Wing Loader (KS/WCDX) Loader & Voice Over Mod

Life Priorities in order:
1) Yourself
2) Your family
3) WCNEWS Community ;)

Joking aside, I will patiently wait to play WC with voiceovers and am happy to hear that your business is keeping you busy in a good way.
 
I hope everything is fine for you, Destro!

There has not been a new post here for several months now and any small update would be very much appreciated.

Cheers!
 
Hey!

Yes I've been doing great, thanks. It has been some time now and long over due for an update.

Life:
As I mentioned before I have started my own business and I have been extremely busy doing that. So busy in-fact that I am hiring an employee and they start tomorrow! Woo! This is exciting as I'm hoping that my 16-18 hour days will be a bit more manageable, leaving me with some more free time to work on this and finish my first Elden Ring play-through. lol

Tech stuff:
- Memory overloading issues resolved. - With so much scripting (currently over15,000 lines) My program couldn't handle it and memory started leaking, causing instability and errors. I have since resolved this but there is still a little leak somewhere but only appears if you continuously run the game through the app without closing it. Ram usage just keeps going up but only a few MB at a time so it's really a non issue right now. I do have a solution for better memory management, but will take a while to implement and I will tackle that later.
- Created a Custom Language in Notepad++ - Now I can more easily see what the heck I am doing with so much scripting the ability to fold lines makes it much easier to scroll through and find what I'm looking for.
- Debugging Fixed - I was having so many debugging issues making it hard to track down the memory leaks I mentioned above. I ended up switching IDE's and from using cmake to build SDL, ASSIMP, etc... manually to using msys2 to install like I would on Linux. This introduced it's own set of issues as my old IDE and compiler just let me make mistakes and run the program but the new way was more strict, so I had to re-write a lot of the code. But, that has all been done and now I can build properly again!
- Fonts are Broken? - After the above change, SDL_TTF now outputs garbage, not sure what the problem is here but is not a huge issue as I don't really need fonts for this app to work.

Loader:
More stable that ever! - With all the changes it now works very well and in my testing has not had any real issues with not linking to WC1 or anything like that.
Progress - I am half way through Venice and only Hell's Kitchen remains!!!!!!!
Com's - For enemy and confed ships they all use the same dialog but have different names. (Franthi, Ranthi, Tigers Claw, Transport etc...) I have tested a way to delete the Names off the com and just read the line itself but have yet to implement it. Plus the com's have a lot of audio editing to do so I'm going to hold off until Phase 2 for those.
Testing - I have stopped testing as much as it is getting hard to try and play the missions to get every line of dialog to test for every contingency, especially now that I'm in the endgame. Plan to just push through and update accordingly as people report issues.

Issues:
- I have been trying to confirm lines the best I can by using WCEdit and the Story Guide, insuring that every line is correct. In some cases however, I have audio where the script does not. The Script only says "We nailed her, sir!" while I also have audio for "I nailed her, sir!" Makes sense to have that line in case your wingman is dead, but it is not only thing. Some times Kilrathi Ace's are referenced in the audio but not the Story Guild or in WCEdit, so I have to guess the games exact grammar (Which can be spotty at best) and hope that they are not out of place on the SegaCD. (Which it has been before and took me a while to find the missing lines) Plan to put them where the SagaCD version has them and if someone comes across the real placements while planing I'll fix it then.

Current Timeline:
- I plan to have the missions done by end of May as I think that is a reasonable time-frame, then figure out how to make a release build. This will not include in-flight com's (Excluding Angel and Paladin as they are already done), but it will be on your systems soon. :D

Release Plan:
(Near Future)
Wing Commander Loader v0.5 - All Sega CD Mission Voice Overs added and SNES intro for SM1. - (In the next month or two!)
Wing Commander Loader v0.6 - All Sega CD In-Flight Com's added. (TBD)

(Far Future Plans) - Currently just a dream and not in the works yet. Will start after the above is completed.
Wing Commander Loader v0.7 - All Super Wing Commander Voice Overs and Com's Added (WC1)
Wing Commander Loader v0.8 - All Super Wing Commander Voice Overs and Com's Added (WC1SM1)
Wing Commander Loader v0.9 - All Super Wing Commander Voice Overs and Com's Added (WC1SM1.5)
Wing Commander Loader v1.0 - All Super Wing Commander Voice Overs and Com's Added (WC1SM2)

While the Super Wing Commander audio is trash, I still want to have the option in all games and now that I know it is possible. :p This is way in the future and I have no idea when I'll even start it but it my goal never the less. I have all the Mac's audio and once the main work is done it should just be a matter of replacing audio pointers, at least for the main game. Fingers crossed.

That's it for now! It's been an exciting ride and I do appreciate all the encouragement and patience from you all.
 
Hey!

Yes I've been doing great, thanks. It has been some time now and long over due for an update.

Release Plan:
(Near Future)
Wing Commander Loader v0.5 - All Sega CD Mission Voice Overs added and SNES intro for SM1. - (In the next month or two!)
Wing Commander Loader v0.6 - All Sega CD In-Flight Com's added. (TBD)
Hi Destro!

I hope everything is ok with you. I've been waiting to check your marvelous project and finally play Wing Commander 1 with digitized speech. Do you have any news?

Thank you
 
Wing Loader V0.91 Release

DOWNLOAD LINK v0.91:

https://mega.nz/file/NToE2QRT#KL3pJOxYNytPfJG9J435yWlt3DmniAQy7RRKL3y9clM

Wing Loader aims to create the most definitive version of Wing Commander possible by supporting the most advanced versions of the game, mods such as WCDX and adding fully voice acted dialogue previously only seen in the SegaCD version of the game release back in 1994.

Features:
All Conversations and in-flight coms added to the game!
In-flight coms added to all Secret Missions (Testing Phase)
Allows you to transfer your Pilots between addon's.
SNES intro to Secret Missions 1 added!
Wing Commander 1.5 Mod Compatible!
Support for all main series titles of Wing Commander via GOG!

New in Version 0.91
- Wing Commander IV, Prophecy & Secret Ops are now available options inside Wing Loader!
- Support for all Wing Commander (main series) titles via GOG installs. (It should, in theory, work with EA App but it hasn't been tested.)
- In-game patching of GOG_To_KS and WCDX. No more Batch files. (WCDX, WC1.5 & DDraw not included)
- Click the Gear icon at the lower right and select which game you want to patch.
- Error 267 fix when running titles from Wing Loader!!!!!
- Game install folders renamed from WC1 to Wing Commander... Another folder rename!? Now that 267 is fixed I can use the actual game folder names. Last time I change this, I swear.
- Engine fixes and optimization's introduced with v0.90's engine re-write.
- Fullscreen toggle fixed
- Games will now run while in Fullscreen.
- Fixed SE_Pref.ini not saving on exit.
- Some spelling errors corrected.... but defiantly not all.
- Camera aspect ratio's fixed.
- Wing Loader Icon now appears when running the app. resource.rc still a work in progress.
- Pressing 'esc' now brings up a confirmation before closing.
- Many more minor fixes.

Controls:
Up / Down - Select game (WCI, WCII, WCII, WCIV, Prophecy)
Left / Right - Select add-on for selected game.
Space - Run selected title.
Esc - Close Wing Loader.

Requirements:
Windows 64bit
Graphics Card with OpenGL 4.5
WCDX

Installation Instructions:

Wing Loader
1) Extract the contents of WingLoaderv0.91.zip somewhere on your computer. ex: C:\Games

Wing Commander I
1) Install "Wing Commander" via GOG / GOG Galaxy into the Root WingLoader folder. ex: C:\Games\Wingloader so the final result will look like C:\Games\Wingloader\Wing Commander
2) Download Wing Commander 1.5 https://www.wcnews.com/wcpedia/Secret_Missions_1.5_(Kilrathi_Saga) and extract the contents of sm15_kilrathisaga.zip into the "gamedat" folder.
*Skip the overwrite. It will not cause you issues if you do, Wing Loader Manages the Install.dat file for you.
3) Grab the latest version of WCDX https://github.com/Bekenn/wcdx/releases and extract the files into the Wing Commander install folder.
4) Run Wing Loader and click the Gear icon at the lower right and select "Patch Wing Commander I".
WC_wcdx.exe SM1_wcdx.exe SM2_wcdx.exe

Wing Commander II
1) Install "Wing Commander II" via GOG / GOG Galaxy into the Root WingLoader folder. ex: C:\Games\Wingloader so the final result will look like C:\Games\Wingloader\Wing Commander II
2) Grab the latest version of WCDX https://github.com/Bekenn/wcdx/releases and extract the files into the Wing Commander II install folder.
3) Run Wing Loader and click the Gear icon at the lower right and select "Patch Wing Commander II".
WC2_wcdx.exe SO1_wcdx.exe SO2_wcdx.exe

Wing Commander III
1) Install "Wing Commander III" via GOG / GOG Galaxy into the Root WingLoader folder. ex: C:\Games\Wingloader so the final result will look like C:\Games\Wingloader\Wing Commander III
2) Grab the latest version of DDRAW from https://github.com/FunkyFr3sh/cnc-ddraw/releases (v6.0) and copy the files into the Wing Commander III install folder.
3) Run cnc-ddraw config.exe
- Under "Display Settings" Set "Presentation" to Borderless
- Under "Compatibility Settings" Set "Fix bad Performance and sound issues" on.
- All other settings are at your discretion.
4) Run Wing Loader and click the Gear icon at the lower right and select "Patch Wing Commander III".
WC3W.EXE

Wing Commander IV
1) Install "Wing Commander IV" via GOG / GOG Galaxy into the Root WingLoader folder. ex: C:\Games\Wingloader so the final result will look like C:\Games\Wingloader\Wing Commander IV

* Install any additional mods or patches but it should work out of the box.
wc4dvd.exe

* I have yet to get the HD Videos working properly with these games yet but if you want them you can install them.

Wing Commander Prophecy / Secret Ops
1) Install "Wing Commander Prophecy" and/or "Wing Commander Secret Ops" via GOG / GOG Galaxy into the Root WingLoader folder. ex: C:\Games\WingLoader so the final result will look like C:\Games\Wingloader\Wing Commander Prophecy (or Secret Ops)
2) Download and install the Model Upgrade Pack https://www.wcnews.com/wcpedia/Model_Upgrade_Pack and set up the display settings to your liking.
3) Go into your install directory and right click the Prophecy.exe and go to the compatibility tab.
- Click "Change settings for all users" and de-select "Run in Compatibility Mode"
- Click "Apply" if the option is still checked for Compatibility Mode de-select and click Apply.
* If Compatibility Mode is not enabled. Enable it, Apply and then repeat the steps.
- Do the same process with SecretOps.exe in the Wing Commander Secret Ops folder.
prophecy.exe secretops.exe

* I have yet to get the DVD or the HD Videos working properly with these games yet but if you want them you can install them.

Known Issues:
- Due to the low frame-rate of the game in the bar, if you move and click too fast on a character, the loader wont detect and activate the characters dialogue. (Doesn't happen too often, but sometimes happens.)
- The timings for dialogue in the game are borked. Some scenes, lines only display for a few seconds (or milliseconds) and skip automatically to the next. This is a game issue but have some thoughts for the future.
- Due to the low quality of the in-flight com's, they are rather low in volume. I originally had them peaking which gave it a "walki-talki" sound but didn't like that I was losing sound quality and the crackling was a bit much on some lines.
- The Ending voices are built into the Sega CD's music track and there is no way to separate them from the music. I just left the music in it and it sounded ok, but if you have a good ear you might notice that two music tracks are playing during the ending cut-scene. :p
- So many .dll files...

Hey Everyone!

I know it's been a long time since I've given an update. Life has been busy and I had several big contracts to do and not much free time working 7 days a week 16 hour days. But the wait is finally over! Wing Loader is done and ready for release!!!! Now all the Sega CD audio files are usable in Wing Commander 1 (KS Edition), this includes all the in-flight coms as well! There are some general script tidying to do and testing, as I haven't gone through and just did a whole playthrough yet, so I know that I miss a few things along the way. It is still a Work In Progress or a Beta and I wont consider it complete until it's thoroughly tested, but I think it's stable and complete enough to play and enjoy. Fingers crossed. :p

I have included install instructions and believe they are clear. I've only testing this on my computers and Steam Deck (Added as a non-steam game and it worked perfectly in Proton for me. Your mileage may vary.) I have never released software before so let me know it there are any issues getting up and running and I'll try my best to assist.

Thank you all for being patient and awesome. It really pushed me forward in getting this done! When I first announced this back in 2020 I thought it would take me a month, max! Boy, was I wrong! 3,873 Audio Files & over 22,000 lines of scripting later, it's finally in a place where I can show it off. I hope you all enjoy.

I know that I've probably missed something or made errors, so if a line doesn't play in a scene, a wrong audio file linked to a different line of text or a sequence is not working, feel free to DM me. And I'll fix it for the next update. :D

I hope you enjoy the final product and have many more hours kicking some Kilrathi ass!

**************************************SPECIAL THANKS**************************************

Bekenn's WCDX
- Makes the Kilrathi Saga playable on modern PC's and patches numerous bugs!

HCI's Wing Commander Sega CD Speech Extractor - Extracts about 90% of the audio out of the game! Would not be possible without!!!!!!

Flashpoint’s Wing Commander Mission Editor - A mission editor that allow me to quickly make modifications to the script and package it back into the game!

Cheat Engine - Used to Peek and Poke at the memory to find the data needed such as dialogue buffer, callsign, name etc...

Chris Roberts – For making an amazing game.

All the developers - Those who worked on these games and all their ports! Without them and their hard work, I wouldn’t be nerding over a game that came out 30 years ago!

EA – For publishing and keeping Wing Commander accessible all these years later on their platform and on GOG.

WCNews - I've been coming to the website since I was a kid trying to download the Secret Ops add-on's on my dial-up internet connection. I have so many fond memories visiting the site and the fact that it's been maintained all these years and new content is coming out blows my mind. I've spent many countless hours scrolling through Wing Commander news and this is all thanks to you! Thank you to everyone involved for feeding my Wing Commander addiction.

WCNews Community - For being so encouraging, kind and understanding. This alone kept me pushing forward to actually get this released!
 
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Found an issue with having spaces in my Directories. I've updated the link with that fix applied.
 
Hey Destro, some feedback, it works like a charm !

just a heads-up. you have the run the WCDX.bat included in the "Wing1" folder from a Prompt (DOS) to get the patching to work correctly not from Windows or that is what happened to me when I followed the steps, I will assume some WCDX testers will automatically go about it like that.

but it's works fine, checking it out now, this is really cool ! Great work :)
 
Hey Destro, some feedback, it works like a charm !

just a heads-up. you have the run the WCDX.bat included in the "Wing1" folder from a Prompt (DOS) to get the patching to work correctly not from Windows or that is what happened to me when I followed the steps, I will assume some WCDX testers will automatically go about it like that.

but it's works fine, checking it out now, this is really cool ! Great work :)
Thanks. I hope you enjoy it! You should just have to double click the WCDX.bat and it will patch the files in the correct way. Windows can be a bugger though so I'll keep my eye on that thanks. :)

Going to finally do a real playthrough on my steam Deck myself. 😎
 
great idea 😬, I'm def. doing a playthrough myself, it's been almost three years since you announced, like at the start of Covid -lockdowns around the world, I remember it like yesterday, but I believe it's a lot of work and concentration with all those audio files and to place it at the correct position in the game and to make sure again, gees.
 
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Wow! Has it been 3 years! It's hard to believe, time really flys. Yeah started messing around in early 2020 when the lockdown started. I've been coding it so much I haven't been able to just sit down and enjoy the game. Really looking forward to it. 😁
 
I just came across this by accident, never saw it before - hat off to you, sir! I will definitely try it.

I'm sure Chris is waiting for a slow day, this is frontpage news :)
 
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