How to make it work

[Rabcor]

I've created a Guide just in case this thread goes under so i don't have to bump it. The guide is slightly easier to read than this thread so i recommend reading that rather than this post. (The contents are mostly the same, but there are a few things the guide has that this post does not since i update it.)

Link To Guide

Original Post:

It seems that the original CD version of the game will run fine under any OS all the way up to Windows 7 x64, however for some reason it's harder to make it work under the steam redistributed version and possibly also the GoG version[www.gog.com].

Note: The GoG version fix i just linked can also help fix the game on Steam in some cases, but it requires the GoG version of the game to be installed in order to run. (Workarounds appreciated)

Go to "...\common\Wizardry8\Dll" and delete "srDD_Glide2x.dll" then run 3DSetup again and configure your game. I recommend running the game at "1024x768 x 32" or at the maximum resolution your monitor supports x 32. For sound i will always recommend "DirectSound3D Hardware Support".

You may need to start the game with the maximum resolution your monitor supports at least once before lower resolutions will work.

If the game still isn't working, try deleting the .m3d files for the sound devices you definitely aren't going to use. Most likely the following:

Mssa3d.m3d (Aureal A3D)
Mssa3d2.m3d (Aureal A3D 2)
Msseax.m3d (EAX <- I have a soundblaster card, but i still can't even use this.)
Msseax2.m3d (EAX2 <- I have a soundblaster card, but i still can't even use this.)
Mssdolby.m3d (Dolby Surround <- This gives me no sound)

Try fiddling with the 3DSetup and try different sound drivers and resolutions to see if you can make the game run.

There is a way to manually configure the 3DSetup through a settings file if the above didn't work or you just don't want to delete the files.

Originally posted by Riful:

In the game folder (C:\Steam\SteamApps\common\Wizardry8\) there's supposed to be a file named 3DVideo.CFG

Here's my setup in the file.

DirectX7
1920
1080
32
DirectSound3D Hardware Support

Basically what you need to do is configure your game like you would with the 3DSetup.exe, but chances are it doesn't allow you to select a 32 bit color resolution (only 800x600x16 and 640x480x16)

Even if linux might pull off running something in that mode, Windows Vista/7/8 usually won't. basically the format of the file is:

API (DirectX7 or OpenGL)
Screen Width
Screen Height
Bit Plane (16 or 32)
Sound Driver (Alternative to what i use: RAD Game Tools RSX 3D Audio and also Miles Fast 2D Positional Audio but i think DirectSound3D is best for us.)

Set these values to what you want them to be, usually you can set the API and Sound driver in the 3D setup application, but you may need to set the screen width, height and colors manually to the native resolution of your monitor. Mine is 1920x1080 so for someone with that screen the above setttings are perfect.

Update/Additional Info:
-> I've heard at least one person could run the game with OpenGL but not DirectX, so you should try that.
-> If the game isn't running you can also try setting the sound driver to "None" as a temporary measure while troubleshooting.
-> Some people have to launch the game via the .exe file in the installation folder (steam wouldn't launch the game normally) try that.
-> A few people need the game to be installed on their "C:/..." hard drive for it to run. (junction links do not resolve that issue) if nothing else works try reinstalling the game on your C:/ drive or manually moving it to your steam library on your C:/ drive.

If the game still isn't working, please post your operating system, contents of 3DVideo.CFG, maximum supported monitor resolution, processor and video card models and any additional info you think might be useful.

[Rendarin]

I bought the game a few months ago and got it working today after discovering this thread. Before I explain what I did to get it working for me, I want to thank all of you for keeping this conversation going, and I want to give a shoutout to Riful for creating and maintaining this thread. You are awesome, dude!

*Update* I have changed Step 6 to include an improved recommendation by Riful.

How I got the game running on Windows 8.1:

1. Download the game from Steam as you normally would.

2. Copy the game folder to your root directory.

*** I copied the folder "Wizardry8" from D:/Steam/SteamApps/common/ to D:/

3. Rename D:/Wizardry8 to D:/Wiz8

*** Wiz8 is the same name as the game's executable. Note that your root directory may be C:/ or F:/ depending on your setup.

4. Open the folder D:/Wiz8/Dll

5. Create a folder and name it something obvious; For example, "UNUSEDsrDD."

6. Move every single DLL that begins with "srDD" except for srDD_DirectX7.dll into the subfolder you just created.

7. Run the program D:/Wiz8/3DSetup.exe

8. Change your available mode to your monitor resolution with the last number being 32.

*** For example, I changed mine to 1920 x 1080 x 32

9. Change your available 3D sound interface to DirectSound3D Software Emulation.

10. Run the program D:/Wiz8/Wiz8.exe and the game should now run.

Using this procedure, the game runs fine for me. I made it through the opening cutscene, and killed a few crabs so far. :-) If this method works for you, what you do next is entirely up to you. I am going to delete the other srDD DLLs and uninstall the game from Steam. I wont be running the game through Steam, but from the copy of the game in my root directory. Keep in mind that renaming the game folder to Wiz8 is critically important for my method to work.

[Rabcor]

Thanks Rendarin, I made a small update to the guide by adding the step for moving the game to your root directory (which was formerly just listed as another possible solution)

You really shouldn't execute step 6 like you showed, just deleting the file(s) I pointed towards should be enough, otherwise ONLY delete files that start with "srDD" in there, the srEXT files for example seem to be "extension support" dlls so that the game supports files like AVI and MPEG (which are probably needed for audio/video reasons) and some of the files (like srEXT_Default and srEXT_LWOimporter) probably include a bunch of needed code for some functions of the game to properly work. same with srHXImporter.dll, and the srVP dlls seem to be processor related (I would assume we only need either srVP_Generic.dll or srVP_x86.dll from that bunch) but you shouldn't delete anything besides srDD and srVP files you know you are not using in the Dll folder or you will probably break the game, or parts of it.

[Rendarin]

Thank you for the response Riful! I will fix my game files according to your reccomendations. I will also edit my post to include your input. I have to admit, I didn't read everything in this thread, rather just enough to get my Wizardry running. ;-) That was an oversight on my part.

[20mithrandir]

So plainly speaking it is still not possible to run the game via Steam directly? That's the only purpose why I bought it at Steam.

[Rabcor]

Originally posted by 20mithrandir:

So plainly speaking it is still not possible to run the game via Steam directly? That's the only purpose why I bought it at Steam.

Well yes, even if you execute the game from outside the steamapps directory, steam will detect the launch properly (at least for most games I think)

But if it doesn't, you can always just press that Add A Game button on the lower left corner of steam and add wizardry 8 as a non-steam game as a shortcut.

But you're not really missing out much (the steam overlay doesn't work in the game either way)

[Miirik]

So i have this game.... on disc.... still... and i tried to install and run it on my windows 10 comp... i cant get it to work. i got it to work on my windows 8 before i upgraded... but it i freshly installed it (yay 3 disc downloads of the good ole days XD) so i was wondering if anyone knew how to get it to work. also, if at all possible get might and magic 7 blood and honor to work.


so i start wizardry 8 up and nothing happens. completely nothing. i have tried compatability and messing with the setup(which that and the other menu where you can access that is the only thing that pops up)

[Giblets]

I just replaced my Windows xp with windows 7 and i game no longer works properly. It loads fine but game play/movement is so slow.. everything happens in slow motion. been fiddling with graphic and sound settings and compatibility modes but it's never changes.. any ideas?

[Rabcor]

Originally posted by lost_paradise68:

I just replaced my Windows xp with windows 7 and i game no longer works properly. It loads fine but game play/movement is so slow.. everything happens in slow motion. been fiddling with graphic and sound settings and compatibility modes but it's never changes.. any ideas?

That is strange. I indeed would suspect the graphics api setting and soudn setting. I've been using windows 7 myself but didn't encounter this.

Have you tried using dx6? how about opengl? the graphics won't be as nice but it could work. Do you have enough ram? Did you properly update your graphics card driver?

[Giblets]

All my drivers are up to date, all i have done is change operating system. If i change the resolution it will wiz around so fast or it goes in slow motion. Been using the nGlide configurator and 3dsetup to see if i can something going, closest i have gotten to anything playable is in dx6, but it still jumps around. It loads, the looks good, the sound is fine, combat is normal. it just walking and running. think i have tried it all.

[Rabcor]

Originally posted by lost_paradise68:

All my drivers are up to date, all i have done is change operating system. If i change the resolution it will wiz around so fast or it goes in slow motion. Been using the nGlide configurator and 3dsetup to see if i can something going, closest i have gotten to anything playable is in dx6, but it still jumps around. It loads, the looks good, the sound is fine, combat is normal. it just walking and running. think i have tried it all.

Hmm, so at lower res it goes too fast at higher res it goes too slow, right?

Have you tried using an FPS meter? some games have a correlation between fps and their actual run-speed and start glitching out if fps is too slow or too fast. Make sure you have Vsync enabled, it might help.

[Giblets]

Nope, even a high rest it moves like a snail. i think the speed shot up when i changed the 3d settings. Its weird because it ran perfectly on XP, but soon as i changed the windows 7 it can't handle it. i even tried a clean install

[Rabcor]

Originally posted by lost_paradise68:

Nope, even a high rest it moves like a snail. i think the speed shot up when i changed the 3d settings. Its weird because it ran perfectly on XP, but soon as i changed the windows 7 it can't handle it. i even tried a clean install

Hmm, yeah it is weird. Have you tried disabling aero? and user account control? These 2 things are more or less theb iggest differences between 7/vista and xp.

[Giblets]

For what it's worth Roller coaster tycoon 3 seems to work perfectly, that's the most 'modern' gave i currently have installed. if that works there's no reason why Wizardry wont.

In fact him sure i have tried a clean install, i think it updated some files.. i'm gonna uninstall it and reinstall it.. see what happens.

[Rabcor]

Originally posted by lost_paradise68:

For what it's worth Roller coaster tycoon 3 seems to work perfectly, that's the most 'modern' gave i currently have installed. if that works there's no reason why Wizardry wont.

In fact him sure i have tried a clean install, i think it updated some files.. i'm gonna uninstall it and reinstall it.. see what happens.

It's true, I've never heard of this issue tbh,it should be working. You could probably get it to work if you didn't have the night dive version more easily, try getting your hands on the GOG version it's the original version of the game (but repackaged) instead of the night dive mangled version that we have on here lol.

I have installed the original from cd a couple of times on windows 7 always worked.

[Giblets]

i use to have the original cd but somebody borrowed many many years ago lol i did a complete fresh. install and still not working properly. wasted so much time on this i think i'll just have to chuck it now. I duuno what you mean by 'night drive' version ? what's the difference?