Forever Worlds 98/ME Update

Here's the latest.

I downloaded and installed Microsoft's DirectX 9 SDK Developer Runtime Files. It's a roughly 85MB download.

Just because no day in the past week has been complete without a failed attempt to start Forever Worlds, I clicked on the ForeverWorlds.exe and waited for the usual logo-logo-lockup.

What I got was a logo-logo-opening cutscene.

Once I was again seated in the chair I had just fallen out of, I started to explore a bit. Saved a game. Reloaded it. Exited the game. Started it up again. Reloaded my saved game.

You get the idea. Forever Worlds was suddenly behaving like a real computer game. Who knew?

While I don't recommend anyone download the Runtime Files until it's clear that this really is a solution, if you are curious (and as impatient as I had become) you can find the files HERE .

Maybe, just maybe, this is the answer.

Verrrry interesting. I am still waiting for my copy to arrive (should be tomorrow), but if the game doesn't run (I have ME), I don't know whether to be glad or sorry that a solution has been found; you see, I am on dialup.

Seriously, though, I hope this has fixed your problem for more than just a few minutes at a time. I know you'll keep us posted.

And tell me---does this mean that these files are something that are likely to already be installed on a Win XP system? And not on 98 or ME? Because many of us have DirectX 9 on our 98/ME systems. Hmmm.

If it turns out to be the answer, I'll burn a CD and mail it to you, OK?

The Developer Kit files include both the Retail and the Debugging versions of DirectX 9. It is my hunch that the package is a bit more fault tolerant than the plain vanilla download of DirectX 9.

It would also not surprise me, given the differences in the code base between 98/ME and 2000/XP that the implemenation of DirectX 9 is somewhat different in 2000/XP.

But enough tech talk! All I know is that Forever Worlds fired up without me doing anything else to my system. Didn't close down anything in the System Tray, didn't use End-It-All, didn't change the screen resolution or color depth or video or audio acceleration. Just clicked and played.

Thanks for the info, MrLipid.

Unfortunately, I'm on dial-up also and 85mb would take forever. I do have dx9, but as you said, it may be the debugging version that's needed.

Did you try any puzzles yet and if so, did they work?

Melanie

Same offer. If this is the answer, I'll mail you a CD.

Yup. I'm about to meet the Fillers. Which means I've solved two of the puzzles. No problems yet.

Start game, load saved game, play, save game, exit, start game again, load saved game...works like a charm.

Now, whether this miracle will survive a reboot, I don't know. I sure hope so.

Thanks! If that turns out to be what's needed I'd really appreciate that and be happy to pay all costs.

Melanie

Melanie,

Looks like it may be the answer. A gamer in Sweden has tried installing the Developer Runtime Files and it seems to have cured the problems.

While more examples are needed, this really feels like it might be the answer.

hrmn... time to put it back on the list of games wanted? =P

I think you should send a little blackmail email to TAC

As the song says, what a difference a day makes.

Fired up my system this morning, clicked on Forever Worlds and got...logo-logo-lockup.

Whatever conditions had been created on my system the day before, the conditions that enabled Forever Worlds to run like a normal game, were gone. FW is back to its crusty, unloading self.

More work to do....

MrLipid, you are amazing. I know you're going to get this to work somehow! I believe!

Oh well, just as I was beginning to think there was hope.

It's really unfair business practices to sell defective software. I think we should all get together and send a petition to these game companies and demand that they fix these games and send us new copies or free certificates for other games they produce. We should not have to keep shelling out money for defective software!

What do you think?

Melanie

It's probably patchable, if they could just figure out what was wrong with it.

I don't think they're trying Jenny. I think from things that have been said, that they're convinced there's nothing wrong with the game and it's the player's computer that's causing the problem not their (have a really choice word I'd love to put here!!) game programming!!!

Bill

It turns out that what's wrong with it can be cured through the installation, in a specific order, of a specific group of support programs (DirectX 9.0b, Windows Media Player 9 and DivX Codec 5.1.1.) The order of installation is critical as is the version of the programs installed. DirectX 9.0b turns out to be needed for how it interacts with Windows Media Player 9.

All the instructions are available HERE .

I would like to thank MrLipid very much for all his work on getting this game to run for us. I have just bought it and of course had all the problems of trying to run it on 98. I knew someone here would have the answer; so thank you! Just wish after all this time they would have produced a patch by now. Also wish I'd taken notice of the reviews and comments, as trying to get the game to run was only less frustrating than playing it.