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qrtxian
Join Date 03/2010
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Physical copy of MoO2 - will it work?

September 23, 2010 9:54:21 PM from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

So I just recently found a copy of MoO2 in, of all things, a Half-Price Books - for sale for just $5 or so. Although it was a little before my time, from everything I've heard since joining the space 4X community, I'd have to be stark raving mad not to get it.

Now, while I know about its availability on Impulse, I have a sentimental preference for physical CDs and frankly I just don't really like Impulse anyway. So, unless some other gamer buys it first, I'm going to buy it. However, MoO2 is 13-ish years old, so my big question is, will it run? I have Vista, which has not exactly stood out as a stellar OS for me, so am I about to suffer a horrible disappointment? 

 

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qrtxian
Ryat
Join Date 06/2006
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Reply #1 September 23, 2010 10:03:02 PM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

You would need DOS-box. Google it and download it for free. There should be directions for using for MOO2.

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scratchthepitch
Join Date 05/2010
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Reply #2 September 23, 2010 11:24:34 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

If your disk has both the exe files for dos and windows, that's orion2.exe & orion95.exe respectively, then the dos exe should work with dos box and the windows exe should work with windows from 95 to xp. From what I've read, I think vista is iffy and windows 7 wont work with it at all. You should be able to use the dos exe with dos box on vista. I seem to remember reading about problems with dos box and windows 7, but I think dos box will work OK with vista.

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Tolan_Grimm
Join Date 02/2005
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Reply #3 September 24, 2010 2:06:45 AM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

If you use the Win95 version to boot, it will work . . . except you probably won't have sound.  That's the issue I currently have.  DOS Box will probably work, but again, you probably won't have sound as the original DOS game used the old 16 bit cards that are not in any way compatible with what we have now.  Which is too bad, because the background music is sooo classic.

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UmbralAngel
Join Date 06/2010
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Reply #4 September 24, 2010 4:59:48 AM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

I have the Win95 Disk... it works fine on XP-32 bit... doesn't work on Vista 64-bit because only 32 bit windows can run MoO (which is a 16 bit game).

 

Might work on Vista 32

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Netriak
Join Date 02/2006
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Reply #5 September 24, 2010 5:29:39 AM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

The windows version of the game works perfectly even on windows 7, as long as you set the appropriate directdraw compatibility settings for the game in the registry.

See this thread for a windows 7 64 bit utility that adds the 256 color directdraw compatibility settings to the registry for you, for the specified program, which was originally made for the original starcraft:

http://www.sevenforums.com/gaming/2981-starcraft-fix-holy-cow-22.html

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qrtxian
Join Date 03/2010
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Reply #6 September 24, 2010 1:34:23 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

To sum up, then, the best idea is probably to download the DOS Box and run with that?

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mentalinstra
Join Date 07/2010
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Reply #7 September 24, 2010 7:40:40 PM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

DOS Box is awesome.

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pacov
Join Date 02/2008
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Reply #8 September 24, 2010 8:13:44 PM
from Demigod ForumsDemigod Forums

Now, while I know about its availability on Impulse, I have a sentimental preference for physical CDs and frankly I just don't really like Impulse anyway.

I know you don't prefer impulse, but for $6 you get both the original and the sequel (though I don't imagine I'll play 1 all that much).  At any rate, I did pick up the impulse version. 

I tested the game out on windows 7 64 bit and it runs without issue for me without requiring an install of dos box. 

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qrtxian
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Reply #9 September 26, 2010 8:25:12 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

Unfortunately, it looks like I'll be getting the Impulse version after all. The CD does not have an option to run with DOS, making the DOS Box useless, and the Windows version categorically does not work. At least it only cost about $5 or so.

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UmbralAngel
Join Date 06/2010
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Reply #10 September 26, 2010 11:04:21 PM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

Well you could probably get it working if you tried but its probably also not worth the time, having it available for download is very convenient : D

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Dark_bird
Join Date 01/2004
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Reply #11 September 27, 2010 6:28:29 PM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

mine works well with windows xp orion 95 sound and all

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mbar8
Join Date 01/2009
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Reply #12 September 27, 2010 9:28:07 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

I know you don't prefer impulse, but for $6 you get both the original and the sequel (though I don't imagine I'll play 1 all that much). At any rate, I did pick up the impulse version.

I thought I'd be the same way. I'd like to see it since I missed out when MoO2 came out but I just can't see myself tinkering with it for more than a few turns. But I might cave in later.

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pacov
Join Date 02/2008
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Reply #13 September 27, 2010 11:13:52 PM
from Demigod ForumsDemigod Forums

I thought I'd be the same way. I'd like to see it since I missed out when MoO2 came out but I just can't see myself tinkering with it for more than a few turns. But I might cave in later.

yeah - fair points, but if you actually give this game a shot (give it 2 hours) and I bet you'll be sucked in.  I've lost MANY hours to this game in college. 

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scratchthepitch
Join Date 05/2010
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Reply #14 September 28, 2010 3:03:03 AM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

MOO2 is addicting....

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vashtyphoon
Join Date 09/2009
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Reply #15 October 1, 2010 10:09:14 AM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

I lost a week straight to it when it first released. Breaks for McRibs. Cokes. and a single 4 hour nap...

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scratchthepitch
Join Date 05/2010
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Reply #16 October 1, 2010 11:11:34 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Breaks for McRibs

 

Good lord!? You were feeding upon Scotsmen?

 

(I just found out by accident that if you highlight a section of another's post, and then click the "quote" button, the forum program will quote just that section of the post.)

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mbar8
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Reply #17 October 14, 2010 11:18:59 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

@OMG_pacov

I caved in and bought the Impulse MoOII. So far I have to say I like it and dang I wish I wouldn't have missed it back when it was cutting edge. I have the same disappearing install in "My Games" tab but I just made a new tab and dragged the shortcut from my programs folder into that.

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Polynomial
Join Date 02/2008
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Reply #18 October 15, 2010 8:20:35 AM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Quoting qrtxian,
reply 9
Unfortunately, it looks like I'll be getting the Impulse version after all. The CD does not have an option to run with DOS, making the DOS Box useless, and the Windows version categorically does not work. At least it only cost about $5 or so.

Digital distribution is the future, sorry.

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coreimpulse
Join Date 06/2010
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Reply #19 October 15, 2010 12:44:56 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Quoting Polynomial,
reply 18



Quoting qrtxian,
reply 9
Unfortunately, it looks like I'll be getting the Impulse version after all. The CD does not have an option to run with DOS, making the DOS Box useless, and the Windows version categorically does not work. At least it only cost about $5 or so.


Digital distribution is the future, sorry.

DosBox can load CDs and CD images too.  Digital versions of dos games have dosbox too.

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KillzEmAllGod
Join Date 07/2007
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Reply #20 October 15, 2010 1:11:08 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

DosBox now only if i could run real life in Dos.

Digital Distribution seems to be some what bad and good it is bring back games that you would not find in a store any more, only if it were true for Conker's bad fur day...  i am finding some games that run in Dos are way to old for my taste though that really comes down to their UI / interation been getting to many from GoG...

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Polynomial
Join Date 02/2008
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Reply #21 October 15, 2010 1:22:35 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Digital distribution is pretty much all good. I can't stand having to worry about boxes and CD kets and discs.

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joasoze
Join Date 02/2006
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Reply #22 October 15, 2010 1:36:27 PM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

Whenever there is a post about MOO II I have to say this. MOO II is one of the best games ever made and my to three list of games are:

1. CIV IV

2. Total Annihilation shared with MOO II

If the list was to continue Kings Bounty, Battle Isle and Football Manager would soon come up.

Move on

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