Frequently Asked Questions

What game is this?

Yankee Air Pirate, Rising Sun and Flight School are all add-ons to Wings Over Vietnam by Thirdwire (with the October 2008 patch). It can be played on most other Thirdwire Wings Over… or Strike Fighters 1 games. With minor modifications, they are compatible with SF2 also.

With what systems are they compatible?

All our games play on Windows XP, Windows 7 and Windows 8 machines.

Do I need a video card?

Yes. A 1GB Vid card and at least a 650 watt power supply are optimum.

Do I need a joystick?

Yes. Pilots fly with sticks. We prefer and recommend the Logitech Extreme 3D Pro. It is cheap, readily available (Amazon can get one to you in a day) and tough. We include button settings for them if that is your choice.

Are there any bugs I need to know about?

No. There are things the game engine is not capable of doing and we try to work within its parameters.

Do I need to know how to fly?

It helps but it is unnecessary. If you understand that flying a simulator and flying an aircraft both require knowledge and a little practice, you will be fine. Flight School was designed to take you from a ground pounder to a Top Gun.

How do I install the games?

It’s easy…easier than the following. They come as installers that you click but read please.


YANKEE AIR PIRATE
Installation in detail

Instructions for Installing a Wings Over Vietnam (WOV) CD or Download (DL) to Windows 7/8 if you DO NOT already have a version of WOV or YAP on your machine. We are assuming you are familiar with the Strike Fighters/WOV games. A manual for game play and keyboard operation will be installed in the main folder.

**Having a backup device is a real life saver. We suggest if you do not have one of at least 16GB, to get one ASAP so you can backup all these files.**

Install is fairly straight forward. ( you will be ignoring some of these if you have the WOV download)

WOV CD or Download
WOV_sp051506a
WOV_Update_Oct2008b
YAP3

1. You will need to have most recent version of Microsoft DX9c installed on your machine. Win 7 and 8 do not come with it. You can get it here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35

Install this as per the directions from Microsoft. Once that is done move on to the Wings Over Vietnam (WOV) install. Dont worry, It will not overwrite or delete your DX10/DX11 as they are separate programs.

2. Create a folder on your desktop and name it whatever you wish. Direct the WOV CD/DL to install to that folder.

During install it will ask your if you wish to install DX9. Click yes. ( you already have DX9, so it wont hurt anything either way). The install process will also ask you if you want to install hyperlobby. Click no as there is no availble Multi-Player associated with WOV to our knowledge.

When the WOV install is done, remove the CD from the tray/slot. Now look inside that folder. There should be another folder named Wings Over Vietnam. Open that folder and you will see all the basic files for the game and red/white/blue a Icon named WOV. You can launch the game with that icon, but DO NOT do it now.

3. (Skip this step if you are using the DL version)Install the WOV_sp051506a patch. Direct it to that WOV folder that is INSIDE the folder you created on your desktop. This MAY create a shortcut icon on your desktop. Thats fine. Once that is done, start the game from that icon or the one thats inside the folder.

In the lower right corner of your screen, you should see the date 2006. You can now play the game in its stock 2006 form.

Feel free to go in and get acquainted by clicking on the bars/buttons. You can make settings changes if you want to, but you will have to go back in and do them again anyways so might as well wait. Exit the game.

4. Install the October 2008b patch. Again, direct it to the WOV folder INSIDE the folder you created on your desktop. Once done, start the game. In the lower right corner of the main screen you should see October 2008.

Your now patched to the level needed to play YAP3.

5. Now install any YAP3 material in the order it is presented. Direct it to that WOV folder thats INSIDE the folder on your desktop.

6. Once done, start the game. You should still see October 2008 in the lower right hand corner of your main screen. Exit the game.

7. Hoping you are familiar with file management, we want you to now copy that Wings Over Vietnam folder to that backup device we hope you have.

7A. You will now be going in and out of the game adjusting this and that.

8. Controls and Graphics etc. The game makes it own default control and graphics setups. We supply you with info and DATAini’s for the Logitech Extreme 3D joystick. You may choose your setup of course from the OPTIONS button which is shown on several screens in the game.

8A. Monitor Resolution: make sure its the same in game as you have it for your desktop setup. Example: if yours Max’s out at 1600X900 dont set the game at 2050X1200. Do this in the GAPHICS section of OPTIONS in game.

There are several levels of game play, from easy to hard. Once you have these set, try not to enter that CONTROLS section again. There is a snafu that erases some nice little Photo Mods we have included. No harm, you just have to keep reinstalling the mod entries in the CONTROLS DATAini.
A separate set of instructions will be with that mod.

9. The YAP3 mod, overwrites much of the native WOV settings.
INSTANT ACTION and CAMPAIGNS will not function properly so do not play them. You will get a lot of anomalies.

All of your missions will be selected from the SINGLE MISSION button on your main screen and then the LOAD MISSION button on the single mission screen. All loadouts (Fuel,ordnance,markings) are preset for the selected mission. DO NOT adjust any of these. Of course once you are in game you cannot adjust anything.

10. Briefings. Mission Briefings are to be downloaded from the YAP website. We suggest you do get them so you know whats going on.
Fly the missions as they are presented. Then later, fly them as you wish if you wish.

11. Recon and Photo mods. We have included mods for the Recon missions.

12. Once you are in game, you cannot mess up anything. No worry.

Any problems will be created during install or afterwards if you start messing around with files. DO NOT unless you know what your doing. Thats why we want you to backup everything. We do know the game pretty well and we still make mistakes.

12A. Loading times for missions can vary depending on what is required to load per mission. Times in excess of 3 minutes is not unusual depending on your system.

RISING SUN
Installation in detail

Instructions for Installing a Wings Over Vietnam (WOV) CD or Download (DL) to Windows 7/8 if you DO NOT already have a version of WOV or Rising Sun (RS) on your machine. We are assuming you are familiar with the Strike Fighters/WOV games. A manual for game play and keyboard operation will be installed in the main folder.

Having a backup device is a real life saver. We suggest if you do not have one of at least 16GB, to get one ASAP so you can backup all these files.

Install is fairly straight forward. ( you will be ignoring some of these if you have the WOV download or if you already have WOV installed)

WOV CD or Download
**WOV_sp051506a (not needed if your using the DL version)
WOV_Update_Oct2008b Patch
Rising Sun install (RS)

1. You will need to have most recent version of Microsoft DX9c installed on your machine. Win 7 and 8 do not come with it. You can get it here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35

Install this as per the directions from Microsoft. Once that is done move on to the Wings Over Vietnam (WOV) install. Dont worry, It will not overwrite or delete your DX10/DX11 as they are separate programs.

2. Create a folder on your desktop and name it whatever you wish. Direct the WOV CD/DL to install to that folder.

During install it will ask your if you wish to install DX9. Click yes. ( you already have DX9, so it wont hurt anything either way). The install process will also ask you if you want to install hyperlobby. Click no as there is no availble Multi-Player associated with WOV to our knowledge.

**When the WOV install is done, remove the CD from the tray/slot. Now look inside that folder. There should be another folder named Wings Over Vietnam. Open that folder and you will see all the basic files for the game and red/white/blue a Icon named WOV. You can launch the game with that icon, but DO NOT do it now.

3. (Skip this if you have the DL version of WOV) Install the WOV_sp051506a patch. Direct it to that WOV folder that is INSIDE the folder you created on your desktop. This MAY create a shortcut icon on your desktop. Thats fine. Once that is done, start the game from that icon or the one thats inside the folder.

In the lower right corner of your screen, you should see the date 2006. You can now play the game in its stock 2006 form.

Feel free to go in and get acquainted by clicking on the bars/buttons. You can make settings changes if you want to, but you will have to go back in and do them again anyways so might as well wait. Exit the game.

4. Install the October 2008b patch. Again, direct it to the WOV folder INSIDE the folder you created on your desktop. Once done, start the game. In the lower right corner of the main screen you should see October 2008.

Your now patched to the level needed to play RS.

5. Now install any RS material in the order it is presented. Direct it to that WOV folder thats INSIDE the folder on your desktop.

6. Once done, start the game. You should still see October 2008 in the lower right hand corner of your main screen. Exit the game.

7. Hoping you are familiar with file management, we want you to now copy that Wings Over Vietnam folder to that backup device we hope you have.

7A. You will now be going in and out of the game adjusting this and that.

8. Controls and Graphics etc. The game makes it own default control and graphics setups. We supply you with info and DATAini’s for the Logitech Extreme 3D joystick. You may choose your setup of course from the OPTIONS button which is shown on several screens in the game.

8A. Monitor Resolution: make sure its the same in game as you have it for your desktop setup. Example: if yours Max’s out at 1600X900 dont set the game at 2050X1200. Do this in the GAPHICS section of OPTIONS in game.

There are several levels of game play, from easy to hard.

9. The RS mod, overwrites much of the native WOV settings.
INSTANT ACTION and CAMPAIGNS will not function properly so do not play them. You will get a lot of anomalies.

All of your missions will be selected from the SINGLE MISSION button on your main screen and then the LOAD MISSION button on the single mission screen. All loadouts (Fuel,ordnance,markings) are preset for the selected mission. DO NOT adjust any of these. Of course once you are in game you cannot adjust anything.

10. Briefings. Mission Briefings are to be downloaded from the YAP website. We suggest you do get them so you know whats going on.
Fly the missions as they are presented. Then later, fly them as you wish if you wish.

11. N/A.

12. Once you are in game, you cannot mess up anything. No worry.

Any problems will be created during install or afterwards if you start messing around with files. DO NOT unless you know what your doing. Thats why we want you to backup everything. We do know the game pretty well and we still make mistakes.

12A. Loading times for missions can vary depending on what is required to load per mission. Times in excess of 3 minutes is not unusual depending on your system.

 


Please remember the Staff have real lives also. If you have any problems contact us preferably by email as we check that often.
You can also get us on Facebook, but that may take longer. If you do have a problem, please try to describe it in as much detail as possible. Also include pix if you can and your system specs. Operating system, Video Card, RAM, Monitor resolution and Power Supply Wattage if you know it. Someone will get back to you asap.