red Planet 4.12 - desktop prototype
+===================================
+
+Run start-windowed.bat (or: rpl4opt.exe -windowed -res 800 600 -egg TEST.EGG).
+No cockpit hardware needed. If there is no sound, run oalinst.exe once.
+
+Controls (XInput controller and/or keyboard):
+
+  Left stick / WASD        joystick
+  LT / RT   or  Q / E      left / right pedal
+  Right stick Y, PgUp/PgDn throttle (holds position)
+  A / Space                joystick trigger
+  B / R                    reverse thrust
+  DPad / arrow keys        joystick hat (look)
+  Start,Back / F1,F2       config buttons
+
+The "Plasma Display" window is the pod's plasma glass. Closing it just
+hides it. environ.ini options: L4PADFLIP=XY inverts the stick axes,
+L4PLASMASCALE=n sets the plasma pixel size (default 4).
+
+Known prototype notes: pods race untextured (the player1-8 skins come
+from the presets system, not shipped data), and text drawn on the plasma
+glass may appear rotated.
+
+Source: https://gitea.mysticmachines.com/VWE/RP412
+"@
+
+# --- summary / optional zip ------------------------------------------------
+$size = (Get-ChildItem $dist -Recurse | Measure-Object Length -Sum).Sum
+Write-Host ("dist ready: {0:N1} MB" -f ($size / 1MB))
+
+if ($Zip) {
+    $zipPath = Join-Path $root 'dist\RedPlanet412-prototype.zip'
+    Write-Host "zipping to $zipPath..."
+    Compress-Archive -Path "$dist\*" -DestinationPath $zipPath -Force
+}