Red Baron

Released: 1990
Published by: Dynamix, Inc.
Developed by: Dynamix, Inc.
Author(s): Damon Slye, Paul Bowman, David McClurg, Lincoln Hutton, Cyrus Kanga, Mark Peasley, Damon Mitchell, Alan McKean, Chistopher Stevens, Nels Bruckner, Piotr Lukaszuk

256-colour VGA version

16-colour version (VGA graphics)

16-colour version (EGA graphics)

Introduction

Red Baron is a World War 1 flight simulator, released by Dynamix in 1990 - the same year MicroProse bought the company. It is the start of World War 1, with aircraft technology in its infancy. Take to the skies in one of 28 different aircraft, of which the different flying characteristics of each was modeled including G effects, with the goal of defeating the enemy planes in over 40 missions.

Red Baron included accurate 3D renditions of each plane and a handy mission recorder allows you to record the action, save it to disk, and even take over flying at any point in the recording.

 

Intro with Roland MT-32

You can fly a single mission or take on the Campaign mode which takes you through each mission back-to-back from 1915 to 1918. As you succeed in each, you will be promoted up the ranks and be eligible for awards and medals.

You can fly either for the German Air Service or the Royal Flying Corps.

The game uses what Dynamix called 3Space to create the Red Baron landscapes, which are historically accurate for the period of the war you are in, including the length of the German-French front, Verdun, Somme, Paris and London. In the box was a detailed 200-page manual and fold-out maps for each region.

There was even limited multiplayer on The Sierra Network, allowing for 2-4 players to match up for 10 minutes. The game won a Simulation of the Year award in 1991. It was succeeded by Aces of the Pacific in 1992.

Dynamix as a company was formed by Damon Slye and Jeff Tunnell in 1984, and developed games for the Apple II and Commodore 64. They were based in Eugene, Oregon. A-10 Tank Killer was their first flight simulation title.

 

System Requirements

System Requirements	Intel 8088/8086 CPU, 640 KB of RAM. 16-colour version: graphics support for Tandy/PCjr, CGA, EGA, and 4-colour MCGA. 256-colour version: graphics support for VGA only. Audio support for PC speaker, Tandy/PCjr, Tandy DAC, Thunderboard, PS/1 Audio Card, Ad Lib, Sound Blaster, Pro Audio Spectrum and Roland MT-32/LAPC-I. Keyboard, joystick and mouse supported.
Original Media	16-colour version: Two 5.25" 1.2 MB (DS/HD) floppy disks or Three 3.5" 720 KB (DS/DD) floppy disks.. 256-colour version: Three 5.25" 1.2 MB (DS/HD) floppy disks or Two 3.5" 1.44 MB (DS/HD) floppy disks.
Installed Size (MB)	1.62 MB (16-colour version without Mission Builder expansion) 2.4 MB (256-colour version without Mission Builder expansion)

From where can it be run?

Red Baron can be run directly from the floppy disks or by using the INSTALL.EXE utility you can install the game to your hard disk.

If you attempt to install from a subdirectory on your hard disk, you will see this message:

and if you try to use SUBST to mimic a subdirectory as a drive letter the install won't fail but only disk 1's contents will get installed into C:\DYNAMIX\BARON. Fortunately, it's easy to workaround these issues - just manually copy all files from the floppy disks into a directory on your hard disk (don't forget the 'TAPES' subdirectory needs to remain intact in the desination folder structure also) and it will work.

The default installation directory is C:\DYNAMIX\BARON, with BARON.BAT as the main file to run to start the game.

 

Copy Protection

Red Baron does not have any copy protection.

How to Setup

To configure the game's graphics and audio settings, use INSTALL.EXE. This is also used to install to hard disk or create backup copies of your original floppies:

 

Setup options are limited to the version of the game you have: 256-colour VGA version (left), 16-colour version (right):

Audio choices are restricted to what the program detects you have (denoted by an asterisk *):

To run the floppy version of the game, run BARON.BAT in the DYNAMIX\BARON subdirectory.
To run the CD-ROM version of the game, run BARONCD.BAT from the SIERRA\REDBARON subdirectory.

 

Problems

Symptom: Sound is ok until I get into the 3D portion of the game, then it's silent.
Cause: You are playing on a machine that is too fast for the game.
Resolution: Try setting the game to use Ad Lib instead of Sound Blaster (the sound quality is the same), or slow down your PC to a level that is more period-correct.

Keys

Flight Controls + and- (or 1-9)       Increase Throttle / Decrease Throttle < and > - Left / Right Rudder Weapons and Defenses BackSpace (or button 1) - Fire Cannon U - Un-jam machine gun Flight Leader Commands D - Drop below           J - Join A - Attack                  M - Minor Wing Attack W - Warning

Views Cockpit Views:                     External Views: F1 - Look Forward                 F1 - View Front F2 - Look Back                     F2 - View Rear F3 - Look Left                       F3 - View Left Side F4 - Look Right                     F4 - View Right Side F5 - Look Up                        F5 - View Bottom F6 - Look Down                    F6 - View Top                                            F7 - Chase View Simulation Controls ESC -End Mission            ALT R - Realism Menu ALT S -Sound on/off         F10 - Preferences Panel ALT M -Music on/off         ALT Q -Quit ALT D -Mouse                 ALT J -Joystick P - Pause                       ALT C - Calibrate joystick C - Time compress on/off

 

To Quit the Game

Press ALT-Q at any time, and when prompted "Exit to DOS? (Y/N)", hit "Y" to return to the command-line.

 

Supporting Documents

• Game Manual (PDF)
• Quick Reference Card (PDF)
• Maps (ZIP)
• Mission Builder Manual (PDF)
• Mission Builder Quick Reference Card (PDF)

 

Additional Files, Drivers and Utilities

This section includes any additional files, updated drivers (original and third-party) or utilities that help make the game a better experience.

• XBaron v1.46 - Written by Bob Church. Improves the running of RB on 486/33 CPUs and faster, and enhances the overall gameplay in many ways. Works on the 256-colour version only with the Mission Builder. The major features of XBaron are:
  1. A Frame Rate Limiter in the simulation that limits maximum frame rate to a value that allows Red Baron to run at optimum performance.
  2. A Frame Rate Limiter in the VCR that regulates playback time so it is the same as the record time.
  3. Additional keyboard functions available in the VCR for adjusting tape speed during playback.
  4. Improved joystick routines with provision for adjustable response curves and adjustable dead zone settings.
  5. Additional joystick button functions as well as the capability to reassign individual functions to any available button.
  6. Built-in support for the Thrustmaster FCS/PFCS hat switch for controlling cockpit views.
  7. Built-in support for proportional analog throttle to replace the 'ratchet' analog throttle that RB provides.
  8. Optional support for proportional analog rudder to replace the 'off-on' analog rudder that RB provides.
  9. Optional support for a partial rudder-aileron linkage that adds a little roll whenever the pedals are depressed.

 

Save Games

When you go into Career Mode, the game will keep track of up to 15 pilots in the roster at any one time. You can choose from any of these to continue playing that pilot. If all 15 pilots are in use you will be asked to delete one to make room for a new pilot. Saving your progress through your pilot's career is automatic - you don't need to keep saving your progress.

When in the Aerodrome menu you can optionally backup a pilot if you want to be able to restore that pilot's progress if you are shot down. These backups take up one of the 15 pilot's spaces in the roster.

Saved progress is stored in the file ROSTER.DAT when you exit the game.

 

Versions of the game known to exist

Version	Date	Comments
1.0	19th December 1990	Initial public release (both 16-colour and 256-colour versions).
Expansion	1991	Mission Builder expansion released, allowing owners of the original game to be able to construct their own custom missions. This came on a single 3.5" 720 KB (DS/DD) floppy disk.
1.1B3	May 1992	New joystick driver to fix joystick problems on faster machines (i.e. 386/33). Available in separate versions for the 5.25" and the 3.5" disk installations.
?	1994	Kixx budget re-release on CD-ROM.
?	1997	"Aces" compilation. Part of the Sierra Online Collection Series. Comprises six full games: A-10 Tank Killer v1.5 Command: Aces of the Deep Aces of the Pacific (with the Pacific expansion) Aces Over Europe Red Baron (with the Mission Builder expansion) Silent Thunder: A-10 Tank Killer II.

Original Floppy Disk Contents

The floppy disks have a volume label that denotes the disk number: RBDISK 1, RBDISK 2, etc. Here are each disk's contents:

256-colour VGA version Disk 1 of 2 (3.5" 1.44 MB DS/HD):   Directory of A:\ BARON COM 730 23-12-1990 1:00 CREAL PRF 26 23-12-1990 1:00 INSTALL COM 21,536 23-12-1990 1:00 MREAL PRF 26 23-12-1990 1:00 PS EXE 259,304 27-12-1990 14:13 PSVOLS MAP 8 23-12-1990 1:00 RB EXE 298,014 23-12-1990 1:00 READ ME 2,446 23-12-1990 1:00 ROSTER DAT 846 23-12-1990 1:00 SIMVOLS MAP 8 23-12-1990 1:00 VOLUME 001 75,397 23-12-1990 1:00 VOLUME 002 16,253 23-12-1990 1:00 VOLUME 003 122,013 23-12-1990 1:00 VOLUME 005 511,611 23-12-1990 1:00 VOLUME RMF 2,678 23-12-1990 1:00 15 File(s) 1,310,896 Bytes
256-colour VGA version Disk 2 of 2 (3.5" 1.44 MB DS/HD):   Directory of A:\ TAPES <DIR> 18-11-2022 14:16 BAR_ROLL VCR 1,262 23-12-1990 7:38 CONTROL PRF 6 23-12-1990 15:58 DEMOBLN1 VCR 3,842 23-12-1990 7:22 DEMOSQD1 VCR 2,046 23-12-1990 7:38 DEMOZEPP VCR 3,198 23-12-1990 7:30 DIVE VCR 1,152 23-12-1990 6:43 HALFLOOP VCR 1,438 23-12-1990 7:42 IMMEL VCR 1,237 23-12-1990 7:09 LOOP VCR 1,264 23-12-1990 7:12 RETOURN VCR 1,306 23-12-1990 7:15 SIDESLIP VCR 1,444 23-12-1990 7:19 SIMPREFS PRF 82 23-12-1990 15:58 SLIPTURN VCR 1,068 23-12-1990 7:47 SPLIT_S VCR 1,298 23-12-1990 7:23 VOLUME 004 362,276 23-12-1990 5:53 VOLUME 006 562,539 23-12-1990 5:53 VOLUME 007 139,298 23-12-1990 5:53 ZOOM VCR 1,447 23-12-1990 7:54 18 File(s) 1,086,203 Bytes Directory of A:\TAPES BAR_ROLL VCR 1,262 23-12-1990 15:51 DEMOBLN1 VCR 3,842 23-12-1990 15:52 DEMOSQD1 VCR 2,046 23-12-1990 15:52 DEMOZEPP VCR 3,198 23-12-1990 15:51 DIVE VCR 1,152 23-12-1990 15:51 HALFLOOP VCR 1,438 23-12-1990 15:51 IMMEL VCR 1,237 23-12-1990 15:51 LOOP VCR 1,264 23-12-1990 15:51 RETOURN VCR 1,306 23-12-1990 15:51 RETOURN2 VCR 1,244 23-12-1990 15:55 SIDESLIP VCR 1,444 23-12-1990 15:51 SLIPTURN VCR 1,068 23-12-1990 15:51 SPLIT_S VCR 1,298 23-12-1990 15:51 ZOOM VCR 1,447 23-12-1990 15:51 14 File(s) 23,246 Bytes
256-colour VGA version Mission Builder Expansion Directory of A:\ CUSTOM <DIR> 18-11-2022 15:29 INSTALL BAT 4,621 14-09-1992 1:00 RESOURCE 000 606,852 14-09-1992 1:00 TIPS DOC 2,027 14-09-1992 1:00 UNCHUNK EXE 15,799 14-09-1992 1:00 4 File(s) 629,299 Bytes Directory of A:\CUSTOM BARON78 CUS 1,416 14-09-1992 1:00 BISHOP CUS 1,115 14-09-1992 1:00 CARNAGE CUS 1,099 14-09-1992 1:00 DECPASC CUS 1,342 14-09-1992 1:00 ESCAPE CUS 1,448 14-09-1992 1:00 FONCK6 CUS 1,271 14-09-1992 1:00 KURTSMIS CUS 1,161 14-09-1992 1:00 LITLBGDY CUS 1,355 14-09-1992 1:00 NIGHTGOT CUS 1,168 14-09-1992 1:00 VOSSLAST CUS 989 14-09-1992 1:00 10 File(s) 12,364 Bytes
256-colour VGA version Disk 1 of 3 (5.25" 1.2 MB DS/HD):   Directory of A:\ BARON COM 730 20-12-1990 20:34 CONTROL PRF 6 27-02-1991 21:33 CREAL PRF 26 23-12-1990 2:57 INSTALL COM 21,552 23-12-1990 8:37 MREAL PRF 26 27-02-1991 21:33 PS EXE 259,304 22-12-1990 17:32 PSVOLS MAP 9 21-12-1990 11:25 RB EXE 297,982 23-12-1990 13:30 READ ME 2,446 23-12-1990 3:21 ROSTER DAT 846 27-02-1991 21:33 SCRIPT DAT 886 27-02-1991 21:33 SIM IN 12 27-02-1991 21:33 SIMVOLS MAP 9 21-12-1990 11:25 VOLUME 001 75,397 23-12-1990 5:49 VOLUME 002 16,253 23-12-1990 5:49 VOLUME 003 122,013 23-12-1990 5:50 VOLUME RMF 2,678 23-12-1990 5:50 17 File(s) 800,175 Bytes
256-colour VGA version Disk 2 of 3 (5.25" 1.2 MB DS/HD):   Directory of A:\ VOLUME 004 362,276 23-12-1990 1:00 VOLUME 006 562,539 23-12-1990 1:00 VOLUME 007 139,298 23-12-1990 1:00 3 File(s) 1,064,113 Bytes
256-colour VGA version Disk 3 of 3 (5.25" 1.2 MB DS/HD):   Directory of A:\ TAPES <DIR> 18-11-2022 15:35 BAR_ROLL VCR 1,262 23-12-1990 1:01 DEMOBLN1 VCR 3,842 23-12-1990 1:01 DEMOSQD1 VCR 2,046 23-12-1990 1:01 DEMOZEPP VCR 3,198 23-12-1990 1:01 DIVE VCR 1,152 23-12-1990 1:01 HALFLOOP VCR 1,438 23-12-1990 1:01 IMMEL VCR 1,237 23-12-1990 1:01 LOOP VCR 1,264 23-12-1990 1:01 RETOURN VCR 1,306 23-12-1990 1:01 SIDESLIP VCR 1,444 23-12-1990 1:01 SLIPTURN VCR 1,068 23-12-1990 1:01 SPLIT_S VCR 1,298 23-12-1990 1:01 VOLUME 005 511,611 23-12-1990 1:00 VOLUME 007 139,298 23-12-1990 1:01 VOLUME 008 88,351 23-12-1990 1:01 ZOOM VCR 1,447 23-12-1990 1:01 16 File(s) 761,262 Bytes Directory of A:\TAPES BAR_ROLL VCR 1,262 23-12-1990 7:38 DEMOBLN1 VCR 3,842 23-12-1990 7:22 DEMOSQD1 VCR 2,046 23-12-1990 7:38 DEMOZEPP VCR 3,198 23-12-1990 7:30 DIVE VCR 1,152 23-12-1990 6:43 HALFLOOP VCR 1,438 23-12-1990 7:42 IMMEL VCR 1,237 23-12-1990 7:09 LOOP VCR 1,264 23-12-1990 7:12 RETOURN VCR 1,306 23-12-1990 7:15 SIDESLIP VCR 1,444 23-12-1990 7:19 SLIPTURN VCR 1,068 23-12-1990 7:47 SPLIT_S VCR 1,298 23-12-1990 7:23 ZOOM VCR 1,447 23-12-1990 7:54 13 File(s) 22,002 Bytes
16-colour version Disk 1 of 3 (3.5" 720 KB DS/DD):   Directory of A:\ BARON COM 730 24-01-1991 1:00 INSTALL COM 21,536 24-01-1991 1:00 PS EXE 258,614 24-01-1991 1:00 PSVOLS MAP 9 24-01-1991 1:00 RB EXE 297,786 24-01-1991 1:00 READ ME 2,431 24-01-1991 14:20 ROSTER DAT 846 24-01-1991 1:00 SIMSNDS SNG 4,124 24-01-1991 1:00 SIMVOLS MAP 9 24-01-1991 1:00 VOLUME 001 54,379 24-01-1991 1:00 VOLUME 002 12,972 24-01-1991 1:00 VOLUME RMF 2,710 24-01-1991 1:00 12 File(s) 656,146 Bytes
16-colour version Disk 2 of 3 (3.5" 720 KB DS/DD):   Directory of A:\ VOLUME 003 64,939 24-01-1991 1:00 VOLUME 004 138,202 24-01-1991 1:00 VOLUME 006 176,040 24-01-1991 1:00 VOLUME 007 139,272 24-01-1991 1:00 4 File(s) 518,453 Bytes
16-colour version Disk 3 of 3 (3.5" 720 KB DS/DD):   Directory of A:\ TAPES <DIR> 24-01-1991 1:00 BAR_ROLL VCR 1,262 24-01-1991 1:00 DEMOBLN1 VCR 3,842 24-01-1991 1:00 DEMOSQD1 VCR 2,046 24-01-1991 1:00 DEMOZEPP VCR 3,198 24-01-1991 1:00 DIVE VCR 1,152 24-01-1991 1:00 HALFLOOP VCR 1,438 24-01-1991 1:00 IMMEL VCR 1,237 24-01-1991 1:00 LOOP VCR 1,264 24-01-1991 1:00 RETOURN VCR 1,306 24-01-1991 1:00 RETOURN2 VCR 1,244 24-01-1991 1:00 SIDESLIP VCR 1,444 24-01-1991 1:00 SLIPTURN VCR 1,068 24-01-1991 1:00 SPLIT_S VCR 1,298 24-01-1991 1:00 VOLUME 005 296,528 24-01-1991 1:00 VOLUME 007 139,272 24-01-1991 1:00 VOLUME 008 82,071 24-01-1991 1:00 ZOOM VCR 1,447 24-01-1991 1:00 17 File(s) 541,117 Bytes Directory of A:\TAPES\. BAR_ROLL VCR 1,262 24-01-1991 1:00 DEMOBLN1 VCR 3,842 24-01-1991 1:00 DEMOSQD1 VCR 2,046 24-01-1991 1:00 DEMOZEPP VCR 3,198 24-01-1991 1:00 DIVE VCR 1,152 24-01-1991 1:00 HALFLOOP VCR 1,438 24-01-1991 1:00 IMMEL VCR 1,237 24-01-1991 1:00 LOOP VCR 1,264 24-01-1991 1:00 RETOURN VCR 1,306 24-01-1991 1:00 RETOURN2 VCR 1,244 24-01-1991 1:00 SIDESLIP VCR 1,444 24-01-1991 1:00 SLIPTURN VCR 1,068 24-01-1991 1:00 SPLIT_S VCR 1,298 24-01-1991 1:00 ZOOM VCR 1,447 24-01-1991 1:00 14 File(s) 23,246 Bytes

 

Installed Directory Contents

Once installed, the following directory structure exists in the game directory:

Directory of C:\DYNAMIX\. . <DIR> 18-11-2022 16:18 .. <DIR> 18-11-2022 16:19 BARON <DIR> 18-11-2022 16:18 BARON BAT 40 18-11-2022 16:18 1 File(s) 40 Bytes Directory of C:\DYNAMIX\BARON\. . <DIR> 18-11-2022 16:28 .. <DIR> 18-11-2022 16:20 TAPES <DIR> 18-11-2022 16:27 BARON COM 730 18-11-2022 16:24 BAR_ROLL VCR 1,262 18-11-2022 16:27 CONTROL PRF 6 18-11-2022 16:24 CREAL PRF 26 18-11-2022 16:24 DEMOBLN1 VCR 3,842 18-11-2022 16:27 DEMOSQD1 VCR 2,046 18-11-2022 16:27 DEMOZEPP VCR 3,198 18-11-2022 16:27 DIVE VCR 1,152 18-11-2022 16:27 HALFLOOP VCR 1,438 18-11-2022 16:27 IMMEL VCR 1,237 18-11-2022 16:27 INSTALL COM 21,552 18-11-2022 16:24 LOOP VCR 1,264 18-11-2022 16:27 MREAL PRF 26 18-11-2022 16:24 PS EXE 259,304 18-11-2022 16:24 PSVOLS MAP 9 18-11-2022 16:24 RB EXE 297,982 18-11-2022 16:24 READ ME 2,446 18-11-2022 16:24 RETOURN VCR 1,306 18-11-2022 16:27 ROSTER DAT 846 18-11-2022 16:24 SIDESLIP VCR 1,444 18-11-2022 16:27 SIMVOLS MAP 9 18-11-2022 16:24 SLIPTURN VCR 1,068 18-11-2022 16:27 SPLIT_S VCR 1,298 18-11-2022 16:27 VOLUME 001 75,397 18-11-2022 16:24 VOLUME 002 16,253 18-11-2022 16:24 VOLUME 003 122,013 18-11-2022 16:24 VOLUME 004 362,276 18-11-2022 16:27 VOLUME 005 511,611 18-11-2022 16:27 VOLUME 006 562,539 18-11-2022 16:27 VOLUME 007 139,298 18-11-2022 16:27 VOLUME 008 88,351 18-11-2022 16:27 VOLUME RMF 2,678 18-11-2022 16:24 ZOOM VCR 1,447 18-11-2022 16:27 33 File(s) 2,485,354 Bytes Directory of C:\DYNAMIX\BARON\TAPES\. . <DIR> 18-11-2022 16:27 .. <DIR> 18-11-2022 16:28 BAR_ROLL VCR 1,262 18-11-2022 16:27 DEMOBLN1 VCR 3,842 18-11-2022 16:27 DEMOSQD1 VCR 2,046 18-11-2022 16:27 DEMOZEPP VCR 3,198 18-11-2022 16:27 DIVE VCR 1,152 18-11-2022 16:27 HALFLOOP VCR 1,438 18-11-2022 16:27 IMMEL VCR 1,237 18-11-2022 16:27 LOOP VCR 1,264 18-11-2022 16:27 RETOURN VCR 1,306 18-11-2022 16:27 SIDESLIP VCR 1,444 18-11-2022 16:27 SLIPTURN VCR 1,068 18-11-2022 16:27 SPLIT_S VCR 1,298 18-11-2022 16:27 ZOOM VCR 1,447 18-11-2022 16:27 13 File(s) 22,002 Bytes