Game still doesn't load (as of 2020-12-13)

[smithaa02]

I've seen several references to the game not being able to load...several posters suggested this might be fixed but I'm not seeing that. I tried install absolute power today...no luck. When I click "play", I get a prompt to copy my "steam special edition cd key" to clipboard. Then there is a second play button. I click that and it says preparing to launch... Then it goes through performing first time setup including installing direct X. Then the dialogue vanishes and I think crashes. I press play again. I'm asked to copy the key to clipboard again. I press the 2nd play button...it is "Preparing to Launch Tropico 3" and it crashes again. I tried uninstalling absolute power and installing steam special edition...same deal. I tried disabling my second monitor (which some suggested would help) but it doesn't (the game a year ago used to work great on my system). I click "verify integrity of game files". It says 1 file failed to validated and will be reacquired. But nothing happens after that. I reinstall the game and I still can't validate the files. Any assistance would be appreciated.

[smithaa02]

Note, I can get the game to work with Steam Edition...but not Absolute Power. I'm on Proton/Steam Play if that matters. To install the Steam edition, I right click the Title > Properties > General > Launch Options > Enter Text: PROTON_NO_ESYNC=1 PROTON_USE_WINED3D11=1 %command%. Then I go to Compatibility > Force the use... > 5.13-4. That works for the first game...but the second game still won't install. Again it used to just great so something changed.

[krashd]

If you have a GOG account I think you can maybe import your CD key and download their version to see if it works. The other thing I would suggest is deleting/renaming the Tropico 3 folder under C:\Users\<username>\AppData/Roaming as that will remove any settings file that may be causing a conflict but it will also remove any saved games you have.

[Vladof]

Same, click play and it crashes. Seems like this never got fixed.

[ShaderonDark]

Yea, just bought this and it keep bouncing around "copy key to clipboard" and then loops. Disappointing.

[BigDCC]

Originally posted by ShaderonDark:

Yea, just bought this and it keep bouncing around "copy key to clipboard" and then loops. Disappointing.

Same thing happened to me when i bought this game a couple days ago.

The solution is:

open up steam. Go to your library. Right-click "Tropico 3 - Special Steam Edition" or "Tropico 3: Absolute Power" in the left tab where all your games are listed.

Click "Properties."

Then, click "Local Files."

Here's where magic happens.

Click "Verify Integrity of Game Files."

Steam will find a few corrupted files in the download directory, then it will download the corrected files, and restart..

After this, Tropico 3 loads correctly.