DirectDraw to Direct3D9 Conversion

Dd7to9 Introduction

Over the past couple of years I have been working on creating a feature to be able to convert ddraw's DirectDraw/Direct3D to Direct3D 9 (d3d9). The goal of this project is to fix compatibility issues with older games that use ddraw, as well allowing these games to use newer tools that require Direct3D 9 or higher.

The feature is built in dxwrapper and is called Dd7to9. So far most of the DirectDraw APIs have been implemented and, while many of the Direct3D APIs have been implemented, the Direct3D support is still limited.

Note: To view the status of the DirectDraw to Direct3D9 Conversion check out the Status Page.

Installation

To use this feature you can do the following:

1. Download the latest dxwrapper release.
2. Extract ddraw.dll, dxwrapper.dll and dxwrapper.ini files from the release and copy it to the game folder.
3. Open the dxwrapper.ini file and enable the Dd7to9 feature.
4. Disable all application compatibility setting in the application.
5. Start the game and enjoy.

Troubleshooting

If you run into issues try the following things:

• If the movies/videos are not showing up or just displaying as black, try:
  • enabling FullscreenWindowMode. Some older games use a mixture of GDI and ddraw. With Direct3D 9 a surface can only be shared with GDI when using windowed mode.
• If the game crashes after alt+tab, try:
  • enabling the DdrawEmulateSurface. This preserves the surface memory to fix bugs in some older games.
• If the game crashes, try:
  • enabling the DdrawEmulateSurface. This preserves the surface memory to fix bugs in some older games.
  • enabling the SingleProcAffinity. Some games are not properly synchronized to run on multiple CPU cores, or simply don't properly handle powerful CPUs.
  • enabling DdrawDisableDirect3DCaps. Some games will auto-switch to Direct3D and disabling the caps can allow them to use software rendering, which is needed for some games.
  • setting DdrawLimitDisplayModeCount to a value between 32 and 145. Some older games cannot handle a large number of display mode options.
  • enabling the HandleExceptions. This option tries to fix several common exceptions, such as the divide by zero exception in old games that were trying to calculate the CPU speed.
  • running the game with administrator rights. Some older games require admin rights to function properly.
  • making sure you are using the software rendering and not 3D rendering, if the game supports it. Currently this only works with the 2D APIs. Some games only support 3D rendering and won't work with this feature.
• If the game graphics looks messed up, try:
  • setting DdrawOverrideBitMode to a value of 16. Some older games the display mode to be set to 16-bit colors.
  • enabling DdrawDisableDirect3DCaps. Some games will auto-switch to Direct3D and disabling the caps can allow them to use software rendering, which is needed for some games.
• If in-game text is not working, try:
  • enabling FullscreenWindowMode. Some older games use a mixture of GDI and ddraw. With Direct3D 9 a surface can only be shared with GDI when using windowed mode.
• If the game runs too fast, try:
  • setting LimitPerFrameFPS to 29.963 or 59.933 or 119.933 (many other values will work, these are just some common ones).
• If the game runs too slow, try:
  • enabling DdrawAutoFrameSkip.

Table Key

Note	--Status--
The game is fully functional.	Full
The game is functional but has some issues.	Partial
The game is either not functional at all or unplayable.	None

Note: Below are the status of games and whether they work with the Dd7to9 DirectDraw to Direct3D9 conversion feature.

Supported 2D Games (DirectDraw)

Game	Notes	-Support-
Abe's Oddysee	Recommended to enable DdrawRemoveInterlacing to remove interlacing, and DdrawEmulateSurface to allow alt+tab	Full
Age of Empires	Requires FullscreenWindowMode for videos	Full
Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic	Only works if Direct3D is disabled, and requires FullscreenWindowMode for certian Nvidia cards	Full
Age of Wonders 2	Only works if Direct3D is disabled, and requires FullscreenWindowMode for certian Nvidia cards	Full
Alien Nations	Requires "Hardware Accelerator" option to be disabled	Full
American Conquest	Requires FullscreenWindowMode for videos and may require using dsound.dll as the stub	Full
American Conquest: Fight Back	Requires FullscreenWindowMode for videos and may require using dsound.dll as the stub	Full
Amerzone		Full
Anno 1602: Creation of a New World		Full
Arcanum Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura		Full
Atlantis: The Lost Tales (DirectDraw1)		Full
Atlantis 2: Beyond Atlantis	May require running with Windows 98 compatibility mode on Windows 11	Full
Atlantis 3: The New World	Does not work on Windows 11	Full
Bad Mojo	Uses GDI for most of the game	None
Baldurs Gate 1+2		Full
Blood II: The Chosen	Requires using software renderer (If there are issues select "S3 Virge" video card under Advanced settings)	Full
Caesar 3	Requires setting DdrawOverrideBitMode to 16 for windowed mode	Full
Call To Power 2		Full
Castle Adventure		Full
Chris Sawyer's Locomotion	Many have issues selecting in-game resolutions	Full
Close Combat 2		Full
Close Combat 3		Full
Close Combat 4		Full
Close Combat 5		Full
Command & Conquer Gold		Full
Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun		Full
Command & Conquer: Red Alert		Full
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2		Full
Commandos	May requires using wsock32.dll stub, requires enabling DdrawCreateDeviceEarly and setting DdrawOverrideBitMode to 16	Full
Commandos 2		Full
Commandos BCD		Full
Corsairs Gold	Uses adraw.dll for GOG version, and requires DdrawWriteToGDI for videos and mouse input	Full
Creatures 2: The Albian Years	Requires setting DdrawOverrideBitMode to 16	Full
Creatures 3: Exodus	Requires setting DdrawOverrideBitMode to 16	Full
Cultures		Full
Cultures 2		Full
Dark Reign		Full
Deadlock II	Requires enabling DdrawReadFromGDI and DdrawWriteToGDI	Full
Deathtrap Dungeon	Requires using win32.dll as the stub	Full
Deus		Full
DOSBox		Full
Diablo	Corrupted images in menu	Full
Diablo Hellfire		Full
Diablo Spawn		Full
Digger XP		Full
Dracula 2		Full
Dune 2000		Full
Europa 1400: Gold Edition	FourCCs and Overlays are not implemented	None
Gangsters: Organized Crime	Uses GDI (FlipToGDISurface)	Partial
Geneforge Saga 1		Full
Geneforge Saga 2		Full
Geneforge Saga 3		Full
Geneforge Saga 4		Full
God of Nea	Requires setting DdrawOverrideBitMode to 16	Full
Heroes of Might & Magic 3		Full
Heroes of Might & Magic 4	May require changing in-game resolution after starting game, switching between in-game windowed and fullscreen mode does not always work right	Full
Icewind Dale: Complete		Full
Icewind Dale 2: Complete		Full
InkBall	Hangs using GetSurfaceFromDC could not lock surface because it is in device context	None
Interstate 76	Recommend setting LimitPerFrameFPS to 29.963 to slow down the game	Full
Interstate 82	Crashes after starting a game	None
Invictus: In the Shadow of Olympus		Full
Jagged Alliance 2		Full
Jagged Alliance 2: Unfinished Business		Full
Jagged Alliance 2: Wildfire		Full
Jazz Jackrabbit 2		Full
Killing Time		Full
King's Quest 8	Requires running in DirectDraw (Software) mode, can be configured by modifying Options.cs and setting this line assignGModeName Software	Full
Knights and Merchants: The Peasants Rebellion		Full
Konung 1	Recommended enabling ForceExclusiveFullscreen or FullscreenWindowMode for movies	Full
Konung 2	Recommended enabling ForceExclusiveFullscreen or FullscreenWindowMode for movies	Full
Legal Crime		Full
Lionheart: Legacy of the Crusader		Full
Majesty Gold HD		Full
Mega Man X4	Requires FullscreenWindowMode	Full
Metal Gear Solid	Requires disabling Direct3D	Full
Monster Truck Madness 2	Requires software rendering, need to click through a black screen when starting a race	Partial
Moto Racer	Requires "DirectX 3D" option disabled and recommend setting LimitPerFrameFPS to 29.963 to slow down menu animation	Full
Moto Racer 2	Requires DdrawDisableDirect3DCaps to be set to run in software rendering, and setting DdrawOverrideBitMode to 16 for window mode	Full
Myst III: Exile	Requires playing in software mode	Full
Nethergate Resurrection	Requires enabling FullscreenWindowMode to prevent the background from getting cut off on some of the menus	Full
NOX		Full
Outlaws + A Handful of Missions		Full
Pacific General		Full
Patrician 3	Requires setting DdrawLimitDisplayModeCount to 145	Full
Pax Imperia Eminent Domain		Full
Pharaoh Gold	Requires setting DdrawOverrideBitMode to 16 for windowed mode	Full
Planescape Torment		Full
Police Quest: SWAT 2	Does not work on Windows 11	Full
Populous: The Beginning	Requires the non-3D version	Full
Port Royale	FourCC and D3DFMT_DXT1 not Implemented	None
Port Royale 2	FourCC and D3DFMT_DXT1 not Implemented	None
Pro Pinball Big Race USA		Full
Pro Pinball Fantastic Journey		Full
Rage of Mages		Full
Rage of Mages II		Full
Railroad Tycoon II		Full
Return of TIM		Full
Requiem: Avenging Angel		Full
Runaway: A Road Adventure		Full
Sanitarium		Full
Septerra Core		Full
Settlers 3 Ultimate		Full
SimCity 3000		Full
SimCopter	Requires FullscreenWindowMode for intro movies and setting LimitPerFrameFPS to 29.963 to slow down the game so it does not crash	Full
Shadow Watch		Full
Shogo	Requires software rendering	Full
Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds	Requires FullscreenWindowMode for text input to work	Full
Star Wars: Jedi Knight Dark Forces 2	Requires 3D acceleration disabled and if using GOG version requires launching JK directly and bypassing GOG	Full
Star Wars: Jedi Knight Mysteries of the Sith	Requires 3D acceleration disabled and if using GOG version requires launching JK directly and bypassing GOG	Full
Star Wars: X-Wing vs TIE Fighter	Requires Power VR 3D Card to be disabled	Full
StarCraft		Full
StarCraft: Broodwars		Full
Stronghold		Full
Stronghold Crusader		Full
Stronghold Crusader Extreme HD		Full
Stronghold HD		Full
Throne of Darkness		Full
TIM Even More Contraptions		Full
Tomb Raider 2	Requires software rendering to be enabled in-game	Full
Total Annihilation		Full
Tropico	Requires DdrawFixByteAlignment to resolve in-game graphical issues	Full
Twisted Metal 2	Recommend setting LimitPerFrameFPS to 59.933 to slow down the game	Full
Uprising: Join or Die	Does not work on Windows 11	Full
Uprising 2: Lead and Destroy	Mission videos flash and show distorted pixels	Full
War Wind		Full
War Wind II		Full
Warcraft 2		Full
WarGames	Requires "Software Rasterizer" and 'SingleProcAffinity', 'DDrawCompat' and 'HandleExceptions' to avoid crashes after viewing the map and to remove delay when starting a mission, also recommended enabling EnableVSync and setting LimitPerFrameFPS to 29.963	Full
Warhammer 40K: Chaos Gate	Requires using dplayx.dll as the stub	Full
Warhammer 40K: Final Liberation		Full
Warhammer 40K: Rites of War		Full
Warlords 3: Darklords Rising		Full
Warlords Battlecry		Full
Warlords Battlecry 2		Full
Warlords Battlecry 3		Full
William’s Pinball Classics	Requires FullscreenWindowMode for videos	Full
Wing Commander IV	Does not show video after starting the game, FlipToGDISurface Not Implemented	None
WinQuake		Full
Wizards and Warriors	Recommended to setting LimitPerFrameFPS to 119.933 to slow the game down a bit	Full
Worms 2		Full
Worms Armageddon		Full
Zeus and Poseidon	Requires setting DdrawOverrideBitMode to 16 for windowed mode	Full

Supported 3D Games (Direct3D)

Game	Notes	-Support-
Age of Wonders		Partial
Age of Wonders 2		Partial
Arx Fatalis		Full
Avernum: Escape From The Pit		Full
Avernum 2: Crystal Souls		Full
B-17 Flying Fortress: The Mighty 8th		Partial
Battle Realms Complete		None
Battle Isle: The Andosia War		None
Black & White		Full
Blood 2: The Chosen		None
Codemaster's Colin McRae Rally 1		None
Codemaster's Colin McRae Rally 2		Partial
Codename Outbreak		None
Conquest: Frontier Wars		None
Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord		None
Croc 2		None
Dark Reign 2		Full
Darkstone		None
Descent 3		None
Deus Ex Game Of The Year	Recommended to use DdrawLimitDisplayModeCount	Full
Diablo 2		None
Disciples 2: Gold Elves		Full
Divine Divinity		None
Dungeon Keeper 2		Full
Earth 2150 Trilogy: Escape from the Blue Planet		None
Empire Earth Gold		None
Empire Earth: The Art of Conquest		None
Enemy Engaged: Comanche vs Hokum		None
Etherlords		None
Etherlords II		None
Europa 1400: Gold Edition		None
Evolva		Partial
Evil Islands		None
FA-18E Super Hornet		Full
Gorky 17		None
Gothic		None
Gothic 2		None
Hard Time		Full
Hitman: Codename 47		None
Hogs of War		None
King's Quest 8		None
Knight Rider		None
Knight Rider 2		Full
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver		None
MechWarrior 4		None
Midtown Madness		Full
Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer		None
Might and Magic IX		None
Monster Truck Madness 2		None
Moto Racer		None
Moto Racer 2		None
Myst III Exile		None
Populous: The Beginning		None
Raymond 2		None
Redline		None
Return to Krondor		Full
Revenant		None
Sacred Gold		None
Shogo		None
Simon the Sorcerer 3D		None
Silent Hunter II		None
Speed Busters		None
Star Trek Armada 1		Full
Star Trek Starfleet Academy		None
Star Trek Starfleet Command		Full
Star Wars Rebellion		None
Star Wars Rogue Squadron 3D		None
Star Wars X-Wing Alliance		None
StarTopia		None
SWAT 3: Tactical Game of the Year Edition		Full
The Longest Journey		None
The Nations Gold		None
The Settlers IV Gold		Partial
The Summoner		None
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six		None
Tomb Raider 3		None
Tomb Raider 4		None
Tomb Raider 5		None
Twisted Metal 2		None
Ultima IX Ascension		Partial
Unreal Gold	Recommended to use DdrawLimitDisplayModeCount	Full
Unreal Tournament GOTY		None
Vampire: The Masquerade		Partial
WarGames		None
Wizardry 8		Full
Wizards and Warriors	Recommended to setting LimitPerFrameFPS to 119.933 to slow the game down a bit	Partial
X-COM Interceptor		None

Note: To view the status of the DirectDraw to Direct3D9 Conversion check out the Status Page.