iF-22: Bridging the retro compatibility gap

2 minutes ago

3 min read

This guide covers running iF-22 with the latest version of the RetroBridge wrapper, how to install it, existing wrappers it may replace, wrappers to retain and in-game options to set.

Strategy

This guide is a supplemental article to the iF-22: Infuriating F-22! and the iF-22: Windows is alright for controllers and flight articles. In this article the Graphics tools discussed in F-22: Infuriating F-22! will be replaced with tools providing improved compatibility. The previous graphics tools used will be disabled. A quick control change will also be covered.

Graphics

This section covers disabling the previously recommended DDrawCompat and switching to the latest version of RetroBridge v0.1.417. Disabling DDRawCompat is unnecessary if using a fresh install.

Disabling DDrawCompat

It is recommended to backup the DDrawCompat files rather than remove them. They can be added to a zip archive or moved to sub-folder in the game management folders. To disable:

Remove the following files from the iF-22 installation folder:
- ddraw.dll
- DDrawCompat.ini

Replace the uiwindow.dll applying the narzoul fixes with the original file.

RetroBridge

The latest version of RetroBridge v0.1.417 includes dedicated iF-22 in-memory fixes applied through the RetroBridge wrappers providing enhanced compatibility over previous tools.

RetroBridge v0.1.417 is available from the VOGONS thread, RetroBridge - A multi wrapper for PowerVR (SGL) + Glide + DDRAW + DSound for all versions of Ultim@te Race (1t/3t/Pro). The zip archive, (RetroBridge - 0.1.417 - Preview.zip) should be download and extracted to a folder, preserving file paths. To install:

Copy the following files from the <RetroBridge> folder into the iF-22 installation folder:

ddraw.dll
dinput.dll
dplayx.dll

dsound.dll
glide2x.dll
retrobridge_core.dll

The winmm.dll file is not used, the Xidi winmm.dll library is used instead. The sgl.dll library is not required.

Copy the dedicated iF-22 RetroBridge config file from the <RetroBridge>\iF-22-v50 folder into the iF-22 installation folder:

retrobridge.config.yml

Controls

This provides a quick summary of the existing tools retained for providing HOTAS control and covers changes to HidHide.

ViGem Bus Driver and GremlinEx

The ViGem Bus Driver continues to provide a virtual XBox 360 controller used by the Xidi libraries. GremlinEx continues to be used to provide a profile mapping between the physical HOTAS controllers and the virtual 360 controller.

Xidi libraries

The Xidi libraries continue to provide support for stick, throttle and rudder pedals. The following Xidi libraries should still remain in the iF-22 installation folder:

winmm.dll
xidi.32.dll

HidHide

When using RetroBridge, HidHide is no longer required and the HidHide device firewall can remain disabled when running iF-22.

The HidHide device firewall config utility can be used to remove the Xidi libraries (winmm.dll and xidi.32.dll) from the allowed Applications list, to maintain a cleaner configuration.

Configuration

RetroBridge how redirects file writing to a different part of the filesystem. Files that were saved in:

X:\<iF-22 installation folder>\userdata

Are now saved in:

%APPDATA%\RetroBridge\iF22v50
e.g.
C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\RetroBridge\iF22v50\userdata

The iF-22 system setup configuration file is a text file (ss.tag) found in the userdata folder above. It is recommended that the intro and end credits movies remain disabled in the ss.tag configuration file.

In-game configuration

It is recommended to apply the following system settings from within iF-22:

Direct3D Board: RetroBridge Hardware Accelerator
Use Direct3D Board: checked
Disable Animations: unchecked

Example movie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrY8eXy3vo8

iF-22 v5.0 (Win10, RetroBridge v0.1.417 and Xidi v5.0.0)

Finally...

A huge amount of credit and thanks goes the rkk the creator of RetroBridge, without whom we wouldn't have iF-22 working as well as it does today!

Good hunting!