MiG-29 Fulcrum: Some Russian Nova Logic

6 days ago
7 min read

A guide to running the NovaLogic 1998 sim, MiG-29 Fulcrum. This guide will be running the sim natively under Win10 and although untested, it is hoped this strategy will increase compatibility on Win11 platforms.

This guide will be installing the base game and the Integrated Battle Space (IBS) multiplayer app as it also includes the Fixed Wing Mission Editor.

Although run on Win10, the game is patched using a PCem virtual machine.

Strategy

Installing and running the game under Win10 works well, however the patch cannot be applied on a WIn10 platform. To create the most recent patched version of MiG-29 involves:

Installing the base game and IBS aoo (which includes the mission editor) under Win10 to create any necessary registry entries.
Installing the base game under a PCem Win98 Second Edition virtual machine.
Patching the game in the virtual machine, as the patch fails to work under Win10.
Moving the installation folder from PCem onto Win10.

Version and patch history

The initial release was in 1998 on a single CD-ROM. THe game uses a 32-bit installer making it compatible with Win10.

Not only was the base game included but a multiplayer capability with Novaworld and Integrated Battle Space (IBS) which allowed a number of different NovaLogic sims to be played against each other. The FIxed Wing Mission Editor was also included. These apps also use a 32-bit installer.

MiG-29 Update patch

Released on the 23 June 1999 this patch was described as an IBS update which made changes to the base and multiplayer game. This was primarily an enhancement patch increasing support for more hardware, and multiplayer facilities.

The patch uses a 32-bit installer which can run under Win10, however, the patch fails to install correctly under WIn10 and must be installed on a appropriate earlier Windows 98 virtual machine.

From the release notes:

Cheat code capabilities during multiplayer have been addressed.
The update provides additional 3-D support for some video cards.
Side passwords have been included for some multiplayer games as well.
The update also provides public and private NovaWorld hosting capabilities, allowing users to join other user-hosted games through NovaWorld.
The update also modifies the flight model and air-speed information to provide more realistic aircraft performance.
The game will now support force-feedback joysticks, 16-button joysticks, simultaneously connected joysticks, multiple hat-switch joysticks, and other additional joystick capabilities.

This is a recommended patch, it is available from:

Internet Archive (archive of the NovaLogic FTP site).
NovaLogic (http download only).
PCGamingWiki.

Retail media

This guide assumes any physical cds will be ripped to an image file, to reduce wear and tear on media and drives. The retail version of MiG-29 does not contain cd audio and can be ripped to a data only .iso format.

MiG-29 is available from Steam.

Game management

As a windows game running natively, the installation folder will be created by the MiG-29 installer. However some limited game management is still useful for files used in the MiG-29 setup.

The installation folder and setup files for MiG-29 and other Windows games can be found in the same folder (my own, as an example):

D:\Games\Win\<Game folders>
D:\Games\Win\MiG-29 Fulcrum Setup

The following setup folders can be used:

cd - to store any cd images.
conf - to store any HOTAS profile configuration files.
docs - to store any useful documents, manuals, etc.
patch - to store a copy of recommended patches.

Installation & patching

Windows 10 installation

The retail version uses a 32-bit installer which is WIn10 compatible and will install without issue. There are only two choices to be made, the destination installation folder and a large or small install, the large install should be selected.

The purpose of this install is to ensure any registry entries are set correctly.

Immediately following the base game installation, the Integrated Battle Space (IBS) installation will begin. The only choice is the destination installation folder. This must be different to the folder chosen for the base game install.

PCem virtual machine

If you're completely new to setting up PCem or need a refresher, I highly recommend the excellent YouTube tutorial video by PhilsComputerLab, PCem Windows 98 Setup. The virtual hard disk should be created as a .vhd file as this file type can be mounted in Win10, making it easier to transfer files.

Once you have a basic, clean Windows 98 virtual machine and hard disk image, I recommend:

Taking a copy of the basic virtual machine to create a game specific virtual machine.
Taking a copy of the basic hard disk image to create a game specific image.
Use PCem and reconfigure the game specific virtual machine to use the game specific hard disk image.

If things go badly wrong, you'll always have the basic image to try again with and it'll save a lot of time and effort if you ever want to try a different game with PCem.

Note: Earlier articles have recommended keeping a clean version of the virtual machine and virtual hard disk for future use. Using a copy of an existing 'clean' virtual machine to install and patch MiG-29 is an ideal use case, saving time and effort.

PCem virtual machine installation

Start by mounting the CD/CD image in the PCem virtual machine.

Installing both the base game and IBS app is exactly the same as installing under Win10. Both the base game and IBS will install without issue. This provides the installation that will be patched with the one and only patch.

PCem virtual machine patching

The first step is to download the recommended MiG-29 patch and copy it onto the PCem virtual hard disk, to do so:

If the PCem virtual machine is running, shut it down and exit PCem.
Mount the virtual hard disk (.vhd) file in Win10.
Copy the patch onto the virtual hard disk.
Eject the mount virtual hard disk.
Start the PCem virtual machine.

When the patch is run it should find the MiG-29 installation folder and apply the patch, once complete you should see the licence agreement dialog, as shown below:

Copying the installation folder

Now we have a fully patched version of MiG-29 on the PCem virtual hard disk. We just need to copy this folder back into Win10, to do so:

If the PCem virtual machine is running, shut it down and exit PCem.
Mount the virtual hard disk (.vhd) file in Win10.
Copy the MiG-29 installation folder from the mounted hard disk and use it to replace the existing MiG-29 installation folder created under Win10, replacing any files as required.
Once complete eject the PCem virtual hard disk, it is no longer required.

Note: Only the MiG-29 installation folder needs to be copied, as the IBS installation folder won't be used.

Windows 10 configuration

During MiG-29 installation, a M29.CD file is created, it contains the CD-ROM drive letter, which allows the game to know where the CD is located. When installed in the PCem virtual machine, this will be the PCem virtual CD-ROM drive letter (probably D:).

The contents of this file should be changed to the drive used in Win10 when the MiG-29 CD or CD image is mounted. As an example when I mount the CD image it becomes the F: drive.

Wrapper utilities

MiG-29 uses 3Dfx/Glide technology and requires a suitable Glide wrapper, nGlide. The earlier version of DirectX used, requires the use of dgVoodoo2.

nGlide

Glide emulation is provided by the latest version of nGlide v2.10. Available from Zeus Software in nGlide download. nGlide is installed as a system level Glide wrapper as explained further in Glide Wrappers: Last Man Standing or Peace and Harmony?

Once installed the nGlide configurator is used to set the nGlide settings as shown in the screenshot.

dgVoodoo2

This guide uses the latest version of dgVoodoo2, version 2.86.5 (at time of writing). This can be obtained from the dgVoodoo2 GitHub repository in Releases. To install:

Download dgVoodoo2 (dgVoodoo2_86_5.zip) and extract to a new folder.

Copy the following dgVoodoo2 files to the CS 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.dll

Download and extract the dgVoodoo.conf in the below zip file, to the CS installation folder:

Note: This configuration uses Max ISF as the DirectX resolution. You may need to change this if your chosen resolution does not match your desktop resolution.

HOTAS config

Joystick, throttle and rudder pedals are supported. Configuring axes may not be required if your HOTAS has 4 axes or less. When using devices totaling more than 4 axes, a virtual controller can be used, limited to 4 axes.

For those using controllers from multiple vendors, the vJoy/Joystick Gremlin/HidHide combination may be required instead of vendor specific HOTAS profile software. The vJoy/Joystick Gremlin/HidHide examples may help in configuring your HOTAS.

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_ZROT_AXIS

Running

Once you have loaded and enabled your joystick/HOTAS profile and the MiG-29 CD or CD image is mounted in WIn10, the game can be run with:

M29.exe

Configuration

There are comprehensive in-game configuration settings shown in the gallery below. Most can be left up to personal preference but those of particular note are:

Video / Performance: All settings can be maximised, 3D Acceleration should be Enabled.

Control / Performance: Should be optimised for the available joystick/HOTAS hardware. Those using a virtual controller created by TM TARGET or vJoy should make sure it is selected in Current Joystick.