Civ III game won't start properly

Breeze · October 19, 2003, 16:34

I started to play this great game again but it doesn't work at all. When I start the game everything goes fine at the beginning. I see the video clip and all, but when I click mouse button to start the game my monitor will go black and the power light on my monitor is flashing green and nothing happens. I had this same problem earlier and chancing resolution helped and I was able to play quite a long time. Then this problem came again and now nothing is helping. What I could do?

I'm running WinXp professional, GF Ti-4200 64mb graphic driver with newest drivers, original civ3 game without updates.
This game worked perfectly when I had Win98. I read the slow-scroll announcement and found out that there has been some problems with GF Ti cards.. but I didn't find any solution in my problem...

Sheik · October 19, 2003, 17:31

Maybe you should install the updates first.

Gramphos · October 19, 2003, 18:06

Make sure you have the latest drivers for everything. You might try to add keepres=1 to the ini-file as well, if it changesto a mode not supported by your setup.

Breeze · October 19, 2003, 18:30

I have the latest drivers for everything. Update doesn't fix the problem.
Eh, where I can modify this ini-file that Gramphos mentioned?

Breeze · October 19, 2003, 19:33

I'm quite sure that the problem lies in refresh rate. I found couple threads concerning this one. It seems that civ III tries run the game in 120hz and that´s why I get black screen. There was couple of instructions what to do...

First was reg edit but it didn't help me because I couldn't find the line where I could chance those refresh rate values.

Secon was the nvidia refresh rate fix but the page that was given didn´t contain it anymore... so I´ll try to find it somewhere else and see if it will fix my problem.

Found the nvidia refresh rate fix but it didn't solve my problem... Now I don't know what to do next...

vmxa1 · October 19, 2003, 20:52

What is the desktop resoltion set at? If it is other than 1024, you can have problems. If 800, you need to up it, if over use the keepres as was mentioned.

Breeze · October 20, 2003, 05:15

Desktop resolution is 1024x768.

Could someone tell me where I can add this keepres value?

alva · October 20, 2003, 06:16

Quote:

Eh, where I can modify this ini-file that Gramphos mentioned?

Go to your PTW folder:
The INI file is a very small one (2k), if you list 'details' in your folder settings, it's called:
Ptw_________________2kb_________configuration settings

(the underscore are not there of course)

Open it and add this line :
Keepres=1

Doesn't really matter where, at the top is fine.
Save !!!
That's it.
Another good one is :
Playintro=0

(skipps the movie)
and

Refresh=80
(keeps your refresh the same as your desktop, in my case 80)

hope it helps..

Breeze · October 20, 2003, 06:53

I don't have the PTW. I have the original Civ III and I couldn't find there any ini-files...

There I found this, but I'm not sure is this the one you mean...

[Civilization III]
MainFontSize=16
InterludeFontSize=16
Prefs Format=1
Difficulty=0
Map Type=0
Top Menu=5
Faction=1
Preferences=00000000000000011010011111111110
Rules=00000000000000000000000000111111
Customize=0
Time Controls=1
Governor=00000000000000000000000000000000
Gov Prod Never=00000000000000000000000000011000
Gov Prod Often=00000000000000000000000000000000

I added those things that you said at top of that list but it made no difference.

WingLeader · October 30, 2003, 17:28

I recently picked up Civ 3, but when I try to run the game, I get the same problem as Breeze - the intro movie will play but then I get an error message saying my display options aren't correct.
I'm running a 64mg Geforce 440MX on a 2 gig P4 with the res set at 1024/768 and 16 bit color (at 60htz), but no joy.
I've tried inserting the Keepres=1 and Refresh= lines into the .ini file but it still craps out
Any suggestions out there?

WingLeader · October 30, 2003, 17:31

I recently picked up Civ 3 (origional), but when I try to run the game, I get the same problem as Breeze - the intro movie will play but then I get an error message saying my display options aren't correct.
I'm running a 64mg Geforce 440MX on a 2 gig P4 with the res set at 1024/768 and 16 bit color (at 60htz), but no joy.
I've tried inserting the Keepres=1 and Refresh= lines into the .ini file but it still craps out. The v129f patch makes no difference either.
Any suggestions out there?

Breeze · October 30, 2003, 18:17

I was so exited to be able to play this game again that I forgot to post my solution here.

Get a program called powerstrip and use it to make new drivers for your monitor. You have to know some specs about your monitor before you are able to the drivers; max Hz for vertical and horisontal display. Check the monitor´s manual or the web.

Hope this helps.

NickB33 · March 28, 2005, 02:13

Hey guys,
I'm having the exact same problem that Breeze once did.

I don't know if Breeze still posts here, since it's been more than a year since this thread was posted. But i took Breeze's advice in an attempt to fix my problem but i got nowhere.

I don't know how this powerstrip program works, and would love some help. I opened it up and there's all these values and options to configure but i dont really want to change anything in case it stuffs up my comp.

After searching the web for most of today and yesterday to fix my problem with Civ3, i'm relieved that somebody actually found something that works and would love to know how he did it.