fitzgerald_ed on 26/4/2003 at 14:37
I've finally got Terra Nova working fine on XP!!!!!
EDIT: Actually through further testing I've found it to be a little unstable...but it's a step in the right direction :D...I've found that sometimes the game
appears to hang. If you press the Windows key when this happens to skip back to windows and then maximise the program again from the taskbar, it usually sorts itself out. Other times it hangs properly :erg:
You MUST have VDMSound installed first!!!
(
http://ntvdm.cjb.net/)
Follow these instructions:
Go here:
(
http://www.advsys.net/ken/build.htm) http://www.advsys.net/ken/build.htm
1) Download
NOLFB.zip (It's under the first section you come to, entitled VESA 2.0 patch for Windows NT/2000/XP)
2) Install Terra Nova
3) Unzip the NOLFB.zip into your Terra Nova Directory (Contains nolfb.exe and a readme file).
4) Click on the start menu -> all programs -> accessories
5) Right-click on Command Prompt and select "Run with VDMS"
6) Type "cd tnova" - or wherever TN is installed to on your C: drive
6) Type "nolfb" (If it gives an error, click "Ignore" and then type nolfb again)
7) Type "tn"
8) Enjoy the game :thumb:
The NOLFB seems to bypass VESA 2.0 or something which for some reason isn't liked much by XP....the guy explains it well in the website with the zip file on it.
Pvt. Grey on 15/6/2003 at 15:21
I think you may be on to something but I have a problem. When I go to install the game on my XP machine the screen becomes corrupted before I even get anywhere. Did you experiance this as well? If so what was your solution? If not were there any special steps to prep for install?
Thanks,
Grey
Tinker on 18/12/2003 at 05:51
The System Shock Board has instructions on getting SS1 to work under Windows 2000/XP which can be basically used for the mighty T E R R A N O V A.
:thumb:
The latest version of VDM Sound and the Nolfb vesafixthing are key (and possibly Mouse2Kv). Basically copy the contents of the TNova CDROM to a convenient directory and run the install.exe using VDMS, then go to the installed game's directory and edit the _TN.BAT to look something like this:
@echo off
C:\TNOVA\nolfb.com
D:\GAMES\TNOVACD\__ff.exe %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6
rem C:\TNOVA\MOUSE2Kv.exe 640 480 1 1 D:\GAMES\TNOVACD\__ff.exe %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6
Now extract the NOLFB.com and .asm to the game directory (along with MOUSE2KV)
It basically works, but there are minor issues:
Cutscenes: images and sound get out of sinc, but this was a problem under Win95 too.
Frontend: The title screen has a badpalette issue resulting in wierd colours at the end of the title animation.
Bigger issue: Mouse pointer confined to the top left area of the screen in selection screens (640x480) if you move the mouse. Thankfully you can still play the game since TN automatically places the mouse pointer over default screen locations to quickly click-thru to the mission, but if you even slightly move the mouse it will jump to the top left of the screen and get trapped there. So you can play the game, but you'll never be able to do selection stuff and have to play with default team members and load outs.
Using MOUSE2KV fixes the selection screen problem with the mouse in 640x480 modes but completely buggers up it up for the game's 320x200 modes. So I'm still looking at ways to fix this.
EDIT: And of course run the game by opening TN.BAT under VDMSound.
CPLHicks39 on 10/1/2004 at 02:38
I just got SShock1 working in XP so I decided to try and get TN up and going too. I've got the CD copied to my drive and have attempted to run install.exe using VDMS. I get to the bit where it asks to install uniVBE and no matter whether I press yes or no the .exe crashes. Running a A7V266-E, Athlon XP 2100+ and Radeon 9800 Pro. Any suggestions?
DreamFlange on 17/5/2004 at 18:56
I GOT IT WORKING!
I had almost given up hope of EVER getting to play my old love anymore but I noticed this, and tried the nolfb.zip thingie, AND IT WORKS! After all these years, it works! I bursted into tears when I saw the main screen and heard that melody!
Fitzgerald I love you :D (not seriously, don't get any ideas - but you've made one person really, really happy :))
Dashek on 13/6/2004 at 15:18
I am so glad I foundthis forum (quick google search, rock on). Terra Nova is running with none of the above-mentioned difficulties, but someother odd glitches, as you might expect. Everything plays out fine except for accelerated movement. All the 3d movement happens faster, but not turning. So the result is that you can run faster but can't turn fast enough. And I can jump insanely high because I fly upwards but my power depleats at regular speed. Kind of funny. The multipulsar doesn't track properly, I noticed right away, probably because of the speed issue.
Anyway, excellent work, fitzgerald, it seems ages since I've been able to play TN. I was about ready to drag out my old Win 98 box and give it a whirl.
Guru George on 13/6/2004 at 16:48
Fitzgerald_ed, you are God and I want to have your babies :D
Seriously, I am so chuffed to be playing TN after all these years. One of the best games ever made, way ahead of its time in terms of giving you an outdoors vibe and a team vibe.
This game has got to have a sequel in the same game universe, with modern graphics, etc.
daedalusd on 17/6/2004 at 00:50
Hey Guys,
Quote:
This game has got to have a sequel in the same game universe, with modern graphics, etc.
I completely agree. I've been toying with the idea of working on this for a while now. Originally I was going to do something along similar lines to the shock project in my spare time (recode the original game, re-using their data etc), and to that end I even wrote a slew of tools for the extraction of data from the .RES files. Ultimately however, it started to become a nightmare decoding the mission and map formats with little to no specs available. Maybe a new game is a better idea?
I thought I'd ask around here to see what people's opinions are on whether I should even try? I don't want to shatter anyones memories of this fantastic vintage game if it all goes hideously wrong ;)
If none of the major game-houses are willing to take it up, I thought i'd maybe give it a shot if I could leverage any free time :)
I know the rights issues are... sticky... but we'll see.
Probably won't end up being finished, but hey everyone's gotta have a hobby right? :thumb:
(
http://tnova.gameinstitute.com)
p.s. My apologies to the moderators if you think that my posting in this thread is inappropriate, I saw Guru George's comment and it jogged me into action ;)
Cheers!
Adam Hoult
Lead Developer
(
http://www.gameinstitute.com)
Ravenger on 2/7/2004 at 15:14
That's a great idea! The Far Cry engine would be an excellent one to use, as it's the only one I've seen that's got a draw distance and detail level that's high enough to do a TN sequel.
We'd just have to wait for the proper mod tools and SDK.
uk_john on 1/12/2007 at 00:50
It plays great in DOSBox! I have a front end called D.O.G. for DOSBox and I can choose SETUP and choose Soundblaster 16 for voice and music and can set up the CD drive easily and set the cycles easily (12000 on mine is fine) and get the game running just fine - and slower - than the above instructions. I think my character should 'plod' not 'skim' over the surface!
In any event, I want to end by saying this is one of the greatest squad combat games ever, right up to today December 1st 2007!!! :)