Project Dreamland
Project Dreamland is a PC port of Area 51 that aims to make the game playable on modern systems.
- Type: PC port
- Game: Area 51
- Runs on Windows
- By Source2Spy
- Latest release ASSETS-14.08.2026, 2026-08-15
- Source: https://github.com/Source2Spy/area51-pc
README
Area 51 (2005) Source Code
Welcome to the unofficial release of the Area 51 (2005) video game source code! This project aims to resurrect and preserve a piece of early 2000s video game history for enthusiasts, historians, and developers alike. Below is a brief overview of the source code details, its origin, and guidance on how the community can help bring this game into the modern era.
How to Contribute
The main goal is to get the source code into a buildable state on modern systems. Whether you're interested in game development, historical preservation, or simply a fan of Area 51, here's how you can help:
- Building the Project: Assistance is needed to compile and run the game on contemporary hardware. If you have experience with game development, legacy systems, or cross-platform development, your expertise is invaluable.
- Documentation and Research: Insights into the original development environment, including compilers, libraries, and tools, would greatly assist the restoration effort.
- Debugging and Porting: Once buildable, the project will require debugging and potentially porting to newer platforms to reach a wider audience.
- Forking and contributing: Make changes in your forks, and submit a pull request with your updates.
Join our Discord
Building Code
The following prerequisites are required to build the source tree:
- CMake
- GCC or MSVC
Visual Studio solutions is deprecated
Running Build
- Download last asset pack from releases
- Download last executable from github actions
- Unzip the archive and place your binary file into the unzipped folder
- Run game
CMake Target Selection
CMake configures the complete target graph, but a build target only builds its own dependencies. The regular build presets build A51 only.
cmake --preset linux-gcc-x64
cmake --build --preset linux-gcc-x64-debug
To build an individual application or tool, pass its target name:
cmake --build build/linux-gcc-x64 --config Debug --target xbmptool
cmake --build build/linux-gcc-x64 --config Debug --target GeomCompiler
The aggregate targets are available when needed:
cmake --build build/linux-gcc-x64 --config Debug --target a51_selected_apps
cmake --build build/linux-gcc-x64 --config Debug --target a51_tools
Running a build without --target uses the generator's default all target and can build every non-excluded target.
Additional info
Valid platforms
| Platform | Status |
|---|---|
| Windows | Working |
| Linux | Working |
| macOS | Not planed |
| Android | Working |
| iOS | Not planed |
Compiled apps
Attention: During the migration from VS 2004 to VS 2022, many tools are not functioning. Please use LEGACY branch.
| Name | Status |
|---|---|
| AnimCompiler | Working |
| Art2Code | Working |
| ArtistViewer | UNDER CONSTRUCTION |
| AudioEditor | UNDER CONSTRUCTION/Lib for: Editor |
| BinaryString | UNDER CONSTRUCTION/Lib for: Editor |
| BitmapEditor | UNDER CONSTRUCTION/Lib for: Editor |
| DecalCompiler | Working |
| DecalEditor | UNDER CONSTRUCTION/Lib for: Editor |
| DFSTool | Working |
| EDRscDesc | Working |
| Editor | DEAD |
| EffectsEditor | UNDER CONSTRUCTION |
| ELFTool | DELETED |
| EventEditor | UNDER CONSTRUCTION/Lib for: Editor |
| FontBuilder | Working |
| FontEditor | UNDER CONSTRUCTION/Lib for: Editor |
| FxEditor | UNDER CONSTRUCTION/Lib for: Editor |
| FXCompiler | DEAD |
| GameApp | Working |
| GeomCompiler | DEAD |
| LocoEditor | UNDER CONSTRUCTION/Lib for: Editor |
| MeshViewer | UNDER CONSTRUCTION/Lib for: Editor |
| PropertyEditor | UNDER CONSTRUCTION/Lib for: Editor |
| SoundPackager | Working |
| StringTool | Working |
| Viewer | DELETED |
| WinControls | UNDER CONSTRUCTION/Lib for: Editor |
| WorldEditor | UNDER CONSTRUCTION/Lib for: Editor |
| XBMPTool | Working |
| XBMPViewer | Working |
| xCL | DELETED |
| XSCC | DELETED |
| xTool | DELETED |
Custom tools
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Engine-51 | Area-51 Asset Viewer. |
| Inevitable-MATX-Toolkit | Blender plugin for exporting .matx models for GeomCompiler. |
| Json-Playsurface-Processer | Script for importing .playsurface maps into blender. |
| DAT-Tool | Command-line interface (CLI) utility for working with Tribes: Aerial Assault DAT archive format. |
Building XBOX Code
Select the Xbox branch and follow the instructions.
Historical Overview of Area 51
- Initial Release: Area 51 was originally released on April 25, 2005, for PC, PS2, and Xbox. It has become a memorable cult classic.
- Air Force Sponsorship: In a unique turn of events, the game was sponsored by the United States Air Force and released as freeware for PC.
- Abandonware Status: Despite the game's initial success and the novel sponsorship, it eventually fell into obscurity, becoming abandonware. The game's support and distribution were discontinued, leaving it in a state where it was difficult for fans to access or play on modern systems.
Source Code Snapshot Details
- Snapshot Date: The source code is a snapshot from 2005-03-31 10:40:19, just before the game's official release.
- Discovery: It was found at a garage sale of a former THQ developer.
- Contents: This release includes the source code for the Entropy engine, game logic, and targets for PC, PS2, Xbox, and an early version for GameCube. Additionally, debug symbols for various platforms are available in the release. Assets are not included, but those can be recovered from the retail game files.