Error initializing video mode 640x480

[ZapaN]

Hello,

I recently bought the Fallout Series pack as it was on sale.
I installed Fallout and Fallout 2, and it seems that they installed properly (Steam hasn't notified me of anything wrong)
However, when I launch the game I get an error saying "Error initializing video mode 640x480" and the game never launches.

I am running Win7 64 bits.

I looked through a few forums and they say that we can fix this by downloading the hi-res patch update, but it didn't work for me.
Regardless, I think it's crazy that Steam allows to sell a game that won't play on modern systems.

I feel completely ripped off.

I don't want to spend 4hours trying to figure out how to patch/mod the game just so I can play it, when I can just pirate it and get it playing directly.

Did anyone encounter this problem ? How did you fix it? Is Steam aware of this ?

[H1Kz]

I am having the same issues. It is like I just donated my money basically...

[CFHeadphase]

I have the same problem, but I think there are mods which can fix this. Can anyone help me out?

[ZapaN]

Ok so after some research, it seems that this error will occur on most modern systems...

I think it's shocking that steam proposes a purchase without at least telling us that there is this compatibility problems. Did they even test it before releasing?

Also, apparently the patches and the mods that fix this problem can be applied on the 1.1 version of the game, but not the version 1.2, which is the one Steam gives. The 1.2 is not an official version, it's the Steam release (basically the difference is that it forces the steam client to be opened for the game to be launched).

So all in all, Steam sells a product that won't run on current hardware for the most cases, and doesn't warn the buyers, and to top it off they modded the game to fit their requirements, without regards for the fact that it blocks any modifications on the game that would actually fix the problem.

Thanks Steam.

Since steam doesn't seem to be responding to my messages, I've been looking around and I found that gog.com sells these games, and they are 100% compatible with recent systems.

Not gonna buy them, because I'm not gonna pay twice for the same game, but for anyone wanting to buy that game I'd recommend going there, at least for older games since they always make sure they are compatible with current systems, run in full screen etc...

Hope that helps.

I made Fallout 2 work, with many difficulties, and following this guide here, but it didn't work for Fallout 1, and I can't even think of trying Fallout tactics, because of how complex it seems to be.
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1144779

This guide tells you how to use high-res textures, which is nice, and incidentally fixes the video problem (at least it did work for Fallout 2).

I recall telling myself : "I should always buy games, if only to avoid all the hassle of patching / cracking / modding a game before playing"

Guess I was wrong.

Thanks again Steam.

[Zanovel]

to make Fallout 1 run on win7 64 bit, open windows explorer and go to your steam folder. where all the games are kept, open up the fallout 1 folder. right click on the falloutw program and select properties. there is a compatibility tab. once on that tab select 256 colors and the smaller resolution box. click apply and run it :)

this does not work for fallout 2 however :( im hoping to run across something that tells me how to correct the messed up colors due to a higher color pallet. Tactics runs fine without and mods to how the program is handled.

hope that helps.

[astroboy]

In order to get Fallout to run I used the following method:
http://steamcommunity.com/app/38400/discussions/0/810919057004088388/#p8

After you've successfully installed Fixt, making sure you have the correct install path (default should be "Program Files(x86)/Steam/Steam Apps/common/Fallout") you should then change your resolution through (assuming Windows 7): Control Panel>Appearance and Personalization>Display and lower your display resolution. Once you've done this you should be able to display Fallout. Go into Fallout's video settings, set your desired resolution and enable 2x scaling and windowed display, now you should be able to restore your display resolution to what it was at the beginning of this process.

[Wookiee]

I found this patch to be amazingly helpful. I am running Win7x64 Pro.

Installed the patch as directed and followed the simple instructions.
The special graphics config needed to be a bit to tweek to just the way *I* wanted it, but this patch makes running Fallout 1 (he also has a patch for 2) super simple.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=172416170

[ZapaN]

@ DGSephiro
That looks just like the patch I used. The only difference is this one seems to contain the patch to get the game back to the version that can be patched to get the high-res (if that makes sense).

Anyway I'll try that patch as soon as I finish Fallout 2.

Thanks for your help.

[ZapaN]

@ Zanovel

That was the first thing I tried, and it didn't work for me.
If it did for you, I'm glad but I don't think it's the case for most systems (I've seen on forums lots of people that tried that and didn't work)

@ empty graves

I didn't try this, although it was recommended on many threads. The reason is that it modifies the game, and this is not something I want. Also, I think it's ridiculous to make this many changes just to play a game that can be fully compatible if Steam just put in the effort (if you buy if from any other store, it will be 100% compatible).
Also, some people have found that even with Fixt it didn't work.

[GeminiClone]

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=172416170&insideModal=0#134275

Patch worked for me, had to play around with the settings to get it to work on my Win7x86 system.

[ZapaN]

@haGrOck
Where is your current steam install directory ? If you didn't change it, by default I think it's in Program Files. You can try to add another directory in steam (like C:/Games/Steam) and install Fallout 2 there and see if the bug persists.

Still... The simple fact that we need a whole forum and thread to play a game that should simply work is crazy.
If it was a really really old obscure game that has few known patches and has issues working on current systems I would understand, but the fact is this game works flawlessly on any other platfrom than Steam.

From now on, I'm not buying old school games on steam anymore. I'll buy them on GOG.com, way better service and follow up.
I recently bought games that are much older than fallout and they all work great, they have clearly been tested and everything. Also, they don't require a client being launched for every game.

I mean I get it, new games have achievements (which I don't like but that's beside the point) and thus need you to be linked to your profile, but Fallout and Fallout 2 don't. And Steam didn't add any. So it's completely pointless to have a client running in the background for Fallout to be played. Especially when the client often needs updating and can be pretty slow to connect sometimes.

This kind of behavior from Steam is what's gonna drive good users away from their store and their company

[kjkjk]

fixed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s91D3j0FZp0

[astroboy]

Originally posted by empty_graves:

In order to get Fallout to run I used the following method:
http://steamcommunity.com/app/38400/discussions/0/810919057004088388/#p8

After you've successfully installed Fixt, making sure you have the correct install path (default should be "Program Files(x86)/Steam/Steam Apps/common/Fallout") you should then change your resolution through (assuming Windows 7): Control Panel>Appearance and Personalization>Display and lower your display resolution. Once you've done this you should be able to display Fallout. Go into Fallout's video settings, set your desired resolution and enable 2x scaling and windowed display, now you should be able to restore your display resolution to what it was at the beginning of this process.

[astroboy]

To refer to a prior post, huhu