Author Topic: Running MC2X / MechCommander Omnitech / Original MechCommander 2 on new PC's  (Read 4911 times)

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Offline UnknDoomer

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Running MC2X / MechCommander Omnitech / Original MechCommander 2 on new PC's
Original topic was here http://www.nogutsnogalaxy.net/forum/index.php?topic=4829.0. Copy just in case. Also there was an old thread here https://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=95384.msg1879311#msg1879311, but it's not actual today. This one has all useful information.


Returning to the topic again. Today I've checked the settings for MC2X on Windows 10 x64. Number of points has slightly decreased.

New simple solution from 4.09.19 for all kind of packs from wolfman-x and Dege:

Quote
1. Key is to delete the file imagehelp.dll in binaries folder.
2. In addition dgVoodoo 2.61 (http://dege.freeweb.hu/dgVoodoo2/dgVoodoo2.html) can/should be used. No compatibility mode or any other tweaks or tricks required anymore here. I just integrated his solution and files to be released in all future MC2X packages.

For more info you can check https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=54886&start=20#p782458

If after you will have pixels problems / game still not run try this, in particular just #3 required:

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The situation is as follows: the next time the game starts, for some reason, I again began to observe a pixelized surface.
Did the following:
1. Reinstalled the game
2. Removed \\ GAME FOLDER \ Assets \ Binaries \ imagehelp.dll
3. Deleted \\ GAME FOLDER \ badcard.csv and vidcard.csv
4. Launched the game. Set the maximum resolution - it works fine.

p.s. At one of the "intermediate" starts, the screen flickered. Disabled Hardware Mouse. After manipulating the deletion, I turned it on again - the screen did not flicker again.
by Minaro, old-games forum.



Install and run the MC2X:

0. Download the desired pack of missions here: http://mc2x.net/Gaming/Carver-v Changes compare to original campaign - initially a lot of money, new weapons, incl. clan, gameplay little more difficult.

0. MC2XGame.exe. Put compatibility with Windows 8.
1. Download https://static.old-games.ru/utils/dgVoodoo_2_72.rar Copy D3D8.dll, D3DImm.dll, DDraw.dll, dgVoodoo, dgVoodooCpl from DgVoodoo2_55_4 to the folder with the game, which is valid in C:\MC2X-CVE-G for example. Specify this folder in the General settings.
2. DirectX: Virtual 3D Accelerated Card, 1024 MB, Force vSync, Fast video memory. General: The default values are: "Keep window aspect ratio" (so that the menu does not pinch once again and it does not become pixel), "Capture mouse" (so that the mouse does not lag).

* Without voodoo I personally have more lags. And the maximum comfortable playable resolution is ~ 1366x768. With other settings for voodoo, the game freeze at the mission launch stage.

3. Setting up Windows taskbar => “Hide taskbar in desktop mode” (this will give you a bit more screen space in the game at 1920x1080, for example).
4. Disable the check on the "Window Mode" in the game, if installed and restart the game. Otherwise, the next time you start the game, it will freeze at the mission loading stage. If this is not enough and the game continues to hang, then additionally replace the binaries, https://www.old-games.ru/forum/attachments/binaries-zip.166017/, put with the replacement in C:\MC2X-CVE-G\assets\Binaries or what folder you are using.
5. Start the mission. Click the rectangle icon in the right corner to potentially slightly lower the lags and switch to full size windowed mode.

The menu will work in screen mode sufficient for perception, the battlefield part - fullscreen in windowed mode. Replacing binaries derived from MechCommander Omnitech and other tinkering in configs is no longer required. Perhaps this is somehow related to the latest Windows updates that improved driver compatibility, or something else. It’s hard to say for sure.

Install and launch MechCommander Omnitech:

0. Download the latest build https://www.moddb.com/mods/mechcommander-omnitech/downloads/mech-commander-omnitech-628. 628 at the time of writing the post. Consists of two companies. See others here: https://www.moddb.com/mods/mechcommander-omnitech/downloads
1. Download https://static.old-games.ru/utils/dgVoodoo_2_72.rar. Copy D3D8.dll, D3DImm.dll, DDraw.dll, dgVoodoo, dgVoodooCpl from DgVoodoo2_55_4 to the folder with the game, which is valid in C:\MC2X-CVE-G for example. Specify this folder in the General settings.
2. DirectX: Virtual 3D Accelerated Card, 1024 MB, Force vSync, Fast video memory. General: The default values are "Keep window aspect ratio", "Capture mouse".
* Without voodoo, I personally have some not comfortable enough lags.
3. Start the game.

Installing and launching the original MechCommander 2:

0. Download the disk image from, for example, here https://www.old-games.ru/game/download/1692.html, mount it and install the game. You can use free version of Daemon Tools Lite for it, https://www.daemon-tools.cc/rus/products/dtLite#install-dtLite-offer
1. Put the Mc2Rel.exe ( http://www.nogutsnogalaxy.net/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=4829.0;attach=5392 or https://www.sendspace.com/file/ual208 ) in the folder with the game, for example C:\MechCommander2, with the replacement. Run the game. CD will be needed to run the game.

Update 12.03.21: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1V3Nur97oUGTm8k6iwwJyBq23iKvTxlz_/view?usp=sharing
2. A license agreement will pop up - accept it. Next, the game will tell you that it need to determine the graphic settings and may crash with an error. Do not pay attention, start the game again.
3. In the settings, disable "Hardware mouse update".
4. Resolution. I recommend to set 1024x768x32 if you have a resolution of 1920x1080.
« Last Edit: April 06, 2021, 09:14:06 am by UnknDoomer »
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Offline UnknDoomer

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Re: Running MC2X / MechCommander Omnitech / Original MechCommander 2 on new PC's
One more question stands with MC2X. Especially Carver V campaign. How to bring back original videos into it. I see that Wolfman-X has deleted it from C:\MC2X-CVE-G\data\movies. I've bring it back from CD but that's not enough... It's turned off somewhere by hard way...
You don't need any talent to go between the impossible...

 
Re: Running MC2X / MechCommander Omnitech / Original MechCommander 2 on new PC's
One more question stands with MC2X. Especially Carver V campaign. How to bring back original videos into it. I see that Wolfman-X has deleted it from C:\MC2X-CVE-G\data\movies. I've bring it back from CD but that's not enough... It's turned off somewhere by hard way...
This was asked and replied to since years. The code released by Microsoft uses bink video and some third party code elements that are not for free. Microsoft took this code out (I guess for legal reasons). Thus no video in any MC2 mod based on the released code from MS.
Not in MC2X and not in Omnitech. Magic tried to include other free video code but could not complete it sucessfully.

 
Re: Running MC2X / MechCommander Omnitech / Original MechCommander 2 on new PC's
The mentioned solution for MC2X is old and BS. I Had the issue fixed for all MC2 mods on any Win10 system and posted it here some weeks ago.  It works for other MC2 mods and the original as well. Find my post somewhere on this forum.
I run MC2X and MCO on win XP' Win 7' Win8.1 and Win 10 fresh installs or upgraded without compatibility settings or anything specific.

 

Offline UnknDoomer

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Re: Running MC2X / MechCommander Omnitech / Original MechCommander 2 on new PC's
Quote
and posted it here some weeks ago.
Well. My post is from 12 jul 19. New solution was found in september. Perhabs now it become outdated and too hard compare to yours, but I didn't found anothers before. If you mean this

Quote
Here is the solution for all the issues I experienced. It fixes the same issues I had with MCO and MC2X on my win10 installation.
The solution was found by Dege after I contacted him. See: https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=54886&start=20#p782458

Key is to delete the file imagehelp.dll  in binaries folder. In addition  dgVoodoo 2.61 can/should be used.
No compatibility mode or any other tweaks or tricks required anymore here.
 I just integrated his solution and files to be released in all future MC2X packages.
See Dege's website here:    http://dege.freeweb.hu/dgVoodoo2/dgVoodoo2.html

Thank you, Dege !

then I've added it now to the main post. According to few comments, looks like it's not working for everyone probably... So I'll left all solutions here just in case.

Example:

Quote
The situation is as follows: the next time the game starts, for some reason, I again began to observe a pixelized surface.
Did the following:
1. Reinstalled the game
2. Removed \\ GAME FOLDER \ Assets \ Binaries \ imagehelp.dll
3. Deleted \\ GAME FOLDER \ badcard.csv and vidcard.csv
4. Launched the game. Set the maximum resolution - it works fine.

p.s. At one of the "intermediate" starts, the screen flickered. Disabled Hardware Mouse. After manipulating the deletion, I turned it on again - the screen did not flicker again.
« Last Edit: November 12, 2019, 11:56:27 am by UnknDoomer »
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Offline UnknDoomer

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Re: Running MC2X / MechCommander Omnitech / Original MechCommander 2 on new PC's
Quote
This was asked and replied to since years. The code released by Microsoft uses bink video and some third party code elements that are not for free. Microsoft took this code out (I guess for legal reasons). Thus no video in any MC2 mod based on the released code from MS.
Not in MC2X and not in Omnitech. Magic tried to include other free video code but could not complete it sucessfully.

Quote
Description: A set that is completely similar to QuickTime Alternative and Real Alternative. The difference is that instead of Apple / RealNetworks codecs, here are the modules necessary for playing files in the Bink (.bik) and Smacker (.smk) formats, in which videos from games are often recorded. In this archive you will find an outdated version of Media Player Classic 6.4.7.5 and two DLL-libraries from the set of RAD Game Tools.

The fact is that after the lawyers of the company that developed the RAD Game Tools "hit", the authors of Media Player Classic were forced to remove the corresponding code from their program. All new versions of MPC will no longer recognize the aforementioned DLLs, which is sad, because the "native" Bink / Smacker players do not even have the basic amenities of playing video files.
https://www.sendspace.com/file/q0r32s

In case somebody want to give it a try. I.e. solve MCO/MC2X problem that videos there not working. Version here is from ~ 1999 (?). MC2 sources were published back in 2005.
You don't need any talent to go between the impossible...