Ok, I have finished my analysis and have some interesting things to report, not mentioned in the 'Tips' section about CAOD.
Game installation:
Actually playing the game directly in Win7 x64 will work better than in WinXP, the reason is that the program will get confused about the memory available in XP and crash when you enter the 3D world.
On the other side, it's not possible to directly install from CD-ROM in Win7x64 because x16 bits executables will not run in Win7 x64 or higher. You MUST install the game in Win95, Win98, WinXP, or use VMWARE with these OS to install the game, sorry. When you install, do exactly as in the 'Tips' section, which is: Do NOT run the Computer Test during install, chose 'Install anyway' in the screen where it says you don't have the requirements, and do NOT install the voice-over (doesn't work anyway.).
Once installed, move the game folder to a stick and copy it to your modern OS. You can now deinstall the game in your old OS, you don't need the program there anymore.
After simply moving the game folders to a stick and copying it in Win7 (or Windows Vista, Windows 10, and without installing it) the game will run fine, but will lack sounds if multiple sounds have to be played (e.g. engine sounds + noise of ships passing by when you are underwater). This is very annoying for a sub sim, I'm still searching for solutions. What you can do is renaming the file CLICK1.RAW into BACKUP_CLICK1.RAW, this will avoid some of the sound leaks, but not all unfortunately. I have no solution yet.
Other than this, the 'Online game manual' with the interesting interview videos cannot be played in Win7, if you want to see those you must install AODCD DOS version of the game which is almost identical to CAOD with the update 1.2 and the Expansion Disk (see end of this post where I tell the differences).
About how to install the DOS version AODCD + Update 1.2 + Expansion Disk, see my remote thread here:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=219027
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HexEditing:
I now have concluded tests of Stephen L. Hildebrand's HexEdit method for CAOD, and I have some interesting add-ons:
First, the game will not save 3D positions in a Homeport save, 3D positions after a patrol are saved in the files SIMIN.DAT, SIMOUT.DAT, or your position is saved when you save during a patrol on sea, and these files cannot be edited easily, but it's not necessary, you only need to edit the homeport saves. The way to go is:
Changing your 3D position in CAOD:
First go to all important ports and save *outside*. These will be 'generic saves' which you keep as backup and put in your save folder as GAME00.SAV, GAME01.SAV etc.
You don't actually have to travel to these ports, just start a career where you depart from these ports, go outside and save. For La Spezia and Salamis, you will have to travel there instead (you will never be transfered in the Mediterranean Sea): Just put all realism options to Beginner and deactivate all crosses, then travel there using max TC, save outside the port.
I have done all this for Wilhelmshaven, La Rochelle, Brest, Bergen, Trondheim, La Spezia, Salamis.
Everytime you use these 'generic saves', the game 'remembers' the last 3D world position and will spawn you there next time you leave a port (whatever port). Only starting a new career or loading a save where you are on patrol will overwrite this and also (re)start you in the correct port. You can use this behavior to your advantage, let's see how.
Example: From Trondheim you want to start your next patrol in La Spezia, but you don't want to travel there with your sub which is too dangerous, instead you want to simulate that you take command of your sub in La Spezia and that first you are brought there via Luftwaffe... Then do these steps:
1) Finish your patrol by entering the Trondheim port and save.
2)
With this Trondheim port save, make all HexEdit changes you want as adviced by Stephen in his article
http://www.subsim.com/ssr/tipaod4.html
The good news is: All these edits, and also what I explain here below will also work in AODCD, the DOS version!
Especially, you want to edit your new homeport, your new sub. Changing your patrol area is futile because BDU will give you a new one before you depart on patrol. If you still insist doing this, you would have to Hexedit it once you leave port, but it's just a writing in your logbook, nothing more I think.
Optional: You can edit the date at which you want to start your new patrol:
In the save file, edit the values at the hex adresses 2A and 2B
2A: xy
x = increases/decreases the date by 16 days if you rise or lower the value by 1 unit in Hex sequence.
y= don't touch this.
2B: xy
x = don't touch this, it will crash the game otherwise.
y = increases/decreases the date by approx. 8 monthes if you rise or lower the value by 1 unit in Hex sequence.
This is without the additional days you stay in port for repairs, supplies etc.
3) Load the 'generic save' for La Spezia, enter port.
4)
Now just load again your Trondheim save and depart on a patrol, you will see you will start from La Spezia
It can happen that the BDU is transfering you to another homeport, but that really doesn't matter, dock where you want...
That's it enjoy!
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Differences betwenn Command Aces of the Deep (Win95) and the DOS version AODCD + update 1.2 + expansion disk:
The games are identical with these differences:
- Better grafics in CAOD
- Flawless install of AODCD DOS under Dosbox with Defend Reloaded 1.33, CAOD cannot be installed on modern OS.
- Sound problems in CAOD during game, no problems in AODCD
- CAOD has a manually usable deck gun, not so in AODCD where it only works automatically if ordered so
- You cannot save single missions in CAOD, you can do it in AODCD
- Sub XXI can not be chosen in CAOD in single missions, you can in AODCD
- Weak planes in AODCD (only small one-seaters like Wildcat etc., Liberators or such are NOT a piece of cake); strong planes in CAOD
- The very interesting online manual and videos of CAOD cannot be run in Win7 or higher, they are included and work in AODCD.
- Escorts, Destroyers can spot you easily even 5000+ yards away at night and foggy weather in AODCD in middle 1941 (radar or bug?)
Notes:
1)
In both versions CAOD and AODCD the 'report convoy' (Kontaktmeldung) to BDU is possibly broken: If you report a convoy then its reported course will be erroneous with the consequence of sending all wolfpacks into the wrong direction. Maybe this error has something to do with the inexperience of your crew, but I don't think that the devs have made that game part so complex, so it's most likely a bug. Also this will not change if I'm directly close to a convoy ship and then send a report (with the contact cross of the ship illuminated at maximum for best data).
The workaround is: if in your first report, the convoy course is almost the right one, then don't send other reports. If instead your first report is totally way-off, then a 2nd or 3rd report etc. will not change it, that's too bad. However if AI subs enter the area close to the convoy they will report the convoy position correctly this time (you get a radio message), so hope that at least 1 AI sub will join in, the others will then join also to assist you
2)
In CAOD, you can also use the menu on the top, you must do so if you want to see the outside view centered on your target or on your torpedo. In AODCD you hit F10 once to show your torpedo view and again F10 to switch to target view.
However do not chose this view at the very moment where your torpedo will hit the target, if you do the game will crash (in CAOD, not in AODCD). The same happens when you follow a plane in this view, the game will crash at the moment where the plane drops a bomb, so do not use this view at that moment (in CAOD).
3)
After reading all this, which of the 2 games should you chose to play today, CAOD or AODCD fully upgraded? A difficult question this one because you must chose between much better grafics but weak or absent sound effects (CAOD) and a difficult install procedure (not everyone has WinXP or VMWARE at disposal to do the install); or AODCD where the only flaw is that is has weak planes and no manual deck gun, but everything else working well, inclusive the install procedure. To my taste, AODCD is better even if the grafics are inferior (not too much for the 90s standard however) and you have the excellent online manual working with the videos. But make your own choice if you can, this article will give you the power to do so...
I hope all this is helpful to you, enjoy Subsim.com and the games !
XenonS
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