Wing Commander 1: Secret Missions 1.5

This is quick guide on running the Secret Missions 1.5 addon campaign with the DOS/W.C.A.T. mod and Windows/WCDX patch versions of Wing Commander, as covered in the earlier article, Wing Commander 1: Legacy without the guesswork.

What are the Secret Missions 1.5?

Super Wing Commander

The 3DO and Macintosh port of Wing Commander introduced a whole new visual style which was quite a departure from the DOS/Windows versions. It included the original and the Secret Missions 1 campaigns but introduced a significantly different Secret Missions 2 campaign.

This different campaign was ported to the DOS and Windows versions by the Wing Commander community and is known as Secret Missions 1.5.

There are separate versions of this addon for DOS and Windows (Kilrathi Saga) versions. Both versions are available from the Wing Commander CIC.

Credit and huge thanks go to delMar, UnnamedCharacter and WingOver, creators of the Secret Missions 1.5.

DOS version

This is a discussion on integrating the DOS version with the W.C.A.T. mod. This assumes the W.C.A.T. mod has been successfully installed (see Wing Commander 1: Legacy without the guesswork).

The DOS version is based on a modified Secret Missions 2 app (sm15.exe) in which references to Secret Mission 2 data files, within the app, have been changed from a .002 extension to .015, eg. briefing.002 was changed to briefing.015.

To use the modified W.C.A.T. Secret Mission app (sm2-at.exe), which still uses files with a .002 extension, the Secret Mission 1.5 data files are renamed to the .002 extension.

Preparation

Within the DOS and W.C.A.T. installation folder there is a GAMEDAT folder. Take two copies of this folder and rename them to:

• GAMEDAT-wcat - a copy of the original data files.

• GAMEDAT-sm15 - a copy of the data files, with Secret Missions 1.5 added.

Installation

• Download the Secret Missions 1.5 (DOS) from Wing Commander CIC.

• Extract the files to a separate/new folder.

• Rename to the files as follows:

Old name					New name

briefing.015		->		briefing.002
camp.015			->		camp.002
module.015		->		module.002
titl15.vga		->		title1.vga

• Copy these files into the GAMEDAT-sm15 folder, overwriting any existing files. The ReadMe.txt and cm15.exe files do not need to be copied.

• To run the Secret Missions 1.5 campaign, delete the contents of the GAMEDAT folder and replace with files from the GAMEDAT-sm15 folder.

  
  

• To switch back to the original Secret Missions 2 campaign, delete the contents of the GAMEDAT folder and replace with files from the GAMEDAT-wcat folder.

• Run either Secret Missions 1.5 or Secret Missions 2 using the batch file, SM2.bat.

W.C.A.T. Upgrades

AllTinker is continuing to work on the W.C.A.T. mod so there are likely to be future updates. To upgrade:

• Ensure the GAMEDAT folder is using W.C.A.T. data files (those in the GAMEDAT-wcat folder).

• Follow any and all instructions accompanying the W.C.A.T. upgrade.

  
  

• Re-create the GAMEDAT-wcat and GAMEDAT-sm15 folders using the instructions above.

That completes the DOS installation.

Windows (Kilrathi Saga) version

This section covers integrating the Windows version with the WCDX patch. This assumes the WCDX patch has been successfully installed (see Wing Commander 1: Legacy without the guesswork).

Preparation

• Within the Kilrathi Saga installation folder there is a GAMEDAT folder. Within the GAMEDAT folder is the install.dat file, take a copy of this file and rename it to install-original.dat. This is the original Secret Missions 2 version of install.dat.

Installation

• Download the Secret Missions 1.5 {Kilrathi Saga) from Wing Commander CIC.

• Extract the files into the GAMEDAT folder, only the install.dat file will be overwritten.

• Take a copy of install.dat and rename it to install-sm15.dat. This is the Secret Missions 1.5 version of install.dat.

• Unfortunately there is a bug in the module.015 file which causes the game to crash. However a fix can be downloaded, (module.zip), in this WIng Commander CIC forum post. Credit and thanks to Destro for providing this fix.

• Extract the fixed module.015 from module.zip to the GAMEDAT folder, replacing the existing file.

• To run the Secret Missions 1.5 campaign, delete the install.dat file. Take a copy of install-sm15.dat and rename it to install.dat.

• To switch back to the original Secret Missions 2 campaign, delete the install.dat file. Take a copy of install-original.dat and rename it to install.dat.

That completes the installation.

A new campaign

With new dialog

Good Hunting!