Are you sure you haven't forgotten this issue? It's 2015 now!

obviously not anytime soon... which is a real shame...

I asked support and they replied:

"Unfortunately current owner of Corsairs Gold still didn't provide us with updated master files."

Seems like there's nothing GOG can do.

I also asked support but no still no solution.

After working on it by myself, here is my conclusion :

- The \data\CRK folder contains encrypted .INI files (.CRK files).
- The command-line tool used to encrypt .INI files into .CRK files is \data\CRK\CRK\CRYPTINI.EXE (syntax is CRYPTINI.EXE -c INIFILE CRKFILE).
- This tool can also decrypt .CRK files into .INI files using the -d switch (syntax is CRYPTINI.EXE -d CRKFILE INIFILE).
- The L_DUTCH.CRK, L_ENGLIS.CRK, L_FRENCH.CRK, L_GERMAN.CRK, L_ITALIA.CRK, L_POLISH.CRK, L_PORTUG.CRK and L_SPANIS.CRK are language files. The [BOOK] section refers to a CS_MISOPEN value corresponding to the adventure mode.
- The D_DUTCH.CRK, D_ENGLIS.CRK, D_FRENCH.CRK, D_GERMAN.CRK, D_ITALIA.CRK, D_POLISH.CRK, D_PORTUG.CRK and D_SPANIS.CRK are also language files but seem to be for the demo version (according to the [MESSAGE] section).
- There is a BOOK.CRK/BOOK.INI file with a [MISSIONS] section that seems to be releavant.
- Using an hexeditor, the CS_MISOPEN value can be found is the main executable CORSAIRS.EXE (Offset 9618B).
- Nothing changes if you try to rename the data of the CS_MISOPEN value into something else. Renaming data of other values (like CS_NOUVELAV) does change the book interface.
- Nothing changes if you try to delete the CS_MISOPEN value. Deleting other values (like CS_NOUVELAV) does make the corresponding option still available in the book interface (but renamed DEFAULT).
- So, the main executable CORSAIRS.EXE seems to ignore the CS_MISOPEN value.

When I copy corsairs.exe from old cd an replace the new GOG one i get the DEFAULT option (ADVENTURE MOD) and can select it. But as soon as I start the mission it crashes... I tried copying different files (corsairs.ini and - CW3220.DLL which is missing from this copy but i don't know what does it do) and just got that DEFAULT turned into ADVENTURE MOD one time but that was all...

Interesting find.

Keep experimenting, maybe you'll achieve something.

This game is killing me... So today I copied all the files from my old backup Corsairs cd from 2008. which are missing in GOG version. Content is visible in corsairs cd.jpg.

I also copied and overwrited data folder but didn't touch savings and sound since there is no difference... How the GOG version plus files from the old version look like you can see in coirsairs gog plus old files.JPG

Of course, I have also overwritten new corsairs.exe with the old one.

NOW THE IMPORTANT THING. Since it's an old .exe file you have to enable compatibility for win95.

Then I started the game and successfully entered adventure mod and started the game.

The only problem is that it's unplayable... *sigh*

Instead of water I got texture of wheat or forest. The same happened with my saved games (you can see how it looks in snapshots below....)

To conclude does anybody know why the texture changed? And how to reverse it back to water so the game is playable? Maybe...

Maybe the problem is in one of the files for the textures which has been changed but I can not detect it...

anyway so close yet so far away... If anyone else want's to try let me know so I will upload my old version.. although is that a piracy act then?

*Pun intended*

btw DON'T COPY OLD CORSAIRS.INI.. it bugs the game

Thank you for your feedback.

For the DEFAULT option, may be you could try to encrypt L_ENGLad.INI (located in \data\CRK\INI) into L_ENGLIS.CRK overwriting the existing file in \data\CRK (make a backup just in case).

I'm surprised the old CORSAIRS.EXE is working (even with compatibility for Win 95) because the GOG version seems to use a shim (goggame_xp.sdb) for modern OSes. Do you need the CD during the game ?

Regarding the texture issue, have a look at vlh256.free.fr/corsxp.htm. It's written in french but at the end, it is said that semi-colons at the end of a line in \data\CRK\BK_DES00.INI and \data\CRK\BK_TRP00.INI are causing problems on Win XP. May be you could try to overwrite these files with the GOG ones. I don't know if the corresponding .CRK files are needed too.

If only I could remember where is my old CD...

You might be on a good track and incorrect textures might be a result of compatibility issues. I've tried to run the Polish version of Corsairs (not the Gold version) from the original CD and I've got forest instead of water.

I tried rssts options but it didn't work... You need a cd for win95. The only time, before gog version and after winxp, that I managed to install and play Corsairs Gold was in a Win98SE via Virtual Computer. But then the game would crash every time there was boarding scene... I guess we'll have to wait for Microids to finally do their part.

OK. I have some news :

I finally found my old Corsairs Gold CD and tried to overwrite corsairs.exe with the CD version. I also had to modify corsairs.ini. When launching the game, the Adventure mode was back ! But as soon as I selected it, the game crashed as expected (this version is not compatible with modern OSes). This means that the problem is the GOG version of corsairs.exe that has been modified to remove the CD check and to run on modern OSes.

I managed to contact the gaming communication manager at Anuman. He said he will try to get some informations and he will come back to me then. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Edit : I have some news from the gaming communication manager. He said he feels fairly optimistic that this problem can be resolved and that we have to stay tuned for next updates. Current GOG version is 2.1.0.7.

well these seem good news. thanks for your efforts, and keep us updated!

I tried to overwrite the new files as described by dime.cro but no way, it keeps crashing on my system.
Anyway, just an idea: what about simply renaming textures to solve the problem?

In the meantime I wrote to Microids, Anuman and GOG support teams. Let's see what happens.

I think GOG is powerless to resolve this issue because it comes from the main executable CORSAIRS.EXE.
But Anuman that acquired the licences of Microïds can do it !
I encourage you to write to Anuman instead (I did it like others here).