Wing Commander I Win95 "Patch"

This essentially IS the Win95 version of Wing Commander 1 patched with ddhack. I just removed one file, so that you still have to own Wing Commander 1 in order to use this.

How to use:

1) Download the Win95 files:

http://www.share-online.biz/dl/9PD922UM0KDZ

2) Extract them to a place of your liking.

3) Go to "WC\GAMEDAT" directory of your GOG installation and copy the BRIEFING.VGA file. Paste it into the GAMEDAT folder of the Win95 version.

4) Start the game with WC1.EXE.

Please give feedback, whether this is an improvement towards the DOS version or not: Speed, smoothness, Joystick accuracy etc.

Know bugs:

Secret Missions are missing (didn't manage to add them).

Side note, WC1 Kilrathi Saga version is semi freeware, and was released in a PC Gamer issue. You can also get it off the Wing Commander CIC website.

BTW does DDHack still have that stupid popup water mark? I know its only shown for a split second. But I never could figure out the point.

I know the PC Gamer release on the CIC. I just don't like posting free games on the GOG forum ;)

Yeah, the one second watermark is still there. According to the readme it's an indication whether the dll works or not.

Is it possible to disable it, if I wanted to?

Back to your original topic. I've tested the version on CIC, and I think overall, it runs more smoothly than the GOG release. In particularly when more things are on screen at once. I remember my old Kilrathi Saga cd version being better with joysticks. Although I don't have a joystick currently to test it out on modern computers. The mouse control works pretty decently though, and better than the dos version. I think keyboard macros work a bit better.

Other things to listen for besides the updated music, is the sound of water drips in the bunk room, klaxon sound, and improved weapon sounds in the cockpit, IIRC.

As mentioned before, you won't see planets, nebulas or suns in the space background. For whatever reason. No fix as far as I know? Isn't there a link to the secret missions for Kilrathi Saga patch somewhere? Would that work?

Are you going to do something similar to patch WC2 into windows version as well?

The brief watermark when starting the game cannot be disabled.

So you say, overall performance is better but background elements are missing. Never realised the latter. Good to know.

I tried the mission addons from the CIC. The installation program asks for the KS disc and copying the files manually hasn't been a success. I'll have to look for my KS discs and then I'll try again. Got one a long time ago and it should be in the basement.

Regarding WC2: Yes, once I found my KS discs...

[url=http://pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Wing_Commander:_The_Kilrathi_Saga#Secret_Missions_won.27t_install]These steps[/url] work for the PC Gamer version; presumably the original disc version is the same.

Thanks for the link. But I did it the same way. Always "XYZ.exe stopped working..." after the intro.

And with compatibility mode it doesn't even start.

I will try it again once I found my KS discs...

One side note the briefings in WC1 run a little fast in the Windows version, but there may be a command for slowing them down. I just don't remember what it was.

Another thing to keep in mind is cheats function differently IIRC.

I found my KS discs, installed WC1 and finally I was able to use the Secret Missions installer. But it made no difference: It still crashes after the intro. So up until now: WC1 Win95 version only without the secret mission :(

EDIT: I had more luck with WC2. Special Ops installed correctly. Sadly the performance of the Win95 port is really bad. Sloppy framerate, bad controlls. That's no step forward compared to the DOS version And I would have to remove the copy protection (WC1's PC Gamer release has no CP). So I don't see any sense in uploading it.

I had the same problem. I got it to work by running the installer in Win95 compatability mode and administrator mode on.

The KS version is the way to go. The DOS version has an unfixable problem where the game lags with more than 1 ship in the same sector. Makes it unplayable in my opnion.

I haven't tried WC2 dos version but comments on the net state that it doesn't have this problem.

The installer worked fine (should have made that clearer). Starting the secret missions results in a crash. Compatibility modes don't make a difference.

Speed problems exist even on actual hardware, but it's never that bad. you should raise cycles or switch to taewong's version of dosbox. WC2 does have the same issues. Acadamy however, has timing regulation.

The problem with switching cycles is that it becomes too fast when there isn't much action on screen. Switching cycles up and down is not a particularly fun exercise.

What is taewong's dosbox? Why would that help? (Forgive my ignorance)

I have the KSaga version on CD anyway, so I'm planning to just play through those.

You think WC2 KS is playable? IMO it had heavy stuttering.

Hey Silver,if you ever get around to it and find a way to get past 'copy protection'. I forget it even had copy protection? What type did it have?.

Could you still upload the needed files to upgrade the game into windows mode?

I would definitely be interested in seeing it again, and testing it out. At least to hear the updated music again.