So you want to know how I set up SFC:OP? Ok!

Contents 1 Update your DirectX 2 Install SFC:OP 3 Patch to SFC:OP 2.5.5.2 4 Run the game to type the CD-Key 5 Install OP+ 6 Set up your preferences with EzINI 6.1 My suggestions for EzINI settings 7 Install Co-Op Ace 8 Customize Co-Op Ace 9 Fests+ 10 Missions Refit pack 11 Set up a key to launch all the fighters 12 D2 Directory Server Updater 13 Set up your FireWall to play online 13.1 SFC networking ports used 13.2 Networking Ports for other related software 14 Tuning SFC to play on modern hardware 15 Visit the Dynaverse.net forums

Update your DirectX

Make sure you have the right DirectX support on your machine. The game itself was shipped with DirectX 8 installables. DO NOT USE THOSE, THEY ARE ANCIENT. If you're on Windows XP or older, use DirectX 9.0c.

That said, newer Windows was NOT shipped with DirectX support for older games. You'll need to run an updater from MicroSoft to do so. This installer/updater will examine your system's DirectX libraries, both old and new, and make sure you have all of them.
See: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35

Install SFC:OP

• Find your CD.
• Find your CD-Key.
• Install.

Patch to SFC:OP 2.5.5.2

• Download the patch.
  • SFCOP_Patch_2500-2552.exe
• Install the patch.

What, you don't have 2.5.0.0 but something else? See here: All SFC Patches and ServerKits

Run the game to type the CD-Key

• Make sure you have your CD-Key on paper or something you can read from
  • copy-paste won't work here
• just start it up, and type in your Key.
• exit the game when you're done.

Install OP+

See: SFC:OP Plus Refit

• Get the latest OP+
  • .. or whatever people are playing. I suggest the latest.
• Install it.

Set up your preferences with EzINI

• get EzINI
• run EzINI
• Select Orion Pirates.

My suggestions for EzINI settings

• Video
  • Resolution: 1024 x 768
• Audio
  • Music Volume --- OFF
    • That's completely optional. You can leave it on if you want.
  • Max Channels: 64 (max)
  • Crew Sounds: Maximum
• Multiplayer
  • Set up your Default Multiplayer Player Name
  • Set up your Game Name
  • OPTIONAL: click on Multiplayer Hidden Race
  • OPTIONAL: click on Multiplayer Hidden BPV
• Misc
  • Difficulty: Admiral
  • turn ON Volley Information

Install Co-Op Ace

See: Co-op Ace for SFC:EAW and SFC:OP

• Get the latest coopace
  • Currently Coopace 4.0
• install it.

Customize Co-Op Ace

• run the Coop-Ace Customizer from your start menu
  • Set the Difficulty to around 1.5
    • or whatever you prefer. I got 1.7 right now
  • Set the AI Intelligence to Admiral
  • Races: single
  • uncheck all the pirates
    • up to you, but remember, pirates are weaker
  • Turn ON 'Force selection of ships created in current era'
    • This will improve the gaming experience, especially since you've installer OP+
  • Turn ON 'Use Enhanced Shiplist API Settings'

Fests+

See: Fests+ for SFC:OP

• download the Fests+ installer
• install it
• download the extra mission: Battlefest+ Intense
• install it
  • Find your SFC install directory
  • Hint! May be: C:\Program Files (x86)\Taldren Software Inc\Starfleet Command Orion Pirates
  • Go into Assets\Scripts\
  • copy Mul_Battlefest+Intense.scr there

Missions Refit pack

See: [SFC:OP Missions Refit]

• download the SFCOP_MissionsRefit_15_20121022222638.exe installer
• install it

Set up a key to launch all the fighters

• Launch the game
• Click on the 'Hot Keys' Button
  • never BEEN here, huh?!
• click on 'Weapons'
• put in a ket for Launch Fighters.
  • I tend to use 'L' for it.
    • 'L' is usually the Defense panel shortcut, which I never use via HotKey.
• exit the game to make sure your settings change are saved

If you screwed up, no problem! Go pick up a fresh copy of bindings.ini from SFC-related missions, sources, patches and misc utilities.

D2 Directory Server Updater

The Dynaverse 2 Server list updater is optional: I don't know if there still are D2 servers for SFC:OP out there, but in case there are, you can use this:

• D2 Directory Server Updater
• Run it.

Set up your FireWall to play online

Do you use a router? If so, you'll need to set up either a DMZ to your computer, or at least some portforward rules so that you can play SFC with others online.

Here are the ports to forward to your PC from the router:

SFC networking ports used

• To join a game:
  • port 47624, both TCP and UDP

• to host a game:
  • port range: 2300-2400
  • both TCP and UDP

• For SFC3
  • port 6073, both TCP and UDP

• to run an SFC server
  • (obviously optional)
  • port 27100, both TCP and UDP
  • port 3306, both TCP and UDP
    • Scary! That's usually a MySQL server's port!
  • port 15100, both TCP and UDP

Networking Ports for other related software

• to play on mplayer.com
  • port range 8000-9000
  • both TCP and UDP

• to play on GameSpy
  • port 13139, both TCP and UDP

Tuning SFC to play on modern hardware

• Please refer to this following mini-guide I wrote for myself:
  • Tuning SFC to play on modern hardware

Visit the Dynaverse.net forums

• See :http://www.dynaverse.net/forum/index.php
  • Best place to find players, new tools, whatever.