Hello,

I have been playing and enjoying Tropico 3 for a while now.

Last night I updated my Graphics Card (NVIDIA GeForce 9800GT) driver to the latest version (197.45) in order to be able to play another game (GTA4).

Today, when I try to run Tropico 3, I get the error 'You need a supported DX9-compatible video card with a recent driver to play this game. Check our web site for a list of supported chipsets'.

I have tried updating my DirectX to the latest version (9.0c), but still no luck.

I have seen a few threads which suggest that Tropico 3 has this problem at resolutions above 1600x1200. My native resolution is 1920x1080, which was working fine before the driver update. I have now tried 1680x1050, 1600x1024, 1600x900, 1360x768, 1280x1024, 1280x960 and 1280x800 but with no joy.

I also read on another forum that someone got this working in 16-bit colour, so I tried all of the above resolutions in 16-bit, but no joy.

I am considering a re-install (though I don't hold out much hope). Will I loose my save games and campaign progress if I do this?

Can anyone help me? I really want to continue my Tropico game!

try going to properties of the Tropico 3 application and selecting "Disable Display scaling on high DPI settings" in Compatibility section. That usually allows people that get the message non-compatible dx9 card with a good video card, be able to play the game.

Hi,

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried this yesterday and it didn't help for me.

I have been able to resolve my issues with a re-install of the game though, and am now happily dictating to the people of Tropico once again.

Hi, sorry to bump this, but I just got this same error. I was just playing Tropico 3 last night and I went to launch it today and it gave me this error. I haven't installed anything new since then, and I have the latest drivers for my graphics card (GTX260).

My System DxDiag:

I have tried the following:
* Uninstalling and reinstalling
* Disabling visual themes
* Disabling Display scaling on high DPI settings
* Running as administrator
* Verifying Integrity of Game Cache
* Reinstalled DirectX

So far no luck at all. Can't play the game anymore which is a shame.

These instructions are for Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Windows 7 only.


Open up command prompt either by searching for "cmd", running "cmd" or, or go to All Programs -> Accessories -> Command Prompt.

Copy and paste (right click in the command prompt window and click paste), or type in, the following line:

rmdir /S /Q "%appdata%\Tropico 3\ShaderCache"

Hit the enter key while the command prompt is focused to execute the command.

Close command prompt and start Tropico 3 and hopefully it will work as it should again.

Hey thanks a lot! The rmdir command worked perfectly. Game runs fine now.

I've been having the same problem and ive tried all of these things and it is still not working

if I copy paste the phase you've said it tells me that the system cannot find the file specified. I haven't installed the game in C: directory, respectively program files, could that be the issue? sorry for my bad english

(21-02-2012 02:16 PM)supreme Wrote:  if I copy paste the phase you've said it tells me that the system cannot find the file specified. I haven't installed the game in C: directory, respectively program files, could that be the issue? sorry for my bad english

Not entirely sure, but you could try to reinstall. Also double check to make sure your video, sound, and mother board drivers all all up to date, along with all windows updates as well. Then try reinstalling again.

I have a atifire gl v8650, 2gb ddr5,i7 965 extreme edition,6gb ddr3 1600mhz and I'll be damn if I can't make this game work...I've reinstalled it in C: directory and I have the same error and the copy paste thing still doesn't work..

so..nobody with a solution?:/

Are you running the game on a multi-monitor setup? If so, try disabling secondary display devices. Please also post a DxDiag for more system information.

this is the setup..


------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 3/2/2012, 20:00:47
Machine name: MIKUS-PC
Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_rtm.090713-1255)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
System Model: EX58-UD3R
BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
Processor: Intel® Core™ i7 CPU 965 @ 3.20GHz (8 CPUs), ~3.3GHz
Memory: 6144MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 6142MB RAM
Page File: 3415MB used, 8867MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7600.16385 64bit Unicode

I'm not running on multiple monitors, I don't know why I have this issue

something is wrong with your windows...there should be a service pack 1 (or isn't it out for ultimate edition?)
could you please look for it.

if a dx9-file is missing, then download the DirectX-Installer from Microsoft here and let it do its job. It will download all missing files.

Lebe jeden Tag, als wäre es Dein Letzter! / Live each day as it would be your last!

same error..you need a directx9 compatible card

could you please post a full dxdiag please

Lebe jeden Tag, als wäre es Dein Letzter! / Live each day as it would be your last!

i must say, i've never heard about your graphic card! I had to ask google for it...

what i found is this: http://support.amd.com/us/kbarticles/Pag...ctXVersion

usually i would say, that there is a graphic driver released in 2012, but i am not sure, if it is also for this model...ah...found it...
http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/fi...n7-64.aspx

but i do not have any experience with this model, probably it is not supported by the game...i smply don't know!

Lebe jeden Tag, als wäre es Dein Letzter! / Live each day as it would be your last!

this sucks...:|

I've tried selecting "Disable Display scaling on high DPI settings", rmdir /S /Q "%appdata%\Tropico 3\ShaderCache", I've updated my DX, I'm only using one monitor, and still no luck.

Here's my relevant info:

please post the whole Dxdiag

Sorry about that.

Please install first the Servcie Pack 2 for Vista. Then use ATI Driver detection it will guide you to get the latest graphics driver.

Are you able to tell me what the following is (never have seen that before)

Device Name: Cordless Receiver???????????????????????????????????????????$??????4??
Attached: 1
Controller ID: 0x0
Vendor/Product ID: 0x046D, 0xC52B
FF Driver: n/a

Device Name: Cordless Receiver???????????????????????????????????????????$??????4??
Attached: 1
Controller ID: 0x0
Vendor/Product ID: 0x046D, 0xC52B
FF Driver: n/a

Seems to be smth. from Logitech

I had the same Problem and I found this on another Forum and it worked for me. Apparently the problem was that Tropico 3 was preset to open up the game Full Screen on a Screen Resolution that my computer doesn't support. Your Problem could be the same. So To Fix it requires a bit of modifying of the "config.lua" file in the Tropico 3 Games Directory. Before going ahead with it. I strongly Recommend that you back up the File "config.lua" by copying it and saving it in a different location.

Then Open up Notepad or Wordpad and copy and paste this into it:

config.IsFullscreen = 0
config.RunUnfocused = 0

config.WriteToRegistry = 1
config.AutoOptions = 1
config.ColorBits = 32
config.DepthBits = 24
config.VSync = 0
config.RefRast = 0
config.MeshVertexBufferChunkSizeKb = 1280
config.MeshIndexBufferChunkSizeKb = 512
config.MapSlotReserveSize = 12

config.SoundListenerMinUpdatePeriod = 50
config.FmodMemory = 10485760

config.XInput = 0

config.MaxGameObjectCount = 200000
config.MaxGameObjectExCount = 10000
config.MaxGameRenderObjCount = 20000

config.MainMenu = 1

hr.UpdateLights = 0

(From this point on don't Copy anything else)

After Your Done Save the File as ( config.lua ) Without brackets

Then Move this new file into the Tropico 3 Directory and Replace the original config.lua file

What this does is enables tropico to open in Windowed mode rather then Full Screen on a resolution that your Pc probably does support.

Cheers

(15-08-2012 10:37 PM)jbretne7 Wrote:  I had the same Problem and I found this on another Forum and it worked for me. Apparently the problem was that Tropico 3 was preset to open up the game Full Screen on a Screen Resolution that my computer doesn't support. Your Problem could be the same. So To Fix it requires a bit of modifying of the "config.lua" file in the Tropico 3 Games Directory. Before going ahead with it. I strongly Recommend that you back up the File "config.lua" by copying it and saving it in a different location.

Then Open up Notepad or Wordpad and copy and paste this into it:

config.IsFullscreen = 0
config.RunUnfocused = 0

config.WriteToRegistry = 1
config.AutoOptions = 1
config.ColorBits = 32
config.DepthBits = 24
config.VSync = 0
config.RefRast = 0
config.MeshVertexBufferChunkSizeKb = 1280
config.MeshIndexBufferChunkSizeKb = 512
config.MapSlotReserveSize = 12

config.SoundListenerMinUpdatePeriod = 50
config.FmodMemory = 10485760

config.XInput = 0

config.MaxGameObjectCount = 200000
config.MaxGameObjectExCount = 10000
config.MaxGameRenderObjCount = 20000

config.MainMenu = 1

hr.UpdateLights = 0

(From this point on don't Copy anything else)

After Your Done Save the File as ( config.lua ) Without brackets

Then Move this new file into the Tropico 3 Directory and Replace the original config.lua file

What this does is enables tropico to open in Windowed mode rather then Full Screen on a resolution that your Pc probably does support.

Cheers

Just to add this worked a treat for me (3 x monitors in profile, 3150 x 1680 res) HD 6870 card. Once in, I could pick the correct res from the game's dropdown. I then simply set 'config.IsFullscreen = 1' on the config.lua file and it works in full-screen mode all lovely like