So, I recently got and installed the game, and upon starting it up, it immediately crashes the moment the first "Empire Earth III" splash comes up. I tried opening the properties of the launcher, but unfortunately, it lacks even a "Compatibility mode" or anything of the sort, and it already opens in administrator mode, so I'm sort of clueless if anyone knows a way to get it to work on Win 8.

I have the exact same problem and started a thread about it. No solution yet. :(

http://www.gog.com/forum/empire_earth_series/ee3_on_win_8_wont_start_physx_problem

I'll try to help you guys, but I need more details.

Please check the report in Windows Reliability Monitor:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/how-to-use-reliability-monitor
Find an error with EE3.exe and then: "View technical details"
Then paste it here.

I've got Empire Earth 3 (but not Gog.com version), and it works fine, so it's not a Windows 8 problem.

Källa
Empire Earth III

Sammanfattning
Slutade fungera

Datum
‎2014-‎04-‎24 20:46

Status
Rapport skickad

Beskrivning
Felaktig programsökväg: D:\Spel\Empire Earth III\EE3.exe

Problemsignatur
Händelsenamn: APPCRASH
Programnamn: EE3.exe
Programversion: 1.1.0.0
Programtidsstämpel: 4730f1e3
Namn på felmodul: avcuf32.dll
Modulens version: 3.10.8813.5087
Tidsstämpel för felmodul: 52f8d9d1
Undantagskod: c00000fd
Undantagsförskjutning: 000093f6
OS-version: 6.3.9600.2.0.0.768.101
Språkvariant-ID: 1053
Ytterligare information 1: 397d
Ytterligare information 2: 397dda704397a73c96061c4e13c1a047
Ytterligare information 3: 28b3
Ytterligare information 4: 28b3502fc98deaaeea59482a0781c5f2

Extra information om problemet
Bucket-ID: 5bdf9d400c5b416a4618092fee3f2694 (73098753991)

--------------------------------------------

Unfortunately it's in Swedish. I can translate it into english techspeak somewhat at least if needed.

Thank you Tarm.

It seems like "avcuf32.dll" causes this error.

Do you use: BitDefender® AntiVirus? ( http://systemexplorer.net/file-database/file/avcuf32-dll ).
If yes - please turn off the protection and start EE3.

Hm. I tried that but it was before I had installed the old Legacy driver I was missing and before a reinstall. Then I got a little bit further before it crashed so that crash might have been because of not having the old Legacy driver.
I'll try again and get back to you how it went.

Edit: Nope the same error. Though Bitdefender is a bit tricky. I right clicked it's icon and clicked Exit. Not sure if it's one of those antivirus programs that are very hard to shut off completely.

I'd rather not. Bitdefender is one of those new antisomething programs that can be tricky to get working on windows 8. In this case it's a pain to get the free edition registered and keep it registered so you can continue using it. My thought on it is that it follows the rules of The Almighty Random Magically Selected Holy 1 and 0s of Windows 8.

I'll search on the net for anything about completely shutting off Bitdefender and also about doing the same thing to COMODO firewall this weekend. COMODO I know can be a pain. The new versions are better but I still don't trust it to not being a complete ninja fascist by doing stuff behind my back because "It's in yours/mine interest".

Actually both programs are good at what they're doing and one of them are very silent (Doesn't bother me all the time.) , Bitdefender and the other, COMODO, very configurable.
Though because of this I've hold off trying to dig into too much if they're the problem. Bitdefender is hard to configure and COMODO drowns you in configurable features and still do stuff behind my back I suspect.

But if you think Bitdefender is the culprit I guess I have too... :(

I'm sure that avcuf32.dll is a BitDedender's file.
Maybe try to add EE3.exe to exceptions in Bitdedender settings? I don't know how to do this, but I found this:
http://www.bitdefender.com/support/how-to-add-exceptions-1163.html

I'm using 360 Internet Security antivirus and it works fine with Windows 8.1

Huh, whaddaya know. I just tried uninstalling BitDefender and...it worked perfectly. Seems that was indeed the problem for me! Thanks a lot to you both! (And sorry for not replying sooner, I don't use the forums too often.)

Hey I finally could afford to buy BitDefender, have now made exceptions for EE3 and, WOHOOO it works!
So if you want some more rep post in my thread and I'll give you some. :)

No, that's okay, I don't collect rep points :) The most important that your game works now :)

by the way: I would recommend you to try Empire Earth 2 / 1 if you haven't played them before. They are waaay better than EE3 which is probably the worst game from EE serie :)
If you're intereted, here is my YouTube channel, and example GamePlay video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5qp1DysE6Q

I used to play EE1 with a friend back when it was fairly new and it was a fun game. Have EE2 in my backlog here. Unfortunately my backlog is big to say the least so it'll probably be a while until I try it.

Actually I like EE3. I'm not a twitch RTS gamer so the more simplified EE3 is right up my alley. Like it better than EE1 so far because of that. :)

Thanks for the tip. I'll go have a look at your channel. :)

I recently installed this game and it starts up fine, but the visuals during game play are extremely glitchy. I've tried running it as administrator and in compatibility mode. (I have Windows 8)

Thanks for any help