This is one game that although I didn't get to play until 3-4 years ago and have played without much problems a few runs now, but now, when I play at sporatic times the colors are all wonky and I'm not sure how to fix it.

Since I'm not sure how to explain it, and it was fine until yesterday. here's a screencap

Also, I am running Windows 7 64bit
http://i61.tinypic.com/2pqnwvd.jpg

It looks like it could be a driver issue, but I don't know what video drivers would work best with the game.

I agree with Jenny. Having said that, there are two patches on this page for King's Quest 8. If you haven't installed them already, the second patch mentions the following:



Maybe you ought to try it, if you haven't already, just to see what results. It looks like this second patch also includes the fixes listed for the first patch.

Can we assume you're playing it on the same computer as you did previously?

yes I am, and here's the oddest thing, I made a new account on my computer and on that one, the graphics don't go all messed up.

I did try to download the patches you linked to, Marian, but I get a 404 Not Found error on both patches.

The game was playing fine a few days ago and just started with the odd graphics last night.

If it helps, I'm on a Windows 7 64bit laptop with an intel graphics card and I did check the graphics driver and it says it's up to date

I hope your graphic chip isn't failing. That is very strange that the new account is different. I have no idea what's going on!

I am so sorry - I should have checked the links to those patches before I posted them!

The "Sierra Help Pages" have a patch - if it's the right one - HERE
Just scroll down to KQ8.

That suggests there might be something running in the background on your old account that isn't running in the new one. The drivers themselves should be the same between accounts.

I forget how to monitor programs to check what's running.
I think you can do it with either Process Explorer
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx
or Process Monitor
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896645.aspx
(from Sysinternals/Microsoft), but I forget how best to do it.

Ideally you could use one of these utilities to create logs of what's running when you run the game in your original account and compare it to what's running in the new account to see if you can find the program that's the culprit.

You could also try unchecking everything in msconfig before running the game in your original account and see if the graphics problem still happens. But there might be something running that isn't listed in msconfig.

I think I found a fix! I installed a package of VooDoo from 2007 and opened the game and walked around in the snow (my recent save is in the frozen region) and so far it's working normal

If the game can be set to use either DirectX or 3dfx, and you had the game set to use 3dfx, that could be why the DirectX version wouldn't work.

Also, apparently there are different 3dfx/Glide wrappers
http://www.gog.com/forum/kings_quest_series/nglide_vs_zeckensacks_glide_wrappers

So far it seams to be going well with VooDoo, and I even finished the frozen region, but caught a snag. I'm in the paradise mini-realm and every time I place the white crystal pyramid on the pyramid in the alter, when it asks if I want to load the new region and I click yes, it's freezes for about ten seconds and then crashes to the desktop. I've tried third person view, first person view, walk, run, forwards, backwards, but no matter what, the same happenes

You might see if you can get to the next level using the software mode, then change back to 3dfx after you get past the trouble spot.

According to this site, the game does have a software mode:
http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/King%27s_Quest:_Mask_of_Eternity

They also have some troubleshooting tips at the bottom of the page.

The official patch (MoE13fg) supersedes earlier patches. It will, however, will not run on x64 Windows as it is just a 16-bit installer. It does not address graphical issues. What you are seeing is what often happens with the Direct Draw graphics mode. If this is the GOG version, there are a number of issues with the game that they tried to fix using compatibility mode. If you have the CD, you can use the SHP installer, which includes the MoE13fg patch.

http://sierrahelp.com/Patches-Updates/NewSierraInstallers.html#MoE

It has a number of fixes missing in the GOG version, such as it will work on Netbooks or other PC with no CD drive attached, lockup fixes, etc. It also has a number of improvements, such as the elimination of file copying/deletions on level change for much faster load times. Included is a Glide wrapper that not only allows you to avoid the Direct Draw graphics issues, but greatly improves the visuals and allows for a higher resolution.

the only way I have the game, Collector, is GOG's version. I had found a workaround with the graphics, but now when I try to load from paradise to realm of sun, it crashes

in the game under Graphics Mode, I have DirectDraw selected and the resolution 640x480, also I have all shadows on OFF

Does GOG have any suggestions for you? They are really good about getting these games to run.

You've probably figured out by now that I don't know much about this particular game. But since there are different Glide wrappers you can use, maybe temporarily using a different one would get you past the trouble spot. For example, if you are using Zeckensack's, try the dgVoodoo or nGlide.
http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/Glide_Wrapper


Do you know which wrapper is used, and could it work with the GOG version of the game or would it only work reliably with the disc version?

At some point I may consider making a patch to correct the GOG mistakes, but currently there is work being done on a definitive fix for the cutscene lockups. I will probably wait for this to be finished before I do so.

I did also post on GOG's forum, but haven't gotten a reply yet. Also, I even tried replaying the Frozen Region, to see if that would help at all, and it did not

[edit]
FANTASTIC NEWS! a member on GOG replied and now we have a fix for this problem with loading to Realm of the Sun! Incase anyone else would come to this issue, this is what the GOG member said:

Rename the W32mdl_1.dll in the game folder (C:\GOG Games\Kings Quest 7-8\KQ8) to skip over the video.

GOG disabled the intro (because video playback is broken for several reasons) but forgot to disable the other two videos...
A security risk (registering the Indeo 5 codec) or some hackery is required to play the videos on current Windows versions.

what I did in the KQ8 folder was add _01 to the end of that file and it works like a dream now

Well that's certainly not something I'd have expected.
Too bad about the videos.
I guess you won't see the finale when you finish the game.

The videos work with the SHP installer, though not a couple of quirks. We have been discussing the possibility of re-encoding them to a format than Indeo that should help compatibility with WINE.