I recently found that GamersGate was offering T:DP for digital download, so I jumped on it. Unfortunately I'm having multiple issues with the install I now have. I had difficulties installing to begin with (that were fixed with the -lgntforce command), and now the game won't even open. I've read up a bit on what to do, but I found so many fixes and varied solutions (perhaps some trial and error is required?) that I'm a bit frazzled and unsure of where to start.

I'm running Vista 64-bit on a Q6600 quad and a GeForce GTS250. Would someone with a similar setup mind outlining a solution here?

Thanks in advance for any help!

I don't know if this helps or not

http://www.gog.com/en/forum/general/thief_the_dark_project_windows_vista_7_compatibility_guide

The TTLG FAQ has always kinda been the go-to resource, it's what I used to get Thief Gold and Thief 2 running a while back.

http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75031

Try DDFix.

Thanks! I think these resolved my startup issue, but now I'm getting a CAM.cfg error. I reinstalled and the file is still screwed up, so I'm gonna try downloading it again and see if that fixes the file. Anyone else have this issue?

Did you look up cam.cfg error Thief Dark Project in google?

Yes...

I also bought it from GG and had a little difficulty getting it working. For me it was crashing right before it even loaded the main menu. The DDFix helps once you can get the menu to load, when is the error happening for you.

Also if you post you cam file I'll see if mine is different at all.

Bah, I try to help and people low rate it? :(

I hope you get it working. Did you try the looking glass forums?

Maybe I am old fashioned, but if you are sellling a game for download that is known to have issues with modern computers I think you should fix the problems before selling it...........
That is why I like GOG so much. They are not perfect with every game, but at least they make a real effort to have the games they sell playble on a modern system. Most of the other Donwload stores don't even make the effort.

^^ Exactly. All of the stuff I've gotten here has been quick and clean to install; very easy.

My CAM file says NOTHING about resolutions, which I've read it is supposed to. Could someone else post a working one (or just the text for it), by chance? I couldn't find what the text is supposed to be on Google.

Here is my cam file:

; $Header: r:/prj/cam/src/RCS/cam.cfg 1.14 1998/09/23 20:00:41 mahk Exp $

; hey, which game is this
game dark

; general configs
include_user_cfg user.cfg
editor_include_dromed_cfg dromed.cfg

; game specific paths/configs
dark_include_install_cfg install.cfg

shock_resname_base r:\prj\shock\art\finals

; set trait cache to include concretes
trait_cache_flags 2
game_screen_depth 16
gamma 0.6999999881
game_screen_size 1024 768
sfx_channels 8
game_screen_flags 13
game_full_screen 1
master_volume -1
sfx_device 1
game_hardware 1
Always_Play_Intro
Skip_Starting_Checks

character_detail 1
d3d_driver_index 0


You may need to change the master volume setting if you don't get sound. I also had to copy all the movies from the installation files (the files it asks you if you want to delete, by the way you don't) to the movies folder in my game directory, for some reason.

None of the movies work for me but the game itself works fine and I go to youtube to get the briefings. Its not perfect but it was $2.50 and DRM free so I'll take it. But I do agree, I appreciate GOG's efforts to get the games working on modern systems before selling them. I would have paid more to get it from GOG because they have earned my loyalty. Hopefully they will get a deal done with squareenix and get thief 2 since it does not appear to be available anywhere right now for DD.

You need to actually start the game renderer before the lines in cam.cfg get populated. In other words, start the first mission. If you can't do this, then try populating it with this text (taken from the TTLG FAQ, works on my install of Thief):

; hey, which game is this
game dark

; general configs
include_user_cfg user.cfg
editor_include_dromed_cfg dromed.cfg

; game specific paths/configs
dark_include_install_cfg darkinst.cfg
shock_include_install_cfg install.cfg

; set trait cache to include concretes
trait_cache_flags 2

no_network

sfx_vol_music -474
fogging 1
enhanced_sky 1
render_weather 1

game_screen_depth 16
sfx_vol_2d 0
sfx_channels 24
vmCenterX 0.5004897118
sfx_vol_3d 0
game_screen_size 1280 1024
vmCenterY 0.5008818507
ambient_volume 0
master_volume -1
game_screen_flags 13
game_full_screen 1
game_hardware 1
sfx_device 2
gamma 1.
d3d_driver_index 0
sfx_eax 1

skip_starting_checks




Re. selling the game in a non-working state, I agree. There are 3 problems with Thief on modern computers:
1) The Dark engine cannot cope with multiple-core CPUs. This is easily fixed by a modified game shortcut, or by setting the executable affinity in the Task Manager.
2) The movies use an old codec, which is not in-built in Windows XP. I think it is in Vista and Win7 though, otherwise you have to install a codec pack and re-register the codec every time you play. This can be be done via a batch file.
3) The renderer uses some aspects of DirectX 6 which both ATI and nvidia have dropped support for on their drivers. This is a major problem which is currently fixed by using DDFix, which contains a DirectX 6 plugin. The calls to directX in the game EXE file are then patched to call the ddfix.dll version instead (I think Jermi has moved this over to DirectX 9 now, will have to check).

Both points (1) and (2) above can be easily fixed by game distributors. Point (3) needs access to the source code to fix, which has been lost. It's worth pointing out that Point (3) means that it's a driver issue - Thief works fine "out-of-the-box" on my Intel GMA 950 graphics on my laptop. It's just ATI and nvidia that it's a problem on.

Note that these 3 issues will affect any Dark engine game, unfortunately including System Shock II... :(

(edit - added cam.cfg from TTLG forums, for reference)