Simon the Sorcerer 3D - can't start game

harald · 08-07-2006, 12:27 PM

Hi,

I'm having trouble with Simon the Sorcerer 3D. After the installation, the "Start game" option is grayed out.

I didn't get any confirmation that the installation was finished. Instead, when it got to 100%, it jumped straight back to the menu (with the disabled option at the top). I don't know if it's supposed to do this, but I suspect that it isn't and that something went wrong during the installation process.

I've tried to...
- Uninstall and reinstall the game,
- Install the 2.0 patch,
- Run the game executable (simon3d.exe) directly instead of via the menu. This gave me an error message saying "Please run Simon 3D from the Start menu."

I'm using Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2, an AMD Athlon ~2.2 GHz processor and have 1 GB of RAM.

Anybody have a suggestion on what to do next?

Thanks,

Harald

Cathy1 · 08-07-2006, 01:13 PM

When you install the game and when you play, make sure all background programs are turned off including anti-virus programs.

Cathy

harald · 08-08-2006, 12:53 PM

Thanks Cathy,

Assuming that by "all background programs" you mean "all icons in the Task Manager", I tried that and it didn't work. I couldn't find a way to actually "turn off" the Antivirus program (as in shut it down) though, but I did disable it during the installation. No luck.

I also tried the minimum installation which I hadn't before, but it made no difference.

Other ideas anyone?

Thank you!

Harald

Cathy1 · 08-10-2006, 05:36 AM

Just a thought. Have you turned off your screensaver and auto insert (cd).
Also have you tried 98/ME compatibility mode ?

Cathy

harald · 08-10-2006, 12:05 PM

Thank you again Cathy,

The screen saver is indeed off, but I must admit I have no idea what "auto insert" means.

I tried the Windows 98 Compatibility Mode and it did show some signs of improvement (stupid of me not to think of it myself - I'm still a bit new to WinXP, believe it or not). When the installation reached 100 % it asked me if I wanted to install DirectX 7.0, something it didn't before. I chose No of course; I already have DirectX9.0c. This brought me back to the menu, but "Start Game" is still grayed out (even with Compatibility for the executables on the hard disk).

Suggestions for the next step, please?

Thank you very much!

Harald

Ps. Would it be safe to accept the DirectX installation, just to see what happens? Or may I end up overwriting the more recent files? I seem to recall that DirectX will automatically check for later versions before it actually installs.

tal · 08-10-2006, 02:07 PM

Just start the menu, and goto the setup screen. then exit, and the "start game" will be available. (If it doesn't work, try to play with the setup configurations) GOOD LUCK!

~By the way, it's an hard game, with huge world, and a lot of loading. Consider walkthrough, I do it and I'm enjoying the game for the first time! (this is the second time I play, the first time I got stuck, and did not enjoy the game...)

harald · 08-11-2006, 09:00 AM

Thank you, tal!
That was the simple solution to my problem. I can't help but feel a bit stupid, although I'm not sure I should. The problem was that you had to press OK in the Setup window (I had just pressed Cancel before because I didn't change any settings). Then the Start game option came to life immediately. I'm still a bit annoyed though. Why couldn't they just let the installer create the configuration file? Stupid Adventuresoft.

Anyway I'd like to thank both of you for your interest, I'm off to play the game now!

Harald

Iv4n · 08-11-2006, 10:39 AM

Geez. Simon 3D... Why are you torturing yourself with this "game"?

Cathy1 · 08-11-2006, 10:45 AM

I must say I've never played the game, nor do I use XP.
Have fun and take the advice and use a walkthrough. You'll be glad you did.

Cathy

harald · 08-19-2006, 07:50 AM

I guess it's not a great game, but I'm still enjoying it so far. I like the Crawling, Look Around and Yo-yo functions.

But - ARGH - why did they make the stupid world so freaking huge?

Oh well. I'm going to try to steal the metal detector now, according to UHS Hints (yes, I do check that site for help about this game one or two times more than I absolutely have to. So I am following your advice, sort of, tal).

TheGreyMatter · 08-19-2006, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harald

But - ARGH - why did they make the stupid world so freaking huge?

Mostly, because they can.

oh... and you read 'freaking huge' as - 'freaking huge, ugly, and empty'

08-07-2006, 12:27 PM	#1
harald Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Lund, Sweden Posts: 301	Simon the Sorcerer 3D - can't start game Hi, I'm having trouble with Simon the Sorcerer 3D. After the installation, the "Start game" option is grayed out. I didn't get any confirmation that the installation was finished. Instead, when it got to 100%, it jumped straight back to the menu (with the disabled option at the top). I don't know if it's supposed to do this, but I suspect that it isn't and that something went wrong during the installation process. I've tried to... - Uninstall and reinstall the game, - Install the 2.0 patch, - Run the game executable (simon3d.exe) directly instead of via the menu. This gave me an error message saying "Please run Simon 3D from the Start menu." I'm using Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2, an AMD Athlon ~2.2 GHz processor and have 1 GB of RAM. Anybody have a suggestion on what to do next? Thanks, Harald Share Share this post on Twitter

08-07-2006, 01:13 PM	#2
Cathy1 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 277	When you install the game and when you play, make sure all background programs are turned off including anti-virus programs. Cathy Share Share this post on Twitter

08-08-2006, 12:53 PM	#3
harald Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Lund, Sweden Posts: 301	Frusty. Thanks Cathy, Assuming that by "all background programs" you mean "all icons in the Task Manager", I tried that and it didn't work. I couldn't find a way to actually "turn off" the Antivirus program (as in shut it down) though, but I did disable it during the installation. No luck. I also tried the minimum installation which I hadn't before, but it made no difference. Other ideas anyone? Thank you! Harald Share Share this post on Twitter

08-10-2006, 05:36 AM	#4
Cathy1 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 277	Just a thought. Have you turned off your screensaver and auto insert (cd). Also have you tried 98/ME compatibility mode ? Cathy Share Share this post on Twitter Last edited by Cathy1; 08-10-2006 at 05:43 AM.

08-10-2006, 12:05 PM	#5
harald Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Lund, Sweden Posts: 301	Some progess! Thank you again Cathy, The screen saver is indeed off, but I must admit I have no idea what "auto insert" means. I tried the Windows 98 Compatibility Mode and it did show some signs of improvement (stupid of me not to think of it myself - I'm still a bit new to WinXP, believe it or not). When the installation reached 100 % it asked me if I wanted to install DirectX 7.0, something it didn't before. I chose No of course; I already have DirectX9.0c. This brought me back to the menu, but "Start Game" is still grayed out (even with Compatibility for the executables on the hard disk). Suggestions for the next step, please? Thank you very much! Harald Ps. Would it be safe to accept the DirectX installation, just to see what happens? Or may I end up overwriting the more recent files? I seem to recall that DirectX will automatically check for later versions before it actually installs. Share Share this post on Twitter

08-10-2006, 02:07 PM	#6
tal Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1	It happened to me too Just start the menu, and goto the setup screen. then exit, and the "start game" will be available. (If it doesn't work, try to play with the setup configurations) GOOD LUCK! ~By the way, it's an hard game, with huge world, and a lot of loading. Consider walkthrough, I do it and I'm enjoying the game for the first time! (this is the second time I play, the first time I got stuck, and did not enjoy the game...) Share Share this post on Twitter

08-11-2006, 09:00 AM	#7
harald Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Lund, Sweden Posts: 301	WHAMMO - solved! Thank you, tal! That was the simple solution to my problem. I can't help but feel a bit stupid, although I'm not sure I should. The problem was that you had to press OK in the Setup window (I had just pressed Cancel before because I didn't change any settings). Then the Start game option came to life immediately. I'm still a bit annoyed though. Why couldn't they just let the installer create the configuration file? Stupid Adventuresoft. Anyway I'd like to thank both of you for your interest, I'm off to play the game now! Harald Share Share this post on Twitter

08-11-2006, 10:39 AM	#8
Iv4n Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 40	Geez. Simon 3D... Why are you torturing yourself with this "game"? Share Share this post on Twitter Last edited by Iv4n; 08-11-2006 at 10:45 AM.

08-11-2006, 10:45 AM	#9
Cathy1 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 277	I must say I've never played the game, nor do I use XP. Have fun and take the advice and use a walkthrough. You'll be glad you did. Cathy Share Share this post on Twitter

08-19-2006, 07:50 AM	#10
harald Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Lund, Sweden Posts: 301	I guess it's not a great game, but I'm still enjoying it so far. I like the Crawling, Look Around and Yo-yo functions. But - ARGH - why did they make the stupid world so freaking huge? Oh well. I'm going to try to steal the metal detector now, according to UHS Hints (yes, I do check that site for help about this game one or two times more than I absolutely have to. So I am following your advice, sort of, tal). Share Share this post on Twitter

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