Topic: SFC Gold Edition - keyboard issue

[Chopper Greg]

I have a copy of SFC ( Gold Edition ), and have a issue with keyboards not working - from what I have been able to read, most SFC keyboard issues are with SFC II.

Can anyone lend a hand?

[yochenhsieh]

Sometimes it happens on SFC1. Just use the same way to fix it.

[Panzergranate]

Do you mean shaking one's fist at the ceiling and yelling, "Damn you Bill Gates and Microsoft!!"

[yochenhsieh]

The "keyboard not working bug" is quite famous(or infamous, anyway) and has several similar threads about how to solve it. From what Chopper Greg has written, I believe he knows how to search the answer in the forums or he may already know how to fix it if he knows this problem usually happens with SFC2/OP. 

[Chopper Greg]

The "keyboard not working bug" is quite famous(or infamous, anyway) and has several similar threads about how to solve it. From what Chopper Greg has written, I believe he knows how to search the answer in the forums or he may already know how to fix it if he knows this problem usually happens with SFC2/OP. 

From what I have been able to find so far, the SFC2/OP is fixed by changing some info in the properties as per:    

http://www.dynaverse.net/forum/index.php/topic,163356104.msg1122566841.html

OTOH, I fail to see what specific changes need to be made for SFC Gold

[Pestalence_XC]

First, you need to launch the game from the Starfleet.exe game file..

The default SFC.EXE is bugged.. do not use it..

Also the Starfleet.exe must have Visual Themes disabled  if you are using an XP machine. If you are going to play on Gamespy Arcade, you must set to Win 98 compatibility. (Win 98 compatibility in Single player on XP will lag with shuttles and T Bombs)

On Vista, game should be set to Win98 Compatibility all the time and have Desktop Composition turned off.

On many systems, using the Gold edition, the game after patch would not recognize the game install folder because of the dashes (not unicode compliant) as such you had to rename the game folder from

Starfleet Command - Gold Edition

to

Starfleet Command

This was an Integral part of the instructions of my older installer pack which seems to be forgotton with this Unified Installer..

The maker of the installer failed to research which changes HAVE to be made to get the game working correctly.

That is why I had specific instructions to installing and patching SFC original so that the game will work correctly..

The Unified installer will work, but ONLY after the proper install method of Starfleet Command is followed.

You can install to a different Directory or even drive, but the game folder Must be changed as described above. (Game folder and registry entry will conflict if you do not)

I wish people would research information and test their products BEFORE they hand things out to the community..

If you do not have all 3 versions of the game on disk, then I suggest testing with someone who does have them...

also when you release an installer.. Post ALL INSTRUCTIONS on how to Install the game and then patch for proper function of the game..

I have found that what developers find as common sense does not apply to the community as a whole and as such, a detailed step by step should be posted.

Even then we still get people who want to skip steps and complain that the game does not work..

If the instructions are clearly posted and available, then the problem is the End User's fault for not reading the instructions or following them exactly as posted..

This way you can just send them back to the DL page to read the instructions again.

This Unified installer is great to use AFTER the proper install methods are followed.

Hope that this helps.

[Chopper Greg]

First, you need to launch the game from the Starfleet.exe game file..

The default SFC.EXE is bugged.. do not use it..

Ok, this, isn't much of an issue - I'm sure I can figure out how to deal with this.

Also the Starfleet.exe must have Visual Themes disabled  if you are using an XP machine. If you are going to play on Gamespy Arcade, you must set to Win 98 compatibility. (Win 98 compatibility in Single player on XP will lag with shuttles and T Bombs)

Right now, it's looking to be about 50/50 - How bad is the lag? - I might decide to set it to Win 98 compatability and forget it if it isn't to bad.

On Vista, game should be set to Win98 Compatibility all the time and have Desktop Composition turned off.

Now you are starting to loose me.   Visual Themes?    Win 98 compatibility?   While I don't have yet Vista, I have been thinking of getting it, so it sounds like I should know what Desktop Composition should be, and what it does

On many systems, using the Gold edition, the game after patch would not recognize the game install folder because of the dashes (not unicode compliant) as such you had to rename the game folder from

Starfleet Command - Gold Edition

to

Starfleet Command

Ok, I should be able change the name of the folder, but, I never patched it as I could never figure out what patches were needed with Gold Edition ( or for that matter I don't have the faintest idea how Gold Edition is different from the original release ).

This was an Integral part of the instructions of my older installer pack which seems to be forgotton with this Unified Installer..

The maker of the installer failed to research which changes HAVE to be made to get the game working correctly.

That is why I had specific instructions to installing and patching SFC original so that the game will work correctly..

The Unified installer will work, but ONLY after the proper install method of Starfleet Command is followed.

You can install to a different Directory or even drive, but the game folder Must be changed as described above. (Game folder and registry entry will conflict if you do not)

I wish people would research information and test their products BEFORE they hand things out to the community..

If you do not have all 3 versions of the game on disk, then I suggest testing with someone who does have them...

also when you release an installer.. Post ALL INSTRUCTIONS on how to Install the game and then patch for proper function of the game..

I have found that what developers find as common sense does not apply to the community as a whole and as such, a detailed step by step should be posted.

Even then we still get people who want to skip steps and complain that the game does not work..

If the instructions are clearly posted and available, then the problem is the End User's fault for not reading the instructions or following them exactly as posted..

This way you can just send them back to the DL page to read the instructions again.

This Unified installer is great to use AFTER the proper install methods are followed.

Hope that this helps.

Ok, you lost me again.   

What game installers?

[Pestalence_XC]

OK..

Way back when XP came out, I compiled 3 seperate SFC Original Patch installers that also included all the Taldren / 14 Degrees East Bonus content and the SFC Unofficial No Disk fix so the game could be played on machines.

There were 3 issues of the game released to the market

SFC Original v1.00

SFC Updated 1.01

SFC Gold Edition 1.021

The current patch release is 1.03


XP suffers lag die to incompatibility in DirectX versions..

SFC 1 was designed for Direct X 6, Direct X 8 and Direct X 9 improperly handles the Direct Play code of the game, thus producing lag.

On XP machines, to reduce the lag, most people right click on the desktop shortcut and go to the compatibility tab and put a check into Disable Visual Themes.. what this does is remove the XP Visual  enhancements on the SFC game.. XP enhancements will cause lag since the game engine and DIrect X the game was built under does not know how to handle the Visual Theme overlay on the game.

Putting the game into Compatibility mode (right click Starfleet.exe, choose properties, click Compatibility tab, put check into Make this program Comaptible for and select Win 98/ME) when playing single player will increase lag with shuttles and missles and T-Bombs, but in Multi-Player it lessens lag.

On XP the game will have lag no matter what.

In Vista, the Single Player mode must be run at all times in Comaptibility mode, and the game has no lag at all..

The big problem with Vista, it is useless to try to use the Vista OS with less than 2 GB of system memory.. 1 GB is barely enough to run Vista and 1 program.

Also on Vista it takes a whilt to complete configure the Operating system before you can play older games smoothly.

the original SFC install instructions are located here

http://www.dynaverse.net/forum/index.php/topic,163353684.0.html

[yochenhsieh]

The maker of the installer failed to research which changes HAVE to be made to get the game working correctly.
I wish people would research information and test their products BEFORE they hand things out to the community..
If you do not have all 3 versions of the game on disk, then I suggest testing with someone who does have them...
also when you release an installer.. Post ALL INSTRUCTIONS on how to Install the game and then patch for proper function of the game..

I think my intructions expains clearly enough...

Instructions:
- install SFC1 to harddrive.
- double click to run the patcher.
- If the patcher can not detect where your SFC1 is installed, browse to it manually.
- Choose your SFC1 version, it may be 1.0, 1.01, or 1.021.
- The patcher will extract patch files and update your SFC1, wait a few minutes for it to finish.
- After patching finished, you should be able to play updated SFC1 v1.03.

That's ALL INSTRUCTIONS you have to follow. If the install folder's name is the cause, just browse to it manually.
Perhaps I should ask users read the post carefully before they get the patcher.

Thanks for your criticism. I will research harder for my next release if there's any.

[Pestalence_XC]

The maker of the installer failed to research which changes HAVE to be made to get the game working correctly.
I wish people would research information and test their products BEFORE they hand things out to the community..
If you do not have all 3 versions of the game on disk, then I suggest testing with someone who does have them...
also when you release an installer.. Post ALL INSTRUCTIONS on how to Install the game and then patch for proper function of the game..

I think my intructions expains clearly enough...

Instructions:
- install SFC1 to harddrive.
- double click to run the patcher.
- If the patcher can not detect where your SFC1 is installed, browse to it manually.
- Choose your SFC1 version, it may be 1.0, 1.01, or 1.021.
- The patcher will extract patch files and update your SFC1, wait a few minutes for it to finish.
- After patching finished, you should be able to play updated SFC1 v1.03.

That's ALL INSTRUCTIONS you have to follow. If the install folder's name is the cause, just browse to it manually.
Perhaps I should ask users read the post carefully before they get the patcher.

Thanks for your criticism. I will research harder for my next release if there's any.

Not criticism.. Truth

You fail to mention that the SFC game should be run from the Starfleet.exe file.. the default install file in the Start Menu is SFC.exe which launches the game movie.. this file is bugged and will gause randome game issues and crashes when used..

You fail to mention the Compatibility modes of the game for Single Player or Gamespy Arcade game use.

You failed to post information about where you recieved permission to use a NO CD Hack for SFC.. That alone took me 3 months to get permission from Interplay to incorporate and I also had to post a disclaimer from Interplay with the installers to cover both Taldren and Interplay in the event that the No CD Hack messed up the operation of the game.. Legaities..

You also fail to mention where you recieved permission to release Taldren Bonus content for SFC nor did you cite any credit to where you recieved the packages from.

I can cite all my permissions because I was on the Beta Development Team at 14 East before they broke off from Interplay and I was with 14 East Beta Team when they changed their name to Taldren...

I have the permissions to release material directly from Taldren CEO Erik Bethke (former Taldren INC. USA)

I have no problem of a Unified installer that you made.. and you do have permission to put one out, with proper credits listed for each component in the installer.. hence a Read Me file in the installer and Posted above the DL location..

Also a Proper method of install and usage needs to be listed as well along with any possible issues that are known for the title on different OS systems like Win 98/ME, Win 2K, Win XP, Win Server 2k3, Win XPSP1, Win XPSP2, Win Server XP 64, Win Vista, Win Vista SP1, etc. and how the game should be configured so that it will function properly for their respective OS.

These are things you have to consider before you release something to the community at large..

Now if it was like updating a MOD to a game, then just DL and Install at your own risk is just fine..

But patching a game comes with responsibility.. you take responsibility for the other people's games operating correctly.. If someone's does not work corretly.. you must know how they can fix it or at least where to start looking for a solution..

Game launches then crashes to desktop after they install your patch. What do you tell them to do..

what are the list of trouble shooting techniques do you offer to resolve their problem..

What if it is a VIdeo Driver? do you know which drivers work with which card?

What if it is their Direct X being corrupted, or they installed while their Anti-Virus was active?

What if they launch the game from the wrong EXE file?

What if they set the wrong compatibility mode?

What if they had saved games before they installed the patch?

You do not offer any install instructions that could possibly cover these events.. this should be listed before the DL link and explained in layman's terms along with reasons why they have to do these things..

If it is too complicated for them to undertake a proper setup, then they can choose not to get it..

But you only cover 3 OS in your installer and even by what you have lised, those instructions are only good if the end user is on Win 98/ME/2K and has no Anti-Virus running in the background.

For Win XP, there is the compatibility Mode and Visual Themes issues that cause LAG in Single and Multiplayer modes,

There is Anti-virus software that corrupts the sprites Q3 files and sometimes the sounds.zip.

No everyone runs the Virus called McAfee or the virus called Norton.. most people use a real Anti-Virus like AVG or Panda that will corrupt a game install from disk and /or a patch install.. but you have no mention of disabling the Anti-Virus prior to game install or patching..

So I ask again, where is your install instructions and your list of credits / permissions from the content creators?

You have a basic install instruction set for people on Win 98 without Anti-virus but what about everyone else?

I was not offering criticism, I was telling the truth.. There is more to putting out a public patcher than just say here you go.. it takes work.. days on your system working everything out.. I'm talking about 14 to 16 hours at a time testing on different OS's, finding what works and what doesn't.

I'm not trying to criticize you for your effort, but your effort is not complete... this is what I am trying to point out.

If you think ill of me, then so be it.. I have put 10 years into this company and game.. how much have you put in?

I'm trying to help you out and you are taking it negatively... I do not post with emmotion on the boards, I post with fact and logic.. there is a reason I an nicknamed "Terminator" ..

I am the one who kept fighting on SFC 3 to keep it alive when everyone in the community was trying to get the game closed down by talking about the Bet Patches.. I went to every sight, I talked to Victor, Katrina, ChessMess, and many Fan sights to remove the build numbers and Beta tags so Activision would not pull the Directory Servers (as D.Net was not set up at that time to take the Directories over on behalf of Taldren)..

There is a lot that you do not know and only a bit of what you do.. as I said, research your information, post credits and proper installs, and be prepared to spend most of your time giving game support to those that use your installer and have problems.. you made it your responsibility the moment you put it public online..

I promise you will get more emails for support than you can answer in a day on the SFC games.. I know I am.. I get over 300 emails a day on SFC concerning OP and Vista, Dyna Server issues, request for CD Keys for OP and EAW, request for SFC Original support, and that is only the first 100 emails.. then there is the other 200 emails concerning SFC 3 and SFC 3 Server Kits.. this does not count the Dynaverse Server Admins group, or my Moderator duties here or at STGU, and not my fleet obligations to XC.. I don't have time to be emmotional online.. I am strictly business and logical

there is no need for hard feelings or getting mad.. I'm just stating facts.. all you need to do is fix a few things like a proper readme file containing credits for material included with a disclaimer for Taldren, Interplay, and Dynaverse.net and a multi OS install instruction set and posting them above your DL link...

Other than that, you should be good to go..

Hope that this helps

[Chopper Greg]

OK..

Way back when XP came out, I compiled 3 seperate SFC Original Patch installers that also included all the Taldren / 14 Degrees East Bonus content and the SFC Unofficial No Disk fix so the game could be played on machines.

There were 3 issues of the game released to the market

SFC Original v1.00

SFC Updated 1.03

SFC Gold Edition 1.021

The current patch release is 1.03

Thanks, this tells me where I am and what patch I need to look for.

XP suffers lag die to incompatibility in DirectX versions..

SFC 1 was designed for Direct X 6, Direct X 8 and Direct X 9 improperly handles the Direct Play code of the game, thus producing lag.

On XP machines, to reduce the lag, most people right click on the desktop shortcut and go to the compatibility tab and put a check into Disable Visual Themes.. what this does is remove the XP Visual  enhancements on the SFC game.. XP enhancements will cause lag since the game engine and DIrect X the game was built under does not know how to handle the Visual Theme overlay on the game.

Putting the game into Compatibility mode (right click Starfleet.exe, choose properties, click Compatibility tab, put check into Make this program Comaptible for and select Win 98/ME) when playing single player will increase lag with shuttles and missles and T-Bombs, but in Multi-Player it lessens lag.

On XP the game will have lag no matter what.

Fair, enough.   I just try to anticapate those bit's of lag, and if they are not to bad, I usualy don't notice them.

In Vista, the Single Player mode must be run at all times in Comaptibility mode, and the game has no lag at all..

The big problem with Vista, it is useless to try to use the Vista OS with less than 2 GB of system memory.. 1 GB is barely enough to run Vista and 1 program.

Also on Vista it takes a whilt to complete configure the Operating system before you can play older games smoothly.

Ok, where can I find more information on configuring Vista to run older games?   I have several older games that would run on ME, but, couldn't get to run on XP - it was a bit annoying to say the least.

the original SFC install instructions are located here

http://www.dynaverse.net/forum/index.php/topic,163353684.0.html

Thanks for the assist, I'll take a look in just a minute.


One last question, I seam to recall that there was a ST based program that alowed people to create their own ships ( mixing and matching weapons, shields and other things ) and use them in a Starfleet universe, but, when I went back to the store to buy it about a week later, it was gone.   Would you or someone you know what that program might have been?   I don't think it was just making mods to previous designs, but I could be wrong.

[Pestalence_XC]

OK..

Way back when XP came out, I compiled 3 seperate SFC Original Patch installers that also included all the Taldren / 14 Degrees East Bonus content and the SFC Unofficial No Disk fix so the game could be played on machines.

There were 3 issues of the game released to the market

SFC Original v1.00

SFC Updated 1.03

SFC Gold Edition 1.021

The current patch release is 1.03

Thanks, this tells me where I am and what patch I need to look for.

Make sure to run the game from the Starfleet.exe and not the SFC.exe. To check game version, when the Starfleet COmmand splash screen comes up, check the bottom right and it will give you your game version.

I would also suggest using the patch page I posted and follow those instructions for smoother game play and also my installers include the latest Official release of the sfbspc13.txt file (ship list) that Taldren released after the 1.03 game patch. I don't know if the Unified Installer includes this or not since there is not a readme file to check content.

XP suffers lag due to incompatibility in DirectX versions..

SFC 1 was designed for Direct X 6, Direct X 8 and Direct X 9 improperly handles the Direct Play code of the game, thus producing lag.

On XP machines, to reduce the lag, most people right click on the desktop shortcut and go to the compatibility tab and put a check into Disable Visual Themes.. what this does is remove the XP Visual  enhancements on the SFC game.. XP enhancements will cause lag since the game engine and DIrect X the game was built under does not know how to handle the Visual Theme overlay on the game.

Putting the game into Compatibility mode (right click Starfleet.exe, choose properties, click Compatibility tab, put check into Make this program Comaptible for and select Win 98/ME) when playing single player will increase lag with shuttles and missles and T-Bombs, but in Multi-Player it lessens lag.

On XP the game will have lag no matter what.

Fair, enough.   I just try to anticapate those bit's of lag, and if they are not to bad, I usualy don't notice them.

on XP, So long as you are in Single Player, do not put the game in Win98/ME compatibility mode. After the first round of lag, the lag disappers for the rest of the time you ae playing.. that is until you launch the game again. Win 98/ME compatibility mode should only be used if you are playing on Gamespy Arcade.

In Vista, the Single Player mode must be run at all times in Comaptibility mode, and the game has no lag at all..

The big problem with Vista, it is useless to try to use the Vista OS with less than 2 GB of system memory.. 1 GB is barely enough to run Vista and 1 program.

Also on Vista it takes a whilt to complete configure the Operating system before you can play older games smoothly.

Ok, where can I find more information on configuring Vista to run older games?   I have several older games that would run on ME, but, couldn't get to run on XP - it was a bit annoying to say the least.

On XP, almost all games will play unless they are 8 bit games. XP and newer OS system do not support 8 bit software.

With XP systems, Visual Themes is the big culprit. Make sure that it is disabled for all pre 2002 software. Also setting games to Win 2000 compatibility seems to let most games work correctly most of the time. A few software programs, not just games, may benifit from Win 98 compatibility mode, but 89% of software from pre 2002 sould work in Win 2000 compatibility mode.

On Vista :

In order to get Windows Vista to work with Older games, this is what you must do :

I have found in my gaming group that Vista works best with the Service Pack 1 installed even if it is a Beta.. it is the release canidate due out at the beginning of 2008.. release date of the beta is Dec 24 2007 and is located at

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=BE34577A-E925-48FB-9D6D-50FE9461F808&displaylang=en

After the service Package is installed, Disable User Accounts in the Administrators control panel

then right click on the game icon.

right click on the compatibility tab

Put check into Use compatibility Mode

For games made prior to 2000, put game into Win 98/ME compatibility mode, games made between 2000 and 2002, set game for Win 2000 compatibility mode, games made 2003 - 2007, set for XPSP2 compatibility, Game after Vista release in March 2007 does not need Compatibility checked.

put check into Disable Desktop Composition for all games.

Click OK..

the original SFC install instructions are located here

http://www.dynaverse.net/forum/index.php/topic,163353684.0.html

Thanks for the assist, I'll take a look in just a minute.


One last question, I seam to recall that there was a ST based program that alowed people to create their own ships ( mixing and matching weapons, shields and other things ) and use them in a Starfleet universe, but, when I went back to the store to buy it about a week later, it was gone.   Would you or someone you know what that program might have been?   I don't think it was just making mods to previous designs, but I could be wrong.

That was Star Trek : Starship Creator and it is a stand alone program, it did not create models for use in other games...

However, in Starfleet Command, there is the Eagle Eye Software Inc Ship Edit for SFC 1 and SFC 2 Empires at War. This is a utility designed to allow you to easily modify the sfbspc13.txt file of SFC 1 to adjust ship weapons, firing arcs, engine power, crew etc... It also does the same for SFC 2 EAW on the shiplist.txt file.

As for making the models that go into SFC and other SFC titles, the models are created in either Milkshape or 3 D Studio Max 5 Revision 4 using the Taldren plugins to allow you to export to a *.mod file.. This is only used to build the Polygon base structure for the game model.. Textures are made in either Paintshop Pro (any version) or Photoshop (any version) and saved as *.BMP files in a 256 x 256 size frame. these image files are then imported into 3D Studio or Milkshape and applied to the ship model.

the lighting effects in SFC on the ships is added after the model is complete by a program called Lightwave. this allows you to put glow effects from the lights on the hull or make the windows shine light when you are looking at the dark side of the ship.

This is the only way to make models for SFC.. Or you can look in the Modeling Forum here on D.net or look at battleclinic.com in the model section.. make sure the description of the model you get is labeled SFC compliant (not EAW/OP or SFC 3).

You can use Ship Edit to change the location of a specific ship in the game to use the Model you added to your Assets/Models folder.

If you want a copy of Ship Edit, just email me at pestalence@gmail.com with the subject of SFC Models and Utilities and I will send back an email with the program attached (make sure your Email client will accept EXE files until after you recieve my reply and make sure that your email can recieve attachments of at least 8 MB. (The Installer is 7.38 Mb and covers SFC 1, SFC 2 : EAW, and a second program (uses the original Shipedit files) for SFC 2 : OP).

Hope this helps.

[Chopper Greg]

That was Star Trek : Starship Creator and it is a stand alone program, it did not create models for use in other games...

However, in Starfleet Command, there is the Eagle Eye Software Inc Ship Edit for SFC 1 and SFC 2 Empires at War. This is a utility designed to allow you to easily modify the sfbspc13.txt file of SFC 1 to adjust ship weapons, firing arcs, engine power, crew etc... It also does the same for SFC 2 EAW on the shiplist.txt file.

As for making the models that go into SFC and other SFC titles, the models are created in either Milkshape or 3 D Studio Max 5 Revision 4 using the Taldren plugins to allow you to export to a *.mod file.. This is only used to build the Polygon base structure for the game model.. Textures are made in either Paintshop Pro (any version) or Photoshop (any version) and saved as *.BMP files in a 256 x 256 size frame. these image files are then imported into 3D Studio or Milkshape and applied to the ship model.

the lighting effects in SFC on the ships is added after the model is complete by a program called Lightwave. this allows you to put glow effects from the lights on the hull or make the windows shine light when you are looking at the dark side of the ship.

This is the only way to make models for SFC.. Or you can look in the Modeling Forum here on D.net or look at battleclinic.com in the model section.. make sure the description of the model you get is labeled SFC compliant (not EAW/OP or SFC 3).

You can use Ship Edit to change the location of a specific ship in the game to use the Model you added to your Assets/Models folder.

If you want a copy of Ship Edit, just email me at pestalence@gmail.com with the subject of SFC Models and Utilities and I will send back an email with the program attached (make sure your Email client will accept EXE files until after you recieve my reply and make sure that your email can recieve attachments of at least 8 MB. (The Installer is 7.38 Mb and covers SFC 1, SFC 2 : EAW, and a second program (uses the original Shipedit files) for SFC 2 : OP).

Hope this helps.

 

You will receive my e-mail within the day.

I used to spend hours with the Star Trek Ship Construction Manual, mixing and matching components from the different races ( with much enjoyment ) and it sounds like I may finally be able to test out some of the designs I came up with.

Thank you very much for your assistance!!!

I Googled " Ship Edit "+" Eagle Eye Software " , but only received 2-3 hits - and even then failed to find it, do you know where a good place to look is?   

This is the first time I have tried to do anything like this, so if you know of any web pages that have a reasionably good tutorial into this sort of thing, by all means please let me know.

Again, thank you for your assistance with helping me to enjoy a good game even more.   If there is anything I can hep you with, please let me know.