Written and Edited by MarkEAW [
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CONTENTS
INTRO
v1.2
GOG
Clean Installed Folder For v1.2GOG | Other Programs Installed by GOG
Make a
Portable Version from the GOG Installed Files
Features in EAW restored by Retroism/GoG | Modifications done by Retroism/GoG | Remaining Issues | NoCD
Clean Installed Folder For
v1.28GOG | Versions (128) , a and b
HISTORY OF RELEASES
This help document provides information about the GOG (and Steam)
re-released purchasable digital downloads of the 1998 EAW PC Game.
Some brief notes about the GOG Automated Installed EAWv1.2GOG Game,
re-re-released 3-27-2021.
The game is the MicroProse official v1.2 patched game. However, the game exe was also modified
by Retroism / GoG afterwards. It includes all MicroProse official
v1.2 CDFs and other gamedata files, untouched.
It
has been suspected that Retroism used some powerful tools with brute
force to hack the eaw.exe, primarily and possibly to update the DirectX version instructions in the eaw.exe
to DX7. The 'new' improved super game exe is slightly larger than the
official game exe from MPS. (The d3d.dll files are identical). They have
not shared the improvements with the community.
The
GoG installer installs the EAW game files and all the
Wrappers and finally DirectX 9.0c on your system. Normally you wouldn't
need to have 9.0c installed unless a file was missing, however the game
may now need it (its unclear to me if it does or does not). Its safe to
install these files and it will not overwrite other versions of DirectX.
Clean Installed Folder For v1.2-GOG (for reference)
This is only showing the single changed file, the game exe. The
rest of the files are the same as the Official MPS EAWv1.2 install. (You can see
a complete official v1.2 folder list in my 'Install Help Document').
\EAW12GOG\
eaw.exe 1,431,040
Other Programs Installed by GOG (for reference)
You'll find these files in your EAW GOG Install as well.
Separated here for reference.
GOG DirectX 1-7 Wrapper (by GOG)
- ddraw.dll 1,572,864
dxcfg.exe 929,792 dxcfg.ini 159 gog.ico 69,248
The game; the super patched eaw.exe requires this wrapper (or more precise, a ddraw.dll
must be present, this is the actual wrapper) to function correctly. If this "new" dll is not present, the game
will most likely become non responding
(at least on Win10). A Pain to get out of.
Another
Direct Draw wrapper with a .dll can be used, if you wanted to use another
wrapper than GOG's. Typically a ddraw.dll wrapper comes with a
configuration file. Both those files are placed in the games main folder,
where the supper patched eaw.exe is sitting.
You use the dxcfg.exe to configure GOG's wrapper settings. This wrapper will upscale the menu screens to equal larger
resolutions than 640x480 (equal to the set resolution in the wrapper).
Normally a standard wrapper leaves the menu screens alone and renders them at EAW default size when resolutions in the wrapper are
Width is zero by Height is zero or automated, this wrapper does not.
The wrapper can also be used to upscale the games resolution on the Flight
Screens.
Note: Without the presents of the dxcfg.ini the game folder, the ddraw.dll will use
default settings, as listed in the configuration program.
See my "Troubleshoot Wrappers Help Document" to read more about GOGs DX Wrapper.
Glide Wrapper (Portable/Local nGlide by Zeus)
- 3DfxSpl.dll 1,105,408
3DfxSpl2.dll 1,105,408 3DfxSpl3.dll 1,105,408 glide.dll 1,536,000 glide2x.dll 1,630,208 glide3x.dll 1,732,608 nglide_config.exe 348,160 nglide_readme.txt 24,929 nGlideEULA.txt 227
This
is a portable version of nGlide, all the files get dumped into the
games folder. Support becomes local for
only the game folder its placed in. Instead of system wide, like nGlide normally
installs itself into.
Direct Input Wrapper (?)
- dinput.dll 352,256
dixi.ini 12,591
This wrapper allows more modern Control Pads to be used with
EAW, and perhaps improves modern Joystick support at the same time
(more devices?). (However, If your standard three in one Joystick doesn't work, try removing
this dll to see if that helps EAW to detect your device properly).
IPX Wrapper (by Solemn)
- directplay-win32.reg 1,662
directplay-win64.reg 1,758 dpwsockx.dll 39,200 ipxconfig.exe 461,600 ipxwrapper.dll 84,768 ipxwrapper-changes.txt 8,940 ipxwrapper-license.txt 18,326 ipxwrapper-readme.txt 2,129 mswsock.dll 36,128 wsock32.dll 35,616
IPXWrapper allows using EAW that needs IPX/SPX support on
recent versions of Windows which no longer support it. Software that
uses WinSock 1.x and/or DirectPlay (before version 8) is supported. It
will Tunnel IPX to UDP. (GoG uses this wrapper for EAW, EAW needs these
files in the game folder too activate and make available the IPX
Protocol choice on the multiplayer set-up in game. IPX is designed for
LAN use, however some online services will allow IPX through DirectPlay
allowing online playing. Without these files EAW may not display the IPX
option, or the protocol option won't be click able.
The two reg/registry files configure windows for
DirectPlay.
However, Windows 10 will normally ask you if you wish to install the
legacy application; DirectPlay upon running this game for the first
time. OR you can add the option yourself by configuring Win10 to add
Legacy Support and DirectPlay in Windows Program and Features>Turn
Windows Features On or Off.
Other GOG Files (by GOG)*
- EULA.txt 48,591
goggame-eaw.ico 147,499 firewall.cmd 342
*There are many more files (not listed or shown here) that make up
approximately 12megs that are
placed in the Main EAW Game folder. Some are from the GoG Setup
Installer; which would include an Uninstaller program and related installer configuration
files. There are also GOG Server used files. All those types of files
not listed are not at all necessary for the EAWv1.2-GOG version to run
properly.
The firewall.cmd file is to add a rule to the Windows Firewall to allow
EAW to pass through. However, normally Windows 10 will ask you to allow
EAW to pass through upon selecting a protocol in EAW's multiplayer
configuration screen, and applies the firewall rule.
Make a Portable Version from the GOG Installed Files:
- If you wish to make a portable version of the game; you should
first make a copy of the newly installed game directory and then place it somewhere
else. Then use the included GOG uninstaller for the actual EAWv1.2GOG version
(or leave the game in place, your choice).
If you do uninstall or
remove/move a EAW game folder, most likely you'll want clean up old
registry entries pertaining to that folder. Clean
out your copy of the EAWv1.2GOG game directory by leaving out [deleting] all the
un necessary files. Below is a list of the files to keep. You may want
to keep nGlide files as well (those are listed above).
These are the files for a portable GOG full 'installation';
"eaw.exe" The "\Music" folder "d3d.dll" "SMACKW32.DLL"
"Dsetup.dll" "chatline.txt" ALL "***.CDF" files dxcfg.exe
ddraw.dll dxcfg.ini
Then follow some aspects of my 'Install
Help document' instructions to complete your
portable game install.
- See the 'v1.28 GOG' section below for updating (not required).
Features in EAW restored by Retroism/GoG (The
publisher/distributor of the re-release):
- Main MicroProse Intro Globe Smacker(Smk) video plays smoothly (MOVIES.CDF).
- Other Video Smk plays smoothly (MOVIES.CDF).
- All In Game Films / Videos playback properly on modern windows, most times. (MOVIES.CDF).
- Control Pad controllers can now be used (with the inc DirectInput Wrapper; dinput.dll and dixi.ini).
- In Game the Flight Screen displays Direct3D Mode Horizon Fog for
NVidia Cards as well. (GOG DX Wrapper).
- The View Plane / View Objects Screen functions correctly. (compat
fixes)
- Software
Rendering mode works. (-1 for Display in the eaw.ini), (compat fixes)
- No Garbled Colors on the Menu Screens. (GOG DX Wrapper).
- No Map Tearing. (GOG DX Wrapper).
Modifications done by Retroism/GoG:
- A few compatibility fixes; unknown.
- DirectX GPU support requirement from the older v6 to v7 (Including DirectDraw7).
- Only IPX (LAN) Protocol available. (other modes and protocols
where
removed by the super patch).
- Online Multiplayer possible with IPX Wrapper that translates IPX to UDP and a Game service.
Remaining Issues (related to hardware and modern
Windows): These are issues that Retroism / GoG should fix, sooner
than later, (ask VBH in the EAW community, perhaps).
- Parameter Screen Mouse Clicks Loop too fast (needs a delay or removed
repeat, mouse polling slowdown).
- The FOV of the flight screen resolution 1024x768 is too narrow (the
front cockpit panel is too close).
- Career Film Video Playback issue. Might be Movie related (you may
want to try the empty MOVIE.CDF file).
- Campaigns crash the game because of a Career save issue. This is
when a EAW error manifests when trying to save a career file. This is
perhaps a new Win10 (update 12-2023) problem (A permission or file
write error) Note: Some of the old un official modified eaw.exe's for
WinNT seem to be okay. (Resolved in Win10 on or before 7-07-2024)
For GOG users
to solve this (you won't be able to pull off this without an update to
GOG's wrapper), you can however make a portable version of the GOG release, then patch
the new portable version with the un-official 1.26 version (which
seems okay with the career saves) or add the
official EAWv1.2 eaw.exe and overwrite the GOG game exe. You can then use
the DxWnd Wrapper (ghotik) with any version of the game and use the
profiles I provide for download if you need help configuring the
wrapper as the GOG Wrapper is no longer used.
NoCD:
- The
eaw.ini requires this to be present to avoid CD requirement. No
powered On or installed CD-ROM is needed there after. (Note: The old noCD MPS EAWv1.2 requires a CD device to be present, with no CD in the
drive).
GoG included these
debug settings. [Miscellaneous] Debug Flags=0 Debug Path=.\
Read my 'MicroProse Patches Help Document' for more details on the official v1.2.
Some brief notes about the GOG Automated Installed EAWv1.28-GOG Game,
re-released 2-12-2021 (discontinued)
Note:
EAWv1.28GOG is no longer available from GOG, since the roll-back to
EAWv1.2GOG on 3-27-2021, listed in the above section. The Code-Group
required this version to be pulled as it is their build, which can not
be sold.
The game is based on the
MPS and the un-official Code-Group source modified game, v1.28. This means the game exe
was modified beyond the CodeGroups version by Retroism / GoG afterwards. It also includes MicroProse official v1.2 CDF gamedata files,
however some of that was modified by the Code
Group (meaning they replaced some of the official 1.2 CDFs or some contents).
The
'new' improved GOG super game exe is almost the same size as the old Code Groups
128 game exe, however CRC values say they are different (21,417 byte
difference in the exes. The d3d.dll files are identical).
See my 'First Use Help Document' for more descriptions and highlights,
listed under "CodeGroup Patches".
Clean Installed Folder For v1.28-GOG (for reference)
This is a folder without any specific GOG files present (other
than the GOG eaw.exe); Stripped down to the modified EAW gamadata and default gamedata files.
\EAW128GOG\ 3D.CDF 8,409,536 chatline.txt 438 Cockpits.CDF 33,473,605 d3d.dll 86,016 DATA.CDF 1,437,809 Dsetup.dll 127,488 eaw.exe 1,310,720 eaw.ini 5,385 FLT.CDF 39,540 FONTS.CDF 1,067,664 GRBRIEF.CDF 9,352,358 hof.dat 1,096 Menu_eng.cdf 38,308 Movies.cdf 298,809,288 Music.cdf 1,452,428 PIC.CDF 28,294,463 readme.rtf 25,526 SMACKW32.DLL 96,256 SOUND.CDF 1,203,659 SOUND16.CDF 10,014,146 SPEECH1.CDF 10,431,783 SPEECH2.CDF 11,943,211 SPEECH3.CDF 12,407,240 SPRITES.CDF 254,038 TERRAIN.CDF 7,942,132 TEXT_ENG.CDF 178,120 UKBRIEF.CDF 10,101,180 USBRIEF.CDF 11,970,136 V1.1 Details.rtf 16,801 V1.28 Details.rtf 17,721 WSOUND.CDF 9,310,061 Wsprites.cdf 25,140,369
\Music\ AmerProm.bgm 5,523,468 BritProm.bgm 6,513,556 Captured.bgm 9,071,660 Drum1.bgm 1,459,968 GermProm.bgm 6,513,796 HallOFam.bgm 7,056,968 MenuMus.bgm 7,836,020 Rescued.bgm 5,082,520 ViewObs.bgm 9,408,380 YouDead.bgm 11,813,424
\Savedata\ MissAlli.mpf 115 MissAxe.mpf 116
- Versions
(128) , a and b:
An update from EAWv1.28GOG, to the Code-Groups v1.28 to v1.28a to v1.28b exists. However this would remove the GOG
revisions from the exe, since the eaw.exe is replaced with both of
those updates. Thus any updates to the GOG game exe will remove
it's revisions.
If you do an update to 128, a or b, then consider it no longer a GOG
release and you don't use many of the files GOG provided. Such as the
GOG DirectX Wrapper and its dll... I would make a portable version
of the GOG version before patching.
Read my 'CodeGroup Patches Help Document' for more in depth details on the un-official v1.28.
Here is the release list of the GOG type. -June 16 2022
Steam sells the identical GOG type, version 1.2 (Provides official MicroProse
files only, exe modified by GOG, "DirectX7" updated)
Custom installer for Windows 7,8,10 English.
Available as downloads are the Manual PDF (266 pages) 3.1meg and
Reference Card PDF 1.0meg
-March 26 2021
GOG sells a digital download, version 1.2GOG (Dropped Code-Group support and provides official MicroProse files
only, exe modified by GOG, "DirectX7" updated)
Custom installer for Windows 7,8,10 English. (599.8MB)
Available as downloads are the Manual PDF (266 pages) 3.1meg and
Reference Card PDF 1.0meg
-February 12 2021
GOG sells a digital download, version 1.28GOG (Code-Group's unofficial
game exe and their new game data, exe modified by GOG, "DirectX7" updated)
New custom installer for Windows 7,8,10 English. (618.7MB) Includes the Flight School Guide (DSG).
Available as downloads are the Manual PDF (266 pages) 3.1meg and
Reference Card PDF 1.0meg
See my 'Performance Help Document' for test results with wrappers and without.
See my 'First Use Help Document' for more highlights on the GOG type release.
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