!!! HOW TO RUN THE GAME FOR THOSE WHO FAIL !!!

[SK RaZoR]

The coupon a-holes have spammed this community so I'm re-posting a collection of all fixes you can find across topics. I don't mind the game being broken, I played it many times before, they only now gave me an opportunity to pay for it. The reason you see so many people trying hard to run it is becauce many of them really really enjoyed it.

I was able to run the game via these options across multiple machines. Win 7 64bit working right now. Still keep in mind its a 1999 game. Ugly textures by today's standards is what you get for running it in the best possible way. If the software renderer works best for you - you are not missing out much by running it on better graphics. Even with all the helping goodies - save often. Use your mekits and stuff - freely. You won't run out unless you are ridiculously stupid with tactics. If the cutscenes don't work for you - you can find the vids in the game folders.

While most of you CAN run it. Unfortunately the steam version is garbage. You are better off getting the GOG version. (which runs from first try, and looks ok on software render)

1. Multiple choice EXE:

There are a total of 3 exe files in your install dir.
I've put them in the main dir named them Gorky v1, v2 and v3.
Try runing either of them at compatibility modes ranging from win98 to win xp sp3 (Properties on exe >compatibility > v 640x480 no visual themes etc just don't run in in 256 colors :). (I've run the game before on a XP)

2. Windows data execution stuff.

"Control Panel -> System -> Advanced system settings -> Advanced -> Performance (Settings) -> Data Execution Prevention" make sure the following option is selected "Turn on DEP for all programs and services except those I select"

Click on "Add" and browse to your Gorky17.exe which is found here: "[Steam Library Directory]/SteamApps/common/Gorky 17/gorky17.exe". (see screenshot)

3. Third party software - OP Favorite solution!

Originally posted by Luksorkolcz:

UPDATE: I was able to run Gorky 17 with Direct3D, so it looks way better than Software Renderer mode.

1. Go to this site: http://dege.freeweb.hu/dgVoodoo2.html and download latest dgVoodo version. (OR THIS NEWER LINK: http://dege.freeweb.hu/dgVoodoo2/dgVoodoo2/ )
2. Unpack it and open dgVoodooSetup.exe
3. Go to DirectX section. Unselect all but Behavior boxes. Select VRAM = 128MB. Select your screen resolution. Set MSAA 8x (idk but it works for me).
4. Press Apply, then OK.
5. Go to MS folder (in dgVoodoo folder), and copy two dll files.
6. Paste them to your Gorky17 folder.
7. Run game and select dgVoodoo/Direct3D HAL, hardware zoom option makes no difference for me.

Enjoy "smooth and beautiful" graphics!

-Even so the rendering might glitch and show invisible characters or other stuff. Run the game via its own software rendering option on top of the voodoo solution.

4. Third party software alternative.

Download DxWnd.
Extract it and launch it.
In DxWnd, choose Edit and Add.
In a Main tab, type in Name - Gorky 17.
For Path click on a button ....
Navigate to a folder where you've installed a game and choose gorky17.exe.
Check fields in a Generic area: Hook Enabled, Run in Window and Remap Client Rect.
Below that change Window Initial Position & size to:
X=0
Y=0
W=640 (you can use higher 4:3 resolution value for upscaling, e.g. 1024)
X=480 (you can use higher 4:3 resolution value for upscaling, e.g. 768)
Now, go to a Window tab.
Check field: Keep aspect ratio.
Go to Mouse tab.
Check fields: Hide cursor and Force cursor clipping.
Click OK to close a configuration window.
Right click on Gorky 17 on the list and choose Run.

source: wiki - http://pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Gorky_17#Windowed

ANOTHER DESCRIPTION OF THE SAME THING;
Alternative method:
I try run this game for a long time on Windows 10 and I think I found solution.

1. Find gorky17.exe file and change compatibility mode to Windows 98.
2. Download DxWnd from http://sourceforge.net/projects/dxwnd/files/Latest%20build/v2_03_42_build.rar/download
3. Download file gorky17.dxw: http://www86.zippyshare.com/v/ctnRQW6p/file.html
4. Unpack and run dxwnd.exe with administrator priviliges.
5. Click on File -> Import and choose gorky17.dxw (you don't have to download gorky17.dxw, you can create your own file, but this is what works on my computer).
6. If circle on the left is green you are good to go If it is still white, right click gorky17 and choose Modify, then set path to your gorky17.exe file.
7. Run game by double clicking o gorky17 (you must run game from DxWnd).
8. When you run game choose Software Renderer.

On my PC it works great. Hope it helps.

5. Resolution fixes.

The game is hardcoded in 640x480 which Windows 7 does not support, and most people end up with the game in a tiny format with huge black borders around it.

I got it working in fullscreen without any borders on a 22 inch 1920x1080 monitor on windows 7 ultimate.

-Go to screen resolution settings (rightclick from desktop), then advanced, then all modi
-Set to 640x480 32bit 59 herz (be careful as your desktop wont fit on this screen, get used to using keyboard shortcuts to navigate between windows for a bit, like alt+tab).
-The 59 herz part is important! 60 Herz will *not* fullscreen, so make sure you set it to 32bit 59 herz.
-Launch the game on the third option from the drop down menu, hardware zoom disabled.

If this doesn't work, try different refresh rates and look at the settings for overscan / underscan for your videocard.

I'm only sharing what works for me, so this might not work for everyone.

I use an AMD 6xxx videocard with catalyst control center.

Note that this method does not involve playing the game in a window like other solutions.
This is proper fullscreen. :)

6. Flickering solution

I installed KLite Mega Codec Pack: http://codecguide.com/download_k-lite_codec_pack_mega.htm

While installing don't forget to check the option about only using ffdshow for whitelisted applications.

Now when you start Gorky17, a window will pop up asking you whether to use ffdshow or not. Choose one of the options with "Just This Once" in it. The flickering will no longer be there.

I think it's simply this window appearing that fixes the flickering.

7. Obscure fix i have no idea what for...

- you can search his topic if you need to.

Originally posted by reaxion:

Hi folks.

Are you seeing an X11 error when you try to start the game?

Wine and its variants require X11 to be installed, so if you've never used a Wine game before, you'll need to download that and install it from the official website here:

http://www.xquartz.org/

The latest version, which is fully compatible with El Capitan, can be found right on the front page of the site.

Please leave a message if it did, or didn't, work for you.

CONCLUSION:

I know people expect this ro run from the getgo, but its not a remastering. So lets hope those of you who went the extra mile, get to enjoy it as much as the old school gamers did.

Also if you want to regulate your difficulty on your own here is a useful post:

Originally posted by MUTANT, CHAMPION OF ASH:

I did this on my playthrough to makes game more difficult:
-no use of duplicate weapons beside basic guns from the start of the game(no second flamethrower, uzi, second freeze gun, second paralizer)
-no super weapons (thunder, missle)
-no secrets (safe, propane in the tunnel , no jon-gun)
-no use of "+15% extra health" stat of Joan
-upgrade only health per level
-no Medusa and other extra characters
-minimalistic equipment and experiance for additional characters(read: avoid of using them)

The setting that fixed no character sprites for me was DirectX(2) -> Ddraw tweaks -> Set 16BPP RGB565 encoding

[SK RaZoR]

I did mention it briefly in the beggining but ill elaborate it again.

[Fritz_Schmitz]

http://www.dege.freeweb.hu/dgVoodoo2/dgVoodoo2.html
Game runs great on Win10Pro64.

[ezy911]

mine says game not installed downloaded from steam tried to compatabitliy 98 xp both say game not installed after video rendering screen ive already tried validateing files

[SK RaZoR]

bump

[Champeau]

The setting that fixed no character sprites for me was DirectX(2) -> Ddraw tweaks -> Set 16BPP RGB565 encoding

[romulavelpatron]

idk i can't fix resolution, tried dgvodo but not working, still 640x480 zoomed

[romulavelpatron]

+ freezing sometime and crashing xD

[JeppeBrungus]

I can run it fine in Windows 10, even without any tweaks to the exe. The game automatically changes resolution properly so the screen is not tiny.

But, if I choose anything except software rendering, sometimes the background and foreground will be swapped. For example, in the opening gameplay scene with the characters on a dinghy, as the dinghy moves forward the water underneath it will be on top of it, blocking out most of the moving dinghy. Anyone else have this issue and a fix? Software rendering will avoid this issue but it looks worse overall.

also, the following link from the OP is now dead: http://dege.freeweb.hu/dgVoodoo2.html

[SK RaZoR]

Originally posted by Guderian:

...

Find a file mirror. Shove it on a google drive and ill update the link. I have it somewhere but its in a buried laptop in a basement.

If you can't find it I might dig in at some point.

[JeppeBrungus]

Thanks, I'll look for one.

In the meantime, this topic from 2017 gets me part of the way there. It creates 'rgb emulation' as an option when selecting display driver on launch. I don't think it's quite as good as Hardware rendering but it's definitely better than software.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/253920/discussions/0/133255957993090899/

Some of these steps may be unnecessary but I don't feel like experimenting further right now.
(quoted from linked OP):
1/ Goto your game folder normally:
local disk c: / program files (x86) / steam / steamapps / common / gorky 17,
2/ make a backup copy of the gorky 17.exe you see here and put it somewhere safe,
3/ Open the Alternetives folder then alternetive 2,
4/ make a back up copy of the gorky 17.exe that is in that folder,
5/ right click on the gorky 17.exe in this folder and selct properties,
6/ click the compatability tab,
7/ check the box for run this program in compatability mode for and select windows 98/windows me,
8/ check the box for disable display scaling on high dpi settings,
9/ check the box for run this program as an administrator,
10/ save the new setttings,
11/ copy and paste the new gorky 17.exe in to the game folder c: / program files (x86) / steam / steamapps / common / gorky 17 replacing the old one.
12 start the game and select primary display driver/rgb emulation.

[SK RaZoR]

Why are you actually trying to avoid software render anyway?

I remember the game when it was new. It didn't look great then. Its a very dated blocky lookinbg low quality texture game.

Its a short and sweet single player experience being kept afloat all these years by quirky voice acting and atmospheric music.

Trying to squeeze 5% more in the visual department seems a total waste of time...

If you really really must have it in full glory just set up a windows xp on a virtual machine and run it in a real classic environment :)

and actually i can still access this:

http://dege.freeweb.hu/dgVoodoo2/dgVoodoo2/

I guess they changed the link :)

Updated original post... You are not trying nearly hard enough young padawan :)