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Difference between revisions of "Balls of Steel"

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
m (→‎Audio settings: updated template usage)
 
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{{Infobox game/row/developer|Wildfire Studios}}
 
{{Infobox game/row/developer|Wildfire Studios}}
 
|publishers  =  
 
|publishers  =  
 +
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|GT Interactive}}
 
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|3D Realms}}
 
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|3D Realms}}
 
|engines      =  
 
|engines      =  
 
|release dates=  
 
|release dates=  
 
{{Infobox game/row/date|Windows|December 12, 1997}}
 
{{Infobox game/row/date|Windows|December 12, 1997}}
−
{{Infobox game/row/date|OS X|May 5, 2015|ref=<ref>[https://store.steampowered.com/news/16559/ News - Now Available on Steam - 3D Realms Anthology, 25% off!]</ref>}}
+
{{Infobox game/row/date|OS X|May 5, 2015|ref=<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/16559/|title=News - Now Available on Steam - 3D Realms Anthology, 25% off!|date=May 2023}}</ref>}}
 +
|taxonomy    =
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/monetization      | One-time game purchase }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/microtransactions | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/modes            | Singleplayer, Multiplayer }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/pacing            | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/perspectives      | Top-down view }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/controls          | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/genres            | Pinball }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/sports            | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/vehicles          | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/art styles        | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/themes            | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/series            | Balls of Steel }}
 
|steam appid  = 358430
 
|steam appid  = 358430
 
|gogcom id    = 1207659165
 
|gogcom id    = 1207659165
 +
|hltb        = 824
 +
|igdb        = balls-of-steel
 +
|mobygames    = 875
 
|strategywiki =  
 
|strategywiki =  
 
|wikipedia    = Balls of Steel (video game)
 
|wikipedia    = Balls of Steel (video game)
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}}
 
}}
  
−
'''Key points'''
+
{{Introduction
−
{{ii}} Includes five tables: Barbarian, Darkside, Duke Nukem, Firestorm and Mutation
+
|introduction      =
 +
 
 +
|release history  = This version includes five tables: Barbarian, Darkside, Duke Nukem, Firestorm and Mutation.
 +
 
 +
|current state    =
 +
}}
  
 
'''General information'''
 
'''General information'''
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{{Availability|
 
{{Availability|
 
{{Availability/row| Retail | | unknown | | | Windows }}
 
{{Availability/row| Retail | | unknown | | | Windows }}
 +
{{Availability/row| GOG.com | balls_of_steel | DRM-free | | | Windows | unavailable }}
 +
{{Availability/row| Steam | 358430 | Steam | | | Windows, OS X | unavailable }}
 
}}
 
}}
−
{{--}} No longer sold digitally due to licensing issues.<ref>[https://www.gog.com/news/weekly_staff_picks_farewell_for_now_duke Farewell For Now, Duke + Last chance to get Dragonsphere free - GOG.com]</ref>
+
{{--}} No longer sold digitally due to licensing issues.<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://www.gog.com/news/weekly_staff_picks_farewell_for_now_duke|title=Farewell For Now, Duke + Last chance to get Dragonsphere free - GOG.com|date=May 2023}}</ref>
  
 
==Essential improvements==
 
==Essential improvements==
−
{{ii}} Ignore these if you have GOG.com version.
+
{{ii}} The following improvements are meant only for the retail version, not the digital ones.
  
 
===Patches===
 
===Patches===
−
[http://legacy.3drealms.com/balls/index.html Patches] are available to fix various issues. An unofficial [http://forums.3drealms.com/vb/showpost.php?p=362155&postcount=34 v1.3c] is also available.
+
[https://legacy.3drealms.com/balls/index.html Patches] are available to fix various issues. An unofficial [http://forums.3drealms.com/vb/showpost.php?p=362155&postcount=34 v1.3c] is also available.
  
 
===[http://ronwarez.com/bosloader/ BOS Loader]===
 
===[http://ronwarez.com/bosloader/ BOS Loader]===
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===[[Glossary:Save game cloud syncing|Save game cloud syncing]]===
 
===[[Glossary:Save game cloud syncing|Save game cloud syncing]]===
 
{{Save game cloud syncing
 
{{Save game cloud syncing
−
|gog galaxy           = false
+
|discord                  =
−
|gog galaxy notes     =  
+
|discord notes            =
−
|origin               =  
+
|epic games launcher      =
−
|origin notes         =  
+
|epic games launcher notes =
−
|steam cloud           = false
+
|gog galaxy               = false
−
|steam cloud notes     =  
+
|gog galaxy notes         =  
−
|uplay                =  
+
|origin                   =  
−
|uplay notes           =  
+
|origin notes             =  
−
|xbox cloud           =  
+
|steam cloud               = false
−
|xbox cloud notes     =  
+
|steam cloud notes         =  
 +
|ubisoft connect          =  
 +
|ubisoft connect notes     =  
 +
|xbox cloud               =  
 +
|xbox cloud notes         =  
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
==Video settings==
+
==Video==
 
{{Image|ballsofsteel-settings.png|General settings}}
 
{{Image|ballsofsteel-settings.png|General settings}}
−
{{Video settings
+
{{Video
−
|wsgf link                  = http://www.wsgf.org/dr/balls-steel/en
+
|wsgf link                  = https://www.wsgf.org/dr/balls-steel/en
 
|widescreen wsgf award      = unsupported
 
|widescreen wsgf award      = unsupported
 
|multimonitor wsgf award    = unsupported
 
|multimonitor wsgf award    = unsupported
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|antialiasing              = n/a
 
|antialiasing              = n/a
 
|antialiasing notes        =  
 
|antialiasing notes        =  
 +
|upscaling                  = unknown
 +
|upscaling tech            =
 +
|upscaling notes            =
 
|vsync                      = false
 
|vsync                      = false
 
|vsync notes                =  
 
|vsync notes                =  
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}}
 
}}
  
−
==Input settings==
+
==Input==
−
{{Input settings
+
{{Input
 
|key remap                = true
 
|key remap                = true
 
|key remap notes          =  
 
|key remap notes          =  
Line 147: Line 178:
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
==Audio settings==
+
==Audio==
−
{{Audio settings
+
{{Audio
 
|separate volume          = true
 
|separate volume          = true
 
|separate volume notes    =  
 
|separate volume notes    =  
Line 160: Line 191:
 
|mute on focus lost notes =  
 
|mute on focus lost notes =  
 
|eax support              =  
 
|eax support              =  
−
|eax support notes        =  
+
|eax support notes         =
 +
|royalty free audio       = unknown
 +
|royalty free audio notes  =  
 
}}
 
}}
  
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==Issues fixed==
 
==Issues fixed==
 
===StickyKeys keeps re-enabling===
 
===StickyKeys keeps re-enabling===
−
{{Fixbox|description=Rebind the keys or replace the launcher the inside installation folder|ref=<ref>[https://www.gog.com/support/balls_of_steel/default_controls_and_windows_sticky_keys GOG.com support - Default controls and Windows 'Sticky Keys']</ref>|fix=
+
{{Fixbox|description=Rebind the keys or replace the launcher the inside installation folder|ref=<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://www.gog.com/support/balls_of_steel/default_controls_and_windows_sticky_keys|title=GOG.com support - Default controls and Windows 'Sticky Keys'|date=May 2023}}</ref>|fix=
 
Download the replacement launcher from [https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/238-balls-of-steel-sticky-keys-fix/ PCGamingWiki repository] and replace the old one inside the installation folder. Otherwise flippers can be rebound to other keys.
 
Download the replacement launcher from [https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/238-balls-of-steel-sticky-keys-fix/ PCGamingWiki repository] and replace the old one inside the installation folder. Otherwise flippers can be rebound to other keys.
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
===Slowdown in Scrolling table view===
 
===Slowdown in Scrolling table view===
−
{{Fixbox|description=Run in Windows XP compatibility mode|ref=<ref>[https://www.gog.com/forum/balls_of_steel/game_slows_down_in_scrolling_view_sometimes/post12 GOG.com forums - Game slows down in scrolling view sometimes]</ref>|fix=
+
{{Fixbox|description=Run in Windows XP compatibility mode|ref=<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://www.gog.com/forum/balls_of_steel/game_slows_down_in_scrolling_view_sometimes/post12|title=GOG.com forums - Game slows down in scrolling view sometimes|date=May 2023}}</ref>|fix=
 
# Right-click the shortcut for the game, choose Properties and then Compatibility tab.
 
# Right-click the shortcut for the game, choose Properties and then Compatibility tab.
 
# Change Compatibility Mode to Windows XP SP3.
 
# Change Compatibility Mode to Windows XP SP3.
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{{Fixbox|description=Load bos.exe inside the installation folder|ref={{cn|date=September 2016}}|fix=
 
{{Fixbox|description=Load bos.exe inside the installation folder|ref={{cn|date=September 2016}}|fix=
 
{{ii}} If you still experience the problem, load bos.exe inside the installation folder instead.
 
{{ii}} If you still experience the problem, load bos.exe inside the installation folder instead.
 +
}}
 +
 +
===Game won't run on Steam Deck===
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Use dgVoodoo2|ref=<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://steamcommunity.com/app/358430/discussions/0/3766733548880326899/#c3784751116696053707|title=SteamCommunity.com - Steam deck? :: Balls of Steel General Discussion|date=2023-04-05}}</ref>|fix=
 +
# Download the latest version of [[DgVoodoo_2#Availability|dgVoodoo 2]] and extract the archive.
 +
# Open the {{Folder|MS\x86}} folder and copy {{File|D3D8.dll}}, {{File|D3DImm.dll}}, {{File|DDraw.dll}}, and {{File|D3D9.dll}} files.
 +
# Paste the files into the game installation folder where the executable is.
 +
# Add the following [[Glossary:Command line arguments|command line argument]] <code>WINEDLLOVERRIDES='ddraw.dll=n' %command%</code>
 +
# '''Optional''': Run the included {{File|dgVoodooCpl.exe}} program in the game installation folder and configure the settings.
 
}}
 
}}
  
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|shader model versions  =  
 
|shader model versions  =  
 
|shader model notes    =  
 
|shader model notes    =  
−
|64-bit executable     = unknown
+
|windows 32-bit exe    = true
−
|64-bit executable notes=  
+
|windows 64-bit exe    = unknown
 +
|windows arm app        = unknown
 +
|windows exe notes     =
 +
|mac os x powerpc app  = unknown
 +
|macos intel 32-bit app = unknown
 +
|macos intel 64-bit app = unknown
 +
|macos arm app          = unknown
 +
|macos app notes        =
 +
|linux 32-bit executable=
 +
|linux 64-bit executable=
 +
|linux arm app          = unknown
 +
|linux executable notes =  
 
}}
 
}}
  

Latest revision as of 18:01, 31 January 2024

Balls of Steel
Balls of Steel cover
Developers
Wildfire Studios
Publishers
GT Interactive
3D Realms
Release dates
Windows December 12, 1997
macOS (OS X) May 5, 2015[1]
Taxonomy
Monetization One-time game purchase
Modes Singleplayer, Multiplayer
Perspectives Top-down view
Genres Pinball
Series Balls of Steel
Icon overlay.png
Balls of Steel on HowLongToBeat
Balls of Steel on IGDB
Icon overlay.png
Icon overlay.png
Icon overlay.png
Icon overlay.png
Balls of Steel on MobyGames
Balls of Steel on Wikipedia
Icon overlay.png
Icon overlay.png
Balls of Steel
Balls of Steel 1997
Balls of Steel (2024) 2024

Balls of Steel is a singleplayer and multiplayer top-down view pinball game in the Balls of Steel series.

This version includes five tables: Barbarian, Darkside, Duke Nukem, Firestorm and Mutation.

General information

GOG.com Community Discussions
GOG.com Support Page
Steam Community Discussions
Pinball Maniac entry

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
DRM details are not known
Windows
GOG.com (unavailable)
DRM-free
Windows
Steam (unavailable)
Icon overlay.png
Windows
macOS (OS X)
No longer sold digitally due to licensing issues.[2]

Essential improvements

The following improvements are meant only for the retail version, not the digital ones.

Patches

Patches are available to fix various issues. An unofficial v1.3c is also available.

BOS Loader

Adds windowed mode, bilinear filtering and Direct3D renderer.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
Windows HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wildfire Studios\Balls of Steel[Note 1]
macOS (OS X)
Steam Play (Linux) <SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/358430/pfx/[Note 2]

Save game data location

System Location
Windows HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wildfire Studios\Balls of Steel\High scores[Note 1]
macOS (OS X)
Steam Play (Linux) <SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/358430/pfx/[Note 2]

Save game cloud syncing

System Native Notes
GOG Galaxy
Steam Cloud

Video

General settings
General settings

Graphics feature State WSGF Notes
Widescreen resolution
 
Multi-monitor
 
Ultra-widescreen
 
4K Ultra HD
 
Field of view (FOV)
Windowed
Toggle with Alt+↵ Enter or F. Easily resizable by dragging borders.
Borderless fullscreen windowed
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Anisotropic filtering (AF)
Anti-aliasing (AA)
Vertical sync (Vsync)
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
60 FPS
120+ FPS

Input

Keyboard and mouse State Notes
Remapping
Mouse acceleration
Mouse sensitivity
Mouse input in menus
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Controller
Controller support

Audio

Audio feature State Notes
Separate volume controls
Surround sound
Subtitles
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost
Royalty free audio

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English

Network

Multiplayer types

Type Native Players Notes
Local play
4 Hot seat
LAN play
Online play

Issues fixed

StickyKeys keeps re-enabling

Rebind the keys or replace the launcher the inside installation folder[3]

Download the replacement launcher from PCGamingWiki repository and replace the old one inside the installation folder. Otherwise flippers can be rebound to other keys.

Slowdown in Scrolling table view

Run in Windows XP compatibility mode[4]
  1. Right-click the shortcut for the game, choose Properties and then Compatibility tab.
  2. Change Compatibility Mode to Windows XP SP3.
Load bos.exe inside the installation folder[citation needed]
If you still experience the problem, load bos.exe inside the installation folder instead.

Game won't run on Steam Deck

Use dgVoodoo2[5]
  1. Download the latest version of dgVoodoo 2 and extract the archive.
  2. Open the MS\x86 folder and copy D3D8.dll, D3DImm.dll, DDraw.dll, and D3D9.dll files.
  3. Paste the files into the game installation folder where the executable is.
  4. Add the following command line argument WINEDLLOVERRIDES='ddraw.dll=n' %command%
  5. Optional: Run the included dgVoodooCpl.exe program in the game installation folder and configure the settings.

Other information

API

Executable 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows
macOS (OS X)

System requirements

Windows
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) XP, Vista, 7, 8
Processor (CPU) 1.8 GHz
System memory (RAM) 512 MB 1 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 100 MB
Video card (GPU) DirectX 7 compatible DirectX 9 compatible


Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Applications writing to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE will be redirected to other locations based on various criterias, see the glossary page for more details.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Notes regarding Steam Play (Linux) data:

References