Workaround For Game Start Failures

[ColdFever]

There are many players (including me) who had a clean install and were able to run the game fine ONCE, but cannot start the game again for the second time, as the screen just flashes black after the first logo is displayed and the RoN Task iconifies and freezes into the task bar.

Workaround:
turn off the IntroMovies via a change in rise2.ini:

old:
SkipIntroMovies=0

new:
SkipIntroMovies=1

some diagnosis: it looks like people affected have
Windows 98 or ME
Nvidia Geforce 2 MX
Media Player 9

strange: I am able to play ALL intro movies in the media player without problem if I click on them directly in the RoN drawer.

[madjoseph]

Thanks Cold

Like others with Windows Me, a tnt graphics card, etc, I installed the game and it played perfectly--until the next day. The it minimized and caused all kinds of havoc on my system. After messing with it for far more time than should be needed, I came across your post. That seems to have fixed it. So, thank you very much.

Now having said that, I have to say I'm extremely disappointed an aggravated that I had to spend three hours messing with the game to get it to work. Sure it's a good game, but for fifty dollars we all deserve better.

thanks again,

madjoseph

[Sencho]

Sadly I have the same problem and the work around doesn't help.

Win2k and Ti4200.

Here's to hoping they get the patch downloadable so I can go get it...as I sure can't now.

[ColdFever]

AFAIK the problem I described above only affects Win98/ME machines, so you probably have another problem. But you also may try this: I heard some people also could finally play when they learned to hit "ESC" at the right time before the window iconified. I also heard that people were finally able to play their legal version when they used a non-legal nocd-patch (of course this is not allowed!). I hope we don't see the sad story we had with Civ3 where some CD drives simply could not handle the strong copy protection) If your problem is not solved by the next patch you should contact Microsoft.

[Savant]

There was also this guy in Oomphaland

I heard some people also could finally play when they learned to hit "ESC" at the right time before the window iconified. I also heard that people were finally able to play their legal version when they used a non-legal nocd-patch

that got the game running when he duck-taped it to the back of his dog and set off firecrackers.

C'mon people! Use your imagination!

[Sencho]

Just a follow up. Works fine on my work computer and roommate's computer...but not mine. I've tracked it down to either the video drivers, sound drivers, or my CD drive not being up to it.

I'll test those tonight and see if the sun will rise on RoN.