Problems to play BC3K 2.09

[Guest trecool_br]

I downloaded the BC3K 2.09 Free version but i'm having problems to play it... i'm frustated, because this game appears to be very interesting and original. Hmm... there are lots of spacial simulators, but not too complex and complete than BC3K.

The problems:

1) (ALL VERSIONS) Intro movie: work fine until the two ships enters in the asteroid field and the front ship (a interceptor ? i'm not sure...) avoid two or three asteroids... When it rolls for the 4th or 5th time, appears some color squares around and on the ship, like in the cable tv (you know, solar interference), crash and say in the DOS prompt:

"Invalid command 33025 -233512473 -1577951248 1373683948"

After it, the game run...

2) (ALL VERSIONS) Started a new game, any of the two options (free flight of advanced): when click in the [QA] item, the game halts and say (in the game screen, not prompt - i need to reboot to exit):

A) in the free flight mode: Error Opening BC3K0000.DES;

in the advanced mode: Error Opening BC3K0100.DES.

4) If i don't click in these buttons, i can play for a time, but... crashes after some minutes (5-10) without any reason, or say something like "Memory allocation failed at...". I need to reboot sometimes.

3) I tried the other version, BC3KWIN-FULL.EXE, but it don't work, the graphics are weird (like if turn the video mode to 1024x768 even the monitor don't support it)

4) Ok, I run BC3KWIN.EXE... the problem 2 continue to appear and the game crashes after some minutes (5-10min) later. The message: "BC3KWIN causes a invalid page fault in the module BC3KWIN.EXE in 017f:004c304f" (i think you don't need the confusing registry values)

Ok, I tried to do these things:

1) Erase config.sys and autoexec.bat to free mem;

2) Run the game in MS-DOS pure mode, but don't work;

3) Reinstall the game in a different folder;

4) Put /v63 or /v1 parameter in the BC3K.BAT and BC3KWIN.EXE (the two needs the /d1 parameter), after checked the docs and run CHIPINFO.EXE (63 - Trident card).

5) Change the video mode, 640x480 16bits to 800x600 16bits

6) Changed the DPMI Memory from AUTO to 16384, explained in FAQ. It's resolved the "memory allocation error" when i logoff from the commlink and click on lauch.

My machine:

Pentium 166mhz MMX, 16mb EDO RAM, HD 2.1GB (500mb free)

Sound Blaster 16 ISA PNP

Motherboard Soltek SL-53D5-S, BIOS Award

Video Board Trident 9680 PCI 2mb

Windows 98 SE

Conventional mem free: around 590-600k

That's it. I hope there's a solution.... i'll be mad if i can't play BC3K.

[Papi]

Hi Leo, most of your questions are answered (many times) in this forum. So do some searching first and then if you don't find what you're looking for, ask it.

Go here

[Guest trecool_br]

Hey guys, i read first the manual, FAQ and searched for answers in the forum before write here, NOTHING works with me.

Ok, I solved one thing: I downloaded a patch (BC3K209FREE-ANIMFI2.EXE), it cracked BCINTRO.ANI (and other files, maybe)... now i can play without the /d1 parameter (BC3K and BC3KWIN no more ask me for the CD), but the intro isn't played. Well, i can see it manually (player.exe c:bc3000adanimbcintro.ani), nevermind...

Updates:

-> I edited my config.sys to appear like the config.sys of the FAQ... my conventional memory are a little higher now (605kb - 619,376 bytes), but the memory allocation issues continues to haunt me. This game run with 16mb of RAM ?

-> Sometimes the screen not changes completely when i'm going to NAVITRON (ALT+N), the map opens ON the cockpit with weird graphics. To clean the screen, i need to click on 'logoff' and try again... but when i try for the 3rd or 4th time, the game crash and return to DOS, with one of the two reasons:

a) a DOS4GW general protection fault;

a memory allocation error;

-> When try to land on Earth, first with a Interceptor, and later with the Battlecruiser, the game crashes and report a memory allocation error or error loading a .pcx or something like that;

Ok, i'll try for more one week... if it don't have a solution, i'll simple delete BC3K and forget (Yes, i'm crazy and my patience have a limit). A suggestion: make a support archive page or re-write the FAQ, it's like a single equipment manual... "if the radio doesn't work, check the plug". Crap ! 75% of the users that needs help aren't babies or dumbs, they have a REAL problem ! The answers of the forum are so basic, repeats the same procedures...

If someone can help me, write, please.

[Spuzzum]

Leo, allow me to state the "blurb" for this forum:

quote:

---

None of the BC legacy products are supported any longer.

---

This means that what you've got is what you've got.

[aramike]

You're at the VERY bottom of the system requirements. Personally, on that machine with Windows running I doubt you'll ever get the game to run smoothly.

At any rate, if you can't find it in the FAQ or on this forum, odds are there isn't an answer. BC legacy products are no longer officially supported. And hey -- they're free.

[Gallion]

quote:

---

Video Board Trident 9680 PCI 2mb

---

This is your problem. Get a better video card with at least 4mb of v-ram.

And just to add what has been already stated - BC3K is no longer officially supported since it is now freeware.

TTFN

[ 09-29-2001: Message edited by: Gallion ]

[Guest trecool_br]

I know, my machine is poor, but according with the manual, it the minimun system required. In thesis, in the minimum system the program work... not fast, but work. I understand the VRAM issue, maybe the problem are it... but i can't understand why the BC3K support this board, if the VRAM isn't enough (See compatible list... number 63: Trident 9600 Series).

Ok, ok... don't need to say again: "the game isn't more supported blablabla". I know what it means. In the little lines it means: "i don't care about your problem, you're yourself". Isn't a excuse. Freeware or not, old game or not, many companies continue to support their games, or have a complete support page... they respect the people. That's it.

[Charles Lindsey]

Was about to suggest software mode but I see you stated all versions. Dos free mem looks ok. What about system resources from windows? Only other thing I can think of is to shut down everything except explorer and systray.

[Guest trecool_br]

My windows starts with 97% of resources free... i hate programs in the tray, i manually edit the registry or turn off the "loading in tray" option of the applicatives. The only things i have in the tray is... explorer and systray. Do you see ? Everything is strange !

[Soback]

Yeah, show me one company that supports it's legacy games. Also show me the company where you can talk to the guy who makes the game you are playing and so that you can actually get help from him. Many companies have developers who hang out in forums, but once the game is out, and you have any problems with it, is that developer there? I don't think so. BC3000AD, is free, it's a great game, there's still unoficial support for it (that's why we are here) and sometimes even SC himself will jump in and help (even though he doesn't have to). So don't bash the support for this game because that's when everyone will stop being nice and you will hate it.

[Guest trecool_br]

I blame the weak documentation (the FAQ) and the people saying "there's no official support blablabla". The helping of the developer is very good, but the answers of the forum are all the same, basic and wich don't helped me. I think my problem isn't common... i tried all the things but nothing works.

I don't know now to say a company that support a old game... but a long time ago i downloaded a DOS game in the underdogs site and i need a support... the page of the company have a LONG list of the games, and every link opens me a lot of things, boot disks programs, little patches and a long and abrangent FAQ. With this help, i didn't needed to contact the developer.

* Maybe the company are Bullfrog... or the game was distribucted by the Activision or Interplay. One of those, i don't remember. But i don't lie, ok ?

Please, i don't need moral lessons, write only if someone can help me. I ALREADY know that game are free, no longer supported and the developer are good guys. I only need what to do to can play it (if have a solution).

[Supreme Cmdr]

Read the FAQ. First of all, you erased the config.sys & autoexec.bat files? How else is the game supposed to get the extended memory it needs?

Those errors lead to bad configuration or corrupted files. The only reason why it won't load the .DES files is if they don't exist, you installed to an improper folder or you don't have enough extended memory.

The game is not supported. And if you continue making posts like these, you will be kicked out of the site. Weak documentation; you must be out of your frigging mind. Thats the same documentation THOUSANDS of people have come to rely on.

[ 09-30-2001: Message edited by: Supreme Cmdr ]

[Guest trecool_br]

No more comments. I tried to do all of the things explained in the forum and the FAQ. My machine are poor, but is according with the minimum configuration explained in the manual. The .DES file exists, the installation folder are the standard (C:BC3000AD), i reinstalled five or six times. Bad configuration ? The one thing to configure is the sound config and the run parameters, and they are ok.

I'll try to download the 134mb again, MAYBE a byte is corrupted (but is hard to believe, i used the Getright, but none software are perfect). If it don't work, i'll give up.

Ok, kick me if you want, i don't care. I just expected that someones could give me a real help.

* Obs: i'm very disappointed that the president of the company himself is telling me that... you gone through bad companies (i read your history), but you're acting just like them. Please, don't turn your back about your customers or possible ones. I would like to be a fan of the BC series, but these problems get me very frustated.

Forum admin, you may close this topic...

[Supreme Cmdr]

Leo, you are NOT my customer. You downloaded a freebie. And even if you did have the original boxed unit, it is NO LONGER supported. How else can I put it to you? I mean, seriously, HOW?!?!?

And with your system, you're not going to play ANY future titles in the series. Ever. Heck, your system can't even run the 1998 version. How then can you became a fan of a game you can't play? I just don't understand it.

c'mon man, your system is not up to specs and there's nothing anyone can do. If you can't configure the game and the use the resources available to you, UNINSTALL it and go find something to play. It can't be that hard, can it?

[ 09-30-2001: Message edited by: Supreme Cmdr ]

[Soback]

What do you want SC to do? Kiss your @SS for being a BC fan? If you are nice SC is one of the best guys to get help from and he will be one of the nicest too, if you start showing attitude like you did, then he is right for responding like this. Anyway, I will not participate in this useless debate anymore, but give this usefull advice, the tech faq if very thorough, and if something doesn't work, then try and find a retail cd version of BC3000AD, believe it or not I still see them at EB world (saw a copy there last week). Or, the best option is get BCM, which will be supported and a ton better.