The Complete MechWarrior 3 Fixes FAQ (edited: 2/5/16)
Jun 28, 2015 20:21:00 GMT
StoneWall and Yogaphobe like this
Post by speedyspcfan on Jun 28, 2015 20:21:00 GMT
I made this to try and help with some of the issues that trouble MechWarrior 3, with the hopes of fixing them. If you have any more Q/As to add to this, please post them/PM them and I'll add them here with credit. Video version of the FPS limiting fix coming soon.
Misc:
Q0: Where do I download MechWarrior 3?
A0: For one thing, that's questionably legal. The game isn't sold anymore by the publisher/developer but it's still protected under copyright. You're on your own.
--
Q1: I wanna buy MechWarrior 3 and/or Pirate's Moon! Where do I do it?
A1: Here. This is the best bang for your buck, and you get the X-COM game that no one wants to talk about! Sweet, free drink coaster!
--
Q2: Why isn't my CD music looping?
A2: It's a bug with new versions of Windows. I'd turn off the music in all honesty, but if you still want to use it, look into how to use _inmm.dll
Technicalities for MechWarrior 3 in general (including Pirate's Moon):
EDIT: (StoneWall)
Q*1: High resolution patch
www.dropbox.com/s/gase7ryd8bfvetp/mech3-1024x768.zip?dl=0
Q0: I can't install the game, the installer idles! What's the issue?
A0: Start the installer, and once it starts idling, leave your computer for about 10 minutes (make sure it doesn't automatically go into sleep mode). The installer should be open once you're back.
--
Q1: Why can't I play the game in widescreen?
A1: MechWarrior 3 was never designed for widescreen, but a mod is in the works. It's glitchy, and I can't explain how to install it right now as I'm not sure where I found the ZIP that contains the fixed game files. If someone in this thread posts instructions on how to use it, I'll add it here. Once the mod is finished however, it'll be packed in a handy ZIP file, easy to use!
--
Q2: Why does my game freeze during loading screens?
A2: The game is running too fast. Sadly, this can't be fixed without running the game at 15FPS, but there is a work around: CRTL+ALT+DEL out of the game and then go back into it. The game will be loaded now.
--
Q3: I'm on Windows 8 and MechWarrior 3 is running really slow. What gives?
A3: The emulation for older DirectX versions on Windows 8 sucks.
1: Get WinD3D 1.1.14 or another version with the "ddraw.dll" replacement. The latest release with this component is 1.1.38 but I couldn't tell you how well that ddraw.dll works.
2: Let it finish downloading, but do NOT install it. Open it with 7zip and go into the directory "$SYSDIR" from inside the archive.
3: Copy every file ending in .DLL from that folder into your MechWarrior 3 install folder.
4: Open MechWarrior 3 and set the "Video Render Device" to "Direct3D HAL"
(NOTE: This may make the widescreen mod unusable, I'm not completely sure)
--
Q4: Why is my game looking like a bad acid trip/why is everything so blurry/why is everything blending together?
A4: You're using an AMD card. Follow the steps in A3.
--
Q5: My game won't even start. What gives?
A5: This is something that happens for no apparent reason. Reinstall the game and/or try the method listed in A3. If you still have no dice, then go home and be a family man. (Just kidding, but really, I don't know of a fix for this.)
--
Q6: How do I play this game at 60FPS?
A6: MechWarrior 3 was, to my knowledge, designed for 30FPS, so you're not going to play it at 60FPS without game breaking bugs. Sorry.
--
Q7: Why are APCs bouncing/why is my game slowing and speeding up?
A7: The game is running too fast.
If you're on an Nvidia card, you can try this. If it fails, there is also a supposed fixed Win7 Mech3.exe here. Click [http ссылка] on the page to download it. This fix did not work for me but I've heard people having success with it. What I have tested though is this method, which mostly fixes the rubberbanding. It still occurs in some missions but it's far less noticeable:
1: Download ImageCFG.
2: Open a new explorer window, and in the directory bar, put this in: "%systemroot%\system32" without quotes
3: Place ImageCFG in there.
4: Open up a Command Prompt window (you may need to run as admin) and input this (WITH quotes): imagecfg -a 0x1"[MECHWARRIOR3DIRECTORY]\Mech3.exe"
Replace [MECHWARRIOR3DIRECTORY] with the installation path of the game.
After this, download either Bandicam or DXTory and install.
DXTory:
1: Open the software and click on the picture of a computer chip.
2: Set "Limit Video FPS" to 27.
3: If it's not already checked, check the box next to "Limit Video FPS"
Bandicam:
1: Open the software and click the menu "FPS"
2: Set "Set FPS Limit to" to 27.
3: If it's not already checked, check the box next to "Set FPS Limit to"
Q7.5: That didn't work for me! What do I do?
A7.5: Try one of the solutions listed here. If all else fails,cry in a corner and listen to Komm, susser Tod buy an old laptop/desktop running Windows XP. People throw those things away, so you can get them dirt cheap. Just make sure it was made before 2005 and no earlier than 2001 for best compatibility. If you wish to play online you'll need to either buy a WiFi USB with XP support, put an ethernet cable in the computer, or, if you're on a laptop, you can buy a compatible network card if your laptop has a slot for one.
--
Q8: Where's that darn missile platform in Mission 2?
A8: The game is running too fast so it never spawned in. Follow the instructions for A7 but set the FPS limit to 15 for that mission only.
--
Q9: I wanna play online! How do I do that?
A9: Schedule a game with fellow MechWarriors. People here are willing to play sometimes and DigitalBloodSports will allow you to play a game, but once again, it has to be scheduled. After that, it's a bunch of Direct IP stuff that isn't as complex as it sounds. Or you can add Members of this forum who use GameRanger. There isn't a main lobby for GameRanger, but you can create a game and talk up a chat warrior storm inside of your own game lobby.
--
Q10: Why did my game just crash?
A10: You alt-tabbed/CRTL+ALT+DEL'd while you were in the simulator part of the game. Restart the game. Alternately, you didn't ALT-TAB and MechWarrior 3 just felt like not working. That happens sometimes, so just restart the game.
--
Q11: Why do the colors look weird/why is the game running in 16-bit color depth?
A11: It's something in the game that can't be changed, the game was designed to run in 16-bit colors only.
Pirate's Moon only:
Q0: How do I play Pirate's Moon in widescreen?
A0: Until a mod is made for this, you can't, at least with a working HUD as the game uses a modified reader.zbd that hasn't been touched on yet. You should still be able to follow the widescreen mod instructions that are floating around the internet to get the resolution, but expect a weird, cornered HUD.
--
Q1: Why doesn't my joystick work with Pirate's Moon?
A1: It's a glitch that's been present since launch. Play the game with Keyboard + Mouse or some combination of a Throttle and Keyboard or Mouse if you really want.
Need more help? try the subreddit: www.reddit.com/r/mechwarrior
Misc:
Q0: Where do I download MechWarrior 3?
A0: For one thing, that's questionably legal. The game isn't sold anymore by the publisher/developer but it's still protected under copyright. You're on your own.
--
Q1: I wanna buy MechWarrior 3 and/or Pirate's Moon! Where do I do it?
A1: Here. This is the best bang for your buck, and you get the X-COM game that no one wants to talk about! Sweet, free drink coaster!
--
Q2: Why isn't my CD music looping?
A2: It's a bug with new versions of Windows. I'd turn off the music in all honesty, but if you still want to use it, look into how to use _inmm.dll
Technicalities for MechWarrior 3 in general (including Pirate's Moon):
EDIT: (StoneWall)
Q*1: High resolution patch
www.dropbox.com/s/gase7ryd8bfvetp/mech3-1024x768.zip?dl=0
Q0: I can't install the game, the installer idles! What's the issue?
A0: Start the installer, and once it starts idling, leave your computer for about 10 minutes (make sure it doesn't automatically go into sleep mode). The installer should be open once you're back.
--
Q1: Why can't I play the game in widescreen?
A1: MechWarrior 3 was never designed for widescreen, but a mod is in the works. It's glitchy, and I can't explain how to install it right now as I'm not sure where I found the ZIP that contains the fixed game files. If someone in this thread posts instructions on how to use it, I'll add it here. Once the mod is finished however, it'll be packed in a handy ZIP file, easy to use!
--
Q2: Why does my game freeze during loading screens?
A2: The game is running too fast. Sadly, this can't be fixed without running the game at 15FPS, but there is a work around: CRTL+ALT+DEL out of the game and then go back into it. The game will be loaded now.
--
Q3: I'm on Windows 8 and MechWarrior 3 is running really slow. What gives?
A3: The emulation for older DirectX versions on Windows 8 sucks.
1: Get WinD3D 1.1.14 or another version with the "ddraw.dll" replacement. The latest release with this component is 1.1.38 but I couldn't tell you how well that ddraw.dll works.
2: Let it finish downloading, but do NOT install it. Open it with 7zip and go into the directory "$SYSDIR" from inside the archive.
3: Copy every file ending in .DLL from that folder into your MechWarrior 3 install folder.
4: Open MechWarrior 3 and set the "Video Render Device" to "Direct3D HAL"
(NOTE: This may make the widescreen mod unusable, I'm not completely sure)
--
Q4: Why is my game looking like a bad acid trip/why is everything so blurry/why is everything blending together?
A4: You're using an AMD card. Follow the steps in A3.
--
Q5: My game won't even start. What gives?
A5: This is something that happens for no apparent reason. Reinstall the game and/or try the method listed in A3. If you still have no dice, then go home and be a family man. (Just kidding, but really, I don't know of a fix for this.)
--
Q6: How do I play this game at 60FPS?
A6: MechWarrior 3 was, to my knowledge, designed for 30FPS, so you're not going to play it at 60FPS without game breaking bugs. Sorry.
--
Q7: Why are APCs bouncing/why is my game slowing and speeding up?
A7: The game is running too fast.
If you're on an Nvidia card, you can try this. If it fails, there is also a supposed fixed Win7 Mech3.exe here. Click [http ссылка] on the page to download it. This fix did not work for me but I've heard people having success with it. What I have tested though is this method, which mostly fixes the rubberbanding. It still occurs in some missions but it's far less noticeable:
1: Download ImageCFG.
2: Open a new explorer window, and in the directory bar, put this in: "%systemroot%\system32" without quotes
3: Place ImageCFG in there.
4: Open up a Command Prompt window (you may need to run as admin) and input this (WITH quotes): imagecfg -a 0x1"[MECHWARRIOR3DIRECTORY]\Mech3.exe"
Replace [MECHWARRIOR3DIRECTORY] with the installation path of the game.
After this, download either Bandicam or DXTory and install.
DXTory:
1: Open the software and click on the picture of a computer chip.
2: Set "Limit Video FPS" to 27.
3: If it's not already checked, check the box next to "Limit Video FPS"
Bandicam:
1: Open the software and click the menu "FPS"
2: Set "Set FPS Limit to" to 27.
3: If it's not already checked, check the box next to "Set FPS Limit to"
Q7.5: That didn't work for me! What do I do?
A7.5: Try one of the solutions listed here. If all else fails,
--
Q8: Where's that darn missile platform in Mission 2?
A8: The game is running too fast so it never spawned in. Follow the instructions for A7 but set the FPS limit to 15 for that mission only.
--
Q9: I wanna play online! How do I do that?
A9: Schedule a game with fellow MechWarriors. People here are willing to play sometimes and DigitalBloodSports will allow you to play a game, but once again, it has to be scheduled. After that, it's a bunch of Direct IP stuff that isn't as complex as it sounds. Or you can add Members of this forum who use GameRanger. There isn't a main lobby for GameRanger, but you can create a game and talk up a chat warrior storm inside of your own game lobby.
--
Q10: Why did my game just crash?
A10: You alt-tabbed/CRTL+ALT+DEL'd while you were in the simulator part of the game. Restart the game. Alternately, you didn't ALT-TAB and MechWarrior 3 just felt like not working. That happens sometimes, so just restart the game.
--
Q11: Why do the colors look weird/why is the game running in 16-bit color depth?
A11: It's something in the game that can't be changed, the game was designed to run in 16-bit colors only.
Pirate's Moon only:
Q0: How do I play Pirate's Moon in widescreen?
A0: Until a mod is made for this, you can't, at least with a working HUD as the game uses a modified reader.zbd that hasn't been touched on yet. You should still be able to follow the widescreen mod instructions that are floating around the internet to get the resolution, but expect a weird, cornered HUD.
--
Q1: Why doesn't my joystick work with Pirate's Moon?
A1: It's a glitch that's been present since launch. Play the game with Keyboard + Mouse or some combination of a Throttle and Keyboard or Mouse if you really want.
Need more help? try the subreddit: www.reddit.com/r/mechwarrior