I recently got a new computer and I decided to play Descent 3 on it. I am running it under OpenGL because Direct3D does not work and Gilde looks like Descent 1. All my drivers are up to date and I don't have any issues with resolution, controls or tearing. The game works fine and looks great but there are some major problems I have with it that are getting on my nerves:

1. The level opening briefing screens do not show up at all and I am taken to a resolution-warped desktop until I press [Esc] after which the level starts.

2. None of the cutscenes play, the game just skips them altogether.

3. There is a very annoying static noise in game that overlaps the sound effects and music which gives my ears a real pummeling.

My specs (I think):

Windows 8.1 Pro
Intel Core i5
GeForce GTX 670
16.0gb Ram
DirectX 11

Thanks in advance.

I'm still using XP so haven't noticed these problems. I don't have a solution, but have you played around with the command line options? Maybe something in there can help:

I mainly used it to get widescreen resolutions, but the other commands are at the bottom.

Start the Game Laucher.
Select [Setup].
On the [Misc.] -tab, you'll find "Optional D3 Command-line Switches".
Enter: -width [horisontalresolution] -height [verticalresolution] -aspect [displayaspectratio]
for example
-width 1920 -height 1080 -aspect 1.78 (for 16:9)
or
-width 1920 -height 1200 -aspect 1.6 (for 16:10).
Start the game.
If you get a picture with black bars, press the button next to backspace ([+] on US keyboards) to zoom in.

Notes:
Image is vertically cropped
By pressing F3, you can choose between a cropped (but not streched) 3D cockpit and a streched (but not cropped) 2D HUD.
Menus, briefings and FMV will always be in 640x480.
32-bit color depth can be selected in the in-game menu (F2), but not in the main menu Options.



-alternatejoy -aspect -audiotauntdelay -autoexec-bumped -chpro -deadzone0 -deadzone1 -dedicated -directinput -fastdemo -forcelightmaps -framecap -gamespyport -gspyfile -height -highvidmem -himem -httpproxy -httpproxy -lowmem -makemovie -mission -mlooksens -mouseman -mousesens -nocompress -nointro -nolightmaps -nomotionblur -nomultibmp -nomultitexture -nomusic -nonetwork -nooutdoorfog -nooutragelogo -nopentium3 -NoRenderWindows -nosound -nosparkles -pilot -playermessages -setdir -subpixelcorrect -superlowmem -timetest -useexedir -useip -useport -usesmoothing -vsync -width -z32bit