Creatures 2 DirectX bug


 * Problem

Creatures 2 won't run

A messagebox is shown, the game seems to be starting then it quits.

The error [DDERR_INVALIDPARAMS] has been detected when attempting to draw game sprites. Please check that your desktop is in 16-bit video mode, Microsoft DirectX is correctly installed and that you have the latest driver software for your graphics card. Extra information: [Creatures path]\dung.S16


 * Known errorcodes the solution applies to

DDERR_INVALIDPARAMS


 * Affected systems

Windows XP


 * Workaround

Go to start-&gt;run, type regedit, and hit OK, then go to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\CyberLife Technology\Creatures 2\1.0

find Loading Flags entry and modify it from 0 to 1.

Note: This entry will be created after running the game for the first time.


 * Effect

The game should now tell you it's renaming some files and run after a while. It may run slower, than normal, as I suppose.


 * Known exclusions

This fix works unless all the addons installed, it seems one of them modifies the entry back to 0 when the game is starting.


 * Possible reason for the workaround working

The game might be running without 2D hardware acceleration.


 * Goodies

Copy this to Notepad and save as "fix.reg", then run whenever you want to apply the fix.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\CyberLife Technology\Creatures 2\1.0] "Loading Flags"=dword:00000001