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Difference between revisions of "Darkstar One"

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
Line 4: Line 4:
 
{{Infobox game/row/developer|Ascaron Entertainment}}
 
{{Infobox game/row/developer|Ascaron Entertainment}}
 
|publishers  =  
 
|publishers  =  
−
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|cdv Software Entertainment}}
+
{{Infobox game/row/developer|Ascaron Entertainment|Retail (Europe)}}
−
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|Kalypso Media}}
+
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|cdv Software Entertainment|Retail (North America)}}
−
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|Strategy First}}
+
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|Akella|Retail (Russia)}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|Strategy First|Digital}}
 
|engines      =  
 
|engines      =  
 
|release dates=  
 
|release dates=  
−
{{Infobox game/row/date|Windows|June 16, 2006}}
+
{{Infobox game/row/date|Windows|May 18, 2006}}
 
|reception    =  
 
|reception    =  
 
{{Infobox game/row/reception|Metacritic|darkstar-one|71}}
 
{{Infobox game/row/reception|Metacritic|darkstar-one|71}}
Line 34: Line 35:
 
|license      = commercial
 
|license      = commercial
 
}}
 
}}
−
 
−
'''Key points'''
 
−
{{ii}} [[#Some resolutions crash the game|Some resolutions may cause crashes]] due to bundling an outdated DLL; see [[#Some resolutions crash the game|some resolutions crash the game]] for the fix.
 
  
 
'''General information'''
 
'''General information'''
Line 51: Line 49:
 
{{Availability/row| Steam | 12330 | Steam | | | Windows }}
 
{{Availability/row| Steam | 12330 | Steam | | | Windows }}
 
}}
 
}}
−
===Demo===
+
{{ii}} A free demo can be downloaded from [https://www.4players.de/4players.php/download_info/Downloads/Download/45264/DarkStar_One/spielbare_Demo.html 4players] or [https://www.gameswelt.de/darkstar-one/demo/darkstar-one,120804 Gameswelt].
−
A free demo can be downloaded [https://www.4players.de/4players.php/download_info/Downloads/Download/45264/DarkStar_One/spielbare_Demo.html here] or [https://www.gameswelt.de/darkstar-one/demo/darkstar-one,120804 here].
 
  
 
==Essential improvements==
 
==Essential improvements==
 
===Patches===
 
===Patches===
−
The latest patch for the retail version is the [https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/38-darkstar-one-retail-patch-english/ retail 1.3 Patch]. Digital distribution versions already include this patch.
+
{{ii}} The latest patch for the retail version is 1.3, available from [https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/38-darkstar-one-retail-patch-english/ PCGamingWiki (English only)] and [https://www.patches-scrolls.de/patch/1122/7/ Patches-Scrolls.de (multiple languages)].  
−
 
+
{{ii}} Digital distribution versions already include this patch.
−
[https://web.archive.org/web/20090808083759fw_/http://www.ascaron.com/gb/gb_service/service_1_noheader.php#topofpage A hotfix] for contemporary Nvidia cards experiencing a crash in trade stations was also released.
+
{{ii}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20090808083759fw_/http://www.ascaron.com/gb/gb_service/service_1_noheader.php#topofpage A hotfix] for contemporary Nvidia cards experiencing a crash in trade stations was also released.
  
 
===Skip intro videos===
 
===Skip intro videos===
 
{{Fixbox|description=Use replacement ascaron.bik|fix=
 
{{Fixbox|description=Use replacement ascaron.bik|fix=
−
Apply the [https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/91-darkstar-one-intro-skip/ Darkstar One intro skip].
+
Extract the [https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/91-darkstar-one-intro-skip/ empty video file] to <code>{{p|game}}\video\Movies\[language]</code> and overwrite the existing file.
 +
{{ii}} Do not delete the file completely, or the game will crash on startup.
 
}}
 
}}
−
 
−
===Advanced controls===
 
−
The game does a rather poor job explaining its controls. You can actually strafe sideways and fly backwards - use these to your advantage, they make combat much more fun. Some keybindings do not appear in the options menu - look those up in the manual (in the game directory, e.g. ''Steam\steamapps\common\Darkstar One'' for the Steam version). For example, you can play in 3rd person perspective by pressing {{key|F4}} and change the FOV of your cockpit by pressing {{key|F3}}.
 
  
 
==Game data==
 
==Game data==
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|4k ultra hd wsgf award    = incomplete
 
|4k ultra hd wsgf award    = incomplete
 
|widescreen resolution      = true
 
|widescreen resolution      = true
−
|widescreen resolution notes= If the game crashes delete <code>{{p|game}}\iphlpapi.dll</code>.<ref name="WSGF">[https://www.wsgf.org/dr/darkstar-one/en DarkStar One | WSGF]</ref>
+
|widescreen resolution notes= Some resolutions crash the game, see [[Some resolutions crash the game]].<ref name="WSGF">[https://www.wsgf.org/dr/darkstar-one/en DarkStar One | WSGF]</ref>
 
|multimonitor              = true
 
|multimonitor              = true
 
|multimonitor notes        = 3D elements are rendered at a lower resolution.
 
|multimonitor notes        = 3D elements are rendered at a lower resolution.
 
|ultrawidescreen            = true
 
|ultrawidescreen            = true
−
|ultrawidescreen notes      = If game has [[#Black graphics at higher resolutions|black graphics]] set in-game FSAA to Off.<ref name="WSGF"/>
+
|ultrawidescreen notes      = If game has [[#Black graphics at higher resolutions|black graphics]], disable in-game FSAA.<ref name="WSGF"/>
 
|4k ultra hd                = true
 
|4k ultra hd                = true
−
|4k ultra hd notes          = 4k makes menus and texts very small, they don't scale accordingly.
+
|4k ultra hd notes          = Menus and texts do not scale accordingly.
 
|fov                        = true
 
|fov                        = true
−
|fov notes                  = You can change the FOV of your cockpit by pressing {{key|F3}}, and you can change perspective with {{key|F4}}.
+
|fov notes                  = Cockpit FOV can be changed by pressing {{key|F3}}, and the perspective with {{key|F4}}.
 
|windowed                  = true
 
|windowed                  = true
−
|windowed notes            = Choose in Options.
+
|windowed notes            =  
 
|borderless windowed        = hackable
 
|borderless windowed        = hackable
 
|borderless windowed notes  = Works with [[Glossary:Borderless fullscreen windowed#Borderless Windowed|Borderless Windowed]].<ref>{{Refcheck|user=Garrett|date=6 August 2013|comment=}}</ref>
 
|borderless windowed notes  = Works with [[Glossary:Borderless fullscreen windowed#Borderless Windowed|Borderless Windowed]].<ref>{{Refcheck|user=Garrett|date=6 August 2013|comment=}}</ref>
Line 122: Line 117:
 
|anisotropic notes          =  
 
|anisotropic notes          =  
 
|antialiasing              = true
 
|antialiasing              = true
−
|antialiasing notes        = FSAA. Choose in Options. May cause [[#Black graphics at higher resolutions|black graphics at higher resolutions]].<ref name="WSGF"/>
+
|antialiasing notes        = [[FSAA]]. May cause [[#Black graphics at higher resolutions|black graphics at higher resolutions]].<ref name="WSGF"/>
 
|upscaling                  = unknown
 
|upscaling                  = unknown
 
|upscaling tech            =  
 
|upscaling tech            =  
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|mouse sensitivity        = unknown
 
|mouse sensitivity        = unknown
 
|mouse sensitivity notes  =  
 
|mouse sensitivity notes  =  
−
|mouse menu                = unknown
+
|mouse menu                = true
 
|mouse menu notes          =  
 
|mouse menu notes          =  
 
|invert mouse y-axis      = false
 
|invert mouse y-axis      = false
−
|invert mouse y-axis notes = Mouse-based space flight uses a cursor so can't be inverted.
+
|invert mouse y-axis notes = Mouse-based space flight uses a cursor so it can not be inverted.
 
|touchscreen              = unknown
 
|touchscreen              = unknown
 
|touchscreen notes        =  
 
|touchscreen notes        =  
 
|controller support        = true
 
|controller support        = true
−
|controller support notes  = Enable in Options, Gameplay.
+
|controller support notes  =  
 
|full controller          = unknown
 
|full controller          = unknown
 
|full controller notes    =  
 
|full controller notes    =  
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|simultaneous input notes  =  
 
|simultaneous input notes  =  
 
}}
 
}}
 +
 +
===Advanced controls===
 +
The game poorly explains its controls. Strafing sideways and flying backwards can be used to the player's advantage, but some keybindings do not appear in the options menu - look those up in the manual (digital versions contain it in the game directory).
  
 
==Audio==
 
==Audio==
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|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       = unknown
−
|royalty free audio notes =  
+
|royalty free audio notes =  
 
}}
 
}}
  
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  |language  = French
 
  |language  = French
 
  |interface = true
 
  |interface = true
−
  |audio    = unknown
+
  |audio    = false
 
  |subtitles = true
 
  |subtitles = true
−
  |notes    =  
+
  |notes    = Retail and GOG.com only.
 
  |fan      =  
 
  |fan      =  
 
}}
 
}}
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  |audio    = true
 
  |audio    = true
 
  |subtitles = true
 
  |subtitles = true
−
  |notes    = Only included in retail. German patch for Steam and GOG version can be downloaded [https://www.compiware-forum.de/downloads/file/410-darkstar-one-german-patch/#versions here].
+
  |notes    = Retail only; [https://www.compiware-forum.de/downloads/file/410-darkstar-one-german-patch/#versions download for digital releases]. The German manual is available [https://download.kalypsomedia.com/manuals/HB_Inhalt_DSO_D_Final.pdf here].
−
German manual is available [https://download.kalypsomedia.com/manuals/HB_Inhalt_DSO_D_Final.pdf here].
 
 
  |fan      =  
 
  |fan      =  
 
}}
 
}}
Line 289: Line 286:
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
===netman.dll not found error===
+
===Black graphics at higher resolutions===
−
{{ii}} This is caused by DarkStar One shipping with an outdated version of this file.
+
{{Fixbox|description=Disable FSAA in the game optoins|ref=<ref name="WSGF"/>|fix=
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==="netman.dll not found" error===
 +
{{ii}} This is caused by Darkstar One shipping with an outdated version of this file.
  
 
{{Fixbox|description=Delete Darkstar One's netman.dll and iphlpapi.dll|ref={{cn|date=July 2016}}|fix=
 
{{Fixbox|description=Delete Darkstar One's netman.dll and iphlpapi.dll|ref={{cn|date=July 2016}}|fix=
Line 299: Line 300:
  
 
===Ship throttle is backwards===
 
===Ship throttle is backwards===
−
If your controller's throttle is detected the wrong way around (e.g. putting it at the full speed position makes the ship stop instead) invert the "Throttle" axis by clicking the red rectangle beside it.
+
If the controller's throttle is detected the wrong way around (e.g. putting it at the full speed position makes the ship stop instead), invert the "Throttle" axis by clicking the red rectangle beside it.
−
 
 
−
===Black graphics at higher resolutions===
 
−
{{Fixbox|description=Disable FSAA|ref=<ref name="WSGF"/>|fix=
 
−
Set in-game FSAA to Off.
 
−
}}
 
  
 
==Other information==
 
==Other information==
 
===API===
 
===API===
 
{{API
 
{{API
−
|direct3d versions      = 9
+
|direct3d versions      = 9.0c
 
|direct3d notes        =  
 
|direct3d notes        =  
 
|directdraw versions    =  
 
|directdraw versions    =  
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|windows 32-bit exe    = true
 
|windows 32-bit exe    = true
 
|windows 64-bit exe    = false
 
|windows 64-bit exe    = false
−
|windows arm app        = unknown
+
|windows arm app        = false
 
|windows exe notes      =  
 
|windows exe notes      =  
 
|macos intel 32-bit app =  
 
|macos intel 32-bit app =  
Line 341: Line 337:
 
|linux arm app          = unknown
 
|linux arm app          = unknown
 
|linux executable notes =  
 
|linux executable notes =  
 +
}}
 +
 +
===Middleware===
 +
{{Middleware
 +
|physics          =
 +
|physics notes    =
 +
|audio            =
 +
|audio notes      =
 +
|interface        =
 +
|interface notes  =
 +
|input            =
 +
|input notes      =
 +
|cutscenes        = Bink Video
 +
|cutscenes notes  =
 +
|multiplayer      =
 +
|multiplayer notes=
 
}}
 
}}
  

Revision as of 21:42, 26 November 2022

Darkstar One
Darkstar One cover
Developers
Ascaron Entertainment
Publishers
Retail (Europe) Ascaron Entertainment
Retail (North America) cdv Software Entertainment
Retail (Russia) Akella
Digital Strategy First
Release dates
Windows May 18, 2006
Reception
Metacritic 71
Taxonomy
Monetization One-time game purchase
Modes Singleplayer
Pacing Real-time
Perspectives First-person, Third-person
Controls Direct control
Genres Vehicle combat
Vehicles Space flight
Themes Sci-fi, Space
Icon overlay.png
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Darkstar One on HowLongToBeat
Darkstar One on IGDB
Icon overlay.png
Icon overlay.png
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Darkstar One on MobyGames
Darkstar One on Wikipedia
Icon overlay.png
Icon overlay.png

General information

GOG.com Community Discussions
GOG.com Support Page
Steam Community Discussions

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Disc check (requires the CD/DVD in the drive to play)
 TAGES 5 DRM.[1] in English release.
ProtectDISC Software 6 DRM in German release.
StarForce 4 DRM[Note 1] in Russian release.
Custom DRM code may sabotage the game by increasing in-game prices tenfold.
Windows
GamersGate
Icon overlay.png
Windows
Gamesplanet logo.svg
Icon overlay.png
Windows
GOG.com
DRM-free
Windows
Green Man Gaming
Icon overlay.png
Windows
Steam
Icon overlay.png
Windows
StarForce DRM for this game does not work on modern versions of Windows (see above for affected versions).
A free demo can be downloaded from 4players or Gameswelt.

Essential improvements

Patches

The latest patch for the retail version is 1.3, available from PCGamingWiki (English only) and Patches-Scrolls.de (multiple languages).
Digital distribution versions already include this patch.
A hotfix for contemporary Nvidia cards experiencing a crash in trade stations was also released.

Skip intro videos

Use replacement ascaron.bik

Extract the empty video file to <path-to-game>\video\Movies\[language] and overwrite the existing file.

Do not delete the file completely, or the game will crash on startup.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
Windows %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Ascaron Entertainment\Darkstar One\
Steam Play (Linux) <SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/12330/pfx/[Note 2]

Save game data location

System Location
Windows %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Ascaron Entertainment\Darkstar One\Save\
Steam Play (Linux) <SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/12330/pfx/[Note 2]

Save game cloud syncing

System Native Notes
GOG Galaxy
OneDrive
Requires enabling backup of the Documents folder in OneDrive on all computers.
Steam Cloud

Video

Video settings.
Video settings.

Graphics feature State WSGF Notes
Widescreen resolution
 
 Some resolutions crash the game, see Some resolutions crash the game.[4]
Multi-monitor
 
 3D elements are rendered at a lower resolution.
Ultra-widescreen
 
 If game has black graphics, disable in-game FSAA.[4]
4K Ultra HD
 
 Menus and texts do not scale accordingly.
Field of view (FOV)
Cockpit FOV can be changed by pressing F3, and the perspective with F4.
Windowed
Borderless fullscreen windowed
Works with Borderless Windowed.[5]
Anisotropic filtering (AF)
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Anti-aliasing (AA)
FSAA. May cause black graphics at higher resolutions.[4]
Vertical sync (Vsync)
60 FPS
120+ FPS
Locked to 60 fps.
High dynamic range display (HDR)
See the glossary page for potential alternatives.

Input

Keyboard and mouse State Notes
Remapping
Mouse acceleration
Mouse sensitivity
Mouse input in menus
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Mouse-based space flight uses a cursor so it can not be inverted.
Controller
Controller support
Full controller support
Controller remapping
Controller sensitivity
Controller Y-axis inversion
Click the red rectangle beside the axis to toggle inversion.
Controller types
XInput-compatible controllers
PlayStation controllers
Generic/other controllers
Additional information
Controller hotplugging
Haptic feedback
Supports vibration.
Digital movement supported
Simultaneous controller+KB/M

Advanced controls

The game poorly explains its controls. Strafing sideways and flying backwards can be used to the player's advantage, but some keybindings do not appear in the options menu - look those up in the manual (digital versions contain it in the game directory).

Audio

Audio settings.
Audio settings.

Audio feature State Notes
Separate volume controls
Music, Ambient, Effects and Speech.
Surround sound
Set Speakers in-game accordingly.
Subtitles
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost
Royalty free audio

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
French
Retail and GOG.com only.
German
Retail only; download for digital releases. The German manual is available here.

VR support

3D modes State Notes
vorpX
G3D
User created game profile, see important hints on copy protection issues with retail game here: vorpx forum profile introduction.

Issues fixed

Some resolutions crash the game

Darkstar One may crash when using certain resolutions due to bundling an outdated version of iphlpapi.dll.
Delete Darkstar One's iphlpapi.dll[4]
  1. Go to the installation folder.
  2. Delete or rename iphlpapi.dll
  3. Darkstar One will now use Windows' version of this file instead.

Black graphics at higher resolutions

Disable FSAA in the game optoins[4]

"netman.dll not found" error

This is caused by Darkstar One shipping with an outdated version of this file.
Delete Darkstar One's netman.dll and iphlpapi.dll[citation needed]
  1. Go to the installation folder.
  2. Delete or rename netman.dll and iphlpapi.dll
  3. Darkstar One will now use Windows' versions of these files instead.

Ship throttle is backwards

If the controller's throttle is detected the wrong way around (e.g. putting it at the full speed position makes the ship stop instead), invert the "Throttle" axis by clicking the red rectangle beside it.

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
Direct3D 9.0c
Shader Model support 1.1
Executable 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows

Middleware

Middleware Notes
Cutscenes Bink Video

System requirements

Windows
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) 2000 SP4 XP SP2
Processor (CPU) 1.6 GHz 2.6 GHz
System memory (RAM) 512 MB 1 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 6.5 GB
Video card (GPU) Nvidia GeForce 3
ATI Radeon 8500
128 MB of VRAM
DirectX 9 compatible
Shader model 1.1 support		 Nvidia GeForce 6600
ATI Radeon X800
256 MB of VRAM
Shader model 3.0 support


Notes

  1. ↑ This version of StarForce DRM does not work on Windows 8.1, Windows 10, or Windows 11.[2][3] For supported versions of Windows the StarForce driver may need to be updated manually using SFUPDATE.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Notes regarding Steam Play (Linux) data:

References