Written and Edited By: MarkEAW

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CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

FORWARD
About The EAW Community

STARTING OFF
Why EAW?.... | Issues and Problems | System Requirements

OFFICIAL MICROPROSE VERSIONS
The EAW Demo | The EAW Trial | v1.0 Out Of The Box / Stock | v1.1 Standard | v1.2 Standard

OTHER GAME TYPES
HexEdited Patches | FXEXE Patches | CodeGroup Patches | GOG Type

ENDING HELP INSTRUCTIONS
Installing
 

This help document is to provide information on what you may want to know and what you will need to know when you first get EAW. This is the first 'Help Document' you should be reading when rediscovering EAW today!

I made my EAW Help Site partially in hope you will rediscover EAW in working order on modern machines and use many of the fan resources to enjoy the game in whatever form you prefer. Read on to get started!

European Air War (EAW) was released on October 31, 1998 published by Hasbro, under the developers name, MicroProse. It was a marvel, with 20 Flyable planes and a possible 256 planes in the air at one time. This game was out beating any other WWII Combat Sims of the time and afterwards. At twelve months old it was considered a classic but still full price on the store shelves. Given that it's had a few budget re-releases; on July 24, 2000 by Hasbro "Classic Series" and on June 8, 2001 by Infogrames, then again in 2002 by Atari. It's a must have if you're even vaguely interested in WWII combat flight simulators, or think you might like to try it one day.

About The EAW Community:
(This topic is a fairly brief 'time line', I'll try to update it, if I can get back to it)...
The EAW Community (of 1998 to about 2005) where a loosely structured collection of programmers, artists, modelers, and enthusiasts who have contributed their expertise to the relentless pursuit of immersion in World War II air combat. They where mostly in single form; meaning they worked and shared all their discoveries with each other. You should enjoy and appreciate the outstanding work presented here in this sites file archives (and files located in other places) of these good folks who keep real life Veterans' and their planes, their experiences, and their memories alive in a virtual form.

From 1998 to 2002 and beyond. There was an enormous mod scene that produced enhancements and add-ons. The EAW improvements have come in almost every area of modding and hacking at the exe and game data level, like; new aircraft, flight models, skins, sounds, cockpits, campaigns, terrain textures, terrain objects, sky's, horizon clouds, etc, all available to change the way the stock EAW looked and behaved, partially unrecognizable for the better. This was and is one of the major reasons for the games popularity. (Special attention must go to Paulo Morais for all his genius in designing all the necessary early tools to work with all EAW files and Charles Gunst for providing basic add-ons like the Enemy Coast Ahead (ECA), ECA Panel and the massive EAW Editing Notes. Without the contributions of these two men no custom fan campaign would have been made. (The very first campaign add-ons that most have studied and used as major examples of how campaigns needed to be done, were made by them; "1942 Turning Point in Europe" and the first "1940 Battle of France" were designed by Paulo Morais and Charles Gunst respectively.)

The community of 2002 and after where similar to what came before, but greatly reduced in size. There where major issues on Win2000 and WinXP, these problems associated with EAW, would keep the game from installing and from running for awhile. Long enough though that The number of modders and players would drop off for more modern WWII Flight Simulator games, which arrived just a few years latter than EAW.

Around 2005 you'll find that the remaining community where mostly made up modders for the game, rather than many players. Information sharing wasn't ideal and those groups split into several. A small number would still hang around up to 2008...

In August 2005 the EAW community officially obtained the source code and has since modified the game to remove many bugs from the stock version, including adding in long wanted fan requested features.

After 2008 (the time of the first un-official public eaw.exe version was released), you would find that most modder's have left and remaining are virtual pilot players since some stuck around waiting for the new exe and others in the group that coded the game found it difficult to agree and some of those modders moved on.

New versions of EAW by way of the un-official closed source code modified by one group and another independent version made by machine level manipulation. New game data was added and existing old assets where modified to work with the new versions of builds or types of the game (Read below in the 'OTHER GAME TYPES' section to understand where and what form these un official updates take).

Of course there are many more important people during all those days, perhaps some time in the future I'll have a list made up. Right now, look at my 'Files Page' and I have listed many modding authors of addons and tool programmers names that where present during those days, witness there accomplishments as you browse through...

Why EAW?....:
....and not some other WWII Flight Simulator? Most people play EAW for the intense battles you can have with 256 planes in the air at once. Others play it because of the (almost) full dynamic playable Campaign / Career Mode. (Read my 'Full Review Guide' to learn more about this game, the good and bad is mentioned). 

Issues And Problems:
To some degree on Modern Windows OS, all versions and types of the eaw.exe when run natively, with no wrapper will have trouble. See my 'Troubleshoot Help Document' to know about these issues and the workarounds available.

System Requirements:
The game, to run natively needs a certain system, same with a wrapped game usually requires a modern system. See my 'Performance Help Document' for all the system requirements.

Come back and continue to read this Help Document, below.

Versions:

• The EAW Demo:
  The official EAW Demo is a software only rendered game and allows you to play for 5 mins at a time, sometimes longer depending on how well you do in combat. See my 'Files Help Document' for some extra words about the EAW 5min Demo and links to Download it.
  
  
  
• The EAW Trial:
  The official EAW Trial is really a full fledge game and allows you to play for 30 mins at a time. See my 'Files Pages' for some extra information about the EAW 30min Trial and links to Download it.
  
   
• MPSv1.0 Out of The Box / Stock:
  This is the CD version. Of course, you must at least 'install' this version if you want the game. This version is said to be flawed in some areas and advisable to patch up to a more refined version of 1.1 or 1.2.
   
   
• MPSv1.1 Standard:
  This is the first Official MPS patch version. Often used for its much more difficult enemy A.I. (harder than v1.2 below). But lacks some features and multiplay fixes that are added into v1.2.
  
   
• MPSv1.2 Standard:
  This is the second and final Official MPS Patch version. This one can be applied without needing the previous version patch. I recommend that you play this version for a period of time to learn the in's and outs of the game. (The official MicroProse Dynamic Campaign / Career Mode is most playable with this version or type.)

Game Types:

• HexEdited Patches:
  These are the un-official tweaked by hex editing custom 'exe's' that where made to replace just the games main exe file (eaw.exe) rather than modifying any or much additional game data. These where methods used by the very old community to help fix issues, like bugs with the game after MPS stopped supplying an official patch. This knowingly improved the duration of fun and quality of life for EAW.
  
  You'll only want to use these if you have an English game installed as most of these replacement exe's are primarily for the English EAWv1.2. You apply these replacement exe's over a previous official patch or to a newly added full clean "installation" of the stock EAW game. More on this later.
  
  There are several HexEdited replacement eaw.exe's available. Two worth mention here includes the so called un-official 1.2a enhancement version, which presumably was hex-edited. Also the other un-official community made v1.26e patch updater with fixes to the exe that also provides some game data modifications as well. (It is considered to be a 1.2 executable regarding add-on compatibility and running it). There are many more that specialize themselves, are you confused, keep reading below.

  You'll really want to read my 'HexEdited Patches Guide' for further details and install instructions for many of those custom HexEdit "upgrades". Also note that most if not all HexEdited exe's included a NoCD option built in, see the same Help Document for the special NoCD Instructions at the end. You can even get a hexedited stock exe with just the NoCD change....not sure how they do in multiplayer though, as far as allowing them....

  
   

• FXEXE Patches:
  The EAWPRO powered by the FXEXE (eaw.exe) is an un-official machine level manipulated special effects exe done by VBH. This new patch package includes much improved game data that takes advantage of developed improvements and enhancements. These changes take the game beyond the standard game, visually and gameplay wise. More on this later.
  
  The FXEXE: EAWPRO Edition is a special effects update and additions that is in concern with Windows compatibility, considered to be closely a EAWv1.2 executable. This release of the game can have add-ons up converted to work with it, however, you will quickly find that the game is intentionally self contained and has its own add-ons built in, including much updated game data.
  
  There is also the complete true full update known as 'The Final Cut', it is only available to the authors(VBH) group members for testing. The Basic Core files and required game data (a full patch in itself) are available to everyone to download and try out. EAWPRO only requires a copy of the full stock 'installation' of an official EAW game to be present. You take the EAWPRO archive and you overwrite some of the files with the new ones, it also adds additional files. The downloadable archive contains its own readme with install instructions.
  
  Read my 'Install Help Document' to get the standard stock EAW up and running first. Also read my 'FXEXE Patches Guide' for download links, install directions and additional troubleshooting. You'll also find information on development background details and the changes made to EAW for the EAWPRO! game. This information is mostly provide by the developer of EAWPRO, directly.

  
   

• CodeGroup Patches (or standalones):
  These are un-official Code-Group source code modifications (includes feature changes, bug fixes, new game data, new gameplay and modding features added. These are labeled, un-officially by version numbers; CG v1.28x and higher). The older versions where patches, while the newer archives (released after 2012) are considered standalone, where you don't need the game CD to install nor run the game; they will not require you to add the CD files to your computer before hand since the registered CD game data is typically already included.
  
  These Source Coded 'Standalones' have alot of community game assets in them. They come with very large and different individual theaters of operations with many plane sets (skins, sounds etc...) to choose from. These are known as UAW (Universal Air Wars), rather than EAW alone.

  The latest versions (typically v1.40+) contain the best of the best add-ons, and do not require any additional add-ons to be added to them. Up converting any old add-ons done by other authors that you may find needs to be asked of the CodeGroup members as their tools are not available to everyone outside the group.
  
  Versions above 1.28c, support more than a single controller, two. Later versions can handle three devices (actually tested with three all-in-one Joysticks), but it may become difficult, but possible to configure HOTAS devices.
  
  Even though fixed (set distance) gun convergence was introduced in early versions (adjustable in the eaw.ini with later versions), the main game draw backs of these CG versions are that there are not any more Plane Collision, no 2D cockpits, only the limited detail of the 3D virtual one is available. The steep learning curve of the pre game frontend (for the versions that include it). Hit bubbles are too small now.
  

  To install any of the Code Groups un-official source code modifications, read my 'CodeGroup Patches Guide'. Also see that document for more information on the revision changes and feature details of those released.

  
   

• GOG Type:
  This particular type can be purchased, digitally, either on GOG or Steam. The only thing changed in this re-release of EAW, is the game exe. GOGv1.2 is totally based on MicroProse's official v1.2 game exe. It is considered a super type as it was hacked (patched) with brute force tools by Retroism / GOG, (no source code used).
  
  The digital download is a standalone (meaning all the original MPS standard v1.2 Files (the game assets) are present). GoG has provided a new modern automated installer which also installs the older DirectX 9.0c on all systems after it places GOG EAW on your drive. This is safe as it will not over write your systems current DX files.
  
  The installer comes with Four Wrapper Programs; two for Graphics (used for DirectX or Glide), one for IPX LAN usage and one for Direct Input. The Smacker Videos are present and will play properly (at full speed) on all supported systems.
  
  One of the changes in the super patched eaw.exe will allow Horizon Fog to be present on Win10 in D3D mode with NVidia Cards (all cards). However, the terrible Terrain Shimmer is still present. It should be possible to cure if the GOG Wrapper is configured correctly and your Video Card settings are Configured correctly...(I'm not totally sure yet, you tell me?).
  
  You will be able to use add-ons, skins, terrain textures, skies, clouds etc.... that where designed for the MPS official standard v1.2 of EAW by the past community.
  
  It appears the hardest part to get into the virtual air, is getting your controller configured correctly. (it uses the same internal controller support that the standard EAW MPSv1.2 games uses). Unfortunately that means most if not all modern HOTAS (3 devices) will not work. There is some new support for control pads with the Direct Input Wrapper (dinput.dll), although this dll can prevent an 'all in one Joystick' from being detected by the game....you will need to remove or rename this file so the game ignores it to get that device working.
  
  See my 'GOG Patches Guide' for some more details about the GOG re-released game. Technical information and troubleshooting is included.
  
  NOTES:
  
  (EAW GOGv1.28 version is no longer available from GOG download). See my 'GOG Patches Guide' for more details.
  
  

Installing:
You will want to see my 'Install Help Document'. That document will teach you primarily how to get the CD and the official patches on your computer the proper way, plus other important info BEFORE running the game. Please read or skim it regardless of which version or type of EAW you intend to use.

Also, you will want to read and follow the steps provided in my other 'Help Documents', as indicated at the end of the "Install Help Document"!

[END]