# Best space flight sims that will work in winxp?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-space-flight-sims-that-will-work-in-winxp/282268
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [December 30, 2004, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-space-flight-sims-that-will-work-in-winxp/282268 "2004-12-30T17:24:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Stonebow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stonebow)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2004, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-space-flight-sims-that-will-work-in-winxp/282268/1 "2004-12-30T17:24:38Z")
Okay, I cut my teeth on X-wing, and then Tie Fighter, loved WC Privateer, and, while the controls were atrocious, even liked X-Com Interceptor.
What I need is a new space flight (battle oriented) sim that I can get to work in winxp.
Any suggestions?
btw- if anyone has gotten the above to work in xp , let me know. I have them all still on the original disks.
-stonebow, who is still playing the original X-Com: UFO defense, alternated with bouts of Darklands, one of the best (and most historically accurate) rpgs of all time
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### Author:  [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2004, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-space-flight-sims-that-will-work-in-winxp/282268/2 "2004-12-30T17:45:23Z")
Freelancer is a modern knockoff of Privateer that runs on XP. It’s about two years old, and worth playing if you enjoyed Privateer. Nothing like afterburning to the jump gate with a hold full of engine parts for the WeGotLotsOfMoney system with pirates chasing you at full throttle…
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### Author:  [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2004, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-space-flight-sims-that-will-work-in-winxp/282268/3 "2004-12-30T17:47:08Z")
> [@Stonebow](#):
>
> Okay, I cut my teeth on X-wing, and then Tie Fighter, loved WC Privateer, and, while the controls were atrocious, even liked X-Com Interceptor.
> -stonebow, who is still playing the original X-Com: UFO defense, alternated with bouts of Darklands, one of the best (and most historically accurate) rpgs of all time
You’re playing X-com: UFO defense on XP? How? I tried using mo-slow but still couldn’t get it to run a reasonable speed.
X-com interceptor hasn’t worked for me on anything other than Win 98. It loads fine, and the research and base management work fine, but combat doesn’t. Even missions to kill enemy drones can’t be completed, no matter what I do they are behind me and can’t be destroyed.
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### Author:  [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2004, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-space-flight-sims-that-will-work-in-winxp/282268/4 "2004-12-30T18:12:31Z")
Freespace 2.
Almost impossible to get your hands on a copy, however.
Freespace 1 was okay, but nothing all that special.
And I too second the query about X-Com Ufo Defense
(the turn based isometric one? )
I can install it fine, but when I try to run it, my (win xp OS) system bugs and the program won’t work.
How do you get it to run?
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### Author:  [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2004, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-space-flight-sims-that-will-work-in-winxp/282268/5 "2004-12-30T18:14:30Z")
Freelancer is a pretty good game, although I was disappointed at how linear it was after all its claims about being dynamic and open.
I’ve heard nothing but great things about Descent: Freespace and its sequel, but have unfortunately not played either.
I, too, would love to hear about any good space flight sims out there. I loved X-Wing, TIE Fighter, the Wing Commander series…
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### Author:  [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2004, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-space-flight-sims-that-will-work-in-winxp/282268/6 "2004-12-30T18:21:51Z")
I don’t remember the specifics of how I got X-Com to run in XP, but I was definitely able to. [This](http://www.xcomufo.com/) site is the best X-Com fan page I know of, and between their FAQ and forums, the information there should be able to help you get it running.
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### Author:  [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2004, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-space-flight-sims-that-will-work-in-winxp/282268/7 "2004-12-30T18:36:31Z")
Doesn’t X-Wing Alliance run on XP? Once you have that, install the upgraded models from [http://www.xwaupgrade.com/](http://www.xwaupgrade.com/) and you’ll have something fairly current looking.
I really liked Freelancer, too, but it gets rather dull if you play it more than 2 weeks at a time. For those two weeks, it’s a blast, but it does get repetitive.
You could also play around with the [freeware Babylon 5 game](http://ifh.firstones.com/), if you have broadband and a bit of patience. I keep meaning to play it, but never quite get around to it.
Other than that, the genre’s in a bit of a lull, unfortunately.
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### Author:  [@Stonebow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stonebow)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2004, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-space-flight-sims-that-will-work-in-winxp/282268/8 "2004-12-30T18:48:21Z")
Check out the fix at the top of this page:
[http://www.xcomufo.com/x1dl.html](http://www.xcomufo.com/x1dl.html)
it should fix the weird video error (scrunched up screen). You may need to adjust the horizontal on your monitor after (it can cut off the left side) but once it’s adjusted, it remembers the settings, and won’t mess with your other programs or windows.
There’s also an issue with the audio (no music)…there is also a fix for that, but I’ve not tried it yet.
thanks for the responses so far, and keep 'em coming!
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### Author:  [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2004, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-space-flight-sims-that-will-work-in-winxp/282268/9 "2004-12-30T19:32:48Z")
[Orbiter](http://www.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/~martins/orbit/orbit.html) is a good one, and free, if you’re interested in real-world spaceflight. Only, it comes with real-world limitations, so there are no weapons, aliens, FTL travel or extrasolar travel. But there are a few slightly futuristic spacecraft.
This might strike most of you as a bit pedestian, but still it’s a remarkable achievement. You can even code your own spacecraft…if I learn how to do that, _that_ would definitely be a remarkable achievement.
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### Author:  [@SilentButDeftly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SilentButDeftly)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2004, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-space-flight-sims-that-will-work-in-winxp/282268/10 "2004-12-30T20:47:15Z")
I’m just dropping a “me too” post – I’m looking for suggestions and/or ways to get these running under XP. Specifically Tie Fighter. IIRC, I could get it to work but with no sound. ☹
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### Author:  [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2004, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-space-flight-sims-that-will-work-in-winxp/282268/11 "2004-12-30T21:20:24Z")
> [@SilentButDeftly](#):
>
> I’m just dropping a “me too” post – I’m looking for suggestions and/or ways to get these running under XP. Specifically Tie Fighter. IIRC, I could get it to work but with no sound. ☹
You need [this soundcard emulator](http://sourceforge.net/projects/vdmsound/) to get sound in TIE Fighter.
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### Author:  [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2004, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-space-flight-sims-that-will-work-in-winxp/282268/12 "2004-12-30T21:24:38Z")
> [@SilentButDeftly](#):
>
> I’m just dropping a “me too” post – I’m looking for suggestions and/or ways to get these running under XP. Specifically Tie Fighter. IIRC, I could get it to work but with no sound. ☹
Lucas Arts released a windows version of TF and XW a while back. I know that works under 2000 Professional, full sound, 3d acceleration, etc. XP should be fine, too.
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### Author:  [@FaerieBeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FaerieBeth)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2004, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-space-flight-sims-that-will-work-in-winxp/282268/13 "2004-12-30T21:28:04Z")
the issue we have with Tie Fighter is a video issue- we’d gladly forego the sound if we could get it working.
It starts up fine, but a little while after (especially in a mission) the graphics mess up- the screen will freeze, and then, as it is supposed to move, it just tracks pixels across the screen, so you can’t een see to exit it normally. any ideas?
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### Author:  [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2004, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-space-flight-sims-that-will-work-in-winxp/282268/14 "2004-12-30T22:04:31Z")
> [@cckerberos](#):
>
> You need [this soundcard emulator](http://sourceforge.net/projects/vdmsound/) to get sound in TIE Fighter.
My mistake. That version’s a little old. The version [here](http://ntvdm.cjb.net/) is what’s needed.
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### Author:  [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2004, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-space-flight-sims-that-will-work-in-winxp/282268/15 "2004-12-30T22:05:46Z")
> [@FaerieBeth](#):
>
> the issue we have with Tie Fighter is a video issue- we’d gladly forego the sound if we could get it working.
>
> It starts up fine, but a little while after (especially in a mission) the graphics mess up- the screen will freeze, and then, as it is supposed to move, it just tracks pixels across the screen, so you can’t een see to exit it normally. any ideas?
No, but you might want to check out the [VOGONS message board](http://vogons.zetafleet.com/index.php) to see if there’s help there.
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### Author:  [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2004, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-space-flight-sims-that-will-work-in-winxp/282268/16 "2004-12-30T22:17:44Z")
Rock!
Nobody had been able to help me with that before.
Thank you.
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2004, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-space-flight-sims-that-will-work-in-winxp/282268/17 "2004-12-30T22:46:07Z")
Check out [Strange Adventures in Infinite Space](http://www.digital-eel.com/sais/).
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### Author:  [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)
#### Post date: [December 31, 2004, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-space-flight-sims-that-will-work-in-winxp/282268/18 "2004-12-31T00:29:41Z")
You might try Laminar Research’s [Space Combat](http://www.x-plane.com/SpaceCombat.html), which is for Windows (and Mac, and Linux), free, and is built around realistic space-combat (and other space flight) physics. (Which might be why it didn’t really take off, commercially, and isn’t that popular. :smack: ) On the plus side, someone built a [Babylon 5 “Starfury” fighter](http://www.x-plane.org/registry/5565.shtml) for it, which flies just like the one on TV.
The [X-Plane flight simulator](http://www.x-plane.com/) also features some spaceflight capability, although not beyond Earth orbit. (But it’s a LOT more than MSFS offers, from what I understand. And accurate, to boot.) You can launch into orbit (or suborbit), reenter, etc. All it takes is the right aircraft, which are legion. (X-Plane also features weapons, but while they do fire and leave smokey craters, there’s no sound, no enemies, and nothing gets damaged. ☹ You can use nukes that make accurately large “mushroom” clouds, though.)
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [December 31, 2004, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-space-flight-sims-that-will-work-in-winxp/282268/19 "2004-12-31T03:02:33Z")
[BANG! Gunship Elite](http://www.redstorm.com/games/gameinfo.php?id=69) works with XP (I just checked mine) and is very battle oriented. It’s also a about four years old and as such might not be easy to find.
I’d be happy to send you mine. I find not getting past the second mission very frustrating.
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [December 31, 2004, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-space-flight-sims-that-will-work-in-winxp/282268/20 "2004-12-31T03:08:56Z")
Why are all these spaceflight sims so old? Aren’t there any made for XP?
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