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 Deji  |
I had a sudden memory of this game I used to play when I was younger, so I managed to hunt it down. I started to remember the game's and recalled that I only really liked Creatures 2. The last one was too spacey... Anyways, it turns out, the one I like is the only one which won't work on my fancy new machine. I tried installing the Albian Years version using XP Mode for Windows 7, but worse problems occured with that. There appears to be no solution known online, so I decided to do a bit of digging myself. The crash I got was DirectX related, caused by a function which was changed in a newer version. The game would show up fine and seemed operational, but the error forced the application to shut down. Although I've not technically fixed the error, I've managed to prevent the game from terminating when the error is occured (any DirectX error, actually) and it only took rewriting 1 byte in the .exe. Of course, the fact that the game runs doesn't mean the problem is gone, but I deem the game playable. One remaining bug seems to be the hand cursor, which dissapears while the mouse is moving. Should be fixable, but I'm actually just an amateur at this stuff. Anyway, here's how to do it! 1. Download a hex editor (I recommend HexDen) 2. Create a backup of your creatures2.exe file - in case there is a problem editing. 3. Open creatures2.exe in HexDen. 4. Press Ctrl+G and type 46760 (with the "hex" radio button selected) 5. Make sure what follows the editing cursor is 55 - if it isn't, this probably won't work for you. 6. Change the value (55) to C3. 7. Press Ctrl+S to save the file. 8. Run Creatures 2 as normal, through the launcher.exe. If you did it all correctly, it should look a little something like this. While I was trying to find an answer online, I recall seeing something about a registry edit capable of fixing the problem, but failing because the program rewrites the registry entry. I would be able to prevent this from happening, too.. but I'm not sure if it's relevant and whatnot. Hope this helps. Maybe I'll find a proper fix when I can be bothered. |
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 Toa-Nuva |
Hi!  Wow, that's great news. Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to work with my version of C2, as there is a different value at 46760. It might just have been moved to a different location, though, so I might be able to find that byte somewhere else in the file. Maybe you could tell me what I have to look for? Just looking for a "55" byte gives me thousands of search results, of course.  Thanks in advance, Toa-Nuva |
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 Geek Ettin eprillios  |
This is a cool fix you've found of! This will help many people with fixing their games for a DirectX 10+ environment.  Sadly there are many languages/updates available for the game, so it might be hard to find for some people. ![:\](/images/smilies/confused.gif ":\")  Geek Ettin's Lab (New!) Bill Gates: "Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one."  |
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Deji |
Sure, look for: 50 8B EC 6A FF 68 20 1E 46 00 64 A1 00 00 00 00 The updates, as long as they don't mess with the EXE too much (this editing could be done after every update) shouldn't be too much trouble. But I'm not sure what updates do for Creatures (I've only just started playing). |
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Toa-Nuva |
Thank you. This sequence doesn't exist in my creatures2.exe, though. There are several sequences that are quite similar to the one you posted (for example 55 8B EC 6A FF 68 9A 1E 46 00 64 A1 00 00 00 00), but I did a few experiments and none of them worked out.  |
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Deji |
I'm working on making a program to perform this patch manually. Could you possibly tell me, if you go to 19D62 in the file, what data is there? Or better yet, could you upload the file for me to investigate? By the way, this should bypass manual app termination no matter which operating system it is, assuming the problem is DirectX related. I realise that Vista may have a similar problem. |
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Toa-Nuva |
Sure, no problem: http://www.mediafire.com/?0pig915p3abahy6 (It's from the original German version of C2, with the Executable Update installed.) Thank you for your efforts! |
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 Nornynorn |
sniff, I can't get it to work. when i try to change it it doesn't work please help! |
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Deji |
Okay, so for Toa-Nuva's version, the write needs to be at 19DF0 instead. I'll try and get that program finished. Once I do, I should be able to make it detect the version and automatically perform the patches. Now if I could just figure out how to get my norm to eat and sleep, maybe he'd stop complaining about being hungry and tired... |
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Nornynorn |
If it edits the exe can't you put it up for download here, tit'll be more easy. |
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Toa-Nuva |
Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to work either. Actually, the patched version already crashes before the game window is opened, while the unpatched version does open the window and crashes after that. I tried it in Vista 32bit and Win7 64bit, and it's the same result in both. |
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Deji |
46870 seems to be another valid offset depending on EXE (should work if the EXE size is 1,036,288 bytes). Unfortunately my programming skills are letting me down :p Gotta try and get past a few problems before I can finish a program to do this easier. If the patch was at the wrong location, it is natural for there to be problems running the program (you just stopped an important function from running, lol). |
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Toa-Nuva |
Yeah, that's what I assumed. Anyway... YES!!! 46870 works great! I've nearly given up hope, but it seems to work fine now, both in Vista and Win7. =) Thank you very much! You're a genius! EDIT: Two more screenshots: Vista, 32 bit Win7, 64 bit |
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WatersMoon110 |
I've tried all of these numbers and none work for me. |
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DKazumi |
So I don't think my issue isn't a Directx problem. But I did try changing the values of 55 to C3 but it says access denied. When I start up C2 it pulls up the world chooser, I select ANY world and I receive a "Server Busy" message. I've tried compatibility mode, run as administrator, and reinstalling. But nothings working. Any suggestions????? |
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NornBreeder777 |
Hey theres no problem with directx Deji is right it's to get C2 running normally.The only thing u have to do is change the security settings on the creatures2.exe file.heres how. First go to start.then go to my computer.double click on the C drive.go to programs.then double click gameware developement file.look for creatures2.exe.Now right click on the icon.go to properties.click security tab.make sure u click edit and set all the permission security to allow not deny. its better to go to advanced settings because u could configure and allow multiple settings.enjoy the creatures 2 game hope this works. |
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ebonixa |
Please can someone assist me with this problem as well. I have tried to follow the walkthrough but the option of 55 is not there for me. IS anyone else able to assist? |
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haydugjr |
Gravediggin this topic. I've tried this fix on the EXE straight off the disc and the 1.0.38 (which I got from here.) Any other versions I can try? |
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 Prodigal Sock Ghosthande |
The version that comes with Good Old Games's Albian Years works on newer computers, up to and including Windows Vista.  |
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haydugjr |
Yeah but I don't really want to have to pay for it considering I've already bought like three copies over the years xD. |
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Prodigal Sock Ghosthande |
You may be out of luck, then. You can try running Creatures 2 inside an emulator like Virtual PC, since it can emulate the graphics settings of an older version of Windows, but people have had mixed results in the past. There was a discussion on this a while ago on Creaturetopia, in which some of our more tech savvy players pitched in to explain what the deal is and why C2 has problems running on newer computers. It was determined that C2 requires specific settings which newer versions of Windows, like Vista, generally don't support. Specific issues were that a) DirectX needs to provide a 16-bit hardware surface, and b) the graphics card needs to support Direct Draw. Nvidia, in particular, does not support Direct Draw, and at least according to TreeSprite, even running C2 on an emulator won't work if this particular requirement is not met. TreeSprite wrote: The GOG version was specifically updated to work on prissy newer computers. If you're lucky and your computer has the right specs, you might be able to get an older version to work, if only via emulator. But IMHO, shoveling out $3 for a version that is guaranteed to work, and that you can re-download any time you need, is still the simplest solution. |
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 Tea Queen Laura Administrator |
Welcome to the forums, haydugjr! Just to reiterate Ghosthande's point about GOG.com; I purchased The Albian Years from there (after owning both the original copies of C2 and The Albian Years) and their modified C2 runs like a dream on my Vista laptop! Okay, it's buggy at times, but I think you'd find that with any version. I'd still say it's definitely worth investing in. |
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Smegzy |
46870 Works for me too but i cant use any tools in the game :/ it says "Cannot establish communication with applet" duno what to do :/ ? |
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 Andrettin |
Creatures 2 works pretty well on my Windows 7 laptop, but unfortunately not in this Windows 8 one. |
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nsty1469 |
Hi this has worked for me. Creatures 2 on Windows Vista! Go through the list exactly as he/she says on the top but when it comes to changing the '55 to C3' type in 46760 but go down until you find your number '55' as mine was 2 lines down compared to the one explained here. And now it works perfectly thanks again!!!! |
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