Tech refresh 2025: Jane's AH-64D Longbow

This is a tech refresh article describing revised DOSBox configurations for the DOS versions and additional testing of the Glide versions since the original articles were published.

Controller setup

The original article suggested the joystick to Windows mappings with a screenshot which although correct, lacked detail. The joystick axes to Windows axes mappings are shown below:

Physical axis	Windows axis
Joystick x-axis	DX_X_AXIS
Joystick y-axis	DX_Y_AXIS
Throttle	DX_Z_AXIS
Rudder pedals	DX_XROT_AXIS

DOSBox Staging Configuration

The DOSBox Staging configurations originally described were for v0.81.1 with the below configs revised for v0.82.0. The rest of the advice in the 'Running Jane's AH-64D Longbow (DOS) in DOSBox Staging' article remains valid.

Jane's AH-64D Longbow and Flash Point Korea

The first config is for the original Jane's AH-64D Longbow with the Flash Point: Korea expansion. The move to v0.82.0 has introduced issues which need a revised config to correct, as described below:

[sdl]
host_rate           = vrr
vsync               = off
presentation_mode   = vfr

[dosbox]
machine                     = vesa_oldvbe
memsize                     = 48
vmemsize                    = 8
vmem_delay                  = on
dos_rate                    = 1000

[cpu]
cpu_cycles           = max
cpu_cycles_protected = auto
cycleup              = 1000
cycledown            = 1000

[voodoo]
voodoo                    = false

[mouse]
dos_mouse_immediate       = true

[mixer]
reverb     = large
chorus     = normal

[joystick]
joysticktype                = 4axis
timed                       = false
swap34                      = true
deadzone                    = 0

[autoexec]
mount c "D:\Games\Dos\Janes Longbow\hdd"

imgmount d "D:\Games\Dos\Janes Longbow\cd\JLBCD1.iso" -t iso
imgmount e "D:\Games\Dos\Janes Longbow\cd\JLBCD2.iso" -t iso
imgmount f "D:\Games\Dos\Janes Longbow\cd\JLBCD3.iso" -t iso

c:
cd janes\longbow
lb
exit

The sdl settings are appropriate for a variable refresh rate monitor. They can be left as default or omitted for standard monitors.

The sdl, dos_rate and mouse settings are also applicable for high frame rates as described in this article by Omnicycle.

The dosbox settings have required changes to machine, vmemsize and vmem_delay to run in the 640x480 resolution. Without these changes the sim will only display in a 320x200 resolution, with access to the in-flight options menu failing.

The cpu settings use the new DOSBox Staging standard.

The voodoo emulation is disabled as it isn't required.

The mixer settings are a personal preference to enhance the music and audio.

Joystick settings will be dependant on your particular HOTAS setup and may require adjustment.

In the autoexec section remains unchanged from the original advice.

Jane's Longbow Gold

The DOS version of Jane's Longbow Gold struggles with high and/or variable refresh rates so the defaults are used in preference, resulting in a smaller config file, shown below:

[dosbox]
memsize                     = 48

[cpu]
cpu_cycles           = max
cpu_cycles_protected = auto
cycleup              = 1000
cycledown            = 1000

[voodoo]
voodoo                    = false

[mixer]
reverb     = large
chorus     = normal

[joystick]
joysticktype                = 4axis
timed                       = false
swap34                      = true
deadzone                    = 0

[autoexec]
mount c "D:\Games\Dos\Janes Longbow\hdd"

imgmount d "D:\Games\Dos\Janes Longbow\cd\LBGCD1.iso" -t cdrom
imgmount e "D:\Games\Dos\Janes Longbow\cd\LBGCD2.iso" -t cdrom
imgmount f "D:\Games\Dos\Janes Longbow\cd\LBGCD3.iso" -t cdrom

c:
cd janes\lbgold
lb
exit

The config autoexec section uses different commands suitable for the Longbow Gold installation folder and cd images.

Jane's AH-64D Longbow (3dfx/Glide) testing

The Glide version was tested with the latest DxWrapper v1.2.7400.25 but would fail when loading a mission.

The latest version of DDrawCompat v0.5.4 was tested and would load a mission resulting in audio playing but would fail to hand off Glide requests to a Glide wrapper resulting in a blank screen.

Therefore the advice in the article, 'The difficult child: Running Jane's AH-64D Longbow (3dfx/Glide) in Windows 10' remains the recommended course of action.

Good hunting!