Wing Commander 3 on Windows XP PATCH (no VDMSound or Dosbox)

[farnsworth]

First of all, this is about the DOS-Version of Wing Commander 3, not the Kilrathi Saga-Edition.

For those who don't like to read, I uploaded the patch here:
http://uploaded.to/?id=rvr077
Warning: Close all applications before using it! Your Computer may freeze if settings are incorrect (see below).


Info about the patch:
Well, i'll try to be brief: I wasn't completely happy with the DosBox approach described here:
https://www.wcnews.com/techsupport.shtml#wc3
Everything worked fine except for the videos beeing "stumbling" every other second as if there was a buffer problem (does everybody have that?)

The VDMSound approach (described here http://www.crius.net/zone/showthread.php?t=19757) was even worse as the game did not even start but it returned the "not enough FILES available"-error which nobody appears to have a solution for.

After some searching i found the patch on this site:
http://www.esinn.net/index.php?link=artikel&artikel_nr=100 (German)
They advise you to
- copy all contents of CD1 to a harddrive folder
- extract the patchfiles to that folder - they don't tell whether to overwrite or not
- change compatibilty of WC3W.EXE to Windows 2000 (strangely not 95 or XP)
- start WC3W.EXE and immediately switch to the Windows-Taskmanager to set WC3W.EXE's process priority from High to NORMAL (Apparently the system freezes if not doing so).

My Problem now: The videos play fine now, but the arrow keys do not work, nor does the ingame-music
Also, how do i access the WC3-setup program? Seems as if the -i parameter just starts the game normally.

 

[AD]

First of all, this is about the DOS-Version of Wing Commander 3, not the Kilrathi Saga-Edition.

For those who don't like to read, I uploaded the patch here:
http://uploaded.to/?id=rvr077
Warning: Close all applications before using it! Your Computer may freeze if settings are incorrect (see below).


My Problem now: The videos play fine now, but the arrow keys do not work, nor does the ingame-music
Also, how do i access the WC3-setup program? Seems as if the -i parameter just starts the game normally.

This isn't entirely a new "fix." What it does is replace the regular exe with the Kilrathi saga one. (Veterans will remember that KS is playable with the dos CDs). It does make things like sound card compatability easier but it does mess a few other things. Does this patch you uploaded include new music files too? Because IIRC it will break the ingame music as it will look for the redone digital stuff from KS instead of the MIDIs.

Edit: YEah, I've seen this very patch actually. They have a link for the music files in the readme but the site was either taken down or has gone defunct. So this is an ok solution if you like your WC without music. The patch comes with some kind of editor so you might be able to insert your own music in place. Try it out and let me know what happens.

 

[farnsworth]

hm, without the arrow keys the game isn't so much fun
Yet, it should be possible to apply the patch to the dos-version somehow.

 

[AD]

hm, without the arrow keys the game isn't so much fun
Yet, it should be possible to apply the patch to the dos-version somehow.

Yes, this is for the dos version. It effectively converts a regular Dos WC3 into the Kilrathi Saga version with a few side effects _ namely it introduces the kilrathi saga bugs and removes the music...

Are you sure the arrow keys don't work with the keyboard chosen in the inflight options menu? Do you happen to have other USB game controlers plugged in at the same time interfering?

 

[farnsworth]

Yes, this is for the dos version. It effectively converts a regular Dos WC3 into the Kilrathi Saga version with a few side effects _ namely it introduces the kilrathi saga bugs and removes the music...

Are you sure the arrow keys don't work with the keyboard chosen in the inflight options menu? Do you happen to have other USB game controlers plugged in at the same time interfering?

Yes, i am pretty sure and the only controllers plugged in are my keyboard via PS/2 and a USB-mouse with adapter on PS/2 as well.
Anyways, i have about had it with my computer locking up, so i am gonna get me the Kilrathi Saga edition.

 

[AD]

Yes, i am pretty sure and the only controllers plugged in are my keyboard via PS/2 and a USB-mouse with adapter on PS/2 as well.
Anyways, i have about had it with my computer locking up, so i am gonna get me the Kilrathi Saga edition.

The thing is, that most likely won't stop the game from freezing. That's one of those bugs in the KS that make dosbox a better solution on more powerful computers. Most of the crashing you are experiencing with that patch is because it uses the Kilrathi Saga exe