How to get XWA and XWAUCP v1.5 working with Steam Big Picture

This guide will show an individual how to get X-Wing Alliance working with Steam Big Picture alliance the Steam Controller to work.

Introduction

So as you have already noticed steam controller doesnt seem to like this game very much.

Most of the problem is that the game uses a launcher to start the game. Normally this is not an issue until you are trying to have Steam Big Picture help you with your controller configurations.

Installing XWAUCP v1.5

Ensure the game is a fresh install
Download XWAUCP v1.5 at http://xwaupgrade.com/downloads.php (should be the top picture link)

Follow your standard steam installation (if you are using CD please follow the prompts for install)

From here its where its going to get a tad funky if you do not have a 'joystick' that the game
recognises

*NOTE*
Backup both the alliance.exe and xwingalliance.exe files. We will be modifying their names a couple times.

Section 1:
Go to %PathToSteam%\steamapps\common\Star Wars X-Wing Alliance

Rename the original alliance.exe to alliance.exe.old

Rename xwingalliance.exe to alliance.exe

Section 2:

Launch the game via Big Picture and change and NOTE your resolution (you will need this later)

Exit

Section 3:
Change the alliance.exe and xwingalliance.exe files back to their original files

Section 4:
You will need the resolution size here.

Run the installer and follow the prompts per what version you are using either the CD or the steam edition.

*NOTE*
If you have the CD copy XWAUCP gives you an option to remove the DRM requirement during the install.


Once installation is finished proceed to the next section

Launching with Big Picture

In order to launch with Big Picture you need to mess with 2 executable files one controls the launcher and the other is the game.



To skip the launcher do the following

backup both the alliance.exe and xwingalliance.exe files

Go to %PathToSteam%\steamapps\common\Star Wars X-Wing Alliance

Rename the original alliance.exe to alliance.exe.old

Rename xwingalliance.exe to alliance.exe

Once you do this you MIGHT need to tell steam not to update the game due to steam detecting changes. (this all depends on your personal settings in Steam itself)



With this done you should now be able to use the Big Picture configuration tool without having to mess with the nasty vJoy blah blah blah emulation stuff

Also Big Picture can configure your Xbox one and PS4 controllers.


*NOTE*
You will need to go into the controller configuration and turn the Trigger Analog Output to Analog Off in order to get the triggers to stop taking over the speed settings.

[Drexic]

I will at a slightly later point.

[Mooney]

If its not asking for too much, have a look at DSUCP too, since it appears to include
alot more "nice things".
As far as i can telll there shouldnt be much of a difference, since both seem to be very
simmillar in how they handle things, but the devils, as always, in the detail. :p

At any rate, good to see you didnt forget about it, joystick emulation for the SC is nooot
realy an exactly pleasant thing.

[Drexic]

Alright folks first of all apologies for talking so long for getting a more in depth guide to include the XWAUCP mod take so long. RL got in the way. Anyways will be posting a new guide shortly.

[Drexic]

@Suicide Machine, is your patch for individuals that own the CD copy of the game?

[Mooney]

Nope, tried that allready.
Starting the game from the Filemanager works fine, its just steam refusing to run it.
Ofc you dont have any controller support starting it manually.
If it at least would provide you with some kind of errormassage. :p

Is it possible to somehow dump any of the shell prompt to a file, to get at least a clue
of why the game isnt starting at all?

[Drexic]

it probably requires the game to be re-registered in your library as a seperate game.

[Mooney]

Been testing it with the stock game as well as with the XWAU and DSUCP mod,
alas it only works with the unmodified game for some weired reason.
(Both mods have support for the steam version of the game, so thats kinda odd.)
Which is a shame really, since especially the latter one is just amazing. =(

The good news however is that, at least stock, the steam controller works now,
without an aspect ratio from the 90's... :p
Thanks for your effort Suicide, much appreciated. ;)

Not sure if either the XWAU or DSUCP devs continue to work on their respective
projects, but it sure would be really nice to see them keep going, and MAYBE
we get to use our controllers without wonky 3rd party software someday.
GOOD JOB steam guys, for not coming up with native windows support after
like 3 or so years. Bummer...

[Suicide Machine]

Make sure, your XWINGALLIANCE.EXE is the original Steam exe before "patching" (if you tried to use anything before it).

[Suicide Machine]

https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/983-x-wing-alliance-steam-to-xwa-compatible-patch/ - there you go, guys. I made a basic "binary patch" that basically modifies XWINGALLIANCE.EXE to a DRM-Free version (used in GOG), which you can then apply XWA Hacker on in order to get it running in widescreen resolution. Since all of this is binary modification of executable and doesn't use any overcomplicated dll wrapping, you should be able to get the game running in widescreen mode and still be able to use Steam Controller, without game crashing on start up.

[Mooney]

The "official" page ofc. :p
http://xwaupgrade.com/

Same is true for the DSUCP mod(which has the exact same issue).
http://www.darksaber.xwaupgrade.com/craftspackucp.html