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Difference between revisions of "Area 51 (2005)"

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
(added back useful information that was removed)
Line 17: Line 17:
  
 
'''Key points'''
 
'''Key points'''
−
{{--}} No Online MultiPlayer. Use [https://github.com/ProjectDreamland/game/releases Project Dreamland].
+
{{++}} Re-released as a free download sponsored by the US Air Force.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120409193223/http://extcamp.doublefusion.com/US_Air_Force/Game_Download_Sponsored_by_Air_Force.htm Game Bundle Download Sponsored by Air Force]</ref>
 +
{{--}} GameSpy servers have been shut down, but there is a workaround to connect to OpenSpy servers to play multiplayer; see [[#Project Dreamland|Project Dreamland]].
  
 
==Availability==
 
==Availability==
 
{{Availability|
 
{{Availability|
−
{{Availability/row| Retail | | disc | Use the [http://www.patches-scrolls.de/patch/392/7/ Patch] to Remove the DRM. | | Windows }}
+
{{Availability/row| Retail | | disc | {{DRM|StarForce|v3}} (removed in the [[#Patches|latest patch]]). | | Windows }}
 
}}
 
}}
−
{{ii}} Retail Setup is Broken. See [[#Installing the Retail Version|Installing the Retail Version]]. Use the [http://www.patches-scrolls.de/patch/392/7/ Patch] to Remove the DRM.
+
{{ii}} The installer on the retail version of the game does not function correctly on modern operating systems (Windows 7 and later). See [[#Problem installing the CD/DVD version|Installing the CD/DVD version]] for a solution or install the free version and apply the newest [[#Patches|patch]] to remove DRM.
  
 
==Essential improvements==
 
==Essential improvements==
Line 33: Line 34:
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
===[http://www.patches-scrolls.de/patch/392/7/ Patch 1.2]===
+
===Patches===
−
{{++}} Removes the Copy Protection and Fixes Bugs.
+
{{ii}} Install the [http://www.patches-scrolls.de/patch/392/7/ latest patch(1.2)] to remove StarForce copy protection and fix various issues.
 +
 
 +
===Project Dreamland===
 +
{{ii}} [https://github.com/ProjectDreamland/game/releases Project Dreamland] is a source port of Area 51, that comes bundled together with all of its content. It enables multiplayer and fixes many bugs of the original. However it requires online connection even to play single player campaign, the low FOV issue after some cut-scenes isn't fixed and some alpha textures don't have transparency.
  
 
==Game data==
 
==Game data==
Line 59: Line 63:
 
|4k ultra hd wsgf award    = incomplete
 
|4k ultra hd wsgf award    = incomplete
 
|widescreen resolution      = hackable
 
|widescreen resolution      = hackable
−
|widescreen resolution notes= See [[#Field of view (FOV)|Field of View]].
+
|widescreen resolution notes= See [[#Field of view (FOV)|Field of view (FOV)]].
 
|multimonitor              = hackable
 
|multimonitor              = hackable
−
|multimonitor notes        = See [[#Field of view (FOV)|Field of View]].
+
|multimonitor notes        = See [[#Field of view (FOV)|Field of view (FOV)]].
 
|ultrawidescreen            = hackable
 
|ultrawidescreen            = hackable
−
|ultrawidescreen notes      = See [[#Field of view (FOV)|Field of View]].
+
|ultrawidescreen notes      = See [[#Field of view (FOV)|Field of view (FOV)]].
 
|4k ultra hd                = hackable
 
|4k ultra hd                = hackable
−
|4k ultra hd notes          = See [[#Field of view (FOV)|Field of View]].
+
|4k ultra hd notes          = See [[#Field of view (FOV)|Field of view (FOV)]]. HUD elements and text are not scaled up and are very small.
 
|fov                        = hackable
 
|fov                        = hackable
−
|fov notes                  = See [[#Field of view (FOV)|Field of View]].
+
|fov notes                  = Default FOV is 60°. See [[#Field of view (FOV)|Field of view (FOV)]].
 
|windowed                  = hackable
 
|windowed                  = hackable
 
|windowed notes            = See [[#Windowed|Windowed]].
 
|windowed notes            = See [[#Windowed|Windowed]].
Line 73: Line 77:
 
|borderless windowed notes  = See [[#Windowed|Windowed]].
 
|borderless windowed notes  = See [[#Windowed|Windowed]].
 
|anisotropic                = hackable
 
|anisotropic                = hackable
−
|anisotropic notes          = See [[Glossary:Anisotropic filtering (AF)#Force anisotropic filtering|Forcing Anisotropic Filtering]].
+
|anisotropic notes          = Force in the [[Glossary:Anisotropic filtering (AF)#Force anisotropic filtering|graphics card control panel]].
−
|antialiasing              = false
+
|antialiasing              = hackable
−
|antialiasing notes        =
+
|antialiasing notes        = See [[#Anti-aliasing (AA)|Anti-aliasing (AA)]].
−
|vsync                      = false
+
|vsync                      = hackable
−
|vsync notes                =
+
|vsync notes                = Enabled by default.
 
|60 fps                    = true
 
|60 fps                    = true
 
|60 fps notes              =  
 
|60 fps notes              =  
−
|120 fps                    = unknown
+
|120 fps                    = false
−
|120 fps notes              =  
+
|120 fps notes              = FPS >50 causes inability to jump while moving up sloped surfaces. FPS >100 breaks jumping mechanic entirely.{{CN|Values are anecdotal|date=October 2016}}
 
|color blind                = unknown
 
|color blind                = unknown
 
|color blind notes          =  
 
|color blind notes          =  
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
===[[Glossary:Field of view (FOV)|Field of View]]===
+
===[[Glossary:Field of view (FOV)|Field of view (FOV)]]===
 
{{Fixbox|1=
 
{{Fixbox|1=
−
{{Fixbox/fix|Custom Field of View|ref=<ref name="refcheck Citation Needed"/>}}
+
{{Fixbox/fix|Use Area 51 FOV Patch|ref={{cn|date=April 2017}}}}
−
# Use the [http://www.patches-scrolls.de/patch/392/7/ Patch].
+
# Install [http://www.patches-scrolls.de/patch/392/7/ Patch 1.2].
−
# Use the [https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/900-area-51-fov-patch/ Field of View Patch].
+
# Use [https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/900-area-51-fov-patch/ Area 51 FOV Patch] to set a custom FOV.
  
 
'''Notes'''
 
'''Notes'''
−
{{ii}} Changes during Cutscenes to Low Values.<ref name="FOV">[http://www.wsgf.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=166983#p166983 View topic - Area 51 | WSGF]</ref>
+
{{--}} After certain in-game cut-scenes, the FOV changes to a very low value.<ref name="FOV">[http://www.wsgf.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=166983#p166983 View topic - Area 51 | WSGF]</ref>
−
{{ii}} HUD Elements are Small at 4K Resolutions.
 
 
}}
 
}}
  
Line 106: Line 109:
 
# For borderless mode set your desktop resolution and use a [[Glossary:Borderless fullscreen windowed|borderless tool]].
 
# For borderless mode set your desktop resolution and use a [[Glossary:Borderless fullscreen windowed|borderless tool]].
 
# Save your changes and close the file.
 
# Save your changes and close the file.
 +
}}
 +
 +
===[[Glossary:Anti-aliasing (AA)|Anti-aliasing (AA)]]===
 +
{{Image|Area 51 (2005) AA white outlines.png|Forced AA causing white outlines.}}
 +
{{ii}} The game doesn't support AA natively and forcing it through graphics card control panel can cause white outlines around letters and objects in the game.
 +
 +
{{Fixbox|1=
 +
{{Fixbox/fix|Use Virtual/Dynamic Super Resolution|ref={{cn|date=September 2016}}}}
 +
# Open your graphics card control panel.
 +
# Turn on Virtual Super Resolution(AMD) or Dynamic Super Resolution(Nvidia)
 +
# In the game video settings select resolution that is higher than the monitor's native resolution. If the game runs in a window change the desktop resolution first, so the game window fits on the screen.
 +
}}
 +
{{Fixbox|1=
 +
{{Fixbox/fix|Turn on morphological filtering in the graphics card control panel(AMD)|ref={{cn|date=September 2016}}}}
 +
{{ii}} This can be used in combination with Virtual Super Resolution.
 
}}
 
}}
  
Line 115: Line 133:
 
|key remap notes          =  
 
|key remap notes          =  
 
|acceleration option      = false
 
|acceleration option      = false
−
|acceleration option notes =
+
|acceleration option notes = Disabled by default.
 
|mouse sensitivity        = true
 
|mouse sensitivity        = true
 
|mouse sensitivity notes  =  
 
|mouse sensitivity notes  =  
Line 148: Line 166:
 
{{Audio settings
 
{{Audio settings
 
|separate volume          = true
 
|separate volume          = true
−
|separate volume notes    = Sound Effects. Music. Speech.
+
|separate volume notes    = Effects, music and speech.
 
|surround sound          = unknown
 
|surround sound          = unknown
 
|surround sound notes    =  
 
|surround sound notes    =  
Line 174: Line 192:
 
|online play players  =  
 
|online play players  =  
 
|online play modes    =  
 
|online play modes    =  
−
|online play notes    = Use [https://github.com/ProjectDreamland/game/releases Project Dreamland].
+
|online play notes    = [[GameSpy]] servers have been shut down. To play online download [https://github.com/ProjectDreamland/game/releases Project Dreamland].
 
|asynchronous        =  
 
|asynchronous        =  
 
|asynchronous notes  =  
 
|asynchronous notes  =  
Line 201: Line 219:
 
==Issues fixed==
 
==Issues fixed==
  
−
===Installing the Retail Version===
+
===Problem installing the CD/DVD version===
−
{{ii}} Error Message - The wizard was interrupted before Area 51(R) could be completely installed.
+
{{ii}} The installation process fails with the following message "The wizard was interrupted before Area 51(R) could be completely installed".
  
 
{{Fixbox|1=
 
{{Fixbox|1=
Line 216: Line 234:
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
===Slow Cutscenes===
+
==="An internet connection is required to enjoy free, ad-supported game play" error===
 +
{{ii}} The advertising servers for the free US Air Force version are no longer running.
 +
 
 +
{{Fixbox|1=
 +
{{Fixbox/fix|Install the [[#Patches|latest patch]].|ref=<ref name="refcheck Garrett"/>}}
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
===Choppy cutscene playback===
 +
{{ii}} FMV cutscenes play incorrectly in fullscreen mode on modern systems.
 +
 
 
{{Fixbox|1=
 
{{Fixbox|1=
−
{{Fixbox/fix|See [[#Windowed|Windowed]].}}
+
{{Fixbox/fix|Run the game in a [[#Windowed|borderless fullscreen window]].}}
 
}}
 
}}
  

Revision as of 09:32, 22 June 2017

Area 51 (2005)
Area 51 (2005) cover
Developers
Midway Studios Austin
Publishers
Midway Games
Release dates
Windows June 6, 2005
Area 51 (2005) on Wikipedia
Icon overlay.png
Icon overlay.png

Warnings

GameSpy online services have been shut down (see Network for solutions).
Area 51
Area 51 1995
Area 51 (2005) 2005
BlackSite: Area 51 2007

Key points

Re-released as a free download sponsored by the US Air Force.[1]
GameSpy servers have been shut down, but there is a workaround to connect to OpenSpy servers to play multiplayer; see Project Dreamland.

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Disc check (requires the CD/DVD in the drive to play)
 StarForce v3 DRM (removed in the latest patch).
Windows
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 and apply the newest patch to remove DRM.

Essential improvements

Skip intro videos

Instructions

Patches

Install the latest patch(1.2) to remove StarForce copy protection and fix various issues.

Project Dreamland

Project Dreamland is a source port of Area 51, that comes bundled together with all of its content. It enables multiplayer and fixes many bugs of the original. However it requires online connection even to play single player campaign, the low FOV issue after some cut-scenes isn't fixed and some alpha textures don't have transparency.

Game data

Configuration files location

Template:Game data/row
System Location
UserVConfig.ini contains player video settings.
UserInputConfig.ini contains player input settings.
LangConfig.ini contains the game language settings.
InputConfig.ini and VConfig.ini contain default settings; these files do not need to be edited directly.

Save game data location

Template:Game data/row
System Location

Video settings

Video settings.
Video settings.

Template:Video settings

Field of view (FOV)

Instructions

Windowed

Instructions

Anti-aliasing (AA)

Forced AA causing white outlines.
Forced AA causing white outlines.
The game doesn't support AA natively and forcing it through graphics card control panel can cause white outlines around letters and objects in the game.
Instructions
Instructions

Input settings

Controls.
Controls.
Key mappings.
Key mappings.

Template:Input settings

Audio settings

Audio settings.
Audio settings.

Template:Audio settings

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.[2]

Issues fixed

Problem installing the CD/DVD version

The installation process fails with the following message "The wizard was interrupted before Area 51(R) could be completely installed".
Instructions

"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.
Instructions

Choppy cutscene playback

FMV cutscenes play incorrectly in fullscreen mode on modern systems.
Instructions

Other information

API

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

References

  1. ↑ Game Bundle Download Sponsored by Air Force
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named FOV