This game won't load...help please! [Archive]

rek0204

05-06-2005, 11:32 PM

Same thing is happening to me, on a brand new, fresh from the factory as of last week Dell with a GeForce 6800 with all the latest drivers. After loading the game, the first time I started it, it appeared correctly. Every time I've tried to start it since then, it shows up in reduced size in the upper left corner. Between this and the change appearance features not working, I'm not holding out much hope of being able to play this game any time soon.

coolguy

05-07-2005, 02:10 PM

hi if your saying what I'm thinking then I think I have the same problem as well, although I have not bought dungeon lords yet, because I fear that same problem that you have might just happen to me as well although it happened with the demo not the full game. first does this happen when you try to start the game? do you get a microsoft error report at all? also does it say in the debug log anything abuot a direct 3D error? its probbaly has to do with your video card "though I'm guessing at yours becuase my problem is my video card" what video card are you using? I'm using an intel 82845G integrated graphics card. I hope they fix this problem very soon as I have waited way too long to play this game.

Dokkin

05-07-2005, 05:03 PM

Ok, I think I have trhe problem figuered out..

Odds are all of us with this issue are useing onboard Video and/or sound !

Am I correct?

If so now all we need is for the TECH's to fix the issue.
I still havent taken the game back as Im hopping to play it.

Please fix this issue !

Emulated

05-07-2005, 06:17 PM

i think menu's are only in 800X600
i changed res. in game and now all my menu's are in the uper left corner
game runs in 1024x768 though
when loading a save game screen blinks

proddeh

05-09-2005, 09:40 AM

I'm also getting this. Ive got onboard KM400 graphics.

MysticBane

05-10-2005, 10:05 AM

I have tried everything to make Dungeon Lords work on my computer...I even bought a new ATI Radeon 9000 Pro 128MB DDR 4x AGP DVI Dual Display and it still won't work. I can't even get to play the actual game where all the real bugs are...haha...I quit and sent it back, and bought Guild Wars...which is great! *happy sigh* :)

LoBo66

05-10-2005, 01:41 PM

OK i found the problem and yes it all onboard chips and mostly intel graphics cards. i dont know how to fix it yet but here is the problem you can check to see if you have the same by checking your file called debug in the game dir.

at the end of the file.

ICK DISPLAY MODE: 800x600 22 Format
D3DDevice Released
CC_Init_DirectDraw() FAILURE
Card_Init_DD_D3D(): ***FAIL***
Screen_Open(): ***FAIL***
InitSystem(): ***FAIL***

ABUSHRN

05-10-2005, 05:55 PM

I am having the same problem as everyone here in that I install the game just fine and go to start it and all I get is a blink of a black screen and then it goes back to my desktop. I checked the debug file and mine says the same thing as yours LoBo66 so if you figure out the solution please let me know. I am very disapointed because I have been looking forward to this game for a long time and I got it for Mother's Day just to find out that it doesn't work. My computer specs are well over what is required to run the game.
Thanks

sirsws

05-12-2005, 10:34 AM

me too have the same problem with a onboard video card.
mm........

yellowdog

05-14-2005, 08:19 AM

I can't believe that they would release this game without support for Intel onboard graphics cards! I'm in the same boat as the rest of the people on this thread. Just bought a new Dell, all the system specs way exceed what's required for the game, except the video card.

No decent response from the developers, except the generic stuff they said on the "FAQs".

I should have paid better attention to the forum BEFORE buying the game.
Guess it's a case of buyer beware.

Looks like this one is going back to BestBuy, although since I'm only doing the singleplayer, I might keep it on the harddrive in case they fix this.

Any chance you'll support this in the future, Dreamcatcher?

Army Mom

05-14-2005, 12:57 PM

I also have Intel 82845G, and therefore not able to play Dongeon Lords. I also had the same problem with KOTOR II, but after several requests from game players, Lucas Arts released a patch for KOTOR II to support Intel. Maybe we will be lucky also with Dungeon Lords and they will release another patch.

uoocttocs

05-27-2005, 10:32 PM

i am having the same problem but i have a compaq presario and my video card is an integrated via/s3g unicrome igp. every time i put the cd in to play it just goes to reinstall it. this looks like a pretty good game but if i can not play it i don't see any use in keeping it.

Wind

06-13-2005, 04:39 AM

I also have the Intel 82845G and am experiencing this same problem. It's a shame, this game came highly recommended by a friend. I really hope this problem gets the technical attention it deserves, as I'd really like to play this game. Here's to hope.

coolguy

06-13-2005, 03:34 PM

hello. I just got a new computer today. and I tried to start dungeon lords, and it did the same thing as my dell computer did. also it gave me the same debug error messege. my computer has a VIA/S3G Unichrome IGP onboard graphics adapter. I'm so mad right now, but what the heck can I do besides get an external video card, but you know what that will not work either... nothing works for this game. its very funny how most of the games made in the past year and this year as well work fine on most every computer regardless of different specs. oohhh but not dungeon lords. seems like you have to have a computer made by aliens in order to runs this game LOL. because no matter what computer you have old or brand new it won't work. you know what? I think heuristic park did this on purpose so that people will spend their hard earned money and then realize that they threw it down the drain afterwards. heuristic park says they are game developers? HA.

smakdownklown

06-13-2005, 09:47 PM

Imagine when you get the game to work......the disappointment..... the shame of money wasted.....the horror.....the feeling of being violated by another ill-concieved game.........the drama of the forum, searching for the answers.....it's all in vain.

ldonyo

06-13-2005, 10:50 PM

According to the minimum system requirements listed on the box, your graphics solution, be it onboard or external to the motherboard, must be able to render DX7 (transform and lighting) instructions in hardware! The Intel 82845G does not, as you can see on Intel's website (http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/sb/cs-011910.htm?iid=graphics+845main&). This cannot be fixed by a patch, it is a hardware limitation.

As for the VIA/S3 UniChrome IGP (or even the UniChrome IGP Pro), it, too, is less than ideal for playing even DX7 games. Starting on page 10 of this PDF manual for the PM800/PM880 (http://www.via.com.tw/en/downloads/whitepapers/chipsets/p4-series/chipsets_pm800-pm880.pdf) it talks about how wonderful the UniChrome IGP Pro is for everything. On page 11, however, it talks about VIA's S3ConfigD3D utility. Here's a quote:

S3ConfigD3D Direct3D Configuration Utility

The S3Config Direct3D configuration utility provides a way for the end-user to configure or toggle various Direct3D-related capabilities to compensate for differences in the requirements and behaviors of various Direct3D applications.

That paragraph should be a giant red flag that you will have a ton of work getting this integrated solution to play games. You can try the configuration utility to get DL to run on this, but I do not believe that it will be an easy task.

Scyllis

06-16-2005, 06:40 PM

Anyone who hopes to play ANY game without problems should move away--FAR away--from any kind of integrated graphics processor, with the exception of nVidia's NForce and maybe some of the new ATi processors in new, high-end and high-performance laptops.

Integrated graphics takes memory from your physical RAM to function; and this is RAM you much more need for playing the game itself, not offloading chunks of it to your weak-kneed integrated graphics processor.

Integrated graphics, with the exception of the aforementioned high-performance chips, is only good for "workstation-type" duties, like surfing, MS Office, 2D graphics, and so on; it was *never* intended for gaming.

EDIT: Oh, and about KOTOR making a patch so that integrated graphics will work with their game, there's a big difference between Bioware and Dreamcatcher. Unfortunately, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a patch to support Intel graphics...

dumbass

06-24-2005, 03:14 PM

I don't purchase as many games as I'd like to. Work, family, life constraints limit my time available. But I grew up with computer games...ever since my dad brought home his first Apple II. Remember those? Every once in a while, I will get an urge for some gaming and go out and purchase a game to feed that jones. At Best Buy I spent some time in the game aisle, looking at all my choices. "Hmmm, dungeon lords," I said, "that looks like it should be pretty fun". Well imagine my surprise when, after a lengthy installation, I went to run it, my screen flashed black then back to the desktop and then.....NOTHING.

I feel stupid and ripped off. As I said, I have been using computers for decades now. I am definitely not an expert in computers, but I know how to get around pretty well. And I've *never* had a problem with a game not working at all. But I feel stupid because, since I have a brand new dell, I just assumed it would work on my computer. How could a slightly above average computer user have any idea that a game would be released that wouldn't support a very common graphics card. I say very common because I've seen my exact problem on many postings. I have an Intel 82845G, which I now am very disappointed to read in the forums is *not* supported by this game.

Perhaps instead of listing system requirements on the box they should say that "this game will not work for all you poor slobs who have an Intel 82845G". But no, I had no clue until I got it home all excited for some fun adventure, but instead got royally screwed. What game designer worth half a piece of crap release a game that doesn't support a fairly common graphics card, and then use arcane (to me) language on the box as its only warning? I got screwed. Fooled. Tricked. Bamboozled.

I'm so disappointed, I don't hardly have the heart to make the return trip to Best Buy to rid myself of this junk. But I don't want to give this company my money. I will never ever ever ever even think of buying a game from this company again.

Since I did not have access to Intel's website while I was at the store buying this p.o.s. game, I had no way of knowing that it didn't support some of this stuff.

ev8989

06-24-2005, 06:26 PM

that always happens to me.

ant6d9

06-27-2005, 12:24 PM

I have the same problem, the little black screen in the upper left corner flashes black, then back to the desktop and...nothing. I have a newer Compaq Presario with Windows XP Home...

Jeremy [DC]

06-27-2005, 01:06 PM

If you have a computer that meets the minimum requirements or you are not sure why it will not work on your computer, I will be happy to analyze your dxdiag files and make recommendations and try to help you.

1) Go to your start menu and click on Run
2) Type dxdiag in the box and click on OK
3) After the information loads up, click on save all information
4) Save the file to your desktop or a known location

This will save a text file of system information, you can send it to Jeremy@DreamCatcherGames.Com

If you have an Intel Graphics Card, please look at this post:
http://www.dreamcatchergames.com/forums/showthread.php?p=170558#post170558

ZuP101

06-28-2005, 05:35 PM

I'm having the exact same problem.

cuzzy

07-02-2005, 05:23 PM

what so nobody has ever gotten to play this game?? I just bought it today and am sad now after reading all this. I dont even think I will get my money back because Future Shop says it will only exchange for the same item due to copyright.

this is crap

Hacknshoot

07-02-2005, 05:28 PM

Of course people have gotten to play! The main reason not many people on this thread haven't is because they don't have some correct hardware component. I can play it just fine, for example.

cuzzy

07-02-2005, 09:49 PM

finally found some info that helps me

thanks all

To identify your computer parts:

Click Start, click Run, type dxdiag in the Open, and then click OK.
In the System tab under System Information, look for Operating System to determine your Operating System.
In the System tab under System Information, look for Memory to determine your System RAM.
In the Display tab under Device, look for Name and Manufacturer to determine your Video Card. If the Name or Manufacturer is Intel, SiS, S3, or VIA, your computer has a graphics controller. Graphics controllers are not video cards and are not capable of running Dungeon Lords.
In the Sound under Device, look for Name, and under Driver, look for Provider to determine your Sound Card

Simbiant

07-04-2005, 01:27 AM

I thought that it was only me, seeing as I have just passed the minimum requirments for the game (1.1ghz, 384ram, 64mb video) but then I noticed others were having trouble with ati cards...guess what? mine is an ati...

I tried to look for a newer driver for the card(Radion 7200) but the only thing it did was put me down to 4bit colours....1.0 works fine, 1.1 doesn't load, 1.3 doesn't load (keeps crashing with error message), also with 1.0 I play the game fine, quit game, get an error message, that is the only odd thing I can think of.

what I'm going to try to do tommorow (its after midnight and need sleep) is copy the .exe to a different folder, install 1.3 then put the .exe back, if that doesn't work then I'm not sure what to do, can't see maps, oh well, I'll wait for 1.4 or higher and hope that fixes it.

unless anyone has a better idea I'll post the results tommorow afternoon (est)

bitter ATI card holder :(

Simbiant

07-04-2005, 05:13 PM

well I did what I said and unfortunatly nothing from the 1.3 patch works, no map, no spell fixes, and no icons in saved games, also there is no text for the various stats and options screens. and it also still says v1.0 in the botom left...

Ah well, I tried, game will still not load with the 1.3exe but still will run with the 1.0exe and I still can't figure out why, I did email jeremy my dxinfo file and the only thing he said was he was concerned about my celeron processor :confused: in other words, v1.3 should work, but it isn't :( guess I'm stuck with 1.0 for the time being.

btw if anyone wants the exe for 1.0 just ask and I'll zip it and send it (or I'll post it somewhere)

Jeremy [DC]

07-04-2005, 05:28 PM

I would also suggest, saving only your saved games... and re-installing the game from the start and before you play a game, install the V1.3 immediately after the installation, drop the saved games back into the save game folder and hopefully this should help.

My concern was the 1100Mhz Celeron processer because against other processors they clock quite a bit slower, however if you are able to get the game to start then it shouldn't be a problem, I just wouldn't be expecting high performance :-)

Simbiant

07-04-2005, 05:34 PM

I actually did do that, once for 1.1, would not run
once for 1.3, would not run
once for 1.1 then 1.3, would not run

the only version that will run is 1.0

I also deleted all the regestery entries before reinstalling the game each time.
NOTHING has worked :confused: :(

and I did redownload the patches, 1.3 several times actually

WA2

07-05-2005, 09:10 PM

I dont have that exact problem. I cant get past the 1st screen. I see the castle, but the gates dont drop down and the fires do not flicker...it just sits on that screen.

I have re-installed:

Game (with patch)
Ati drivers
DX9 and mobo drivers

This is my setup...I should have NO problems runningthis at all. And yes, I have tried without the overclocks.

PROMETEIA MACH II (baker block mod)\ Venice +4835 (3500@3.2Ghz) \G.Skill TCCD PC4400\MSI K89 Neo plat.\ ATi X800XT/PE (693/652*)\*Viper John vmods \Klipsch ULTRA 5.1\Audigy2 ZS\Enermax 550w

Iced Death

09-08-2005, 10:03 AM

I just got a new computer a Compaq Presario and I got the same problem,I installed the game but when I klik on the shortcut a black box apears and then nothing else.I'm thinkin of buying a new video card but I dont know whitchone will work so I'm asking what video card should I buy.

Reply as soon as possible plz.

Scion

09-08-2005, 01:01 PM

As far as video card, everyones complaining about ATI cards, I have an X800 pro 256 AGP, installed the game.. no problems. Don't go out and pay the insane amount for the card however, a Radeon 9550 128mb will cost you under 100 bucks, and works almost as good. Was unable, however, to get old ati's to work, a 7000 or 7200 will not work for me either, but they are so outdated, it's likely they do not support what the game requires for video options. I have been able to play the game(with all the glitches) and am enjoying it with very little problems.

DarkRune

11-02-2005, 11:27 AM

Just bought the game.. And now I have the same problem too.. black box appears then nothing.
I have a NDIVIA64, problem is do i go and buy another video card with the hopes this game will work or do i just take the game back and get one that works (Guild Wars or Final Fantasy XI)

And i am not even sure i can get my money back on this software from Best Buys due to software return policies a lot of places have, the thought of further expenses on another graphics card that may not work either bugs me too.

I have never had problems running new games before,
So, Like everyone else in this post, i am VERY frustrated.

DarkRune

BRB

11-03-2005, 09:30 AM

We all got ripped and these idiots at DC do not keep us abreast of whether they are near to finishing patch1.4 that will allow this game to stop crapping out on new systems. I've tried everything and talked to tech support for half an hour. Every tweak seemed to be the one that fixed all my problems. But it still locks up or reboots my computer. When I tried to set the resolution it would lock up on me too. These bugs I don't necessarily care about. I just want to be able to get past the first few fight scenes without it rebooting my computer. What's with that. Running into errors is one thing and closing the program but why would it initiate a system melt down.

Even if you are one of the lucky ones and played it through, there are many bugs reported and loads of features do not work. Simply, this game deserves to be withdrawn, recalled and refunded, before they ripp-off more unknowing gamers for $40.00 without a care in the world. Wall Mart and everyone else will get theirs for selling this crap too. Class action suit or a total ban that wipes this company off the map are only a few options if they do not finish thier beta test. I bought it on July 27 and am stillllll waaaaaiiiiitttttiiiiinnnnngggg?

normally

11-06-2005, 12:32 AM

I was having a similar problem, but found a peculiar solution. Basically, I was trying to start Dungeon Lords from the shortcut created at install time. This used to work, but since installing a new video card, it stopped. (To be fair, I have no idea if the video card thing is related... that's just the most recent change I did to my system.)

So my brilliant solution? I browsed to the Dungeon Lords game directory and ran the dlords.exe executable directly (instead of using the shortcut).

I expect this still won't work for those of you with incompabible video cards, but I thought I should mention it anyway for the sake of providing "more information" that may or may not be helpful.

Best of luck!

Visigoth

11-07-2005, 12:02 PM

Trust me, once you actually start to play the game, you'll be thankful it doesn't load.

Poot

11-07-2005, 02:54 PM

Send a PM to Jeremy[DC] and he will get back to you a a few days. He has not failed me yet. :)

Waer

11-07-2005, 03:59 PM

Sorry for hyjacking the thread, but I went to "The Fall" from your signature and it looks like it will be super fun to play.

Is it out now? Have you played it?

Jacobi

11-09-2005, 10:18 PM

Visigoth

11-09-2005, 10:23 PM

Pretty poor :mad:
If not most of my family are lawyers

Wow... I feel for you.

Gorn

11-09-2005, 11:38 PM

Pretty poor :mad:

I think the class action is a good and viable idea. Any lawyers out there? If not most of my family are lawyers and I'm sure we can get DC to fix or pay. May take a few months but the revenge factor would be well worth it.

It must really suck working for such a POS company :o

A guy in the U.K. started a govt based lawsuit, never heard if he had any luck with it... He thought he was a real crusader for the people, personally for 40 bucks I thought he had better get a life... the reason I say this is simple, all the work, trouble, hassle to regain your 40 bucks??! Take it as a lesson if you felt burned... read the forums, read the reviews, heck, download it off the net and try before you buy... in other words, do your homework if $40 is so important to you.
I'm sure DC has been firmly punished for this unfinished product via poor sales and terrible reviews, they will not soon forget this debacle, and if they do, you sure won't.

Gorn

nurofen

11-10-2005, 11:17 AM

Give me a break - how often do you go to game forums to hear about the game complaints before you buy, huh? Especially if you get the game on its release date.

$40 bucks (or whatever that is in Euros), I agree not much - and If it was just one person perhaps you could turn your head the other way and forget about it. But if its 5 people, or 100, or 1000 - then thats adding up the amount quite quickly isn't it.

Dont tell me, Gorn, that you've never in your life taken an item back to a store because it didn't work the way it was promised to.