Fighting Steel troubleshooting/compatibility issues roll call

FightingSteel1 · 08-27-14, 10:44 PM

I don't know how much interest I'll get for this, but I would like to start a thread for those that are having trouble with getting SSIs Fighting Steel to work on their modern systems.

I've opened a thread at the FSP forum hoping to get some kind of response from them on anything that can be done. Those with modern NVIDIA cards seem to be stuck on the "missing ships" issue present with newer drivers. I can't speak to AMD cards, but I have heard from some the game plays with AMD/ATI.

I've attempted to run the game in a virtual environment, VirtualBox, which supports Direct3d and Directx 8/9 only. Now, FS was originally DX 6, but my understanding was that the FSP upped the game to DX8 or 9 for their new content. Even so, I can get other Directx 8 games to work in this virtual space, but not the updated Fighting Steel versions.

Honestly if a game like FS had ever been made this wouldn't matter, but since this is pretty much it for WWII surface ship fans, I would like to be able to use this game in the future.

So, if you are interested in the game and have compatibility issues, please post in this thread. I've seen several random questions asked about this on here, SimHQ, and other sites. Maybe someone has a work around or maybe we can work this out together.

Onkel Neal · 08-28-14, 08:28 AM

Subscribed.

Of course, my work around for old games is an old PC, but I am interested to see how you fare.

FightingSteel1 · 08-28-14, 03:48 PM

Well, I received a response from the main programmer for the FSP at NWS. I'll link to it and quote it here:

http://nws-online.proboards.com/thre...-compatibility

Per williammiller at NWS:

"I was the primary developer of the Fighting Steel Project. While we did patch the graphics engine to run better in DX8+ the (rather serious) root issue was that the game engine was originally programmed using an alternate graphics mode (a subset of the old 'Retained' 3D mode) in Direct-X. Unfortunately, support for this mode was dropped by Microsoft less than 18 months after the game was released (starting with DX 7) and later DX updates have rendered that mode even more un-useable/unstable.

It would have required a 100% complete re-write of the game engine to have solved this issue, the best we could do was to patch the code to make it as compatible as possible - however, given the very serious issue of the dropped support and the massive changes in DX over the last few versions, the game simply is not going to be stable, even when running on some virtualization machines - be aware that such machines may *still* have DX overlay issues that can cause serious corruption to the graphics with retained-mode engines such as FS, while older engines that use other modes may not suffer those issues at all."

That pretty much explains where the game is at, and why it has not made it into modern day tech like other games of it's time period. I mean, you can play WW2 Fighters, Panzer Elite, and all sorts of stuff from the late 90's/Early 2000's on a Win 7 machine, but not Fighting Steel. Those other games also have a string of mods and work done on them by others.

Anyone interested in the game and unable to play please check in when you see this thread. Also, anyone with AMD/ATI cards please tell us how the game works for you.

I'm not sure where I'm going with this, but as someone stuck hanging on to FS because there is nothing else to play instead (World of Warships isn't going to be the answer IMO), I'm hoping an update or work around can be achieved.

FightingSteel1 · 08-29-14, 02:14 PM

Well, a quick reply to everything I have found out.

Fighting Steel is essentially a dead end. Those with older hardware for older games, and possibly those with ATI cards can still play the original game.

The "Retained" mode programming, dropped by Microsoft after DX7, completely dates the entire source code. It would have to be rewritten into a more modern API for any enhancements to be made. This also explains the incompatibility with Directx 8 and beyond.

The source code of the game cannot be accessed anyway, because NWS holds it by way of the defunct Divide by Zero publisher.

So, Fighting Steel stays in the past. Unless a group of motivated individuals wished to build a game from scratch, or modify a current product, there will not be another sim style WWII naval game. That's unfortunate for me, but judging by the lack of interest in this thread as of yet, maybe not such a big deal overall.

eddie · 08-29-14, 03:52 PM

FS was fun way back when, but it doesn't run on newer systems. Might want to give Victory at Sea a try. Can get it on Steam.

08-27-14, 10:44 PM	#1
FightingSteel1 Bosun Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 63 Downloads: 60 Uploads: 0	Fighting Steel troubleshooting/compatibility issues roll call I don't know how much interest I'll get for this, but I would like to start a thread for those that are having trouble with getting SSIs Fighting Steel to work on their modern systems. I've opened a thread at the FSP forum hoping to get some kind of response from them on anything that can be done. Those with modern NVIDIA cards seem to be stuck on the "missing ships" issue present with newer drivers. I can't speak to AMD cards, but I have heard from some the game plays with AMD/ATI. I've attempted to run the game in a virtual environment, VirtualBox, which supports Direct3d and Directx 8/9 only. Now, FS was originally DX 6, but my understanding was that the FSP upped the game to DX8 or 9 for their new content. Even so, I can get other Directx 8 games to work in this virtual space, but not the updated Fighting Steel versions. Honestly if a game like FS had ever been made this wouldn't matter, but since this is pretty much it for WWII surface ship fans, I would like to be able to use this game in the future. So, if you are interested in the game and have compatibility issues, please post in this thread. I've seen several random questions asked about this on here, SimHQ, and other sites. Maybe someone has a work around or maybe we can work this out together.

08-28-14, 08:28 AM	#2
Onkel Neal Born to Run Silent Join Date: Jan 1997 Location: Cougar Trap, Texas Posts: 21,383 Downloads: 541 Uploads: 224	Subscribed. Of course, my work around for old games is an old PC, but I am interested to see how you fare. __________________ SUBSIM - 26 Years on the Web

08-29-14, 03:52 PM	#5
eddie Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,023 Downloads: 99 Uploads: 0	FS was fun way back when, but it doesn't run on newer systems. Might want to give Victory at Sea a try. Can get it on Steam. __________________ Don't mistake my kindness for weakness. I'm kind to everyone, but when someone is unkind to me, weak is not what you are going to remember about me. Al Capone

08-28-14, 03:48 PM	#3
FightingSteel1 Bosun Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 63 Downloads: 60 Uploads: 0	Well, I received a response from the main programmer for the FSP at NWS. I'll link to it and quote it here: http://nws-online.proboards.com/thre...-compatibility Per williammiller at NWS: "I was the primary developer of the Fighting Steel Project. While we did patch the graphics engine to run better in DX8+ the (rather serious) root issue was that the game engine was originally programmed using an alternate graphics mode (a subset of the old 'Retained' 3D mode) in Direct-X. Unfortunately, support for this mode was dropped by Microsoft less than 18 months after the game was released (starting with DX 7) and later DX updates have rendered that mode even more un-useable/unstable. It would have required a 100% complete re-write of the game engine to have solved this issue, the best we could do was to patch the code to make it as compatible as possible - however, given the very serious issue of the dropped support and the massive changes in DX over the last few versions, the game simply is not going to be stable, even when running on some virtualization machines - be aware that such machines may still have DX overlay issues that can cause serious corruption to the graphics with retained-mode engines such as FS, while older engines that use other modes may not suffer those issues at all." That pretty much explains where the game is at, and why it has not made it into modern day tech like other games of it's time period. I mean, you can play WW2 Fighters, Panzer Elite, and all sorts of stuff from the late 90's/Early 2000's on a Win 7 machine, but not Fighting Steel. Those other games also have a string of mods and work done on them by others. Anyone interested in the game and unable to play please check in when you see this thread. Also, anyone with AMD/ATI cards please tell us how the game works for you. I'm not sure where I'm going with this, but as someone stuck hanging on to FS because there is nothing else to play instead (World of Warships isn't going to be the answer IMO), I'm hoping an update or work around can be achieved.

08-29-14, 02:14 PM	#4
FightingSteel1 Bosun Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 63 Downloads: 60 Uploads: 0	Well, a quick reply to everything I have found out. Fighting Steel is essentially a dead end. Those with older hardware for older games, and possibly those with ATI cards can still play the original game. The "Retained" mode programming, dropped by Microsoft after DX7, completely dates the entire source code. It would have to be rewritten into a more modern API for any enhancements to be made. This also explains the incompatibility with Directx 8 and beyond. The source code of the game cannot be accessed anyway, because NWS holds it by way of the defunct Divide by Zero publisher. So, Fighting Steel stays in the past. Unless a group of motivated individuals wished to build a game from scratch, or modify a current product, there will not be another sim style WWII naval game. That's unfortunate for me, but judging by the lack of interest in this thread as of yet, maybe not such a big deal overall.