Want to play Old Prey game, but activation server is defunct.

[qubit]

I bet the you missed the irony when you typed the above

No I didn't, lol. One simply can't get away from it without getting a pirate copy, hence my link to Steam.

Glad I'm not the only one who saw it though!

 

[RejZoR]

Prey used to be on Steam, but when CD KEY's ran out, they removed it. You can still install it if you bought it back then.

 

[qubit]

Prey used to be on Steam, but when CD KEY's ran out, they removed it. You can still install it if you bought it back then.

How can keys run out? The game is associated with your account and doesn't need a key.

I thought it used to be on Steam and I'm glad I'm not imaging it.

 

[RejZoR]

They made a certain amount of keys (certain number of combinations if you will). If you sell them all, you can't sell any more. The fact that you don't have to enter CD KEYS for games on Steam is because the Steam does it for you. That doesn't mean games don't have a CD KEY. 3D Realms was a publisher and they apparently decided not to create more apparently. And bankruptcy of 3D Realms later, probably didn't help this either.

Would be nice if Prey 2 bundled with remake of original Prey done in latest Doom engine (or the one use in Prey 2). I'd totally dig for that and a cool way to get gamers to know this legendary game...

 

[Derek12]

WTF

You buy a game (could be any other software) and after a time you can't run it because you can't activate it (server down)????

In that case I would download a cracked version as stated in this thread as I would have the legal license.

 

[RejZoR]

I never felt bad to do that if I know I paid for the product fairly. My original System Shock 2 CD got scratched in a so strategic place I couldn't install it anymore. Someone made me a 1:1 copy and I burned it. Never felt bad about owning such "pirated" copies.

 

[chctulc]

Update:
I installed a cracked version of Prey 2006 and am able to play it again. (thanks derek12 for the suggestion) But for some reason I can't get it to run at 1080p. It has the latest patch, and I set the options for widescreen 16:9. But none of the 16:9 screen resolutions appear. So I changed the .CFG file* to set the resolution manually, but it seems to ignore the .CFG file. Best I can play at is 1600x900.

* r_mode, r_customHeight, and r_customWidth as per http://www.tweakguides.com/Prey_9.html

 

[eidairaman1]

Update:
I installed a cracked version of Prey 2006 and am able to play it again. (thanks derek12 for the suggestion) But for some reason I can't get it to run at 1080p. It has the latest patch, and I set the options for widescreen 16:9. But none of the 16:9 screen resolutions appear. So I changed the .CFG file* to set the resolution manually, but it seems to ignore the .CFG file. Best I can play at is 1600x900.

* r_mode, r_customHeight, and r_customWidth as per http://www.tweakguides.com/Prey_9.html

just be happy you can play it

 

[natr0n]

In crack we trust.

 

[Frag_Maniac]

OP, just to test the game, which I bought as Collector's Limited Edition at Fry's in tin box with art book and mini action figures, I reinstalled and started playing it. Fry's had a killer deal on this version for only $20 shortly after launch.

First off, with your retail copy I believe your issue is with not having patch 1.4 installed. It contained a few bug fixes, and the server files. These are no doubt to verify CD keys without having to access a server.

When I install mine I just put in the key listed on the back of the manual and after install, the update tab says it's the latest version.

I am playing it in 2560x1440 via VSR, and it looks amazing. However to do the file edit properly, you need to also change the value of "seta r_mode" to -1 (seta r_mode "-1").

Whenever you want to edit resolution or aspect ratios, I find WSGF is a much better source of info. http://www.wsgf.org/dr/prey That said, TweakGuides is also good, just not as easy to follow. However even in that guide it clearly states the need for a -1 r_mode...

r_customHeight [pixels] - Sets a custom screen height in pixels. The r_mode command must be set to -1 to allow this to work.

r_customWidth [pixels] - Sets a custom screen width in pixels. The r_mode command must be set to -1 to allow this to work.

I'm glad I read this thread because I'm really enjoying this old gem again, even more now that I can play it in 1440p. As for the claim it was a "thorough flop, it rated an average of about 84% on PC, and according to their CEO at the time Scott Miller, went gold within the first two months of sales.

There's solid reasons for that too. It had very good graphics for it's time, and their implementation of navigating through the game world via anti gravity paths, portals, and cubes was very well done. I also thought the shuttle segment was pretty creative, especially the way they appear and disappear at the shuttle bays.

In fact if anything I find myself worrying I won't like the new game as much. The puzzles alone in the old one were not always easy to figure out, and the gravity switches could be used to aid combat as well. It's a game that keeps you on your toes. You have to train yourself to look everywhere for puzzling AND combat.

 

[chctulc]

OP, just to test the game, which I bought as Collector's Limited Edition at Fry's in tin box with art book and mini action figures, I reinstalled and started playing it. Fry's had a killer deal on this version for only $20 shortly after launch.

First off, with your retail copy I believe your issue is with not having patch 1.4 installed. It contained a few bug fixes, and the server files. These are no doubt to verify CD keys without having to access a server.

When I install mine I just put in the key listed on the back of the manual and after install, the update tab says it's the latest version.

I am playing it in 2560x1440 via VSR, and it looks amazing. However to do the file edit properly, you need to also change the value of "seta r_mode" to -1 (seta r_mode "-1").

Whenever you want to edit resolution or aspect ratios, I find WSGF is a much better source of info. http://www.wsgf.org/dr/prey That said, TweakGuides is also good, just not as easy to follow. However even in that guide it clearly states the need for a -1 r_mode...

r_customHeight [pixels] - Sets a custom screen height in pixels. The r_mode command must be set to -1 to allow this to work.

r_customWidth [pixels] - Sets a custom screen width in pixels. The r_mode command must be set to -1 to allow this to work.

I'm glad I read this thread because I'm really enjoying this old gem again, even more now that I can play it in 1440p. As for the claim it was a "thorough flop, it rated an average of about 84% on PC, and according to their CEO at the time Scott Miller, went gold within the first two months of sales.

There's solid reasons for that too. It had very good graphics for it's time, and their implementation of navigating through the game world via anti gravity paths, portals, and cubes was very well done. I also thought the shuttle segment was pretty creative, especially the way they appear and disappear at the shuttle bays.

In fact if anything I find myself worrying I won't like the new game as much. The puzzles alone in the old one were not always easy to figure out, and the gravity switches could be used to aid combat as well. It's a game that keeps you on your toes. You have to train yourself to look everywhere for puzzling AND combat.

Thanks, but I already did that. I just failed to mention it above. The problem is that when I set the r_mode to -1, it still doesn't work and the game changes the r_mode back to 12 every time. I even put the r_mode switch ahead of the custom height/width switches. The game changes the mode back and writes the r_mode switch back in its original position. I think that TG article mentioned something about the game resetting the PreyCfg.Cfg file at startup. I might try writing an autoexec.cfg file to enter those commands and see if that works.

Update
That didn't work either. In fact, it did force the preycfg.cfg file to keep r_mode staying at "-1", but the in-game options still only list resolutions up to 1900x1200. But 1600x900 is the best I can get it to accept. If I choose 1920x1200, it defaults back to 640x800. Maybe it is just a quirk of the crack that was used and that it was used on a version 1 game.

 

[bug]

When a game overrides manual settings, a common trick is to make your changes and then set the file to read-only.

 

[chctulc]

When a game overrides manual settings, a common trick is to make your changes and then set the file to read-only.

Won't make any difference. The cfg file isn't being changed by the game any more. It is staying at the settings I made. But for some reason the game refuses to acknowledge any screen resolutions beyond 1600x900. And the aspect ration option seems to be useless. These are the only options available no matter what I set the aspect ratio to:
640x480, 800x600, 1024x768,1280x1024, 1600x1200, 1024x576, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1440x900, 1600x900, 1600x1024, 1680x1050, 1920x1200. The last doesn't even work.

 

[Frag_Maniac]

Thanks, but I already did that. I just failed to mention it above. The problem is that when I set the r_mode to -1, it still doesn't work and the game changes the r_mode back to 12 every time. I even put the r_mode switch ahead of the custom height/width switches. The game changes the mode back and writes the r_mode switch back in its original position. I think that TG article mentioned something about the game resetting the PreyCfg.Cfg file at startup. I might try writing an autoexec.cfg file to enter those commands and see if that works.

Update
That didn't work either. In fact, it did force the preycfg.cfg file to keep r_mode staying at "-1", but the in-game options still only list resolutions up to 1900x1200. But 1600x900 is the best I can get it to accept. If I choose 1920x1200, it defaults back to 640x800. Maybe it is just a quirk of the crack that was used and that it was used on a version 1 game.

When you say "switch", are you attempting to do this via switches edited into the target path of the shortcut? I did it via editing the cfg file only, and I didn't change the order of any commands, and I didn't have to set it to read only. However I DID have the in game menu settings set to 16:9 and the highest available res before doing so, which I think was 1600x1200. I also noticed my r_mode was set to 8 prior to changing it, not 12.

Also, DO NOT touch any in game settings if you finally get it to accept the res you're attempting. It will say 680x420, but just ignore it. Note that I also made these edits before even starting to play the game, so you might want to try deleting any save games if you haven't tried it that way. Lastly, I made sure to set my desktop res to that of the one I edited the cfg file to before launching the game (2560x1440).

It's also odd you say the site you referenced is claiming the game resets the cfg file, because for me it never has. This is what my cfg file still looks like after editing it and playing a few long sessions.

That said, that's with the retail version vs a cracked copy, and patched to v1.4.

 

[chctulc]

Thanks Frag
Deleting the old savegames file and starting over seems to have fixed it. The options still say I'm playing at 640x480, but it looks like 1080p now, and circles are round again.

 

[Frag_Maniac]

Thanks Frag
Deleting the old savegames file and starting over seems to have fixed it. The options still say I'm playing at 640x480, but it looks like 1080p now, and circles are round again.

Cool, yeah I know what you mean about the AR. I was surprised before doing the file edit that no 16:9 options were showing for me even with 16:9 selected.

I'd forgotten how challenging this game is. Even on Normal I was quite often at only half health capacity. I do recall from having played before though that on Cherokee you really have to take cover a lot and think to get through the game.