Old Games & New Graphics Drivers

[bear2790]

my favorite PC game is called Descent 3 and I used to be able to play it no prob (at least with GTX 260-216 and HD48xx series) until I installed a 460 GTX card. I tried both OpenGL and Direct graphics modes and it will only run on 16 bit and it looks horrible and the interface screen (which shows next mission) is unreadable.

I tried earlier nVidia driver versions (190 thru 197) but they say I have no compatible graphics hardware.

Anyone know how I can run Descent 3 without having to uninstall 460GTX drivers/card and installing a ATI X1300 card I have laying around?

 

[blu3flannel]

I believe this thread has the solution to your problem.

 

[bear2790]

this is why I love this place

 

[blu3flannel]

I'm assuming it worked, then? How exactly does it happen?

 

[bear2790]

just tried it and it doesn't help at all. I created a desktop icon, the command prompt window opens, I can run the game but the colors are still aweful and when I go to 32 bit the screen blanks out and only a few distorted color shapes come through (like the mystify windows xp screensaver)

 

[Magikherbs]

just tried it and it doesn't help at all. I created a desktop icon, the command prompt window opens, I can run the game but the colors are still aweful and when I go to 32 bit the screen blanks out and only a few distorted color shapes come through (like the mystify windows xp screensaver)

Have you tried a 64bit/ newer OS ?

 

[Easy Rhino]

did you try running it in XP mode?

 

[bear2790]

I have Windows 7 Ultimate 32/64 bit on the way ... then I can try running it in XP mode, etc

Right now I'm running Windows XP 32 bit

 

[Magikherbs]

I have Windows 7 Ultimate on the way ... then I can try running tit in XP mode, etc

Right now I'm running Windows XP 32 bit

Cool.. is it Win7 32 or 64 bit or both?..

@Easy Rhino heh.. I almost asked about XP mode too lol

 

[Exeodus]

Cool.. is it Win7 32 or 64 bit or both?..

@Easy Rhino heh.. I almost asked about XP mode too lol

Not revive a possibly dead thread, but XP Mode in Windows 7 does not support GPU acceleration, so that will not work.

 

[Magikherbs]

Not revive a possibly dead thread, but XP Mode in Windows 7 does not support GPU acceleration, so that will not work.

Thus why I did not recommend it.

Upgrading to Win7 32 or 64bit, should of fixed things. Too bad there is no update. lol

 

[bear2790]

still can't get the graphics to look ok.

 

[Magikherbs]

still can't get the graphics to look ok.

What does tech support have to say ? Sounds like its RMA time.

 

[xBruce88x]

i too love Descent 3, i keep it on my flash drive just in case lol. great game one you tweak the controls. i've had good luck running it on a 9600GT, can't say much about newer cards tho.

however Shogo: MAD doesn't seem to like nVidia's cards too well.

 

[bear2790]

On a flash drive hu? LOL

It's a non-bloody just kill the robots fps - no other PC game like it. I'm amazed no one ever came out with a version using todays graphics capabilities.

I have a MSI 980-G65 mobo coming this week. It has onboard video (nVidia 8400 I think) and I bet that'll work plus, I can run my 460GTX until I grab another one open box so I can do SLI

 

[scoutingwraith]

Descent 3 was great but somehow i still am not able to find a game that is Amazing as "Freespace". Too bad the genre is almost dead now for some reason.

 

[joeyck]

I had the same problem bear... here is my fix thread... hopefully it works!

Click here!!!

 

[Jeffredo]

Prime reason I have and old Athlon64 box with an X850 XT and XP. All my pre-2005 games are on it.

 

[bear2790]

ok, another possible clue ... once I run Descent 3 and close it out it will not re-start. I get an error message says the Directory is in use and to us ea temp directory. I reboot and all is well.

Here's what happens when I try to leave the game and go to the main D3 launcher window ...

 

[bear2790]

here's the in-game shot ... textures are flat, colors are weak

 

[Magikherbs]

here's the in-game shot ...

Are you installing it and running it "as Administrator" ?
Or goto the setup folder/disc and right click/properties the setup.exe file, and unblock /try xp mode. If the game has a DirectX folder, installing it may help aswell.

 

[bear2790]

Are you installing it and running it "as Administrator" ?
Or goto the setup folder/disc and right click/properties the setup.exe file, and unblock /try xp mode. If the game has a DirectX folder, installing it may help aswell.

Tried it, doesn't help.

The game runs well when I use the OpenGL graphics card selection from the setup's Video drop down menu. The problem is the 16 bit vs 32 bit.

When I change in-game to 32 bit this happens ... (at least it looks like a space photo with starts )

 

[bear2790]

and when I select Direct3D graphics card this happens with both on and off Force Vsync. While in-game, OpenGL & Direct3D look identical and neither can do 32 bit ...

 

[Peter1986C]

it is from the end of the 90's I see, so isn't it supposed to run @ 16 or 24 bit?

 

[bear2790]

it is from the end of the 90's I see, so isn't it supposed to run @ 16 or 24 bit?

yes, and no. It is supposed to run at 16 or 32 bit