This is a guide to running the 1992 MicroProse Harrier sim, Harrier Jump Jet in DOSBox Staging. It will cover patching both the digital and retail releases to the latest version, the DOSBox Staging config and setting up a HOTAS.
As usual floppy images will be used to save wear and tear on disks and drive.
This guide references the earlier work by @damsonn in a Steam guide, so a big thank you for the hard work that went into that.
Version
The only retail version I have been able to find is v2.16. The digital release on gog.com is the same v2.16 version. I'm assuming the Steam release is also v2.16 given the game comes from the same publisher.
Differences between digital and retail releases
Despite digital and retail releases being at the same version there are some minor differences in the files present between the two releases, detailed in the table below. The descriptions of the differences are a subjective best guess.
aces.dat | An additional data file, present in the digital release, to change the entries on the Aces page in game. Following application of the v2.40 patch, this file is removed. |
frontend.exe | This looks like an uncompressed and cracked version of the executable containing the manual based copy protection disabled in digital releases. The retail releases uses the original file with copy protection intact. Following application of the v2.40 patch this file is replaced with a new version with the copy protection intact. |
harrier.bat | Created by the installer, so full and small installs create different harrier.bat files. |
intro.fli | A file containing the intro movie visuals. This is present in the retail release but missing in the digital release. This suggests the digital releases were built using the small install option. |
t.1 | This looks like a scratch file created as the digital release was being produced. This isn't present in the retail release. |
wwf.com | This seems to be a remnant from the original third party copy protection crack. This isn't present in the retail release. |
readme.now | A short readme explaining the differences between a full and small install. Not present in the digital release. |
xmusic.imp | Present in digital and retail releases, but different sizes. I believe this is created once a music/sound option is chosen in the installer. So the default Soundblaster sound in the digital release may explain this. |
xsound.imp | As xmusic.imp but for digital sound effects. |
*.cfg | Game config files, differences in digital/retail game defaults result in different config files. |
*.$$$ | Game temp files, expected to be different between individual copies. |
Patches
There are two patches available, the v2.40 patch (also known as the US patch) provides bug fixes, controller and game enhancements. The v2.40 patch is an update patch which must be installed using DOSBox.
The v2.41 patch (also known as the UK patch) provides a bug fix to rudder control. This is a file replacement patch, with files from the patch archive replacing existing files in the Harrier installation folder.
I believe the US and UK patch names are inaccurate and both patches are applicable to either European/UK or US editions, depending on game version. I believe these names may have come about due to re-release versions of the game, which may have been different for European/UK and US markets.
The patches are recommended for both digital and retail releases. The patching strategy is summarized below:
Game version is v2.16, apply v2.40 (US) patch.
Game version is (or patched to) v2.40, apply v2.41 (UK) patch.
Game version is (or patched to) v2.41, patching complete.
For specific installation and patching instructions, see 'Installation and patching' below.
HOTAS config
As it is a DOS based sim a maximum of 4 axes are supported. Harrier supports all 4 axes, including throttle and rudder.
When using HOTAS/controller profiling software to limit the controller to a maximum of 4 axes the following device axes to Windows axes mappings were used:
Physical axis | Windows axis |
Joystick x-axis | DX_X_AXIS |
Joystick y-axis | DX_Y_AXIS |
Throttle | DX_Z_AXIS |
Rudder | DX_XROT_AXIS |
DOSBox config
This DOSBox Staging config for Harrier assumes the latest version (at time of writing), v0.82.0 will be used. The changes to the default config are shown below:
[sdl]
host_rate = vrr
vsync = off
presentation_mode = vfr
[dosbox]
dos_rate = 1000
[cpu]
cpu_cycles = 12000
# cpu_cycles = 20000
cpu_cycles_protected = auto
cycleup = 1000
cycledown = 1000
[voodoo]
voodoo = false
[mouse]
dos_mouse_immediate = true
[mixer]
reverb = large
chorus = normal
[midi]
mididevice = mt32
[mt32]
romdir = "D:\Midi\Versioned"
[joystick]
joysticktype = 4axis
timed = true
swap34 = true
deadzone = 0
[autoexec]
imgmount a "D:\Games\Dos\Harrier Jump Jet\fdd\*.ima" -t floppy -ro
mount c "D:\Games\Dos\Harrier Jump Jet\hdd"
c:
cd mps\harrier
call harrier.batThe [sdl], [dosbox] and [mouse] settings are suitable for high frame rate gaming as described in this article by Omniclyde. These settings aren't strictly required and can be omitted to use the default settings.
In [cpu] settings, 12000 cycles seems appropriate for my setup. @damssonn has recommended 20000 cycles in a Steam guide, so you may need to tweak this setting to find an optimum speed for your setup.
The cpu_cycles_protected setting will use the same cycle count as cpu_cycles when set to auto.
Voodoo emulation isn't required and can be disabled.
The [mixer] settings can be changed to enhance sound and music to personal preference.
The [midi] and [mt32] settings enable high quality Roland midi music. The model value, auto, will default to a CM32L device. Harrier supports a CM32L device, so the model can be left as default. The midi roms folder is described in the DOSBox midi article.
The [joystick] settings are appropriate for my HOTAS setup so you may need to alter these. The timed setting must be set to true for my HOTAS, as the game has issues with timed set to false, although this may depend on your own setup. The deadzone setting is a personal preference.
The [autoexec] has example imgmount commands for the floppy images which may be needed for a retail edition. As there are multiple floppy images the imgmount command uses the '*' wildcard. The imgmount and mount commands make use of a folder structure described in my DOSBox game management article.
Installation and patching
The digital release install is somewhat different, given the need to patch, clean up and repair the release. Both the retail and digital installs use my DOSBox game management strategy. The top level game folder is D:\Games\Dos\Harrier Jump Jet, with hdd (DOSBox hard disk), fdd (floppy disk image), patches and conf (config files) sub folders.
Retail edition installation
The game should be installed from within DOSBox. The first floppy disk has an installer (install.exe) which should run and complete without issue. It is recommended to select the 'Full install'. Game files are copied to C:\MPS\HARRIER (in DOSBox) or in my case D:\Games\Dos\Harrier Jump Jet\hdd\MPS\HARRIER (in Windows).
Once files are copied the installer will require a music/sound option to be selected. The DOSBox config above supports Soundblaster or Roland music/sound, so this is left to personal preference.
When exiting the installer, you may be asked to calibrate your joystick, if one is detected. At this stage, just skip through without calibrating properly.
Digital edition installation
The game should be installed in Windows using the appropriate gog or Steam client. My recommendation is then to copy the game files from this client installation folder into a suitable DOSBox hard disk, retail release folder (C:\MPS\HARRIER).
So in my case, my gog digital edition was installed in D:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\Games\Harrier Jump Jet\C\AV8B by the gog client. I copied the game files into D:\Games\Dos\Harrier Jump Jet\hdd\MPS\HARRIER (in Windows). So when I start DOSBox the Harrier game files can be found in C:\MPS\HARRIER.
I recommend not patching or repairing the client installation directly, as using the gog/Steam client to verify or repair game files may remove any patches or fixes applied.
Patching to v2.40
The v2.40 (US) patch can be found on the Internet Archive. The patch should be downloaded and the files in the zip archive copied into the DOSBox game installation folder, overwriting any existing files. So in my case the files would be copied to:
D:\Games\Dos\Harrier Jump Jet\hdd\MPS\HARRIEROnce copied the update utility (update.bat) should be run from within DOSBox. Once the update is complete the installer will be run again allowing music/sound options to be selected.
When exiting the installer, you may be asked to calibrate your joystick, if one is detected. You will be asked the following:
Use the detected joystick: Y.
Is it a Thrustmaster Joystick (FCS): N.
Is a Thrustmaster Weapons Control System present: N.
Then follow the instructions to calibrate your joystick.
Patching to v2.41
The v2.41 (UK) patch can be found on the Internet Archive. The patch should be downloaded and the files in the zip archive copied into the DOSBox game installation folder, overwriting any existing files. So in my case the files would be copied to D:\Games\Dos\Harrier Jump Jet\hdd\MPS\HARRIER (in Windows).
As this is a file replacement patch, this completes the patching to v2.41.
Cleaning up the digital release
This is an optional step to remove unneeded files in the DOSBox game installation folder for the digital edition only. The following files can be removed:
t.1
wwf.com
Adding the intro movie back into the digital release
This is an optional step for the digital edition only.
The missing into movie (intro.fli) can be found in the Steam guide created by @damsonn. It should be copied into the DOSBox game installation folder. So in my case intro.fli would be copied to the Windows folder:
D:\Games\Dos\Harrier Jump Jet\hdd\MPS\HARRIERThen the text in harrier.bat should be replaced with the text in full.bat (the commands are described in the Steam guide). If the game is run with full.bat or harrier.bat the intro movie will be played.
Removing copy protection from the digital release
This is an optional step for the digital edition only. The v2.40 patch replaced the cracked frontend.exe file with newer version with the copy protection enabled.
To use the cracked version, copy it from your client game installation folder into your DOSBox game installation folder. So in my case, in Windows, I would copy frontend.exe from:
D:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\Games\Harrier Jump Jet\C\AV8B into:
D:\Games\Dos\Harrier Jump Jet\hdd\MPS\HARRIER
Note: There are issues using the cracked frontend.exe with v2.41, so far I have only encountered the one issue described, however there may be others.
The 'Exit to DOS (Y/N) screen is no longer shown. Selecting the quit option from the command centre, will change the colour palette in the command centre screen but won't show the 'Exit to DOS' screen. The options still work, so selecting Y will exit to DOS and N will return to a working command centre screen.
My personal preference is to use the newer copy protection enabled frontend.exe. Thanks to a carefully laid out manual and being given the first letter of the copy protection word, finding it in the manual is straight-forward. However, it is left to personal preference as to whether the copy protection should be enabled or disabled.
Running
With the digital and retail releases the small.bat file will run the game without the intro movie, while full.bat will run it with the intro movie.
With the retail release harrier.bat will run with the intro movie if a full install was selected and without if a small install was selected.
With the digital release harrier.bat will run without the intro movie by default, or with the intro movie if the 'Adding the intro movie back into the digital release' instructions were followed.
Game setup
Once the game is running, select the Fly mission option from the command centre screen. Once in mission, the pause menu can be used to:
Check version
Select the Quit menu and About option to check the version. The version should be listed as v2.41 in the dialog box.
Enable Controllers
Select the Config and Control menus. There are options to select a joystick, enable throttle/rudders, change joystick sensitivity and re-calibrate the joystick.
When enabling throttle and rudders the controllers must be centred. This is easy for rudder pedals and little more tricky for the throttle. The lowest throttle position should correspond to 26% RPM and at the highest throttle position, 100% RPM. It may take a few attempts to centre and optimise the throttle.
The first time the throttle and rudders are enabled there may be some spurious aircraft movement. Simply move your controllers and then re-centre them and the spurious movement should settle.
Enable all sounds
At the start of each mission, engine sounds are disabled by default and can be enabled by selecting the Config and Sound menus and the All effects option or by using the keyboard shortcut listed in the manual.
Documentation
The manual is absolutely essential for a MicroProse sim. Fortunately the manual has been added to the gog.com digital release. I'm not sure if this is the case for the Steam digital release but @damsonn comes to the rescue again with a link to the manual in the Steam guide!
Good hunting!
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