Can not get GPL Demo to run in 3Dfx

My equipment: P2 300 w/ 64 megs ram Monster Fusion (16 meg AGP Banshee) Yamaha OPL Soundcard (PCI) Software: Latest 3dfx drivers from 3dfx.com DirectX 6.1 Desktop set at 800x600 at 16 bits color Problem: Whenever I try to run the GPL demo in 3dfx mode nothing happens. No screen.. I just see the hour glass come up for a second or two, then nothing. I have noticed the option.ini file is accessed but nothing changes in it. I have also tried deleting the option.ini file, but same problem. I can run it in software only mode but the frame rate is horrid. Checked Sierra's pitiful tech support.. nothing... Any ideas (oh and I saw the post about using a PS/2 mouse, I have a PS/2 mouse installed, still no joy) -- -Gunslinger-

Bet you're running Win 98. The demo doesn't work in Win 98 Full version does...I use it.!! My equipment: P2 300 w/ 64 megs ram Monster Fusion (16 meg AGP Banshee) Yamaha OPL Soundcard (PCI) Software: Latest 3dfx drivers from 3dfx.com DirectX 6.1 Desktop set at 800x600 at 16 bits color Problem: Whenever I try to run the GPL demo in 3dfx mode nothing happens. No screen.. I just see the hour glass come up for a second or two, then nothing. I have noticed the option.ini file is accessed but nothing changes in it. I have also tried deleting the option.ini file, but same problem. I can run it in software only mode but the frame rate is horrid. Checked Sierra's pitiful tech support.. nothing... Any ideas (oh and I saw the post about using a PS/2 mouse, I have a PS/2 mouse installed, still no joy) -- -Gunslinger-

On Tue, 30 Mar 1999 19:49:53 +0100, "Douglas Ellison" >Bet you're running Win 98. >The demo doesn't work in Win 98 >Full version does...I use it.!! Well, I am not buying the sim without trying it out first. That is ridiculous. Thanks for the heads up though. -- -Gunslinger-

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> On Tue, 30 Mar 1999 19:49:53 +0100, "Douglas Ellison" > >Bet you're running Win 98. > >The demo doesn't work in Win 98 > >Full version does...I use it.!! > Well, I am not buying the sim without trying it out first. > That is ridiculous. > Thanks for the heads up though.

As posted by Micheal Carver in another thread : <quote> Make sure you have the 2.53 version placed in your GPL main folder. Also you may want to try turning off any fancy features for your mouse driver, or even try a generic mouse driver to see if that helps. Here is the Glide file you need: http://www.grandprix2.com/gpl/patches/glide2x_253.zip </quote> And I seem to remember something mentioned about an old and new demo, of which the old didn't and the new does run under Win98? -- Ren van Lobberegt, The Netherlands. Personal site : http://www.toptown.com/INNERCIRCLE/1846/ AMCA web master : http://www.amcaracing.nl/

>Make sure you have the 2.53 version placed in your GPL main folder. >Also you may want to try turning off any fancy features for your mouse >driver, or even try a generic mouse driver to see if that helps. Thanks for the file and the help. I still can not get it to run. I work on computers for a living so I do know what I am doing (For those of you thinking I am just a computer "newbie" :) I just think it's silly that I can't even run the demo, makes me wonder a lot about the retail version. With money being tight, I can't justify buying a sim unless I can try it first. I have Nascar 1, 2, and 99 as well as Viper Racing and NFS 3. I really want to try GPL (I have seen a lot of good reviews) but can not make my self do it if I can't even run the darn demo. As far as new and old demo versions, I went to Sierra's web site for GPL, saw the Demo links, no mention of if it's a "new" demo version. And downloaded from there other links because none of there FTP sites would work. The demo version I have is 12+ megs and dated 12/98. Their tech support section has nothing about GPL what so ever that I could find. Also, what is the reasoning for it running on Win95 but not Win 98? I have over 50 sims and all of them run on either. Come on Sierra, get with the program! -- -Gunslinger-

One thing you might want to try is the sound drivers for the Yamaha card. I have a waveforce 192XG, which kicks ass btw, and when I tried to upgrade to the newest driver gpl would not start just black screen with hourglass cursor and total lockup of computer. Just a thought :) >Make sure you have the 2.53 version placed in your GPL main folder. >Also you may want to try turning off any fancy features for your mouse >driver, or even try a generic mouse driver to see if that helps. Thanks for the file and the help. I still can not get it to run. I work on computers for a living so I do know what I am doing (For those of you thinking I am just a computer "newbie" :) I just think it's silly that I can't even run the demo, makes me wonder a lot about the retail version. With money being tight, I can't justify buying a sim unless I can try it first. I have Nascar 1, 2, and 99 as well as Viper Racing and NFS 3. I really want to try GPL (I have seen a lot of good reviews) but can not make my self do it if I can't even run the darn demo. As far as new and old demo versions, I went to Sierra's web site for GPL, saw the Demo links, no mention of if it's a "new" demo version. And downloaded from there other links because none of there FTP sites would work. The demo version I have is 12+ megs and dated 12/98. Their tech support section has nothing about GPL what so ever that I could find. Also, what is the reasoning for it running on Win95 but not Win 98? I have over 50 sims and all of them run on either. Come on Sierra, get with the program! -- -Gunslinger-

Its a demo not the final product. And yes, the final product DOES work in Win98. Unless you have a really old machine or lack a decent 3D card, you won't be disappointed. However, you might try gpl.gamestats.com and see if they still have the updated demo.

> Problem: > Whenever I try to run the GPL demo in 3dfx mode nothing happens. > No screen.. I just see the hour glass come up for a second or two, Gunslinger? Getting tired of flight sims? <hee-hee> You'll like GPL once it works for you. I've been getting a little tired of getting missiles up the ***and being able to race cars online is a great change of pace. Enjoy! Nathan

Yeah, flight sims get boring some times. In racing sims the only keys I have to program are gas, brake, shift, and views... With flight sims I have to look at 3 pages of commands and try and remember what radar mode is for what.. gets old after a while you know? So I have "heard" hee hee I'm trying a 3rd download of GPL demo now... Maybe some little bird can point me to an "evaluation" copy of the real thing so I can see if it works... Honestly, I would buy it if I like it <EG> -- -Gunslinger-

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> >Make sure you have the 2.53 version placed in your GPL main folder. > >Also you may want to try turning off any fancy features for your mouse > >driver, or even try a generic mouse driver to see if that helps. > Thanks for the file and the help. > I still can not get it to run. > I work on computers for a living so I do know what I am doing (For > those of you thinking I am just a computer "newbie" :)

Hi, with your dedication to flight sims I didn't expect you to do racing sims, too! ;^) I know quite a few demo versions that troubled my system beyond repair, but GPL is well tested in this ng, so there's really no reason to wonder about the retail version. Check one of the GPL fan sites <http://home.rhein-zeitung.de/~mstab/> <http://www.teleport.com/~billtill/legends.html> <http://grandprix2.ga-sports.com/gpl/> Maybe one of them still has the directions that helped me to get the demo working with Win98. l8er ronny -- How to get rid of censorship in German game releases <http://www.gamesmania.com/german/maniac/freedom/freedom.htm> |\ _,,,---,,_ I want to die like my Grandfather, ZZZzz /,`.-'`' -. ;-;;,_ in his sleep. |,4- ) )-,_. ,\ ( `'-' Not like the people in his car, '---''(_/--' `-'\_) screaming their heads off!

> Yeah, flight sims get boring some times. Believe me, I know what you're talking about. There were reasons why I would go weeks at a time without firing up Falcon or F15 or something like that. Sometimes general aviation is fun, especially if you just have some type of control tower, but at times all flying sims get to be rather boring. I sure do know what you're talking about. With my setup I don't even need to program the stuff you listed. I have a steering wheel and gas and brake pedals so I don't need to worry about that kind of stuff. When I really get "in the zone" with driving GPL I'm so hyped up that if I went driving in real life I'd probably crash my car trying to drive like a race car driver. As for the key commands in flight sims it kind of gets to be too much. However, a lot of times they become second nature and you don't even know it. I bet if you fired up Fleet Defender you'll know more than half the keystrokes. I did that and sure enough I didn't even need to keyboard cheat sheet. I wish I could help. I believe that you would buy the copy. I had a friend who borrowed Flight Unlimited 2 and she loved it so much that she went out and bought it. Anyway, once again, if you like having fun you'll like GPL a lot. In fact, I was playing GPL more than Falcon 4.0 when Falcon first came out! Nathan

% I'm trying a 3rd download of GPL demo now... % Maybe some little bird can point me to an "evaluation" copy of the % real thing so I can see if it works... Honestly, I would buy it if I % like it <EG> I don't know which demo you are downloading, but the one on Papyrus' page says it is fully Win98 compatiable. Head to http://www.papy.com/gpl/download.html -- **************************** Michael E. Carver ************************* Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./. [- < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

>> Come on Sierra, get with the program! >Its a demo not the final product. And yes, the final product DOES work in >Win98. Unless you have a really old machine or lack a decent 3D card, you This sounds like shit programming to me. W95 games are supposed to run on W98 period... -- Header address intentionally scrambled to ward off the spamming hordes. cisko [AT] ix [DOT] netcom [DOT] com

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> >> Come on Sierra, get with the program! > >Its a demo not the final product. And yes, the final product DOES work in > >Win98. Unless you have a really old machine or lack a decent 3D card, you > This sounds like shit programming to me. W95 games are supposed to run > on W98 period...

We all know the track record M$ has regarding backward compatibility... So, actually you're right, it IS shit programming! ;^) l8er ronny -- How to get rid of censorship in German game releases <http://www.gamesmania.com/german/maniac/freedom/freedom.htm> |\ _,,,---,,_ I want to die like my Grandfather, ZZZzz /,`.-'`' -. ;-;;,_ in his sleep. |,4- ) )-,_. ,\ ( `'-' Not like the people in his car, '---''(_/--' `-'\_) screaming their heads off!