Edit - Post fully changed as I found a way to fix WC3 for me and make it better: For WC3 Windows 11...
I highly recommend applying some mods. It makes it playable for me
and fun again. The DOS version for me has some weird control issue that I wasn't able to fix (dropping fps helped but then had an fps problem instead).
I still can't use keyboard with this as its also broken here. But, the mouse is working out better here and is more like Freelancer, which I prefer today.
On top of that, these mods aren't perfect, but they upgrade the game to the point where its actually fun, the movies look better although could still be better, and the ships in game look far better.
First need to apply WC3 DOS to Windows pack (its the link that says here):
https://www.wcnews.com/news/update/16333 - Just need to go to the WC3 game dir and extract the data.dat file (then delete that file as its no longer to be used) as the link says and then copy the patch into the game dir. Ignore the link instuctions direct draw hack optional download (the next patch has its own thing).
Then need to apply WC3 enhancement patch:
https://github.com/mattwells77/Wing_Commander_III_Enhancement_Patch - This one is at this time two files found under releases. wc3w_en_v0.2.0-alpha and libvlc_min_pack_3.0.20. Download both.
- Just copy the extracted files into the game dir.
Finally, the hd movie pack:
https://www.wcnews.com/wcpedia/Wing_Commander_3_HD_Video_Pack - Copy the extracted files to the new movies dir in the game dir.
If you have previous saves, copy them from cloud_saves sub dir directly into the main game dir with the rest of the new files as the game will now use that location for save files.
Now use the new WC3W.EXE to play the game.
You can use ALT+O to change settings.
If you've never played it before or forgot this silly exit: ALT + X to exit the game.
Last edit. Played to the end with this and it was all fun. One thing I will note is that one level had crashes. Its either fixed by ALT+O and lowering models to lowest quality and maybe VGA (did both) or playing multiple times randomly got past it as the crashes tend to be random like during the auto loading screen. Also, at times the videos play twice HD then old. Just ESC once to skip it the 2nd time. The patches might fix that in time. And too, you can press F1 and play the in-game fullscreen at least on my 16:9 monitor. The HD videos are all fullscreen as well on my monitor.
