I recently installed Alien vs. Predator - Gold Edition from disk (the version released in 1999, not the version released around 2010). I started up the game and added an account (i.e. user profile). I selected the alien campaign but after watching the intro video the game crashed out to the desktop.
I tried to start the alien campaign again, and again the crash occurred. I rebooted but still had the same crash after watching the campaign intro video. The crash even occurs if you skip the video.
When I check the crash in event viewer it is the infamous C0000005 crash I have seen from time to time in other games/apps. The error log doesn't give any useful details.
The crash occurs for all 3 campaigns (alien, marine and predator). However, once the marine campaign actually started (but was unplayable due to flickering of the screen, the pause menu not rendering correctly etc). I have only seen the marine campaign load up once.
I poked around the game files and found a couple of log files.
dx_error:
Line 215 of ..\3dc\avp\win95\win_proj.cpp: WM_ACTIVATEAPP msg: bActive = 1
Line 220 of ..\3dc\avp\win95\win_proj.cpp: ?&@#! no lpDDSPrimary surface
Line 221 of ..\3dc\avp\win95\win_proj.cpp: ?&@#! no lpDDSBack surface
Line 222 of ..\3dc\avp\win95\win_proj.cpp: ?&@#! no lpZBuffer surface
Line 224 of ..\3dc\avp\win95\win_proj.cpp: ?&@#! no lpDDBackdrop surface
Line 140 of ..\3dc\avp\win95\ffstdio.cpp: Loaded FastFile: fastfile\Tex37.FFL (for directory: graphics\Menus)
Line 140 of ..\3dc\avp\win95\ffstdio.cpp: Loaded FastFile: fastfile\Tex1.FFL (for directory: Graphics\Common)
LOGFILE:
final line in the log file
AwDestroyBackupTexture(0x04fdd810) called
I have scanned across several forums detailing such a crash but the only solution I could find was to use an unofficial patch through the VOGONS website. I have installed this patch, and sure enough the game loads fine. I played through about 5 minutes of the alien campaign without a problem.
However, this is an unofficial patch. In several forums people have pointed out some issues so it isn't perfect. It is still in development (an update to this patch was made as recent as 8th January 2015). I actually appreciate that someone has worked on making a patch with some enhancements and bug fixes. Despite this, I would like to know if it is possible to experience the original game on a modern operating system without the use of an unofficial patch?
Yes, I also know that the game was repackaged and released as Aliens versus Predator Classic 2000 on Steam. My question is strictly concerning the original disk release.
The unofficial patch details can be found here:
http://homepage.eircom.net/~duncandsl/avp/
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