Posted May 04, 2013
I'm compiling this list of bugs that are known in the GOG.com version of Populous: The Beginning. If you find another, please post below and I'll add it to the list.
This way, it's easier to have a master list of bugs and fixes that have been tried out and tested to work :)
Known Bugs
* In certain circumstances, loading the game gives me a "Program Not Responding" error
* When I launch the game, I get a warning about my graphics card not being found
* When I select particular resolutions, the game just goes back to 800x600 in game (not menus)
List of Fixes
* Some users have reported that using the GOGLauncher file results in gameplay issues as well as loading. Many users have reported that if they launch the game using the native executables (D3DPopTB.exe and PopTB.exe), the game will launch and play more reliably than if they used the GOGLauncher.exe. To prevent use of the GOGLauncher.exe when loading the game, simply change the shortcut to point to either D3DPopTB.exe (for Hardware Mode) or PopTB.exe (for Software Mode) and don't use the "Launch Populous: The Beginning" button in the GOGSetup.exe window.
* If you are using an ATI graphics card that has been made very recently (2010 onwards), then you probably have an outdated atiumdag.dll file in the Populous install folder. This can be easily rectified by downloading an updated atiumdag.dll file from this post: http://www.gog.com/forum/populous_series/populous_the_beginning_cant_find_videocard/post18
UPDATE: If you are using an AMD Radeon HD 7xxx or AMD Radeon HD 8xxx graphics card, this game will not launch. Both the atiumdag.dll provided with the game, and the atiumdag.dll provided by GOG to support newer cards, don't include reference to the newer AMD Radeon HD families so if you are using one of these graphics cards, then don't purchase this game, until a news bulletin from GOG is made stating that they've made the cards work.
* Due to the immense age of the game, any resolution that has a higher width than 1280 will simply be reverted back to the default resolution. The fix is to simply select a resolution with a width of 1280 in 16bpp. The resolutions are:
1280x720 for 16:9 monitors
1280x800 for 16:10 monitors
1280x1024 for 5:4 monitors
This list will be updated over time.
This way, it's easier to have a master list of bugs and fixes that have been tried out and tested to work :)
Known Bugs
* In certain circumstances, loading the game gives me a "Program Not Responding" error
* When I launch the game, I get a warning about my graphics card not being found
* When I select particular resolutions, the game just goes back to 800x600 in game (not menus)
List of Fixes
* Some users have reported that using the GOGLauncher file results in gameplay issues as well as loading. Many users have reported that if they launch the game using the native executables (D3DPopTB.exe and PopTB.exe), the game will launch and play more reliably than if they used the GOGLauncher.exe. To prevent use of the GOGLauncher.exe when loading the game, simply change the shortcut to point to either D3DPopTB.exe (for Hardware Mode) or PopTB.exe (for Software Mode) and don't use the "Launch Populous: The Beginning" button in the GOGSetup.exe window.
* If you are using an ATI graphics card that has been made very recently (2010 onwards), then you probably have an outdated atiumdag.dll file in the Populous install folder. This can be easily rectified by downloading an updated atiumdag.dll file from this post: http://www.gog.com/forum/populous_series/populous_the_beginning_cant_find_videocard/post18
UPDATE: If you are using an AMD Radeon HD 7xxx or AMD Radeon HD 8xxx graphics card, this game will not launch. Both the atiumdag.dll provided with the game, and the atiumdag.dll provided by GOG to support newer cards, don't include reference to the newer AMD Radeon HD families so if you are using one of these graphics cards, then don't purchase this game, until a news bulletin from GOG is made stating that they've made the cards work.
* Due to the immense age of the game, any resolution that has a higher width than 1280 will simply be reverted back to the default resolution. The fix is to simply select a resolution with a width of 1280 in 16bpp. The resolutions are:
1280x720 for 16:9 monitors
1280x800 for 16:10 monitors
1280x1024 for 5:4 monitors
This list will be updated over time.
Post edited October 09, 2013 by Shukaku