Civ 3 complete on Windows 10 Enterprise from CD not loading / black screen?

[bluerunner6]

I recently bought the civilization 3 complete CD on amazon which comes as a 3 disc box set. However, when I started the actual game, nothing happens. However the map editors work fine. I am running Windows 10 Enterprise.

I have tried changing the compatibility to Windows 8 and 7 - did not work. I changed the settings to run in 640 x 480 screen resolution. After that, a black screen opens up when I double click but after a few seconds of black with no music, it closes. I randomly came across a "GoG" website (not sure what "GoG" is) that suggested turning on Legacy -> Direct Play but that did not help either.

I also do not see a "conquest.ini" file anywhere (is this only with the Steam version?) I've tried opening several files with notepad but none look like there's a place to add "KeepRes=1" and "PlayIntro=0." Instead they all have weird unreadable font that looks like it should not be altered.

Just want to try the game I used to play as a kid so any help is appreciated, thank you!

 

[tjs282]

Unfortunately, those discs are most likely copy-protected using the SafeDisc/SecuROM DRM-system. The problem is that the driver needed to run those DRMs ('secdrv.sys') was disabled/removed by Microsoft in late 2015, from all Windows versions after XP. This means that while you are able to install the game, you will not be able to run it, because the game cannot find the driver it needs to verify the CDs' authenticity.

You will either need to replace the game's .exe files with NoCD versions (if you have the technical knowhow to locate trustworthy versions and install them) -- or you need to return the discs to the seller as defective, get a refund, and then repurchase a downloadable version of the game from an online store such as Steam (US-based) or GOG.com (European). It costs about 5 Local Currency Units at full price — sometimes as little as 25% of that when on sale.

For more information, see also this thread:

L

Thread 'Workarounds and suggestions for making Civ III run well in 2023'

Aug 9, 2023

This post is designed to cover the workarounds and enhancements needed to play Civilization III comfortably in the year 2023 on a modern PC. It's not exhaustive by any means, but should act as a good starting point for anyone having issues with the game.

Where can I buy Civ III in 2023?
Civilization III Complete is available to purchase as a digital download on both Steam

Save 80% on Sid Meier's Civilization® III Complete on Steam

Sid Meier's Civilization III: Complete, the latest offering in the Sid Meier's Civilization III franchise, provides gaming fans with Sid Meier's Civilization III, the highly-addictive journey of discovery.

store.steampowered.com

and GOG.com

Sid Meier's Civilization® III Complete

Sid Meier’s Civilization III Complete provides strategy fans with the classic Civilizat

www.gog.com

You may wish to have a look at the...

• Lord_Hill
• Replies: 69
• Forum: Civ3 - Technical Support

• 

 

[Civinator]

Yes, it seems you were riped off by the seller. Civ 3 Complete at GOG (Good Old Games) is on sale every few weeks for only € 1,29.

 

[tjs282]

it seems you were riped off by the seller.

If it was a commercial retailer, then arguably yes, they should have known that this product was no longer sale-able — because I simply cannot believe that over the past 9 years, no-one else had ever demanded a refund on a similarly non-functional copy.

But if it was a private seller who was e.g. clearing old stuff out of the back of their closet, then I think a little more charity would be fair: assume that they hadn't played the game in years, so didn't even realise that those discs wouldn't work on modern machines. Might be more difficult to get a refund from them, though...

 

[bluerunner6]

Sad face. It was fortunately from Amazon so I can return it within the next 2 weeks. Thank you so much for this helpful info. The black screen gave me false hope, thinking it could load if I changed some settings -(

On another note, sorry for the 'noob' question here but steam is basically a video game download system that stores your downloads on an imaginary cloud for you to play while logged into steam correct? So the do the games actually take up space on your PC when downloaded through steam? Do they even exist on your PC at all? Sorry if these are silly questions, I just haven't used steam before.

I did create a map on the conquest map editor. If I save this file, do you think I could use this on the steam version of conquest? I guess that would depend on if the files are actually 'on' my computer as opposed to the steam virtual storage?

Thanks again

 

[WeirdoJoker]

Yes, it seems you were riped off by the seller. Civ 3 Complete at GOG (Good Old Games) is on sale every few weeks for only € 1,29.

Is that really what GOG stands for? I've always wondered that...

 

[tjs282]

So the do the games actually take up space on your PC when downloaded through steam? Do they even exist on your PC at all? Sorry if these are silly questions, I just haven't used steam before

Both Civinator and I have the GOG download, but as far as I know, Steam works in a similar way, with a virtual library of your purchased games stored with them, but the actual games being installed to your desktop computer, and played from there.

The only advantage of the SteamCiv3 over the GOG-version (IMHO!) is that the Steam version also allows you to take part in online multiplayer (MP) games. Conversely, Steam does insist that you always play via its client software (which is also installed to your machine), whereas using the GOG client is optional.

And if you also intend to download legacy Civ3 mods (created with a non-Steam/ non-MP version) to use with the Steam/MP-version, you will usually also need to tinker with that mod's labels.txt file, to get it to work properly.

If I save this file, do you think I could use this on the steam version of conquest?

Yes, so long as it's a valid ruleset file (.bic, .bix or .biq) for any of the civ3 versions, it should be compatible with the final version of the game (Conquests/Complete).

Just drag and drop your mod-file to your desktop for now, and then once you have your new C3C installation up and running, you can move it back into your ../Conquests/Scenarios folder, and access it from "Civ-Content" on the start-menu

Oh, and ... Welcome to CivFanatics!

 

[Civinator]

The GOG version now is on sale in the spring sale for € 1,29.

The only reason for playing the steam version, as tjs282 pointed out, is if you want to play mostly multiplayer games. Otherwise the GOG version in my eyes is much better, as the steam version has a manipulation in its labels text file (an additional line Unknown) and therefore plays havoc with the texts of nearly all existing Civ 3 mods and scenarios (you can patch each one of them, but it is additional work), the GOG version offers an additional offline download option, providing you with an own electronical installation file that you can archivate and the C3X mod is developed with the GOG version (and only adapted to the steam version).

 

[bluerunner6]

Oh, and ... Welcome to CivFanatics!

Thank you! This has been awesome, 24 hrs ago, I had no clue and now I have answers. Really appreciate this board.

Can I confirm the following, sorry for going so far into the weeds here; steam - you have to download the steam platform and can use that to download civ 3, which also downloads a CD-less version of the game on your PC so you can play even when no logged into steam / use map editor and associated programs? Is that correct?

Good Old Games (thanks, had no idea what it stood for) will allow you to download it but doesn't require you also download a GOG platform and also lets you play the game / map editor and associated programs offline with a CD-less version of the game as well?

Honestly I was thinking steam just because the steam deck allows you to play portably. I didn't really understand the advantages with GOG vs steam, can you explain them just one more time?

 

[Civinator]

Good Old Games (thanks, had no idea what it stood for) will allow you to download it but doesn't require you also download a GOG platform and also lets you play the game / map editor and associated programs offline with a CD-less version of the game as well?

Yes, but you must download the offline installation at the end of the installation screen and not the advertised Galaxy platform installation. If you use the offline installation, you additionally have an electronical installation file that is working like a cd for later new installations of Civ 3 Complete if you save that file.

I play with the offline installation and it works very well.

 

[Civinator]

Is that really what GOG stands for? I've always wondered that...

Yes, of course this is what GOG stands for. Simply visit the site and you can convince yourself about it.

 

[bluerunner6]

Yes, but you must download the offline installation at the end of the installation screen and not the advertised Galaxy platform installation. If you use the offline installation, you additionally have an electronical installation file that is working like a cd for later new installations of Civ 3 Complete if you save that file.

Awesome thank you, I'm stupidly excited to download this tonight!!

 

[tjs282]

Is that really what GOG stands for? I've always wondered that...

Yes, back when it first started it was basically a hobby-site aimed at resurrecting 1990s PC /DOS games, and getting them running on more modern systems. But it swiftly developed into much more than that.

 

[Civinator]

It is great that all worked well. Save the installation files that you have received with the offline download and have much fun with playing Civ 3!

As you assumed, this is not the correct place for your questions about colonies. As this is a question about playing standard Civ 3 (and not about creating or playing modifications) this question belongs to the Civ3 - General Discussions forum.

You can ask a moderator with the report option at the left corner at the end of your post to move your post to the Civ3 - General Discussions forum.

 

[Methos]

Moderator Action: I’ve moved the post @Civinator mentioned to its own thread. It can be found here: https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/can-you-help-with-my-questions-please.696985/

 

[bluerunner6]

Absolutely no worries, thanks everyone again!

 

[Lanzelot]

@bluerunner6 You can still play with the discs! Just download the official no-CD patch: https://forums.civfanatics.com/resources/categories/civ3-official-patches-updates.64/
And then activate the compatibility mode for "Windows XP" instead of Win7/8, and also check "Run as Administrator".
I am still running C3C from the old CDs on Win11. (Only PtW and the CivAssistII tool no longer work on Win11.)

 

[SayHayKid]

@bluerunner6 You can still play with the discs! Just download the official no-CD patch: https://forums.civfanatics.com/resources/categories/civ3-official-patches-updates.64/
And then activate the compatibility mode for "Windows XP" instead of Win7/8, and also check "Run as Administrator".
I am still running C3C from the old CDs on Win11. (Only PtW and the CivAssistII tool no longer work on Win11.)

I see there is a patch for Vanilla and Conquests. Nothing for PTW?

 

[tjs282]

Scroll down further...

When you posted your question the other week, I didn't actually know all this stuff had been saved to CFC...

 

[SayHayKid]

Scroll down further...

When you posted your question the other week, I didn't actually know all this stuff had been saved to CFC...

I had tried that, but still got the "require CD" error. Then I scrolled down even further and saw there is both and English and an American version of the patch. Once I tried it with the American version it worked. Thanks for all the help.