Overview:

This package provides a modern ddraw.dll wrapper to restore compatibility for Close Combat III on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

The game relies on an early DirectDraw system that modern versions of Windows no longer support reliably, which can cause it to fail to launch, display incorrectly, or suffer from severe graphical issues.

This wrapper replaces the original DirectDraw interface with a modern, actively maintained implementation, allowing Close Combat III to run smoothly on current systems.
It has been tested and confirmed working on my own Windows 11 setup.

Included Files:

- ddraw.dll – the DirectDraw compatibility wrapper
- ddraw.ini – preconfigured with essential settings for Close Combat III
- LICENSE.txt – MIT License for the ddraw project

Installation

- Download and extract the ZIP archive.
- Copy ddraw.dll and ddraw.ini into your Close Combat III installation folder (the same folder as the game’s executable).
- Launch the game normally.

No system files are modified. To remove the wrapper, simply delete the two files.

Why You Need This:

Close Combat III was designed for Windows 95/98-era DirectDraw.
Modern Windows versions no longer provide full support for that system, which often results in:

- the game refusing to start
- black screens or corrupted graphics
- flickering or incorrect colours
- unstable fullscreen behaviour

The included ddraw wrapper restores the missing functionality, making the game playable again on current hardware and operating systems.

Notes:

- The included ddraw.ini is tuned specifically for Close Combat III.
- You may edit the INI file to adjust scaling, filtering, windowed mode, and other behaviour.
- This wrapper is open‑source and released under the MIT License (included).

Troubleshooting:

If the game does not start or behaves unexpectedly:
- Ensure no other wrappers (dgVoodoo, WineD3D, etc.) are present in the game folder.
- Try running the game once as Administrator.
- Update your GPU drivers.

If problems persist, remove ddraw.dll and ddraw.ini to restore the original behaviour.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Project Home Page

For updates, source code, and the full cnc-ddraw package, visit:

https://github.com/FunkyFr3sh/cnc-ddraw
_____________________________________________________________________________________





