maximbelov: Hi folks,
Is it 64-bit only? Nothing about it is written at the store page but it fails to launch on 32-bit system
with error about Windows version incompatibility and necessity to choose 32-bit or 64-bit version.
I am using Vista 32-bit, so is it due to 32-bit, due to Vista, or due to Vista 32-bit? :)
JMB9: Sorry for not being able to answer your question fully ... but if it is Vista, 32-bit or both is not relevant - is it?
But I try to give at least some hints; I had been a Unix professional - not interested in VMS and its derivatives ...
Thus I am not using Windows - but NT 6.0 (aka Vista) has more than 4 years no support (ended 11.04.2017) -
so should no longer be used - and the same is even true for NT 6.1 (aka Windows 7: ended 14. Jan. 2020) -
so 1.5 years out of support. As Windows is insecure by design, one should not connect to the internet if one
has data which should not be available publicly on no longer patches versions.
If it has no data and is used for gaming ... it is still a risk to be used for attack when someone gets
remote access to this device - which is pretty easy ...
Additionally, the GOG product page says Windows 7 and 10 - so also no support for the game under Vista.
And as we don't have desktop CPUs being 32 bit for more than 10 years, why is it reasonable to use such ancient HW.
I expect my PCs to reach 10 years - but all have 64 bit OSs (GNU/Linux versions of different flavors) and
as macOS started with 10.15 = Catalina to stop 32 bit support, 32 bit SW will soon make problems under
GNU/Linux, too.
Windows was said to end 32-bit on Windows 10 - at least it was reported that OEMs no longer get Windows 10
in 32-bit version to be installed on new hardware ... so Windows is behind as always ... but will reach
end of 32-bit someday ...
Concerning the game I can confirm that for Linux there is only a 64 bit version, i.e. Unity binary has 64-bit binary
which got pretty common - and unfortunately for gamers who want to use 32-bit OS (and HW?), this was never
given on GOG product pages (like pure 64 bit) - somtimes one may read '64-bit OS is needed, but only in care
occasions (maybe some Devs care ... I am just interested to no longer get a 32-bit only version - and this should
be marked clearly, see above).
To give some details about GNU/Linux versions of the two Emberheart Games & Apogee Entertainment titles
available on GOG and marked as 'HD' (incl. reference to the formerly DOSBox versions available on GOG):
Crystal Caves (1st game available with 'HD'):
* Crystal Caves HD (improved and extended by Emberheart Games) . 15.10.2020
o Crystal Caves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23.10.1991
# DOSBox: 12.0 MB; Unity (HD version): 186.9 MB
# HD vers.: Unity 2019.3.15f1, pure 64 bit, internal version 1.1.1.3 (01.07.21)
Secret Agent (freshly released 2nd 'HD' title):
* Secret Agent HD (improved and extended by Emberheart Games) . . 30.06.2021
o Secret Agent (old DOS version now running by DOSBox) . . . . . . . . . 01.02.1992
# DOSBox: 11.8 MB; Unity (HD version): 177.9 MB
# HD version: Unity 2019.4.19f1, pure 64 bit, internal version 1.0.0 (01.07.21)
I am pleased by the new technical base, the improved image quality and full controller support (tested with Logitech F310).
DOSBox is no longer maintained as before - and normally does not use really fullscreen but changes resolution ...
so this update is badly needed technically - really a good thing for gamers - especially for those brilliant Apogee titles ...
And we may soon get more of these games - like Cosmo's Cosmic Adventure (03/1992) or Monster Bash (04/1993) ...
as was announced by Apogee Entertainment here:
*
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHTbZdV2l8s And thanks to the Dev being fast in answering some questions and does a really good job ...
I am longing to play more of these HD titles *** Apogee games still rock !!! *** ;)
So I hope this helps ... maybe some Windows gamers could answer this question exactly ...
But I think the problem is clear ... one should use a 64-bit OS for gaming - and may hope to be able
to play old 32 bit titles as long as possible. I admit that I own 56 32-bit titles (of totally 592 on GOG) -
and give some help to still make the run under current GNU/Linux versions ...
but this race can only be won by fresh 64-bit versions: running natively on the selected platform of choice!
Examples are Bridge Constructor series (ClockStone / Headup - not 64 bit are only on GOG AFAIK) or
Kingdom Rush series (Ironhide Game Studio) or Zach-lilke games (only Ironclad Tactics
of Zachtronics being still 32 bit, unfortunately - but no Zach-like title!).
So some devs do care for quality of life ... and this get more important than ever ...
Would be glad if GOG would help here ... as it was originally "Good Old Games" - some customers
still now this after all these years ... :)
But maybe GOG could start improving the info on their product pages - for lot of months Craystal Caves
was given as Windows only while GNU/Linux was present - and even DOSBox could be read on HD page ...
(don't get me wrong - Steam is not better in respect of info on their pages ...).
Let's hope this will come in focus by GOG to help gamers feeling at home.
Thank you for your explanation. You've reaffirmed me that the issue comes due to dated setup I use. Probably GOG still has to put that products are 64-bit only to notify geeks like me in advance (still I am not going to refund and going to keep the game in my collection for future use).
I really enjoy old games and quite seldom I find something released after 2005 interesting. And that's why I didn't have to upgrade for a long time. This is sort of my personal retro-tastes (you won't believe but I still have Windows 98SE and Windows XP in my stash ans was looking for Windows95 :) ). And what I appreciate in GOG is that I can still enjoy my collection without client, means on my old machine. Feels like with HDs and re-releases of old games I'd love to play even with GOG's liberal approach I will finally have to upgrade (or my laptop dies and I have to buy new one :)).
Hi Rej72380, thanks for your tip. Sure that's my outdated system. As far as I remember some 6 years ago Steam client (when it was still supported for old OSes) reported in statistics that some 3% (or 6?) use Vista:) I suppose today globally it is <1%. And 0 for Steam, as it doesn't support Vista :)
Btw there are 2 main problems I face using Vista today: limited range of browsers that run and limited range of antivirus soft. For the rest it is quite OK if you don't play modern games or use serious software.
