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Topic: Windows Vista and Gamespy Arcade SFC support  (Read 9608 times)

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Offline Pestalence_XC

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Windows Vista and Gamespy Arcade SFC support
« on: December 26, 2007, 02:36:50 am »
If you haven't noticed, you can't join game lobbies in Gamespy Arcade when using Vista (GSA needs to make a patch)

Currently, I have a work around to where Vista users can join a game lobby.. and it is quite easy..

I will post for Orion pirates now and later today I will post for SFC 1 and EAW

Make sure game is installed so that Gamespy Arcade recognizes it.

Make sure you have latest version of Gamespy Arcade

Launch Gamespy Arcade, let it scan for games.

Sign into Gamespy Arcade


To enter a game lobby. just press CNTRL + O

then put in the room URL below

SFC :

sfc:///?type=group&group=-1

SFC EAW:

strfltcmd2:///?type=group&group=-1

Orion Pirates :

sfc2op:///?type=group&group=-1

SFC 3 :

sfc3:///?type=group&group=-1


The second way to enter is to use your buddy list and join your buddies location.

anyhow I hope that this helps
« Last Edit: April 21, 2008, 06:30:35 pm by Pestalence_XC »
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Offline KBFLordKrueg

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Re: Windows Vista and Gamespy Arcade SFC support
« Reply #1 on: December 26, 2007, 04:01:09 pm »
Part of the problem solved anyway.
Now, if you could figure out how to get Vista connected to the D2, you would become a God... ;D

Nicely done, sir.
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Offline Pestalence_XC

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Re: Windows Vista and Gamespy Arcade SFC support
« Reply #2 on: December 26, 2007, 05:21:59 pm »
Vista does connect to D2.

Follow instructions for the OP Enhancement Package v5.0 install

It will show you how to install SFC OP without any problems.

OP Enhancement Package is optional

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Offline FPF-Tobin Dax

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Re: Windows Vista and Gamespy Arcade SFC support
« Reply #3 on: December 26, 2007, 05:24:47 pm »
For those in Canada who don't want to deal with Dell, MDG can still build you a system using XP on it.
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Offline KBFLordKrueg

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Re: Windows Vista and Gamespy Arcade SFC support
« Reply #4 on: December 26, 2007, 05:53:21 pm »
Quote from: Pestalence_XC on December 26, 2007, 05:21:59 pm
Vista does connect to D2.

Follow instructions for the OP Enhancement Package v5.0 install

It will show you how to install SFC OP without any problems.

OP Enhancement Package is optional



Then you have indeed elevated your standing... :notworthy: :notworthy:
This is great news for dozens of players I've seen post about not being able to join campaigns because of issues with Vista after they bought a new super powered gaming computer... ;D
Outstanding!
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Offline Pestalence_XC

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Re: Windows Vista and Gamespy Arcade SFC support
« Reply #5 on: December 26, 2007, 06:28:56 pm »
SOrry.. I           FUBARED

Vista connected Once to the Directory servers, and logged into a server 1 time earlier today..

So.. trying just now, I got to the directory server and saw Stray's Tavern, The BoneYard, and Test Server...

Trying to join .. it counted down and then dumped to desktop.. However I did connect into The Boneyard earlier today..

Now the problem seems a DNS resolution on Vista's side.. Iam working on a work around currently..

Please bare with me for a day or 2.. I'll get 100% stability soon
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Offline Pestalence_XC

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Re: Windows Vista and Gamespy Arcade SFC support
« Reply #6 on: December 26, 2007, 08:02:56 pm »
OK it seems that the problem is the way Direct X 10 communicates with DirectX 9.0c ...

I put OP into compatibility mode for XPSP 2, Disabled scaling, turn off visual themes, and disabled desktop composition..

Launch game..

Multiplayer gave me FIrewall detected..

Clicked back button

Clicked Dynaverse connect again

OP asked me to log in..

I go to Test Server

I click connect

I log on to server.. Movement crawls from hex to hex.. Purchases take several min in drydock, nevermind buying a ship.

Launch of game works fine mission works fine, going back to server is fine, but movement is slow and same issue with drydock.. now I get screen parts disappearing after clicking repair button, then it re appears if I click map then supply again..

Repair cost does not take effect for several min.

Anyhow, I am still trying to get it more stable.. Looking into maybe updating the DLL's from the Direct X 10 SDK and see what happens.

It is definately a Direct Play issue.. Similar to what SFC 3 had when Direct X 9 came out.

This may require a user side patch or a newer version of Direct X 10 that is backwards compatible with Direct Play.

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Offline KBF-Crim

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Re: Windows Vista and Gamespy Arcade SFC support
« Reply #7 on: December 26, 2007, 08:25:18 pm »
You Rock.
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Offline FPF-Tobin Dax

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Re: Windows Vista and Gamespy Arcade SFC support
« Reply #8 on: December 27, 2007, 11:53:02 am »
The solution would seem to be to upgrade to XP.  :angel:
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Offline Lepton

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Re: Windows Vista and Gamespy Arcade SFC support
« Reply #9 on: December 27, 2007, 05:24:49 pm »
Quote from: Pestalence_XC on December 26, 2007, 08:02:56 pm
OK it seems that the problem is the way Direct X 10 communicates with DirectX 9.0c ...

I put OP into compatibility mode for XPSP 2, Disabled scaling, turn off visual themes, and disabled desktop composition..

Launch game..

Multiplayer gave me FIrewall detected..

Clicked back button

Clicked Dynaverse connect again

OP asked me to log in..

I go to Test Server

I click connect

I log on to server.. Movement crawls from hex to hex.. Purchases take several min in drydock, nevermind buying a ship.

Launch of game works fine mission works fine, going back to server is fine, but movement is slow and same issue with drydock.. now I get screen parts disappearing after clicking repair button, then it re appears if I click map then supply again..

Repair cost does not take effect for several min.

Anyhow, I am still trying to get it more stable.. Looking into maybe updating the DLL's from the Direct X 10 SDK and see what happens.

It is definately a Direct Play issue.. Similar to what SFC 3 had when Direct X 9 came out.

This may require a user side patch or a newer version of Direct X 10 that is backwards compatible with Direct Play.



This is totally consistent with my dynaverse experiences under Vista so far.  Takes forever to login.  May get totally shut out with firewall for no good reason.  If I can connect to the directory servers, logging on to a specific dynaverse server takes forever.  Once on a server, hex movement is exceeding slow.  Switching between views (i.e. shipyard, supplies) is slow and the views take a while to update.  All in all, a pretty rough experience.  Also, connecting to other players in missions is pretty damn slow and spotty as well.
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Offline Pestalence_XC

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Re: Windows Vista and Gamespy Arcade SFC support
« Reply #10 on: December 28, 2007, 12:42:53 am »
OK I thnik I may have found a solution..

Everyone tries to put OP into XPSP 2 compatibility by default..

Put the game into Win 2K compatibility

also put a check into disable desktop composition

This re-enables TCP/IP connection buttons in game

it also re enables the Launch Gamespy Arcade button..

on first attempt, I got the directory servers really fast.. but I went to join the wrong server..

Afterwords I get Firewall issue.. but I am going to try again..

I'll post back as soon as I can gain a server..

If mocement is fast.. problem solved..

I had forgotten that OP was built on Win 2K.. so it is not surprising that Compatibility mode needs to be set for same.

Anyhow, I'll post back about the Dyna
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Offline Pestalence_XC

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Re: Windows Vista and Gamespy Arcade SFC support
« Reply #11 on: December 28, 2007, 01:12:59 am »
New Gamespy Arcade fix for Vista

Right click on Icon, put compatibility mode for XPSP 2

put check into Disable Desktop Composition

Click OK.

Gamespy Arcade works like it is suppose to.. lobbies and all
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Offline Lepton

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Re: Windows Vista and Gamespy Arcade SFC support
« Reply #12 on: December 28, 2007, 01:27:52 pm »
Quote from: Pestalence_XC on December 28, 2007, 01:12:59 am
New Gamespy Arcade fix for Vista

Right click on Icon, put compatibility mode for XPSP 2

put check into Disable Desktop Composition

Click OK.

Gamespy Arcade works like it is suppose to.. lobbies and all


Not for me it doesn't.  I tried that already.
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Offline Pestalence_XC

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Re: Windows Vista and Gamespy Arcade SFC support
« Reply #13 on: December 28, 2007, 01:44:25 pm »
Quote from: Lepton on December 28, 2007, 01:27:52 pm
Quote from: Pestalence_XC on December 28, 2007, 01:12:59 am
New Gamespy Arcade fix for Vista

Right click on Icon, put compatibility mode for XPSP 2

put check into Disable Desktop Composition

Click OK.

Gamespy Arcade works like it is suppose to.. lobbies and all


Not for me it doesn't. I tried that already.

It must be because I installed VIsta RC SP 1 on my system...

GSA is working for me now.. Still has some bugs in the GSA program whn going into BF1942 room, but after the "Can't use <>+_" message, the page loads and I can join lobby..

Anyhow if you want the RC SP 1 vor Vista.. I can post a link for you to get it.
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Offline Lepton

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Re: Windows Vista and Gamespy Arcade SFC support
« Reply #14 on: December 28, 2007, 01:47:56 pm »
Quote from: Pestalence_XC on December 28, 2007, 12:42:53 am
OK I thnik I may have found a solution..

Everyone tries to put OP into XPSP 2 compatibility by default..

Put the game into Win 2K compatibility

also put a check into disable desktop composition

This re-enables TCP/IP connection buttons in game

it also re enables the Launch Gamespy Arcade button..

on first attempt, I got the directory servers really fast.. but I went to join the wrong server..

Afterwords I get Firewall issue.. but I am going to try again..

I'll post back as soon as I can gain a server..

If mocement is fast.. problem solved..

I had forgotten that OP was built on Win 2K.. so it is not surprising that Compatibility mode needs to be set for same.

Anyhow, I'll post back about the Dyna


Movement is zippy for me until I move onto a planet or station, where it takes forever for the supply or shipyard button to light up if it does at all.  When I try to move off of the planet or base, it is very slow and slow thereafter, until for some reason it clears up again and movement is zippy.  I was testing this out on the Boneyard server.  Only person on it.  The movement problems might be related to the mission button resolving itself.  It seems when the mission button does not light up right away then movement is slow.
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Offline I, Mudd.

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Re: Windows Vista and Gamespy Arcade SFC support
« Reply #15 on: December 28, 2007, 03:39:15 pm »
Maybe I DLed from the wrong place, but when I installed Vista RC SP 1, rebooted and clicked on the Gamespy icon with the properties selected as you stated, it was the first time I'd ever seen the Blue screen of death in Vista. From that point, it would simply reboot, bluescreen repeat until I opened in safe mode and did a system restore prior to installing the 'update'.

Before installing Vista RC SP 1, I had all the Windows updates available from MS, so I am rather confused and a little more than exasperated at what to do next. XP is not an option on this Compaq machine as some of the Hardware is integrated to use specialized HP drivers, or so my meager research has shown ...

I am considering running OP under the VMware I have installed to run 3dmax on, but am a little hesitant to do so for fear of increased lag ... lol

... any suggestions?

JM.
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Offline Age

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Re: Windows Vista and Gamespy Arcade SFC support
« Reply #16 on: December 28, 2007, 04:05:48 pm »
Quote from: Pestalence_XC on December 28, 2007, 01:12:59 am
New Gamespy Arcade fix for Vista



put check into Disable Desktop Composition

Click OK.


What is this?I bet you are having fun with this.
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Offline Pestalence_XC

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Re: Windows Vista and Gamespy Arcade SFC support
« Reply #17 on: December 29, 2007, 01:31:42 am »
Well so far..

Win Vista using SP 1 Beta RC version 6001

GSA fixed (to the most part) by setting to XPSP2 compatibility and disabling Desktop Composition.

Dynaverse ...

Still same issue.. periodic Firewall message, but I can access the directory servers more often..

Logged on to Boneyard.. Movement crawls, supplies take 1 to 2 min to update.. etc..

This is a TCP/Ip issue or a Direct Play issue..

Still researching Direct X to find out a solution.. but we are getting closer.

For those wanting to play TCP/IP direct games, the buttons for TCP/Ip are fixed in vista SP 1 RC by setting game to Win 2K compatibility and disabling Desktop Composition.

So so far GSA and SFC OP TCP/IP are working..

Not a bad start for 3 days.. now let's see if I can get the Dyna going..

I do have 1 question

Anyone try to host a Vista based Dyna Server?

I'll put one up for Testing.
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Offline Pestalence_XC

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Re: Windows Vista and Gamespy Arcade SFC support
« Reply #18 on: December 29, 2007, 01:39:20 am »
OK Vista based Dyna server Up
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Offline Pestalence_XC

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Re: Windows Vista and Gamespy Arcade SFC support
« Reply #19 on: December 29, 2007, 02:29:44 am »
 OK server on Vista seems to be much more stable than that on XP for Vista users..

Movement is much faster than those on other servers, however it is still taking a moment to update position repair and supplies, but it is no where a crawl like trying to play on an XP server.

The test server is the b37 stock server.. no modifications to server kit except the directory look up file.. It is running Flatfile not SQL

Also the results I got may be biased due to me connecting to my own computer through the directory server..

IE, I ran the game on the same PC as the server is running..

that may have introduced lag..

Vista users, please try logging on and playing.

Post back any feedback please.
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