Difference between revisions of "Area 51 (2005)"
From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
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===Broken textures and lighting=== | ===Broken textures and lighting=== | ||
+ | {{ii}} On some systems lighting will be broken and all textures will be black. This is a DirectX 11 issue and can be solved with a DirectX 9 wrapper. | ||
{{Fixbox|description=Use WineD3D for Windows|ref=<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/topic/4666-area-51-2005-broken-textures-and-lighting/|title=Broken textures and lighting|date=2020-04-27}}</ref>|fix= | {{Fixbox|description=Use WineD3D for Windows|ref=<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/topic/4666-area-51-2005-broken-textures-and-lighting/|title=Broken textures and lighting|date=2020-04-27}}</ref>|fix= | ||
# Download [https://fdossena.com/?p=wined3d/index.frag WineD3D for Windows]. | # Download [https://fdossena.com/?p=wined3d/index.frag WineD3D for Windows]. | ||
+ | # Follow the included instructions for DirectX 9 games. | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{Fixbox|description=Use DgVoodoo 2 for Windows|ref=<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/topic/4666-area-51-2005-broken-textures-and-lighting/|title=Broken textures and lighting|date=2020-08-8}}</ref>|fix= | ||
+ | # Download [https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/DgVoodoo_2 DgVoodoo 2 for Windows]. | ||
# Follow the included instructions for DirectX 9 games. | # Follow the included instructions for DirectX 9 games. | ||
}} | }} |
Revision as of 16:34, 9 August 2020
Developers | |
---|---|
Midway Studios Austin | |
Publishers | |
Midway Games | |
Release dates | |
Windows | June 8, 2005 |
Reception | |
IGDB | 77 |
Taxonomy | |
Monetization | Freeware |
Series | Area 51 |
Area 51 | |
---|---|
Area 51 | 1995 |
Area 51 (2005) | 2005 |
BlackSite: Area 51 | 2007 |
Warnings
Key points
- This game is available as a free download.
Availability
Source | DRM | Notes | Keys | OS |
---|---|---|---|---|
Retail | StarForce 3 DRM (removed in the latest patch). |
- The installer on the retail version of the game does not function correctly on modern operating systems (Windows 7 and later). See Installing the CD/DVD version for a solution or install the free version.
Free version
- This game was released as a free download sponsored by the US Air Force.[1]
- It can be downloaded here. Install the latest patch to remove the online DRM.
Essential improvements
Skip intro videos
Delete/rename Midway_640x480_30.bik[2] |
---|
|
Patches
- Install the latest patch(1.2) to remove copy protection and fix various issues.
- Latest patch for German and European is version 1.1, it can be found in the above link or here and here.
Game data
Configuration file(s) location
System | Location |
---|---|
Windows | <path-to-game>\[Note 1] |
-
UserVConfig.ini
contains player video settings. -
UserInputConfig.ini
contains player input settings. -
LangConfig.ini
contains the game language settings. -
InputConfig.ini
andVConfig.ini
contain default settings; these files do not need to be edited directly.
Save game data location
System | Location |
---|---|
Windows | <path-to-game>\SAVES\[Note 1] |
Video
Graphics feature | State | WSGF | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Widescreen resolution | The game is Vert- by default. Use Area 51 HOR+ FOV fix. | ||
Multi-monitor | Use Area 51 HOR+ FOV fix. | ||
Ultra-widescreen | Use Area 51 HOR+ FOV fix. | ||
4K Ultra HD | Use Area 51 HOR+ FOV fix. HUD elements and menu text are not scaled and are very small. | ||
Field of view (FOV) | Default FOV is 60°. Use Area 51 HOR+ FOV fix. | ||
Windowed | See Windowed. | ||
Borderless fullscreen windowed | See Windowed. | ||
Anisotropic filtering (AF) | Can be forced in the GPU control panel. | ||
Anti-aliasing (AA) | Control panel hack causes glitches, see Anti-aliasing (AA). | ||
Vertical sync (Vsync) | Enabled by default. | ||
60 FPS | |||
120+ FPS | At higher fps, jumping does not work correctly. See High frame rate breaks jump physics. | ||
High dynamic range display (HDR) | See the glossary page for potential alternatives. |
Windowed
Set windowed in UserVConfig.ini[2] |
---|
|
Anti-aliasing (AA)
- Game doesn't support AA natively and forcing it through GPU control panel causes white outlines around letters and some objects.
Use any injector that has FXAA (like ReShade) |
---|
Turn on morphological filtering in the graphics card control panel(AMD)[3] |
---|
Use Virtual/Dynamic Super Resolution[3] |
---|
|
Input
Keyboard and mouse | State | Notes |
---|---|---|
Remapping | ||
Mouse acceleration | Disabled by default. | |
Mouse sensitivity | ||
Mouse input in menus | ||
Mouse Y-axis inversion | ||
Controller | ||
Controller support |
Controller types |
---|
Audio
Audio feature | State | Notes |
---|---|---|
Separate volume controls | Effects, music and speech. | |
Surround sound | ||
Subtitles | ||
Closed captions | ||
Mute on focus lost |
Localizations
Language | UI | Audio | Sub | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
English | ||||
French | ||||
German | ||||
Italian | ||||
Portuguese | ||||
Spanish |
Network
Multiplayer types
Type | Native | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
LAN play | |||
Online play | GameSpy servers have been shut down. To play online download Project Dreamland. |
Issues unresolved
FOV changes after some cutscenes
- After certain in-game cut-scenes FOV changes to a very low value. It changes back automatically when a new level is started or if the player loads the game from the next checkpoint.[4]
Issues fixed
Problem installing the CD/DVD version
- The installation process fails with the message "The wizard was interrupted before Area 51(R) could be completely installed".
Start the installation manually using the command console[5] |
---|
Notes
|
"An internet connection is required to enjoy free, ad-supported game play" error
- The advertising servers for the free US Air Force version are no longer running.
Install the latest patch[2] |
---|
Choppy cutscene playback
- FMV cutscenes play incorrectly in fullscreen mode on modern systems.
Run the game in a borderless fullscreen window[3] |
---|
Broken textures and lighting
- On some systems lighting will be broken and all textures will be black. This is a DirectX 11 issue and can be solved with a DirectX 9 wrapper.
Use WineD3D for Windows[6] |
---|
|
Use DgVoodoo 2 for Windows[7] |
---|
|
High frame rate breaks jump physics
- FPS >50 causes inability to jump while moving up sloped surfaces. FPS >100 breaks jumping mechanic entirely.[citation needed].
- Jumping is not required for combat, and in most cases where jumping from one platform to another is required, there is an invisible scripted "jump assist" that allows the player to jump across gaps, even though normal jumping is prevented by high frame rate.
Video capture software such as FRAPS can be used to lower frame rate to 60 fps if jumping is required but there is not pre-scripted "jump assist", such as the section in the 2nd level where you are required to jump over moving beams of electricity[citation needed] |
---|
Alternatively, because the game has permanent v-sync, if your monitor has a manual refresh rate toggle button, switching the refresh rate to 60 hz will also cause the frame rate to be locked at 60[citation needed] |
---|
Other information
API
Technical specs | Supported | Notes |
---|---|---|
Direct3D | 9 |
Executable | 32-bit | 64-bit | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Windows |
Middleware
Middleware | Notes | |
---|---|---|
Audio | Miles Sound System | |
Cutscenes | Bink Video | |
Multiplayer | GameSpy | Servers have been shut down. To play online download Project Dreamland. |
System requirements
Windows | ||
---|---|---|
Minimum | ||
Operating system (OS) | 2000, XP | |
Processor (CPU) | Intel 1.4 GHz AMD 1.2 GHz |
|
System memory (RAM) | 256 MB | |
Hard disk drive (HDD) | 3 GB | |
Video card (GPU) | ATI Radeon 9500 Nvidia GeForce FX 5200 |
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 When running this game without elevated privileges (Run as administrator option), write operations against a location below
%PROGRAMFILES%
,%PROGRAMDATA%
, or%WINDIR%
might be redirected to%LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore
on Windows Vista and later (more details).
References
- ↑ Game Bundle Download Sponsored by Air Force
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Verified by User:Garrett on 2014-07-25
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Verified by User:Antrad on September 1, 2017
- ↑ Area 51 FOV issues
- ↑ Problems Installing Midway Games Area 51
- ↑ Broken textures and lighting - last accessed on 2020-04-27
- ↑ Broken textures and lighting - last accessed on 2020-08-8