NEED some help!

[ben_07]

Hi! I love playing Alpha Centauri, and all the Civ games, and I've had Alpha Centauri since 1999. I also got Alien Corssfire in 1999. THat's where the problem begins.

The first copy I got didn't work, so I replaced it. There was a problem with the replacement too, but it finally got installed. My computer then got a virus, so I didn't get to install it again for a year. Then there was something wrong with the screen, but eventually it was fixed. I played it a little, then there was a problem, and it dodn't work, and I never even got too far in my first game! I eventually drifted my attention away from Alien Crossfire when I got other computer games.

I tried to install it again about a year ago. I installed Alpha Centauri first, and that was fine, there was no problem.

But after I had installed Alien Crossfire I got a sign after trying to play it that said "CPU not supported. If you continue the game may fail." I pressed continue, I pressed cancel, but whatever I pressed it would automatically shut down. If I uninstalled it, and installed Alpha Centauri again it would work, but then if I installed Alien Corssfire it wouldn't play, same thing. I uninstalled and reinstalled several times, and then just gave up.

Now I've started playing Alpha Centauri again for the last few weeks, but I can't stop thinking about Alien Crossfire. I've been trying to play the game for FIVE YEARS and I've nevber got to!

Yesterday I came across Firaxis help center, and it stated my problem, and it said go to the folder and change this thing that =0 to =1. I forget what it said exactly, but I know how to get back to the site, it's in my favorites.

But HOW exactly do I do this? I'm not a computer genius or anything. Do I install Alien Crossfire again first, or do I change it with just ALpha Centauri installed? Can someone talk me through it? I just REALLY want to play the game, I've been trying to since my birthday OVER FIVE YEARS AGO!! Can someone PLEASE help me?

ben_07
(I'm also curious, did they ever come up with another sequel or expansion pack or something similar? Just curious!)

 

[ben_07]

This is what it said at: http://www.firaxis.com/support_faq.cfm#faq05


"Question : When I try to play Alpha Centauri or Alien Crossfire, I receive a message that says "CPU not supported!" How can I correct this?

Answer : If you are attempting to run Alpha Centauri and receive an error message which refers to a CPU or processor incompatibility, add the following line to the Alpha Centauri INI file using a text editor (such as Notepad):

ForceOldVoxelAlgorithm=1

The first time that the game starts following this change you may receive the same error message. The game should start without error after it has been run once with the above change."

 

[Cuivienen]

Assuming that you installed Alpha Centauri into the standard folder:

Go to C:\Program Files\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri

Open the file titled simply "Alpha Centauri" (it's a Notepad document with a gear on it) and insert "ForceOldVoxelAlgorithm=1" at the bottom of the document. Save.

 

[ben_07]

I just tried it. The game works for a few minutes but then there is an error and it shuts down automatically now. There's always SOMETHING to stop me from playing SMAX!

 

[ben_07]

Any more advice? Or should I just completely destroy my Alien Crossfire with all the anger I have of not being able to play it without a problem EVER in the 5 years I had it!

 

[Cuivienen]

What is the error? Does it say something along the lines of "there has been a fault in terranx...?"

 

[ben_07]

Okay. I changed the ForceVoxel from 0 to 1.

The same thing comes up again "You cpu is not supported! If you continue crashes are possible!"

I go to continue and now it lets me go to the main page when before it would just shut down. I start the game, go through all the settings and options, and the game starts. Between 2 seconds and 2 minutes it says there is an error, do you wish to report it? and then the program shuts down.

Keeps on doing it no matter how many times I try it.

 

[The Person]

I get that message, too, but I just click OK, and everything works perfectly. I get it every time I start up SMAC/X, though. But it doesn't bother me.

 

[AncientPlayer]

Ben --

The "CPU not supported message" is normal. Ignore it. The fact that you got past that is a good sign.

What operating system is on your machine?

If relevant, did you apply with Win2000/XP patch?

Many problems are sound related. Try turning off all sound if you can get in the game at all. Alternatively, you can disable sound completely by renaming sound.dll (smac) and soundx.dll (smacx) to something else. If the game works then that's the problem. Try renaming them back and then:

a) update your sound card driver if possible
b) Make sure DirectX is the very latest version, 9.0c I think.
c) in alpha centauri.ini do this:

[Alpha Centauri]
<other stuff you can ignore>
ds3d=1 <--- add this or make it look like that
eax=0 <--- add this or make it look like that

Also while you're in the .ini file, make sure this is there:

[PREFERENCES]
ForceOldVoxelAlgorithm=1

If you're running XP have you tried running the game in compatibility mode? (try Win2000 and Win98.)

Try different video card drivers. If there's an update, try it. If you're using the latest try falling back a few versions if you can.

If all else fails, boot into WinXP safe mode and try running the game -- if it works something is loading during your normal boot that is causing a conflict. Lots of oddball stuff can do that and there's no way for us to really do a step-by-step for you. You're going to need to do some research to understand how to get everything possible out of the startup process but you can start by moving everything out of the 'startup' folder under your profile.

Good luck!
Dick