Genre: Real Time Strategy
Release Year: 2000
Developer: LucasArts, Ronin Entertainment
Publisher: LucasArts
Age Rating: 12+
Playability Status: Perfect
Tested On: Windows 7 x64, Windows 8 x64
Availability: Copyright retained - Out of print/unavailable
There’s certainly no shortage of Star Wars games on computers or games consoles. It seems players can’t get enough of taking part in the endless imaginary intergalactic conflicts that exist within the Star Wars universe. Star Wars: Force Commander gives you yet another chance to take to the battlefield in George Lucas’ universe, this time as a battlefield commander for either the empire or the rebels. Star Wars: Force Commander divided the critics when it was released and still does to this day. Some label it as the worst Star Wars game on PC, while others find it entertaining and engrossing. If you love real time strategy games and you’re willing to get to grips with the games sometimes awkward controls, you should have many hours of fun in command of your star troopers.
Installation
Star Wars: Force Commander is particularly troublesome to install. The original installer is a 16 bit executable and therefore won’t run on 64 bit versions of Windows. Even if you have a 32 bit version of Windows, there are no guarantees the installer will work. Fortunately we were able to write a replacement installer that works much better on more modern versions of Windows. The replacement installer will perform the following tasks.
Install the game
Install the V1.1 update
Install the music and video fix
Set highest visual quality
Allow you to change the screen resolution
You can download the replacement installer here (link broken? Let me know here). If you have any problems using the installer please let us know in the comments.
Patching
There was just one patch released for the game. Most of the fixes included in the patch were to do with multiplayer matches, but it’s still worth being on the latest version of the game anyway. If you installed the game using our replacement installer, this patch is already installed for you. If not, you can download it here.
Running the game
Star Wars: Force Commander runs well on modern hardware, but to avoid problems with videos stuttering and music getting stuck you should make sure to run the game using only one CPU core. If you used our replacement installer you should start the game using the “Play Star Wars Force Commander” shortcut. This will execute a simple batch file and ensure the game runs using only one of your computers processing cores. If you didn’t use the replacement installer you can download the batch file here. Our hosts have now started demanding we store all batch files inside zip archives, so you will need to download the zip file then extract the batch file from inside it into the “Resource” sub-folder in your Force Commander game folder. Then, just click on the batch file to run it.
Tweaking visual quality
Our replacement installer configures the game for the highest possible visual quality, so if you installed using that you can skip over the details here. The bulk of the visual quality settings can be configured from the games launcher. Start the game as an administrator (or use the “Configure Force Commander” shortcut if you installed with our replacement installer) and then select “Options” and then “Performance Options”. The following window will then appear.
Configure the settings as shown above. Do not select “Use Hardware Cursor”, if you do, you will most likely make your mouse cursor invisible in-game. Notice in the screenshot we are unable to set a screen resolution, this is a common problem on more recent graphics cards and is why our replacement installer has the option to set the resolution for you instead.
Finally there are three visual quality settings you can configure while playing the game. Start Force Commander and then start a new game. Press the Escape key to access the options menu and then choose “Options”. Now, choose “Video”. Set the LOD (level of detail) all the way to the right and the Fog all the way to the left. Finally, ensure Mipmapping is turned on. Again, our replacement installer has already set these options for you, so no need to change them unless you installed using the original installer.
Multiplayer
The online infrastructure that supported Star Wars: Force Commander has long since shut down. However, it may still be possible to play the game with other players in your home or even across the internet using TCP/IP mode. We have not tested this however.
Troubleshooting
Audio or video stutters or freezes – Ensure you are running the game with one CPU core only. Use the “Play Star Wars Force Commander” shortcut that the replacement installer provides for you or download the batch file provided under “Running the game”.
Game cursor/pointer is invisible – Run the settings program and make sure that “Use Hardware Cursor” is turned off.
Game settings are not saved/applied after running the configuration tool – Firstly, make sure that you run the configuration tool as an administrator. If you still have problems, you may need to perform the following fix to clear out various registry keys that Windows may have cached for compatibility reasons.
Start the Windows registry editor (regedit) and browse to either of the following keys –
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\VirtualStore\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC\Force Commander” (for 64 bit versions of Windows)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\VirtualStore\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC\Force Commander” (for 32 bit versions of Windows)
Delete the entire key you find here (and only here). If you need a beginners tutorial on using the registry editor, see this page. Now, check and configure the games settings again (making sure to run the configuration tool as an administrator). By deleting this registry key, you will force Windows to re-cache this key the next time the game is run, hopefully fixing any problems.
Problems saving games – Like many older games, Star Wars: Force Commander places its save game files and various configuration files in the same directory that it is installed to. This can cause problems on more modern versions of Windows as programs are not normally permitted to write to the program files directory. To avoid this problem, either install the game to an alternate location (our replacement installer will suggest c:\Games\ForceCommander) or manually edit the permissions on the “Force Commander” folder. A tutorial on how to edit folder permissions can be found here.
Screenshots
Ready to fight the rebel scum.
There are all kinds of vehicles and beasts to ride.
Works great! Thanks for posting it here!
Followed all the steps and still got a “windowed blackscreen” when starting the game. *sigh*
What can I do? :(
Same here…
Almost two months with no reply on the windowed black screen :/
I can’t replicate this problem so I can’t really help.
I tried this game on two systems and it still won’t work. One was a laptop, the other a desktop. Could it be Windows 8.1 causing the problem?
It was tested on Windows 8.1 With a Nvidia GTX 770 graphics card, so no, 8.1 doesn’t appear to be the problem.
Same here. Windowed black screen.
Five years later. No chance.
I’m having the same problem. The splash screen launches, but a black window is all that appears. It may have to do with the video card or driver (I have an AMD card). I’ve tried everything I can think of to get it running, but to no avail. I can’t believe there’s no solution.
i have the same issue, also with an AMD card.
This problem exists with Nvidia cards too.
Thank you very mauch from Spain. I love this game and now i can play in win 7. Really Thank you very much for your effort.
Sorry but my english is very litte.
JDdM.
So I followed the instructions and downloaded the installer. The game installed properly; however, I’m getting a missing mss32.dll error when I try to start the game. The “Play star wars force commander” and “configure force commander” shortcuts do nothing. I’m running a 32-bit Windows XP.
Replacement installer hasn’t been tested on XP and isn’t necessary, try installing it using the regular installer.
The reason I used the replacement installer is because the regular installer had the same problem. Missing mss32.dll. I used this installer hoping it would fix the problem.
Mss32 = Miles Sound System. Try looking for it on the CD?
I have the same windowed black screen as well.
To all who are getting the windowed black screen (presumably AMD people), using dgVoodoo 2 with this game fixed it for me. (It has also allowed me to play other ~2000-ish lucasarts games, as well.)
I’m on Windows 8.1 (x64) and an AMD Radeon R9 290.
Download, install/extract the most recent version: http://dege.freeweb.hu/
Copy the dll files from the /MS subfolder into this game’s /Resources folder (where the executable is), and run the game (you can turn off the water mark from the dgVoodo from the settings in that exe).
This fix works for both Star Wars Episode 1 Racer and Episode 1 The Phantom Menace, as well. Neato software.
Many thanks! Can anyone else confirm that worked for them?
Worked for me!
I’m glad I checked the comments. Thank you LordBeverage.
The voodoo fix worked for me too!
Great! Full dgVoodoo2 tutorial here – https://www.play-old-pc-games.com/compatibility-tools/dgvoodoo-tutorial/
My old cards (2x NVIDIA 8800 GTS 512 with SLI, Windows 7 Ultimate x64) worked without any problems.
My new card (NVIDIA GTX 970, Windows 7 Ultimate x64) landed in windowed black screen.
Solution:
1. Download “WineD3D For Windows” (http://adolfintel.com/index.php?p=wined3d/index.frag) and add files ddraw.dll, libwine.dll and wined3d.dll (IMHO dxgi.dll is not necessary on Windows 7) from the zip archive into game folder (somewhere\LucasArts\Force Commander\Resource). I’ve tested 1.7.47, but current is 1.7.49
2. Set via Registry appropriate value of Size parameter:
0 – 640×480 – OK
1 – 800×600 – crash (as on 8800 GTS 512 SLI)
2 – 1024×768 – OK
3 – 1280×1024 – fallback to 2 (1024×768) with reset Allow32bpp, Allow32zbuf and Use32BitTextures to 0
You can also try dgVoodoo2 in place of WineD3D, particularly if you have an AMD card since their OpenGL implementation isn’t the best (so I hear anyway).
So the problem I have now when I use WineD3D For Windows and copy ddraw.dll is that I can’t use mouse to select my units. Quite simply my left mouse button is not responding to the units in the game world. Because of it I can’t pass the first tutorial :/
Try dgVoodoo2?
It was ok. But mission briefing were flickering, hangar too and at certain camera angles whole screen was going crazy and I couldn’t see a thing. Same flickering thing without dgVoodoo2.
I have winXP and GT8600 for card, if that helps.
I had similar problem with X-wing alliance but WineD3D dealt with it fine and everything works ok.
Ah, dgVoodoo2 is never going to work for you as it requires DirectX 11, neither XP nor your graphics card support that unfortunately.
has anyone found a problem to get past the black screen? i can start the game but i never get past the black screen at the beginning.
It runs even on win10!!! Congratulations, I’m really happy as I can play again with one of my favourite games I’ve ever thought I wouldn’t be able to play. Tanks a lot!!
I’ve started the replacement installer, but it says it can’t find the CD. Am I supposed to have the CD, or am I doing something wrong?
Yes of course, this isn’t a warez site.
So I’m able to play the game and without the music glitching up, which is amazing. My only issue that I have spent pretty much all of today trying to resolve is that during skirmish missions at random times the screen goes light or dark and typically alternates between them. It seems to be a result of explosions – either artillery or destruction of units. It usually takes about 20-30 minutes before it glitches out like that. Does anyone else have this problem?
At the moment I’ve tried every single option in dgVoodoo setup to no avail and also using DxWnd and trying different options there, again to no avail.
I should probably clarify that I’m using a Nvidia GTX 780 (on Win 10 64-bit). When I tested Force Commander on another computer with an older AMD Radeon HD 6870 card (on Win 10 32-bit), it worked perfectly without the need for ddraw.dll or dgvoodoo.
Does anyone else have any issues when using a Nvidia card?
Thanks.
I think I’m going to cry. This worked perfectly.
My favorite game from way back in the day, on my new PC, just in time for Christmas.
It’s like all my dreams came true today. I’d offer to hug you, but I don’t want this to get gay or anything. ;)
Have my undying gratitude instead.
Hello – the game is runnig by the Voodoo tool. BUT it freezes!
“Audio or video stutters or freezes – Ensure you are running the game with one CPU core only. ”
HOW can i run the game with only one CPU?
Thank you for your answer :)
Output folder: C:\Games\ForceCommander
I can’t find the Star Wars Force Commander CD!
wont run. stuck on this screen
Possible that you have a different version/release of the game to me, it happens sometimes there’s not a lot I can do about it.
The black screen patch worked for me and everything works fine except for one major problem. When the game loads the first mission, I can’t select any units. The cursor is visible, but the units cannot be selected. Drag select does nothing also. I’ve tried compatibility mode, running as admin, etc and nothing seems to help. I’ve reinstalled also and that hasn’t helped either.
the voodoo patch isnt working for me. i get stuck on the black screen. are there certain settings to change?
so the voodoo fix isn’t getting me past the black screen. are there certain settings i should be changing? I’m on a GTX 970.
Hi
So I installed DgVoodoo 2, and the game is running. However, the mouse is invisible and after many consultations on other forums I still can’t find a solution to that problem.
Furthermore, the game isn’t loading every images, its mostly only menus that appears (no map, no mouse, difficult to play the game).
Can someone help please ?
Try reinstalling it first but choose 1024×768 this time and make sure hardware cursor is turned off in the in-game options.
Then try this zip with my custom dgvoodoo2 profile and reshade:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1iMBKmtAH-2JceP4oz-E_4P35zPTeqsJk
All it needs is the dgVoodooCpl.exe file but it’s commonly detected as a virus nowadays so you should get it from the official page and add exclusions manually if you use an AV.
Works awesome so far with dgvoodoo
https://i.imgur.com/HrZjxYR.jpg
Got the game running using the installer and DgVoodoo, but then when game is open the mouse cursor is invisible and the game textures are all black making the game unplayable.
Any help for this please.
I am so sad. I followed all of the other instructions above and I am on a Windows 10 and I can’t get this game to work. I downloaded the game from different sites and CD, but I still get a black screen when I start the game.
Anybody found a solution for windows 10?
Further down in the comments, not that anyone should have to search through comments to find a fix, someone found that using dgVoodoo2 is a workaround for the issue.
https://www.play-old-pc-games.com/compatibility-tools/dgvoodoo-tutorial
Hi!! are someone playing it online? I ve just get my old notebook and it s working perfect!!!! i want to play with someone!!!
If I can get the game to work, I would be really interested in playing it again :)
You can contact me via mail or discord.
I got this game working but the music keeps glitching. Is there a fix it for that?
I lost one of my disks… Does anyone have a working .iso for both disks?
Links to ISOs aren’t permitted here.
Archive.org has .bins for it, just found them.
Hello, I just found this guide and I really would like to try it, but I’m a bit nervous about the replacement installer. Downloading a strange exe is and never was a good idea, so a little bit more information would be nice :)
Thank you for writing this amazing guides ;)
I wrote it myself using NSIS, you can run it through online virus checkers if you like.
I want to personally thank you all for your help. This is one of my favorite game and I was finally able to make it work. I honestly kept a 2001 CPU Vizio just to play this game. Now that it works on my gaming PC, I can get rid of the other computer. It works perfect with the graphics and music. I would hug you !!
Hey, I greatly appreciate all the advice yall have provided, but I’m running into an issue. The game basically runs 99% perfectly, but regrettably the music always glitches out and constantly repeats a short 1 second piece of wherever the music was when the glitch took over. Oddly enough this issue exclusively affects the music, not the sound effects or voiceovers. Game runs perfectly smooth and normal otherwise, albeit cutscenes video and audio being slightly out of sync from each other. I can live with these issues but I loved the soundtrack to this game, could someone help me out?
To answer questions that’ll inevitably get asked anyway:
Running Windows 10 64 bit (hence the need for the modified installer)
AMD Ryzen 5 1600 Six-core processor
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6GB
Yes I use the batch file and run on 1 core
I run the game as Admin
it is running v1.1 of the game
I’m tired, it’s been a long day at work, so I might be missing one or two other things I might need to mention, but that’s all that comes to mind currently, any help would be appreciated.
Thanks a lot!
Has there been any resolution to the audio replaying 1 note over and over again?
under the “Running the game” section the link for the batch file takes you to a 404 page. will it be fixed soon? Downloaded the file for my old computer and doing a install on a new pc