Battlezone 1

Hi all,

I've got a working game using the bz98 package, but there's a few issues.

First, perhaps I can help out the community myself with a solved problem; DaemonTools Lite doesn't work on Windows XP SP3. It conflicts with a lot of things on the system and won't uninstall correctly either. I've trawled through the forums and found that it's specifically SP3 that it's glitchy on; it's fine on SP2. It's a DTL problem, not a problem with the bz98_us package. I suggest Isodisk, which I used to load the RO .iso. Works fine.

Second, my own technical issues. I've got a number of HUD problems; unit health and ammo bars don't show up in the command menu, and when they're under attack, the unit that is under fire doesn't flash red. Furthermore with the radar, several of the icons are black instead of green or red. Nothing shows up at all on the map that comes up if you press Caps (default).

Also, on startup the game is occasionally coming up "in the background" meaning that the Start bar is still visible until you click on the game screen (which won't respond for that first click, even if it's on a button), at which point the Start bar disappears and everything is normal again. That and the HUD issues are the only ones I can find; graphics are normal, gameplay is normal, menu is normal, music is normal, as far as I can tell it just has those problems.

It's making the game quite a lot harder to play as I can't tell what the status of my tanks is, or even where they are unless I can see them directly. I don't know what might be causing this so I don't know what system details you need; but it's the bs98_us install from this site, minus DaemonTools and plus Isodisk, on Windows XP SP3. I have a NVidia GeForce 8600 GT and 4GB of installed RAM (though as the XP build is 32 bit it can only access 3GB of that). My processor is an Intel Core 2 Duo that runs at 2.33GHz. If you need to know anything else, please tell me and I'll post it.

Regards,

Spike

That's odd Daemon won't work for you, I've had 0 problems with it. For BZ, what graphics mode are you in (Software or Hardware)? I think I have the 8600/8800 GTS on my desktop back home, and BZ runs just fine on it, so I wouldn't point to the gfx card just yet.

Are you running the game in Compatibility mode? I had to run it in Windows 98 mode at first, but later on after I cleaned formatted my hard drive it ran OK without it in XP mode.

For the taskbar issue, I really don't know what that could be- I only run into that issue sometimes when I leave a game; but it disappears after a few seconds.


The 'BZ troubleshooting gods' will be here sooner or later. I'm just mentioning things that I've experienced after returning to the game.

instead of damoen tools try virtual clone drive
http://www.slysoft.com/en/virtual-clonedrive.html
its freeware and i've had 0 problems with it

Hi Spychotic,

Instead saying hello to you on the proper place, I'll do it here - welcome!

As I was updating BZ98 installers, I was updating Daemon Tools in them too. Last installer is from February (v1.4) and last Daemon Tools is from April (v4.35.6). I don't recall if the one from the last installer worked on SP3 for me, but the one from April sure does.
I don't want to force anyone to use any specific tool for making virtual drives, but, if soomeone needs it, here's the link for the latest Daemon Tools.

Taskbar issue will go away if you delete bzone.avi (.../Battlezone 1998/Battlezone/anims/bzone.avi), but then you'll lose middle menu animation.

All in-game graphical issues are connected to your Nvidia Geforce card. Strangely, nobody reported them on XP before, only on Vista and 7. If the latest driver isn't helpful, you'll have to wait for Bz1.5

Thanks, Mr. Spock.

I'm afraid that updating DaemonTools won't help you; I've tried the latest version as well. The DTL coders havn't got round to updating for whatever is conflicting with it in XP SP3. It's something in SP3's debugging software that doesn't like DTL / DTL doesn't like.

I'm not too fussed about the taskbar issue; just thought that someone would like to know. It's the HUD issues that I'm concerned about; I've managed to complete the Black Dog RO missions, but only by setting it to Easy. Being unable to ascertain the status of your units is a much bigger handicap to one's command that you'd think before trying it! The Chinese missions are totally impossible, I'm utterly unable to get through the second mission with my arm tied behind my back like I have! I'll try that driver and get back to you, but I thought that RO wasn't going to be compatible with BZ1.5?

Spike

*Edit; w00t! Installing the latest drivers works, everything's back to normal. I had no idea that my assault force had an average health of about 60%; probably explains why they were dying so quickly!

And the state my turrets were in.... it's a wonder they survived the next assault wave!

Hopefully, I won't be quite such a pushover from now on!

I have 4 computers with SP3. Daemon tools works fine on each.


Glad to hear. Drivers are always an issue, that's why I put Nvidia and ATI driver page shortcuts inside BZ98 installer (Start-All Programs-Battlezone 1998/Links/)

Few days ago Daemon Tools stopped working on one of my PCs with Comodo Intenet Security. Other 3 XP SP3 machines in my house have different AntiVirus/Firewall programs and DT still works fine there. I googled a bit and found out that Comodo Updates cause a conflict. Probably similar issue happens with some other AVs/FWs in a combination with DT. That's why you weren't able to install it on your PC. It's not an OS or SP thing.

I'm using Virtual CloneDrive on that PC now.