Games that you hate dealing with

[EverythingIBM]

Alright, during my many years of gaming, there have always been a few titles that... were annoying to deal with, but yet, very fun.

So, has anyone else come across fun games that always had issues?

Here's my (incomplete & quick) list:
*Theme Park
*Ultima 8
*System Shock
*Nox
*Stonekeep
*Castlevania

A quick rundown: theme park & ultima 8 are those titles that prefer restart in MS DOS mode... and, if I'm not mistaken, you have to have a certain amount of memory (too much will make it think you have none, bah!). System Shock for me crashed, I've always had a hard time getting it to run.. properly. Nox doesn't like really NT, so you're stuck with 98 in most cases. Uninstalling the game takes FOREVER... the uninstalling utility removes file by file with great pauses, regardless of how fast your computer is.
Stonekeep really seems to hate crystal audio, can't seem to get any sound to work. Well that's too bad because I like crystal audio and won't be getting a different soundcard!
Castlevania will keep giving you "cannot divide by 0" messages now and then... but once the game finally catches, it runs fine.

And as of now, I still haven't successfully played Theme Park... maybe I should buy another CD of it and torment myself by trying to make it run. I've got enough torments...

[lam47]

Ella used to play Black and White and could never get to the end as it would always crash.
Bugs are all over the place these days too with online consoles.
F1 2010 has some stupid bugs in it. Some times you have to wait for a dozen or so other cars to drive out of the pit before they will let you. It can cost 40 seconds!

[EverythingIBM]

Ella used to play Black and White and could never get to the end as it would always crash.
Bugs are all over the place these days too with online consoles.
F1 2010 has some stupid bugs in it. Some times you have to wait for a dozen or so other cars to drive out of the pit before they will let you. It can cost 40 seconds!

I forgot about black and white. Ohh yeahh... that game has SO MANY bleeping damn errors. I would save and it would crash -- hours of work gone.
And to think, they boasted about having one of the best artificial intelligence ever produced in a video game, yet the engine failed miserably. I think "master of orion" had a better engine... they programmed it so well, it couldn't be hacked into years later when the abandon ware people picked up on it.

[Daniel Beaver]

Mechwarrior 2

An awesome game, but which is basically impossible to get running properly on modern machines, even using DOS emulators and such. I keep an old Windows 95 machine and a Microsoft Sidewinder 3D pro in my closet specifically to play that game. Just a tremendous hassle, but damn if it isn't a great experience.

[phillip]

Total annihilation has randomly crashed on me for years (win7 and winxp previously).  Still an awesome game though

[Oqsy]

Star Wars Rebel Assault 2 CDROM never would run properly.  I still feel cheated to this day.

[microsoft windows]

32-bit Solitaire never really worked for me.

[NamelessPFG]

Mechwarrior 2

An awesome game, but which is basically impossible to get running properly on modern machines, even using DOS emulators and such. I keep an old Windows 95 machine and a Microsoft Sidewinder 3D pro in my closet specifically to play that game. Just a tremendous hassle, but damn if it isn't a great experience.

Doubly worse if you're trying to run a 3D-accelerated version, which undoubtedly means Win9x or System 7-Mac OS 9, and in 31stCC's case with the Windows versions, all manner of proprietary APIs.

I've found that Heavy Gear II can be just as much of a pain on modern systems as well. Either the graphics will be all whacked somehow (like culling gone wrong), or it'll just crash to desktop (far more likely). The problem seems to be rooted in one of two things: graphics drivers (I'm guessing NVIDIA and ATI don't care much for old DX7-era games), or something in how Windows handles the DirectX calls.

[EverythingIBM]

Mechwarrior 2

An awesome game, but which is basically impossible to get running properly on modern machines, even using DOS emulators and such. I keep an old Windows 95 machine and a Microsoft Sidewinder 3D pro in my closet specifically to play that game. Just a tremendous hassle, but damn if it isn't a great experience.

The notion of playing old games on modern computers completely takes away the novelty! It's like putting a modern engine in an old car.

I don't find needing an extra windows 9x computer to run games as a "hassle," if they run fine, then... excellent!
What I find to be a hassle is when the games don't operate properly, or are so picky about hardware (stonekeep & glover *cough cough*).

[Daniel Beaver]

Doubly worse if you're trying to run a 3D-accelerated version, which undoubtedly means Win9x or System 7-Mac OS 9, and in 31stCC's case with the Windows versions, all manner of proprietary APIs.

I've found that Heavy Gear II can be just as much of a pain on modern systems as well. Either the graphics will be all whacked somehow (like culling gone wrong), or it'll just crash to desktop (far more likely). The problem seems to be rooted in one of two things: graphics drivers (I'm guessing NVIDIA and ATI don't care much for old DX7-era games), or something in how Windows handles the DirectX calls.

Worse, those 3D-accelerated versions are GPU-specific, so there were about 5 different versions. I would kill to get my hands on a 3Dfx version of the game.

[Phaedrus2129]

Getting XIII to install in Windows Vista x64 is nearly impossible due to copy protection, but it can be done. As soon as I find disk 3 I'm going to try this:

http://www.mikwae.net/articles/xiii_vista_install.html

This is how I managed to install XIII on Windows Vista (64 bit). The problem I had was that the setup program started to uninstall XIII after I put in CD 2 (asking Do you want to keep your saved games?). This most likely has to do with the copy protection which the game uses. Patch 1.3 removes CD checks from the game (but not from the installer, of course).

   1. Create a directory XIII on your hard drive. Copy each of the CD's into it's own directory within the XIII directory so that the contents of CD1 is in XIII\CD1.
   2. Open up the task manager (press Ctrl+Alt+Del), it will be used later. Choose the tab Processes.
   3. Right-click on the file setup.exe in the directory XIII\CD1 and choose Properties. Select the tab Compatibility, check the box to run the program in compatibility mode and from the drop-down box, choose to run the program in compatibility mode for Windows 98/ME.
   4. Run setup.exe (which you just set the compatibility mode for). Keep an eye on the process setup.exe (alternatively named setup.exe *32 or similar) in the task manager. If a lot of these processes pop up, rename setup.exe to something else temporarily (keep the processes running in the meantime), that should stop the process from respawning.
   5. The setup will now launch and you can proceed as normal.
   6. If the setup program asks for the location of setup.exe, rename the file which you renamed in step 4 back to setup.exe and continue.
   7. The setup will now proceed normally.
   8. When the installation is complete, you can remove the XIII folder, including the folders to which you copied the contents of the CD's to, from your hard drive.
   9. Install any patches (you will probably at least want to install the 1.3 patch).
  10. Play!

If the setup still won't work, try closing down any programs which you have running and then try again. Alternatively, if you have any CD drive emulators, such as Daemon Tools or Alcohol 52%, you may want to temporarily uninstall these.

[ricercar]

i remember comparing ATI Rage Pro vs ATI Radeon (before they had numbering) for 3D rendering of water in the Lara Croft sequel of the day. it was soooo impressive.

[NamelessPFG]

Worse, those 3D-accelerated versions are GPU-specific, so there were about 5 different versions. I would kill to get my hands on a 3Dfx version of the game.

That's what I meant by "proprietary APIs"-practically every brand GPU had their own in that pre-Direct3D/OpenGL era. To make matters worse, early versions of the Glide API, like what MW2:31stCC and a few other games use, are incompatible with anything that isn't a Voodoo1/2. (There are Glide wrappers that will supposedly work with it now; I wonder if that'll get around it on the Voodoo3 onward.)

At least MW2: Mercenaries was more straightforward in that it used Direct3D, including the "3dfx Interactive Edition" (really just a pre-patched Windows version that also has a DOS installer that doesn't work because something in the MW2.PRJ file breaks it). Unfortunately, it's still quite finicky under XP (even with some of the recent compatibility patches), and I've had no luck on my flagship with Vista/Win7 64-bit.

[EverythingIBM]

That's what I meant by "proprietary APIs"-practically every brand GPU had their own in that pre-Direct3D/OpenGL era. To make matters worse, early versions of the Glide API, like what MW2:31stCC and a few other games use, are incompatible with anything that isn't a Voodoo1/2. (There are Glide wrappers that will supposedly work with it now; I wonder if that'll get around it on the Voodoo3 onward.)

At least MW2: Mercenaries was more straightforward in that it used Direct3D, including the "3dfx Interactive Edition" (really just a pre-patched Windows version that also has a DOS installer that doesn't work because something in the MW2.PRJ file breaks it). Unfortunately, it's still quite finicky under XP (even with some of the recent compatibility patches), and I've had no luck on my flagship with Vista/Win7 64-bit.

Yes. But it's not difficult building a reliable win98 gaming machine with a voodoo 2 card!

There are voodoo2 emulators, as well as DOS Box, but I don't think you can mix them? I think I know of a game that runs in DOS and uses some voodoo card.
I really don't like dealing with emulators... it's like the difference between having a poster of a car, or actually owning one.

And if all else fails, get multiple computers with different hardware specifications to run certain things you need. Might not be practical for those who have limited space: but hey, if you're interested in [these] computers in the first place; chances are you're not accustomed to minimalistic things...

[NewbieOneKenobi]

I hate crappy unit AI in Warcraft III, particularly the path-finding, yet I still play. I also hate the lack of balance in the same, in multiplayer. Not like you can get super balance without boredom but still.

[Scarzy]

I can't really deal with racing games, the only ones i've ever liked were EA's Burnout and the old need for speed games, such as underground and most wanted which were lots of fun.

I haven't played any new games recently, I want to try dead rising two out as well as civ5, but haven't got round to it.

PS: EverythingIBM owes me a cheeky game of AOE1.

[NamelessPFG]

Yes. But it's not difficult building a reliable win98 gaming machine with a voodoo 2 card!

There are voodoo2 emulators, as well as DOS Box, but I don't think you can mix them? I think I know of a game that runs in DOS and uses some voodoo card.
I really don't like dealing with emulators... it's like the difference between having a poster of a car, or actually owning one.

And if all else fails, get multiple computers with different hardware specifications to run certain things you need. Might not be practical for those who have limited space: but hey, if you're interested in [these] computers in the first place; chances are you're not accustomed to minimalistic things...

That's what I'd do...except my stepfather thinks I have too many computers as is. I think I have at least four complete desktop towers' worth of parts total, and I'd rather sell two of them since they're too old to play anything beyond DOS games (Pentium II 233 and K6-2 350, respectively). I'd rather have a couple of Pentium III machines in the 800 MHz and up range-one to pair with an AIW Radeon 8500 128 MB and an SB Live! Value, the other with a Voodoo5 5500 AGP and a Turtle Beach Montego II.

I can't really deal with racing games, the only ones i've ever liked were EA's Burnout and the old need for speed games, such as underground and most wanted which were lots of fun.

Oh, so you like arcadey titles. That's fine.

But if you really want to know what frustration in a racing game means, try Grand Prix Legends or Richard Burns Rally on for size...

[audioave10]

I remember GPL on a Momo wheel. Hardest game I ever played and for 1998, the most realistic.

[EverythingIBM]

I hate crappy unit AI in Warcraft III, particularly the path-finding, yet I still play. I also hate the lack of balance in the same, in multiplayer. Not like you can get super balance without boredom but still.

I actually think warcraft 2 is a little more polished in the area of balance. It also allows you to build docks: none of the other warcrafts do... which is kind of interesting.

I can't really deal with racing games, the only ones i've ever liked were EA's Burnout and the old need for speed games, such as underground and most wanted which were lots of fun.

I haven't played any new games recently, I want to try dead rising two out as well as civ5, but haven't got round to it.

PS: EverythingIBM owes me a cheeky game of AOE1.

I kind of wish more people would play AOE1: maybe I'm looking in the wrong places.

That's what I'd do...except my stepfather thinks I have too many computers as is. I think I have at least four complete desktop towers' worth of parts total, and I'd rather sell two of them since they're too old to play anything beyond DOS games (Pentium II 233 and K6-2 350, respectively). I'd rather have a couple of Pentium III machines in the 800 MHz and up range-one to pair with an AIW Radeon 8500 128 MB and an SB Live! Value, the other with a Voodoo5 5500 AGP and a Turtle Beach Montego II.


Oh, so you like arcadey titles. That's fine.

But if you really want to know what frustration in a racing game means, try Grand Prix Legends or Richard Burns Rally on for size...

233Mhz is plenty fast & a little overkill for DOS (Although it's weird they made pentium IIs in the same speed as pentium Is). I play many non-DOS titles on 233. I'm writing this message with one!

[NamelessPFG]

Well, the 3D titles I generally think of as being Win9x games require much faster hardware to run at a constant 60 FPS. My Pentium II 233 box started to struggle with later titles, particularly anything UnrealEngine1-based.

For me, I've gotta have my games running silky-smooth.

[ricercar]

3D titles... silky-smooth.

My scanning skills are dyslexic. I read 3D titties.

[intealls]

Ghosts 'n Goblins. Played it on C64 years ago, wasn't until recently I managed to pass the first stage. Still love it though.

[NamelessPFG]

My scanning skills are dyslexic. I read 3D titties.

Freud Was Right, The Internet Is For Porn, etc.

But I'm pretty sure that if there's one industry that will make stereoscopic 3D mainstream, like it or not...

[phillip]

I just tried to play TA for the first time in a few months and it always crashes after starting a skirmish  I dunno if the impulse version is optimized in anyway for modern OS but I might buy it and find out.

[Mercen_505]

Mechwarrior 3 - Can't get it to work reliably on my machine at all. Graphic and physics glithes galore
System Shock - Ended up using DOSBox. It runs a little slow, but everything works.
Ultima 7 (both parts) - Exult. Exult. Exult.
Strike Commander / Wings of Glory / Pacific Strike- Haven't had much luck with DOSBox.

I would *really* love to play the last three. Maybe I should give them another try.

[Manyak]

Oh man, practically ANY DOS game I can remember falls under this category. Every damn game needed a different memmaker configuration, and certain TSRs would screw up one game but not another, so you needed like 10 different configurations of autoexec.bat and config.sys, so pretty much any time you switch games you had to restart the computer.

And then you'd get the off-game that wasn't compatible with your AWE32 or whatever, and get stuck with "PC Speaker" sounds. lol.

[Mercen_505]

And then you'd get the off-game that wasn't compatible with your AWE32 or whatever, and get stuck with "PC Speaker" sounds. lol.

You could always fall back to Adlib support, but I was never a fan of the OPL's FM output. Also, many times a game would hang, leaving a sound stuck playing forever on exit; you had little choice but to reboot.

The really old PC games that only supported PC speaker were god awful. Silence was the better option unless you wired volume control in line.

[EverythingIBM]

You could always fall back to Adlib support, but I was never a fan of the OPL's FM output. Also, many times a game would hang, leaving a sound stuck playing forever on exit; you had little choice but to reboot.

The really old PC games that only supported PC speaker were god awful. Silence was the better option unless you wired volume control in line.

I really like OPL FM.

Yes, when you're playing any MIDI based DOS game, you will often get a "stuck" note upon exit (the same can happen with CDs, where you still have the tracks playing in the background).
To solve the MIDI issue, just start playing a midi file. This "resets" the midi instead of having to reboot your computer.
To solve the CD issue, just open CD player and hit the stop button.