KBC game of teh year edition does not work on windows 8.1

deejax · #1 11-11-2013, 07:13 AM

Since i upgraded to windows 8.1 i cannot play Kings Bounty Crossworlds anymore. It worked fine on Windows 8.

Ive tried 3 different windows 8.1 machines with different videocards etc. and the all give the same problem when launching.

When i try to launch, it crashes inmediatly.

Does it even work for Windows 8.1? Is there a patch coming for it soon?

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MattCaspermeyer · #2 11-16-2013, 06:27 PM

I have the same problem and sent the crash report to tech support (support@1cpublishing.eu).

Note that King's Bounty - The Legend and Warriors of the North both launch fine in Windows 8.1.

Note that I tried running in compatibility mode for Windows 8 all the way back through Windows XP Service Pack 3 with the same results.

I also tried to run the game in Administrator Mode with the same results.

Anyone have any other ideas to try?

Hopefully the developers can work on this issue and provide a solution...

***EDIT***

Okay, I did some more research on this error and found another game, Game of Thrones with the exact same error:

http://forum.gameofthrones-rpg.com/v...php?f=7&t=2509

The company released a patch here:

http://forum.gameofthrones-rpg.com/v...php?f=7&t=2504

So if King's Bounty follows suit, a patch for the game will need to be made to make it compatible with Windows 8.1.

Sir Whiskers · #3 11-16-2013, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattCaspermeyer

I have the same problem and sent the crash report to tech support (support@1cpublishing.eu).

Note that King's Bounty - The Legend and Warriors of the North both launch fine in Windows 8.1.

Note that I tried running in compatibility mode for Windows 8 all the way back through Windows XP Service Pack 3 with the same results.

I also tried to run the game in Administrator Mode with the same results.

Anyone have any other ideas to try?

Hopefully the developers can work on this issue and provide a solution...

***EDIT***

Okay, I did some more research on this error and found another game, Game of Thrones with the exact same error:

http://forum.gameofthrones-rpg.com/v...php?f=7&t=2509

The company released a patch here:

http://forum.gameofthrones-rpg.com/v...php?f=7&t=2504

So if King's Bounty follows suit, a patch for the game will need to be made to make it compatible with Windows 8.1.

I don't have Win8, but since I know you were using it to help error check your Tomes mods, I hope they patch this soon. I've really enjoyed the HOMM Babies mod and would love to see final versions of the Tomes.

MattCaspermeyer · #4 11-18-2013, 05:06 PM

Hello again Matt,

Sure thing, and even If I forget (I get a few dozen e-mails every day), be sure to remind me with another e-mail 
And once again, sorry about your situation altogether :/

----
Have a good day,

Maciej Wechterowicz

1C Tech Support

Quote:

From: Matt Caspermeyer [mailto:matt.caspermeyer@cox.net]
Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2013 5:37 PM
To: '1C support'
Cc: bwysocki@q-loc.com
Subject: RE: King's Bounty - Crossworlds Windows 8.1 Crash

Maciek:

Okay – thanks!

I’m glad to hear that you’re at least pursuing a resolution. I do understand that this is one old game and that most of your resources are reallocated to new game development.

Thanks again for your email and I hope you and StarForce are able to get through Microsoft’s thick skin and get a resolution to this sometime down the road.

If you do, please keep me in the loop with respect to progress on this situation – I’d greatly appreciate it!

Matt

Quote:

From: 1C support [mailto:support@1cpublishing.eu]
Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2013 2:43 AM
To: 'Matt Caspermeyer'
Cc: bwysocki@q-loc.com
Subject: RE: King's Bounty - Crossworlds Windows 8.1 Crash

Hello again Matt,

We are actually in close contact with StarForce since it all started and they state that Microsoft is dodging their e-mails while they also desperately are looking for a more permanent solution. But being DRM free or switching to another DRM doesn’t solve the problem as this new “feature” does block some applications while allowing others for reasons unknown to everyone but Microsoft. Also, please try to understand that providing patches for all old games that might have this problem would be extremely ineffective cost and resource-wise. The patch you mentioned is a one-time thing for one game, so that doesn’t really fit into our situation…
Either way, please rest assured that we’re not just stay still in the “position of not being able to do anything” and are trying to get this situation fixed but it’s very hard without any help from MS…

----
Have a good day,

Maciej Wechterowicz

1C Tech Support

Quote:

From: Matt Caspermeyer [mailto:matt.caspermeyer@cox.net]
Sent: Monday, November 18, 2013 7:04 PM
To: '1C support'
Cc: bwysocki@q-loc.com
Subject: RE: King's Bounty - Crossworlds Windows 8.1 Crash

Maciek:

Thanks for your email!

I read the forum thread that you mentioned and it indeed does seem like this is a new “feature” of Windows 8.1 and I understand that StarForce Technologies’ former technique for comparing the version number no longer works and is what is causing the error message and application launch failure. It seems to me that the proper solution is to work with StarForce Technologies and have them provide a fix to their DRM technology that works in Windows 8.1.

If this is not possible, I hope that you will consider switching to a different DRM solution as both King’s Bounty – The Legend and Warriors of the North do not have this problem. Do you have versions of Crossworlds that use a different DRM solution? I see that GoG sells the Game of the Year Edition – is this DRM free? If it is, then it seems like there is indeed a solution and perhaps something for you to consider to fix the game for your loyal customers.

I’m not 100% sure if it is the same problem, but a another game (Game of Thrones) had the exact same error message identified here:

http://forum.gameofthrones-rpg.com/v...php?f=7&t=2509

The company that created this game provided a fix as identified here:

http://forum.gameofthrones-rpg.com/v...php?f=7&t=2504

I hope that you reconsider the position of not being able to do anything because it does not look like Microsoft is going to make this change and there must be something you can do from your end as it appears another company already solved this problem with their game.

Thanks again for your email!

Matt

Quote:

From: 1C support [mailto:support@1cpublishing.eu]
Sent: Monday, November 18, 2013 2:17 AM
To: 'Matt Caspermeyer'
Cc: bwysocki@q-loc.com
Subject: RE: King's Bounty - Crossworlds Windows 8.1 Crash

Hello and thank you for contacting us,

Unfortunately, your problem is tied to upgrading Windows 8 to version 8.1.
As described in this thread: http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/For...ith-windows-81 it is the fault of Windows 8.1, which prevents DRM software and older games from working properly. I’m really sorry about your situation, but there’s nothing we can do, aside from urging Windows to provide a fix, but so for they are deaf to our pleas and I was told, that they consider this problem a feature (!!!), not a bug…

----
Have a good day,

Maciej Wechterowicz

1C Tech Support

Quote:

From: Matt Caspermeyer [mailto:matt.caspermeyer@cox.net]
Sent: Saturday, November 16, 2013 8:20 PM
To: support@1cpublishing.eu
Subject: King's Bounty - Crossworlds Windows 8.1 Crash

Dear King’s Bounty Support:

King’s Bounty – Crossworlds crashes upon launch in Windows 8.1. The program ran fine on my computer in Windows 7 and 8. Also, King’s Bounty – The Legend and Warriors of the North launch fine in Windows 8.1.

I’ve attached the crash report file for your analysis.

Thanks for your support!

Matt Caspermeyer

MattCaspermeyer · #5 12-17-2013, 06:03 AM

Well, I got tired of waiting and GoG is having their 2013 DRM-Free sale and so I got it for 50% off from them.

Since their version is DRM-free, it works fine with Windows 8.1.

It sucks to have to buy a game a second time - kind of a lesson with respect to DRM, I guess - but since I got it fairly cheap it's not so bad.

biassj · #6 01-13-2014, 06:10 AM

Have the same problem for Crossworlds, hopefully a patch that get rids of the DRM. I don't think Legends have DRM, where I bought it.

quanticox · #7 01-25-2014, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattCaspermeyer

Well, I got tired of waiting and GoG is having their 2013 DRM-Free sale and so I got it for 50% off from them.

Since their version is DRM-free, it works fine with Windows 8.1.

It sucks to have to buy a game a second time - kind of a lesson with respect to DRM, I guess - but since I got it fairly cheap it's not so bad.

There is RigNRoll on GoG.com? I didn't see them...

MattCaspermeyer · #8 11-22-2014, 06:23 PM

It looks like this issue is now fixed.

I actually installed my Gamer's Gate version of Crossworlds in the Windows 10 Technical Preview and I didn't have any issue.

So I rebooted to my Windows 8.1 and it just launched without any problem so I guess it got fixed sometime in the past (maybe a Windows Update?).

I actually now can tri-boot between Windows 7, 8.1, and 10 Technical Preview and so far Windows 10 seems like Windows 8.2 to me. I'm in Windows 8.1 probably about 95% of the time right now, but it is nice to try out the preview to ensure that there won't be any problems in the future with the games I play now.

/C\/C\