Aces Series: Making it work

21 hours ago

12 min read

The Aces series was a classic set of flight sims developed by Dynamix and published by SIerra in the early 90's. This article will be continuing from where the earlier Primer article left off. DOSBox configs will be covered, for the Aces games, and for running Win3.x along with sound and control options. Installation of the DOS games and Win3.x supporting manuals and utilities is covered.

Strategy

As there is a great deal of commonality between Aces Of The Pacific and Aces Over Europe, a similar DOSBox config can be used for both. This config will be used as the basis for installing and configuring the games under a DOSBox DOS session.

The CD-ROM version of both games also supported Windows 3.x manuals and utilities used to config the DOS games. A Win3.x installation and DOSBox config will cover installing the Windows manual and utilities.

Each game will use it's own DOSBox config and hdd folder, however both the game and the Win3.x utilities will use the same emulated hard disk folder.

Preparation

This section covers the required preparation before installing or configuring the games under DOSBox. It is a necessary first step given the variety of releases for these two games over the years.

Releases

The first step is to identify the release available and the installation options it provides. The releases for both games fall into three categories, by consulting the earlier Primer, a release should be identified and the installation options determined. The categories are:

DOS based releases. These include all the floppy disk based releases. Only the DOS game and installer is included so there is no need to use a Win3.1 installation.

DOS and Win3.x based releases. These include dedicated CD-ROM releases and the Aces: The Complete Collectors Edition. Both the DOS and Win3.x installers are included so either a DOS only or DOS/Win3.x installation is an option.

Win3.x based release The Aces: Collection Series is a Win3.x based release as it omits the DOS installers. A Win3.x installation is required for this release.

Retail media

Due to the age or the media and the drives required to read them, it is recommended to rip floppy disks and CD-ROMs to image files, to save wear and tear on media and the mechanical drives.

It is recommended to rip floppy disks to a supported DOSBox image format, either ima or img. CD-ROMs can be ripped to a data only iso image format as there is no CD audio on the disc. DOSBox Staging also supports CD-ROM images in a bin/cue image pair.

Game management

It is recommended to use a game management strategy or similar strategy you may have adopted. The recommended game management folders are:

cd - for any cd images.
fdd - for any floppy disk images
hdd - the folder used as the emulated DOSBox hard disk (see hdd folder).

conf - to store DOSBox and HOTAS configuration files.
docs - for documents.
patch - to store any patches.

These management folders are placed in the following game folder (as an example), and used in the rest of the guide:

D:\Games\DOS\Aces Of The Pacific
D:\Games\DOS\Aces Over Europe

hdd folder

When only installing the DOS game, the hdd folder can be a new empty folder. If a Win3.x installation is to be used, the hdd folder will need a 'clean' Win3.x install. The earlier article, DOSBox Staging and Windows covered creating a 'clean' Win3.x install. It is assumed a suitable hdd folder with a Win3.x install is available.

DOSBox

This guide assumes the latest version of DOSBox Staging v0.83.0 has been installed, is fully working and has been run at least once to create a default configuration file. It is also assumed only a single copy of DOSBox Staging is installed with each game, using DOSBox, having its own configuration file (with settings differing from the default configuration file).

Game config

The following is a general DOSBox Staging config for both games.

[cpu]
cycleup = 500
cycledown = 500

[voodoo]
voodoo = off

[mixer]
reverb = small
chorus = light

[mt32]
model = mt32_old
romdir = "D:\Midi\Versioned"

[midi]
mididevice = mt32

[joystick]
timed = off
swap34 = on
deadzone = 0

[autoexec]
@echo off
mixer master 100 /noshow
c:

An Aces Of The Pacific example based on this config can be found in the following GitHub repository: DarkenedRoom/dosbox-staging-configs/Aces Of The Pacific/AOTP-staging.conf.

An Aces Over Europe example based on this config can be in the following GitHub repository: DarkenedRoom/dosbox-staging-configs/Aces Over Europe/AOE-staging.conf.

In the [cpu] section cpu_cycles is set to 20000 as an initial value, depending on the host PC and personal preference, this figure may need to adjusted to between 12000-25000 cycles.

Voodoo emulation is not required and is disabled.

The [mixer] settings are an example and can be changed to a personal preference. However these settings may be appropriate due to the constant engine sounds.

MIDI is configured using an original MT32 in the [mt32] and [midi] sections as an example. Other music options are covered in Sound.

The [joystick] section will be dependant on the available controllers and personal preference, these options are covered in HOTAS config. The timed and swap34 options are examples for the controllers in use. The deadzone is a personal preference.

The mixer command silently restores mixer volume to 100%.

There are example mount commands (covered later) to run the game or invoke an AOTP or AOE menu, covered in Tools.

Tools

Launcher menus have been created for both Aces Of The Pacific and Aces Over Europe. The following options are available:

Run the game.
Run the DOS based setup.
View release notes.
Backup and restore a pilot career.
Backup and restore the top aces and top mission lists.
Returning to the DOSBox DOS prompt.
Quitting DOSBox.

The Aces Of The Pacific launcher menu can be in the following GitHub repository: DarkenedRoom/dosbox-staging-configs/Aces Of The Pacific/AOTPmenu.bat.

The Aces Over Europe launcher menu can be in the following GitHub repository: DarkenedRoom/dosbox-staging-configs/Aces Over Europe/AOEmenu.bat.

The launcher menu should be placed in the game installation folder after the game has been installed. Due to the variety of releases this may be one of the following default install folders. For AOTP:

Win 10/11:

D:\Games\DOS\Aces Of The Pacific\hdd\dynamix\aotp
D:\Games\DOS\Aces Of The Pacific\hdd\sierra\aotp
D:\Games\DOS\Aces Of The Pacific\hdd\sierra\aces\aotp

DOSBox

C:\dynamix\aotp
C:\sierra\aotp
C:\sierra\aces\aotp

For AOE:

Win10/11:

D:\Games\DOS\Aces Over Europe\hdd\dynamix\aoe
D:\Games\DOS\Aces Over Europe\hdd\sierra\aoe
D:\Games\DOS\Aces Over Europe\hdd\sierra\aces\aoe

DOSBox

C:\dynamix\aoe
C:\sierra\aoe
C:\sierra\aces\aoe

To run the AOTP launcher automatically, add the following lines to the [autoexec] section and enable the appropriate installation folder:

# Using the AOTP menu
# cd \dynamix\aotp
# cd \sierra\aotp
call aotpmenu.bat

To run the AOE launcher automatically, add the following lines to the [autoexec] section and enable the appropriate installation folder:

# Using the AOE menu
# cd \dynamix\aoe
# cd \sierra\aoe
call aoemenu.bat

Windows 3.x config

The following is a general DOSBox Staging config which can be used to run Win3.x. This config is applicable to both games. This config is used to run Win3.x prior to a Win3.x based installation taking place.

[dosbox]
vmemsize = 4

[cpu]
cputype = pentium
cpu_cycles = 40000
cycleup = 1000
cycledown = 1000

[voodoo]
voodoo = off

[mouse]
builtin_dos_mouse_driver_options = immediate

[mixer]
reverb = small
chorus = light

[mt32]
model = mt32_old
romdir = "D:\Midi\Versioned"

[midi]
mididevice = mt32

[autoexec]
@echo off

# Unmount any existing c: drive
mount -u c

mixer master 100 /noshow
set path=%path%;c:\windows;
c:

An example based on this config can be found below or in the following GitHub repository: DarkenedRoom/dosbox-staging-configs/Windows 3.x/Win311.conf.

More information on this config can be found in the earlier article, DOSBox Staging and Windows.

The [joystick] setting is not present in this config as this config is used to run Win3.x, install the game with the Win3.x installer, view the manual or run Win3.x utilities. It is not used to play the game. The earlier game config is optimised to do this from the DOSBox DOS environment.

Sound

The following sound options are supported by AOTP and AOE. The [mixer] reverb setting is small and the chorus is light due to the constant engine noise whilst in flight. The default mixer master volume is 50% and this is restored to 100% in the [autoexec] section, as shown below:

[mixer]
reverb = small
chorus = light

[autoexec]
...
mixer master 100 /noshow
...

Sound Blaster

The default Sound Blaster settings provided by DOSBox Staging v0.83.0 are fully supported by AOTP and AOE. During installation there is no need to specify IRQ, port or DMA settings.

Roland sound

Both AOTP and AOE support the Roland MT32 MIDI device. The following settings are used to enable the MT32. The model is set to mt32_old as recommended by List of MT-32-compatible computer games on the VOGONS wiki.

The romdir setting is an example folder using versioned roms, for more information see, Roland MT-32 in the DOSBox Staging user manual.

[mt32]
model = mt32_old
romdir = "D:\Midi\Versioned"

[midi]
mididevice = mt32

Controls

The following section covers joystick/HOTAS setup.

HOTAS config

Joystick, throttle and rudder pedals are supported by both AOTP and AOE. Configuring axes may not be required if your HOTAS has 4 axes or less. When using a combination of devices totaling more than 4 axes, a virtual controller can be configured (with vendor software or Joystick Gremlin), limited to 4 axes.

For those using controllers from multiple vendors, the vJoy/Joystick Gremlin combination may be required instead of vendor specific HOTAS profile software. You may also have to use HidHide as a device firewall, to hide your real controllers, so only the vJoy virtual controllers are detected by AOTP or AOE. [6][7][8].

The physical axes to Windows axes were configured as follows:

Physical axis	Windows axis
Joystick x-axis	DX_X_AXIS
Joystick y-axis	DX_Y_AXIS
Throttle	DX_Z_AXIS
Rudder	DX_XROT_AXIS

Aces of the Pacific

AOTP does not support the CH Flightstick Pro so it is recommended to use the 4axis joystick type. HOTAS profiling software can be used to control internal views with the hat switch.

[joystick]
joysticktype = 4axis

Aces Over Europe

AOE does support the CH Flightstick Pro so it is recommended to use the ch joystick type. The CH Flightstick Pro support in AOE includes the hat switch.

[joystick]
joysticktype = ch

Aces Of The Pacific installation

Releases with Windows and DOS installers should install using Windows 3.x first and then reinstall using the DOS installer. This ensures Windows 3.x manuals and utilities are available. The DOS install ensures the DOS installer is copied and is available to change game sound settings in a DOSBox DOS session.

Floppy releases have no Win3.x installer, and the DOS installation is the only one available. Similarly, the Aces: Collection Series has no DOS installers, making a Win3.x installation the only one available.

AOTP uses the following [cpu] cyckes setting:

[cpu]
cpu_cycles = 20000

AOTP does not support the CH Flightstick Pro so it is recommended to use the 4axis joystick type. HOTAS profiling software can be used to control internal views with the hat switch.

[joystick]
joysticktype = 4axis

The following DOSBox command can be used to mount a set of floppy disks or a CD-ROM:

[autoexec]
...
# Example floppy disk mount
# mount a "D:\Games\Dos\Aces Of The Pacific\fdd\*.img" -t floppy

# Example CD-ROM mount
# mount d "D:\Games\Dos\Aces Of The Pacific\cd\Aces of the Pacific.cue" -t cdrom
...

Win3.x installation

The earlier article, DOSBox Staging and Windows covered creating a 'clean' Win3.x install. It is assumed a suitable hdd folder with a Win3.x install is available.

The Win3.x installer (setup.exe) can be found on the CD-ROM root folder or AOTP folder. The following shows the installation steps when run from Win3.x:

Choosing an installation size.
Choosing an installation folder.
Setup complete.
Configuration message.
Playing advice.
Configuration options.

It is recommended to choose the Full Installation. Once the installation is complete, the configuration options are displayed. When choosing a Sound Card Option, the MT-32 can be selected even if it isn't detected.

DOS installation

The DOS installers are found on the first floppy disk of a floppy release using the installer:

A:\> install.exe

The DOS installers are found in the AOTP folder of CD-ROM releases, using the installer:

D:\AOTP> install.bat

The following shows the floppy disk release installation steps when run from DOS: Some of the following screenshots may differ slightly when using a CD-ROM release.

Introduction.
Select an installation drive.
Selecting a sound card.
Roland MT-32 information.
INstallation confirmation.
File copying.
Running information.
Registration card information.
Installation complete.

A CD-ROM release will ask for a Full or Minimum installation. It is recommended to choose the full installation. If the game has already been installed using the Win3.x installer then both installations sizes must match (full or minimum).

Patching

The only release which requires the base game to be patched is a May/June 1992 floppy release, that will not be using the expansion. The Aces Of The Pacific: Patch B should be applied using a DOSBox DOS session. The patch files should be copied into the game installation and run with:

C:\dynamix\aotp> update c:

The patching steps are shown in the gallery below:

Running the patch without parameters shows the usage instructions.
Installation begins
Patching individual files.
Patching complete.

Expansion

The floppy disk releases use a separate expansion installer (the CD-ROM releases already include the expansion). The Aces Of The Pacific: WWII: 1946 expansion should be installed using a DOSBox DOS session. The expansion is installed with the command:

A:\> install c:

The patching steps are shown in the gallery below:

Installing the expansion.
Extracting files from the expansion.
Installation complete.

Patching

Once the expansion is installed, it needs to be patched using WWII:1946 Patch A (CD-ROM releases are already patched). This should be installed using a DOSBox DOS session. Extract the patch files into a DOSBox DOS folder and apply the patch using the command:

C:\> install c:

The patching steps are shown below:

Beginning patching.
Extracting and patching files
Patching complete.

Configuration

Configuration can be run as often as required. To configure the game in Win3.x run the Aces of the Pacific Setup from the Aces of the Pacific program group.

To configure the game in DOS, run the installer (install.exe or install.bat) from the AOTP installation folder, and select the required sound card.

Win3.x configuration
Win3.x configuration menu.
DOS configuration.

Running

Due to the variety of releases there are a number of different commands that can be added to the [autoexec] section to run the game. You should enable the appropriate commands for the installed release.

[autoexec]
...

# Running a floppy release
# cd \dynamix\aces
# call aces.bat
# exit

# Running a cd release
# cd \dynamix\aotp
# call aotpcd.bat
# exit

# Running a compilation release
# cd \sierra\aotp
# cd \sierra\aces\aotp
# call aotpcd.bat
# exit

In-game config

The in-game config is used to select the controllers for stick, throttle and rudder, select music and sound and to select the realism options. The following gallery shows the various config menus:

Selecting sound, music and controller options.
Calibrating each controller.
Realism menu, available in flight.

When using 4 axis HOTAS controllers, use the following assignments (screenshot 1):

Flight: Joystick 1.
Rudder: Rudder Pedals.
Throttle: Slider on Joystick 1.

Each controller will require calibrating separately (screenshot 2). The realism menu is available in-flight (screenshot 3).

Aces Over Europe installation

AOTP uses the following [cpu] cyckes setting, which is higher than AOTP and provides smoother gameplay when using the Tall Res setting in the game:

[cpu]
cpu_cycles = 30000

AOE does support the CH Flightstick Pro so it is recommended to use the ch joystick type. The CH Flightstick Pro support in AOE includes the hat switch.

[joystick]
joysticktype = ch

The following DOSBox command can be used to mount a set of floppy disks or a CD-ROM:

[autoexec]
...
# Example floppy disk mount
# mount a "D:\Games\Dos\Aces Over Europe\fdd\*.img" -t floppy

# Example CD-ROM mount
# mount d "D:\Games\Dos\Aces Over Europe\cd\Aces over Europe.iso" -t cdrom
...

Win3.x installation

The earlier article, DOSBox Staging and Windows covered creating a 'clean' Win3.x install. It is assumed a suitable hdd folder with a Win3.x install is available.

The Win3.x installer (setup.exe) can be found on the CD-ROM root folder or AOTP folder. The following shows the installation steps when run from Win3.x:

Selecting an installation size, Full Installation is recommended.
Selecting an installation folder.
Files copied.
Setup will run the configuration utility.
Instructions to play the game.
Configuration menu.

DOS installation

The DOS installers are found on the first floppy disk of a floppy release using the installer:

A:\> install.exe

The DOS installers are found in the AOE folder of CD-ROM releases, using the installer:

D:\AOE> install.bat

The following shows the floppy disk release installation steps when run from DOS: Some of the following screenshots may differ slightly when using a CD-ROM release.

Beginning installation.
Selecting an installation drive.
Installation options, MT-32 and default folder is recommended.
MT-32 instructions (not applicable to DOSBox)
Ready to copy files.
Copying files.
Swapping disks (for a floppy release).
Running the game instructions.
Registration advice.
Quitting the installer.

Patching

Only the floppy release from November 1993 requires patching. The patch files should be extracted to the game installation folder. The following command is run from within DOSBox to apply the patch:

C:\dynamix\aoe> patch

Configuration

Configuration can be run as often as required. To configure the game in Win3.x run the Aces Over Europe Setup from the Aces Over Europe program group.

To configure the game in DOS, run the installer (install.exe or install.bat) from the AOE installation folder, and select the required sound card.

Aces Over Europe program group.
Aces Over Europe Setup menu.
DOS configuration menu.

Running

[autoexec]
...

# Running a floppy release
# cd \dynamix
# call aoe.bat
# exit

# Running a cd release
# cd \dynamix\aoe
# call aoecd.bat
# exit

# Running a compilation release
# cd \sierra\aoe
# cd \sierra\aces\aoe
# call aoecd.bat
# exit

In-game config

The in-game config is used to select the controllers for stick, throttle and rudder, select music and sound and to select the realism options. The following gallery shows the various config menus:

Controller and sound options.
Controller calibration.
Realism menu.

When using 4 axis HOTAS controllers, use the following assignments (screenshot 1):

Flight: Flight Stick Pro.
Rudder: Rudder Pedals.
Throttle: Slider.

Each controller will require calibrating separately (screenshot 2). The realism menu is available in-flight (screenshot 3).

Mods

Both AOTP and AOE had a strong modding community. Many of the sites hosting these mods and tools not longer exist but AlternateWars has collated a large collection of these mods and tools and uploaded them to the Internet Archive as part of the Wargamer Scenario Depot archive (although they weren't part of this depot).

Aces Of The Pacific

The Wargamer Scenario Depot: Aces of the Pacific archive consists of:

Documentation.
Gameplay mods.
File editing and tactics information.
Mission tapes.
Tagert's AOTP: WWII 1946 mod set.
Patches.
New and replacement planes, flight models and livery.
Tools and mission builder.

This archive is available from:

Internet Archive, Wargamer Scenario Depot: Aces of the Pacific.

Aces Over Europe

The Wargamer Scenario Depot: Aces over Europe archive consists of:

ArgonV campaigns.
Gameplay mods.
Graphics mods.
File editing information.
Fan made missions.
Collated mods (campaigns, planes, and landscape).
Patches.
New and replacement planes, flight models, armaments and livery.
Tools.

This archive is available from:

Internet Archive, Wargamer Scenario Depot: Aces over Europe.

Video

Aces Of The Pacific in DOSBox Staging

Aces Over Europe in DOSBox Staging.

Finally...

Credit and thanks goes to:

AlternateWars for creating the Wargamer Scenario Depot archives.
Internet Archive for hosting the Wargamer Scenario Depot archives, patches and mods.

Good hunting!

Contents

Strategy

Preparation

Releases

Retail media

Game management

hdd folder

DOSBox

Game config

Tools

Windows 3.x config

Sound

Sound Blaster

Roland sound

Controls

HOTAS config

Aces of the Pacific

Aces Over Europe

Aces Of The Pacific installation

Win3.x installation

DOS installation

Patching

Expansion

Patching

Configuration

Running

In-game config

Aces Over Europe installation

Win3.x installation

DOS installation

Patching

Configuration

Running

In-game config

Mods

Aces Of The Pacific

Aces Over Europe

Video

Finally...

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