Overview

The recommended way to install the game is:

  1. Obtain and install the game from any source, Steam, GoG, original CD-ROM, etc.

  2. Update to the 1.31 official patch if needed.

  3. Install the 1.50 fan patch.

The 1.50 patch is highly recommended because:

  • It is much more stable than other versions, especially in multiplayer.

  • Greatly simplifies multiplayer setup.

  • Includes mod to play by classic rules as well as rebalancing mods.

  • Allows to switch mods easily via MOO2 Launcher.

  • Has numerous interface improvements.

In short, there’s no practical reason not to use it unless you’re doing bug hunting or reverse engineering the original. See Versions for historical overview of the known releases.

Installing prerequisites

Some platforms or distributions need extra steps when installing.

Steam

Simply install the game, no update to 1.31 is necessary.

GoG

On Windows avoid installing the game to Program Files, use C:\GAMES or any other user writable directory. Otherwise MOO2 Launcher will need to be run in Administrative mode each time.

No update to 1.31 is necessary.

Original CD-ROM on Windows

This is the trickies one:

  • Run the installer.

  • Do not install to Program Files, see above.

  • Choose a full installation and then copy all files from CD-ROM to the game directory (skip conflicting), then remove read-only attribute from all game files (Ctrl-a, right click, properties, uncheck read-only, apply).

  • Download the 1.31 official patch and unzip it to the game directory.

  • Install DOSBox separately from https://www.dosbox.com. It’s okay to install to Program Files.

Original CD-ROM / other sources on Linux or Mac OS

Similar to windows, but without installation:

  • Create game directory anywhere, say /home/user/moo2, copy all CD-ROM files there.

  • Remove read-only attribute from all files. This depends on your OS, but running chmod +w /home/user/moo2/* command in a terminal would likely do it.

  • Install DOSBox in whatever way appropriate for your OS. For example in Ubuntu it would be sudo apt install dosbox. Note the location of dosbox executable. Usually you can find out by running type dosbox after installation, but it also depends on OS. You’ll need dosbox location for setting up 1.50 later.

Installing 1.50 patch via MOO2 Launcher (recommended)

  1. Unzip the installation package anywhere OUTSIDE of your MOO2 game directory.

    1. Windows: run install-win32.exe.

    2. Linux: run ./install-linux in terminal inside unzipped directory. [1]

    3. Mac OS X: right click install-macosx and choose open. [2]

  1. You will be presented with a patch installation prompt, which should auto-detect GOG and Steam distros. If there was no auto-detection, then specify path to MOO2 game directory and path to emulator:

    1. Windows: DOSBox.exe

    2. Linux: dosbox

    3. Mac OS X: Boxer Standalone or dosbox

  2. Press Install.

  3. After reporting success MOO2 Launcher will switch to normal mode, from where you can run the game. Choose a mod & map, then press Launch! to play.

  4. On subsequent runs the MOO2 Launcher won’t prompt installation, and allows the game to start right away. To start MOO2 1.50, use the desktop shortcut created during installation.

Installing 1.50 patch manually

MOO2 Launcher runs on recent Windows, Linux and Mac OS X systems. Still it may happen that on your system it doesn’t work. In that case you can install the patch manually.

  1. Find in the 1.50 package the directory named "patch". Copy all its contents into your MOO2 directory. (So not "patch" itself, but what’s inside.) The MOO2 directory is the one that contains ORION2.EXE, it’s location may vary depending on OS and distribution. If you already have a version of 1.50 installed then choose to overwrite files.

  2. Update your DOSBox config files to run ORION150.EXE instead of ORION2.EXE and make sure to MOUNT to the MOO2 directory ROOT.

  3. Run the game and confirm that the version number in the bottom right corner of MOO2’s Title screen is 1.50.x.

  4. Edit file 150/ENABLE.CFG manually to change enabled mods.

FAQ

  • Do I need to make a backup of my build lists before updating to a new version of the patch?

    Your build lists are automatically backed-up during installation with MOO2 Launcher.
They can be retrieved in directory '150-backups'.

  • MOO2 Launcher runs but fails to install with 'permission denied' error.

  • MOO2 Launcher runs but cannot locate game files on your system.

    This happens if the destination is write-protected, for example for the CD-ROM version
installed to Program Files in Windows. Make MOO2 directory accessible or move the game
to an accessible location, like C:\GAMES\MOO2.
    In some cases you can workaround the issue by running MOO2 Launcher as an administrator,
but you'll have to do it every time you run it, so that's not recommended.
This problem doesn't affect Steam and GOG packages even though Steam installs to Program Files.

  • MOO2 Launcher runs but fails to install with 'Error creating backup'.

    This can happen if an instance of Windows Explorer is open that has focus on a directory
or file inside the MOO2 game directory. Close Windows Explorer.
    It can also happen if you have a previous version MOO2 Launcher still running.
Make sure you have that MOO2 Launcher closed before updating.

  • On OS X, MOO2 Launcher panel is black and no installation options show.

    The Tsch based menu has a black background, causing MOO2 Launcher to show black only.
MOO2 Launcher is actually functional, and should you have all its fields memorized
and skillfully TAB through all fields, you can still install the game.
There is currently no real solution for this issue. Install the patch manually.

  • DOSBox crashes immediately after starting.

    Try setting output to 'surface'.

  • Game doesn’t start, cannot find info.lbx, credits.lbx and diplomse.lbx.

    This happens when the game is installed from an original CD-ROM, which by default does not
copy all game files to disk. To fix it, copy all files from CD-ROM to your MOO2 game directory
(e.g. C:\GAMES\MOO2). Then remove the read-only attribute from all files, then install patch
1.31, then install patch 1.50. The order of actions is important: Install patch 1.31 after
copying the CD-ROM files.

  • Game doesn’t start, cannot find techname.lbx.

    This happens with manual install if the MOO2 game is not correctly mounted in DOSBox.
To fix it, mount to the MOO2 directory root in your DOSBox .conf file, for example:
mount C "C:\GAMES\MOO2" instead of mount C "C:\GAMES".
(In latter case you'd also need: cd MOO2, which should be avoided.)

  • Music plays, but no sound effects.

    You need to make the file sound.lbx writable. On Windows right-click the file,
choose properties, remove read-only checkbox.

  • Game interface lags, sound is crackling.

    May happen on Ubuntu with opengl output. Try 'overlay'.

  • How to edit DOSBox options not accessible via MOO2 Launcher?

    Edit file 150/dosbox.conf in the game directory. Note that settings in this file override
MOO2 Launcher settings, for example if you force resolution there, changing it in MOO2
Launcher will no longer work.

  • How do I run the game in 16:9 mode?

    The game was designed for 4:3 monitors. In DOSBox windowed mode you can only have that.
In full screen your monitor handles whether to stretch to maximum resolution, explore its OSD
to figure out how to do it. Note that you will never have a true 16:9 picture, the game uses
a fixed resolution and in 16:9 everything will look stretched.

  • I’m trying to create custom BUILD lists but editing the files doesn’t do anything. The original BUILD lists are still loaded.

    You have edited the wrong files. Open the BUILD lists from the MOO2 Launcher menu:
'Game>Build lists' to make sure the correct files are edited.

  • I’m hosting multiplayer game, but get black screen after race selection.

    Make sure everyone runs MOO2 Launcher as administrator.

  • Trying to join a multiplayer game, but cannot find the game.

    Try running MOO2 Launcher as administrator.

  • Why can’t I design ships?

    Select the "Tactical Combat" option when you start a new game.

UPDATES

You can find the latest version of the 1.50 package at https://moo2mod.com/

1. Some distros (like Ubuntu) require installation of Tcl/Tk before step 2, run: $ sudo apt-get install tcl tk
2. Tested on Mac OS X Snow Leopard. MOO2 Launcher might not work properly on newer Mac OS versions. In such case, manual install without MOO2 Launcher is still possible.