F-22 Raptor: A dinosaur in Windows
Updated: Sep 12
F-22 Raptor is one of NovaLogic's light sim offerings in the same vein as MiG-29 Fulcrum or F-16 Multi-Role Fighter. The second sim to feature the F-22, it was essentially a Win95 remake of the earlier DOS based F22 Lightning II.
However unlike these later sims F-22 Raptor (F-22) has one serious disadvantage which was it's reliance on the WinMM library which preceded DirectX. In later years this would result in the sim being incompatible with DirectInput and USB controllers, causing the sim to fall by the wayside.
This guide will get F-22 running in the Win10 and with working joystick or HOTAS controllers using a number of open source tools to do so, breathing new life into this legacy sim.
Contents
Strategy
A previous guide, F-22 Raptor: Running in PCem covered running this game in the PCem emulator. This time the game will be running natively in Win10. The WinMM controller issue has been covered in detail in the previous article, Controllers & retro sims part 11: The WinMM problem, so this guide will cover configuration and settings to implement the optimised solution.
Patch and version history
This is a brief version and patch history, the are no version numbers shown in game and the patches are organised by date only as they would normally be obtained from the NovaLogic FTP site, when the NovaWorld app was run or via an update utility in-game.
Original retail release (November 1997)
The original retail release was developed and published by NovaLogic in 1997. It was distributed on a single CD-ROM. This release uses a 32-bit Windows installer compatible with Win10. No version number is listed for the release.
Update 30 June 1998
The 30 June 1998 update is not a complete patch but a replacement update tool that is designed to contact NovaLogic FTP servers for additional patch files. The FTP servers are no longer operational and this patch is superseded by a later patch, making this patch unnecessary. It is not known what the complete collection of patch files changed but may have been a multiplayer based patch.
This patch uses a 32-bit installer making it compatible with Win10. It is available from the following site, but Win10 flags it as a (false positive) infected download:
Update 7 September 1999
The 30 June 1998 update installs the Integrated Battle Space (IBS) app, allowing F22 Raptor players to fly alongside F-16 Multi-Role Fighter and MiG-29 Fulcrum players in a multiplayer environment. This patch does not seem to update any single player game files.
This patch uses a 32-bit installer making it compatible with Win10. It is available from:
Jet Pack compilation release (June 2001)
The NovaLogic Jet Pack was a compilation release of MiG-29 Fulcrum, F-22 Raptor and F-16 Multi-Role Fighter. Released in 2001 it was published by NovaLogic and distributed on 3 x CD-ROM, one for each of the products.
Although unconfirmed it would be expected to be multiplayer pre-patched using 32-bit installers and Win10 compatible.
MiG-29 Fulcrum / F-22 Raptor compilation release (2002)
Published by Focus Multimedia in 2002, this was a compilation release of MiG-29 Fulcrum and F-22 Raptor. It was distributed on 3 x CD-ROM, one for each of the games and a manual and patches CD, featuring manuals and patches for a variety of NovaLogic games.
Although unconfirmed it would be expected to be multiplayer pre-patched. The installers are 32-bit making them compatible with Win10.
Retail media
Due to the age or the media and the drives required to read it, it is recommended to rip CD-ROM media to image files, to save wear and tear on media and the mechanical drives.
The CD-ROMs can be ripped to a data only .iso image format as there is no CD audio on the CD.
Game management
It is recommended to use my game management strategy or similar strategy you may have developed. The recommended game management folders for F22 are:
cd - for any cd images.
conf - to store HOTAS configuration files.
docs - for documents.
patch - to store any patches.
tools - as a compatibility tool installation folder.
The F22 management folders would be found in the following game folder (as an example):
D:\Games\Win\F22 Raptor SetupInstallation
The F22 installer app (setup.exe) is an 32-bit app compatible with Win10. It should be run from the CD/image to install the game.
The setup is straightforward and is shown in the gallery below:
The setup main menu, choose Install F-22 Raptor.
Once the file copying is complete, DirectX 6.0 should NOT be installed.
Patching
Due to the multiplayer nature and early release date of the patches, it is recommended that the game remain unpatched for all releases.
For those wishing to experiment with multiplayer it is recommended to only update the original retail release with the Update 7 September 1999.
Compatibility tools
The following compatibility tools allow this Win95/98 game to run successfully under Win10. Further background information on the controller optimised solution can be found in Controllers & retro sims part 11: The WinMM problem.
The GremlinEx (GEX) and XInput Plus (XIP) tools both provide configuration options, however GEX provides most of the configuration with XIP limited to essential configuration only.
dgVoodoo2
Graphics compatibility is provided by dgVoodoo2, created by Dege. The dgVoodoo2 wrapper is used to wrap DirectX components. The version used is v2.87.3. It is available from the dgVoodoo2 GitHub repository, Releases. To install:
Download dgVoodoo2 (dgVoodoo2_87_3.zip) and extract to a new folder.
Copy the following dgVoodoo2 files to the F-22 installation folder. Note: the paths are not important you just need to add the files:
dgVoodooCpl.exe
MS\x86\D3D8.dll
MS\x86\D3D9.dll
MS\x86\D3DImm.dll
MS\x86\DDraw.dllConfiguration
Download and extract the dgVoodoo.conf in the below zip file, to the F-22 installation folder.
In the DirectX section the dgVoodoo Watermark is turned on for testing purposes, once confirmed working it can be turned off.
General settings DirectX settings.
ViGem Bus Driver
The ViGem Bus Driver (ViGem), created by Benjamin Höglinger-Stelzer, allows the creation and configuration of a virtual XBox 360 XInput controller similarly to vJoy creating and configuring a virtual DirectInput controller.
The recommended ViGEm Bus Driver version is the latest one, ViGEmBus Setup 1.22.0 "It's dead, Jim" Release available from GitHub ViGEm Bus Driver repository, Releases.
Installation is straightforward using the executable installer app, ViGEmBus_1.22.0_x64_x86_arm64.exe.
GremlinEx
GremlinEx (GEX), created by muchimi, extends the original Joystick Gremlin and allows multiple DirectInput devices to be mapped to a single XInput device using the ViGEm Bus Driver. Although stated in earlier articles the following points are worth repeating:
GEX is still very much a work in progress with continuous releases of varying robustness. Although GEX seems to function reliably during gaming, exceptions and faults should be expected when configuring devices. Since configuration is an initial 'one and done' task, this should be considered a fairly minor issue. It is recommended to save frequently when creating the config.
GEX uses the older Joystick Gremlin release 13 style of configuration. Those familiar with the release 14/15 style will need to adapt to this older style.
GEX takes longer to start than Joystick Gremlin as it needs to initialise ViGEm.
The recommended version is the latest release candidate, which changes frequently (so is not listed). It is available from JoystickGremlinEx repository, Releases.
Installation is straightforward using the installer zip package. It should be downloaded and extracted into a suitable folder.
Update: Once installed it is recommended to go to Tools > Options > VIGEM and ensure the Gamepad count is set to 1 (see screenshot). A setting of 0 will disable ViGEm.
HOTAS config
Configuring axes will be required no matter how many axes are available as DirectInput axes are mapped to XInput axes. It is recommended that most of the HOTAS configuration be carried out in the GEX tool, limiting XInput Plus configuration as much as possible.
Those with fewer than 4 axes should map remaining axes to the keyboard in the in-game configuration. Those with fewer than 4 buttons should leave any remaining buttons unconfigured.
For further background material on this HOTAS config, it is recommended to consult the optimized solution covered in Controllers & retro sims part 11: The WinMM problem.
Stick, throttle and rudder are supported. The physical axes to Xinput and F-22 axes were configured as follows:
Physical axis | XInput axis | F-22 axis |
Joystick x-axis | Left stick x-axis | Roll axis |
Joystick y-axis | Left stick y-axis* | Pitch axis |
Joystick button 1 | Button A | Button 1 |
Joystick button 2 | Button B | Button 2 |
Joystick button 3 | Button X | Button 3 |
Joystick button 4 | Button Y | Button 4 |
Throttle | Right stick y-axis* | Throttle axis |
Rudder | Right stick x-axis | Rudder/yaw axis |
Note: Axes marked with * may require the axis to be inverted in GEX.
It is recommended to use a profile name that explicitly indicates it is a GEX profile, e.g. F22-raptor-gex.xml.
XInput Plus
XInput Plus, created by 0dd14lab, is a tool that allows you to configure detailed settings for XInput controllers, e.g. XBox 360 controllers, such as key assignments, input sensitivity, axis inversion, auto-fire, hold, and vibration intensity.
The recommended version is the latest one, v4.16.1, available from 0dd14lab, Download.
Once downloaded the installer package (XInputPlus Ver4.16.1.zip) should be extracted to a suitable folder.
Configuration
The following gallery shows the configuration settings to be applied to XIP:
Configuration should not be attempted until a suitable F-22 profile has been loaded into GEX and enabled.
The following gallery shows the limited settings that should be applied to XIP.
Add the game executable to the Target Program box. Disable vibration settings. Enable DirectInput Output, set right stick axes and trigger buttons. The virtual XInput controller should be detected. Using Total Test to check XInput axes and buttons are working. Apply the settings to only an ini file.
The Target Program box should be set to the game executable (Raptor.exe).
In the Vibration tab, vibration settings should be disabled.
In the DirectInput tab:
Enable DirectInput Output should be checked.
The Right Stick (x/y axes) should be set to Z Rot/Z Axis.
The LT/RT triggers should be set to Button 11/12, so they do not interfere with the Right Stick.
The Info tab should show a single XInput controller (created by GEX and ViGem).
The Total Test button will show a representation of a controller, which can be used to test XInput axes and buttons.
The menu button, ≡ is used to save settings, from the drop down menu select, Apply Only Ini File.
Creating the launcher shortcut
XInput Plus includes a loader utility, XInput Plus Loader (XInputPlusLoader.exe) which is used to create a shortcut to forcibly inject the appropriate wrapper, (WinMM in this case) into the game.
To create this shortcut:
Go to the XIP installation folder and then into the Loader folder.
Open XInputPlusLoader.exe.
Select Create ShortCut.
Drag the game executable (Raptor.exe) into the XInputPlusLoader app window (see screenshot).
A shortcut (Raptor - XInputPlus) will be created on the desktop.
Optionally, rename and/or move/copy this shortcut into a suitable location.
In plain sight (HidHide)
F-22 Raptor is very robust and indifferent to additional devices being present. It seems to ignore both DirectInput and XInput devices. This means that a HidHide device firewall can be omitted. The optimised controller solution remains unchanged.
The ramp start (running)
Due to the required order of running tools and the limited command line options available to GEX, running the game requires a manual or 'ramp start' sequence. The steps are as follows:
Mount the F-22 Raptor CD/image in Win10.
Start GEX, load the F-22 profile (e.g. F22-raptor-gex.xml) and enable the profile.
Start the game using the XInput Plus launcher shortcut, e.g. Raptor - XInputPlus.
When the game is quit, to return the system to a clean state:
Disable the iF-22 profile and close GEX.
Eject the F-22 CD/image.
In-game configuration
In game controller configuration is straightforward and is shown in the below screenshot:
Documents
The following documents are available:
User manual, pdf document.
Internet Archive, F-22 Raptor: Users Manual (borrow only).
The following documents are available from:
Old-Games.RU, F-22 Raptor, Files as rar achives, pdf documents:
User manual.
Quick start guide.
Reference card.
Keyboard overlay.
Example video
Finally...
Credit and thanks goes to the following individuals and groups for making the game accessible under Win10:
NovaLogic for hosting patches.
Benjamin Höglinger-Stelzer for ViGEm Bus Driver.
muchimi for GremlinEx.
0dd14lab for XInput Plus.
Dege for dgVoodoo2.
Internet Archive and Old-Games.RU for hosting documents.
Hap for GremlinEx, ViGEm options.
Good hunting!
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