ok so i installed the game and strarted the game, and every time i enter the campain, sandbox, etc.. the screen is nothing but lines and colors. I can see the HUD but every thing else is like looking through a prism, Help please this is very anoying i just bought the game and cannot play now

processor: intel core2 duo p8400 2.26ghz
memory: 4 gb
os: vista home premium 64 bit
graphics card: Ati mobility Radeon HD 3870

Try upgrading all drivers, including the video card drivers, see if that helps.

(08-12-2009 08:33 AM)computertech Wrote:  Try upgrading all drivers, including the video card drivers, see if that helps.

alright i updated my video card drivers, and every other driver i could find and am still having the same problem, will email with the dxdiag files for more info, just hoping i didnt waste 40$ at this point. very disappointing i loved the demo and was looking forward to playing this game alot

(10-12-2009 04:39 AM)inferno74 Wrote:  i loved the demo and was looking forward to playing this game alot

Are you playing the game on the same computer that you played the demo on? Because if you are it should be OK if the demo was OK. Which could imply something went wrong during the install.

no actually played the demo on my xbox360, thought the game would be better suited for a pc

DX9 compatible video card?

(10-12-2009 07:51 PM)UlteriorModem Wrote:  DX9 compatible video card?

Yes. See OP.

try uninstalling the game, then reinstalling it. You could also try loading the demo, if the demo works (as one said)....

okay im giving up this is rediculous, ive now uninstalled and reinstalled the game 3 times, cleaned my registry and everything i can think of i guess this game is just not compatible with my comp, all drivers are up to date(no upgrades available), and i meet all specs for this game. for the life of me this is disapointing.

ati mobility? im guessing its a laptop?

Your best bet would be to contact kalypso's tech, support@kalypsomedia.com.

there very well could be an issue with the card, But im having trouble locating your vid card.. You stated its a mobility, which means laptop, but i cant find a 3870 mobility, the only hd 3870 i can find is for a desk top. Are you sure thats the card you have?

If it is a desktop.. this is the latest catalyst drivers,
http://game.amd.com/us-en/drivers_cataly...on-vista64
they were posted less than a month ago.. If its a laptop, definatly dont use this. Also to unistall drivers you should use a driver removal program to make sure of a clean install. I dont have a link, perhaps ati's site has one.


But, have you tried updating windows vista with service pack 2? I know that has some stuff in it for graphics as another game i was playing had that as an upgrade if you were having issues.


Have you tried other games on this computer? There very well could be a setting that is wrong on your card, heck if its a new comp maybe the vid card is bad. Just cause you can watch videos and see the screen, doesnt mean that the graphics acceleration could be messed up. I honestly dont know what else to try other than whats been said..

To me it sounds like an incomptible vid card or bad drivers, as i have the exact same problem on an old game. Granted the game is 10 years old, but its the same issue, lines and cant see anything.

Definatly contact tech support atleast

ill try the vista upgrade, and yeah that is the listed graphics card for my laptop under the ati catalyst control center. its an alienware m17, played many games on it already from civ 4 to lotro.
already emailed support and havent recieved a reply, sent the email right after the op.

ahh.. Ok.. I was just going by ATI's site and looking for drivers.

seeing its an aleinware.. why not try contacting them. Perhaps there is an issue with your computer. ive never delt with them but i have heard they have good tech support. (atleast i hope soo as much as those rigs cost )

after going to that site, and ati's ATI recomends that you use your manufaturers driver, soo dont use the ati catlaysts i posted before. But i did notice something. on aleinwares site, there are 2 drivers, one for less than 8 gigs ram, and one with 8+.. did you DL the right one? http://support.alienware.com/Support_Pag...&item=1161

Id double check you DL'd the right driver, install the vista upgrade, reset your default settings in the vid card.. and if that doesnt work call aleinware.. thats what i would do anyway. they might tell you to contact kaylpso, but hey its worth a shot

Im running almost the same set up.. 8400, 4 gig, vista 64.. but i havfe an asus9800gtx..

maybe there is a setting in the control pannel, or ingame thats just not set right.. I know i asked some basic Q's, But sometimes the obvious isnt soo obvious.

Let us know if you get it situated and what the problem was, would be good for furture reference on problems

yeah i downloaded the <8 mb driver and thought about calling alienware, and yes the tech is amazing fixed every prob ive had in 30 min or less so far i just thought it would be more applicable to contact kalypso first but like i said they havent responded yet if they dont soon i will call alien again. and thanks to everyone for the help, im not comp savy, just know basics and this has been a great learning exp for me will get back when i try the gane on service pack 2 for vista

alright just got off the phone with alienware and we tried everything talked about in this forum and more, its looking like my video card is not compatible with this game and the dissapointing thing is i still have not recieved a response from kalypso yet, all diagnostics run and my comp is fine so if kalypso could please respond in this forum or to the emails i have sent it would be much appreciated. this game still has me addictaded on my xbox360 demo and waiting for feb is excutiating. 40$ is a dissapointing lose but the inability to play this game is even greater, so in parting everyone enjoy this amazing game and hopefully i'll join you in the near future.

still no word from kalypso media yet, been a week since my first email.

We usually answer every E-Mail within one to two work days. If you're waiting for a reply for over a week, we have probably forwarded the request to the developers to help us find a solution. In any case, we should get back to you shortly. Please make sure to send your requests to support@kalypsomedia.com only and provide all the necessary details (error description, DxDiag-report, etc.)

(15-12-2009 11:07 AM)Timo Wrote:  We usually answer every E-Mail within one to two work days. If you're waiting for a reply for over a week, we have probably forwarded the request to the developers to help us find a solution. In any case, we should get back to you shortly. Please make sure to send your requests to support@kalypsomedia.com only and provide all the necessary details (error description, DxDiag-report, etc.)

ok, thanks for getting back to me and it explains alot. i have benn sending my emails to the wrong place, when one clicks the contact us at the bottom of the forum page it lists the email address as forum@kalypsomedia.com. thanks for clearifying that for me, and i sent the explination and both normal and x64 dxdiag files with the email.

Well looks like your making progress, thats great !

Perhaps it is an incompatibale vid card.. maybe they can accually fix the issue and add it to an upcoming patch. Ive seen it happen in the past

Now im more interested than ever in the outcome.

yeah and its not only the ati hd 3870, just read another thread that is having the exact same prob but with another vid card.

(16-12-2009 12:48 AM)inferno74 Wrote:  yeah and its not only the ati hd 3870, just read another thread that is having the exact same prob but with another vid card.

That was me. I tried installing the demo instead and had the same problem, but I've since moved from Windows XP to Windows 7 and the problem went away. No clue what the problem was.

I get a Critical Error message tell me when i go to play the game saying "You need a supported DX9-compatible video card with a recent driver to play this game.". What do i need that this message is telling I need?
Do I need a better video card or update my drivers?

HI

I've downloaded tropico3 from the website in 3 files
but when i try to install the files using the "exe" file i keep receiving:
"runtime error at(36:3385):
the source fie is corupted"

How do fix this?

If the file really is corrupted, you fix this by redownloading it.

alright got an email in return, and they tell me to update my drivers, AARRRGH, this is frustrating. Replied telling them that i have updated everything and awaiting response. hope everyone had a great christmas and new years.

inferno74, please try resetting your graphics driver settings in Catalyst Control Center to their defaults. This fixed the graphics distortion issue for a number of customers. There's always a chance of your graphics card just plain overheating if it produces weird artefacts, though, so please check your temperatures.

(06-01-2010 01:12 PM)Timo Wrote:  inferno74, please try resetting your graphics driver settings in Catalyst Control Center to their defaults. This fixed the graphics distortion issue for a number of customers. There's always a chance of your graphics card just plain overheating if it produces weird artefacts, though, so please check your temperatures.

Awesome, timo u are the Bomb, after resetting the catalyst control center to defaults the game runs beautifully, and it took two months to figure this out. why didn't i think of this?????? Thanks again to everyone who helped and suggested things to try, live long and prosper.

(04-01-2010 10:46 PM)Timo Wrote:  If the file really is corrupted, you fix this by redownloading it.

I have re dowloaded tropico 3 several times but I keep getting an error message. I have sent an email to the support team a few times but they keep telling me that I just need to re download the game but it won't work what should I do?