Mechwarrior 3 graphics issue

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hooby3dfx
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat 18 Jun, 2022 9:41 pm

Mechwarrior 3 graphics issue

Post by hooby3dfx »

I recently setup PCem with Windows 98 SE and the following config:
GA-686BX
P2 233
128 MB
9FX + Voodoo2
SB16

Host is i9/Win10.

I encountered the following issue in both v17 as well as the latest develop build on github.
I first ran the game with software rendering before installing the 3dfx drivers and that worked fine (but of course software rendering).
After installing the 3dfx drivers (these ones http://falconfly.3dfx.pl/downloads/voodoo2-30300.zip) when I open the game, there is no video on the screen (like I can still see the Windows desktop). I can hear the audio, including the cutscene and button mouse-over sfx, and alt+f4 to close the game though.
When alt-tabbing I can see some of the game for a frame, and taking screenshots shows parts of it on screen (attached).

Unreal runs fine, so the drivers do seem to be working.
Note that I also tried installing the v1.2 patch for the game as well.
Any ideas?
I'm also wondering if the issue is just with the environment/install and not even PCem.
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leilei
Posts: 1039
Joined: Fri 25 Apr, 2014 4:47 pm

Re: Mechwarrior 3 graphics issue

Post by leilei »

Is DirectX 7 installed? The last Voodoo2 drivers rely on them.
hooby3dfx
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat 18 Jun, 2022 9:41 pm

Re: Mechwarrior 3 graphics issue

Post by hooby3dfx »

It is not at the moment.
I installed the version that should go with dx6.1 ("18 Jun 1999 3dfx Voodoo2 V3.03.00 DirectX 6.1 Driver, older than V3.02.02").
And the game also seems to go with dx6.1 (which is pre installed on 98se).
I can try updating to newer drivers and dx7 tho.
hooby3dfx
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat 18 Jun, 2022 9:41 pm

Re: Mechwarrior 3 graphics issue

Post by hooby3dfx »

Wow, just updating to dx7 fixed the issue! Thank you!
And for anyone else who may stumble upon this, I was then having some audio stuttering and disabling the recompiler for voodoo emulation solved that issue.
Fantastic program!
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CryptidWorks
Posts: 141
Joined: Fri 26 Apr, 2019 7:11 am

Re: Mechwarrior 3 graphics issue

Post by CryptidWorks »

Yep

Discovered when having issues running the War in Heaven on a Voodoo 2 that even emulated the card goes nuts when you try and run a heavy game with a version of DX that doesn't match the installed driver. So latest VD2 driver + DX7 is the best combo.
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