We made installation guides for all versions, so please check it out below<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nHow to play Area-51 Windows<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The game with patch 1.2 has been tested on Windows 7 64-bit and Windows 10, works okay. The game supports widescreen. You may encounter some issues while playing, so here’s our guide how to play Area 51 on modern systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, you cannot install the game directly from the original discs on Windows 7 and newer OS, if you want to install the retail version of the game (it released on 1 DVD\/3 CDs) – follow\u00a0this guide\u00a0on PCGamingWiki. Retail version of the game was protected by infamous StarForce DRM, so don’t launch the game right after installation, first install NoCD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here’s some methods how to install the game other ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Install & play guide:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Download and run Setup. It is installer for the free version that was distributed by US Air Force<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Install the game<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- After you installed the game – install the patch 1.2 for US version (the patch is inside the archive)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Optionally install FOV fix (instructions inside the archive)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Open the directory with the game and find A51.exe. Right click on A51.exe – Properties – Compatibility – Set “Run this app in compatibility mode with Windows 2000 or XP” and “Run as administrator”<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Launch the game and play. If the game doesn’t work – try to launch the game, then open Task Manager (Ctrl+Alt+Del by default) and check for processes A51.exe and rundll32.exe. Close A51.exe but don’t touch rundll32.exe (it’s a Windows app for running old apps from 32-bit operational systems, most old games running through rundll32.exe). Now try to launch the game again, it must work. Don’t forget to close rundll32.exe process in Task Manager after finishing playing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- That way you will get clean game without any fixes. Alternatevily, you can run the Full-Rip (it is already pre-installed game). Full-Rip was created by Archive.org user LividBunny, please visit\u00a0this page\u00a0for more details<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- It is highly recommended to install\u00a0Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable\u00a0for the correct work of the game<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Also it is recommended to install RAD Video Tools and\u00a0K-Lite Codec Pack\u00a0for the correct work of in-game videos<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The game works on DirectX 9, so if you’re using Windows 8, 8.1, 10 or 11 – you need to enable DirectPlay: Go to Control Panel, and select ‘Programs’. Select ‘Turn Windows features on and off’, click on ‘Legacy Components’ and check the box ‘DirectPlay’. Select OK, once the installation is done, restart your computer<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- By default the game has FOV = 60, you can change it by using\u00a0FOV fix. Simply copy files from the archive to main game directory, then open Settings.ini and set desired FOV<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- On some systems lighting will be broken and all textures will be black. This is a DirectX 9 issue, use\u00a0WineD3D\u00a0or\u00a0dgVoodoo\u00a0to fix it. For more details check\u00a0PCGamingWiki<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The game doesn’t have FPS cap, which can result in broken in-game physics if the game runs on more than 60 FPS. You need to limit game’s framerate, there’s 2 methods to do that:\n
\n- Install an app that allows to limit the framerate, like\u00a0RTSS\u00a0or\u00a0Bandicam, read this\u00a0guide\u00a0for framerate limit utilities<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- If you’re using dgVoodoo 2.75 or later version – open dgVoodoo.conf with Notepad and find the line FPSLimit = 0. Change “0” to “60” to limit the game’s framerate to 60 FPS<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Don’t forget to check\u00a0PCGamingWiki page\u00a0if you have troubles, it is very useful<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Install & play guide for Project Dreamland:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Download Project Dreamland from our page<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Unzip the archive and launch Area51-Launcher.exe<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- If the launcher doesn’t work and stuck in an endless loop verifying the game’s files, do the next:<\/strong>\u00a0go to\u00a0
Project Dreamland\/resources\/app\/game<\/code>\u00a0folder and create desktop shortcut for A51.exe. Then click right mouse button on that shortcut, select Properties and add following launch parameter:\u00a0--launcher<\/code>\u00a0(it should looks like\u00a0Project Dreamland\/resources\/app\/game\/A51.exe --launcher<\/code>\u00a0)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nNotes:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n