Tech refresh 2025: Wing Commander: Privateer

This is a tech refresh article describing any changes since the original article, 'Running Wing Commander: Privateer in DOSBox Staging' was published.

Since the original article the version of DOSBox Staging has changed from v0.81.2 to v0.82.0 and a revised config is shown below. The rest of the article remains valid and provides background for many of these settings.

DOSBox Staging configuration

These are the settings which differ from the DOSBox Staging defaults.

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

[dosbox]
memsize                     = 64
dos_rate                    = 1000

[render]
viewport           = 89%

[cpu]
cpu_cycles           = 12000
cpu_cycles_protected = auto
cycleup              = 100
cycledown            = 100

[voodoo]
voodoo                    = false

[mouse]
dos_mouse_immediate       = true

[mixer]
reverb     = large
chorus     = normal

[midi]
mididevice      = fluidsynth
# mididevice      = mt32

[fluidsynth]
soundfont     = "D:\Midi\Soundfonts\Shan SGM-X48 v1.0.SF2"

[mt32]
model       = cm32l
romdir      = "D:\Midi\Versioned"

[sblaster]
irq                 = 5

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

[dos]
ems                   = false

[autoexec]
mount C "D:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\Games\Wing Commander Privateer"
mount C "D:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\Games\Wing Commander Privateer\cloud_saves" -t overlay

imgmount d "D:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\Games\Wing Commander Privateer\game.gog" -t iso -fs iso

mixer FSYNTH 33:33

c:
call gog-menu.bat

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 voodoo emulation is disabled as it isn't required.

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

The midi setting include fluidsynth (enabled) and MT32 (disabled) allowing both to be tried if desired.

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

In the autoexec section the mixer volumes are changed with the mixer command to a personal preference.

The startup menu (gogmenu.bat) is used, as described in the previous article.

Good hunting!