Can't initialize 3d engine Windows 8

[jf3000]

Has been a very long time since I have been here, You last visited: 09-04-2011 at 09:12 PM, lots of new people. So I have been through the forum and red just about every post on how to fix this and yet I can't get it too work. I am using a monitor that goes far beyond that of 1024x768. I have tried using the files:

dx9res10_2.zip and SH3_XPSP2_Res_Fix_for_1.4b.zip

and both do nothing, the game just crashes.

There is no option to rollback the driver to a previous driver since the machine requires the latest.

How is one supposed to get this running on Windows 8, most of the threads related to Windows 7 which serves as pretty much the same, yet no solution. I am surprised there isn't a sticky for this annoying issue which has been going on for how long...

Any help much appreciated, thank you.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Make sure you have your graphics at (I think) 59Hz (or it may be 60), and rename the start-up video file so it doesn't play a new launch. The finer details are around these parts somewhere, and as always I could be wrong.

[jf3000]

Always run refresh rate and 60Hz and those video files whether they're wmv or bik I always rename.

So I have tried the Conus' SH3GWX Widescreen Mod as well and get the same issue, I am sure that mod was never designed for the Steam version of this game, nonetheless it didnt work and same error.

[Fubar2Niner]

@jf3000

Graphics card nvidia per chance?

Best regards.

Fubar2Niner

[jf3000]

Yes and I know about the issue with it and I can't rollback the driver its just not an option.

[BigWalleye]

Another Steam-related issue? Uff da! Unless you are really strapped for cash, I'd suggest you invest $10 and get a download from Amazon. (Or the DVD if you are not in the US.) Then, at least you'll have a clean test bed. Most mods can be induced to work with the Steam version, but they require special handling. Desertstriker has a couple of tutorials on the subject.

Have you tried running CONUS' widescreen mod at 1066x768? I have an NVidia 540M and that works for me.

As for the hi-rez fixes, I never got anything to work except Van1920x1080. It works great. But it is written for NYGM and Hitman's GUI. Period.

I am running on Win7 Home Premium. Don't know if that is similar enough to Win8 to be useful to you.

Good luck.

[cdrsubron7]

Have you installed DX 9.0c on your computer? SH3 needs DX 9.0c in order to run correctly. :D

[jf3000]

There is always a smart ass on this forum somewhere. Its clear that you don't know that D9 is not designed for a Windows 8 machine running 64 bit.

[Hinrich Schwab]

There is always a smart ass on this forum somewhere. Its clear that you don't know that D9 is not designed for a Windows 8 machine running 64 bit.

1. You are reading too much into the statement. cdrsubron7is actually trying to help. DirectX compatibility issues are notorious for causing no end of problems with games. Windows 8 is equally notorious for its nigh-nonexistent backward compatibility.

2. Copping an attitude is not going to get you any closer to resolving your issue.

[BigWalleye]

SH3 needs DX 9.0c in order to run correctly. :D

D9 is not designed for a Windows 8 machine running 64 bit.

If both of those statements are correct, then perhaps that is where your problem lies?

[Hinrich Schwab]

If both of those statements are correct, then perhaps that is where your problem lies?

It may be possible that the Res fix OP used doesn't work with Windows 8. That could be a problem, too.:hmm2:

[jf3000]

Its all good I have this running under Windows 8.1, none of the actions mentioned above work for Windows 8.1 since there is nothing on this forum or the actual internet mentioning anything about Windows 8.1 and SH3.

For the last few hours and quite a few coffee's I have wrote my own DLL file which gives me the option to run SH3 in any resolution.

Since my monitor goes outside the boundaries of 1024x768 because back in the day that was an extremely high res, my modification allows for the opposite and now running at 1824x1014.

The DLL now injects into the sh3.exe and fools the application into thinking its running at a resolution of 1024x768.

I thought I would atleast try here and see if there was still a fix for this terrible issue.

This doesn't really help people who run outside the wall of 1024x768 and also asking users to revert back to an old driver for a lot of people is either out of the question, painful or I just don't know. Once I have enjoyed my time back on the ocean I will come back and post the application running under the latest .NET 4.5, options are very basic, select load to load the sh3.exe, click inject, choose the resolution or choose custom, click apply, window will appear with a loading bar, once complete will tell you its successfully injected, click the play button, SH3 loads fine.

I did get this working under the Steam version, as someone suggested go and buy it off Amazon and download from there, since I had already bought it and the file structure was pretty much the same, I gave it a shot.

Sorry for any ramblings I have made, I do have lots of respect for the people on here, especially the few of you as far back as 2006 and before that.

Thanks for the help.

[Fubar2Niner]

Sorry for any ramblings I have made, I do have lots of respect for the people on here, especially the few of you as far back as 2006 and before that.

Thanks for the help.

I should just about bloody well think so young whipper snapper :O:

Glad you got it sorted.

Best regards.

Fubar2Niner

[cdrsubron7]

There is always a smart ass on this forum somewhere. Its clear that you don't know that D9 is not designed for a Windows 8 machine running 64 bit.

It's true I may be a smart ass, but I think I know more than you, fella. I play SH4 on Win 8.1 and had to install DX 9.0c in order to play the game. The same applies to SH3. DX is backwards compatible. Try and see, you've got nothing to loose. It won't harm your windows install for Win 8. :salute:

Maybe the fault lies win win 8, you'll still need DX 9.0c in order to run the game.

Truly, I wish you the best of luck getting SH3 to run on Win 8, or 8.1.

[BigWalleye]

....there is nothing on this forum or the actual internet mentioning anything about Windows 8.1 and SH3.

Really? How about this thread? Twelve down from yours on the current page.

Anyone have SHIII on windows 8.1? http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=215100

Or did you mean that you found nothing that was specific to your problem? That's a different matter. Certainly the topic of Win8.1 and all three of the SH games has come up repeatedly here on the SubSim forums. Sorry you haven't found anything helpful.

[jf3000]

Just an update, now have it running under Directx 11, Windows 8.1 64bit, took a lot of mucking around but after a ton of programming it now runs smooth. Why they didnt just release a patch to make it compatible is beyond me.

SH4 runs smoothly as well.

SH5 on the other hand, went straight to the recycle bin.

[Alfred Keitzer]

Wow! Sorry I didn't read this earlier. I've been playing SH3+GWX, SH4 and SH5 on Windows 7 64-bit for years now with DX 11. Don't know where this "you gotta have DX 9c" comes from.

My SH3 doesn't run at just any resolution, but the NVIDIA graphics engine tells me that before the game even loads. For example, my monitor is 1920x1200, but the highest resolution I can get the game to run full screen is at 1600x1200, which is not that bad -- slight vertical compression, which I don't even notice any more. Part of this is graphics card vs. monitor resolution capabilities.

Also, since Vista, it has been recommended that you not install in the "Program File (x86)" directory -- program has had some problems there. I install in a "c:\Ubisoft" directory. I also turn UAC off first thing when I get a new computer. Another standard recommendation is set SH3.exe Properties > Compatibility to "Windows XP (Service Pack 3) and "Run as administrator".

I have heard of problems with the STEAM version of the game, but I don't own that version. I'm sure that issue is mentioned here in many other places.