So here we are with TIE Fighter on Steam. If you're like me, you saw this on the Steam homepage, slipped into a fit of nostalgic delirium and awoke with a purchase confirmation page and a license to this Steam edition of TIE Fighter.

A little more research into the matter will quickly show that this Steam version only includes:
1) the 1994 original DOS release that was included on several 1.44 MB floppy disks and;
2) the 1998 Windows 95 "Collector's Series" release based on the XvT Engine.

It does not (as of today) include the 1995 DOS based Collector's CD release, the fan's favorite version of the game, which as of 4/28/2015 is now included in the GOG edition of the game. At which you curse your inner child for not noticing that prior to purchase.

Or you're a Valve Nut and you absolutely believe it is perfectly reasonable to purchase a Steam version of something even if it is inferior to an alternate Vendor's version.

Well, there is still hope. It is not 1995, it is 2015, and there is the internet...

We have the technology. We can make it better.

EDIT: Steam version now has Collector's CD ROM version. That portion of guide is no longer relevant.

This write up will now point out three options for modifying your TIE Fighter experience, one of which being to add in the Collector's CD edition functionality.

NOTE: I don't get credit for any of this stuff. I just google searched it. Other folks figured all this stuff out and created solutions. I'm just throwing these references and options here for the masses on Steam to take in.

The Three Modifications Covered:

1) Change the Steam 1994 DOS "Classic" version into the 1995 Collector's CD version.

2) Improve the original MIDI quality of the DOS version by using a different MIDI synthesizer than default Windows.

3) Remove the stock, overly rehashed John Williams score from the 1998 "Remastered" edition and replace with 'orchestra' custom versions of the original TIE Fighter music as well as add back in some voice files from the Collector's CD.

The 1994 DOS version included in this Steam package is ultimately just a packaging that has worked out most of the kinks of making it operate on modern OS/computers by using DOSBOX. It would not surprise me if it is actually the same version (minus the Collector's CD assets) as on GOG.

Fortunately, a while back on GOG, before they released the Collector's CD version in their package, someone quickly identified a way to change that package into the Collector's CD version.

The instructions from the source.[www.gog.com] Read the post by Tarvis.

In gist:

1) You probably don't really need most of the assets in your Steam install folder for the game ("...steamapps/common/STAR WARS Tie Fighter/classic") except for DOSBOX, shortcuts, and save files. Note that it's only ~20 MB, so if in doubt just keep everything Steam put there.

2) Copy the entirety of the files from the Collector's CD (that you have hanging around from 20 years ago... right?) into the ".../classic" folder.
What's that? You don't know where that CD is? It is a 20 year old game that is only about a quarter of a gigabyte, that until recently was not sold anywhere, and you have the internet. You folks can have a debate about the ethics of obtaining a CD image online for an outdated software that you repurchased at a modern price. It is very possible and easy, but I can't give any guidance on that matter. Fortunately, I still have my old CD...

3) Create a folder in ".../classic" titled "CD". This will serve as a virtual CD directory for assets to be read from.
Move the folders "VOICE" and "ASTREAM" into the "CD" folder you created.

4) Tarvis, the dude that created this particular solution, created a package with patches and a custom DOSBOX .conf file to simply tell the game to use the "CD" folder.
Download here[www.mediafire.com] and throw into the ".../classic" folder.
NOTE: I didn't need the JOY.COM file and deleted it as it complicated my throttle setup on my controller.

5) Open the "dosbox_tie.conf" with notepad. Comb through the options and change any that you need to meet your needs. I changed Tarvis's settings back in line with the original Steam version:
fullscreen=true
fulldouble=false
fullresolution=
windowresolution=original
output=overlay
autolock=true
sensitivity=100
You may want to make sure the joystick settings are in line with your setup.

6) Launch this frankenstein from Steam and in theory, behold the beauty that is the best edition of this game, the Collector's CD. Just don't verify your steam files for this game or else it might mess everything up.

I enjoy the original MIDI soundtrack. It is largely a nostalgia thing.

However, an option exists for you to spice it up and have it synthesized through a non-windows software that is superior. It actually can make a rather large difference.

Source for this.[www.spacegamejunkie.com] By Brian Rubin.

1) Download latest VirtualMIDISynth[coolsoft.altervista.org] from its website.

2) Install VirtualMIDISynth. It will want a computer restart.

3) Choose and download a SoundFont[coolsoft.altervista.org] (which will drastically change the style of how things sound so you should maybe grab a few and experiment to see which one suits your personal tastes).
My favorite so far is GMR 1.1[www.synthfont.com].

4) Most of those soundfonts are in some strange compression format. Use either SfPack or SfArk on this page[woolyss.com] to decompress them into something VirtualMIDISynth will use. These are small simple executables with no bloatware.

4) Run Configure VirtualMIDISynth and use the + Sign under "Soundfonts" tab to add the decompressed Soundfont file(s).

5) In theory, you're set at this point so try running the game.
I personally kept encountering an error when I loaded DOSBOX so I had to do the following:
A) Updated my sound drivers for my soundcard.
B) Changed some VirtualMIDISynth Settings:
-Under Advanced Options tab, lowered default output sample rate to 44100.
-Under Options tab, manually selected my output device and unchecked Hardware Mixing.
-Under MIDI Mapper tab, changed default MIDI output device for both Windows Media Player and the MIDI Mapper Configuration to "Coolsoft VirtualMIDISynth"
-Navigated to ".../Windows/SysWOW64/VirtualMIDISynth" folder and changed "VirtualMIDISynth.conf" file to "VirtualMIDISynth.conf.old" so the program could recreate a config file.
C) Went back to TIE FIGHTER directory, ".../classic/DOSBOX", and ran DOSBOX.exe. At the DOS prompt, typed "mixer/listmidi" and enter. This returns what device number is assigned to VirtualMIDISynth. Noted the device number.
Went back to ".../classic/" and open "dosbox_tie.conf" in notepad. Navigated to the [midi] section.
Changed "midiconfig=" to "midiconfig=x" where x=the device number for VirtualMIDISynth.
D) Restarted.

After all these measures, the error went away and I was enjoying the improved MIDIs.

The 1998 version has issues. One of which being the removal of the dynamic battle music system and the replacement of the same worn out John Williams tracks that don't really fit the Empire side of things too well.

But the newer engine and better textures/objects of the 1998 edition has some graphical perks to make it still a viable option to use.

Fortunately some folks put together a little project to change some of the problems with the music called TIE Fighter Reconstructed. It still doesn't bring back the dynamic system, but makes it more bearable than listening to the ROTJ OST repeatedly on loop.

SOURCE with instructions.[www.savingcontent.com] by AbdulBCRT

1) Just download the music and voice files[www.savingcontent.com].

2) Drop the files in your "...steamapps/common/STAR WARS TIE Fighter/remastered/" folder.

3) Run the game and enjoy.